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Air fryer exports of China's Cixi surge 23.9 percent in Q1

People's Daily Online) 09:44, June 21, 2024

Workers busily operate at the air fryer production line of a company in Guanhaiwei township, Cixi city, east China's Zhejiang Province. (People's Daily Online/Zhang Yongtao)

Workers have been busy at the air fryer production line of a company in Guanhaiwei township, Cixi city, east China's Zhejiang Province.

Cixi's air fryer exports reached 960 million yuan ($132.29 million) in the first quarter of 2024, up 23.9 percent year on year, with exports to the European Union soaring 101.2 percent from the same period last year to 330 million yuan, according to Cixi Customs records.

Cixi is one of the major production hubs of air fryers in China. It is currently home to over 100 companies engaged in air fryer production, with more than 40 companies exporting over 1 million yuan worth of air fryers each. In 2023, the export value of Cixi's air fryers accounted for about one-third of the country's total.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Indian national Nikhil Gupta was extradited to the United States on June 14 but Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has not received any request for consular access from him, said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Friday. Nikhil Gupta was extradited to face legal proceedings in the US. He is suspected by the US of involvement in an unsuccessful plot to kill the India-designated pro-Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during a weekly briefing said, "He was extradited to the United States on 14 June. We have not received any request for consular access from Nikhil Gupta. But his family has got in touch with us... And we are looking at the matter as to what can be done on their request." Meanwhile, Gupta pleaded not guilty on Monday (local time) at a federal court in the US. Gupta arrived at the Manhattan Federal Courthouse in New York City at 12:30 PM (local time) and has pleaded not guilty in court. Gupta was extradited to the US from the Czech Republic on Friday. While speaking to reporters, Gupta's US-based lawyer, attorney Jeffrey Chabrowe said that they would file a bail application at a later date, meaning Gupta will continue to be detained for now. During the 20-minute hearing, Chabrowe stressed the conditions of Gupta's detention that he had not been provided with a vegetarian meal since he arrived at a Brooklyn detention facility on Friday. The New York-based attorney will be allowed to speak with Gupta again. The next hearing is on June 28. Nikhil Gupta has been accused by US federal prosecutors of plotting with an Indian government official to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The discovery of alleged assassination plots against Pannun in the US has brought the India-US relationship under the spotlight. New Delhi has firmly dissociated itself from the plot against Pannun, saying it is against the Indian government's policy. It has said it would formally investigate security concerns raised by Washington. The US Justice Department has alleged that Gupta (52) is an associate of the Indian government and that together they and others helped plot the assassination of Pannun in New York City. Meanwhile, during the briefing, on the death of two Indians serving in the Russian Army, MEA Spokesperson Jaiswal said, "We are engaged with the Russian authorities both here in New Delhi and in Moscow so that people who are serving in the Russian army can be released and repatriated to India... The no. of people who have contacted us so far is between 20 to 25. Ten of them have been released... Two people have died recently, we are in touch with the Russian Defence Ministry and the Foreign Ministry so that the mortal remains can be brought to India as soon as possible..." (ANI)
In their conversation, Minister Jaishankar seized the opportunity to discuss advancing the bilateral strategic partnership between India and France.

"Glad to receive a congratulatory phone call from French FM @steph_sejourne this afternoon. Took the opportunity to discuss further steps in the growing agenda of our strategic partnership. Conveyed my best wishes for successful hosting of #Paris2024 Olympics," said EAM Jaishankar in a post X, underscoring the positive exchange between the two nations.

Jaishankar, a prominent BJP figure who steered India's diplomatic course during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's second term took charge as External Affairs Minister once again in the new government and resumed his duties at the Ministry of External Affairs in South Block on June 11.

S Jaishankar welcomed Kirti Vardhan Singh and Pabitra Margherita, the two newly-appointed Ministers of State, in the External Affairs Ministry to Team MEA.

Jaishankar took oath as Union Cabinet Minister at the swearing-in ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan. He has been a BJP MP in Rajya Sabha from Gujarat since 2019.

Jaishankar, who has made headlines for his witty replies and oratory skills, has been at the centre stage in the team shaping India's foreign policy for the past decade.

Prior to being the EAM in 2019, Jaishankar also served as India's Foreign Secretary from 2015 to 2018. Notably, he also became the first Foreign Secretary to assume the role of External Affairs Minister. (ANI)
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has helped 28 countries unlock USD 70 million in financing from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to address urban sustainability, groundwater management, biodiversity loss, climate change and land degradation. "These initiatives will help to increase the resilience of those on the front lines of climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation," said FAO Deputy Director-General Maria Helena Semedo after the projects were green-lit by the Councils for the GEF Trust Fund and the Least Developed Countries Fund in Washington DC. "These integrated agrifood system solutions will help countries and communities address complex environmental challenges and make a real difference to lives, livelihoods and our planet." The projects will contribute to the implementation of key FAO strategies in areas including climate change, biodiversity and integrated land and water resources management, Semedo noted. (ANI/WAM)
Hundreds of yoga enthusiasts and followers converged to perform yoga in the regional stadium in the city of Pokhara in Kaski, Nepal on Friday to mark the 10th International Day of Yoga. Gandaki Province Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey and Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava took part in the event and performed yoga asanas as the ground at Pokhara Rangashala filled up with the participants. Indian Embassy in Kathmandu in coordination with Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) had organized the event which lasted nearly two hours. Addressing the programme, Pandey said yoga also is an art of maintaining physical fitness, mental as well as spiritual well-being that would help the course of life. "Yoga has that capacity to drive people to spirituality as well as ethics and maintaining discipline in life." The Gandaki Provincial Government, in the upcoming fiscal year, is launching a yoga programme with the slogan 'My health, My responsibility.' "All the local bodies and municipalities would do a campaign to encourage people towards yoga, encourage them to live a healthy and hygienic lifestyle which would also be supported by the local councils. This plan also has been incorporated in our annual budget," Pandey added. Earlier on Thursday, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu organised a similar yoga event on the premises of Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, the light of Asia. Indian ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava emphasised that Yoga is another example of a common culture that is shared between Nepal and India and it has been followed by numerous people. "If Pokhara could develop as a centre of Yoga, tourists from other countries also would converge for it. It not only would benefit Pokhara solely but also India and Nepal. We will work with the Gandaki government to celebrate International Day of Yoga in Pokhara annually," Srivastava said. Yoga, a traditional medication method for psychological as well as physical well-being developed in the Indian sub-continent, got formal recognition from the UN General Assembly on December 11, 2014. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had initiated the move towards International Yoga Day. The draft resolution passed by India was supported by 177 nations. The influence of yoga is all-pervasive whether that be in the temple or sculpture or painting, PM Dahal has said. With universal recognition and the growing popularity of yoga, the United Nations declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga on December 11, 2014. The first International Yoga Day was celebrated on June 21, 2015. (ANI)
In the recent fire incident in Kuwait's Mangaf, in which at least 45 Indians were killed, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal assured that the injured were under proper care and embassy officials were in regular touch with the hospital authorities. Addressing a weekly media briefing on Friday, Randhir Jaiswal said, "There are presently 17 Indian patients in 4 Kuwaiti hospitals who were injured in the June 12 fire accident in Kuwait." "They are receiving proper medical care and attention. They are in stable condition, as per the hospital authorities. The Embassy officials are in regular touch with the hospital authorities, patients and the company. The Embassy Team is paying visits to all hospitals on a daily basis for a first-hand report," he added. Further, the MEA also told reporters that the mortal remains were brought to India on June 14. Answering queries during the weekly media briefing, Randhir Jaiswal addressed the compensation issue and clarified that PM Modi announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakhs for the deceased from PM National Relief Fund and Rs 50,000 for those injured on that day only. "In addition, different state governments have also announced their compensation for those who have died and those who have died in the strategy. On the part of the Kuwaiti government, the Emir has announced USD 15,000 as compensation to people who have died," Jaiswal said. The Ministry also highlighted that not only the government but also the companies have announced aid for the injured and for the deceased as well. "The company has announced payment of Rs. 8 lakhs to the next of kin for people who have died. They have also, in addition, the insurance money will come from the insurance company. The company is also providing compensation of Rs. 2 lakhs to all those who are injured, plus their medical expenses are being covered by the company and the company will also undertake rehabilitation for those who are injured," said Jaiswal. Meanwhile, when asked about the French journalist allegedly leaving the country because of the expiration of his visa, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "Sebastien Farcis is an OCI card holder. If you are an OCI card holder, you need permission or a work permit to carry on your journalistic activities." "He applied in May of 2024 and his application is still under consideration. The question of his leaving the country is a decision for him to take. If he has taken it, that's fine. But, his work permit application is still under consideration. He had reapplied it here in May of 2024..." he added. Following this, the Journalist also raised questions about Ladakh's Galwan Valley to which MEA replied and said, "Regarding Galwan, we have stated earlier also that there are two-fold talks underway. One is military to military and the other on the political level... We want there to be peace at the border..." (ANI)
More than 50 events - international conferences, panel discussions, round tables, strategic sessions - were held at the XV International IT Forum, which took place on 18-20 June in the Russian city of Khanty-Mansiysk. Representatives of BRICS, SCO, Africa and Latin America discussed the digital development of society, import-independence and the use of artificial intelligence (AI), TV BRICS reported. This year's International IT Forum was organised by the Russian BRICS Chairmanship. TV BRICS was the international media partner of the event. The main theme of the IT-Forum was "Trust in the Digital World". The participants discussed the application of the latest technologies in the economy, social sphere and education, as well as cybersecurity, ethical and practical aspects of the introduction of artificial intelligence and prospects for the development of human resources. The forum provided companies and specialists with an opportunity to share experience, find new business contacts and discuss the prospects for the development of the digital industry. Janna Tolstikova, CEO of TV BRICS, moderated the panel discussion "New Technologies in the Media Industry: Technological Development of the Industry and New Media Content", which was attended by media managers from BRICS countries as part of the BRICS Global Media Tour. The speakers discussed the introduction of modern technologies into media production, including artificial intelligence, new formats of work, and assessed the role of media in the development of international partnerships in science and digitalisation, as reported by TV BRICS. "BRICS countries need to cooperate more actively, especially in the field of media, because this way we can create better quality content. This is how the states of the association can effectively promote their ideas to achieve sustainable development. Even before Egypt officially became part of BRICS, Daily News Egypt was already cooperating with the TV BRICS International Media Network," said Mohamed Samir Khedr, Executive Editor of Daily News Egypt. BRICS Global Media Tour is an annual project of TV BRICS, which brings together top media executives and leading experts from the media industry. This time, delegates from Egypt, China, Brazil, Cuba, Vietnam, India and Egypt are representing the BRICS and BRICS+ countries. Participants from Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Iran and South Africa joined the events remotely. German Hermin Ferras Alvarez, Head Correspondent agency of Prensa Latina in Moscow said that such media tours are necessary to develop ties between media personnel specialising in the same field. "Yes, interaction between journalists who deal with the topic of technology, artificial intelligence, is extremely important. TV BRICS organised a media tour with the participation of media representatives from different countries. Our communication with each other was extremely useful and productive. My colleagues and I shared our experience of working with thematic content and people from the spheres of science, IT," he said. "I think the most important thing that happened to me here is networking with representatives of other BRICS countries. Now we will have access to various objective sources, learn from the experience of our colleagues. In addition, Brazilians will be able to learn more about Russians, Cubans, South Africans, Iranians," said Raphael Garcia Veleda, Executive Editor of the Brazilian edition of Metropoles. Abdel-Munem Salem Adil Bureau Chief of Arab News Media Group in Moscow expressed the view that journalists face great challenges in the face of new media technologies and artificial intelligence. "Therefore, the media and their staff need to co-operate with each other to face all challenges. And I believe that within such a reputable association as BRICS we can create all conditions for fruitful co-operation of journalistic communities. I think we can discuss this topic separately in the future," he explained. On the margins of the IT Forum, the Vietnam News Agency signed a partnership agreement with TV BRICS. The agreements reached will enable the residents of the Asian country to receive the most up-to-date and objective information on BRICS development. The Vietnam News Agency is a state-owned communications concern comprising ten print and electronic newspapers, a TV channel, several printing enterprises and information service centres. It publishes content in 11 ethnic languages and many foreign languages, including Chinese, Korean, English, Russian, French, Spanish, Japanese, Lao, Khmer. The network has also agreed to co-operate with District broadcaster "Ugra". One of the results of the partnership is expected to be increased recognition of the region in BRICS+ countries. "Ugra" is the largest media holding of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug and the Urals Federal Okrug and unites 11 media outlets of all directions (television, radio broadcasting, Internet media, printed publications). The International IT Forum has been held in Khanty-Mansiysk since 2008. This year over 3000 people from 47 countries of the world and 61 regions of Russia took part in it. The Forum is aimed at developing interstate co-operation in the sphere of digital technologies, forming independent markets for innovative development and increasing the competitiveness of the economies of the participating countries, TV BRICS reported. (ANI)
The Indian diplomatic community and officials expressed profound grief over the untimely passing of Ambassador Virander Paul, who served as India's envoy to Turkiye. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar led the tributes, highlighting Ambassador Paul's dedicated service and significant contributions to the Indian Foreign Service. "Deeply grieved at the passing away of Virander Paul, our Ambassador in Turkiye. A great loss to the Indian Foreign Service. Have worked closely with him in his many postings. Always admired his commitment and service and value his many contributions. Deepest condolences to his family. Om Shanti," said EAM Jaishankar in a post on X. Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Former Foreign Secretary, echoed the sentiment, expressing, "Very sad indeed to learn of Virander's untimely passing way. A most valued colleague and a thorough gentleman. He will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time." Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, also conveyed condolences, emphasising Ambassador Paul's exceptional human qualities and impactful professional contributions. "We are deeply saddened at the untimely demise of Ambassador Virander Paul, India's envoy to Turkiye. A dedicated officer, he will always be remembered for his exceptional human qualities and impactful professional contribution. Our heartfelt condolences to his family. Team @MEAIndia stands with them in this difficult hour," stated Jaiswal. Ambassador Firat Sunel of Turkiye to India added his condolences, remembering Ambassador Paul as "an excellent person and a distinguished diplomat." He extended heartfelt sympathies to Ambassador Paul's family and colleagues in the Ministry of External Affairs. Paul joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1991. He earlier served as Ambassador/Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations in Geneva (2016-2019), Deputy High Commissioner of India in London (2013-2016), Minister (Press) at the Indian Embassy in Washington DC (2010-2013), Director in the Prime Minister's Office during 2007-2010, and Counsellor Political at the Indian Embassy in Moscow from 2003-2007. He also held diplomatic positions in the Indian Missions in Almaty, Vladivostok, Rome and St. Petersburg. During his other previous stints at the Ministry of External Affairs Headquarters, he served in Europe East and Americas Divisions. He held a medical degree from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Ambassador Virander Paul's sudden passing has left a profound void in the Indian diplomatic corps, with tributes pouring in from colleagues, officials, and diplomatic counterparts. His legacy as a dedicated diplomat and a compassionate individual will continue to inspire those who had the privilege of working with him. (ANI)
The Director for Global Advocacy at the United Nations, Zumretay Arkin, expressed her concerns over the genocidal and expansionist policies of China, and the Uyghur community, while speaking at a side event in Geneva. While speaking at an event titled, What's Next After China's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on Thursday, the activist claimed that the situation in the Xinjiang region has not improved but has gone from bad to worse. In her statement, Arkin criticised China for detaining a Uyghur doctor, Dr Gulshan Abbas, sentenced to imprisonment of 20 years as a retaliation for her sister's activism against China in the US. While explaining the atrocities being inflicted upon the Uyghur community, the activist claimed that one out of 26 Uyghur individuals is imprisoned under vivid charges, making Xinjiang the region with the highest arrest rate in the world, with approximately 2,234 per 100,000 arrests. Arkin, in her statement, referred to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) review of China, which monitored the measures taken to implement the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. She further stated that several reports from the UN, ever since the CERD report, have found out that the living conditions of the Uyghur community continue to remain in steep decline. Previously, a 2022 UN statement of the CERD called on China to investigate all allegations of human rights violations in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), including those of torture, ill-treatment, sexual violence, forced labor, enforced disappearances, and deaths in custody. That statement of CERD from 2022 demanded that China must release all individuals arbitrarily deprived of their liberty in the XUAR, whether in so-called vocational education and training centres (VETCs) or other detention facilities and to provide relatives of those detained or disappeared with detailed information about their status and well-being. In the same statement, Arkin also called upon the international community and the Global South to double down on its efforts, holding China responsible for its genocidal activities in East Turkistan. She also added that countries and the UN need to stop treating China with double standards and special privileges, as China should be held to the same standard as any other state that is violating human rights. (ANI)
In a post on X, Jaishankar stated, "Pleased to have a good conversation with my friend Brazilian FM Mauro Vieira. Always much to talk about India and Brazil."

Earlier on June 14, PM Modi held "delightful conversation" with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Italy.

While sharing a picture with three leaders on X, PM Modi wrote, "The interactions in Italy continue... Delightful conversation with President @LulaOficial, President @RTErdogan and His Highness Sheikh @MohamedBinZayed."

On June 6, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva congratulated PM Modi on his victory in the Lok Sabha elections and wished him successful third term in promoting sustainable development, combating inequalities and strengthening cooperation between two nations.

In a post on X, he stated, "I wish the Indian Prime Minister, @narendramodi, a very successful third term in promoting sustainable development, combating inequalities and strengthening cooperation between our countries. Brazil and India are allies in confronting injustices in the international order and in the fight against hunger and poverty. May we meet at the G20 and IBSA Summits here in Brazil and continue working together."

In response, PM Modi thanked Brazilian President for his wishes. He noted that the ties between two nations have greatly benefited from Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's leadership and wisdom over the years.

Taking to X, PM Modi stated, "Thank you President @LulaOficial. India-Brazil ties have greatly benefited from your leadership and wisdom over the years. I look forward to our continued friendship and cooperation. Wish great success for Brazil's G20 Presidency."

Notably, India and Brazil share a very close and multifaceted relationship both at bilateral level and plurilateral fora like BRICS, BASIC, G20, G4, IBSA, International Solar Alliance, as well as in the larger multilateral bodies such as the United Nations, World Trade Organization, UNESCO, and WIPO. The two nations have been strategic partners since 2006. (ANI)
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rehman on Friday reiterated to expand the horizon of economic cooperation with India to give a major boost to ties between the two nations. "Bangladesh businesses should also look at other areas of India... That's something which we should... We should expand our horizon... Many of the CEOs showed an interest in the energy, healthcare, FMCG, IT and agriculture sectors," told Rehman to ANI. Notably, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in India on Friday for a two-day state visit that marks the first incoming bilateral state visit following the formation of the Indian government after the 18th Lok Sabha elections. Rehman, while mentioning his meeting with industry CEOs and stated that the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) proposed that Bangladeshi businesses should consider expanding into other parts of India, which Hasina supported. While speaking to ANI, Sheikh Hasina's Private Industry and Investment Adviser said, "All the CEOs which we met today, some of them are already invested in Bangladesh. And some of them said that they want to increase their involvement in Bangladesh. They want to increase their investment. Some want to explore the opportunities... CII said there has been a lot of concentration in northeastern India and Bangladesh. A lot of economic cooperation has been done. But CII gave a very interesting proposal which Prime Minister Hasina supported wholeheartedly." Bangladesh is uniquely located to export its products to North East India, Bhutan and South East Asian countries and several initiatives have been taken to increase connectivity Salman F Rehman explained that Bangladesh has a close relationship with India, supported by both Prime Minister Modi's "Neighbourhood First" policy and Prime Minister Hasina's priority on neighbouring countries. "Our relationship with India is very close. Prime Minister Modi has always said 'neighbourhood first'. Prime Minister Hasina always says that she will give priority to the neighbours. This visit is taking place in the spirit of that relationship. It is a bilateral visit. This visit was planned long before. In between, Bangladesh and Indian elections came up... Now that both the elections are over, we have come. We want to build much more on the existing, very friendly and strong relations. This relationship is increasing our economic cooperation between the two countries, both at the government level but more importantly at the private sector level," said Rehman to ANI. While underscoring Sheikh Hasina's visit, Salman F Rehman said that the most important outcome expected tomorrow is that both prime ministers will reaffirm the strong bond and relationship between the two nations. "The most important output which can be expected tomorrow will be a reaffirmation of the very, very strong bond and relationship between our two countries both the prime ministers will reaffirm that," Rehman said. PM Hasina was among the international leaders who attended the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Modi and the Union Council of Ministers on June 9. India and Bangladesh have developed a multifaceted relationship, marked by shared history, culture, and geographical proximity. The two neighbours enjoy warm ties, which have strengthened under the leadership of Prime Ministers Modi and Hasina. Last year, the two leaders jointly inaugurated the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline on March 18. PM Hasina also participated virtually in the inaugural session of the Voice of the Global South Summit on January 11, 2023, and the second Virtual Voice of the Global South Summit on November 17, 2023. As a guest country invited to India's G20 Presidency in 2023, Bangladesh participated in various tracks at the ministerial level, including the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting and the G20 Development Ministers Meeting in March 2023 and June 2023, respectively. On November 1, 2023, both prime ministers jointly inaugurated three Indian-assisted development cooperation projects virtually: the Akhaura-Agartala cross-border rail link, the Khulna-Mongla Port rail line, and Unit II of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant in Bangladesh. (ANI)
Two people were killed and eight others were injured in a mass shooting outside a grocery store in Fordyce, Arkansas, on Friday (local time), CBS News reported, citing state police. One law enforcement officer was among those injured and suffered non-life threatening injuries, according to the police. Arkansas State Police responded to the Mad Butcher grocery store at 11:30 am (local time) on Friday. Police said that the shooter was critically injured and taken into custody, CBS News reported. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders said that she has been briefed regarding the shooting in Fordyce and is in constant touch with police at the site of the incident. In a post on X, Sanders stated, "I have been briefed on the tragic shooting in Fordyce, and I'm in constant contact with State Police at the scene. I am thankful to law enforcement and first responders for their quick and heroic action to save lives. My prayers are with the victims and all those impacted by this horrific incident." Last week, at least eight people, including two children sustained bullet injuries in an attack at a recreation area in Michigan, US. The suspect behind the attack was later found dead at a nearby home, CNN reported citing officials. The incident happened at the Brooklands Plaza Splash Pad in Rochester Hills. Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said that the suspect was found dead at a nearby home. The victims who sustained injuries in the attack were transported to multiple hospitals with "varying kinds of injuries," Bouchard said during a Saturday evening news conference. The Oakland County Sheriff said nine, "maybe 10" victims were injured in the shooting at Brooklands Plaza Splash Pad in Rochester Hills and transported to multiple hospitals with "varying kinds of injuries." The sheriff couldn't confirm anything on the extent of the injuries, but said was aware that at least one person was out of surgery and "did well," as reported by CNN. Michael Bouchard said one of the victims was eight years old, but he could not speak on the age of the other victims. (ANI)
At least 25 people were killed and 50 others were injured in Israeli attacks on tents for displaced Palestinians in al-Mawasi, near Rafah, in the south of the coastal enclave, according to the Gaza health ministry, Al Jazeera reported. In a separate incident, the Palestinian Civil Defence Agency said crews have taken several people killed and injured in Israeli shelling of the al-Shakoush area, northwest of Rafah. Israeli forces bombed the garage of Gaza City municipality and a five-storey building in the city, Al Jazeera reported. Earlier, the Gaza health ministry said Israel's military killed at least 35 Palestinians over the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll from the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas to 37,431. Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation continued to worsen as the Israeli blockade of the territory continued. The medical relief group Doctors Without Borders, known by its French initials, MSF, said on Friday that it may have to suspend its operations in Gaza due to dwindling healthcare supplies. In a statement, the group said, "MSF is facing critical shortages of essential medicines and equipment as it has been unable to bring any medical supplies into Gaza since the end of April," according to Al Jazeera report. The MSF blamed Israel for the situation, including its seizure and closure of the Rafah crossing in May. The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt served as a major artery for the entry of humanitarian assistance and aid workers. MSF said, "The closure of the Rafah crossing following Israel's offensive in the south of Gaza in early May, coupled with the endless red tape imposed by Israeli authorities, has led to a dramatically slow flow of humanitarian aid through the crossing that is open, Kerem Shalom [Karem Abu Salem] entry point." "This has led to massive queues of trucks and perilous delays in the delivery of humanitarian assistance across Gaza," it added, Al Jazeera reported. Israel launched a counter-offensive against Hamas in Rafah in May, despite international warnings. However, the US, which cautioned Israel against launching the offensive in the southernmost Gaza city, stressed that the Israeli assault was not a "major" offensive. The attacks on Friday come just two days after a United Nations-backed commission stated Israel's "deliberate" use of heavy weapons in Gaza constitutes an "intentional and direct attack on the civilian population." However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected accusations of targeting civilians. (ANI)
It is a terrifying showdown, an epic moment of truth that threatens to blow up the EU, trigger another Eurozone crisis and, just three days into his prime ministership, throw Sir Keir Starmers immigration and trade plans into disarray. In two weeks time, France will have either elected the most radical Right-wing populist government ever to control a nuclear power, opted for a rabidly anti-capitalist, anti-Western, far-Left coalition, or proved itself to be entirely ungovernable.

The centre wont hold. In extremis, President Emmanuel Macron may even have to resign. Chaos could overshadow the Olympics. I fear for the France I love, but above all I am angry at decades of failure by an arrogant, pseudo-meritocratic, overly Cartesian ruling class whose hatred of classical liberalism and disdain for conservative values are forcing the country into such an unpalatable choice.

The elections impact will be explosive. Macron has bequeathed a 5.5 per cent of GDP budget deficit and a 110 per cent of GDP national debt. These have already led to the countrys credit rating being downgraded and to the EU launching an investigation for breach of the stability and growth pact. French bond yields are surging in anticipation of drastic fiscal loosening whoever wins the election, potentially leading to a full-on financial crisis.

The Front Populaire  a miserable alliance of the extreme Left, socialists, communists, greens and assorted misfits  wants an immediate 50 billion a year tax increase and at least 106 billion extra a year in spending. It wants to raise income tax, reintroduce a punitive wealth tax, cap inheritances, jack up the minimum wage to 1,600 after tax a month and the pay of public sector workers by 10 per cent, cancel Macrons few positive reforms, and cut the retirement age to 62.

It will introduce gender self-ID, liberalise immigration, slap an embargo on arms sales to Israel and back the scandalous international court cases against the Jewish state. The manifesto is not just dementedly woke and Israelophobic but would bankrupt France, yet the Front Populaire is at 25 per cent in the polls.

Assuming we dont end up with a hung parliament, a Rassemblement National (RN) government led by Jordan Bardella, Marine Le Pens deputy, remains more likely. It is impossible to exaggerate the scale of the psychological shock that a Le Pen/Bardella victory would cause. The global great and good would be horrified. Swathes of French society, including many in the banlieues and unions, would be enraged.

There could be widespread disorder, violence, looting and strikes, leading to the most dangerous showdown since 1968. Some functionaries would refuse to co-operate. Financial markets would panic. The IMF, World Bank and White House will hate Bardellas net zero-defying tax cuts. He would slash VAT to 5.5 per cent from 20 per cent on carbon-intensive gas, energy and fuel, worth 17-24 billion a year, and cut contributions to the EU by 2 billion, both popular moves. But the deficit would rise, and  unlike with Liz Trusss supply-side agenda  there would be no long-term positive, pro-enterprise growth story as the RN is semi-socialist.

The European Central Bank may refuse to buy French bonds to stabilise the markets. The aim would be to humiliate Bardella and terminate Le Pens presidential aspirations, but the EU may find it harder to defeat France than it was to control the likes of Italy and Greece. France is at the heart of the EU system, and will be backed by Italys Giorgia Meloni. Bardella and his counter-elites may fight back successfully, threatening to withhold EU funding or cause havoc in other ways if they dont get their way.

Bardella wants to expel foreign criminals, abolish benefits paid to parents of delinquents, and end the practice whereby those born of foreign parents in France are entitled to French citizenship. But the reality is that the RNs broader agenda is incompatible with EU membership. It eventually seeks an immigration referendum that would slash numbers and reject most of the post-war rules on this subject. Le Pen and Bardella no longer say they want to leave the EU: the middle class fears a devaluation of their savings if the franc were reintroduced. But if he doesnt implode in his first few weeks, he will begin a gradual process of Frexit by stealth.

British Brexiteers must remember that the RN used to be called the Front National. Its first treasurer was Pierre Bousquet, a former Rottenfuhrer in the Waffen-SS Charlemagne Division. Jean-Marie Le Pen, who ran the party from 1972 to 2011, dismissed the Nazi gas chambers as a detail. The party was racist, anti-Semitic and Vichyite, and a magnet for skinheads and thugs. It was anti-Gaullist and anti-free market and obsessed with downplaying le marechal Philippe Petains despicable collaboration with the Nazis, Frances darkest hour.

But the party has changed dramatically since then, as even Macron has admitted; we can but hope that the transformation is real. Le Pen Sr was purged by his daughter Marine. She has rejected Petainisme, and is now pro-Israel and speaks out against anti-Semitism. She has belatedly turned against Putin. Eric Zemmours new party now outflanks the RN from its Right. Bardella is the grandson of Italian and Algerian immigrants.

Men and women are now equally likely to vote RN, and 26 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds backed them in the European elections. Serge Klarsfeld, a Holocaust survivor and Frances pre-eminent Nazi hunter  who tracked down Klaus Barbie, the Gestapo butcher of Lyon, in Peru  now says that he will back the RN in the second round because it has changed. He is more afraid of the far Left. We will soon find out whether he is right, or whether he has been duped.

In the short term, chaos in France will be good for Starmers centrist credentials, though high-tax, post-non-dom London wont gain from any exodus of French millionaires. In the longer term, a RN victory would be a nightmare for Starmer, exposing Labours naive love of all things European as nonsensical and toxifying any rapprochement.

There will be no deal on Channel crossings, numbers will rocket as migrants flee a crackdown in France and the UK begins to look like a soft touch. Starmers pro-European Convention views would look outdated as the continent shifts Right-wards, emboldening the Tory or Reform opposition. The tectonic plates are shifting, and not just in France.

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The possibility of removing four Snake River dams  Ice Harbor Dam, Lower Monumental Dam, Little Goose Dam and Lower Granite Dam  has long been a contentious one that has generally split along party lines. Shown is the Ice Harbor Lock and Dam, the first of four dams constructed as part of the Lower Snake River Project, authorized in the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1945. (Photo by Columbia River System Operations EIS)

The federal government this week acknowledged that the construction and operation of 11 hydroelectric dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers during the last century has had a devastating effect on eight Northwest tribes and more than a dozen native fish stocks, some of which have gone extinct.

The acknowledgement came in a report, Tribal Circumstances Analysis, that was published Tuesday. It represents the first time that the U.S. government has comprehensively detailed the harm that federal dams have caused and continue to inflict on Northwest tribes, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of the Interior, which undertook the analysis.

Those harms include the inundation of thousands of acres of tribal land and sacred sites and the loss of traditional fishing areas. The government in the analysis acknowledged that it violated treaty promises to the tribes in developing the dams, which brought economic benefits to white settlers  hydropower, irrigation, improved river navigation and mining  while the tribes lost much of their land as well as many of their traditional fishing grounds and the fish theyve long depended on.

Over a century ago, the government and private interests began damming the Columbia Rivers tributaries. These actions, along with many contemporaneous actions, perpetuated and were part and parcel of the historical transfer of land, natural resources and wealth away from the tribes, the report said. The government afforded little, if any, consideration to the devastation the dams would bring to tribal communities.

The analysis follows a series of promises from President Joe Biden to restore native fish populations in the Columbia and Snake River basins, and decades of mounting research and litigation pointing to the role of dams in declining native and wild fish stocks and the subsequent decline in the cultural, physical and economic health of Indigenous peoples who have lived for millenia in the basins.

This week, White House officials announced the creation of the Columbia River Task Force to coordinate interagency and tribal work on restoring wild fish stocks in the basins during the next decade. It will be led by Nik Blosser, former chief of staff to Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, a special assistant and deputy cabinet secretary in the Biden administration and, most recently, a vice president at Portland General Electric.

Leaders of the eight affected tribes named in the report lauded the analysis. Shannon Wheeler, chairman of the Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee, said in a statement it is a stark reminder for the federal government.

We know we must act urgently to prevent extinction, and this report reaffirms the need for the United States and us to move forward together, he said.

Dams in Oregon, Washington and Idaho

The 11 dams studied in the report include four in Oregon, six in Washington and another in Idaho.

Lower Columbia River dams in Oregon:

Bonneville Dam (Cascade Locks), completed in 1938

The Dalles Dam (The Dalles), completed in 1957

John Day Dam (Rufus), completed in 1971

McNary Dam (Umatilla), completed in 1954

Upper Columbia River dams in Washington state:

Chief Joseph Dam (Bridgeport), completed in 1977

Grand Coulee Dam (Mason City and Grand Coulee), completed in 1942

Lower Snake River dams:

Ice Harbor Dam (Burbank), completed in 1961

Lower Monumental Dam (Kahlotus), completed in 1969

Little Goose Dam (Dayton), completed in 1978

Lower Granite Dam (Colton), completed in 1979

The report also considers the Dworshak Dam, which was completed in 1973 and is located on the North Fork Clearwater River just upstream of a tributary to the lower Snake River in Ahsahka, Idaho.

The report also prompted criticism.

The nonprofit trade group Pacific Northwest Waterways Association, which represents ports and other economic interests in the area and supports hydropower, said the analysis was not based on scientific evidence and deliberately left out other river basin stakeholders.

Our concerns with the Biden administrations actions are their excessive lack of transparency and the failure to account for all interests affected by this complex issue, Neil Maunu, the groups executive director, said in a statement.

Devastation of fish stocks

The analysis references dozens of studies that have shown that the 11 dams and their reservoirs on the Columbia and Snake rivers have caused the rapid decline of salmon and steelhead populations in the basins. It further connects those declines to a decrease in the health and economic well-being of members of eight tribes.

Up to 16 million salmon and steelhead historically returned to the Columbia River Basin each year, according to the report. Millions of them migrated hundreds of miles upstream from the ocean to return to their birthing grounds to spawn, including up to 3.7 million salmon and steelhead that returned to the area above what is now Grand Coulee Dam. More than 1 million spring and summer Chinook are believed to have returned annually to the Upper Snake River Basin from the Pacific to spawn.

Tribes in the basin consumed millions of pounds of fish each year, which sustained hundreds of thousands of people as well as more than 130 animal species, the report said

Today, four of the 16 salmon stocks in the Columbia and Snake rivers are gone, including coho and sockeye runs, according to the report. Some populations have left their historic tributaries, such as salmon and steelhead that used to return to the Umatilla River. Today, seven of the 12 remaining salmon stocks in the Columbia River Basin are federally listed as threatened or endangered.

Half of the historic populations of salmon, steelhead and lamprey that once inhabited the Snake River Basin are also gone. The rest are in a dire condition and could become extinct, the report said. It also detailed losses of lamprey and sturgeon that are important to Columbia River Basin tribes, and, with the inundation of land near the rivers, the loss of habitat for elk and deer that were hunted by tribes and where other foods were harvested.

Federal and state governments have supported hatcheries as their key strategy to reverse fish declines, but the operations have failed to fulfill their promise, the report found. Decades of data show that despite billions in taxpayer investment, salmon and steelhead hatchery programs and restoration projects in the Columbia River Basin have failed to support or boost native fish populations and, in fact, are contributing to their decline.

Telling the truth

Officials from the affected Northwest tribes welcomed the report.

In statements Tuesday, they said they were glad the federal government acknowledged the destructive role dams have played in the loss of their land, food, health, cultural practices and economic well-being. Leaders from the Nez Perce and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation said that in publishing the analysis, the federal government was finally being honest.

The United States  by telling the truth about the historic and ongoing injustices the federal dams have imposed on our people and by embracing its treaty and trust obligations  is upholding the rule of law and highlighting the urgency to act to prevent salmon extinction, said Wheeler of the Nez Perce.

Corinne Sams, a board member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla and chair of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, said in a statement that the analysis was an honest acknowledgment of the devastating impact that the dams have had on Columbia River Basin tribes.

Three Northwest tribes and federal agencies have begun work on reviving Chinook and sockeye salmon runs that were among the most abundant in the world before the Columbia River dams were built



Eight tribes most affected by the dams

The Coeur DAlene Tribe of Indians

The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation

The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation

The Nez Perce Tribes

The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall Reservation

The Spokane Tribe of Indians

As part of that effort, the task force will be charged with coordinating salmon restoration efforts in the Columbia River and Snake rivers across agencies.

The administration said in its release that it chose Blosser to lead the task force based on two decades of experience working on salmon and energy issues. The group will be co-chaired by three people: Laura Daniel-Davis, deputy secretary of the Interior; Deputy Secretary of Energy Dave Turk; and Janet Coit, assistant administrator for fisheries at NOAA. Other members will be from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Office of Management and Budget and the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

Recommendations

The report made vague recommendations to include the historic effects of the dams in federal environmental reviews on Columbia and Snake River Basin projects. It also called for federal agencies to work together with the tribes, and to consider the recommendation from the fisheries division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to potentially breach the four lower Snake River dams.

NOAA officials have said that breaching the dams would be a good way to restore fish stocks.

Opponents of dam breaching point to another NOAA study showing that warming ocean temperatures from climate change are playing a large role in salmon and steelhead declines as evidence that dam breaching wont save the fish. The study, by NOAA scientist Lisa Crozier, found that rising sea temperatures were a dominant driver toward future extinction.

But in an email, she told the Capital Chronicle that its inappropriate to use her study in discussing historic salmon declines.

My paper was about the future, she said.

The post Feds acknowledge dams devastated Northwest tribes and fish stocks appeared first on Washington State Standard.
Fenced-in perimeter, demonstration areas for RNC announced. What to know.

Authorities on Friday released the boundaries of the credentials-only area for next month's Republican National Convention in downtown Milwaukee in addition to demonstration areas that will surround it.

The massive event will take place from July 15-18 and is expected to bring tens of thousands of visitors to Wisconsin and thousands of police officers from outside agencies.

"Together, this team has been preparing for the convention for over a year," U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle said at a press conference. "They have been thoughtful about community impact, traffic concerns, businesses and most importantly, ensuring a safe and secure convention for attendees and the city of Milwaukee."

Here's what to know about the security measures that will be in place during the convention and the locations of demonstration areas, including a march route.

Where is the inner perimeter, or 'hard zone' of the 2024 Republican National Convention?

The U.S. Secret Service on released a map of the security zones for the Republican National Convention during a meeting on Friday, June 21, 2024, in downtown Milwaukee. The convention will be centered at Fiserv Forum, UWM Panther Arena and the Baird Center on July 15-18.

The "hard zone," or the area that is controlled by the Secret Service with credentials required to enter, will encompass Fiserv Forum, the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena and the Baird Center, the main spaces where the convention will take place.

The irregularly shaped area, also referred to as the "pedestrian restricted perimeter" stretches from West McKinley Avenue on the north to just past West Wisconsin Avenue to the south. The area encompasses Pere Marquette Park on the east side and stretches past North Lovell Street on the west.

Restrictions for this area will begin at 6 p.m. on July 14.

Where will the 'vehicle screening perimeter' be located for the RNC in downtown Milwaukee?

A "vehicle screening perimeter" will surround the hard zone.

The area stretches roughly from West Cherry Street on the north to Clybourn Street on the south and from North Ninth Street on the west to the east side of the Milwaukee River.

Restrictions will begin at 2 a.m. on July 15.

Credentials will not be required to enter the security footprint that surrounds the hard perimeter.

Who is allowed in the 'vehicle screening' and 'hard zone' perimeters?

The vehicle security perimeter is open to all pedestrians with no credentials or screening required to enter.

Vehicles trying to drive in the perimeter are allowed to enter but have to go through one of five vehicle checkpoints. Not all areas in the perimeter are available from each checkpoint, so the Secret Service recommends going through the checkpoint closest to the destination.

Bicycles can enter the vehicle screening perimeter, and rideshare, taxi and food delivery services will be allowed through a checkpoint.

For the "hard security zone," or "pedestrian restriction" area that encompasses the main sites of the convention, only credentialed and ticketed individuals are allowed to enter. Anyone entering the inner perimeter must go through a pedestrian screening.

Personal vehicles, golf carts and bicycles will not be allowed in the hard security zone. Businesses in the restricted area will not be accessible to the public and instead available only to convention attendees and volunteers.

What is the parade route for the RNC?

The RNC demonstration route will be on the south side of the hard zone, beginning and ending at Zeidler Union Square.

As with the demonstration areas, those looking to use the march route can sign up with the city for a time to use the march route.

Where will the RNC demonstration areas be located?

A speaker's platform for the public will be placed on North King Drive at McKinley Avenue with space for assembly at Haymarket Square Park. Milwaukee and U.S. Secret Service officials made the announcement on Friday.

There will be two designated demonstration areas, one on the north side near Fiserv Forum and a second on the south side near the Baird Center.

The northern speaker's platform will be at Haymarket Square at West McKinley Avenue and North King Drive.

The southern speaker's platform will be at Zeidler Union Square, which will also serve as the starting and ending point for the parade route.

Zeidler Union Square Park will serve as a speakers platform for the public on the south side of the RNC security perimeter. Milwaukee and U.S. Secret Service officials announced the location along with a parade route on Friday, June 21, 2-24.

Is Pere Marquette Park among the Republican National Convention demonstration areas?

No, it is in the hard zone, inaccessible to the general public.

U.S. Secret Service RNC Coordinator Audrey Gibson-Cicchino cited the RNC's rental of the Milwaukee County Historical Society on the park's southwest corner as the reason it was included in the perimeter  as Republicans had been pushing for.

The park on the west side of the Milwaukee River, where a demonstration area had long been expected to be located, had been rejected by Republicans, the most prominent protest group and nearby businesses.

RNC officials lobbied the Secret Service to expand the perimeter to encompass Pere Marquette Park, saying the location created risk for RNC attendees. Local business owners expressed concern that protests at the park could bring disruptions to their businesses.

Protesters also expressed discontent with Pere Marquette, for different reasons. The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin, on behalf of Coalition to March on the RNC 2024, sued the City of Milwaukee saying its plans for demonstrations violated the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Tim Muth, a staff attorney for the ACLU, said in a statement that the ACLU of Wisconsin was "surprised and disappointed" in the size of the "hard security zone" designated by the Secret Service.

Muth said the finalized "hard security" zone's expansion to include Pere Marquette Park cannot be justified and is an "impermissible concession" by the City of Milwaukee to the RNC.

City spokesperson Jeff Fleming said the city was not involved in the decision to include Pere Marquette Park in the "hard security" zone and the decision was made by "security experts in law enforcement and the United States Secret Service."

After mediation talks for the lawsuit broke down earlier this week, the ACLU is proceeding in federal court and hopes for a quick ruling in the case in favor of Coalition to March on the RNC 2024.

What does security look like at Maier Festival Park?

Restrictions will also be in place around Maier Festival Park for a Sunday kickoff event.

The restrictions are from 5 a.m. on July 14 to midnight.

The park will be in a pedestrian restricted perimeter, meaning it is accessible only to those with credentials.

The waters bordering the park, in addition to Lakeshore State Park, will be subject to maritime restrictions.

The area west of Maier Festival Park will be part of a vehicle screening perimeter.

In addition to road closures around the area, the Hoan Bridge in the area of Maier Festival Park will be closed.

What else is inside the pedestrian-restricted perimeter besides Fiserv Forum, UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena and the Baird Center?

The pedestrian-restricted perimeter will include the Trade Hotel, some businesses and organizations locations and a private residence, Five Fifty Ultra Lofts apartments at 550 W. Juneau Ave.

The hotel will be accessible to guests.

Residents in the Five Fifty building will be able to access their homes through a pedestrian gate at Sixth Street and McKinley Street. Residents will have to present identification and have their names confirmed on a list from building management.

Residents in the vehicle security perimeter will be able to access their homes as usual. If they are driving a personal vehicle, they will have to enter through one of the vehicle checkpoints.

Additional information for those affected is available at Milwaukee.gov/RNC.

What are the restrictions for the Milwaukee River?

From July 14-19, no commercial or recreational boats will be allowed on the Milwaukee River from Cherry Street to Michigan Street, and road bridges in this area will remain down during the convention.

Owners do not have to go through pedestrian screening to access private vessels docked on the river.

Privately owned vessels in the maritime security zone may leave and return on the river as long as their boats don't require the bridges to be raised. Before departure and re-entry, owners must contact the U.S. Coast Guard to request an escort.

Vessels returning to the maritime security zone to be docked will be subject to screening.

Tristan Hernandez can be reached at thernandez@gannett.com. Alison Dirr can be reached at adirr@jrn.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about the RNC hard perimeter, demonstration areas
With a weather forecast soaked with yet more showers and storms through Saturday, the Twin Cities is on flood watch.

Heavy rain, storms and flash flooding is possible Thursday night into Saturday, the Twin Cities office of the National Weather Service reported. An additional 2 to 4 inches of rain is expected to fall during this time.

River flooding will worsen through the week, according to the weather service, with moderate or major flooding at some locations.

Due to the incoming rain, a flood watch will be in effect for the metro from 5 p.m. Friday through 1 p.m. Saturday.

A flood warning is in effect for St. Paul starting Saturday morning until further notice due to the rising Mississippi River and threat of major flooding, according to the weather service alert.

St. Paul closures

Shepard/Warner Road will close this Sunday due to the expected flooding on the Mississippi River.

A 3.2-mile section of the road  on the north side of the Mississippi River along downtown St. Paul  will be closed to vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian traffic from Eagle Parkway to U.S. 61.

As part of the closure, Second Street from Kellogg Boulevard to Sibley Street will be closed and Sibley Street and Jackson Street between Kellogg Boulevard and Second Street will be closed to traffic. These one-way street sections that normally connect to Shepard/Warner will temporarily be converted to two-way traffic open only to access adjacent buildings.

The temporary closing of Shepard/Warner Road is part of the citys flood response plan when rising river levels approach the moderate flood stage of 15 feet.

Meanwhile, the rising waters also mean several parkland areas, trails and facilities in St. Paul will be temporarily closed.

Those going to city parks should check for facility, trail, and park closures on the website at stpaul.gov/flood.

Officials also ask that residents use caution if exploring areas close to the river as water levels can change quickly. They ask that residents follow posted signage, safety guidance and do not pass barricades.

The city is contacting property owners along the river who may be impacted. And the homeless assistance response team is working with the unsheltered or those in encampments that might be in areas prone to flooding.

The city will keep several roads, along with some park areas and facilities, closed until river levels have receded and everything can be safely cleared and reopened for public use.

Seeing the Mississippi River water levels rise in summer due to heavy rains is a bit out of the norm for Saint Paul, but we have experienced this before, said Sean Kershaw, St. Pauls director of Public Works, in a statement. The temporary parks and road closures are necessary steps we take to protect public and private infrastructure for all. We encourage everyone to be prepared and plan alternate routes to get in, out, and around Saint Paul for the next few weeks.

As of Thursday, the Mississippi River measured at 11.5 feet and is expected to crest at more than 20 feet late next week, according to the National Weather Service. Minor flood stage is reached at 14 feet. Moderate flood stage is at 15 feet. Major flood stage is at 17 feet.

Stillwater preparations

Across the east metro in Washington County, the city of Stillwater issued a notice on Thursday for an emergency meeting related to the rising St. Croix River.

The emergency meeting of the Stillwater City Council will be held at noon Friday at Stillwater City Hall.

The purpose of the emergency meeting is to declare the City of Stillwater in a State of Emergency for the flooding event of 2024, the notice announced.

For questions or more information, contact the city clerks office at stillwater@stillwatermn.gov or 651-430-8800.

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Department of Transportation plans to prepare Stillwaters historic lift bridge for high water.

On Friday morning, MnDOT crews will block access to both ends of the bridge, prohibiting pedestrian and bicycle traffic from crossing.

Parking also will be restricted from the area near the bridge in downtown Stillwater.

The crews will place ballast on the bridges two stationary ends to prevent possible structural movement caused by floodwater. The bridges lift span will then be fully raised, allowing marine traffic to continue to pass.

After the flood threat subsides, the bridge will reopen and the summer lift schedule will resume.

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Former Sen. Dean Tran facing more criminal charges. This time, his sister is also involved

FITCHBURG  Former state Sen. Dean Tran of Fitchburg and his sister Tuyet T. Martin were indicted on obstruction of justice charges related to an alleged attempt to cover up a sham job offer for Tran, the office of Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy announced Friday.

Tran, 48, a Republican and former 2022 candidate for Congress in the 3rd Congressional District, already faces several charges in other cases.

The indictment was unsealed in federal court in Boston on Friday charging Tran and Martin, 54, of Pelham, New Hampshire.

Tran faces one count of obstruction of justice and one count of making a false statement, according to Levy's office.

Martin faces two counts of obstruction of justice and one count of perjury. She was arrested Friday morning and will appear in federal court in Boston in the afternoon. Tran will appear at a later date.

In November 2023, Tran was arrested and charged in a 28-count federal indictment over an alleged fraudulent collection of pandemic unemployment assistance benefits as well as willful omission of consulting and rental income from his 2020, 2021 and 2022 tax returns.

According to Levy's office, the new indictment stems from an investigation into the COVID-19 benefits fraud allegations.

As part of that investigation, authorities looked into a purported job offer Martin made to Tran at Alecon Enterprises Inc. Martin was an owner and the CEO of Alecon.

During a June 2022 search of Tran's residence, the indictment alleges that Tran made false statements to agents about a job offer letter Martin had provided Tran.

Martin is alleged to have concealed and attempted to delete emails between her and Tran that pertain to the employment offer letter and allegedly provided false testimony about the letter before a federal grand jury in July 2023.

Anyone who obstructs a federal investigation is attempting to subvert the course of justice, Jodi Cohen, special agent in charge of the FBI's Boston Division, said in a statement. Today, former Massachusetts State Senator Dean Tran and his sister Tuyet Martin are accused of doing exactly that, in an effort conceal Mr. Trans alleged attempts to steal tens of thousands of dollars from public assistance programs at the expense of those in need. Make no mistake, the FBI and our partners will not hesitate to bring to justice anyone foolish enough to try to interfere with our cases.

In addition to Friday's indictment and Tran's COVID fraud charges, Tran was indicted on two charges of violating state ethics law in September 2023. The charges stem from longstanding allegations he had his Senate staff campaign for him on state time.

In July 2022, Tran was indicted for allegedly taking a firearm from an elderly constituent and misleading investigators about what had happened.

In March, Tran's former chief of staff Christianne Mylott-Coleman was sentenced in federal court in Springfield for filing false and fraudulent tax returns between 2016 and 2020.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Former state Sen. Dean Tran of Fitchburg facing more criminal charges
Missouri Republican governors race is close. What a new poll says about whos ahead

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, left; Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, center, and state Sen. Bill Eigel are Republican candidates for governor.

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft holds a small, margin-of-error lead over Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe in the Republican race for governor, according to a new poll that also shows nearly half of GOP primary voters remain undecided.

An Emerson College/The Hill poll of 489 Missouri Republican primary voters conducted earlier this week found 23% of respondents say they support Ashcroft and 20% support Kehoe. State Sen. Bill Eigel, a Weldon Spring Republican, has 6% support.

The polls margin of error was plus or minus 4.4%, meaning the race remains effectively tied.

Most striking about the results, however, is the large number of undecided voters who remain six weeks before the Aug. 6 primary election. A full 46% of GOP voters said they are undecided (Missouri is an open primary state; the poll asked respondents which party primary they plan to vote in).

Kehoe, the former owner of a Jefferson City car dealership, has campaigned as a supporter of farmers and ranchers, veterans and first responders. He has accumulated endorsements from major statewide groups, including the Missouri Farm Bureau, the Missouri Hospital Association and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce PAC.

The main PAC supporting Kehoe has also received major contributions from St. Louis philanthropist and Republican mega-donor Rex Sinquefield, including a $1 million donation earlier this month.

Ashcroft, the son of former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, has both emphasized the family connection while also pitching himself as an aggressive outsider. The senior Ashcroft has been featured in ads rebutting attacks by Kehoes camp, and Ashcroft has promised to seek a repeal of a recent gas tax increase and end the state income tax.

Mike Kehoes campaign has spent millions of dollars and still trails Secretary Ashcroft, even though the Ashcroft campaign has yet to spend any money on voter contact, Jason Cabel Roe, a spokesman for Ashcrofts campaign, said in a statement.

Roe predicted that as Ashcrofts campaign and the PAC supporting him begin airing digital and TV ads, Ashcrofts lead will expand.

Kehoes campaign didnt immediately comment on the results.

Kehoe, Ashcroft and Eigel will debate in St. Louis on July 24, KSDK-TV reported Thursday. KSDK will host the hour-long showdown, which will be simulcast on KSHB in Kansas City.

U.S. Senate race

Sen. Josh Hawley, a Republican, holds a comfortable lead over Democrat Lucas Kunce in the poll.

In the poll of 1,000 respondents, 47% said they support Hawley and 38% said they support Kunce. The results came with a margin of error of plus or minus 3%.

Emerson last polled the race in February. In the new poll, which was paid for by Nexstar Media, Hawleys support has grown five percentage points since, while Kunces support grew eight points.

Kunce must still secure the Democratic nomination. He faces three Democratic opponents, including state Sen. Karla May of St. Louis.

Chiefs and Royals

As Kansas lawmakers attempt to attract the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals, Missouri voters want the teams to stay in Missouri.

Asked how important it is to keep the teams in Missouri, 63% said it was important the Chiefs stay in Missouri while 37% said it wasnt important; 58% said it was important for the Royals to stay in Missouri, while 42% said it wasnt.

The poll didnt ask what should be done  if anything  to keep the teams in place.

The Kansas plan includes authorizing potentially billions in bonds to finance up to 70% of the cost of new stadiums for one or both teams. Missouri lawmakers say they support keeping both teams, but have signaled any potential special session is unlikely until after the August primary.

Presidential Race

The Emerson poll found that in a head-to-head match up, 53% of respondents say they support former President Donald Trump and 40% support President Joe Biden, with 7% undecided.

If third-party candidates are included, Trumps support falls to 50% and Biden to 35%, with 7% supporting Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Cornel West and Jill Stein each receiving 1% support.

In the 2020 election, Trump won 56.8% of the vote and Biden won 41.4%.
A former national police chief who was fired over his inability to stem the tide of armed gang violence gripping Haiti has once again been tapped to lead the countrys beleaguered police force.

Rameau Normil had served as acting director of the Haiti National Police for 15 months before he was fired by former President Jovenel Moise in November 2020. Late Wednesday, he was officially named back to his old job by the countrys new transitional government. Normil replaces Frantz Elbe, the embattled police director whose ouster had been demanded by human-rights advocates and others over criticism he wasnt doing enough to protect the public or police against gangs.

We believe the moment has arrived for us to give the police a new breath, a new energy to reconcile the police and the population, the newly selected prime minister, Garry Conille, said Thursday.

The decision to change the polices leadership, he said, was made with members of the transitional presidential council. Conille said the council has yet to discuss with Normil  who until recently had been assigned to Haitis embassy in Washington, D.C.  how to tackle the countrys worsening violence, but that it will happen soon.

Normils swearing-in ceremony, scheduled for Thursday, was postponed until 10 a.m. Friday.

The police needed a change in leadership, said Pierre Esperance, the head of the National Human Rights Defense Network and one of Elbes staunchest critics.

Rameau Normil, who previously served as acting director of the Haiti National Police for 15 months, has been tapped as police chief after his predecessor was ousted.

Esperance said he thinks that Normil did a good job when he oversaw the countrys Central Directorate of the Judicial Police unit before being tapped as top cop in 2019, but his work as director of the Haiti National Police under Jovenel Moise did not produce results.

The first time Normil was police chief, the last of the United Nations peacekeeping troops sent in after the deadly earthquake in 2010 had just left. Under Normil, the police struggled to restore calm to Haiti. Growing discontent led to chaos on the streets of Port-au-Prince as rogue cops carried out violent attacks and protests. In one infamous incident, police and members of the Haitian military engaged in a violent confrontation that left at least two dead and a dozen others injured.

The country saw a rise in gang-orchestrated kidnappings, massacres and high-profile assassinations, some of which implicated police officers. Unable to rein in the growing terror, Normil also came under fire for failing to arrest Jimmy Barbecue Cherizier, then a rising gang leader who was accused of carrying out a gruesome massacre in Port-au-Princes La Saline neighborhood.

At the time of Normils dismissal, the prime minister at the time, Joseph Jouthe, accused him finding pretexts to explain his lack of results.

Eve of Kenyas arrival

The latest change in leadership at the helm of the Haiti National police comes as a new transition government takes charge in the midst of a wave of deadly gang violence that has already killed or injured more than 2,500 people this year, and uprooted more than 100,000 from their homes. It also comes as the United States and Kenya finalize preparations for the arrival of a Multinational Security Support mission to help the Haitian police stabilize the troubled country and pave the way for elections.

So far seven nations, including Kenya, have notified the U.N. they will field officers for the security mission, which was approved by the Security Council in October but has faced repeated legal and financial delays. A U.N. trust fund for the force has only $21 million so far, and has made one disbursement of $1.2 million to reimburse training costs for the first group of Kenyan police officers. Though the deployment date remains a tightly guarded secret, a State Department spokesperson said that a base for the officers to work from is now ready.

Conille, the prime minister, said Thursday that while Kenyan President William Ruto recently reiterated his commitment to helping Haiti, it is our responsibility to take the country back from the gangs.

We have the means and we have the capacity, and we have the knowledge, he said. Others are coming to help us, they are coming to support us, they are coming to accompany us, but reestablishing security is our responsibility.

He added he doesnt want Haitians to think that the effort to bring peace to the country is being left to an entity other than us.

On Tuesday, a senior State Department official told the Miami Herald that, following months of refusal by senior Republican lawmakers to lift a hold on a funding request, Secretary of State Antony Blinken authorized $109 million to get the multinational mission off the ground. On Friday, the U.N. Security Council has scheduled a. briefing for an update on where the deployment stands.

In his new role as national police chief, Normil will not only need to work with the multinational force  most of whom do not speak French or Haitian Creole  he will find himself confronting even more challenging issues than he did the first time he held the post.

Armed gangs control more than 80% of the capital and are expanding outside Port-au-Prince. Since Feb. 29, armed groups have been targeting cops more and more.

Frantz Elbe, center, was replaced Wednesday as Haitis top cop.

A report published by the National Human Rights Defense Network last week said that 323 police officers have been killed since 2015. Between October 2021 and Wednesday, when Elbe officially informed his officers of his departure and his successors arrival, Haiti logged 120 police deaths, including 20 since January, the group said.

The report also said that of the 68 armed gang attacks since January 2021 against police stations, sub-stations, prisons and specialized units, 55 of them occurred during Elbes leadership.

Earlier this month, after three officers were ambushed in their armored vehicles and killed in a deadly gang attack, members of the transitional presidential council expressed their determination to reinforce the operational capacity of the police and offered condolences to the cops families. Conille also expressed outrage and sadness over what he described as the heinous and barbaric act, and promised peace would return to Haiti.

As images of the police officers charred and mutilated bodies were shared on social media, Cherizier, the former police officer turned gang leader, claimed responsibility for the attack. In a widely circulated video, he brandished seized weapons and warned that the June 9 attack near Delmas 18 was a warm up of whats to come. The attack, which also led to another officer being injured, occurred during a clash between members of Cheriziers newly created Viv Ansanm gang alliance and the polices specialized Anti-Gang Tactical Unit that Elbe created to help fight the gangs.

Not first time a fired top cop returns





This is not the first time Haiti has brought back a fired cop to lead its struggling force. After Normil was ousted in 2020, Moise appointed Leon Charles, who had headed the national police in 2004 before he was pushed out amid concerns by the international community over his commitment to cleaning up the force.

At the time Charles was named to the top job in 2020 he had spent 15 years out of the force. As head of the national police he faced criticism over his failure to thwart Moises assassination and guarantee the safety of Prime Minister Ariel Henry. Charles later resigned after being indicted by a Haitian judge in Moises July 7, 2021, assassination, telling the Miami Herald he needed to be free to defend himself.

Normil will find a national police force in disarray. The survey by the National Human Rights group said that 95% of officers it polled describe their general working conditions as a source of great frustration. The survey of 132 police officers was conducted between May 6 and 27 of this year. Officers were questioned about their working conditions, training, equipment and whether they felt safe.

The survey found that officers are subjected to unsanitary stations, demanding and difficult hours, insufficient and irregular salaries and insufficient training. After being trained at the National Police Academy, where officers say they were given worn and mostly unusable uniforms, boots and a firearm, 35% of those surveyed said had no access to further training.

The survey also found that 33% of the police officers had been victims of gunshot wounds, stabbings and other attacks.

Haiti Prime Minister Garry Conille on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 welcomes 455 newly trained specialized police officers in a ceremony at the National Police Academy in Port-au-Prince.

Earlier this week the National Police Academy hosted the graduation of 455 newly trained specialized police officers, including some benefiting from U.S. training.

Among those who attended the event alongside Conille and members of the transitional presidential council was Dennis Hankins, the recently appointed U.S. ambassador to Haiti. Hankins presence marked the first time in three years that a U.S. ambassador had visited the academy, which had become no-go zone despite its close proximity to the U.S. Embassy because of repeated attacks from gangs.
A plan to shield the Great Lakes from invasive carp needs Illinois backing. What's the delay?

A project aimed at keeping invasive carp out of the Great Lakes could be in jeopardy if Illinois doesn't meet a fast-approaching deadline to release federal funds.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has until the end of June to sign the agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or the project will incur additional costs and continue to face delays.

The Brandon Road Interbasin Project is a state-of-the art barricade at an important pinch point at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam along the Des Plaines River in Joliet, Illinois. From there, invasive carp could make their way from the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan.

The project costs more than $1.1 billion, which many say is a small price to pay to keep the Great Lakes healthy and protect the multi-billion dollar fishing and recreation industries.

Stakeholders around the region have long worried that the rivers and canal system connecting the Great Lakes with the Mississippi River would be a gateway for the invasive fish into the worlds largest surface freshwater system.

Tour boats ply the Chicago River in downtown Chicago near the mouth of the harbor. The Chicago River's flow pattern was reversed in the early 1900's from running north in to Lake Michigan to a southerly flow into the Des Plaines River and then the Illinois River to the Mississippi, to alleviate waste water problems that were building up in the Chicago harbor. That link is all that separates Asian Carp from the Great Lakes.

Its a connection that only exists because Chicago reversed the flow of its river, connecting it to the canal system bound for the Des Plaines and Illinois rivers and then the Mississippi.

In a single day late last year, a million pounds of carp were taken out of the Illinois River. And a live invasive carp was even captured seven miles from Lake Michigan past barriers in the canal system designed to keep the invaders out.

According to Molly Flanagan, chief operating officer at the Chicago-based Alliance for the Great Lakes, its been at least 18 months since the state has had the agreement, and it's unclear what the holdup is considering all state and federal funds are lined up.

We have invasive carp amassing below Brandon Road and now is the time to act, she said. The states failure to sign is the one thing holding up the project.

Workers from the Wisconsin DNR, Minnesota DNR, US Fish and Wildlife Service and the US Geological Survey remove netted fish part in an intensive invasive carp removal effort Thursday, April 8, 2021 on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wis. They found only four common carp in the net along with a variety of other species. The goal is to remove invasive carp present in Pool 8 south of Lock and Dam No. 7, and to curb the potential for invasive carp reproduction, and prevent their establishment in the Upper Mississippi River Basin.

If the project continues to get delayed and invasive carp get into Lake Michigan it will be hard to say that its not their fault, she said.

So, what are invasive carp? How will the Brandon Road project keep them out of the lakes? And what happens if Illinois doesnt sign the agreement?

Heres what to know.

What are invasive carp?

Invasive carp is a blanket term for giant fish that were first introduced in the U.S. in the 1970s to control weeds and algae blooms in wastewater treatment plants and aquaculture farms. The fish escaped confinement in Arkansas and Mississippi and made their way up the Mississippi River and spread into many of its tributaries.

Bighead, silver, black and grass carp are four species of invasive carp threatening waterways in much of the U.S. All four can approach or exceed 100 pounds and 4-feet in length.

Bighead and silver carp are currently the biggest threat to the Great Lakes and the closest to encroaching on Lake Michigan, said Titus Seilheimer, fisheries outreach specialist at Wisconsin Sea Grant.

Grass carp are already in the Great Lakes, except for Lake Superior, but they are not yet established. Most have been found in Lake Erie. Black carp are a little further away from the lakes towards the lower reaches of the Illinois River, Seilheimer said, and are a less immediate concern.

Workers from the Wisconsin DNR, Minnesota DNR, US Fish and Wildlife Service and the US Geological Survey remove netted fish part in an intensive invasive carp removal effort Thursday, April 8, 2021 on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wis. They found only four common carp in the net along with a variety of other species. The goal is to remove invasive carp present in Pool 8 south of Lock and Dam No. 7, and to curb the potential for invasive carp reproduction, and prevent their establishment in the Upper Mississippi River Basin.

Why are invasive carp a threat to the Great Lakes?

Invasive carp take a devastating toll on the environment and outcompete native fish, like many prized Great Lakes sportfish.

The voracious eaters, which eat nearly half their body weight each day, can drastically shift food webs. For instance, bighead and silver carp eat plankton and native mussels, leaving native fish to go hungry. The invaders take over quickly, laying hundreds of thousands of eggs at a time. They also worsen water quality and destroy habitat for waterfowl, amphibians and other fish.

Carp can also be dangerous. Silver carp are infamously known for being easily startled by boat engines, leaping upwards of 10 feet above the water and often injuring passersby.

More: Hundreds of invasive carp were caught in the Mississippi River near Trempealeau

The invasive fish have already upended much of the Mississippi River. But its a question mark on how the invasive fish would impact the Great Lakes, Seilheimer said. Every time a new invader arrives scientists have to relearn the dynamics of the ecosystem, he said.

Not only do carp threaten ecosystem health, but they also threaten the economic health of the fishing and recreational boating industries, which bring in $7 billion and $15 billion each year, respectively.

What is the Brandon Road carp project?

The Brandon Road Interbasin Project is one of the best lines of defense to keep invasive carp from passing through the nearly 100-year-old Brandon Road Lock and Dam.

The lock and dam is one of 18 locations where carp could get into the lakes from the Mississippi River, according to the Army Corps.

The system will include a variety of deterrents that will use electricity, sound and bubbles to block carp as well as a first-of-its-kind locking mechanism that will flush fish out of the water.

Who is paying for the project?

The federal government is providing $1 billion for the Brandon Road project.

Both Illinois and Michigan have appropriated roughly $114.6 million in total to cover the remainder of the project. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer agreed to contribute to the project in 2021.

More: Chicago River becomes battleground test lab

Why hasnt Illinois signed the key agreement?

The state of Illinois has expressed a few concerns publicly, but its unclear if there are more that are causing the delay, Flanagan said.

One delay has been that Illinois needs some of the land from a retired coal-fired plant, which it worries may contain hazardous materials, Flanagan said. But risk analyses by state and federal agencies have shown that the potential for contamination is low, she said.

Gov. Pritzker stated in a letter to Michael Connor, the Armys assistant secretary for civil works, that he did not want to overcommit state funds, WBEZ Chicago reported.

The Illinois governor suggested signing an incremental agreement that could potentially save money in the long-run, which the Army Corps said it didnt have the authority to do.

Illinois has also wanted to find ways to save money every step of the way, which isnt necessarily a bad thing, Flanagan said. But continued delays may wind up costing more, she said.

Silver carp jump out of the water during a survey by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service personnel.

Are the other Great Lakes states chipping in?

The Great Lakes states have a long history of working together, like in the creation of the compact that prevents long-range water diversions as well as the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative that continues to protect and restore habitats and communities.

But in this case, only Michigan is chipping in.

Gov. Pritzker expressed frustration in that same letter to the Army Corps stating that Illinois and Michigan should not be the only states to provide funds and expertise given the projects regional and national significance.

Flanagan believes this is an opportunity for the eight states to continue to work together to make sure this is successful. She suggested that the other states can provide expertise or even funds for operation and maintenance when it's up and running.

But in order for that conversation to move forward, Illinois has to sign this agreement with the Corps so that the project can move forward, Flanagan said.

More: Bighead carp DNA found in Milwaukee River for the first time

What will happen if Illinois doesnt sign it?

The Army Corps has indicated that if the partnership agreement is not signed by the end of June then construction cant start and the project will incur extra costs.

Construction was slated to begin later this year, Flanagan said, but because of the delay it likely wont begin until next year. And thats assuming the agreement is signed by the end of the month.

Seilheimer pointed out that this isnt just about invasive carp, but this will be a way to prevent the next invaders coming down the line.

This is an opportunity for Illinois to really step up and be a champion for the Great Lakes, Flanagan said.

More: How could Chicago sell Lake Michigan water to Joliet, 35 miles away? Five questions answered.

More: Great Lakes Compact protects water access. But that doesn't mean thirsty neighbors won't challenge it.

Caitlin Looby is a Report for America corps member who writes about the environment and the Great Lakes. Reach her at clooby@gannett.com or follow her on X @caitlooby.

Please consider supporting journalism that informs our democracy with a tax-deductible gift to this reporting effort at jsonline.com/RFA or by check made out to The GroundTruth Project with subject line Report for America Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Campaign. Address: The GroundTruth Project, Lockbox Services, 9450 SW Gemini Dr, PMB 46837, Beaverton, Oregon 97008-7105.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Illinois hasn't signed project saving Great Lakes from invasive carp
Road closures in Minnehaha and Lincoln counties: What we know so far

A road conditions map from South Dakota 511 shows the road closures near Canton and Worthing.

As sections of Sioux Falls and Minnehaha and Lincoln county are put under ongoing flash flood warnings, flood warnings and flood watches, roads in Sioux Falls and the surrounding area are closing.

A flood watch is in effect through 7 a.m. Saturday for all of southeastern South Dakota, and a flood warning is currently in effect for the following areas until 7:30 a.m. Saturday, according to the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls:

Portions of northwest Iowa, including the following counties, Clay, Dickinson, Lyon, O`Brien, Osceola and Sioux

Southwest Minnesota, including the following county, Nobles

And southeast South Dakota, including the following counties, Lincoln, Turner and Union

"Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 4 inches are possible in the warned area over the next 24 hours," the flood warning states. Heavier rain, with a risk of severe storms is expected after 5 p.m. Friday.

Locations that will experience flooding include: Sioux Falls, Sioux Center, Sheldon, Canton, Sibley, Rock Rapids, Beresford, Parker, Harrisburg, Tea, Rock Valley, Hull, Lennox, Sanborn, George, Centerville, Worthing, Larchwood, Inwood and Viborg.

Here's what we know so far about area road closures.

Road Closures in Lincoln County:

The Lincoln County Highway Department says no travel is advised in Lincoln County due to flooding on roads.

Canton

The Canton Police Department says to avoid these roads. It's working on compiling a full list of road closures.

North Cedar

4th Street

North Lincoln Street

3 to 4 miles north on North Dakota Street

North Bridge Street

Noid Road

Highway 18 has been opened back up, but the department says to proceed with caution.

Tea:

The Tea City Facebook says to avoid Gateway Boulevard when leaving or coming to Tea, as the road is down to one lane.

West of Canton and south of Worthing:

These roads are closed due to flooding until further notice, says South Dakota 511, the South Dakota Department of Transportation road conditions webpage:

South I-29 to SD-11 North

U.S 18 West Exit 59 to U.S 18 East Exit 62

0.25 miles north of SD-44 Exit 64 to US 18 West Exit 59

Road Closures in Minnehaha County:

The Minnehaha County Highway Department says multiple roads have begun to flood, and conditions are expected to become worse as the rain continues.

County Highway 121 (478th Avenue or Eros Road) is closed south of 252nd Street, according to the Minnehaha County Highway Department. NWS has reported standing water on I-29 south of Sioux Falls.

The Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office posted photos from the intersection of 478th Avenue and 252nd Street and Hartford Turtle Creek Park, where the roads have completely flooded.

Heavy overnight showers  call for flooded streets.



Use caution on your commute to work as many roads in the county may not be passable. Avoid driving through water and use alternative routes. Stay safe!



Photo 1) 478th Ave/ 252nd St

Photo 2) Hartford Turtle Creek Park pic.twitter.com/1lV5efbfpI  Minnehaha Sheriff (@MinnehahaCounty) June 21, 2024

Sioux Falls:

ArcGIS Web Application

These roads are closed according to a post on X from the City of Sioux Falls as of Friday night:

12th Street is closed from Sertoma Avenue to LaMesa Avenue

Madison Street is closed at LaMesa Avenue

Charger Circle south of 69th Street

41st Street at Cliff Avenue near Interstate 229

Holbrook Avenue between 61th Street and Bakker Park Drive

Louise Avenue from 41st to 47th Street

Madison Street at LaMesa Avenue

Oxbow Avenue between 53rd Street and Norie Place

Other roads around the Interstate 229 corridor are closed to due to flooding.

 41st Street west of Cliff Avenue

 Cliff Avenue south of I-229

 Minnesota Avenue south of I-229

 Attention AM Commuters! 



5:20 AM | We're getting reports of standing water on I-29 south of Sioux Falls this morning:



- Near the Canton exit, standing water on northbound I-29

- At mile market 69, moving water across all lanes of I-29 with 1 car stalled  NWS Sioux Falls (@NWSSiouxFalls) June 21, 2024

Lennox:

Road closed barricades are being placed at Boynton Avenue and Cherry, West 1st and Cleveland, and West 4th and Cleveland. Please proceed with caution, says the City of Lennox Facebook.

What to do if you encounter closed roads:

"If there's any barricades up because the road is closed, don't go across those," said Tim Masters, a hydro-meteorological technician with the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls. "The water might be deeper than you think."

Kathryn Kovalenko is an intern for the Argus Leader, paid for by a grant program through Bethel University this summer.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Road closures in southeastern South Dakota: What we know so far
Sen. Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan) questions stakeholders at a meeting of the Senate Elections and Ethics Committee. | Kyle Davidson

Last week, members of the Michigan Senate Elections and Ethics Committee voted to advance a package of bills intended to bolster the Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, addressing concerns of vote dilution, language access, protection for voters with disabilities and protections against voter intimidation, coercion or deception.

While Democrats have celebrated forward movement on the package, the bills have not received a warm reception among Republicans, with lawmakers in the House and Senate criticizing the policies alongside other bills that would change the requirements to request a vote recount, and voting rights laws approved by voters in 2022.

After several weeks of lengthy testimony on the package, which is made up of Senate Bills 401404, members of the committee voted 5-2 to send the bills to the Senate floor for a vote. Sens. Ruth Johnson (R-Holly) and Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan)  the committees two Republican members  voted against advancing the bills.

This comes after Michigan voters have enshrined voting rights in the state constitution via two ballot measures in 2018 and 2022, which include nine days of early voting, no-reason absentee voting, same-day voter registration and more. Republicans have also been critical of those changes and proposed a suite of voter restrictions last term that were vetoed by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Throughout the course of testimony, McBroom was trepidatious about the policies, arguing some provisions would increase burdens placed on election clerks and open them up to potential legal threats.

This so-called State Voting Rights Act legislation purports to protect voting rights, but our right to vote is already well protected by the Michigan Constitution. Passing more laws is redundant and just creates confusion, said McBroomn in a statement. What these completely unnecessary bills would actually do is create new headaches for local clerks by substantially increasing reporting requirements and their overall elections-related workload while costing taxpayers millions of dollars.

While bills received strong support from various voting rights groups and civil rights organizations, the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks and local government organizations also expressed concerns that the bills would create additional burdens on clerks, as well as financial and legal concerns for local governments facing voting rights complaints if the Michigan Voting Rights Act were to become law.

In recent years, Michigan clerks have had to adapt to a number of changes to election law and the state constitution, and have adapted well to those changes, Scott Smith, attorney for the city of Wyoming said in his testimony before the committee.

As political and media personalities continue to spread false narratives questioning the integrity of the election process, clerks have faced open hostility from voters and challengers and have faced burdensome Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and demands for information questioning their integrity, Smith said.

There are increasing difficulties in recruiting and retaining election workers. Every time we add complexity or new downsides to what is a fairly voluntary position with a local government, we make it harder to recruit folks, Smith said. When we have more proposed changes, such as in these bills, and these bills contain possible monetary penalties that the clerks have to face, theyre concerned.

Under Senate Bill 401, local governments would be prohibited from implementing any law, practice, policy or method of election that would lead to a disparity between a protected class of voters and other voters, or that would impair the ability of voters to participate in the electoral process. It defines what these violations would look like and permits individuals to take legal action to ensure their rights are protected.

Mike Batterbee, legislative associate for the Michigan Township Association testified in opposition to Senate Bill 401, arguing that it seems to place blame for voting rights violations on clerks. It also creates concerns of nuisance complaints which would require local governments to hire an attorney to address them, whether the complaints proceed to court or not.

However, Lata Nott, senior legal counsel on voting rights for the Washington, D.C.-based Campaign Legal Center, argued this policy would empower voters after the key provision of the federal voting rights act had been stripped away through various court decisions.

It would also encourage voters and local governments to work together to remedy potential violations before resorting to legal action.

Voters alleging racial discrimination must send their local government a notice letter with a detailed description of potential violations. After that theres a safe harbor, they cant file a lawsuit for at least 60 days  more time than that if the government starts implementing a solution  but during that time, both parties have the opportunity to collaborate in good faith to find a solution to the alleged problem, Nott said.

SB 401 recognizes that many local governments are good faith actors that would, if given the opportunity, proactively fix things that affect the voting rights of historically disenfranchised communities, Nott said.

The Michigan Voting Rights Act also includes streamlined tests for determining whether a law or regulation denies or impairs a minority communitys access to the ballot, or whether a map or election system minimizes a minority communitys voting power, allowing state courts to avoid the lengthy legal battles seen in federal voting rights cases, Nott said.

Before advancing the bills to the Senate floor, the committee also adopted updated versions of each of the bills addressing some stakeholder concerns.

Senate Bill 401 now creates a fund in the state treasury from which the Department of State can reimburse plaintiffs and local governments for up to $50,000 in certain expenses prior to litigation, which Committee Chair Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield) said would incentivize plaintiffs and localities to settle disputes before going to court, while also saving taxpayers money on potentially lengthy lawsuits.

Too many members from marginalized communities have faced discriminatory barriers when trying to exercise their most fundamental right as American citizens  their right to vote. Our committee heard exhaustive testimony about the need to secure access to the ballot box for all qualified voters. After working intently with voting rights advocates and election administrators, Im proud that we have now moved the Michigan Voting Rights Act to the full Senate for consideration, Moss said in a statement.

The MVRA underscores our commitment to safeguarding the right of each Michigan voter to feel empowered to shape our states future  free from discrimination and intimidation, he said.

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The post Senate Dems applaud movement on voting rights bills, while Republicans remain opposed appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Outgoing Tennessee bishop Rev. Bill McAlillys prayer for area United Methodists is they pursue reorientation in a season of upheaval and uncertainty.

I would love to say the disorientation is gone but its not, McAlilly said Wednesday in sermon during the regional United Methodist Church legislative assembly for the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference in Murfreesboro. So, buckle up.

In his last sermon to the legislative body before he retires in September, McAlilly focused on the ideas of orientation, disorientation and reorientation as a framework for how the local UMC should respond to a historic splintering in the denomination.

McAlillys sermon and other moments throughout the three-day legislative assembly at First UMC Murfreesboro previewed the future operations and spirit with which local United Methodists partner with one another. That forecast is one of greater reliance on lay volunteers to lead ministries and openness toward collaboration among churches across the ideological spectrum.

Bishop Bill McAlilly talks to the congregation during the annual Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference of the UMC at First United Methodist Church in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Monday, June 17, 2024.

The churchs task is not to liberalize conservatives or conservatize liberals. Thats someone elses job, the Rev. Davis Chappell, senior pastor of Brentwood UMC, told conference delegates on Tuesday. Stick to the essentials so that we can live together in harmony.

Drawing from his personal experience at Brentwood UMC  a prominent suburban church comprised of many centrist and conservative-leaning parishioners  and the story of its response to a push for churches to leave the UMC, Chappells message to the Tennessee-Western Kentucky delegates was a base note for much of the discourse at the legislative assembly.

More than 7,500 U.S. churches left the UMC, or disaffiliated, between 2019-2023 following disagreements over church policy and theology, including dealing with LGBTQ+ rights. Many of the churches joined a more conservative breakaway denomination called the Global Methodist Church. Among those total disaffiliations, 360 churches were from the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference, which encompasses all but East Tennessee.

Still, some conservative and many centrist churches in the region remained United Methodist alongside other staunchly progressive congregations largely in Nashville. This ideological array is part of a push for a big tent denomination, a major theme of the worldwide UMC General Conference meeting in April. At the denominations top legislative assembly in Charlotte, the UMC General Conference reversed anti-LGBTQ+ restrictions and approved a plan to restructure the denomination.

In the wake of those policy changes, United Methodists are now defining at the local level what it means to be practically committed to that big tent ideal. A first step for the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference was acknowledging the churchs hurtful treatment of LGBTQ+ people through a resolution on confession and reconciliation.

The resolution, ultimately supported by 84% of delegates, calls for a more inclusive, affirming, and restorative church that seeks to heal historic harms done to the Black, Brown, LGBTQIA+, immigrant, indigenous communities, and women.

That acknowledgement is important for a lot of us, especially as someone who is LGBT and are seeking a place in this church when so many others who have faced historic harms by the Methodist movement, said delegate Charles Uffelman, who co-authored the resolution, during a Wednesday floor debate. Confession frees us to build the church that serves everybody.

More from UMC General Conference: United Methodists took historic steps toward inclusion but big tent work has just begun

On the other side of death

Amid the ongoing evolution in area United Methodists collective values, McAlilly and his team have sought to manage the administrative upheaval of the splintering in the UMC as proactively as possible.

Its taken all the faith God could muster up and put in me these last few years to make it, frankly, McAlilly said in his sermon.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic and disaffiliations, McAlilly, who began his tenure in 2012, faced a daunting responsibility: merge the Tennessee and Memphis regional (called annual) conferences. The work took the better part of a decade and required the conference to consolidate staff and rely more on lay volunteers, something other UMC regions would later grapple with as disaffiliations picked up starting in 2019.

Liturgical Dancers start the beginning of worship during the annual Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference of the UMC at First United Methodist Church in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Monday, June 17, 2024.

When I got here 12 years ago, we were oriented toward a different church than the one we are now serving, McAlilly said. That church is no longer here.

The Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference lost about 38% of its total churches in 2019 to disaffiliations, according to the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, a research center out of the UMC-affiliated Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington D.C. Those disaffiliations accounted for about $2.2 million in annual revenue the conference received from church giving, John Pearce, chair of the conferences council on finance and administration, said in a June 18 report to delegates. The conference has recouped some of those losses through exit fees that disaffiliating churches were required to pay, totaling about $12 million for the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference, Pearce said.

Also, despite McAlillys vocal opposition to disaffiliation and unlike other annual conferences that wound up in heated court battles, the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference mostly avoided heightened conflict with disaffiliating churches. In the meantime, the conference prioritized new programs such as The Vine UMC, a hybrid church initiative.

Though its become a resource to parishioners in a variety of contexts, the conference launched The Vine primarily to support for those who have lost their churches due to disaffiliations, the Rev. Erin Beasley said in a June 18 report to delegates. Some churches' decision to disaffiliate, a process requiring a two-thirds majority vote, split congregations in half or caused anti-disaffiliation members to leave on their own. A goal for The Vine in its second year is to create a liturgy guide for church gatherings in which an ordained United Methodist minister isnt present.

To put an even finer point on his sermon on the role of the church in the cycle of disorientation and reorientation, McAlilly talked about his near fatal car crash in August 2022 and a support system of United Methodist staff and pastors that immediately sprang up.

The annual conference at First United Methodist Church in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Monday, June 17, 2024.

A member of McAlillys staff who speaks Spanish was the first to receive a call from a Spanish-speaking first responder, who was calling recent contacts on McAlillys phone. That initial call started an information chain, including to a friend of McAlillys who raced to the hospital as first responders transported the bishop from the site of the accident on Interstate 24. Simultaneously, Chappell called a Brentwood UMC parishioner who works for Tennessee Highway Patrol to get real-time information to McAlillys wife and son.

We can find our way to reorientation and the church has provided a framework for that, McAlilly said. Just as he learned from his own near-death experience, McAlilly said the current moment of recovery and reimagining throughout the UMC is not all that different.

Reorientation on the other side of death. We have a name for that in the church, know whats it called? McAlilly said. Its resurrection.

Liam Adams covers religion for The Tennessean. Reach him at ladams@tennessean.com or on Twitter @liamsadams.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TN United Methodists tackle cooperation amid policy, leadership change
US Navy faces 'most intense combat since World War II' against Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels, defense experts say

The US fight against Yemen's Houthis is its toughest fight since WWII, experts told AP.

Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea aim to pressure Israel and the West over Gaza.

US strikes recently destroyed Houthi radars as well as sea and aerial drones.

The US is facing its most intense battle since World War II against Yemen's Houthi rebels, experts say.

"We're sort of on the verge of the Houthis being able to mount the kinds of attacks that the US can't stop every time, and then we will start to see substantial damage," Bryan Clark, a former Navy submariner and a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute told the Associated Press.

"If you let it fester, the Houthis are going to get to be a much more capable, competent, experienced force."

"This is the most sustained combat that the US Navy has seen since World War II  easily, no question," he said.

Houthi attacks have been targeting ships in the Red Sea corridor with missiles and drones since October as part of a campaign that aims to put pressure on Israel and the West over the war in Gaza.

Between October 17 and the start of May, the Houthis attacked commercial vessels at least 53 times and have posed a serious threat to naval ships in dozens of other incidents, according to a Congressional Research Service report.

US warships from the US Navy's Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group had fired over 500 munitions fighting the Houthis, Business Insider reported on May 23.

This week, the US attacked several Houthi radar sites in response to recent rebel fire that targeted shipping containers and saw one merchant sailor go missing, authorities said Saturday.

US strikes destroyed seven radars within Houthi-controlled territory, the military's Central Command said.

"These radars allow the Houthis to target maritime vessels and endanger commercial shipping," CENTCOM said in a statement.

US forces also destroyed two Houthi uncrewed surface vessels (USV), or drone boats in the Red Sea, as well as an aerial drone launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen, the statement said.

Yemen's Houthi loyalists lift their weapons in the air. Mohammed Hamoud

Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines warned last month that the Houthis were likely to remain active "for some time," and the intensity of the combat shows no sign of letting up.

"I don't think people really understand just kind of how deadly serious it is what we're doing and how under threat the ships continue to be," Cmdr. Eric Blomberg with the USS Laboon told the AP.

Sailors often have only a few seconds to confirm an incoming Houthi strike. They have to quickly confer with other ships and then respond by firing at the incoming missiles and drones.

"It is every single day, every single watch, and some of our ships have been out here for seven-plus months doing that," said Capt. David Wroe, the commodore overseeing the guided missile destroyers, told AP.

This exacting environment has put a financial strain on US resources in the region.

Parts of the Eisenhower strike group have already left the Red Sea once to be rearmed and resupplied , and the Pentagon recently extended its deployment for a second time.

Munitions have cost some $1 billion , Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro revealed in mid-April, a figure that has certainly increased in the two months since.

"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, previously told Business Insider.

The Houthis continue to be backed by Iran, and have employed a dangerous mix of anti-ship ballistic and cruise missiles, one-way attack drones, and uncrewed surface vessels.

Earlier this month, the rebels said they had fired a new solid-fuel missile called the "Palestine" at the southern Israeli city of Eilat.

The missile is believed to be able to fly at hypersonic speeds and resembles one unveiled by Iran earlier this year.

Fabian Hinz, a weapons expert at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, wrote on X that the Palestine missile reassembled the Iranian-developed Fattah 1 and the Kheybarshekan 2, both solid-fuel missiles.

Read the original article on Business Insider
TOKYO, Jun 21 (News On Japan) - The Tokyo gubernatorial election was officially announced on June 20th, with a record 56 candidates running. However, the allocated poster spaces only accommodate 48 candidates, leaving some without a place to display their posters. As a workaround, clear file folders are being used, causing confusion at polling sites.

Koike: 'Making Tokyo the Best in the World'

With a population of 14.17 million and a budget of 8.453 trillion yen, who will steer this megacity?

Yuriko Koike, aiming for a third term at 71, held her first speech at her campaign office, streamed online instead of on the streets.

'Thank you all for gathering here at the kickoff event. Yes, thank you for your energetic voices,' she said.

Koike emphasized making Tokyo 'number one.'

'Lets make Tokyo the best city in the world. Let's enhance our top achievements further. I ask for your support and cooperation as we begin this journey,' she stated.

Despite continued coverage from her office, there were no signs of lawmakers from the Liberal Democratic Party or Komeito, who had declared their support. Instead, various organizations came to hand over their letters of recommendation.

Koike is committed to balancing her duties, primarily focusing on her official work.

'I will campaign whenever I have time. I want to go with a dual approach, combining public duties and campaign activities,' she added.

Renho: 'Shining Light on Shadows'

Renho, 56, was at Nakano Station.

'Im giving it my all,' she said.

Meanwhile, Communist Party supporters were helping put up posters in Akishima City. The Constitutional Democratic Party, lacking strong local support, was organizing full-scale backing efforts.

'I think these posters reflect her kindness and responsiveness to everyones concerns,' a Communist Party supporter commented.

'The campaign has finally started today. I am deeply grateful to everyone who stops and waves. I want to run these 17 days to become Tokyos leader. Koike is good at shining light on the bright spots, but I believe she has neglected the shadows for eight years. I aim to address these issues,' Renho stated.

Ishimaru: 'Connecting People Through the Internet'

Shinji Ishimaru, 41, former mayor of Akitakata City, Hiroshima Prefecture, had his supporters take the mic first at his kickoff speech.

'I wrote to Mr. Ishimaru for the first time, wanting to support him and meet him. I listen to his YouTube videos daily, sometimes until 4 or 5 in the morning,' said the founder of Doutor Coffee.

'The power of the internet has expanded our network significantly,' Ishimaru noted.

Campaigning through online connections, he was taking selfies with many in Omotesando.

'The difference between the Akitakata mayoral and Tokyo gubernatorial elections is the people. In Akitakata, there was no one around even when riding the campaign car. Today, there are only people everywhere. We need to act quickly and change politics,' he emphasized.

Tamogami: 'Younger than Trump'

Former Air Self-Defense Force Chief Toshio Tamogami, 75, campaigned outside the Ministry of Defense.

'I am running for Tokyo governor. At 75, I am younger than President Biden and former President Trump,' he claimed.

Tamogami garnered 600,000 votes in the 2014 Tokyo gubernatorial election, finishing fourth.

'People ask how many votes Im aiming for. Im targeting 2.5 million. I must be number one. Others may be okay with second place, but I want to be first. I believe my capabilities far exceed other candidates, having led 50,000 personnel in the Self-Defense Forces,' he asserted.

Unusual Measures for Poster Display

The Tokyo gubernatorial election, with its colorful candidates, faced an issue with insufficient poster spaces.

In Kiyose City, the election management committee was anxious, unable to eat lunch. The designated boards by Tokyo allow only 48 spaces.

'We cant fit everyone, said Junichi Ito, head of Kiyose Citys election management committee.

The final count of 56 candidates was more than double the previous 22, a record high. Tokyos response was to have candidates use clear file folders for extra posters.

'Candidates are trying various ways to improve the appearance,' said announcer Ayari Shimomura.

Candidates themselves devised solutions to display posters properly.

'This looks much better. Its rain-resistant, and the name is clear,' said one candidate.

Legal and Ethical Issues

The Tokyo election committee requested candidates exceed the allotted spaces, leading some to use clear file folders.

Half of the record number of candidates are from a single political group, which allows supporters to place self-made posters on allocated spaces, given a donation.

'Posters provide voters with a basis for voting. This act is essentially a "sale" and undermines democracy, straying from the election's essence,' commented Hiroshi Shiratori, a professor at Hosei University.

Some election committees in Tokyo voiced concerns.

'This wasnt anticipated in the Public Offices Election Law. It uses taxpayers money, raising issues of fairness and expense. We want more voters to participate, but candidate information is not reaching them,' they said.

Legally, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said, 'Posters are free as long as they dont support others or contain false content. Its not illegal.'

However, Professor Shiratori noted, 'The election law hasnt adapted to modern changes. A fundamental review is urgently needed.'

Indecent Posters Lead to Warning

The Metropolitan Police Department issued a warning on June 20th for indecent posters displayed by a male candidate, violating the nuisance prevention ordinance.

The candidate was confirmed to have placed indecent posters in several locations, leading to numerous complaints to the police.

Source: ANN
KYOTO, Jun 21 (News On Japan) - A controversy has erupted over the sale of high-priced premium seats at the Gion Festival. Yasaka Shrine's chief priest has expressed concern over the decision to sell premium seats for 150,000 yen each, stating, "This is not a show."

The Kyoto City Tourism Association has been advocating for these seats as a new source of revenue to support the preservation and continuation of the festival, especially in light of the financial difficulties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the chief priest has firmly opposed offering alcoholic beverages in these high-priced seats, arguing that the Gion Festival is a sacred event, not a spectacle.

At a press conference held on June 20, it was decided that no alcohol or food would be provided in these premium seats, seemingly resolving the dispute. This article delves into the feasibility of balancing the festival's sacred nature with its role as a tourist attraction, especially in light of the controversy over the premium seats.

The Gion Festival, which includes the Yamaboko Junko parade, is registered as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. Yasaka Shrine, where the festival is centered, has a history of over a thousand years, and the parade is believed to carry deities that purify the city. The premium seats, which are priced at 150,000 yen each this year (down from 400,000 yen last year), offer benefits such as parasols, beverages, and audio guides, especially targeting foreign tourists.

The tourism association explained that they reduced the price this year to make the seats more accessible to domestic tourists. The funds raised are intended to support the festivals operational costs, including the preservation of the Yamaboko floats. Despite understanding the financial necessity, the chief priest strongly opposed the inclusion of alcohol in the premium seats, citing the dangers of drinking in the heat and the importance of maintaining the festival's sacred atmosphere.

In response to these concerns, it was decided to eliminate alcohol and food from the premium seats, aiming for a respectful way to enjoy the festival. The premium seats, however, remain a valuable opportunity to witness the dramatic "Tsuji-mawashi" turning of the floats, a highlight of the Yamaboko Junko parade, and are seen by some as worth the expense.

A survey conducted among 528 people via LINE showed that over 70% supported the premium seats, citing reasons such as securing a place to sit, especially for families with children, and contributing to the preservation of cultural heritage. Opponents argued that monetizing a sacred event feels like profiteering and that festivals should be enjoyed equally by all. Respondents also emphasized the importance of maintaining decorum, suggesting restrictions on alcohol, food, camera use, dress code, smoking, and drone usage.

The Gion Festival, deeply rooted in history, is both a religious event and a popular attraction. Experts suggest that maintaining respect and decorum is crucial for the festivals future, balancing its sacred traditions with its role as a major tourist draw.

Source: YOMIURI
KYOTO, Jun 21 (News On Japan) - A traditional ceremony to banish evil and pray for good fortune, known as the 'Bamboo Cutting Ceremony,' was held on June 20 at Kurama Temple in Kyoto's Sakyo Ward. During the event, men dressed as warrior monks struck down green bamboo, symbolizing a giant serpent, with mountain swords.

The ceremony began with the sound of a conch shell, signaling the start of the ritual. Eight men, divided into pairs, took turns cutting down approximately 5-meter-long green bamboo with their swords. The men, dressed as warrior monks, were divided into two groups: the "Omi Group" and the "Tanba Group." According to tradition, the group that cuts the bamboo faster is believed to bring a bountiful harvest to their region.

This ancient practice, held annually, attracts many visitors who come to witness the unique and vibrant event at Kurama Temple.

Source: Kyodo
KYOTO, Jun 21 (News On Japan) - A hotel in Kyoto refused to accommodate an Israeli man, unilaterally identifying him as a member of the military. The city issued administrative guidance to the hotel on June 20, citing potential violations of the Hotel Business Law.

According to the Kyoto city government, the incident occurred in June when the hotel declined the man's reservation, assuming he had military ties. On June 17, the city received a report that a post on social media was spreading, indicating an Israeli man had been denied accommodation. Upon investigation, the hotel admitted to the act.

Denying accommodation without a legitimate reason could violate the Hotel Business Law, prompting the city to issue administrative guidance on June 20, demanding measures to prevent recurrence.

The hotels operating company acknowledged the refusal but declined to provide further details.

Source: MBS
Wakayama, Jun 21 (News On Japan) - A high-profile legal battle over a 13 billion yen inheritance is set to reach a verdict. The case involves a handwritten note allegedly penned by the late businessman, Kosuke Nozaki, known as the 'Don Juan of Kishu,' declaring that his entire estate be donated to Tanabe City. Nozaki passed away at 77, leaving behind a vast fortune and controversy.

The dispute arose after Nozaki's former wife, Saki Sudo, 55 years his junior, was arrested and charged in connection with his death. While the criminal trial is yet to commence, another courtroom drama concerning his substantial inheritance is nearing its conclusion.

Nozaki, who made his wealth through various ventures including lending and liquor distribution, was known for keeping large sums of cash and precious metals at his home. In 2016, he published an autobiography boasting of relationships with 4,000 women and spending 3 billion yen. His flamboyant lifestyle was often marred by trouble; in the two years preceding his death, he was twice a victim of theft, losing substantial amounts of cash and valuables.

In a shocking development in 2018, Nozaki married Sudo, a model 55 years younger. Just three and a half months later, Nozaki was found dead in his home, the cause determined to be acute stimulant intoxication. Three years later, Sudo was arrested and charged with his murder.

Amidst these events, a separate court case concerning Nozaki's will has captured public attention. The contested will, written on an A4-sized paper in red ink, states his entire fortune should be donated to Tanabe City. The city's administration has initiated procedures to claim the inheritance for the benefit of its citizens, but Nozaki's relatives contest the will's validity.

In April 2020, Nozaki's family filed a lawsuit against the executor of the will, arguing the document is a forgery. They claim there is no plausible reason Nozaki would donate his entire estate to the city. Handwriting analysis has become a crucial point of contention, with the family presenting evidence suggesting the handwriting does not match Nozaki's.

Conversely, Tanabe City's legal team argues that the handwriting on the will matches samples of Nozaki's writing from business documents. Both sides have presented detailed handwriting analyses to support their claims, making the will's authenticity the central issue in the case.

Legal experts suggest that the court's decision will hinge on the scientific validity of the handwriting analyses. The contested inheritance, amounting to about 2% of Tanabe City's annual budget, has significant implications for the community.

Source: MBS
Wakayama, Jun 21 (News On Japan) - In a significant ruling regarding the estate of businessman 'Kishu Don Juan,' the court declared on Friday the will, which states that his 1.3 billion yen estate be donated entirely to the city, to be valid. Relatives had contested the will's validity, but the court dismissed their claims.

Kosuke Nozaki, a wealthy businessman from Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture, amassed his fortune through various ventures, including money lending and alcohol wholesale. Nozaki, who was 74 at the time of his death, was known for keeping large amounts of cash and precious metals at his home.

In a 2016 autobiography, Nozaki claimed to have dated 4,000 women and spent 3 billion yen on them, earning him the nickname 'Kishu Don Juan' after a womanizing character from Spanish literature. Despite his flamboyant lifestyle, he faced several troubles.

Two years before his death, Nozaki reported that 60 million yen worth of cash and precious metals were stolen by a female acquaintance. The following year, he was robbed of 40 million yen in valuables, although the perpetrator was quickly apprehended.

In 2018, Nozaki made headlines again when he married Saki Sudo, a model 55 years his junior. Just three and a half months later, Nozaki was found dead at his home from acute stimulant poisoning. Sudo has been arrested and charged with his murder, though the criminal trial has not yet commenced.

Alongside the criminal proceedings, another legal battle was fought over Nozaki's estate. The dispute centered on a will, written in red ink on A4-sized paper, stating: 'I donate all my personal property to Tanabe City. Kosuke Nozaki.'

Nozaki's relatives argued the handwriting was unnatural and that there was no rational motive for the donation to Tanabe City, claiming the will was not authored by Nozaki and thus invalid.

Wakayama District Court ruled on June 21 against the relatives, declaring the will valid. The court found that the handwriting bore Nozaki's unique characteristics, concluding there were no irregularities. Furthermore, the court noted that Nozaki had a history of making donations to Tanabe City and had expressed his intention to continue doing so, deeming the will consistent with his past actions. Tanabe City's claim was thus upheld.

A Tanabe City official expressed relief at the verdict, stating, 'It was a long trial, but we are relieved. We plan to use the funds for administrative activities that benefit the entire community.'

Residents of Tanabe City shared mixed reactions. One resident said, 'If it was his wish, it's good for the city to receive the donation,' while another added, 'The amount is too large to comprehend. I hope it will be used effectively.'

Attention now turns to how Nozaki's relatives will respond to the ruling.

Related: 'Don Juan' Inheritance Sparks Legal Battle

Source: TBS
Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and Chinese Premier Li Qiang have affirmed that their countries will continue to communicate at every level. Ishiba has also conveyed deep concerns about the situation in the East China Sea and increased activity by the Chinese military near Japan. (NHK)
TOKYO, Jun 21 (News On Japan) - A high-profile papa katsu woman who earns 5 million yen a month has shared her insights following the resignation of former MP Miyazawa over a papa katsu scandal. In a candid interview, the woman, identified as Rika, 25, shed light on her two-year experience in the world of compensated dating, commonly referred to as papa katsu.

Rika revealed that she has about 30 papa katsu partners, meeting them once or twice a week. Her earnings can reach up to 500,000 yen per month, with annual income exceeding 60 million yen. She explained that some of her patrons even buy her home appliances, calling them 'godly uncles'.

Despite the financial benefits, Rika stressed the importance of maintaining a balanced relationship with her patrons. She avoids deep emotional connections and prefers to keep relationships superficial, ensuring she doesnt rely heavily on any single patron. Her approach is to keep the engagements light, often meeting for just an hour or two, and focusing on making her patrons feel special and valued.

Rika also disclosed that she supports multiple 'boyfriends' financially, some of whom are former hosts. She pays for their living expenses, including rent and other costs, demonstrating the financial power she wields in her unique lifestyle.

Reflecting on Miyazawas resignation, Rika expressed confusion over why such a scandal would lead to a resignation. She emphasized that many men are easily charmed by young women and that the world of papa katsu is a testament to this reality.

An expert on papa katsu, Nanase, noted that the industry has evolved, becoming more sophisticated and cunning. The infamous 'Lily-chan' incident, where a woman sold a manual on how to deceive men, highlighted the darker side of this industry. Nanase warned that men without experience in dealing with women are particularly vulnerable to such schemes.

As the papa katsu scene continues to attract both men and women, the complexities and ethical concerns surrounding it remain. The resignation of Miyazawa serves as a reminder of the blurred lines between personal choices and public responsibilities.

Source: ABEMA
TOKYO, Jun 22 (News On Japan) - The long-standing seniority-based system in Japanese companies is being phased out. Many have considered it natural to rise with age, but there have been times when people desired recognition based on ability. With this deeply ingrained system now under review, will the decision by a major bank change Japan's corporate culture?

It has been revealed that Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, one of Japan's three mega-banks, is planning a major overhaul of its personnel system. One of the significant changes is the abolition of the seniority-based system. Currently, salaries and positions increase with years of service. Sumitomo Mitsui, with approximately 30,000 employees, plans to abolish this system within two years. The bank aims to shift to a performance-based system.

The seniority system was introduced during Japan's post-war economic boom to ensure long-term employment. Mega-banks, which have historically hired large numbers of new graduates, have adhered strongly to this system. What is Sumitomo Mitsui's main goal? The bank wants to attract and retain talented individuals. Recognizing and rewarding young professionals for their contributions, regardless of age, is expected to strengthen their appeal to the younger generation. It will also ensure that even older employees who deliver results receive appropriate compensation. The key point is that under the new system, even a 20-something could earn an annual salary of 20 million yen based on performance.

This move also abolishes the automatic reduction of salaries for middle-aged and older employees. How do people on the streets perceive this change? Opinions are mixed. One man in his 40s welcomes the end of the seniority system, believing it to be beneficial for the younger generation. Another 40-something appreciates the predictability of the old system for financial planning. A pair of 20-somethings expressed divided opinions; one felt motivated by the change, while the other worried about the risk of salary decreases.

Business leaders also have varied views. One executive supports the idea, emphasizing the desire to reward high performers regardless of age. However, evaluating abilities remains challenging.

Experts believe that the abolition of the seniority system by a major bank signals a significant shift. They expect this change to influence smaller companies as well. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which struggle to secure talent, are likely to follow suit in adjusting their wage structures. The collapse of the seniority system is expected to accelerate rapidly.

From the workers' perspective, it's challenging to determine which system is better. The current pressure on Japanese companies to attract top talent to remain competitive internationally highlights the urgency of such reforms.

Source: ANN
TOKYO, Jun 22 (NHK) - Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako are embarking on an eight-day trip to Britain as state guests. They were officially invited by King Charles.

The Emperor and Empress will depart from Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Saturday morning.

It will be the third state visit to Britain by a Japanese Emperor and Empress. The first was in 1971, and the second in 1998.

The latest visit was initially scheduled for 2020 upon the invitation of late Queen Elizabeth II, but later postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Imperial couple will attend a welcoming ceremony on Tuesday as well as a banquet at Buckingham Palace.

Emperor Naruhito plans to visit the British royal family's tomb at Windsor Castle on Thursday to lay flowers at the grave of Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip.

The next day, the Emperor and Empress are scheduled to visit the University of Oxford, where they both studied.

The Imperial couple will return to Japan next Saturday.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds recently announced the appointment of Donna Bothwell as a district judge in the 4th Judicial District.

The rural Logan resident is a district associate judge in 4th District and fills a vacancy created by the forthcoming retirement of Judge Jeffrey L. Larson next month.

She graduated from the University of Colorado and earned her law degree from the Drake University School of Law. She has been a judge since March 2022, presiding over misdemeanor criminal and juvenile court cases in Pottawattamie County and all juvenile cases in Page County.

"I appreciate the challenge of finding solutions and ideas to keep families together or successfully working toward reunification," Bothwell wrote in her application.

Bothwell was an intake attorney for Iowa Legal Aid in Council Bluffs, a sole practitioner in Logan and a staff attorney at Iowa Legal Aid. She was admitted to the Iowa Bar in April 2007.

"Throughout my legal career, I have continuously represented the most vulnerable citizens of Iowa, including those suffering from mental health and substance abuse issues, low income, low education, and the elderly," Bothwell said.

Bothwell was recommended alongside Atlantic attorney Robert Engler for the judgeship by a judicial nominating commission. Other candidates for the vacancy were District Associate Judge Charles Fagan of Council Bluffs, District Associate Judge David Brooks of Council Bluffs, Assistant Attorney General Richard Arnold of Council Bluffs, Cass County Attorney Vanessa Strazdas of Atlantic and Assistant U.S. Attorney Shelly Sudmann of Treynor.

Judicial District 4 spans Pottawattamie, Harrison, Mills, Audubon, Cass, Fremont, Montgomery, Page and Shelby counties.
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BEIJING, June 20 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to work closely with Tajikistan to promote the comprehensive empowerment of women, Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin said in a video speech at the opening ceremony of the China-Tajikistan Women's Forum in Beijing.

Shen, also president of the All-China Women's Federation, said that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-Tajikistan relations have become increasingly close in recent years, and cooperation on the advancement of women and gender equality has produced positive results.

She said China is willing to work with Tajikistan to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, consolidate the long-standing friendship between women's organizations in the two countries, support each other, contribute to the construction of the Belt and Road, and promote people-to-people connectivity, making new and greater contributions to the construction of a community with a shared future for China and Tajikistan.

The forum was hosted by the Committee on Women and Family Affairs under the Government of Tajikistan. Representatives of women in both countries undertook discussions and exchanges on such topics as cooperation among women within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. 
Botswana has ascended to the rank of the top diamond producer globally, unseating sanctions-hit Russia.

Most of Botswanas diamond found in the Orapa diamond deposit is operated by De Beers, a leading diamond company.

Following the G7 sanctions on Russia, De Beers moved its auctions to Botswana to streamline its business operations and facilitate the further development of the countrys diamond sector.

The relocation comes as the diamond industry reels from effects of a traceability initiative introduced by the Group of Seven leading industrialized countries, or G7, in a bid to sanction Russian diamonds.

Under the arrangement, all diamonds entering G7 markets are routed through Antwerp, Belgium, to ascertain their origin.

However, Botswana has criticized the arrangement, arguing that it has disrupted the supply chain. Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi will meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on June 21 to discuss the certification process.
Trade continues to steeply decline between the two Maghreb heavyweights, Morocco and Algeria. Trade between the two nations dropped to just 130 million dollars last year, from 690 million dollars in 2021, which was also a small figure considering the potential of the two countries.

The very sparse trade- already reeling due to Algerias support for separatism in southern Morocco- was further undermined and limited only to products such as Algerian dates imported by Morocco.

Since Algeria cut ties with Morocco in August 2021, this political decision was followed by a series of economic warfare measures that later backfired at Algiers.

Few months later, Algeria halted gas supplies to a pipeline, threatened to cut gas exports to Spain after it backed Moroccos autonomy plan for the Sahara.

As if the closed borders since 1994 was not enough, in early 2024, Algeria ordered its banks to not fund any import activity that involves transshipment through Moroccan ports.

Companies that do business with Morocco are punished. The recent trouble of Western Union in the country because its regional headquarters are in Morocco was the most recent example.

These one-sided measures worsened Algerias perception as an investment unfriendly country where political considerations easily spillover to hamper economic activity.

Many observers however see weaponizing the economy as a desperate measure by Algerias state-dominated economy to distract from its inability to compete in a free market.

In an alternative situation, Algerias oil and gas-dependent economy could have enhanced its competitiveness by opening up to nearby market, which would pay back on the medium term.

Instead, Algerias support for the Polisario separatists seems to have blinded the military rulers to take self-defeating measures that have little impact on the Moroccan economy.

Maghreb integration would remain a romantic dream pending realistic Algerian leaders who would break away with the zero-sum game to economic ties with Morocco in favor of a win-win relationship.

Until then, Morocco diversifies its trading partners, further widening the competitiveness gap with Algeria.
World leaders, health groups, and pharmaceutical firms have announced an African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator initiative to the tune of $1.2 billion that will incentivize and offset start-up costs for vaccine manufacturing in the continent.

The initiative is an essential step towards a genuine African vaccine market, French President Emmanuel Macron said at the opening of the Global Forum for Vaccine Sovereignty and Innovation in Paris on Thursday June 20. The summit has brought together African heads of state, health ministers from various regions, senior officials from the World Health Organization (WHO), and business executives from the pharmaceutical industry. The $1.2 billion in funding will help produce vaccines in Africa, which is facing numerous health crises including rising cholera outbreaks, as well as inequalities in access to inoculation that were exposed after the Covid-19 pandemic.

The funding, raised by France, in collaboration with the African Union (AU) and the Vaccine Alliance (GAVI), provides financial incentives to speed up local vaccine manufacturing in the continent. Africa imports 99% of its vaccines at an exorbitant cost, AU Commission chief Moussa Faki Mahamat said, as he welcomed the initiative that it could become a catalyst for promoting the pharmaceutical industry in Africa and fostering collaboration between member states. The European Union said the bloc and its member states will contribute $800 million, the UK $60 million to the vaccine manufacturing scheme, while other donors include the United States, Canada, Norway, Japan and the Gates Foundation.
A tripartite partnership agreement meant to improve refugees access to healthcare was signed on Thursday in Rabat between the Noufissa Pharma 5 Foundation, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Moroccan Family Planning Association (AMPF).

The agreement, signed on World Refugee Day, aims to strengthen the joint medical program between the UNHCR and the AMPF for the benefit of refugees.

It marks a significant step in the ongoing commitment of the three stakeholders to pool efforts to create an inclusive and supportive environment for the benefit of refugee populations.

Under the terms of this partnership, which takes effect in 2024 and runs until 2026, the Noufissa Pharma 5 Foundation undertakes to donate medicines worth one million dirhams over three years for the benefit of refugees on Moroccan territory, as part of the joint health program between the AMPF and the UNHCR.

The first endowment was delivered by the Noufissa Pharma 5 Foundation to the AMPF, which is responsible for distributing it to its Health Centers, in its capacity as implementing partner of the UNHCR Health component in Morocco.

This tripartite agreement follows the framework agreement signed on December 19, 2023 between the Noufissa Pharma 5 Foundation and UNHCR, covering the years 2024/2025/2026, and aimed at strengthening joint efforts to facilitate refugees access to medicines, education, and economic and social integration in Morocco.

The partnership between the Noufissa Foundation and UNHCR, which dates back to 2019, has already laid the groundwork for this strengthened collaboration.

By focusing on access to healthcare, education and employment, this partnership aims to offer refugees the opportunities they need to rebuild their lives and make a positive contribution to the Moroccan society that welcomes them.

This joint commitment is in line with the principles of solidarity and inclusion advocated by King Mohammed VI towards refugees.
A Danish national, subject of an international arrest warrant, was arrested in Casablanca Thursday by Members of the National Brigade of Judicial Police (BNPJ). The arrest warrant was issued by Danish judicial authorities in a voluntary manslaughter case against the backdrop of scores settling between international drug trafficking networks, a security source said.

A check against the Interpol database revealed that the suspect, 32, was the subject of an international arrest warrant issued by the Danish judicial authorities, according to the same source. A prison sentence was handed to the suspect for involvement in the case of voluntary manslaughter.

Searches also led to the seizure of a quantity of cannabis and a falsified German passport bearing his personal photograph and a false identity.

The suspect was placed in police custody. Interpol National Central Bureau in Rabat will inform its counterpart in Denmark of the arrest operation.

The arrest of the Danish suspect is part of international cooperation in the security field and the efforts made by the services of Moroccos General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) to apprehend people wanted internationally in cases linked to transnational crime.
Moroccos government debt is sustainable as efforts are ongoing to cut it further below 70% of GDP, finance minister Nadia Fettah Alaoui said.

The minister made the remark during an interview on le360, following criticism by opposition MPs who warned of the risk of debt unsustainability.

Debt to GDP ratio was brought below 70% this year and the government is committed to maintain this downward trend, she said.

The share of domestic debt in the treasurys debt portfolio exceeds 75%. Secondly, the structure of the debt is essentially long-term and its average cost is around 3%. This debt is mainly (90%) backed by fixed rates, the minister added.

The minister also highlighted the improvement of Moroccos ranking by rating agencies, noting that Standard & Poors revised Moroccos outlook from Stable to Positive.

Last month, minister in charge of the budget said Morocco would not use debt to fund the expansion of its safety net programs, such as the mandatory health coverage and financial aid to the needy.

The government would rather meet rising social spending through reforms that increas tax revenue and through fiscal consolidation, he said.

This fiscal consolidation earned Morocco improved ratings by S&P and Fitch ratings, while the IMF and World Bank praised in their recent reports the resilience of Moroccos public finances.
Photo: Justin Lane/Getty Images

Earlier this month, after Donald Trump was convicted on 34 counts in his hush-money trial, Trumps legal team filed a request to have the gag order that had been placed on him lifted. In a letter, his attorneys Todd Blanche and Emil Bove wrote that the trials end meant the government could no longer justify restrictions on the First Amendment rights of President Trump.

In their initial response, Manhattan prosecutors argued against removing the gag order owing to a need to protect the integrity of these proceedings through the sentencing process. (Trump is due to be sentenced on July 11.) But Friday, the Manhattan district attorneys office offered an additional rationale in a new filing to Judge Juan Merchan, citing increased threats against Alvin Bragg and other people connected to the case.

Bragg and his team stated their opposition to fully overturning the gag order, writing that it should remain partially in place for staffers for the court and the DAs office as well as their families and jurors. Per their filing, threats against Bragg, his family, and his office staff grew from just one case in 2022 to 89 in 2023 and have continued at a high level since. In 2024, the NYPD Threat Assessment and Protection Unit logged 61 new actionable threats with 56 of them coming in during April, May, and June. That total doesnt include the more than 500 threatening phone calls and emails received by the office since April.

Since his involvement in the case began, Bragg has been subjected to seemingly endless vitriol from Trump. The Daily News reported that the district attorney has received hundreds of hateful and racist messages since Trump was convicted, calling him the N-word and threatening his life. In one message received from Portland, Oregon, the sender posted a photo of Braggs face next to a noose with the words I am past the point of just wanting them in prison.

The memo detailed additional harrowing incidents, including a pair of bomb threats made on April 15, the first day of the trial. One post displayed the home address of a prosecutor from the DAs office and another showed sniper sights on people involved in this case or a family member of such a person.

Against this record from just the past several months, any expressive interest defendant purports to have in attacking DANY staff, their family members, or the Courts family members remains overwhelmingly outweighed by a sufficiently serious risk of prejudice to this ongoing criminal proceeding, the memo reads.

In a footnote, prosecutors raised the possibility that the gag order should remain in place even beyond sentencing, since staff from the DAs office and the court itself will still be involved in the event of a likely appeal.

Prosecutors said the gag order should remain in place for jurors, even though they completed their work last month. Braggs office cited Trumps singular history of inflammatory and threatening public statements, saying that it includes attacks on jurors in his other legal matters. They also pointed to recent attempts by Trumps supporters to dox the jurors.

Bragg and his team did agree to let the gag-order provision around witnesses lapse since theyve already testified, likely allowing Trump to go back to railing against his favorite subjects: former attorney Michael Cohen and adult-film star Stormy Daniels. However, they wrote that this change doesnt give Trump carte blanche to continue his attacks, warning that he could be found liable for defamation and similar claims if warranted.
Photo: Tom Dulat/Getty Images/Ascot Racecourse

A recurring theme in the media narrative around King Charles is that he is a kind man who deeply loves his family, yet tragically, duty often prevents him from showing it. For example, various anonymous sources told U.K. press outlets that the king really wanted to see Prince Harry when he visited London last month. But unfortunately, his royal schedule was so jam-packed that he had no time to see his traitorous younger son. Poor Charles!

The latest round of tabloid reports seem designed to combat the idea that King Charles is a bad grandpa because he barely knows Prince Harry and Meghan Markles children. Sure, hes only seen 5-year-old Prince Archie a handful of times and he met 3-year-old Princess Lilibet just once. But royal expert Tom Quinn said the king sent a gift along with a message when Lilibet celebrated her birthday at her home in Montecito, California, earlier this month. And an insider told The Mirror that King Charles is passionate about being a part of his American grandchildrens lives, particularly after his cancer diagnosis.

The King is absolutely committed to being present in all of his grandchildrens lives, the source said. He values family above everything and whatever the course of his relationship with his son he would never be content with just seeing his grandchildren on the odd video call.

But seeing Archie and Lilibet in person is a bit difficult. Part of the problem is that last year, King Charles evicted their parents from Frogmore Cottage, the house they once lived in on the royal estate adjoining Windsor Castle. The Sussexes had long since moved to America, but while fleeing the U.K. in 2020, they did say that the house would remain their U.K. residence. Royal author Omid Scobie has said the house was the one place in Britain that met the familys security needs, as Prince Harry has been denied police protection when he visits. (Harrys attempt to challenge the British governments decision to bar him from police protection, even if he covers the costs, was unsuccessful.)

Another issue is that the king of England, apparently, cant just travel wherever he wants. On Wednesday, Quinn told The Mirror that Charles may come to California.

Charles has had discussions about an official visit to the United States at some time in the future, and there is no doubt if it goes ahead he would build in time to visit his youngest son and his grandchildren, Quinn said.

He continued: King Charles has privately visited many other countries  he made an unpublicised visit to Transylvania for example to check up on his rental properties  so its certainly possible that he would make a discreet private visit to Harry and the children in California. He is desperate to see them and hates the idea that Archie and Lily will not remember him as the warm friendly grandfather he wants to be.

So perhaps well see King Charles pop up in California soon. Or maybe theres something to those rumors about the monarch inviting the Sussexes to visit him at Balmoral Castle this summer.

But dont hold your breath. Quinn said there are mountains of planning to be overcome before Charles visiting Montecito becomes even a remote possibility. And judging by this report from Daily Mail royal editor Rebecca English, the Balmoral reunion probably isnt happening either:

When I asked a well-placed source whether Harry could bring his children to see the King at Balmoral this summer as a compromise, the answer was a resounding snort. Read into that what you will. His relationship with his other three grandchildren is in a far better place.

Its just so sad that Charles cant be the grandparent he wants to be owing to the complications of royal life (and/or the consequences of his own actions).
Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer; Photos: Getty Images

We all remember how it went down. During oral argument on Donald Trumps presidential-immunity claim back in January, District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Florence Pan posed this hypothetical: Could a president who ordered SEAL Team Six to assassinate a political rival [and] who was not impeached, would he be subject to criminal prosecution?

Trumps attorney John Sauer  Rhodes Scholar, Harvard Law School grad, Supreme Court clerk, former solicitor general of Missouri  gave this astonishing answer: If he were impeached and convicted first. Pan incisively replied, So your answer is no. Sauer tried to recast his response as a qualified yes, but the damage was done. The hypothetical resurfaced during Supreme Court oral arguments with a bit of additional hedging by Trumps team, but their bottom-line position remained mostly unchanged.

Trumps legal response to the SEAL Team Six scenario speaks powerfully, and frighteningly, to his own conception of presidential powers. It takes a healthy dose of unhinged megalomania to argue for consequence-free political assassination, even in response to a hypothetical. Sauers answer to the SEAL Team Six question, on Trumps behalf, is wrong, reckless, and self-defeating. Its also entirely unnecessary to the argument he needed to make and to how the Supreme Court will likely rule.

Heres a better answer, which Trumps team could and should have given: Of course, a president who ordered SEAL Team Six to assassinate a political rival can be indicted. In fact, this scenario helpfully illustrates our point. The relevant question is whether the charged conduct is within or beyond the outer perimeter of the presidents official job. Obviously, an assassination plot would fall outside and the president would not be immune. But we maintain here that some of the conduct charged against our client was within the scope of the presidents job and therefore entitled to protection from prosecution.

When, any day now, the Supreme Court rules on criminal immunity, bank on this: The justices will not permit a scenario in which a president can put a hit on a political rival and evade prosecution. Indeed, the Supreme Court can  and I believe will  firmly reject Trumps SEAL Team Six response but still establish a more limited (and more sane) variation of presidential immunity.

The problem with the SEAL Team Six hypothetical (really, with Trumps response to it) is that it miscasts the legal framework around immunity and the public understanding of it. Countless times, politicians and commentators have used this scenario to summarily dismiss Trumps immunity claim: He said he can murder his political opponent without repercussion, and thats obviously lawless and crazy so he loses. The derision is well founded. The legal conclusion is not.

By adopting the absurd legal argument that a president can be prosecuted only if he has first been impeached by the House of Representatives and then convicted and removed from office by the Senate, Trumps team played itself into this corner. They conjured this wild position, briefed it in their papers, and stuck with it at oral arguments in both the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. Its an obvious loser and, worse yet, entirely unnecessary. As one federal judge memorably said to me years ago when I made a lousy argument, Youve already climbed out on a branch you need not be on, and now youre in the process of sawing it out from under yourself.

The better argument is the one articulated above: Its all about the scope of the official job. Forget about impeachment by Congress  thats got nothing to do with criminal prosecution  and focus on whether the charged conduct is arguably a part of the presidents duties.

This is precisely the standard adopted by the Supreme Court itself over 40 years ago in the case that established civil immunity, Nixon v. Fitzgerald: we think it appropriate to recognize absolute Presidential immunity from damages liability for acts within the outer perimeter of his official responsibility. The Court reasoned that federal officials have to make difficult decisions every day and that they should not be influenced or hamstrung by the constant threat of lawsuits over their official actions. All were asking you to do, Trumps team could sensibly have argued, is to adopt the same criminal-immunity rule youve already established in the civil context. If we dont want federal officials worrying about lawsuits, then we certainly dont want them paralyzed to inaction by fear of criminal indictment.

Count on the Supreme Court blowing past the impeachment argument and rejecting it out of hand. But that wont end the inquiry. Look for the Court to consider, and potentially to create, a criminal-immunity test based roughly on whether conduct falls within or beyond the presidents official job responsibilities. When the Court issues its decision, it may rule on the spot that Trumps argument fails under the scope-of-the-job test (which would open the door for a preelection trial), or the justices may send the case back down to the trial court for further proceedings (which would effectively push the trial out until after the election).

I expect Trumps immunity claim will fail in the end. But it wont be because of the SEAL Team Six response, which has at once monopolized public focus, oversimplified immunity principles, and created unrealistic expectations about how the Court will likely rule. Rather, hell lose (eventually) because a president pulling the levers of power to try to steal an election falls outside the scope of his job.

This article originally appeared in the free CAFE Brief newsletter. You can find more analysis of law and politics from Elie Honig, Preet Bharara, Joyce Vance, and other CAFE contributors at CAFE.com
Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer; Photos: Getty Images

Three weeks after Donald Trumps criminal conviction in Manhattan, his close presidential contest with Joe Biden has gotten closer  but the fundamental contours of the race really havent changed. In national polls, Trumps 0.8 percent lead on May 30 in the RealClearPolitics averages of head-to-head matchups has marginally declined to 0.5 percent. In five-candidate matchups, Trumps lead has dropped from 2.2 percent on May 30 to 1.3 percent now. In FiveThirtyEights unique averages that include Kennedy but not other rivals, Trumps 1.7 percent lead on May 30 has actually turned into a 0.1 percent Biden lead.

There isnt a lot of publicly available battleground-state polling since Trumps conviction, but what we have reinforces the impression of a close and stable race with Trump perhaps losing a few inches of ground. In Arizona, Trumps head-to-head lead in the RCP averages actually rose from 4 percent on May 30 to 4.6 percent now, though it declined slightly from 5.8 percent to 5.7 percent in the five-candidate averages. In Nevada, similarly, RCP shows Trumps head-to-head lead rising from 5.4 percent to 5.7 percent since the jury verdict in New York was announced but dropping from 7.2 percent to 6.5 percent in the five-way contest. In Michigan, Trumps tiny 0.5 percent lead over Biden shrank to an even tinier 0.2 percent lead since the trial verdict; in the five-way contest, Biden and Trump were tied, but now Trump is up by 0.1 percent. In North Carolina, Trump has again gained ground marginally in the head-to-head race since May 30, from 4.8 percent to 5.3 percent. Theres only been one post-conviction five-way poll in the Tar Heel State, and its a possible outlier, but his lead at RCP has risen from seven points to eight points. In Georgia as well, Trump has gained in the RCP averages in both the head-to-head contest (4.8 percent to 5 percent) and in the five-way race (6 percent to 6.4 percent).

There are two battleground states, Pennylvania and Wisconsin, where an Emerson poll provides the only post-conviction data, which means comparing the numbers to earlier surveys from the same outlet makes sense. Trumps two-point lead in a late-April head-to-head Emerson poll in Pennsylvania is identical to his lead on June 18; in the five-way race, Trump has lost a point from his 4 percent lead in April. In Wisconsin, Trump has gained a point against Biden since the April Emerson survey (from 2 percent to 3 percent), but has lost three points from his lead in the five-way contest (from 5 percent to 2 percent).

Its unclear why Trump might be (nationally and in some states as well) losing a bit of ground in the five-way contest, though Politico (from the Morning Consult tracking poll) reports a post-conviction slippage among independents that could reflect small defections to minor-party candidates or to an undecided position.

All in all, its hard to claim evidence for a significant change in the race now that the 45th president is a convicted criminal. Though perhaps the small signs of erosion in his support will quell some of the ever-present panic among Democrats who dont understand why Biden isnt rolling toward an easy victory. Trump does, however, maintain a much broader path to 270 electoral votes given his sizable leads in Sun Belt battleground states (Arizona, Nevada, and particularly Georgia and North Carolina). At this point, Biden still needs to sweep the Rust Belt states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin and avoid upsets elsewhere. Many Trump backers appear to believe that the former presidents overall national lead in most polls guarantees victory given his Electoral College advantage in both 2016 (when he won) and 2020 (when he narrowly lost). But theres a lot of evidence that changes in both candidates bases of support since 2020 could shrink or even reverse Trumps ability to outperform his popular vote in the Electoral College.

The residual effect of Trumps criminal conviction may not be fully known until hes sentenced on July 11. And another criminal trial before November (still possible in the federal case involving the January 6 insurrection) could affect perceptions of the scofflaw former president as well.
A worker is busy at the Dinson Iron and Steel Company (DISCO) in Manhize, Midlands Province, Zimbabwe, June 20, 2024. The DISCO, a subsidiary of the private company Tsingshan Holding Group in east China's Zhejiang Province, has started production of pig iron in Manhize, a town in the Midlands Province of Zimbabwe, marking a milestone in the revival of the country's iron and steel industry. (Photo by Shaun Jusa/Xinhua)

MANHIZE, Zimbabwe, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The Dinson Iron and Steel Company (DISCO), a subsidiary of the private company Tsingshan Holding Group in east China's Zhejiang Province, has started production of pig iron in Manhize, a town in the Midlands Province of Zimbabwe, marking a milestone in the revival of the country's iron and steel industry.

"This really is a very joyous occasion to see the first stage of production of iron from Manhize," said Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando in an interview with Xinhua after touring DISCO's plant Thursday.

Pig iron, also known as crude iron, is the direct product of the blast furnace and yields steel, wrought iron, or high-purity iron when refined.

The production of pig iron, which commenced last week, sets the stage for steel billet production, which is expected to begin next month.

Chitando said DISCO is expected to produce 600,000 metric tons of carbon steel in the first phase of the project, rising to 1.2 million, then 3.2 million, and ultimately 5 million metric tons per year in the final phase.

He said the development is a testament to China-Zimbabwe cooperation. "Zimbabwe and China have got long-standing political relationships, and here we now have economic relationships cementing that political relationship."

Wilfred Motsi, project director for the Dinson Group, said the development marks a huge milestone in Zimbabwe's manufacturing industry.

"We are going back to our glory days when Zimbabwe was known as one of the industrial hubs in southern Africa because of the opening of the steel industry," Motsi said. "We are no longer talking about the steel industry being dead in Zimbabwe. Yes, some players were there, but (they) were producing at a small scale, but our coming in means that we have revived the iron and steel industry in Zimbabwe." 

Workers are busy at the Dinson Iron and Steel Company (DISCO) in Manhize, Midlands Province, Zimbabwe, June 20, 2024. The DISCO, a subsidiary of the private company Tsingshan Holding Group in east China's Zhejiang Province, has started production of pig iron in Manhize, a town in the Midlands Province of Zimbabwe, marking a milestone in the revival of the country's iron and steel industry. (Photo by Shaun Jusa/Xinhua)
One-Stop Shop Our writers dig deep into the Strategists archives to surface the best things weve already written about and recommended in a single category. Read more here. Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers

If youre always waking up with aches or pain, it might be time to invest in a new mattress  specifically, a hybrid mattress. Unlike all-foam mattresses, which combine layers of foam to optimize for comfort and support, a hybrid mattress combines layers of foam and pocketed coils to better support your body and avoid the sinking feeling typically associated with memory foam.

Hybrid mattresses tend to include some very advanced-sounding features (like strategically placed high-gauge coils), which can make shopping for one feel overwhelming. So Im here to help you navigate the hybrid-mattress-sphere with a guide to the ins and outs of all the ones weve ever tried. Our reviews are based on at least a weeks worth of testing by different types of sleepers on our staff, each of whom Ive described in this post  if youre a side sleeper who needs some lower-back support, for example, look for the Strategist writer who is too. And if you dont see something you like here, dont worry: Weve tested more than 40 mattresses total and compiled our reviews of all-foam, firm, and cooling mattresses as well. (Note that for ease of comparison, the prices given below are for queen-size mattresses, but all are available in different sizes.)

Update on September 19, 2024: Added two new mattresses, including a surprisingly affordable option from Zinus; updated prices and checked stock for all other products.

What were looking for Construction For a mattress to be considered a true hybrid, it needs to have a significant layer of foam in addition to a layer of spring coils. This coil layer is critical for supporting the body, and mattress manufacturers typically include strategically placed coils to better support common problem areas like the lower back and shoulders. The different layers of foam, of which there are often many, can provide perks, like cooling technology and extra plushiness. Sleep Position The position you sleep in will have an impact on the type of mattress you find most comfortable because different sleep positions require different levels of support. Below, Ive outlined the best mattresses for every type of sleeper, so if you dont want to go for our top pick, Id recommend looking at the mattress that matches your sleeping style. Weve found that stomach and back sleepers benefit from a mattress that can provide better spinal and hip support, while side sleepers might prefer a mattress that can relieve pressure on their shoulders and hips. Support Hybrid mattresses are built in a way that can give specific areas of your body extra support. Much of the support comes from the inner coils, which often provide edge support so that you can sleep close to the edge of your mattress or sit on the edge of your bed without feeling like the sides of your mattress are collapsing beneath you. However, each foam layer further supports your body with softer foams, like memory foam, which is better for side sleepers, and more durable foams, which are better for back and stomach sleepers. Ive made sure to outline the support you should expect from each mattress below.

Best hybrid mattress overall

Aviya Mattress - Queen $1,249 now 16% off $1,049 If youre looking for a new hybrid mattress and dont want to give it too much thought, wed recommend this one. Its a cant-go-wrong choice thats constructed with two layers of foam above an innerspring system made of individually wrapped coils, plus a cotton top layer. New York deputy editor Alexis Swerdloff, a side sleeper, tested it out and said that compared to when she slept on her previous matters, she now sleeps very soundly and well with no aches and pains. Her husband adds, I dont have a lot to say about it, because its very comfortable and I never wake up complaining  an impressive feat considering Swerdloff calls him a bit of a Princess and the Pea. Just note: Owing to its hybrid construction, Swerdloff says, I dont feel like Im being bathed in the lap of luxury (the pillowy top of the mattress isnt particularly plush or soft), so if youre looking for a very plush mattress, check out our all-foam favorites or our favorite pillow-top below. $1,049 at Aviya Mattress Buy

Best less expensive hybrid mattress

Zinus Ultra Cooling Green Tea - Hybrid $699 $999 now 30% off $699 As our resident sleep writer, Amelia Jerden initially had low expectations for this mattress given its relatively low price. But after a few nights of sleeping on it, the mattresss advanced support and padding made her reconsider. As someone who likes a lot of padding and pressure relief, this slightly soft feel was really comfortable for me, she says. I felt well supported on my back with a touch of low-back cushioning from the soft foams. Jerden says this one is a great choice for people who want a hybrid mattress at a very affordable price. Just note: You might consider a pricier pick if youre looking for the inclusion of natural materials and the ability to customize features, such as firmness. $699 at Zinus Buy

Best medium-firm hybrid mattress

Leesa Original Hybrid Mattress - Queen $1,299 now 19% off $1,049 For a mattress thats optimal for supporting you as you change positions throughout the night, consider Leesas Original Hybrid Mattress, which Strategist writer Ambar Pardilla, who is a combination side and back sleeper, says made her feel supported either way with my posture aligned as its supposed to be. The mattress is constructed with a supportive innerspring core that includes 789 active response springs which are sandwiched between a high-density-foam base layer, a memory-foam layer, and a high-airflow-foam layer. Altogether, the springs and foam add up to a supportive mattress for fidgety sleepers  and one that has reinforced sides that wont sink if you sit on the edge. $1,049 at Amazon Buy $1,124 at Leesa Buy

Best hybrid mattress for back and stomach sleepers

Helix Dawn Mattress - Queen $1,332 now 25% off $999 The Helix Dawn is a four-layer mattress comprised of a layer of springs and three layers of foam  specifically, durable support foam, cradling foam, and dynamic foam. Its the firmest mattress the retailer sells, and our top pick for back and stomach sleepers because its coils support your body and prevent you from sinking into the mattress, which experts note is important for both of these sleeper types. If youre a side sleeper who prefers a firm mattress, though, the Helix will likely work for you too. That was the case for former Strategist associate editor Louis Cheslaw, who slept soundly and never woke up with aches when sleeping on the Dawn. He adds, I never once felt like I was sinking into the mattress  even on days I worked for hours in bed. When my girlfriend spent the night on it with me, we never rolled inward toward each other, as we would on the all-foam mattress we had been sleeping on, he writes. While Cheslaw never woke up hot or sweaty when sleeping on the mattress, you can upgrade to a cooling cover for an additional $199 or a cooling cover plus a pillow top for an additional $299 if you run hot. $999 at Helix Buy with code: PRIMETIME25

Best hybrid mattress for stomach sleepers

The Allswell Luxe Hybrid Mattress - Queen $387 Stomach sleepers, good news: The best mattress for you happens to come at an incredible price. The Allswell mattress combines layers of high-density foam and copper-gel-infused memory foam with a layer of individually wrapped coils that minimize motion transfer and provide edge support on all sides. In fact, it is so supportive that when former Strategist senior editor Margaret Rhodes, a stomach-to-side sleeper, first slept on the mattress, she passed out  Its almost physiologically impossible for me to do this, she says. Rhodes, who likes a soft but supportive mattress, describes sleeping on the mattress as float[ing] firmly atop the mattress instead of nestling in. She slept like a rock for eight hours several nights in a row. Then, in the mornings (and in between snoozes), Id return to my back from a fetal position and could practically feel my spine unfurling again, realigning for the day, she says. $387 at Walmart Buy

Best hybrid mattress with zoned lower-back support

Saatva Memory-Foam Hybrid Mattress - Queen $1,845 now 16% off $1,545 Unlike your average all-foam mattress, a hybrid mattress can provide zoned support with the help of specially-placed coils. In the case of this Saatva hybrid, recycled steel coils are individually wrapped to help with motion isolation and then layered with memory foam, high-density foam rails, and a supportive foam core. For a non-fussy side sleeper like former Strategist writer Latifah Miles, those coils were essential for getting a good night of sleep: My husband moves around more and wakes up earlier than I do and the Saatva has more noticeable motion isolation than our previous mattress.  The extra-firm edge support around the perimeter also adds a lot of stability. I realized that within a few nights of sleeping on the mattress, my husband, who is often restless and snores very loudly, seemed to be sleeping more peacefully (and more quietly, too). She also appreciated the coils for their ability to provide extra lumbar support and prevent that sinking feeling that can come with memory foam. Another plus: Saatva delivers its mattresses unfurled and sleep-ready and offers free disposal of your old mattress, a service thats antithetical to a bed-in-a-box. $1,545 at Saatva Buy

Best hybrid mattress for combination sleepers

Purple RestorePremier Hybrid Mattress $3,699 Yes, this mattress is pricey, but its truly ideal for those who shift through several different sleep positions at night. The mattress is firm enough to keep stomach sleepers hips lifted, yet flexible enough to relieve joint pressure for side sleepers and balanced enough for back sleepers, according to Strategist senior editor Jen Trolio. You should expect at least a month of break-in time, but after patiently sleeping until the mattress felt just right, Strategist senior editor Crystal Martin says, the mattress gives a little shock absorption when Im flipping back and forth at night. The feeling is subtle but meaningful, like wearing an excellent running shoe compared to a just-okay running shoe. Or even a bit like floating. This feeling comes from the mattresss flexible gel grid that flexes under pressure as you shift. In combining this with the layer of pocketed coils, which provide extra-responsive support and pressure relief, the mattress will support any combination sleeper throughout the night. $3,699 at Purple Buy

Best flippable hybrid mattress

Layla Hybrid Mattress $1,699 now 12% off $1,499 Though this hybrid has a steeper price tag, you can almost think of it as getting two mattresses for the price of one. The flippable mattress features one side thats topped with a layer of soft memory foam (a four, on the firmness scale of one to ten) and another side with firmer foam (a seven on the same scale). Its best for folks who like more control over their mattress firmness and folks whose preferences might change over time. While Strategist writer Tembe Denton-Hurst found herself preferring the memory-foam side because she likes her mattresses a bit plusher, she says, The firm side isnt too firm for my taste. She and her partner had no problems sleeping through the night on it  We never overheat, nor do we feel each other moving around, she says. $1,499 at Layla Sleep Buy

Best ecofriendly hybrid mattress

Birch Natural Mattress - Queen $1,874 now 25% off $1,405 When former Strategist editor Maxine Builder first opened the mattress, she noticed that something was missing  the chemical smell typically associated with a mattress-in-a-box. But that wasnt all that appealed about the Birch: What impressed me most about the Birch is how supportive yet plush it is  a dream for a stomach sleeper like me, who tosses and turns throughout the night, she writes. The wool cushioning cradles every curve of my body, no matter how Im positioned, yet I never feel like Im being pulled under, thanks to the firm support of the steel coils. Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo and her husband are also fans, and say that after two years of sleeping on it (including when Corsillo was pregnant), it has been plenty supportive and shows no signs of any sagging or denting. Just note: If you prefer a firmer mattress, you might want to try the Helix Dawn or Leesa Original Hybrid, which I described above, because Builders husband, a firm-mattress devotee, describes the Birch as too sinky. $1,405 at Birch Buy

Best pillow-top hybrid mattress

Avocado Green Mattress With Attached Pillow Top $2,799 Photo: Melissa Krused Like the Birch mattress above, the Avocado Green mattress has an ecofriendly construction, but it also has the added benefit of a pillow top. This means that unlike the other hybrids on this list that specialize in support, the Avocado Green can deliver support plus cushioning. Its worth noting that the extra cushioning adds some height to the mattress, bringing it to 13 inches  which was the first thing that Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo noticed about the mattress during testing. Ive never preferred a tall bed, but there was definitely something decadent about flopping down on a giant slab of rising dough, she writes. It took a few nights to get used to the feeling that I was floating above the mattress, rather than sinking into it, but two weeks in, I felt incredibly well supported and less affected by my boyfriend shifting and changing positions. And while she found the pillow-top layer was enjoyably cushy, Corsillo adds that hot sleepers shouldnt need to worry about night sweats: The Green mattress is a big improvement over my Casper, which made my night sweats worse. $2,799 at Avocado Mattress Buy

Best hybrid cooling mattress

Casper Wave Hybrid Snow Mattress - Queen $3,595 now 40% off From $2,157 While were talking night sweats: This is our favorite hybrid cooling mattress because of its expert incorporation of temperature-regulating elements. First, theres the cover thats infused with phase-change material to help you maintain a consistent temperature throughout the night. Then there are perforated foam and latex layers for airflow and thermal bands that move heat away from your body. Youll also get the added support from coils typical with hybrid mattresses and gel pods under the waist and lower back to encourage proper spine alignment. Strategist writer Dominique Pariso sleeps extremely hot and put this mattress to the test during the summer. I didnt wake up in sweaty sheets once, even during the hottest nights of the year, she says. I actually found myself sleeping better with the additional support, too. From $2,157 at Casper Buy

Best hybrid mattress for younger kids

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10 a.m. Walk along the South West Coast Path to Mousehole

From Plymouth in Devon, I took the train three hours to Penzance  as far as the national rail goes. I chose Penzance as my home base for the next few days, mostly because it was an incredibly convenient situation with regards to public transportation.

There are not many hotels in Penzance  even though its a place that relies on tourism, there are no major chains or luxury high-rises. I stayed at the Artists Residence in Penzance (20 Chapel St, Penzance), an artsy boutique hotel thankfully just this side of too trendy (think an Ace Hotel in a slightly lopsided wooden building from the 18th century). My room had a claw-foot tub, a minibar full of artisanal snacks, and walls crowded with Banksy-adjacent art from local artists. And, helpfully for someone traveling alone, there was a cozy all-day cafe on the hotels first floor, which made a good place for me to hole up with my laptop or a book if I wanted an easy meal option or lowkey way to pass an afternoon.

Most visitors to Cornwall, or at least the ones I chatted with, were families (almost all British) with young kids who rented out houses in Cornwall for longer stretches of time. Airbnbs are incredibly common, and most of them (at least after a cursory search) look fairly affordable with excellent access to beaches. Penzance is the easiest place to stay with regards to train access, but Id say Mousehole is your best option if you want the classic cozy fishing-town vibes. St. Ives is much more bustling, with bigger and better beaches but also much bigger crowds.

One great thing about Cornwall is the South West Coast (SWC) path, Englands longest footpath, stretching for more than 600 miles along the coast. My friend Nadine had a free morning before she had a flight out of London, so the two of us walked along the water for about 40 minutes to Mousehole (pronounced MOW-zell, but if that isnt a freaking childrens-book town name, I dont know what is).

Noon: Hit up a local craft fair

We grabbed iced teas at the Orange Cafe (Parade Hill, Mousehole, Penzance) when we arrived to town, and our attention was immediately captured by signs for a local craft fair. We found it hidden away and up a flight of stairs. I bought a ceramic creamer from an older gentleman bragging about how his wife made it herself.

1 p.m.: Get a Cornish pasty

Nadine had to head back to London, but I spent a little longer exploring Mousehole. On the recommendation of my friend the historian Dan Jones, I got my first authentic Cornish pasty of the trip, a steak pasty that came out piping hot and the size of my head (ideal) from the Mousehole Deli (N Cliff, Mousehole, Penzance TR19 6PH, United Kingdom). As per his recommendation, I ate it at the rock pool perched on a stone and people-watching the families wading into the water.

3 p.m.: Eat the best ice cream in Britain

On the walk back to Penzance, I stopped halfway at a little town (really more of a street and a corner?) called Newlyn, where theres an ice-cream shop thats been in business since 1946 called Jelberts (9 New Rd, Newlyn, Penzance). They only do one flavor  vanilla  and the kids working there scoop it out of an industrial tube and then add a dollop of clotted cream and/or a flake on top. If you go, you must get the clotted cream, which is unsweetened and perfectly fatty and becomes somehow crystallized as it freezes in contact with the ice cream. I recognize that this sort of travelog is vulnerable to hyperbole, but I hope you understand that I am being entirely honest when I say it was one of the best bites of ice cream I have ever had in my entire life.
It was a cover for her being with an ex

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The best/worst part is that she got caught because the DNA in her underwear was from her ex. Like, you went to all the trouble of faking a kidnapping so you could get some ho time with your ex but you couldn't even be bothered to do a load of laundry before your reappearance?

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Based on what I read on People.com (for about 4 min total reading time): She was overawelmed with her 2 kids, and her role of wife and mother, and wanted to go back to her pre-marrage life style.

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Other motives aside, she seems to have a history of making up racist shit

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White Woman Victimhood

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She was married with kids and needed a story to tell as to why she disappeared with her boyfriend.

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She didn't want to be married with kids anymore and instead of divorcing and giving dad custody, she pulled this shit.

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It was 2016 and she had just finished watching Gone Girl.

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it should be longer, she's a lunatic. that photo always creeps me out and reminds me of the dollhouse episode of "are you afraid of the dark"

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My FAVORITE episode 

The shots of the hands turning porcelain white still haunts me haha

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SAME

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The sound her hand made when it hit the table 

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omg this episode gave me nightmares as a kid

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I always think if Taylor Swift when I think about that episode 

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Oh my god. The Dollhouse is the one episode I cannot watch ever again, it creeped me out SO much! My best friend and I routinely rewatch the series and I can never watch that one hava

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One of my fave episodes.

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I dont know how I feel about her going to prison just on principle but she should definitely have to pay back all the money she defrauded from people via her gofundme and the victims funds she used. Shes totally nuts and racist.

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I did see that the fine covers the victim fund as well as disability payments she received (for PTSD)

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Im torn on prison/jail. It has been used for too long to keep minorities without power. A lot of white people have become accustomed to having no accountability for their actions and seem to fail to realize that their actions will have consequences. Which is how we get shit like this happening. I say its time to catch up for lost time with this kind of penance.

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That's where I'm at. Fine the hell out of her, sure. But for a judge of all people to think the deterrence model even works let alone is fair is delusional ("Let's OVER-punish her" to "make an example" and "send a message" that will "Deter" others just is bullshit, doesn't work and isn't justice).



Prosecutors are known assholes as it is and are very rarely lenient so for a judge to go and more than double the prosecutor's recommendation reeks of one of these "tough on crime" asshats. I just did a quick google and he's an 84 year old GOP judge clinging to life, go figures. I don't really care about this lady but I'd hate to see how he'd treat a Black youth in his courtroom (and I do feel bad for her kids).

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I knew she was lying. Her story made no sense

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It made no sense and she was too fucking lazy to actually come up with a solid plan, if she had taken an hour and really thought it thru, she could have gotten away with it.

The best part of Gone Girl was seeing how Amy did the work to pull off the scheme.

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It makes sense to racist white ladies with permanent victimhood status who don't understand at all how trafficking works. My favorite detail was that her earbuds were neatly coiled around her phone. Like, did the scary Messican traffickers give you a minute to leave your phone all tidy before they stuffed you in the rape van?

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She's a racist asshole but imprisonment shouldn't be used to punish that. Reimbursing all the donations she got and a supervised probation would have been plenty.

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I'm sorry, but no. White people lying about being attacked by "evil POC" can lead to real procecution and violence against the minorities in question. There's no excuse for that, and there should be no leniency.

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Yeah usually I have leniency towards non-violence crimes but saying that [insert poc] attacked you but actually is a lie is a form of violence.



White woman have been claiming this for centuries and have destroyed lives over it.



She deserves her jail time.

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She isn't being punished for being racist, she's being punished for lying to cops. And it's still fuck cops everyday. Every study shows that harsh punishments do not work as deterrents.



All putting her into the carceral system does is make our lizard brains feel better. But does it help her be a better person? Do you think she will emerge from lockup less racist? Or will it continue to feed into the system that also locks up minorities?

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Were our justice system actually restorative I would agree, but

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Why not both?

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why not. fuck racists. lock them up!

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Lol bye 



Enjoy jail 

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I remember when this happened and the story was so obviously fake and lots of people seemed to know it too but the police wouldnt say anything about it. Ppl were convinced she had connections in the police and shed never be caught for lying so Im really glad they got her on it.

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I think it's cause it's the FBI that she actually got caught. If they hadn't been involved, she probably would've been free forever.

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I don't know if this applies here but just because they don't say anything publicly doesn't mean they're not trying to build a case. Just in general I find this to be an attitude I see surrounding true crime stuff a lot, like the public thinks if they're not privy to something it's not happening behind closed doors.

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Yeah weve seen how giving the public too much information can fuck up a case and later a trial.

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Oh yeah I think its this for sure I just remember at the time it felt so bizarre that everyone was like Yeah shes lying but couldnt actually say it.

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I'm old enough to remember when Susan Smith drowned her kids. Everyone I knew thought she was lying about being carjacked, and it turns out the cops immediately thought that, too. But they still had to play along while they figured out how to get her to confess.

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I felt like at the time the police knew she was lying and the whole thing was bullshit, but they couldnt just come out and say that, especially bc it was unclear how much her husband knew as it was unfolding.

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The police were in a delicate situation. They apparently suspected it was fake, but just imagine if they publicly accused an alleged victim of lying. The criticism would have been horrible. Instead, they quietly gathered evidence  which takes a long-ass time  to prove their case.

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The picture in the second tweet looks like a promo picture for a Lifetime movie where she's the new wife who killed the old wife and hates the children. Has Lifetime made a movie about her yet?



Anyways, fuck her.

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honestly i wouldnt be surprised if lifetime was working on a movie about this right now.

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They probably have a script ready to go and were just waiting for her sentencing so they could finish the ending

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Shocked she's facing serious consequences. For a while it seemed like they might have been avoiding moving to prosecute her.

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I saw that her lawyers had argued for no jail time because her embarrassment was punishment enough & I am veryyy glad the judge thought that was bullshit, too.



Also its absolutely wild to me that this has been going on since November 2016. I had to google to make sure it was as dragged out as it felt and it was even longer than I thought

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Hmmmmm shes a selfish idiot.



She blamed it on 2 Hispanic women? That is the stupidest shit I have ever heard.



Some people are so insane. Also, why did she do this? Attention?

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She's a racist and narcissistic idiot who wanted to avoid consequences for an affair. She behaved in a more or less self-interested manner, and pulled back from publicity to avoid scrutiny, so I don't think she's insane or primarily attention seeking. She at least had enough rationality to realize that a lot of people weren't buying what she was selling.

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Aside from her being a racist she also had a history of making shit up. Iirc once when she was an adult her mom had to call the police on her bc Sherri said she would tell everyone she was hurting her or something. This was probably another one of her schemes mixed with the fact that she wanted to hook up with an ex.

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Thats wild . Im almost speechless. She shouldve gotten the max sentence cause she has a history of this behavior.

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Wow. What a fucking piece of shit. You wanna leave your family behind? That's one thing, but then to turn around and fabricate a racist and victimhood narrative just to save face?



I just think about all the victims of abduction who didn't get the attention and resources she had and all the damage to the LatinX community her scapegoating caused. I'm glad her sister and husband publicly condemned her and that the judge didn't give her the minimum sentence.

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This is what pissed me off about this. I hate the stupid belief that human traffickers are scouting for moms shopping at Target to snatch away into sex slavery. It shows that people dont understand who actually gets targeted. Just yesterday I was on another board where people were criticizing someone for making a video in a store and this woman went on a rant about how she doesnt want to be seen in the background of social media posts like that because of traffickers and I was just like ?????

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This is so beyond like if you want a break from your miserable life, text your husband saying you need to go MIA so there's that if he goes to the police, show up weeks later Gone girl style (but without the blood) and pretend to not remember shit. You'll get checked, they see you're not hurt and done, you're back to the life you were obviously trying to run away from.

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this woman is so fucking cruel. i think about her husband, out of his MIND, begging for her to come back and she was just out fucking around with her ex.

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The total number of active drilling rigs for oil and gas in the United States fell this week, according to new data that Baker Hughes published on Friday.

The total rig count fell by 2 to 588 this week, compared to 682 rigs this same time last year.

The number of oil rigs fell by 3 this week, after falling by 4 in each of the two weeks prior. Oil rigs now stand at 485down by 61 compared to this time last year. The number of gas rigs stayed the same this week at 98, a loss of 32 active gas rigs from this time last year. Miscellaneous rigs rose by 1, to 5.

Meanwhile, U.S. crude oil production stayed at 13.2 million bpd for for the second week in a row for week ending June 14. Current weekly production in the United States, according to the EIA, is now down just 100,000 bpd from the all-time high of 13.3 million bpd.

Primary Visions Frac Spread Count, an estimate of the number of crews completing wells that are unfinished, rose in the week ending June 14, from 247 to 250.

Drilling activity in the Permian slipped by 1 again this week to 308. The count in the Eagle Ford fell by 1 this week, reaching 50 after falling by a single rig in the week prior.

Oil prices were trading down on Friday. At 12:44 p.m. ET, the WTI benchmark was trading down $0.61 (-0.75%) on the day at $80.68about $2.30 above last Fridays price.

The Brent benchmark was trading down $0.55 (-0.64%) at $85.16, a nearly $3 per barrel climb from a week-ago levels.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Aker BP has made a new gas discovery in the Barents Sea on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The well encountered gas columns in the St and Snadd formations, with preliminary estimates suggesting a recoverable

In Libya, eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar has named his son, Saddam Haftar, as the new chief of the Haftar-controlled Libyan Arab Armed Forces, which suggests a consolidation of his power is being undertaken right now (two other Haftar sons also have military posts). At the same time, the rival western government in Tripoli will be getting nervous about the rise of this private family army in the east. In 2019, Haftar tried to take Tripoli. He failed, but hes stronger now, and while he has lost some of his backers (including the U.S.), he is a top priority on Russias list, and a key stomping ground for Wagner mercenaries and operations that extend beyond Libya. He may not be preparing for another try at Tripoli, yet, but in the least, he is preparing an eastern empire that can survive his death.

The Sudanese government has accused the UAE of supplying weapons to the rival paramilitary force with whom the government has been engaged in a bloody civil war for over a yearan accusation the UAE denies. A shouting match erupted at a UNSC meeting, during which a Sudanese official said they had evidence that the UAE was getting weapons to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Politics, Geopolitics & Conflict

The Sudanese government has accused the UAE of supplying weapons to the rival paramilitary force with whom the government has been engaged in a bloody civil war for over a yearan accusation the UAE denies. A shouting match erupted at a UNSC meeting, during which a Sudanese official said they had evidence that the UAE was getting weapons to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

In Libya, eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar has named his son, Saddam Haftar, as the new chief of the Haftar-controlled Libyan Arab Armed Forces, which suggests a consolidation of his power is being undertaken right now (two other Haftar sons also have military posts). At the same time, the rival western government in Tripoli will be getting nervous about the rise of this private family army in the east. In 2019, Haftar tried to take Tripoli. He failed, but hes stronger now, and while he has lost some of his backers (including the U.S.), he is a top priority on Russias list, and a key stomping ground for Wagner mercenaries and operations that extend beyond Libya. He may not be preparing for another try at Tripoli, yet, but in the least, he is preparing an eastern empire that can survive his death.

Discovery & Development

Aker BP has made a new gas discovery in the Barents Sea on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The well encountered gas columns in the St and Snadd formations, with preliminary estimates suggesting a recoverable volume of 3.3 to 4.7 million barrels of oil equivalent. This discovery will be evaluated alongside other finds in the area for potential development. Aker BP continues to expand its exploration and production activities in Norwegian waters.

Wintershall Dea has announced a new discovery in the North Sea, further solidifying its exploration success in the region. The recent find, located in the Norwegian sector, underscores the area's rich potential for hydrocarbons. This discovery is expected to enhance Wintershall Dea's production capabilities and contribute significantly to its resource base. The North Sea continues to be a pivotal area for exploration and production, attracting substantial investments from major industry players.

Deals, Mergers & Acquisitions

BP has agreed to acquire Bunges 50% stake in their Brazilian sugar and ethanol joint venture, BP Bunge Bioenergia, for $1.4 billion, securing full ownership of the biofuels operation. This acquisition will add a significant ethanol production capacity of 50,000 barrels per day and is expected to close by the end of 2024. The deal aligns with BP's strategy to meet increasing demand for low-carbon biofuels, despite recent credit. outlook concerns. BP also announced a pause on new biofuel projects, focusing on delivering growth and returns in a more streamlined manner.

Var Energi has extended its contract with VNG Handel & Vertrieb, committing to supply up to five billion cubic meters of Norwegian natural gas annually to Germany's Emden and Dornum terminals through 2036. This agreement underscores Norway's role as a stable, low-emission energy provider and supports long-term energy security in Europe. Var Energi CEO Nick Walker highlighted the importance of consistent exploration and favorable conditions to meet European demands. This deal builds on a longstanding partnership and ensures continued value creation for both parties.

Korea's SK Innovation is reportedly planning a merger with its energy affiliate SK E&S, creating a 106 trillion won ($76.66 billion) asset company, according to Chosun Ilbo. This strategic move, anticipated to be decided by company executives in late June, aims to support SK Innovation's loss-making battery unit, SK On, by merging with a profitable entity. Shares in SK Innovation surged over 10% following the news. This potential merger reflects SK Group's broader strategy to streamline its operations and focus future investments primarily on the artificial intelligence and semiconductor sectors.

Carlyle Group has announced its acquisition of oil and gas assets from Energean in Italy, Egypt, and Croatia for up to $945 million, signaling its commitment to expand in the Mediterranean region. Former BP CEO Tony Hayward will chair the new venture, focused on boosting offshore gas production to serve European and North African markets. Carlyle plans to increase production significantly from current levels and sees potential for further acquisitions in the region. Energean, in turn, aims to use proceeds from the sale to fund strategic projects in Israel, Morocco, and Greece, while also returning value to shareholders through dividends.
- European TTF gas futures rose to 35 per MWh on the back of Norwegian supply disruptions earlier this month and even though the Nyhamna gas processing plant is back in operation, gas prices havent really decreased since then.

- Investment funds are increasingly betting on European natural gas prices to rise on the back of future supply concerns, just as competition for available LNG cargoes intensifies with Asia.

- Because of the hurricane season and the risks arising from it, the arbitrage of US crude into Europe is much weaker than it used to be, potentially lifting European prices even higher.

- Hurricanes have been the biggest bullish factor across the Americas as Tropical Storm Alberto swept across Mexico and prompted US refiners to stock up on crude, especially on barrels produced in the Gulf of Mexico.

- The unwinding of bearish bets on crude oil and robust physical trading have buoyed European sentiment, with Brent contracts for difference (CFDs) now swinging into backwardation with the W1-W6 spread now at almost $2 per barrel.

- The summer rally of the oil markets might finally materialize as ICE Brent crept up to $85 per barrel, even higher than it was before the OPEC+ meeting, and contango in the North Sea paper market disappeared.

1. Summer Demand Finally Kicks In, Lifting Oil Prices Out of Contango

- The summer rally of the oil markets might finally materialize as ICE Brent crept up to $85 per barrel, even higher than it was before the OPEC+ meeting, and contango in the North Sea paper market disappeared.

- The unwinding of bearish bets on crude oil and robust physical trading have buoyed European sentiment, with Brent contracts for difference (CFDs) now swinging into backwardation with the W1-W6 spread now at almost $2 per barrel.

- Hurricanes have been the biggest bullish factor across the Americas as Tropical Storm Alberto swept across Mexico and prompted US refiners to stock up on crude, especially on barrels produced in the Gulf of Mexico.

- Because of the hurricane season and the risks arising from it, the arbitrage of US crude into Europe is much weaker than it used to be, potentially lifting European prices even higher.

2. Hedge Funds Turn Really Bullish on Europes Natural Gas

- Investment funds are increasingly betting on European natural gas prices to rise on the back of future supply concerns, just as competition for available LNG cargoes intensifies with Asia.

- European TTF gas futures rose to 35 per MWh on the back of Norwegian supply disruptions earlier this month and even though the Nyhamna gas processing plant is back in operation, gas prices havent really decreased since then.

- Additional concerns emerged this week after an international arbitration ruling awarded Germanys Uniper with $14 billion in damages from Gazprom, sparking fears that the remaining Ukraine transit volumes might be cut.

- Europes gas inventories are currently 73% full, higher than the five-year average, however recurring heatwaves, tense geopolitics and supply woes keep prices elevated.

3. Brazil Could be The Wests Answer to Chinas Rare Earth Dominance

- Brazils mining industry might see a flurry of interest as the Latin American country starts to position itself as the Wests response to Chinas increasingly tight control of rare earth markets.

- Even though Brazils rare earth reserves are only half of Chinas, with the latter controlling 40% of all discovered deposits, the first Brazilian rare earth mine Serra Verde (containing all four magnetic rare earths) started producing recently.

- Chinas dominance is even more tangible when it comes to production with an output of more than 240,0000 metric tonnes of rare earths last year, five times more than the next biggest producer, the United States.

- Rare earth mines have a notoriously slow lead time with Serra Verde taking 15 years to get into production, and because current metal prices dont incentivize new investment, Brazils mines will play a key role in satiating Western demand.

4. Tacitly Coveted by Mining Majors, Coking Coal Is Still In Vogue

- Investments into thermal coal, let alone major M&A deal, are becoming scarcer, however the mining industry is seeing a flare-up of interest towards coking coal, used in steelmaking.

- Glencores acquiring 77% of Teck Resources coal business, heavily tilted towards metallurgical coal, has paved the way for even bigger deals, with the market now expecting Anglo American to divest its Australian coal operations.

- Despite seeing notably more demand, coking coal is more toxic than thermal coal due to its higher methane content, with its total emissions being three times higher than steam coal.

- Miners focusing on coking coal boast much higher profitability figures as premium hard coking coal sells for around $250 per metric tonne with lifting costs of only $100-120/mt, double the profitability of thermal coal.

5. Chinese Energy Consumption Overtakes Europe

- Chinas energy use per person surpassed Europes for the first time on record, boosted by higher manufacturing as well as the expansion of data centers, 5G infrastructure, and EV car charging.

- Simultaneously, power generation from renewables posted an 8.4% year-over-year increase in 2023, rising to 2894 TWh, with China adding more renewable capacity than the rest of the world combined.

- Whilst Europe and the United States have seen their fossil fuel exposure peak, Chinas carbon intensity might plateau very soon, with pace of renewable build-out exceeding fossil capacity increases in 2023.

- According to the Energy Institute, global carbon emissions have risen by 1.6% last year compared to 2022, with Vietnam seeing the highest emissions growth globally, posting a whopping 18.6% increase year-over-year.

6. Container Shipping Heats Up as Red Sea Dangers Disrupt Seasonality

- The ongoing shipping disruptions caused by the militarization of the Red Sea and the Suez Canal have been consistently pushing container freight rates higher, defying expectations of a weak 2024 for the container market.

- The rate for a 40-foot container from Shanghai to Genoa soared above $7,000 over the past week, the highest reading since September 2022, effectively doubling since April.

- Singapore has been particularly affected by the changes in global container flows, with congestion rates skyrocketing as carriers await their turn for long-haul bunkering around the Cape of Good Hope.

- Traditionally, May and June are off-peak seasons for container shippers, however the shortage of available containers at ports and longer voyages around the Cape of Good Hope that add 11,000 km to shipping routes (additional 12-14 days) have upended that seasonality.

7. Europe Doubles Down on Wind Infrastructure Investment

- Wind energy has been making great inroads in Europes electricity generation, already accounting for 20% of all power generated last year, and the regions key wind producers are simultaneously boosting investments into wind infrastructure.

- Wind substations, collecting power generated by offshore wind turbines, increasing the operating voltage, and transmitting that power to shore, are set for a boom in the second half of the 2020s.

- Following four wind substations added in 2023, Rystad Energy believes this year will see the addition of eight substations, gradually increasing to 30-35 per year towards the end of this decade.

- In order to install the 137 substations that are to be commissioned this decade across Europe, some $20 billion was required in total investment, especially as substations get built farther away from shore.
Londons Royal Docks in Newham is set to house a new data centre, powering the rising demand for artificial intelligence (AI) in the capital.

Ada Infrastructure, the data centre arm of GLP Capital Partners (GCP), has secured planning permission from the Newham Strategic Development Committee to develop a data centre campus in Londons Royal Docks, near the Excel centre.

This 210 megawatt Docklands data centre will be one of the largest in the capital, featuring three 70 megawatt buildings and a community multi-purpose facility that will provide job training programmes.

This new data centre development embodies our commitment to driving positive change through the use of sustainable technology and materials, a robust environmental, health and safety program, and an ongoing investment in the communities in which we work and live, said Jennifer Weitzel, president of Ada Infrastructure.

The approval comes on the heels of Labours tech manifesto, revealed last week, which includes classifying data centres as nationally significant infrastructure projects. Labour is aiming to address a current shortage and meet the growing demand for cloud computing and AI through planning reforms.

Weitzel added: In addition to collaborating with local partners to provide job training and employment opportunities, the projects future-ready design, including energy-efficient systems, net positive landscaping, and strict physical and cybersecurity protocols, will set new standards for safe and sustainable development in the age of AI.

The data centre will use energy solutions such as air and liquid cooling systems that do not rely on vast amounts of water, and low-carbon building materials. The campus will also integrate with a district heating system for more efficient energy use.

It has been designed to support large AI applications, meeting the power and cooling demands of increasing AI workloads from businesses in the city.

Robert De Jong, director at the Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability, said: We are pleased to note the significant public realm improvements that will be of huge benefit to those who live, work and study in the local area, as a result of the new data campus.

These proposals are highly sustainable, in line with [University of East Londons] own values, and have evolved to improve the design and architectural approach, as well as enhancing access to public space, he added.

Plans include improved pathways for pedestrians and cyclists along the Thames River.

Nick Cook, president of GCP Europe, said: We are delighted to see our vision for a large-scale data centre come to life at Docklands. We will continue to leverage our significant footprint across Europe to support the growth of our data centre and clean energy strategies.

By CityAM

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One could argue that it must inevitably come at some point. I mean, arent EVs replacing cars with internal combustion engines? Arent wind turbines and great banks of solar panels visible everywhere you go? Isnt oil under attack

Obviously, there are reasons other than the IEA report for that, but there is a logical treason why seemingly bearish predictions of peak oil, particularly when they come from usually reliable and well informed sources like the IEA, often have a bullish impact that can be sustained for some time. Such reports and predictions factor into the calculations of oil producers and transporters, as discussed in this piece about tanker operators, for example. That can cause a tightening of supply in anticipation of a drastic falloff in demand that, so far, has never really materialized.

This week, the International Energy Agency (IEA) issued a report predicting that peak oil the all time high point in oil demand, will come as soon as 2029. My first thought on reading the report was Here we go again!. Forgive my cynicism but, as somebody who has been involved in markets and trading for around forty years, I have heard this so many times and with so many predicted dates for when the peak will be achieved that have come and gone, that I am inevitably skeptical when I hear it again. What I have learned over time, though, is that each time this prediction resurfaces, oil actually moves higher.

This week, the International Energy Agency (IEA) issued a report predicting that peak oil the all time high point in oil demand, will come as soon as 2029. My first thought on reading the report was Here we go again!. Forgive my cynicism but, as somebody who has been involved in markets and trading for around forty years, I have heard this so many times and with so many predicted dates for when the peak will be achieved that have come and gone, that I am inevitably skeptical when I hear it again. What I have learned over time, though, is that each time this prediction resurfaces, oil actually moves higher.

That has certainly been the case this week

Obviously, there are reasons other than the IEA report for that, but there is a logical treason why seemingly bearish predictions of peak oil, particularly when they come from usually reliable and well informed sources like the IEA, often have a bullish impact that can be sustained for some time. Such reports and predictions factor into the calculations of oil producers and transporters, as discussed in this piece about tanker operators, for example. That can cause a tightening of supply in anticipation of a drastic falloff in demand that, so far, has never really materialized.

One could argue that it must inevitably come at some point. I mean, arent EVs replacing cars with internal combustion engines? Arent wind turbines and great banks of solar panels visible everywhere you go? Isnt oil under attack from environmentalists? Well, yes, but these things have been true for some time. That is why predictions of peak oil ring so true, and yet demand for oil keeps increasing.

The simple fact is that we live in an energy-intensive world. Every time somebody in the world is lifted out of poverty, the first things they buy are energy consumers. Some form of motorized transportation, maybe, a refrigerator or TV, or, more likely these days, a mobile phone. And, for those joining the consumer society, energy efficiency concerns are not a luxury they can afford. Then add in the fact that the AI revolution that we keep hearing about needs massive servers that consume enormous amounts of power to function and a whole host of other things that keep increasing energy consumption, and a collapse in demand for oil, or any energy source for that matter, looks a long way off.

And yet, when a reliable source like the IEA says that peak oil is coming, those involved in the oil supply chain adjust their demand models downwards. That has kept the global market tight for some time, apart from when there are major economic shocks to the system. That is a big part of the reason why, with the exception of at the height of the pandemic, crude has traded above $50 consistently for the last decade or so. The natural state of the market when everyone is convinced peak oil is coming is slightly undersupplied.

Of course, this doesnt mean that we should all be rushing out and buying oil futures every morning, no matter what fundamental or technical analysis suggests on any given day. Oil will continue to fluctuate as it always has, with the quite strong bull runs and major corrections that make it such a tradeable commodity continuing, but, barring economic disaster, it will trade with a high floor. That means that long-term ownership of oil stocks will continue to pay off for investors, no matter how much some media sources tell you that the end is coming.
The more officials from China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan try to provide clarity about a multi-billion-dollar railway project, the more it appears to be a case of putting the train before the track.

Construction of the China-Kyrgyz-Uzbek railway had long been planned, but little done, mainly due to questions about financing. But in early June, the three countries leaders unveiled a construction consortium to build the route, asserting that all the pesky details had finally been hammered out. There was one problem, however: none of the three countries immediately published the document that provided specifics on the consortiums operations.

Chinas State Council information service published a commentary by a former Kyrgyz prime minister, Djoomart Otorbaev, touting the project as capable of turning Central Asia into a trade hub. The new railway [is] a beacon of hope and optimism, Otorbaev trumpeted.

Days after the initial announcement, Kyrgyzstans parliament published the agreement, which contains 13 provisions. The document portrayed the railway project as an outgrowth of the long-term interests of the sides to develop strategic cooperation. While it shed light on the composition of the construction consortium, it did not directly address the main issues of financing and construction timeline.

To no ones surprise, the document shows that China enjoys a controlling interest in the project, responsible for 51 percent of construction costs. Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan each have a 24.5 percent share. Chinese entities are given responsibility for the actual construction of the railway on Kyrgyz territory, with Kyrgyzstan granting Beijing a degree of extraterritoriality, waiving visa requirements and taxation rules for Chinese workers and equipment engaged in the project.

According to a local media report, China had to upgrade Kyrgyzstans debt rating to medium-risk from high-risk to open the way for financing the deal.

On June 18, the head of Kyrgyz railways, Azamat Sakiev, appeared at a Kyrgyz parliamentary hearing to answer MPs questions about the project, which President Sadyr Japarov has described as a vital link connecting landlocked Kyrgyzstan to world markets.

Sakievs responses during the two-hour session resolved some questions but raised others. He did address the financing issue, but the numbers didnt seem to square. He pegged the overall construction cost at $4.7 billion, adding that the Chinese government had pledged to give the consortium a $2.35 billion low-interest loan, covering about half the projects final bill. That loan, given the consortiums financing responsibility framework, would cover just about all of Chinas financing share.

Sakiev proceeded to say Kyrgyzstan would need to find $700 million to cover its construction costs, a number that doesnt align with the countrys 24.5 percent financing share. A quarter of the remaining estimated construction cost comes to about $576 million. A MP during the session said Kyrgyzstan might be responsible for contributing up to $1 billion to the project, a number that Sakiev did not challenge. He also revealed that Kyrgyzstan was negotiating with two Chinese banks to obtain a construction loan for an unspecified amount.

To muddle matters, an Uzbek media outlet, Spot.uz, reported June 19 that the Uzbek and Kyrgyz obligations were each $573 million, a figure more in line with the agreements framework. While amounts have been floated, there have been no reports of any financing arrangements being finalized.

Sakiev reasserted what other Kyrgyz officials have said earlier, stating that railway construction would commence in October and would take six years to build. Uzbek officials have also mentioned October as the start date.

While the start of the project seems set, the railway route remains uncertain. Most of the uncertainty concerns the Kyrgyz section of the railway, which will commence in the western Chinese city of Kashgar, cross into Kyrgyzstan and terminate in the Uzbek city of Andijan. The gauge of the rails will widen at Makmal, in Kyrgyzstan, requiring cargo to be reloaded from one train to another.

The route through Kyrgyzstan will require the construction of dozens of bridges and tunnels, the exact number of which is apparently matter of contention. The official Kabar news agency reported that the Kyrgyz sector will have 81 bridges and 41 tunnels. But the Tazarbek news service pegged the numbers at 95 bridges and 48 tunnels.

Sakiev said construction will consider the potential impact on local environments, stressing the Kyrgyz section will not traverse any nature reserves. Kyrgyz MPs were highly critical of the agreement provision allowing for Chinese contractors to build the entire route. One MP, Baktybek Sadykov, insisted both Kyrgyz and Uzbek companies were capable of doing the work, saying it was deeply offensive that they are precluded from gaining contracts.

By Eurasianet.org

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CANBERRA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Australia's national science agency will help countries in the Pacific and Southeast Asia better prepare for disease outbreaks, the government has announced Friday.

Under the new program, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) will use its expertise in human and animal health and its world-class facilities to help countries including Vietnam, Fiji, Indonesia and Laos improve their ability to identify, track and respond to health emergencies.

The program, which is worth a combined 24.2 million Australian dollars (16.1 million U.S. dollars), will ensure that frontline teams have the right skills to protect communities, according to a government statement.

As part of the program, the CSIRO's Australian Center for Disease Preparedness will receive 12 million Australian dollars (8.0 million dollars) from the government to strengthen animal health laboratories in Southeast Asia, improve testing for infectious diseases at high-risk locations and boost field diagnostic networks in the Pacific.

The program also includes support for a new manufacturing partnership to strengthen capabilities in Southeast Asia to manufacture vaccines, drug products and biopharmaceuticals. 
The merger between Chevron and Hess Corp. may be delayed until next year because of the arbitration panel set up to rule on a dispute with Hesss Guyana partner Exxon.

Three months after the arbitration case was filed, there is still one more arbitrator who needs to be appointed to the panel for it to be complete, Reuters reported earlier today citing unnamed sources familiar with the situation.

The sources said that each side in such a dispute appoints one arbitrator and those two then appoint the third one. It is the third one that has yet to be appointed.

Chevron announced last year it was going to acquire Hess Corp. in a deal valued at some $53 billion. Soon after, Exxon, which developed its Guyana offshore assets in partnership with Hess, challenged the deal.

The supermajor said that its partnership terms with Hess Corp. give itand their third partner, Chinese CNOOCthe right of first refusal to the acquisition of Hess Corp.'s stake in the Stabroek Block. This is the patch of offshore acreage where the consortium has made a string of more than a dozen discoveries, tapping an estimated 11 billion barrels and counting.

Hess Corp. has a 30% stake in the Stabroek Block and Chevron has made no secret of the fact that this stake is the main reason it wants to acquire the company. Yet Exxon is also eyeing that stake, to add to its 45% in the project. If Exxon wins, the Hess acquisition would become pointless for Chevron.

Chevrons counter-argument to Exxons first-refusal clause, supported by Hess, is that it does not apply when theres a deal for the acquisition of the company bound by the first-refusal clause rather than its stake, to which the clause applies.

The market is hoping that there is a speedy settlement to the arbitration process, but has never understood properly what Exxon is trying to achieve, Mark Kelly, an analyst with financial firm MKP Advisors, told Reuters. It is widely believed that Exxon has never communicated this to even Chevron or Hess.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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India's oil imports from Russia reached an unprecedented high of approximately 2.1 million barrels per day (bpd) in May, driven by widening discounts on Russian oil due to decreased demand from China. This surge has pushed Russia's share in India's oil market to nearly 41%, solidifying its position as the top supplier to the world's third-largest oil importer and consumer.

Conversely, imports from Saudi Arabia plummeted to a 10-month low, attributed to Saudi Aramco's decision to raise term prices for the second consecutive month in May. India's overall oil imports in May grew by 5.6% from April, reaching about 5.1 million bpd, with Russian oil imports alone rising by 14.7% from the previous month and 5.9% from a year earlier.

Indian refiners have capitalized on discounted Russian crude, which has become more economically attractive than similar grades from the Middle East. The geopolitical ramifications of the Ukraine invasion have led many European nations to reduce their reliance on Russian oil, allowing India to secure these discounted supplies. This strategic shift not only ensures a stable supply for India but also helps reduce import costs.

Interestingly, India's broader oil import strategy includes increasing purchases from the United States. As of the fiscal year 2023-24, India has been importing more U.S. crude, diversifying its sources and enhancing energy security. This diversification comes at a significant economic advantage; India paid 16% less for the same volume of oil compared to the previous fiscal year, underscoring the financial benefits of a diversified import portfolio.

This increase in imports from Russia and the U.S. has also contributed to a broader trend in Asia, where strong Indian purchases have pushed the region's crude imports to a one-year high. This dynamic landscape highlights India's evolving energy strategy, balancing geopolitical considerations with economic pragmatism to secure its energy future.

India's record-high oil imports from Russia and increased purchases from the U.S. reflect a calculated approach to managing costs and ensuring supply stability amid fluctuating global market conditions.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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Norways government appointed on Friday a committee tasked with considering whether the country should develop nuclear energy as an electricity source.

Kristin Halvorsen, a former finance minister and currently director of the Center for International Climate and Environmental Research in Oslo, will lead the committee, which is set to deliver its report with the findings by April 1, 2026.

Norway ditched the idea of nuclear as a power source in the 1970s, but it is now revisiting the idea.

The issue of nuclear power in the country is back on the agenda for Norway, due to the need for stable and emission-free energy that can help meet growing electricity demand and plans of private companies to set up nuclear power production in collaboration with some Norwegian municipalities, Norways Energy Minister Terje Aasland said in a statement.

The newly-created committee will have to deliver a broad review and assessment of all the aspects of a potential nuclear power development in Norway, the government noted.

Currently, hydropower accounts for about 88% of Norways power production capacity, with wind farms making up another 11%.

Norway joins many other Western countries that have doubled down on nuclear power since the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the energy crisis. Since the start of the war and an energy-market-disrupting series of Western sanctions, nuclear power has regained much support in Europe as a critical aspect of reaching net-zero by 2050. Many countries in the West, with the notable exception of Germany, have recognized that nuclear power generation would help them achieve net-zero emission goals.

Norways neighbor Sweden, for example, plans to build two new nuclear reactors by 2035 in a hedge on low-carbon energy security, with 10 new reactors hoped for by 2045.

The country is expecting a surge in demand for power from its industrial and transport sectors, in the form of a double of demand by 2045, and Energy Minister Ebba Busch has called the move decisive for the green transition, for Swedish jobs and at the heart for the welfare of our citizens.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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(Hilton Okinawa Sesoko Resort, Okinawa)

Are you exhausted? Is your work email blowing up 24/7? Tired of clutching your translation app of choice while trying to order takeout? Life in the 21st century is all go, go, go with no time to rest and recover. If you are ready to take a break from all the noise and chaos of city living, weve got just the place for you.

Hilton Okinawa Sesoko Resort, Okinawa, as the name suggests, is located on Sesoko Island, one of Okinawas quieter northern islands about an hour and a half from Naha. Sesoko is far-removed enough from the clatter of the city that was once there, youll finally be able to reconnect with a type of calm and quiet you havent experienced in years. The resort boasts both indoor and outdoor pools, as well as a pristine beachfront kept as close to nature as possible. Some of the 298 rooms even include private outdoor balcony hot tubs so you can enjoy the Saturday night fireworks while taking a soak.

(Hilton Okinawa Sesoko Resort, Okinawa)

With on-location amenities like beach lounges, snorkeling, all-day dining, the exquisite top-floor executive lounge, and the nearby spa and massage services, you can spend the whole day wandering without stressing about filling your schedule. If youre looking to explore the island but dont know where to start, pick up one of the free-to-use bikes or cars and head out just 15 minutes to the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium or take a look at the UNESCO-listed Nakijin Castle Ruins for spectacular views.

(fireworks)

If you are more interested in seeing the nature the island has to offer, you can walk one of the many nearby hiking trails through the untouched surrounding forests. However, if youd prefer not to physically exert yourself on your vacation, you can still get a taste of the local area through the locally-sourced produce and products Hilton Okinawa Sesoko Resort, Okinawa uses in their cooking and grab-and-go store. We have a great connection with the local farmers, Mao Miyazawa, General Manager of the resort reflects to Metropolis in an interview. Every time we host an event we invite the local market to come and sell their products. Miyazawa elaborates on their symbiotic relationship with the locals, We always try to get the local people involved in our activities.

(Hilton Okinawa Sesoko Resort, Okinawa)

Whether you are looking for a relaxing getaway, a luxurious event venue, or a new family vacation spot, Hilton Okinawa Sesoko Resort is the perfect slice of paradise for you.

0980-47-6300

5750 Sesoko Motobu-cho, Okinawa, 905-0227

Hilton Okinawa Sesoko Resort website

metropolisjapan.com
An Omaha teen initially charged with first-degree murder for killing a man by repeatedly running him over with a car last year was found guilty of a reduced charge of manslaughter earlier this week.

Juan Velasquez, 18, pleaded no contest Monday and was found guilty of manslaughter and use of a weapon to commit a felony in the August 2023 death of 43-year-old Juan Carlos Tobar-Abarca. Velasquez, who was 17 at the time of the killing, will face a minimum of one year and a maximum of 70 years in prison when sentenced in August.

Court documents provided previously unreported details about the killing and potential motives. According to a statement of facts written by prosecutors, Tobar-Abarca was found dead outside the Bel Apartments at 12107 Arbor St. shortly after 3 a.m. on Aug. 31, 2023. He had multiple injuries consistent with being hit and dragged by a vehicle.

Surveillance video at the apartment complex showed the assault occurred about three hours before Tobar-Abarcas body was found. According to prosecutors, the video showed Velasquez and Tobar-Abarca leave the complex at 12:18 a.m. Velasquez was in possession of the keys to Tobar-Abarcas vehicle, a 2012 Kia Sportage.

The video showed Velasquez enter the drivers seat and quickly reverse as Tobar-Abarca got in front of the vehicle. Velasquez accelerated, hitting Tobar-Abarca and dragging him up a grass embankment, leaving him lying on the ground in an adjacent parking lot.

Velasquez drove into the adjacent lot, struck a parked vehicle, and then struck and dragged Tobar-Abarca once more. After making multiple trips back into the apartment, Velasquez fled from the area in Tobar-Abarcas vehicle. He was arrested near Lake Manawa shortly after the killing.

Tobar-Abarca is believed to have been alive for about thirty minutes after he was hit the second time, but he was dead when a sanitation worker noticed his body in the embankment nearly three hours later, according to court documents.

According to an order from Douglas County District Court Judge Molly Keane, Velasquez told investigators different motivations for the killing: He first said it was an accident but later said he and Tobar-Abarca got into a physical altercation in the apartment before the killing. Blood splatter and a large blood smear were found on the walls inside the apartment, according to Keanes order.

Defense attorneys for Velasquez motioned to have the case transferred to Juvenile Court, citing his complete lack of criminal history and status as a model kid while incarcerated at the Douglas County Youth Center. A psychiatrist testified Velasquez displayed symptoms of severe post-traumatic stress disorder, and he scored in the low-risk categories for most recidivism indicators.

According to defense attorneys, Velasquez immigrated to the U.S. from Guatemala alone in order to help his family monetarily. Court documents show Velasquez has a first or second grade education, and he does not speak English.

Keane rejected the motion to transfer the case to Juvenile Court, largely because Velasquezs age would mean he would be under the Juvenile Courts jurisdiction for less than a year.
JUBA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations refugee agency on Thursday warned that the conflict raging in Sudan is likely to worsen the refugee crisis in the Horn of Africa region.

The fight between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has pushed refugees to as far as Kenya and Uganda, said Mamadou Dian Balde, regional director for the East and Horn of Africa and Great Lakes region at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Now some of the refugees are passing through South Sudan and going up to Uganda, and some refugees are even reaching Europe, said Balde in a recent interview with Xinhua.

He called for an end to the protracted conflict in Sudan and the restoration of regional stability, noting that the conflict has led to nearly 10 million refugees and internally displaced persons.

In addition, the UN official said that around two million Sudanese citizens are being hosted in neighboring countries including South Sudan, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, the Central African Republic, Libya, and Uganda.

"In South Sudan, we have 700,000 people who have come up here; of these, 550,000 are South Sudanese citizens who had been living in Sudan, and about 150,000 are Sudanese who have come here, and there are already a large number of refugees who were here prior to this conflict," Balde said.

He added that during his two-day visit to the Renk transit center in Upper Nile State and to a refugee camp in South Sudan, he came across newly arriving refugees and South Sudanese who were returning home.

A lot of support is required for their reintegration, including the improvement of access to basic amenities like health services, education, and water for the returnees in South Sudan so that they may integrate themselves into society, Balde said.

He said that there will be a risk of more children being displaced and migrating to neighboring countries if the conflict continues, noting that the UN secretary-general and leaders of regional blocs have been pushing for a truce among the parties to the Sudan conflict. 
Businessman and President of Rugby Africa Herbert Mensah, with support from Sunda International, has donated several products and bulls to the Muslim community in Kumasi to coincide with the celebration of Eid Al - Adha, the holiest festival of feast on the Islamic calendar.



Eid Al-Adha or the Festival of Sacrifice is celebrated to commemorate the obedience of Abraham to Allah across the globe in every Islamic community.



The Festival of Sacrifice also marks the end of the yearly Hajj pilgrimage to the holy land of Mecca.



The yearly sacrificial ritual is considered a time for Muslims to think of others as well as repent from ones sins committed in the past.



Muslims sacrifice ram and cattle to represent Ibrahims (Abraham) commitment to God, where Allah came to him in a dream and asked him to sacrifice his only son as an act of obedience to God.



Participation in the sacrificial festival is mandatory for all obedient Muslims that can afford an animal.



It is also mandatory for people with money to give an amount to charity, so that less fortunate people can afford to join in the celebration as well.



As a philanthropic tradition, Mr. Herbert Mensah, a Christian, who is also the former Chairman of Kumasi Asante Kotoko FC, supports sections of the Muslim community in Kumasi every year to enable them enjoy their celebration of sacrifices.



Mr. Mensahs philanthropic gesture to Muslims in Ghana over the years has received the generous attention of Sunda International, a Chinese company operating in Ghana.



The company chose to join efforts with Herbert Mensah to donate to the Kumasi Muslim community this year as part of their corporate social responsibility to the people.



King Edward of Hello FM in Kumasi, on behalf of Herbert Mensah and Sunda International, donated bulls and other household consumable products from Sunda International for the celebration of EID Al-Adha 2024.



In handing over the generous donations, King Edward stated that the annual gesture by Mr. Mensah now with support from Sunda is in line with his long-held tradition of keeping a bond with the Zongo community that has always supported him especially during his days as Kotoko Chairman, his activities with the May 9 Foundation and his efforts to build Rugby across Africa.



He also disclosed that Sunda International has decided to join Herbert Mensah in supporting the Muslim community because the Chinese company shares in his philanthropic values and compassion for the poor in the Ghanaian society.



Mallam Ahmed Saeed, secretary to the Ashanti regional imam received the donation on behalf of the Muslim community and expressed gratitude to Herbert Mensah and Sunda International for their kind and generous donation for the celebration of the Eid Al-Adha.





Source: Peacefmonline.com









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A prestigious group of Ghana's national best cocoa farmers, currently on an enlightening tour in the United Kingdom, recently made a significant visit to Mars Wrigley, the world's largest chocolate manufacturing company. This unprecedented factory tour was a pivotal part of the planned activities for the award-winning farmers during their stay in the UK.



The tour offered the farmers a firsthand experience of the intricate chocolate manufacturing processes at Mars Wrigley, enabling them to engage with the company's personnel, share their unique insights, and glean practical knowledge from industry experts.



Prior to the tour, Ms. Ellen Jacobs, the Global Corporate Affairs Manager overseeing cocoa at Mars Wrigley, lauded the exceptional dedication of the cocoa farmers in providing the essential raw material for the global chocolate industry. She commended the farmers for their pivotal role in sustaining Mars Wrigley's operations and emphasised their positive impact on society through job creation.



Ms. Jacobs underscored Mars Wrigley's commitment to fostering a modern cocoa ecosystem aimed at addressing challenges in the cocoa supply chain through innovative research initiatives. She highlighted the company's dedication to supporting cocoa farmers in transitioning from poverty to prosperity by offering crucial resources such as fair pricing, knowledge sharing, and motivation to enhance cocoa production.



Moreover, she emphasised the significance of tackling issues like the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus (CSSVD), a prevalent threat to cocoa production in various countries including Ghana. Ms. Jacobs revealed Mars Wrigley's innovative CSSVD detection kit, designed to facilitate early identification of the virus and mitigate its impact on cocoa trees. She called for collaboration with COCOBOD to implement this pioneering solution effectively.



Mr. Fiifi Boafo, the Head of Corporate Affairs at the Ghana Cocoa Board and leader of the delegation, expressed gratitude to Mars Wrigley for hosting the farmers at the Mars Chocolate School and facilitating engaging interactions with the company's dedicated staff. He commended Mars Wrigley for their proactive approach in developing the CSSVD detection kit as an important stride towards combating the virus's detrimental effects on cocoa farmers.



Mr. Boafo reiterated the Ghana Cocoa Board's eagerness to collaborate with Mars Wrigley to ensure widespread access to the CSSVD kits for early disease detection, recognizing the grave threat CSSVD poses to Ghana's cocoa industry. He affirmed the industry's commitment to finding sustainable solutions to safeguard cocoa production against the challenges posed by such diseases.



In conclusion, this collaborative endeavor between Ghana's top cocoa farmers and Mars Wrigley symbolizes a shared commitment to advancing cocoa farming practices, enhancing sustainability in the industry, and overcoming critical challenges to ensure the prosperity of cocoa farmers and the longevity of Ghana's cocoa sector.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The Member of Parliament for Juaboso and Ranking Member on Parliaments Health Committee, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has lauded former President and flagbearer of the NDC, John Mahama Dramani for his significant contributions to Ghanas health sector.



Speaking on NDC360, Akandoh highlighted Mahamas strategic vision to transform Ghana into a hub for quality and affordable healthcare.



According to him, Mahamas administration aimed to increase the countrys bed capacity by 6,000 through the construction of key health facilities, including the Ridge Hospital, Police Hospital, Dodowa District Hospital, Maritime Hospital, and hospitals in Fomena, Afari, and Kumawu.



In contrast, Akandoh criticized the health sectors current state under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos administration, describing it as ailing.



Akandoh pointed to Ghanas longstanding partnerships with international health organizations like UNICEF, GAVI, and the Global Fund. He explained that UNICEF and GAVI have been instrumental in providing vaccines for combating six major childhood diseases, including polio and measles. He stated that for over forty years, these organizations have supported Ghanas efforts to fight these diseases.



However, Akandoh claimed that these efforts were undermined under Akufo-Addos leadership, resulting in a resurgence of these diseases in 2022.



Additionally, Akandoh highlighted the crucial role of the Global Fund, which has been assisting Ghana since 2002 in the fight against malaria, HIV, and tetanus. He revealed that in 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Global Fund granted Ghana $233 million to purchase essential drugs.



Commenting on the backlog of uncleared medicines at the port, he stated, Before the Global Fund ships any drugs, a Quantification Ad Hoc Committee, led by the Ghana Health Service, determines the countrys needs. The Global Fund then provides detailed notifications of drug shipments to ensure adequate preparation.



He said although the Global Fund includes an additional one percent of the total shipment value to clear drugs, the government has not been able to clear the drugs upon arrival due to increased port port charges.







Source: happyfm









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

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The Prosecutor in the ongoing Ambulance trial has said, Richard Jakpa did not provide any documents to the Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame to help make a case against Dr. Ato Forson.



The Prosecution led by Director of Public Prosecution, Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa made this revelation during cross examination of the third accused, Richard Jakpa.



According to the Prosecutor, the claim that Jakpa provided the said documents to the A-G in July 2022 to help make a case against the MP was false because the A-G had already made disclosures of the said documents and served them on Jakpa's lawyers in February 2022.



Jakpa had accused the Attorney-General of engaging him at odd hours to help him implicate the Minority leader, Dr Ato Forson.



He testified in court that, the Attorney-General assured him that for his corporation, he Jakpa will be made to go free at submission of no case stage.



He said based on the promises he corporated with the Attorney-General and provided those documents to support the case of the Attorney-General against Dr. Ato Forson.



However the Prosecutor said, these claims were untrue.



Richard Jakpa is standing trial alongside Minority leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson for willfully causing financial loss of 2.37 million Euros in their bid to purchase ambulances for the state between 2014 and 2016.

Source: Philipa Atanga/Court Reporter/Despite Media









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The Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, has launched the Homowo Clean-up Exercise, a one-month campaign aimed at promoting community-led environmental cleanliness.



The initiative encourages citizens to take ownership of their surroundings and work together to create a cleaner, healthier city.



The campaign promises to make a significant impact with the support of government ministries, local authorities, traditional leaders, and waste management giants, Zoomlion Ghana Limited.



Delivering the keynote address as the Special Guest of Honour at the launch ceremony held at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) headquarters on Friday, June 21, the Ga Mantse warned that all shops must shut their doors on the day of the clean-up exercise, slated to kick-off in the Accra metropolitan area on July 2.



"We expect all shops and businesses in the designated area to close on the day of the exercise. We also urge leaders of various groups and associations to participate fully," he stressed.



The exercise will take place in all the 25 local government authorities within the Greater Accra Region. It will involve household registration for organised waste collection services, education on waste management techniques, and enforcement of bylaws to ensure compliance with waste management regulations.



King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II also warned against the politicisation of the exercise, emphasising that environmental cleanliness affects everyone regardless of political affiliations.





He urged all residents to adhere strictly to sanitation bye-laws, clean their frontages, gutters, and premises, and called for the reintroduction of communal labor and intensified public education on sanitation.



He also issued a stern warning to those who refuse to comply with the sanitation bylaws, stating that a special task force will be deployed to arrest offenders and ensure they face the full force of the law.



The Assemblies should also take up their responsibilities by making refuse bins available and at vantage points, he urged.



He announced an exciting twist to the clean-up campaignsanitation competitions, stating that schools, communities, markets, and lorry stations will vie for the top spot, with awards up for grabs for the cleanest.



These awards will motivate participants to go the extra mile, fostering a spirit of friendly competition and community pride, he said.



To this end, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II took the opportunity to issue a rallying cry to corporate institutions in the capital, urging them to embrace sustainable practices and green policies that prioritise environmental wellbeing.



In a show of support, collaborating government ministries pledged their resources and expertise to ensure the initiative's success, demonstrating their commitment to a cleaner, greener Accra.



Accra's Mayor, Elizabeth K.T. Sackey, sounded a clarion call for change, decrying the city's persistent poor sanitary conditions.



She emphasised that a clean environment was pivotal to safety and security, and praised the Ga Mantse's involvement, saying, "His Majesty's participation underscores the gravity of this issue and the collective responsibility we must embrace to create a cleaner, healthier Accra for all.



She vowed that the AMA will spare no effort in ensuring the clean-up exercise was a resounding success, leaving no stone unturned in the quest for a cleaner, greener, and healthier Accra.



Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD), Vincent Ekow Assafuah, praised the Ga Mantse's leadership, acknowledging his invaluable contributions to Accra's cleanliness.



He observed that the Homowo festival was not merely a celebration, but a poignant reflection of our cultural heritage, deeply rooted in the values of cleanliness and community pride."



The Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources (MSWR), Lydia Seyram Alhassan, said her ministry was fully equipped and ready for the clean-up exercise.



She revealed an arsenal of resources, including 30 compaction trucks, over 30 tricycles, thousands of Wellington boots, 15,000 security personnel, a dedicated task force, and environmental health officers tasked with enforcing sanitation bylaws.



She urged every citizen in Accra to join forces and play an active role in making the campaign successful.



Greater Accra Regional Minister, Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover, commended his predecessor's efforts and expressed gratitude to the Ga Traditional Council (GTC) for reviving the 'Keep Accra Clean' campaign.



He noted that the exercise will be implemented in phases, with the first phase set to launch on July 2 in the Accra metropolitan area.



We have mobilised resources, and forged partnership to ensure the success of the clean-exercise, he assured.







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Samsung has announced a new era of AI TVs with the launch of its Neo QLED 8K, Neo QLED 4K and OLED TVs at the Unbox & Discover event, with an amazing pre-order offer.



Samsung, the Global Number 1 TV brand for 18 years, sets the benchmark for video innovation, with the ultimate embodiment of next-level AI TV technology and excellence designed to upscale every moment at home.



Imagine a world where your viewing experience is always extraordinary no matter the content! Thanks to the 2024 Samsung Neo QLED 8K AI TV powered by the NQ8 AI Gen2 Processor with built-in 8K AI Upscaling Pro Technology, the TV offers quantum leaps in performance by transforming any content into 8K resolution, even your old videos. You will see these videos transform into looking so clear and real, it is like bringing the past right into your living room with sizes ranging from 65 to 85 inches.



The 2024 Neo QLED 4K AI TV comes with cutting-edge innovations and elevates the viewing experience with groundbreaking features powered by the NQ4 AI Gen2 Processor. Enhanced by Real Depth Enhancer Pro and Quantum Matrix Technology, the screen ensures impeccable contrast even in complex scenes.



With the worlds first Pantone Validated display for color accuracy and Dolby Atmos for an immersive audio experience, Neo QLED 4K sets the bar. Neo QLED 4K will be available in sizes ranging from 55 to 85 inches.



Made for more than just watching, the 2024 Samsung OLED AI TV ensures peak performance for ultimate gaming experiences. Samsung is also introducing the worlds first glare-free OLED, eliminating unnecessary reflection while preserving deep blacks and clear images under any lighting condition.



Powered by the same formidable NQ4 AI Gen2 Processor as the Neo QLED 4K lineup, Samsungs OLED TVs boast features like the Real Depth Enhancer and OLED HDR Pro, bringing picture quality to new heights from 65 to 83 inches.



Pre-Order Offer



The 2024 AI TVs will be available for pre-order with exclusive premium freebies until 27th June 2024 in all Electroland Ghana Limited and CompuGhana Limited showrooms. Pre-order a Samsung AI TV now to receive a Soundbar, Freestyle Smart Projector, and Galaxy Fit3 with free delivery and installation.





Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The Copyright Office of Ghana has urged the gospel music group, Team Eternity Ghana, to resolve any copyright disputes related to their hit single, Defe Defe, amicably in order to avoid legal repercussions.



Team Eternity Ghana has been accused of alleged song theft by Kwame Mickey, the executive producer for Hallelujah Voices Defe Defe which was released 20 years ago.



In an interview with Graphic Showbiz, James Owusu-Ansah, a Senior Research Officer at the Copyright Office, advised Team Eternity Ghana to settle the matter out of court, and cautioned that litigation could be prolonged and costly, emphasising the need to avoid unnecessary legal drama.



In a Facebook post on Sunday, June 17, Mr Kwame Mickey sparked conversation on copyright issues when he alleged that Team Eternity Ghana had infringed on his intellectual property by using the defe defe line in their trending banger, also titled Defe Defe.



Hallelujah Voices sing, manhyia Nyame a anka bonsam ay me defe defe, and Team Eternity sing, manhyia Nyame a anka yay me defe defe.



In the said post, he insinuated that Team Eternity infringed by using the defe defe line in their new hit single which has garnered over two million views on YouTube as of Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (Related article Team Eternity Ghana faces song theft allegation over Defe Defe)



This controversy has generated intense debate on social media, with opinions divided on the matter. Some argue that the expression defe defe is not a unique creation of Hallelujah Voices, and therefore they cannot claim it as their exclusive property. Others point out similarities in the lyrics, suggesting potential copyright infringement.



Mr Owusu-Ansah noted that the controversy surrounding the issue was not about emotional outbursts or personal opinions, but rather about what the copyright laws specifically stated and how they applied to the situation.



When it comes to making a song popular, the chorus and hook are key elements. However, before creating a song, two essential factors must be considered: originality and creativity. While ideas themselves are not copyrightable, the expression of those ideas is protected.



This means that no one can claim ownership of words or ideas, but the unique expression of is exclusive to the creator. To establish copyright, a person must demonstrate mental labour, meaning they invested time and effort into crafting their work.



This include selecting words, rhythms and melodies. If someone accuses another of plagiarism, they must prove that the accused party stole their work. This can be challenging, as songwriters often draw inspiration from others and borrow elements, making it difficult to determine whether it's a case of inspiration or appropriation.



In the case of Hallelujah Voices and Team Eternity, it's possible Team Eternity was inspired by the existing work without directly copying it. Alternatively, they may have appropriated the work, modifying it to fit their own song.



To determine copyright infringement, we must examine whether the expression of ideas was original and creative, and whether mental labour was exercised in the creation process and that is where they could be found guilty if they arent able to prove themselves, he said.



According to Mr Owusu-Ansah, even if Team Eternity wanted to use the word 'defe defe', they should have sought permission from the original creator.



Even though he couldnt answer the question as to whether Halleluyah Voices had registered Defe Defe at the Copyright Office, he encouraged both parties to write to the Copyright Office for the matter to be resolved.



Section 48 of Copyright Act, 2008(Act 690) makes provision for settlement of disputes through mediation for the parties at the Copyright Office. The Copyright Office has over the years solved amicably cases of this nature without parties going for settlement at the law court, he stated.

Source: graphic.com.gh









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Equilibrium portfolio of entrant and incumbent for the two cases of Lemma 3: case (i) in the left, case (ii) in the right plot. Credit: International Economic Review (2024). DOI: 10.1111/iere.12689

Promoting a competitive marketplace has been the main focus for regulators concerned with "killer acquisitions"when big companies swallow small startups to eliminate a potential rival.

But researchers and other observers point out that blocking these purchases puts something else important at riskinnovation. Startups are sometimes driven to come up with a new process or product precisely because they hope to be bought by a big player who will reward them handsomely for their work without having to bring it to market themselves.

"Banning these types of acquisitions may in turn lead to many startups not being there in the first place," points out Regina Seibel, an assistant professor of economics analysis and policy at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management.

That doesn't mean the acquisitions field should be left wide open. To find out when and how innovation might be stifled through antitrust measures, Prof. Seibel and two other researchers created mathematical models using game theory to test how innovation is affected under a host of scenarios.

The research was co-authored with Igor Letina of the University of Bern and the Center for Economic Policy Research, and Armin Schmutzler of the University of Zurich and the Center for Economic Policy Research. It is published in the journal International Economic Review.

It turns out that innovation may be depressed when acquisitions are banned because there is a lower variety of projects, they found. Besides discouraging startups who want to be bought, larger companies are motivated to duplicate their innovation, since they can't just buy it, instead of exclusively pursuing their own ideas.

But that's only in general. Looking at particular cases, innovation can be minimally or even not affected by a ban. If the startup doesn't have much bargaining power and won't significantly profit from a buyout, a ban can boost competition with a small impact on innovation.

The same goes for blocking a larger company from buying a smaller one so it can commercialize the startup's invention. If the creation is a potential blockbuster, the startup "can go on the market with very similar profits," compared to what it would reap from being bought, Prof. Seibel says. In this case, there may be even no impact on innovation whatsoever.

And while killer acquisitions have received more attention, letting these so-called "genuine" acquisitions to go ahead unfettered can be even more problematic from a competition perspective, because they can allow big companies to get bigger, crowding out the space for future startups.

In the real world though, it's tricky for regulators to know what's going on in an acquisition deal. That's why Prof. Seibel and her colleagues recommend regulators consider less blunt tools than outright bans. Taxing an acquisition reduces the profits that can be made by both sides "but it's less extreme than completely shutting the acquisition down," she says.

Subsidies can also be offered to startups who want to launch on the stock market, improving their profitability. "I think that's a very attractive way to go forward to foster innovation and also decrease the rate of these acquisitions," Prof. Seibel says.

More information: Igor Letina et al, Killer acquisitions and beyond: policy effects on innovation strategies, International Economic Review (2024). DOI: 10.1111/iere.12689
Kenyas plan to include a faith-based intervention in its US-backed mission to Haiti has been received with mixed feelings in both nations. The intervention, which has the endorsement of Kenyas President William Rutos wife, Rachel, is being spearheaded by a few evangelical pastors from Kenya, Haiti and the US.

The peace talks and mediation efforts by the evangelical pastors are meant to complement the deployment of 1,000 Kenyan police officers to Haiti. Approved by the UN Security Council, Kenya is leading a multinational security force that intends to push back the violent gangs controlling Haitis capital, Port-au-Prince, and secure government installations.

But a resurgence of gang-related violence, the resignation of former Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry and court cases have delayed the deployment of the police force which is now slated for late June. As part of the preparation to deploy the Kenyan police officers, Haitian police commanders were in Kenyas capital, Nairobi, on June 18 to discuss with their counterparts on the upcoming mission.

Separately, evangelical pastors had met with Rachel Ruto to brief her on the progress and strategy for a spiritual intervention in Haiti. The first lady was on record saying that, we cannot allow our police to go to Haiti without prayer.

We have come together to say we want to form a prayer strategy, and we would like you to join us in praying for this great country of Haiti because we know the Lord can transform Haiti, Ruto said after meeting the team of seven pastors from Kenya, Haiti and the US.

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One of the evangelical pastors involved in the Haiti initiative is Serge Musasilwa. He told BBCs Africa Daily that the underlying reason why many peacekeeping missions fail is because the fundamentals are not well defined.

There is no human conflict unless there is a human that has disobeyed God. That is the basis and that is why it is important for the clergy to be involved. Spiritual matters cannot be resolved politically, said Musasilwa, who has been involved in peace and reconciliation initiatives in other African countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo.

However, Evangelical Alliance of Kenya General Secretary Nelson Makanda told Christian Daily International that the Alliance is not privy to the discussions nor has it been invited to participate in the initiative.

Musasilwa suggested that the plan to launch prayers for Haiti was mooted by pastors close to the President and First Lady Rachel Ruto who hold daily national prayers in Kenyas State House. In addition to praying for Haiti, Musasilwa said that the evangelical team of pastors also aims to bring all the Haitian civil society groups and the Haitian community to the negotiating table.

It's an alternative (mediation process) but without being in collision or friction with the mission, clarified Musasilwa.

Pierre Esperance, the Executive Director of the National Human Rights Defense Network in Haiti termed the promotion of evangelical Christinianity as inappropriate, calling instead for greater transparency and inclusivity in the mission to Haiti.

Among other details, international officials should divulge the locations, time frames, and lines of command for the forces deployment. They must also explain how the international police officers will successfully collaborate with a compromised and exhausted police force, noted Esperance.

Jona Lazarre, the Co-founder of Gods Vision For Haiti (GVFH) told Christian Daily that although they dont have specific information about Kenyas plan for a spiritual intervention, GVFH hopes it is in line with Gods plan for Haiti.

There have been so many past failed attempts. It is time for our Haitian brothers and sisters to truly turn to God, something has to change. People have suffered enough. We believe that it is time for the local churches in Haiti to turn to God, unite and rise to truly be the light in darkness, said Jona.

There have been several interventions in Haiti since 2004 when a UN-backed multinational force was deployed to restore order after a period of political turmoil. The assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021 exacerbated political uncertainty and violence.
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Installing Nyx Bikini alongside other first passengers on Ariane 6. Credit: European Space Agency

Europe's newest rocket soon launches, taking with it many space missions each with a unique objective, destination and team at home, cheering them on. Whether launching new satellites to look back and study Earth, peer out to deep space or test important new technologies in orbit, Ariane 6's first flight will showcase the versatility and flexibility of this impressive, heavy-lift launcher.

Hot on the heels of being selected for Europe's cargo transportation initiative to the International Space Station, the Exploration Company's Nyx Bikini intends to perform a ballistic reentry demonstration.

Nyx Bikini is a technology demonstrator of 60 cm diameterabout the size of a large lampshadethat will allow Exploration Company to get their first data on atmospheric reentry and calibrate their mathematical models.

At the end of the Ariane 6 mission, the upper stage of Europe's new rocket will be flying at roughly 28,800 km/h around Earth. A few minutes before the upper stage sends itself to a fiery and safe disposal into Earth's atmosphere, Nyx Bikini will be detached to also fall down to Earth.

Unlike the Ariane 6 upper stage, Nyx Bikini has been designed to survive the intense heat that generates during reentryup to 2,100C.

Developed in just nine months and for a cost of under 2 million euros Nyx Bikini is an example of the new European space sector.

Helene Huby, The Exploration Company CEO explains, "From an industrial point of view, having built Nyx Bikini in just nine months from sketch to qualification has enabled us as a start-up to prove ourselves to supply chain partners, prove our development and production processes, and it demonstrates that we can build spacecraft fast and for a fraction of the costswhile accepting risks."

Artist's view of The Exploration Company's Nyx Bikini reentry capsule demonstrator as it enter's Earth's atmosphere. Credit: The Exploration Company

Some of the hardware in the reentry capsule is not designed for space, for example, the avionics hardwarethe spacecraft's "brain"has been taken from the drone industry and is not qualified to withstand the radiation it may receive in space. As the Nyx Bikini mission will last just three hours, the risk of a serious failure is low and using established hardware for Earth is a way to reduce costs and time to build.

Another example is how Nyx Bikini phones home during its descent into the Pacific Ocean: it will be using a standard satellite phone. Simulations show it should work, but the phone terminal wasunsurprisinglynot designed to be used from inside a returning spacecraft.

Bikini is an uncontrolled capsule, so in order to prevent that it tumbles and reenters with its heatshield backwards, three flaps will force Bikini to reenter with its heatshield forward. This technical solution bears more risk but is cheaper than costly and complicated thrusters.

"If one of these risks materialize, we will gather no data and our mission will fail," explains Helene, "but we will have gathered unique learnings about our technical capabilities, our industrial processes, our supply-chain partners, and the legal and technical path to secure a reentry license."

Helene continues, "This mission is a first step that paves the way for a European reusable space capsule. We are receiving countless messages from people from different backgrounds and countries in Europe, thanking us for inspiring them, because our company embodies that Europe can be bold and pioneer technologies beneficial for the world."

"This first launch with Ariane 6 will be a special time for all of us, at The Exploration Company, as we will also be going to space, for the first time. Our team will be experiencing it together, and our emotions will be intense," says Helene,

"Whatever the outcome of the mission, I am grateful for the relentless work of our team and of our partners who all contributed to build and qualify our Bikini capsule at unprecedented high speed and low costs.

"This also means that we have accepted some risks of mission failure. It reflects our DNA: for our first missions, we prioritize learning and iterating fast (which means more risks, but also faster learning), versus building the perfect capsule."

And the name?

"The name was chosen jokingly, because the capsule might be almost 'naked' when it splashes down, and the bikini swimwear when it was invented in the 1960s, was quite innovative," concludes Helene.
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Carvings made over decades by Basque herders are endangered as their canvas, the aspens, are at risk. Sawtooth Mountains, 2011. Credit: Idaho Basque Arborglyphs Collection, Special Collections and Archives, Albertsons Library, Boise State University

Throughout the mountains of the American West, carvings hidden on the trunks of aspen trees tell the stories of the sheepherders who made them as they passed through with their flocks. Most of the men who etched these arborglyphs into the living trees were Basques who, starting with the Gold Rush of the 1840s, had immigrated from the Basque Country that straddles the Pyrenees Mountains.

Our experience of documenting arborglyphs"lertxun-marrak" in Basquehas deepened over time. At first, we simply tried to decipher what was on the tree. It can be hard to tell what is scarred bark and what is a carving. Gradually, we got better at deciphering the carvings and now hope to spot the oldest and most ornate.

We also came to appreciate the different styles and themes, like in signatures and writing. One herder carves his name, the date and his hometown; another delves into politics; and another carves a hoped-for female companion.

Viewing the decades-old carvings, we're surrounded by the quiet and solitude of the high mountain range, whether in the Sierra Nevada, Ruby Mountains or Sawtooth Mountains. We literally stand in the footsteps of the herder who created the arborglyph.

These herders left their marks on the aspens, and now we are part of a research collaboration that aims to document and catalog as many of their arborglyphs and the experiences they record as possible before they disappear. About 25,000 arborglyphs have been documented over time, and there are likely at least as many more left to be recorded before they're lost.

Nudes are a frequent theme among Basque tree carvings. Credit: Joxe Mallea-Olaetxe Lertxunmarrak Collection, Jon Bilbao Basque Library, University of Nevada, Reno

Who were the sheepherders who left their mark?

Beginning almost 200 years ago, Basques emigrated to the American West to pursue economic opportunities, escape compulsory military service or political persecution, and for other personal reasons. Most were lower class, from agrarian backgrounds, with little to no education or English language skills. As the sheepherding industry grew in the West, it offered these immigrants steady work, and Basques became synonymous with sheepherding through the 1970s, when the economy improved in the Basque Country.

The Basque immigrants practiced a seasonal form of herding called transhumance. The herders trailed the sheep up into the high mountains during the spring and summer for grazing, then migrated in the fall back to the valleys where they spent the winter. This annual cycle meant Basque herders spent their summers alone in the hills.

In Basque, Spanish, French and English, they carved into living aspen trees to express their thoughts, dreams, wishes and challenges. Their arborglyphs cover a spectrum of topics: their hometowns, sports, women, love, work, religion, politics and more.

For example, they carved political slogans like "Gora Euskadi" ("Up with the Basque Country"), for which they could have been arrested at home. There are carvings of crosses that note the festivals of particular saints, boats depicted by those who hailed from fishing villages, and well-known verses and poems about longing to return to their country.

A variety of animals are represented, including birds and mammals. Credit: Joxe Mallea-Olaetxe Lertxunmarrak Collection, Jon Bilbao Basque Library, University of Nevada, Reno

The same bird as in the previous picture, here captured by Jean Earl in a rubbing in the 1970s. Credit: Philip I. and Jean Moore Earl Basque Aspen Art of the Sierra Nevada Collection, Jon Bilbao Basque Library, University of Nevada, Reno

Sometimes you laugh when you get the joke or the saying that they share. Other times, it can be quite moving as they describe their lives and longings. These carvings reflect a variety of human emotions and experiences, with nostalgia playing a prominent role.

Collecting the carvings virtually

To document these disappearing cultural artifacts, we formed Lertxun-MarrakThe Arborglyph Collaborative, composed of Boise State University, California State University, Bakersfield, and the University of Nevada, Reno in collaboration with the Kern County Museum, the Basque Museum, and the Northeastern Nevada Museum, with the support of the National Historical Publications & Records Commission.

We also want to make connections with those who were interested in the carvings: family and friends of those who left the Basque Country for opportunities in the American West; those from local communities who wish to understand the experience of these immigrants; artists who see the aspen trees as a canvas and the carvings as a distinct art; researchers and governmental organizations, hikers, hunters and runners who come upon them in the backcountry, and the greater public.

Unfortunately, age, grazing practices, more frequent and intense fires, and climate change as a whole threaten these carvings. The Arborglyph Collaborative aims to document as many tree carvings as possible before they are gone.

To do so, we follow the herders' trails through the mountains. It's easy to walk through an aspen grove and not realize that the bark of the trees are canvases. Having an understanding of the sheepherding area helps us identify groves where herders carved on the aspens. Mature aspen groves with springs close to them are better candidates to contain "lertxun-marrak." If we find one arborglyph, we can assume that there will be others, since they are usually found in groups in areas with heavy sheepherding traffic.

The techniques used to capture and reproduce tree carvings have evolved along with the available technologies. The Earl Collection of tree carving rubbings, deposited at the Jon Bilbao Basque Library at the University of Nevada, Reno, represents one example of the early efforts.

Reno residents Jean and Phillip Earl first heard about arborglyphs during a lecture at the university in the 1970s. Intrigued, they began to actively seek out what they first termed "living galleries" and to experiment with methods of preserving the images they found; muslin and black rubbing wax proved the best tools for the job. The Earls devoted 40 years to developing an archival record comprising around 150 rubbings of the carvings that most captured their attention because of their visual appeal.

Along with rubbings, researchers used sketching, still photography and, later, video recordings to document the etched bark of aspens. Another research collection in the Jon Bilbao Basque Library was compiled by one of the first scholars interested in arborglyphs, Joxe Mallea-Olaetxe. In fact, he coined the term lertxun-marrakliterally, "lines/drawings on aspen trees," the name for arborglyphs in Euskara, the Basque language.

From the 1970s to the 2000s, he documented thousands of arborglyphs, including detailed descriptions, photographs and video recordings, providing a comprehensive view of these cultural artifacts.

The Arborglyph Collaborative is building a catalog of 3D models of the carvings, which anyone can visit and examine virtually. Credit: One Digital Media and Technology Center, University of Nevada, Reno.

Now, we are able to document the arborglyphs with photogrammetry, which creates a three-dimensional model in realistic detail. We're also able to recreate the carving and its setting in virtual reality, allowing a visitor to immerse themselves in a grove without needing to travel. Smartphones and tablets make it convenient for nearly anyone to engage with arborglyphs from anywhere, at any time, including creating and accessing 3D models of the carvings.

The trees and the Basques

The need to preserve these human experiences transformed into artifacts is driven home by encounters like one that happened on a recent documenting trip in the mountains outside of Idaho City, Idaho. One student who was helping take photos and videos and noting GPS locations revealed that her father came to the U.S. from the Basque Country to work as a sheepherder. She'd joined our research team to learn more about his experience. When she found the carvings made by her dad, who had died when she was young, tears ran down her cheeks as she experienced a flood of emotions.

Stories like this demonstrate the value of preserving these artifacts that revive the voices and memories of these immigrants in the American West. Today, increased technological availability and reliable partners are key to achieving this goal. We have much more work to do, more arborglyphs to collect, ways to make them publicly accessible, and more communities to engage with.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Painting of a griffin, a lion-raptor chimera, alongside the fossils of Protoceratops, a horned dinosaur. The latter are said to have informed the lore and appearance of the former, but our study suggests that there is no compelling connection between dinosaurs and griffins. Credit: Dr. Mark Witton

A popular and widely-promoted claim that dinosaur fossils inspired the legend of the griffin, the mythological creature with a raptorial bird head and wings on a lion body, has been challenged in a new study published in Interdisciplinary Science Reviews.

The specific link between dinosaur fossils and griffin mythology was proposed over 30 years ago in a series of papers and books written by folklorist Adrienne Mayor. These started with the 1989 Cryptozoology paper titled "Paleocryptozoology: a call for collaboration between classicists and cryptozoologists," and was cemented in the seminal 2000 book "The First Fossil Hunters." The idea became a staple of books, documentaries and museum exhibits.

It suggests that an early horned dinosaur of Mongolia and China, Protoceratops, was discovered by ancient nomads prospecting for gold in Central Asia. Tales of Protoceratops bones then traveled southwest on trade routes to inspire, or at least influence, stories and art of the griffin.

Griffins are some of the oldest mythological creatures, first appearing in Egyptian and Middle Eastern art during the 4th millennium BC, before becoming popular in ancient Greece during the 8th century BC.

Protoceratops was a small (around 2 meters long) dinosaur that lived in Mongolia and northern China during the Cretaceous period (7571 million years ago). They belong to the horned dinosaur group, making it a relative of Triceratops, although they actually lack facial horns. Like griffins, Protoceratops stood on four legs, had beaks, and had frill-like extensions of their skulls that, it's been argued, could be interpreted as wings.

In the first detailed assessment of the claims, study authors Dr. Mark Witton and Richard Hing, paleontologists at the University of Portsmouth, re-evaluated historical fossil records, the distribution and nature of Protoceratops fossils, and classical sources linking the griffin with the Protoceratops, consulting with historians and archaeologists to fully understand the conventional, non-fossil based view of griffin origins. Ultimately, they found that none of the arguments withstood scrutiny.

Ideas that Protoceratops would be discovered by nomads prospecting for gold, for instance, are unlikely when Protoceratops fossils occur hundreds of kilometers away from ancient gold sites.

In the century since Protoceratops was discovered, no gold has been reported alongside them. It also seems doubtful that nomads would have seen much of Protoceratops skeletons, even if they prospected for gold where their fossils occur.

Comparisons between the skeleton of Protoceratops and ancient griffin art. The griffins are all very obviously based on big cats, from their musculature and long, flexible tails to the manes (indicated by coiled "hair" on the neck), and birds, and differ from Protoceratops in virtually all measures of proportion and form. Image compiled from illustrations in Witton and Hing (2024). Credit: Dr. Mark Witton

"There is an assumption that dinosaur skeletons are discovered half-exposed, lying around almost like the remains of recently-deceased animals," said Dr. Witton. "But generally speaking, just a fraction of an eroding dinosaur skeleton will be visible to the naked eye, unnoticed to all except for sharp-eyed fossil hunters.

"That's almost certainly how ancient peoples wandering around Mongolia encountered Protoceratops. If they wanted to see more, as they'd need to if they were forming myths about these animals, they'd have to extract the fossil from the surrounding rock. That is no small task, even with modern tools, glues, protective wrapping and preparatory techniques.

"It seems more probable that Protoceratops remains, by and large, went unnoticedif the gold prospectors were even there to see them."

Similarly, the geographic spread of griffin art through history does not align with the scenario of griffin lore beginning with Central Asian fossils and then spreading west. There are also no unambiguous references to Protoceratops fossils in ancient literature.

Protoceratops is only griffin-like in being a four-limbed animal with a beak. There are no details in griffin art suggesting that their fossils were referenced but, conversely, many griffins were clearly composed from features of living cats and birds.

Dr. Witton added, "Everything about griffin origins is consistent with their traditional interpretation as imaginary beasts, just as their appearance is entirely explained by them being chimaras of big cats and raptorial birds. Invoking a role for dinosaurs in griffin lore, especially species from distant lands like Protoceratops, not only introduces unnecessary complexity and inconsistencies to their origins, but also relies on interpretations and proposals that don't withstand scrutiny."

The authors are keen to stress that there is excellent evidence of fossils being culturally important throughout human history, and innumerable instances of fossils inspiring folklore around the world, referred to as "geomyths."

Richard Hing said, "It is important to distinguish between fossil folklore with a factual basisthat is, connections between fossils and myth evidenced by archaeological discoveries or compelling references in literature and artworkand speculated connections based on intuition.

"There is nothing inherently wrong with the idea that ancient peoples found dinosaur bones and incorporated them into their mythology, but we need to root such proposals in realities of history, geography and paleontology. Otherwise, they are just speculation."

Dr. Witton added, "Not all mythological creatures demand explanations through fossils. Some of the most popular geomythsProtoceratops and griffins, fossil elephants and cyclopes, and dragons and dinosaurshave no evidential basis and are entirely speculative.

"We promote these stories because they're exciting and seem intuitively plausible, but doing so ignores our growing knowledge of fossil geomyths grounded in fact and evidence. These are just as interesting as their conjectural counterparts, and probably deserve more attention than entirely speculated geomythological scenarios."

More information: Mark P. Witton et al, Did the horned dinosaur Protoceratops inspire the griffin?, Interdisciplinary Science Reviews (2024). DOI: 10.1177/03080188241255543
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Kite flying at the Great Salt Lake in Utah. Credit: Sara Grineski

Inland seas around the world are drying up due to increasing human water use and accelerating climate change, and their desiccation is releasing harmful dust that pollutes the surrounding areas during acute dust storms. Using the Great Salt Lake in Utah as a case study, researchers show that dust exposure was highest among Pacific Islanders and Hispanic people and lower in white people compared to all other racial/ethnic groups, and higher for individuals without a high school diploma.

Restoring the lake would benefit everyone in the vicinity by reducing dust exposure, and it would also decrease the disparities in exposure among different racial/ethnic and socioeconomic groups. These results are reported June 21 in the journal One Earth.

"People here in Utah are concerned about the lake for a variety of reasonsthe ski industry, the brine shrimp, the migratory birds, recreationand this study adds environmental justice and the equity implications of the drying lake to the conversation," says first author and sociologist Sara Grineski of the University of Utah.

"If we can raise the levels of the lake via some coordinated policy responses, we can reduce our exposure to dust, which is good for everyone's health, and we can also reduce the disparity between groups."

The Great Salt Lake has been steadily drying since the mid-1980s, exposing its dry lakebed to atmospheric weathering and wind. Previous studies have shown that dust emissions from drying salt lakes produce fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which is associated with numerous health effects and is the leading environmental cause of human mortality worldwide.

"We know that the dust from these drying lakes is very unhealthy for us, so the question becomes, what does that mean in terms of people's exposure to the dust, and what does it mean in terms of inequalities in exposure to that dust?" says Grineski. "Are some people more likely to have to suffer the consequences to a greater degree?"

To answer this question, Grineski teamed up with a multidisciplinary group including atmospheric scientists, geographers, and biologists. They started by using a model to investigate how dust pollution would change if the lake became even dryer, or if its levels rose to a healthy level.

The model simulated how much dust would be created by erosion under different lake-level scenarios and how wind would distribute this dust in three counties surrounding the Great Salt Lake. Then, the team combined the model's outputs with demographic data from the 2020 U.S. Decennial Census and American Community Survey to examine whether the severity of dust exposure is associated with racial/ethnic groups or socioeconomic status.

During a typical dust storm, the team found that at the lake's current level, people in the Great Salt Valley are exposed to 26 g/m3 of dust PM2.5 on average, which is higher than the World Health Organization's threshold of 15 g/m3 (though lower than the less stringent U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standards threshold of 35 g/m3). If the lake were to dry up completely, average exposure during dust storms would increase to 32 g/m3, but restoring the lake to a healthy level would decrease the average exposure to 24 g/m3.

They also showed that some groups within the population are exposed to disproportionate levels of dust. Exposure was highest in Pacific Islanders and Hispanic people, and higher in people without a high school diploma (one metric of socioeconomic status), though there was no association between the risk of dust exposure and income level or home ownership.

Raising the lake's level would decrease the disparities between groups, thus helping to alleviate one form of environmental injustice within the region, though Grineski notes that the valley is home to other social disparities in pollution exposure.

"If the lake's level rises, the dust drops, and the disparity in exposure narrows for race/ethnicity and education," says Grineski.

In the future, the team would like to investigate how potential future changes to the region's population size and shape might influence who is most exposed to dust from the lake. Ultimately, they hope their results will help guide local policymakers to prioritize refilling the Great Salt Lake.

"If we were to enact policy and conservation measures to raise the lake, we would benefit not only in terms of decreased dust, but in terms of less dramatic disparities between who is breathing in more of this dust," says Grineski. "It's important to consider the environmental justice implications of different choices that we might make in the policy arena when we think about different strategies for adaptation and mitigation to climate change."

More information: Harmful dust from drying lakes: Preserving Great Salt Lake (USA) water levels decreases ambient dust and racial disparities in population exposure, One Earth (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.oneear.2024.05.006. www.cell.com/one-earth/fulltex  2590-3322(24)00249-5 Journal information: One Earth
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An aerial image shows Old Lahaina Center and Foodland Lahaina standing amongst destroyed homes and businesses along Front Street burned to the ground in the historic Lahaina in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui in Lahaina, Hawaii.

The US state of Hawaii has reached an historic agreement in response to litigation by youth activists, promising to speed up the de-carbonization of its transport sector to protect their right to a safe and healthy climate.

Thirteen young people from across the islands brought the case in June 2022, arguing that their constitutional rights to a life-sustaining climate were being violated. They asked the state government to take action to implement its goals of net negative emissions in the transport system by 2045.

"The passion demonstrated by these young people in advocating for a healthy, sustainable future for their generation and those to come, is laudable," said Governor Josh Green in a statement issued late Thursday after the two sides reached an agreement.

"This settlement informs how we as a state can best move forward to achieve life-sustaining goals and further, we can surely expect to see these and other youth in Hawaii continue to step up to build the type of future they desire."

The settlement was announced just days before the case was set to head to trial on Monday, with the youths represented by attorneys for the nonprofits Earthjustice and Our Children's Trust.

Navahine v. Hawaii Department of Transportation (DOT) was the world's first youth-led constitutional climate case seeking to address climate pollution from the transportation sector.

Many of the plaintiffs were Native Hawaiian youths experiencing climate change harms including sea level rise, drought, floods and fires, which were threatening their lives and ability to carry out cultural practices, such as growing the karo plant, fishing, and gathering.

Under the agreement, the Hawaii DOT will be required to take steps including establishing a greenhouse gas reduction plan within one year and make ambitious investments in clean transportation infrastructure, including completing the pedestrian, bicycle, and transit networks in five years.

A minimum of $40 million will be dedicated to expanding the public electric vehicle charging network by 2030, while the department's budgeting process will prioritize greenhouse gas reduction, and a volunteer youth council will advise the department on its climate commitments.

"I am so proud of all the hard work to get us to this historic moment," said youth plaintiff Navahine F.

"We got what we came for, and we got it faster than we expected. Mai kuhihewa (make no mistake), young people have the power to make a difference for their futures."

Last August, a court in the US state of Montana ruled in favor of a group of youths who accused the state of violating their rights to a clean environment.

But another high profile lawsuit brought by a group of California children who claimed the US federal government was harming them by failing to clamp down on pollution was tossed out by a judge in May this year.

 2024 AFP
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Reduced springtime precipitation in the Central Andes due to anthropogenic aerosol forcing. Credit: POSTECH

Earth and environmental scientists have reported that, as human socio-economic activities increase, greenhouse gas emissions will rise, leading to more frequent extreme weather events such as droughts and floods. However, a research team from Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) has published a study suggesting that anthropogenic greenhouse gases might actually mitigate droughts, offering a new perspective on the impact of human activities on nature.

Professor Jonghun Kam from the Division of Environmental Science and Engineering at POSTECH used climate model simulations to examine individual effects of aerosols and greenhouse gases produced by human activities, focusing on the spring drought in 2022 that caused severe agricultural damage in the central Andes mountainous region. This research was recently published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.

Drought occurs when there is a prolonged absence of rainfall, leading to a lack of precipitation. It begins as a meteorological drought and progresses to an agricultural drought where the soil loses moisture. More severe droughts can escalate to hydrological droughts, characterized by reduced stream flows. When droughts significantly impact society and the economy, they are termed "socioeconomic droughts."

The socioeconomic impact of drought is especially severe in societies and countries heavily dependent on agriculture. During the globally severe spring drought of 2022, the central Andean mountainous region of South America (including southern Peru, western Bolivia, and northern Chile), where agriculture is a major industry, experienced greater economic hardship than other regions. However, at that time, a shortage of human resources and funding limited an opportunity to better understand the causes of the 2022 drought.

In the study, Professor Kam used 11 different climate models to analyze the impact of human activities on the spring drought that struck the Central Andean region in 2022, the most severe since 1951.

Climate model experiments revealed that human socio-economic activities have increased anthropogenic aerosols in the atmosphere, affecting its chemical composition and worsening the spring drought in the Central Andes.

Conversely, the rise in greenhouse gases due to human activities has led to increased precipitation in the region, mitigating extreme spring droughts and reducing the likelihood of such events. Thus, aerosols and greenhouse gases from human activities have had opposite effects on atmospheric chemical composition and precipitation mechanisms.

The study is significant because it challenges previous conclusions that greenhouse gases are the primary cause of drought in South Africa and Iran, highlighting the need for more comprehensive research on the effects of human socio-economic activities.

Professor Kam stated, "Some countries are disproportionately affected by extreme weather events due to the climate crisis, yet they often face the lacking of not only human but also financial resources to respond proactively. Our goal is to address the global climate crisis by conducting research that supports these countries and thoroughly analyzing the impact of human activities on nature."

More information: Jonghun Kam et al, Climate Models Indicate Compensating Effects between Anthropogenic Greenhouse Gases and Aerosols on the 2022 Central Andes Spring Drought, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (2024). DOI: 10.1175/BAMS-D-23-0241.1 Journal information: Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
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Oh, the joy of inflicting pain upon others. The Germans have a word for it: "schadenfreude," meaning "malicious pleasure." And tapping into its sentiment properly can, ironically, do a lot of good by raising money for charity.

In a paper, titled "The Ironic Impact of Schadenfreude: When the Joy of Inflicting Pain Leads to Increased Prosocial Behavior," published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology, UC Riverside School of Business marketing professor and associate dean Thomas Kramer and co-authors articulate and quantify the appeal of schadenfreude (pronounced Sha-den-froid-e) through the lens of marketing psychology.

Through a series of behavioral scenario studies, their paper provides insights for the highly competitive charitable fundraising industry, which gathers some $485 billion in the United States annually.

Firstly, those organizing fundraisers appealing to schadenfreude shouldn't get too carried away. Schadenfreude is about inflicting mild misfortune that falls comfortably short of sadism on those seen as deserving of the misfortune. We're talking about pies thrown into faces and plunges into water tanksnot anything too painful or damaging.

In fact, when participants of Kramer's studies imagined celebrities they disliked getting shocked with a taser gun, the fundraising potential wasn't as strong as seeing the same celebrities receive the milder misfortune of getting drenched with a bucket of ice water.

"If a disliked person gets more than their just desserts, and they're severely punished, you no longer feel happy about that punishment, and donations go down," explained Kramer, who applies his expertise in behavioral psychology to marketing science.

Kramer's other key findings include:

To maximize donations, the donor can inflict or observe the mild misfortune, and those who inflict donate roughly the same as those who watch.

The donors also must have disdain for the person receiving the misfortune, which elicits pleasure when they see that person get their punishment.

The study was conducted by having hundreds of participants at the University of Florida and those recruited through a crowdsourcing service called Amazon Mechanical Turk imagine various Schadenfreude scenarios.

In one example, they rated levels of dislike and deservingness of the person receiving the misfortune and how much they would donate (between zero and $10) to throw a pie into that person's face. Higher levels of deservingness resulted in higher payments. In another scenario, more mild misfortune paid better than severe misfortune.

More information: Yael ZemackRugar et al, The ironic impact of schadenfreude: When the joy of inflicting pain leads to increased prosocial behavior, Journal of Consumer Psychology (2024). DOI: 10.1002/jcpy.1426 Journal information: Journal of Consumer Psychology
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Forced migrant survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) have experienced acts of everyday and extraordinary kindness from people they met throughout their journeys, a new study reveals.

Kindness ranged from incredible acts of bravery to help forced migrants escape dangerous situations to offers of shelter and food and medical care, to help with navigating the asylum system and developing friendships.

The study is the first time acts of kindness toward forced migrants during their journeys have been researched. Researchers from the SEREDA project at the University of Birmingham published their findings in the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies.

Through interviews with 166 forced migrant survivors of SGBV, the researchers learnt of a range of kindness the refugees had experienced on their journeys in the face of horrific cruelties at the hands of authority figures and smugglers among others.

Extraordinary encounters

Extraordinary encounters of kindness required outstanding acts of bravery from strangers to protect and help forced migrants.

For example, Fatma from Sierra Leone was repeatedly raped while imprisoned in a Libyan brothel. A guard noticed that she was 'very sick' and fearing she might die helped her to escape. Also in Libya, Fadila from Cote d'Ivoire was imprisoned for entering 'illegally,' but after explaining her story to a guard he helped her to escape imprisonment and leave the country.

Both guards noticed the pain and suffering of their captives and risked the possibly violent consequences of helping them.

Another example was shared by Samia who was in a violent marriage in Afghanistan and had escaped with her children to prevent her daughter's forced marriage.

They were sheltering in a hostel in Iran when her brother-in-law entered, hit her, and produced a gun, intending to kill her and return her children to Afghanistan. In an act of bravery and kindness, the hostel owner saved her by tackling the aggressorallowing her to escape.

Samia said, "The owner of the hostel took his gun away and told him to leave for the night and come back the next morning and take me and children back. After he left, I talked to the owner of the hostel and told him that my husband's brother would kill me if they let him take me and my children. I asked them to take me to Turkey. They put me and my children in a truck and asked me where to go."

Everyday

More simple acts of kindness, while less dramatic, are no less important. Interviewees detailed multiple examples of these 'everyday' acts they experienced during their journeys. This included offers of shelter, food, hygiene and health products, transport and standing up for survivors in the face of racist interactions.

Other survivors described being advised how to claim asylum. Boadicea, from Guinea, recalled encountering a female passenger while flying to England to escape family abuse. The passenger told her to make an asylum claim and called a friend who helped Boadicea.

Mortaza, arriving in Sweden from Afghanistan, encountered a police officer who told him how to claim asylum. He told researchers, "She told me 'Good luck and welcome to Sweden again.' That made me feel very very good. After that, I went to the train station and told them I am seeking asylum and they gave me a free train ticket and told me where to go. I thought 'I am illegal here. How can help me this way?' It was a little shocking to me."

From kindness to care

The researchers found that these acts of kindness then generated other actions, particularly of care.

Natani was captured and raped by police in Libya and left for dead. She encountered a local woman who offered her shelteronce she was safe in the woman's home and the extent of her injuries became clear, the initial act of kindness morphed into longer-term support. Natani stayed with the woman and her husband for a month before they helped her leave the country.

Zahra, an Egyptian asylum seeker, visited a doctor in England to seek help with the psychological problems she experienced having been tortured. She unexpectedly encountered kindness from the receptionist when she told the woman that she needed medication because she wanted to kill herself. The receptionist befriended Zahra and visited her weekly at her asylum hostel. That initial act of kindness morphed into care and then friendship, which Zahra described as 'life-changing.'

She said, "I take care of myself because they love me. She [the receptionist] is like a mother to me. I love her very much. Last Saturday, she came to the hostel, and we spent the whole day together."

Jenny Phillimore, Professor of Migration and Superdiversity at the University of Birmingham, who led the research said, "This is the first time that instances of kindness experienced during these journeys have been researched. Normally, our focus is understandably on the nature of the sexual and gender-based violence encountered by forced migrants. By uncovering the importance of kind encounters, we present a fresh perspective on the journeys experienced by forced migrants.

"Our study reveals that kind encounters manifest across forced migration journeys and range from the extraordinary to the everyday. Such encounters offer vital help and support and can connect people across social barriers while fostering resistance against degrading bordering practices and help prevent further violence and danger.

"While these acts of kindness are heartening, the significance that our interviewees attach to these kinds of encounters underscores huge gaps in humanitarian protection and the normalization of cruelty towards forced migrants."

More information: Encounters with kindness: everyday and extraordinary kind interventions in the lives of forced migrant survivors of SGBV, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies (2024). DOI: 10.1080/1369183X.2024.234751
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The 200-year-old Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the oldest such charity in the world, is under fire for endorsing welfare standards on RSPCA Assured farms investigated by Animal Rising activists. More than 40 of these farms, the group alleges, contain dead or dying animals existing in unacceptable conditions.

An RSPCA Assured spokesperson is reported to have said an investigation is underway and that welfare breaches on accredited farms are rare.

The RSPCA Assured scheme labels meat and dairy from farms subject to routine inspections by RSPCA-trained assessors. The charity claims that it strives to improve the welfare and quality of life of farmed animals by advocating for an end to cages, enriched living conditions and humane transport and slaughter. The RSPCA also provokes consumers to reflect on food purchases, particularly cheap meat, because it often comes at the price of animal welfare.

An increasing number of consumers care about the consequences of what they eat. Consumer research indicates that food with animal welfare labels is typically more expensive and identifies two types of consumer: those who seek to buy ethically and will pay this premium and those who prioritize affordability and typically won't. Animal Rising's investigation of UK farms accredited by the RSPCA Assured scheme is of particular concern to the former.

Footage obtained by Animal Rising appears to show routine mistreatment of farmed animals, calling animal welfare certification schemes into question. Welfare organizations like Compassion in World Farming have argued that unannounced farm visits are a better way to root out food producers flouting the welfare standards that consumers expect.

Labels on food sold in supermarkets carry weight with consumers. Marketing experts have shown how labels including Freedom Food and RSPCA Assured remain attractive to retailers because they increase sales from consumers who place their trust in them and pay extra as a result. These labels work as "brand extensions" that extend the consumer's positive associations with animal welfare charities to the labeled product.

Many shoppers struggle to understand what the badges on their food actually mean. The recent expose by Animal Rising will only confuse matters further.

What price ethics?

Consumers are torn between affordability and animal welfare. Many eventually give up meat and dairy altogether. Some scholars would argue this is the right choice, given the impossibility of avoiding exploitation altogether in what they call the animal-industrial complex.

For Animal Rising activists, vegans and many others, the continuing adoption of welfare food labels is a strategy of appeasement that protects livestock producers and retailers instead of raising animal welfare standards.

Scrutinizing schemes like RSPCA Assured should not be the sole responsibility of activists, but instead, the subject of rigorous public debate. If, as research suggests, there are links between food labels and what consumers are willing to pay for guarantees of higher welfare standards, then it is not only a question of ethics but trust as well.

Organizations with accreditation schemes must be made to demonstrate their value. Only then can customers make informed choices about what they buy.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Over the past 30 years, the American political landscape has been characterized by a growing divide between rural and urban voters, almost as if they're on two opposing teams, according to Suzanne Mettler, the John L. Senior Professor of American Institutions in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S).

But the divide is confined largely to white Americans, Mettler and collaborators have found in an examination of the racial and ethnic facets of the trend.

When it comes to politics, Black and Latino residents of rural America differ far less, if at all, from their urban counterparts than do non-Hispanic white residents, the researchers report. With one in four residents of rural America now identifying as nonwhite, the study's findings raise concerns about political representation of Black and Latino Americans and highlights a need for further research on rural people of color broadly, including racially marginalized groups beyond Black and Latino people.

"A Rural-Urban Political Divide Among Whom? Race, Ethnicity, and Political Behavior Across Place" published in Politics, Groups, and Identities on March 31, with a summary of the findings appearing in the United States Politics and Policy blog of the London School of Economics, June 7. Mettler is corresponding author, and co-authors are doctoral students Trevor E. Brown, Marissa Rivera and Gisela Pedroza Jauregui.

"Rural and urban Americans began moving apart politically in the late 1990s, and the division has widened and deepened since then, transforming the nation's politics," Mettler said. "We wanted to know whether all Americans, regardless of race and ethnicity, are swept up in this growing cleavage."

Mettler and Brown are writing a book investigating the divide.

"The rural-urban political divide is a major problem threatening the foundations of American democracy for everyone," Brown said. "But the stakes seem especially high for people of color in rural areas. They tend to be ignored by our two major political parties and, as a result, lack much voice in the political process."

From 1970 through the 1990s, there was relative balance between Democratic and Republican leanings in rural areas, the researchers said, but "since the late 1990s, rural and urban areas have increasingly become bastions of support, respectively, for Republicans and Democrats."

During the same time period, the share of the U.S. population identifying as nonwhite increased in both urban areas and rural, so that by the 2020 census, 25% of rural residents identified as nonwhite, the study points out.

To find out whether a rural-urban divide exists among people of color, the researchers analyzed data from the Cooperative Election Studies survey, which includes a wide array of policy questions and a large sample size. Using survey respondents' county information, they were also able to designate each as living in a "rural" or "urban" area, according to the White House Office of Management and Budget.

The study compared Black, Latino and white voters, urban and rural, between 2008 and 2020. Black support for the Democratic Party was very higharound 90%in both rural and urban areas from 2008 to 2020, with support for Republicans consistently very low. Latino support for Democrats remained consistent nationally for this period with only a few points of variation among both rural and urban voters.

White support in urban areas was split almost 50% Democrat/50% Republican from 2008 to 2020, with a slight Republican edge.

It was only among white voters that a large and growing disparity appeared between rural and urban residents, the researchers found.

Why haven't rural Black and Latino Americans shifted to the Republican party alongside their white peers? The question needs further study, the researchers said, theorizing that varying degrees of "linked fate"a term coined by political scientist Michael Dawson, implying the belief that one's individual fate is tied to that of their racial or ethnic groupcan help explain why Black and Latino Americans do not diverge.

Another possible explanation is a theory, proposed by political scientist Ismail K. White and Chyrl N. Laird, that Black Americans who hold more conservative views follow social pressures to continue supporting the Democratic Party.

"Untangling the mechanisms that hold the voting behavior of rural and urban Black and Latino Americans together is a crucial avenue for future research," the researchers wrote.

More information: Trevor E. Brown et al, A rural-urban political divide among whom? Race, ethnicity, and political behavior across place, Politics, Groups, and Identities (2024). DOI: 10.1080/21565503.2024.2328551
Chinese wisdom in battle against desertification

09:52, June 21, 2024 By Yin Shuanghong ( People's Daily

On a desert in the north of Gaotai county, Zhangye, northwest China's Gansu province, sand-fixing plants such as saxaul, saltcedar and populus are thriving. (People's Daily Online/Yang Xiao)

A mix of yellow and blue creates green, and that's also the case with China's efforts to combat desertification.

Thanks to the blue photovoltaic (PV) panels that block direct sunlight, reduce evaporation and lower wind velocity, as well as the moisturizing from the water used to clean the panels on a regular basis, a large portion of the yellow desertified land in northwest China is turning green, covered by lush vegetation.

However, the story is not that simple. The barbaric growth of grass on the desertified land would lower the power generation efficiency of the PV panels and even trigger fires. Therefore, sheep are raised there to consume the grass under the vast "blue sea" of PV panels.

Developing new energy, curbing desertification and increasing income for herdsmen, the "PV+sheep farming" model is a miniature of the Chinese wisdom in sand control.

Desertification control is a protracted battle. To win the battle, it calls for both perseverance and wisdom.

In the repeated trial of strength with sand, Dengkou county in north China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region has developed a successful approach to prevent sand with trees, fix sand with grass and restore soil with PV arrays, while Kekeya township in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region is growing cash crops such as apples, nuts and dates in shelter forests.

Photovoltaic panels are erected over sand dunes in the north of Banqiao township, Linze county, Zhangye, northwest China's Gansu province. (People's Daily Online/Yang Xiao)

It is exactly because of these effective models that China has achieved the historic transition from desert displacing human settlement to green oasis replacing desert. China has blazed a special path of desertification prevention and control that follows the rules of nature and suits China's national reality and local conditions.

These models are effective because they suit local conditions. The characteristics and water resource capacities of desertified land vary from region to region.

Even within the Kubuqi Desert, China's seventh-largest desert, conditions differ. In the arid southern fringes of the desert, seeds of shrubs have been densely sowed by aircrafts. On the northern edges, which have some water sources, arbor trees are planted as windbreaks. Along the cross-desert highways and rivers in the central part of the desert, shelter forests are grown. In the interdune lowlands and areas with shallow groundwater levels within the desert's back-land, oases are nourished.

Only by proceeding from reality, applying a systematic thinking and developing desertification control models tailored to actual conditions, can new prospects of sand control unfold.

The best lessons are always learned from practice. Having a review of the desertification control experience of China's Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, one could find a series of "indigenous techniques," all of which are the fruits of the people's hard work and wisdom.

Straw grid, known as the Chinese "Rubik's cube" for sand control, was exactly invented in the Tengger Desert in Zhongwei, northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region.

Korshinsk peashrubs are planted in the Mu Us Desert in Otog Front Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region. (People's Daily Online/Wang Zheng)

Learning from practice and the masses - this is where the wellspring of innovation in desertification control lies.

At a desertification control and afforestation base in the Mu Us Desert, Shenmu, northwest China's Shaanxi province, a young man named Zhang Zhi aspires to become "a pine tree standing tall in the desert."

After graduating from university, the man, born in the 1990s, started working in afforestation, setting up a four-person research team focusing on microbiological studies.

"If we succeed in cultivating edible mushrooms like red matsutake and penny bun under the forest, it could generate an additional income of 60,000 to 70,000 yuan ($8269-9647) per mu (667 square meters). This would encourage more people to invest in tree planting and afforestation," Zhang noted.

From sand prevention to sand control, and to sand utilization  when desertification control harmoniously integrates with income expansion, and when new-generation practitioners apply novel concepts and technologies to "turn sand into gold," the battle against desertification would gain a perpetuating, endogenous driving force.

Desertification is a major global ecological issue that impacts human survival and development. China is one of the countries most severely affected by desertification worldwide. China has persisted in focusing on sand prevention and control, continuously innovating and refining desertification control models, so as to contribute more Chinese wisdom and solutions to global efforts in combating desertification.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
Mandela entered office as South Africas first black president resolute to unite his divided people into the rainbow nation that Nobel Peace laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu had been preaching about for years. As optimism swept through the nation, it seemed that South Africa would be an example of reconciliation and non-racialism to the world.

The optimism however began to fade when Mandelas successor, President Thabo Mbeki, resigned in September 2008 at the behest of the African National Congress (ANC) after Jacob Zuma had ousted him as the liberation movements president.

Zumas ascendency was open sesame for the forces of looting, which were allegedly orchestrated by the three infamous Indian Gupta brothers, who have since fled the country. In a frenzy called state capture, they voraciously fed on state-owned companies. However, capturing President Zuma and making him their pliant politician who colluded with them before making Cabinet appointments, was their biggest coup. They also looted previously strong and respected state-owned entities such as energy generator Eskom, and the railway entity Transnet.

According to evidence presented to the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, also known as the Zondo Commission, a 2018 public enquiry tasked with investigating state capture, the Guptas allegedly looted almost US $1 billion, while the overall state capture amount was over US $3 billion.

While he was not party to this devastating looting of South Africas resources, Cyril Ramaphosa was Jacob Zumas Deputy President from 2009 until his ousting in 2018 when he replaced him as head of state.

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President Ramaphosa has referred to Zumas tenure as the nine lost years. However, he cannot sidestep responsibility. As Deputy President, he played an important role in the era of state capture, the Africanisation of governance and the walk-away from Mandelas vision of non-racialism, the introduction of electricity shortages known as loadshedding, failure of the ANC government to render basic services and the resultant huge loss of confidence in the ANC.

The diminished faith in the ANC was profoundly mirrored in the black community and was responsible for the party losing its parliamentary majority for the first time since 1994 when South Africans voted on May 29 this year. The ANC slumped from 230 seats after the 2019 election to 159 seats, while the Democratic Alliance (DA) got 87, Zumas new uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) 58, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) 39, and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) 17.

The ruling partys defeat in the May general election and the success of the MK Party, the product of a breakaway from the ANC that Zuma had launched in the Zulu majority province of KwaZulu-Natal, humbled the ANC. It was forced to take a hard look at itself, the options available to it, the suitability of would-be alliance partners and  if one can believe it, given its record of misgovernance  what would be the best for South Africa.

What emerged was a party that was not its usual arrogant self, but a friendlier and more reconciliatory one which talked of forming a Government of National Unity (GNU) with opposition parties, including the DA, a party that it usually condemns as being anti-poor, pro-capital, pro-white, reactionary and of longing to bring back racial segregation. In advocating a unity government, the ANC was pushing both the DA and the reactionary and leftist EFF into a corner. The DA had to consider going into an alliance with the ANC instead of remaining an opposition party.

Led by firebrand Julius Malema the EFF had built a reputation for bringing chaos to the South African parliament. Malema, filled with self-importance, was seeing himself as being sworn in as the next president after the elections. Like the ANC, he too was brought down to earth.

The EFF flatly refused to join a Government of National Unity that would include what they deem the enemy, the DA, while the latter despite its anti-ANC rhetoric was more pragmatic and decided to join the GNU. The IFP, a mostly Zulu party, also allied itself with the ANC and DA. Together they and a few other smaller parties voted in Cyril Ramaphosa as President for a second term on June 14. In a historic sitting, the DAs Annelie Lotriet was elected Deputy Speaker of Parliament.

She is the first white person, as well as the first opposition politician, to fill this position. But then this is a new era of a politics in South Africa, an era in which the ANCs divisive politics will have to make way for a more inclusive country trying to pursue the non-racial dreams of Nelson Mandela and the 1976 generation of the Soweto uprising.

Of course in South Africa, politics would not be normal if there was not a group of spoilers occupying one side of parliament. Jacob Zuma has failed to use the courts to overturn the election results. This has not stopped the infamous octogenarian, who the South African Constitutional Court has unanimously ruled cannot go to parliament because he has a criminal record, from sniping at the Government of National Unity, calling it a white-led unholy alliance that is being sponsored by big business and which is a deal made for the markets and not the people.

His MK Party, which has wiped the floor with the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal, has joined a group of six other parties that have banded together under the name Progressive Caucus. Their performance in parliament is likely to be anything but progressive and possibly rather disruptive. They are also likely to stir up angry and resentful sentiments outside parliament.

President Ramaphosas insipid leadership of the ANC and South Africa during his first tenure as President makes him vulnerable to a leadership challenge in his own party where the less pragmatic and disgruntled alliance partners, the South African Communist Party and Congress of South African Trade Union are virulently against the new governing coalition with the DA.

At his inauguration at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Wednesday (19 June) President Ramaphosa said that the outcome of the election had pushed South Africa to a point where it had to choose to move forward together or risk losing everything it had built in the last 30 years.

He said: This moment requires extraordinary courage and leadership. It requires a common mission to safeguard national unity, peace, stability, inclusive economic growth, non-racialism and non-sexism.

He added that through their ballots, South Africans made it plain that their expectations were that the leaders of the country should work together. They have directed their representatives to put aside their animosity and dissent, to abandon narrow interests, and to pursue together only that which benefits the nation.

Solemnly he pronounced that parties in the Government of National Unity were called upon to partner towards a growing economy, better jobs, safer communities, and a government that would work for all its people.

The formation of a Government of National Unity is a moment of profound significance. It is the beginning of a new era, he said.

President Ramaphosa and the ANC are unfortunately rich in promises, yet very poor when it comes to delivery. Perhaps his new governing alliance partners will shake him up but his record of underperforming and not fulfilling all of his grandiose pledges does not inspire confidence.

An indicator of how serious and committed he is will be reflected by his Cabinet appointments and whether the ANC is really willing to share power and face up to the Progressive Caucus in the opposition benches. There is hope for South Africa if they are. If not, the new era that Ramaphosa talks about will be nothing more than a lofty ideal falling to the ground and quickly evaporating in the hot African sun, just like the new dawn that he declared when he first became President in February 2018.

South Africans are probably headed for a rocky, uncomfortable ride, because there are many who continue to reject Mandelas vision of a united, non-racial democracy. However, it is a vision that has inspired post-apartheid South Africa and should be harnessed again for the sake of this beautiful troubled country and its people.





Dennis Cruywagen is an acclaimed South African journalist and political commentator, as well as a former parliamentary spokesperson for the ANC. He previously served as deputy editor of the Pretoria News and a political reporter on the Cape Argus. He is a recipient of a Nieman Fellowship and a Mason Fellowship at Harvard University, and holds a master's degree from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. He is also the author of Brothers in War and Peace and The Spiritual Mandela: Faith and Religion in the Life of Nelson Mandela.
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:

Abstract. Credit: Journal of the American Chemical Society (2024). DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c03464

Tri-layer may be better than bi-layer for manufacturing, improving the speed and capacity of electrochemical and electrocatalytic devices.

Three layers of graphene, in a twisted stack, benefit from a similar high conductivity to "magic angle" bilayer graphene but with easier manufacturingand faster electron transfer. The finding could improve nano electrochemical devices or electrocatalysts to advance energy storage or conversion.

Graphenea single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal latticeholds unique properties, including high surface area, excellent electrical conductivity, mechanical strength and flexibility, that make this 2D material a strong candidate for increasing the speed and capacity of energy storage.

Twisting two sheets of graphene at a 1.1 angle, dubbed the "magic angle," creates a "flat band" structure, meaning the electrons across a range of momentum values all have roughly the same energy. Because of this, there is a huge peak in the density of states, or the available energy levels for electrons to occupy, at the energy level of the flat band which enhances electrical conductivity.

Recent work experimentally confirmed these flat bands can be harnessed to increase the charge transfer reactivity of twisted bilayer graphene when paired with an appropriate redox couplea paired set of chemicals often used in energy storage to shuttle electrons between battery electrodes.

Adding an additional layer of graphene to make twisted trilayer graphene yielded a faster electron transfer compared to bilayer graphene, according to an electrochemical activity model in a recent study by University of Michigan researchers.

"We have discovered highly flexible and enhanced charge transfer reactivity in twisted trilayer graphene, which is not restricted to specific twist angles or redox couples," said Venkat Viswanathan, an associate professor of aerospace engineering and corresponding author of the study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Stacking three layers of graphene introduced an additional twist angle, creating "incommensurate," meaning non-repeating patterns, at small-angle twistsunlike bilayer graphene which forms repeating patterns. Essentially, when adding a third layer, the hexagonal lattices do not perfectly align.

At room temperature, these non-repeating patterns have a wider range of angles with high density of states away from the flat bands, increasing electrical conductivity comparable to those predicted at the magic angle.

"This discovery makes fabrication easier, avoiding the challenge of ensuring the precise twist angle that bilayer graphene requires," said Mohammad Babar, a doctoral student of mechanical and aerospace engineering and first author of the study.

As a next step, the researchers plan to verify these findings in experiments, and potentially discover even higher activity in multi-layer twisted 2D materials for a wide range of electrochemical processes such as redox reactions and electrocatalysis.

"Our work opens a new field of kinetics in 2D materials, capturing the electrochemical signatures of commensurate and incommensurate structures. We can now identify the optimal balance of charge-transfer reactivity in trilayer graphene for a given redox couple," said Babar.
A bill to prohibit payments to vote-by-mail messengers and bearers passed a state Senate committee this week.

The bills aim is to crack down on improper handling of mail-in ballots. The Assemblys State and Local Government Committee has yet to schedule a hearing on the bill.

In February, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of New Jersey charged political operative Craig Callaway, of Atlantic City, with procuring, casting and tabulating fraudulent mail-in ballots in the November 2022 general election.

Callaway, 64, could not be reached for comment Friday.

He is alleged to have paid messengers $30 to $50 to deliver ballots to him rather than voters and to submit ballots for voters who did not participate in voting.

Soon after Callaway was charged, Atlantic County Democratic Chairman Michael Suleiman said he would help develop legislation to bar messenger payments.

The bill, which my attorney Elliott Almanza and I helped write and sought after sponsors, makes payments to messengers and bearers illegal, Suleiman said this week after it passed the committee. It will mitigate the chances of Callaway shenanigans from ever happening again.

State Sen. Vince Polistina, R-Atlantic, voted for the bill (S2947) in the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Gordon M. Johnson, D-Bergen, and was introduced in March.

Atlantic City's Craig Callaway charged with mail-in ballot fraud Political operative Craig Callaway was arrested Thursday and charged with procuring, casting and tabulating fraudulent mail-in ballots in the November 2022 general election.

Callaway had mostly worked for Democrats over the years running get-out-the-vote efforts. But after losing control of the Atlantic City Democratic Committee to allies of his political foe Mayor Marty Small Sr. in 2021, he began working mainly for Republicans.

Suleiman said voters should be taking their own ballots and putting them in the mail or in a secure drop box.

Messengers and bearers are meant for uncommon circumstances like illnesses, someone is homebound, etc., Suleiman said.

The bill prohibits acceptance, offer, or provision of monetary or non-monetary compensation of mail-in ballot messengers or bearers and allows employees and volunteers of nonprofit organizations, acute care facilities and certain other facilities to serve as messengers or bearers.

It does, however, allow messengers and bearers to be reimbursed for travel expenses to deliver ballots.

For information on having mail-in ballots sent to you via mail, and on where drop boxes are in each county, visit vote.nj.gov.

Under New Jersey law, messengers are required to deliver mail-in ballots they receive directly to the voters who requested them, but these supposed messengers actually gave them to Callaway or his subordinates, the U.S. Attorneys complaint states.

The complaint outlined how investigators set up cameras in front of the Mays Landing office of the Atlantic County Board of Elections and County Clerk, and watched messengers come out with vote-by-mail ballots and hand them to Callaway.

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.

Messengers are designated by registered voters to pick up mail-in ballots for them from the county Clerks Office, and bearers are designated by voters to take their filled out mail-in ballot to the Board of Elections for them.

Callaway is a former Democratic Atlantic City Council president who was convicted of taking bribes and pleaded guilty to conspiracy for helping blackmail a fellow councilmember. He spent about three years in prison, getting out in 2010.

The November 2022 election included a congressional race, countywide races for Atlantic County commissioner seats and local races, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd, has said he paid Callaway about $50,000 to be his adviser and help with get-out-the vote efforts in his reelection bid in 2022.

It is not known how many other local or county candidates Callaway may have worked for during that election.

Congressman Van Drew received nearly 140,000 votes in the November 2022 general election, only 851 of which came from vote-by-mail ballots in Atlantic City, said a February news release from Van Drews campaign.

In Atlantic City, Van Drew received a total of 2,103 votes to Democrat Tim Alexanders 3,761.

Van Drews margin of victory was 45,000, the campaign said, and Alexander got many more votes through vote-by-mail from Atlantic City.

Mayor Small's slander suit vs. Craig Callaway moves again in Superior Court The same day that law enforcement served a search warrant at the home of Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr., his 2021 slander lawsuit against political operative Craig Callaway began to move again in court.

We never have and never would condone any illegal activity, the release states.

The charge of procuring, casting and tabulating fraudulent ballots carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
TWR Motion and Antioch Ministries International (AMI) are working together to reach the Buddhist community in Thailand through an animated series called Journey to Hope. Using vibrant illustrations, the 20-episode series communicates the main teachings of the Bible in a way that is easy for Thai Buddhists to understand.

During COVID, the AMI church planting team began working on ways to implement digital evangelism in Thailand. In a TWR Motion video, AMI church planter Clinton Garsee explained that Thai people are on Facebook three times more than any other country in the world. So he and his colleagues began running ads with spiritual questions relevant to Thai people on Facebook. Local believers from Thailand then connected with people who clicked on ads.

But the AMI team wanted to do more. They searched for relevant gospel content in digital forms to pair with their ads but mostly found Western-based gospel presentation or stories which did not appeal to the Thai people. [These stories] were translated into Thai and maybe didnt answer exactly the questions that a Thai person would be asking, said AMI church planter Josh Terndrup.

This led to their partnership with TWR Motion. Together, they developed a story set that answers questions that the Thai people might struggle with. When the content is complete, it will be delivered to people who pursue their social media ads.

What better platform to get the good news out across Thailand than through this animation series, said Garsee. The idea of being able to have actual quality content [like the animated series] that would be engaging and griping to a Thai person was really something that we wanted to build on.

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TWR Motion director Candace Mackie believes no one should be kept away from the teachings of Jesus. We believe people of all cultures deserve to hear about Jesus in a way they understand and so, we make animated content thats used on social media to engage with people who are spiritually seeking.

The TWR Motion team previously adapted their animated series for the Muslim worldview. Andrew Haas, the TWR Motion adaptation coordinator for the series, explained that monotheism is already embedded in the Muslim context, but its absence in the Buddhist worldview presents a different challenge in presenting the Gospel.

You may not have to tell [Thai people] theyre wrong, but merely offer them the different reality and allow the Holy Spirit to work in their lives, said Hass. And so just simplifying the message into a story that is faithful to Gods Word, that doesnt change the message but just focuses on those details that are going to be most important that they need to confront in their own hearts. Thats what we want to do as we create a script for animations.

As the animations develop, the TWR Motion team asks for prayers as they bring these stories to completion.

We are so excited about what God is going to do through this animation series, knowing that God is going to use this so that the Thai people will put their faith in Him, said Garsee.

TWR Motion is a ministry of Trans World Radio.
CAMBRIDGE  A Kewanee man on Thursday entered an open guilty plea to one count of predatory criminal sexual assault in Henry County Circuit Court.

According to a factual basis for the Class X felony charge, Henry County State's Attorney Catherine Runty said on Feb. 7, 2023, Kewanee police took a report that Christopher J. Woodruff, 46, had committed sexual assault on a 12-year-old girl. An interview at the Child Advocacy Center in Cambridge indicated a previous sexual assault took place before the girl turned 11.

According to the charge, the assault took place between Nov. 1, 2019, and Feb. 7, 2023.

Woodruff was interviewed by police in March of 2023 and admitted to having sexual contact with the girl.

The charge was subject to a prison sentence of six to 60 years in prison; however, Woodruff will have a cap of 30 years in exchange for his guilty plea.

Two other Class X felony charges of predatory criminal sexual assault were dismissed.

Judge Colby Hathaway accepted the plea, and a sentencing date was set for Aug. 19. Woodruff was remanded to the Henry County Jail following the hearing.
Thousands of Kenyan youth demonstrated against the governments plan to increase existing and introduce new taxes through a bill before parliament. Placards and slogans of Zacchaeus, come down! were seen in the streets of the capital Nairobi and other cities across the country comparing President William Rutos ambitious tax plans to Zacchaeus the tax collector in the Bible, in Luke 19:1-10.

The peaceful yet growing protests started in Kenyas capital, Nairobi, on Tuesday 18, but spread to other cities and towns. What started as an online opposition to the bill through the #RejectFinanceBill2024 hashtag, spread to the streets thanks to young Kenyans in their late teens and early 20s who used social media to mobilize and lead the protests.

Generation Z or Gen Z as they are popularly known, demanded Members of Parliament vote against the Finance Bill 2024 and accused Rutos government of being insensitive to the plight of Kenyans burdened by increasing costs of living.

In response to the protesters, the police lobbed tear-gas canisters and barricaded roads leading to parliament as banner-carrying demonstrators chanted anti-government slogans. The ruling coalition dropped most of the controversial tax proposals but more protesters took to the streets on the third day of the demonstrations demanding a recall of the Finance Bill 2024 instead of the amendments that were presented in parliament.

Several groups, including Church associations had made their thoughts on the bill known during the public participation phase weeks before the protests began.

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Speaking to Christian Daily International, the General Secretary of the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya (EAK), Kepha Nyandega, explained how the alliance was deeply involved in the public participation conducted by parliaments Finance and Planning Committee.

"We knew we had to present our analysis of the bill and realized that as Church leaders in Kenya, we needed expert consultant services to provide an in-depth review of the Finance Bill 2024, said Nyandega.

While submitting EAKs position to the committee, Nyandega maintained that raising taxes would not lead to Kenyas prosperity.

If Kenyans are not going to be left with disposable incomes to provide for their needs, the economy will continue to shrink and the government will have less to collect. The problem in Kenya is spending not revenues, said Nyandega.

Earlier in June, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) had warned that the punitive taxes proposed in the Finance Bill would have a negative effect on the economy and impoverish the majority of Kenyans if passed into law.

We urge the government to establish a tax regime that is predictable and conducive to economic growth, rather than one that stifles the private sector and overburdens the poor and vulnerable, said the Catholic Bishops in a statement.

The Anglican Church of Kenya Archbishop, Jackson Ole Sapit, acknowledged the governments need to raise revenue but challenged the approach to overburden citizens with new tax demands without commensurate service delivery.

The stark contrast of allocating funds for luxuries like new car allowances and office amenities, while necessities such as vaccines remain inaccessible to our children, underscores a fundamental failure in our approach to public finance, said Ole Sapit.

He also cautioned MPs that an increase in tax on bread, sacrament and altar wine and medical dressings would adversely impact the church's service to its faithfuls.

The bill had also proposed an increase on tax on other basic essentials such as cooking oil, fuel, financial transactions, sanitary pads and diapers, and an introduction of new taxes on motor vehicles and a new levy for a planned national health fund, as well as an eco levy that will impact the cost of many products.
Julianne Denny was 13 years old when she participated in her first search effort for a missing Indigenous woman.

Denny and her family traveled to Saskatchewan to help look for Tamra Keepness, a 5-year-old girl from the White Bear First Nation who was last seen in 2004. Twenty years later, Tamra still hasnt been found.

Even at a young age, for Denny, the idea of searching for a missing relative didnt come as a shock.

My mother raised me with the awareness that you cant trust anybody as an Indigenous woman, she said. I learned what that meant at my first search.

The disproportionate number of missing or murdered Indigenous people is a nationwide crisis, and experts say Montana is an epicenter. While Native Americans comprise 6.7% of Montanas population, they account for on average 26% of the states active missing persons reports.

As an adult, Denny has received professional search and rescue training from renowned expert Lissa Yellow Bird-Chase and has participated in searches for Indigenous people across the country. She helped search for Rita Papakee, a 41-year-old woman who went missing in Iowa in 2015.

Now, Denny wants to share her expertise with others. She and Tasheena Duran, who has also participated in a number of searches, are offering a free training in how to conduct a search this Sunday on the Rocky Boy Reservation.

Attendees will learn how to conduct a grid search, how to identify and report evidence and how to conduct big searches safely and effectively. The three-hour training begins at 9 a.m. on Sunday, June 23 at Browns Dam in Box Elder. Participants should wear brightly colored clothing and bring a hat, closed-toe shoes, water, sun protection and a snack.

Knowing how to search advances a communitys toolkit, Denny said. It also helps with mental health. It may not give you closure, but its a way for Indigenous people to exercise their own autonomy.

The search training comes at a critical time for the community. Nineteen-year-old Rickisha Bear, a citizen of the Chippewa Cree Tribe, went missing in February and several law enforcement entities across jurisdictions are investigating her case. While attendees will not be searching for Bear at the training on Sunday, Denny hopes the training will create a ripple effect, prompting people to share their knowledge with others.

People need this in their toolkits, she said. Its being human. Its having each others backs.
Mexico to receive 20 archaeological pieces from U.S.

Mexico City, Mexico  The Government of Mexico, through its embassy in the United States, received 20 archaeological pieces of Mexican origin for restitution.

Of the 20 pieces, 19 were delivered anonymously and one voluntarily donated by a U.S. citizen.

Ambassador Esteban Moctezuma Barragan received a Mayan-style clay vessel from citizen Anne Lee Dozier, who indicated that she acquired it years ago in a store near Washington, DC.

Mrs. Dozier said that when visiting the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, she observed that the piece was similar to some of those exhibited in this venue, so it decided to return it voluntarily.

According to the opinion made by specialists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), the archaeological goods delivered are property of the Mexican nation in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Law on Archaeological, Artistic and Historical Monuments and Zones.

The Mayan style vessel comes from the southeast of the country and dates from the Classic period, between 200-800 AD, while the 19 pieces received anonymously belong to different periods and cultures such as the Mexica, Teotihuacan and Totonaca. They come from different states and regions of the country.
On the occasion of World Refugee Day that is commemorated today (June 20), Christian Daily International spoke exclusively with a church pastor and immigrant advocate in northern California. He believes overcoming fear and seeing migrants as sent by God to the local church as key to fulfilling the global Church's mission of welcoming the stranger and sharing the gospel.

Born in New Orleans and raised in Mississippi, Alan Cross pastored a church in Montgomery, Alabama before moving to Petaluma Valley Baptist Church in the town of Petaluma, Sonoma County in 2019. He is the author of When Heaven and Earth Collide: Racism, Southern Evangelicals, and the Better Way of Jesus.

Cross has seen the fear in people when migrants, with different languages, customs and cultures, arrive in a town. He has studied the interaction between churches and migrants all over the world, in places nearby such as Mexico, to further afield in Europe and even all the way to northern India.

I think it is difficult for people when other people show up in their town, Cross said. There is a fear, an awareness of a lack of facilities for people coming in, and a nervousness, but whenever relationships are built, the fear goes down. The understanding grows and compassion happens between people. And that can be facilitated.

Cross believes that Jesus is the answer to any of these issues, helping people to be cemented and bridging the gaps.

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Churches, whenever there is this awareness, see people coming to them as led by God, and then they serve their needs.

He gave an example of a pastor in Mexico whom he visited several years ago. This church leader had paid scant attention to the regular influx of refugees arriving in his town until Cross pointed out the spiritual reality of seeing these people as being sent by God to the church and looking at them in a missional context.

That raised a question as to whether the church was welcoming and helping these strangers practically, as well as sharing the gospel with them. The pastor had never thought of that before, remarked Cross. He was not resistant to the idea, he had just been seeing it in a geopolitical way. But with the shift of this conversation with him, he saw the mission. He got it!

Churches are thus not deliberately indifferent to migrants, according to Cross, they just need a deeper revelation that people coming into their villages, towns and cities from different cultures and languages are, in themselves, a mission field.

Immigrants look for security and stability, Cross commented, and that is exactly what churches can offer. People are often trying to get out of danger and the church can be a place of refuge.

If we see churches having the opportunity to humanize these people and show them compassion, that is part of the mission of the church. The local church cannot solve the whole problem but they can receive those whom God sends to them with the resources that they have.

That is why, Cross added as an aside, it is often better for churches to work with one another in welcoming refugees, because sharing resources creates a stronger compassion framework.

Churches cannot solve everything but they can witness into the problem, even if it means bringing the gospel to just one migrant in need.

And for the larger problems [about the global migrant crisis], its about being part of the solution, so thinking how can we be part of that?

Cross believed that borders and security, a commonplace political concern, mean cruelty if there is no compassion. He said it worked the other way around too  he has seen churches nearly collapsing from organizational pressure by adopting a role as refugee centers. There needs to be a good order in the compassion equation.

Its about treating people as human beings, looking at the person and helping them within whatever context we can.

Cross is not convinced that either of the two main U.S. political parties, Republicans or Democrats, took the issue of refugees seriously.

Things are so polarized and its split down the middle on both sides. They use the issue as a weapon but neither side is solving the crisis, theyre just picking it up as an aspect.

Cross saw extreme elements in both parties with a lack of seriousness and urgency in the forthcoming presidential elections and pointed out it is impossible to have compassion without security and there is no security without compassion.

He hoped politicians would treat people with more dignity, employing the virtues of order, security and loving care.

Asylum has been taken advantage of and the system needs to be reframed. We need to have order and security to make the system work properly but also treat people with dignity. People are made in Gods image so its about showing order but also compassion.

Practically, Cross has seen churches helping in ways such as meeting refugees at airports, helping them settle into accommodation with food and drink, arranging language translation even by using smartphones, supporting them with job applications and showing general, welcoming hospitality. He recalled churches in Tijuana, Mexico, who were doing just that: opening up sanctuaries.

Every location setting is different, Cross said, but its about building relationships, and seeing what God does in that.

The church in northern California that Cross leads is not located within a migration route but it has still seen its membership grow with about 30 percent comprising immigrants from all over the world, including Hispanic, Asian, and African, among others.

We value people and their culture, and where they are from. You try to work out what community is. We dont make people come to church.

Some Afghan refugees arrived in the local town a while ago and Cross knew they would only eat Halal meat. He drove 40 miles [64km] south to Oakland city and bought lots of food from an Asian restaurant to have a welcome barbecue, with food the refugees felt comfortable eating, involving 30 people at his house. It is an example of cultural sensitivity, which Cross believed is essential in outreach to migrants.

Churches all over the world have a very important role, not just in sending people out with the gospel but in receiving the people that God sends to them. Churches should be looking for these people that God sends to them, whatever cultural background theyre coming from.

You can build something new together. Be active in looking for the people that God sends to you, and receive them, and then potentially become a new church with that participation.
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court upheld a tax on foreign income Thursday over a challenge backed by business and anti-regulatory interests, declining their invitation to weigh in on a broader, never-enacted tax on wealth.

The justices, by a 7-2 vote, left in place a provision of a 2017 tax law that is expected to generate $340 billion, mainly from the foreign subsidiaries of domestic corporations that parked money abroad to shield it from U.S. taxes.

The law, passed by a Republican Congress and signed by then-President Donald Trump, includes a provision that applies to companies that are owned by Americans but do their business in foreign countries. It imposes a one-time tax on investors' shares of profits that have not been passed along to them, to offset other tax benefits.

But the larger significance of the ruling is what it didn't do.

The case attracted outsize attention because some groups allied with the Washington couple who brought the case argued that the challenged provision is similar to a wealth tax, which would apply not to the incomes of the very richest Americans but to their assets, like stock holdings. Such assets now get taxed only when they are sold.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote in his majority opinion that "nothing in this opinion should be read to authorize any hypothetical congressional effort to tax both an entity and its shareholders or partners on the same undistributed income realized by the entity."

Underscoring the limited nature of the court's ruling, Kavanaugh said as he read a summary of his opinion in the courtroom, "the precise and very narrow question" of the 2017 law "is the only question we answer."

The court ruled in the case of Charles and Kathleen Moore, of Redmond, Washington. They challenged a $15,000 tax bill based on Charles Moore's investment in an Indian company, arguing that the tax violates the 16th Amendment.

Ratified in 1913, the amendment allows the federal government to impose an income tax on Americans. Moore said in a sworn statement that he never received money from the company, KisanKraft Machine Tools Private Ltd.

Kavanaugh said the tax the Moores disputed was akin to other taxes, including those on foreign-earned income and partnerships.

A ruling for the Moores could have called into question those other provisions of the tax code and threatened losses to the U.S. Treasury of several trillion dollars, Kavanaugh noted, echoing the argument made by the Biden administration.

Justice Clarence Thomas, joined by Justice Neil Gorsuch, wrote in dissent that the Moores paid taxes on an investment "that never yielded them a penny." Under the 16th Amendment, Thomas wrote, the only income that can be taxed is "income realized by the taxpayer."

Lawyers for the Moores said they were disappointed by the ruling, but took some hope from its narrowness.

"What this means is that the constitutionality of other species of future taxes  such as a national wealth tax  remains entirely unaddressed by the court's opinion," said Dan Greenberg, general counsel of the Competitive Enterprise Institute.

Greenberg pointed to a separate opinion from Justice Amy Coney Barrett, joined by Justice Samuel Alito, that agreed the Moores should lose this case. But Barrett also sided with the dissenters in arguing that income has to be realized  in essence, received  to be taxed in accord with the Constitution.

Kavanaugh's opinion left the issue of realization open and there are now four justices, one shy of a majority, who have declared their opposition to taxes, like a wealth tax, that don't require realization.

Leslie Samuels, a tax expert who served in the Treasury Department during the Clinton administration, said the court's decision was unsettling because it seemed to encourage more legal challenges to taxes and warn Congress that its ability to impose new taxes could be restricted.

"While the government won, the Moores' backers effectively achieved some important and disquieting successes for the future," Samuels said.

The case also kicked up ethical concerns and raised questions about the story the Moores' lawyers told in court filings. Alito rejected calls from Senate Democrats to step away from the case because of his ties to David Rivkin, a lawyer who is representing the Moores.

Public documents show that Charles Moore's involvement with the company, including serving as a director for five years, is far more extensive than court filings indicate.

The case is Moore v. U.S., 22-800.
Innovo Publishing LLC Releases Little Monster by Jeremy Suarez Summary / Description: Innovo Publishing LLC is excited to release Little Monster, a beautifully illustrated children's book about one young boy's quest to be better. Makarios can see that he is selfish, he does not want to share with his friends, and he always wants the attention on himself. He wants his reflection in the mirror to be someone other than the monster he sees. Little Monster is available now in hardback, paperback, and eBook editions in the US and internationally.



NEWS PROVIDED BY

Innovo Publishing LLC

June 21, 2024



MEMPHIS, Tenn., June 21, 2024 /



This tale depicts the path to redemption from the perspective of a young, frustrated boy. Through many trials and failures Makarios learns from his parents that the only way to truly change is by admitting he is a sinner, understanding that Jesus died for him, and asking for forgiveness. He realizes that his unrest was brought about by living in opposition to how he was created, and through Christ, he can rid himself of the monster in the mirror. Readers of all ages will be challenged and strengthened by the innocence and power in this story of salvationthe only path to true change and joy.



"This story is profoundly relatable in its depiction of a young child's quest for change. In his recognition of the monster in the mirror, Makarios is what every individual needs to be prior to submission to Christdesirous of true, heart change. Little Monster is a wonderful resource to use as you walk your child (or friend) through their need for salvation and guide them through each step toward humility, repentance, and regeneration in Christ." Dr. Bart Dahmer, Founder and CEO, Innovo Publishing LLC



Little Monster is available now in the US and internationally in hardback (ISBN: 979-8-88928-005-7), paperback (ISBN: 979-8-88928-007-1), and eBook (ISBN: 979-8-88928-009-5) editions.



About the Author:

Jeremy Suarez is a Texas native. He was born and raised there for 19 years and joined the United States Navy. After an honorable discharge, Jeremy pursued a bachelor's degree in computational science at University of South Carolina Beaufort. He now works in the banking industry as a software developer. Jeremy volunteers as a preschool teacher at his local church, and he enjoys telling children about the gospel and its implications for life. Jeremy is looking forward to his marriage with his beautiful fiancee, Mila, this year.



About Innovo Publishing LLC:

Innovo Publishing is a Christian publisher located in Collierville, TN. Since 2008, Innovo has published quality books, eBooks, audiobooks, music, film, and courses that support the Great Commission, equip believers, and help create a positive Christian worldview. Innovo's full-service capabilities and global reach provide Christian authors, artists, and ministries access to the world for Christ.



Contact Information:

Contact: Dr. Bart Dahmer

Innovo Publishing LLC

Phone: 1-888-546-2111

Websites:

www.christianpublishingportal.com

Email:



SOURCE Innovo Publishing LLC



Share Tweet NEWS PROVIDED BYJune 21, 2024MEMPHIS, Tenn., June 21, 2024 / Christian Newswire / -- Innovo Publishing LLC is excited to release a new children's title, Little Monster, written by Jeremy Suarez and illustrated by Abby Guthrie. This wonderfully colorful and illustrative book presents the oft-experienced struggle of a young boy in his search for goodness and meaning in life. In his journey, he looks to others as models of how he wants to beacting like them, dressing like them, and even obeying his parents more. But nothing he did changed how he felt. He needed to search deeper into what his parents did that made them so different.This tale depicts the path to redemption from the perspective of a young, frustrated boy. Through many trials and failures Makarios learns from his parents that the only way to truly change is by admitting he is a sinner, understanding that Jesus died for him, and asking for forgiveness. He realizes that his unrest was brought about by living in opposition to how he was created, and through Christ, he can rid himself of the monster in the mirror. Readers of all ages will be challenged and strengthened by the innocence and power in this story of salvationthe only path to true change and joy."This story is profoundly relatable in its depiction of a young child's quest for change. In his recognition of the monster in the mirror, Makarios is what every individual needs to be prior to submission to Christdesirous of true, heart change. Little Monster is a wonderful resource to use as you walk your child (or friend) through their need for salvation and guide them through each step toward humility, repentance, and regeneration in Christ." Dr. Bart Dahmer, Founder and CEO, Innovo Publishing LLCLittle Monster is available now in the US and internationally in hardback (ISBN: 979-8-88928-005-7), paperback (ISBN: 979-8-88928-007-1), and eBook (ISBN: 979-8-88928-009-5) editions.Jeremy Suarez is a Texas native. He was born and raised there for 19 years and joined the United States Navy. After an honorable discharge, Jeremy pursued a bachelor's degree in computational science at University of South Carolina Beaufort. He now works in the banking industry as a software developer. Jeremy volunteers as a preschool teacher at his local church, and he enjoys telling children about the gospel and its implications for life. Jeremy is looking forward to his marriage with his beautiful fiancee, Mila, this year.Innovo Publishing is a Christian publisher located in Collierville, TN. Since 2008, Innovo has published quality books, eBooks, audiobooks, music, film, and courses that support the Great Commission, equip believers, and help create a positive Christian worldview. Innovo's full-service capabilities and global reach provide Christian authors, artists, and ministries access to the world for Christ.Contact Information:Contact: Dr. Bart DahmerInnovo Publishing LLCPhone: 1-888-546-2111Websites: www.innovopublishing.com Email: info@innovopublishing.com SOURCE Innovo Publishing LLC
SIOUX CITY  The former Sioux City Journal offices at 515 Pavonia St. will be home to a Cole Papers warehouse, a company employee confirmed Thursday.

Signage has gone up outside the building, which The Journal vacated last summer. The property was sold by Journal parent company Lee Enterprises last August for $1.6 million to local real estate investors. In May of this year the building was sold again to the developer Brad Cummings for $1.825 million.

After leaving 515 Pavonia St., The Journal moved its offices to an address in Whispering Creek, 2802 Castles Gate Drive.

The Fargo-based Cole established warehousing operations in Sioux City, its first foray into Iowa, about four years ago, said Micki Strong, office manager and customer service representative for the company. The existing warehouse (with a small showroom space) is at 3300 North Brook Drive.

"We've just outgrown that location already, in the last four years," Strong said.

Cole is a commercial distributor of flooring, office products, equipment and janitorial supplies. The company has been in business since 1918 and was formerly known as the Fargo Paper Company. The company's 11 locations are spread across North and South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska.

Strong said Cole has outgrown that space and needed the roomier building formerly occupied by the Journal, with its more than 30,000 square feet of space.

The company is planning to be in there by mid-August, Strong said.

The brick building at the corner of Sixth and Pavonia was built by The Journal (then part of the Hagadone Newspapers chain) in 1972, at a reported cost of $2 million; when it was new, it was described as "the world's most modern newspaper plant," capable of printing up to 50,000 newspapers an hour. The newspaper operated there for more than 50 years.

The 1972 move was a major one for The Journal, which had been located in an aging building at the corner of Fifth and Douglas Street since 1915. To commemorate the occasion, The Journal held a "millionaire for a day" contest, in which the person to guess correctly the moment the printing presses would be switched on for the first time would receive the equivalent of one day's interest, at 6% annually, of $1 million -- or $164.38. More than 9,000 entries were received.

The presses roared to life a few seconds before 11:16 p.m., Nov. 15, 1972, and the prize went to a Sioux City woman who'd guessed the time within nine seconds.
In 2009 Anthony Fauci was serving as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseasesas he had since 1984 and would do until 2022, under seven presidentswhen that falls supply of the flu vaccine collapsed. As Fauci writes in his new memoir, On Call, this was alarming because that years dominant variant, said to be similar to the kind that caused the devastating Spanish flu of 1918, had gotten off to an early start that summer. At that time, pharmaceutical companies grew the viruses needed for vaccines in eggs, a slow and failure-prone method. As a result, by early October, the companies had delivered only 11 million of 160 million promised doses. To make matters worse, one of the suppliers was in Australia, a country undergoing its own outbreak of the flu, and the government there had commandeered all the doses intended for the United States. Americans stood in long lines at pharmacies, desperate to get their shots, and Republican lawmakers described the situation as Obamas Katrina.

By November, the pandemic had tapered off a bit, and there was plenty of the vaccine to go around. Yet, Fauci writes, now that the vaccine was available, the long lines were replaced by many people saying that they did not trust the CDC, which was encouraging them to get vaccinated, nor did some trust the safety of the vaccine since it was a new vaccine and they were afraid of possible side effects. This flip-flop he chalks up to the inscrutability of human nature.

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On Call is full of stories like this one, drawn from four decades of working in public health, much of it at high levels. Its clear from reading this autobiography that Fauci considers his work on HIV and AIDS to be his true legacy. He began focusing on the disease in 1981, watching his patients die slow, agonizing deaths, the cause unknown. He battled with and conferred with activists who complained that the governments response to the crisis was inadequate. Larry Kramer once called Fauci a murderer and an incompetent idiot in an open letter published in the San Francisco Examiner, but the rabble-rouser and Normal Heart playwright ended up declaring Fauci my hero when Fauci came out in support of a parallel track of drug testing that would give desperate AIDS patients access to experimental treatments. The pinnacle of Faucis efforts, a program called the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Reliefenacted during the administration of George W. Bushresulted in, by Faucis account, the saving of 25 million lives and counting in the developing world.

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And yet all anyone wants to hear about is Trump and COVID, a period comprising only a tiny fraction of Faucis career. Blame it on the inscrutability of human nature. On Call is the story of a civil servant who spent most of his working life during a time when politics was more boring but also more effective. He had the misfortune that many of his final years occurred in the three-ring circus of the Trump administration, a White House that was infinitely more entertaining but far less competentwith the exception, to be fair, of Operation Warp Speed, a program that miraculously developed safe and effective COVID vaccines in less than 11 months and is the administrations one great achievement. As a result, Fauci found himself earlier this June being grilled before Congress by the clownish Marjorie Taylor Greene, who accused him of crimes against humanity and other unfounded nonsense.

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Some might wonder why Fauci, now retired, bothered to show up at all. On Call provides an answer to that. Greene is not the first person, after all, to accuse Fauci of having blood on his hands, as Trumps economic adviser Peter Navarro once put it when berating Fauci for not endorsing the use of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID. (Hydroxychloroquine is completely useless for this and can have life-threatening side effects.) But in the past, as with ACT UP members and other AIDS activists, Fauci made a point of sitting down with his critics. Because he was the public face of the federal governments AIDS efforts (and one of the few officials willing to be associated with the disease in the early 1980s), he became a frequent target of protesters and critics. Fauci writes that he made a point of reading their literature, and what came through and resonated deeply with me was not their confrontational style but the obvious fear and emotional pain they were feeling as they watched their friends and lovers die horrible deaths and as they feared a similar fate for themselves. I tried to put myself in their shoes, and it became clear to me that I would have been as vehement as they were in demanding a more concentrated and effective effort against this emerging plague.

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Related From Slate I Read (Almost) Every Memoir by a Former Trump Official Read More

Although Faucis work on HIV still has its detractors, he ended up befriending many AIDS activists and consulting some of them on public-health strategies for fighting COVID. Fauci made a rigorous habit of nonpartisanship and had warm relationships with Presidents Bush, Clinton, and Obamathe latter of whom telephoned him in concern when the extremist demonization of Fauci really ramped up. But even this carefully maintained neutrality could not withstand the tribal dynamics of our current politics, and Fauci committed the unforgivable sin of making Trump look bad by contradicting the presidents most toddlerlike statements on the pandemicsuch as his insistence that it must all end by Easter 2020, or his musings about the possibility of cleaning out the insides of COVID patients with a disinfectant like bleach.

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Fauci portrays himself as largely bemused by Trump, who would attest to loving him, then attack him on Twitter, then confide that other people in the administration were saying bad things about him (a common Trump tactic for undermining his staff), then chew him out on the phone. (He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not is the title of one chapter.) Unlike most Trump administration memoirsand, to be fair, only the final 70 pages of this book can be labeled as suchOn Call makes little effort to settle scores or detail palace intrigues, apart from the obligatory disdain for Mark Meadows, Trumps final chief of staff, whose risibility seems to be the only subject on which all former habitues of Trump World can agree.

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Nevertheless, Fauci manages to telegraph Trumps inadequate response to the COVID crisis without voicing an overt condemnation. He describes the presidents untrammeled delight over the high ratings his press conferences on the pandemic briefly achieved, and Trumps complaints about how Faucis attempts to correct his most egregious misstatements had tanked the stock market. Anthony, Trump said after Fauci was (erroneously) reported as advocating school closures in the fall of 2020, you are losing me trillions of fucking dollars. Juxtaposed with the compassionate responses of earlier presidents to the health crises they faced, Trumps obsession with numbers over people does not go unnoticed, even if Fauci himself doesnt overtly draw the comparison. Similarly, although On Call never acknowledges right-wing digs at Bidens mental competence, Fauci does recount a briefing he provided to the current president on booster shots, noting, The president listened attentively to my opinion, and as always, I was impressed with his focus on details. Never is Trump described in such terms.

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Fauci seems to have welcomed Biden as a return to the more functional and compassionate breed of elected leaders hed worked with through the decades. But you cant blame him for wanting to quit while he was ahead (and in his 80s). Hes done his bit, and we may not see his like again. On Call is a brisk and often suspenseful account of how a man who clearly loved his job confronted and tried to solve four decades of health crises, from HIV to bioterrorism and Ebola. It shouldnt have to end with a chapter devoted to debunking a lot of crackpot conspiracy theories surrounding how he and other scientists handled an unprecedented and fast-moving pandemic as it evolved on the ground. It may be human nature, as Fauci acknowledges, to lash out at authorities who cant supply ironclad answers in a time of fear and uncertainty. But that doesnt make it any less absurd.
Last week, Megan Messerly ended up somewhere a little strange for a health care policy reporter: a religious convention. It was the Southern Baptists annual gathering, this year, in Indianapolis. Its a politically powerful denomination, she said. Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham, and Mike Johnson are all Southern Baptists.

Messerly reports for Politico, so you can see why she wanted to show up. She was particularly interested in a resolution church leaders were bringing forward opposing in vitro fertilization. And last Wednesday, thousands of church representativesthey call themselves messengersput reproductive technology up to a vote. Picture a huge convention hall, filled with people with little cards in their hands that they use to vote yay or nay. And anyone can get up and speak. It was pretty emotional. There was one man who came forward, he was from an Ohio church, and he had actually had a son through IVF, Messerly said.

After listening to a couple of these stories, each messenger had a choice to make. The vote was overwhelmingly in support of the resolution opposing IVF, but there was some hesitation among the crowd. The people behind this resolution had anticipated a certain ambivalence. The text of this resolution builds a step-by-step case for why IVF is biblically wrong. That argument is that embryos are human beings from the moment of fertilization. Some people call this an argument for fetal personhood. The resolution is also nonbindingbasically, a conversation starter for Southern Baptist churches all over the country.

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The expectation is that now the work of changing minds will begin. A lot of the folks that I talked to who do have concerns about IVF see this as the beginning of another decadeslong push like there was on abortion, Messerly said. This is a long campaign to change hearts and minds.

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On a recent episode of What Next, we spoke about howand whyevangelicals are beginning to make the case against IVF. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Mary Harris: The Southern Baptist Convention has not had a clear stance on IVF before now, has it?

Megan Messerly: No, they havent. Theyve spoken out, obviously, a lot on the abortion issue. Theyve spoken out previously on other reproductive technologies, but this is the first time they explicitly spoke out on IVF directly.

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Its interesting because I read that the theologian who proposed this statement published an anti-IVF argument in a church publication a few years back and got a lot of criticism for it.

Yeah. Both of the resolution sponsors, Albert Mohler and Andrew Walker, had been writing on IVF for quite some time. But it really is the Alabama Supreme Court decision that they said created the space for this conversation.

That Alabama Supreme Court decision took me by surprise, and right away Alabamas Legislature was getting involved. They were intervening to offer civil and criminal immunity to IVF service providers to avoid the fertility industry totally collapsing in the state. I look at that, and I think this lawsuit was not successful by any traditional metrics. It seems like people responded right away to shut down what happened. So Im surprised that these ethicists at the Southern Baptist Convention looked at this and thought, Nows our time to get into it with IVF.

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Totally. Its a fair point. But at the same time, the fact that there was a conversation around IVF, it got a lot of people thinking about the implications. After the Dobbs decision came down, there were a lot of folks on the left saying, Oh, its abortion today, but its contraception and IVF tomorrow. And a lot of folks on the right dismissed that as fearmongering. On the other hand, there are folks on the rightconservatives, a lot of evangelical folkswhove been thinking about this for a long time and who said, No, that really is where we want to go with this. We do have concerns with IVF. We do have concerns with certain forms of contraception.

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When I was in Indianapolis, I talked to this wife of a pastor from Alabama, and she was telling me that in her ladies small group, right after the decision came down, they were talking about what the implications were for IVF, talking about the ethics of it, and saying, OK, we do believe that embryos are people, and we believe that fetuses are people, so I guess we do have concerns with IVF.

So they were changing their minds midstream?

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In real time, yeah. Saying, Ive been so vehemently opposed to abortion, I guess I need to be opposed to IVF as its commonly practiced in the U.S.

After the Alabama Supreme Court decision that started all this, it was interesting for me to examine more closely the kinds of arguments that Christian conservatives were beginning to make about IVF. In the weeks after the decision, Mike Pence, the former vice president, wrote this op-ed in the Wall Street Journal. He essentially said IVF is an unregulated industry. And he went through exactly what happened in Alabama that led to this lawsuita random patient was able to access embryos and destroy them. And hes like, Listen, theres no security here. You shouldnt be able to touch a nitrogen tank with frozen embryos if youre stumbling into a room in a hospital, that shouldnt be how it works. He also made this argument from a perspective of someone who has used fertility treatments, because he and his wife did that. It struck me that his argument kind of made sense. If youve touched the fertility industry, you know that it is expensive, and there will be a moment where you feel a little scammed. You know what Im saying?

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These folks believe that theres a bipartisan argument to be made there to say, Yes, there should be more regulations and restrictions. And they point to the way that IVF is regulated in Europe. Many countries do have stricter regulationsnot just as far as physical safety of the clinics or whatever, but also in terms of how many embryos you can create at once. They see that as a model, but they also see it as something that they think they can eventually persuade enough folks to support. Because again, like you mentioned, so many families use fertility treatments, and families have a lot of attachment to their embryos and dont want to see them destroyed. Whether or not youre going to say that thats human life or what have you, theres a lot of folks who could probably get behind there being more protections and regulations on the industry.

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This Alabama case, its not the last case like it in which an IVF patient sues to have their embryos declared children. There was this case in Texas that got appealed to the Texas Supreme Court, and they rejected it. But in that case, a couple had signed a contract saying that if they divorced, their embryos would go to the husband. And they were divorcing, and the wife was not thrilled that her embryos were becoming the property of her ex. I can understand being in this position. I cannot understand making it into a fetal personhood argument, but I can understand the desires at play here.

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Totally. Even for folks who are saying, No, Im not sure that these frozen embryos are people, theres still an argument to be made that No, I dont want them to be randomly destroyed or No, I dont want to get into a custody battle over my frozen embryos. It brings up a lot of interesting ethical arguments, even for folks who arent thinking about this in a religious life-begins-at-conception way.

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More than a third of states have laws on their books saying that embryos or fetuses at some point during pregnancy are people and should have personhood protections, just as you and I do. And that poses a lot of complications, right? A lot of those laws were passed as states were passing anti-abortion laws. But what does that mean for IVF?

Lets talk about the pressure Republicans are now facing when it comes to IVF, because polling shows that a vast majority of Americans, like 80 percent or more, support IVF. What does that mean for a Republican Party that has relied on the evangelical vote and that sees this movement in this voting bloc toward rethinking IVF?

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This is the million-dollar question: How do Republican lawmakers start to shift on this issue and do they start to shift and how quickly?

So far they do not seem to be shifting.

No, they do not seem to be shifting. In fact, theyve largely been doubling down on their support for IVF. Republican senators last week signed a piece of paper saying, We support IVF. Were not trying to ban it.

This is all 49 Senate Republicans. This is across the board.

Yeah, exactly. This is a complicated issue for them in this election cycle where Democrats are trying to say that Republicans are extreme on abortion and other reproductive health issues, whether its IVF or contraception. Theyre in a politically tricky spot.

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Republicans have been in this uncomfortable position of wanting to say that they express broad support for IVF, but saying, No, the Democratic legislation goes too far. Its too sweeping. Republicans see that opposing that Democratic legislation is a way for them to, in some ways, appease the parts of their base that would like to see them be more vocal on IVF, but at the same time be able to still put out that statement saying they support IVF. Theyre trying to have their cake and eat it too on IVF. But theyre being backed into a corner here.

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Is anyone holding each Republicans feet to the fire to be like, What do you think about fetal personhood? What do you think about regulating IVF? Or are they running scared from this issue?

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So far its been more the latter. Even House Speaker Mike Johnson wouldnt say whether he thought the destruction of frozen embryos was murder.

One of the few politicians who seems to have really thought this through is former Vice President Mike Pence, because he talks about going through fertility treatment with his wife, and they actually avoided IVF, specifically because they were Catholics at the time. And they knew that the Catholic Church was not in favor of IVF. They did a much more invasive procedure where you put the sperm and the egg in the fallopian tube and hope that they figure it out, as opposed to making an embryo outside of the womb. And I cant imagine hes not going to be a messenger, basically saying, Well, I did it. Anyone can. But if you look at what he did, its way more invasive.

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It is. Its very invasive. There are ways around IVF, and folks Im talking to are hoping more folks move in that direction. On the other hand, theres a cost to that, whether its financial, whether its medicalyou literally having to be out for the procedure.

If I was a Republican, I think I would want this IVF issue to just go away. But in addition to the Southern Baptist Convention stuff that we saw last week, the couples who filed that Alabama lawsuit filed another lawsuit.

This idea that this issue isnt going away is a good one. Republicans in this election wish that IVF would go away. They wish that abortion would go away. These are not things they want to be talking about on the campaign trail. Theyre not good issues for them. And yet at the same time, abortion is something their party has been talking about for decades. IVF is something that an influential part of their base is starting to move in that direction on. So, as much as they want to avoid it, theyre not going to be able to. There are going to be cases that keep coming up, whether in Alabama or in these states that have laws on their books saying that embryos are people. There are going to be lawsuits that put those state laws to the test.
'Purple Rain,' the Broadway-bound musical based on Prince's 1984 film, has revealed additional creative members and the dates of the show's world premiere in Minneapolis.

The historic State Theatre at Hennepin Arts in Minneapolis will host performances from Thursday, April 10 to Sunday, May 11, 2025, with an official opening on Wednesday, April 30.

Jason Michael Webb, recipient of a 2019 special Tony Award for his work on 'Choir Boy,' will be the orchestrator, musical arranger, and music supervisor of 'Purple Rain.'

Morris Hayes and Bobby Z will be music advisers on the production. Bobby Z played drums for Prince's band, 'The Revolution,' and had an appearance in the movie 'Purple Rain.' Hayes is also a former bandmate of Prince, who served as Prince's musical director and keyboardist in the New Power Generation.

In a statement, L Londell McMillan, Prince's former manager, an attorney, and the chair of NorthStar Group, said, "Prince very much enjoyed live musicals and talked about adapting 'Purple Rain' for the stage. I can't imagine two better artists to work with us and the Broadway creative team to help ensure that 'Purple Rain' is brilliantly realized on stage in a way that honors Prince and his music legacy."

Larry Mestel, founder and CEO of Primary Wave Music, claimed that bringing Bobby Z and Hayes, two of Prince's longtime collaborators, was important as they moved forward with the pre-Broadway premiere of 'Purple Rain.'

He noted that having worked with Prince for years, they will ensure this production holds true to Prince's vision and continue his legacy.

'Purple Rain' follows the struggles and achievements of an up-and-coming musician living in Minneapolis. As previously announced, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, a recent Tony Award winner, will write the musical's book based on the original script by Albert Magnoli and William Blinn. Lileana Blain-Cruz will direct the production.

Furthermore, 'Purple Rain' is produced by Orin Wolf, McMillan, and Mestel.

The production will hold open casting call auditions for all roles in Minneapolis.
On Wednesday, Louisianas Republican Gov. Jeff Landry approved legislation requiring every public school classroom in the state to display the Ten Commandments, becoming the first state to enact such a law. Signing the bill, Landry said: This bill mandates the display of the Ten Commandments in every classroom, in public elementary, secondary, and post-education schools in the state of Louisiana. Because if you wanna respect the rule of law, you gotta start from the original law giver, which was Moses.

On this weeks Amicus Plus bonus episode, Dahlia Lithwick was joined by Mark Joseph Stern to discuss why Louisiana passed a law that is so blatantly unconstitutional on its face. Their conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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Dahlia Lithwick: Mark, do you have a quick hot take on how unconstitutional this is?

Mark Joseph Stern: So this is as unconstitutional as any law can be. Lets start with some background.

In 1980, the Supreme Court struck down a pretty much identical law that required the posting of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom in Kentucky in a decision called Stone v. Graham. More recently, in a decision called McCreary County, the Supreme Court blocked the public display of the Ten Commandments with an unmistakably religious purpose on public propertyhere, at a courthouseand said this violates the separation of church and state enshrined in the establishment clause.

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Jeff Landry knows that this law is unconstitutional. He has said, Bring it on. Hes ready for a lawsuit and to fight this all the way to the Supreme Court. His goal is to overturn these precedents and allow states like Louisiana to transform public school classrooms into spaces of Christian indoctrination for students who are just trying to get a good secular education.

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Its worth mentioning the fact that the proposed translation is the Protestant translation, so its not even nonsectarian sectarianism. Its quite Protestant. This law seems to presupposein much the same way that weve seen lots and lots of cases presupposethat something has been overturned that has not in fact been overturned. And in this case it is the endless zombie-walking Lemon test. Discuss.

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The Lemon test was the basis for the Supreme Court striking down the identical law in 1980, but in Kennedy v. Bremerton in 2022, Justice Neil Gorsuch said that the Lemon test had long been abandonedthat even though the court had never formally overruled it, it had somehow, secretly, quietly been nixed at some point in the past. Louisianas Republican lawmakers are kind of clever to land on this issue, because the basis for those decisions has already been abandoned, or maybe kind of shoved into a closet that nobody wants to open anymore. And also because Louisiana is within the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and Republicans figure that the 5th Circuit has had no problem overruling other progressive precedent, and in fact has not acknowledged the existence of the establishment clause in quite some time.

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So they think theyll win in the lower courts and they want to push this to SCOTUS and get a much broader right to proselytize in schools. Lets be clear, the Ten Commandments are the camels nose under the tent in order to bring school prayer; in order to bring overtly Christian activities during school hours, and on school premises; in order to let educators turn themselves into proselytizers and religious leaders during the school day, and try to compel more children into Christianity. That is the goal here, and it is barely even concealed by its proponents.

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And sometimes the big swings happen in ways that surprise the court and embarrass themthats mifepristone, the decision that came down last week. Sometimes the big swings seem to be very much in response to a movement at the court itself; in this case, a yearslong chipping away and erosion of the establishment clause. So in a sense, Louisiana is just giving the court what it says it wanted: a basis from which to end Lemon and one more kick at the can to say that the establishment clause doesnt mean what it says.

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One way SCOTUS could kill the establishment clause is by denying anyone standing to challenge some kind of religious action sponsored by the government. Remember that in the mifepristone case, Justice Kavanaugh took a gratuitous swipe in order to further that agenda. He wrote about how the court has made it clear that distress or disagreements are not a basis for Article III standing. But in the establishment clause context, an offended observer typically gets standing to challenge some kind of religious display because they themselves feel wronged by it. By targeting this particular kind of standing for no real reason in the mifepristone case, Justice Kavanaugh was able to further erode that theory and make it harder for any future plaintiffs to bring such a claim.

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I do think that this particular law, though clever in some ways, is also potentially dumb and doomed in others. Its pretty clear to me that a teacher, say a Muslim teacher or a Buddhist teacher, or a Sikh teacher, who does not want the Ten Commandments in her classroom, would have standing to bring a lawsuit here. Shes not just an offended observer, she is being coerced into putting up a religious display in her own classroom. That seems several steps beyond the traditional offended observer standing, and this law stands a good chance of getting struck down. But I think what happens next is that the state says, OK, we are just going to encourage schools to put up the Ten Commandments, or say that schools are allowed to put up the Ten Commandments. Maybe its not in the classroom, maybe its as students walk in the door, maybe its in the gymnasium. I think the state writes a looser law and that becomes the vehicle to roll back some of the establishment clause precedent that bars religious indoctrination in school.

Coming soon to a theater near you, another Ten Commandments case in front of a brand new court.
On Wednesday, no less credible a source than Slate.com announced that Lansing, Michigan, is the most relevant bellwether population center in the country. Where goeth Lansing, so goeth the nation, we say. (Crucial Waukesha County can f off!)

Hours after the publication of the piece, as if to emphasize that Lansing is where it all happens, a 62-year-old Michigan state representative named Neil Friske delivered what may go down as the signature political arrest of the year, getting collared at 2:45 a.m. Thursday by Lansing PD because, according to an initial report by the MIRS news service, he had chased an adult dancer after a disagreement and had a gun in his possession at the time. Authorities say the county prosecutors office is reviewing his case and that he may be arraigned on Friday or Saturday.

According to a police spokesperson quoted in the Detroit Free Press, officers were dispatched to an area near Friskes residence in the state capitalhe represents a district in northern Michiganto respond to reports of a male with a gun. Per the Freep, Friske is being held in police lockup, which did not stop his reelection campaign from releasing a doozy of a statement:

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Admit nothing, deny everything, make counteraccusations! Concurrently to his arrest, somehow, Friske also posted this tweet, which includes a fairly complicated allegorical graphic explaining his opposition to a bill pending in the Legislature which would outlaw A.I.-generated pornography:

This is a metaphoric visual of why I vote the way I do in Lansing. Im not going to cave to the pressure of special interest. Im not afraid of the false accusations, like Friske is for AI Porn when a bill denies THE PEOPLE their rights to properly defend themselves.

1/2 pic.twitter.com/7Q8qx5ZiL0  State Rep Neil Friske, MI-107 (@NeilFriske) June 20, 2024

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The Greeks are carrying spears and they look like potatoes from a childrens book, but the RINOs are wearing contemporary mens suits. Theres some stuff that could have been cleaned up there, but in Friskes defense, he was busy (i.e., in jail) at the time.

Friske is a member of the state-level Republican Freedom Caucus, a right-wing faction, and has co-sponsored a bill that would require state schools to provide instruction on the Christian foundations of U.S. history.

MIRSs report said the dancer involved in the incident works for the Lansing location of the Deja Vu gentlemens club chain, which was founded by a native of a nearby small town who began his business career by inventing the pornographic drive-in theater. Like we said, Lansing is where it all happens.
The U.S. Supreme Court today broke from its recent embrace of gun rights, leaving in place a federal criminal law that makes it a felony for anyone subject to a civil domestic violence restraining order to possess a gun.

As an advocate for survivors of domestic violence, todays outcome comes as a relief. Indeed, it is the result my organization, the ACLU, asked the court to reach.

Even so, liberals shouldnt take the decision as cause for great celebration. Thats because, while there is no doubt in my mind that preventing perpetrators of domestic violence from obtaining guns will help prevent further violence, this case was not about whether the respondent should have been able to buy a gun. The question was whether he should be sent to prison for having one.

As a feminist, I care about both gender-based violence and the violence of imprisonment. Gun laws, in particular, have helped to fuel mass incarceration and contributed to disproportionate imprisonment of Black people and other people of color.

Funneling the problem of gender-based violence into the criminal legal system may not sound so bad if the alternative is no response at all. Thats the problem the court faced in United States v. Rahimi. But thats a false choice, constructed via decades of reliance on criminal legal responses to violence in Americas legislatures, executive branches, and state and federal courts.

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The Supreme Court itself has played a part in creating this dilemma. In 2000, for example, the court heard a case brought by a survivor against a college classmate whom she alleged had raped her repeatedly. She was able to sue her attacker because of a novel provision of the Violence Against Women Act that empowered survivors to seek a civil remedy from those who harmed them.

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The court, however, made quick work of VAWAs civil provision, finding that Congress lacked the power to create any such remedy at all. But it left in place criminal provisions carrying lengthy terms of imprisonment. Stripped of its civil provision, the original VAWA became known not as an innovative law but a regressive oneand part of the notorious 1994 crime bill.

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A second decision in 2005 doubled down. After her estranged husband violated a restraining order and kidnapped her three kids from her yard, Jessica Lenahan (then Gonzales) contacted police multiple times over 10 hours asking them to help retrieve her children. Police refused, saying there was nothing they could dountil the father arrived at the police station and opened fire. Only then did the police act, killing Lenahans husband and finding the children already dead in his truck.

Related From Slate The Supreme Court Walks Back Clarence Thomas Gun Extremism Read More

Lenahan sued the police, but she didnt fare any better in the courts. Looking to history and tradition, the Supreme Court couldnt find any right to have her restraining order enforced. What it did find was a well established tradition of police discretion. This history, the court noted without irony, meant that the state was free to both disregard survivors like Lenahan who asked police for help and bulldoze over survivors who asked the state not to interfere in cases of domestic assault.

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Viewed in the context of the courts history with domestic violence, survivors should think twice before embracing todays decision as a victory for women. It can be understood not as a departure from the VAWA and Lenahan decisions, but a continuation of them: In all three cases, the only winner was the carceral system.

Our nations prioritization of the criminal legal system to the exclusion of all else is particularly troubling given that many people who experience domestic violence opt not to pursue criminal charges, knowing that they may encounter disbelief and hostility from law enforcement or find themselves subject to abuse charges when they report being victimized. Others worry that the criminal legal system will magnify the harms they are experiencing by jeopardizing their familys economic security or inflicting further violence through incarceration. As feminist legal scholar Aya Gruber has written, hyperfocus on the criminal legal system has diverted feminist energy and capital away from addressing the underlying conditions that make women, especially marginalized women, vulnerable to personal and state violence.

But we can advocate for alternate pathways to meaningful safety.

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There is not strong evidence to support the deterrent effect of after-the-fact criminal sanctions for gun possession, yet such punishments are where Congress has focused. The civil licensing regime that prohibits selling guns to people in Rahimis position, for example, exists only as a piggyback measure off of the underlying criminal law.

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As the ACLU pointed out in a friend-of-the-court brief, that add-on has prevented more than 77,000 gun sales since 1998. Congress would be wise to decouple gun sales from criminal law and to focus more on preventionparticularly given the likelihood that the court may soon void other criminal gun laws, with staggering ripple effects on rules governing gun sales.

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Other efforts may include imagining new civil remedies for harms once considered exclusively criminal. The civil process, unlike the criminal one, can offer survivors agency: the decision whether and when to seek relief and the option to discontinue the case if that best serves their needs. To ensure equitable access to courts, attorneys fees and other incentives to represent survivors can be built in.

Reimagining safety is possible, but only if we reject the idea that prison is the bestor the onlyway to address domestic violence. Survivors deserve better than what the carceral legal system has left us. We all do.
People need to learn to accept that there are no absolute certainties, says Samuel Kovacik.

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"I never say I'm a 100 percent sure or unsure about pretty much anything. People need to learn to operate based on this, and once they accepts this, they start to understand how science works," says the theoretical physicist and science communicator known as Vedator, Samuel Kovacik, from the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics at Comenius University in Bratislava. He is one of the authors behind the Vedator project.

This article is supported by the ESET Foundation, whose annual ESET Science Award recognises exceptional scientists.

In an interview with The Slovak Spectator, he talks about how humane science communication can overcome misunderstandings in society, what to think about when communicating science, and why he thinks the Starmus festival can encourage people to study sciences.

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A recent survey revealed that 21 percent of Slovaks are unsure whether the Earth is round, while a further 20 percent have doubts. What do you make of that?

In my opinion, the problem is not that people are convinced that the Earth is not round, but that the idea is part of a wider approach embraced by people who want to be against the mainstream, or against something they label as mainstream, even though their counter-opinion has in some way become almost mainstream. It is a form of contrarianism, a rebellion of some sorts. The 20 percent should not be seen as convinced flat-earthers. If denying the chemical properties of wood were to become part of the rebellion against the mainstream, they would adopt it. The same thing happened with vaccines. I think part of the population would get vaccinated precisely if it were forbidden because they would deem it suspicious.

In the US, bird flu has broken out among cows. Experts are warning people not to drink raw milk. In a turn of events, raw milk advocates are actually seeking out milk that specifically comes from infected cows.

Throwing facts at people like that is pointless. Instead, we need to identify the source of their frustration. At the same time, and this is something we're only now catching up to culturally, people haven't learned to focus on themselves, understand their own desires, needs, and deal with them. Many people are born, they adopt dreams and desires from their surroundings, and go through life on autopilot, often without fulfilling their own dreams and desires, so they start looking for scapegoats.

It reminds me a bit of the 2016 debate between Brian Cox and Australian politician and climate sceptic Malcolm Roberts. Cox had prepared graphs, but it didn't seem to make any dent in Roberts' views.

At the very least, its good to show people who spout nonsense that is baseless and laughable. A good example can be SNS MP Rudolf Huliak, whom many people respect because they think he tells the truth. However, when his claims are dissected, it becomes clear that they are nonsense, that he doesn't understand anything, and such opinions don't deserve respect.

To stay up to date with what scientists in Slovakia or Slovak scientists around the world are doing, subscribe to the Slovak Science newsletter, which will be sent to readers free of charge four times a year.

Doesn't this run the risk of making such people even more entrenched in their views?

What he thinks doesn't really matter to me. But it matters a bit in the way that he has an influence on legislation. The point is whether he attracts others and inspires them, or repels them. I'm aware that the moment we start questioning his views that some people will automatically come to his defence. However, I think that in at least some extreme cases, when it becomes clear that the opinions a person presents are laughable, people will step away from that person. We've seen this happen in our [Slovak] politics.

What can be done about it?

During the pandemic, I came to like one thing. Although I couldn't address everyone because they don't follow Vedator, I could convey information to followers so they could then pass it on to their loved ones. When I talked about vaccines, I kept in mind that I couldn't just talk tables and data, because it wouldn't work at the Sunday family lunch setting. What I talked about was based on data, but I extracted an easy-to-understand idea that could be passed on. I try to think about these things in this way: it's not about what I can tell people directly, but about how to educate those who follow Vedator so that they themselves can understand the ideas and be able to convey them to their loved ones. And I feel that this works quite well. People who need to hear it trust their loved ones much more than they would trust me.

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I recall a blog by a climatologist. In it she mentioned that bombarding sceptical people with facts didn't work for her because they perceived it as an attack on their identity. The best thing she did was talk about her Christian faith. It's as if instead of believing what is in front of some people they first needed a value-aligned person in order to recognise facts.

This is confirmation bias; we believe the things we already believe. If the heavens were to open now and angels started descending, it would also take me a while to accept it. First, I would need to rule out that it was a hologram, a hallucination, or other conventional possibility. When someone has preconceived notions about the world, they will reject anything that challenges them. Therefore, we need to approach this sensitively. When you start talking to someone like this and expect them to admit that they believed nonsense after two sentences, that is unrealistic. Such a discussion will take a long time. If they then say, "Well, maybe I don't agree with you, but I understand your point of view," that is a big step towards better mutual understanding and for society. We don't have to share the same ideas about everything. What's important is that we learn to understand other perspectives and then, the more angles we know, the more our confidence in what we consider as correct ideas increases.

How do you approach communicating a scientific idea?

The information on our website ranges from very specialised content for students in a given field to posts that attract 100 people, 90 of whom read, understand and can explain it in their own words. I don't have one specific approach, but several, to reach the widest audience possible. I try to absorb information from various sources and then select what to communicate. For example, we had an article about why it's so hard to kill a fly. In it you learn that time flows differently for a fly. But we also have articles on how to meaningfully talk about the origin of the universe. When I come across something interesting, I also ask myself whether it's suitable to talk about it in Instagram stories, a podcast, or a short article.

What kind of response do you get?

99 percent of people give very positive feedback. I have students who went on to study physics, astrophysics because they followed Vedator. Many people often tell me they hated maths and physics in high school and now they regret it. People appreciate simplicity, clarity, and humanity. When it comes to a sensitive topic, I try to present it in a way that doesn't offend a person. For example, I don't respect the opinions of MP Huliak, which I find laughable, but he's still a human being, and I won't attack him personally; I just confront his views and avoid dividing society.

Samuel Kovacik. (Source: SME - Jozef Jakubco)

What if the other side doesn't want to listen?

I don't know. It's always tempting to say that if someone denies science, they shouldn't use its benefitsmedicines, technology, computers, the Internet. It kind of shows that they use the benefits but deny the rest. So maybe point out the inconsistencies. There's a saying from The Art of War that in conflict it's important to allow the other side to save face. It's bad to corner an enemy because they might do something irrational. So, even when talking to someone who is 100 percent wrong, we need to give them a way to back out gracefully, without ridicule.

One of the objections against science I've encountered is that it constantly changes, and people don't know the truth. Simply put, people don't like uncertainty.

As a scientific community, the fact that science communication hasn't been given much attention for a long time is now to our detriment. As a result, people don't understand how science works.

For example, the difference between the colloquial meaning of the word "theoretical" and the fact that in science, a theory is the highest level of certainty?

Exactly. People think there are objective truths about this world which, once uncovered, don't change. A more accurate description is that we create models of how the world works, and based on new data and information, we refine these models. Newton provided us with a description of gravity that was accurate but had flaws. Einstein corrected some of these flaws, but others remained. And this is true everywhere. All the information we put out there has annoying footnotes saying that we rely on certain assumptions and data, and that the conclusion we draw has a certain level of certainty.

People are frustrated because they are used to the false notion of absolute certainties. It's important to learn to live with the fact that there are no certainties, but lesser and greater degrees of credibility in our predictions. I can say that tomorrow it will snow, rain, or be sunny. These are three different predictions, but not all are equally probable. There is about an 80 percent chance it will be sunny, a 19 percent chance it will rain, and maybe a meteorite will hit us, bringing Arctic air and snow, but the chance of that happening is minuscule. I never say I'm a hundred percent sure or unsure about pretty much anything. We need to learn to operate based on this, and once we accept this, we start to understand how science works.

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In May, the Starmus science and art festival took place in Bratislava. In your notes, you mentioned the following: "I think that in 10 years there will be many science students who will say this was the moment that brought them to science." What led you to this statement?

I was presenting Starmus for Schools to high school and elementary school pupils. We had no idea how many would come or if they would listen. When I saw them, I wondered if the kids were just glad that they didn't have to go to school. Moreover, the talks were in English, and required a lot of concentration. When Chris Hadfield arrived, he asked to be taken to the sound engineers to crank it up to 11. I started to suspect that it would be interesting. His lecture started with a video about his career, including a rocket launch demonstration.

I saw some kids covering their ears because of how loud it was. And then they hung on every word he said. He talked about setting goals, breaking them down into manageable parts. When David Bowie's "Space Oddity" played, the kids pulled out their phones and waved them. I still get goosebumps just thinking about it. It was a combination of science and the message saying not to be afraid of big dreams, that things that seem unrealistic can be achieved. If there were several thousand kids, and only every hundredth decides to become a scientist, it would be enough.

Was this the sole situation like this?

Jane Goodall demonstrated the human dimension of science. People often think of scientists as boring people in lab coats. They might think they can't be scientists because they like to party. She showed that scientists are actually those who do what they love, what fulfils them possibly much more than people in corporate jobs. Science can have aspects that reach far beyond the human aspect, and in some ways embodies the values that we, as humanity, generate.

It seems to me that for people to get excited about science, they need role models who can do that. At the same time, it must be hard to find such people.

When I write for our website, I try to mention modern scientists who are still alive. This approach also helped me with book-writing. I used it to change the pace so that after a heavy explanatory section, there would be stories about such personalities. I wanted to show how they came up with their ideas and reached their results. When I write about science, it's more to show that science is a process and that people drive the process; so that the general public appreciates that computers, medicines, weather forecasts, rockets, and aeroplanes are the result of the work of thousands of researchers.

When a young person reads it, they might think they can do such things too. Last year, I did a podcast with Michel Mayor, and I asked him how he came to his discovery. He said he talked to someone about needing a detector, but since no one was doing it, he learned how to do it and made one. He then found someone who knew how to do something else, and then with a bit of luck, they found the first exoplanet. This, I think, is valuable information for young people. You don't need an IQ of 190; you need passion, which will make you enjoy and do it long enough to expose yourself to the possibility of coming up with a good idea.

How would you describe the significance of such a festival like Starmus?

It shows society that science is valuable, that it has meaning, and that interesting and inspiring people do it. It's much more interesting to talk about ideas than to analyse shows like Ruza Pre Nevestu (The Rose for the Bride). During the festival, I talked with people about what they agreed or disagreed with in a lecture instead of what we would usually talked about, which was great. It teaches people to discuss ideas they agree with or form their disagreement with the ideas presented.

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Starmus will likely remain a unique event in Slovakia for a long time. However, it seems to me that scientific institutions are trying to communicate more with people. Just last weekend, the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) presented their work in the centre of Bratislava.

In the case of SAV, its a commendable gesture because they have known for quite some time that they need to approach the public. In this regard, we are somewhat making up for lost time, but several institutions have taken up the mantle with gusto. It's great that they are doing such things. We are finishing the fourth season of Vedatour lectures tonight [June 18 - Ed. note]. Outside of Bratislava, dozens of people usually attend a given lecture; in Bratislava it's more than a hundred. People come to listen and then genuinely ask questions because they are interested in the topics. I feel that this is gradually becoming part of everyday social life.

It's still not at the level that if one wants to attend a science event they just look for one online. I think in 10 years, popular science events will be an interesting form of socialisation, and people will have plenty of options even outside the capital. I held the last lecture for the book Obycajne Zazraky [Ordinary Miracles] in the forest. It required a hike, but people came. I tried talking to everyone, and when I asked two guys how they knew each other, they said that they had met there at the event. It made me happy because it created a place where people can meet. When such events become more frequent and a supportive environment develops, these things will become more common.
Girls studying technical fields encourage other girls to do the same.

Olivia Zacharova is one of seven girls studying at Dual Academy, a private secondary vocational school for automotive engineering in Bratislava. (Source: Courtesy of Dual Academy)

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When Olivia Zacharova was ready make one of her first life choices, deciding which secondary school she would apply for, she almost gave up on her years-long love of cars.

Like many other girls in Slovakia, she has been faced with stereotypes about women not being fit to study engineering. Many Slovaks still see an engineer as a man, even though this perception has been changing in the last few years. In 2022, the AKO polling agency found that more than 80 percent of people would recommend their daughter or granddaughter to take up a job in the technology sector.

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Though I abandoned my passion due to stereotypes for a while, I eventually resolved to try whether cars were what I wanted to work on, the 17-year-old student told The Slovak Spectator. And it is.

Dual Academy An educational institution covering vocational school and lifelong education for adults. As part of secondary education, it uses the traditional concept of dual education, known in Slovakia for decades but its tradition interrupted during the previous regime.

In cooperation with companies like Volkswagen Slovakia, SkoFnsda, Daikin, Faurecia, ZSE , Slovnaft and others, it provides dual education in several fields.

After completing their studies, its graduates have to work for one of the partner organisations for two years.

It has opened the Bilingual Slovak-English Technical Lyceum, which takes five years to complete.

Today, she studies at the Dual Academy, a private secondary vocational school for automotive engineering in Bratislava. Of 350 students, she is one of seven girls enrolled in the institutions study programmes. Zacharova, a second-year student, studies autotronics, which includes the development and maintenance of electronic systems in vehicles. Her peer, 18-year-old Natalia Andrasovicova, is also in the second year, but she is keen on pursuing a career in mechanical and electrical engineering.

Not only do we acquire technical knowledge, but we also acquire skills in coding, programming, computer assembly and other related subjects, said Andrasovicova.

All these areas, she added, have piqued her interest for many years.

Walking their own path
"If I said we were not under pressure, I would be lying," says anaesthesiologist.

Anaesthesiologist Jozef Valky, head of the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine at Roosevelt Hospital in Banska Bystrica. (Source: Archiv FNsP F. D. Roosevelta, Dennik Postoj)

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Prime Minister Robert Fico underwent a difficult five-hour surgery after the attempt on his life on May 15. Therefore, many were surprised when he was discharged into home care a little over two weeks later.

Anaesthesiologist Jozef Valky, head of the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine at Roosevelt Hospital in Banska Bystrica, where Fico was taken after the shooting, has given an interview to the Postoj news website about the challenges and responsibilities that accompanied the care of the premier, and his rapid recovery.

Treating the premier was a challenge for doctors

Fico's shooting in Handlova was an exceptional situation that brought significant pressure on the entire medical team.

"My life stopped functioning for two weeks," Valky said, describing how he and his colleagues tried to keep the department running as normally as possible.

The hospital continued with regular operations, including three liver transplants, despite increased security measures and the presence of guards.

Caring for severely injured patients is not an everyday occurrence, even in the best hospitals. "Everyone asked us if we had experience with similarly seriously injured patients. We don't have many, and almost no one does," Valky admitted.

However, thanks to excellent teams, including doctors with international experience from war zones, as well as modern trauma-centre equipment, they managed to stabilise and treat the prime minister.

Valky emphasised that the psychological pressure was enormous. "If we had failed, I can't imagine what would have happened in Slovakia," he said. The entire team approached the prime minister as an ordinary patient, which helped manage the situation professionally.

"We set clear rules to ensure our department and the entire hospital did not lose their composure," he explained.

Why was there minimal communication with the media?

During Fico's care, the hospital did not communicate directly with the media, which sparked speculation. Valky explained that this was intentional.

"We are doctors here to care for the patient," he said, adding that the political battle would continue regardless of who provided the information. "I personally asked the hospital management to cut us off from press conferences with journalists."

As he explained, the hospital management received detailed information about Fico's condition. This information was then passed on to Deputy PM and Defence Minister Robert Kalinak of the Smer party.

"I read Kalinak's statements, which he released to the media. They were a significant simplification of what we sent to the hospital management," the doctor said. "But there was never any falsehood in it. The minister stated what was true, and he did so very concisely."

Fico's physical condition before the assassination attempt and his attitude were crucial to his quick recovery, the doctor noted.

"The patient was in very good physical condition before. He recovered surprisingly quickly," Valky noted. The prime minister underwent multiple surgeries, highlighting the severity of his injuries but also the success of the medical care.

Valky, who has worked at the hospital for 34 years, expressed his pride in his colleagues and the entire team for handling the challenging situation effectively.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240621/bibi-is-needy-1119054049.html

Bibi Is Needy

Bibi Is Needy

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On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin 'Bibi' Netanyahu released a video complaining about a short-lived pause of one weapon shipment from the United... 21.06.2024, Sputnik International

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It is inconceivable that in the past few months, the administration has been withholding weapons and ammunitions to Israel, The Israeli Prime Minister said, despite the United States being the largest provider of weapons to Israel and its most stalwart defender on the international stage.The White House canceled a meeting with high-ranking Israeli officials in response and attempted to assure the public that it had not stopped sending weapons to a country that has been accused of genocide by several nations.The decision to delay one shipment of weapons was in response to Israels decision to go forward with its Rafah invasion, despite pressure from the United States to hold off. Biden has been dealing with protests over the US supplying weapons to Israel, but the pause on one shipment seemingly did nothing to slow Israels campaign. More than 6% of the Gaza population has been killed, seriously injured or remains missing.Turning on a practically endless faucet of cash for a friend and then being criticized because it wasnt endless enough must be a familiar experience for Biden. Ukraines illegitimate President Volodymyr Zelensky complained earlier this year that aid from the US, which he had already received well over $110 billion worth, was arriving too slowly.But, considering who his family is, he is probably used to it. Last year, texts between Biden and his son Hunter were revealed that showed the younger Biden despite earning millions allegedly on the back of his fathers name complaining about being broke and asking his uncle James Biden for money.

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Canada Mulls Steep Tariffs on Chinese Electric Cars to Align With EU, US - Reports

Canada Mulls Steep Tariffs on Chinese Electric Cars to Align With EU, US - Reports

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Canada is considering imposing new tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles following similar measures taken by the European Union and the United States, US media reported on Friday citing Canadian officials.

2024-06-21T10:01+0000

2024-06-21T10:01+0000

2024-06-21T10:01+0000

americas

justin trudeau

us

canada

china

european union (eu)

electric cars

electric vehicles

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet is still unclear about how to proceed, people familiar with the considerations told Bloomberg on condition of anonymity. The start of public consultations on import tariffs is likely to be announced soon. Trudeau is reportedly under pressure both at home and abroad to align Canada with the United States and the European Union after they announced plans to take import duties on Chinese EVs up to, respectively, 102.5% and 48%. Concerns are that Chinese automakers would push domestic competitors out of the Canadian market. The White House said in May that it would raise tariffs on $18 billion worth of Chinese imports, including electric cars, solar panels and steel, to allegedly protect domestic businesses from Beijing's "unfair trade practices." In early June, the European Commission made a provisional decision to impose extra duties on imports of Chinese electric vehicles, starting July, due to allegedly unfair state subsidies. Beijing vowed to do what it takes to protect its interests. The Chinese Commerce Ministry said last week that the EU's tariff hike undermined global supply chains in the car industry. It warned that the action would hurt trade cooperation between Beijing and Brussels and damage the interests of European consumers. On the US tariffs, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that Washington's discriminatory practices violated the rules of the World Trade Organization.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231029/chinese-evs-outcompete-european-counterparts-drag-down-demand-for-local-aluminum-1114579284.html

americas

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240621/china-imposes-sanctions-against-lockheed-martin-over-arms-sale-to-taiwan-1119045472.html

China Imposes Sanctions Against Lockheed Martin Over Arms Sale to Taiwan

China Imposes Sanctions Against Lockheed Martin Over Arms Sale to Taiwan

Sputnik International

China has imposed sanctions against the US military-industrial company Lockheed Martin over the sale of weapons to Taiwan, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

2024-06-21T10:14+0000

2024-06-21T10:14+0000

2024-06-21T10:14+0000

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china

taiwan

lockheed martin

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Earlier this week, the Pentagons Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has said that the US State Department has approved a potential $60.2 million sale of Switchblade 300 (SB300) Anti-Personnel and Anti-Armor Loitering Missile Systems and a possible $300 million sale of ALTIUS 600M-V Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to Taiwan. The sanctions have been imposed against such companies as Lockheed Martin Missile System Integration Lab, Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories, and Lockheed Martin Ventures, while also against the company's employees Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet, Chief Operating Officer Frank St. John, as well as Chief Financial Officer Jay Malave. The property of the relevant companies and employees will be frozen in China, the individuals are prohibited from entering the territory of China and will not be issued entry visas. Organizations and individuals in China will not cooperate or conduct other activities with relevant individuals and companies, the ministry said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240606/us-state-dept-oks-sale-of-f-16-spare-parts-equipment-worth-300mln-to-taiwan-1118802257.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240621/hungary-opts-out-of-natos-planned-military-mission-in-ukraine---orban-1119046092.html

Hungary Opts Out of NATOs Planned Military Mission in Ukraine - Orban

Hungary Opts Out of NATOs Planned Military Mission in Ukraine - Orban

Sputnik International

NATO will conduct a military mission in Ukraine in which Budapest will not participate, announced Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. 21.06.2024, Sputnik International

2024-06-21T11:06+0000

2024-06-21T11:06+0000

2024-06-21T11:06+0000

world

viktor orban

peter szijjarto

hungary

ukraine

poland

nato

european parliament

european union (eu)

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Hungary has ruled out participating in a NATO mission in Ukraine, its prime minister has stated."A minimum goal has been achieved. The European train is heading towards war. If our government supports the people in the European Parliament elections, I can pull the emergency brake, the train will stop, and Hungarians will be able to get off," said Orban on Kossuth radio.According to him, "If the stars align favorably, it will be possible to convince the conductor, and then no one will continue."However, "convincing the conductor did not work, he is strong," and now "only former US President Donald Trump, if he returns to the White House following the elections in November, will be able to stop the train," Orban argued.Earlier, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto stated that NATO wants to increase its coordination role in supplying weapons to Ukraine and training its soldiers. Thirty-one countries support this decision, but Hungary does not want and will not participate in it. The Hungarian leadership has declared its refusal to participate in NATO's initiative, fearing further escalation. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated that he accepts Hungary's decision not to participate in the alliance's mission to coordinate support for Ukraine.The alliance's mission for Ukraine was announced by Poland in April. According to Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski, this is not about entering the conflict but primarily about training Ukrainian soldiers.Orban opposes military backing for Kiev and criticizes the Western approach to the conflict. Hungary has become the only EU country blocking the allocation of funds to Ukraine. According to Orban, intervention in the conflict will destroy Europe.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/scott-ritter-ukraines-nato-allies-dragging-world-into-nuclear-armageddon--1118717524.html

hungary

ukraine

poland

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240621/philippines-gets-1st-batch-of-brahmos-cruise-missiles-1119050167.html

Philippines Gets 1st Batch of BrahMos Cruise Missiles

Philippines Gets 1st Batch of BrahMos Cruise Missiles

Sputnik International

The first batch of Russian-Indian cruise missiles BrahMos have already been delivered to the Philippines, the co-director of the BrahMos Aerospace missile maker, Alexander Maksichev, told Sputnik on Friday.

2024-06-21T15:18+0000

2024-06-21T15:18+0000

2024-06-21T15:18+0000

military

philippines

russia

defense ministry

brahmos

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"The first BrahMos cruise missiles have already been delivered to the Philippine armed forces. The country's military leadership has thanked the company for the timely fulfillment of the contract, which covers both missile delivery and personnel training," he said on the sidelines of the Fleet-2024 International Maritime Defense Show outside of St. Petersburg. The Russian-Indian joint venture signed a $375-million deal with the Defense Ministry in January, pledging to equip three regiments with BrahMos missiles. Indian co-director Atul Rane told Sputnik last week he expected the Philippines to place another order. BrahMos Aerospace produces ground-, air-, sea-, and submarine-launched supersonic cruise missiles. It was established in 1998 and named after the rivers of Brahmaputra and Moscow.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230707/brahmos-aerospace-announces-talks-with-6-nations-over-sales-of-supersonic-cruise-missiles-1111718623.html

philippines

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philippines, brahmos missile, russian-indian brahmos missile, philippines gets brahmos
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240621/russia-wary-of-natos-potential-opposition-to-eurasian-security-framework-1119044893.html

Russia Wary of NATO's Potential Opposition to Eurasian Security Framework

Russia Wary of NATO's Potential Opposition to Eurasian Security Framework

Sputnik International

Russia expects NATO to try to interfere with efforts to create a Eurasian security framework that would rival the US-led military alliance, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday.

2024-06-21T09:56+0000

2024-06-21T09:56+0000

2024-06-21T09:56+0000

military

sergey lavrov

russia

kazakhstan

nato

collective security treaty organization (csto)

csto

eurasia

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"NATO will interfere with such fair processes, but they have no alternatives," Lavrov said during a trip to Kazakhstan. Lavrov spoke after meeting his counterparts from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)'s member states in the Kazakh city of Almaty. He said that the six nations making up the CSTO recognized the need for a new regional security architecture. "Eurasian security faces threats from many different directions, although the main source of these threats is NATO's aggressive behavior. The alliance wants to privatize and become the sole guarantor of stability in our vast region," Lavrov said. Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week that the future security architecture would be open to every European and Asian country, including NATO members. Russia, along with its allies in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, wants to have serious UN talks on indivisible security.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240614/putin-suggests-creation-of-new-security-system-in-eurasia-1118949232.html

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kazakhstan

eurasia

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240621/seizing-russian-assets-in-eu-will-lead-to-unpredictable-consequences-belgian-minister-warns-1119051905.html

Belgian Finance Minister Warns of Unpredictable Fallout From Seizing Russias Frozen Assets in EU

Belgian Finance Minister Warns of Unpredictable Fallout From Seizing Russias Frozen Assets in EU

Sputnik International

Seizing Russias frozen assets in the European Union will lead to unpredictable consequences, and it is necessary to "share the risks" when it comes to providing a loan to Ukraine, Belgian Finance Minister Vincent Van Peteghem said on Friday.

2024-06-21T16:54+0000

2024-06-21T16:54+0000

2024-06-22T09:01+0000

economy

russia

europe

belgium

ukraine

european union (eu)

frozen assets

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Belgium holds the presidency of the Council of the EU until the end of the month. This country's jurisdiction also hosts the Euroclear depository, which holds most of the Russian frozen assets. "Two things are of crucial important for our country  not to touch the assets themselves, as changing their ownership can have unpredictable consequences financially and legally. The second is sharing the risk  this is a very important issue in the creation of this tool, a key point in the whole discussion," the minister told reporters.After the start of Russias military operation in Ukraine, the EU and G7 countries froze nearly half of Russia's foreign currency reserves, approximately 300 billion euros. More than 200 billion euros are held in the EU, primarily in accounts at Belgium's Euroclear  one of the largest settlement and clearing systems in the world. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the freezing of Russian assets in Europe as theft, noting that the EU is targeting not only private funds but also Russias state assets. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia would respond if the frozen Russian assets in the West were confiscated. According to him, Russia also has the option of not returning the funds that Western countries hold in Russia.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240615/g7-countries-could-lose-83-billion-if-russias-assets-confiscated-1118969001.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240621/slovak-defense-ministry-accuses-former-government-of-sabotage-and-treason-over-ukraine-jet-transfer-1119045921.html

Slovak Defense Ministry Accuses Former Government of Sabotage and Treason Over Ukraine Jet Transfer

Slovak Defense Ministry Accuses Former Government of Sabotage and Treason Over Ukraine Jet Transfer

Sputnik International

The Slovak Ministry of Defense said on Friday that it considers the transfer of MiG-29 fighter jets and air defense systems to Ukraine in 2023 as an act of sabotage by the former leadership of the ministry.

2024-06-21T10:36+0000

2024-06-21T10:36+0000

2024-06-21T10:36+0000

world

robert fico

ukraine

slovakia

mig-29

slovak ministry of defense

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"Based on the results of the discovery of a number of failures of the former government, we, as the Ministry of Defense, are filing an application [to law enforcement agencies] on suspicion of committing sabotage, that is, treason, abuse of power and violation of duties to manage other people's property," ministry spokesman Igor Melicher told reporters. After the inspection, the ministry did not find a document that would justify the legality of transferring fighter jets and air defense to Ukraine, the official added.Earlier, Melicher stated that the transfer of MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine in 2023 was illegal, and legal measures would be taken against former Slovak Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad. Melicher pointed out that Slovakia's constitution prohibits a caretaker government from making significant foreign policy decisions, such as transferring fighter jets to Ukraine worth over 500 million euros.Slovak Ombudsman Robert Dobrovodsky reported that the Slovak Ministry of Defense could not find any legal analysis confirming the legality of the MiG-29 transfer to Ukraine by Eduard Heger's government in 2023.In December 2022, the Slovak parliament passed a vote of no confidence in Heger's government, but his cabinet continued to perform its duties with limited powers. In March 2023, Hegers government decided to transfer 13 MiG-29 fighters and part of the Kub air defense system to Ukraine. The party of the current Prime Minister, Robert Fico, sought an investigation into the circumstances of this transfer, claiming that Heger's government lacked the authority to make such decisions. Former Defense Minister Nad, who was part of Heger's cabinet, argued that a legal analysis conducted before the decision confirmed the procedure's legality.Slovakia provided Ukraine with military assistance worth 680 million euros. In April 2022, Slovakia transferred an S-300 air defense system to Ukraine. In April 2023, Slovakia completed the transfer of MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine. With the arrival of Fico's government in the fall of 2023, the delivery of military aid to Kiev from state resources was halted.Fico claimed that the MiG-29 fighters were handed over to Ukraine in April 2023 with a blatant violation of Slovakia's constitutional norms. He also criticized the previous government for transferring a fully operational S-300 air defense system to Ukraine. The politician stated that it is entirely unclear how Slovakia will address its air defense needs in the coming years.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240120/slovakia-stripped-of-air-defense-fighter-jets-after-aiding-ukraine-1116283931.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240621/the-west-creating-enemies-produces-allies-for-russia-1119039897.html

The West Creating Enemies Produces Allies For Russia

The West Creating Enemies Produces Allies For Russia

Sputnik International

The bullying from the West of the so-called Global South has created a smorgasbord of potential allies for Russia to choose from.

2024-06-21T00:42+0000

2024-06-21T00:42+0000

2024-06-21T05:48+0000

analysis

vladimir putin

mark sleboda

vietnam

cuba

russia

nato

brics

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The United States policy of international bullying has created a lot of enemies for itself, and in the process, a lot of potential friends for Russia. The most obvious example of this is the relationship between China and Russia. The US has acted aggressively towards both of them, strengthening the friendship and cooperation between the two countries in the process.In Korea, more than 70 years of aggressive sanctions, blockades and saber-rattling by the West meant that right when Russia could use another ally, there was a militarized nuclear power in the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) willing and waiting to stand by Russia against the West. Earlier this week, the two countries signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that security and international relations expert Mark Sleboda described as a military alliance.On Wednesday, Putin visited Vietnam where, despite somewhat warm relations with the West in recent decades, wounds from the Vietnam War have not healed completely. In an official statement, Vietnam thanked Russia for supporting their struggle for independence against the West.Putin doesnt have to be physically present in an area for his shadow to loom large over it. Last week, a Russian flotilla arrived in Cuba and is currently on its way to Venezuela. While the visit is an annual event, this time the Flotilla included nuclear-capable ships and submarines, a clear message to the West not only from Russia but also Cuba, which sits just 90 miles from the US most southern point.Cuba, of course, has been subject to strict economic sanctions from the US since 1962 and Venezuela has been the subject of numerous coup attempts from the United States, most recently in 2019. Is it any wonder why these countries would let Russia utilize them to stick their thumb in the eye of the US?Then there is Africa, a continent that has long struggled under colonialism and neo-colonialism from the West. In recent years, multiple countries in the Sahel have kicked out their neo-colonial overlords and in many cases asked Russia to provide security for their burgeoning governments.Of course, the US and the West are corralling all the allies they can for what they see as an inevitable conflict with Russia and/or China. They have been working to maintain the influence they still have in Africa. NATO expansion has continued, bulwarked only by Russias special operation in Ukraine.The US and UK have been working to strengthen the AUKUS bloc, increase cooperation with Japan and South Korea and sell nuclear submarines to Australia. But those are largely pre-existing partnerships or expansions of partnerships with countries the US is already friendly with. When it comes to neutral countries, Russia simply has to welcome them with open arms to contrast itself with the bullying of the United States.At the so-called Peace Conference for Ukraine in Switzerland last week, a record 13 of the participating countries declined to sign onto the document, including the US neighbor Mexico.Mexicos government, currently headed by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, has faced increasingly aggressive rhetoric from politicians in the US, including threats of invasion ostensibly to fight the cartels.The other 12 countries who declined to sign the events final proclamation came from Africa, South America and Asia. Two additional countries: Iraq and Jordan, later removed their signatures.Finally, there is BRICS, once derived as a pipedream by observers in the West, it is now a global force, and recently surpassed the collective economic might of the Group of Seven (G7). More countries are asking to join BRICS+ regularly, a trend no doubt accelerated by the US insistence on weaponizing the economic position it was granted in the Bretton Woods agreement.I think what the US needs to do is to expand their axis of evil beyond three countries, because while we've got a rotating membership of it, it doesn't seem to be quite large enough now. Like, is Iran going to get bumped by North Korea now? Joked Sleboda. The US has created far too many enemies in the world to be restricted to just three these days, he added, suggesting that the US use the moniker the Legion of Doom.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240620/putins-visit-marks-momentous-occasion-for-vietnam-1119036353.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240617/zelenskys-peace-conference-was-doomed-to-be-pointless-without-russia---bundestag-mp-1118992392.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240409/this-week-in-multipolarity-brics-eclipsing-g7-and-slovakias-maverick-president-1117818191.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240621/un-chief-urges-israel-lebanon-to-immediately-return-to-cessation-of-hostilities-1119050288.html

UN Chief Urges Israel, Lebanon to Immediately Return to Cessation of Hostilities

UN Chief Urges Israel, Lebanon to Immediately Return to Cessation of Hostilities

Sputnik International

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday called on Israel and Lebanon to immediately renew their commitment to Security Council resolution 1701 and return to a cessation of hostilities.

2024-06-21T15:45+0000

2024-06-21T15:45+0000

2024-06-21T15:45+0000

world

antonio guterres

middle east

israel katz

israel

lebanon

the united nations (un)

hezbollah

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"The parties must urgently recommit to the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 and immediately return to a cessation of hostilities," Guterres told journalists. UN peacekeepers are also on the ground trying to de-escalate the tense situation, he added. Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged fire almost daily since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and the Israeli assault on Gaza. On Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces said it had approved and validated operational plans for an offensive in Lebanon as part of a situational assessment. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said later that Israel was very close to reaching a decision to "change the rules" against Hezbollah. Katz warned that an all-out war will destroy Hezbollah and severely hit Lebanon.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240609/gaza-to-look-like-playground-compared-to-lebanon-if-israel-hezbollah-standoff-spirals-1118881563.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240621/vietnam-willing-to-return-to-nuclear-power-industry-issue---rosatom-ceo-likhachev-1119040661.html

Vietnam Willing to Return to Nuclear Power Industry Issue - Rosatom CEO

Vietnam Willing to Return to Nuclear Power Industry Issue - Rosatom CEO

Sputnik International

The Vietnam leadership is showing a desire to return to the nuclear power industry issue, Russia's Rosatom state nuclear corporation CEO Alexey Likhachev told Sputnik.

2024-06-21T00:48+0000

2024-06-21T00:48+0000

2024-06-21T05:51+0000

world

russia

vietnam

rosatom

atomic energy

alexei likhachev

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The current leadership of Vietnam is demonstrating a desire to return to the topic of nuclear power industry in general. And when this decision is made, negotiations will automatically resume, Likhachev said. He said that in 2016-2018, Vietnam decided not to use nuclear energy in the power balance at all, although nuclear technologies remained and cooperation with Russia continued on the nuclear technology center project. For the Ninh Thuan-1 NPP, Rosatom once proposed a project based on high-power power units with advanced Russian VVER-1200 reactor units. Now Rosatom offers its foreign partners nuclear power plants not only of large, but also of low power, both in land-based and floating versions.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240606/rosatoms-specialists-to-explore-possibilities-for-npp-in-burkina-faso---energy-minister-1118797435.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240621/west-expects-conflict-to-end-in-ukraine-out-of-nato-russia-retaining-gains---reports-1119049701.html

West Expects Conflict to End in Ukraine Out of NATO, Russia Retaining Gains - Reports

West Expects Conflict to End in Ukraine Out of NATO, Russia Retaining Gains - Reports

Sputnik International

Many international diplomats expect the Ukrainian conflict to end in a ceasefire, with Moscow retaining its territorial gains and Kiev staying out of NATO, a UK news magazine reported on Friday, citing a former Western senior official.

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"It's devastatingly obvious how this war will end. Ceasefire along the line of control, plus security guarantees for Kiev short of full NATO membership. No formal ceding of territory. Ukraine becomes like Cyprus  an EU member which does not recognize that it's been partitioned," The Spectator quoted the former statesman as saying. The world seems to be moving into a "pre-peace" position following the recent Swiss conference on Ukraine, which reportedly demonstrated that international support for a war of attrition was waning and that the time of compromises was beginning. A former senior official in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys administration told The Spectator that, rather than becoming "a new benchmark of international support" for Kiev, the conference only showed that Ukraine did not have the Global South on its side. On June 14, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia would stop its military operation and begin negotiations with Ukraine as soon as Kiev ordered troops out of the Russia-controlled territories and abandoned plans to join NATO.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240614/putin-sets-condition-for-ukraine-peace-talks-full-ukrainian-withdrawal-from-new-russian-regions-1118950944.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240621/zelensky-has-no-one-left-to-turn-to-except-putin-1119040955.html

Zelensky Has No One Left to Turn to, Except Putin

Zelensky Has No One Left to Turn to, Except Putin

Sputnik International

With no chance to win the war and his allies abandoning him, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky can now only turn to Russian President Vladimir Putin if he wants to get out safely.

2024-06-21T03:23+0000

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With an increasing number of Ukrainians turning against Volodymyr Zelensky, no chance to win the war and a so-called international community abandoning him, Zelensky is finding himself without allies and with no escape from the hell he created for his country.While according to the pro-Ukrainian Kiev International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) a small majority of Ukrainians still say they support Zelensky, that number is rapidly dropping, from 77% in September 2023 to just 56% in May.The poll authors, of the dystopian-named MOBILISE Project, speculated that the decrease in popularity could stem from the new mobilization law. Zelenskys approval rating fell throughout winter 2023/2024. This fall occurred in tandem with the introduction of new mobilization law, it noted. It also notes that only 34% of Ukrainians said they support the mobilization law, while 52% disagreed with it.Rumors of an additional mobilization law lowering the age even more are likely to make the situation worse for Zelensky.Keep in mind that these poll results are the work of the KIIS and MOBILISE, pro-Zelensky-regime organizations. Additionally, a different poll by another pro-Ukrainian organization, the Razumkov Centre, found that 64.5% of Ukrainians stated You have to be very careful with people when asked if most people can be trusted. Considering respondents are living in a war-torn country under martial law and full-scale mobilization, it is reasonable to question if every respondent felt safe giving anti-regime answers to pollsters.Nevertheless, the trend is too difficult for even pro-Ukrainian sources to spin convincingly into an endorsement of Zelensky. And the SVR said that the situation is even worse within the armed forces, where they say approval of Zelensky has dropped to 17%.The United States has a long history of supporting and then abandoning allies once they are no longer useful to them. Just a partial list reveals the grim possibilities that result from accepting US arms. Osama Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, Ngo inh Diem, all received US arms and all ended up dead at the hands of the US government.With his military dwindling and dissatisfied, his people turning against him, and his allies shunning him, Zelensky might want to think about what he can do to achieve peace. Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin laid out his terms to begin negotiations, while Zelenskys NATO benefactors rejected it outright; it was an olive branch he should strongly consider grabbing.We are ready to continue our dialogue with the Ukrainian side. And it doesn't matter where they take place  in Minsk, Istanbul or Switzerland, Putin said at a press conference on Thursday while visiting Vietnam.I do not think that such nihilism [by Ukraine and the West] regarding our proposals will remain forever. For sure, something will change, including our conditions, depending on the situation on the ground, Putin added.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240420/alleged-zelensky-assassination-attempt-may-be-evidence-that-the-west-wants-him-gone--medvedev-1118022913.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240527/live-fast-die-young-west-hints-ukraine-should-mobilize-more-youth-amid-major-losses-1118652848.html

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Trainer Gregg McNair and driver Doug McNair combined to take a double victory in the Thursday (June 20) evening Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots action at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Four $20,000 splits went to the gate on Thursday as the sophomore trotting fillies made their second trip to the track in the OSS Series.

Team McNair took the first division with Valentine Bluechip. Hope N Glory (Jody Jamieson) led throughout the mile as the field continued single file throughout. After hitting the marks in :28.2, :57.1, and 1:25.4, it wasn't until the final turn that any right lines were pulled. With the swiftest final quarter of :28, McNair and Valentine Bluechip came from fourth to win by a length in 1:54.3. Rhythm Of Life (James MacDonald) nabbed second and Hope N Glory completed the top three.

Valentine Bluechip (Muscle Mass - Shesa Sweetheart) is owned by Anthony Timmins for his second win in two starts this year. With one win in two starts as a freshman, the sophomore filly now owns three lifetime triumphs and $28,040 from four starts. She was heavily backed by the bettors and returned $2.20 for her win.

Radical Legacy teamed up with Doug and Gregg McNair for the third division in race six. The filly got away third off the car, but a miscue from the pocket-sitter after the :27.1 first quarter left her space to take over the second spot, following Mass Cara (Trevor Henry) through splits in :57.3 and 1:26.2. Biding her time until the stretch drive, Radical Legacy breezed to snag the win by a half length in a career best 1:55.3 over Mass Cara. Sue Anne (Louis-Philippe Roy) took the show spot.

Ross and Brent Holmes own the three-year-old Muscle Mass - Radical Janey filly for her first win of the year in five tries. In 12 career starts, Radical Legacy has returned a winner on six occasions, banking $48,635 in lifetime earnings. She returned $4.20 as the favourite.

Her Currency ($6.20) was driven to a 3-1/4 length score in 1:55 by Bob McClure for trainer Scott McEneny, who bred and co-owns the The Bank - Aris Lady filly with Aristi Varsakis.

Birthday Money ($10.30) took the final division off a pocket trip, winning by a half length in 1:55.1. Todd Ratchford was in the bike of the Resolve - Parkhill Nocredit filly for trainer Matthew Bax and breeder/owners Bax Stable and Marshall Bax.

To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.

(Standardbred Canada)
The majority owner of the Sushi Zushi has sought bankruptcy protection for the San Antonio restaurant chain. Shown is the Sushi Zushi at 999 E. Basse Road. Google maps

The majority owner of Sushi Zushi has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection amid an ongoing feud with the San Antonio restaurant chains founder.

A lawyer for Sushi Zushi of Texas Inc. said in a court filing Friday that it cant meet its financial obligations due to legal costs, expenses associated with restaurant closures and high-interest loans it obtained to fund shortfalls.

Sushi Zushi had hired an investment bank to explore options for the chain, including a possible sale, but the lawyer said a lawsuit brought by chain founder Alfonso Tomita ended all discussions and any letters of intent the company had in place.

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Tomitas Strategenic Management LLC has accused managers he brought in to operate the chain of misappropriating millions of dollars from the business. The lawsuit, filed in December, names Sushi Zushi of Texas, Alamo SZ LLC and its controlling principal, Jason Kemp, as defendants.

Alamo SZ owns 82% of the debtor, while Strategenic owns the remaining 18%.

In late March, Sushi Zushi of Texas filed its own lawsuit against Tomita. It has alleged that he continued to receive pay after his employment ended in March. It seeks to collect more than $250,000, but no more than $1 million, from him.

Sushi Zushi had seven locations but is down to three. They are in Lincoln Heights, Stone Oak and the Colonnade. It has 125 employees.

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Its bankruptcy reported $736,409 in assets and $3.9 million in liabilities as of late last year.

Ronald Smeberg, Sushi Zushi of Texas bankruptcy lawyer, said in the Friday court filing that the company is seeking bankruptcy protection to stabilize its cash outflows and prioritize its employees, landlords and vendors.

He said Tomita brought in new partners in 2018 to turn the company around after experiencing operational and financial difficulty.

The company has incurred an enormous amount of debt, both (from the) business and the founder personally, which the company could not service, Smeberg added.

In his lawsuit, Tomita said he launched Sushi Zushi in 2001 and partnered with one of Kemps companies in hopes the chain could flourish and expand to even more locations.

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The COVID-19 pandemic dealt a severe blow to the chains sales in 2020, Smeberg said. The opening of Blue Sushi in Austin caused nearly $500,000 in losses for Sushi Zushis location there. It later closed its Austin and Dallas restaurants after racking up losses at those locations.

A meeting of the owners in 2022 led Sushi Zushi to obtain merchant cash advances, Smeberg said. Such advances generally are applied against future sales.

The company was sued numerous times last year, including by landlords, its former seafood distributor and Tomita.

Among the largest unsecured creditors listed in the bankruptcy petition are Coppell-based Asian food distributor JFC International, which is owed about $302,500, and Sysco Central Texas Inc. of New Braunfels, owed about $248,500.

Various emergency motions, including to pay employees and other expenses, are scheduled to be heard Thursday in U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michael Parkers court.

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Kemp, who signed the bankruptcy papers, filed the Chapter 11 petition under a subchapter of the bankruptcy code designed for small-business debtors.

Separately, Kemp and two business partners have been defending themselves in a lawsuit accusing them of using two now-bankrupt San Antonio restaurant companies  Fresh Acquisitions LLC and Buffets LLC  as their personal piggy banks while misusing millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief funds. The three men have denied the allegations.
The 50th Anniversary celebration of the Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) will make its way to Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday, June 23, highlighted by a pair of OSS Gold Series races for three-year-old pacing colts and fillies.

There will be $140,000 on the line in each OSS Gold event; the colts will go postward in Race 6, while the fillies head to the gate in Race 8 as part of Sundays 10-dash card.

The field for Race 6 is highlighted by Unrivaled Hanover (pictured above), who will be driven by Jonathan Drury for trainer Shawn Steacy. A Hanover Shoe Farms-bred son of Bettors Delight, Unrivaled Hanover is owned by Bertrand Gilhespy Stable of Lake Country, B.C., Hudson Standardbred Stb Inc. of Hudson, Que., and a few owners based out of Eastern Ontario in David Reid of Sydenham, Ont. and the Landmark 16 Racing Stable fractional ownership group.

Ive always liked [Unrivaled Hanover], said Mark Steacy, a three-time Johnston Cup winner as the top trainer in the Ontario Sires Stakes before handing the racing operation over to son Shawn. When we bought him I thought he was a nice looking yearling, his pedigree was decent.

He was always a good feeling horse, good gaited horse  and I think in the [OSS Gold Series], with Nijinsky not being there Sunday, and Funtime Bayama, I think he belongs.

Nijinsky was the winner of the $1 million 2024 Pepsi North America Cup with Funtime Bayama finished third in that race and since being sold stateside. Neither will be in attendance Sunday, opening the door for Unrivaled Hanover and others to cash the big prize.

Additional horses to look out for in Race 6 include Storm Shadow and Trophy Taker. Storm Shadow was a Pepsi North America Cup participant, while Trophy Taker has already won an OSS Gold event earlier this year.

Another horse to look out for is Brudon. Bred by Jeffrey Moore of Courtright, Ont. and owned by Bruce Davy of Brockville, Ont., the son of McWicked is the longest shot on the morning line at 12-1, but could give a welcome surprise to his driver Brett MacDonald if hes able to grasp his potential, according to his trainer Rod Hughes.

Hes a very high-speed horse. Hes fast and seems to be able to carry it a long way. We just havent seen the results yet on paper, Hughes said of Brudon. From what hes showing me, hes just like a big kid. Like an athlete that just wont give you 100 per cent all of the time. Its there, but he just sometimes has his own thoughts on how it should go.

The eighth race features a field highlighted by a pair of Grand Circuit capable fillies in Pass Line and Odds On Platinum leading the morning odds at 2-1 and 9-5, respectively.

With 6-1 morning odds, post three starter Betterwithglasses is the local horse to look out for in this race.

Bred by Winbak Farm and owned by 10462217 Canada Inc of Gloucester, Ont., Michael Horwood of Tecumseh, Ont., Lloyd Stone of Portland, Ont. and Victor Puddy of Mountain, Ont. Betterwithglasses features an ownership group thats based mostly around or close to the Ottawa area.

Puddy, whose Mountain, Ont., home is just 25 minutes from Rideau Carleton Raceway, trains Betterwithglasses in addition to being one of her owners.

Shes got a beautiful size, is well put together and has a great gait, said Puddy of Betterwithglasses. Shes got a great attitude and just a nice horse.

Trevor Henry will be in the sulky behind Betterwithglasses on Sunday.

As part of the 50th Anniversary celebration, fans coming down to enjoy the races will also be able to win prizes via giveaways, there will be activity books for the young ones and take in a timeline illustrating the 50-year history of the OSS. In advance of Sundays celebration, noted Canadian harness racing writer and historian Robert Smith wrote a brief history of Rideau Carleton Raceway that you can read here.

Post time for the first race of the evening Sunday at Rideau Carleton goes at 6:30 p.m. For entries, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Rideau Carleton Raceway.

(with files from Ontario Racing)
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The sign is seen above the headquarters of Kaspersky Lab in Moscow Monday, Jan. 30, 2017. The cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has denied it is a security threat after the U.S. Commerce Department banned use of its software in the United States. Kaspersky said in a statement that the Commerce Department's decision, announced Thursday, June 20, 2024, would not affect its ability to sell and promote its cyber threat intelligance offerings and training in the U.S. Credit: AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File

The cybersecurity firm Kaspersky denied Friday that it is a security threat after the U.S. Commerce Department banned the use of its software in the United States.

The Moscow-based companywhose CEO Eugene Kaspersky is Russiansaid in a statement that the Commerce Department's decision would not affect its ability to sell and promote its cyber security products and training in the U.S.

Kaspersky said the government had based its decision on the "geopolitical climate and theoretical concerns" rather than independently verifying if there was a risk.

The government says Kaspersky's Russian connections mean the company poses an "undue or unacceptable risk to U.S. national security or the safety and security."

The company conducts much of its business in Russia and, as a Russian citizen who lives in that country, Eugene Kaspersky himself is subject to Russian law, the Commerce Department said in a decision dated June 14 that was posted on the Federal Register.

The department said it had considered Kaspersky's objections to the initial findings of its investigation into whether its products or services posed a threat and found that the decision to ban its software was "well supported."

Aside from the company's obligation to abide by Russian laws and decisions, its software can be exploited to identify sensitive U.S. citizens' data and make it available to Russian government actors, the department said.

"The risks to U.S. national security addressed in this Final Determination stem not from whether Kaspersky's products are effective at identifying viruses and other malware, but whether they can be used strategically to cause harm to the United States," it said.

Kaspersky boasts one of the world's most popular consumer antivirus products and a research unit widely respected for routinely exposing elite hacking groups.

In 2019, The Associated Press found that an undercover operative had targeted several cybersecurity experts in an apparent effort to gather intelligence about critics of Kaspersky.

The company says it cannot deliberately obtain sensitive data on Americans and that its operations and employees in Russia can only access aggregate or statistical data not attributable to a specific person. It said the main impact of the U.S. government's decision would be to benefit cybercrime, while also diminishing the freedom of consumers and organizations to choose the cyber protection they want.

"We look forward to what the future holds, and will continue to defend ourselves against actions that seek to unfairly harm our reputation and commercial interests," it said.

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Peter Dutton has announced that under a Coalition government, seven nuclear power stations would be built around the country over the next 15 years.

Experts have declared nuclear power would be expensive and slow to build.

But what might happen to energy prices if the Coalition were to win government and implement this plan?

How might we estimate the cost of nuclear?

By 2035, 50%60% of the existing coal-fired fleet will very likely have been retired, including Vales Point B, Gladstone, Yallourn, Bayswater and Eraringall of which will have passed 50 years old.

These five generators contribute just over 10 gigawatts of capacity. It's probably not a coincidence that the seven nuclear plants proposed by Dutton would also contribute roughly 10 gigawatts in total if built.

Neither my team at Monash University nor the Australian Energy Market Operator has run modeling scenarios to delve into the details of what might happen to electricity prices under a high-uptake nuclear scenario such as the one proposed by the Coalition. That said, we can make some broad assumptions based on a metric known as the "levelized cost of electricity."

This value takes into account:

how much it costs to build a particular technology

how long it takes to build

the cost to operate the plant

its lifetime

and very importantly, its capacity factor.

Capacity factor is how much electricity a technology produces in real life, compared with its theoretical maximum output.

For example, a nuclear power station would likely run at 90%95% of its full capacity. A solar farm, on the other hand, will run at just 20%25% of its maximum, primarily because it's night for half of the time, and cloudy some of the time.

CSIRO recently published its GenCost report, which outlines the current and projected build and operational costs for a range of energy technologies.

It reports that large-scale nuclear generated electricity would cost between A$155 and $252 per megawatt-hour, falling to between $136 and $226 per megawatt-hour by 2040.

The report bases these costs on recent projects in South Korea, but doesn't consider some other cases where costs have blown out dramatically.

The most obvious case is that of Hinkley Point C nuclear plant in the United Kingdom. This 3.2GW plant, which is being built by French company EDF, was recently reported to be now costing around 34 billion (about A$65 billion). That's about A$20,000 per kilowatt.

CSIRO's GenCost report assumed a value of $8,655 per kilowatt for nuclear, so the true levelized cost of electricity of nuclear power in Australia may end up being twice as expensive as CSIRO has calculated.

Other factors play a role, too

Another factor not accounted for in the GenCost assumptions is that Australia does not have a nuclear industry. Virtually all the niche expertise would need to be imported.

And very large infrastructure projects have a nasty habit of blowing out in costthink of Snowy 2.0, Sydney's light rail project, and the West Gate Tunnel in Victoria.

Reasons include higher local wages, regulations and standards plus aversion from lenders to risk that increases cost of capital. These factors would not bode well for nuclear.

In CSIRO's GenCost report, the levelized cost of electricity produced from coal is $100$200 per megawatt-hour, and for gas it's $120$160 per megawatt-hour. Solar and wind energy work out to be approximately $60 and $90 per megawatt-hour, respectively. But it's not a fair comparison, as wind and solar are not "dispatchable" but are dependent on the availability of the resource.

When you combine the cost of a mix of wind and solar energy and storage, along with the cost of getting the renewable energy into the grid, renewables end up costing $100$120 per megawatt-hour, similar to coal.

If we were to have a nuclear-based system (supplemented by gas to meet the higher demands in the mornings and evenings), the costs would likely be much higherpotentially as much as three to four times if cost blowouts similar to Hinkley Point C were to occur (assuming costs were passed on to electricity consumers. Otherwise, taxpayers in general would bear the burden. Either way, it's more or less the same people).

But what about the impact on your household energy bill?

Well, here the news is marginally better.

Typical retail tariffs are 2530 cents per kilowatt-hour, which is $250$300 per megawatt-hour. The largest component of your energy bill is not the cost of generation of the electricity; rather, it's the cost of getting the power from the power stations to your home or business.

In very approximate terms, this is made up of the market average costs of generation, transmission and distribution, as well as retailer margin and other minor costs.

The transmission and distribution costs will not be significantly different under the nuclear scenario compared with the current system. And the additional transmission costs associated with the more distributed nature of renewables (meaning these renewable projects are all over the country) is included in the estimate.

According to my back-of-the-envelope calculations, your retail tariff under the nuclear scenario could be 40c50c per kilowatt-hour.

But if you are a large energy consumer such as an aluminum smelter, you pay considerably less per kilowatt-hour as you don't incur the same network or retailer costs (but the cost of generating electricity in the first place makes up a much bigger proportion of the total cost).

So if the cost of electricity generation soars, this hypothetical aluminum smelter's energy costs will soar too.

This would be a severe cost burden on Australian industry that has traditionally relied on cheap electricity (although it's been a while since electricity could be described as cheap).

A likely increase in energy costs

In summary, in a free market, it is very unlikely nuclear could be competitive.

But if a future Coalition government were to bring nuclear into the mix, energy costs for residential and especially industrial customers would very likely increase.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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The entire English to OVP translation process. Credit: arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2405.08997

Jared Coleman, who recently earned his Ph.D. in computer science, and his supervisor, Bhaskar Krishnamachari, are bound by a shared love of languagesboth human and computer.

Krishnamachari grew up in India speaking Tamil, Hindi and English, and started learning French and Mandarin Chinese in college. Coleman, who was raised Anglophone, loved Spanish in high school and learned Portuguese from his now-wife and friends in college.

During the pandemic, Coleman started taking online classes in a lesser-known language: Owens Valley Paiute. Coleman is a member of the Big Pine Paiute Tribe of Owens Valleyhis father, David, grew up on the tribe's reservation in Big Pine, CA, and Paiute is his ancestral language.

ChatGPT and other large language models (LLMs) exhibit human-level performance on many natural-language tasks in English because one-fifth of the world speaks English. The same is true of other widely used tongues. But Paiute is deemed a "no-resource language," meaning there are no publicly available Paiute sentences translated into English on which to train a machine learning model.

In a new paper, "LLM-Assisted Rule-Based Machine Translation for Low/No-Resource Languages," appearing on the pre-print server arXiv, Coleman and Krishnamachari propose a machine translation approach called LLM-RBMT (Rule-Based Machine Translation) to help people learn no-resource languages. The paper's co-authors are Khalil Iskarous, a USC Dornsife associate professor of linguistics, and Ruben Rosales, an independent researcher.

Their approach consists of a more "old school" rule-based translator tools and a more advanced, natural language-based LLM. In the researchers' method, the LLM does not translate into or from Owens Valley Paiute. Instead, it helps to guide the rule-based translators, which rely on grammatical and vocabulary rules to translate between languages.

"Essentially, the LLM acts as a sophisticated intermediary, using its advanced understanding of language to make sure the rule-based system produces accurate translations," said Coleman.

The translation tool simplifies complex sentences and uses placeholders (in this case, English words) for unknown words. While this process loses some meaning, it still produces understandable and grammatically correct translations.

This method, said Coleman, mirrors how language learners naturally speak by mixing known and unknown words, making it a practical tool for real-world use.

"The tool is smart enough, given a few hints, to be able to do a lot of the translation on its own," adds Krishnamachari.

Personal satisfaction

Coleman also built and maintains a suite of digital tools related to language revitalization, named Kubishi or 'brain' in Paiute, including an online dictionary and a sentence-builder and translation system enabled by this research.

Overall, the paper, which will be presented at NAACL's AmericasNLP workshop, found that LLM's remarkable general-purpose language skills make them a promising tool in helping revitalize critically endangered languages.

For his part, Coleman credits his tribe's members, past and present, for paving the path. "A lot of people in my tribe have been working for a long time on different language revitalization efforts, including classes, dictionaries, recordings," said Coleman. "So as excited about this research as I am, I know it is one piece of a much larger puzzle."

Indeed, the paper points to many directions for future work, including adding more complex sentence structures to test the limits of the methodology outlined in his paper. Beyond that, it's both a personal and academic achievement for Coleman, who will join Loyola Marymount University as an assistant professor in computer science this fall.

"My dad did not grow up speaking the languagelike many families, it was forced out of use by boarding schools where speaking the language was forbidden," said Coleman.

"I'm lucky my great-grandparents sat down with linguists to document the language and to create recordings so I can hear their voices and words. And now, to listen to my great-grandfather and know what he is saying, there's something very personally satisfying about that."

More information: Jared Coleman et al, LLM-Assisted Rule Based Machine Translation for Low/No-Resource Languages, arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2405.08997 Journal information: arXiv
Sara DiNatale covers energy, the Texas grid, ERCOT, CPS Energy, and labor for the San Antonio Express-News. She can be reached at (210) 446-3358, sara.dinatale@express-news.net, or @sara_dinatale.

Sara joined the staff in 2023. She spent six years in Florida at the Tampa Bay Times, where she covered breaking news before settling into business reporting. She also covered labor, the economy, and health care at Mississippi Today, where her reporting was recognized by the Green Eyeshade Awards and the Mississippi Press Association. Shes a graduate of the University at Buffalo (2015) and a native of Western New York.






Two downtown San Antonio sites across from the Granada Senior Living building and the Tower Life Building have been put up for sale by a Dallas-Fort Worth-area firm that had planned to build apartments on them. Google Earth

Two properties along the San Antonio River Walk where apartments were once planned are up for sale.

A company affiliated with Roanoke-based Newstream Capital Partners is selling 112-120 Villita St. and 126 Villita St., which are across from the Granada Senior Living building and Tower Life Building. The sites total 0.8 acres and include a parking lot and an empty building.

A sale listing touts the properties proximity to Hemisfair, the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, La Villita Historic Village, the Alamo, H-E-Bs headquarters and the potential location of a new arena for the San Antonio Spurs. While the listing does not have an asking price, the properties are valued by the Bexar Appraisal District at $7.5 million.

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JMJ Development sought to partner with Opportunity Home San Antonio, previously known as the San Antonio Housing Authority, to build a second apartment complex in 2019. This rendering is from 2019. Courtesy of the San Antonio Housing Authority

Newstream bought the properties in 2021 from a company linked to Dallas-based JMJ Development.

In 2016, JMJ proposed a 30-story luxury building with 201 apartments, upscale restaurants and retail space at one of the two sites. It later added more apartments and high-end office space while nixing the restaurant component for the $70 million project.

In 2019, JMJ Development announced plans for an adjacent apartment complex on the other site. The firm sought to work with Opportunity Home San Antonio, then known as the San Antonio Housing Authority, on a 250-unit building where half of the apartments would be reserved for residents earning up to 80% of the area median income.

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JMJ Development of Dallas proposed building apartments at one of the two sites in 2016. This rendering is from 2017. The same rendering is currently displayed on Newstream Capital Partners website. Richard Webner/Courtesy of JMJ Development

Construction never began on either project. In 2022, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Texas and the Securities and Exchange Commission charged JMJ Development President Timothy Barton with multiple counts of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and securities fraud  accusing him of bilking Chinese investors out of more than $26 million.

Newstreams website describes a luxury 24-story building at 112 Villita with 226 apartments, a fitness center, a rooftop pool and restaurant, and retail space, while displaying a rendering that had been used by JMJ Development. The firm and brokers at CBRE who are marketing the properties did not respond to inquiries.

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China calls for cooperation, dialogue on repatriation of cultural relics

Xinhua) 10:58, June 21, 2024

JINAN, June 20 (Xinhua) -- An international conference on the protection and repatriation of cultural relics removed from their countries of origin in colonial contexts was held on Thursday in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province.

The conference was held by China's National Cultural Heritage Administration and the provincial government of Shandong.

A total of 150 representatives from Chinese universities, research institutions and cultural institutions, as well as two international organizations and 27 countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Norway and Germany, attended the event.

The conference shone a spotlight on the preservation and repatriation of cultural objects that were taken from their countries of origin in colonial contexts or through unjust or immoral means, and explored solutions to repatriation issues related to cultural objects that are outside the scope of existing international treaties.

The conference saw the release of a proposal urging increased dialogue, communication, interaction and cooperation to formulate impartial, rational and sustainable plans to address relevant issues.

Delivering a report at the conference, Li Qun, vice minister of culture and tourism and director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, said that China has responded actively to international society's efforts in the areas of decolonialization and the morally motivated repatriation of cultural relics, and explored diversified solutions to address relevant disputes.

Li also urged international society to recognize fully and tackle the injustices of colonial plundering, and called on all countries of origin and countries of possession to undertake cooperative dialogue on the repatriation of cultural relics and diversified, long-term collaboration in such fields as information sharing, scientific research, and protection and restoration.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Defense attorneys Brigitte Garza, center, and Cornelius Cox, right, speak with defendant Andres Perez Tarnava III on Friday. He was found guilty of murder and will be sentenced at a later date. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

A Bexar County jury took about an hour and a half to find a Lytle man guilty of murder for fatally shooting Marisol Klingelhofer, 49, in 2021.

Andres Perez Tarnava III told investigators he then cut up her body and burned her remains in a barrel, enraged by the belief that she stole items belonging to his late father, a Marine veteran.

Witnesses said he killed her in the town of Atascosa, in southwestern Bexar County. He then bragged about it and threatened to kill anyone who told authorities, testimony showed.

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Tarnava, who faces up to life in prison, will be sentenced by state District Judge Velia J. Meza at a later date.

Prosecutor Willem VanZeben delivers closing remarks in the murder trial of Andres Perez Tarnava III, who was found guilty hours later. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

Klingelhofers daughter last saw her April 26, 2021. She reported her missing May 7, and a mix of witnesses and confidential informants led Bexar County sheriffs deputies and Texas Rangers to Tarnava.

Prosecutors Raul Jordan and Willem VanZeben said Tarnava believed that Klingelhofer stole his deceased fathers military identification and his Social Security card and destroyed her for it so thoroughly that there were only two bones left. Then he bragged for days and had zero remorse, Jordan said.

When I see her in hell, Im going to fry her again. Id do it in a thousand years, I would do it again and again. Those are his words, VanZeben told the jury, reminding them of Tarnavas confession to Texas Rangers after his arrest for failing to display a license on a trailer.

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The prosecutor recalled for the jury what witnesses saw and what Tarnava told the Texas Rangers who investigated the case: that he shot Klingelhofer in the face, as she sat in a friends vehicle, dragged her by her ankle to his GMC Yukon and drove her to his home on Luckey Road in Lytle.

Defense attorneys Cornelius Cox and Brigitte Garza argued that Tarnava was the victim of overreaching law enforcement officers, accusing them of a wrongful arrest on a traffic violation they ginned up so they could keep him in interview rooms for six hours. His confession could have been extracted under duress, they suggested.

Van Zeben said Tarnava was never held against his will, was lawfully arrested on probable cause and was properly read his Miranda rights, which he waived.

Andres Perez Tarnava III in court on Friday. A jury convicted Tarnava of murder for fatally shooting Marisol Klingelhofer in 2021, then dismembering and setting her remains on fire in a metal barrel. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

Cox said the investigation produced no DNA evidence and no weapon. He chided the prosecutors for bringing witnesses who said they saw things yet never called the police.

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Not one of the eyewitnesses who took the stand said I saw something and I reported it. Not one, Cox told the panel.

He told the jury to disregard the statement Tarnava gave to the Texas Rangers because he said Tarnava was targeted.

Jordan said witnesses, like people, are not perfect.

We dont get to choose who sees a crime. They are who they are, Jordan said.

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The U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) on Thursday announced a "first of its kind" ban that prohibits Kaspersky Lab's U.S. subsidiary from directly or indirectly offering its security software in the country.

The blockade also extends to the cybersecurity company's affiliates, subsidiaries and parent companies, the department said, adding the action is based on the fact that its operations in the U.S. posed a national security risk. News of the ban was first reported by Reuters.

"The company's continued operations in the United States presented a national security risk  due to the Russian Government's offensive cyber capabilities and capacity to influence or direct Kaspersky's operations  that could not be addressed through mitigation measures short of a total prohibition," the BIS said.

It further said Kaspersky is subject to the jurisdiction and control of the Russian government and that its software provides Kremlin access to sensitive U.S. customer information as well as allows for installing malicious software or withholding critical updates.

"The manipulation of Kaspersky software, including in U.S. critical infrastructure, can cause significant risks of data theft, espionage, and system malfunction," it noted. "It can also risk the country's economic security and public health, resulting in injuries or loss of life."

As part of the ban, Kaspersky will be barred from selling its software to American consumers and businesses starting on July 20. However, the company can still provide software and antivirus signature updates to existing customers until September 29.

It's also urging current individual and business customers to find suitable replacements within the 100-day time period so as to ensure that there are no gaps in security protections. That said, it's worth noting that they can continue to use the products should they choose to do so.

"Russia has shown time and again they have the capability and intent to exploit Russian companies, like Kaspersky Lab, to collect and weaponize sensitive U.S. information, and we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to safeguard U.S. national security and the American people," Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said.

That's not all. Kaspersky has also been added to the Entity List for their "cooperation with Russian military and intelligence authorities in support of the Russian Government's cyber intelligence objectives."

The Moscow-headquartered firm, which serves over 400 million customers and 240,000 corporate clients across 200 countries including Piaggio, Volkswagen Group Retail Spain, and the Qatar Olympic Committee, has long been in the crosshairs of the U.S. government over its ties to Russia.

In September 2017, its products were banned from being used in federal networks, citing national security concerns. Weeks after that announcement, a Wall Street Journal report alleged Russian government hackers had stolen U.S. classified hacking tools stored on a National Security Agency (NSA) contractor's home computer because it was running Kaspersky software.

The New York Times reported days later that Israeli officials notified the U.S. of the espionage operation after they hacked into Kaspersky's network in 2015. The company responded saying it came across the code in 2014 when its antivirus software flagged a 7-Zip file as malicious on a U.S.-based computer.

The tool, later attributed to the Equation Group, was deleted and no third-parties saw the code, the company said at the time following an internal investigation. Equation Group is the name assigned by Kaspersky to a hacking crew with suspected ties to the NSA's Tailored Access Operations (TAO) cyberwarfare unit.

Nearly five years later, Kaspersky was added to the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) "Covered List" of companies that pose an "unacceptable risk to the national security" of the country. Germany and Canada have enacted similar restrictions in recent years.

Responding to the latest move from the U.S. government, Kaspersky said the Commerce Department made its decision based on the current geopolitical climate and theoretical concerns, adding it "unfairly ignores" evidence of the transparency measures implemented by the company to demonstrate integrity and trustworthiness.

"The primary impact of these measures will be the benefit they provide to cybercrime," it said. "International cooperation between cybersecurity experts is crucial in the fight against malware, and yet this will restrict those efforts."
Daniel Matthews - winner of the inaugural Daddy Do My Hair challenge with his daughter.

The vacant, open lot in Kingstown once occupied by the Treasury building, was a hive of activity last Saturday, June 15, as onlookers cheered on competitors in the inaugural Fathers Day Daddy Do My Hair challenge, sponsored by the Sales and Marketing Division of Coreas Distribution Ltd.





The engaging scene saw three men - Monty Williams, Saniel Matthews and Tianja Leslie, standing, while each of their daughters sat in a chair awaiting their attention.





Their wait was not a protracted one as the competitors hastened to get busy combing and styling their daughters hair. Their task was to style their daughters hair by doing a braid or a twist. That hairstyle had to include a bun and they also had to lay the edges.





It was a sight to behold as the men worked assiduously to create a work of art even as the excited spectators joked and egged them on.





According to Afra Bynoe, Sales and Marketing Manager of the "Diquez brand represented by Coreas Distribution Ltd., they felt the need to do something for fathers. "We know that mothers get the spotlight all the time, she said, "but this year, we wanted to do something fun and engaging for the dads.





The idea for the competition, she said, came from the fact that "Diquez has hair products like its bergamot and gel activator which fitted right into the plan.





The first-of-its-kind contest saw Saniel Matthews walking away with the first prize which included a gift basket of "Diquez products and $500 in cash. Each of the other two competitors received a gift basket of "Diquez products and a $150 grocery voucher.





The Sales and Marketing Manager is hopeful that, "... this Daddy Do My Hair is the first of its kind.. .
Dennis Davis, pictured here leaving the Serious Offences Court on Monday, wrote a part for himself in the marijuana story of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines, sometimes called ganja land, is known for producing high-quality marijuana, and in abundance.





Against that notoriety, it is anyones guess as to prompted a Grenadian national to import 1,073 grams of marijuana into this country.





Dennis David, a 60-year-old seaman of St. Patrick, Grenada, appeared at the Serious Offenses Court on Monday. He pleaded guilty to importing 1,073 grams of marijuana, possession of it with intent to supply, and drug trafficking.





The facts showed that around 5:10 p.m. on June 15, Sergeant Asquith Simon, acted on information received, led a team of narcotics personnel to the Kingstown Port.





On arrival Sgt. Simon observed M.V Amigo docked at the port. He approached the vessel and spoke to an on duty Customs Officer Jamal Gibson, in the presence of the crew members.





The Customs Officer informed Simon that he had conducted a search of the vessel, and discovered a black bag in a cardboard box containing plant-like material resembling marijuana.





Simon introduced himself to the crew, identifying himself as a police officer. He showed the cardboard box and its contents to the crew and cautioned them in the presence of another police officer.





At this point, David, a crew member, informed the Sergeant that someone called Freddie had given him the package to bring to SVG for someone to collect, but he did not know the name of the person who was supposed to collect it.





David along with the Narcotics were taken to the Narcotics base at Arnos Vale where the substance was weighed in his presence. He was later taken to the Central Police Station and charged.





David, who was unrepresented, told the Court on Monday, "The guy put it on board, and tell me somebody will collect it. I didnt look at the box to see what was inside.





Prosecutor Renrick Cato told the Court that the drug amounted to about two pounds and the street value was about EC$1,000, as marijuana dells for about $500 per pound in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.





Senior Magistrate Colin John told David that he could be sentenced up to 7 years in prison, in the Magistrate Court, but he (John) had to consider the sentencing guidelines, and weigh the aggravating and mitigating factors.





He noted that marijuana is a class B drug, and based on Davids explanation, the defendant did not play a major role or was directly involved in the sale of the drugs.





John added that David pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity, and cooperated with the police.





In outlining the aggravating factors, John said David was importing the drug, and therefore some level of planning would have been involved. He also stressed the way in which it was disguised.





For importing the drug, David was fined $1,000 forthwith or three months in prison.





For trafficking, he was also fined $1,000 forthwith or three months, and for possession with intent to supply he was fined $500 forthwith or three months.





Inquiries by THE VINCENTIAN showed that the drug may have been a higher and more expensive grade than what is grown here, hence the reason why it was imported.





M.V. Amigo offers an inter-island service.





This is a rare case. Ganja cases that come before the Courts here usually include charges for exportation of the crop not charges of importation.
Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, whose ministerial portfolio includes the Miniatry of Legal Affairs, expressed profound disappointment that the Select Committee on the Legal Profession Bill has not yet met.

Prime Minister and Minister of Legal Affairs Dr. Ralph Gonsalves chided the St Vincent and the Grenadines Bar Association, and by extension other legal practitioners here, for not attending the June 14 meeting of the Select Committee on the proposed Legal Profession Bill.





According to Dr. Gonsalves, a meeting of the members of the Select Committee, which comprised members of the government and opposition, was scheduled for June 14.





The Attorney General and the Bar Association received formal invitations.





The opposition indicated early that they were unable to attend but as for the Bar Association, Dr. Gonsalves said, "What disappointed me, however, on this Bill thus far, (is) even though the Bar Association received an invitation to come, there was nobody there from the Bar Association.





In fairness to the Associations President, Shirlan Barnwell, the Prime Minister said that he had been informed that she was out of the country, and that some of the other members of the executive were involved in a matter at the court.





"But surely, there were lawyers who could have been sent one or two from the private Bar, he asserted.





The Prime Minister went on to disclose that while the draft Bill had been in circulation for weeks and comments were invited, "We havent gotten any feedback yet.





The Need for the Bill





The issue was a serious one, Dr. Gonsalves noted, and he expressed concern about the Bill being ready for presentation to a meeting of parliament scheduled for July 18.





According to the Prime Minister, the rules which the Bill sought to address were either absent or outdated.

The truth of the was that the majority of lawyers operated within the confines of the law, but there were some  a minority, the Prime Minister said, for whom guidelines needed to be set.





There were some countries where the state and judicial system controlled the mechanism for legal practitioners, but the government did not want to go there, he said.





Rather, the preferred approach would be for a system where the rules are made for the Bar Association and once properly organized, to do internal disciplining and provide its own guidelines to put regulations in the law regarding accounts and other matters.
Teacher April Burkett works with her third graders at Roy Benavidez Elementary School last September. Starting this fall, South San ISD will add armed marshals to its elementary campuses to comply with state law. KIN MAN HUI/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Unable to fill vacancies in its police department, South San Antonio Independent School District has decided to employ school marshals to comply with a state mandate requiring an armed guard on every campus.

Trustees unanimously approved the program on Wednesday, joining scores of districts statewide that have resorted to arming staff as they face a lack of state funding to cover new peace officer positions and a shortage of qualified applicants to fill them.

In rural areas, youll hear school marshals as being teachers who are the ones carrying the weapons, Superintendent Henry Yzaguirre saod at the June 19 meeting. At no point are we even considering that.

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Instead, the district of 7,400 students is encouraging its security officers  personnel who guard the parking lots but do not carry firearms  to get their school marshal licenses.

The job change would come with a nice pay bump, from $18.78 to $22 an hour. It would also require significantly more training, which the state would pay for.

South San has been trying to fill five peace officer vacancies so it can put an armed guard at every campus as required by House Bill 3, the comprehensive school safety law enacted last year in response to the 2022 deadly Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde.

South San was one of several cash-strapped districts in San Antonio  and hundreds statewide  to declare a good cause exception built into the law for districts unable to comply with the costly requirement.

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Security is peace of mind for a lot of our parents and one of the things we agreed on is that were going to try not to do another year with an exemption, Yzaguirre told trustees. Were going to do what we can to make sure every campus is covered.

Medina Valley ISD is also considering the marshal program, with the goal of recruiting retired law enforcement or military to protect its elementary schools.Trustees are to vote on the proposal Monday.

Created by the Legislature in 2013, the school marshal program allows eligible staff to get trained and certified to carry a weapon on campus to respond to a crisis. It provides a way for teachers to carry weapons inside schools, but districts that adopt the program instead often employ retired police officers, military and security personnel.

In 2023, even before the state mandate, San Marcos CISD began using retired police officers and veterans as school marshals. San Antonios North East ISD has adopted the similar but more commonly-used guardian program to monitor its schools and fill school safety specialist positions created last year. They are authorized to carry weapons after training by district law enforcement.

NEISD spokesperson Aubrey Chancellor said there are still some vacancies, but all the safety specialists hired so far come from careers in security and emergency management, law enforcement or the military.

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A recent analysis by Hearst newspapers of a random sample of 100 Texas school districts found more than one out of five have armed new school staff in response to HB 3. State data showed that 815 Texas educators across 90 school districts have received school marshal training to carry weapons on campus.

Unlike in the guardian program, school marshals are licensed and certified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, which defines the sole purpose of a school marshal as preventing the act of murder or serious bodily injury on school premises. School marshals must complete 80 hours of training, compared to the 16 required for guardians, according to the Texas Association of School Boards.

The South San ISD program is open to any district employee licensed to carry a handgun. Applicants must complete all required training  which covers firearms, crisis intervention, incident command, first aid, mental health and behavioral threat assessments  pass the state licensing exam and undergo a psychological evaluation.

The districts secondary schools already have a peace officer on-site. The marshals will be assigned to its eight elementary campuses.

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Currently developing its own police department, Medina Valley ISD officials recommended marshals due to the lack of funding that accompanied the HB3 requirement and the difficulty of recruiting police officer applicants. Marshals would be paid the same as first-year teachers  $57,750  with a $5,000 stipend. Under the proposal, the school board would consider their appointment in executive session and their identities would be kept confidential.

South San ISDs marshal position will not be a secret. They will wear uniforms and be identifiable at their assigned campuses.
Woman charged with grievous bodily harm





Police arrested and charged Terricia Patterson, a 21-year-old domestic worker from Layou, on June 13, 20924, with the offence of grievous bodily harm.





Patterson was charged with unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm on a minor by allegedly burning him on the neck with a hot metal spoon. The offence occurred in Layou on October 24, 2023.





Terricia Patterson is expected to appear before the Kingstown Magistrate Court to answer to the charge.





21-year-old charged with wounding





Daniel Bacchus, a 21-year-old labourer of Campden Park/Cane Hall, will return to court on January 8, 2025 to face a trial resulting from a charge of wounding.





According to the investigation, the accused allegedly unlawfully and maliciously wounded a 35-year-old Police Officer of Redemption Sharpes, by cutting him on the fingers of his right hand with a pair of scissors.





The offence occurred at Richmond Hill on June 17, 2024.





Bacchus appeared before the Kingstown Magistrate Court on June 18, 2024, where he pleaded not guilty to the offence. His station bail was continued in the sum of EC$2,000.00 and the matter was adjourned to January 8, 2025.





Electrician charged with trespassing





On June 17, 2024, police arrested and charged Raphael Lavia, a 30-year-old electrician of Sandy Bay, with the offence of trespassing.





The police investigation reported that the accused allegedly entered the dwelling house of a 37-year-old domestic of Sandy Bay as a trespasser, with intent to assault her.





The offence occurred at Sandy Bay on June 29, 2018.





Lavia is expected to appear before the Georgetown Magistrate Court to answer the charge.





Possession of a prohibited article





Pauls Avenue resident Rion Cole, a 28-year-old male, was arrested on June 14, 2024, and charged with the offence of possession of a prohibited article.





According to the investigations, the accused allegedly without lawful excuse, attempted to introduce one (1) black and yellow cellular phone, a prohibited article, into His Majestys Prison.





The offence occurred on June 10,2024 in Kingstown.





Cole appeared before the Kingstown Magistrates Court on June 17, 2024 and the matter was adjourned to June 18, 2024.





Chauffeur on wounding and damage to property charge





On June 16, 2024, police arrested and charged Jerald Simmons, a 37-year-old chauffeur of South Rivers, with the offence of wounding and damage to property.





According to the report, the accused allegedly unlawfully and maliciously wounded a 37-years-old chauffeur of Sandy Bay, by chopping him on his left arm with a cutlass.





He was also charged with damaging the left side-panel and passenger door-rubber of motor vehicle H-7403, value at EC$1,500.00, by chopping same with a cutlass, the property of a 49-year-old carpenter of Owia.





The offences occurred on June, October 10, 2023 in South Union.





Simmons appeared before the Calliaqua Magistrate Court on June 17, 2024 where he pleaded not guilty. He was granted bail in the sum of EC$2,500.00 with one surety and the matter was adjourned to June 21, 2024.
Former workers of LIAT (1984) limited have made incessant pleas to their respective governments to honour their obligation to make severance payments. (Photo Source: ANR)

Antigua and Barbudas Prime Minister Gaston Browne, with eyes on ensuring that his LIAT 2020 has an unencumbered pathway toward positioning itself as a new regional air service, has announced a significant step towards addressing the plight of former LIAT workers.





Antigua News Room (ANR) reported that PM Browne, during a radio broadcast weekend, revealed his intention to formally request that the shareholding governments of the former LIAT (1974) Limited and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) subordinate their interests in $12.1 million currently held in escrow at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, and make these funds available to the former workers of the now-defunct airline.





"I am now calling on publicly and will be writing to them formally on Monday, calling on all of the shareholding governments of the former LIAT (1974) Limited to subordinate their interest in that money, Browne stated, adding that the funds should be redirected to provide ex-gratia payments to the former employees as a form of severance pay.





Browne took aim at what he called the unfair position the Caribbean Development Bank had placed the workers in by securing loans against the aircraft.





"The loans (for the purchase of aircraft) that were issued to the shareholding governments were sovereign loans, and there was absolutely no need for the Caribbean Development Bank to take any lien over those aircraft, he explained.





Browne argued that this action prejudiced the interests of other stakeholders, particularly the staff, who would have otherwise had priority to the $12.1 million.





In his upcoming letter, Browne said, according to ANR, that he will urge the CDB and the shareholding governments to release the escrow funds to pay the former LIAT workers.





"This money should be made available to the administrative LIAT 1974 Limited to pay the staff. This does not negate the shareholding governments from paying the difference so they get their full 100%; that is just a start.





PM Browne also addressed the financial implications for the shareholding governments, noting that the amounts involved would not significantly impact their budgets.





Brownes call to action extends to all stakeholders, including the CDB, emphasizing that the sovereign debt will continue to be serviced. (Source: Antigua News Room)




The crew of the Russian nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine Kazan watch the Canadian navy patrol boat HMCS Margaret Brooke passing by as it enters Havanas Bay, Cuba. (Photo Source: REUTERS)

Both U.S. and Canadian authorities have said the Russian warships currently in Cuba (see last weeks issue) pose no threat to the region. Yet, both countries have taken varying degrees of what observers say are (direct) responses to the Russian naval presence in Cuba, which Russia has characterized as routine.





The Admiral Gorshkov frigate and the nuclear-powered submarine Kazan, half submerged with its crew on deck, sailed into Havana harbor on Wednesday (last week) after conducting "high-precision missile weapons training in the Atlantic Ocean, Russias defence ministry said.





In response, Canada`s Margaret Brooke patrol vessel began manoeuvres early on Friday to enter Havana harbour. A Canadian diplomat characterized the vessels arrival as "routine and part of long-standing cooperation between our two countries, adding it was "unrelated to the presence of the Russian ships.

+

Hours earlier, the U.S. Southern Command said the fast-attack submarine Helena had arrived on a routine port visit to Guantanamo Bay, a U.S. naval base on the tip of the island around 850 km (530 miles) southeast of Havana.





"The vessels location and transit were previously planned, Southern Command said on X.

Cuba`s foreign ministry said it had been informed of the arrival of the U.S. submarine but was not happy about it.





"Naval visits to a country are usually the result of an invitation, and this was not the case, said Vice Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio.





"Obviously we do not like the presence in our territory (of a submarine) belonging to a power that maintains an official and practical policy that is hostile against Cuba.





Russia and Cuba were close allies under the former Soviet Union, and tensions with Washington over communism in its "backyard peaked with the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Moscow has maintained ties with Havana.





When asked what message Moscow was sending, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday (last week) the West never appeared to take notice when Russia sent signals through diplomatic channels.





"As soon as it comes to exercises or sea voyages, we immediately hear questions and a desire to know what these messages are about, Zakharova said. "Why do only signals related only to our army and navy reach the West?




Dr. Vaughn Lewis, VINLEC/CEO (right) hands over sponsorship cheque to Rodney Small, President of the YPM.

Dr. Vaughn Lewis, VINLECs Chief Executive Officer, sees the steel pan as a positive influence on humanity. By extension, he sees music as having a soothing effect that helps with ones state of mind.





His comments came last Tuesday evening at the companys headquarters in Pauls Avenue, Kingstown, during a sponsorship ceremony to mark the companys ongoing support for the Junior Panorama.





Dr. Lewis pointed to the benefits of music on students ability to cope with Maths and the spill over into social interaction. It is a tool of diplomacy, he posited, and he sees it as contributing more to the Gross Domestic Product than agriculture.





The CEO is pleased with his companys injection of EC $40,000 to the Youlou Pan Movement. That is to defray cost for the 2024 Junior Panorama scheduled for Victoria Park, June 30.





President of the Youlou Pan Movement (YPM) Rodney Small endorsed the "transforming power of the steelpan, the theme chosen for this years event.





Small acknowledged his strides in the growth of the Junior Panaorama, with humble beginning at the Girls High School Pan Yard.





Eleven steel orchestras, including communities and school based orchestras involving some 575 players, are slated to contest the 2024 Panorama, signifying the impact of VINLECs sponsorship, Small said.

If he gets his way, a National Junior Orchestra will be matter of course.





Chairman of the Carnival Development Corporation Ricardo Adams noted VINLEC ongoing support for pan and welcomed the resulting impact on the Junior pannists in particular.





Minister of Culture Carlos James recognised VINLECs long standing partner with culture, notably with the YPM, as an expression of a commitment to nation building.





He used the occasion to call for pan-related activities year round.





Cultural Officer Maxine Browne praised VINLEC for its contribution in practical ways to the transformation of the society.





She cited playing pan as an opportunity to be engaged in meaningful activities that can lead to overall social and mental improvements.





Two members from the Starlift Steel Orchestra - Mitchell Israel and Rayshaad Ambris - combined for a rendition of the Bob Marley song I dont want to wait in vain, to add a cultural flavor to the ceremony.
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The UAE contributed 10% of Bahrains foreign direct investment (FDI) stocks, taking the third place, according to the latest figures.

A statement issued by Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB), said Bahrain has secured a record $6.8 billion FDI inflows in 2023, according to the latest World Investment Report (WIR 2024) by the United Nations Conference of Trade and Development (UNCTAD), a WAM report said.

Marking one of the highest ratios in the world, Bahrains FDI stocks relative to GDP stood at 99.7% as of the end of 2023, a figure significantly higher than the global average of 46.9%.

Top countries

According to Bahrains Information & eGovernment Authority, the top countries contributing to Bahrains FDI stocks as part of a diverse portfolio include Kuwait (36%), Saudi Arabia (23%) and the UAE (10%).

The figure tops the previous record set in 2022, marking a huge increase of 148% from $2.8 billion. This contributed to the growth of cumulative inward FDI stocks, which climbed from $36.2 billion in 2022 to $43.1 billion in 2023.

Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development and Chief Executive of Bahrain EDB, said: The milestone FDI inflows attracted in 2023 reflects the strength of Bahrains value proposition and continued standing as a trusted destination of choice for regional and global investors seeking best value operating costs in a strategic location that serves as an ideal gateway to the region and beyond.

--TradeArabia News Service
The global market for platinum group metals (PGMs)  which include platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, osmium and ruthenium  will record a 4.47% increase between now and 2029, according to market research firm Mordor Intelligence.

In part, market growth will come from growing demand for PGMs in green technologies, including hydrogen energy technologies, in turn generating opportunities across Africas mining and hydrogen value chains.

The Critical Minerals Africa (CMA) Summit, taking place from November 6 to 7 in Cape Town, will unpack the nexus between PGMs and green hydrogen and their evolving role within the African and global energy transition.

Vital role

The continent is home to the world's largest PGM reserves, with South Africa alone possessing over 80% of global resources and Zimbabwe also holding substantial reserves. These metals play a vital role in fuel cell technology, enabling the production of electricity from hydrogen and oxygen.

As African countries  including Namibia, South Africa, Mauritania and Egypt  intensify their green hydrogen activities, long-term PGM demand is expected to grow substantially, powering a wide range of applications from hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to stationary power generation to industrial processes.

Africas Green Hydrogen potential

The African continent holds substantial potential for green hydrogen production given its abundance of co-located renewable resources. According to the European Investment Bank, Africa has the potential to produce 50 million tonnes of green hydrogen per annum by 2035, which could help meet power, transportation and industrial energy needs, decarbonise heavy-polluting industries, as well as be used for global export.

Namibia represents a pioneer of green hydrogen on the continent, having secured billions in investment for green hydrogen projects from various investors, including the USAID, the Development Bank of Southern Africa and Japanese investment firm ITOCHU. Green energy firm Hyphen Hydrogen Energy is implementing a $10-billion project, with the capacity to produce 350,000 metric tonnes per year using 7 GW of renewable energy and 3 GW of hydrogen electrolysers. Last May, Belgian port operator Antwerp Bruges partnered with the Namibian Ports Authority to develop a 250-million ($268 million) hydrogen and ammonia storage facility at Walvis Bay Port to facilitate the transport of hydrogen to regional and global markets.

Realising the potential of green hydrogen to drive regional energy security, South African tourism, trade and investment agency Wesgro signed an agreement last month with the Northern Cape Economic Development, Trade and Investment Promotion Agency, Namibias Environmental Investment Fund and infrastructure company Gasunie and Climate Fund Managers. The agreement paves the way for the parties to assess the feasibility of developing a green hydrogen corridor connecting the Western Cape and Northern Cape provinces of South Africa with Luderitz in Namibia.--TradeArabia News Service
The Bahrain Institute for Pearls and Gemstones (Danat) has partnered with Graff, a renowned luxury jewellery brand, to unveil an exceptional Butterfly Pendant tailored exclusively for the discerning customers in Bahrain. Crafted in a highly limited edition, this exquisite piece showcases the pinnacle of craftsmanship and precision.

This unique pendant showcases an enchanting design, combining rubies and white round diamond pave in a butterfly pendant crafted from 18k white gold. Centred with a pearl, it is embellished with 17 round white diamonds and 36 rubies, adding to its allure.

To underscore the unparalleled value of this masterpiece, Danat Institute has meticulously curated a special edition report, leveraging its expertise in pearl and gemstone inspection and classification. This certificate of authenticity guarantees the exceptional quality and worth of the pendant, further enhancing its desirability among connoisseurs of luxury jewellery.

Limited number

Mohammed Shirazi, Director, Bahrain Jewellery Centre, commented: We are immensely honoured and proud to have collaborated with Graff on this stunning piece. Graffs iconic Butterfly is encrusted with rubies and diamonds to create the Bahrain flag with a Danat-certified Bahraini pearl placed in the heart of this unique creation. Only a limited number of pendants have been created which makes this work of art even more special.

Noora Jamsheer, CEO of Danat Institute, said: "We're proud to announce our collaboration with Graff, a globally esteemed luxury jewellery brand, to introduce this exclusive butterfly pendant to the Bahrain market. This exquisite piece is a one-of-a-kind design tailored to the discerning tastes of luxury jewellery aficionados in the kingdom."

Jamsheer added: This Exceptional pendant exemplifies our mutual dedication to delivering the utmost in quality and craftsmanship to our clientele. Through meticulous selection of precious materials and the integration of modern technologies in the manufacturing process, we guarantee unparalleled excellence."

Graff stands as a flagship brand within Bahrain Jewellery Centre, a renowned authority in the field of fine jewellery. Danat Institute has collaborated closely with Bahrain Jewellery Centre on this remarkable project.--TradeArabia News Service
Subsea7 has been awarded a sizeable contract by Dana Petroleum (E&P) Limited, for the Bittern field development, located approximately 190 km east of Aberdeen in the UK Central North Sea, at a water depth of 90 metres.

The contract scope includes project management, engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) of a 22 km 12 water injection pipeline. Subsea7s scope also includes associated subsea structures and tie-ins at the Triton Floating Production Storage & Offloading (FPSO) vessel and the Bittern field.

Project management and engineering work will commence immediately in Aberdeen. The offshore activities are scheduled for Q3 2025.

Key role

Steve Wisely, Senior Vice President of UK and Global Inspection, Repair and Maintenance, Subsea7, said: "We are pleased that Dana Petroleum has chosen Subsea7 to provide project management expertise and engineering technical knowledge for this important field development. We look forward to supporting Dana in meeting their project objectives and for the opportunity to play a key role in the safe and successful completion of Bittern."--TradeArabia News Service
Cirilo Castillo, 54, was arrested Tuesday on charges of criminal trespassing and bestiality. He allegedly was found in a woman's stable having sex with her horse. Courtesy Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office

An Edinburg man is behind bars yet again for allegedly having sex with a horse after a woman discovered him in her stable multiple times this month, according to myRGV.

The Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office arrested Cirilo Castillo, 54, on Tuesday; he's charged with bestiality and two counts of criminal trespassing, according to court records. This is his fourth arrest since 2012 on charges of bestiality or cruelty to animals, records show. Castillo served sentences for incidents involving horses in 2013 and 2012, The McAllen Monitor reported at the time.

In the latest case, on June 11 a woman reported that she went to feed her horses at 6:15 a.m. in the 6000 block of East Alberta Road near Edinburg when she found Castillo in the stable, according to myRGV, which cited a probable cause affidavit.

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"She saw Cirilo standing on a chair having sex with her white mare," the affidavit said, as published by myRGV. "She saw Cirilo making thrusting motions while standing behind her mare with his red shorts pulled down."

The woman found Castillo in the stable yet again Tuesday, myRGV reported, citing the affidavit. She woke up at 4 a.m. and noticed the light in her stable was off, and saw Castillo using a chair to climb over the gate. Castillo had trespassed on her property on previous occasions in order to have sex with her horses, and both the woman and law enforcement told him he was not welcome, the affidavit said.

He was last arrested on a bestiality charge in April 2022, according to court records.

In 2015, Castillo was charged with criminal trespassing after a woman discovered him injured in her barn. He said he had been hit by a car and crawled to the barn for shelter, but he had previously been arrested for having sex with one of the woman's horses.

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Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, the ultra-low-fare national airline of the UAE, has announced a promotion for adventurous travellers looking to discover hidden gems, charming neighbourhoods, vibrant cities, and natural paradises.

The flash 15% promotion applies to bookings made on 20 June, for the travel period from 1 July until 31 July.

The selected routes include a plethora of exotic, culturally rich destinations  Europe, North Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East  and are now available for booking on wizzair.com and the WIZZ mobile app, both of which are accessible in Arabic.

Johan Eidhagen, Managing Director of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, said: As the flagbearer for ultra-low-cost travel in the region, we are proud to continue fostering connectivity with affordable, hassle-free travel to marvellous destinations.

Our latest extraordinary promotion enables an exhilarating adventure for all ages and reaffirms our commitment to spontaneous travel.

Given the expected busy summer period, we strongly encourage all adventurous travellers to secure their bookings early to enjoy ultra-low-fares and discover outstanding natural beauty and incredible history.

The Wizz MultiPass is a pioneering and innovative flight subscription service that allows frequent travellers to travel from the UAE every month and explore multiple destinations while earning loyalty rewards.

Passengers lock in a fixed price for tickets and baggage for the entire year, potentially saving up to 40% on tickets to popular summer destinations using the ticket-only fare.

Passengers can book tickets on WIZZ Flex that enables them to change their flight up to three hours before departure without any fee and receive 100% of the fare immediately reimbursed in airline credit.

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi provides ultra-low-fares and efficient travel options to Alexandria (Egypt), Almaty (Kazakhstan), Amman (Jordan), Ankara (Turkey), Aqaba (Jordan), Athens (Greece), Baku (Azerbaijan), Belgrade (Serbia), Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), Cairo (Egypt), and Dammam (Saudi Arabia). As well as routes to Kuwait City (Kuwait), Kutaisi (Georgia), Larnaca (Cyprus), Male (Maldives), Madinah (Saudi Arabia), Muscat (Oman), Nur Sultan (Kazakhstan), Salalah (Oman), Santorini (Greece), Samarkand (Uzbekistan), Sarajevo (Bosnia), Sohag (Egypt), Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Turkistan (Kazakhstan), Tirana (Albania) and Yerevan (Armenia) among others.

One-way price, including administration fee. One carry-on bag (max: 40x30x20cm) is included. Trolley bag and each piece of checked-in baggage is subject to additional fees.

The price applies only to bookings made on wizzair.com and the WIZZ mobile app. Number of seats at indicated prices are limited.  TradeArabia News Service
Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City has launched its newly renovated all-day venue, The Lobby Lounge will welcome in-house guests and residents of Al Habtoor City Hotel Collection and Dubai community seven-days-a-week, 24 hours-a-day.

Featuring high-ceilings, neutral tones and spacious seating options, the lounge is ideal for hosting business meetings and team gatherings as well as an ideal set-up for digital nomads searching for a new workstation.

It is also suitable for catching up with friends or taking a break from a busy working day. The Lobby Lounge serving up three different menus.

Breakfast includes croissant Benedict, smoked salmon Florentine and shakshuka from 7am to 11am. A sweet beginning to the day, can start with the Brioche French toast or the mouthwatering American pancakes.

An all-day menu has plenty of bites for guests from 11am to 11pm, including platters of mezze, cheese and charcuterie to share or take on an appetising salad including goat cheese and fig, chickpea cauliflower and tahini, kale super salad or a classic, the Caesar.

Sandwich options are Halloumi, eggplant and red pepper sandwich, a chicken and avocado sandwich or the steak sandwich that is packed with black Angus striploin, sweet onion jam, cheddar cheese and mustard mayonnaise.

Sweet treats include signature cakes like red velvet, baked cheesecake and strawberry tart as well as donuts, cookies and muffins. All these can be accompanied with a host of delicious coffee, tea, smoothie, shakes and soft drinks from which to choose.

The Lobby Lounge can craft guests their very own bespoke cake for birthdays, anniversaries and more.  TradeArabia News Service
The mother of the suspect in the double murder of Tara Geeta Ramsaroop and her infant daught
Maj. Gen. Phillip Stewart, former commander of the 19th Air Force, the service's San Antonio-based pilot training arm, is charged with raping a female subordinate. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News

Six more Air Force generals are headed to San Antonio to help fill out a military court jury that will decide whether one of their own, Maj. Gen. Phillip Stewart, is guilty of sexually assaulting a subordinate.

Jury selection in the case  only the second court-martial of a general officer in Air Force history  hit a wall Wednesday after a seventh juror was seated.

RELATED: Air Force general is stripped of command and charged with sexual assault

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Under military law, eight are needed, but there were no prospective jurors left in the 13-member pool of generals who had been summoned to Fort Sam Houston.

Of the 13, six were excused over the course of the week for various reasons bearing on whether they could weigh the evidence impartially.

As a result, the Air Force has summoned a half dozen more generals to Fort Sam in the hope that one of them will qualify. Theyre due in court Saturday morning.

The panel so far consists of six three-star generals and one two-star general. Three of the seated jurors are white men, two are Black men and two are white women.

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The trial is scheduled to begin in earnest at 8:30 a.m. Monday with opening arguments and the first witnesses  assuming an eighth juror has been seated by then. To convict Stewart, six of the eight must find him guilty. In a civilian criminal trial, a conviction requires a unanimous vote.

Air Force Maj. Gen. Phillip Stewart arrives at Fort Sam Houston for a hearing in his court-martial. He's charged with raping a female subordinate. Ethan Rocke/Ethan E. Rocke/Contributor

Geoffrey Corn, the George R. Killam Jr. chair of criminal law and director of the Center for Military Law and Policy at Texas Tech University School of Law, said the hiccup in the selection process was nothing out of the ordinary.

The government is not required to pull dozens of potential jurors out of their jobs on the possibility that the jurors they bring will be struck. And the defense certainly bears no responsibility for aggressively, and zealously, asserting the rights of their client, he said. Its just an inherent risk with any jury pool.

Stewart faces the possibility of disastrous end to a stellar career. He served three stints as a wing commander, led a reconnaissance squadron in Iraq and commanded NATOs Train Advise Assist Command-Air in Kabul, Afghanistan.

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He is accused of sexually assaulting a female subordinate at or near Altus AFB in southwestern Oklahoma in April 2023. At the time, he was commander of the 19th Air Force, the services pilot training arm based at Randolph AFB in San Antonio. He was stripped of his command a month later due to a loss of confidence in his ability to lead.

Stewart contends that he and the female officer were in a consensual relationship. The prosecution asserts that the woman had no choice but to submit to his advances given his rank and power over her.

Stewart could be sentenced to as many as 63 years in prison if found guilty of four violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice: sexual assault, conduct unbecoming an officer, dereliction of duty and extramarital sexual conduct.

Three of the jurors seated so far have ties to San Antonio.

Air Force Lt. Gen. Kevin Kennedy is commander of the 16th Air Force, also known as Air Forces Cyber, based at Lackland AFB. He has been selected as a juror in the court-martial of Maj. Gen. Phillip Stewart, who is charged with raping a female subordinate. Air Force photo

Lt. Gen. Caroline M. Miller, Air Force deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services, led the 502nd Air Base Wing, which provides supply and logistical support to the installations that make up Joint Base San Antonio: Randolph and Lackland Air Force bases, Fort Sam Houston and Camp Bullis, an Army training range.

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Maj. Gen. John DeGoes is a board-certified internist who serves as the Air Forces deputy surgeon general. He commanded the 59th Medical Wing at Lackland during the pandemic.

Lt. Gen. Kevin B. Kennedy is commander of the 16th Air Force at Lackland, also known as Air Forces Cyber. The command oversees information and electronic warfare, surveillance, signals intelligence and other operations worldwide.

Jurors in Stewarts trial must be three-star and four-star generals, or two-star officers with greater seniority at that rank than Stewart has. The total number of possible jurors was about 68.

As expected, the defense took exception to some potential jurors as they were questioned in court for possible bias, a process known as voir dire.

One of them, a lieutenant general, received victim advocate training as a major and recalled rebuffing the advances of a higher-ranking airman during a scuba diving trip in California decades ago.

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Arguing for the defense, Capt. Jordan Grande said she doubted the general could be fair and impartial. Referring to the victim advocate training, Grande told the judge, She raised her hand to say that was something she wanted to do.

Another lieutenant general expressed a strong religious conviction that relationships outside marriage arent allowed. Under questioning by Lt. Col. Pete Havern, trial counsel for the Air Force, the general said he nevertheless would be able to follow the judges instructions on how to weigh evidence.

Views on alcohol use also came into play. Stewart is accused of being intoxicated on the night he and the female officer had sex and of piloting a plane the next day, a violation of the Air Forces bottle-to-throttle rule.

As defense lawyer Sherry Bunn questioned a three-star general about his views on alcohol, the man revealed that he handled a similar bottle-to-throttle violation as a squadron commander.

In that case, an aircraft mechanic showed up for work with alcohol on his breath and was punished in an Article 15 hearing, a non-judicial proceeding. The general expressed concern that drinking compromises safety and readiness, but also told the judge hed follow his directions in weighing the evidence.

Prosecutors had no objection to the generals presence on the jury, but Grande contended that his views on drinking amounted to implied bias and that the judge, Col. Matthew Stoffel, should excuse him from the panel. He did.

In some cases, Stoffel would say his decision to remove a potential juror was a close call. He also made repeated references to the liberal grant mandate.

Dru Brenner-Beck, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and a former professor at South Texas College of Law in Houston, said the phrases stem from a May 9 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. The ruling came in a case called United States v. Keago, which involved the court-martial of a Navy midshipman charged with sexual assault.

The appeals court said military judges should strike prospective jurors for actual or implied bias if the decision whether to do so is a close call.

Retired Air Force Col. Don Christensen, a former Air Force judge who once served as the services chief prosecutor, said implied bias is a lower standard than actual bias.

Actual bias would be something like a court member was a relative of the victim or had already made up their mind the accused was guilty, he said. Implied bias is much harder to define.
The Opposition Leader cited figures that showed the official entertainment for the Office of the Prime Minister moved from a revised estimate of $240,000 in 2024 to an estimated expenditure of $30 million in 2025.

This is an increase of 12,400%.
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 20: An exterior view of the Supreme Court on June 20, 2024 in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court is about to issue rulings on a variety of high profile cases dealing with abortion rights, gun rights, and former President Donald Trump's immunity claim, putting the court at the center of many hot political topics during an election year. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) Andrew Harnik/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 21: Christian Defense Coalition Director Rev. Patrick Mahoney holds a sign that reads "Abusers Should NOT Own Guns!" outside the Supreme Court on June 21, 2024 in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court issued five rulings today including the upholding of a law banning domestic abusers from owning guns but has not yet announced rulings on a variety of high profile cases including cases involving abortion rights, and former President Donald Trump's immunity claim. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday shot down a Texas mans challenge to a federal law dictating that the government may bar domestic abusers from possessing guns.

The 8-1 decision was a rare victory for gun violence prevention activists, who feared that the court could double down on a 2022 decision that overturned gun restrictions in several states and said laws governing firearms should be limited by historical precedent. Instead, the justices said there were limits to Second Amendment rights.

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When a restraining order contains a finding that an individual poses a credible threat to the physical safety of an intimate partner, that individual may  consistent with the Second Amendment  be banned from possessing firearms while the order is in effect, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority. Since the founding, our nations firearm laws have included provisions preventing individuals who threaten physical harm to others from misusing firearms.

Justice Clarence Thomas was the lone dissenter.

The case began in late 2019, when Zackey Rahimi of Arlington went on a shooting spree with guns he wasnt supposed to have.

Over the course of a month, Rahimi allegedly shot at someones house; at a car, twice; at a constables vehicle; and into the air outside a Whataburger, court documents show. When police searched his home, they found a handgun and a rifle that Rahimi was barred from having under a protective order issued after he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend.

Rahimi argued that the restriction violated his Second Amendment right to bear arms. Years of litigation eventually brought him to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the most conservative in the nation, which agreed that Rahimi should have been able to have his firearms.

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The Supreme Court overturned that ruling on Friday.

Heather Bellino, the chief executive officer of the Texas Advocacy Project, a domestic violence prevention group, said she hopes the Rahimi decision ends debate about abuse suspects possessing guns. The decision crossing ideological divides was especially encouraging, she said, and serves as a reminder that were all humans trying to do whats best.

This could have gone the other way, and it would have made victims unsafe, she said. The lethality would have increased, and Im grateful that they found it constitutional, because I know for a fact that when there is a gun in the home, a person is more likely to be murdered.

The Texas Advocacy Project and several other nonprofits filed an amicus brief in the Rahimi case last year, arguing that sensible firearm regulations could prevent tragedy.

When its been proven in a civil court that youve been likely to harm someone, you shouldnt have that firearm, Bellino said. Its common sense, and it matches what our Constitution says.

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Molly Voyles, the director of public policy for the Texas Council on Family Violence, said the Supreme Courts ruling shows that the life of a domestic violence survivor is more important than abusers ability to keep their guns. Still, she said Texas politicians can do more to help and support victims.
Randy Krehbiel Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Randy Krehbiel Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Officials at the states mental health agency have proven that they need legal oversight to force them to do what they should be doing and should accept a proposed consent agreement that is pending in federal court, Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler said Thursday.

Speaking at a press conference, Kunzweiler and Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado lashed the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services for what they said is a long record of delay and obfuscation in addressing the plight of people held in Oklahoma jails because of mental illness.

These are people who are languishing in our jails who have not been charged, Regalado said. I would submit this is  not just potentially but actually  a violation of their civil rights.

Regalado said the Tulsa County jail currently holds 40 such individuals. Court documents indicate that as many as 300 statewide have been on a waiting list, sometimes for more than a year, for a spot at the Oklahoma Forensic Center, a state psychiatric hospital in Vinita.

The very same thing I bring to you today was brought up with them in 2015, Regalado said. Their response was, That costs too much money. I would submit to you that not spending the money in the right places costs us too much money.

Announced earlier this week by Attorney General Gentner Drummond and attorneys in a 2023 lawsuit against the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the consent decree would require the state to present within 90 days a plan for addressing the backlog in treatment of people judged mentally incompetent for adjudication in the states courts.

The agreement was quickly torpedoed by Gov. Kevin Stitt and Mental Health Commissioner Allie Friesen, who cited its potential cost and ongoing efforts to solve the problem.

On the job only a few months, Friesen said she wants more time to evaluate the situation and give her reforms time to take hold.

Kunzweiler said Friesen is getting her advice from vestiges of the last two (Department of Mental Health) administrations, which he said are at least partly responsible for the current situation.

The consent decree includes several conditions, including better staffing and more beds allocated for competency restoration, and establishes a series of fines if the state fails to hit certain benchmarks. The state would have to be in substantial compliance, according to a three-member oversight panel, within four years and three months.

The cost of compliance is unclear. On Monday, Stitt claimed that it would be at least $100 million, but others think it likely would be less. This years Department of Mental Health budget includes $4.1 million toward it, while some estimates peg the first-year cost at just under $10 million.

Whatever the case, advocates argue, it will be cheaper than allowing the lawsuit to go to a trial that Drummond says the state will probably lose.

The consent decree deals only with people awaiting competency restoration treatment, but Kunzweiler  whose family has personal experience with the state mental health system  called that only the tip of the iceberg.

He repeated assertions about the complete decay erosion of that system and what he said are misplaced priorities within the department

When someone mentioned the book and movie One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, Kunzweiler replied, Let me tell you something. When I went to the Forensic Center, something like One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest would have been welcome to me.

Oklahoma closed most of its state-owned mental health in-patient facilities in the 1990s in favor of community-based treatment. Ultimately, however, it had to restart some of its programs at Vinita, including those for the incompetent.

Some contend that those programs are mostly inadequate, but the Forensic Center is adding 80 beds with money from the American Rescue Plan Act. It is also adding capacity in Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

Kunzweiler said the fact that Oklahoma is depending on federal money to expand capacity shows what a low priority mental health treatment is.

Regalado and Kunzweiler said they have not seen much difference since Friesen became mental health commissioner.

The sheriff said his offer to lease a Tulsa County jail pod to the Department of Mental Health, first made more than a year ago, still has received no response beyond an initial Yay! What a great idea.

Regalado has been at odds with the Department of Mental Health for some time because of his insistence that mentally ill people should be treated in hospitals instead of in jails.

He refused to participate in the departments in-jail treatment program, which it says has restored competency for almost 200 people.

In-jail treatment tells you everything you need to know about it, Regalado said Thursday.

The Tulsa World is where your story lives
Australias University of Sydney has announced the establishment of the University of Sydney Vietnam Institute in Vietnam as a multidisciplinary research facility gathering domestic and foreign scientists.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony to launch the University of Sydney Vietnam Institute was conducted on Tuesday in Ho Chi Minh City and a debut event for the institute also took place in Hanoi on Thursday.

As a non-profit social enterprise fully owned by the University of Sydney, the institute has established its head office in Ho Chi Minh City, followed by offices in Hanoi and the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.

The institute focuses on multidisciplinary research in various fields including health, agriculture, business, and Net Zero initiatives, aiming to bring prosperity to both Vietnam and Australia, according to the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam.

Australian researchers will work with Vietnamese collaborators on different projects such as supporting public health efforts and combating tuberculosis in Vietnam, developing emerging technologies for breast cancer diagnosis in the country, and examining the future of the Southeast Asian nation as a media innovation hub, the University of Sydney said on its website.

One of the institutes goals is to improve in-country scientific capacity and contribute to the regions socio-economic development, the university said.

Supported by up to AU$40-45 million (US$26.6 - 29.9 million) in non-profit funding from the Australian government and international donors, the institute will reinvest all its revenue into research activities in Vietnam.

We look forward to collaborating with domestic and international organizations and individuals to build a robust platform that enhances multidisciplinary research capacity and improves quality of life for local and global communities, said Professor Nguyen Thu Anh, executive director of the University of Sydney Vietnam Institute.

The establishment of the institute has marked an important milestone in the process of promoting scientific research and innovation capacity in Vietnam, Prof. Anh commented.

Vietnamese and Australian researchers attend a research symposium as part of the launch of the University of Sydney Vietnam Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, southern Vietnam, June 18, 2024. Photo: University of Sydney

She also underscored that the institute is one of the first social enterprises with investment capital from Australia to deploy research activities in Vietnam.

Nguyen Ngo Quang, acting director of the Administration of Science, Technology, and Training under the Ministry of Health, said that the institute will contribute to strengthening cooperation in scientific research, technological development, and creative innovation between Vietnam and Australia.

This research facility will also help improve the quality of human resources in scientific research, directly aiding Vietnam's efforts to improve healthcare quality for the people, Quang said.

Within the framework of the launch ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City was the Sydney Vietnam Innovation Symposium, which brought together Australian and Vietnamese university leaders, researchers, and scholars to discuss and share experience from decades of collaboration, aiming to strengthen research and innovation partnerships.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
What you need to know today in Vietnam:

Politics

-- General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong hosted a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hanoi on Thursday, as part of the latter's state visit to Vietnam. Putin arrived in Hanoi in the wee hours of Thursday and concluded his visit the same day.

Society

-- Huge iridescent clouds graced the sky over Hanoi on Thursday, thrilling residents who eagerly snapped photos and shared them on social media.

-- The Ho Chi Minh City Urban Infrastructure Investment Project Management Board on Thursday announced the progress of a US$524 million environmental sanitation project, featuring the largest wastewater treatment plant in Southeast Asia using advanced Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) technology. As part of the project's eight components, this plant, located in Thanh My Loi Ward, Thu Duc City, will treat wastewater to environmental standards before discharging it into the Saigon River.

-- Con Dao tourism is being directed toward a unique path of green development, aiming for high-end, sustainable tourism, said Trinh Hang, director of the Department of Tourism in Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, southern Vietnam, on the sidelines of a conference connecting Con Dao with provinces in the southeast region on Thursday.

Business

-- Pacific Airlines has said it is expected to resume its operations on June 26, relying on only one aircraft leased from national carrier Vietnam Airlines. This is one of three aircraft Vietnam Airlines will lease to Pacific Airlines.

Education

-- The University of Sydney Vietnam Institute was formally launched in Hanoi on Thursday evening. This is a hub of nearly 100 local and international scientists conducting multidisciplinary research in health, agriculture, arts, social sciences, business, and Net Zero initiatives, heading for improving locals' lives.

Sports

-- Spain qualified for the last 16 of Euro 2024 with a match to spare on Thursday after beating defending champions Italy 1-0 in a dominant display which ensured that La Roja would go through as Group B winners, according to AFP.

World News

-- "Deadly heatwaves are scorching cities on four continents as the Northern Hemisphere marks the first day of summer, a sign that climate change may again fuel record-breaking heat that could surpass last summer as the warmest in 2,000 years," Reuters reported.
Vietnam has sovereignty over Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelagos in the East Vietnam Sea in accordance with international law, and it is willing to discuss a resolution to disagreements over such sovereignty with the Philippines, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Pham Thu Hang, spokeswoman for the foreign ministry, made such remarks at a press meeting in Hanoi on Thursday in reply to reporters queries regarding the Philippines' submission of an Extended Continental Shelf (ECS) claim in the East Vietnam Sea to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS).

Coastal states that are party to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) have the right to determine their outer continental shelf boundaries in line with relevant provisions of this convention, Hang stated.

However, when submitting their ECS claims, such coastal states must respect the legal and legitimate rights and interests of other relevant coastal nations with opposite or adjacent coasts.

Vietnam accordingly reserves all rights and interests based on international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS, and is ready to negotiate with the Philippines to reach a solution that is beneficial to both countries, the spokeswoman stressed.

In the statement, Vietnam once again affirmed its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa in the East Vietnam Sea in accordance with international law, and also asserted its legitimate rights over its territorial waters established under the 1982 UNCLOS.

On June 15, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that the country had submitted a claim to the CLCS for an extended continental shelf in the East Vietnam Sea.

The claim, which was approved by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., was sent after the Philippines completed a comprehensive scientific and technical study of the continental shelf in the waterway.

The DFA said it took Manila more than 15 years to prepare for the submission.

The Philippines was using its rights under the 1982 UNCLOS to establish the outer limits of its continental shelf, which comprises the seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas up to 350 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured, according to Philippine newspaper Philstar.

The aforementioned seabed and subsoil areas currently hold significant potential resources that will benefit the Philippines and its people for generations to come, DFA Assistant Secretary for Maritime and Ocean Affairs Marshall Louis Alferez commented.

Today we secure our future by making a manifestation of our exclusive right to explore and exploit natural resources in our ECS entitlement, Philstar quoted Alferez as saying.

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General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong and Russian President Vladimir Putin reached a consensus on major measures to create a new impetus for both countries' multifaceted bilateral ties during their meeting in Hanoi on Thursday.

The meeting was part of the Russian leaders state visit to Vietnam. He arrived in Hanoi in the small hours of Thursday and concluded his visit the same day.

Putin affirmed that boosting the comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam is one of Russias priorities in its diplomatic policy for the Asia-Pacific region.

During their talks, the two leaders entered in-depth discussions and reached a consensus on some measures and plans to foster the multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.

The two agreed to enhance mutual understanding and trust, increase all-level delegation exchanges, and bolster defense and security cooperation.

Vietnam and Russia will join hands to address difficulties and challenges in line with international law and the conditions of each nation.

The two nations are committed to creating favorable conditions for Vietnamese and Russian enterprises to implement energy, oil, and gas projects, while beefing up their partnership in agriculture, education-training, culture, tourism, and cultural exchanges.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at a meeting with Vietnams Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong in Hanoi, June 20, 2024. Photo: Duy Linh / Tuoi Tre

Speaking at the meeting, Party General Secretary Trong reminded Putin of the close traditional friendship between Vietnam and Russia, underlining Vietnam's special love for the latter.

The Vietnamese and I, who used to live and study in Russia, always keep in mind the close relationship between Vietnam and Russia, he fondly remarked.

The Russian leader said that it was his honor to visit Vietnam, which he considers a reliable partner and friend of Russia.

The relationship between the two nations has stood the test of time, he noted.

Putin also listed some of the achievements of the Vietnam - Russia partnership, especially in culture and education-training.

Today, we were set to meet alumni of Russian universities. I know that many of them are excellent and have made great contributions to cementing the bilateral ties," President Putin said.

During my visit to Vietnam in 2001, I sat in on a similar meeting and felt their warmth and friendliness."

The Russian president also shared his respect for Vietnam for Hanoi's neutral foreign policy.

This visit will give a new impulse to our bilateral ties, Putin stressed.

According to the Central Committee for External Relations, Putin expressed his excitement about visiting Vietnam and meeting with General Secretary Trong.

A general view of a meeting between Vietnams Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong (right side) and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hanoi, June 20, 2024. Photo: Duy Linh / Tuoi Tre

At their meeting, the Party chief proposed that President Putin and Russia continue to make it easy for the Vietnamese community in Russia to work and live there in order to contribute to solidifying the friendship between the two peoples.

General Secretary Trong affirmed that Vietnam supports Russias active contributions to the common issues of the international community and its look east policy.

He strongly believed that a peaceful, independent, prosperous, and prestigious Vietnam suits Russias long-term cooperation policy for the Asia-Pacific region and the world.

Vietnam shared expectations that Putin and Russia continue backing Vietnams desire to maintain peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight as well as its standpoint in settling disputes at sea by peaceful means based on international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

During a discussion on the military conflict in Ukraine, Party chief Trong stressed that Vietnam hopes it will end soon.

Trong visited Russia in 2014 and 2018, during which he had talks with Putin.

During his latest visit, the Vietnamese Party chief witnessed the signing of 13 cooperative deals between Vietnam and Russia.

Putin first met Trong directly in 2006 when the Russian leader visited Vietnam and the latter was serving as chairman of the Vietnamese legislature at that time.

General Secretary Trong and President Putin regularly exchange letters and calls on special occasions.

After arriving in Vietnam on Thursday, Putin attended a welcome ceremony chaired by Vietnam's State President To Lam at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi.

The Russian leader also met with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, as well as participated in numerous activities the same day.

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A bookstore in Hanoi has issued an apology on social media for putting on sale globes featuring the illicit nine-dash line China uses to assert its absurd sovereignty over a significant portion of the East Vietnam Sea.

The Tan Viet Bookstore, located at Vincom Royal City in Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi, has recalled and destroyed all globes that included the controversial and unlawful nine-dash line,' which threatens Vietnams maritime sovereignty, Nguyen Kim Thoa, director of Tan Viet Books, which operates the store, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Thursday.

The bookstore issued an apology on its social media platforms the same day.

Thoa explained that the globes in question had only been put on display on Wednesday and none had been sold before customers discovered nine-dash line' on Thursday afternoon.

These globes were part of a shipment of 48 items imported at the end of May.

It was the first time that Tan Viet Books had imported these products.

The globes on sale at the bookstore had all been produced domestically before.

Only five globes from the new shipment were displayed at the Tan Viet Bookstore at Vincom Royal City and none had been distributed to other locations.

After receiving complaints from customers, Tan Viet Books promptly recalled the globes and convened an emergency meeting with relevant departments to investigate the incident, rectify the situation, and learn from the experience.

Tan Viet Books has been committed to destroying all globes featuring the illegal nine-dash line and restructuring its product importation procedures.

Acknowledging negligence in product testing before importation and sale, Thoa offered apologies to all readers, customers, and members of the public affected by the incident.

Representatives from the Department of Publishing, Printing, and Issuing under the Ministry of Information and Communication have stated that they are aware of the matter and have requested Tan Viet Books to provide a detailed report and explanation.

The department pledged to take strict action against any violation.

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Land subsidence has wreaked havoc on a riverside road in Tien Giang Province, southern Vietnam, with huge cracks measuring over 100 meters long appearing in some sections.

The road was upgraded just one year prior, but the joy local residents had from driving in the newly-paved road was short-lived as massive sections of the street cracked and subsided into the Ong Ve River, located in My Duc Dong Commune of Cai Be District.

During a visit to the cracked riverside road on Thursday, a Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporter discovered that the road surface in several sections had subsided by more than one meter, creating serious dangers for commuters.

The subsidence also damaged some parts of Thien Quang Pagoda, which sits along the route.

Phan Thanh Son, vice-chairman of the Cai Be District administration, told Tuoi Tre the same day that he was well aware of the situation.

Relevant agencies will inspect the affected road and carry out remedial work, the official said.

Local commuters try to pass through the road despite huge cracks. Photo: Mau Truong / Tuoi Tre

A huge crack in the riverside road that runs past a local pagoda. Photo: Mau Truong / Tuoi Tre

The subsidence is worse at a riverside section of the route. Photo: Mau Truong / Tuoi Tre

The road surface in some section of the road has subsided by more than one meter. Photo: Mau Truong / Tuoi Tre

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Hot on the heels of a speech this week, ABC Chair Kim Williams has given an interview in which he described News Corporations obsession with the broadcaster as being unhinged.

Williams, himself a former News Limited CEO, told Radio Nationals Patricia Karvelas the Murdoch organisation lacked perspective in actually standing back and looking at all that the ABC does.

Here is an edited excerpt which begins with his thoughts on ABCs place when so many people are looking to have their views reinforced by left and right wing media.

KW: I think people need to return to the ABC as, to use popular parlance, a safe place where youll hear a variety of different points of view. Where youll hear the plurality of conversations that exist in Australia and perspectives that exist in Australia, freely exhibited and interrogated. It needs to be a place that is about a vigorous devotion to robust, intellectual interrogation.

PK: You argue that the fragmentation and dislocation over the last decade has altered the personality, chemistry and character of our national debates and sometimes, indeed, in often negative ways. Has the ABC contributed to that?

KW: I think from time to time the ABC is in many ways a reflection of Australia and is a reflection of the personalities of Australia and of many of the patterns that are evident in the community. Itd be an unnatural organisation if it was not reflecting those sorts of patterns. I think we probably need to have greater rigor and discipline, in fact-checking. Fact, checking in live circumstances in programs like this. And I know youre always very resilient in pushing back when you think somethings incorrect.

PK: Lets talk about that because you mentioned it. I often do receive pushback when I do thattheres antagonism. Youre rude. How dare you interrupt? How do you see that tension?

KW: There is a new fashion personality that youre with me or Im against you. And I think thats to be regretted because that is not the way in which a respectful public conversation is conducted. I mean, this friends and enemies approach that so often permeates dialogue between different people now is something to be regretted in my view and something that the ABC should avoid.

PK: How much additional funding do you want to see from the federal government?

KW: Well, thats something that is obviously to be negotiated over time. Im advancing advocacy for the role and purpose and performance of the ABC in Australian society. And I see the ABC as a very important coming-together place to celebrate and interrogate the creativity and intellect of Australia and the directions of Australia. All said and done, Australia has comparative competitive advantage in very few things. But the one thing it can really compete on is its people. Its people need to have recourse to a really major national institution that actually informs, educates, entertains and does so in a way that reflects the best elements of contemporary relevance.

PK: You will receive criticism, I think you already have, from some particularly, I think, in the right wing media who are very competitive with the ABC think we are overfunded. Whats your response to that?

KW: The view that is prosecuted with greater vigor and intensity by the News Corporation against the ABC is something that at times seems almost unhinged, in its lack a fairness or perspective in actually standing back and looking at all that the ABC does. You cant be Australian and not have a sense of the importance of the ABC. You cant live in regional Australia and have a sense of connection with the world, without the ABC. You cant be a kid in Australia and have a sense of your own world without the ABC. You cant be in a school in Australia without a really dynamic sense of the ABC. Australians rush to the ABC in any moment of domestic or international crisis because they trust the ABC. The ABC is the most trusted news organisation in Australia. These are not opinions. These are facts. And theyre important facts because theyre fundamental to those things that bind us together.

You can hear the interview in full here.
UK crime drama Grantchester has been commissioned for a tenth season.

Robson Green and recent cast addition, Rishi Nair, will star as DI Geordie Keating and Reverend Alphy Kottaram respectively.

The ninth series in which Tom Brittney (Reverend Will Davenport) leaves, and Rishi Nair arrives, is expected to air in the UK in 2025.

Other returning cast members include Al Weaver as Leonard Finch, Tessa Peake-Jones as Mrs. C, Kacey Ainsworth as Cathy Keating, Oliver Dimsdale as Daniel Marlowe, Nick Brimble as Jack Chapman, Bradley Hall as DC Larry Peters and Melissa Johns as Miss Scott.

Writer and Executive Producer Daisy Coulam said, This show is a testament to our lovely team  the cast and crew. Im so grateful and proud that we get to come back together for our tenth season and another glorious summer in Grantchester!

Emma Kingsman-Llloyd, Executive Producer added, We are so delighted by the audience reaction to Grantchester and appreciate that they have enjoyed so many episodes. We are overjoyed to be filming our tenth series and bringing more of Geordie and Alphys adventures to the screen.

ITV Drama and Comedy Assistant Commissioner Callum Dziedzic said: Grantchester is so beloved by everyone  the audience, the channel and the wonderful cast and crew who bring it to life with such passion. We are absolutely delighted to have commissioned another series and cant wait to follow up series 9 with even more mystery, misadventure and romance.

The series screens in Australia on ABC.

Filming on series 10 will begin in July.
Senior Seven News reporter Robert Ovadia has confirmed his sacking from the network.

Yes Ive been sacked and there will be more to say about that in the appropriate forum at the appropriate time, Ovadia told The Australian.

On June 7th Ovadia was stood down pending an investigation, with reports suggesting the matter involved emails exchanged four years ago with a former employee.

Ovadia has now engaged high-profile lawyer John Laxon to represent him.

Seven said earlier this month: Seven is conducting an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour by Robert Ovadia.

There is no suggestion those allegations have been proven.

A former 10 News reporter, Ovadia joined Seven News in 2000, just after the 2000 Olympic Games.

His departure is the latest in a line of exits from Seven News with more tipped to be coming.

Seven has today been contacted for comment.
Legendary Canadian actor Donald Sutherland, who has almost 200 screen credits to his name, has died aged 88.

He died on Thursday in Miami after a long illness.

Son Kiefer Sutherland, said: With a heavy heart, I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away. I personally think one of the most important actors in the history of film.

Never daunted by a role, good, bad or ugly. He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more than that. A life well lived.

Born in 1935 in Saint John, Canada, he was a radio news reporter in his youth and graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in engineering.

But it was not long before the acting bug took hold, prompting him to travel to London in 1957. After an unrewarding stint studying at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art he spent 18 months at Perth Repertory Theatre in Scotland.

Small roles in British film and television followed, among them appearances alongside Christopher Lee in the horror films Castle of the Living Dead and Dr Terrors House of Horrors. Other roles around this time included parts in episodes of The Saint, one of which was directed by its star Roger Moore.

It was on the strength of that episode that Sutherland landed his breakthrough role in World War Two action film The Dirty Dozen -a performance which led him to winning one of the lead roles in M*A*S*H.

Hollywood credits continued with Kellys Heroes, Klute, 1900, Casanova, The Eagle Has Landed, National Lampoons Animal House, Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

He played the father of a suicidal teenager in Robert Redfords Oscar-winning Ordinary People and followed with Backdraft, JFK, Six Degrees of Separation, A Time to Kill, Max Dugan Returns. Later credits would also include the Hunger Games franchise.

Sutherland turned to television in the 2000s, appearing in such series as Dirty Sexy Money, Commander-in-Chief, The Eastmans, Moby Dick, The Undoing, Trust, The Pillars of the Earth, Lawmen: Bass Reeves and filming the miniseries Salems Lot in Australia.

Ron Howard, who directed Sutherland in the 1991 film Backdraft, said that he was one of the most intelligent, interesting [and] engrossing film actors of all time.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, My thoughts go out to Kiefer and the entire Sutherland family, as well as all Canadians who are no doubt saddened to learn, as I am right now. He was a man with a strong presence, a brilliance in his craft and truly, truly a great Canadian artist.

Language.

Source: BBC
Mohammed Ramees, TwoCircles.net

New Delhi: Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra announced her electoral debut in the upcoming Lok Sabha bypolls from Wayanad, Kerala, surprising many after Rahul Gandhis anticipated decision to relinquish the seat.

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During a post-election rally in Wayanad on June 12, Rahul Gandhi remarked, I have a dilemma before me, whether I should represent Wayanad or Raebareli. What I can assure you is that my decision will bring satisfaction to both constituencies. He recalled how Wayanad played a crucial role in his political career, rescuing him from one of the most challenging moments after his defeat in Amethi to Smriti Irani. In the recent election, Rahul contested and won both Wayanad and Raebareli with overwhelming support.

A political analyst from the region, who recently completed an MA in Politics from Jamia Millia Islamia, interpreted Rahuls remarks as a nod towards Priyankas potential candidacy in Wayanad, suggesting that no other celebrity candidate from the Congress could better resonate with the electorate.

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala told TwoCircles.net, Congress party members are enthusiastic about Priyanka contesting in Wayanad. Given Rahuls 3.6 lakh vote margin in the last election, we expect his sister to surpass that, possibly exceeding 4 lakhs. The CPI, part of the INDIA bloc, is expected to support Priyanka this time. We have witnessed the impact of their opposition against Rahul previously and hope they will not repeat the same mistake.

With the introduction of Brand Priyanka, Congress aims for a decisive victory in the upcoming Kerala Assembly election. This strategic move also eliminates the challenge of selecting a local leader while responding to the demands from various Muslim organizations, including Samastha Kerala Jem-Iyyathul Ulama, to field a Muslim candidate for the vacant seat.

Wayanad constituency is home to an estimated 14.6 lakh voters, predominantly represented by Christians and Muslims constituting 60% of the electorate. Geographically, it spans across three districts: Kozhikode, Wayanad, and Malappuram. Within Wayanad, Assembly segments encompass Mananthavady, Sulthan Bathery, and Kalpetta. Thiruvambady falls under Kozhikode district, while Nilambur, Eranad, and Wandoor are located in Malappuram district.

Established following a delimitation in 2008, Wayanad has consistently favored candidates from the United Democratic Front (UDF), remaining a stronghold of the Congress and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). The IUML boasts a dedicated voter base and a well-organized booth-level electoral system, renowned for effectively mobilizing support, a strategy appreciated by numerous UDF candidates.

Commenting on Priyanka Gandhis candidacy, Sadiqali Shihab Thangal, president of the IUML, stated, This is a commendable decision by the Congress, one that will bolster the UDF and strengthen the entire INDIA alliance.

Wayanad Congress functionary Kabeer Ebrahim said, The Gandhi familys presence in South India, particularly in Kerala, will enhance the regions access to the Centre. Rahul Gandhis decision to focus on North India is crucial at this juncture, and we fully support it. Priyanka Gandhis candidacy is the perfect fit for this prestigious constituency.

Although this marks Priyankas debut election, she is no stranger to Wayanad. Her distinctive bobbed hair and infectious smile became synonymous with Rahuls campaigns in the constituency. Her first visit was in 2016 when she campaigned for P. K. Jayalakshmi in the assembly election. Since then, she has visited numerous places across the district as a key campaigner for her brother.

We have consistently delivered historic mandates for Rahul in every election. For Priyanka, the support will be even stronger because she possesses charisma that resonates with women voters. Despite internal divisions within the Congress, everyone will unite to ensure her victory, added Ebrahim.

Two assembly constituencies in Kerala, Palakkad and Chelakkara, will witness by-elections alongside Wayanad. The Kerala Congress is optimistic that the Priyanka effect will contribute to their victories in these seats.

Meanwhile, CPI(M), also part of the INDIA alliance, has confirmed their intention to field a candidate against Priyanka. If the CPI(M) refrains from contesting, it could inadvertently bolster the BJPs vote share. We are committed to preventing any political advantage to the BJP, stated Binoy Viswam, the Left partys state secretary, while talking to TwoCircles.net.

Rahul departed Wayanad within two weeks. The Congress should avoid such gimmicks, especially with a leader of his stature, he emphasized.

When Rahul arrived, the CPI(M) criticized his presence, and now they continue to do so as he departs, remarked Mohammed Shahal, who aligns ideologically with the UDF.

By deploying a prominent Congress leader to contest against the LDF, also a part of the INDIA alliance, the Congress might be sending a wrong signal, opined Ashif Shaheer, joint secretary of the SFI at Jamia Millia Islamia. Rahuls lack of grassroots engagement was noted, and I am uncertain if Priyanka can fill that void. We require someone deeply connected with the constituencys people, consistently present, not just an occasional visitor.

Despite holding 20 seats in the Lok Sabha, none of the parties have succeeded in electing a woman to represent Kerala in Parliament. With Priyanka Gandhi entering the arena, the Congress seeks to appeal to women voters, drawn by her charisma and ability to rally large crowds. This move not only enhances Congresss political strategy but also marks a notable advancement for womens representation in the state.

If Gandhis were contesting in our constituency, we might contemplate voting for the Congress, remarked Lini, an Asha worker from a neighboring constituency who traditionally supports the CPI(M).
A Secret Service agent was robbed at gunpoint during President Joe Biden's trip to Los Angeles for a star-studded fundraiser.



Police in the LA suburb of Tustin said the stick-up took place around 9:30 p.m. Saturday in a residential development known as Tustin Field 1.



The agent's bag was stolen and he opened fire during the incident but it's unknown if one or more robbers were shot, the Tustin Police Department said in a statement posted on social media Monday.



"Officers have located some of the victim's belongings in the area and the incident is still being investigated," the statement said.



An SUV believed to be a silver Infiniti FX35 was seen leaving the crime scene, police said.



The Secret Service said the agent was "returning from a work assignment" at the time of the robbery but didn't elaborate.



"We are thankful that the employee did not sustain any injuries," spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said in a prepared statement.



Biden's campaign said it raised more than $30 million, a new record for the Democratic Party, when appeared Saturday at the Peacock Theater for a discussion with late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel and former President Barack Obama.



Hollywood A-listers George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Barbra Streisand were among the celebrities who appeared on stage and Jack Black and Sheryl Lee Ralph gave musical performances.
French left wing parties campaign for early legislative elections to get out vote in Paris suburbs

French left wing parties campaign for early legislative elections to get out vote in Paris suburbs

By Layli Foroudi and Manuel Ausloos

LE PLESSIS-TREVISE, France (Reuters) - In a racially mixed suburb of Paris, left-wing parliamentary candidate Adel Amara campaigned door-to-door one evening this week, saying he worries for France's minority communities if Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) wins the coming election.

Amara, an opposition municipal councillor in the town of Villiers-sur-Marne and long-time community activist who is of Algerian heritage, is keen to mobilise those who stayed at home in past elections and turn his district, the 4th Val-de-Marne constituency, leftward.

Fewer than half of all registered voters cast a ballot in the 2022 parliamentary election nationally.

With the RN leading in opinion polls ahead of the vote, which takes place over two rounds on June 30 and July 7, members of minority communities in urban areas interviewed in recent days told Reuters they felt an RN victory could lead to a rise in racism.

A victory for the far right would impact "non-French people, and French people of Muslim faith, of colour, and the police will feel they're given immunity," Amara said.

The RN denies it is racist but proposes policies that it says prioritise French nationals. It wants to limit access to health and welfare benefits for foreigners, to restrict citizenship and to ban the wearing of the hijab, an Islamic head covering, by women in public.

The RN's candidate for prime minister, Jordan Bardella, said last week that "our compatriots of foreign nationality or origin who work, pay their taxes, respect the law, and love our country have nothing to fear".

Tackling traditionally high abstention rates is central for the Popular Front, a leftist alliance formed of the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI), the centre-left Socialist Party, the Greens and the Communist Party. The group is polling in second place.

Officials from LFI say they are especially targetting constituencies such as that are currently held by President Emmanuel Macron's ruling centrist alliance, which opinion polls suggest may lose as many as half its seats in this election. Such constituencies include the 4th Val-de-Marne.

In this constituency, where there are pockets of well-off residents as well as working-class estates and immigrant communities, the right has historically won high scores.

In the European Parliament elections last month that prompted Macron to call a snap election, the RN came top in the area with 25% - lower than its national score but high for the Paris region.

The RN candidate for the 4th Val-de-Marne, Alain Philippet, is an opposition municipal councillor in Le Plessis-Trevise, a town neighbouring Villiers-sur-Marne.

GETTING THE YOUNG TO VOTE

In the small working-class estate of Cite de la Joie (Joy Estate) in Le Plessis-Trevise, where 36-year-old Amara was campaigning this week, only 497 people (43% of eligible voters) cast a ballot in 2022.

Voter participation rates in urban working-class suburbs are low due to a young demographic - the elderly vote more than youth - and socio-economic factors like poverty and education levels, said Celine Braconnier, director of Sciences-Po Saint-Germain-en-Laye.

While there is a long tradition of community organising, abstention is high in these areas because "these populations are mistreated by the political class, so they don't have much reason to trust (it)," said sociologist Ulysse Rabate, who studies political life in urban estates.

Social worker Celia Ngala, talking in Villiers-sur-Marne's high street, said this would be the first parliamentary election she will have voted in, adding she was spurred by worries about the far right.

"I have young daughters and I don't want to leave them in a world where they are going to be stigmatised because of the colour of their skin or because they have an immigrant background," said Ngala, 35, who is of Congolese-Algerian heritage, adding she planned to vote for the left-wing coalition.

Cite de la Joie resident Abderrahim Miri, a 24-year-old student of Moroccan origin, said he was worried for his mother, who does not have French nationality and who he said was already subject to racism in the street because she wears a veil.

The RN in power would "encourage excesses, people who hid before won't hide anymore," he said.

The LFI put forward activists from diverse working-class backgrounds as new candidates for the leftist alliance, such as Amara and Amal Bentounsi, an activist against police violence, among others.

"It's important for democratic reasons, and also because we need candidates who will speak about racial inequalities," said Omar Slaouti, a teacher and activist with the "Estates Assembly" collective. "They won't betray us because they come from the grassroots."

Lorianne Diop, a 22-year-old cashier from Villiers-sur-Marne, was not ready to be persuaded by politicians of any stripe. She said she doesn't see the point in voting, and between work and looking after her baby, she doesn't have the time.

"All politicians are liars, they say one thing and then do another," she said.

(This story has been refiled to fix Amal Bentounsi's name in paragraph 21)

(Reporting by Layli Foroudi and Manuel Ausloos; Editing by Frances Kerry)
FILE PHOTO: German Economy and Climate Minister Habeck holds a press conference about the spring economic forecasts, in Berlin

By Maria Martinez

BEIJING (Reuters) -Germany's strategy on China needs to be updated to include a longer-term plan and take account of Europe's approach, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said on Friday on the first day of a visit to Beijing.

Europe's largest economy has long faced accusations by some European analysts of taking an overly bilateral approach towards China, its top trade partner for eight years until 2024, motivated by its own short-term commercial interests.

That started to shift slightly when Berlin last year agreed its first ever strategy on China, which urged a de-risking of the two countries' economic relationship, calling Beijing a "partner, competitor and systemic rival".

The 64-page document urged German firms to reduce their dependence on China  the country's most important trade partner - but was light on any binding targets and requirements.

"Sooner or later the China strategy needs an update," Habeck said at a reception at the German embassy in Beijing.

Habeck said the China strategy lacks direction on how Germany sees the medium-term relationship between the two countries.

"I am saying this because I am sure the Chinese have it (a medium-term plan)," Habeck said.

The German government did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The economy minister said specific areas should be tackled in politics, trade and climate action.

"A strategy means you have to look in the future and to describe at least a path to the future, even when it will never happen as it is described," Habeck said.

The second problem was that it was the German government's China strategy and missed the European approach, he said.

"That would be an even bigger challenge because honestly we would have very easily 27 China strategies," he said, instead of a single strategy.

Critics say that infighting within Germany's ideologically heterogeneous three-way coalition of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), Habeck's Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) - the first of its kind at a national level - has complicated reaching agreements at an EU level.

The three parties have disagreed over key issues in the relationship with China, such as the decision to allow the sale of a stake in a terminal at Hamburg's port to China's Cosco, with the Greens and FDP typically arguing for a tougher line than the SPD.

Beijing warned on Friday that escalating frictions with the European Union over electric vehicle imports could trigger a trade war, and the proposed tariffs were high on Habeck's agenda for his three-day visit to the country.

Straight after landing in Beijing, Habeck went to his first meeting of the trip, with EU ambassadors.

Despite the challenges, he called for a European approach, which he said was needed in a complex world.

"Europe matters and we have to stand together," Habeck said.

(Reporting by Maria Martinez; Additional reporting by Sarah MarshEditing by Miranda Murray, Matthias Williams and Susan Fenton)
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Now, NTA postpones CSIR UGC NET 2024 exam

In another decision which could further intensify protests against the National Testing Agency (NTA), the exam conducting authority has postponed the CSIR UGC NET June 2024 exam

Saturday June 22, 2024 0:34 AM , ummid.com News Network

[AI generated image used for representation purpose.]

New Delhi: In another decision which could further intensify protests against the National Testing Agency (NTA), the exam conducting authority has postponed the CSIR UGC NET June 2024 exam.

The NTA had scheduled the CSIR UGC NET 2024 exam from June 25 to 27, 2024.

It had on June 15, 2024, Advance Intimation of Examination City allotted to the applicants.

The candidates were now waiting for their admit card or hall ticket. However, instead of the admit card, candidates who registered for the CSIR UGC NET June 2024 exam, got the notification saying the exam has been postponed.

The NTA cited unavoidable circumstances and logistic issues issues as the reason behind the decision to postpone the CSIR UGC NET June 2024.

The candidates are hereby informed that the Joint CSIR-UGC-NET Examination June-2024 which was scheduled to be held between 25.06.2024 to 27.06.2024 is being postponed due to unavoidable circumstances as well as logistic issues, the NTA said in a notification released Friday.

The NTA has not disclosed the new date and time of the CSIR UGC NET exam but said the revised schedule will be published soon.

The revised schedule for the conduct of this examination will be announced later through the official website, the NTA said.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the Joint CSIR UGC NET Examination for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and for Lectureship in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode for a total of six subjects.

The NTA is already facing nationwide protests and legal cases over allegations of paper leaks and irregularities in NEET UG 2024 and UGC NET 2024 .





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Palestinian journalists Courage Awards rescinded after protest by neoconservatives

The International Womens Media Foundation (IWMF) revoked the 2024 Courage in Journalism Award conferred on Palestinian Journalist Maha Hussaini after the right-wing and neoconservative groups and publications in the United States accused her of being a Hamas sympathizer and anti-semite

Friday June 21, 2024 8:39 PM , ummid.com Web Desk

The International Womens Media Foundation (IWMF) revoked the 2024 Courage in Journalism Award conferred on Palestinian Journalist Maha Hussaini after the right-wing and neoconservative groups and publications in the United States accused her of being a Hamas sympathizer and anti-semite.

The International Womens Media Foundation (IWMF) had conferred the 2024 Courage in Journalism Award on Maha Hussaini on June 10, 2024 for her ground reporting from Gaza.

The IWMF had recognized Hussaini as one of the four recipients of its Courage in Journalism Awards, which recognizes exceptional courage in reporting.

The organisation however rescinded the award conferred upon her under pressure by right-wing neoconservative groups that accused her of being Hamas sympathizer and anti-semite based on her social media posts.

Within the last 24 hours, the IWMF learned of comments made by Maha Hussaini in past years that contradict the values of our organization. As a result, we have rescinded the Courage in Journalism Award that was previously given to her, the organization said in a statement on June 19.

Maha Hussaini remains firm

Maha Hussaini however remains firm and more determined in her mission, and vows the cancellation of the courage awards won't dissuade her from imparting her duties.

I wouldnt have won The International Womens Media Foundation (@IWMF)s Courage in Journalism Award 2024 this June if I hadnt been on the ground reporting events and exposing Israeli flagrant violations under perilous conditions, all while being systematically attacked by supporters of the perpetrators, she wrote on social media platform X. Winning a prize for courage means being subjected to attacks and choosing to continue your work regardless. However, I regret to say that the very organization that recognized these perilous conditions and awarded me the prize succumbed to pressure and chose to act contrary to courage; they rescinded the award in a decision that would put my life at risk, she continued.

Writing for Middle East Eye, Hussaini called out the organisations decision and the pro-Israeli groups that ran the smear campaign against her.

Hussaini also said she has no regret about her social media posts used by the IWMF as pretext to rescind the awards.

I have no regrets about any posts or past comments that led to the rescinding of my award and I will not stop expressing my views. Before becoming a journalist, I was a Palestinian living under military occupation and a strangling blockade. Today, I am enduring an internationally recognised genocide in Gaza, she wrote.

Hussaini also wrote she did not choose journalism as a profession but became a journalist after recognising the extent to which the world overlooks Palestinian suffering and opts to conform to Israeli pressures, especially at a time when Israel bans international journalists from entering the Gaza Strip to objectively report on the war.

Instead of acknowledging the threats faced by Palestinian journalists and contributing to their protection, the withdrawal of awards from Palestinian reporters in Gaza, where dozens of journalists have already been killed by Israeli forces, risks making them even bigger targets, she wrote.



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HA NOI  The development of electric vehicles (EVs) in the Vietnamese market has shown significant progress in recent years. The first introduction of the BMW i3 in 2016 marked a notable milestone, considering the dominance of gasoline and diesel vehicles in Viet Nam at that time. This early entry generated curiosity and attention among the public, according to industry insiders.

VinFast's entrance into the EV market with the VF e34 in October 2021 was a pivotal moment. Subsequently, VinFast made a strategic decision to focus exclusively on electric vehicles, signaling a shift in the Vietnamese auto industry towards sustainable mobility. This move not only diversified VinFast's product line with various electric SUV models but also catalysed broader interest from other international automakers like Hyundai, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Volvo, among others.

One of the critical challenges facing the EV market in Viet Nam is the infrastructure for charging stations. Unlike traditional refueling at gas stations, charging an electric vehicle requires more time, which initially posed a barrier for consumer adoption. VinFast has acknowledged this challenge and announced plans to develop 40,000 charging ports across various locations nationwide. These stations are intended to be situated in apartments, rest stops, shopping centers, office buildings and parking lots, aiming to enhance convenience and accessibility for EV users throughout Viet Nam.

EV charging infrastructure in Viet Nam has seen substantial development, driven by efforts from VinFast and other automotive giants like Porsche and Audi.

Meanwhile, Porsche, in collaboration with Charge+, has also announced plans to deploy a DC fast charging network in Viet Nam.

This initiative will add 17 new fast charging locations over the next three years. These stations, offering up to 180kW capacity, are strategically located in major cities like Ha Noi, HCM City and a Nang, as well as in key mid-trip stops including Ninh Binh, Phan Thiet and Bao Loc. This expansion aims to enhance the convenience and reliability of charging for Porsche and potentially other EV users, contributing to the broader infrastructure development in Southeast Asia.

German automaker Audi has also made strides in EV infrastructure within Viet Nam, operating three DC fast charging stations in HCM City. These stations are strategically positioned at service centers and showroom locations across the city, ensuring Audi customers have reliable access to fast charging options.

The rapid expansion of VinFast and the increasing presence of EV models from various manufacturers reflect a growing momentum towards electric mobility in Viet Nam. As infrastructure continues to develop and consumer awareness increases, the EV market is poised for further growth, contributing to sustainability efforts and reshaping the automotive industry landscape in the country.

Diversified EV charging options

EV charging infrastructure in Viet Nam is expanding not only through efforts from automotive manufacturers like VinFast, but also through various private entities operating shared charging stations.

Several private companies such as Eboost, EV One, EverCharge, EVN, DatCharge, Rabbit EVC and VuPhong Energy have been actively deploying shared charging stations across Viet Nam. These providers aim to fill gaps in charging infrastructure and offer convenient access to charging for EV owners, regardless of the car brand they own.

VinFast, while leading in the country's EV market, has opted not to share its proprietary charging network with other car manufacturers like BYD (models Atto 3, Dolphin and Seal) and MG (specifically mentioned with the MG4 EV). Despite BYD's models supporting the CCS2 charging standard, which is compatible with VinFast's infrastructure, there is currently no interoperability between these networks. Owners of BYD and MG EVs must rely on third-party charging stations operated by providers like EV One, which are expanding their networks across the country.

Looking forward, the Vietnamese EV market's growth will likely influence strategic decisions regarding charging infrastructure. As the market matures and competition intensifies, there could be shifts towards more open networks or interoperability agreements between manufacturers and charging providers. VinFast's decision to potentially expand its charging network to serve multiple car brands in the future indicates a recognition of the evolving needs and preferences of EV customers in Viet Nam. VNS
HA NOI  The Vietnamese car market is experiencing significant transformations with the entry of Chinese brands, according to motoring experts.

Brands like Omoda, Jaecoo, BYD, Haval and Lynk & Co. are aggressively pushing into the market, aiming to capitalise on Viet Nam's growing demand for cars as the country is undergoing an automobilisation phase with rising average incomes.

Chinese car manufacturers are rapidly establishing showrooms and dealerships across Viet Nam. For example, BYD plans to open 50 showrooms by mid-2024 and Haval aims to have 25-30 dealerships this year. This aggressive expansion contrasts with the cautious approach of many traditional international brands.

Chinese automakers are investing heavily in local production facilities. Omoda and Jaecoo will soon start operating a factory with an annual capacity of 200,000 cars in Thai Binh Province. BYD is also considering building an automobile factory in Viet Nam.

The Chinese brands are offering a range of vehicles including petrol models, plug-in hybrids and pure electric vehicles (BEVs). This diverse product lineup is aimed at catering to various segments of the Vietnamese market.

Chinese brands are particularly targeting young Vietnamese consumers who are quick to adopt new technologies, including electric vehicles (EVs). BYD, for example, aims to leverage its expertise in EVs to penetrate the market further.

While these brands have ambitious goals to capture a significant market share in Viet Nam (with Omoda and Jaecoo aiming to have ten per cent of the market by 2028), hitting those targets in a competitive market will require time and sustained effort.

The reception of Chinese cars among Vietnamese consumers will be critical. Brands like Lynk & Co are focusing not just on selling cars, but also on creating community.

Liu Xueliang, the CEO of BYD, emphasises the strategic importance of Viet Nam as a key market for their expansion. He highlights several factors that make Viet Nam attractive, particularly the fact that the country has a large population, over a hundred million, with a significant proportion being young people. This demographic is crucial because young consumers are typically early adopters of new technologies, including electric vehicles (EVs).

BYD aims to leverage its existing technological capabilities to cater to these market dynamics. While acknowledging the presence of price competition in the market. Liu emphasises that BYD's focus lies in maintaining leadership through its core technologies in electric vehicles.

Omoda and Jaecoo Auto Vietnam, are instead focusing on achieving ambitious market share targets by strategically importing a variety of vehicle types initially and transitioning to local assembly. Their approach includes adhering to global 3S standards in showrooms to provide a premium customer experience, emphasising comfort and luxury.

Nguyen ang Quang, overseeing sales and dealer development for Omoda and Jaecoo, says the company has a phased plan, capturing three per cent market share by 2025, rising to six per cent with locally assembled vehicles by 2027 and achieving 10 per cent market share and a top five position post-2028.

This strategy underscores their intent to grow progressively and solidify their presence in Viet Nam's competitive auto sector.

On the other hand, Lynk & Co is adopting a community-oriented approach with its Lynk & Co Center and Clubs model. This innovative concept goes beyond traditional showrooms by integrating sales, after-sales services and community events. By fostering a social environment where customers can engage with the brand and each other, Lynk & Co aims to appeal directly to young consumers who value connectivity and unique experiences.

Customers often chose to buy a second car from China, suggesting a growing familiarity and acceptance of Chinese vehicles among Vietnamese consumers. This trend indicates a favourable perception that could facilitate further market penetration and growth for Chinese brands in Viet Nam.  VNS
The Florida clinic where a plastic surgeon's wife suffered cardiac arrest while he performed several cosmetic procedures on her was plagued with issues well before her death, according to a report.

An investigation conducted by the Florida Department of Health found that Dr. Benjamin Jacob Brown's Restore Plastic Surgery clinic in Gulf Breeze, Florida, first "began to decline" in 2021, a medical assistant told investigators.

The medical assistant alleged Brown broke protocol when he began to delegate more work to his physician assistant and his unlicensed wife, Hillary Ellington Brown, whose death he subsequently and allegedly caused.

The assistant also accused Brown of storing medication in an unlocked cabinet and purported staff would freely ingest Versed  a sedative that promotes relaxation and sleepiness  "to take the edge off" during their shifts, the 30-page report read.

As part of their investigation, the Department of Health spoke with two previous patients who claimed they went to Brown for liposuction and breast implant surgeries, and received unauthorized Brazilian butt lifts  a procedure where fat is transferred to the patient's buttocks  while under the knife.

When one of the patients confronted him, Brown allegedly admitted to the surgery because he thought she would "love it," according to the report.

Investigators found Brown's clinic also allegedly failed to maintain proper medical records and documentation pertaining to patient appointments and procedures.

On Monday, Brown was arrested and charged with second-degree felony homicide in connection with Hillary's death, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office.

The mom of three died in November 2023, one week after she was admitted to the hospital for cardiac arrest experienced while her husband performed a scar revision, arm liposuction, lip injections, and ear adjustment procedures, according to investigation records.

Prior to the operations, Hillary administered her own "handful" of undocumented, "multi-colored pills," which included Valium, investigators discovered. She also prepared her own IV solution, despite not having a license to do so.

While on the operating table, Hillary displayed symptoms of lidocaine toxicity caused by an overdose of the anesthetic, triggering a seizure and cardiac arrest.

Brown allegedly instructed his staff to hold off from calling 911 for 20 minutes. His wife never regained consciousness.

"My family lives in a sea of tears for eternity due to the actions of one careless individual," Hillary's dad, Marty Ellington said, according to the Pensacola News Journal. "His ego and arrogance overshadowed the need for help, prolonging oxygen deprivation to her brain and ultimately causing her death. Ben Brown took the mother from my grandchildren, my only daughter and our brightest star. Hillary gave the ultimate sacrifice so Ben Brown cannot hurt anyone else. Maybe in prison, he will get the attention he deserves."
HA NOI The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has promised there will be no electricity shortages this year, unlike last year, when power shortages were frequently reported during summer -- even as electricity consumption reaches record-high figures in Viet Nam.

According to the MoIT, as of June 18, the Southeast Asian country's power consumption has reached 141.8 billion kWh, equivalent to 45.6 per cent of the annual estimate.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan said there has been significant pressure on the country's power infrastructure this year as the economy's recovery gains momentum.

Ensuring sufficient power supply has been among the top priorities of the ministries and the Prime Minister.

"The ministry has sent task forces to inspect and monitor the availability of resources including water, coal and gas. A rapid response team has also been formed under the Electricity Regulatory Authority in preparation for possible issues with the system," said the deputy minister.

Nguyen The Huu, the authority's deputy director, said despite record-breaking consumption levels this year, the power supply has remained stable and smooth. He said there should not be power shortages in 2024.

However, the country's power network may experience peak demand during the hot summer months of June and July. Huu said residents and businesses should also help conserve electricity, relieving pressure on the country's power networks.

"In the long term, to ensure electricity supply, the Department of Electricity and Renewable Energy and the Electricity Regulatory Authority, both under the MoIT's management, have established a direct power purchase agreement (DPPA) mechanism," Huu said.

Meanwhile, the ministry has also been working on building the legal frameworks required to regulate the production and transmission of alternative power sources, including waste and biomass.

Bui Quoc Hung, deputy director of the electricity and renewable energy department, said demand has experienced rapid growth since last year and recently reported a 12 per cent increase year-on-year, exceeding previous estimations of 8-9 per cent.

Since the approval of Power Plan VIII, the MoIT has started the implementation of several projects to bolster and expand the national grid.

The construction of the 500 kV Line Circuit 3 has been expedited to cover the north and central regions, as well as various other projects.

The ministry has also started negotiations with power suppliers from Laos. VNS
HA NOI  The Association of Vietnamese Enterprises in Indonesia, along with the Vietnamese Embassy to Indonesia, organised a business forum in Jakarta on Thursday to discuss opportunities for doing business in the country.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Ta Van Thong said that the embassy is willing to provide support to Vietnamese enterprises to operate and develop in Indonesia, contributing to promote the trade and investment cooperation between the two countries in potential sectors such as green economy, logistics, digital economy and electric vehicles.

Enterprises at the forum shared experiences in undertaking business in Indonesian markets and committed to support each other to create a Viet Nam business ecosystem in the country.

Thai Thanh Long from the Association of Vietnamese Enterprises in Indonesia said that the association has already helped connect more than 30 enterprises in Indonesia.

ao Quy Phi, a representative of VinGroups Xanh SM Indonesia said that Indonesia is a huge market with a population almost three times the size of Viet Nams.

Indonesia is currently the third largest trade partner of Viet Nam, while Viet Nam is the fourth largest of Indonesia's within the economic union, ASEAN.

Bilateral trade reached nearly US$14 billion in 2023 with the two countries hoping to reach a joint trade target of $18 billion in 2028.  VNS
HA NOI  The corporate income tax on small and micro-sized enterprises might be cut to 15-17 per cent from a current common rate of 20 per cent, depending on previous revenues.

More appropriate tax rates for small and microsized enterprises is one highlight of the draft amendments to the Law on Corporate Income Tax, which with aims to promote the development of the private economic sector and encourage a transition from business households into enterprises, according to the Ministry of Finance.

The ministry said that most countries apply tax rates lower than the common rate on small enterprises. Tax rates can vary according to revenue scale and taxable income.

In comparison with ASEAN countries, the ministry said that the common tax rate of 20 per cent is equal to that of Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, lower than the Philippines (at 30 per cent), Myanmar (at 25 per cent) and Indonesia (at 22 per cent) but higher than Singapore (at 17 per cent) and Brunei (at 18.5 per cent).

Statistics show that there are about 900,000 enterprises in Viet Nam, of which small and micro-sized enterprises account for nearly 94 per cent.

It is necessary to encourage their development to generate revenue for the State budget in the long term, the ministry said.

The ministry is therefore proposing a tax rate of 15 per cent for enterprises with revenues of less than VN3 billion per year and 17 per cent for enterprises with revenues between VN3 billion and VN50 billion.  VNS
HA NOI  The abolition of the 0 per cent value-added tax for export products and services will likely raise product costs and reduce Vietnamese products ability to compete internationally, said industry insiders.

The concern was raised by businesses about the scope of the draft VAT law, which has been discussed on the floor of the National Assembly this week.

Bui Ngoc Tuan, Deputy Director General of Tax Advisory Services at Deloitte Vietnam said for many, costs may go up as much as 6 per cent, on top of increased expenses on administrative procedures for tax refunds.

He added it took some businesses nearly two years to complete tax refunds, which was a very, very long time and has greatly affected their financial performance and cash flow.

"For medium-sized export manufacturing companies in Viet Nam, the absolute figure for additional input VAT could reach tens of millions of USD per year, not to mention the complications during tax refund procedures," he said.

Economists said careful consideration is required to ensure balance among the interests of investors, the economy and the government and that implementation must also be gradual to avoid negative responses from investors.  VNS
HA NOI  The Sri Lankan market suddenly increased rubber imports from Viet Nam with a growth of 435.7 per cent in volume and 530.5 per cent in value in the first five months of the year.

The Agency of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Industry and Trade cited statistics from the General Department of Customs as saying that the country rubber exports reached 84,460 tonnes last month, worth US$135.64 million, up 14.8 per cent in volume and 14.5 per cent in value compared to April, but decreased by 27.9 per cent in volume and 14.9 per cent in value compared to May last year.

This is the second consecutive month that rubber exports have decreased compared to the same period last year.

In the first five months of this year, rubber exports reached 572,280 tonnes, worth $859.4 million, down 2.4 per cent in volume, but up 6 per cent in value compared to the same period last year.

Rubber exports to many major markets decreased in the first five months of this year, in particular markets such as China, the Netherlands and Peru.

However, exports to some markets still grew including India, South Korea, Russia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Brazil and Italy.

Notably, Vietnamese rubber imports to the Sri Lankan market suddenly soared in the first five months of the year, rising the market share of rubber exports to this market from 0.26 per cent to 1.43 per cent of Viet Nam's total rubber exports.  VNS
HCM CITY  The healthcare sector needs to shift from a hospital-centric model to a patient-centric one to meet the needs of patients, especially in light of an aging and growing population, said Dr. Dilshaad Ali Bin Abas Ali, Group CEO of Hoan My Medical Group.

During a roundtable on healthcare transformation in HCM City this week, he said that with this new model of care, the healthcare sector would focus not only on patients' experiences in hospitals, but also on establishing a system capable of providing healthcare services directly at home through digital applications.

"Successfully implementing this model can help reduce costs for patients," he said.

"For the patient-centric model, system design plays a crucial role, as it determines the success or failure of efforts to enhance patient experience.

"The operation of the home and hospital care model requires intelligent digital integration, involving logistics, and understanding and effectively utilising data. Moreover, service quality must be measured and resulting actions clearly defined," he said.

Attendants at the event agreed that Viet Nam's health sector is facing an increasingly high need for treatment and care due to population growth, aging demographics and improved living standards.

Duong Huy Luong, Deputy Director of the Department of Medical Service Administration, under the Ministry of Health, said Viet Nam has encountered challenges from the dual disease burden (infectious and non-communicable diseases), increasing the risk of mortality and imposing a burden on society.

This underscores the need to swiftly transform and continuously enhance the quality and efficiency of the healthcare system from central to local levels to adapt to changing disease patterns, he said.

According to Luong, Vietnamese people spend around US$2 billion every year on medical treatment abroad, a figure that could rise to $3-4 billion in the coming years.

He added that if Viet Nam is to become a regional healthcare hub, there needs to be comprehensive solutions on such things as training high-quality healthcare professionals, investing in robust infrastructure, developing specialised medical services, advancing digital transformations and simplifying administrative procedures.

Increasing access to quality healthcare services

Participants at the event also discussed the accessibility of healthcare services with an equitable delivery model.

Alongside the rapid growth of the middle class, with a higher disposable income for healthcare, a large segment of Vietnamese people still seek better-quality private healthcare services at affordable costs.

The healthcare sector's transformation needs to meet the demands of both high-income individuals, potentially redirecting the $2 billion spent abroad every year for medical treatment back to Viet Nam and the general public, particularly those on below-average incomes.

"The Hoan My ecosystem is focusing on building and developing healthcare facilities that cater to peoples diverse needs and financial capabilities, the group's CEO Dilshaad Ali Bin Abas Ali said.

Hoan My is expanding access to healthcare through the Thuan My network of hospitals and clinics, offering quality medical services at affordable costs.

"Our vision is that, by 2030, we will have transitioned from leading the medical sector to shaping healthcare culture, to advance the health and well-being of all Vietnamese people.

In her speech at the event, Louise Cuskelly, Executive Director at the ACHS International & Consulting, shared insights on high-quality care elements, challenges and practical experiences to help Vietnamese healthcare facilities raise care standards to international levels.

Additionally, with digitalisation, processes that optimise data flow between medical devices and computer models are essential, she said.

Meanwhile, James Anibal, a Researcher at Oxford University said despite challenges, digital healthcare models have demonstrated potential advantages in optimising costs, time and patient accessibility.

He added that in the future, artificial intelligence (AI) applications may help doctors worldwide reduce errors in diagnosis and treatment processes, ultimately improving the quality of care.

Viet Nams healthcare sector aims to position the country as a destination for health and wellness tourism within the next 20 years, contributing to the countrys economic growth, while building a 'healthcare industry' for the future.  VNS
HA NOI  Shares were mixed on Friday as a profit-taking came to the fore after recent rallies weighed on the market.

The VN-Index on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) finished the day at 1,282.02 points, down 0.28 points, or 0.02 per cent. The reversal ended a three-day rising streak.

On the southern bourse, the breadth was negative as 161 stocks ticked down while 159 increased. Liquidity hovered above VN21 trillion (US$826.5 million) but decreased by 9.9 per cent from the previous session.

The VN30-Index, tracking the 30 biggest stocks on HoSE by market capitalisation, also decreased 2.43 points, or 0.18 per cent, down to 1,319.93 points. The number of gainers surpassed decliners in the VN30 basket by 18 to seven, while five stocks ended flat.

Large-cap stocks in manufacturing and banking sectors led the market's downturn with Hoa Phat Group (HPG) posting the biggest fall in the market capitalisation, down 1.02 per cent.

It was followed by Ho Chi Minh City Development Joint Stock Commercial Bank (HDB), Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank (ACB), Vinhomes JSC (VHM), Vinhomes JSC (VHM) and Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (TCB). All the stocks dipped in a range of 0.6-1.91 per cent.

The index pared losses thanks to weaker bottom fishing demand. Lien Viet Post Joint Stock Commercial Bank (LPB) was the biggest gainer with an increase of 6.47 per cent, contributing more than 1.1 points to the VN-Index.

It was followed by FPT Corporation (FPT), up more than two per cent, Vietnam Rubber Group - Joint Stock Company (GVR), increased 1.62 per cent and Viet Nam National Petroleum Group (PLX), which rose 2.42 per cent.

The Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX) index finished higher on Friday afternoon, increasing 0.16 per cent to 244.36 points.

During the session, more than VN1.4 trillion worth of shares were traded, equivalent to a trading volume of nearly 75 million shares on the northern bourse.

Foreign investors extended their net selling spree as they net sold over VN1 trillion on HoSE. They also net sold VN34.6 billion on HNX.  VNS
HA NOI  Vietnam Airlines said that it will maintain the strong recovery momentum that has been building since 2023, the national flag carrier said at its shareholders' meeting on June 21.

Speaking at the event, CEO Le Hong Ha said that in 2024, the global economic and political situation would remain challenging, continuing to impact the airline industry.

Globally, the ongoing conflicts between Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas have disrupted supply chains, greatly affecting productions and economies.

Fuel prices are expected to stay high, around US$104 per barrel, driving up Vietnam Airlines' operating costs. A $1 per barrel change in fuel price translates to around VN230 billion (US$9 million) in annual cost fluctuations for the company.

Meanwhile, aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney has recalled engines on the A321 and A320 Neo aircraft, causing an aircraft shortage expected to last until 2025. This is directly impacting airlines' operating plans, recovery efforts and network expansion.

These external factors are putting significant pressure on the business operations of airlines in general, including Vietnam Airlines.

Consequently, Vietnam Airlines has set a target in its 2024 business plan of transporting an estimated 22.64 million passengers, a 7.6 per cent increase from the same period last year, though still equivalent to only 99 per cent of the 2019 passenger volume.

It has set a consolidated revenue target of over VN105.9 trillion for 2024, up 113.6 per cent over the previous year. The company aims to achieve a consolidated profit before tax of more than VN4.5 trillion, with the parent company's profit reaching VN105 billion.

To achieve the financial goals, Vietnam Airlines is implementing a comprehensive set of measures including ramping up revenue and income generation, as well as continuing to rigorously manage and optimise costs. The airline also plans to improve the efficiency of resource utilisation, particularly its aircraft fleet.

Notably, it intends to divest its stake in Tan Son Nhat Cargo Services JSC, which is expected to generate around VN1.7 trillion. This additional cash flow is expected to help the parent company and the consolidated business achieve a balanced income statement in 2024, with the parent company's profit before tax reaching VN105 billion and the consolidated profit before tax hitting VN4.5 trillion.

If it achieves these projected business results, Vietnam Airlines is expected to maintain a balanced cash flow throughout the year. The estimated closing balance is around VN517 billion, and the airline's short-term solvency is also expected to see a slight improvement.

However, the lingering negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in previous years mean that Vietnam Airlines' overall financial position at the end of 2024 is still anticipated to be in a state of significant imbalance.

The parent company's shareholder equity is projected to be in the negative of around VN8.2 trillion, while the consolidated shareholder equity is forecasted to be negative VN17.9 trillion.

Vietnam Airlines is implementing a comprehensive restructuring plan focused on divesting from subsidiaries, rescheduling debt and enhancing operational efficiency through organisational changes, technology investments and digital transformation, all with the aim of addressing the negative financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and gradually restoring the company's financial health.  VNS
ONG NAI  The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has officially recognised Cat Tien National Park in southern Viet Nam as the 72nd addition to its prestigious Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas.

The park is the second Green List site in Viet Nam, along with Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve, which was recognised in 2021.

"The park is the first national park in Viet Nam to be recognised as an IUCN Green List," said Pham Xuan Thinh, Director of Cat Tien National Park.

"This prestigious recognition underscores our commitment to preserving the unique biodiversity and natural heritage of Cat Tien."

Nguyen Quoc Tri, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said: "This recognition opens opportunities for Viet Nam to elevate its efforts and collaborate with other conservation areas around the world in nature conservation."

Jake Brunner, Head of IUCNs Lower Mekong Sub-region, remarked that Achieving Green List status is not merely about pursuing a title, it represents a long-term commitment. The fact that two of the three Green List sites in Southeast Asia are in Viet Nam reflects the determination of Viet Nam's government to improve standards of protected area management.

The effort is supported by the USAID Biodiversity Conservation Activity, part of the Sustainable Forest Management and Biodiversity Conservation (VFBC) project  Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), World Wide Fund for Nature in Viet Nam (WWF-Viet Nam), in collaboration with IUCN.

Cat Tien National Park, on an area of more than 82,000ha in the provinces of ong Nai, Lam ong and Binh Phuoc, is a rich diverse natural site in Viet Nam.

It has implemented biodiversity monitoring since the early 2000s, with data on key species populations like birds, primates, deer, and crocodiles.

The national park has pursued IUCN Green List certification through rigorous efforts in conservation with community engagement since 2016.

Cat Tien Park's journey towards Green List certification began with an in-depth assessment of its conservation measures and monitoring, including habitat restoration and species conservation projects.

Educational programs and initiatives have been implemented to raise awareness about the importance of protecting natural resources and local community members have been involved in conservation activities, providing them with sustainable livelihood opportunities.

Furthermore, Cat Tien National Park has strengthened its management practices by enhancing its monitoring and enforcement capabilities.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List is a global initiative for successful nature conservation, aiming to recognise and increase the number of protected and conserved areas that deliver long-lasting conservation results for people and nature.

It offers an assured verification process, awarding certificates to sites that can demonstrate that they meet and maintain the full set of 17 globally consistent criteria and 50 indicators that address four themes: good governance, sound design and planning, effective management and successful conservation outcomes.

At its heart is the Green List Sustainability Standard, which provides a global benchmark for how to meet the protected and conserved area management challenges of the 21st century.

There are more than 300 engaged sites around the world, of which 108 are formally committed to the IUCN Green List.

Viet Nam has been one of the first countries in Asia to adopt the Green List since 2015, along with China and the Republic of Korea.

The project sites participating in the IUCN Green List programme in Viet Nam also include Cuc Phuong National Park, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Vu Quang National Park, Bach Ma National Park, ong Chau-Khe Nuoc Trong Nature Reserve, Song Thanh National Park, Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park.

Two other sites, Con ao National Park and Pu Mat National Park, are in the registration and application phase.  VNS
The enchanting city of Nantes in the Loire-Atlantique province in Franch has been hosting a Vietnam Week, a series of exceptional events, designed to promote Vietnamese culture in France. This celebration is part of the international cultural and community exchange project TOUCHER ARTS, organised annually in June by the ART SPACE association.
A US navy sailor out on bond for a torture-like sexual assault against a fellow member of the armed forces has been charged with allegedly murdering a woman in Texas.

Julian Jefferson, 20, stands accused of killing Denise Lissette Ramos, 22, at her home in Fairfield, Texas, on March 28.

Ramos failed to show up for work that day, which led to the discovery of her body.

Jefferson was already embroiled in ongoing military proceedings, in which he pleaded guilty prior to Ramos' murder.

The unrelated sexual assault took place on January 14, 2023, according to documents obtained by CBS/Telemundo affiliate KWTX.

At a naval base in California, after midnight on the night in question, the sexual assault victim texted Jefferson to complain that his conversations were too loud and she was trying to sleep.

He replied, apologizing for the noise, saying he would lower it down. However, later that night, the victim awoke to three loud knocks at her door.

While she didn't see anyone through her peephole the first time, similar incidents continued throughout the evening until she caught Jefferson mid-knock.

After entering the victim's room, a violent fight ensued.

Fearing for her life, the woman began to scream at the top of her lungs before she went limp and feigned losing consciousness, hoping her attack would leave.

What followed was a brutal, two-hour-long sexual assault before leaving the woman on the floor and exiting the room.

She immediately got up and ran for help, describing the ordeal as torture-like.

Jefferson pleaded guilty to one count of burglary with intent to commit certain offenses and two counts of rape by using unlawful force in May.

He was sentenced to five years in prison for the burglary count and 20 years each on the rape counts, to be served concurrently.

The defendant now faces extradition to Texas to be tried in front of a grand jury for the murder of Ramos.

At the time of the murder charge, Jefferson was in the brig at Miramar, according to Law & Crime.

Little details have been provided on Ramos' murder, but a GoFundMe has been set up by her family to celebrate her life.

Ramos' father, Luis Ramos, disclosed that Jefferson had previously come to Fairfield while on leave after being granted bond in the rape case. He also stated that the accused had ties to Fairfield and that there had been some sort of prior incident involving the defendant.

"It's left a huge scar on our family life, not only for myself and my wife, but for my younger children," Ramos told KWTX.

Her family describes Lissette as a "truly beautiful soul."
MOSCOW  Russian President Vladimir Putins freshly-concluded state visit to Viet Nam has grabbed the headlines of many foreign media outlets, including those in Russia.

Russia's TASS news agency has opened a special column that provides updates on Putins visit on June 19-20, with articles highlighting the time-tested relations between the two countries and their cooperation.

One of the articles said Viet Nam and Russia have consolidated their comprehensive strategic partnership in the spirit of friendship and mutual support, citing the joint state issued on the occasion as saying that the the relationship is to consolidate peace, stability and security in the Asia-Pacific and the world at large, and the two countries are striving to deepen their economic and trade ties while enhancing collaboration in other spheres like energy, digital technology, science-technology, education, culture and tourism.

The news site Vesti.ru held that the visit will contribute to advancing the bilateral collaboration to a new height based on the previous cooperation foundation.

Japans Kyodo News said the trip marks the first state visit to Viet Nam by the Russian leader since he came in November 2013, and aims to consolidate the traditional friendship between the two countries.

According to its article, Russia attaches importance to promoting dialogues with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to which Viet Nam is an active, constructive member.

Nikkei Asia also gave a coverage of the visit, saying the two sides signed 11 cooperation documents in many fields.

The website euronews.com said Putins Viet Nam visit is to bolster relations with Southeast Asian nations, and the two countries have had diplomatic relations since 1950  with this year marking 30 years of their Treaty on Principles of Friendly Relations (June 16, 1994 - 2024).

The UKs Financial Times on June 20 mentioned Vietnams achievements in its bamboo diplomacy and cited Le Hong Hiep, a researcher at Singapores Iseas-Yusof Ishak Institute, as saying that hosting President Putin shows the balance and diversity of its foreign policy, which plays an important role in helping the Southeast Asian nation attract investment from different partners.  VNS
BUENOS AIRES  Viet Nam is Brazils priority partner in Asia, Vice President and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade and Services of Brazil Geraldo Alckmin affirmed at a working session with Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil Bui Van Nghi in Brasilia on June 19.

The Vice President said he is impressed by Viet Nam's growth rate and international economic integration as it has joined 16 free trade agreements (FTAs).

Viet Nam is currently an attractive economic, trade and tourism destination, he said, adding that the country connects supply chains, semiconductor production and logistics services.

He proposed establishing a direct route linking Brazil and Viet Nam, thus contributing to promoting tourism and trade exchange with Southeast Asia.

Brazil is interested in promoting cooperation in science and technology, innovation, and high technology, especially the semiconductor industry and clean, renewable energy, Alckmin said.

For his part, Ambassador Nghi emphasised that in addition to the fine political and diplomatic relations, economic and trade cooperation between Viet Nam and Brazil continues to grow strongly. Brazil is Viet Nam's largest trading partner in Latin America and second in America, after the US. Meanwhile, Viet Nam is Brazil's leading trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, trade between Viet Nam and Brazil hit $7.11 billion, of which Viet Nams imports were valued at $4.7 billion.

In the first five months of this year, Viet Nam's export turnover to Brazil reached $1.14 billion, up 1.48 per cent over the same period last year. Viet Nam's key export items to Brazil included phones and components, vehicles and spare parts and computers and electronic products.

Nghi spoke highly of Brazilia's aviation technology, including Embraer's narrow-body aircraft, suitable to the need of Viet Nam's air transport and tourism development.  VNS
Vi

HA NOI  National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man on Friday affirmed that Viet Nam always values and wants to promote the relations friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Morocco, as he received Najib El-Khadi, Secretary-General of Moroccos House of Representatives and President of the Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments (ASGP).

Man emphasised parliamentary cooperation is an effective cooperation channel between the two countries. Their parliaments have maintained delegation exchanges, high-level meetings, and close cooperation; and supported each other at world and regional multilateral inter-parliamentary forums.

The Vietnamese top legislator proposed that the two sides review and continue to effectively implement the cooperation agreement signed in 2017; deepen parliamentary relations; and increase delegation exchanges at all levels and parliamentary friendship groups.

He also called for further parliamentary experiences sharing between the two parliaments, and support to each other at multilateral forums.

For his part, the Moroccan official congratulated Man on his election as Viet Nam's NA Chairman.

He also congratulated the Vietnamese NA on its important achievements, particularly its innovations in operating and organising the NA such as the application of modern information technology in data storage.

According to the legislator, Viet Nam and Morocco shared similarities in national construction and development. Particularly, the two sides have been paying attention and attaching importance to promoting the South-South cooperation.

Informing the host of Morocco's recent socio-economic development, Najib El Khadi emphasised that both Viet Nam and Morocco are together on the path of development, adding both countries have strength to tighten the bilateral symbolic relationship.

On this occasion, Man thanked the President of the House of Councillors and the President of the House of Representatives of Morocco for congratulating him on his election, and invited them to visit Viet Nam soon.

Najib El Khadi conveyed the two Moroccan top legislators invitation to the Vietnamese NA Chairman to visit Morocco.  VNS
HA NOI  President To Lam hosted separate receptions for the new ambassadors of Nicaragua, Iceland, Turkmenistan and Cyprus who came to present their credentials in Ha Noi on Friday.

Receiving Nicaraguan Ambassador Mario Jose Armengol Campos, the President said that Viet Nam welcomes Nicaragua's decision to open its embassy in Viet Nam and wishes to strengthen and expand friendly relations and cooperation with the Central American country on the basis of traditional solidarity, the close points of view on international issues and common interests in national construction and development.

He highlighted the positive outcomes in bilateral economic-trade relations but also noted that there remains huge room for expanding cooperation. Thus, he asked the ambassador to continue to promote the development of the cooperation in the fields of both countries' strength such as science and technology, culture, education and climate change response.

To make the Viet Nam-Nicaragua friendship more substantive, the two countries should step up all-level mutual visits, maintain the political consultation mechanism between the two foreign ministries and continue to build legal frameworks to facilitate bilateral cooperation, he said.

For his part, Campos pledged to coordinate with relevant agencies of Viet Nam to foster friendship and cooperation in all spheres, including politics, economy, culture and tourism, as well as promote mutual understanding between the people of the two countries through people-to-people exchange activities.

At the reception for Icelandic Ambassador Thorir Isben, President Lam said he was delight at the fruitful friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and Iceland in recent times on both bilateral and multilateral levels.

The host leader highly appreciated Iceland's role and contributions in free trade agreement negotiations between Viet Nam and the EFTA bloc, holding that the early conclusion of talks and signing of the Viet Nam-EFTA FTA will create a firm framework for economic-trade ties between Viet Nam and the grouping in general and Iceland in particular.

He proposed that the two sides increase the exchange of delegations at all levels, especially high-level ones, to strengthen political trust and discuss measures to promote bilateral cooperation in fields of mutual interest, especially trade and investment. The leader also wanted the two countries to enhance collaboration and mutual support at multilateral organisations and mechanisms, especially the United Nations.

He suggested the two countries step up collaboration in education and human resource training through signing cooperation documents, create conditions and provide scholarships for Vietnamese students to study and research at Icelandic universities and promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges to enhance mutual understanding.

Ambassador Isben said breakthroughs in bilateral cooperation in education, fisheries, thermal power, noting his hope that such outcomes will be maintained and extended to other fields. He pledged to report to Icelandic Government to submit to the parliament for endorsing FTA negotiations with Viet Nam, thereby promoting the growing economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

Meeting Turkmenistan Ambassador Parakhat Durdyev, President Lam said that Viet Nam always values the traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with Turkmenistan and wishes to promote practical collaboration with the Central Asian nation on a par with the good traditional relationship as well as the potential of the two countries.

He suggested that the two countries continue to promote and strengthen delegation exchanges at all levels and contacts in both bilateral and multilateral frameworks to enhance trust and mutual understanding, creating a foundation for specific cooperation in the areas of strength of both sides.

According to the President, to facilitate the exchange of delegations between the two countries, the two sides need to accelerate negotiations on an agreement on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and official passports. He expressed his belief that the diplomat, with his rich experience, will make many practical contributions to the relations between the two countries in the time to come.

Durdyev said he hopes to promote cooperation with Viet Nam in gas exploitation in which Turkmenistan has potential, and that more Vietnamese businesses will invest in Turkmenistan, especially in the fields of transportation, logistics, and agriculture that Viet Nam has strengths.

Receiving Cypriot Ambassador Evagoras Vryonides, President Lam called on both sides to coordinate to effectively take advantage of the Viet Nam - EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to promote bilateral trade exchange, creating conditions for economic recovery and growth and strengthen cooperation in areas where Cyprus has strengths and Viet Nam has demand.

On this occasion, he urged Cyprus to ratify the Viet Nam - EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) to facilitate bilateral trade and investment exchange. He also asked for Cyprus's support for the removal of the EC's yellow card imposed on Vietnamese seafood.

Noting that cooperation between the two countries is still modest compared to its potential, the President said that the two sides need to work together towards signing a number of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) to lay the foundation for their cooperation in the fields of labour, education and double taxation avoidance.

Vryonides affirmed that he will make utmost efforts during his tenure to help the cooperative relationship between Cyprus and Viet Nam deepen and develop further, bringing the people of the two countries closer together for progress and the interests of each country.  VNS
HA NOI  Russian President Vladimir Putin's state visit to Viet Nam from June 19 to 20 at the invitation of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has contributed to deepening and enhancing the Comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations.

The visit was of significance as both sides are carrying out the joint statement on the vision of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to 2030, while Viet Nam is performing the 13th National Party Congresss resolution on the consistent implementation of the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, diversification and multilateralism of international relations. This will ensure the interests of the nation and people to the highest level on the grounds of the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and international law, equality, cooperation and mutual benefit.

Extensive cooperation in all areas

President Putins two-day visit to Viet Nam has helped to affirm the countrys position and prestige while promoting the pioneer role of its foreign policy to create and preserve peace and mobilise resources for development.

The bilateral relations have stood the test of time, and developed extensively in all domains.

Viet Nam and Russia have reaped the benefits of high political trust thanks to diversified political cooperation forms and mechanisms like regular exchange of delegations at all levels that help leaders of both nations exchange information and direct the development of the bilateral ties in a timely manner.

They have set up and effectively carried out an arsenal of mechanisms that underpin this mutual understanding and deep political trust. These include inter-governmental meetings, strategic dialogues and annual political consultations, providing a basis for bolstering the multi-faceted cooperation between the two nations which have supported and worked closely together in international organisations like the UN, ASEAN, APEC and ARF.

At the same time, bilateral economic-trade cooperation has developed positively with two-way trade rising 10-15 per cent per year in some periods, which results from the signing of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Despite the impacts from the instability in the world and the regional situation, two-way trade in 2023 still topped US$3.6 billion. Russia has invested in nearly 200 projects in Viet Nam with a total capital of nearly $1 billion, while Viet Nam has registered some $3 billion in 25 projects in Russia. An important highlight in economic cooperation between the two countries is the strong development in the fields of energy, oil, and gas.

Bilateral cooperation in other fields such as science and technology, culture, education, tourism, and locality-to-locality collaboration have been expanded, with partnerships in science and technology, and education-training elevated to a strategic level.

Over the past years, cultural exchange activities have contributed greatly to the close relations between the two countries' people.

According to Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia ang Minh Khoi, the relationship between Viet Nam and Russia has inherited the special friendship between Viet Nam and the former Soviet Union.

After a period of interruption in the early 1990s, with the determination and efforts of leaders and people of the two countries, the Viet Nam - Russia relationship has made strong progress. They established a strategic partnership in 2001 and lifted it to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2012, the diplomat noted.

Looking back on the sound cooperation between the two nations over the past years, Russian Ambassador to Viet Nam Gennady Stepanovich Bezdetko affirmed that since the comprehensive strategic partnership was set up, the traditional friendship has developed strongly in all sectors.

Russia prioritises the promotion of the close friendship with Viet Nam, one of its key partner in Southeast Asia, for peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world.

Providing impetus for cooperation

During his stay in Viet Nam, President Putin held talks with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President To Lam, and met with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man.

Both sides discussed measures to enhance the bilateral relations across the domains of politics, economy-trade, science-technology and humanity, as well as those on regional and international issues of mutual concerns in the spirit of trust.

Party General Secretary Trong and President Putin expressed their delight at the positive development of the Viet Nam-Russia relations, illustrated by the sound political-diplomatic ties, maintained economic-trade cooperation, consolidated defence-security cooperation, enhanced collaboration in the other fields, and effective relations between social organisations and people-to-people exchanges.

They agreed on orientations and major measures to create impetus to boost the bilateral relations to a deep, practical and effective manner for the interests of the two countries' people and for peace and stability in the region and the world.

Both sides reached consensus on continuing to enhance mutual understanding and trust by facilitating high-level visits and exchanges through the Party, State and parliamentary channels, developing cooperation across economy-trade, investment, science and technology, while consolidating defence-security cooperation, and discussing ways to handle several challenges in accordance with international law and specific conditions in each country.

In the energy and, oil and gas sectors, they pledged to create favourable conditions for their companies to carry out existing projects and expand new ones. They also promised to boost collaboration in agriculture, education, culture, tourism, and people-to-people and locality-to-locality exchanges.

They acknowledged the significant contributions of the Vietnamese community in Russia, considering them a vital bridge between the two nations.

The Vietnamese Party leader affirmed that Viet Nam always treasures the traditional relations and comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, which is a leading priority in the countrys foreign policy.

Viet Nam supports Russias positive contributions to the international community and its turn to the east policy, he said, expressing his belief that a peaceful, independent and strong Viet Nam with growing prestige aligns with Russias long-term interests in the Asia-Pacific and the world.

The two sides issued a joint statement on further deepening their comprehensive strategic partnership, building on the achievements of the past three decades.

On the occasion, President Lam and President Putin witnessed the exchange of cooperation documents between ministries and sectors of both sides in various spheres, including education, nuclear technology research, disease prevention, oil exploration, and justice.

According to Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of the committees Commission for External Relations Le Hoai Trung, President Putins state visit to Viet Nam took place shortly after he was sworn in as the Russian President for a new term. The visit was a clear demonstration of the high evaluation of Viet Nam's fortune, potential, and international prestige by Russia, President Putin, and the international community after 40 years of oi moi (renewal). It also showed the Russian leaders respect for Party General Secretary Trong, who has significantly contributed to the bilateral relations.

The visit also illustrated the respect that the two nations have for each other as well as their friendship and solidarity, contributing to raising their positions in the international arena for the mutual interest of the two countries' people, and for peace and stability in the region and the world.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam always values and wants to propel the friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Morocco, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan told Najib El-Khadi, Secretary-General of the Moroccan House of Representatives at their meeting in Ha Noi on Friday afternoon.

Acknowledging the North African nations increasing international and regional role as well as its similarities and growing relations with Viet Nam, Xuan said room for bilateral cooperation expansion remains tremendous.

She recommended the two countries step up exchange of delegations at all levels, forge coordination via the bilateral cooperation mechanism, and support each other at multilateral forums. The sides need to review and supplement their mechanisms and agreements for joint work across sectors and strengthen the connectivity between their business communities to seek new investment and business opportunities.

Underscoring the effectiveness of cooperation through the parliamentary channel, the Vice President expressed her wish for stronger collaboration between Viet Nam and Morocco at global and regional inter-parliamentary forums.

Vietnam is willing to act as a bridge builder between Morocco and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and hopes to receive the same support from Morocco for its relationships with the African Union (AU)s member states, she noted. It is also necessary for the sides to boost their partnership in the areas of education-training, culture-tourism, locality-to-locality cooperation and people-to-people exchange.

Sharing his impression on Viet Nams socio-economic achievements, Najib El-Khadi, who is also President of the Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments (ASGP), held that the two countries have much in common when it comes to building and developing their nations. Both place a high value on and actively promote South-South cooperation, he said, stressing that they are now on the same path of development, leveraging their respective strengths to further enhance and tighten their relationship.  VNS
Thu Van

Experts in journalism and communications believe that AI should not be viewed as a threat to the profession, but rather as a valuable tool if journalism and media outlets know how to leverage it effectively.

While recognising the significant impact of AI on various industries, including media and journalism, and acknowledging its rapid development in revolutionising information creation and distribution, experts believe AI can help newsrooms better understand their readers, accurately assess their needs, and produce more practical and humane content.

Rishad Patel, co-founder of Splice Media, says he thinks the understanding of AI is significant, but rather than using AI for what its popularly known for, which is to generate more content, journalists and media outlets can use the technology to better serve their audiences.

"The future of journalism is user-centred, built by AI, based on user preferences and needs," Patel says.

According to Nguyen Hoang Nhat, deputy editor-in-chief of VietnamPlus online newspaper, thanks to AI, media agencies can filter audience segments, select keywords, proofread for spelling errors, analyse reading trends, or optimise images. Some media agencies have also used AI to produce multimedia products such as graphics, videos, and e-magazines or to analyse data for developing high-quality special reports and investigative series.

AI can also assist media agencies in researching brand information to execute communication strategies, thus diversifying revenue sources for journalism.

Nhat says he believes that AI is not a transient trend but has become an inevitable trend deeply embedded in daily life. If applied reasonably, it will help newsrooms save a lot of time and human resources. Digital journalism is constantly evolving, meaning everything can change. With the benefits AI brings, Vietnamese media should not miss this "train".

Tran Vu Nguyen, chairman of the Asia Innovative Education Group, says that AI is widely used in various fields and that more AI applications in communication appear every day. There is a current trend towards using the best tools to serve work.

Nguyen says there are aspects of work that AI finds difficult to replace human beings in, such as community connection or addressing topics related to public life and civil issues, as well as elements related to emotional intelligence and humaneness. This is especially true when dealing with information that is "not available on the internet".

Journalists, therefore, play the role of superconnectors, a function that AI can never replicate, Nguyen adds.

Know your audience

Patel says technology is not the big disruptor for modern journalism.

The biggest threat to the media business is failing to give people what they want, failing to ask them what they want. The media business is driven by demand, and it is based on the interest of the users. It is based on the need of the user, and it can only survive if it solves specific user problems," he says.

He thus asserts that modern media must answer five questions: Who needs this information? Why do they need it? How can they access it? What can they do with it? How do they know this information is true?

Citing a lesson from Pringles, which provides 50 flavours of chips to serve different needs of consumers, Patel says the job of media outlets is to provide the 'flavour' that readers need.

"Do you ask people what chips they want? What flavour do they want? And you give them those chips, and you make them better and better because none of us want the same chip," he says.

He suggests media outlets build a direct relationship with their audience using AI.

I think its about taking this huge technology that is freely available to us at very low cost, and using this technology to find and solve those user needs at scale, he says.

"I think media companies don't do enough... I think the job of every journalist, every editor, and every person who works in the newsroom should be to go and have coffee with your users at least once a week. The things you learn about your company, about your content, about your business and about your job are staggering."

Nhat says that understanding what readers wanted was challenging, but thanks to AI tools to analyse reader data, it is now possible to understand the real needs of readers and determine the necessary topics.

Nhat says that journalism used to go in the wrong direction by overemphasising hot news, leading to reader fatigue and a tendency to avoid the news. Recently, thanks to surveys using AI tools, content has become simpler and more humane, aligning with viewer preferences such as summer recipes and autumn fashion trends.

"When we conducted research on reader needs, we found that we often went in the wrong direction, focusing too much on hot news. But readers have a wide range of interests. Thanks to AI, we know exactly what readers want to read. AI is steering journalism in a more positive and humane direction," Nhat says.

"Today, the value of news is no longer measured by views or hits but by viewer interactions and emotional reactions," he adds.

The risks

AI has rapidly developed over the past two years, with the emergence of popular AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot, as well as image and video creation applications like DALL-E and Sora. The intelligence of these chatbots and AI applications is undeniable. Users can request information retrieval, document summarisation, or even create themed images and dancing videos from a single photo with simple prompts.

However, AI chatbots also have drawbacks, such as occasional "hallucinations" and "forgetfulness". These are significant risks when using AI.

According to ang Hai Loc, CEO of AIV Group, a company specialising in AI research for media, AI can sometimes produce inaccurate and self-interpreted results, known as hallucinations. He cites an example from the United States where lawyers asked an AI chatbot to summarise local cases. Upon reviewing the results, they found that two cases were fabricated by the AI.

Loc says even Apple acknowledged it might never fully resolve the issue of AI "lying".

"We must gradually get used to the fact that when using AI, there is sometimes no 100 per cent accuracy," he says.

Technology experts have surveyed several specialised AI chatbots in finance and law, created from "clean" data sources. However, these chatbots were only slightly more reliable than ChatGPT and Gemini, still making mistakes. Loc emphasises that for issues requiring deep analysis, AI could be up to 10 per cent inaccurate.

ang Pham Thien Duy, a senior lecturer at RMIT University Vietnam, says that AI also has the drawback of "forgetfulness". For example, he says, when creating a comic strip with characters acting in a linear timeline, AI cannot remember past actions of the characters.

Moreover, there are not many tools to verify the authenticity of AI-provided information, nor many tools to distinguish between human-created and AI-generated content. This raises the issue of transparency rules in journalism and media for AI-created products.

Nhat from VietnamPlus says that Viet Nam currently lacks specific legal tools for using AI. Most AI usage guidelines in Vietnamese media are borrowed from foreign journalism. Many media agencies do not even have detailed AI usage guidelines.

To mitigate the risks of using AI-provided information, Duy suggests that users double-check the information from multiple sources or use fact-checking tools from companies like Microsoft and Google. Another method is to "challenge" AI to reason, such as verifying if an event actually occurred in a particular year, to avoid misleading information.

How AI will develop

Experts agree that it is challenging to predict the trajectory of rapidly changing technology like AI. However, in 6 months to 1 year, AI could develop in three main directions, according to Loc from AIV Group.

First, AI will be deeply integrated into smart devices. For example, ChatGPT will be incorporated into smartphones. While AI chatbots are currently optional applications, they will become ubiquitous in personal electronic devices going forward. For instance, Microsoft recently announced the integration of Copilot into Windows computers, and Apple will incorporate ChatGPT into iPhones, as announced at the WWDC event on 11 June.

Loc notes that alongside the transformation of personal electronic devices, common software like Word and Excel will also change. AI will drive a hardware revolution, such as the development of robots with human-like expressions.

Additionally, AI will significantly influence human life, making personal data easier to collect.

"If we provide information to readers, we will have readers. If we solve readers' needs, we will have loyal readers," Loc says.

The second development is the emergence of the next-generation chatbot, GPT-5, known as General AI. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, says that if GPT-4 is considered the smartest chatbot today, with the arrival of GPT-5, GPT-4 will be seen as rudimentary. GPT-5 is expected to have the capability to read images, listen, and perceive emotions.

The third trend is the advancement in generative image and video technology. Loc predicts that while current technology allows users to create short videos from a single image, the next year will see significant improvements. Future technology will enable users to create a fully animated video or an engaging short film.

"In one year, users will be able to describe a setting and have a 3D space created, eliminating the need for time-consuming measurements and 3D modelling," Loc says.

"In the future, presenters will be able to request changes to the studio environment to match their desired themes." VNS
HA NOI Over the past few weeks, long-lasting extreme heat waves have affected people all across the country, making especially it difficult for those working outdoors.

Motorbike taxi driver Nguyen Van Khai, who works in Ha Noi, said he must wear long sleeves and a helmet with a face shield whenever he is outside in order to protect himself from the sun's dangerous rays.

He takes advantage of the moments when there are no passengers to sit and relax beneath the bridge or under the shade of a tree.

"I have to work for the sake of life, even though the weather is hot and harsh," he told Vietnam News Agency.

Le Ngoc Lam, a worker at the Tuynel brick factory in Trieu Son District, Thanh Hoa Province, said he normally starts work at 7am but when the temperatures are forecast to hit 40 degrees Celsius and the heat is at its worst, he must begin working at 4am in order to complete by 10am.

"I sweat a lot in hot weather because my daily job is to load and unload bricks from the pits. I have to drink a lot of water and wear protective gear," he said.

In HCM City, the heat can be felt from 8am. Many people who go to work in the morning feel tired due to morning heat.

Pham Van Tai from Tan Thoi Hiep Ward in District 12 said: "I have already seen the bright sunshine while taking my child to school at 7am.

Due to traffic, he has to spend about an hour traveling 12km from his home in District 12 to District 3.

"I feel exhausted in the morning from the heat and the traffic," he said.

In many other places, the heat has also brought droughts. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Central Highlands' ak Nong Province reports that the prolonged heatwave caused numerous lakes, rivers and streams to progressively dry up.

Over 8,000ha of crops in the province are vulnerable due to water scarcity.

Numerous small rivers and streams in the area have dried up, reducing the amount of water in irrigation reservoirs and decreasing the flow of nearby rivers and streams.

Some tiny ponds have lost their water source, and the amount of water that people had been storing in small ponds to irrigate crops in streams and high foothills has also dropped.

The southern droughts have gotten worse because of the heat.

A state of emergency has been declared in four provinces - Tien Giang, Ca Mau, Kien Giang, and Long An - as a result of droughts. In Ca Mau and Kien Giang, the drought has resulted in landslides and subsidence.

The National Centre for Hydrometeorological Forecasting predicts that temperatures will generally be between 0.5 and 1 degree Celsius higher than the average for many years during the upcoming months, particularly from July to September.

There will be more intense heatwaves, particularly in the north and central regions.

Hoang Phuc Lam, the centres deputy director, said extreme heat is probably going to occur more frequently than it has in many past years. The last months of 2024 will see continued heat in the northern and central regions. The heat in the north will persist until August, with July being the key heat-producing month. The heat will persist in the central region through September, with July and August being the peak months.

Medical experts warn that excessive heat will have negative effects on people's health. For those who have to work in hot weather, it is necessary to arrange working time in cool weather such as early morning or late afternoon, and avoid working in high temperatures.

If working in a hot environment, employees should limit their work hours, refrain from engaging in strenuous physical activity, and take a 1520 minute break in a cool area after 4560 minutes of work.

They are advised to wear loose, airy, sweat-absorbent clothing, avoid using alcohol completely, and stick to drinking water with added salt and minerals, such Oresol, instead of exposing any part of their body to direct sunlight, especially the neck and shoulder area.

Local authorities have been urged to take prompt measures to help local residents avoid the heat, especially ensuring domestic water supply. VNS
HA NOI  The Ministry of Health has just received 65,000 bottles of the ARV medication for the treatment of HIV/AIDS from the Australian Government in co-operation with the World Health Organization (WHO).

At the reception ceremony on June 20, Minister of Health ao Hong Lan said they highly appreciated the swift support from WHO, the Government and the people of Australia for Viet Nam, to help prevent current shortages of the medicine for HIV/AIDS patients.

Minister Lan extended heartfelt thanks for this valuable and timely gift for people living with HIV in Viet Nam.

The Australian government has significantly contributed to HIV/AIDS prevention in Viet Nam through the 'Asia Regional HIV/AIDS Project' (2009-15), which helped curb the epidemic during its most severe phase, she said.

Additionally across other areas of health, co-operation between Australia and Viet Nam has been strengthened through the implementation of technical activities between professional units of the two countries.

Notably, during the fight against COVID-19, Australia supported Viet Nam with vaccines and a vaccination programme for children.

"We hope that the health co-operation between the two sides will be further promoted in health security, infectious disease prevention, scientific research/vaccine development and professional exchange," Minister Lan said.

At the ceremony, Nguyen Anh Tu, the youth programme co-ordinator at the Viet Nam Network of People Living with HIV (VNP+), added: "For HIV-infected individuals, ARV medication is life itself. ARV medication has helped those living with HIV maintain good health and be able to study, work and contribute to the community and society more effectively."

Currently, Viet Nam has over 178,000 people living with HIV and undergoing ARV treatment. To maintain health and reduce new HIV infections, they would need continuous, lifelong ARV treatment.

Recently, the procurement of ARV in Viet Nam faced some difficulties, and the Ministry of Health is actively promoting the procurement of ARV medications from health insurance sources.

The minister stated that they are pushing for ARV medication procurement, having completed a first round in price negotiations.

From June to August, 14.5 million ARV tablets are expected to be supplied for patient treatment.

The remaining medications will be centrally procured at the national level to ensure continuous treatment for HIV patients.  VNS
HA NOI  More than 1,500 items of medical equipment were handed over to Viet Nam's health authorities on Friday as part of the support from the United States and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) and UNICEF have provided 680 patient vital signs monitors, 810 electronic syringe pumps and 150 refrigerators to health departments across nine provinces in the country -- Thai Binh, Son La, Nghe An, ong Thap, Soc Trang, Lai Chau, ien Bien, Gia Lai and Thai Nguyen.

The vital sign monitors and syringe pumps are being distributed to hospitals to increase their ability to effectively monitor and treat patients suffering from infectious diseases.

The vaccine refrigerators, which maintain the required temperature range of 2-8 degrees Celsius for safe vaccine storage, will be distributed to commune health centres to ensure the availability of vaccines from the National Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) for community members.

This equipment will empower healthcare professionals to provide timely and precise care, improving patient treatment.

The symbolic handover ceremony took place in ong Thap Province on Friday, with the attendance of Dr Hany Helmy, Deputy Office Director, USAID/Viet Nam Office of Health; Anjanette Saguisag, Acting Deputy Representative of UNICEF Viet Nam; Dr Duong uc Thien, Deputy Director of the Department of Planning and Finance, Ministry of Health; and Dr oan Tan Buu, Director of ong Thap Department of Health.

Dr Helmy said: "The US Government is proud to continue our strong collaboration with the government and people of Viet Nam in jointly addressing the national and global challenge of infectious diseases.

"The critical commodities provided by USAID through UNICEF will help Viet Nam to strengthen the country's capacity to effectively monitor and treat patients suffering from infectious diseases, including COVID-19, and to further improve cold chain systems for routine immunisation and COVID-19 vaccination campaigns."

Anjanette Saguisag, UNICEF Viet Nam Acting Deputy Representative, added: "Access to reliable medical equipment is essential for effective healthcare delivery.

"This contribution will significantly improve the capacity of hospitals at both national and sub-national levels to manage and treat infectious diseases, ensuring better health outcomes for children, women and communities across Viet Nam.

"With USAIDs support, UNICEF is pleased to work with the Ministry of Health and help strengthen its immunisation systems, ensuring that families in remote areas have strengthened access to safe vaccines."

Dr Duong uc Thien extended appreciation to USAID and UNICEF "for the timely support from the Government and people of the United States, and from UNICEF in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic."

He said: "USAID and UNICEF are among the countries and organisations that have provided the most support to Viet Nam, including COVID-19 vaccines/vaccination supplies, cold chain equipment for vaccination, treatment equipment, ventilators, vital sign monitors, liquid oxygen systems, and more, for hospitals, helping Viet Nam to control and reduce COVID-19 mortality rates."

The nine locations receiving the equipment have been identified as requiring additional support to cope with healthcare burdens associated with infectious diseases.

This initiative is part of a broader effort by USAID and UNICEF to enhance global health security and strengthen healthcare systems in countries facing public health challenges.

The provided medical equipment and cold chain supplies will provide long-term services, improving the resilience and preparedness of Viet Nam's healthcare system.  VNS
Authorities in Las Vegas say a homicide victim may have been stabbed to death by bystanders trying to stop him from committing a sexual assault, and they're asking the public for more information.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said Wednesday that patrol officers responded to a report of a person stabbed on the 3400 block of East Charleston Boulevard at around 3:34 p.m. Tuesday. Officers found a man in an alley with apparent stab wounds, and medical personnel transported him to UMC Trauma Center where he was pronounced dead.

Officers located an apparent crime scene on the 1000 block of Laurel Avenue. Homicide detectives then "learned that the victim may have been committing sexual assault in a shed in the area," police said.

"A group of citizens ran to assist when they heard a woman's screams coming from the shed. It is believed that the victim was stabbed during the intervention," police said.

All of the people allegedly involved fled the area before officers arrived.

The investigation is ongoing. Police are asking anyone with information to come forward or submit an anonymous tip.

--with reporting by TMX
The programme, announced at the Cisco CXO Symposium in Danang Mikazuki resort and spa in Danang, will see Cisco collaborate with public and private enterprises in Vietnam to advance the nations digitalisation agenda.

The CDA programme is strategically aligned with the governments National Digital Transformation Programme by 2025, which aims to elevate the countrys technological capabilities.

It focuses on promoting economic growth, technological innovation, and cybersecurity resilience through improvements to the countrys communication and information infrastructure.

The launch was unveiled by Guy Diedrich, senior vice president and global innovation officer of Cisco, Bee Kheng Tay, president of Cisco ASEAN, and Jason Kalai, interim country leader of Cisco Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.

The CDA programme is a bridge connecting a countrys digital ambitions to the benefits of a digital society. The model is based on high degrees of trust and deep engagement across ecosystem partners in the public and private sectors, said Guy Diedrich, senior vice president and global innovation officer of Cisco.

We are thrilled to bring this highly successful global programme to Vietnam and look forward to working with the Vietnamese government and local enterprises to build sustainable, secure, and inclusive communities through co-investment in digital skills training and innovation.

The CDA programme in Vietnam will undertake several initiatives, focusing specifically on three key pillars.

The first pillar involves digital transformation in national infrastructure. Along with this, Cisco will work with local service providers to co-develop 5G capabilities and equip these companies with the necessary skills and best practices for network development and innovation.

The 5G network is a critical infrastructure in Vietnams digitalisation agenda and its development will boost data transmission, accelerate business productivity, and enhance connectivity within communities.

The second pillar engages digital transformation in enterprises. Accordingly, Cisco will equip the financial services industry and manufacturing sectors with industry-leading technology and invest in the co-development of innovative digital solutions to accelerate industry-wide digital transformation. This will increase the competitiveness of Vietnams financial services and manufacturing industries, propelling economic growth.

The third pillar relates to digital transformation in the public sector. Accordingly, Cisco will partner with local public sector entities to advance national digital infrastructure for the Vietnamese government. The initiatives within this pillar will support the establishment of a digital government, enhancing municipal management and fostering more inclusive communities.

These initiatives are bolstered by Ciscos commitment to securely connect everything and bridge the digital divide.

Alongside the delivery of new technologies and sharing of expertise, Cisco will also upskill local talent through Cisco Networking Academy, one of the worlds longest-running IT skills-to-jobs programmes, to drive an inclusive, sustainable, and resilient digital economy in Vietnam.

The programme has trained over 90,000 students in the country since its inception through partnerships with 30 higher-learning institutions.

In the Asia Pacific region, Cisco trained a record one million students in its fiscal year 2023, the highest in its 26-year history, and aims to train an additional 6.7 million people in the region by 2032.

Vietnams economy has demonstrated strong and consistent performance in recent years with digital interactions and cloud-first models rapidly becoming the default for businesses across the country, said Jason Kalai, interim country leader, Cisco Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Alongside the governments National Digital Transformation Programme, there has never been a better time for public-private partnership to accelerate the countrys digitalisation agenda. At Cisco, we are committed to working together with all stakeholders in Vietnam to drive a new era of growth, tackle cybersecurity threats and power an inclusive future for all.

Currently, Cisco is working with national, state, and local governments in 50 countries around the world to accelerate their national digitalisation agendas, co-develop cutting-edge solutions, and deliver beneficial services to their citizens more effectively.

Ciscos CDA programmes have supported the creation of net new jobs, promoted GDP growth, and helped nurture innovation ecosystems.

Vietnam embracing digital economy From 2024, Vietnam will officially measure the added value proportion of the digital economy on the countrys GDP. Nguyen Thi Huong, director general of General Statistics Office (GSO) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, spoke with VIR's Manh Bon about the country's current digital economy.

Shinhan Life Vietnam concludes successful career programme for students South Korean-backed insurer Shinhan Life Vietnam, in collaboration with Journey Career Education Guidance and Development Co., Ltd., also known as SIF Career, has successfully completed an orientation programme for high school students after nearly three months of implementation.
Legislation on guiding the new labour organisations has been drafted for over three years, and the draft decree has not yet been presented for public input. As a result, even with the Labour Code taking effect from 2021, no new labour organisation has been established due to the absence of a comprehensive legal framework.

Gabor Fluit, former chairman, European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam

Moreover, the Labour Code does not clarify the relationship between a new labour organisation and a traditional union, if both organisations exist within the same enterprise. In principle, since employees can choose their representative organisations freely, both types of organisations should have equal rights to represent their members.

These roles would encompass all responsibilities and rights related to representation, such as consulting on internal regulations, documents, and processes relating to the employment relationship as required by law; attending and representing employees in communications, dialogue, and discussions with the employers and with other union organisations; and collecting, utilising, and managing trade union fees and union membership fees.

However, there is no provision under the Labour Code to indicate the relationship between the two types existing in the same enterprise, nor on their roles in representing employees. In the relevant laws it should be explicitly stated that the unions will have equal rights and obligations in representing the employees, depending on the ratio of their member employees, and provide mechanisms for cooperation between a new labour organisation and a traditional union in matters relating to employment relationships.

Financing for new labour organisations is also ambiguous. Article 174 regulates that their charter must include contents on membership fees, source of property and finance, and its usage and management of the organisation, and that the government shall detail regulations of this article. As such, it is unclear on the level of discretion that a new labour organisation would have in deciding its financing structure.

According to the current Law on Trade Unions, the employer has to contribute monthly trade union fees equal to 2 per cent of the total payroll used for the calculation of social insurance to the upper-level trade union, even if there is no trade union within their organisation. Furthermore, according to the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, an enterprise can only retain part of such an amount when there is a grassroots trade union within their organisation. This does not align with the principles of employees freedom to collect, manage, and use their financing structure.

In this light, it is important to ensure trade union laws indicate that the monthly employer-contributed trade union fees should go directly and entirely to the employees representative organisations at a grassroots level, including both new labour organisations and traditional unions, and the funds should not be shared with the upper-level traditional trade union. These funds should also be distributed between each union organisation based on the ratio of member employees it represents.

The employees representative organisations at the grassroots level should have the right to use the entire trade union fees contributed by employers and union membership fees contributed by their member employees. Furthermore, if no employees representative body exists yet, employers should hold onto the trade union fees and then transferred to the corresponding employees representative organisations once such organisations are established.

The trade union fees borne by the employer should be revised by carrying out an actual survey of the opinions of enterprises, balancing the budget of the trade union system and considering reducing the rate from 2 per cent to 1 per cent of the payroll of local employees used for the calculation of social insurance; and the payroll of foreign employees should not be used as a basis to calculate monthly trade union fees.

European businesses would like to make some recommendations like announcing the draft decree for public feedback, clarifying the role and relationship when both a new labour organisation and a traditional union coexist within a same enterprise in guiding regulations of the new Labour Code 2019 and the amended Law on Trade Union. It would also like amendments to financing regulations for both types of organisations to ensure clarity, prudence, equality, and that it correctly reflects the rights of employees representative organisations.

Singapore promotes plans to fine-tune foreign labour policies Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said Singapore would adjust its policies towards foreign workers to address concerns about employment amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

High-quality overseas labour keen on Vietnam shift Vietnams promising economic factors could lead to more foreign workers and overseas Vietnamese entering the country to live and work.
What are MetLifes key priorities for talent development in Asia?

Butarova: Starting a position in MetLife, employees receive a career development framework and are encouraged to regularly communicate with management to understand their career patterns, the skills they have, and the skills they need to build.

We have also created a customised training programme for MetLife employees. Initially, MetLife hired external experts, but we realised that these trainers might not fully understand the company, leading to less impactful training. As a result, we began developing internal trainers. To date, we have certified over 100 internal trainers across more than 20 countries in 18 different languages. This allows employees to choose trainers in their preferred time zones and languages for training.

In June 2024, MetLife will certify an additional 25 trainers, in addition to organising global connectivity programmes to provide maximum support to its workforce.

Elena Butarova, CEO of BIDV MetLife

What unique challenges do you face in developing talent across such diverse markets as Asia?

Butarova: I believe the most important skill is the ability for employees to self-assess and be ready for change. Misjudging your own capabilities without any efforts to improve can put you in a "dangerous" situation.

10 years ago, I worked with a major bank in the bancassurance sector. At the time, their employees were selling life insurance, investment products, and other similar offerings, much like what BIDV MetLife employees are doing now. It was difficult to get them to participate in training sessions because most of them thought: "I know everything, theres nothing more to learn." We administered a test, and surprisingly, 50 per cent of these experts couldn't answer half of the questions. If a problem arises that is covered by the 50 per cent of questions they couldnt answer, wouldn't that lead to substantial harm for both the company and the customers?

The market is evolving, customers are changing, and the world is rapidly transforming. If you don't learn new things and embrace change, it will be hard to maintain your position.

What are the areas for improvement you see in the Vietnamese talent pool?

Butarova: In Vietnam, only about 26 per cent of individuals reassess their skills and identify areas for improvement. Thats particularly needed for language proficiency, especially in English. Working in a multinational corporation offers numerous fantastic opportunities. You might get the chance to travel to Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and other destinations for business trips or key projects.

However, if your English skills are weak, these opportunities could easily be given to someone else. In a multinational environment, English is the primary language for communication. Poor English proficiency can deprive you of many valuable opportunities.

What advice would you give to young professionals in rapidly growing markets like Vietnam?

Butarova: Regarding skill improvement, my advice would be to make a list of the skills you want to improve and focus on one or two at a time. Once you've made progress on these, you can move on to other skills. You can also utilise tools like Strength Finder to identify your skill gaps and determine which skills to strengthen.

Learning should be paired with practice. It's important to build habits that allow you to apply what you learn. For example, many people find English challenging. To practise, you could hold meetings in English with your team or, as a leader, encourage your employees to use English more by asking them to prepare reports or plans in English. This is the best way to practise.

Reassessing one's skills and identifying which ones need improvement is the key for each individual to plan the acquisition of necessary knowledge and skills to seize future opportunities. Continuously reviewing and upgrading oneself is crucial. As the Vietnamese saying goes: "Biet nguoi biet ta, tram tran tram thang."

Could you share more about MetLife's future plans to attract talent worldwide?

Butarova: MetLife's global talent development team was formed with two core purposes. One is talent development, and the other is talent acquisition. The acquisition is the function where we help bring talent into the organisation and also have talent within the organisation moving to Europe. It involves hiring people, whether from internal or external sources.

MetLife has been and will continue to invest in attracting talent worldwide. Were launching a platform called Talent Acquisition Space to hire talent both externally and internally. This global platform allows external candidates to visit the website to see available positions worldwide. Internal candidates can also access the website to view global job openings. The platform has already been rolled out in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. It is expected to launch in Vietnam this year and will reach the rest of the world by mid-2025.

BIDV MetLife launches "Be confident all time - Let's welcome the future promotion Joining the "Be confident all the time  Let's welcome the future" promotion programme of BIDV MetLife, customers can not only be assured of their life but also have the opportunity to receive attractive prizes with a total value of nearly VND600 million($26,100).

Dedicated efforts justify BIDV MetLife successes Striving to pursue the mission of providing the best service to customers, even in tough times like the ongoing pandemic, BIDV MetLife is showcasing its good performance to create a better life for Vietnamese people.
The event was a testament to the pivotal role cloud technology plays in the modern IT landscape, particularly in driving industry digitalisation through enhanced data analytics and predictive capabilities. The hybrid cloud model, lauded for its flexibility, security, and innovation, is gaining traction among enterprises.

Huawei hosts Cloud Summit Vietnam 2024

At the summit, Huawei Cloud brought together a constellation of industry experts and partners to explore innovative cloud solutions and their impact on reshaping industries. Notable partners such as SmartOSC, FPT Software, and CMC Telecom took part.

Tao Guangyao, president of Huawei Southeast Asia Multi-Country, said that Vietnam had the fastest growing digital economy in Southeast Asia.

The digital economy continues to grow at around 20 per cent per year, over three times faster than GDP. The digital revolution is transforming everything. Online and mobile services are booming, such as e-government, e-commerce, mobile payment, livestreaming, gaming, and Web3.

Tao Guangyao, president of Huawei Southeast Asia Multi-Country

We also see more and more AI applications deployed across different industries in Vietnam. Marking 25 years in Vietnam, Huawei has nurtured a network of over 200 local partners, supported five major telecom carriers, and served over 400 enterprise customers. The company's commitment to the region is evident through the creation of 18,000 jobs and the training of 20,000 local talent, said Guangyao.

Andy Jin, head of Huawei Cloud Asia-Pacific Marketing & Industry Development, highlighted the impressive growth of Huawei Cloud in the Asia Pacific region, with a 77 per cent overall increase in revenue and a remarkable 5-fold expansion in big data and AI projects. Huawei Cloud has become the fastest growing cloud service provider in the region.

"By 2024, Huawei Cloud will prioritise six-star products: Huawei Cloud Stack, big data & AI, media services, databases, security, and PaaS. We will also strengthen our partnerships with top industry players to achieve even greater success in targeted market segments," he said.

The summit also featured insights from guest speakers of SmartOSC, FPT Software, and CMC Telecom, who shared their experiences and success stories leveraging Huawei Cloud's solutions.

Gerry Bench, head of SmartOSC Cloud Sales, explained how cloud, big data, and AI solutions could unlock the potential of e-commerce. He cited the example of SmartOSC and Huawei Cloud collaborating to develop a solution that helped the Thai retailer DoHome reduce their IT infrastructure costs by 30 per cent and achieve faster growth.

Huynh Le Duy, director of Digital Transformation Global at FPT Software, said that they had joined hands with Huawei Cloud to develop an E2E cloud solution and utilised each other's customer resources to expand and cross-sell services in emerging markets.

He also added that FPT Software was able to quickly adapt AIA's business system to a 35 per cent business growth rate by implementing a standardized system framework and agile development.

ZTE and Huawei strengthen tech alliances with Vietnam In a strategic move highlighting the deepening ties between Vietnam and two of China's tech giants, President Vo Van Thuong on October 19 engaged in discussions with executives from ZTE and Huawei.

Huawei to develop 5G innovation centre in Vietnam Huawei is proposing the development of a 5G innovation centre in Vietnam as part of the Chinese tech giant's intention to support Vietnam's roll out of commercialised 5G services.
Footwear manufacturer TBS An Giang JSC in the Mekong Delta province of An Giangs Thoai Son district would like to recruit about 1,900 workers in the second quarter of the year, and 1,000 additional workers at the end of the year, due to an expected increase in orders for 2025.

Key factors that affect job choices include industrial transformation, new roles, and mass layoffs, Photo: Duc Thanh

Vietnam Samho in Ho Chi Minh Citys Cu Chi district needs 1,500 workers, and has already recruited about 300 over the last two months.

Working in human resources at this time is extremely stressful because finding people is getting difficult, said Nguyen Thanh An, chairman of the companys trade union. Orders are rising, so we need more workers. Recruitment information is posted everywhere, but not many candidates apply.

An connected with nearby provinces and visited various districts and communes to hunt for employees. After two months of travelling to numerous provinces, the company has recruited more than 300 people in An Giangs Tri Ton district.

Other manufacturers are also struggling with recruitment. Director of Ho Chi Minh City Employment Service Centre Nguyen Van Hanh Thuc, said that about 49,000 jobs were offered in May but only 8,500 people were looking for work, while the number of people registered to receive unemployment benefits reached nearly 60,000.

Recruitment demand is increasing but it is getting hard to find employees, Thuc said. Recently, the centre organised 21 job exchanges to connect workers and businesses. However, often the number of recruiters was higher than the jobseekers. Despite extending the age range to 40-45, some employers do not have enough quantity.

Many factories in other provinces are thirsty for labour, especially in some industries such as textile and garments, leather and footwear, and wood production and processing.

According to Binh Duong Department of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs, about 3,200 enterprises want to recruit nearly 41,000 employees, of which the vast majority are workers and unskilled workers. However, many have not found enough people to meet their needs. To support businesses, the department connects with local employment service centres.

In May, factories in the southern province of Dong Nai needed more than 10,700 people, mostly unskilled workers. They have prolonged the deadline for receiving applications because of the lack of responses.

Nguyen Hong Quang, deputy director of An Giang Economic Zones Management Board, said that recruitment in Binh Hoa Industrial Park was facing many difficulties.

Recently, a business requested importing labour from abroad to produce orders in April and May but was not approved because it was not in accordance with Vietnamese law. This company has transferred the order to a factory in Ho Chi Minh City to complete the contract on schedule, Quang said.

Thuc from Ho Chi Minh City Employment Service Centre said that unskilled workers had more options other than just going to factories like before.

Other jobs like ride-hailing and delivery services with flexible times are the favourite choice for them right now. Additionally, some industrial areas and factories have sprung up in their provinces and districts, so the number of workers migrating to the big cities has been going down, she said.

Arriving at numerous districts and communes, and meeting workers directly, Nguyen Thanh An from Vietnam Samho said, People dont want to live in big cities any more. After the pandemic, they feel safer in the countryside. It has made another pathway for labour, especially as there are jobs in the countryside and things are not as expensive, An said.

Le Thi Oanh in An Giangs Chau Thanh district said that after her company cut labour, she has been selling fruit and other consumer goods online. Although my income is not regular, I do not want to go back because workers doing fewer hours are always first in line for layoffs, she said.

Tran Thi Phuong in the same district quit her job when she was about to turn 40 years old. The industrial environment was difficult because her health was not good, and her productivity not the same as the younger workers. I would like to learn a new vocation to start a job at home and have some income that way, she said.

Nguyen Duc Loc, chairman of the Social Life Research Institute in Ho Chi Minh City pointed out the key factors that affect workers job choices: industrial structural transformation, new jobs appearing, and a big shock to society caused by the pandemic and mass layoffs.

Working in a factory is no longer meaningful because it could end at any time. Therefore, people are now interested in seasonal, short-term jobs to proactively manage their life and work. The conditions for this are favourable as many new jobs offering flexible time have appeared, Loc said.

Of course, not all workers will say no to factory work, but they will choose working places that have good policies for workers, Loc added. For example, factories that rushed to cut employees during the pandemic and amid order reductions, will face more difficulties than those that tried not to abandon their workers and instead fulfilled their social responsibilities.

Shoots of recovery seen in industrial production Although Vietnams targeted economic growth may be unreachable, there are positive signs of recovery in industrial production and business confidence.

Activities in industrial production heat up Vietnams industrial performance is looking up, with the economy forecasted to see a stronger outlook moving into next year.
The history of carbon credits, however, spans back to the negotiations around the Kyoto Protocol in 1996  the first United Nations agreement for developed countries to cut emissions. At that time, carbon credits were crucial in politics, especially to gain the support of the United States, which ironically signed but never ratified the protocol.

Dang Hong Hanh, Co-founder and managing director Energy and Environment Consultancy JSC

The carbon market is now experiencing significant momentum, with new compliance markets emerging and existing ones expanding. A report by Trove Research revealed that over the past decade, $36 billion has been invested in carbon credit projects, with half of that invested in just the last three years. Since 2020, approximately 1,500 new projects have been registered, with another 1,500 in the early development stages. This surge reflects a growing global commitment to addressing climate change through carbon credit mechanisms.

These investments have protected and restored around 30 million hectares-an area equivalent to Italy. This highlights the tangible impact of carbon credit initiatives in safeguarding vital ecosystems and mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into the global atmosphere. However, increased scrutiny of carbon credits for offsetting has raised concerns about whether they result in real, verifiable emissions reductions.

A carbon credit is a tradable certificate or permit that represents the right to emit one metric tonne of CO2 or an equivalent amount of another GHG. These are credits generated by projects/activities that reduce, remove, or avoid GHG emissions. Examples include reforestation and renewable energy projects, and methane capture from landfills. Companies or individuals can purchase these offsets to compensate for their emissions.

However, not all activities that result in GHG emission reductions can claim for carbon credits. Instead, they have to follow the strict methodologies of international organisations that register and issue carbon credits to generate real and valid credits for trading. Vietnam is under the development of the countrys own rules, but it must not deviate much from the international standards to make sure credits originating in Vietnam are as high quality as international ones.

For a carbon credit to be valid, four minimum criteria are required: the project needs to be additional  i.e., it would not have taken place if there was no revenue from the sale (or expected sale) of carbon credits; the quantification of the difference of emissions between the actual and baseline (reference point or scenario that would have occurred if the project had not been implemented) needs to be accurate; the carbon credits emissions reduction or removal must not be unexpectedly reversed; and the carbon emission reductions need to be independently verified.

The four criteria mean the project must go beyond business as usual-a fact often omitted in newspaper coverage. Firstly, the investment is needed to implement the project itself to generate carbon credits. Existing projects that do not factor in revenue from selling credits when making the initial decision do not qualify. Proving this additionality requires specific methods and approaches and must be verified by the independent parties.

Carbon credit verification and registration is a rigorous process that involves various steps to ensure the legitimacy of the credits and also incurred transaction costs. The transaction costs must be covered until the credits can be sold, which usually takes at least two years for registration and issuance.

Therefore, revenue from selling credits is often just the icing on the cake, providing an additional income source after transaction costs are deducted, to enhance the commercial attractiveness of the venture.

Buying carbon credits hinges on their scarcity and the local benefits they provide, such as improving living conditions or reducing pollution (see Figure 1). With numerous project types generating credits at varying prices, costs fluctuate based on project type, location, and co-benefits. Comparing the carbon price for a renewable project in Vietnam with a nature-based one in Laos is not meaningful, for instance.

Some have even compared the price of credits generated from Vietnam under the voluntary market with carbon prices under the regulated carbon market (allowances under the European Emission Trading Scheme and the carbon tax in Singapore), or even the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism tariff. However, this is like comparing apples to oranges, and their principles differ significantly.

The growth of the carbon market in Vietnam is a continuation of the trading of credits under the Clean Development Mechanism since the first batch of carbon credits were issued for Vietnam in 2008 for the Rang Dong oil field associated gas recovery and utilisation project. To date, about 48.6 million carbon credits have been issued for projects from Vietnam under different mechanisms.

The carbon credit market is expected to become more competitive and more stringent. Hence, only those who have a solid understanding of relevant trends then will be able to form an impression of whether or not a given project qualifies for carbon credits, and what the expected costs and benefits might be.

COP28 faces debate over controversy-mired carbon credits Controversial credits bought by corporations to offset their carbon emissions will be in the spotlight at UN climate talks next month.

World Bank to support Ho Chi Minh City on carbon credits The opportunities and challenges presented by operating a carbon credit market in Ho Chi Minh City in line with the World Bank were the main talking points of a meeting on January 24 between Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai and World Bank experts at an investment conference centred around green growth on January 24.
What impact have changes in quality standards and new requirements on green production from international import markets had on the awareness and thinking of Vietnamese businesses?

Nguyen Le Thang Long, president of the Eco-Friendly Products Manufacturer Association (EPMA)

Vietnamese businesses exporting goods to international markets, including large markets such as Europe, the US, or Japan, have become familiar with basic management standards.

From 2026, Vietnam will face risks when the cost of exporting some products to the European Union market skyrockets under the impact of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.

When developed countries convert to green products, in addition to the above standards, Vietnamese manufacturers must also meet other standards to demonstrate environmentally friendly products, such as biological origin, green products and eco-labels, and biodegradable standards. This has put Vietnamese businesses in a situation where they are forced to learn, know how to apply, and build a roadmap to achieve.

EPMA currently has about 50 businesses as members, most of which export products to the international market. We have supported and advised member businesses on policies and product development trends, helping them quickly make choices and access international certification requirements.

When there are good products that fully meet the standards of the import market, businesses will easily be accepted, thereby increasing the speed of development.

Although environmentally friendly products are receiving more attention, they still cannot replace traditional products due to barriers from durability and price. What has EPMA done to support member businesses to commercialise products?

Supporting businesses aiming to produce and develop environmentally friendly products and promote green consumption is both the responsibility and the purpose of EPMAs establishment.

Since 2022, the association has organised events and seminars to connect supply and demand and introduce to consumers and interested partners new products of member businesses.

We also have a team of experts ready to advise and support businesses in product development, choosing to register standards and certificates suitable for the domestic market and each export market.

The EPMA also opened a playground for businesses to connect with each other, thereby contributing to perfecting the supply chain from selecting raw materials, finding suitable production solutions, then introducing them to businesses to encourage them to boldly switch from producing conventional products to greener products.

In fact, the business of environmentally friendly products is still difficult, requiring more efforts from EPMA businesses in continuously updating new technologies and communication, educating consumers so they can switch to truly smart, sustainable consumption habits.

On the other hand, when developed countries have specific policies on circular economy, emission reduction, and net-zero, financial resources to support green production will become increasingly abundant. These financial sources often go hand in hand with technology suppliers to set up production lines for more environmentally friendly products.

We have worked with businesses to support them in accessing green finance. In addition to financial resources for production lines, support from non-governmental organisations for promoting green product development is also very abundant. If businesses have enough information and know the right approach, they will have a straightforward time conquering and meeting certification requirements.

What is the biggest benefit when businesses convert to the green and environmentally friendly production?

The green product trend requires businesses to participate if they do not want to be eliminated from the market.

Vietnams advantage is that it possesses abundant natural raw materials, especially raw materials of biological origin. Along with that, Vietnam builds a policy framework and orientation for sustainable national development. This creates a dynamic market with lots of potential for development and conversion to environmentally friendly products.

These factors have opened opportunities for businesses to learn and apply new technology to convert it into environmentally friendly products. Businesses also need to seize the opportunity to become pioneering manufacturers when the market is not yet clearly shaped.

When businesses change their thinking and steadfastly transform it, they will firmly grasp the ticket to depart faster and more smoothly in the new race of green production.

Vietnams construction sector welcomes a greener vision The transition to a carbon-free world, beginning with greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories, will aid industry development.

Public-private focus picks up steam for greener agriculture Task forces led by businesses are determined to build a public-private partnership model to build a high-quality and low-carbon agricultural sector.
DPRK, Russia sign comprehensive strategic partnership agreement after summit: KCNA

Xinhua) 10:59, June 21, 2024

SEOUL, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The top leaders of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Russia on Wednesday signed the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership following their summit in Pyongyang, state media reported Thursday.

The treaty was the culmination of the state visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin, which also featured a bilateral summit meeting and private talks between him and Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, as well as a welcoming ceremony at Kim Il Sung Square and a grand performance, among other high-profile events, according to multiple reports by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

In a joint statement, the DPRK top leader said the conclusion of the treaty put the relations of the two countries on a new higher stage called the relations of alliance, calling it "the most powerful treaty in the history of the DPRK-Russia relations," the KCNA reported.

The Russian president said the treaty is an "actual breakthrough document" reflecting the desire of the two countries to put the bilateral ties on a new level, the report said.

The treaty includes a clause stipulating mutual support if one of the signatories to the treaty is invaded, and Russia "does not rule out military technical cooperation with the DPRK under the treaty," the KCNA said.

In the lead-up to the most signature event of the day, the top leaders had a "tete-a-tete" which lasted for more than two hours, during which they reached a consensus on building a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries and came to a "satisfactory" agreement on defending regional and global peace and international justice and on the matters of immediate cooperation, the KCNA reported.

Prior to the private conversation, the two sides held an extended bilateral meeting involving senior officials from both countries, where Kim hailed Putin's visit as an event of strategic significance in developing the DPRK-Russia good-neighborly relations, and reaffirmed "the full support and solidarity of the DPRK government and people to the Russian government and people as regards the special military operations in Ukraine," the KCNA said.

In addition to the treaty, the two governments signed agreements concerning the construction of a motorcar bridge over the River Tuman on their shared border and the bilateral cooperation in the fields of public health, medical education and science, the KCNA said.

Also on Wednesday, in a show of utmost respect to the visiting Russian president, the DPRK side awarded Putin the Order of Kim Il Sung, the highest medal of honor of the country, and hosted a banquet in his honor, the KCNA reported.

Putin concluded his state visit and left the DPRK capital on Wednesday night, as Kim took senior DPRK officials to Pyongyang International Airport to see him off, it added.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Rapper Travis Scott was busted in Miami on allegations of trespassing and disorderly conduct, jail records indicate.

The Thursday morning arrest of Scott, whose real name is Jacques Bermon Webster, 33, came after he was allegedly "yelling obscenities" at someone on a yacht in Miami Beach, ABC News, CNN and WTVJ-TV reported, citing the police report.

Responding officers alleged they could "sense a strong smell of alcohol" on Scott's breath.

The person whose Scott's yells were directed at said they wanted the musician removed from the boat.

Officers ordered the "SICKO MODE" artist to leave the marina. He allegedly returned five minutes later and attempted to go back to the vessel. Officers prevented him from returning to the yacht and Scott allegedly became "erratic," leading to his arrest, said police, according to ABC.

Upon his detainment, Scott allegedly admitted he had been drinking and told cops, "it's Miami."

Scott pleaded not guilty to the charges and bonded out of jail hours later.

Shortly after his release, he posted an edited mugshot on his Instagram story, mocking his arrest.

Scott made headlines in 2021 when 10 people died at his Astroworld Festival in Houston. He settled the last wrongful death lawsuit, last month.
Police in Connecticut police flew a drone through the open window of a home in Voluntown on Wednesday after failing to elicit a response from anyone on the premises.

They did it after a mysterious 911 call that led police to a body in front of the home.

State police said personnel from Troop E-Montville were dispatched to a home on Hell Hollow Road at approximately 11:26 a.m. after receiving a 911 call from a woman.

The woman gave troopers the address of the home and said, "Emergency, I'm sorry," before hanging up.

Shortly after the call, an unresponsive man was found in the driveway with visible injuries.

He was pronounced dead at the scene, said Connecticut State Police.

After troopers used megaphones to try to make contact with a woman believed to be inside and received no response, police immediately set up a perimeter around the area.

Authorities attempted to ping the cellphones of the residents who lived at the home and said they were able to detect a signal from a woman's phone coming from within the residence.

The drone was used to fly inside one of the windows of the house, where it captured images of a woman dead in the stairwell.

The investigation was being turned over to the Eastern District Major Crimes Squad, and the identities of the deceased are not being released at this time.

A shelter-in-place order for nearby residents was lifted after the bodies were found.

Police said it was too early to determine if it was a murder-suicide.
Ive estimated in my everyday following that around 1.5 million Ukrainians have died and or been removed forever  about 27 : 1 (55,000 Russians removed) Russia actually has given numbers that equate estimates about 1 million  18 : 1 (55,000 Russians removed)

Our numbers match and get closer each time Russia says something. I have decided that I am not being nice and allowing a buffer to extend the news. But it is what it is and my numbers will be exonerated in the end

That is Ukrainian, Nazi, Mercenaries and Western Coalition forever removed from the equation to Russians and that ratio will not change except to get much worse for the Western Coalition

WtR
"Today, our community lost an extraordinary man," said a statement released on behalf of the Hicks family, including current Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks. "Judge Larry Hicks was a deeply admired, lawyer and judge, a devoted friend, mentor, and a committed servant to the administration of justice. To us, he was first and foremost, a man who put nothing before family. He was a hero in all manners, a loving husband of nearly 59 years, a doting dad, an adoring Papa, and brother. His loss is beyond comprehension."

Reno Police, Reno Fire, and REMSA responded to a report of a car hitting a pedestrian just after 2:15 p.m. at the intersection of South Virginia Street and California Avenue.

The RPD's Major Accident Investigation Team is handling the investigation.

Police say the driver of the car stayed on scene and is cooperating with the investigation.

Police say impairment does not appear to be a factor in the crash.

On behalf of the men and women of the Reno Police Department, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of Judge Hicks," said Reno Police Chief Kathryn Nance in a statement. "Tragedies like this leave a lasting impact on our lives, particularly when they involve cherished members of our community.

Todays news regarding the Honorable Judge Larry R. Hicks who served Nevada for over 53 years is tragic, said Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam.

Hicks served as the district attorney in Washoe County from 1974-78 and then joined a law firm, according to an online biography. He was nominated to the U.S. District Court for Nevada by President George W. Bush and sworn in in 2001. He continued to carry a caseload after assuming senior status in 2013.

Hicks was the father of current Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks, whose office released a statement on behalf of the Hicks family.

Judge Larry Hicks was a deeply admired lawyer and judge, a devoted friend, mentor, and a committed servant to the administration of justice, the family said. To us, he was first and foremost, a man who put nothing before family. He was a hero in all manners, a loving husband of nearly 59 years, a doting dad, an adoring Papa, and brother. His loss is beyond comprehension.

Flags will be flown at half-staff over Nevadas federal courthouses, the U.S. District Court said.
Fire crews say a brush fire that broke out in Palomino Valley last week was started by humans.

Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue tells 2 News that the fire, which burned two outhouses, charred 172 acres before being fully contained last weekend.

As of right now, TMFR can't pinpoint an exact cause other than it started by someone.

The Reno Fire Department, Sparks Fire, Storey County, Nevada Forestry, and the Bureau of Land Management all had crews working this fire.

No injuries were reported and no homes were affected.

Update, 6:40 p.m.:

Evacuations in the area have been lifted and residents can now return home.

Update, 4:20 p.m.:

According to TMFR, multiple agencies are on the scene assisting with the fire.

They are currently working to protect homes and outbuildings.

An air tanker is on the scene dropping fire retardant.

Update, 4:10 p.m.:

The Reno Fire Department says in an online post that they are responding to assist TMFR and BLM with the brush fire.

RFD says they are sending two brush trucks (staffed with four firefighters) and a Battalion Chief at this time.

Update, 3:50 p.m.:

According to TMFR, the fire is at approximately 50 acres.

They are asking for residents to check Perimeter Map for areas in the evacuation area.

Large animals that need to be evacuated can be taken to the UNR Equestrian Center, located at 1290 Valley Rd, Reno

Original Story, 2:25 p.m.:

Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue crews are on scene of a brush fire near Virginia Peak south of Pyramid Lake.

According to TMFR, the fire is about 10 acres and is located from Ironwood Drive to Wilcox Drive in Palomino Valley.

The smoke is visible on ALERT Wildfire cameras at this link.

According to the Washoe County Sheriff's Office, evacuations are in place near Ironwood Road and Pyramid Highway.

You can view an evacuation map here.

Folks are asked to evacuate to Spanish Springs Library at 7100A Pyramid Way.

Please avoid the area.

We are working to get more information.

We will update you as we learn more.
Police in California are warning residents that criminals are now using hidden cameras pointed toward their homes as a tactic for residential burglaries.

Wednesday night, Alhambra Police responded to a call on the 1900 block of S. Primerose Avenue following reports of an attempted burglary.

A neighbor of the targeted home had found a hidden camera in the bushes pointing toward their home, and an alarm company also notified the residents of an attempt to open the kitchen window earlier that day.

Criminals are strategically placing camouflage cameras in discrete areas, such as bushes, to collect information on the homeowners' daily routines to rob their homes.

Authorities are advising homeowners to regularly inspect the exterior of their home for any unfamiliar objects or changes in the landscaping that could possibly conceal a surveillance camera.

They also recommend staying vigilant by keeping an eye out for suspicious-looking people knocking on doors.

Never leave a house key hidden somewhere on the premises or a name or ID tag attached to the keys because, if lost or stolen, robbers can easily locate your home, warned the police department.

Other prevention tips include writing down license plate numbers and reporting them should you spot a suspicious vehicle, as well as keeping good lighting around the exterior of the home, as it's the best deterrent to ward off criminals.

Lastly, there should be regular maintenance and upkeep.

Police suggest keeping trees and bushes well-trimmed to eliminate any potential hiding spots.


Investor Webinar Presentation

Perth, June 20, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - BPH Energy Ltd ( ASX:BPH ) is pleased to announce its participation in the ShareCafe Small Cap "Hidden Gems" Webinar, to be held Friday 21st of June 2024 from 12:30pm AEST.



David Breeze - Executive Director will provide an overview of the Company, BPH is a diversified company holding investments in medical technology and resources. BPH holds a significant interest (36%) in unlisted oil and gas exploration company Advent Energy Ltd.



This webinar can be viewed live via Zoom and will provide viewers the opportunity to hear from, and engage with, a range of ASX-listed leading micro/mid cap companies.



To access further details of the event and to register at no cost, please visit:

https://www.abnnewswire.net/lnk/50L95CS4



A recorded copy of the webinar will be made available following the event





About BPH Energy Limited





BPH Energy Limited (ASX:BPH) is an Australian Securities Exchange listed company developing biomedical research and technologies within Australian Universities and Hospital Institutes.

The company provides early stage funding, project management and commercialisation strategies for a direct collaboration, a spin out company or to secure a license.

BPH provides funding for commercial strategies for proof of concept, research and product development, whilst the institutional partner provides infrastructure and the core scientific expertise.

BPH currently partners with several academic institutions including The Harry Perkins Institute for Medical Research and Swinburne University of Technology (SUT).

Related Companies
Two men last seen on surveillance footage with 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray before she was found dead in a Texas creek have been charged with capital murder.

Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, were taken into custody by a SWAT team at a Houston apartment complex Thursday afternoon, police announced during a press conference shortly after.

Martinez and Ramos were previously considered persons of interest.

Persons of Interest Sought in Homicide at 400 West Rankin https://t.co/fZR67DtTQT  Houston Police (@houstonpolice) June 20, 2024

The pair are accused of killing Jocelyn after she snuck out of her family's apartment Sunday night, according to police.

By 6 a.m. Monday morning, Jocelyn's mom told police she realized her daughter was missing. At the same time, a woman called police to report a dead body in a nearby creek.

Authorities believe Martinez and Ramos began their evening Sunday at an area restaurant. They left on foot and encountered Jocelyn. The three of them then went to a 7-Eleven together before walking to a bridge where Jocelyn was allegedly killed. A motive and manner of death was not disclosed.

"I want karma to hit them," Jocelyn's mom, Alexis Nungaray, said a day before the arrests were made, according to KPRC-TV. "I'm angry. They took advantage of her. She's so young. She's 12. I want justice."

"They took my baby away," she continued.

Speaking to reporters Monday, Mayor John Whitemire said he was "angry that we have dangerous criminals on the streets of Houston" and wants the "bad actors to be held accountable" for Jocelyn's death.
MAMI 2024 is gearing up for its next edition and is now accepting entries for one of its most awaited sections, Dimensions Mumbai, a short film competition with Mumbai as its central theme. The category was introduced in 2009 by Jaya Bachchan as an ode to Mumbai. Enterprising young filmmakers within the age group of 1825 years are eligible to submit films for Dimensions Mumbai. The film must showcase Mumbai as the core theme and not exceed a maximum time limit of 5 minutes.

A true Mumbaikar and Indias leading contemporary actor, Bhumi Pednekar, will continue to serve as Brand Ambassador for Dimensions Mumbai this year as well. Known to not follow the beaten path with her eclectic choice of films and roles, Bhumi Pednerkar, and her journey is an inspiration for young creative minds. As the brand ambassador for Dimensions Mumbai, she will engage with aspiring young filmmakers and share her own take on the city and its many cinematic representations.

Commenting on this, Bhumi Pednekar said, "It is with much pleasure that I continue my association with Dimensions Mumbai as its brand ambassador. I look forward to some fine work from talented emerging filmmakers as they showcase their unique take on the city. Mumbai, the city of dreams, leaves an indelible mark on those of us who are part of its daily hustle and its cinematic manifestation doesn't fail to move us. While cinema resides in the very heart and soul of this city, it is platforms like these that truly celebrate young independent filmmakers and help them realise their full creative potential. The city has given me so much and I am happy to play a role in creating a positive impact for South Asian talent and cinema.

Welcoming Bhumi Pednekar back as the brand ambassador for Dimensions Mumbai, Deepti DCunha, Artistic Director, MAMI Mumbai Film Festival said: "I am very happy to welcome back Bhumi as brand ambassador for Dimensions Mumbai. She is an exceptional talent who has been pushing boundaries, and has successfully brought to life some truly offbeat characters and captivating stories. As brand ambassador, her presence continues to inspire young filmmakers to stay authentic and true to their voices as they showcase their own unique take on the city through Dimensions Mumbai. It is heartening to witness the successful journey of some of the past winners who were discovered and nurtured through the festival and the ecosystem it offers. We look forward to another successful edition with a large number of entries and many discoveries.

Dimensions Mumbai has the distinction of being one of the most popular short film competitions in India. It aims to bring together some of the brightest upcoming filmmakers and give them the opportunity to interact with and learn from the best in the industry. Registration for Dimensions Mumbai begins on June 20, 2024. Film submission begins on July 1, 2024 and will be open until August 5, 2024.

MAMI Mumbai Film Festival is ready to welcome young talent and all the special films that will be shown at the festival scheduled from October 19th to 24th. Young filmmakers have this unique opportunity to embark on their cinematic journey through Dimensions Mumbai.
International Yoga Day, celebrated annually on June 21st, was established by the United Nations in 2014 to promote global awareness of the benefits of yoga. This day highlights yoga's holistic approach to health and well-being, emphasizing the unity of mind, body, and spirit. Various events, including yoga sessions, workshops, and educational activities, are held worldwide to encourage people of all ages to incorporate yoga into their daily routines, fostering physical, mental, and spiritual harmony.

Brands have also embraced in supporting International Yoga Day through social media posts, reels and tweets. Motivating people to priorotize health, mental health and over all fitness of body and mind.

Amul

Croma

YouTube India

Zee5

Swiggy InstaMart

This tweet is a reminder to clean your yoga mat kept in the corner of the house and use it ???#YogaDay  Swiggy Instamart (@SwiggyInstamart) June 21, 2024

PaperBoatDrinks

MaddockFilms

SonyPicturesNetwork
The ejection of 8 Black passengers from an American Airlines flight after a complaint about body "odor" was "unacceptable," the company's CEO said in a memo to staff, some of whom have been suspended over the incident.

CEO Robert Isom said he is currently working to "rebuild trust" among Black customers.

The passengers, reportedly all the Black men on board, were not traveling together, nor were they seated together when they were ordered off the plane in Phoenix on a flight headed to New York iin January.

Three of the passengers last month filed a federal lawsuit against the airline, arguing they were victims of "blatant and egregious racial discrimination."

One of the men recorded a conversation with an airline employee who said that a while male flight attendant had complained about "offensive body odor," according to the suit.

The booted passengers were allowed to reboard the flight about an hour later.

"I am incredibly disappointed by what happened on that flight and the breakdown of our procedures," CEO Robert Isom wrote of the "unacceptable incident" to staff in a memo obtained by National Public Radio.

"It contradicts our values. ... We fell short of our commitments and failed our customers in this incident," he added.

An unspecified number of staff have been suspended, though details about a possible return to work were not provided by the airline. Nor was it clear if the suspensions followed the lawsuit, or occurred earlier.

"We are holding those involved accountable, including removing team members from service," an airline spokesperson told the Associated Press.

The company is also forming an advisory group to focus on the experience of Black customers, promoting the reporting of discrimination allegations, and improving diversity training to "focus on real-world situations to help recognize and address bias and discrimination," Isom wrote.

NEW: American Airlines suspends employees who removed eight black passengers from a plane over an 'offensive' odor complaint



American Airlines CEO Robert Isom told staff this week that he is 'incredibly disappointed' and that they 'failed their customers'



He also mentioned that pic.twitter.com/lFq1FobEJM  Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) June 21, 2024

Isom noted that he also reached out to NAACP CEO and President Derrick Johnson.

Johnson told NPR that he is pleased American has taken initial steps to "forge a path towards a more inclusive experience for all."

The NAACP issued an advisory warning in 2017 for Black travelers to be cautious about flying on the airline because of racial incidents at the time. It was later dropped after changes by the airline.
Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (HMIL) launched its new brand campaign, I Choose Hyundai. This multi-product campaign highlights Hyundais diverse product lineup, driven by customers across India, under the narrative #IndiaDrivesHyundai. Hyundai Motor India has consistently prioritized customer needs and comfort, ensuring peace of mind and a smooth ownership experience.

The 'I Choose Hyundai' campaign showcases why India chooses the Hyundai brand, emphasizing the wide range of models, transmissions, features, and fuel options available. To resonate deeply with regional audiences, the TVC is presented in six regional languages: Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, and Telugu, ensuring a powerful and lasting impact across diverse geographies. The campaign film features a series of Hyundai products driven by a diverse set of customers, all choosing Hyundai products for its ease of mobility, extensive service network, advanced technology, comfort, convenience, and safety.

Speaking about the campaign, Tarun Garg, COO, Hyundai Motor India Limited, said: Our latest campaign, I Choose Hyundai, exemplifies HMILs unwavering commitment to curating innovative, customer-centric marketing initiatives. Showcasing our entire product line, this campaign will help us connect with our target audience in a more meaningful way, driving brand awareness. With a customer-first approach, the I Choose Hyundai campaign highlights the wide range of Hyundai products suitable for a diverse set of customers, making every drive an enjoyable journey. It underscores that Hyundai products meet every aspect of choice, providing not just quality and reliability, but also the peace of mind that comes with driving a trusted brand. Through this campaign, we aim to strengthen our connection with existing customers and forge new bonds with a wider audience, enriching their ownership journey.

These films, characterized by the unique propositions of each Hyundai product, showcase the vehicles' capabilities and the emotional connection customers develop with Hyundai. The TVC features various age groups and situations, demonstrating that whether it's a hatchback, sedan, EV, or SUV, there is a Hyundai product for everyone, no matter the number of occupants or the type of adventure. The new campaign will be promoted across multiple channels including TV, digital, and social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.

HMILs customer-centric approach focuses on providing excellent ownership experience and support to the customers at every level of interaction.

Safety: With Safety-for-all as the utmost priority for HMIL, 6 Airbags, seatbelt reminder and 3-point seatbelt are provided as standard across all variants. Further, 7 Hyundai models (IONIQ 5, TUCSON, CRETA, CRETA N LINE, VERNA, VENUE N LINE and VENUE) come with ADAS features.

Advanced Technology: To enhance customer experience, our passenger vehicles are equipped with various technology-enabled features such as our connected car platform-Bluelink, which provides services include remote operations, live tracking, vehicle status, trip history, real time traffic and hands free calling assistance.

Diverse Choices: HMIL continuously strives to be the customers first choice by having a wide range of SUVs (EXTER, VENUE, VENUE N LINE, CRETA, CRETA N LINE, ALCAZAR, TUCSON & IONIQ 5), providing wide choice of transmission (MT, AMT, AT, IVT & DCT) and multiple engine fuel options (Petrol, Diesel, CNG & Electric) for the customers.

Peace of Mind: With over 1372 sales points and 1557 service touch points, as on May 31, 2024, HMIL is committed to customer satisfaction and deliver value to owners of Hyundai products.

Future Ready: Hyundai's digital ecosystem reflects their customer centric approach. With Hyundai Click to Buy, customers get a hassle free end-to-end online buying experience and can further avail additional benefits through the MyHyundai App.

Hyundai Motor India Product Range

Hatchbacks: Hyundai Grand i10 NIOS and Hyundai i20- A definition of practicality, with exuberant design and advanced technology bringing ease to your life.

Sedans: Hyundai VERNA and Hyundai AURA- Combines modern aesthetics with contemporary craftsmanship. These Hyundai sedans are meticulously designed to make long journeys as comfortable as short hops across the city.

SUVs: Hyundai CRETA, EXTER, VENUE, TUCSON and ALCAZAR: Symbolizing leisure along with outdoor travel in the perfect Hyundai SUV. These products present a modern take on the Hyundai SUV Life.

N Line: Hyundai i20 N Line, Venue N Line, Creta N Line: Designed for thrill seekers, Hyundai N line range of products will get your hearts racing and promising an exciting journey every time you take the wheel.

EV: Hyundai IONIQ 5 setting benchmarks that redefines electric mobility lifestyle in India with synergies of intelligent technology and innovative sustainability.
On the occasion of World Music Day, JSW MG Motor India, has made the announcement of a heartening initiative under MG Taal. The carmaker, in partnership with Songdew  Indias largest music business administration platform, will nurture visually impaired students from AICB Captain Chandan Lal Special School for the Blind, Gurgaon, Haryana. These students will receive professional training in music besides a chance to showcase their talents at relevant platforms, thereby boosting their confidence and widening the horizon of opportunities.

The company under its community service initiative - MG Sewa has adopted students from the school. Recognizing their talent in music, the automobile maker stepped forward with its initiative to nurture them and help them advance their musical journey through MG Taal. These students will be selected to form a band and trained by professionals over a period of one year.

During the training, the band will benefit from multiple mentoring sessions with professional musicians. These sessions will cover various aspects of music, providing invaluable insights and allowing the students to interact with seasoned artists. This mentorship will significantly enhance their musical skills, provide career guidance, and inspire them to pursue their dreams.

Upon the completion of training, the band will collaborate with a professional producer and lyricist from Songdew to create an original song. This track and its music video will then be distributed across all major platforms and promoted on Songdew TV, as well as social media. Furthermore, the band will participate in a jamming session with the MG Taal Season 3 winners and will get access to curated opportunities on Songdew platform, to highlight their talent within the music community.

Satinder Singh Bajwa, Chief Commercial Officer at JSW MG Motor India, stated, This initiative is not only about creating music; it is about empowering these students, and providing them with opportunities that can lead to a more inclusive and fulfilling life. Through MG Taal, we aim to offer these talented students a platform to showcase their abilities and pursue their dreams. This exposure and the skills they acquire will help them build confidence, improve social skills, and unlock potential career paths in the music industry.

JSW MG Motor India is renowned for its innovative approach and commitment to creating exciting experiences. Beyond automotive excellence, the brand has integrated music deeply into its identity, supporting and promoting various musical talents and initiatives through its MG Taal platform. Two seasons of MG Taal have been successfully completed, offering a platform for emerging talent and cultivating a vibrant community of music enthusiasts and creators.
Authored by Chetna Katyall Sundaram, Head of Global Marketing

India's diverse cultural landscape presents a unique challenge for brands aiming to penetrate the vast landscape. The diversity in languages, traditions, and consumer behaviors means that a one-size-fits-all marketing strategy is less likely to succeed in the hyper-competitive market. For companies looking to build brand loyalty, particularly in offline communities, localized marketing is not just beneficialits essential.

Understanding Cultural Nuances

India's cultural complexity requires marketers to adopt a highly localized approach. Brands must tailor their marketing strategies based on state-centric festivals and local engagements. Companies that recognize and customize their campaigns to state-wise cultural specifics can connect deeply with various communities. Implementing festival-specific promotions or events can significantly enhance local engagement and foster brand loyalty.

For instance, capitalizing on local festivities such as offering special sales during Diwali in North India, Durga Puja in West Bengal, and Onam in Kerala can significantly enhance brand loyalty. A nuanced understanding of these regional festivals allows brands to forge stronger connections with diverse communities.

Localized Content Creation

To truly resonate with a local audience, content must reflect the linguistic and cultural context of the region. This means utilizing local languages and dialects and incorporating culturally relevant references. Partnering with regional influencers or Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) who share a genuine connection with the community can also amplify a brands reach and authenticity in specific areas.

Local influencers can navigate area and community-specific nuances more naturally, making them ideal partners in localized marketing strategies.

Community Engagement

Active participation in community events, local sponsorships, and partnerships can solidify a brand's presence and enhance its image within the community. This hands-on approach not only boosts brand visibility but also helps in building a loyal customer base by showing the brand's commitment to local values and interests.

Customized Offerings for Offline Buyers

One very effective way to ensure customer loyalty is by aligning product offerings with local tastes and needs. For example, TV manufacturers can add a repository of local language channels in their Smart TVs, demonstrating how regional needs dictate product customization. Such tailored products not only meet specific customer needs but also reflect the brands sensitivity towards local preferences, enhancing customer trust and loyalty.

Leveraging Local Channels

To maximize reach and impact, utilizing local media channels is crucial. Regional newspapers, radio stations, and outdoor advertising spaces are all valuable channels for localized marketing. Collaborations with local retailers and distributors can further enhance visibility, allowing brands to permeate the local market more effectively. These partnerships often extend to organizing local meet-ups and leveraging local media to drum up community support and excitement around the brand.

The key to unlocking the potential of India's diverse market lies in a brands ability to adapt and localize its marketing strategies. The approach appeals to the unique preferences of each region while also establishing the brand as an integral part of the local community, providing the foundation for long-term success in one of the most dynamic markets on the planet.

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and Adgully.com does not necessarily subscribe to it.








Weber Shandwick India, today launched the Elections Matter: India Report. The survey led by the Corporate Advisory and Public Affairs practice, examined election sentiments around news consumption habits, trust in different information sources and voting behaviours and motivations among Gen Z (18-24 years) and Millennial (25-44) consumers in India.

Key findings

Media consumption behaviour w.r.t. current events, news & politics

Generational differences in news consumption: Stark contrast exists in news engagement between Millennials and Gen Zs. Over 55% of Millennials followed news daily, compared to about 36% of Gen Z with males significantly more inclined to current events, news & politics. While TV is among the top 3 news sources, there was a significantly lower preference among Gen Zs (44%) compared to Millennials (60%).

Reaffirmation of digital consumption surge: YouTube is the leading platform for consumption of current events, news and politics, in keeping with the digital media uptake. It was the dominant information source across all demographics, particularly driven by Delhi, while TV channels were on top in Chennai and Bangalore. It was followed closely by Instagram, TV, and WhatsApp.

Most watched is necessarily not the most trusted: Google search, print media, and digital news media had a higher trust quotient compared to most social media platforms.

Traditional media resonating stronger for Millennials: Print media continued to have higher acceptance among Millennials. 45% Millennials consumed print media for news and politics compared to only 31% Gen Zs. This preference pattern was evident even in the consumption pattern for television. South India especially Chennai and Bangalore had a stronger leaning to television than the rest of India. Also, 42% males favoured print versus 33% of women. Print media was also high on trust compared to most social media platforms.

Concerns about misinformation: After fake news websites, social media influencers topped the list for spreading misinformation. Males in particular were especially distrustful of them.

Sentiments towards elections & voting

Motivated Millennials and less enthusiastic Gen Zs: Millennials were significantly motivated by elections and voting due to a strong sense of civic duty and the desire for educational reform. Chennai and Hyderabad had a higher sentiment comparatively towards elections.

In contrast, Gen Z showed less enthusiasm, hinting at a potential apathy in political engagement.

Priority issues for elections and new government expectations: Civic and social factors such as infrastructure development, outweighed economic concerns and party manifesto promises as primary voting motivations across gender and generational cohorts. The state of the economy and education were the most pressing issues both for the current elections and future government focus, reflecting widespread concerns about socio-economic and educational development. This shift suggested a future-oriented approach to polling, with voters seeking macro-level changes for a better future.

Regional differences in voting motivations: Voters in Delhi focused on infrastructure development, while those in southern regions, such as Chennai and Bangalore, prioritized voting for candidates who promised to bring about change and impactful leadership.

Gender-specific concerns towards elections: While economy, education and public safety were perceived to be among the top priorities for the recent elections, women were particularly interested in women empowerment issues, highlighting the importance of gender-specific policy agendas. Also, over 55% would like the new government to focus on economy, education and healthcare agendas.

Commenting on the consumer survey findings, Rohan Kanchan, MD  Consulting and Head of Public Affairs, Weber Shandwick India, said, This report underscores the dynamic nature of news consumption and electoral engagement in todays digital age. Even as broader generational trends are known, nuances within the cohorts reveal a break from the pattern. For instance, the connection of Influencers in consumer motivations vis-a-vis trust in perception, might have implications in analyzing corporate reputation and development of future strategies. Our national commonalities peppered with our regional disparities, continue to provide an interesting lens to any consumer study such as Elections Matter.

The survey was conducted by YouGov among 1,000 respondents from the top 10 cities in India, including Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Lucknow, Jaipur, and Ahmedabad. The demographics of the survey were balanced, with a near-equal split between males (51%) and females (49%), and evenly distributed between Gen Zs and Millennials.
Excitement is building up over the much hyped up film Kalki 2898 AD, which stars A-listers Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, and is written and directed by Nag Ashwin and produced by C Aswani Dutt. This mega budget sci-fiction film, which has mythological references, is releasing in Telugu and Hindi. The makers had a special trailer launch in Hindi and during this event, the actors spoke in detail about the film and their experience of working with the director.

Amitabh Bachchan, who plays Ashwatthama in this film, said, It has been a great honour to work with Nag in this project and work in a set-up where they have actually gone beyond thinking, which many of us have not done in our lives in this industry. I am really excited that they are moving little by little, making us work in conditions we never even thought we would be able to work in. I want to congratulate Nag and the production for thinking something like this for the film. It is a great honour to be part of this film.

Speaking about what his first thought were about the film when he heard it, Bachchan said, Nagi came and explained to me the idea. And for a long time after he left, I was thinking what the hell was Nagi drinking to think of something like this. It was something absolutely outrageous. Some of the visuals that youve seen just now is just unbelievable to have somebody conceive a project which is so futuristic and so impossible. During the making of the film we realised that no matter what he thought of, he actually got all the material, all the effects, every kind of visual that he had. That really has been an amazing experience for me to just be part of it has been an experience Ill never forget.

Kamal Haasan, too, had similar thoughts after meeting his director and said, I'm used to these kinds of ordinary looking people, who do extraordinary things. My boss, my mentor was one such man  he looked like a government official, and if he enters any house, youll think its an income tax officer! That is how it looked, but Ive seen what he was capable of from the kind of films he did. I dont underestimate these ordinary looking guys, they have a depth to them that doesnt show unless you talk to them and I did have the opportunity of talking to Nagi a few words and he knew how to present an idea. As Amit ji said, the first thing that you want to ask is what have you been smoking or drinking, but thats how great ideas are formed. I was talking backstage to Amit ji about how I always wanted to play a bad man, because the bad man gets to do all the good things in films. While the heroes are singing romantic songs and waiting for the heroine, the band man can just go ahead and do what he wants. I thought Im going to play the bad man, so its going to be fun, but he wanted it to be different. I am almost like a sage in the film.

The actor has worked on his look in the film, which Kamal attributed to the directors vision and good technicians. He said, I was curious to begin with, then surprised, and now I am in awe. What you are thinking about, Nagi would have not just thought about it already, but also implemented it. I thought I had a fantastic idea of dressing up in such a way that people will turn around and look at me. But Nagi would say that Amit ji is already doing it! Every characters look has been meticulously planned. I am hoping that the audience will react the same way as we did when we saw the first look.

Prabhas, popular as Rebel Star, was all praise for the veteran actors and his co-stars. He said, First I would like to thank the producers for giving me the opportunity to work with such great legends; its bigger than dream and I dont know what to say. I was awestruck when I first met Amitabh sir. I touched his feet, but he didnt want me to do that. I have grown up watching him. He is the first actor in the country who reached every part of the country. My uncle used to have hairstyle like his. In the South, any guy who was tall and sported hairstyle like Amitabh Sir, people would call him Amitabh Bachchan. He is the first actor I think who reached that level.

Continuing further, he said, It is also unbelievable that I am working with Kamal sir. Prabhas also said that he had wanted to work with Deepika Padukone for long. There are few actresses/ actors who can reach such an international level. She is such a gorgeous superstar and a great actress. It is beautiful to work with her, he added.

Deepikas character is shown to be pregnant in the film and in real life, too, the actress is expecting her first child in the next couple of months. Talking about her part in the film and about the director, she said, It has been an incredible experience and a great learning experience. I think it is a completely new world. We went to different phases of discovering what this movie is about. The magic that was in Nagis head is now finally here for everyone to see. We as actors discovered it along the way. It was an incredible experience  both at a personal and professional level. It is unlike anything that weve experienced or seen before so.

She recalled doing the narration for Kalki through the Covid period with Nagi on Zoom. You could see the sparks of genius in him even though this is just his second or third movie. When he was narrating the film, there wasnt much on paper, but it was all in his mind, and every time he spoke, you could visualise it. Even now when you look into his eyes, you can see that what he had envisioned over the years is so clear. He speaks so articulately and you can see that he is completely consumed by it and how passionate he is about the film.

On a parting note Deepika said, I dont know how much I can or cannot reveal, but yes, I play a mother in the film, and the movie is out on the 27th for everyone to see.
Following seven competitions over four days, the Cannes Lions International Festival for Creativity has announced its 2024 Young Lions winners.

The Young Lions competitions, which are sponsored by Adobe, are at the heart of the Cannes Lions School. They embody a true celebration of creativity across the world where young professionals have the opportunity to showcase their talent and achievements. All of the entries have been judged by members of the Cannes Lions Juries live in Cannes, and the Gold, Silver and Bronze winners have now been announced.

The News Movement, the official media partner of Young Lions, brought the competitions to life through behind-the-scenes video content and interviews designed to capture the spirit of creativity and innovation of emerging talent at the Festival.

Simon Cook, CEO, LIONS, said, The Young Lions Competitions are a unique opportunity for the next generation of talent to gain first-hand industry experience and were excited to announce this years winners. Its inspiring to see new countries enter and win. This year saw Kazakhstan take home a Silver in the Digital competition and Uzbekistan win a Bronze in Design. The competition brings together an incredible cohort, whose stories have been amplified by our official Young Lions media partner, The News Movement. Congratulations to all the 2024 winners, and to all the competitors who rose to the challenge.

Lotte Jones, Chief Commercial Officer, The News Movement, added, Spotlighting the brilliant agency leaders of tomorrow becomes more important every year, and we are thrilled to celebrate the 2024 Young Lions winners. This years competition was a remarkable display of creativity and ingenuity, with teams delivering truly innovative responses to the briefs.

We are very proud to be the official media partner for the competition, helping to showcase talented creators and inspire others aspiring to forge a similar path. It was a privilege to share their journeys through our video content, offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the competition and the remarkable individuals who make it all possible, Jones added.

Young Lions Competition winners are as follows:

Design, sponsored by Monotype:

The Young Lions Design competition focuses on creating effective, refined and attractive brand identity. This year, the Young Lions were briefed to create a visual identity that raises awareness for the less well-known filmmaker Billy Wilder, by Museu da Imagem e do Som.

Gold

Billy Wilder - The Man Behind The Picture

Billy Nhiwatiwa, Designer, Jones Knowles Ritchie, UK

Ethan Brown, Designer, Studio Sutherl&, UK

Silver

Through the Lens of Billy Wilder

Amber Redmond, Graphic Designer, Slater Design, Ireland

Paddy Collins, Motion Designer, Slater Design, Ireland

Bronze

Billy Wilder - The Director that We Dont See

Farrukh Murodov, Senior Art Director, Paradigma Studio, Uzbekistan

Malikabonu Murodova, Copywriter, Paradigma Studio, Uzbekistan

Digital:

The Young Digital Lion competition focuses on building a digital-led campaign that uses both the platform and the technology behind it. During the competition, participants were challenged to create a campaign to bring more people into the movement for climate justice by Project Dandelion.

Gold

Ice Breaking Moves

Roberto Concha Rodriguez, Senior Copywriter, GUT Mexico City, Mexico

Alejandra Margain, Strategy Director, GUT Mexico City, Mexico

Silver

Words on the Wind

Yermakova Adelya, Copywriter, SEED, Kazakhstan

Zharkynbek Murad, Designer, Freedom Bank, Kazakhstan

Bronze

Pass Your Guilt

Joao Chicau, Copywriter, VML, Portugal

Tomas Almeida, Art Director, Akt Creative, Portugal

Film:

The Young Lions Film competition aims to create beautiful work that is impactful. The brief for this years Film competition focused on redefining what it means to be a successful man today to attempt to eliminate harmful stereotypes in advertising. The Unstereotype Alliance asked competitors to create a compelling film to address this and inspire young men.

Gold

Man in the Mirror

Matt Nicholas, Senior Creative, VCCP Group LLP, UK

Graham Roberts, Filmmaker, Motion Picture Solutions, UK

Silver

Successful Generation

Inna Tabachenko, Copywriter, BBDO Berlin GMBH, Germany

Lisa Glonti, Art Director, BBDO Berlin GMBH, Germany

Bronze

World Record

Marita Kavelashvili, Creative Director, BOBA Production, Georgia

Ana Tediashvili, Creative Director, BOBA Production, Georgia

Media:

The Young Lions Media competition focuses on how young professionals use strategic thinking and innovative approaches to solve an important marketing challenge. This years brief was delivered by the Unstereotype Alliance, which asked competitors to curate a powerful media strategy that reaches young men and presents a more diverse, contemporary understanding of success for them.

Gold

Who is the successful man?

Jiayu Cao, Business Development Manager, Havas Creative China, Mainland China

Linghui Dai, Senior Copywriter, Havas Creative China, Mainland China

Silver

#SpreadSpoiledGuys

Seri Morikawa, Copywriter, Hakuhodo Inc, Japan

Hinako Kawai, Designer, Hakuhodo Inc, Japan

Bronze

#Sidekick: New Face of Success

Sujin Lim, Art Director, Cheil Worldwide, South Korea

Tae-yul Ko, Art Director, Cheil Worldwide, South Korea

Ana Tediashvili, Creative Director, BOBA Production, Georgia

Marketers, sponsored by Pantone:

Focusing on the foundation of creative work that engages its audience, the Young Lions Marketers competition centres on creating a strong and effective brief. This year the brief was set by the World Banks International Development Association (IDA), which asked competitors to recruit young people, entrepreneurs, influencers and civil society groups to champion and advocate for the IDA, to create greater awareness for their work.

Gold

I Do Give A F***

Praptee Sharma, Manager - Product Marketing, Jio Platforms Limited, India

Roshni Govind Iyengar, Manager - Strategic Initiatives, Jio Platforms Limited, India

Silver

What Would Ida Do?

Gemma Albin, Senior Manager - Global Influencer Strategy, The LEGO Group, UK

Charlotte Rubesa, Senior Communications Strategist, The LEGO Group, UK

Bronze

Taste Today, Change Tomorrow

Maria del Mar Ventura Mari, Brand Manager, GBFoods, Spain

Sonia Belles Fernandez, Brand Manager Junior, GBFoods, Spain

PR:

The Young Lions PR competition asks its entrants to create an innovative PR strategy. The PR brief was supplied by Jood Kitchen. Jood Kitchen asked Young Lions competitors for a strong PR idea to raise awareness of the benefits of Jood Kitchen, so it can become more independent and financially self-sufficient in the long term.

Gold

Lunch (Tax) Break

Ginola Tan, Copywriter, GOVT Singapore, Singapore

Tan Yuan Ling, Art Director, GOVT Singapore, Singapore

Silver

The Homeless Chefs Table

Diogo Brandao, Art Director, HeimatTBWA, Germany

Timo Zwiesigk, Copywriter, HeimatTBWA, Germany

Bronze

One Plate Society

Lana Bachaliashvili, Account Manager, Leavingstone, Georgia

Nino Totladze, Account Manager, Leavingstone, Georgia

Ana Tediashvili, Creative Director, BOBA Production, Georgia

Print:

The Young Lions Print competition challenges young creatives to produce a stand-out, captivating and unique print ad. This years brief was provided by the Unstereotype Alliance and challenged competitors to redefine current entrenched narratives and present a more diverse, contemporary understanding of success for men and develop a print idea that raises awareness of this.

Gold

Mans Greatest Fan

Ana Cornejo, Graphic Designer, Paradise DDB, Ecuador

Maria Paula Mera Velez, Strategic Planning Leader, Paradais DDB, Ecuador

Silver

The Direction to Success

Rony Saavedra, Art Director, Mediamonks, Colombia

Alejandro Orjuela, Copywriter, DAVID, Colombia

Bronze

The Toxic Feed

Alexandre Thiebaut, Creative Copywriter, Publicis Conseil, France

Robin Schneider, Art Director, Publicis Conseil, France
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Bern, 21.06.2024 - Central Switzerland has been at the centre of diplomacy this past week: after the Summit on Peace in Ukraine in the canton of Nidwalden, over 200 representatives of Swiss diplomacy met in the canton of Uri from 17 to 20 June 2024 for the annual Ambassadors' Conference. The aim of this year's conference was to discuss the challenges of Switzerland's current foreign policy and strengthen its coherence and the concrete use of diplomacy.

Once a year, the heads of nearly 170 Swiss representations abroad meet in Switzerland to discuss the current foreign policy challenges facing diplomacy in a rapidly changing world. The Ambassadors' Conference, organised by the FDFA, also provides an opportunity to meet the members of the Federal Council and assess foreign and domestic policy priorities.

By selecting Andermatt as the venue for this event, FDFA head Ignazio Cassis aimed to highlight the significance of a location in the heart of the Alps that has served as a hub for exchange and mobility in Europe for centuries. "This conference not only enables the exchange of knowledge and experience between ambassadors, but also brings the work of diplomacy closer to the population," explained Cassis. The event, which has been held in various locations since its first edition in 1887, highlights the diversity that characterises Switzerland. During the retreat in the canton of Uri, participants also had the chance to meet with cantonal and communal authorities. On Thursday, they spent the day with President of the Confederation Viola Amherd on a multi-stage tour which started at the Sasso San Gottardo Museum, where they were welcomed by authorities from the cantons of Ticino and Uri, and concluded in Brig, in Ms Amherd's home canton of Valais.

A retreat to ensure foreign policy coherence

The timing of this meeting, immediately following the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, symbolises the challenges that the current geopolitical landscape presents for Swiss foreign policy. "The new Foreign Policy Strategy 202427, adopted by the Federal Council earlier this year, acts as a guiding framework for the entire FDFA to navigate a reality in which advancing Switzerland's interests has become more challenging. Engaging with the heads of mission also enables us to assess the alignment between the priorities outlined in our strategy and the on-the-ground realities and ongoing developments," explains Ambassador Alexandra Baumann, head of the FDFA's Prosperity and Sustainability Division and responsible for organising the conference.

Regional workshops and thematic sessions encouraged reflection and the sharing of knowledge and experience among participants. Various topics were addressed, such as peace and security, well-being and competitiveness, innovation, democracy and governance, and scientific diplomacy. Also on the agenda was the current state of the federal government's financial resources, a factor the FDFA must consider in its daily operations. Nevertheless, innovative strategies and instruments, such as science diplomacy and the role of ambassadors-at-large in specific regions, enable the FDFA to effectively implement foreign policy, even with limited resources.

Address for enquiries

FDFA Communication

Federal Palace West Wing

CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland

Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55

E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch

Twitter: @SwissMFA

Publisher

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html




Activist Manoj Jarange Accuses Maharashtra Government of Creating Maratha-OBC Tension 2

In a recent interview, activist Manoj Jarange accused the Maharashtra government of deliberately fuelling tensions between the Maratha and OBC communities. Jarange, who spoke exclusively to ABP Maza after being discharged from a hospital, alleged that certain government officials harbor animosity towards the Maratha community.

Jarange claimed that around 8-9 individuals within the government hold hatred for the Maratha community, promising to reveal their identities at an opportune moment. He emphasized that the government is intentionally pushing new leaders to the front while sidelining others to create divisions among groups.

The activist is advocating for the implementation of a draft notification that would grant Kunbi certificates to Marathas, making them eligible for government job and education quotas. This comes amid protests and hunger strikes across Maharashtra, with OBC activists demanding assurances that their quota will remain unaffected.
DEAR MISS MANNERS: When I was in my early 20s, I was returning from a trip to Europe with a friend and we stopped off to stay with her aunt and uncle for a few days. Shortly after we arrived, we were sitting around having what seemed to be a pleasant enough conversation, when suddenly her uncle said to me, Youre a nice middle-class girl.

I was stunned into silence, basically. I had no idea what to do or say, or why he had said that to me, but I was definitely feeling plenty on the inside.

Decades later, to this day, this memory regularly surfaces with its accompanying feelings of helplessness and anger, and I always wonder how Miss Manners would have reacted (or not) in my place.

GENTLE READER: Why, thank you. You are definitely not.

Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.


Police in Mississippi say a mother "forcibly" drowned her toddler.

Adrienne McDevitt, 35, is accused of killing 2-year-old Kelly McDevitt Jr.

Lauderdale County Sheriff's Deputies found the boy's body while responding to a domestic disturbance. They did not release any more information about the domestic disturbance.

An emotional Sheriff Ward Calhoun said, "This is certainly a tragic event for this family and for our community."

McDevitt was being held for treatment at a hospital and then was going to be transferred to a jail on a $500,000 bond.

Calhoun alleged in the press conference that Kelly was "forcibly drowned" and that when deputies responded, Adrienne was alone with the child in the home.

According to McDevitt's Facebook page, she has been married since July 2015 and her page is filled with smiling photos of her and her family.
Alabama small businesses will receive nearly $98 million through Innovate Alabama, Gov. Kay Ivey announced Tuesday.

According to a press release, the dual-component program, LendAL and InvestAL, will finance loan and venture capital initiatives to enhance lender and investor confidence in the state. The program will also infuse capital into startups and small businesses, according to the release.

A public-private economic development organization, Innovate Alabama is responsible for allocating funds from the State Small Business Credit Initiative, a federal program reauthorized under the American Rescue Plan Act that provides $10 billion in grants and loans to support small businesses across the country.
The legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright can seem pretty exotic, even 65 years after his death ended a career that included radical works such as the Fallingwater home and The Guggenheim Museum.

But Wrights legacy also reflects some astute ideas about how middle-class American family life was changing, in the middle of the 20th century, and about how architecture might change to suit peoples evolving needs. And one small Alabama city boasts a rare example of this work, one thats all the more unusual because its open to public viewing and stocked with artifacts that illustrate the sense of home Wright wanted to create for his clients.

Drawing on a recent first-hand visit and the book Frank Lloyd Wrights Rosenbaum House: The Birth and Rebirth of an American Treasure, here are a few key things to know about this landmark in Florence, Ala.:

The main common room in the Rosenbaum home features built-in bookshelves and a piano, as well as a glass wall giving an expansive view of the back yard.Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com

Its Usonian

In the 1930s, when Wright was in his 60s, he began developing a new concept for single-family suburban homes. So-called Usonian homes tended to have flat roofs and no attics or basements. Small private spaces were separated from large, open common spaces. Natural lighting was emphasized via glass walls and clerestory windows that provide indirect natural light to illuminate otherwise dark spaces. Localized natural materials  red brick from Alabama clay and extensive use of cedar, in this case  maintained Wrights longtime theme that buildings should harmonize with their natural surroundings. Carports reflected the fact that automobile ownership was becoming increasingly common.

Wright anticipated that new materials and construction methods would keep costs down. This often didnt work out in practice. Wright began designing the Rosenbaum House with an agreed $7,500 construction budget, but it ended up costing more than $13,000. There were other issues: In pushing new ideas, Wright sometimes went beyond what existing materials and methods could sustain. The plumbing of an in-slab heating system failed early in the life of the house. Milton Bagby writes in the introduction to The Birth and Rebirth that The House was warmed for decades by space heaters and through-wall air conditioners in addition to its fireplaces.

The Rosenbaum House was designed to create a strong sense of place. For example, this view from the bunkroom in the newer section of the home includes a view of another wing's distinctive layered rooflines, bordering an attractive green space.Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com

As the family grew, so did the home

Louis and Anna Rosenbaum, who owned movie theaters in the Florence area, wanted to keep their son Stanley close to home as he married Mildred Bookholz, whod worked as a model in New York. They provided land and funds for the newlyweds to build a home across the street from their own residence on Riverview Drive. Stanley and Mildred initially turned to a friend, Aaron Green; when his ideas didnt work out, he provided an introduction to Wright. The house was completed in 1940. A few years later, the Rosenbaums contracted Wright to design an addition that would accommodate their growing family (three sons, with a fourth on the way) and a second car. An addition was finished in 1948, making this an extremely rare example of a Wright property with an addition that also was designed by Wright.

The addition gave the house a much more functional kitchen, a utility room, an additional hallway lined with storage closets, a guest bedroom with bathroom and a spacious bunkroom for four children.

A fixed dining table and distinctive chairs are among the features that help recreate life in the Rosenbaum House.Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com

Were pretty lucky it exists at all

Mildred Rosenbaum lived in the home until 1999, when a deal was struck for the city of Florence to take it over, restore it and operate it as a museum. According to The Birth and Rebirth, it didnt necessarily feel like an auspicious moment when museum director Barbara Broach visited on a rainy day soon after. Her husband, an architect, had warned her to leave the door open and to run if she heard a cracking noise.

Inside the house was musty with the smell of mildew. Outside, the rain started, quickly becoming a deluge. Water began to pour through the ceiling, at first in trickles, then in one steady cascade after another, falling to the floor or into buckets and kitchen pans knowingly left behind by Mildred Rosenbaum.

Barbara Broach began to cry.

The flat roofs beloved by Wright had emerged early as a problem: They didnt shed water, and they didnt hold it very well either. Leaks had done a lot of damage over the decades and termites had piled on more. The city of Florence paid $75,000 for the property and, according to The Birth and Rebirth, close to $700,000 for restoration, landscaping and parking.

Work concluded in 2002.

This bunkroom for four children is part of an addition to the Rosenbaum Home that was completed in 1948.Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com

It feels lived-in because it was

Knowing that it was home to a family of six changes the experience of viewing the Rosenbaum House, and provides food for thought about the contrast between Wrights vision and the realities of home life. Entering the home on a tour, one first enters a narrow, book-lined corridor that opens onto a large den featuring a glass wall with a view of the back yard and the wing containing the bedrooms. Adjacent to the den theres a dining area with a built-in table; the original kitchen is absurdly tiny, barely the equivalent of the kitchenette in a present-day economy apartment. According to a placard on the wall, Wright referred to it as a highly functional workspace. The bathrooms are likewise very small and the hallways are narrow.

Artifacts, including original and period furniture, give a sense of a very particular, and peculiar, moment in time. Its an old house, dated by the pleasant smell of old cedar and the vintage fixtures. The strong choices of its design still give it a futuristic feel  and yet, there is absolutely nothing in it that reflects the jet age that was dawning as the addition was built. Electrical outlets are scarce and well-hidden. There is no television or bank of hi-fi equipment, though the family presumably enjoyed such appliances in later years.

A small librarys worth of books figure prominently in the main common area, theres a piano. Board games peek from cabinets in the childrens bunkroom, and one of the original bedrooms is dedicated to Mildred Rosenbaums craftwork as an accomplished weaver. You get the feeling this house was built to encourage interaction.

The original kitchen in the Rosenbaum House was a tiny workspace.Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com

How to visit

Frank Lloyd Wrights Rosenbaum House is at 601 Riverview Drive in Florence. It is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. Tours are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, payable at the gift shop across the street from the home. Tours take about 45 minutes and the last tour of the day starts no later than 3:15 p.m. Specific closures (including June 27 and July 4, 2024) are noted on the museums website, www.wrightinalabama.com.

Hardbound copies of Frank Lloyd Wrights Rosenbaum House: The Birth and Rebirth of an American Treasure by Barbara Kimberlin Broach, Donald E. Lambert and Milton Bagby, are available in the gift shop for $20.
An update for you guys. Ill see you at the movies. pic.twitter.com/DpuC5cOP6F  Kevin Costner & MW (@modernwest) June 21, 2024

Kevin Costner broke the news Thursday night on social media that he will not be returning to Yellowstone.

I just realized that Im not going to be able to continue season 5B or into the future, Costner said in a video posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. (The show) was something that really changed me. I loved it, and I know you loved it. And I just wanted to let you know that I wont be returning.

I love the relationship we have been able to develop, and Ill see you at the movies.

What that means for his character, John Dutton, is anyones guess at this point.

Paramount Network announced earlier in the day that the second half of Season 5 was set to debut in November, but whether Costner would return was still in doubt.

The actor has been working on his Western film series Horizon: An American Saga, which is due in theaters next week.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on The Opening Kickoff on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.
One person was killed when a vehicle crashed into an Alabama church, catching fire and sending flames throughout building.

The wreck happened just before 1:30 a.m. Thursday at Riverside Baptist Church on Depot Street in St. Clair County.

Riverside Fire and Rescue and the Pell City Fire Department responded to the scene.

Fire officials said the blaze had spread quickly throughout the church.

Aerial operations began soon after the first arriving units, and crews battled the fire through the entire night and into morning.

St. Clair County Coroner Dennis Russell said a male was pronounced dead on the scene. He has not yet been officially identified pending dental record comparisons.

Riverside Baptist Church has been a staple in our small town for decades, Riverside Fire and Rescue posted on Facebook, and our thoughts and prayers are with them and the family of the deceased during this difficult time.
UPDATE June 24: Officials now say one of the two masked men survived the shooting. The original article continues below.

A shooting in south Birmingham left two people dead, and at least one other injured.

Multiple shots rang out about 11 a.m. Friday in the 4400 block of Fifth Avenue South. That location is the Oak Tree Apartments.

One man was pronounced dead in the parking lot. He was on the ground next to a work van, still wearing a black mask.

Two others were rushed to UAB Hospital where a second man was pronounced dead.

A third person sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

Both men who were killed were wearing black nylon face masks, similar to the mask often worn by rapper Pooh Sheisty.

We believe all of this stemmed from a robbery gone wrong, said Officer Truman Fitzgerald. Two of the victims both have ski masks on, the Pooh Sheisty mask.

We believe the third non-life-threatening victim may have shot them in attempted robbery, he said.

He said detectives dont believe Fridays robbery attempt was a crime of opportunity  the person being robbed was likely targeted.

At least 13 shots were fired.

The deadly shooting happened about 11 a.m. Friday in the 4300 block of Fifth Avenue South.(Carol Robinson)

Fitzgerald said Fridays victims are second and third homicide victims this week who were wearing the Pooh Sheisty face masks when they were killed. A 19-year-old killed in a Saturday night shootout outside East Lake Park was also wearing the same mask, he said.

We cant stress to you enough how important people, places and behaviors factor into the violence that is going on in our city, he said.

These are two men in 90-degree weather wearing ski masks, Fitzgerald said. You tell us what you think they were up to. Thats what were dealing with.

The surviving victim, he said, were not with the men that were being killed.

Fitzgerald said the narrative so far this summer has been broad daylight crimes.

This just goes to show you the level of carelessness the criminal element has, he said. Avondale Park is just walking distance.

Fitzgerald said if the victims were in fact committing a crime, its important to note that those things dont always go as planned.

This comes from a place of love- young men, we live in Alabama where everybody has a gun, he said. Before you think you can get the drop on somebody, just remember that other person you think may be a victim, it doesnt always turn out that way.

Weve had seven justifiable homicides in 2024, he said.

Its been a deadly week in the city.

On Thursday, a 26-year-old woman, reportedly pregnant, was fatally shot during an argument outside a west Birmingham home. Earlier Thursday, a 40-year-old man was killed in the citys Fountain Heights community.

Midday Wednesday, a 15-year-old girl was killed and her 5-year-old brother wounded during a domestic shooting in downtown Birmingham.

On Tuesday, a man was gunned down inside his vehicle in Birminghams College Hills neighborhood.

Saturday, a shootout on the citys busy First Avenue North in front of East Lake Park left a 19-year-old dead, and two other people injured.

Todays fatal shooting marks the citys 73rd and 74th homicides in the city. Of those, seven have been ruled justifiable and therefore arent deemed criminal.

In all of Jefferson County, there have been 97 homicides, including the 74 in Birmingham.

Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
A second suspect has been charged in the Montgomery shooting death of a 12-year-old girl.

JoTerrion Tucker, 19, of Prattville, is charged with three counts of capital murder, police Maj. Saba Coleman announced Thursday.

The shooting happened shortly before 2:30 a.m. Friday, May 31, in the 4100 block of Keating Drive.

The 12-year-old victim - Indyah Chanel Knight - was taken to a Montgomery hospital and later transferred to Childrens of Alabama in Birmingham. She was pronounced dead on June 7.

Indyah was inside her home when authorities say the suspects fired into the residence.

Police announced earlier this week that a 15-year-old boy has also been charged with capital murder.

The U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force and Montgomery police took Tucker into custody on Thursday. He was booked into the Montgomery County Detention Facility at 2:41 p.m. and is being held without bond.
A Selma shooting suspect is in custody after leading police on a high-speed chase.

Jason Craig, 38, of Orville, was taken into custody Thursday afternoon after a chase from Dallas County into Perry County.

Police initially announced the end of the pursuit with a Facebook post that simply read: We got him!

The investigation began Tuesday when Selma officers were dispatched to the 2400 block of North Lauderdale Street on a report of someone shot. They arrived to find the victim suffering from gunshot wounds.

The victim, whose identity has not been released, remains in critical condition.

Authorities identified Craig as the suspect.

On Thursday, officers responded to a harassment call in the area of Old Montgomery Road, and quickly learned Craig was the reported offender.

Police spotted Craigs vehicle and attempted to stop him, but he fled.

The chase exceeded speeds of 100 mph, police said. It ended when officers boxed in Craigs vehicle.

Craig is charged with attempted murder, felony attempting to elude, resisting arrest, reckless driving, driving without a license, DUI, duty upon striking fixture and driving on the opposite side of the highway.
The Supreme Court on Friday put new limits on the 2nd Amendment, ruling that dangerous people who have threatened a domestic partner may be denied their right to have guns.

The 8-1 decision upholds federal and state laws that take away guns from persons who are subject to domestic violence restraining orders. Only Justice Clarence Thomas dissented.

Since the founding, our nations firearm laws have included provisions preventing individuals who threaten physical harm to others from misusing firearms, said Chief Justice John G. Roberts, writing for the majority.

The outcome shows that moderate conservative justices are willing to restrict 2nd Amendment. The court reversed a ruling by the conservative 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, which had struck down part of the Violence Against Women Act. The law authorized judges to remove guns from persons who posed a credible threat to a domestic partner or a child.

In the past, gun rights advocates had argued that a responsible and law-abiding person has a right to have a gun for self-defense, and the Supreme Court had agreed.

But the defendant in this case could not be easily described as law-abiding or responsible. Texas police said Zackey Rahimi was a drug dealer who had shot at people and cars five times within a month in December 2020.

They said he had fired into the house of a man who he said had been talking trash about him on social media. He also shot at a driver after getting into an auto accident, and fired wildly into the air after a friends credit card was declined at a fast-food restaurant, prosecutors said.

A year before the five shooting incidents, Rahimi had been brought before a judge in Arlington, Texas, because he had beaten and threatened a girlfriend who had a child with him. He grabbed her in a parking lot, forced her into his car and shot at a bystander who saw what happened. He later threatened to kill the woman if she reported the assault.

The federal Violence Against Women Act of 1994 said judges may enforce restraining orders that take away firearms from someone who has harassed or threatened an intimate partner or a child, and who poses a credible threat.

The judge issued a restraining order for two years that denied Rahimi the right to have firearms and warned him he would be guilty of a federal crime if he defied the order. Rahimi agreed, but then defied the order, including by threatening the woman again.

When police went to arrest Rahimi for the shooting incidents, they found a .45-caliber pistol, a .308-caliber rifle, magazines for both pistols and rifles, ammunition, approximately $20,000 in cash, and a signed copy of a court restraining order that prohibited him from having firearms.

He was indicted by a federal grand jury, pleaded guilty to violating the restraining order and was sentenced to six years in prison.

But last year, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled for Rahimi, overturning his conviction and declaring unconstitutional the part of the federal law that denied guns to those accused of domestic violence.

The three-judge panel, which included two Donald Trump appointees, agreed it was laudable to protect vulnerable people in our society, but said the the 2nd Amendment right is exercised individually and belongs to all Americans .... Rahimi, while hardly a model citizen, is nonetheless among the people entitled to the 2nd Amendments guarantees.

___

2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The Colbert County Sheriffs Office is looking for a man who they say broke into a waterfront house and apparently made off with items he crammed into a kayak.

According to the sheriffs office, deputies received a call of burglary on May 23 in the Riverton Rose Trail community.

They arrived on the scene to find that the residence had been broken into and several items taken.

Home surveillance video captured several images of the suspect involved, they said. The images show a blonde man with a slim build and arm tattoos, wearing in a red hoodie with multicolored stripes down the left sleeve.

Once the man was confronted, he fled on a yellow kayak down the Tennessee River with the stolen items visible from shore, his leg keeping them secured inside.

According to investigators, the man is believed to be staying in the Waterloo area of Lauderdale County.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact investigators at (256)-314-5839
Three people were killed and 10 others injured during a mass shooting outside an Arkansas grocery store Friday.

The victims  including two police officers who suffered nonfatal gunshot wounds  were struck by gunfire around 11:30 a.m., in the Mad Butcher parking lot in Fordyce, Arkansas  about 70 miles outside of Little Rock, according to authorities.

During an afternoon press conference, Director of Arkansas State Police Mike Hagar said a lone gunman, whose identity has not been disclosed, suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound by responding officers and was taken into custody.

"It's tragic," said Hagar. "Our hearts are broken, our prayers, along with Governor Sanders and the entire state of Arkansas will be with this community and those affected victims."

The injuries sustained by the remaining victims ranged from non-life-threatening to extremely critical, he said.

A motive remains under investigation.

Earlier Friday, in a statement shared on X, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said she had been "briefed on the tragic shooting in Fordyce, and I'm in constant contact with State Police at the scene. I am thankful to law enforcement and first responders for their quick and heroic action to save lives. My prayers are with the victims and all those impacted by this horrific incident."

Earlier Friday, facebook video taken by a bystander at the scene was released:
On February 19, 2014, Muslims in Chibok, Nigeria, calling themselves Boko Haram, which means Western education is forbidden, kidnapped some 300 Christian school girls, raping them, forcing them to convert to Islam, and making them Boko Haram wivesalthough slaves and sex objects is a more accurate description.

Some of the girls escaped; some were ransomed by the Nigerian government for millions of dollars; a third remain unaccounted for and, presumably, after a decade, are still enslaved, which also means being raped hundreds of times.

On February 19, 2018, Boko Haram enthusiasts struck again, kidnapping 110 more Christian girls from a boarding school and surely mass raping them too. Harrowing and heart-breaking reportage left the reader with the cries of the terrified girls as they were driven off in trucks after they were duped into entering them by Muslims disguised as Nigerian soldiers.

Sound familiar? The world now has video from October 7 of the same Muslim behavior (although paired with murderous intent against those who were not kidnapped) in the Jews Holy Land.

Image: The girls that Boko Haram kidnapped in 2024. YouTube screen grab.

In Nigeria, Boko is a corruption of the English word for book, short for book-learning/education, and Haram here roughly translates as forbidden, which cult name advertises its cause: the rejection of schooling for girls. Educating girls enrages Muslims.

In their minds, women are meant to be slaves to bear mens sons. All the education that a Muslim female needs is learning how to cook and wash clothes. In the world according to Islam, educating girls is religiously incorrect in the extreme. Women are destined to be, functionally, slaves with no right to a will of their own.

The similarity to the ongoing half-year kidnapping and enslavement of those Jewish girls, women, boys, and men in Gaza still in the clutches of the Muslim Brotherhood/Hamas is inescapable. They are doing to these Jewish hostages what Boko Haram did to their Christian captives. The atavistic behavior of both Hamas and Boko Haram Muslims seems to be that of mankind before the Flood: unbridled aggression against others driven by an appetite unrestrained by any conscience or human empathy.

Think of the cartoonist who draws a hairy caveman, his hands gripping the hair of a woman as he drags her across the ground. Well, that really happened on October 7, 2023, to Jewish girls and women, most of whom, unlike the cartoon woman, did not survive.

Coincidentally (or maybe not), the word hamas in the Jewish Bible (Genesis 6:11) is the ultimate sin, the last straw that persuaded the Almighty that His original version of mankind was defective, leading Him to start over again after cleansing the world in a global ritual bath, i.e., the Great Flood.

Muslims seem prone to a sexual criminality never known in history. Yes, raping the females of a defeated enemy has been known, but concluding the horror by shooting the victim in the head, then ejaculating into her corpse? Whoever heard of such behavior?

Or, laughing that day, the Muslims enjoyed slicing off a Jewish womans breast to throw around like a softball. The Israeli recovery teams that dealt with the 1,200 victims of the massacre often could not identify the sex of the victim because the Muslim Brothers liked to fire their automatic weapons into their genitalia.

Some girls were also shot in the face so many times that there was no more face.

Boko Haram and Hamas are just the latest evidence that Islam religiously justifies what is essentially antediluvian behavior characteristic of Homo Sapiens 1.0, i.e., pre-Flood humanity. They license themselves to kidnap and rape and turn their victims into sex slaves. They lack a conscience and human empathy, laughing about and celebrating their cruelty. This behavior is a kind of group psychopathy. Boko Haram and Hamas are psychopathic cults.

The mainstream media, of course, use the politically correct terms of the day to report on these sexual demons, calling them militants, Islamists, radical extremistsall terms of verbal camouflage used to cover up and deny the truth the Islamic thread tying them together. The other terms are meant to communicate the sub rosa message that these brutes are unrepresentative of mainstream Islam. Think of President George W. Bush, after 9-11 reassuring the world that Islam is a religion of peace. Anything else would be considered Islamophobic.

However, the truth is that such extremists do represent mainstream Islam, and here is why: The men who invaded Israel on October 7 are acting exactly as their ancestors did over thousands of years when Muslims preyed upon defenseless travelers crossing their deserts.

Meanwhile, at sea, their cousins, the misnamed Barbary Pirates, hijacked Christian ships and enslaved their passengers and crews until ransomed. (Many were not ransomed, with over a million Europeans turned into slaves by the same people who trafficked in African slavery.) They were not free-booting pirates but the official fleets of their home ports who justified their hijacking and enslavement of infidels with the jihad.

Another indication that modern Islamic terrorists represent mainstream Islam is that Islams political and religious authorities in their fifty-six officially Muslim states have never vigorously campaigned against Boko Haram, Hezbollah, Hamas, al-Qaida, Jabhat a-Nusra, the PLO, or any other Muslim terrorist organization. Islams political and religious leaders may sometimes mumble sotto voce and condemn the behavior of Muslim terrorists but do nothing to curb it. They do not angrily disown it, and for this dereliction, they own it.

The Quran calls for the oppression and humiliation of non-Muslims. Muslim aggression against infidels has been a chronic feature of this community since the 7th century. There is no other religion in the world whose preachers weekly, even daily, somewhere on the planet, justify the rape, mutilation, and slaughter of innocents.

Shai ben-Tekoas PHANTOM NATION: Inventing the Palestinians as the Obstacle to Peace is available at Amazon.com in hard cover or a Kindle ebook. His podcasts can be heard on www.phantom-nation.com.
The U.S. Supreme Courts recent ruling striking down the Trump-era ban on firearm bump stocks indicates a welcome evolution away from judicial activism and consequentialism and toward legislative supremacy and textualism under Chief Justice John Roberts.

In Garland v. Cargill, the Court ruled 6-3 that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives went beyond its authority in 2018 when it defined firearms with bump stocks as machine guns. Federal law bans the possession and sale of machine guns, but not semiautomatics.

The Justices engaged in an intense debate over the language of the law on which the regulation was based. Although the Justices commonly pay serious attention to the wording of the laws under consideration in their cases, the writings in Garland v. Cargill reflect an extraordinary amount of attention to the exact meanings of words and phrases in the statute in question.

Section 5845(b) defines a machinegun as any weapon capable of firing automatically more than one shot... by a single function of the trigger, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote for the majority. We hold 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.

The dispute might seem somewhat arcane, with Justices parsing words so minutely. It is, however, exactly what the Supreme Court should be doing. Any justification for government action -- in this case a ban on a firearm accessory -- should have to meet the strictest requirements for clarity and accuracy.

For many decades, however, the Supreme Court regularly took a consequentialist approach, basing its decisions on what political outcomes the various justices wanted to achieve, a practice known as judicial activism. Justices essentially made policy decisions through their rulings, and judges in lower courts did likewise in the hope that the Supreme Court would affirm them because they desired the same results.

That is not the Courts role under the constitution. As attorney Caroline Bermeo Newcombe noted in a 2022 article in the Missouri Law Review, when a court takes on the role of statutory interpreter, its role is subordinate to that of the legislature The doctrine is designed to preclude judicial policymaking when a statute [is] clear.

That doctrine is called legislative supremacy, and the judicial approach that puts it into action is called textualism. [T]extualist judges believe that they should still follow the text of a statute, even if they may not personally like the result of a decision they make, Newcombe writes.

Justice Samuel Alito powerfully expressed this view in his concurring opinion in the bump stock case, writing, The horrible shooting spree in Las Vegas in 2017 did not change the statutory text or its meaning. That event demonstrated that a semiautomatic rifle with a bump stock can have the same lethal effect as a machinegun, and it thus strengthened the case for amending. But an event that highlights the need to amend a law does not itself change the laws meaning.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh showed a similar respect for the limits of the judiciary in a decision released a few days earlier, FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine. The Court threw out the case because the plaintiffs could not show they had suffered or would suffer an injury the courts could properly redress -- which is known as the question of standing. By limiting who can sue, the standing requirement implements the Framers concept of the proper-- and properly limited -- role of the courts in a democratic society, Justice Kavanaugh wrote.

To be sure, not everyone on the Roberts court has fully overcome the temptation toward judicial activism. In what The Hill described as a fiery dissent that harshly denounced the Courts decision, Justice Sotomayor boorishly accused the majority of handing guns to mass murderers: Today, the Court puts bump stocks back in civilian hands Todays decision to reject that ordinary understanding [of the statutes wording] will have deadly consequences. The majoritys artificially narrow definition hamstrings the Governments efforts to keep machineguns from gunmen like the Las Vegas shooter.

That is not the Courts job, however, and a Supreme Court Justice should know that. Still, although Sotomayors distasteful mischaracterization of the Courts majority exposes her desire to bend the law toward her preferred outcome, in which she is joined by Justices Kagan and Jackson, much of their written dissent is in fact devoted to painstaking analysis of the text of the law and rule in question. For example, The majoritys logic, Sotomayor writes, simply does not overcome the overwhelming textual and contextual evidence that single function of the trigger means a single action by the shooter to initiate a firing sequence, including pulling a trigger and pushing forward on a bump-stock-equipped semiautomatic rifle.

Similarly, Sotomayor writes, The majoritys reading flies in the face of this Courts standard tools of statutory interpretation. By casting aside the statutes ordinary meaning both at the time of its enactment and today, the majority eviscerates Congresss regulation of machineguns and enables gun users and manufacturers to circumvent federal law.

Although the media have characterized the bump stock decision as a split along political lines -- which it certainly was in terms of which presidents appointed the various justices -- of far greater importance is its basis in the difference between textualism and consequentialism and between judicial activism and legislative supremacy. The Courts decision in Garland v. Cargill marks a much-needed change from a century-plus of courts legislating from the bench.

S. T. Karnick (https://stkarnick.substack.com/) is a senior fellow and director of publications for The Heartland Institute, where he edits Heartland Daily News and writes the Life, Liberty, Property e-newsletter.

Image: SupremeCourt.gov
Recently, the entire media and public sphere exploded after some results surfaced regarding the ongoing EU Parliament elections, which saw the election of many nationalists and conservatives.

If we separate the wheat from the chaff, in the end the results are quite clear: there are much more seats taken by conservative or right-leaning groups and a lot of seats lost by left-leaning representatives.

Lets look just at the preliminary numbers in regards to the EU as a whole: as of the writing of this article, the Renew Europe political group, which aligns itself, according to their website, with liberal democratic values and against autocrats, has lost 22 seats in the Parliament.

The Greens have also so far lost 19 seats.

To the contrary, theres an influx of EPP representatives  the European Peoples Party Group (gained 14 seats), a center-right group.

Elections specific to France and Germany  the two European powerhouses  are even more exemplary. In France, Emmanuel Macrons party has suffered a humiliating defeat to Marine Le Pens National Rally party (which describes itself as a movement and not a party), which adheres to French nationalist ideas. Marine Le Pen in some publications has also been called Putins friend (which in the modern Western-European mind reads close to the enemy of our world; real or alleged connections to Russia and Vladimir Putin seem to be an extremely effective enemy tag). Following this rout, Macron announced snap elections; in his own words: I do not want to give the keys to power to the far right in 2027.

In Germany, Scholzs SDP has fallen to third place  after the opposition CDU/CSU and the right-wing AfD (Alternative for Germany; who call themselves Liberals and Conservatives, convinced democrats).

Curiously enough, when you read the statements and Who we are sections of the majority of the EU Parliament political groups from all sides of the political spectrum, they use the same vague buzzwords and state the same commitment  they are all pro-Europe, for a united whole Europe ready to face challenges, while claiming, as is the case with the RE group, there are forces that strive to divide European communities.

But let us now turn our attention to the media, both European and otherwise. Theres an unsurprising unanimity in the branding of these new developments; lets make it clear  the left side of the political spectrum has been holding power and controlling the growth and direction of Western powers over the last decades. With some right-leaning influx, their power is not threatened to be overthrown just yet, but its threatened to be somewhat checked  not mainly through the implementation of policies, since the EU Parliament is far from being the most important body in the union, but, instead, through public perception, through the presentation of change and other ways of moving forward that are also possible. Which go in direct opposition to the values and wishes of those currently in power.

An eons-old flaw of human nature comes around to bite us all yet again  once power is attained, even the most previously pure-hearted and progressive politician will think twice before parting with it. In our modern age, media is the vehicle of power, its chassis, upon which every center of political force builds its own tank. This piece of armor assumes its media shape in respect to who builds it: and the tank rolling the internet fields today is definitely operated by the left, threatened by current tendencies.

They are not as dangerous as it would seem from the headlines. But every propaganda ace knows that it is important to immediately marginalize, exclude, demonize every possible threat to control its potential growth.

So what is there in the news that makes the situation look so bad?

Lets turn to some notable publications, even on the other side of the pond. This article from the Washington Post now calls Europe possibly a crucible for a new age of right-wing politics in the West. You can find the word far-right there 13 times. A far-right surge upends national politics, says CNN. An opinion piece at The Guardian asks: How far-right parties seduced young voters across Europe. There is a clear tendency in the conversation about the EU elections, no matter where you look.

The entire term far right lately has become just one of the many buzzwords left-leaning media outlets like to use.

What do you think or feel when you hear the words Nazi, racist, sexist?

The majority of us will feel apprehension, hostility; these words, when assigned to a person or a group, put us on guard. Far-right has joined their ranks  it is a tag of apprehension put on those who diverge even a little from the left. Hence, the EPP, which is center-right, also becomes far right, and the audience susceptible to such usage of buzzwords reaches for their pitchforks. The far right is surging, they say. Europe is threatened. But why does the left party promise that they are pro-European weigh more than the same claim from the other side?

This is a direct result of the weaponization of our language. Throw enough labels at your opponent  and some will be left hanging.

Even Canadas Justin Trudeau told reporters in Quebec City that It is of concern to see political parties choosing to instrumentalize anger, fear, division, anxiety. It is this relentless language weaponization and political opponent demonization that leads to division.

Alas, political opponents, wrestling with each other, more often resort to these methods, discarding the centuries-proven Socratic method of dialogue and discussion, which facilitates unity rather than division. But its much simpler and more convenient to agitate and accuse.

The fact of the matter is, the right and the far-right really are winning over young generations today. A lot of media outlets have been mentioning it, and they are indeed correct in this observation.

Why is that?

First of all, the entire world today is going through a trend towards fragmentation and protectionism. It is most noticeable in the growing number of countries (case in point  Hungary) turning away from the values of globalization and towards national interests and local cooperation instead. Globalization, with all its benefits, doesnt come without the heavy toll of public exhaustion, especially when certain changes to societies are being pushed.

Immigration, for instance, which remains one of the U.S.s and EUs major problems. This exhaustion leads to people searching for alternative ways of life  which they find in the promises of the growing crowd of right-leaning politicians. It seems that societies across the world are standing upon a threshold of a great change, something that will shape decades to come.

However, theres a much more prosaic reason for this right turn.

No matter how droll it sounds, populists by their nature are just better at social media. The internet overall and social media in particular have permeated our lives today to such a degree that its borderline impossible for the young generations to imagine existence without such vehicles for the spread of information. As a result, a shrewd and active social media influencer is able to deliver his or her points and present his or her vision to massive audiences with a snap of their fingers. In the days of old, to achieve such informational reach and influence over entire generations, a political movement must have possessed very, very deep coffers. Today, with almost zero investment, we can achieve the same results. Never in our lives has information been so devalued.

Platforms like TikTok, popular and widespread among the young, present a lot of new opinions and way of doing things.

Right-leaning, far-right, and populist personalities rake in more viewers, followers, and support, than the left. Theyre just better at it. Just look at the ratio between subscribers on Joe Bidens TikTok and Donald Trumps TikTok.

A lack of proficiency in modern ways of reaching young audiences is an unforgivable mistake. And the one who makes it  even if they are in power  is bound to face issues as the new generation reaches its voting age.

Artem Belov is an author and translator with a Master's in Engineering and a Certificate in Competing Regionalisms from Tartu University, Estonia. With a deep-rooted interest in political theory, regionalism, and international politics, as well as his solid knowledge of Russian affairs, he explores the relationship between Russia and the world. His work at Substack can be viewed at https://projectgrach.substack. com and he can be reached at belov.g.artem@gmail.com.

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License
One thing most people can agree on is that you don't trash university buildings, and you don't take custodians hostage.

But Alvin Bragg is not like most people. While he spent millions prosecuting President Trump on charges of his own invention and pontificated about the law applying equally to everyone, he kind of had other ideas about Jew-hating pro-Hamas vandals who took over a building at Columbia University this past spring, trashed it with thousands of dollars of property damage, and took three custodians hostage.

According to the New York Post:

Nearly all the protesters charged with storming and occupying Columbia Universitys campus during heated anti-Israel demonstrations wont face criminal charges, Manhattan prosecutors announced Thursday  drawing outrage from law enforcement and Jewish advocates. District Attorney Alvin Braggs office dismissed cases against 31 of 46 people charged with trespassing in the Ivy League schools Hamilton Hall after a dramatic April 30 NYPD raid rounded up protesters on the Morningside Heights campus. Prosecutors largely cited lack of evidence, such as security video footage, that could tie the students or staff to the building takeover for leaving them free and clear without even a slap on the wrist. The dismissals quickly drew fury from rank-and-file NYPD officers, higher education officials and Jewish leaders who spoke with The Post.

What they did was a crime. They left hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage and disrupted university operations, dragging the university's name through the mud. Many were not even students: At least one was a Cuban-trained operative trying to act out the glory days of Fidel Castro as best he could. Another was a 40-plus-year old trust fund baby living off dad's money in Brooklyn and incapable of getting into Columbia except by invading a building. These people were beyond losers.

Yet somehow Bragg refused to charge them, saying he couldn't quite see through their masks as they preened around in checked keffiyehs, so no way to prove they were there. The cops know who they were and can read social media posts, but somehow, Bragg cannot.

Obviously, this is as political a move as any he's done against President Trump. Have the correctly leftist politics and Bragg couldn't prosecute you if he wanted to, he will always find a reason not to. Have the wrong politics, and you'll get hit with 41 felonies, no matter how invented the case or how creative the interpretation of the law.

This is plainly a double standard of justice, and clearly politicized prosecution or non-prosecution. The case against these creeps was airtight, yet Bragg, unlike, say, Princeton, which expelled its pro-Hamas protestors, won't prosecute. He only prosecutes Republicans when he can find them and in New York, he has to look hard.

Any questions as to why businesses are leaving New York?

Image: NYC Mayor's Office, via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0
As some Catholics know, Archbishop Vigano is a hero in the eyes of many who do not enjoy the spectacle of Pope Francis continual and seemingly ongoing reversal of Catholic teaching and law. The hyperpolitical, leftist Pope has been, by his own words, engaged in irreversibly (he hopes) and increasingly modifying (according to his own predilections) the Catholic Church since he took papal office. Sound like anybody you know?

Vigano has been consistently faithful to Canon Law and to the established teachings of the Church, his warnings falling against a wall of thunderous silence from most of the Western bishops (some in America have supported him) and various dogbodies who tend to the administrative bidding of the Vatican rather than to follow the clear teachings of Jesus and his apostolic instructions. Viganos positions are therefore judged by Pope Francis and his like as those of a conservative and faithful priest -- not a globalist or environmentalist or an advocate of a post-national, socialist world.

Today, Vigano has been summoned to Rome with the threat of excommunication:

Rome -- June 20, 2024 The disgraced former papal nuncio to the United States, Italian Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, announced that he has been charged with schism by the Vatican's doctrinal office, after a six-year rogue period in which he called for Pope Francis to resign and labeled him a "false prophet."

On June 20, the archbishop posted on his own website a two-page decree from the Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith ordering him to appear for a trial regarding "public statements that show a denial of points necessary for the preservation of communion with the Catholic Church."

The decree is dated June 11 and is signed by Msgr. John Kennedy, secretary of the doctrinal office's disciplinary section, requesting that Vigano present himself on June 20 at 15:30 to formally receive the accusation and evidence against him.

Actually, if there has been, or might be, any schism, it could sooner be laid at the door of Pope Francis himself. He has allowed politics and his own self-importance to destroy his only legitimate apostolic role, as a shepherd of Jesus faith. Francis courts the press, speaking out continually in a purely political framework; he scorns regular Catholics in America, he invites and courts celebrities and politicians with a frequency and tastelessness never approximated by any Pope in history. While reversing Canon Law with impunity himself, the Pope is now using his reimagined authority to possibly ex-communicate Vigano:

More recently, in 2022, Italy's military chaplain, Archbishop Santo Marciano, published an open letter to Vigano condemning his spread of conspiracy theories.

In his June 20 blog post, Vigano said he considered the charges brought against him to be an "honor.

A representative from the Vatican's doctrinal office did not immediately respond to NCR's request for comment. The decree states that if Vigano remains unresponsive through June 28, he will be sentenced in absentia. According to the Church's Code of Canon Law, the charge of schism is punishable by excommunication.

It is telling that the Popes episcopal staff used the slogan conspiracy theory in its 2022 letter to Vigano -- the very phrase is redolent of the word-justifications for the current persecution of Christians by the American Left. In fact, much of the Popes current embroglios into politics reflect his obvious preference for ideology over substance, for opinion over matters of faith, and, most unfortunately, reveal a Bidenesque spite in his Papal wielding of power. In both men, personal interest is judged, instinctively or not, of far more relevance than that of their oaths of office. Next thing, the Pope will be talking disinformation -- if he hasnt already.

From Archbishop Vigano in his Easter 2024 message:

Christians are progressively banished from civil society and considered a threat to the subversive project of the New World Order, while a minority of the vicious and perverted claim to erect their deviations as the universal norm. Here is the "visibility" of Biden and the woke ideology, celebrating a macabre mad dance to the abyss.

No wonder Archbishop Vigano is in trouble in Rome, in a Vatican we have never seen before.

Image: George Martell via Flickr
Joe Bidens three-and-a-half-year long porous border has without a doubt allowed some vicious terrorists to enter our country. The odds demand it. It cannot be otherwise, given that almost zero care is being given to Americans and keeping these demons out. For Bidens reign of error so far, Americans were lied to by Mayorkas and Karine Jean-Pierre, to name only two, that the border is secure, the border is closed, and we are watching the border. Yes, that last was true, they were watching the border; they watched it vacuum up migrants from other countries into our sovereign land and did nothing to stop it. The Biden administration watched with glee while millions of potential Democrat votes sloshed across our southern (and northern) border, all the while telling us they are doing everything humanly possible to keep illegals out. They lied.

Now, eight million migrants later and still counting, criminals, terrorists, and human traffickers still pour in. Most are young single males. Granted that some of those males are here to make money to send back to their families. Fine. But get registered and pay taxes for the privilege of getting a job illegally. We legals have to pay taxes on what we earn. Illegals should be forced to do likewise and employers should stop hiring them.

To allow illegals to work here and not pay taxes is almost as bad as allowing them to stay and registering them to vote and receive health care. Americans are being short-changed in health care and jobs to make way for illegals. Hotels are being overrun with filth and noise while hard-working Americans struggle to make ends meet. All of this is infuriating, which is one reason minorities are flocking to Trump.

Illegal migrants are here illegally and should not be allowed to stay unless they go through the citizenship process, which to Democrats is asking too much. For certain, they should not be given taxpayers dollars for any reason. All Democrats want are the illegals votes, which is why the border stays open, and why few get prosecuted. The occasional capture of a criminal or two isnt enough.

But heres the real problem, as if the above were not enough: Among those illegals there are sure to be terrorists who cant wait to pulverize our power grids, crash our banking system, blow up the Capitol, take hostages, kill Jews (its always the Jews), and otherwise make Americans miserable. They could hijack our cyber system, they could take hostages in schools, they could rampage in the streets, and burn houses down for fun. They could ruin our economy by attempting yet another 9/11, only bigger. The psychopathological mind of the terrorist knows no limits. We saw what they did to innocent Israelis on October 7th. Picture that on a larger American scale. We cannot appeal to conscience to stop them; they have none.

So, what is this administration doing to prevent terrorism? Do we have a program to protect power grids? Do we have a program to protect ordinary families? Do we have anything in place to stop a terrorist attack on our shores? The OBiden-Bama regime seems hellbent on allowing, and even encouraging, anything and anyone to destroy the American way of life. These are the same people who decreed the fundamental remaking of America, and now we are on the cusp of turning America over to the very people, foreign and domestic, who have vowed to destroy us.

America must get more serious about sending illegals back home. At the very least, this pathetic administration needs to get serious about closing this laughable border so that no more terrorists get through.

Let us never forget that radicals around the world have decreed that the American Satan will be destroyed. Whatever does happen in our lost blood and treasure is on Biden and where his buck stops. But since neither he nor we are sure where this buck really does stop, we need only to look at the Democrat party in toto. They refuse to stop it. They broke it, they bought it. The bloody hands will be theirs.

Image generated by AI.
It isn't hard to take Nathan Wade for a boob of some kind, having gotten romantically involved with President Trump's prosecutor in Georgia with the repugnant Fani Willis, who delivered this impressive performance for a court on her conflicts of interest.

Show me the money!



"For many, many years, I have kept money in my house .... at all times, there is always going to be cash in my house"



Fani Willis testifies regarding her personal cash flow and reimbursements to Nathan Wade



Watch her testimony LIVE! https://t.co/rNkj2mojJm pic.twitter.com/MidiD3iMB4  Real America's Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) February 15, 2024

But no one has quite done as well as black comedian Marlon Wayans in bringing the essence of Willis's boy-toy Nathan Wade to life, speaking in well-nuanced and very funny black English, complete with body positions, and allusions to law dogs, his ass, "my people," and 'cabbage.'

NEW: Nathan Wade gets humiliated after comedian Marlon Wayans portrays Fani Willis in s*xual positions on The Daily Show.



Wayans asked Wade what he was thinking when he thought that sleeping with Fani was a good idea.



Wayans: Did you think like this could get messy? Or you was pic.twitter.com/ZuvkxLoyZy  Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 20, 2024

It was the funniest thing I ever saw, or something pretty close to it. Wayans is a master of demonstrating the concept of 'gross' which describes well what they've been trying to put President Trump through.

That this is the direction he took it probably explains a lot about why much of the black vote is going to President Trump. Wayan knows what 'my people' are thinking, and would like to ask him if they had the chance, giving a semblance of Socratic dialogue. His interrogation would not have been as effective if it were done by a white comedian. Wayans brought the whole picture to Earth.

Colin Rudd, who posted the tweet, said he was wondering how Wade could be so dumb, or judgment-challenged to even go on that show, where he should have known he'd be roasted. But bad judgment, as this twitter denizen points out, has been a way of life for Wade ever since he got involved with Willis.

Jocelyn Wade is gorgeous. Fani, not so much. He made a bad decision. pic.twitter.com/Cu0FKbhA6y  M-U-R-C-H (@TheEXECUTlONER_) June 20, 2024

It's good to see this kind of comedy getting out there. Most of us thought comedy was dead, but in this segment, a master comedian shows it's alive and well with Nathan Wade in the idiot's chair. It's rip-roaring comedy exposing Wade and Willis for what they are and not for those with delicate sensibilities.

Image: Show me the money!



"For many, many years, I have kept money in my house .... at all times, there is always going to be cash in my house"



Fani Willis testifies regarding her personal cash flow and reimbursements to Nathan Wade



Watch her testimony LIVE! https://t.co/rNkj2mojJm pic.twitter.com/MidiD3iMB4

 Real America's Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) February 15, 2024 ">Twitter screen shot
Is the Supreme Court leaker back in action?

He or she may be. Recall that when the Dobbs decision on abortion was leaked to the press to motivate Democrat voters ahead of an election, the leaker never did get caught. Prior to that, the Supreme Court had been as airtight in witholding news of rulings until it was time. Chief Justice John Roberts, who led one of the investigations, decided to let it go.

Now there seems to be another one, around Joe Biden's executive order giving amnesty to half a million illegals if they could find an American to marry.

Sean Davis thought something was going on:

Is there a new leaker at the Supreme Court?



Just days ago, the Biden regime announced a radical new executive order to legalize the immigrant spouses of citizens, even if those immigrants were in the U.S. to commit crimes or were here legally. It was very strange timing for such pic.twitter.com/X9MRHkGdVY  Sean Davis (@seanmdav) June 21, 2024

According to NBC News four days ago:

President Joe Biden is taking executive action to protect undocumented spouses of American citizens  a move that would shield about 500,000 immigrants from deportation. The White House announced the election-year policy Tuesday, framing it as new action to keep families together. NBC News reported last week that action protecting the spouses was likely to be announced soon, after urging from immigration advocates and Democratic lawmakers and as the president courts Latino voters in crucial battleground states. The new policy would allow noncitizens who have been in the country for at least 10 years and are married to a U.S. citizen, and their children, to apply for permanent residence without leaving the country. During a ceremony at the White House, Biden called the steps a "commonsense fix" to a system that is "cumbersome, risky and separates families."

What he may have really had in mind is this case, which the Supreme Court ruled against in a decision that came out today, in this Reuters report:

June 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday said the constitutional rights of U.S. citizens are not violated when the government bars their non-citizen spouses from entering the country without explanation. The court in a 6-3 decision , said Sandra Munoz, a U.S. citizen and civil rights lawyer, cannot challenge the U.S. Department of State's denial of her El Salvadoran husband's visa application after the agency waited three years to explain that it suspected him of being a gang member. Munoz and her husband, who she married in 2010 and with whom she has a child, have been separated since 2015, according to court filings. Visa denials are not reviewable in court unless the government violates an applicant's constitutional rights in the process. The Supreme Court on Friday rejected Munoz's claim that the delay in explaining the denial violated her due process rights by interfering with her fundamental right to marry.

The problem, according to the Immigration Reform Law Institute is here:

"To hold for this couple would let those Americans who choose to marry dangerous aliens force their choice on the rest of us," Dale Wilcox, the group's executive director and general counsel, said in a statement.

What the plaintiff was arguing was that she had an absolute right to marry in an MS-13 member and bring him over to get him on a path to U.S. citizenship regardless of the rights of other Americans not to be victimized by him. If she had gotten her way, every thug in Central America would have his meal ticket to the states in the pipeline, particularly since they're in a position to pay women to "marry" them and it's very hard to prove that these "marriages" (and quickie divorces) are fraudulent.

But that was what Joe Biden wanted to be allowed to import in, as if there weren't already enough problems with terrorists, spies and criminals getting in through his open-border catch-and-release policies, as well as his accept-them-all CBPOne app.

He wanted it so badly he was apparently willing to issue an executive order to preempt their ruling, which if it survives court challenges, will render it null.

For that to happen, with such impeccable timing to the ruling, it almost certainly would have been the work of a leaker.

Biden himself has been big on interfering with other branches of government to get his way since the get-go. His fingerprints were all over the sudden spate of lawfare lawsuits against President Trump just days after he announced he would run for president in 2024, with White House operatives turning up in district attorney offices in New York and curious visits to the White House from local Georgia prosecutors among other things.

Now we learn he's out trying to throw nails into the path of the Supreme Court to ensure that the border stays open and open the pathway in to foreign criminals.

This underlines that if there is a leaker, and there probably is, it's imperative to catch him or her. The Court can't make decent decisions if none of the justices can trust one another. That this happened, twice, on Joe Biden's watch suggests a pretty nefarious racket inside the Supreme Court, whose leaks are unprecedented.

Chief Justice Roberts may finally get the message that the Court is no longer going to be able to act independently with this leaker in their midst and justices will not be able to trust one another either. That fundamentally corrupts the court.

Which is exactly Joe Biden's style of doing business.

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License
A recent story in major media reported how over 100 law school deans have recently signed a group letter that encourages law students in America to suddenly respect the law: The group of educators who are responsible for training the nations lawyers, reestablishes their commitment to getting the next generation of legal advocates ready to uphold democracy and the rule of law.

Why are law school deans suddenly claiming group solidarity with the Constitution?

Because the 2024 election must be seen, despite what will certainly be systematic irregularities, as nonetheless subject to constitutional law. The political left and its law school members are setting the stage of public discourse by claiming a sudden higher legal ground by a false appeal to constitutional authority.

This letter of solidarity from law school deans should strike any reasonable person as purely symbolic, and as a day late and a dollar short, as far as the rule of law is concerned. More than that, it is an unfortunate sign of how our nations law schools view the law itself: as a flexible convenience, subject to circumstances and opportunity, rather than facts and principles.

It was only a few years ago that law professors from our elite schools were fully behind, or indifferent to, illegal state voting changes that bypassed public disclosure, deliberation, and legislation: they stood by passively while DNC lawyers privately lobbied state courts, using COVID as a pretext to relax nearly all traditional voting rules. There wasn't a peep of protest from law schools over the denial of habeas corpus for January 6 detainees  nor over the First Amendment and Establishment Clause concerning medical privacy rights (University of Chicago Law lecturer Judge Frank Easterbrook, of the 7th Appellate Circuit, casually denied students at Indiana University such vital rights by merely referring to an outdated Massachusetts case from 1905, and also refused an injunction subject to further appeal). The First Amendments Free Exercise Clause didnt seem to concern law schools, either, when New York City sought to permanently close churches.

And of course, law school deans and professors made no noise or principled protest when it came to the Summer of 2020 riots that created billions of dollars in private and public property damage, threatened the lives of police officers, and resulted in few if any arrests or convictions. (Indeed, most of those arrested were simply released.) The left-aligned law schools across the country view the Constitution as not only subject to open interpretation or even to revision without a constitutional convention, but as antiquated, and subject to simply being thrown out.

So why the change of heart, or change of position? Part of the reason is simple obedience to the American Bar Association (ABA)s Task Force for American Democracy. That task force is disingenuous, as the ABA is as politically infiltrated as its 200 ABA-certified law schools, and so a sudden gesture toward American democracy is institutionally convenient.

But part of the motivation is also somewhat clever if not mendacious: the 2024 election must be seen, despite what will certainly be systematic irregularities, as nonetheless subject to constitutional law, including how electors are managed, or even if the Electoral College itself is set aside. The DNCs position is that no questions should be asked about any election procedures, even if irregular or outright illegal, because they are still creating an outcome that should be accepted as constitutional. So by taking a stand now by appealing to a rule of law and a symbolic deference to the Constitution, a misleading precedent is established  one where the illegal can still be claimed legal, and even protected, by simply falsely invoking a constitutional source. In logic, this is called a fallacy of proof by assertion, and too many law professors and their students use it in place of honest thinking and careful reasoning. When law is believed to be politics, such a fallacy itself becomes the law of the land, and the law of our law schools.

Matthew G. Andersson is the author of the upcoming book Legally Blind concerning law education. He has testified to the U.S. Senate and the Connecticut General Assembly, and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, and the Chronicle of Higher Education and received the Silver Anvil Award from the Public Relations Society of America. He is a graduate of the University of Chicago.

Image via Picryl.
Golden Pass LNG storage tanks and cargo transfer arms are seen from the Sabine River in late 2013. San Antonios Zachry Holdings Inc., since 2019 a contractor on a massive project to build a liquefied natural gas plant and export terminal at the site, filed for bankruptcy protection Tuesday and sued Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC. Staff file photo John Zachry, chairman and CEO of San Antonio-based engineering and construction company Zachry Holdings Inc. In a statement Monday, he said: We have been forced to take action to protect our business. The process we are starting today provides us mechanisms to initiate a structured exit from the (Golden Pass) project. Courtesy Construction on the the Golden Pass LNG terminal in 2022. San Antonios Zachry Holdings Inc., a contractor on the project, filed for bankruptcy protection Tuesday and sued Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC. Karen Warren/Staff photographer Construction continues on the Golden Pass LNG Terminal in early June. This view is from the Louisiana side of the Sabine River. San Antonios Zachry Holdings Inc., a contractor on the project, filed for bankruptcy protection Tuesday and sued Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Construction work on the Golden Pass LNG Terminal is seen from the Louisiana side of the Sabine River in June. San Antonios Zachry Holdings Inc., a contractor on the project, filed for bankruptcy protection Tuesday and sued Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer The Golden Pass LNG terminal under construction in Sabine Pass in 2023. San Antonios Zachry Holdings Inc., a contractor on the project, filed for bankruptcy protection Tuesday and sued Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Golden Pass LNG terminal under construction on Thursday, April 14, 2022 in Sabine Pass. Staff file photo Ryan Crockett, the Golden Pass LNG export projects technical manager, addresses a crowd during a 2019 public forum in Port Arthur. Staff file photo Company officials give a tour of the mostly idle Golden Pass LNG terminal in 2014. New York Times file photo

Bankruptcy isnt how international engineering and construction powerhouse Zachry Holdings Inc. intended to mark its 100th year in business.

A successor to H.B. Zachry Co., which was founded in Laredo in 1924 before relocating to San Antonio, Zachry Holdings and 20 of its subsidiaries are now in a fight for survival after costs to build a $10 billion liquefied natural gas export terminal in Southeast Texas allegedly went awry.

One of those subsidiaries now mired in Chapter 11  Zachry Industrial Inc., which had been the lead contractor for the LNG project  simultaneously filed a lawsuit in bankruptcy court accusing Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC and its owners of refusing to foot the bill for accelerating work on the project.

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QatarEnergy owns 70% of Golden Pass and Exxon Mobil Corp. the other 30%.

Work started on the project in 2019, but by mid-2022 it required an additional $2.4 billion to complete, Zachry Industrial says in its complaint. In a filing with the bankruptcy, it largely blamed the pandemics effect on labor and the global supply chain, as well as supply chain disruptions caused by the Russia-Ukraine war.

Golden Pass and its owners, using their superior wealth and bargaining power and the economic duress caused by the situation, induced Zachry and other contractors to front the increased costs with promises that Golden Pass or its owners would reimburse those costs, Zachry says. Golden Pass and its owners induced Zachry to waive and release over $1 billion in change order claims with false promises that Zachry would be made whole once the Project was complete.

But in 2023, Golden Pass demanded that the contractor slow down construction and enter into a cost-reduction plan. That didnt work, Zachry says, and it was unable to get caught up on the losses it incurred in prior years.

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Once it had bled Zachry dry of all its liquidity, Golden Pass declared Zachry in default because it could no longer pay the Projects huge costs and expenses out of its own pocket and forced Zachry to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy  a bankruptcy that Golden Pass caused, Zachry says in its complaint.

It says its insolvency is the result of debts racked up under the construction contract.

Golden Pass didnt address the lawsuit when reached for comment. It said it continues to work on the project with Zachrys joint venture partners, Houstons McDermott International and Japans Chiyoda International Corp. About 75% of the work has been completed, it said.

Zachry Holdings bankruptcies Here are the 21 Zachry businesses that filed Tuesday for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection: Zachry Holdings Inc.

Zachry EPC Holdings LLC

Zachry Engineering Corp.

Zachry High Voltage Solutions LLC

ZEC New York Inc.

UE Properties Inc.

ZEC Michigan Inc.

Zachry Industrial Inc.

Zachry Constructors LLC

Moss Point Properties LLC

Zachry Enterprise Solutions LLC

Zachry Nuclear Inc.

Zachry Nuclear Construction Inc.

Zachry Nuclear Engineering Inc.

Computer Simulation & Analysis Inc.

Zachry Plant Services Holdings Inc.

JVIC Fabrication LLC

Zachry Industrial Americas Inc.

Zachry Maintenance Services LLC

J.V. Industrial Companies LLC

Madison Industrial Services Team LLC

In a statement, Exxon Mobil said it and other stakeholders  are considering all available options to implement a smooth transition and minimize any impacts to the project.

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We plan to continue to fully support Golden Pass LNG through completion, it added.

Through the lawsuit, Zachry is trying to recover more than $1 billion it says it has given to Golden Pass.

Seeking refuge

Zachry Holdings says it and and the 20 subsidiaries filed for Chapter 11 reorganization Tuesday after Golden Pass refused to extend a standstill period on its notice of default. Unable to reach a feasible solution, it said in a statement, it was forced to take decisive action to protect our business.

QatarEnergy, the state energy company of Qatar, and Exxon Mobil teamed up in 2019 to jointly invest in three production units  known as trains  for an LNG export facility to be built in Sabine Pass. It was part of Exxon Mobils plan to invest more than $50 billion to build and expand U.S. manufacturing facilities. It was part of QatarEnergys plan to invest $20 billion in the U.S. energy sector, the lawsuit says.

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The plant was expected to produce nearly 16 billion metric tons of LNG and generate billions of dollars of revenue each year.

Golden Pass hired Zachry, McDermott and Chiyoda to design and build the project. It required three general contractors because such projects are complex and expensive, Zachy says in its suit. The companies created a joint venture  CCZJV  to oversee the project, but Zachry says it was the lead contractor over construction.

Golden Pass entered into a $9.25 billion engineering and construction contract with the joint venture.

But events and developments outside the joint ventures control plagued the project and caused significant delays and cost increases, Zachry says. For example, numerous plant structures had to be redesigned because Golden Pass erroneously described soil conditions. Russias invasion of Ukraine led to international trade restrictions that increased the cost of materials and fuel. The pandemic also affected the project.

The Project was substantially off-track, and the costs associated with the Project exploded, Zachry says in its complaint.

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From 2019 to 2021, the joint venture sought compensation for nearly $2 billion in increased costs related to change order claims that altered the original agreement, according to the lawsuit. Zachry and the joint venture paid them with the expectation they would be reimbursed, Zachry says.

More troubles

But Golden Pass did not resolve the claims and demanded the joint venture continue working and incurring costs at an accelerated pace to get the project back on schedule, Zachry alleges.

Golden Pass and its owners assured the contractor in meetings the joint venture partners would be compensated for their losses, Zachry says. That was something it had encountered on other projects with Exxon Mobil.

Zachry had little choice but to comply, it says. But, by complying, Zachry depleted its financial reserves and incurred hundreds of millions of dollars in obligations.

By October 2021, Zachry presented Golden Pass with financial projections showing the cost of the project had increased to $11 billion and that the contractor was not being paid enough. The projections also showed Zachrys project account would go cash negative in January 2022. At that point, it would have to pay out of its own pocket for additional costs. The accelerated construction schedule would drive up costs even further, it adds.

Golden Pass delayed any resolution to the problem by requesting make-work meetings, workshops and true cost exercises, Zachry alleges.

Zachry Chairman and CEO John Zachry had numerous meetings with QatarEnergy and Exxon Mobil executives to explain why the project had sustained so many setbacks. Ahmad Al-Amoodi, a QatarEnergy official and Golden Pass chairman, assured him Zachry would not be put in a position of having to file for bankruptcy, the suit says.

Al-Amodi said Qatar Energy would settle up at the end of the project by reimbursing the contractor for the additional costs.

The final cost of the project reached $11.6 billion, up about about $2.4 billion, or 25%, from the original contract price, the suit says.

Instead of agreeing to pay the additional costs to complete the project, though, Golden Pass proposed only a modest increase in immediate funding and some additional payments that could be earned in the future, Zachry says.

Deep in debt

During meetings in September and October 2022, the complaint says, Exxon Mobil Global Projects Co. President John Gibbs told John Zachry that additional funding would be forthcoming if the contractor stayed on the job.

Zachry and its joint venture partners signed a Claims Settlement Agreement drafted by Golden Pass that November. But Zachry says the agreement only provided for a fraction of the costs it and its partners had incurred. The agreement also required the joint venture to waive and release most of their $1.7 billion in change order claims.

Terms of the agreement were incorporated into an amended contract in January 2023. The amendment changed the definition of force majeure to exclude the Russia-Ukraine war and the COVID-19 pandemic. Force majeure  a legal term that translates to greater force  protects parties in the event they cannot perform under a contract due to causes outside their control. The war and the pandemic were two of the largest unforeseen developments affecting the cost of the project.

By that point, Zachry says, the contractor and the joint venture were deep in debt and essentially had no choice but to assent to the agreement and the change to the contract.

In doing so, CCZJV extinguished over $1.7 billion in change order claims against Golden Pass in exchange for relatively little compensation and shifted a large share of the construction costs for the Project onto Zachry, as the member of CCZJV with primary responsibility for construction, Zachy alleges. As a result, Zachry was effectively rendered insolvent.

An exit

Zachry says it continued work on the project, incurring huge financial obligations but still expecting Golden Pass would compensate it.

The parties signed a second amendment to the contract in March 2023. It provided modest additional financial relief by giving Golden Pass discretion to advance future milestone payments  subject to Zachry providing a letter of credit for the entire amount, the lawsuit says. But the amendment did not come close to addressing all of Zachrys financial needs on the Project, it adds.

Yet another amendment to the contract took effect at the end of 2023, extending the projects completion deadlines and providing some modest cash flow relief, Zachry says.

Zachry had more than 6,000 employees working on the project earlier this year, it said Thursday, but blamed Golden Pass cost-cutting for slicing that workforce by about half.

Last month, Exxon Mobil proposed that Zachry exit its role as lead construction contractor. Zachry says after the parties hammered out a confidentiality agreement covering negotiations, Golden Pass refused to negotiate.

Ultimately, Zachry adds, Golden Pass agreed to participate in mediation. But, it added, It sent no one to the mediation with any authority to negotiate.

Stopped payments

The purpose of all this delay became apparent at the beginning of this month, Zachry alleges.

Golden Pass, which had been paying vendors, suppliers and subcontractors as a result of the third amendment to the contract, stopped making payments.

Golden Pass did that so it could claim Zachry was in default for not paying them out of its own pocket, Zachry claims.

Golden Pass issued Zachry a first notice of default on May 8.

After a futile effort to resolve the matter with Golden Pass and its owners, Zachry filed a voluntary petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the contractor says.

Zachry wants a court order to void the "Claims Settlement Agreement" and the three amendments to the contract. It also wants the bankruptcy court to lower the priority of any claims Golden Pass files in Zachrys bankruptcy case, putting Golden Pass behind other creditors.

In the meantime, a small group of Zachry workers remains at the project to help ensure a safe and orderly transition, the company said Thursday. It will try to place many of the other employees at other projects in region.
The Democrats are up in arms because the Ten Commandments are scheduled to appear on the walls of public school classrooms in Louisiana. This, they claim, violates the separation of church and state that the Constitution never called for. (The Constitution says that the federal government cannot establish an official religion, nor can it interfere with people practicing their faith...by which it meant Biblical faith.) Meanwhile, were all unwilling congregants in the Church of Leftism. Thats because leftists relentlessly insert their faith into everything. Climate change is in every weather report, and the other shibboleths (racism, homophobia, etc.) show up everywhere else, especially things meant to entertain.

Lets start with weather. Its summer and, in parts of the U.S., its hot because thats what happens in the Northern Hemisphere during the summer.

Heatwaves are not measured by heat index. They never have been. Definitions vary, but the standard WMO definition of a heatwave requires at minimum three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures >90th percentile relative to the 1961-1990 climatology.



Three consecutive https://t.co/CJc5kvTq3I pic.twitter.com/8RepvjjNBE  Chris Martz (@ChrisMartzWX) June 21, 2024

So, again, normal. But youd never know that when the media and political class get through with it. Thats because they relentlessly drag climate change into every weather observation.

Here in the Southeast, beginning from June through August, temperatures average in the 80s, frequently peaking in the 90s by late afternoon. July is the hottest month, so its not unreasonable to get spikes at the end of June. However, for one Charleston news outlet, normal weather is still a time for climate panic:

With highs set to reach the mid-90s next week and the heat index reaching triple digits, the American Red Cross says there are measures South Carolinians can take to stay safe in extreme temperatures. With hot days and heat waves becoming more frequent and more intense because of climate change, people need to be aware of the risks posed by the heat and how to avoid them. (Emphasis mine.)

No, just no. This is not climate change. This is summer in the Southeast. There are variations and heat waves. There are weather cycles on a relentless solar timetable. (And as Anony Mee has written here, while we are in a short cyclical spike of rising temperatures, the bigger trend is that were heading into a Grand Solar Minimum.)

Chris Martzs X/Twitter battles show that its not just one Charleston outlet. Slotting climate change as a factor in every hot day permeates every report and observation:

The same individuals blaming a couple hot days in the eastern U.S. this week on the climate crisis also suggest that the record heatwave of June-July 1988 was just weather and is cherry-picking if you point out to them that this weather has always occurred. Dumber in the https://t.co/FOjmou14SY  Chris Martz (@ChrisMartzWX) June 21, 2024

The same individuals blaming a couple hot days in the eastern U.S. this week on the climate crisis also suggest that the record heatwave of June-July 1988 was just weather and is cherry-picking if you point out to them that this weather has always occurred. Dumber in the https://t.co/FOjmou14SY  Chris Martz (@ChrisMartzWX) June 21, 2024

(If youre interested in data, not political panic porn about the weather, I highly recommend his X feed.)

The same reflexive politicization appears in popular culture. I like time-travel books (silly, I know, but I do) and recently found Kelley Armstrongs highly-rated time-travel murder mystery, A Rip Through Time, about a female cop who finds herself in 1869 Edinburgh investigating a serial killer. Armstrong is a good writer who did her research, and the plot is clever, but as is the case with 80% of recent novels Ive read, the book is as much a polemic as a time-travel murder mystery.

Armstrong uses the time-travel conceit to inundate us with her views on feminism, science-ism, racism, homophobia, immigration, and even Americans alleged failure to take off their shoes upon entering their homes. She never stops interweaving her political/cultural beliefs throughout an otherwise smart, entertaining book. Its like eating a nice dessert while periodically being hit over the head with a mallet.

Im sure that, if you read modern novels, regardless of genre, youve experienced exactly the same thing. No matter what they write, leftists obsessively drip their values into their writing. They have internalized the 1970s feminist mantra that the personal is political.

And then theres television. Yesterday, I wrote about Oregon doctors who may need to fear losing their licenses over microaggressions, which is a real concern given how leftism permeates modern medicine. I illustrated my point with a doctors dilemma when faced with an obese minority patient, given that obese minorities insist that its racist to address it. If Id waited just one day, I could have written about racist tumors, a concept that just showed up on an NBC medical drama:

NBC's medical drama, "New Amsterdam," makes the insane claim that cancer can be caused by racism.



Not a stretch for the same company who continues to employ Joy Reid.



Hollywood is mentally ill. pic.twitter.com/n6G9FLApLd  Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) June 20, 2024

In 2024, for leftists, throwing around their doctrinal principles is as reflexive as it is for a good Catholic to cross himself when he enters a church. Both are matters of faith, although I infinitely prefer those who believe in God, a moral divinity, over the pagans, who serve a panoply of arbitrary, capricious, demanding, and amoral beings.

Image: The Church of Leftism by AI.
Let me start out by alleviating any distress because the baby girl was just fine (toxic masculinity to the rescue!), but this story points out what could have been another very deadly design flaw of electric vehicles.

On Wednesday, a local outlet in the Phoenix area reported on a scary turn of events which culminated in a 20-month-old little girl becoming trapped in a hot car in the heat of the day with her frantic grandmother on the outside, before firefighters showed up and freed the toddler. Here are the details, from AZ Family:

The Scottsdale grandmother tells On Your Side that she loaded her 20-month-old granddaughter into her car seat for a trip to the Phoenix Zoo. And I closed the door, went around the car, [to] get in the front seat, and my car was dead, she said. I could not get in. My phone key wouldnt open it. My card key wouldnt open it. As On Your Side explained in a recent report, when the Tesla battery that operates electronics dies, a hidden latch on the drivers side armrest will manually unlock the door. Many Tesla owners dont know about this latch. But in this case, Sanchez was stuck outside of her Tesla while the toddler was trapped inside, buckled into a car seat.

Apparently Tesla cars are supposed to give a series of warnings when the battery is about to die, but Sanchezs car failed to do so, a claim confirmed by Tesla itself, and I can only assume the extreme Arizona temperature killed whatever charge Sanchezs battery did have almost immediatelyTeslas own website states this:

It is expected for a Tesla car to consume around 1% of charge per day while parked. In some cases, you may notice that consumption is higher.

And, I imagine some cases would be scorching heat, like the temperatures seen during Phoenix summers; the Tesla website also suggests that after driving, you park in the shade to reduce power consumption.

Sanchezs experience isnt unique; see this story, also out of the Phoenix area:

A Peoria, Arizona man says he was trapped in his Tesla in the extreme heat after the power died and he didnt know how to escape.

In November, I wrote about a story in which a woman using a Tesla to unload at a boat ramp became trapped inside when the salt water reacted with the electronics system and caused everything to short-circuitshe, like the Peoria man, didnt know about the manual release latch, and only escaped because her husband somehow got her out from the outside.

I also still wonder about all the circumstances surrounding the death of Angela Chao, Mitch McConnells departed sister-in-lawdid her Tesla lock her inside as it rolled into the pond in which she perished?

As Sanchez summed it up, When that battery goes, youre dead in the water.

Seems like theres a warning here for trading away our traditional gas- and diesel-powered cars for electric ones.

Image generated by AI.
Oakland's ultra-woke mayor, Sheng Thao, is missing, probably hiding. Nobody knows where she went.

Which is not surprising, given that the FBI raided her four properties in Oakland yesterday, hauling out box after box of papers in what news people say is a corruption investigation.

BREAKING: FBI agents raid the home of Oakland mayor Sheng Thao.



According to an FBI spokesperson, the agency was "conducting court authorized law enforcement activity on Maiden Lane."



Local reporters say Thao was escorted out of the house. Agents were seen walking back pic.twitter.com/YushmSxPN5  Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 20, 2024

Where she is holed up now, nobody knows, but it's leading the local evening news.

Wheres @MayorShengThao ??? Wheres she at? Is she hiding out in Stockton? On the run from the law already? Where did she go? Hmmmm. 



Embarrassing to Oakland that shes hiding out and laying low and that this is the lead story on the five oclock news tonight. pic.twitter.com/1niltVwSjp  Thomas Hawk (@thomashawk) June 21, 2024

What's going on here is classic blue-city corruption, found in one-party states. There are scattered reports of involvement with a greenie trash company that throws its political weight around, as one of their homes was raided, too, and Thao lives next door to it.

Coincidence  as Im leaving Oakland Mayor Sheng Thaos house after the FBI raid, I saw this truck from California Waste Solutions nearby. We also saw FBI at that companys offices, and at Andy Duongs home, whose family owns Cal Waste. You may recall that Duong funded Thaos pic.twitter.com/ffJWUfEPea  Dan Noyes (@dannoyes) June 20, 2024

Thao is notable for her execrable management of the city of Oakland, which has gone downhill on her watch.

The night earlier, they had a Juneteenth riot where 15 people were shot.

Juneteenth brawl in Oakland  pic.twitter.com/OU5me3wasE  Orwell's Ghost (@Orwellsghost28) June 20, 2024

The homeless situation looks like this:

I circled around the Oakland 12th St. slum today - to give the world a better view of whats going on in this city.



If youre wondering what this is, its a small little homeless village, and the shelters are made from whatever scrap materials people can find.



Human despair! pic.twitter.com/Q4BqVVJYwl  Michael Oxford - AKA The Santa Cruz Mountain Goat (@SCMountainGoat) June 7, 2024

The police are demoralized, and crime has gotten so out-of-control a recall petition to pull Thao out of office there has succeeded and will be put up to a vote.

Whispers now are that other leftists know she's a failure and want her out of that city, and thus, one of them made some tipoffs, leading to the FBI raids.

DEMOCRAT on DEMOCRAT VIOLENCE: Powerful Democrats wanted failed Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao out so they funded the city's first successful recall effort. Evidently they don't want to wait until November so they decided to involve the FBI and IRS. pic.twitter.com/j4tuCPSeBk  @amuse (@amuse) June 20, 2024

What a miserable picture this presents, the corruption of power corrupting and absolute power corrupting absolutely, which everyone there is surrounded by a bag of political snakes.

Blue cities with no competition are like this, and this is how they take out the trash. Call it: 'California waste solutions' same as the company name.

What a sorry system. Oakland deserves better.

Image: Screen shot from Twitter video.
During the latest WWDC24, Apple revealed its suite of AI-powered features. Although several will arrive next year, users will receive some key ones in September. However, it seems that customers in the EU will have to wait a little longer, as the company confirmed a delay in the rollout of Apple Intelligence.

The EU has the Digital Markets Act (DMA) with regulations that companies must comply with to operate in member countries. The DMA has forced Apple to make some big changes to its business model. For example, discarding its own Lightning port in favor of the USB-C standard. Also to allow third-party app stores on iOS. The goal of the legislation is to guarantee a fairer market for all participants and avoid monopolistic practices.

Apple confirms a delay for the Apple Intelligence rollout in the EU

Apple has been one of the companies most affected by the DMA, and it seems that its AI-powered features are also struggling to comply. The company confirmed to the Financial Times a delay in the rollout of Apple Intelligence in the EU. There are other features affected by the delay, such as iPhone Mirroring, and SharePlay Screen Sharing. According to the Cupertino giant, they are working to make these services comply with DMA regulations.

Apple was going to start the global rollout, including EU countries, in September. While there is no exact new date for the rollout, Apple confirmed that it will not happen this year on the old continent. More specifically, the company spokesperson said Due to the regulatory uncertainties brought about by the Digital Markets Act, we do not believe that we will be able to roll out three of these [new] features  iPhone Mirroring, SharePlay Screen Sharing enhancements, and Apple Intelligence  to our EU users this year.

iPhone Mirroring and SharePlay Screen Sharing also delayed

Apple Intelligence is the companys suite of AI-powered features for iOS 18. It includes features such as Genmoji, Image Playground, and Writing Tools, among others. However, users in the EU will have to wait a few more months to enjoy them. Apple confirmed that the iPhone Mirroring feature will also not arrive on time. The latter will allow you to use your iPhone remotely from a Mac.

SharePlay Screen Sharing is the other feature that will not be available in September in the EU. This one is intended as a tool to facilitate remote assistance. It lets someone else control what happens on your screen using SharePlay. It is possible that users in the UK will receive all those features in September since they have not been part of the EU for years.

More DMA-related issues for Apple

This isnt the only DMA-related difficulty Apple is facing. Currently, a commission is studying whether Apple is really complying with the law regarding third-party app stores. There are questions about whether Apple is being fair because of its latest fee scheme for developers.
Another day, another batch of Samsung devices received the June security update. The latest security patch is rolling out to the Galaxy A54, Galaxy A53, and Galaxy Tab A9+ in the US. The international versions of the Galaxy A53 have already picked up this release, while the other two models are still awaiting it outside the States.

Samsungs June update available for the Galaxy A54 in the US

Launched in March 2023, the Galaxy A54 is still the most premium A series smartphone Samsung sells in the US. The company launched the Galaxy A55 earlier this year but the upgraded version didnt arrive stateside. Nonetheless, the older model has beaten the newer one to the punch in this months security update race.

First reported by SammyFans, the June SMR (Security Maintenance Release) is available for the carrier-locked Galaxy A54 on Tracfones network. The updated firmware build number for the phone is CXF3 (last four characters). Samsung has yet to reflect this release on its official update tracker, so we cant detail the full changelog.

However, the publication says the update brings some system stability and reliability improvements to the device, improving the user experience and performance. This is in addition to this months security patches from Samsung and Google. The June SMR contains fixes for 59 vulnerabilities, including one critical Galaxy flaw.

Samsung should soon roll out the June security update to carrier-locked and unlocked variants of the Galaxy A54 across all networks. The update should also make its way into other regions in the coming days. As usual, you can check for updates manually from the Settings app or wait for a notification prompting you to download it.

Galaxy A53 and Tab A9+ are also getting these security fixes

A few days ago, Samsung released the June update for international versions of the Galaxy A53 in Europe and Asia. The new security patch is now available for the US versions. Carrier-locked units are getting the update with the build number A536USQSAEXF2, SamMobile reports. Samsung has yet to start updating the factory-unlocked units.

The Galaxy Tab A9+ is also picking up this months security release in the US. The mid-range tablet is getting the new SMR with on Verizons network with firmware version X218USQU2CXE6. Samsung should soon roll out the update widely across the country before expanding it to other regions. Go to Settings > Software update > Download and install to check for updates manually.
The cybersecurity and antivirus software provider Kasperskys products are now banned in the US. On Thursday, the Biden administration announced plans to stop the sales of Kasperskys antivirus software. Notably, it is the first time the department has completely banned the sales of a cybersecurity technology firm in the nation. The administration has cited that Russias influence over Kaspersky poses a significant security risk in the country.

The ban on Kaspersky products in the US will kick in on July 20

The sales of the Kaspersky products will be banned in the US starting from July 20. It means that starting from next month, Kaspersky products will not be available on the store shelves. Besides that, the company will also not be able to sell its products via any online marketplace.

The ban doesnt just end here because all third-party products that are utilizing Kaspersky services will also be banned in the nation. According to Reuters, the full ban will kick in on September 29, 2024. From the date, the new decision will also ban downloads of software updates, resales, and licensing of any Kaspersky product.

That said, the administration has provided a 100-day window to existing Kaspersky customers and businesses to look for viable alternatives for their computers. Notably, the Biden administration has also added Kaspersky and two of its other units to a trade restriction list in the nation.

Kaspersky to pursue legal options to continue its operations

In an email to Reuters, Kaspersky announced that it is going to pursue legal options to continue operations. Kaspersky said it believed the U.S. decision was based on the present geopolitical climate and theoretical concerns, rather than on a comprehensive evaluation of the integrity of Kasperskys products and services.

The company had previously already announced that it is a privately managed company without any connections to the Russian government.

Its worth mentioning that Kaspersky has been in the regulators crosshairs since 2017. The sales of Kaspersky products were banned in 2017 as well over spying concerns. Besides that, the FCC added Kaspersky to the list of companies that pose a national security risk in 2022.
It looks like Google is all set to show a new message when the Pixel phones overheat. Currently, the Pixels only show a simple warning message that reads Phone is getting warm. However, in the coming updates, the Pixels will show more descriptive overheating warnings.

A new version of Device Health Services will bring more descriptive overheating warnings for Pixels

Folks over at 9to5google have found references to descriptive overheating warning messages for Pixels in version 1.27.0.638152889 of the Device Health Services app. First up, theres a reference to the pre_emergency_notification string, which is titled Phone needs to cool down. It further explains how You may experience slower performance. Try avoiding direct sunlight or close any battery-intensive apps. Essentially, all the tips to cool down your device will be available on the screen and you wont have to visit Googles support page for answers.

In the pre-emergency mode, you will have limited access to your Pixel. In addition, during this state, your Pixel will automatically start cooling down by limiting performance, disabling 5G, and more.

The existing overheating notification on the Pixel phones explains how Some features are limited while the phone cools down. Tapping on more info gives you a more descriptive message that reads Your phone will automatically try to cool down. You can still use your phone, but it may run slower. Once your phone has cooled down, it will run normally.

Pixel phones will soon also implement the Adaptive Thermal feature to prevent overheating

In a separate report, Android Authority has found some strings of an Adaptive Thermal feature in the code of Device Health Services. This feature will automatically trigger when the battery temperature rises to harmful levels. The report states that the above-mentioned pre-emergency alert will trigger when the temperature reaches 49 degrees Celsius (~120 degrees Fahrenheit). It will then show you tips to cool down your device.

The Adaptive Thermal feature will keep checking the battery temperature levels every five minutes. If the phone still hasnt reached normal levels but instead rises to 52 degrees Celsius (~126 degrees Fahrenheit), then the emergency state will be triggered. Theres no word what exactly will happen on your Pixel in this mode.

Furthermore, if the battery temperature reaches a dangerous 55 degrees Celsius (~131 degrees Fahrenheit), then your phone will shut down to cool. In this state, the Thermal Adaptive feature will shut down the device in 30 seconds after reaching critical temperature levels.

Google hasnt yet rolled out this update to the Device Health Services app globally. It is being rolled out gradually, so it could take some time to reach your device.
Samsung has just officially confirmed, albeit inadvertently, that its upcoming premium smartwatch will be called Galaxy Watch Ultra. The name appeared on now-deleted support pages for the unannounced wearable on its website. The company will unveil the watch alongside new foldables and other products at Unpacked in July.

Samsung accidentally confirmed the Galaxy Watch Ultras name

The Galaxy Watch lineup is getting its first Ultra-branded member this year. Its a premium smartwatch that Samsung aims to pitch against Apples Ultra watches. We exclusively reported in April that the wearable will bear the marketing name Galaxy Watch Ultra. However, some sources said it will arrive as the Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra. This also made sense as Samsung will unveil the Galaxy Watch 7 alongside this premium model.

This confusion was settled by a TDRA certification last month. The UAE governments regulatory body certified the new watch with the same model number (SM-L705F) we revealed in our exclusive report in April. It also mentioned the same marketing name, i.e., Galaxy Watch Ultra. We now have an official confirmation from Samsung. The company published product pages for the upcoming watch on its website along with the name.

Spotted by 91Mobiles, the official support pages for the Galaxy Watch Ultra were briefly up on Samsungs websites in Canada, Austria, Latin America, and other regions, with some listings specifying the products name alongside its model number. The company deleted the pages later, but not before the publication could grab screenshots. The deleted listings also confirmed that the watch will only come in a 47mm size.

Samsung also previously published official support pages for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 on its websites complete with their marketing names. However, it has deleted those pages too. Even the pages that didnt include the names, which is quite unlike Samsung. Nonetheless, these developments indicate a nearing launch of the new products. It might soon re-publish the deleted support pages.

The launch event may take place on July 10

Every year, Samsungs Galaxy Unpacked mysteries are leaked way before the actual event. The company couldnt prevent that from happening this year either. Leaks have already revealed that the next Unpacked will take place on July 10 in Paris, France. Alongside new watches and foldables, we are also expecting a couple of new wireless earbuds and a formal launch for the Galaxy Ring. Stay tuned for Samsungs official Unpacked invitation.
Samsungs smartphone business division has had a successful first half of 2024. Thanks to excellent Galaxy S24 sales, the company exceeded internal production targets by a huge margin in Q1. Its Q2 production will also be slightly higher than the initial target, the Korean media reports. If it maintains a similar growth rate for the rest of the year, its total smartphone sales could increase by around 10% in 2024.

Samsung exceeded smartphone production goals in the first half of 2024

According to TheElec, Samsung produced 64.5 million Galaxy smartphones and tablets in the first quarter of 2024, 22% more than its original target of 52.9 million units. In the second quarter, its total production could reach 49.9 million units, a 3% increase over its internal target of 48.3 million units. Combined, Samsung has surpassed its smartphone and tablet production target for the first six months of the year by 13%.

The second half of the year is usually off-season for Samsung because of the lack of major new launches. It does launch new foldables in the third quarter but these devices arent a crowd-puller. Moreover, the Korean firms foldable share has been tumbling as more players enter the market. New Pixels and iPhones also affect Galaxy sales. However, Samsung may still manage to increase its sales this year compared to 2023.

If it maintains a respectable growth rate in the second half of 2024 over the same period last year, Samsung might register a healthy smartphone sales increase this year, potentially a 10% jump in global shipments. A lot will depend on the success of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6. The Galaxy S24 FE, which arrives later in the year, could also be a variable if Samsung decides to load the Fan Edition phone with a wide range of AI features.

Samsung will be cautious to not over-produce and pile up inventory

Samsung may have exceeded production goals in the first half, but the company will be cautious to not over-produce in the second half. As said earlier, Galaxy S24 sales will dip as the year progresses. If it increases its production goal and makes more units, it could pile up its inventory. A large stock in the inventory will affect profits, which will anyway go down as sales drop and the company introduces discounts and promotions.

The new report says Samsungs smartphone division generated a sales revenue of 33.53 trillion won (approx. $24.1 billion) in sales in Q1 2024. The operating profit came in at 3.51 trillion won (approx. $2.5 billion), which marks a profit margin of 10.5%. In the second quarter, the sales revenue is expected to clock 29 trillion won (approx. $20.9 billion) but the profit margin will drop to 9.6%, making Samsung a profit of 2.8 trillion won (approx. $2.0 billion).
TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance have filed a brief spelling out their lawsuit against the US government over the proposed ban. Filed in the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, the brief calls the newly passed law to ban the app unconstitutional and a restriction on freedom of speech. A group of TikTok creators, who have separately sued the US government over the same matter, also filed a similar appeal.

TikTok and TikTok creators appeal in court against the US ban law

After mulling over it for years, the US government finally framed a law to ban TikTok. President Joe Biden signed the law on April 24, just a day after the Senate passed it. American lawmakers have national security concerns with the platform over its potential ties with the Chinese government, which the firm has always denied. TikTok has until January 19, 2025, to either sell its US operations or face a nationwide ban and exit the country.

Unsurprisingly, the company disagrees with the US governments decision and has challenged the law in court. It filed a lawsuit seeking a ruling that blocks the law. A group of US-based TikTok creators who earn their livelihood from the app also filed a similar lawsuit. All of them argue that the proposed ban violates the First Amendment rights of Americans. They called the law an attempt to put an extraordinary restraint on speech.

The plaintiffs have now filed briefs doubling down on their arguments, providing the court with more evidence supporting their case. TikTok says the US government didnt consider other options and rapidly moved forward with a law to ban the app. The firm adds that it provided American lawmakers with an extensive and detailed plan to mitigate national security risks but they ignored it and passed the law in a hurry.

Never before has Congress expressly singled out and shut down a specific speech forum, TikToks newly filed brief laments Congress for an unconstitutional law. Never before has Congress silenced so much speech in a single act, the brief continues in the same tone. Congress gave this Court almost nothing to review. Congress enacted no findings, so there is no way to know why majorities of the House and Senate decided to ban TikTok.

Oral arguments in the case will begin in September

The court will hear oral arguments in TikToks lawsuit against the US governments ban law on September 16, 2024. Both parties have asked the court to expedite the case and announce its ruling by the first week of December. This is to ensure that TikTok gets enough time to appeal to the Supreme Court review if needed. As said earlier, the firm has until January 19, 2025, to finalize its next steps, whether to sell the app or exit the US.

President Joe Biden can extend the deadline, though. He may do that if he sees enough progress toward a divesture. However, it wont be easy for ByteDance to sell TikToks US arm unless it decides to give the platform away cheaply. There arent many buyers who might be willing to spend billions of dollars on TikTok without getting access to its coveted recommendation algorithm, the key to its success.

A Chinese export law reportedly blocks the sale of the platforms recommendation algorithm. So any buyer might have to develop a fresh algorithm from scratch, which could severely impact the user experience. TikTok has already denied that it is developing a US-only algorithm for a possible sale. For the time being, it is seemingly focused on blocking the law and living on to see more success in the US. Its newly filed brief contains hundreds of pages of communications with the US lawmakers explaining its measures to mitigate national security concerns. Time will tell what the court decides.
Test engineer Jacob Wilcox pulls his arm out of a glove box used for processing sodium at TerraPower, a company developing and building small nuclear reactors. Bill Gates' company plans to build an advanced, nontraditional nuclear reactor and employ workers from a local coal-fired power plant scheduled to close soon. Elaine Thompson/Associated Press Carbon dioxide and other pollutants billow from a stack at PacifiCorp's coal-fired Naughton Power Plant in Kemmerer, Wyo., near where Bill Gates' TerraPower plans to build an advanced, nontraditional nuclear reactor. Natalie Behring/Associated Press The Naughton Power Plant in Kemmerer, Wyo. The power plant will be closed in 2025, and TerraPower announced it had chosen Kemmerer for a nontraditional, sodium-cooled nuclear reactor that will bring on workers from a local coal-fired power plant. Natalie Behring/Associated Press

Congressional Republicans and Democrats found something they could agree on Tuesday, passing a bill to accelerate nuclear energy development, particularly advanced reactors small enough to scatter across the country.

President Joe Biden is expected to sign the law, which passed both the House and the Senate, the latter on a vote of 88-2. Cue the environmentalist outrage machine.

Few issues trigger the public like nuclear power. People fear accidents like the explosion in Chernobyl or the meltdown in Fukushima. Some activists have made careers at blocking nuclear waste dump sites, which means spent fuel rods are stored near the reactors.

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However, nuclear power plants can provide carbon-free electricity around the clock, making them critical for slowing climate change. While radiation is frightening, nuclear power is not nearly as deadly as the emissions from coal or natural gas power plants.

The biggest problem for nuclear power is the cost. Every nuclear power plant goes over budget, and generators need high electricity prices to make a profit on their multibillion-dollar investments. The latest example is the Vogtle plant in Georgia, which cost $28 billion and will add $9 to the state's consumers' bill every month for decades.

No company in the United States has a plan to build a traditional nuclear reactor that can make money in the current market.

The ADVANCE Act, which passed Tuesday, is intended to jump-start a new generation of reactors. The law could speed up an advanced nuclear plant that Dow Chemical plans to build near Corpus Christi and kick-start Gov. Greg Abbotts dream of creating a nuclear power industry in Texas.

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New nuke proponents say they can build small modular reactors, known as SMRs, in factories and deliver them to existing power plants. The simpler designs make a meltdown or explosion almost impossible, they argue. Once mass production begins, the costs will allegedly plummet.

The new law cuts regulatory costs for SMRs, creates a prize for the first successful reactor deployment and speeds the licensing process for certain sites, such as old coal-fired power plants.

Billionaire Bill Gates is among those betting SMRs have a blindingly bright future. He founded TerraPower and, on June 10, broke ground on a new nuclear facility in Kemmerer, Wyo.

TerraPowers Natrium design is typical of the SMR industry. The reactor relies on molten sodium to cool the core passively instead of pressurized water, which is traditional plants' Achilles heel.

Even if the plant loses power, the sodium just keeps absorbing heat without getting to a dangerous temperature that would cause a meltdown, Gates explained in a blog.

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Climate change has not deterred nuclear powers most ardent critics. The subsidized cost of electricity for a pilot plant in Idaho is $89 a megawatt-hour, while a new combined-cycle natural gas plant is $58 and solar is $43, according to energy consulting firm Wood Mackenzie.

Experts argue SMRs cannot reduce their costs as much as wind and solar did because they will never achieve the same scale or efficiencies of production. SMRs also face competition from battery facilities and advanced geothermal, which can provide backup power and are driving down costs quickly.

Its disappointing that the Senate chose to promote nuclear power when America is flush with energy options that are better for people and the planet, Johanna Neumann, senior director of Environment Americas Campaign for 100% Renewable Energy, said in a statement. Nuclear is, at best, a waste of resources. At worst, its a melt-down.

Still, Abbott sees enormous potential for SMRs in Texas, ordering the Public Utility Commission to organize a working group to promote it. He also asked the PUC to explore developing a homegrown nuclear supply chain.

Dow has plans to power its facility with four gas-cooled SMRs built by Maryland-based X-Energy. While the project is under development, Edward Stones, vice president of energy and climate at Dow, said a final investment decision relies on the United States developing a reliable uranium supply chain.

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Texas A&M has long led the state in developing new nuclear power technologies, and last month Chancellor John Sharp announced plans to bring SMRs to College Station.

We believe that nuclear power is the only solution to provide quick, clean, carbon-free and reliable energy to prevent blackouts and to foster innovation, Sharp said.

New nuclear power facilities are undoubtedly critical to fighting climate change, but they are not a universal solution. Every community must determine what works best for its location, and I welcome the competition between technologies to provide the cheapest, safest and most reliable electron possible.
YouTube has confirmed a crackdown on YouTube Premium subscribers who used VPNs to purchase the ad-free subscription. The video-sharing platform is essentially enforcing its policies strictly.

Has YouTube admitted it has started canceling subscriptions?

YouTube has officially admitted that it has initiated a crackdown on subscribers who use VPNs to hide their location. The action is targeted at YouTube Premium subscribers who use a VPN to purchase a subscription.

YouTube hasnt categorically admitted it has started canceling any subscriptions. However, the company confirmed to TechCrunch it has systems in place to confirm a subscribers true country.

Buy a Nord VPN subscription, change your location to Ukraine. Load the YouTube premium purchase page up using a browser like Brave, or in incognito mode.

Purchase the premium subscription for only $2 a month. Cancel the Nord VPN subscription. Profit. https://t.co/Q6mVBwcO66  Nathan (@NathanIngraham) October 12, 2023

Specifically speaking, YouTube can detect when a subscriber is lying about their signup country and the system will prompt the user to update their billing information. Speaking about enforcing the companys policies, a YouTube spokesperson said,

To provide the most accurate plans and offers available, we have systems in place to determine the country of our users. In instances where the signup country does not match where the user is accessing YouTube, were asking members to update their billing information to their current country of residence.

Has YouTube initiated a crackdown on Premium subscribers using VPNs?

We recently reported that YouTube may have started canceling premium subscriptions for users who paid using VPNs. It appears multiple YouTube Premium subscribers had their subscriptions abruptly canceled.

YouTube Cancelling Premiums

Created Cheaper via VPN Google appears to be clamping down on VPN workarounds for cheaper Premium, as per user reports.https://t.co/Gfg9BB1rs7 pic.twitter.com/b30Z69RS1d  Pirat_Nation  (@Pirat_Nation) June 20, 2024

YouTube wont admit it officially, but according to PCMag, a Google support agent indicated YouTube has initiated the cancellation of premium memberships for accounts identified as having falsified signup country information. According to the agent, cancellations began recently. Users who violate the rule will get an email as well as an in-app notification that their plans are canceled, the agent added.

A VPN allows an internet user to hide their location. Additionally, such services also allow users to bypass restrictions imposed by their country of residence. In YouTubes case, certain users were using VPNs to purchase YouTube Premium subscriptions.

Needless to say. YouTube has a regional pricing system. This means that paying Premium is cheaper or more expensive depending on the region.

YouTube has been fighting with ad blockers for quite some time. The company even started to penalize users who use ad-blockers. The latest move seems yet another tactic that could upset users.
Young women are fuelling a rise in Botox treatments, but many people are saying it makes them look older. (Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Several Love Island contestants who are participating in the current series have recently sparked conversations around how cosmetic procedures are changing the way young women look  and not necessarily the way they want.

Promo images of contestants including Nicole Samuel, Jess White and Harriet Blackmore have been shared widely across X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram and TikTok, with people being asked to guess how old they are.

Despite all three women being under the age of 26, viewers have guessed them to be much older  some thought they were in their late 30s, while others were shocked to discover they were not in their 40s.

On TikTok, a US plastic surgeon was left almost speechless after he found out the real ages of the three women. The video of Dr Daniel Barrett, who runs a cosmetic clinic in Beverly Hills, guessing the ages and what cosmetic work the women have had done, went viral with more than 11.5 million views.

After being told their real ages, Barrett commented: "This is crazy. I think that plastic surgery and injectables done incorrectly can make you look older."

It comes after a number of content creators on TikTok also faced being told they looked significantly older than they were. Earlier this year, TikToker Shawna Eveler went viral after followers told her she looked like she was in her mid-40s  at the age of 22.

Eveler addressed the comments and said she regularly got filler and Botox as a "personal preference". "I feel like no one should stop you from getting filler because its your own face," she said, adding: "But people always told me that I look older and I get it, I look older, I might act older, but 45?"

Are people getting Botox too young?

Cosmetic 'tweakments' such as Botox and filler have been popular for many years. However, there has been an increase in younger people interested in the procedures, thanks to terms like 'preventative' or 'baby Botox'.

New data from global research firm Mintel reveals that a quarter (23%) of young women aged 18 to 34 are interested in having Botox, compared to only one in 10 (10%) of Britons as a whole.

Botox use is also considerably higher among younger people, with one in seven (13%) Brits aged 25 to 34 having had Botox, compared to a national average of 7%.

Botox, a neuromodulator, works by temporarily disrupting nerve signals to the muscles, which stops them from contracting and therefore, reduces the appearance of wrinkles. What young people are hoping to achieve by getting "preventative Botox" is to stop any lines from forming, so as to delay wrinkles for as long as possible.

The popularity of Botox, particularly among women, has risen after the term 'preventative Botox' became a trend. (Getty Images) (Getty Images)

But implementing such procedures at too young an age can have a detrimental effect, as it may interfere with natural facial development and affect your appearance, explains Michael Saul, partner at Cosmetic Surgery Solicitors.

He tells Yahoo UK: "It is advisable to avoid starting these kinds of procedures before your face has fully developed. This helps to create a balance between preventative measures and maintaining a natural look, as individuals are more mature and capable of making informed decisions about the long-term implications of cosmetic procedures."

Why preventative Botox became so popular

The idea of 'preventative Botox' first appeared around the mid-2000s, but gained sharp momentum in 2021. With new selfie filters on social media creating new beauty standards, interest in getting Botox and fillers as a method of 'preventative ageing', instead of slowing the ageing process, began to rise.

In 2023, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons said there had been a cosmetic surgery boom, with procedures rising by 102% between 2021 and 2022. Demand for Botox treatments during that period rose by 124%.

Saul says that a survey conducted by Cosmetic Surgery Solicitors found that nearly half (49%) of the British public have considered getting a non-surgical procedure, adding that the increasing popularity of tweakments can be linked directly to social media.

"That same survey revealed that 89% of respondents believed that social media platforms should make it clear to users when influencers are using filters and other body-altering technology," he says.

"This call for transparency underlines the importance of promoting realistic and healthy body images on social media."

Maddie Malone, Beauty and Personal Care Analyst at Mintel, adds: "Societal pressures, combined with the influence of social media, celebrities and shows like Love Island, are all contributing to the popularity of cosmetic procedures among the young.

"Younger Millennials are a generation that have largely grown up during an era of social media, which is said to foster insecurities. In fact, three quarters (73%) of all Brits say social media has a severe negative impact on mental wellbeing.

"The indications are that surgical procedures could become increasingly common with time. While Gen Zs (aged 13-26) might not currently have the financial means to pay for cosmetic procedures, their generation more than others have grown up during an arguably more social media focused era  which places a high focus on physical appearance.

"As a result, they may be more influenced to undergo these types of procedures."

Can Botox make you look older?

Love Islander Harriet Blackmore, along with fellow contestants Nicole Samuel and Jess White, have faced claims that they look older than they actually are. (Getty Images) (ITV)

Getting Botox to slow the ageing process can help make you appear younger, but can also have the opposite effect if you are getting it in your 20s.

Saul explains that this could be because "excessive application of tweakments can lead to an unnatural, frozen appearance that lacks the natural expressiveness of youth."

"Poor technique or placement can result in exaggerated features that disrupt youthful facial proportions," he continues. "This is especially worrying as there is no need for a licence for practitioners of these kinds of procedures, meaning it can be difficult to find a safe beautician."

While Botox stops muscles from moving, fillers are used to add volume or create contours in the face. But Saul says this can result in too much volume or changes in facial contours that are "more typical of older individuals, making young women appear older than their years".

He does not recommend young people starting cosmetic procedures like Botox or fillers until they are well past their mid-20s and their face has fully developed. Even then, it is crucial to be clear on why you want to change the way you look.

"Once your face is developed, it is also important to examine why you want the procedure and also exactly what you would like from the procedure, and whether this is possible," he says.

"Having decided on which procedure will help you to achieve your goals, it is also essential to ensure that you are using a safe practitioner that will be able to reduce the risks to your health."

Read more about health and wellness:

Botox: Doctor warns parents about teenagers travelling to Wales for treatment (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read)

Is Botox in your 20's too young? Courteney Cox says it was 'a total waste of time' (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)

How cosmetic surgery can affect your mental health, as Katie Price issues warning. (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)
Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey is set to take on the lead role in the William Shakespeare play Richard II.

The new production, directed by The History Boys director Sir Nicholas Hytner, at Londons Bridge Theatre will cover how the ill-fated monarch was forced to abdicate in the 14th century following his throne being seized by his cousin, Henry IV of England.

Bailey, 36, began his career in the theatre, and in 2019 scooped up a best supporting actor in a musical Olivier Award for his performance in Stephen Sondheims Company.

He has also starred opposite Sir Ian McKellen, who previously portrayed Richard II, in Shakespeares King Lear as the legitimate heir Edgar, and worked with Sir Nicholas during an Othello production at the National Theatre as the title characters friend Cassio.

Jonathan Bailey as Richard II (Bridge Theatre/Jason Bell/PA)

The London Theatre Company production describes Richard II as charismatic, eloquent, and loved by his friends as well as being a disastrous king  dishonest, capricious, and politically incompetent.

Echoing down the centuries is the perennial problem: how to deal with a ruler who has a rock solid right to rule but is set on wrecking the country he leads, the description of the play also reads.

Shakespeares subtle, ambiguous, and beautiful play finds feudal England on the cusp of modernity, as a divinely sanctioned monarch is confronted, in the figure of Henry Bolingbroke, by the hard-headed pragmatism of real authority.

Outside his role as Anthony, Viscount Bridgerton, in the hit Netflix series about the Regency family, Bailey has been in political thriller Fellow Traveler, for which he won a best supporting actor Critics Choice Award, comedy Crashing and crime drama Broadchurch.

Sir Nicholas, a former National Theatre artistic director, has previously helmed Julius Caesar, A Midsummer Nights Dream and Guys & Dolls on the stage along with the films The Lady In The Van, The Madness Of King George and The History Boys.

Richard II at Londons Bridge Theatre runs from February 10 until May 10 2025.

Tickets on general sale from June 26.
A British man has been stabbed to death outside a nightclub near Barcelona, Spanish police said.

Catalan police said they were investigating the violent death of a 31-year-old man who was attacked with a knife in Calella, about 30 miles north east of Barcelona.

A man has been arrested in connection with the incident, police said.

The Mossos dEsquadra (Catalan police) said they were called to reports of a fight shortly before 4am on Friday in the coastal town on Benavente Street, where Oxygen nightclub is located.

An injured man was treated by emergency services but died at the scene, police said.

Local police in Calella said another person was injured and taken to hospital following the incident.

In a statement, the Mossos dEsquadra said: Agents of the Mossos dEsquadra of the criminal investigation division (DIC) of the northern metropolitan region are investigating the violent death of a 31-year-old man in Calella de Mar.

A few hours later, and as a result of the first investigative efforts, members of the DIC have arrested a man allegedly related to the violent death.

Calella police said in a post on social media: The result of the incident is one dead and one injured, who has been taken to a hospital.

The attack was by knife.

Calella, located on Catalonias Mediterranean coast, is known as the holiday capital of the Costa del Maresme, according to Spains official tourism website.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.
British teenagers family and friends drained beyond words as hunt continues

The family and friends of a British teenager who went missing during a holiday in Tenerife are drained beyond words as the search for him entered its fifth day.

Helicopters, rescue dogs and drones have been used during the hunt for 19-year-old Jay Slater, who was last heard from when he called his friend Lucy Law on Monday morning.

Mr Slater, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, disappeared after an attempt to walk back to his accommodation after missing a bus.

In a post on the Facebook page Jay Slater Missing, the administrator of the group Rachel Louise Harg said family and friends of Mr Slater were in a living nightmare.

She said: There isnt an update for anyone unfortunately.

Struggling to find words at this time but all I can say is we are looking still and everyone is doing all they can.

We are drained beyond words  I just cant say no more, I wish I could.

I wish this would end now, this living nightmare.

Searches are ongoing and we remain positive.

Jay Slater was last heard from on Monday (Family handout/PA)

Thanks to you all supporting and helping we cant thank you any more, much love.

On Friday, search and rescue personnel joined officers from the islands Guardia Civil near the village of Masca where they appeared to focus on a specific area of overgrown terrain.

Some officers used binoculars to survey the landscape before heading towards the bottom of the hillside.

Search teams paid close attention to a river called Barranco Madre del Agua at the bottom of a ravine, where personnel with sticks carefully searched through fallen dead palm trees.

On Thursday, a helicopter flew over Rural de Teno park in the south of the Spanish island as search teams followed various footpaths in the area.

Footage released by the Guardia Civil on Thursday showed the views from the helicopter as it scoured the hillside.

The video, posted to the forces X account, showed officers searching in bushes and overgrown terrain with dogs.

A police officer overlooks the village of Masca, Tenerife (James Manning/PA)

The walk from Mr Slaters last known location to his accommodation would have taken about 11 hours on foot.

The search area was quiet on Friday, with only a handful of police cars stationed at Rural de Teno park.

Ms Law, who attended the NRG music festival with Mr Slater, said he called her at about 8.30am on Monday and told her he was lost in the mountains, he wasnt aware of his surroundings, he desperately needed a drink and his phone was on 1%.

Mr Slaters mother, Debbie Duncan, who flew to Tenerife on Tuesday, said searching for her son was an absolute living nightmare.

Ms Duncan told ITV News: Hes the life and soul, hes a beautiful boy.

Mr Slater was last seen wearing a white T-shirt with shorts and trainers and a black bag.

A fundraiser set up by Ms Law to get Jay Slater home has since received more than 23,500 in donations.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesman said: We are supporting the family of a British man who has been reported missing in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.
Among American cities named for dead white men, Houston has the most colorful namesake. And more than 160 years after he died in Huntsville, Sam Houston looms large, literally, here.

A 67-foot statue of Houston by artist David Adickes hovers over the freeway near Huntsville and Sam Houston State University. Houston also has a highway, a bridge, a library, a bunch of schools, a fort and a forest. And the Motor Vessel Sam Houston cruises through the Houston Ship Channel, a giant man-made trench that might be the feature most emblematic of Houstons stubborn grit.

Think about it: Houstons a city with multiple skylines, despite being built on marshy terrain. Its very blue. And its very red. Its known for fast cars and slowed-down music. It is both dense and sprawling, unpretty and unforgiving, but wide open for a creation myth to take root.

An aerial view shows the 67 foot tall Sam Houston Statue by artist David Adickes surrounded by trees in Huntsville. Smiley N. Pool/Houston Chronicle

The real Sam Houston was, in fact, a fascinating and flawed character who embodied many of the qualities that still make Houston, Houston today: ambition, reinvention and contradiction. For those interested in a deep dive, the late Marquis James' biography, The Raven, is a brisk read. For those short on time, we offer a condensed biography into those themes.

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Ambition

Like many of us, Houston wasnt from here. He was born in Virginia in 1793 and moved with his family to Tennessee as a teen. Seeking to avoid working in the family store, he ran away from home but didnt travel far, falling in with the Cherokee Nation. Chief Oo-loo-te-ka adopted him, giving him a name meaning the Raven.

And as a young man, he made his name on the battlefield. He distinguished himself in combat  the Creek War and the Battle of 1812  winning battles while also taking a bullet to the shoulder and an arrow to the crotch.

Sign up for the Houston Explained newsletter Join us on a journey to better understand Houston, one question at a time. Sign up here.

He parlayed this military career into a political one. Houston remains the only person in the history of this country to serve as governor of two states, Tennessee and Texas. He had more success in the latter than the former. Houston served as a congressman from Tennessee and then governor. He served as governor for less than two years, leaving office in scandal after his marriage mysteriously ended after 11 weeks. He hightailed it to Arkansas Territory and, eventually, Texas.

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Reinvention

Tending to thwarted ambitions, a broken heart and a wounded groin, the Raven shook his feathers and started over, a recurring theme in his life. But Texas allowed Houston to be the most successful version of himself.

He perched in Texas in 1832 just as American settlers and the Mexican government feuded. Out of the chaos, he emerged as a legend: Houston created the Texas Army, and in 1836, he accepted the surrender of the Mexican forces after the Battle of San Jacinto, the crucial battle in the Texas Revolution. He became the president of the New Republic of Texas. Later, hed serve as the state of Texas' governor.

Contradiction

Houston was a man who didnt exactly add up to an even number, and there are too many examples to tally up here.

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He was pugnacious but with an affinity for poetry, particularly Homer. Houston was a peacock known for his flamboyant fashion, from velvet suits to bow ties as big as Texas. He also once brutally beat a U.S. congressman.

He drank copiously.

His relationship with the Cherokee Nation was an odd one. As a teenager, he was welcomed by the Cherokee in Tennessee. Then in 1818, he negotiated the removal of the tribe from the state. When he fled Tennessee, he rejoined the Cherokee Nation in Arkansas.

Years later, he rallied against secession as the Texas governor during the Civil War. Houston was also a slave owner.

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His pro-Union stance shut him out of the halls of power in Texas in 1861, and he died two years later.

Houston left behind his namesake.

So why was Houston named Houston?

A year after the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836, two huckster siblings bought a bunch of land in these parts for a buck an acre.

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Nigel Farage has said it is cobblers that people support him because of how divisive and provocative he is.

The Reform UK leader appeared on the BBCs Panorama Interviews on Friday, following similar broadcasts featuring presenter Nick Robinson and the leaders of other political parties including Labours Sir Keir Starmer and Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

During the half-hour broadcast, Mr Farage repeated his accusation that Mr Sunak  the countrys first non-white Prime Minister  doesnt understand our culture and claimed western governments provoked Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

He also said it makes sense for patients to pay their GP and claim the money back afterwards, when quizzed about his partys approach to the NHS.

When asked about the really extreme and unpleasant views expressed by some Reform UK candidates, Mr Farage said: (We have) had an awful lot of candidates being stitched up in the most extraordinary way with quotes being taken out of context.

North West Essex candidate Grant StClair-Armstrong, standing against Conservative Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch, resigned from the party after it emerged he previously called on voters online to elect the BNP.

Reform UK also dropped Hugo Miller, standing in Horsham, after he posted photos on social media of a van in Miami bearing a racial slur, which he described as funny, and Andrea Whitehead, standing against Labour shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves in Leeds West and Pudsey, whose social media feed Channel 4 News described as a litany of offensive comments.

Mr Farage claimed before he got involved there was no national party structure.

He said: No, theyre not there because of me. No, no, no.

The Reform UK leader, who served as the partys honorary president between 2021 and June this year and has been listed as one of its directors on Companies House since 2019, added: These candidates were recruited before I said I was going to play an active role in the party and frankly, they were so desperate for people to stand that people stood and then we employed a big vetting company that didnt do the job.

Asked whether he had said divisive and provocative things which had spurred on candidates to stand, Mr Farage said: Cobblers, absolute cobblers.

You know, I talk about things that are worthy of debate.

He earlier said other parties have got betting scandals  the others in the last parliament were exposed as perverts, weirdos.

Facing questions about his views on Russian president Vladimir Putin, Mr Farage said: I said I disliked him as a person, but I admired him as a political operator because hes managed to take control of running Russia.

Mr Putin has served continuously as either Russian president or prime minister since 1999, with elections which have been described as rigged.

Nigel Farage faced questions about his views on Russian president Vladimir Putin, projection, during the interview (Jeff Overs/BBC/PA)

Mr Farage, a former member of the European Parliament, also said: Right, Ill tell you what you dont know, I stood up in the European Parliament in 2014 and I said, and I quote, there will be a war in Ukraine.

Why did I say that? It was obvious to me that the ever-eastward expansion of Nato and the European Union was giving this man a reason to his Russian people to say theyre coming for us again and to go to war.

Mr Farage went on to say he had been making similar comments since the 1990s, ever since the fall of the (Berlin) Wall and added: Hang on a second, we provoked this war.

Its, you know, of course its his fault  hes used what weve done as an excuse.

Mr Robinson asked Mr Farage about the French healthcare system, where patients face a 25-euro charge to see their GP and can get most or all of the cost reimbursed through their insurance.

Well, it costs you nothing to go to the doctor, right, because you get it back.

And the reason they do that  and by the way, British GPs have this problem  is people book appointments and dont turn up, so actually, thinking about it, it makes sense.

On Mr Sunak, Mr Farage said: He doesnt understand our culture, otherwise he would have stayed at D-Day (80th anniversary commemorations earlier in June) to honour the remaining remnants of that generation.
The first two singles of a tape that survived being buried underground have been released by a composer to coincide with the summer solstice.

Erland Cooper, 39, from Orkney, has released the first two tracks from his upcoming Carve The Runes Then Be Content With Silence album, which will launch in full on September 20, just ahead of the autumn equinox.

The musician buried the tape in Orkney three years ago and erased all digital copies while it was underground, running the risk of losing his songs forever.

The audio survived but was altered by the soil, with the artist crediting the earth for helping him co-compose the record.

Erland Cooper has now released two of the singles from the buried tape (Samuel Davies/PA)

He says the idea was for his music to be planted in order to grow into something more.

One of the released tracks, With Silence (Mvt. 3)  Pt. 2, utilises a lone violin, a cello and a soloist.

The other, With Silence (Mvt. 3)  Pt. 1, is a memorial piece that includes a two-minute silence.

Cooper says the silence symbolises what could have happened if the tape did not survive the burial.

The tape was buried in May 2021 near his childhood home in Orkney, along with the sheet music.

With Silence (Mvt. 3)  Pt. 1 "con la memoria" was released at midnight. This is 2 minutes silence, a remembrance. Listen carefully to the end, to me there is much music in it. Tonight at sunset, a new piece will be shared, with more colours of sound and texture. Happy solstice. pic.twitter.com/lBuJFdv3hc  Erland Cooper (@ErlandCooper) June 20, 2024

He left a trail for anyone to search for it, issuing a map with extra clues released every equinox and solstice.

The tape was found in September 2022 by Orkney residents Victoria and Dan Rhodes, who planned a holiday around the unusual quest.

Coopers record label, Mercury KX/Decca, supported the idea from the start.

Tom Lewis, the labels co-president, said: I think the music industry is crying out louder than ever for true originals, and I think Erland really is a true original.

The risk was paying for a recording that was digitally deleted, that was on tape and being eaten up by whatever is in the soil.

Erland Cooper holds his upcoming album, which survived being buried on Orkney (Samuel Davies/PA)

Cooper said: I write music inspired by the natural world. In particular, the birds in the sky and the soil and landscape of the Orkney Islands.

The idea for this project is that really Im just sharing my process with the natural world. Its a mediation on time, on patience, on value, and art itself.

To reveal we now have music, in all forms of sound and colour, means we can now celebrate natures wild contribution to composition, as a sort of collaborative act of resilience or survival of the arts and nature alike.

A composition by Cooper was selected to be part of the celebrations for the late Queens Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

His soundtrack Music For Growing Flowers accompanied millions of flowers which were planted in the Tower of Londons moat.
Donald Sutherland as President Snow in The Hunger Games (Lionsgate)

Donald Sutherland has died aged 88 after a long illness, but the actor leaves behind an incredible body of work that film fans will be able to enjoy for decades to come, one of which will resonate particularly with younger viewers: The Hunger Games.

The cinematic adaptation of Suzanne Collins' dystopian young adult books needed the perfect actor to portray President Coriolanus Snow, and it did just that with Sutherland. He didn't take the role lightly, if anything he wanted to play the dictator for one very good reason  to galvanise young people to demand real change from the powers that are failing them.

Read more: Donald Sutherland dies aged 88

The Hunger Games is set in a dystopian world where 24 young people from 12 districts are forced to fight to the death every year as punishment for a failed rebellion 50 years earlier. It follows Jennifer Lawrence's Katniss Everdeen as she fights to change the world for the better, and Sutherland served as the perfect foil to her character.

He imbued President Snow with menace and an odd charm, but was still a threatening presence in every scene to show exactly how dangerous it can be to follow leaders blindly. It was a subject that he felt very passionate about, as an anti-war activist throughout his life Sutherland had long pushed for change and the Hunger Games served as a new way to do so.

The Hunger Games is set in a dystopian world where every year 24 young people from 12 districts are forced to fight to the death as punishment for a failed rebellion 50 years earlier. (Lionsgate)

When promoting the film the late actor ensured that he brought the subject up as often as he could. For him, it was important to get the message across to young people: you can make a difference.

Speaking with ABC News ahead of the release of 2014's Mockingjay Part 1, Sutherland shared how important he felt it was to be a part of the Hunger Games franchise: "They sent me this one, and I just wanted to be a part of it. I wanted to end my life being part of something that would maybe catalyse and revolutionise young people because theyve been so dormant."

Read more: Why are Hunger Games fans so excited about the new book and movie?

Commenting on the low voter turnout at the time and directing his attention directly to the camera to convey his message, he added: "Young people have to get out, they have to get out and change things. You really do, its up to you. We wrecked this world, and if youre gonna fix it youve got to do it now."

Sutherland continued to reiterate this sentiment across the film's press tour, saying in one interview with HitFix: "What it is supposed to do is mobilise young people to change this world that old people like me have created, to say enough already."

And when Mockingjay Part 2 came out in 2015, he similarly said in one interview with ScreenSlam: "If these films serve their purpose they will catalyse that huge fan base all over the world and make them political, make them stand up and recognise what they have to do if this world is going to be saved."

Donald Sutherland was keen to be a part of the franchise, saying in 2014: 'I wanted to end my life being part of something that would maybe catalyse and revolutionise young people.' (Lionsgate) (Murray Close)

Being politically active was an important part of Sutherland's life, during the Vietnam war he and Jane Fonda helped launch a road show known as the Free The Army tour (or as it was otherwise known, F**k The Army tour) as a way to counter Bob Hope's pro-war tour.

Sutherland joined the FTA tour after Fonda approached him about it, the pair starred together in the 1971 thriller Klute and felt similarly on the subject. They performed in American military bases for active GIs across the US and Asia, and their work was immortalised in the documentary F.T.A.

As well as being vocally against the Vietnam war, Sutherland also spoke out against the invasion of Iraq during his lifetime. For him it was important to stand against such violence, and through his work in the Hunger Games perhaps he will continue, posthumously, to persuade young people to do the same.

The Hunger Games films are available to watch on Prime Video, as is prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
Election campaign day 30: Sunak fails to move on from betting scandal

Rishi Sunaks campaigning was overshadowed by the scandal around betting allegations, further dampening any hopes of the Tories turning around their dismal poll ratings.

Here are the key moments from day 30 on the General Election campaign trail:

 Gamblegate goes on

The Prime Minister faced further questions on gambling by Conservative candidates, failing in his attempts to move on from the scandal during a campaign visit to Wales.

At the launch of the Tories Welsh manifesto, he sought to shift the focus to warnings about Labour winning power.

Dont fall into Labours trap, dont sleepwalk to July 4, Mr Sunak said.

But the questions he faced after his speech continued to revolve around the claims that people in his operation made wagers on the election date before he announced it.

Mr Sunak refused to say whether any more Conservative figures could be implicated, noting the Gambling Commission and the police are responsible for investigating the allegations.

He also reiterated his formulaic answer that he would not compromise the integrity of the probes when pressed repeatedly on why he was not immediately suspending the two Tory candidates  Craig Williams and Laura Saunders  alleged to have bet on the July 4 contest.

Rishi Sunak sought to move on from the betting row at the Tories Welsh manifesto launch (Aaron Chown/PA)

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused Mr Sunak of a total lack of leadership for failing to kick them out of the Conservative Party and to say whether more may be involved.

 No Corbynmania

Sir Keir declined to repeat his suggestion that Jeremy Corbyn would have made a better prime minister than Boris Johnson.

Sir Keir Starmer during a visit to Window Supply Company in Bathgate, West Lothian (Jane Barlow/PA)

The Labour leader made the comment about his predecessor during Thursday nights Question Time on the BBC, but on Friday evaded follow-up questions.

The choice at the last election before the electorate was not a good choice, he told broadcasters in Scotland, while stressing his mantra of having changed the Labour Party since the Corbyn era.

On a visit north of the border, where he is looking to cement Labours resurgence, Sir Keir rubbished the idea of entering negotiations on another independence referendum if the SNP wins a majority of Scottish seats at the election.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said it was telling that Sir Keir had already adopted the same old Westminster arrogance when it comes to respecting Scottish democracy.

The Labour leader also ruled out lifting the Section 35 order blocking the Scottish Governments controversial gender reforms.

 Picture of the day

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey drawing a charcoal on pastel artwork at Harrogate College (Danny Lawson/PA)

 Testing times

Sir Ed Davey also continued to face questions volleyed at him during the prior evenings BBC grilling, namely on the abandoning of the Liberal Democrats pledge to scrap tuition fees in the coalition government.

On a visit to Harrogate College, where the party leader joined art students for a still-life drawing class, Sir Ed said: I made it very clear that, yes, we were punished in 2015 but weve listened to people.

He said he had learned never make promises you cant keep and to rebuild his party based on addressing peoples biggest concerns.

 TUV/Reform muddle

The Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) party in Northern Ireland slammed the damage caused by post-Brexit trade barriers at the launch of its manifesto.

Reform UK deputy leader Ben Habib (left) and TUV leader Jim Allister during the TUV manifesto launch at Dunsilly Hotel in Co Antrim (David Young/PA)

Leader Jim Allister was joined at the event by Reform UK deputy leader Ben Habib. Both were keen to downplay the recent move by Reform leader Nigel Farage to personally endorse two candidates for unionist rival party the DUP, despite his party having an official electoral alliance with the TUV.

Mr Farage, who was campaigning in Clacton on Friday, will be grilled by veteran presenter Nick Robinson in a Panorama interview in the evening.

 Donations dry up

The Tories raised less than 300,000 in the second week of the election, according to the latest figures from the Electoral Commission, amid their faltering campaign.

That was far below the 8.7 million the party raised in the first two weeks of the 2019 campaign.

Want to better understand how candidates, political parties and other organisations campaign for your vote ahead of the upcoming general election?  Read our guide to election campaigning: https://t.co/6PMJFTqimc  Electoral Commission (@ElectoralCommUK) June 21, 2024

In contrast, Labour raised 4.4 million in week two thanks in part to a 2.5 million donation from former supermarket boss Lord David Sainsbury.

Reform UK raised 742,000, largely thanks to a 500,000 donation from a company controlled by party chairman Richard Tice.

 Quote of the day

 Social media moment

Labour and the Lib Dems took to TikTok to poke fun at Mr Sunaks Question Time suggestion that 18-year-olds who refuse to do national service could have their driving licences or access to finance restricted.

Labour posted a clip of Cilla Black singing Surprise, Surprise on an image of Mr Sunak, with the caption: POV Rishi Sunak coming to take your driving licence and bank account if you wont go to war.

The Lib Dems video shows Sesame Streets Elmo driving a car and cursing as he is pursued by the police, with the caption: POV: You dodged National Service and now Rishi wants your licence.

 What is happening tomorrow?

Mr Sunak and Sir Keir are expected to campaign in London, while Sir Ed is talking sewage on visits to southern England.

Labour frontbenchers David Lammy and Steve Reed are also expected to hit the campaign trail.
Englands draw against Denmark was watched by more than 11 million people, a rise from their previous winning start to Euro 2024 against Serbia.

The BBCs coverage of the 1-1 draw in Frankfurt brought in an average audience of 11.2 million, while Sundays match was watched by 10.5 million on average, the broadcaster said.

The audience peaked at 13.1 million during the match on Thursday evening which saw Harry Kane initially put Gareth Southgates side ahead only for Morten Hjulmand to level with a strike not long after.

The Prince of Wales with King Frederik X of Denmark in the stands after the Euro 2024 match (Adam Davy/PA)

The Prince of Wales was among those in attendance at the match ahead of his 42nd birthday on Friday.

After the match, the future king was spotted shaking hands, smiling and chatting with King Frederik X of Denmark.

Englands first match on Sunday, when they got off to a more positive start with Jude Bellingham scoring a header 13 minutes into their Group C opener, had a higher peak of 15 million.

It was a rockier start for Scotland, who were defeated 5-1 by Germany last Friday.

Englands Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring during the Euro 2024 Group C match against Serbia (Martin Rickett/PA)

However, they kept their hopes of progressing alive when they secured a 1-1 draw against Switzerland on Wednesday.

England will have a chance to redeem themselves on Tuesday when they play Slovenia, while Scotland will play Hungary on Sunday.

Thursday also saw Slovenia draw 1-1 with Serbia while Spain defeated Italy 1-0 thanks to Riccardo Calafioris own goal.

Friday will see six teams in action, including Slovakia v Ukraine, Netherlands v France and Poland v Austria.
Glastonbury 2024 will be headlined by Dua Lipa, Coldplay and SZA. (Getty)

Glastonbury 2024 is finally here, with Dua Lipa, Coldplay, and SZA set to headline the Pyramid Stage, and countless other acts and artists set to perform on various stages across the weekend.

As the UKs biggest music festival  and perhaps the biggest celebration of contemporary performing art in the world  Glastonbury has become iconic in more ways than one.

From attracting some of the biggest names in modern music to hosting small-yet-unforgettable personal moments and often punishing its attendees to their limits with wild and unpredictable weather, Glastonbury is world-renowned as a much-loved bright light in our collective cultural calendar.

Read more: The greatest ever Glastonbury moments

With Glastonbury 2024 upon us, read on for all the key details you need about attending this years fest including whos performing, when you can buy resale tickets and more.

Who is headlining Glastonbury 2024?

Lipa will perform on the Pyramid Stage on the Friday night. (WireImage) (Karwai Tang via Getty Images)

The first details of Glastonbury 2024s official line-up landed online in March with Dua Lipa, Coldplay and SZA confirmed as headliners and country star Shania Twain in the Sunday Legends slot.

This years line-up poster was divided into separate stages, with the likes of LCD Soundsystem, Little Simz, PJ Harvey, Cyndi Lauper, Michael Kiwanuka and Janelle Monae gracing the festivals biggest platform, the Pyramid Stage.

The Other stage will see Idles, Disclosure and The National headline, with performances from The Streets, Two Door Cinema Club, Avril Lavigne, Bloc Party and The Last Dinner Party also scheduled. Meanwhile, Fontaines D.C., London Grammar, Orbital, King Krule and The Breeders are all set to play The Park.

Many more acts have also been confirmed to appear across the weekend, including Jessie Ware, Jungle, Brittany Howard, Nia Archives, Corinne Bailey Rae, Sugababes, Jamie XX, Gossip, James Blake, Sleaford Mods, Yard Act, Arlo Parks and Squid.

Pop-punk icon Avril Lavigne is set to perform at Glastonbury 2024. (Getty) (picture alliance via Getty Images)

In early June, the full and final Glastonbury 2024 line-up was unleashed, with set times made available on the official Glastonbury website, allowing ticket-holders to start planning their weekend.

Listing those due to perform would take up the majority of this page but newcomers added to the line-up include the likes of Big Special, Bob Vylan, Jarvis Cocker, Lucy Spraggan and many, many more.

Explore the full Glastonbury 2024 line-up here.

Who is missing from the Glastonbury line-up?

Madonna was previously rumoured to headline the festival. (WireImage for Live Nation) (Kevin Mazur via Getty Images)

While some acts on this years roster were expected, others were notably missing. For example, Madonna was heavily rumoured to have been leading the line-up but it looks like she decided not to visit Worthy Farm after all.

In November 2023, the Mail on Sunday ran a story that claimed Madonna, Dua Lipa and Coldplay were each confirmed to headline Glastonbury 2024 but it didnt take long for co-organiser Emily Eavis to shoot this supposed confirmed line-up down.

That said, two out of three of these headlining acts have turned out to be correct  so perhaps Madonna was set to headline at some stage before some internal mix-up threw a spanner in the works? Eavis fuelled these rumours after she posted on Instagram about attending a Madonna show in London.

The festival recently pledged to feature more female headliners following Glastonbury 2023s male-centric bill which was led by Arctic Monkeys, Guns N Roses and Sir Elton John performing his final UK show. So far, 2024s line-up appears to have made good on that promise.

In December 2023, musical icon Cher threw her hat into the ring for 2024s festival but that doesnt seem to have materialised.

When will Glastonbury 2024 take place?

Glastonbury 2024 will kick off on 26 June. (Getty) (Anna Barclay via Getty Images)

Glastonbury 2024 takes place from Wednesday 26 to Sunday 30 June at its usual home of Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset. This will be the festivals third event in a row following two forced fallow years enforced by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

Usually, Glastonbury hits pause every four or five years and forgoes hosting the festival in order to let its farmland regrow. However, the global pandemic threw this schedule up in the air slightly.

During a recent interview with the BBCs Sidetracked podcast, Emily Eavis suggested that the events next fallow year might be in 2026.

How can I watch Glastonbury on TV?

The BBC has you covered during Glastonbury 2024. (Getty) (Anna Barclay via Getty Images)

The BBC will once again be Glastonburys home away from home with over 90 hours of live music coverage on TV and 90 hours of festival-themed content blasting out of BBC Sounds.

This years celebration will last six weeks, starting on Monday 3 June and lasting until Sunday 14 July across live TV, iPlayer, BBC Sounds and radio.

During the festival, the BBC will provide five live streams from each of the main festival stages including the Pyramid, Other, Woodsies, West Holts and The Park, giving viewers at home the chance to wander between acts as if they were at Worthy Farm with Lauren Laverne, Clara Amfo, Jack Saunders and Jo Whiley as their hosts.

The broadcaster will also launch a new Glastonbury channel with the Glastonbury Channel II giving viewers handy round-ups of key moments from each day of the festival. This will join their already-existing Glastonbury Channel Live, Classic Glastonbury Channel and Glastonbury Highlights Channel.

Viewers will be able to see live performances from the five key stages. (Getty) (Matt Cardy via Getty Images)

Performances on the Pyramid Stage will be signed by BSL interpreters and artists like Duo Lipa and Coldplay will share their favourite Glastonbury stories in brand new 30-minute specials to be aired on BBC Two.

On BBC Sounds, a brand new series of Sidetracked with Annie Macmanus and Nick Grimshaw featuring exclusive interviews with Emily Eavis, Shania Twain and more will be available, while BBC 6 Music hosts All Day Glastonbury between Wednesday 26 June and Monday 1 July.

What's more, Back To Back Sounds: Glastonbury will provide curated festival-themed content with their Glastonbury Daily Playlists rounding up the best live tracks captured from the festival as it happens.

All in all, those who didnt manage to bag a ticket to this years Glasto will be well and truly spoiled by the BBCs coverage.

Can I still buy Glastonbury 2024 tickets?

Glastonbury 2024 tickets sold out quickly in November 2023. (Invision/AP) (Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

Unfortunately not. Tickets for Glastonbury Festival 2024 have now fully sold out and there will be no further resales.

They originally went on sale in November 2023 and were quickly snapped up. A limited number of returned tickets went back on sale a few months later but they're now all gone too.

Tickets could only be purchased from Glastonburys official See Tickets site, and those looking to bag one had to be registered and have their details on Glastonburys database. This is used to minimise touting and unofficial ticket resales.

Glastonbury 2024 takes place between Wednesday 26 and Sunday 30 June

This article originally appeared on Yahoo TV UK at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/glastonbury-2024-line-up-headliners-when-dates-161533483.html
Chris Heaton-Harris has suggested that Northern Ireland will not miss out on the chance to co-host the European Football Championships in 2028.

The Northern Ireland Secretary was asked about funding to redevelop Casement Park amid reports the west Belfast stadium could be axed by UEFA from the list of Euro 2028 host venues.

Speaking at the British Irish Council on Friday, Mr Heaton-Harris repeated the assertion that an announcement will be made after the July 4 General Election.

Stormont deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly during the British-Irish Council (BIC) summit at the Comis Hotel on the Isle of Man (Peter Byrne/PA)

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has insisted the Government would make a substantial contribution to the redevelopment of Casement Park last month, but refused to say how much or if it will happen in time for the competition.

Asked on Friday about whether the Government reneging on its commitment to fund the redevelopment of Casement Park and whether that would affect Northern Irelands chances of hosting the Euros, Mr Heaton-Harris said: I think youll find that therell be an announcement almost certainly by the new government on this in the future, which will suggest the premise of your question might not be correct.

Northern Ireland deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, who was also at the council summit on the Isle of Man, said: There have been a number of discussions and, as indicated, it is likely that this issue will be touched on again after the General Election, but were not anticipating any news prior to the General Election certainly on it.

Im privy to some of those discussions with the UK Government, Chris Heaton-Harris would be more privy to some of that than I would be.

Stormont junior minister Aisling Reilly has said it would be unthinkable for Northern Ireland to miss out on the chance of co-hosting the 2028 Euro competition.

Theres actually not very many people who have had the opportunity to play on Casement Park, the Sinn Fein MLA said.

Workmen at Casement Park GAA stadium in Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA)

I am one of those people who have had the opportunity to play in Casement Park on a number of occasions.

I know what it feels like to walk down the tunnel and to play on the pitch and the opportunities that that has afforded me. Unfortunately, a decade of people have missed out on that opportunity.

But its not about the sport. Its about the legacy of what it will bring. Its about what its going to do for the economy, what its going to do for local businesses, what its going to do for Belfast, for the North.

Its unthinkable that we would miss out on the opportunity to host the Euros, particularly when were seeing it being played on our screens now in Germany and we see the buzz around Germany.

Imagine seeing that in Belfast, imagine seeing that in the North and the opportunities that that would afford us. So for me not having Casement built is unthinkable.
Spanish police reject help from Lancashire Constabulary in hunt for Jay Slater

Spanish police have rejected an offer of support from Lancashire Constabulary as the hunt for British teenager Jay Slater in Tenerife continues.

Rescue teams on the Canary island appeared to make no breakthroughs after another long day of searches.

Lancashire police said it had made an offer of support to the Guardia Civil to see if they need any additional resources in their efforts.

Mr Slater is from the Lancashire town of Oswaldtwistle, where specialist officers are continuing to support his family, the force said.

A Lancashire Constabulary statement said: First and foremost, our thoughts are with Jays family at this time.

They must be going through the most distressing ordeal not knowing what has happened to their loved one.

Whilst this case falls outside the jurisdiction of UK policing, we have made an offer of support to the Guardia Civil to see if they need any additional resources.

The village of Masca, Tenerife, where the search for missing British teenager Jay Slater continues (James Manning/PA)

They have confirmed that at this time they are satisfied that they have the resources they need, but that offer remains open and they will contact us should that position change.

Police, firefighters and search and rescue personnel combed a vast area of land in and around the village of Masca on Friday.

Emergency workers met in various locations throughout the day, combing bushes, overgrown terrain, hillsides and rivers but failed to find the missing 19-year-old.

Mr Slater disappeared following an attempt to walk back to his accommodation after missing a bus.

Jay Slater was last heard from on Monday (Family handout/PA)

He had attended the NRG music festival on the island with two friends before his disappearance.

Search and rescue personnel carefully looked through dead palm trees covering a river at the bottom of the hillside near to an Airbnb property he had reportedly been driven to.

The owner of the property, who gave her name as Ophelia, told reporters she saw Mr Slater walk up the road past her property but did not see him again after that  describing the situation as worrying.

A post was issued on Facebook on Friday which said Mr Slaters family and friends were drained beyond words.

A police officer looks over terrain near Masca in Tenerife (James Manning/PA)

Helicopters, rescue dogs and drones have been used in an effort to find the teenager, who was last heard from when he called his friend Lucy Law on Monday morning.

Officers have since been seen peering over the hillside and staring intently at the landscape through binoculars near to his last known location close to the village of Masca.

The walk from Mr Slaters last known location to his accommodation would have taken about 11 hours on foot.

On the fifth day of the hunt for Mr Slater, search teams paid close attention to a river called Barranco Madre del Agua at the bottom of a ravine, where personnel with sticks carefully searched through fallen dead trees.

They later moved to other areas, focusing a lot of their resources in an area near Rural de Teno park.

In a post on the Facebook page called Jay Slater Missing, the administrator of the group Rachel Louise Harg said family and friends of Mr Slater were in a living nightmare.

She said: There isnt an update for anyone unfortunately.

Struggling to find words at this time but all I can say is we are looking still and everyone is doing all they can.

We are drained beyond words  I just cant say no more, I wish I could.

I wish this would end now, this living nightmare.

Searches are ongoing and we remain positive.

Thanks to you all supporting and helping we cant thank you any more, much love.

Footage released by the Guardia Civil on Thursday showed the views from a helicopter as it scoured the hillside.

The video, posted to the forces X, formerly Twitter, account, showed officers searching in bushes and overgrown terrain with dogs.

Ms Law, who attended the NRG music festival with Mr Slater, said he called her at about 8.30am on Monday and told her he was lost in the mountains, he wasnt aware of his surroundings, he desperately needed a drink and his phone was on 1%.

Mr Slaters mother, Debbie Duncan, who flew to Tenerife on Tuesday, said searching for her son was an absolute living nightmare.

Ms Duncan told ITV News: Hes the life and soul, hes a beautiful boy.

Mr Slater was last seen wearing a white T-shirt with shorts and trainers and with a black bag.

A fundraiser set up by Ms Law to get Jay Slater home has since received more than 24,500 in donations.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesman said: We are supporting the family of a British man who has been reported missing in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.
A fatal accident inquiry is to be held into the death of an asylum seeker who was shot by police after stabbing six people at a hotel.

The Crown Office said Scotlands Lord Advocate has decided it is in the public interest to hold an inquiry into the incident at the Park Inn Hotel in Glasgow on June 26, 2020.

Badreddin Abdalla Adam Bosh was shot and killed by police after he stabbed and seriously injured six people and attempts to use non-lethal weapons were unsuccessful.

Those injured by the 28-year-old Sudanese man included three asylum seekers, two hotel workers and a police officer who had responded to the initial emergency call.

The hotel is in Glasgow city centre (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Kenny Donnelly, deputy Crown agent for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: The Lord Advocate has decided that a discretionary fatal accident inquiry should be held into the circumstances of the death of Badreddin Adam to ensure that there can be a full public hearing of the facts of the case.

The procurator fiscal will continue with work in preparation for the inquiry and there are steps which must be taken before the inquiry can commence in court.

Mr Boshs family will continue to be kept informed of progress.

Mr Bosh was one of hundreds of asylum seekers moved into hotels in Glasgow at the start of the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020.

The Crown Office said the decision to hold an inquiry follows a thorough and independent investigation by prosecutors into the wider circumstances leading to his death.

Previous investigation by prosecutors found police acted swiftly and decisively with the intention of protecting lives and that their actions were legitimate and proportionate.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: We will fully engage with and assist the inquiry.
It could take weeks to complete investigations into a cyber attack affecting hospitals in London, with some patients needing to undergo repeat tests, NHS England has said.

A website and helpline has been set up for patients affected by the ransomware attack on NHS provider Synnovis, which happened on June 3.

Russian group Qilin attacked Synnovis, which provides pathology services to NHS trusts and GP services, primarily in south-east London.

Hundreds of operations and appointments are still being cancelled two weeks after the incident.

NHS England said in a statement on Friday that investigations into what happened could take weeks.

It said: NHS England has been made aware that a cyber criminal group published data last night which they are claiming belongs to Synnovis and was stolen as part of this attack.

Planned operations and outpatient appointments at Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust have been postponed because of the attack (Andy Hepburn/PA)

The National Crime Agency and National Cyber Security Centre are working to verify the data included in the published files as quickly as possible.

We understand that people may be concerned by this and as more information becomes available through Synnovis full investigation, the NHS will continue to update patients and the public.

A helpline has been set up and is available to answer questions 

Patients should continue to attend scheduled appointments and access urgent care as normal.

The webpage is digital.nhs.uk/news/synnovis-cyber-incident and contains the most up-to-date information for patients.

Anyone who wishes to speak to somebody can call 0345 8778967.

NHS England said the National Crime Agency and National Cyber Security Centre are working to verify the data included in the files published by the criminals.

It added: These files are not simple uploads and so investigations of this nature are highly complex and can take weeks if not longer to complete.

Any unprocessed blood samples were made safe by Synnovis after the incident and stored in their labs.

But NHS England said, due to the time that had now lapsed, some of these samples were no longer suitable for analysis and would need to be discarded.

Synnovis is working with the NHS trusts and GP practices to determine which samples are affected and the process for informing patient, it said.

We understand the distress this will cause patients who have to re-test.

Synnovis have also put additional resources in place to ensure that urgent samples received from GP practices or hospitals can still be processed within appropriate time frames.

Synnovis still have a copy of the data encrypted in the incident, and so historic test results will be available to clinicians once the IT systems are restored.

Synnovis is now understood to be focused on the technical recovery of the system, with plans in place to begin restoring some functionality in its IT system in the weeks to come.

Full technical restoration will take some time, and the need to re-book tests and appointments will mean some disruption from the cyber incident will be felt over coming months, NHS England added.

According to the BBC, Qilin shared almost 400GB of data  including patient names, dates of birth, NHS numbers and descriptions of blood tests  on their darknet site and Telegram channel.

Spreadsheets containing financial arrangements between hospitals and GP services and Synnovis were also published, the BBC reported.

Synnovis, in a statement on Friday, said: We know how worrying this development may be for many people. We are taking it very seriously and an analysis of this data is already under way.

Between June 10-16, the second week after the attack, more than 320 planned operations and 1,294 outpatient appointments were postponed at Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust.

The number of rearranged planned operations had gone down by 494 since the first week after the attack, June 3-9, but the number of missed outpatient appointments had increased by 394.

The total so far was 1,134 planned operations and 2,194 outpatient appointments postponed, according to NHS England London figures.

Urgent and emergency services have remained available as usual.

Meanwhile, an NCA spokesperson said: The National Crime Agency is leading the criminal investigation into a recent cyber incident affecting hospitals.

We are aware data has been published and we are working closely with partners from the National Cyber Security Centre, NHS England and others to understand its impact and provide support.

As our investigation is in its early stages, we are unable to comment further at this time.
China Int'l Import Expo roadshow kicks off in London

Xinhua) 11:03, June 21, 2024

LONDON, June 20 (Xinhua) -- A roadshow for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) was held here on Thursday, attended by over 100 representatives from British and Chinese business associations, enterprises and media organizations.

The CIIE is a major event organized by China to support trade liberalization and economic globalization, showing China's commitment to opening its market to the world, said Bao Ling, minister for economic and commercial Affairs at the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom (UK), during the event.

The economies of China and the UK are highly complementary and there is a huge potential for closer cooperation, said Bao, calling on UK businesses to seize the opportunities at the 7th CIIE to sell to China.

Aiming to transform China's vast market into global development opportunities, the previous six CIIEs have attracted participants from more than 180 countries, regions, and international organizations, said Ning Feng, president of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai).

British enterprises have always been keen participants in the CIIE. Nearly 50 UK companies, including HSBC, Burberry, Rio Tinto and Jaguar Land Rover join the expo each year, according to Ning.

On the sidelines of the promotion event, Lise Bertelsen, executive director of the China-Britain Business Council, said that boosting economic development is at the top of the agenda for both Britain and China, and it is imperative that the world's second and sixth largest economies continue to work together.

"Activities such as the CIIE are an excellent opportunity for UK businesses - both those already active in China- as well as those who are new to the market," said Bertelsen.

The 7th CIIE is scheduled to be held in Shanghai, China, between Nov. 5 and Nov. 10 this year.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Missouri City officials say decibel testing during noise calls causes problems, so a new ordinance would rely on police perception of what is 'reasonable.' City of Missouri City

Missouri City officials say decibel testing during noise calls causes problems, so a new ordinance would rely on police perception of what is reasonable.

The goal all along was to create a tool for managing noise pollution and to contribute to the overall well being of our citizens, said Missouri City Police Chief Brandon Harris, at a meeting this week.

On Monday night, the Missouri City Council discussed an updated noise ordinance that would eliminate decibels as the standard for enforcement.

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Instead, the city would adopt a reasonable person standard, meaning enforcement of the new rules will depend on what an average, or reasonable person of ordinary sensibilities, would consider unreasonable noise. The proposed ordinance was approved on first reading.

Peace officers currently use a sound level meter, but the system has proven to be unreliable, Harris told the Chronicle.

The readings were not holding up in court, when citations were issued, said Harris. Ultimately the decibel reader was on trial versus the offending party.

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The Missouri City Police Department has received 592 noise complaints from 411 different locations in fiscal year 2024, with most of the disturbances caused by loud music and partygoers, Harris said.

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Some people had complained multiple times about the same source of noise, he said. Moreover, individuals were unwilling to accept how much noise they were making.

We focus on the decibel standard, and we talked to several other agencies too and found that it is very difficult to enforce, said Harris.

The readings from the sound meters sometimes seem inconsistent due to variations in location and surrounding noise levels, Harris said.

According to the updated ordinance, it is unlawful to make a noise that is loud, unnecessary or unusual or which annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace, safety or welfare of a reasonable person of ordinary sensibilities within the limits of the city.

The officers will go out, listen to the level of music, and make a determination based on these factors to decide whether or not it is unreasonable, said Harris.

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SEE ALSO: Fort Bend Business Park to expand as Missouri City tax district funds $7.5M in utilities

Several factors were identified for determining if a sound is loud, unnecessary or unusual, according to the council, including proximity to residential or commercial sleeping facilities.

Council members sought a clearer definition of sleeping facilities. The ordinance was updated to define a sleeping facility as any permanent, habitable structure with a bed where one can sleep, including but not limited to a bedroom.

The land use, nature and zoning of the area from which the sound emanates will also be considered.

Im very sensitive to the fact that were the public policymakers, said Council Member Jeffery Boney. I dont want there to be something that we institute that negatively impacts our residents or businesses.

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Other factors include:

The time of day or night the sound occurs, including whether the sound occurs between 8 p.m. and 6:59 a.m.

The duration of the sound, whether the sound is recurrent.

The number of people affected by the sound

The noise level of the sound above the ambient sound, including traffic sound.

Whether the sound has been enhanced in volume or range.

Whether the sound has been authorized by a special permit.
Boris Johnson has urged Sir Keir Starmer to revoke his claim that Jeremy Corbyn would have made a better prime minister than him.

The Labour leader refused to repeat the assertion about his predecessor, which he made during the BBC Question Time election special on Thursday night, when asked about it on Friday.

Instead Sir Keir told broadcasters the 2019 general election did not offer a good choice of leadership hopefuls.

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar during a visit to Window Supply Company in Bathgate, West Lothian (Jane Barlow/PA)

Wading into the war of words, ex-prime minister Mr Johnson wrote in his Daily Mail column that Sir Keirs original claim was utterly terrifying.

It shows that we may now be only days from electing a Labour government that has simply no idea how dangerous the world is today, and how important it is that Britain is strong in the face of our adversaries, he said.

Really? Does Starmer seriously believe that? Mr Johnson added.

The former prime minister went on to claim that a Corbyn-led government could have taken a different stance on the Hamas-Israel conflict, which may have been less sympathetic to the Israeli cause.

He also suggested that such a government may not have provided arms to Ukraine following the Russian invasion, and would have forfeited the UKs leadership role as an ally of Kyiv.

Mr Johnson continued: Starmer must now be put remorselessly on the spot. He must take it back. You cant back Corbyn and back Ukraine at the same time.

Unless he revokes his endorsement of a Corbyn premiership, and makes explicit his support for Ukraine, Keir Starmer is simply not fit to be Prime Minister.

The Labour leader was asked by broadcasters on Friday about his remarks during the Question Time special.

Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn outside Islington Town Hall, north London, after handing in his nomination papers for the General Election on July 4 (Lucy North/PA)

Sir Keir responded: The choice at the last election before the electorate was not a good choice.

You had Boris Johnson, who won and then three years later was thrown out of Parliament for breaking the rules, you had Jeremy Corbyn who is now expelled from the Labour Party.

Thats why I have been so determined to change the Labour Party and to make sure that that changed Labour Party puts forward a credible manifesto for growth, so that at this election there will be a real choice between carrying on with the failure of the last 14 years or turning the page and rebuilding the country with a Labour government.

The Labour leader had ducked a volley of questions from audience members during the BBC programme over whether he truly believed his predecessor would make a great prime minister, and suggested he knew his party was not going to win the 2019 election.

There was laughter from the audience when he did not give a yes or no answer about his one-time statement on Mr Corbyn, and he instead suggested the ex-Labour leader would be a better premier than Mr Johnson.

Facing questions about his position from GB News on Friday, Sir Keir said: Well, look, the last election, we had a very poor choice in 2019 and what transpired was obviously Jeremy Corbyn got rejected by the electorate  not the right person  and weve expelled him now from the Labour Party, so thats how far weve changed the Labour Party.

Boris Johnson was elected as prime minister and a number of years later was booted out of Parliament for breaking the rules.

Thats why Ive been so determined to change the Labour Party, to always say country first, party second, and make sure at this election there is a real choice between continuing with the Tories or now turning a page and rebuilding the country with Labour.

Mr Corbyn, who is contesting the Islington North seat as an Independent, has accused his successor of attempting to rewrite history with his recent comments, and said Sir Keir had displayed double standards.
Kate declares We all love you so much! as William celebrates 42nd birthday

The Princess of Wales said we all love you so much in a personal message to the Prince of Wales on his 42nd birthday.

Kate said Happy birthday Papa, we all love you so much! Cx in a post on social media on Friday morning.

A photo of William and their three children jumping in the air and holding hands, taken by Kate last month in Norfolk, was posted alongside the message.

It came the morning after William, president of the FA, was pictured alongside Denmarks King Frederick as England drew 1-1 with Denmark in Frankfurt, Germany, in their second match of Euro 2024.

On Wednesday, William joined Kates parents at Royal Ascot along with a host of royals including the Queen.

William has faced a challenging 12 months with both Kate and his father the King diagnosed with cancer.

His birthday comes amid speculation the future King supports his fathers slimmed-down approach to the monarchy and that William may not want his younger children Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis to be working royals.

The Daily Mails Richard Eden reported a friend of William told him: When the older members of the family retire, His Royal Highness wont be inviting anyone else to become working royals.

The family gathered on the balcony of Buckingham Palace last weekend during the Trooping the Colour ceremony (Jonathan Brady/PA)

It remains to be seen if he will even want his two younger children to be working royals.

Prince George, 10, is a future king, but third in line Charlotte, nine, and fourth in line Louis, six, are spares to the heir and therefore are not expected to ever reign as monarch.

Kate returned briefly to the public limelight at Trooping the Colour last weekend with William and their three children.

But in a personal message, the princess revealed that although she is making good progress, she is not out of the woods yet.

The Prince of Wales during the Order of the Garter Service at St Georges Chapel, Windsor, on Monday (Isabelle Infantes/PA)

Kate told how she has good days and bad days and is facing a few more months of chemotherapy.

She first announced she is undergoing treatment for cancer in a video message in March.

Prince William Arthur Philip Louis of Wales was born at St Marys Hospital, Paddington, at 9.03pm on June 21, 1982.

He weighed 7lb 1.5oz and was the first-born son of the King and Diana, Princess of Wales.
The King and Queen will have to wait for Royal Ascots final day for a possible race win after their thoroughbred was well beaten.

Charles and Camilla horse Hard to Resist was a long shot in the Sandringham Stakes with odds of 40-1 and finished way adrift of the leading riders.

The couple may have lost out at the races but the Kings nephew Peter Phillips was spotted strolling in the parade ring hand-in-hand with his reported new girlfriend Harriet Sperling.

Charles and Camilla watch the racing at Royal Ascot (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Mr Phillips, whose mother the Princess Royal was at Royal Ascot on Thursday, was later seen with his partner in the royal enclosure watching the racing from a balcony with a group of friends.

Annes son, who does not carry out royal duties and is not an HRH, has two daughters with ex-wife Autumn Kelly. They divorced in 2021.

He was pictured with Ms Sperling chatting to the King and Queen as they mingled with guests in the royal box.

Charles and Camilla have become firm supporters of Royal Ascot since the death of Queen Elizabeth II who rarely missed the Berkshire meet, one of the highlights of the racing calendar.

Princess Beatrice hangs on to her hat following a gust of wind (John Walton/PA)

Over the past few days they have watched some of the countrys leading jockeys, trainers and horses compete on the world famous course, established after Queen Anne declared in 1711 Ascot was ideal for horses to gallop at full stretch.

The couple took on the late Queens thoroughbreds and last year had their first Royal Ascot winner, when Desert Hero triumphed in the King George V Stakes.

Two royal horses have been entered for the final day of Royal Ascot with Desert Hero expected to start in the Hardwicke Stakes and Treasure in the Golden Gates Stakes.

Harriet Sperling and Peter Phillips (Yui Mok/PA)

Among the royal party who enjoyed a day at the races were Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Lord Frederick Windsor and his wife, actress Sophie Winkleman, Dame Darcey Bussell and JCB manufacturer Lord Bamford and his wife.

The King presented the trophies in the Coronation Stakes and a host of celebrities also handed out prizes, including actress Dame Maureen Lipman and author Dame Jilly Cooper.
A judge has called for a vitally important debate about a scourge of knife crime among young people.

Official figures show that knife crime rose by 7% in England and Wales in the year to December 2023, compared with the previous 12 months, but the total 49,489 offences recorded remained below pre-pandemic levels.

This year, there have been numerous examples of teenagers and children being found guilty and sentenced for stabbing other young people to death.

 Horsforth, West Yorkshire

Alfie Lewis, 15, was stabbed to death in full view of pupils leaving a primary school in the Horsforth area of Leeds last November by Bardia Shojaeifard, who was 14 at the time.

Bardia Shojaeifard has been sentenced for life with a minimum term of 13 years (West Yorkshire Police/PA)

Shojaeifard was found guilty of murdering Alfie by a Leeds Crown Court jury in April.

Mr Justice Cotter said Shojaeifard, who is now 15, was an outwardly normal boy with a worrying interest in knives.

Shojaeifard stabbed Alfie through the heart on the way home from school and in June was detained for life with a minimum term of 13 years.

 Warnham, West Sussex

Charlie Cosser, 17, was stabbed three times in the chest in a marquee in the grounds of a farmhouse at a private party attended by more than 100 people in Warnham, West Sussex, on July 23 2023.

His killer, Yura Varybrus, who was 16 at the time, was found guilty in June of murder and having a bladed article following a trial at Brighton Crown Court.

Yura Varybrus was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 16 years in prison (Sussex Police/PA)

Charlies dad, Martin Cosser, said the 17-year-old defendants minimum term of 16 years, minus 328 days already spent in custody, was not enough.

Since Charlies death, his family have set up a charity called Charlies Promise, dedicated to fighting knife crime.

 Wormwood Scrubs Park, London

A teenager was found guilty in June of murdering a 17-year-old in broad daylight before pushing him into a canal in west London.

Victor Lee was stabbed twice in the back and once in the chest on the towpath of the Grand Union Canal, near Wormwood Scrubs Park, on June 25 last year.

Elijah Gokool-Mely, 18, was convicted of murder after a jury at the Old Bailey deliberated for more than 16 hours.

 Wolverhampton, West Midlands

Two 12-year-old boys were thought to have become the youngest knife murderers in the UK after being found guilty in June of a brutal machete attack on a teenager who was stabbed through the heart in a Wolverhampton park.

Jurors unanimously convicted the youths, who are believed to be youngest defendants convicted of murder in Britain since Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, both aged 11, were found guilty in 1993 of killing two-year-old James Bulger.

A month-long trial at Nottingham Crown Court was told Shawn Seesahai, 19, was shoulder-barged by the smaller of the two defendants, who often carried a machete with a 42.5cm-long blade, before being punched, kicked, stamped on and chopped at with the weapon.

 Halifax, West Yorkshire

A teenager who stabbed three men, killing two, after an argument over a girl in a club has been jailed for a minimum of 28 years by a judge who said the case illustrated the tragic consequences which can follow when a young man carries a knife in public.

Rashane Douglas, 19, stabbed Haidar Shah, 19, Joshua Clark, 21, and Brandon Coupe, 18, in the chest within seconds of each other following a row outside a nightclub in Halifax, West Yorkshire, in the early hours of October 1 last year.

Rashane Douglas was jailed for a minimum of 28 years (West Yorkshire Police/PA)

Mr Shah and Mr Clark died from their stab wounds, while Mr Coupe survived.

Douglas was jailed for life in June with a minimum term of 28 years by Judge Jonathan Rose at Bradford Crown Court.

 Bath, Somerset

Three teenagers who killed a promising young rapper at a 16th birthday party were detained in May as a judge warned of a plague of knife crime.

Shane Cunningham fatally stabbed Mikey Roynon, 16, in the neck with a large knife during a house party in Bath, Somerset, in June last year.

Cunningham, 16 at time of sentencing, was convicted of murder while his two friends, Cartel Bushnell and Leo Knight, were found guilty of Mikeys manslaughter, after a trial at Bristol Crown Court.

Cunningham was given a life sentence and ordered to serve a minimum of 16 years detention, while Bushnell and Knight, both 16 at time of sentencing, were given nine years and nine-and-a-half years in youth detention respectively.

Mr Justice Saini said: As I said at the trial, Bristol and its surrounding areas are in the middle of a plague of knife crime.

The plague has continued since this trial finished. The lives of young boys who carry knives continue to be taken at the hands of other boys who carry knives.

 Newham, London

Police warned how easy it is for teenagers to buy weapons and urged parents to check purchases after a youth killed a 16-year-old boy with a ninja-style sword.

The 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty in May of murder following a trial at the Old Bailey, after slashing Rahaan Ahmed Amin in the chest in West Ham Park in Newham, east London on July 9 in retribution for an earlier stabbing.

It emerged that an identical red knife to the weapon used in the killing had been ordered on the internet in the weeks before the attack, according to Scotland Yard.

 Newcastle, Tyne and Wear

A judge criticised drill music as a pernicious genre after it played a role in stoking violence between two gangs which led to a 14-year-old being fatally stabbed in the street.

Gordon Gault was stabbed on the arm with a machete as he rode on the back of a friends e-bike in Newcastles West End in November 2022 and died six days later in hospital.

Six teenagers went on trial at Newcastle Crown Court and were cleared of murder, but Carlos Neto, of Salford, Greater Manchester, and Lawson Natty, of Newbiggin Hall, Newcastle, were convicted of manslaughter in March.

Neto stabbed Gordon in a surprise attack, jurors heard, while Natty was the one who supplied him with the machete he had bought online.

Mr Justice Martin Spencer sentenced Neto to nine years and two months while Natty, who was born in Belgium, was sentenced to 32 months, after which he could face deportation.

Both Neto and Natty were 18 at time of sentencing.

 Paddington, London

A 17-year-old boy was found guilty of manslaughter in February after another teenager was stabbed to death.

The youth, who cannot legally be identified, was convicted over the stabbing of 17-year-old Khaled Saleh in Paddington Green, west London, in June last year.

 Mile End, London

Two teenagers were jailed for life in February for murdering a boy at a birthday party.

Shea Gordon, 17, was stabbed repeatedly in the street just after midnight on September 4 2022 after he attended a party at a hall on Lichfield Road in Mile End, east London.

Abdul Yaro, 19 at time of sentencing, and Kavian Vaughans, 18 at time of sentencing, were convicted of his murder and jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years.

Dainnan Witter-Cameron and Giovanni Addae-Johnson, both 18 at time of sentencing, were jailed for eight years for his manslaughter after being convicted following a trial last year.

 Walthamstow, London

A teenager who got out of a taxi and chased and stabbed a 16-year-old schoolboy was convicted of murder in February.

The teenager, who was 16 at the time of the attack on May 5 last year, was found guilty by a jury at Londons Snaresbrook Crown Court of murdering Renell Charles.

Renell, 16, was killed shortly after the end of the school day in what police described as a brutal attack on Markhouse Road in Walthamstow.

 Warrington, Cheshire

A girl and a boy were given life sentences in February for the sadistic murder of teenager Brianna Ghey.

Brianna was stabbed with a hunting knife 28 times in her head, neck, chest and back after being lured to Linear Park, Culcheth, a village near Warrington, Cheshire, on the afternoon of February 11 last year.

Manchester Crown Court heard that Scarlett Jenkinson had enjoyed the killing.

Her accomplice, Eddie Ratcliffe, also expressed transphobia about his victim, Mrs Justice Yip ruled.

Jenkinson must serve a minimum of 22 years before parole and Ratcliffe 20 years.

Both were aged 15 when they carried out the plan to murder Brianna, 16.
Lewis Hamilton continued Mercedes resurgence as he finished fastest in practice for the Spanish Grand Prix.

A fortnight after George Russell took Mercedes first pole position of the season, before going on to claim the teams sole podium from the opening nine rounds in Canada, the Silver Arrows were back on top at Barcelonas Circuit de Catalunya.

Hamilton, who will leave Mercedes at the end of the season to join Ferrari, edged out Carlos Sainz by just 0.022 seconds, with Lando Norris occupying third place for McLaren.

Max Verstappen finished fifth for Red Bull, 0.240secs adrift of Hamilton, with Russell eighth.

Could it be Mercedes on pole again this weekend?  It's only practice  but Hamilton heads up an FP2 packed with qualifying sims. Here's the order #F1 #SpanishGP pic.twitter.com/m8sZJgj5Qm  Formula 1 (@F1) June 21, 2024

A series of upgrades propelled Mercedes to their best result of the year in Montreal as Russell and Hamilton crossed the line in third and fourth respectively.

And the team which once dominated the sport will take further encouragement from Hamiltons form in Spain.

We have taken a step forward with the car in recent races, said Hamilton. Everyone has worked so hard to get us to this point and make those incremental gains.

Weve got a clear direction of where we want to go moving forward, too, and we are starting to see that feed through to our performance on track.

Hamilton believes Mercedes are making real progress (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Hopefully we can continue the momentum from today into Saturday and get closer to our competitors ahead.

Over at McLaren, Norris has taken four podium finishes in his last five outings, including his maiden win in Miami last month.

And the 24-year-old probably should have claimed another triumph last time out in Canada, but for a poor strategy call by his McLaren team during the rain-hit race.

However, the Bristolian, 63 points behind Verstappen, still believes the Red Bull driver can be caught in the race for the championship, and he topped the time charts in the opening running before finishing just 0.055 behind Hamilton later in the day.

Lando Norris finished fastest in first practice in Barcelona (Joan Monfort/AP)

Pierre Gasly was a surprise fourth for the Alpine  on the day that it was announced Flavio Briatore, the 74-year-old in charge of Renault during the Crashgate controversy, will return to the French team as an adviser.

Nelson Piquet Jnr was under instruction to crash by his team during the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, which handed an advantage to team-mate Fernando Alonso who went on to win the race.

Briatore was handed a lifetime ban by the FIA after he was found guilty by Formula Ones governing body of ordering Piquet to crash. However, a French court later overturned the decision.

Earlier, British teenager Ollie Bearman ended the first session in 19th as he ramped up his preparations for Haas ahead of his likely promotion to a full-time seat with the American outfit next year.
A man who was found guilty of wearing a headband in support of Hamas at a pro-Palestine rally in central London has been spared any punishment.

Khaled Hajsaad, 24, who has been living in Birmingham, wore the clothing at a rally in Trafalgar Square on November 25 2023.

The green headband had the Shahada written on it in white  the basic statement of the Islamic faith, Westminster Magistrates Court was told previously.

The defendant had previously told police the headband was an item of Saudi Arabia and the Shahada was a statement of my faith.

But Hajsaad was found guilty in April of wearing the item in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion he was supporting Hamas  an illegal act in the UK where it is designated a terrorist group.

The defendant appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday where he was handed a conditional discharge for three months.

He was also spared any fines on account of his extremely limited budget of 49 per week used for food and travel.

Judge Nina Tempia said: The offence here was Mr Hajsaad wearing a bandana at a demonstration.

In respect to harm, I agree with the prosecution that there was harm as the conduct linked to support of a proscribed organisation.

The offence was committed after (the October 7 attacks). Not days or weeks later, but seven weeks later. I would not classify the harm as serious.

Hajsaad has been described as an asylum seeker who arrived in the UK a year ago.

The court heard that he was born in Palestine but left at the age of five.

He had since lived elsewhere before coming to the UK.

Bethan David, head of the CPS Counter Terrorism Division, said: Khaled Hajsaad aroused suspicion that he was supporting Hamas  a proscribed terrorist organisation  by wearing the green headband in the context of a pro-Palestine protest in central London.

Wearing such items in a public place creates a risk of encouraging others to support Hamas.

When people break the law  whether by hateful speech, supporting proscribed organisations or by threatening public order  the CPS will prosecute swiftly and independently.

We have already prosecuted a string of offences linked to events in the Middle East and we are working closely with the police to make sure our approach commands public confidence.
There is more to do to maintain peace on the island of Ireland and improve Anglo-Irish relations, Irish premier Simon Harris has said.

The Taoiseach was speaking at a British-Irish Council summit on the Isle of Man on Friday.

He said that former taoiseach Bertie Ahern, an architect of the Good Friday Agreement, was entirely correct when he said Anglo-Irish relations had become much more fragile and strained since Brexit.

Taoiseach Simon Harris, Alfred Cannan, Chief Minister of the Isle of Man, and Stormont deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly (Peter Byrne/PA)

Mr Harris, who became premier in April, said he intends to invest a significant amount of time in maintaining Anglo-Irish relations during his tenure.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, Scottish First Minister John Swinney, and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Emma-Little Pengelly, who were also at the summit, said they would like to see the next British prime minister attend the council.

Speaking at a press event on Friday, Mr Harris said he hoped that peace on the island is a little bit better than frosty, but added theres certainly more that we can do and should do.

The Taoiseach praised practical projects of co-operation, citing the Ulster Canal and construction of the Narrow Water Bridge.

I think forums like the British-Irish Council and the summit thats taking place here today are absolutely vital because Bertie (Ahern) is entirely correct, as is anybody else who understands that peace and meaningful engagement is based on interpersonal relationships, Mr Harris said.

It is really important that we, the custodians of the Good Friday Agreement, now harness the incredible gift that has been given to us.

Certainly I intend to invest a significant amount of time in those interpersonal relationships.

I was really delighted to have the opportunity to visit the First and deputy First Minister and Stormont, very grateful to them for hosting me, I look forward to welcoming them to Dublin in the autumn for the next North-South Ministerial Council.

Stormont deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly (Peter Byrne/PA)

Ms Little-Pengelly added that vigilance on Anglo-Irish relationships is needed and they need to be tended to.

The last number of years was a great demonstration of how those relationships can deteriorate very quickly, she said.

Mr Heaton-Harris said that the relationships formed at events such as the British-Irish councils are invaluable in times of crisis.

He said he believed he had tried to improve relations, which needs to be constantly cherished and nurtured.

Noting that the leaders got to know each other a bit better at a dinner on Thursday night, he said: Its through gatherings like this where, when problems come in a relationship, you have a personal relationship with someone who you can talk to.

You would be in danger of undervaluing this just by judging it from the communique that came out at the end of the day. We talked about really important issues. Ive learned so much in my time here.

Weve all got quite different politics and quite different remits. But we come together and learn from each other and those interpersonal relationships are unbelievably valuable, especially at times of crisis.

Asked about whether the next British prime minister should attend the council, Mr Heaton-Harris said it should be part of the calendar for any British prime minister, while Mr Swinney wholeheartedly agreed that it would be beneficial for the UK prime minister to be here on a regular basis.

Delighted to meet First Minister of Scotland @JohnSwinney today in the Isle of Man at the British Irish Council. Ireland and Scotland share so much history and culture. We committed to strengthening our ties. Looking forward to future collaborations and friendship. pic.twitter.com/OZAzqzgh3O  Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) June 21, 2024

Mr Swinney added: In general, I think we all see our politics is pretty fractured, and the political system is pretty fractured.

So actually the opportunity that is fostered by this body for political leaders across these islands to come together, and to have courteous and respectful dialogue  which is what weve had today, which has always been my experience of the British Council  we frankly cant have enough of that and we need more of it.

Mr Harris said that it merits consideration by the next British prime minister to attend the next British-Irish Council, particularly as the UK is no longer a member of the European Union.

So I think it merits consideration as to how do we ensure that theres plenty of structures in place for that regular dialogue between the British prime minister of the day and the Irish taoiseach of the day, and indeed the administrations are represented here because certainly I would value that and look forward to being in London in July where the UK Government will host the European Political Community meeting and hoping to have early engagement with the British prime minister.

Ms Little-Pengelly added: Very many people around the table have very busy jobs and very few opportunities, I think, to actually have those conversations and this provides that opportunity to do so.

Certainly moving forward I would like to see that prioritised. I think it does show that respect as well to the range of countries and jurisdictions and places across the British Isles and gives us that opportunity to ensure that all of our issues are aired at an appropriate level.

First Minister Michelle ONeill, who did not attend the summit due to an illness, took part in the meeting via Zoom.
Sarah*, 29, moved from London to Sydney to start a new life with a man she'd met on holiday there three months earlier, but as soon as she arrived, she realised it was a terrible mistake.

Three months after meeting a man on holiday in Sydney, she moved from London to be with him. (Supplied) (Yahoo Life UK)

The date almost didn't happen. My friend Clare* and I were nearing the end of our two-week holiday in Sydney and had spent the day at a festival when we nearly missed the shuttle bus home.

Slightly out of breath, I found one of the last two seats left, looked up and I locked eyes with him. He was six foot, with sandy blond hair and a wide, open smile, and soon after dropping us all off in Circular Quay, under the pale light of the moon, Craig* and I swapped numbers.

When the text came the next day, asking if he could take me on a date before I left Sydney, I almost said no. I was due to fly home in a couple of days, but I was swayed by how easy it was. Unlike the myriad of men I had dated in London, his intentions were clear. He said he wanted to take me to watch the sunset over the city, so we agreed hed pick me up the following afternoon after work, and that was that.

I locked eyes with him on the bus. He was six foot, with sandy blond hair and a wide, open smile... we swapped numbers.

The night had an epic, almost cinematic gleam to it. We went to a park with views of the harbour, and I sat between his legs, his arms around my waist. We spoke about everything and nothing  what life was like living in Sydney and everything Id done during my two-week holiday.

A whirlwind romance

We lamented that we hadnt met sooner and when the next morning he suggested I cancel my trip to Queensland (where I was supposed to be staying with friends for a couple of nights) I immediately agreed to. I booked a new flight home for a week later and we spent the whole of the next week together.

I felt like I had found my soulmate, a man who brought out a side in me I didnt know in London. The days were sticky with heat, the nights never long enough. When it was time to fly home, I was completely inconsolable. Wed gone for a final dinner overlooking the water in a restaurant in Manly, near where hed taken me for our first date.

I felt like I had found my soulmate, a man who brought out a side in me I didnt know in London.

I reassured him that as soon as I was back in London, I would speak to my boss about doing my job remotely. Something  anything really  that meant I could come back to Sydney to be with him. He held my hand in his lap the whole way to the airport, and there was an Ellie Goulding song playing on the radio that for years to come I wouldnt be able to listen to.

Two months after she'd moved to Sydney, it was all over. (Yahoo Life UK/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

A life-changing decision

Back in London, life was miserable. Despite the endless discussions we'd had about me moving back to Sydney to be with him, the distance felt like a wedge in our relationship.

I booked a one-way flight to Sydney for three months later, and put his lessening contact down to work commitments and the time difference. But when he picked me up on the day I landed, there was an awkwardness in the air that hadnt been there before, and I instantly knew I had made a mistake.

I tried to keep things going, desperate to prove that moving to the other side of the world for a man I barely knew wasnt a mistake. He hadnt completely checked out of the relationship, but he wasnt entirely there either.

He was often unavailable, but when we were together, he was infatuated and affectionate, just as he had been all those months ago. He offered fleeting glimpses of what things could be like, and then would disappear for days at a time.

When he picked me up on the day I landed, there was an awkwardness in the air that hadnt been there before and I instantly knew I had made a mistake.

It was two months later when things ended for good. The news came via text  he was going travelling and would be flying to Berlin in a week. I cried all afternoon, leaving my bed only to dry-retch into the toilet. The shame was overwhelming, but there was also an odd sort of relief. My biggest fear had been realised, but at least there was no waiting for it anymore.

Break-up sex

I said I needed to see him before he left, and so we arranged to spend the night before he left together. In hindsight, it was perhaps an odd decision  to spend his final night in Sydney with him, knowing things were over between us. But I wanted some clarity over what had happened, and knew that in order to get any kind of closure on the situation I would need to have a frank conversation with him.

There wasnt much left to say, so instead we had fervent, frantic sex.

I asked how we found ourselves with me having moved to Sydney for him, only for two months later, him to be leaving me. He apologised, and explained that he felt a huge amount of pressure when I arrived in Australia. But there wasnt much left to say, so instead we had fervent, frantic sex.

And the next day when he left, when he drove away from me in the cold quiet of the morning, I was at the airport all over again, watching him drive away from me down another street that would be added to the vault of Places That Reminded Me Of Him, except this time I knew he was really gone for good.

I look back on my time with Craig and the decision to move for a man I barely knew as both the most idiotic thing Ive done  but also the bravest. Ten years on, Im still here in Sydney, and happier than ever, living with my boyfriend, who makes me thank my lucky stars every day that I took a chance on a stranger, because, in a roundabout way, it led me to him.

*Names have been changed to protect identities.

Read more: All of Yahoo UK's How I was dumped stories.
Recent moves by Argentina to renew and expand its military capabilities, including aspirations to acquire amphibious assault ships and a deal to buy retired F-16 fighter jets from Denmark, have raised eyebrows. The Falklands War of 1982 remains a defining event in the histories of the United Kingdom and Argentina.

For Britain, the conflict reaffirmed its sovereignty over the islands and demonstrated its military resolve; it showed that despite its decline, Britain remained a first-rank military power and a force for good.

The defeat was a national trauma for Argentina, yet it did not quench the desire to reclaim the Islas Malvinas. This enduring desire is continually fuelled by Argentine political leaders who use the Falklands issue to unite the populace and divert attention from domestic woes.

Argentinas plans for new equipment present a clear threat to the Falklands. F-16 jets, especially if supported by refuelling aircraft, could compromise local British air superiority over the Falklands. Amphibious vessels could potentially land a force capable of overcoming the British garrison on the Islands, which is only of company strength. However, the practical use of these assets to seize the Falklands presents potentially insurmountable challenges for Argentina.

One of the first problems would be diplomatic. As the world has recently learned from the case of Ukraine, advanced US made military equipment  certainly this includes the F-16  cannot be used without US consent. Without American parts and support, aircraft such as the F-16 are very hard to keep in the air and even harder to keep fighting.

Then, the Falklands are approximately 300 miles from the Argentine mainland, separated by often treacherous South Atlantic waters. The logistical complexities of launching and sustaining an amphibious operation over such a distance are immense. British Typhoon jets based at RAF Mount Pleasant would on their own make such an amphibious operation impossible unless they were dealt with or suppressed in some fashion. If Britain had warning of an invasion attempt, which would be difficult to prevent, it could potentially send an attack submarine or other naval reinforcements to the area.

In 1982 the threat of British submarines, made completely plain by the sinking of the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano by HM submarine Conqueror, was sufficient to deny the seas to Argentina.

So for now at least, Argentina cant realistically retake the Falklands. But the situation throws the weakness of todays British forces into stark relief. The Royal Navy today has just six attack submarines: it would almost certainly not be able to send more than one to the Falklands, and might not be able to send any. The real concern here lies in the adequacy of Britains own capabilities, particularly the size of its fleet.

Argentina has repeatedly voiced its determination to reclaim sovereignty over the islands, with President Javier Milei reminding his nation that their constitution explicitly mandates the reunification of the Falklands with Argentina. Despite the UKs resolute position that the islands sovereignty is non-negotiable, the Argentine government continues to press the issue.

President Milei has made his intentions clear, drawing parallels to the UKs return of Hong Kong to China and asserting that Argentinas claim to the islands is non-negotiable. He has candidly acknowledged that it may take decades to achieve sovereignty, but Argentinas persistent claims highlight the necessity for Britain to maintain a robust posture and a clear, long-term message that the UK can fight and win to protect the islanders. We cant do that if were telling the world we dont care about how many ships and people we have.

Of course, the Royal Navys ability to project power across the sea completely outmatches Argentina. The UKs fleet of destroyers, frigates, submarines, and state-of-the-art aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales, provide a formidable deterrent  when theyre at sea with crews, at least, and aircraft for the carriers. Depressingly, the British forces have never managed to put more than eight jets aboard one of our new carriers. The bloody lesson of 1982  that ship-borne airborne radar aircraft are utterly vital when a fleet is operating without shorebased air cover  has not been well learned: the RNs Crowsnest radar helicopters have been beset with problems.

The Royal Navys hull numbers have declined in recent years, and this trend must be reversed to ensure our ability to defend British values are not eroded. More general-purpose ships would serve the general purpose of keeping the peace, deterring any potential Argentine aggression.

Even Britains amphibious warfare capabilities, particularly assault ships HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark  whose predecessors were so crucial in the 1982 campaign  have recently come under quite a wee bit of scrutiny. Despite assurances from the top, there is doubt about whether these ships will ever return to active service. Initially, HMS Bulwark was expected to return to the fleet after maintenance but will now be kept ready for deployment only if necessary. The language changed from promises the ship would return to service to a vague assurance it might if needed. Thats not good enough, is it?

Ensuring that these platforms are fully ready for deployment is essential. A Britain without a robust and capable maritime force is really no Britain at all.

The UK must be clear about its objectives for the Royal Navy and fund it accordingly. Whether the goal is to maintain a nascent ability to retake the Falklands at the expense of other commitments or to retain a fully-fledged blue-water force with the proper enablers being operational  from assault ships to tankers and store ships  clear priorities must be set.

Most will correctly point out that an Argentine assault on the Falklands remains highly unlikely, my point here however is that the situation of an old adversary rearming while we reduce our own capabilities underscores a broader issue: Britain cannot afford to be left behind at sea.

The Royal Navy fleet must be expanded and the men and women that fight these vessels must be recruited and just as importantly, retained. The Government frequently touts the fleets growth as a hallmark of its commitment to defence. Yet, what they do not trumpet is that this growth merely reverses some of the severe cuts made in 2010. Despite the rhetoric and even the genuine improvements being made to the fleet, the Navy is still grappling with a reduced capacity in many respects compared to a decade ago.

Our greatest challenge is not Argentinas armed forces; it is the need to strengthen and fund our own. We must not abandon Britains proud tradition of being able to fight and win at sea. Compared to such a loss, I do not fear Argentina.

George Allison is editor of the UK Defence Journal
Leo Docherty said the plans to move the migrants in Farnborough, Hants, were 'totally unacceptable' - DPA/Alamy Live News

The Armed Forces minister has accused the Home Secretary of going against his word after he approved plans to move migrants into a new block of flats in his seat.

Leo Docherty said James Cleverly had assured him that plans to fill the development in Farnborough, Hants, with 350 asylum seekers were being paused.

But leaked Home Office correspondence with the local Rushmoor borough council has revealed that the plans were authorised on May 25, the day before pre-election purdah rules kicked in.

The last I heard, on the eve of dissolution from the Home Secretary directly, there was no change, due to concerns weve heard about local protests and very strong local feeling, he told The Times.

Its very alarming that during dissolution, the borough council, along with the Home Office, have progressed these plans, which is totally unacceptable and if Im re-elected, I will continue to fight it very vocally.

The documents show the migrants will be moved into the flats at Pinehurst Hill Side from July 15.

The block will be used as overflow dispersal accommodation in a bid to move migrants out of hotels.

Mr Docherty, the MP for Aldershot, said Mr Cleverly had agreed in January to pause the plan pending a review due to community cohesion and law and order concerns.

The constituency is a battleground seat despite Mr Docherty winning a 17,000-vote majority in 2019.

A victory by Alex Baker, the Labour candidate, in the seat would be the first by a non-Tory since 1918.

Aldershot Garrison, also known as Aldershot Military Town, has been seen as the spiritual home of the Army for more than 150 years.

Labour won there the first time in May as it seized Rushmoor, the local council, from Tory control.

Mr Docherty, 47, is running again to be the towns MP on July 4, having won a near-17,000 majority in 2019. He was first elected to represent the constituency in 2017.

Mr Cleverly was approached for comment.
Vogs Coffeehouse, an Istanbul-based chain, has launched its first location in Katy, offering authentic Turkish coffee and pastries alongside traditional coffee shop favorites. Vogs Coffeehouse Vogs Coffeehouse, an Istanbul-based chain, has launched its first location in Katy, offering authentic Turkish coffee and pastries alongside traditional coffee shop favorites. Vogs Coffeehouse Vogs Coffeehouse, an Istanbul-based chain, has launched its first location in Katy, offering authentic Turkish coffee and pastries alongside traditional coffee shop favorites. Vogs Coffeehouse Vogs Coffeehouse, an Istanbul-based chain, has launched its first location in Katy, offering authentic Turkish coffee and pastries alongside traditional coffee shop favorites. Vogs Coffeehouse Vogs Coffeehouse, an Istanbul-based chain, has launched its first location in Katy, offering authentic Turkish coffee and pastries alongside traditional coffee shop favorites. Vogs Coffeehouse

Vogs Coffeehouse, an Istanbul-based chain, has launched its first location in Katy, offering Turkish coffee and confections alongside traditional coffee shop favorites.

"We decided to open in the U.S. in 2023, after recognizing the growing interest in authentic Turkish coffee and pastries among American coffee enthusiasts," said owner and manager Sevil Sahin.

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Vogs Coffeehouse is a family-owned business with 15 locations in Turkey and one in the U.S., Sahin said. The coffeehouse was established in Istanbul in 2017.

"We are dedicated to providing high-quality coffee and a warm, inviting atmosphere," Sahin said.

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The cafe offers macchiatos, lattes, teas and milkshakes. Also on the menu is salep, a traditional Turkish hot drink made with milk, cinnamon, rosewater and a starchy flour made from an orchid tuber.

The pastry selection includes traditional croissants, muffins and cakes, as well as Turkish treats such as borek and soujuk. Borek, made from thin and flaky phyllo dough, comes with a variety of fillings. Soujuk is a dry, spicy and fermented beef sausage.

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"Some of our popular menu items include our Turkish coffee, freshly baked pastries, and our chicken Caesar salad," said Sahin. "Our customers also love our egg sandwich, soujuk toast, baklava, and assortment of cheesecakes, including the raspberry cheesecake."

Sahin said that he is exploring opportunities for further international expansion and plans to start franchising in 2025.
Prisons are expected to reach bursting point by the middle of July - Sally Anderson/Alamy Stock Photo

Armed robbers, drug dealers and violent offenders could be released from prison six months early under a scheme introduced this month to tackle the overcrowding crisis in jails.

Hundreds of criminals serving sentences of over four years will be released up to 180 days early to help ease the pressure on jails, which are projected to reach bursting point by the middle of July.

The move comes on top of the early release scheme, which gives governors discretion to free low-risk prisoners up to 70 days before the scheduled date.

The 180-day scheme has been allowed by legislation that expands what is known as home detention curfew (HDC). This is where offenders can be freed to a named address on electronic tags with restrictions on when they can leave the house.

Until this month, it had been limited to offenders serving sentences under four years but has been extended to prisoners handed determinate sentences of more than four years.

This means that offenders who are not subject to their release being determined by a parole board are eligible. Sex offenders, terrorists, killers, stalkers and domestic abusers are excluded from the scheme.

But criminals convicted of robbery, burglary, violence, drug dealing and fraud could be eligible, provided they are on determinate sentences.

Shabana Mahmood, Labour's shadow justice secretary, said 'the Conservatives have allowed a crisis to build in our prisons' - Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing/ Getty Images

Labour claimed it was further evidence of the Governments failure to manage the prison system so that they had enough spaces and to protect the public.

Shabana Mahmood, Labours shadow justice secretary, said: Over 14 years, the Conservatives allowed a crisis to build in our prisons and made the public less safe. They promised 20,000 new places and didnt deliver them. Now our prisons are a powder keg, waiting to explode. Only Labour can turn the page on this crisis and build the prisons we need.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) estimated between 750 and 950 prisoners serving more than four years would be released early on tags at any one point.

The changes follow an earlier expansion of the home detention scheme last year which increased the time offenders could spend on tags in the community from 135 days to 180 days. It was also seen as a measure to deal with the overcrowding crisis.

It means burglars, thieves and fraudsters jailed for up to 18 months could be freed a quarter of the way through their sentences, rather than the normal halfway through their jail terms.

The shortage of prison places is expected to come to a head in the second week of July. Prison governors have been told that data points to an operational capacity breaking point only days after the July 4 general election.

This means they will struggle to accept any more inmates, plunging whichever party comes to government into a crisis. It is expected to trigger Operation Early Dawn, a measure that allows for offenders to be housed in police cells and for magistrates courts to delay cases.

Tom Wheatley, the president of the Prison Governors Association, said: We understand that we will no longer be able to receive prisoners from court in the second to third week of July. It is not an exact science  but it is very soon after the election.

The incoming justice secretary will have to decide whether to accept proposals from officials for emergency legislation to allow the early release of prisoners 43 per cent of the way through their sentence rather than the current 50 per cent point, as revealed last month by The Telegraph.

Modelling shows this would be the most effective medium-term solution to the overcrowding crisis, freeing thousands of spare places. It would replace the current ad hoc early release scheme of up to 70 days.

According to MoJ data, released on Friday, the usable capacity in prisons across England and Wales was 88,778, while the population was 87,395.

The MoJ says the expansion of the HDC scheme reflects the change in profile of the prison population. Whereas offenders serving under four years accounted for half the prison population 20 years ago, they now account for just a quarter.
Britain's main opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer took part in a four-party leadership BBC Question Time - STEFAN ROUSSEAU/AFP

Rishi Sunak, Sir Keir Starmer, Sir Ed Davey and John Swinney answered voters questions live on Thursdays Question Time election special.

Following the two hours of questioning, The Telegraphs Gordon Rayner argued Mr Sunak seemed more positive than of late, and connected with the audience better than Sir Keir had done. Tim Stanley, however, described how the Prime Ministers hands were lively but his face dead.

Telegraph readers also weighed in with their verdict. An exclusive Telegraph poll showed 69 per cent of over 50,000 readers thought Mr Sunak came out on top, followed by Sir Keir with 17 per cent of readers votes.

Readers were widely impressed by Mr Sunak, arguing he held his own against a biased BBC audience and Fiona Bruce.

Andrew Leponis argued Rishi Sunak is doing way better than Keir Starmer. Hes taking a beating but doing well.

He added: It wont make a difference, but he can hold his head up high after this.

Adam Cormie also believed the Prime Minister delivered the strongest segment of the night, and shared how Rishi did better and came out fighting. He answered the questions directly, unlike Keir Starmer.

On the Labour leader, reader Nigel Curtress wrote: Keir Starmer is slippery. He never answered the questions, and instead launched into stock monologues.

An anonymous reader echoed this sentiment, arguing that Sir Keir spoke like he has already won.

Other readers touched on how Sir Ed and Mr Swinney came across.

Reader Harry R Morgan was left impressed by the Lib Dem leader, arguing he knows his figures, gives straight answers, and has a more ambitious and appropriate plan for government than the lacklustre manifesto of Labour.

However, Anthony Carter questioned what does Ed Davey stand for? claiming he gave platitude after platitude after platitude but no solutions.

On Mr Swinney, Telegraph readers labelled him as evasive. David Pollock, for example, said the SNP leader was unable to avoid squirming over dropping their single real aim and unable to agree to reflect the democratic wishes of Scotland.

Everything is someone elses fault.

Sir Keir was given a very easy ride

Readers also discussed Fiona Bruces and the far-Left BBC audience bias in dealing with the four different leaders of the political parties.

Reader D.J. said Sir Keir has been given a very easy ride, and argued he was allowed to wander off into warm little anecdotes to while away the time and avoid anything too tricky.

Julia Kaweki remarked: Ms Bruce should not be doing anything other than pointing out who in the audience should be asking the next question.

This debate is meant to be a chance for the public to speak.

Meanwhile, A.M. Reboul thought Fiona Bruce was taking over questioning Rishi Sunak in the most aggressive manner, unlike her treatment of any of the other party leaders.

They continued: The audience was allowed to throw around aggressive statements without any intervention, it seemed very unfair. They were supposed to be asking specific questions.

The BBC are helping Reform by not allowing them entry

Nevertheless, one of the leading topics of conversation among Telegraph readers was the absence of Nigel Farage representing Reform.

The party which is arguably going to get the second largest vote share is not allowed to attend, therefore Im not watching, David Lane said. Do the BBC not recognise that they are actually helping Reform by not allowing them entry?

This belief resonated with many readers. William Tell, for example, reacted: By not appearing on the debate Reforms position is going to be strengthened, as the viewing public can see all the awful alternatives on offer without any distraction from Nigel Farage.

Nigel Farage delivered a speech in Blackpool on Thursday - Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

B. Miller also weighed in: Truly dont understand why the SNP  which is of interest now only to a tiny minority of people in Scotland and which can never form the UK government  is allowed on this debate, but Reform which is polling in second place and rising fast, and which is contesting seats across the UK, is not represented.

The BBC are a disgrace, as usual.

Reader Chris Green added: I dont agree with Farages solutions but given Reforms standing in the polls it is an utter travesty that he is not there. He is always worth listening to, even if he does make me feel like throwing things at TV!

He continued: More than anything, democracy depends on freedom of speech. You dont have to agree with Nigel Farage  or George Galloway for that matter  but the public should be able to hear what he has to say.
A 15-year-old schoolboy from a loving family who stabbed a fellow pupil through the heart has been detained for life by a judge who asked how bad have things become?.

Alfie Lewis, 15, was killed outside a primary school in full view of students in the Horsforth area of Leeds last November.

Bardia Shojaeifard, who was 14 at the time, was found guilty of murdering Alfie by a Leeds Crown Court jury in April.

On Friday, Shojaeifard, who attended the same school as his victim and was not involved with gangs or drugs, was detained for life with a minimum term of 13 years at the same court.

He had admitted stabbing Alfie with a 13cm-long kitchen knife he had taken from home, but denied murder, claiming he was scared for his life.

Shojaeifard can be named publicly for the first time after the judge, Mr Justice Cotter, lifted reporting restrictions preventing him from being identified.

Mr Justice Cotter said: Many must have been and still are asking the question how it comes to pass that a young man such as this carries and uses a knife in these dreadful circumstances and wondering how far the scourge of knife crime will permeate through our youth unless more is done to prevent it.

If a seemingly normal boy of 14 carries a knife to school and uses it on a boy in the same school year how bad have things become?

He said lifting the defendants anonymity would help in the vitally important debate about the scourge of knife crime, among young people in particular.

In a statement released after the sentencing hearing, Alfies family said knife crime was an epidemic affecting all children.

They added: Our efforts now must go on trying to influence the changes which are needed to the law to stop our babies being killed so senselessly.

Alfie Lewis, 15, was stabbed outside a school in the Horsforth area of Leeds

Mr Justice Cotter said people would be wondering how a young boy like Shofaeifard, who came from a loving and supportive family could commit such an extraordinary crime.

He said that Shojaeifard was a normal 14-year-old boy who had no involvement in drugs or gangs, and did not suffer from mental health issues.

Youth workers described Shojaeifard as a polite, intelligent and articulate boy who could have done well at school and had the potential tothrive academically.

The judge added: Unlike Alfie you had no social, emotional or mental needs and when you behaved badly at school it was your choice to do so.

The judge noted however that the schoolboy had a worrying interest in knives and police found several pictures on his phone of him holding them.

Another photo showed Shojaeifard posing with a black-handled knife that had been photoshopped into his hand.

Shojaeifard poses with a knife that had been photoshopped into his hand - West Yorkshire Police/PA

Nicholas Lumley KC, mitigating, said Shojaeifards parents were a utterly decent, supportive, loving couple who were thriving in this adoptive country.

Addressing the defendant directly as she read her victim impact statement in court, Alfies own mother Heather Lane said: No sentence will ever be enough for what you have done. I will never, ever forgive you.

Ms Lane sobbed as she said: We laughed, danced and smiled, we loved each other for 15 years and I thought we would for the rest of my life.

During the trial, prosecutor Craig Hassall KC said Alfie had been walking down the street to meet friends after leaving Horsforth School for the day when the defendant attacked him.

Police at the scene where Alfie died near a primary school in Leeds - SWNS

He said witnesses recalled Alfie looking surprised and shocked and saying: What are you doing? as the incident unfolded close to St Margarets Primary School just before 3pm on Nov 7 2023.

The prosecutor said: He was approached by (the defendant), and stabbed twice  once in the chest and once in the leg.

He collapsed and died in the road close to the primary school in full view of scores of pupils leaving school and the people who were waiting to collect them.

He told the jury the defendant, who dropped the murder weapon close to the primary school, was captured on CCTV fleeing the scene.

Shojaeifard used a 13cm-long kitchen knife he had taken from home to stab Alfie - UNPIXS

The court heard all the witnesses were consistent in saying that Alfie was not the aggressor that day.

The defendant told the jury he was scared of Alfie after two incidents in the months before.

Mr Justice Cotter said he simply did not accept Shojaeifards evidence that he was trying to scare Alfie away and swung the knife aimlessly.

He said one witness described Shojaeifards attack as vicious and that he was trying as much as he could to inflict some sort of damage to Alfie.

He added: Knives have stolen so many lives, and you and others must understand how dangerous this obsession is.

Without your interest in knives Alfie would be here today.
Protesters outside the World Conference Center in Bonn earlier this month. Photograph: Bianca Otero/Zuma Press Wire/Rex/Shutterstock

Finding the finance needed to stave off the worst impacts of the climate crisis will be a very steep mountain to climb, the UN has conceded, as two vital international conferences failed to produce the progress needed to generate funds for poor countries.

With less than five months to go before the Cop29 UN climate summit in Azerbaijan in November, there is still no agreement on how to bridge the near-trillion dollar gap between what developing countries say is needed and the roughly $100bn a year of climate finance that flows today from public sources in the rich world to stricken developing nations.

Rich countries have so far given little indication that they are rising to the challenge. The G7 summit of heads of state of the worlds richest countries, in Italy last weekend, skirted the topic of climate finance with warm words on the importance of fiscal space and mobilising resources from all sources for increased climate and development action, particularly for low-income and vulnerable countries.

Campaigners said the groups promises to work on a coordinated approach were too vague and had little substance. Harjeet Singh, the global engagement director for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, said: The G7 nations have once again failed to fulfil their obligations in responding to the climate crisis. Wealthy countries bear significant responsibility to developing countries for the harm theyve inflicted through years of extractive exploitation of resources and the consequent impacts caused by climate change. They owe trillions of dollars annually to hundreds of millions of people suffering and dying from climate impacts.

Sima Kammourieh, the programme lead at the thinktank E3G, said: The G7 leaders failed to present the full-fledged, structured and specific economic and financial action plan that is needed for global climate safety. At this juncture, more is needed than menus of options or high-level frameworks.

Last Thursday, an exhausting fortnight-long meeting of ministers and officials in Bonn, the UNs climate headquarters, ended with similarly scant concrete results. Mohamed Adow, the director of the Power Shift Africa thinktank, warned that without finance, developing countries could not hope to reduce their emissions and cope with the impact of the climate crisis. He said: Developing countries are expected to slay the climate dragon with invisible swords, having got zero assurances on the long term finance they need.

Simon Stiell, the UN climate chief, warned: We cant keep pushing this years issues off into the next year. The costs of the climate crisis  for every nations people and economy  are only getting worse.

The failures have bruised already fragile hopes of reaching a global settlement that would provide the funds needed for poor countries to cut their greenhouse gas emissions and cope with the effects of worsening extreme weather.

At Azerbaijan this November, at this years conference of the parties (Cop) summit under the UN framework convention on climate change, governments are supposed to agree a new framework for climate finance and a new collective quantified goal that would set out how much rich countries should provide to the poorest, and how the money should be collected and spent.

Research by economists Nicholas Stern and Vera Songwe in 2022 suggested about $2.4tn would be needed annually to tackle the climate crisis by developing countries excluding China. Of that sum, about $1.4tn could come from countries domestic budgets, leaving about $1tn to come from climate finance sources, such as the World Bank and other development banks.

Developed countries largely agree such sums are needed, but are resisting the suggestion from some developing countries that it should all come from their taxpayers. Instead, they would like to see some coming from the private sector, and some from other sources, such as the carbon markets, or innovative measures such as levies on fossil fuels, on frequent flyers or on international shipping.

They also point to the fact that rich petrostates such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and United Arab Emirates have no obligation to contribute to climate finance, nor do countries with burgeoning economies that are still classed as developing, including China, South Korea and Singapore.

There is no clarity over how any new forms of finance could be brought to bear. At the Bonn conference, the prospect of some form of levy on fossil fuels was floated but Saudi, UAE and some others resisted the idea even being discussed.

While Bonn provided a little clarity on some technical issues, there was little political common ground. In Stiells words: We have left ourselves with a vast amount to do between now and the end of the Cop.
Keir Starmer's largest donation was 2.5 million from Lord Sainsbury, former chairman of the supermarket chain - JANE BARLOW/PA

The Conservatives have received just a tenth of the private donations they did in 2019 in a stark revelation of the state of the partys campaign finances.

Figures released by the Electoral Commission show the party brought in 889,000 from private sources in the first two weeks of the campaign.

That figure represents only a tenth of the 8.7 million raked in during the same period in the 2019 election.

Labour received private donations worth 4.2 million in the second week of the campaign, 14 times as much as the Conservatives who received 292,500 between June 6 and 12.

It brings the total donations given to Sir Keir Starmers party in the first two weeks of the campaign to 5.1 million.

The Conservatives largest donations in the second week of the campaign were 50,000 each from Bestway Wholesale, a company ultimately owned by Tory peer Lord Zameer Choudrey through the Guernsey-based Bestway Group, and an organisation called The Spring Lunch.

The Spring Lunch is an unincorporated association and therefore does not have to provide records of who controls it, although it is registered to an address in Pulham St Mary, Norfolk.

Significant donors

Labours largest donation was 2.5 million from Lord Sainsbury, the former chairman of the eponymous supermarket chain who gave 8 million to the Liberal Democrats in 2019.

Other significant donors were Gary Lubner, the Autoglass chief, who gave 900,000, and hedge fund manager Martin Taylor, who donated 700,000.

In total, Labours private donations for the first two weeks of the campaign amounted to 5,157,400, more than 14 times the 361,042 they received throughout the entirety of the 2019 campaign.

The Electoral Commission figures, which collate donations from private individuals and companies between June 6 and 12, also show that Reform UK brought in donations worth more than three times more than those given to the Conservatives.

Nigel Farages party raised a total of 742,000, largely thanks to a 500,000 donation from Britain Means Business Ltd, a company controlled by Richard Tice, the party chairman.

Reform also received 50,000 from Holly Valance, the former pop star and Neighbours actor who is a prominent supporter.

The Liberal Democrats received 335,000 in the second week of the campaign, taking their total for the election to 789,999.

Other donations included 150,000 from businessman Safwan Adam and a 100,000 bequest from John Faulkner, a long-standing party member who left the party 1 million in his will in 2023.

Political parties are required to provide weekly reports of donations of more than 11,180, after the Government increased the threshold from 7,500 in January.
A tank of elvers in a school classroom. Photograph: Hannah Strode

At a secret location on the Somerset Levels, I peer into a deep tank. The air is cool and smells fishy, filters hum. Elvers  each as long as my little finger  squirling through the water in precise calligraphic strokes, like a single letter endlessly repeated. My friend Hannah fishes some out and decants them carefully into a plastic bag like fairground goldfish. These fish are far more precious. Once abundant here on the Levels, they are now critically endangered, and one of the most trafficked animals in the world.

We load our precious cargo into the Eelmobile, a van full of tanks, filters and assorted kit, and driven by Hannah Strode, who heads a marvellous initiative called, simply, Eels in the Classroom. She has spent the past few months cold-calling schools, asking if their children would look after baby eels until they are ready to be released. Every single school  59 of them  came back with a resounding yes. I mean, eels in the classroom? Come on!

The life cycle of the European eel is best described as insanely unlikely meets totally random. They hatch in the Sargasso Sea in the North Atlantic  nowhere else on the planet. For their first few years, they look like tiny willow leaves, and were once thought to be a totally different species. These drift wherever the oceans currents take them until, at some point, they morph into freshwater-dwelling glass eels  and start to swim upriver, ending up in places like the Somerset Levels. At some point (no one knows what triggers this), they mature into adults, and at some point (no one knows what triggers this either), they swim back to the Sargasso to mate and die.

The year 4 children are fizzing with their own questions for the Eel Lady (which sounds like the name of a superhero and, by the looks on their faces, she is one). How many are there? Are they boys or girls? How old are they? Do they sting?

Hannah will be back in a few weeks to help with the releases: restocking the rivers above the weirs and sluices that stand in their way. Until then, the elvers will learn from the children, and the children from the eels. The young teaching the young: what could be better than that?

 Country diary is on Twitter at @gdncountrydiary
Guy's in Southwark, south London, one of the hospitals to have been affected by the data theft from Synnovis. Photograph: Finnbarr Webster/Alamy

A Russian criminal gang has stolen highly sensitive NHS patient data, including the results of blood tests for HIV and cancer, after a cyber-attack this month.

The group posted nearly 400GB of data overnight from a hack of Synnovis, a private/NHS joint venture that provides pathology services such as blood tests and transfusions. Seven hospitals run by two NHS trusts, Guys and St Thomas and Kings College, have been affected by the ransomware attack.

Qilin, the Russian gang that carried it out, has now released data it extracted during the cyberheist. The release of private information suggests that Synnovis has refused to pay a ransom to Qilin to decrypt its systems and delete any stolen data.

Synnovis said that an analysis of the data was under way in conjunction with the NHS, the National Cyber Security Centre and other partners which aims to confirm whether the data was taken from Synnovis systems and what information it contains.

What data has been stolen?

The hackers have a huge cache of data they have stolen from Synnovis, which relates to about 300m separate patient interactions with the NHS going back an unspecified but large number of years, the Guardian has been told. The NHS has released no details of what this data includes. But it includes the results of blood tests patients have taken before having an operation, including cancer and transplant surgery, or because they had a suspected sexually transmitted infection or were being checked to see if they had HIV. Qilins haul also includes data showing the results of tests that patients have had in the course of being cared for and treated by, according to a well-placed source, multiple private [healthcare] providers.

The BBC reported on Friday that the data Qilin posted online overnight included patients names, dates of birth, NHS numbers and descriptions of blood tests.

How can I find out if my data has been taken?

It is unclear if and how patients can find out whether or not data relating to blood tests and other interactions they have had with the NHS has been stolen or already published online. In a statement NHS England said the National Crime Agency and National Cyber Security Centre were working to verify the data included in the published files, but the investigation was highly complex because the files were not simple uploads and their work could take weeks or longer to complete.

NHS England said it would update NHS patients on a dedicated webpage, adding that people with questions could also call an incident helpline on 0345 8778967.

How could that data be used?

Criminal gangs can deploy personal data leaked in ransomware attacks to carry out fraudulent activity such as luring people into phishing scams, where victims are tricked into handing over sensitive information such as passwords or clicking on a link that downloads malicious software.

There is a risk that other cyber criminals will try to use personally identifying information in the leak for identify theft or to carry out phishing attacks, said James Tytler, an associate at S-RM, a cybersecurity consultancy firm specialising in ransomware attack response.

NHS England said anyone contacted by someone who claimed to have their data should contact Action Fraud online or on 0300 123 2040. Suspicious emails should be sent to report@phishing.gov.uk or texts to 7726.

Can you seek compensation if you are affected?

Peoples data is protected by UK GDPR, which requires that organisations keep secure any personal data they hold.

Individuals who suffer damage or distress as a result of an organisations breach of the UK GDPR have the right to sue the organisation for compensation, said Kate Brimsted, a partner at the UK law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner.

However, Brimsted added that just because a hack had taken place and data had been taken it did not mean there had been a security failing on the part of the organisation involved.

There will need to be a careful root-cause analysis and technical investigation before any question of UK GDPR breach or liability is known.

Can the data be returned if a ransom is paid?

Data from the hack has already been published on an online messaging platform and could have been accessed by criminals. Publication usually signals that a ransom has not been paid, and the attackers will be moving on to their next victim.

Ciaran Martin, the former head of the National Cyber Security Centre, said paying a ransom for the data to be deleted did not work. A recent operation by the UKs National Crime Agency against the LockBit ransomware gang found that the group had held on to data despite saying it would delete it after receiving a payment.

We know from the National Crime Agencys takedown of LockBit that the data is out there whether you pay or not, he said.
The scene after the fire on a residential street in Gosport, Hampshire - David Clarke/Solent News & Photo Agency

Fire chiefs have issued a warning after an e-scooter was blamed for a devastating blaze that tore through a row of seven houses.

Families in Gosport, Hampshire, were forced to flee their homes on Wednesday evening, after a fire broke out at a three-storey property before spreading to surrounding buildings.

A spokesman for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service said: The initial reports and the preliminary fire investigation has found that an e-scooter is the most likely cause of the fire.

The main danger occurs when e-bikes and e-scooters are left on charge and unattended in homes or in communal areas such as hallways and stairwells.

Charging lithium batteries indoors increases the fire risk, especially if charged overnight when occupants are sleeping.

One of the houses caught in the inferno - David Clarke/Solent News & Photo Agency

A total of 10 fire engines and 60 firemen worked through the night to control the blaze, which spread through seven out of the eight houses in the terrace.

Images of the aftermath show the roofs of several of the buildings have collapsed, with the underlying structures now so fragile that many families cannot return to their homes.

It was just an inferno and it happened so quickly and it just spread, a neighbour Fiona Taylor told ITV Meridian. It was harrowing and horrific to watch because you knew your neighbours were watching their houses go up one by one.

Jenna Robinson, a friend of the young mother who lives in the house where the fire started, has launched a fundraiser to help those affected.

Shes lost everything. Obviously all the bedrooms have been burned. She only wanted to get one box out which was the memory box but hasnt been able to, said Miss Robinson.

The roofs of houses collapsed - David Clarke/Solent News & Photo Agency

Incidents of electric vehicle fires are on the rise.

A total of 149 fires caused by exploding e-bike batteries were recorded by the London Fire Brigade in 2023, an increase of 71 per cent from 2022, according to figures provided to The Telegraph.
The printing error affected 1,035 postal voters aged between 18 and 24 in Cambridge - Pete Titmuss/Alamy

A bungling council gave voters born after 2000 postal ballots with dates of birth in the 1900s.

Cambridge City Council emailed more than 1,000 postal voters aged between 18 and 24, telling them a printing error meant their ballots suggested they were aged between 118 and 124.

Postal voters must fill in their date of birth on their ballot. But the council pre-printed the first two digits as 19. It has told the Gen Z voters their ballots will still be valid  if they cross out the 19 and replace it with a 20.

Chang Liu is a 22-year-old clinical medicine student at the University of Cambridge who received an erroneous ballot that would have prompted him to claim he was born in 1902.

He told The Telegraph: It is ridiculous that a simple printing error threatens to disenfranchise thousands of young people. This mistake endangers the chances for democracies most crucial demographic, young people, to participate in a life-changing election.

With so few young people regularly checking their email, I just hope that the returning officers warning has reached all those affected.

The council said 1,035 voters had been affected by the error. The Electoral Commission confirmed it was a local printing error and said it was not aware of any other examples in Britain.

It will not impact validity

A spokesman said: We are aware of the issue. As the council says, if the voter writes their correct date of birth on the postal ballot statement, then it will not impact the validity of their vote.

It is common practice for councils to pre-print the first two digits of the year of the voters date of birth on the postal vote statement.

This is to help ensure statements are correctly completed as voters often add the date they complete the statement, rather than their date of birth, which can invalidate a postal ballot.

The councils email to voters reads in full: A printing issue with some postal votes means that the first two numbers in your date of birth year may have been pre-printed with a 19 instead of a 20.

I am very sorry that this has happened, and am investigating the circumstances that led to the error occurring so we can be sure it does not happen again.

If this has affected you, please be assured that this does not in any way invalidate your postal vote. Please cross through the 19, and put a 20 above it.

Providing your date of birth and signature match the ones you provided in your application, your postal vote will be valid and included in the count. From Monday July 1 you can contact us to check whether it has been received and accepted.

If you applied for a postal vote between June 6 and today (June 19), your postal vote will be issued on June 24 and this problem wont affect you. We have contacted everyone on our postal vote list born between 2000 and 2006 to ensure we reach as many people as possible.

Vicky Jenner, Cambridge City Councils electoral services manager, said: As per the email we have sent to those affected (1,035 electors) the postal votes can be used and will be accepted/counted as long as they meet all other requirements, for example the signature matches the electors original application.

We are continuing to investigate how this happened, but it does not affect any subsequent postal vote issues we will undertake.
Viktor Orban says Germany used to be a nation of 'order' - SILAS STEIN/AFP

Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister, said Germany no longer smells the same in an apparent jibe at migration as he visited Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, in Berlin.

Before he met with Mr Scholz, Mr Orban told a Hungarian radio station: [Germany] no longer tastes the same as it used to, it no longer smells the same as it used to, this whole Germany is no longer the Germany that our grandparents and parents used as an example for us.

He also said that Germany used to be a nation of order, well-organised work and hard-working people. According to Die Welt, a German newspaper, he claimed that Germany is now a colourful, changed, multicultural world where migrants are no longer guests...that is a very big change.

His comments soured an already tense visit as Berlin and other EU leaders grow increasingly uncomfortable with Mr Orbans blossoming relationship with Vladimir Putin, the Russian leader.

Mr Orban is also accused of eroding democracy in Hungary and becoming increasingly distant from the Brussels consensus on key issues, notably support for Ukraine and migration.

Migration surge in Germany

Germany is struggling with a major surge in irregular migration, which prompted the government to introduce additional border controls in 2023. It has also become a volatile political issue, fuelling the success of the far-Right AfD in the European elections earlier in June.

Mr Orban made the controversial remarks ahead of a meeting in Berlin with Mr Scholz to discuss his nations assumption of the EU council presidency, which rotates between EU member states.

Unusually, Mr Orban is not taking part in a joint press conference with Mr Scholz which is the custom for visiting allies.

Mr Scholz has announced plans to set up a system of processing migrants and asylum seekers in third countries which may take inspiration from the UKs Rwanda scheme, or Italys migration deal with Albania.

This week, he came under pressure from German state leaders to speed up the process of choosing a model because of rising migration levels and the growing popularity of the far-Right in Germany. Experts say such a plan would face significant legal and practical hurdles in the country.
Katy ISD Board of Trustees President Victor Perez, left, and superintendent Ken Gregorski listen to comments during a board of trustees meeting on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023 in Katy. The Katy ISD board of trustees took public comments on how to address gender fluidity among students. Katy ISD school board meeting on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023 in Katy. The Katy ISD board of trustees took public comments on how to address gender fluidity among students. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

After an unprecedented round of book banning in Katy ISD led to the removal of several elementary library books depicting cartoon rear ends, the board of trustees on Monday scaled back the conditions under which a book may be banned.

The board unanimously approved a new update to the policy that in August was changed to add "nudity" as a reason for removal. Prior to the August change, elementary level books had never been banned in district history.

The district has now amended the policy to clarify that only explicit frontal nudity is grounds for a books removal.

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In August and September, an internal committee found 14 books to be inappropriate for children. Among the titles removed from elementary schools include Eric Carle's illustrated classic "Draw Me a Star," Judy Blume's coming of age novel "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret," Dr. Seuss Wacky Wednesday and Robert Munschs The Paper Bag Princess, all of which have been in circulation for more than 40 years.

The Monday revision was requested by board members Dawn Champagne and Rebecca Fox, both of whom initially voted in support of the policy.

While the district has yet to comment on why the new books were banned, many of the books -- including David Shannons award-winning childrens book No, David! -- contain an image of cartoon buttocks.

Katy ISD parent Sam Rich said when she volunteered to read books to her children's classes, "No, David!" was always a top request.

"They love these books. They connect with these books," she said. "'No, David!' motivates them to read, laugh, think, discuss and learn. Thanks to this board, 'No, David!' is now banned."

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Board president Victor Perez said the policy was not meant to be directed against books like Shannon's, and a committee, not the board, removed the 14 newly banned books.

The board's intent was never to remove well-known, cartoon-like children's books just because they showed a little drawing of a little boys rear end, he said.

Paul von Helmond, whose children graduated from Katy ISD, chastised the board for writing the policy in vague and broad terms.

"Librarians are to enforce the rules and have no leeway in the result," he said. "The result is the embarrassing removal of books that nobody in their right mind wants to ban."

Champagne said she did not think it was fair to hold librarians responsible for the book removals.

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I don't blame the librarians for following the new policy the way that it was written about nudity and implied nudity, which obviously led to some of our most beloved children's books to be removed, Champagne said. I'm also personally sorry that I did not pay better attention to the implications of the wording in the policy that we voted on a couple of months ago.
Angela Rayner says her party will have a lot on its plate if it wins power on July 4 - Story Picture Agency/Thomas Krych

Angela Rayner has said Labour has no plans to raise council tax at the moment.

The deputy opposition leader said her party would have a lot on our plate if it won power on July 4 and suggested council tax bands were not an immediate priority.

She risked reigniting a row over whether Labour could increase council tax, as she failed to rule out any changes in the future.

The Tories have repeatedly accused Labour of planning to put up council tax by recalculating the current bands, which would result in tax increases for millions of households.

Labour frontbenchers have contradicted each other on the issue and Sir Keir Starmer, the partys leader, failed to rule out a council tax increase earlier this week.

Asked if Labour could look at council tax bands by BBC Radio Merseyside, Ms Rayner said: Well, look, you know, I think at the moment, if Im really honest to your listeners, weve got a lot on our plate.

I want to build 1.5 million homes, which I think is a huge task, which were going to, you know, review planning reforms.

Were going to look at how we can use the affordable homes grant to really get those homes built, the new deal for working people, which is my reforms to employment that will give people secure work.

These are our priorities, our priority is not to do anything with the council tax banding at the moment.

Ms Rayners remarks were immediately seized on by the Conservatives, who claimed tax rises would be on the cards under a Labour government.

Laura Trott, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said: Angela Rayner has confirmed big council tax rises are on the cards  just not at the moment.

Labour are not being honest with the British public about their tax raid, but we already know the black hole in their spending promises requires at least 2,094 in higher taxes for working families across the country.

The rebanding of council tax is one of 17 tax rises Labour have not ruled out.

Ms Trott went on to warn voters against handing Sir Keir an unaccountable majority as the Conservatives aim to shore up their support in traditionally safer seats in the face of successive dire opinion polls.

Clear choice on July 4

Her warnings were echoed by Rishi Sunak as he told activists at the launch event for the Welsh Tory manifesto that there was a clear choice on July 4.

Continue on the plan we are on, continue to cut taxes for people at every stage of their life or the Labour Party who just want to hike up everyones taxes, the Prime Minister said.

We have seen that over the last few days. Council tax, already one of the biggest bills that most families face, we just heard today from the deputy leader of the Labour Party, it is not their plan to do it for the moment, not right now.

But it is coming, mark my words. A future Labour government is going to whack up everyones taxes.

Earlier this week, Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow paymaster general, appeared to rule out a council tax raid on middle-class homeowners by creating new bands for higher-value properties, but Ms Rayners comments have cast doubt on those reassurances.

Asked whether Labour would make any changes to council tax bands, Mr Ashworth had told Times Radio: No, were not changing council tax bands.

And challenged on whether that was a promise, he added: Yeah.

Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, had previously indicated council tax reform would not be her priority in government.

Asked about revaluation, she told the Financial Times: It doesnt really matter whether I think its sensible or not; is that where Im going to put my political energy? No.
Sir Ed Davey's extraordinary performances on the campaign trail never go unnoticed - Shutterstock/Neil Hall

Sir Ed Daveys party is on course to steal 57 seats from the Conservatives on July 4.

Few expected the Liberal Democrats to be the ones to watch in the general election. But with Labour all but assured a landslide and the Conservatives facing a wipeout, the party has it all to play for.

Although it has failed to lift off from 10 per cent in the national polls, a skilful game of targeting key seats  where Sir Ed Daveys extraordinary performances never go unnoticed  is paying off.

Over the course of just over two weeks of campaigning, YouGov revised predicted Lib Dem seats in Parliament up from 48 to 67  amounting to a sixfold increase from the current tally.

Support for the party is swelling in rural areas and the South West, their yellow wall heartland. I think in this election we could replace the Conservatives as the party of rural Britain, Sir Ed told The Telegraph.

In large part this appears due to the partys change of course on the EU. Having backed Remain in 2016 and pushed for rejoining in the last two elections, with disastrous results, its 117-page 2024 manifesto mentions Brexit just twice.

With just two weeks left before July 4, Sir Ed had appeared in 29 constituencies, excluding D-Day remembrance services, of which 27 were being defended by the Conservatives.

Nine of these are in the South West and among the traditionally Liberal Democrat-friendly seats the Tories snapped up in the 2015 general election, such as Paddy Ashdowns own Yeovil and Eastbourne.

The Liberal Democrats were reduced to eight seats in the 2015 general election, as their base punished them for association with the least popular Tory policies during the coalition years, including the tripling of university tuition fees.

Efforts at a resurgence were then hampered by the partys staunchly pro-Remain stance.

The Liberal Democrats made a second referendum the centrepiece of a 2017 manifesto, and upped the ante in 2019 by promising to revoke Brexit without a vote, despite warnings that many among their base would feel alienated. The South West voted 52.6 per cent Leave.

Sir Ed believes he can win these voters back. At the partys conference in Bournemouth last autumn, he claimed that rejoining the EU was off the table for the time being.

Over the course of the first year after withdrawal, just 1.6 per cent of Leave voters said they would cast a ballot for the Liberal Democrats. The latest YouGov poll, released just days before the eighth anniversary of the referendum, has this figure up to 9 per cent.

In the first YouGov MRP of the campaign, conducted between May 24 and June 1, the Liberal Democrats average vote share across constituencies in the South West was 20.5 per cent.

By the follow-up, held between June 11-18 and after the release of a Brexit-free manifesto, this had shot up to 22.3 per cent. The Conservatives, meanwhile, dropped over three points from 30.5 to 27.2 per cent.

But the challenge the party is mounting extends across rural areas nationwide, areas that collectively voted 55.5 per cent to Leave, according to the Rural Services Network.

Sir Ed has held events in 11 rural constituencies, according to an Office for National Statistics classification.

He told The Telegraph earlier this week: Rural England, rural Scotland, rural Wales, I think the Conservatives are on the back foot and were the main challengers in those rural areas by a country mile, no pun intended.

The MRPs lend credence to this claim. Across all rural constituencies in Great Britain, the average level of support for the Liberal Democrats swelled from 13.8 to 15.3 per cent. For the Conservatives it dropped from 32.3 to 29.1 per cent.

YouGov now shows the Liberal Democrats stealing nine extra rural seats from the Conservatives than forecast at the start of the campaign: Ely and East Cambridgeshire; Frome and East Somerset; Glastonbury and Somerton; St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire; Stratford-upon-Avon; Tiverton and Minehead; Wells and Mendip Hills; Witney; and Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe.

Most of these are constituencies whose boundaries were redrawn ahead of the election. Notional results from the 2019 general election  how these areas would have voted five years ago  however, yield an average Tory majority of 28.2 per cent, suggesting few countryside seats are safe for the Conservatives.

The Liberal Democrats average vote share across all constituencies, including cities, increased only slightly between the two polls  from 10.6 to 11.7 per cent.

But in 65 seats, their support went up by more than 5 per cent  nowhere more so than in Wimbledon, where it shot up by 17 per cent in a seat they have never won.

These concentrations of backers are crucial to getting MPs elected. Whereas the Liberal Democrats standing in the national polls has been stagnant, Reform usurped them to third place back in January and now has a 3.5-point lead, The Telegraphs poll tracker shows.

Yet the dispersed base of support for Nigel Farages party means the same MRP hands it just five seats.

With the Tories down to 108 seats  or potentially half as many according to an exclusive Savanta poll for The Telegraph  Rishi Sunaks camp has switched to the defensive, pushing the message that a vote for the Liberal Democrats will only hand Labour a supermajority.

But as the Prime Minister and Sir Ed took their campaigns to the South West this week, the polls instead suggest that a vote for the Liberal Democrats is in fact a vote for the Liberal Democrats.
Isabel Diaz Ayuso received Mr Milei on Friday - Reuters/Violeta Santos Moura

The leader of Spains Madrid region has been accused of deep disloyalty to the country for hosting Argentinas controversial leader, Javier Milei.

Isabel Diaz Ayuso received Mr Milei on Friday despite him recently launching a tirade against the prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, calling him totalitarian and a coward.

Mr Milei has become a deeply divisive figure at home as he brings about drastic reforms to revive the economy.

He has also adopted an unfiltered approach to his language, much like Donald Trump, the former US president, for whom he has openly expressed admiration.

On a visit to Madrid last month he took aim at Mr Sanchez, calling his wife Begona Gomez corrupt after she was placed under investigation by a Spanish judge for alleged influence peddling. She has not made any comment since the court opened the investigation in late April.

After Mr Milei refused to apologise, Spain withdrew its ambassador to Argentina in response, calling it an unprecedented lack of respect.

Mr Mileis current visit to Spain was initially scheduled so that he could receive an award from an ultra-liberal think tank, but Ms Diaz Ayuso then announced she would be presenting him with the Madrid regions International Medal, citing the deep historical, cultural, linguistic and economic ties between the Spanish capital and Argentina.

Conservative firebrand

A Spanish government source told The Telegraph the move by Ms Diaz Ayuso was one of immense disloyalty, and said that any new insults by Mr Milei would meet with the appropriate response.

The source also accused Mr Milei of provocation by asking for an audience with Spains King Felipe VI, even though he had not discussed the possibility of an official visit to Spain with the government. The request was declined.

Ms Diaz Ayuso, a conservative firebrand who has established herself as a direct enemy of Mr Sanchez, said it would be an honour to welcome a legitimate president. She compared Mr Mileis comfortable victory in last years Argentine election to Mr Sanchezs position as head of a minority coalition government backed by Catalan separatists and other regional and Left-wing parties.

Ms Diaz Ayuso presented Mr Milei with the Madrid region's International Medal - Shutterstock/Sergio R Moreno

From Madrid, Mr Milei is due to meet Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, where officials described Argentina as one of Germanys most important economic partners in Latin America in announcing the visit, but it has since been scaled back.

The military honours and press conference have been struck from the plan, which is now a very short working visit lasting about an hour.

Fernando Brun, Argentinas ambassador to Germany, said the meeting between Mr Milei and Mr Scholz will be a business style encounter.

Neither government has commented on the apparent downgrade of the visit, but Mr Scholzs spokesman, Steffen Hebestreit, said on Monday that Mr Mileis behaviour during the spat with Mr Sanchez was in bad taste.

Argentine opposition leaders have expressed concern that Mr Mileis bruising approach to international affairs is doing damage to the countrys credibility and foreign relations.

Relations have soured with Spain

Mr Milei celebrated the gains by far-Right parties in Europes recent parliamentary elections, even claiming credit for them in one interview.

Alberto Fernandez, his predecessor as president, said Mr Milei was isolating Argentina from the rest of the world, as relations have soured with Spain as well as several leading Latin American nations including Mexico and Brazil.

Rodrigo de Loredo, leader of the opposition UCR bloc in Argentinas parliament, criticised Mr Mileis rock star approach to diplomacy.

He said: Argentina needs to export more and on better terms, meaning we need precise and respectable diplomacy that must start with the government leader.

However, Mr Mileis profile was boosted by a visit to last weeks G7 summit in Italy, where Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, showed affection for the Argentine leader and posted an Italian translation of his Long Live Freedom! motto on her X social media account.
Coles and Woolworths dont have this meat, says David, shopping at the Queen Victoria Market with Jessica. Photograph: Ellen Smith/The Guardian

People could save up to $20 a kg if they purchased their meat from markets or grocery stores rather than the big two supermarkets, a purchasing test by Guardian Australia has revealed.

We recently bought a range of cuts and seafood in Melbourne, all on the same day, from Queen Victoria Market, Famous Halal Quality Meat & Groceries in Footscray, independent Peters Meats in Brunswick and nearby Woolworths and Coles supermarkets in Barkly Square.

Starting with lamb cutlets, the cheapest was Famous Halal Quality Meat & Groceries, where they cost $19.99 a kg. Next was Queen Victoria Market, where stalls had lamb cutlets priced between $27.99 and $29.99. The same product was $35.00 a kg at Coles on special, down from the regular price of $43.00, which was the same as Woolworths. Peters Meats was $39.00.

The average household spends $189 a week on groceries  or $9,828 a year  according to research from Finder. Some Australians are avoiding red meat to save money during the cost-of-living crisis, while others have stopped eating fish. But buying products at the local market could also help, our shopping trip on a recent Thursday suggests.

As part of our search, we also purchased five T-bone steaks (except at Famous Halal Quality Meat & Groceries, which does not carry them). The market was the cheapest at $22.99 a kg, while Woolworths, Coles and Peters Meats were $30 a kg.

Chicken breast bucked the trend by coming in at least 50 cents cheaper at the supermarkets  costing $14 a kg at both Woolworths and Coles. This was followed by Peters Meats ($14.50), Famous Halal Quality Meat & Groceries ($15.50) and the markets ($15.99).

Related: At Sydneys fruit and veg market, buying in bulk costs barely 30% of supermarket prices

We also checked the price of salmon where it was available, finding the cheapest at Queen Victoria Market at $35 a kilo, followed by Woolworths and Coles both at $42.

Felicity shops at the markets in central Melbourne at least once a fortnight. She says its convenient because she lives close by and it saves her money.

Ive got my standards  at the chicken place I get chicken schnitzels and I go to my beef man, and I get a piece of porterhouse steak and mid loin chops, and I go to the bacon man and get the bacon offcuts, she said.

Felicity estimates she saves hundreds of dollars a year and she prefers the cuts at Queen Victoria Market.

My mid loin chops are $17 a kilo and in the supermarkets youre looking at $25 at least. The porterhouse here is $25 a kilo, but youre looking at at least $30 to $40 a kilo [at the supermarkets] and the bacon is probably the same. But I know if I get packaged bacon its full of water  this is better quality.

Shopping at the markets is not always about the price. Jessica and David spend about $300 a week at the markets and insist the variety and quality is better. They started shopping there 18 months ago.

Coles and Woolworths dont have this meat, David says. Honestly, it probably costs the same, but the quality is not as good.

Jessica says when they buy steak, they check the marbling and thickness to get the best quality. When you buy meat from here, itll last us the week. Were eating it this time next week and its still fresh and fine, she says.

Coles and Woolworths rejected the suggestion their products were more expensive  with a Coles spokesperson calling Guardian Australias purchasing test a highly-selective comparison. It doesnt reflect the broader range of meat prices in the market nor does it represent the wide range of independent retailers or butchers, they said.

Related: Typical Aldi grocery bill 25% cheaper than at major supermarkets, Choice research finds

There are many factors which affect the price of products at the checkout  including season, specifications, supplier costs, packaging or transport costs  and we continuously work hard with our suppliers to provide high-quality meat at great value.

A Woolworths spokesperson said it was difficult to make a like-for-like comparison between supermarkets and meat vendors who sell through public marketplaces like the Queen Victoria Market and have different business models and customer offerings.

The products sold across retailers can be sourced differently  Woolworths purchases premium cattle and lamb to a very tight quality specification, with its beef being independently certified through the Meat Standards Australia program.

We offer consistency to our customers week in, week out - so they know they will always find the same cuts, with competitive pricing and great quality.

Food literacy advocate Alice Zaslavsky  normally better known for her love of vegetables  argues consumers are paying for convenience.

The premium put on convenience is transferred onto the consumer, she says. Youve got a Coles around the corner. You dont have much time, it is something you pay for.

Zaslavsky buys her meat from her local market but has also used Wolki Farm, which ships frozen grass-fed meats from Albury.

Many consumers will look at factors other than price, she says. Knowing meat is ethically sourced is a big issue for some.

There are other ways of getting meat. For example, Discovered Wild Foods is a Victorian business and weve got a huge problem in Victoria with feral deer. These guys are going out and shooting the deer and selling that meat.

Related: Groceries cost the same at Coles and Woolworths. Farmers say theyre not trying to compete

So, instead of expecting to just cook beef and chicken and lamb, we could be extending ourselves to cook venison and roux, because those are feral animals eating up our landscape.

Sarah Megginson, a personal finance expert at Finder, says Australians who plan their weekly shop pay less overall.

We know that the more ad-hoc and unplanned you are, the more you are likely to spend, she says. For instance, if you pop into the supermarket three or four times a week when you need to top up your groceries, youre much more likely to spend more than if you do one big weekly shop.

Megginson says planning your shopping trips with a list can be a powerful tool to avoid impulse buys and stick to what you truly need.

Comment was sought from Famous Halal Quality Meat & Groceries and Peters Meats.
Alvise Perez was formerly a student activist for the Lib Dems while living in West Yorkshire - AP/Andrea Comas

An anti-immigrant Spanish social influencer elected without a manifesto, who dreams of becoming the Spanish Javier Milei, has said his political beliefs were shaped by the Liberal Democrats in Leeds.

Alvise Perez told The Telegraph there was nothing paradoxical in his political journey from the party of Paddy Ashdown to idolising Argentinas chainsaw-wielding Right-wing leader.

Liz Truss experienced a similar epiphany. The former prime minister was president of the Oxford University Liberal Democrats but now praises the populist Mr Milei as well.

Ive always put myself on the side of the reformers, said Mr Perez, 34, who rocked Spains political establishment by creating a brand-new party, which won three seats in European Parliament elections earlier this month.

Mr Perezs Se Acabo la Fiesta (The Partys Over) won 4.6 per cent of the vote on June 9 without a formal party structure or published policies.

He called for the mass deportation of illegal immigrants, the building of a macro-jail for Spains corrupt politicians and paedophiles, and warned of an impending invasion of Spanish territory by Morocco on the campaign trail.

It is a stark contrast to the pedestrian politics of his time as a student activist in the Lib Dems Young Liberals, while he was living in West Yorkshire.

Mr Perez says his seven-year stint in the UK opened his eyes to how Spain was not a real democracy

And Sir Ed Davey, the current Lib Dem leader, despite his love of an election campaign stunt, is unlikely to copy Mr Perezs promise to raffle off his MEPs salary and expenses to voters.

Mr Perez said that his seven-year stint in the UK, where he failed to complete his university studies and started working as a dishwasher, opened his eyes to how Spain was not a real democracy.

Seeing the way British politicians actually meet constituents and the independent way the media is funded, I realised the UK, like the US, is a democratic powerhouse, and that Spain no longer is, he said.

The Seville-born politician worked for the Ciudadanos liberal party in Valencia in 2019 but quit in disgust over its jobs-for-the-boys mentality.

In the UK I could quite happily have been a political adviser but Spain is too corrupt for me to live off the system, he said.

During the coronavirus pandemic, he became a social media star by attacking Pedro Sanchez, the Socialist prime minister, for anti-democratic lockdowns and vaccination certificates.

He combined railing against the so-called corrupt elites of Spain with conspiracy theories about supranational interests systematically releasing dengue fever carrying mosquitoes.

Mr Perez says his million-plus followers provide him with the dirty secrets of the powerful - TikTok

Mr Perez claims to be funded entirely by donations from his followers on channels such as YouTube.

He is perhaps best known for publishing exposes of alleged corruption, which has seen him put on trial for defamation on numerous occasions.

Mr Perez said that his million-plus followers, whom he calls his squirrels, provide him with the dirty secrets of the powerful.

But he was found guilty of defaming Manuela Carmena, Madrids former mayor, for reporting that she had had a ventilator delivered to her house for personal use during the pandemic.

Mr Perez admitted to making 10,000 mistakes and that he needed the parliamentary immunity given to MEPs to escape all the lawsuits he had been slapped with.

Yes, I want immunity from prosecution. I am the first person to run for MEP openly stating that is my objective, he said.

Mr Perez said that when he takes his seat in the European Parliament, he will post a slew of sensitive information that will rock Spains political establishment.

He was pleased that both the centre-Right Partido Popular and Mr Sanchezs Socialists are blaming each other for the rise of his party.

But I am not the extremist they are trying to depict me as, he said.

Mr Perez said he will use EU subsidies of around 1 million now due to his new party to prepare to fight and win Spains next general election.

I could become a Milei for Spain, he said, referring to the anarcho-capitalist TV pundit turned politician.

Me being where I am is a mistake of historical proportions. But the system has failed so badly that people are looking for a vigilante.
Hajj pilgrims perform the tawaf, circling seven times around the Kaaba, Islams holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in Mecca. Photograph: Mohamad Torokman/Reuters

Hoda Nagib and her husband had walked 20km in the baking sun in Saudi Arabia when she told him that she needed to rest. The couple, who are in their 60s, had just scaled Mount Arafat, along with thousands of other white-robed pilgrims on the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Islams holiest city, where temperatures as high as 51.8C have been recorded in the shade in recent days.

Nagibs husband left her to perform a ritual known as the stoning of the devil. When he returned she had disappeared, their neighbour Walaa Roshdy explained.

Fellow pilgrims told him that his wife was suffering from exhaustion and had been taken to a hospital in Mina, Roshdy said. The husband  who Roshdy said had requested anonymity while he searches for his wife  went to the hospital, where staff told him she had been treated and had left. He has been unable to make contact since.

Roshdy, who works as a tour guide in Saudi Arabia, knows the couple from their home town of Tanta, in Egypt.

We have contacted all relevant Saudi authorities but we are sure that this is going to take a long time because there are thousands of people who are missing, he said.

More than 1,000 pilgrims have died while performing this years hajj in extreme heat conditions, according to figures compiled by Arab diplomats who spoke to the AFP news agency. The overwhelming majority, like the Nagibs, were unregistered pilgrims from Egypt, who entered Mecca without the official permits now required by Saudi law.

A senior Saudi official defended the countrys management of the pilgrimage on Friday. The state did not fail, but there was a misjudgement on the part of people who did not appreciate the risks, the official told AFP in the governments first comments on the deaths.

All Muslims who are able to are required to make the hajj pilgrimage at least once in their lives. Saudi officials have taken steps to control crowding, and supply amenities such as air-conditioned tents to make the pilgrimage more bearable, but these are available only to registered pilgrims.

Tour companies were supposed to warn people about all this, but they just want to make money, said Roshdy.

Video posted to social media by Yasemin Mertcan, a Turkish tour operator, showed exhausted pilgrims laying by the side of exposed roads around Mecca, some splashing their unconscious companions with water in the hope of reviving them.

Mertcans footage also showed some pilgrims helping Saudi security forces load corpses in burial shrouds on to carts to be driven away.

It has been very difficult this year. The number of dead and missing pilgrims is very high, Mertcan said.

The Saudi authorities have said that they want to increase the number of annual pilgrims visiting Mecca year-round to 30 million by 2030, as part of the vision 2030 plan, which aims to wean the kingdom off of oil revenue with measures including increased tourism.

In an effort to avoid a repeat of a deadly crush in 2015, the Saudi government this year began a campaign called no hajj without a permit, with the Mecca authorities stressing that anyone attempting to enter the holy city without required permission would face strict penalties.

The opposition National Assembly party, composed of exiled Saudi dissidents, issued a condemnation of the Saudi Arabian authorities for their negligence towards the pilgrims, describing a systematic media blackout about the deaths.

The Nagibs arrived in Mecca two months before the hajj began, paying the equivalent of 2,155 to a broker in Egypt for the unofficial pilgrimage, where they shared a basic room with six others in a location outside the holy city, one that required more walking than official pilgrims.

They arrived shortly before intense early summer temperatures covered Saudi Arabia and much of the Middle East .

The Gulf is already one of the regions most vulnerable to the effects of the climate crisis, which supercharged the summer heatwave. The Climate Shift Index said the temperature in Mecca during the hajj was 2.8C above average, a rise it said was overwhelmingly attributable to climate change.

Even a small temperature rise can push the limits of human endurance for events such as the hajj, which occurs during the warmer months. A 2019 study from MIT warned that rising temperatures during the summer months could pose extreme danger to pilgrims attending the event.

Roshdy said that many pilgrims were older, having saved for years to attend the hajj, and had underlying conditions that increased the risks posed by hours outdoors in the extreme heat.

Those people cannot walk for all these distances in such an extremely hot weather, he said. All of this is because the tourism companies and brokers want to make money.
A woman holds a photo during a rally calling for a hostage release deal - Amir Levy/Getty

The number of Israeli hostages alive in captivity in Gaza may be as low as 50, according to leaks from mediators involved in the negotiations for a ceasefire deal.

It is the lowest assessment to date of the 120 people still imprisoned by the Hamas terrorist group, and comes as talks to end the war in Gaza have largely stalled amid growing anger at the Israeli government.

The Israeli authorities have previously estimated around half of the remaining hostages to still be alive, while Hamas admitted last week that no one has an idea about their current status.

Protestors painted their hands red to symbolise the blood of dead soldiers - Menaham Kahana/AFP via Getty

The latest estimates were reported by the Wall Street Journal, citing mediators in the hostage talks and a US official familiar with the latest intelligence.

Some 251 people were seized and abducted into the Gaza Strip when thousands of terrorists overwhelmed Israeli defences and attacked southern areas of the country on Oct 7.

In the past nine months, 105 were brought home through a temporary peace deal and seven have been rescued alive, including four in an audacious raid in Nuseirah, central Gaza, earlier this month.

A screen shows Noa Argamani embracing her father after she is rescued from the Gaza Strip - Reuters/Marko Djurica

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, is facing growing pressure from the Israeli public to urgently negotiate a ceasefire deal with Hamas to bring home the missing before it is too late.

However, a three-part peace plan that would initially allow for a limited exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners has stalled over Hamas demands for guarantees of a permanent ceasefire and Israeli troop withdrawal.

Although the US insists Israel has accepted the deal on the table, Mr Netanyahu also faces pressure from far-Right members of his cabinet not to pull back troops until Hamas is destroyed.

At mass protests across Israel this week, demonstrators have held up posters showing the photos of those still in captivity or banners saying Bring Them Home. Many who are unhappy with the governments war strategy have been demanding early elections.

A woman in Tel Aviv looks at a wall covered with photos of hostages held in the Gaza Strip - Amir Levy/Getty

On Thursday, Mr Netanyahu and his wife Sara met some families who have been notified that their loved ones are dead.

We are committed to returning everyone, all 120 hostages  living and deceased. Even if this is in stages, we will not give up on anyone, he said.

As negotiators struggled to find a compromise on Gaza, fighting continued in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, as well as other areas across the enclave.

At least 38 Palestinians were killed as Israeli troops engaged in close-quarter combat with Hamas militants, residents and Israels military said.

Residents said the Israelis appeared to be trying to complete their capture of Rafah, which borders Egypt and has been the focus of an Israeli assault since early May.

Meanwhile, hostilities between Israel and the Lebanon-based terror group Hezbollah are escalating and creating fears of a regional war.

On Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said plans for an attack in southern Lebanon had been approved, adding that steps had been taken to accelerate readiness in the field.

Israeli officials have told the US they are planning to shift resources from southern Gaza to northern Israel to prepare for a possible offensive, reported CNN, the US news channel.

Israeli army tank rolls into position on Israel's southern border with the Palestinian Gaza Strip - Jack Guez/AFP via Getty

However, US officials have expressed serious concerns that if an all-out war erupts, Iran-backed Hezbollah could swamp Israels air defences, including the highly sophisticated Iron Dome.

We assess that at least some Iron Dome batteries will be overwhelmed, a senior administration official told the news channel.

Top US officials hosted their Israeli counterparts, including Tzachi Hanegbi, the national security adviser, and Ron Dermer, the strategic affairs minister, in Washington on Thursday to discuss the ongoing crisis.

Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, told the officials to avoid further escalation in Lebanon amid the war in Gaza, the State Department said.

Mr Blinken reiterated the United States ironclad commitment to Israels security, the State Department readout said, adding that they had also discussed the ongoing talks to secure a hostage deal and ceasefire agreement.
The pandemic shifted geopolitics, disrupted global supply chains, drove economic crises and hit vaccination rates - HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP

Across Europe, dozens of babies have died of whooping cough and measles has surged across the globe. Meanwhile a flesh-eating bacteria is spreading at record rates in Japan, cholera has staged a comeback, and tuberculosis is rising in southeast Asia. In Brazil and Argentina, overwhelmed hospitals are teeming with dengue patients.

SARS-CoV-2 might have subsided, but the pandemic has been followed by a seemingly never-ending stream of nasties. There are even reports that the incidence of heart attack and stroke has jumped in its wake.

And the hard data is clear. Since 2020, more than 40 countries have seen at least one disease outbreak peak at levels ten times higher than before Covid-19 emerged, according to a study by the analytics firm Airfinity and Bloomberg. It begs the question: has the pandemic somehow fundamentally changed us or the pathogens which surround us?

Were still feeling the post-shock impact, Prof Emmanuel Andre, a microbiologist at KU Level in Belgium and advisor to the European Union on infectious disease outbreaks, told the Telegraph. Coming back to the usual epidemiology takes time.

The pandemic was a momentous two year event that had a profound impact on health ecosystems globally. The world had experienced nothing like it since the Spanish Flu of 1918. Behaviours changed across all walks of life. And for the first time in history, large scale- nationwide lockdowns reduced the exposure of hundreds of millions of people to a vast array of common bacterias and viruses.

But Covids grim legacy goes well beyond a possible immunity debt. The unprecedented event shifted geopolitics, disrupted global supply chains, drove economic crises and hit global vaccination rates  all of which have impacted one way or another on our health.

The consequences have been wide ranging and unexpected. And while some current trends are likely to prove fleeting, others could be with us for decades to come.

The Covid pandemic modified disease dynamics, said Dr Andre. Several patterns of disease that we had come used to were annihilated.

It will take at least two or three years to find a new equilibrium. But some things have also changed for good, he added.

Faltering vaccination coverage

A collapse in vaccination rates for common diseases like measles and whooping cough is one of the most obvious impacts of the pandemic  and one which explains the resurgence of these and other illnesses across the world.

While governments focused on Covid-19 jabs, routine immunisation programs for other diseases all but stopped in many places and were set back in others.

In many countries, including the UK, schools, GP surgeries and clinics were shut down during lockdowns, making it difficult for people to access basic healthcare and leaving them vulnerable when restrictions were eventually lifted. bIn England, NHS waiting lists surged from 4.2m just ahead of the pandemic to 7.6m today. Similar trends have been seen in health systems across the globe.

Unicef described the drop in vaccination coverage as the worst in a generation. Roughly 25 million children across the world missed out on jabs for things like polio, measles, and hepatitis, and 14 million still havent caught up.

Declining childhood immunisation rates in several countries are certainly contributing to the resurgence in vaccine-preventable diseases, said Dr. Katie Anders, a director at the World Mosquito Programme.

Since the pandemic, deaths from measles have jumped globally by 44 percent, with huge outbreaks reported in America, Australia, Africa, Central Asia, and Europe.

Whooping cough, known clinically as pertussis, is also surging, with eight infant deaths reported in the UK this year and dozens more in Europe.

Immunity debt

For other diseases like influenza and RSV, a respiratory virus that can be lethal in infants, the post-pandemic comeback has been linked to lockdowns.

Isolation measures kept people apart  and their germs. As we returned to normal life, many were reintroduced to common viruses that they hadnt been exposed to in two years and case numbers boomed.

Influenza  almost wiped out during the pandemic  has jumped by about 40 per cent in the United States in the two seasons since the pandemic, while case numbers for RSV have surged more than 20-fold in Eastern European countries like Lithuania and Czechia.

The same phenomenon may explain the resurgence of strep A  which made headlines in the UK 18 months ago when at least 30 children died and hundreds more were admitted to hospitals as the bacteria spread through the countrys schools.

In Japan, step A has recently been linked to a record spike in a flesh-eating bacterial disease.

Some experts attribute these and other outbreaks to immunity debt.

Pandemic-related measures including masking and social distancing have led to many individuals, especially children, missing out on opportunities to build natural immunity, said Prof Charin Modchang, a disease modeller at Mahidol University in Bangkok.

As a result, a large pool of susceptible people accumulated during the pandemic. Now that control measures have been lifted, we are witnessing a surge in these respiratory viruses.

Still, immunity debt is a controversial concept  and Prof Modchang said many have misunderstood or overhyped the phenomenon.

I prefer the term immunity gap, as it more accurately suggests a temporary delay in immune system education rather than a debt that needs to be repaid, said Prof Modchang.

Prof Eng Eong Ooi, a researcher at Duke-NUS Medical Schools Emerging Infectious Diseases programme in Singapore points out that surveillance systems have also been bolstered since the pandemic, meaning that at least some of the rise may be due to better reporting.

Increased awareness of infectious diseases post-Covid-19 have led to more testing making the rates of these diseases appear more common now, he said.

Isolation measures kept people apart  and their germs - TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images

Airfinity also flagged this as a limitation of its analysis, which compiled data from over 60 health organisations looking at 13 different infectious pathogens.

They compared the worst outbreaks in the years preceding 2020, with the largest epidemics in the years since, and found that at least one disease surged to rates at least 10 times higher than the pandemic baseline in 44 countries and territories.

The trend is concerning, said Kristan Piroeva, an analyst at Airfinity involved in the research. [But] we should bear in mind that some of these high fold increases are due to better testing. We dont have testing rates pre and post pandemic, so for some countries these large-fold increases in the peak of outbreaks may be to do with testing rates.

Others suspect Covid may have weakened a segment of the population, making them more vulnerable to other diseases.

We need to consider the fact that coronavirus has infected large swathes of the global population, and there may be a link between Covid and increased susceptibility to other pathogens, said Dr Ravindra Gupta, a microbiologist at the Cambridge Institute.

Some studies have suggested that Covid-19 may affect immune memory and responses to subsequent infections, potentially increasing susceptibility to other diseases.

Experts suggest that Covid increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke in some patients for up to one year after infection, even in mild cases, for example. One study from Washington University found that those who had coronavirus had a 72 per cent increased risk of heart failure compared to those who hadnt contracted the virus.

Poverty

Covids impact on economies worldwide has also caused pestilence to spread, with as many as 150 million more people plunged into extreme poverty in its wake.

Although all countries were affected by the pandemic, the World Bank has found that the extreme poverty rate in the most deprived nations was more than eight times the global average as a result of reduced economic activity. In the worlds 75 poorest countries  largely located in Africa  one in four people have to survive on less than $2.15 a day, the global benchmark for extreme poverty.

Poverty weakens people and communities, making it much easier for disease to get a grip and thrive. Malnutrition, poor sanitation and limited access to healthcare all make disease outbreaks much more likely and difficult to control.

Increased poverty combined with antimicrobial resistance is blamed for the recent surge in tuberculosis, for example. In 2022, 7.5 million people were newly diagnosed, the highest figure since the World Health Organization began global monitoring in the 1990s.

Syria is battling a huge outbreak of cholera - Baderkhan Ahmad/AP

Cholera  which thrives where hygiene systems have collapsed  has also staged a comeback since 2021.

Syria, which had no cases in 2019, is now battling an outbreak of almost 10,000 infections. The country, which was already struggling prior to the pandemic after years of conflict, saw huge economic challenges during Covid  when 90 per cent of its population were plunged below the poverty line.

Meanwhile Afghanistan has seen nearly 9,000 infections this year  8,529 times the number reported before the pandemic.

The bacterial disease can kill in just a few hours if left untreated.

International conflict

Conflict itself can significantly contribute to the spread of disease  a violence has surged in many regions of the world in Covids wake.

Ukraine has battled outbreaks of HIV, tuberculosis, and polio since its war with Russia erupted in 2022.

And since October 7, hundreds of thousands of children in Gaza have come down with respiratory infections, scabies, lice, and diarrhoea.

In Myanmar, diseases including malaria and HIV are rising as health systems collapse.

Conflict, such as the one raging in Myanmar, has resulted in health systems collapse in a number of countries - STR/AFP

These are not isolated cases. Since 2020, hundreds of conflicts have erupted across the globe, many triggered by falling living standards and political instability.

In 2023 alone, the International Institute for Strategic Studies documented 183 conflicts  the highest number in three decades.

The climate crisis

Vector-borne diseases (those carried by insects like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas) have also spiked since the pandemic  though not always because of it.

More than seven million people in the Americas have been infected with dengue fever so far this year, in the regions worst outbreak to date.

Meanwhile last year in Mozambique, a powerful cyclone drove a surge in malaria cases by destroying pest control efforts and creating vast lakes of standing water for mosquitoes to thrive in.

Increased standing water in Mozambique has hampered pest control efforts which has driven a surge in malaria cases - Douglas Condzo/Bloomberg

While the pandemic hobbled containment efforts in some regions, rising temperatures have allowed mosquitoes, ticks and other disease carrying animals to spread.

Dengue fever, carried by the tiger mosquito, has been detected in several European countries, including France, Spain, and Italy  which saw a 66-fold increase in cases since 2019.

Earlier this month it was reported that Parisian health officials are racing to kill off the threat ahead of the Olympics which open in July.

Pandemic era

Covid-19 has clearly been disruptive, disrupting patterns of disease and making many of us sicker in all sorts of ways. But what is perhaps most worrying, is that some experts think it may be a harbinger of things to come.

Far from being a once in a 100 year event, some suspect that the pace and intensity of global development mean we could be entering a pandemic age.

According to Prof Andre and many other experts, increased travel, the spread of mega cities and humanitys gradual intrusion into more and more report areas means the chances of zoonotic spillover events like Covid are becoming more and more likely.

Humanity has always tried to impact the spread of diseases from the very early days of human history but we just cant control everything, he said.

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Dame Priti is understood to be focusing on holding her Essex seat at the moment - Carl Court/Getty Images

Dame Priti Patel is being urged by supporters to stand for the Tory leadership if the party is defeated at the election.

Allies of the former home secretary said figures from across the party wanted her to stand as a potential unifying candidate who could end the infighting and provide a credible leader of the opposition.

Friends said she had not ruled out the possibility of standing but was focused on the election and retaining her Witham constituency in Essex. They said she would make a decision after polling day on July 4, depending on the result.

Suggestions that she might stand as an interim leader were dismissed by her allies. I dont think anyone will do that. Either you want to fix it or you dont, said one.

Speculation is already building about a Tory leadership contest after the election with opinion polls forecasting a landslide victory for Sir Keir Starmers Labour party with the Conservatives reduced to as few as 53 seats.

Dame Priti would be seen as a frontrunner, along with Penny Mordaunt, the Commons leader, and Kemi Badenoch, the Business Secretary, as long as they maintain their seats.

Other leadership contenders could include Robert Jenrick, the former immigration minister, Tom Tugendhat, the security minister, Suella Braverman, the former home secretary, Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, and Victoria Atkins, the Health Secretary.

Although on the Right of the party, Dame Priti is said to be garnering support from members of the centrist One Nation group. There are people you would not expect who are saying: You should think about it. The party needs holding together, said one ally.

She is election-focused and doesnt have the bandwidth now to consider it. She will have a proper think about it when the election is done.

Dame Priti was a staunch supporter of Boris Johnson, whom she served as home secretary, and has been loyal to Rishi Sunak. She spurned joining the Tory rebels who voted against his Rwanda legislation in an attempt to toughen it up, arguing privately that party disunity would only damage the Tories electoral prospects.

She has received backing from centrist figures such as George Osborne, the former chancellor, and David Gauke, the former justice secretary. One ally said One Nation MPs who had been sceptical about her tenure as home secretary now recognised how much more difficult the job was than they thought.

Allies say she is popular with the grassroots for her hard-line approach on immigration and crime. Supporters point to not only her experience in Government but her job with Lord Hague as his deputy press secretary in 1997, after Sir Tony Blairs landslide victory, as valuable experience in coping with a party facing an existential crisis.
Another scientist said he believed environmental exposure was triggering and/or accelerating a variety of neurodegenerative syndromes. Photograph: Image Source/Alamy

A senior Canadian federal scientist has alleged that the government shut down an investigation into a mystery brain illness in New Brunswick that he believes may have affected 350 people.

He is the second federal scientist to accuse the government of deliberately halting the investigation and to say that the caseload is higher than the government has acknowledged.

Health officials in the eastern province first said in 2021 that 40 people were suffering from an unexplained neurological condition. A year later, a committee assembled by the province determined that the patients probably had been misdiagnosed and were suffering from other diseases.

In a leaked email seen by the Guardian, Prof Samuel Weiss, a neuroscientist working for the Canadian federal agency responsible for funding medical research, wrote that the government had deliberately curtailed the search for an explanation.

In the spring of 2021, I felt incredibly optimistic that an all of government effort to unravel the mystery was in the cards. However, in short order, the scientific effort was shut down at the request of the [federal and provincial] Governments, Weiss wrote in the email sent in May.

I dont think it is helpful to suggest or point to who or why  suffice to say that we were prepared to marshal both financial and human scientific resources to tackle the mystery, but they were declined.

It is not clear to whom the email was sent. It concluded with Weiss offering a heartfelt apology. All I can offer is my sincere apologies for our poor response to the mystery illness  and my hope that you dont suffer too much. You and the 350 others affected deserve so much more.

Weiss is the scientific director of the Institute of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addiction at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and a member of the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame for his research in neurogenesis, the process by which neurons are generated in the brain, which has pioneered avenues for treatment of several degenerative brain diseases including Parkinsons, Alzheimers and multiple sclerosis.

Weiss, the New Brunswick health department and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) were contacted for comment.

After publication, a New Brunswick health department spokesperson said: New Brunswick does not hinder any research into this area of study. If the department of health determines any additional actions are needed, it will respond accordingly.

The spokesperson outlined how medical professionals in New Brunswick had a duty to notify authorities of certain diseases, and said the department was assisting Dr Alier Marrero, who initially raised concerns about patients he was following. Public Health New Brunswick has had ongoing discussions with PHAC on this file and has worked in partnership with the national agency several times to support Dr Marrero, the spokesperson said.

Public Health New Brunswick says on its website: An oversight committee reviewing the case files of all 48 of the potential cases found that the patients didnt have symptoms in common or have a shared common illness. Its important to understand that outbreak investigations are not rare  Every cluster or outbreak with an unknown cause is considered a mystery illness until an outbreak investigation can be done to find out why people are becoming ill.

While the provinces investigative committee concluded there was no cluster of patients with a mystery illness, the leaked emails show that senior research scientists remain unconvinced.

Related: Whats going on with me? Canadian victims of mystery illness suffer alone

The Guardian has reported previously that 1,000 pages of internal documents obtained by freedom of information requests showed that early on in the investigation the provinces department of environment and public health units began eagerly exploring the possibility of environmental causes alongside their federal counterparts. But by mid-2021, New Brunswick appeared to have halted the probe with little explanation.

This month, the Guardian reported that another leading federal scientist, Michael Coulthart, had alleged he had been barred from investigating the cluster of unexplained illnesses.

Coulthart, a microbiologist who heads Canadas Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Surveillance System, wrote in a leaked email that he believed an environmental exposure  or a combination of exposures  is triggering and/or accelerating a variety of neurodegenerative syndromes, with people seemingly susceptible to different protein misfolding ailments including Alzheimers and Parkinsons.

The revelations that top federal scientists believe the government has stonewalled an investigation has infuriated some of those affected and their families, who are demanding a response.

I really feel alarmed but not surprised at how the information is being dismissed. And I feel that there is a moral and ethical responsibility for other officials to step in, said Stacie Quigley Cormier, whose 23-year-old daughter Gabrielle is suffering from a neurological disorder that has left her with muscle loss and shaking.

I dont feel like theyve forgotten about us. I feel like theyve intentionally pretended to forget about us and that theres nothing to see here, she said in a phone interview, calling on the government to do more. We need the scientists to be able to do some testing, we need access to other testing that maybe we dont have in New Brunswick.

After five years of searching for answers, Gabrielles condition is worse than ever, Cormier said. Theres a decline in her health. She was shaking more, and she has neuropathy.

Doctors have identified decreased functioning in Gabrielles frontal and temporal lobe, Cormier said, and diagnosed her with anti-MAG peripheral neuropathy, an extremely rare condition usually found in older men, in which a persons immune system develops antibodies against a key protein in the nervous system.

The family believe that an unidentified external cause, such as a chemical in the environment, has caused the cluster of illnesses and say more must be done to identify it. We know that so many people are sick. And we know that something is obviously causing this. As we get closer to putting some of these puzzle pieces together, theyre still pointing in the same direction, Cormier said.

Another woman in New Brunswick who is suffering from the mystery illness was furious at the thought of the government not taking the situation seriously. She said her anger at the governments response was adding to the difficulties she was experiencing as a result of the condition, including blurred vision, disturbed sleep, loss of appetite, muscle aches, stiffness, tremors and a loss of balance and coordination.

I cant multitask and get frustrated very easily, like I get mad over nothing for no reason and have no patience, said the woman, who is in her 20s and asked to withhold her name to retain her medical privacy.

Its extremely frustrating that at the end of the day a bunch of politicians are trying to sweep it under a rug and they are leaving our doctors and scientists gagged and unable to do their jobs.
A balcony collapse outside a home that lead to Susan Farb Morris death is photographed Tuesday, June 18, 2024 on West End in Galveston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer A balcony collapse outside a home that lead to Susan Farb Morris death is photographed Tuesday, June 18, 2024 on West End in Galveston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Susan Farb Morris is shown in this 2015 photo. ! Joe Robbins Photography

Old nails appear to have caused the Galveston porch collapse that led to the death of well-connected Houston public relations professional Susan Farb Morris, according to an island inspector.

Marissa Barnett, spokeswoman for the city, said an inspector found the deck around Morris' beach home had been attached with wood boards and nails, but that the 30-year-old nails had deteriorated over the years and likely led to the collapse.

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The inspector found a tag for the deck from 1994, the same year the home was built, Barnett said. Many decking companies recommend replacing wood decks every 15 to 20 years, depending on maintenance, location and exposure to elements.

The findings come days after Morris died when the balcony collapsed outside her home on Kahala Drive East, officials said. A forensic examiner determined she died from significant injuries, according to John D.J. Florence, chief investigator for the Galveston County Medical Examiner.
'Things are very, very bleak'

While the rest of us were watching in horror as three separate polls spelled out disaster for the party, on Wednesday afternoon Angela Richardson, the Conservative Partys deputy chairman, tried to persuade us that there was nothing to worry about.

The polls are wrong, she posted in the Conservative MPs WhatsApp group, alongside a smiling selfie with activists in Guildford, Surrey, which she is hoping to retain, but, in truth, will be lucky to hang onto come July 4. Various supporters of Rishi reacted with blue hearts.

They are deluded. I now think we will be lucky to end up with 100 seats. Our best hope is if traditional Conservative voters return to us at the last minute because they are concerned about Labour winning a gigantic majority.

One lady came up to me while I was delivering leaflets on a housing estate and said she was very worried about Starmer. But Ive also had people Ive met a few times before, who like me personally, say they are going to vote Reform.

Reform has tapped into something, which in some ways shouldnt be surprising. All over the world, particularly in Europe, this sort of thing has been happening and if parties on the centre-Right dont seize the zeitgeist, they fall. Specifically, the issues around immigration are of monumental significance to millions in this country  particularly 2019 Conservative voters  and the reality is that Rishi has not taken that anywhere near seriously enough. A lot of people in senior positions in the Conservative Party also dont get that.

What was David Cameron thinking, using a newspaper interview last weekend to go after Nigel Farage? Im sure he thought he was being helpful, but he sees politics through the prism of the 2010 and 2015 elections. I dont think he understands how things have fundamentally changed since then.

It is utterly depressing to have the rug pulled from underneath us during an election campaign with interventions like that from detached individuals who have got no comprehension for what is happening in British politics at the moment.

The stories about senior figures in the party betting on the election date are also incredibly bad for us, and it seems crazy that the people involved havent been suspended.

But, as a party, we have made repeated promises over a decade that we would significantly cut legal migration, and we havent done that. We saw the Prime Minister say he would do whatever it takes to stop the small boats. He hasnt done whatever it takes. People dont like broken promises.

In some ways it may be that something like this needs to happen for our party to wake up.

But, remarkably, there are a number of Conservative candidates who are still of the view that we shouldnt talk about immigration. Some of them have been having a go at those of us who have spoken out about immigration, suggesting that were to blame for the partys problems because weve been inflating the issue and therefore helping Reform.

In one recent case in the last few days, a candidate expressed that view on the MPs WhatsApp group and was then roundly attacked by another colleague. It then petered out, I think because people realised it might leak.

Things are very, very bleak. In my constituency weve got people who have never voted before who are planning to back Reform. And in Rishi Sunak weve got a leader who is simply ill-suited to deal with the populist threat on the Right. Character-wise, hes the worst type of leader we could have at this moment.

On Thursday night, I watched the BBC Question Time debate and, to be fair, he came across better than I expected. Finally some passion and fight. Its such a shame he hasnt displayed it more often. I fear its likely too little, too late.

Could this election be an extinction-level event for the Conservative Party? I dont know. But there is something significant happening in this country.
Dawn Sturgess died after coming into contact with novichok. Her family want the quality of her medical care to be investigated. Photograph: Metropolitan Police/PA

The former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, do not want to appear at an independent inquiry on the Salisbury novichok poisonings because they fear their security cannot be guaranteed, it has emerged.

At a preliminary inquiry hearing, it was also made clear that the family of Dawn Sturgess, who died after being exposed to the nerve agent, are keen that the adequacy of the medical care she received is fully explored.

The UK government has asked for stringent measures, including a 15-minute delay in streaming the full hearing in case anyone accidentally says something that could harm national security.

Skripal was the target of the poisoning in March 2018. He, Yulia and a police officer, DS Nick Bailey, were poisoned but survived.

Four months later, Sturgess, 44, and her partner, Charlie Rowley, were also poisoned after he found a fake perfume bottle containing novichok. Rowley recovered but Sturgess died on 8 July 2018.

Sturgesss family have battled to find out the truth of what happened to her, and pushed for the inquest to be converted into an inquiry as that has more power to examine issues such as the role of the Russian state.

Related: UK governments refusal to confirm Skripal spy role is surreal, lawyers say

During the preliminary hearing in London, the Skripals barrister, Jack Holborn, said they believed there was enough evidence from them in transcripts of police interviews and other material to mean there was no need for them to be called.

There will be tight security measures around the full inquiry, which begins at Salisbury Guildhall in October but, Holborn said, No security measures are perfect. He also said giving live evidence would cause the Skripals distress and that others were better placed to address the issue of whether Sturgesss death could have been prevented.

Sturgesss family have expressed sympathy with the Skripals and said they understood their reluctance, but added they had not had access to their police interviews and statements and so wanted them to be kept on the list of possible witnesses.

The chair of the inquiry, the former supreme court justice Anthony Hughes, said: My inclination is to await the disclosure of the interviews and any other material before making any final decision about the Skripals. Im acutely conscious of the risk they would be subjected to but, if its necessary, we will see.

The counsel to the inquiry, Andrew OConnor KC, said Sturgesss family had consistently identified the quality of the medical care received by Dawn Sturgess as an issue that they wish to be investigated.

The Guardian revealed in 2019 that paramedics used an anti-novichok drug, atropine, on Rowley, which may have saved his life. One issue the family want examined is why Sturgess was not given atropine.

Michael Mansfield KC, for the family, said they were keen to hear from a clinician who decided that it was not necessary to administer the drug to try to find out if it would have made a difference. The chair agreed the clinician should give evidence if possible.

Cathryn McGahey KC, for the UK government, told the inquiry that a 15-minute delay before the inquiry was broadcast was needed to reduce the possibility of security breaches. She said: The stakes are very high, bearing in mind the hostile actors taking an interest in these proceedings.
The Airbnb in Masca, Tenerife, where missing Jay Slater stayed the night before he disappeared. Photograph: James Manning/PA

Spanish police have rejected an offer of support from Lancashire constabulary as the hunt for the missing British teenager Jay Slater in Tenerife continues.

Lancashire police said it had made an offer of support to the Guardia Civil to see if they need any additional resources in their efforts. The 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer from Oswaldtwistle was last heard from between 8am and 9am on Monday morning when he contacted a friend.

A Lancashire constabulary statement said: Whilst this case falls outside the jurisdiction of UK policing, we have made an offer of support to the Guardia Civil to see if they need any additional resources.

They have confirmed that at this time they are satisfied that they have the resources they need, but that offer remains open and they will contact us should that position change.

Slater was last seen in the north-western mountain village of Masca. He disappeared after he had left the holiday cottage of some men he had gone back with after attending the NRG music festival in the south of the island.

The teenager had been attempting to walk back to his accommodation after missing a bus. The walk from Slaters last known location to his accommodation would have taken about 11 hours.

On Friday, police, firefighters and search and rescue personnel combed a vast area in and around the village of Masca. Emergency workers met in various locations throughout the day, combing bushes, overgrown terrain, hillsides and rivers but failed to find the missing teenager.

On the fifth day of the hunt for Slater, search teams paid close attention to a river called Barranco Madre del Agua at the bottom of a ravine, where personnel carefully searched through fallen dead trees.

They later moved to other areas, focusing much of their resources in an area near Rural de Teno park.

Search and rescue looked through dead palm trees covering a river at the bottom of the hillside near to the Airbnb property he had reportedly been driven to.

Related: Friends of teenager missing in Tenerife urge UK and Spanish police to aid search

The property owner, Ofelia Medina Hernandez, told reporters she saw Slater walk up the road past her property but did not see him again after that, describing the situation as worrying.

On Friday, a post on the Facebook page called Jay Slater Missing by the groups administrator, Rachel Louise Hargon, said Slaters family and friends were drained beyond words.

Lucy Law, who attended the NRG music festival with Slater, said he called her at about 8.30am on Monday and told her he was lost in the mountains, he wasnt aware of his surroundings, he desperately needed a drink and his phone was on 1%.

Slaters mother, Debbie Duncan, who flew to Tenerife on Tuesday, said searching for her son was an absolute living nightmare.

A fundraiser set up by Law to get Jay Slater home has received more than 24,900 in donations. Law has also called for British police to assist with the investigation and has been critical of local efforts.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: We are supporting the family of a British man who has been reported missing in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.
Kemi Badenoch has urged voters to stick with the Tories while understanding their 'frustration' - Christopher Pledger for The Telegraph

Labour will reverse Brexit if it wins the general election, Kemi Badenoch has warned.

In an interview with The Telegraph, the Business Secretary says Brexit is a 10 to 20-year project and that any benefits will disappear if Sir Keir Starmer becomes prime minister.

She also understands why some on the Right are frustrated with the Conservatives but has urged them not to defect to Reform UK, saying it would be a wasted vote. Instead, she tells them to look at the bad things we have stopped that will come in under Labour.

Reports emerged on Friday that Labour had drawn up plans to raise capital gains tax and inheritance tax, bringing in 10 billion a year.

Sunday is the eighth anniversary of the vote to leave the European Union. Sir Keir has called for closer cooperation with Brussels on education, defence and security. He has also said he does not want to diverge from EU standards on workers rights and food standards.

Addressing Brexit, Mrs Badenoch says: One of my biggest challenges is the criticism on the Right that we havent done things that we actually have done they are trying to tell people that it has not been a success.

This is a 10 or 20-year project. Weve just started. Its like building a house and someone comes in and says oh, its not done yet, hes failed. Or youre cooking something and, five minutes later, its not cooked yet, its not working, lets stop.

Making sure everyone is focused on getting those benefits is absolutely critical. I think thats one area where Ive tried to do as much as possible, but we need more of that strategy.

Thats something thats going to disappear if Labour come in; they will take us backwards. They will take us back to square one. Theyre just going to copy what the EU does.

The minister says that not only would Labour seek to unravel the Brexit vote, it would bring in a slew of disruptive regulations on business. She accuses Sir Keir of seeking to bring in new equality laws that would require pay cuts for men to ensure firms close the gender pay gap.

She is also very worried that Labour would scrap guidance telling teachers they should not help children socially transition, which is when a pupil changes the gender of their preferred pronouns.

Mrs Badenoch declined to answer questions about whether she could be a future Conservative leader. A poll for the Telegraph this week found she would be the only Tory big beast left with a seat after the election, with the party forecast to suffer a historic defeat.

She tells Tory MPs to spend the next two weeks reminding voters that, without them, Brexit would not have been delivered and we would still be going round and round in circles arguing about the referendum. She points out that the Tories are seeking trade deals with countries such as India and Singapore, whereas Labour cannot see past the Channel.

Mrs Badenoch speaks warmly about Reform UK voters, but urges them to back the Tories instead. Its very sad for me, seeing the Reform vote go up, but I understand where a lot of people who are looking that way are coming from, she says.

I have friends who are voting Reform, thankfully not [in my constituency] But what I am trying to emphasise is that we get your frustration. I hate the way people talk about Reform voters, I think it is very disrespectful. We should not talk about people who are on the centre-Right that way.

She adds that a vote for Mr Farages party is a wasted vote. Remember that the Reform vote is not concentrated enough to get seats. [It] may get loads of votes, but they wouldnt get seats because they need votes in particular areas. And if Im sitting there having lost 100 Conservatives, one extra Reform MP is not going to help. Its not going to help me deliver a conservative agenda. Its not going to help the Tory party deliver a conservative agenda. Its not going to help us hold Labour to account. We need to have Conservative MPs with conservative values.

On Friday, another poll showed Reform with more support than the Tories. The survey, by Whitestone Insight of 2,029 adults in Britain on Wednesday and Thursday, put Reform on 20 per cent and the Tories on 19 per cent. Labour is on 39 per cent, according to the poll.

Mrs Badenoch would not answer questions on whether she would stand as Tory leader should Rishi Sunak resign in the wake of a Conservative defeat. She said that because the Conservative intake during Boris Johnsons 2019 success was so broad, some traditional voters believed the party was not doing enough on issues like free markets or defence. Despite this, she said: I dont think that we have lost touch with core values at all.

Labour in power? My constituents are terrified

By Daniel Martin, Deputy Political Editor

If there is one question Kemi Badenoch is keen to shut down immediately, it is about the Conservative leadership.

Asked whether she would put her name forward if the Tories election campaign continues to falter, she declines to answer.

Im not talking about if it goes wrong, she says quickly. I know everybody likes asking this question.

We spend a lot of time talking about who wants to be the leader and whos had drinks in their office. But actually when those stories are reported, people in my constituency dont understand it.

They see it as everybody being in politics just for their personal ambitions. And thats not why Im doing it. Im doing it for them. And I want people to understand that.

And yet the rumours will not stop swirling. They reached fever pitch earlier this week when The Telegraphs MRP poll showed that the Conservatives were due to be virtually wiped out, taking only 53 seats.

Not only did Rishi Sunak lose his seat under this projection, but almost all of the front runners in the race to be Tory leader  Priti Patel, Suella Braverman, Robert Jenrick, Penny Mordaunt  were expected to lose out, too.

Only one big beast remained - Mrs Badenoch, the Business Secretary and equalities minister, potentially leaving the way clear for her to become leader of the opposition at the age of 44.

Before the last election, she was MP for the large rural seat of Saffron Walden, which has now been redrawn and called North West Essex.

It is a stunningly beautiful part of England  especially so on a glorious day like today, with the sun glinting off the windows of the chocolate-box cottages and country churches.

Speaking in the kitchen of her home near Saffron Walden, fresh from a meeting with local farmers, Mrs Badenoch said only the Tories really understood rural constituencies.

Many of the things that the farmers were talking about and worried about were things that would come in with the Labour government, more regulation, or lack of understanding about business, she says.

People seem to have forgotten that its getting harder and harder to make money as a farmer. We are the party that wants to see farming thrive.

She says she was brought into Tory politics through her belief in personal responsibility, as opposed to the Labour side which was all about rights.

We are moving into an arena where people want governments to sort everything out no matter how small, she says. And that would be accelerated under a Labour government.

In what way? She points to the opposition partys plans to bring in a race equality act which would force firms to make sure people of different ethnicities are paid the same.

We already have an equality act, she says. We already have laws. What they are bringing in is more and more inspection, more and more quotas. I would be very worried.

Theyre bringing in things like employment regulations that are well above and beyond what is required for people to have good rights in the workplace.

She said that many of the requests from trade unions for changes to employment law that she had batted off during her time in the business department would be implemented under Labour, adding: It will be on speed, effectively.

Workers rights

Warming to her theme, she goes on: There are many reasons why people will have different pay: different levels of education, different experience, different lifestyle choices. The gender pay gap is virtually impossible to close.

Rachel Reeves is saying that shes going to close it. To do that, youre going to have to pay men less. Thats the only way that you can do that.

Labour will also bring in new workers rights on day one, where somebody doesnt turn up for work, and you cant sack them.

Its going to be things like four-day weeks, she warns. You know, we used to have three-day weeks in the 70s. People dont see what weve been stopping.

Mrs Badenoch said she was also very very worried about how Labour would act in government when it comes to sex and gender.

Im worried that they will undo the work we have done on gender-questioning guidance for children, she says, referring to the guidelines that tell teachers they should not allow children who want to change gender to socially transition in school by allowing them to use their preferred pronouns and the facilities for the gender they identify as.

I do think that if Labour come in, its going to disappear.

She also pointed to Labour plans to charge VAT on private school fees, saying parents in her constituency were absolutely terrified and Its not fair, and its not right.

Despite this, however, Labour still has a massive lead in the polls, with surveys suggesting they could come in with a majority in excess of 200.

Youre right, this is a tough election after 14 years. Theres no safe seats, she says.

What has come up on the doorstep is that Conservative voters are fed up with infighting or what they see as infighting.

What I try to explain to them is that when we do have these disagreements, it is about what is right for the voter.

When Labour has disagreements it is about Gaza, or whether Jeremy Corbyn should be in the party, or whether Diane Abbott is really anti-Semitic.

Were not going to pretend that things have been absolutely perfect. But when were fighting, were fighting for your readers, but when Labour is fighting, theyre fighting on trivia nonsense.

And I would ask your readers to look at what were fighting about. Its how do we deal with immigration, what should we do about small boats, is the Rwanda policy the right policy? These are things that reflect what the country is debating.

She rejects the notion that the Tories have lost sight of some of their core values.

I do think that the Conservative coalition is broader than it has ever been before, and that means that theres a lot more internal tension, she says.

So Conservative voters often think that weve forgotten about free markets or defence. The traditional Conservative voter, I would say, might think that were not doing enough on that, but we have new Conservative voters who want to do other things as well.

And thats where much of the tension is coming from. So I dont think that we have lost touch with core values at all. I think were very much in touch with them. But we are trying to create a policy platform that the whole country can get behind, not just the core base.

Shutting down debate

A Labour majority is more than possible, she says  and if it happens she warns they will shut down debate.

Weve got to be focused on everyone winning their seats and delivering a Conservative majority, she says. But look at the language that Labour MPs use. We had a great candidate in London, Susan Hall, and the day before the election Wes Streeting was calling her a white supremacist.

Thats what they do in opposition. Imagine what they will do if they have the levers of power. They wont just be talking on Twitter, they will be using that power to shut down alternative debate.

If you get a Labour super-majority, what you will see is Labour using that power to shut down people they disagree with.

With less than two weeks to go until election day, Mrs Badenoch said candidates and activists had to knock on doors to talk about the good stuff because everybody wants to talk about whats gone wrong.

But theres so much that has gone right, she insists, from supporting firms during Covid, the amount of money ploughed into the NHS, and Rishi Sunak managing the economy very well.

People need to remember that without the Conservative Party, we would still be going round and round in circles arguing about the referendum five years later.

And look how strong we have been supporting Ukraine, making sure we are providing strength and moral courage to the rest of Europe on defence. I dont think Labour will do that.

She pointed to Sir Keir Starmers performance on Thursday nights Question Time, when he claimed Mr Corbyn would have been a better leader than Boris Johnson, despite having previously attacked him; and changing his view on whether only women can have a cervix.

This is the stuff that demonstrates somebody who is not firmly rooted in his principles, she warns. He is somebody who is blowing where the wind goes and thinks that everything bad is down to the Tories.

Hes got no solutions of his own.
A window riddled with bullet holes at the store in Fordyce - AP

Four people have died and several were injured after a shooting at a grocery store in Arkansas on Friday, police said on Saturday. Cars were riddled with bullet holes and panicked bystanders scrambled for cover during the attack.

The fourth person died on Saturday evening, Arkansas state police said in a statement, listing a total of 14 people as hit by gunfire: 11 civilians, two law enforcement officers and the suspect.

The dead were identified as Shirley Taylor, 62, Callie Weems, 23, Roy Sturgis, 50, and Ellen Shrum, 81  all civilians, according to the statement.

The wounded ranged in age between 20 and 65, police said. Four were still on hospital, including a woman who was in critical condition.

The wounded agents were identified as Fordyce Police Officer James Johnson, 31, who was released from a hospital on Saturday evening, and Stuttgart Police Officer John Hudson, 24, whose injuries were said to be minor.

Police said the suspect was Travis Eugene Posey, 44, of New Edinburg, and he would be charged with four counts of capital murder.

He was treated for non-life-threatening injuries after exchanging gunfire with law enforcement and was then released to police custody and taken to the Ouachita County Detention Centre, police said.

Police have not released a motive. A media briefing to update about the shooting was announced for Sunday afternoon.

The incident occurred on Friday morning in the small town of around 3,200 people, around 70 miles south of Little Rock, the state capital.

Law enforcement officers rushed to the scene and two were injured in the shooting - AP

Arkansas State Police did not explain the circumstances of the shooting but said that the wounded police officers were expected to survive.

Injuries of civilians ranged from non-life-threatening to extremely critical, he said.

Videos posted on social media showed at least one person lying in the car park. Another captured multiple gunshots ringing out.

Images from reporters on the scene showed a slew of bullet holes in the grocery stores window.

The injured officers are expected to survive - AP

In video footage, local and state agencies could be seen responding to the scene, with at least one medical helicopter landing nearby.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the Arkansas governor, issued a statement later on Friday.

I am thankful to law enforcement and first responders for their quick and heroic action to save lives, she said.

My prayers are with the victims and all those impacted by this horrific incident.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the Arkansas governor, offered prayers to the victims - REUTERS

The incident comes a week after Joe Biden, the US president, acknowledged he had not met many of his pledges on gun safety.

More children are killed in America by guns than cancer and car accidents combined, he said at the annual training conference for Everytown for Gun Safety.

He called for an outright ban on civilian ownership of assault rifles, which have been used in some mass shooting incidents.

The issue is a well-established dividing line between Democrat and Republican candidates at presidential elections.

Mr Biden has criticised his Republican rival, Donald Trump, for addressing a conference of the National Rifle Association (NRA) and taking a conservative stance on the current rules.
Jessica Alba as Parker and Tone Bell as Spider in Trigger Warning - Ursula Coyote/Netflix

Here is a prospective case for Lionel Hutz, the lawyer on The Simpsons who once filed a fraudulent advertising suit against The NeverEnding Story because the films story did, in fact, eventually end.

Despite its title, Trigger Warning is about as inflammatory as a ham and cheese sandwich. There are instalments of the Minions franchise more liable to epater the bourgeoisie than this thinly spread thriller from the production company behind the John Wick films, about an arms-dealing conspiracy in a small American town beside a (by all indications, very poorly guarded) military base.

Jessica Alba stars as Special Forces officer Parker, who flies home to said town from Syria when her father dies in dubious circumstances. The old man perished in a cave-in  which is suspicious, not only because he was a real cave guy (he loved that damn cave, Alba tuts in disbelief), but like his daughter, he was also a Green Beret, and therefore unlikely to have mishandled the explosives which were the apparent accidents apparent cause.

Much of the towns business revolves around a Bible-thumping local senator (Anthony Michael Hall) and his two adult sons: respectively, the local sheriff (Mark Webber) and a lairy scumbag (Jake Weary) with lots of surprisingly powerful weaponry to hand. After getting the lie of the land, Alba comes up with a theory as to what may have really happened to her dad. And then  well, the plot more or less parks itself, as the ensuring hour or so of investigations and fights prove her broadly correct.

Alba hasnt had a lead role in a feature in a while so it would have been nice if this one had given her some texture or dazzle to play with, as Keanu Reeves had in the various John Wicks. Alas, this is pure filmmaking-by-paycheque: you can virtually hear the clock card machine crunching at the start of every scene, as cast and crew punch in dutifully for another shift.

The fight choreography by Eric Brown, who worked on the first three Wicks, is brisk and clean, but (one fun moment with a chainsaw aside) isnt quite extravagant enough to be a selling point. Nor is the plot, which does little with its seasoned-soldiers-homecoming premise  but then, when your opening war scene looks so digitally confected, battle trauma was always going to be a tough sell.

In fact, the one surprise here is how chipper Alba remains, even after machete-ing her way through a rabble of neer-do-wells. Green Beret or not, this would surely count as a gruelling ordeal  but she shrugs it off even quicker than most viewers will.

15 cert, 106 min. On Netflix from June 21
Were at risk of taking a huge step backwards, said Sylvie Nedgar, right, with her daughter, Amelie. Photograph: Ed Alcock/The Guardian

They marched through the narrow streets of Lyons medieval old town, about three dozen of them, emboldened after the French far-right gains in the European elections. Masks covering their faces, they wound past the hidden passageways that provided cover for the resistance during the second world war, chanting: We are fucking Nazis and Islam out of Europe.

For some in this French city, last weeks far-right demonstration, captured on video, was a chilling reminder of just how much is at stake in the snap parliamentary elections that could see the French far-right lead government.

The consequences would be catastrophic, said Kamel Kabtane, the head of the French Institute of Muslim Civilisation, founded in 2017 to promote intercultural dialogue in Lyon. For France, for all of the citizens of this country and, in particular, for the Muslim community.

Related: French elections: who are the key players and what is at stake?

Polls suggest the far-right, anti-immigrant National Rally (RN) is on course to win the elections but will fall short of a majority. Were up against those who object to our very presence in this country, said Kabtane in his office at the institute, located in the citys tree-lined outskirts. And theyll do everything they can to make life difficult for us.

France is home to one of Europes largest Muslim populations, with an estimated 6 million people who practise Islam or have a Muslim background. The community also ranks among Europes most established, with families who have spent as many as five generations carving out lives that blend French and Muslim traditions.

Kabtane was among those who began sounding the alarm bells, rallying Muslims to vote in the snap elections, after the European parliamentary ballot saw RN garner more than 30% of the vote in France. [RNs] discourse is built on foreigners, immigrants and on the practice of Islam in France, he said.

What is clear is that RN sees a France where the motto of liberte, egalite, fraternite seemingly only applies to some, he said. Will we have the liberty to practise our religion tomorrow? Will we be equal? And will the principle of fraternity continue, or will we be sidelined as some would like?

Outside a shopping centre in Lyon that ranks among Europes largest, Ceyda Demer criticised politicians for being short on ideas but big on discrimination. You watch their interviews and they dont say anything about the environment or fundamental rights, said the 14-year-old. They only talk about Muslims and the rights they want to take away.

Her assessment came as Jordan Bardella, RNs president, vowed the party would work towards eventually banning the wearing of headscarves in public places and urged France to give him a majority so he could drastically cut immigration.

Launched in the early 1970s as the National Front, the founders of RN included Jean-Marie Le Pen, who was convicted three times for contesting crimes against humanity, in the third instance after dismissing the Holocaust as a detail of history.

Rife with antisemitic, homophobic and racist views, the party was long seen as a danger to democracy. While Marine Le Pen, Jean-Maries daughter, has spent much of the past decade working to soften the partys image, RNs vehemence against immigrants, and Muslims in particular, remains the partys calling card.

The group has previously called for a ban on ritual slaughter  which would in effect prohibit halal and kosher meat  while in 2015, Marine Le Pen was tried and cleared of inciting religious hatred after she compared Muslims praying on a street in 2010 to the Nazi occupation.

Bardella has continued the partys tirade against political Islam, describing it recently as a threat that seeks to conquer France and impose its own prohibitions on French people.

It is the kind of rhetoric that is woefully out of step with everyday reality in France, said Hissam Khalfi, 23. Theyre hurting my France. Theyre trying to divide us, he said. Im French; I feel French. Growing up here, there were people of all colours and backgrounds in my neighbourhood; we never had any problems.

He was confident that voters would turn out en masse  surpassing the 51% who voted in the European elections  to back his version of France. Im not worried, he said. Some people try to divide us but France will stay united.

The sentiment was echoed by Najatte Khallef, 41, who pointed to the white headscarf she was wearing. I go to work wearing my hijab and, I promise you, no one says a word to me, said Khallef, who was born in France. Never has anyone even looked at me oddly.

It is a different story, however, when she tunes into the media, where there seems to be constant fuss over her clothing choices. Its only journalists and those who want power who talk about it, she said.

After the European election results, the rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris, Chems-Eddine Hafiz, railed against the failure of Frances traditional political parties to address issues such as persistent unemployment, stagnant wages and the rising cost of living. By not doing so, they had abandoned the field to those who sow division and hatred, he wrote in his weekly post.

He added that RN had seized on this opening, casting Muslims and north Africans as scapegoats, the symbols of everything that is perceived as threatening, as foreign, as incompatible with a supposedly homogeneous national identity.

Mainstream politicians had done more than simply give way to the far right, said Fatima Bent, citing the many ways in which they had normalised the far-rights discourse by targeting the rights of Muslim women.

As a member of the feminist, antiracist group Lallab, Bent is among those working to defend the rights and amplify the voices of Muslim women, offering a powerful counterpoint to measures such as the burkini bans brought in by several French towns, and last years prohibition in schools of abayas  the style of long, flowing dresses worn by some Muslim women.

For Bent, there was little question that the European election results and the spectre of a far-right win in the coming weeks had opened another, potentially more dangerous front.

Related: This could end up ugly: after Macrons gamble, will the far right seize power in France?

For us Muslim women, who were already experiencing very difficult things under Hollande, under Macron, under Sarkozy, if the extreme right comes in, our experiences are going to be more pronounced, more violent, she said. This is a fascist shift that could cost us, as Muslim women, our rights, our mental health and our lives.

With polls suggesting that Emmanuel Macrons centrist Renaissance party will lose out to blocs on the left and the far right, it is anyones guess what lies ahead for France, said Sylvie Nedgar as she waited with her 19-year-old daughter to catch a tram in central Lyon. But already it has divided the country into two, she said, pointing to protests against the far right by hundreds of thousands of people across France in recent days.

In a 2022 debate, Macron suggested to Le Pen that the idea of banning the hijab in public could set off a civil war. Two years on, Nedgar, who grew up in a family whose roots stretch from Algeria to France and where Christian and Muslim traditions mingle easily, said the tensions had swelled to a point where it was impossible to ignore the threat.

Were at risk of taking a huge step backwards, she said. Covid was really nothing compared to this. The real challenge is this moment, right now.
The attack has caused serious disruption for seven hospitals in London run by Kings College hospital foundation trust and Guys and St Thomas foundation trust. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

The government is considering striking back against Russian hackers who have stolen records covering 300m patient interactions with the NHS, including the results of blood tests for HIV and cancer, the Guardian can reveal.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) is weighing up the possibility of taking retaliatory action against Qilin, the Russian-based ransomware gang who put into the public domain early on Friday a huge tranche of highly sensitive NHS records they stole in a cyber-attack on 3 June.

Health service bosses in London, where the hack was focused, have responded to the widespread alarm that Qilins action has caused by setting up a helpline to answer queries from anxious patients.

They have urged patients who may have had details of care they received from the NHS trusts and GP surgeries affected in south-east London to not contact your local hospital or GP practice to ask whether your data has been impacted by this attack as they do not hold this information.

Qilins action, which was an indication its demand for a reported $50m (40m) ransom had been ignored, has prompted discussions between the NCA and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) about how to respond. The governments communications centre, GCHQ, is thought to be aware of the conversations.

Related: Records on 300m patient interactions with NHS stolen in Russian hack

A source with knowledge of the options being explored said: Theres a specialist [NCA] team behind the scenes working to access, understand and remove the data if possible.

The NCA is contemplating taking action to remove as much of the data as possible that Qilin put on a messaging platform in the early hours of Friday morning, the source added. Thats being investigated and whats possible. [Action is likely because] its effectively an attack on the state.

Cybersecurity sources said the impact of any operation to reclaim the data, or take it down, could be lessened if the Qilin gang had already copied the files and was able to post them elsewhere.

UK law enforcement has set a precedent for taking on ransomware gangs directly. The gangs represent a challenge for authorities because they are known to operate out of Russia or former Soviet states.

However, the NCA recently disrupted the operations of the worlds largest ransomware outfit  the LockBit group  in a joint operation with international partners.

In February the agency said it had seized the entire command and control apparatus for LockBit, including the leak site where it displayed victims hacked data. The operation also took control of the infrastructure behind LockBits ransomware-as-a-service operation, in which affiliates lease out the malicious software, or malware, that infiltrates and disables victims computer systems.

The operation was carried out jointly with the FBI, Europol and a coalition of international police agencies and led to the unmasking of the gangs alleged leader, the Russian national Dmitry Khoroshev.

The Guardian disclosed on Friday that the hackers had stolen far more data than previously thought. They obtained records covering 300m patient interactions with the NHS, including the results of blood tests for HIV and cancer.

The attack has caused serious disruption for seven hospitals run by Kings College hospital foundation trust and Guys and St Thomas foundation trust, two of the health services biggest and busiest care providers. Qilin targeted Synnovis, a private/NHS joint venture that provides pathology services such as blood tests and transfusions. It is unclear at this stage if the hack involved only hospitals in those trusts or was more widespread, as Synnovis also undertakes work for other NHS trusts elsewhere in England.

The two trusts had to cancel 1,134 planned operations, including cancer and transplant surgery, and postpone 2,194 outpatient appointments in the first 13 days alone after the attack, NHS Englands London region said on Thursday.

It is as yet unclear exactly what data, or how much of the haul, the ransomware group has made public. But well-placed sources said the stolen data included details of the results of blood tests conducted on patients having many types of surgery, including organ transplants; on those suspected of having a sexually transmitted infection; and on those who had had a blood transfusion.

In a statement on Friday, NHS England said the NCA and NCSC were working to verify the data included in the files published by the criminals. These files are not simple uploads and so investigations of this nature are highly complex and can take weeks, if not longer, to complete.

However, the amount and sensitive nature of the data obtained by Qilin , as well as the gang making public at least some of what it took, has caused alarm among NHS bosses.

NHS England said, in a warning that patients could now be targeted by criminals seeking a ransom: You should always be alert to approaches from anyone claiming to have your data and to any other suspicious calls or emails, particularly if you are asked to provide personal or financial data.

Anyone who is contacted in relation to their NHS data should immediately call Action Fraud, it added.

Related: What does the London NHS hospitals data theft mean for patients?

The NHSs incident helpline went live on Friday and is available on 0345 8778967.

In addition, in a development that will cause anxiety among patients who have received private healthcare in recent years, Qilins haul is understood to include records of tests that people have had at multiple private healthcare providers. It is not clear which private healthcare firms Synnovis  a joint venture between the pathology firm Synlab and the two London acute hospital trusts  works for and if they include operators of the capitals array of private hospitals.

The NHS is working hard to shift what care it can to other providers and has managed over the last week to increase the amount of blood tests it can do from 10% of the usual number to 30%.

The fact that Qilin has locked Synnovis out of its own IT system means the hospitals and GP surgeries affected, which care for 2 million patients, are still having to severely ration access to blood tests. They can only do 30% of their usual numbers.

Tim Mitchell, a senior researcher at the cybersecurity company Secureworks, said the data-posting signalled that the negotiation period had ended. For the most part, by the time the data has been leaked the ransomware negotiations are generally over, he said.

Synnovis has not confirmed whether it has held talks with Qilin.
Members of Ukraine's 24th Mechanised brigade fire mortar towards Russian positions on the front line at Chasiv Yar - Oleg Petrasiuk/Ukrainian 24th Mechanised brigade via AP

Ukraines military can use US-supplied long-range missiles to strike targets deeper inside Russia if it is acting in self-defence, the Pentagon said on Thursday.

The US had previously maintained a policy of not allowing Ukraine to use the weapons to hit targets inside Russia for fear of further escalating the war with Russia.

But, Joe Biden had earlier loosened those restrictions to help Kyiv defend the eastern city of Kharkiv from a relentless barrage of Russian missiles.

Moscow has been firing on Ukrainian targets from inside its border, which it treats as a safe zone, said Maj Gen Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary.

As we see those forces conducting those types of operations from across the border, weve explained Ukraine can and does have the right to fire back to defend themselves, Mr Ryder said.

It comes as Ukraine launched a major drone assault on military objects in Russian territory, targeting oil refineries, drone facilities and radar stations.

However, Russia continues to retaliate and is said to be launching massive frontal assaults around the town of Chasiv Yar, according to a Ukrainian military brigade who described the situation there as extremely difficult.

Chasiv Yar has become a flashpoint on the Donetsk front line as its capture could accelerate Russian advances in the industrial region.

04:19 PM BST

Thats all for today

Thanks for following our live coverage of the war in Ukraine. You can read more of The Telegraphs latest news from the front line here.

Todays headlines have included:

Ukraine launched a major drone assault overnight, including against military targets within Russian territory

A Ukrainian military brigade reported massive frontal assaults taking place around the flashpoint of Chasiv Yar in eastern Donetsk

The EU officially approved the launch of membership talks for Ukraine and Moldova, to begin next week

President Zelensky set out a plan to protect Ukraines energy supply, which continues to be pummelled by Russia

Germany arrested three men who are accused of spying on a Ukrainian national on behalf of a foreign intelligence service

Putin warned South Korea it would be a big mistake to arm Ukraine, as tensions rumble on following the signing of a military pact between Russia and North Korea

03:59 PM BST

Ukraine facing mass frontal assault on strategic hilltop city

Russia is launching massive frontal assaults around the town of Chasiv Yar, according to a Ukrainian military brigade.

The 24th Mechanised Brigade said it was deploying extra units to the town, where the situation has become extremely difficult.

The enemy is constantly organising massive frontal assaults, and also trying to bypass the settlement from the north and south, it said in a statement.

Chasiv Yar has become a flashpoint on the Donetsk front line as its capture could accelerate Russian advances in the industrial region.

A frontal assault is a risky and violent military tactic which involves a direct, full-force attack on the front of an enemys forces, rather than to the flanks or rear.

03:56 PM BST

Watch: The Telegraphs exclusive interview with Olena Zelenska

The wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has told The Daily Telegraph there are moments when she feels close to psychological burnout as the war in her country heads towards the 2.5 year mark.

In an exclusive interview, Mrs Zelenska spoke to Defence Editor Danielle Sheridan at the presidents office in Kyiv. She also spoke about how to maintain support for Ukraine as the war drags on, and her mixed feelings when it comes to speaking Russian.

03:32 PM BST

Watch: Ukraines SBU security service strikes two Russian fuel depots

03:22 PM BST

Zelensky hails start of EU membership talks next week

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday welcomed the launch of accession talks with the EU - which were formally approved today and will begin next week. The opening of the talks will formally mark the start of Kyivs path towards joining the bloc.

Millions of Ukrainians, and indeed generations of our people, are realising their European dream. Ukraine is returning to Europe, where it has belonged for centuries, as a full-fledged member of the European community, Zelensky said on social media.

03:02 PM BST

Russia sentences Ukrainian woman to 12 years for balloon protest

A Russian military court on Friday sentenced a Ukrainian woman to 12 years in prison for releasing blue-white-blue balloons - the colours of opposition to the Ukraine offensive - over Moscow last year.

Ukrainian citizen Kristina Lyubashenko, 35, was found guilty of taking part in a terrorist group and spreading fake information about the Russian armed forces, the state news agency TASS reported.

The prosecution said Lyubashenko released the balloons into the sky above the Russian capital and installed speakers at a window in a residential building that blasted out fake information on Moscows Ukraine offensive.

02:45 PM BST

Germany arrests three for spying on a Ukrainian national

German authorities have arrested three men - a Russian, a Ukrainian and an Armenian - on suspicion of spying for an unspecified foreign intelligence service.

The three men were arrested in Frankfurt after allegedly trying to gather information about a Ukrainian national, federal prosecutors said in a statement.

The men were only identified as Robert A. from Ukraine, Vardges I. from Armenia and Russian citizen Arman S.

The three suspects were acting on behalf of a foreign intelligence service in Germany, the statement said, adding that the trio had on June 19th scouted a cafe in Frankfurt am Main where the target person was thought to be.

12:56 PM BST

Russian politician warns of dangerous convicts returning from Ukraine

Russian authorities need to do more to protect civilians from ex-convicts who have returned home from fighting in Ukraine, a politician said this week.

Nina Ostanina, a Communist Party deputy who is sanctioned by the West, warned that violent crimes involving decommissioned soldiers will be even more numerous if authorities do not act.

Reports of Russian soldiers committing serious crimes including murder and rape after returning from Ukraine are widespread and have posed problems for the Kremlin, which portrays those fighting in its special military operation as heroes.

Many of the offenders are men who had been released early from prison, where they were serving time for serious crimes, in exchange for fighting in the war. Some Russian prisons are set to close this year because so many of their inmates have gone to the battlefields.

The comments by Ostanina are a rare admission from a Russian politician that returning soldiers are straining local communities.

Ostanina said law enforcement should be obliged to keep regular tabs on the former soldiers, and also help them find jobs and reintegrate into society.

12:31 PM BST

Seoul summons Russias ambassador amid tensions

South Korea summoned Russias ambassador to Seoul on Friday to protest a defence deal signed by President Vladimir Putin and North Koreas Kim Jong-un during a visit to Pyongyang this week.

Seoul strongly urged Russia to immediately stop military cooperation with North Korea and comply with (UN) Security Council resolutions, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Summoning Russias Ambassador Georgy Zinoviev came two days after Putin and Kim signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement, which includes a pledge to come to each others aid if attacked.

Putin also said this week that Moscow did not rule out military and technical cooperation with the North, or even sending weapons - all of which would violate rafts of UN sanctions against Pyongyang.

Tensions have ramped up this week between Moscow and Seoul. After the deal was signed, Seoul - which is a major weapons exporter - said it would reconsider a longstanding policy that bars it from supplying arms directly to Ukraine.

Putin said this would be a big mistake.

12:04 PM BST

Blinken condemns Russia-North Korea security pact

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has condemned the new security pact between Russia and North Korea as a serious threat to regional peace and stability, according to a readout of a phone call with South Koreas foreign minister Cho Tae-yul.

The pair agreed to closely monitor the situation and discussed ways to respond, the South Korean foreign ministry said.

Cho said any cooperation to help strengthen North Koreas military capabilities is a clear violation of the UN Security Council resolutions, while Blinken said the US will consider various ways to respond to the threat to international peace and stability from Russia and North Korea.

Under the pact, Moscow and Pyongyang have agreed to provide each other with immediate military assistance if either faces armed aggression.

11:42 AM BST

Ukraine EU membership talks to begin

EU countries today formally approved launching membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova next week, a landmark event for the two countries at the start of their long path towards joining the bloc.

EU ministers will start negotiations first with Ukraine and then with Moldova in Luxembourg on Tuesday afternoon, officials said.

10:44 AM BST

Putin says South Korea making big mistake if it arms Ukraine

South Korea would be making a big mistake if it decides to supply arms to Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday, warning that Moscow would respond if so.

A local news report yesterday suggested that South Korea would review the possibility of supplying weapons to Ukraine after Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed a mutual defence pact.

Putin said Seoul had nothing to worry about when it came to the pact because our military assistance ... only arises if aggression is carried out against one of the signatories.

As for the supply of lethal weapons to the war zone in Ukraine, that would be a very big mistake, he said. I hope that this will not happen. And if it does happen, then we will also take appropriate decisions, which are unlikely to please the current leadership of South Korea.

10:20 AM BST

The latest pictures

A destroyed house in Kostyantynivka on the Donestsk front line - Jose Colon/Anadolu via Getty Images

This newly-released photo taken a few days ago shows Ukrainian soldiers resting in a trench in Kharkiv region - Pablo Miranzo/Anadolu via Getty Images

09:59 AM BST

Zelensky sets out plan to protect Ukraines energy supply

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky set out steps to protect the countrys energy supply in his nightly address to the people on Thursday.

It includes installing solar power in homes, rapidly building protection for energy infrastructure, and creating new, decentralised energy capacities.

Russia has been intensively targeting energy infrastructure in recent months. Kyiv says half of its energy generating capacity has been knocked out since March, forcing rolling blackouts.

09:45 AM BST

Ukraine claims strikes on military targets in Russia

Ukraines military says it struck four oil refineries and military objects within Russia overnight. Targets included radar stations, electronic intelligence centres and drone storage facilities. The drone attack took place in the early hours of Friday morning.

It comes after the Russian defence ministry said it had repelled a mass drone attack over Crimea and the Black Sea and the Krasnodar region in southern Russia. One man was killed.

The oil refineries that were attacked were named as Afipsky, Ilsky, Krasnodar, and Astrakhan.

09:13 AM BST

Reinforcements deployed to Chasiv Yar

Ukraine is dispatching reinforcements to an embattled hilltop town in the eastern Donetsk region that has become a strategic flashpoint.

Units of the 24th Mechanized Brigade have been redeployed to strengthen the defence of the Chasiv Yar sector, the grouping said in a statement late Thursday.

The situation in and around the town is extremely difficult. The enemy is constantly organising massive frontal assaults, and also trying to bypass the settlement from the north and south, it added.

The unit is being redeployed from the town of Toretsk, another frontline region where Russian forces have gained ground after a lull in fighting, according to military bloggers.

Chasiv Yar, which had a pre-war population of around 12,000 people, sits above nearby civilian hubs of Kramatorsk and Kostiantynivka.

If it were to be captured, it could accelerate Russian advances deeper in the industrial territory.

08:41 AM BST

Russia fires deputy defence minister detained on bribery charges

Russian authorities have formally dismissed a deputy defence minister jailed on bribery charges and accused by Kremlin critics of living a lavish lifestyle, Russian media reported on Thursday.

Timur Ivanov, 48, is one of several senior military officers arrested on corruption charges in recent months. He was a close associate of Sergei Shoigu, whom President Vladimir Putin replaced as defence minister last month.

Ivanov, arrested in April, was charged with taking an especially large bribe. His lawyers said he maintains his innocence. On Thursday, he was dismissed from his post, according to a registry of government officials cited by Russian media, and a court ordered that his pretrial detention be extended for three more months. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.

08:22 AM BST

One killed in mass drone attack on Russia, officials say

Russia says it repelled a mass drone attack overnight that killed at least one person.

The defence ministry said it had intercepted 114 drones over Crimea and the Black Sea and the Krasnodar region in southern Russia.

In Krasnodar, an employee of a heating station was killed when a drone struck the facility, Regional Governor Venyamin Kondratyev said on Telegram.

Several administrative buildings at an oil refinery were also damaged in Severski district, he said.

07:56 AM BST

Russian teacher jailed for 20 years for sending money to Ukraine

A Russian military court has jailed a teacher for 20 years on high treason charges for sending money to Ukraine, with the defendant saying colleagues reported him to authorities.

Daniil Kliuka, 27, will spend five years in prison and 15 more in a strict-regime penal colony, the RIA Novosti news agency reported on Thursday.

Russian media group RBK said Kliuka allegedly made two bank transfers in cryptocurrency worth between 20,000 and 100,000 rubles (181 to 904) to a Ukrainian fund, Come back alive, which collects money for the countrys army.
Joe Biden speaks during a visit to O'Connor Farms on 11 May 2022 in Kankakee, Illinois. Photograph: Andrew Harnik/AP

For two decades, Christopher Gibbs, a row crop and cattle farmer in Shelby county, Ohio, was an ardent Republican party member.

He served as chair of his countys Republican party branch for seven years and when Donald Trump became the partys presidential candidate in 2016, Gibbs, like more than 80% of Shelby county voters, fell in line.

But in 2018, everything changed.

Watching Trump stand alongside Vladimir Putin at a summit in Helsinki, in which the president sided with his Russian counterpart against US law enforcement agencies that had indicted Russian intelligence officers for interfering in the US election in 2016, Gibbs was aghast.

Then, not long after, Trump began trade tariffs against many of the USs international allies.

Our allies retaliated by going after our soft underbelly: our agriculture, Gibbs says. When China retaliated by no longer taking our soybeans, I lost 20% of the value of my crop overnight.

Gibbs is among a small but perhaps growing group of US farmers who fear that Trumps threats of renewed trade wars and immigrant deportations could ruin their businesses should he prevail in the November presidential election.

Today, Gibbs is a fervent member of the Democratic party and last year went as far as becoming the chair of his countys branch.

In the Democratic party, not everybody gets their way, but everybody gets a voice, says Gibbs. In the Republican party, theres just one voice.

In important farming states such as Iowa, debates have raged over how another Trump presidency could cost farmers dearly. During Trumps previous tariff campaign that began in 2018, many farmers in Michigan, an election swing state, railed against the former presidents actions.

Back then, the Trump administration attempted to ease the financial pain it inflicted upon the agriculture community and ensure farmers continue to vote for him by paying out $52bn in subsidies in 2020 alone.

On the campaign trail this year, Trump falsely claimed $28bn was extracted from China, when, in fact, the direct payments to farmers came from the US government via taxpayer money.

While Joe Biden remains unpopular with farmers  Gibbs is among only 12% of US farmers who typically vote for candidates of the Democratic party  results from a host of 2022 midterm races suggest that at the state and local level, support for Democratic party candidates in rural America may be rebounding.

Moderate Democrats in swing states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan and Arizona, as well as Gibbs Ohio outperformed Bidens 2020 presidential election figures by as much as 15%, according to analysis by Third Way, a pro-Democratic party thinktank.

Research shows that under the Biden administration, farming incomes have increased significantly, in large part due to government assistance and a post-pandemic bump in demand for agricultural products. Whats more, polls suggest a large number of rural Americans may vote for third-party or write-in candidates in November, a prospect that would hurt Trump more than Biden.

Gibbs isnt alone.

Steve Held, whose family has ranched in eastern Montana since the 1800s, says hes always considered himself an independent, voting for Republican and Democrat candidates in state and presidential elections all his life.

In recent years, however, his worldview has changed.

There was only one tornado [in Montana] that I was ever aware of growing up. Recently there was several in one day, he says. [Climate change] is real, and people see it, but the propaganda has them not wanting to admit the truth.

This year, Held ran as a Democrat for a seat in eastern Montana, finishing second in a primary held on 4 June.

The dysfunction in the Republican party now has gone beyond the pale. Our current representative [Republican Matt Rosendale] wouldnt sign the proposed farm bill, which  supports programs so that families can make a living on the farms and ranches in Montana.

A former actor, Held entered politics in large part because of the climate crisis. I sat in roomfuls of people who said they voted Republican their whole lives but that they were going to vote for me, says Held.

Still, Trump and other Republican candidates are expected to win rural counties handily across a slate of elections in November, and the challenges facing Democrats in rural America remain large.

Farmers and rural Americans are values voters, says Gibbs, who recalls losing around 80% of his friends and colleagues after he spoke out against Trump. They will continue to vote against their own interests, particularly in agriculture, because its the Republicans who speak to their value systems.

He says that Democrats have let themselves be reframed as something that doesnt match the midwestern value set, such as universally supporting abortion, when thats never what they are for.

For Gibbs, the Democratic party could forge inroads with farmers and rural Americans, but to do so would require a recalculation. The progressive left has had the microphone for too long, he says.

He says he doesnt expect to see much change in terms of who farmers and rural Americans vote for in Novembers election, but thats not his main focus. He sees a chance of change further in the future.

What were doing here now, he adds, is building for [elections in] 2028, 2032.
Harris County prosecutors charged two men with capital murder Friday in connection with the death of Jocelyn Nungaray, the 12-year-old girl found dead in a shallow north Houston creek this week.

Franklin Pena, 26, and Johan Martinez-Rangel, 22, were being held in the Harris County Jail on Friday as the first steps of what could be a lengthy prosecution process were completed, officials said.

Both men were arrested and charged on suspicion of capital murder of a person older than 10 years old and younger than 15.

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MORE ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: HPD staff working overtime to recruit for $4M sixth cadet class, officials say

A day after the men's arrest, more details were slowly emerging about their lives and the night Jocelyn died. At the same time, Texas political leaders began making calls for the men to be put to death if convicted and for Jocelyn's death to cause changes in national immigration policy.

Pena and Martinez-Rangel have been accused of strangling Jocelyn underneath a bridge in the 400 block of West Rankin Road early Monday. The men were arrested the same day by members of a Houston Police Department SWAT team after public tips and security cameras pointed police to their shared apartment less than a mile from where Jocelyn's body was found.

Police announced the arrest Thursday evening.

Police have released few specific details about what happened to the girl.

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In charging documents, prosecutors said the men lured Jocelyn under the bridge and remained with her there for two hours. They took her pants off, tied her up and then killed her, according to a note in a bail motion.

The men were scheduled to appear in front of a magistrate judge at 4 p.m. Friday. The hearing was delayed for more than four hours, and when it began the judge announced that the men had waived their right to appear at the hearing.

Magistrate Judge Cheryl Diggs didn't set bail and referred the decision to 232nd District Court Judge Josh Hill, who will preside over the case going forward. The men are scheduled to appear in Hill's court Monday. The Harris County District Attorney's Office asked for their bail to be set at $1 million.

The men are alleged to have approached Jocelyn and asked her for directions before bringing her to the bridge, according to evidence read out by Diggs during the hearing.

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Jocelyn Nungaray was found dead in the 400 block of West Rankin Road on Monday, June 17, 2024. Courtesy

Mayor John Whitmire, the onetime chairman of the Texas Senate's Criminal Justice Committee, on Thursday called for the men to be held in jail indefinitely. Whitmire, who has no role in the criminal justice system, said the men posed a danger to the public and were a flight risk.

"This is such a horrendous crime, I don't want to see these individuals on bond on the streets of Houston if at all possible," Whitmire said Thursday.

Neither man had a listed defense attorney as of Friday afternoon.

Mayor John Whitmire speaks during a press conference held by Houston Police Department related to the investigation of the murder of twelve year old Jocelyn Nungaray on Thursday, June 20, 2024 in Houston. Two suspects have been detained. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

Immigration status

Along with their criminal charges, Pena and Martinez-Rangel also were being held in connection with questions about their immigration status.

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Both men are originally from Venezuela, a spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a statement Friday.

Both men were "illegally present" in the United States and previously had been apprehended by Border Patrol agents in South Texas, the statement said.

How long the men had been in the U.S. was unclear. Martinez-Rangel was stopped by Border Patrol agents March 14. Pena was stopped May 28. Both men were released on orders of recognizance the same day they were stopped, and they were given dates to appear before a federal immigration judge, according to the statement.

An order of recognizance is given to people who aren't scheduled to be immediately deported and who "are not a detention priority," according to the agency's website.

ICE placed an immigration detainer on both men, the spokesman said. Once their cases are completed in Harris County, or if they are released on bond, the men could be transferred into the federal agency's custody and face deportation.

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The ICE spokesman referred questions about the men's court dates to the Border Patrol, which is under a different agency than ICE. Similarly, the immigration court in which the men were scheduled to appear is managed by a third agency.

Calls for execution

The arrest, and the men's immigration status, spurred headlines on national news sites and drew political critiques from some of Texas' top elected officials.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz blamed the Biden administration's immigration policies for the men's presence in Houston.

"Joe Biden is out of excuses: He must reinstate Remain in Mexico and end catch-and-release immediately, or we will lose more innocent life," Cruz wrote.

During the Trump administration, migrants seeking asylum at the southern border could be ordered to wait in Mexico until their claims were processed. The Biden administration supported policies allowing asylum-seekers to be released into the country on a case-by-case basis, arguing that detention space should be saved for migrants with criminal histories or those who pose a flight risk.

Gov. Greg Abbott also blamed immigration laws for Jocelyn's death.

Cruz and Abbott also called for prosecutors to seek the death penalty.

"Kill kids in Texas; you get the death penalty," Abbott wrote on his personal Twitter feed.

However, seeking the death penalty might be difficult under current Texas law.

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg's office didn't comment on its plan to prosecute the case. A DA's office spokesman said decisions about pursuing death penalty cases are made by a committee of senior leaders within the office. The committee doesn't have a set schedule, and there is generally no timeline for making such a decision.

In other cases involving violent deaths of children, officials have said current Texas law prevents prosecutors from pursuing the death penalty.

In 2019, the Legislature passed a bill, known as Lauren's Law, designed to toughen penalties in certain murder cases involving children. Though an early version of the bill made the murder of a child between the ages of 10 and 15 automatically eligible for the death penalty, that section was stripped before the bill's final passage.

People convicted of capital murder under Lauren's Law can be sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Nigel Farage made the comments in a BBC Panorama interview with Nick Robinson - PA

The West provoked Russia into invading Ukraine, Nigel Farage has said.

The Reform UK leader said that the ever-eastward expansion of Nato and the European Union gave Vladimir Putin a reason to justify war.

The comments in a BBC Panorama interview with Nick Robinson echo arguments made by Donald Trump, the former US president and friend of Mr Farage.

Mr Farage was asked why he had blamed the West for Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

He said: Right, Ill tell you what you dont know, I stood up in the European Parliament in 2014 and I said, and I quote, there will be a war in Ukraine.

Why did I say that? It was obvious to me that the ever-eastward expansion of Nato and the European Union was giving this man a reason to his Russian people to say, theyre coming for us again and to go to war.

Pressed on whether his rhetoric was echoing that of the Russian president, Mr Farage said: But, hang on a second, we provoked this war. Its  you know, of course its his fault, hes used what weve done as an excuse.

Asked if he was saying the West provoked the invasion of Ukraine, Mr Farage responded: Yes.

He added: By the way, Im the only person in British politics that predicted what would happen, and of course everyone said I was a pariah for daring to suggest it.

George Robertson, former Labour cabinet minister, who went on to become the secretary general of Nato, has in the last couple of weeks said the war is a direct result of the EU expansion.

The comments are a marked difference from those given by other UK political leaders on the conflict, who have sided overwhelmingly with Nato and Ukraine.

Elsewhere in the interview, Mr Farage claimed the Right of British politics had gone and the Conservatives may as well change their name to the SDP.

He added that vetting blunders with candidates standing for Reform were in part due to the fact that before his leadership, the party was desperate for people to stand.

Backlash to Ukraine comments

A backlash to Mr Farages remarks on Ukraine was emerging on Friday night.

Tobias Ellwood, the former Tory defence minister, told The Telegraph: This is a shocking statement by Farage. A sovereign state was illegally invaded and Farage blames the West. Churchill will be turning in his grave.

Putin, already enjoying how Farage is disrupting British politics, will be delighted to hear this talk of appeasement entering our election debate. It shows how Reform could never be trusted with British foreign policy. And why Farage can never lead the Conservatives.

Lord West of Spithead, the former chief of the naval staff, added: Anyone who gives any seeming excuse to president Putin and his disgraceful attack on an independent country is standing into danger as regards their views on world affairs.

James Cleverly, the Home Secretary, tweeted: Just Farage echoing Putins vile justification for the brutal invasion of Ukraine.

Liam Fox, the former Tory defence secretary, told The Telegraph: The West did not provoke this war in Ukraine and it is shocking that Nigel Farage should say so.

Sovereign nations have a right to defend themselves and organise their security in a way that they choose. We need unequivocal military and moral support for the people of Ukraine, not Kremlin apologists.

A Labour spokesman said: These are disgraceful comments, which reveal the true face of Nigel Farage: a Putin apologist who should never be trusted with our nations security.

Up until now, there has been a united front among Britains political leaders in supporting the people of Ukraine against the unprovoked and unjustifiable assault they have suffered at the hands of Vladimir Putin.

Nigel Farage has put himself outside that united position, and shown that he would rather lick Vladimir Putins boots than stand up for the people of Ukraine. That makes him unfit for any political office in our country, let alone leading a serious party in Parliament.

Reform polling just ahead of Tories

Mr Farage has fronted Reforms election campaign following his surprise decision to take over the party leadership and run to become the MP for Clacton earlier this month.

Another opinion poll on Friday night put Mr Farages party just ahead of the Tories, with Whitestone Insight finding Reform was on 20 per cent of the vote share and the Conservatives on 19 per cent.

But The Telegraph polling tracker, which looks at averages, still has the Tories around 8 percentage points ahead of Reform with less than a fortnight to go before the election.

A poll by Savanta for The Telegraph predicted that Reform would not win a single seat despite a surge in the opinion polls.

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson intervened in the election debate on Friday to criticise Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, for saying that Jeremy Corbyn would have made a better prime minister than him.

The former prime minister wrote in the Daily Mail: By endorsing a Corbyn premiership, Starmer has cast serious doubt on Labours commitment to Ukraine, and Britains commitment to Ukraine under Labour.

He has reminded us that so many in his party still genuflect to their past, and display a weird deference to Moscow  as though Moscow was not now run by a kleptocratic gangster.

Starmer must now be put remorselessly on the spot. He must take it back. You cant back Corbyn and back Ukraine at the same time. Unless he revokes his endorsement of a Corbyn premiership, and makes explicit his support for Ukraine, Keir Starmer is simply not fit to be Prime Minister.

Sir Keir declined to repeat his remark, made during a BBC Question Time special on Thursday evening, when asked about it on Friday.

The Labour leader has previously pledged his unwavering support for Ukraine and met president Volodymyr Zelensky at D-Day commemorations in France earlier this month.
Alvin Bragg speaks in New York on 13 September 2023. Photograph: Mary Altaffer/AP

Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney who prosecuted Donald Trump in his felony trial, has asked a judge to extend a gag order against the ex-president after an onslaught of threats and harassment against him and other officials since the guilty verdict.

The gag order was placed on Trump before the start of the felony trial. It prevented the former president from attacking witnesses, court staff, jurors and relatives of Judge Juan Merchan, who oversaw the trial.

Trumps legal team has unsuccessfully attempted to overturn the gag order, arguing that it prevents voters from being able to hear from a presidential candidate.

But Bragg and others have said that part of the order should remain for jurors, prosecutors, their staff and their families, given a high number of threats, the New York Times reported.

Bragg specifically has faced an onslaught of death threats and harassment since Trump was found guilty. He has received more than 100 threatening emails via his campaign website, the New York Daily News reported, citing a source who asked to remain anonymous.

Several of the abusive messages obtained by the Daily News use racial slurs including the N-word, gorilla and primate, it reported, adding that Bragg also faced death threats and racial abuse throughout the seven-week trial.

In one instance, a package was sent to Bragg from Portland, Oregon, containing a picture of Bragg alongside a noose, with the caption: I am past the point of just wanting them in prison.

The New York police department has logged 56 actionable threats since the start of April against Bragg, his employees, and his family, the Times reported.

A representative for Bragg did not respond to a request for comment.

Related: Billionaire first to reach $100m in election donations  to Trump and RFK Jr

Trump has aimed his own ire at Bragg even before the hush-money trial began. Last April, he reportedly told a close circle of advisers that he planned to escalate political attacks against the DA after a grand jury voted to indict him.

Trump also accused Bragg of being a psychopath, and alleged that the hush-money trial was a political move.

But much of the hate towards Bragg came after Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records in the New York state hush-money trial  making the presumptive Republican nominee in the 2024 presidential election the first former president to be convicted of a criminal offense.

Since the trial, supporters of Trump have urged the former president to jail Bragg if he wins back the White House in November. Steve Bannon, a former strategist in Trumps White House, has led the charge.

Of course [Bragg] should be  and will be  jailed, Bannon told Axios, arguing that Bragg would be prosecuted under the US constitutions 14th and fourth amendment.

Other Republican-led states have promised to prosecute Bragg for his role in the Trump hush-money trial. The Missouri attorney general, Andrew Bailey, declared on Thursday that he would be filing a lawsuit against the state of New York for its direct attack on our democratic process through unconstitutional lawfare against President Trump.
People hold hands during a community paddle out for those affected by the Maui fires in Honolulu, Hawaii, on 19 August 2023. Photograph: Yuki Iwamura/AFP/Getty Images

Hawaii officials have announced a groundbreaking legal settlement with a group of young climate activists, which they said will force the states department of transportation to move more aggressively towards a zero-emission transportation system.

You have a constitutional right to fight for life-sustaining climate policy and you have mobilized our people in this case, Josh Green, the Hawaii governor, told the 13 young plantiffs in the case, saying he hoped the settlement would inspire similar action across the country.

Under what legal experts called a historic settlement, announced on Thursday, Hawaii officials will release a roadmap to fully decarbonize the states transportation systems, taking all actions necessary to achieve zero emissions no later than 2045 for ground transportation, sea and inter-island air transportation, Andrea Rodgers, one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs in the case, said at a press conference with the governor.

This is an extraordinary, unprecedented victory for the youth plaintiffs, Michael Gerrard, the faculty director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University, told the Guardian.

Related: Hawaiian scientists quest to find and save the states distinctive sugarcanes

While Hawaii has long embraced a progressive climate change agenda, with 2045 as a target year for decarbonization, the new settlement is as big a deal as everyone said it is, said Denise Antolini, an emeritus professor of law at the University of Hawaii Law School, who has followed climate change litigation for decades.

Its written down, its enforceable, and that makes all in the difference in the world between a promise and actual implementation, Antolini said.

The June 2022 lawsuit, Navahine F v Hawaii department of transportation, was filed by 13 young people who claimed the states pro-fossil fuel transportation policies violate their state constitutional rights. By prioritizing projects like highway expansion instead of efforts to electrify transit and promote walking and biking, the complaint says, the state created untenable levels of greenhouse gas emissions.

As a result, state officials harmed the plaintiffs ability to live healthful lives in Hawaii now and into the future, and violated the right to a clean and healthful environment guaranteed by the states constitution, the litigation argued.

It named the Hawaii department of transportation and its director, as well as the state of Hawaii and its former governor David Ige, as defendants.

The plaintiffs, most of whom are Indigenous, alleged that by contributing to the climate crisis, the state hastened the decline and disappearance of Hawaiis natural and cultural heritage. When the case was filed, the plantiffs were between the ages of nine and 18.

Several of the plantiffs, many of whom are being identified only by their first names, spoke at the press conference.

A great thing to talk about is the kind of hope this brings to us. For many of us, its kind of been our whole life were seeing our beaches falling into the water, and our coal reefs disappearing, said Lucina, one 17-year-old plaintiff.

Navahine, whose name is on the lawsuit, is a 16-year-old Native Hawaiian whose family has been farming the land for ten generations.

Drought, flooding and sea level rise were all having immediate effects on her familys crops, she said. Seeing the effects, how we were struggling to make any money for our farm, kind of pushed me to this case, she said.

Officials said the legal settlement brings together activists with all three branches of the states government to focus on meeting climate change goals, including mobilizing the judicial branch. The court will oversee the settlement agreement through 2045 or until the state reaches its zero emission goals, Rodgers said.

We have extremely tough goals to hit by 2045 and this is going to make sure we move forward much faster, Ed Sniffen, the head of the states transportation department said at a press conference.

State officials often claim Hawaii is a climate leader. In 2015, it became the first US state to require its electric utilities to zero out its power sector emissions by 2045  a tall order in a state that has historically obtained most of its energy from oil and coal.

The state legislature has also passed a goal of decarbonizing the transportation sector. And Hawaiis 2050 sustainability plan calls to make all state vehicles carbon free by 2035.

But the state has moved in the wrong direction. Between 2020 and 2021, carbon emissions in Hawaii increased by more than 16%. The plaintiffs say Hawaiis department of transportation has missed every interim benchmark to reduce its planet-warming emissions since 2008. And per capita, Hawaii emits more carbon than 85% of countries on Earth, attorneys wrote in the 2022 lawsuit.

The suit came as part of a series of youth-led constitutional climate cases brought by the non-profit law firm Our Childrens Trust. Earlier this year, the firm notched a major win when Montanas supreme court upheld a groundbreaking decision requiring state regulations to consider the climate crisis before approving permits for fossil fuel development.

Environmental law experts said that the youth climate lawsuit strategy, which has been ongoing since 2011, has faced an uphill battle in many states.

Until last years trial in Montana and todays settlement in Hawaii, none of them had succeeded, Gerrard said, noting that both Hawaii and Montana have a right to a clean environment written into their constitution.

But Hawaiis environmental court judges took the case seriously, fast-tracking it towards a trial, which helped provide pressure for the state to settle, Antolini said. The leadership of Green, who became Hawaiis governor in December 2022, was also important.

In none of the prior cases was the defendant state government willing to budge an inch; but here the governor embraced the plaintiffs claims and agreed to a wide-ranging court order, Gerrard said.

The Hawaii settlement is significant because it is one of the first major cases laser-focused on transportation, is responsible for a large portion of greenhouse gas emissions, but which tends to get ignored, Antolini said.

The cooperative nature of the legal agreement, which promises to include young people in advisory roles, and brings together government officials, lawyers, policy makers and teenagers, is also noteworthy, Antolini said, and appropriate for an island community like Hawaii where people know were in the boat together.

Our Childrens Trust also has pending litigation in Alaska, Florida, Utah and Virginia. A federal lawsuit it filed in December against the US Environmental Protection Agency is also pending.

Last month, a federal appeals court granted the Biden administrations request to strike down another federal lawsuit filed by Our Childrens Trust, Juliana v United States.
Nigel Farage has said he admired Vladmir Putin as a political operator because hes managed to take control of running Russia.

Speaking on a BBC Panorama special programme, which airs on BBC One at 7pm, the Reform UK leader also said the country spent too much time hyperventilating about climate change when questioned about his claim that the King had been dabbling in eco-loony politics.

When asked about the Russian president, Mr Farage told interviewer Nick Robinson: I said I disliked him as a person, but I admired him as a political operator because hes managed to take control of running Russia.

Mr Putin has served continuously as either Russian president or prime minister since 1999, with elections which have been described as rigged.

Mr Farage, a former member of the European Parliament, added: Right, Ill tell you what you dont know, I stood up in the European Parliament in 2014 and I said, and I quote, there will be a war in Ukraine.

Why did I say that? It was obvious to me that the ever-eastward expansion of Nato and the European Union was giving this man a reason to his Russian people to say theyre coming for us again and to go to war.

Mr Farage went on to say he had been making similar comments since the 1990s, ever since the fall of the (Berlin) Wall and added: Hang on a second, we provoked this war.

Nigel Farage, left, faced questions about his views on Russian president Vladimir Putin, projection, during the interview (Jeff Overs/BBC/PA)

Its, you know, of course its his fault  hes used what weve done as an excuse.

Mr Farage also faced questions about his partys plans to scrap the net-zero programme.

He said: Ever since the late 1980s perhaps theres been a bit of hype around this and I think that perhaps is wrong.

No wonder weve got people spraying Stonehenge with orange powder, because all we ever talk about is fear rather than solutions.

Mr Robinson asked: So, is David Attenborough wrong and Nigel Farage is right?

Mr Farage said: Im not arguing the science.

Questioned about the word hype, Mr Farage repeated the word no in response.

He also faced questions about comments he made in 2021, when he called the King an eco-loony.

Mr Farage told BBC Panorama: The King, he wasnt the King then, and I cant speak ill of the monarch obviously. But he did used to say  He did used to say that carbon dioxide was a pollutant, which I thought was a very stupid comment.

The Reform UK leader added: Right, listen, weve deindustrialised. Our steelworks close, where do they go? India.

The same steel gets produced in India under lower environmental standards and then shipped back to us.

Globally, by closing those steel plants, the amount of CO2 put into the air has gone up.

All weve done is to export the emissions.

Similarly with coal, theres an anthracite mine up in Cumbria that could be opened. Were not going to open it.

We are overtaxing the North Sea. The Tories have done this, not Labour.
Octopus Energy will pay the Government nearly 3 billion to reimburse the public money it received to take over collapsed energy supplier Bulb.

The repayment will see the next Government get an early windfall, with the payment promised by September, and it means almost all of the costs of temporarily nationalising Bulb in 2021 will have been recovered by the public purse.

Bulb collapsed in 2021 after wholesale prices surged above the price cap set by regulator Ofgem, meaning suppliers were forced to sell energy at a loss.

The Government took temporary control to keep the lights on for Bulbs 1.5 million customers under a new process called a special administration regime (SAR).

In late 2022, the Government sold Bulbs customers to Octopus. It provided more than 1.6 billion in temporary taxpayer support to cover the energy needed to supply those customers.

The nearly 3 billion repayment, confirmed on Friday, was part of the terms, based on estimated future costs.

The repayment was first reported by the Financial Times.

The fact that the price of energy has now fallen means the Government makes a profit of nearly 1.3 billion on the deal, which in turn covers all but 6 million, about 99%, of the total costs associated with temporarily nationalising Bulb.

When the Government sold Bulb to Octopus, the energy suppliers rivals including ScottishPower, British Gas and E.On brought a legal challenge against the deal, calling it an unfair sale process. The high court rejected the challenge.

Late last year, Octopus became Britains biggest energy supplier, exceeding British Gas when it added 1.3 million customers by buying Shell Energy.

Greg Jackson, founder of Octopus, said: This outcome is a great result for taxpayers.

Octopus worked hard in the darkest depths of the energy crisis to create a fair deal, meaning that although Bulb went bust with billions of liabilities, it has cost the Government almost nothing.
A party with all your best friends: Fans queue for Taylor Swifts Wembley gig

Thousands of Taylor Swift fans have descended on Wembley ahead of her Eras Tour gig at the national stadium.

The American pop star will play three nights, starting on Friday and finishing on Sunday night, before returning in August to play five more concerts.

Fans have been arriving at the venue since the early hours on Friday, eager to soak up the atmosphere of what is set to be a memorable performance for the Shake It Off singer.

Lilly Gagata, 31, and her sister Shannie, 33, were among those already at the London stadium at 10am, travelling two hours from the Midlands despite not having a ticket for Fridays performance.

The pair said they wanted to say they were there when Swift kicked off the run of gigs and also wanted to make sure they did not miss out on any merchandise, which may have sold out by the time they get to see the show in August.

Lilly told the PA news agency: While weve got tickets for August, we wanted to come here a little bit earlier to get the merch early, because when we come here in August we expect to get here quite early.

So, we didnt want the hassle of going back and forth while queuing for our place and then going to the merch stand.

Lilly and Shannie Gagata, 31 and 33, have travelled two hours despite not having tickets (Saghar Kouhesatani/PA)

Shannie said: Of course, we want to absorb all of the energy too, the first night in London is like nothing else, so its not to be missed.

The pair are planning to stay around London for the day and hope to hear some of the concert from outside.

Shannie said: I really want to know what the surprises will be tonight, so after this were going to go back to central London and then around six well be coming back here just to sit around and listen from outside.

The pair have been so-called Swifties since they were 15, when they were living in the Philippines, but were unable to afford tickets at the time.

They said they were excited to see the star after years of rooting for her.

Fans gather outside Wembley Stadium ahead of Taylor Swifts first London concert during her Eras Tour (Lucy North/PA)

Also arriving at the stadium were Lauren Robinson, 20, who had travelled from Cheshire, and her friend Grace Arnold, 24, who had travelled from the Wirral.

The pair said they knew they had to see the first night when the run of concerts was announced and were hoping for a London-themed surprise in her set.

Ms Robinson said: Coming to the capital has got to be the best place to see the tour.

Ms Arnold said: Were hoping shell announce Reputation or do a little secret song like London Boy.

Ms Robinson responded: Its just, why wouldnt you come here? Its the best place to come and watch a concert really.

I mean, look at everything London has done for it, its great, I dont think youd get that anywhere else, would you?

The gig will be Ms Arnolds first Swift concert but Ms Robinson has already had a taste of the Eras Tour, having seen her in Liverpool.

A fan poses on the Swiftie Steps at Wembley Stadium ahead of Taylor Swifts first concert in London of the Eras Tour (Charlotte Coney/PA)

Ms Robinson said of the Liverpool performance: It was absolutely crazy, I think you go in there and you are apprehensive about what it is going to be like, but everyone is so friendly.

Its like going to a party with all your best friends.

Ms Arnold said she was most looking forward to the Folklore set (Swifts eighth studio album), but said the potential surprise songs actually make me feel sick to think about.

The pair have been fans since childhood and said Swifts Fearless album (her second studio album) was the first they could remember listening to.

Swifties Bailey and Filip (Saghar Kouhesatani/PA)

Fans of the singer have also travelled from across the globe to watch Swift deliver her three-hour Eras set in London, including long-distance friends Filip, who travelled from Croatia, and Bailey, who flew all the way from Florida.

Speaking about why they had come to London, Bailey: I cant wait to see Taylor, this is like the best show to go to.

Filip added: It feels special, dazzling and magic here.

Swifties Rachel and Yan (Saghar Kouhesatani/PA)

Meanwhile, friends Rachel and Yan travelled from Ipswich in Suffolk to see the show.

Rachel said: Were so excited to be here, Im hoping to hear the OG (original) songs from the first album.

Alongside wanting to hear tracks from Swifts 2006 self-titled debut, they pair said they were particularly looking forward to hearing hits from her second 2008 album Fearless.

Doors will open at 4.30pm, before support act Paramore arrive on stage at 5.45pm, Swift will begin her set at 7.30pm.
Police civilian staff in Northern Ireland are set to take part in strike action over an ongoing failure to increase danger money payments.

The workers are expected to stage a 24-hour walk out from 0001 on July 11 to 0001 on July 12.

It will come just before tens of thousands of people take to the streets for the annual Orange Order parades on July 12.

The trade union NIPSA said its members overwhelmingly voted for strike action over their Revised Environmental Allowance (REA).

Police civilian staff are calling for the delivery of an uplift to their 580 annual REA, known as danger money allowance, that was committed to five years ago.

In comparison, PSNI officers currently receive just under 4,000 annually in acknowledgement of the ongoing threat they face.

Civilian staff, who are seeking to have their allowance increased to around 1,000, are involved in roles such as emergency call handling and scenes of crime work.

NIPSA said 91% voted for strike action and 96% voted for action short of strike.

The union said the civilian workers feel they are under threat and undervalued, and are working in an effectively created two-tier workforce due to the disparities in pay and terms and conditions.

Action short of strike is set to start at the beginning of July.

PSNI temporary assistant chief constable Melanie Jones said they want to assure the public that they will have resources in place to keep the public safe.

Planning is under way to mitigate any risk in critical functions in the event of staff absences as a result of this industrial action, she said.

I want to reassure the public that we will have the resources in place to allow us to keep people safe.
A seven-month-old baby girl who was mauled to death by a dog inside her family home has been named.

Police were called to the property in Shorncliffe Road, Coventry, shortly after 3pm on Sunday after Elle Doherty suffered serious head injuries from the pet dog, West Midlands Police said.

Elle was rushed to the hospital, but died a short time later.

The dog, registered as a Belgian Malinois which is not considered a dangerous breed, was removed from the house on Sunday and humanely destroyed.

West Midlands Police said detectives are satisfied that there have been no criminal offences.

They said: We have updated Elles family, and a file is now being prepared for the Coroner.

Our thoughts remain with the family at this tragic time, and they have asked now to be left to grieve in private.
Sunak vows to boot out Tories if they are found to have broken betting rules

Rishi Sunak said Tory figures who are found to have broken gambling rules should face the full force of the law, as he is likely to face further questions on the betting scandal engulfing his faltering election campaign.

The Prime Minister said he was incredibly angry to learn of the allegations that a string of people with links to the Conservative Party or No 10 bet on the timing of the July 4 contest before he announced it.

Concerns over political insiders profiting from the election date could overshadow his campaigning on Friday, when he is at the Welsh Conservative manifesto launch in Kinmel Bay.

Mr Sunak was asked during a bruising appearance on Thursday nights BBC Question Time leaders special whether the betting allegations were the absolute epitome of the lack of ethics displayed by the Conservative Party in recent years.

The Prime Minister replied: I was incredibly angry  incredibly angry  to learn of these allegations.

Its a really serious matter. Its right that theyre being investigated properly by the relevant law enforcement authorities, including  a criminal investigation by the police.

Calls of shame could be heard after Rishi Sunak said he would prioritise the UKs security over the European Convention on Human Rights (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

I want to be crystal clear that if anyone has broken the rules, they should face the full force of the law.

Conservative candidate Laura Saunders said she will be co-operating with the Gambling Commission probe, while her husband, the Tories director of campaigning, Tony Lee, took a leave of absence amid reports the couple were being investigated by the gambling regulator.

It came after the arrest of one of the Prime Ministers police protection officers and the previous revelation of a Gambling Commission investigation into his parliamentary aide, Craig Williams.

.@RishiSunak, as you wont suspend your insider betting scandal candidates, do you think they are fit to be MPs?  The Labour Party (@UKLabour) June 20, 2024

Labour and the Lib Dems have called on the Tories to suspend both Ms Saunders and Mr Williams, who is standing in Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr.

Pressed on those demands, Mr Sunak said the investigations were ongoing and the integrity of that process must be respected.

But, he added: What I can tell you is if anyone is found to have broken the rules, not only should they face the full consequences of the law, I will make sure that they are booted out of the Conservative Party.

Betfair data appears to show a flurry of bets on a July poll placed on May 21, the day before Mr Sunak called the election, including some in the hundreds of pounds at odds that would have delivered profits in the thousands.

Despite the Conservatives dismal poll ratings failing to improve since Mr Sunak made the move  with four major polls this week even predicting the worst Tory electoral result ever  the Prime Minister insisted he had chosen the right moment for the contest.

On Friday, he will ramp up his warnings about handing Labour a blank cheque at the election, claiming Sir Keir Starmers party will change every rule they can to ensure they stay in government once they gain power.

Sir Keir Starmer defended his support of Jeremy Corbyns 2019 manifesto, despite recently comparing it to Rishi Sunaks policy offering (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Meanwhile, Sir Keir said Jeremy Corbyn would have been a better prime minister than Boris Johnson.

The Labour leader is heading north of the border on Friday to pledge that Labours industrial strategy would deliver 69,000 jobs in Scotland as he seeks to cement his partys resurgence there.

Visiting a business alongside Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Sir Keir will vow to turn the page on an era of economic turmoil under the Tories and the SNP.

In his Question Time grilling, the Labour leader ducked a volley of questions over whether he truly believed his predecessor would make a great premier.

When host Fiona Bruce asked for a yes or no answer to whether he meant his one-time statement, there was laughter from the audience when he did not give one, instead saying that Mr Corbyn would have made a better prime minister than Mr Johnson.

Sir Ed Davey said it was difficult being in government with the Tories during the coalition years (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Sir Ed was challenged by a student over the Lib Dems abandoning their pledge to scrap tuition fees in the coalition government.

He said: I understand why your generation lost faith in us. It was a difficult government to be in.

The Lib Dem leader was also asked whether he was proud of his conduct as postal affairs minister between 2010 and 2012.

SNP leader John Swinney said the Tory Government had been a total disaster and calamity (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

He said he made two big mistakes during that time, including failing to meet Sir Alan Bates in 2010  although he subsequently did agree to meet the campaigner  and not seeing through assurances given to him by the Post Office that Sir Alans assertions were not true.

The Lib Dem leader will call for urgent reform to end the appalling situation in NHS dentistry as he hits the campaign trail on Friday.

Scotlands First Minister and SNP leader, John Swinney, suggested he would prefer Sir Keir over Mr Sunak, telling the BBC programme: The Conservative Government has been a total disaster and a calamity.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who complained about being excluded from the four-way leaders panel but will feature in a separate Question Time next week, is expected to campaign in Clacton on Friday before a high-profile Panorama interview.
A top police officer who lied and exaggerated his naval rank, length of service and achievements when applying to become chief constable has been found to have committed gross misconduct and has been dismissed without notice.

Nick Adderley, suspended chief constable of Northamptonshire Police, built a military naval legend that wasnt true, a misconduct hearing was told  including implying that he had served in the Falklands War, despite being 15 when the conflict broke out in 1982.

The panel, chaired by Callum Cowx  who served in the Royal Navy, the Army and the police, found all allegations against Mr Adderley proven, saying they found his audacity to be quite staggering, adding that he had lied over many years with arrogant temerity.

Mr Adderley was dismissed without notice and placed on the police barred list by the panel, who said his sustained brazen dishonesty and sustained lack of integrity will cause lasting harm to the police service.

He has 10 days to appeal against the decision.

The misconduct hearing in Northampton heard Mr Adderley wore a South Atlantic Medal (SAM), awarded to British military personnel and civilians for service in the Falklands conflict, that was deemed 110% fake by a Ministry of Defence medal expert.

Mr Adderley claimed on his CV and his application form when applying to become chief constable of Northamptonshire Police in 2018 that he had been in the Royal Navy for 10 years when he had served for only two, and had apparently included his service with the Sea Cadets from the age of 10 in that calculation.

He also lied that he had attended the prestigious Britannia Royal Naval College for four years, despite his application being rejected, said he had seen active service during his naval career, had been a military negotiator in Haiti despite never visiting the country, and that he had been a commander or a lieutenant, even though he only achieved the rank of able seaman.

Mr Adderley had claimed that the SAM he had been pictured wearing a number of times since 2012 had been given to him by his brother Richard when he emigrated to Australia, but the panel was told on Thursday that Richard Adderley did not embark for The Falklands until July 2 1982, with the hostilities ending around three weeks previously on June 14.

The chief constables brother was not entitled to wear the SAM with rosette and only applied for a SAM under a change in criteria for applicants put in place in 2015 on October 12 2023  10 days after Nick Adderley received a notice of investigation from the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Mr Cowx said the panel would not give fully formed reasons for their decisions on Friday, and they would follow in a written report within five days, but agreed the allegations against Mr Adderley amounted to breaches of honesty and integrity and discreditable conduct.

He said: Mr Adderley has a genuinely fascinating success story to tell. He joined the Royal Navy as a rating, a career was not for him.

He found his vocation in policing and rose from able seaman to chief constable and thats an amazing achievement worth telling, but something in Nick Adderley told him that wasnt enough.

The misconduct hearing was earlier told by John Beggs KC, representing the Office of the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, that media claims of stolen valour were not exaggerated.

Mr Cowx said: Mr Beggs described his actions as stolen valour and thats precisely what it is  by wearing medals he was not entitled to wear, he stole their richly deserved valour and recognition and his explanation was risible.

He knew he was not entitled to wear the medals. Of further concern is that he involved his brothers to the extent that they gave him medals to wear that he had not earned.

Richard Adderley is, or was, a police officer, yet he too has lied freely to deflect attention from his brother.

Mr Cowx said alarm bells should have rung when Mr Adderley applied for the top job at Northamptonshire and questioned why nobody who was vetting the applicants picked up on the inaccuracies in his CV and application form, saying that the harm from this case would be significant.

He said: There is ongoing and serious public concern about the vetting of police officers yet here is someone who managed to slip under the radar.

Mr Adderley did not attend the final day of the misconduct hearing, despite being directed to by Mr Cowx, but a statement was read out on his behalf by his barrister Matthew Holdcroft, who said he deeply regrets any offence his medal-wearing may have caused veterans.

In a statement from Mr Adderley that was read out at the hearing, he acknowledged the officers he had worked with in his 32-year career, saying: I had the privilege of serving communities in Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire and Northamptonshire and it has been the greatest honour of my life to lead the brave men and women in those forces.

For over three decades I have witnessed first hand the dedication they apply and their unswerving bravery. The pride I have in those I have led has no bounds and I will be forever grateful to them for the difference they have made to the lives of so many.

Thank you for your support, kindness and inspiring me to push on and be a better leader and colleague. I offer a heartfelt apology.

Todays determination showed I have failed you, something I deeply regret. I regret I will no longer be part of your future.

Please be under no illusion I will be there cheering you on from the sidelines.

In a statement, the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone, said: This case has put Northamptonshire Police in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.

We now need to set out to restore a reputation for honesty and integrity, which are fundamental values.

Police officers are held to very high standards and the expectation of police leaders is even higher  it is their duty to set the tone for the rest of the organisation.

Failing to uphold these standards is incredibly serious and damaging to public confidence in our police officers who do excellent work, day after day, to keep the public safe.

We will now work hard to rebuild that reputation for honesty and integrity and earn the confidence of the public.

Acting Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet and his team have done a fantastic job in leading the force through a period of uncertainty and I will work with them to engage with communities and build public confidence and trust in their police.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) referred an evidential file to the Crown Prosecution Service for them to consider any potential criminal charges in April, but it has not been confirmed whether any will follow.

IOPC regional director Emily Barry said: Public confidence in policing needs chief constables to demonstrate the highest standards of conduct and set an example to their colleagues.

The panels findings show that Mr Adderleys conduct had fallen well below the professional standards of any police officer, never mind a chief constable.
Breaking news Houston Chronicle

State troopers and Missouri City police are investigating the events leading up to an officer crashing into a bystander vehicle, killing a 53-year-old woman and her 16-year-old son, on his way to a nearby robbery call, officials said.

Officials with the Missouri City Police Department didnt respond to repeated calls asking for more information about the officer behind the fatal crash as of Friday afternoon.

But Chief Brandon Harris joined state troopers early Friday to provide details about what had led to the fatal crash late Thursday.

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MORE FROM HOUSTON CHRONICLE: Abbott, Cruz call for death penalty for men charged in Jocelyn Nungaray killing

City dispatchers around 8:40 p.m. received a call about a robbery at an ATM machine in the 1600 block of Cartwright Road and an officer crashed into an vehicle while heading east on the same road, heading to the site of the call, officials said.

The victim told dispatchers a man had approached, armed with a handgun, and demanded $200 in cash before fleeing in a silver Honda, officials said. The caller said they were following the mans vehicle while talking with dispatchers.

An officer heading to the scene struck an unrelated vehicle, identifying the victims as Angela Steward, 53, and son, Mason Steward, 16.

Two hours after the crash, investigators learned that a second man was in the back seat of the patrol vehicle, officials said. He was transported to the hospital.

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Harris at Fridays news conference said detectives were still investigating who the man in the squad car was and what he was doing in the vehicle, as well as whether the officers lights or sirens were on at the time of the crash.
The Conservatives raised less than 300,000 in the second week of the election as the partys campaign continued to falter.

Figures from the Electoral Commission released on Friday show the party raised just 292,500 between June 6 and 12, taking its total donations for the campaign to 889,000.

That figure is significantly below the 8.7 million the Tories raised in the first two weeks of the 2019 campaign.

The top donations were two contributions of 50,000 from Bestway Wholesale, ultimately owned by Tory peer Lord Zameer Choudrey through the Guernsey-based Bestway Group, and an organisation called The Spring Lunch.

The Spring Lunch is an unincorporated association, so does not have to provide records of who controls it, but does list an address in Pulham St Mary, Norfolk, in its details with the Electoral Commission.

The reluctance of donors to contribute to the Tory campaign adds to Rishi Sunaks woes at the end of a week in which a series of polls predicted he was on course for a record defeat and his campaign was overshadowed by allegations about gambling.

In contrast, Labour raised 4.4 million in the second week of the election thanks in part to a 2.5 million donation from former supermarket boss Lord David Sainsbury.

Other significant Labour donors include Autoglass chief Gary Lubner, who gave 900,000, and hedge fund manager Martin Taylor, who gave 700,000.

Trade union Aslef provided 100,000 to the party, as did former Cable and Wireless executive Nick Razey.

Former singer Holly Valance donated 50,000 to Reform UK (Yui Mok/PA)

Labours total donations for the first two weeks of the campaign amounted to 5.3 million.

Reform UK raised 742,000 in the second week of the campaign, largely thanks to a 500,000 donation from Britain Means Business Ltd, a company controlled by party chairman Richard Tice.

The party also received 50,000 from former pop star and Neighbours actor Holly Valance, who hosted a fundraising event for former US president Donald Trump in London two weeks after his conviction for falsifying business records.

It had been reported that Reform had received 1.5 million since Nigel Farage declared he would stand as a candidate in Clacton.

But the figures released on Friday show the party had raised 882,000 in major donations during the first two weeks of the campaign  only just below the figure received by the Conservatives.

The Liberal Democrats received 335,000 in the second week of the campaign, taking their total for the election to 789,999 in donations.

This included another 150,000 from businessman Safwan Adam and a 100,000 bequest from John Faulkner, a long-standing party member who left the party 1 million in his will in 2023.

Political parties are required to provide weekly reports of donations of more than 11,180, after the Government increased the threshold from 7,500 in January.

Parties still have 30 days after receiving a donation to check that it is from a permissible source and decide whether to accept it.
A tribute to 309 British and Commonwealth First World War soldiers executed by their comrades has been refurbished after flood damage.

One memorialised British soldier was shot by a firing squad for cowardice after shellshock left him unable to continue fighting.

Private Harry Farrs granddaughter, Janet Booth, visited the Shot at Dawn Memorial more than two decades after her mother unveiled it in 2001.

The newly refurbished Shot at Dawn memorial tribute to 309 soldiers executed during the First World War (National Memorial Arboretum/PA)

Six conifer trees, representing the firing squad, stand in front of a statue of a young, blindfolded soldier at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

Behind the statue are 309 wooden posts each bearing the name of a British and Commonwealth soldier executed in the war.

Workers refurbish the wooden posts at the memorial (National Memorial Arboretum/PA)

Floods had damaged the wood and they have now been replaced with posts made with durable, recycled material.

Ms Booth said the tribute, created by artist Andy DeComyn, gave families like ours a place to come and remember our loved ones and it means so much to see it renewed.

She said Private Farrs story had been buried for decades such was the deep shame felt by my grandmother.

Private Farr joined the Army in 1908 and in November 1914 arrived in France to serve with the British Expeditionary Force.

He was diagnosed with shellshock, now known as PTSD, but after months in hospital he returned to the 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, and was ordered to the front, his family said.

The tribute to 309 soldiers had been damaged by flooding (National Memorial Arboretum/PA)

In September 1916 he reportedly became overwhelmed and could not continue fighting, but a medical officer told him to return to his unit as he had no visible injuries.

He was court-martialled for refusing orders and sentenced to death, aged 25, after a 20-minute trial, his family said.

On October 18 1916 he was executed by firing squad in northern France.

After discovering her grandfathers story, Ms Booth started to work with Shot at Dawn and successfully campaigned for the British Government to issue a formal pardon.

The memorial pays tribute to 309 soldiers executed during the First World War (National Memorial Arboretum/PA)

In 2006 the Armed Forces Act absolved more than 300 First World War soldiers executed for offences including casting away arms, desertion, cowardice, and striking a superior officer.

Ms Booth said: Harry showed unimaginable courage at the end, refusing a blindfold when he was led out to face his executioners in the early hours of the morning.

His death would cast a long shadow over our family, with Harrys father banning any mention of Harry in conversation, and my grandmother was left virtually destitute having been denied a war widows pension despite being the mother to a young child.

Today, Harry is rightly commemorated here at the National Memorial Arboretum, at this, the Shot at Dawn memorial.

Ms Booth said her grandmother rarely spoke of Private Farr and, if pressed, would say he had been a private and died during the Battle of the Somme.

Ms Booth said: Growing up, I knew very little about my grandfather, except that he had been killed in the First World War.

The secret of what happened to him had been buried, such was the deep shame felt by my grandmother, and it was only when I began building my family tree in my 40s that I uncovered the truth and together we pieced together the picture of how Harry had suffered a terrible injustice.

A new information board has been installed at the memorial and access routes and drainage systems have been improved.

The 150-acre National Memorial Arboretum has more than 400 memorials and commemorates lives lost in service.
Tyson Fury is adamant he won his fight with Oleksandr Usyk and claims his downfall was a result of the undisputed world heavyweight clash being too easy.

Fury suffered the first defeat of his professional career when he was on the wrong end of a split decision in Riyadh last month, paving the way for a rematch on December 21.

The Gypsy King was saved by the bell in the ninth round having survived a standing eight count forced by a furious assault from Usyk, who added the WBC belt to his WBA, IBF and WBO titles.

Tyson Fury was criticised for showboating against Oleksandr Usyk (Nick Potts/PA)

Prior to that Fury was in control of a classic at the Kingdom Arena, which he insists he was enjoying too much in explanation of his showboating against the Ukrainian.

Ive watched the fight back lots of times. Still got the same answer  I thought I won the fight and thought Id done enough. Usyk knows that he didnt beat me, the Briton told FUROCITY.

It was close enough. One judge had me winning by a round and one of them had him winning by a round and that was the final decision. I thought I boxed the head right off him for most of the rounds.

The fight was actually a lot easier than I thought it would be, a lot easier. People say hes a hard man to hit, I was landing three or four punch combinations, laughing at him.

My problem in that fight was that I was probably having too much fun. It was probably too easy. At times it was too easy.

It was like I was in there with a local amateur boxer and I was just enjoying it too much and messing around.

I paid the ultimate price round in round nine when I got a 10-8 round and got clipped. Thats what happens when youre having too much fun. But I enjoyed it.

Addressing Usyk, he added: Get yourself well  I hear hes got a broken jaw and broken eye socket  and Ill see you in December for a Christmas extravaganza in Saudi Arabia. Get up!

Footage recently emerged of an apparently drunk Fury being escorted from a bar and then falling over in the street during a night out in his home town of Morecambe.

The incident took place earlier this month and Fury, who has frequently spoken of his mental health issues, insists he simply drank too much.

I got p***** up about two weeks ago, fell over on me face. Didnt do any damage though, still good looking. As you do, you know what I mean, when youre on a night out, he said.

Ive had lots of messages and lots people phoning me asking am I all right?. You go and have a drunken night out and all of a sudden youre going to jump in front of a train. Obviously from my past history people had concerns.
Workers at steel giant Tata to strike in protest against job losses

Workers at steel giant Tata are to strike in protest at the companys plans to close blast furnaces with the loss of jobs.

Unite said around 1,500 of its members based in Port Talbot and Llanwern, south Wales, will begin an indefinite strike on July 8.

Unite members are already working to rule and banning overtime but the announcement of a strike is a significant escalation.

Tata is switching to a greener form of steel production which requires fewer staff, so up to 2,800 jobs are being cut.

Unite said it will be the first time in over 40 years that steel workers in the UK have taken strike action.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: Tatas workers are not just fighting for their jobs  they are fighting for the future of their communities and the future of steel in Wales.

Our members will not stand by while this immensely wealthy conglomerate tries to throw Port Talbot and Llanwern on the scrapheap so it can boost its operations abroad.

They know south Wales is ideally placed to take advantage of the coming boom in green steel  if the right choices are made.

The strikes will go on until Tata halts its disastrous plans. Unite is backing Tatas workers to the hilt in their historic battle to save the Welsh steel industry and give it the bright future it deserves.

Community and the GMB unions are also campaigning against the plans but have ruled out taking industrial action before the General Election.

The unions expect an incoming Labour government to hold emergency talks with Tata to discuss alternatives to its proposals.

Tata has made it clear it is pressing ahead with switching from blast furnace production to an electric arc, as other steel companies are doing.

Tata says it is losing 1 million a day at Port Talbot which it has warned is unsustainable.

The company offered an enhanced redundancy package to workers affected by the plans, but this was reduced after Unite started its industrial action earlier this week.

 The strike announcement comes two years to the day since members of the RMT rail union went on strike, kicking off a wave of walkouts by hundreds of thousands of workers over pay and conditions, including nurses, teachers and junior doctors.

Alun Davies, national officer for steel at the Community union, said: Community and GMB senior officers met last week and made the decision not to schedule any industrial action before the General Election has taken place.

If the Labour Party wins the General Election it has said that it will hold emergency talks with Tata on the future of Port Talbot and the downstream sites as soon as possible.

We welcome this, and now feel it is important to wait for the completion of that process before initiating any significant course of action. If and when we do take industrial action, that decision will be made by Community members, who represent the vast majority of workers impacted by Tatas damaging plans.

A Tata Steel spokesperson said: We are extremely disappointed by Unites unilateral decision to call strike action.

Our existing steelmaking assets are near the end of their life, are operationally unstable and causing unsustainable losses of 1 million a day. This is why preparations to close the blast furnaces and associated plants in Port Talbot are unchanged.

However, if the safety and stability of our operations are put at risk by this action, we will be forced to accelerate those closure plans.

After extensive negotiations with our unions we substantially improved our support offering for affected employees  the most generous package in our history. Rather than taking strike action, we would have expected Unite to put our improved offer to its members, as previously accepted by all unions, including Unite.
HOUSTON (AP)  Two men who were seen on surveillance footage with a 12-year-old girl before her body was found in a Houston creek earlier this week were arrested Thursday in her death, police said.

Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, each face a charge of capital murder in the killing of Jocelyn Nungaray, police said. The medical examiner has determined that her cause of death was strangulation.

It was unclear if the two suspects had attorneys yet to speak on their behalf. Their names were not listed in jail or court records as of Thursday afternoon.

Jocelyn's body was found in the shallow water of a creek early Monday morning. Police have said that she sneaked out of her nearby home the night before.

Police said that surveillance footage showed the men meeting up with Jocelyn before walking to a convenience store with her.

The three then walked to the bridge together where Jocelyn was killed, police said. It was not known yet if Jocelyn knew the men, who were roommates, police said.

Police said the results of a sexual assault exam on the victim are pending.

Police on Tuesday had released photos from the surveillance footage of the two men, who were called persons of interest at that time.
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RIO BRAVO, Texas  When Claudia Patricia Gomez Gonzalez and five other migrants floated across the Rio Grande on a bright spring morning, Border Patrol agents detected them almost immediately.

One agent started tracking their footprints through Rio Bravo, a tiny suburb 14 miles downstream from Laredo. Two others, mounted on ATVs, rolled through the adjacent blocks.

A few minutes later, Gomez was lying in the tall grass of an empty lot on Centeno Lane, blood streaming from a bullet wound in the back of her head.

As she took her last breaths, the abandoned lot started to fill up.

Troopers from the state Department of Public Safety would arrive, some with guns drawn. A county sheriffs deputy, wearing a body camera, would take in the whole scene in minute detail, right down to the black gloves one Border Patrol agent had been wearing.

There would be a Texas Ranger, FBI agents, even a woman from the neighborhood who emerged from her house to stream video of the scene to her Facebook page. Soon, a team of paramedics would arrive to try to save Gomezs life. By then, one person wasnt there: Romualdo Barrera, the U.S. Border Patrol agent who had fired the shot that penetrated Gomezs skull.

Investigators would not speak to Barrera at the scene, or nearby. They wouldnt interview him for another three days.

Men carry the casket of Claudia Gomez, a Guatemalan immigrant who was shot by a U.S. Border Patrol officer, during her funeral in Guatemala on June 2, 2018.

News of the shooting of Claudia Gomez came and went quickly in spring 2018 amid the sea of headlines about then-president Donald Trumps controversial border policies. Since then, a surge of crossings has only increased the larger debate over border security.

But inside the nations intractable immigration battle, advocates and researchers say, sits one remarkable consistency: When Border Patrol agents shoot and kill migrants, they are almost never punished.

In the Border Patrols 100-year history, no agent has ever been convicted of a wrongful killing while on duty.

Since 2010, according to the advocacy group Southern Border Communities Coalition, which tracks all such cases, there have been 304 fatal encounters with agents from the Border Patrol and its parent entity, Customs and Border Protection. Those deaths include 68 use of force killings, such as fatal shootings, asphyxiations and Taser shots, as well as 108 deaths caused by vehicle collisions, the majority of which occurred during high-speed chases initiated by the Border Patrol, according to the groups statistics.

For years, critics claimed investigative teams deployed to shooting scenes actually worked to conceal evidence and protect agents. The agency announced in 2022 that it had disbanded those so-called Critical Incident Teams, but a recent federal investigation found the agency still struggles to investigate its own shootings properly.

In the 2018 shooting of Claudia Gomez, there was no rush to transparency.

A woman prays next to the coffin of Claudia Gomez, a Guatemalan immigrant who was shot by a U.S. Border Patrol officer, during her wake at her home in Guatemala on June 1, 2018.

Barrera was never charged, so there is no criminal filing. Gomez's family settled a lawsuit against the federal government for an undisclosed amount  and on the condition that the family agree not to discuss the case  so there is no civil court record. The FBI would tell investigators it found no civil rights violations. A CBP official said the shooting remains under investigation now, six years later, so there are no internal findings to review.

But the Border Patrol wasnt the only agency to arrive in the empty lot that morning.

Documents obtained by USA TODAY, including investigative reports by the Texas Department of Public Safety and Webb County Sheriffs Office, offer a rare glimpse into what happens after an agent pulls the trigger.

As authorities gathered, paramedics tested Gomez with an electrocardiogram, then stretched a silver thermal blanket over her body. By then, the Rangers' report shows, Barrera was already on the move.

First he sat on a stump a few blocks away, where he handed over the gun from the shooting, trading it to a colleague who stashed it under the seat of a patrol vehicle. Border Patrol officials later explained to investigators what happened next.

One drove Barrera to the Exxon station at the edge of Rio Bravo. As they waited in the gas station parking lot at the foot of the highway, a white BMW rolled in off the road. Inside were an attorney for the Border Patrol agents union and two other passengers  the other two agents who had been on patrol during the shooting.

The group conferred in the parking lot. Then, with Barrera in one vehicle and his two fellow agents in the other, they pulled onto the highway and headed out of town.

Special report: In hunt for cartel hitmen, Texas Ranger's biggest obstacle may be the border itself

Barreras interview

Three days later, the investigators notes show, Barrera walked into the FBI office in Laredo flanked by the attorney from the car, George Altgelt, and another attorney, Oscar Osmar Pena.

Sitting at a table across from an FBI investigator and the Texas Ranger, Barrera retold the events of the shooting as he remembered it.

It was a sensor that first detected the groups footfalls that morning in late May 2018 as six migrants crossed through the town.

Barrera and the other agents on duty had already been on alert that day after one of them reported seeing a man with a tattoo on his neck. The border agents thought the man was a scout for a smuggling operation.

It wouldnt be the first time they had caught smugglers in Rio Bravo. The citys arrow-straight streets climb from the riverbank toward the U.S. highway at the edge of town, and from there, the rest of the country.

Barrera knew how to track footprints through the brush. He set his sights on a possible hiding spot on Centeno Lane and gunned the motor of his Border Patrol ATV.

As Barrera approached the empty lot, someone else approached him first. It was the man with a tattoo on his neck. The sight left Barrera on high alert.

Barrera followed the footprints into the brush of the empty lot and saw the migrants for the first time. There were six of them, huddled in the corner of the lot.

One of the migrants was holding a stick the size of a broom handle, he remembered. In that moment, Barrera was alone and outnumbered.

Agachense! Get down!" he yelled in Spanish and English.

He pulled his .40-caliber service pistol from its holster and held it ready. Instead of complying, the group of migrants rushed toward him, he told investigators. He reenacted the scene as investigators watched.

Two of the migrants shoved his right arm straight out to the side, the gun now pointing wide. He tried to fend off two others with his left arm. As he struggled, Barrera said, he could feel another person slip beneath his right arm. He could feel a pair of hands sliding closer to the gun that was still in his grasp.

He feared he was losing the weapon. He squeezed harder. The gun fired.

"I tried to hold on to my gun. ... I squeezed it, and the round went off, Barrera told investigators.

As Barrera relived the scene, the investigators noticed he grew visibly shaken.

At the empty lot, he fell to the right, he said, dropped to his knees, and braced himself with his gun hand on the ground.

Pena, the attorney, interrupted to note that Barrera did not have independent memory of pulling the trigger.

But Barrera did describe the next thing he remembered seeing: a woman, unresponsive, lying on the ground, with a hoodie covering her head.

The life and death of Claudia Gomez

Claudia Gomez grew up in the outskirts of Quetzaltenango in Guatemala, in a small, poverty-choked village. Most of the people are Indigenous. She graduated high school with high marks and dreamed of becoming an accountant. But with no money for college and unable to find a job, hope faded.

In May 2018, when she was 20, Gomez left for the United States. She trekked across Mexico and arrived at a safe house in Nuevo Laredo at around 7 p.m. on May 22. Other migrants were there already, including at least one from her hometown in Guatemala.

The Rio Grande outside of Laredo, May 2024.

The next morning, on May 23, Gomez and the other migrants floated across the Rio Grande on inner tubes, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety reports account of their interviews. The asylum-seekers followed directions through the blocks of Rio Bravo to a wooded area with tall grass, next to a white house. There, they were told, they should wait for a pickup.

The grassy hiding spot was the empty lot on Centeno Lane. Before their pickup arrived, Barrera found them. Moments later, Gomez was on the ground, bleeding.

The news of Gomezs death would shock people up and down the continent.

In Guatemala, her home country, the ministry of foreign affairs would call for a thorough investigation. Border advocates did the same. In the weeks that followed, her parents would demand justice for their slain daughter. Her body was returned to her hometown, and hundreds of mourners flocked there to pay respects to Gomez during a funeral that drew international media attention.

But in the first moments after the shooting, perhaps no one was more stunned than Marta Martinez.

Her house sits next door to the empty lot. She was inside that day when she heard the gunshot. She emerged to find someone running across her front yard.

Martinez would later say that she expected to find someone had shot up into the air. She weaved through the cars parked out front and into the brush of the lot next door. Her cellphone in hand, Martinez started streaming the scene to Facebook Live.

Once the controversy about her video blew up, she removed it from the internet. Today, Martinez declines to talk about what she saw. But news reports from the time detail how shocked she was when she saw Gomez in the brush of the empty lot.

Why did you shoot the girl? she shouted as the livestream rolled. You killed her!

Special report: VIP package for migrants trying to get into US

The migrants version of events

That question was much like the ones investigators would put to the men who were caught in the empty lot.

Hours after the shooting, Carlos Perez-Vicente, also a native of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, would face FBI and Texas Rangers investigators in Laredo.

He said he was with five other migrants, including Gomez, when Barrera approached them in the empty lot. A few of the migrants fled at the sight of the border agent, but Perez-Vicente said he and Gomez stayed, crouching in the tall grass.

He told investigators that Gomez then attempted to run away towards the street when she was shot and that she was near the fence.

An investigator asked Perez-Vicente if anyone in the group was armed or if anyone in the group tried to assault the Border Patrol agent. No, he said.

Another asylum-seeker on the scene, Damian Mendez-Penalonso, also from Guatemala, described to investigators how Barrera approached them in the empty lot, walking slowly at first, then picking up his pace and drawing his gun as he spotted them crouched in the grass. Mendez-Penalonso said no one rushed the agent and no one had any weapons or sticks.

He said Gomez tried to flee over a fence when she was shot. He heard her let out a final, short scream as she dropped to the ground, bleeding.

As they spoke to the migrants at the FBI office, investigators would walk out of the interrogation room, consult their notes, then reenter and meticulously ask them specific questions again, such as their position relative to Barrera and whether any weapons were wielded at the agent. The witnesses stuck to their story.

The migrants also were interviewed by Border Patrol attorneys over several days.

According to the FBI agent, defense attorneys cross-examined three material witnesses for three days, and they never wavered from their initial testimony, the report read. Their statements differed from Agent Barreras account of events.

A Webb County Medical Examiners report would later say the bullet entered the back of Gomezs head, traveled right to left and up, and exited the front, causing severe injury to the brain, aligning with Perez-Vicentes account. The death was ruled a homicide.

The aftermath

Some of what happened between Gomezs shooting and Barreras first interview, three days later, can be pieced together through statements in the investigative records.

Bodycam video pulled from Webb County Sheriffs deputies who responded to the shooting showed Barrera wearing black gloves at the scene, the kind of gloves another agent said were typically assigned to those patrolling on ATVs.

As investigators at the scene began to interview witnesses, Sergio Buriano, a Laredo representative for the Border Patrol union, arrived and drove Barrera to a spot a few blocks away. Border Patrol Assistant Chief Manuel Crispin Martinez soon arrived.

Are you good? he asked Barrera. The agent nodded.

Martinez took Barreras .40-caliber handgun and put it in his holster, according to Burianos later interviews with the investigators. In exchange, he handed Barrera his own service weapon. The two men hugged. Martinez then gave Barreras weapon to another agent, who shoved it under the seat of his Chevy Tahoe.

That agent drove Barrera 2 miles east to the Exxon gas station on U.S. Highway 83. Buriano, the union rep, drove up, as did Altgelt, the Border Patrol attorney.

They talked about what to do with Barrera and ultimately agreed to drive him farther away, to a Border Patrol station nearer to Laredo. Later, an agent said he moved Barreras weapon from under the seat of the Chevy to the console and brought it into the Border Patrol station.

Though its sometimes common to remove a firearm from the scene of an officer-involved shooting, its less normal for officers to leave before speaking with independent investigators, said Gil Kerlikowske, CBP commissioner from 2014 to 2017, who pushed for more transparency and better policing tactics at the agency.

Its really helpful if they stay at the scene, Kerlikowske said. Certain things can come up or there could be a question for the officer.  You dont want them so far away youre missing something.

The flood of agents  who surrounded Barrera, directed him away from questions and took over evidence such as his gun  is a well-worn story for migrant advocates, who spent years criticizing the Border Patrol's Critical Incident Teams.

This is standard operating procedure for border agents wanting to interfere with an investigation, said Andrea Guerrero, executive director of Alliance San Diego, an advocacy group that has represented asylum-seekers in officer-involved shootings. Weve seen it happening across dozens, perhaps hundreds of cases over the years.

In 2022, former CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus terminated the Critical Incident Teams, but a year later, Guerrero and other advocates wrote a letter to Congress, alleging that the practice continues.

A U.S. Government Accountability Office report released last month studied how Customs and Border Protection and its investigative arm, the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), respond to incidents, including shootings. They found the agency still struggles to conduct independent, thorough investigations involving its agents.

OPR has made significant progress implementing investigative standards  which it adopted in 2020  but it could strengthen its efforts regarding investigator independence, the report said.

Katherine Hawkins of the Project on Government Oversight, a nonpartisan independent watchdog group that was also critical of the teams, reaches a similar conclusion.

There is some progress, she said, but its unclear how far its taken us.

The National Border Patrol Council, a representative of the Laredo chapter of the union and Altgelt, the attorney representing Barrera, didnt respond to several requests for comment for this story.

Texas Ranger E.J. Salinas organizes boxes of case files on his desk at the Zapata County Sheriffs Office on May 28, 2024.

Texas Ranger E.J. Salinas, who took over the Gomez investigation three months after the shooting, said Border Patrol union members, along with peer support teams and union attorneys, often arrive at the scene of agent-involved crimes before investigators do, and the agent will often leave the scene.

Aside from questions about the agents own culpability, the entire investigation becomes more difficult if the agent involved leaves the scene, he said. Collecting evidence is harder if the agent isnt there to point out where it may be.

As the investigation unspooled, advocate groups sued the federal government over the shooting. The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit on behalf of Gomezs family. Last year, the group settled with the government for an undisclosed amount.

The Webb County District Attorneys Office declined to bring criminal charges against Barrera because, in part, Gomezs family was suing the federal government in a federal civil case. In an email dated Jan. 6, 2022, Assistant District Attorney Amber Holmes wrote to the Border Patrol Laredo Sector, stating she did not intend to file charges partly because federal prosecutors felt they could not prove willful intent, but also because the federal government was now defending Barrera in the civil suit.

The (federal government) has already stated that they support Barrera's actions and he committed no crime, she wrote.

A spokeswoman for the district attorneys office said they couldnt comment on the case because its still being investigated by CBP.

A CBP spokeswoman wouldnt comment on the Gomez case, citing the ongoing investigation.

As for the Texas Rangers investigation, it documents periodic inquiries until early 2019, when the work was submitted to prosecutors.

It notes that after Barreras .40-caliber pistol was transferred from person to person for hours after the shooting, it was finally submitted to an FBI laboratory for testing. The lab later concluded the distance from the pistol barrel to the wound on Gomezs head was less than 12 inches.

But the black gloves Barrera was seen wearing at the shooting scene were never found.

Five days after the shooting, he was back at work.

Rick Jervis is a national correspondent for USA TODAY based in Austin, Texas. Follow him on X @MrRJervis or contact him at: rjervis@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dark details emerge in probe of controversial Border Patrol shooting
It drives your spouse crazy, but you frequently need to turn up the volume on the TV. Or you find yourself asking friends to say things again because you didnt catch it the first time. Could it be your hearing?

Age-related hearing loss is a common issue among people in their 60s and 70s, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). In fact, about 1 in 3 people in the United States between the ages of 65 and 74  and half of those ages 75 and older  have trouble hearing.

Problems with your hearing can sneak up on you slowly. And sometimes, people dont want to admit that its time to do something about it.

Theres still a stigma that needs to be overcome, says audiologist Larry Medwetsky, Ph.D., a retired professor at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. Some people avoid visiting the audiologist because they dont want to feel old, or they think hearing aids are too expensive or wont fix the problem.

But its never a good idea to ignore suspected hearing loss. Untreated hearing loss is not a minor health problem  its a major issue that affects many people, says Medwetsky. It can affect your physical health and your brain health too.

Heres what you need to know, and why it might be time to visit an audiologist to get your hearing checked.





What causes age-related hearing loss?

Age-related hearing loss doesnt have a single cause. Often, there is more than one factor at play.

Changes in the inner ear  especially the gradual loss of tiny hair cells in it  are part of the problem. These cells are responsible for delivering sounds to the auditory nerve, which in turn sends signals to the brain. And once theyre lost, they dont regrow. As more of these hair cells are damaged over time, their ability to send clear information to the auditory nerve weakens.

But the ears arent the only things at play in your hearing. The brain is equally involved. In general, as you grow older, your auditory processing speed  how quickly your brain can take in sounds  slows down. That means the brain cant always keep up with the fast pace of sounds coming in, especially speech.

So when a grandchild talks at a clip, or if youre in a crowded restaurant or another noisy place, the brain struggles to process each word as clearly and quickly as it needs to. That can also result in hearing troubles.

The connection between hearing and health

Many health conditions are associated with hearing loss. And some of those illnesses are more common in older adults. For example, you may be at higher risk of hearing problems if you have:

Diabetes

Head injury from a fall or accident

High blood pressure

Kidney issues

Stroke

Certain medications, such chemotherapy drugs, can also be toxic to the cells in your ears.

Plus, hearing problems may affect your brain health and cognition. People with untreated hearing loss are at greater risk of dementia, according to the National Institute on Aging.

What are some signs you might be dealing with hearing loss?

There are some obvious signs of hearing problems, such as being unable to hear conversations and music. But other telltale signs may be surprising. Watch for these lesser-known red flags of possible hearing loss.

1. You need to take naps. Hearing loss is exhausting, says Medwetsky. When youre not hearing all the important speech sounds, youre at risk of not understanding. Plus, you have to work to fill in what you dont hear. The mental effort to try to capture everything becomes much harder, he says. Many people with hearing loss may be exhausted by the end of the day.

2. You fall more often. Untreated hearing loss has been associated with increased falls and balance issues. The more hearing loss you have, the more likely it is that youre going to experience a fall, says Medwetsky. So treating hearing loss is especially important for older adults who are at risk of serious injuries from falls, such as a broken hip.

3. You feel disconnected from loved ones. Communication is one of the most human things that you do, and its how you connect with others, says Medwetsky. People with untreated hearing loss may withdraw from family and friends because they avoid conversation or feel self-conscious.

Perhaps you dont ask your spouse or neighbor about everyday things, such as how their day was or what they have planned for the weekend. Or you avoid video chats with your adult children or grandchildren.

Over time, this can create a sort of invisible wall between you and your loved ones. And that can harm your relationships. For example, the divorce rate is significantly higher for individuals who have a serious hearing loss and dont do anything about it, says Medwetsky.

4. You avoid activities you once enjoyed. Have you started turning down invitations because of the noise? People with hearing loss may first start to notice it in group settings. Restaurants, parties, and other noisy social gatherings can pose significant challenges. Its no fun if you cant follow a conversation because you cant hear. And that can make you feel left out.

5. You have signs of memory loss or cognitive decline. According to a 2023 report in The Lancet, people with untreated hearing loss have a greater risk of dementia, compared with those with normal hearing. Thats another reason to get your hearing tested and get treatment.



Devices to restore hearing can help by keeping you more engaged in the world around you. A 2023 review study in JAMA Neurology shows that using hearing aids or cochlear implants can slow down cognitive decline.

Hearing aids are electronic devices you wear in or behind your ear to make sounds louder. You can get them by prescription. As of 2022, people with mild to moderate hearing loss can also buy them over the counter, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Cochlear implants are small devices that are surgically implanted in the inner ear. They can improve hearing in people with severe hearing loss, according to NIDCD.

Hearing aids and cochlear implants can help you with your hearing issues. For the brains part, you can use BrainHQ. Multiple studies have shown that BrainHQ speeds up auditory processing (one large-scale study showed it sped it up by 135%) and helps people hear better in noisy places. And those changes in processing speed have been shown to improve memory and help people maintain their brain health.

6. You feel anxious or depressed. Missing out on important conversations in your life can cause stress and cut you off from your social network. The prevalence of anxiety and depression is much higher in people with hearing loss, explains Medwetsky. Thats because they feel inadequate, frustrated, and socially more and more isolated.

What do your next steps look like?

If youre experiencing any of the issues above, its best to schedule an appointment with your doctor. They can help you find the root cause of your hearing loss, refer you to an audiologist to get your hearing checked, and figure out a treatment plan.

If youre dealing with anxiety and depression, your doctor may also refer you to a therapist. And if your doctor thinks you may be experiencing cognitive decline, they may schedule a series of tests.

Additional sources:

Age-related hearing loss stats, hearing devices: National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Health problems and hearing, dementia: National Institute on Aging

Hearing loss and dementia study: The Lancet

Hearing devices and dementia: JAMA Neurology

OTC hearing aids: U.S. Food and Drug Administration
When it comes to presidential politics, sometimes age isnt just a number but, perhaps, a poll number.

An Ipsos poll from earlier this year found that 59% of Americans think both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are too old to serve another term, even if recent research shows cognitive skills, like those needed to run a nation, may actually improve with age.

At 78, if Trump wins come November, hed officially take the title of oldest person elected president away from Biden, who was elected at age 77. If Biden wins reelection in November, he will be the first person in their 80s to win a presidential election.

Its an issue that has become front and center this cycle for both younger and older voters.

"I really don't like Biden. Frankly, I think he needs to retire," one North Carolina voter told Scripps News. "Frankly, I think Trump, he's a year older than me. I know I'm past my prime."

But some experts say the public should be measured in its concerns over the candidates' ages.

"Cognitive abilities that are important for a leader do not necessarily decline, and some of them improve," said Michael T. Ullman, a neuroscientist and professor at Georgetown.

While someone younger may have a better memory or an easier time learning a new skill, his research found executive functions, such as the ability to make decisions and focus on whats important, actually increased with age. And while there are some questions over whether executive function declines once someone reaches their mid-70s, the research isn't clear.

"The degree of confidence we have that it declines (is) actually very wide. So we don't actually know that it declines," he said. "Moreover, even the decline is only back to around mid, late 50s. It's not further down. So at the higher stage of our sample, which is the high 90s, 98, I think, it's at the same level as around 58."

According to a poll by Pew Research, respondents said someone in their 50s is the best age to be president. The median age for U.S. presidents at inauguration is 55 years old.

"Emotional regulation, wisdom, knowledge about the world, and the ability to focus on something and inhibit what's not important," Ullman said, "what's important for a leader, a president, for example, is to make good decisions based on all these factors. It's not to be, you know, slightly faster."

These concerns about the ages of the presidential candidates may speak to a larger problem in the country: ageism.

"It seems like we're doubling down, you know? There's the use of phrases like a 'gerontocracy' to describe who's leading our country. And it's pretty rampant throughout this presidential campaign," said Sue Peschin, CEO of the Alliance for Aging Research. "Not like older adults are separate species."

The median age for global leaders is 62, according to Pew Research. Just two other nations classified as free have leaders over the age of 80: Ghana and Namibia.

"I think that there's more to be gained than to be lost," said Peschin about having older presidential candidates. "I hope that they sort of lean in on these issues, push back hard and just say, 'Come on. The American people care about how to get their food on the table, how to support their families, what's going on in their communities."

Related stories:

Age in America: What concerns are at the top of the list for Gen Zers?

Age in America: Aging doesn't always equal cognitive decline
WASHINGTON  A leading anti-hate organization that tracks reports of antisemitism is fighting back after a group of anonymous volunteer editors of the online encyclopedia Wikipedia declared the group generally unreliable to provide information on the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

Jonathan Greenblatt, chief executive officer of the New York-based Anti-Defamation League, blasted the decision as part of a larger effort to discredit the organization at a time when antisemitism is on the rise.

In a moment when we need to be educating millions of people on how dangerous anti-Jewish hate is, we are being silenced and our research is being marginalized, Greenblatt said. Just let that sink in.

Antisemitism is everywhere: We tracked it across all 50 states.

A man wrapped in an Israeli flag attends a march for the release of Israeli hostages and against antisemitism amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

The ADL has tracked anti-Jewish tropes since 1964. It also researches and documents extremist trends, ideologies and groups across the ideological spectrum. The global organization has long been considered a bastion for tracking all forms of hate.

News organizations, including USA Today, often cite the ADL's research in news articles on antisemitism and extremism.

The decision by a group of Wikipedia editors last week adds the ADL to the list of banned or partially banned sources and puts it in the same company as Russian state media and the National Inquirer.

The decision, first reported by the Jewish Telegraph Agency, means the ADL generally should not be cited in articles on the Israel-Palestinian conflict due to significant evidence that the ADL acts as a pro-Israeli advocacy group and has repeatedly published false and misleading statements as fact, says a statement posted on a Wikipedia page listing the sites frequently used sources.

ADLs unreliability extends to the intersection of the topics of antisemitism and the Israel/Palestine conflict, the statement said.

Wikipedias review of ADLs reliability began in April and involved more than 120 volunteers who participated in discussions about the organizations coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, antisemitism and its hate symbols database, said Maggie Dennis, a vice president at The Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit organization that operates the online encyclopedia but does not determine what content is included on the site.

However, the process has attracted attention because of what critics say is a lack of transparency. The online encyclopedia is volunteer-run and non-profit. Any reader can see the discussions and debates. But it's not clear exactly who the volunteer editors are, how they are vetted or if such a process exists at all.

Yet for all its anonymity, the crowd-sourced encyclopedia has over 60 million entries and is often the internet's most accessible  if not always accurate  record of people, places and events. In 2023, the English-language version of Wikipedia had about 92 billion views.

In an online discussion forum about ADL, a group of Wikipedia editors suggested the organization is heavily biased in favor of Israel and inaccurately labels legitimate criticism of Israel as antisemitism.

The ADL no longer appears to adhere to a serious, mainstream and intellectually cogent definition of antisemitism, but has instead given into the shameless politicisation (sic) of the very subject that it was originally esteemed for being reliable on, wrote an editor who goes by the online name of Iskandar323.

Another editor who uses the online handle Loki said the ADL often acts as a pro-Israel lobbying organization, which can and does compromise its ability to accurately report facts regarding people and organizations that disagree with it on this issue.

Sounding the alarm: President Biden warns of 'alarming surge of antisemitism' after Columbia University protests

The ADL describes itself as a nonpartisan organization that fights antisemitism, extremism and all forms of hate regardless of ideology or party. But the group has at times come under attack from both the political left and right for various positions it has taken through the years.

Greenblatt also has faced criticism for suggesting that anti-Israel protesters on college campuses are Iranian proxies. (In April, the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei publicly applauded the growing number of anti-Gaza war encampments that sprung up on American college campuses and became a flashpoint in cities and universities nationwide.)

Greenblatt also has come under fire for comments that critics said equate the Palestinian keffiyeh head scarf to the swastika.

Greenblatt said in an interview with USA Today that bad actors with an agenda have intentionally misrepresented his remarks. His statement about the keffiyeh, for example, came during a television interview in March. Greenblatt said people who wouldnt tolerate death threats from someone wearing a swastika on their arm should not tolerate threats from someone wearing a keffiyeh on their head.

What I said was that no matter what you're wearing, a keffiyeh or anything else, if you make death threats, then you should be accountable for that, Greenblatt told USA Today.

Im certainly far from perfect, he said, but it is stunning that someone would take comments that were intentionally misrepresented and use that to slander and undermine an entire organization and to suggest that the body of our work is somehow no longer made of integrity.

Greenblatt accused Wikipedia of a lack of transparency about its review process and noted that the ADL was never formally notified of the editors decision. The first ADL heard about the ruling was when it was contacted by news organizations, he said.

30,000-plus lives lost: Visualizing the death and destruction of Israel's war in Gaza

The Wikipedia decision is problematic for ADL because it raises questions about the organizations credibility, said James Loeffler, a professor of modern Jewish history at Johns Hopkins University.

We really need good, reliable information about antisemitism, where hate crimes are occurring, and the ADL has long provided critical research, Loeffler said. The problem is that theres one message coming from the leadership and one coming from the research team. The leadership statements are much less disciplined and raise questions about exactly how rigorous their measurement is and their standards for defining antisemitic acts.

If Wikipedia is no longer going to rely on ADL for information about antisemitism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, its a big challenge for having credible information out there for scholars, educators and policymakers as well as the public," Loeffler said.

Greenblatt said the ADL will not be daunted by Wikipedia's decision and will continue its work.

Were going to keep fighting antisemitism in all forms, he said.

Michael Collins covers the White House. Follow him on X @mcollinsNEWS.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wikipedia: ADL 'unreliable' on Israel-Palestinian conflict
Peter Warren is a general assignment reporter for the Houston Chronicle. He can be reached at peter.warren@houstonchronicle.com.

Peter previously lived in Dallas, where he covered the sports as a freelancer for the Dallas Morning News and other outlets. He has been published in Texas Highways Magazine, DMagazine.com, the Star Tribune and Bowlers Journal International. Peter graduated from Northwestern University in 2021.
Editors Note: Sign up for CNNs Meanwhile in China newsletter which explores what you need to know about the countrys rise and how it impacts the world.

Apple is banking on its upcoming AI features to boost iPhone sales especially in China, where demand has been lagging. But theres a problem: ChatGPT  soon to be integrated into Siri  is banned in China.

In a presentation earlier this month, Apple (AAPL) showed off its proprietary technology called Apple Intelligence to power compelling new AI features and announced a partnership with OpenAI to also use its viral ChatGPT tool in a limited capacity. (When Siri is activated and needs more assistance answering an inquiry, ChatGPT can step in.)

The move signaled how Apple is trying to expedite the latest buzzy technology at a time when tech rivals, such as Microsoft, Google, Meta and Samsung, have already found their AI footing. A deal with OpenAI could help Apple close the gap.

But China is one of the first countries in the world to regulate the generative AI technology that powers these popular services. In August, the Cyberspace Administration of China, the countrys top internet watchdog, rolled out new guidelines for the industry, requiring companies to seek approval before deployment. The organization has approved more than 100 AI models as of March, all from Chinese companies.

According to a report from the Wall Street Journal Thursday, Apple is looking for a Chinese AI company to partner with ahead of the iPhones expected September launch, but it hasnt reached a deal yet.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment.

The need to find a partner  and quickly  comes at a time when Apples smartphone sales tumbled a stunning 10% in the first quarter of this year, according to market research firm IDC, due largely to iPhone sales sharply dropping in China. The company has lost momentum in China as nationalism, a rough economy and increased competition have also hurt sales. China is the companys second-largest market.

Trouble in the EU

Limitations on its new AI tools may not be specific to China. In a statement sent to CNN following the publication of this article, Apple said it highly motivated to bring the features to customers around the world, but it is facing regulatory challenges in the European Union, as well.

The company said it doesnt believe it will be able to roll out its AI features in Europe this year.

Due to the regulatory uncertainties brought about by the Digital Markets Act (DMA), we do not believe that we will be able to roll out three of these featuresiPhone Mirroring, SharePlay Screen Sharing enhancements, and Apple Intelligenceto our EU users this year, a spokesperson said in a statement.

Specifically, we are concerned that the interoperability requirements of the DMA could force us to compromise the integrity of our products in ways that risk user privacy and data security, it added. We are committed to collaborating with the European Commission in an attempt to find a solution that would enable us to deliver these features to our EU customers without compromising their safety.

Resurgent competitors

In China, concerns around iPhone sales continue to mount as Chinese smartphone brand Huaweis smartphone sales growth was 70% in the first quarter, according to Counterpoint Research.

If a solution is not worked out by fall, Chinese consumers may feel short changed and choose to wait until they can get the full AI experience with Apple, she added.

Apple is very likely to seek a local partner in China in place of OpenAI, because simply put, it needs to, said Nabila Popal, a senior director at IDC Research. Chinese consumers are expecting their premium phones to have the latest AI functionality and may hesitate to spend over $1000 for devices that dont have all the AI bells and whistles.

The real growth in China for Apple will come in the long term, as Apple Intelligence evolves offering more use cases, extends language support beyond English and when Siri can leverage other local AI models to provide the ChatGPT-like function, Popal said.

In the meantime, some AI companies in China may be better suited to target its consumers anyway, such as by offering more local dialects than whats currently found in foreign AI models, Reece Hayden, an analyst at ABI Research, noted.

Apple wouldnt be the first foreign company to work with the Cyberspace Administration of China for AI and smartphones. In January, Samsung teamed up with Chinese tech giant Baidu (BIDU) to use its AI model to help power its translation service. It works with another AI firm Meitu for photo editing tools. In other parts of the world, Samsung uses its own propriety AI technology, along with Googles (GOOGL) AI model Gemini, which is also banned in China.

Samsung, however, accounts for less than 1% of the total market in China, according to Counterpoint Research.

Although the clock is ticking for Apple to secure a partnership ahead of its fall software launch, Jeff Fieldhack, a research director at Counterpoint, believes it will be able to ink a deal in time.

Apple should be able to have a partnership aligned very quickly because it has such a strong global install base, and it would be a gem for these companies to work with them, he said, noting that theyd soon be established as an an AI power player in the country.

CNNs Joyce Jiang contributed reporting

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President Bidens personal attorney, Bob Bauer, suggested hes preparing for legal challenges to the 2024 election results in November, when Biden faces former President Trump in a 2020 rematch.

Bauer, in an interview with Politico, warned about challenges, considering the aftermath of the 2020 election.

Were seeing  and have seen  election officials say, If Im not satisfied with the outcome here, I may not certify; Ill just block it. And you saw that play out very dramatically in Michigan in 2020. That is something that we might see more of this time around, Bauer said.

Following the 2020 election, when Biden won Michigan, fake electors sent certifications to Congress declaring Trump won the state. Since then, 16 Michigan GOP officials have been charged for the scheme, and the Michigan attorney generals office said Trump is an unindicted co-conspirator in the ongoing investigation.

Prosecutors allege that the Trump campaign and his allies, including former Trump attorneys Rudy Giuliani and Jenna Ellis, among others, worked with local GOP officials to override the 2020 results by sending the fraudulent list of Electoral College voters.

Republicans have been divided on pledging to accept the 2024 election results, with a group of senators rejecting the idea that a Biden win would likely be a result of fraud, but others, including those who have risen to Trumps VP shortlist, declining to say they would accept the results.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Jason Lange

(Reuters) -For the first time, Donald Trump's presidential campaign reported having more cash in its main account than President Joe Biden's re-election campaign had in its account, financial disclosures showed on Thursday, as both sides built their war chests ahead of the Nov. 5 election.

Trump's campaign had about $116 million in the bank at the end of May, more than double what it had a month earlier, while Biden's campaign told the Federal Election Commission it had about $91 million in the bank, just above what it had at the end of April.

The full financial picture for the two camps isn't clear because while both campaigns had a Thursday deadline to report their finances to the federal regulator, several of their associated fundraising committees won't report on recent activity until July.

Biden's campaign and his party had earlier released unofficial figures touting $212 million in cash holdings, but did not detail which committees held that money.

The figures disclosed to the Federal Election Commission appear to represent a dramatic financial turnaround for the Trump campaign, which had lagged behind Biden earlier in the year. The two candidates are neck-and-neck in national public opinion polls, while Trump leads in several battleground states.

The Republican Party, which is raising money together with Trump to support his bid, also reported a jump in its cash holdings, to $54 million from $38 million.

The Democratic Party reported having about $65 million in the bank, up from $62 million in April.

Trump's fundraising has surged in recent months, including during the weeks leading up to his May 30 conviction on charges he falsified business records to cover up a hush money payment to a porn star.

Both camps are also ramping up fundraising from billionaires who are allowed to give unlimited sums to groups allied to the campaigns known as super PACs.

A separate filing on Thursday showed conservative billionaire Timothy Mellon, an heir of the Pittsburgh-based Mellon banking family, gave $50 million last month to a pro-Trump super PAC known as MAGA Inc.

MAGA Inc has been ramping up outlays on television ads supporting Trump's bid, with the torrent of spending helping pro-Trump allies outspend Biden's allies in recent weeks.

MAGA Inc disclosed in a filing to the Federal Election Commission that it took in more than $68 million from donors last month, with most of the money coming from Mellon and another $10 million from billionaires Liz and Dick Uihlein, who founded the Uline shipping and packaging company from their basement in 1980.

Mellon, who lives in Wyoming and is rarely photographed, is an amateur pilot who has invested in and led transport-related companies. Forbes estimates that the Mellon family is worth some $14.1 billion.

The billionaire Winklevoss twins, founders of cryptocurrency company Gemini, said they had donated $1 million in bitcoin to support Trump, but did not specify where the donations were sent.

On Biden's side, billionaire Mike Bloomberg gave $19 million to FF Pac, a super PAC backing the president's re-election effort, a separate filing with the Federal Election Commission showed.

(Reporting by Jason Lange in Tequisquiapan, Mexico; editing by Diane Craft and Sonali Paul and Miral Fahmy)
Democrats in the House and Senate introduced legislation Thursday to overhaul a long-dormant law that they worry could be used by a future Trump administration to severely limit abortion or effectively ban it completely.

Led by Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), the legislation would repeal the abortion provisions of the Comstock Act, an 1873 federal law that bans abortion-related materials from being sent through the mail.

The Comstock Act is a 150-year-old zombie law banning abortion thats long been relegated to the dustbin of history. But extremist Republicans and Trump judges have seized upon the idea of misusing Comstock to bypass Congress and strip women nationwide of their reproductive freedoms, Smith said in a statement.

It is too dangerous to leave this law on the books; we cannot allow MAGA judges and politicians to control the lives of American women, she added.

The 151-year-old law explicitly prohibits the shipment of every article or thing designed, adapted or intended for producing abortion.

The laws interpretation has been narrowed by Congress over the years, and some experts say its been rendered obsolete.

But now that the Supreme Courts landmark Roe v. Wade ruling has been overturned, anti-abortion activists see an opening.

These activists, working with former Trump administration officials, have been laying the groundwork for the next Republican administration to apply the Comstock Act to prevent the mailing of any abortion drugs and materials, effectively banning all abortions without needing Congress to act.

During oral arguments at the Supreme Court challenging efforts to expand access to the abortion pill mifepristone, conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito repeatedly invoked the Comstock Act.

Alito questioned why the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had not contended with the law in its decisions on expanding access to mifepristone through the mail.

This is a prominent provision; its not some obscure subsection of a complicated, obscure law. Everybody in this field knew about it, Alito said.

A memo from the Biden administrations Justice Department in 2022 interpreted the law as one that prohibits the mailing of items only when the person mailing them knows theyre going to be used for unlawful purposes.

In addition, lower courts have also said the Comstock Act only applies to unlawful abortions and doesnt prohibit the distribution of medication or other items intended to be used for lawful purposes.

But Democrats and the Biden campaign are calling attention to how a Trump administration and congressional Republicans could use the Comstock Act as part of their broader focus on reproductive rights ahead of the November election.

Trumps allies have said that the 150-year-old Comstock Act gives Trump the authority to effectively ban medication abortion nationwide, even in states where abortion is currently legal, Morgan Mohr, the Biden campaigns senior adviser for reproductive rights, said in a recent memo to reporters.

According to Trump advisors radical legal theory, they can use Comstock to prosecute anyone who uses the internet or U.S. mail to facilitate an abortion  and they can even prosecute women and health care providers, Mohr wrote.

It is unlikely a Comstock repeal bill would get very far in the current divided Congress, especially since Republicans in the Senate have blocked recent bills to protect access to contraception and in vitro fertilization. But Democrats are committed to elevating abortion as an election year issue.

Congressional Republicans and their allies in statehouses across the country are out of step with the American people  they will stop at nothing to enact extreme policies that put womens lives at risk. We know Americans want the freedom to make decisions about their own bodies, said Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.), who introduced a companion bill in the House.

Balint was joined by Reps. Cori Bush (Mo.), Veronica Escobar (Texas), Mary Gay Scanlon (Pa.) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (N.J.).

The effort by Democrats is endorsed by major advocacy groups, including the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the ACLU, the Center for Reproductive Rights and Reproductive Freedom for All, among others.

The last time Democrats introduced any legislation related to the Comstock Act was in 1997, when then-Rep. Barney Frank (Mass.) led the Comstock Cleanup Act of 1997, which would have repealed the abortion provision. The bill never advanced.

Abortion rights groups had been hesitant to promote legislation related to the Comstock Act until the Supreme Court decided the mifepristone case.

But the justices earlier this month unanimously dismissed the challenge on procedural grounds, opening the door for the bills introduction.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
By Nate Raymond

(Reuters) -Hawaii on Thursday agreed to take action to decarbonize its transportation system by 2045 to settle a lawsuit by 13 young people alleging the U.S. state was violating their rights under its constitution with infrastructure that contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

Democratic Governor Josh Green announced the "groundbreaking" settlement at a news conference attended by some of the activists and lawyers involved in the lawsuit, which they called the first-ever youth-led climate case seeking zero emissions in transportation.

They argued that the state had prioritized infrastructure projects such as highway construction and expansion that lock in the use of fossil fuels rather than focusing on projects that cut carbon emissions.

"We're addressing the impacts of climate change today, and needless to say, this is a priority because we know now that climate change is here," Green said. "It is not something that we're considering in an abstract way in the future."

The case had been set for trial on Monday. It would have been the second-ever trial in the United States of a lawsuit by young people who claim their futures and health are jeopardized by climate change and that a state's actions violated their rights.

As part of the settlement, Hawaii will develop a roadmap to achieve zero emissions for its ground, sea, and inner island air transportation systems by 2045, the year by which the state was already aiming to become carbon neutral.

The agreement, which can be enforced in court, calls for the creation of a volunteer youth council to advise the state's Department of Transportation, which committed to reworking its planning to prioritize reducing greenhouse gasses and creating a new unit dedicated to decarbonization.

The department also plans to dedicate at least $40 million to expanding the public electric vehicle charging network by 2030 and accelerate improvements to the state's pedestrian, bicycle and public transit networks.

Leina'ala Ley, a lawyer for the youth activists at Earthjustice, said the "agreement gives Hawaii a boost in our race against climate disaster and offers a model of best practices that other jurisdictions can also implement."

The case is one of several by young environmental activists in the United States that broadly accuse governments of exacerbating climate change through policies that encourage or allow the extraction and burning of fossil fuels.

The young people, also represented by the nonprofit law firm Our Children's Trust, claim the policies violate their rights under U.S. or state constitutions.

The cases have raised novel legal claims and have been dismissed by several courts. But the young activists scored a major victory last year when the first such case went to trial in Montana.

In that case, a Montana judge concluded that the Republican-led state's policies prohibiting regulators from considering the impacts on climate change when approving fossil fuel projects violate the rights of young people.

The lawsuit against Hawaii was filed in 2022 and alleged the state Department of Transportation was operating a transportation system that ran afoul of state constitutional mandates and impaired their right to a life-sustaining climate.

The plaintiffs, ages 9 to 18 when the case was filed, argued that the state was violating a right guaranteed by the Hawaii Constitution to a clean and healthful environment and its constitutional duty to "conserve and protect Hawaii's natural beauty and all natural resources."

The state spent $3 million fighting the case and seeking its dismissal, arguing the zero emissions target and other state laws adopted by the state legislature promoting reduced carbon emissions were "aspirational" and could not form the basis of claiming the state was violating the young people's rights.

But Judge Jeffrey Crabtree in Honolulu rejected that argument in April 2023, saying the laws required timely planning and action to address climate change and that the state's inactions had already harmed the plaintiffs.

"Transportation emissions are increasing and will increase at the rate we are going," Crabtree said. "In other words, the alleged harms are not hypothetical or only in the future. They are current, ongoing, and getting worse."

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi, Sandra Maler, Diane Craft and Gerry Doyle)
GOP Maryland Senate candidate and former Gov. Larry Hogan (R) distanced himself from former President Trumps endorsement of him.

Well, I just said I didnt  I didnt seek it, I didnt wanna have it, and I have no interest in it. Its not something were gonna be promoting, thats for sure, Hogan, a common Trump critic, said in an interview with D.C.-area radio station WTOP when asked if he rejects the endorsement.

Trump has said he would like to see Hogan win Marylands Senate race when asked if he would support the former Maryland governors current bid, per a clip via Fox Business. The race in which Hogan is facing Democratic nominee Prince Georges County Executive Angela Alsobrooks will decide who will replace retiring Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.).

We gotta take the majority. We have to straighten out our country. So, Id like to see him win. Hes somebody that can win  I know other people made some strong statements, but I can just say from my standpoint, Im about the party and Im about the country, Trump said to reporter Aishah Hasnie.

In the interview with WTOP, Hogan called the endorsement a surprise and noted criticism from those close to Trump, including Republican National Committee (RNC) co-Chair Lara Trump, as a factor in that surprise.

So, it also was a surprise because for the few weeks before that, they were sort of saying just the opposite, Hogan said. We were gettin blown up by Trumps campaign manager and his daughter-in-law, who was running the RNC, saying really bad things about me, and then, all of a sudden, Donald Trump switched gears and started saying nice things about me.

The Hill has reached out to Trumps campaign for comment.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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A California man accused of deliberately driving himself, his wife and two children off a cliff on a coastal highway in January 2023 was granted a mental health diversion, meaning the criminal trial is now suspended, the San Mateo County District Attorneys office said in a news release Thursday.

Judge Susan Jakubowski said she granted the defenses request for mental health diversion after reviewing the evidence and concluding Dharmesh Patels proper diagnosis was major depressive disorder.

Patel, 42, was charged with three counts of attempted murder last year after prosecutors said he intentionally steered his Tesla off a portion of the Pacific Coast Highway called Devils Slide, sending himself, his wife and their two children, ages 7 and 4 at the time, plunging about 250 feet to a rocky beach below. Patel pleaded not guilty to the charges.

All four family members survived the crash. Patels wife was hospitalized for major injuries and the couples 7-year-old child was also injured, San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said at the time. They have since recovered.

Now, at the suggestion of the defense doctors, Patel will be held in county jail for a couple weeks as a bridging period, according to the release. Patel will remain in custody until his next hearing on July 1 for further proceedings on the courts order.

Once he is released, Patel will be required to stay at his parents home in San Mateo County as part of the diversion, and will only be allowed to leave the residence to attend court or treatment sessions, according to the release.

He will be required to wear a GPS monitor, return to court once a week for progress reports, test twice a week to show medication compliance, must abstain from alcohol and drugs and cannot possess weapons, the release said. He is also not allowed to drive and has to surrender his drivers license and passport to the court.

CNN has reached out to Patels attorney for comment.

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Martin Luther King III, the son of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. said his father would be gravely disappointed by North Carolinas potential first Black governor.

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the states firebrand GOP gubernatorial candidate, has made waves for controversial comments on a range of issues, including endorsing antisemitic conspiracies and calling homosexuality filth.

Robinson has also referred to Martin Luther King Jr. as an ersatz pastor and communist in past Facebook posts.

Martin Luther King III, 66, a human rights activist himself, is speaking out against the current North Carolina lieutenant governor in a new series of ads.

But its not the petty insults that bother me, King said in one thirty-second video. Its his outright rejection of the Civil Rights movement my father and so many other lived and died for. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968 in the midst of the civil rights movement and growing anti-Vietnam War protests.

Robinson claimed previously that so many freedoms were lost during the civil rights movement, during an appearance on a 2018 podcast first reported by CNN.

As my father said, Kings eldest son said in response, nothing is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.

'Nothing like my father'

The videos spotlighting Martin Luther King III are part of a seven-figure campaign by Progress NC Action, a liberal-leaning advocacy organization that has come out hard against Robinson's gubernatorial bid.

N.C. Gov. race intensifies: How a new campaign spending law could boost controversial North Carolina Trump ally Mark Robinson

In response, a spokesman for Robinson's campaign criticized the group as "another far-left, partisan group pushing extremist priorities."

"Theyre completely out of step with North Carolinians and desperate to cover up the racist smears from Joe Biden, Josh Stein and the Democrats," said Mike Lonergan, the campaign's communications director, referring to Robinsons opponent and North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein.

If elected in November, Robinson would be the state's first Black governor.

Running on social media, streaming television, online and print media, the ads launched on Fathers Day Sunday and ahead of Juneteenth, a federal holiday honoring the events of June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas when the last enslaved Black Americans were ordered free.

King told USA TODAY he felt called to weigh in on what is expected to be the most contentious race for governor in 2024.

Mark Robinson's history of racist, homophobic, and bigoted comments show that he is unfit to lead in North Carolina, King said in a statement, adding that he and his wife, Arndrea Waters King, "felt that it was necessary to speak out against hisand the former President'susage of my father's name to promote hatred.

SELMA, NC - APRIL 09: Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson joins the stage with former U.S. President Donald Trump. The rally came about five weeks before North Carolina's 2022 primary elections. (Photo by Allison Joyce/Getty Images)

Former President and presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump has given Robinson his full endorsement. And in the process referred to the North Carolina conservative as Martin Luther King on steroids.

I told that to Mark, Trump said at a rally in North Carolina days ahead of Super Tuesday and the states primary elections March 5. I said, I think youre better than Martin Luther King. I think you are Martin Luther King times two.

King called the remarks an insult to his father and familys name.

We have spent our lives fighting against the hate that Lt. Gov. Robinson propagates on a daily basis, he told USA TODAY in a statement, and we want to be clear: My father would not support Mark Robinson, and Mark Robinson is nothing like my father.

Raleigh Pastor Mitch Summerfield, who said he was 100% appalled by Robinsons statements on the civil rights movement, said watching the videos of King brought chills.

I was like, wow, that was so eloquently said, but so true, Summerfield said. That just spoke volumes to me.

Stakes are high in the Tar Heel State

Robinson and Steins contest stands to be 2024s marquee gubernatorial race, while their state is being closely watched as the electorate that could help decide the presidency.

North Carolina  once reliably red for Republican White House contenders  is now a southern battleground Democrats believe they have a shot at taking this November.

Trump carried the state in 2020, but by 1.3%  his smallest margin of victory that election. In 2016, Trump won in North Carolina, defeating former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton by 3.6%.

Still, the former president leads current President Joe Biden by five percentage points in a poll published earlier this month by East Carolina University Center for Survey Research.

And in that same survey, Robinson and Stein are neck-and-neck, with the Democratic nominee leading by just a point.

Summerfield, who put together a hard copy collection of Robinson's past comments to share with his congregation, has been encouraging people to get out and vote. He believes the new campaign with King will get peoples attention.

Pastor Mitch Summerfield said he was 'appalled' by Robinson's comments and believes Martin Luther King III's words against the GOP candidate will get people's attention. (Courtesy Mitch Summerfield)

The things that he's been saying, Summerfield said of Robinson. These are the things that, you know, a religious leader and political person should not be making, these are statements that should not come out of their mouth.

Robinson, identifying himself as an evangelical Christian, has addressed church congregations and Christian audiences on multiple occasions.

A huge percentage of Americans today go to church, especially African Americans, Summerfield said. If he can get in front of them, I mean, it can really be detrimental ... I do believe that he uses his theology as a weapon.

Robinson goes back and forth on civil rights movement

Democrats in the state, including Stein, have sought to use Robinsons past statements against him, particularly with North Carolinas high share of unaffiliated voters.

Many of those controversial remarks come from Robinsons pre-politics days.

WILMINGTON, NC - SEPTEMBER 23: Mark Robinson, lieutenant governor of North Carolina, is seen during a Save America rally for former President Donald Trump at the Aero Center Wilmington. (Photo by Allison Joyce/Getty Images)

Robinson first captured attention in 2018 speaking as a resident during a Greensboro City Council meeting. His fervent defense of gun rights went viral and soon after Robinson rose to fame in conservative circles.

His first foray into politics followed, and in 2020, Robinson became North Carolinas first Black lieutenant governor.

Robinson has since softened some of his public rhetoric, even contradicting his past claims.

In his 2018 podcast appearance, Robinson called the 1960 Woolworth lunch counter sit-in protests in Greensboro  his hometown  a ridiculous premise.

You go down there, and you sit at the lunch counter, and you demand for these people to take your money. How crazy is that? he said at the time.

Robinson visited the Greensboro Civil Rights Museum, the site of the former lunch counter and protests, last August. While there, the GOP candidate called it "an honor to be called a citizen of Greensboro."

"I think it's great that this city holds the distinction for starting the movement that changed the face of the entire nation," Robinson said then.

Robinson has also earned the endorsement of one of the sit-in participants, Clarence Henderson.

I tell you what, I couldnt be more proud of what you did in the past, Robinson told Henderson in a video of the pair posted to social media last May.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLK's son blasts North Carolina Republican Mark Robinson
Maternal history of Alzheimers might play an outsized role in a persons genetic risk of this disease. Image credit: vasiliki/Getty Images.

This article originally appeared on Medical News Today

Researchers agree that genetics play a crucial role in the development of Alzheimers disease.

Previous research shows that about 25% of all Alzheimers disease cases are familial.

Researchers from Mass General Brigham say that a persons inherited Alzheimers genetic risk may also be dependent upon whether they receive it from their biological mother or father.

Although researchers still do not know the exact cause of Alzheimers disease, they do know there are quite a few factors involved, including genetics.

Past studies suggest that inherited genes from both parents can increase a persons risk of developing Alzheimers disease. One top genetic risk factor for Alzheimers is the APOE4 gene, and a study published in March 2024 identified 17 genetic variants associated with this condition.

Previous research shows that about 25% of all Alzheimers disease cases are familial, meaning someone in the family had the condition.

Now, researchers from Mass General Brigham say that a persons inherited Alzheimers genetic risk may also be dependent upon whether they receive it from their biological mother or father.

The study was recently published in the journal JAMA Neurology.

Toxic protein accumulation in the brain the focal point of the study

For this study, researchers analyzed data from about 4,400 participants between the ages of 65 and 85 of the Anti-Amyloid Treatment in Asymptomatic Alzheimers Disease (A4) study aimed at Alzheimers disease prevention.

Participants were asked if their biological parents had memory loss symptoms and when, as well as if they had received any formal diagnoses of Alzheimers.

Study participants also received PET scans to measure the amounts of a protein called beta-amyloid in their brains.

Amyloid-beta accumulation is thought to be the earliest disease process of Alzheimers disease that occurs at a preclinical (pre-symptomatic) stage, Hyun-Sik Yang, MD, associate neurologist at Brigham and Womens Hospital, assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, and corresponding author of this study told Medical News Today.

Our study participants all had normal cognition, but some had substantial amyloid accumulation. The preclinical stage of Alzheimers disease represents a unique window for preventive intervention before it is too late. Thus, we focused on amyloid-beta rather than other later processes or symptoms, he told us.

Maternal history of Alzheimers may have greater risk impact

At the studys conclusion, Yang and his team found that participants with a maternal history of memory issues at all ages and a paternal history of early-onset memory impairment before the age of 65 were linked to higher beta-amyloid levels in the brain.

Maternal history of any age at onset and paternal history of early onset dementia were associated with increased risk, while paternal history of late-onset dementia was not, Yang told MNT. However, he added:

Our study suggests that maternal and paternal history of dementia/memory loss might carry different weight in their impact on the offsprings Alzheimers disease risk. Also, our study highlights the importance of collecting family history for both parents and their age at onset.

In the usual complex diseases in medicine, we expect genes from the father and the mother to have the same effect on the offspring, he continued.

However, in this case, we observed a striking asymmetry suggesting that genetic information from the mother might have a stronger impact on the risk of Alzheimers disease, said Yang.

This maternal inheritance pattern has been observed in mitochondrial disorders, so we speculate whether mitochondrial inheritance may play a role in Alzheimers disease, the researcher continued.

Dysfunction of the mitochondria  the so-called cellular powerhouses  has previously been associated with symptoms of dementia, so this could provide further insight about this link.

Other explanations include genomic imprinting  chemical modification of DNA on the mothers or fathers side  that may impact the offsprings risk of having Alzheimers disease, Yang told us.

Different life expectancies for males versus females may have influenced the study results, though, according to the author: [I]n our study participants  who are 65+ years old  parent generation, many fathers (males) might not have lived long enough to get dementia. This might have affected our result, too.

Broad clinical implications in determining Alzheimers risk risk

After reviewing this study, Karen D. Sullivan, PhD, ABPP, a board-certified neuropsychologist, owner of I CARE FOR YOUR BRAIN, and Reid Healthcare Transformation Fellow at FirstHealth of the Carolinas in Pinehurst, NC, not involved in this research, told MNT this research is an important contribution to understanding the heritability of Alzheimers disease.

Using an impressive sample size of 4,000, they showed that late-onset paternal history does not raise (the) risk for Alzheimers disease but early-stage paternal history and maternal history at any age were associated with elevated risk of amyloid plaque burden, Sullivan said.

These results show a preferential maternal inheritance of Alzheimers disease starting even before diagnosable memory loss. This finding has broad clinical implications for risk stratification and who we need to be targeting for early identification, pre-clinical studies with advanced neuroimaging, she noted.

We have known for some time that the cure for Alzheimers disease is going to be many years, if not decades before the clinical symptoms of memory loss, word-finding difficulty, and apathy begin, Sullivan continued.

These data point us in an evidence-based direction about who we should be looking the most closely at. Sex chromosomes are an exciting new specialty research in Alzheimers disease and we need to track this cohort longitudinally to see their clinical trajectory, she further explained.

Need for more nuanced approaches in Alzheimers prevention

MNT also spoke with Jasdeep S. Hundal, PsyD, ABPP-CN, associate professor of psychiatry and neurology at the Hackensack Meridian Health School of Medicine and director of The Center for Memory & Healthy Aging at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in New Jersey, about this study. Hundal was also not involved in this research.

He commented that this study underscores the intricate role genetics can play in Alzheimers disease, particularly highlighting how maternal inheritance significantly impacts amyloid accumulation, a key biomarker for Alzheimers disease.

This is intriguing because it reinforces the importance of family history in assessing Alzheimers risk, but also points to the need for more nuanced approaches in prevention and early detection strategies. The fact that maternal history has a different impact compared to paternal history could lead to more personalized and effective interventions. Additionally, the studys emphasis on expanding research to include more diverse populations is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of the disease.  Jasdeep S. Hundal, PsyD, ABPP-CN

Hundal said there are several reasons why researchers need to continue to investigate how genetics and family history impact a persons risk of developing Alzheimers disease, including identifying higher-risk individuals earlier in life, creating personalized care plans, and discovering new drugs and other therapeutic interventions

Continued research into the genetic and familial aspects of Alzheimers disease is vital for advancing early detection, personalized treatment, and prevention strategies, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing the societal burden of the disease, he added.

View the original article on Medical News Today
Ride with Refugees is a community bike ride and refugee womens empowerment program. Courtesy Cindy Wu

Its Friday morning and people start arriving at the church parking lot in Southwest Houston. Volunteers are already pulling bikes out of the garage. A dozen Afghan women  many of whom were evacuated after the Taliban took control in August 2021  strap on their helmets and ride off, practicing their newfound skill. The 12 women number among the thousands of refugees from all over the world who call Houston their home.

For years, Houston has been a top destination for displaced Afghans. Since the fall of Kabul and subsequent arrival of Afghans in the city, our community has risen to the challenge of welcoming them.

I know this firsthand. As a mobilizer and organizer, I have connected volunteers to refugee welcome for over a decade. In 2022, I founded Ride with Refugees, a community bike ride and refugee womens empowerment program, through which I partner with community organizations, non-profits, churches, bike shops, public servants, the Houston Police and advocacy groups. All of them enthusiastically support our efforts to raise awareness about resettlement and promote mobility for refugees and others who have resettled, such as the Afghan Womens Bike Team.

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However, while our communities respond with welcome, our state and federal authorities have not. In the case of our Afghan friends, Congress has not done its part to pass legislation such as the Afghan Adjustment Act. The bill would provide legal certainty to the more than 76,000 Afghans in the country by allowing them to apply for permanent resident status after additional vetting.

In recent years, some evangelicals made a reputation for themselves by supporting an anti-refugee president and, in Texas, a governor who went so far as to remove the state from the federal refugee resettlement program. But thats not all of us.

As coordinator of a Houston-based refugee ministry network and as a leader on the North American team of a global network of refugee ministry practitioners, I witness the support for refugees that evangelical organizations and churches are offering.

A recent survey of American evangelical Christians indicated that 71% believe our country has a moral responsibility to receive refugees, and 77% say it is important for Congress to pass significant immigration reforms this year. And 75% of those surveyed support the passage of the Afghan Adjustment Act.

Recently, I had the privilege of preaching on immigration in my local congregation. Although we have been involved with refugee ministry for two years now, someone said to me afterward, "Immigration had been on my heart, but I have always approached it politically. Today I realized I need to think about immigration from a biblical perspective. I now have a better way to speak on immigration.

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A biblical perspective on immigration and refugee welcome recognizes the commands to love and seek justice for vulnerable foreigners. Refugees are some of the worlds most persecuted people, and besides their net positive economic contribution to our nation, they deserve compassion and care.

Our nation has prided itself on being a city on a hill, a beacon-of-light nation built by the immigrants we welcomed. That narrative has soured as the sheer number of people seeking refuge here has increased. But a great nation can respond humanely.

With 117 million forcibly displaced persons globally and the U.S. continuing to be a leader in resettling refugees, our welcoming attitude locally is not enough. Our state and federal governments need to offer solutions rooted not in political calculations but in true, lasting security, order, and compassion.

Congress, especially, needs to act now to provide immigration reforms that restore the United States leadership and moral high ground as a nation of hope and refuge  a legacy currently at risk.

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Kristi Noem speaks in Rapid City, South Dakota, on 8 September 2023. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

While sifting through his work emails one February afternoon, Clyde Estes saw a message that dismayed him.

I started reading it and was just shocked, recalled Estes, chairman of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe. Its something you dont expect to see.

It relayed what Kristi Noem said at the state legislature just a few days prior. In her address at the state capitol, the second-term South Dakota governor blasted US immigration policy, saying that invasion is coming over the southern border. In that same speech, Noem pronounced: Make no mistake, the cartels have a presence on several of South Dakotas tribal reservations.

We were holding out hope [for an apology] and got no reply Clyde Estes

Noem alleged that tribal leaders in South Dakota were profiting off drug cartel activity. These remarks, and her controversial comments about Native children, have been met with staunch condemnation from Indigenous leaders, and have dredged up a bitter history between the tribes and the state.

As a result, all nine of South Dakotas federally recognized tribes, which cover more than 12% of the state, have now banned Noem from their reservations.

After initially deciding against banning Noem in April, the tribal leaders of Lower Brule Sioux voted in May to go ahead. There were a couple of fellow tribal council members who wanted an apology first, so we were holding out hope and got no reply from her at all, said Estes.

If the governor attempts to enter the reservation, Estes said that tribal law enforcement would notify county sheriffs and ask her to voluntarily leave the reservation.

She would be charged with trespassing, said Estes, calling the situation very, very unfortunate.

Were going to stand up to defend our people.

***

A vocal ally of Donald Trump, Noem was once considered a possible pick for Trumps vice-presidential running mate. But her path to that role now seems more complicated following her revelation in her recent memoir that she killed her dog. Some see Noems focus on reservations as a political tactic.

Related: Shes in the pantheon now: Kristi Noem and the politicians who hit self-destruct

Shes clearly trying to raise her profile as somebody whos tough on the border, tough on crime, said Chase Iron Eyes, a Lakota activist and attorney who is a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Shes trying to use tribal nations as ploys for her political ambition.

The Oglala Sioux were the first tribe to ban Noem in 2019, the same year she began serving as South Dakota governor. Many tribes in the state, including the Oglala Sioux, had protested against the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, a controversial project that would transport oil from Canada to the United States while crossing major waterways that Indigenous tribes in South and North Dakota rely on. The protests, largely led by Native Americans, resulted in 761 arrests in a six-month period.

Noem subsequently signed anti-riot legislation aimed to quash public protest, although it was later blocked. The Oglala Sioux Tribe said it felt targeted by the new law and it was particularly offended that Noem consulted with the pipeline company rather than the tribes.

In February this year, the Oglala Sioux reissued a ban following her recent comments linking drug cartels to tribes in South Dakota. In March, Noem accused tribal leaders of personally benefiting from cartels.

If she claims to have evidence of tribal leadership involved in cartel activity, then make that evidence known, said Iron Eyes.

None of the council or myself are aware of any relationship with any cartel, said Estes.

Frank Star Comes Out, president of the Oglala Sioux, has stated in the past that he believes cartels are active on tribal land. But tribes object to Noems suggestion that they are tied to the cartels  and say instead that the government is failing in its historic obligation to help tribes battle crime.

The Standing Rock Sioux, for instance, say tribes ceded vast lands and resources to the US in the 19th century in exchange for help providing law enforcement, among other things. Today, however, on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, seven police officers patrol an area the size of two small states and serve a community of more than 12,000 tribal members and residents, needing at least 20 more officers to be fully staffed, a tribal spokesperson said in a statement.

Noem did not respond to questions about these issues from the Guardian, but her spokesperson shared a recording of a May press conference in which she said, in part: Instead of working with me, many of them [tribes] have chosen to banish me, and I will ask them right back, why have they not banished the cartels? Why have they focused their attention on me, who has only offered them help, and not gone after those who are perpetuating violence against their own people?

She says the help she has offered includes a law enforcement course designed to train tribal officers and a law enforcement summit next week. The governor has also asked for audits of all federal funds given to South Dakotas tribes to verify the need for additional law enforcement resources.

Attacking Native children is wrong

Noem has criticized tribes on other fronts. Not only is she impugning the reputations of tribal council members and elected leadership, she says that Native children are hopeless, said Estes.

In remarks during a March town hall in Mitchell, South Dakota, Noem alleged that Native children dont have any hope, in the context of commenting on limited access to education and jobs on reservations. She added: They dont have parents who show up and help them.

For some, Noems comments about Native American children touch on a fraught history.

Instead of apologizing, she seems to be convincing herself that  attacking Native children is not wrong Chase Iron Eyes

Thirty federal boarding schools operated in South Dakota between 1819 and 1969 that separated Native children from their parents, forced cultural assimilation and punished kids for speaking Indigenous languages.

My mom went to one of these boarding schools. A lot of abuse took place there, a lot of forced removal of children, said Iron Eyes. In South Dakota, boarding school was a euphemism for a place where they erase who you are as a Native person.

The South Dakota governor has since doubled down on her comments about cartels on tribal lands on social media.

Instead of apologizing, she seems to be convincing herself that what shes doing is not wrong, said Chase Iron Eyes. That attacking Native children is not wrong, saying theyre hopeless is not wrong.

There have been no publicly reported accounts of Noem attempting to enter reservations, which have their own law enforcement, in the wake of the bans. When asked what state police would do in such a situation, a South Dakota highway patrol spokesperson said: We decline to answer a hypothetical question.
By Lewis Krauskopf

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The huge rally in Nvidia Corp's shares has investors weighing whether to cash in, hold on for more gains or chase a stock that has tripled during the past year.

Nvidia this week briefly became the largest U.S. company by market value on the back of a more than 1,000% surge in share price since October 2022. It is up 206% in the last 12 months.

Nvidia bulls say more gains are coming. The Santa Clara, California company stands at the forefront of a massive technological shift as the dominant provider of chips to support artificial intelligence applications. Revenues are expected to double this fiscal year to $120 billion and rise to $160 billion in the following year. Microsoft, by comparison, is expected to grow revenues by about 16% for its fiscal year.

The stocks eye-popping performance is drawing in investors afraid of missing out on more gains. Yet it has also made Nvidias shares more richly valued: its forward price-to-earnings ratio, for example, has grown by 80% this year. That could make the companys shares more vulnerable to sharp pullbacks when bad news hits.

"What it's done in the past ... shouldn't be driving the investment decision," said Chuck Carlson, chief executive officer at Horizon Investment Services. "However, on a stock like Nvidia, it's awfully hard to have that not be a factor in the investment decision because you have this chasing feeling."

ONWARDS AND UPWARDS

So far, Nvidias share price trajectory has rewarded bullish investors and punished doubters. The stock is up 164% in 2024, as its market value has surged to over $3.2 trillion, briefly putting it ahead of Microsoft and Apple this week.

Optimistic investors point to Nvidias dominance of the AI-chip sector as a key reason for their bullishness.

The high performance of Nvidia's chips makes them difficult to replace in AI data centers. Adding to this lead is its proprietary software framework that developers use to program AI processors.

Ivana Delevska, founder and chief investment officer of Spear Invest, remains bullish on the outlook for Nvidia shares, as she expects upside to earnings beyond what Wall Street analysts are forecasting.

Nvidia is the top holding in the Spear Alpha ETF, at nearly 14% of the fund.

"If the (stock) price has gone up like it has but the earnings haven't really moved, yeah, we would be very worried," Delevska said. But, "where we are here it has pretty solid earnings support."

Indeed, Nvidias forward price-to-earnings ratio of about 45 is only modestly higher than its five-year average P/E of 41, even after growing from 25 at the start of the year, according to LSEG Datastream. At the same time, that valuation is down from more than 84 about a year ago.

Tom Plumb, president of Plumb Funds, said he believes the opportunity for Nvidia's chips beyond AI is underappreciated. The firm has held Nvidia shares for more than seven years and it is the largest position in its two funds.

"What we really are talking about is data and access to data," Plumb said. "And they have the fastest, smartest chip that allows that."

CAUTION AHEAD?

Others have grown wary about Nvidias prospects of delivering stunning gains in the future.

Nvidia has a "truly revolutionary" product and has posted "unprecedented growth," said Gil Luria, an analyst with D.A. Davidson. However, he has a "neutral" rating on the stock and a $90 price target, compared with the stock's price of $130.78 on Thursday.

Looking ahead several years, Luria said he doubts Nvidia's customers will spend enough to drive the Wall Street earnings estimates that support the company's valuation.

"The caution on Nvidia comes from the longer-term outlook," Luria said. "This type of performance is very hard to maintain."

Billionaire investor Stanley Druckenmiller said last month that he reduced his big bet in Nvidia in 2024, telling CNBC television that "AI might be a little overhyped now, but underhyped long term."

Carlson, of Horizon Investment Services, considers Nvidia a "buy," but because of the stock's relatively expensive valuation, it would not make the cut to be included in Horizon's roughly 30-stock portfolios.

Other concerns include eventual competition that erodes Nvidia's market-leading position. Tech giants Microsoft, Meta Platforms, and Google-owner Alphabet are competing to build their AI computing capabilities and add the technology to their products and services.

Analysts at Morningstar, which has a $105 fair value on the stock, said leading vendors such as Amazon, Microsoft and Meta Platforms will eventually seek to reduce their reliance on the company and diversify their supplier base.

"Nvidia dominates AI today and the sky is the limit for the companys profitability if it can maintain this lead over the next decade, Morningstar's Brian Colello wrote this month. However, any semblance of the successful development of alternatives could meaningfully limit Nvidias upside.

(Reporting by Lewis Krauskopf; Editing by Ira Iosebashvili and Gerry Doyle)
People hold hands during a community paddle out for those affected by the Maui fires in Honolulu, Hawaii, on 19 August 2023. Photograph: Yuki Iwamura/AFP/Getty Images

Hawaii officials have announced a groundbreaking legal settlement with a group of young climate activists, which they said will force the states department of transportation to move more aggressively towards a zero-emission transportation system.

You have a constitutional right to fight for life-sustaining climate policy and you have mobilized our people in this case, Josh Green, the Hawaii governor, told the 13 young plantiffs in the case, saying he hoped the settlement would inspire similar action across the country.

Under what legal experts called a historic settlement, announced on Thursday, Hawaii officials will release a roadmap to fully decarbonize the states transportation systems, taking all actions necessary to achieve zero emissions no later than 2045 for ground transportation, sea and inter-island air transportation, Andrea Rodgers, one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs in the case, said at a press conference with the governor.

This is an extraordinary, unprecedented victory for the youth plaintiffs, Michael Gerrard, the faculty director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University, told the Guardian.

Related: Hawaiian scientists quest to find and save the states distinctive sugarcanes

While Hawaii has long embraced a progressive climate change agenda, with 2045 as a target year for decarbonization, the new settlement is as big a deal as everyone said it is, said Denise Antolini, an emeritus professor of law at the University of Hawaii Law School, who has followed climate change litigation for decades.

Its written down, its enforceable, and that makes all in the difference in the world between a promise and actual implementation, Antolini said.

The June 2022 lawsuit, Navahine F v Hawaii Department of Transportation, was filed by 13 young people who claimed the states pro-fossil fuel transportation policies violate their state constitutional rights. By prioritizing projects like highway expansion instead of efforts to electrify transit and promote walking and biking, the complaint says, the state created untenable levels of greenhouse gas emissions.

As a result, state officials harmed the plaintiffs ability to live healthful lives in Hawaii now and into the future, and violated the right to a clean and healthful environment guaranteed by the states constitution, the litigation argued.

It named the Hawaii Department of Transportation and its director, as well as the state of Hawaii and its former governor David Ige, as defendants.

The plaintiffs, most of whom are Indigenous, alleged that by contributing to the climate crisis, the state hastened the decline and disappearance of Hawaiis natural and cultural heritage. When the case was filed, the plantiffs were between the ages of nine and 18.

Several of the plantiffs, many of whom are being identified only by their first names, spoke at the press conference.

A great thing to talk about is the kind of hope this brings to us. For many of us, its kind of been our whole life were seeing our beaches falling into the water, and our coral reefs disappearing, said Lucina, one 17-year-old plaintiff.

Navahine, whose name is on the lawsuit, is a 16-year-old Native Hawaiian whose family has been farming the land for 10 generations.

Drought, flooding and sea level rise were all having immediate effects on her familys crops, she said. Seeing the effects, how we were struggling to make any money for our farm, kind of pushed me to this case, she said.

Officials said the legal settlement brings together activists with all three branches of the states government to focus on meeting climate change goals, including mobilizing the judicial branch. The court will oversee the settlement agreement through 2045 or until the state reaches its zero emission goals, Rodgers said.

We have extremely tough goals to hit by 2045 and this is going to make sure we move forward much faster, Ed Sniffen, the head of the states transportation department said at a press conference.

State officials often claim Hawaii is a climate leader. In 2015, it became the first US state to require its electric utilities to zero out its power sector emissions by 2045  a tall order in a state that has historically obtained most of its energy from oil and coal.

The state legislature has also passed a goal of decarbonizing the transportation sector. And Hawaiis 2050 sustainability plan calls to make all state vehicles carbon free by 2035.

But the state has moved in the wrong direction. Between 2020 and 2021, carbon emissions in Hawaii increased by more than 16%. The plaintiffs say Hawaiis department of transportation has missed every interim benchmark to reduce its planet-warming emissions since 2008. And per capita, Hawaii emits more carbon than 85% of countries on Earth, attorneys wrote in the 2022 lawsuit.

The suit came as part of a series of youth-led constitutional climate cases brought by the non-profit law firm Our Childrens Trust. Earlier this year, the firm notched a major win when Montanas supreme court upheld a groundbreaking decision requiring state regulations to consider the climate crisis before approving permits for fossil fuel development.

Environmental law experts said that the youth climate lawsuit strategy, which has been ongoing since 2011, has faced an uphill battle in many states.

Until last years trial in Montana and todays settlement in Hawaii, none of them had succeeded, Gerrard said, noting that both Hawaii and Montana have a right to a clean environment written into their constitution.

But Hawaiis environmental court judges took the case seriously, fast-tracking it towards a trial, which helped provide pressure for the state to settle, Antolini said. The leadership of Green, who became Hawaiis governor in December 2022, was also important.

In none of the prior cases was the defendant state government willing to budge an inch; but here the governor embraced the plaintiffs claims and agreed to a wide-ranging court order, Gerrard said.

The Hawaii settlement is significant because it is one of the first major cases laser-focused on transportation, is responsible for a large portion of greenhouse gas emissions, but which tends to get ignored, Antolini said.

The cooperative nature of the legal agreement, which promises to include young people in advisory roles, and brings together government officials, lawyers, policy makers and teenagers, is also noteworthy, Antolini said, and appropriate for an island community like Hawaii where people know were in the boat together.

Our Childrens Trust also has pending litigation in Alaska, Florida, Utah and Virginia. A federal lawsuit it filed in December against the US Environmental Protection Agency is also pending.

Last month, a federal appeals court granted the Biden administrations request to strike down another federal lawsuit filed by Our Childrens Trust, Juliana v United States.
Fact checked by Nick BlackmerFact checked by Nick Blackmer





A man from Wisconsin recently had a medical emergency after accidentally ingesting a bristle from a wire grill brush.

Swallowing a bristle lodged in your food can have serious health consequences, especially if the bristle punctures the intestinal lining.

Grilling experts recommend against using wire brushes to clean grills.







Barbecues may bring to mind fun in the sun, but your favorite summer pastime can also come with a dangerous side effect: wire grill brush bristles lodged inside your food.

In May, a Wisconsin man made headlines after revealing he had accidentally eaten a bristle from a wire grill brush that had become stuck to the grill grate and ended up in his steak. After developing stomach pain and a fever, Wayne Ramcheck went to the hospital, where doctors discovered a one-inch-long grill bristle that had pierced through the side of his intestine. Ramcheck had to have the bristle surgically removed, and it took him seven weeks to recover.

Hes not alone: Every summer, stories surface of people who have medical emergencies after accidentally eating a wire grill brush bristle. A case report published by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) last year outlined the dangers associated with brill brushes, calling bristle ingestion a public health problem.

So, should you avoid using wire grill brushes or eating food from grills cleaned with them? Heres what ER doctors and a grilling expert had to say.

Anchiy / Getty Images

How Common Are Grill Brush Injuries?

Its hard to know how many people have been injured by wire grill brushes, but one study estimated that it sends more than 130 people to the emergency room each year. In other words, its pretty rarebut it happens enough.

I have not seen this, but I have colleagues who have, Ali Jamehdor, DO, an emergency medicine physician and medical director of the Weingart Foundation Emergency Department at Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, told Health.



What Can Happen If You Swallow a Bristle?

Wire grill brushes usually injure people after the bristles accidentally end up on the grill. Any time you brush the grill with metal, a piece of it can end up on the grill, Jamehdor said. If you place a piece of meat on top of that spot, the wire bristle can become embedded in your food.

These bristles are usually tiny, making it less likely that youll notice if you swallow one, Eric Adkins, MD, an emergency medicine physician at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, told Health.

Once you eat a bristle, it can end up lodged in any part of your digestive tract. According to the ACS report, the most common injuries resulting from wire brush bristle ingestion involve the oral cavity (inside of the mouth) and oropharynx, which is the middle part of the throat, behind the mouth. But more severe injuries like intestinal perforations can also happen.

If the bristle pierces through the intestinal lining and is able to get through the other side of the intestine, youve created a small opening for the bacteria and contents in your gut to seep out, Adkins said. That can lead to a life-threatening infection called peritonitis.

This is an emergency situation that definitely needs surgery, Jamehdor said. Its a horrible injury.

If care is delayed, it can be catastrophic, added Adkins.

Is It Better to Avoid Cleaning Your Grill?

Not cleaning your grill after using it isnt the answer. In fact, Paul Sidoriak, founder of the grilling recipes and guides website Grilling Montana, told Health that you should clean your grill before every use. The reason? Safety.

We wash our pots and pans after every use so that leftover foods dont make us sick, and the same cleaning standards should be met for your grill, he said. Leftover food, oils, and partially incinerated bits that cling to the grill will quickly become rancid, Sidoriak said.

How Can You Safely Clean Your Grill?

Jamehdor suggests using grill wipes or investing in a grill brush that doesnt contain bristles to clean your grill. They have ones that have a sponge or towelette material that can be rubbed over the grill, he said. There are no metallic parts or pieces.

Ceramic stones and burlap cloths may also be helpful, especially if you use them when youre done cooking and the grill is still warm, Adkins said.

If a wire grill brush is all you have, Sidoriak recommends trying this hack: Clean the grill with your wire brush, then make a ball of aluminum foil about the size of your fist and use that to make a second pass over your grills grates. Pay close attention to any stuck-on food or uneven grill grate surfaces, he said. If a wire brush is likely to lose a bristle, thats where it will happen.

This second pass over your grates with the ball of foil should be enough to release just about anything stuck to it, Sidoriak said. Its also a good idea to closely inspect your grill for wire bristles before using it, according to Adkins.

Still, Adkins recommends cleaning your grill with non-metal methods if you can. There are alternatives to a wire brush if youre looking for maximum safety, he said.

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Read the original article on Health.com.
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court on Friday upheld a law banning domestic abusers from owning guns, showing that a conservative court that has expanded gun rights also sees areas for limitations.

"Since the founding, our Nations firearm laws have included provisions preventing individuals who threaten physical harm to others from misusing firearms," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the 8-1 majority in a decision that faulted some courts for misunderstanding the court's recent moves backing gun rights.

But Justice Clarence Thomas, the lone dissenter Friday and author of one of the past key gun rights decisions, said there isn't a "single historical regulation" that justifies the ban.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson joined the majority but quibbled with analyzing statutes based on how they would have been viewed historically. She said a historical perspective on the Second Amendment would depend on the historians who are consulted.

'I could go on...But I won't'

Who is protected by the Second Amendment, from a historical perspective? Jackson wrote I could go on  as others have. But I wont.

The decision indicates the court is likely to be more flexible in applying the historical test it set in 2022 but doesnt foreshadow how that test will be applied to other restrictions such as prohibiting non-violent felons from having guns or banning high-capacity magazines, according to Joseph Blocher, co-director of the Center for Firearms Law at Duke University School of Law.

A narrow win for the government

I think the Supreme Court is probably going to have to take more cases going forward to resolve those issues, Blocher said. This is a win for the government, but in some respects, it's about the narrowest win that the government could have.

In fact, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in a concurring opinion that the decision leaves open the question of whether the ban on guns for those subject to a domestic violence restraining order could be challenged by someone with different circumstances.

The case centered on a Texas man, Zackey Rahimi, who was involved in five shootings between 2020 and 2021. Rahimi pleaded guilty to the federal crime of possessing guns while subject to a restraining order, but an appeals court threw out his conviction.

The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals relied on the courts blockbuster 2022 decision, NYSRPA v. Bruen, striking down a New York law that required state residents to have "proper cause" to carry a handgun.

In that 6-3 opinion, the court ruled that gun regulations must be "consistent with this nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation" to survive court challenges.

The Supreme Court said Friday the appeals court was wrongly looking for a "historical twin" to the regulation, rather than a "historical analogue."

Some courts, Roberts wrote, "have misunderstood the methodology of our recent Second Amendment cases."

"These precedents were not meant to suggest a law trapped in amber," Roberts wrote. "Holding otherwise would be as mistaken as applying the protections of the right only to muskets and sabers."

During the courts discussion of Rahimis case in November, the question arose of what to do about a situation, such as domestic violence, in which there was essentially no law on the books when the Second Amendment was enacted. Much of the discussion focused on the idea that even if the framers didn't ban domestic abusers from owning guns, there was historical precedent for banning guns from people who were considered dangerous.

Thomas, in his dissent, accused the other justices of mixing and matching historical laws. He called that strategy a regulatory blank check to allow the government to disarm its citizens.

That means the Government need only find a historical law with a comparable justification to validate modern disarmament regimes, Thomas wrote. As a result, historical laws fining certain behavior could justify completely disarming a person for the same behavior.

'Hardly a model citizen'

While the appeals court had acknowledged Rahimi was "hardly a model citizen, it ruled the law prohibiting him from owning a gun is an "outlier that our ancestors would never have accepted."

Underscoring the significance of the case, hundreds of gun safety and domestic violence prevention advocates had rallied outside the Supreme Court ahead of the November oral arguments, holding signs that read "Moms demand action" or "students demand action" on gun control.

Ashley Lantz, executive director of Brady PAC, said two-thirds of women killed by an intimate partner are killed with a gun.

Thousands of women and other victims of domestic violence can breathe a sigh of relief today as the Court correctly ruled that their abusers cannot own firearms, Lantz said in a statement Friday.

President Joe Biden said no one who has been abused should have to worry about their abuser getting a gun.

Attorney General Merrick Garland said the court maintained a "commonsense prohibition" consistent with the Second Amendment to protect victims of domestic violence from their abusers.

Nov 7, 2023; Washington, DC, USA; The Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case, U.S. v. Rahimi about a challenge to a federal law that prohibits people from having guns if they are under a court order to stay away from their spouse, partner or other family members.. Mandatory Credit: Megan Smith-USA TODAY

Even Second Amendment rights groups acknowledged that Rahimi probably should not have access to guns. In 2019, Rahimi pulled out a gun and fired at a passerby who witnessed him dragging his girlfriend through a parking lot. Months later, after getting into an accident, he repeatedly shot at the other driver. In 2021, he fired several times after a friend's credit card was declined at a Whataburger burger joint.

But those groups, including the National Rifle Association, argued that Rahimi should have his guns confiscated only after he has been convicted of the crimes. The federal law that bars people from owning guns because of a restraining order, those groups say, is inconsistent with the way courts have historically viewed punishment.

Zackey Rahimi is a dangerous individual already behind bars for real crimes  and thats where he should be," said Erich Pratt, senior vice president for Gun Owners of America. "However, this ruling will disarm others who have never actually committed any domestic violence. So for those people to lose their enumerated rights, even for a temporary period of time, is a disgrace. If someone is dangerous, charge them with a real crime, convict them in a court of law, and get them out of society.

But the student-led group March for Our Lives called Friday's decision the bare minimum and said it doesnt make up for past decisions include the court's striking down last week a Trump-era federal ban on bump stocks, a device that lets a shooter fire a semi-automatic rifle more like a machine gun.

Make no mistake: While the Supreme Court got it right today, it has already done far-reaching damage to settled constitutional jurisprudence via Bruen," said Makennan McBryde, Legal Associate at March For Our Lives, "and we remain concerned with its willingness to endanger lives to pursue a partisan agenda."

The court, in recent years, has tended to side with gun rights advocates, including in major decisions in 2008, 2010 and the 2022 decision striking down New Yorks gun licensing law.

The case is United States v. Rahimi.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court upholds law banning domestic abusers from owning guns
Former President Trump and his allies are laying the foundation to dismiss a strong debate performance by President Biden as a charade.

Trump and other conservatives have in recent days floated the baseless claim that if Biden does well at next weeks debate in Atlanta, it will be because hes using some kind of performance enhancer.

The claims echo a similar strategy Trump and others used to downplay Bidens well-received State of the Union speech earlier in the year. They also come as some Republicans worry Biden will defy the caricature that Trump and right-wing media have painted of him as a feeble, confused old man.

Republicans would be wise to play down expectations, one Republican strategist said. Make the point that Biden is a good debater.

Trump has so far declined to make that case. Instead, hes fluctuated between claims that Biden is feeble and incompetent, and preemptively trying to create a narrative that if Biden does well, its because he had the help of some unnamed, mysterious substance.

Hes gonna be so pumped up. Hes gonna be pumped up, Trump told supporters Tuesday at a Wisconsin rally.

In response to questions about Trumps debate prep, senior campaign adviser Jason Miller similarly implied Biden would be using some kind of substance during the debate.

President Trump takes on numerous tough interviews every single week and delivers lengthy rally speeches while standing, demonstrating elite stamina, Miller said in a statement. He does not need to be programmed by staff or shot up with chemicals like Joe Biden does.

Fox News host Sean Hannity, who is also friends with Trump, floated during his show earlier this month that Trump might consider skipping the June 27 debate and suggested Biden would be aided by Red Bull, caffeine pills or something else.

Whatever Joe drank, ate, took before the State of the Union  maybe it was just Red Bull and caffeine pills. I dont know. Whatever it was, that was not the normal Joe, Hannity said. We never saw it before, and we havent seen it since. But we will see it for the debate.

The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment on the claims from Trump and his allies.

But at the same time Trump has sought to set the narrative around a strong Biden performance, he has also repeatedly lowered the bar for his opponent.

At his Wisconsin rally, Trump referred to Biden as incompetent, weak, failing and said he has no clue and doesnt know where he is. Trump has claimed Biden doesnt know hes alive. He quipped at one point hed also be debating moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, meaning hed be facing three people instead of one-half of a person.

Republicans have in recent days shared videos of Biden, some of them deceptively edited or cropped, and claimed the footage shows Biden freezing up or wandering off.

The White House has sharply pushed back on those videos, calling them cheap fakes, and arguing Republicans are pushing misleading claims about Bidens competence because they cant argue with the presidents legislative record.

The Biden campaign Thursday posted a two-minute montage of footage from Trumps presidency in which Trump walked away from world leaders or a bill signing too soon or walked off in the wrong direction.

While Republicans routinely question Bidens sharpness and stamina, the president has shown throughout his first term in office he is capable of delivering strong, energetic speeches in big moments.

His last two State of the Union speeches have been well received, including last year, when he essentially baited Republicans in the audience into agreeing that cuts to Medicare and Social Security should be off the table.

Biden delivered a clear, energetic speech earlier this year on the three-year anniversary of the Jan. 6 riots at the Capitol in which he warned of the threat Trump poses to democracy, effectively kicking off his reelection bid.

Its a big moment for both, but the stakes are much higher for Biden, said Doug Heye, a former Capitol Hill aide and Republican National Committee spokesperson. Given the legitimate questions about his age and how he is sometimes hard to hear, he can ill afford to cement that in voters minds  especially the double haters. A really bad slipup could mean that Democrats say publicly what theyve been saying privately about their concerns about Biden.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
This photo provided by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shows Robert Roberson III. Texas' highest criminal court has given a reprieve to Roberson, who was set for execution next week for the slaying of his 2-year-old daughter 14 years ago. (Texas Department of Criminal Justice via AP) HOGP

Laws are supposed to be applied fairly and consistently. But as two cases in Texas show, that doesnt always happen.



More than 20 years ago, in separate cases, two men were convicted of injuring children: Andrew Roark, from Dallas County; and Robert Roberson, from Anderson County. Both cases hinged on a theory known as shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma. The same expertwitness testified for the prosecution in both trials.

New research shows, however, that such evidence of shaken baby syndrome is not as reliable as courts, police and medical professionals had believed. Shaken baby syndrome can rely on assumptions that are inconsistent with biomechanics and inadequately supported by scientific testing. Symptoms associated with the syndrome may appear due to other medical conditions and so should not automatically lead to the conclusion that child abuse has occurred. Tragically, parents and caregivers have wrongly been convicted of harming children who suffered from chronic illnesses or accidental head injuries.

Roark and Roberson used a new Texas law to challenge their convictions based on intervening changes in scientific understanding about shaken baby syndrome. Both presented evidence showing their convictions did not hold up to scientific inquiry.

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In Dallas County, the prosecutor conceded that Roark should get a new trial because of the changes to scientific understanding, and the trial court agreed. In Anderson County, the prosecutor insisted that the science has not changed enough to change the conviction of Roberson, even in the face of new evidence  arguments that the trial court adopted.

Now, Roberson could be executed based on a theory that experts, including one of the doctors whose research was used to develop the shaken baby hypothesis, have said is not good science.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals should address this inconsistency. That court, which has final jurisdiction over criminal cases, is supposed to ensure that criminal law in Texas is uniform, and that Texas law is consistent with the state and federal constitutions.

Across the U.S., courts are overturning convictions similar to Robersons and barring evidence about shaken baby syndrome in criminal cases. According to the National Registry of Exonerations, at least 32 parents and caregivers in 18 states have been exonerated after being wrongfully convicted based on testimony about shaken baby syndrome.

As a law professor who studies the death penalty, I'm aware of the role that faulty forensic science plays in wrongful convictions. According to the Innocence Project, misapplied forensic science has been a factor in nearly a quarter of wrongful conviction cases since 1989. The data on shaken baby syndrome indicates it is not reliable enough for a conviction, let alone a death sentence.

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Courts have the ability to fairly resolve these disputes and require convictions to rest on reliable, verified scientific principles. Nobody should be incarcerated or put to death because of bad science.

Alexandra L. Klein is a former assistant professor of law at St. Marys University School of Law in San Antonio. The opinions in this piece are her own and not the views of St. Marys University. A version of this op-ed first appeared in the San Antonio Express-News.
Aerial view of downtown Los Angeles and the University of Southern California campus.

A University of Southern California student who fatally stabbed a suspected car burglar was acting in self-defense and won't be charged, the top prosecutor in Los Angeles announced on Thursday.

Ivan Gallegos, a 19-year-old business student, will not face charges in the Monday stabbing on an off-campus Greek Row street after prosecutors reviewed all the evidence, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon said.

"We believe that Mr. Gallegos actions were driven by a genuine fear for his life and the lives of others," Gascon said in a statement to USA TODAY. "Our heart goes out to the deceaseds family, friends and everyone impacted by this tragic incident."

Xavier Cerf, a 27-year-old whom police said was homeless, allegedly broke into a car on the street when Gallegos and two other men confronted him. The altercation left Cerf on the ground with multiple stab wounds and he later died at the scene, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Gallegos was initially booked on a murder charge and held on a $2 million bail, while the other two men were questioned and released at the scene.

Gallegos told police that he believed Cerf had a gun but officers did not find one, the Los Angeles Times and ABC7 reported.

Gallegos' mother criticizes lack of campus safety

In a GoFundMe webpage created to support Gallegos that no longer exists, his mother Violet said her son acted in self-defense, according to the Los Angeles Times. She said he was only in that situation due to a lack of safety measures around the USC campus.

"Those who know Ivan know that he is a role model not only to this generation but to his community," Violet wrote on Facebook.

David Carlisle, Assistant Chief of USC's Department of Public Safety, said department would have preferred if Gallegos used the school's mobile safety app to notify officials about the situation. He said the university deploys a hundred private security officers everyday that are strategically placed in bright red and yellow jackets around the area.

"Because we're trained to handle situations like that," Carlisle told USA TODAY. "The safety of our student community is our highest priority."

Gallegos is an aspiring musician who overcame growing up in an environment filled with drugs, gangs and prostitution in East Los Angeles, according to a USC Annenberg Media profile about him published last month.

Gallegos founded a nonprofit called Project Dream that "provides guidance and resources to marginalized communities impacted by gang violence, substance abuse and poverty," according to the profile.

Cerf's mother says he was not a violent kid

Cerfs mother, Yema Jones, said her son has recently grappled with mental struggles following the death of some family members and that he was a peaceful person despite having a criminal record, the Los Angeles Times reported.

She said she hoped they would reunite when he returned home to Houston but was told Cerf had been stabbed several times and died over a phone call from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiners Office.

"Theyre making my son out to be a person that hes not," Jones told the Times. "He was very vibrant. He loved to dance. He wasnt a violent kid coming up."

Cerf posted videos of himself dancing on his TikTok page, where he had nearly 2,000 followers.

On a GoFundMe page, Jones wrote that she was trying to raise money to bring his body from California to Texas adding that "I just want my son home. He has a 3-year-old son ... I just want him laid to rest."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USC student won't face charges in fatal stabbing near campus. Why?
"I still can't believe it," the widow said in her first interview since her husband's death on June 11

@GMA/X Lizette Zambrano speaking on "Good Morning America"

Lizette Zambrano remains in disbelief over the death of her husband Jorge Guillen, who was electrocuted in a hot tub earlier this month while the two were vacationing at a Mexican resort.

"I still can't believe it," the Texas widow told Good Morning America through tears in an interview that aired on the ABC morning show on Friday, June 21. "A very good man was taken away."

Speaking out for the first time since Guillen's death, Zambrano said she's hoping to prevent what happened to her and her late husband from happening again.

The couple was visiting the Sonoran Sea Resort in Puerto Penasco on June 11 when they decided to visit the property's hot tub as the sun began to set. But upon getting in, Guillen was electrocuted from what she alleges was faulty wiring that sent an electrical current into the water.



Zambrano was critically injured in the incident as well, the shocks going through her body while she tried to grab her husband's body from the hot tub.

"The last thing I remember him saying is Oh f--- and its the same time I felt the first electric shock," she recalled to ABC News correspondent Matt Rivers. "And then it happened over and over and over. I didnt hear him again."

Bystanders attempted to help, but their rescue attempts were hampered by the current, according to Zambrano. "A lot of people jumped in but they kept jumping out because it was so strong," she said.

Surveillance footage from the scene played on GMA showed that rescue workers were eventually able to pull Zambrano to safety, though she had no pulse and was quickly taken by medical officials to the hospital.

It was there, as she regained consciousness, that she heard nurses in Spanish say, "her husband didn't make it."

Now Zambrano has filed a filed a wrongful death lawsuit in El Paso County District Court against Casago LLC, facilitator of the vacation rental. "This could have been prevented," she said. "I want somebody to take accountability for what happened to my husband and myself."



Related: College to Hold Moment of Silence for Texas Man Fatally Electrocuted by Hot Tub: 'He Was Passionate'

GoFundMe Jorge Guillen was fatally electrocuted at a Mexican resort on June 11, 2024

Related: Wife Tried to Save Husband from Hot Tub Electrocution Before Falling into the Water: Lawsuit

Earlier this week, PEOPLE obtained a copy of Zambrano's lawsuit, which seeks over $1 million for damages, court costs, expenses and penalties. The complaint alleged that resort staff did not immediately engage "the emergency shutoff" or attempt "any rescue of either Jorge or Lizette."



"Jorge was being electrocuted and drowned under water for 10 minutes," read the lawsuit.

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.

Casago, LLC has denied responsibility, saying in a statement obtained by PEOPLEthat the blame falls elsewhere.

"The Sonoran Sea is a condo resort and the homeowners association is responsible for all common areas, including the maintenance of the swimming pool, hot tubs, and grounds," they said. "Casago, a vacation rental company, is not involved in any management or maintenance of the resort."

In the meantime, a GoFundMe has been established on behalf of the couple's families. As of Friday, June 21, it's raised more than $56,200.



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The country's new crop of single malts are racking up awards and becoming a force to be reckoned with.

Food & Wine / Indri Whisky / Paul John / Amrut Distilleries / Distillery / Kamet Single Malt Whisky / Diageo

Over the past decade, Asia has become a thriving hub for whiskey distilling, with Japanese whisky, in particular, earning global acclaim and captivating enthusiasts worldwide. This surge in popularity has led to soaring demand, making many bottlings difficult to find and cost-prohibitive.

Consequently, consumers are increasingly exploring new whiskeys to satiate their growing interest. Among these, Indian single malts are swiftly emerging as a force in the industry.

Madhu Kanna, head of international sales for Piccadily Distilleries, recognizes this trend. This is a huge opportunity for Indian single malts and a big chance for us to get the liquid to the lips, he says.

Related: Single Malt and Blended Whisky  What's the Difference?

Indian single malts are providing the malt connoisseurs an opportunity to try something different and extremely palatable, says Sanjeev Banga, president of international business at Radico Khaitan Ltd., the parent company of Rampur Distillery. The growing acceptance of Indian single malts globally bodes well for the growth of this category.

Indias first single malt expression

Indias love affair with whiskey spans generations. But, until about 15 years ago, the nations whiskey scene was dominated by imports, especially for single malts. A significant shift occurred when Indigenous single malt brands emerged and started to pick up accolades as well as awards.

The real watershed moment arrived with the debut of Amrut Indian Single Malt in 2010. Despite its pedigree (the Bangalore-based Amrut Distilleries was founded in 1948), the brand had never ventured into distilling a single malt whisky until then.

What set Amrut apart was its unconventional journey. Their single malt expression was first introduced in Scotland in 2004 before being released in its homeland and the United States six years later.

Amrut Single Malt became a symbol of Indian pride, with its name amrut meaning drink of the gods in Hindi. Its reached global acclaim, taken home a staggering string of awards, and solidified its position among the worlds best whiskeys.

The category of the future

In the wake of Amrut's success, other distilleries followed suit. In 2012, John Distilleries introduced Goa-based Paul John Indian Single Malt to the international markets, while Rampur released its namesake single malt in 2016. In 2021, Kamet entered the fray with its first single malt release, and the next year saw the launch of global beverage conglomerate Diageos Indian single malt, Godawan. Indri, the single malt brand from Piccadily Distilleries, was made available in the U.S. market in 2022.

The Indian whisky category is steadily growing in America, with impressive new releases finding their way onto shelves regularly.







"With an increasing number of expressions making their way to U.S. shores, the stage is set for Indian single malts to become the new darlings of the whiskey community."







We have introduced four expressions in the Rampur Jugalbandi series, with two more set to launch in the U.S. later this year. Each expression of Rampur is different, says Banga.

Heemanshu Ashar, global brand ambassador of Paul John Whisky, also underscores the growth of this emerging category. Paul John Single Malt is currently available in 40 states across the U.S., including control states, he says. While Nirvana is available [across the country], flagship expressions Brilliance and Bold, are available in most of the states, and the premium expressions, the Select Casks and the Zodiac series are available in a few selected states. Our Christmas Edition 2024 is slated for release soon.

Looking ahead, Kanna hints at an exciting future for single malt enthusiasts. Later this year, the house of Piccadily Distilleries will unveil newer expressions: Indri Founders Reserve wine cask 11-Year-Old, and the Diwali Collectors Edition 2024, he says.

Dhiraj Singh / Bloomberg / Getty Images

Currently, Piccadily offers two core expressions of Indri in the U.S. Market: Indri Trini, Indias first triple cask single malt, clocking in at 46% ABV, available since August 2022, and Indri Dru, an ex-bourbon cask strength single malt with a 57.2% ABV, available since September 2023.

With an increasing number of expressions making their way to U.S. shores, the stage is set for Indian single malts to become the new darlings of the whiskey community.

Bill Thomas, owner of Jack Rose Dining Saloon in Washington, DC, notes an increase in guests looking for Indian whisky.

The Jack Rose consumer tends to be very open to exploring whats new in whiskey, seeking out emerging regions, producers and styles, he says.

While winning fans overseas, these spirits are now also restructuring the Indian market. As per CIABC (Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies), out of the 675,000 cases of single malt whisky sold in India in 2023, 345,000 cases were Indian brands and the rest were from outside India. As per ISWR projection, Indian single malt is expected to have strong growth through 2027.

[The] U.S. remains the biggest export market for Indian single malt for almost all the players, says Kanna.

Indias unique terroir

How did Indian single malts come to win the hearts of whiskey lovers on another continent? Some of the answer lies in their distinct terroir, locally sourced ingredients, and provenance.

India's single malts derive their specific character from a combination of factors. One crucial element is the use of locally sourced ingredients. A six-row barley, known for its richer enzyme content, higher protein level, and stronger husk, is used by many Indian distillers. This results in additional filtration and a more concentrated flavor profile compared to the two-row variety favored in Japan and Scotland.

SHAMMI MEHRA / AFP / Getty Images

Indian distilleries also leverage the countrys diverse climate, which can range from bone-chilling winters to summers that hover around 100F.

The vast temperature variation helps in faster maturation  around four times faster than Scotland  as the malt is interacting aggressively with the casks, says Banga.

Since we are located in North India at the foothills of the Himalayas, the groundwater, air, soil, and tropical fruit plantations around our distillery lend a unique flavor and profile to Rampur Indian single malts, he adds. Everything that goes inside each bottle of Rampur is 100% Indian.

Indri single malt is matured in the subtropical climate of Northern India, says Kanna. This tropical maturation helps us get robust flavors naturally in a short span of time. The flip side of this is that we lose 1012% of the liquid from the barrels as angels share. A cooler climate country has an angel's share of 22.5%.

Ashar agrees. Due to rapid interaction, the liquid tends to extract a lot of sugar from the oak during maturation and these get dissolved into the spirit adding coffee mocha, dark chocolate, honey, orange zest, caramel and toffee notes, he says. These notes are extracted in a condensed period to heat and humidity.

Hemant Mishra / Mint / Getty Images

Indian single malts boast a diverse spectrum of flavors, ranging from fruity and floral notes to bold and spicy undertones, much of which is the result of Indian distillers embracing innovation and experimentation.

Piccadily Distilleries has been exploring different wood barrels, including ex-bourbon casks, PX sherry casks, and former wine barrels, to infuse their single malts with distinctive flavors during the aging process.

Paul John has similarly pushed the envelope with their production techniques. Apart from maturing our whiskies in various types of casks and warehouses having different micro-climatic conditions, Paul John Distilleries are also doing trials with various yeast strains, says Ashar.

Challenges in the global market

In the ever-evolving world of whiskey production, age typically acts as a benchmark of distinction for Japanese and Scotch whiskies. Indian single malts diverge from this convention with their no age statement (NAS) tradition, reflecting a unique maturation process shaped by India's diverse climate.







"The biggest challenge is to get the message to consumers that age is not an indicator of quality.  Madhu Kanna, head of international sales for Piccadily Distilleries"







The biggest challenge is to get the message to consumers that age is not an indicator of quality, says Kanna.

Adding to this complexity is the hurdle of getting recognized as a category.

Listing in control states is very challenging and it takes time and patience to get listed [getting specific allocation and presence in off-premise store shelves], says Ashar. The omnipresence of bourbon and rye defines the whiskey category to the consumer. Outside this, only scotch is recognized, so New World whiskies like Indian single malts have an uphill task of educating the consumer of this as a category, product, and brand.

Banga echoes this sentiment, emphasizing that [there is a] struggle to make consumers aware that India produces some world-class spirits and very fine single malts.

Navigating the challenges

Thomas points out the crucial role of market education and awareness.

"Theres a need for a larger presence in the market, aided by distributors and importers, he says. At Jack Rose, weve been spotlighting Indian whisky and making it more approachable in ways like internationally-themed whisky flights and hosting tastings. Its also about access  making sure there is a density and variety of Indian whisky available in the market.

Kanna adds that category awareness is accomplished, by educating and frequently communicating with consumers through tasting sessions, master classes, trade and consumer shows, influencers and media.







""Theres a need for a larger presence in the market, aided by distributors and importers.  Bill Thomas, owner of Jack Rose Dining Saloon in Washington, DC"







In both India and the U.S., the single malt consumers are driven by recommendations, he says. These come [from] word of mouth  either from a friend or from their trusted retailers  reviews from whisky enthusiasts, awards, visibility and availability in marquee retail stores, bars and restaurants. The marketing strategy is the same for both the markets.

For our luxury brands, the marketing approach remains the same across geographies, says Banga. Generating awareness, inducing trials, and sharing the story behind the brand.

It is very important to have a compelling story with which consumers can relate and create a long-lasting emotional bond with the brand, he adds.

The future outlook for Indian whisky

Indian single malts have the potential to emulate the success of Japanese whisky on a global scale, but theres still a long way to go, says Ashar.

Most of the single malt brands are relatively new. The oldest brand, Amrut, is just 20 years old. Paul John Whisky is 14 years old. When compared, the Japanese have a lot of years and experience in producing whisky, he says. For instance, Yamazaki was first launched in 1923  100 years ago. India can definitely produce, if not better, equally good quality whiskies as the quality of grain in India is very high.

It just may take a little more time.

Must-try Indian single malt whiskies

Rampur Asava

Matured in ex-bourbon barrels and finished in Indian Cabernet Sauvignon casks, this easy-drinking spirit speaks of apricot, manuka honey and vanilla, complemented by nuances of pepper and baking spices. Asava won the Best World Whisky at the 2023 John Barleycorn Awards.

Paul John Oloroso Select Cask

This special edition expression finished in Oloroso sherry casks carries waves of peach, apricot, blood orange, and spiced fruit cake alongside coffee mocha and dark chocolate notes that linger on the long finish

Indri Dru

Named the Best Indian Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards 2024, this bourbon cask-matured dram is distinctly vibrant and fruit-forward, with a hint of chocolate and citrus.

Amrut Fusion Single Malt Whisky

This classic whisky is a fascinating fusion of malted Indian barley and peated Scottish barley, with each sip revealing a tantalizing medley of fruity and subtly smoky notes, culminating in a sweet-spicy finish.

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Bus rapid transit can feature dedicated lanes so that commuters don't get stuck in traffic. Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer The Wheeler Transit Center seen Dec. 17, 2018, in Houston, was to be an epicenter of some of Metro's planned transit improvements, namely bus rapid transit from Westchase to the University of Houston area. Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

When Houston area residents approved METRONext  an ambitious transit overhaul  in 2019, it was hailed as a visionary step forward in a city not known for savvy public transit investment. Not only did the plan seek ample public feedback but it won the support of 68% of Harris County voters at the ballot box.

A pandemic and administration change later, a key component of that plan that would connect long under-served areas with bustling urban hubs is now in jeopardy. The University Corridor project would unite everything from the immigrant-dense community of Gulfton to the commercial buzz of Uptown and the resources of our citys major universities with a vital east-east corridor serviced by a frequent and speedy bus service. It could be the new spine of the city.

Abandoning this vision would be a huge mistake.

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MetroNext featured 75 miles of new Bus Rapid Transit lines or BRT, which essentially operates like rail but with rubber tires and helps expand the reach of rapid transit that is immune to traffic congestion. The University Corridor was perhaps the most critical, filling a missing east-west link between Houstons westside communities, Uptown, major universities and many more areas.

Last week, METRO announced that it was backing off from the project. At the METRO boards strategic planning committee, staff argued that taking on the entire University BRT, along with two others at the same time, would hamstring the agencys ability to pay for basic operations or make any other improvements.

Theres a lot on the line. If METRO chooses to not advance the University Corridor BRT project to the next phase in the federal grant process by June 27, it will lose nearly $1 billion in funding  60% of project costs.

Notably, METRO has completed 30% of the geotechnical design based on current conditions, and secured federal environmental clearance for the project which will expire in November 2026. If METRO misses the June deadline to move to the next phase, much of this work will need to be updated or redone. While this would not preclude METRO from applying in the future, the projects current favorable standing with the federal government would be undeniably less certain.

So why the shift?

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The committee suggested that the pandemic and struggling ridership numbers contributed to the financial crunch. But thats hardly the whole story.

The University Corridor project was initiated in earnest in 2021 , after the effects of the pandemic were already known. Just last November , the METRO board affirmed that the agency was committed to the project and in the financial shape to pull it off. METROs finances are among the healthiest of all transit agencies nationwide, with robust sales tax revenue and an AAA credit rating. Not to mention that voters gave METRO $3.5 billion in bonding capacity to build the METRONext plan.

Meanwhile, increasing ridership has become the north star of the current board. Despite the narrative we hear from METROs own leadership, ridership is on the upswing. Data analysis from our 2024 Equity in Transit Report shows that METRO has experienced the second highest recovery among the top 20 metro areas. Ridership on the local bus network has now surpassed pre-COVID levels. Improving service where people are already riding is precisely the best opportunity for growth.

Not to mention that our current climate crisis demands we invest in solutions. The Houston Climate Action Plan shows that the highest percentage of greenhouse gas emissions comes from the transportation sector. In a region already experiencing the impacts of climate change, and with goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, it is imperative that METRO leadership invests in the future by building out a key component of the bus rapid transit system  the University Corridor.

And yet instead of scaling back the University Line, METRO is poised to abandon it entirely.

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What would scaling back look like? One option is a shorter initial operating segment. The University Corridor BRT can be built first just between Westchase and Wheeler Transit Center within right-of-way METRO already controls along Westpark Drive and the I-69 high occupancy and toll lanes. This alternative option would allow METRO to move forward with a proof-of-concept rapid transit project connecting Gulfton, Uptown and many other communities through some of the most congested parts of our region, while still preserving financial capacity for operations and other enhancements. In the future, other opportunities to complete the full project could be considered based on ongoing evaluation.
Australian software distributors are being urged to take a good look at their software contract arrangements to determine their level of exposure if the ATOs draft ruling of TR 2024/D1 comes into action.

In January, the ATO issued a new draft ruling relating to new taxes on Australian software distributors.

Historically, distribution fees by Australian software distributors to offshore vendors have been free of withholding tax. This is because withholding tax only applies to payments classed as royalties and long-standing international tax practice is that a software payment is only a royalty where the user has rights to exploit the underlying intellectual property, for example by modification of code.

The ATOs new views, first proposed in 2021, turn this long standing practice on its head and impose royalty withholding tax on all distribution fees paid by Australian software distributors on the grounds that distributing software involves the use of copyright rights, according to A&O Shearman head of Australia tax Ka Sen Wong.

The ATOs approach has been adopted in a bid to win more tax from multinational software vendors, but in many cases it will be borne by the Australian distributor, Wong said.

Importantly, while the ATO is particularly concerned with related party transactions, their approach applies equally to third party distributors.

Depending on the vendors home country, the new tax could vary from 5 per cent to 30 per cent of the distributors gross distribution fees  which in the worst case could exceed margins. Wong warned the ATO is so far planning to apply this view retrospectively to at least 2021.

The economic impact of new taxes is rarely borne only by the immediate targets of the tax. Instead, it is usually allocated amongst all stakeholders, based on their negotiation power and importance to the value chain, he said.

In the worst cases, the increased cost could price the marginal operator out of the market, weakening the industry and resulting in worse outcomes for businesses and consumers alike  and possibly even the ATO itself, if industry is driven offshore.

US Treasury intervenes

The US Treasury has already challenged the ATOs imposition of additional taxes on Australian software distributors, urging them to withdraw TR 2024/D1.

This is positive, as the ATOs position is extremely unfavourable to the Australian software distribution industry, Wong said.

In the case that the ATO is successful in imposing additional tax on US software companies, one downstream effect is that the US would be required to give those US companies credits for the Australian tax to reduce the US tax that would otherwise be paid on the income, Wong said.

This is because international tax laws and treaties require the home jurisdiction to give credits to avoid double taxation, which stifles cross-border business dealings, he said.

The US Treasury is keenly aware that the ATOs view results in a transfer from the US revenue to the Australian revenue. This means that the Australian software distribution industry has a powerful ally in this particular argument with the ATO.

While it is still not clear where the ATO will land on this ruling, Wong said it is unlikely they will back down.

The ruling is in draft only, but it reiterates views from 2021, even in the face of significant criticism, he said. The US Treasury already wrote to the ATO in 2021 asking them to reconsider, though that first plea has fallen on deaf ears.

If the ATO persists, it may be that legislative change is the only solution, which may be exceedingly challenging in the current environment.

Separately, Wong advised Australian software distributors should take a good look at their own arrangements to determine their level of exposure.

There are some exceptions, for example for mere distribution of software copies and a lot will turn on finer points of intellectual property law. It may be possible to insulate yourself through sensible changes to business structures or to negotiate cost-sharing with your vendor clients, he added.

Enlisting the aid of expert intellectual property lawyers with international experience, working hand in hand with your legal and tax teams, will be vital.
Srinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Thursday that preparations for the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir have commenced and assured that statehood would be reinstated soon.

Addressing an event titled Empowering Youth, Transforming J&K at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre, he said efforts were on to bridge emotional and geographical gaps between Delhi and J&K. He stated, We are striving to erase any distance, be it of hearts or from Delhi.

During the event, the Prime Minister recalled his meeting with J&K leaders in June 2021, where he emphasised bridging Dilli ki Dori (distance from Delhi) as well as Dil ki Dori (emotional disconnect). He refuted Opposition claims of persistent distance.

Modi asserted that the abrogation of Article 370 has facilitated true implementation of the Indian Constitution in J&K, stating, The wall of Article 370 collapsed, and constitutional benefits were ensured. He attributed current developments in J&K to efforts over the past decade.

Commending the youth of J&K for their high voter turnout in recent elections, the Prime Minister said, They have upheld democracys triumph. He expressed gratitude for their contribution.

During the event, Modi virtually laid foundations or inaugurated 84 major developmental projects valued at a1,500 crore and launched the a1,800 crore Competitiveness Improvement in Agriculture and Allied Sectors (JKCIP) Project.

Speaking on the recent terror attacks in J&K, he promised the nation of stringent measures against enemies of the region, promising to establish lasting peace.

The Prime Minister, on a two-day visit, underscored that performance is the sole criterion for an aspirational society. He stated, The governments performance and results have earned a third term, ensuring stability.

Highlighting infrastructure projects and the JKCIP, Modi said, Projects worth a1,800 crore for the agriculture sector were also initiated. He cited national pride in the world's highest bridge over Chenab River.

Thursday's event showcased J&Ks progress and aimed to inspire young achievers. The Prime Minister interacted with local achievers, distributed over 2,000 government job appointment letters, and inaugurated projects spanning road infrastructure, water supply, and education sectors.

The JKCIP project, set to benefit 1.5 million people across 20 districts, aims to enhance agricultural productivity.

The Prime Minister commended the J&K administration for expeditious government job recruitments and noted significant investments in the region over the past five years.

On Friday, Modi will lead the 10th International Day of Yoga celebrations at SKICC, with 7,000 to 8,000 participants expected. Tight security measures are in place in Srinagar during his visit, and only Doordarshan is permitted to broadcast the events live.
Mumbai: NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar has urged the Election Commission to seek the help of businessman and investor Elon Musk to examine the authenticity of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Experts from Musk, who is renowned in AI and robotics, should be called to scrutinize the EVMs, he said on Friday.

If there is so much discussion on the (credibility of) EVMs, then the Election Commission should take its own experts to examine these machines. Experts of Elon Musk, who is the richest man in the world and well-known name in the field of AI and robotics, should also be called to ascertain the authenticity of EVMs, said Pawar.

His remarks came on the backdrop of doubts expressed by the former BJP MP Sujay Vikhe Patil over the EVMs. Vikhe Patil, who lost from the Ahmednagar constituency in the recently held Lok Sabha polls, has filed an application with the Election Commission for recounting of votes in 40 polling stations, expressing doubts about the counting of votes by EVMs.

BJP leaders say that EVMs should not be doubted. But Vikhe Patil now seems to be speaking against his own party leaders, said the Karjat-Jamkhed MLA, who is the grand nephew of NCP founder Sharad Pawar.

Earlier too, Rohit Pawar had said that Musks comments on EVMs should be taken seriously. The Election Commission and the government should investigate the EVMs to maintain the transparency in its functioning, he had said.

Few days back, Musk, a Tesla Motors CEO and X boss, had called for the elimination of electronic voting machines (EVMs) over hacking concerns. We should eliminate electronic voting machines. The risk of being hacked by humans or AI, while small, is still too high, he wrote on X.
NEW DELHI: In a major relief to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Rouse Avenue court on Thursday granted him bail almost three months after he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case linked to the excise policy scam.

Special judge Niyay Bindu also declined the ED's prayer to keep in abeyance the bail order for 48 hours to allow the Central agency to appeal against it before a superior court.

The judge ordered Mr Kejriwals release on a personal bond of '1 lakh. She, however, imposed certain conditions on the AAP leader before granting him relief, including that he will not try to hamper the investigation or influence the witnesses. The judge also directed Mr Kejriwal to appear before the court whenever required and to cooperate with the investigation.

Mr Kejriwal is expected to come out of Delhis Tihar jail after he furnishes the bail bond before the Rouse Avenue court on Friday. Once we get the release order from the court, Mr Kejriwal can walk out of jail, a senior Tihar prison officer told this newspaper.

After the Rouse Avenue court order, the Delhi CM will remain imprisoned only if the high court or the Supreme Court stays his bail order.

The money laundering case against Mr Kejriwal is an offshoot of a corruption case filed by the CBI in the excise policy matter. After the CBI case, the ED stepped in and arrested the Delhi CM on March 2.

The Rouse Avenue court granted bail to Mr Kejriwal just a day after it had extended his judicial custody till July 3.

Earlier in the day, the judge had reserved the order on his bail plea after hearing the ED, which sought to link him to the alleged proceeds of crime and co-accused. The defence had, however, claimed that the prosecution had no evidence to nail the AAP leader.

The grant of regular bail to Mr Kejriwal will give the AAP and its allies a stick to beat the Modi government, as bail under the stringent PMLA can be granted only if the judge is prima facie satisfied that the accused has not committed the offence and that he is unlikely to commit any offence while on bail.

Buoyed by the court order, the AAP supporters burst into celebratory mood. A large number of party supporters also burst fire crackers outside the chief ministers residence.

In her post on X, AAP leader Atishi wrote, "Satyamev Jayate (truth alone triumphs). Feeling vindicated, the AAP on its official social media handle on X said: Truth can be troubled, not defeated. Rejecting all the objections raised by the BJP's ED, the Honourable Court has granted bail to Delhi chief minister @ArvindKejriwal.

Punjab chief minister and senior AAP leader Bhagwant Mann posted on X in Hindi, We have faith in the court Kejriwal Ji gets bail truth wins."
Mumbai: A delegation of Maharashtra ministers on Thursday met the OBC activists Laxman Hake and Navnath Waghmare and urged them to end their fast. However, both activists refused to halt their protests till the government gave in writing that the existing OBC reservation will not be disturbed. Meanwhile, Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange reiterated that the state government was deliberately creating Maratha-OBC rift and vowed to continue his agitation for Maratha reservation from the OBC category.

The government delegation comprising ministers Atul Save, Uday Samant, Girish Mahajan and MLC Gopichand Padalkar met the OBC activists at the protest site at Wadigodri village in Jalna district. Newly-elected Shiv Sena MP Sandipan Bhumre was also present.

After meeting the activists, Mahajan also called up chief minister Eknath Shinde and deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and made them tal k to the protesting activists. However, Hake and Waghmare, who have been fasting since June 13, refused to halt their agitation and instead, demanded a written assurance from the government that the OBC quota won't be diluted.

The two are opposed to Jaranges demand over implementation of the draft notification that recognises Maratha community members as Kunbis, which is part of the OBC category. The government should make its stand clear and cancel the back-door entry to reservation through 54 lakh Kunbi-Maratha records, Hake said.

The OBC activist also accused Jarange of arm twisting the government and trying to encroach upon the OBC quota. He alleged that Maratha youths were ending their lives due to confusion created by activist Jarange. OBC leaders were singled out and their homes and businesses were attacked, Hake said, referring to attacks on OBC politicians in Beed district.

Reacting to OBC protests, Jarange accused the Maharashtra government of trying to create tension between the Maratha and OBC communities. He alleged that eight-nine politicians are against the Maratha reservation and people will know their names at right time. The government is thrusting new leaders to the fore and moving others aside to create a rift between the Maratha and OBC communities, he said.

The Maratha activist said that his community will sink (politically) those trying to create bad blood between the two social groups. He also said Maratha leaders from all political parties should attend rallies held by the community in their respective districts. If they dont show up, the Maratha community will defeat them (in upcoming state assembly elections), he added.

Meanwhile, in a post on X, BJP leader Pankaja Munde urged CM Shinde to meet the OBC protesters at the site of the stir. Agitators are seeking an inquiry into whether certificates were given to the Maratha community under political pressure, she said, adding the government must give an assurance that OBC quota will not be disturbed.
Oh reason not the need

Our wants are the lyric

On what the senses feed

All victories are Pyrrhic!

Dont reason with illusion

Deception of the sight

Waking and dream in fusion

The gifts of day and night?

From The Lota Rota, by Bachchoo

AN OPEN LETTER

Dear Narendraji,

Pranam! Congratulations on winning a third term in the largest democracy in the world. This thrice-blessed factor puts you in historical parallel with Jawaharlal Nehru.

In the ithihaas that succeeding generations will read, our leaders will not just be remembered for their longevity in office. They will be judged by what they did while there.

Mention Henry VIII, for instance, and the name conjures up a vision of six wives with divorces and a couple of beheadings. Anything else? Yes, converting Britain to Protestantism and the genocide of monks and Catholics. Not positive.

Think then of Herr Hitler, who persecuted Jews, millions of them ordinary working-class Jews, in Germany, Poland and wherever his Nazi armies spread their venom. Persecution is a sort of excuse word. He oversaw their execution in the cruellest concentration camps. Six million?

I am sure, Narendraji, you must be wondering why I begin this open letter to you with these examples of the negative or horrific memories that humanity inherits through historical records.

History gets revised. For centuries that pagan vandal, Alexander of Macedonia, was known as Alexander the Great! Only recently have historians realised that that there was no greatness attached to plundering and destroying civilisations like the Persian Empire and sacking Persepolis. Alexander the Brute?

But let me, Narendraji, get to the point. I am absolutely confident that you are preoccupied with the governance of our great Bharat Mata, but perhaps you occasionally give some thoughtful space, now that you are bound to go down in Indias history as a thrice-elected PM, to how history will record your tenure.

You are undoubtedly familiar with the names and works of Alexander Solzhenitsyn and Pablo Neruda. They were both great Nobel Prize-winning writers and both of them were brutally persecuted by the dictatorial regimes of Russia and of Chile -- the nations some of whose governmental policies they opposed.

These are the martyrs of literature and they will long be remembered for being such, after Videla and Pinochet who exiled and murdered Neruda will be remembered for doing only that. Stalin, who persecuted Solzhenitsyn, will remain, like Hitler, a poisonous villain of history.

Being something of an undistinguished writer myself, I am, you will understand, on the side of Solzhenitsyn and of Neruda. I also know, that putting pen to paper, or fingers to computer keys, may produce analytically critical works, but I truly wonder in my waking hours -- and occasionally in my dreams -- whether writing ever really has a determining political effect.

For instance, would anything that Solzhenitsyn wrote have caused the overthrow of the Soviet regime? Is the pen really able to undermine the sword, the handcuff and the starvation in Siberia?

Which brings me, Sirji, to an alarming piece of news I came across recently. This is the fact that the Indian writer of some renown, Arundhati Roy, is being investigated under some law about subversive writings fifteen years ago, and will now possibly be arrested and tried and face a sentence of imprisonment.

What Ms Roy said all those years ago was to do with oppression in Kashmir to which she was, as any civilised person should be, opposed.

Of course, in the case of Kashmir and even of India, religion should never be the force which determines political allegiance. That, in my humble opinion, Modi Sahib, belongs to the medieval era and to states that call themselves this-or-that religious republic. What you think of the Islamic Republic next door is public knowledge.

Narendraji, perhaps you are unaware of this victimisation of Ms Roy who is universally known for her books and opinions. The point of this letter is to urge you to immediately intervene in this case and ensure that Ms Roy is free from any shadow of persecution and is free to say what she wants in word and print within democratic laws.

By this I mean that any person who spreads messages of hatred or instigation to attack minorities should surely be prosecuted under your, now historically notable, third term regime. My reading of the opinion that Ms Roy seems to be being held to account for does not spread hatred or any instigation to violence. Its an opinion with which you  or even I -- may profoundly disagree.

But it should be allowed as free speech.

The international reputation of India matters deeply to me as I am sure it does to you. In this year of significant worldwide elections, with those of the UK and the United States pending, history has to record that they are, as the cliche goes, free and fair.

The election in Bharat clearly has been. India has set the tone that even US presidential candidate Donald Trump, much against his obvious inclinations, cant violate.

Mukhya Mantriji, it is clear to me that the persecution on any level of writers and journalists, in immediate view that of Ms Roy, will certainly detract from the reputation of our democracy and will cast a dark blot on our history. I implore you to stop it.
It took a thief in Uttar Pradesh to expose Indias scorching heat divide. On an intensely hot day in early June, a man broke into a locked house in Lucknows Indiranagar neighbourhood, rummaged through the premises, and picked up valuables. Then, he spotted an air-conditioner. He switched it on, found a snug cushion, lay down, and fell asleep. When the police arrived, the thief was napping. The story generated much mirth in Indias scalding summer.

No one is laughing any more. Especially in Delhi/NCR and the vast swathes of the country reeling under a prolonged heatwave. Temperatures are rising above 46 degrees across much of north India, including in UP, Uttarakhand, Bihar and Jharkhand. At least 50 people have died in the current heatwave in the Delhi region, over 50 in UP and Odisha and at least 22 in Bihar. Arguably, intense heat is not unique to India. In the time of climate change, clearly, erratic, and extreme weather are the new norms. Heat stress is affecting people across the world.

But what needs to be sledgehammered is that in many countries, including India, policy response to extreme heat must factor in equity. Extreme heat affects us all, but not equally. That India is a deeply unequal country is no secret. But prolonged heatwaves, including the current one, brutally expose Indias deep social, cultural, and economic fault lines.

The Heatwave Havoc report, a new study by Greenpeace India and National Hawkers Federation, throws up valuable insights on how extreme heat impacts street vendors in Delhi, focusing on risks to health, livelihood challenges and adaptation strategies. According to the report, 49.27 per cent of street vendor respondents experienced a loss of income during heatwaves, with 80.08 per cent of them acknowledging a dip in the number of customers. 50.86 per cent of interviewees also said they face higher financial burdens due to additional household expenses with an average extra expenditure of Rs 4,896.52 during months of extreme heat.

Extreme heat inflames gender inequalities in health and income, according to recent research by US-based Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Centre (Arsht-Rock) in three countries -- India, Nigeria, and the United States -- examining current and projected conditions by 2050.

Women lose 19 per cent of their paid working hours to heat, costing the Indian economy 0.8 per cent of its GDP, or roughly $67 billion annually, says the report.

As the number of days of intense heat steadily rise, there can be no real sustainable solution unless we acknowledge this emerging thermal divide between those who can afford or have access to air-conditioned environments and can live and work there a major part of the day, and those who cannot, and must necessarily deal with intense heat for long stretches or risk reduced earnings. The latter make up the bulk of Indias informal sector -- the mainstay of the Indian economy. Most construction workers, farmers, street vendors, delivery boys, domestic helpers and many others do not have the option of working from home; many live in homes that are not air-cooled. This does not take away from the deep discomfort that everyone, rich and poor, are grappling with. But the degree matters. Sometimes it is a matter of life and death.

The intensity of the heat has renewed discussions on many critical issues, such as accurate data on heat-related deaths. Many experts feel the official tally is an underestimate though India now has official guidelines which specifically state that a death must be considered heat-related, even if the patient has pre-existing health conditions which are aggravated by extreme temperatures.

But guidelines are only a starting point. There are many issues which are part of the Indian reality and which must be addressed, alongside the structural problems in classifying heat-related deaths. For example, medical doctors must be trained across the country to diagnose the impact of extreme heat on the body, as Aditya Valiathan Pillai, a fellow at Sustainable Futures Collaborative, points out.

Hospitals must be equipped to deal with heat-related illnesses. Currently, many hospitals in places reeling under extreme heat do not even have enough thermometers to check temperatures of patients with heat strokes, as recent ground reports have pointed out.

Then, one needs to factor in deaths that take place outside the hospital. One way to deal with the situation is to track all-cause mortality during stretches of heatwaves with available data from the past to understand the excess mortality that may have been contributed by intense heat, as Pillai and other scholars suggest. This was done in the case of the May 2010 heat wave in Ahmedabad, which revealed 1,344 excess deaths and led to Indias first heat action plan (HAP) in 2013. Since then, many Indian states and cities have come up with their own HAPs. But HAPs are quite often under-funded and not enforced.

In the short term, inevitably, whoever can afford will rush to buy an air- conditioner or an air cooler depending on the terrain, just to survive, or fall very sick. This will only add to the problem, especially in congested cities where the urban heat island effect plays out. Urban heat islands" occur when cities replace natural land cover with dense concentrations of pavement, buildings, and other surfaces that absorb and retain heat.

Extreme heat can destroy human lives and a countrys aspirations.

Because of its large population, India is in absolute terms expected to lose the equivalent of 34 million full-time jobs in 2030 because of heat stress. Although most of the impact in India will be felt in the agricultural sector, more and more working hours are expected to be lost in the construction sector, where heat stress affects both male and female workers, noted a 2019 International Labour Organisation report.

There are plenty of forecasts about the impact of extreme heat on the Indian economy but what is also required, says Pillai, is the granular, hyper-local picture which includes local scientific assessment of heat, localised research which tells you what heat is doing to a specific area in every way. This also means awareness about extreme heat must percolate down to the local administration.

Vulnerability assessments must not only factor in terrain or geography but also the sectors, occupations, and population groups most affected by extreme heat, adds Pillai.

Indias heat strategy must tackle core issues like how Indias cities are designed, how much greenery is maintained, how society is organised.

Who lives, who dies and who falls sick will depend greatly on who has access to regular supply of electricity, to cooling devices and clean water in the coming years. These arent abstract issues any more.
China home to over 4,500 AI companies: vice minister

Xinhua) 11:04, June 21, 2024

TIANJIN, June 20 (Xinhua) -- China now hosts more than 4,500 artificial intelligence (AI) companies, reflecting the country's efforts to embrace the AI boom, according to official figures released at an industry event on Thursday.

The data was made public by Shan Zhongde, vice minister of industry and information technology, at the 2024 World Intelligence Expo in north China's Tianjin Municipality.

Shan said that China has built 421 national-level demonstration factories featuring intelligent manufacturing and over 10,000 provincial-level digital workshops and smart factories.

From humanoid robots to autonomous vehicles, officials and experts at the expo highlighted that AI technology is rapidly reshaping human life.

Technologies such as brain-computer interfaces and humanoid robots will have practical impacts on industries like manufacturing, transportation, education and healthcare, said Wu Zhaohui, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

"AI technology can also inject transformative power into regional economic growth and reshape the landscape of global competition," Wu added.

China's core AI industry reached a scale of more than 578 billion yuan (about 81 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 13.9 percent year on year, official data shows.

This year's government work report unveiled an AI Plus initiative, a strategic move designed to propel the digital economy's expansion and spearhead the transformation and modernization of manufacturing sectors.

The 2024 World Intelligence Expo, running until June 23, was co-hosted by Tianjin Municipality and southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, merging the former World Intelligence Congress in Tianjin and the Smart China Expo in Chongqing.

With an exhibition area of 100,000 square meters, the event features various themed exhibition areas covering AI, intelligent connected vehicles, intelligent manufacturing and robotics.

The two municipalities will alternate hosting the World Intelligence Expo in the future.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg speaks alongside Mayor John Whitmire during a news conference announcing criminal corruption charges stemming from the investigation into the Midtown Redevelopment Authority on Friday, June 21, 2024, in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Mayor John Whitmire speaks alongside Daron Parker of the Texas Rangers and Harris County prosecutor Hector Garza during a news conference announcing criminal corruption charges stemming from the investigation into the Midtown Redevelopment Authority on Friday, June 21, 2024, in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, Mayor John Whitmire, Hector Garza of the HCDAO Public COrruption Prosecutor, Daron Parker of the Texas Rangers and Resident and Whistleblower Brian Van Tubergen hold a news conference announcing criminal corruption charges stemming from the investigation into Midtown Redevelopment Authority on Friday, June 21, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

A former Midtown Redevelopment Authority official and two vendors are facing felony corruption charges, accused of misusing some $8.5 million in public funds meant to build affordable housing in Third Ward.

Todd Edwards, the agencys former real estate manager, is facing four first-degree felony charges: theft, abuse of official capacity, money laundering and misapplication of fiduciary property.

Midtown vendors Veronica Ugorji of Cortez Landscaping and Kenneth Jones of KCK Demolition and Landscaping are charged with money laundering and abuse of official capacity, also first-degree felonies, which carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.

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A man walks on an overgrown sidewalk in front of a lot on Alabama St. belonging to Midtown Redevelopment Official is photographed on Friday, June 21, 2024 in Houston. Criminal corruption charges were announced from an investigation into Midtown Redevelopment Authority charging the vendors with diverting or misusing $8-10 million in public funds. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

Midtown, a city of Houston development agency, for decades has spent millions of tax dollars acquiring almost 500 lots in and around Third Ward, hoping to slow gentrification in the historic Black neighborhood and build affordable housing on the land.

Residents have long complained that hundreds of the agencys still-vacant lots have become overgrown. Yet Midtown, through Edwards, was paying companies millions of dollars to maintain them.

FIGHTING BACK: Houston redevelopment official ousted after overgrown lots lead Third Ward residents to take action

It took neighborhood residents years of digging to discover that Midtown paid a company Edwards himself formed  P.O.W.E.R. LLC  $2.1 million from 2011 to 2020, records show. Investigators found that Edwards created the company's invoices on his work laptop, then approved them for payment himself.

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Ugorjis Cortez Landscaping was paid $6.2 million from 2015 to 2021, and investigators found that Edwards not only appeared to help Ugorji form Cortez in the first place, but helped her submit the invoices that he paid. They also found that P.O.W.E.R. served as a subcontractor for Cortez beginning in 2019.

Jones KCK worked as a subcontractor to Cortez Landscaping, investigators found, and was directly paid $768,500 from 2017 through 2020, according to records.



Records show that P.O.W.E.R. and KCK were last paid in 2020; Cortezs last check was in July 2021.

Edwards appeared to be dating Ugorji, prosecutors said in announcing the charges Friday. A charging document describes numerous romantic messages, some intimate images and apparent vacation planning emails between them. Edwards relationship with Jones is unclear.

Investigators also found that Edwards, via P.O.W.E.R., billed Midtown for the demolition of 32 structures  more than $300,000 worth  that never existed or didn't exist at the time the work allegedly occurred. He also approved $180,000 in demolition payments to Jones KCK for 14 structures that were never razed or never existed.

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Mr. Edwards, with the fiduciary responsibility of utilizing the money to its purpose  which was to redevelop and make Third Ward better for the people who live there  instead lined his own pockets and those of Ms. Ugorji and of Mr. Jones, Ogg said. Unfortunately, our tax dollars meant to improve the lives of Houstonians were spent on flashy cars, nice houses, super living, trips and pornography, of all things.

Edwards attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Jones attorneys staff declined to comment.

Ugorjis attorney could not be identified. Ugorji did not immediately respond to a request for comment but said last fall that Cortez Landscaping was no longer an operating business."

The post office box listed on some of the invoices submitted by P.O.W.E.R. matched the one used by former longtime Third Ward state Rep. Garnet Coleman, in whose legislative office Edwards once worked.

Coleman, a significant force in local politics and the architect of Midtowns original affordable housing goals, last fall denounced Edwards actions and denied any knowledge of the scheme.

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Ogg declined to comment on Colemans role, if any, in the investigation.

In general, she said, prosecutors plan to further probe Midtowns land transactions.

Years of complaints yield action

Third Ward residents, led by Ed Pettitt and Brian Van Tubergen  a Batman-Robin team, Ogg dubbed them  first filed official complaints about the authority in 2020, when they suspected P.O.W.E.R. and Cortez of seeking payment for mowing lots that had not, in fact, been trimmed. And they filed new complaints last year when they discovered Edwards alleged conflicts of interest.

Van Tubergen on Friday said he and others begged and pleaded with the Midtown board, city officials and community leaders for years to respond to residents complaints about overgrown Midtown lots.

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To those who would neglect our neighborhood on purpose to benefit themselves, he said, we are paying attention, and we will hold you accountable for your actions.

Midtown fired Edwards in May 2023. Last October, the citys Office of Inspector General determined that Edwards used his position  to benefit himself and the owner of Cortez Landscaping.

At the time, Midtown board chair Al Odom vowed to pursue all appropriate legal remedies to recover any misused public funds.

Ogg said Friday that her office hopes to recover some funds or some assets of value.

But Ogg also took the Midtown board to task, saying the agencys oversight had been woefully inadequate.

The board did not provide oversight that was thorough enough to catch a very simple scheme, she said. Its public corruption 101.

In a Friday afternoon statement, Midtown officials said the charges against Edwards, Ugorji and Jones "are entirely contrary to our values and principles."

They added that the agency has taken "comprehensive steps" to ensure increased financial oversight in an effort to restore public trust and provide more affordable housing options. And they pledged "active collaboration with Mayor Whitmire and his staff to ensure the highest levels of accountability and transparency" moving forward.

ROOTING OUT CORRUPTION: Former Houston Public Works official charged in corruption case involving waterline repair contracts

Whitmire noted he has appointed no Midtown board members, vowed to closely vet all appointees for conflicts of interest and pledged a broader review of all TIRZs.

Some are more transparent than others, some listen to the residents more than others and quite frankly some listen to City Hall more than others, he said. I do believe more investigative work will reveal more conflicts.  I would encourage any other citizen or employee of the TIRZ to become a whistleblower.

A lot on Emancipation Ave. belonging to Midtown Redevelopment Official is photographed on Friday, June 21, 2024 in Houston. Criminal corruption charges were announced from an investigation into Midtown Redevelopment Authority charging the vendors with diverting or misusing $8-10 million in public funds. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

Edwards has not publicly discussed the allegations but did address residents concerns about lot maintenance at an October 2019 Midtown board meeting by inviting them to contact him when they saw problem lots.

The money Midtown was spending on mowing shows we do care, Edwards said, according to a video of the meeting recorded by Third Ward residents. The neighborhood has struggled with illegal dumping for decades, he said  a freshly cleared lot could be soon covered with new debris.
This is according to a study covering 2023 published by activists of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey. Last year 781 people invoked help and protection after suffering violence. Six people died in prison or in custody because of the beatings they suffered. Against the Kurds a "disproportionate" use of force.

Istanbul (AsiaNews) - Kurds, people of LGBT+ sexual orientation, and other minority members all united by one thing in common: they are victims of an "increasing use of torture" implemented by Turkish authorities in the recent past.

This was revealed in a report published these days by the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (Tihv/Hrft), according to which in 2023 at least 739 people-but the figures may be underestimated-in Ankara, Diyarbakr, Istanbul, Izmir, Van, and Cizre were personally subjected to torture or mistreatment. To these are added 42 more cases of people who reported abuse on behalf of relatives, family members or friends.

The study for 2023, based on complaints collected in Tihv/Hrft-affiliated treatment and rehabilitation centers, reveals a "significant" number of cases of torture, serious abuse and mistreatment. Since its establishment in 1990, the foundation has received a total of 21,894 requests for support, including 7,548 since 2014.

In the past year alone, 781 people have invoked help and protection after suffering violence: specifically, 731 cases occurred within national borders and eight were reported from abroad, by agents or personalities linked to Turkey.

The report indicates that 72.2 percent of the incidents reported in 2023 occurred within the year, with the remaining cases occurring in previous years of which 90 percent occurred within the last six years. In addition, also in the past year at least six people died in prison or in custody as a result of torture.

A significant proportion of the victims were women and members of the LGBTI+ community. Specifically, 240 identified themselves as women, 428 as men, and 63 as non-binary/queer.

The distribution of complaints among months showed a peak between June and July, correlating with increased police intervention during Pride Week events. The age of applicants ranged from 7 to 77, with nearly half of them between the ages of 19 and 35.

The report notes a disturbing increase in unofficial or secret detentions: 598 applicants reported being officially detained, while 133 reported being unofficially detained and unregistered.

This trend is linked to police interventions during public demonstrations and press statements and is described by experts as the "changing face of torture." The highest number of requests was recorded in Istanbul with 251 cases, followed by Izmir, with 172, and Van, with 161.

Despite the interruption of service for nearly four months due to the February 2023 earthquake, the Diyarbakr office received 125 applications. Cizre and Ankara received 40 and 32 applications.

The Istanbul Police Department was identified as the main place where incidents of torture were reported, followed by the Diyarbakr, Ankara and Van police departments where the Kurdish minority is in the crosshairs. Indeed, the report shows how this population - long in the crosshairs of authorities and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan - is "disproportionately" affected by the use of torture.

Analysis of the birthplaces and mother tongues of applicants for assistance and protection indicates that those of Kurdish ethnicity are subject to higher rates of violations than other ethnic groups, a trend that continued in 2023.

Abuses and violations are also confirmed by a study by Amnesty International, which found that investigations, prosecutions, and unfounded convictions of human rights defenders, journalists, opposition politicians, and activists continued last year. In addition, anti-terrorism and disinformation regulations have been used repeatedly to curtail freedom of expression, just as there have been unjustified limits on freedom of peaceful assembly.

At the same time, "widespread" violence against women and girls persists, as does discriminatory and stigmatizing rhetoric against Lgbti, refugee and migrant people in the run-up to the presidential and legislative elections in May.

Victims of human rights violations committed by state officials continued to suffer the effects of the culture of impunity, as well as serious and credible allegations of torture and other ill-treatment.
by Arundathie Abeysinghe

Contacts with the IEA underway to define regulations and site selection criteria. Russia's Rosatom-already present in Bangladesh and India-is in the front row, but Chinese engineers and other major industry giants are also expected in the country. The crux of funding in a country still grappling with the severe economic crisis.

Colombo (AsiaNews) - The Sri Lankan government is drafting legislation to regulate nuclear power generation, and the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board (SLAEB) is preparing to request an expression of interest from potential investors.

A delegation from China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) is expected shortly to evaluate the possibility of investing in a nuclear power plant in the country. Russia's Rosatom, France's Electricite de France (EDF) and Denmark's Seaborg have also submitted proposals for nuclear power generation in the country, while the U.S.-based Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC) and Canada's Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd (AECL) have expressed interest in investing in Sri Lanka.

To reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the government has decided to include nuclear power in its energy mix. A team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has already carried out its own mission to verify the safety of the selection process to identify potential sites for the construction of Sri Lanka's first nuclear power plant.

Meanwhile, last week a team of legal experts left Colombo for Vienna, where the IAEA is headquartered, to discuss regulations that will govern nuclear power generation in the country.

Russia already plays a significant role in nuclear power production in Bangladesh and India: the one at Kudankulam, in India's Tamil Nadu, is only 207 kilometers from Kalpitiya in Sri Lanka's northwestern province. The Russian agency Rosatom has shown increasing interest in establishing a nuclear power plant in Sri Lanka-a high-level delegation has already held talks to this effect.

Nilanthi Kolonne and Shirantha Jayasekera, university professors of engineering, tell AsiaNews that Russia has offered assistance in terms of capacity building and training of Sri Lankan personnel in the nuclear sector.

The proposal includes the installation of newly designed small modular reactors (SMRs) with a capacity to produce up to 300 MW of electricity per unit. However, discussions on the financing model for the project, which is estimated to exceed billion, have not yet taken place.

SLAEB President S.R.D. Rosa briefed the Russian delegation on the current status of the proposal for an offshore or onshore nuclear power plant in Sri Lanka, which is still awaiting final approval from the Foreign Ministry.

"Implementation depends on the signing of an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between Sri Lanka and Russia, which is currently pending and involves a change in current legislation. We cannot expect the cost of nuclear power to be lower than that of hydropower-it will be somewhere between the costs of thermal and hydropower."

Meanwhile, SLAEB has inspected the nuclear power plants the Russians have built in Bangladesh, and the unit price for power generation is about 27-30 Sri Lankan rupees, a cheaper option than current sources.

However, the problem is lack of funds, as the average time frame required to build a nuclear power plant is about 5-8 years and the cost between -5 billion. The government is therefore looking for investors to carry out the project.

Photo: Reetesh Chaurasia/Wikimedia
by Vladimir Rozanskij

Archbishop Galstanyan is not just haranguing the crowds, but urging them to storm the palaces of power. According to many, Patriarch Karekin II himself is behind the escalation, denouncing the "continuous policy of unilateral surrender" in relations with Azerbaijan. Prime Minister Pasinyan, on the other hand, calls the bishops "agents provocateurs" who want to lead to war "as in the days of Byzantium".

Yerevan (AsiaNews) - The Armenian Apostolic Church has now taken an explicit political stance of confrontation with the government in Yerevan, with the risk of an increasingly violent radicalisation of the street protests, led by the Archbishop of Tavows, Bagrat Galstanyan, who continues to repeat that "we will not leave the streets until victory is achieved", that is, until Prime Minister Nikol Pasinyan resigns.

Galstanyan does not just harangue the crowds, but urges them to storm the palaces of power, as has happened in the past few days, trying to lock up the premier and deputies in the National Assembly building in order to force them to appear before the 'people's court' he presides over.

The police began to use strong-arm tactics to disperse the demonstrators, although so far the revolutionary archbishop has not been touched. However, Pasinyan and the supporters of the ruling majority are using increasingly fiery arguments against their ecclesiastical opponents.

According to many statements by members of the Civil Accord party, the patriarch of the Armenian Church himself, the katholikos Karekin II, together with the entire ecclesiastical leadership of the 'Sacred Ecmjadzin', the historic patriarchal seat on the outskirts of Yerevan, is behind the bishop and the escalation of demonstrations.

It is precisely in this religious-administrative centre that the Higher Spiritual Council, the synodal body of the katholikos, meets almost in permanent session. It has issued a statement by the bishops expressing explicit support for the "popular opposition", while distancing themselves from the most violent actions of recent days, in which no members of the clergy are said to have participated.

The text denounced the "continuous policy of unilateral ceding of national territories, justified by demarcation agreements", which has provoked a wave of indignation and concern "both at home and in the diaspora, generating the mistrust that today leads to calls for the prime minister's resignation".

Pasinyan responds to these accusations by lashing out at 'all those who are using the Artsakh refugees for their own mercantile interests', provoking unrest in the streets. To Galstanyan who challenged him to take to the streets, the prime minister responded with a very emotional speech in parliament:

'Of course we meet, do you think the prime minister of Armenia has a problem talking to anyone? If I thought it would be useful to meet the bishop, I would have already had him loaded onto a police van'.

The prime minister directly accused Karekin II of having 'blessed' the riots and clashes with the police, which provoked outraged responses from the bishops, 'we condemn the attempts of the men in power to shift the responsibility for the people's protests onto the Church... instead, they try to justify their own anti-clerical behaviour, as has happened recently on several occasions'. The reference is to the 'Sardaparat' memorial case on 28 May, when the police attempted to exclude the katholikos from official ceremonies to commemorate the Armenians' 1918 battle against the Turks.

The Armenian Church had last year urged the government to carry through the battle against the Azeris over Nagorno Karabakh, from which the army was withdrawn to avoid an all-out war between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Now Pasinyan calls the bishops 'agents provocateurs' who want to lead to war again, but says that 'we will solve this problem in two or three months'. Recalling events of the distant past with regard to the Byzantines, in which the Church played a crucial role in military operations, he argues that 'this will not happen again today', with the Russians fomenting conflict by using the Church, as the patriarchs and emperors did in Byzantium.

The reinterpretation of history is a characteristic of the wars of the third millennium; while Putin in Russia seeks to re-establish the glories of the past, Pasinyan insists on proposing a new Armenia, one that is not an imitation of the ancient or medieval one, and the religious dimensions become decisive in assessing these prospects.

As the Armenian premier states, quoting passages from the letters of St Paul, 'I want to make a solemn statement: if the Church's relations with the government are bad, then the Church's relations with God will also be bad'.
by Steve Suwannarat

Advocates are pushing for legislation following a recent spate of violence against domestic workers. A draft bill was first tabled 20 years ago but never approved. Advocacy groups want the legislation passed because the more liberal President Joko Widodo will be replaced later this year by the more conservative, Retired General Prabowo Subianto.

Jakarta (AsiaNews)  A recent spate of violence against domestic workers has sparked renewed action to get Indonesias parliament to pass legislation to protect this group of workers.

Domestic workers number at least five million, mostly women, and for at least 20 years, advocates have urged lawmakers to adopt legislation to protect them since the legal void in the countrys labour laws encourages abuse.

At present, promoters want parliament to legislate before outgoing President Joko Widodo, who is seen as a liberal, is replaced by the new, more conservative president, retired army general Prabowo Subianto.

Several human and labour rights groups warn that without developments soon, the issue could be postponed again indefinitely since a new House of Representatives will take office along with the new president.

On Sunday, International Domestic Workers Day, the National Advocacy Network for Domestic Workers (Jala-PRT) held a rally in front of the House of Representatives in the capital.

The Domestic Workers Bill has been championed for 20 years, yet the House remains reluctant to acknowledge domestic workers as formal workers. As a result, domestic workers continue to face violations of their rights as human beings, workers, and citizens, said Jala-PRT National Coordinator, Lita Anggraini.

In a country with a huge army of domestic workers, many of whom working abroad, it is hard to understand why it is so hard to get legislation through. For this reason, y any new law should be particularly sensitive.

The bill includes education and training, balanced rights and obligations between workers and employers, reasonable working hours, one full day off per week, 12 days of annual leave, health and employment insurance, a minimum working age of 18 years, and punishment of physical assault against workers.

However, it falls short on certain specifics like minimum wage, working hours, unionisation, and workers hired directly by families and not through an employment agency.

The bill was originally included in the National Legislation Programme for 2005-2009, and the House conducted research and comparative studies but, in the end, never passed it.

On the whole, despite its shortcomings, it still represents a significant step forward.
Today's news: US foundation withdraws award to Palestinian journalist Maha Hussaini used as a source by South Africa at the International Court of Justice; Locust invasion puts strain on farmers in Vietnam; In Tamil Nadu 34 people die of toxic alcohol consumption; Recent clashes puch more Rohingya to enter Bangladesh.

RUSSIA - NORTH KOREA - SOUTH KOREA

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned South Korea that sending arms to Ukraine would be a "very big mistake" after Seoul said it would consider doing so in response to the new pact between Russia and North Korea to come to each other's aid in the event of an attack. "As for supplying lethal weapons to the combat zone in Ukraine, that would be a big mistake. I hope it will not happen," Putin told a press conference on Thursday during a visit to Vietnam.

PALESTINE - UNITED STATES

The Washington-based International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) was condemned for withholding its award for bravery in journalism from Palestinian journalist Maha Hussaini. Hussaini's reports revealing Israel's field executions of Palestinians were used as evidence by South Africa at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case accusing Israel of genocide.

VIETNAM

Hundreds of farmers in Vietnam are facing tough challenges to save their crops and maize from a locust invasion - which began on 6 June, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development - within 11 provinces including Nghe An.1,031 hectares of forests and crops in the northern provinces recently increased by about 400 hectares. The density of locusts has also reached 7,000-8,000 per square metre.

INDIA

At least 34 people died after consuming smuggled toxic alcohol in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The incident occurred in Kallakuruchi district, where several residents fell ill after consuming the liquor on Tuesday night. At least 80 people are hospitalised for symptoms; the death toll could rise further. Two people were arrested in the course of an investigation.

MYANMAR - BANGLADESH

The escalation of violence in Myanmar's western Rakhine State in recent months may have prompted some Rohingya Muslims to cross the border into Bangladesh, even as Dhaka insists it cannot accept any more refugees from its neighbour. The Rohingya have faced persecution in Buddhist-majority Myanmar for decades and currently number more than 1 million displaced in the 32 camps in Cox's Bazar.

CHINA

China's first nuclear-powered steam generation project for industrial use has entered production as Beijing accelerates nuclear power diversification and promotes a low-carbon energy transformation. Named Heqi No 1, it officially went into operation on Wednesday. It uses steam generated by two of the turbines at the Tianwan power plant as its heat source.

KAZAKHSTAN - UKRAINE

In Kiev, there was an attempt on the life of a dissident journalist from Kazakhstan, Aydos Sadykov, author of the YouTube channel Bese, which is mirrored on Telegram reporting on Kazakh events with strong criticism of the government. Hit by a bullet to the head, his condition is very serious, and his wife speaks of 'professional killers sent to Ukraine by the Kazakh government'.

ARMENIA - TURKEY

The Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pasinyan, congratulated the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyp Erdogan, by telephone on the Muslim holiday of Kurban-Bayram, receiving in turn his best wishes for the holiday of Vardavar, the Transfiguration of Christ, expressing his willingness to "regulate relations" between the two countries without preconditions.
by Shafique Khokhar

Police is backing extremist groups attacking the Ahmadiyya community. Several arrests were made before Eid even though Pakistani law guarantees Ahmadis religious freedom in their own homes. For Ahmadi spokesman Amir Mahmood, the communitys fundamental human rights are being violated.

Punjab (AsiaNews)  Violence against Pakistans Ahmadiyya community (about 2 per cent of the population) did not take time off for the Eid-al-Adha holiday.

Ahmadis, whose movement emerged in the Punjab in the late 19th century, are deemed heretical by other Muslims; for this reason, police and extremist groups have prevented them from making the traditional animal sacrifice and performing rituals even inside private homes.

The day before Eid, police arrested seven Ahmadis and seized their animals, a clear but regular pattern of violation of Ahmadi human rights, not to mention rulings by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

On the day of Eid, some clerics approached a Hindu student at Namal University in Islamabad and forced him to eat beef, proposing he accept Islam.

The authorities have also undertaken extra-judicial actions such detaining Ahmadis, forcing them to take out surety bonds, in order to hinder their rituals, in clear violation of Article 20 of the Pakistani Constitution and the judgment of 12 January 2022 by a two-member panel of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, which grants Ahmadis freedom to practice their faith in private places.

Instead, this year saw a spike in acts of hate and violence against Ahmadis during Qurbani, the ritual animal sacrifice during Eid al-Adha rite.

The seven arrests took place on Sunday. One man, Nadeem, is a resident of Daska, Sialkot district, another hails from Khokar ki, Gujranwala district, while the other five are from Motra, Sialkot district.

Police broke into the home of one Ahmadi in Railway Colony, Lahore, harassing his family, and that of another in Lodhi Nangal, Faisalabad district. But the list of such incidents could go on.

The authorities are relentless in harassing Ahmadis. In Quaidabad, the assistant commissioner of police imposed a ban on Ahmadis performing the ritual sacrifice, in accordance with a letter issued by the Punjab Home Department the previous year.

Similarly, the sub-divisional magistrate in Mirpur, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, issued an order that no Ahmadi may perform any kind of animal sacrifice during the three days of Eid-al-Adha.

Instead of protecting Ahmadis from harassment and violence, police summoned Ahmadi leaders to various police stations, threatening them that if any Ahmadi is found practicing Qurbani or reciting Eid prayers, they would be attacked by the extremist Tehreek-e-Labaaik (TLP) party.

While freedom of worship in private homes is theoretically guaranteed by Pakistani law, police persecute Ahmadis rather than protect them on behalf of extremist right-wing groups. As a result, Ahmadis feel completely abandoned and vulnerable.

Speaking for the Ahmadiyya community, Amir Mahmood lamented the support police provides extremist groups in the name of religion, calling it a serious violation of fundamental human rights.

For him, the extremist mindset is tainting Pakistans reputation and should be eradicated. What is more, Ahmadis arrested on the occasion of the Eid holiday should be immediately released and measures taken to ensure their religious freedom.
Clashes continue between Israel and Hezbollah as fears grow of open war with devastating consequences for both sides of the border. In northern Israel, air raid alarms have been reactivated after Hezbollah launched some 45 Katyusha rockets in response to the death of Abbas Ibrahim Hamza Hamadeh in the southern Lebanese town of Deir Kifa.

Map of the Lebanese-Israeli border area - AFP/AFP

According to the IDF, Hamadeh was the operations commander of a regional Hezbollah unit based in the Jouaiyya area. He was also responsible for planning and carrying out attacks against Israel.

The Israeli military says it eliminated Hezbollah fighter Fadel Ibrahim. He was killed in an airstrike in Deir Kifa. The IDF says Ibrahim was the commander of Hezbollah operations in the Jouaiyya region. Hezbollah acknowledged the commander's death earlier today. pic.twitter.com/KadlyWdiAc June 20, 2024

In addition to the drone strike that eliminated this commander, the IDF announced that fighter jets destroyed a Hezbollah surface-to-air missile launcher in Rihan that posed a threat to the Area Force.

On July 20, 2024, Hezbollah said it fired dozens of rockets into northern Israel in retaliation for a deadly attack in southern Lebanon, a day after a speech by the group's leader - AFP/HASSAN FNEICH

This comes a day after Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah threatened to intensify attacks during a televised speech and Israeli military officials approved an "operational plan" for an offensive in Lebanon.

Since 8 October, Hezbollah - backed by the Islamic Republic of Iran - has launched attacks against northern Israel on an almost daily basis, prompting thousands of citizens to evacuate their homes and seek refuge in other parts of the country. In recent weeks the situation has worsened significantly after the Lebanese militia intensified its offensive and attacked areas far from the border.

An Israeli soldier at a house that was hit by a Hezbollah rocket in Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel, near the Lebanese border - AFP/MENAHEM KAHANA

According to a tally by The Times of Israel, the border clashes have resulted in the deaths of 10 civilians and 15 soldiers on the Israeli side, while Hezbollah has announced the deaths of 349 fighters. Dozens of civilians, 63 members of other terrorist groups and one Lebanese soldier have also been killed in Lebanon.

A crater in the ground of a house that was hit by a Hezbollah rocket in Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel - AFP/MENAHEM KAHANA

With tensions rising on the northern border, Israel continues its military operations in the Gaza Strip. In the last few hours, the Israeli army announced the death of a commander and sniper from Hamas' elite Nukhba force, accused of involvement in the 7 October attack, in an airstrike in the Beit Hanoun area.

Also, once again, Israel accuses terrorist groups in Gaza of using civilians as human shields after destroying a base used by Islamic Jihad to launch attacks located inside a humanitarian zone in Khan Younis.

ELIMINATED: A Leading Hamas Sniper and Nukhba Forces Commander who Participated in the Oct. 7 Massacre



IAF aircraft conducted a precise and targeted strike to eliminate the Hamas terrorist Ahmed Hassan Salame Alsauarka in the area of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza.



Alsauarka was pic.twitter.com/OopAWl5HYl  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 20, 2024

The Israeli army acknowledges that Hamas cannot be eradicated as it is an "ideology"

On the other hand, eight and a half months into the war, IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari has acknowledged that eradicating Hamas from the Gaza Strip is an impossible mission, as "Hamas is an idea, a party".

"It is rooted in the hearts of the people, whoever thinks we can eliminate Hamas is wrong," Hagari admitted in an interview with an Israeli news channel.

Benjamin Netanyahu's government responded to these statements by recalling that "one of the objectives of the war is the destruction of Hamas's military and governmental capabilities", referring to the "absolute victory" to which the prime minister has so often referred.

Prime Minister's Office Statement:



The Security Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has defined the destruction of Hamas' military and governing capabilities as one of the goals of the war.



The IDF, of course, is committed to this.  Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) June 19, 2024

In a subsequent statement, the army clarified that the spokesman was referring to the destruction of Hamas "as an ideology and an idea", stressing the fight "with determination and persistence" to destroy Hamas' military capabilities and governmental and organisational infrastructure in Gaza. "Any other statement takes things out of context," the note concludes.

This is the second public disagreement between the military authorities and Netanyahu's executive in the last week. A few days ago, the IDF announced an eleven-hour daily cessation of hostilities in an area in southern Gaza in order to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid, which the prime minister described as "inconceivable".

According to figures from the Hamas-controlled Gaza health ministry, the death toll in the Palestinian enclave now exceeds 37,400 during these months of war.

The Israeli army today announced the deaths of two reservists, aged 25 and 27, bringing the death toll since the ground invasion began to 314.

A Palestinian boy walks with a teddy bear recovered from the rubble of a building destroyed by Israeli shelling in Yan Yunis - AFP/EYAD BABA

Only 50 Israeli hostages reportedly still alive, US says

In addition to destroying Hamas infrastructure in Gaza, another of Israel's objectives with this military operation is to rescue the more than 100 hostages who have been held in Gaza since 7 October.

Happy Birthday Arbel,

Our only wish is that you will reunite with your family soon

#BringThemBackHomeNow #TurnTheHorrorIntoHope pic.twitter.com/VlnhpGse7r  Bring Them Home Now (@bringhomenow) June 21, 2024

In this regard, according to US officials based on intelligence and mediators in the hostage talks, only about 50 would still be alive almost nine months later, reports The Wall Street Journal.

Of the approximately 250 kidnapped in the Hamas-led attack, 116 remain captive, including those believed to have been killed. Israel has officially confirmed that of those 116 abductees, 43 died in captivity.
In this photo shared by the Office of the Dalai Lama, Republican Rep. Michael McCaul, left, is greeted by Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, at the Tibetan leader's residence in Dharamshala, India, Wednesday, June 19, 2024. Tenzin Choejor/Associated Press

A lot of members of Congress talk tough about combating Chinese influence around the globe, but few are getting under the skin of communist leaders there quite like U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul.

The Austin Republican has already been personally sanctioned by the Chinese government and helped trigger an intimidating war games display during a visit last year to Taiwan. He was at it again last week, leading a congressional delegation to meet with the Dalai Lama in Indias Dharamshala despite vocal Chinese opposition.

China invaded the independent Himalayan country of Tibet in 1950 and has controlled the territory ever since. The Dalai Lama, the head of Tibetan Buddhism, fled into exile to India amid a failed 1959 uprising against Chinese rule.

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McCaul, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, was a key force in helping pass a resolution in Congress earlier this month calling on China to reengage in peaceful talks over Tibet. But Beijing hasnt held dialogue with the representatives of the Dalai Lama since 2010.

Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, urged McCaul and other Washington officials to stop supporting Tibetan independence.

Its known by all that the 14th Dalai Lama is not a purely religious figure, but a political exile engaged in anti-China separatist activities under the cloak of religion, Lin said.

The latest dustup with McCaul comes just over a year after China imposed sanctions directly against McCaul for leading a delegation to visit Taiwan. Those sanctions included freezing assets and properties he has in China and prohibiting any organization or individual in China from working with him. They also prohibit McCaul from traveling to China. McCaul doesnt have assets in China.

Chinas foreign ministry said last year that McCaul had frequently interfered in the countrys internal affairs with his words and actions and harmed Chinas interests. They accused him of seriously harming Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity, and sending a serious wrong signal to Taiwan independence separatist forces.

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The sanctions havent stopped McCaul, as evidenced by his trip to Taiwan in May in which he gave new President Lai Ching-te a cowboy hat as a gift.

In this photo released by the Taiwan Presidential Office, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, right, puts on a cowboy hat given by Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas during a meeting in Taipei, Taiwan, Monday, May 27, 2024. AP

Being sanctioned by the Chinese Communist Party is a badge of honor, McCaul said. Nothing will deter the United States from supporting free, democratic nations  including Taiwan.

McCaul, first elected to Congress in 2004, represents the sprawling 10th Congressional District, which includes 13 counties stretching from Austin to Katy.

He has used his role on the Foreign Affairs Committee to also call for moving supply chains away from China and going after U.S. companies that are providing technology that is allowing the Chinese to expand their military and espionage activities.

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In 2022, McCaul and then-incoming House Speaker Kevin McCarthy held a press conference in Houston to blast the Chinese government for using their since-closed consulate in Houston for spying and stealing trade secrets and technology from organizations including the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, NASA and the energy sector.

McCaul says he sees trips like the one to meet with the Dalai Lama as a continuation of his effort to deter Chinese aggression and stand up for allies that need U.S. support.
21 June 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Shahin Read more

In the previous year, Azerbaijan exported 11 billion cubic meters of natural gas to the European Union (EU), as detailed in the European Commission's report for the last quarter of 2023.

As a result, Azerbaijan's share of the EU's natural gas imports rose from 3% (8 billion cubic meters) to 7% in 2021.

The EU imported 290 billion cubic meters of natural gas and consumed 330 billion cubic meters last year, reflecting decreases of 13.4% and 7.3% compared to the previous year, respectively.

The EU reduced its natural gas imports from its primary supplier, Russia, by 3.5 times, from 150 billion cubic meters to 43 billion cubic meters in 2023. This reduction was driven by sanctions imposed due to the Russia-Ukraine war and unusually high seasonal temperatures.

In 2023, the EU's natural gas production fell by 19.1% from the previous year to 38 billion cubic meters, accounting for 11% of its consumption. The Netherlands (12 billion cubic meters) and Romania (9.3 billion cubic meters) were the largest producers within the EU. Additionally, the EU's storage capacity utilization increased by 18 percentage points from the previous year, reaching 79% compared to 49% in 2021.

Certainly, the reasons that can justify the numbers given here still raise certain questions. For example, the increasing share of Azerbaijan's gas exports in ensuring the energy security of the European Union, or the reduction of dependence on Russian gas against the background of the EU's growing reliance on Azerbaijan and other sources. All these facts are real facts reflected in the recent meetings of President Ilham Aliyev with the leading representatives of European Union countries.

On the other hand, in the backdrop of the ongoing conflict, geopolitical realities, as well as climate policy, the matter of how the European Union's natural gas import will continue, raises some questions.

We decided to refer to the opinion of an economic expert to analyse and study the issue more deeply.

Thus, speaking to Azernews on the issue, economist Natig Jafarly stated that Azerbaijan is particularly important for Eastern and Southern European countries because they are more dependent on Russian gas.

"In terms of volume, Azerbaijani gas is not very large. Europes annual consumption is 500 billion cubic meters, and Azerbaijani gas constitutes only a small part of that. However, the most important aspect is that Azerbaijani gas plays a crucial role in the energy security of Eastern and Southern European countries, which are small countries that depend almost entirely on Russian gas. This is also true for the energy security of other small EU countries. It should be noted that after 2027, Azerbaijan will begin supplying 20 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe. This is a larger volume and represents more significant support for the EUs energy security, as gas consumption in Europe is not decreasing but rather increasing. Before the war, Russia exported 178 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe; now, it has decreased to only 35-40 billion cubic meters, a more than fourfold decrease. One of the gas sources that can replace this and is considered the most reliable partner is Azerbaijan."

"Expectations were low for Azerbaijan because higher gas revenues were anticipated. However, the price of gas did not reach the expected levels. When Azerbaijan started exporting gas, the price of 1,000 cubic meters in Europe was over a thousand dollars. Now, this price has dropped to $300. Despite this, it will still bring additional billions in gas revenues to Azerbaijan," the economist added.

According to N. Jafarly, Azerbaijan is taking steps to transition to a more diversified model, and its outlines are already visible.

"Azerbaijan's gas infrastructure does not consist solely of its own gas. Azerbaijan has a decisive stake in the TANAP and TAP pipelines, and there are discussions about delivering Iraqi gas through these pipelines, as well as gas that may be produced from Egypt in the future, and even from Israel, via Turkey to Europe using infrastructure built by Azerbaijan. If the TANAP and TAP projects operate at full capacity, about 33-34 billion cubic meters of gas can be delivered to Europe, which would significantly address the excess demand of the European Union," he noted.

"Regarding climate change, the European Union has already declared natural gas a climate-friendly energy source. Previously, gas production was considered air-polluting, but the situation has now changed. There is now a consensus in the European Union to allocate both subsidies and support to gas projects, viewing gas as an environmentally friendly energy source," Jafarly concluded.

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21 June 2024 19:51 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

November 10, 2020, is considered a turning point in the social and political life of Azerbaijan. That year went history with many remarkable events, and the most important of them was the glorious victory of Azerbaijan in the Second Garabagh War, which ceased the Armenian occupation of more than 30 years.

Besides, the beginning of 2020 was also marked by another significant event: the parliamentary elections held in February. During the elections in 2020, Azerbaijan had not yet restored its sovereignty over all of its territory. However, Azerbaijan's decisive steps in four consecutive years caused great changes in history.

After ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan as a result of the 44-day war and the anti-terrorist measures implemented in September 2023, in February 2024, presidential elections were held throughout the country for the first time in the history of the countrys independence.

All the pledges I made back in 2003 have now been fulfilled. The source of all our achievements is the Azerbaijani people, their trust in me, and their ability to unite around a single goal.

President Ilham Aliyev said these words during the swearing-in ceremony after his landslide victory in the snap presidential elections.

Thanks to the right steps taken, Azerbaijan is known as an exemplary state today. The unity between the people and the state in the country strengthens it even further. It is no coincidence that President Ilham Aliyev personally touched on this issue during an interview with journalists from local television.

As far as the history of the last 20 years is concerned, everything is quite evident. If we talk about that at length, we will probably have to dedicate the whole interview to it. I simply want to say that today's Azerbaijan is among the strongest countries in the world in the truest sense of the word. I believe that we can serve as an example for many countries, both in the world and in the region, in terms of the correct choice of domestic policy priorities. This is not just my opinion, some of my colleagues have been quite open about it, the President said while answering the question.

At the same time, President Ilham Aliyev said that the first presidential elections held throughout the country are the beginning of a new era. Of course, it was necessary to hold the first presidential elections in the territories liberated from occupation.

Considering all the factors  political, military, the 30-year occupation, the natural terrain of the territory, the number of defense lines  I think that this is the most brilliant Victory of our people and state. Of course, when this new era begins, a presidential election should mark the beginning of this new era. Because every period is a certain period of time, and the liberation of the territories occupied for 30 years and the full restoration of sovereignty are the beginning of a new period, the President emphasised.

Thus, after the presidential elections held for the first time throughout the country, the next period for the formation of the parliament in accordance with the requirements of the new era begins in Azerbaijan. During the early elections to the Milli Majlis, for the first time in the period of independence, the MPs representing Garabagh and Zangazur will receive a mandate as a result of the elections held in these areas.

Parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan were to be held in November 2024. However, the COP29, which is expected to be held in November, causes a big controversy. Holding elections in the same month, along with such a prestigious event in the world, would be impossible. Therefore, MPs from the New Azerbaijan Party appealed to the speaker of the parliament and suggested that the elections be held 2 months earlier.

As mentioned before, holding two events simultaneously would be impossible, but the change in the time of the elections will allow COP29 to be held in a decent manner, and it will ensure that the country's parliament is fully operational during this prestigious event.

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21 June 2024 12:57 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

"We are facing an unprecedented situation linked to climate change."

Maria Fernanda Espinosa, the 73rd President of the UN General Assembly, addressed the panel discussion titled "Our Financial Response to Climate Change" during the 29th High-Level Meeting themed "Pathway to COP29 - Sustainable and Resilient Future," Azernews reports.

She underscored the critical challenge of determining whether current actions are adequate to address this extraordinary situation.

"I believe we recognize that climate issues transcend environmental concerns alone. Discussions on challenges, climate targets, and negotiations over climate finance essentially involve key stakeholders in development. These conversations touch upon trade dynamics, social cohesion, power distribution, and geopolitical landscapes of nations and sectors. Hence, climate negotiations are inherently complex and politically charged.

We acknowledge that the pace of negotiations lags behind the urgency of the situation. Therefore, our deliberations extend beyond financial matters; they encompass broader implementation strategies," she explained.

It is important to highlight that the primary objective of this High-Level Meeting is to ensure the success of COP29 in Baku through collaborative efforts among all stakeholders. The preparations for COP29 in Baku aim to adopt a holistic approach that addresses current global demands and opportunities in climate action.

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21 June 2024 14:58 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

On June 24th, London will host the second "IEA-COP29" high-level dialogue, as announced by International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol on his X account, Azernews reports.

"I am pleased to co-chair our 2nd IEA-COP29 high-level dialogue with COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev in London on June 24th," Birol said.

He emphasised that the event will bring together leaders in energy, climate, and finance to discuss increasing investments in clean energy, particularly in developing economies.

The first COP29-IEA high-level dialogue took place on May 15th in Paris.

COP29, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, will convene in Azerbaijan this November. The decision was made during the COP28 plenary session in Dubai on December 11th last year. Baku is expected to host approximately 70,000-80,000 foreign guests, making it a global focal point for two weeks.

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21 June 2024 16:40 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

Azerbaijan has embarked on significant initiatives to enhance its greenery and reforestation efforts.

Speaking at the 29th High-Level Meeting on "Pathway to COP29: Sustainable and Resilient Future" in Zangilan, Faig Mutallimov, head of the Department of Environmental Policy at the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, highlighted Azerbaijan's commitment, Azernews reports.

He announced plans to restore 270,000 hectares of forest area, with notable achievements including the planting of 4 million saplings in 2023, and a target to increase this to 5 million in 2024.

Mutallimov emphasised that Azerbaijan's hosting of COP29 in Baku this November underscores its dedication to environmental stewardship: "Hosting COP29 in Baku is a great honor for Azerbaijan. This event will convene global leaders, fostering dialogue, idea exchange, and enhanced collaboration in tackling climate change. It reaffirms Azerbaijan's environmental responsibilities on the international stage."

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Lieutenant Governor of Texas Dan Patrick was seen giving remarks to republican delegates from Texas on the first day of the Texas GOP Convention on May 23, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Christopher Lee

After Louisiana passed a law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said this week that Texas could have been the first to do so  and should be the next.

The state Senate, which Patrick leads, approved legislation last year that instructed public elementary and secondary schools to display a framed copy of the Ten Commandments in a conspicuous place in each classroom of the school. The bill, authored by state Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, made it through a House committee but never got a vote on the floor.

Texas WOULD have been and SHOULD have been the first state in the nation to put the 10 Commandments back in our schools, Patrick posted on social media Thursday. Every Texas Republican House member would have voted for it. But, SPEAKER Dade Phelan killed the bill by letting it languish in committee for a month assuring it would never have time for a vote on the floor. This was inexcusable and unacceptable.

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He promised to pass the bill again in the next legislative session, which begins in January.

RELIGION IN SCHOOLS: Texas GOP eyes separation of church and state in schools after Supreme Court prayer ruling

The post was yet another escalation of the ongoing feud between Patrick and Phelan, a fellow Republican who just came out on top of a bitter and expensive primary battle to maintain his seat in the Legislature. Phelan is now eyeing a third term as leader of the lower chamber.

It has been Speaker Phelans practice for the membership of the Texas House to drive the agenda of the chamber, said Phelan spokesperson Kim Carmichael. This legislation passed with the support of its committee and was set for consideration by the full Texas House, but ultimately did not pass in time to meet the legislative deadline. Next session, Speaker Phelan looks forward to working with all House members to set the agenda for a successful 89th Legislative Session.

Patrick followed up his criticism by blaming Phelan for tanking a similar bill that would have given school boards the ability to allow prayer and Bible study in public schools with parental consent. Like the Ten Commandments bill, that legislation passed in the Senate but didnt get a vote in the House. It also didnt get a committee hearing in the lower chamber.

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Conservative faith-based bills DONT HAVE A PRAYER UNDER SPEAKER DADE PHELAN, Patrick wrote.

Despite the promises, however, its unclear whether the Ten Commandments or prayer legislation would survive legal scrutiny. Civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, have promised to fight the Louisiana law, which the organization calls a violation of First Amendment rights to freedom of religion.
21 June 2024 17:37 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

A trilateral meeting among representatives from Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia focused on international cargo transportation via road was recently convened, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport.

Participants included stakeholders from the road transport sector, customs services, international freight carriers associations, and heads of transport companies.

Delegations visited key border crossing points: Astara and Khanoba in Azerbaijan, Astara in Iran, and Tagirkand in Russia. They observed vehicle border crossing processes, customs inspections, and document clearance procedures.

Azerbaijan has developed robust infrastructure capable of accommodating various traffic flows under current conditions. Discussions during a subsequent meeting in Darbend centered on checkpoint inspections, strategies to reduce vehicle waiting times, and increasing the market share of carriers from Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia in international road transport.

The meeting also explored the potential and future prospects of the North-South International Transport Corridor. Participants emphasised the need for enhanced cooperation to fully leverage the transit potential of Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia and advance the development of the corridor.

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21 June 2024 10:26 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

In the academic year 2023-2024, 127 students graduated from ADA School, Azernews reports

The event began with the singing of the State Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan, followed by congratulations to the students and their families on "Graduation Day" from Samira Rasulova, the school's director, on behalf of the teaching staff. Samira Rasulova also advised the graduates to represent our country with honor and wished them success in their future endeavors.

During the ceremony, Ayla Ahmadova spoke on behalf of the graduates, sharing memorable moments from their time at ADA School with the attendees.

Students performed national and foreign music in various genres and entertained with lively dances. The event also highlighted the invaluable contributions of the ADA School Student Government (STUCO) and the Parent-Teacher Association to the students' academic and extracurricular successes.

A captivating video prepared by the class of 2024 was presented to the audience, expressing gratitude to the educators who tirelessly supported the students' comprehensive development. Students presented bouquets of flowers to these mentors who contributed to both their academic and personal growth.

Vafa Kazdal, Vice-Rector for Strategy and Development at ADA University, spoke about the students' successes and international achievements during their time at ADA School before presenting special diplomas to 25 high-achieving students.

At the conclusion of "Graduation Day," doves, symbols of peace, were released into the sky.

The event concluded with the traditional "hat tossing" ceremony, where graduates in mantles celebrated the end of their journey at ADA School.

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21 June 2024 10:57 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

A ceremony dedicated to the next graduation of the Strategic Studies and State Defence Management Academic Course of the National Defence Universitys Military Administration Institute was held, Azernews reports.

First, the memory of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, and the Shehids, who sacrificed their lives for the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, was honoured by observing a minute of silence. The National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was performed.

At the graduation ceremony, which was also attended by representatives of other government authorities, the rector of the Military Administration Institute, Colonel Elnur Alasgarli, congratulated the listeners on the completion of the academic course and highlighted the scientific essence of the course and its significance in the army development process.

It should be noted that the listeners were given lectures on international relations, global security, the basics of foreign policy, strategy, and defence planning, as well as state defence and defence resource management. The course also covered seminars, group exercises, and practical experience.

The graduates were awarded diplomas and collar badges, and the course leader attached a commemorative plaque to the symbolic stump.

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21 June 2024 10:38 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

A resident of Azerbaijan's Goranboy district was blown up by a mine in the territory of the Khorovlu village in the Jabrayil district, Azernews reports.

The truck, driven by a resident of the Goranboy district, Nuruyev Raghib (born in 1991), was blown up by an anti-tank mine. The driver received various injuries.

An investigation into the facts is underway at the Jabrayil district prosecutor's office.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Prosecutor General's Office, and ANAMA once again urge citizens to follow safety rules and not enter unfamiliar territory.

It should be noted that from the end of the war in 2020 to April 27 of this year, 212 cases of mine explosions occurred, as a result of which 356 people, including children and women, became victims of these explosions. These incidents show that there is an urgent need to clear the areas of mines and provide assistance to the victims. In total, the number of mine victims in Azerbaijan during the last 30 years is 3435.

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21 June 2024 10:44 (UTC+04:00)

On June 20, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a phone call to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

According to Azernews, during the telephone conversation, Antony Blinken hailed the progress made in advancing the peace agenda between Armenia and Azerbaijan, emphasizing that the United States is determined to continue supporting the normalization of relations between the two countries. He invited the parties to sign the peace agreement shortly. Noting the importance the United States attaches to its bilateral relations with Azerbaijan, the Secretary of State underlined the constructive cooperation between the two countries in achieving common goals in climate change and energy sector. Antony Blinken said that his country supports renewed and stronger bilateral relations with Azerbaijan. He also added that the United States would spare no effort in delivering a successful COP29 to be hosted by Azerbaijan.

Noting that peace has been ensured in the region, and that the Azerbaijani side was an initiator of the text and underlying principles of the peace treaty, President Ilham Aliyev stressed the ongoing efforts to advance the normalization process and the peace agenda on a bilateral basis. Praising the United States determination to contribute to the peace agenda, the head of state underscored the importance of Armenia ceasing its territorial claims against Azerbaijan, which are enshrined in the constitution, relevant laws, and internal regulations of Armenia, in order to advance the peace agenda.

President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that it is long overdue to officially terminate the non-functional OSCE Minsk Groups activities and all associated institutions to officially close the chapter on the conflict, which is a relic of the past. President Ilham Aliyev touched upon the long-standing successful cooperation between the two countries in the energy sector. He hailed the fruitful collaboration between the delegations of both countries in the fight against climate change and the preparations for COP29, and thanked the United States for their intention to support the successful hosting of COP29. The head of state emphasized Azerbaijan's value for relations with the USA and supported further strengthening and elevating the bilateral ties to a qualitatively new level.

During the phone conversation, they expressed satisfaction with the high-level exchange of letters between our countries, reciprocal visits of delegations, and shared their views on important issues such as human rights, democracy, and respect for the rule of internal laws in countries.

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21 June 2024 13:57 (UTC+04:00)

By Ingilab Mammadov

Due to the political, diplomatic, and military strategies implemented continuously by the Azerbaijani state over many years, Armenian separatism, which had persisted in the country for several decades, has been eradicated and consigned to the pages of history. The conditions established by international law and the clear recognition of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity by countries worldwide have led to new geopolitical realities in the South Caucasus. However, some foreign forces, unwilling to accept the new political order, along with their representatives in Armenia (revanchists) and those close to the former separatist establishment, are attempting to revive the so-called Karabakh issue.

On January 17 this year, a non-governmental organization called "The Union for Protection of the Interests and Rights of the Artsakh People" was established, led by former "ombudsman" of the so-called Karabakh Republic, Artak Beglaryan. The organization's mission is to protect the collective rights of Karabakh Armenians who continue to live as "displaced persons" in Armenia and worldwide, represent their interests on international platforms, and raise global awareness of their issues. So far, the organization's leaders have organized trips to several countries and held meetings with representatives of the Armenian diaspora and pro-Armenian politicians. For example, on February 1, at a meeting organized by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) in the US, separatist representatives met with US Congressmen Brad Sherman and James Costa.

Photo 1. Meeting with US Congressman Brad Sherman

Meanwhile, we can see that similar activities are ongoing with the support of French Armenian diaspora organizations. Artak Beglaryan, who began his tenure as the leader of the "Union for Protection of the Interests and Rights of the Artsakh People" several months ago, recently visited the French capital, Paris.

Photo 2. Artak Beglaryan receiving an award from Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo on April 24, 2024, in Paris.

The organization has declared that it will fund its activities through civilian donations. Operating under the name "Union for Protection of the Interests and Rights of the Artsakh People," it carries a separatist agenda, with its goals openly accessible to the public.

Yet, the activities of foreign banks supporting this separatist agenda, particularly their financing directed towards claims against internationally recognized Azerbaijani territories, remain obscure. Information regarding the banks involved in financing the organization is outlined as follows:

It was revealed that contributions can be made through bank transfers and credit cards. While the primary account in this process is held by AMERIABANK, an Armenian bank, the intermediary banks for transfers in US dollars (USD) include CITIBANK NA, NEW YORK, for euros (EUR) RAIFFEISEN ZENTRALBANK OESTERREICH AG, and for Russian rubles (RUB) AO RAIFFEISEN BANK, MOSCOW.

Global financial giants such as CITIBANK NA and RAIFFEISEN BANK have been serving as intermediary banks in financing separatist activities for some time now.

AMERIABANK, being an Armenian bank, plays a pivotal role in funding the separatist organization named the "Union for the Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Karabakh Population". Earlier this year, there was a change in the shareholder structure of AMERIABANK, previously controlled by Armenian billionaire Ruben Vardanyan, who has long been based in the Russian Federation.

Photo 3. Current shareholders of AMERIABANK

Currently, 90 percent of the shares are owned by Bank of Georgia, with Bank of Georgia JSC operating as a subsidiary of Bank of Georgia Group PLC. Bank of Georgia is a prominent player in the financial markets of neighboring Georgia. AMERIABANK has long been actively involved in organizing separatist activities. However, the continuation of such activities even after Bank of Georgia acquired the majority shares of the bank is seen as a move against Baku.

The resurgence of Armenian separatism in a new guise, this time under the banner of the "Union for Protection of the Interests and Rights of the Artsakh People", and AMERIABANK's participation in these efforts - with Bank of Georgia as its major shareholder, a leading bank in Georgia - runs counter to the spirit of Azerbaijani-Georgian strategic and neighborly relations. Azerbaijan and Georgia have both faced challenges from separatism, and they have expressed mutual support for each other's territorial integrity at the highest levels. While Baku succeeded in quelling Armenian separatism, Georgia's issues with the so-called Abkhazia and South Ossetia remain unresolved.

During the separatist turmoil in Abkhazia during the 1990s, an armed Armenian group known as the "Bagramyan Battalion" played an active role, directly responsible for severe atrocities against the local population. The Georgian state and society are certainly well aware of this history.

Photo 4. The Bagramyan Battalion, an Armenian-formed group engaged in separatist activities in Abkhazia

Photo 5. Bagramyans Battalion is part of the so-called Armed Forces of Abkhazia, February 9, 1993.

The participation of AMERIABANK, owned by Bank of Georgia, in financing separatist activities claiming sovereign territories of Azerbaijan, is deemed an international crime.

In Georgia, which still grapples with separatism and where Armenian gangs committed atrocities against the local population in Abkhazia during the 1990s, the country's leading bank should not endorse Armenian separatism.

Bank of Georgia, now the major shareholder of AMERIABANK, cannot ignore Azerbaijani-Georgian relations and the challenges faced by its own nation, while supporting a political initiative aimed at revitalizing separatist activities that persisted in Azerbaijan's Karabakh for many years.

This issue will remain in the spotlight.

To be continued...
21 June 2024 15:39 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Shahin Read more

The 5th meeting of the Russian-Azerbaijani Expert Council is being held in Baku, Azernews reports.

The platform was established in 2021 and held its meetings in Moscow and Baku.

"We have bilateral issues on our agenda. We will touch on regional security issues, a number of logistics and transport issues", said Farid Shafiyev, Chairman of the Management Board of the Center for the Analysis of International Relations (Air Center).

Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan - Head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs of the Presidential Administration, Hikmet Hajiyev said at the 5th meeting of the Russia-Azerbaijan Expert Council in Baku that Azerbaijan plays an important role in the development of the "North-South" transport corridor.

He noted that Azerbaijan continues to actively invest in the development of this logistics structure: "Currently, work is being done to expand the transmission capacity of the Azerbaijani part of the corridor. Undoubtedly, this will benefit not only Azerbaijan and Russia, but the entire region."

Hikmet Hajiyev said that the bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Russia are at the highest level.

According to him, this has already become a good tradition:

"Today, relations between Azerbaijan and Russia are at the highest level. "Common culture, history and mutual respect have contributed to the development of these relations."

H. Hajiyev noted that this was possible thanks to mutual understanding between President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Russia Vladimir Putin.

The assistant of the president emphasized that currently there is a trend of strengthening and development of relations between the two countries in economic, cultural, humanitarian and other fields:

"Azerbaijan expands relations with more than 70 subjects of Russia, there are more than 10 agreements on commercial-economic, scientific-technical, cultural relations between the regions of the neighboring country and Azerbaijani partners."

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21 June 2024 17:55 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

An exhibition featuring rare archival footage of Russian writer Maxim Gorky, highlighting his ties to Baku and Azerbaijani cultural figures, has been presented at Russian House in Baku.

The exhibition featured joint photographs with Azerbaijan's prominent figures, such as Samad Vurgun, Jafar Jabbarli, Mehdi Huseyn, and Salman Mumtaz.

The event also included a lecture by historian, photographer, and curator Rustam Huseynov, shedding light on lesser-known aspects of Maxim Gorky's life in Baku.

Speaking to Azernews, Rustam Huseynov noted that the event was hosted as part of the "Conversations on Culture and Art" initiative.

During the event, Rustam Huseynov spoke about Gorky's initial visit to the city, which inspired his renowned essay on the Nobel brothers' oil fields.

Rustam Huseynov shared the little-known facts of the biography of Maxim Gorky related to Baku, including the reasons for his first trip, which became the basis for the famous essay about the oil fields of the Nobel brothers. The details of Maxim Gorky's cooperation with Baku periodicals before the revolution, his communication with Hasan bey Zardabi, and the influence of his articles in the press of that time were examined in detail.

"The greatest interest of the audience was aroused by his stories, written under the impression of his trips, and essays showing in detail the customs and traditions that most impressed him. An interesting impression was made by the contrast described by Gorky between pre-revolutionary and Soviet Baku in 1928. Special attention was paid to the productions of Gorky's plays in Baku theatres and memorial places associated with the biography and memory of Gorky, as well as his role in the formation of literary organisations," said Rustam Huseynov.

"The world-famous writer Maxim Gorky visited Baku three times, wrote several articles and essays about his trips, and materials from his Baku voyages were used to create several stories. The works of Maxim Gorky had a great influence on the work of Azerbaijani writers and poets S. Akhundov, S. Vurgun, J. Jabbarly, M. Ibrahimov. A. Sakhhat, and others," he added.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr

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21 June 2024 18:33 (UTC+04:00)

On June 21, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with the Kyrgyz ambassador to our country, Kayrat Osmonaliyev, in connection with the end of his diplomatic activities in Azerbaijan.

Azernews reports, citing the Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry, that satisfaction was expressed with the deep strategic partnership relations between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan, the growing political contacts between the leaders, and the expanding cooperation.

Minister Jeyhun Bayramov thanked the other party for his efforts in the development of strategic partnership relations between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan during his diplomatic activity in our country and wished him success in his future work.

It was emphasized with satisfaction that the existing fraternal and friendly relations, solidarity and mutual support between the two countries and our peoples are the basis of the bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan.

It was pointed out that there are wide prospects for cooperation in many areas, especially mutual investments, transport and communications, and the need to use the existing potential.

It was said that the increasing dynamics within regional and international organizations, including the Organization of Turkic States, is commendable.

Minister Jeyhun Bayramov gratefully noted Kyrgyzstan's support for the reconstruction and peace efforts of our country.

Ambassador Kayrat Osmonaliyev expressed his gratitude for the support provided during his work as the ambassador of Kyrgyzstan to Azerbaijan, and expressed his belief that the strategic partnership between the two countries will continue to develop.

During the meeting, opinions were also exchanged on other issues of mutual interest.

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21 June 2024 20:19 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

The United States and China held informal consultations on nuclear weapons in Shanghai in March for the first time in five years, Azernews reports.

According to the information, these contacts were organized by David Santoro, president of the Pacific Forum think tank in Hawaii. The meeting was attended by several former officials and researchers from the American side, as well as scientists and analysts, including retired military personnel, from the Chinese side.

According to the agency, the Chinese delegation concluded at the consultations that it would not resort to threats related to the use of nuclear weapons in the event of a conflict around Taiwan.

A State Department official told the agency that although they were aware of this, they did not participate in the consultations.

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NextGen America staff and volunteer hosting a voter registration drive at the University of Houston Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, in Houston. September 20th is national voter registration day, and advocacy groups across Texas were focusing their efforts on young voters. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

Young Texans voted in record numbers in 2018  but four years later, with Democrat Beto ORourke at the top of the ticket again, participation among 18- to 29-year-olds fell flat.

Just 25 percent of young people who were registered to vote cast a ballot this year. About 34 percent of the same group voted four years ago, while 51 percent of them did in the 2020 presidential election, according to a post-election report by Derek Ryan, an Austin-based GOP strategist and data analyst.

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The decline in participation is concerning for youth advocates, especially Texas Democrats who have doubled down on their efforts to register and turn out young voters in recent years. Young voters set a record turnout in 2018, helping Democrats pick up 12 seats in the state House of Representatives and put O'Rourke within 3 percentage points of defeating his foe, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.

This year's national political climate favored Republicans, but activists hoped young voters would again turn out in huge numbers, motivated by the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to end federal abortion protections and a series of mass shootings across the country. While young people pushed Democratic candidates over the edge in battleground states elsewhere across the country, many of them stayed home in Texas  and Republicans swept every statewide election here, as they have since 1994.

Both parties in the state failed to mobilize and engage young voters in the way that they should have been, said Olivia Julianna, the director of politics and government affairs for the progressive advocacy group Gen Z for Change. When we look at other campaigns across the country, especially in Pennsylvania, there was very, very, very strong youth engagement coming from people running at the top of the ticket. Youth voices were prioritized.  We saw that in some races here in Texas, but we didn't see that in all of them.

Young voters made up 11 percent of the roughly 8.1 million people who cast a ballot this year. Thats down from 13 percent in 2018 and 16 percent in 2020, according to Ryans analysis.

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75 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds stayed home this year, Ryan said. Meanwhile, nearly five times as many voters aged 50 and up voted.  The election was won by older voters.

The election post-mortems are still ongoing, but Julianna said theres an obvious difference between previous elections and this one: Senate Bill 1, the massive voting bill that Republicans passed last year. The bill standardized voting hours across the state, cutting the window in some urban areas, and introduced new identification requirements for absentee ballots and the applications for them.

Mail ballot rejections soar

More than 10,000 ballots were rejected in the state's largest counties in the general election, most of them because of the new ID mandate. It amounted to a 4 percent rejection rate  lower than the 12 percent of ballots that were tossed in the March primary elections, but still higher than the roughly 1 percent of ballots that were rejected before SB 1.

Many young Texans vote by mail when theyre away at school, Julianna said, and some of them never received a ballot. There were also concerns of disenfranchisement at Texas A&M University, which did not have an early voting location on campus this year.

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Those changes build on long-lasting complaints: Texas does not allow student IDs as valid identification at polling places, and the states Republican leaders have long resisted online voter registration. Texans also must register to vote 30 days before an election to cast a ballot, while 20 other states and Washington, D.C. allow registration up to and including Election Day.

Texas schools are also required to give students the opportunity to register to vote twice a year if they are 18 or will turn 18 soon. But Julianna, a 20-year-old who grew up in Sugar Land, said she was never given that opportunity  and raised alarms that many schools dont inform their students about the civic process or encourage them to vote.

When you make it harder for young people to vote, that's the logical answer as to why young people are having a harder time showing up to the polls, Julianna said.

ORourke, who showed himself to be a strong contender in 2018 in part because of his appeal to young people, spent much of his gubernatorial campaign this year at colleges and universities. His team had little explanation for the drop in youth voter turnout at a post-election briefing earlier this month but noted that investing in the youth vote is always a two-part endeavor: Getting them registered first, then getting them to the polls.

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We thought there was significant enthusiasm, said Jason Lee, the deputy campaign manager for the ORourke campaign. I don't think, when we do the final analysis, we're going to see the type of youth turnout that we were hoping for and looking for, and there's probably a lot of reasons for that, but it wasn't for lack of trying.

Still, youth advocates see room for optimism and growth. Young people are more progressive and more politically engaged than past generations, they say, and hundreds of thousands of young Texans did turn out this cycle.

Young people are worthy of what we all expect and deserve in a democracy  real leaders who celebrate our participation, who are responsive to our needs, and take our issues seriously, said Claudia Yoli Ferla, the executive director of the MOVE Texas Action Fund. The real problem is that on many of the issues that are important to young people, extremist and out-of-touch politicians in Texas seek to silence us and have gone through extraordinary lengths to move in the opposite direction.

Early data analysis by the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University showed that the 2022 election saw the second-highest level of youth participation nationwide in a midterm in at least three decades. They made the most impact in states with competitive U.S. Senate races, such as Georgia and Pennsylvania.

Both of Texas senators were not up for re-election this year. But Cruz is on the ballot again in 2024, and presidential election years typically have higher turnout than midterms.

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Political campaigns are less likely to contact young people than older groups, and there are additional hurdles for youth voters based on education, race and gender, said Ruby Belle Booth, the election coordinator at CIRCLE. Plus, young people are usually unfamiliar with the voting process overall, she said.
21 June 2024 22:19 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the inter-Korean land border again, after which the South Korean military opened warning fire. This is the third violation of the border by the North Korean military in a month, Azernews reports.

It is reported that the incident occurred yesterday, June 20.

North Korean soldiers crossed the demarcation line within the demilitarized zone in the central part of the border, and after warning shots returned to their side.

Similar incidents occurred on June 9 and 18. In both cases, about 20-30 North Korean soldiers crossed the border, who returned to their side after a warning and shots were announced over the loudspeaker.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
21 June 2024 22:46 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

Romania maintains plans to purchase K-9 self-propelled howitzers from South Korea in the amount of 920 million US dollars, Azernews reports.

At a meeting with his South Korean counterpart Shin Won Shik in Bucharest. This will be Romania's largest arms purchase in the last 7 years.

South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won Sik said that his country would be the best partner in modernizing Romania's defense capabilities, and expressed hope that the agreement on the sale of howitzers would lead to broad cooperation, including joint production, training and personnel exchange between the countries. the relevant departments.

The parties also agreed to deepen cooperation in the fields of military education, information exchange, science and technology.

It should be noted that in April of this year, South Korean President Yun Seok-el and his Romanian counterpart Klaus Werner Iohannis agreed at a meeting in Seoul to expand cooperation in the field of military and nuclear energy.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, speaks with David Satterfield, right, director of Rice University's Baker Institute during the Shell Distinguished Lecture Series at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) Michael Wyke/Associated Press

The director of the Baker Institute at Rice University criticized the humanitarian aid effort in Gaza, as an international group said the region is enduring "catastrophic hunger and famine-like conditions."

David Satterfield, formerly the U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues, said that humanitarian responses in Gaza have "lagged.

Satterfield was appointed envoy in October 2023 to focus on ensuring aid reached people in need in the Middle East, according to the White House. He stepped down from his position this year and now serves as director of the Baker Institute at Rice University.

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The United Nations suspended use of a U.S.-built pier to deliver aid to Gaza while officials investigate allegations that it was used in an Israeli raid  claims Israeli and U.S. officials deny, the Associated Press reported Thursday.

Humanitarian response has lagged

Around 90% of Palestinians in Gaza have been displaced at least once since Oct. 7, some multiple times, Amnesty International reported in late May.

"Not enough has been done and done on a sustained basis to address the profound needs of a population of 2.2 million Gazans," Satterfield told Houston Rotarians during a recent meeting.

He said it has been difficult to distribute supplies into the strip since Israel's military campaign around the southern city of Rafah began.

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On Wednesday, the World Health Organizations director-general said that Palestinians in Gaza are undergoing "catastrophic hunger and famine-like conditions, as more than 8,000 children under five years old had been diagnosed and treated for acute malnutrition.

Casualties

During a surprise Oct. 7 attack, Hamas militants killed around 1,200 people and took around 250 hostages, according to the Israeli government. Those numbers have shifted during the war, according to news reports. Satterfield said an estimated 130 hostages are in Gaza.

Israel's military offensive has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7.

Satterfield said that more than 100,000 Israeli people have been displaced since Oct. 7.

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The attack marked the greatest shock to the Israeli system since the foundation of the state, Satterfield said.

Satterfield said Israel estimates that around half of the deaths, or "20,000, really are civilian innocent casualties, maybe a little bit more." Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the militants make up about half of those killed by Israels military in a podcast in May.

Israels military offensive has killed mostly women and children, the AP reported from the Gaza Health Ministry.

The offensive also injured more than 85,000 in Gaza since Oct. 7, the Gaza Health Ministry reported.

An Israeli raid in the Nuseirat refugee camp killed more than 270 Palestinians, per the ministry, and freed four hostages.

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U.S. Involvement

The U.S. suspended the delivery of two types of weapons to Israel out of a concern that the country could use them to cause "significant civilian casualties," Satterfield said.

"We made it clear to Israel that we did not wish to see and would not support a full-blown ground campaign into the center of Rafah," he said.

The U.N. Security Council overwhelmingly voted to approve President Joe Biden's three-phase cease-fire plan, which includes rebuilding Gaza, a permanent end to the war and Israel's withdrawal from the strip, reported NPR.

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Satterfield said it is unclear if Hamas will accept any terms that do not result in their continued control over the strip.
Response Ends to Oregon / Washington Coast Tar Balls, but Oily Sheen, Source Still a Mystery

Published 6/18/24 at 4:25 a.m.

By Andre' Hagestedt, Oregon Coast Beach Connection





(Astoria, Oregon)  The run of tar-material on the Oregon coast and Washington coast is apparently over, and thus the Unified Command group of various federal and state agencies have concluded their work to address the issue. However, the source of it still remains a mystery, and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) told Oregon Coast Beach Connection the sheen spotted off Cannon Beach in May was only observed once and never again. (Photo Wildlife Center of the North Coast)

Some 113 individuals from 14 different agencies/companies responded to the small disaster, and those cleaning the beaches collected nearly 2,000 pounds of the material from Washington and Oregon beaches. 36 miles of beaches were cleaned, the USCG said, and more than 300 miles were surveyed.

Coast Guard Cmdr. Bonnie Stewart of the Unified Command said the environmental issues were taken care of rather swiftly. During the first few days of June, as the operation was wrapping up, crews took advantage of low tides and were able to clean out the last of the goo just after a storm.

No beaches were re-oiled and all oiled beaches are now cleaned up, she said.

Stewart also thanked all the responders and agencies involved.

There may be some left on area beaches, and it's possible beachgoers could run into more. To report tar balls on the beach or oil in the water, Stewart said to call the National Response Center (NRC) at 800-424-8802.



Tar ball in Cannon Beach area

If you encounter tar balls, wash the area thoroughly with soap or a degreasing dishwashing detergent and water, the USCG said. Avoid using solvents, gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel, or similar products.

Dozens of coastal birds were soiled by the oily substance and many died. Some were lucky enough to get cleaned up by local groups such as the Wildlife Center of the North Coast near Astoria.

Meanwhile, the USCG said experts are still investigating the cause and the source of the oil. Nothing much has been learned of the substance since tests showed it was petroleum-based and that the compounds detected were consistent with oil products.





By late May, the oil spots had stopped washing up on the south Washington coast and had begun hitting the northern half of Oregon beaches. None were apparently spotted beyond the Yachats area. A USCG flyover of a helicopter and a jet aircraft spotted an oily sheen off the north coast, and investigators thought there may be a lead.

However, USCG 13th District spokesman Travis Magee told Oregon Coast Beach Connection that did not wind up the case, and nothing was every spotted again by subsequent looks at the area.

On Thursday, May 23, a Coast Guard flyover sighted a sheen on the surface of the water approximately 1-1.5 miles offshore from Cannon Beach, Magee said. It is unconfirmed if this sheen is directly related to the tar balls washing ashore. Since this time, there have been no additional reports of a sheen.

See Unknown 'Oily Sheen' Off Oregon Coast May Be Behind Tar-like Mystery, Finds Further South

The 14 entities involved were:

U.S. Coast Guard

Sector Columbia River

Pacific Strike Team

National Pollution Fund Center

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Response and Restoration

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Oregon Department of Emergency Management

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department

Oregon Department of Human Services

Oregon Department of Forestry

Oregon Department of Transportation

Washington Department of Ecology

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission

Pacific County Emergency Management Agency

California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Tolowa Dee Ni Nation

Shoalwater Bay Tribe

Terminus

Focus Wildlife

NWFF Environmental

Republic Services

Ballard Marine Construction

Oregon Coast Hotels in this area - South Coast Hotels - Oregon Coast Vacation Rentals - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours







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Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast.

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Colon and rectal surgery is one of the lowest-paid ASC specialties, according to Doximity's "Physician Compensation Report 2024", published May 23.

Colon and rectal surgeons made an average of $455,282 in 2023, up from $445,685 in 2022, according to the report. Despite being one of the lowest-paid ASC specialties, it's still ranked 18 out of 40 by the report, which notes the lowest paid tend to be pediatric and primary care specialties.

Medicare reimbursements for colorectal surgery procedures are decreasing at an accelerating rate, according to a study published in 2023 in the National Library of Medicine. The adjusted reimbursement rates decreased by 33.8% for a flexible colonoscopy with biopsy.

Colon and rectal surgeons are also increasingly consolidating. From 2015 to 2022, the percentage of colorectal surgeons in groups of 1-2 members fell from 18.9% to 10.7%, while those in groups of 500+ members grew from 26.5% to 45.2%, according to a 2024 report in the Journal of Surgical Research.
Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health called off its planned $320 million acquisition of two North Carolina hospitals from Community Health Systems.

Here are four things ASCs need to know:

1. Novant Health called off the deal after an appellate court granted the Federal Trade Commission an emergency injunction blocking the deal. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said it would allow the FTC to prevent the two-hospital acquisition from proceeding until its appeal is resolved.

2. The FTC has been fighting to block the acquisition of the two hospitals from Franklin, Tenn.-based CHS for over a year, arguing the transaction would "irreversibly consolidate the market for hospital services in the Eastern Lake Norman Area in the northern suburbs of Charlotte."

3. "With the FTC's continued roadblocks we do not see a way to finalize this transaction," Novant said in a June 18 statement shared with Becker's. "The communities served by these facilities deserve better than the fate they've been dealt by the FTC so we will look for other ways to support patients and clinicians in these communities."

4. Community Health Systems said in a June 19 news release it is "evaluating the current operations" at its two hospitals after the deal was called off. In the interim, there will be no disruption to patient care or other immediate changes.
Physicians trying to open ASCs in many markets face opposition from hospital leaders when trying to obtain a certificate-of-need.

Shakeel Ahmed, MD, CEO of Atlas Surgical Group in St. Louis, joined Becker's to discuss how he approaches this dynamic.

Editor note: This interview was edited lightly for clarity and length.

Question: How would you characterize the relationship between hospitals and ASCs?

Dr. Shakeel Ahmed: To call it adversarial would be an understatement. ASCs are often the only competitors of the hospital business. ASCs were nonexistent in the '60s and were barely around in the '70s. Now, there are more ASCs than hospitals. This tells you that they're here to stay. Competitors, like hospitals, are on edge. They're in a definite defense position and employ tactics that are oftentimes anti-business, anti-competitive and keep the ASC industry from reaching its full potential.

Q: What are some red flags to look out for when approaching hospital-ASC dynamics?

SA: So I opened my first ASC about 20 years back  I own and operate five ASCs across two states, together with another roughly 15 medical businesses. Once you reach a certain age, you gain enough wisdom to know the good and the bad side of everything. If I had to summarize, the biggest red flags are certain legal provisions that the hospitals exploit to keep the competition at bay. From my 25 years of experience, I have found the single biggest travesty of the whole healthcare legal system is the certificate-of-need. It's outdated, unnecessary and maliciously explored and exploited. ASCs are at the short end of the stick for the certificate of need business, because you have to go to the state to apply for one. In Illinois, not only do you need to get approval to open an ASC, but you also have to obtain approval for each additional specialty. Oftentimes the hospital will bring in the cavalry to oppose you. The hospitals own all the healthcare enterprises around them, and you will frequently see them show up with 30 to 40 letters of opposition.

Additionally, part of the CON, is that oftentimes the state mandates you obtain a letter of support from a surgeon in that specialty, and often that surgeon works in the hospital. I've seen in personal experience with some of the orthopedic surgeons that supported our ASCs in the past  no one wants to support you because their livelihood is at stake.

Q: What advice would you give ASCs to mitigate this adversarial relationship?

SA: Nobody roots for Goliath.That rings true in this situation. No matter how strong the opponents, the ASCs are good for healthcare. We have almost a $30 trillion federal deficit and 30% of our GDP goes to healthcare. The vast chunk of that expenditure is hospital fees. The powers that be know that. The way you play with this power dynamic is to focus on the saving. Also, you have to engage the hospitals. I don't want to demonize the hospitals, we need them. When your child is sick, you rush them to the hospital. But we need to think about the consumer, the healthcare system and the government.
Kona Community Hospital in Kealakekua, Hawaii, will relocate based on population, market demand, anticipated market share growth, and financial considerations, according to the hospital's 2024 strategic plan, which was finalized in May, but published June 7.

The hospital has been a fixture in the community for over 100 years, but the facility's last major renovations and construction were completed in 1974, according to the strategy document. In total, the project could cost between $544 million and $653 million.

"Kona Community Hospitals current facility is nearly 50 years old," Kona Community Hospital's former regional CEO, Jim Lee, stated in 2022 during testimony to the state about funding for the facility's relocation and construction.

"The hospital's aging infrastructure has major deficiencies, with many critical systems in urgent need of repair and renovation," Mr. Lee said in the testimony. "We struggle almost daily with the very real potential that one system failure or another could shut down hospital operations."

Two possible locations have since been identified for the site of Kona Community Hospital's future home, both about 2030 minutes north of its current location. Both options have space for additional expansions as necessary, 4050 years down the road as well.

Once a construction site is finalized, Kona Community Hospital 2.0 will integrate the co-location of ambulatory and hospital services, add a cardiac catheter lab, expand chemo infusion space to assist more cancer patients, add beds to increase capacity to care for short-term acute patients, feature a freestanding emergency department, and more.

"Relocating the hospital and adding more physicians will allow patients to receive healthcare at the right place at the right time," the strategic plan explains. "Relocating the current hospital to North Kona promotes greater access to a larger portion of the West Hawaii population and expands services to improve healthcare. Access to services will also be improved by building a scalable and integrated medical group closer to the West Hawaii population."

The ambulatory center is slated to open in 2030 and the hospital after it in 2035.
In the coming weeks, the Biden administration is set to unveil regulations aimed at enhancing cybersecurity across the healthcare sector, GovInfoSecurity reported June 20.

The regulations will initially focus on hospitals, requiring them to implement minimum cybersecurity standards based on performance goals outlined by HHS in January.

Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger highlighted these measures during an event in Washington, D.C., hosted by news outlet Semafor. She noted that the administration collaborated with healthcare sector groups and cybersecurity experts to develop the regulations, which are expected to be released soon.

Ms. Neuberger emphasized the need for heightened cybersecurity in healthcare, describing it as one of the most vulnerable of all critical infrastructure sectors.

"After COVID, it was a difficult time. More systems were rolled in. So, hospitals really do need to focus and double down on security," she said at the event.
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Cincinnati-based Bon Secours Mercy Health, a Catholic nonprofit system, has affirmed its support for physicians who perform medically necessary abortions, the health system said in a June 20 statement shared with Becker's.

The system, which operates 49 hospitals across Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia and South Carolina, said it has shared internal messages of support with its clinicians since the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision that overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.

The Supreme Court decision leaves the legal status of abortion up to states, but it has worsened pregnancy-related mortality and made it more difficult to manage emergencies related to pregnancy, according to a KFF survey of 569 OB-GYNs.

"Our health system, like many other national health systems, spans multiple states and adheres to the applicable laws in each where we operate," a spokesperson for the system told Becker's. "While the legislative environment is complex, our mission compels us to provide compassionate care for all. In emergent patient care situations, when providers and medical teams prioritize patient care and follow hospital policies and medical standards of care in good faith, they can expect the support of Bon Secours Mercy Health."

While Bon Secours Mercy Health said it has not, and will not, perform elective abortions, Catholic moral teaching values both mother and baby and does permit treating proportionately harmful medical conditions in a pregnant woman even if treatment results in the death of the unborn baby.

The system said it also adheres to Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act requirements and supports physician compliance with the law.

Under EMTALA, Medicare hospitals must provide all patients experiencing a medical emergency a medical screening and stabilizing care. However, whether this extends to abortion has been at the forefront of lawsuits in states with strict abortion bans.

Abortion is banned in 14 states and many other states have attempted to ban or severely restrict abortion access, according to KFF.
The US has been vigilant with the type of apps, software, electronics, and even vehicles that are used within the country as they can pose risks to security. Just as TikTok's ban has been approved, the Biden administration also aims to ban Kaspersky.

Kaspersky US Ban

With all the antivirus software that is available for users, Kaspersky is among the most trusted and top-rated by testers. However, the US government believes that it may pose a risk to its users given that it was developed by the Moscow-based Kaspersky Lab.

US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo believes that it can be a national risk as the Russian government can use the security software to install malware and even block other security updates, as well as "collect and weaponize the personal information of Americans."

With the upcoming ban, users will no longer be able to buy new software from Kaspersky around July 24th, which will be 30 days after the restrictions are scheduled to be implemented, which will also affect other products that use Kaspersky's software, as per Ars Technica.

Users who already bought the software can still download and even resell it, although the new updates will cease after 100 days. It's enough time for users and businesses to look for new security software before the antivirus is banned completely.

This was not a sudden move from the government as the software has been under national security probe for two years by the Department of Commerce. It has already been banned from US government agencies prior to the national ban.

"When you think about national security, you may think about guns and tanks and missiles," Raimondo expressed, "But the truth is, increasingly, it's about technology, and it's about dual-use technology, and it's about data."

CEO Eugene Kaspersky denied the allegations of having ties to the Russian government, saying that it was "BS brewed on political agenda." He added that the decision was not based on any technical assessment of the company's products.

Read Also : Blacklisted Chinese Companies are Rebranding as American Tech Firms Amid Federal Crackdowns

Chinese EVs Can Collect Data, White House Says

Even electric vehicles from China are not safe from the vigilant watch of the US government. President Joe Biden believes that Chinese-made EVs should be banned from being imported as they also pose security risks to the country.

Back in February, he said that China's policies could flood the US market with its vehicles and that he would not let it happen on his watch. It was also stated that it could "collect large amounts of sensitive data on their drivers and passengers," as per BBC.

US Senator Brown also said through X that they cannot allow China to "bring its government-backed cheating to the American auto industry." The security concern grows as the technological advancement in EVs allows for easier collection of data and monitoring.

The White House warned that electric cars can now connect to the internet, and they can regularly use their cameras and sensors to record detailed information on US infrastructure, and even be piloted and disabled remotely.
The Rhode Island department of health has conditionally approved the application for Los Angeles-based Prospect Medical Holdings to sell its two safety net state hospitals to The Centurion Foundation, according to a June 20 news release shared with Becker's.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha also approved the sale of the two hospitals, Our Lady of Fatima Hospital in North Providence, R.I., and Roger Williams Medical Center in Providence, on June 20, which included 40 unique conditions.

Prospect's Providence, R.I.-based CharterCare Health Partners owns and operates the hospitals.

Below are five things to know about some of the conditions Prospect and Centurion, a nonprofit, Atlanta-based organization, must meet under the state DOH's approval:

1. Centurion must ensure both hospitals stay in good standing with their financial obligations.

2. The hospitals' governing bodies must be maintained and feature a majority of individuals and independent board members who have hospital operations, finance, law, business, healthcare, community purpose, diversity, and investments experience. The hospitals' diverse populations must also be represented by these board members.

3. A chief restructuring officer must be hired by both parties to oversee financial management, explore strategic alternatives and manage business affairs.

4. Outstanding vendor balances and hospital necessary repairs must be settled by Prospect.

5. Healthcare services cannot be eliminated or significantly reduced at the hospitals without the state health department's approval.

"Rhode Island needs a stable network of hospitals that supports the health and wellness of every community in the state," Jerry Larkin, MD, Director of Health for the state DOH, said in the release. "In light of the historical and ongoing financial and operational challenges at the hospitals, RIDOH issued a decision today with conditions carefully developed to restore local control, help stabilize these two facilities, and help ensure that the new operators would be positioned to provide consistent, safe, high-quality care."

The application approvals come after Prospect was ordered on June 12 to pay more than $17.3 million in unpaid bills to hospital vendors within 10 days by Rhode Island Superior Court Judge Brian Stern.

Becker's has reached out to Prospect Medical Holdings for comment and will update this story should more information become available.






Better eye contact with patients. Less time looking at the computer during appointments. More thorough EHR notes.

These are some of the benefits Salt Lake City-based University of Utah Health has experienced since implementing an artificial intelligence "co-pilot" for clinical documentation in January.

The technology is now being used by more than 150 clinicians a month at the health system, with over 10,000 patient encounters being documented by AI in May and upward of 25,000 total since the start of 2024. The providers employ the DAX co-pilot from Microsoft subsidiary Nuance that is integrated into Epic Haiku, the EHR vendor's mobile app.

"This is, frankly, how we're going to be doing our notes in the future," Jennifer Vogt, MD, a University of Utah Health family medicine practitioner and associate director of virtual health for her primary care group, told Becker's. "Before I was on the computer trying to look through their last cardiology visit or going through their last labs  and I still do that, but I'm not feeling that pressure of having to type in the note at the same time."

She said she can also leave her clinic right when it closes to pick up her kids from school and not be under the strain of having to write her notes when she gets home.

She pointed out that the technology still hallucinates, a common problem for generative AI, but that the notes are "85-90% done" before she finalizes them. She said the co-pilot is also constantly getting better as clinicians give the developer feedback.

One barrier to wider adoption at University of Utah Health has been the price. The co-pilot costs about $400 a month per clinician  an amount the health system splits 50/50 with provider groups  and some providers have been skeptical about the return on investment, especially if they're only in a clinic a couple days a week. Others don't want to learn a new technology; it's a new way of documentation, where clinicians have to audibly state everything that happens during a visit so the microphone can pick it up.

On the flipside, some providers have reported spending half as much time on notes as they did before, while others say they're now able to see more patients in a day because of that time savings. One physician said it's helping prevent carpal tunnel syndrome among providers.

"We've heard from patients that the physicians in the practices using this had better eye contact with them and felt like, 'Somebody's really talking to me,'" said University of Utah Health CIO Donna Roach. "Also, in an academic setting we might see better adoption because the physician already is explaining to the medical student and resident what they're doing and that kind of cadence is what the Nuance co-pilot is looking for."

University of Utah Health providers have also started a chat page where they share feedback and pointers for how to more effectively use the technology.

"It can be a game-changer," said Lori Petersen, associate director of IT training for University of Utah Health. "We've got providers saying, 'This was the first time that I've never had to work on the weekend closing my charts.' And I'm like, 'What more could you want than that?'"

As for the price, University of Utah Health applications chief Travis Gregory said health systems are willing to pay a premium for DAX because it has the deepest integration with Epic of any solution of its kind. But increased competition in the years ahead could change that equation, he noted; healthcare AI company Abridge is starting to incorporate its technology into Epic as well.

University of Utah Health trialed the technology for behavioral health but found it ineffective because of the length and complexity of those visits. But the health system is developing an AI co-pilot model for hospitalists.

"I am somebody who was really efficient at my notes before, but they were very short and they were really just for me," Dr. Vogt said. "And now I actually step away from the computer. I'm better with my patients as far as communication and eye contact.

"And then I think my note is much more accurate to what the patient says in the HPI [history of present illness] because instead of me typing one line for their symptoms, it's capturing what they said. And I think the plan is actually easier for them to read. Because the whole point of a patient being able to read their note on MyChart is for them to understand it. So this could actually could be really empowering for patients."

Dr. Vogt said she's also looking forward to an upcoming Spanish version of DAX since a quarter of her patients only speak that language.

"We're really excited about AI in general," she said. "It can hopefully function almost like a search tool in the EMR for those things where I'm going back and forth trying to figure out what's going on. It could tell, say, which of my patients with uncontrolled diabetes I haven't seen in the past three months."

"The rate at which it's improving is just incredible," she added. "It's just really exciting."
A multi-disciplinary team of experts at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare in Memphis, Tenn., recently performed a surgical procedure known as "Jaw in a Day." The procedure was performed in partnership with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and involved the removal of a tumor from a patient's face and full jaw reconstruction on the same day.

The surgery was performed on a teenage patient at Methodist University Hospital. The first-of-its-kind procedure combines 3D imaging technology and medical precision to treat patients with complex head and neck cancers, benign tumors and face injuries. Leaders at the organizations said the procedure marks a major advancement, as traditional methods can require multiple procedures over months or years.

"The significant advantage of the 'Jaw in a Day' procedure is its ability to substantially shorten the treatment timeline," Anas Eid, MD, chief of facial plastic surgery in the UT Health Science Center College of Medicine in Memphis, said in a June 21 news release from Methodist Le Bonheur. "This results in a faster recovery time, less discomfort, and an improved quality of life for the patient, allowing them to reintegrate into their normal life more swiftly."
After more than two years of a looming threat of closure, San Francisco-based Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center has been approved for Medicare recertification, according to San Francisco city news release.

CMS decertified the facility in April 2022. Originally set to close Sept. 13, 2022, the closure deadline was extended after nine patients died upon transfer to another facility. In February, the closure deadline was extended again, to May 19, 2023. The hospital applied for a third extension in May to recertify and delay transferring patients. And on Aug. 11, 2023 the hospital applied for recertification.

Laguna Honda is the largest public nursing facility in California with nearly 500 residents. The hospital's recertification gives full restoration of funding for the facility, which relies on California's Medi-Cal program for 95% of its funding.

"I could not be prouder of Laguna Honda staff," Grant Colfax, MD, director of health for the City and County of San Francisco, said in the release. "For more than twenty-four months, they have worked under immense pressure to transform Laguna Honda into a top skilled nursing facility, making clear to our regulators that we can meet and will continue to meet high standards of care. Throughout this transformation, Laguna Honda staff have remained dedicated to the health, safety and wellbeing of their residents. I also want to thank our union partners, advocates, and local, federal and state partners for coming together to ensure San Francisco will continue to operate a world class skilled nursing facility."
Tacoma, Wash.-based Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is closing its outpatient rehabilitation and physical therapy clinic in Port Orchard, Wash., July 12, Gig Harbor Now reported June 20.

The clinic is no longer financially viable with current insurance reimbursement rates, Chad Melton, president of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health's St. Michael Medical Center, told Gig.

As a result of the closure, about 50 patients will be transferred to nearby facilities and the system will work to help seven staff members transition to other area providers.

"We are committed to doing everything we can to support impacted patients and team members in a smooth transition plan," Mr. Melton said in the report.
Minneapolis, Minn.-based Allina Health cut its overall length of stay across 12 hospitals by a collective total of 10% over a one-year period. The average amount of time a patient waited to be discharged from an Allina hospital into a long-term care setting or skilled nursing facility also went down by 18.8% in one year, the system's new chief operating officer, Dominica Tallarico, told Becker's.

Between 2022 and 2023, the health system was seeing a rise both in visits and overall length of stay, like many others were across the U.S., but the increasing length of stay highlighted the need for solutions and efficiency. Ms. Tallarico said at one point, there were 180 patients per day  essentially a patient group the size a medium community hospital could serve  waiting across Allina Health system to get into long-term care settings or skilled nursing facilities.

Allina then partnered with population health company Navvis to employ directors on site to assist with care coordination for patients' next site of care. The directors from Navvis worked alongside Ms. Tallarico and hospital staff to reduce unnecessary patient days, improve capacity, and improve performance by using a decision support algorithm and other evidence-based tools.

"Basically, it is a way to measure  very objectively  a patient's functionality," Ms. Tallarico said. "We also found that without using the right tools, you may not identify a patient who can leave the facility, but quite honestly, based on their functionality, they might be able to go home with home care or physical therapy, using those tools. It really was a standard that we put in place and now use for all of our patients to make sure that we're identifying great transition points for each patient for the future, and then the whole care team is informed about that."

The algorithm is being used for patient care coordination and discharge decision-making at all of Allina Health's hospitals, Ms. Tallarico confirmed.

"It can help decide which of your patients are going to meet that criteria to discharge or go to another setting, and then you can prepare for that conversation with the patient and the family, and now you can begin looking for that placement for them," Ms. Tallarico said.

Allina also partnered with other facilities in the community and paid to have additional beds available for patients, as needed. This process allowed them to build a relationship with the partner community facilities by guaranteeing Allina would fill the beds it paid to reserve, she explained.

"We think it was really a great partnership and created these relationships with facilities, and our staff became really closely partnered in our day-to-day work," Ms. Tallarico said. "So instead of extra beds and coordinating care being more of an afterthought, they were at the table with us as we were identifying patients and moving our patients through together, as needed."
Hafiz Kassam, MD, a shoulder surgeon affiliated with Irvine, Calif.-based Hoag Orthopedic Institute, has completed the first robotic-assisted reverse shoulder arthroplasty in California.

Dr. Kassam is the fifth surgeon in the world to utilize the technology, according to a June 21 LinkedIn post.

The new technology was created by medical technology company Zimmer Biomet.
Here are five spine centers to know:

To nominate a spine practice for future lists, please contact Ariana Portalatin at aportalatin@beckershealthcare.com.

Boston Spine Care Group: Boston Spine Care Group is led by Robert Banco, MD, who has more than 33 years of experience and has performed more than 6,000 procedures.

Excel Spine Center (San Diego): The Excel Spine Center is led by Choll Kim, MD, PhD, a double board certified minimally invasive spine surgeon. Dr. Kim is recognized as an expert in computer-assisted minimally invasive spine surgery and laser endoscopic spine surgery.

Norton Leatherman Spine (Louisville, Ky.): Norton Leatherman Spine is the spine center of Norton Healthcare. The center includes 45 specialists who are internationally recognized as leaders in spinal disease research.

Orthopaedic & Spine Center (Newport News, Va.): The Orthopaedic & Spine Center provides a wide range of spine procedures, including lumbar micro discectomy, cervical disc anthroplasty and cervical spine fusion.

Southern Oregon Orthopedics (Medford): Southern Oregon Orthopedics includes three spine surgeons providing services such as spinal fusion, spinal decompression and minimally invasive spine surgery.
Gemma Austin of A Peculiar Tea restaurant in Belfast and now her new venture 'Era' in Carryduff

The owner and chef of a beloved Belfast restaurant which announced its closure earlier this month due to rising costs has unveiled her new venture.

Gemma Austin, who was previously a contestant on Great British Menu, is the former head chef and owner of A Peculiar Tea.

The restaurant known for its eccentric style and celebrity fans, including former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, announced its closure earlier this month after Ms Austin said costs are so high their style of dining is unfeasible. It will close its doors on July 7.

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Read more Review: Modest bar restaurant by the shore serves up dishes of delectable quality

However, just weeks after the announcement, Ms Austin is back with her new venture, a new eatery within the grounds of Hinch Distillery in Carryduff, called Era and has stressed it will differ from her previous venture.

Writing on social media, the award winning chef said: Era is a new beginning for us.

A brand new restaurant with a totally different concept. We are going back to what good food really means to us... big flavours, sustainability sourced, supporting the producers of Ireland.

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"It will be about 'Seasons of Change', highlighting what we can get from the land at that time.

She also said Eras menu will be put an emphasis on local and home grown meals and produce, which will change for her dinner menu.

Our lunch menu will have crowd favourites and nostalgic Irish dishes. Our evening menu gets a little more special, showcasing the knowledge and imagination of Chef Gemma Austin and her team, the restaurant added on social media, before stating they will be open for bookings soon.

We can't wait to welcome you into our new space.

Despite the new Era for the chef, Ms Austin did say she hopes A Peculiar Tea will return when the time is right.

" Not rushed by leases or under pressure. Patience is a virtue, she said.
The Parks and Recreation star has returned to voice Joy in Pixars Inside Out 2, and speaks to Adam White about sexism, self-loathing and why the horrors of modern life havent hurt the political positivity of her most famous work

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.

Rashida Jones, Nick Offerman, Marietta Sirleaf, Michael Schur, Amy Poehler, Chris Pratt, Aziz Ansari, Jim O'Heir, Aubrey Plaza and Rob Lowe attend the Parks And Recreation 100th Episode Celebration

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?

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler in Sisters

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.

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.

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.

Joy (voiced by Amy Poehler) and Anxiety (Maya Hawke) in Inside Out 2

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.

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.

Amy Poehler

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

 The Independent
(Photo : Pexels/Photo by Kampus Production)

Getting a foot in the door of a company remains a significant challenge for people with disabilities seeking employment, even 33 years after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This federal law mandates employers to provide "reasonable adjustments or accommodations" for qualified job applicants or employees with a disclosed disability.

The Limited Representation of Disabled Workers

Rob Koch, who is deaf and currently serves as a principal in data engineering at Seattle-based tech firm Slalom Build, pointed out that many hiring managers prefer candidates similar to themselves, a significant challenge that individuals with disabilities often need to overcome in the hiring process.

When asked about the accommodations necessary to succeed in interviews, Koch requested a sign language interpreter and closed captions for virtual meetings on platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Slalom Build accommodated these requests and hired Koch after several interview rounds. Through an interpreter, Koch mentioned that while advancing in his career, there is still a limited representation of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in the corporate world despite comprising a substantial portion of the global workforce.

READ ALSO: Destigmatizing Disability At Work: Should I Self-Identify?

According to a recent survey of approximately 28,000 respondents from 16 countries by consulting firm Boston Consulting Group, about 25% reported having a disability or health condition that limits their significant life activity. However, fewer than 5% of U.S. employees disclosed having a disability voluntarily, despite 93% of employers encouraging self-identification, based on a July 2023 report by the nonprofit Disability.

Emily Ladau, a disability rights advocate, pointed out that individuals often encounter internal obstacles despite efforts by workplaces to cultivate an inclusive culture, stemming from societal messages that portray Disability as shameful, wrong, or a mistake in one's existence.

Breaking Barriers to Foster Inclusion

PSEG, a New Jersey-based energy company that encourages people with disabilities to bring their whole selves to work, focuses on fostering empathy and reducing the stigma associated with disabilities. To this end, PSEG conducted a year-long campaign involving employee leaders sharing personal experiences of living with disabilities or caring for someone who does, distributing educational materials, and hosting external speakers to promote understanding and create a workplace culture where employees feel at ease discussing disabilities.

Steven Fleischer, a human resources executive overseeing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at PSEG, emphasized the need to recruit individuals with disabilities and ensure they have the necessary resources and support to feel included and motivated to remain with the company. After implementing its awareness campaign, PSEG observed a notable increase in disabled employees identifying themselves in its workforce.

Fleischer, who played a key role in leading the campaign, expressed that there is often a fear and stigma associated with disclosing disabilities, where raising one's hand could lead to perceptions of weakness or an inability to handle more prominent roles or assignments. Fleischer believed that the initiatives helped foster a safer environment, encouraging individuals to feel more at ease in identifying themselves as disabled.

Creating Opportunities to Connect

Studies indicate that involving employees with disabilities in educating and building connections with colleagues can boost the number of individuals who disclose disabilities and seek accommodations. Appointing a senior executive with a disability or supporting disability initiatives, along with empowering mid-level leaders with disabilities, can also enhance inclusivity in the workplace.

However, employees with disabilities may choose not to disclose their disabilities out of fear of encountering stigma or potentially missing out on job opportunities or promotions. Ladau believes this situation can still evolve, emphasizing that shifting the narrative to affirm that identifying with a disability is a source of pride and what makes their identity will lead to more individuals feeling comfortable identifying as disabled in the workplace.



RELATED ARTICLE: Thinking Differently: Autism Finds Space in the Workplace

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Moviemaking pupils from a Downpatrick school are set to jet off to London in the hopes of picking up an award for their short film.

Pupils from St Colmcilles High School produced, acted and directed the short film Cereal Killers earlier this year as a tool to learn and work together, and improve vital communication skills.

The film, which follows some Year 8 pupils dealing with their favourite cereals coming to life, was a runaway success and is nominated for Best Film in the 12-15 ages category at the Into Film Awards, which is sponsored by global movie studio Paramount Pictures.

The school began using film in the classroom after Covid as a way to motivate the young people who had been so isolated during the pandemic.

The enthusiasm that filmmaking created was so overwhelming that the school organised an Oscar-style ceremony to show all the films created by each class to the parents.

The awards gala will take place on Tuesday with a high-profile line-up that includes Northern Ireland star Jamie Dornan and Simon Pegg from Star Trek, Mission: Impossible and Shaun of the Dead.

Other stars include Kingsley Ben-Adir, who played Bob Marley in the One Love biopic; Joanne Froggatt from Downton Abbey; Helen George from Call the Midwife, and The Walking Dead star David Morrissey.

Speaking about her film-making experience, pupil Anna Currie  one of 19 pupils who worked on the film  said: I had absolutely no experience of filmmaking before I joined St Colmcilles High School.

The filming day was so exciting  it was just like Hollywood with lights, cameras and crazy propsonly we were still in the small village of Crossgar. I am delighted weve been nominated for an award and I cant wait to walk on the red carpet in London.

Cereal Killers - Made by 19 young people from St Colmcille's High School - Crossgar, Northern Ireland.

One of the masterminds behind the production was Head of English Victoria Polly, who said the experience allowed her pupils to learn more about film-making and art.

We know the power of film to transport us to another world and allow us to give freedom to our imaginations, she said.

Our pupils began to talk about genre, setting, plot, characterisation, scripts, camera angles and most importantly we witnessed energy, enthusiasm, laughter, and of course, competition emerging from our pupils.

"It has fostered a passion to succeed and a desire to enjoy learning and to show the family spirit that typifies our school.

Principal Seamus Hanna also said that the inclusion of film in the school created such a buzz with everyone getting involved.

It gave the young people the power to use their creativity and create something original that was entirely theirs, he said.

We are delighted that one of our students films has been selected as a finalist for the Into Film Awards. I love the innocence of this film  this idea of killing cereal with milk. Everything was created with a budget of zero and I have to hand credit to the children and teachers for their enthusiasm and energy.

The school added: Whether they take the prize at the awards on June 25th or not, their teachers and parents know that they are already winners.
BBC presenter Stephen Nolan is suing a prominent journalist over claims made in a number of articles last year.

Legal firm WP Tweed & Co confirmed that legal proceedings had been issued against both The Irish News and the journalist who wrote the story, Enniskillen-based Rodney Edwards.

Mr Edwards had recently been appointed editor of Co Fermanagh newspaper The Impartial Reporter at the time the articles were published in The Irish News. The Belfast Telegraph has approached Mr Edwards for comment.

Following the publication of the articles, Mr Nolan issued an apology for an incident involving an explicit photograph, but said claims the show placed staff members in the audience were categorically false.

There have been other headlines, too, including a suggestion that we manipulate programmes by planting producers in the studio audience, he told listeners to The Nolan Show last year.

Im telling you now and I can say this on the record. That is completely categorically false.

We do not do that in the Nolan team. We value our relationship with you far too much to compromise it.

A BBC spokesperson at the time said they had established and robust processes in place to deal with workplace-related concerns and allegations.

We can confirm that the director of BBC Northern Ireland, Adam Smyth, has asked the editor of The Irish News to withdraw the claims that it had made about BBC staff contributing to Nolan Live discussions whilst pretending to be members of the public, they said. He said the BBC had asked several times for evidence to support allegations of audience deception and that nothing had been forthcoming.

Adam Smyth said these claims, and the terms in which they were made, had effectively impugned the integrity of many BBC staff.

He said that in the continued absence of evidence, The Irish News should withdraw what it had said and publish a correction and apology.

Note: The Irish News has asked us to add the legal proceedings against both the paper and Mr Edwards, which were issued last year, will be defended robustly and we were happy to point this out when contacted.
Last consumer rights show on Saturday

Presenter Linda McAuley has spoken about life as a single mother to three young boys during her years on BBC Radio Ulster  but added that after nearly 30 years on the job, shes ready for other things.

The Bangor woman is the beloved presenter of consumer rights show On Your Behalf, where shes been at the helm since 1995. She insisted to The Nolan Show it was her decision to leave.

Its a celebration, Im feeling quite good about everything, I just feel its time. People say, You will know when the time is right, and suddenly I did know, she said.

She hopes her departure will give an opportunity to the next generation of consumer journalists.

There comes a time when you have to let the younger people do things - its always good when some new talent comes along, she said.

She spent six years as a single mother while she worked on Radio Ulster. I remember saying to the-then Controller, Do you know, every morning Im coming in and doing a programme and Im not living at home, Im living with a friend with my children, but when you are in and you have the microphone you sort of perform, she said.

Linda wanted to make it clear that she wasnt retiring.

Im going to do other things, Ill tell you when the time is right, she said.

Linda started out reading dog and horse racing results on Downtown Radio before moving to BBC Northern Ireland, where she presented a range of magazine and news programmes over the course of her career.

I got the good age of radio, when there was none of this going on your phone and listening to Sounds, people just had the radio on.

There was a lot happening and the only way people found out was on the radio, and you make that connection with people and it never leaves you, you realise that you matter to your listeners, she said.

In 1995, Linda helped launch BBC Radio Ulster's first dedicated consumer affairs programme, On Your Behalf.

Since then she has been championing consumer rights, challenging poor customer service and helping callers secure refunds and apologies from errant suppliers.

Its still so important, the other day we had that lady whose husband had died the day they were meant to go to Disneyland and Disney were saying she hadnt given them 72 hours notice before she cancelled.

In 2017 Linda was inducted into the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) Radio Awards Hall of Fame.

Later that year she was made an MBE in the New Year Honours list for her services to consumers.

I was cuffed pink, services to consumers- that sort of sums it up, it was a great accolade of mine, she said.

Lindas good friend, Pamela Ballantine sent her a special message.

I cant believe you are finally hanging up the headphones and the microphone- the air waves will not be the same without you.

You will be missed, the fact that you have been the consumer's champion for more years than we care to remember is just incredible, she said.
A Church of Ireland minister accused of defrauding more than 10,000 from his parish has declared to a jury that he is not a dishonest person.

Giving evidence for the second day at his trial at Craigavon Crown Court, Reverend Adrian McLaughlin (45) maintained that a 10,000 cheque which the prosecution claims he wrote to himself was reimbursement for money he had spent out of his own pocket.
Killer Jonathan Creswell emptied victims bank account as she lay dying in hospital

Evil murderer used bank details and PIN given to him to withdraw cash from victims account

Banking details and passwords in the womens handwriting was found in Creswells possession

Steven Moore Fri 21 Jun 2024 at 12:22







Killer rapist Jonathan Creswell cleaned out the bank account of the woman who would be his murder victim as she lay dying in hospital.
Material has been dumped close to a Co Antrim reservoir

Material that has been dumped at the Stoneyford Reservoir

Fly tipping and bonfire building close to a Co Antrim reservoir is causing a risk to both wildlife and the public, NI Water has said.

The government body has raised concerns in relation to Stoneyford Reservoir on the outskirts of Lisburn, where dumping of material and anti-social behaviour has been prevalent over a number of months.

In February this year, NI Water revealed damage to the reservoir embankments caused by scrambler activity at the site, which they said could lead to structural damage as well as posing a public safety risk.

Then in May the organisation appealed to the community, local representatives and local authorities for support in tackling recent dumping activity ahead of the traditional Eleventh Night bonfire.

The body has now reiterated those appeals, saying the fly tipping activities were causing a hazardous pollution risk.

Read more Election Diary: Freewheeling UUP North Down candidate Tim Collins goes off script again

"NI Water continues to appeal to the public to cease using land at Stoneyford Reservoir for illegal dumping of waste materials, said a spokesperson.

"NI Water is aware of historic issues with fires being lit on or near the Stoneyford Reservoir site.

"Although this will not impact on water quality or supply to customers, as the reservoir is not currently in service, it is home to a variety of wildlife who depend on the natural habitat for survival.

"NI Water remains committed to seeking a resolution and continues to work with the community, local authorities and elected representatives to resolve the ongoing issues at this site.

The PSNI said they were aware of the situation.

"Lisburn Neighbourhood Policing Team are aware of these issues and continue to engage with NI Water, other partner agencies and local residents to find a solution, said a spokesperson.
Police have appealed to parents to ensure they know where their children are

The farm captured pictures of some of the young people

A female staff member has been threatened and police attacked after bricks were thrown at a west Belfast community farm on Thursday.

Bricks were thrown during the incident, with staff at St James's Community Farm saying incidents of this nature have become a regular occurrence in recent weeks.

"Last night about 10 male youths attacked our farm with bricks. They got into animal field and verbally threatened a female member of staff, they posted on Facebook.

This has been a regular occurrence for the last three weeks. We have had wooden pallets that the goats use taken and burnt and the goats playground damaged.

The animals were terrified last night with the bricks hitting the metal of our building.

From this evening the farm volunteers will be there monitoring farm.

Read more Killer Jonathan Creswell emptied victims bank account as she lay dying in hospital

We would appreciate any support from members of the community and animals will be brought in early.

We also have pictures of faces of some of those involved last night and will not hesitate to post them if this happens again.

We would also like to point out that these youths were not local to St James.

The PSNI said a police vehicle and police officer had been struck by objects after they attended the incident, before the young people dispersed.

Inspector Ross Hakin said: "I am appealing to parents to know where your children are and advise them against becoming involved in anti-social behaviour.

"Officers continue to work alongside partner agencies, local representatives and the community to find collaborative and proactive solutions to address the problem.

"We are committed to working towards a solution and welcome any information from the public and local elected representatives to inform what we are doing.

"Our officers continue to provide a visible policing presence throughout west Belfast.

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"We constantly monitor crime trends and deploy our resources to the areas of greatest need and vulnerability and regularly run targeted policing operations, working alongside partners to address community concerns.

We all have a responsibility to help make where we live safer for everyone. Reporting crimes or incidents that impact on your quality of life helps focus our patrols where they are needed and take positive action.

"Ring us on 101, report online at www.psni.police.uk/makeareport or speak directly to your Neighbourhood Team.

A report can also be made using the online reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport. Alternatively, information can be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.

The farm issued an update on Friday afternoon to confirm the parent of one of the young people had come forward.

"We have been contacted by a parent of one of the youths involved and the parent as you can imagine is very upset, they said.

The parent will be dealing with their son and passing on to other parents. We really appreciate this person coming forward so quickly and dealing with this.

"Hopefully this is the end of it.
Police have launched an investigation after the death of motorcyclist Richard Edwards who died after a collision with a police car in Londonderry.

A police vehicle, which was being driven by a contracted member of police staff, collided with 68-year-old Mr Edwards near Maydown Police Station at around 1pm on Wednesday.

PSNI officers and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service attended the scene, however, Mr Edwards passed away later from his injuries, after being airlifted to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

Inspector Cherith Adair from the Police Services Collision Investigation Unit said an investigation had been launched by the PSNI.

She said: We received a report shortly after 1pm of a collision involving a police vehicle driven by a contracted member of police staff and a motorcycle in the vicinity of Maydown Police Station.

Locator: Maydown Police Station, Derry

Officers attended the scene along with our colleagues from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, however the motorcyclist sadly passed away later in hospital.

Our thoughts are with the family at this time and an investigation is now underway to establish the circumstances.

The Collision Investigation Unit is appealing to anyone who may have any information which may assist with our investigation, or who may have been travelling in the area at the time and captured any dash-cam or other footage, to get in touch on 101, quoting reference number 701 of 19/06/24.

Known to his friends as Richie, Mr Edwards was a father of two adult daughters and lived in Strathfoyle.

SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan, who lives in the area, is a member of the NI Policing Board.

On Thursday, he called for a full investigation into the incident.

Its a close-knit community and the whole area is in shock and sadness at the sudden and tragic passing of Richard, who would have been well-known in the area, as would his family, he said.

"There will be questions [about the crash] and its important there is full transparency, he said. Right now, I dont think the familys priority is to do that immediately.

When asked if the collision had been reported to the Police Ombudsman, a spokesperson for the watchdog said they could confirm that this incident is outside our remit as it doesnt relate to a police officer (or a member of police staff in our jurisdiction).

The Belfast Telegraph again asked the PSNI for further confirmation on the type of vehicle that was involved in the crash, and for more clarification on the job status of the driver.

A spokesperson for the service declined to go into further detail, and repeated that this was a police car and a contracted member of police staff.

The Police Federation has also been asked for comment.
There will be no Police Ombudsman investigation into a collision between a PSNI car and a motorcycle in which the rider was fatally injured, the watchdog has said.

The driver of the police car that collided with the motorcycle in Londonderry on Wednesday was a civilian staff member working for the PSNI, its been confirmed.

The man driving the motorbike, named locally as father-of-two Richard Edwards, died from his injuries in hospital following the crash.

The PSNI did not comment on why a civilian staff member was driving the police car.

The tragic incident occurred near Maydown Police Station at around 1pm on Wednesday.

Locator: Maydown Police Station, Derry

PSNI officers and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service attended the scene; however, Mr Edwards died later, airlifted to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

A police statement had said the collision had involved a contracted member of police staff, driving a police vehicle.

Pressed for more information about the type of vehicle involved and the status of the driver, a spokesperson for the PSNI declined to go into further detail, and repeated that this was a police car and a contracted member of police staff.

The Police Ombudsmans office later confirmed that it wont be launching an investigation into the event, stating that there are some civilian police staff who would come under our remit, but that the driver in relation to this incident does not.

The watchdog reiterated that this particular road traffic collision doesnt relate to a police officer (or a member of police staff in our jurisdiction).

Only some police civilian staff fall into the Police Ombudsmans remit, for example civil detention officers in police custody suites.

We can therefore investigate incidents which involve them, noted an Ombudsman representative.

"However, in this case the person driving didnt fall into that category, which is why its outside our remit and we have no power to investigate.

The Belfast Telegraph understands that the tragic crash victim  who was known by friends and family as Richie  was a father of two adult daughters, aged 68 and lived in Strathfoyle.

SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan, who lives in the area, is a member of the Policing Board.

He said a full investigation needs to be held into the incident.

Its a close-knit community and the whole area is in shock and sadness at the sudden and tragic passing of Richard, who would have been well-known in the area, as would his family, he said.

"There will be questions [about the crash] and its important there is full transparency.

Right now, I dont think the familys priority is to do that immediately."

PSNI Inspector Cherith Adair said: A report was received shortly after 1pm of a collision involving a police vehicle driven by a contracted member of police staff and a motorcycle in the vicinity of Maydown Police Station.

Officers attended the scene along with our colleagues from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service; however the motorcyclist sadly passed away later in hospital.

Our thoughts are with the family at this time and an investigation to establish the circumstances is now underway.

The Collision Investigation Unit is appealing to anyone who may have any information or to anyone who may have been travelling in the area at the time and captured any dash-cam or other footage that could assist enquiries to get in touch on 101.
Emergency services have successfully rescued a seagull trapped on Belfast City Hall on Friday afternoon.

The seagull had gotten caught in a net attached to the city centre building.

Two fire engines - one with a telescopic ladder - attended the scene along with a specialist recue team, who freed the bird.

A NIFRS spokesperson said: Firefighters were called to reports of a trapped bird on Donegall Square North. Firefighters rescued the bird and handed the scene over to animal control. The incident was dealt with by 1.38pm
A man and woman have escaped injury after shots were fired at a house in Coleraine on Thursday night.

Police said a number of shots were fired through the front window of the property in the Glenvarna Drive area of the town at 11.30pm.

The PSNI said both home owners were present during the incident but no one was injured.

Locator: Glenvarna Drive, Coleraine

Detective Chief Inspector Kerry Brennan said: "This was a particularly reckless attack in a built up area and thankfully a man and woman who were in the house at the time of the incident were not injured.

We are lucky that we are not investigating a murder this morning. There is no place in society for criminals who think they have the right to put the community at risk in this way.

"Our investigation has commenced and we are keen to speak to anyone who was in the Glenvarna Drive area on Thursday evening and who may have noticed any suspicious activity, or captured dash-cam or doorbell footage, which could help the investigation."
TUV leader Jim Allister has denied he oversold his partys partnership with Reform UK ahead of the General Election.

It comes after Reform UK leader Nigel Farage gave his personal endorsement to DUP candidates Sammy Wilson and Ian Paisley, the latter of whom is standing against Mr Allister in North Antrim.
Police have warned the public not to approach a man who is currently unlawfully at large.

Gerard Given was convicted in 2023 of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm that occurred in 2022.

He has since breached the conditions of his licence and has been recalled to prison.

He is described as being 58 in height, of medium build with blue eyes.

Despite attempts to arrest Mr Given, police have been unable to locate him.

Police believe may have travelled to Republic of Ireland.

A PSNI spokesperson said: Officers are appealing to anyone who has seen him or who knows of his whereabouts not to approach him, but to contact police on 101 quoting reference RM24034280.

Police would also appeal directly to him to hand himself in.

Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous.
Sir Ed Davey received a grilling from members of the public as he faced tough questions about his record in the coalition years and as minister in the Horizon scandal.

During the BBC Question Time special, the Liberal Democrat leader was challenged by a student over the abandoning of the partys pledge to scrap tuition fees in the coalition government.

Sir Ed was also asked whether he was proud of his conduct as postal affairs minister under the coalition government between 2010 and 2012.

In response to the student, he said: I understand why your generation lost faith in us. It was a difficult government to be in.

Sir Ed said the loss of trust in his party after that period was very scarring and admitted he was not proud of some of the votes he had to take part in.

He added: The thing I learned from that process  the whole process, fees, but other things too  was you shouldnt promise what you cant deliver, and I think we did in 2010.

Asked if he is making promises he cannot commit to in the current election campaign, Sir Ed replied: Absolutely not. It was the big lesson I learned.

The Lib Dem leader has recently come under fire for failing to do more to help wrongly-convicted subpostmasters when he held the brief and for initially refusing to meet Alan Bates in 2010.

Alan Bates, former sub-postmaster and founder of Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance (Lucy North/PA)

Sir Ed said he made two big mistakes during that time, including failing to meet the campaigner  although he subsequently did agree to meet Mr Bates  and not seeing through assurances given to him by the Post Office that Mr Batess assertions were not true.

Im sorry for not seeing through those lies. There were many ministers of all political parties during this 20-year period who didnt see through those lies, Sir Ed said.

He added that he hoped people go to prison over the biggest miscarriage of justice in our countrys history.

The BBC Question Time special also featured Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for the Tories, Sir Keir Starmer for Labour and Scotlands First Minister John Swinney for the SNP.
A tanker pumps out excess sewage from the Lightlands Lane sewage pumping station in Cookham, Berskhire (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Waterborne diseases have put over 10,000 people in hospital since 2019, Labour said, as both Sir Keir Starmers party and the Liberal Democrats ramped up attacks on the Conservative sewage scandal.

Labour reiterated its pledge to put water companies dumping sewage into UK rivers and seas under special measures to force them to clean up their act.

The party highlighted new analysis of NHS hospital admissions data showing the number of people diagnosed with diseases transmitted via waterborne infection nearly doubled over the last two years, rising to a record high of 3,261 cases last year.

The steepest increase was in the number of typhoid fever cases, which doubled to more than 603.

Typhoid fever is typically uncommon in the UK and more prevalent in parts of the world that have poor sanitation and limited access to clean water, according to the NHS.

Data from the Environment Agency for 2023 shows a 54% increase in the number of sewage spills compared with 2022, and a 13% increase compared with 2020.

There is growing anger over the polluted state of Englands rivers and coasts, with no single stretch of river classed as being in a good overall condition, and hundreds of pollution risk alerts issued for popular beaches around the country last year.

Labour shadow environment secretary Steve Reed said: It is sickening that the Conservative sewage scandal has put over ten thousand people in hospital.

They just folded their arms and looked the other way while water companies pumped a tidal wave of raw sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas, putting the nations health at risk.

It is time for change. The next Labour government will put the water companies under special measures and strengthen regulation to force them to clean up their act.

We will give the regulator tough new powers to make law-breaking water bosses face criminal charges and ban the payment of their multimillion pound bonuses until they clean up their toxic filth.

Environmental activist Feargal Sharkey, who is backing Labours plans, told the PA news agency that people are utterly fed up, outraged and despondent about the state of rivers and seas, with parents worried about taking their children to the beach this summer.

But Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said: In government, Labour cared so little about water quality that monitoring levels languished at 7%. Under successive Conservative governments, we have increased that to 100%.

This Conservative government has taken clear action to tackle the issue  having put in place legal requirements for water companies to implement sewage discharge reduction plans, setting clear targets on sewage reduction backed up by unlimited fines, and fast-tracking record levels of investment. We are quadrupling water company inspections, and banning bonuses for water companies that commit criminal breaches.

Meanwhile, the Lib Dems set out a plan to save chalk streams, which the partys analysis suggested suffered nearly 49,000 hours worth of sewage dumping in 2023  more than double the previous year.

The streams, which spring from underground chalk reservoirs, are one of the worlds rarest freshwater habitats and are found primarily in the south of England and Yorkshire.

Sir Ed Daveys party repeated its proposal to launch a public consultation within the first 100 days of the next government which could see rivers and lakes awarded a new Blue Flag status to protect them from sewage dumping.

Sir Ed said: Water firms are destroying our precious rivers and chalk streams all whilst making massive profits. Conservative ministers have let these water firms get away with it for too long, while their toothless schemes have failed to protect swimmers and wildlife.

We need urgent action to save our precious chalk streams from this environmental disaster.

The swimmers made ill, the wildlife killed and the chalk streams dried up should act as a watershed moment to put an end to the sewage scandal.

Every vote for the Liberal Democrats at this election is a vote for a strong local champion who will tackle the sewage scandal and clean up our rivers, lakes and beaches.

Sir Ed and Mr Reed are expected to promote their plans during campaign visits on Saturday.
Khaled Hajsaad outside City of London Magistrates Court in April (Jonathan Brady/PA)

A man who was found guilty of wearing a headband in support of Hamas at a pro-Palestine rally in central London has been spared any punishment.

Khaled Hajsaad, 24, who has been living in Birmingham, wore the clothing at a rally in Trafalgar Square on November 25 2023.

The green headband had the Shahada written on it in white  the basic statement of the Islamic faith, Westminster Magistrates Court was told previously.

The defendant had previously told police the headband was an item of Saudi Arabia and the Shahada was a statement of my faith.

But Hajsaad was found guilty in April of wearing the item in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion he was supporting Hamas  an illegal act in the UK where it is designated a terrorist group.

The defendant appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday where he was handed a conditional discharge for three months.

He was also spared any fines on account of his extremely limited budget of 49 per week used for food and travel.

Judge Nina Tempia said: The offence here was Mr Hajsaad wearing a bandana at a demonstration.

In respect to harm, I agree with the prosecution that there was harm as the conduct linked to support of a proscribed organisation.

The offence was committed after (the October 7 attacks). Not days or weeks later, but seven weeks later. I would not classify the harm as serious.

Hajsaad has been described as an asylum seeker who arrived in the UK a year ago.

The court heard that he was born in Palestine but left at the age of five.

He had since lived elsewhere before coming to the UK.

Bethan David, head of the CPS Counter Terrorism Division, said: Khaled Hajsaad aroused suspicion that he was supporting Hamas  a proscribed terrorist organisation  by wearing the green headband in the context of a pro-Palestine protest in central London.

Wearing such items in a public place creates a risk of encouraging others to support Hamas.

When people break the law  whether by hateful speech, supporting proscribed organisations or by threatening public order  the CPS will prosecute swiftly and independently.

We have already prosecuted a string of offences linked to events in the Middle East and we are working closely with the police to make sure our approach commands public confidence.
A Windrush manifesto has been set out making demands of the next government for justice of victims of what they brand a Home Office scandal (John Sibley/PA)

Almost 150 Windrush compensation claims have been in the system for at least a year, while dozens have been there for more than 18 months, according to the latest figures.

A fresh call for justice for victims of what campaigners have dubbed the Home Office scandal has been made ahead of Windrush Day this weekend.

Political parties are being urged to commit to redesigning what the Action for Race Equality (ARE) charity branded unwieldy and complex schemes dealing with citizenship documentation and compensation.

Campaigners renewed calls for the compensation scheme to be removed from the Home Office into a more neutral government department, and demanded fair payouts to reflect the true scale of harm caused to victims.

The calls come as the latest figures, published on Friday, showed that nearly 90.6 million had been paid out for 2,519 claims as of the end of May  an average of around 35,960 per claim.

A total of 8,477 claims had been made by the end of May.

Of these, 928 were still in the system, 59 had been suspended and 7,490 had been given a final decision.

Among the 928 being processed were 147 that had been in the system for at least 12 months, or 16% of the total caseload still in progress.

This proportion has been on an upwards trend in recent months, having dipped as low as 12% in October 2023 while previously peaking at 38% in June 2022.

Some 51 claims had been in the system for more than 18 months, down from 154 a year earlier.

There are 5,902 claims that have now been fully closed, more than half of which (55%) were found to have no entitlement to compensation, 34% were offered compensation and 11% had their eligibility for a claim refused or withdrawn.

Windrush Day on Saturday marks 76 years since the HMT Empire Windrush arrived in England, bringing people from the Caribbean who answered Britains call to help fill post-war labour shortages.

The Windrush scandal  which campaigners have since said should be known as the Home Office scandal  erupted in 2018 when British citizens were wrongly detained, deported or threatened with deportation despite having the right to live in Britain.

Many lost homes and jobs and were denied access to healthcare and benefits.

When the scandal was uncovered, the Conservative Government promised to right the wrongs of what had happened but the compensation scheme has been repeatedly criticised for the speed at which claims are being processed and payments made.

ARE has set out a series of asks for the next governments first 100 days, including setting up a statutory inquiry into the scandal, citizenship for all Windrush families, and implementing all recommendations from a 2020 Lessons Learned review into what had happened.

On Wednesday a High Court ruling found that a Government decision to drop some of the 30 recommendations was unlawful.

While all were originally accepted by then-home secretary Priti Patel, in January 2023 it was confirmed that Suella Braverman, who was in post as home secretary by that stage, had dropped three.

In her judgment, Mrs Justice Heather Williams ruled that dropping two of the recommendations  related to a commitment to establish a migrants commissioner and to increase the powers of the independent chief inspector of borders and immigration (ICIBI)  had a disproportionately prejudicial effect upon Windrush victims and indirectly discriminated against them.

The judge also said it was unlawful and conspicuously unfair for the ICIBI recommendation to be shelved without consulting Windrush community representatives and review author Wendy Williams.

Solicitor Ms Williams said she was delighted with the ruling and added that she hoped the Home Office will now ensure that all my recommendations are implemented without further delay, so that those affected by the Windrush scandal can fully receive the justice they deserve.

Patrick Vernon, ARE Windrush justice programme adviser, said: Despite some modest changes, there are still fundamental issues which are outstanding.

These have caused further re-traumatisation in affected communities and created a lack of faith in governments ability to right the wrongs of the scandal.

The Windrush Generation contributed so much to Britain but the Home Office scandal shows they are still treated as second-class citizens.

Labour has pledged in its manifesto to ensure the victims of the appalling Windrush scandal have their voices heard and the compensation scheme is run effectively, with a new Windrush Commissioner.

A brief mention in the Conservative manifesto said the party would continue delivering the Windrush Compensation Scheme if returned to government.

Age UK said older people caught up in the sandal have given their working lives to our country and deserve justice.

Charity director Caroline Abrahams said with political will the compensation scheme could be made much fairer and easier to access.

She added: The next government needs to act quickly before its too late and more people go to their graves uncompensated for the huge damage they and their families have experienced through the years.

A Home Office spokesperson said: We are committed to righting the wrongs of the Windrush scandal and making sure those affected receive the compensation they deserve.

We continue to support individuals to access and apply for our Status Scheme so they can get the documentation needed to prove their right to be in the United Kingdom.
A major power outage has struck much of the Balkans as the southern European region sweltered in an early heat wave that sent temperatures soaring to up to 40C.

Montenegrin authorities said that an outage in the countrys power distribution system left almost the entire country without electricity, while similar problems were reported in the coastal part of Croatia, Bosnia and Albania.

Nada Pavicevic, a spokeswoman for Montenegros state power distribution company, described the outage as a disturbance of regional proportion, and said authorities are still working to determine what happened.

Power outages were reported across the region (AP)

Bosnias state power company said that the outage was caused by problems in a regional distribution line, while Albanias state power company said the extreme heat caused the problem.

Montenegro, Croatia and Albania share the Adriatic Sea coastline. Power grids in the region remain connected decades after the Balkan wars in the 1990s.

In the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, the outage also caused traffic jams, with trams stopping and traffic lights not operating. Similar gridlock was reported in the Adriatic Sea port of Split.

The collapse, which happened just after noon on Friday, came as authorities throughout the region warned citizens to be cautious, drink water and avoid sunshine because of extremely high temperatures.

Dont stay in the sun between 11am and 5pm, warned Serbias Public Health Institute in its instructions to citizens. If you must go out, please take a bottle of water along.

Meteorologists say the heat in the region this week came from Africa, carrying sand particles that created a cloud-like layer, dimming the skyline.

Some say the high temperatures have arrived much too early (AP)

The sweltering heat was the worst in big cities, where concrete sizzled even in the evening, and where nights offered no real respite as temperatures remained above 20C.

While hot summers are normal in the Balkans, temperatures do not reach such heights in mid-June, prompting weather alerts and warnings.

Earlier this week, authorities in North Macedonia imposed emergency measures until Sunday, after which the heat is expected to relent.

Weather warnings were also issued in neighbouring Croatia, a tourism hot spot, where the heat wave is set to peak on Friday before an expected change of weather on the weekend that could trigger storms.

Montenegrin state television RTCG said that though the citizens of the countrys capital of Podgorica are used to very high temperatures, some complained they have started too early.

Experts say that extreme weather conditions are also triggered by climate change.
Republican presidential candidate former president Donald Trump at a campaign event in Racine, Wisconsin on Tuesday (Jeffrey Phelps/AP)

Prosecutors in Manhattan are urging the judge overseeing Donald Trumps criminal hush money case to uphold a gag order that bars the former president from criticising jurors, court staff or members of the prosecution that convicted him.

They agreed that one provision of the gag order, which prevented Trump from attacking trial witnesses in the case, could be lifted.

In court papers filed on Friday, prosecutors with the Manhattan district attorneys office argued that portions of the gag order remained necessary given Trumps singular history of inflammatory and threatening public statements, as well as efforts by his supporters to identify jurors and threaten violence.

Donald Trump walks out of the courtroom after a jury convicted him of falsifying business records in May (Seth Wenig/AP)

Since the verdict in this case, defendant has not exempted the jurors from his alarming rhetoric that he would have every right to seek retribution as president against the participants in this trial as a consequence of his conviction because sometimes revenge can be justified, the filing states.

The gag order, issued in March, prohibited Trump from making or directing others to make public statements about witnesses, jurors and others connected to the case. It does not restrict comments about the judge, Juan M Merchan, or Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office prosecuted the case.

Lawyers for Trump have called on the judge to lift the order following the culmination of his trial last month, which ended in his conviction on 34 felony counts for falsifying records to cover up a potential sex scandal. Trump denied any wrongdoing.

Defence lawyers argue Trump should be free to fully address the case as he campaigns for the White House, pointing to comments made by US President Joe Biden and the continued public criticism of him by his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen and the adult film actor Stormy Daniels, both key prosecution witnesses.

Now that the trial is concluded, the concerns articulated by the government and the court do not justify continued restrictions on the First Amendment rights of Trump, they wrote earlier this month.

In their letter, prosecutors agreed that the provision barring statements about trial witnesses no longer needed to be enforced. They said the restrictions on statements about prosecutors in the case  with the exception of Mr Bragg  as well as court staff and their family members should remain in place.

Judge Merchan is expected to issue a ruling soon, possibly before Trumps June 27 debate with Mr Biden.

Earlier this week, New Yorks top court declined to hear the former presidents appeal on the gag order, finding it does not raise substantial constitutional issues that would warrant an immediate intervention.
The mysterious monolith in Gass Peak, part of the vast Desert National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department via AP)

A strange monolith found jutting out of rocks in a remote mountain range near Las Vegas has been taken down by authorities.

Its discovery over the weekend, and quick removal, revived a pandemic-era mystery that captured the publics imagination when similar objects began to appear around the world.

How it got there is still a mystery.

It remains unknown how the item got to its location or who might be responsible, Las Vegas police said on Friday in a series of posts on X, formerly Twitter, announcing the removal of the glimmering, 6ft by 4ft rectangular prism.

Its removal was quick, because it was illegally installed on federal land managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and because of concerns over public safety and the land, a wildlife refuge.

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Members of the police departments search and rescue team had discovered the object over the weekend near Gass Peak, part of the vast Desert National Wildlife Refuge where bighorn sheep and desert tortoises roam.

It was the latest discovery in a series of mysterious shiny columns popping up around the globe since at least 2020.

In November of that year, a similar metal monolith was found deep in the Mars-like landscape of Utahs red-rock desert. Then came sightings in Romania, central California and on the famed Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas.

All of them disappeared as quickly as they popped up.

The Utah structure, believed to be the first in the series, had been embedded in the rock in an area so remote that officials did not immediately reveal its location for fear of people getting lost or stranded trying to find it.

Las Vegas police said the same concerns led them to tear down the latest monolith on Thursday afternoon.

The department said it is being stored at an undisclosed location while authorities try to work out the best way to dispose of or store the massive object made out of a reflective sheet of metal that was molded around the prism and secured with rebar and concrete.

The otherworldly structure evokes the object that appears in the Stanley Kubrick movie 2001: A Space Odyssey.

The Desert National Wildlife Refuge, which was established to protect bighorn sheep and is home to rare plants, is the largest wildlife refuge outside Alaska.

Christa Weise, the wildlife refuges acting manager, confirmed on Friday in a phone call with The Associated Press that the object was torn down but declined to further comment.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Romanian foreign minister Luminita-Teodora Odobescu shake hands after signing a memorandum of understanding during a ceremony in the Treaty Room at the State Department, in Washington, on Friday (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

The Biden administration on Friday thanked Romania for its president withdrawing from the race to lead Nato, saying the move would help ensure the Western military alliance stays properly focused.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivered the message to his Romanian counterpart Luminita-Teodora Odobescu. Their meeting on Friday at the State Department came just a day after Romanian President Klaus Iohannis dropped out of the running for Natos top job, clearing the way for outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

Mr Blinken said he was grateful for Mr Iohanniss leadership in the alliance, although he did not specifically mention the contest to be Natos next secretary-general.

Romania has played a critical role in making sure that the alliance is focused everywhere it needs to be focused, including on our eastern flank, Mr Blinken said. Were grateful for that. I am grateful for President Iohannis and his leadership and making sure the alliance is appropriately focused.

The Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte, right, speaks to Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg during a meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania (Pavel Golovkin/AP)

Two US officials said Washington was pleased by Mr Iohanniss decision to withdraw, suggesting it was a sign that Romania takes its alliance responsibilities seriously. Those officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal Biden administration thinking.

Mr Iohannis is nearing the end of his second five-year term as Romanias president and had announced his intention to run for Natos top job in March.

Romania, a Nato member since 2004, borders Ukraine and has played an increasingly prominent role in the alliance throughout Russias full-scale invasion, including hosting a Nato meeting of foreign ministers in November 2022.

Mr Iohanniss withdrawal means that Mr Rutte is all but certain to replace Jens Stoltenberg at the top of the alliance when its leaders meet next month in Washington to celebrate Natos 75th anniversary.

It removed the last real hurdle Mr Rutte might have faced and should allow Nato to put on a show of unity and demonstrate solidarity with war-ravaged Ukraine when US President Joe Biden and his counterparts meet in Washington on July 9-11 for the summit.

Mr Ruttes appointment could be sealed by a meeting of Nato ambassadors in the coming days or by the leaders when they meet in Washington. He would officially start work on October 1.

Nato secretaries-general are responsible for chairing meetings and guiding sometimes delicate consultations among the 32 member countries to ensure that an organisation that operates on consensus can continue to function.

Nato makes all its decisions by consensus, giving any of the member countries an effective veto, including on whether they should take part in any joint effort or operation.

Mr Rutte has for months been the preferred candidate of the majority of Nato allies, including big members like the US and Germany.
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Despite what many Christians believe, there is not one single version of the Bible. Biblical canon has changed repeatedly over the centuries, with books being added or removed from the official scriptures, and that process continues today. The Bibles read by Catholics, Orthodox Christians and members of different denominations of Protestantism may contain very different books. There are more academically inclined Bibles that contain references and extra resources and more complete Bibles that contain books that were previously removed from the canon. Which extra books are included in these Bibles varies wildly.

The development of the official biblical canon was a lengthy process that began shortly before the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. Emperor Constantine commissioned 50 copies of the Bible for the Church at Constantinople, but this was not considered to be an official canon for Christianity. It was not until 367 A.D. that the first version of the Christian canon was officially developed. It was Athanasius, the Bishop of Alexandria, who listed the books of the New Testament and instructed them to be kanonizomena or canonized. The canon of the New Testament, however, was not ratified until the 5th century.

Biblical canon was again questioned following the Protestant Reformation. The Church of England and English Calvinism both adopted slightly altered canons in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, and the Synod of Jerusalem made minor tweaks to the list of Old Testament books accepted by Orthodox Christians. With this turbulent history filled with additions and removals of books, there has been a rise in Christians who prefer Bibles that contain these extra books, which are collectively known as the Apocrypha or Apocryphal Books. Here are five books that are not included in the Bible that every Christian should read.

The Gospel of Thomas.

The Gospel of Thomas would look very strange to most Christians as it contains almost none of the narrative details that are common in the canonical New Testament gospels. Instead, the Gospel of Thomas is composed almost entirely of the logia, or sayings, of Jesus. Many of these sayings are repeated verbatim in the other New Testament gospels. When a person accounts for slight variations as a result of translation differences, the text is almost identical to the teachings found in the canonized New Testament. There are, however, a few extra sayings that are not included in the canonical gospels, and the Gospel of Thomas includes no explicit references to Christs crucifixion, His resurrection, the final judgment or a messianic understanding of Jesus.

The Gospel of Thomas was not added to the official canon because it is the epitome of a Gnostic text. Gnosticism was an early form of Christianity that was declared heresy by those who would eventually become the Orthodox Church. Gnosticism eventually died out at some point in the second or third century, and many of their writings were lost, making discoveries such as the Gospel of Thomas of great value to the historical record.The Book of Enoch.

New Testament apocryphal books tend to get more focus than Old Testament Apocrypha, but the Book of Enoch is always a popular topic of discussion among those familiar with it. The Book of Enoch, also referred to simply as Enoch, was written sometime during the 2nd century B.C. and is very different from the Old Testament texts that were later canonized. The Book of Enoch was attributed to Enoch, the grandfather of Noah, and contains more traditionally mythological elements than are found in most of the Old Testament. One such example is the Nephilim. The Nephilim are mentioned briefly in the canonical versions of Genesis and Numbers, but Enoch expands greatly on their birth, rise to prominence and destruction. The Book of Enoch also details Enochs journey through Earth, Sheol and his interactions with both the angels of heaven and fallen angels. Enochs fate is left somewhat ambiguous at the end of the text and open to many different interpretations.

The Infancy Gospel.

Also called the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, the Infancy Gospel is biographical focused on the life of Jesus as a child. This gospel is believed to date back to the second century and to have been written by Gnostic Christians. Interest in the Infancy Gospel has exploded since its translation out of old Coptic because it details Jesus Christs childhood, a period of his life that is not described or depicted in the canonical gospels. This gospel was considered heretical in part for its depiction of Jesus as a child. Rather than the wise teacher that the canonical gospels focus on, the young Jesus in the Infancy Gospels has a mischievous streak and takes delight in such simple childhood pleasures as crafting clay birds. The Infancy Gospel of Thomas is not the only apocryphal gospel that depicts portions of Jesuss life as a child. The Syriac Infancy Gospel and Gospel of Psuedo-Matthew also deal with the life of a young Christ.

The Gospel of Mary.

Scholars do not always consider the Gospel of Mary to be a true gospel because the text does not have the same focus on the teachings of the adult Jesus as the canonical gospels. There is also a great deal of debate among scholars as to which Mary is the narrator of the text. Most people argue that the titular narrator is either the Virgin Mary or Mary Magdalene, but neither theory can be confirmed due to the state of the original text. The text is missing a total of 10 pages, six at the beginning and four in the middle of the text.

The sections of the text that are intact depict a scene after the resurrection of Christ when Jesus appears to the disciples. He gives Mary special or secret teachings through a vision. Mary shares these teachings with the other disciples, but the other disciples are skeptical that Christ would trust such important teachings privately [to] a woman and not openly to [the male apostles]. Peter and Andrew, in particular, question Marys truthfulness while Levi defends her. It is likely for the same reason that the text was stricken from the canon.

The Acts of Paul and Thecla.

The Acts of Paul and Thecla, also called the Acts of Paul or the Acts of Thecla, details the life and journeys of the young Christian convert, Thecla. Thecla was a young virgin who was engaged to a wealthy and powerful man in the city of Iconium. When she heard Paul preaching about virtue, however, she refused to marry the man and was sentenced to be burned at the stake. God, however, intervened and saved Theclas life.

Thecla joined Paul on his journey to Antioch, where she ran afoul of the magistrate of the city when she refused to sleep with him. The magistrate ordered Thecla to be killed several times, but each time God saved her. In one of her final trials, Thecla threw herself into a body of water filled with sharks. God killed the sharks, and Thecla baptized herself. It is theorized that the Acts of Paul and Thecla was kept out of the official canon because Theclas actions were too powerful for a woman. She acted with all the power of a man, something unacceptable at the time.

The Bible would look very different if all the Apocrypha were included in the book. There would also be very different portrayals of Christ found in the Bibles pages if texts such as the Infancy Gospel of Thomas were included. Though these texts are not found in the biblical canon, Christians can now read many of them due to the tireless work of translators. Ancient texts continue to be translated today, and more hidden gospels continue to be found. The pendulum appears to have swung back the other way. Rather than an ever-shrinking canon, the complete list of Bible books is only continuing to grow.

Stephanie Hertzenberg is a graduate of the College of William and Mary where she majored in Religious Studies and minored in Creative Writing. She maintains an avid interest in health, history and science.
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Anyone who went to Sunday school as a child most likely knows the story about David and Goliath. According to 1 Samuel 17, David, an Israelite teenager, defeated the massive Philistine warrior with a smooth stone and a slingshot. After aiming at Goliaths forehead, David beheaded Israels enemy when the rest of the Israelite army cringed in fear. Goliath is typically used in metaphors whenever we play a little guy in a scenario against something that seems impossible, saying that were David facing a giant Goliath. Still, where did Goliath come from, and where does he fit in the historical tale of Israel and of the earth? Was he really as tall as our Sunday school teachers made him out to be?

Who were the Philistines?

Israel has several enemies throughout the Old and New Testament, but the Philistines seem to dot the story more than once. Noahs descendants have some links to the Sea Peoples, who wreaked war and havoc at the end of the Bronze Age, leading to a Dark Age for several nations in the Mediterranean and Middle East. Although several natural disasters might have lent a hand in causing such a Dark Age, due to the lack of archeological records, the Philistines might have played a significant part in causing the Dark Age.

The Bible places them in the Crete region, but they appear to move inland toward Canaan. Known for their use of iron in the post-Bronze age, the Philistines were far more advanced than their counterparts in terms of advanced weaponry, and they dominated their battles against the Israelites until David came into the picture.

How tall was Goliath?

Goliath is usually equated with a giant, as most Bible translations say he was over nine feet tall, as detailed in 1 Samuel 17:4. The Masoretic Text, the Hebrew text that the Jewish people have long accepted, says that Goliaths height was six cubits and one span. Taking one cubit to be approximately 18 inches and a span to match six, this figures to be a height of nine feet, six inches. Apparently, Goliath had some Anakim blood in him. However, theres a variation found in some ancient texts on Goliaths height. The Septuagint, a Greek interpretation of the Old Testament, records Davids height as four cubits and one span.

Current measurements equate this to about six feet, six inches. This measurement shortens Goliath some, but he still wouldve been quite a bit taller than the average mans height at the time, which was about five and a half feet. Other sources corroborate the shorter measurement, including one Hebrew text among the writings of the Jewish historian Josephus and the Dead Sea Scrolls. The NET Bible agrees with the shorter height, saying that Goliath was almost seven feet tall, as detailed in 1 Samuel 17:4.

Regarding the deviation between the measurements, its important to note a couple of things. First, the Old Testament was initially written in Hebrew, and the differentiation may be due to how the measurements were interpreted into Greek for the Septuagint. Second, a cubits measurement isnt accurate since a cubit was based on the distance from someones elbow to their fingertip. Therefore, the length of a cubit would somewhat vary, depending on the person measuring it and the length of their arm. Regardless of Goliaths height, we know from the Bible that Goliath was a formidable opponent. Not only was he tall, but he was also strong. His bronze armor alone weighed 125 pounds, and he carried a giant-sized spear.

There was a reason that Goliath was the Philistines champion. However, in the end, David, armed with a simple sling, rocks, and faith, defeated Israels enemy. David proved he was stronger than Goliath because he had God on his side.

The meaning of David and Goliaths story.

Whether Goliath received his massive height via hereditary genes or supernatural powers, he still seems to tower over Israel, but why does it matter if we know about Goliaths identity? From a historical standpoint, if we know whether Goliath and the Philistines originated, we can see why the Israelites were so threatened by them, except David. Goliath repeatedly and openly defied God and challenged one of His chosen people to fight him. When David heard this, he asked Israels king if he could fight the giant himself. In 1 Samuel 17:36-37, we see David remembering when God protected him before against a bear and a lion, and he trusted God to protect him now against Goliath.

An important part of this story is that Goliath was taunting the Lord of the universe, challenging Gods people to stand up to him and show that their God was more powerful than he was. Until David came into the Israelite camp, no one was willing to step out in faith and face Goliath. However, Davids faith was so robust that he was willing to believe that God would go with him and assist him in defeating Goliath. Davids faith was formed out of his experience of Gods grace and mercy in his life until that point. The Lord delivered him out of dangerous situations in the past, proving His trustworthiness and power, and David relied on God to deliver him from the Philistines.

From David and Goliaths story, we can learn that the God we love is capable of overcoming any of the giants in our lives: depression, fear, financial issues, and doubts of faith if we know Him and His nature well enough to step out in faith. When we dont know what the future holds, we have to trust God, but we cant trust someone we dont know, so knowing God through the Bible will develop our faith in Him. As Christians who have trusted Jesus as the only way to heaven, our battle with our life giants will result in victory if we hold onto faith in God and His power. The visual of David and Goliath is only one of several examples of the supernatural power of our Lord. He cares for His children and only wants the best for us. Sometimes, that involves battles and trials, but these are for our good and Gods glory.

In James 1:2-4, we read that we should deem it pure joy when we encounter battles because they test our faith and create perseverance and patience. When these trials test us, we can, in Gods power, stand up against any giant, trusting God to win the victory.
A man carries boxes of Australian aid near the site of last months deadly landslide at Yambali village in Papua New Guineas Enga province in this June 20, 2024 photo released by the International Organization for Migration.

When Papua New Guineas Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko this week declared Australia our traditional security partner, a partner of choice, it was a victory of sorts for Canberras push to convince Pacific island nations its a better friend than China.

Its also a victory that has come with increased financial risks and lack of transparency.

Australia has loaned A$2.56 billion (U.S. $1.7 billion) to economically vulnerable Papua New Guinea since 2020 to plug repeated holes in its national budget, initially due to the shock from the COVID-19 pandemic. Australia also has become the largest lender to Pacific island nations overall.

Geopolitical competition has been one of the driving factors, but it doesnt completely explain the emergence of Australia as a lender to Pacific island nations, said Mihai Sora, a Pacific analyst at the Lowy Institute think-tank.

China is providing fewer loans in the Pacific these days  a combination of limited supply, but more importantly, limited demand from Pacific countries themselves. You can ask yourself  who would you rather owe money to, the Chinese Communist Party or the Australian government?

Papua New Guinea and Australia held their 30th annual ministerial consultations on Wednesday in Port Moresby where officials from both sides lauded what they said was a close and unique relationship.

Tkatchenko, who to Australias alarm had earlier this year floated the possibility of security cooperation with China, told a joint press conference that the government saw it crystal clear that we will continue to support and work and partner with Australia, now and in the future, for our security.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, in turn, said there had been a lot of discussion about the importance of strategic trust and what that enables us to do in terms of our partnership. In radio and television interviews ahead of and during the visit, she said Australia was in a permanent contest in the Pacific  a reference to Chinas inroads with island nations.

Papua New Guinea's Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko (left) shakes hands with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi before their bilateral meeting in Port Moresby on April 20, 2024. [Andrew Kutan/AFP]





Wong came bearing announcements on joint security and law-and-order programs under a A$200 million (U.S. $133 million) security deal signed in December by prime ministers James Marape and Anthony Albanese.

Australia is PNGs largest aid donor and the Pacific country is this year again by far the regions largest beneficiary, amounting to A$637.4 million.

China, which has grown its influence with Pacific island nations over several decades, has become Papua New Guineas largest source of imports and second-largest export market while PNGs trade with Australia has declined over several years.

Still, in the face of opposition from Australia, the U.S. and other nations, Beijing has been unable to advance security cooperation with Papua New Guinea despite reaching a landmark security agreement with PNGs neighbor, the Solomon Islands, in 2022.

Wong was visibly irked at the joint press conference when a Papua New Guinean journalist asked her how long Australia would prop up its neighbors finances and why, despite the inflow of cash, it continues to suffer an impoverishment of basic services such as classrooms and hospitals.

In response, Wong only said she had received a presentation from Papua New Guineas Treasurer about reforms to how it manages its budget and we respect the way in which you are working through those issues.

In this screen grab from a video livestream, Australias Foreign Minister Penny Wong [second from left] and Papua New Guineas Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko listen to a PNG journalists question on the loans in Port Moresby on June 19, 2024. [BenarNews]

Papua New Guinea is the most populous Pacific island country with an estimated 11.7 million people, but its economy is small, underdeveloped and vulnerable to shocks such as natural disasters and the financially ruinous riots and looting that rocked its capital early this year.

On Thursday, Wong and other Australian ministers traveled to the Highlands province of Enga, which is prone to deadly tribal violence and where a landslide last month buried a village, killing dozens of people.

The nations debt has ballooned in recent years and the government now spends more on interest payments than it does on either health or education.

Australias loans to Papua New Guinea were criticized earlier this month by Carolyn Blacklock, a former managing director of state-owned utility PNG Power and adviser to Prime Minister Marapes predecessor, Peter ONeill.

It is impossible to know where the money is going and who is benefiting, said Blacklock, who now runs a firm that offers strategic advice to Pacific island governments.

Papua New Guinea has a reputation for corruption and the International Monetary Fund has warned it is at risk of debt distress, she said in an opinion article for Islands Business news site.

In this context, this spinning turnstile of loans looks irresponsible, enabling a debt-junkie government to hit up on more loans, Blacklock said.

The communique from the Papua New Guinea-Australia ministerial meetings said PNG is expected to repay 510 million kina (A$196 million) of interest and principal to Australia in 2024, out of the more than A$2.5 billion loaned.

The statement also said the need for Australian budget support  that is, loans  to Papua New Guinea is declining because the Pacific island country is repairing its finances.

Ministers meet for the 30th PNG-Australia Ministerial Forum held at APEC Haus, Port Moresby on June 19, 2024. [Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade]





Australias 2024-2025 budget documents, released in May, estimate Papua New Guineas outstanding debt to Australia will total about A$1.3 billion at June 30  a lower figure than that provided by the foreign affairs department.

The difference is likely to reflect specific accounting required for concessional loans  which are made at below-market rates  and also shows that Papua New Guinea has not made significant repayments.

Australias Treasury said it would provide a written response to BenarNews questions about the difference in loan amounts but had not done so by Friday.

The IMF last year agreed a U.S. $918 million loan facility for Papua New Guinea contingent on it implementing fiscal, economic and anti-corruption reforms. The most recent loan agreement between Australia and Papua New Guinea  in 2023 for A$600 million  was to cover the Pacific countrys budget deficit and help it achieve the overhaul required by the IMF.

Forecasts for smaller deficits in Papua New Guineas latest annual budget are based on heroic assumptions about future tax collections, according to an analysis by auditing and business services conglomerate PWC.

Past and ongoing tax administration challenges demonstrate the risks of such a strategy, especially adding in the governments historical issues with spending restraint, the PWC report said.

According to Sora, Australia will look to taper off its loans to Papua New Guinea, particularly if the IMF package kicks in.

That said, Australias Pacific infrastructure financing facility, which provides a combination of loans and grants, is now a major feature of the countrys support to the Pacific, he said. And with respect to budget support, that measure is likely to stick around, and will be directed where needed.
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MONTPELIER  The Vermont Supreme Court heard oral arguments Thursday in the case of an elderly homeless man whose pet dog was forfeited against his will after he was charged with animal cruelty in Bennington in 2023.

Allan Washburn, 83, was charged in 2022 with animal cruelty after police found the dog, a Siberian husky named Chad, inside Washburns sweltering, closed, and overfilled car in the parking lot at Walmart twice  once in April and another in June of 2022.

The 2002 Saturn vehicle was stuffed with several of his possessions and, according to a police affidavit, piled with trash. On one occasion, the internal temperature inside the car was estimated to be 109 degrees. The dog was found panting, with no water, curled on the vehicles passenger seat and lying near piles of trash, old meat, spoiled milk, and expired fruit.

In the first incident in April 2022, after being alerted by several women in the parking lot to a dog inside a parked car with no air conditioning, police approached the vehicle to find Chad sitting in the car surrounded by the stench of rotting garbage. According to the affidavit, the dog did not seem to be in major distress at the time, so police allowed Washburn to drive off after witnessing the dog drinking milk.

In the second incident two months later, in June 2022, police again found Chad sitting in the front seat, with no water available to him and Washburn nowhere to be seen. An hour later, Washburn appeared at the car carrying a single jug of milk, according to police.

Washburn testified at the forfeiture hearing that he inherited the dog after his brother died about three years ago. He told the judge he spends a great deal of time driving from his home in Connecticut to a large property he owns in Shaftsbury in the small Saturn with Chad in the front seat.

We are together all the time, Washburn testified. I take good care of him.

Washburn testified that he sometimes sleeps in the vehicle with his dog at the back of Walmart in Bennington, and he allows the dog to run free on his Shaftsbury property. Washburns address is listed on court documents as homeless.

At his hearing, Washburn tried to counter police testimony that he was in Walmart for an hour by testifying he was in Walmart just 20 minutes before being confronted by police. He stated that the dog is treated well, including regular visits to a veterinarian in Pownal. Washburn became emotional several times on the stand after talking about the dog and how his brothers death allowed them to come together.

However, during cross-examination by prosecutor Andrew Bevaqua, Washburn confirmed leaving the dog alone in the packed vehicle on at least three occasions, including that hot June day in 2022. He was also confronted by documentation that the veterinarian Washburn claimed to visit with Chad had no record of the dog ever being treated or examined in Pownal.

The fate of a 5-year-old Siberian husky was settled in August 2023 when Bennington Superior Judge Kerry McDonald-Cady decided to permanently remove the dog from Washburns care and allow it to be adopted. In her written decision, Judge McDonald-Cady stated that the Siberian husky was indeed neglected and treated with cruelty after it was left in a hot car full of trash and miscellaneous belongings two separate times. She also granted the Second Chance Animal Center in Arlington, which had been caring for Chad, costs associated with the dogs care totaling over $16,000.

According to Cathi Comar, executive director of Second Chance, Chad was underweight for his size, and his hind legs had atrophied to the point where he was having a hard time walking and running. Chad has since been adopted out to a family, has recovered, and is doing well.

We believe it was because of his cramped living conditions, Comar said at the time.

Defense attorney Brianna Hausers argument before the Supreme Court on Thursday centered on three main issues- that the trial court lacked jurisdiction over the civil forfeiture of the dog according to specific Vermont statute, that the state did not establish by clear and convincing evidence that Washburn subjected Chad to cruelty according to Vermont law, and that the trial court erred in admitting Bennington Police Officer Robert Murawskis testimony at the forfeiture hearing on how hot it was inside the car on that June day.

After hearing oral argument from both sides, the justices took the appeal under advisement, with no specific date for a final decision.

Washburn is still facing a year of imprisonment on each of two counts of animal cruelty stemming from both incidents in 2022. The case is currently on hold until a long-awaited psychological evaluation is completed. That evaluation has been delayed several times due to Washburns alleged refusal to comply.

Washburn was arraigned this spring on one count of violating his condition of release stemming from the pending animal abuse case. He allegedly had a cat in his vehicle in December 2023. Part of his conditions of release bans him from owning, caring for, or possessing any animals. He was also charged in April 2024 with unlawful trespass after falling asleep in his car in the McDonalds parking lot in Bennington after he was ordered to stay away from the establishment by a court order in July 2023.

Erica Marthage, Benningtons States Attorney, referring to the case soon after the forfeiture, said that over the last 20 years, some of the most significant cases of pervasive neglect of animals occurred when people genuinely love and want the companionship of that animal, but can't provide it.

Overwhelmingly, they're not able to meet their own basic needs. But they want to have a pet. And, it's hard because people are affected by poverty, mental health issues, and other things. And it's very hard for them to take care of themselves. Its not because it's a willful mistake, misinformation, or willful neglect. It's the inability to make those kinds of rational decisions about another living being.

The Banner will update this story as more information becomes available.
Yebin Mai and Deming Wu were arrested in August 2020 for their alleged involvement in an unlicensed marijuana growing operation at a home in Savoy. On Tuesday, a trial finally began after a number of delays.
Massachusetts State Police released this photo of cannabis plants that officials say were being cultivated inside a Savoy house in 2020. Two men received prison sentences Thursday after being convicted of trafficking charges by a Berkshire Superior Court jury last month.
A recent Boston Globe analysis revealed that roughly $380,000 is paid annually to the Democratic leaders of a dozen do-nothing state committees. This absolutely should be a campaign issue this fall, but with so few Republicans running for office and with the party having so little credibility with voters, it wont be.
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GREAT BARRINGTON  Students will no longer be allowed to bring cellphones, earbuds and other electronic devices to Muddy Brook Regional Elementary School.

And students at W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle and Monument Mountain Regional High schools can bring their cellphones and related personal electronic devices, including headphones, air pods, smart watches, etc. to school but must keep them tucked away and turned off during the school day, from bell to bell.

The new rules were approved unanimously by the Berkshire Hills Regional School Districts School Committee on Thursday night.

In all cases, exceptions will be made for documented medical or other reasons that would require a student to use their device, school officials say. And the schools may give students Chromebooks for educational purposes and inter-school communication only.

Repeat offenders could face detention or suspension, according to a draft of the policy. The committee will leave enforcement and oversight to school administrators.

The committee had for some time been weighing whether to get phones out of the school day given the distraction and other concerns.

These include warnings from public health officials and other experts about the impact of cellphones and social media on children and adolescents.

On Monday, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said that social media is so harmful to adolescents it should come with warning labels akin to those on cigarettes and alcohol.

At least three other Berkshire County public school systems now have some sort of school-day ban in place. And state education officials are mulling a potential policy for all Massachusetts public schools.

Nationally, bans are gaining steam. On Tuesday, the Los Angeles school board banned cellphones from school, saying the devices distract students from learning, lead to anxiety and allow cyberbullying, according to the Los Angeles Times. Gov. Gavin Newsom this week said he supports a bill restricting cellphone use in all California schools.

Berkshire Hills teachers were largely behind the move, according to teachers union President Tom Roy, a computer science teacher at Monument High. A survey of teachers indicated they backed a policy to contain the problem.

School Committee member Bill Fields supports the policy, but said he doesnt like the language of a ban, saying he is opposed to extremes.

Committee member William Vogt has continued to be outspoken about keeping cellphones out of the elementary school.

I dont think they should be there, period, Vogt said of Muddy Brook. I think the Surgeon General would agree that the really young should not have access to cellphones.
Donald Morrison is an Eagle columnist and co-chairman of the advisory board. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of The Berkshire Eagle.
China to boost acquisition of completed commercial homes

Xinhua) 11:05, June 21, 2024

BEIJING, June 20 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development on Thursday urged local governments to purchase completed commercial housing for affordable housing in cities at the county level and above as part of the country's efforts to reduce commercial housing stock.

Local governments should accurately assess the demand for affordable housing in the area and evaluate the inventory of completed commercial housing, the ministry said at a teleconference.

It is necessary to ensure these homes are appropriately sized, reasonably priced and located in proper areas, the ministry added.

The ministry also stressed the need to effectively utilize financial support policies to ensure the sustainability of these projects and expedite the implementation of acquisition projects that are ready.

Last month, China's central bank pledged to establish a relending facility that supports local state-owned enterprises to use those funds to buy commercial homes for affordable housing.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Baptism is a universal sacred ordinance across all Christian denominations. It is a time in which a person enters a committed life for Christ. Baptism is also a symbol of commitment to the church body.

While baptism is important because it is tied to repentance and faith, it is also rather controversial. When the question of age arises, the answers are always plentiful. In this discussion, we will focus on what age a person should be baptized.

The quick answer to our question is that there is no answer; the Bible does not give a definitive age for baptism.

To explore this question further, lets take a look at the Biblical sources for baptism, what the modern Christian view of baptism is, the various practices of baptism across denominations, and some advice if you or a loved one is considering baptism.

Biblical Sources for Baptism

As stated in our introduction, the Bible does not give us a clear answer about what age you should be baptized. Rather, Scripture give us examples of baptisms and share with us what baptism means.

In Matthew 3, John the Baptist is preaching in the wilderness of Judea. People from Jerusalem, Judea, and surrounding areas are coming to him to be baptized. In verse 13, Jesus comes from Galilee to be baptized by John at the Jordan River, but John is hesitant. Jesus says in verse 15, Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.

Jesus words fulfill all righteousness speak to a consistent and faithful relationship with God. When Jesus emerges from the water, Scripture says the heavens suddenly opened. Because Jesus expressed his commitment to God through baptism, God reciprocated by equipping Jesus for the ministry he was about to begin

Paul is in Corinth and when Silas and Timothy get there he starts preaching to the Jews. They dont believe him, so he declares he will go to the Gentiles. Acts 18:8 says Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, along with his whole household. Many of the Corinthians, when they heard, believed and were baptized.

In Acts 16:25-34, Paul and Silas are in jail and there is a massive earthquake. Everyones chains came loose, and the doors were opened. Paul tells the jailer not to harm himself because everyone was still there. The jailer believes in the God Paul and Silas have been preaching about and everyone in his household is baptized.

The examples from Acts display a personal belief that led to baptism. There was a personal choice to follow Christ and that choice urged them to be baptized. Galatians 3:26-27 and Romans 6:3-4 show that when we are baptized, we become sons and daughters of Christ through faith. We join Jesus in his death and resurrection.

What Does Modern Christianity Say?

Historically, baptism was considered crucial to washing away the original sin all humans have. Infant baptism was popular, and parents were encouraged to baptize their babies quickly. Entire households would be baptized once the head of the household was. But we must remember that salvation was given by Gods grace, rather than an individual choice.

Across the board, Christians today lean toward baptism being an outward expression of their commitment to a life sold out to Christ. Being baptized is a way to demonstrate a believers commitment to their faith and their church.

Some Christian churches also teach that baptism is not a necessary part of being saved. Rather, baptism is a sign of obedience to God and adherence to the guidelines laid out in Scripture. All believe that baptism is an important and sacred ordinance that should not be taken lightly. The decision to be baptized comes from a place of conviction. It is not just something you do out of a sense of obligation.

Baptismal Practices across Christianity

I dont think we can leave this discussion without mentioning the various baptismal practices in the Christian church.

The Roman Catholic Church has always practiced infant baptism. In their Code of Canon Law, it states that parents should have their children baptized as soon after birth as possible. Catholics believe that baptism is necessary for salvation. Although infant baptism is practiced, the age requirement is discretionary. Adult converts can be baptized as well.

Lutheran churches also practice infant baptism and teach that baptism is connected to regeneration. The infant is cleansed of original sin when baptized. Lutherans believe that baptism is the work of God as reflected in the following statement.

In summary, infant baptism is a significant practice within Lutheran belief, reflecting the understanding of God's inclusive love, the communal responsibility for nurturing faith, and the affirmation of God's promises for the youngest members of the Christian community. It serves as a visible sign of God's grace at work from the earliest stages of life and establishes a foundation for the child's ongoing journey of faith within the context of the Lutheran tradition.

Eastern Orthodox churches perform both infant and adult baptisms. Infants are baptized from the first 40 days of life to a few months old, and the purpose of baptism is to wash away their original sin. Adults requesting baptism are required to study and perform catechism prior to baptism and being received into the church.

Presbyterian and Reformed churches teach that baptism is a sign and seal of Gods covenant with man. It is a sign of Gods grace, but not a means of salvation. They do perform infant baptism, though there are some Presbyterian churches that do not.

Methodist churches baptize infants, children, and adults. Infant baptism is a means of grace and entrance into the church. They believe that an infant who is not baptized is entrusted to Gods mercy. For them, baptism does not change you without faith.

Baptist churches practice believers baptism. They reserve the ordinance for those who have personally come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. It is an outward symbol of an inward transformation. The person must be old enough to understand what genuine faith is.

Non-denominational churches lean toward believers baptism as well. There is less emphasis on age and more on the individuals personal commitment to follow Christ.

Are You or a Loved One Considering Baptism?

We have established that baptism is a sacred and holy act. It should not be entered into without serious thought and prayer.

If you or a loved one are considering baptism, begin specifically praying about this decision. Parents should spend time not only in prayer, but also in Bible study. Read and pray over key passages such as Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 2:38, Colossians 2:12, and Romans 6:3-4.

Seek advice from pastors, religious leaders, counselors, and other Christians. These people are essential to helping you or your loved one better understand what God is speaking to you.

Our conclusion is simple. There is no specific age mentioned in the Bible regarding baptism. What is shared with us is the importance of baptism. Jesus was baptized and that should be a glaring instruction that as believers we should follow in His example.

Historically, infant baptism was practiced, but as we have seen in the Christian church today, adults are baptized as well. If you or someone you know is considering baptism, pray and seek counsel as you prepare to take this exciting next step.

Photo credit: Getty Images/Denis Burkin

Ashley Hooker is a freelance writer passionate about missions. She has collaborated with mission teams in North Carolina, Mississippi, Texas, West Virginia, and Vermont. Presently, she lives in North Carolina with her husband and two children, where she fulfills roles as a pastor's wife, a dance mom, and a farm girl.
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Infusion of capital will accelerate the growth trajectory, enabling the scaling of operations

New Delhi-based health tech startup HealthPresso is all set to raise a $1 million pre-series A funding round, instrumental in the platform's initial growth phase.

The investor community has shown substantial interest in HealthPresso, recognising the potential of its custom artificial intelligence (AI)-engine (Humeta) and extensive distribution network. This infusion of capital will accelerate the growth trajectory, enabling the scaling of operations and enhancement of service offerings.

HealthPresso is a revolution in healthcare communication, wielding the power of AI to transform the industry. The startup caters to a diverse audience including the individual doctor, the hospital, the healthcare brand, and the strategic PR/media agency. Through its groundbreaking strategies, HealthPresso is entering a new era of informed healthcare.

From a team of just three, HealthPresso has grown to a dedicated team of 15 professionals. We have established strategic locations in Delhi, Singapore, Canada, and Bengaluru, where we also have dedicated business development teams. This geographic diversity enhances operational efficiency and positions us to better serve a global client base.
Vonoprazan is a novel, orally active potassium competitive acid blocker

Mumbai-based pharmaceutical firms Cipla and Sun Pharma have signed a non-exclusive patent license agreement with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company for Vonoprazan for Indian Market for treating acid-related illnesses among patients.

This deal is meant to commercialise the drug in India under Ciplas own trademark brands, while Sun Pharma will commercialise Vonoprazan tablets 10 mg, 20 mg in India under the brand name 'Voltapraz'.

Vonoprozan (oral tablets) is a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB), used for the treatment of related disorders - Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Vonoprazan was discovered and developed by Takeda. With a novel mechanism of action, Vonoprazan inhibits the binding of potassium ions to H+K+ATPase (proton pump) in gastric parietal cells in the stomach thereby it suppresses basal and stimulated gastric acid secretion. The drug is approved in India for treatment of adults with Reflux esophagitis and other acid peptic disorders.

In November 2023, Vonoprazan was approved by the US FDA for healing and maintenance of healing of all grades of Erosive esophagitis and relief of heartburn associated with Erosive esophagitis and in combination with amoxicillin and clarithromycin or amoxicillin alone for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in adults.


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The former chief scientist and co-founder of OpenAI has announced the launch of his own artificial intelligence (AI) company, which he said would focus on safety.

Ilya Sutskever said he was launching Safe Superintelligence, adding that building safe AI was our mission, our name, and our entire product roadmap.

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In a launch statement on the new companys website, the firm said it would approach safety and capabilities in tandem as technical problems to be solved and to advance capabilities as fast as possible while making sure our safety always remains ahead.

I am starting a new company: https://t.co/BG3K3SI3A1  Ilya Sutskever (@ilyasut) June 19, 2024 Advertisement

Some critics have raised concerns that major tech and AI firms are too focused on reaping the commercial benefits of the emerging technology, and are neglecting safety principles in the process  an issue raised in recent months by several former OpenAI staff members when announcing they were leaving the company.

Elon Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI, has also accused the company of abandoning its original mission to develop open-source AI to focus on commercial gain.

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In what appeared to be a direct response to those concerns, Safe Superintelligences launch statement said: Our singular focus means no distraction by management overhead or product cycles, and our business model means safety, security, and progress are all insulated from short-term commercial pressures.

Mr Sutskever was involved in the high-profile attempt to oust Sam Altman as OpenAI chief executive last year, and was removed from the companys board following Mr Altmans swift return before leaving the company in May this year.

He has been joined at Safe Superintelligence by former OpenAI researcher Daniel Levy and former Apple AI lead Daniel Gross  both are named as co-founders at the new firm, which has offices in California and Tel Aviv, Israel.

The trio said the company was the worlds first straight-shot SSI (safe superintelligence) lab, with one goal and one product: a safe superintelligence, calling it the most important technical problem of our time.
A public reunion of Abba members in Sweden last month might prove to be the last occasion they reunite, a member of the group has said.

Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad were made Commander of the First Class of the prestigious Order of the Vasa, the first time it had been given in almost 50 years, at the end of May.

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They picked up their honours from Swedens King Carl XVI Gustaf following a nomination process involving the public and the Swedish government.

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Ulvaeus told an episode of the podcast Rosebud With Gyles Brandreth, released on Friday, that it was a great honour but it is not a knighthood, so he will not be known as Sir Bjorn.

Recalling the moment, he added: We stood there quietly, accepting it out of the kings hand and him saying a few words, it was a very quiet and very elegant ceremony.

All four of us of course were there in public (we see each other) very rarely, and Frida (Lyngstad, also known as Reuss) said to me afterwards, this might be the last occasion.

Very sad, and I thought about that afterwards, but were not getting any younger.

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For more than four decades, Abba have not performed together but they released the album Voyage in 2021, and brought projected versions of themselves to the stage for the virtual concert series Abba Voyage, which began in May 2022.

They also did not reform during the 50th anniversary of their win at the Eurovision Song Contest, and their digital Abba-tars instead played as an interval act during the competition through a recording from London.

Left to right, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Agnetha Faltskog, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad at the Abba Voyage digital concert launch in May 2022. Photo: Ian West/PA.

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Andersson and Ulvaeus also took to the specially made arena in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to mark two years of Abba Voyage in London in May.

In April, Ulvaeus joined the cast of the London musical Mamma Mia!, which uses Abba music, to celebrate its 25 years in the West End by speaking to the audience.

This also marked the Swedish band triumphing with their song Waterloo in Brighton on April 6th 1974.

The musical show premiered in London on the same day in 1999.
An application for a High Court injunction delaying the Dail and Seanad from voting on measures contained in the EU pact on migration and asylum until a referendum takes place was not properly issued, a judge has found.

As a result, barrister Una McGurk's bid for various orders could not be considered by the court on Friday.

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The judge said that the action must be re-issued and the proceedings are unlikely to return before the court in the short term.

Elements of the pact, which includes enhanced screening and security checks and faster processing of asylum applications, are currently going through the Houses of the Oireachtas.

The measures also include a greater focus on efficient returns for unsuccessful applicants and a mechanism that allows countries to either make a financial contribution or agree to relocate asylum seekers from other nations under particular circumstances.

In her action, Ms McGurk seeks orders delaying any vote in either Houses of the Oireachtas on the EU measures from taking place "until such time as a referendum of the people takes place to determine the constitutionality of any such ceding of sovereignty."

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The proceedings are against the Clerk of the Dail, the Clerk of the Seanad, the Minister for Justice, Ireland and the Attorney General, who claim the action would not succeed and was without substance.

When Ms McGurk's action came before Mr Justice David Nolan last Wednesday, the judge granted permission on an ex-parte basis for the injunction application to return before the court on Friday morning.

When the case was mentioned before the judge on Friday, Mr Justice Nolan said the motion seeking the injunction had not been properly issued.

This, the judge said, meant that the action was not properly before the court and could not proceed on Friday.

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This was not the fault of the Court Service and, it may not have been Ms McGurk's fault either, the judge said, adding that he had made the matter returnable to Friday after it was impressed on him by Ms McGurk's legal advisors that the action was urgent.

After considering submissions from the parties, the judge said all he could do was allow the proceedings to be re-issued "in the normal way".

This means the action will be given a date before the court in the future by the Court Service.

The judge said he was not prepared to make the case returnable to a date next week.

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The defendants argued the action was not something the courts can entertain and that the matter was not properly before the court.

They also argued that the matter, which they said will be opposed if re-issued, was not urgent, and should not be listed before the courts next week.

Aoife Carroll BL, for the clerks of the Dail and the Seanad, said the application was "wholly without substance" and was "clearly non-justiciable".

Ms Carroll added that the action against her clients, who she said should not have been named as defendants given their roles, was moot as a vote on the issues has already taken place.

David Fennelly BL, for the State respondents, said the application sought orders against the Oireachtas was one that "could never be granted" by the courts.

Mr Fennelly said the State parties also reject claims that the Houses of the Oireachtas dealing with issues concerning security and justice amounted to an impermissible breach of Ireland's sovereignty.
The future of the United Kingdom has never been in more peril due to the damage caused by post-Brexit trade barriers, the leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) party has warned.

At the launch of the TUV manifesto, Jim Allister heavily criticised his unionist rivals, the DUP, for failing to remove the so-called Irish Sea border that has created checks and restrictions on the movement of goods between Britain and Northern Ireland.

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Mr Allister was joined at the event by Reform UK deputy leader Ben Habib and both men were keen to downplay the recent move by Reform leader Nigel Farage to personally endorse two DUP election candidates, despite his party having an official electoral alliance with the TUV in the North.

Reform UK deputy leader Ben Habib (on the bench, right) and TUV leader Jim Allister (on the bench centre) with parliamentary election candidates at the TUV manifesto launch at Dunsilly Hotel in Co Antrim. Photo: David Young/PA

The TUV leader dismissed the furore as a media story that he insisted was not preoccupying voters in his own North Antrim constituency, where he is running on a joint TUV-Reform UK platform, even though Mr Farage has personally backed the DUP candidate in that area, Ian Paisley.

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Launching his partys Restore the Union manifesto at a hotel in Co Antrim, Mr Allister accused the DUP of misleading unionist voters in February by dropping its two-year blockade of Stormont devolution and endorsing a British government deal that claimed to have dramatically reduced the Brexit red tape on internal UK trade.

He said the Safeguarding the Union command paper had not changed one word of contentious UK/EU agreements that had created the Irish Sea barriers  namely the Northern Ireland Protocol, and its successor, the Windsor Framework.

Mr Allister branded the February deal the greatest contrivance of lies and deception ever attempted on the unionist people.

It changed not one word of the protocol, yet was brazenly sold as having demolished the Irish Sea border, having neutered EU law, restored our place within the United Kingdom, he said.

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The TUV leader claimed the DUP has since flip-flopped and performed a screeching U-turn on its previous endorsement of the command paper.

In this election, trust is rightly the defining issue for many, he said.

Those who in February falsely claimed that the Irish Sea border was gone, that EU law was thwarted, that our place had been restored in the United Kingdom do not deserve your votes.

That is why I am delighted to be able to offer in this election the contrasting and unshakable unionism of TUV/Reform UK.

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Its time to build back what has been lost. Its time to build back what has been squandered by those who previously were entrusted to deliver but those who failed miserably and left unionism in a much worse position than they found it.

TUV leader Jim Allister speaking at his partys manifesto launch. Photo: David Young/PA

The DUP stewardship of the union has not just been woeful, it has been damaging, and our union has never been in a more perilous state than it is today.

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The challenge of building back is daunting. There is no doubt about that. But with truth on our side and with the help of men of principle, like Ben Habib, we will not falter. Thats our pledge to the people of Northern Ireland.

The TUV contends that the key to removing the NI Protocol/Windsor Framework is the introduction of a mutual recognition system whereby the EU and UK agree to check goods entering the others jurisdiction.

At the launch event, Mr Allister also dismissed the suggestion his party could contribute to a reduction in the overall number of unionist MPs returning to Westminster if the pro-union vote is significantly split and the DUP fails to retain one or more seats as a result.

He said his party was ensuring the pro-union vote could be maximised.

The TUV, which did not run in the 2019 Westminster election, formed an electoral alliance with Reform UK ahead of Julys poll and is standing in 14 constituencies in Northern Ireland.

While it will only be the TUV name on the ballot paper on July 4th, the parties are promoting a joint TUV/Reform UK message on the campaign trail.

However, that arrangement was thrown into doubt when Mr Farage declared his personal endorsement for DUP candidates Mr Paisley in North Antrim and Sammy Wilson in East Antrim.

Despite this, the TUV and Reform UK have insisted their electoral alliance remains in place.

Ben Habib (left) and Jim Allister during the TUV manifesto launch. Photo: David Young/PA

Both Mr Allister and Mr Habib were quizzed about the controversy as they fielded media questions at the Dunsilly Hotel on Friday morning.

It may be a media story about what politician endorses what politician, but the real endorsement is the endorsement of the people, said Mr Allister.

And that is where the sovereignty of the people lies. And they will make that choice.

And they will not be voting for Nigel Farage [in North Antrim], they will be voting either for me or for Ian Paisley, the candidate of a party that told them the Irish Sea border was gone, when it wasnt, and they then think people should trust them, when patently they shouldnt.

Mr Habib was asked whether Mr Farage regretted his decision.

I think regret is not an emotion that Nigel is familiar with, he replied.

Mr Habib went on to insist that his leaders endorsement of the two DUP candidates did not undermine the TUV/Reform UK partnership.

That doesnt in any way diminish or detract from the complete commitment that Reform UK has to the union of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and therefore to the only political party in Northern Ireland with which we could possibly be allied, he added.
There is more to do to maintain peace on the island of Ireland and improve Anglo-Irish relations, Taoiseach Simon Harris has said.

The Taoiseach was speaking at a British-Irish Council summit on the Isle of Man on Friday.

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He said that former taoiseach Bertie Ahern, an architect of the Good Friday Agreement, was entirely correct when he said Anglo-Irish relations had become much more fragile and strained since Brexit.

Taoiseach Simon Harris, Alfred Cannan, Chief Minister of the Isle of Man, and Stormont deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly. Photo: Peter Byrne/PA.

Mr Harris, who became Taoiseach in April, said he intends to invest a significant amount of time in maintaining Anglo-Irish relations during his tenure.

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Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, Scottish First Minister John Swinney, and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Emma-Little Pengelly, who were also at the summit, said they would like to see the next British prime minister attend the council.

Speaking at a press event on Friday, Mr Harris said he hoped that peace on the island is a little bit better than frosty, but added theres certainly more that we can do and should do.

The Taoiseach praised practical projects of co-operation, citing the Ulster Canal and construction of the Narrow Water Bridge.

I think forums like the British-Irish Council and the summit thats taking place here today are absolutely vital because Bertie (Ahern) is entirely correct, as is anybody else who understands that peace and meaningful engagement is based on interpersonal relationships, Mr Harris said.

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It is really important that we, the custodians of the Good Friday Agreement, now harness the incredible gift that has been given to us.

Certainly, I intend to invest a significant amount of time in those interpersonal relationships.

I was really delighted to have the opportunity to visit the First and deputy First Minister and Stormont, very grateful to them for hosting me, I look forward to welcoming them to Dublin in the autumn for the next North-South Ministerial Council.

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Stormont deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly. Photo: Peter Byrne/PA.

Ms Little-Pengelly added that vigilance on Anglo-Irish relationships is needed, and they need to be tended to.

The last number of years was a great demonstration of how those relationships can deteriorate very quickly, she said.

Mr Heaton-Harris said that the relationships formed at events such as the British-Irish councils are invaluable in times of crisis.

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He said he believed he had tried to improve relations, which needs to be constantly cherished and nurtured.

Noting that the leaders got to know each other a bit better at a dinner on Thursday night, he said: Its through gatherings like this where, when problems come in a relationship, you have a personal relationship with someone who you can talk to.

You would be in danger of undervaluing this just by judging it from the communique that came out at the end of the day. We talked about really important issues. Ive learned so much in my time here.

Weve all got quite different politics and quite different remits. But we come together and learn from each other and those interpersonal relationships are unbelievably valuable, especially at times of crisis.

Asked about whether the next British prime minister should attend the council, Mr Heaton-Harris said it should be part of the calendar for any British prime minister, while Mr Swinney wholeheartedly agreed that it would be beneficial for the UK prime minister to be here on a regular basis.

Delighted to meet First Minister of Scotland @JohnSwinney today in the Isle of Man at the British Irish Council.

Ireland and Scotland share so much history and culture. We committed to strengthening our ties.

Looking forward to future collaborations and friendship. pic.twitter.com/OZAzqzgh3O  Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) June 21, 2024

Mr Swinney added: In general, I think we all see our politics is pretty fractured, and the political system is pretty fractured.

So actually the opportunity that is fostered by this body for political leaders across these islands to come together, and to have courteous and respectful dialogue  which is what weve had today, which has always been my experience of the British Council  we frankly cant have enough of that and we need more of it.

Mr Harris said that it merits consideration by the next British prime minister to attend the next British-Irish Council, particularly as the UK is no longer a member of the European Union.

So I think it merits consideration as to how do we ensure that theres plenty of structures in place for that regular dialogue between the British prime minister of the day and the Irish Taoiseach of the day, and indeed the administrations are represented here because certainly I would value that and look forward to being in London in July where the UK Government will host the European Political Community meeting and hoping to have early engagement with the British prime minister.

Ms Little-Pengelly added: Very many people around the table have very busy jobs and very few opportunities, I think, to actually have those conversations and this provides that opportunity to do so.

Certainly, moving forward, I would like to see that prioritised. I think it does show that respect as well to the range of countries and jurisdictions and places across the British Isles and gives us that opportunity to ensure that all of our issues are aired at an appropriate level.

First Minister Michelle ONeill, who did not attend the summit due to an illness, took part in the meeting via Zoom.
There was a fourfold increase in the number of asylum-seekers appealing a decision refusing them permission to stay in Ireland last year.

The dramatic increase in cases was confirmed by the International Protection Appeals Tribunal which reported it had received over 3,500 additional appeals in 2023 compared to the previous year.

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IPAS registered a total of 4,775 appeals last year compared to 1,180 in 2022  an annual increase of over 300 per cent.

The number of appeals being received is at a level not seen by the tribunal since it was set up in December 2016, said IPAS registrar, George Sinclair.

The previous highest annual total of appeals received by the tribunal was 2,151 in 2018.

The latest figures show 70 per cent of all international protection appeals last year were rejected  a total of 969 cases  while asylum was granted in 28 per cent of cases and subsidiary protection in a further 2% of appeals.

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Georgia was the country of origin which accounted for the most number of applicants last year.

They represented 37 per cent of all appeals accepted by IPAS during 2023, followed by South Africa and Algeria (both 10 per cent), Nigeria (nine per cent) and Zimbabwe (eight per cent).

Other countries of origin from which a large number of appeals were lodged including Botswana, Albania, Somalia, Egypt and Pakistan.

Natives of the Democratic Republic of Congo enjoyed the highest success rate in their appeals with 73 per cent having the International Protection Office decision refusing them asylum set aside followed by Zimbabwe (60 per cent) and Malawi and Pakistan (both 46 per cent).

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The lowest success rate in appeals was recorded by applicants from Georgia and Algeria with only 15 per cent having the IPO decision on their status overturned.

Other countries whose applicants had low success rates on appeal included Nigeria and Albania.

IPAS chairperson, Hilkka Becker, said the tribunal had made a significant contribution to the international protection system in Ireland by making the process more efficient and ensuring its consistency with fairness and natural justice.

Ms Becker said the digitalisation of appeals had enabled IPAS to increase its accessibility and productivity.

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She expressed delight that IPAS had been able to maintain a median processing time of under six months to adjudicate on appeals during 2023, despite the large increase in the number of cases.

The median processing time last year was 5.5 months.

While the tribunal had concluded just over 1,700 appeals last year representing an annual increase of 8%, Ms Becker said it still had a caseload of 3,908 appeals at the end of 2023.

The IPAS chairperson said it was essential that the tribunal should have staffing levels and members that was proportionately equivalent to the number of staff and decision-makers in the IPO to meet the anticipated increase in appeals in 2024.

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IPAS reported that staffing levels increased last year from 37 to 59, as well as 25 additional part-time members of the tribunal.

The IPO received a total of 13,277 new applications last year which Mr Becker said represented an unprecedented level which would feed through into appeals before IPAS.

IPAS also noted that it continued to experience a high number of postponements of appeal hearings during 2023.

A total of 832,772 was paid in fees to the 66 part-time members of IPAS last year with barrister, John Noonan, receiving the largest single amount at 122,750.

In its latest annual report, IPAS also noted that the number of people applying for international protection within the EU in 2023 reached a seven-year high with the number of applications up 18% to 1.14 million.
Taoiseach Simon Harris has praised a woman for coming forward and speaking out after she was assaulted by a serving soldier.

Cathal Crotty (22), with an address at Parkroe Heights, Ardnacrusha, Co Clare, received a suspended sentence for assaulting Natasha OBrien in Limerick in 2022.

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Crotty beat Ms O'Brien unconscious in a random street attack, and boasted about it afterwards on social media. Crotty also wrongly told gardai who arrested him that Ms O'Brien had instigated the attack.

Asked about the case on Friday, Mr Harris said he wanted to create a very different society for young women.

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I want to thank Natasha OBrien and praise her for coming forward, for standing up, for speaking out, Mr Harris said, speaking from the Isle of Man.

I think that is really important. I would encourage any victim or survivor of violence, of gender-based violence to always come forward.

Asked about the suspended sentence Crotty received, Mr Harris said: I find myself precluded from being allowed to comment on the sentence of a court despite perhaps having quite a lot that I would have liked being able to say, other than let me say this  the legal process may not be concluded because it is absolutely always open to the DPP to appeal a sentence and also to appeal the leniency of a sentence.

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I need to be particularly careful in that context. But we are living in a country where there is still an epidemic of gender-based violence.

We need to call that and every single person in Irish society, and every single person, no matter what role youre in, has a role to play in relation to this.

I know as a Government, we remain absolutely determined to create a society where there is a zero-tolerance approach in relation to this.

We have a zero-tolerance approach in Ireland to sexual violence, to gender-based violence.

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Its really important that every part of society plays its full role in getting us to that zero-tolerance place that we need to be, which we clearly arent there yet, lets be absolutely categoric about that.

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There is still far too much violence against women in our country. I, as a Taoiseach, as a parent, as a father of a daughter, want to create a very different society for young women.

The Defence Forces said it had begun internal proceedings in relation to Crotty, which Mr Harris welcomed.

We should always expect people in our Defence Forces to be people of the highest standards, highest integrity and respect for the law, he said.

Earlier, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said that Ireland still had a long way to go in tackling violence against women.

Ms McEntee described the incident as a vicious and unprovoked attack and commended Ms OBrien for her bravery in coming forward.

Speaking in general, she said that she expected the sexual offences legislation she had been working on to be enacted before the Dail summer recess in three weeks time.

Helen McEntee also commended Natasha OBrien for her bravery in coming forward. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA

In the next few weeks, therell be new laws implemented to make sure that if somebody gives character references in cases, that they are willing to come forward and stand over those and to be cross-examined  in cases when it comes to domestic violence, sexual violence, violence against women, she told RTE radio.

This is not in the middle of a trial where obviously you have somebody defending themselves, but where somebody has been found guilty and there is a sentencing, if somebody is willing to stand up knowing that someone has been found guilty, they should be in a position that they can be cross-examined, and that they should be able to stand over what theyre saying  and I say that broadly.

She added: My job is to make sure that there was a maximum sentence there and over the last number of years, what I have seen consistently, where you have assaults that have taken place, sentences have not seemed strong enough.

Thats why Ive doubled the sentence from five years to 10 years, giving greater discretion to the judges who are hearing the cases.

When asked about the safety of women in Ireland in general, Ms McEntee said: I think we have a long way to go.

I think were in a much better space than we were.

Womens Aid last year saw more women than ever before seeking their help and I think we have to look at the positives of that.

I dont think that suddenly the number of women that are being assaulted and violently assaulted in their homes, or elsewhere, has increased that much in a year.

I think its that more women are coming forward, because were talking about it, because we now have a whole-of-government strategy that says everybody has a responsibility to deal with this issue, because were talking about changing behaviours more broadly, because were talking about engaging with young people at the earliest stage to say that this type of behaviour and action is not to be tolerated.

Its not that long ago that people said, well, thats a domestic thats in somebodys home, we dont have anything to do with that.

I think were much better than we were and were in a much better place than we were only a few years ago. But we have a long way to go.

This is an epidemic. I really believe that.

I think if what we saw what happened to Natasha was happening at the same rate as we know its happening in peoples homes, there wouldnt be a day that we werent talking about it. But because its behind closed doors, because its in peoples homes, theres still a reluctance to talk about it in the way that we should.

But I think we need to keep at it, she said.
A woman beaten unconscious by an Irish army private in a vicious and unprovoked assault in Limerick City has called on the Defence Forces to tender the soldiers immediate dismissal from the army.

Cathal Crotty (22), from Ardnacrusha, Co Clare, presently remains a member of the Defence Forces at Sarsfield Barracks, despite being convicted of assaulting 24-year-old Natasha OBrien.

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He walked free from court last Wednesday after sentencing judge Tom ODonnell gave him a fully suspended three-year jail term.

The judge said that when deciding Crottys sentence, he had to take into account his early guilty plea, his previous good character, and his apology to the victim, and the judge said an immediate sentence would certainly end Crottys army career.

Crotty punched Ms OBrien at least six times, knocking her unconscious on OConnell Street, Limerick, on May 29th, 2022. He had shouted homophobic slurs at two men on the street and Ms OBrien, who was walking home from a night shift at a local pub, had politely asked him not to call people names.

"(He) held me like a punching bag almost... until I eventually fell to the ground."



Natasha O'Brien describes how her attacker, Cathal Crotty (22), didn't stop and she feared she would die. #TonightVMTV pic.twitter.com/cufgI4ZeLg Advertisement  TonightVMTV (@TonightVMTV) June 20, 2024

Crotty stopped punching unconscious Ms OBrien on the ground after a passer-by intervened, Limerick Circuit Criminal Court heard.

Crotty, who ran away, later bragged about the assault to friends on Snapchat, writing: Two to put her down, two to put her out.

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Speaking on Friday, Ms OBrien said, if there is any justice, Private Crotty would be dismissed from the army.

There should be an immediate dismissal for any harm caused [by a solider] to a civilian. Its cause for an immediate dismissal  absolutely, Ms OBrien said.

Ms OBrien said the justice system needed to change so that injured parties are represented by solicitors and barristers in criminal trials.

The Irish criminal justice system provides free legal aid for a cohort of accused persons, which pays for their solicitor and barristers through the district court when they are initially charged through to the higher courts where they are tried and sentenced or acquitted.

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The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), which brings prosecutions before the courts, represents the people of Ireland, and does not represent victims.

Ms OBrien said she felt her speaking out that she did not have any representation in court had helped shine a spotlight on what she believes are unjust workings within of the criminal justice system.

This was a can of worms that needed to be let out, it was a boiling pot, and at least something good is coming out of this atrocity, thats what I am trying to do.

Ms OBrien said she was sick of reading cases whereby people were let out on the streets after committing violence.

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I am enraged for my nation more than for myself because this is much bigger than me, Ms OBrien said,.

I was just someone that had the voice that was strong enough to stand up.

I would like to see some true justice, I would like to see some effective change in the Dail.

I would like to demand some answers from the Minister for Justice as to whats going on, in terms of the Department of Justice, and the failure of the [criminal justice] system to so many like myself.

I feel these failures are that a message is being communicated to our nation that offences of this heinous degree are not taken seriously at all and they are overlooked.

Ms OBrien said she did not feel protected in court by the [authorities] that are supposed to be protecting us.

She reiterated she had no solicitor in court and that the accused Crotty had a solicitor and two barristers, and that a senior member of the Irish Defence Forces was also present in court  albeit to report back on the proceedings to his superiors.

Ms OBrien called for a fresh national debate about the rights of victims in the criminal justice system, which she indicated were seriously lacking.

That is definitely something that should be opened up for an honest discussion, she said.

It is 100 per cent something that should be opened up for discussion because the victim is put on trial and the defendant is represented.

Ms OBrien said she had not considered taking a civil case against Mr Crotty for injuries.

Judge ODonnell ordered Crotty to pay Ms OBrien 3,000 compensation, which he pledged to meet.

I havent even considered a civil case because there has been no real justice, it isnt over, she said.

She hoped that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) would appeal Crottys sentence on the grounds that it was too lenient.

However, Ms OBrien said legal sources had indicated to her that an appeal may be unlikely.

It was explained to me that leniency appeals are only accepted in cases of extreme leniency and, unfortunately, it appears that under this justice system [Crottys sentence] actually wasn't an extremely lenient sentence, and thats my uproar, thats my outrage, with the law.

Judge ODonnell was considering the law, and the law is evading justice.

A statement released on Thursday by the Irish Defence Forces said: The Defence Forces commend the bravery of the victim in this case, and hope for her full recovery from the injuries sustained.

Ireland Taoiseach praises woman beaten unconscious by sold... Read More

The Defence Forces unequivocally condemn any actions by serving personnel that are contrary to or do not reflect our values.

Any conviction in a civilian court may have implications for the retention and service of members of the Defence Forces, as stipulated in Defence Forces Regulations.

Once due process has been completed in a civilian court of law it becomes a matter for the relevant Defence Forces authorities in accordance with Defence Forces Regulations.

As such it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time, the statement concluded.
Eleven people have died after a fire that started in crop stubble spread through settlements in south-east Turkey overnight, officials and news reports said.

In neighbouring Greece, authorities evacuated several villages south of Athens and in the southern Peloponnese region because of wildfires.

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The blaze in Turkey broke out in an area between the provinces of Diyarbakir and Mardin.

Fanned by winds, it moved quickly through the villages of Koksalan, Yazcicegi and Bagacik, Diyarbakir governor Ali Ihsan Su said. The fire was brought under control early on Friday.

Health minister Fahrettin Koca posted on X that 11 people were killed. Around 80 others required medical treatment, including six who were in serious condition.

Justice minister Yilmaz Tunc said that authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire.

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Residents believe the blaze was caused by sparks from a power line that set crop residue ablaze, according to independent news website Gazete Duvar. Some of the people taken to hospital were villagers who tried to extinguish the fire, it said.



Dozens of others were hurt (Dia Photo via AP)

Hundreds of farm animals also perished in the fire, according to news channel HaberTurk.

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Across the country in north-west Turkey, meanwhile, firefighters were battling a wildfire near the town of Ayvacik in Canakkale province, the state-run Anadolu Agency said.

No-one was hurt, but authorities evacuated the small village of Camkoy as a precaution, the agency reported.

It was one of several wildfires that have erupted in the province of Canakkale in the past week amid high winds and scorching summer temperatures.

Wildfires also erupted in Greece amid very windy, hot and dry conditions. Six villages or settlements were ordered evacuated as a precaution because of wildfires near Anavyssos, just south of Athens, and in the southern Peloponnese region.

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There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage to property, and firefighters on the ground were assisted by water-dropping aircraft.

The greater Athens region was on the top wildfire emergency footing on Friday because of the weather forecast, with bans on entering forests and parks.
Japans space agency has suffered a series of cyberattacks since last year, officials said.

However, sensitive information relating to rockets and satellites was not affected, officials at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa) said, and it is continuing to investigate and take preventative measures.

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Japans chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi acknowledged that Jaxa has suffered a number of cyberattacks since late last year.

Jaxa has investigated the extent of illegal access while shutting down the affected networks and verifying that they did not contain classified information about operations of rockets and satellites and national security, he said.

Mr Hayashi vowed to strengthen Japans ability to counter cyberattacks.

Japan has been accelerating a military build-up in response to Chinas growing military might and is hoping to be able to develop a counter-strike ability, but experts say Tokyo will continue to need to rely heavily on the United States for launching long-range cruise missiles at targets.

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Officials on Friday said they were not aware of any information leak from the cyberattacks.

Japan's defence minister Minoru Kihara told reporters that the attacks on Jaxa have not affected his ministry, but that he is keeping a close watch on the investigation by the agency, which is one of his ministrys key contractors.

Japan's education and science minister Masahito Moriyama also told a news conference Friday that he believed there was no actual damage from the cyberattacks.

Officials said JAXA is currently working with the governments cybersecurity team to introduce counter-measures.
Prosecutors in Manhattan are urging the judge overseeing Donald Trumps criminal hush money case to uphold a gag order that bars the former president from criticising jurors, court staff or members of the prosecution that convicted him.

They agreed that one provision of the gag order, which prevented Trump from attacking trial witnesses in the case, could be lifted.

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In court papers filed on Friday, prosecutors with the Manhattan district attorneys office argued that portions of the gag order remained necessary given Trumps singular history of inflammatory and threatening public statements, as well as efforts by his supporters to identify jurors and threaten violence.



Donald Trump walks out of the courtroom after a jury convicted him of falsifying business records in May (Seth Wenig/AP)

Since the verdict in this case, defendant has not exempted the jurors from his alarming rhetoric that he would have every right to seek retribution as president against the participants in this trial as a consequence of his conviction because sometimes revenge can be justified, the filing states.

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The gag order, issued in March, prohibited Trump from making or directing others to make public statements about witnesses, jurors and others connected to the case. It does not restrict comments about the judge, Juan M Merchan, or Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office prosecuted the case.

Lawyers for Trump have called on the judge to lift the order following the culmination of his trial last month, which ended in his conviction on 34 felony counts for falsifying records to cover up a potential sex scandal. Trump denied any wrongdoing.

Defence lawyers argue Trump should be free to fully address the case as he campaigns for the White House, pointing to comments made by US President Joe Biden and the continued public criticism of him by his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen and the adult film actor Stormy Daniels, both key prosecution witnesses.

Now that the trial is concluded, the concerns articulated by the government and the court do not justify continued restrictions on the First Amendment rights of Trump, they wrote earlier this month.

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In their letter, prosecutors agreed that the provision barring statements about trial witnesses no longer needed to be enforced. They said the restrictions on statements about prosecutors in the case  with the exception of Mr Bragg  as well as court staff and their family members should remain in place.

Judge Merchan is expected to issue a ruling soon, possibly before Trumps June 27 debate with Mr Biden.

Earlier this week, New Yorks top court declined to hear the former presidents appeal on the gag order, finding it does not raise substantial constitutional issues that would warrant an immediate intervention.
South Korea summoned the Russian ambassador in protest at the countrys new defence pact with North Korea on Friday, as border tensions continued to rise, with vague threats and brief, seemingly accidental, incursions by North Korean troops.

Earlier on Friday, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un issued a vague threat of retaliation after South Korean activists flew balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets across the border.

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South Koreas military said it had fired warning shots the previous day to repel North Korean soldiers who briefly crossed the rivals land border for the third time this month.

It came two days after Moscow and Pyongyang reached a pact vowing mutual defence assistance if either is attacked, and a day after Seoul responded by saying it would consider providing arms to Ukraine to fight Russias invasion.



South Korea has recently retaliated for North Koreas trash-carrying balloon launches with propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts at border areas (South Korea Defence Ministry/AP)

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South Korean vice foreign minister Kim Hong Kyun summoned Russian ambassador Georgy Zinoviev to convey Seouls position on the deal between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Mr Kim and on alleged military co-operation between Russia and North Korea.

Mr Zinoviev told Korean officials that any attempts to threaten or blackmail Russia were unacceptable and that his countrys agreement with North Korea wasnt aimed at specific third countries, Russias embassy wrote on its X account. The South Korean ministry said Mr Zinoviev promised to convey Seouls concerns to his superiors in Moscow.

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres warned Russia and cited UN Security Council sanctions against The Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, the countrys official name, which ban all countries from providing the DPRK with any material for nuclear or ballistic missile programmes.

Any relationship that any country has with DPRK, including the Russian Federation, must entirely abide by those sanctions, he told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York.

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Leafletting campaigns by South Korean civilian activists in recent weeks have prompted a resumption of Cold War-style psychological warfare along the inter-Korean border.

The South Korean civilian activists, led by North Korean defector Park Sang-hak, said it sent 20 balloons carrying 300,000 propaganda leaflets, 5,000 USB sticks with South Korean pop songs and TV dramas, and 3,000 US dollar bills from the South Korean border town of Paju on Thursday.

Pyongyang resents such material and fears it could demoralise frontline troops and residents and eventually weaken Kim Jong Uns grip on power, analysts say.

In a statement carried by North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency, Kim Yo Jong, who is also one of her brothers top foreign policy officials, called the activists defector scum and issued what appeared to be a threat of retaliation.

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North Korean defector Park Sang-hak, left, and a member of Fighters For A Free North Korea hold balloons bearing anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets near the border with North Korea (Fighters For A Free North Korea/AP)

When you do something you were clearly warned not to do, its only natural that you will find yourself dealing with something you didnt have to, she said, without specifying what the North would do.

After previous leafletting by South Korean activists, North Korea launched more than 1,000 balloons that dropped tons of rubbish in South Korea, smashing roof tiles and windows and causing other property damage.

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Kim Yo Jong previously hinted that balloons could become the Norths standard response to leafletting, saying that the North would respond by scattering dozens of times more rubbish than is being scattered on us.

In response, South Korea resumed anti-North Korea propaganda broadcasts with military loudspeakers installed at the border for the first time in years, to which Kim Yo Jong, in another state media statement, warned that Seoul was creating a prelude to a very dangerous situation.

Tensions between the Koreas are at their highest in years as Kim Jong Un accelerates his nuclear weapons and missile development and attempts to strengthen his regional footing by aligning with Mr Putin in a standoff against the US-led West.



North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, and Russias President Vladimir Putin, left, walk through a garden of the Kumsusan State Guest House in Pyongyang (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service/AP)

South Korea, a growing arms exporter with a well-equipped military backed by the United States, says it is considering upping support for Ukraine in response.

Seoul has already provided humanitarian aid and other support while joining US-led economic sanctions against Moscow. But it has not directly provided arms, citing a long-standing policy of not supplying weapons to countries actively engaged in conflict.

Mr Putin told reporters in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Thursday that supplying weapons to Ukraine would be a very big mistake, and said South Korea shouldnt worry about the agreement if it is not planning aggression against Pyongyang.

North Korea is extremely sensitive to criticism of Mr Kims authoritarian rule and efforts to reach its people with foreign news and other media.

In 2015, when South Korea restarted loudspeaker broadcasts for the first time in 11 years, North Korea fired artillery rounds across the border, prompting South Korea to return fire, according to South Korean officials. No casualties were reported.



The motorcade of Russian President Vladimir Putin drives along a street in Pyongyang (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool/AP)

South Koreas military said there are signs that North Korea was installing its own speakers at the border, although they were not yet working.

In the latest border incident, South Koreas joint chiefs of staff said several North Korean soldiers engaged in unspecified construction work briefly crossed the military demarcation line that divides the two countries at about 11am on Thursday.

The South Korean military broadcast a warning and fired warning shots, after which the North Korean soldiers retreated.

South Koreas military says believes recent border intrusions were not intentional, as the North Korean soldiers have not returned fire and retreated after the warning shots.

The Souths military has observed the North deploying large numbers of soldiers in frontline areas to build suspected anti-tank barriers, reinforce roads and plant mines in an apparent attempt to fortify their side of the border.

Seoul believes the efforts are likely aimed at preventing North Korean civilians and soldiers from escaping to the South.
Former US president Donald Trump said he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from US colleges, a sharp departure from the anti-immigrant rhetoric he uses on the campaign trail.

Mr Trump was asked about plans for companies to be able to import the best and brightest in a podcast taped on Wednesday with venture capitalists and tech investors called the All-In.

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What I want to do and what I will do is you graduate from college; I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country. And that includes junior colleges too, anybody graduates from a college. You go there for two years or four years, he said, vowing to address this concern on day one.

Immigration has been Mr Trumps signature issue during his 2024 bid to return to the White House.

The former president walks to the podium at a campaign event on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Jeffrey Phelps/AP)

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His suggestion that he would offer green cards  documents that confer a pathway to US citizenship  to potentially hundreds of thousands of foreign graduates would represent a sweeping expansion of Americas immigration system that sharply diverges from his most common messages on foreigners.

Mr Trump often says during his rallies that immigrants who are in the country illegally endanger public safety and steal jobs and government resources, once suggesting they are poisoning the blood of our country. He has promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in US history if elected.

Mr Trump and his allies often say they distinguish between people entering illegally versus legally. But during his administration, he proposed curbs on legal immigration such as family-based visas and the visa lottery program.

After taking office in 2017, he issued his Buy American and Hire American executive order, directing Cabinet members to suggest reforms to ensure that business visas were only awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers.

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He has previously said the H1-B program commonly used by companies to hire foreign workers temporarily  a program he has used in the past  was very bad and used by tech companies to get foreign workers for lower pay.

Donald Trump in Wisconsin (Jeffrey Phelps/AP)

During the conversation with All-In, Mr Trump blamed the coronavirus pandemic for being unable to implement these measures while he was president.

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He said he knows of stories of people who graduate from top colleges and want to stay in the US but cannot secure visas to do so, forcing them to return to their native countries, specifically naming India and China.

He said they go on and become multibillionaires, employing thousands of workers.

You need a pool of people to work for your company, Mr Trump said. And they have to be smart people. Not everybody can be less than smart. You need brilliant people.
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 Of the six offshore wind zones under development around Australia, the plans for wind turbines off the Illawarra coast have been by far the most contentious. More than 14,000 people and organisations made submissions to the federal governments public consultation on the proposed Illawarra offshore wind zone last year. The next highest was the consultation for the zone in the Southern Ocean off the coast of Victoria, with more than 3000 submissions. Around Wollongong, it is not hard to find well-organised groups campaigning both for and against the offshore wind zone. So far, at least, it seems the naysayers are making the most noise. Glenn Burgess, 71, from Towradgi, speaks for many when he asks: Why cant they put them off Sydney Heads? The Illawarra wind energy zone has been by far the most contentious of the off-shore wind-power proposals. Credit: Kate Geraghty Yet conversations with people everywhere, from North Wollongong Beach to the main street of Port Kembla, paint a more nuanced picture: the community is sceptical but open to persuasion. For every person who is vehemently opposed, we speak to another who is a stalwart supporter. Plenty of people say they do not know much about it yet. A common theme is that the person has seen some negative commentary and had some doubts, but they could be won over if the visual impacts were minimised, there were guarantees for local employment, and it could be proven that the impact on marine life was minimal.

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Opposition Leader Peter Dutton continued with his nuclear strategy on Wednesday, announcing seven sites and at least one in every mainland state of Australia. People in Wollongong have their doubts about that, too. But a policy from the opposition that may never happen is one thing, government action is another. Unlike nuclear power stations, the work to create an offshore wind zone industry started two years ago. Several zones have already been declared and are moving to project stage. Most locals against the Illawarra wind zone commented that they thought most people were opposed. This ties in with new research from the University of Sydney, published in Ecology and Society, that suggests close-knit communities can harden their position on issues because of the reinforcing effect of the echo chamber. In this environment, genuine concerns are amplified, and misinformation can thrive  such as a fake journal article doing the rounds last year about the supposed effect of offshore wind on whale migration. Why couldnt they put them off Sydney Heads: Glenn Burgess and Nicky Maguire walking their dogs on Towradgi beach. Credit: Kate Geraghty This is fertile ground for politicians. After Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen announced the Illawarra wind zone last weekend, Nationals leader David Littleproud visited a few days later, promising to overturn the two NSW wind zones in the Illawarra and the Hunter. Two years ago, there was little to no offshore wind industry in Australia. The 15,000-kilometre zone off Gippsland is the biggest and also the first and most developed so far. It was approved in 2022, and feasibility licences have already been granted to proponents. The Hunter zone was declared last year, and the Southern Ocean and Illawarra zones this year. A zone in Bass Strait off Tasmania and another off the Bunbury coast in Western Australia are still under ministerial consideration.

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The Illawarra zone is arguably the biggest test for the Albanese government so far because of the regions population density. While the Hunter zone stretches past Newcastle, the second-biggest city in NSW, the Hunter declared area is 38 kilometres from Newcastle at the closest point. Proponents of wind farms in the Illawarra must ensure they are 20 kilometres out to sea  up from the original 10 kilometres. Both sites were chosen because of their existing industrial base and proximity to transmission lines  unlike Sydney Heads. Many Illawarra locals remain concerned about ruining the views of the beautiful coastline they love so much. One of the groups opposed to offshore wind in the Illawarra, Responsible Future, has been handing out transparencies purporting to show what wind turbines would look like at 10, 20 or 30 kilometres offshore. A spokesperson for the group says the person needs to be one, two or three metres from the transparency for the visualisation to work, and it is usually distributed with instructions. The aesthetic concern is top of mind for Madeleine Woods, 25, when we meet her working on her laptop after a run at North Wollongong beach. Woods moved to the area to enjoy the serenity of the clear coastal views only a year ago, and is disappointed that will be disrupted. If they are going to do it 20 kilometres out, surely they can do an extra 20 and make that a little bit further? Woods says. It makes me feel better that its not 10 kilometres out, but its still going to be completely visible.

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Woods is one of many beach users to mention the views, but not everyone shares the same perspective. Shannon Sainty-Roach, 37, on the beach near Port Kemblas Hill 60, says: Ive lived in Europe and seen wind farms, and they have a structural architectural beauty that, I tell you what, a coal mine will never have. Nicky Maguire, 78, out walking her dog near Towradgi beach north of Wollongong, doubts the wind turbines would be visible or noticeable at 20 kilometres offshore, based on her trips to Britain. Its not a bad idea, I think it will create jobs, and they cant talk about an eyesore when youve got the steelworks belching over there  I mean, really! Maguire says. So yeah, go for it. Weve got to do something, and you cant spend 10 years deciding where to do it and then change your mind. Also at Towradgi, longtime local Paul Lumby doubts the promise of local jobs. If the government signed on the bottom line that all the turbines, every component or installation is going to be done under Australian instruction, I wouldnt be that mad about it, Lumby says. Madeline Woods is disappointed that her beach view is under threat. Credit: Kate Geraghty

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In North Wollongong, Alex Pena is enjoying a morning coffee at the beach. Pena, who made a sea change moving from Sydney two years ago, says he supports moving away from fossil fuels, but he has concerns about the impact of offshore wind zones on a fragile environment and the views. I have misgivings more than anything else, Pena says. The move away from fossil fuels is very important, but my doubt or my concerns are that everythings too rushed. Kelsie, 30, walking on North Wollongong beach with baby Olive, thinks the wind zone is a good option. The dangers that often get touted about effects to the bottom of the ocean and marine life, I think the dangers of global warming are a lot bigger, and there needs to be a solution, says Kelsie, who requested her surname be withheld because of her job. That might include something that we dont necessarily love, but I think its the lesser of two evils. Later, as she meets a group of other young mothers for a babys birthday party, some of her friends share a different view. Belinda Melmoth (left) with her baby Ivy and Kelsie and baby Olive (right) with friends at a mothers group celebrating a birthday at North Wollongong beach. Credit: Kate Geraghty Belinda Melmoth, with baby Ivy, says she has a mixed view on the wind farm, with concerns about marine life, aesthetics and possible health issues as she has heard that the harmonics of wind turbines can give people headaches.

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Brian Benson might, as the crow flies, have the closest home to Australias only nuclear reactor. Along Sierra Road, in a bushy corner of Engadine on Sydneys southern fringe, the white buildings of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisations (ANSTO) Lucas Heights facility are visible from backyard balconies.

It doesnt faze me, you know, the nuclear reactor, whatever. If theres a war and that gets blown up, we go with it, Benson muses. But its not on our mind.

Behind rows of quiet houses in a serene suburban street lies Australias only nuclear reactor. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

This suburb wouldnt be the only one living in the shadow of a nuclear reactor under Opposition Leader Peter Duttons plan to build seven nuclear power stations, from Lithgow to the Latrobe Valley.

Living alongside nuclear has become mundane for residents here, but the reactor brewing about a kilometre away on the other side of the valley also serves to exemplify the risks of radioactivity, from mounting stockpiles of waste to the odd radiation burn.
Three security guards and a male nurse have allegedly been attacked by a man armed with a knife at a hospital in western Sydney amid a rise in the rate of assaults at the states hospitals.

Assaults have spiked sharply at western Sydney hospitals in the past two years, some involving significant injuries to patients and staff, leading to union calls for better security at emergency departments.

A man has allegedly stabbed staff at Westmead Hospital. Credit: Wolter Peeters

Police were called to Westmead Hospital about 11.30pm on Friday following reports that a 39-year-old man allegedly stabbed two security guards, aged 24 and 25. A third male security guard suffered a dislocated shoulder while trying to subdue the man, who is believed to be a patient at the hospital.

A 29-year-old nurse also sustained minor injuries.
One of the surviving officers involved in the Wieambilla shooting that resulted in the deaths of two Queensland constables and a neighbour may not give evidence at an inquest due to medical reasons.

Constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold were fatally shot by Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey Train, when they attended the Trains property at Wieambilla in December 2022. Neighbour Alan Dare was also killed when he came to help.

State Coroner Terry Ryan is currently considering the issues which will be investigated at an inquest later this year regarding the shooting, which was deemed a terrorist attack motivated by religious extremism.

From left: Constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold, who were killed in the Wieambilla shooting, and constables Randall Kirk and Keely Brough, who survived the incident.

A pre-inquest hearing in Brisbane on Friday heard sworn officers of the Queensland police had submitted that several officers should not be called to give oral evidence.
It was 9am when Transport Infrastructure Minister Danny Pearson officially opened the 50th new or upgraded rail station in the decade-long Level Crossing Removal Project at a media event to mark the milestone.

But Goran Torbakov had already woken up at 7.30am on Friday thanks to the announcement blaring into his apartment from the new station platform just metres from his window. Dear passengers, this station is now open.

Goran Torbakov at his apartment, overlooking the new station. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui

The Keon Park station in Reservoir, on the Mernda line, has been demolished and rebuilt on elevated tracks about 100 metres closer to the city. On Thursday, The Age revealed complaints from residents who now, suddenly, have a station hanging over their balconies.

The estimated gap between the apartments and the station is four or five metres, leading to concerns about lights shining into bedrooms late at night, noise and a lack of privacy.
I would certainly expect to see a more serious escalation before the outcome that we saw in this case, she said. A recent four-year study, showing men who killed their past or current partner almost invariably had long histories of violence, seemed to back Malletts analysis. In the words of the studys lead author: these are not men for whom violence comes out of the blue. Farquharson was taking anti-depressants after the breakup of his marriage and had, at times, contemplated suicide. But his counsellor gave evidence that, in the months before the fatal crash that he had been improving, and he was considering reducing his sessions. Farquharson was convicted in 2007 and again in 2010 of triple murder after he drove into a dam on Fathers Day in 2005 with his three boys  Jai, 10, Tyler, 7, and Bailey, 2  in the car. Farquharson escaped but his sons didnt. The case against Farquharson is described as a strands of the rope case, and the final, and arguably most important strand, canvassed in this weeks episode of Trial By Water, was his disturbing behaviour in the hours and days after the boys died.

One of his first actions after getting out of the dam where the car had sunk was to ask the young men who picked him up on the side of the highway to take him to see Gambino to tell her hed killed the boys. In the second trial, prosecutor Andrew Tinney told the jury that Farquharson had planned and executed his murder plot then demanded to be taken to see Gambino for the delicious reward of seeing the expression on her face when he told her the children were dead. Farquharson also refused offers from people to dive into the dam to try to find the boys. He did not dive in himself. On the side of the dam, he repeatedly asked others for cigarettes. In a police interview at Geelong hospital on the night the boys died, he said, I gathered that when told they were dead, and then asked at least twice: Whats the scenario for me? His demeanour made police immediately suspicious, and was partly responsible for the case being referred the following day to the homicide squad.

Loading Throughout the investigation and two prosecutions, Farquharson did not provide details of what had happened in the dam. When he was asked, his evidence had gaps and was inconsistent. Despite the importance of this demeanour evidence, and the prosecutions argument about the motive, neither Tinney, who is now a judge, nor the prosecutor in the first trial, Jeremy Rapke, obtained a psychological or psychiatric report. Defence barrister Peter Morrissey likewise did not commission one. Victoria Police has said it stands behind the rigorous investigation. The Office of Public Prosecutions and Morrissey both declined to comment about the case. Mallett said the lack of a report was weird.

I mean if theyre saying that this [murder] was because of psychological pressure ... then I would definitely expect a psych report, or probably one for the prosecution, one for the defence, she said. Surely if it hinges on his mental state, how have they not assessed his mental state? Criminal psychologist Tim Watson Munro agreed:Given the magnitude, I mean, its a triple murder ... I find it extraordinary, he told Trial By Water. Leading criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro. Credit: Cole Bennetts After the Hoddle Street massacre in 1987, when mass shooter Julian Knight killed seven people and injured 19 with a high-powered rifle, Watson-Munro said he had assessed Knight, as had a number of other forensic psychologists and psychiatrists, including the chief crown psychiatrist of Victoria. Watson-Munro said these were not to test an insanity defence, but simply to try to explain why Knight had committed his crimes. Im staggered no psych report was tendered [in the Farquharson case], he said.

Loading Watson-Munro said the kind of report he was talking about would have included a comprehensive personality assessment and tests for disorders such as psychopathy. In its absence, the only psychological evidence at Farquharsons trial came from his Geelong-based counsellor and psychologist, Dr Peter Popko. In a three-page report and a police statement, Popko said Farquharson had been angry at the breakdown of his marriage to Gambino, but his anger wasnt extreme or threatening, and hed been grateful that Cindy gave him open access to the kids. Farquharson was making very good therapeutic progress in counselling. My personal opinion, Popko told police, is that it is highly unlikely that Rob would have done anything to hurt his kids. A prison psychologist who saw Farquharson in 2011, three years into his 33-year sentence, wrote in the prison medical records: We are [either] dealing with a man who is innocent and wrongfully imprisoned or a man who is in denial.

Trauma specialist and psychologist Dr Rob Gordon told Trial By Water that his assessment of Farquharsons behaviour after the crash was that he, didnt see a monster there. I saw a very disorganised man who was having a lot of trouble being coherent about his experience. Dr Rob Gordon, a specialist in trauma behaviour. Credit: Daryl Pinder If Farquharson had successfully murdered his children, Gordon said he might have been traumatised by that, but he expected it would present differently. It was like what was traumatic is, Ive done this. And I think thats very different from what we see in Mr Farquharsons case, which is, I really cant grasp whats happening, and Im reverting to a very simple, self-centred, whats going to happen to me next?, Gordon said. The trauma of the event would also contribute to the difficulty of remember its details, Gordon said.
Two people were found dead on a walking track near a beach in the Great Otway National Park in south-west Victoria on Friday.

A passerby discovered the bodies of a man and woman near Wreck Beach about 10.45am.

Wreck Beach Walk, Great Otway National Park.

Police cordoned off the scene in Gellibrand Lower near the Great Ocean Road and Twelve Apostles.

In an initial statement, police said the circumstances of the deaths were yet to be determined, but they werent searching for anyone else in connection to the incident.
Police have described the brother of ruthless Melbourne organised-crime kingpin Kazem Kaz Hamad as a puppeteer of firebombings across the country as part of a crime wave linked to the illegal tobacco wars.

Maytham Hamad. Credit: Nine News Perth

Maytham Hamad, 29, was arrested this week in a joint investigation by Western Australian and Victorian police and the Australian Border Force (ABF) into an alleged $10 million illegal tobacco business in WA with links to an organised crime syndicate in the Middle East.

Over the past year, Kaz Hamad has waged an at-times bloody war for control of the lucrative illicit tobacco trade in Victoria, where a dedicated taskforce was launched after dozens of firebombings and multiple shootings.

Detective Acting Superintendent Mark Hatt, from Victoria Polices anti-gang division, alleged Maytham Hamad was a high-level co-ordinator of violence and other associated illicit tobacco activities.
Goodman Australia chief and former Wallaby Jason Little and his wife Bridget are set to stake a claim on Bondi Beachs high-end apartment market having purchased a $23 million penthouse atop the Hall & Campbell development.

For their money is a gutted shell that is a consolidation of apartments spread across the top two levels of the Allen Linz and Eduard Litver development overlooking the beach with parking for two cars and a downstairs apartment thrown in.

The penthouse atop the Hall & Campbell development at Bondi Beach sold for $23 million as a gutted shell. Credit: Artists impression

But thats all they get. Even at a stonking $105,000 per square metre, the penthouse is yet to score the multimillion dollar fitout thats expected before its complete.

And while the sale price hasnt topped the $32 million record set by billionaire Will Vicars for his consolidation of three penthouses in the Bondi Pacific next door, the price has set a local high for a per-square-metre rate.
There is a risk in the long term of the Albanese government making compromises that are problematic in terms of the Australian national interests and in terms of ethics, he says. Thats a recipe for effectively ceding a significant part of your sovereign decision-making and outsourcing that to Beijings sensitivities. Protesters and pro-China supporters railled outside Parliament House this week as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hosted Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen One example of this, he says, is the fact that Australia has not followed the US, EU and UK in sanctioning Chinese companies supplying Russia with dual-use technologies for use in its illegal invasion of Ukraine. Its a really morally questionable position for the Albanese government to take, Herscovitch says, and one that undermines Australias security as Beijing grows increasingly belligerent in asserting its territorial claims to Taiwan and in the East and South China Sea.

Despite the diplomatic platitudes, the deep fissures in the Australia-China relationship when it comes to competing worldviews, values and systems of government were plain to see. At every stop on Lis visit  Adelaide, Canberra, and Perth  protesters campaigned against Chinas human rights abuses against Muslim Uyghur minority groups and in Tibet, as well as Beijings brutal crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong. Inside Parliament House, the move by Chinese diplomats to block journalist and former detainee Cheng Lei from the view of cameras at a signing ceremony sparked a public outcry, with many seeing the incident as emblematic of the Chinese states brazen disregard for Australias democratic institutions even when guests on foreign soil. Wang Wang, one of the pandas at Adelaide Zoo. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Over the course of the four days, Wong and Albanese assiduously repeated the co-operate where we can, disagree where we must mantra that has guided the governments relationship-repair efforts. Unquestionably, this approach has borne fruit over the past two years, most notably on the trade front. Beijing has gradually lifted $20 billion in coercive sanctions it slapped on a dozen Australian exports in 2020 in retaliation for the former Coalition governments more strident and public criticism of China and policy measures such as the Huawei ban and foreign interference laws.

For the long-suffering lobster industry, Lis visit didnt bring confirmation of the lifting of this last remaining export ban, but there were announcements about renewed military-to-military communications albeit with little detail, visa-free travel by Australians to China, and of course, two new pandas for Adelaide Zoo. Dialogue is how we manage differences, Albanese told the press in Canberra, as he confirmed he raised with Li the case of Chinese-Australian academic Yang Hengjun, who is facing a suspended death sentence, and other human rights concerns, though he did not go into detail. Restored communications is a theme the government has hammered home at every turn as it seeks to remind the public of the ministerial-level communication blackout between China and Australia under the former Morrison government. Australian Strategic Policy Institute executive director Justin Bassi had a front-row seat to the nadir of the Australia-China relationship in the Coalition era as chief of staff to former foreign minister Marise Payne.

He said that while the resumption of high-level engagement was important, Lis visit had added to a growing sense that dialogue was an end in itself. It had the effect of putting the two countries differences on equal footing. Topics such as illegal behaviour in the South China Sea, the arbitrary detention of Australians such as Dr Yang, cyberattacks and foreign interference, none of these are matters of opinion that both sides should be able to air their differences on, Bassi says. Thats the risk of the quiet diplomacy approach ... not explaining to the public what the positions are...is dialogue on Beijings terms, not dialogue on Australias terms. Deciding when, where and how forcefully to air these differences is a tricky diplomatic calculation.

Lowy Institute senior fellow Richard McGregor said that while the stabilisation approach had its limits, focusing on the diplomatic niceties that Albanese used with Li was the wrong barometer for assessing Australias handling of the relationship. Loading Albanese is not Australias sole voice on China, he says. The fundamental differences between Australia and China were never going to be solved by this trip ... It may be a fantasy that we can manage differences in the long term, but there is nothing wrong with trying to do so. He pointed to Richard Marles speech at the Shangri-La security dialogue in Singapore last month, where the defence minister called out Chinas unsafe confrontations with Australian naval forces, and its aggression in the South China Sea and Taiwan as a threat to global stability.
The personality type of the mentor, finding someone that is going to be your first port of call that you can talk to, communicate with effectively, and teach you what you want out of the mentoring program, she said.
I have a recent example of a first-home buyer who proposed to purchase a house and land package, he said. They were very excited but only had a rudimentary understanding of what is quite a complicated form of finance.
To give industry the confidence they need to get on and build, we need government and all councils working towards the same goal: more homes for Victorians  in the right places, Allan said.
A man waves a U.S. flag after being sworn-in as a U.S. Citizen by a U.S. immigration officer at an empty parking lot during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Santa Ana, California, U.S., July 29, 2020. (Photo: REUTERS/Mike Blake)

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced an extension of work permits for migrants from El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation. This extension, which now expires between March and July 2025 depending on the nationality, impacts over 300,000 immigrants from these countries, as well as those from Nepal and Sudan.

TPS provides temporary legal status to nationals of countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions that make it unsafe for them to return. The extension will allow these individuals to continue living and working in the United States without fear of deportation.

"Temporary Protected Status has been a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of immigrants who have built their lives here," said a USCIS spokesperson. "This extension reflects the ongoing challenges in their home countries that prevent safe return."

Currently, nearly 1.2 million of the approximately 21.6 million noncitizen immigrants in the U.S. are either receiving or eligible for TPS. The federal government offers TPS to immigrants from nations deemed unsafe to return to due to crises such as war or natural disasters. Since President Biden took office in 2021, the scope of TPS has been significantly expanded to include more countries and to extend the duration of protection.

TPS can be granted for up to 18 months and can be extended repeatedly if conditions in the home country remain dangerous. Beneficiaries of TPS live across all 50 states, with the largest populations in Florida, Texas, California, and New York, according to the Pew Research Center.

Many TPS holders have been in the U.S. for decades, long before the current administration. For example, migrants from Honduras and Nicaragua have been eligible for TPS since the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch in 1998, provided they have been residing in the U.S. since December 30 of that year. Similarly, protections for Salvadoran immigrants apply to those who have been in the U.S. since February 13, 2001, following devastating earthquakes in El Salvador.

Venezuela is among the most recent additions to the list of TPS-eligible countries. First designated in 2021, TPS for Venezuelans has been extended multiple times due to the ongoing humanitarian, political, and economic crises in the country. The Department of Homeland Security continues to cite these crises as the primary reasons for maintaining and extending TPS for Venezuelan nationals.

The extension of TPS reflects the Biden administration's broader immigration policy, which aims to provide stability and protection for immigrants facing dire conditions in their home countries. However, the administration faces ongoing challenges and criticisms regarding its overall handling of immigration issues.

"While this extension is a positive step, much more needs to be done to address the broader immigration system," said an immigration policy analyst. "The long-term goal should be to provide a pathway to permanent residency and citizenship for these individuals who have become integral parts of our communities."

The extension of TPS is not just a matter of legal status but also has significant economic implications. Many TPS holders are essential workers who contribute to various sectors of the economy, including healthcare, construction, and agriculture. The ability to work legally ensures that they can continue to support themselves and their families, both in the U.S. and abroad.

Despite the benefits, the temporary nature of TPS means that recipients live with uncertainty about their long-term future in the U.S. Immigration advocates argue that more permanent solutions are needed to ensure stability for these individuals and their families.

The Biden administration's approach to TPS has been more expansive compared to previous administrations, reflecting a commitment to humanitarian principles. However, it remains to be seen how these policies will evolve in the face of political pressures and legal challenges.
The expansion of Indias electronics production is becoming increasingly dependent on imported components from China and Hong Kong, especially key products such as PCBs, micro assembly, semiconductor devices, LEDs, integrated circuits, and capacitors.

Despite India slamming the door shut on Chinese component companies in response to the border clashes with Chinese troops at Galwan in 2022, the decision has so far had no adverse impact: Chinese companies continue to supply components to meet the growing demand in India.



Imports to India reached $20.70 billion in FY24, a growth of over 28 per cent compared to the previous year.
Visible results achieved in China-U.S. drug control cooperation

Xinhua) 11:06, June 21, 2024

Chinese State Councilor and Director of the China National Narcotic Control Committee Wang Xiaohong meets with Rahul Gupta, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, in Beijing, capital of China, June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

BEIJING, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Director of the China National Narcotic Control Committee Wang Xiaohong met with Rahul Gupta, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, in Beijing on Thursday.

Wang said that since last year, both sides have implemented important consensus reached by the two heads of state and achieved many visible results in drug control and repatriation of illegal immigrants.

He added that China is willing to strengthen bilateral and multilateral exchanges and cooperation in drug control with the United States on the basis of mutual respect, managing differences and mutually beneficial cooperation.

China hopes the U.S. side will work with China, attach importance to and effectively address China's concerns, and enhance the well-being of the people of the two countries through practical cooperation, Wang said.

Both sides agreed to continue communication on relevant issues.

Chinese State Councilor and Director of the China National Narcotic Control Committee Wang Xiaohong meets with Rahul Gupta, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, in Beijing, capital of China, June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Associations of tea producers in Asia and Africa have flagged concerns over the global mismatch of demand and supply. Photo: Shutterstock.com

Associations of tea producers in Asia and Africa have flagged concerns over the global mismatch of demand and supply and called for an early restoration of equilibrium, according to a statement issued by a planters' body on Friday.

In a meeting of the stakeholders of the global tea industry, recently held in Dubai, the associations also addressed the issue of quality and long-term sustainability of the sector.

Indian Tea Association (ITA) chairman Hemant Bangur said that the global tea industry is facing a demand-supply mismatch as production continues to outpace demand.

Representatives of ITA, East African Trade Association (EATTA), independent tea producers' body of Kenya, and tea associations of Malawi, Bangladesh and Uganda attended the meeting.

They voiced concern over stagnating consumption demand in Europe and Asia, the ITA said in a statement.

Bangur said, "Africa with its growing population and rising income has the potential to become one of the largest markets for black tea."



According to the ITA statement, EATTA chairman Arthur Sewe said the tea sector in East Africa is currently facing a decline in quality and issues related to climate change, which require concerted efforts by all the stakeholders.

During the meeting, they deliberated on the impact of climate change, price stagnation, increasing input costs and challenges relating to fair price discovery, it said.

Malawi Tea Association chairman Sangwani Hara was quoted as saying that climate change is a big problem and must be addressed to sustain the level of tea productivity.

The industry is also facing a crisis in exports and falling value of the produce thereby threatening the livelihoods of millions, the ITA statement said.

The stakeholders also felt that the economic recession and geopolitical challenges due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict in the traditional bulk tea export markets had affected shipments.

The Russian Federation is one of the largest importers of tea, particularly from India.
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MSCI Inc. (NYSE: MSCI), a leading provider of critical decision support tools and services for the global investment community, today announced the results of the MSCI 2024 Market Classification Review.

Select highlights of this years review includes MSCI:

Launching a consultation on the potential reclassification of Bulgaria from Standalone to Frontier Market status

Continuing to monitor the implementation of measures aimed at improving the accessibility of the Korean equity market for international investors, but also noting that the recent short selling ban introduces market accessibility restrictions

Noting recent improvement in the liquidity of the Egyptian foreign exchange market while warning on the potential implications of deteriorations reoccurring

Continuing to monitor the market accessibility of the Bangladesh equity market

Highlighting the evolution of clearing and settlement cycles across global markets



In the face of market volatility, regulators in certain markets around the world have proactively advocated for elevated market accessibility standards. While we are seeing various developments and measures announced and implemented, its crucial that any actions toward enhancing market accessibility align with investor expectations and that no new restrictions impede any forward momentum, said Dr. Dimitris Melas, Global Head of Index Research and Product Development and Chairman of the MSCI Index Policy Committee. We will continue to evaluate how new and evolving reforms impact global institutional investors market accessibility and assess their effectiveness throughout the next market review cycle.

More information related to the MSCI 2024 Market Classification Review, including the results of the 2024 MSCI Global Market Accessibility Review, can be viewed at www.msci.com/market-classification.

Consultation on potential reclassification of Bulgaria to Frontier Market status

MSCI announced today the launch of a consultation on a proposal for potential reclassification of Bulgaria from Standalone Market status to Frontier Market status in one step, coinciding with the May 2026 Index Review.

As part of MSCIs August 2016 Index Review, Bulgaria was reclassified from Frontier Market status to Standalone Market status after a continuous decline in the size and liquidity of the Bulgarian equity market. At the August 2023 Index Review, MSCI implemented changes to the index construction and maintenance methodology for the MSCI Frontier Markets Indexes. These changes resulted in Bulgaria now having enough companies meeting Size and Liquidity requirements for Frontier Markets.

MSCI welcomes feedback from market participants on this reclassification proposal until April 15, 2025 and will announce its decision as part of the MSCI 2025 Market Classification Review.

Koreas Market Accessibility

From 2008 to 2014, MSCI consulted with global market participants on the potential reclassification of Korea from Emerging Market status to Developed Market status. During this period and the time that followed, market participants highlighted key accessibility concerns including the limited convertibility of the Korean Won in the offshore currency market; the rigidity of the ID system that makes in-kind transfers and off-exchange transactions onerous; and the lack of investment instruments availability due to the restrictions on the use of exchange data for the creation of financial products.

MSCI recognizes and welcomes the recently proposed measures aimed at improving the accessibility of the Korean equity market.

Foreign exchange market : In February 2023, improvements to the Korean foreign exchange (FX) markets structure were announced by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF). Starting from January 2024, Registered Foreign Institutions (RFIs) are now able to participate in the onshore interbank FX market and engage in direct FX transactions with banks. The pilot operation to extend trading hours has also been initiated, with full implementation set for the latter half of this year. Additional time is required to assess the implementation of these measures and the extent to which these infrastructure improvements align the Korean FX market with global standards.

Legal Entity Identifiers : Advancements to the capital market were announced by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) in January 2023. By the end of that year, following appropriate regulatory modifications and the development of relevant IT infrastructure, corporations began using Legal Entity Identifiers (LEI) instead of the Investor Registration Certificate (IRC) system. The requirements for reporting investment details of each final investor associated with an omnibus account holder were relaxed, and the scope of OTC transactions for ex-post reporting was broadened. However, market participants have expressed concerns about the complexity of the requirements needed to obtain an entirely validated LEI, which is creating further obstacles rather than simplifying market access for foreign investors. MSCI will continue to closely monitor the implementation of these reforms.

Mandatory disclosures : As part of the improvement measures announced by the FSC, the first phase of the mandatory English disclosures (phased in by asset size and foreign ownership percentage) started this year. In addition, updates to dividend distribution procedures, announced by FSC and MOEF last year, were implemented in 2024. Nonetheless, only a minority of companies have embraced these measures.



It is important to note that the aforementioned reforms do not address the issues arising from the limitations imposed by the local stock exchange on the use of exchange data for financial product creation. Additionally, in November 2023, authorities enacted a full ban on short selling, introducing additional accessibility constraints.

In response to COVID-19, Korea implemented a ban on short selling on March 16, 2020. By May 2021, this prohibition was temporarily revoked for securities listed in the KOSPI 200 and KOSDAQ 150 Indexes. However, in November 2023, a full ban on short selling was reimposed. While this ban is expected to be temporary, sudden changes in market rules are not desirable.

As a reminder, potential reclassifications require that all issues have been addressed, reforms have been fully implemented, and market participants have had ample time to thoroughly evaluate the effectiveness of the changes.

Improvement in the liquidity of the Egyptian Foreign Exchange Markets

Due to low FX liquidity and the re-emergence of the FX queue, foreign investors encountered repatriation challenges in the Egyptian equity market in 2023. In May 2023, MSCI applied a special treatment for Egypt in the MSCI equity indexes. This special treatment deferred index review changes and the implementation of corporate events aiming to address index replication concerns by potentially reducing the number of changes in related indexes. MSCI also highlighted the deterioration of Egypts market accessibility as part of the 2023 Market Classification Review and warned that a consultation on a reclassification proposal may be launched if the markets accessibility worsened further. In March 2024, the Central Bank of Egypt enhanced currency availability by allowing the Egyptian pound to depreciate and committing to shift to a more flexible exchange rate system. With the clearing of the FX backlog, which had been outstanding for international institutional investors since early 2023, repatriation challenges were eased. Given this material improvement in the markets accessibility, MSCI removed the special treatment for Egypt effective June 3, 2024.

Significant frictions in the capital repatriation process negatively impacting index replicability are considered an uncharacteristic feature within Emerging Markets, remarked Jean-Maurice Ladure, Global Head of Index Management Research and member of the MSCI Index Policy Committee. If Egypt were to re-encounter similar FX liquidity constraints in the near future, MSCI could consider launching an off-cycle consultation on a reclassification proposal for Egypt from Emerging Market status to Frontier or Standalone Market status.

MSCI welcomes the aforementioned positive developments and will continue to closely monitor the onshore USD liquidity levels and the capacity of foreign investors to repatriate their capital without delays from the Egyptian market.

Market Accessibility issues in Bangladesh

In July 2022, the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) reinstituted floor prices for all listed securities. Since then, the BSEC has gradually lifted these restrictions, yet six listed securities still retain floor prices. In addition, market participants have recently reported delays in capital repatriation due to low liquidity in the onshore FX market.

As a result of these market accessibility issues, MSCI will continue to apply the special treatment introduced in February 2023. This special treatment defers index review changes and the implementation of corporate events aiming to reduce the number of potential changes in the MSCI Bangladesh Indexes and mitigate concerns on index replicability.

MSCI continues to welcome feedback on the accessibility of the Bangladesh market and may consult with market participants in case of further developments.

Evolution in Settlement Cycles of Global Equities

The path towards shorter cycles in equity clearing and settlement mechanisms has continued. In May 2024, USA, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, and Jamaica transitioned from T+2 settlement cycles to T+1, while other markets, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Australia, are evaluating the possibility of reducing their settlement cycles to T+1 and are in a consultation/review phase.

In response to these developments, MSCI sought feedback from global market participants from December 21, 2023 to March 15, 2024 on the potential impact of these changes in their investment processes. Market participants agreed that while operational adjustments are necessary due to these changes, amendments from index providers are not required. Furthermore, there is an expectation among market participants that the trend towards shorter settlement cycles will continue, ultimately establishing T+1 as the new standard. Feedback received also reemphasized that shorter settlement cycles must not introduce further operational challenges and risk, such as pre-funding requirements. Simultaneously, it was underscored that a lack of alignment in equity settlement cycles across global markets is undesirable.

MSCI continues to closely monitor these developments.

-Ends-

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ATLANTA (June 21, 2024)  The Carter Center will deploy a technical election observation mission to Venezuela in advance of the presidential election scheduled for July 28.

The Center was invited by Venezuelas National Electoral Council (CNE) to observe the elections. The invitation was extended in accordance with the agreement signed by the government of Venezuela and the Unitary Platform in Barbados in October 2023.

The international mission will be led by Jennie Lincoln, the Carter Centers senior advisor on Latin America and the Caribbean. Lincoln and a core team of experts will arrive in Caracas on June 29. Additional electoral experts and regional observers will join the team in July.

The Carter Center will conduct its mission according to the memorandum of understanding signed with the CNE as well as in accordance with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation and the Code of Conduct for International Election Observers, adopted at the United Nations in 2005.

Given its limited size and scope, the Centers mission will not conduct a comprehensive assessment of the voting, counting, and tabulation processes. The missions assessments will be based on the national legal framework as well as regional and international human rights obligations and standards for democratic elections.

The Carter Center has observed several elections in Venezuela, most recently in 2021 when it deployed an expert mission for the regional and local elections. The Carter Center has observed 124 full and limited election missions in 40 countries and three Native American nations. In addition, 17 expert missions have been conducted in 15 countries.

Translation

El Centro Carter Desplegara Una Mision Electoral para las Elecciones

Presidenciales de Venezuela (PDF)

###

Contacts: In Atlanta, Maria Cartaya, maria.cartaya@cartercenter.org

Jennie Lincoln, jennie.lincoln@cartercenter.org

The Carter Center

Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope.

A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.
The first time I attended the Annecy animation festival was 20 years ago, just a few months after launching Cartoon Brew. One thing that hasnt changed about the event in all these years is its status as the undisputed global event for animation.

And as the global animation world has exploded over the last couple decades, so has Annecy alongside it. In fact, there may be no better place than Annecy to glimpse a wide angle perspective of the current state of animation, which continues to grow around the world at an absolutely astounding pace.

Having said that, my experience at Annecy 2024 was anything but astounding. In attempting to be a one-stop event for all things animation, Annecy has become chaotic, overcrowded, and aimless in its current form. What follows are three of the key reasons I didnt enjoy the event this year.

1  Annecy is a victim of its own success

The most common icebreaker that people ask each other at an animation festival is, What have you seen so far thats interesting? My answer at Annecy this year was nothing. Thats not because I didnt like anything; its because I literally didnt see anything. And speaking with others, not seeing anything is a surprisingly common Annecy experience.

Heres the thing: Annecy is actually two events in one: One is the festival, and the other is the business marketplace MIFA. Its literally impossible to experience both in the same week. You have to choose one  art or business  and stay in your lane. Yes, occasionally a MIFA attendee will sneak in a screening or two, and yea, people on the festival side will often spend a few confused hours wandering the halls of MIFA just to say theyve done it. But there are relatively few intersection points between these events  and the points where they do intersect, like the pitch sessions, could smartly be reconfigured to fit into one side or the other, or potentially even serve as the launchpad for a third event.

The good news is that the festival has successfully rethought its structure in the past to accommodate the expansion of animation. When production started booming in the late 1990s, thanks in large part to the growth of digital production, Annecy switched from taking place every two years to a yearly schedule. At the time, there was criticism from some quarters that a yearly event would split the audience and not enough people would show up for either, which is a quaint fear looking at the event today.

What cannot be denied is that todays event is buckling under the weight of animations global expansion, and Annecy as a simultaneous platform for a festival and business market is unsustainable. Splitting the festival and MIFA would go a long way towards alleviating the current chaos of Annecy and making the experience more pleasant and productive for all.

2  Corporate fuckery is ruining Annecy

Even pre-pandemic, Annecy had replaced San Diego Comic-Con as the event for Hollywood studios to make major animation announcements. Not only is it more well situated on the summer calendar than Comic-Con, but Annecy crowds are comprised of industry professionals (and students who aspire to be industry pros)  in other words, a supportive community who welcomes filmmakers and understands the language and labor of animation production.

But Annecys open-armed embrace of Hollywood has changed the tone of the event. Most people who attend no longer talk about the independent shorts theyve seen, but rather whether they were able to get into some major studios screening or receive a party invite to some studio event. The prime evening slots at the main Bonlieu theater, which used to be reserved for the short film premieres, are now given to feature films. While many of us like to say that short-form animation is the soul or heart of the festival, its mostly wishful thinking, as independent filmmakers who were the dominant force at Annecy for most of its 64-year history have now been relegated to the bleachers in favor of big-studio glitz.

With Hollywoods arrival, the vibe has become more heavy-handed too. A Hollywood director told me how Annecys security dragged him out of his own screening for trying to film the audiences reaction to the film he had directed so that he could show the crew back home.

And then theres Hollywoods own unique brand of fuckery that makes the festival more unpleasant for everyone else. One example is finding a place to stay within the city. While finding accommodations in Annecy has always been a challenge, its become even more difficult with the arrival of the studios. I spoke to one hotel who told me that all of their rooms had been block-booked by just two companies (Ill let you guess which two).

And heres the kicker: one of the studios had purchased 50 rooms beyond what they actually needed, so the hotel had to leave all of those rooms empty during the festival. They told me that their hands were tied since the rooms had already been paid for and they couldnt double-book in case the studio ended up needing them. Its beyond comprehension that dozens of rooms in a prime location within the old town would be left empty when so many attendees were struggling this year to find accommodations.

Oh, and just in case youre wondering, that same hotel is already sold out for 2025 because the same two companies have bought it out again for their invisible employees attending Annecy.

3  Annecy is a public health danger

The first two gripes are annoying to be sure, but not enough to stop me from attending. This third one though is making me rethink future Annecy trips.

During the festival, I chatted with people who attended the infamous 2022 edition at which countless attendees caught covid. Hearing their stories, I thought about how glad I was to have waited a couple extra years before resuming attendance. But patting myself on the back for good judgment was premature.

I returned home sick as a dog with the worst unintended French souvenir ever: covid. Im grumpily writing this piece horizontally from my bed, unable to do much of anything. My miserable state causes me to reflect on the past week. Was there any interaction I had during the festival that made getting covid worth it? The answer is easy: There wasnt.

Sure, there were wonderful meals and conversations with friends, both old and new, but all of these could have been arranged outside of the context of Annecy. The festival is a convenient way to see a lot of people at once, but that same convenience is also a virulent petri dish of disease and sickness made up of over 17,000 people from 103 countries.

Even in pre-covid times, more years than not I would catch a cold or flu of some sort at Annecy. Now, in the pandemic era, I caught something far more malicious and debilitating. Its an experience I wont be looking to repeat anytime soon. As much as Ive enjoyed Annecy in the past, for the foreseeable future, Im going to stick with more intimate (and less-potentially-lethal) animation events.
GCCA and UNIDO sign decarbonisation MoU

Suzanne Starbuck By 21 June 2024

A ground-breaking agreement has been signed by the UNs Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) to work together on decarbonising the cement and concrete industry, with a strong focus on the Global South. The two organisations have agreed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which will see them working together on key sustainability and decarbonisation issues, including:

providing recommendations for decision-makers to create the right market environments for the development of low and near zero emissions cement and concrete

developing innovative technological solutions to help meet net zero commitments

organising joint international industry and government events

jointly authoring and publishing documents, recommendations and research tools

identifying promising companies and innovative solutions and showcasing these at relevant events and in publications

UNIDO supports its 172 member states with economic and industrial development, in line with the UNs Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With its long-standing experience in renewable energy projects and the application of clean energy technologies in industry, UNIDO successfully collaborates with a wide range of partners globally supporting industries on their path to net-zero emissions.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Austria, Gerd Muller, director general of UNIDO, said, "Cement and concrete are a vital part of resilient infrastructure development. Decarbonising the cement and concrete sectors worldwide is essential to reducing CO 2 emissions and tackling climate change. The GCCA and its members are leading the way on doing so for this important global industry. Our UNIDO member states face a number of technical, market-related and policy hurdles that make decarbonisation commitments even more challenging. That is why I am very glad to sign this Memorandum of Understanding with the GCCA and start a new phase of closer cooperation that will help our member states overcome those challenges."

"Through our Net Zero Roadmap and the accelerator programme we have put in place, we are already working with policymakers, governments and industry to overcome procurement and resourcing challenges across the global south. Having this ground-breaking agreement with UNIDO is a natural progression which we hope will fast-track progress in a meaningful way," added Thomas Guillot, CEO, GCCA.





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Dal Engineering delivers kiln shell

Peter Bell By 21 June 2024

Dal Engineering has successfully delivered a kiln shell with diameter 4.75m x length 28m to Lafarge Ciment de M'sila, part of the Holcim group.

The Turkish engineering company looks forward to continuing its successful collaboration with Lafarge Ciment de M'sila of Algeria and contributing to its ongoing success.

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Christian J. Williams, 22, was sentenced to 75 months in prison by Judge Charles E. Atchley, Jr. in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Following his

incarceration, Williams will be on supervised release for three years.

As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Williams agreed to plead guilty to one count of possession a machinegun in violation of Title 18, U.S.C.  922(o) and one count of possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute, in violation of Title 21, U.S.C.  841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C).

According to filed court documents, in December 2021, Chattanooga Police officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a stolen vehicle. The vehicle fled and ultimately crashed. Williams exited the passenger-side door and fled on foot. Officers gave chase, caught Williams, and found him in possession of fentanyl pills and a Glock, Model 27, .40 caliber pistol with an installed machinegun conversion device, colloquially known as a switch.

The switch enabled the pistol to fire fully automatic, that is, fire multiple rounds by a single pull of the trigger. Possession of a switch is illegal under Federal law, as the National Firearms Act classifies the switch itself as a machine gun.

U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement.

The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by the ATF Chattanooga Field Office, the ATF Firearms Technology Branch, and the Chattanooga Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin T. Brown represented the United States.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.






The Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga invites the Chattanooga community to celebrate Independence Day with an indoor, air-conditioned picnic event on Thursday, July 4 at 11:30 a.m. at the Jewish Cultural Center, 5461 North Terrace Road.Organizers said, "Regionally known musicians Lon Eldridge, Lou Wamp and Lynn Wamp play swing, blues and Western swing. There will be lots of toe tapping in celebration of the holiday. Chicken with special BBQ sauce sizzling on the grill, plenty of summer sides, including fresh homemade potato salad and cole slaw, and tasty dessert treats are sure to make a feast.Vegetarian meals are available if requested by the registration deadline of July. This is the best Independence Day picnic in town."The cost to attend is $15 for adults; $28 for two, $36 for a family of four, $7 for children seven to 16, and free for children under seven. Register at www.jewishchattanooga.com
Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report.

(If your case is dismissed, just email us your name and date we ran it and we will promptly take off. Email to news@chattanoogan.com)

APPLEBERRY, DAVORIUS ANTOINE

2709 CITICO AVE CHATTANOOGA, 374063408

Age at Arrest: 31 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

FAILURE TO APPEAR



BACON, NICOLE LEANNE

HOMELESS HOMELESS, 37343

Age at Arrest: 38 years old

Arresting Agency: East Ridge

POSSESSION OF METH (SELL, DEL OR MANUFACTURING)

THEFT OF PROPERTY

POSSESSION OF FOR RESALE

EVADING ARREST

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA



BARBY, JOSHUA MATTHEW

1724 GANASITA TR CHATTANOOGA, 37406

Age at Arrest: 31 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

VANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEF



BELL, GREGORY LEBRON

710 MOORE ST CHATTANOOGA, 37411

Age at Arrest: 60 years old

Arresting Agency: East Ridge

NONSUPPORT AND FLAGRANT NONSUPPORT



BINKLEY, BETHANY ROSE

813 PINTA CIRCLE SALE CREEK, 37321

Age at Arrest: 26 years old

Arresting Agency: Soddy Daisy

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)



BLAKE, LISA MARIE

1107 LULLWATER ROAD RED BANK, 37405

Age at Arrest: 39 years old

Arresting Agency: Red Bank

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)



BROWN, KEVIN EARL

119 HOLLYBERRY LANE CHATTANOOGA, 374113761

Age at Arrest: 40 years old

Arresting Agency: UTC

POSSESSION OF METH (SELL, DEL.

Here are the mug shots:

APPLEBERRY, DAVORIUS ANTOINE

Age at Arrest: 31

Date of Birth: 08/14/1992

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Charge(s):

FAILURE TO APPEAR BARBY, JOSHUA MATTHEW

Age at Arrest: 31

Date of Birth: 03/09/1993

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Charge(s):

VANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEF BELL, GREGORY LEBRON

Age at Arrest: 60

Date of Birth: 07/11/1963

Arresting Agency: East Ridge



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Charge(s):

NONSUPPORT AND FLAGRANT NONSUPPORT BLAKE, LISA MARIE

Age at Arrest: 39

Date of Birth: 03/07/1985

Arresting Agency: Red Bank



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

BROWN, KEVIN EARL

Age at Arrest: 40

Date of Birth: 09/30/1983

Arresting Agency: UTC



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Charge(s):

POSSESSION OF METH (SELL, DEL. OR MANUFACTURING)

POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA BRUBAKER, ALLEN

Age at Arrest: 55

Date of Birth: 07/22/1968

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Charge(s):

ASSAULT AGAINST FIRST RESPONDER CHRISTIAN, TYLER

Age at Arrest: 30

Date of Birth: 01/11/1994

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Charge(s):

DOMESTIC ASSAULT CRAIG, JUSTIN

Age at Arrest: 38

Date of Birth: 12/30/1985

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Charge(s):

ASSAULT AGAINST FIRST RESPONDER

SEXUAL BATTERY

DISORDERLY CONDUCT DAVIS, PHILLIP DJUAN

Age at Arrest: 58

Date of Birth: 01/06/1964

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Charge(s):

NONSUPPORT AND FLARRANT NONSUPPORT FOX, RICKY GENE

Age at Arrest: 31

Date of Birth: 01/05/1993

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Charge(s):

POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FULLER, MARCUS SAMUEL

Age at Arrest: 31

Date of Birth: 12/04/1992

Arresting Agency: Soddy Daisy



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

GREEN, ANTHONY JERMONE

Age at Arrest: 51

Date of Birth: 07/05/1971

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Charge(s):

POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA HACKLER, LEVON CHARLES

Age at Arrest: 42

Date of Birth: 02/23/1982

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Charge(s):

VIOLATION OF PROBATION (POSS. METH FOR RESALE)

VIOLATION OF PROBATION (POSS. METH FOR RESALE) JONES, TALESIA RENEE

Age at Arrest: 36

Date of Birth: 01/14/1988

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Charge(s):

DISORDERLY CONDUCT

PUBLIC INTOXICATION KELLER, TIMOTHY GERARD

Age at Arrest: 58

Date of Birth: 07/07/1965

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

KING, SHARON

Age at Arrest: 60

Date of Birth: 07/10/1963

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Charge(s):

PROSTITUTION LAYMON, MARVIN KEITH

Age at Arrest: 58

Date of Birth: 04/10/1966

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

MARTIN, RODGER DENTON

Age at Arrest: 52

Date of Birth: 06/16/1972

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Charge(s):

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY MCCANE, DARNELL LORENZO

Age at Arrest: 41

Date of Birth: 04/29/1983

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

MOORE, JUMAR SAREEF

Age at Arrest: 42

Date of Birth: 08/04/1981

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Charge(s):

DOMESTIC ASSAULT

DISORDERLY CONDUCT

PUBLIC INTOXICATION PENSON, TRACY ANTONIOUS

Age at Arrest: 27

Date of Birth: 10/05/1996

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Charge(s):

VIOLATION OF ORDER OF PROTECTION PHILLIPS, MICHAEL DAVID PAUL

Age at Arrest: 56

Date of Birth: 06/08/1968

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Charge(s):

THEFT OF PROPERTY (CONDUCT INVOLV.MERCHANDISE) POTTS, JUSTIN ROBERT

Age at Arrest: 32

Date of Birth: 06/16/1992

Arresting Agency:



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Charge(s):

FAILURE TO APPEAR PRICE, KEVIN

Age at Arrest: 38

Date of Birth: 09/26/1985

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Charge(s):

CRIMINAL TRESPASSING

CRIMINAL LITTERING PRUITT, CHRISTOPHER ELIJAH

Age at Arrest: 24

Date of Birth: 06/06/2000

Arresting Agency:



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

SHACKLEFORD, TEANDRA DESHEA

Age at Arrest: 42

Date of Birth: 11/08/1981

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Charge(s):

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY SHIRLEY, TODD ALLEN

Age at Arrest: 28

Date of Birth: 04/26/1996

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Charge(s):

POSSESSION OF METH (SELL, DEL. OR MANUFACTURING)

POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA SILVA-MEZA, BRYAN JOEL

Age at Arrest: 30

Date of Birth: 04/19/1994

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Charge(s):

DOMESTIC ASSAULT (VOP) SNEED, DANIEL DEWAYNE

Age at Arrest: 20

Date of Birth: 01/12/2004

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Charge(s):

PATRONIZING PROSTITUTION SNYDER, JONATHON DANIEL

Age at Arrest: 43

Date of Birth: 07/28/1980

Arresting Agency: Red Bank



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Charge(s):

DRIVING ON SUSPENDED TOLEDO, ELISSA RENEE

Age at Arrest: 25

Date of Birth: 07/26/1998

Arresting Agency:



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Charge(s):

PUBLIC INTOXICATION

ESCAPE VAUGHN, MALLORY AUNTE

Age at Arrest: 42

Date of Birth: 02/20/1982

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Charge(s):

POSSESSION OF FENTANYL FOR RESALE

POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE FOR RESALE

POSS. OF METHAMPHETAMINE WITH INTENT TO MANUFACTUR

POSS. OF METHAMPHETAMINETO DELIVER

POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE TO DELIVER

POSS. OF FENTANYL FOR RESALE

POSS. OF METHAMPHETAMINE FOR RESALE

POSSESSION OF FENTANYL FOR RESALE

POSS OF FIREARM DURING A FELONY

POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA

DRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALE

DRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALE

DRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALE WATERS, KOURTNEY ALISE

Age at Arrest: 36

Date of Birth: 08/17/1987

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Charge(s):

DOMESTIC ASSAULT YOUNG, KEAIRA NASHAY

Age at Arrest: 25

Date of Birth: 04/24/1999

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 06/20/2024

Charge(s):

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

VANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEF

RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT

UNLAWFUL CARRYING OR POSSESSING WEAPON

OR MANUFACTURING)POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIABRUBAKER, ALLEN3639 PHELPS ST CHATTANOOGA, 37412Age at Arrest: 55 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffASSAULT AGAINST FIRST RESPONDERCHRISTIAN, TYLER5324 SLAYTON AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37410Age at Arrest: 30 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffDOMESTIC ASSAULTCRAIG, JUSTIN661 E LESLIE BENSPNON, 85602Age at Arrest: 38 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDASSAULT AGAINST FIRST RESPONDERSEXUAL BATTERYDISORDERLY CONDUCTCROY, SARAH LAUREN4809 ROGERS RD CHATTANOOGA, 37411Age at Arrest: 25 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffVIOLATION OF ORDER OF PROTECTIONHARASSMENTDAVIS, PHILLIP DJUAN1803 E 27TH ST CHATTANOOGA, 37407Age at Arrest: 58 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDNONSUPPORT AND FLARRANT NONSUPPORTFOX, RICKY GENE1644 PARTRIDGE LANE SODDY DAISY, 37379Age at Arrest: 31 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffPOSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCEPOSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCEPOSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIAFINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITYFULLER, MARCUS SAMUELHOMELESS SODDY DASIY, 37379Age at Arrest: 31 years oldArresting Agency: Soddy DaisyBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)GREEN, ANTHONY JERMONE727 E 11TH ST CHATTANOOGA, 374032704Age at Arrest: 51 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDPOSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIAHACKLER, LEVON CHARLES203 DEEPO STREET SODDY DAISY, 37379Age at Arrest: 42 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffVIOLATION OF PROBATION (POSS. METH FOR RESALE)VIOLATION OF PROBATION (POSS. METH FOR RESALE)JONES, TALESIA RENEE2205 E 12TH ST APT B CHATTANOOGA, 374044502Age at Arrest: 36 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDDISORDERLY CONDUCTPUBLIC INTOXICATIONKELLER, TIMOTHY GERARD2319 CALICO ROAD DECATUR, 37322Age at Arrest: 58 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)KING, SHARON727 E 11TH ST CHATTANOOGA, 374071054Age at Arrest: 60 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDPROSTITUTIONLAYMON, MARVIN KEITH3804 CUSCOWILLA TRAIL CHATTANOOGA, 37415Age at Arrest: 58 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)MARTIN, RODGER DENTON3919 RHINEHART RD OOLTEWAH, 37363Age at Arrest: 52 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSEFINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITYMCCANE, DARNELL LORENZO5409 SLAYTON AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37410Age at Arrest: 41 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)MOORE, JUMAR SAREEF1809 WILSON ST CHATTANOOGA, 374063138Age at Arrest: 42 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDDOMESTIC ASSAULTDISORDERLY CONDUCTPUBLIC INTOXICATIONPARMENTER, DOROTHY MARIE6038 CUCOWILLA TRAIL CHATTANOOGAT, 37415Age at Arrest: 42 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDPUBLIC INTOXICATIONPOSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCEPOSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIAPENSON, TRACY ANTONIOUS7801 HANCOCK RD CHATTANOOGA, 37416Age at Arrest: 27 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffVIOLATION OF ORDER OF PROTECTIONPHILLIPS, MICHAEL DAVID PAUL204 S LOVELL AVE , 37411Age at Arrest: 56 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDTHEFT OF PROPERTY (CONDUCT INVOLV.MERCHANDISE)POTTS, JUSTIN ROBERT4007 RETRO HUGES ROAD SALE CREEK, 37373Age at Arrest: 32 years oldArresting Agency:FAILURE TO APPEARPRICE, KEVINHOMELESS CHATTANOOGA, 37407Age at Arrest: 38 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDCRIMINAL TRESPASSINGCRIMINAL LITTERINGPRUITT, CHRISTOPHER ELIJAH1415 DALLAS LAKE HIXSON, 37343Age at Arrest: 24 years oldArresting Agency:Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)RAMOS, ANDRIY RONALDIHNO1624 E 17TH STREET CHATTANOOGA, 37404Age at Arrest: 18 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDRECKLESS ENDANGERMENTEVADING ARRESTDRIVING WITHOUT DRIVERS LICENSE / EXPIRED LICENSESHACKLEFORD, TEANDRA DESHEA1805 WILSON ST CHATTANOOGA, 374063138Age at Arrest: 42 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSEFINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITYSHIRLEY, TODD ALLEN350 WHASHA LN CHATTANOOGA, 374057320Age at Arrest: 28 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffPOSSESSION OF METH (SELL, DEL. OR MANUFACTURING)POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIASILVA-MEZA, BRYAN JOEL5702 WILDER RD CHATTANOOGA, 37343Age at Arrest: 30 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffDOMESTIC ASSAULT (VOP)SNEED, DANIEL DEWAYNE3657 49TH ST NW CLEVELAND, 373121504Age at Arrest: 20 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDPATRONIZING PROSTITUTIONSNYDER, JONATHON DANIEL266 STONE CREEK TRL DUNLAP, 37327Age at Arrest: 43 years oldArresting Agency: Red BankDRIVING ON SUSPENDEDTOLEDO, ELISSA RENEE541 CEDAR GLEN CIR EAST RIDGE, 37412Age at Arrest: 25 years oldArresting Agency:PUBLIC INTOXICATIONESCAPETROXTEL, ABIGAIL MADISON6022 MILL RD HIXSON, 373432878Age at Arrest: 26 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDPUBLIC INTOXICATIONPOSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCEPOSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCEPOSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCEVAUGHN, MALLORY AUNTE5210 DONLYN LN HIXSON, 37343Age at Arrest: 42 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffPOSSESSION OF FENTANYL FOR RESALEPOSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE FOR RESALEPOSS. OF METHAMPHETAMINE WITH INTENT TO MANUFACTURPOSS. OF METHAMPHETAMINETO DELIVERPOSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE TO DELIVERPOSS. OF FENTANYL FOR RESALEPOSS. OF METHAMPHETAMINE FOR RESALEPOSSESSION OF FENTANYL FOR RESALEPOSS OF FIREARM DURING A FELONYPOSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIADRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALEDRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALEDRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALEWATERS, KOURTNEY ALISE2314 COVEY LN CHATTANOOGA, 37421Age at Arrest: 36 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffDOMESTIC ASSAULTYOUNG, KEAIRA NASHAY1609 WILLOW AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37416Age at Arrest: 25 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffAGGRAVATED ASSAULTVANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEFRECKLESS ENDANGERMENTUNLAWFUL CARRYING OR POSSESSING WEAPON






The Hamilton County School Board narrowly voted Thursday night to submit a $674 million budget to the County Commission, asking for $32 million for teacher salaries and a compensation study.

The board then voted to give teachers a flat raise of $2,800, shooting down the 5 percent option. Larry Grohn, Faye Robinson, Rhonda Thurman and Chairman Joe Smith voted no to Version 1. Those four and Joe Wingate voted against the flat raise of $2,800.



The approved Version 1 budget was first presented at the school boards May meeting but the vote was deferred to June 20.



At the budget committee meeting June 6, Superintendent Dr. Justin Robertson had presented a more modest Version 2 budget, which lowered raises to 3 percent or a flat $1,750, and cut a $5-million compensation study and $1 million in added staffing. Version 2s total request to the County Commission was just $18 million.



Chairman Smith voted no Thursday because he said county commissioners did not seem amicable to $32 million after a meeting with the commissions education committee.



My perception was we werent going to get that, Chairman Smith said.



Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp had since offered schools one-time funding of $5 million instead, for increases in teacher salaries.



Thats a win, said Chairman Smith, who has served eight years on the school board. He said a one-off request for $34 million in fiscal year 2020 was also denied, setting a precedent. Before the vote the board members discussed their motives.

Our job is to ask... for what we need, said school board finance committee Chairman Marco Perez.

We dont have a lot of wiggle room said board member Jill Black. This is just what education costs.



I plan to vote for what we should have voted for last month, said board member Ben Connor.

But board member Gary Kuehn said voting for Version 1 will cause trouble. Weve been told that thats just going to delay the process, he said.



Mr. Grohn, too, said hed like to see approval by the County Commission the first time.



The County Commission will vote to approve its own budget, including the schools budget, this Wednesday, June 26. If it denies the school boards budget request, the school board may call a special voting session or wait until after the July 4 holiday.



Mr. Perez said the tense budget season had elements of a smear campaign which should be forgotten.



I dont believe the County Commission doesnt care about education, he said.



Board member Rhonda Thurman fired back that raises wouldnt sting so much if the school system had not created 500 positions this year.



We create Frankenstein and then we have to feed him, she said. You cannot run a budget on one-time money... Im going to ask the commission for what I think theyll give us.



Dr. Robertson answered that even if the 3 percent raise in Version 2 were passed, that would mean an 11 percent raise for teachers over the last three years, and a 21 percent raise for teachers over the last eight years.



We have done a lot toward compensation, he said. We are standing behind teachers. He said he has also made big strides in working conditions and urged the board to think realistically about where we are.



Mr. Grohn said inflation has caused him to lose 22 percent of buying power in his personal retirement accounts over the last six years. Teachers are suffering the same losses with their salaries, he said.



Dr. Robertson answered that It hurts a school systems budget more than it hurts our individual homes.



Regardless of teacher raises in this budget, a state mandate will raise starting teacher salaries to $50,000 by Fall 2026.






Collegedale will continue to partner with the state of Tennessee for use of the states Criminal Integrated Justice Program. The board of commissioners was told that the city has participated in the program for the past 10 years that allows the Collegedale Police to use the states criminal justice portal for criminal justice activity such as crime and traffic related incidents, apprehensions and investigations, and criminal history records, among many other things. Use of the program is limited to only authorized persons.

A service agreement with Tyler Technologies Software was approved at the Commission meeting this week. This is an agreement for software that the city will use for anything financial. It is budgeted for the upcoming fiscal year.

The second reading and vote to amend the 2023- 2024 budget passed unanimously. That will allow money to be transferred from one appropriation to another by the financial director to account for unexpected expenditures and grants that were received during the year.

Also passed on a final vote was an ordinance to collect a citation fee of $5 upon a plea of guilty or a judgement of guilty on traffic citations. The money that is collected will fund the electronic citation program.

A memo of understanding was approved with the UTC Police Department that will allow UTC officers to use the Collegedale firing range, with only Commissioner Tonya Sadler voting in opposition. UTC will join training at the firing range with multiple other agencies from the area.

Approval was given for an amendment to the original contract between TDOT, Norfolk Southern Railroad and the city of Collegedale regarding a project for Apison Pike. City Attorney Sam Elliott said this is required for the work to take place and that it would put no obligation or risk on the city.

The citys financial report for May is on track, said Financial Manager Michelle Toro. She said at 92 percent of the way through the year, 98 percent of expected revenues have been received and 94 percent of expenditures have been made.

In the reports from individual commissioners, some differences of opinions were shared. Commissioner Sadler began by reading a statement she had prepared about her discontent with City Manager Wayon Hines. She believes that he oversteps his authority and said that he forgot he works for the commissioners and not the other way around. And she believes that there is not as much development as she expected in the town and put the blame on poor management. She wanted to accept Mr. Hines resignation.

The motion failed for the lack of a second. Commissioner Katie Lamb said how much she appreciated the city manager, key mangers and staff, and thanked them all for the jobs they do.

Mayor Morty Lloyd said he has been able to go to the city manager and have an open and honest dialogue and he has always found an open and receptive audience, always willing to listen, even though they have not always seen eye to eye, they have had a good relationship and he thanked Mr. Hines.

Vice Mayor Tim Johnsons opinion is that communication needs to be improved, but he had already discussed that with Mr. Hines. He had concerns with planning commission meetings that had been cancelled by the city manager when he would be out of town, and said that Vice Mayor Michelle Toro could substitute.

Commissioner Debbie Baker said she has always been able to come to the city manger and talk. And she feels she has been able to voice opinions to him in a manner of integrity and respect for each other. She said the commissioners and city manager is a check and balance relationship, not an us versus you arrangement, and that they are both on the same team. If you dont think you can do that, she said, that person needs to remove themself.
Chattanooga-Hamilton County Rescue Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department Mowbray Volunteer Fire Department Sale Creek Volunteer Fire Department Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department Waldens Ridge Emergency Service Previous Next

The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance and Tennessee State Fire Marshals Office held a luncheon at Chattanooga State Friday to present grant monies to six Volunteer Fire Departments in Hamilton County. The fire services who were awarded the fire and/or rescue grant include the following:

Chattanooga-Hamilton County Rescue  Rescue Grant monies ($12,870.34) will be used to purchase new cliff/cave rescue items to replace aging rope, pulleys, rope hardware and backpacks

Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department  Fire Grant monies ($46,800) will be used to purchase air packs for fire personnel

Mowbray Volunteer Fire Department  Rescue Grant monies ($17, 356) will be used to purchase Swiftwater Rescue dry/wet suits, gloves and flashlight

Sale Creek Volunteer Fire Department  Fire Grant monies ($54, 405.15) will be used to purchase upgrading air packs for fire personnel



Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department  Rescue Grant monies ($8,174) will be used to purchase a HURST Strong arm  powerful tool used to lift, cut, spread and breach doors with ease

Waldens Ridge Emergency Service  Fire Grant monies ($12,500) will be used to purchase thermal imaging cameras to replace aging thermal imaging cameras

Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management congratulates all the volunteer fire services and appreciative to all our fire and rescue personnel who volunteer their time to protect lives and property daily.




In the late 19th century, an anti-alcohol activist named Carry Nation went to great lengths to stop people from getting drunk. She believed that drunkenness was the root cause of many societal problems.

When she started using violence to make her case, she gained national attention. Throughout her life, she remained opposed to drinking. Her efforts contributed to the passing of the 18th Amendment, which established the prohibition of alcohol in the United States.

Carry was born in Kentucky in 1846. Her family moved around a lot. After the Civil War, Carry met a man named Charles Gloyd, a doctor from the Union Army who became a teacher.

She was intrigued by him, as he seemed educated and sophisticated. Her parents disapproved of him because of his excessive drinking, so they started to court in secret. Then, they got married in 1867.

Immediately, Carry regretted going through with the marriage. Gloyd was drunk at the ceremony and didnt spend much time with her. Eventually, she moved back home with her parents. She was pregnant, and it was clear that her drunken husband wouldnt have the means to support her.

Six months after she gave birth to their daughter, Charlien, Gloyd died. Records show that his death was related to his severe drinking problem.

Carry became a teacher to support her child and make ends meet. However, she was fired for teaching kids unconventional pronunciation of words. Soon, she met David Nation, a minister and lawyer who was 19 years older than her.

They got married in 1874, but they werent very happy together due to financial troubles and personal differences. Carry focused on her career of managing hotels. Over the years, she grew increasingly religious. She kept having visions that she took as a sign from God to fight drunkenness.

At that time, women were unable to vote, but they were still becoming more involved with politics. Temperance, the prohibition of alcohol, was backed by many women activists. After her family moved to Medicine Lodge, Kansas, she organized a chapter of the Womens Christian Temperance Union. In 1900, she embraced an uncommon approach of convincing people not to drink.

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Why the life and death of disgraced culture warrior Paul Pressler should serve as a warning to all of us.

Wikimedia Commons / Edits by CT

This piece was adapted from Russell Moores newsletter. Subscribe here.

A man named Paul Pressler warned us that a wrong view of authority would lead to debauchery and downgrade. He was right. What he didnt tell us was that his vision for American Christianity would be one of the ways we would get there.

News did not break about the death of the retired Houston judge, the co-architect of the Baptist Reformation that we called the conservative resurgence, until days after his demise, probably due to the fact that he died in disgrace.

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My colleague Daniel Silliman explains excellently the paradox of Presslers public and private life. According to multiple serious and credible allegations by named people, with corroboration from multiple others and over a very long period of time, Pressler was a sexual molester of young men and boys. As reporter Rob Downen of The Texas Tribune summarizes in his thread, the nature of the corroborating evidence against the late judge is the size of a mountain.

Its fair to say that most peoplecertainly most people in Southern Baptist pewsdid not know about these reports of such a villainous nature for a long time. But it is also fair to say that almost everyone, at least those even minimally close up, could see other aspectsa cruelty, a viciousness, a vindictivenessthat displayed the means of Machiavelli, not the ways of the Messiah. His defining virtuefor all of us who retold the Won Cause mythology of the reformers who saved the convention from liberalismwas not Christlikeness but the fact that he was willing to fight.

And fight he did. At a meeting of pastors, he famously used the metaphor that conservatives would have to go for the jugular in defeating the moderate Baptist leaders of the time. Commentator Bill Moyers and I would have sharply divergent views on almost every major theological issue, but he accurately described Pressler, in the 1980s, as one who rules the Southern Baptist Convention like a swaggering Caesar, breaking good men when it pleases him. Good men, and women, indeed were brokenand some are breaking still.

I write this as a biblical inerrantistmore convinced than ever that the Bible is the verbally inspired Word of God and that it contains, as an oft-repeated line of our confession of faith puts it, truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. There were genuine issues of what any honest observer would call theological liberalism in some places, especially in some sectors of the Southern Baptist academy. But, as I came to realize much later than I should have, some of those deemed to be liberals were not so at all. Riffing on a misattributed quote from Andy Warhol, Id realize that among Baptists, everyone gets a turn at being called a liberal for at least 15 minutes.

And many others, Ive come to see, liberalized precisely because they saw the mafia-like tactics of those such as Pressler and concluded that, since this conservatism was so obviously not of the spirit of Christ, whatever was its mirror image must be right. I dont agree, as a Christian, that this is the correct responsebut, as a human being, I can understand it.

Sometimes, when teaching theology at a Southern Baptist seminary, I would quote Pressler warning about what he called the Dalmatian theory of inspiration.

Once you say that the Bible could contain error, you make yourself the judge of what portions of the Bible are true and which portions are error, Pressler said in an interview at the height of the Southern Baptist controversy over biblical inerrancy. It is a presumptuous thing for an individual to edit God. Somebody has called it the spot theory of inspiration. The Bible was inspired in spots, and we are inspired to spot the spots.

Even before the court actions and subsequent revelations, though, those of us in the conservative wing of Baptist life should have recognized the low view of biblical authority even in the actions Pressler did in full public view. Instead, we were told, and believed, that the stakes were too highthe orthodoxy of the nations largest Protestant denominationto worry that the warlords leading the charge were not like Jesus. Many of us learned to tolerate the idea that one can do evil that good may resulta contradiction of the inerrant Word of God (Rom. 3:8).

The implicit idea is that, if the stakes are high enough, the usual norms of Christian moralityon truth-telling and kindness, gentleness, love, joy, self-control, etc.can be ignored, at least long enough to fix the problem and return to normal.

This is not an unusual temptation: Lets violate human rights in order to save human rights. Lets terminate the Constitution to save the Constitution. Lets elect sexual abusers to protect the family. Lets disobey the Bible to save the Bible. Pressler warned (about other people in other situations) that what is tolerated is ultimately celebrated. Thats not always true, of course, but it certainly was in the case of conviction defined as quarrelsomeness.

Before one knows it, one ends up with a partisan definition of truth, all the more ironic for defenders of biblical inerrancy andwith a situational definition of ethicsfor warriors against moral relativism. When this happens, the criterion by which the confession of faith is interpreted is through whatever controversy enlivens the crowd. Biblical passages that seem to be violated by ones enemies are then emphasized, while those applying to ones own side are minimized. To do this well, one needs some authoritative, if not authoritarian, leaders to spot the spots that are to be underlined and to skip over those to be ignored.

What difference does it make if ones liberalism is characterized by ignoring Paul but quoting the Sermon on the Mount, or by ignoring the Sermon on the Mount but quoting Paul? How is one a liberal who explains away the Exodus but takes literally the Prophets, while thats not true for the one who explains away the Prophets but takes literally the Exodus?

If the Bible is breathed out by God, then all of it is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for training in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16, ESV throughout). A high view of biblical authority does not, by itself, guarantee orthodoxy.

As one of my (very conservative) professors in seminary once told me, Biblical inerrancy, by itself, is just an agreed-upon table of contents. The work of interpretation must be done, and that requires the hard work of determining what matters are of first importance (1 Cor. 15:3) and what matters can be debated without ending cooperation. True enough.

But one cant even debate those issues of interpretation in good faith if all sides are operating with their own secret canons-within-the-canon, determined by what to affirm or deny in order to stay in the tribe. Thats what the Bible calls being tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine (Eph. 4:14). Whether those winds blow to the left or to the right or to the center, they leave us adrift.

Paul Pressler said he believed in biblical authority. He said that it mattered. It did, and it does. But the last 40 years should teach us that inerrancy is not enough. It does not matter how loudly one sings the words, the Bible tells me so, if ones life and character contradict the words, Jesus loves me, this I know. Conviction without character destroys lives, and, in the long-term, reveals itself to have been something other than conviction all along. Sometimes, a battle for the Bible reveals itself to be a battle against the Bible.

Its easy to see this in the tragedy of one mans life, one denominations history. But the truth is that every one of us are vulnerable to the search for someone to spot the spots we are free to disobey. Thats a hill on which to die. Its not the same thing, you know: going for the jugular and being washed in the blood.

Russell Moore is the editor in chief at Christianity Today and leads its Public Theology Project.
Illustration by Mallory Rentsch Tlapek / Source Images: WikiMedia Commons

How should white evangelicals think about slavery and past evangelical heroes who affirmed its practice? A new book by historian Sean McGever, Ownership: The Evangelical Legacy of Slavery in Edwards, Wesley, and Whitefield, helps us process these matters with historical accuracy and Christlike humility.

For many white American evangelicals, the issue of slavery is not much of an issue at all. After all, we live in a day where every country in the world outlaws the practice (at least on paper). We are rightly repulsed by practices reminiscent of slave ownership, like human trafficking and sweat shops. And we celebrate past evangelical leaders, like William Wilberforce, who tirelessly campaigned against the institution. Our denominations no longer split over slave ownership as they did prior to the American Civil War. Slavery, we thankfully conclude, lies in the rearview mirror of history.

Without denying the truth in these claims, there are two problems with this assessment. First, slavery, broadly construed, is still a live issue for a significant number of Americans, many of whom are believers in Christ. Just like Jews and Muslims carry with them a historical sensea communal memory, if you willof atrocities done to their ancestors by Christians (like pogroms and the Crusades), many Black Americans carry a remembrance of their ancestors subjection to slavery, segregation, and other forms of injustice. Consequently, they experience slavery and its aftereffects as painfully present realities.

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Second, many of our white evangelical heroes have a complex relationship with slavery, a fact that can complicate our contemporary witness. What are white evangelicals saying when we honor such historical figures as towering exemplars of Christlikeness while treating their slave ownership (if we mention it at all!) as a minor character blemish, something everybody was doing at the time?

In Ownership, McGever helps readers confront these issues by examining the ministries of Jonathan Edwards (17031758), John Wesley (17031791), and George Whitefield (17141770), three 18th-century figures who are arguably the founding fathers of modern evangelicalism. Each affirmed the institution of slavery at some point in their lives, yet only one (Wesley) came to change his mind on the subject.

Working within the system

Ownership is divided into four sections. The first takes up the influences, regarding slavery and its place in the world, that Edwards, Wesley, and Whitefield inherited. The second examines how each was involved with the institution. The third considers how Wesley came to oppose slavery and his actions against it. And the fourth reckons with the legacies of each leader in light of their relationships to slavery.

The book gives introductory biographies of each man before launching into two informative chapters that provide historical context: one on the history of slavery, and one surveying English and Puritan views on the subject. Here, McGever describes the attitude that prevailed in much of Christianity until the 1700s. As he puts it, Slavery existed in the world as a result of sin and evil, and  the best course of action was to work within that system.

Edwards, Wesley, and Whitefield naturally adopted this outlook. In their ministerial training, as they studied the consensus found in English and Puritan writers on slavery, they likely absorbed the following lessons: White Christians must avoid the improper acquisition of slaves (man-stealing is forbidden, but enslaving prisoners of war or the offspring of slaves is allowable); the slave relationship must be guided by Christian virtue (slaves are to be obedient, masters temperate); and slaves should be evangelized, but conversion does not imply emancipation.

This framework had centuries of the Western Christian tradition preceding it. It was thus quite natural, as each man engaged the surrounding socioeconomic world, for them to participate in slavery to varying degrees.

Edwards ministered in colonial Massachusetts and is known as Americas foremost evangelical theologian. Several of his disciples (including one of his sons, Jonathan Jr.) were known for their strong stances against slavery, which they derived from Edwardss ethical writings. Yet Edwards himself failed to fully appreciate the antislavery implications nascent in his own works.

Consider that he and his wife, Sarah, enslaved numerous Black Africans, including Venus, a 14-year-old girl they purchased in 1731, and Titus, a 3-year-old boy purchased in 1756. While manumission was an option for handling ones estate in those daysSarahs mother, for instance, arranged to free her slaves upon her death in 1740the Edwardses did not choose this for young Titus, who was passed on to their eldest son Timothy after their deaths in 1758.

In essence, then, Edwardss relationship with slavery followed the cultural norms of the day. While his writings led many to oppose slavery in the decades after his death, his example did not live up to his ideals.

Whitefields example is even more unsettling. Early in his North American ministry, the famous evangelist stopped short of fully supporting legalized slavery in Georgia, where it had been outlawed since the colonys founding in 1733.

Whitefield oversaw an orphanage in Savannah named Bethesda (house of mercy). Bethesda was one of the central ministries of his life, but the harsh economic realities of sustaining it led him to reconsider slavery, viewing it as an option for addressing financial woes at the orphanage. In time, he came to believe that Black slaves were better suited to work amid hot Georgia summers than white indentured servants, who were far more expensive to employ.

Following a kind of anti-Wilberforce trajectory, Whitefield soon became a prominent proslavery lobbyist both in Georgia and England, campaigning for a decade until the colony legalized slavery in 1751. By his death in 1770, he owned 49 slaves, all associated with his orphanage. Though Whitefield was an outstanding evangelist, McGever reveals that he was a short-sighted businessman whose mishandling compelled him to rely upon slave labor so that his beloved Bethesda could survive.

Of the three men, John Wesleys relationship to slavery was the most distinct, and McGever devotes significant attention to his long and slow awakening. Wesley had no exposure to slavery until he visited the Southern colonies in the mid-1730s. There, he and his brother Charles learned of the harsh brutalities committed by some slave owners.

Wesleys response, however, was not to call for social change but to double down on commitments to evangelize enslaved people. For almost 40 years, as he led the Methodist movement back in England, he wrote nothing on the subject. As McGever suggests, this silence reveals a major blind spot in his social conscience.

Yet Wesley had a gift that neither Edwards nor Whitefield enjoyed: long life. (The latter pair both died in their mid-50s.) When Wesley was almost 70, he began seriously reading antislavery works, and over the next two decades his views changed. He first opposed all forms of slave acquisition and called for slave traders to immediately quit their jobs. In his mid-80s, he came to champion full emancipation.

Though we should be grateful that one of our evangelical founding fathers made the journey to antislavery views, it is stunning to note that it took him 50 years to complete the process, a testimony to the fact that sinful cultural norms are extremely difficult to eradicate from society.

Their blind spots, and ours

McGever excels at narrating the history of Edwards, Whitefield, and Wesley with an irenic tone. While he is clear that their proslavery actions are contemptable, he issues no fiery condemnations. Instead, we come to the humble realization that they were deeply flawed Christians like the rest of us. They may have ascended to the heights of theological acuity, sanctified holiness, and evangelical proclamation, but they did so as individuals who also participated in a system fraught with moral conundrums and evil. They are, in a sense, failed heroes, and we should acknowledge this complexity while telling their stories.

Ultimately, Ownership gives readers a profound historical sense, a recognition that, even among the best of us, social and cultural conventions shape believers in ways that future generations might find troubling. When history is written this way, we naturally ask ourselves, What are my ethical blind spots, and those of my church and tribe?

In the last chapter, McGever leads readers in an exercise of self-reflection patterned after the books fourfold framework: Have we inherited cultural influences that are biblically and ethically problematic? How are we letting these influences shape our thoughts and behaviors? What actions can we take to love others in more Christlike ways? What kind of legacy do we seek to leave for posterity?

While applying history in this manner is not without its pitfalls, McGever recognizes that humble self-examination, inspired by failed heroes, is a beneficial exercise for individual Christians and for the church at large. Sinful hearts are infinitely resourceful, and sinful patterns are remarkably resistant to change. The lessons of McGevers book should aid the church as it pursues the Reformation emphasis of semper reformanda, always reforming according to the Word of God.

Robert W. Caldwell III is professor of church history at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of Theologies of the American Revivalists: From Whitefield to Finney.
Home News California Senate passes ban on requiring schools to notify parents of child's gender transition

The California Senate has approved a bill that would prohibit school districts from requiring school officials to share information about a student's sexual orientation and gender identity with the child's parent, drawing concerns from Christian and parental rights groups.

On Monday, the Democrat-controlled California Senate passed Assembly Bill 1955 in a 29-8 vote. Support for the legislation fell along party lines, with all votes in favor of it coming from Democrats and all opposition coming from Republicans.

The legislation includes a provision declaring that "[a]n employee or a contractor of a school district, county office of education, charter school, or state special school for the blind or the deaf shall not be required to disclose any information related to a pupil's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to any other person without the pupil's consent unless otherwise required by state or federal law."

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The bill states that "policies that forcibly 'out' pupils without their consent remove opportunities for LGBTQ+ young people and their families to build trust and have these conversations when they are ready."

The measure comes in response to local school districts adopting policies requiring parental notification when it comes to such issues.

Sonja Shaw, a member of the school board for the Chino Valley Unified School District that passed a parental notification policy, said that "if a child is asking for the school district to now call them by another sex's name or go into the other sex's restroom, we will notify the parents."

"No one's outing anybody," she said, adding, "The kid is coming out, and the parents have a right to know."

Since the California Senate completely revamped the original Assembly Bill 1955, which was previously passed by the Democrat-controlled California Assembly, to turn it into the Support Academic Futures and Educators for Today's Youth (SAFETY) Act, which exclusively deals with LGBT youth, conservative organizations have emerged as forceful opponents of the measure.

Students First California, an advocacy group that seeks to ensure that "parents have a seat at the table" when it comes to their children's education, published a letter expressing opposition to the measure last month.

"There is a reason courts have consistently affirmed parents as having a fundamental right to direct the care and upbringing of their children," wrote Students First California President Jonathan Zachreson.

"Parents know and care for their children more than anyone else and are ultimately responsible for them in every setting  school, home, and elsewhere," he added. "Notifying and involving parents in something as paramount as when a school takes an active role in socially transitioning a child is critical for the well-being of children and for maintaining trust between schools and parents."

Expressing concern that the bill would do "the opposite by prohibiting schools from enacting or enforcing policies to bring parents into the process of supporting their own children and would strengthen policies meant to keep secrets from parents," Zachreson warned that the bill would "erode trust between schools and parents and further exacerbate enrollment issues schools are facing."

Citing state law, Zachreson noted that "parents of students under 18 years old in public schools have an absolute right to access all records related to their children and the editing or withholding of any of those records is prohibited."

"These records include the gender and name in which the child goes by at school regardless of if the gender or name matches a student's official government documents," lamenting that "AB 1955 would enable and strengthen policies that violate this right."

The Christian conservative advocacy organization California Family Council has also expressed its opposition to the bill.

"This bill assumes parents with biblical beliefs about gender and sexuality are a threat to their own children," the organization stated in an online campaign against the bill.

"AB 1955 marginalizes parents, preventing them from receiving critical information about their kids. Parents need to be informed partners in addressing issues of gender identity, ensuring their children receive the support and guidance they need within the family unit."

The California-based LGBT advocacy group Riverside Pride signaled its support for the legislation in a statement released last month.

"As we have seen over the last year in the Inland Empire and across the country, efforts to forcibly out trans youth continue to threaten the rights of our students. AB 1955 is a significant step forward in protecting the privacy and dignity of LGBTQ+ youth," the organization asserted.

"It addresses the critical need for safeguards that prevent the involuntary disclosure of a student's sexual orientation or gender identity, which can lead to devastating consequences, including discrimination, harassment, and even family rejection. Studies consistently show LGBTQ+ youth are overrepresented among young people experiencing homelessness, with mistreatment, fear of mistreatment or being kicked out due to their LGBTQ identity being some of the leading causes," the group contended.

Highlighting the "profound impact that a supportive and understanding school environment has on the mental health and academic success of LGBTQ+ students," Riverside Pride praised the bill as an initiative that "not only reinforces California's commitment to equality and inclusion but also empowers educators to create a more respectful and safe atmosphere for all students to thrive."

The bill must return to the Assembly before it can be sent to California Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk.
Home News Nurse alleges FBI threatened her, accuses Texas Children's Hospital of trans-related Medicaid fraud

A Texas registered nurse who accused doctors at the largest pediatric hospital in the United States of committing Medicaid fraud related to gender interventions for minors claims FBI agents threatened her at her home in response to her speaking out.

Vanessa Sivadge, a nurse at Texas Children's Hospital (TCH) in Houston, came forward last year to journalist Christopher Rufo to claim that the institution was pushing "gender-affirming care" on young patients while ignoring their underlying psychological problems.

Sivadge reportedly approached Rufo following his May 2023 story about Dr. Eithan Haim, who leaked medical records suggesting that TCH was continuing to prescribe puberty blockers for children with gender dysphoria despite claiming otherwise.

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The hospital claimed to have stopped such procedures following a February 2022 formal opinion from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton that labeled some sex-change procedures and puberty blockers for minors as "child abuse" under Texas law.

This is where we are now: The Biden Administration sent two FBI agents to intimidate a nurse who told the truth about the child sex-change program at Texas Children's Hospital. The regime is mobilizing to threaten and imprison anyone who opposes "transgender medicine." pic.twitter.com/XbtZVnp5Kw  Christopher F. Rufo ?? (@realchrisrufo) June 18, 2024

Two weeks after Rufo's story, two FBI agents appeared at Sivadge's door, according to footage Rufo posted to his X account earlier this week.

The video showed special agents Paul Nixon and David McBride, dressed in blue jeans, showing up at Sivadge's front door and telling her they wanted to speak about "some of the things that have been going on at [her] work lately."

After saying they hoped they weren't "interrupting dinner," the video shows them asking to be let inside, during which time Sivadge claimed they "threatened" her.

"They promised they would make life difficult for me if I was trying to protect the leaker," she said. "They said I was 'not safe' at work and claimed that someone at my workplace had given my name to the FBI."

Along with viral footage of the agents, Rufo tweeted: "This is where we are now: The Biden Administration sent two FBI agents to intimidate a nurse who told the truth about the child sex-change program at Texas Children's Hospital."

"The regime is mobilizing to threaten and imprison anyone who opposes 'transgender medicine,'" he added.

When reached for comment by The Christian Post, a spokesperson for the FBI said: "FBI and Department of Justice guidelines do not allow us to provide more information at this time. While individuals are free to speak about their interactions with the FBI, we do not discuss, describe, or confirm any contact we allegedly have with individuals."

TCH did not respond to The Christian Post's request for comment.

Sivadge told Rufo she later found evidence that doctors "cut corners" and fraudulently secured federal funds for sex-change interventions for minors that are now illegal in Texas. The state prohibits Medicaid funds from being used for "sex change operations."

"The largest children's hospital in the country is illegally billing Medicaid for transgender procedures," Sivadge claimed to Rufo, according to City Journal. "It is evident that the hospital continues to believe it is above the law not just by concealing the existence of their transgender medicine program from the public, but by stealing from the federal government."

Sivadge alleged that doctors Richard Ogden Roberts and David Paul were involved. Their profiles on the hospital's website have since been scrubbed, Rufo noted on Wednesday.

Sivadge told Rufo that shortly after she accepted her dream job as a registered nurse helping children in 2021, she began growing disillusioned with TCH and "gender-affirming care" as she observed the rates of transgender-identifying young patients rising exponentially.

"In the cardiac clinic, we were taking sick kids and making them better," she told Rufo. "In the transgender clinic, it was the opposite. We were harming these kids."

Savidge's situation has drawn the attention of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, whose office confirmed to The New York Post that it was investigating.

GOP state Rep. Brian Harrison also called on the Texas Legislature to conduct immediate hearings and launch an investigation into the federal agencies and officials involved.

"We need Republicans to be courageous in fighting back against the unconstitutional tyranny of the Biden administration," Harrison told the outlet.

"And so what I'm asking is that the Texas House of Representatives act in the way that it should act, and the way that I'm demanding it to act, which is to hold immediate hearings, but also to launch formal investigation and subpoena any federal official, the DOJ and HHS, who may have been involved in this, any hospital executives who knew that they were engaged in practices that were, in fact, child abuse," Harrison continued.

"The Biden administration, their goal here is to stifle dissent. They want to silence opposition," he added.

Sivadge's case echoes that of Haim, who was slapped by the U.S. Department of Justice earlier this month with a four-count felony indictment that could land him a 10-year prison sentence. He stands accused of violating HIPAA medical privacy laws.
Home News Judge blocks 3 school districts from enforcing trans parental notification policy

A New Jersey judge temporarily blocked three school districts from enforcing a policy that requires schools to inform parents if their child expresses a desire to identify as trans or non-binary as districts nationwide face similar debates about parental rights.

The three school districts in Monmouth County  the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District, the Marlboro Township Public Schools and Middletown Township Public Schools  enacted their respective parental notification policies in June.

The policies require school staff to notify parents when their children request to change their names or pronouns to match a stated gender identity that is different than their biological sex.

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As NJ.com reported Saturday, New Jersey Superior Court Judge David F. Bauman granted the state of New Jersey's request Friday for a preliminary injunction against the policies following a lawsuit against the districts by Democratic Attorney General Matthew Platkin.

Bauman issued the injunction after a hearing last week that provided representatives of both parties to make their arguments.

"The state has demonstrated a reasonable probability of success on its claim that the Amended Policies, if implemented, will have a disparate impact on transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary youth," Bauman wrote in his Friday decision.

The judge clarified, however, that he was not rendering a final judgment about the arguments presented by the state or the school boards.

Bauman hopes the involved parties could reach "a consensus of policy of parental disclosure that best strikes a legally appropriate and practice balance between protecting the civil rights of transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender non-binary students, and the well-settled right of parental oversight over the care and upbringing of their children."

During the Tuesday hearing, an attorney for one of the school districts warned about the potential dangers of schools failing to inform parents that their child is struggling with gender identity. The attorney noted that parents would likely be angry if they learned their child had harmed themselves due to their gender identity issues and the school kept this information from them.

In a statement, Platkin praised the injunction as a "major victory for civil rights." The attorney general believes that the districts' policies discriminate against people based on "gender identity or expression."

The attorney general argued that the policies altered the Department of Education's guidelines, which do not prohibit parental notification but advises school districts to be "mindful" of disputes involving students and their parents surrounding gender identity.

"To be clear, the State has always respected the rights of parents and agrees that parents should be involved in important decisions regarding their children  and any characterizations to the contrary are flatly incorrect," Platkin said.

"All our lawsuits seek to do is to reinstate the same policies these districts found acceptable with little protest for years," he concluded. "Put simply, we can both keep parents informed about their children's development and protect the civil rights of our most vulnerable students."

As The Christian Post reported, Platkin filed complaints in June against the three school districts and their respective boards of education in the Superior Court of New Jersey.

The attorney general's office expressed fear that the parental notification policies would subject trans-identifying students to "the continuous threat of being 'outed' if they have not already made their gender identity or gender expression known to their parents or guardians."

Debates about the districts' parental notification policies come as parents nationwide have filed lawsuits over school policies that keep them in the dark about whether their child is identifying as the opposite sex. Other parents have sued school districts for allegedly helping their children transition without parental consent.

A similar debate also arose in California after the Murrieta Valley Unified School District adopted a policy requiring staff to notify parents within three days after becoming aware of a student's request to be treated as a member of the opposite sex.

Opponents of the policy argued at a board meeting that schools may be the "only affirming space" trans students can find if they have parents who object to their gender identity. Others, including School Board President Paul F. Diffley III, asserted that he'd want all relevant information about his child's physical and mental health.

"I don't think there should be anything hidden because I have a fundamental right as a parent to bring up my child. ... If I can't get all the information I need to have a reasonable discussion with my child, then the school is not doing its job," Diffley told The Los Angeles Times earlier this month.

In July, Chino Valley Unified School District also passed a parental notification policy, which led to threats of violence against members of the board.
Home News Journey founder Neal Schon raises alarm over Paula White-Cains access to bands bank accounts Televangelist's attorney says claims are 'nonsensical'

Neal Schon, founding member and guitarist of the rock band Journey, is calling for the removal of Paula White-Cain, televangelist and spiritual advisor to former President Donald Trump, as an authorized signatory on the band's bank accounts, arguing that it violates an agreement he has with White-Cain's husband, Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain.

A cease and desist letter sent to White-Cain dated Dec. 12, 2022, was reviewed by The Christian Post.

Schon's attorney Mark Angert, a partner at the law firm Solomon Ward Seidenwurm & Smith, LLP, alleges that despite a mutual agreement between Schon and Cain "that the business of the band and the Journey Related Entities would be handled only by Mr. Schon and Mr. Cain as individuals," White-Cain's name "appears as an authorized signatory on the City National Bank accounts of Freedom JN LLC" in which Schon is a co-owner.

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"This is in direct contradiction of the parties' agreement and was done without the authorization of Mr. Schon. We demand that you take all necessary actions to remove your name from the City National Bank accounts of Freedom JN LLC and any other legal documents of all Journey Related Entities and provide the undersigned with documents demonstrating your removal," the letter to White-Cain reads.

"We further demand that you immediately cease and desist and refrain in the future from inserting yourself in any business of the band and any legal entities used by the band as this contradicts the existing agreement between Mr. Schon and Mr. Cain," Angert added.

A spokesperson for Schon noted in a statement to CP that Schon previously alleged that "Cain and Paula herself have been accessing the band's financial resources, including the Journey American Express account, and obscuring information, even to the point of blocking Schon's legitimate access to those accounts."

Citing multiple media reports on White-Cain's history, Schon's spokesperson painted the televangelist as a "national level con artist" focused on gaining wealth and what it brings.

"As with all aspects of her life, Paula's marriage to Cain is easily tied to access to wealth and the trappings thereof. Beyond the Christian cover for Paula's twisted aspirations for wealth and power  Paula's outrageously exorbitant lifestyle has been showcased across the 'faith leader's' social media, including extravagant gifts attributed to Cain," the statement said.

White was asked to provide the attorney with evidence of her removal from the City National Bank accounts of Freedom JN LLC and any other Journey-related entities by Dec. 27, 2022.

Alan Gutman, Paula White-Cain's attorney, insists that "the entire claim" by Schon "is nonsensical."

"Neal's attorney recommended Neal and Jonathan own their respective 50% interests in the band's operating entities through their personal trusts. Paula is a co-trustee of Jonathan's personal trust, therefore, Jonathan and Paula signed as the co-trustees of Jonathan's personal trust. But that never would have happened if Neal's lawyer had not recommenced it," Gutman said in a statement to CP on Wednesday.

"And it was clearly described that they were acting as the co-trustees of Jonathan's personal trust at the time that Neal signed the documents. Critically, Neal never complained for two years. When Neal finally complained (and we do not need to explain the real reason why he started complaining, which had nothing to do with [the] fact that Paula was co-trustee of Jonathan's trust or listed on any papers), Jonathan offered to have his ownership interest transferred from his personal trust to him personally. While that offer would have resolved the issue, Neal refuses to cooperate in any resolution, once again demonstrating that the claim is entirely pretextual."

When asked if White-Cain had responded directly to Schon's demand letter, it was alleged by Schon's camp that "Paula's attorney, Alan Gutman, wrote to Neal's attorney, Mark Angert, and threatened him."

Responding to the claim from Schon's camp about the threats, Gutman's office provided a copy of his letter to Angert dated Dec. 16, 2022, which presented the same arguments he included in his initial statement to CP.

"In sum, notwithstanding the fact it was Mr. Schon's counsel who created the problem, Mr. Cain has remained willing to amend the operating agreement and signature cards so that it is in his name as opposed to the interests assigned to his personal trust. It is your client who has obstructed those efforts," Gutman wrote.

"He can hire new or different counsel, but it does not change the facts. If he has any legitimate interest in resolution, Mr. Schon can simply execute the revised Operating Agreement negotiated by his other attorney, Colin Rolfs. I implore you to learn the facts before further jeopardizing the band's relationship with CNB  assuming you have not already destroyed it. If that happens, as noted above, your misguided actions will result in personal liability to your client," he added.

In recent months Schon and Cain have been at odds over the use of the band's songs at political events.

Schon recently served his bandmate with a cease-and-desist order after Cain performed "Don't Stop Believin'" for Trump at Mar-a-Lago in November with a backing "chorus" including Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, Kimberly Guilfoyle and Kari Lake.

"Although Mr. Cain is free to express his personal beliefs and associations, when he does that on behalf of Journey or for the band, such conduct is extremely deleterious to the Journey brand as it polarizes the band's fans and outreach. Journey is not, and should not be, political," the order said, according to a Variety report.

"Mr. Cain has no right to use Journey for politics. His politics should be his own personal business. He should not be capitalizing on Journey's brand to promote his personal political or religious agenda to the detriment of the band," it added, noting that it is a "harmful use of the brand."
Home News Evangelists Paula White, Franklin Graham named among 'Israels Top 50 Christian Allies'

Evangelical leaders Paula White, Franklin Graham and David Jeremiah have been named as being among the leading defenders and advocates for Israel worldwide, according to a list released by the Israel Allies Foundation.

On Thursday, IAF, an organization that coordinates 44 Israel Allies Caucuses worldwide to mobilize political support for Israel based on shared Judeo-Christian values, published its first list of Israels Top 50 Christian Allies, individuals the group said have conveyed their deep love and support for the State of Israel which stems from their faith.

Released ahead of Sukkot  the Feast of Tabernacles  the list includes pastors, former politicians, organizational leaders and businessmen.

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The list is topped by the Rev. Paula White, the adviser to the White House on Faith & Opportunity Initiatives. She is also the chair of the evangelical advisory board in President Donald Trumps administration.

White, who on her website says she stands with Israel and the Jewish people for peace and prosperity in the Holy Land, has publicly supported the Trump administration's pro-Israel policies.

"My deeply held faith and conviction has aligned me to stand with and support Israel in every possible way. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob made a covenant with the Jewish people and promised them a nation," she said.

"That nation, Israel, is the foundation and birthplace of my Christian faith. I also stand with Israel for geopolitical reasons. Since 1948, the nation of Israel has been Americas staunchest ally in the Middle East. I proudly support Israel and the Jewish people."

Others named on the list include: John Hagee, Franklin Graham, Jentzen Franklin, Kay Arthur, Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer, Mike Huckabee, Alan Clemmons, Michele Bachmann, Tony Perkins and Gary Bauer.

Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham and head of Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, often uses his platform to urge evangelical leaders to back Israel. Last month, he praised the signing of the historic Abraham Accords between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, stressing that "Peace in the Middle East impacts the entire world."

In a statement, IAF said it considers the moving of the U.S. and Guatemalan embassies to Jerusalem as well as the anti-BDS legislation now in 32 U.S states  which made it official U.S. policy to oppose boycotts of Israel  the direct result of the Christian supporters and politicians who have advocated for these issues along with Christian voters who have demonstrated that these issues will impact the direction of their vote.

The list was authored by Josh Reinstein, president of IAF and author of Titus, Trump and the Triumph of Israel.

Faith-based diplomacy has empowered Israel and its leadership to reach new heights, and it would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of these 50 unique individuals, Reinstein said.

Recognizing the heroic work of our Christian supporters is an important display of our gratitude towards them. It is only due to the Christian political support for Israel, that Israel is welcoming embassies to Jerusalem and is now in the position to negotiate new peace deals on the basis of peace through strength.
Xi's special envoy attends inauguration of South African president

Xinhua) 11:07, June 21, 2024

JOHANNESBURG, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's Special Envoy Xiao Jie on Wednesday attended the inauguration of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa.

Xiao, also vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, conveyed Xi's congratulations and best wishes to Ramaphosa, stressing that China attaches great importance to the development of China-South Africa relations and is willing to work with the new South African government to enhance political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation and push the China-South Africa comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level.

Ramaphosa thanked Xi for sending a special envoy to attend his inauguration ceremony.

The new South African government will continue to develop friendly relations with China and looks forward to expanding friendly exchanges with China at all levels, deepening mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, strengthening communication and coordination in international affairs, and pushing for greater development of the bilateral ties, Ramaphosa said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Home News Paula White says Trump asked her what God thought about his presidential run

WASHINGTON  Former President Donald Trump's spiritual advisor, televangelist Paula White-Cain, said Friday that he asked her for God's opinion when he was considering a potential presidential run in 2011.

White-Cain, the president of Paula White Ministries and senior pastor of City of Destiny Church in Florida, addressed a group of Christian conservative activists gathered at the Faith and Freedom Coalition's Road to Majority conference at the Washington Hilton. She has for years served as a close spiritual adviser to Trump and helped lead the Evangelical advisory board during his presidency in 2016.

She told the audience that her relationship with Trump dates back more than two decades and that their first conversation took place long before the real estate mogul and television personality even started thinking about politics.

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She said Trump "began to repeat to me almost verbatim the three sermons' Value of Vision.'"

"At the end of it, he said, 'You have the it factor.' And I said, 'Oh sir, we call that the anointing,'" White-Cain recalled.

"At that point, I really felt that the Lord said, 'show him who I am,'" she added. "So for 24 years, I've been in his life and have had the great privilege of really being his pastor."

White-Cain recounted a time in 2011 when Trump reached out to her and told her he didn't "like the way this country is going" and that he was thinking of running for president. She said Trump asked her for her thoughts.

"I told him what I thought," she said. "And then he turned around, and he said, 'Well, what does God say?'"

After praying with dozens of her friends, White-Cain delivered an answer to Trump.

"I said, 'Sir  you're going to be president one day.'"

White-Cain described how a tear ran down her face as she warned him, "I hate the price that you're going to pay."

She concluded that her prediction was correct, reflecting on the "price this man, his family and  many of us have paid."

While Trump decided against running for president in 2012, he called White-Cain two years later and declared his intention to seek the presidency.

"I'm going to be president, and you're going to be faith director," White-Cain said.

White decided that the "price" was worth it as she looked back on the Trump administration's policies, where she had "the great honor of being the adviser to President Trump for faith initiative and opportunity."

White-Cain was among those who decried Trump's recent conviction on charges of falsifying business records. She called it "a sad day for all Americans as we watched firsthand the judicial system weaponized to go after President Trump for political gain."

"May God bless you, my long time friend, President Trump, and may God bless all of us who stand for righteousness!" she tweeted in May.

In her speech at the Road to Majority summit, White-Cain lamented the current state of affairs in the United States, claiming religious freedom is "under attack as never before ever in our lifetime."

White-Cain decried President Joe Biden overturning 18 pro-life policies enacted by the Trump administration as well as "over 12 religious liberty and freedom" policies during his first year in office. She also condemned the arrest of pro-life activist Mark Houck by federal law enforcement agencies for protesting outside a Planned Parenthood clinic in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

While White-Cain noted that "he was acquitted on all charges," she pointed to Houck's arrest as "the beginning of a troubling trend of the FBI targeting people of faith." She cited the memo circulated within the FBI's Richmond Field Office warning about the threat posed by "radical traditionalist Catholics" as another example.

White-Cain concluded her address by describing the ideology of the Biden administration as "against God, against our faith" and vowing to the audience that "we will put a stop to it come November."
Home News Mom sues school district for 'socially transitioning' daughter to male behind her back

A California mom is suing her daughter's school district, alleging that district officials went behind her back to affirm her daughter's stated gender identity as a male, which she believes violates her parental rights.

The Center for American Liberty has filed a lawsuit on behalf of Aurora Regino, whose daughter attends classes at the Chico Unified School District in Chico, California.

The complaint alleges that the school district has a "Parental Secrecy Policy," which allows schools to "socially transition students who express a desire to live as a gender different from that associated with their biological sex while ... keeping the social transitioning secret from their parents unless the student specifically authorizes the school to inform them." The school district has denied the existence of such a policy.

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Regino's daughter, referred to in the lawsuit as "A.S.," told a school counselor in early 2022 that she "felt like a boy." The counselor allegedly encouraged the then-fifth-grade student to adopt a name and identity consistent with her new gender identity as a male and informed the child's teacher about her new identity.

The complaint maintained that the district did not notify Regino of the affirmation of her child's expressed gender identity.

"After several weeks of A.S. identifying as a boy at school, Ms. Regino learned about A.S.'s new gender identity," the lawsuit reads.

"Ms. Regino was supportive of A.S. but upset that the school had not even informed her that it was socially transitioning her daughter from a girl to a boy. She tried to encourage the District to abandon the Parental Secrecy Policy in favor of a policy that would involve parents in students' gender transitions, but she was told that this policy was required by California law. This is false."

The court filing claims that district officials pointed to Assembly Bill 1266 as why the schools must abide by a "Parental Secrecy Policy."

The document notes that the district's director of elementary education sent Regino a link to a frequently-asked-questions page about the law, which declared that "schools must consult with [the] transgender student to determine who can and will be informed of the student's transgender status, if anyone, including the student's family."

Regino's legal team rejected the idea that the law requires the "Parental Secrecy Policy," stressing that the text of Assembly Bill 1266 only gives trans-identified students the right to "participate in sex-segregated school programs and activities  and use facilities consistent with [their] gender identity."

The lawsuit characterizes the school's actions as a violation of parental rights under the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to "direct the upbringing of their children; to make decisions concerning the care, custody, and control of their children; to direct the medical and mental health decision making for their children; and to make private familial decisions regarding their children without undue interference by the state."

Regino is asking the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California to declare the school's actions unconstitutional and issue an order preventing the school district from enforcing such a policy.

Defendants in the lawsuit include the Chico Unified School District's Board of Education and its individual members as well as Chico Unified School District Superintendent Kelly Staley.

Although Regino didn't consent to the school's efforts to socially transition her daughter, she did give permission for her child to attend a "Girls Group" after the child had voiced concerns about anxiety and depression.

The lawsuit contends that the "Girls Group" was pitched as an "arts and crafts" group but quickly morphed into discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity after Regino's daughter expressed reservations about her gender.

During the spring semester, the child had additional one-on-one meetings with the school counselor, who provided the child with resources related to a male identity and even brought up the topic of "breast binding."

Although the child wanted to inform her mother of her new gender identity, the school counselor was allegedly not supportive of that course of action and encouraged her to speak with other family members first. The lawsuit contends that the counselor never told the child to discuss her feelings with a mental health professional.

The complaint further alleges that the school counselor had encouraged students to explore their gender identity in class before having one-on-one meetings with the student.

The complaint implied that Regino's daughter began experiencing gender confusion due to the counselor's comments in class.

Regino's daughter is currently in sixth grade and now attends a different school in the district. Her gender dysphoria has subsided to the point where she no longer identifies as a boy. The plaintiff's other daughter has been transferred to another school in the district.

In a statement, Superintendent Staley assured parents that the school district doesn't have a "Parental Secrecy Policy."

"In regard to the lawsuit, we value our community and will thoroughly review and investigate any claims. As you know, Chico Unified continues to focus on family engagement and works hard to maintain open and transparent communication. We highly value the relationships our families have built with their schools," she said.

Staley urged parents to "reach out to our District Office if they have specific questions regarding our curriculum, instruction or policies."

Regino's lawsuit comes at a time when many public school districts face increased scrutiny for policies requiring teachers to keep parents in the dark about their child's gender identity if the child prefers his or her parents not to be told.

In 2021, January and Jeffrey Littlejohn filed a similar lawsuit against the public school district in Leon County, Florida, insisting that district officials embraced their daughter's gender identity behind their backs by "colluding with [our] daughter to deceive us so that we would never have known she was going by an alternate name."

These concerns prompted the state of Florida to pass legislation requiring schools to notify parents about changes to their physical or mental health and forbidding them from withholding information from parents.

Last August, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by a group of parents in Montgomery County, Maryland, seeking to stop a school district policy forcing teachers to withhold information about students' gender identity from parents.
Home Opinion 3 reasons why children are precious to God

Is there a child in this world who is not important? All children are precious. Most parents would trade their own lives for them. That is why the Lord said that even the wicked know what is good for their children. But are these children precious to God? Yes, they are. Every child on earth is precious to God.

First, children were created by God and sent to earth by God Himself. The most mysterious of Gods creations is man. The human body is amazing. God created man in His image, the only creature with a personality and the ability to communicate with one another and God. King David reflected on this when he wrote, For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mothers womb (Psalm 139:13). Just as a woman knits stitch by stitch to create a beautiful garment for her beloved, so God mysteriously creates each child in the womb and brings that baby into the world. He made you with unimaginable wisdom and power. Everything about our bodies is a mystery. Every part has a role and works together to make a miracle. Our appearance, character, temperament and talents are innate. Each person is uniquely made, just as each persons fingerprints are unique. After God created man, He saw that it was very good. Every child on the planet is precious to God.

Second, God has an amazing plan for every child. Not one is born by accident. Children are so precious to God that He sends them into this world in His perfect timing and into families of His choosing. David reveals this mystery when he says, Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! (Psalm 139:16-17). The apostle Paul wrote, For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10). The fact that God Almighty knows every child and has great plans for them shows how much God values children. Therefore, the mission of parents is to do everything in their power to help their children fulfill the will of God.

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Third, God wants His Kingdom to be inherited and the knowledge of Him to fill the earth as the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11:9). He desires children to put faith in Christ and become heirs of the Kingdom of God. To this end, before the Israelites entered the land of Canaan, God told them three times to teach their children about God and His Word so that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess (Deuteronomy 31:13). Psalm 78:5-6 tells us God commanded them ... to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so those yet unborn may know Gods laws and continue the line of faith.

Children are so precious to God. Throughout history, there have been events that seemed to lead to a breakdown of the faith, but like a shoot from the root, God allowed the next generation to rise up and continue the line of faith, demonstrating the greatness of God. Proverbs 22:6 tells us, Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Jesus showed his disciples the heart of the Heavenly Father for children when He said, So it is not the will of my Father who is in Heaven that one of these little ones should perish (Matthew 18:14). A few days after that, when His disciples were rebuking those who brought children to Him, Jesus spoke in one of the strongest tones in the New Testament. He said, Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. (Mark 10:14). The Bible tells us Jesus strongly rebuked His disciples and then took the children in His arms and blessed them.

The Lord spoke of how we should value children in an unconventional way. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me (Matthew 18:5). Jesus treated children as VIPs, telling us to value and receive them as we value and receive Jesus.

Children are precious to God. He sent them to earth in His time, in His appointed place, through the person He wanted, for a special plan. Our job is to make this precious fact known.
Home Opinion John Leland: American patriot and First Amendment hero

The great and inspiring story of how American patriots forged a new nation that enshrined and guaranteed the inalienable rights that we have been privileged to inherit and enjoy for more than two centuries is filled with the contributions of extraordinary men, many of whom are not as well known to posterity as they should be.

One such American hero is the Rev. John Leland (1754-1841). Leland, born in Massachusetts, became a Separate Baptist (a new denomination arising out of the First Great Awakening) in 1775 and an evangelist to Virginia in 1776. From then until his return to his native Massachusetts in 1791, Leland became the preeminent Baptist pastor-evangelist in Virginia and North Carolina, probably baptizing approximately 20,000 new converts before his return to Massachusetts.

As a consequence of the ministry of men like Leland, by the end of the Revolutionary War, Baptists had become the most numerous denomination nationally.

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Leland, like his fellow Baptists, were adamantly opposed to state-sponsored official churches at the state level, and were determined that any national or federal government must never have such an official church.

Leland was recognized nationally as one of the leading opponents of the kind of official government church that had been adopted by nine of the original thirteen colonies.

He explained his position in A Chronicle of His Time in Virginia:

The notion of a Christian commonwealth should be exploded forever  Government should protect every man in thinking and speaking freely, and see that one does not abuse another. The liberty I contend for is more than toleration, the very idea of toleration is despicable; it supposes some a pre-eminence above the rest is great indulgence, whereas all should be equally free, Jews, Turks, Pagans, and Christians.

No wonder that when John Leland died at 87 and was buried in North Adams, Massachusetts in 1841 his tombstone read:

Here lies the body of John Leland, of Chesire, who labored 67 years to promote piety and vindicate the civil and religious rights of all men.

Leland, well-known during his lifetime, has faded in the nations memory in the last two centuries. However, he was an active participant in two of the most important religious liberty events in the nations early history.

As stated earlier, Baptists, despite being severely persecuted in some of the nine colonies with established state churches (Virginia and Massachusetts particularly) had grown to numerical preeminence. Leland, as their best-known leader, had led them to threaten to vote against ratification of the new Constitution unless provision was made to prohibit such a federal state church in the proposed new Constitution.

These discussions led to a historic 3-hour meeting between James Madison (father of the Constitution) and Leland in Orange County near Madisons Montpelier home on March 17, 1788. In that meeting, they cut a political deal. Leland would encourage Baptists to vote for a ratification of the proposed Constitution. In turn, Madison promised that he would work to bring about an amendment to the new Constitution, if ratified, to guarantee freedom of religion. These promises were fulfilled in the ratification of the First Ten Amendments in 1791 with freedom of religion guaranteed in the First of the Amendments.

Leland returned to his native Massachusetts in 1791, becoming a leading evangelist and spokesman for Baptists in a state with one of the most aggressive state-sponsored churches (along with Connecticut and Virginia).

Leland remained active in the political sphere as well, culminating in his helping to organize Baptists to vote for Thomas Jefferson in the hotly contested presidential election of 1800. Known by historians as perhaps the ugliest and most vicious presidential election in American history, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson engaged in a bare-knuckles political brawl. Adams Federalists attacked Jefferson mercilessly and told people if Jefferson won, Jeffersons supporters would confiscate their Bibles!

After Jeffersons victory, his supporters in Massachusetts, including the overwhelming majority of Baptists, decided to send the President a giant cheese as a symbol of their gratitude for his presidency. They elected Leland to take the cheese to Jefferson in the nations capital. The cheese (reported to be in excess of 1235 lbs. in weight) was transported by wagon from Massachusetts to D.C.) Leland would pause along the way, crowds would gather to gawk at the cheese, and Leland, the evangelist, would preach a sermon.

On January 1, 1802, by previous arrangement, John Leland arrived at the White House to present the cheese to the president. As Leland presented the cheese, he assured his friend, President Jefferson, that no Federalist cows had contributed milk to the cheese, only Democratic-Republican cows. After receiving the cheese with appropriate gratitude from Leland, the president went back into the White House, and over lunch finished the final draft of his reply to the Baptists of Danbury, Connecticut. The Connecticut Baptists had petitioned President Jefferson for relief from the onerous restrictions placed upon them by the Congregational state official state church in Connecticut.

Jeffersons Letter to the Danbury Baptists was destined to become famous because of its being referenced in several Supreme Court decisions. Jefferson told the Danbury Baptists

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that the legislature should make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.

Although the letter received only passing interest at the time it was released, the wall of separation phrase came to have historic significance in later debates concerning separation of church and state. In 1876 in Reynolds v. United States the Supreme Court stated that it may be accepted almost as an authoritative declaration of the scope and effect of the [first] amendment.

In 1947 and 1948 the Court asserted in McCollum v. Board of Education, that, in the words of Jefferson, the clause against establishment of religion by law was intended to erect a wall of separation between church and state. This strict interpretation of Jeffersons phrase was used to restrict religion in public life.

Many others, including Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, lamented that unfortunately the Establishment Clause has been expressly freighted with Jeffersons misleading metaphor for nearly 40 years.

Supporting Rehnquists view that Jefferson meant a separation of the institution of the state and the institution of the church, and not a removal of religion from public life is the fact that President Jefferson attended a Christian worship service in the House of Representatives the day after sending the letter and John Leland preached the sermon. It is recorded that Jefferson often attended the Sunday worship services in the House of Representatives, with sermons delivered from the speakers rostrum. Clearly, Jefferson did not see the need for removal of religious expression in public and government spaces. These weekly worship services continued until 1850.

It should always be remembered that Thomas Jefferson, in designing the campus of the University of Virginia (a state institution) placed a chapel in a prominent place on the main quadrangle.
Home Opinion Media is gaslighting you about Bidens obvious signs of decline. Heres why it wont work

The Lefts media narrative factory is working overtime on its latest and greatest attempt at gaslighting.

OK, here it is, heres the whopper you have to believe to be an ally of our democracy in good standing: President Joe Biden is fit as a fiddle, yes siree.

All those videos youve seen of him staring into space, moving awkwardly, falling, garbling words, shaking hands with the air, forgetting names, describing recent conversations with people whove been dead for years, and being led around by handlers like a child? Just fake news.

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Heres White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre telling reporters Monday that every video youve seen of the president looking frail and confused is nothing but a cheap fake. (This was an apparent spin on a deepfake, a digitally enhanced video thats hard to distinguish from reality.)

Jean-Pierre quotes The Washington Post, supposedly to debunk these videos and never actually says that theyve been digitally altered. How convincing.

I think Ill personally start using cheap fake as a new-fashioned phrase to replace Orwellian. It now means that a regime apparatchik is telling me I need to stop believing in something I can clearly see with my own eyes but is demanding I turn off my brain to ignore it.

It couldnt be more obvious that the White House and its Democrat media allies think that Bidens health issues  I know Im not supposed to say that, but bear with me here in the realm of reality  are a big problem politically.

They also know that the crisis is escalating. Sure, sometimes Biden seems sort of all right, but even at his best, the president is noticeably slower than he was a few years ago, even six months ago. The number of odd incidents seems to be growing.

First, The Wall Street Journal published a lengthy, damning piece in early June highlighting that Biden has shown signs of slipping behind closed doors.

Now I know what youre thinking: What, he hasnt been showing signs of slipping in public?

Obviously, he has. Bidens declining health has been a problem since he ran for president in 2020. Its been worsening since then, as age-related decline is wont to do.

But when The Wall Street Journal weighs in, its different. Its a signal that media elites no longer can ignore or dismiss the problem outright.

Bidens media friends went into attack mode in an attempt to smear the Journal, of course, along with pretty much anyone who would dare suggest that something is wrong with the president.

But the bad news kept coming. New videos of Biden behaving strangely have surfaced almost daily.

At an early Juneteenth celebration June 10 outside the White House, the president appeared to be frozen in place with a bizarre grin while everyone around him danced.

Biden looked particularly bad at events in France commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day, which took place just days after the Journal published its piece.

In one instance, Biden seems to be hesitantly moving to sit down during a ceremony with French President Emmanuel Macron and awkwardly freezing in place. The Associated Press, bless its heart, appears to have a contextualize all the times Biden looks weird and ancient beat; the wire service fact-checked video of the incident.

Does the fact that Biden was trying to sit in a chair rather than no chair matter much here?

The problem is that he seemed to hover in a semi-squat onstage for an absurdly long time. He doesnt look right and anyone watching it can tell.

It got worse.

In another video that went viral, Biden and a group of other world leaders are observing military parachutists land all around them. Biden suddenly wanders off before being gently brought back to the group by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Bidens media white knights leaped in to correct the record, saying that Biden actually wandered off to talk to parachutists just out of the camera shot and that the New York Post and other media outlets were liars! for posting the videos without that context.

But the medias contextualizing doesnt really make the situation look any better. The problem isnt just that Biden often seems to wander. Its the way he wanders and the reactions of those around him.

Then came, in my mind, the most damning and symbolic video.

At a big Democrat Party fundraiser over the weekend, Biden seemed to freeze again onstage. Was he just basking in the adulation and applause of the crowd? I guess thats one interpretation.

But the weird pause is not the biggest problem here. What makes this video really stick out is the way former President Barack Obama, who many suspect really pulls the strings in the White House, takes Biden by the wrist and essentially leads him offstage like a child.

Anyone who has been around people who are elderly or in physical and mental decline understands whats happening. Those around Biden are trying subtly to aid the president without embarrassing him, but the signs are hard to hide.

The issue is that Biden isnt just any average retiree in his twilight years. Hes expected to be the president of the United States, who has awesome responsibilities and whose judgment may decide the fate of millions.

Yet the White House and corporate media are saying, Dont let your lying eyes deceive you. Hes fine, I tell you.

Heres MSNBCs Nicole Wallace, parroting Jean-Pierre as she argues that videos of Biden looking awful are all just a product of right-wing media that selectively edit videos to mislead viewers.

But theres no evidence of actual tampering in any of these videos, and in some  like the Obama/Biden one  the full, wide shot looks worst of all.

Biden partisans are even trying to turn the tables by saying that former President Donald Trump is the one who looks old and unwell. Many point out that Trump is only three years younger than Biden, so any age concerns about Biden also should apply to Trump.

But much to the medias frustration, few are buying that. Not everyone ages the same way. For whatever reason, Biden is slipping sooner. Its not hard to figure out.

Thats why this whole thing is so devastating and why the Lefts gaslighting about Bidens condition isnt catching on. This isnt a matter of policy or ideas, where one can turn to lies or sophistry to delude the public.

You dont need to be a constitutional lawyer or a policy wonk to see that Biden is in steep physical and mental decline.

If Biden looks this bad in public, you can bet that the problem is much worse in private, as The Wall Street Journal reported.

Its why Republicans in Congress are right to demand the audio tapes of Bidens interviews with special counsel Robert Hur over his possession of classified documents from his years as a senator and vice president. Hur decided not to bring charges against Biden because he is an elderly man with a poor memory and diminished faculties.

Just how diminished is he?

Given the demands on a modern American president, we should be concerned. If Biden really is out to lunch, then who is really running the executive branch?

The American people have a right to know.

Originally published at The Daily Signal.
Home Books We are in a fight: Dr. Ben Carson says America needs a revival of traditional nuclear families

Accomplished neurosurgeon and former Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson had written a new book in which he stresses the need for the United States to have more traditional nuclear families.

Titled The Perilous Fight: Overcoming Our Culture's War on the American Family, the former United States Department of Housing and Urban Development secretarys latest book was released Tuesday by Zondervan.

In an interview with The Christian Post in advance of the books release, Carson said he wrote it because I was extremely concerned about what's going on in our country.

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I don't want to just sit around and complain about it. I want to make sure that people understand that we are in a fight, Carson said. This country was born in a crucible of controversy and violence, and it was a very difficult fight. And it was very unlikely that we were going to win, but we did, because of our value systems, because of our faith that we had.

What is the foundation of our strengths? Its our families, and we cannot be brought down militarily, but we can be destroyed from within, and that's exactly what's happening to our society. I want people to see what's going on.

In CP's interview with Carson, he also spoke about his time in the Trump administration, and why the nuclear family is under attack in America. The following is an edited transcript from that interview.

CP: Many conservative social commentators have written books warning about the decline of the traditional family unit in America. What makes your book different from these other works?

Carson: Because I encourage people to use their influence.

Everybody has a sphere of influence. And we've been told, for instance, from the time that you were a child, there are two things that you don't talk about in public, that's religion and politics.

Those are the very things we need to be talking about, because if we're going to be fundamentally changed into something else, they want to do that in darkness. They want to do that under the cover. They don't want you talking about it and exposing what they're doing.

I talk about in the book, for instance, if you look at the congressional record of January 10, 1963, and Congressman Herlong from Florida read into it the 45 goals of Communism in America.

This was over 60 years ago, and a lot of the stuff you see going on like gaining control of the school systems and the teacher's unions, so you can indoctrinate the kids, gaining control of the media and Hollywood, so that you can manipulate the thinking of the people, driving wedges between parents and children, taking authority away from parents, it goes on and on.

People, I think, don't really understand that this has been going on for a long time, its the reason that [Nikita] Khrushchev [the first secretary of the Communist Party] told [President] Eisenhower over 60 years ago, "Your grandchildren's children will live under our system and we won't have to fire one shot." That's what's going on.

If we don't understand what's going on, how are we going to fight it?

CP: In the book, you talked about the dangers of government overreach when it came to the traditional family unit. You were in the Trump administration. Do you believe that administration made any good headway in helping to counter the attacks on the traditional nuclear family?

Carson: Absolutely.

The first thing we had to do in the Housing Department is create some fiscal responsibility. There had not been an audit for eight years, you couldn't do an audit, even though it's required of every federal agency of every year because there were so many material defects.

We had to fix that. You probably noticed about a year-and-a-half into the administration we started hearing those stories about fiscal mismanagement at HUD. That then allows you to do things, to enhance the programs for self-sufficiency.

There are a lot of people on Capitol Hill who don't want people to be self-sufficient. They want them to be dependent on the government. So, that's part of the fight right there; but a lot of our efforts were directed toward helping people to become self-sufficient. They look at the opportunities on how somewhere between 500,000 to 1,000,000 people were lifted out of poverty.

When you get the private sector to actually invest and ameliorating those deteriorating environments. Those are the kinds of things that actually work.

CP: Along those lines, you talked in the book about a program you helped oversee at HUD that involved giving grants to churches located in needy communities, known as the Mustard Seed program. What do you believe makes a local church a better helper to the poor than the government?

Carson: Remember, before the government became big and invasive, who took care of the indigent? Who took care of the widows and the disabled? It was the churches, and they did a very good job of it, probably a much better job than the government.

So, we recognize that and we said, "there are some churches that are doing very good work, let's help them." Instead of going in and requiring them to jump through a lot of hoops and making life difficult for them, and making them competitive, let's support what they're doing and expand it.

CP: In Chapter 9, you outlined certain things that parents should do to help protect their children from harm, one of them was "minimizing outside influences." Are you concerned that such advice could lead parents to keep their children away from external ideas that might actually be beneficial?

Carson: I've visited a lot of private schools  which are exploding right now, as you probably know  and homeschool networks. And, they're concerned about the very negative influences that coming into children who have undeveloped brains, children who have a natural tendency to be curious, children who are very suggestable. And when you take in those children and you're feeding ideas into their head that "you might not actually be a girl" or "you might not actually be a boy," that "you are a racist no matter what you do," that "you're an oppressor," "you're a victim," those are extremely unhealthy things to do to a child who has a developing brain.

I think many parents have rightly discerned that and decided that they want to keep their children away from those kinds of influences.

But, at the same time, they're exposing their children to a lot of good things. They go on field trips, they have all kinds of people come in and talk to the children. And they're able to control that, and that's the difference: parental control. Because what's happening in our society right now is the Marxist philosophy that children also belong to the government, and they get to control what's going on. That's ridiculous.

I read a story just yesterday about an Indiana couple where the courts decided that even though they were not abusing their child, they were not neglecting their child, that the child could be taken away from them because the parents refuse to use the child's preferred pronouns.

This is crazy and these are the kinds of things that destroy society. There's just no good thing that comes from that, and these are the kinds of things that I pointed out in the book.

Traditional nuclear families that work the right way have tremendous benefits for the children.

CP: What do you hope readers take away from your book?

Carson: I want them to recognize that we are in a fight, who we're fighting, and that they are an important part of that fight.

Don't stand on the sidelines. You cannot be the land of the free if you're not the home of the brave. You can't be afraid to be canceled, you can't be afraid to have somebody call you a nasty name, but if we're going to succeed as a nation, we need to recognize that we became the pinnacle nation in the world because of the values, the Judeo-Christian values that we have. The family values that we have, the community values that we have.

It is not a coincidence that we're declining very rapidly as we throw those things away. We have a choice to make, but everybody has to be involved, not as a spectator, but as a participant.
Home Books Voddie Baucham talks LGBT takeover of civil rights, 'manufactured' Christian nationalism

Pastor Voddie T. Baucham recently spoke to The Christian Post about his new book, It's Not Like Being Black: How Sexual Activists Hijacked the Civil Rights Movement, which was published last week and delves into what he described as the attempt by sexual activists to subvert the civil rights movement to promote immorality.

Baucham also warned that many American churches are going to have to "pay a price" for standing up for biblical sexual ethics during a time when the state is increasingly mandating against them.

Runaway train of social justice

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Baucham, whose book traces some of the key ideas and figures responsible for the LGBT movement, told CP that the idea for writing it had been percolating in his mind for more than 15 years. He especially remembers the media campaign that attempted in vain to convince California voters to legalize same-sex marriage by voting against Proposition 8 in 2008.

Though he now serves as dean of the School of Theology at African Christian University in Lusaka, Zambia, Baucham is a Los Angeles native who was pastoring a church in Houston, Texas, at the time Proposition 8 was on the state ballot in California.

He recalled seeing a cover story from The Advocate at the time asserting that "Gay Is the New Black," and it used big bold letters to describe the push for gay marriage as "the last great civil rights struggle."

Baucham pushes back against such an assertion in his new book, which he noted was repeatedly rejected by publishers when he first proposed it more than 10 years ago. He notes it is the logical sequel to his bestselling 2021 book Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism's Looming Catastrophe.

While Fault Lines largely explored the neo-Marxist roots of the critical social justice movement as it relates to race, Baucham likened the entire movement to "a train with boxcars" that includes many other flashpoint cultural issues.

"The engine may be critical race theory and intersectionality, and the first boxcar that everybody wanted to jump on was that racial justice boxcar," he said. "But right behind it were all these other boxcars: climate justice, border justice, and then LGBTQ, all this other stuff. These boxcars are coming right along with it. So it just made sense to write this book following along after that one."

Remembering how even voters in California rejected same-sex marriage in 2008, Baucham went on to note that the cultural push for sexual immorality escalated exponentially during the Obama administration, culminating in the U.S. Supreme Court's 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision that claimed a right to same-sex marriage exists in the 14th Amendment.

"After Obergefell, it's like we started going downhill at a rapid pace and picking up steam as things just got further and further out of control, in terms of sexual ethics," he said. "So all of those things really went into writing this book."

Rise of 'sexual minorities'

Baucham explained that the application of the neo-Marxist paradigm to sexuality and gender has led to the emergence of "sexual minorities," the symbol of which he noted can easily be seen in the ubiquitous Progress Pride flag.

The Progress Pride flag features the traditional rainbow design of the pride flag but also includes additional chevrons representing black, Latino and trans-identifying individuals, which Baucham said is a "smoking gun" that indicates the fundamentally political nature of the LGBTQ+ social justice movement.

"This is about that neo-Marxist, oppressor-oppressed paradigm," he said. "This is about the idea that there is no God, there are no absolute moral rights and wrongs. There's just a culture with hegemonic power. And in this culture, that's Christian morality."

"Hence the term 'sexual minorities' is just hitching the wagon to civil rights and critical social justice writ large," he explained.

The ultimate consequence of having "sexual minorities," Baucham warns, is the potential loss of religious freedom in the name of civil rights. He worries that the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns revealed that many churches don't have the backbone to stand up for themselves in the face of government overreach.

"COVID exposed a lot about our understanding of public theology; about our understanding of sphere sovereignty, or lack of understanding of sphere sovereignty," he said. "God gave us the sphere of the family, the sphere of the church, the sphere of the civil government, and COVID basically collapsed those spheres."

"And when COVID came, we saw that, theologically, for most Christians, those are all collapsed under the state," he continued. "And we believe that the state has preeminent unchecked unparalleled authority. And that's frightening. We seem to have lost not only the ability to appeal to Caesar, but we don't even believe that it's appropriate to do so."

Baucham expressed concern that as the government increasingly enforces conformity regarding sexual and gender ideology, many Christians "have shown a real lack of ability to discern sphere sovereignty, and a real lack of courage in terms of exercising and calling for proper sphere sovereignty, [and] I don't think it bodes well for what we're about to face."

'Manufactured crisis' of Christian nationalism

Baucham also touched on Christian nationalism, telling CP that he believes the crisis over the topic is "purely manufactured," evidence for which he says can be found in the fact that nobody can agree on its definition.

"People will ask me, 'What do you think about Christian nationalism, or where do you stand on Christian nationalism?' My first question is always, 'How are you defining the term?' And almost inevitably, I get a response that is unclear."

Noting how "white Christian nationalism" earns what he described as "a triple-word score" on the intersectionality scoring scale, Baucham believes the nebulous nature of the definition is intentional because it allows the label to be used as a "boogeyman."

He also blasted as "absolutely ridiculous" the definition Politico journalist Heidi Przybyla offered in February, when she said during an MSNBC panel that the ideology is marked by believing rights come from God.

"Anybody who passed civics, when faced with that definition, would say, 'Well, yeah, I guess I am a Christian nationalist.'"

Others, by contrast, tend to define it too narrowly, he said. Both schools, he thinks, are distracting from the real issues.

Baucham went on to note the irony that Zambia, where he now lives, is overwhelmingly black and still defines itself as "a Christian nation" under "the supremacy of God Almighty" in the preamble to its constitution.

"Here I am in an almost exclusively black country in sub-Saharan Africa that identifies itself with a preamble to its constitution as a Christian nation," he said, noting that when he brings up such a fact to those objecting to so-called white Christian nationalism, many of them try to "shrug it off" by suggesting that Zambia's case is different.

"I'm not buying it, I'm not falling for it," he said. "It's a distraction."

He added that when he is questioned about his position on Christian nationalism, he parries by replying that he is not "a pagan globalist."

"And if you're not a pagan globalist, then what are you?" he said. "And then they don't have an answer, right? They don't have an answer, which again exposes the fact that, in my opinion, this is manufactured. It's a manufactured crisis."

'Such were some of you'

Key to Baucham's book is a repudiation of the idea that so-called sexual orientation is immutable like race.

In the book's final chapter, titled "Such Were Some of You," Baucham offers examples of Christians who have repented of the LGBT lifestyle, such as Rosaria Butterfield and Christopher Yuan. Baucham notes, however, the unique difficulty of resisting sexual sins that receive special approbation in a culture that has made them an identity.

"Scriptures give us comfort in that regard," Baucham told CP regarding those who have felt compelled to repent of LGBT behavior. "Sanctification is an ongoing process. Romans Chapter 7 is in the Bible for a reason  'O wretched man that I am!' Being a Christian is not the idea that we come to Christ, we repent of our sin, and then go and struggle no more. That's not Christianity."

Acknowledging that some sins such as drug and alcohol abuse can "get their hooks in deep" and require daily vigilance, Baucham pushed back against the idea that someone who is drawn to homosexuality has no chance of changing.

"What we don't do in the case of those other sins, is we don't say that the difficulty of living the life beyond or after them is evidence that they should just be embraced," he said. "And we make that argument with these sexual sins, because we've bought into the idea of sexual orientation as innate and immutable."

"Deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow Me," Baucham continued, referencing the words of Christ in Matthew 16:24. "That's what we're dealing with here."

'We've seen this movie before'

During a recent sermon at Lamar Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas, Baucham soberly laid out his belief based on Romans 1 that the pervasive sexual depravity of the prevailing culture is evidence of divine judgment, and that he cannot personally see a way out of its catastrophic consequences.

"We are living in a time, in an era when there are people who are desperately wicked, and in desperate need of repentance and faith, in desperate need of the Gospel. And we're being told that the wickedness is, in fact, the Gospel," Baucham said at the time.

Speaking to CP, Baucham echoed his sermon and said that while he will never lose faith in God's Kingdom, he takes a less optimistic view toward the apparent course of Western culture.

"I always have hope, because I belong to Christ," Baucham told CP. "The Kingdom of God is undefeated. And not only is the Kingdom of God undefeated, it's undefeatable. So, I'm not worried about that."

"However, when I start thinking about our culture, when I start thinking about our society, I'm a lot less hopeful in that regard, because we've seen this movie before," he continued. "We've seen it with all of the great civilizations in world history  how they were born, how they ascended to greatness, and then how they decayed internally, morally, and eventually met their demise."

"And it's terrible to come to the realization that we're on that trajectory. So from that standpoint, it's not very hopeful," he added. "And I believe that the only hope that we have is awakening and revival, some kind of supernatural spiritual intervention. Beyond that, we're toast."

'We're going to pay a price'

Despite the bleakness of the current cultural moment, Baucham told CP he hopes his new book will leave his Christian readers "equipped, encouraged and informed."

"Know what's happening, know how it happened, know where this came from, know the roots of it  don't just know what we're against, but know what we're for," he said, adding that he spends a large part of the book explaining the biblical picture of manhood, womanhood and the proper role of marriage.

Baucham also said that Christians need to be prepared to suffer for taking a stand on such contentious issues.

"We need to be informed about what our adversaries are doing; equipped with biblical truth and encouraged, because we're going to pay a price," he said. "Maybe we're already paying a price. There are people who've lost custody of their children over this, and the worst is yet to come. So we need to be encouraged and we need to be prepared to stand firm."

"We need to be prepared to again deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow Him. We need to be prepared to proclaim the Gospel, because it is our only hope. And it is the only hope of people who have gone so far astray. So I'm hoping that's what people take away from this."
Home News 24 Hour Fitness allows staff to wear LGBT pride, BLM logos for 'solidarity' but limits US flag

A memo released by 24 Hour Fitness that has gained national attention labels symbols affiliated with Black Lives Matter and LGBT pride as freedom of expression while seemingly limiting imagery of the American flag, except on certain holidays.

The May 2023 internal memo, obtained by Latinos United for Conservative Action Texas Director Carlos Turcios and also shared online the popular social media activist account Libs of TikTok, outlines how employees should bring their full selves to work every day and tells team members to dress in apparel that shows solidarity and support for political causes.

Employees can wear clothing with phrases and images supporting Black Lives Matter, and LGBT pride, with no apparent restriction on when those can be worn. Employees can wear symbols representing the national holiday Juneteenth on June 19. Patriotic apparel with the U.S. flag or U.S. logo appears to only be permitted on holidays such as Memorial Day, Flag Day, July 4th, Veterans Day, Patriots Day, etc.

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If other occasions come up where team members would like the opportunity for personal expression, please consult with your [general manager] and/or line manager, the memo states.

???? EXPOSED: 24-Hour Fitness internal documents show that Transgender members and team members may use whichever locker room they prefer. The internal documents also show that pride and BLM expressions are allowed all year while Flag and US logos are only for certain holidays. pic.twitter.com/khg9tiih1e  Carlos Turcios (@Carlos__Turcios) June 10, 2024

The Christian Post reached out to a local 24 Hour Fitness and the 24 Hour Fitness media communications team for a statement on the leaked memo. If one is provided, this article will be updated.



Turcios also obtained an October 2022 memo stating that trans-identified members may use the locker room or restroom "they feel is most appropriate for them." The memo also instructed employees they may not ask for ID to "make a gender determination."



"Requiring a transgender person to use a specific facility is not only a denial of equal access but also may violate the person's right to privacy," the memo states. "Transgender includes non-binary members and team members. Non-binary describes someone who does not identify exclusively as male or female. For the purposes of this policy, this is inclusive of those members and team members that identify as non-binary."

Requiring a transgender person to use a specific facility is not only a denial of equal access but also may violate the person's right to privacy. Transgender includes non-binary members and team members. Non-binary describes someone who does not identify exclusively as male or pic.twitter.com/AL2kISIQfp  Carlos Turcios (@Carlos__Turcios) June 10, 2024

In recent months, there has been much attention paid to gym policies nationwide as some question allowing male trans-identified members to access women's locker rooms.

In April, Planet Fitness co-founder Michael Grondahl stated in an interview that gym franchise's policy of allowing men into women's locker rooms and alleged history of sexual abuse is "devastating" along with what the company has become.

In a late March interview with Libs of TikTok founder Chaya Raichik, Grondahl stated that the company he founded is "pretty much destroyed" in response to Planet Fitness banning a member who complained about a trans-identified biological male in the women's locker room.

The member, Patricia Silva, went viral in March after she shared her story online about Alaska Planet Fitness revoking her membership.

"Planet Fitness was like another child for me. And I put my heart and soul into building that company, and it's been pretty much destroyed in, you know, it's lost all respect within the country within the last couple of weeks," Grondahl said. "There's no common sense standing behind this."

Silva said a 12-year-old in a towel was inside the locker room while the man was inside, and the girl seemed "freaked out" over the man's presence.

"To be honest, I have a daughter, and had I been in the facility and heard what was going on, I'd want to go in there and freaking take the guy by the neck and throw him out on the parking lot," Grondahl said.

After revoking Silva's membership, reports surfaced in March that a staffer has since accompanied the man while he used the women's facilities.
Home News 3 plead guilty to vandalizing pro-life pregnancy centers in wake of Supreme Court abortion decision

Three Florida residents have pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to intimidate staff at pro-life pregnancy centers, disrupting their ability to provide healthcare services, according to the U.S. Justice Department.

According to a statement released by the Department of Justice, Caleb Freestone, Amber Smith-Stewart and Annarella Rivera on Friday admitted to orchestrating a series of attacks on pregnancy resource centers across Florida following the U.S. Supreme Courts Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision determining that the U.S. Constitution doesnt contain a right to abortion.

The ruling and the publication of a leaked draft of the decision by Politico at the time launched a wave of vandalism and arson targeting pro-life pregnancy centers and churches that continued throughout the summer and into the fall.

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The centers in Florida, which advocate for abortion alternatives, became targets for vandalism that included graffiti with menacing messages.

The incidents transpired between May and July 2022, and the defendants executed their attacks under the cover of darkness, the Justice Department said.

Dressed in masks and dark clothing to conceal their identities, they spray-painted various facilities with phrases like, If abortions arent safe than niether [sic] are you, YOUR TIME IS UP!!, WERE COMING for U and We are everywhere.

Such actions were meant to instill fear among the employees of these centers, according to Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division. Clarke said the department is dedicated to safeguarding lawful access to reproductive health services and upholding civil rights.

U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg referred to the protection federal law provides to both providers and seekers of reproductive health care from threats and intimidation.

The sentencing for Freestone, Smith-Stewart and Rivera is pending, with each facing up to 10 years in prison as determined by a federal district judge who will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Freestone and Smith-Stewart were indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2023, while Gabriella Oropesa and Rivera were indicted in March 2023.

In a detailed recount of the incidents by the Department of Justice, additional charges were brought under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act against Rivera, Freestone and Smith-Stewart. They were charged with using threats of force to intimidate employees of a reproductive health services facility in Winter Haven, as they were providing reproductive health services. The indictment included detailed descriptions of the graffiti and damage caused, which was similarly reported independently by the LifeChoice Pregnancy Center in Winter Haven.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the pro-life group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, responded to the indictment of Freestone and Smith-Stewart in a statement at the time.

These charges are good first steps, but the fight for equal justice is far from over. With a new House GOP majority positioned to exercise its oversight powers, we are finally beginning to see some accountability, she said. Congressional Democrats had the opportunity to condemn the violence and all but three refused, and again we have had to call on the White House to stop vilifying pro-life Americans. The pro-life movement is keeping a watchful eye on this administration and we will not be silent in the face of violence and intimidation.
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 High school student's diploma delayed for telling classmates to find Christ in graduation speech

Five days after he graduated from Campbell County High School in Kentucky, Micah Price finally received his diploma from school officials Wednesday after it was withheld because he went off script in his commencement speech last Friday and encouraged his classmates to find Christ.

Price's defiance of school rules has been the subject of a feverish debate online since a video of his speech went viral, with many Christian supporters praising him with words such as "brave."

Superintendent Shelli Wilson told WKRC that Price was selected by his principal to deliver an approved speech that allowed him to thank his "Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" but not proselytize. However, Price urged his classmates to find Christ, telling them "He is the light. He is the way, the truth and the life," a paraphrase of John 14:6.

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"I was told beforehand I wasn't allowed to bring up Christ, that He is the way, the truth, and the life in my speech," Price said on TikTok after the event.

"I did anyways, and after the speech was over, one of the principals came and tapped me on the shoulder very politely and professionally and told me I was going to have to go in front of the board and explain what I did because I went off script," he added.

As he waited in the days following his speech to meet with school officials, Price said people offered to stand with him before the board. He urged them not to support him but the message of Jesus. He also insisted that the school officials did nothing wrong and were just simply doing their job in reprimanding him for going off script.

He eventually learned that he would not have to meet with the entire school board for his speech, only the principals.

Shortly after meeting on Wednesday, he was beaming with his diploma in an interview with Chelsea Sick of WKRC.

"It was a very quick and painless process. Went into this very short meeting with two principals. They were very professional in everything they did very kind.  An answered prayer. We got the diploma," he declared.

When asked about the social media firestorm over the delay in getting his diploma, Price said he knew his witness was against the rules but felt compelled to share more about the goodness of God in his life.

"I did go against the rules. I should have been punished which I do agree with," he said. "I simply cannot go anywhere without mentioning what my Lord and Savior has done for me and just what he's brought to me and my life. I did deserve to be punished but through Christ we prevail."

Price, who will be joining the Air Force in July, told Fox 19 that delivering a graduation speech that honors God has been a goal of his since the fifth grade.

"I always wanted to give it," Price said. "I prayed about it a lot."

His conviction grew stronger when he became a devoted Baptist in the eighth grade, and last Friday, he said he was prepared to pay the price for the message he delivered.

"My Lord and Savior is your answer," Price said in his speech. "He will give you the truth, the way, and the light. I must give the honor, the praise, and the glory to Jesus Christ."

I just interviewed Micah Price, who graduated from Campbell Co. HS on Friday. He didnt receive his diploma right away, bc he veered from his approved speech to talk about God. Today he met with his principals and received his diploma. Original Story: https://t.co/EQTE7ntl5zpic.twitter.com/l6P3FYGsgc  Chelsea Sick (@chelseasicknews) May 29, 2024
Home News ISIS kills dozens of Christians in DRC; churches close after latest attacks

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for killing dozens of people in a series of violent attacks lasting multiple days in several villages in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with at least 80 Christians reportedly among the dead, military and local sources say.

The series of attacks saw one of its deadliest days on June 7, when suspected militants from the Islamic State-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces launched coordinated assaults on several villages in the Beni territory of the Christian-majority North Kivu province.

On Friday, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack that killed over 40 people in the village of Mayikengo in Lubero territory earlier in the week. Citing figures from local authorities, Agence France-Presse reports that nearly 150 people have been killed since the beginning of June by the Allied Democratic Forces.

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Open Doors, a watchdog organization monitoring the persecution of Christians in over 60 countries, responded to the attacks in a statement shared with The Christian Post, saying that of those killed, at least 80 were Christians. While ADF attacks in DRC are not new, Open Doors reports that the recent violence is "comparatively deadlier" and particularly more "aggressive in targeting Christians" than in previous years.

"Christians are forced to flee, and some churches in the affected villages have closed as a result of the latest attacks. These unabated attacks come at a time when Christian farmers were preparing for harvest," said Open Doors US CEO Ryan Brown.

"The impact is that many families are without means to feed their families, and the unprepared displacement has put pressure on the livelihood of Christian families now on the move to unknown destinations."

Over a dozen armed groups and 100 criminal gangs and militias operate in eastern DRC, according to the U.S. State Department. ADF, which is also referred to as Islamic State's Central Africa Province and sometimes called ISIS-DRC, was designated by the State Department as a foreign terrorist organization in 2021. The group pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2017 after operating in the DRC for years.

"ISIS-DRC historically relied on local resources and on former leader Jamil Mukulu's international connections to raise funds but has received funding from ISIS-linked financing networks since 2017," a State Department factsheet notes. "About one-third of ISIS-DRC members, including its top leaders, are of Ugandan origin."

The Open Doors World Watch List ranks DRC as the 41st most dangerous country for Christians, with the eastern regions facing acute threats from Islamic militants, organized crime and local armed factions. The group called for increased international support and a concerted effort to address the crisis affecting Christian communities.

"The rate at which Christian communities continue to be attacked in eastern DRC by the ADF is horrifying. These attacks continue unabated, displacing thousands of people from their homes, farmlands and livelihoods," said Jo Newhouse, Open Doors' field spokesperson for Sub-Saharan Africa. "We call on the international community to do everything in its power to ensure the government of DRC faithfully and transparently protects all affected communities and that the displaced receive the support they need in these circumstances."

Last week, on the night of June 7, 41 people were killed and several injured, underscoring a grim tally of over 80 fatalities in just four days, Lieutenant-Colonel Mak Hazukay, a spokesman for the Congolese army, told Reuters.

The villages of Masala, Mapasana and Mahini bore the brunt of the onslaught, with armed men using guns and machetes in a brutal rampage. Fabien Kakule, a local official, told Reuters that residents were indiscriminately attacked, and a local health center was set ablaze.

In addition, 11 bodies were discovered in the villages of Kabweli, Mamulese and Mununze. Later, 13 more bodies were found in the village of Makobu, as reported by local leaders and civil society members engaged in the search and recovery of bodies.

In addition to the killings, nine people suffered injuries during the attacks.

The ADF, originally a rebel group from Uganda, has significantly expanded its base of operations in eastern Congo.

According to Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, ADF has become the deadliest threat to civilians in the region, with over 1,000 reported fatalities last year alone. Their strategic positions have also facilitated increased cross-border attacks into Uganda.

EU foreign affairs spokeswoman Nabila Massrali told Reuters that terror groups "are taking advantage of the chaos to expand their hold on an already very unstable region," stressing the need for a political solution to combat the rising tide of extremism and violence.

Former North Kivu Gov. Julien Paluku took to social media to express concern over the national government's response, or lack thereof, to the escalating violence.

"People have the impression, rightly or wrongly, of being abandoned to their sad fate," he was quoted as stating.
Home News Scooter company disables riding over LGBT pride display after teens charged with felonies 'We will not let the hateful few spoil the joy of pride month in Spokane'

A scooter company has disabled the ability of riders to approach a pride mural in Spokane, Washington, after three teenagers were charged with felonies last week for using their scooters to desecrate the government-funded display.

On June 5, a 19-year-old named Ruslan V.V. Turko and two unnamed minors were arrested and booked in the county jail for first-degree malicious mischief after leaving multiple dark skid marks on the city's newly painted pride mural, according to the Spokane Police Department.

Officers reportedly found the suspects defacing the mural on scooters and witnessed the vandalism when they arrived on the scene last Wednesday.

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"Officers observed widespread damage as black scuff marks consistent with scooter wheels were observed across the entirety of the mural. The area is clearly marked to keep traffic away as it was just re-painted to repair previous damage," the department said in a June 6 press release.

A video of a local resident who called the police went viral on social media, during which she explained why she felt justified calling the authorities for what she claimed was a hate crime.

"It sucks to be reminded in moments like this that there are still people out there who have hate in their hearts for other people," the woman said.

?????????????????? TEENS ARRESTED FOR HATE CRIME AFTER DRIVING SCOOTER OVER PRIDE MURAL



The 3 teens, two of them unnamed as they're underage, were arrested in Spokane, Washington, and charged with 'malicious mischief' after their scooters left tire marks on a pride mural they rode over. pic.twitter.com/KdKTkESQzH  Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) June 8, 2024

Following news of the skid marks, Lime Director of Government Relations Hayden Harvey told The National Desk that his company denounced such actions.

"All of us at Lime condemn these vile acts in no uncertain terms," Harvey said. "At a time when our teams at Lime are beginning pride celebrations around the globe, it is disturbing to see the hate taking place in Spokane."

"We will not let the hateful few spoil the joy of pride month in Spokane, and are grateful for those working to make Spokane more welcoming for all," he added.

The company, which allows customers to use an app that unlocks scooters left in various parts of major cities, has since established a "no-go zone" over the pride crosswalk in Spokane, which means the scooters will "gradually come to a stop" if a rider approaches the area.

The Christian Post has reached out to Lime for further comment and will update this story if they respond.

Similar incidents have made national headlines in recent months.

In February, 19-year-old Dylan Brewer raised tens of thousands of dollars on GiveSendGo after he was charged with a felony for vandalizing an LGBT progress pride crosswalk in Clearwater, Florida, by leaving skid marks on it with his tires.

Last month, police in St. Petersburg, Florida, opened an investigation into drivers who vandalized an LGBT-themed street mural by leaving donut marks ahead of the city's pride month celebrations.
Home News God bless em: Mike Rowe praises Chick-fil-A kids summer camp teaching soft skills

Mike Rowe, television host of Dirty Jobs, has applauded a Chick-fil-A franchise in Hammond, Louisiana, for its innovative summer camp designed to teach children practical life skills. The camp, to be held next month, has garnered attention for its unique approach to child education through real-world business insights, although it has also sparked controversy among a section of the public that is calling it a child labor camp.

The Chick-fil-A Summer Camp, announced on June 5 and to be held in six sessions from July 15-17 and July 22-24, invites children ages 5 to 12 for a three-hour session each, priced at $35. Each session will include activities like a behind-the-scenes look at the restaurants operations and time spent with the Chick-fil-A Cow mascot and team leaders, according to Yahoo News. The camp will also provide a kids meal, T-shirt, name tag and snack for each attendee.

The camps popularity was evident as all initially offered sessions sold out within an hour, prompting the addition of more sessions.

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Despite its popularity, the camp has drawn a mix of praise and criticism on social media. Some parents and commentators have expressed concerns over potential child labor implications and the appropriateness of introducing young children to corporate work environments, Yahoo News added.

Rowe defended the camp during an appearance on Fox Business' Varney & Co., praising Chick-fil-A for stepping in to teach practical life skills to children  a gap he believes has been left by the removal of courses like home economics and shop from public schools.

What did we think was going to happen when we took Home Ec, shop and basic financial literacy out of the public schools? Sooner or later, somebody is going to step up and say, we have to inculcate these ideas into the next generation, Rowe said.

If Chick-fil-A is going to be part of leading that charge, God bless 'em. Theres somebody [that] has to step in to do this. Soft skills, basic common sense, all of that stuff is still for sale and, sadly, lacking, Rowe added.

Some Facebook users tagged the U.S. Department of Labor in their comments, questioning the legality of the activities proposed for children, such as taking and bagging orders. Chick-fil-A representatives clarified that the camp activities do not include performing actual team member tasks. They stated that employees serving as counselors would focus solely on engaging with the campers through planned activities.

The initiative by Chick-fil-A in Hammond is not the first of its kind within the chain. A similar summer camp has been running for six years at a location in Houston, Texas, featuring activities like bingo and trivia.

Representatives from Chick-fil-A noted that while these camps are quickly selling out, they are not profit-driven but are instead designed to engage with community members and teach children valuable skills. They also pointed out that each restaurant is independently owned and that such programs are developed by owners to connect with their local communities.

Chick-fil-A made headlines earlier this month with the launch of a new summer menu item, the maple pepper bacon sandwich.

The fast-food chain said the limited edition sandwich was inspired by Americans passion for summertime barbecues. The sandwich is comprised of a lemon and herb marinated chicken breast topped with brown sugar and pepper bacon, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, sweet and spicy pickles and a toasted maple-flavored brioche bun.

The maple pepper bacon sandwich will be available for in-restaurant purchase and delivery through Aug. 24. Accompanying the new limited release, Chick-fil-A has brought back a fan favorite for the 15th year with its peach milkshake.
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 Trans Christian school shooter's leaked diary reveals anti-Christian, perverse, pro-LGBT sentiments Judge orders show cause hearing following diary leak

Warning: The following article contains graphic descriptions of sexually explicit diary entries.

Newly published excerpts from the purported diary of the trans-identified perpetrator behind the mass shooting at Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, show perverse sexual fantasies, homicidal impulses and hostilities toward her parents' Christian beliefs.

In a lengthy X thread Wednesday, Daily Wire blogger Matt Walsh unveiled the contents of the diary belonging to Audrey Hale, the trans-identified shooter who killed six people at the Covenant School affiliated with the Presbyterian Church of America in March 2023.

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The handwritten diary, concealed from the public for over a year and riddled with expletives, reveals the shooter's resentment toward her parents and full-throated support for LGBT ideology.

One passage shows Hale complaining about her parents' efforts to make their children go to "youth group" and "force Christian friends" in their child's lives "because the old ones were a 'bad' influence." Hale took issue with her parents' belief that "religion can change nature," adding, "That could explain why I don't practice religion anymore."

"Let kids think for themselves, listening to parents does no damned good," Hale wrote.

In another passage, titled "My Imaginary Penis," Hale railed against her parents and their preference for "conservative religion-gay s," suggesting that their worldview "makes them believe that the child they are given should stay that way."

According to Hale, "Even if transgender treatment was discovered and tested during my time, I know how the situation would have turned out. My mother would not have [paid] a cent."

Hale expressed envy toward "children who were able to successfully take puberty blockers and never enter a [tortured] puberty," writing that they "don't know how good they f have it." She also stated that she would "kill to have parents who would let [their] child be happy no matter how different it is to [their] viewpoints or don't agree, or scared of it" and who "are willing to listen to their children, not the other way around."

The "Imaginary Penis" entry, written two weeks before she carried out the school shooting, reads, "My penis exists in my head" and "I swear to God I'm a male." It outlined Hale's "sexual fantasies," going into graphic detail about how she would sodomize the "girl I love."

"I want to know what [that's] like, but I never will because I was damned to be born this way," she added.

After describing her situation as a "curse," Hale likened herself to a deity.

"Having a brain like mine has its godliness but also prone to making poor a decisions," she said.

She cited using the male name she had chosen for herself, Aiden, when filling out Instacart paperwork as one such poor decision because doing so made it so the "check didn't clear."

Hale recalled how she once was "thinking of porn and doing plastic surgery on my stuffed animals giving them penises."

She detailed how she viewed her "stuffed boy doll" Tony as "the boy I am in another form," detailing how she "constructed for him a penis" and got him together with her "girl doll Ashley."

She went into graphic detail about how she orchestrated sex between the two dolls.

Hale also lamented that "the people in this world adds more bullets to shoot violent thoughts into my head on full-auto."

While Walsh published screenshots of the diary on X and discussed it on his podcast, the excerpts of the diary are separate from those obtained by The Tennessee Star last week.

The Star claimed it had reviewed nearly "four dozen images of notebook pages written by Hale that were recovered from the vehicle she drove to the Covenant School which were obtained from a source familiar with the Covenant investigation."

On Monday, a Davidson County judge ordered a show cause hearing after the court received a request for comment on The Star's publication.

"Based on the foregoing, this Court sets a Show Cause hearing to determine why the alleged publication of certain purported documents by Petitioners Star Digital Media and Michael Leahy, as the Editor-in-Chief, does not violate the Orders of this Court subjecting them to contempt proceedings and sanctions," the court order reads.

Leahy and Star News Digital Media, Inc. are plaintiffs in lawsuits seeking to compel both the FBI and the Metro Nashville Police Department to release the writings left by Hale.

The diary excerpts obtained by The Star included an entry suggesting that Hale may have initially planned to carry out the mass shooting on Feb. 17, 2023, one month before it took place.

An additional excerpt of the diary, from March 8 of the same year, declared, "I need a trans doctor" and proclaimed, "this female gender role makes me want to not exist."

The publication indicated that there was a word scratched out to the point that it was illegible, followed by Hale expressing a desire "to be completely gone in physical form  off the face of the earth."

As reported by The Tennessee Star last week, the FBI sent a memo to the Metro Nashville Police Department a month and a half after the shooting, telling the local law enforcement agency that it "strongly discourages" the release of "legacy tokens" from mass murderers.

Suggesting that perpetrators of mass shootings "often leave behind items to claim credit for the attack and / or articulate the motivation behind it," the FBI listed examples of "legacy tokens" as "manifestos, videos, social media postings, or other communications deliberately created by the shooter and delivered or staged for discovery by others, usually near in time to the shooting."

The FBI warned that publishing "legacy tokens" would lead future mass shooters to "immerse themselves in and study these materials for inspiration and tactics."

Identifying "infamy and notoriety" as "major motivators for many attackers," the memo warned that "dispersion of legacy tokens through the media will only further the infamous and notorious goals of the offender." The FBI also expressed concern that "legacy tokens" lead the public to "dismiss the attacker as mentally ill" and thereby advance "a false narrative that the majority of attackers are mentally ill."

In November, the website "Louder With Crowder," associated with conservative podcaster Steven Crowder, published excerpts of Hale's diary outlining plans for the mass shooting. The entry detailed Hale's excitement for carrying out the act of violence and provided a detailed schedule of "Death Day"  March 27, 2023, the day of the shooting.

In addition to criticism surrounding the failure to release the diary, also referred to as a "manifesto," media coverage of the trans identity of the shooter was also condemned in some outlets.

For example, a memo published by the New York Post revealed that CBS News banned its reporters from discussing Hale's "transgender" status, while other news outlets refrained from mentioning that the mass shooting took place at a Christian school.
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 Nonprofit makes largest single investment in Catholic education history

A nonprofit has just pledged to make the largest charitable contribution in the history of Catholic education as leaders at the state and local level work to ensure the availability of affordable, faith-based education for students in Indiana.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Gary, Indiana, announced in a statement last week that the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization that describes itself as committed to supporting catalytic projects and initiatives that cultivate a strong quality of life in northwest Indiana and across the state, will donate over $100 million to a fund that provides scholarships enabling disadvantaged children in the Chicago area to attend Catholic schools. The Big Shoulders Fund will receive $150 million in the next 10 years.

The donation from the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation to the Big Shoulders Fund constitutes the largest single investment in PreK-12 Catholic education history. We know that access to high-quality, values-based education is as important as anything we can support, and our efforts would not be complete without a deep commitment to the Catholic schools that have been a critical part of the fabric of Northwest Indiana for decades, said Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation Executive Director Bill Hanna.

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Big Shoulders Fund and the Diocese of Gary have developed an effective partnership over the last five years that led us to this moment. Now is the time to complement other advances in Northwest Indiana at scale by providing significant resources to develop the nations most effective network of outcomes-based Catholic schools. It is this seasoned team from across the Region that will see to it that Northwest Indiana continues to build a brighter future for the people here today, and those yet to come.

Big Shoulders Fund CEO Josh Hale reacted to the donation by vowing to build upon the great relationship we have with the Diocese of Gary to drive a high-quality, data-driven education model that delivers strong student outcomes.

Were extremely excited about the doors this investment will open, such as the creation and enhancement of curriculum, advanced professional development and growth opportunities for teachers and school leadership, and, of course, valuable support services for our students.

This is truly a historic and transformative commitment from the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation, stated Bishop Robert McClory of the Diocese of Gary. On behalf of all families who will benefit from this commitment, we are thankful and filled with great hope for the future. This is an enormous vote of confidence for Catholic education and the value of our individual schools.

According to McClory, This gift creates an opportunity for the Diocese of Gary to fulfill our mission even more vibrantly to support families and enhance our schools to become an extraordinary model of Catholic school education. We are eager to go forward and experience the impact this commitment and collaboration will have on the lives of our students, their families, our teachers, and our communities.

The massive investment into Catholic schools in the Diocese of Gary also drew praise from Indianas Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb. Receiving a great education is the surest long-term way to lift up society one student at a time, he asserted. I am so encouraged by this vote of confidence in Indiana education and am beyond thankful for this life changing investment.

This remarkable donation from the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation will help change the course for communities through the dedication and hard work of Big Shoulders Fund with the Catholic Diocese of Gary and, more broadly, throughout the Region, Holcomb predicted.

While the Big Shoulders Fund was initially founded to serve children in the metropolis of Chicago, it expanded to northwest Indiana, which is an extension of the Chicago metropolitan area, five years ago. The Diocese of Gary contains 17 Catholic elementary schools and three Catholic high schools that serve nearly 6,000 students in Lake, LaPorte, Porter and Starke Counties.

The multimillion-dollar donation to the Big Shoulders Fund is not the only investment in Catholic education unveiled in Northwest Indiana last week. The Diocese of Gary also revealed its plans to set up an independent endowment within the Catholic Foundation for Northwest Indiana, a nonprofit organization that seeks to assist Catholics who want their gifts to have a lasting impact on their parishes, schools and diocesan ministries.

The Diocese has set a goal for the endowment, which is expected to be established at the end of this calendar year, to grow to $50 million over the next 15 years. The endowment's identified purpose is to supplement the compensation of principals, teachers, and staff within the Diocese of Gary Catholic Schools.
Home News Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship denies hosting prayer meeting for Tony Evans after confession of sin

Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship has denied a report that it hosted a prayer meeting for its embattled pastor, Tony Evans, on Thursday. This comes days after he temporarily stepped away from pastoral duties for committing an undisclosed sin years ago.

"There is not a prayer meeting tonight [for Pastor Tony Evans]," Shari Carroll, a media relations representative for the Texas-based megachurch, told The Christian Post on Thursday. "That is not correct."

The prayer meeting was reported by CBS Texas on Thursday morning, but Carroll insisted that she had no knowledge of such an event taking place at the church for Evans.

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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 undisclosed nature of his sin has led to much speculation and debate online about whether Evans' statement was sufficient.

Carroll refused to respond to any further questions beyond the church's statement on Sunday. But online influencers like Christian podcast host Allie Beth Stuckey argued on a recent episode of her show "Relatable" that Evans owed his church much more transparency than he has delivered so far.

"I do think, from my perspective, that he owes his congregation more clarity than his statement gave. He may not owe the internet clarity, but I do think that he owes his congregation specificity," Stuckey said.

She pointed to how Matt Chandler, lead pastor of teaching at The Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas, handled his ministry failure in 2022 as a good example of being transparent as a leader.

Chandler was forced to take a "leave of absence" by his elder board for his use of inappropriate language in Instagram messages to a woman who is not his wife.

"When Matt Chandler had to come forward and say that he had fallen short of the biblical standard for a Christian, a biblical standard for a husband, and a pastor, he stepped down from his pastoral position because of that," she said.

"He had to say what he had done, which was engage in messages with a woman at his church that were not sexual in nature, but he described them as too familiar, as maybe bordering on flirtatious just not appropriate for married people, coarse joking," she explained.

"He [Chandler] had to admit this, confess this in front of his congregation and this was put online, and of course, it was talked about in the media. I'm sure that that was not easy for him. That takes a lot of humility. It was not easy for his family, I'm sure, but I see that as part of the consequence of unwise choices especially when you are in a position of shepherding and authority," Stuckey added. "That is part of the repercussions of not acting in a way that exemplifies the self-control and the above reproach way of life that really we're all supposed to lead as Christians but,  especially pastors."
Home News Over 8,000 attend Franklin Graham's God Loves You Tour stop in Birmingham

Over 8,000 people traveled from around the U.K. to hear Franklin Graham preach in Birmingham on Saturday night.

It was the American evangelist's first time in the Midlands, with his visit coming 40 years since his late father, world renowned evangelist Billy Graham, preached the Gospel in nearby Villa Park.

"Jesus Christ is not dead. He's alive and He's here tonight," said Graham to cheers and applause inside the Birmingham Resorts World Arena.

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Graham is back in the U.K. to continue his God Loves You Tour, with another night coming up in Glasgow on June 22.

His thoughts turning momentarily to his father, who preached many times in the U.K., Graham said, "I miss him and every time I come to this country I think of him because he loved this nation, he loved the people of this country."

Birmingham was one of the eight cities that Graham had originally planned to visit in 2020, but it was postponed due to legal action against seven venues that canceled their legally binding contracts. The tour was eventually able to go ahead after the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association took successful legal action against the venues.

Last night, Graham preached from Luke 19, which tells the story of the salvation of Zacchaeus, a wealthy chief tax collector who put his faith in Christ and vowed to pay back fourfold anyone he had robbed.

The event was prayerfully supported by 500 churches around the U.K., with worship led by Michael W. Smith and former Hillsong worship leader Taya.

Graham heads to Glasgow, Scotland, next weekend and will be in London in 2025 for another stop on his God Loves You Tour. More details can be found at https://godlovesyoutour.org.uk/

Originally published at Christian Today
Home News PCA votes to commend letter to Biden calling for ban on sex-change surgeries for kids

RICHMOND, Va.  The Presbyterian Church in America General Assembly has voted to commend a letter calling for public officials to stop mutilating the bodies of youth suffering from gender dysphoria.

On Thursday morning, Commissioners approved Overture 13, titled Commend and Encourage Distribution of Commission Letter Regarding Gender Reassignment for Minors, in a vote of 985 in favor, 727 opposed, and 35 abstaining.

The overture called for the 51st General Assembly to commend as biblically faithful a letter written by last years General Assembly to elected officials denouncing the practice of gender reassignment surgeries for children.

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Originally, the overture asked the General Assembly to further encourage PCA Sessions and Presbyteries to communicate with their own respective regional and/or municipal governments the same. However, this portion was struck during the amending process, as it was considered unneeded, especially as many state legislatures have already passed such laws.

Teaching Elder Sean Lucas of Independent Presbyterian Church of Memphis, Tennessee, spoke against the overture, arguing that it was utterly unnecessary given the process for how the letter was created.

Its an upside-down process to have the commission speak and then for a subsequent assembly to commend what they did, Lucas said. We are asking the assembly to reaffirm what essentially the 50th General Assembly said those its commission.

The commission has spoken on behalf of the assembly. And so, this overture and recommendation is actually doing something that has the potential at least of being contrary to Roberts Rules, in reaffirming something that the body has already done.

Ruling Elder Bob Mattes of the Central Florida Presbytery spoke in favor of the overture, championing the quality of last years letter and saying it was upon us to say yes, we accept what they did, it was an excellent product, and we commend it to you.

Weve done this in the past, not in this particular way, but I think this is exactly what needs to happen, said Mattes. If nothing else, but to avoid the argument from people outside saying, well, it wasnt approved by the assembly; it was just done by this small group of people."

At the 50th PCA General Assembly, held last year in Memphis, Tennessee, an overture was passed calling on the denomination to petition the Biden administration and other elected leaders to "renounce the sin" of sex-change surgeries and the prescribing of irreversible puberty-blockers and cross-sex hormones to children.

In January, a PCA commission sent the letter to government officials in which they "humbly petition[ed]" them to "protect the lives and welfare of minor children from the physical, mental, and emotional harms associated with medical and surgical interventions for the purpose of gender reassignment."

The letter stressed that the bodily disfigurement that stems from gender medicalization can lead to even more suffering.

Such interventions are in opposition to God's design of male and female, the commission letter said, possibly leading to "sterility, infertility, cancer, cardiovascular disease, strokes, blood clots, pituitary apoplexy, pseudotumor cerebri, and diminished bone density."

The letter called on leaders to "use your positions to promote the health, bodily integrity, and wellbeing of minors who are suffering from gender dysphoria and related conditions."
Home News Phil Johnson praises God's 'providence' in health update

A noted ministry leader and pastor is expressing gratitude for Gods providence after learning that he has incurable cancer following several weeks of medical tests stemming from a hospitalization earlier this year.

Phil Johnson took to X Monday to post a thread sharing an update on his health situation. Johnson, who serves as the executive director of the Grace to You ministry, first announced that he was experiencing health problems earlier this year.

I want to say thank you again to the countless people who told me they were praying for me during my hospitalization last month, he wrote Monday. My catastrophic kidney malfunction turned out to be a sort of blessing in disguise.

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Johnson added, In the hundreds of blood tests and a bone-marrow biopsy doctors ordered, they discovered I had Multiple Myeloma, a kind of blood cancer that lets the proteins in my blood attack other organs. He noted that following a meeting with an excellent doctor earlier in the morning, he was prescribed a cocktail of drugs, followed by a bone marrow transplant.

Multiple Myeloma is not curable, but this treatment should make it go into remission, he explained. The goal, as I understand it, is to keep me alive long enough for something else to kill me.

After outlining his medical prognosis, Johnson remarked, Im glad that in the providence of God, they were able to diagnose this before the cancer progressed so far that no treatment could help. He concluded the thread by proclaiming, My times are in His hand, a reference to Psalm 31:15.

Johnson first announced his health problems in an April 5 post on X, where he informed his followers that I ended up in the ER this morning with a pulmonary embolism. He indicated the following day that he had begun dialysis after blood tests revealed he was suffering from critical kidney malfunction.

In subsequent posts, Johnson detailed how he was undergoing dialysis three times a week for the foreseeable future. Last month, he had surgery to remove the dialysis catheter from his neck. The bone-marrow biopsy that led doctors to discover his Multiple Myeloma took place two weeks ago.

Grace to You, affiliated with the California-based Grace Community Church led by Pastor John MacArthur, describes itself as a ministry dedicated to unleashing Gods truth, one verse at a time. Specifically, Grace to You seeks to use mass media to expose Johns teaching to as wide an audience as possible.

The ministry offers a Sermons App featuring sermons from MacArthur and a Study Bible that contains 25,000 explanatory notes from the pastor on virtually every passage based on the [English Standard Version] text in addition to more than 140 two-color maps, charts, timelines, and illustrations.

In addition to his work with Grace to You, Johnson is an elder at Grace Community Church and a pastor who leads GraceLife, one of the megachurchs fellowship groups. Johnson, whose relationship with MacArthur dates back more than four decades, has also founded several websites, including a blog titled Pyromaniacs and has edited most of the pastors books.
Home News Pro-life advocate whose mother refused abortion calls on Congress to ensure equal rights for unborn

WASHINGTON  A pro-life advocate whose mother walked away from an abortion appointment after a conversation with a janitor was the leader of a press conference that called on Congress to fight for preborn children and ensure they receive equal protection under the law.

Christina Bennett serves as the news correspondent for Live Action, a pro-life nonprofit that raises awareness about abortion through educational resources and advocacy efforts. Following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022, the nonprofit group has urged the pro-life movement to follow The New North Star.

The list of policies Live Action encourages pro-lifers and lawmakers to advocate for includes acknowledging preborn children as legal and constitutional persons through legislation and constitutional provisions.

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On Wednesday, Bennett led a press conference in the nations capital, where various speakers argued that the preborn are entitled to equal rights under the U.S. Constitution.

"Today, we are gathered to protect life. We are in front of our nation's capitol building to defend the defenseless, to be a voice for the voiceless, our beautiful pre-born brothers and sisters, Bennett said at the beginning of the press conference. We're here to tell Congress to recognize their human dignity and rights that exist under the 14th Amendment," which declares that the State cannot deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

The amendment extended the rights guaranteed through the Bill of Rights to formerly enslaved people.

Bennett also cited abolitionist Frederick Douglass, who stated in 1863, Abolish slavery tomorrow, and not a sentence or syllable of the Constitution need be altered.

[Douglass] understood the Constitution's purpose and that it was framed to give liberty, not uphold institutions of enslavement, the pro-life advocate stated. Today, I echo his sentiments. Abolish abortion tomorrow, and not a sentence or a syllable of the Constitution need be altered.

Everything we need to uphold the right to life for preborn children is in our beloved Constitution, she added.

After the press conference, Bennett shared with The Christian Post the story of the day God saved [her] life when she was still in her mothers womb. When the pro-life advocate was in college, Bennetts mother told her that she had met an angel before her daughter was born but said that she didnt want to talk about it further.

A few months later, Bennett asked her mother about it again, and the advocates mother revealed that the angel had been a janitor at Mount Sinai Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut. Years ago, Bennetts mother was pregnant with the pro-life advocate when she went to the hospital for an abortion. A janitor at the hospital saw Bennetts mother crying, and she asked the pregnant woman if she wanted to have her baby.

And my mom said yes, Bennett told CP. And [the janitor] said, God will give you the strength. And that empowered her to run out of the abortionist's office because she had gone into his office when he called her in to tell him that she was leaving, and he said, 'You've already paid for this; you're just nervous. Just go through with it.' And she ran out.

Bennett realized that God had saved her, and after sharing her story with a local pastor, she continued advocating for preborn children.

Republican Reps. Bob Good of Virginia, Doug Lamborn of Colorado, and Alex Mooney of West Virginia also spoke at the press conference, along with Ethics & Public Policy Center fellow Alexandra DeSanctis and Americans United for Life CEO John Mize.

Sidewalk Advocates for Life President Lauren Muzyka, Annabelle Rutledge, senior vice president at Concerned Women for America, Julie Scott Emmons of Human Coalition, and former abortionist Dr. John Bruchalski also spoke at the event.

A handful of pro-choice demonstrators held signs that read "Stop Prosecuting Abortion" showed up to protest the pro-life conference. The protestors left before the event's conclusion, however, and did not interact with any of the participants.

Regarding the upcoming 2024 presidential election, the Live Action news correspondent advised pro-lifers to vote with their conscience and their convictions and to remember the preborn when they go into the voting booth.

While pro-life advocates have repeatedly expressed concerns about the Biden administrations abortion policies, former President Donald Trump has also drawn criticism for his recent comments on abortion. The former president and 2024 presidential hopeful has stated that he believes abortion laws should be determined on a state-by-state basis, sparking criticism from several pro-life leaders.

The Live Action news correspondent told CP that Live Action has condemned President Joe Biden for failing to support any limits on abortion, as well as Trump when the organization feels the former president has failed to remain faithful to his original pro-life stance.

It's disappointing when leaders compromise because voters are left with a lot of questions, and we can't answer all those questions for them, but what we can tell them is to vote with their conscience and vote in accordance with their pro-life values and beliefs, Bennett said.
Home News 'Unique contribution': Religious college leaders unite to tackle challenges facing higher education

A new commission seeks to draw attention to how faith-based colleges and universities are working to make higher education more affordable for students and foster collaboration between religious institutions and their secular counterparts.

The American Council on Education has launched its new Commission on Faith-based Colleges and Universities, a result of a January 2023 conference attended by America's leading religious universities, which discussed how distinctive religious identities can help schools combat the challenges facing the higher education landscape.

The Commission on Faith-based Colleges and Universities will seek solutions to issues faith-based and secular institutions are facing.

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"ACE is honored to support and convene this important commission," said ACE President Ted Mitchell. "Faith-based institutions connect feelings of belief and belonging with intellectual expression and considering the social, economic, and environmental challenges facing us today, we can ill afford for religious universities to be hidden."

Clark Gilbert, commissioner of the Church Education System of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Council for Christian Colleges and Universities President Shirley Hoogstra were named the commission's inaugural co-chairs.

"A faith-based mission on campus can unite people with diverse backgrounds and drive accessibility in education," Gilbert said. "This is happening all across America, where young adults are looking for somewhere that will value and recognize their faith. And they don't often feel that in other institutions."

Hoogstra said that "it is vital to celebrate and advance the different contributions that various sectors of higher education represent" in today's higher education climate.

She stressed that "religious universities offer a unique contribution to the world" and is excited about "the broad involvement and support of the institutions represented on this inaugural committee and ACE's leadership."

In an interview with The Christian Post, Gilbert and Hoogstra indicated that while all faith-based higher education institutions are invited to join the commission, leaders of slightly more than a dozen such colleges and universities are currently on the Commission's Executive Committee.

Members of the Executive Committee are Robin Baker of George Fox University, Ari Berman of Yeshiva University, Rochelle Ford of Dillard University, Jim Gash of Pepperdine University, John Jenkins of the University of Notre Dame, Peter Kilpatrick of the Catholic University of America, D. Michael Lindsay of Taylor University, Candice McQueen of Lipscomb University, Leslie Pollard of Oakwood University, C. Shane Reese of Brigham Young University, Philip Ryken of Wheaton College, Beck Taylor of Samford University and Dwaun Warmack of Claflin University.

The ACE Commission will hold its first event in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Representatives from 40-50 institutions are expected to attend. Hoogsta praised the member schools as "very diverse" institutions that have "a cross-section of faith expressions" and share "common questions and common goals."

"If we get together, it's a way to be better," she said. "We're finding so many common areas of interest that are so important to religiously affiliated schools in today's otherwise very secular higher education environment."

Hoogstra said the commission will convene "conversations that have common interest that  we think educates the broader higher education landscape on the ways that we are doing affordability, accessibility and accountability within the education sector." Gilbert said religious schools "all want to help each other preserve a religious mission."

Gilbert described a religious mission as "something that's important to our own efforts at character building" and "important to our own rights as religious people of faith."

"We also hope it can be a resource to the nation to help higher education be more innovative," he said. "One of the things you'll often hear outside of the religious framework is people look to the universities to be true to their authentic mission and authentic identity. Well, for us, that starts with religious mission."

"But it also lets us do things that grow out of our religious mission that help the whole academy strive to serve students who are in need or students who struggle," he added.

Hoogstra said religious institutions "can leverage their networks to have affordable education." She detailed how Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida, a school affiliated with the Assemblies of God, is "leveraging all their large church networks, and they are offering, albeit a limited degree, for under $10,000."

She identified this arrangement as ideal for students "interested in staying closer to home" and embracing a "hybrid and in-person model."

Hoogstra insisted that "if you didn't have this whole network of churches that could be the place where the education happens  you would have a harder time doing that so that's leveraging other assets related to Christian missions for affordability."

Gilbert, whose duties involve overseeing Brigham Young University in Utah, pointed to a new institution called BYU-Pathway as another example of how faith-based colleges are making education much more affordable.

"BYU-Pathway has leveraged online learning with the global footprint of the church's meeting houses that have Wifi networks to distributed gatherings and online learning at a much lower cost. BYU Pathway students can earn a bachelor's degree for around $7,500."

Gilbert estimated that 70,000 of the 150,000 students at Brigham Young University and other universities operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints participate in the BYU-Pathway program.

Another innovation from religious schools touted by Gilbert and Hoogstra was work-study programs at the College of the Ozarks and BYU Hawaii, where students are "able to work and have their tuition and housing and other costs supported while they're going through college."

Gilbert views a collaboration between religious and secular institutions as a way to "raise the dialogue of the importance of pluralism in America." Hoogstra said collaborations between secular and faith-based universities have helped students appreciate the concept of pluralism.

"Oberlin College and Spring Arbor University had an opportunity to look at a common problem, and I believe it was the problem of incarceration," she recalled. "Students from Oberlin really didn't know students from Spring Arbor, and they had some preconceived  notions about what Christian college students were like. And students from Spring Arbor thought 'I wonder what students from Oberlin are like,' and everybody had a one-dimensional look. But through this program  they were able to do a whole exchange."

"The same thing happened in California with Biola University and Pomona," Hoogstra added, noting that "what we have found and what we think this ACE Commission is going to be able to undergird is this eagerness to understand each other as three-dimensional people and institutions. A lot of times, you have preconceived notions like 'What's BYU about' or 'What's Wheaton College about?'"
Home News Seattle school-based health center offers students cross-sex hormones, 'gender-affirming care': report

A watchdog group has obtained emails showing that a healthcare organization operating inside Seattle Public Schools is offering "gender-affirming care services" to students, including dispensing cross-sex hormones.

Parents Defending Education, a national grassroots organization that raises awareness about potentially harmful policies and curricula impacting children's education, released emails earlier this month from Neighborcare Health, which operates clinics inside Seattle Public Schools' middle and elementary schools.

The manager of the health program operating in the largest school district in Washington wrote in an email on Jan. 25, 2023, that "beginning February 6th [2023], our program will begin offering comprehensive, evidence-based, gender-affirming care services to our students and families who need them."

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The email states that this expansion is part of the organization's goal of providing "100% access and zero health disparities" to students and families. The manager wrote that the latest initiative aligns with the school district's goal of supporting LGBT-identifying students.

In addition to services like counseling, the email boasted that the program now offers "important medical interventions, including hormonal treatments." The email states that giving children cross-sex hormones is "an informed and private decision made between a parent, their child, and their healthcare provider."

As Parents Defending Education noted, the Seattle Public Schools policy regarding trans-identified students states that staff should not disclose a child's self-declared gender identity unless they are required to by law or the student has given them permission.

The email explains that Neighborcare Health planned to initially offer services through "a small pilot available to students and families within the existing schools we serve."

"Most families will be referred by Neighborcare and SPS staff and will be served by a small subset of our School-based Health provider team through a flexible mix of in-person and telehealth services at the start of care," the email continued.

"After that, the students will transition back to long-term health management with their own School-based Health Center provider. Depending on the demand and success of the program, we will evaluate further opportunities to expand access further in future school years."

In a statement to The Christian Post, a spokesperson for Neighborcare Health said its health centers abide by all applicable laws and regulations pertaining to the provision of healthcare, including "parental/guardian consent and patient confidentiality."

"Neighborcare Health's school-based health centers provide students with access to comprehensive primary care and behavioral health services," the spokesperson stated. "Access to these services enables the early intervention, prevention, and treatment of health-related barriers to learning with the goal of promoting school attendance, improved academic performance and improving overall well-being of youth."

"Gender-affirming care in its many forms is life-saving for many of the youth and their families who choose it," the spokesperson claimed. "Neighborcare Health offers care for transgender and non-binary students that align with best practices defined by regional and national pediatric care authorities and is aimed at meeting needs expressed by the students and families we serve. "

According to a 2024 study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, "gender or sex dissatisfaction is most common at around the age of eleven, and the frequency of this symptomatology then decreases with age. The clear majority of minors show no persistent gender or sex dissatisfaction over the course of their lives."

Over two dozen states have enacted laws to ban surgical and hormonal interventions for minors struggling with gender dysphoria. Some European governments and doctors are also beginning to take a more cautious approach to the provision of puberty-blocking drugs and cross-sex hormones to minors.

Earlier this month, the German Medical Assembly  comprised of 250 delegates from 17 medical associations  passed two resolutions related to gender dysphoria, one of which warns about the potentially life-long consequences of allowing youth to transition. They called the provision of cross-sex hormones and puberty-blocking drugs "experimental medicine."

Chloe Cole, a young woman who underwent a double mastectomy as a teen and was prescribed cross-sex hormones, has spoken publicly about the side effects transitioning had on her mental and physical health.

Cole has also filed a lawsuit against Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, the Permanente Medical Group and affiliated healthcare professionals, accusing the medical groups of performing a "mutilating, mimicry sex change experiment" on her when she was only a teen.

A spokesperson for Seattle Public Schools also told CP that community health agencies independently operate school-based health centers in spaces provided by the district. The spokesperson stated that the district does not supervise or participate in the provision of services offered at these clinics.

"These clinics provide students with access to comprehensive primary care and behavioral health services. Access to these services enables the early intervention, prevention, and treatment of health-related barriers to learning with the goal of promoting school attendance and improved academic performance," the school district spokesperson stated. "School-Based Health Centers follow all applicable laws and regulations pertaining to the provision of health care, including those relating to parental consent and patient confidentiality."

Earlier this month, Parents Defending Education released documents highlighting an Illinois boarding school's "Gender Support Process and Plan." The documents stated that the Illinois Math and Science Academy's plan is "informed by and modeled after similar plans from Gender Spectrum, Laurie's Children's Hospital, and Chicago Public Schools."

The support plan instructed staff to disclose a student's self-declared gender identity to parents only if the student gives permission or if the staff receives authorization from the law department.

According to the report, support for trans-identifying students might include, but is not limited to the following: "access to [opposite-sex] restrooms, locker rooms, affirmation of student's chosen name and pronouns, disclosure of students identity as requested by the student, confidentiality of gender identity as requested by student, social-emotional supports, staff training, and other supports expressed by the student.'"

In a statement to The Daily Wire, the school's Chief Public Affairs and Development Officer Tami Armstrong said the plan was initially rolled out in October 2022 but remains "under development." She claimed it "has not been fully implemented due to resource limitations."

A report released by Parents Defending Education last year states that at least 1,040 districts representing more than 10.7 million students have policies that tell employees they can or should keep a student's gender identity status hidden from parents.
Home News Minnesota teachers union expels school counselor who voiced concerns about trans policies

A Minnesota teachers union voted to expel a member who publicly expressed concern about her school district's policies concerning trans-identified students and felt the district did not take steps to inform parents if their child identifies as the opposite sex.

Christina Barton is a student counselor with Rochester Public Schools who has spoken up during school board meetings about the district's policies regarding trans-identified students. Earlier this month, the Rochester Education Association sent Barton a letter to inform her that she had been expelled, which was republished by the American Experiment, a nonprofit organization.

The letter alleged that Barton "mischaracterized Rochester Public Schools policies and practices regarding LGBTQ+ students, spoke negatively of fellow union members, and spread misinformation about transgender youth."

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"REA recognizes that you are free to hold whatever viewpoints you wish regarding LGBTQ+ students or any other matter, but viewpoints are not free from consequences, especially if they cause or contribute to unprofessional behavior," the letter stated.

Vince Wagner, president of the Rochester Education Association, told The Christian Post that the union expelled Barton for violating the National Education Association's Code of Ethics for teachers, specifically, Principle 1, "Commitment to the Student." Wagner stated that Barton violated Parts 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the principle.

In a Tuesday statement published by the American Experiment, Barton asserted that it seems only employees who "succumb to censorship and intimidation" are accepted in a culture that professes "all are welcome" and "kindness abides and bullying isn't allowed."

"Following my public statement to the school board on March 19, I have experienced countless retaliatory responses that are unprofessional, inaccurate, and very hurtful to me as a person as well as a concerned counselor and parent who is merely trying to advocate in the best interests of kids and on behalf of all parents," Barton said. "I love my students with all of my heart and soul; always have, always will."

Rochester Public Schools did not immediately respond to The Christian Post's request for comment.

Local outlet The Post Bulletin reported Tuesday that Wagner said that the union voted to expel Barton earlier this month after the second time she spoke during a Rochester School Board meeting.

The student counselor spoke before the school board on March 19 and May 7, where she highlighted concerns about parental rights and whether staff should tell parents if their child is experiencing confusion about their sex.

"How would a parent know how to request such information if they aren't aware their child is struggling with gender dysphoria? How would a parent be able to care for and support their student if the school never reached out to them," the counselor said at one of the meetings.

In March, the elementary student counselor spoke about the district's guidelines concerning trans-identified students during a YouTube interview titled, "Christina Barton, Counselor, Rochester Public Schools, ISD535, on Dr. Kent Pekel's Secret Policy."

Barton said during the interview that her school district did not share the guidelines until February during a staff meeting. In addition to staff members, the counselor claimed that the district did not share the guidelines with parents and community members. She also alleged that during one staff development meeting, the staff was shown a "disturbing" video about transgenderism and how they should withhold the information from parents.

According to the district guidelines regarding parents' access to information, the law "generally" gives parents a right to access "educational data" about their kid when the child is a minor.

Suppose parents request information about whether their child is using pronouns or the restroom that does not align with their sex. In that case, the guidelines state that staff "must provide that information to the parent/guardian if the staff member is in possession of that information at the time the request is made."

"Staff members may refuse to provide such information if the student is 18 years of age or older, unless the parent has been designated as the child's legal guardian or conservator," the guidelines state. "Any staff member who provides such information to a parent/guardian should promptly inform the lead principal of the school or lead administrator of the program."

Barton's expulsion comes after a school district in California agreed this week to pay $360,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a teacher fired for refusing to abide by a district policy requiring teachers to use students' preferred pronouns.
Christianity marginalised

Western civilisation is built upon a foundation of Christianity. It is no coincidence that as Christianity fades in the West so do those values which have distinguished the West: tolerance, freedom of conscience, the value of all life and personal responsibility. Those values which we have taken for granted are in serious danger, and the more Christianity is pushed out of the national conversation the greater the danger.

Growing Intolerance

The abandonment of toleration as a civic virtue is deeply troubling. There is evidence of increasing intolerance, harassment and discrimination being shown to Christians in Britain today. It is important that Christians wake up to the growth of attacks on British Christians and our beliefs before it develops into something much worse.

A survey of more than 1,500 people conducted by the conservative Christian organisation Voice for Justice UK has reached the conclusion that people who hold biblically orthodox Christian opinions are being increasingly marginalised and treated with contempt within society. This growing hostility, at times amounting to 'Christophobia', or anti-Christian hatred, is evident in every sector of British national life.

Amongst the Young

Worryingly, the report indicates that social discrimination is most acute amongst the younger generation, those who have gone through the progressive-influenced school and university system. Fifty-six per cent of the respondents affirmed that they had personally experienced hostility and ridicule when they attempted to discuss their Christian beliefs, but this rose to 61 per cent amongst young people. More than half of under-35s felt there were negative stereotypes of Christians at their place of work. Thirty-eight per cent of Christians under 35 felt their freedom of speech was restricted, leading to self-censorship.

Hierarchy of Protection

Unsurprisingly the report indicates that the strongest opposition came when Christians revealed they did not go along with the beliefs of the LGBT-etc movement. According to the Equality Act 2010 there should be no hierarchy in the list of nine protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

However, it is evident that amongst the characteristics protected by legislation there is a clear hierarchy with all things LGBT reigning supreme, closely followed by race. Seventy-eight per cent of respondents said they believed religious discrimination was not treated as seriously as other forms of discrimination.

Many respondents noted that Muslims were being treated with 'a greater sensitivity' than Christians, with any criticism of Muslims perceived and treated as a form of racism.

The Barnabas Fund in evidence to the House of Commons has highlighted the plight of ex-Muslims being attacked. Attempts of 'forced reconversion' to Islam are widespread in the UK for Christians who have converted from a Muslim-family background, or Christians who come from Muslim majority countries. Tajamal Amar, a Pakistani Christian who had fled Pakistan after being shot for refusing to convert to Islam, was 'knocked out and left with a broken nose by a gang of "Muslims" in Derbyshire who attacked him for displaying a cross and poppies on his car'.

Official Discrimination

Most concerning of all is how anti-Christian attitudes and actions are being perpetrated by the organs of the state. When official institutions discriminate against Christians there is created an atmosphere where anti-Christian prejudice appears acceptable and even encouraged.

The report found that 'children expressing Christian beliefs would be bullied by pupils and intimidated by teachers' and that 'Christian teachers were required to teach materials which went against their faith'. Schools are teaching progressive ideology to Christian children even when their parents object.

This is not confined to state schools: the mainstream churches are complicit in rejecting Christian social mores. Church of England guidance telling primary schools that children as young as five can be transgender was funded by Stonewall. The Catholic Herald is of the opinion that 'progressive ideology has replaced Christianity in many of our Catholic schools'.

It seems almost routine that Christian street preachers openly promoting the gospel are arrested under the Public Order Act after being reported by LGBT activists for supposed 'homophobia'. It appears that the police automatically believe the allegations of homosexual activists. Criticise Islam and the police might arrest you on the word of a Muslim or woke activist.

Perhaps the most frightening incident of official discrimination was not a physical attack or stream of abuse but rather the actions of the police and Crown Prosecution Service in Northern Ireland. In 2015 James McConnell, minister of a large Presbyterian church in Belfast, was prosecuted for stating in a sermon that he believed that Christianity was the only way to God and that other religions such as Islam were a satanic deception. Mr McConnell was acquitted after a liberal Muslim friend spoke up defending his right to express theological disagreement. It is disturbing that the police and Crown Prosecution Service thought it likely that they could secure a conviction for hate speech against a Christian minister for expressing a theological critique of Islam during a sermon in church.

In circumstances of acquittal like this, the process becomes the punishment. A police arrest and the subsequent charge and wait for a trial, the expense of lawyers, the constant worry, the disruption to congregational life, all these have a chilling effect and lead to pressure about speaking out again. Christians should be seriously concerned that this is possible in the UK in the 21st century.

The Voice of Justice UK report concludes that 'there is growing concern that the ability of Christians in the UK to practise and manifest their faith in public is deteriorating'.

Despite all the evidence we wait in vain for any politicians referring to the rise of Christophobia. Just as we wait for any of the mainstream denominations expressing concern that society as a whole has fallen into the grip of a progressive ideology which is actively hostile to Christianity.

Campbell Campbell-Jack is a retired Church of Scotland minister. He blogs at A Grain of Sand.
Christians in the Middle East and the threat to an ancient community

The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews reminds Christians that they are surrounded by a great "cloud of witnesses." (NRSV) That "cloud" has continued to grow in size since then. In this monthly column we will be thinking about some of the people and events, over the past 2000 years, that have helped make up this "cloud." People and events that have helped build the community of the Christian church as it exists today.

On my study desk lies an embroidered bookmark. Between a simple floral design is stitched the Arabic letter  (N). It is a reminder of a huge tragedy. However, it is a tragedy which gets little media attention; certainly nothing as high profile as the situation deserves.

In Acts 24:5 the early followers of Jesus (Christians) are described as "the sect of the Nazarenes [Greek: Nazoreans]." Tertullian, writing in 208, also refers to "Nazarenes" as a term used by Jews to describe Christians. The modern Hebrew term Notzrim, to describe Christians, is derived from this usage. The same root has given rise to the word for Christian in Syriac (Nasrani) and also in Arabic (Nasrani). In the Qur'an, Christians are often called "al-Nasara." When so-called "Islamic State" (also known as ISIS, ISIL, and in Arabic as Daesh) were conducting their murderous persecution of non-Islamic groups (and also those that they considered the "wrong sort of Muslims") they painted the Arabic letter  (N) on the doors of Syrian Christians marked down for destruction.

That brings me back to the embroidered bookmark on my desk. It was made by a Syrian Christian woman. She was one of many thousands of Christians who had been driven from their homes by the murderous actions of IS, as Syria disintegrated into civil war, war crimes, and vicious sectarian violence after 2011 (beginning as part of the wider "Arab Spring" protests across the region). Impoverished, homeless, threatened, the woman who embroidered the bookmark on my desk had been forced to flee with the survivors of her family to one of the sprawling refugee camps that have grown up across the Levant (the region roughly corresponding to modern-day Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and adjacent areas), in Turkey, and in Iraq. Many other Christians had been murdered; some were forcibly converted to Islam; and many Christian women had been brutally coerced into sexual slavery.

The same fate had engulfed other minorities too, such as the Yazidis (between 2014 and 2017). But whereas the fate of the Yazidis has, quite rightly, been covered by Western news outlets and condemned around the world, the reaction to the treatment of Middle Eastern Christians has often been muted, or non-existent. Yet, what has occurred to believers in the cradle of Christianity is quite simply appalling. It is a tragic milestone in the history of the global Christian community.

The bookmark on my desk was made to prompt Western Christians to remember fellow believers across the Middle East. But all too often, across the secular media, they have been forgotten. And while the focus of attention today remains  understandably  fixed on Israel and Gaza, little is written or reported about situations of brutal persecution experienced elsewhere in the region. It should not be either/or, for both demand our attention. But the persecution of Christians gets little mention.

2003: the start of a modern tragedy of historic dimensions

The US-led invasion of Iraq, in 2003, continues to divide historians and commentators as they assess both its justification and its implementation. What is beyond dispute is its impact. As well as triggering chaotic violence which led to the deaths of vast numbers of Iraqi civilians, it also destabilised the entire region and triggered the start of a lethal reaction against Christians.

For Christians, the turbulence unleashed by ethnic violence became increasingly lethal because they were perceived as allies of the "Christian West." In the wake of 9/11, US President George W. Bush's description, in September 2001, of the US response as "This crusade, this war on terrorism," unintentionally resonated with history in a deeply unhelpful way. It appeared to evoke memories of a crusading "clash of civilisations," that dated from the Middle Ages, when Christian and Islamic armies fought against each other. This negative echo from the distant past was massively amplified when the US and its allies launched their invasion of Iraq in 2003. Their opponents labelled them as "modern crusaders."

In such a context it became all too easy for jihadist groups to caricature indigenous Christians as agents of the "Crusader West." They became increasingly targeted as foreigners in their own ancestral lands.

This was bitterly ironic since the original Crusades had been largely waged by incomers from Western Europe (not by indigenous Middle Eastern Christians). Those who were, in the 21st century, pilloried as agents of the "Crusader West" were from communities whose history long predated the Crusades and also the rise of Islam in the 7th century.

An ethnocide in the cradle of Christianity

The eastern Mediterranean is the cradle of Christianity. As late as the mid 7th century, countries such as Egypt and Syria had large Christian majorities. By the time of the First Crusade, in the late 11th century, the area that fell to the crusaders  though it was under Islamic rule still had large Christian populations. That has changed.

A report commissioned in 2019, by the British foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt, examined persecution of Christians across the Middle East since the start of the millennium. The review was led by the then Bishop of Truro, the Rt Rev Philip Mounstephen. The examination also highlighted discrimination across south-east Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and in east Asia. It stated that "The inconvenient truth," is "that the overwhelming majority (80%) of persecuted religious believers are Christians."

While some of these Christian communities were once reasonably secure in some of these countries (such as in Iraq and Syria), many others were from impoverished and marginalised communities. But whether or not they once held some influence, they had all suffered a shocking level of persecution since the year 2000. And especially since 2003.

Two millennia of Christian history and culture has been  and is being  snuffed out. While experiences vary across such a wide area, we see a range of negative actions being directed at Christians. These include: negative comments about Christians being made by official sources; school textbooks in some countries at times denigrating Christianity; discrimination in educational and economic opportunities; restrictions on worship and community life; government failure to protect Christians from illegal extremist violence; abduction and murder of clergy and church members; bombings of churches; weaknesses in the rule-of-law and policing being particularly experienced by Christians; accusations of blasphemy levied against Christians, leading to both official sanctions and also vigilante violence; women harassed for appearing unveiled in public. Some extremist jihadist groups are actively promoting what can only be described as genocidal regarding Christians.

Facing this, many Christians have fled the places long linked to their communities. Those with means and contacts have gone to Western Europe, the US, anywhere which will protect their right to live and worship as Christians. For the rest, who are poor and marginalised, the only options are the refugee camp or living under threat in their ancestral homes. In Egypt, for example, many poor Christians work as Zabbaleen (refuse-collectors) on the streets of Cairo.

The shocking statistics of community decline

Over the course of a century, since the 1920s, Christians have gone from c.20% of the population in the Middle East and north Africa, to less than 4%, or c.15 million people. It is a population collapse of monumental proportions. As a result, many have left their homelands, in which Christians have lived since the beginning of the faith in the 1st century AD. For example, the population of Palestinian Christians has dropped from 15% to 2% and continues to fall in the context of ongoing violence in the region. This suffering includes that particularly experienced by believers, but also participation, as victims, in the wider communal suffering of their communities. Turkey's Christian population has fallen from more than 20% of its population to less than 1% in the past century. When the modern state of Lebanon was formed, in 1943, Christians made up a majority of its population. They now comprise only about 35% of the population of Lebanon. This high emigration rate has been fuelled by the nation's ongoing economic crisis, as well as by regional violence.

The trend has massively accelerated in the 21st century. Before the Western invasion of Iraq, in 2003, there were about 1.5 million Iraqi Christians. There are now only about 200,000 Christians living there and the number keeps falling. It is not surprising that the fall in population is so high there, as it was the epicentre of the violence and ethnic tensions which followed the Western invasion of Iraq in 2003. And this occurred in a country where these believers were accused of being allied to the West because of their faith. In 2021 it was reported that less than 20 Christians returned to Mosul after its liberation from IS. The city was once home to nearly 100,000 Christians.

Syria's Christian community has dropped by about 50% since the unrest of 2011 turned into open civil war in 2012. In the Kurdish area of Afrin in northwest Syria, for example, local Syrian jihadist groups started arresting Christians in 2018, accusing them of apostasy for converting to Christianity from Islam. Christians are routinely harassed and arrested by the authoritarian regime in Iran. The Iranian intelligence service (MOIS) monitors Christian activity. Accompanied by members of the Revolutionary Guard (IRGC), they have raided Christian meetings in private homes. Arrests and confiscation of property has followed. Many of the Christians arrested report abusive interrogations. While there have been noticeable improvements in the official stance of the government in Egypt towards the Christian community there, under the rule of President Sisi, since 2014, unofficial sectarian discrimination still occurs to an alarming degree. All across the region, Christians are under extreme pressure.

Do not forget the Christians of the Middle East

Back in 2009, I visited the area known as Coptic Cairo on Coptic Palm Sunday. Those attending the services, and carrying large palms, welcomed me. They pointed to the crosses tattooed on their wrists and said: "We Christian, We Christian." I told them that I too am a Christian and they were clearly pleased to see me. The tattooed crosses have two functions. The first is a statement of faith in a society that can still be tough for Christians. The second function is a matter of security. Showing their cross-marked wrists as they entered church showed the security guards that they are Christian. A jihadist suicide bomber would be very unlikely to have a cross tattooed on their body.

Since then, I have often remembered those believers who carry the mark of the cross on their bodies  and on their lives. As I look at the bookmark on my desk, embroidered with its  (N) for Nasrani, I remember them again. And I recall the cataclysm that has fallen on their world since 2003. But I also remember the vibrancy and courage of their Christian faith, lived at times in extreme adversity. Let us not forget the Christian communities of the Middle East. There is much to think about as we survey the present turbulent world. But as we think and pray about its many areas of need, let us not forget them.

Martyn Whittock is a historian and a Licensed Lay Minister in the Church of England. The author, or co-author, of fifty-six books, his work covers a wide range of historical and theological themes. In addition, as a commentator and columnist, he has written for several print and online news platforms and is frequently interviewed on TV and radio news and discussion programmes exploring the interaction of faith and politics. His recent books include: Daughters of Eve (2021), Jesus The Unauthorized Biography (2021), The End Times, Again? (2021), The Story of the Cross (2021), Apocalyptic Politics (2022), and American Vikings: How the Norse Sailed into the Lands and Imaginations of America (2023). He is currently writing Vikings in the East: From Vladimir the Great to Vladimir Putin, the Origin of a Contested Legacy in Russia and Ukraine (2025 forthcoming).
Expedients relationship with VMware goes back to 2006 when the Pittsburgh-head quartered managed service provider (MSP) embraced the virtualization of workloads in its first data center. Today, the company  a Pinnacle Partner in the Broadcom Advantage Program and former VMware Americas Cloud Partner of the Year  wants to help enterprises thrive in what President and Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Rosenson sees as the next chapter in hybrid cloud.

We became proponents of the hybrid cloud nearly twenty years ago when it was clear no two clients would have similar transformation journeys, says Rosenson. Today, our continued belief in hybrid cloud strategies remains synonymous with our commitment to helping enterprises match the right workloads with the right cloud.

Rosenson stresses that Expedient is more than an MSP. He views the company, which owns and operates 15 high-performance data centers throughout the U.S., as a curator of advanced technologies and an incubator of exceptionally skilled solutions professionals who drive business transformation.

The outcomes our clients are looking for include agility, availability, cost control, and risk mitigation, he adds. We are brought in when there is often a change in their business, a deficiency they want to overcome, or an efficiency they want to achieve. Expedient then acts as an extension of their team, combining VMware by Broadcom technologies with other leading solutions and complementary services like security and data protection.

Clients include hundreds of enterprises in practically every sector, among them standouts in trust-intensive industries like banking, healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, and retail  environments in which even the slightest disruption of systems can jeopardize mission-critical operations and revenues.

Our differentiation is that we deliver enterprise platforms and multi-cloud services that help accelerate our clients business transformations and simplify their IT operations so they can focus on business outcomes, says Rosenson. Fundamentally, we help them get out of the data center business and provide them with far deeper infrastructure expertise so they can focus on their core business.

VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) is at the core of those efforts and Expedients solutions.

Today, most businesses rely on software-defined infrastructure whether it is to control robotic welders in a factory, automated picking in an omnichannel retailers warehouse, enable physicians to view medical images remotely or provide the infrastructure an on-demand software company needs to deploy an application. VCF is the foundation of the standard components we use.

A new chapter for Expedient, Broadcom, and the hybrid cloud

With VMware now part of Broadcom  an acquisition that brought together two engineering and innovation powerhouses to create an infrastructure leader  it has never been easier for enterprises to benefit from cloud-scale Infrastructure-as-a-Service.

Tailor-made for next-generation, data-intensive workloads, VCF now includes the entire VMware by Broadcom stack, replacing what was an extensive array of cloud solutions with a comprehensive, unified platform that includes robust compute, storage, and networking capabilities, important security functions, and cloud management capabilities that make it easier to orchestrate private, hybrid and multi-cloud deployments, and to develop new cloud-native applications and hybrid cloud services.

By simplifying its go-to-market strategy, Broadcom has made the entire VMware by Broadcom stack accessible, says Rosenson. But access to such powerful solutions makes it even more imperative for CIOs to partner with service providers like Expedient that are super users of VMware by Broadcom technologies and the solutions they provide to realize their full potential.

One example is Expedients new AI offering, a solution built on VCF that provides clients with a five-step process to uncover their own AI strategy and deploy generative AI applications that are privately hosted, secure, and eliminate the risk of shadow AI that jeopardizes proprietary data and insights.

Even as demand rises for such promising innovations, Rosenson believes the next chapter for hybrid cloud includes the use of existing technologies with the right cloud based on the workload type  the shift Expedient has strived for since its founding. Hybrid cloud strategies pave the way for innovations and keep existing technologies running and accessible.

The next big chapter for hybrid cloud will be when enterprises realize that VMware workloads can be best optimized by a cloud service provider running on VMware by Broadcom, like Expedient, he says. Many businesses operate heritage applications that are mission-critical systems of record based on VMware by Broadcom technologies. Thats why the next chapter of the hybrid cloud is the increasing realization among enterprises that they can address their needs with a multi-tenant or dedicated private cloud based on VCF. Simultaneously, they can optimize their apps and data residing in hyper-scale environments and the virtual machines and systems running between them  all while gaining complementary services like disaster recovery and data protection they couldnt easily match on their own.

Just as importantly, Rosenson believes people will also play a key role.

When a customer needs help, assistance from an expert at Expedient they know by name is an email or cell phone call away, he says. That same seamless customer and partner experience marks our relationship with Broadcom. As a Broadcom Advantage Partner, we know our VMware colleagues value our experience in the field and seek our participation in their engineering efforts.

For more information visit us here.

In the months to come, look to CIO.com for stories about VMware by Broadcoms Advantage Program, and enterprises private, hybrid, and multi-cloud endeavors.
Dan Timko, Chief Strategy Officer at ThinkOn, is quick to point out that a significant transformation is taking place within the cloud solutions and services market. Sovereign clouds have taken center stage as a requirement as more enterprises strive to address the compliance needs of an increasingly complex regulatory environment.

One of the things that immediately sets ThinkOn apart in the cloud arena is that we only sell through the channel and dont sell anything direct, which is a significant differentiator for managed services providers, value-added resellers, and integrators that want to work with an established white label partner, says Timko. They have also come to appreciate that offering a fully sovereign cloud  something we have significant, specialized expertise in developing and managing  is increasingly a fundamental asset for any organization that handles sensitive information or does business across geographies.

Timko notes that enterprises today must comply with an ever-expanding array of regulatory requirements that govern not only where data resides, but also who interacts with it and what is being done to keep it safe at all times. The use cases once associated with sovereign clouds for government agencies are now broadly applicable and required to ensure compliance in virtually every industry.

Notably, ThinkOn has a long track record of success providing sovereign clouds based on proven VMware by Broadcom technologies to numerous government agencies in Canada  work that has been an important focus of the company since CEO Craig McLellan founded ThinkOn more than a decade ago. Its a core competency thats possible not only because of ThinkOns extensive cloud and data protection expertise but also the fact that its based in Canada and able to ensure that data is only accessible to extensively trained and fully vetted Canadian citizens.

Timko says the companys Canadian roots benefit it in other ways as well, not only as it relates to the high-performance data centers it operates in Canada, but also in Australia, the Bahamas, and the United Kingdom  all locations that are not subject to the Cloud Act and where ThinkOn is adept at offering sovereign clouds. The company also offers sovereign clouds in the United States, subject of course to its regulations and laws, including the U.S. Cloud Act.

As data sovereignty has become a bigger issue for enterprises that need to tightly manage and control data  whether its sensitive information on government systems, a banks financial records, a patients electronic health record, or intellectual property for manufacturing processes  being a Canadian company is a significant advantage, he adds. Our locations outside of the United States are not subject to the Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data Act (CLOUD Act) that requires U.S.-based companies, including most hyperscalers, to provide access to data even if its on foreign soil  something that creates significant issues for organizations that must simultaneously comply with requirements like Europes General Data Protect Regulation (GDPR).

Simultaneously, Timko stresses that ThinkOns integrated platform of cloud solutions  including a single tenant and multi-tenant cloud based on the VMware by Broadcom technology stack  and services including Infrastructure-as-a-Service, Backup-as-a-Service, Disaster Recovery-as-a-Service and Object storage-as-a-service  are just as applicable for partners outside of government, including those that want to pursue a hybrid or multi-cloud strategy.

There is a definite need and value for hybrid cloud deployments  something we enable our partners to provide in a turnkey, simplified, and standardized way that can be managed with ease through a single pane of glass  but at ThinkOn we believe most use cases and workloads are best addressed with the VMware by Broadcom technologies enterprise IT departments know and trust, he says. And thats even more true today with Broadcoms VMware Cloud Foundation, which makes it even easier to realize the full potential of the entire stack while providing partners with complete cost transparency and greater opportunities to generate reoccurring revenue  all without the ingress and egress charges, and sovereignty-related challenges often associated with the public cloud.

Its a recipe for success that makes him even more excited about ThinkOns future with VMware by Broadcom.

VMware technologies are at the very core of our solutions, adds Timko. Broadcoms new, more integrated go-to-market strategy enables us to provide our partners with even greater value while enabling them to focus even more on the specialized skills their customers value with the confidence that they are providing them a best-in-class and proven cloud platform.

For more information on ThinkOn and the importance of a sovereign cloud strategy, see the CEO Craig McLellans TEDx Talk Mastering Your Digital Destiny: The Power of Data Sovereignty.

Learn more about Better Together in cloud services: Broadcom, VMware, and ThinkOn: VMware by Broadcom | Pinnacle Partner  Thinkon

In the months to come, look to CIO.com for stories about the industry-leading providers in the Broadcom Advantage Program and insights on how they are helping enterprises succeed in their private, hybrid, and multi-cloud endeavors.
2024 is rapidly shaping up to be a defining year in generative AI. While 2023 saw its emergence as a potent new technology, business leaders are now grappling with how to best leverage its transformative power to grow efficiency, security, and revenue. With the near-universal integration of AI into global technology, the need for AI-ready cybersecurity teams is more critical than ever. INE Security, a leading global cybersecurity training and cybersecurity certification provider, predicts large language model (LLM) applications like chatbots and AI-drive virtual assistants will be at particular risk.

AI systems are invaluable, enabling us to process vast amounts of data with unmatched speed and accuracy, detect anomalies, predict threats, and respond to incidents in real-time. But these revolutionary technologies are also empowering attackers, leveling the playing field in unprecedented ways, said Lindsey Rinehart, COO and Head of AI Integration at INE Security. As automated attacks increase, our defense strategies must also be automated and intelligent. The accelerating arms race between cyber attackers and defenders underscores the vital need for ongoing training and development for cybersecurity teams.

According to the IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2024, cybercriminals mentioned AI and GPT in over 800,000 posts in illicit markets and dark web forums last year. Training and preparation for AI in infosec are no longer optional: organizations must deploy employee training for AI and cybersecurity to maintain effectiveness and stay ahead of attackers.

Strategies to Optimize Teams for AI and Cybersecurity

1. Incorporate Structured Team Training Programs

The first step in building an AI-ready cybersecurity team is to implement structured training programs that focus on both foundational cybersecurity principles and advanced AI applications. These programs should offer certifications and courses from recognized institutions and industry leaders to ensure they meet high standards. For example, courses offered by INE Security provide comprehensive training that covers both traditional cybersecurity skills and newer AI-based tools. The ideal training program will include:

Skills Gap Analysis : Conduct an analysis to identify where the teams capabilities may be an area of improvement, particularly concerning AI integration.

: Conduct an analysis to identify where the teams capabilities may be an area of improvement, particularly concerning AI integration. Tailored Curriculum Development : A training curriculum that addresses identified cybersecurity skills gaps, incorporating both core cybersecurity principles and advanced AI applications.

: A training curriculum that addresses identified cybersecurity skills gaps, incorporating both core cybersecurity principles and advanced AI applications. Blended Learning Approach: A mix of online courses, hands-on labs, and real-world scenario simulations to accommodate different learning styles and enhance practical application skills.

2. Promote a Culture of Learning

Building a culture that encourages ongoing learning and curiosity is equally important. Google, for instance, fosters a learning culture where employees are encouraged to spend 20% of their time on learning new skills or on side projects, many of which involve AI and cybersecurity innovations. This not only keeps their skills fresh but also helps in retaining talent and fostering a proactive approach to security challenges.

To effectively implement a culture of learning that supports the development of AI-ready cybersecurity teams, organizations can adopt several strategies:

Provide Access to Resources : Offer subscriptions to leading industry publications, access to specialized online courses, and entry to relevant conferences and seminars that focus on AI and cybersecurity.

: Offer subscriptions to leading industry publications, access to specialized online courses, and entry to relevant conferences and seminars that focus on AI and cybersecurity. Reward Continuous Learning : Establish a rewards system that recognizes and incentivizes team members who actively engage in learning new skills or who earn new certifications, particularly those that integrate AI technologies with cybersecurity practices.

: Establish a rewards system that recognizes and incentivizes team members who actively engage in learning new skills or who earn new certifications, particularly those that integrate AI technologies with cybersecurity practices. Create Innovation Labs: Set up dedicated spaces or times when employees can experiment with new technologies or develop new solutions independently of their regular tasks. This can help stimulate creative thinking and practical application of learned skills.

3. Leverage Simulation-Based Learning

Simulation-based learning tools like cyber ranges provide hands-on experience in dealing with real-world cybersecurity scenarios and help users learn how to use AI. Cyber ranges provide a simulated environment where professionals can safely engage with and respond to real-world cyber threats using AI tools, without the risk of impacting actual operations (this hands-on lab from INE Security is a great example). This practical exposure is crucial for understanding how AI can be integrated into cybersecurity practices to detect, analyze, and mitigate threats. By training in a cyber range, team members can develop and refine their skills in a controlled yet realistic setting, which improves their ability to effectively utilize AI in live environments. The hands-on experience also helps in bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, enhancing the teams overall readiness and responsiveness to emerging cyber threats.

To effectively leverage cyber ranges for building an AI-ready cybersecurity team, consider implementing the following strategies:

Regular Tabletop Exercise : Incorporate regular sessions within the cyber range into the teams training schedule. This ensures consistent practice and skill refinement in handling AI-driven security scenarios.

: Incorporate regular sessions within the cyber range into the teams training schedule. This ensures consistent practice and skill refinement in handling AI-driven security scenarios. Scenario Variety : Develop a variety of threat scenarios that reflect the latest AI-driven attack techniques and the most common threats specific to the organizations industry. This variety helps prepare the team for a wide range of potential real-world situations.

: Develop a variety of threat scenarios that reflect the latest AI-driven attack techniques and the most common threats specific to the organizations industry. This variety helps prepare the team for a wide range of potential real-world situations. Cross-Functional Exercises : Include team members from various functional areas in cyber range sessions to foster a comprehensive understanding of how AI impacts different aspects of cybersecurity across the organization.

: Include team members from various functional areas in cyber range sessions to foster a comprehensive understanding of how AI impacts different aspects of cybersecurity across the organization. Post-Exercise Reviews: Conduct debriefing sessions after each cyber range exercise to discuss what was learned and how it can be applied. This reinforces the lessons and integrates them into everyday practices.

4. Encouraging Participation in Hackathons and Competitions

Participation in hackathons and cybersecurity competitions can also play a crucial role in continuous learning. These events challenge participants to solve complex problems with innovative solutions, often under time constraints. They are excellent for learning new skills, testing existing ones, and keeping up with the latest cybersecurity and AI technologies.

To effectively implement a strategy that encourages participation in hackathons and competitions, organizations can adopt the following approaches:

Promote Awareness : Regularly inform team members about upcoming hackathons and competitions through internal newsletters, meetings, or dedicated communication channels. Highlight the benefits of participation, such as skill enhancement and potential recognition.

: Regularly inform team members about upcoming hackathons and competitions through internal newsletters, meetings, or dedicated communication channels. Highlight the benefits of participation, such as skill enhancement and potential recognition. Incentivize Participation : Offer incentives such as bonuses, extra vacation days, or public recognition within the organization for those who participate and especially for those who perform well in these events.

: Offer incentives such as bonuses, extra vacation days, or public recognition within the organization for those who participate and especially for those who perform well in these events. Post-Event Learning Sessions: After each event, hold a session where participants can share their experiences, learnings, and new techniques discovered during the competition. This helps disseminate new knowledge across the entire team, enriching the organizations skill base.

Conclusion

The integration of AI into cybersecurity is not just an enhancement of existing frameworks; it is a fundamental shift that requires a new kind of expertise. Continuous learning is critical for cybersecurity professionals to remain effective in their roles as defenders of digital assets. By embracing a culture of ongoing education and utilizing advanced training tools and techniques, cybersecurity teams can develop the resilience and adaptability needed to stay one step ahead of attackers in this fast-paced digital world.

As the landscape of cyber threats continues to evolve, so too must the capabilities of those tasked with protecting against them. An investment in continuous learning is an investment in the future security of our digital lives.

To learn more about INE Securitys cybersecurity training and certifications, click here.

About INE Security:

INE Security is the premier provider of online networking and cybersecurity training and certification. Harnessing the worlds most powerful hands-on lab platform, cutting-edge technology, global video distribution network, and world-class instructors, INE Security is the top training choice for Fortune 500 companies worldwide for cybersecurity training in business, and for IT professionals looking to advance their careers. INE Securitys suite of learning paths offers an incomparable depth of expertise across cybersecurity and is committed to delivering advanced technical training while also lowering the barriers worldwide for those looking to enter and excel in an IT career.

Contact

Kathryn Brown

INE Security

kbrown@ine.com
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Mark Dowie joined RNLI as its chief executive in 2019 after the longest serving apprenticeship for the role.

Starting his career as a Royal Navy officer, Dowie has always had an affinity with sailing, moving onto roles in finance and banking before becoming a volunteer for the RNLI.

He spent two years volunteering at Salcombe Lifeboat Station, before becoming CEO.

During that period, he was responsible for running the training, operations, fundraising and management work.

You represent the RNLI in your local community. And so it was a wonderful preparation for what I now do on an international scale.

I loved doing it, and I can't go back to it because the fella they've got to replace me is much better and he's not standing down, but Im going to go back to volunteer in the lifeboat shop, he says.

When this came up, I felt that I could use what I've learned in other bits of my career to make a difference and in a way, I felt when I started the role here that I'd been serving the longest apprenticeship in history to prepare for some of the challenges here.

But I'd also had the wonderful opportunities to look at things from the other end of the telescope, as if you've been a volunteer it gives you a perspective.

After five years in post, he will be passing the baton to former Navy officer and CEO of the UK Hydrographic Office Peter Sparkes on 26 June.

Last week, Dowie was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in the Kings Birthday Honours list.

Eight more staff and volunteers from the RNLI were recognised for their contributions to the charity, which turned 200 this year.

Discovering he had been awarded a CBE was very humbling and quite a surprise, he says.

But really, I see it as a broader recognition for the RNLI for the last five years  so I'm very touched.

Certainly hasnt been a walk in the park

Dowie says there have been 14 people that have led the RNLI in the 200 years it has operated as a charity. During the same time, there have been 58 different prime ministers of the UK.

We have had to ride through changing political landscapes and all sorts of challenges, he says.

Asked about how the sector has changed during his time as CEO, Dowie says everything's changed, but everything's the same, too.

The RNLIs been around for 200 years. Weve been through all sorts of challenges, and some more extreme than the global pandemic. Two world wars. For us, we're active in all of the island of Ireland. So, Ireland becoming a separate country in the early 20th century was also a huge change.

But throughout all of that, we've had a very singular purpose which our founders set out in 1824, and we haven't deviated from it.

I think the environment has changed a bit. The purpose hasn't. We've had to adapt the way we deliver things in some ways.

We've had to cut our cloth to meet the changing financial environment as well. But we've stuck very clearly to our purpose throughout the last five years and that served us well.

Dowie notes 30% of staff were furloughed during the pandemic. At the time, he took a 50% pay cut as part of the charity's coronavirus plan.

Most turbulent years in RNLI history?

Recently, the chair of RNLI, Janet Legrand, said: The past five years have been some of the most turbulent in the RNLIs 200-year history, and the RNLI has been so fortunate to have Mark at the helm to navigate these challenges.

Dowie says that the combination of challenges the charity has faced in such a short period of time has been a significant challenge.

He explains the pandemic, cost-of-living crisis and the war in Ukraine have all had an impact on the organisation, with the Covid-19 pandemic casting the largest shadow as RNLI had to go virtual overnight.

Also, some of the quite severe tactical things weve had to deal with small boat crossings in the English Channel, some of the focus on our international challenges have presented significant challenges.

While he says he is not sure whether he agrees with the chairs opinion that its been the most turbulent five years in the RNLIs history, he admits: It certainly hasn't been a walk in the park.

Receiving complaints

RNLI was the second most complained about charity in Civil Societys recent analysis of the 50 largest fundraising charities , receiving 1,105 complaints for the year ending December 2022.

Dowie says that the charity sent out around 32 million pieces of fundraising and marketing material in the year, meaning there is one complaint per 18,000 pieces of material, and he would be astonished if they did receive no complaints due to the charitys high profile.

The numbers are minuscule compared to the activity that we're undertaking to fund our purpose, he says.

RNLI has also experienced instances of inverse giving , where the charity has experienced a hike in donations in response to negative press.

The charity has been dragged into political conservations in recent years, particularly due to its rescue activity involving small boats crossing the English Channel.

When asked about this, Dowie says he believes the public agree with the charitys purpose, which is shown through the consistent support the RNLI has received for 200 years.

Our volunteers are normal everyday people who have families and jobs and all the rest of it and yet they choose to spend part of their time often putting themselves in quite difficult situations to save lives at sea.

I think that's it's a natural emotion to want to support that sort of selflessness.

Small boat crossings

What we're doing in the English Channel is humanitary. Humanitarian rescue work which we are tasked by now His Majesty's Coast Guard to go to distress. We are always going to do that.

We were doing that in the Second World War for German airmen. The purpose of the charity is to save lives at sea.

He outlines that of the 238 lifeboat stations the RNLI manages, only eight are involved in rescue activity related to small boats crossing the English Channel.

While Dowie understands the issue surrounding small boat crossings is polarising and people have strong feelings on either end of the political spectrum, he believes these feelings are irrelevant to the charitys mission.

For me, it's just abundantly clear that we are there to save lives at sea, and that, frankly, is the end of it.

Retiring

Dowie says he has spent his 43-year working career very busy and has a diary that is absolutely jam-packed from morning until night and includes the weekends quite often, particularly in this role.

Dowie says: I'm a great believer in the five-year cycle. You come, you set out your store, you deliver it, you check it's working, and then you start preparing the ground for the next change.

I'm 63 now so it was I knew it would be about time when I came to this point.

Dowie will be going back to volunteer for Salcombe Lifeboat Station in its shop when he leaves his post next week.

He will remain serving on the board of the Brittania Association, the Royal Navy and working closely with the Royal Navy Royal Marines charity.

Dowie says he hopes to have some fun as well.

I'm looking forward to waking up in the morning occasionally and wondering to myself, 'What am I going to do today?' That will be a novel experience for me.

sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
Penny Appeal logo

The Charity Commission has closed its case into Penny Appeal, having issued an official warning.

It said improvements have been made at the charity, after several years of engagement about a series of weaknesses and shortcomings in the charitys governance.

The Commission has now closed its regulatory compliance case into the charity, which was set up in 2008 to provide poverty relief, emergency aid and healthcare across Asia and Africa.

This follows last weeks publication by the Fundraising Regulator , which found that three programmes run by the charity committed five breaches of its code of practice in total.

Earlier this year, the Information Commissioners Office issued the charity with an enforcement order over its marketing activities.

The Commission opened a compliance case into Penny Appeal in June 2020 following several complaints and concerns raised about how the charity was being managed.

Concerns included failure to manage perceived conflicts of interest, poor record keeping and inadequate management of major supplier contracts.

The Commission now says it is satisfied that progress has been made to improve the charitys governance and management, though there is still further work to do.

Data filed with the regulator for the financial year ending 31 December 2022 puts the charitys total income at more than 23m.

Official warning

The Commission has now closed its case, setting out its expectation that the charitys trustees act upon recommendations by all three bodies.

It issued an official warning on 29 September 2023 after several meetings with the charitys trustees and an inspection of the charitys records and financial accounts.

It found that the charity failed to maintain proper trustee meeting minutes to record decisions in relation to the purchase of a property, consideration of an unsolicited offer received to buy a property as well as decisions around retaining and redeveloping a property, a release from the Commission reads.

It also found that the charity failed to review a contract with its major supplier and manage a perceived conflict of interest relating to its relationship with its major supplier.

A series of weaknesses and shortcomings

Tracy Howarth, assistant director for casework at the Commission, said: Improvements have been made at Penny Appeal after several years of engagement about a series of weaknesses and shortcomings in the charitys governance.

This is a charity which receives significant support and donations from the public  it is extremely important that its governance is fit for purpose.

The actions already taken have strengthened how the charity is run, and we are following up on the outstanding actions, which the trustees have assured us will be promptly addressed.

The regulator said it has secured several improvements to the charitys governance, including advising the trustees to appoint a minute taker and record conflicts of interest, which they have evidenced.

It adds the trustees have set dates to review third-party contracts, and appointed an external consultant to review the charitys existing contracts and advise it on best practice.

The charity will also terminate its contract with the major supplier that caused a perceived conflict of interest.

The trustees have mainly complied with the actions required of them and the Commission notes and welcomes their commitment to complete the outstanding actions promptly, its release adds.

Its trustees must also promptly complete an outstanding review of governance and contractual relationships and arrangements with third-party organisations established overseas, which forms part of an internal action plan set by the charitys solicitors.

Penny Appeal statement

A statement from Penny Appeal reads: The decision by the Charity Commission to close its regulatory case into Penny Appeal today is testament to the huge strides we have made to strengthen our governance, processes and procedures.

Under our expanded board of trustees and new leadership team, we remain fully committed to our journey of ongoing improvement as part of the extensive and independent governance review we commissioned.

We look forward to continue working closely with our respective regulators to ensure Penny Appeal continues to put good governance first in everything we do in order to reach as many vulnerable families, communities and individuals in need as possible.

sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
By doidam10, Adobe

Unlocking the latent giving potential among practising Christians in the UK could release thousands more per person every year for charitable causes, according to new research.

Christian charity Stewardship commissioned Whitestone Insight to look at the gap between current and potential levels of generosity and better understand the UK Christian giving landscape.

Its report finds that some practising UK Christians could give an average of 2,784 per year to charity, which is more than 3.5 times the current level.

Christians give 73 monthly

Whitestone Insight surveyed 4,056 Christian adults between 9 and 16 November 2023 and gathered data from 15 in-depth interviews.

The report finds that Christians in the UK give on average 73 a month (876 a year) across Christian and secular causes, which equates to 3.2% of their income after tax.

This is 8 more per month than the 65 reportedly given by all citizens to UK charities, according to the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) UK Giving Report 2023 .

Practising Christians  defined in the report as those who attend church and read the Bible at least once a month  give on average 167 a month, or 6.3% of their income, and 102 more than the average in CAFs report.

Stewardships report says: If every Christian adopted the biblical principle of tithing  which is defined in this report as giving 10% of income after tax across all causes  the total amount being given to all causes would be an average of 232 each a month [2,784 a year].

Regular church attendance doubles propensity to give

The report finds that regular church attendance more than doubles the propensity to give.

Some 71% of practising and church-going Christians (those who attend church but read the Bible independently less than once a month) give monthly across all Christian causes.

This may be partly due to the spiritual impact of regular church attendance and Bible reading, the report says.

In comparison, 28% of cultural Christians (those who identify as Christians but attend church less than once a month) do the same.

The report also finds that those who trust their church a lot are much more likely to be regular donors across all causes.

Nearly eight in 10 (76%) of those who give across all Christian causes at least once a month trust their church a lot, compared with 16% of those who trust their church a little.

When looking at trusting Christian charities, 51% who trust them a lot and 33% who trust them a little give regularly across all Christian causes.

Barriers to giving

The report says that there are two main barriers to giving, namely people feeling unable to afford to give and a lack of trust that donations will be used well.

Indeed, half of the surveys respondents said they cannot afford to start giving or give more while 20% said too much of any donation could be spent by the church or charity on administration rather than beneficiaries.

Another 15% cited a lack of confidence that recipients spend donated money well.

The report reads: This research confirms that there is currently a gap between what UK Christians currently give and what they could give.

The more engaged Christians are with their faith and the causes they support  especially when those causes build trust with regular, transparent communication that helps their donors understand the tangible impact of their support  the more the gap closes.

sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
Habeeba Shaikh, digital campaigns assistant, and Aaliyah Burns, senior digital campaigns officer at Freedom for Torture in the charity's merch

Greetings charity sector folk and happy Friday!

With it being t-shirt weather again (for how long, nobody knows), Diary thought they would take a perusal of the charity clothing merchandise on offer...

RSPCA

The animal charity RSPCA has launched a limited-edition clothing range for its 200th anniversary.

Shoppers can be adorned with an animal of their choosing, whether it be dog, cat, fox, hedgehog or rabbit  with all the profits going to charity.

Some even have slogans on  such as easily distracted by dogs or Id rather be at home with my cat, a shirt this columnist would happily wear into the office.

For 200 years weve been changing animals lives for the better and we want you to join us in celebrating this milestone



For a limited time only, we are offering a range of 200th-anniversary merchandise so you too can be part of the RSPCA family: https://t.co/YK8X4gbOXl pic.twitter.com/iLzxA6XQgS  RSPCA (England & Wales) (@RSPCA_official) May 13, 2024

RSPB

The conservation charity RSPBs merch is also rather fetching, as you can get t-shirts with wildflowers, puffins, goldfinches and more.

The charity has also created a fictional tour t-shirt for the aerial bird swifts called the Screamin Devil-Birds Tour.

Admittedly, their call is rather annoying when Diary is trying to have a lie-in.

The back of the t-shirt lists each month and where in the world it will be heard at that time. Not to worry if you missed them this month  the shirt notes that itll be the same tour every year.

Freedom from Torture

The refugee charity Freedom from Torture also launched limited edition t-shirts recently for refugee week ahead of the election on the 4 July.

The shirts include slogans such as refugees welcome and kindness has no borders.

Every t-shirt purchased means at least 5 will be sent to Freedom from Torture so torture survivors can access the charitys services.

We've been called a "loud minority".

Let's show them just how loud we can be.



All the proceeds from the T-shirts go to supporting refugees re-build their lives in the UK 



Get yours now! https://t.co/vGQ1LtK6xy pic.twitter.com/qehVHtWaO9  Freedom from Torture (@FreefromTorture) June 20, 2024

Hulk Xbox

In other news, a very rare Hulk-branded Xbox has fetched almost 8,000 at auction for the British Heart Foundation.

The limited-edition gaming device was created to promote the 2003 film the Hulk and was one of only 50 ever made.

It was donated to one of BHFs charity shops in Oxford and sold for 7,700 on eBay after 62 bids were made.

Paul Smith, function tester at BHFs eBay, told BBC News that the device was only available as a prize in a UK cinema scratchcard competition, and only 36 were ever won.

So far, 20 have been found, he told the news outlet.
A bid by GSK and other drugmakers to stop more than 70,000 lawsuits in Delaware over discontinued heartburn drug Zantac has received the backing of leading U.S. industry groups, including the United States Chamber of Commerce and Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.

In a friend-of-the-court brief posted to the Delaware Superior Courts docket on Thursday, the groups said that a Delaware judges recent ruling allowing the lawsuits to proceed jeopardized the states business-friendly reputation and threatened to turn it into a hotbed of products-liability and mass-tort litigation.

GSK, Pfizer, Sanofi and Boehringer Ingelheim, which all sold Zantac at times, had asked Judge Vivian Medinilla to bar plaintiffs from offering expert testimony linking Zantac to cancer, arguing that it was not based on sound scientific methods. The plaintiffs cases depend on that testimony, and cannot go to trial without it.

After the judge refused, the companies petitioned her for leave to appeal directly to the Delaware Supreme Court. The industry groups in Thursdays filing are asking the judge to grant that petition.

The groups, which also include the National Association of Manufacturers and the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, said Medinillas ruling was at odds with a Florida federal court that in 2022 tossed about 50,000 Zantac claims after rejecting similar evidence as unreliable. Some plaintiffs are appealing that ruling.

If Delaware courts adopted a more relaxed evidence standard for mass tort cases, they said, the state would quickly become a venue of choice for plaintiffs since many U.S. companies are incorporated there.

The groups urged Medinilla to consider the importance to the business community of clarity, consistency and predictability in Delaware jurisprudence on expert testimony.

A lawyer for the plaintiffs did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

First approved in 1983, Zantac became the worlds best-selling medicine in 1988 and one of the first to top $1 billion in annual sales. It was originally marketed by a forerunner of GSK and later sold successively to other companies.

Lawsuits began piling up after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2020 asked manufacturers to pull the drug off the market over concerns that its active ingredient, ranitidine, could degrade into a cancer-causing chemical called NDMA over time or when exposed to heat.

The drugmakers have maintained there is no evidence Zantac exposes users to harmful NDMA levels or causes cancer.

The vast majority of pending cases are in Delaware. Only one case, against GSK and Boehringer Ingelheim in Illinois, has gone to trial, ending in a victory for the companies last month.

(Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Rod Nickel)
HURRICANE, Utah  Actor Taylor Wiley, known for his role in Hawaii Five-0, has died. He was 56 years old.

Hawaii Five O executive producer Peter M. Lenkov confirmed the actors death in an Instagram post on Thursday. He passed away in Hurricane, Utah.

Wiley was a beloved Hawaiian actor and former sumo wrestler and MMA fighter. He played Kamekona Tupuola in Hawaii Five O and has also been featured in movies and television shows such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Magnum, P.I.

T, as I told you many times, I fell in love with you at the first audition. You came in with a towel on your head mopping up sweat, and I was smitten, Lenkov said in his Instagram post. You charmed me into making you a regular on the show and in my life. You were family. And I will miss you every day, brother.

No cause of death has been revealed.
KATY, Texas  A woman who was being attacked by a teen male was rescued when a family trained in taekwondo heard her yelling and subdued the suspect, authorities say.

A news release from the Harris County Sheriffs Office says the incident occurred Tuesday. The victim was working at a cellphone store when the suspect attempted to sexually assault her.

Instructors at the Yong-In Taekwondo Dojo, which is next door to the cellphone store, heard the woman yelling and went to see what was wrong. The sheriffs office says the instructors  identified by ABC News as Han An, wife Hong An and their three children, Hannah, Simon and Christian  were able to pull the woman away from the suspect. All of them are black belts.

When we already opened the door, the male was on top of the female already ... inside the employees room, Hannah An tells ABC News. So, by that moment, my dad grabbed him, dragged him out, and the girl was really, really crying, desperately crying, and then she ran toward me. She needed the comfort, the calming down, and then she wanted to go away from that situation.

The sheriffs office says the suspect then attempted to attack the family members. By utilizing their training and discipline, they managed to stop the assault and hold him, the news release says. ABC News reports the suspect did bite Han An twice.

It just happened so sudden, Simon An tells NBC News. It was all self-defense. The intruder was trying to run away  scratching, biting, anything he could do. Hong An held the suspect down for 10 minutes until deputies arrived, reports say.

The suspect, Alex Robinson, 19, of Katy, Texas, is charged with assault, attempted sexual assault and unlawful detention, the sheriffs office says. He is being held on a $100,000 bond.

Thank you to the Yong-In dojo for your quick action in protecting others, the news release says.
Real estate companies around the world are eyeing one area right now: data centers, according to Citi. "One of the compelling emerging themes globally across Real Estate is the expansion of industrial and diversified companies into datacenters," said Citi. "The higher potential returns from data center development is creating strong interest from real estate companies across the globe exploring and expanding their datacenter footprints," the bank added in a June 17 note. Citi noted the push toward data centers is being driven by major themes such as artificial intelligence and nearshoring. Data centers house vast amounts of computing power needed for AI workloads, and that need is set to grow as many tech companies are rapidly developing infrastructure for artificial intelligence. Large language models require a lot of data center capacity. More industrial companies are looking to convert warehouses into data centers, Citi noted. But the bank says it believes that the large power requirements for hyperscale data centers  those made for AI requirements  and the limited availability of power transmission, are "restraining" supply growth. "As a result, we expect demand to keep pace or outpace supply over the next few years, contributing to better KPIs and development returns for the data center category," Citi said. "We predict development and construction of hyper-scale data center capacity will grow meaningfully over the next 7 years, fueling interest from a variety of global industrial and diversified players," it said, forecasting that demand for data center power will expand at a compound annual growth rate in the mid-teens till 2030. "We would also not be surprised if some of the industrial firms were to more directly partner with existing data center providers and platforms to tap into their supply chain and create a win-win to redevelop warehouse and shell into the hyper-scale data center market," it added. Stocks to benefit The bank named three "direct beneficiaries" of rising data center demand: U.S.- listed real estate investment trust Digital Realty Trust , data center firm Equinix and Australia-listed NextDC . Digital Realty has indicated that half of its bookings in the first quarter were "likely related to AI workloads in some form," and about half of its sales pipeline is also from anticipated AI workloads, according to Citi. "We believe Digital Realty's data center bookings are likely to sustain an upward bias and could exceed our outlook based on taking our top-down industry outlook and considering the share DLR can take," it added. "Digital Realty has an opportunity to get strong bookings and favorable pricing that can fuel better returns on capital." As for Equinix, Citi says it provides a "valuable hub" for customers connecting to a range of cloud and generative AI services. There's also an Nvidia-derivative play here, with Equinix offering a "fully managed service for Nvidia AI," said Citi. "We believe growth prospects seem underappreciated at the current price," said the bank. Other "diversified" beneficiaries  including those that are converting their warehouse assets  include Singapore-listed Keppel DC REIT , and Mapletree Industrial Trust , and CapitaLand India Trust , according to Citi.

The proposed site of the Meta Platforms Inc. data center outside Talavera de la Reina, Spain, in July 2023. Paul Hanna | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Real estate companies around the world are eyeing one area right now: data centers, according to Citi. "One of the compelling emerging themes globally across Real Estate is the expansion of industrial and diversified companies into datacenters," said Citi. "The higher potential returns from data center development is creating strong interest from real estate companies across the globe exploring and expanding their datacenter footprints," the bank added in a June 17 note. Citi noted the push toward data centers is being driven by major themes such as artificial intelligence and nearshoring. Data centers house vast amounts of computing power needed for AI workloads, and that need is set to grow as many tech companies are rapidly developing infrastructure for artificial intelligence. Large language models require a lot of data center capacity. More industrial companies are looking to convert warehouses into data centers, Citi noted. But the bank says it believes that the large power requirements for hyperscale data centers  those made for AI requirements  and the limited availability of power transmission, are "restraining" supply growth. "As a result, we expect demand to keep pace or outpace supply over the next few years, contributing to better KPIs and development returns for the data center category," Citi said. "We predict development and construction of hyper-scale data center capacity will grow meaningfully over the next 7 years, fueling interest from a variety of global industrial and diversified players," it said, forecasting that demand for data center power will expand at a compound annual growth rate in the mid-teens till 2030. "We would also not be surprised if some of the industrial firms were to more directly partner with existing data center providers and platforms to tap into their supply chain and create a win-win to redevelop warehouse and shell into the hyper-scale data center market," it added.

Stocks to benefit
If you are in Virginia sweltering and falling behind on your utility bill, you will have additional options to keep the air conditioner humming, but not until July 1. That's when Virginia joins the small but growing ranks of states protecting disconnects during extreme heat. Such protections have been around for cold weather for decades, but as the global rise in temperatures hits records, advocates say more must be done to shield customers from having utilities cut; often, existing legislation isn't enough.

Virginia State Senator Lashrecse Aird, (D-Petersburg), a legislative sponsor of the state's new utility bills law, said her support for the legislation was rooted in her own experience of having utilities disconnected when she was younger. "It was not a pleasant experience," Aird said. "And I carry that with me."

Now, she says, the stakes are higher.

"We have to account for extreme heat outside the normal months of the year that are increasingly hotter now," Aird said. "As long as we continue to fail to address climate change and increased temperatures, we have to be deliberate and intentional," she said, and she added that implies the need for protective laws. "Our country is on fire; the world is on fire. I predict we will see more places experiencing heat crises and heat emergencies. We need to have these policies in place; that is where we are heading from a pure weather standpoint."

The Virginia law, which Aird said the utilities "fought tooth and nail," forbids disconnections when the temperature exceeds 92 degrees. Regardless of temperature, the bill also prohibits power companies from performing utility shutoffs on Fridays, holidays, state holidays, or days immediately preceding a state holiday. Such shutoffs could leave someone without power for a prolonged period while the utility's customer service office is closed.

"We had to write those in because we found that is what was happening," Aird said. "They did not want to have the state spell out their process for reconnection. Everyone has a different administrative structure."

A grim national outlook for power protections

Too many states have no protections from utility company disconnects for consumers, according to David Konisky, a professor in the environmental studies department at Indiana University and director of the Energy Justice Lab, and he says climate change is forcing a new conversation about the issue.

The Energy Justice Lab created a "Disconnect Dashboard" showing utility disconnect data in each state (not every state reports data) and existing shutoff-shielding legislation, if any, in place. Part of making the dashboard was overlaying forecast excessive heat days along with protections that exist or don't exist and factoring in climate change. The outlook is grim, Konisky says. Nearly three million people have their electricity shut off annually because they cannot afford to pay monthly bills, according to the Energy Justice Lab.

"There are two ways to think about it: how hot is it going to get today, yes, but what is really dangerous is when it does not cool off at night, when you have a persistent period of warm nights, when people are unable to cool their bodies, that is when you have high incidents of heat exhaustion," Konisky said, adding that lack of cooling like air conditioning exacerbates it.

Legislation like Virginia's is welcome, but often, the laws don't go far enough, according to Konisky. They are typically limited to state-regulated power companies (Virginia's is more expansive than other states') or have subjective or ambiguous disconnection criteria. Konisky says utility customers must work with them instead of being cut off.

Covid-19 led many states to issue temporary orders during stay-at-home mandates to require power to remain on, but most of these orders have been gradually eliminated. A majority of states (40) have statutory-based utility disconnection protections that cover specific times of year and vulnerable populations, according to the Energy Justice Lab.

As of 2021, 29 states had seasonal protections and 23 had temperature-based disconnection protections, but Konisky's research shows that these do not fully prohibit disconnections, often putting the onus on customers to demonstrate eligibility for an exemption, such as medical need. Most states (46), plus Washington D.C., give customers the option to set up a payment plan as an alternative to disconnection, though interest may be steep and income-based repayment is not often an option.
Municipal bonds are enjoying a moment among investors who are looking for tax-free income, but they should be wary of allowing tax savings to drive their decisions. This week, Wells Fargo Investment Institute highlighted the attraction of muni bonds as the Federal Reserve prepares to trim rates. Bond prices rise as yields fall, and a falling rate environment would result in price appreciation for municipal bonds. "We remain favorable on municipal bonds, both essential revenue and general obligation bonds, as they have historically been resilient during periods of economic uncertainty," Wells Fargo noted in a report this week. "For investors in higher effective tax brackets, we believe municipal securities are an important part of fixed-income positioning." But that is where investors can make a misstep  one that may cost them valuable income opportunities. Though municipal bonds generally offer income that's free of federal income taxes  and state taxes if the investor resides in the issuing state  they also come with lower yields compared to other bonds. That's the trade-off investors make for the safety of general obligation bonds, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the issuing municipality. Even exchange traded funds holding municipals will have a lower 30-day SEC yield, compared to their corporate counterparts: The Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (VTEB) has a 30-day SEC yield of 3.64%, while the Vanguard Total Corporate Bond ETF (VTC) has a 30-day yield of 4.17%. "Munis aren't always the best option," said Nisha Patel, senior portfolio manager at Parametric Portfolio Associates. "There are lower [tax] brackets, and the client might've been better off on an after-tax basis if they bought Treasurys and corporates." Indeed, earlier this year Parametric kicked off a service it offers to financial advisors, building tax-optimized bond ladders that are based on an investor's specific bracket. Knowing your bracket The general rule of thumb is that if your marginal tax rate is in the 24% bracket and above, you're a better candidate for a municipal bond. When it comes to muni bonds, the higher your tax bracket, the more valuable the tax-free income is. Consider that if a taxpayer in the 32% federal income tax bracket picks up a muni bond with a tax-free yield of 3%, she would need to find a taxable bond yielding 4.41% to generate a comparable level of income, according to New York Life Investments . That's called the tax-equivalent yield . Investors in lower tax brackets just might pick up more after-tax yield in the corporate space, considering that even though the interest from corporate bonds is taxed at the same rate as ordinary income, the levy may not take as big of a bite out of their returns. "The idea of not having to pay taxes sometimes blinds investors to the idea that you can still end up with more money if you invest elsewhere and pay taxes on that," said Collin Martin, fixed income strategist for the Schwab Center for Financial Research. "You may be able to get a higher after-tax yield with something like a corporate bond," he added. Treasurys are also another consideration for investors, as they offer interest income that is subject to federal tax, but exempt from state and local taxes. A tax-conscious approach to fixed income You don't have to bulk up on municipal bonds to get the best yield for your tax scenario. Here's where to begin. Think about your time horizon and your effective tax rate. You may be in a high tax bracket now, but whether it makes sense to load up on munis will depend on how that situation may evolve. "If they're paying taxes at the highest marginal rate, but plan to retire in three years  at which point they won't have wages  their marginal tax rate will drop," said Michael Carbone, certified financial planner and financial advisor at Eppolito Financial Strategies in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. In that case, the tax-equivalent yield on a muni may have seemed promising in those high-earning years, but it becomes much less attractive once earnings drop off. Consider where you're keeping these bonds. Save on taxes by ensuring that your bonds are in the correct accounts. Municipal bonds are good contenders in taxable brokerage accounts, where investors can benefit from their tax-free income. Corporates and the funds that hold them  especially given higher yields  might be better suited for tax-deferred accounts, such as your individual retirement account, given the tax treatment of their interest income. Shopping for tax-aware funds? Do your homework. Some fund families offer "tax-aware strategies" either in mutual funds or ETFs, which can include some exposure to municipal bonds, as well as equities. These options may help investors save on taxes, but they should understand what these portfolios hold and how much they cost. "As we spend more time understanding these tax-aware strategies that have popped up in the last five years, it's better to understand what is in the portfolios and where risks can surface," said Beth Foos, associate director of fixed income strategies at Morningstar. "Looking at the fees and understanding how they impact your results is really important."
Shawn Tsao, co-founder of food-delivery app Caviar.

It may not be easy to build a successful business from scratch  but it's proven to be possible. Throughout my time working at CNBC, I've chatted with different entrepreneurs, from people who started successful side hustles to the founders of global unicorn companies. Ultimately, I've found that it all comes down to beliefs  what one chooses to believe. These people chose to believe in themselves. They knew it wouldn't be easy, but they also knew it was possible. With that faith, they went on to risk and sacrifice almost everything for a dream. The world may see them as inspirational figures, but oftentimes, they are just ordinary people who have faced some setbacks and hard-earned lessons in life. In my conversations with successful entrepreneurs, I've found that those who became successful and "made it" tend to echo the same advice. Here's what they credit for their success:

Advice #1: Anyone can do it

Jason McGowan was no professional baker before he co-founded Crumbl Cookies in 2017, but he didn't let that hold him back from building a cookie empire. Today, Crumbl is a unicorn company with about 1,000 locations worldwide. The company brought in over $1 billion in sales in 2022, according to documents seen by CNBC Make It.

"I never imagined in my wildest dreams that we would do over $1 billion in sales," McGowan told CNBC Make It. "As I get older and as I build this company, I realize more and more  everything that we do is really just something that anyone can do." While they'd never stepped into a professional baking kitchen before, McGowan and his co-founder often got together to experiment with chocolate-chip cookie recipes whenever they had free time. Today, their cookies rake in millions globally, and it all came from a decision to believe in an idea and try it out.

The biggest thing I've learned through Solidcore  is you can do whatever you want to do as long as you're willing to do it. Anne Mahlum Founder, Solidcore

Anne Mahlum echoes the same sentiment. In 2013, she founded New York-based boutique fitness chain Solidcore. One decade later, the company has over 100 locations. In 2023, Mahlum said she made $88.4 million after cashing out on her equity in the business, making her a multi-millionaire. "The biggest thing I've learned through Solidcore is: You can do whatever you want to do, as long as you're willing to do it," Mahlum told CNBC Make It.

Advice #2: Lean into what makes you unique

Another piece of advice Mahlum gave is to lean into what makes you yourself. In fact, it is what she credits for her success. "I really believe in the power of uniqueness. When we... lean into our uniqueness, it really works in our favor, and it really has been a huge part of my success to do that personally and professionally." "I think so many times, we look at entrepreneurs or people who made it  and we think that they just have something that you don't, or that they have a special set of advantages, and to be honest, that might be true  the world and life is not fair, it never was, and it never will be," she said. Everyone has a special set of circumstances, advantages and disadvantages, Mahlum said. "I think it is up to each and every one of us to figure out what those advantages are, what our talent and skills are and lean into them and make it work for you." People tend to think that those who have "made it" have something special about them. However, according to McGowan and Mahlum, they are not special. They just doubled-down on what set them apart.

Edward Tirtanata, co-founder and CEO of unicorn coffee chain Kopi Kenangan, also highlighted what separated him from the crowd. "I think the best advice that I can give to fellow entrepreneurs is to be different," he told CNBC. "The next Starbucks is not going to look like a Starbucks, the next McDonald's is not gonna look like a McDonald's. The next Google is not going to look like a Google  you need to be radically different in order for you to compete against the incumbent," he said. Tirtanata founded the company in 2017 as a local Indonesian coffee stall. Today, the company has grown into an international coffee brand with more than 800 locations across Southeast Asia, bringing in more than $100 million a year in sales, according to documents seen by CNBC Make It.

Advice #3: Be passionate

Shawn Tsao loved sandwiches  a burning passion, some might say. One day in 2012, he was craving a sandwich from a specific shop that was across town, but he didn't have the time to go and get it. "What if there were an Uber for food?" he thought. That's how the idea for food-delivery service Caviar was born. In 2014, Jack Dorsey's payments company Square (now known as Block) bought Caviar for more than $100 million. Tsao and his co-founders made millions from the deal.

"If you're an entrepreneur and you're really passionate about the product that you're building  not because you just want the glory of being a CEO or a founder [but] you're really passionate about what you're working on  that will get you through the hardest days," said Tsao. Tsao built Caviar for himself. The business fulfilled a need that he personally had, and it was this passion that helped him persevere through the inevitable difficulties he went on to face building the business. In the same way, Tirtanata loved coffee, Mahlum cared about fitness and McGowan was passionate about cookies  all these founders built something for themselves. It was with this genuine passion that drove them through the most difficult times.

Advice #4: Just get started

In all my conversations with entrepreneurs, by far, the one piece of advice I've heard the most, is to simply get started. "Nike got it best, to 'just do it.' I have a phrase that says: 'Just have a day one,'" said Mahlum.
Demand for AI-enablers such as data centers, power producers and grid operators is on the rise, according to Morgan Stanley, and a number of Asian companies stand out as potential plays. The Wall Street bank estimates that another 1 gigawatts in potential power has been "underwritten as these data centers ramp up." "With $50 billion in committed AI/DC [data center] investments, we see upside to power gencos and grid operators in the region," Morgan Stanley's analysts wrote in a June 2 research note. Below are three stocks from Morgan Stanley's list that stand out for having significant upside potential, according to FactSet's consensus price targets. Top stocks Morgan Stanley's bullish position on Tenaga Nasional follows the announcement by Google that it is investing $2 billion to develop a data center and cloud hub in Malaysia. "We estimate that this will add [around] 350 Megawatts of power demand and should strengthen investor confidence in Tenaga Nasional  Malaysia's sole grid operator," the analysts said. Tenaga is listed on the Bursa Malaysia and trades as an ADR in the U.S. Shares in Tenaga are also included in the iShares MSCI Malaysia ETF (6.7% weight) and Global X FTSE Southeast Asia ETF (2.3%). Analysts polled by FactSet give the stock a price target of 14.62 Malaysian ringgits, giving it around 6% potential upside. Across the causeway in Singapore, Morgan Stanley's analysts see potential in conglomerates including Keppel and telecommunications operator Singapore Telecommunications given the city state's tight power markets and plans for at least 500 megawatts of potential new data centers . Both stocks are listed on the Singapore Exchange . Keppel has an ADR in the U.S. and Singapore Telecommunications trades over the counter . Shares in Keppel are also included in the iShares MSCI Singapore ETF (4.4% weight) and Global X FTSE Southeast Asia ETF (1.6%) Analysts give Keppel and Singapore Telecommunications around 26% and 22% potential upside, respectively, according to FactSet.  CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report.
People cast their votes at Meadows Mall during election day for the midterm elections in Las Vegas, Nevada, November 8, 2022.

A Nevada judge on Friday dismissed a case against six false electors who declared former President Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential election.

Clark County District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus ruled from the bench that the state had filed the case in the wrong jurisdiction, the state attorney general's office confirmed to NBC News.

A spokesperson for the office said the state's top prosecutor "will be appealing immediately."

The judge's decision comes after a grand jury in December indicted six Republicans as part of a probe into the 2020 presidential election.

Among those charged included Nevada State Party GOP chair Michael McDonald and vice chair and national committeeman Jim DeGraffenreid, who have both previously appeared before a criminal grand jury investigating the Capitol riot.

Slates of fake electors for the former president were also organized and charges have been brought in other battleground states like Michigan and Georgia.

Earlier this month three men in Wisconsin were charged in the fake electors scheme to keep Trump in office.

A state grand jury in Arizona also indicted former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani and other Trump aides in April, along with a series of false electors, in connection with an investigation into alleged efforts by the former president and his allies to overturn Joe Biden's electoral victory in that state in 2020.
Nvidia just formed a bearish technical pattern that is signaling a reversal ahead. The red-hot chipmaker dropped 3.5% on Thursday after temporarily unseating Microsoft as the most valuable public company in the U.S. Thursday's decline marked a "bearish engulfing" pattern that often signals that the prior upward momentum is waning. The chart pattern occurs during a rally when a large down candle follows a series of up candles. The downside candlestick is also larger than the upside ones preceding it. A candle represents the difference between the opening and closing price. "A one-day reversal to create a bearish engulfing pattern is typically important for the near-term to suggest that a turning point might be near," Mark Newton, head of technical strategy at Fundstrat, said in a note. "NVIDIA is getting closer towards suggesting some confluence in daily and weekly exhaustion." Shares of Nvidia have climbed more than 160% this year amid the artificial intelligence boom. The chipmaker has become so prominent that it's now a market bellwether that can sway the direction of the broader market. Enthusiasm around AI, and Nvidia specifically, has pushed the market higher in recent weeks even as many investors grew concerned that a lack of market breadth outside the technology behemoths could become worse. Others believe the Nvidia bearish engulfing pattern, while ominous, isn't significant enough yet. The confirmation of a bearish engulfing pattern sometimes depends on the size of the candles. "The reversal of the shares was 11 cents away from clearly registering a bearish engulfing pattern. Even still, it is not a pretty pattern," Mike O'Rourke, chief market strategist at JonesTrading, said in a note. "The momentum behind the remarkable run that commenced with the guidance it provided in May of last year may finally be running out of steam."
In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) and Vietnam's President To Lam (R) toast during a reception at the Hanoi Opera House in Hanoi on June 20, 2024. Russia and Vietnam pledged on June 20, 2024 to deepen ties as President Vladimir Putin made a state visit aimed at bolstering his alliances to counter Moscow's growing isolation over the war in Ukraine. Gavriil Grigorov | Afp | Getty Images

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed at least a dozen deals with his Vietnamese counterpart on Thursday and offered to supply fossil fuels, including natural gas, to Vietnam during a state visit that comes as Moscow is seeking to bolster ties in Asia to offset its growing international isolation over its war in Ukraine. Putin and President To Lam agreed to further cooperate in education, science and technology, oil and gas exploration and clean energy. The two countries also agreed to work on a roadmap for a nuclear science and technology center in Vietnam. Of the 12 publicly announced agreements, none overtly pertained to defense but Lam said there were other deals that were not made public. Putin said the two countries share an interest in developing a reliable security architecture in the Asia-Pacific region with no room for closed military-political blocs. Lam added that both Russia and Vietnam wanted to further cooperate in defense and security to cope with non-traditional security challenges. The agreements between Russia and Vietnam were not as substantial as the pact Putin signed with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un Wednesday, which pledged mutual aid in the event of invasion, said Nigel Gould-Davies, a senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia with the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, and a former British ambassador to Belarus. Putins recent visits to China and now North Korea and Vietnam are attempts to break the international isolation, said Nguyen Khac Giang, an analyst at Singapores ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.

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Giang said Russia is important to Vietnam for two reasons: It is the biggest supplier of military equipment to the Southeast Asian nation, and Russian oil exploration technologies help maintain Vietnams sovereignty claims in the contested South China Sea. Vietnam also has licensed Russian state-controlled oil company Zarubezhneft to develop an offshore block of its southeastern coast. On the South China Sea, Lam said that both sides would support and ensure security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation and the resolution of disputes peacefully and in accordance to international law without the use of force, according to official Vietnamese media. Putin arrived in Hanoi on Thursday morning from North Korea after signing the strategic pact, which comes as both countries face escalating standoffs with the West and could mark their strongest connection since the end of the Cold War. In Hanoi, Putin also met Vietnams most powerful politician, Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, according to the official Vietnam News Agency. Putin drove to Vietnams Presidential Palace on Thursday afternoon, where he was greeted by school children waving Russian and Vietnamese flags. Much has changed since Putins last visit to Vietnam in 2017. Russia now faces a raft of U.S.-led sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine. In 2023, the International Criminal Court in Hague issued an arrest warrant for Putin for alleged war crimes, making it difficult for the Russian leader to travel internationally. The Kremlin rejected the warrant as null and void, stressing that Moscow doesnt recognize the courts jurisdiction. Putins trip resulted in a sharp rebuke from the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam, which said that no country should give Putin a platform to promote his war of aggression and otherwise allow him to normalize his atrocities. If Putin is allowed to travel freely it could normalize Russias blatant violations of international law, it said in a statement. The U.S. and its allies have expressed growing concerns over a possible arms arrangement in which North Korea provides Russia with badly needed munitions for use in Ukraine in exchange for Russian economic assistance and technology transfers that could enhance the threat posed by Kims nuclear weapons and missile programs. Both countries deny accusations of weapons transfers, which would violate multiple U.N. Security Council sanctions that Russia previously endorsed. It is unlikely that Vietnam would supply significant quantities of weapons to Russia and risk the progress that it has made with NATO members on military equipment, particularly the U.S., said Ridzwan Rahmat, a Singapore-based analyst with the defense intelligence company Janes. I would imagine Vietnam wouldnt want to take a risk, inviting the wrath of Western countries by supplying the Russians, Rahmat said. Hanoi and Moscow have had diplomatic relations since 1950, and this year marks 30 years of a treaty establishing friendly relations between Vietnam and Russia. Prashanth Parameswaran, a fellow with the Wilson Centers Asia Program, said Vietnam is reinforcing that relationship even while it diversifies with newer partners.

In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin (C-L) and Vietnam's President To Lam (C-R) and other officials attend a reception at the Hanoi Opera House in Hanoi on June 20, 2024. Gavriil Grigorov | Afp | Getty Images

Evidence of the long relationship and its influence can be seen in Vietnamese cities like the capital, where many Soviet-style apartment blocks are now dwarfed by skyscrapers. A statue of Vladimir Lenin, the founder of the Soviet Union, stands in a park where kids skateboard every evening. Many in the Communist Partys top leadership in Vietnam studied in Soviet universities, including party chief Trong. In an article written for Nhan Dan, the official newspaper of Vietnams Communist Party, Putin thanked Vietnamese friends for their balanced position on the Ukrainian crisis and hailed the country as a strong supporter of a fair world order based on international law, equality and geopolitical non-interference. Vietnams pragmatic policy of bamboo diplomacy  a phrase coined by Trong referring to the plants flexibility, bending but not breaking in the shifting headwinds of global geopolitics  is being increasingly tested. A manufacturing powerhouse and an increasingly important player in global supply chains, Vietnam hosted both U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in 2023. Putins visit is important for Hanoi on a diplomatic level, said Gould-Davies, the former ambassador. Perhaps for Vietnam its a matter of just showing that its able to maintain this very agile balance of its bamboo diplomacy, he said. Already in the course of a year theyve hosted visits by the heads of state of the three most powerful countries in the world, which is pretty impressive. For Russia, the visit seems to have been more about optics than anything else, he said, as Moscow seeks to engage and influence other countries, particularly in the so-called Global South. Since the war began, Putin has not been able to travel much or very far, and hes made very few trips beyond the countries of the former Soviet space, he said. Vietnam has remained neutral on Russias invasion of Ukraine. But neutrality is getting trickier, Vietnam needs support from the U.S. to advance its economic ambitions and diversify its defense ties, Parameswaran said. It has to carefully calibrate what it does with Russia in an environment of rising tensions between Washington and Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his press conference after Russian-Vietnamese talks on June 20, 2024, in Moscow, Russia.

Russia is ready to hold security talks with NATO states, President Vladimir Putin said Friday, while affirming Moscow's intentions to ramp up the national nuclear arsenal.

Referencing security in the Eurasian region, Putin on Friday said the Kremlin is "ready for a broad international discussion of these key, vital issues  both with our colleagues in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the CIS, the EAEU, BRICS, and with other international associations  European and NATO states, including," according to a Google-translated report by Russian state news agency Tass.

"Naturally, when they are ready for this," the Russian president added, speaking during a meeting with military university graduates.

Earlier in the day, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov had signaled that Russia's willingness to entertain security talks with the U.S. specifically was conditional on simultaneous discussions about the war in Ukraine.

"We are open to dialogue, but to a broad, comprehensive dialogue that covers all dimensions, including the dimension related to the conflict around Ukraine, the involvement of the United States in this conflict," Peskov said, according to a Google-translated Tass report.

His comments came in response to the possibility of holding talks with Washington on nuclear risks apart from the Ukrainian conflict. CNBC reached out to the U.S. State Department on whether the White House would be amenable to conducting negotiations on these terms.

Russia has so far been largely isolated from West-led diplomacy to resolve the conflict with Kyiv  and was most recently not invited to the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, on June 15-16.

Senior Russian security official Dmitry Medvedev separately said in a Google-translated Telegram update that conversations over a new treaty on limiting nuclear firepower with the U.S. are only possible once Washington no longer supplies weapons to Ukraine and blocks its admission to NATO.
An exterior view of the Supreme Court on June 20, 2024 in Washington, DC.

In a closely watched case, the Supreme Court on Thursday denied a challenge to a federal tax on certain foreign investments  but left questions about whether a wealth tax is constitutional.

The case, Moore v. United States, focused on whether a Washington state couple received income from an investment in an India-based company that didn't distribute dividends.

The Moores incurred roughly $15,000 in taxes due to the "mandatory repatriation tax," a one-time levy on earnings and profits in foreign entities. The provision was enacted via the Republicans' 2017 tax overhaul to help pay for the legislation's other tax breaks.

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Some experts believed the Moore case could have implications for future wealth tax proposals, which have called for taxes on "unrealized gains" or profitable assets that haven't been sold.

While the Supreme Court upheld the tax on the Moores, the justices steered clear of the broader debate on whether a wealth tax is constitutional.

"Nothing in this opinion should be read to authorize any hypothetical congressional effort to tax both an entity and its shareholders or partners on the same undistributed income realized by the entity," Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote in his majority opinion.

He emphasized the limited scope of the opinion and how it only addressed the "precise and narrow question" of the Moore's case.
The United States and China resumed semi-official nuclear arms talks in March for the first time in five years, with Beijing's representatives telling U.S. counterparts that they would not resort to atomic threats over Taiwan, according to two American delegates who attended.

The United States and China resumed semi-official nuclear arms talks in March for the first time in five years, with Beijing's representatives telling U.S. counterparts that they would not resort to atomic threats over Taiwan, according to two American delegates who attended.

The Chinese representatives offered reassurances after their U.S. interlocutors raised concerns that China might use, or threaten to use, nuclear weapons if it faced defeat in a conflict over Taiwan. Beijing views the democratically governed island as its territory, a claim rejected by the government in Taipei.

"They told the U.S. side that they were absolutely convinced that they are able to prevail in a conventional fight over Taiwan without using nuclear weapons," said scholar David Santoro, the U.S. organizer of the Track Two talks, the details of which are being reported by Reuters for the first time.

Participants in Track Two talks are generally former officials and academics who can speak with authority on their government's position, even if they are not directly involved with setting it. Government-to-government negotiations are known as Track One.

Washington was represented by about half a dozen delegates, including former officials and scholars at the two-day discussions, which took place in a Shanghai hotel conference room.

Beijing sent a delegation of scholars and analysts, which included several former People's Liberation Army officers.

A State Department spokesperson said in response to Reuters' questions that Track Two talks could be "beneficial." The department did not participate in the March meeting though it was aware of it, the spokesperson said.

Such discussions cannot replace formal negotiations "that require participants to speak authoritatively on issues that are often highly compartmentalized within (Chinese) government circles," the spokesperson said.

Members of the Chinese delegation and Beijing's defense ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

The informal discussions between the nuclear-armed powers took place with the U.S. and China at odds over major economic and geopolitical issues, with leaders in Washington and Beijing accusing each other of dealing in bad faith.

The two countries briefly resumed Track One talks over nuclear arms in November but those negotiations have since stalled, with a top U.S. official publicly expressing frustration at China's responsiveness.

The Pentagon, which estimates that Beijing's nuclear arsenal increased by more than 20% between 2021 and 2023, said in October that China "would also consider nuclear use to restore deterrence if a conventional military defeat in Taiwan" threatened CCP rule.
Springs Skaters meet twice a month to socialize and bond over all things wheels. While the group mostly contains those on roller skates, or quads, inline skaters and skateboarders also show up to the gatherings around the Pikes Peak region, including the skatepark at Memorial Park and Metcalfe Park in Fountain. Scooters and BMX bikers are invited, too.
Polish president to pay state visit to China

Xinhua) 11:16, June 21, 2024

BEIJING, June 20 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Polish President Andrzej Duda will pay a state visit to China from June 22 to 26, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced on Thursday.

During the visit, President Xi will hold talks with President Duda to map out the future development of China-Poland relations, have an in-depth exchange of views on issues of common concern and jointly attend the signing ceremony of cooperation documents, Lin Jian, another foreign ministry spokesperson told a regular press briefing.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, will meet with Duda respectively, Lin added.

Poland is among the first countries to recognize the People's Republic of China. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Poland, and bilateral relations have developed smoothly with fruitful practical cooperation in recent years, Lin noted.

China is ready to work with Poland to take this visit as an opportunity to deepen political mutual trust, expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields, jointly lead high-quality cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative and China's cooperation with Central and Eastern European countries, and continuously enrich the connotation of China-Poland comprehensive strategic partnership, Lin said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Many adults with autism often go undiagnosed because their symptoms are subtle or misinterpreted.

Autism in Adults

Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that can be challenging to recognize in adults. Many people, particularly women, mask their symptoms unknowingly. This masking makes it difficult for others, including medical professionals, to identify the signs.

For instance, Kory Andreas, a 43-year-old from Maryland, was often perceived as overly passionate and struggled with small talk and sensory sensitivities. Her diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) came only in 2023 after she became a counselor for neurodiverse clients and recognized similarities with her patients.

Common Autism Signs in Adults That Are Often Ignored

Difficulty in Social Settings

Adults with autism might find social interactions overwhelming. They may struggle with reading social cues, maintaining eye contact, and engaging in conversations. These challenges often lead to difficulties in forming and keeping friendships. As noted by Dr. Sarah Quaratella, this is because people with ASD process social information differently.

Intense Focus on Interests

People with autism often have deep, intense interests. They may become highly knowledgeable about a particular topic and prefer to talk about it exclusively. This intense focus can sometimes interfere with their daily responsibilities and social interactions. Dr. Michelle Gorenstein-Holtzman highlights how such passionate interests can dominate a person's life.

Sensitivity to Sensory Stimuli

Many adults with autism are highly sensitive to sensory inputs such as lights, sounds, textures, and smells. This heightened sensitivity can lead to discomfort and avoidance of certain environments. Dr. Gorenstein-Holtzman explains that even minor sensory inputs can cause significant internal distress for people with ASD.

Need for Routine and Predictability

A preference for routine is common among adults with autism. Changes in their daily schedule can cause significant stress and anxiety. They might also be particular about the organization of their personal spaces. Dr. Quaratella notes that disruptions to routine can severely impact a person's ability to function.

General Anxiety and Depression

While not symptoms of ASD per se, anxiety and depression often accompany autism. Navigating a world designed for neurotypical people can be exhausting and lead to mental health challenges. The constant effort to conform to societal expectations can result in what is known as autistic burnout, characterized by emotional exhaustion and heightened stress.
Movies are the modern eras foremost method of escapism  people watch them explicitly for the purpose of stepping into a world thats prettier, more exciting, or at least less dressed than our own. In fact, there are entire theme parks that make media conglomerates extremely rich on the promise of bringing such worlds to life. People will stand in line for hours, do improv with sweaty college students in cosplay and pay $10 for a butterbeer to pretend to visit the fictional universe of their dreams.

Ironically, though, if they were actually transported to those worlds, theyd probably pay anything to leave within hours. Think about it: Get stuck in the middle of one supervillain showdown as a bystander, and you might be looking at a life-altering injury. Get hit with one stray spell, and now you think youre a chicken. Catching monsters twice your size and training them to fight is a bigger responsibility than you want, believe us.

And so, when user Farscape12Monkeys asked r/AskReddit, What fictional world would actually be a nightmare if it really existed?, those Redditors who have thought about it listed the universes theyd be desperate to escape.

21 Pokemon

20 Halo

19 The Marvel Cinematic Universe

18 The Wizarding World Advertisement Advertisement

17 24

16 The Promised Neverland Advertisement Advertisement

15 Touhou Project

14 Dragon Ball Advertisement Advertisement

13 Fallout

12 The Stand Advertisement Advertisement

11 Minecraft

10 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Advertisement Advertisement

9 The Purge

8 Avatar Advertisement Advertisement

7 Alice in Wonderland

6 Plague Inc. Advertisement Advertisement

5 Gundam

4 Berserk Advertisement Advertisement

3 Silent Hill

2 Middle Earth Advertisement Advertisement
Donald Sutherland passed away Thursday at the age of 88, an actor so respected for his dramatic acting that he won an honorary Oscar in 2017. Hell be remembered for Klute, Ordinary People, Dont Look Now and even The Hunger Games, but dont forget that Sutherland played key roles in three of the most influential comedies ever.

1 M*A*S*H Take a seat, Alan Alda  Sutherland was the original Hawkeye Pierce in Robert Altmans epic satire. Sutherland didnt get along with the director, but who cares? It was Altmans first hit-it-out-the-park classic, a movie that thumbed its nose at the Vietnam War by pretending to be about the Korean War. Elliott Gould and Donald Sutherland are two genuinely funny actors, wrote Roger Ebert in his four-star review. They dont have to make themselves ridiculous to get a laugh. Theyre funny because their humor comes so directly from their personalities. Why did M*A*S*H hit so hard? Sutherland, who improvised much of his part, says the film captured the feelings of an awful lot of people about an awful lot of things.

2 The Kentucky Fried Movie In a comedy full of unknowns created by a ragtag group of wannabe funny guys from Wisconsin, Sutherland stood out as a name people recognized. The actors role was small but impactful  a clumsy waiter who signals Armageddon by face-planting into a multilayer cake. The film was written by first-time screenwriters David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker, three guys who would use celebrity throwaway cameos to even greater effect in Airplane! and the Naked Gun series. The films director? That was another newbie named John Landis, a dude with only one low-budget horror movie under his belt. The underground success of the independent Kentucky Fried Movie got him hired for a bigger project. Speaking of which Advertisement Advertisement
In the 2000s, McConaughey was on a rom-com roll. There was The Wedding Planner with Jennifer Lopez in 2001. How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days with Kate Hudson in 2003. Failure to Launch with Sarah Jessica Parker in 2006. And Ghosts of Girlfriends Past with Jennifer Garner in 2009.

No wonder the guy had chapped lips. But at some point, enough is enough. Ive usually zigged when I felt like Hollywood wanted me to zag, Matthew McConaughey told Glen Powell in a recent conversation for Interview. I wanted to try some other stuff.

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The problem was, Hollywood wanted him to keep smooching starlets. There are worse dilemmas. But McConaughey wasnt getting roles outside of Handsome Rascal Who Needs the Love of A Good Woman and eventually, he surrendered. The only solution he could see was to leave Hollywood for two years.

Dude, it was scary, he confessed to Powell. I had long talks with my wife about needing to find a new vocation. I think Im going to teach high school classes. I think Im going to study to be a conductor. I think Im going to go be a wildlife guide. I honestly thought, I stepped out of Hollywood. I got out of my lane. The lane Hollywood said I should stay in, and Hollywoods like, Well, fuck you, dude. You should have stayed in your lane. Later.

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I wasnt going to pull the parachute and quit the mission I was on, he said. But it was scary because I didnt know if I was ever going to get out of the desert.

Powell agreed that it was a risky move, noting he knew plenty of stories about people who stepped out of Hollywood and then all of a sudden the train left and it never came back.

Somehow, it came back for McConaughey, who returned to win an Oscar for Dallas Buyers Club. A check of his recent IMDb confirms that somehow he left the Kate Hudsons of the world behind. He offers no real explanation about how he made the shift, other than taking a break from the roles that pigeonholed him.

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Just in case you think McConaughey is getting too precious about his artistic ambitions, it sounds like hes okay with some of his pop-culture baggage. I never became cynical about playing my greatest hits, he laughed. People go, Alright, alright, alright. Then, I suppose you hate that.

Im like, No, I know the author.
The Biden administration has reached a decision to block all new sales of Kaspersky Labs products and services on US soil over allegations of the Moscow-based cybersecurity companys strong ties to Russias nation-state cyber offensives.

According to a statement issued by the Department of Commerces Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), Kaspersky will generally no longer be able to, among other activities, sell its software within the US or provide updates to software already in use.

Todays Final Determination (.is) the result of a lengthy and thorough investigation, which found that the companys continued operations in the United States presented a national security risk  due to the Russian Governments offensive cyber capabilities and capacity to influence or direct Kasperskys operationsthat could not be addressed through mitigation measures short of a total prohibition, BIS said in the statement.
Versa Networks chief development officer Kumar Mehta said, There is a huge amount of interest for unified SASE from enterprises today, with many organizations looking for a managed solution. The demand is primarily driven by the need to support hybrid work and digital transformation.

This aligns with trends noted by analysts at DellOro Group. In the first quarter of this year, they saw a 23% growth rate for SASE revenue, the 17th consecutive quarter with over 20% growth. And the unified SASE market, DellOro said, especially appeals to the mid-market thanks to its simplified networking and security integration.

Enterprises realize that legacy networks and security architectures are inadequate and cannot provide the necessary security and performance in a user and application environment that has become highly distributed, interactive, and mobile across the internet, said Mauricio Sanchez, senior research director, enterprise networking and security at DellOro Group, in a blog post. As a result, enterprises are thinking differently about networking and security. Instead of considering them as separate toolsets to be deployed once and infrequently changed, the problem and solution space is conceptualized along a continuum in the emerging view.
Swatting definition

Swatting is a form of criminal harassment in which attackers try to trick police forces into sending a heavily armed strike force to a victims home or business. The term takes its name from SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics), a highly trained police unit that is called on to respond to active shooting scenes. The Los Angeles Police Department, in a press release about a specific swatting attack that occurred in August 2020, provided this definition of swatting: The term swatting refers to someone who places a false emergency call for service, generally of a nature which causes a large police response.

The LAPD goes on to add that the swatting practice is dangerous and places the community and first responders in harms way. For some attackers, this is the thrill and the purpose of swatting: to cause the victims to fear for their lives as armed police charge into their homes, often with little warning. The police often believe that they themselves are facing an armed and dangerous adversary, producing a volatile scenario that can result in property destruction, injury, and death.

How swatting works

Swatting follows a basic and fairly simple pattern. The attackers place a call to a law enforcement agency local to their victim. They report that a particularly gruesome crime or imminent threat is taking place or about to take place at the victims home; often, theyll claim a hostage situation is in progress, and, to make sure the responding law enforcement team is particularly primed for conflict, they may imply that one of the hostages has already been killed, or is about to be.
So thank you, Keir Starmer, for finally being so clear. Thanks for telling the world what we really needed to know. The Labour leader told BBC Question Time last night that he wishes Jeremy Corbyn had won the last election. He wishes Corbyn were now Prime Minister.

I have to tell you I find that admission utterly terrifying. It shows that we may now be only days from electing a Labour government that has simply no idea how dangerous the world is today, and how important it is that Britain is strong in the face of our adversaries.

Keir Starmer genuinely believes that in the past five years, Jeremy Corbyn would have made the right decisions as Prime Minister for the security of Britain and the planet.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer speaks during a BBC Question Time Leaders' Special in York on Thursday night

Really? Does Starmer seriously believe that?

If so  and he has not so far distanced himself from his remarks  Starmer has revealed something truly spine-chilling about the putative Labour government that he wishes to lead. Let us leave aside the mad teenage Marxist economics espoused by the Corbynistas.

I always thought that Corbyn was, wittingly or unwittingly, a tool of Moscow

Draw a veil over Corbyns disgusting judgement that the Hamas terrorists were his friends. Thats right, Starmer, we would have had a government, under your preferred Prime Minister, that deemed the authors of the October 7 massacre to be friends of this country.

It is an astonishing and sick-making thought, but let us temporarily banish it from our minds. Let us focus for a moment on one issue alone: the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

This is the biggest and most savage war in Europe since 1945, in which tens of thousands of totally innocent Ukrainians have been killed  and are being daily bombed in their homes  because of the criminal folly and miscalculation of one man: Vladimir Putin.

The Ukrainians have defied pre-war predictions, and are fighting back heroically. They will win, mainly because they have the courage of lions, and unlike Putins miserable conscripts they are fighting for their homes and their country. They will win, because at root this is a war for independence, and wars for independence tend only to end one way.

By endorsing a Corbyn premiership, Starmer has cast serious doubt on Labours commitment to Ukraine

They will also win because they now have fairly sizeable  if woefully intermittent  access to Western weaponry; and that is a noble thing. I am proud of the role that the UK played, right from the start, in ensuring that the equipment started to flow.

It is absolutely right that we should support Ukraine  and indeed we should be doing more  because they are fighting for all of us. The Ukrainian fight for freedom is the cardinal struggle of the early 21st century: it is the fight that will determine the direction of the next few decades, because the Ukrainians are defending principles that matter universally.

They are fighting for democracy, the rule of law, for freedom of speech  and they are fighting against the tyrannical changing of borders by force. To judge by the polls and the flags I still see in their windows, most people in the UK believe that, after more than two years of conflict, the Ukrainians have an unimpeachable moral right to defend themselves and their families.

Most people believe that the UK was and is right to support them with weaponry. But that is emphatically not, repeat not, what Jeremy Corbyn thinks.

Keir Starmer with Jeremy Corbyn when Corbyn was leader of the Opposition in 2019

I always thought that Corbyn was, wittingly or unwittingly, a tool of Moscow. That appeared obvious to me during the Salisbury poisonings, when he seemed to query the blatant evidence before us, and to suggest  satirically  that Russia might not have been responsible for using Novichok on British soil. Even so, I was amazed at his response to Putins February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Jeremy Corbyn called for an arms embargo  of Ukraine. Pouring arms in isnt going to bring about a solution, he said on TV. He said it again and again  that the UK and other Western powers should not be arming Ukraine.

So let us imagine that Starmer had got his way, and Corbyn had actually been running this country in February 2022. It would have been Jeremy Corbyn sitting there in those crucial early meetings  of the G7, of Nato, of all the key groupings of Western powers.

It would have been the CND-backing member for Islington North giving fellow world leaders the benefit of his views, at the very moment when the West had to decide the key question: were we effectively going to let Putin get away with it as we had in 2014, when he invaded Crimea and the Donbas?

Or were we going to help the Ukrainians  not least by giving lethal weaponry? Remember, at the time the idea of giving military assistance was still controversial. The French and the Germans were leery, to put it mildly. People warned of escalation, and the risk of Nato countries being dragged into a conflict with Putin.

There was really only one P5 country  with a seat on the United Nations Security Council  that was actively campaigning to support the Ukrainians in their fight, and that was the United Kingdom. If Corbyn had been there  as Starmer wishes  there would have been zero UK leadership on this issue.

The UK would not have been the first big European country to send lethal weapons to the Ukrainians. On the contrary, we would have been the backmarkers, the foot-draggers, the most reluctant of all.

We would not have sent the 2,000 Belfast-made NLAW shoulder-launched anti-tank missiles, which were so useful to the Ukrainians in the first few weeks. We would not have helped set up the operation at the Ramstein air base in Germany, which began to coordinate the growing Western support.

Of course not: the UK under Prime Minister Corbyn would have been trying to veto the whole thing. With Corbyn, and without UK drive, I am afraid the Western response would have been very different, and much worse  perhaps decisively worse  for the people of Ukraine. And yet that is what Starmer wants.

That is the hideous outcome he endorses by saying he wishes, even now, that Corbyn had been the man in charge at the time of the invasion.

We have now only 13 days until what could be a climacteric election, in which the British people may decide  purely out of frustration  to turn sharp Left, when so many other electorates are going centre-Right, and when Western democracies face such a challenge from the autocracies.

From now until polling day, someone needs to challenge Keir Starmer, and ask him whether he sticks with his remarks to BBC Question Time.

Does he really believe that we needed Corbyn to lead us during the Russian invasion of Ukraine? Because if he does, then he must accept that Britain would have instantly forfeited any leadership role, and would have left the Ukrainians to their fate. That is a terrible, terrible admission.

By endorsing a Corbyn premiership, Starmer has cast serious doubt on Labours commitment to Ukraine, and Britains commitment to Ukraine under Labour. He has reminded us that so many in his party still genuflect to their past, and display a weird deference to Moscow  as though Moscow was not now run by a kleptocratic gangster.

Starmer must now be put remorselessly on the spot. He must take it back. You cant back Corbyn and back Ukraine at the same time. Unless he revokes his endorsement of a Corbyn premiership, and makes explicit his support for Ukraine, Keir Starmer is simply not fit to be Prime Minister.
Eight months ago, former Conservative MP Nadine Dorries detonated a time bomb in the world of politics with the publication of her book The Plot: The Shocking Inside Story Of Who Really Runs Britain.

From deep-throat interviews with 50 individuals close to the seat of power, she compiled a shocking story of how the Movement, a small group of men, most of them unelected and some totally unknown outside a tight Westminster bubble, has been operating at the heart of the Conservative Party over the past 25 years and controlling its destiny.

She named the key players as Michael Gove, former Downing Street adviser Dominic Cummings and Tory party official Dougie Smith, plus a sinister individual, called 'Dr No' for legal reasons, who wields particular influence.

She accused them of bringing down Iain Duncan Smith as party leader, creating havoc for Theresa May, undermining Liz Truss  and, most heinous of all, the political assassination of Boris Johnson, ousted from Downing Street despite being a sitting prime minister with an 80-seat majority.

In the paperback version of The Plot  due out on election day, July 4  she reveals more shocking allegations of mischief and misbehaviour at the very top of our political system, beginning with the inside story of the senior civil servant whose actions dented her supposed impartiality.

Sue Gray began as Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff on September 4, 2023, after resigning from her post as Cabinet Office Second Permanent Secretary

If any proof were needed that Boris Johnson was the victim of a stitch-up, it was the astonishing news that Sue Gray  the supposedly impartial senior civil servant and Partygate inquisitor whose report into lockdown activities at No 10 had pointed an accusatory finger at him  was to become the Labour Party's chief of staff, appointed by its leader, Sir Keir Starmer.

Her own party affiliation was revealed  not just a Labour apparatchik, but taking up the most powerful position in the party having come straight from the heart of the administration under the Conservative Government.

One moment she was being trusted to investigate, faithfully and impartially, allegations that were potentially highly damaging to the Tory Government. The next, she was Chief of Staff to the leader of Her Majesty's Opposition. Something was very wrong.

The announcement of her new position meant that for the rst time, the scales fell from the eyes of that gathering herd of Conservative MPs who had ganged up on Boris and forced him to resign.

Blinking in the daylight, they now said to each other, 'How did that happen? She's a senior civil servant who is supposed to be wholly impartial, but now she is in cahoots with Labour. Have we been had?'

The answer is yes. The anti-Boris media and the Remain establishment were determined to use Partygate to get him out, but it was her report that provided the pretext  the vehicle the plotters against Boris needed for the nal blow to bring him down.

Since The Plot was first published, I have discovered just how that worked up close. It is, I can reveal to you, an extraordinary story.

The fact is that from the moment she was commissioned to investigate so-called parties in Downing Street, she was in an immensely powerful position. Since 2017 she had had a reputation as the 'woman who runs the country' because of her role in the Cabinet Office as director general of the propriety and ethics team. She reported directly to the Cabinet Secretary and had a wide-ranging remit over the operation of ministerial offices, public appointments and government ethics.

Now, in deciding what really went on in Downing Street, she knew that Parliament  and the public  were going to have to rely on her word alone.

For anyone who wanted to notice, the signs of where her political sympathies lay had long been there. Her chief legal adviser was a Remain-backing Labour QC who repeatedly tweeted that Boris should be removed. Her PR, a former special adviser to Michael Gove, had tweeted anti-Boris comments day after day.

She was also a close friend of Michael Gove, who stood against Boris for the party leadership in what was deemed an act of betrayal. (She had controversially advised Gove in 2011 that conducting government business via his private email would make such emails exempt from freedom of information requests. It was absurd advice, which was investigated following complaints by the information commissioner and overturned.)

Gray has always denied she had a secret agenda to topple Boris. But the circumstantial evidence is overwhelming. First, she lulled him into a false sense of security  just as she told all witnesses who contributed to the Gray report, wrongly, as it turned out, that they would not face any penalty as a result of what they said or the information they gave her.

Time after time, she came to see Boris to inform him about the progress of her inquiry. She repeatedly told him she did not think there was anything to justify police involvement. She stressed that she had found absolutely no evidence or heard any testimony that suggested Boris knew about any rule-breaking.

Boris Johnson is photographed leaving No10 for PMQs after the Sue Gray report into Partygate had been published in 2022

She gave the rm impression, in fact, that she thought it was all a fuss about nothing.

However, on their second meeting, she said suddenly: 'Once this is all over, I hope you will make me permanent secretary in the Northern Ireland office, Prime Minister.' Unclear what was happening, an amazed Boris thought he was being offered a fudge  and pretended he had not heard.

It was only later he discovered that Gray  the daughter of Irish parents and with a known affection for the region, having even run a pub in the border town of Newry on a career break from the Civil Service in the 1980s  had been turned down for the job. She was possibly blocked by Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, which one can assume is where her renowned dislike of Case began.

After this meeting with Boris, things turned nasty and her report eventually declared that she had heard about events in Downing Street that really should not have taken place. None of which, of course, were known to Boris.

In the transcripts of her interviews she can be seen asking witnesses if the PM had any knowledge of gatherings, even when the question seems totally irrelevant, as though trying to drag Boris in. The witnesses always said: 'No.'

It cannot be stated often enough that Boris was as surprised as everyone else to learn that so-called parties had taken place in No 10 when he had left Downing Street for his official country residence, Chequers.

Sue Gray's appointment as Labour Party's Chief of Staff exposes her party affiliation, Nadine Dorries writes

Rather than Boris, it was the job of Case and Helen MacNamara, the deputy cabinet secretary at the time, to ensure that officials working in No 10 behaved well. They may not have known exactly what was going on in the dozens of meeting rooms where officials were working round the clock against Covid, but neither did Boris.

Yet Case was not ned for being at the so-called birthday party in June 2020 for which Boris was ned. But, of course, Case was never the target. That was always Boris.

As for Sue Gray, as second permanent secretary at the Cabinet Office, she was wandering the same corridors of power. She was in charge of monitoring the conduct of the entire building  ministers, advisers and civil servants. Was she aware of rule-breaking at the time? She says no, and neither was Boris.

What's more, though a government ethics tsar, she had never been hostile to the occasional workplace relaxation, as can be seen in photographs of her using the very karaoke machine she later complained about in her report. Boris had no idea of the machine's existence.

Given what we now know, it is not surprising that much of Gray's report has crumbled under scrutiny. From mountains of testimony  much of it unsubstantiated gossip  she cherry-picked details that she knew would enrage MPs and voters.

She reported three claims in particular: that a female adviser at No 10 had vomited; that there had been sticuffs between a pair of male advisers; and that there had been an incident of rudeness to staff. None of these allegations had been put to the individuals concerned, and none could be substantiated.

In the case of the vomiting female, the woman had been ill, not drunk, and Gray begrudgingly struck it out. But by then it was too late  the Government had been badly damaged from within, and Labour's purpose served.

At some stage, Gray began talks with the Labour Party about a job with the kind of power she evidently craved. She had been blocked from the job she wanted in the Northern Ireland office. Did she suddenly see the possibility of a deal with Labour  and if so, when?

Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak were pictured at a gathering in the Cabinet room for the then prime minister's birthday in 2020, when the country was in lockdown

A source in the know told me: 'Sue Gray was holding transition talks with Labour for a long time before she left the Civil Service. They were authorised by Michael Gove. Boris was completely unaware they were taking place.' But timing is not really the issue. What is extraordinary is that she should at one moment be posing as an impartial civil servant and the next be revealed as a passionate Labour Party supporter.

After the publication of The Plot last November, I found myself being abused and discredited. 'I'm being called a conspiracy theorist,' I said to 'Moneypenny'  the high-level source of inside material I'd met in great secrecy and codenamed after M's secretary in the James Bond novels  when she called me about it.

'Lots of journalists are mocking the notion of the Movement,' I told her. 'Dominic Cummings has been chipping in on Twitter, like it never existed and was something I've made up.'

Gove damned it (and me) with faint praise, saying I was an excellent author of ction  which I am. A very successful writer, I have 3million sales from 17 novels to my name.

But The Plot was wholly factual. I was confident that everything I'd written in the book could be backed-up. I knew that to my cost, as my agent and my publisher's lawyers were ruthless about making sure.

And now Moneypenny had a jaw-dropping extra piece of information for me, which I desperately wished she'd told me earlier because it signalled that what I had written was no fantasy of mine but rooted in historical fact.

Here was evidence that the Movement's manipulation of the Tory party went back nearly a quarter of a century, when this cabal of disrupters tried to destroy Norman Tebbit, one of the legendary Conservative figures under Mrs Thatcher. He had been seriously injured in the IRA's bombing of the Grand Hotel, Brighton, and his wife permanently disabled.

Moneypenny recalled a diary piece Tebbit had written for The Spectator in 2002 in which he claimed moves were being made to throw him out of the party 'for being white, male, heterosexual and old'.

Tebbit, it transpired, had once, as party chairman, tried to shut down the Federation of Conservative Students  which had been the starting point for the Movement and included Gove, Cummings and Smith amongst its ranks and associates. The FCS resembled a group of anarchists by arguing for the total liberalisation of drug laws, incest and paedophilia.

Tebbit had written in his Spectator article: 'A bunch of weirdos, some in high office in the party, have been planning a confrontation [with me] to demonstrate that the Conservative Party has embraced cool Britannia, youth, the gay world and ethnic minorities and rejected Thatcherism, tax cuts, families, and tradition.' Then in a letter published in The Daily Telegraph, he wrote that 'individuals within Central Office, MPs and three leading journalists have coalesced into one organisation styled 'the Movement'.

Other newspaper reports from the time also referred to 'the Movement'  this grouping we were now being asked to believe was just a fantasy created in my little head.

I told Moneypenny: 'Cummings and journalists who present themselves as serious and established have been out there ridiculing the very notion of the Movement, whereas all along they knew full well it was a factual thing.'

It didn't take a genius to work out that Gove, who was working at The Times until 2005, was one of the journalists Tebbit was referring to. To my mind, Gove is the glue which binds the Cummingses, the Smiths, the whole Movement cabal together in their actions to create disharmony, disruption and damage the Conservative Party. They depend on a high level of political churn at the top of the party in order to wipe clean any historical memory of their behaviour and actions.

As stated in The Plot, in a televised interview with Laura Kuenssberg, Cummings admitted it had been their intention to remove Boris from power within days of him having won his extraordinary, once-in-a-generation victory in the 2019 General Election, with the biggest Conservative majority in 40 years and a larger percentage of the vote than Tony Blair secured for the Labour landslide in 1997.

Long before he first placed his foot across the No 10 threshold as prime minister  with a mandate in his own right  the plot was afoot to remove him. When it succeeded and he stepped down, I remember a young Tory MP saying to me in despair: 'What the f*** have we done?'

He was close to tears. He knew it, the world knew it. The Conservative Party had gone quite mad and appeared to be in the middle of a collective nervous breakdown.

Has Gove's 22-year quest to burn the party to the ground finally come to fruition? I fear he may have succeeded, and the cost to us all is immeasurable. He thought if he stabbed Boris in the back, MPs would flood to him and back him as leader; instead Theresa May became prime minister by default.

Gove's political cack-handedness gave us a zombie parliament and very nearly, at the 2017 election, Jeremy Corbyn as prime minister. By no stretch of the imagination was that clever.

Labour MP Jess Phillips shows the Sue Gray report to the House of Commons in January, 2022

From the outset, the media trashed my book. The reviews were mostly as bad as they could possibly be and they kept

coming. The Times ran nine articles attacking me in just ten days, including not one but two 'reviews' which read like hit jobs.

And it wasn't just The Times. The client relationship that so many senior journalists have with political briefers meant that I was getting it from all sides.

On the day the book was published, during an interview on the BBC's Today programme, Nick Robinson commented that he had actually seen the gold wallpaper in No 10. This was a reference to the gleefully told story that an extravagant Boris and wife Carrie had splurged thousands of pounds on gold wallpaper for the prime minister's flat in Downing Street.

But Robinson couldn't possibly have seen it because it never existed. Incredulous, I tried to respond and ask him where, but my microphone had been cut off. He called me straight after the interview and admitted that he hadn't actually seen any gold wallpaper at all. Robinson just thought that the red-painted wall he had seen in No 10 looked like some expensive wallpaper.

No matter how hard those accused in the book and others tried to damn it, they couldn't stop people buying it. Or the fact that, one by one, specific predictions in The Plot, and the fact that the Tory party had shot itself in the foot by ousting Boris and was on a dramatic downward spiral under Rishi Sunak, were coming to pass.

By-election results sent the message straight from the doorsteps of voters into No 10. Those people who had voted for Boris to be prime minister were about to punish MPs for not doing more to support him.

As the polls continued to nose-dive and reality set in, people in the party were starting to realise that Rishi wasn't the answer to a question few of them had ever really understood. I remember how many of the young and new MPs in the 2019 intake who voted to remove him would tell me they'd done so because Brexit was done.

'That's what got Boris elected,' they would say. 'There's no big idea to vote for now, is there?' I was appalled by their naivety. 'Who is it you want in his place, then?' I would ask, and was invariably answered with a shrug of the shoulders.

They got Liz Truss, then Rishi, and the self-satisfied smiles disappeared from the faces of those MPs who had plotted against Boris, to be replaced with a rictus grin as a grim mood gripped the party in Westminster.

All those MPs who argued that Rishi would grow into the job were now having to admit it has been like watching a lump of sugar slowly dissolve in a warm drink.

Panic set in as they grasped that the deed was done, that nothing they could do or say would change anything in the minds of party members or the voting public. No policy, no clever announcements.

The desperately bad local election results in May 2023 (and 2024) and the by-election results had not been a blip. Tory MPs were on political death row. The result in my old constituency of Mid Bedfordshire was the biggest by-election loss in history. On the doorstep, it was Boris that people were asking for. They were angry he had been removed.

It was a painful irony that the only seat the Conservatives won was Uxbridge, Boris's old seat.

Throughout the toppling of Boris, Rishi's team insisted they were keeping their distance from Dominic Cummings, the most visible architect of Boris's downfall. Yet I have learnt that despite all of his denials, Rishi was still talking to Cummings.

In July 2023, they had a secret meeting at Rishi's Yorkshire home, where he had just installed a swimming pool. But it was the diminutive former banker who was out of his depth as he begged Cummings to come to his rescue and reverse his sinking fortunes.

Over dinner, he contemplated bringing Cummings back into the centre at No 10.

It was an absurd plea, since it was the Mekon-like Cummings whose machinations had helped to bring the party to its knees.

Cummings, never known for owning his mistakes, proved reluctant to come to Rishi's rescue. One can only imagine how self-satisfied he felt, like a cat toying with a mouse.

Cummings had left his mark on Rishi, who was now keen to show Cummings he was listening to him, in order to keep him on-side. But as every party leader before Rishi could attest, that was an impossible task.

Client journalists reported that there had been no conclusions reached at the meetings. None of Cummings's demands met. Yet, this was surely not the case. The tete-a-tete between Rishi and Cummings resulted in the announcement of a plan to ensure the teaching of maths in schools up to the age of 18.

This was a long-standing obsession of Cummings which he had written about in the past, and to follow that, Rishi delivered yet another long-standing demand of his and scrapped the northern leg of HS2.

In desperation the party then turned to William Hague  a former party leader and an avid promoter of Rishi who had argued in broadcast interviews and in his column that Boris should be replaced by Rishi  to lure him back into government. Hague declined the offer, but suggested David Cameron instead, who was appointed Foreign Secretary.

Photographs and footage of Cameron and Rishi together made for painful comparisons. Rishi, weedy and insubstantial, trousers too short, with a xed grin and gleaming teeth, stood next to the self-assured former prime minister, who appeared as though he had never left.

I gave interviews based on the theory that Cameron was the fall-back, a leader from the House of Lords who could be popped in if Rishi was removed, or if the party was wiped out in a general election.

Right on cue, Dominic Cummings tweeted that there should be odds on Rishi ying off to California and Cameron being installed as prime minister. It was just weeks since Cummings had been swimming in Rishi's pool in Yorkshire.

Hague's contribution was to pen an article for The Times  'Beware of Boris the incredible sulk'  as he warned that Boris continued to be a nightmare for No 10. Boris, meanwhile, was keeping a low profile and had barely spoken to the media.

The Sunak squad are terrified that Boris will try to get a seat and are doing everything possible to ensure that doesn't happen, including letting it be known that if he tries for a seat, he will be blocked.

This amuses me. Boris won't come back. Why would he destroy his own unbroken record of winning big for the Conservatives? Why would he want to be associated with their catastrophic mess and failure?

Boris will be keeping well away, if he has any sense. If MPs need his help when out campaigning, then Rishi needs to pick up the phone and ask him. I'm not even sure the answer would be yes.

The paperback edition of The Plot: The Shocking Inside Story of Who Really Runs Britain by Nadine Dorries, featuring brand-new material, will be released on July 4 (10.99, HarperCollins). To order a copy for 9.89 (offer valid to 13/07/24; UK P&P free on orders over 25) go to www.mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937.
This weekend, over 50,000 people will march through London under the banner Restore Nature Now, calling for greater protection for wildlife and the natural environment.

For the first time, respected charities like the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the National Trust will be joined by the new wave of eco-zealots from Extinction Rebellion and and other radical protest groups.

It's billed as 'family-friendly, peaceful and legal'. If that comes to pass, I will be amazed. For every non-confrontational marcher, there will be a small group of radicals who passionately believe direct action is the only way to save the planet from destruction.

Climate change and looking after the land has become a mainstream concern: three-quarters of voters think that politicians should be doing more to reduce the decline of our natural habitat.

Just Stop Oil protesters have sprayed Stonehenge with orange paint in their latest stunt

Regulations which lowered the threshold for police intervening in protests were unlawful, the High Court has ruled. Pictured: A Just stop oil protest at London Bridge in June last year

Members of the public were seen trying to prevent the protesters by dragging them away

Dame Judi Dench will be in attendance at the march this weekend

In spite of committing to a green future, Rishi Sunak approved 100 drilling licences for new North Sea oil sites a year ago, and last November he announced more would be granted in the future.

Labour will be unable to revoke these licences, but say no more will be granted if they are returned to power.

Tree-hugger Dame Judi Dench and musician and clean water campaigner Fergal Sharkey will be marching alongside the usual luvvies like Emma Thompson.

They'll be joined by supporters of protest group Extinction Rebellion, who closed roads and bridges in a series of dramatic sit-ins during 2022 - and whose founders have been convicted for their costly and disruptive actions.

Dr Grace Bradbrook of ER climbed onto the entrance of the Department of Transport in London in 2019 and caused 27,500 worth of damage by smashing a glass window.

In court, she claimed she had 'permission from God' for her actions and declared 'god help us, life is being actively killed'. The judge was unmoved and handed her a suspended sentence and community service last November.

In April, after a four week trial, ER co-founder Roger Hallam was convicted (with other supporters) of plotting to use drones to close Heathrow airport down- and although the policing of his protest was estimated to have cost 1 million, he too only received a suspended sentence.

According to Dr Bradbrook, the court system was on trial, not herself. This is the mindset of radical protestors, a long way from the intelligent and considered approach of Chris Packham and Feargal Sharkey who have spent the last few years taking on politicians for their failure to protect the environment.

Emma Thompson joins the Extinction Rebellion protest at Oxford Circus on April 19, 2019 in London (above). She will also be marching this weekend

The two Just Stop Oil eco-zealots who were arrested today after smashing the protective glass on the Rokeby Venus painting at the National Gallery have had previous run ins with the law. Pictured: Harrison Donnelly (left) and Hanan Ameur (right) at the National Gallery today

The protesters struck the painting around 11am this morning using what the gallery has described as 'emergency rescue hammers', the gallery says

Last year, ER announced they would be changing tactics, moving away from the controversial road and bridge blocking that had made life hell for thousands of commuters and ordinary citizens just trying to go about their daily lives.

This could be because further direct action could see the founders in jail, but also because the public were sick and tired of the disruption and the cause was in danger of gaining new supporters.

That message hasn't reached Just Stop Oil, the other environmental group who will be marching this weekend, calling for an end to fossil fuel usage by 2030.

This week they sprayed orange dye over Stonehenge, a world Heritage site- and were roundly condemned by politicians on all sides. In the past they've chucked tomato soup at a Van Gogh in the National Gallery, and tried to wreck the case protecting the Magna Carta in the British Library.

Just Stop Oil isn't interested in being reasonable. Headline-grabbing stunts are their way of working - yesterday two idiot women supporters cut through the fence of the private jet compound at Stansted airport, searching for Taylor Swift's plane.

Failing to find it, they sprayed another two orange instead. One told the press she was a Swiftie, unhappy at the superstar's well documented use of polluting private jets.

When these protestors do get charged and end up in front of a judge, it generally results in small fines, suspended sentences and the imposition of community work.

There will be fancy dress protests and placards outside the court (welcome publicity religiously covered by the BBC and the other main news outlets), and a few months later it will happen all over again.

In 2022, I wrote about the 'tofu-eating twerps' who chucked soup all over Vincent Van Gogh's glorious painting of Sunflowers in the National Gallery.

Since then, there has been vats of orange flour, paint and smoke, culminating in the attack on Stonehenge, a fragile piece of history.

One of the protestors said after the stunt: 'What is worth more, art or life?' before they glued themselves to the wall

One of the protesters, Phoebe Plummer, 21, is led away by police following the political stunt

This was vandalism, nothing less. One idiot from JSO remarked 'it's just cornflour, it'll wash away when it rains'. In their eyes governments are allowing oil companies to destroy our environment so drastic action is needed, even if it means damaging precious carvings which have been untouched for 5,000 years.

I beg to differ. Escalating protests to this level will not achieve your goal any quicker. It's not clear why such vandalism isn't severely dealt with. Although the government passed the Public Order Act in 2023, there has been little change in the level of punishment and certainly no reduction in the number of protestors.

The police still seem powerless to impose radical action to close down most demonstrations, even though the new law is supposed to make it easier. By last December, the Met reckoned they had spent 20 million alone dealing with JSO protests.

Since then, Lord Walney produced a review into tackling political violence, and even suggested banning organisations who use criminal acts to cause serious disruption- but nothing has been implemented.

As for the big march to save our trees and fields and butterflies and streams- it's naive to think that the two groups of concerned protesters- the peaceful (Chris Packham, Dame Judi and the birdwatcher and farmers) and the confrontational (ER and JSO)will ever be able to work alongside each other in the long term.

I want clean water to swim in, and countryside where birds are protected and butterflies not poisoned by fertilisers. But I don't agree with chucking paint over national monuments. It's the actions of angry toddlers.

I hope that Saturday's March is a peaceful event. Sadly, I doubt it will have any effect. Does Labour even have a policy for the countryside?
When there's a family falling out, there's always at least one person caught in the middle and in the case of the royals, it seems to be Princess Eugenie who's trapped between the warring factions of the Windsors.

Thanks to her diplomatic nature, the 34-year-old mother-of-two appears to be in the centre of a tricky web of loyalties.

This week Eugenie displayed her close bond with her cousin Prince William at Royal Ascot, sharing a sweet moment as he seemed to tease her.

Her Ascot appearance has seemingly shown her united in arms with the Middletons, even exchanging a lengthy conversation with the Princess of Wales's mother Carole.

But Prince Andrew's daughter is also known to be an ally of Prince Harry, appearing in his bombshell Netflix documentary at the end of 2022, which widened the rift between himself and the rest of the family.

Her husband Jack Brooksbank even enjoys a 'bromance' with the Duke of Sussex, 39.

However, that didn't stop her dad Prince Andrew facing criticism in his nephew's biography Spare, where Harry referenced his uncle's fall from grace due to his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein a 'shameful' episode.

Princess Eugenie is caught between the warring factions of the Windsors because of her close relationships with so many family members

Moreover, Eugenie's mother Sarah Ferguson has in the past made thinly-veiled barbs at Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, hinting they can't 'have it both ways' when it comes to being a part of the royal circle.

Not only is Eugenie close to Harry but she also enjoys a friendship with his wife Meghan that pre-dates the Suits star meeting the royal.

Then there's the matter of Queen Camilla, and future Queen Kate, who Eugenie must show due deference to as senior royals.

But Kate has famously fallen out with Eugenie's close pal Meghan, and on top of all that - one of Eugenie's colleagues at Hasuer & Wirth is the niece of Queen Camilla; who Harry compared to a 'wicked step mother' in Spare.

Here, FEMAIL takes a look at the tricky balancing act Eugenie has to play...

KEEPING UP WITH THE FUTURE KING AND QUEEN

Princess Eugenie doesn't seem to be taking sides between the Sussex and Wales families, and has increasingly been showing her close bond with the Middletons.

Meghan's falling out with the Princess of Wales over Princess Charlotte's bridesmaid dress in the run up to her wedding to Harry and comments over Kate's 'baby brain' fuelled by 'hormones' have been well documented.

But despite the rift, and being close with the Sussexes, Eugenie is refusing to let the rift get in the way of her natural friendships.

This week, she has attended Royal Ascot with her sister Princess Beatrice, Zara Tindall and, tellingly, Prince William and the Middletons.

Princess Eugenie was also seen deep in conversation with Carole Middleton before the races got underway.

Prince William (right) shared a joke with his younger cousin, Princess Eugenie (left), on the second day at the Royal Ascot

The Prince of Wales grinned playfully at Eugenie who attempted to cling onto her thick pink tassel

Princess Eugenie was also seen deep in conversation with Carole Middleton before the races got underway (pictured)

The royal opted for a white knitted midi dress and pink fascinator for the occasion while mother-of-three Carole was elegant in a blue Self-Portrait gown.

Eugenie also shared a laugh with her cousin Prince William, showing her ability to get on equally well with both brothers.

Kate herself, who has been receiving chemotherapy for an undisclosed form of cancer since February, was not present - however, she did attend a spectacular Trooping of the Colour ceremony over the weekend.

Eugenie was even seen enjoying a chat with William's wife Kate at the Coronation concert last May.

A @cambridgepower Twitter repost of an Instagram story by influencer Laura-Ann (@all.thats.pretty) zoomed in to show the pair in deep conversation as they got ready for the music.

'Loads of messages about Eugenie and Catherine not interacting,' the royal fan remarked. 'Can report they definitely did!'

Despite the brotherly rift, Eugenie doesn't appear to be taking sides - and was even seen enjoying a chat with Kate, 41, at the Coronation concert on Sunday

A @cambridgepower Twitter repost of an Instagram story by influencer Laura-Ann ( @all.thats.pretty) zoomed in to show the pair in deep conversation as they got ready for the music

Princess Eugenie was all smiles as she walked into the Abbey with her husband Jack in December 2022, around the time Prince Harry and Meghan's Netflix documentary was released

Eugenie and her sister also showed their support for Kate as they arrived for her Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey while Harry and Meghan's Netflix documentary was being released.

In a post about the event on her social media, Eugenie shared a number of photos of herself and her husband, as well as snaps of the Princess, writing: 'It was an honour to celebrate HM's life at the Princess of Wales' carol concert, Together at Christmas.'

PRINCE HARRY VERSUS THE ROYALS

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shared previously unseen photographs as they partied with Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank on Halloween in their Netflix documentary

In another snap from the big night out, Meghan could be seen posing for a playful selfie with Princess Eugenie

In one snap, Meghan and Harry could be seen crowding in for a photograph with Eugenie (pictured)

While Prince Harry has invited his fair share of criticism following 'Megxit' and the resulting rifts which followed - marked by explosive interviews and a tell-all memoir - Eugenie has been fiercely loyal to her cousin.

Despite being born five years apart, Harry and Eugenie often spent time together as children thanks to the friendship between their mothers Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson, who would pack up the children for joint family holidays.

Eugenie was the only member of the Royal Family to feature in personal photos shared in Harry and Meghan's Netflix documentary released last year in a testament to their closeness.

One sweet snap of Andrew's daughter in the second episode shows the pair out for a bike ride along a palm tree-lined stretch of pavement in California.

The programme also featured previously unseen photographs of the Duke and his wife partying with Eugenie and Jack on Halloween.

Eugenie was also the first member of the Royal Family to publicly visit Harry in California, two years after he quit senior duties.

The Duchess of Sussex, 42, is also said to be close to Eugenie, having been introduced to her before she had even met her royal beau, through their mutual friend Misha Nonoo.

Meghan previously revealed how she and Harry hit the town incognito in Halloween costumes with his cousin and her partner for a final night out before their relationship was revealed on the Ellen DeGeneres show.

And in the first episode of the Harry & Meghan series on Netflix, the couple shared a number of photographs from the big night out.

In one snap, Meghan and Harry can be seen crowding in for a photograph with Eugenie and Jack, as well as another friend, Markus Anderson who is the global membership director for Soho House.

Eugenie and Harry were also spotted chatting up a storm at the 2023 coronation - an undeniably tense affair for the Duke of Sussex

A photo of Jack and Harry at their seats seemed to show them enjoying a conversation during the ceremony - demonstrating their 'bromance'

Harry's friendship with Jack could be a result of the bond he shares with Eugenie, which is said to be very close

Eugenie and Harry were also spotted chatting up a storm at King Charles's Coronation in May 2023 - an undeniably tense affair for the Duke of Sussex.

Royal experts predicted that Prince Harry might have a lonely time at his father's big day, with members of The Firm choosing not to speak with him.

However, as photos from the event show, Harry, who attended without his wife, had at least one good friend on hand.

Images from the proceedings showed Harry beaming, as he appeared to share a joke with Eugenie's husband as they stood outside the Abbey.

Meanwhile, when inside, Harry was seated in the third row between Jack and Princess Alexandra, the cousin of the late Queen who has not worked as a royal for 10 years.

They were joined by Eugenie and her sister Beatrice as well as her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.

A photo of Jack and Harry at their seats also seems to show them enjoying a conversation.

And a lip reader claimed that Harry even moaned he was 'fed up with the way they treat me' as he chatted to Jack.

It was not clear who was the target of his fed up complaint, although there has been speculation he could have been speaking about the Royal Family, following ongoing tensions over his decision to quit as a working royal and publish a highly critical memoir.

Speaking of his friendship with Jack in the aforementioned book, Harry said that he and Meghan were 'deliriously happy' when he and Eugenie got married - adding 'and for ourselves, selfishly, since Jack was one of our favorite people'.

In addition, Eugenie and Jack have spent time living in the Sussexes' Windsor home, Frogmore House, with son August, now three.

The Duke has also confirmed that he and Meghan announced the Duchess' first pregnancy at his cousin's wedding.

STANDING BY HER FATHER

Britain's Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Britain's Princess Eugenie of York arrive at Westminster Abbey in central London on May 6, 2023

In his memoir Spare, Harry became the first royal to publicly criticise Prince Andrew - Eugenie's father - labelling the Jeffrey Epstein affair 'a shameful scandal'.

No one in 'The Firm' had spoken out about allegations that the Duke of York twice sexually assaulted Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she was trafficked by the late disgraced financier Epstein.

Andrew settled her lawsuit in 2022, accepting no liability, and has always denied any wrongdoing. But Harry brings up the affair in his book.

When Meghan asked if the Royal Family might cut their security after they quit Britain for North America, he said there was 'no way', considering his uncle still gets protection.

Harry told her there was an 'obligation' and an 'implicit promise' to protect them.

Pushed by Meghan if it would ever be removed, he said: 'Never. Not in this climate of hate. And not after what happened to my mother.'

The Duke of Sussex added: 'Also, not in the wake of my Uncle Andrew.

'Despite being embroiled in a shameful scandal, accused of sexually assaulting a young girl, no one had even suggested removing his security.

'People have had plenty of reasons to complain about us, sex crimes weren't one of them.'

It's no surprise that the revelation may make the familial relationship a difficult one to navigate for Eugenie - with her mother having publicly declared her support for her ex-husband multiple times, and the two appearing closer than ever in recent months.

The Duchess said she will always stick by her ex-husband just as he has always supported her in a previous appearance on This Morning.

She told then-presenters Holly Willoughby and Joel Dommett that the family 'symbolises no judgment, kindness and moving forward'.

Fergie discussed the importance of 'walking forward as a unit' amid difficult times, and criticised the 'sewer' of social media for being unkind.

'It's Beatrice, Eugenie and I. We are a family unit,' she said.

'My girls stand for service, they stand for holding and maintaining very, very hard jobs and they're mothers and they're public figures and they do charity work.

She continued: 'They're extraordinary examples of princesses out in service, which is what their grandmother taught them and what I taught them, with humility.

'So I think the York family's unit symbolises no judgment, kindness and moving forward - to make people sit up and go "stop".

'Stop all this believing what you read... walk forward as a unit.'

Fergie added of Andrew: 'Remember, I've been through difficult times and he's always stood by me.'

FERGIE'S THINLY-VEILED CRITICISMS

As the Coronation geared up, Eugenie's mother Sarah Ferguson has said royal family members 'can't have it both ways' if they choose to leave The Firm amid ongoing tensions with the Sussexes

As the Coronation geared up, Eugenie's mother Fergie said Royal Family members 'can't have it both ways' if they choose to leave The Firm.

The Duchess of York spoke candidly in an interview amid speculation whether Harry and Meghan, who stepped down as senior members of the royal family, would attend the King's coronation.

Speaking to The Independent, she opened up about her own experience of divorcing Andrew.

In the interview, in which she did not directly refer to Harry and Meghan, she said: 'Well, you can't have it both ways. You can't sit on the fence and keep one foot in and one foot out. You're either in or out.'

However, when asked directly about Prince Harry at the end of the interview with the Independent, she said she 'doesn't believe in judging anyone' and asked for 'a little more kindness.'

And later appearing on Loose Women, she repeated her comments - saying she didn't expect an invite to the Coronation because 'you can't have it both ways'.

Speaking to the Loose Women panelists, she revealed that her plans for the coronation were to 'watch it on the telly', having not received an invite.

'I always love to watch it on telly because you hear a lot on telly, the commentator's always good and then all the family come back,' she explained.

'Because remember I am divorced from him so I don't expect... you can't have it both ways. You can't be divorced and say, "I want this".'

COLLEAGUES WITH CAMILLA'S NIECE

Awkward family connections is one thing - but things get even more complicated when work is involved.

But Eugenie faces further complication because until recently she worked with Ayesha Shand - Queen Camilla's niece - at the Hauser & Wirth art gallery in Mayfair.

Ayesha was Associate Director of special projects and Eugenie is a Director. In 2023 she moved to New York after five years at the gallery.

It perhaps makes for awkward water-cooler chat when one considers that the Princess's favourite cousin once compared Ayesha's aunt to a 'wicked step mother' in his memoir.

In Spare, he wrote of Camilla: 'I have complex feelings about gaining a step-parent who I thought had recently sacrificed me on her personal PR altar.'

In Spare, Harry wrote of Queen Camilla: 'I have complex feelings about gaining a step-parent who I thought had recently sacrificed me on her personal PR altar'

Ayesha (pictured in March 2022) attended the Coronation of her aunt and King Charles at Westminster Abbey, and was spotted on the live broadcast as she joked about her 'five seconds of fame'

Harry also said that he and William had 'begged' their father not to marry Camilla because they feared she would become their 'wicked stepmother'.

In another blow, Harry described Camilla as 'dangerous' and a 'villain' who left 'bodies in the street' in her desire to change the public's perception of her.

Ayesha attended the Coronation of her aunt and King Charles at Westminster Abbey, and was spotted on the live broadcast as she joked about her 'five seconds of fame'.

She is the daughter of Camilla's late brother Mark Shand, who passed away in 2014 aged 62. Mark was a noted conservationist and author, and left the legacy of his own charity, Elephant Family.

Her mother is his ex-wife Clio Goldsmith, a French former model and actress who Mark married in 1990.

Ayesha was raised largely in Rome as an only child, with her father dashing back and forth between his travels. However, their family returned to London in 2008, with her parents divorcing in 2009, but remaining good friends.

She holds a master's degree in the history of art from the University of Edinburgh.

AWKWARD EXES

FEMAIL reveals the remarkable similarities between Ellie Goulding and Princess Eugenie as they embark on motherhood for the first time within weeks of one another

Ellie Goulding and Princess Eugenie are believed to have grown a close friendship after years of partying, basket ball games, and holidays together, having been introduced at Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2011.

The pair have been snapped courtside at the New York Knicks, partying at London's Chiltern Firehouse and on group trips abroad.

In 2019, they went on holiday to Jordan, where they were joined by model Karlie Kloss, Eugenie's sister Princess Beatrice and designer Misha Nonoo, also a friend of Meghan Markle.

The friends were also closely involved with one another's weddings, with Eugenie performing a reading for Caspar and Ellie, while the pop star sang at the royal's wedding reception.

Their friendship has since evolved after both became mothers.

Pop sensation Ellie previously revealed how her royal friend helped her get ready for motherhood ahead of the birth of her son Arthur, explaining that she 'gave her excellent advice like where to find the best pregnancy pillows to get a good nights sleep.'

Speaking about Eugenie, the mother-to-be said: 'She's been a great friend throughout this. We've talked a lot about pregnancy and she's been inspirational because she just takes everything in her stride.'

In 2023 Prince Andrew's daughters were spotted on a star-studded day out in London as they took their children to Arthur's second birthday at the Bluebird Cafe in Chelsea.

Meanwhile, a gushing Ellie was also seen enjoying a chat with the Prince and Princess of Wales at the 2022 Earthshot Prize in Boston

Prince William talked with Ellie Goulding backstage after The Earthshot Prize 2022, in Boston, Massachusetts

In addition to her friendship with the York sisters, Ellie has also been linked to Prince Harry.

In 2016, the then freshly single Duke had split with ex-girlfriend Cressida Bonas and was spotted getting very close to Ellie at the Audi Polo challenge in Coworth Park, Berkshire.

Onlookers said the pair were 'all over each other' and one even claimed they appeared to share a kiss under a blanket.

The insider, who is close to Harry's social circles, said that after the polo there was a late night party where picture-taking was banned to put the celebrities at ease.

'Harry was really going for it after the polo  he was drinking and dancing,' the source told The Sun.

'T hey were part of a wider group including Tom Hardy but Harry and Ellie only had eyes for each other all night  they spent a lot of time sitting together under blankets.

'They were seen having a kiss before Harry had to go because he was playing polo the next day. Ellie left about five minutes later.'

To make matters mor complicated, Ellie performed Your Song for the first dance at Prince William's 2011 wedding to Kate
Whether you take your husbands name or not is becoming an increasingly controversial issue for brides-to-be  who have to consider both their feminist principles and the potential wrath of their betrothed (and new in-laws).

But with more than four in ten marriages now ending in divorce, theres another conundrum to consider; if you did take your husbands surname, at what point do you give it up?

Spice Girl Geri Halliwell changed her name to Horner when she wed Formula1 boss Christian

Spice Girl Geri drew attention to the issue this month when she referred to herself by her maiden name Halliwell in a promotional film for Dior. The move came months after her husband, Formula 1 boss Christian Horner  whose surname she adopted when they married in 2015  was accused of inappropriate behaviour by a Red Bull employee, an allegation that was dismissed in February. So what signal does changing your name send, and when is the right time to do it? As soon as you decide to split? Once the divorce is finalised? Or, is it now your name, and nothing will take it from you?

Here, five divorced writers share their stories . . .

SAMANTHA BRICK: I USE HIS NAME, BUT BRICK WILL BE ON MY GRAVESTONE

Writer Samantha Brick, pictured, lives with her second husband Pascal. They have been married for 17 years.

Growing up with my surname meant I had to develop thick skin. Trust me, Ive heard all the funnies about Brick.

Yet in my 20s and working in the TV industry, I finally realised what a gift it was. Its unique, making me pretty unforgettable, too. So when I married for the first time aged 31, my instinct was not to take my husbands name.

Yet Ive always been a daddys girl. When he said he thought I ought to take on my former husbands surname out of tradition, I did.

And boy, I wish I hadnt. By the time Id changed my name on all essential official documents (and yes, it took more than a year), I was trotting out of the marriage and had to change it back again  and pay for the privilege. What a palaver that was.

I genuinely believe no woman should retain her former husbands surname, no matter how long the marital union. Please! Have some self-respect and remember you were a complete woman before you walked down the aisle, and you can be again. And yet here I am, married for a second time, using my French husbands name, Rubinat, in everyday life.

I do so simply because here in France it means Im treated as an equal. I know, what century are we in? Yet using it means I garner more respect as a married woman  and avoid being met with the usual suspicion afforded to expats that an Anglo-Saxon name would generate.

Plus, being my husbands third wife  and ten years younger than him  using my marital name as soon Id said I do rubbed out all notions of me being some sort of flighty blow-in.

But Brick still looms large in my professional life and will absolutely be on my gravestone. If Id been lucky enough to have children, I would have stressed the importance of continuing my family name.

In Europe most families take on both parents surnames  and its a tradition Britain should adopt tout de suite.

LIZ HODGKINSON: 35 YEARS ON IM STILL USING MY MARRIED NAME

Writer Liz Hodgkinson, above, is divorced. Currently single, she has two sons.

In 1988, when I separated from my husband after 23 years together, I naturally wanted to remove all traces of the marriage and start again.

One thing I was particularly keen to do was to revert to my original name, Garrett. But it was not to be.

By this time I was reasonably well known as a writer, and editors threw up their hands in horror when I suggested it, pointing out that nobody would know who I was. Married at 21, I had used it for my whole working life.

In the end I succumbed and, reluctantly, retained my husbands name, which I do to this day. My one, somewhat pathetic, concession to singlehood was to change my handle from Mrs to Miss on all official documents.

Now, more than 35 years after the divorce, I have carried my ex-husbands surname for far longer than I carried my own  and I bitterly regret not holding my ground.

Back then, people would soon have got used to my new appellation. Yet now, when it really is too late to change it, the name still feels grafted on, slightly alien and not reflecting my current identity.

When our sons were little, it was convenient for us all to have the same name, but they are now in their 50s, with adult children of their own.

Hodgkinson, I feel, belongs to my distant past, not my present. Today, I have no particular connection to my ex, yet I have this lingering, and ever-potent, reminder that we were once attached.

Had I ever remarried, I would certainly not have changed my name a second time.

What if my ex had remarried, you may ask? Well, given we split because he dedicated himself to the spiritual life, there was never even the tiniest spectre of there being two Mrs Neville Hodgkinsons.

To this day, I envy my female friends who were sensible enough to hang on to their maiden names through thick and thin. I applaud my two daughters-in-law, who have kept their birth names and never even considered changing them.

EMMA PARSONS-REID: HIS EX-WIFE STILL USES IT WHICH DRIVES ME MAD

Emma Parsons-Reid, pictured, lives with third husband Kevin, who has been married once before. She has one daughter from her first marriage.

On marrying my third husband Kevin in 2006, I chose to double-barrel his surname with my own.

What I didnt know then was that his ex-wife had kept his name. I only found out when my daughter happened to look her up on social media. Suffice to say, I wasnt pleased that she bore my husbands name.

Yes, they were married for 17 years, but she was the one who left him. Why would you want to cling on in this way? Especially given they didnt have children, so its not like she was doing it in order to have the same name as her kids, nor was she a high flyer in the corporate world.

There was no need to stay latched on to him in this way; it just gives the world the impression you are still in love with your ex. I cant fathom it.

Today, 18 years on from mine and Kevins wedding, it makes me livid that she is still  24 years after they split  using what is my rightful name.

If she lived miles away then perhaps Id mind less. But as we all live in the same small Welsh town, I cant help but feel like its a reminder that she was with him first.

I certainly never countenanced keeping either of my ex-husbands names.

I married my first aged 21 and double-barrelled our names. Where I live it is the norm to take on your husbands surname, but Ive always kept Parsons because I didnt want to completely give up my identity.

Plus, the double barrel sets me apart from everyone else. Because its a bit posh-sounding, people do treat you with a bit of deference; I do get better service everywhere.

My second husband had a ridiculously long surname. Sadly Emma Parsons-Chamberlain wasnt going to wash (Id never get it on a cheque) and that time around I dropped Parsons.

Yet on both occasions, when we divorced I went back to Parsons the same day. After all, his surname would belong to his next wife. Im no hypocrite!

FLIC EVERETT: I ONLY CHANGED MY NAME FOR MY THIRD WEDDING

Author Flic Everett, pictured, lives with her third husband Andy and has one child from her first marriage.

I may be the first married woman to change my name because the new one makes me laugh. Felicity Bowden-Smith is surely a woman who rides to hounds, bellows at gundogs and invites the vicar for a spot of sherry.

Its not me, a journalist who used to go clubbing till 5am. But since I married my third (and last) husband Andy, in May 2022, its technically my identity.

Yet, jokes aside, my choosing to take Andys name is particularly significant. For though this is my third marriage, its the first time Ive taken a husbands name.

I embarked on my first marriage aged just 21. My career as a writer was beginning and, as a fiery young feminist, I didnt want to change my name to my husbands. I like my own, and he didnt object (perhaps he didnt dare).

However, to show willing, I did change it for banking purposes, a decision that caused no end of administrative bother when we split up three years later.

I reverted to Everett for everything as soon as we broke up, and was glad to be maintaining the family name (Im an only child and my son has his dads surname).

When I married again, aged 29, I still had no intention of changing my name. For the 18 years we were together I remained Everett, and assumed Id keep it for ever.

When we broke up, I was so relieved to have kept it  at least that was one thing I didnt have to worry about changing.

But having met Andy in my 40s, it seemed odd for us to have different surnames for the sake of it. Im still a feminist, of course, but I no longer see a name-change as giving in to the patriarchy. Its more about being a unit.

I wanted to be a family with him, rather than a pair of individuals who share a house. Wed been together for eight years before we married and I felt having the same name would complete our later-life union.

So I decided on a compromise: Ill stay Everett for work, and go full Lady of the Manor double-barrelled for private matters.

Ive no regrets  although its perhaps a decision best made in later life, when youre pretty sure the marriage will go the distance.

Murder on Stage by F.L. Everett (9.99, Bookouture) is out now.

TESS STIMSON: BETRAYED AND GRIEVING, I DITCHED IT

Author Tess Stimson, pictured, is divorced from her first husband, with whom she has two sons. She now lives with her second husband.

When I married my first husband, Brent Sadler, I didnt want to change my name to his. Partly because hed been married twice before  I didnt want to become the third Mrs Sadler  and partly because Id already published my first novel under my maiden name.

I was proud of that achievement and didnt want my identity swallowed by his. But I did want to carry my husbands name in some way, because I was also proud of being his wife.

So I changed my surname to Stimson Sadler (no hyphen, too clumsy). Six years later, when Brent and I separated, I immediately dropped his name again.

I didnt wait for the divorce, which wasnt finalised for another two years. Brent had already moved in with his new girlfriend and, every time I saw his name written next to mine on my bank statement or credit card, it was like a stab to the heart.

To me, my husbands name was part and parcel of being married to him and it was just too painful to keep using it. It reminded me of everything Id lost.

And it felt like a lie when we were no longer together. Names mean something and my married name was now a hollow sham.

Within weeks of our separation I contacted the bank, updated my medical records, and applied for a new passport in my maiden name.

In a whirlwind of grief, I threw out everything that reminded me of him, including his name. Now I wish Id handled our break-up better  but, at the time, I just felt so betrayed and angry. When I married my second husband, I didnt even consider taking his name.

I understand why some women choose to keep their married names. But honestly, I couldnt wait to jettison mine. Like the man himself, it had never truly belonged to me, and I was happier off without it.
If you build it they will come - and French-inspired bakery Maman did just that.

Owners Elisa Marshall and Benjamin Sormonte launched their first Manhattan location in 2014 for $250,000, and it has now turned into a successful chain that has a whopping 34 locations, which brings in $50 million a year.

Elisa, who shares two children with husband Benjamin, always had a 'small little dream' to open a 'cute, quaint, cozy coffee shop and cafe.'

They relocated from Spain, where they had been running a beach club, to New York City in 2012, ready to make their dream come true.

The couple gathered their savings and after borrowing some cash from family and friends, they spent $250,000 in total to start their dream cafe.

Maman owners Elisa Marshall and Benjamin Sormonte opened their first Manhattan location in 2014, which has turned into a bakery chain that has a whopping 34 locations

'It was one of the biggest financial risks we could ever take,' Elisa told CNBC.

'We really took quite a risk in pouring not only all of our money into it, but also all of our time and energy.'

Elisa and Benjamin decided to call their bakery Maman, which is French for mother - an ode to the two best cooks they know, their own moms, with the menu featuring foods they ate as kids.

French cuisine was a big inspiration, with Elisa growing up in the Toronto area, and Benjamin in southern France.

'[Maman] evokes the feeling of warmth and home, which is really the vibe that we have been going for,' Elisa explained.

At first, the couple were working in the Maman's SoHo location 80 hours per week, with no days off - arriving at 6am to bake and leaving at 8pm after preparing for the next day.

Their hard work paid off; with CNBC reporting that Maman made about $47.2 million in sales in 2023, and hope to bring in $65 million by the end of 2024.

The bakery was fortunate enough to be featured in an article in New York Magazines Grub Street just a month after opening, with the publication praising the new cafe for selling 'NYC's most impressive new chocolate-chip cookie.'

The feature brought in a steady stream of customers, and they raked in $2 million in revenue after their first year in business.

The bakery was featured in New York Magazine's Grub Street a month after opening, with the publication praising the cafe for selling 'NYCs most impressive new chocolate-chip cookie'

Elisa and Benjamin decided to call their French inspired bakery Maman - which is French for mother, an ode to the two best cooks the know, their own moms

They also have event spaces in their cafes, and say events and catering make up 20 per cent of their revenue, as well as selling apparel and merchandise

After working together for the first three years, the couple made the decision to bring on investors - including a $1.5 million investment from Benjamin's brother - and hire additional staff.

By 2020, the couple had expanded to open multiple locations across North America and Canada, with CNBC reporting that they struck a deal with a private equity firm TriSpan for funding, worth between $10 and $20 million.

This helped them expand their chain, opening cafes in Florida, Washington, D.C., Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Knowing the importance of having an edge over their competition, Elisa and Benjamin, who CNBC reported still own a controlling 50 per cent of company, have event spaces in their cafes - and they said that events and catering make up 20 per cent of their revenue.

They have also ventured onto apparel and merchandise, including a Maman cookbook, shirts and hats.

'My vision for Maman is much more than just a brick-and-mortar, four-wall restaurant,' Elisa shared.

'I really see us turning into a multifaceted lifestyle brand.'
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are 'irrelevant' to the remaining royals and are 'running out of time' to rejoin the family, Richard Eden has told Palace Confidential.

Speaking on the Mail+'s weekly talk show, Richard Eden, the Diary Editor of the Daily Mail, claimed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are now 'not wanted' by the royal family.

In particular for Charles's youngest son, 39, 'time is running out to come back while his father is still King'.

Before Harry and Meghan made their move to the US in 2020, Richard said Harry was always 'central' to royal plans.

'We saw that at Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee in 2012 where it was just Harry and his brother, Camilla and Charles and of course, the queen,' he explained.

Speaking on the Mail+'s weekly talk show, Richard Eden, the Diary Editor of the Daily Mail (pictured), claimed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are now 'not wanted' by the royal family

'Charles thought that when Harry had a family, they would be carrying out engagements and sharing those duties with William so, I think time is running out.

'If Harry wants to come back at any stage, he needs to do it while his father is still King.'

The Diary editor added that the Prince of Wales would be far more reluctant to allow Harry back into the family, should he try, than their father.

'I really think that when Prince William is King, I can't see him letting Harry come back and have a role again,' he stressed.

'They are irrelevant now, they are just not wanted as part of the monarchy.

'Maybe there could be some radical change but it's hard to see.'

The comments come after an 'embarrassing' faux pas from Meghan, who lives in Montecito with Harry and their two children.

Meghan landed herself in hot water for over shadowing the announcement that the Princess of Wales would appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony at Trooping the Colour last weekend.

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle pictured in May this year attending an event in Nigeria

During this week's episode of Palace Confidential, Richard Eden described the Sussexes as 'irrelevant'

Just hours before Kate Middleton appeared at the event, her first appearance in several months since her ongoing cancer treatment, a friend of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex posted a picture of Megan's new jam and dog biscuits.

Meghan recently announced she would be selling a range of luxury home goods from her brand American Riviera Orchard.

Nacho Figueras, a polo player who is a friend of the Sussexes, shared a picture online of Meghan's new jam alongside a picture with his dog and a packet of biscuits made by the brand.

Richard explained that the awkward overshadowing was a result of their 'marketing campaign' where the former actress sent out goods to friends and influencers to post but 'you never know when they're going to post so it's completely out of your control'.

Figueras is among 50 or so people believed to have received a PR package from the fledgling lifestyle brand soft launched by the Duchess earlier this year.

'It's very embarrassing when it's just before Catherine's reappearance at Trooping Colour, it can look very pointed,' the expert said.

Rebecca English, Royal Editor at the Daily Mail, added the the jam incident was 'clumsy' but explained by the fact that the lines of communication between the Sussex' and working royals is 'not existent'.

'People don't tell them things because they don't trust them,' she claimed.

'It just shows how wise Queen Elizabeth was in having a half in, half out job.'

This year marks the second year that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were not invited to the annual celebration, which celebrates the birthday of the reigning monarch.

It comes after claims that Prince Harry, who did not meet with his father during his whirlwind visit to London last month, turned down an invitation by His Majesty to stay at a royal residence during the trip because he had 'security concerns'.

Meghan and Harry first attended Trooping the Colour together in 2018, one month after their royal wedding in Windsor. They once again appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony in 2019, weeks after welcoming their first child.
An Australian man visiting Melbourne was baffled by a 'terrifying' yet legal way to turn right at a busy intersection.

Corey, who goes by @coreyyy.exe on TikTok, described the horror of the dreaded 'hook turn' which 'nothing prepares you for.'

He pulled up to a busy Melbourne intersection and to his horror saw a car in the middle of the intersection on his left waiting to turn right, prompting him to ask 'what is going on here?' in disbelief.

Hook turns were first introduced onto Melbourne's streets in 1965 and intended to give priority to trams at intersections so that they weren't delayed waiting for cars to turn right.

Confused, Corey asked followers whether this type of turn is normal practice anywhere else in Australia or internationally.

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Hook turns were first introduced onto Melbourne's streets in 1965 and intended to give priority to trams at intersections so that they weren't delayed waiting for cars to turn right

'This should be like a theory test in other states,' he said.

One former Sydneysider responded that even after living in Melbourne for 10 years she still hates hook turns, with another person 'hyperventilating' just reading about the scenario.

The notorious Melbourne driving quirk had many detractors.

Hook turns involving turning right from the left lane

'I have driven all over the world - even in the middle of Rome but no way am I driving in central Melbourne because of the hook turns,' one said

'I have driven all over the world - even in the middle of Rome but no way am I driving in central Melbourne because of the hook turns,' one said.

However a driver from Melbourne disagreed saying he loves hook turns and goes out of his way to seek them out while driving.

Many people in the comments shared their shock at suddenly finding themselves caught in a hook turn and not knowing what to do.

There are only 49 hook turn intersections in Melbourne but people agreed that it felt like there were more.
Prince William was left embarrassed when his mother Princess Diana surprised him with a very unconventional birthday cake for his 13th birthday.

The Prince of Wales is celebrating his 42nd birthday today and his family are no doubt making a fuss of him at their home Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, with the usual thoughtful touches such as a gift, perhaps some celebrations and a birthday cake to enjoy together.

But no doubt this year William will be enjoying a rather more tasteful sweet treat than his 13th birthday cake, which former Buckingham Palace chef Darren McGrady revealed was ordered by Diana to be delivered to Kensington Palace.

Chef Darren McGrady previously told The Daily Mail: I found it in the fridge. It was in the shape of a huge pair of boobs with equally huge nipples.

'I was astonished and went through to the butler and asked whod ordered it. He told me it was the princess and it was a surprise for William.

Princess Diana (left in 1995) famously loved to play pranks on sons Prince Harry (centre) and Prince William (left)

'At the time the prince had a super-crush on the models Christy Turlington and Claudia Schiffer.

'The princesss hairdresser Sam McKnight knew them and he got them to come to the palace for his birthday tea  and that cake, of course. William was bright red all afternoon.

The late Princess of Wales was known for her cheeky sense of humour and couldn't resist that chance to embarrass her eldest son on his milestone birthday.

Prince William may have been left red-faced by the incident, but his brother Prince Harry - who was just 10 at the time - found the prank hilarious, sharing his mother's cheeky sense of humour.

Prince Harry liked the prank so much that he reportedly asked for the same cake for his own 13th birthday.

While Princess Diana might have organised William's elaborate birthday cake, the chances of her attempting to bake one herself would have been very slim, with McGrady revealing that she was a 'terrible cook'.

'She couldn't cook, the Princess was a terrible cook, she really was,' he told HELLO! 'I would actually leave food for her.

'I worked Monday to Friday and I'd leave food in the refrigerator for the weekend, like stuffed peppers, she loved those for a weekend lunch.

Prince William's 21st cake, given to him on Thursday June 19, 2003, during a visit to the Anglesey Food Fair in north Wales, was much less risque

Princess Diana (centre in 1995) shared a close bond with her sons Prince William (left) and Prince Harry (right)

'I actually put cling film on with a little sticky note with a number two on it, and that told her to put it in the microwave and press two. That's just how bad she was at cooking!

For William's 13th birthday, exactly 29 years ago, his mother didn't stop at a saucy cake.

Knowing her son had a crush on iconic '90s supermodels like Claudia Schiffer, Christy Turlington and Naomi Campbell, his mother invited them over to wish William a happy birthday - and the flustered teenager 'pretty much fell down the stairs in response'.

'I was probably a 12 or 13-year-old boy who had posters of them on his wall. And I went bright red and didn't know what to say and sort of fumbled and I think I pretty much fell down the stairs on the way up,' The Mirror reports William revealed in a 2018 documentary.

'I was completely and utterly sort of awestruck. But that was a very funny memory. That sort of childish, fun element really came out when she [Diana] was spending time with us.'

Prince William will likely be celebrating his 42nd birthday with his wife, the Princess of Wales, and their three children, Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte. Pictured at Trooping the Colour 2024

Prince William went on to say how his mother 'was a total kid through and through'.

He continued: 'All I can hear is her laugh in my head. That sort of crazy laugh of where there was just pure happiness shown on her face.'

Tributes have been pouring in for Prince William on his 42nd birthday, with the King leading the messages with a sweet throwback snap on social media.

The caption, which sits alongside a archive photo of Prince William as a baby with his father Charles, reads: 'Wishing the Prince of Wales a very happy birthday!'
The Royal Family has wished the Prince of Wales a happy birthday with a sweet throwback snap on social media.

A young William is pictured in an adorable black and white shot with his father, King Charles III, to celebrate his eldest son turning 42.

The caption reads: 'Wishing the Prince of Wales a very happy birthday!'

However, the festivities come the day after watching England's disappointing Euro 2024 draw against Denmark.

William, president of the FA, was pictured alongside Denmark's King Frederick as the two teams went head to head in Frankfurt, Germany, with the Three Lions drawing 1-1 in their second match of the tournament.

A young William is pictured in an adorable black and white shot with his father, King Charles III, to celebrate his eldest son turning 42

The National Museum of the Royal Navy also followed with a heartfelt post, praising his 'significant stint with the Royal Navy as part of his military training completing a two-month attachment in 2008'.

'His diverse training has been a testament to his commitment to serving his country,' it added.

The heir to the throne has faced a challenging 12 months with both his wife the Princess of Wales and father the King diagnosed with cancer.

His birthday came amid speculation the future king supports his father's slimmed-down approach to the monarchy and that William may not want his younger children Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis to be working royals.

The Daily Mail's Richard Eden wrote that a friend of the prince told him: 'When the older members of the family retire, His Royal Highness won't be inviting anyone else to become working royals.

'It remains to be seen if he will even want his two younger children to be working royals.'

Ten-year-old Prince George is a future king, but third in line Charlotte, aged nine, and fourth in line Louis, six, are spares to the heir and, therefore, not expected to ever reign as monarch.

Kate returned briefly to the public limelight at Trooping the Colour last weekend with William and their three children.

The Royal Family has wished the Prince of Wales a happy birthday with a sweet throwback snap on social media

The National Museum of the Royal Navy also shared a snap of the Prince, with a birthday greeting

William was seen with his mother-in-law Carole Middleton (pictured) this week on a day out at Royal Ascot, where he took to a carriage with Queen Camilla for the traditional procession along the course

Pictured: William presents winning trainer Aidan O'Brien with an award after The Prince Of Wales's Stakes on day two of Royal Ascot 2024

But in a personal message to the nation, the princess revealed although she is making good progress, she is 'not out of the woods yet'.

Kate told how she has good days and bad days and is facing a few more months of chemotherapy treatment.

William was seen with his mother-in-law Carole Middleton this week on a day out at Royal Ascot, where he took to a carriage with Queen Camilla for the traditional procession along the course.

Prince William Arthur Philip Louis of Wales was born second in line to the throne at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, at 9.03pm on June 21 1982.

He weighed 7lb 1 1/2oz and was the first-born son of the then-Prince and the Princess of Wales.

At just nine months old, he accompanied his parents on a six-week official visit to Australia and New Zealand, which was a break from tradition with royal babies usually left at home in the care of nannies.

Kate returned briefly to the public limelight at Trooping the Colour last weekend with William and their three children

His mother Diana, who separated from the then-Prince of Wales in 1992, died in a car crash in Paris in 1997.

William was just 15 and his brother Prince Harry 12, and the boys walked behind the princess's coffin during a funeral procession through London.

The prince met Kate Middleton at St Andrews University in Fife, and the pair married at Westminster Abbey in 2011 after dating for more than eight years.

They welcomed their first child George in 2013, followed by Charlotte in 2015, and then Louis in 2018.

After the death of the late Queen in 2022, the King announced in his first historic address that he had made William and Kate the new Prince and Princess of Wales.

Prince William Arthur Philip Louis of Wales was born second in line to the throne at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, at 9.03pm on June 21 1982. Pictured with his mother and brother Harry in 1989

His mother Diana, who separated from the then-Prince of Wales in 1992, died in a car crash in Paris in 1997. Diana, Charles and William pictured in 1982

Since his last birthday, William has launched Homewards, his five-year drive to eradicate homelessness in six locations around the UK. Pictured as a baby, with his mother

William has a long-running rift with his brother the Duke of Sussex, with no sign yet of a reconciliation.

The fallout originated ahead of Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex, and worsened after the accusations Harry publicly levelled at his brother in his double tell-alls: his Netflix documentary and his memoir Spare.

When their joint friend the Duke of Westminster married in Chester Cathedral earlier this month, William acted as an usher, but Harry mutually agreed with the groom that he would not attend.

Since his last birthday, William has launched Homewards, his five-year drive to eradicate homelessness in six locations around the UK.

His other key focuses include raising mental health awareness, and the Earthshot Prize, his 50 million environmental competition to find solutions to help the planet.
Trooping the Colour is one of the highlights of the royal calendar - and the high point of the day for many fans is when members of the family take to the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the RAF flypast.

Every year, thousands of well-wishers gather around the Palace hoping to catch a glimpse of the world's most famous family. But in recent times, the balcony has become increasingly sparse, as the number of royals invited to take to the iconic spot keeps getting whittled down.

Comparing a picture of the balcony's full line-up in 2019 to photographs from last week's ceremony highlights a stark reduction in the number on royals, with 44 crammed into the space five years ago, compared to just 15 last week (and 14 in 2023).

According to the Mail's Diary Editor Richard Eden, this is because King Charles 'chose to stick with the post-pandemic policy of his late mother and allow only "working royals" on the balcony'.

Unlike days gone by, when faces like Lady Amelia and Lady Marina Windsor would be invited to star in the day's set piece, this year junior royals were asked not to join the more senior members of 'The Firm' on the balcony.

Buckingham Palace's balcony was packed during Trooping the Colour in 2019, with many minor royals as well as the senior members of The Firm

However, in 2024, there were just 15 royals on the balcony, with spots limited to working members of the Royal Family as well as the Wales children, and Lady Louise

Sharing his thoughts on the matter, Mr Eden said: 'Instead [of a full balcony] there was the sad sight of Lord Frederick Windsor, son of Queen Elizabeth's beloved first cousin Prince Michael of Kent, glimpsed behind the curtain in the Centre Room at the palace.

'Like his recently bereaved sister, Lady Gabriella Windsor, Lord Freddie was asked to stay out of sight, like some embarrassing relative.'

This could be seen as particularly poignant as the event marked Lady Gabriella Windsor's first public appearance since the tragic death of her husband, Thomas Kingston in February.

Known to her friends as Ella, the 43-year-old daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent put on a brave face as she watched the RAF flypast from inside Buckingham Palace.

According to Mr Eden: 'The Duke of Kent was...left looking lonely without his wife or children. His sister, Princess Alexandra, was too frail to join him even though she is still considered a "working royal".'

Those on the balcony included the King, Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children, Princess Anne and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and their daughter Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and the Duke of Kent.

The tradition of filling the balcony up with royals was abandoned by Queen Elizabeth, following the controversy surrounding Prince Andrew, and after Harry and Meghan stepped down from royal duties.

According to Richard Eden: 'She [Queen Elizabeth] felt that she could not exclude those who had stepped down from royal duties if she allowed other 'non-working royals' to join her on the balcony.'

Lady Gabriella Windsor, her brother Lord Frederick Windsor, and his wife Sophie was seen watching the action through a window, as they sit inside the Palace

As a result of continuing this strategy, over the last two years, the balcony was full of spaces, which Mr Eden said 'would previously have been filled with the smiling faces of younger royals'.

And it appears this state of affairs is set to continue: according to his report, Prince William is 'full agreement' with his father about the need for a 'slimmed-down monarchy'.

Mr Eden cited a source as saying: 'When the older members of the family retire, His Royal Highness won't be inviting anyone else to become working royals. It remains to be seen if he will even want his two younger children to be working royals.'

However, while the balcony may have been sparse, those who were on it were celebrated by the assembled masses - in particular, Kate, the Princess of Wales.

The Princess, who received a roar of applause from the crowd when she stepped onto the balcony, has not officially been seen in public since announcing she was being treated for cancer in February.

However, the evening before Trooping the Colour, she released a statement saying she would be at the event.

In it, she revealed she will not be returning to public duties full time, but said she does now feel well enough to undertake a small number of public engagements in the coming months, including attending the King's official birthday parade.

Kate wrote in the statement: '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.'

She added that while she was 'looking forward to attending The King's Birthday Parade', and was hoping to join a few public engagements over the summer, she knew she was 'not out of the woods yet'.

One royal who was on the balcony was Kate Middleton, much to the delight of royal watchers (pictured L-R: Prince George, Prince William, Prince Louise, the Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte)

The Princess of Wales beams as she and her daughter Princess Charlotte are pictured on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the flypast at last weekend's Trooping the Colour

Kate added: '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.'

Speaking about Kate's appearance at the event, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told FEMAIL: 'It was pivotal that, since we had not seen her at an official function for six months, that Catherine attended the gathering on the Buckingham Palace Balcony after Trooping the Colour.

'There was delight when she was able to watch the Parade from an office on Horse Guards.

'It was worldwide news and the Irish Guards excelled at the magnificent ceremony, which had its origins as a rallying point in the battles of past centuries. A ferocious thunderstorm did not dampen the mood of rejoicing in the Mall.'
The Princess of Wales released a new portrait of her young family today

The Princess of Wales has released a sweet new portrait of her husband to commemorate his 42nd birthday today - along with a heartwarming message.

The fun portrait shows the heir to the throne excitedly leaping in the air with his three children as they jump. 'Happy birthday Papa, we all love you so much!,' the caption reads, signed off by Kate Middleton, with an 'x'.

The family are dressed in casual clothing - with William sporting a hoodie and shorts - as they grin mid pose for the snap, taken by his wife in Norfolk last month.

William and the children appear to be enjoying a sunny day at the beach - which looks similar to the one in the backdrop of Kate's Father's Day photo for her husband, shared on Sunday.

On William's right, his daughter Charlotte can be seen sporting a stripy ensemble as she lifts one arm in the air while a more timid Louis, donned in a light blue tee from Next - looks down while clutching his father's hand. On his left, a delighted George - sporting a Navy Nike shirt - can be seen waving at the camera.

The fun portrait shows the heir to the throne leaping in the air with his three children as they jump . 'Happy birthday Papa, we all love you so much!,' the caption reads, signed off by his wife, Kate Middleton

'Happy birthday Papa, we all love you so much!,' the caption reads, signed off by his wife, Kate Middleton

A young William is pictured in an adorable black and white shot with his father, King Charles III, to celebrate his eldest son turning 42

Fans were delighted with the joyful photo of the Prince's young family, some calling it 'possibly the best photo they've seen' of the Waleses.

Others have also dubbed the royal the 'chillest Prince' in the comments, as they celebrate the festivities.

'Happy birthday, Prince William,' one wrote. 'Wishing you all the best and more happier times!'

'Beautiful shoot,' another added. 'Happy birthday Prince William!!'

A third penned: 'Happy birthday to the next King... This photo is adorable.'

Commenters were also full of praise for the 'normal happy family' pictured in the portrait.

Elsewhere, the Royal Family's social media earlier also wished the Prince a happy birthday with a sweet throwback snap.

In it, a young William is pictured in an adorable black and white shot with his father, King Charles III, to celebrate his eldest son turning 42.

William and the children appear to be enjoying a sunny day at the beach - which looks similar to the one in the backdrop of Kate's Father's Day photo for her husband on Sunday

Fans were delighted with the joyful photo of the Prince's young family, some calling it 'possibly the best photo they've seen' of the Waleses

The Royal Family has wished the Prince of Wales a happy birthday with a sweet throwback snap on social media

The National Museum of the Royal Navy also shared a snap of the Prince, with a birthday greeting

William was seen with his mother-in-law Carole Middleton (pictured) this week on a day out at Royal Ascot, where he took to a carriage with Queen Camilla for the traditional procession along the course

Pictured: William presents winning trainer Aidan O'Brien with an award after The Prince Of Wales's Stakes on day two of Royal Ascot 2024

The caption reads: 'Wishing the Prince of Wales a very happy birthday!' The little toddler grins for the camera while his dad holds onto him in the sweet image.

The National Museum of the Royal Navy also followed with a heartfelt post, praising his 'significant stint with the Royal Navy as part of his military training completing a two-month attachment in 2008'.

'His diverse training has been a testament to his commitment to serving his country,' it added.

However, the festivities come the day after watching England's disappointing Euro 2024 draw against Denmark.

William, president of the FA, was pictured alongside Denmark's King Frederick as the two teams went head to head in Frankfurt, Germany, with the Three Lions drawing 1-1 in their second match of the tournament.

The heir to the throne has faced a challenging 12 months with both his wife the Princess of Wales and father the King diagnosed with cancer.

His birthday came amid speculation the future king supports his father's slimmed-down approach to the monarchy and that William may not want his younger children Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis to be working royals.

Kate returned briefly to the public limelight at Trooping the Colour last weekend with William and their three children.

The Daily Mail's Richard Eden wrote that a friend of the prince told him: 'When the older members of the family retire, His Royal Highness won't be inviting anyone else to become working royals.

'It remains to be seen if he will even want his two younger children to be working royals.'

Ten-year-old Prince George is a future king, but third in line Charlotte, aged nine, and fourth in line Louis, six, are spares to the heir and, therefore, not expected to ever reign as monarch.

But in a personal message to the nation, the princess revealed although she is making good progress, she is 'not out of the woods yet'.

Kate told how she has good days and bad days and is facing a few more months of chemotherapy treatment.

William was seen with his mother-in-law Carole Middleton this week on a day out at Royal Ascot, where he took to a carriage with Queen Camilla for the traditional procession along the course.

Prince William Arthur Philip Louis of Wales was born second in line to the throne at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, at 9.03pm on June 21 1982.

He weighed 7lb 1 1/2oz and was the first-born son of the then-Prince and the Princess of Wales.

At just nine months old, he accompanied his parents on a six-week official visit to Australia and New Zealand, which was a break from tradition with royal babies usually left at home in the care of nannies.

Kate returned briefly to the public limelight at Trooping the Colour last weekend with William and their three children

The prince met Kate Middleton at St Andrews University in Fife, and the pair married at Westminster Abbey in 2011 after dating for more than eight years. Both pictured at Trooping the Colour last week

His birthday came amid speculation the future king supports his father's slimmed-down approach to the monarchy and that William may not want his younger children Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis to be working royals. William, Kate and their children pictured on Christmas Day last year

His mother Diana, who separated from the then-Prince of Wales in 1992, died in a car crash in Paris in 1997.

William was just 15 and his brother Prince Harry 12, and the boys walked behind the princess's coffin during a funeral procession through London.

The prince met Kate Middleton at St Andrews University in Fife, and the pair married at Westminster Abbey in 2011 after dating for more than eight years.

They welcomed their first child George in 2013, followed by Charlotte in 2015, and then Louis in 2018.

After the death of the late Queen in 2022, the King announced in his first historic address that he had made William and Kate the new Prince and Princess of Wales.

Prince William Arthur Philip Louis of Wales was born second in line to the throne at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, at 9.03pm on June 21 1982. Pictured with his mother and brother Harry in 1989

His mother Diana, who separated from the then-Prince of Wales in 1992, died in a car crash in Paris in 1997. Diana, Charles and William pictured in 1982

Since his last birthday, William has launched Homewards, his five-year drive to eradicate homelessness in six locations around the UK. Pictured as a baby, with his mother

William has a long-running rift with his brother the Duke of Sussex, with no sign yet of a reconciliation.

The fallout originated ahead of Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex, and worsened after the accusations Harry publicly levelled at his brother in his double tell-alls: his Netflix documentary and his memoir Spare.

When their joint friend the Duke of Westminster married in Chester Cathedral earlier this month, William acted as an usher, but Harry mutually agreed with the groom that he would not attend.

Since his last birthday, William has launched Homewards, his five-year drive to eradicate homelessness in six locations around the UK.

His other key focuses include raising mental health awareness, and the Earthshot Prize, his 50 million environmental competition to find solutions to help the planet.
Christie told BBC Radio 4 in 2015, she loved 'the squirming bits and all those things you dont see'

When Hollywood icon Donald Sutherland died at the age of 88 this week, he left behind him one of the biggest mysteries in Hollywood folklore - was the sex scene in his 1973 hit horror film Don't Look Now real?

The M*A*S*H star, who skyrocketed into the spotlight in the late '60s, faced speculation throughout his career about whether the erotic scene with his co-star Julie Christie was immaculately choregraphed to look hyper realistic, or whether the actors had actually had an on-screen tryst in real life.

In initial promotion for the film, directed by Nicolas Roeg, in the early 70s, it was billed as 'one of the frankest love scenes ever to be filmed'.

The Venice-set film was shot in the days long before intimacy co-ordinators were on set, and Sutherland and Christie got used to fielding questions about one of the most controversial movie sex scenes of all time.

Sutherland's memoir, Made Up, But Still True, is due out in November.

Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie in Don't Look Now's controversial love scene. Initial promo for the film, directed by Nicolas Roeg, saw it dubbed 'one of the frankest love scenes ever to be filmed'.

The co-stars, pictured in 1973, remained tight-lipped about the sex scene - until 2018, when Sutherland proffered an outright denial

The film adapted Daphne du Mauriers novella of the same name, and saw Sutherland and Christie play John and Laura, who flee to Venice after tragically losing their daughter.

The couple meet a pair of sisters, who claim the lost girl is trying to make contact with her parents - with fleeting sighting of the red-coated child sending chills down the spines of viewers.

In 2018, Sutherland categorically denied that the sex scene was real.

Speaking at the New York Premiere of his new film The Leisure Seeker, a then 82-year-old Sutherland said that anyone who claims otherwise was 'an idiot'.

In 2018, Donald Sutherland denied long-standing rumors that the sex scene in Don't Look Now was real, saying people who claim otherwise are 'idiots'

Sutherland said that despite the scene's erotic nature the filming was anything but, because he and co-star Julie Christie had to stop every 15 seconds to change position

He said performing the act would have been impossible since no take lasted longer than 15 seconds before the action was stopped so he and Christie could reposition.

Sutherland told the New York Daily News that he adored the scene though because it 'reminded you of making love.'

The scene caused issues for censors both in Britain, where it received an X-rating, and in America, where it was rated R.

The creepy thriller, about a couple who lose their young daughter, but then are told by a pair of sisters that the little girl is trying to make contact with them, became a cult horror film after its release

Sutherland pic itured in a scene from the film, which was set in Venice

The scene was entirely removed by the BBC when it first aired on British television.

Rumours that the sex was genuine have persisted for years, helped along by the likes of former Paramount executive Peter Bart, who said as much in his 2011 book.

In 2008, Michael Deeley, who oversaw the film's UK distribution, told the BBC that Christie's then-boyfriend Warren Beatty had flown to London and demanded that the sex scene be removed.

Sutherland has been protective over the film in the past, suggesting back in 2015 as rumors of a remake swirled that it would be an 'embarrassment'.

'Why do they do it?,' he said. 'Its just people wanting profit, trying to profit off the back of [director] Nicolas Roeg, and something thats very beautiful.

'Its shameful. They should be ashamed of themselves.'

And Christie? She has gone on record saying it was nothing more than 'pretend sex'.

In a 2015 interview with BBC Radio 4, the now 84-year-old actor said: 'It was just flesh squirming and rolling and touching, and God I thought it was absolutely lovely. I loved the squirming bits and all those things you dont see.'

Sutherland is survived by Keith and his twin sister Rachel from his marriage to ex-wife Shirley Douglas

The veteran Canadian actor's death from a long illness was announced by his movie star son Kiefer Sutherland Thursday.

Sutherland's career spanned over 60 years. He saw a resurgence in popularity with a younger audience in recent years thanks to his role as the evil President Snow in The Hunger Games franchise.

The Emmy and Golden Globe winner made a name for himself long before that, appearing on M*A*S*H, Klute and in Don't Look Now.

Before transitioning into a long career as a respected character actor, Sutherland epitomized the unpredictable, anti-establishment cinema of the 1970s.

Donald Sutherland died aged 88 this week, his actor son Kiefer has announced. He is seen in 2019

The tall and gaunt actor with a grin that could be sweet or diabolical was also known as the hippie tank commander in Kellys Heroes and the stoned professor in Animal House.

Over the decades, Sutherland showed his range in more buttoned-down  but still eccentric  parts in Robert Redfords Ordinary People and Oliver Stones JFK.

In 2022, he appeared on what would be his last projects, Lawmen: Bass Reeves and Swimming With Sharks.

Sutherland was set to star in upcoming apocalyptic flick Heart Land, which is in pre-production.
Day four of the Royal Ascot in Berkshire kicked off on Friday morning

Revellers put on their best attire, creating a beautiful sea of vibrant colours and fabrics as they got the drinks flowing on day four of Royal Ascot.

As ever, flamboyant hats and gowns were front and centre as the society event in Berkshire kicked off on Friday.

Some glamorous racegoers put on leggy displays in vibrant frilly dresses and looked in high spirits as they sipped on glasses of rose wine.

Others sat back and tucked into lavish picnics in the car park, which included cuts of beef with fresh parsley sprinkled on top.

Dressed to the nines, groups of classy racegoers opted to coordinate their attire for the annual occasion, rather than wearing their ensembles solo.

Cheers! Two glamorous racegoers hold up their glasses of wine as they enjoy a day at the races

Racegoers are pictures sprinkling parsley on beef as they prepare a picnic behind the boot of their cars

Four glamorous racegoers all donned similar shades of blue, peach and pink as they attend Ascot

Revellers put on their best attire, creating a beautiful sea of vibrant colours and fabrics as they showed up for day four of the Royal Ascot

Young racegoers posed for the camera as they don frilly, lacy dresses and fancy fascinators

Boys in top hats were snapped drinking Appletiser as they enjoy a picnic in the car park

A band called The Tootsie Rolls proudly stepped out in the same blue and white gingham petticoat dress and donned similar fascinators.

A duo brought the sunshine to the track in Berkshire as they arrived dressed in similar yellow dresses, buttermilk-coloured heels and lemon floral headwear.

It appears there is an increasing number of pals wanting to arrive at the society event and put on a strong sartorial display.

Athlete-turned-personal-trainer Jennifer Pacey turned heads in a bright red dress paired with a Louis Vuitton bag and posed for a picture with her friend who also sported the exact shade.

A trio posed for a picture donning the same fascinator but in differing colours that incorporated what each of them was wearing.

Standards have not slipped from yesterday's display of elegant fashion as revellers arrived dressed in all their finery.

Elsewhere, fashion designer Louise Roe kept things simple but sophisticated in a pale blue dress from Karen Millen with corset-style detailing and a matching hat.

Television presenter Charlotte Hawkins sported an emerald green vine print white frock with a bow on the front, along with a matching pair of pointed heels.

Yoanna Hanbury, wife of polo player Charles Hanbury, opted for an all-purple ensemble a she stepped out at Ascot today

Racegoer Viera Macikova sported a colourful chic floral gown with a Balmain leather cross body bag

Influencer Lydia Millen channelled her inner Cinderella in a pale blue pleated dress with white gloves

The YouTube star complemented the look with a pearl necklace, huge bow hat and a small white Hermes handbag

Some racegoers brought the sunshine by donning bright yellow ensembles with matching fascinators

Lady in red! Two women sported similar cherry red frocks and matching shoes at the races today

A band called the The Tootsie Rollers rocked matching vintage chic dresses for Ascot

Three pals opted to wear bright and colour matching fascinators with love hearts on the top

Rosie Tapner looked elegant in a long pleated cream dress by Lisa Redman with a large pink floral fascinator and ivory wedges from Fairfax & Favor

Royal Ascot, the jewel in the crown of the UK racing calendar, started on Tuesday with the Queen Anne Stakes and will run until Saturday.

This year's meeting will have an overall prize-money pot of 10million. This is a record amount for Royal Ascot. The minimum winnings for all eight Group 1 races will be 650,000.

It was founded by Queen Anne in 1711 after she declared Ascot ideal for 'horses to gallop at full stretch' and has today become a major social event as well as a sporting attraction.

For the first time in its 313-year history, Ascot Racecourse announced this year the appointment of a creative director.

Sophie Winkleman and Lord Frederick Windsor arrive at Ascot on day four of the races

One woman stepped out and donned a hot pink floaty dress and fluffy neon green fascinator

Princess Eugenie wowed in a stunning emerald and mint green floral dress as she watches the Coronation Stakes

Two women posed for pictures at the Berkshire racecourse today as day four kicks off

Two pals showed up for the event dressed white and pastel-coloured dresses

Queen Camilla opted for a wide-brimmed hat embroidered with feathers for day four of Ascot

Racegoer Alicia Earley went for a classic chic monochrome outfit at Ascot today

Fashion designer Louise Roe stuns in a simple but chic dress by Karen Millen at Royal Ascot today

TV personality Lydia Bright arrived at Ascot wearing a grey tweed pencil skirt and blazer ensemble

One reveller looked stunning as she donned a monochrome gown embroidered with flowers and sheer mesh sleeves

The event was a sea of colour today, with one racegoer donning a white and blue mesh dress with a box bag and a Vivienne Westwood pearl necklace

Another chic racegoer looked stunning in black and white suit paired with a Gucci Dionysus bag

Designer Kimberley Garner kept things simple with a slim white frock and a black quilted Chanel bag

British fashion designer Daniel Fletcher was responsible for the creation of the annual Lookbook and Millinery Collective in 2024, which set the style tone for the year and often inspire racegoers' outfits.

He's known for his classically tailored silhouettes and modern gender-fluid clothes; his Spring/Summer 2023 collection included corset designs for both men and women.

The Cheshire-born designer, whose first customer was the eccentric Harry Styles, told GQ in 2023: 'The idea of an item of clothing being for a specific gender is such a funny one.

'I understand that something like a bra is designed for function, but when it comes to a shirt, why would we apply gender to something like that? And for me, the same applies to the corset.'

Former One Direction member Harry whose style has included jumpsuits, feather boas, skirts and dresses, became Daniel's first customer after buying all the boxy short-sleeved shirts from the designer's graduate collection in 2015.

'Harry had a huge impact on my career,' Daniel admitted to GQ in 2020. 'At 24 years old I couldn't believe what was happening.'

Since then, the designer's career has gone from strength to strength, with A-listers including James McAvoy, Robert Pattinson, Eddie Redmayne, Emma Corrin and Emerald Fennell wearing his looks.

The Central Saint Martins graduate has also designed for some of the world's most prestigious houses including Louis Vuitton, Lanvin and JW Anderson and held the role of Artistic Director for Italian label Fiorucci between 2019 and 2023.

A group of boys look in high spirits as they pour themselves an Appletiser beverage

Racegoer Sarah Soulsby wows in a blue and orange dress with spiky cuffs and velvet sapphire-coloured heels

A racegoer dressed in a sapphire blue ensemble poses for a picture at Royal Ascot in Berkshire today

Racegoer Charly Blackburn looked elegant in a ruffled blue and yellow gown, a wired fascinator and a hamper style box bag

Vintage style! This retro band called the The Tootsie Rollers stepped out in blue gingham petticoat dresses

One racegoer upped the style stakes by wearing a creative wide-brimmed hat with two champagne flutes on top of it

Former MP Gyles Brandreth looks dapper as he arrives at Royal Ascot with his wife Michele

As ever, flamboyant hats and gowns were front and centre as the society event in Berkshire kicked off on Friday

Two racegoers show off creative ensembles at Royal Ascot today, with one donning satin leopard print and another opting for a white dress

Helen Flanagan opted for an all white outfit by Karen Millen for day four of Royal Ascot today along with a netted veil fascinator

Television presenter Charlotte Hawkins arrived for day four of Ascot in a white and green floaty frock

Men sporting three-piece suits and top hats arrive at the racecourse in Berkshire today

One woman donned an elegant and classy ensemble at Ascot today

A bit of all white! One reveller went for classic chic and donned a buttoned-up waistcoat, a pleated skirt and some gold heels

Fashion and celebrity stylish Nana Acheampong opted for a pale blue gown by Karen Millen with a matching fascinator, silver bangles and a crocodile bag

Fun designs, textures and floral displays dominated the fashion today as day four kicked off at Ascot

Revellers were dressed to the nines as they enjoyed an early start to the weekend at Royal Ascot today

He was nominated for the LVMH prize in 2017, was a winner of the European Semi- Final of the International Woolmark Prize and named Breakthrough Designer of The Year in the 2020 GQ Men of The Year Awards.

After many successful seasons showing his collections on the London Fashion Week schedule, Daniel took part in Netflix's 'Next In Fashion' series which saw him make it to the final.

The history of fashion at Royal Ascot Late 1700s It was Beau Brummell, a close friend of the Prince Regent, who decreed that 'men of elegance should wear waisted black coats and white cravats with pantaloons' and this set the tone for the dress code that is still adhered to by men in the Royal Enclosure. 1830s Queen Victoria's visit to Royal Ascot saw her arrive in a pretty lace dress with a full bell skirt and shawl. She also started a craze for the porter bonnet, shielding the wearer from male eyes. 1890s As the dawn of a new century arrived, fashion took on an almost celebratory tone. Skirts were less full, but silhouettes made a greater statement with angular hips and puffed sleeves. Hats were large and full of feathers and adornments. 1900s One of fashion's most iconic images; that of Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady was inspired when costume designer Cecil Beaton saw images of Black Ascot, The 1910 Royal Ascot meeting was in full mourning over the death of King Edward. 1920s Hemlines were shorter and cuts were smaller in the 1920s reflecting a post-war generation's rebellion against old traditions. Pearls and furs were the accessories of the day. 1950s Christian Dior's New Look, a small waist and full skirt, was proving popular however it was when the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth and her stylish sister Princess Margaret wore the style at Royal Ascot that it was cemented in history. 1960s Royal Ascot's glamorous profile elevated when Italian actress Sophia Loren was photographed in the Royal Enclosure. In modern times some of the biggest names in Hollywood and fashion have attended. 1970s Trouser suits became more popular following their introduction to the dress code in 1971. Gertrude Shilling, The Ascot Mascot, delighted the press with her extravagant outfits. One year, one of her son David's millinery designs outgrew the Shilling's long-wheel-based Rolls Royce, so the hat had to follow in a van behind. 1980s Sharp lines and bright colours took centre stage during this decade. With statement hats and pointed heels, there was little room for floaty florals in 1980s glamour. 2012 Royal Ascot officially launches its Style Guide to racegoers outlining dress code regulations for the Royal Enclosure and Queen Anne Enclosure (formally known as Grandstand). 2017 The jumpsuit is formally accepted in the Royal Enclosure Dress Code and the Queen Anne Enclosure Dress Code is extended to the new Village Enclosure. 2018 Royal Ascot introduces Style Guides for the Village Enclosure and Windsor Enclosure. 2020 Royal Ascot runs behind closed doors for the first time in the event's history during the global COVID-19 pandemic. 2021 Navy morning suits were permitted in the Royal Enclosure. Source: Royal Ascot Advertisement

Of his latest appointment, Daniel said: 'I'm thrilled to be appointed as Ascot's first Creative Director and have thrown myself into the new role.

'I'm keen to encapsulate the rich heritage of the racecourse while embracing the unique dress codes, adding a contemporary twist to bring a flair that Ascot hasn't seen before.

Peter Phillips' NHS nurse girlfriend Harriet Sperling is snapped wearing an elegant ensemble at Ascot today

Two dressed-up women pose for selfies at Royal Ascot in Berkshire today

Racegoers picnic behind the boot of their car in the car park at the racecourse in Berkshire today

Flamboyant hats and gowns were front and centre as the society event in Berkshire kicked off on Friday

Fabulous florals! A racegoer is snapped wearing a chic yet modest ensemble featuring a rose skirt and a cream blouse

Athlete Jennifer Pacey turned heads in a bright red dress paired with a Louis Vuitton bag

Satin ensembles seemed to be a popular choice for racegoers, who wore the material from head-to-toe

A woman opted to wear a navy dress with a hot pink clutch bag and a large pink floral fascinator

'For 2024, I want to inspire racegoers to push the boundaries with their own unique style and immerse themselves in the opportunity to embrace their own creativity  and what better occasion than Royal Ascot!

'I'm super excited to reveal the next evolution of style direction for the world- renowned brand and can't wait for the vision to become a reality.'

The Best of British Edit takes inspiration from Daniel's lifelong fascination with British Heritage and features clashing stripes and ties worn with whimsical silk dresses.

He said the New Guard Edit is dedicated to the next generation of independent brands and designers, with a new take on occasion dressing.

The Conscious Edit aims to showcase how racegoers can dress up whilst thinking about the impact their fashion choices have on the environment. This includes a custom suit designed and made in London by Fletcher using a deadstock lightweight tweed.

Fletcher said the Luxury Edit is for racegoers who are looking to elevate their look and add a touch of glamour.

Some pieces included have intricate and unique elements to the designs, for example, the intarsia knits in Missoni dresses, to pleating from Zimmerman, and draping from Marc Jacobs.

Whilst the designer says you can never go wrong with a classic Top hat and Tails, the Tailoring Edit highlights other ways to incorporate tailoring into race day dressing.

The Albany Stakes, The Coronation Stakes, The Sandringham Stakes and The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes, The King Edward VII Stakes, The Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes and the Commonwealth Cup will all take place today.
The King and Queen were back at Royal Ascot for Day four of the society event

Sophie Winkleman couldn't help but giggle as she spoke to the charming King Charles at today's Royal Ascot.

Lady Frederick Windsor, 43, appeared to share a laugh with the monarch, 75, as she joined him and other royals at the penultimate day of the summer society event.

The King, 75 and Queen, 76, put on equally animated displays as they cheered on their horses alongside Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo 'Edo' Mapelli Mozzi, as well as Peter Phillips and his new girlfriend, NHS nurse Harriet Sperling.

Charles and Camilla, who led the latest carriage procession, looked in fine form as they waved at spectators this afternoon.

The King, 75, cut a dapper figure in a pale grey morning suit with a pink waistcoat and pink and blue gingham shirt.

Sharing a laugh! Sophie Winkleman couldn't help but giggle as she chatted to the King and Queen at Royal Ascot

Taking it all in! Princess Beatrice put on an aniamted display as she appeared alongside her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi

Sporting sunglasses, Princess Anne's son enjoyed a glass of champagne at the summer diary must

Friday feeling: Peter and his new partner looked delighted to be enjoying an afternoon at the races

...and even shared a kiss as they mingled with other society movers and shakers

Keep your hat on! Queen Camilla, wearing a beautiful brooch and diamond bracelet, keeps her feathered headwear in place. Right: The king smiles as he makes his way to watch the races

Camilla has attended every day so far at Ascot, with the King missing Wednesday's carriage procession

Camilla more than matched the monarch in the style stakes, wearing a light blue suit, with her statement feathered hat caught at times by the afternoon breeze.

The couple were joined by Lord and Lady Frederick Windsor, who looked equally excited to be at the races.

Princess Beatrice, 35, donned a 2,995 Emilia Wickstead green Brita dress, teamed with a lemon clutch bag and heels.

The daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York, who is styled by Olivia Buckingham, wore Juliette Botterill 'percher' headwear, also in lemon, alongside Aquazzurra heels, again in a shade of pale yellow, and a matching clutch bag, also by the luxury Italian shoes and accessories label.

And husband Edo made sure he was co-ordinating with his wife, wearing a lemon waistcoat under his morning suit.

Former Prima Ballerina and Strictly Come Dancing star Dame Darcey Bussell, wearing a striking shade of magenta, also enjoyed a ride to the royal enclosure, alongside her husband Angus Forbes.

The couple chatted to the King and Queen, and at one point looked as if they might break into one of Darcey's trademark dances.

Elsewhere, love was very much in the air as Peter Phillips put on a tactile display with his new girlfriend, NHS nurse Harriet Sperling.

The King cut a dapper figure in a pale grey morning suit with a pink waistcoat, and Queen Camilla matched the monarch in the style stakes, wearing a light blue suit and a statement feathered hat at Royal Ascot on Friday

The King's pastel pink and blue gingham shirt perfectly matched the small carnation on his lapel

In the pink: King Charles chats to Dame Darcey Bussell, who looked chic in a bright magenta pink dress and grey suede heels

Charles, with an umbrella in hand, strolls alongside Queen Camilla as the King and Queen arrive for the fourth day of action at Royal Ascot

Promenading: The King and Queen walk close to Dame Darcey and her husband Angus F

Shall we dance? Former Prima Ballerina Darcey Bussell clasps hands with her husband in a sweet moment

Princess Anne's son, 46, had embarked on his new romance with Harriet, who is an NHS nurse, just weeks after separating from his partner of three years.

In May, the couple spent the weekend together at the Badminton Horse Trial where they were spotted strolling hand in hand.

And the pair didn't hold back on affections this afternoon either as they were snapped leaning into one another and sharing sweet glances.

The loved up couple shared a tender kiss as they mingled in the royal enclosure.

Wearing a similar hat to the Queen, Sophie Winkleman, aka Lady Frederick Windsor, opted for a 50s style powder blue jacket dress. The former Peep Show star was spotted chatting to Princess Beatrice and her husband Edo, alongside husband Lord Frederick Windsor.

Princess Beatrice opted for a green Emilia Wickstead dress, which retails at 2,995, with a pale lemon clutch bag that coordinated with her hat

Edo offers an admiring glance at this wife, who looked elegant in the lemon and green ensemble

All eyes on the course: Beatrice and Edo look focused on their horses

Standing with friends, the couple soaked up the action on the penultimate day of racing action

Lord and Lady Frederick Windsor pictured mingling with Princess Beatrice and her husband Edo in the royal enclosure

Wearing a similar hat to the Queen, Sophie Winkleman, aka Lady Frederick Windsor, opted for a 50s style powder blue jacket dress

Seated next to Princess Beatrice in the second carriage in the procession, Sophie Winkleman offered a broad grin as she bypassed spectators

Later, in the stands, the King and Sophie Winkleman chatted as they watched the runners and riders

Peter Phillips arrived holding hands with NHS nurse girlfriend Harriet Sperling, who looked chic in a pastel pink outfit, teamed with a geometric clutch bad and coordinated oversized bow headwear

Later NHS worker Harriet could be seen enjoying a chat with Queen Camilla as the royals waited for the races to begin

The Queen put a gloved hand up to steady her hat which was caught by the breeze

The King and Queen looked on fine form as they chatted to fellow Royal Ascot-goers in he royal enclosure on Friday afternoon

The King offers his congratulations to winning jockey Tom Marquand at Royal Ascot

Is it heavy? The King chats to organisers before picking up one of the trophies he was asked to present to winning jockeys

The King, an accomplished polo player in his youth, looked deep in conversation with the jockey

Meanwhile, revellers attending put on their best attire, creating a beautiful sea of vibrant colours and fabrics as they showed up for day two of the Royal Ascot this morning.

As ever, flamboyant hats and gowns were front and centre as the society event in Berkshire kicked off on Friday.

Dressed to the nines, groups of classy racegoers opted to coordinate their attire for the annual occasion, rather than wearing their ensembles solo.

A band called The Tootsie Rolls proudly stepped out in the same blue and white gingham petticoat dress and donned similar fascinators.

A duo brought the sunshine to the track in Berkshire as they arrived dressed in similar yellow dresses, buttermilk-coloured heels and lemon floral headwear.

Peter Phillips points out a potential winner to his fellow guests in the royal enclosure

Some racegoers brought the sunshine by donning bright yellow ensembles with matching fascinators

Lady in red! Two women sported similar cherry red frocks and matching shoes at the races today

It appears there is an increasing number of pals wanting to arrive at the society event and put on a strong sartorial display.

Athlete-turned-personal-trainer Jennifer Pacey turned heads in a bright red dress paired with a Louis Vuitton bag and posed for a picture with her friend who also sported the exact shade.

A trio posed for a picture donning the same fascinator but in differing colours that incorporated what each of them was wearing.

Standards have not slipped from yesterday's display of elegant fashion as revellers arrived dressed in all their finery.

Elsewhere, fashion designer Louise Roe kept things simple but sophisticated in a pale blue dress with corset-style detailing and a matching hat.

Television presenter Charlotte Hawkins sported an emerald green vine print white frock with a bow on the front, along with a matching pair of pointed heels.

Royal Ascot, the jewel in the crown of the UK racing calendar, started on Tuesday with the Queen Anne Stakes and will run until Saturday.

This year's meeting will have an overall prize-money pot of 10million. This is a record amount for Royal Ascot. The minimum winnings for all eight Group 1 races will be 650,000.

It was founded by Queen Anne in 1711 after she declared Ascot ideal for 'horses to gallop at full stretch' and has today become a major social event as well as a sporting attraction.

For the first time in its 313-year history, Ascot Racecourse announced this year the appointment of a creative director.

A band called the The Tootsie Rollers rocked matching vintage chic dresses for Ascot

Three pals opted to wear bright and colour matching fascinators with love hearts on the top

Rosie Tapner looked elegant in a long pleated cream dress with a large pink floral fascinator

One woman stepped out and donned a hot pink floaty dress and fluffy neon green fascinator

Two women posed for pictures at the Berkshire racecourse today as day four kicks off

Two pals showed up for the event dressed white and pastel-coloured dresses

Revellers put on their best attire, creating a beautiful sea of vibrant colours and fabrics as they showed up for day two of the Royal Ascot this morning

One reveller looked stunning as she donned a monochrome gown embroidered with flowers and sheer mesh sleeves

The event was a sea of colour today, with one racegoer donning a white and blue mesh dress with a box bag and a Vivienne Westwood pearl necklace

Another chic racegoer looked stunning in black and white suit paired with a Gucci Dionysus bag

British fashion designer Daniel Fletcher was responsible for the creation of the annual Lookbook and Millinery Collective in 2024, which set the style tone for the year and often inspire racegoers' outfits.

He's known for his classically tailored silhouettes and modern gender-fluid clothes; his Spring/Summer 2023 collection included corset designs for both men and women.

The Cheshire-born designer, whose first customer was the eccentric Harry Styles, told GQ in 2023: 'The idea of an item of clothing being for a specific gender is such a funny one.

'I understand that something like a bra is designed for function, but when it comes to a shirt, why would we apply gender to something like that? And for me, the same applies to the corset.'

Former One Direction member Harry whose style has included jumpsuits, feather boas, skirts and dresses, became Daniel's first customer after buying all the boxy short-sleeved shirts from the designer's graduate collection in 2015.

'Harry had a huge impact on my career,' Daniel admitted to GQ in 2020. 'At 24 years old I couldn't believe what was happening.'

Since then, the designer's career has gone from strength to strength, with A-listers including James McAvoy, Robert Pattinson, Eddie Redmayne, Emma Corrin and Emerald Fennell wearing his looks.

The Central Saint Martins graduate has also designed for some of the world's most prestigious houses including Louis Vuitton, Lanvin and JW Anderson and held the role of Artistic Director for Italian label Fiorucci between 2019 and 2023.

A group of boys look in high spirits as they pour themselves an Appletiser beverage

A racegoer dressed in a sapphire blue ensemble poses for a picture at Royal Ascot in Berkshire today

Racegoer Charly Blackburn looked elegant in a ruffled blue and yellow gown, a wired fascinator and a hamper style box bag

Boys in top hats were snapped drinking Appletiser as they enjoy a picnic in the car park

Vintage style! This retro band called the The Tootsie Rollers stepped out in blue gingham petticoat dresses

One racegoer upped the style stakes by wearing a creative wide-brimmed hat with two champagne flutes on top of it

Former MP Gyles Brandreth looks dapper as he arrives at Royal Ascot with his wife Michele

As ever, flamboyant hats and gowns were front and centre as the society event in Berkshire kicked off on Friday

Two racegoers show off creative ensembles at Royal Ascot today, with one donning satin leopard print and another opting for a white dress

Television presenter Charlotte Hawkins arrived for day four of Ascot in a white and green floaty frock

Men sporting three-piece suits and top hats arrive at the racecourse in Berkshire today

A bit of all white! One reveller went for classic chic and donned a buttoned-up waistcoat, a pleated skirt and some gold heels

Fashion and celebrity stylish Nana Acheampong opted for a pale blue gown with a matching fascinator, silver bangles and a crocodile bag

Fun designs, textures and floral displays dominated the fashion today as day three kicked off at Ascot

Revellers were dressed to the nines as they enjoyed an early start to the weekend at Royal Ascot today

He was nominated for the LVMH prize in 2017, was a winner of the European Semi- Final of the International Woolmark Prize and named Breakthrough Designer of The Year in the 2020 GQ Men of The Year Awards.

After many successful seasons showing his collections on the London Fashion Week schedule, Daniel took part in Netflix's 'Next In Fashion' series which saw him make it to the final.

The history of fashion at Royal Ascot Late 1700s It was Beau Brummell, a close friend of the Prince Regent, who decreed that 'men of elegance should wear waisted black coats and white cravats with pantaloons' and this set the tone for the dress code that is still adhered to by men in the Royal Enclosure. 1830s Queen Victoria's visit to Royal Ascot saw her arrive in a pretty lace dress with a full bell skirt and shawl. She also started a craze for the porter bonnet, shielding the wearer from male eyes. 1890s As the dawn of a new century arrived, fashion took on an almost celebratory tone. Skirts were less full, but silhouettes made a greater statement with angular hips and puffed sleeves. Hats were large and full of feathers and adornments. 1900s One of fashion's most iconic images; that of Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady was inspired when costume designer Cecil Beaton saw images of Black Ascot, The 1910 Royal Ascot meeting was in full mourning over the death of King Edward. 1920s Hemlines were shorter and cuts were smaller in the 1920s reflecting a post-war generation's rebellion against old traditions. Pearls and furs were the accessories of the day. 1950s Christian Dior's New Look, a small waist and full skirt, was proving popular however it was when the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth and her stylish sister Princess Margaret wore the style at Royal Ascot that it was cemented in history. 1960s Royal Ascot's glamorous profile elevated when Italian actress Sophia Loren was photographed in the Royal Enclosure. In modern times some of the biggest names in Hollywood and fashion have attended. 1970s Trouser suits became more popular following their introduction to the dress code in 1971. Gertrude Shilling, The Ascot Mascot, delighted the press with her extravagant outfits. One year, one of her son David's millinery designs outgrew the Shilling's long-wheel-based Rolls Royce, so the hat had to follow in a van behind. 1980s Sharp lines and bright colours took centre stage during this decade. With statement hats and pointed heels, there was little room for floaty florals in 1980s glamour. 2012 Royal Ascot officially launches its Style Guide to racegoers outlining dress code regulations for the Royal Enclosure and Queen Anne Enclosure (formally known as Grandstand). 2017 The jumpsuit is formally accepted in the Royal Enclosure Dress Code and the Queen Anne Enclosure Dress Code is extended to the new Village Enclosure. 2018 Royal Ascot introduces Style Guides for the Village Enclosure and Windsor Enclosure. 2020 Royal Ascot runs behind closed doors for the first time in the event's history during the global COVID-19 pandemic. 2021 Navy morning suits were permitted in the Royal Enclosure. Source: Royal Ascot Advertisement

Of his latest appointment, Daniel said: 'I'm thrilled to be appointed as Ascot's first Creative Director and have thrown myself into the new role.

'I'm keen to encapsulate the rich heritage of the racecourse while embracing the unique dress codes, adding a contemporary twist to bring a flair that Ascot hasn't seen before.

Two dressed-up women pose for selfies at Royal Ascot in Berkshire today

Racegoers picnic behind the boot of their car in the car park at the racecourse in Berkshire today

Flamboyant hats and gowns were front and centre as the society event in Berkshire kicked off on Friday

Fabulous florals! A racegoer is snapped wearing a chic yet modest ensemble featuring a rose skirt and a cream blouse

Athlete Jennifer Pacey turned heads in a bright red dress paired with a Louis Vuitton bag

Satin ensembles seemed to be a popular choice for racegoers, who wore the material from head-to-toe

A woman opted to wear a navy dress with a hot pink clutch bag and a large pink floral fascinator

'For 2024, I want to inspire racegoers to push the boundaries with their own unique style and immerse themselves in the opportunity to embrace their own creativity  and what better occasion than Royal Ascot!

'I'm super excited to reveal the next evolution of style direction for the world- renowned brand and can't wait for the vision to become a reality.'

The Best of British Edit takes inspiration from Daniel's lifelong fascination with British Heritage and features clashing stripes and ties worn with whimsical silk dresses.

He said the New Guard Edit is dedicated to the next generation of independent brands and designers, with a new take on occasion dressing.

The Conscious Edit aims to showcase how racegoers can dress up whilst thinking about the impact their fashion choices have on the environment. This includes a custom suit designed and made in London by Fletcher using a deadstock lightweight tweed.

Fletcher said the Luxury Edit is for racegoers who are looking to elevate their look and add a touch of glamour.

Some pieces included have intricate and unique elements to the designs, for example, the intarsia knits in Missoni dresses, to pleating from Zimmerman, and draping from Marc Jacobs.

Whilst the designer says you can never go wrong with a classic Top hat and Tails, the Tailoring Edit highlights other ways to incorporate tailoring into race day dressing.

The Albany Stakes, The Coronation Stakes, The Sandringham Stakes and The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes, The King Edward VII Stakes, The Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes and the Commonwealth Cup will all take place today.
Toned, tanned, fit and summer ready - Lauren Sanchez has turned up the heat as she posed in a barely-there outfit on fiance Jeff Bezos's $500 million superyacht.

The 54-year-old future Mrs. Bezos uploaded the saucy snap to her Instagram story on Thursday, showing off her abs and impressive figure in a skimpy sea-ready getup as the pair vacations in Greece.

Taking a selfie in a full-length mirror, a tanned Lauren wore a tiny black crop with a cutout and gold beads on the straps.

Lauren, who has been engaged to the 60-year-old Amazon founder since May 2023, paired it with a tiny white crocheted mini skirt and and off-white sneakers.

She completed her outfit by pulling her long locks back in a ponytail and wore large white sunglasses to shield her eyes.

Taking a selfie in a full-length mirror, Lauren wore a tiny black crop with a cutout and gold beads on the straps

'Who's ready for summer?' Lauren wrote on the post along with an emoji wearing shades.

Set to Samuel Jack's Feels Like Summer, the Instagram story was spliced with other pictures from their Grecian trip, including a picture of a cat stretched out, an iconic blue-and-white house, and the water with floating boats.

The couple appears to be traveling on Bezos's superyacht which is named Koru - which means 'new beginnings' in Maori.

The Amazon founder's 230ft tall yacht, which he commissioned in 2018, currently holds the record for being the world's tallest superyacht.

The Koru is the second-largest sailing ship in the world.

The pair seems to be enjoying their Grecian getaway, spotted last week with her billionaire beau along a promenade on Hydra island before going for a romantic oceanfront dinner together at Sunset Restaurant.

The power couple was joined by Bezos' son, Preston, who has not made a public appearance since 2019 when he accompanied his father to the American Portrait Gala at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.

It's not the first time Lauren has uploaded some sultry snaps from the superyacht; in June last year the lovebirds enjoyed a lavish getaway in Europe.

Set to Samuel Jack's Feels Like Summer, the Instagram story was spliced with other pictures from their Grecian trip, including a picture of a cat (left) and the water with boats (right)

The future Mrs, Bezos also uploaded a snap of an iconic blue-and-white house in Greece

The Koru is the second-largest sailing ship in the world with an elaborate carving of a woman

The lovebirds also traveled on the mega-yacht Koru in 2023 (pictured)

In June last year, Lauren also shared this sultry selfie in front of what appears to be the same mirror as Thursday's snap

Posing in what appears to be the same mirror, the TV anchor uploaded a jaw-dropping mirror selfie, showing off her enviable curves in an itty-bitty beige bikini and went for a makeup-free look.

The superyacht holds a special place for the couple, with Lauren and Jeff getting engaged there in early 2023.

Lauren opened up about the moment Jeff asked her to marry him to Vogue last year.

She recalled how Jeff popped the question on the $500 million superyacht after they enjoyed a romantic dinner under the stars together.

Lauren said Jeff concealed the huge diamond ring under her pillow, and that she almost 'blacked out' when she discovered it at the end of the evening just before they went to bed.

The couple recently relocated from Seattle, Washington, to Indian Creek Island in Florida - with Jeff purchasing three mansions on the island, totaling a whopping $237 million.
High school sweethearts Olivia and Josh Renga welcomed their twin daughters 18 months ago and were thriving as a young family.

But in mid-January their world was turned upside down when Olivia was diagnosed with 'rare and aggressive' terminal cancer at just 33.

The mother-of-three received the tragic news her liver was riddled with neuroendocrine small cell carcinoma. The cancer is deemed 'rare' because it's typically found in the lungs, not the liver.

Fast forward five and a half months and the couple, from Ballarat, are 'hoping for a miracle' while Olivia undergoes chemotherapy treatment.

Josh told FEMAIL the pair are taking it 'one day at a time' and are trying remain positive throughout the challenging ordeal.

Olivia Renga (pictured with her husband Josh and their three daughters) was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer in mid-January

The cancer is deemed 'rare' because it's typically found in the lungs, not the liver

Olivia started experiencing nausea and abdominal discomfort in late November last year which at first was 'nothing of concern'.

But on Christmas Eve she crumpled in sudden and extreme pain and was bedridden for the rest of the day.

Since it was the festive period, no clinics or pharmacies were open so Olivia had to push through the agony for a couple of days before finally seeing a GP.

There were no signs of anything sinister in test results, and her symptoms weren't considered serious because she doesn't have any family history of liver cancer.

Luckily Olivia sought a second opinion from another GP who 'wasn't confident' about sending her home despite seeing the test results.

'We had a family holiday to Queensland booked for the following week - it was going to be our first big trip together as a little family - but Olivia was sent to emergency to get tested property,' Josh recalled.

Doctors then conducted a biopsy for further testing.

Olivia spent a week in hospital, the family holiday was cancelled and the pair still didn't have any results for another week.

Luckily Olivia sought a second opinion from another GP who 'wasn't confident' about sending her home despite seeing the test results

Josh, who runs his own business, recalled Olivia visiting him at work to share the dreaded news after she had visited the doctor.

'It was the worst day of our lives. It all happened so quickly over the space of a month. We both cried and were distraught,' he said.

'Neither of us thought it was going to be this. It was all such a shock. Then we went together to the oncologist appointment.

'I didn't want to believe it was true - and still don't want to believe it's true. It still doesn't feel real. It was a very difficult thing to take in and not something we were expecting at all,' he said.

Doctors found one main tumour and multiple smaller ones in Olivia's liver. Her specific cancer is 'difficult to stop' and chemotherapy only works for a certain period of time.

Olivia started chemotherapy immediately after she was diagnosed but a month ago it stopped working effectively so doctors have moved on to a different drug.

The couple met in high school and first got together when they were 16 then tied the knot in 2016

Olivia started chemotherapy immediately after she was diagnosed but a month ago it stopped working effectively so doctors have moved on to a different drug

The couple started seeing each other when they were 16, tied the knot in 2016 and had their first daughter, Neve, four years ago.

Now they're struggling with the thought the Olivia may not win her battle with cancer, leaving Josh a single dad.

Doctors cannot accurately predict the amount of time Olivia has left - it could be weeks or years as it's a 'case by case basis'.

She's spending as much time as she can at home with her children and Josh, but goes to hospital as needed.

'We want to do things as a family as much as possible. Life is very different to how it was six months ago,' Josh said.

'I'm hoping for a miracle everyday. It burns me inside thinking about what our future might look like.

'Especially with our girls. They need their mum, they need her at their weddings, every Mother's Day... we just don't know what's going to happen and the unknown is really hard to deal with.'

'I'm hoping for a miracle everyday. It burns me inside thinking about what our future might look like,' Josh said

Josh also shared a heartfelt message he wants all Australians to know.

'Life is fragile, so don't waste it. It can be really cruel sometimes but you need to push through an look on the bright side,' he said.

The couple hope sharing Olivia's story will highlight how life can change in an instant and no-one is immune to cancer.

'A positive mindset is the best tool you can have. It's the only thing you can control,' Josh added.

If you'd like to contribute to Olivia's GoFundMe, click here.
Australians who choose to 'chase the European summer' could be putting their health and even their life at risk, experts warn.

More travellers are being struck down by a group of insidious diseases which cause crippling fever, terrible stomach pain, bleeding gums and even death.

Diseases dengue fever, yellow fever, Nile virus and even the Zika virus, are all spread by mosquitoes which once avoided Europe in favour of warmer climates.

But now three varieties of mosquito have set-up self sustaining colonies across Europe putting travellers and locals at risk.

Cases of dengue alone doubled in 2023 and are expected to 'explode' in 2024 with one seasoned traveller describing it as 'a terrifying plague'.

Australians who choose to 'chase the European summer' could be putting their health and even their life at risk, experts warn

According to the European Centre for Disease Patrol and prevention residents of and travellers to 13 countries including Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, and Spain are at serious risk.

The disease-carrying bugs used to arrive with travellers from warmer climates like Africa, limiting the risk of serious illness spreading far and wide.

Two varieties of mosquito are causing the majority of health issues across the continent: Aedes albopictus, known for transmitting dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses and Aedes aegypti, a vector of yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses.

And while not yet thriving, the insects are also on the rise in Belgium, Cyprus, Czechia, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Slovakia and Sweden.

The Culex pipiens mosquito, responsible for the spread of West Nile virus, is a concern it is also native to Europe.

The disease-carrying bugs used to arrive with travellers from warmer climates like Africa, limiting the risk of serious illness spreading far and wide - now they live there year-round

Locally acquired cases of dengue fever doubled last year to 130 and there were 4900 cases in total.

Between 2010 and 2021 there was a total of 70 local cases of the disease making the spike to 130 cases last year alone 'a problem' for authorities.

Early data suggests 2024 is set to smash those records.

However, it appears cases of the Nile Virus are coming down with 713 cases detected last year, leading to 67 deaths.

This is in contract to the record-high of 1133 cases the year before.

Dengue is the second most commonly identified cause of fever in unwell international travellers.

Symptoms of dengue include a high fever (40C/104F), a severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands, a rash.

If symptoms get worse after two days - or once the fever recedes - then urgent medical attention is required.

36,000 people die from dengue fever worldwide each year.

The risk of death among those with severe dengue is 0.8% to 2.5%, and with adequate treatment this is less than 1%. However, those who develop significantly low blood pressure may have a fatality rate of up to 26%.
Getaway host Catriona Rowntree was stunned after being stopped in the street in Japan with an unusual request from a local.

The 52-year-old television presenter was shooting in Kanazawa City when she was asked not to film anyone walking around and eating.

'This is the first time I've ever been asked this... and I understand why. Whilst I may have eaten some sushi (that was so delicious) from a vending machine, we ate immediately and took our rubbish with us,' Catriona revealed on Instagram.

Walking and eating is common for Aussies, Americans and the English, but is far less common in other countries.

Japanese norms discourage people from walking and eating to prevent them discarding rubbish on the street. It is also considered impolite.

TV star Catriona Rowntree (right) was stunned after being stopped on a street in Japan with an unusual request from a local

Catriona explained, 'We were "responsible for our own rubbish" and for the Japanese, they learn this concept as soon as they start kindergarten. Children have to clean their own classrooms and that included the loos!

'Locals do not eat in the street, only tourists have takeaway coffees (of course there are exceptions but we never saw a single local doing this) and the idea that showing people eating in the streets will encourage rubbish is a concept I can understand.'

Hundreds of Australians expressed their awe at the discipline.

'Such a great philosophy to live by,' a man said. 'I wish Australia could adopt some of their customs.'

'We found no seating in the food courts in Shinjuku. After chatting with locals the expectation was you take food to the park to eat and relax, then take rubbish home. We did that and it was so beautiful to watch everyone interact, fly kites, and play,' another traveller added.

A Japanese teacher shared her experience with Aussie students.

'I have taken many Australian students to Japan on tours and we drill them about this before departure. Yes, it means sometimes we carry food when we're starving until we find somewhere to sit,' she said.

'And yes, we start the day with half-empty backpacks so we have room for our rubbish - even if that includes a fish carcass because someone chose to eat a whole fish for lunch in the park.'

The 52-year-old television presenter was shooting in Kanazawa City when she was asked not to film anyone walking around and eating

Tourists are encouraged to learn about the traditions and accepted behaviour in the country they are travelling to.

A Japanese store previously went viral after slamming foreign tourists for being rude to staff, littering and poor public etiquette.

An American traveller came across a large sign in Tokyo that berated tourists for having 'bad manners' and 'violating' the rules of the convenience store.

The list was posted next to the store's entrance.

Staff had to tidy up after tourists that littered inside the store, and put items back on the shelves in the wrong place, and angered by those who opened products before purchasing them.

Tourists would also unreasonably expect staff to speak English.
While hard at work on the campaign trail ahead of elections in November, US President Joe Biden has been filmed more than once apparently freezing and becoming seemingly oblivious to the proceedings around him.

Last weekend, at a Democrat campaign fundraiser in Los Angeles, it appeared as if he became rigid and zoned out in front of the crowd at the 7,100-seat Peacock Theater, before being gently guided off stage by former president Barack Obama.

Less than a week earlier, videos apparently showed the 81-year-old President freeze for about a minute before his speech became slurred during a Juneteenth celebration - to commemorate the ending of slavery in the US - at the White House.

His aides vehemently deny he has a health problem.

US President Joe Biden seemingly freezes during a Juneteenth concert at the White House

The 81-year-old President was said to have frozen for about a minute before his speech became slurred during the event in Washington

The White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre tore into videos she called cheap fakes that showed the President in a day-dreaming state. Just because youre standing up listening to music and not dancing, that is not a health issue, she said.

Yet President Biden is not the only senior statesman in the US to apparently show these worrying tendencies.

Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, also 81, caused concern when he suddenly stopped speaking at his weekly news conference on Capitol Hill back in July 2023. He stood still for around a minute, staring into space, before being led away by aides. He later returned, saying he was fine.

While anyone can space out from time to time  it can be a sign that you are sleep-deprived, stressed or distracted, for instance - it can also be a warning sign of a health problem.

Here, experts explain which conditions can lead to freezing episodes and why.

SEIZURES

Someone who seems to suddenly day-dream and lose all awareness of what is going on around them  without blacking out - may be having an absence seizure, also known as a petit mal seizure, a symptom of a type of epilepsy.

The best way to describe it is that you are absent for up to a minute before slowly coming back to reality, says Professor Fayyaz Ahmed, a consultant neurologist and honorary senior lecturer at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

These seizures happen when electrical signals in the brain go awry, which can occur due to genetics or, rarely, be triggered by exertion such as intense exercise but tend to occur most frequently in children who often go on to outgrow them.

The electrical activity in the brain can also misfire due to tissue damage caused by trauma and scarring, adds Professor Ahmed.

For example, after a concussion some patients develop absence seizures that make them appear frozen and unresponsive.

After the seizure is over, the person usually feels exhausted and needs to rest.

According to Epilepsy UK, this type of seizure can happen one after another and some people have hundreds of absence seizures a day.

If you think someone is having one, then the charity recommends you should gently guide the person away from any danger [especially if they are having repeated absences], stay with them until they are fully recovered and be calm and reassuring.

If someone has had an absence seizure, although they might not need immediate medical help at the time, they should make an appointment to see a doctor who can decide if any tests or a referral to a specialist are needed.

PARKINSONS DISEASE

This progressive disorder affecting the nervous system and brain can cause freezing episodes that affect someones mobility and speech and may also cause them to appear to temporarily lose awareness of whats going on around them. These episodes typically last from a few seconds to a minute.

Parkinsons is caused by low levels of a protein, L-DOPA, in the brain, which is needed to make dopamine, a hormone which among other things helps to initiate and control muscle movements and motor activities such as standing, walking and running.

The low L-DOPA may be caused by the death of brain cells in the part of the brain which receives messages relating to movement and co-ordination.

Why this happens is unclear as, while ageing may contribute, younger people can develop Parkinsonss too.

If there is a lack of L-DOPA in the brain, it is difficult to co-ordinate different motor activities, hence it seems as if the person is frozen - a similar thing can happen as there is slowing down on initiation on any motor movement, says Professor Ahmed.

This can affect someones ability to speak, the lack of co-ordination between different muscles involved in speech can cause mumbling and monotonous speech, says Professor Ahmed.

Some call it speech arrest - and it tends to last a few seconds.

Freezing episodes tend to recur more frequently as Parkinsons progresses, says Professor Roger Barker, a consultant neurologist at the University of Cambridge - one theory being that this is due to damage to areas at the base of the brain, including a structure called the pedunculopontine nucleus, thought to play a central role in the initiation and maintenance of movement.

Those with advanced Parkinsons may have episodes of freezing where they are unable to move at all.

This is not momentary but happens for few minutes to hours and is often relieved by taking anti-Parkinsons medications, says Professor Ahmed.

Freezing episodes can come on so suddenly that they lead to people falling over in some cases, adds Professor Barker.

For some reason we cant quite explain, their feet get stuck to the floor and they cant move.

There are tricks that people can use to overcome these freezes. For example, placing strips of tape or paper on the floor horizontally can create visual cues to prompt people with Parkinsons to walk, as it helps provide a guide for where to step  i.e. they can be instructed to place their foot on each line, or step over it like an obstacle.

Similarly, listening to sounds with a steady rhythm, such as the beats of a metronome, can be used as they can practise walking to keep in time with the music, says Professor Barker.

Exactly how these help is unclear, but its thought the physical cues help activate parts of the brain undamaged by the Parkinsons.

In some people, dopamine drugs can help, but not in most cases because the freeze itself isnt caused by low dopamine but pathology [the way the disease has developed] in other parts of the brain, adds Professor Barker.

Another option is cholinesterase inhibitors - drugs which prevent the breakdown of the acetylcholine (a chemical which sends messages between certain nerve cells). An imbalance of this chemical is thought to be a factor in Parkinsons symptoms.

PANIC ATTACKS

A freeze episode can become worse if someone then starts hyperventilating, and can occur if they are feeling anxious or are having a panic attack

Highly stressful situations can sometimes cause people to literally freeze in their tracks for minutes or more.

The freeze response dates back deep in our evolutionary past, as we think of animals freezing to be able to blend in with their surroundings to avoid being hunted as prey, Olivia Dornan, therapy manager at the Priory Hospital in Barnt Green, told Mail+.

Humans, just like animals, have a fear centre in the brain called the amygdala, which can trigger a freeze response to stop further harm coming to us by making us difficult to spot.

A freeze episode can become worse if someone then starts hyperventilating, and can occur if they are feeling anxious or are having a panic attack, as this rapid breathing means more carbon dioxide is eliminated from the body than is produced, which makes the blood more alkaline than normal. This can then lead to confusion and other cognitive problems, adds Ms Dornan.

This can also sometimes lead to hearing or sight being impacted which can escalate the feeling of zoning out.

There are ways to reduce the risk of this happening, she says.

Cognitive behavioural therapy, a talking therapy that can change the way you think and behave, can make you feel less anxious in trying situations, says Ms Dornan.

Longer term, exposure therapy - a psychological treatment where psychologists create a safe environment in which to expose individuals to the things they fear and avoid in order to neutralise them - can also be beneficial, she adds.

MINI STROKES

People can appear to be briefly unaware of what is going on around them, or unable to communicate, while having a transient ischaemic attack (TIA), also known as a mini stroke.

This is caused by a temporary disruption in the blood supply to part of the brain due to a clot which usually dissolves or dislodges on its own.

Symptoms, which can also include weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, may only last a few minutes or up to 24 hours (the symptoms of a full stroke by contrast last longer).

Mini strokes can be associated with losing awareness or consciousness because a small piece of clot breaks off from the heart or from the carotid artery in the neck, which blocks the small blood vessels in the brain before breaking down and dissipating, says Professor Ahmed.

This temporarily reduces the blood supply to those parts of the brain and can cause loss of speech, weakness or loss of sensation in face, arm or leg.

According to the Stroke Association, at least 46,000 people a year in the UK have a TIA for the first time and as it can be a risk factor for having a full stroke; if you do have any symptoms - however brief - it is important to get medical help.

CIRCULATORY PROBLEMS

Zoning out for seconds or  even briefly losing consciousness  after standing up can be due to problems with blood flow.

The body has control mechanisms that maintain blood flow despite the effects of gravity to ensure blood supply to the heart is preserved at all times, Dr Chris Pepper, a consultant cardiologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, told Mail+.

But sometimes when you stand after a period of sitting or lying down, it can take a few seconds for the bodys reflexes to kick in, so blood pressure falls and dizziness and zoning out - or sometimes fainting - can follow.

Adolescents and the elderly are most at risk of this, he says.

In older people, Dr Pepper says this is likely to relate to a slower heart rate or lower blood pressure caused by the effects of ageing.

By far the most common cause of this happening in children and teenagers is what is called a vasovagal faint, he adds.

This happens when there is a sudden drop in blood pressure and heart rate due to the spontaneous overactivity of the vagus nerve, which sends messages that contribute to regulate heartbeat.

BLEED ON THE BRAIN

An intracranial haematoma, or collection of blood within the skull, can cause patients to zone out suddenly and is usually brought on by a burst blood vessel

A worrying possibility is that a sudden freeze or zone out is due to an intracranial haematoma, which is a collection of blood within the skull. The symptoms in this case come on suddenly but can persist for hours or even longer.

Its usually caused by a blood vessel that bursts in the brain but can also be caused by a head injury due, for example, to a car accident or fall.

The blood may collect in the brain tissue or underneath the skull, pressing on the brain. The damage to the brain tissue means that key areas of the brain arent functioning efficiently any more.

Symptoms such as chronic headache and slurred speech or freezing that can develop right after the injury, or days, weeks or months later.

They can be life-threatening, so its crucial to get urgent medical help if you have a head injury.

Any blood clot in the brain can lead to a seizure or a freezing episode, says Professor Ahmed.
Applying gentle shockwaves could get heart muscle working again following bypass operations, new studies suggest.

Doctors in Austria have successfully regenerated cardiac tissue using a device to send mild stimulation shortly after patients had undergone surgery.

Tests showed that the treatment helped the heart pump more oxygen around the body. Meanwhile, patients reported being able to walk further without resting and also said they had a better general quality of life.

Heart bypass surgery is a procedure that can help patients whose supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked.

It creates a new path for blood to flow around narrowed or clogged parts of the major arteries to improve blood flow and oxygen supply to the heart.

Doctors in Austria have successfully regenerated cardiac tissue using a device to send mild stimulation shortly after patients had undergone surgery (stock image)

But this can only preserve heart function, and not improve it.

So researchers wanted to assess whether they could help regenerate the damaged heart muscle after bypass surgery.

In a trial involving 63 patients, researchers used a machine - dubbed a 'space hairdryer' - to apply mild soundwaves shortly after bypass surgery.

It was theorised that the ten-minute procedure would stimulate the growth of new vessels around the area damaged or scarred after a heart attack.

A year after surgery, the amount of oxygenated blood pumped by the heart had increased by 11.3 per cent in the shockwave group and 6.3 per cent in the control group who did not get the treatment.

The authors of the paper also reported that the shockwave patients could also walk further without resting in a six-minute test, according to the findings published in the European Heart Journal.

Professor Johannes Holfeld, from Innsbruck Medical University in Austria, told the BBC that the treatment could help 'millions of people'.

He said: 'It means they are able to go out for a walk with their dog again or go to the supermarket in their everyday life.

'We also anticipate they will have a longer life expectancy and fewer re-hospitalisations.'

Experts say a larger trial is needed but that it could one day help patients with as yet incurable heart failure (stock image)

Experts say a larger trial is needed but that it could one day help patients with as yet incurable heart failure.

Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation and consultant cardiologist, said: 'Heart failure can be an extremely debilitating condition, estimated to affect over one million people in the UK.

'Ischaemic heart disease, or a lack of blood supply to the heart muscle, is known to be the biggest single contributor to the number of heart failure patients.

'Heart surgery that bypasses blocked coronary arteries undoubtedly helps alleviate symptoms for ischaemic heart disease patients and may prevent heart failure. But this is not always the case, and there is still much room for improvement.

'What's exciting about this trial is that a year later, people who had shockwave therapy to the heart during their operation had better heart function and fewer symptoms than those who didn't. Bigger and longer trials are now needed to research the long-term effects.'
Family doctors are struggling to find work as patients battle to get an appointment due to widely-reported staff shortages, in a what has been labelled a 'ridiculous fiasco' by senior medics.

Doctor's union the British Medical Association (BMA), said 84 per cent of locum GPs, those medics that fill in when regular GPs are unavailable, say they can't find work.

This has left some family doctors being forced to instead pick up jobs as tutors, Uber drivers and supermarket workers.

Meanwhile, official data shows millions of patients in England are being forced to wait months for GP appointments with many being forced to turn up to A&E for care as a result, adding to waiting times in hospitals.

Amid the appointments' crisis, public satisfaction with primary care has, perhaps unsurprisingly, plunged to an all-time low in England.

A total of 55 per cent of GP appointments in England are now with a non-doctor, compared to just 50 per cent six years ago, official data shows (stock image)

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NHS data show there are about 36,500 FTE regular family doctors employed at practices in England.

But analysts have stated they believe another 7,400 family doctors are needed to plug gaps in primary care.

It comes as the latest NHS data shows more than 3million patients, about one in 10, are having to wait at least three weeks to see their GP.

A lack of access to GP appointments also has knock-on effects to other aspects of NHS care like A&E, with patients unable to get their health issues seen at the primary level are forced to seek help from emergency departments.

Public satisfaction with GP services in the UK has also plunged its lowest level ever recorded.

The stats, collated by the Office for National Statistics, shows the proportion of respondents reporting positive overall experience of general practices was in 'statistically significant decline' in England and Scotland.

Some medics have reported being shocked to find former GP colleagues working as Uber drivers after being unable to find employment as a family doctor

In 2022, only 72 per cent of respondents in England reported their experience as positive, down from 83 per cent pre-pandemic.

Additionally, only 43 per cent found it 'very easy' or 'easy' to contact their GP practice.

BMA officials blamed the Government for ringfencing practice staff recruitment funding to non-doctor professionals for the ongoing crisis for why the vast majority if the 1,350 locum GPs they polled couldn't find any or as much work as they wanted.

A locum GP from Dorset told the union: 'I cant even find a job because GPs are being replaced by cheaper staff.

'Ive explored countless options within the NHS to no avail so Im taking up GCSE tutoring to make ends meet.

'After nearly 30 years of service, Ive been driven out of the NHS by a government scheme that blocks general practice from employing general practitioners  its maddening.'

Another GP locum from London described how work 'dried up overnight', adding: 'The problem with replacing GPs with cheaper alternatives is that what might appear to be a routine condition, particularly in children, may actually turn out to be a serious illness.

'For example, a patient might come into a practice complaining of muscular pain, but only a trained GP can swiftly differentiate between muscular pain and deep vein thrombosis. This is why patients deserve to be seen by GPs.'

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Other medics have also reported being shocked to find former GP colleagues working as Uber drivers after being unable to find employment as a family doctor.

Dr Animesh Singh, a rheumatologist based in London, took to X to share one example, writing: 'Took an Uber home on Tuesday evening from Central London. The person driving was a qualified GP unable to get work.'

Other family doctors have reportedly been looking for jobs in supermarkets due to being unable to secure an NHS role.

Senior medics have blamed the Government's Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme  a 1.4 billion fund designed to boost GP practice staff including physician associates and pharmacists, but not GPs or practice nurses, for fuelling the crisis.

Dr Mark Steggles, BMA sessional GP committee chairman, said: 'These shocking results reinforce what many locum GPs are telling us  they cannot get any, or enough work.

'It leaves us in the ridiculous situation where so many patients are being denied the chance to see a GP, even though we have GPs wanting to work and care for them.'

Professor Philip Banfield, chairman of BMA council, added: 'To have highly-qualified doctors turning to other jobs to earn a wage whilst GP practices cannot meet the demands placed on them and patients waiting weeks for an appointment, shows what a fiasco the NHS has been turned into.'

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, RCGP chair, said: 'These concerning findings chime with our own research that has shown six out of 10 job-seeking GPs have struggled to find a vacancy to apply for in the past year.'

'It makes no sense that GPs are struggling to find jobs when general practice is working under such intense pressures, our patients are struggling to access timely GP care, and frankly, were in desperate need of more GPs.

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'Its particularly worrying to hear that the shortage of work being reported may be disincentivising GPs and pushing them out of the profession entirely.'

Earlier this week the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) warned that hundreds of GPs have struggled to find work in the last year, with the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme playing a key part.

A total of 55 per cent of GP appointments in England are now with a non-doctor, compared to just 50 per cent six years ago, official data shows.

But GPs have warned surgery staff who aren't doctors, such as the controversial physician associates (PAs), may not be able to spot earlier signs of serious illness, especially in children.

PAs, who don't go to medical school but instead do two years of post-graduate training on top of a degree in a subject like biomedical sciences, have already been linked to three deaths.

Reports of GPs being unable to find work comes as those family medics who are employed report being overwhelmed by patient demand.

Under guidelines GPs are told not to deliver more than 25 appointments a day to ensure 'safe care'. But some doctors are reportedly having to cram in nearly 60 in every workday.

The result is millions of patients being rushed through appointments, which critics have described as being treated like 'goods on a factory conveyor belt'.

The BMA survey comes after MailOnline revealed the number of admin staff like receptionists hires by GP practices has rapidly outpaced the number of family doctors employed.

This website's analysis found admin staff now outnumber GPs at over 90 per cent of surgeries.

The Department of Health and Social Care declined to comment on the results of the BMA survey due to the upcoming election.

It comes amid ongoing debate about the use of PA's with increasing concerns patients are mistaking them for doctors.

PAs have been under increased scrutiny following the death of Emily Chesterton in November 2022.

Emily Chesterton, 30, who died from a pulmonary embolism after being misdiagnosed on two occasions by a physician associate at her GP surgery. Her parents believe she would still be alive if she had seen a doctor

The 30-year-old had been under the impression that she was seeing a GP but was actually seen twice by a PA who failed on both occasions to spot that her leg pain and breathlessness was a blood clot, which ultimately travelled to her lungs.

The RCGP has called for a halt of recruitment of PAs in general practice until they are regulated.

However, in a speech earlier this week shadow health secretary Wes Streeting came to PA's defence, stating he was depressed by the state of debate' around 'devalued' PAs, and urged the NHS to not 'slam the brakes' on their recruitment.

Medics reacted with fury to the comments accusing Mr Streeting of 'living in a fairy world' and claiming he was attempting to silence their concerns.
People living in encampments in San Jose, California are the latest group affected by a highly contagious bug called shigella.

The bacteria, which is transmitted when someone comes in contact with fecal matter through sex, diapers, food or water, causes bloody diarrhea, vomiting, fever and stomach pain that can last for weeks.

Santa Clara County health officials have confirmed three cases and said another 19 were suspected during a two week period beginning June 3, including two people who have been hospitalized.

'We're really pursuing this situation aggressively because of the number of cases as well as the setting and making sure that this doesn't spread further' Monika Roy, Assistant Health Officer at Santa Clara County Health department, told ABC 7.

Shigella is transmitted when someone comes in contact with fecal matter through sex, diapers, food or water

The breakouts are centered around homeless encampments in Columbus and Roosevelt parks in San Jose, but officials said the risk of the bacteria spreading from these areas to other people is low.

One survey found there are approximately 6,340 homeless people living in San Jose. Though actual counts are likely much higher, the San Jose Spotlight reported.

But the problem has been plaguing similar areas in both Oregon and Pennsylvania, making California the third state to suffer an outbreak in the past year.

Shigella outbreaks usually only occur in areas with little access to sinks, toilets and other hygiene stations, but if you're regularly washing your hands and bathing, you're much less likely to get infected.

These encampments, however, don't usually have places for people to wash their hands, bathe or cook. Oftentimes, they don't even have clean water to drink.

In December 2023, 45 cases of the bacteria were confirmed in Portland, Oregon. Bobby Artale, a homeless man who caught the bug, said, 'it lasted two weeks. It was uncontrollable diarrhea. Oh, it was horrible.'

Prior to that, there were 68 confirmed cases between October and November 2023 in Philadelphia, which was more than double the historical rate for the city, Axios reported.

If a person contracts shigella, they usually get better on their own, though sometimes antibiotics are prescribed in severe cases.

News reports showed encampments in Columbus and Roosevelt parks in California, where the breakouts are centered around

News reports showed encampments in Columbus and Roosevelt parks in California, where the breakouts are centered around

While the California county records some shigella cases each year, Dr Roy said the spread is typically contained when an effected individual is quarantined from others.

But it seems this most recent outbreak is affecting people who can't afford the privacy that quarantining requires, causing the disease to spread more easily.

'Whats concerning about this outbreak isnt the absolute number. We do regularly see Shigella cases,' Dr Roy said. 'Whats concerning more is the number that are related to each other.'

Because of this uptick, Dr Roy and other officials have announced their strategy is to first figure out how many people have caught the bacteria, so that they can contain it.

In addition, since the parks where both encampments are based are near bodies of water - Coyote Creek and the Guadalupe River - there is some concern about the bacteria getting into the water supply.

The threat of this is low, and Dr Roy said public health officials' efforts to provide clean drinking water and sanitation options should eliminate the likelihood that infected individuals would choose to defecate into the water supply.

The breakouts in both Pennsylvania and Oregon were eventually contained.
Britvic has long appeared an anachronism. Down at the Druids Head in Brighton, for as long as I can remember, it sold orange juice in the smallest bottles for the highest prices.

One often mused as to how it could survive when the supermarkets sell great cartons of freshly squeezed with a competitive mark-up.

Robinsons, its other main brand, will shortly make its annual appearance at Wimbledon.

Considerations: Making the case to keep Britvic British is tricky as there is no overwhelming national interest at stake

It also brings back memories of sun-kissed birthday parties from childhood. In an age of healthy and energy-giving beverages, cordials appear awkwardly dated.

Not it seems to Danish brewer Carlsberg. In a world when alcoholic drinks are being diluted, mixers and soft drinks are coming back into fashion.

The UK is good at fizzy drinks. Schweppes crossed the Atlantic way back in 2005 thanks to the ministrations of activist investor Nelson Peltz.

He did entrepreneurship a favour. Fever-Tree, which uses superior ingredients, has filled a gap in the UK market.

A G Barr, home to Scotland's Irn-Bru (as well as Lucozade), carries on regardless.

With exquisite timing, after Denmark somewhat humiliated England in the Euros, it has been disclosed that brewer Carlsberg, which claims a UK heritage dating back 300 years, is seeking control of Britvic with a 3.1billion bid.

The board chaired by Ian Durant, a Hanson acolyte who has occupied the chair at Greggs, has told Carlsberg to take a hike twice.

The Danes now have until July 19 to provide an enhanced cash offer. Goldman Sachs International, Britvic's biggest investor with a 8.29 per cent stake, will have a significant say.

Plans: Jeremy Hunt is seeking to mobilise investor cash and bring it back to the UK

Britain's long funds are way down the list of owners. M&G, with a substantial 4.7 per cent holding, is in sixth place.

Encouragingly for Labour, a shift leftwards in British politics is not discouraging animal spirits. Quite the contrary, the bids keep coming.

Among those live is the unwanted 3.6billion bid by Czech sphinx Daniel Kretinsky for International Distribution Services, owner of the Royal Mail.

Labour pledges in its manifesto to 'robustly scrutinise'. Another bid is the 5.4billion offered by private equity and a sovereign wealth fund for investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown.

A succession of high-profile bids and deals is testimony to the undervaluation of stocks on the London Stock Exchange.

Deals can be resisted as Anglo-American, Currys and Direct Line have demonstrated. The loss of the dividend tax break in 2007 led pension fund managers to look more globally for returns, leaving the City in the doldrums.

The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is seeking to mobilise investor cash and bring it back to the UK.

Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves has similar ideas. It is hard for everyone who believes in Britain's excellence as a financial hub to watch the FTSE 350 being denuded so easily.

Making the case to keep Britvic British is tricky. Unlike Royal Mail, there is no overwhelming national interest at stake. There are other considerations which the next government, whatever its stripe, needs to think about.

Many overseas takeovers  Cadbury and Boots come to mind  have had consequences for tax, pensions, intellectual property and jobs.

Among the first steps taken by predators is to change tax domicile of targets, depriving HMRC of corporate tax revenues. Consolidation is a polite word for axing factories and jobs and moving production to lower cost countries such as Poland.

Britain's talent for innovation is unheralded. In the case of Britvic, the intrinsic value of low sugar drinks, such as Pepsi Max and premium mixers London Essence, fails to be recognised in the offer price.

The Tories are always keen to make the case that post-Brexit foreign takeovers show Britain is open still for business. The history of Arm Holdings, the UK's biggest tech escapee, shows how wrong that judgment will be.

There is no reason to think that Carlsberg will be a particularly harmful owner. Nevertheless, Britvic has a strong global footprint and is in a growth segment of the beverages industry.

If the Danish company comes back with what seems a compelling offer, Britvic's directors must resist temptation to roll out the barrel.
Beijing officials have warned that strict electric car tariffs 'may trigger a trade war' with Europe.

Tensions have mounted in recent weeks after Brussels said it would slap Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) with additional tariffs of up to 38 per cent.

The move is aimed at protecting European carmakers who felt they were being undercut by Chinese firms such as BYD and Geely.

Warning: European carmakers feel they are being undercut by Chinese firms such as BYD and Geely

The charges add to the existing 10 per cent levy on cars imported into the EU, meaning they now face total tariffs of as much as 48 per cent.

But the measures  which are the result of a nine-month investigation  risk pushing up the price of EVs.

Chinese businesses have urged Beijing to hit back against European cars. Now, China's government has ratcheted up the rhetoric.

'The European side continues to escalate trade frictions and could trigger a trade war,' a spokesperson for China's commerce ministry said yesterday. 'The responsibility lies entirely with the European side.'

The comments came shortly before Germany's economy minister Robert Habeck kicked off a three-day trip to the region as he looks to allay Chinese anger.

German carmakers would be the most exposed to any counter moves from China, as almost a third of their sales came from there last year.

EU car exports to China were worth 16.5billion in 2023, while the bloc bought 8.2billion of electric vehicles from China, according to EU statistics agency figures.

British brands such as MG and Lotus that are owned by Chinese parent companies could also be caught in the crossfire.

US giant Tesla has also suggested it will hike the price of its EVs in the face of tariffs.

The Tesla Model Y, which costs around 45,000, is currently the most popular electric car in the UK.

The latest European levy is due to come into force on July 5 unless China and the EU can strike a deal. The UK has been silent on whether it will impose tariffs of its own  but ministers have previously said they would wait to see the results of the European investigation.

And Britain has shown a more welcoming attitude to the Chinese car industry in its efforts to woo its companies to set up manufacturing facilities in the UK.

In November, investment minister Lord Johnson said the country could capitalise on Brexit freedoms to sell Chinese firms' electric cars to the rest of the world.

'China have a very powerful electric car industry, they've got a lot of excellent technology and they're making great cars,' he said.
Octopus Energy will repay the Government 3billion ahead of schedule following the taxpayer bailout of failed supplier Bulb.

The London-based company has already repaid hundreds of millions of the amount owed, with the balance expected to be settled by the end of September.

Bulb was bailed out in November 2021 after soaring wholesale gas and energy prices left it unable to buy energy for its 1.5million customers. It was the largest energy supplier to fail during the crisis.

On track: Octopus has already repaid hundreds of millions of the amount owed, with the balance expected to be settled by the end of September

Octopus bought Bulb out of administration in October 2022, in a move that helped it to become the UK's largest electricity provider to nearly 7m homes.

At one point, the Office for Budget Responsibility had estimated that the bailout would cost 6.5billion  the most expensive since the financial crisis. However, falling energy prices have slashed the final price to 3.02billion.

Octopus Energy founder Greg Jackson said: 'This outcome is a great result for taxpayers.

'Octopus worked hard in the energy crisis to create a fair deal. Although Bulb went bust with billions of liabilities, it has cost the Government almost nothing.'

The bailout was a test of the UK's special administration regime. It comes as the Government draws up contingency plans in case debt-laden Thames Water collapses.

Octopus' repayment represents an approximately 99 per cent plus recovery of amounts owned to HMG,' energy security and net zero permanent secretary Jeremy Pocklington said in May.
What's going on?

Unilever is a 111billion leviathan, most famous for Marmite and Hellmann's mayonnaise, but also the name behind Cif, Dove, Persil, Sunsilk, Surf and Lynx cologne.

This week King Charles has been urged by a Ukrainian campaign group to strip Unilever of its royal warrants because it continues to operate in Russia.

Unilever's CEO Hein Schumacher, 52, says that the matter is 'not straightforward' since, if Unilever quits Russia, its assets could be seized by allies of President Putin.

The company is making other big changes, however.

Tell us more

Supersized conglomerates are somewhat out of fashion and Unilever will spin off its ice cream subsidiary. Ice cream is a low-margin business.

Is it big in ice cream?

I should say so. The division which includes Ben and Jerry's, Magnum and Wall's may be valued at as much as 15billion.

It is not yet known what the spun-off business will be called  or where it will be listed. Amsterdam or New York could win this prize because some think the London market has the appeal of a melted vanilla cornet.

Is the sell-off part of a bigger plan?

The group has developed a Growth Action Plan. One of those backing it is Nelson Peltz, US activist extraordinaire (and Brooklyn Beckham's father-in-law).

His campaign for a make-over at Unilever won him a seat on the board. Peltz was opposed to the previous focus on sustainability over performance.

Fund managers like Terry Smith, of Fundsmith, were also unimpressed by the company's woke agenda. Why should mayonnaise have 'purpose'?

What's the strategy behind the plan?

Unilever is to concentrate on its 30 power brands which make up 75 per cent of the group's 15billion (12billion) turnover.

These brands are seen as having 'pricing power', meaning customers will pay more rather than swap to a rival's cheaper products. The power brands include Marmite and Dove, but also the more obscure Paula's Choice.

I am unfamiliar with that product...

This range is one of Unilever's upmarket cosmetic and skincare brands, which have prospered despite the cost of living crisis.

How have Unilever shares performed?

Over the past decade Unilever shares have fallen by 11 per cent. But they are up 17 per cent since January at 4434p.

Are Unilever shares worth a bet?

Most analysts rate the shares a 'hold'. But Smith is now an enthusiast, arguing that the group has potential. Deutsche Bank analyst Tom Sykes perceives this to be a buying opportunity, setting a target price of 4600p.
Hargreaves Lansdown's prospective new owners should ban working from home, its co-founder has said.

Peter Hargreaves, who launched the business with Stephen Lansdown in 1981, said he hoped more staff would return to the office if the private equity bidders led by buyout firm CVC take control.

'There's a lot of working from home, and the help desk doesn't work if working from home,' Hargreaves told the Telegraph.

He added: 'I hope [they get rid of working from home]. You just can't run a business like that. It's just madness.'

Moving on: Hargreaves Lansdown's board this week said it would accept a 5.4billion offer from CVC, Nordic Capital and Abu Dhabi-backed Platinum Ivy

His comments come after the firm's board this week said it would accept a 5.4billion offer from CVC, Nordic Capital and Abu Dhabi-backed Platinum Ivy.

HL, which floated in 2007, is the country's biggest investment platform.
The use of cash has dropped steeply over recent years. Many people now prefer the ease of banking online and using contactless payments.

But there are still many people who still rely on cash. In fact, research from Link suggests five million still reply on cash day in, day out.

John Howells is the chief executive of Link, the Britain's largest cash machine network.

Here, he shares why securing the future of physical money and helping people better transition into a digital world will be key for the next government.

Use it or lose it: Securing the future of physical money and helping people better transition into a digital world will be key for the next government, says John Howells

How often do you use cash? Is it less often than it used to be, or more?

As the chief executive of Link, I'm acutely aware that fewer people are using cash than ever before.

They are choosing to use options which suit them better  because many people can now bank online, pay with contactless, and check their balance at the swipe of a finger.

But our research suggests that there are still five million people who rely on cash day in, day out.

They're overwhelmingly likely to be living on a tight budget and using cash to help make sure ends meet. We can't afford to leave those people behind.

Before the last election in 2019, Link funded a seminal piece of research which warned that the UK was sleepwalking into a cashless society.

The Access to Cash Review, independently led by Natalie Ceeney CBE, called for swift action to protect the most vulnerable in society from the rapid shift to digital.

At the time, just four people in 100 told us that they never carry cash.

Since 2019, people have voted with their feet and chosen the convenience of contactless payments, or shopping online. Today, 14 per cent of people say they never carry cash.

Even those who do carry cash are less likely to be paying for everyday items in cash than they were. That's why Link cash machines issue 100million less every day to consumers compared to a short while ago.

The trend is only going one way. UK Finance forecast that just 7 per cent of payments will be made in cash by 2032.

But not everyone can use a mobile banking app.

Not everyone can budget with contactless payments which could go out of your account today or next week.

Not everyone is confident in the security of digital payments.

Since 2019, Link has taken decisive action to protect access to cash across the country.

We've funded thousands of machines in areas which could otherwise be cash deserts, and recommended new banking hubs in every part of the country.

In five years' time, if you need to use a special counter to pay for groceries in cash because many manned cash registers have faded away, it could make life hard for some of the most vulnerable people in society. But there's no reason it has to work that way.

Through this work, we've ensured that the same proportion of people live within 1km of free cash access as they did, despite the overall number of machines reducing.

We were delighted to see the Government back that work up in law last year.

But with an election now looming, it's right to ask what the next Parliament means for access to cash.

Looking forward to the end of the decade, it's clear that cash usage will become less and less common.

The protections laid out in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 will make sure that, despite decreasing usage, people can still access cash conveniently.

We are pleased that all the major parties have identified the role that banking hubs are playing on the high street too.

But the next government will want to think creatively about the future of payments.

The current Treasury Policy Statement does not specify the need for face-to-face services at hubs, but they are a popular part of the service providing a crucial point of contact for people on their high street.

The fledgling National Payments Vision does not yet set out a clear route of travel for the UK maintaining its world leading status in payments.

And there is no coherent plan yet for getting people ready for the digital world.

Without bold action, customers in five years' time could be face significant exclusion if they rely on cash.

Cash users already miss out on some of the best deals if they're not online.

In five years' time, if you need to use a special counter to pay for groceries in cash because many manned cash registers have faded away, it could make life hard for some of the most vulnerable people in society.

But there's no reason it has to work that way.

If we want a world where everyone can continue to choose how to pay, we must ensure the transition to digital is fair.

That means protecting access to cash for as long as people want it, but also giving them the tools they need to use other means of payment.

Whether that is through a comprehensive approach to digital inclusion, or through designing universal digital banking services, the next Government has a key role to play.

LINK has been working with local partners in Wales, Devon and Northern Ireland to look at how local communities can upskill people with the basic digital knowledge they need to thrive as the world becomes less analogue and more digital. We are helping to teach the basics on email and 'the internet'.

For many, digital wallets and open banking are part of a new and off-putting foreign language.

We have seen that people need support in their communities from people that they trust and understand.

The truth is, however, this needs concerted national energy directed at this rather than a patchwork of local solutions.

At the start, I asked about your cash habits. Whether you are using no cash at all, less than before, or still get your wallet out and use cash at every opportunity, you still rely on a robust cash access network.

If digital systems go down, cash is the only alternative. That's just one reason why we'll continue to protect access to cash for as long as it is needed.

But it would be shortsighted to just focus on protecting cash, when we need to prepare for a digital future that works for everyone, all the time.
A heatwave may be on its way, ending a period of dispiriting weather. But even though Britain is basking in sunshine, many of us will still be booking a holiday abroad.

It's a preference that investors carrying out a midsummer portfolio review should note.

The unquenchable desire for an overseas break seems to be the most lasting post-pandemic consumer behaviour shift, according to airline bosses.

Taking off?: There is no guarantee of up-up-and-away performance, but there are bargains on offer

Previously this type of 'revenge' expenditure was viewed by some to be a transitory phenomenon.

Luis Gallego, chief of IAG, owner of British Airways, says 'the high demand for travel is a continuing trend' while Wizz Air boss Jozsef Varadi also senses that a fortnight on the beach or by the pool is regarded as a priority.

As a result, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) is expecting record passenger numbers this year. The recovery is being driven by shorthaul flights, packed with tourists.

Corporate travellers are also returning, with tech bosses favouring meeting in person over Zoom. Until other executives decide to get airborne, affluent individuals, willing to pay extra for comfort, are occupying business class seats.

Tom Gilbey, at Quilter Cheviot, highlights the benefits flowing from the new mood of rationality in the sector.

Post-pandemic consolidation has made the industry leaner. Meanwhile, the problems at aircraft manufacturer Boeing have limited the growth in fleet capacities, thus curbing possibly over-ambitious expansion plans.

He comments: 'This combination of a disciplined supply side and a robust demand environment suggests a positive outlook for the airline sector moving forward.'

Investors excited at the opportunities on offer must be prepared for global shocks that cause havoc in the airline industry, as Covid illustrated.

Also, even before the announcement of the general election, Johan Lundgren of easyJet and Michael O'Leary of Ryanair sensed that some customers were becoming more resistant to high ticket prices.

The suspicions surrounding the Labour government's true plans for tax rises may make more households wary about splashing out.

Meanwhile, in the longer term, there is the possibility of further legislation to limit the environmental impact of flying.

IATA is forecasting that airlines worldwide will use 99billion gallons of fuel this year, an increase of 3 per cent on 2019 consumption.

As a consequence of these factors, there is no guarantee of up-up-and-away performance, but there are bargains on offer.

IAG

International Consolidated Airlines has an empire that encompasses not only British Airways, but also Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling.

The company's debt mountain has been reduced and Gallego is confident that the turnaround will not be reversed.

Yet IAG shares stand at 164p  47 per cent below their level of five years ago  and trade at just four times earnings.

Analysts at BNP Paribas Exane and JP Morgan are among those who believe that the stock is undervalued.

This week, for example, Ruairi Cullinane of RBC reiterated his view that IAG was a 'buy' with a target price of 230p. The average target price is 270p.

EasyJet

Most analysts rate this low-cost carrier a buy despite the fears that 'revenge' spending on getaways may be slackening.

At 449p Easyjet shares are 40 per cent below five years ago, but there are hopes of revival since the average analysts' target price is 706p.

Lundgren steps down from the top job next year, having built a profitable package holiday division and slashed borrowings.

Ryanair

Ryanair, run by the perennially choleric O'Leary, is now Europe's largest airline.

But it has been hit hard by the issues at Boeing which have delayed the arrival of new planes for the fleet.

Ryanair shares have fallen by 11 per cent since the start of the year to 17.

But most analysts still rate Ryanair a 'buy', with an average target price of 24.96.

O'Leary pockets a 100m bonus if the share price stays above 21 for 28 days.

In this sector, there is little embarrassment over soar- away pay.

Jet2

This Aim-listed business is not only an airline, it is also Britain's largest tour operator, an activity that offers chunkier margins.

Jet2 shares are up 4 per cent this year to 1298p, having soared by 442p over the past decade.

Most analysts consider Jet2 a 'buy', with an average target price of 1892p. Airlines' pricing power is set to be tested.

But Jet2's good behaviour during the pandemic  deposits were refunded in a timely way  could afford the company an advantage over its rivals.
A chief constable sacked for lying about his military service was caught out when his ex wife blew the whistle, it can be revealed.

Nick Adderley's second wife Jenny Eastman said she felt compelled to report him after being left sickened by the 'disrespect' he had shown genuine veterans.

Ms Eastman said she was relieved the most senior officer in the Northamptonshire force, 57, had finally been held to account after he donned medals and claimed to have 'experienced loss of life' in war, despite never seeing action in his two-year naval career.

The 176,000 a year top cop was dismissed without notice yesterday after being found to have committed gross misconduct and now faces possible criminal charges.

The Crown Prosecution Service is considering a file of evidence which could lead to charges of misconduct in a public office and fraud by false representation - both of which can carry jail terms.

Mr Adderley gets to keep his lucrative police pension which is only forfeited in the event he is found guilty of a criminal offence.

Nick Adderley leaves Northampton Saints Stadium on Tuesday after the first day of his misconduct hearing

His misconduct hearing was told he lied and exaggerated his naval rank, length of service and achievements when applying to become chief constable.

The tribunal heard how he built a military legend that wasn't true - including implying that he had served in the Falklands War, despite being 15 when the conflict broke out in 1982.

The panel, chaired by Callum Cowx found all allegations against Mr Adderley proven, saying they found 'his audacity to be quite staggering', adding that he had lied with 'arrogant temerity'.

Mr Adderley was dismissed without notice and placed on the police barred list by the panel, who said his 'sustained brazen dishonesty and sustained lack of integrity will cause lasting harm to the police service'.

Ms Eastman, a retired policewoman, said she reported Mr Adderley after an old colleague of the pair sent her a picture of him wearing the General Service Medal (Northern Ireland) - awarded for service during The Troubles - and the South Atlantic Medal and was sickened.

At the time of the ten-week Falklands conflict, she knew her ex-husband was just 15, and a sea cadet.

Jenny Eastman (left) met Mr Adderley (right) when the pair were in the same training intake at Cheshire Constabulary in 1992. She was 21 and he was 25. They are pictured that year at the Cheshire Constabulary training campus bar

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Ms Eastman said her ex-husband 'was embellishing his past to give himself some sort of war hero status'

She contacted the force and her complaint was passed to the Office of the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner which launched an investigation.

'The public need to have trust in the police,' she said. 'I found his lies gut-wrenching.

'It is horrifying to me when you consider the bravery of the police and the people who were actually in the Falklands War.'

Ms Eastman met Mr Adderley when the pair were in the same training intake at Cheshire Constabulary in February 1992.

She was 21 and he was 25. The pair married in 1998 but had gone their separate ways within four years after she filed for divorce on the grounds of his unreasonable behaviour.

She said Mr Adderley 'had a presence about him' and she had no 'reason to doubt him or be wary of him'.

But Ms Eastman added: 'As time went on it became obvious that he was not a nice person.

The Northamptonshire Chief Constable (pictured) arriving at the Northampton Saints ground on May 28 for a gross misconduct disciplinary hearing

Ms Eastman declined to go into further detail about her relationship with Mr Adderley but said that as she reached 30 she had a 'lightbulb moment' and knew she had to get out of the relationship.

She said that by the time she filed for divorce, she had 'learned a great deal about Mr Adderley's character' but said her decision to blow the whistle was not the action of a scorned ex-wife.

'People might think I'm bitter towards him or he thinks I've waged a campaign against him', Ms Eastman added.

'But it's not that. I would have done the same if this was just somebody I knew about, rather than an ex-partner. I didn't go to the Press with this, I did it (blew the whistle) through the proper channels.

'People in service should be held to a high degree of trust. People like him should not be running a police force.'

The misconduct hearing in Northampton heard Mr Adderley wore a South Atlantic Medal (SAM), awarded to military personnel and civilians for service in the Falklands war, that was found to be fake by a Ministry of Defence medal expert.

Mr Adderley claimed on his CV and his application form when applying to become chief constable in 2018 that he had been in the Royal Navy for 10 years when he had served for only two, and had apparently included his service with the Sea Cadets from the age of 10 in that calculation.

Mr Adderley pinned the 1982 campaign medal to his chest  despite not joining the Royal Navy until two years later

He also claimed that he had attended the Britannia Royal Naval College for four years, despite his application being rejected.

Adderley also said that he had seen active service, been a military negotiator in Haiti despite never visiting the country, and that he had been a 'commander or a lieutenant' even though he only achieved the rank of able seaman.

Announcing his decision yesterday, panel chair Mr Cowx said the case raised serious questions about vetting of police officers and that alarm bells should have rung' when Mr Adderley applied for the top job.

Mr Adderley, who lives in Gwynedd, with his third wife, did not attend the final day of the misconduct hearing, despite being directed to by Mr Cowx.

In a statement read out on his behalf by his barrister Matthew Holdcroft, he said he 'deeply regrets' any offence his medal-wearing may have caused veterans.

IOPC regional director Emily Barry said Adderley's conduct 'had fallen well below the professional standards of any police officer, never mind a chief constable.'

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone said the case had put Northamptonshire Police 'in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons' and that proper process and vetting was not in place when he was hired.

Acting Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet said the 'unprecedented nature' of what has happened 'should not reflect on the dedication and commitment shown by Northamptonshire Police officers and staff'.
South Korean soldiers were forced to shoot at dozens of North Korean troops who crossed the border yesterday in an unsettling flurry of activity hours after Vladimir Putin left Pyongyang.

The crossing - the third in just two weeks - prompted South Korean soldiers to blast warnings from loudspeakers, but the North Korean troops did not retreat until they came under fire.

The countries technically remain at war as the 1950-1953 conflict ended in an armistice, and the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) dividing the peninsula is already one of the most heavily mined places on earth despite its name.

But North Korea is moving to reinforce that, laying more landmines, reinforcing tactical roads and adding what appear to be anti-tank barriers, Seoul's military said.

A similar crossing incident earlier this week saw several North Korean soldiers sustain injuries when they accidentally stumbled upon landmines they had recently laid along the border as they retreated.

The increase in tensions between Seoul and Pyongyang comes as the pariah state's leader Kim Jong Un this week signed a comprehensive partnership deal with Russian President Putin.

The pact included a mutual defence clause that means each country must come to the other's aid in the event of war.

This undated handout photo provided on June 18, 2024 by the South Korean Defence Ministry shows North Korean soldiers working at an undisclosed location near the heavily fortified border, as seen from a South Korean guard area

North Korean soldiers work at an undisclosed location near the border area

North Korean soldiers stand near their military guard post as a North Korean flag flutters in the wind, seen from Paju, South Korea, Sunday, June 9, 2024

North Korean Supreme leader Kim Jong Un sitting inside a new-type main battle tank during a training competition involving tank units of the Korean People's Army (KPA), at an undisclosed location in North Korea, 13 March 2024

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (R) shake hands during a signing ceremony following bilateral talks at Kumsusan state residence in Pyongyang, North Korea, 19 June 2024

People have stepped across the demarcation line that separates the two Koreas before.

But these incidents typically take place under very special circumstances, and usually at the border village of Panmunjom where US President Donald Trump famously stepped across the line with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Outside of Panmunjom, much of the DMZ is wilderness and in some parts is only marked by a sign mounted on a stick or a slice of concrete surrounded by heavy foliage.

Because overgrown trees and plants may have been obscuring the signs marking the demarcation line, Seoul says, the North Korean troops may have stepped over the line without knowing it.

But the southern side of the land border is protected not only by thousands of soldiers, guns and mines, but also by a dense network of cameras, motion sensors and other high-tech surveillance equipment.

Any breaches are therefore detected extremely quickly, and will result in troops trying to cross facing warning shots from the South Korean sentries who are prepared to shoot to kill if their foes do not retreat.

Although South Korean officials believe the three separate crossing incidents in the past two weeks were likely accidents, they took place amid a flurry of construction close to the border.

Analysts believe this fortification and the laying of additional mines is to crack down on any attempts by North Koreans to defect, but also to signal to Seoul that there is no path to peace any time soon.

'North Korea's activities seem to be a measure to strengthen internal control, such as blocking North Korean troops and North Koreans from defecting to the South,' one JCS official said.

Meanwhile, Koh Yu-hwan, North Korean studies emeritus professor at Dongguk University, said the fresh fortification 'has rather symbolic significance'.

'By laying mines, North Korea is demonstrating once again that, as per the instructions of the supreme leader (Kim Jong Un), there will be no reconciliation with the South,' he added.

'North Korea is not laying mines across the entire frontline, but rather in areas that are easily observable by the South. They are also blocking roads and railways that were previously areas of inter-Korean cooperation.'

During a period of warmer ties in 2018, the two Koreas removed landmines along a section of the heavily fortified border in a bid to ease military tensions - but this brief period of reconciliation did not last long.

Recent weeks have seen a tit-for-tat standoff that has resulted in Cold War-style psychological warfare.

Both sides have said they are no longer bound by a military agreement signed in 2018 to reduce tensions.

North Koreans have been installing anti-tank barriers, reinforcing roads and planting land mines intermittently since April this year.

And the animosities may worsen as Kim continues to accelerate his nuclear weapons and missiles development and align with Putin in the face of their separate, escalating confrontations with Washington.

The new treaty will allow for mutual assistance in case of aggression against one of the parties to this treaty'

This picture taken on May 30, 2024 and released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) via KNS on May 31, 2024 shows the test-firing of 600mm super-large rocket artillery at an unconfirmed location in North Korea

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un poses with troops at a major military operations base in the western region of the country

A balloon is seen attached to an bag of waste after it landed in a rice field in Seonwon-myeon, Ganghwa County, in the city of Incheon on June 10, 2024

An officer wearing protective gear collects the trash from a balloon presumably sent by North Korea, in Siheung, South Korea, Sunday, June 2, 2024

South Korean soldiers wearing protective gears check the trash from a balloon presumably sent by North Korea, in Incheon, South Korea, on June 2, 2024

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets Russia's President Vladimir Putin at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Amur Oblast of the Far East Region, Russia, September 13, 2023

On Thursday, South Korea's government condemned an agreement by Kim and Putin at their summit this week in which the two nations vowed to aid each other if attacked.

South Korea summoned Russia's ambassador to Seoul today in protest at the defence deal signed by Putin and Kim in Pyongyang.

Seoul 'strongly urged Russia to immediately stop military cooperation with North Korea and comply with (UN) Security Council resolutions,' the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Putin also said this week that Moscow did not rule out military and technical cooperation with the North, or even sending weapons - all of which would violate rafts of UN sanctions against Pyongyang.

Seoul urged Russia to live up to its responsibilities as a permanent member of the Security Council, the foreign ministry said.

'Violating Security Council resolutions and supporting North Korea, will harm our security and inevitably have a negative impact on Korea-Russia relations,' first Vice Minister Kim Hong-kyun said, according to the statement.

North Korea has been under UN sanctions since 2006 over its banned nuclear programme. The measures were initially supported by Russia, but Putin said in Pyongyang that the sanctions should now be reviewed.

Moscow and Pyongyang have been allies since North Korea's founding after World War II and have drawn even closer since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 isolated Putin on the global stage.

Seoul, which is a major weapons exporter, said this week that it would 'reconsider' a longstanding policy that bars it from supplying arms directly to Ukraine, following the North's mutual defence agreement with Russia.

Putin warned South Korea Thursday that this would be a 'big mistake'.
A mother-of-two has been awarded $755,475 after she successfully claimed a surgeon botched her 2013 haemorrhoids surgery.

The Supreme Court of Tasmania found that on the balance of probabilities, Dr Tony Patiniotis had negligently performed surgery on Ann Marise Garling, who was 58 at the time, during a procedure in September, 2013.

She had sought medical advice after suffering anal bleeding which was found to be caused by internal haemorrhoids.

She received a surgical procedure known as a stapled haemorrhoidectomy by Dr Patiniotis.

However, the staple was inserted too low into her anal canal, which increased the risk of complications, Supreme Court Justice Michael Brett wrote in his decision.

The Supreme Court of Tasmania found Dr Tony Patiniotis had negligently performed surgery on Ann Marise Garling (pictured), who was 58 at the time, during a procedure in September, 2013.

She later received a loop ileostomy in 2016 and now lives with an external stoma bag which has significantly impacted all aspects of her life.

Justice Brett found following a five-day trial that 'on the balance of probabilities' the breach in duty of care had caused the nerve damage and the harm experienced to Ms Garling.

'In my view, the negligent performance by the defendant of this procedure has had a significant impact on the plaintiff,' he said in his findings, delivered on Monday.

'Her capacity to enjoy her life and the activities which would normally be a part of it is very impaired.

'I thought that there was a degree of hopelessness in her own subjective assessment of her current circumstances.

Dr Tony Patiniotis performed the stapled haemorrhoidectomy surgery

'Her evidence that she had 'given up' resonated, and I can understand how she would have developed that attitude.'

The court heard that Ms Garling had a history of constipation, rectal bleeding and symptoms relating to gastrointestinal motility, along with mental health issues.

She had complained of discomfort and being unable to sit down in the months that followed the procedure in 2013, as well as experiencing difficulty emptying her bowels.

'The plaintiff's case is that she has suffered permanent and severe disability as a result of the defendant's negligence,' Justice Brett said.

He added Ms Garling's lawyers had argued the placement of the staples had caused 'ongoing pain, problems with defecation, the aggravation of pre-existing psychological injury and impacts on her functionality'.

'She described in evidence ongoing problems with nausea, vomiting and belching, social isolation because of embarrassment and actual problems experienced in respect of the stoma including the effect of smell, and accidents with the stoma bag,' he said.

'This has all had an effect on her capacity to make and form relationships and has prevented her from working.

'She has also suffered psychological problems as a result of the ongoing symptoms and the social isolation resulting from it.'

Justice Brett did not find Dr Patiniotis' negligence had caused problems with her gastroinstestinal motility and musculoskeletal issues.

Dr Patiniotis, who still works as a surgeon at Hobart's Obesity Surgery, had denied negligently performing the surgery and that it had resulted in ongoing difficulties for the patient.

'The defendant's argument is that the evidence does not support a causal link between any proved negligence in the performance of the procedure and the subsequent deterioration of the plaintiff's health,' Justice Brett said.

The doctor's lawyers argued the problems Ms Garling faced after the surgery were due to her pre-existing conditions.

Justice Brett said his impression was that Ms Garling had suffered 'considerable psychological disturbance ... arising from the negligent performance of the stapled haemorrhoidectomy, including those arising from the ileostomy'.

As part of her payout, Ms Garling was awarded $75,000 towards pain, suffering and enjoyment of life, $240,000 for future outgoings and $320,000 for future domestic help.

Dr Patiniotis was contacted for comment.
Four young children died in each other's arms as their house burned to the ground while their mom ran out to buy pizza.

Victoria Santiago, two, Josue Santiago, four, Yamilet Santiago, eight, and Josira Santiago, 11 became trapped in their home when an electrical fire broke out.

Their mom Sarai Santiago Garcia was on her way to pick up dinner when the blaze broke out, while their father, Eliseo Torres Salce, a trucker, was out of town.

As smoke plumes rose from the property the children began to scream for help, prompting neighbors to call emergency services.

Nearby residents tried to create a hole in a wall using hammers and sledgehammers to free them, but the siblings were unresponsive by the time they were taken out of the house.

Victoria Santiago, two (right), Josue Santiago, four (center left), Yamilet Santiago, eight (left), and Josira Santiago, 11 (center right), were unable to leave the house as an electric fire broke out

Paramedics who arrived at the scene were unable to revive the children. It's believed an electrical short circuit started the fire.

Officials believe the victims had nowhere to run to because of entry and exit ways were blocked by furniture.

As soon as the Sarai heard news of the fire, she hurried back home only to learn her children had died.

Rescuers said one of the siblings who had Down Syndrome was found in the arms of her brother and sisters.

Autopsy reports of all four children showed smoke inhalation as their cause of death, according to the Mirror.

Officials believe the victims had nowhere to run to because of entry and exit ways were blocked by furniture

Mother Sarai Santiago Garcia was on her way to pick up a pizza when the incident happened while their father, Eliseo Torres Salce, a trucker, was out of town

Prosecutors have also launched an investigation into Sarai - alleging she was negligent.

But the heartbroken mother has hit back on critics and released a statement saying that she 'would not wish this pain on anyone'.

'Everyone can judge my life and say what they want, but my babies were everything I had in this damn life,' Sarai said.

'I worked, lived, and suffered so they would lack for nothing and unfortunately theyre now gone, a pain I wouldnt wish on anyone. And let he who is without sin cast the first stone.'

After news of the catastrophe reached father Eliseo, he also wrote a message of his own on social media

The heartbroken mother has hit back on critics and released a statement saying that she 'would not wish this pain on anyone'

After news of the catastrophe reached father Eliseo, he also wrote a message of his own on social media.

'In heaven are half of our lives, those little ones who didnt deserve to leave so soon and whom we miss with all our being.

'But God is fortunate to have them with him. Meanwhile, I will take care of Mum until the day we meet again,' the grieving father said.

Officials have not clarified if the investigation is still ongoing or has concluded without charges.
Rishi Sunak, Sir Keir Starmer, Ed Davey and John Swinney battled it out during a BBC Question Time grilling on Thursday night as they were questioned over key issues such as NHS waiting lists.

The Prime Minister revealed he wished he had made more progress on cutting the numbers of patients waiting for treatment but insisted 'record investment' was 'starting to make a difference'.

Waiting lists in England surged to 7.57 million at the end of April, up from 7.54 million the previous month - but down on a September peak of 7.77 million. More than 300,000 of the waits have been for longer than a year.

Meanwhile, some viewers praised Mr Sunak for his 'firm' plan on the small boat crisis while criticising other parties for having a less clear strategy.

The political stakes could not be higher ahead of the general election on July 4, which major polls have suggested will see Mr Sunak lose the top spot as PM.

Here is what our panel of MailOnline readers had to say about last night's Question Time grilling.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer speaking during Thursday night's four party leadership Question Time Election special

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaking during the BBC Question Time Leaders' Special in York

BBC Question Time presenter Fiona Bruce poses on the set of tonight's four-party leadership Question Time Election Special

Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey speaks during the BBC Question Time grilling

Scottish First Minister and SNP leader John Swinney speaks during BBC's Question Time

'Rishi Sunak has done absolutely nothing for waiting lists': Cancer patient Denise Clarke, 59, from Lewisham, South London

Denise Clarke has been reliant on the NHS for care after being diagnosed with kidney cancer last August.

'I had an operation on my liver two weeks ago to check if my kidney cancer had spread and the follow-up appointment is in March 2025.

'I'm guessing if there was cancer they'd call me sooner than that but March next year is what the letter says.

Cancer patient Denise Clarke, 59, from Lewisham, South London

'So, no, Rishi Sunak can say what he likes but he's done absolutely nothing for waiting lists.

'I was diagnosed with cancer last summer but it still took six months to get a slot to have my kidney removed.

'I've seen first hand just how broken the NHS is.

'So when he talks of record investments, I'm sorry - I don't think he's done anything for the NHS.'

Denise said of Sunak: 'I don't think he's got the ability or the willingness to fix it. I can't afford to go private like he can.'

Denise said of Sir Keir: 'He seemed to be honest and sincere. He didn't mess around. He answered questions directly and when he couldn't answer them, he said as much.

'He seemed focused and on top of his game - which I don't think he was in previous debates.

'I think he looks like a Prime Minister in waiting and I think he'll probably get it now.'

'I think the audience were hostile to [Sunak]. I would have booed him off if I was there.

'If he didn't like a question, he would act like a petulant child, which is something I've seen him do a few times during these debates.

'Just because you don't agree with someone, doesn't mean their wrong.'

'Rishi Sunak seems to be blaming the waiting lists purely on Covid': GP Ellie Cannon, 47

'It is clear from all the debates that waiting lists are the huge health issue for the electorate.

'That is what it really boils down to. There are other issues of course - industrial action, buildings, access for example - but waiting lists are the health issue that people really care about.

'That's hardly surprising because it is what affects people's lives on a day to day basis.

GP Ellie Cannon, 47, wants waiting list times to go down

'It was interesting to hear the doctor in the audience talking about the young girl who was suffering from constipation and waiting to be seen.

'This is the granular detail we hear all the time in the health service, the really profound effects on people's lives of being stuck on a waiting list.

'And for me, no one can argue with Keir Starmer when he says he has an evidence-based plan to tackle this huge problem. He namechecked the two hospitals where that plan is in place and is actually working.

'Labour has a good record on this. I qualified as a doctor under a Labour government and I saw at first hand how they were successful in reducing waiting lists and the NHS is not now the same as the one handed over to the Conservatives in 2010.

'Rishi Sunak seems now to be blaming the waiting lists purely on Covid, the number of missed appointments in that period.

'He seems to have slightly changed his mind on this because in the first debate he was blaming striking doctors and I said at the time that he probably wished he had not said that and he isn't repeating it.

'If I have to say one thing about Rishi Sunak it is that you have to admire his resilience and strength of character in the face of what is looking like a disastrous election for the Conservatives. That can't be easy but he keeps coming out and taking the criticism.'

'I found Keir Starmer very difficult. He does not answer questions properly': Fisherman Matt Coker, 44, from Dover

'I came away from that with a greater like of the Liberal Democrats.

'I genuinely enjoyed that debate tonight as well. I felt like it was done in the right way.

'Fiona Bruce did a great job. It was excellent.

'I have a slight concern with the Liberal Democrats though that the answer is just keep borrowing more and money. I'm not sure that's is the best way of going about things.

Fisherman Matt Coker, 44, from Dover

'If you're not going to get into power than you know you can come up with all sorts of policies.

'But I think it needs more than that.

'I found Keir Starmer very difficult. He does not answer questions properly. He does not give straight answers. He just goes around the question.

'He comes up with policy ideas but does not explain how they will be paid for.

'He goes around in circles.

'I want someone in government who will actually argue the difference rather than talk around the problem forever blaming everybody else for it. He takes no responsibility.

'I thought Rishi Sunak performed the best.

'I am going to vote for him, without a doubt.

'He's actually got some conviction about himself.

'I really rate him. I think he understands what he says and means what he says.

'He's not going playing to the audience and trying to score points.

'I think out of these debates, he has been firm on the issue of small boats and has a plan.'

'The Lib Dems have some really interesting policies': Lawyer Benedict Sharrock-Harris, 32

'Given that they have had so much air time in these debates, it is astonishing that Starmer and Sunak are coming out and repeating the same things over and over again in parrot-like fashion.

'At least today Starmer didn't mention his dad was a toolmaker. The last time he mentioned that in front of an audience they laughed because it's become such a weary over-repeated line. At least he's learnt his lesson on that.

'For me one of the key moments came when Rishi Sunak was challenged about Brexit and asked why he wasn't crowing about it given that it's supposed to be the crowning moment of this Government.

Lawyer Benedict Sharrock-Harris, 32

'And the answer is that he's unable to crow about it. When he was pressed about the benefits to Britain of being outside the EU he didn't seem to be able to name any, which says it all really.

'I also didn't like the reference to the European Court of Human Rights as a foreign court, given that it was a British judge who was fundamentally involved in setting it up. Even Boris Johnson had the diplomacy to refer to 'our European partners.'

'If I had to pick a winner out of all four party leaders it would have to be Ed Davey. For the most part he came over well, although stumbled a little when asked if he really believed he could become Prime Minister.

'The Lib Dems have some really interesting policies in social care and progressive taxation.

'I've signed up to Swap My Vote. When I live in Streatham it's a safe Labour seat but I'm considering voting Labour and ask someone in a Tory/Lib Dem marginal to vote Lib Dem on my behalf so it makes a difference.

'I have to admit I zoned out somewhat while John Swinney was on, even though he comes across reasonably well.

'It would be interesting to see how the SNP would fare if they had candidates standing in the northern England, maybe as far as Yorkshire. They might do better than people think.'

'I'm very unhappy with the reality of the Conservatives': Medical student Jon Craven, 23, from Norfolk

'I'm very unhappy with the reality of the Conservatives and the damage they have done to the country.

'Labour in the only party to form an alternative Government, although I am not hugely enthusiastic about some of their policies.

'I'll be renting a house not buying one at this stage, so if capital gains tax goes up that wpuld not affect me.

Medical student Jon Craven, 23, from Norfolk

'I think Keir Starmer did reasonably well but it was a bit of a rehash of the last debate.

'He gave a confident and assured performance and despite some tough exchanges with Fiona Bruce, it felt like he came out if it without any major bruises.

'He was probably at his most persuasive when he was talking about the state of the country but it would have been nice to see the Leader leder talk a bot more about his plan for growth as it the key to Labour's spending plans.

'But overall he will be happy with his performance tonight.'

Jon, who in his final year at the University of Bristol, said of Sunak: 'He looked more relaxed tonight than in his previous Sky interview but ideas like national service felt a little flimsy and like an expensive gimmick.

'It was a bit of a gamble for Sunak tonight and he needed a big win and he didn't get that.'

Jon previously voted for the Liberal Democrats in his first election and said although the party's leader Sir Ed Davey's performance was 'quite strong' he didn't do enough to convince him.

He said: 'He talked about the need to fix broken public services and he acknowledged that there would have to be tax rises in order to do that

'He had to defend the Lid Dem record on austerity when they were in coalition with the Tories and their betrayal of students over tuition fees.

'It highlighted their weakness for me, they are probably a political weather vane: they are left of centre today but in five years time who knows!'

He described Scottish National Party leader John Swinney's performance as 'solid but quite dull performance.'

He said: 'It is hard for them in this election as not only do they have to attack the Tories for their 14 years in Government but defend their own 17 years as a devolved Government for Scotland.

'Again he was solid and answered questions but he lacked the rhetorical flouris we previously saw from his deputy Stephen Flynn.

'Labour will be happy they escaped more attacks from the SNP.'
Military personnel could find laboratory grown meat in their ration packs as Pentagon bosses scratch around for ways to reduce their impact on climate change.

Bioengineering company BioMADE came up with the idea after receiving $500 million in Defense department funding to reduce its carbon footprint.

But their plan to roll out 'cell based meat' has left a nasty taste in the mouth of veterans who have accused Pentagon bosses of treating front line soldiers like 'lab rats'.

'The military's job is forward defense, alliance, solidarity and deterrence, and that's it,' said former US Navy Seal Rob O'Neill.

'All that other stuff is crap. This is typical Washington DC nonsense movement.'

former Marine Lt Col Stuart Scheller who was court-martialed for his complaints about the US withdrawal from Afghanistan said service members were already 'surviving off scraps'

'Cell-based meat', grown in a lab from animal cells nourished with chemicals, and was first licensed for sale to the public last year

Military chiefs have found the fight against climate change at the top of their in-tray under the Biden Presidency which has deemed it a 'national security priority'.

'It is a national security issue, and we must treat it as such,' defense secretary Lloyd Austin said in 2021.

And officials have been zoning in on artificial meat as 'one of the most immediate, politically feasible, and high-impact ways to do this,' according to the department's deputy assistant secretary Matt Spence.

The sale for consumption of lab-grown meat was only legalized last year, and veterans warned that soldiers are tired of being used for experiments with untested technology.

'There's a large number of active reserve guard members who are still a little jaded from the COVID shot and are very unwilling to be part of the new experiment,' a former Navy Seal of 22 years, told the Caller.

More than 8,400 servicemen and women resigned rather than face a mandatory injection of Covid-19 vaccines, and the Army has slashed its enlistment target by 10,000 this year as the armed forces suffer their biggest recruitment crisis for decades.

The US now has its smallest military in 80 years and veterans warned that the situation is unlikely to be improved by the prospect of dining on what BioMADE calls 'nutrient-dense rations' produced 'via fermentation processes'.

The US Army has already slashed its enlistment target by 10,000 this year as the armed forces suffer their biggest recruitment crisis for decades.

former US Special Forces member Martin Bailey said it would be unethical to force the 'experimental meat product' on active service members

'I think the government should focus on letting the military protect our nation from enemies, foreign and domestic, sometimes, but you know, that's what the military is there for,' former US Special Forces member Martin Bailey said.

'They're not there to be experimental lab-rats.

'You know, why doesn't the government feed experimental meat product that, you don't even know what it is, why don't they feed that to, let's say, homeless people?'

'Well, there's a reason they don't, because that would be completely unethical. So why is it ethical to stick it down the throat of our military service members?'

Marine Lt Col Stuart Scheller who was court-martialed for his complaints about the US withdrawal from Afghanistan said the plan was symptomatic of a military with the wrong priorities.

'It appears that until new Defense Department leadership builds a winning force, service members will continue surviving off scraps,' he added.

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association waded in to the row as news of the plan broke last week, calling it 'outrageous.

'American troops deserve to be served that same wholesome, natural meat and not ultra-processed, lab-grown protein that is cooked up in a chemical-filled bioreactor,' said vice-president Ethan Lane.

'The Department of Defense is spending millions of taxpayer dollars to feed our heroes like lab rats.'

Former Missouri governor and ex-Navy SEAL Eric Greitens called the idea the 'height of woke nonsense'.

'The purpose of the military is to win our wars and to kill our enemies,' he added.

'It's such a stupid idea, that in any sane world it would be considered a joke.

'When you add woke nonsense like this to the debacle in Afghanistan, and the policy of kicking people out of the military for refusing the experimental COVID-19 vaccine, you begin to understand why the military is facing a massive recruiting crisis.'

But studies have identified the US military as the single biggest institutional emitter of greenhouse gasses on the planet,

US defense secretary Lloyd Austin, pictured with President Joe Biden, has said climate 'It is a national security issue, and we must treat it as such,'

Former Missouri governor and ex-Navy SEAL Eric Greitens called the idea the 'height of woke nonsense': 'In any sane world it would be considered a joke'

The Defense Department estimated its own emissions at 51 million tons of CO2 in 2021, equal to amount produced by Sweden.

A group of researchers claimed last year that the US military owes at least $106 billion as reparations to countries roiled by climate change.

But O'Neill said military chiefs risk forgetting about America's biggest threats.

'They're wasting their time with nonsense,' he said.

'It's a shame that we're going to find out the hard way who our real enemies are, as we're, you know, don't think China, Russia and Iran are worried about lab-grown meat.

'They're worried about taking over the world. And we're not.'
Donald Trump's media company continues to face trouble as its stock price has been dropping faster than ever, despite getting some good news from the SEC earlier this week.

Trump Media & Technology Group, the owner of social networking site Truth Social, ended Friday's trading at $26.75 a share, just over half the $49 a share the company traded at when the month began.

TMTG has slumped ever since the a New York jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election on May 30. Trump faces a July 11 sentencing.

The former president's own stock takes a massive hit from the decrease, as his 114.7 million shares worth would drop $2.4 billion in value.

It comes in a week where the SEC declared effective the company's filing for resale of certain shares and warrants, potentially giving it about $247 million in proceeds.

Donald Trump 's media company continues to face trouble as its stock price has been dropping faster than ever, despite getting some good news from the SEC earlier this week

Trump Media & Technology Group, the owner of social networking site Truth Social, ended Friday's trading at $26.75 a share, just over half the $49 a share the company traded at when the month began

When TMTG made the announcement of the new shares Tuesday, the stock price dropped 17 percent ahead of a further 15 percent drop Friday.

The company only reported about $770,000 in revenue in the first quarter of 2024 with a net loss of $324.6 million.

The company said that with its warrants now being exercisable, it expects to be 'well-positioned' to pursue TV streaming, other enhancements to the platform and potential mergers and acquisitions.

Trump Media said that the proceeds from the potential sale of these warrants would supplement more than $200 million in unrestricted cash it currently retains.

The company added that an additional $40 million of restricted cash on its balance sheet will become unrestricted as a result of the registration statement on Form S-1 becoming effective.

The stock, which trades under the ticket symbol 'DJT,' has been extraordinarily volatile since its debut in late March, joining the group of meme stocks that are prone to ricochet from highs to lows as small-pocketed investors attempt to catch an upward momentum swing at the right time.

Trumps net worth was $5 billion as of market close at 4 p.m. ET, making him the 1,438th-richest person in the world, according to Forbes calculations.

A majority of Trumps fortune stems from his stake in Trump Media.

TMTG has slumped ever since the a New York jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election on May 30. Trump faces a July 11 sentencing

A jury of seven men and five women at Manhattan Criminal Court deliberated for nearly 10 hours before convicting the former President of 34 charges of falsifying business records on May 30.

It was the first time a former U.S. President has faced a criminal trial and the verdict could upend the 2024 White House race, proving a pivotal moment in the history of the United States.

The verdict comes after five weeks of dramatic evidence and 22 witnesses being quizzed on the stand.

The 34 charges Trump faces each carry a maximum potential sentence of up to four years in prison. A sentencing date is set for July 11 at 10am ET.

Prosecutors told of a plot by Trump to 'corrupt' the 2016 election by hiding a $130,000 hush money payment by his 'fixer' Michael Cohen to porn star Stormy Daniels.
EXCLUSIVE

A woman who says she was gang raped by men celebrating a bucks weekend had consensual sex with two of the group shortly before the alleged rampage.

The woman, who was 18 when she first encountered members of the party at a pub in the NSW Hunter Valley, gave evidence against her accused rapists on Friday.

Maurice Hawell, his brother Marius Hawell and their friend Andrew David have pleaded not guilty to a string of charges including aggravated sexual assault.

Three women, Miss A, Miss B, and Miss C, have told police they were subjected to sexual assaults but they cannot identify which men were allegedly responsible.

Miss A and Miss B say they were raped at the same time in an apartment rented for a bucks weekend, while Miss C says she was abused the next night.

Maurice Hawell, 30, and David, 28, say any sex they had was consensual and deny performing certain acts, while 22-year-old Marius Hawell insists he did not take part in any sexual activity at all.

The three men, all of whom are from Sydney, are facing trial together on the basis they engaged in a joint criminal enterprise.

This crime scene picture taken by police shows the living area of the Airbnb rented by the men. Miss A and Miss B say they were raped in the middle room shown with the door ajar

Maurice Hawell (pictured) has pleaded not guilty to 11 charges involving three women. The woman pictured is unrelated to the case

Maurice Hawell, his brother Marius Hawell, Andrew David and six other friends booked this Airbnb apartment in Newcastle from Friday, February 25 through to Sunday, February 27, 2022, ahead of Maurice Hawell's wedding.

The Hawells, David and six other friends booked Airbnb accommodation in Newcastle from Friday, February 25 through to Sunday, February 27, 2022, ahead of Maurice Hawell's wedding.

A jury sitting in Sydney's Downing Centre District Court has been shown photographs of the apartment which have been obtained by Daily Mail Australia.

On the Friday, some of the bucks party walked to the nearby Cambridge Hotel where Miss A and Miss B were having a night out with their own friends.

Miss A and Miss B had interactions with one of the group, 'Matt', as well as two men the Crown says were the Hawell brothers.

Miss B said on Friday she had drunk three cans of Smirnoff Double Black before going to the pub and bought another shortly after arriving.

'Matt asked [Miss A] to guess his culture,' Miss B said. 'When Matt asked [Miss A] about his culture he said, "Answer three questions - if you get it wrong then you have to kiss me".'

The pair kissed and a man the Crown says was Maurice Hawell was introduced to Miss B as Joseph.

'Miss B' has told a jury she had consensual sex in this bedroom with one of the bucks group, 'Matt', and another man the Crown says is Andrew David

The Hawell brothers and their friend Andrew David (above) have pleaded not guilty to a string of charges including aggravated sexual assault. Three women have told police they were subjected to sexual assaults but they cannot identify which men were allegedly responsible

Miss B said she was 'a bit hesitant' when she and Miss A agreed to go back to the Airbnb with Matt and 'Joseph'. 'I didn't know where we going,' she told the jury.

Once inside the Parry Street apartment, Miss B said she noticed a kitchen and open-plan lounge area as well as two of the bedrooms. 'It looked nice,' she told the jury.

Miss A, who like Miss B, gave her evidence via audio-visual link, had remembered the state of the property differently.

'I remember the kitchen being a mess,' she said in one her police statements. 'There were shot glasses all over the place.'

Judge Gina O'Rourke observed such opinions were subjective. 'What's messy for one may not be messy for another,' she said in front of the jury.

Miss B went into one bedroom with Maurice Hawell, who she only ever knew as 'Joseph', before Miss A went with Matt into another.

'Joseph grabbed my arm and said, "Come on",' Miss B said. 'I said, "I need to say goodbye to my friend first".'

Miss B and Maurice Hawell had consensual sex during which he allegedly suggested they invite another member of the group for a threesome.

'He asked if his friend could join,' Miss B said. 'I said no'. Maurice Hawell allegedly then said, 'It's my twin brother'.

Maurice Hawell, 30, and Andrew David, 28, say any sex they had was consensual and deny performing certain acts, while 22-year-old Marius Hawell (above) insists he did not take part in any sexual activity

Miss A and a man the Crown says was Maurice Hawell had sex in this bedroom. Miss A and Miss B have both said they were later raped in the room by men they cannot identify

Miss B said she eventually agreed and Maurice Hawell made a phone call. They were still having sex during that conversation and when a second man entered the room.

'He asked if he could take his pants off,' Miss B said of the new arrival. She replied, 'Whatever'.

Miss B performed a sex act on the second man - who the Crown says was David - and they had intercourse, all of which was consensual.

When that encounter was finished, a third man the Crown says was Marius Hawell allegedly entered the room and according to Miss B asked how she was feeling before sexually touching her.

Miss B said she went into the other bedroom and found Miss A with Matt and the two women went together to the bathroom.

They then went back into the bedroom where Miss A had previously had sex with Matt so they could collect their phones and return to the Cambridge.

Miss B said when they entered the bedroom the light was on but it was turned off by somebody. 'I got pushed on the bed,' she told the jury.

Miss B said she was on her back when two men began sexually assaulting her.

Miss A has given evidence she was being sexually assaulted at the same time but did not know Miss was in the room with her.

'[Miss A] asked where was Matt,' Miss B said. More than one male voice replied, 'I'm Matt', she told the jury.

Matt is not accused of having committed any wrongdoing at any time and has never been charged with any offence in relation to what happened in the apartment.

Miss A has said when she and Miss B left the Airbnb they returned to the Cambridge with Matt, who she again kissed on the dance floor.

She had told her friends about having sex with Matt but did not mention being assaulted by anyone.

'I just kept the whole group thing to myself,' Miss A told the jury. 'I was embarrassed and ashamed of what had happened.'

Miss A said she exchanged phone numbers and Snapchat details with Matt and days later sent him naked pictures of herself.

'I still wanted to get to know him,' she said. 'He was still cool and funny.'

Maurice Hawell and David are charged with eight counts of aggravated sexual assault in company and one count each of aggravated sexually touching another person and attempted aggravated sexual assault in company.

Marius Hawell is charged with six counts of aggravated sexual assault in company and one count each of aggravated sexually touching another person and attempted aggravated sexual assault in company.

Miss B will resume her evidence when the trial continues on Monday.
He pulled down her face mask during the appointment

A female patient has exposed a male doctor's disgusting act during a visit for treatment at a medical practice on the NSW Central Coast.

Dr Hazem Toma, also known as Hazem Keryakous, was found guilty of professional misconduct and unsatisfactory professional conduct by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal on June 13.

The Egyptian-born GP had been working at the Kanwal Wadalba Family Practice when he met the 35-year-old woman for a routine appointment for a new mental health plan on November 8, 2021.

At the end of the appointment, she asked if Dr Toma was feeling okay after noticing he appeared 'unwell' and irritated by his surgical face mask.

In her version of events, Dr Toma told her: 'No. I need professional help like you,' before walking over to her and pulling her into a hug.

Dr Hazem Toma (pictured) was found guilty of professional misconduct and unsatisfactory professional conduct by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal on June 13

The woman said her face mask was pushed up over her eyes so she couldn't see. She pulled out of the hug and fixed her mask.

Dr Toma then hugged her again and pulled her mask down underneath her chin.

'He immediately moved in to kiss me. I moved my face to the right and he kissed me twice on my left cheek  once close to my mouth and once near my ear. I froze and did not say anything,' the woman said in her statement.

'I gave Dr Toma a pat on the back and we said words to the effect of: "I hope you feel better soon". Dr Toma said: "Thank you, nice to see you again Susan".

'I have no idea why he called me Susan. We had been through my mental health plan that included my own name. I then left the practice.'

The woman - referred to as Patient A by the tribunal - contacted the practice later that day to report what had happened and told them that 'someone needed to check in with Dr Toma because he was not okay'.

She reported the incident to police 10 days later on November 28 who forwarded the complaint to the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC).

In early December, the woman rang the practice again and was told by the manager that someone would be looking into the incident.

In the months that followed, the woman said she began to experience deep self-hatred for herself and struggled with physical contact.

Dr Toma, an Egyptian-born GP, had been working full-time at the Kanwal Wadalba Family Practice on the NSW Central Coast when he treated the woman (the clinic is pictured)

A few days after the appointment, the woman said she had a 'mental blank' while driving and had a near-collision with another car after driving into the guard rail.

Her relationship with her daughter became strained because she struggled with physical contact and became depressed.

The woman said she was too terrified to go to the doctor and that she had a break down while at the dentist because they were 'right up in my face'.

After being contacted by HCCC in May 2022, Dr Toma said he did not initiate the hugging or kissing with the woman.

'[She's] acted spontaneously and as an instinctive reaction I accepted the hug and kiss. I am sorry if that was misinterpreted and I should not have done so. It was a natural reaction to be supportive,' he said in his response.

'There was no sexual or romantic intention.'

Under cross-examination at a hearing in February, the woman denied the hug in question was brief and initiated by her, and insisted that Dr Toma kissed her twice and removed his mask to do so.

The panel noted that both versions of events suggested a physical boundary was crossed during a time of high risk of Covid infection when doctors were advised to minimise contact with patients as much as possible.

On June 13, the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal found Dr Toma guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct - for failing to keep adequate record-keeping during the appointment - and professional misconduct.

The tribunal is set to determine protective orders following another hearing.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Dr Toma for comment.
A real estate agent has been ruled unfit to practice by Northern Territory authorities after they found he wrote to a tenant in what could be read as a 'bullying threat'.

Christos Raptis has been refused a licence by the Agents Licensing Board of the NT following two separate complaints about his conduct first lodged in 2023.

The board also noted that Mr Raptis, a director of Adelaide-based Raptis Real Estate, was already running a property management business in the NT despite not having the legally required licence.

In its findings, the board said while there might have been no malicious intent by Mr Raptis, he was 'so incompetent' that 'basically it seems he could not fill out forms', reports NT News.

In regards to the second complaint it said: 'Mr Raptis had created a hostile and stressful environment for [the complainant] as a tenant specifically citing experiencing harassment, victimisation, gaslighting, threats of legal action, bullying and discrimination,' it reads.

Christos Raptis was refused a licence to run a real estate business in the NT after complaints

The Agents Licensing Board of the NT was scathing in its findings.

'Overall, the board has concluded that Mr Raptis has been conducting a real estate agency business (mainly property management) in the NT when he did not know enough about NT law and practice to do the job competently and he was so incompetent in respect of fundamental issues concerning property management that he should not have had a licence at that time,' its decision reads.

'The board accepts that Mr Raptis is probably much more aware of certain aspects of NT law arising from the processing of the complaints made against him.

'However, there are many other areas of NT law and practice that differ from those in place elsewhere in Australia.

'The board does not see it as practical that it grant a licence subject to conditions about Mr Raptis somehow acquiring the relevant knowledge or employing persons capable of dealing with NT issues.

'Aside from the conduct issues, the board is particularly concerned that Mr Raptis conducted a business knowing that it was not complying with the fundamental provision of the Act  that of the need for a licence.'

The NT Licensing Board was scathing saying it appeared Mr Raptis could not 'fill out forms'

The board said his conduct was 'unbecoming and unacceptable for a real estate agent' and refused him a licence.

On Mr Raptis's real estate business page there are listings for properties mainly in Adelaide but also a handful in the NT, Victoria and NSW.

'Real Estate is 24/7. This is why we love it because money never sleeps,' the website states.

'Our company attracts a certain type of clientele, just like certain brands in fashion, motorsport and you guessed it real estate.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Raptis for comment.
Rishi Sunak will today channel Sir John Major by urging voters to carefully weigh up the long-term consequences of a Labour government.

The Prime Minister will echo a speech made by the former Tory premier ahead of the 1992 election in which Sir John warned that a vote for Labour could lead to the break-up of the UK because of the party's 'appeasement' of Scottish nationalism.

Sir John also warned that a vote for the pro-Brussels Labour or Liberal Democrats would see Britain join the Euro currency and thrust into a 'federal Europe' of closer integration.

The warning, four days before voting day, helped Sir John go on to win a fourth term for the Tories after 13 years in power despite opinion polls suggesting that Labour was ahead.

Similarly, Mr Sunak will today urge voters to properly scrutinise what allowing Labour into power would mean as he launches the party's manifesto in Wales.

Rishi Sunak (pictured) will today channel Sir John Major by urging voters to carefully weigh up the long-term consequences of a Labour government

The Prime Minister will echo a speech made by the former Tory premier ahead of the 1992 election in which Sir John (pictured above) warned that a vote for Labour could lead to the break-up of the UK because of the party's 'appeasement' of Scottish nationalism

He will argue that it would lead to higher taxes, relinquishing Britain's hard-fought Brexit freedoms and empowering the unions.

Urging voters to give the Tories another term after 14 years in power, he is expected to say: 'Do not let Labour waltz into office without scrutinising them, without seeing what their policies would mean for our country and your family's security. Do you really know what you are going to get with Labour?'

He is set to accuse his opponents of being willing to 'change every rule they can' to ensure they stay in government once they gain power, warning 'once you hand Keir Starmer a blank cheque, you can't get it back'.

He will also warn that Sir Keir Starmer will look to expand a 'death tax' which is being considered in Labour-run Wales.

The Prime Minister will sound the alarm over the potential 295 million raid on grieving families and will also pledge to reverse 20mph zones imposed on drivers in the country.

The Labour-run Welsh administration is currently consulting on scrapping the council tax exemption for homes in probate, which would clobber grieving families with thousands of pounds in new taxes. The Tories say this would be a double whammy on top of inheritance tax.

Sir Keir has previously described Wales as his party's 'blueprint for what Labour can do across the UK'.

He has already pledged to follow the country's lead by allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in elections, which the Tories claim is a bid to rig future polls because younger voters tend to vote Labour.

Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves has pledged that a Labour Government will 'look at every single tax break' to raise money to fill the 38.5 billion hole in the party's manifesto spending plans.

Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves (pictured) has pledged that a Labour Government will 'look at every single tax break' to raise money to fill the 38.5 billion hole in the party's manifesto spending plans

Bim Afolami (pictured), Economic Secretary to the Treasury, last night accused Labour of trying to tax dead people 'before your casket is even closed', adding: 'Now we know, Labour will tax you from cradle to beyond the grave'

Bim Afolami, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, last night accused Labour of trying to tax dead people 'before your casket is even closed', adding: 'Now we know, Labour will tax you from cradle to beyond the grave.'

The Labour Welsh Government started consulting on the 'death tax' plans in November last year.

Currently, the 'class F' exemption stops a home from being liable for council tax until six months after probate to give families time to grieve before selling a property as part of probate.

But if this was curtailed or axed, the tax could be applied from the day someone dies.

Each year, 135,000 homes in England and 7,500 in Wales currently benefit from the exemption, saving bereaved families an estimated 295 million a year in England alone.
A California sheriff has blasted the state's Governor Gavin Newsom's plan to reform a law which has been blamed for an increase in crime.

California's Proposition 47 reduced the penalties criminals face for various drug and theft offenses, turning some simple drug possession offenses into misdemeanors, together with some non-violent property crimes.

It has been blamed for California's rampant theft problems, but a measure to be voted on during November's ballot, now looks to make changes.

But Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a supporter of Donald Trump, is claiming Democratic legislators are devising a plan to mislead voters into rejecting the reforms by presenting alternative crime legislation.

Sheriff Bianco, a well-known conservative, has described the plan to derail the reforms as both 'ingenious' and 'immoral' to 'sabotage' it for ideological reasons.

California sheriff Chad Bianco has blasted the state's Governor Gavin Newsom's plan to reform California's Proposition 47, which has been blamed for an increase in crime

Several officials in law enforcement officials blamed Prop 47 for the uptick in theft and smash-and-grabs that have plagued California in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic

'Prop 47 is the main contributor to many of the public safety woes that we have in California, from homelessness to drug addiction to theft, and the overall majority, almost 80 percent of Californians, wants proposition 47 repealed or major reforms, and everyone is aware of that except for our governor and a handful of politicians in California who have got behind Prop 47,' Bianco said to Fox News.

Governor Gavin Newsom, a defender of Prop 47 has said he will only negotiate if the measure is delayed until 2026.

Bianco is warning that significant efforts will be needed to combat misinformation and political maneuvers aimed at derailing the reform initiative.

Following the approval of the measure to reform Prop 47, Democrats in the state legislature have now began discussing new crime legislation, which Bianco argues is designed to undermine the reform efforts, by presenting it as unnecessary.

'The Democratic leadership, particularly our governor, had to come up with a plan of how to sabotage this,' Bianco said.

'It's going to be important for Californians to know that they're being fooled again, or at least the government, our California state government, is trying to fool them again the same way they did originally with Prop 47 by calling it the Safe Schools and Safe Streets Initiative, which it did completely the opposite.

Bianco, a well-known conservative, has blasted the proposals to reform Prop 47 as 'unethical' and 'immoral'

Democratic governor Gavin Newsom signaled he opposes changes to Prop 47, which lowered narcotics possession and other crimes from felonies to misdemeanors

'They have come up with a plan all of a sudden in an election year to have their own set of public safety bills that they say is going to fix the issues that we have with theft and with drug use and all those things,' Bianco continued.

Bianco noted that some law enforcement groups are supporting the Democrat proposal, but he believes the support to be superficial and misleading.

'I need everyone to be fully aware. It is completely disingenuous. It is not true. They are misrepresenting factual law, and they are trying to fool the voters once again.'

Prop 47 made several crimes, including shoplifting, grand theft and receiving stolen property, a misdemeanor instead of a felony if the value of the property did not exceed $950.

It also lowered the penalty for the personal use of most illegal drugs below a certain weight.

In April, South American gangs armed with knives were running wild on Los Angeles highways - targeting terrified jewelers in brazen daytime robberies

Volunteers help to clean up belongings at an encampment of homeless people near the Nimitz Freeway in Oakland after the city issued an order to remove and clean up the area where between 30 to 40 people live in cars, RVS, tents, and other makeshift structures

San Francisco worker posts terrifying walk past drug-addled homeless people passed out on the sidewalk in the city's Tenderloin district

Several officials in law enforcement blamed the measure for the uptick in theft and smash-and-grabs that have plagued California in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was around the same time that California became synonymous with smash-and-grab crimes as videos of groups of thieves brazenly ransacking stores gained traction online.

California Democrats do not support the reform of Prop 47 and are looking instead to pass public safety bills through the state capital that would attempt to address organized retail theft, car break-ins and other crimes.

But Sheriff Bianco has blasted the proposals as 'unethical' and 'immoral'.

The November measure, named the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act, has bipartisan support, including from San Francisco Mayor London Breed. It is unclear if Governor Gavin Newsom, a strong advocate of Prop 47, will support the competing legislation.

'What they are doing is they're making it an emergency, so they're going to get immediate authorization to implement these rules, and then they will use our fraudulent attorney general to create a narrative for the voter guide that says if you support this proposition in the November ballot, it will repeal this,' Sheriff Bianco continued.

'And then they're going to vote 'no' on the Prop 47 fix. It is unethical. It is immoral, and this is exactly what Californians are sick of,' Bianco continued.

'From our governor, from our attorney general and from our legislature, we have activists, we have pro-criminal activists that are running our state government, and they are continuously lying to the general public, and we are all tired of it. We're sick of it.'

Newsom's office has said they will not negotiate on legislation unless supporters of the Prop 47 agree to push it back to 2026 when the governor's term will end.

'I'm the only guy who has reformed Prop 47,' Newsom said earlier this year. 'I think it's important to level-set with people. Not to say everything about Prop 47 is perfect, we want to fix some of the ambiguities, but we can do it without reforming or going back to the voters themselves.'
School day would finish at 1.50pm one day a week

Parents of students at a prestigious private boys' school are claiming a big win after a proposal to end the school day at 1.50pm one day a week in 2025 has been dropped.

The change to class times was proposed by Scott Marsh, the principal of the elite Scotch College in Hawthorn, in Melbourne's eastern suburbs.

In a Change.org petition, parent David Chu said the early finish was to accommodate 'on the job staff training' at the $40,000-a-year college.

'This change would adversely affect students, parents and caregivers,' he wrote.

'Boys will now be compelled to take up new interests from a limited range of hobby subjects, engage in co-curricular activities, or leave school early.

The change to class times was proposed by Scott Marsh, the principal of the elite Scotch College (pictured) in Hawthorn, in Melbourne's eastern suburbs

'Moreover, there will be added pressure on parents and caregivers to adjust their work commitments to accommodate a 1.50pm pick-up time for students who do not wish to pursue a new hobby subject.

'For those parents and caregivers with well-established work schedules, managing the logistics of these changes could prove challenging.'

The petition gained more than 650 signatures in just three days.

'As aptly described by another fellow signer, this is a breathtakingly arrogant move,' one angry parent commented on the petition.

'Our boys deserve the education we are paying for. Does reduced lessons hours mean reduced fees? Probably not!' a mother wrote.

'Cutting school hours by four periods every week undermines the substantial $40,000 annual tuition we pay and compromises the quality of education we expect and deserve,' a fed-up father shared.

Pictured is Scott Marsh, the principal at $40k-a-year Scotch College in Hawthorn, Melbourne

In an update on Thursday, Dr Chu announced Scotch College would retain traditional school hours in 2025 as a result of community pressure.

'This outcome is directly attributed to the collective effort of our community, which gathered over 650 signatures in just three days,' he wrote.

'I am deeply grateful to each of you for your invaluable support and dedication. Your willingness to defend our school's tradition has truly made a difference.

'I want to thank the principal and the school administration for considering the voices within our community and making a decision that supports the best interests of the students.'
Shocking footage shows the moment a man was allegedly dragged down a road by a car - as a man is arrested over the deadly road rage incident.

Emergency services were called to Jersey Road, Blackett, in Sydney's west, at about 8.45am on Thursday following reports a pedestrian had been hit by a car.

Officers found a 27-year-old man had allegedly been hit by a utility before it fled the scene. He was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics but died at the scene.

Following extensive enquiries, a 39-year-old man attended Mount Druitt Police at about 6.30am on Friday, where he was arrested.

Witnesses told police they saw the alleged victim engaging in a road rage incident with a driver in a white ute (pictured) with a metal tray, a black canopy and a black toolbox with metal racks on top

Police are pictured at the scene of an allegedly deadly road rage incident in Sydney's west on Thursday

CCTV from nearby homes obtained by 9News shows the alleged victim clinging to the driver's side of another man's ute as he was dragged 100 metres down the road.

The harrowing incident unfolded in front of dozens of shocked witnesses, including children walking to school,

It is understood the alleged victim, who was wearing high visibility clothing and jeans, was in a red Ford Ranger which is believed to have been in an earlier traffic incident with the white ute.

Witnesses say he then got out of the Ford and tried to stop the other vehicle when he was allegedly fatally struck.

Debbie Cremen, who has lived in the street for 25 years, witnessed paramedics working on the 27-year-old man.

'It was extremely confronting. He had been dragged from his ute and was lying in the road,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

Horrified staff members of the nearby Marrin Weejali Aboriginal Corporation, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre, saw the incident unfold outside their building.

I cant even put it into context,' one staff member said.

'He got out his car, I dont even know what he was planning on doing.

Police investigations into the incident continue.
Hundreds of people have gathered to celebrate the summer solstice at Stonehenge - just 24 hours after the historic site was defaced by Just Stop Oil.

In a tradition spanning thousands of years, druids and pagans joined a colourful mix of sun worshippers to mark the longest day of the year at the ancient neolithic site in Wiltshire.

Stonehenge is a monument built on the alignment of the midsummer sunrise and the midwinter sunset.

On the summer solstice, the sun rises behind the Heel Stone, the ancient entrance to the Stone Circle. Rays of sunlight are then channelled into the centre of the monument.

It is believed that solstices have been celebrated at Stonehenge for thousands of years - any many people travel to the ancient site from around the world. The word solstice is derived from the Latin words sol - 'sun' - and sistere - 'stand still'.

Hundreds of visitors were seen walking down to Stonehenge as they enjoyed a stunning sunset in the stone circle. One couple even got married to mark the special evening - and sealed the moment with a kiss as the crowds cheered.

Revellers enjoy the summer solstice celebration at Stonehenge as the sun sets beneath the stones

Hundreds of sun worshippers enjoyed a balmy evening at Stonehenge to mark the solstice

Hundreds of people gather inside the stones - including families with young children on their shoulders

In a tradition spanning thousands of years, druids and pagans joined a colourful mix of sun worshippers

This year's solstice comes just 24 hours after Just Stop Oil shamelessly desecrated the historic site

Crowds greeted the moment the sun went down and many will wait for the sun to rise again.

The solstice officials marks the beginning of the astronomical summer - and this year fell on June 20. It will bring longer days with brighter evenings for us all.

This year's solstice at Stonehenge comes after the historic site was desecrated by Just Stop Oil eco-protesters with orange cornflour on Wednesday.

A 73-year-old man and 21-year-old woman were released on bail yesterday after being arrested a day earlier on suspicion of criminal damage, damaging an ancient monument and deterring a person from engaging in a lawful activity.

Just Stop Oil sparked a major backlash after releasing footage of the eco-clowns blasting orange from a fire extinguisher at one of the vertical stones.

People gathered at the site could be heard yelling 'stop' and one person intervened, running up to serial eco-activist Rajan Naidu and grabbing his arm. As the person struggled to pull him away from the monument, another man joined the tussle and and wrestled the paint can free.

The second protester, identified as Oxford University student Niamh Lynch, 21, managed to spray three stones before she was stopped.

Just Stop Oil said the paint was made of cornstarch and would dissolve in the rain.

Workers cleaned the stones and the roughly 4,500-year-old monument was visibly undamaged, said Nick Merriman, the chief executive of English Heritage, yesterday.

A woman puts her hand on the ancient rocks on Thursday evening

Revellers gather at Stonehenge, Wiltshire, the evening before the summer solstice

Thousands of people across the globe usually gather at Stonehenge for the solstice

A woman takes a photo while sitting on a friend's shoulders at Stonehenge

Walter Ross marries Laura Cummings as the sun sets at Stonehenge

The married couple share a kiss as others cheer and take photos

Summer solstice celebration at Stonehenge as the sun sets

Revellers watch the sun set at Stonehenge on Thursday evening

People gather during sunset at Stonehenge in Wiltshire, as they wait to welcome in the Summer Solstice

On the solstice, the sun rises behind the entrance to the stone circle, and rays of light are channelled into the centre of the monument

A woman raises her arms as the sun sets at Stonehenge

'It's difficult to understand and we're deeply saddened,' Mr Merriman told BBC Radio 4. 'It's vandalism to one of the world's most celebrated ancient monuments.'

Mr Merriman said experts cleaned the orange powder from the stones because they were concerned about how it might react to water.

The Stonehenge demonstration was swiftly condemned by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who called it a 'disgraceful act of vandalism.'

His main opponent in the election next month, Labour leader Keir Starmer, called the group 'pathetic' and said the damage was 'outrageous.'

Just Stop Oil sparked further anger when an activist played down the stunt, claiming it was 'a bit of orange dust on a rock'.

When the sun went down, the moon was clearly visible

People gather during sunset at Stonehenge in Wiltshire

Visitors have their photo taken as the walk to the stones at Stonehenge

Hundreds of sun worshippers walk down to Stonehenge together

Just Stop Oil supporter Ben Larsen, 26, from the Wirral, who has previously been convicted of traffic disruption, tried to justify their actions.

During an interview on Sky News, presenter Matt Barbet asked him: 'Why these tactics in particular, which for the most part amount to criminal damage?'

And Larsen responded: 'Well you can call them criminal damage if you like, it's a bit of orange dust on a rock that's weathered 5,000 years of British weather.'

Barbet then said: 'Now come on, that's disingenuous. It's not a rock, it's an ancient monument that's a Unesco world heritage site.'

But Larsen replied: 'It's a beautiful ancient monument but this is orange dust. It's orange dust on stone. All that we need to do is wait for it to rain and all this will be washed off.

'And these have been the 18 wettest months on record. So we're not going to have to wait very long even. It's unwise to get hung up on tactics.'

The group struck again Friday when it took credit for spray painting private jets at Stansted Airport.

Jennifer Kowalski, 28, and Cole Macdonald, 22, were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after gaining access to the airfield and damaging the private jets.

Just Stop Oil said pop star Taylor Swift's jet had landed at Stansted only hours before, but MailOnline can confirm that her plane was not one of the two targeted.
American Airlines has stood down employees who booted eight black passengers off a plane after blaming them for an 'offensive' odor.

The male passengers, who did not know each other, had boarded Flight 832 at Phoenix Airport for the five-hour flight to New York JFK in January.

The men were seated in different parts of the plane but all were picked out and hauled off the aircraft when a 'white male flight attendant' made a complaint about 'offensive body odor'.

Three of the passengers taken off the flight have since sued the airline, claiming that they were removed from the flight because of racial discrimination.

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom told staff this week that he is 'incredibly disappointed' and that they 'failed their customers'.

Eight black men, who were traveling separately, were ordered off an American Airlines flight in January after an attendant complained about body odor, according to a lawsuit

After the incident went viral, CEO Robert Isom told staff this week that he is 'incredibly disappointed' and that they 'failed their customers'

'I am incredibly disappointed by what happened on that flight and the breakdown of our procedures. It contradicts our values. We fell short of our commitments and failed our customers in this incident,' he said.

He also noted that an unspecified number of employees had been placed on leave for their involvement in the incident.

The company did not name the employees or describe their job titles.

A spokesperson for the airline said, 'We are holding those involved accountable, including removing team members from service.'

The CEO also said the company would form an advisory group to focus on the experience of black customers, to promote the reporting of discrimination allegations and to improve diversity training to 'focus on real-world situations to help recognize and address bias and discrimination.'

They had previously said that they 'take all claims of discrimination very seriously'.

'We want our customers to have a positive experience when they choose to fly with us,' they added.

'Our teams are currently investigating the matter, as the claims do not reflect our core values or our purpose of caring for people.'

Three of the men, Alvin Jackson (left), Emmanuel Jean Joseph and Xavier Veal (right) are suing the airline, claiming they were traumatized by the experience

The three men who have sued the company, Jean Joseph and fellow passengers Alvin Jackson and Xavier Veal, had each taken a connecting flight from Los Angeles before boarding the plane at Phoenix.

Veal decided to record the incident on his phone after noticing that all the black passengers, and none of the white passengers, were being removed.

'I started freaking out,' he said.

Video shows staff in the gate area struggling to find them another flight with one man slamming the incident as 'un-f***ing-professional', and another remarking that 'this ain't no random pick'.

A black American Airlines attendant at the desk appeared to agree with the claim that their removal was racially motivated, admitting: 'I do not disagree with you.'

Three of the men began talking when they gathered at baggage reclaim at the end of the flight, and they lodged the lawsuit on Wednesday in the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

'They had to re-board the plane and endure the stares of the largely white passengers who viewed them as the cause of the substantial delay,' the lawsuit claims.

'They suffered during the entire flight home, and the entire incident was traumatic, upsetting, scary, humiliating, and degrading.'

The remaining passengers were allegedly told of the supposed reason for the removal before the eight men were asked to get back on the plane and retake their seats

The lawsuit alleges that other passengers were informed that the men were removed because of an odor while they were off the aircraft.

'We're walking through the aisle of shame, if you will,' said Veal. 'It was horrible. It was a really traumatic experience.

'Unfortunately, I'm a black man and I live in America.'
A Democrat political strategist has confirmed what many believe is the biggest problem with Joe Biden's re-election campaign: Joe Biden.

The president - just one week before the first debate against Donald Trump - continues to struggle in the polls, trailing nationally and in key swing states.

What's worse for Biden is that the Democrat Senators defending their seats this November are running ahead of Biden and leading their Republican opponents.

However, in the same polls, the consistently gaffe-prone Biden is either barely leading or outright trailing Donald Trump.

Strategist Neil Oxman says the poll numbers show the president is now a negative factor for the Democrats.

A Democrat political strategist is confirming what many believe is the biggest problem with Joe Biden's re-election campaign: Joe Biden

The Democrat Senators defending their seats this November are running ahead of Biden and even handily leading their Republican opponent

'Democrats are enthusiastic about trying to win the Senate and trying to win the House, they're not enthusiastic about Biden's reelection,' he told Politico.

Even hardcore Democrats have come the realization that the biggest problem they have is Joe Biden.

In Ohio, where Democrats haven't won a presidential race since Barack Obama in 2008, long-time Democrat Senator Sherrod Brown is ahead of his Republican rival.

A Marist Poll showed the 71-year-old leading Republican Bernie Moreno by five points in his quest for a fourth term.

That same poll shows President Biden trailing Donald Trump by seven points, a 12-point swing that suggests Biden is losing independents who were previously willing to vote for a Democrat.

'There's a disconnect between the successes we're having locally and in specials, and the environments we're experiencing at and near the top of the ticket,' said Steve Israel, a former Congressman and chair of the DCCC.

More worrisome might be the same disconnect in states Biden barely won in 2020 to take the presidency from Trump.

In Pennsylvania, another Marist poll shows moderate Democrat Senator Bob Casey running ahead of challenger David McCormick by six points.

In that same poll, Biden is losing to Trump by two points, a loss that could swing the entire election.

Biden's age and often curious behavior, such as his intense head-to-head meeting with Pope Francis last week, have voters questioning his stability

Biden is leading in a head-to-head race against Trump in Wisconsin by two points, but when factoring in third-party candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and others, it's an even race.

The same poll shows Tammy Baldwin leading likely GOP challenger Eric Hovde by a whopping nine points.

'It's going to take intensive time and effort to reach the voters who are going to decide the election who are not paying attention yet,' Biden campaign spokesperson Mia Ehrenberg said in a statement.

'And the Biden-Harris campaign is putting in the disciplined, persistent, long-term work that's needed to do it.'

However, factors like Biden's age, suspected competence and policies have many doubting he's up for the run.

'You can't ignore the truth and that people have concerns about his stage of life,' said former third-party candidate Dean Phillips, who still supports Biden.

'I would argue that it's time to lean into that and to be self-deprecating and to start focusing on what people really care a lot about, which is economic security and personal safety,' he added.

Democrats like Tom Suozzi on Long Island won a special election by outrunning Biden in his district.

Democrat Senators Sherrod Brown of Ohio (pictured left) and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania (pictured right) both lead in the same polls that show Joe Biden trailing in their states

Strategist Neil Oxman says the poll numbers show the culprit is that the president is the negative factor for Democrats

Michael Kripchak lost by less than 10 points and overperformed Biden by 20 in his Ohio special election race last week.

Kripchak, who is running again in the traditional November election for the seat, believes that Trump's appeal is not a matter of character, but a matter of his base believing he'll work for them.

'People on the right don't admire Trump at all. They admire the strength that he puts out there. These people think that he's fighting for them. Why? Because he's an excellent salesman,' he said.

He seems to think that President Biden could learn a thing or two from how Trump represents his voters and how he acts on policy.

'Imagine if you have someone like Biden actually doing things to help the people, and then push that strong image out there. Right? That's the combination we need,' said Kripchak, who is running again in November.

The president has faced criticism from the media and his opponent Trump for a series of recent blunders.

Biden froze during an event to commemorate D-Day in France earlier this month and then in Italy while attending the G-7 Summit.

Back at home in the United States, another freezing incident occurred during a campaign event when former President Barack Obama was forced to guide the current president off stage.

Former President Barack Obama had to grab Biden by the arm and lead him off stage when he froze during a fundraiser in Los Angeles on June 15

In the same week, Biden froze again during a ceremony to celebrate Juneteenth before giving a speech where his words became slurred past the point of comprehension.

Trump slammed Biden for looking worse than ever at a recent campaign rally.

'Crooked Joe and his handlers are insisting he's sharper than ever and they say the videos of Crooked Joe shuffling around are clean fakes. You know what a clean fake is? They're deceptively edited,' Trump said.

'They say they're deceptively edited,' he continued. 'All of the mistakes that he's made every day. He can't go anywhere without a mistake.'

The recent incidents have raised even more questions about Biden and his age and fitness for office.

'He looked like he didn't know where the hell he was, but he didn't know where he was. He's blaming it now on AI. He's saying it's AI. He doesn't know what AI is  but that's OK,' Trump said.

'They're saying the media's manipulation  oh, he's saying the media is manipulating now? On that one I have to stick up for the media,' the former president chuckled.

'He said the media's manipulating the pictures of him constantly not knowing where the hell he is. They're doing just the opposite that make them look better.'

Pictured: Joe Biden, Dough Ehmoff, Kamala Harris, Philonise Floyd, Keeta Floyd. Biden sparks concerns as he appears to freeze during the Juneteenth celebration concert at the White House alongside a dancing Kamala Harris - before Floyd - brother of the late George Floyd - wraps his arm around him

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during a press briefing when asked about the recent uptick in Biden's freezes: 'It tells you everything that we need to know about how desperate Republicans are here.'

'And instead of talking about the president's performance in office, and what I mean by that is his legislative wins, what he's been able to do for the American people across the country, we're seeing these deep fakes, these manipulated videos,' she said.

'And it is, again, done in bad faith.'

Biden's team claims that the multiple embarrassing videos that emerged in recent weeks of the president are just 'deep fakes' or edited to make him look bad.

The president received good polling news on Thursday, with a Fox News survey showing him leading Trump by two points.

A Fox News poll, which was published on Wednesday, showed that 50% of respondents said they would vote for Biden in November, while 48% would vote for Trump.

It's a one-point improvement for Biden in the poll over last month's figures, where Trump had led by one point.

Biden received the backing of 73% of Black voters. The poll also showed that nearly all partisans remained loyal, as 95% of Democrats have shown their support for Biden while 95% of Republicans are backing Trump.

The poll could show the impact of Trump's recent felony charges earlier this month, after he was found guilty on all 34 counts in a hush money trial, which makes Trump the first US president to be convicted.

However, the FiveThirtyEight polling average still shows Biden trailing by less than a point.
Labour will forge a generation of boys and young men who grow up respecting women, the party's education spokesman has promised.

In an exclusive interview with the Mail, Bridget Phillipson warned there would be a 'generation of misogynists' without urgent action to stem the 'rising tide' of sexism in schools.

She said a Labour government would train boys to support classmates in challenging unacceptable attitudes and behaviour through a peer mentoring scheme.

Ms Phillipson said she was 'really worried' that the rise of people such as Andrew Tate, the controversial social media influencer and self-styled 'king of toxic masculinity', is affecting the actions of young people in schools.

'I want to make sure that we have a generation of boys and young men who grow up respecting women, rather than the growing levels of misogyny we are seeing at the moment,' she said.

Bridget Phillipson (right) made the comments as she visited a school in north London with reality TV star and campaigner Georgia Harrison (left)

Ms Phillipson said she was 'really worried' that the rise of people such as Andrew Tate (pictured), the self-styled 'king of toxic masculinity', is affecting the actions of young people in schools

'I believe that young men have to be part of that solution. We've seen some great work that has been under way about making sure that young men have peer-to-peer mentoring so that young men can support one another in challenging unacceptable attitudes towards women.'

She said comments by Tate, who has millions of followers online and shows off a lavish lifestyle, are 'influencing the behaviour and actions of young people within their schools'.

'We've got to see tougher action on making sure that our young people aren't being exposed to such hateful and harmful material.'

Tate is currently awaiting trial in Romania on charges of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women, which he denies.

Ms Phillipson made the comments as she visited a school in north London with reality TV star and campaigner Georgia Harrison, who was a victim of revenge porn.

Ms Harrison, a former star of series The Only Way Is Essex, said that while tech companies must make it harder for children to access porn, boys need to be given role models to 'teach them what truly is right'.

'Because at the moment we can't stop them from seeing this content which is influencing them to not only treat women in a disrespectful manner but [...] it will eventually lead on to violence against women and girls  either domestic abuse in adult relationships or image-based sexual abuse which we're seeing so much of in schools,' she said.

Georgia Harrison (left), Yvette Cooper (centre) and Bridget Phillipson (right) talking to pupils at Whitfield School in Barnet

Harrison and Ms Phillipson were joined by shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper as they sat in on a healthy relationships workshop at Whitefield School in Barnet, where pupils used drama and theatre techniques to understand when behaviour is harmful.

The shadow education secretary said she wanted to replicate this work across the country, and warned that without it 'we risk a generation of young men who don't respect women'.

She said there was a 'rising tide of misogyny which then tips over into attitudes later in life'  leading to violence against women and sexual abuse.

'We've got to take action early to make sure that we aren't storing up these problems for the future.

'We already have rates of violence against women that are far too high, and we will work across government to bring that down.

'It has to be about prosecuting and preventing, but we have to start when our children are younger to make sure they have healthy attitudes towards women, else we risk a generation of misogynists.'

She also said she wanted online giants to 'do more to clamp down on some of the misogynistic content that is being shared'.

'But also increasingly it is a risk to national security as hostile states will use it to pump out misinformation.

Bridget Phillipson and Sir Keir Starmer visit Nursery Hill Primary School in Nuneaton on June 10

'I believe it is really important that young people have the critical thinking skills to be able to look at what is in front of them and make an assessment of that, which is where schools have to come in.

'I am really worried about reports I hear both from young women in schools about the harassment and abuse they experience, but also increasingly staff, too, who are having to deal with it.

'Its part of the pressure that lots of teachers are experiencing at the moment  unacceptable behaviour and that sadly does extend to sexist and misogynistic abuse.'
Greens leader Adam Bandt sent a heartfelt email to supporters mourning the loss of his dog - only to then repeatedly attach links urging them to donate to his party.

Daily Mail Australia has obtained a fundraising email Mr Bandt sent to party supporters on Thursday announcing the death of his family dog Max last weekend after '14 years of friendship, love and fun'.

'It's not easy to say goodbye,' the Melbourne MP wrote. 'Our young kids have never known life without him, and one of them said it was like losing a big brother.'

But after memorialising the death of his 'running buddy and chief hair shedder', the tone of Mr Bandt's email suddenly changed.

Mr Bandt said Max's death got him 'thinking about the world my children know... a world with pandemics and climate change, with kids living in tents and babies in rubble... and without Max.'

The email then linked four times to a donation page, where Greens supporters could choose to donate between $25 and $250, plus an option of making monthly contributions.

'With your support, we'll run a campaign to win historic growth in the parliament, so we can protect everything we hold most dear,' Mr Bandt's email said.

'Change history... GIVE NOW.'

Greens leader Adam Bandt's dog Max died last weekend after '14 years of friendship, love and fun' (together, above). He used the opportunity to send a fundraising email

Mr Bandt has sent a heartfelt email to subscribers about the sudden death of his family dog, only to attach a series of links urging them to donate to his campaign

One political insider told Daily Mail Australia the Greens have one of the most sophisticated email marketing systems in Australian politics.

This particular email, while signed off by Mr Bandt, was sent from a broader 'federal MPs' address.

'As youve heard me say, were on the brink of making history at the next election,' Mr Bandt wrote in the email.

'So whatever you can give helps, every dollar makes a difference!

'While some loss is a part of life, like losing our beloved Max, if we grasp this moment we can stop climate losses on an unimaginable scale. We can give our kids the world they deserve.'

The email is signed off with a final message, which read: 'PS. If you give before June 30, you can claim your donation on your tax return this financial year - all donations up to $1,500 are tax deductible. Some supporters have even donated their new (Stage Three) tax cut to us!'

The Greens are a political force in the current Parliament - often proving the decisive vote in the Senate. Above, leader Mr Bandt MP and his partner Claudia Perkins at the 2022 Midwinter Ball

The Greens have 15 MPs and Senators in the current federal parliament after several upsets in Queensland during the last election.

But they have ambitions of expanding even further, with up to seven marginal seats with a large renter population in their sights.

Mr Bandt recently copped flak for his social media marketing tactics.

Parliamentary officials ordered him to delete a social media post he made targeting Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek in March, due to concerns it contained misinformation back.

Mr Bandt accused Ms Plibersek of 'fast-tracking' environmental crises and making 'dodgy deals' in a Facebook post.

The video falsely suggested that Ms Plibersek was boasting in Parliament about fast-tracking approvals for gas projects.

According to the media code, photographs and footage of parliamentary proceedings must fairly and accurately represent those proceedings and must not be digitally manipulated.

A spokesperson for Mr Bandt told Daily Mail Australia at the time the Minister's reference to 'resources projects' are what drew his ire and prompted the post.

'It is shameful that in a climate crisis, the Environment Minister boasted about approving new fossil fuel projects, and we will continue to hold her to account for her role in fast-tracking new coal and gas,' they said.

'At the next election, the Greens will be letting the people of Sydney know about every single coal and gas mine Tanya Plibersek has approved as Environment Minister.'
A string of Reform candidates likened Britain to Nazi Germany during the pandemic, it can be revealed.

Some claimed the treatment of the unvaccinated was similar to the persecution of the Jews, while others said UK political leaders were like Hitler.

One woman standing for the insurgent party even criticised new leader Nigel Farage after he said no-one should compare the Covid era to the genocide in the Second World War.

The revelations will prompt fresh questions over its vetting of candidates, with Mr Farage blaming a 'stitch-up' by the firm paid 144,000 to weed out those with extreme views.

It has already emerged in recent days that one candidate said Britain 'should have accepted Hitler's offer of neutrality' while another described the Nazi dictator as 'brilliant'.

And Surrey Heath candidate Samantha Goggin appeared to blame Margaret Thatcher for the Falklands, telling a meeting 'we've already been put through the Falklands War by the Conservative Party'.

Surrey Heath candidate Samantha Goggin (pictured) appeared to blame Margaret Thatcher for the Falklands

One woman standing for the insurgent party even criticised new leader Nigel Farage (pictured) after he said no-one should compare the Covid era to the genocide in the Second World War

Tom Tugendhat, Tory security minister, wrote on X: 'First a Reform candidate says we should have done a deal with Hitler... now [another] is blaming Margaret Thatcher for the Falklands War. These people aren't patriots. They're an embarrassment.'

The party's candidate for Widnes and Halewood, Jake Fraser wrote on Facebook in July 2021 soon after vaccine certificates for travel were introduced: 'We're on the precipice of a Health Holocaust.

'The same methodology the Nazis used to rise to power with minimal opposition by appealing to both sides of the political spectrum... is unfolding before our eyes.'

He claimed his 'rhetoric was a tip of the hat to parallels of totalitarianism employed by National Socialists during the rise of Hitler prior to (not during) the Holocaust'.

After Tory MP Andrew Bridgen was suspended from the party last year for likening the Covid vaccination programme to the Holocaust, Angela Carter-Begbie, Reform's Queen's Park and Maida Vale candidate, wrote on Twitter: 'It's true. The behaviour of the jabbed towards the un-jabbed was boarder line [sic] the Holocaust.'

Pete Durnell, standing in Smethwick, West Midlands, wrote on social media during lockdown in 2020: 'Idea that elderly and/or infirm should be forcibly isolated, virtually indefinitely, is one which fits better with 1940s Germany than a modern day democracy.'

He also defended those who refused the Covid jab, saying he used to be baffled by how 'ordinary German folk meekly comply with orders to hate and persecute Jews, with zero justification' but was now watching 'something so similar unfold around me'.

Pete Durnell (pictured) defended those who refused the Covid jab, saying he used to be baffled by how 'ordinary German folk meekly comply with orders to hate and persecute Jews, with zero justification'

John Edwards (pictured) criticised a Canadian rail firm that 'tells vaccinated travellers to wear a yellow sticker', adding: 'Nazi Germany did something similar'

Last night he said 'certain actions' taken during Covid 'would be something you would normally expect to emanate from a totalitarian state'.

John Edwards (Southampton Test) criticised a Canadian rail firm that 'tells vaccinated travellers to wear a yellow sticker', adding: 'Nazi Germany did something similar.'

All named candidates were asked to comment.
The head of the Post Office yesterday apologised for 'a truly terrible error' after it published the home addresses of 555 wronged postmasters.

Chief executive Nick Read said he could 'only apologise' for the mistake, after the Mail revealed how the postmasters' personal details were put on the organisation's website.

The Information Commissioner has launched a probe into the 'incident'.

The Post Office, which falsely accused hundreds of postmasters of stealing in the faulty Horizon IT scandal, published a dossier of people involved in a High Court action in 2019.

The document, marked 'confidential', included a list of names and home addresses with postcodes.

Chief executive Nick Read (pictured) said he could 'only apologise' for the mistake, after the Mail revealed how the postmasters' personal details were put on the organisation's website

One, ex-postmaster Christopher Head (pictured), tweeted a letter he sent Mr Read and Post Office chairman Nigel Railton, telling them: 'There are many who hadn't shared details with their own families and others who are extremely traumatised by this whole scandal even today and this has further impacted them'

Those affected expressed their fury. One, ex-postmaster Christopher Head, tweeted a letter he sent Mr Read and Post Office chairman Nigel Railton, telling them: 'There are many who hadn't shared details with their own families and others who are extremely traumatised by this whole scandal even today and this has further impacted them.'

He said Mr Read replied, saying: 'This is a truly terrible error and one for which at this stage I can only apologise.'

Meanwhile, a Post Office investigator yesterday admitted deleting information about bugs in the system from a witness statement used to prosecute a postmaster.

Warned about potentially incriminating himself at the inquiry in London, Graham Ward denied his actions were part of a wider cover-up.
Sir Keir Starmer was forced to deny he wanted to 'flatten the green belt' after a Labour official claimed the party would do so to build more houses.

Labour's leader had to backpedal as the Tories seized on the damaging briefing, saying it had let slip the opposition's true plan to pave over the countryside.

The row began when the Politico news website reported yesterday that an unnamed Labour official had said: 'I don't care if we flatten the whole green belt, we just need more houses in this country.'

Soon afterwards Prime Minister Rishi Sunak posted the damning quote on social media platform X, commenting: 'Good to finally get Labour's real views on Britain's green belt.'

Housing Secretary Michael Gove told the Mail: 'Labour have let slip their real intentions towards our green belt.

Sir Keir Starmer (pictured) was forced to deny he wanted to 'flatten the green belt' after a Labour official claimed the party would do so to build more houses

Labour to curb Right To Buy scheme Rayner used Labour yesterday pledged to curb the 'scandalous' Right To Buy scheme  which Deputy Leader Angela Rayner benefitted from. Housing spokesman Matthew Pennycook said a Labour government would take a 'pragmatic approach' to stop social housing stock being sold off too easily, but would not go so far as to end the scheme 'outright'. He said that the scheme  which allows tenants to buy their council home for discounts as high as 70 per cent  has led to an exacerbation of Britain's housing supply crisis. Miss Rayner bought her former council house in Stockport under the Right To Buy scheme in 2007, with a 25 per cent discount, before selling it three years later for a 48,500 profit. The Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has said that 'building new council housing while Right To Buy remains is like trying to fill a bath with no plug.' Advertisement

'In their own words, they simply don't care about the views of local people and would be more than prepared to flatten the green belt to meet their haphazard and ill-thought- through housing targets.

'Only the Conservatives have a plan to protect our green belt and build homes in the right places.'

But asked by reporters about the comment on a visit to a housing development in York, Sir Keir insisted: 'No, that wasn't Labour Party officials. That wasn't Labour Party policy.'

And he told broadcasters: 'We're not planning to flatten the green belt.' But Politico reporter, Stefan Boscia rebutted Sir Keir's complete denial, writing on X: 'He is, obviously, wrong to say a Labour official never said this to me.'

Sir Keir also said a Labour government would build 1.5 million new homes over the next five years and would protect the countryside in the process.

But he admitted that would require tough decisions  and some development on low-quality green belt land, which the party has dubbed the grey belt.

'We've got plenty of non-green belt areas that we can build on but you know, there are some parts of the green belt such as disused car parks,' Sir Keir said. 'So we will take the tough decisions. But of course, we're going to protect the countryside.'

However, Mr Gove doubted if a Labour government could build the homes and infrastructure the country needs. He pointed out that last year the Government had proposed to scrap strict environmental rules blamed for blocking 100,000 homes.

'I think one of the most difficult things for Keir Starmer and a Labour cabinet would be facing down particular lobby groups.'

He added that the second challenge would come from the biggest housebuilders.
The two men charged with the murder of a 12-year-old Texas girl are migrants from Venezuela who were released into the country despite being intercepted by border agents.

Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, was fitted with a GPS ankle monitor by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent after he crossed at El Paso in Texas on May 28, but he had cut it off by the time the pair were arrested for killing Jocelyn Nungaray.

Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, was also released after being intercepted by border agents on March 14, little more than three months before Jocelyn's body was found floating in a creek near her Houston home on Monday.

Ramos told agents he planned to live with his cousin in Houston, but the tracker was only set to monitor his movements for 21 days, and he was sharing an apartment with Martinez when he was arrested.

Both men were charged with capital murder on Thursday, and investigators are awaiting the result of tests to confirm whether Jocelyn was raped as well as murdered.

Jocelyn Nungary, 12, was found dead by strangulation in a shallow creek near her home on Sunday

Ramos was released into the country after telling officials he he feared for his life if he was sent back to his home country, sources told The Post.

His discarded ankle monitor was found on Wednesday NewsNation reported.

More than 7.4 million migrants have been released on a non-detained docket after encounters with border patrol officers.

They are offered court appearance dates to decide their asylum requests sometimes years in the future.

The basis on which Martinez was released has not yet been revealed.

But Ramos was one of more than 184,000 enrolled into the Alternatives to Detention program for closer monitoring after raising suspicions at border encounters.

They are fitted with GPS monitors or required to regularly call phone systems that use voice recognition to confirm their identity.

Ramos, who was discovered crossing the border among a large group of migrants, was reportedly given a notice to appear at a court in San Antonio on August 29.

ICE was aware of 'at least 617,607 criminal aliens' not subject to detainment orders and 'free to reoffend', the House Judiciary Committee concluded in March.

Agents can do little if migrants abscond from the program and remove their ankle bracelets and more than 53,000 are known to have disappeared between 2014 and 2020.

Venezuelan gang member Diego Ibarra was placed on the program but cut off his ankle bracelet and disappeared in April 2023.

He was only arrested ten months later while police were hunting for his brother Jose over the murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley.

Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, have now been charged with capital murder following a manhunt for the suspects

Police said the suspects resided within the same apartment complex as the victim

It is believed Jocelyn first encountered the two men when she went to a convenience store

Police had issued images of two persons of interest seen with the Jocelyn hours before her death after she had snuck out of her home at around 10pm on Sunday night.

Officers said the suspects, who lived in the same block as the girl, bumped into the pre-teen and walked with her to a convenience store.

She called her 13-year-old boyfriend from the convenience store at around midnight that night.

He reported hearing her talking to two adults, Houston Mayor John Whitmire announced at a news conference Tuesday.

Her body was found by passerby Billie Jackson shortly after 6am on Monday morning in a shallow creek.

Speaking to ABC13, Jackson said: 'I drove past, and when I looked up the creek, I thought it was a mannequin.

'I did a U-turn, and I stopped on the bridge, put my flashers on, looked down, and realized it was someone. I parked right here and called 911 immediately.'

Her grieving mother, Alexis Nungary, is now struggling to process what has happened.

'It's like it's not real,' she told Click2Houston. 'I keep hearing everything, and I hear it and it's not registering.'

She recalled telling her daughter on Sunday not to stay up too late, as she was joining her at work the next day. Those would be the last words she ever spoke to her daughter.

By 3am on Monday, Alexis said she noticed Jocelyn's cat was 'going crazy,' but assumed the cat was with her daughter, who always slept with her pet at night.

It wasn't until she woke up at 6am and started her normal routine to wake up her five-year-old son and Jocelyn that she noticed her daughter was missing.

Alexis also said that she does not know why Jocelyn snuck out of the house, though she noted that she has struggled in recent months with her mental health.

'I don't know why, what possessed her to walk around late at night in this area out of all places,' Alexis said.

'I always told her to never leave the house, never leave unattended, always be safe.

'There's people around here that are crazy. I don't think she ever thought it would face her.'

She and other family members have described the preteen as a loving and caring child.

Family members have described the preteen as a loving and caring child

Her grieving mother, Alexis Nungaray, pictured here, is now struggling to process what had happened

Earlier this week police in Houston issued a notice saying the two men were both persons of interest in the case

Billie Jackson said she noticed Jocelyn's body in the creek on her way home from dropping her husband off at work Monday morning

Her uncle Joamel said: 'Jocy was a smart, loving, nurturing young lady, She brightened up the room every time she came by and was loved by everyone around.'

Alexis also described her as the 'greatest friend' who was 'very goofy. 'She had aspirations for life,' Alexis said. 'She loved everyone, was so kind.'

Alexis said she suspects the two men either live in the apartment complex or may have walked to the store from a nearby state park.

'I want karma to hit them, I'm angry,' Alexis added. 'They took advantage of her.

'She's so young, she's 12. I want justice. I want whoever has seen them to please call police. They took my baby away.'
Will Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby be embarrassed at next month's General Synod by his association with disgraced ex-Post Office boss Paula Vennells?

Evangelical Dr Ian Paul has tabled an awkward private members' motion.

'That this Synod, in the light of the comment by the Archbishop that 'Paula Vennells has shaped my thinking over the years', request that a full review be undertaken of [her] influence on the culture, decisions, appointments, and strategies of the House of Bishops and the wider church.'

Justin's only blessing is that the Synod debate, on July 5, is likely to be submerged in election results.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby (pictured) may be embarassed at next month's General Synod

The Archbishop of Canterbury is associated with disgraced ex-Post Office boss Paula Vennells (pictured)

When King Charles published a book of his own watercolours in 1991, he wrote: '[Painting] refreshes parts of the soul that other activities cannot reach.'

Ad man Terry Lovelock, who coined that phrase to sell Heineken beer, asked for permission to apply to the Lord Chamberlain for a royal warrant, as 'purveyor of slogans and aphorisms to Prince Charles'.

Back came the response from HRH: Terry would have to provide pithy lines for at least three years before a warrant could be bestowed.

See you after the ad break, sire.

Did Sarah Ferguson, back in the Royal Ascot fold with daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, spare a thought for her exiled ex-spouse Andrew?

Before his defenestration, he attended most days.

On past Fridays when Fergie attended the royal enclosure  but not the royal box for the sake of Prince Philip's blood pressure  Andrew gallantly gave up his carriage seat and travelled by car with his ex and their daughters.

Did Sarah Ferguson (left), back in the Royal Ascot fold with daughters Beatrice (right) and Eugenie, spare a thought for her exiled ex-spouse Andrew?

Fergie (left) attends Royal Ascot in 2019 with Andrew (right)

Fergie may have been confined to the Ascot Authority box but Andrew and the girls nipped in regularly to see her and smuggled her into the royal box when Philip left, usually after the fourth race.

Alas, poor Andrew, they don't seem willing to return the favour and give up the high life to stay home and watch the racing on the telly with him.

Promoting his new biography on the Beckhams, Tom Bower, highlighting Becks' 'complicated' tax affairs, claims that a forensic accountant he'd hired to look into the companies of David emerged 'baffled'.

David Beckham smiles as he attends King's Foundation charity's inaugural awards at St James's Palace on June 11

'He discovered that Beckham was owed 9million by the German tax authorities because his accountant had forgotten to claim it,' Bower tells Sky News.

'So I told his PR woman and he got 9million thanks to me. But he hasn't said 'thank you'!' Is the old rogue having a giraffe?

Throttlebottom Nick Robinson notes in The Spectator that Sir Keir Starmer confessed he had been in the crowd when Gareth Southgate missed a penalty against Germany at Euro 96.

'If Starmer wins on July 4 and Southgate takes England to the final of the Euros,

'I wonder if we could persuade our new prime minister to stay away in case he jinxes it?'
Dame Judi Dench is set to join an Extinction Rebellion (XR) march calling on politicians to do more to protect nature ahead of the general election.

The 89-year-old actress has called on the public to take part in the Restore Nature Now march in London on Saturday, with more than 50,000 predicted to attend, according to organisers.

Dame Judi has spoken about her love of trees in the past and previously backed a petition to stop the felling of a poplar in south London which was being occupied by XR activists.

'Despite being a nation of nature lovers, the UK's politicians are failing to protect the wildlife that we love,' the veteran actress said.

'Pollution in our rivers and ocean, falling wildlife populations, and increased droughts and floods are all symptoms of the decline of our natural world.

'Nature needs more than sticking plaster solutions, we need our politicians to deliver a cure for nature's decline. That's why we should all join together to demand that all political parties Restore Nature Now.'

Dame Judi Dench (pictured at the Chelsea Flower Show last month) is set to join an Extinction Rebellion march calling on politicians to do more to protect nature ahead of the general election.

The 89-year-old actress has called on the public to join her on the Restore Nature Now march in London on Saturday. Pictured: A photo taken from the four-day XR march in April

Dame Judi condemned the 'pollution in our rivers and ocean'. Pictured: Sewage being pumped into a river

Dame Emma Thompson, Chris Packham, Steve Backshall, Liz Bonnin, Feargal Sharkey and Dr Amir Khan are also supporting the protest, which aims to send a message to Westminster to make nature and climate a higher priority in this election campaign and the next parliament.

More than 300 charities, businesses, and direct-action groups are set to take part in the 'family-friendly, peaceful and legal' march.

The organisers said the march could be the biggest public demonstration ever for nature and the largest in the run-up to the general election on July 4.

Protesters will meet at Park Lane at noon before walking down Piccadilly towards Trafalgar Square, then heading down Whitehall to Parliament Square.

Last year, XR said it would back away from activism which disrupted the public such as roadblocks and focus on 'attendance over arrest'.

But they have recently targeted a Science Museum event alongside Greta Thunberg and formed blockades outside insurance companies across the UK, which led to many arrests.

Echoing Dame Judi's words, actor and writer Dame Emma said: 'Our politicians have a legal duty and a moral responsibility to ensure the next generation have a future full of thriving nature without the threat of climate disaster hanging over their heads.

'That's why it's time to challenge all political parties to Restore Nature Now - add your voice to the calls on June 22.'

Dame Emma Thompson (pictured at the King's coronation) has also backed the march

An activist drops a banner as Extinction Rebellion protesters target the Palace of Westminster

Activists from Extinction Rebellion take part in 'The Big One' event, in London, in April

Eco-activists hold placards calling for the government to 'end fossil fuels now'

TV broadcaster and environmental campaigner Packham said: 'We're standing shoulder to shoulder - whether we're from urban ponds or national nature reserves, from big charities or local direct action groups, we are all lovers of life on planet Earth and we are going to stop asking and start demanding that politicians protect the world we love.

'So please bring your friends, your colleagues, your grandparents, your grandchildren. Get to the streets by bus, train, or bike - please just get here.

'We need to shout above the noise and make a difference. We will make a last stand for nature.'

The call from celebrities comes as new polling, released by Rewilding Britain, found that 77 per cent of all voters say that politicians should be doing more to reduce the decline of nature in Britain.

It found that 68 per cent of those who voted Conservative in 2019 agreed, as did 87 per cent of Labour voters and 93 per cent of Liberal Democrat voters.

Rebecca Wrigley, chief executive of Rewilding Britain, said: 'The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world with just half (53%) of its biodiversity remaining.

Dame Judi Dench pictured starring in James Bond's Skyfall with Daniel Craig in 2012

'We need our next government to make radical changes to reverse this decline and commit to nature recovery, including rewilding, for wildlife, people and the planet.

'The public are clear, they want politicians to be doing more to reverse the decline of nature in Britain, there is simply no time to lose.'

Tanya Steele, chief executive at WWF who will be speaking at the march, said: 'This General Election comes at a make-or-break time and the next UK government must be prepared to take bold action on many fronts to stand any chance of restoring nature by 2030, and of limiting climate change to 1.5C of warming.

'Failure means risking the last great opportunity to protect people and nature, increasing the likelihood of environmental catastrophe in coming decades.'

The campaigners said they have issued five main challenges to politicians on the action needed for nature.

This includes doubling the nature and climate-friendly farming budget, making polluters contribute to nature and climate recovery, expanding and improving protected areas, introduce an Environmental Rights Bill, and take climate actions to increase home energy efficiency, support active travel and public transport, and replace polluting fossil fuels with affordable renewables.
For those who havent heard of him, Ziggy Switkowski might sound like a cartoon name associated with the sort of childish characterisations of nuclear power being posted on social media by Labor MPs in the wake of Peter Duttons policy announcement.

However, Dr Switkowski is anything but a cheap wisecrack.

Arguably Australias most senior business leader with scientific qualifications to boot, Dr Switkowski is a former CEO of both Telstra and Optus.

And hes studied business management at Harvard University too, served as a university Chancellor and sat on all manner of government boards.

But it is his scientific qualifications and experience that make his (albeit qualified) support for Peter Duttons venture into nuclear power so powerful, and one assumes a welcome intervention for the opposition.

Nuclear physicist and businessman Ziggy Swikowski's intervention in the atomic energy debate needs to be taken seriously, writes Peter Van Onselen. Above, Dr Switkowski poses for a photo when he was the chairman of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) in 2006

It also may put the early criticisms coming from current sections of the business community - whose investments in other forms of energy production stand to be impacted by a new energy class - into better context.

Vested interests should always have their opinions taken with a grain of salt.

The now-retired Dr Switkowski achieved his PhD in nuclear physics in the late 1970s, during a time when the rest of the world was beginning to embrace the benefits of nuclear power.

It became an important energy source in his birthplace of Germany, not to mention other countries such as the United States, United Kingdom and France just to name a few.

As Dr Switkowski's 2006 study on the viability of nuclear power in Australia noted - we will come back to the origins and findings of that 250 page report shortly - 17 of 24 of the worlds richest economies embraced the technology.

But not Australia.

While Dr Switkowski was completing his PhD in nuclear physics, and undertaking a further six years of post doctoral specialist training in the discipline, left-wing factional warriors like Anthony Albanese (then in his late teens and early twenties) were learning their activist craft at the feet of more senior Left ideologues opposing nuclear power.

At the time silly images like three-eyed fish and deformed pets might not have seemed so absurd.

One of the endless series of memes produced by Labor activists this week in a bid to scare Aussies about nuclear power - 'Peter Dutton and the seven nuclear reactors'

Forty years later they certainly are, which is why Labors embrace of such images this week was so callow.

Do they also worry about Australian submariners developing such deformities when they serve on Australian nuclear submarines as part of the AUKUS agreement Labor supports, for example.

Dr Switkowski is now 75 years old, but continues to sit on the occasional board and participates in reviews on occasion too. His well respected reputation is well entrenched.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton gave him an advanced look at the policy he was conjuring up ahead of this weeks release, the broad brush strokes of which were released on Wednesday.

Daily Mail Australia reached out to Dr Switkowski to confirm reports today that he backs the Coalitions bold and risky bid to go nuclear.

He told us that yes, the reports are accurate, confirming that when it comes to Australia embracing nuclear power the economics can be made to work - and that there is no reason to doubt their capacity to return a dividend for taxpayers in the long term.

Labor has sought to discredit Coalition plans to build the reactors themselves, but Dr Switkowski points out thats how other governments that embraced the pivot to nuclear also made the switch.

He did also note, however, that once built and established they should not continue to be managed by government. A reflection, perhaps, of the business leaders faith in the market economy.

While Dr Switkowski began his working life as a nuclear physicist before pivoting to become a leading business figure in this country, he combined his dual expertise in 2006 when then Prime Minister John Howard commissioned him to conduct a study and report on the viability of nuclear power in Australia.

It found that Australia was indeed well placed to include nuclear power within Australia's energy mix. Doing so would be cost competitive with emission reductions benefits. It also noted that as a country with one of the worlds largest deposits of yellowcake - the key ingredient that goes into nuclear fuel or uranium - Australia was also in a good position to ramp up production and exports of uranium.

But that was nearly 20 years ago now, and Dr Switkowski did say at the time that making the shift needed to be embraced sooner rather than later. Australia lost that opportunity, continuing to listen to the concerns of nuclear opponents.

The 2006 Switkowski report, as it came to be known, was criticised at the time by some other scientists for failing to adequately address the challenges of dealing with nuclear waste.

But now that Australia has a bipartisan commitment to nuclear submarines, dealing with nuclear waste is also a bipartisan reality, whether nuclear power becomes a reality or not.

The Coalition says reactor waste would be dealt with the same way nuclear submarine waste will be.

While Labor has used the days since Dutton's policy announcement to land childish, superficial blows on the policy with references to deformed pets, fish and koalas, with fairy tales and Simpsons references, Dr Switkowskis injection into the debate should force Labor to get serious with any scare campaign when arguing against going nuclear.

That is, if it wants to be taken seriously.

There certainly are unanswered questions and lots of missing details in what Dutton has revealed so far.

Starting with how much his seven nuclear reactors might cost to build. And we know from political history that scare campaigns work and plugging big target policies from opposition is a risky business.

Dr Switkowski confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that the CSIRO's estimate of between $8.6billion and $10billion per reactor was 'in the ballpark'.

This debate has a long way to run, both politically and as a defining potential shift in the climate wars.

But make no mistake, Dr Switkowskis intervention needs to be taken seriously, and cant simply be dismissed with a juvenile series of social media gags that arent particularly funny to begin with.
Rishi Sunak threatened to revoke young people's driving licenses and 'access to finance' as possible sanctions for refusing national service.

Rishi Sunak - who said it would be 'politicising the armed forces during an election campaign' to respond to criticism of his policy - suggested a Conservative government would look at models 'existing around Europe' to decide the details.

Mr Sunak said: 'We will have a set of sanctions and incentives and we will look at the models that are existing around Europe to get the appropriate mix of those.

'There's a range of different options that exist. There's all sorts of things that people do across Europe, whether that's looking at driving licenses, all the access to finance all sorts of other things the right thing to do.'

The Prime Minister insisted the military route was optional, despite the proposed national service scheme being compulsory.

Rishi Sunak (pictured) suggested a Conservative government would look at models 'existing around Europe' to decide the details

The Prime Minister insisted the military route was optional, despite the proposed national service scheme being compulsory (file image)

When asked about what sanctions people could face for not taking part, Mr Sunak pointed to 'access to finance' among other examples (file image)

Lord West of Spithead, a former chief of the naval staff and Labour peer, is reported to have called the national service policy 'bonkers' (file image)

When asked about what sanctions people could face for not taking part, Mr Sunak pointed to 'access to finance' among other examples.

Asked if this meant taking away people's bank cards, he laughed, and said: 'There's lot of different models around Europe.'

On Wednesday Mr Sunak said his two daughters were 'excited' about the prospect of national service.

But Lord West of Spithead, a former chief of the naval staff and Labour peer, is reported to have called the policy 'bonkers'.
The death of a baby during a homebirth in Queensland attended by two doulas has increased calls for a government crackdown on the controversial practice.

Paramedics who attended the Toowoomba home found a shocking scene on Wednesday, where the baby reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest and died.

Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman is working closely with the Coroner who will advise her on recommendations around what is known as freebirthing.

'I am very concerned when women choose to do this,' Ms Fentiman told reporters in Townsville on Friday. 'This was a freebirth, which means a woman decided to give birth at home without any medical oversight.

'Doulas are not registered health practitioners, they can perform no clinical or medical services.'

A doula is a non-medical 'companion' who supports a pregnant woman before, during and after childbirth.

The death of a baby during a homebirth in Queensland attended by two doulas has increased calls for a government crackdown on the controversial practice (stock image)

The coroner is already investigating a similar case, as obstetricians call for a review around 'the death, disability and harms associated with women having babies without appropriately trained professional care'.

The Health Minister said her message to women is: 'I know you want choice in where you give birth, but it has to be safe. So please engage the services of a medical practitioner.

'If women choose to have their baby at home right now, you do need to engage the services of a private midwife or an obstetrician.'

Ms Fentiman said that about 0.6 per cent of births happen at home in Queensland and very few of them are freebirths.

She said that because women want a choice, the state is about to trial a publicly funded homebirthing program from July 1 on the Sunshine Coast.

It will be offered to women who meet clinical criteria and live within a safe travel distance to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

'If successful and safe, we hope to roll that out across the state,' she said.

The doula industry is not regulated and some practitioners charge up to $3,000 per birth.

Ms Fentiman said it's important that pregnant women understand that under Australian law, doulas are not registered health professionals.

'Homebirth is very different to freebirth. A homebirth program is where you have medical professionals at home, with women who have been receiving wonderful midwifery care through their pregnancy.

'A decision to freebirth is what I am most distressed about, and that is where a woman will choose to give birth without any medical help at home, so they are two very different things.'

Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman (pictured) is working closely with the Coroner who will advise her on recommendations around what is known as freebirthing

She added that 'Safety has to be the priority, and I want all Queensland women to understand that engaging a doula is absolutely their choice, but that the doula is there to support the mother, but not provide any medical or clinical care.'

Gino Pecoraro, president of the National Association of Specialist Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, has called for a review into freebirthing.

'There must be an appropriate legislative and judicial response. The time to act is now, before anyone else is harmed,' he told the Courier-Mail.
A police officer who single-handedly pursued, confronted and shot dead a man who fatally stabbed six people at a Sydney shopping centre will be publicly commended for her bravery.

NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott, hailed a hero for bringing an end to Joel Cauchi's stabbing rampage at Bondi Junction Westfield, will accept an award at the Goulburn Police Academy on Friday.

Insp Scott was performing routine checks near the shopping centre when the incident unfolded on the Saturday afternoon of April 13.

After bystanders directed her to the scene, the officer approached the 40-year-old Queensland man on level five of the complex as shoppers fled and others lay injured.

When Cauchi refused to put the knife down, Insp Scott fired one shot to his chest, sending him to the ground.

Inspector Amy Scott (pictured) shot Joel Cauchi dead in the Westfield shopping centre in Sydney's east, after he killed six people and injured many more, including a baby

Joel Cauchi is pictured carrying the knife he used to murder six people in Bondi Junction

She then walked over and gave him CPR until paramedics arrived but Cauchi was unable to be revived.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised the officer's courage in responding to danger.

'There is no doubt that she saved lives,' he told those gathered at a memorial for the victims in April.

'It's a reminder that those people who wear uniform are people who rush to danger, not away from it.'

NSW Premier Chris Minns also praised the officer's 'instinctive bravery' as she 'ran towards danger' and 'without a shadow of a doubt, saved many, many lives'.

Mr Cauchi's family later issued a statement, saying Insp Scott 'was only doing her job to protect others, and we hope she is coping alright'.

Six people were killed in the attack with another dozen injured.

Five women - Ashlee Good, 38, Dawn Singleton, 25, Pikria Darchia, 55, Jade Young, 47, and Yixuan Cheng, 27 - were killed, along with security guard Faraz Tahir, 30.
A woman charged earlier this year with sexual battery after pulling down the skirt of a teenager at a restaurant has turned to drastic measures to earn money since losing her job.

Ida Lorenzo, 48, was terminated from her role Utah Attorney General's Office on April 25 - the same day she was formally charged.

But Lorenzo has now blamed her firing on 'circumstances beyond my control' and in a bid to generate some extra cash, has set up a GoFundMe page in the hope of providing some form of income until she lands a new job.

'My career and sole means of income is currently on hold for an indefinite period, and it is urgent that I reach out to try and raise funds to help support my two sons and myself during this difficult period,' Lorenzo wrote, pleading for sympathy.

'I'm a single mother and I've never asked for any help until now. My son is a suicide survivor (bullied in middle school) and I am a survivor of domestic violence. For the first time in my life, I myself could use the help. Any amount of your generosity would be so very appreciated.'

So far, Lorenzo has raised less than $500 of her $5,000 goal.

Ida Lorenzo was charged with a Class A misdemeanor, after the skirt-pulling incident on April 20 in the lobby of a Japanese Steakhouse in St. George, Utah. A TikTok video of the altercation, filmed by one of the victim's friends, later went viral

Lorenzo appeared in the 5th District Court in St. George, Utah earlier this week, in what was her first court appearance since being charged with a Class A misdemeanor in April.

In Utah, a Class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to a year in jail and fines of up to $2,500.

Lorenzo was captured on video at a crowded restaurant in St. George, tugging on the teenage girl's skirt before telling her to be mindful of 'what she was showing, especially with small kids around,' according to a police booking affidavit.

She told officers that she pulled on the teen's miniskirt claiming the young woman was exposing her buttocks and vagina in the lobby in front children.

During the viral, 36-second video, the young woman's friends can be heard telling Lorenzo: 'You do not get to touch her.'

She also appeared to flash a badge and said, 'I happen to work for the state,' while threatening to call child protective services.

The following day, Lorenzo was the one to call 911 to report harassment related to the unpleasant encounter.

She was charged in 5th District Court on April 25 with sexual battery, a class A misdemeanor.

Lorenzo's employment with the Washington County office of the state AG was terminated the same day.

She had only been in the job for around six weeks, having been hired on March 4 by the office as a legal secretary.

Lorenzo was booked into the Purgatory Correctional Facility in Hurricane and released after posting bail. She is seen here just before her arrest. She was fired from her job the same day

Lorenzo is seen being walked to a police car following her arrest on April 24

Footage of the incident was posted to TikTok, garnering more than 14.5 million views

The termination letter reads: 'I am writing to inform you that you have not passed your probationary employment period successfully and today, April 25, 2024, you are being separated from state employment with the attorney general's office.

'Your noncompliance with policies and standards related to performance contributed to this decision.'

According to police documents, the evening of the assault, Lorenzo approached the young woman and pulled her skirt down.

'This caused all the people with her to accuse (Lorenzo) of sexually assaulting the female,' read police records.

Lorenzo told authorities she 'never' touched the other woman's skin, and that she had merely 'touched the female's skirt.'

An officer told her that she had still 'engaged in criminal behavior by touching the female's clothing, and her behavior was not appropriate.'

The officer explained that touching someones private areas was against the law even if just touching clothing.

The incident took place in Sakura Japanese Steakhouse in St. George, Utah on April 20

Following the incident, the teenager contacted the police to report that she had been 'sexually assaulted while in the lobby' of the St. George restaurant.

Lorenzo had 'confronted' her 'while her back was turned to her, and without any notice, or formal warning, she felt cold hands go up her skirt, touching her buttocks before she felt her skirt being pulled on,' according to police records.

The young woman said she felt 'startled' and 'violated' by the encounter after Lorenzo came up to her without warning, pulling her skirt down from behind.

She denied that her genitals were exposed, explaining to police that she had been wearing underwear at the time.
Two people are dead after a shooting incident in Victoria's southwest.

The man and woman, who are yet to be formally identified, were found by a passerby on a remote walking track near Wreck Beach at about 10.45am on Friday.

Police rushed to the scene at Gellibrand Lower following the grim discovery.

It is believed a gun was found at the scene, the Herald Sun reports, but Victoria Police said they were not searching for anyone else in relation to the incident.

The man and woman are yet to be identified.

Two people are dead after a shooting incident in Victoria's southwest (pictured are police and media at the scene)

The man and woman, who are yet to be formally identified, were found by a passerby on a remote walking track near Wreck Beach at about 10.45am on Friday

'The circumstances surrounding the deaths are yet to be determined,' a statement from Victoria Police said.

'Officers have cordoned off the area and a crime scene has been established.'

'At this early stage, police are not treating either death as suspicious.

'Police will prepare a report for the coroner.'

Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppervic.com.au.
Residents could be forgiven for feeling the walls are closing in on them in the troubled cities of Seattle and Portland - and a nationwide study of new rental apartment sizes suggests they would be right.

The two west coast towns have the smallest new-builds in the country with the average unit coming in at a compact 685 square feet in Portland, and an even cozier 661 in Seattle.

That compares with a relatively roomy 737 sq ft in Manhattan where the average offering has grown by a noticeable 16 sq ft in the last decade.

But Florida has established itself as America's space center with Gainesville and Tallahassee topping the list at 1,173 and 1,159 sq ft respectively.

'Larger living spaces are making a comeback,' said Alexandra Both of rentcafe.com which carried out the survey.

The sizes of new rentals in Seattle are the smallest in America - and they are getting smaller

But a building boom in the Gainesville home of the University of Florida has helped give the town the largest new-build rental homes in the country

'The average size of new apartments in the US saw substantial growth in 2023, bouncing back to 916 square feet after a steep decline the previous year.

'This increase can be attributed to more spacious two- and three-bedroom apartments opening their doors last year as developers aimed to meet renters' need for more space.'

The survey looked at new apartment sizes in America's 100 largest cities.

And it found that New Yorkers are not the only big city dwellers enjoying more room to stretch their legs as new units have also got bigger in Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles, by an impressive 97 sq ft in the case of the Windy City.

But while sizes are creeping up overall, you have to pay more to feel the benefit.

'In general, small rentals are getting smaller and large apartments are gaining square feet,' Both said.

'More precisely, two- and three-bedroom apartments have been adding more floor space in the last decade, while studios and one-bedroom apartments have been getting more and more compact.

'Studios took the biggest hit after shrinking by a whopping 54 square feet in the last decade.'

New rentals in Portland, Oregon, are barely bigger than Seattle at just 685 square feet

But Manhattan has defied expectations with a relatively roomy 727 sq ft - up 16 in a decade

While apartments in Manhattan may be gaining space, its fellow New York boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn tuck in behind Seattle and Portland with just 692 and 712 sq ft respectively.

Detroit in Michigan makes up the fifth of the bottom five, all of which have shrunk in the last decade.

Things could get even worse for renters in Seattle because the survey reveals that the size of apartments currently under construction averages a miniscule 430 sq ft - bigger only than those in San Jose, California where the figure is 423.

'Small rentals are getting smaller and large apartments are gaining square feet,' said Alexandra Both of rentcafe.com

Conversely the Sun Belt dominates the list of cities where the average apartment size is growing fastest.

'Interestingly, the US cities that offered the roomiest apartments have been building even bigger throughout the last 10 years,' Both said.

'Tucson, Arizona, gained a remarkable 246 square feet  enough to accommodate two extra guest bedrooms.

'Other cities that similarly reflected this trend included Gainesville and Tallahassee, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Lubbock, Texas; and Knoxville, Tennessee.

Knoxville is also expected to see the highest increase in house prices in the next year with a predicted rise of 6.1 percent, a Zillow report found last month.

But its not all sunshine and light in the south with new rentals in Birmingham, Alabama, losing a room-sized 141 sq ft on average, more than any other city on the list.

Across the US The proportion of single-family homes being built for rent has doubled in two years as corporates eye up those who have had enough of paying a mortgage.

And the survey reveals good news for those able to rent at the top end of the market.

'Three-bedroom apartments have been steadily getting roomier and remain close to single-family homes for rent in terms of floor space and rent costs,' Both said.

'The size of a build-to-rent house increased to more than 1,400 square feet in 2023 for an average rent of $2,096, while the norm for a three-bedroom unit was close to 1,350 square feet and $2,160 in monthly rent.

'This is why, in some locations, renters might find it more convenient to rent a house as opposed to a three-bedroom unit.'
Hundreds benefit from medical camp organized by Chinese oil giant in western Uganda

Xinhua) 13:48, June 21, 2024

A doctor from the Chinese medical team in Uganda checks on a child during a medical camp in Uganda's western district of Kikuube, June 19, 2024. The Chinese oil giant China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) in Uganda is holding a two-day medical camp in the country's western district of Kikuube, where hundreds of local residents are being provided with free medical services and treatments.(Photo by Tian Yu/Xinhua)

KAMPALA, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese oil giant China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) in Uganda is holding a two-day medical camp in the country's western district of Kikuube, where hundreds of local residents are being provided with free medical services and treatments.

A statement by CNOOC Uganda Limited on Wednesday said the medical camp, which runs from Wednesday to Thursday, was organized in collaboration with the Chinese medical team in Uganda, which comprises 20 doctors and specialists.

At least 1,000 people are expected to benefit from the medical camp.

Held under the theme "Empower Health, Embrace Life," the event is providing free medical check-ups, consultations, treatments, and health education to local residents, especially women and children.

"The medical camp treated infectious diseases such as malaria, typhoid, syphilis, hepatitis B, and HIV, as well as non-communicable diseases including hypertension, diabetes, cervical cancer, and ulcers," the company said in a statement.

According to the statement, CNOOC Uganda Limited and the Chinese medical team also handed medicine and pediatric supplies to one of the local health centers in the area.

Liu Xiangdong, president of CNOOC Uganda Limited, said the medical camp reflected the company's commitment to strengthening China-Uganda relations.

"Through initiatives like these, we aim to contribute to the socio-economic development of Uganda and enhance the friendship between our two nations as we work toward energy for a better future," he said.

Vincent Alpha, vice chairperson of Kikuube District, hailed the teams for their continued support to the local people. "We are deeply grateful to CNOOC Uganda Limited for their unwavering support and dedication to the health and well-being of our community," Alpha said.

"This medical camp has a profound impact on the lives of our people, providing much-needed medical services and fostering a stronger relationship between Uganda and China," he added.

Wang Jianxun, counselor of the Economic and Commercial Department of the Chinese Embassy in Uganda, said China's commitment to supporting Africa's development through initiatives like this medical camp is evident.

"These efforts aim to achieve sustainable development, improve public health, and build a community with a shared future for mankind," Wang added.

In January last year, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni launched the drilling of oil for commercial production at the Kingfisher Oil Field, operated by CNOOC. Uganda in 2006 discovered 6.5 billion barrels of oil, of which 1.4 billion barrels are commercially viable, according to Uganda's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.

A doctor from the Chinese medical team in Uganda checks on a local resident during a medical camp in Uganda's western district of Kikuube, June 19, 2024. The Chinese oil giant China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) in Uganda is holding a two-day medical camp in the country's western district of Kikuube, where hundreds of local residents are being provided with free medical services and treatments.(Photo by Tian Yu/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
A haunted house actor has confessed to the murder and dismemberment of a high school friend who stayed with him on the way to visit his girlfriend in Alabama.

Brandon Christopher Risner, 23, admitted to killing Aaron William Davis, 21, in November 2022 after turning himself into police.

Cops found Davis' Toyota Prius car abandoned and later discovered his body buried in a shallow grave close to Risner's house.

But the acknowledgement of guilt served as only some comfort to Davis' parents, with his grieving father making a surprising statement about his son's killer.

Randy Davis says the two men had been such good friends that he felt like he had lost a second son.

Haunted house actor, Brandon Christopher Risner, 23, has confessed to the murder and dismemberment of a high school friend

Aaron William Davis, 21, was killed in November 2022 while staying at Risner's house

'He's been as much of a son to us as anyone. It's really like losing two kids at this point. It just felt like betrayal,' Randy told 11Alive.

The pair attended both the same high school and church in Cumming, Georgia.

Davis, a recent BYU-Idaho graduate, stopped at Risner's home on his way to Alabama but never reached his destination, leading his family to call the police.

The indictment detailed Risner's efforts to hide the crime, including cleaning blood stains and moving Davis' body.

'He (Risner) removed the body of Davis from one location off Collingwood Road to another off of Tumlin Drive where he buried said person in an unmarked grave,' a criminal indictment seen by CourtTV reads.

'(Risner) attempted to get rid of the vehicle driven by (Davis), which contained blood, and tried to remove blood on the mattress and the carpet and a rug as well as blood and blood spatter on a ceiling of an upstairs bedroom,' the indictment states.

Davis and Risner, pictured, had been friends for years essentially growing up together having attended the same high school and church in Cumming, Georgia

Randy Davis, the father of Aaron, said losing his own son and having Risner go to jail was 'like losing two kids'. The pair had been incredibly close growing together in Georgia

Brandon Risner agreed to plead guilty to the stabbing and dismembering of his best friend

Davis stayed with Risner en route to visit his girlfriend in Alabama - but the visit cost him his life

Risner initially fled following the killing but later surrendered.

Court documents describe how Risner got Davis drunk during a night out at a bar.

Risner initially fled following the killing of his friend but later surrendered to police

After going back to Risner's house, Davis went to sleep in an upstairs guest bedroom.

At some point during his stay, he was stabbed to death.

'During the night or early morning hours of the following day, [Risner] allegedly used a sharp object to stab Mr. Davis multiple times in the head, chest, torso and extremities, leading to his death,' court documents detail.

Risner removed some of Davis' body parts including a portion of of his small intestines.

'[He] placed the deceased body into Davis' vehicle, drove to another location, and buried him in a shallow unmarked grave.'

Risner pled guilty to multiple charges, including murder and evidence tampering.
A last-minute appeal lodged by Steve Bannon to delay his prison deadline has been rejected by a federal court panel as he fights his conviction for criminal contempt of Congress.

The former adviser to Donald Trump will now have to report to prison by July 1 to begin serving his four-month sentence.

Bannon's lawyers asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to allow him to remain free while he continues to overturn the conviction all the way up to the Supreme Court, if necessary.

But in a 2-1 vote, the panel said Bannon's case 'does not warrant a departure from the general rule' that defendants begin serving their sentence after conviction.

After this rejection, Bannon is expected to ask the Supreme Court to stave off his four-month prison sentence.

Donald Trump ally Steve Bannon's appeal to be allowed to stay out of prison as he pursues to overturn his conviction for criminal contempt of Congress has been rejected by a federal court panel

Bannon spoke with Trump at least twice on January 5, attended a planning meeting at the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C. and said on his podcast, 'all hell is going to break loose tomorrow,' according to J6 committee

The longtime ally was sentenced to prison after a jury in 2022 found him guilty on two counts of contempt of Congress for declining to appear before the House investigation into the January 6 attack and for refusing to hand over documents.

However trial judge Carl Nichols allowed him to remain free as he appealed the conviction.

That changed two weeks ago after a higher court rejected Bannon's appeal. Nichols said he did not believe that the 'original basis' for his stay of the sentence existed any longer.

Bannon's lawyer at trial argued that the former Trump adviser did not ignore the subpoena but was still engaged in good-faith negotiations with the congressional committee when he was charged.

Bannon was convicted of failing to comply with a subpoena by the House January 6 Committee

The defense said he had been relying on the advice on his attorney, who believed that Bannon couldnt testify or produce documents because Trump had invoked executive privilege.

Lawyers for Bannon previously said that the case raises serious legal questions that would likely need to be resolved by the Supreme Court but he would have already finished his prison sentence by the time the case gets there.

In court papers, Bannon's lawyers further said that there is a 'strong public interest' in allowing him to remain free in the run-up to the 2024 election because Bannon's role as a top adviser in Trump's campaign.

His lawyers have also argued that the Justice Department is 'giving an appearance that the government is trying to prevent Bannon from fully assisting with the campaign and speaking out on important issues, and also ensuring the government exacts its pound of flesh before the possible end of the Biden Administration' by trying to imprison him now.

But prosecutors disagree and said in court papers that Bannon's 'role in political discourse' is irrelevant.

Tear gas is released into a crowd of protesters, with one wielding a Confederate battle flag that reads 'Come and Take It,' during clashes with Capitol police at a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 U.S. presidential election results by the U.S. Congress, at the US Capitol Building in Washington, US January 6, 2021

'Bannon also cannot reconcile his claim for special treatment with the bedrock principle of equal justice under the law. Even-handed application of the bail statute requires Bannon's continued detention,' prosecutors wrote.

Another former Trump aide, economic advisor Peter Navarro, is currently serving a four-month sentence in a Florida prison after being convicted of similar charges. Navarro helped promote a plan he dubbed the 'Green Bay Sweep' that became part of Trump's election overturn effort.

Bannon has raised a defense of counsel defense saying he relied on a lawyer's advice when failing to comply with a congressional subpoena. Trump also tried to muster such an argument, citing advice by Michael Cohen in the Stormy Daniels payoff.

Bannon helped helm meetings at a strategy 'war room' at the Willard Hotel in Washington that brought together key figures in the election overturn effort.

'I've got great lawyers, and we're going to go all the way to the Supreme Court if we have to,' Bannon said outside court last week after being ordered to prison.

'There's nothing that can shut me up and nothing that will shut me up. There's not a prison built or a jail built that will ever shut me up,' he said, while a protester held up a 'Lock them up' sign.

'They're not going to shut up Trump. They're not going to shut up Navarro. They're not going to shut up Bannon, and they're certainly not going to shut up MAGA,' he said.
Antoinette Lattouf has stirred up another media storm, using a now-deleted slur to describe ABC viewers.

The ex-ABC Radio host wrote an opinion piece for Nine newspapers where she half-jokingly put herself forward as Paul Barry's replacement as Media Watch host.

However, a reference to the ABC's older audience as the 'colostomy-bag crowd' drew immediate criticism.

Cartoonist Kaz Cooke decried the term on X as 'odd and cruel'.

Journalist Lucie Morris-Marr denounced it as 'one of the most hideous, offensive and nasty phrases I've ever heard as a young bowel cancer patient who had one for a year due to emergency surgery'.

The words were later cut from the online version of the Sydney Morning Herald column - although it was too late for the printed product.

Antoinette Lattouf described ABC viewers as the 'colostomy-bag crowd', attracting criticism

Lucie Morris-Marr, a bowel cancer survivor, denounced the quip on X as 'one of the most hideous, offensive and nasty phrases I've ever heard as a young bowel cancer patient'

'The national broadcaster needs younger viewers to survive,' Lattouf had written in an earlier version of the piece. '

'You cant cater to the colostomy-bag crowd forever.'

Guardian Australia's Weekly Beast column quoted SMH opinion editor Chris Harrison as saying the reference was removed due to the risk of 'upsetting others'.

Ms Cooke begged Lattouf to 'reconsider referring to older people' in that manner.

Another reader noted a recent health trend of colon cancer and other bowel ailments in young people - and that it should not be assumed only older people have colostomy bags.

A woman in her twenties with Crohn's disease wrote: 'I don't have a colostomy bag but lots of people of all ages with Crohn's and other conditions have them!

'It's already such a stigmatised medical device and should not be flung around as an insult... gross.'

Readers also took to the Herald's own Letters page to criticise the use of the term.

'Antoinette Lattouf's description of ABC viewers as "the colostomy-bag crowd" is insensitive, wrote one reader.

'As bowel cancer rates rise among the young, its not even an accurate dig against an older demographic. Perhaps Paul Barry could discuss the comment next week.'

Daily Mail Australia has asked Lattouf to respond to the criticism about the comment.

Lattouf has half-jokingly put herself forward as the new host of Media Watch despite being locked in an unfair dismissal battle with the ABC

Current host Paul Barry is stepping down after 11 years helming the media criticism program

In her column, Lattouf, 40, revealed she had conducted a private online poll on who should be Barry's replacement - and that she was crowned as the favourite.

Lattouf is engaged in an unlawful dismissal case against the national broadcaster.

Lattouf was taken off air three days into her week-long stint as a fill-in host on ABC Radio last December after reposting a Human Rights Watch video about starvation being used as a tool of war in Gaza.

Lattouf subsequently launched a Fair Work claim, alleging she was fired over her political opinions and her Lebanese heritage.

The ABC claimed she breached the organisation's social media policy around impartiality and she was not actually sacked because she was paid for the full week.

But Lattouf scored a major win in her case earlier this month when the Fair Work Commission ruled she was indeed sacked by the national broadcaster.

The bitter and drawn-out legal fight could still end up in the Federal Court if scheduled mediation talks between Lattouf and the ABC fail next week.
Progressive Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office let dozens of anti-Israel protesters arrested at Columbia University in April off the hook, dropping criminal charges against them Thursday.

Columbia University protestors who stormed Hamilton Hall were marched onto awaiting NYPD buses last night to applause from cheering locals on April 30.

Police arrested the demonstrators after they barricaded themselves inside the building, and cleared a weeks-old tent encampment on a nearby Columbia lawn that has inspired similar anti-Israel protests at universities around the world.

All 46 protesters, who were arrested on the night of April 30 about 20 hours after taking over the academic building, were initially charged with trespass in the third degree, a misdemeanor.

Stephen Millan, a prosecutor in the Manhattan district attorney's office, told the court on Thursday his office would not prosecute 30 protesters who were Columbia students at the time of the arrest, nor two who were Columbia employees.

Progressive Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office let over 40 anti-Israel protesters arrested at Columbia University in April off the hook, dropping criminal charges against them Thursday

Pro-Palestinian student protesters who had been arrested for occupying and barricading a building at Columbia University react following a hearing, where criminal charges against them had been dropped

He cited prosecutorial discretion and lack of evidence. A case against another student was dismissed earlier in the month.

Millan said protesters had covered surveillance cameras, and there was insufficient evidence to show that any individual defendant damaged property or injured anyone.

No police officers were injured during the arrests, the prosecutor noted.

Pictures and video taken of the aftermath show the hall's trashed interior strewn with activists' belongings.

Columbia's President Minouche Shafik called in the NYPD in to 'restore order and safety' to the campus amid the escalating protests.

A similar raid saw demonstrators arrested across at nearby City College New York, where similar protests unfolded.

Protestors at City College in Harlem had raised a Palestine flag on the campus, which officers last night replaced with the stars and stripes.

Footage taken on the ground shows one officer tossing the flag aside before later raising Old Glory on the flagpole.

Columbia University protestors who stormed Hamilton Hall were marched onto awaiting NYPD buses to applause from cheering locals on April 30

On Thursday, however, the Manhattan DA allowed many of them to walk free without charges

None of the arrested students had any prior criminal history, and all were facing disciplinary proceedings, including suspensions and expulsions, by Columbia.

'All these matters are dismissed and sealed in the interest of justice,' Judge Kevin McGrath announced in the courtroom where dozens of defendants and their supporters appeared with keffiyeh scarves around their shoulders.

The scarves have become a symbol of the pro-Palestinian movement.

Prosecutors declined to outright drop trespass charges against 13 other people arrested inside Hamilton Hall that night.

Two of the 13 were also Columbia students, while the other 11 had no current affiliation with the school, although most were alumni.

The district attorney's office proposed the 13 accept an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal, a provision in New York law that if accepted means the case against a defendant will be dropped and sealed in six months if they are not arrested for another offense in the interim.

All 13 rejected the offer through their lawyers, and due to return to court on July 25, by which date prosecutors must decide if they are willing to proceed to a trial over the trespass charges.

Another arrested protester accepted the offer earlier in June.

None of the arrested students had any prior criminal history, and all were facing disciplinary proceedings, including suspensions and expulsions, by Columbia

Hundreds of officers stormed the campus, with officers going through an upstairs window at the historic building, after students barricaded the entrance

The occupation followed weeks of unrest at Columbia, which began with the establishment of the encampment on April 17.

Protesters set up tents after Shafik was grilled before Congress about anti-Semitism on campus.

They repeatedly ignored calls to disband, with the demonstrations ramping up early Tuesday with the violent takeover of Hamilton Hall.

After two weeks of chaos, which saw classes moved online and facilities shuttered, Shafik finally called in the police who managed to clear out the campus in just two hours.

Protesters have been demanding the college divest from companies with links to Israel or firms profiting from its war on Hamas.

They have taken inspiration from previous student-led protests, such as the successful 1985 campaign to get the university to divest from South Africa 's apartheid regime.

Many Jewish students and their supporters are angry that it took so long for officials to crack down on the protests amid allegations of anti-Semitism.

The demonstrations also came at a time when many students were cramming for finals, causing maximum disruption.

Protestors at City College had raised a Palestine flag on the campus, which officers last night replaced with the stars and stripes

Protesters have been demanding the college divest from companies with links to Israel or firms profiting from its war on Hamas

Bragg led the prosecution as former president Donald Trump was found guilty on on all 34 felony counts after a very brief deliberation. He faces sentencing on July 11.

He is considered one of the leaders of a new 'progressive DA' movement, one of several funded by left-wing billionaire George Soros.

In February, it was revealed that Bragg has downgraded a staggering 60 percent of felony cases to lesser charges in the last year, data from his office shows.

The DA reduced 938 of the most serious charged in 2023, 834 of which were brought down to misdemeanors.

Under Bragg, the percentage of felonies downgraded has increased to 60 - up from 53 percent under his predecessor.

His team defended the figures stating the office's performance is on par with other New York boroughs and higher when it comes to felony convictions.

Bragg, who campaigned on a promise of criminal justice reform, issued a controversial 'Day One' memo after taking office stating he would only seek prison time in the most severe cases.

It comes amid fury over criminals being allowed to roam the streets of the Big Apple, which continues to be rocked by a violent crime wave.

Police use a vehicle named 'the bear' to enter Hamilton Hall from a public street, which was occupied by protesters, as other officers enter the campus of Columbia University

is considered one of the leaders of a new 'progressive DA' movement, one of several funded by left-wing billionaire George Soros

Since being sworn in on January 1, 2022, the DA has also declined to prosecute 14 percent of all arrests, compared to just nine percent in 2021 when his predecessor was last in post.

However, overall arrests screened by his office was up by more than a third compared to 2021.

But this will be of little comfort to victims of the most serious crimes, with the data showing that Bragg's office has secured a felony conviction just 52 percent of the time, down from 65 percent in 2021.

Bragg has been criticized for his soft-on-crime policies, which include calling on prosecutors to ditch felony armed robbery charges and instead charge suspects with petit larceny and not seeking carceral sentences for criminals.

Crime in New York City, has decreased by .032 percent since before the pandemic, but the decrease is not enough for many who feel unsafe in Manhattan.

MAGA operatives have accused Bragg of having a political agenda.

'Alvin Bragg is a disgrace. He cares more about targeting Joe Biden's political opponent than protecting New Yorkers from rapists, murderers, and robbers.' Alex Pfeiffer, spokesman for Make America Great Again Inc said.

Meanwhile victims of crime have also expressed their dissatisfaction with the lack of justice.
Thousands cheered the sun as it rose this morning for the summer solstice, just days after the ancient monument of Stonehenge was attacked by Just Stop Oil.

Many of those who woke up early to observe the spectacle went to the neolithic structure in Wiltshire as the sun glinted over the horizon at 4.52am.

Stonehenge is a monument built on the alignment of the midsummer sunrise and the midwinter sunset.

On the summer solstice, the sun rises behind the Heel Stone, the ancient entrance to the Stone Circle. Rays of sunlight are then channelled into the centre of the monument.

It is believed that solstices have been celebrated at Stonehenge for thousands of years - any many people travel to the ancient site from around the world. The word solstice is derived from the Latin words sol - 'sun' - and sistere - 'stand still'.

The display follows the heritage site having been targeted by Just Stop Oil eco zealots earlier this week.

Normally, visitors aren't allowed to touch the sacred stones but this rule is lifted on the Summer Solstice, when around 8,000 people normally attend.

But many others observed the spectacle more locally, with a popular spot being Glastonbury Tor.

The sun rose to people cheering this morning as they took part in the Summer Solstice

People gather for the Summer Solstice sunrise at Glastonbury Tor in Somerset today

Members of the public and modern-day Druids gathered for the Summer Solstice this morning

People gather around the Heel Stone ahead of sunrise, as they take part in the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge in Wiltshire this morning

Gorgeous views of the sunrise this morning as people gathered at Stonehenge

People gather at Stonehenge in Wiltshire during sunrise, as they welcome the Summer Solstice this morning with enthusiastic cheers

People watch the sun rise, as they take part in the Solstice at Stonehenge this morning

Normally, visitors aren't allowed to touch the sacred stones but this rule is lifted on the Summer Solstice, when around 8,000 people normally attend

Those who woke up early to observe the spectacle at the neolithic structure in Wiltshire encountered a chilly morning accompanied by misty fields but gathered to take photos

Thousands from all over the globe attended this morning, with many dressing up in honour

A person touches one of the stones as they take part in the Summer Solstice just a few days after it was coated in bright orange paint

People gathered in the centre of Stonehenge last night in preparation

Wiltshire Police said a man in his 70s and a woman in her 20s were bailed after being arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, damaging an ancient monument and deterring a person from engaging in a lawful activity.

Many of the attendees at the event expressed frustration and disapproval at the protest.

Sally Ann Spence, an archaeology enthusiast who dressed as a shaman dug up from the Mesolithic period which pre-dates Stonehenge, said the solstice is 'incredibly important'.

'I understand their cause, I respect their cause. I just wish they hadn't done that on Stonehenge,' she said.

'I think to put anything on the stones is slightly misguided, there are very rare lichens on the stones, it's a world heritage site.'

She continued: 'Being here for the solstice and representing a shaman - admittedly, from a different period of time - is a brilliant experience.

'It's exciting. It's very busy at the moment and I'm loving it because I'm using as a chance to talk to people about actual archaeology.'

Laura Debane, who was attending the solstice at Stonehenge for the fifth time, said Just Stop Oil spraying the monument was 'awful'.

The sunrise this morning stunned those who gathered to watch on the Solstice

People gather during sunset at Stonehenge as they wait to welcome in the Summer Solstice

A man dressed as Arthur Pendragon watches the sun rise, as people take part in the Summer Solstice at dawn today

Crowds seen leaving Stonehenge on the summer solstice after the sunrise today

Summer solstice celebration at Stonehenge as the sun set last night

Thousands gathered in Wiltshire overnight and this morning for the views

Walter Ross marries Laura Cummings as the sun sets at Stonehenge

Revellers gather at Stonehenge, Wiltshire, the evening before the summer solstice

People gather during the evening at Stonehenge in Wiltshire, as they wait to welcome in the Summer Solstice at sunrise

People make their way towards Stonehenge in Wiltshire, as crowds cheered on the sunrise

This year's solstice comes just 24 hours after Just Stop Oil shamelessly desecrated the site

'If you want to make a protest go somewhere it's going to mean something, not in a historical place like this because there's no oil here, it's sacred ground.'

Ms Debane said she was glad the protest did not ruin the event and people were still able to come out and enjoy it.

Stonehenge is a monument built on the alignment of the midsummer sunrise and the midwinter sunset.

On the summer solstice, the sun rises behind the Heel Stone -the ancient entrance to the Stone Circle - and rays of sunlight are channelled into the centre of the monument.

It is believed solstices have been celebrated at Stonehenge for thousands of years.

Summer solstice takes place as one of the Earth's poles has its maximum tilt toward the sun and the sun reaches its highest position in the sky, ensuring the longest period of daylight for the year.

Video footage posted on social media showed two people, wearing white shirts with Just Stop Oil emblazoned on the front, running up to the ancient monoliths with canisters and spraying paint all over them.

In a heroic attempt to stop the group desecrating the stones, one woman was seen desperately trying to drag the protesters away before other members of the public piled in to help her.

People make their way from the car park to gather during sunset

Revellers gather at Stonehenge last night in preparation for the solstice

On the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, the sun rises in perfect alignment with the Heel Stone and Altar Stone of Stonehenge's 5000-year-old circle

Visitors have their photo taken as the walk to the stones at Stonehenge

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has condemned the attack as a 'disgraceful act of vandalism to one of the UK's and the world's oldest and most important monuments.'

The Prime Minister continued: 'Just Stop Oil should be ashamed of their activists, and they and anyone associated with them, including a certain Labour Party donor, should issue a condemnation of this shameful act immediately.'

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said 'Just Stop Oil are pathetic' after activists from the group targeted Stonehenge.

In a tweet, he wrote: 'The damage done to Stonehenge is outrageous. Just Stop oil are pathetic. Those responsible must face the full force of the law.'

Historian Tom Holland, who has previously hailed Stonehenge as one of Europe's most precious prehistoric sites, also criticised the attack.

He wrote on X: 'Parade your concern for the planet by destroying endangered lichens. Sympathy transmuted into utter loathing.'

English Heritage said experts were assessing the 'extent of the damage' on the stones.

A spokeswoman said: 'Orange powdered paint has been thrown at a number of the stones at Stonehenge.

'Obviously, this is extremely upsetting and our curators are investigating the extent of the damage. Stonehenge remains open to the public.'
Vladimir Putin has vowed to go 'to the end' on the battlefield in Ukraine and declared that the Kremlin may review its doctrine for the use of nuclear weapons in the face of perceived Western aggression in an alarming new interview.

Speaking at the conclusion of a pair of state visits to North Korea and Vietnam this week, the Russian President accused Kyiv's Western partners of raising tensions even further by greenlighting the use of NATO weapons against targets on Russian soil.

The bellicose Kremlin chief also accused Western countries of 'lowering the threshold' for the use of nuclear devices against Russia - a charge for which he provided no evidence.

These alleged developments led the 71-year-old autocrat to conclude Moscow must now consider updating its nuclear doctrine in preparation for atomic warfare, announcing that defeat in Ukraine would mean 'the end of Russia's statehood'.

'It means the end of the 1,000-year history of the Russian state. I think this is clear to everyone... Isn't it better to go all the way, until the end?' he asked rhetorically.

The unsettling interview came just hours before Ukraine launched one of its largest-ever drone attacks on Russia, sparking fires at a pair of oil fields and an airbase.

The Russian President accused Kyiv 's Western partners of raising tensions even further by greenlighting the use of NATO weapons against targets on Russian soil

A Russian tank explodes following a Ukrainian drone strike in this undated clip

A fireball is seen lighting up the night sky in Russia following a Ukrainian drone strike

A view of the destruction of a house on the Kostyantynivka front as the Russia-Ukraine war continues in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on June 20, 2024

1st brigade of National Guard 'Bureviy', fire a tank as they carry out a mission in a BMP-2 to shoot at russian positions in Serebryanskyy forest, in Luhansk, Ukraine on June 19, 2024

Putin, speaking just days after inking a comprehensive strategic partnership with nuclear pariah state North Korea, said the US, UK and other Western partners are 'constantly raising the stakes and escalating the situation' around Ukraine.

'They seem to think that at some point we will get scared. But at the same time, they also say they want to achieve a strategic defeat of Russia on the battlefield,' he said, adding this would mean the end of the Russian Federation as it is known,

'And then the question arises: why should we be afraid? Isn't it better to go all the way, until the end? This is elementary formal logic...

'I think that those [in the West] who think this way, and even more so those who say it, are making another big mistake.'

He then launched into a rant about the West's alleged willingness to deploy tactical nuclear weapons against Russia, warning this could lead the Kremlin to re-examine its own nuclear doctrine.

That was last updated in 2020, two years before the outbreak of war in Ukraine.

The existing doctrine permits Russia's forces to deploy nuclear weapons if its enemies use weapons of mass destruction against the Federation or its allies - or if Moscow receives credible information that a strike is about to take place.

However, the doctrine also allows the Kremlin to turn to atomic weapons should an enemy 'threaten the existence of the Russian state' with the use of conventional weapons - a clause for concern given Ukraine's willingness to attack targets on Russian soil with hardware provided by NATO.

'We know that the potential adversary is working on it - related to lowering the threshold for using nuclear weapons,' Putin said.

'We are thinking about what could be changed in the nuclear doctrine.'

When asked whether Ukraine's use of Western long-range weapons against Russian territory could be considered an act of aggression, the Kremlin chief responded with an unsettling remark.

'This requires additional research, but it's close.'

Putin said defeat in Ukraine would mean 'the end of Russia's statehood'

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un smile as they walk after the talks in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, foreground right, attend the official welcome ceremony in the Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024

An oil depot is seen on fire in the distance after a Ukrainian airstrike in this grab from footage

Putin's interview with reporters came hours before Ukraine unleashed one of its heaviest kamikaze drone barrages of Russian targets in the war so far.

Two targets in the Krasnodar region - the Yeysk airbase and the Ilsky oil refinery - were struck by the unmanned craft, as well a major oil depot in Volgograd.

The Ilsky refinery is one of the main fuel producers in southern Russia, with a capacity to refine 6.6 million tonnes of crude (132,000 barrels per day) a year.

The head of the local district, Andrei Doroshevsky, said on the Telegram messaging app this morning that the fire was eventually brought under control.

'This night, the civilian infrastructure of our region was subjected to a massive attack by the criminal Kyiv regime,' he said, adding that a drone also damaged administrative buildings at the Ilsky oil refinery.

The plant had already been hit by drones in February.

Russian defence officials claimed Kyiv sent a total of 119 Ukrainian aerial and sea kamikaze drones.

Six of these were unmanned boats, they said, which have proved extremely effective in the conflict, having sunk several ships in Russia's Black Sea Fleet.

Separately, regional authorities said that open fires were doused at oil depots in Tambov and Rostov regions.

Kyiv has in recent months been hitting back at key Russian targets in response to incessant drone and missile strikes from Moscow's forces that have caused widespread devastation in Ukraine and crippled its energy sector.
One of the men convicted of abducting and raping Sydney bank teller Janine Balding before her murder in the late 1980s is back in custody less than two weeks after being released from prison.

Wayne Wilmot, 51, was placed under an interim supervision order when he left jail earlier in June, including requirements that he be subject to electronic monitoring and a curfew.

He was also ordered not to access pornographic material and abstain from illicit drugs.

But the violent sexual offender was locked up again on Friday after allegedly breaching conditions of the court order.

Wilmot did not apply for bail when he appeared before Waverley Local Court.

He is set to reappear at the same court on July 5.

Wilmot was one of five homeless youths convicted over the 1988 abduction of Janine Balding

Wayne Wilmot (pictured, left), who is now aged in his early 50s and who was jailed over the abduction and gang rape of Janine Balding

Wilmot was due to return to the NSW Supreme Court in the coming week after being placed on conditional release from prison.

A judge in April said the interim orders were essential in order to protect the community and manage the significant risk he posed, particularly due to the chance that he would commit another serious sexual offence.

In a report for the court, a forensic psychologist said Wilmot would most likely commit 'a penetrative sexual attack upon a young woman previously unknown to him'.

'Any offence would probably be impulsive, opportunistic, and target a vulnerable woman,' the report said.

The risk of such a scenario eventuating was 'well above average' with the risk of violent re-offending 'even higher'.

Wilmot was one of five homeless youths convicted over the 1988 abduction of Ms Balding, a case that stunned the nation due to the brutality involved and the age of the offenders.

The 20-year-old bank teller was repeatedly gang raped before being bound, gagged and held underwater in a dam until she drowned.

The 20-year-old bank teller was repeatedly gang raped before being bound, gagged and held underwater in a dam until she drowned

Wilmot, who was 15 at the time, was found not to have taken part in the murder but was sentenced to eight years in prison over the abduction and rape.

Before the attack on Ms Balding, he was found guilty of committing two other violent sexual assaults on women in public places.

After being released on parole in 1996, Wilmot robbed one female victim and assaulted another.

In 2023, Wilmot was acquitted of two separate charges related to sexual offending while in custody and was placed under an interim detention order which was extended the maximum number of times to keep him in jail.

Psychological assessments conducted on Wilmot in 2019 found him to have an IQ of just 74 and to be highly callous, manipulative and deceptive, consistent with psychopathy.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Tributes are pouring in for a teenager who tragically took his own life this week, just one day before he was due to start a new job.

Baylee Ryan, 18, died on Monday afternoon in the Moreton Bay suburb of Bray Park in south east Queensland.

His heartbroken mother Tracy Ryan said she was 'at an absolute loss for words' after receiving the devastating news.

'I got absolutely devastating news this afternoon that I wish was not real,' Ms Ryan wrote on Facebook.

Tributes are pouring in for Baylee Ryan, 18, who tragically took his own life on Monday in Moreton Bay

'I'm still processing it all and don't want to believe it.

'He was amazing and talented in so so many ways and it's a real shame.

'I know everyone that has ever met him was touched in some sort of way, that's just how amazing he was.

'Your smile will forever be in my heart I LOVE YOU FOREVER AND ALWAYS BAYLEE.'

Ms Ryan told Daily Mail Australia he was due to start working at Hungry Jack's on Tuesday.

'He was an amazing young man who was always happy as a young kid, growing up with a beautiful smile on his face,' she said.

'He was very loved by his friends and family and was always active and well behaved and respectful.

'I always got compliments of his good behaviour and manners.'

It's understood Baylee had suffered depression for several years but had plans to go to university to pursue a career in science or engineering.

Ms Ryan added a former abusive relationship she had had left a deep impact on her son, forcing them to briefly live on the streets.

Baylee's partner also posted a tribute on social media and asked if anyone who lived near the Bray Park train station could leave flowers behind in his honour.

'He didn't have many friends or family he was close to that'd mourn his passing other than me, so I hope you guys can mourn him with me, I don't want him to be forgotten,' they wrote.

Baylee, who was about to start a new job, had plans to pursue a career in engineering or science

'Baylee was really sweet and soft but he did struggle with these types of things for a few years.

'I'm so sorry, Baylee I will miss you eternally.'

Several bouquets of flowers have been left at the station since Baylee's passing.

Other tributes from loved ones have poured in.

'Baylee was a beautiful, kind and smart young man. If you need anything please let me know,' one person wrote.

Flowers have been left at the Bray Park train station in honour of Baylee

'I'll will go there today and lay some flowers & candles. Thinking of you x.'

Another wrote that 'our hearts ache with the devastating news of your precious son Baylee'.

'Bay was such a sweet soul, loved the times we had during his and Camdyn's 13 years of friendship, that we'll forever cherish the memories made,' she wrote.

'May you no longer feel pain Bay.'

Ms Ryan told the Courier Mail she wanted other young people who struggled with their mental health to 'speak up'.

'Even if it's uncomfortable just speak up, tell someone what you're going through,' she said.

Over eight Australians die every day by suicide, according to counselling service Lifeline, with males making up three quarters of that toll, which is twice the number killed on roads.
A British tourist has been stabbed to death outside a nightclub in Spain, with police hunting for the killer saying they have made an arrest.

The victim, 31, was killed outside the Oxygen nightclub in the holiday resort town of Calella, around 30 miles from Barcelona.

It is believed that he was stabbed during a row with another group of foreigners at around 4am this morning.

Spanish news website El Caso had earlier said police were hunting a group of locally-based men it said came from North Africa and the Dominican Republic.

Another person was reportedly injured in the brawl and rushed to hospital. Their condition is not known.

An ambulance is seen at the scene where a Brit was stabbed to death in the early hours of Friday morning

A general view of the Oxygen nightclub in Calella where the stabbing took place

Local police in Calella commented on the case before the arrest to confirm that a stabbing had taken place resulting in one death and one injury.

In their first comments so far the Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's police force which is now leading the ongoing probe, confirmed the detention.

'Officers from the Mossos d'Esquadra's Metropolitan North Division's Region's Criminal Investigation Division are investigating the violent death of a 31-year-old man in Calella.

'At 4 o'clock in the morning today, the Mossos d'Esquadra received an emergency call about an apparent fight in the town's Benavente Street.

'On arrival at the scene, the first Mossos d'Esquadra and local police patrols found an injured person and activated the Medical Emergency System to assist the victim, who eventually died.

'A few hours later, and as a result of the initial investigation, detectives arrested a man allegedly linked to the violent death.'

The Mossos d'Esquadra spokesman said the investigation into the fatal stabbing outside the nightclub was ongoing and more arrests haven't been ruled out.

Police are continuing to hunt for others involved in the altercation and have not said whether they believe the arrested man is the killer or not.

They are believed to have been able to identify the men allegedly involved through footage from CCTV cameras.

File image shows view of a beach in the town of Calella de Palafrugell on the Costa Brava in Spain

They said that they are unable to offer any information about the detainee including nationality or age.

Local reports, which police have not confirmed, have described the arrested man as being from the Dominican Republic.

A full police report on the incident will be passed to a court in the nearby town of Arenys de Mar.

The suspect will go before a judge at the duty court in the next 72 hours and is expected to be remanded in custody if an investigating judge agrees there is sufficient evidence pointing to his involvement in the crime.

The police spokesman said: 'Officers have up to 72 hours from time of arrest to hand suspects over to the courts.

'During that time detectives can carry out their own questioning where a defence lawyer is present.

'I can't say at the moment when the detainee would be taken to court, whether it would be tomorrow or the day after.'

The duty court is understood to have placed a secrecy order over the case to prevent the early stages of the investigation.

The order limits the information police and other public servants are able to release.

Such orders are normal in the early stages of a criminal probe. It was not immediately clear this morning if the arrest would lead to it being lifted although it is unlikely given the fact police have not ruled out further detentions.

Earlier today local police in Calella said: 'This morning a fight occurred at a nightclub in Capella.

'The result of the incident was one dead and one injured.

'The attack was a knife attack. The Mossos d'Esquadra are investigating.'

Detectives have been scouring CCTV footage and speaking to people who were at the club in their hunt for the attackers.

Pictures show an ambulance at the scene and the area cordoned off this morning.

Local reports say there is a 'significant police presence' in the area today.

A FCDO Spokesperson said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.'
A Philadelphia influencer, who livestreamed a looting spree in the city last year, has been sentence to five years of probation and over 100 hours of community service, but avoids jail.

Dajiya Blackwell, also known as Meatball on social media, 22, was charged with burglary, conspiracy, criminal trespass, riot, criminal mischief, criminal use of communication facility, receipt of stolen property and disorderly conduct after a widespread looting in Philadelphia in October.

The looting had started after a judge dismissed all charges against a former police officer who shot and killed Eddie Irizarry - a 27-year-old man who had been pulled over for 'driving erratically'.

Blackwell had livestreamed the looting and asked her Instagram followers to join her as she ran through the street.

Blackwell will complete 150 hour of community service, pay a $10,000 and serve her probation as part of her sentencing.

Dayjia Blackwell was beaming on her Instagram story on Thursday after she avoided jail time in a court hearing

Blackwell thanked her legal team and supporters on Instagram after she avoided jail time. She was sentenced to five years of probation and 100 hours of community service

Mugshot of Blackwell, who was arrested in October for taking part in a looting in Philadelphia and encouraging her Instagram followers to join. She has now been sentenced to five years of probation and over 100 hours of community service, but has avoided jail

The influencer, who has close to 100,000 followers on Instagram, took to social media to celebrate her sentencing.

In one clip, she is seen smiling and laughing as she says: 'Never coming back to this place again!'.

She also shared an anecdote about her court appearance, in which she said the judge asked her what the writing on her necklace read.

'Baddies', Blackwell responded, but then laughed and said 'we need to switch that and make it say "goodies" okay?'.

In a separate slide, she said: 'I just want to take the time out to say thanks to my lawyer and my supporters...if it wasn't for y'all, I'd probably be gone'.

In the heat of the riot, Blackwell turned to her 181,000 Instagram followers and filmed a mob as they looted each name brand store, before moving on to a liquor store where she herself boasted about grabbing a bottle of Hennessy

Pictured: Blackwell gets arrested after being found by cops during the October 2023 looting in Philadelphia

Jessica Mann, Blackwell's lawyer, defended her client and said the decision to livestream was 'nothing more than capturing the raw reality of public outrage'

Following her arrest in October, Blackwell - who was released on a $25,000 bail - had brazenly begged her fans to pay for a lawyer and urged people to buy clothing and hats from her brand.

Her lawyer, Jessica Mann, slammed the backlash Blackwell received, writing on social media: 'It sickens me to witness the media's complicity in what can only be described as an all-out assault on black and brown people, as their character and actions are mercilessly vilified.'

Mann also criticized the media for posting her mugshot with 'tears streaming down her face and her hair a mess'.

Blackwell, however, uploaded her mugshot as her profile picture on social media.
Two teenagers have allegedly been caught on CCTV stealing cheesecakes during an early morning dessert shop break-in.

The two 15-year-old boys allegedly broke into The Cheesecake Shop in Salisbury, in northern Adelaide, just after 3am on Friday.

Surveillance footage captured from the bakery allegedly showed two figures, climbing through a smashed window, one wearing a hoodie and the other with a mask over his face.

The two 15-year-old boys allegedly broke into The Cheesecake Shop in Salisbury, in northern Adelaide, just after 3am on Friday

The pair allegedly went from fridge to fridge, taking out several boxes of cheesecakes before quickly leaving the store.

The store's owner called police after watching the security footage.

Police officers later attended the scene where they found the front store window smashed but no one inside.

Their police dog Chaos then led the officers to the nearby Salisbury exchange where two teenagers were arrested.

Police allege backpacks containing cheesecakes stolen from the John Street business were found in bushes nearby.

The teenage boys, who come from the Adelaide suburbs of Salisbury North and Eyre, were arrested and charged with aggravated serious criminal trespass.

They both received bail and will face a youth court on August 2.
Britain is set to enjoy a heatwave next week as temperatures soar to 30C (86F) after a fine weekend as the UK has its first run of proper summer weather.

The Met Office expects most areas will see fine and settled conditions from early next week although there could be some cloud and light rain tomorrow.

The UK Health and Security Agency has activated a yellow 'heat health alert' in England from next Monday until Thursday, with 'potential for significant impacts to be observed across the health and social care sector due to the high temperatures'.

And the improved conditions are also not good news for hay fever sufferers, with a 'very high' pollen forecast covering the whole of England until at least next Tuesday.

Today has been labelled 'Hay Day' given that it is predicted to be the worst day of the year for symptoms such as runny noses, itchy eyes and even shortness of breath.

It follows a miserable start to the month which has been blighted by rain and chilly weather, with forecasters saying it was the coldest first ten days of June since 2020.

Poppy Gibbs, 27, and her children Bugsy, four, and Binky, three, in Bournemouth this afternoon

People enjoy the warm weather at Clacton beach in Essex today as they play on the sand

Sunbathers make the most of the weather by reading in Newcastle city centre this afternoon

People enjoy the warm weather on the beach in Bournemouth, Dorset, this afternoon

People on rowing boats underneath the Knaresborough Viaduct in North Yorkshire today

People enjoy the warm weather at Clacton beach in Essex this afternoon

Ahead of then, outbreaks of showery rain will develop across Scotland, Northern Ireland today  before impacting Wales and western England later on.

But elsewhere, early morning mist will soon clear and the day will be dry with sunshine and highs  with eastern areas particularly warm at up to 25C (77F).

The band of rain will then continue to edge eastwards tonight, but clear spells will develop to the west with coastal showers before some early morning rain tomorrow.

However this will soon clear eastwards leaving most places with bright or sunny spells  although it will turn cloudier from the west later with light rain.

Then by Sunday, high pressure will be building to bring dry and sunny conditions and fine and settled conditions should then extend across the UK early next week.

Met Office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong said: 'After a brief, less settled, interlude on Friday and Saturday, fine conditions will return by Sunday and into next week.

People relaxing in the warm weather at Clacton beach in Essex this afternoon

Sunbathers make the most of the weather by reading in Newcastle city centre this afternoon

People relaxing in the warm weather at Clacton beach in Essex this afternoon

Racegoers pose for a group photo on day four of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse today

People enjoy the warm weather on the beach in Bournemouth, Dorset, this afternoon

People relaxing in the warm weather at Clacton beach in Essex this afternoon

People out in the sunshine by the river at Caversham in Reading, Berkshire, this afternoon

People relaxing in the warm weather at Clacton beach in Essex this afternoon

'For much of the UK this will be accompanied by a boost in temperatures with many places reaching the mid-20Cs by the middle of next week.

Don't hang washing outdoors and keep your windows shut: Tips for hay fever sufferers Asthma + Lung UK has sent MailOnline this advice for readers with hay fever: Avoid hanging washing outdoors. Pollen particles can get attached to clothing when pollen levels are high, which means if you dry clothing outdoors you may be bringing pollen in with you. You can reduce pollen levels in your home by drying clothes indoors during the pollen season.

Have a shower once you get home if you've been outside. Pollen can also build up in your hair or on your skin and clothing. So as soon as you get home put your clothes into the washing machine, leave your shoes at the door and have a shower.

Keep windows and doors closed when pollen levels are high. This way pollen won't blow inside as much through the air.

Keep your home clean by vacuuming and wiping down surfaces with a damp cloth regularly as this not only ensures pollen doesn't hang around but also keeps dust levels down  dust can also be a trigger for asthma.

If you get hay fever and take antihistamines, start taking them two to four weeks before your symptoms normally start. This will give you the best protection. You can take antihistamines throughout the pollen season.

If you use a steroid nasal spray, start using it one to two weeks before your symptoms usually begin Advertisement

'Some central and southern areas are likely to see temperatures approaching the values needed for heatwave conditions.'

The heatwave threshold is met when a location records at least three consecutive days of temperatures meeting or exceeding a certain level, which varies by county  for example, it is 28C (82F) in London but 25C (77F) in Wales.

Mr Armstrong continued: 'By the middle of next week it is possible that some parts of the UK could be reaching heatwave thresholds.

'However, whether or not everyone experiences heatwave thresholds, the majority of the UK will experience the finest conditions and highest temperatures so far this year.'

He said that western areas will be affected by an approaching weak weather front today and tomorrow, which will bring some rain to the North West of Scotland.

The Met Office said that there is a chance that some isolated weather stations could record 30C (86F) 'around the middle of next week'.

But forecasters also said that overnight temperatures will be lower, 'providing some respite for those who struggle with hot conditions'.

The UK Health and Security Agency said an observed increase in mortality across the population is likely next week when the heat health alert comes into force, particularly among those aged over 65 and people with health conditions  as well as increased demand for remote healthcare services.

And internal temperatures in care settings such as hospitals and care homes could exceed the recommended threshold for clinical risk assessment.

Officials added: Impact on ability of services to be delivered due to heat effects on workforce possible and many indoor environments likely to be overheating, leading to increased risk to vulnerable people living independently in the community as well as in care settings.

Meanwhile the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has issued a warning to anyone planning to enter the sea to cool off during the hot weather.

Paddleboarders and canoeists at Old Harry Rocks on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset this morning

People enjoy the water at Warleigh Weir on the River Avon near Bath in Somerset today

A beautiful sunny morning over fields at Dunsden in the Oxfordshire countryside today

People out in the sunshine on the river at Caversham in Reading, Berkshire, this afternoon

Racegoers pose for a group photo on day four of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse today

People enjoy the sunshine at the Forbury Gardens in Reading, Berkshire, this afternoon

People enjoy the water at Warleigh Weir on the River Avon near Bath in Somerset today

People go out for a walk on a footpath this morning on a sunny day in Dunsden, Oxfordshire

Samantha Hughes, the charity's national water safety partner at the RNLI said: 'The forecasted warm weather will mean we'll see more visitors at the coast and we always want people to enjoy themselves safely.

'Entering the water during warm weather can increase the risk of cold water shock due to the sudden changes in skin temperatures. Enter the water gradually and avoid jumping or diving straight in to reduce your risk of cold-water shock.

'If you're planning on heading to the beach, we highly recommend you visit one that is lifeguarded and you swim between the red and yellow flags. This is the safest area and is most closely monitored by lifeguards.'

She also advised anyone who gets into trouble to 'Float to Live', explaining that they should tilt their head back with ears submerged and try to relax and control their breathing, then use their hands to help them stay afloat and then call for help or swim to safety if possible.

Ms Hughes added that in an emergency at the coast, people should call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard - or ask for the fire service if near inland waters.

As for hay fever sufferers, the charity Asthma + Lung UK warned people with lung conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to be 'extra cautious over the next few days as pollen levels soar'.

In a recent survey by the charity, 47 per cent of people with asthma and 27 per cent of people with COPD, said pollen was a trigger for their condition, causing a flare up of their symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, a tight chest and breathlessness.

It said that between May 28 and June 4 this year there were 1,933 page views of its hay fever website content, which rose by 235 per cent to 6,478 views between June 4 and June 11.

Erika Radford, head of health advice at Asthma + Lung UK, told MailOnline today: 'Rising pollen levels can be very problematic for people with lung conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

'It can make someone's lung condition symptoms much worse or lead to a potentially life-threatening asthma attack or COPD flare-up. When pollen particles are breathed in, they can cause inflammation in the airways and get into the lungs, making it harder for those with lung conditions to breathe. This can be terrifying.'

But she added that those with a lung condition who are affected by pollen can take a number of measures to protect yourself.

Ms Radford said: 'Using your preventer inhaler every day as prescribed is very important as the medicine dampens down swelling and inflammation in the airways. This means you are less likely to react badly to a trigger like pollen.

The Met Office pollen forecast for today (left) and tomorrow (right) predicts 'very high' levels

'You should always have your reliever inhaler nearby, even when at home, in case pollen does trigger symptoms like breathlessness or chest tightness. Reliever inhalers quickly relax the muscles in the airways to help you breathe more easily when symptoms arise.

'Another thing you can do is to take antihistamine medicines to relieve your hay fever symptoms. In addition, your GP can prescribe a steroid nasal spray to help reduce the allergic reaction.'

She also advised checking pollen and air pollution forecasts every day and 'avoid going outdoors as much as possible on high pollen days'.

The warmest day of the year so far in the UK was May 12 when 27.5C (81.5F) was recorded in Chertsey, Surrey.

And the hottest day ever recorded in Britain was July 19, 2022 when Coningsby in Lincolnshire hit 40.3C (104.5F).

June 2023 was the hottest on record for the UK, with an average temperature of 15.8C nearly a whole degree above previous highs for the month.
The Tories are braced for more betting revelations today after it emerged there was an extraordinary spike in punts on a July election the day before Rishi Sunak announced the news.

Westminster was widely shocked by the PM's bold move to go to the polls this summer, with expectations that he would wait until the Autumn.

However, analysis of figures from Betfair - the world's largest online betting exchange - showed almost 3,000 was gambled in a just few hours on May 21.

That morning the implied odds of a July election was around one in eight.

Mr Sunak admitted he is 'incredibly angry' last night after the bombshell that the gambling watchdog is investigating several senior Conservatives.

The party's director of campaigning, Tony Lee, took a leave of absence yesterday, with he and his Tory candidate wife, Laura Saunders, both under investigation.

Mr Sunak's close parliamentary aide Craig Williams is also being investigated for betting 100 on the date at odds of 5/1. Earlier this week, one of the PM's police protection officers was arrested over betting claims.

Ms Saunders said she was 'cooperating with the Gambling Commission'. It is not known how much her bet was for or when she placed it.

However, Welsh Secretary David Davies admitted this morning that he did not know if there were more claims to come, while a gambling industry insider told Sky News: 'Yes to more names [coming out].'

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Rishi Sunak admitted he is 'incredibly angry' last night after the bombshell that gambling watchdog is investigating several senior Conservatives

The Conservative's director of campaigning, Tony Lee (right), took a leave of absence yesterday, with he and his Tory candidate wife, Laura Saunders (left), both under investigation

Mr Sunak's close parliamentary aide Craig Williams (pictured) is also being investigated for betting 100 on the date at odds of 5/1. Earlier this week, one of the PM's police protection officers was arrested over betting claims

Rules against using 'inside information' Using confidential or 'inside' information to gain an unfair advantage when betting may constitute a criminal offence. Gamblers are not allowed to use it to place a bet, or pass the inside information on to someone else which they then use for betting. The Gambling Commission says inside information is known by individuals as a 'result of their role in connection with an event and which is not in the public domain'. If found guilty, they face two years in prison or a fine, or both. Advertisement

Appearing on the BBC's Question Time election special last night, Mr Sunak was grilled on the claims.

'I was incredibly angry to learn of these allegations. If anyone's found to have broken the rules, not only should they face the full consequences of the law, I'll make sure they are booted out of the Conservative Party,' he said.

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith branded those involved as 'stupid and venal'.

Reform leader Nigel Farage accused the Conservatives of being 'corrupt'.

Cabinet minister Michael Gove admitted the situation 'doesn't look great' for the Conservatives, adding: 'Obviously, the conclusions lots of people are drawing are not at all great.

'The Gambling Commission are looking at Craig and also looking at Laura, and we'll see what the conclusions are.' The BBC reported that the gambling regulator was also looking into Mr Lee.

Labour called for the Tories to suspend Ms Saunders and Mr Williams, with Keir Starmer saying: 'If it was one of my candidates, they'd be gone and their feet would not have touched the floor.'

Tim Montgomerie, founder of grassroots website Conservative Home and a long-time critic of Mr Sunak, told Times Radio: 'Conservative members and activists are shell-shocked.

'It's almost like every time we get up from the last knock to our morale, something else knocks us down. And I've had three members say they've decided enough is enough today  they've resigned.'

In a statement released on Ms Saunders' behalf, Nama Zarroug, a solicitor at Astraea Linskills, said: 'As the Conservative Party has already stated, investigations are ongoing.

'Ms Saunders will be co-operating with the Gambling Commission and has nothing further to add.

'It is inappropriate to conduct any investigation of this kind via the media, and doing so risks jeopardising the work of the Gambling Commission and the integrity of its investigation.

'The publication of the BBC's story is premature and is a clear infringement of Ms Saunders' privacy rights.

'She is considering legal action against the BBC and any other publishers who infringe her privacy rights.'

Mr Williams is also being investigated after putting a 100 bet on the election being held in July, just days before the PM announced the July 4 vote. The 5-1 flutter would have netted him 500.

The issue with those with close connections to the PM placing a bet on the election date comes with the individual having possible inside information that could give them an advantage.

It has not been confirmed whether Ms Saunders had any inside information when allegedly placing the bet.

The use of confidential information to gain unfair advantage when betting may constitute a criminal offence of cheating under section 42 of the Gambling Act.

Those convicted face and unlimited fine or up to two years in jail.

The Conservative Party said: 'As the Gambling Commission is an independent body, it wouldn't be proper to comment further, until any process is concluded.'

The commission said: 'We are not confirming or denying the identity of any individuals involved in this investigation.'
A middle-aged mother of two who was caught drunk at the wheel of her car twice in six months has been spared jail after claiming she had turned to gin to cope with severe bouts of insomnia caused by the menopause.

Former businesswoman Helen Meacham, 52, said she suffered sleepless nights as a result of her condition and would 'self-medicate' with alcohol to deal with the hot sweats and help her sleep.

But in March she was tested at almost four times the drink-drive limit at 9.30am, after she ploughed her VW Passat into the back of another vehicle while on her way to work.

It emerged that the previous September, Meacham was tested at almost three times the limit at the wheel of the same vehicle, while parked at a shopping centre.

Helen Meacham, pictured outside Warrington Magistrates' Court, has been spared jail after being caught drink-driving twice in six months

The 52-year-old has been handed a 12-month community order which includes wearing a 'sobriety tag' for three months. She has also been banned from driving for three years

Appearing at Warrington Magistrates' Court, Meacham - who ran a home improvements business which went under during the Covid pandemic and now works for a health organisation - admitted to drink driving.

She was ordered to wear a so-called 'sobriety tag' as part of a 12-month community order, which will penalise her if she is caught drinking alcohol for the next three months.

She was also banned from the roads for three years.

The mother-of-two had faced up to six months in jail under sentencing guidelines.

Last October, Meacham was given ten points on her licence and fined 230 after she admitted being drunk in charge of a motor vehicle.

She was caught drunk at the wheel last September, for which she was given ten points on her licence and fined 230

She is now getting counselling with a private clinic for alcohol issues.

The latest incident took place on March 20 this year after Meacham was involved in a prang near her 400,000 family home in Grappenhall, Warrington.

Craig Welsby, prosecuting, said: 'The defendant had driven into the back of another vehicle and police, when dealing with the matter, smelt alcohol on her and asked for a breath specimen.

'That was received with some difficulty but they eventually got a reading and she was taken to custody where further breath tests were carried out.

'With regard to the sentencing guidelines, the starting point is 12 weeks custody, with a range of a high level community order to 26 weeks custody. The ban is between 29 and 36 months.'

The court heard Meacham initially gave a reading of 137 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath, but a subsequent test showed 126mg.

During her previous arrest at the Bridge Shopping Centre on September 29 last year, she gave a reading of 101mg.

The legal alcohol limit for driving is 35mg.

In mitigation, Meachams solicitor Alison Mafham said: 'She was drinking during the course of the night to help her sleep. The first reason is that she is going through the menopause and is struggling to sleep but there are other underlying reasons for her difficulties.

'You have seen some reference to her business of 39 years which she ran with her husband. It had gone under during Covid. The stress that has caused led her to be diagnosed with depression and she was being treated for that.

'Herself and her husband have both lost their parents in a relatively short space of time. She is a lady who was going through an awful lot at the time and she started to drink during the night to help her sleep.

Former businesswoman Meacham, pictured with her husband Gary. The pair had been running a business together for 39 years before it went under during Covid

'On this occasion she had fallen asleep eventually and got up and driven to work.

'Mrs Meacham knows more than anybody else in this courtroom that it was a wrong decision. It defied any kind of logic. She knows that. There is reference in the presentence report to remorse, that she feels genuine remorse.

'It explains more than anything else that this is a lady who now realises that she has a difficulty with alcohol.

'She has self referred to something called Pathways which has been very supportive. She has weekly sessions and once a month, a one-to-one meeting with a counsellor.

'She has attended AA and contacted the Cheshire Sobriety Clinic, a private clinic and she is funding 14 sessions of therapy there herself.'

Ms Mafham continued: 'It has been a huge wake-up call. She has decided enough is enough and she no longer drinks.

'But she has relapsed twice. On both occasions she phoned her support worker at Pathways and got back on the straight and narrow. She is determined not only will she not commit any other offences again but she wont drink. She has tackled this problem without the intervention of the probation service.

'She knows she has done wrong. She put herself in a dangerous position and more importantly put others in a dangerous position. She has recognised that. But this is a lady who in the view of the probation service is unlikely to be before the court again.

After their home improvements business went under, Meacham began working for a health organisation. Meacham is now receiving counselling with a private clinic for alcohol issues, and has been attending AA

'Since she was charged with this offence, Mrs Meacham has been aware of the sentencing guidelines. You can only begin to imagine that for a lady of her age and her position how absolutely terrifying it has been for her that the court can and will consider custody.

'She is terrified. She lives with her husband and daughter. This is a lady who has ran a business for years. She is an unlikely person to be before the court but this is now the second time that she has. She is able and willing and keen to make reparations in that way to undertake unpaid work. She has made efforts to address her problems herself. I hope that your worships will feel that it should not go to custody.'

The magistrates also ordered Meacham to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation activity days with the probation service.

She was made subject to alcohol monitoring for 90 days, which involves the wearing of an electronic tag, and made to pay 199 in costs and victim surcharge.

They also offered Meacham a place on a drink-drive rehabilitation course which could reduce her ban by a third.

JP Jane Parkinson told her: 'You are not going to custody today, lets get that out of the way straightaway.

'We have read the report and listened to everything said on your behalf. We are going to follow the recommendations of the report.

'But you are now disqualified from driving. To drive while disqualified is a very serious offence.

'That itself can carry a custodial sentence so you must not drive.'
The Tories are continuing to pile pressure on Sir Keir Starmer over his past support for his Labour predecessor Jeremy Corbyn.

In a new attack advert, the Conservatives have highlighted Sir Keir's pledge of '100 per cent' support for Mr Corbyn while he was Labour leader.

The 30-second clip also shows Sir Keir urging party members not to 'trash' Mr Corbyn's record, and denying claims the veteran left-winger was 'a danger' to British Jews.

The Tories released the video after Sir Keir last night squirmed over his past support for Mr Corbyn during a grilling on the BBC's Question Time.

The Labour leader ducked a volley of questions over whether he truly believed Mr Corbyn would have made a 'great' prime minister - as he previously claimed.

This is what Keir Starmer said about Jeremy Corbyn in 2019.



He either lied then or is lying now.#BBCQT pic.twitter.com/iqqK749JSp  Conservatives (@Conservatives) June 20, 2024

Sir Keir Starmer ducked a volley of questions on BBC Question Time over whether he truly believed Jeremy Corbyn would have made a 'great' prime minister - as he previously claimed

Since replacing Mr Corbyn as Labour leader in 2020, Sir Keir has attempted to distance himself from his hard-left predecessor

Since replacing Mr Corbyn as Labour leader in 2020, Sir Keir has attempted to distance himself from his hard-left predecessor.

Mr Corbyn's time in charge of Labour was marked by a series of anti-Semitism rows, while a former head of MI6 branded him a 'danger' to national security.

When he was first elected Labour leader in 2015, Mr Corbyn said he would never use Britain's nuclear weapons if he became PM. He also later voted against the renewal of the UK's Trident programme.

In 2018, following the poisonings of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury, Mr Corbyn was accused of 'siding with Russia' after criticising the Government for 'rushing' to blame Vladimir Putin's regime.

In 2022, while he was suspended as a Labour MP under Sir Keir's leadership, Mr Corbyn expressed a wish that military alliances like NATO could be ultimately disbanded.

He said he did not blame NATO for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but added it had to be looked at in a historical context.

During his appearance on Question Time last night, Sir Keir was laughed at by the audience as he dodged replying 'yes or no' when asked whether he meant it when he said Mr Corbyn would have been a 'great' premier.

The Labour leader instead suggested his predecessor would have been 'better' than Boris Johnson.

'It wasn't a question that really arose because I didn't think we were going to win the election,' Sir Keir said, when pressed on his claim Mr Corbyn would be a 'great' PM ahead of the 2019 general election.

As Sir Keir squirmed over questions about his past support for Mr Corbyn, the Tories released a 30-second clip on social media of the Labour leader's previous comments.

It included Sir Keir saying he was '100 per cent behind Jeremy Corbyn' and 'working with Jeremy Corbyn to try to win the next general election'.

In another clip, from his 2020 campaign for the Labour leadership, Sir Keir was shown telling party members: 'Don't trash the last four years, because what Jeremy Corbyn brought to this party... he made us an anti-austerity party that stood against cuts.'

In a further clip, Sir Keir was shown being challenged over a claim by Louise Ellman, a former Labour MP, that Mr Corbyn was a 'danger not just to the Labour Party but to the entire British Jewish community'. Sir Keir replied: 'I don't accept that.'

Mr Corbyn is standing as an independent candidate in this year's general election in Islington North, the constituency he has held since 1983.

He was blocked by Sir Keir from standing as a Labour candidate in the seat after losing the party whip in 2020, when he said allegations of anti-Semitism during his time in charge had been exaggerated by political opponents.
A village in Buckinghamshire where John Milton penned his epic poem Paradise Lost has turned into an 'open sewer' after Thames Water pumped raw sewage into a stream for five months straight.

The water company's monitors show that sewage has been discharged into the River Misbourne that flows through the picturesque village of Chalfont St Giles since January.

However, a technical glitch with Thames Water's online map meant that the parish council only became aware of the spill one week ago.

Chalfont St Giles councillor Robert Gill told the i that the Buckinghamshire village now 'smelled like an open sewer'.

He said there is 'sewage fungus floating down the river and sticking to the sides' and explained that the council had been forced to close the village play park due to the pollution.

Pictured: Thames Water discharging into the River Misbourne, a precious chalk stream, in Buckinghamshire

The picturesque village of Chalfont St Giles in Buckinghamshire that has been affected by sewage pollution

Pictured: High water levels at the ford in Mill Lane, Chalfont St Giles, this winter

Thames Water tested water samples from the River Misbourne last week for chemicals such as ammonia and dissolved oxygen that indicate sewage pollution.

Although the water company is still verifying the final figures, Mr Gill raised concerns that the initial results were 'very, very, high'.

Thames Water acknowledged that sewage was being discharged into the stream but blamed the spills on the fact that the region had experienced its eighth wettest winter on record.

The company said floodwater had entered the sewage tanks which in turn discharged diluted wastewater into the River Misbourne.

John Milton's cottage - the only surviving home of the visionary 17th-century poet- is located in the village of Chalfont St Giles making it popular with visitors.

It was there that Milton - having travelled to escape the Great Plague of 1665 -completed his epic masterpiece Paradise Lost.

Chalfont St Giles (pictured) was home to 17th-century poet John Milton

Pictured: John Milton's cottage - the only surviving home of the visionary 17th-century poet

It was in this house that Milton completed his pic masterpiece Paradise Lost

Milton travelled to Chalfont St Giles to escape the Great Plague of 1665

The Grade I listed building in Chalfont St Giles is now open to members of the public as a museum.

The River Misbourne has also been highlighted as one of England's rare chalk streams.

Chalk streams were previously described by David Attenborough as 'one of the rarest habitats on earth' and are seen to be under threat from sewage pollution.

In 2022, raw sewage was dumped into England's seas and rivers on over 300,000 occasions.

Water companies have been threatened with fines if they continue to spill raw sewage into waterways.

A Thames Water spokesperson said: 'Our region has experienced the eighth wettest winter on record, resulting in exceptionally high groundwater and river levels.

'This groundwater and river floodwater then entered our sewers and filled the Amersham storm tanks, meaning they are full and are discharging diluted wastewater into the River Misbourne, for which we are sorry.

The Grade I listed building in Chalfont St Giles is now open to members of the public as a museum

Pictured: Sewage fungus grows on weeds in the River Misbourne in Chalfont St Giles

Pictured: Thames Water discharge waste water into the River Misbourne, a precious chalk stream, in Amersham

Flooding aftermath in the village of Chalfont St Giles in Buckinghamshire this winter

'We've put transparency at the heart of what we do, and we were the first water company to publish a real time data map.

'Our monitor at our Amersham Storm Tanks site is now publishing this data for the public to see and while all discharges are unacceptable, the sewage system was historically designed to work in this way, to prevent sewage backing up into people's homes.

'We know how much rivers are loved and enjoyed by everyone, and we are committed to seeing our waterways thrive. Our engineers are using filter units at the storm tanks and are working hard to minimise the impact to the river.

'We have published plans to upgrade 250 of our sites across the region, as we strive to increase treatment capacity and reduce the number of necessary discharges.

'However, more investment is needed across the entire sector, as infrastructure ages and demand on it increases. That's why we've asked for increased investment in the next regulatory cycle between 2025-2030.'
Missing teenager Jay Slater's family and friends say they are 'drained beyond words' as the desperate hunt in Tenerife enters its fifth day.

Helicopters, rescue dogs and drones have been used during the hunt for 19-year-old Jay, who was last heard from when he called his friend Lucy Law on Monday morning.

Mr Slater, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, disappeared after an attempt to walk back to his accommodation after missing a bus.

In a post on the Facebook page 'Jay Slater Missing', the administrator of the group Rachel Louise Harg said family and friends of Mr Slater were in a 'living nightmare'.

Search teams paid close attention to a river called Barranco Madre del Agua at the bottom of a ravine today, where personnel with sticks carefully searched through fallen dead palm trees.

Missing teenager Jay Slater's family and friends say they are 'drained beyond words' as the desperate hunt in Tenerife enters its fifth day

Mr Slater's mother, Debbie Duncan, who flew to Tenerife on Tuesday, said searching for her son was 'an absolute living nightmare'

His friend Lucy Law has called for the British police to assist with the investigation

June Duncan, grandmother of missing person Jay Slater, spoke of fears for her grandson

A police officer overlooks the village of Masca, Tenerife, as the search continues on June 21

Emergency workers near the village of Masca, Tenerife as the search enters day five

Rescue teams confer as they continue to search for Jay on June 21

Emergency workers near the village of Masca, Tenerife on June 21

She said: 'There isn't an update for anyone unfortunately.

'Struggling to find words at this time but all I can say is we are looking still and everyone is doing all they can.

'We are drained beyond words - I just can't say no more, I wish I could.

'I wish this would end now, this living nightmare.

'Searches are ongoing and we remain positive.

'Thanks to you all supporting and helping we can't thank you any more, much love.'

His friend Lucy Law has called for the British police to assist with the investigation and slammed the local efforts.

She said she wants to 'bring him home to his family'.

'That is all that we want, all that we need,' she told the BBC.

On Friday, search and rescue personnel joined officers from the island's Guardia Civil near the village of Masca where they appeared to focus on a specific area of overgrown terrain.

Jay Slater, from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, travelled to the Canary Islands for a musical festival with pal Lucy and another friend last week

Jay is seen in this image shared to his friend Lucy's social media days before he disappeared

A MailOnline graphic detailing the timeline of events from when Jay attended the three-day NRG festival to his location when his phone died at around 8.50am on Monday

Some officers used binoculars to survey the landscape before heading towards the bottom of the hillside.

On Thursday, a helicopter flew over Rural de Teno park in the south of the Spanish island as search teams followed various footpaths in the area.

Footage released by the Guardia Civil on Thursday showed the views from the helicopter as it scoured the hillside.

The video, posted to the force's X account, showed officers searching in bushes and overgrown terrain with dogs.

The walk from Mr Slater's last known location to his accommodation would have taken about 11 hours on foot.

The search area was quiet on Friday, with only a handful of police cars stationed at Rural de Teno park.

Ms Law, who attended the NRG music festival with Mr Slater, said he called her at about 8.30am on Monday and told her he was 'lost in the mountains, he wasn't aware of his surroundings, he desperately needed a drink and his phone was on 1%'.

Sniffer dogs have been deployed in the search for Jay Slater in north-west Tenerife on June 19

The search mission has entered its fifth day. Pictured: Rescuers on June 19

Mr Slater's mother, Debbie Duncan, who flew to Tenerife on Tuesday, said searching for her son was 'an absolute living nightmare'.

Ms Duncan told ITV News: 'He's the life and soul, he's a beautiful boy.'

Mr Slater was last seen wearing a white T-shirt with shorts and trainers and a black bag.

A fundraiser set up by Ms Law to 'get Jay Slater home' has since received more than 23,500 in donations.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesman said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man who has been reported missing in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.'

Today, the search is continuing for the fifth day to find the teenager, 19, who disappeared in Tenerife.

Friends and family members have flown over to the Canary Islands to join in with the search for Jay who has not been seen or heard from since Monday.

His last known location was in the mountainous area of Teno Rural Park, some 10 hours' walk away from his accommodation in the southern part of the island.

A GoFundMe which was set up yesterday has raised 23,723 as of this morning.

Police using a helicopter, sniffer dogs and a drone, as well as mountain rescue units have been scouring countryside close to an Airbnb he went to with two British men.

The isolated farmhouse was an hour's drive from the popular hotspot of Playa des Los Americas in southern Tenerife, in the village of Masca, 19 miles away.

Speaking from the family home in Oswaldtwistle, Jay's stepfather Andy Watson said the teen was reluctant to go on holiday.

He said that Jay's friends had 'talked him into going' and his mother Debbie added he 'wasn't really that keen'.

She told ITV that looking back, she wished she hadn't 'encouraged him'.
Billionaire businessman Sir Jim Ratcliffe has branded Labour's Net Zero plans as 'absurd' - just days after he publicly backed Sir Keir Starmer's party.

Sir Jim, the owner of petrochemicals giant Ineos and Britain's fourth-richest man, warned against Labour's plan to phase out North Sea oil and gas.

He said it would just see the UK having to import energy, which would do 'absolutely nothing for the climate'.

The 71-year-old, who owns minority stake in Manchester United, also lashed out at Labour's pledge to decarbonise the UK's electricity grid by 2030.

'What is left of UK manufacturing is definitely going to die that day,' he said of Labour's end-of-decade deadline.

Sir Jim was fiercely critical of Labour's plans despite having publicly thrown his weight behind Sir Keir's party ahead of the general election on 4 July.

He this week said Brits have 'had enough' of the Tories and are 'ready for change', while he added Sir Keir would do a 'very sensible job' as PM.

Billionaire businessman Sir Jim Ratcliffe has branded Labour's Net Zero plans as 'absurd' - just days after he publicly backed Sir Keir Starmer 's party

The Labour leader was last month pictured with Sir Jim at Manchester United's match against Arsenal, the team that Sir Keir supports

Sir Jim lashed out at Labour's pledge to decarbonise the UK's electricity grid by 2030. 'What is left of UK manufacturing is definitely going to die that day,' he said

The Labour leader was last month pictured with Sir Jim at Manchester United's match against Arsenal, the team that Sir Keir supports.

Speaking at The Times CEO summit in London yesterday, Sir Jim delivered a public rebuke of Labour's Net Zero plans.

As well as their 2030 deadline for a clean electricity grid, Labour have also pledged not to grant any new licences for North Sea oil and gas drilling.

But Sir Jim said: 'The North Sea will die off. It will become extinct and relatively soon because it is being taxed out of existence.

'Historical analysis will tell you abundant and competitive energy sources are fundamental to a successful economy.

'Growth spurts of economies are correlated to that.'

He added: 'Our energy is four to five times more expensive than the United States. In terms of energy consumption in 2004 the UK was self-sufficient.

'Today we import 40 per cent to 50 per cent of our energy requirements. If we shut down the North Sea, what is that accomplishing for the world and the climate?

'It just means we have to import our energy. Strategically we become more vulnerable.

'We pay more money for our energy. And we have done absolutely nothing for the climate because we have to get our energy from somewhere else.'

Asked about his view on Labour's 2030 deadline for a decarbonised UK electricity supply, Sir Jim replied: 'That's absurd. Where's it all going to come from?

'Think about how we make our electricity in the UK. It's from hydrocarbons, that is gas.

'Or from nuclear. Or from renewables, and that is wind because there is not enough sunshine for solar.

'If you are going to decarbonise that means you have to take gas away. Gas is fundamentally important for your electricity supply because the wind doesn't blow every day.

'You can't just operate your hospitals on a windy day. When the wind isn't blowing we have to switch on our gas-fired power stations.

'We have nine nuclear power stations in the UK and eight of them are scheduled to close by 2030.

'And we are not doing terribly well on building new nuclear power stations because it takes ten to 15 years.

'So in 2030 we have no gas, nuclear is shut down, and you have wind, which isn't consistent. You cannot run an economy on wind.

'Are you going to shut all the factories down every other week? What is left of UK manufacturing is definitely going to die that day.'
A 'Walter Mitty' police chief Nick Adderley was caught on video boasting of being a 'senior leader in the Royal Navy', despite only ever serving at the lowest rank  as he is sacked for gross misconduct.

The officer, who was a guest speaker at a British Security Industry Association (BSIA) gathering in Manchester, lied about being a 'senior leader' within the Royal Navy when in reality, he served for two years and two months at the rank of Able-Seaman.

It comes as Mr Adderley has today been sacked for exaggerating his rank and length of service and lying about his naval achievements following a misconduct hearing in Northampton.

The former chief constable of Northamptonshire Police 'built military naval legend that wasn't true' a misconduct hearing was told.

The panel heard how Mr Adderley wore a Falklands War medal despite being just 15 when the conflict happened.

Now, footage obtained by MailOnline, clearly shows Mr Adderley exaggerating his rank within the Royal Navy.

In a somewhat ironic remark, Mr Adderley told the audience at Bridgewater Hall: 'I'm going to be totally honest with you. I have been in the police service now for 23 years, just coming up to 23 years and prior to that I was a senior leader within the Royal Navy'

He has been dismissed without notice and placed on the police barred list.

Nick Adderley speaking during a British Security Industry Association (BSIA) gathering in Manchester

Mr Adderley was caught on video boasting of being a 'senior leader in the Royal Navy' despite only ever serving at the lowest rank

Mr Adderley has today been found guilty of gross misconduct at a hearing in Northampton

John Beggs KC, counsel for the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone, told Mr Adderley's misconduct hearing that the police officer 'must have known that he was never a 'senior leader' within the Royal Navy' and said the panel may conclude it was evidence Mr Adderley was 'intent on conveying that deceitful legend'.

Mr Beggs told the hearing that Adderley served for two years and two months in the Royal Navy, remaining at the lowest rank of Able-Seaman.

Mr Adderley told investigators for the Independent Office of Police Conduct that he was a Senior Leader Cadet at the age of 15, when the Falkland's War took place. He described this as 'the beginning of my leadership journey'.

Although he maintained that he was a leader amongst his peers in the Royal Navy, he recognised it was not prudent to describe himself as a senior leader.

In his opening statement, Mr Beggs told the panel they 'may consider that a more accurate word than 'prudent' is 'true'.

The BSIA's 2014 event took place in early March of that year. Given Mr Adderley joined Cheshire Constabulary as a trainee in February 1992, it meant he had not even reached 22 years as a fully-fledged police officer when he gave the speech, and was therefore not 'just coming up to 23 years'.

Mr Adderley told the audience at the city's Bridgewater Hall: 'I'm going to be totally honest with you. I have been in the police service now for 23 years, just coming up to 23 years and prior to that I was a senior leader within the Royal Navy'

Adderley previously claimed the South Atlantic Medal he has been pictured wearing since at least 2012 was given to him by his brother Richard when he emigrated to Australia in 2008

Nick Adderley (pictured, centre, leaving his misconduct hearing in Northampton last month)

Chair of the panel, Callum Cowx, who served in the Royal Navy, the Army and the police, found all allegations against Mr Adderley proven, saying they found 'his audacity to be quite staggering', adding that he had lied over many years with 'arrogant temerity'.

Mr Adderley claimed he had served in the Royal Navy for 10 years when he had served for only two, and had apparently included his service with the Sea Cadets from the age of 10 in that calculation.

He claimed on his CV that he had attended the prestigious Britannia Royal Naval College for four years, despite his application being rejected.

He also lied that he had attended the prestigious Britannia Royal Naval College for four years, despite his application being rejected; he claimed to have seen active service during his naval career; had been a military negotiator in Haiti despite never visiting the country, and that he had been a 'commander or a lieutenant', even though he only achieved the rank of able seaman.

Mr Cowx said the panel would not give fully formed reasons for their decisions on and they would follow in a written report within five days.

But they agreed the allegations against Mr Adderley amounted to breaches of honesty and integrity and discreditable conduct.

Adderley had previously claimed the South Atlantic Medal he has been pictured wearing since at least 2012 was given to him by his brother Richard when he emigrated to Australia in 2008.

The SAM was awarded to British military personnel and civilians for service in the Falklands conflict.
German police are investigating a shameless couple who refused to stop putting on a public sex show on a Lufthansa flight from Alicante to Munich.

The couple, two Polish citizens aged 40 who have not yet been named, 'performed sexual acts on each other' on flight LH 1849 on Wednesday.

Despite cabin crew members repeatedly asking them to stop, the two 'unruly passengers' not only refused to stop but also insulted the flight attendants, who then contacted German federal police.

Upon landing the flight, which according to FlightRadar data left Alicante nearly an hour late and arrived in Munich half an hour late, cops came onboard and arrested the pair before the other passengers were allowed to disembark.

The couple are now being investigating for public nuisance charges.

German police are investigating a shameless couple who refused to stop putting on a public sex show on a Lufthansa flight from Alicante to Munich (File image)

MailOnline has contacted Lufthansa for comment.

Alicante and other Spanish holiday destinations have become hotbeds for debaucherous behaviour.

Just last month, a British man was arrested at the city's airport after being drunk on board and trying to open the door mid-flight.

Spanish police were waiting on the tarmac when the plane touched down in Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernandez Airport, and arrested the 28-tear-old man, who was said to have been so drunk that he did not realise the plane was still in the air.

Passengers helped the crew to restrain him during a brawl in which he reportedly became aggressive and compromised the safety of the flight.

The incident happened on board an Easyjet flight which had left Gatwick airport for Alicante-Elche in Spain, according to Spanish newspaper Informacion.es

The Brit had already been disturbing the other passengers with his drunken behaviour.

As the plane neared its destination, the man allegedly tried to open a door to 'get off quicker' after not realising the aircraft had not yet landed.

This resulted in the pilot having to call the control tower to request the presence of the Civil Guard on touch-down, Informacion.es reported.

'Apparently, the traveller boarded already drunk but his condition worsened during the flight, since the altitude enhances the effects of alcohol. At one point, he got into a fight with other travellers, whom he attacked after insulting and provoking them. When the company's onboard personnel intervened, he also tried to hit them,' said Informacion.es

'And not only that. In the midst of a brawl, he tried to open the plane door to get off, without being aware that they were in mid-flight, and then tried to access the cabin. Finally, the passenger helped the crew to immobilise him and, as soon as the aircraft landed in El Altet, the Civil Guard entered and detained him.'

According to the Spanish Aviation Safety Agency, the London to Alicante flight route sees the second most amount of on-flight incidents. Last year alone there were 184 complaints.

Intoxicated Brits are said to be responsible for the majority of these episodes.
The University of Southern California student who stabbed a homeless man to death after allegedly catching him breaking into cars will not face any charges.

Ivan Gallegos, 19, was arrested in Los Angeles on Monday after he stabbed 27-year-old Xavier Cerf on Greek Row.

Authorities say the student was walking with two friends when they spotted Cerf, who had been released from a mental health facility the same day, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

The group reportedly saw Cerf breaking into cars and confronted him before Gallego stabbed him four times, killing him.

Gallegos remained at the scene and was taken into custody on suspicion of murder.

University of Southern California student Ivan Gallegos who stabbed a homeless man to death after catching him breaking into cars will not face any charges

He told police he acted in self defense after Cerf allegedly said he had a gun, but no weapon was found at the scene, according to police.

Gallego's friend Rafael Cadenas corroborated his story, claiming Cerf 'gestured, put his hands in his pants, [indicating] that he had a gun.'

Cadenas added: 'We couldve had three dead USC students in the USC community, and that wouldve been very unfortunate and tragic'.

Gallego's family has claimed he had a knife on him for protection because students have previously been targeted by criminals in the area.

District Attorney George Gascon cited self-defense as the reason behind his decision to not charge Gallegos.

In a statement he said: 'After careful consideration and a thorough review of all available evidence, we have decided not to pursue charges against USC student Ivan Gallegos'.

Gallegos, 19, was arrested in Los Angeles after he stabbed 27-year-old Xavier Cerf (pictured)

The student was walking with two friends when they spotted Cerf on Greek Row

'We believe that Mr. Gallegoss actions were driven by a genuine fear for his life and the lives of others. Our heart goes out to the deceaseds family, friends and everyone impacted by this tragic incident,' he added.

Cerf's mother Yema Jones told NBC from her home in Texas that she is angry and confused about the DA's decision.

'You took a life. You took my son. You took my baby, my baby,' the grieving mother said.

'You all mean to tell me you couldnt call campus security or hold him down without hurting him?

'Its three of you all against one. One had a pole, and one had a knife. I feel it was already your intention to do what you all did.'

Cerf's mother Yema Jones told NBC from her home in Texas that she is angry and confused about the DA's decision

Jones said Cerf moved to LA in February and was released from mental health treatment the same day he was killed.

She has started a GoFundMe to collect funds to bring Cerf's body back to Texas.

Cerf leaves behind a three-year-old son, Anthony.

He had a TikTok account with nearly 2,000 followers where he shared videos of himself dancing alone or with family or friends.

Cerf had been arrested on April 28 in a citizen's arrest for an alleged battery.

A bench warrant was issued for his arrest when he failed to show up for his hearing on June 12.

Cerf leaves behind a three-year-old son, Anthony

According to his LinkedIn, Gallegos, seen with his mother, is a sophomore at USC studying business administration

USC Annenberg Media had recently written a profile on him, naming him 'LA's upcoming Corrido and Reggaeton artist'

According to his LinkedIn, Gallegos is a sophomore at USC studying business administration.

He also describes himself as an 'aspiring regional music artist and producer'. His artist name is IDG.

USC Annenberg Media had recently written a profile on him, naming him 'LA's upcoming Corrido and Reggaeton artist.'

The piece said Gallego was born and raised in a rough part of East LA and his parents were said to have been involved in gangs.

'Despite growing up in an environment saturated with drugs, gangs, and prostitution, he focused on music and sharpened his skills to become a multifaceted instrument and vocalist,' Annenberg Media wrote about Gallegos.

He performed with Mariachi band Los Troyanos and also produces reggaeton and electric dance music.
The widow of a Texas man who died after being electrocuted to death in a hot tub has revealed his haunting final words.

Jorge Guillen, 43, died while on a family vacation with his wife Lizzette Zambrano, 35, in Puerto Penasco, Mexico.

After Guillen and his wife stepped into a hot tub at the Sonoran Sea Resort, Zambrano said that her husband immediately felt an electric shock in the water.

Speaking with ABC News, she revealed that the last thing she remembers before her husband died was him saying: 'Oh f***'.

Zambrano also had to be treated for injuries she suffered after desperately trying to save her partner.

Speaking with ABC News , Zambrano revealed the last thing she remembers before her husband died

Jorge Guillen died in Puerto Penasco, Mexico, while on vacation with his wife Lizzette Zambrano, both seen here

After Guillen and his wife stepped into a hot tub at the Sonoran Sea Resort, Zambrano said that her husband immediately felt an electric shock in the water

Speaking to the outlet, she said: 'The last thing I remember him is saying is "oh f***" - it's the same time I felt the first electric shock, and it happened over and over and over. I didn't hear him again.

'A lot of people jumped in but they kept jumping out because the shocks were so strong.'

Zambrano was pulled from the water without a pulse and taken to a hospital where she overheard nurses confirm the worst.

She added: 'I could hear them and one of them said "her husband didn't make it"

Last week it was revealed that Zambrano is suing the resort where it happened for $1 million.

Legal documents state: '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.'

Zambrano was sitting on the pool deck when she tried to help her husband and '...upon touching Jorge and the water, Lizette was electrically shocked and also fell into the jacuzzi,' the suit alleged.

Zambrano was pulled from the water without any pulse and was taken to a hospital where she overheard nurses confirm the worst

The incident happened in a resort in Puerto Penasco, in the state of Sonora, Mexico

Zambrano was revived after being shocked but resort staff took 10 minutes to hit the Jacuzzi's emergency shut off switch and render aid to Guillen, the documents stated.

'Jorge was being electrocuted and drowned under water for 10 minutes,' according to the suit.

Speaking with ABC, she added: 'I want somebody to take accountability for what happened to my husband and myself'.

Footage taken from one of the resort's rooms captured the horrifying aftermath of the incident.

Eyewitnesses can be seen standing around the hot tub, with one woman performing CPR and others appearing shocked as they tried to render aid.

Helpless vacationers watched in horror as they tried to help the couple, video taken from a hotel balcony shows

'There is no reason this should have happened,' Zambrano's lawyer Tej Paranjpe said.

'Hotels and resorts have a duty to ensure guest safety. At no point did resort staff think to engage an emergency shut-off, not to mention warn guests of a faulty, dangerous amenity.'

The suit was filed in El Paso County, Texas, where the couple resided.

DailyMail.com has approached the resort for comment.
Rishi Sunak warned today that Brits might not 'ever' be able to get Labour out of power if they win the election

The PM delivered the stark message as he launched the Tories' Welsh manifesto, again accusing Keir Starmer of plotting tax hikes.

Mr Sunak conceded that voters were 'frustrated', but insisted he had 'heard' the criticism - and cautioned that sending the government a 'message' on polling day could be disastrous.

'I warn you, don't fall into Labour's trap, don't sleepwalk to July 4,' he said.

'I know you want to send us a message, but this is not a by-election. It will determine who governs our country for the next five years and potentially much longer.

Rishi Sunak delivered the stark message as he launched the Tories' Welsh manifesto, again accusing Keir Starmer of plotting tax hikes

The Tories launched their Welsh manifesto near Rhyl this morning

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'For if Labour get in they will change the rules so it's much harder to ever get them out. They want to give 16-year-olds a vote not because on principle they think that they are adults, but because they think they'll vote for them.

'Once they have got power they will change every rule to make sure that they keep it. We can't let that happen, friends, and it's only we Conservatives who can stop it.'

Urging voters to give the Tories another term after 14 years in power, Mr Sunak said: 'Do not let Labour waltz into office without scrutinising them, without seeing what their policies would mean for our country and your family's security. Do you really know what you are going to get with Labour?'

Mr Sunak also warned that Sir Keir will look to expand a 'death tax' which is being considered in Labour-run Wales.

The premier sounded the alarm over the potential 295million raid on grieving families and also pledged to reverse 20mph zones imposed on drivers in the country.

The Labour-run Welsh administration is currently consulting on scrapping the council tax exemption for homes in probate, which would clobber grieving families with thousands of pounds in new taxes. The Tories say this would be a double whammy on top of inheritance tax.

Sir Keir has previously described Wales as his party's 'blueprint for what Labour can do across the UK'.

He has already pledged to follow the country's lead by allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in elections, which the Tories claim is a bid to rig future polls because younger voters tend to vote Labour.

Mr Sunak warned that Sir Keir (pictured in Scotland today) will look to expand a 'death tax' which is being considered in Labour-run Wales

The Prime Minister was echoing a speech made by John Major ahead of the 1992 election in which the Tory premier warned that a vote for Labour could lead to the break-up of the UK because of the party's 'appeasement' of Scottish nationalism.

Sir John also warned that a vote for the pro-Brussels Labour or Liberal Democrats would see Britain join the Euro currency and thrust into a 'federal Europe' of closer integration.

The warning, four days before voting day, helped Sir John go on to win a fourth term for the Tories after 13 years in power despite opinion polls suggesting that Labour was ahead.
They came to see England secure a place in the last 16, so England fans in Magaluf were disappointed not to see their heroes win on the pitch last night.

But whatever the result in Germany, they were always going to party to excess on the streets, bars and clubs of Magaluf.

MailOnline journalists were taken on patrol by the Policia Local in Magaluf to show us first-hand the problem they face from thousands of boozed-up Brits in the resort which has been one of the factors fuelling the anti-tourism movement in Mallorca.

As our police patrol car drew to its first halt in a parking space, a drunken young English woman, singing and dancing to the fans anthem Vindaloo, nearly stumbled into the path of the vehicle.

Turning around and mouthing a quick sorry to the officers, she sheepishly staggered back onto the pavement and continued her unsteady way onto the next nightclub.

The police officers exchanged a weary smile and began their slow crawl through the streets.

England fans in Magaluf were disappointed not to see their heroes win on the pitch last night

Privately, everyone agrees that the Brits are the worst when it comes to drinking

One Danish footie fan needed the attention of emergency services as he had passed out from drinking too much

I dont know why they get this way when they come here, said one officer on the patrol.

Maybe alcohol is so much cheaper here than in England, Germany and Scandinavia, and maybe they drink more than they are used to and you see the result.

The results were indeed plain to see as the daylight faded and the strip, a 600m long pulsating, neon-lit thoroughfare of bars and strip clubs slicing through the middle of Magaluf, officially called Carrer Punta Ballena, came to life for another drink- and drug-fuelled night.

Privately, everyone agrees that the Brits are the worst when it comes to drink, and as they make up by far the majority of Magalufs visitors, theyre certainly the most obvious, whether wearing England shirts as last night, or Scotlands the night before.

Officially, strict anti-social behaviour laws ban carrying alcohol in glass bottles and walking around in bikinis  or bare-chested for men  in public places. But the reality is starkly different.

Officially, strict anti-social behaviour laws ban carrying alcohol in glass bottles and walking around in bikinis  or bare-chested for men  in public places

The strip, a 600m long pulsating, neon-lit thoroughfare came to life for another drink- and drug-fuelled night.

The strip is officially called Carrer Punta Ballena

England fans started the night with fierce jubilation in their hearts

Magaluf is known for its debaucherous nightlife, especially in the summer

Europeans, but especially Brits, have made Magaluf a place to let loose

Last night was, by all accounts, a quiet night for Magaluf

Teenage girls saunter around barely clothed or in underwear and theres no shortage of shirtless young men, with their ever-present Bellingham shirts tied around their waist.

We cannot arrest them all, said one officer with a shrug.

He admitted that in the last ten years, the situation had slightly improved, and was hopeful that would continue.

Last night was, by all accounts, a quiet night for Magaluf and the most dramatic case of alcohol abuse we saw was a 17-year-old Dane, who was lying insensible, covered in his own vomit outside a tattoo parlour.

The Policia Local officers tried to speak to him but he was unconscious so they called an ambulance.

Brits were seen leaving graffiti all over the Strip

Many also decided to get drunken tattoos

Fans were left disappointed by the 1-1 draw in last night's Euro 2024 match

England fans were left with their heads in their hands

Many chose to drown their sorrows following the deflating draw

But others appeared to forget about their worries, and focused on enjoying themselves in spite of the poor performance from Southgate's team

Thousands of boozed-up Brits have flocked to Magaluf

MailOnline went on a night patrol with Magaluf cops last night

Eventually the paramedics were able to get a response, albeit a slurred one, and he was taken back to his hotel by two friends to sleep it off.

Much later, we also saw one young Briton carrying his drunken mate in a firemans lift for the long trudge back to the safety of their hotel as the grey light of dawn began to bring proceedings to a close.

Another group of revellers made their way home with a giant inflatable unicorn, carried aloft and another England fan could be seen asleep outside a pub with a glass of orange, or possibly something stronger, in front of him on the table.

An English girl on the beach could be seen throwing up as her boyfriend tended to her, but in truth such incidents were rare and the prevailing mood was good-natured, not least because the Policia Local officers, and their colleagues in the Guardia Civil, were never far away on the Strip.
Tougher laws need to be brought in to stop eco-group Just Stop Oil, according to the Mail's talk show The Reaction.

Political commentator Andrew Pierce and columnist Sarah Vine agreed in this week's podcast that the government need to take more stringent action against the disruptive eco-activists.

It comes after the environmental group caused national outrage this week by spraying historic monument Stonehenge with orange paint.

Video footage posted on social media showed two people - wearing white t-shirts with 'Just Stop Oil' emblazoned on the front - running up to the ancient monoliths with canisters and vandalising them.

Sarah Vine (left) and Andrew Pierce (right) both agreed that Just Stop Oil activists need to be harshly penalised for spraying paint on Stonehenge

Questioning the government's response, Pierce said on the YouTube talk show: 'The Tories are bereft of ideas. They're all over the place.

'We had a statement from Rishi Sunak saying it's outrageous.

'Why didn't we get someone saying "we're going to tackle this wokery, we're going to toughen up the laws to stop them".

'Because there should be a really severe penalty for this because this is a historic monument.'

Vine - also enraged by the issue - agreed, suggesting that JSO should be proscribed as a terrorist group.

She said: 'All they have to do is say "okay Just Stop Oil is now a proscribed terrorist group, an eco-terrorist group, and if you join it you will be arrested".

Speaking of JSO's previous disruptive actions, the pair listed how they have been 'attacking' national statues with red paint and even targeted King Charles' first official portrait.

The protesters who sprayed Stonehenge - who were named as Niamh Lynch, 21, a student from Oxford, and Rajan Naidu, 73, from Birmingham - have now been arrested by police on suspicion of damaging the historical monument.

Describing the incident, Sarah Vine explained the story of 'these two idiots, one who's 21 student at Oxford, so they're meant to be part of our elite, spraying Stonehenge with orange powder paint.

'The thing is, if you spray the front of the Barclays Bank with orange paint, they can get someone to come and clean it off.

'Stonehenge is is an ancient Neolithic monument which is by nature porous, so if you cover it in orange, to get that off you're going to have to erode the monument.'

Pierce, also enraged by the issue, intervened to say: 'And they also said "Oh, it's okay, because if it rains, it'll run away."

'But that's actually not true, because the paint was mixed with this flour they used which thickens it up.

Just Stop Oil protesters have sprayed Stonehenge with orange paint in their latest stunt

'What's it called? Cornflour. So it would have congealed, and they would never been able to get it off. So these cretins didn't even know what willful damage they were doing.

'A 5000 year old monument, which has got great symbolism for druids and pagans.

'I mean, not our beliefs particularly, but William Roach from Coronation Street. Let's not forget Ken Barlow, he's been at Stonehenge in his druid gear.

'But it is symbolic and it was just on the eve of the Summer Solstice. I couldn't believe it.'

Quoting the Mail's headline, he agreed that the monument means 'nothing sacred to these cretins'.

To Vine, however, the fact was not 'just about symbolism', but the archaeological importance of the monument.

She said: 'It's not just the symbolism, it's the archaeological importance of it. It's a really important Neolithic monument.

'We've just had a protracted argument, that's lasted 10 years, about whether or not we can expand the road that runs alongside it, you know?

'And then these guys come along and just, just chuck a load of paint all over it.'

Discussing the eco-group's tactics, both co-hosts concluded that their actions do not help garner public support.

Vine said: 'They are completely, I think, completely disconnected from ordinary people.

'Ordinary people are worried about the environment, but what they don't want is that wilful destruction.

'And I don't understand why they think this is a good tactic.'

Pierce agreed, adding: 'Even if you were sympathetic to their aims, you are antagonised, you're enrage.

'You know, we've seen it before when they've sat on roads, they've glued themselves to roads, and ambulances can't get through, people can't get to work.

'These terrible, stupid people.'
Tamara and Oliver Benjamin have been in seven-year dispute with Howard Davis

The PR director of Shein and her husband have been banned from watering their potted trees following a battle with the chairman of Prince Harry's old polo club over an 'intrusive' glass sunroom at their 2m-plus house.

Tamara and high-end City tailor Oliver Benjamin have been locked in a row with Howard Davis for seven years over their rooftop glass-cube sunroom, which was completed in 2017.

Mr Davis, who is chairman of Prince Harry's former polo club in Ham, claimed the modern rooftop room and terrace resulted in a 'loss of 360 degree privacy' in the exclusive gated development in leafy Richmond upon Thames and is 'obtrusive, intrusive, out of character and proportion'.

Now a judge has banned the fashion couple from accessing the north-facing part of their balcony to water their potted trees, and has ordered them to completely block it off from use with planters.

The couple have also been asked to block off the view from as much of the northern side of the glass room as they can while still complying with building regulations, Master James Brightwell said.

A fashion couple have been blocked from potting trees outside a glass sunroom in their 2million house

Oliver and Tamara Benjamin rom accessing the north-facing part of their balcony and have been ordered to completely block off the section

London's High Court heard that Mrs Benjamin and her husband, who runs his business from his tailor's shop near St Paul's Cathedral, bought their house near Petersham, Richmond, in 2014.

The gated development is adjacent to Grade-II listed Rutland Lodge, a historic mansion house dating from the 17th century.

Mr Davis lives in one of the four apartments in Rutland Lodge and is one of the directors of the company which owns the estate itself.

After moving in, the Benjamins began an extensive property rebuild, creating a swish modern architect-designed space, based mainly on the ground floor, but boasting a four-sided first-floor glass-cube sunroom.

Despite the Benjamins owning the freehold of their own house, the company has the benefit of restrictive covenants relating to it and other houses on the land, allowing the directors to veto applications for alterations which it deems undesirable.

After Mr and Mrs Benjamin moved in, the management company approved their redevelopment sketches put forward in 2015, giving the green light to a plan which included a first floor sun room.

However, by the time the plans were finally approved in 2016, they had been altered to make the glass sun room larger and include plans for a first floor roof terrace.

A legal battle then ensued, with the company seeking to force the Benjamins to demolish the sunroom and terrace and rebuild it smaller, in line with the 2015 plan they said was the only approved version.

Mr Davis also made a public complaint about 'loss of 360 degree privacy' due to the 'obtrusive, intrusive' glass room at the Benjamins' home.

In an objection to a later 2021 planning application by the couple posted on Richmond Borough Council's website, Mr Davis said that under the 2016 planning permission 'a far larger building was proposed' and ultimately built than under the 2015 design.

Neighbour Howard Davis, chairman of Prince Harry's former polo club in Ham, claimed the rooftop room is 'obtrusive, intrusive, out of character and proportion'

The Benjamins bought their house on an exclusive estate near Petersham, Richmond, in 2014

'The combination of enlarged windows, loss of louvers, greatly enlarged construction and allowance of use of the roof as a terrace have consequently resulted in a major increase in overlooking of the amenity spaces surrounding the building in Petersham,' he wrote.

'Whether from the...patios, lawn, driveway (of Rutland Lodge) or from the Petersham Nurseries, Montrose House, the Petersham Meadow, the property is visible, with possibly up to 14 properties affected.'

Defending the couple's action, barrister Elizabeth Fitzgerald admitted the sun room was bigger in the 2016 permission, but pointed out they were 'far less extensive alterations' to the house than under a previously granted planning permission, which had given the green light for total demolition and the excavation of a basement.

The dispute was settled in February 2023, but the neighbours then fell out again and began another court fight after disagreeing over the meaning of some of the terms in the consent order.

The agreement banned use of the northern section of the terrace except for 'maintenance or emergency,' required a barrier of planters to block it off, and called for the windows on the north to be completely obscured with louvers.

In court, the Benjamins insisted that they had done enough to block access to the northern section with plants, but that the settlement allowed them access it to water their potted trees.

They should also only have to use their 'best endeavours' to install louvers on all of the window, as that might contravene building regulations.

But giving judgment, Master Brightwell ordered them to use more planters to close off 'gaps' in the 'barrier' preventing access to the northern part of the terrace, while also ruling that they cannot water their potted trees there.

'I consider that the central purpose of the parties' agreement was to ensure that the relevant area of terrace would be accessed as little as possible, and that access to it would be limited to truly essential matters,' he said.

'The agreement is quite unequivocal. The relevant part of the roof of the defendants' property is not to be used at all, except for maintenance or in emergencies.

'I do not consider that the watering of plants can sensibly be said to be 'maintenance'. That word naturally refers to the maintenance of the building itself.

'I also consider that the retention of plants in the prohibited area constitutes the use of that area, and is in breach of the parties' agreement accordingly.'

He also ruled against the Benjamins on their argument that the way they had blocked off the northern section complied with the settlement agreement, which required a permanent 'barrier' to be marked with planters.

In court, the Benjamins claimed that they had fulfilled their obligation with a line of two metal plant pots and gaps filled with smaller terracotta pots.

But ruling against them, the judge said: 'It seems to me quite likely that a person could pass through some of the gaps, even if not easily.

Despite previously settling a dispute in February 2023, the neighbours fell out again over some of the terms agreed. Pictured: Oliver Benjamin

The Benjamins argued that their settlement allowed them to access the northern section of the terrace to water the potted trees, but a judge ruled

'The claimant contends that the current arrangement is not in compliance with the parties' agreement. There are not 'planters' across the entire line, as there are gaps between the pots.

'The Oxford English Dictionary provides the material definition of a 'planter' as: 'A pot, tub, or other container for growing or displaying plants'.

'It also defines a 'barrier' as: 'A fence or material obstruction of any kind erected (or serving) to bar the advance of persons or things, or to prevent access to a place'.

'I consider that any container in which plants can be grown and which is capable of forming part of a barrier is capable of satisfying the contractual requirement.

'It is clear to me, both from the background to the dispute and the intention behind the compromise, and from the use of the word 'barrier' which is to mark the relevant lines, that the planters must extend for the entirety of each line.

'It would be in the nature of a barrier that it extends along the full length of each relevant line, in order to prevent the line being crossed.

'The gaps between the planters/pots mean that this requirement is not currently satisfied.'

Lawyers in the case said outside court after the ruling that the question of who pays for the cost of the fight will be dealt with at a later date yet to be set.
The police officer who single-handedly stopped the murderous stabbing spree in Westfield Bondi Junction has been honoured for her bravery - and its not the first such recognition the 'humble' 39-year-old has received.

NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott ran to the fifth level of the Sydney shopping centre on April 15 after being alerted that a man was on a stabbing spree.

She confronted Joel Cauchi and fatally shoot him in the chest when he refused to drop the knife.

Tragically six people were killed in the attack with another dozen injured.

NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott receives the Commissioners Valour Award from the NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb

Insp Scott's bravery was honoured with the Commissioners Valour Award on Friday at Goulburn Police Academy in southeast NSW but the self-effacing 19-year veteran did not want to make it about her.

She told a graduating class of 169 new police officers that she was just one example of 'ordinary people called to do an extraordinary thing'.

'It was quite a traumatic day for everybody involved,' Insp Scott said.

'I wasn't the only person there and that's why I have stayed quiet and probably will continue to stay quiet because there are really important people that responded that day that have been impacted,' Inspector Scott said.

'It's a healing process and it will be for everybody involved. Very unique.'

Insp Scott said she she was lucky to have the love and support of a wife, family and friends as well as NSW Police Force community to get her through the tough memories of the day and get her 'back on the tools'.

'Really importantly are those victims, their families and friends, who will be forever dealing with an unfathomable tragedy,' said Inspector Scott.

Insp Scott, 39, said she was being supported by her wife, friends and family since the traumatic incident

'So it's really important for me to keep them at the forefront of everything and that's where they are for me they are always on my mind.'

Insp Scott who is attached to Sydney's Eastern Suburbs Police Command has previously been recognised.

In 2019 while stationed at Kings Cross in inner eastern Sydney she was recognised at the Rotary Club Police Officer of the Year award ceremony, when she received a Demonstrated Courage and Devotion to Duty award.

During Friday's graduation ceremony in Goulburn NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said Insp Scott set an example of 'going above and beyond'.

Isnp Scott with Joel Cauchi after she shot him and ended his stabbing spree at Bondi Junction on April 19

'There will be days that challenge you, but also many rewarding days,' she said.

'While we don't become police officers for recognition, it is important to recognise those who go above and beyond to protect the community of New South Wales.

'Detective inspector Amy Scott is an example of this.'

Commissioner Webb, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, NSW Premier Chris Minns, and even the Prince and Princess of Wales all commended Insp Scott's brave actions in stopping Cauchi.

Insp Scott (second from the left) was also recognised for her courage while stationed as a sergeant in 2019

On the day of the stabbings Insp Scott was performing routine checks near the shopping centre.

After bystanders directed her to the scene, the officer approached the 40-year-old Queensland man on level five of the complex as shoppers fled and others lay injured.

When Cauchi refused to put his knife down, Insp Scott fired one shot to his chest, sending him to the ground.

She then walked over and gave him CPR until paramedics arrived but Cauchi was unable to be revived.

Those killed included five women - Ashlee Good, 38, Dawn Singleton, 25, Pikria Darchia, 55, Jade Young, 47, and Yixuan Cheng, 27 along with security guard Faraz Tahir, 30.

The nine-month-old daughter that Ms Good died protecting was also hurt in the attack.

After suffering suffering chest and arm injuries the baby underwent surgery at Sydney Children's Hospital but was later discharged.
Missing teenager Jay Slater's friend has urged the British police to join the search for in Tenerife amid frustration over slow progress of the Spanish cops.

Jay's family and friends have said they are 'drained beyond words' as the desperate hunt in Tenerife enters its fifth day.

Helicopters, rescue dogs and drones have been used during the hunt for 19-year-old Jay, who was last heard from when he called his friend Lucy Law on Monday morning.

Mr Slater, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, disappeared after an attempt to walk back to his accommodation after missing a bus.

His friend Lucy Law, 18, has now blasted the local Spanish police for 'not doing a good enough job' in finding the missing Brit.

Search teams paid close attention to a river called Barranco Madre del Agua at the bottom of a ravine today, where personnel with sticks carefully searched through fallen dead palm trees.

Missing teenager Jay Slater's family and friends say they are 'drained beyond words' as the desperate hunt in Tenerife enters its fifth day

Mr Slater's mother, Debbie Duncan, who flew to Tenerife on Tuesday, said searching for her son was 'an absolute living nightmare'

His friend Lucy Law has called for the British police to assist with the investigation

June Duncan, grandmother of missing person Jay Slater, spoke of fears for her grandson

A police officer overlooks the village of Masca, Tenerife, as the search continues on June 21

Emergency workers near the village of Masca, Tenerife as the search enters day five

Rescue teams confer as they continue to search for Jay on June 21

Emergency workers near the village of Masca, Tenerife on June 21

'We are having to do this all by ourselves as Spanish police are not doing a good enough job. They dont even speak English. Its been a very slow process here so we need the British police to come out and help them,' she told The Times.

In a post on the Facebook page 'Jay Slater Missing', the administrator of the group Rachel Louise Harg said family and friends of Mr Slater were in a 'living nightmare'.

She said: 'There isn't an update for anyone unfortunately.

'Struggling to find words at this time but all I can say is we are looking still and everyone is doing all they can.

'We are drained beyond words - I just can't say no more, I wish I could.

'I wish this would end now, this living nightmare.

'Searches are ongoing and we remain positive.

'Thanks to you all supporting and helping we can't thank you any more, much love.'

His friend Lucy Law has called for the British police to assist with the investigation and slammed the local efforts.

She said she wants to 'bring him home to his family'.

'That is all that we want, all that we need,' she told the BBC.

On Friday, search and rescue personnel joined officers from the island's Guardia Civil near the village of Masca where they appeared to focus on a specific area of overgrown terrain.

Jay Slater, from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, travelled to the Canary Islands for a musical festival with pal Lucy and another friend last week

Jay is seen in this image shared to his friend Lucy's social media days before he disappeared

A MailOnline graphic detailing the timeline of events from when Jay attended the three-day NRG festival to his location when his phone died at around 8.50am on Monday

Some officers used binoculars to survey the landscape before heading towards the bottom of the hillside.

On Thursday, a helicopter flew over Rural de Teno park in the south of the Spanish island as search teams followed various footpaths in the area.

Footage released by the Guardia Civil on Thursday showed the views from the helicopter as it scoured the hillside.

The video, posted to the force's X account, showed officers searching in bushes and overgrown terrain with dogs.

The walk from Mr Slater's last known location to his accommodation would have taken about 11 hours on foot.

The search area was quiet on Friday, with only a handful of police cars stationed at Rural de Teno park.

Ms Law, who attended the NRG music festival with Mr Slater, said he called her at about 8.30am on Monday and told her he was 'lost in the mountains, he wasn't aware of his surroundings, he desperately needed a drink and his phone was on 1%'.

Sniffer dogs have been deployed in the search for Jay Slater in north-west Tenerife on June 19

The search mission has entered its fifth day. Pictured: Rescuers on June 19

Mr Slater's mother, Debbie Duncan, who flew to Tenerife on Tuesday, said searching for her son was 'an absolute living nightmare'.

Ms Duncan told ITV News: 'He's the life and soul, he's a beautiful boy.'

Mr Slater was last seen wearing a white T-shirt with shorts and trainers and a black bag.

A fundraiser set up by Ms Law to 'get Jay Slater home' has since received more than 23,500 in donations.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesman said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man who has been reported missing in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.'

Today, the search is continuing for the fifth day to find the teenager, 19, who disappeared in Tenerife.

Friends and family members have flown over to the Canary Islands to join in with the search for Jay who has not been seen or heard from since Monday.

His last known location was in the mountainous area of Teno Rural Park, some 10 hours' walk away from his accommodation in the southern part of the island.

A GoFundMe which was set up yesterday has raised 23,723 as of this morning.

Police using a helicopter, sniffer dogs and a drone, as well as mountain rescue units have been scouring countryside close to an Airbnb he went to with two British men.

The isolated farmhouse was an hour's drive from the popular hotspot of Playa des Los Americas in southern Tenerife, in the village of Masca, 19 miles away.

Speaking from the family home in Oswaldtwistle, Jay's stepfather Andy Watson said the teen was reluctant to go on holiday.

He said that Jay's friends had 'talked him into going' and his mother Debbie added he 'wasn't really that keen'.

She told ITV that looking back, she wished she hadn't 'encouraged him'.
Angela Rayner today suggested Jeremy Corbyn could have remained within Labour's ranks if he wasn't running as an independent at the general election.

The 75-year-old, who led Labour between 2015 to 2020, was recently banished from the party after announcing he would stand in Islington North on 4 July.

His decision to run as an independent in the London seat he has represented since 1983 came after he was blocked from standing as an official Labour candidate.

Mr Corbyn had previously lost the Labour whip in Parliament when he said claims of anti-Semitism during his time in charge had been exaggerated by opponents.

But Ms Rayner hinted the veteran left-winger might have been able to remain a party member had he not gone on to stand against Labour in this year's general election.

The Labour deputy leader also admitted Sir Keir Starmer, who replaced Mr Corbyn as party leader, feels 'uncomfortable' with questions about his predecessor.

She said this was because Sir Keir feels 'guilt' over Labour's devastating loss at the 2019 general election, when Mr Corbyn was in charge.

Angela Rayner today suggested Jeremy Corbyn could have remained within Labour's ranks if he wasn't running as an independent at the general election

The Labour deputy leader also admitted Sir Keir Starmer, who replaced Mr Corbyn as party leader, feels 'uncomfortable' with questions about his predecessor

Sir Keir last night squirmed over his past support for Mr Corbyn during a grilling on the BBC's Question Time

Ms Rayner was quizzed about Sir Keir's views after the Labour leader last night ducked questions about his previous claim Mr Corbyn would have been a 'great' PM.

Speaking to ITV's Good Morning Britain, Ms Rayner was asked why Sir Keir feels 'uncomfortable' when reminded of his past support for Mr Corbyn.

'I think the 2019 general election result, we got hammered by the electorate, I'm not going to put it any plainer than that,' the Labour deputy leader replied.

'And we saw the devastation after that when Boris Johnson was elected and I think some of the feedback I got was that Labour didn't offer an alternative.

'That period of time was not good for Labour, we didn't get elected.'

Pressed on why Sir Keir previously backed Mr Corbyn, before distancing himself from his predecessor, Ms Rayner said: 'Keir is very clear that we were fighting for a Labour government, as was I at the time.

'And I think we all saw what happened after 2019 and what happened when Boris Johnson became PM  the parties, the unlawful behaviour, the sleaze, the scandal, the chaos as Liz Truss crashed our economy.

'We all feel a lot of guilt over the fact that we didn't put a programme forward that the electorate would vote for and I think that's why Keir feels uncomfortable.

'We've changed the Labour Party since then because we need a Labour Party that's going to serve the British people.

'Because we've seen what happens when we had the Tory chaos and we take some responsibility for that because we lost the election.'

Asked why she previously said she was 'absolutely gutted' to hear Mr Corbyn had been suspended from Labour, Ms Rayner added: 'Since then we've seen that Jeremy Corbyn hasn't really acted in a way that would have been in keeping with the Labour Party.

'He's now standing against the Labour Party so therefore he's not a member of the Labour Party any more.'

Challenged on what Mr Corbyn had done to see his Labour membership rescinded, Ms Rayner replied: 'He's standing against the Labour Party and he's criticised the Labour Party as we've come forward with a programme that we believe is a programme for government.'

Sir Keir last night squirmed over his past support for Mr Corbyn during a grilling on the BBC's Question Time.

The Labour leader ducked a volley of questions over whether he truly believed Mr Corbyn would have made a 'great' prime minister - as he previously claimed.

Sir Keir was laughed at by the audience as he dodged replying 'yes or no' when asked whether he meant it when he said Mr Corbyn would have been a 'great' premier.

The Labour leader instead suggested his predecessor would have been 'better' than Boris Johnson.

'It wasn't a question that really arose because I didn't think we were going to win the election,' Sir Keir said, when pressed on his claim Mr Corbyn would be a 'great' PM ahead of the 2019 general election.
An explosive new book claims Bryan Kohberger had a single target the night he allegedly murdered four Idaho college students - and that his family had suspected him before his arrest.

Kohberger, 29, was not on a random killing spree, but intended to target only Madison Mogen when he entered the Moscow house in November, 2022, according to journalist Howard Blum's upcoming book - When the Night Comes Falling: A Requiem for the Idaho Student Murders.

Blum told ABC News that officials believe Kohberger was after Mogen because he passed the rooms of two surviving roommates before starting the killing spree that shocked the nation.

'If he was just on a killing spree, it would have been natural, instinctive, to go to one of those doors,' Blum said.

'Instead he goes up this narrow staircase and he turns directly into Maddie's room, and I think Maddie was his target.'

An explosive new book claims Bryan Kohberger had a single target the night he allegedly murdered four Idaho college students

Blum also writes of Kohberger's family members being concerned about his behavior leading up to his arrest.

Kohberger's father Michael was reportedly 'on edge' when he picked the alleged killer up from school after the murders.

'[Michael] has been reading the headlines - he knows that four students were killed 12 miles from his son's house. He knows what a troubled son he has,' Blum said.

When the Night Comes Falling: A Requiem for the Idaho Student Murders will be released on June 25

Blum claims one of Kohberger's own two sisters approached Michael to voice suspicions about her brother but the father ignored her.

'He can't confront it,' Blum told ABC News about the father's reaction at the time.

Meanwhile sources told both Blum and ABC News that the two surviving roommates, Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke, were using their cellphones to communicate during and after the murders.

When the Night Comes Calling: A Requiem for the Idaho Student Murders will be released on June 25.

As DailyMail.com previously reported, Mortensen, 21, allegedly called out to her friends and roommates during the early morning hours of November 13 to quiet down.

'Calm down, you're being loud!' she reportedly yelled around 4am, in addition to 'I'm trying to sleep!'

The college student then closed and locked her door.

After hearing some more loud noises that night, Mortensen opened her door again and saw Kohberger but believed him to be a partygoer.

Kohberger, 29, intended to target only Madison Mogen when he entered the Moscow house in November, 2022, according to journalist Howard Blum's upcoming book

Madison Mogen, 21, top left, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, bottom left, Ethan Chapin, 20, center, and Xana Kernodle, 20, right.

Blum also writes of Kohberger's family members being concerned about his behavior leading up to his arrest

Mortensen told law enforcement she had seen a strange figure dressed in black walking past her toward the back exit of the house just after 4am on the night of the murders.

Authorities determined the four students were killed sometime between 4 and 4.25am. Police would not be called to the off-campus residence for another eight hours.

In December, 2022, Kohberger was arrested in Pennsylvania at his parents' house and charged with the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20.

Both Mortensen and 21-year-old Bethany Funke were home at the time of the killings, but were left unharmed by the murderer.

Speculators of the shocking case wondered why the surviving roommates went eight hours between the time of the murders and when they called police.

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.

Kohberger's father Michael was reportedly 'on edge' when he picked the alleged killer up from school after the murders. They are both pictured during a traffic stop

Mortensen told law enforcement she had seen a strange figure dressed in black walking past her toward the back exit of the house, pictured, just after 4am on the night of the murders

But that could change later this month. 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.

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.

Kohbergers attorneys are also asking for a change of venue. The judge has yet to rule on that request.
Parents of children banned from their secondary school's official end-of-year prom because of poor behaviour or attendance have organised a rival event.

Bodmin College in Cornwall excluded some Year 11 pupils from the prom which is set to involve 160 students who have hit an attendance rate of at least 92 per cent.

But parents of barred pupils were left furious at the decision and set up a so-called 'Rebel Prom' on the same day, with about 150 people expected to attend.

Some claimed their children had been unfairly penalised for trivial reasons such as 'forgetting their PE kit' or because they were ill or acting as a carer for a relative.

But the school insisted the prom was 'a privilege dependent on good attendance and behaviour', with parents and carers warned about this back in March.

Among those banned from the main prom was 16-year-old Mikaela, who said her attendance had dropped because she was suffering from stomach problems and looking after her mother

Megan, 16, who was also uninvited, said: 'I did everything they wanted and I just thought what was the point if they were just going to turn around and say you can't go anyway'

Among those banned from the main prom was 16-year-old Mikaela, who said her attendance had dropped because she was suffering from stomach problems and looking after her mother who was diagnosed with functional neurological disorder.

She told BBC local news programme Spotlight: 'Mum had an email a couple of weeks ago saying I wasn't allowed to go because my attendance had dropped.

'I went in and I was talking to the teacher and I was like 'how can you give someone a prom ticket although I've been poorly and I am a young carer for my mum?''

Another banned student, Fin, claimed the issue had been affecting students' mental health, saying: 'It's just been making everyone like really confused and anxious and worried and stressed out.'

Megan, 16, who was also uninvited, told BBC News: 'I did everything they wanted and I just thought what was the point if they were just going to turn around and say you can't go anyway.'

A banned student, Fin, claimed the issue had been affecting students' mental health, saying: 'It's just been making everyone like really confused and anxious and worried and stressed out'

Parents are organising the Rebel Prom with the youth charity Kick Back Street Kids (KBSK)

Sam, the mother of a banned child, said: 'She got a letter saying that she wasn't invited to the prom. She was helping on the prom committee, she was learning the prom school dance'

And Sam, the mother of a banned child, said: 'She got a letter saying that she wasn't invited to the prom. She was helping on the prom committee, she was learning the prom school dance, we had her dress, everything.'

Sam added that her daughter had 'behaviour points which counted over 10 for things, such as forgetting her equipment, forgetting her PE kit'.

She has joined forces with other parents to organise the Rebel Prom with the youth charity Kick Back Street Kids (KBSK), which helps children from underprivileged families.

Adie Dove from the organisation said: 'It's been incredible to see how the whole community of Bodmin and businesses have come together to support our young people.

'We've been donated balloon arches, prom dresses, food. We've been given a venue by a holiday park, and a band and DJs have offered to play for free.'

Bodmin College in Cornwall insisted the prom was 'a privilege dependent on good attendance and behaviour', with parents and carers warned about this back in March

A crowdfunding campaign for the event was set up by parent Samantha Church on JustGiving with a target of raising 500, but it has now raised 860.

The page states: 'We want to throw an inclusive Prom celebration for the teenagers currently undergoing their GCSEs from Bodmin College.

'They all deserve to be celebrated for their achievements and any money kindly donated will go towards any additional extras that we have not been donated by the community.'

Bodmin College is part of the multi-academy Cornwall Education Learning Trust.

A spokesman for the trust told MailOnline: 'As is usual practice in secondary schools, the school prom is a privilege dependent on good attendance and behaviour.

'The vast majority of our pupils have met these requirements and will be attending the event later this month.

Parents of children banned from their schools official end-of-year prom set up the rival event

'However, there are a small number of pupils whose behaviour or attendance was not in line with the expectations set and therefore will not be permitted to join the occasion.'

The trust said Year 11 pupils, parents and carers were warned about the measures by letter on March 4.

The spokesman added: 'While we understand this may be upsetting for some families, we continue to follow school policies and celebrate the hard work and achievements of pupils who have upheld our high standards and expectations.'

Bodmin College is perhaps most well-known for its team of A-level students who won the first series of the BBC series Robot Wars with 'Roadblock' in 1998.

The school's most recent Ofsted visit in May last year determined that it 'continues to require improvement', having originally been given that status in 2017.

In its most recent inspection in 2021, Ofsted said that some curriculum plans are not ambitious enough and the behaviour policy is inconsistently applied.
A theatregoer has revealed she too ended up in hospital when Sir Ian McKellen tumbled off the stage and landed on her during a performance this week.

Johanna Dart, 30, from Leatherhead in Surrey, had got front row tickets to see Sir Ian in a production of Player Kings at the Noel Coward Theatre on Monday, June 17.

But during a fight scene, the 85-year-old Lord of the Rings actor lost his footing and fell into the front row where Ms Dart was sitting.

Speaking to the BBC today Ms Dart said: 'Getting crushed by Gandalf the Grey, that's something you don't expect'.

She said it was an 'unforgettable encounter,' but not one she necessarily wanted to have with the acting legend who was playing John Falstaff in the production.

Ms Dart was helped to the foyer by two women who could see she was 'in distress', before a doctor saw her condition and came to provide care. She was later taken to hospital with soft tissue injuries.

She told the BBC she 'went into shock at the whole thing' and had been enjoying the production until the scene where Sir Ian fell.

Johanna Dart (pictured) was shocked and in tears after Sir Ian McKellan landed on her after falling off stage during a performance of the Player Kings at the Noel Coward theatre

Ms Dart (pictured) with her leg up as a doctor and staff come to help

Ms Dart said she 'went into shock at the whole thing' when Sir Ian fell on her while she was sat in the front row

Sir Ian McKellen bows at the curtain call during the press night performance of Player Kings - he will no longer feature in the play on the West End as he recovers from his injuries

Recalling the incident, Ms Dart said the actor appeared to 'trip on this bit of prop' that was on the stage, before falling and landing head-first onto her knee.

She said staff rushed to help Sir Ian, who is said to be recovering 'very very well', but felt they did not adequately respond to her injuries or state of shock.

She told the BBC that staff initially 'seemed unsure' of what the health and safety protocol was and did not immediately provide assistance.

While they did eventually come to her aid, Ms Dart said they did not direct any of the paramedics who had arrived to treat Sir Ian to assess her injuries.

She went on to say that staff told her to book her own taxi home, despite being in shock and tears.

Ms Dart travelled home with her brother before her mother, Angela, joined her in a taxi and they went to Epsom Hospital. She went on to spend all night in the hospital's emergency department.

Ticket holders were evacuated from the theatre at about 8pm while paramedics were called and then told the evening show had been cancelled.

Sir Ian - who plays John Falstaff in the play - was circling a battle scene involving the Prince of Wales and Henry Percy, when he tripped and fell off the stage.

As the house lights came up, the actor known for Lord Of The Rings and X-Men cried out in pain as ushers and two medics in the audience rushed to help him.

Charlie Johnson, a journalist for the Kingston Courier who was in the audience, told ITV: 'As we approached the interval of the play, there was a fight scene going on.

There were strobe lights and then it all went dark, at which point you could see the silhouette of Sir Ian come out from the wings. And the way the stage works at the Noel Coward is there's sort of a step down just as the stage meets the audience.

I think what happened was he put his foot too far, sort of went off that initial step, at which point he lost his balance and pretty much just went head first into the audience.

And within seconds a blood-curdling scream arose from the actor. He was clearly in a lot of pain, he was screaming 'help me'.

The 30-year-old spent all night in A&E after getting front row tickets to see the production starring the Lord of the Rings actor

Paramedics arrive at the Noel Coward Theatre after Sir Ian's fall

Sir Ian is seen performing in a scene of Player Kings, which is in the West End until June 22

Ambulances rushed to the West End to help Sir Ian, who is in 'good spirits' and recovering in hospital

Kol Baker, who was watching the show from the second tier, told MailOnline that Sir Ian had been 'berating the villain and moving around' during the scene when he 'tripped over' some props and fell off the stage 'in almost a belly flop fashion'.

'Instantly he screamed and honestly the noises were bone-chilling,' the 23-year-old added - as he recalled Sir Ian yelling 'help me, help me' followed by 'my arms, my arms' and 'help me, help me' again.

'The lights were on so quickly the curtains drawn and within seconds they asked to evacuate the whole auditorium. Whilst leaving the theatre within ten minutes he was in the back of an ambulance speeding down Trafalgar Square.'

Describing what caused the actor to fall, he explained: 'The scene in question was a warzone so there was broken up bricks and daggers from the battle and the set which was all torn up for that scene.'

He said there was 'so much concern and shock for Sir Ian', adding: 'Everyone I think is just such huge fans of his work and just really empathetic and almost terrified that it could be life-threatening because of his age.'

Mr Baker said that Sir Ian had been 'performing amazingly with great vigour' before he fell.

When asked how the audience reacted, the theatregoer added: 'Instantly people were standing up, the first two rows completely went to rush to go help Sir Ian and everyone was explaining 'oh my god' and 'that poor man'.

It was announced on Thursday that Sir Ian would not be performing again in London while he has physiotherapy and recuperates.

Understudy David Semark, 52, is taking his place as Falstaff.

Following his performance on Thursday evening, Semark said that Sir Ian had called him to let him know he would be playing the role.

Semark said: 'The wonderful Sir Ian McKellen called me to tell me what was going on, which was amazing, and [he] has been incredibly supportive throughout the rehearsals.

Pictured is an interior shot of the theatre showing the stage Sir Ian fell from

London ambulances are seen rushing to the scene following the shock fall in the West End

Sir Ian pictured above in his role as Gandalf in The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers

Richard Coyle, Sir Ian McKellen and Toheeb Jimoh bow at the curtain call during the press night performance of 'Player Kings' at the Noel Coward theatre on April 11, 2024 in London

Sir Ian McKellen is pictured above in his role as Falstaff in 'Player Kings', based on Shakespeare's Henry IV

'The first person I heard it from was Sir Ian. We then had a discussion about the role. I have worked alongside him for months, so we get on, he's a friend.'

He continued: 'Obviously my first thought is for my friend, and the wonderful human being that is Sir Ian McKellen. He called me to tell me what was going on, which was amazing, and has been incredibly supportive throughout the rehearsals.

'I definitely couldn't have had the courage to go on there tonight if I didn't feel that he was behind me with me.

'But I am holding a place open for Sir Ian. I walk in the shadow of greatness...

'I've stolen 90% of what he does in that show shamelessly and tried to make it my own. It's been an incredibly stressful couple of days.'

Asked how Sir Ian was doing following the fall, Semark replied: 'He's doing very very well.'

A post to the Player Kings account on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday said: 'David Semark will be playing the role of Sir John Falstaff for the final three scheduled performances of Player Kings at the Noel Coward Theatre in London while Ian McKellen recuperates following his fall on Monday 17 June.'

It added: 'We look forward to Ian returning to the production, which begins a national tour in Bristol on Wednesday 3 July, before visiting Birmingham, Norwich and Newcastle.'
Russia's armed forces suffered a new blow today when its air defences shot down one of its own military helicopters near the war zone.

The latest friendly fire nightmare resulted in the death of all four crew members, it was reported.

The 19 million Ka-29 assault helicopter was on duty hunting for Ukrainian kamikaze sea drones near Black Sea resort Anapa this morning when it was hit by a Russian Pantsir medium-range surface-to-air missile in an incident of mistaken targeting.

The Russian defence ministry did not immediately admit to the loss - the latest of many friendly fire incidents - but it was reported by a slew of reliable Russian pro-war channels.

A new blow for Vladimir Putin as a Russian Ka-29 military helicopter is shot down by its own side near Anapa, killing the crew of four.

A Ka-29 chopper was downed by an air defence system whose friend or foe system malfunctioned

The 19 million Ka-29 assault helicopter was on duty hunting for Ukrainian kamikaze sea drones near Black Sea resort Anapa

The Russians blamed the blunder on a malfunction of the 'friend or foe' identification system.

It came after Vladimir Putin's choppers eliminated a contingent of seaborne attack drones launched by Ukraine in the early hours of the morning in an attempt to hit Moscow's warships in the Black Sea.

Helicopters are seen as the most effective means to attack Ukraine's increasingly sophisticated sea drones which have caused devastating damage to Putin's naval assets during the war.

More than 110 aerial drones were also fired at Russia overnight and though most were downed, some caused fires at several Russian oil depots.

Kyiv's drone forces attacked a Russian fuel and lubricants train in the Tambov region, and the Enemskaya oil depot in Adygea region, according to Ukrainian sources.

At least five explosions were recorded in the area of the Enemskaya oil depot, after which a fire started, said the Ukrainian general staff.

Drones also attacked oil refineries in Afipsky and Ilsky, oil refineries in Krasnodar and Astrakhan regions.

Russian radar and electronic intelligence centres were hit in the Bryansk region, and in occupied Crimea.

They also hit a storage and preparation site for Iranian-supplied Shahed attack drones.
Former President Donald Trump pledged to release all the assassination files on President John F. Kennedy should he be reelected in November.

'This time I'm just going to do it,' Trump promised during a taping of an episode of the All-In podcast, which was released Thursday.

The former president and presumptive Republican nominee was asked by co-host Chamath Palihapitiya what was in the JFK files that Trump didn't release publicly during his first term.

The former president said he was encouraged to keep some of the information on the Kennedy assassination secret - and then made a bold claim regarding who was responsible for any cover-up.

'Well, this wasn't CIA that asked me, but I think CIA was probably behind it,' Trump said. 'They wouldn't preferred that I not release the rest of it.'

Former President Donald Trump pledged to release all the assassination files on President John F. Kennedy should he be reelected in November

President John F. Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy in Dallas just moments before he was assassinated on November 22, 1963

Former President Donald Trump participated in the taping of the All-In podcast, which was released Thursday

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who's running against Trump and President Joe Biden as an independent presidential candidate, has pushed that the CIA was involved in the assassination of his uncle.

Trump was asked by the podcasters about RFK Jr.'s claims when bringing up the CIA.

As president, Trump pledged to release the Kennedy files but announced in April 2018 that the public must wait several more years because the potential harm to national security, law enforcement or foreign affairs is 'of such gravity that it outweights the public interest in immediate disclosure.'

Some 19,000 records were released by the National Archives that same month.

'I actually did do it. I released a lot, as you know, but when it came to the whole thing, I was hit by some people that work for me, who are great people that you would respect. They asked me not to do it,' Trump recalled.

'And I'm saying, "Why? Tell my why?" and they said, "Sir, I think it needs a little more time,"' the ex-president continued.

'And I released a lot, but I said, if they feel so strongly, I respect the people, and would have done that again,' he said.

He then promised, if reelected, he'd release the rest of the Kennedy files.

'It's going to be done early on,' he added. 'A lot of people want to see that and whatever it may say - I won't say it, I have an idea - but whatever it is it will be very interesting for people to see and we're going to have to learn from it.'

As the podcasters started to change the subject, Trump interjected: 'There are other things we're going to release too.'

'We'll talk to you about it off-camera,' he teased.
Nigel Farage faced fury tonight as he suggested the West was to blame for Russia invading Ukraine.

The Reform UK leader made the extraordinary claim that NATO and the EU 'provoked' Vladimir Putin in an interview for the BBC's Panorama election specials.

Grilled by presenter Nick Robinson, Mr Farage insisted the eastward 'expansion' of the Western alliance and political bloc had 'given a reason' for the Russian president to attack.

Mr Farage also spoke of his 'admiration' for Putin as a 'political operator - while blustering that he was not 'echoing' his propaganda and stressing that he 'disliked him as a person'.

The dramatic intervention was condemned by senior military figures, who accused the ex-MEP of 'playing directly into Putin's hands'. Former defence secretary Ben Wallace said he was voicing 'sympathy' for a dictator who 'deployed nerve agents on the streets of Britain'.

The stance creates a clear divide between Mr Farage's party and the Tories over the conflict and how to handle the rising threat from states like Russia and China.

Rishi Sunak - who is scrambling to stop the insurgents splitting the right-wing vote on July 4 and gifting Keir Starmer the keys to No10 - recently helped negotiate a new 39billion international package boosting Ukraine's efforts to counter Russian aggression.

Boris Johnson and Liz Truss also staunchly supported Volodymyr Zelensky with weaponry and other aid.

Mr Farage claimed earlier this month that Ukraine will eventually have to seek a peace deal with Russia - but his latest comments on Panorama, being broadcast in full at 7pm this evening, go further.

Nigel Farage was the latest party leader to be interviewed for the BBC's Panorama election specials today

The dramatic intervention creates a clear divide between Mr Farage's party and the Tories over how to handle the rising threat from states like Russia and China

Rishi Sunak recently helped negotiate a new international 39billion package to help Ukraine fight invading Russian forces (pictured with Volodymyr Zelensky at the G7 last week)

Vladimir Putin (pictured on a visit to Vietnam this week) launched a renewed offensive in Ukraine in February 2022

In the Panorama interview, Mr Farage was challenged by Robinson that in February 2022, as the latest intense phase of the invasion began, he posted on social media that 'it was a consequence of EU and NATO expansion'.

Mr Farage replied: 'I stood up in the European Parliament in 2014 and I said, and I quote, ''there will be a war in Ukraine''.

'Why did I say that? it was obvious to me that the ever-eastward expansion of NATO and the European Union was giving this man a reason to his Russian people to say, ''They're coming for us again'', and to go to war.'

Pressed on whether he stood by that assessment, Mr Farage said 'we provoked this war'.

'It's  you know, of course it's his fault, he's used what we've done as an excuse,' he said.

Braced again on whether he believed the West had 'provoked' the invasion, Mr Farage said: 'Yes, and very interestingly, once again, 10 years ago when I predicted this  by the way, I'm the only person in British politics that predicted what would happen - and of course everyone said I was a pariah for daring to suggest it.'

He added: 'My judgement has been way ahead of everybody else's in understanding this.'

Mr Farage denied that he was 'echoing' Putin's rhetoric about Russia being threatened by the West, claiming he had 'been saying this actually since the 1990s, ever since, before the war'.

Former Army intelligence officer Colonel Philip Ingram branded Mr Farage a danger to UK security.

Mr Ingram, a respected commentator on the conflict in Ukraine, told the Mail: 'The West in no way provoked Russia into attacking Ukraine and suggesting so plays directly into Putin's hands.

'Putin will be smiling to himself seeing his work being done. Farage is a convenient mouthpiece for disinformation and a danger to our security with views like that.

'Farage's comments make the world a more dangerous place as they give succour to Putin. We must robustly defend sovereign nations.'

Mr Wallace told the Mail that Mr Farage had, once again, revealed his inclination to align with Russian interests.

He said: Farage constantly lectures everyone about soveriegnty but is happy to placate a dictator.

He too often shows an unhealty relationship with the Kremlins talking points.

Farage refuses to see Putin for what he is. How can Farage express sympathy or admiration for a man who deployed nerve agents on the streets of Britain?

He is more Chamberlain than Churchill.

Mr Farage claimed earlier this month that Ukraine will eventually have to seek a peace deal with Russia

Speaking as Reform outlined its defence plans earlier this month, he said negotiations with the Kremlin  which could lead to the partitioning of Ukraine  were inevitable.

Asked if Reform backed the idea of continuing to fund Ukraine's efforts, Mr Farage said: 'We would go on sending money to them but I think both sides need to be told that at some point wars either end in negotiation or catastrophe, and this one looks like going on for many, many, many years  and at an horrendous cost of life.

'At some point there have to be face-to-face talks.

'I'm not suggesting that it'll happen quickly, but at some point that's what we'd like to see.'

Pressed on whether that would mean Ukraine having to give up land, he appeared not to rule it out, adding: 'The tough negotiation has to be over Crimea. That is clearly going to be very tough.'

Mr Farage predicted that if Donald Trump was re-elected US president this year then Ukraine premier Volodymyr Zelensky could soon be forced around the table with Vladimir Putin.

The Panorama Interviews with Nick Robinson is on BBC One at 7pm and BBC iPlayer.
A firebrand Republican candidate has delivered a crude critique of slavery reparations in her campaign to become Missouri's secretary of state.

Valentina Gomez, a 25-year-old property investor, in a video tweet slammed Juneteenth, Black Lives Matter (BLM), and plans to compensate the descendants of victims of slavery.

The gun-toting MAGA candidate, who in a stunt last month told voters to not be 'weak and gay,' is on the ballot in the August 6 GOP primary to choose the candidate for secretary of state.

Her comments come in a divisive election season, in which politics around race, gender and sexual identities have become front-burner issues  and for some candidates, a vote-winner.

'Reparations from slavery and black victimization is about to be shoved down our throats for the most wretched holiday in America,' Gomez said in this week's viral X video.

Those who don't like living in the 'greatest nation' can 'get the f**k out,' says firebrand Gomez

The 25-year-old again ended her video with a photo of herself armed and wearing combat gear

'BLM raised millions. And what did they do for black lives?'

Gomez, a native of Colombia who vocally supports former president Donald Trump, slammed those seeking payouts for the historic sins of slavery, segregation, and Jim Crow.

Poll Do you support a federal reparation policy directed at the descendants of slaves? Yes No Not sure Do you support a federal reparation policy directed at the descendants of slaves? Yes 559 votes

No 17652 votes

Not sure 172 votes Now share your opinion





'It is outrageous to see people asking for reparations, even though they never went through slavery,' she said.

'These ungrateful people should be celebrating because they were born in the greatest nation to ever exist.'

She concluded with a foul-mouthed 'tip' for those pushing the racial justice agenda.

'If you don't like America, kindly, get the f**k out.'

The clip then cuts to a photo of Gomez holding a rifle  a common sight on her social media feeds.

Gomez is running for Missouri secretary of state as a Republican. As the state is heavily red, it's likely that the winner of the Republican primary will prevail in the general election

The incumbent, Republican Jay Ashcroft, is running for Missouri governor, leaving the seat open.

Gomez has attracted far more attention than her competitors simply for her controversial stances and provocative videos.

One showed her jogging through the mostly LGBTQ neighborhood of Soulard in St. Louis in May, wearing a bulletproof vest and telling voters to not be 'weak and gay.'

In February she shared footage of herself setting two LGBTQ-themed books on fire, characterizing the texts as 'grooming, indoctrinating and sexualizing'.

'When I'm Secretary of State, I will BURN all books that are grooming, indoctrinating, and sexualizing our children. MAGA. America First,' she wrote on X .

After Instagram removed the video, Gomez told HuffPost she was: 'Just like President Trump,' adding: 'I am one of the most suppressed voices on Instagram.'

Gomez has previously said 'don't be gay,' when referencing 'countries that ban rifles, guns or even flamethrowers,' as reported by radio station WCPT.

Her social media bio reads: 'Jesus is King. MAGA. America First.'

She opposes vaccine mandates and the 'transgender agenda.'

Gomez recently attacked Dylan Mulvaney, who spoke at a Missouri Jesuit college. She called Mulvaney 'a dude' with 'a penis'

Gomez has garnered a reputation for wading into conservative culture war issues

Gomez took a flamethrower to 'grooming, indoctrinating and sexualizing' books in a viral video shared as part of her campaign

Gomez has also expressed admiration for Andrew Tate, who is accused of human trafficking in Romania.

She worked until recently in finance at Nestle Purina.

Viewers quickly went to work responding to her latest campaign video, posted June 18, with many calling her 'fraudulent' and 'cosplaying a military veteran.'

Others noted her strong Colombian accent and questioned her immigration status.

Gomez has attracted far more attention than her counterparts simply for her controversial stances and provocative videos

There were also many replies supporting her for being 'awesome' and a 'patriot.'

Gomez has garnered a reputation for wading into conservative culture war issues

She recently attacked Dylan Mulvaney, who spoke at a Missouri Jesuit college. She called Mulvaney 'a dude' with 'a penis.'

Since the secretary of state serves as the chief elections official in Missouri, Gomez has floated plans to revamp the voting system.

She says the 2020 election was stolen from Trump, which may inform her plan to 'remove electronic voting machines to successfully transition towards universal paper ballot hand counting,' per her campaign website.

She also supports deploying the National Guard to monitor polling places in Missouri.

The reparations movement she bashes gathered momentum across the US amid the race protests over the police killing of George Floyd in 2020, but progress has stalled more recently.

Advocates say it's time for America to repay its black residents for the injustices of the historic Transatlantic slave trade, Jim Crow segregation and inequalities that persist to this day.

Critics say payouts to selected black people will inevitably stoke divisions between winners and losers, and raise questions about why American Indians and others don't get their own handouts.

They're popular among the black people who stand to benefit from them, but unpopular among the whites, Asians, and others who would foot the tax bill without themselves benefiting.
A pair of porch pirates raced to the front door of a home in Pennsylvania to battle over an expensive package just seconds after a FedEx driver dropped it off.

The men seemed to be following the delivery man along a quiet residential road when they bolted for the porch.

The incident was caught on a doorbell camera and the owner of the home shared the clip on Facebook.

In the video, the two porch pirates are seen sprinting to pick up the AT&T package and begin to wrestle over it.

But one of the men starts swinging a weapon at the other and runs away with the expensive item.

A pair of porch pirates raced to a house in Pennsylvania and fought over a package just seconds after a FedEx driver dropped it off

The unassuming delivery driver is seen leaving his van and walking up to a property with a package as a white car is seen trailing behind.

He drops the item at the doorstep and the two porch pirates are seen getting out of their cars and racing to the doorstep.

One of the men shouts: 'Yo,' before they begin to wrestle over the package and the thief in the grey tracksuit brandishes a weapon he uses to swipe at the other.

He eventually wins the battle and picks up the package and takes off as the other man picks up an empty plant pot and chases him.

They begin shouting at each other before they get into their separate cars and drive away in the same direction.

The owner of the property Kevin Lara shared the clip on Facebook and expressed his shock.

'Just had a very expensive package stolen as soon as it got delivered from AT&T. Poor FedEx driver looks scared,' he wrote.

The men seemed to be following the delivery man along a quiet residential road when they struck

He drops the item at the doorstep and the two porch pirates are seen getting out of their cars and racing to the doorstep

One of the men shouts: 'Yo,' before they begin to wrestle over the package and the thief in the grey tracksuit brandishes a weapon he uses to swipe at the other

'Not really worried about the phones but what if this guy would have hurt one of my family members. Is this really what the world has come to?'

He also questioned how the men knew the package was worth a lot of money.

'Also how did they find out these phones were being delivered. Something fishy is going on here,' Lara added.

It is not clear how long the porch pirates were following the delivery driver or how they knew which package to target.

DailyMail.com has contacted the Reading Police Department and FedEx for comment.
Newly named Washington Post editor Robert Winnett will not be taking over the newsroom amid leadership turmoil at the Jeff Bezos-owned news organization.

The Post's CEO and publisher, Will Lewis, announced Winnett's decision to remain in England in a note to staff on Friday morning.

'It is with regret that I share with you that Robert Winnett has withdrawn from the position of Editor at The Washington Post,' the embattled publisher told staff, as reported by CNN.

Winnett will stay as deputy editor of the Telegraph in London.

The search for a new editor will begin immediately, Lewis told the staff.

Newly named Washington Post editor Robert Winnett will not be taking over the newsroom amid leadership turmoil at the Jeff Bezos-owned news organization

Since then, several published reports had raised questions about the journalistic ethics of Lewis and Winnett stemming from their work in England.

Both men worked together in a series of scoops about extravagant spending by British politicians fueled by information that they paid a data information company for  a practice frowned upon by American journalists.

The Post itself published a 3,000-word expose revealing Winnet had used materials from a self-described 'thief' of reporting.

The New York Times then wrote that both Winnett and Lewis were involved in stories that appeared to be based on fraudulently-obtained phone and business records.

It sparked a newsroom revolt at The Post.

David Maraniss, a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner who has worked at the newspaper for four decades, said this week that he didnt know anyone there who thought the situation with the publisher and 'supposed new editor' could stand.

'The body is rejecting the transfusion,' Maraniss wrote on Facebook.

The Post's CEO and publisher, Will Lewis, announced Winnett's decision to remain in England in a note to staff on Friday morning

Sally Buzbee was the first female editor of the Washington Post in its 150-year history

In his Facebook note, Maraniss said that the issue for staff members is integrity, not resistance to change. To that end, it remains to be seen whether Lewis can gain staff support.

The financially struggling Post had announced Winnett would take over as editor of the core newsroom functions after Novembers presidential election, while it was also setting up a 'third newsroom' devoted to finding new ways for its journalism to make money.

Three weeks ago, then-executive editor Sally Buzbee said that she would quit rather than take a demotion to head this revenue-enhancement effort. Former Wall Street Journal editor Matt Murray was brought on as her interim replacement and future leader of the 'third newsroom.'

Buzzbee, the first woman editor of the Washington Post in its 150-year history, has stepped down after recording a $77 million loss last year.

She left the role after the news organization recorded a $77 million last year

Lewis, a former Wall Street Journal publisher and vice chairman of The Associated Press board of directors, started at The Post earlier this year, hired by billionaire owner Bezos to stem a costly exodus of readers

The 58-year-old was appointed in May 2021.

Lewis, a former Wall Street Journal publisher and vice chairman of The Associated Press board of directors, started at The Post earlier this year, hired by billionaire owner Bezos to stem a costly exodus of readers.

In a memo to key staff members earlier this week, Bezos assured them that journalistic standards and ethics at the newspaper would not change.

'I know youve already heard this from Will, but I wanted to also weigh in directly,' he wrote.

'To be sure, it cant be business as usual at The Post,' Bezos wrote. 'The world is evolving rapidly and we do need to change as a business.'

Lewis said Friday that the recruitment firm and process for replacing Winnett will be announced soon.

Winnetts sudden hiring  without any indication of an extensive search  had also rankled staff members.

But Lewis also said that the reorganization efforts would continue.
Their son made the ultimate sacrifice saving Noa Argamani and three other hostages from Hamas in a daring rescue mission that has been named in his honour.

Now the parents of fallen special forces hero Arnon Zmora, 36, have told Noa's father that she must 'live every day like it's the last day on Earth'.

Reuven and Ruthi Zmora said goodbye to their son in hospital as families were reunited with the four rescued hostages just a few wards away.

But they say the father-of-two would have gone into Gaza even if he had known he was going to die in Operation Arnon on June 8.

The 36-year-old commander in the Yamam counter-terror police was shot in the head as he stormed the apartment holding Almog Meir Jan, 21, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 40.

The parents of fallen special forces hero Arnon Zmora, 36, have told Noa's father that she must 'live every day like it's the last day on Earth' (Noa pictured)

Arnon Zamora, an officer of the elite Yamam counter-terrorism unit, was fatally wounded in the operation to free Noa Argamani and three other hostages in Gaza earlier this month

Footage from the raid showed intense gun battles is the elite IDF unit stalked through Hamas controlled territory

The parents of fallen special forces hero Arnon Zmora, 36, have told Noa's father that she must 'live every day like it's the last day on Earth'

Noa Argamani is reunited with her father following the audacious rescue of four Israeli hostages in Operation Arnon

After 245 days in captivity, Noa Argamani was rescued in an IDF raid that also freed three male captives. She is seen here hugging her father after they were reunited on Saturday

Comrades battled to save Arnon for three hours as they evacuated the men alongside 26-year-old Noa, who was rescued from a flat 200 metres away.

A fierce firefight erupted as the vehicles got stuck and Israeli air support was called in which created a 'ring of fire' around the special forces.

While the Gaza health ministry claims hundreds died as the air force fought off Hamas terrorists firing RPGs, Yamam managed to get all the hostages and Arnon out.

But despite undergoing a blood transfusion on the way back to Israeli soil the commander died at Sheba Hospital, near Tel Aviv, later that day.

'There are no words,' his 62-year-old mother, Ruthi, a primary school teacher, told the Mail from their home in Central Israel.

'I don't think that we really understand that he won't come back. It's something that you can't imagine or understand in your heart.

'We knew the dangers - this was his life choice - but it's really painful to think that I won't see Arnon again.'

The family held an open funeral the following day in Jerusalem which was attended by relatives of those he saved and thousands of Israelis.

Arnon's widow, Michal, 36, broke down in tears as she gave a heartwrenching eulogy telling how she lost her companion and a great father to their sons aged four and eight. He also leaves behind sisters Einav, 39, Nitzan, 32, and brother Yonatan, 34.

Noa has been reunited with her mother Liora Argamani (right), who has stage four brain cancer

Noa is pictured embracing Ditza Or, the mother of her boyfriend Avinatan Or, who was also taken hostage by Hamas on October 7

The Israeli troops got embroiled in a lengthy firefight to get out of Gaza with the hostages

Helmet cam footage from the raid in Gaza shows Israeli forces searching for hostages

Aviram Meir, whose nephew, Almog, was rescued, also gave an emotional speech where he said a 'covenant' had been formed between the two families who are now 'bonded in blood'.

'The whole country has taken it very hard because Arnon really gave up his life knowingly to save hostages,' his father Reuven, 63, a hippotherapist, said.

'People we have never met said to me they came to find out who is the family who raised this boy, to say thank you, and to say sorry for our loss.'

Among those to pass on their condolences since the rescue was Noa's father, Yaakov, 69, who visited them after the funeral. Despite their own loss, Ruthi said they were 'thrilled for him'.

'I told him that I'm very glad that Noa came back  and I hope she will live a full life, build a home and live every day like it's the last day,' she said.

It is a message she says she wants all those saved by her son to take on. 'This is the most important thing for us, that they really live their lives,' Ruthi said.

'Because this is the meaning of our loss. It was their life that motivated Arnon that day.'

The contrasting emotions between the jubilation that four hostages had been saved and the loss of Arnon have made it difficult for the parents to process.

'During the rescue mission, Arnon was lying in the truck injured,' Reuven said.

'In the same truck were three of the hostages that had been released. In that small space in the truck there was tremendous happiness and sadness.'

This continued at Sheba Medical Centre, where families arrived 'in happiness' to be reunited with the four hostages before the parents came 'in sadness' to say their goodbyes.

'There was an air of happiness side by side with sadness,' Reuven said.

Noa Argamani speaks on the phone with Israeli president Isaac Herzog

Special forces made up of undercover operatives of Yamam and Shin Bet surround one of two heavily guarded buildings in Al Nuseirat, Gaza

Almog Meir Jan, 21, kidnapped from Israel in a Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023, raises his hands after arriving by helicopter to the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel, Saturday, June 8, 2024

People wave Israeli flags to helicopter carrying hostages who were kidnapped in a Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023, and were just rescued as its lands at the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel, Saturday, June 8, 2024

It appears his son, who completed a childhood dream to join the elite Yamam police unit eight years ago, knew his last mission would be one of his most dangerous.

He would confide in his father about operations and told him a month earlier that they were training for a high-risk hostage rescue  though did not disclose the names.

But, having said he had a 'good feeling we will succeed in bringing them home', Arnon gave his younger brother Yonatan, 34, his watch a week before the mission.

He told him: 'Take the watch, wear it on your right hand, in a few days I'll take it back.' Tragically, he never did.

'He knew the rescue would come at a cost,' Reuven said. 'Arno said rescuing a hostage is the most ethical and valuable action there is,' his mother added.

Since their son's death, every member of the huge rescue mission has come to pay their respects  from the fighter pilots and Yamam comrades to the doctors and medical staff.

They told how they fought to save him and nearly succeeded despite Arnon taking a bullet in the head.

'Everybody did everything they could,' Reuven said. 'They couldn't accept the thought that in this really heroic operation, Arnon wouldn't survive.'

The parents have also since found a note their son made explaining why he fights in a memorial book for a fellow member of Yamam who fell on October 7.

'I think the main reason that I chose this journey is my inability to stand on the sidelines when I witness bullying,' he wrote.

'At the end of the road when I look in the mirror and ask myself what did I do with the time given to me? Did I live for me alone, or for something much bigger than me?'

'He didn't know who he was going in to save, neither was it pertinent to him,' Ruthi said, referring to his last mission. 'Every hostage was precious.'

Reuven agrees and says of his son dying for others: 'He would do it again in the blink of an eye.'

Arnon had fought in October 7 and saved many people from towns near Gaza - something he 'couldn't forget' and 'carried with him' when training for his last mission.

For both his parents, while they are honoured that the historic rescue was named in their son's honour they hope that Israelis will learn deeper lessons from his life.

'We don't just want Arnon's legacy to be a name of mission,' Reuven said. 'We want people to be like Arnon'.

'Arnon hated violence or bullies and he didn't go there to kill anyone - but to save lives.'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rounded on liberal activists in an interview published Friday, saying he was shocked by the number of young Americans who said they backed Hamas and ridiculing the 'Gays for Gaza' movement.

'The people who protest with these killers  You have Gays for Gaza,' he said.

'That's an absurdity if I've ever heard one. If you are gay in Gaza, you'll be shot in the back of the head.

'Women for Gaza. What are women in Gaza  they're chattel and other such absurdities.'

Gay sex is banned in Gaza, punishable by up to 10 years in prison under an old British-era law.

'The people who protest with these killers  You have Gays for Gaza,' said Benjamin Netanyahu. 'That's an absurdity ... If you are gay in Gaza, you'll be shot in the back of the head.'

Recently discovered Hamas documents revealed that a top commander was executed with three bullets to the chest in 2016 for the crime of being gay.

Netanyahu made his remarks at a time of particularly high tension with the Biden administration, which he accuses of slowing deliveries of vital weapons.

With one eye on November's election, President Joe Biden is under intense pressure from the left of his own party to do more to protect Palestinian civilians and take a tougher line on Netanyahu.

The Israeli prime minister is due to bring his case to Congress on July 24.

In the meantime, he warned against letting pro-Hamas activists dominate the debate in America.

'I'm an Israeli patriot, and I speak on behalf of the Israeli people,' he told Punchbowl News.

'I'm happy to see that in one poll after another when Americans are asked who do they support in this world? 80% percent say Israel and 20% say Hamas. 20% supporting Hamas is still an incredible number.

'Who are they supporting  these murderers, these rapists of women, the beheaders of babies, the burning of innocent civilians, the taking of hostages, including Holocaust survivors.

'Well, it may not be that surprising because 20%, more or less, say that Bin Laden was right and America was wrong. So there's obviously an issue that affects parts of American society that challenges not Israel but challenges America.'

The Israeli prime minister also doubled down on his public criticism of the Biden administration in an interview with Punchbowl News

One in five young Americans have a positive view of Osama Bin Laden and three in 10 believe the views of the terrorist leader who slaughtered thousands of innocent people were a 'force for good', according to disturbing results of a DailyMail.com poll

A December poll by J.L. Partners for DailyMail.com found that one in five young Americans had a positive view of the 9/11 mastermind and Al Qaeda founder.

Earlier this week Netanyahu went public with his criticism of Washington. He said it was 'inconceivable' that the administration had held up weapons deliveries.

It triggered anger among White House officials, who canceled a planned meeting, and said the Israeli leader had simply got it wrong.

Netanyahu used the interview to say that he was grateful for U.S. aid but that the only way to avoid a full-scale war with Hezbollah, the armed Islamist movement camped along Israel's northern border with Lebanon, was to resume all weapons shipments.

'President Biden came here, he sent two carrier groups and he gave us valuable assistance and ammunition and weapons from the beginning of the war,' he said.

'I appreciate that and I remain appreciative.'

But he added that 'many, many quiet conversations between our officials and American officials' had not solved delays or eased bottlenecks.

A ball of fire and black smoke rises moments after an Israeli air strike targeted a residential building in the city of Bureij in the central Gaza Strip on June 3, 2024

Relatives and supporters of Israelis taken hostage by Palestinian militants in Gaza in the October 7 attacks, demonstrate calling for their release in the central city of Tel Aviv on June 8, 2024

Biden is under pressure from his own supporters to rein in the Israeli offensive in Gaza

'I felt that airing it was absolutely necessary after months of quiet conversations that did not solve the problem,' he said.

Although Biden has delayed the delivery of some heavy bombs amid worries about civilian casualties, officials have gone out of their way not to accuse Israel of overstepping any red lines during its assault on Rafah, in southern Gaza.

There has been no let up in fighting after eight months of war, triggered by the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7.

Netanyahu insisted again that he could end the war faster if he had the right tools for the job.

'I don't know what's causing it,' he said.

'But I'm aware that there has been a great slowdown in the provision of the important ammunition and weapons.

'I'm not talking about F-35s or F-16s that are years down the line. I'm talking about what is necessary now to both win the war in Gaza quickly and avoid a war in Lebanon that, in the absence of such a correction, the risks of it breaking out are increasing.'
The owner of a remote Airbnb where missing teenager Jay Slater spent his final hours has revealed she saw the youngster 'walking normally' only hours before he vanished.

Mr Slater, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, disappeared after an attempt to walk back to his accommodation after missing a bus.

The 19-year-old has been unaccounted for ever since Monday morning, with his last phone call being to his friend Lucy Law, 18, at around 8am and his last phone signal being traced to a vast mountainous region around half a mile north of Masca.

Ophelia, the owner of holiday rental, Casa Abuela Tina - where Mr Slater is understood to have stayed with two acquaintances - voiced her worries about the teen after spotting him walking alone down the hills on Monday.

She said: 'It's dangerous walking around here, it's easy to lose yourself. He walked up the road when I saw him for the last time.

Apprentice bricklayer Jay Slater, 19, pictured here with his mother Debbie Duncan, was last heard from on Monday at 8.50am

The owner of a remote Airbnb Casa Abuela Tina (pictured) - where missing teenager Jay Slater spent his final hours has revealed she saw the youngster 'walking normally' only hours before he vanished

'He was alone. He was walking normally, though he was fast.'

Ophelia shared that Jay has also asked about catching the bus from the area before making the journey on foot - which was the only route.

She aired her concerns about the teenager, but in the height of the media frenzy she stated: 'We are not to blame.'

The property, which is listed online as a holiday home, is believed to have been rented by two men Jay was with the night before whilst attending the NRG festival.

It is believed the main area of focus in the search for Mr Slater has been around the Parque Rural de Teno, with his family and mother Debbie, have flying out to the Spanish island to assist officers.

The Civil Guard confirmed to the Manchester Evening News on Friday there had been 'no developments' in the search for the 19-year-old.

His friend Lucy Law, 18, recently blasted the local Spanish police for 'not doing a good enough job' in finding the missing Brit.

Ophelia shared that Jay has also asked about catching the bus from the area before making the journey on foot - which was the only route

Ophelia shared that Jay has also asked about catching the bus from the area before making the journey on foot - which was the only route (pictured: Casa Abuela Tina)

In its Airbnb listing Casa Abuela Tina is described as being a farmhouse within the 'unique natural landscape' surrounding it

It is known that Jay sent pictures of himself inside the house and from outside on Snapchat to his mum and friends

Search teams paid close attention to a river called Barranco Madre del Agua at the bottom of a ravine today, where personnel with sticks carefully searched through fallen dead palm trees.

'We are having to do this all by ourselves as Spanish police are not doing a good enough job. They don't even speak English. It's been a very slow process here so we need the British police to come out and help them,' she told The Times.

In a post on the Facebook page 'Jay Slater Missing', the administrator of the group Rachel Louise Harg said family and friends of Mr Slater were in a 'living nightmare'.

She said: 'There isn't an update for anyone unfortunately.

'Struggling to find words at this time but all I can say is we are looking still and everyone is doing all they can.

'We are drained beyond words - I just can't say no more, I wish I could.

'I wish this would end now, this living nightmare.

'Searches are ongoing and we remain positive.

'Thanks to you all supporting and helping we can't thank you any more, much love.'

Mr Slater's mother, Debbie Duncan, who flew to Tenerife on Tuesday, said searching for her son was 'an absolute living nightmare'

His friend Lucy Law has called for the British police to assist with the investigation

June Duncan, grandmother of missing person Jay Slater, spoke of fears for her grandson

A police officer overlooks the village of Masca, Tenerife, as the search continues on June 21

Emergency workers near the village of Masca, Tenerife as the search enters day five

Rescue teams confer as they continue to search for Jay on June 21

Emergency workers near the village of Masca, Tenerife on June 21

Museo is the last known location of apprentice bricklayer Jay Slater

His friend Lucy Law has called for the British police to assist with the investigation and slammed the local efforts.

She said she wants to 'bring him home to his family'.

'That is all that we want, all that we need,' she told the BBC.

On Friday, search and rescue personnel joined officers from the island's Guardia Civil near the village of Masca where they appeared to focus on a specific area of overgrown terrain.

Some officers used binoculars to survey the landscape before heading towards the bottom of the hillside.

On Thursday, a helicopter flew over Rural de Teno park in the south of the Spanish island as search teams followed various footpaths in the area.

Footage released by the Guardia Civil on Thursday showed the views from the helicopter as it scoured the hillside.

The video, posted to the force's X account, showed officers searching in bushes and overgrown terrain with dogs.

Jay Slater, from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, travelled to the Canary Islands for a musical festival with pal Lucy and another friend last week

Jay is seen in this image shared to his friend Lucy's social media days before he disappeared

A MailOnline graphic detailing the timeline of events from when Jay attended the three-day NRG festival to his location when his phone died at around 8.50am on Monday

A screenshot of Jay's last known location where his phone battery died

The teenager posted a Snapchat image on the morning he went missing in Spain

The mountain range in Rural de Teno near the village of Masca where police have been searching

The setting is surrounded by spectacular mountains and rocky roads

Authorities searching for missing teenager Jay along the ravine on June 20

Police officers also searched in the Masca ravine for Jay on June 19

Authorities also went to the hotel apartments Paloma Beah where Jay was staying in Los Christianos

The walk from Mr Slater's last known location to his accommodation would have taken about 11 hours on foot.

The search area was quiet on Friday, with only a handful of police cars stationed at Rural de Teno park.

Ms Law, who attended the NRG music festival with Mr Slater, said he called her at about 8.30am on Monday and told her he was 'lost in the mountains, he wasn't aware of his surroundings, he desperately needed a drink and his phone was on 1%'.

Mr Slater's mother, Debbie Duncan, who flew to Tenerife on Tuesday, said searching for her son was 'an absolute living nightmare'.

Ms Duncan told ITV News: 'He's the life and soul, he's a beautiful boy.'

Mr Slater was last seen wearing a white T-shirt with shorts and trainers and a black bag.

A fundraiser set up by Ms Law to 'get Jay Slater home' has since received more than 23,500 in donations.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesman said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man who has been reported missing in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.'

Today, the search is continuing for the fifth day to find the teenager, 19, who disappeared in Tenerife.

Sniffer dogs have been deployed in the search for Jay Slater in north-west Tenerife on June 19

The search mission has entered its fifth day. Pictured: Rescuers on June 19

Police officers and a sniffer dog are pictured in the search for Jay on June 19

Police officers and firefighters talked while searching for the missing 19-year-old on June 19

Pictured are drones in the sky searching for Jay on June 19

Friends and family members have flown over to the Canary Islands to join in with the search for Jay who has not been seen or heard from since Monday.

His last known location was in the mountainous area of Teno Rural Park, some 10 hours' walk away from his accommodation in the southern part of the island.

A GoFundMe which was set up yesterday has raised 23,723 as of this morning.

Police using a helicopter, sniffer dogs and a drone, as well as mountain rescue units have been scouring countryside close to an Airbnb he went to with two British men.

The isolated farmhouse was an hour's drive from the popular hotspot of Playa des Los Americas in southern Tenerife, in the village of Masca, 19 miles away.

Speaking from the family home in Oswaldtwistle, Jay's stepfather Andy Watson said the teen was reluctant to go on holiday.

He said that Jay's friends had 'talked him into going' and his mother Debbie added he 'wasn't really that keen'.

She told ITV that looking back, she wished she hadn't 'encouraged him'.
Judge Aileen Cannon flashed signs of skepticism of defense lawyers who argued in her federal courtroom that special counsel Jack Smith should get thrown off the Trump classified documents case.

Cannon, who was nominated by Trump and confirmed by the Senate weeks before he left office, appeared to push back the the former president's lawyers when they argued Smith's status posed an 'ominous' threat.

Trump critics have asked why Cannon even decided to hold a hearing on the matter, in a critical case where she has already postponed the trial date.

Trump's team, led by lawyer Emil Bove, argued that AG Merrick Garland wasn't authorized to designate Smith as special counsel, and that any person filling such an important role must be confirmed by the Senate, notwithstanding other courts which have allowed it.

When Bove said it was akin to having 'the power to appoint a shadow government,' Cannon appeared unimpressed.

'That sounds very ominous, a shadow government. But what does that mean?,' she asked, NBC News reported.

Judge Aileen Cannon quizzed prosecutors and Donald Trump's lawyers about Trump's effort to force special counsel Jack Smith from the classified documents case

If she were to go against Trump, it would outside of a reputation she has garnered among Trump critics for frequently siding with the former president on a range of procedural matters that have had the effect of stalling his classified documents trial.

Former Trump White House lawyer in a recent CNN interview branded her a 'partisan, petty prima donna.' He predicted she would be rebuked if she did rule for Trump.

'The worst thing  could happen to her, is that she actually does rule for Trump on this, because that would go to the 11th Circuit, and then I think this petty, partisan prima donna would be put in her place, and they would remove her,' he said.

Smith's appointment was just one of the matters Judge Cannon heard in her Fort Pierce, Fla. courtroom Friday, as Trump's team also fought the government's request for a gag order.

Other judges have allowed special counsels to operate despite moves to challenge them, with Special Counsel Robert Mueller serving in the role during the Russia probe.

Lawyer James Pearce, arguing for Smith's team, pointed to prior examples and said the Trump team's legal theory would have 'pernicious consequences.'

It was the first time Trump's lawyers were in court since he was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying documents by a Manhattan jury.

It comes a day after a bombshell report that two senior judges urged Cannon to step back from the case when it was initially assigned to her.

Those related to Trump's claim that a standard FBI use-of-force policy included in papers related to the search of his Florida property for the documents was an authorization for them to assassinate him, despite the language being standard boilerplate material for similar warrants.

Critics accuse Cannon of repeatedly ruling in Trump's favor and issuing rulings that show inexperience in a complex classified documents case

Trump has blasted the case, federal prosecutors, and FBI agents who searched Mar-a-Lago. If he were to be elected president, he could use his authority to try to shut down the case

Trump's Republican allies in Congress have also voiced criticism of the appointment and funding of Special Counsel Jack Smith, who is leading the classified documents prosecution and a second criminal case in Washington accusing Trump of attempting to overturn his 2020 election defeat.

Trump, who is challenging Democratic President Joe Biden in the Nov. 5 election, is also awaiting a landmark decision from the U.S. Supreme Court on his claims of presidential immunity in the election case.

Trumps lawyers face an uphill battle in challenging Smiths appointment. U.S. attorneys general serving presidents of both major political parties have appointed special counsels and courts have previously rejected challenges to their authority, most recently in cases involving Bidens son Hunter, who was found guilty this month on gun charges.

'It has been upheld every time it has come up,' Kel McClanahan, a lawyer focused on national security issues, said of the special counsel authority. 'It never works out' for the defense.

Trump has not raised the same challenge to Smith in the election case in Washington, where judges would be bound by prior rulings in prior challenges to special counsel.

U.S. District Chief Judge Cecilia Maria Altonaga has been identified as asking Judge Cannon to decline to oversee the case

TRUMP DENIES WRONGDOING

Trump faces ongoing criminal prosecutions including the documents case and two related to his attempts to overturn his 2020 defeat. He has pleaded not guilty in all three and has said without evidence that they are all attempts to stop him from returning to power.

Trump has argued in court filings in Florida that Smith did not have the authority to bring the charges because he was not confirmed by the Senate and his office was not created by an act of Congress. Trumps defense is also challenging the mechanism funding the prosecution.

Smiths office has disputed the claims and argued that his appointment is backed by prior court decisions.

Trumps legal challenges are part of a multi-pronged attack on Smith, whom Trump has called 'deranged' and a 'thug' on social media. Smith, a veteran public corruption prosecutor who worked on war crimes cases in The Hague, was named by Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2022 to lead the investigations into Trump.

His appointment was designed to give the probes a measure of independence from the Justice Department under the Biden administration.

Trumps challenge to Smith is one of a series of attempts by his lawyers to dismiss the classified documents charges. Cannon has indefinitely delayed the trial's start and it is unlikely the case will reach a jury before the November election.

The hearings will also address other issues including Trumps bid to suppress evidence seized during an FBI search of his Mar-a-Lago resort and Smiths request to bar Trump from making statements that may endanger law enforcement.

The request from Smith, which is scheduled to be discussed on Monday, came after Trump's baseless claims that FBI agents were authorized to assassinate him when they searched his Mar-a-Lago, Florida resort in August 2022.

Garland, who rarely speaks publicly about the Trump cases, has called Trumps claims 'extremely dangerous.'

Cannon has been receptive to Trump's defense on other issues and has signaled she may be open to Trumps arguments challenging Smith's appointment as special counsel.

In a rare move, she has allowed three outside lawyers representing legal experts and advocacy groups to argue during Fridays hearing. Two of those lawyers have filed court briefs siding with Trump in the dispute. (Reporting by Andrew Goudsward; Editing by Scott Malone and Alistair Bell)
The Supreme Court has issued a major gun ruling that allows a federal gun ban targeting domestic violence abusers to remain intact  in a ruling that could undermine Hunter Biden's appeal of his conviction on a different gun charge.

The 8-1 decision, authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, provides that a person determined to pose a credible threat can have their Second Amendment rights infringed upon in a limited way.

'Our tradition of firearm regulation allows the government to disarm individuals who present a credible threat to the physical safety of others,' Roberts wrote for the majority.

Justice Clarence Thomas, who has been close to an absolutist on the Second Amendment's right to bear arms, dissented.

Hunter Biden was convicted on gun charges in Wilmington federal court this month for lying when he swore he wasn't using drugs on a form required for the purchase a handgun.

Hunter's legal team has vowed to vigorously fight the conviction, and has been preparing an appeal based on Second Amendment gun rights protections.

If the court had ruled the other way, it might have signalled that the law upon which Hunter's conviction was founded could itself have been found to violate the Constitution.

The Supreme Court 8-1 in a decision allowing the gun regulation regarding abusers to remain intact

It's the first major Supreme Court decision on the matter since 2022, when the court expanded gun rights.

It relates to Zackey Rahimi, a Texas man accused of beating his girlfriend.

Rahimi had been involved in multiple shootings, and admitted to authorities that he was subject to a domestic violence restraining order. He had guns in his home in violation of that order. The majority opinion recounts how he became enraged during a lunch wit his girlfriend, threatened her in a parking lot, caused her to hit her head on a car dashboard, retrieved a gun and 'fired as she fled.' She later obtained a restraining order. Rahimi was later identified as a suspect in a spate of 'at least five' additional shootings.

The law restricts gun possession by people under domestic violence restraining orders. The court found that when an individual 'has been found by a court to pose a credible threat to the physical safety of another, that individual may be temporarily disarmed consistent with the Second Amendment.'

The ruling comes amid a multi-year spate of mass shootings in the U.S., and deadlocks in Washington on President Biden's major gun proposals such as a renewed ban on so-called assault weapons.

The decision came as the high court released multiple decisions, but not one dealing with presidential immunity

In 2022 Congress passed and Biden signed into law a measure imposing tougher background checks on gun purchasers along with provisions meant to encouarage state 'red flag' laws targeting people deemed a threat and a provision closing the 'boyfriend loophole' barring gun sales to convicted abusers.

Justice Thomas, in his dissent, writes that the federal law violates the Second Amendment and and that government 'failed to produce any evidence that [it] is consistent with the Nations historical tradition of firearm regulation.

The question is whether the Government can strip the Second Amendment right of anyone subject to a protective order  even if he has never been accused or convicted of a crime. It cannot,

A senior Biden campaign advisor responded to the ruling with a statement saying, 'No American should overlook the startling reality behind todays decision: Protecting domestic abuse survivors from gun violence should never be a question, but the fact it even had to be considered shows just how extreme Donald Trump and the gun lobby are.'
Plane passengers are increasingly risking their lives by going back to rescue their bags during evacuations, air bosses have warned.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called attention to the safety risk at a recent gathering of airline bosses.

It is understood that some fatalities in the Aeroflot Sukhoi Superjet crash-landing in 2019 were partly blamed on passengers flouting the rules and blocking the aisle as they looked to retrieve their bags.

Forty-one people died in the blaze when the jet landed at Sheremetyevo, Moscow's business international airport after being struck by lightning.

While regulators require airlines to run test evacuations to ensure a plane can be evacuated within 90 seconds, the reality can be very different, as passengers reach for their belongings in the overhead lockers before departing the aircraft.

LAS VEGAS 2015: Passengers fleeing the British Airways Boeing aircraft with their luggage

MOSCOW 2019: The Aeroflot Sukhoi Superjet crash-landing in 2019. The plane had registration number RA-89098

Nick Careen, head of safety, security and operations at IATA, said mobile phone footage increasingly shows people clutching their bags as they descend the evacuation slides.

He told The Telegraph: 'Fines never work, unfortunately. Despite the fact that this is a global standard and a requirement on every flight, the propensity is that it is still a challenge.

'The only way is to explain that there is a good reason for this, and that it's for your own benefit. We need to educate the customer on why the regulations are there.'

More often than not, Mr Careen said evacuations go 'very well', but examples of inadequate evacuations are becoming more prevalent.

MOSCOW 2019: A tower of smoke sits above the Russian-made aircraft as it exploded into flames on Sunday evening in the country's capital

MOSCOW 2019: The Russian plane exploded in a fireball as it made an emergency landing at Moscow's main international airport

In 2015, British Airways passengers were filmed dragging their suitcases away from a jet that had caught fire in Las Vegas.

Last September, almost every passenger escaping an Air China aircraft that had landed in Singapore with an engine on fire had grabbed their belongings.

Airlines could be partly to blame for the issue as they introduced charges for checked luggage two decades ago, The Telegraph said.

As a result, more passengers have opted for taking carry-on luggage which can be brought into the plane cabin in a bid to save their money.
Nigel Farage wriggled over branding King Charles an 'eco-loony' during a bruising election interview today.

The Reform UK leader was taken to task over his views on the monarch and the environment as he clashed with the BBC's Nick Robinson.

Interviewed for a Panorama special, Mr Farage boasted about his proposal to save 30billion a year by ditching 'ludicrous' Net Zero targets.

But Robinson demanded to know whether the Brexiteer stood by his previous jibes about the King when he was still Prince of Wales.

'You said the King was an eco-loony. Do you still think the King is an eco-loony?' the presenter asked.

Mr Farage replied: 'The King, he wasn't the King then, and I can't speak ill of the monarch obviously...'

When Robinson interjected that Mr Farage had said the royal was 'stupid', the politician continued: 'He did used to say that carbon dioxide was a pollutant which I thought was a very stupid comment.'

Nigel Farage wriggled over branding King Charles an 'eco-loony' during a bruising election interview

The Reform UK leader was taken to task over his views on the monarch, pictured today at Royal Ascot, and the environment as he clashed with the BBC's Nick Robinson

Five years ago Mr Farage mocked the the Prince of Wales for telling a 2008 EU summit that the North Polar ice cap could disappear completely by 2015.

'Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. All I can say is Charlie Boy is now in his 70s... may the Queen live a very, very long time,' he said.

In 2021 he accused the then-heir to the throne of 'once again dabbling in eco-loony politics'.

In the interview tonight, Mr Farage said he was 'not arguing the science' about climate change being real, but suggested that 'ever since the late 1980s that perhaps there's been a bit of hype around this'.

'No wonder we've got people spraying Stonehenge with orange powder, because all we ever talk about is fear rather than solutions,' he said.

Mr Farage claimed that closing steelworks in the UK was not helping cut CO2 because production moved to India, and 'all we've done is to export the emissions'.

'Similarly with coal, there's an anthracite mine up in Cumbria that could be opened,' he said.

'We're not going to open it. We are overtaxing the North Sea. The Tories have done this, not Labour.'

Robinson pressed Mr Farage: 'You believe David Attenborough was wrong and the King was wrong, we're clear about that.'

But he responded: 'No, no, no, that is not  no, no, the King is wrong to say CO2 is a pollutant, that is wrong, clearly.'

In December last year, the King issued a calls to arms in his opening statement to the Cop 28 climate summit in the UAE

As the Prince of Wales, Charles was the country's longest serving heir to the throne.

During that time, he carved out a role for himself speaking out on issues like the environment, climate change, architecture and farming.

And the King has not shied away from addressing those causes since he succeeded to the throne.

In an historic speech to the French Senate last September, Charles spoke of the 'existential challenge' of 'global warming, climate change and the catastrophic destruction of nature'.

His address came less than 24 hours after PM Rishi Sunak had watered down several of Britain's Net Zero policies.

In December last year, the King issued a calls to arms in his opening statement to the Cop 28 climate summit in the UAE.

He warned the world remained 'dreadfully far off track' in key climate targets from the Paris agreement in 2015 and called for meaningful change.

The Panorama Interviews with Nick Robinson is on BBC One at 7pm and BBC iPlayer.
Passengers on a flight that plummeted to less than 500 feet off the ground have shared images from the sky - as many say they were unaware they were flying so low.

Dramatic footage shared by one traveler who claimed to be on board the Southwest Airlines flight - that passed over Oklahoma - shows a large lightning storm in the sky on Wednesday.

The flight was nine miles away from Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City when it dived to between 400 and 500 feet as it passed over a school in Yukon.

Amber England claimed she was onboard the flight when she saw the storm, before revealing she had no idea about the low altitude until seeing it on the news.

Similarly, Susan Gierhart alleged that she was on board and had been completely unaware of the low altitude until the woman across from her raised concerns.

Dramatic footage seemingly shared by one on board the Southwest Airlines flight, that passed over Oklahoma , shows a large lightning storm in the sky on Wednesday

The flight was nine miles away from Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City when it dived to between 400 and 500 feet as it passed over a school in Yukon

Sharing the footage, Amber said: 'On me and Brads flight back home Wednesday morning we seen a crazy storm.

'If you ever wondered what a storm looks like up in the clouds you should watch this it pretty cool.

'Then I see on news 9 that the flight we were on went 500 feet from the ground over Yukon and we had no idea. Wild plane ride.'

In a post to social media, Gierhart said: 'The lady across from me [realized]. She was freaking out. I didnt realize she had a reason at the time.'

She went on to add that she 'did wonder why we kept circling'.

Doorbell camera footage also captured on Wednesday showed the Boeing 737 MAX-8 hovering above houses, before flying out of frame.

The sudden descent prompted air traffic control to call the pilot and check on the status of the flight.

'Southwest 4069, low altitude alert,' the air traffic controller could be heard saying in an audio archive of the transmission. 'You good out there?' he asked.

Susan Gierhart, left, and Amber England, right, both claim they had been onboard the flight when it dropped in altitude

The sudden descent prompted air traffic control to call the pilot and check on the status of the flight

The pilot of the flight from Las Vegas confirmed there was no issue with the aircraft, and circled back around - quickly regaining altitude from just about 450 feet to more than 1,000 feet as it crossed over Yukon High School.

It then landed safely at the airport in a different runway, and Air Traffic Control personnel confirmed there were no issues with the Boeing 737 Max-8, according to The Oklahoman.

But the low approach, along with the late hour, caused concern among residents in the city.

'I was kind of like halfway in between sleep, being awake, and I just hear that WHOOSH,' Spencer Basoco told KFOR.

'And I thought at first, like a storm was blowing in... because it just sounded like a wall of wind.

'And I looked out the window where the sound was coming from... if you go a few blocks away is the high school. And I just see a plane. I knew it wasn't normal.'

Spencer Basco said he thought it was a storm that had blown through the area, describing it as a 'wall of wind'

Another resident claimed they were startled awake by the plane's engine and wondered if the aircraft was set for a collision.

'It woke me up and I thought it was gonna hit my house,' the resident wrote on the Yukon Happenings Facebook page, according to The Oklahoman.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident and Southwest has confirmed they are working with them to address any 'irregularities'.

Southwest officials said they are working with the Federal Aviation Administration to determine what caused the sudden descent.

In a statement, they said: 'Southwest is following its robust Safety Management System and is in contact with the Federal Aviation Administration to understand and address any irregularities with the aircraft's approach to the airport.

'Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees.'

Boeing's struggles in 2024 began in January when a door plug blew out of an Alaska Airlines 737 Max shortly after takeoff from Portland, Oregon

The sudden plunge comes as Boeing continues to make headlines for broken landing gears, doors popping off mid-flight and faulty software systems.

Boeing's struggles in 2024 began in January when a door plug blew out of an Alaska Airlines 737 Max shortly after takeoff from Portland, Oregon.

Current and former Boeing employees have accused the company of taking safety shortcuts.

The Arlington, Virginia-based company is under investigations by the FAA, the National Transportation Safety Board and the Justice Department.

Earlier this month, a Boeing plane also experienced a rare Dutch roll - a combination of a yawing motion when the tail slides and the plane rocks from wingtip to wingtip.

The company's repeated failure to fix problems has led to skepticism on Capitol Hill and lawmakers torched CEO Dave Calhoun for his role in the airline's downfall.
A surveillance camera captured the moment an explosion destroyed a bakery in the Dominican Republic.

Footage shows a woman standing near the bakery's entrance and a vehicle passing by when a blast rocks the shop in the north-central city of La Vega on Thursday morning.

The oven's explosion shattered the bakery's window, scattering a metal pole and shards of glass onto the street.

The doors of the dental clinic next door were blown open by the impact of the blast before the frightened woman ran inside to seek safety.

Six men then rushed out of the shop before a bystander rushed over to an injured individual and removed his tank top.

A woman was standing in front of the bakery entrance when an oven exploded in the north-central Dominican Republic city of La Vega. The woman was not injured, but the blast left three employees, two customers, including a five-year-old girl, and a fireman

The La Vega Fire Department said the explosion was caused by a gas leak inside an oven

La Vega Fire Department, colonel general Cesar Abreu, told Noticias SIN that the explosion was caused by gas that had accumulated inside the oven.

The powerful explosion also caused the collapse of the ceiling in one of the clinic'sadr offices, where a patient was undergoing treatment. The dentist and the patient were not injured.

One of the injured employees was identified as Julio Ruiz, who was standing by the oven baking bread. At least 55 percent of his body was burned, Dr. Francisco Ulerio said.

Bakery workers Cristofer Felipe, 27, and his uncle Dany Nunez were also injured and suffered burns covering 20 to 55 percent of their bodies.

The bakery explosion also damage an office at a dental clinic next door while a dentist was treating a patient - they were not injured

Firefighters survey the destruction inside a bakery in La Vega, Dominican Republic after an oven exploded due to a gas leak. Three employees, two customers, including, a five-year-old girl, and a fireman were treated for burns

A woman runs into the street after an oven exploded at a bakery in La Vega, Dominican Republic on Thursday

'Let's hope that there really is nothing to regret except that lives are fine, apart from the issue of the burn,' Felipe's aunt, Jazmin Felipe, said. 'But it was a very difficult moment for everyone.'

Carlos Rodriguez, 35, and a five-year-old girl were treated for minor injures.

A fireman, whose name was not released, was treated for smoke inhalation and third-degree burns.

Noticias SIN reported that one of the victims was transferred to a hospital 80 miles away in Santo Domingo, the Dominican capital.
Researchers have uncovered what many Wikipedia users have long feared  that it's slanted against conservatives.

A study from the Manhattan Institute, a right-leaning think tank, says it has uncovered 'evidence of political bias embedded in Wikipedia articles.'

Donald Trump and other former right-wing presidents are presented in a negative light, the study says, while Barack Obama and other liberal leaders are puffed with positive write-ups.

It's important, says researcher David Rozado, because Wikipedia entries  and their slant  have a bigger impact when they're soaked up by AI chatbots and regurgitated across the web.

His report comes in a divisive election year, when voters are increasingly worried about whether they can trust information in the mainstream media and supposedly authoritative online sources.

Ronald Reagan is the only recent Republican former president to get presented in a positive light

Wikipedia has a 'mild to moderate' bias against Republican politicians, says David Rozado

'There is a quantifiable, mild to moderate tendency in Wikipedia articles to associate right-of-center US public figures with more negative sentiment compared to left-of-center public figures,' Rozado posted on X.

The Wikimedia Foundation nonprofit that runs the crowdsourced online encyclopedia did not answer DailyMail.com's request for comment.

On its hugely popular site, it describes its 'neutral point of view' policy, known as NPOV, that aims to present facts 'fairly, proportionately, and, as far as possible, without editorial bias.'

For his study, Rozado looked at mentions of 1,628 political leaders, lawmakers, and judges from the US and other western countries on the English-language version of the site.

The computer scientist then looked more closely at the tens of thousands of paragraphs on Wikipedia in which those names were mentioned.

He used AI to measure how often the target names appeared alongside negative terms, such as 'anger' and 'distrust,' as compared to such positive terms as 'joy.'

Much of the time, he found that right-of-center leaders were framed negatively, while those on the left got a more positive spin.

The 'trend is common but not ubiquitous,' Rozado said.

American politicians, judges, journalists and media organizations, as well as leaders of western countries, were distorted by the bias, he found.

But British politicians and US think tanks were presented impartially, he found.

'Wikipedia's NPOV policy is not achieving its stated goal of political-viewpoint neutrality,' says the 23-page report.

Worse still, he adds, the distortion is not limited to Wikipedia's 6,838,821 English-language articles.

English Wikipedia raked in more than 84 billion views last year, says the non-profit

Republican senators and governors also tended to get a more negative spin than their Democratic counterparts on Wikipedia, the study showed

The study looked at mentions of 1,628 political leaders, lawmakers, and judges from the US and other western countries

That's because Wikipedia is routinely used to train Large Language Models and their chatbot counterparts, such as ChatGPT, which was developed by OpenAI.

Rozado says he spotted Wikipedia's leaning 'popping up in OpenAI's language models.'

'This is suggestive of the potential for biases in Wikipedia content percolating into widely used AI systems,' he says.

It's not the first time Wikipedia has been accused of a slant.

The site's co-founder Larry Sanger said in 2021 that Wikipedia had become 'propaganda' for the left-leaning 'establishment.'

Conservative voices were 'kicked out' and negative content about Joe Biden and other liberal bigwigs was wiped off the platform, he said.

A 2012 study found that the site used phrases favored by Democrats to describe such issues as taxes and the Iraq war, while Republican terminology was sidelined.

Others have bashed how Wikipedia is written by more than 800,000 registered volunteer editors  and how they tend to be straight, white men from western countries.

This, critics say, leaves articles loaded with a western male perspective.

English Wikipedia raked in more than 84 billion views last year, according to numbers released by the Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit behind the free, publicly edited online encyclopedia.

The top countries that accessed English Wikipedia last year were the US (33.2 billion) and Britain (9 billion)  followed by India (8.48 billion), Canada (3.95 billion) and Australia (2.56 billion).
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Taylor Swift has taken to the stage at Wembley Stadium in front of 90,000 adoring fans including her new NFL beau Travis Kelce and his family.

The pop princess has kicked off her London Eras Tour residency and those in the star-studded VIP tent include her boyfriend Travis, his brother American footballer Jason Kelce, supermodel Cara Delevingne as well as Bridgerton darling Nicola Coughlan.

As she started her three-hour long set, Taylor Swift said: 'You're making me feel like tonight I get to play my first sold out show at Wembley Stadium on The Eras Tour!'

She added: 'There are 88,446 people in this stadium today.'

Including the leader of the Labour party Sir Keir Starmer and his wife. In a post on X he joked, 'Swift' campaign pit stop', as the pair could be seen smiling in the stadium.

Today is the first of three sold out dates at Wembley, with the international sensation returning in August to perform another five.

Screens show a live video of Swift so even fans in the furthest away seats can enjoy the show

The pop princess has kicked off her London Eras Tour residency

Today is the first of three sold out dates at Wembley, with the international sensation returning in August to perform another five

Swift wears a blue and gold sparkling bodysuit as she takes to the stage at Wembley

The singer wears a berry-red dress as she performs songs from recent albums Folklore and Evermore

Taylor looked overwhelmed by the sheer number of fans at Wembley stadium

Sir Keir Starmer and his wife pictured at the Era's Tour in Wembley

Starmer wrote on X: ''Swift' campaign pitstop'

Around 90,000 fans have packed out Wembley Stadium

The audience watch Taylor Swift at Wembley Stadium

Fans film Taylor as she takes to the stage in London

Fans wearing cowboy hats sing along to Taylor

The singer, 34, is performing at Wembley stadium as part of The Eras Tour

Swift, known for her black eyeliner and red lip, performs to fans in London tonight

Taylor Swift performs in blue and gold bodysuit with bedazzled cowboy boots

Taylor changes outfits 16 times throughout her performance

A dresser helps Taylor get changed into a black sparkling blazer as she performs hit song The Man

Swift performs her song The Man to around 90,000 fans at Wembley stadium

Swift performs with an entourage of 15 dancers and four backup singers

Travis Kelce arrives at Wembley Stadium to watch his girlfriend Taylor Swift perform to 90,000 adoring fans

Jason Kelce shows off his friendship bracelets at Wembley

Nicola Coughlan trades friendship bracelets with fellow Swifties from the VIP tent

Model Cara Delevinge (left) attends Swift's concert in the VIP box alongside Nicola Coughlan (right)

She had an outfit change to a black dress with silver and gold tassels and black sparkly boots

Taylor with a blue guitar and sparkling boots at Wembley tonight

Taylor Swift performs onstage during 'Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour' at Wembley Stadium tonight

Taylor's adoring fans have been brimming with anticipation to know if she will perform any of her London-inspired hit songs.

Fans have predicted that the American megastar will choose a London-themed tune as her surprise song.

Many were hoping for Swift's more melancholy hits such as 'So Long, London' and 'The Black Dog' from her recent album The Tortured Poets Department.

The star sang Hits Different and Death by a Thousand Cuts - both of which have no reference to the English capital city.

But fans went wild when Taylor took to the piano and began singing her recent hit The Black Dog, as many predicted she would.

'The Black Dog' is largely believed to be about 1975 singer, Matty Healy, who she reportedly has a brief two week relationship with following her break-up with Alwyn.

The lyrics seemingly reference a Vauxhall pub, as well as band - The Starting Line - whose songs The 1975 have covered several times during their tour.

Swift sings with a bedazzled guitar - embossed with the number 13

Swift, 34, kisses her bicep at Wembley Stadium

The 34-year-old is known for hit songs such as Cruel Summer and Love Story

Taylor waves her red cape at Wembley while performing her three-hour long set list

Fans hold up flashlights on their phones as the singer performs

Wembley is awash with sparkling outfits, cowboy hats, gemstones and glitter today as thousands of Taylor Swift fans gathered for her opening night in London.

Swifties have travelled from across the country for the latest sell-out performance of her Eras Tour.

Teenage girls and boys are joined by mums, dads and younger siblings - and fans of all ages - ahead of the three-and-a-half hour gig, that has already blown the roofs off stadiums across Britain and Europe.

Devoted followers sang the lyrics of her many hits word-perfect that were blasted out at the Taylor Swift fan zone at the BoxPark Wembley on the Olympic Walk up to the stadium entrance.

Fans exchanged bracelets and discussed their favourite tunes ahead of the big event. Others joined long queues to buy official merchandise - t-shirts, sweat-shirts, hats and bags.

Among them were sisters Amna, 14, and Zainab Butt, 20, from west London.

Amna told how would not have missed this concert for anything in the world.

She said: 'It's Taylor Swift it's a once in a lifetime opportunity.'

Zainab, a student, added: 'This is going to be the best night of my life.'

Amelie Jones, 28, Lucy Goodwin, 28 and Caroline parish, 28 from Sussex.

Explaining what this concert meant to her Amelie said: 'Taylor Swift has a ding her every occasion.

Lucy added: 'I have grown up with Taylor Swift. She has been there with me through all the heartbreaks.'

Swift, 34, performs songs from her album Red in a glittering ombre bodysuit

The singer wears a shirt that said: 'Who's Taylor Swift anyway? Ew'

Taylor talks to a young fan before giving her the famous 22 hat during the concert

Taylor gives her hat to a fan

The fan looks delighted to receive the gift from the mega-star

The fan and Taylor hug each other after she gives her a gift of her hat

Taylor kicks off her long setlist with songs from her Lover era

The singer then features hits from her early album entitled Fearless

Around 90,000 Swifties have swarmed to Wembley Stadium to watch the pop icon as part of her Eras Tour

As she started her three-hour long set, Taylor Swift said: 'You're making me feel like tonight I get to play my first sold out show at Wembley Stadium on The Eras Tour!'

She added: 'There are 88.446 people in this stadium today.'

Thousands of Swifties have begun to descend in their droves ahead of the pop princess' first London Eras concert

One fan was spotted wearing a disco ball hat and silver shirt ahead of the concert - a nod to Swift's song Mirrorball

Fans pose outside Wembley Stadium before the first London concert of the Eras Tour

Cowboy hats and boots seem to be a staple for the American singer's concert

Fans hold an 'I love Taylor' banner ahead of the concert. The men of the group wear Travis Kelce's 87 jersey

Fans dress up in outfits corresponding to Swift's 'eras' or albums including Reputation, Lover and Folklore

Other fans wear pink feather boas as they make their way to the stadium

One fan wears a ruffled purple dress to watch Taylor Swift

A trio of friends arrive at Wembley ahead of the Taylor Swift concert

Families and university friends got together to watch Taylor Swift's first London performance.

Mum Jackie brought her 18-year-old daughter Eva and three friends from Bath to attend the concert.

She said: 'We won the battle to get Taylor Swift tickets and now we're here!'

Dad Ed, 51, from Blackheath put on his best party shirt to accompany his wife Tina and their 11-year-old daughter Odette to the show.

Birmingham university Poppy, 27, Hannah, 26, Rachel, 26 and Joanna, 26 used the occasion to get back together - and to wear matching Taylor Swift t-shirts.

Rachel explained: 'We all love Taylor Swift and we just can't wait for the show.'

Nottingham university friends Harriet, 26, Heidi, 26, Nicole, 26 and Jade, 26 said they had met up especially for the concert.

Harriet said: 'it's going to be a fantastic night, a fantastic performance.'

A fan recreates the ringmaster outfit Swift wore at the 2012 MTV Europe Music Awards. She also has friendship bracelets tied to her waist to hand out at the concert

Stairs near Wembley have been decorated with the singer's face

One fan wears a golden dress and poses with her hand in a heart shape ahead of the concert

A fan carries a Kermit toy wearing a shirt with the words 'Kermit is my boyfriend', a play on Swift's lyrics 'Karma is my boyfriend'

Three friends dressed in all-white wear veils with Swift's lyrics on them

German tourists Camille, 29, Julia, 28, Malena, 27 and Lena 27 had flown over especially from Bremen for the show.

Camille explained: 'we came to see the Queen of music.'

Teenagers Evie Mulcahi, 18, Jess Dobson 19 Frankie Epsom, 19, and Katie Mayling had come from Derby to take part in this highly anticipated event.

Evie said: 'Taylor Swift is simply the best. She gets all different people together to have a good time. And she's so cool.'

Becky Colton, 28 and Alice Parkinson, 28 had come from Nottingham for the show.

Becky explained: Taylor Swift is an icon. This is history.'

Best friends Charlotte Harris, 29 and Sophie Wayman, 31 from Essex explained how they had dreamed to seeing Taylor Swift together.

Charlotte said: 'We've been friends all our lives and we always dreamed of going to see a Taylor Swift concert together.'

It has become a tradition for Swifties to trade friendship bracelets at the Eras Tour as a nod to a lyric from the nostalgic anthem You're On Your Own Kid.

Taylor sings: 'So make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it.'

A collection of friendship bracelets made by Swifties in preparation for the concert

A fan hands out friendship bracelets at the Taylor Swift concert at Wembley

Fans exchange friendship bracelets ahead of the performance

Fans have hand decorated white shirts with odes to their pop icon Taylor Swift

A fan wears a version of Swift's bedazzled Lover bodysuit while her friend snaps pictures

A fan wears a pink silk pyjama set with feathers

A pair of fans wear crowns and a sash that reads 'Heartbreak Prince' referring to Swift's song 'Miss Americana and The Heartbreak Prince' from her 2019 album Lover

A father shows his support for his Taylor-obsessed daughter by wearing a 'Swiftie Dad' t-shirt

One fan carries a sign that reads '16 years of eras with you' next to a picture of her as a youngster with Taylor Swift

Two girls hug as they approach Wembley Stadium ahead of the Taylor Swift concert

A fan gets glittered in preparation for The Eras Tour

A group of friends pose outside Wembley Stadium - with two dressed in black to reflect Swift's iconic Reputation era

A fan waves her ticket in the air as she struts towards the venue

Two Swifties spin around outside Wembley hours before Swift takes to the stage

Many fans arrived as early as Tuesday in preparation for today's concert, lying under blankets and camping out in tents for several days.

More of the 90,000 strong crowd made their way to the arena today, with those who forked out for VIP packages getting to head into Wembley at 8am.

Others travelled from across the globe to just watch Swift deliver her blockbuster three-hour set in London tonight.

Among those venturing across countries to see Taylor are long-distance friends Filip and Bailey, who made separate journeys all the way from Croatia and Florida respectively.

Speaking about why they had come to London, Bailey: 'I can't wait to see Taylor, this is like the best show to go to.'

Filip added: 'It feels special, dazzling and magic here.'

Meanwhile, friends Rachel and Yan travelled from Ipswich in Suffolk to catch a glimpse of Taylor taking to the stage.

Swiftmania has truly gripped Wembley as fans eagerly prepare to see their idol in person

Three Swifties all smiles as they head to Wembley stadium

Fans gathering outside Wembley today donning Taylor Swift inspired clothing

Many were all smiles as they headed in to see the American singer-songwriter

Inspired by Taylor's Lover era, two fans rocked up to Wembley with pink cowboy hats and sparkling tops

Fans queuing outside Wembley Stadium in London, ahead of Taylor Swift's first London concert

Fans make friendship bracelets as they wait to enter Wembley Stadium

A fan waiting outside the Eras Tour today with their own custom t-shirt for the show

Three girls wear personalised pink heart sunglasses that read 'The Eras Tour - London N1'

One American Swiftie uses a white cowboy hat to show off how far she has come for the concert

Rachel said: 'We're so excited to be here, I'm hoping to hear the original songs from the first album.'

Alongside wanting to hear tracks from Swift's 2006 self-titled debut, the pair said they were particularly looking forward to hearing hits from her second 2008 album Fearless.

Megan, 26, who hails from Birmingham said it was 'amazing' as she prepared to see the star.

She told the Evening Standard: 'It's amazing to be here. Taylor is such a great example of female empowerment. I love country music and that's how I got into her.

'I'm just so excited to be here. It was like a war to get tickets online but now I'm here it's all worth it.'

Luna Musch, who travelled from the Netherlands added: 'I can't believe I'm here - I love her and her music. She is so positive. Her talent is just incredible.'

The doors at Wembley officially opened at 4.30pm, with Mette and Paramore taking to the stage from 5.45pm before Taylor at 7.30pm.

Fans dotted throughout the UK have been waiting over a year for Taylor to arrive on British shores after she began her record-breaking tour in Glendale, Arizona in March 2023.

Singer Mette takes to the stage ahead of Taylor Swift

The Mama's Eyes singer wore sparkling shorts and showed off her dance moves on stage

Fans have travelled far and wide to see the international sensation with some travelling from as far as America

Four fans proudly wearing 'I love Taylor' t-shirts make their way to the concert

A group of girls patiently sitting as they wait for Wembley Stadium doors to open today

One young lady seemingly making a nod to Taylor's NFL beau Travis Kelce - wearing his Kansas City Cheifs jersey (left)

Others were screaming with excitement as more people gathered outside the venue

A fan of Taylor Swift poses in front of a painting on the steps near Wembley Stadium

Another Swiftie poses in front of a Taylor Swift mural at Wembley Park

Swifties take a selfie outside the stadium while wearing pink cowboy hats

A trio of Swifties head to the concert in their sparkling outfits

One Young Swiftie and her mother wait for the concert to begin in their Taylor Swift themed outfits

Since she has ventured across South America, US and Asia, whilst also performing in several cities across Europe, with her NFL boyfriend Travis Kelce supporting from the crowd.

This month alone, she has already sang to packed out crowds in Edinburgh, Liverpool and Cardiff.

However, the superstar's 100th show of her record-breaking Eras Tour last Thursday at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool didn't quite go off without a hitch.

The international pop sensation hailed the commitment to the countless fans who braved the rain to catch a glimpse of her landmark show.

And while the 53,000 crowd packed into Anfield stadium to cheer along to her greatest hits for three hours - not everyone left completely satisfied.

Certain VIP ticketholders were left briefly disgruntled after paying to sit behind a white tent - largely blocking the view of their beloved idol.

And poor VIP seat placements weren't the only mishap of the night as eagle-eyed fans were quick to spot the huge screen showcasing Taylor's performance had momentarily switched off.

A fan wears Travis Kelce's jersey complete with a helmet

Two Swifties proudly holding up their lengthy Eras Tour banner

Others have gone to the arduous task of making several friendship bracelets - a distinctive tradition within Taylor's fanbase

Two fans showing off their array of friendship bracelets

One fan held up a QR quote in a plea for help with her dissertation about Taylor Swift

Some concertgoers were all sparkles as they headed into Wembley today

Although they are slightly more casual, these three concertgoers were still brimming with excitment

Two women wearing sparkly red outfits inspired by Taylor's famed Red album

One Swiftie in a sparkly pink blazer dress

Two friends in Taylor inspired outfits from her Red and Folklore eras

A cheery group of four on their way to sing with Taylor for three hours

A scarf reads 'London Loves Taylor'

However, London is still overcome with Swiftmania, as a military band performed Shake It Off in celebration of the popstar's arrival to the city

However, London is still overcome with Swiftmania, as a military band at Buckingham Palace performed a rendition her smash-hit Shake It Off today.

In celebration of Taylor's arrival to London, a video titled Changing of the Guard (Taylor's Version), was posted on X (formerly Twitter) by the Royal family's official account.

The band stood on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace blasting trumpets, saxophones and other wind instruments, as the caption read: 'Can't stop, won't stop groovin'.'

Taylor-fever has already gripped the bustling, with a host of special events taking over London, such as a Taylor trail, a special Tube map and even two new Swift-themed artworks on display at Wembley Park.
An Arizona family is mourning the loss of their 'sassy' three-year-old child who died in horrific circumstances after her father forgot that he left her in the backseat of his car as temperatures went above 98 degrees.

According to Charlotte Jones' mother, Angela, the child was in the car for around three hours before her father realized.

Angela recalled the 2019 incident in a recent interview with Fox News Digital. Her husband, Scott, had just dropped off the couple's other two daughters at school before coming home to start work from his home office.

Angela said that he forgot that he had taken his youngest child along for the ride. 'All of a sudden I could just hear a panic in his voice,' Angela said.

'I initially thought she had gotten into the pool or something like that and then he was like: "Oh, my God, I don't think I ever got her out of the car."'

He called 911 and Charlotte was rushed to a local hospital where she tragically succumbed to the sweltering heat.

Charlotte Jones was left in the car for around three hours back in 2019, her father rushed her to a local hospital where she succumbed to the heat

Just this week, a similar incident occurred in the Santee section of San Diego where a two month old baby died after being left in a car for hours as temperatures approached 100 degrees.

This week in California and Arizona, temperatures eclipsed 100 degrees, as millions of Americans continue to sweat.

In 2020, officials in Arizona announced that they would not be pursuing charges against Scott Jones.

In her heartbreaking interview, Angela described her daughter as the 'sassy one' who was 'always making faces, our little ham.'

'She was the light in our family, and we are constantly talking about her... We did everything we could to protect our children, and we just never realized that this was a danger until it happened to us,' she said.

'I just want it to resonate with other people so they can have a backup plan or do things because this is a preventable tragedy and it can be stopped through your different measure,' Angela continued.

Angela suggested that parents put something beside their child that they will need later such as their wallet to ensure that they notice.

The grieving mother also suggested asking your child's daycare to contact you if your child doesn't come to daycare.

About 40 children die of heatstroke in the United States every year after being left or becoming trapped in a car, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The majority of cases happen when a parent or caregiver forgets that the child is in the car.

More than 950 children have died in a hot car over the past 25 years, records show.

Of these, 56 have occurred in the state of California.

Dr David Diamon, a professor of psychology at the University of Southern Florida, told NBC San Diego it was easier than people might believe to forget they have a child at the back of their car, especially when they are rushing about.

'We have powerful brain-autopilot brain-memory system that gets us to do things automatically and, in that process, we lose awareness of other things in our mind, including that there's a child in the car.'

Children are more vulnerable to extreme heat because their body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult's.

Heatstroke begins when the core body temperature reaches about 104 degrees Fahrenheit, and death can occur in children from 107 degrees.
The family of teenager Alfie Lewis who was knifed through the heart with a six-inch long kitchen knife are 'disappointed' at his killer's sentence

The 15-year-old was murdered in a 'senseless' attack in full view of pupils leaving a primary school in the Horsforth area of Leeds last November.

Bardia Shojaeifard, 15, has been detained for life with a minimum term of 13 years for Alfie's murder, with the judge, Mr Justice Cotter, saying he had planned the attack in 'revenge' for an altercation between the two boys a week earlier.

In a statement released after the sentencing hearing, Alfie's 'broken' family said their 'lives had been forever changed' following the youngster's death and advocated for a change in the law to stop the 'senseless' killing of young people.

Alfie's mother Heather Lane also told Shojaeifard she would 'never ever forgive' him, adding that 'no sentence will ever be enough' for his crimes.

Alfie Lewis (pictured), 15, was murdered in a 'senseless' attack in full view of pupils leaving a primary school in the Horsforth area of Leeds last November

Bardia Shojaeifard was today convicted of Alfie's murder and was detained for life with a minimum term of 13 years

Alfie Lewis and his mother Heather Lane. Today, Ms Lane told Shojaeifard she would 'never ever forgive' him, adding that 'no sentence will ever be enough' for his crimes

Alfie's family said in a statement: 'Knife crime is an epidemic affecting our youth, even when they are innocent as Alfie was. Our efforts now must go on trying to influence the changes which are needed to the law to stop our babies being killed so senselessly.

'Alfie, your absence is felt every second of every day and our lives are forever changed by what has been taken from us. We will never be complete again. We are broken.

'All we can do now is speak your name every day, spend our time reminiscing on the joy you brought us, and live with the aching hearts that we are left with. You brought joy and happiness to us every day with your jokes, stories, dancing and kindness.'

Addressing the defendant directly as she read her victim impact statement in court, Alfie's mother Heather Lane said: 'No sentence will ever be enough for what you have done. I will never ever forgive you.'

Ms Lane said: 'Alfie was my youngest son, my baby boy, my little mate. He was the third corner or our little family's triangle which is now broken.

'He was my beautiful, kind baby boy and I was so proud of him. We laughed, danced and smiled, we loved each other for 15 years and I thought we would for the rest of my life.

'Some of the things I miss the most are the simply everyday things. I miss his kisses in the morning, goodnight and all of the ones in the middle, his jokes and amazing massive smile and the love he showed me every day. It's unbearable not to have that now.

Alfie Lewis was stabbed to death 'in full view' of pupils leaving a primary school in the Horsforth area of Leeds last November

Police at the scene where Alfie died last November

Floral tributes left on a bench near where Alfie Lewis was stabbed to death in Horsforth, Leeds, in November last year

'Alfie used to call me every hour when he was out with his friends talking rubbish. I'd do anything for that phone call now.

'Our house was filled with Alfie and his friends. He goes out at 2.40 in the afternoon and he's murdered.

'I can't accept what happened as the pain is too much. I don't know how to live without him and I don't want to. The impact Alfie had in our lives is hard to describe and because of these horrific senseless actions, so many people have been affected.

'Alfie would never use or never had any kind of weapon because I brought him up better than that. He was my heart and when he was stabbed in the heart it killed me too.'

In a statement read to the court, Alfie's older brother Anthony Lewis said he was his 'loving and caring little mate' who 'never deserved what happened to him'.

He said: 'I've had sleepless nights hearing mum crying herself to sleep. I'm left dealing with the most important person in mine and Alfie's lives completely broken to bits.

'I miss Alfie's 12 phone calls again, the nights we stayed up playing Fifa together, his smile, his loving and caring, his annoyingness, everything.'

During his sentencing remarks, Mr Justice Cotter called knives a "dangerous obsession" and Patrick Green, chief executive of the Ben Kinsella Trust, agreed that some young people are obsessed with knives.

Mr Justice Cotter also said people would be wondering how a young boy 'from a loving and supportive family' could commit such an 'extraordinary' crime 'without forewarning or any warning signs save for some pictures of knives on his phone'.

Alfie was stabbed to death a six-inch long kitchen knife that Shojaeifard had brought from home

CCTV footage of Alfie Lewis (pictured) walking down a street in Horsforth moments before he was stabbed to death

But Mr Green told PA it is 'not uncommon' to see young people who are considered 'well adjusted' being drawn into knife crime.

He said: 'Going back to the case with Alfie Lewis, just because young people may not be outwardly causing concern doesn't mean that they haven't adopted dangerous beliefs that can bring them into situations such as this.

'That's why educating all young people early about the dangers of knife carrying is so important.'

The Ben Kinsella Trust offers knife crime prevention workshops to teach young people about its dangers.

The CEO said there will be 'many and varied reasons' why young people do not feel safe, including their own concerns about knife crime, but the research shows 'there isn't enough being done to talk to young people and reassure them about positive ways to stay safe'.

Earlier this month, the national lead for policing knife crime, Commander Stephen Clayman, said the accessibility of knives online is 'a really concerning picture' for law enforcement.

Mr Green said knives are more accessible than ever to young people, and called for tighter restrictions on online marketplaces selling weapons.

'We're seeing a flood of knives in society at the moment because they're easy to obtain,' he said.

'It's never been easier for a child to buy a knife than it is now through online marketplaces and we're even coming across case studies where we're seeing young people selling knives, doing this as an active business, so buying the knives and then selling them on to other young people.'

Mr Green explained that online marketplaces have little or no age verification, are selling the weapons at reasonably cheap prices - with machetes and zombie knives sometimes selling for around 20 - and can deliver purchases to someone's door the next day.

He added: 'There is no limit to your possibility of buying a knife and that's why we need not only the legislation to change but also mechanisms whereby marketplaces are held to account and it becomes as difficult to buy a knife as it is in the high street - you have to have ID, you have to prove your age - that needs to be in place on online sales as well.'

The charity CEO said legislation to ban machetes and zombie knives needs to go further and ban swords.
Seafood fraud has become a growing problem in US, and companies are sneaking faux fish ingredients in foods like crab, lobster, and salmon.

International fishing companies are committing massive fraud by sneaking the cheap substitutes into seafood rather than serving suppliers and consumers the real deal.

'Seafood fraud is perhaps one of the most fraudulent items that consumers are coming into contact with regularly,' Max Valentine, campaign director of Oceana, told Business Insider.

Things like seafood cost and fishing tactics play roles in the fraud, and studies have shown that 84 percent of seafood eaten in the US is imported.

Despite the increase in the commonality of seafood fraud, there are still ways in which consumers, chefs, and other experts can tell when some of it is real.

International fishing companies are sneaking cheap substitutes into your seafood rather than serving the real deal

Things like seafood cost and fishing tactics play roles in the fraud, and studies have shown that 84 percent of seafood eaten in the US is imported

Seafood fraud caught the attention of the nonprofit organization Oceana years ago and they conducted one of the its largest investigations into the practice from 2010 to 2012.

Oceana collected over 1,200 seafood samples from 674 retail outlets in 21 states.

Based on the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines, 33 percent of the samples were determined to be mislabeled.

Oceana also concluded in a 2012 seafood fraud report that 56 of the 142 samples they took from 81 retail outlets in New York were mislabeled and more than half the locations in the state have sold mislabeled fish.

Mislabeling in seafood refers to individuals or companies selling one species of fish, crustacean, or shellfish as another species.

An example of this fraud, according to Business Insider, was if a restaurant takes a $3 tilapia and passes it off as a $17 red snapper.

Recent studies via Oceana now show that seafood may be mislabeled between 25 to 75 percent of the time on fish like red snapper, wild salmon, and Atlantic cod.

'Consumers are getting ripped off,' Oceana Vice President Beth Lowell told CNN in 2019.

'Weve been testing seafood for nine years now, and every time we do a study, we think, "maybe we will no longer see a problem," but we keep finding it, and we know its having an impact on our oceans.'

Oceana concluded in a 2012 seafood fraud report that 56 of the 142 samples they took from 81 retail outlets in New York were mislabeled

Valentine, who's also a seafood fraud expert, discussed the decrease in fish population in places like Chesapeake Bay - a body of water where fishermen can catch Maryland Blue Crabs.

'Population levels have been declining because of environmental water quality issues, especially in Chesapeake Bay,' said Valentine.

She added that the Maryland Blue Crabs are now being sold for 'astronomical prices,' and only a limited supply exists.

This was likely one of the reasons why 40 percent of Maryland Blue crab cakes in Washington DC and Maryland were mislabeled in 2015.

'It would turn out to be swimming crab from Southeast Asia, and it's incredibly cheaper,' Valentine told Business Insider.

The tuna fish industry has also been a cause for concern, one reason being the common mislabeling of bluefin tuna.

'The tuna fishery is especially difficult to manage because tuna are migratory in nature, and as a result, the vessels targeting tuna are usually fishing across multiple jurisdictions,' Peter Hammartstedt, Director of Campaigns, Sea Shepherd, told Business Insider.

Another issue is 'fake tuna,' which Business Insider says includes individuals attempting to sell Escolar - a non-expensive fish that may contain high levels of mercury.

'If you can be successful at that fraud, the returns are huge,' said Valentine.

Maryland Blue Crabs are being sold for 'astronomical prices' and 40 percent of Maryland Blue crab cakes in Washington DC and Maryland were mislabeled in 2015

The tuna fish industry has been a cause for concern, one reason being the common mislabeling of bluefin tuna

Other than retail outlets, suppliers and restaurant chains have tarnished their reputations in the past due to their fraudulent seafood decisions.

Law enforcement busted a Virginia seafood supplier for labeling 400,000 pounds of imported lump crab as a US product.

Michael Casey of Caseys Seafood pleaded guilty to falsely labeling the crab meat in 2019 and revealed that he was aware of the fraudulent activity as early as 2010.

The imported crab meat came from Indonesia, China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Central and South America.

Casey was sentenced to nearly four years in prison later that year, and Caseys Seafood, Inc is now permanently closed.

The Frankie & Benny's restaurant chain also found itself in hot water in 2014 after its superiors admitted to using only 45 percent real crab in its crab bruschetta, with the rest being reconstituted fish paste.

The restaurant chain is still running, but it removed the crab bruschetta and received the lowest rating in its sustainability of seafood product assessment in 2015.

Thankfully, there are ways in which one can tell the difference between real and fake seafood.

The Frankie & Benny's restaurant chain to using only 45 percent real crab in its crab bruschetta, with the rest being reconstituted fish paste in 2014

Business Insider handed Valentine a can of lump crab to use so that she could explain some ways on how to determine what fish is real or fake.

'What's really great here is that the company has put a lot of information on the back of the package,' said Valentine.

The container indicated that the lump crab was 'wild caught' and it was a 'Blue Swimming Crab' from Indonesia.

Any crab can or container that doesn't include this concise information is a red flag, and that is when it's best for consumers to purchase a Maryland Blue Crab 'whole and alive' from April until December.

Valentine also advised consumers to remember that if a package in a supermarket is marked 'Bluefin Tuna,' it's likely fraudulent.

According to Max Valentine, salmon filets that are raised in a farm tend to have a lighter pink color compared to wild-caught

New York chef Preston Clark advised consumers to love lobster and to make sure they purchase it alive and cut it up themselves

The seafood fraud expert also explained how to tell the difference between real and fake salmon - wild-caught and farm-raised.

'Salmon filets that are raised in a farm tend to be a little lighter pink in color rather than that deep vibrant red,' said Valentine.

'Your farm-raised salmon filets are going to have more of that marbling... Be a bit meatier, bigger, and thicker because they're not having to work as hard surviving in the ocean versus surviving in pens.'

Other ways to make sure that individuals buy real shellfish is to get them whole, get the items fresh, and cut them up themselves.

New York chef Preston Clark advised consumers to love lobster and to make sure they purchase it alive.
One of Britain's most dangerous terrorists who plotted to kidnap and behead a soldier has been denied parole - but is a step nearer freedom after having his security status downgraded.

Parviz Khan, then 37, was handed a life sentence, with a minimum of 14 years, in February 2008, after pleading guilty to the plan and to the supply of equipment for terrorists on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Sentencing him, judge Mr Justice Henriques at Leicester crown court, said at the time: 'You have been described by the Crown as a man who has the most violent and extreme Islamist views and as a fanatic.

'You not only plotted to kill a soldier, but you intended to film a most brutal killing.'

In an announcement today, the Parole Board confirmed that it had rejected Khan's second bid to be released, but confirmed that the Prison Service had independently sanctioned a reduction in his security status from the highest risk Category A to Category B.

Parviz Khan (pictured) is one of Britain's most dangerous terrorists who plotted to kidnap and behead a soldier. He has been denied parole, but is a step nearer freedom after having his security status downgraded

When he was 37 in February 2008 he was handed a life sentence, with a minimum of 14 years, after pleading guilty to the plan and to the supply of equipment for terrorists on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Pictured on CCTV walking through the scanner at a UK airport after checking in on a flight to Pakistan

Sentencing him, judge Mr Justice Henriques at Leicester crown court (pictured), said at the time: 'You have been described by the Crown as a man who has the most violent and extreme Islamist views and as a fanatic'

It wrote in a summary document seen by MailOnline: 'The panel was told that it will take about a year for Mr Khan to be considered suitable for a move to a lower security prison.

'Witnesses did not support release at this time and believed that Mr Khan should now progress to a lower security prison where he might evidence his learning and show how he can cope with change.'

It is now more likely that the Parole Board will endorse a transfer for Khan, now 52, to an open prison when he next has a hearing in two-years time. Normally, prisoners at Category D jails have the opportunity to take day or weekend release.

The Parole Board said that Khan had behaved well in prison - apart from one violent lapse in 2011 which it called 'excessive self-defence' - and that he had undertaken an accredited programme designed to address extremist offending.

It wrote: 'He then went on to engage with further work to explore his understanding of ideology at the time of his offending and how it may have changed during his sentence.

'The panel heard about Mr Khan's positive engagement with this work. Mr Khan has also worked with a prison Imam to help him better understand his faith.'

Chris Phillips, former head of the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (pictured in 2017), said: 'Anyone who thinks the community will be safer if he is released is bonkers. Early release for terrorists is crazy'

The three-person panel said that Khan benefited from the full support of his family and this would act as a major factor in ensuring he did not commit more terrorist offences.

But it added: 'The panel examined the release plan provided by Mr Khan's probation officer and weighed its proposals against assessed risks.

'The plan included a requirement to reside in designated accommodation as well as strict limitations on Mr Khan's contacts, movements and activities.

'The panel concluded this plan was not robust enough to manage Mr Khan in the community at this stage.'

The panel concluded: 'After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in custody and the evidence presented at the hearing, the panel was not satisfied that release at this point would be safe for the protection of the public.

'The panel accepted that Mr Khan had completed a lot of work in custody but it determined that he would need to show how he conducts himself in less stringent prison conditions from those he currently experiences in a Category A prison.'

Four other men were sentenced alongside him  one for failing to tell police about the plot and three for helping him with his illicit supply line.

But it was Khan, who claimed to be a full-time carer for his elderly mother, who was the prime mover in the Birmingham-based terror cell.

The court heard in January 2009 that the extremist planned to film himself killing his intended victim 'like a pig'. His gang was reported to be inspired by Choudary's al-Muhajiroun network.

At trial, the judge said Khan's aim was to deter any Muslim from joining the British Army.

'This was not only a plot to kill a soldier but a plot to undermine the morale of the British Army and inhibit recruitment,' he said.

Prosecutor Nigel Mr Rumfitt QC said at the time: 'The prosecution say that Parviz Khan is a fanatic.

'He is a man who has the most violent and extreme views. Khan was enraged by the idea that there were Muslim soldiers in the British Army, some of them from the Gambia in West Africa.'

'He decided to kidnap such a soldier with the help of drug dealers in Birmingham.

'The soldier would be approached in the Broad Street nightlife area, lured into a car and taken to a lock-up garage and murdered with his head cut off - 'like a pig'.

'This atrocity would be filmed. They would have the soldier's military card to prove who he was.'

Chris Phillips, former head of the National Counter Terrorism Security Office, said: 'This man cold heartedly and deliberately targeted a British Muslim soldier

'Anyone who thinks the community will be safer if he is released is bonkers. Early release for terrorists is crazy.'

Khan's first parole bid in January 2021 was turned down as the board was 'not satisfied' that he was suitable for release.
Army veteran Johnny Mercer has started a war of words with a Labour rival after accusing him of lying about his military record.

The Conservative veterans minister has hit out at former Royal Marine and opposition candidate Fred Thomas for supposedly lying about serving in combat.

Mr Mercer's comments came after a hustings on Wednesday in Plymouth Moor View, the constituency which both men are seeking to win in the upcoming general election on July 4.

Following the event, the Tory minister posted a video on social media accusing Mr Thomas of being 'a fraud' and claiming he had 'lied' about serving in combat for the purpose of 'political point scoring'.

But Mr Thomas has hit back against these claims, telling Mr Mercer he 'had lived and served in a warzone', which involved 'sensitive operations' that he couldn't talk about in public.

Army veteran Johnny Mercer (pictured) has started a war of words with a Labour rival after accusing him of lying about his military record

Mr Mercer (pictured in his soldier days) has hit out at former Royal Marine and opposition candidate Fred Thomas for supposedly lying about serving in combat

But Mr Thomas (pictured) has hit back against these claims, telling Mr Mercer he 'had lived and served in a warzone'

Mr Mercer has refused to back down on his position, and has also questioned an interview that Mr Thomas gave to the Guardian in 2023, in which he said he had served 'in combat missions before leaving the corps in February' of that year.

The Tory minister wrote on X today: 'You lied about being in combat to journalists, and were called out to your face by other veterans in the room.

'You should resign; I have no idea why Labour would back you. In the old days this would be the end of your public life.

'Its not point scoring. Its about integrity.'

Mr Mercer later added that he does not dispute Mr Thomas 'lived and served in a war zone' but said this was 'very different to fighting and having your mates die in your arms'.

Hitting back at the claims, Mr Thomas told the BBC: 'I served on sensitive operations that are really recent so I'm not allowed to talk about them in that kind of detail.

'We shouldnt be allowing political point-scoring for the sake of earning votes.'

Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey has also jumped to the defence of his party colleague, as he urged Mr Mercer to 'do the right thing and withdraw his deeply disrespectful remarks'.

Ex-Royal Marine and Labour's candidate in Birmingham Al Carns added: 'Fred Thomas has served in high-threat war zones where the risk to life was a daily occurrence.

'As a former Colonel, I believe service should be above politics, and we should honour and respect all those who have not only served but also been willing to put their lives at risk for the safety and security of the nation.'
Police chiefs are planning to use artificial intelligence (AI) to predict and prevent crime, the Mail can reveal.

The move echoes the 2002 sci-fi film Minority Report, starring Tom Cruise  in which police use psychics to stop crimes before they happen.

AI systems take the vast amounts of data available to police and use algorithms to try to predict the risk of crimes so officers can attempt to prevent them.

The technology could also be used to weigh up the risk of allowing suspects out on bail  and even vet police officers by checking their names against criminal records databases.

Vision of the future? Tom Cruise in the 2002 Hollywood hit Minority Report

The move was outlined at a conference on biometrics  AI and other technology  hosted by the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) in Edinburgh this week.

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Freeburn said Police Scotland wanted to explore the limits of what AI could achieve but said it was important to have a conversation with the Scottish public.

Commenting on possible ethical concerns, Chief Constable Jo Farrell said: Researchers and medics talk about AI within a health setting  and there is little push-back to that.

No one throws their hands in the air and demands explanations about why AI is being used to detect and identify a particular disease at an early stage.

She said AI is already part of society and our data and our presence is being used, adding: Yet when we talk about it in a policing context, straight away were into preventing harm versus rights and liberties. In policing, we havent landed that message [about the value of AI] in the same way that medicine has.

AI can identify patterns and links in evidence, and sift through data more quickly than humans.

A team at the University of Chicago has even developed an algorithm that claims to be able to predict crimes a week in advance, with 90 per cent accuracy.

But Professor Paul Wiles, former Commissioner for the Retention and Use of Biometric Material for the UK Government, said allowing AI to make decisions in the criminal justice system could risk miscarriages of justice.

An AI system trialled by Humberside Police links directly into UK police databases so that when a domestic abuse victim tells a 999 call-handler the name of her husband, for example, the AI quickly retrieves his details.

This could raise an alert that the man is known to have a gun licence, which means that armed officers are needed.

Fiona Douglas, director of forensic services at the SPA, told the conference: We must proceed further  with ambition balanced with caution  to ensure that we maintain the integrity of the science, but maximise the value that biometrics will bring now and into the future.
Just Stop Oil (JSO) will stage a campaign of 'sustained action' against airports over the summer holidays which could potentially ruin people's holiday plans.

The climate group has made headlines in recent weeks for its latest stunts including spray painting Stonehenge and spraying two private jets at Stansted airport.

But according to a source, the stunt at Stansted on Thursday was only a 'prelude' to plans to disrupt even more airports over the coming months.

Speaking to The Times, the source said: 'This is just another way of us taking action in the theatres of life we exist in because we're not politicians.

Jennifer Kowalski, 28, (left) and Cole Macdonald, 22, (right) were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after gaining access to the airfield and damaging the private jets

The stunt at Stansted on Thursday was only a 'prelude' to plans to disrupt even more airports over the coming months, a source claimed

The JSO protesters targeted the VIP area of the airport hours after Taylor Swift's plane was there

'Private jets are obviously mental for emissions and most people would agree they need to stop.

'It's a wake-up call for government that we need big radical changes.

'If this incoming government doesn't get us on war footing then we're not going to have anywhere to fly to.'

A JSO spokesman told MailOnline: 'We have smashed through the 1.5 degree threshold that was supposed to keep us safe, the consequences of this are catastrophic and this is leading to runaway extreme temperatures that are making large parts of the world unable to support human life. We cannot continue business as usual.

'To protect our families and communities we need an emergency, international legally binding treaty to phase out fossil fuel burning by 2030.'

When asked whether they would disrupt people's summer holidays, the spokesman said: 'We will be taking action at sites of key importance to the fossil fuel economy to demand an emergency, international legally binding treaty to phase out oil, gas and coal burning by 2030.'

On Wednesday, two JSO activists were arrested and later bailed for throwing orange powder paint at Stonehenge.

Rajan Naidu, 73, and Niamh Lynch, 21, ran up to the stones and attacked them as members of the public tried to intervene.

Cole Macdonald poses in front of her handywork while wearing a Just Stop Oil T-shirt

The activists were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and interference with the use or operation of national infrastructure

An image grab from a video released by the Just Stop Oil climate campaign group shows activists spraying an orange substance at Stonehenge in Wiltshire

Video footage showed two people wearing white shirts with the Just Stop Oil slogan, approaching the stone circle with canisters and spraying orange powder paint.

The group claimed it would wash off in the rain but archaeologists are concerned about potential damage to the 5,000-year-old world icon and landmark.

Tim Daw, a local farmer and historic property steward who used to volunteer at the site, carried out an experiment by mixing cornflour and food dye and then applying it to a small piece of sarsen, which is the same stone as Stonehenge.

On the piece of sarsen a series of little back dots are visible, which are the lichen.

Mr Daw described this on BBC Breakfast as a 'very, very rare plant organism that grows on rocks' which 'takes hundreds of years to grow because there's no nutrition'.

Tim Daw washed the bottom half of the piece of stone before gently rubbing it  and noticed that the cornflour was is in the stone's pores and therefore 'displacing the lichen'

He then washed the bottom half of the stone before gently rubbing it and noticed that the cornflour was in the stone's pores and therefore 'displacing the lichen'.

Mr Daw told the show that he was 'worried' about the lichen on the monument, and said of yesterday's attack: 'I was shocked and saddened. I couldn't believe it.

'Stonehenge is so precious, not just to me but to so many people. To do this act, which I think has worked against their cause, just seems pointless and damaging.'

Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer were united in the condemnation of Just Stop Oil after the incident.

The Prime Minister described it as a 'disgraceful act of vandalism' while the Labour leader branded the group 'pathetic'.

Rajan Naidu, 73, and Niamh Lynch, 21, ran up to the stone circle at around 12pm Wednesday

Then on Thursday, two JSO activists broke into the VIP section at Stansted airport and sprayed two jets with orange paint.

Jennifer Kowalski, 28, and Cole Macdonald, 22, were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after gaining access to the airfield and damaging the private jets.

Although Taylor Swift's private jet had been there hours earlier, it was not affected.

JSO also made headlines in 2022 after two activists threw soup on Van Gogh's Sunflowers at the National Gallery.

Last week, JSO delivered letters to every major political party to demand they sign a legally binding treaty to stop the extraction and burning of oil, gas and coal by 2030.

The group threatened to begin a 'new campaign of civil resistance' if the incoming prime minister did not support the treaty.
Nigel Farage tonight suggested Britons should be charged up front for GP appointments as he backed a shake-up of the NHS.

The Reform UK leader was grilled about his support for the country adopting a French-style healthcare system in a BBC Panorama interview with Nick Robinson.

Mr Farage said it 'makes sense' for patients to be charged to see a doctor, before claiming the money back.

He suggested this would help combat the 'problem' of GPs having some patients not turn up to surgeries.

The Reform leader was grilled over his views on the NHS, immigration, Brexit and the future of British politics during the half-hour interview.

He admitted his shock comeback to frontline politics ahead of the general election might lead to a Tory wipeout on 4 July, and help give Labour's Sir Keir Starmer a massive majority in the House of Commons.

Mr Farage also claimed the Conservatives had 'failed to deliver' Brexit since the 2016 EU referendum.

Nigel Farage tonight suggested Britons should be charged for GP appointments as he backed a shake-up of the NHS

The Reform UK leader was grilled about his support for the country adopting a French-style healthcare system in a BBC Panorama interview with Nick Robinson

Mr Farage admitted his shock comeback to frontline politics ahead of the general election might lead to a Tory wipeout on 4 July

During the general election campaign, the Reform leader has warned the NHS 'isn't working' and suggested Britain copy France's health system.

Robinson quizzed Mr Farage about whether he would support Brits being charged the equivalent of 25 euros to go and see a family doctor - as happens across the Channel.

He replied: 'No, no, if you turn up, you don't pay that charge. If you don't turn up, you forfeit it. That's how the French do it.'

Pressed on whether he was suggesting Brits should have to pay for GP appointments, Mr Farage added: 'No, because you get it back. It's refunded.'

Challenged again on whether he wanted the NHS to adopt a French-style system where Brits are charged to see a family doctor, before claiming the money back, the Reform leader added: 'Well, it costs you nothing to go to the doctor right, because you get it back.

'And the reason they do that, and by the way, British GP's have this problem, is people book appointments and don't turn up. So, actually, thinking about it, it makes sense.'

Mr Farage's shock return to frontline politics has turbocharged Reform's election campaign, with the insurgent party drawing level with - or even moving ahead of - the Tories in some opinion polls.

Robinson quizzed Mr Farage on whether he was happy that Reform might help Labour win a huge Commons majority by splitting the right-wing vote on 4 July.

He replied: 'Even if I had not thrown myself into this campaign, the Conservatives were doomed anyway.

'A very large chunk of their 2019 vote feel literally betrayed by the (Tory) party and what I'm saying is this, Starmer's going to win, and we all know that now, it's just a matter of, you know, by what margin.

'Who is going to be the voice of opposition to a Labour government with a big majority? A split divided Conservative Party or me?'

Asked if he was plotting a takeover of the British political right, Mr Farage said: 'Well, there isn't a right of British politics, it's gone, disappeared.

'I mean we've had 14 years of Conservative government, they may as well change their name to the SDP.

'It's been high tax, big state, more control of our lives, damaging period for the five and a half million men and women running small businesses, they've not even been vaguely Conservative, low tax, free market.

'And on the big one, and the big one is immigration.

'You know when you think that since the Conservatives came to power our population has risen by six million

'And you wonder why you can't get a GP appointment, you wonder why the roads are clogged, you wonder why you can't get a house.'

Mr Farage denied that Britain's exit from the EU had been a 'failure', but said the Tories 'failed to deliver' Brexit.

He added: 'The Conservative Party never believed in Brexit, they never believed in it, they picked it up as a political opportunity, and they failed to deliver.

'Deregulation and immigration were the gains that we could have had, we haven't had them because of the Conservative Party.'
A California PhD candidate went from books to booked after the infant son her pal entrusted her to babysit ended up dead - just after the parents rushed his twin brother to the hospital with an injury allegedly also sustained under her care.

Nicole Virzi is charged with the murder of six-and-a-half-week old Leon Katz at his home in Pittsburgh.

Police allege she is responsible for inflicting a fracture to his skull and several bleeds on the brain picked up by a CT scan, Pittsburgh's WTAE reported.

Virzi has denied any wrong doing and her lawyer maintains her innocence.

'Our client denies these allegations. She is a loving person and a friend to these people and would never harm anyone's child, let alone theirs,' attorney David Shrager told the outlet.

Nicole Virzi is charged with the murder of six-and-a-half-week old Leon Katz at his home in Pittsburgh

Virzi, 29, was babysitting the child while his parents were at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh with his twin after Virzi said she spotted an injury on his groin area.

She told cops that she had gone into the kitchen to get Katz a bottle when she suddenly heard screaming.

When she returned she said the baby had fallen out of his bouncer. She then called 911.

'The injuries sustained by both (twins are) consistent with having been sustained as a result of child abuse, as these are inflicted injuries that are not natural and not accidental,' a doctor told investigators, according to court filings.

Virzi is charged with homicide, aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of children.

She is being held without bail at the Allegheny County Jail. Virzi faces a preliminary hearing on June 28.

Her Linkedin profile indicates she is a fifth year clinical psychology candidate on the SDSU/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program.

Virzi, 29, seen in her booking photo, was babysitting the child while his parents were at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh with his twin after Virzi said she spotted an injury on his groin

Virzi told cops that she was getting Katz a bottle when she heard screaming and saw he had fallen out of a bouncer

'She's going to be 30 years old. She's a Ph.D. student. She is long-term friends with the family in this situation,' Shrager said.

'As I've said, it doesn't show any criminal history in her background and we're anxious to get our day in court.

'Right now, she's charged with a general count of homicide, which, for the most part, bond is not available.

'Of course, we're going to be doing our due diligence on that end and see if we can make some changes there.'
A British Army Major who sent a stream of 'distressing' messages to the Cadbury chocolate heiress she regarded as a rival for the affections of an heroic SAS soldier, avoided being sent to jail today.

Dentist Jennifer Wilson, who is attached to the Royal Medical Corps, sent malicious communications to Tobi-Jayne Cadbury, the girlfriend of SAS soldier Christian Craighead, a judge heard.

Mr Recorder Alex Wright told the 42-year-old Army Major: 'This sort of messaging causes distress and clearly causes distress in this case.'

Prosecutor Jack Wright told the court: 'Ms Wilson was in a relationship between 2012 to 2016 with Mr Craighead. They separated and saw each other on a casual basis.'

He added that Ms Cadbury and Mr Craighead started dating in 2021.

Dentist Jennifer Wilson (pictured in January), who is attached to the Royal Medical Corps, sent malicious communications to Tobi-Jayne Cadbury, the girlfriend of SAS soldier Christian Craighead, a judge heard

Ms Cadbury and Mr Craighead started dating in 2021. She is the great-great-great granddaughter of chocolate baron Richard Cadbury

The court heard that Mr Craighead is a former SAS warrant officer

The judge, sitting at Amersham Crown Court heard that Ms Cadbury was subject to a number of different malicious messages from a number of different social media accounts created by Wilson - who now lives at Old Moor Lane, Wooburn Moor, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

These messages included calling the Cadbury's distant heiress a 'fat c***', a 'chicken 'sh*t sl*g' and an 'uneducated slut'.

Another malicious message said: 'You're f****d Cadbury, he's using you, you're using him.'

The prosecutor added: 'When one is subject to these messages for a significant period of time there is going to be significant harm caused.'

The court heard that Mr Craighead is a former SAS warrant officer. He was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for the bravery shown in the attack on the DusitD2 Hotel complex in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2019.

Wilson pictured with the Royal Medical Corps

Craighead (right) was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for the bravery shown in the attack on the DusitD2 Hotel complex in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2019. On that day that five terrorists stormed the hotel complex in January 2019 and 21 people died

Chris Craighead leading terrified guests to safety after storming the hotel building in Kenya

One of the malicious messages said: 'You're f****d Cadbury, he's using you, you're using him.' Pictured: Christian Craighead

Brent Martin, defence counsel for Wilson, said: 'This was essentially an internet spat that got out of hand and that has gone on for quite some time. We are finally at a sensible conclusion to this case.

'When one looks at the history of this case if Your Honour was to pass a sentence, even a suspended sentence, that would most likely lead to her dismissal (from the Army).'

He added that this resulting effect would be unfair and he asserted that Major Wilson 'really wasn't herself at the time.'

Mr Martin said there were issues with continuity and hearsay with the case presented against his client. As a result any matters regarding the disclosure of sexual material were not proceeded with at court and were discontinued.

Mr Recorder Wright told Wilson: 'You sent unpleasant and insulting messages to her (Ms Cadbury) and you sent them from a number of different social media addresses.

'It is serious because you were in breach; it is serious because it is sustained activity; and it is serious because it has had a very serious impact on her, which is not surprising.

Tobi, who lives in near Malvern in Worcestershire, is part of the billionaire Cadbury chocolate empire, one of Britains oldest and well known confectionary brands

Chris now works promoting veterans charities

'It is very clearly a case of jealously due to the fact that she (Ms Cadbury) was in a relationship with your ex-partner.'

However three Army Colonels gave 'glowing' character references in relation to Wilson - something Mr Recorder Wright said 'doesn't happen often.'

The judge told Wilson: 'You have committed your life to public service and from everything I have read, you are regarded as exceptional and outstanding by those who have commanded you and worked with you.'

He added that he noted Wilson had not used her mental health as an excuse. She suffers from major depression and PTSD.

'It is not the case that you just brought up mental health as an excuse for actions when you were contacted by the police.

'It appears that the route of the PTSD lies in your service in Afghanistan when you had the quite horrific duty, which I can't imagine being pleasant for anybody, of identifying bodies using your dental skills.

'It is against this background, in my view, that you have committed this offence.

'You, at the moment, carry out a very important public service to an exceptional standard.'

Whilst Mr Recorder Wright spoke of Wilson's wrongdoings, he said a prison sentence would hurt others in the Army and deprive the Army of a servant.

For one count of sending malicious communications, Wilson was given a community order, including 30 sessions of an accredited program requirement, 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days and she was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

The Recorder added: 'You are not to contact - directly or indirectly - Tobi-Jayne Cadbury, including through social media. You are not to make reference directly or indirectly on social media.

'I make that restraining order for a period of 10 years.'
An Oklahoma father who faced 12 years in prison on Turks and Caicos after hunting ammunition was found in his luggage has been allowed to return home to his two young children.

Ryan Watson, 40, was arrested in April with firearms offenses after four loose bullets were found at the country's main airport on a vacation with his wife and friends.

After months awaiting his fate, Watson was sentenced on Friday to a 13-week suspended jail sentence and a $2,000 fine.

He was seen beaming alongside his wife Valerie after his passport was returned, and Watson reportedly paid the fine and boarded a flight back to Oklahoma City the same day he was sentenced.

Ryan Watson, 40, a Oklahoma father who faced 12 years in prison on Turks and Caicos after hunting ammunition was found in his luggage, has been allowed to return home to his two young children

Watson, 40, was sentenced on Friday to a 13-week suspended jail sentence and a $2,000 fine

Watson's case was among several similar arrests made on the islands in a short space of time, with Pennsylvania father Bryan Hagerich also spared prison last month and hit with a $6,700 fine.

Tyler Wenrich - who was charged in April after two 9mm bullets were found in his luggage as he departed cruise ship - was also freed last month after being handed a $9,000 fine.

Following Watson's sentencing hearing this week, the judge reportedly issued a warning to other American travelers to double-check their luggage before entering the vacation islands.

According to Newsline TCI, a Turks and Caicos news outlet, the nation's parliament also unanimously voted to approve a revision of its ammo laws following a 'great deal of flacking' from US lawmakers.

Edwin Astwood, the parliament's opposition leader, told The Sun TCI that the move was a 'critical step in ensuring our legal system is both just and flexible.'

Watson's case was among several similar arrests made on the islands in a short space of time, with Pennsylvania father Bryan Hagerich (pictured with his family) also spared prison last month and hit with a $6,700 fine

Tyler Wenrich, 31, (pictured with his wife) was also arrested on the same charges in April after bullets were found in his luggage as he stepped off a cruise. He was released last month after paying a $9,000 fine

Ryan was arrested in April along with his wife Valerie (pictured together arriving at their Turks and Caicos vacation), and faced a 12-year prison sentence that was graciously reduced to a fine this week

Ryan is seen kissing his wife after he was freed on Friday

'It acknowledges that not all cases are alike and that our judges must have the ability to consider all factors and impose sentences that are truly just and appropriate,' Astwood said.

He added that the policy changes are intended to differentiate between criminals intending to do harm, and tourists making a mistake.

This was exactly what Watson said happened to him when he spoke to DailyMail.com while still awaiting sentencing, which he and Valerie said was nothing more than an 'innocent mistake.'

Ryan said he was mainly been left 'confused' by the strict punishment was facing, as the loose deer ammunition was not accompanied by a firearm, and he felt it was 'clearly an honest mistake.'

Ryan Watson previously told DailyMail.com that he was left stunned by the charges against him, which he believed was an 'honest mistake'

In an interview before their first court hearing, Valerie - who was later released back to their two young children - said the possibility of facing 12 years in prison left her 'terrified'

The couple (left) stayed on the island with old friends (right) to celebrate Ryan's 40th birthday before the bullets were found

Valerie added that Turks and Caicos officials appeared to take a 'very different approach' to American TSA, who missed the bullets as they departed for their vacation from Oklahoma.

'It's an innocent mistake, there was no intent to harm with it,' she said. 'It feels harsh, and we're just trying to understand.'

They said that even Turks and Caicos airport staff struggled to find the bullets initially, and Ryan's bag had to be passed through an X-ray machine twice for them to discover the ammunition.

The ammo had been accidentally left in the bag during a recent hunting trip, which Ryan said he is still wracking his head over as he never usually uses that bag for hunting gear.

'I use that bag predominantly for street clothes, and my hunting gear would be in another bag, so I don' know,' he said.

'I laid in the jail cell for 48 hours trying to think, and I can't for the life of me remember putting them in there.'

Bryan Hagerich's son seen holding a welcome home sign for his father after he was released last month and hit with a fine

When Bryan Hagerich was released, he said his ordeal was 'the hardest of my life', and said his freedom felt like 'the weight of the world lifted off my shoulders.'

'I'm so thankful to be home here with my family and friends but we still have three other Americans in Turks and Caicos,' Hagerich said, in reference to one of the offenders.

'It was tough, the darkest days of my life,' he continued of his arrest. 'You think you're on this beautiful island but there's nothing beautiful about it when you don't have your family.'

When asked if he would visit again, he joked, 'I think we'll be looking for somewhere else.'
Two people have been killed and eight others including a police officer have been injured following a shooting outside of a grocery store in Arkansas.

Law enforcement agencies responded to the Mad Butcher store in Fordyce on Friday morning to reports of a shooting.

State Police said that nine civilians were shot at with two dying from their injuries, while a law enforcement agent was also hit and has non-life threatening injuries.

According to officials the shooter was also critically injured after being shot at by law enforcement and has since been taken into custody.

Law enforcement agencies responded to the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce on Friday morning to reports of a shooting

A Dallas County Courthouse employee told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that at least four active shooters had been involved

Reporters on the scene reported shell casings scattered across the ground and a medical helicopter being brought in

Damage can be seen to a front window law enforcement officers work the scene of a shooting at the Mad Butcher store

Sources told the Southeast Arkansas Times that the shootout started between two groups of people with AR-15 style weapons.

A Dallas County Courthouse employee told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that at least four active shooters had been involved.

Authorities have not yet confirmed the actual number of shooters involved in the incident.

Dallas County Sheriff Mike Knoedel confirmed to THV11 that the suspect was quickly detained.

Video emerged on social media of the scene with multiple shots heard being let off in quick succession.

Car alarms can be heard ringing out with the person recording adding that one person was laying in a parking lot after being shot at.

Authorities have not yet confirmed the actual number of shooters involved in the incident. Pictured: law enforcement at the scene Friday afternoon

David Rodriguez, 58, had stopped at his local gas station in Fordyce to fill up his car when he heard what he thought were fireworks from a nearby vendors stand. Officers pictured at the scene Friday afternoon

The camera then pans round to show one person laying on the asphalt surface as shots continue to ring out.

David Rodriguez, 58, had stopped at his local gas station in Fordyce to fill up his car when he heard what he thought were fireworks from a nearby vendors stand.

'We heard a few little pops,' he said.

He then saw people running from the Mad Butcher grocery store into the parking lot, and one person lying on the ground. He began recording video with his phone before the gunfire escalated.

'The police started to show up, and then there was massive gunfire and ambulances pulling up,' he said. 'The bullets were just flying.'

Governor of Arkansas Sarah Huckabee Sand posted on X saying: 'I have been briefed on the tragic shooting in Fordyce, and I'm in constant contact with State Police at the scene.

'I am thankful to law enforcement and first responders for their quick and heroic action to save lives.

Since we have been on scene we have seen what appears to be a medical chopper leave and a number of shell casings on the ground. @KARK4News @FOX16News #Arnews https://t.co/fVP8aUBgLd pic.twitter.com/FQdwcWI3vS  Tylisa Hampton (@TylisaHamptontv) June 21, 2024

A Dallas County Courthouse employee told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that at least four active shooters had been involved

'My prayers are with the victims and all those impacted by this horrific incident.'

Reporters on the scene reported shell casings scattered across the ground and a medical helicopter being brought in.

Several agencies including the Dallas County Sheriff's Office and the Arkansas State Police Department are all currently on the scene.

Fordyce is a city of about 3,200 people located 65 miles (104 kilometers) south of Little Rock.
A family member of slain Maryland mother-of-five Rachel Morin says that President Joe Biden has blood on his hands after authorities charged an illegal migrant with murdering her sister - just one of many migrant-related crimes this week.

Victor Martinez Hernandez, 23, was arrested on June 14 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in connection with the 37-year-old's killing after her naked body was found on a Maryland hiking trail almost a year ago.

The case had remained a mystery for 10 months after Morin was reported missing by her boyfriend in August 2023.

Emily Morin Lyman, the half-sister of Morin, said that President Joe Biden and his administration are directly to blame for her sister's brutal rape and murder.

'As far as I am concerned, the Biden administration has the blood of Rachel Morin on their hands,' she said Friday morning on Fox & Friends.

Police arrested an illegal immigrant on June 14 on suspicion of raping and murdering Maryland mother Rachel Morin, 37, in August 2023

This week alone, at least three migrants in the U.S. illegally have been charged with rape, murder or both - and another pleaded guilty to raping a 12-year-old.

According to detectives, Hernandez was believed to be hiding near a popular hiking trail when he allegedly murdered Morin.

Morin's naked and battered body was found on the Ma and Pa hiking trail in Bel Air, Maryland, around 45 miles north of Baltimore, the day after she was reported missing.

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 illegally crossed the southern border in February 2023 after he allegedly murdered another woman in El Salvador a month earlier.

He is also accused of attacking a nine-year-old girl and her mother in Los Angeles before Morin's murder.

Speaking on Fox News this week, Morin's mother Patty called out Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for referring to Rachel as an 'individual' instead of using her name during a CNN appearance.

Rachel Morin's half-sister, Erin Morin Layman, says the Biden admin has blood on its hands for its border policies which have led to the deaths of Americans

Morin's murder remained unsolved for 10 months until the arrest of a suspect this month

Hernandez was arrested on Friday but the Morin family believe there may be other victims

'It's a completely political statement because they're not even willing to acknowledge that she was a mother, a daughter,' Patty said.

'It totally depersonalizes her and makes her an object,' she continued.

But according to Lyman, former President Donald Trump called the grieving family after the alleged rapist and murderer was arrested and spoke to them for a half hour about their tragedy.

'We are happy and honored that President Trump did call the family. I didn't speak to him personally, but I heard the call went amazing,' Lyman told Fox News. 'It was a good half hour.'

Lyman said Trump was heartfelt and sincere in the conversation, and that she appreciates how he mentions her late sister at his rallies sometimes.

The former president has been very outspoken about the impact Biden's policies have had on the country, often invoking the term 'migrant crime' at campaign appearances.

Trump has described it as a new type of crime that begun under Biden that involves migrants in the country illegally who attack Americans.

Roughly 10 million migrants have been encountered by federal authorities attempting to enter the U.S. in the 3.5 years Biden has been in power.

It is by far the most amount of illegal crossings in the U.S. history and Mayorkas himself has said the border is in a state of crisis.

Tragically, Morin's murder is not the only instance of migrant crime making headlines this week.

Morin was reported missing by her boyfriend Richard Tobin (pictured together) after she went for a run on hiking trails and failed to return

Jocelyn Nungary, 12, was found dead by strangulation in a shallow creek near her home on Sunday

Two migrants were charged this week for the rape and murder of Jocelyn Nungary a 12-year-old Texas girl.

Both are migrants from Venezuela who were released into the country despite being intercepted by border agents.

Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, was fitted with a GPS ankle monitor by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent after he crossed at El Paso in Texas on May 28, but he had cut it off by the time the pair were arrested for killing Jocelyn Nungaray.

Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, was also released after being intercepted by border agents on March 14, little more than three months before Jocelyn's body was found floating in a creek near her Houston home on Monday.

The pair were charged with capital murder on Thursday, and investigators are awaiting the result of tests to confirm whether Jocelyn was raped as well as murdered.

Authorities say that the 12-year-old was strangled to death early Monday morning and was found later that morning under a bridge near a creek around Houston.

Her grieving mother, Alexis Nungary, is now struggling to process what has happened.

'It's like it's not real,' she told Click2Houston. 'I keep hearing everything, and I hear it and it's not registering.'

She recalled telling her daughter on Sunday not to stay up too late, as she was joining her at work the next day. Those would be the last words she ever spoke to her daughter.

It is believed Jocelyn first encountered the two men when she went to a convenience store

Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, have now been charged with capital murder following a manhunt for the suspects

Police said the suspects resided within the same apartment complex as the victim

Another migrant who entered the country illegally was charged with raping a 13-year-old girl in the Queens neighborhood of New York City this week after brandishing a machete at the kid.

Though he was apprehended in Eagle Pass, Texas, in 2021 while crossing into the U.S. illegally, he was given a court date and released into the country.

Luckily, a group of good samaritans jumped into action after the young girl cried for help and began beating up the migrant charged with rape, Christian Geovanny Inga-Landi, 25.

Inga-Landi crawled under a nearby car in a bid to escape the blows of six outraged locals.

Jeffrey Flores, 24, one of the good samaritans that intervened on behalf of the child said the alleged rapist 'was yelling for help... he kept saying 'Help!'... and I said, 'That's what the little girl was saying.''

Inga-Landi pictured Wednesday. He faces charges including rape and sex abuse

Jeffrey Flores, 24, took down alleged child rapist Christian Inga-Landy, 25, after realizing the suspect frequented his local deli in Corona, Queens (pictured) and staking it out

Flores is now in line to collect a $10,000 reward offered by the NYPD for Inga-Landi's successful capture.

He told DailyMail.com that he'd contacted police about the cash and says they'll get back to him within days.

Flores added: 'I didn't do it for the reward, I did it for the people.'

Additionally, another illegal immigrant this week pleaded guilty to raping a 12-year-old in Iowa.

Junior Manuel Dubon Benitez, 18, a Honduran who crossed illegally into the U.S. in April 2022, was arrested on February 14 for suspected 'sexual abuse upon Jane Doe a 12 year old child.'

Court documents indicate the attack happened at a home in Waterloo, Iowa.

The Honduran took a plea deal for third-degree sexual abuse and faces up to 10 years in prison, according to the Washington Examiner.
Some Republicans aren't thrilled with President Donald Trump's new idea to allow 'brilliant' illegal migrants with college degrees to stay in the U.S.

The ex-president, who has said previously that he wants to deport all illegal migrants, first made the surprise proposal on the 'All-In' podcast this week.

He floated allowing illegal migrants who graduate college to get 'automatically as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country.'

'That includes junior colleges, too,' he said in the episode that was taped Wednesday.

Donald Trump has a new idea to deport all illegal immigrants - but would give 'brilliant' foreign-born college graduates an 'automatic' green card - a proposal that has earned him scorn from some on the right

'Anybody graduates from a college, you go in there for two years or four years, if you graduate, or you get a doctorate degree from a college, you should be able to stay in this country,' he continued.

His campaign later added that this would be limited to those who have been 'properly vetted.'

Trump has over the past months insisted that he would work to deport all illegal immigrants if elected president again in November.

'A two year degree in political science should NOT grant you legal U.S. residency,' Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., wrote on X.

'I'm for legal immigration. We should welcome skilled people who can strengthen our republic & who subscribe to the values enshrined in our Constitution. But this ain't it!'

'Wrong,' Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, shot back to the idea on X. He explained: '1) our nation is a crap-show of unknown inhabitants after open borders, so secure first - 2) we have record foreign born as it is, 3) college mostly overrated anti-American garbage, 4) not all degrees / jobs are same, 5) stop paying people not to work / train Americans.'

David Sacks, one of the podcast hosts, asked if he would expand H1-B work visas for tech workers after fixing the border, to which Trump answered in the affirmative. He complained that 'highly skilled' workers were leaving the U.S. due to visa issues.

'Somebody graduates at the top of the class, they can't even make a deal with the company because they don't think they're going to be able to stay in the country. That is going to end on Day 1,' Trump said.

'It's so sad when we lose people from Harvard, MIT, from the greatest schools,' he added.

The new proposal seemed to be a reach to his burgeoning Silicon Valley support. Trump pulled in $12 million at a tech industry fundraiser earlier this month. A growing horde of tech moguls who once reliably donated to Democrats are now switching to back Trump.

President Biden earlier this week announced his own new immigration policy: allowing the 500,000 undocumented spouses of American citizens to stay in the country. The White House framed the new election-year policy as a way 'to keep families together.'

The new policy would allow unlawful migrants who have been in the country for at least 10 years and are married to a U.S. citizen, and their children, to apply for permanent residence without leaving the country.
British police have offered to help in the hunt for missing teenager Jay Slater but their offer has been declined by Spanish counterparts.

The apprentice bricklayer from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, was last heard from on Monday after an attempt to walk back to his accommodation after missing a bus.

Spanish police are scouring a secluded mountain pass in Masca which is the last known location of the 19-year-old after he made a phone call to his friend Lucy, 18, at around 8am that morning.

The force has now declined an offer from Lancashire police to send support to help find the missing teen.

In a statement released late on Friday the UK police force said it had 'made an offer of support to the Guardia Civil' but this was declined after local cops said they were 'satisfied that they have the resources they need'.

Search teams on the island have been pictured using sniffer dogs and drones to aid their search which entered its fifth day on Friday.

Apprentice bricklayer Jay Slater, 19, pictured here with his mother Debbie Duncan, was last heard from on Monday at 8.50am

Emergency workers near the village of Masca, Tenerife, search for missing teenager Jay Slater

A police officer overlooks the village of Masca, Tenerife, as the search continues on June 21

Lancashire Police released a statement regarding Jay's disappearance earlier today, saying it had offered to provide additional support to officers on the island.

'First and foremost, our thoughts are with Jay's family at this time.

'They must be going through the most distressing ordeal not knowing what has happened to their loved one.

'We have specialist officers who are continuing to support Jay's family.

'Whilst this case falls outside the jurisdiction of UK policing, we have made an offer of support to the Guardia Civil to see if they need any additional resources.

'They have confirmed that at this time they are satisfied that they have the resources they need, but that offer remains open and they will contact us should that position change.

'Once again, our thoughts remain with Jay's family and friends at this distressing time.'

It comes as Lucy today blasted the local Spanish police for 'not doing a good enough job' in finding the missing Brit.

'We are having to do this all by ourselves as Spanish police are not doing a good enough job. They dont even speak English. Its been a very slow process here so we need the British police to come out and help them,' she told The Times.

Ophelia shared that Jay has also asked about catching the bus from the area before making the journey on foot - which was the only route

Sniffer dogs have been deployed in the search for Jay Slater in north-west Tenerife on June 19

Rescue teams confer as they continue to search for Jay on June 21

Search and rescue are out in force this evening with man power and drones surveying the scene

A drone can be seen flying over the area in Tenerife where Jay is believed to have gone missing

Emergency workers near the village of Masca, Tenerife as the search enters day five

Emergency workers near the village of Masca, Tenerife on June 21

Meanwhile the owner of holiday rental, Casa Abuela Tina - where Mr Slater is understood to have stayed with two acquaintances - today voiced her worries about the teen after spotting him walking alone down the hills on Monday.

She said: 'It's dangerous walking around here, it's easy to lose yourself. He walked up the road when I saw him for the last time.

'He was alone. He was walking normally, though he was fast.'

Ophelia shared that Jay has also asked about catching the bus from the area before making the journey on foot - which was the only route.

She aired her concerns about the teenager, but in the height of the media frenzy she stated: 'We are not to blame.'

The property, which is listed online as a holiday home, is believed to have been rented by two men Jay was with the night before whilst attending the NRG festival.

It is believed the main area of focus in the search for Mr Slater has been around the Parque Rural de Teno, with his family and mother Debbie, have flying out to the Spanish island to assist officers.

The Civil Guard confirmed to the Manchester Evening News on Friday there had been 'no developments' in the search for the 19-year-old.

In a post on the Facebook page 'Jay Slater Missing', the administrator of the group Rachel Louise Harg said family and friends of Mr Slater were in a 'living nightmare'.

She said: 'There isn't an update for anyone unfortunately.

'Struggling to find words at this time but all I can say is we are looking still and everyone is doing all they can.

'We are drained beyond words - I just can't say no more, I wish I could. I wish this would end now, this living nightmare.

'Searches are ongoing and we remain positive.

'Thanks to you all supporting and helping we can't thank you any more, much love.'

Mr Slater's mother, Debbie Duncan, who flew to Tenerife on Tuesday, said searching for her son was 'an absolute living nightmare'

June Duncan, grandmother of missing person Jay Slater, spoke of fears for her grandson

Museo is the last known location of apprentice bricklayer Jay Slater

Authorities also went to the hotel apartments Paloma Beach where Jay was staying in Los Christianos

His friend Lucy has called for the British police to assist with the investigation and slammed the local efforts.

She said she wants to 'bring him home to his family'.

'That is all that we want, all that we need,' she told the BBC.

On Friday, search and rescue personnel joined officers from the island's Guardia Civil near the village of Masca where they appeared to focus on a specific area of overgrown terrain.

Some officers used binoculars to survey the landscape before heading towards the bottom of the hillside.

On Thursday, a helicopter flew over Rural de Teno park in the south of the Spanish island as search teams followed various footpaths in the area.

Footage released by the Guardia Civil on Thursday showed the views from the helicopter as it scoured the hillside.

The video, posted to the force's X account, showed officers searching in bushes and overgrown terrain with dogs.

Jay Slater, from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, travelled to the Canary Islands for a musical festival with pal Lucy and another friend last week

A MailOnline graphic detailing the timeline of events from when Jay attended the three-day NRG festival to his location when his phone died at around 8.50am on Monday

A screenshot of Jay's last known location where his phone battery died

The teenager posted a Snapchat image on the morning he went missing in Spain

The mountain range in Rural de Teno near the village of Masca where police have been searching

The setting is surrounded by spectacular mountains and rocky roads

Authorities searching for missing teenager Jay along the ravine on June 20

Police officers also searched in the Masca ravine for Jay on June 19

The walk from Mr Slater's last known location to his accommodation would have taken about 11 hours on foot.

The search area was quiet on Friday, with only a handful of police cars stationed at Rural de Teno park.

Mr Slaters friend Lucy, who attended the NRG music festival with Mr Slater, said he called her at about 8.30am on Monday and told her he was 'lost in the mountains, he wasn't aware of his surroundings, he desperately needed a drink and his phone was on 1%'.

Mr Slater's mother, Debbie Duncan, who flew to Tenerife on Tuesday, said searching for her son was 'an absolute living nightmare'.

Ms Duncan told ITV News: 'He's the life and soul, he's a beautiful boy.'

Mr Slater was last seen wearing a white T-shirt with shorts and trainers and a black bag.

A fundraiser set up by Mr Slaters friend Lucy to 'get Jay Slater home' has since received more than 23,500 in donations.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesman said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man who has been reported missing in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.'

Today, the search is continuing for the fifth day to find the teenager, 19, who disappeared in Tenerife.

The search mission has entered its fifth day. Pictured: Rescuers on June 19

Police officers and a sniffer dog are pictured in the search for Jay on June 19

Police officers and firefighters talked while searching for the missing 19-year-old on June 19

Friends and family members have flown over to the Canary Islands to join in with the search for Jay who has not been seen or heard from since Monday.

His last known location was in the mountainous area of Teno Rural Park, some 10 hours' walk away from his accommodation in the southern part of the island.

A GoFundMe which was set up yesterday has raised 23,723 as of this morning.

Police using a helicopter, sniffer dogs and a drone, as well as mountain rescue units have been scouring countryside close to an Airbnb he went to with two British men.

The isolated farmhouse was an hour's drive from the popular hotspot of Playa des Los Americas in southern Tenerife, in the village of Masca, 19 miles away.

Speaking from the family home in Oswaldtwistle, Jay's stepfather Andy Watson said the teen was reluctant to go on holiday.

He said that Jay's friends had 'talked him into going' and his mother Debbie added he 'wasn't really that keen'.

She told ITV that looking back, she wished she hadn't 'encouraged him'.
Four members of the UK's richest family have been handed prison sentences for exploiting their servants.

Indian-born tycoon Prakash Hinduja and his wife, son and daughter-in-law were also found guilty of providing unauthorised employment for their servants, mostly illiterate Indians, who were employed at their luxurious lakeside villa in Geneva.

They were accused of seizing workers' passports, paying them in rupees - not Swiss francs - barring them from leaving the villa and forcing them to work long hours for a pittance in Switzerland, among other things.

Prakash and his wife Kamal each received four and a half year sentences, while their son Ajay and his wife, Namrata, were sentenced each to four years at a Swiss criminal court on Friday.

The four had also been accused of the more severe charge of human trafficking, but this was later dismissed on the grounds that the staff understood what they were getting into.

Indian-born tycoon Prakash Hinduja (pictured), his wife, son and daughter-in-law were found guilty of taking advantage of their servants

Prakash's son Ajay and his wife, Namrata, (pictured) were sentenced each to four years

Ajay Hinduja and his wife Namrata arrive at court with their lawyer Robert Assael in June 2024

Lawyers representing the defendants said they would appeal the verdict.

The four family members were not in court in Geneva though a fifth defendant - Najib Ziazi, the family's business manager - was in attendance. He received an 18 months suspended sentence.

Last week, it emerged in criminal court that the family - which has roots in India - had reached an undisclosed settlement with the plaintiffs.

Geneva prosecutors opened the case for alleged illegal activity including exploitation, human trafficking and violation of Swiss labour laws.

The family set up residence in Switzerland decades ago and other members of the Hinduja family established themselves in London.

Prakash Hinduja was already convicted in 2007 on similar, if lesser charges, though prosecutors say he persisted in employing people without proper paperwork anyway.

Swiss authorities have already seized diamonds, rubies, a platinum necklace and other jewellery and assets from the family in anticipation that they could be used to pay for legal fees and possible penalties.

Princess Anne meets Kamal Hinduja, Prakash Hinduja, Chairman of the Hinduja Group in Europe, last year

Ajay and his wife Kamal (centre) each received four and a half year sentences. The pair are seen arriving into court in January 2024

Ajay arrives to court in Geneva, Switzerland, in June 2024

Prosecutors said that at times the staffers - in jobs such as cooks or house help - were forced to work up to 18 hours a day with little or no holiday time off and for pay that was equal to less than one-tenth of the comparable amount required under Swiss law.

Employees worked even later hours for receptions and slept in the basement of the villa in the upscale Cologny neighbourhood - sometimes on a mattress on the floor, prosecutors said. They described a 'climate of fear' instituted by Kamal Hinduja.

Some employees allegedly spoke only Hindi and were paid their wages in Indian rupees in banks back home that they could not access.

A separate tax case brought by Swiss authorities is pending against Prakash Hinduja, who obtained Swiss citizenship in 2000.

Along with three brothers, he is a leader of an industrial conglomerate in sectors including information technology, media, power, real estate and healthcare.

Forbes magazine currently puts the net worth of the Hinduja family at some 20 billion dollars (15.8 billion).
A Los Angeles teen who escaped hard prison time after being convicted of murder was released by District Attorney George Gascon and accused of a second killing less than a year later.

Denmonne Lee was convicted in 2018 after a gas station robbery in Antelope Valley ended in the death of former Marine John Ruh. While the then-16-year-old was not the shooter, he was acquainted with Ruh and provided his co-defendant Deonta 'Fatboy' Johnson with the weapon, per official records.

Gascon took office two years after Ruh's murder and barred prosecutors from trying juveniles as adults, so Lee was commanded to serve time at the Secure Youth Treatment Facility in Sylmar until he turned 25, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

A year after his conviction, officials said Lee 'responded very well' to programs while in jail and probation officials moved him from the Sylmar facility to a rehabilitation-focused setting in Malibu.

Last June, the 22-year-old was released to a halfway house, enrolled in community college and found a job at a nonprofit, per the LA Times.

A Los Angeles teen who escaped hard prison time after being convicted of murder was released by DA George Gascon, pictured, and accused of a second killing less than a year later

But in April he was arrested and charged with playing a role in the January 19 murder of 28-year-old Eric Ruffins in Compton.

Ruh's widow Michelle Brace said in court this month: 'Denmonne, you were given a gift and you squandered that gift. Against my familys wishes, I had hope that you would change and help your community.

'I will always pray for you and your safety. You broke my heart when I heard you were in trouble again.

'You gave me hope when you apologized to me about killing  my husband. I forgave you, now I feel like a fool.'

Brace told the LA Times she plans to move out of California - but not before she votes against Gascon, one of the countrys most progressive prosecutors, in November.

Denmonne Lee was convicted of murder after a 2018 gas station robbery ended in the death of former Marine John Ruh (pictured)

While the then-16-year-old was not the shooter, he was acquainted with Ruh and provided his co-defendant Deonta 'Fatboy' Johnson with the weapon, per official records

Activists against Gascon often cite cases where they say his ban of trying juveniles as adults has led to more crimes.

After massive backlash, Gascon's office has since created a method for officials to have cases transferred to adult court.

Following Ruh's murder, police said Lee walked away 'smiling' after the veteran was shot three times.

Lee reportedly bragged about the killing to his girlfriend, saying his gun 'had a body on it.' Prosecutors also claimed Lee threatened his girlfriend while in custody, saying he was going to shoot her for 'snitching.'

The DA's office told the LA Times in a statement that regardless of Gascons policy, Lee should have remained in juvenile court because he was not the shooter and had no prior criminal record.

But in April he was arrested and charged with playing a role in the January 19 murder of 28-year-old Eric Ruffins (pictured) in Compton

Gascon's November opponent Nathan Hochman, a former federal prosecutor, has tried to capitalize on anger over crime and homelessness, issues that led voters to unseat San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin in a recall election in 2022.

In his campaign ads, Hochman, a defense attorney, has vowed to change the direction of the district attorney, saying: 'Its time we had a DA who fights for victims, not criminals.'

Gascon was elected on a criminal justice reform platform in 2020, in the wake of George Floyds killing by police. He faced a recall attempt within his first 100 days and a second attempt later, which both failed to get on the ballot.

During his first term, Gascon immediately imposed his campaign agenda: not seeking the death penalty; not prosecuting juveniles as adults; ending cash bail for misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies; and no longer filing enhancements triggering stiffer sentences for certain elements of crimes, repeat offenses or gang membership.

Ruh's widow Michelle Brace said she plans to move out of California - but not before she votes against Gascon, one of the countrys most progressive prosecutors, in November

He was forced to roll back some of his biggest reforms early in his tenure, such as initially ordering the elimination of more than 100 enhancements and elevating a hate crime from misdemeanor to a felony.

The move infuriated victims advocates, and Gascon backpedaled, restoring enhancements in cases involving children, older people and people targeted because of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or disability.

His challengers have pledged to reverse many or nearly all of his most progressive policies, such as his early orders to eliminate filing for sentencing enhancements.
She has been transferred to state prison to serve her 15 years to life sentence

Rebecca Grossman has filed an appeal of her murder conviction for mowing down two young brothers as she was transferred to California state prison to begin her sentence, DailyMail.com can reveal.

The convicted killer struck Mark Iskander, 11, and brother Jacob, 8, while speeding after a boozy lunch with her lover on the evening of September 29, 2020.

A jury found her guilty in February of two felony counts each of second-degree murder and gross vehicular manslaughter, and one felony count of hit-and-run driving resulting in death.

The socialite was sentenced to 15 years to life behind bars on June 10, but could be eligible for parole in as little as seven to eight years.

After being housed at the notorious Twin Towers jail in Downtown LA, Grossman was transferred to Central California Women's Facility on Wednesday, the largest female prison in the state, DailyMail.com has learned.

Socialite-turned-pariah Rebecca Grossman has filed a notice of appeal of her second degree murder and hit-and-run convictions

Records show Grossman was transferred to Central California Women's Facility (pictured) on Wednesday to begin her 15 year to life sentence

Sources said Grossman was placed on suicide watch for the first few days she was locked up at Twin Towers after a jury found her guilty of two murder counts in February.

The Twin Towers jail includes a 'correctional treatment center', or a medical ward, where female inmates and inmates with mental health concerns are housed.

During a shocking moment at her sentencing, Grossman admitted she has contemplated suicide and wished God had taken her life.

'He knows that if I had seen anyone, I would've thrown myself to the brick wall,' a hysterical and sobbing Grossman said to the Iskander family. 'I wanted God to take my life. I don't know why God didn't take my life.

She continued: 'I wish He would take my life. And if I could give my life right now and say to God, "Could you just please bring Mark and Jacob back," I would tell God to take my life. I am so, so sorry!'

Grossman, who co-founded a renowned burn center with her plastic surgeon husband Dr. Peter Grossman, went from glitzy galas and fundraisers with Hollywood elites to sleeping at LA County's largest jail known for its 'barbaric' and overcrowded conditions.

Rebecca Grossman had been languishing at the hellhole Twin Towers Correctional Facility before her transfer

Gross man killed brothers Mark Iskander, 11, and Jacob, 8, while speeding after a boozy lunch with her lover on the evening of September 29, 2020

In February, a jury found Grossman guilty of speeding at up to 81mph while behind the wheel of a white Mercedes then slowing to 73mp, less than two seconds before the collision

Court records viewed by DailyMail.com show Grossman filed her notice of appeal on the day of her sentencing, and the court officially lodged in on Thursday.

Nancy Iskander, mother of the two murdered boys, slammed the socialites sentence, alleging the judge treated their deaths as 'one kid' despite 'two different lives' having been lost.

The heartbroken mom said she wants to see Grossman show remorse for the hit-and-run deaths of her sons.

'My plan is to give her a visit in prison, in a few months or maybe a year, and I will ask her that question directly. I will say, "Are you able to say, 'I am sorry I killed them?' This will allow me to forgive, because I need to get through what she's done,' she told Fox News.

During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that the data recorder in Grossman's white Mercedes showed she was speeding at up to 81mph and tapped her brakes, slowing to 73mp, less than two seconds before the collision.

After fatally striking the siblings, who had been in a crosswalk, Grossman fled the scene.

Nancy Iskander, mother of the two murdered boys, slammed the judge for the lenient sentence and said she plans to visit Grossman in prison so she can see if she is remorseful

Grossman, before the judge handed down her sentence, told the court that she did not flee the scene and instead stayed by her car for 20 minutes and was in a 'state of denial.

Prosecutors have repeatedly said the socialite has shown no remorse for her crimes and Superior Court Judge Joseph Brandolino, during sentencing, called Grossman's actions 'reckless and unquestionably negligent.'

Earlier in June, a judge threw out the child killer's bid to have her murder convictions overturned and be granted a new trial.

The wealthy socialites attorneys argued that she was entitled to a trial do-over because prosecutors at her trial four months ago produced insufficient evidence to find her guilty and misled the jury.

But Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Joseph Brandolino rejected Grossmans pleas on June 3, telling the court in Van Nuys, California, that he found prosecutors had proved beyond a reasonable doubt that she had acted with implied malice
Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal could break his silence since he was poisoned as has been called to give evidence at an inquiry into the Salisbury attack.

Skripal, his daughter Yulia and ex-police officer Nick Bailey were poisoned by deadly nerve agent Novichok in a murder attempt in the English town in March 2018.

All three survived, however Dawn Sturgess, 44, died four months later after she found a perfume bottle containing the nerve agent and sprayed it on her wrist.

On Friday, a preliminary hearing for the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry at the Royal Courts of Justice heard that Mr Skripal and his daughter may give oral evidence at the poisonings inquiry which is due due to begin in October this year.

Michael Mansfield KC, representing the family of Ms Sturgess, said this was because transcripts from police interviews with the Skripals had not been disclosed to him and they should therefore be provisionally on the witness list.

Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal (pictured) could break his silence since he was poisoned as has been called to give evidence at an inquiry into the Salisbury attack

Skripal, his daughter Yulia (pictured) and ex-police officer Nick Bailey were poisoned by deadly nerve agent Novichok in a murder attempt in the English town in March 2019

It took almost exactly a year for Salisbury to finally be declared clear of all traces of the deadly nerve agent. Pictured is the Salisbury Cathedral three years after the chemical weapons attack

Mr Mansfield said: 'We are in less than a Twilight Zone (without having the transcripts), it's rather dark, until we know we can't act on it.'

He acknowledged the Skripals's 'potential trauma' if they were to give evidence.

Jack Holborn, representing the Skripals, spoke of concerns over security measures for them if they give evidence, as well as the potential 'distress' of appearing in court.

The Government's KC, Cathryn McGahey told the hearing: 'The safety of the Skripals is paramount.'

It was also heard that lawyers representing Ms Sturgess' family may not be able to question witnesses at the substantive inquiry hearings over fears that issues of national security and police workings may be revealed.

The family want to investigate the quality of the care she received before her death, Mr Mansfield said.

It is believed the Russian state ordered the attack on Skripal - who was jailed in Russia for spying in MI6 - on March 4 2018.

The suspected assassins  Russian intelligence officers Anatoliy Chepiga and Alexander Mishkin  were caught on CCTV as they travelled from Moscow to the Wiltshire cathedral city.

Sergei and his daughter Yulia (pictured) nearly died after Russian agents are believed to have sprayed military-grade chemical Novichok on the front door of their house

Dawn Sturgess (pictured) , 44, died four months after Skripal and his daughter were poisoned after she found a perfume bottle containing the nerve agent and sprayed it on her wrist

A third suspect, senior Russian agent Denis Sergeev, was believed to be the on-the-ground commander. All three fled back to Russia after their failed murder attempt.

It took almost exactly a year for Salisbury to finally be declared clear of all traces of the deadly nerve agent. Police say it could have killed thousands.

Following the attack, the Skripals were heavily sedated and given drugs to protect them from the side effects.

Yulia was discharged in the April and Sergei in mid-May. He then joined her in hiding but had to be closely monitored by a doctor.

Britain responded to the poisoning of the Skripals by expelling 23 Russian diplomats. The United States expelled 150.

In the weeks after the poisoning, Putin claimed that Mishkin and Chepiga were innocent tourists and denied any Russian involvement.

In 1995, Sergei Skripal, a high-ranking member of Russian Intelligence, became a double-agent working for Britain. After nine years of passing secrets to MI6, he was caught by the Russian authorities and sentenced to 13 years in a penal colony.

Then, in 2010, he was pardoned by President Dmitry Medvedev and sent to the UK as part of a spy-swap deal. Sergei and his wife Liudmila began a new life in Wiltshire.
A former Honduran deputy mayor was arrested in Honduras and is now awaiting extradition to the United States.

Mario Hernandez was captured at a farm in the municipality of Catacamas on Friday, Honduras Security Minister, Gustavo Sanchez, said.

The 42-year-old's arrest came just four days after Honduras National Police revealed a 1 million lempiras reward, about $40,000, for any information leading to his arrest.

Hernandez was scheduled to appear before a judge at the country's Supreme Court on Friday afternoon.

Sanchez said that the government received support from the United States two years to organize a special unit to hunt down Hernandez.

Mario Hernandez, the former deputy mayor in the Honduran city of Gracias, was captured on Friday. Hernandez is facing cocaine trafficking and weapons charges in New York. His extradition to the United States is pending

The Honduran government said that Mario Hernandez (center first row) was a member of a criminal structure that was led by former President Juan Orlando Hernandez and former Congressman Juan Antonio 'Tony' Hernandez, both of whom were convicted of drug trafficking charges by a New York federal court

Hernandez was deputy mayor of the municipality of Gracias (2014 to 2018) in the department, which is similar to a state, of Lempira and had been wanted since 2019. He allegedly moved around the department of Olancho without being caught due to the support he had with criminals and businesses.

Authorities simultaneously searched five different regions in Olancho and the department of Lempira until they were able to locate his whereabouts in Catacamas.

Hernandez was indicted on conspiring to traffic cocaine and illegally possessing and using machineguns and destructive devices by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in January 2019.

He was named as a co-conspirator in the case against former Honduras Congressman Juan Antonio 'Tony' Hernandez, who was convicted of three counts, including cocaine trafficking, and was sentenced to life in prison by a New York federal court in March 2021.

His brother, former President Juan Orlando Hernandez, was found guilty of drug trafficking charges in March.

'He belongs to the criminal structure of the constitutional president of the Republic of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernandez Alvarado, and his brother 'Tony' Hernandez,' Sanchez said.

Former deputy mayor Mario Hernandez was wanted by Honduran authorities since 2019 and evaded capture by moving around the department of Olancho

Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez (center) was indicted on drug trafficking charges by a New York federal court in March

Juan Antonio 'Tony' Hernandez, the brother of Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernandez, was sentenced to life in prison by a federal court in New York in March 2021

During 'Tony' Hernandez's trial, convicted drug trafficker Victor Hugo said that Mario Hernandez trafficked cocaine from Colombia through Guatemala before the shipments made it to the United States.

Mario Hernandez faces 10 years to life in prison if he is convicted on the drug trafficking charges.

He also faces 30 years to life in jail for the possession of machineguns and destructive devices to conspire to import cocaine. In addition, he is looking at a life sentence for conspiring to use and carry the weapons to conspire to traffic cocaine.

The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York declined a request for comment to DailyMail.com.
The Governor of Louisiana was undeterred in signing a Ten Commandments measure into law - not even noticing as a schoolgirl passed out behind him during the ceremony this week.

It came as Republican Gov. Jeff Landry praised the legislation mandating the biblical rules be displayed in every classroom throughout the state, noting that 'if you want to respect the rule of law, you've got to start from the original lawgiver.'

As he spoke Thursday, a schoolgirl appeared to stare blankly at the ceiling, before collapsing and falling to the floor.

Landry continued speaking on the controversial bill while adults and children gathered around the child, telling the audience that Moses 'got his commandments from God, and he then gave them to us.'

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry commended a new law mandating the Ten Commandments be shown in classrooms throughout the state moments before a schoolgirl collapsed behind him

Landry continued praising the controversial bill while adults and schoolchildren swarmed the collapsed girl behind him

Footage of the moment quickly circulated across social media, with some taking the opportunity to show their distaste at the law.

MSNBC host Katie Phang commented that Landry was sat 'with a self-satisfied smug look, while a young child passes out behind him.'

'Nobody caring about the child fainting in the background and just carrying on is a perfect representation of this country,' added another commenter, with a third feeling that 'the child passing out is a bad omen.'

Critics of the legislation have argued that it is a clear violation of the constitution's provisions on separating church and state.

The law signed in by Landry mandates that the Ten Commandments are displayed across the state's classrooms starting in 2025, in 'large, easily readable font.'

Posters are set to be put up in classrooms from kindergarten all the way through to state-funded universities, and will also include a 'context statement' explaining the Ten Commandments 'were a prominent part of American public education for almost three centuries.'

Gov. Landry with a self-satisfied smug look while a young child passes out behind him.



 https://t.co/mE6gpsnWuD  Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) June 20, 2024

The southern state has become the first in the country to introduce the policy under a bill signed into law by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry (pictured)

Louisiana became the first state in the nation to pass the Ten Commandments law, although some argue that it is likely to be challenged in courts now it has been signed.

The ACLU has already announced that it is filing a lawsuit against Louisiana, saying in a statement that 'the law violates the separation of church and state and is blatantly unconstitutional.'

'The First Amendment promises that we all get to decide for ourselves what religious beliefs, if any, to hold and practice, without pressure from the government.

'Politicians have no business imposing their preferred religious doctrine on students and families in public schools.'

The posters would be paid for through donations. State funds will not be used to implement the mandate, based on language in the legislation.

The law also 'authorizes' - but does not require - the display of the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence and the Northwest Ordinance in K-12 public schools.

Louisiana's law forces all classrooms to display the Ten Commandments. Pictured: Workers repaint a Ten Commandments billboard off of Interstate 71 on Election Day near Chenoweth, Ohio, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023

Similar bills requiring the Ten Commandments be displayed in classrooms have been proposed in other states including Texas, Oklahoma and Utah.

However, threats of legal battles over the constitutionality of such measures have quashed attempts in other states.

In 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a similar Kentucky law was unconstitutional and violated the establishment clause of the U.S. Constitution, which says Congress can 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion.'

After he finished signing bills, Landry and his wife, Sharon, reportedly visited with the girl to check on her, her parents told the local Acadiana Advocate, and gave her an official governor's pen and a stuffed alligator.

"It was definitely comforting that he went and checked on her like that," her mom told the outlet.

The high court found that the law had no secular purpose, but rather served a plainly religious purpose.

Louisianas controversial law, in a state ensconced in the Bible Belt, comes during a new era of conservative leadership in the state under Landry, who replaced two-term Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards in January.

The GOP also has a two-thirds supermajority in the Legislature, and Republicans hold every statewide elected position, paving the way for lawmakers to push through a conservative agenda during the legislative session that concluded earlier this month.
An influential Republican group is already prepping for a counter-fight should Democrats try to pull Joe Biden off the top of the ticket.

'Due to the rapid decline of President Biden, as seen by his bizarre episode at the G-7, The Oversight Project is taking the unprecedented step to release this draft,' said Mike Howell, Executive Director of The Heritage Foundations Oversight Project, in a statement.

'We are monitoring the calls from across the country for President Biden to step aside, either now or before the election, and have concluded that the process for substitution and withdrawal is very complicated. We will remain vigilant that appropriate election integrity procedures are followed.'

If Joe Biden were to withdraw at any point before the Democratic National Convention, it would be up to the delegates at the DNC to pick a new nominee. But from there, they can expect legal challenges from Republicans looking to prevent any other Democratic nominee from getting on the ballot in certain states.

An influential Republican group is already prepping for a counter-fight should Democrats try to pull Joe Biden off the top of the ticket

The Heritage Oversight project has set their sights on three contentious swing states where they believe taking Biden off the Democratic ticket would not allow anyone else to replace him: Georgia, Nevada and Wisconsin.

Wisconsin does not allow withdrawal from the ballot for any reason besides death.

In Nevada, no changes can be made to the ballot after 5 p.m. on the fourth Friday in June of an election year or 'a nominee dies or is adjudicated insane or mentally incompetent.'

If Biden were to withdraw less than 60 days before the election Georgia his name will remain on the ballot but no votes will be counted.

In Texas, the two party's nominees have until the 74th day before the election to withdraw from the ballot. Some states, like South Carolina, do not allow candidates to withdraw for political reasons.

Some states don't have any laws on the books for dealing with a presidential nominee withdrawing, and there is little precedent for such a situation occurring.

Biden, to be clear, has publicly said he has no intentions of withdrawing. But he's long been swamped by speculation on his cognitive decline.

The memo concluded: 'Policymakers and the public should be prepared for all externalities that arise from President Biden not running for President in 2024. The process for substitution and withdrawal presents many election integrity issues.'

'Adherence to the law in some states may result in that process being unsuccessful for the purposes of another candidate being on the ballot.'

During his time at the yearly G-7 economic summit in Italy, Biden was hardly seen in public - and administration officials were quick to push back on a clip of Biden appearing to wander off during a parachute demonstration.

Foreign media reports said Biden appeared 'tired' and to be 'losing focus' at moments. Aides are now worried about the personal toll on Biden of seeing his son Hunter recently convicted of three felonies tied to a 2018 handgun purchase.
A Palestinian-born asylum seeker who wore a green headband supporting Hamas at a Trafalgar Square protest has escaped punishment.

Tunisian Khaled Hajsaad, 25, wore the headband as 45,000 pro-Palestinian protestors marched through London calling for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip on November 25, 2023.

He was convicted of wearing an article supporting a proscribed organisation under the Terrorism Act, 2000.

Hajsaad had denied the charge and claimed that his green headband with a 'Shahada' on it was an Islamic oath and expression of faith which had been coopted by Hamas.

District Judge Nina Tempia today gave Hajsaad a conditional discharge for three months meaning he will not be punished unless he reoffends.

Palestinian-born asylum seeker Tunisian Khaled Hajsaad (pictured in November), 25, has escaped punishment for wearing a green headband supporting Hamas

People gather in Trafalgar Square in London for a Pro-Palestine rally on November 25, the same day that Hajsaad was seen wearing the Hamas headband

Hajsaad, who has been living in Birmingham, was convicted of wearing an article supporting a proscribed organisation under the Terrorism Act, 2000

She did not ask him to pay any costs due to his limited means as he lives on 49 a week.

The judge said: 'The offence here was Mr Hajsaad wearing a bandana at a demonstration.

'Looking at the guidelines I would put this at the lowest level for culpability.

'In respect of harm it was argued no actual harm was caused but I agree with the submission of the prosecution there was harm as the conduct linked to support of a proscribed organisation.

'The offence was committed seven weeks after 7 October.'

Hajsaad, of Smethwick, Birmingham, lived in Palestine until he was five and later lived in Tunisia, arriving in the UK a year ago.

He attended Westminster Magistrates Court wearing a blue bodywarmer and tracksuit bottoms assisted by an interpreter.

A masked Hamas militant, holding an AK-47 rifle and wearing a headband that reads 'No gods only one God, Mohammed is Prophet of Allah' in Gaza City in 2002

He told a probation officer he cannot understand why wearing the headband is considered a crime and that he did not believe he offended anyone in wearing it.

Tom Wainwright, defending Hajsaad, said: 'The offence for which he has been convicted of does not mean he is a supporter of Hamas.

'It should not be said or reported that he is a supporter of Hamas.'

He said that if Hajsaad supported Hamas he would have been charged with a more serious offence.

The barrister added: 'There is no evidence that anyone was caused distress, there is no evidence to on how long he was wearing this headband and no evidence anyone saw it other than police officers.'

Mr Wainwright said it was not right to say that Hajsaad is responsible for harm or offence that may be caused to those reading about his actions in the media.

Hajsaad has no previous convictions and little education.

'He is someone who is keen to learn, someone who has experience of trauma,' Mr Wainwright said.

'His first time in court has been a salutary lesson. It's not an experience he wants to repeat. There is no risk of him reoffending or being back before the court.'

Prosecutor Gareth Weetman earlier asked the judge to consider the 'distress' caused by Hajsaad's headband and referred to the atrocities against Israel civilians on 7 October.

He said: 'November 25th was the day in question and so it must be that the defendants actions lent support to a terrorist organisation very soon after acts by that terrorist organisation on the 7 October, which would have been extremely fresh and raw in the minds of very many people.

'Therefore causing distress, significant distress, to those who were targeted by that organisation both directly and in the wider sense.

'Images of those very high profile protests would have been broadcast worldwide.'

Two academics in the field, Professor Robert Gleave and Hugh Lovatt gave evidence at trial.

They spoke about the specific calligraphies of the Arabic script, as well as how closely it resembled the Saudi Arabian flag.

Experts in court spoke about the specific calligraphies of the Arabic script, as well as how closely it resembled the Saudi Arabian flag. Pictured: A Saudi Arabian flag flutters in Istanbul, Turkey, on October 20, 2018

Judge Tempia said: 'Both witnesses I heard from are clearly experts in their field.

'Both Mr Lovatt and Professor Gleave agreed that the Shahada was a statement of faith.

'Professor Gleave accepted that in the conflict between Palestine and Israel there was no other organisation in the arena apart from Hamas that was readily associated with Shahada on a green background.

'I have to decide whether he was wearing it in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he was a supporter of that proscribed organisation.

'I am satisfied that the crown have proved their case to the criminal standard.

'Hamas is the most notable Palestinian group associated with the colour green and given the context of where the defendant was, wearing the headband on a pro-Palestine march, there would be no reason for someone to wear a headband of a Saudi flag.

'It clearly was not, it did not have the Saudi sword on it.

'I am satisfied so I am sure that the defendant wore an item of clothing, a green headband in such circumstances to arouse reasonable suspicion that he was a supporter of a proscribed terrorist organisation, namely Hamas.

'I do find that the harm is serious and I have to agree that the nature of the offence when it happened, soon after the incident of 7 October, would have made significant distress to those who were observing the demonstration.'

Hajsaad, of Smethwick, Birmingham, denied but was convicted of wearing an article supporting a proscribed organisation under the Terrorism Act, 2000.
An armed robber tried to hold up a restaurant in Colombia before he was taken down by the quick-thinking diners.

The thief in the motorcycle helmet casually strolled up towards a table of six people enjoying a meal in Medellin and pulled out a gun.

He pointed the weapon at the back of one diner's head before another customer brandished his firearm and fired several bullets at him.

The robber was struck and fell to the floor where he rolled around in severe pain as the diner turned his attention to another suspected robber on a motorcycle. He fired more bullets at the second thief who went to ground and crawled behind a car.

It is unclear when the incident occurred but a video of the ordeal was shared on X in April where it has been viewed more than 20,000 times.

An armed robber tried to hold up a restaurant in Colombia before he was taken down by the quick-thinking diners

In the clip, the armed robber pretended to be disinterested as he strolled alongside the restaurant.

He makes a sharp turn and pulls a gun out from his waist which terrifies the other diners.

The thief in the motorcycle helmet then points it at the back of once customer before he suddenly turns around and tries to run away.

A diner in blue quickly pulls out his own firearm and strikes the robber multiple times, forcing him to the ground.

The thief in the motorcycle helmet casually strolled up towards a table of six people enjoying a meal in Medellin and pulled out a gun

He pointed the weapon at the back of one diner's head before another customer brandished his firearm and fired several bullets at him

The robber was struck and fell to the floor where he rolled around in severe pain as the diner turned his attention to another suspected robber on a motorcycle

He then turned to another suspected robber on a motorcycle and fired more shots.

The man on the bike fell to the ground and ducked for cover as the other diners rushed to help the other customer.

It is not clear if the two robbers died following the shootings or if the diner who opened fire was arrested on any charges.

A second clip shows customers at a restaurant next door running for cover as several shots are fired.
Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg has asked a New York judge to keep in place parts a gag order that bars Donald Trump from attacking court staff and family members, citing repeated death threats against himself, family and staff.

But with Trump now convicted on 34 counts of falsifying documents, prosecutors are now open to open to lifting prohibitions that keep him from attacking witnesses, which would allow Trump to unload on Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels on the campaign trail and at the presidential debate next week.

Judge Juan Merchan imposed the gag order during the Stormy Daniels hush money trial. Trump has blasted the order since, calling it a violation of his free speech rights while he is running for president  including during an angry press conference after the jury found him guilty on all 34 counts.

Although the gag doesn't prohibit Trump from attacking Bragg or himself, who Trump calls 'highly conflicted,' it does bar attacks on family members, following Trump statements about his daughter, who works for a digital ad firm with prominent Democratic clients.

In court papers filed Friday, prosecutors with the Manhattan district attorneys office argued that portions of the gag order remained necessary given the Republican former president's 'singular history of inflammatory and threatening public statements,' as well as efforts by his supporters to 'identify jurors and threaten violence against him.'

Former President Donald Trump has railed against a gag order that barred him from commenting on witnesses, jurors, and and family members of court staff in the Stormy Daniels case

'Since the verdict in this case, defendant has not exempted the jurors from his alarming rhetoric that he would have `every right to seek retribution as president against the participants in this trial as a consequence of his conviction because sometimes revenge can be justified,' the filing states.

The gag order, issued in March, prohibited Trump from making or directing others to make public statements about witnesses, jurors and others connected to the case. It does not restrict comments about the judge, Juan M. Merchan, or Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office prosecuted the case.

Attorneys for Trump have called on the judge to lift the order following the culmination of his trial last month, which ended in his conviction on 34 felony counts for falsifying records to cover up a potential sex scandal. Trump, who has denied any wrongdoing, is set to be sentenced on July 11.

Defense attorneys argue Trump should be free to fully address the case as he campaigns for the White House, pointing to comments made by President Joe Biden and the continued public criticism of him by his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen and the porn actor Stormy Daniels, both key prosecution witnesses.

Judge Juan M. Merchan imposed the gag as Trump faced charges in the Stormy Daniels hush money trial

DA Alvin Bragg more than 60 'actionable threats' directed against Bragg

'Now that the trial is concluded, the concerns articulated by the government and the Court do not justify continued restrictions on the First Amendment rights' of Trump, they wrote earlier this month.

In their letter, prosecutors agreed that the provision barring statements about trial witnesses no longer needed to be enforced but said the restrictions on statements about court staff and members of the prosecution, excluding Bragg, should remain in place.

They cited an 'intensified' threat situation in recent months, with more than 60 'actionable threats' directed against Bragg, his family and court staff since April. The threats include social media posts disclosing the address of an employee of the district attorney's office and a photo showing sniper sights aimed on people involved in the case, according to police.

Merchan is expected to issue a ruling soon, possibly before Trumps June 27 debate with President Joe Biden.

Earlier this week, New Yorks top court declined to hear Trumps appeal on the gag order, finding it does not raise 'substantial' constitutional issues that would warrant an immediate intervention.
The carer of a Scots Emmy award-winning film writer has been jailed after stealing more than 75,000 from him to fuel a gambling addiction.

Allan Beacham left celebrated Thunderbirds writer Alan Pattillo betrayed, angry, and upset after plundering his finances despite being entrusted to care for him, a judge said.

While living in a house bought for him by the late Mr Pattillo, Beacham stole thousands from the blind and immobile pensioner to dig himself out of the hole he had created through gambling.

The court previously heard how controlling and coercive Beacham, 66, had spent 25,000 on lottery tickets and would regularly steal cash from the vulnerable pensioner to fuel his addiction.

Beacham, right, left screenwriter Alan Patillo feeling 'betrayed, angry and upset'

After 75,000 had gone missing out of Mr Pattillos finances, dishonest Beacham was unable to offer any real explanation for the unaccounted funds, prosecutors said.

Beacham pleaded guilty to one charge of theft.

Sentencing him to three years and ten months in prison yesterday, Judge Adam Feest, KC, said: You have deliberately targeted him on the basis of his vulnerability  that you were all too aware of.

The judge said Mr Pattillo was left feeling betrayed, angry and upset by what Beacham had done and was humiliated that he had been taken in by the carer. Mr Pattillo died aged 90 in 2020 after suffering from Parkinsons.

The Scottish director and writer worked on a number of productions and directed the first ever episode of Thunderbirds in 1965.

His work on 1979 movie All Quiet on the Western Front saw him gain an Emmy Award for film editing.

After he retired he moved to Aberdeenshire and Beacham, who was then employed by care firm Miracle Workers, would visit his home to care for him.

Allan Beacham, 66, had spent 25,000 on lottery tickets

Winchester Crown Court, Hants, heard that, in 2017, Mr Pattillo moved to Salisbury, Wiltshire, to be closer to his family and brought Beacham as his full-time carer.

Beacham earned a 40,000 salary and agreed to move to Salisbury on the condition that Mr Pattillo bought him a house to reside in.

The carer abused his power by requesting money from Mr Pattillos lawyers to pay for expenses.

Thomas Evans, prosecuting, previously told jurors that when Mr Pattillo moved to Salisbury his average monthly cash expenditure jumped from 258 to 4,607.

He added: [Beacham] developed an addiction to gambling and continually sought to dig himself out of the hole he had made by stealing from a vulnerable pensioner who had entrusted his care to him.

The court heard that between January 1 in 2017 and June 1 in 2019, 75,000 was unaccounted for.

Beachams employment was terminated in May 2019.
A glamorous British mother facing jail over an alleged food poisoning scam in Majorca has brushed off the claims after saying she has 'nothing to hide'.

Laura Holmes Cameron, from Essex, is one of eight people accused of convincing tourists to lie about being unwell so they could claim compensation from all-inclusive hotels.

Spanish detectives say the alleged plot, which came to light in 2017, saw the gang target three hotel groups and it could have cost the businesses up to 9.6million.

The 44-year-old was charged with aggravated fraud and membership of a criminal gang and was arrested in the same year.

She and her brother, Marc Cameron Grinsted, have been accused of being the 'ringleaders' of the gang and will stand trial later this year, along with six other Brits.

Speaking for the first time on Facebook, Holmes Cameron dismissed the accusations against her as 'complete drivel' and slammed the 'horrendous treatment by Spanish police officers.

British mother Laura Holmes Cameron is facing jail over an alleged food poisoning scam in Majorca

Laura is one of eight people accused of convincing tourists to lie about being unwell so they could claim compensation from all-inclusive hotels

Pregnant Laura Cameron is seen arriving at court in Majorca, September 7, 2017

She wrote: 'I'm not here to go into fine details, but to make it really clear I've got absolutely nothing to hide.

'Everybody has a past. I've always strived to become a better person day in, day out.

'I was in a huge amount of debt. One morning I woke up and was arrested.

'There was an investigation, my passport was taken away. That was horrendous. I was guilty until proven innocent. I had to keep going and checking in with them.

'I'm in a situation where I've been accused of something, my face is over every newspaper.

'I'm not here for a pity party but people need to understand what I've been through.'

She added: 'Even if [the allegation] was real, collecting some data and stuff, it's not like I'm a paedophile or a murderer or something. It's all complete drivel.'

'I've got nothing to hide. I was arrested, I went to prison for three nights. The court case is still going on. So what? Who cares?'

Holmes Cameron also bragged about earning '$10,000 a month' from pyramid scheme Manifest FX over the last 18 months.

Laura Holmes Cameron with her husband Stuart Holmes

The alleged criminal gang was accused of targeting all-inclusive hotels in Majorca (pictured) with the bogus claims

She continued: 'I could either sit there and feel sorry for myself, knowing I didn't deserve what had happened to me, or I could get loud and proud and help other people and turn around my life for me and my family, and that's what I decided to do.

'I decided I was going to go all-in with the network marketing industry and I worked hard for quite a few months and didn't get that many results, but I persevered day and night.'

Network marketing is another word for pyramid selling. Studies have shown that most people who join such companies lose money, and the chances of making money are statistically very remote.

Pyramid schemes create tiers of salespeople who are encouraged to recruit their own networks of salespeople. Each tier earns commission from sales by the tier beneath them, with most of the money being funnelled to the people at the top.

More recently, Holmes Cameron has been urging women to sign up to another subscription scheme, which flogs package holidays.

The blonde 'digital creator' - whose married name is Laura Joyce - was arrested over the alleged food poisoning scam in 2017.

Six other Britons have also been charged and named as Ryan Bridges, Simon Robert Flanagan, Tegan Jewel Sumerlee, Susan Amanda Lyle, Nicola Marie Sanderson, and Peter Carl Murphy.

Bridges has been described as 'one of the people tasked in England with processing the false claims'.

In February, after a seven-year investigation, Holmes Cameron and Cameron Grinstead were told that public prosecutors had decided not to pursue charges.

Laura Holmes Cameron and husband Stuart Holmes' bar Heroes in Puerto Portals, was raided by police in 2017

Laura Holmes Cameron with her husband Stuart Holmes

Spanish authorities decided it was not possible to determine the authors of the fraud or pinpoint the transfer of assets from the alleged scam.

However, lawyers acting on behalf of the three hotel groups have continued to pursue their own legal action.

Lawyers for one group - Hotels Mac - previously confirmed in an indictment that it wants an eight-year prison sentence for the siblings and five-and-half years for most of the other suspects.

Meanwhile, the Majorca Hoteliers Federation has called for the 44-year-old to be jailed for six-and-a-half years if convicted - five if she is found guilty of aggravated fraud, and another one-and-a-half if convicted of belonging to a criminal gang.

In documents seen by the Sun in December last year, the organisation called for her brother to be jailed for five years if convicted - four years for fraud and 12 months for membership of a criminal gang.

It said Bridges should get the same sentence as Cameron Grinstead if found guilty, as he is the one accused of processing the fake food poisoning claims while knowing they were not genuine.

The organisation is also demanding that the other Britons should be jailed for three years and nine months if found guilty, with all members made to pay compensation.

It said: 'The gang specialised in obtaining the details of British tourists in all-inclusive hotels in Majorca, it convinced... [them] to falsely claim they had been ill during their stay in one of those hotels... to claim compensation in the UK.'

It added: 'The amount of compensation obtained in the UK with the consequent damage it caused tour operators and hotels significantly exceeded 176,000.'

Reports at the time of Holmes Cameron's arrest in September 2017 described hoteliers' losses as a result of the scam as 'multi-million.'

Peter Carl Murphy (left) is among the other suspects alleged to have been involved

Holmes Cameron's lawyer Gabriel Llado said after his client appeared in court in May 2018 in a closed hearing that she had admitted to passing on the names and phone numbers of holidaymakers for payment but insisted it was part of a pure market research exercise.

He insisted neither Holmes Cameron or any of the so-called 'claims farmers' she used to gather data of tourists she passed on to others in the UK, encouraged them to get chemist's receipts so they could make fake food poisoning claims as police and hoteliers' representatives have claimed.

And he claimed his client had spent just a few months doing it and stopped because she was earning very little.

Holmes Cameron's mother Deborah Cameron was previously held in the probe but freed with no further action was taken.

The wealthy mother was also held at the luxury villa in upmarket Bendinat the pair then shared near the glamorous Majorcan port of Puerto Portals which police raided, but was freed before she went to court.

After Holmes Cameron was arrested, it emerged her Magaluf bar Playhouse had been identified as the venue where a British tourist was filmed performing sex acts on 24 men for a cheap drink in the summer of 2014.

The fallout from the infamous video sparked a crackdown on bar crawls in the party resort after regional governors described the 'outrageous' sex scenes as giving the area and women 'a terrible image' and promised to 'stop it whichever way' they could.

Holmes Cameron, who was not at her bar when the incident occurred, shut Playhouse down soon after.
A Chicago homeowner was seen chasing and fighting off a would-be burglar around his neighborhood wielding a kitchen utensil as a weapon in a newly released video.

CCTV footage shows Jason Williams running behind the suspect and banging their head with a heavyweight frying pan at around 3.30pm yesterday.

Williams was minutes away from getting home from work when he received an alert from his alarm system that someone had broken in.

'Came in the house, I looked if there was an available weapon... there was a frying pan laying there, so I grabbed the frying pan and at the same time the burglar came downstairs.

'At this point, it was fight or flight, and I would rather do the fighting,' Williams told ABC.

CCTV footage shows Jason Williams running behind the suspect and banging their head with a massive heavyweight frying pan at around 3.30pm yesterday

'At this point, it was fight or flight, and I would rather do the fighting,' Williams said in an interview

Video shows the brave owner chasing the suspect while waving the frying pan in the air on his lawn.

'Get out of here, I'm gonna kill you,' Williams can be heard yelling as the intruder runs for their life.

In a scene straight from a TV cartoon, Williams ultimately ends up taking a satisfying swing at the suspect and leaving them completely shaken up as cops arrived at the scene.

The intruder is seen trying to race across the street after the painful blow before eventually gives up and is handcuffed.

Sharing the video and pictures of the heroic pan, Williams wrote on X: 'Heres the guy that tried to burgler[sic] me. Hes lucky the cops came. I was putting a good beating on him.. he owes me a new frying pan!'

He also posted a photo of the burglar seemingly holding his head as he was placed into the back of an ambulance

Sharing the video and pictures of the heroic pan, Williams wrote on X: 'Heres the guy that tried to burgler[sic] me. Hes lucky the cops came. I was putting a good beating on him.. he owes me a new frying pan!'.

He also posted a photo of the burglar seemingly holding his head as he was placed into the back of an ambulance.

'This could have had a different ending, and I'm glad it had a good one. My wife's not happy about the decision I made... probably wouldn't do it again, but it is what it is,' he further told the channel.

Chicago police confirmed that the intruder was taken in custody, however it is unclear if he has been charged.
A woman has been caught on video in a confrontation with a group men inside a mosque in the Jaffa neighborhood of Tel Aviv in Israel.

The woman, dressed in all black, appears unsuitably dressed to enter the place of worship with her shoulders left uncovered and the absence of an headscarf or head covering - items that are typically required inside a mosque.

After entering the men's area of the Hassan Bek Mosque, the woman is filmed having a conversation with a member of the congregation who pleads with her to leave.

Sitting at the top of a set of stars, the woman is told that she needs to leave.

'It's not allowed for you to be here. You have to go out. You are insulting our religion and it's not allowed for you. We have asked you to go out politely. The police have been called and you have to go out now,' he explains.

Sitting at the top of a set of stars, a female tourist is told that she needs to leave

Tel Aviv police officers arrive on the scene to remove the woman from the mosque after refusing instructions to leave

The woman, who appears to have an American accent, can be seen sitting cross-legged at the top of a set of stairs.

'Sir, I see you are trying to speak respectfully and I apologize to you personally...' she begins.

But the man cuts her off, informing her that as a woman she is in the wrong section of the mosque and needs to move or leave.

'You have to go out. You are not a guy. It is not allowed for you to be here. There is a section for women. You can go there. With good clothes. Not like this also,' he explains, airing his objections to her revealing outfit.

While one member of mosque tells the woman she needs to head to the women's section, she turns her head away and looks up at the ceiling, appearing not to listen

The woman's disrespect is compounded by a coffee cup that appears to have been tossed on the floor

The man then points to a fallen coffee cup that can be seen lying toppled over on the maroon carpet of the mosque.

'You see what you did!' the man says.

Throughout, the woman appears to ignore him, turning her head away, looking up at the ceiling.

'You have to go out now,' he asks one more time.

'No!' The woman responds stubbornly.

'Okay, they're calling the police now,' he warns.

'Good!', the obstinate tourist replies.

A pair of police officers struggle to place the woman into handcuffs in front of shocked onlookers

Even whilst being dragged out, the woman places her foot on the door in an attempt to halt her removal

Placed in handcuffs, the woman is faced with no choice but to comply with police orders

In a second video, the situation appears to have escalated substantially and sees her tussling with police who have since arrived on the scene.

Two Tel Aviv police officers can be seen attempting to restrain the woman, placing her in handcuffs before arresting her, dragging her from the mosque.

The woman appears particularly distressed and she screams at the top of her lungs as the officers force her hands behind her back.

'I am Muslim! You will all pay for this! You will all pay for this!' she yells.

At least six other men can be seen witnessing the woman being removed from the area.

Just as the officers reach the door to the mosque, the woman still attempts to stay put, placing her feet on the door to try and halt her being removed.

One of the officers is forced to kick to the woman's feet from the door in order to finally get her out of the door.
Congresswoman Lauren Boebert continues to face humiliation over her infamous 'Beetlejuice' groping scandal.

Boebert, who became a grandmother at the age of 36, has been fighting against the perception by liberals and even some moderate Republicans about her reckless nature.

A series of scandals have marred her time in office, most infamously when she was asked to leave a performance of the musical Beetlejuice after she sexually groped her date in the dark.

Now, her Democrat opponent in Colorado's 4th District is using the scandal literally to try and kick her out of Washington.

John Padora filmed a campaign ad, in part, while sitting in the exact same seat at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts that Boebert was ejected from.

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert continues to face humiliation over her infamous 'Beetlejuice' groping scandal

John Padora filmed a campaign ad, in part, while sitting in the very theater Boebert was ejected from

Boebert - who divorced her now-ex-husband, Jayson, in 2023 amid accusations of domestic abuse - was filmed lashing out at theater staff after being booted from the theater for singing along - with staff claiming she also vaped and took photos during the performance.

'I'm sitting in the very same seat that Lauren Boebert got kicked out of, the same way she got kicked out of Colorado's 3rd Congressional District,' Padora says in the clip, making it clear his location was deliberately chosen to embarrass Boebert.

'Now she's picked up her bags and fled to eastern Colorado to run in the 4th Congressional District,' adds Padora, who calls Boebert an 'opportunistic carpetbagger.'

After barely retaining her seat in 2022, Boebert chose to change districts to avoid a potential loss in 2024.

The scandal continues to haunt Boebert, who is facing a crowded primary to win the GOP nomination in her new district on June 25.

At a debate in early June, Boebert had a complete meltdown in front of Colorado viewers.

Boebert agreed to tackle the issue head-on and was given the floor to set things straight.

'I certainly have owned up to my night out in Denver, and Ive gone on that public apology tour, and Im grateful for the mercy and grace that have been shown, but Im not going to continue to live life in shame and continue to be beat up by this,' Boebert began.

Boebert - who divorced her now-ex-husband, Jayson, in 2023 amid accusations of domestic abuse - was filmed lashing out at theater staff after being booted from the theater for singing along - with staff claiming she also vaped and took photos during the performance

'I'm sitting in the very same seat that Lauren Boebert got kicked out of, the same way she got kicked out of Colorado's 3rd Congressional District,' Padora says in the clip. 'Now she's picked up her bags and fled to eastern Colorado to run in the 4th Congressional District'

'Did you apologize for vaping or did you apologize to voters for what you did that night and the disrespect you showed to service workers that night? What specifically were you apologizing for?' Clark asked, looking for clarification.

Surveillance footage shows Boebert, wearing a tight, low-cut gold dress and high heels, making a considerable fuss as she and her date are ordered out.

She was then seen snapping a selfie as she left the auditorium and angrily bared her teeth at staff as she was escorted through the lobby.

But during the debate, Boebert insisted that was not the case.

'I dont believe there was disrespect. I believe things were taken out of context,' Boebert went on.

'But theres video of your interactions with service workers. So are you apologizing for lying?' Clark prodded.

The lawmaker at one point asked the theater staff, 'Do you know who I am?'

'Its been reported that I flipped someone off and I did not. So I think its been mischaracterized,' Boebert stated, despite there being clear, color video footage of her doing just that.

Boebert made quite the scene in front of astonished staff

Boebert then attempted to turn the tables on Clark suggesting the video footage should never have been released.

'Im apologizing for you, Kyle Clark, for getting footage and releasing that - and for people seeing this in a very private moment.'

Clark responded saying that it was very important to figure out whether Boebert was telling the truth or whether a public agency was lying about her conduct.

Boebert claimed that the incident was a private one, despite her fondling of her date taking place in a 2,800-seat Denver theater.

By this point, Bobert had become increasingly flustered and attempted to point out how Kyle had even spoken out against using hidden camera footage.

'You just had an interview recently and was saying how disgusting it was to record someone without their knowledge. And you did that very same thing!' Boebert yelled, by which time Clark shut her down and moved onto the next question in the debate.

Boebert has been plagued by distracting incidents both before and during her time in Congress.

In late February, things took another unfortunate turn for Boebert after her son, Tyler, 18, was picked up by the police in Rifle, Colorado, on 22 various different charges including three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. His next court case is in June.

Earlier this year, in a Truth Social post, Trump referred to Boebert as a 'Proven Conservative' and a 'trusted America First Fighter'

Boebert's son Tyler, right, has recently been charged with 22 crimes, including five felonies, related to property thefts in the Rifle, Colorado area

Around the time that the arrest was taking place, Boebert's social media accounts were lambasting President Joe Biden's 'crime family' as 'the most corrupt family in American history.'

This marks just the latest drama involving the politician whose greatest hits including allegations that she punched her ex-husband, allegations of pointing a gun at an Obama-supporting employee and trying to prove that a WWE star was her birth father.

Former President Donald Trump endorsed Boebert in March amid her son's legal woes and the congresswoman's messy divorce saga.

Trump called the 37-year-old grandmother a 'Proven Conservative' and a 'trusted America First Fighter,' giving the Colorado Republican his 'Complete and Total Endorsement.'

'Congresswoman Lauren Boebert is a Proven Conservative and Effective Leader who delivers for Colorado, and our America First agenda,' Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The family of Kenosha killer Kyle Rittenhouse claim he has abandoned them and left them facing eviction while he cashes in on his notoriety.

The 21-year-old shot to infamy in 2020 after gunning down three men with an AR-15 style rifle during unrest following a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Two of the men died but a jury cleared him of murder the following year after concluding that he acted in self-defense.

He has become an icon of the right-wing media circuit, appearing at conferences and meeting Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, but his sister Faith has launched a Gofundme appeal to save her and mom Wendy, 49, from homelessness citing her 'brother's unwillingness to provide or contribute to our family'.

'Our family has been through unimaginable hardships, and now we find ourselves on the brink of losing everything,' she wrote.

Kyle Rittenhouse has become a darling of the right-wing speaker circuit since he was acquitted of murdering two Black Lives Matter demonstrators in 2020

His mother Wendy and sister Faith supported him throughout his trial but claim he has abandoned them to face poverty and homelessness alone

Rittenhouse is thought to have moved to a plush gated community in Houston after taking up a job as Outreach Director for Second Amendment lobby group Texas Gun Rights and launching his media career.

But he found himself driven off stage by Black Lives Matter protesters at the University of Memphis in March during a speech on his tour for conservative group Turning Point USA, focusing on the Second Amendment, and 'the lies of Black Lives Matter'.

Some held signs picturing the faces of Anthony Huber, 26, and Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, the men he shot dead in 2020.

Rittenhouse and his gun group lobbied hard ahead of the Supreme Court's ruling last week which struck down the Trump-era federal ban on bump stocks.

'Time to go celebrate and buy a bump stock!' he tweeted before adding: 'Next step, Make America Full-Auto again!'

His mother and sister, who supported him throughout his murder trial, left their home in Antioch, Illinois, in its aftermath, moving to a small apartment in Kissimmee, Florida, where they claim they are now just days away from eviction.

'Our lives were shattered when my brother was involved in a tragic shooting incident,' Faith wrote. 'The aftermath of this event uprooted our family's stability and left us grappling with grief, trauma, and the harsh reality of starting over.

'We've had difficulty obtaining and maintaining employment due to the fact many people still believe my mother drove Kyle or was somehow involved in his decision to go to Kenosha.

Donald Trump said Rittenhouse was a 'really a nice young man' after inviting him to his Mar-A-Lago home in 2021

But his sister Faith slammed his 'unwillingness to provide or contribute to our family' as she posted a Gofundme appeal with a picture of her medical treatment

Faith said she and her mother were facing imminent eviction from their Kissimmee apartment

'With my brother's unwillingness to provide support or contribute to our family, we've been left to navigate this journey on our own.

'To make matters worse, I lost my job due frequent hospitalizations due to medical issues. I have been unable to work over the last four months making it extremely difficult to provide.'

Faith, 23, accompanied her appeal with a photo of herself lying in a hospital bed attached to a blood monitor.

'We've fallen behind on rent, and now we're facing eviction with only eight days left in our apartment,' she wrote.

'The thought of losing our home, our sanctuary in the midst of chaos, is overwhelming and terrifying.'

The $3,000 target had been surpassed as of Friday evening, with $3,835 raised from 67 donations.
BBC chiefs are planning to spend almost 90,000 on a protective screen for a statue by paedophile sculptor Eric Gill.

The move comes after his Prospero and Ariel sculpture, which is located outside Broadcasting House in central London, was attacked twice by protesters.

It was previously reported that planning permission had been sought for a permanent 13ft by 9ft glazed screen, and now the 89,000 cost has been released following a Freedom of Information request.

It shows the sum includes 'fixings', 'licensing', 'scaffolding hire' and 'installation costs'.

Some 50,000 has already been spent on restoring the 1930s statue following the attacks.

It was previously reported that planning permission had been sought for a permanent 13ft by 9ft glazed screen, and now the 89,000 cost has been released following a Freedom of Information request

The move comes after his Prospero and Ariel sculpture, which is located outside Broadcasting House in central London , was attacked twice by protesters

Gill, who died in 1940, had been a celebrated 20th century artist  but when his diaries were published after his death, it was revealed he sexually abused his daughters

Marilyn Hawes (pictured), chief executive of campaign group Freedom From Abuse, said: 'It's insane and outrageous. Of all organisations, BBC should throttle back given the association with Jimmy Savile '

Gill, who died in 1940, had been a celebrated 20th century artist  but when his diaries were published after his death, it was revealed he sexually abused his daughters.

Marilyn Hawes, chief executive of campaign group Freedom From Abuse, said: 'It's insane and outrageous. Of all organisations, BBC should throttle back given the association with Jimmy Savile.'

A BBC spokesman said: 'The BBC in no way condones Gill's abusive behaviour. Having sought expert advice and opinion, we are repairing the facade in line with the building's Grade II-listed status.'
Sir Keir Starmer yesterday refused to take back his controversial claim that Jeremy Corbyn would have made a better prime minister than Boris Johnson.

Though the Labour leader would not repeat the comment, he also did not give a straight answer when he was challenged to stand by his words.

His own frontbenchers also appeared to distance themselves from the comment made in Thursday night's BBC Question Time debate.

Several Tory Cabinet ministers also waded into the row, with Rishi Sunak saying it showed Sir Keir 'doesn't deserve' to be given the keys to Downing Street.

Meanwhile, writing in today's Daily Mail, Mr Johnson said he found the Labour leader's claim 'utterly terrifying', adding: 'Keir Starmer genuinely believes that in the past five years, Jeremy Corbyn would have made the right decisions as prime minister for the security of Britain and the planet.

Sir Keir Starmer yesterday refused to take back his controversial claim that Jeremy Corbyn would have made a better prime minister than Boris Johnson

Though the Labour leader would not repeat the comment, he also did not give a straight answer when he was challenged to stand by his words. Pictured: Sir Keir Starmer on a visit to Bathgate in Scotland on Friday

'Unless he revokes his endorsement of a Corbyn premiership... Starmer is simply not fit to be prime minister.'

Sir Keir, when asked by reporters in West Lothian whether he would 'take back' the claim yesterday, said: 'I'm fighting the 2024 election, not the 2019 election.'

Pressed again on whether he would repeat the claim, he added: 'Look, at the last election, the choice before the electorate was not a good choice.

'We ended up with Boris Johnson as Prime Minister being booted out of Parliament after three or so years for breaking the rules.

'We ended up with Jeremy Corbyn being expelled from the Labour Party. That is why I have invested all of my energy and time in changing the Labour Party.'

Sir Keir was left squirming during Thursday's debate as he was grilled over his support for his predecessor.

He was pressed by host Fiona Bruce for a 'yes or no' answer as to whether he meant it when he said, in February 2019, that Mr Corbyn would make a 'great prime minister'.

The Labour leader replied: 'Look, he would be a better prime minister look what we got, Boris Johnson, a man who made massive promises, didn't keep them and then had to leave Parliament in disgrace.'

His refusal to endorse or withdraw the comment came as two Labour frontbenchers struggled to defend it yesterday.

Asked five times if he agreed that Mr Corbyn would have been a better prime minister than Mr Johnson, Labour's science, innovation and technology spokesman Peter Kyle dodged the question, telling LBC that it was a period of 'difficult days in our politics'.

Shadow Paymaster General Jonathan Ashworth also refused to back the claim.

Sir Keir served in Mr Corbyn's shadow cabinet for four years and had urged the public to make him prime minister at two consecutive elections. Pictured: Keir takes a 'selfie' with Labour supporters in Scotland on a visit today

Asked if Sir Keir was correct, he said: 'Jeremy Corbyn is not a Labour candidate at this election, but Liz Truss is a Conservative candidate because Rishi Sunak is a weak leader who is not prepared to make the tough decisions that are needed.'

Pressed on whether he agreed with his leader's claim, Mr Ashworth, who was caught criticising Mr Corbyn in a secret recording in 2019, said: 'You all know what I thought at the time, you don't need to ask me that.'

Sir Keir served in Mr Corbyn's shadow cabinet for four years and had urged the public to make him prime minister at two consecutive elections.

Recently, the Labour leader has tried to distance himself from Mr Corbyn, who campaigned for years to ditch Britain's nuclear deterrent and leave Nato, and is standing as an independent candidate in the General Election.

In a speech in Wales yesterday, Mr Sunak said of the Labour leader's support for Mr Corbyn and his string of policy U-turns: 'Because [Sir Keir] has such a past, he doesn't deserve to decide your future.'

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: 'Jeremy Corbyn, if he'd become prime minister, would have pulled us out of Nato, would in effect have removed our nuclear deterrent because he said he'd never have been prepared to use it and would have presided over wrecking the economy.'

And Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: 'Keir Starmer still says this man, who let racism against Jewish people run rife within the Labour Party, a man who wanted to abolish Nato, scrap our Armed Forces and impose huge tax rises on everyone, would have been fit to serve.

'Keir Starmer must withdraw his offensive comments.'

Welsh Secretary David TC Davies said: 'The idea that he would have made any kind of a decent job of being PM is absolutely outrageous. I

't's why people should not trust Keir Starmer.'
Most chippies advertise a 'catch of the day'. So imagine the delight of this British angler, who caught a cod so large it could do fish and chips for 180 people.

Daniel Pipe, 39, was on a fishing trip to Norway with friends when he hooked the monster catch and spent 20 exhausting minutes reeling it in.

The specimen weighed 102lbs 7oz (46.5kg) and measured 160cm (5ft 2ins) long, smashing the previous International Game Fishing Association record for the longest cod ever caught.

As a standard large portion of pre-battered fish weighs 9oz (255g), the impressive catch could provide enough for around 180 fish suppers.

Daniel Pipe, 39, was on a fishing trip to Norway with friends when he hooked the monster catch and spent 20 exhausting minutes reeling it in

Daniel Pipe (centre) with friends Gavin Waite and Garry Sharp. Mr Pipe, a heavy plant machinery driver from Pontypool, south Wales, celebrated his record with a 'few pints of cider' afterwards

The specimen weighed 102lbs 7oz (46.5kg) and measured 160cm (5ft 2ins) long, smashing the previous International Game Fishing Association record for the longest cod ever caught

Despite its weight, it was an agonising 1lb under the world record for the heaviest cod.

Mr Pipe, a heavy plant machinery driver from Pontypool, south Wales, celebrated his record with a 'few pints of cider' afterwards.

The married father-of-two said: 'I knew instantly that it was a different class of fish but didn't know just how big it was until it reached the surface.

'It was a really tough fight and it took me about 15 or 20 minutes to reel it in. We couldn't believe our eyes when it breached the surface, it was huge.

'There was near silence on the boat for a minute when we saw it, everyone was in shock and we realised it could be a record.

'But then it was mayhem trying to lift it. We struggled to pull it over the side.'

Mr Pipe said caught fish are normally returned to the sea but after several attempts to revive the cod, it was clear it wouldn't survive.

Along with his friends he returned to shore and weighed and measured it.

He said: 'It is the fish of a lifetime and it left me exhausted afterwards.'

The head of the record fish has been sent off to a Scottish taxidermist to preserve it while the body was donated to the locals of the fishing village of Sandland Brygge in northern Norway to eat.
Economists warned yesterday that a Labour government will come under pressure to hike wealth and pension taxes to get national debt falling.

It comes as official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed the deficit hit 2.7 trillion last month  or 99.8 per cent of gross domestic product  its highest since 1961.

Analysis from Bloomberg Economics showed that though Labour has ruled out hikes on income tax, corporation tax and VAT, it may have to embark on tax raids elsewhere to balance the books.

Ruling out some areas of taxation may have boosted its support 'but it significantly reduces the party's options for dealing with the fiscal challenge that awaits it if it comes to power', said Bloomberg economists Ana Andrade and Dan Hanson.

'A focus on wealth, pensions and businesses will likely be needed to keep the public finances on track,' they said.

Analysis from Bloomberg Economics showed that though Labour has ruled out hikes on income tax, corporation tax and VAT , it may have to embark on tax raids elsewhere to balance the books. Shadow chancellor, Rachel Reeves during a visit to Morrisons in Swindon on June 19

Sir Keir Starmer has refused to rule out a capital gains tax hike

It adds to fears that a Labour government will pile further pain on firms and families already facing the highest tax burden since the 1940s.

Sir Keir Starmer and his Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves have refused to rule out a capital gains tax hike.

Bloomberg Economics analysis showed potential changes such as increasing the top rate of the tax from 28 per cent to 45 per cent could bring in between 7.5billion and 17billion for the Treasury.

Labour has also been urged to come clean about its pension tax plans amid fears it could raid the retirement savings of up to nine million workers.
A man is under police guard after allegedly going on a rampage at a Western Sydney hospital and injuring four staff.

Police were called to Westmead Hospital about 11.30pm on Friday night after reports a man, 39, had assaulted staff.

When officers arrived they found two security guards, aged 24 and 25, with stab wounds, a third security guard with a dislocated shoulder and a male nurse, 29, who suffered minor injuries.

The man who allegedly attacked three security guards and a nurse at Westmead Hospital is under police guard

All four are understood to be recovering.

The alleged knifeman is understood to have been a patient at the hospital.

He remains at Westmead under police guard.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers.
Veteran broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald has revealed he chose to work for ITV over the BBC because the network did not make him feel like a 'token black' presenter.

The 84-year-old who has interviewed the likes Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton and Saddam Hussain said he turned down a job offer from the BBC after they admitted it was to fill a diversity quota.

Sir McDonald said: 'ITN, very importantly, at no point showed any evidence I was taken on as the token black [presenter].'

In 1973, he began his celebrated career at ITN as the network's first black reporter and became the sole presenter of ITV's News at Ten until he retired in 2008.

The Trinidad-British newsreader was approached very early in his career for a job at the BBC but he told Saga Magazine: 'They said: 'We've come under pressure by the Race Relations Board to hire more black reporters.'

Veteran broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald has revealed he chose to work for ITV over the BBC because the network did not make him feel like a 'token black' presenter

'I wanted to get through on merit, not because I was black.'

The father-of-three was propositioned by a BBC producer over white wine and smoked salmon sandwiches and recalled: 'I thought all my ships were coming in at once.'

But after he realised the network was purely conducting a box ticking exercise, he turned them down, telling the Johnathan Ross show in 2019, 'I thought he [the producer] had heard about my reputation in Trinidad as a television newsreader and he then disclosed that he'd never heard of Trinidad and Tabago television in any way, shape or form.

'The smoked salmon suddenly stuck in my throat and the white wine tasted not as nice as it had done before.

'So I made my excuses and left. I turned down the job.'

From interviewing Tony Blair to Colonel Gaddafi, Sir Trevor went on to become one of the most recognisable faces in television history and was knighted in 1999 for his services to journalism.

And despite having reported from warzones, across the globe he revealed to Saga Magazine, 'As my mother would tell you, I'm the biggest coward imaginable.'

To avoid becoming 'the token black man' at ITN, he requested to cover the Troubles in 1973 Belfast, because 'I wanted to do what everyone else was.'

Sir Trevor, who has interviewed the likes Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton and Saddam Hussain said he turned down a job offer from the BBC after they admitted it was to fill a diversity quota

But he said: 'When things got rough in the street, I'd always use the pretext, 'I'm going to find a house where there's a phone and call the office.'

'There were no mobile phones then, but the truth was I couldn't stand the noise. If I heard a shot, I'd run like hell.'
Zara Tindall continued her reign as the queen of fashion at Royal Ascot this week with a stunning array of outfits.

The daughter of Princess Anne consistently hit the mark with her immaculate ensembles, giving her a strong case to be crowned the best-dressed royal.

Throughout the week, Zara showcased elegant dresses by renowned designers such as Rebecca Vallance and Laura Green London and bespoke headwear from Sarah Cant.

However, these impeccable looks came with a hefty price tag. We can reveal that the royal - who has not returned to Royal Ascot today - has invested nearly 18,000 in her designer outfits.

Let's take a closer look at each of Zara's winning looks from the week.

Day one

Zara looked the epitome of chic on the highly anticipated first day of Royal Ascot in Laura Green's 1,900 'Masai' dress. The royal elevated her ensemble with a Sarah Cant 'Rosa' Hat, valued at 900

Zara looked the epitome of chic on the highly anticipated first day of Royal Ascot in Laura Green's 'Masai' dress.

Created in canary yellow, the stunning 1,900 design incorporated the label's signature collar and striking organza sleeves, pushed up by Zara for a dramatic effect.

The royal elevated her ensemble with a Sarah Cant 'Rosa' Hat, valued at 900. The mid-sized boater, featuring a basket weave straw trim, was perfectly matched to her outfit.

Her accessories included a 3,300 white Sauvereign 'Aphrodite 220' clutch, Emmy London's 495 'Rebecca' blush suede court shoes, and Calleija lemon quartz and diamond earrings, worth 5,950.

Day two

On day two, Zara championed florals in Anna Mason's 'Angelika' dress. Made from French Provencal cotton adorned with a 'Garance' print, the elegant 995 design boasted puffed shoulders, long buttoned cuffs and a flared hem

On day two, Zara championed florals in Anna Mason's 'Angelika' dress.

Made from French Provencal cotton adorned with a 'Garance' print, the elegant 995 design boasted puffed shoulders, long buttoned cuffs and a flared hem.

It was beautifully complemented by Anya Hindmarch's sought-after 'Maud' clutch in plaited gold leather, costing 750.

Zara repeated her trusted Emmy London pumps and enhanced her look with a light pink Juliette Millinery percher, valued at 660.

Day three

Zara stunned the crowds at Thursday's Ascot in this 635 cornflower blue Rebecca Vallance dress

On day three, Zara made a sartorial statement in a powder blue dress by Rebecca Vallance

Zara's stylist, Annie Miall, attended day three of Royal Ascot, wearing a white trouser suit by The Fold

Zara completed her winning streak in a statement dress by Rebecca Vallance.

The Australian designer's 635 'Juliana' dress had a fit-and-flare silhouette, with a braided neckline and puff sleeves, all in a charming powder blue hue.

Zara displayed another bespoke hat from Sarah Cant, estimated to be worth 925, and carried a custom-made 'Hettie' bag by Tusting, costing 283.

She repeated her 95 Dune 'Belaire' court shoes and stylish 260 Monc Eyewear 'Belleville' sunglasses.

Also there on the third day was Zara's stylist, Annie Miall, who wore a trouser suit by The Fold.
The deaths of two US border patrol agents after their Colombian vacation is being investigated by the FBI.

Jaime Eduardo Cisneros, 54, and Alexander Ahmed, 54, traveled to Colombia together in late May.

But before they returned home, Cisneros was found dead in a Medellin hotel after a tryst with a woman described locally as a prostitute.

Ahmed then killed himself on American soil after returning home from the trip, before FBI agents had the chance to interview him about his friend's death.

Cisneros' cause of death remains unknown. The woman he'd been with was seen waving goodbye to him and leaving his room, according to local outlets.

Jaime Eduardo Cisneros, 54, (left) a US Border Patrol agent assigned to duties in El Paso, Texas, was found dead in his Colombian hotel room on May 31. His cause of death remains unknown. After the trip, Alexander Ahmed (right) killed himself

US investigators spent days in Medellin working with Colombian officials to piece together how he died.

Officials discovered that his phone and other valuables were missing from the hotel room where his body was found, and his clothes and suitcase were in 'total disarray'.

His wallet had also been emptied.

After his death, Ahmed returned to Texas alone, but killed himself days after.

Ahmed was assigned to the Clint station, part of the Border Patrol's El Paso Sector

Amhed can been seen vacationing in Colombia's capital city, in photos released of the US federal agent by his family

Ahmed's body was discovered June 4 in El Paso.

Both men were assigned to the Clint station, just outside Texas' sixth largest city, and were nearing retirement eligibility.

US Customs and Border Protection, the parent agency of US Border Patrol, did not immediately respond to a request for comment by DailyMail.com.

In December, the US Embassy in Bogota issued a travel alert after eight American men died in a span of two months in the South American nation under 'suspicious' circumstances.

To date, 28 tourists, including Americans, have died in Medellin this year, Colombian authorities admitted.

Tou Ger Xiong fell in love with the Colombian city of Medellin because of its culture and frequently traveled there, posting about women his met online. The body of Minnesota comedian and activist was found in a ravine December 11 after he had gone out with a woman he had met during a previous trip to the city

Medellin, Colombia is known as the city of eternal spring for its climate

Colombian authorities found the lifeless body of American Phillips Ryan Mullins, in a hotel. According to preliminary reports, witnesses reported he had gone out in the company of other travelers to a party that lasted all night on Friday, December 15, arriving to sleep in his hotel room around 7:00 a.m. in the morning of Saturday, December 16

Their deaths range from suicides, illness, drug overdoses and homicides.

US officials said American tourists have been targeted in a dating app scheme.

The apps are not named in the government bulletin, but Tinder, Bumble and a third app called Colombian Cupid, are the most widely used dating apps in the country.

'Over the last year, the Embassy has seen an increase in reports of incidents involving the use of online dating applications to lure victims, typically foreigners, for robbery by force or using sedatives to drug and rob individuals,' embassy officials explained.

Embassy officials urge anyone who is a victim of a robbery attempt not to resist, since you're more likely to be killed.

They're also advising travelers to Colombia to share their plans with friends and loved one back home since the phone of victims are often stolen in an effort to hide all evidence.

American Tou Ger Xiong made friends in Medellin during his multiple visits to the Colombian city. In October, he posted pictures of a dinner with a woman (pictured) at a Korean restaurant and apparently went with her to a Karol G concert during his most recent trip which culminated with his death

Tennessee resident Phillip Mullins was found dead inside his room at the 1 Million Suites hotel in Medellin, Colombia, on Dec 16

Medellin, a safe and popular tourist destination in recent years, was once the headquarters for drug lord Pablo Escobar and his Medellin Cartel

Authorities believe Americans who falling victim to this type of crime often do come forward.

'These types of crimes routinely go underreported as victims are embarrassed and do not want to follow through with the judicial process,' the embassy said.

Medellin, infamous as the home of drug lord Pablo Escobar, had been relatively safe in recent years.

However, the past year, tourism officials in Medellin noticed a 200% increase in thefts involving foreigners.

Deaths increased by 29% and most of the murder victims were Americans.
READ MORE: Man discovers prehistoric monster off the coast of Florida

A ferocious-looking ancient wolf with its fearsome teeth intact has been uncovered from Siberian permafrost after 44,000 years.

Experts say the adult male wolf found in Yakutia, eastern Russia, has amazingly-preserved fur, bone and even organs, as well as teeth and bone.

It's been transferred to the Mammoth Museum Laboratory of the Northeast Federal University in Yakutsk, where it's been undergoing an autopsy.

Permafrost is ground that remains permanently frozen even during summer months  and can stay frozen for thousands of years.

Ancient remains found in permafrost are among the most complete ever found because the ice stops organic matter from decomposing.

An amazingly-preserved ancient wolf with its fearsome teeth intact has been uncovered from Siberian permafrost after 44,000 years

An autopsy has been conducted on an ancient wolf which has been preserved by the permafrost - the 'permanently' frozen earth in cold regions

The wolf was discovered by locals in 2021 in the permafrost at a depth of about 130 ft by the Tirekhtyakh River in the Abyi district of Yakutia, Russias coldest region.

Experts say it is the oldest known wolf to undergo such an autopsy  and even its stomach has survived.

'Its stomach has remained isolated, without contamination,' said Dr Albert Protopopov, head of the Mammoth Fauna Study Department of the Yakutia Academy of Sciences.

'As a result of the dissection, we hope to get an instantaneous cross-section of the biota of the ancient Pleistocene period.

'It was an active and large predator, and we have the opportunity to find out what it ate.

'Additionally, its stomach contains the remains of what its prey consumed.'

The incredible find was discovered by locals in 2021 and confirmed by the experts as a male adult wolf

It was transferred to the Mammoth Museum Laboratory of the Northeast Federal University in Yakutsk, where it's been undergoing an autopsy

The wolf was found in the permafrost at a depth of about 130 ft by the Tirekhtyakh River in the Abyi district of Yakutia, Russias coldest region

Dr Maxim Cheprasov, head of the Mammoth Museum Laboratory, said: 'We extracted a premolar  a tooth  to determine the biological age of the find.

'However, based on the wear of the teeth and the development of the sagittal crest, we can already say that this is an adult male.'

Professor Artemy Goncharov, head of the Functional Genomics and Proteomics Laboratory at the Institute of Experimental Medicine, said such investigations could lead to modern-day benefits.

'We see that live bacteria can survive in the finds of fossil animals for millennia, serving as witnesses to those ancient times,' he said.

Experts say it is the oldest known wolf to undergo such an autopsy - and even its stomach has survived

Permafrost is ground that remains permanently frozen even during summer months - and can stay frozen for thousands of years

'We hope for good results that will allow us to further understand what ancient microbial communities were like, what function they performed, and how dangerous pathogenic bacteria were represented in their structure.

'It is possible that microorganisms will be found that can be applied in medicine and biotechnology as promising producers of biologically active substances.

'Therefore, this research has a special influence on the future.'
Sick and injured chimpanzees self-medicate using medicinal plants, researchers have found.

Wild chimps in Uganda have been filmed seeking out and eating plants with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Lab tests showed that the vast majority of plants eaten by the animals inhibited bacterial growth while a third reduced inflammation.

Researchers think the remarkable primates are deliberately seeking out these plants as treatment when they are poorly.

And watching chimps could have 'huge implications' for how we discover new medicines in the future.

Chimpanzees deliberately seek out and eat plants with medicinal properties when sick or injured, a study suggests

Lead researcher Dr Elodie Freymann at the the University of Oxford told MailOnline: 'The chimpanzees know the forest better than we do and can help point us in the direction of potent compounds which can help us discover new drugs.'

Wild chimpanzees eat a wide range of plants, including some which have very low nutritional value but appear to contain medicinal compounds.

However, while researchers have long suspected that the apes might be self-medicating, it has been extremely difficult to prove that their behaviour was deliberate.

To see if chimpanzees commonly used plant medicines, Dr Freymann and colleagues watched a community of 51 chimpanzees in the Budongo Central Forest Reserve in Uganda.

Across 116 days of observation, they monitored the health of the chimps and carefully noted what plants they ate.

The researchers then collected samples of 13 plants that had either been eaten by sick chimpanzees or previously suggested to be used medicinally.

Researchers observed a community of 51 chimpanzees in the Budongo Central Forest Reserve in Uganda (pictured) to see what plants they would eat when ill

Researchers collected samples of 13 plants eaten by the chimps (pictured) and found that 80 per cent had antibacterial properties

When these plants were tested in a lab, the scientists found that 80 per cent turned out to inhibit bacterial growth while a third had anti-inflammatory properties.

Dr Freymann says: 'To study wild chimpanzee self-medication you have to act like a detective  gathering multidisciplinary evidence to piece together a case.

'After spending months in the field collecting behavioral clues that led us to specific plant species, it was thrilling to analyse the pharmacological results and discover that many of these plants exhibited high levels of bioactivity.'

In one case scientists filmed a male chimpanzee with an injured hand who travelled by himself to seek out ferns to eat.

Following testing, it was revealed that these ferns contained highly anti-inflammatory compounds which might have reduced the pain and swelling.

In one case researchers watched as a chimpanzee (pictured) found ferns to eat. They believe that these ferns could have been intended to treat the chimpanzee's injured hand

A young chimpanzee with a parasite infection eats the bark of the cat-thorn tree which is traditionally used to treat intestinal worms

In another case, the scientists watched as a young chimp travelled far from the group to strip and eat the bark of the cat-thorn tree which is traditionally used to treat intestinal worms.

Subsequent analysis of the chimpanzee's faeces revealed that it did indeed have a severe parasite infection when it sought out the tree.

This suggests that chimpanzees might not just be eating these plants by accident but actively seeking them out to treat sickness and injury.

However, the researchers behind the study say that how the chimps might have learned to eat these plants is still an open question.

Dr Freymann says: 'Right now, it looks like some of the more basic behaviors could be instinctual, but for the behaviors which require specific plant species at specific dosages, it seems hard to imagine this isn't socially learned in some way.'

The researchers say it is not clear how the chimpanzees learn to eat the plants. However, they note that some of the more complex behaviour is likely to be socially learned rather than instinctual

The researchers say one of the most exciting implications of this finding is how we might be able to learn from chimpanzees to enhance our own medicinal knowledge.

In their paper, published in PLOS ONE, they point out that increasing rates of antimicrobial resistance is creating a need for novel medicines.

Previously untested plants like those in the Bodongo Central Forest Reserve may contain compounds which could form the basis of future medicines.

But rather than testing plants at random, scientists could narrow down their search by looking at what sick chimpanzees chose to eat.

Along with bonobos, chimpanzees are humans' closest living relatives, so an effective treatment for them could hold promise for us.

Dr Elodie Freymann (pictured) says this discovery could have 'huge implications' for the future of how we discover medicines

By carefully observing what plants are eaten by chimpanzees scientists may be able to narrow down their search for novel medicinal compounds

Interestingly, 11 of the 13 species the researchers tested were already known traditional medicinal uses in regions across Africa.

For example, the fruit of the sandpaper tree eaten by the chimps is also used traditionally to treat wounds, haemorrhoids, venereal diseases, parasites, and arthritis.

Dr Freymann says: 'Our study highlights the medicinal knowledge that can be gained from observing other species in the wild and underscores the urgent need to preserve these forest pharmacies for future generations.'

She adds: 'To do this we need to protect the chimpanzees and these forests.'

Previously, another group of scientists in Indonesia observed an adult male orangutan apply medicinal plants to an open wound.

The orangutan named Rakus was seen chewing leaves of the Akar Kuning vine into a pulp which he applied to a cut on his face.

But while the scientists do believe Rakus' behaviour was deliberate, this was only one isolated case rather than evidence of a behaviour trend.
READ MORE: Gay behaviour is the norm for most animals , study finds

Gay behaviour in animals was first observed more than a century ago  and it's long been considered unusual in species.

But a new study reveals it's far more common that we've been led to believe.

Experts claim that homosexuality in the animal kingdom is 'widely observed' by biologists but left underreported.

From mounting to penetrative sex and 'genital-oral contact', animals engage in a variety of 'widespread and natural' sex behaviours in the wild.

However, these observations may not get published due to a 'publishing bias against anecdotal evidence', the new study explains.

Experts claim that homosexuality in the animal kingdom is commonly observed by biologists but widely underreported. Pictured, gay bhevaiour between two mallard ducks

Same-sex sexual behaviour occurs 'more frequently than what is available in the published record', experts say. Pictured, two male African golden wolves (Canis anthus)

The research was led by Karyn Anderson, a graduate student in anthropology at the University of Toronto, Canada.

'Same-sex sexual behaviour occurs more frequently than what is available within the published record,' Anderson and colleagues say in their paper.

'This may be due to a publishing bias against anecdotal evidence.'

It was back in 1896 that French entomologist Henri Gadeau de Kerville published one of the first scientific illustrations of animal homosexuality.

His drawing, depicting two male scarab beetles copulating, set the stage for animal observations throughout the 1900s.

And during an expedition to Antarctica in 1911-12, British explorer George Murray Levick observed same sex behaviour in penguins, as well as rape and necrophilia.

In 1896, French entomologist Henri Gadeau de Kerville published one of the first scientific illustrations of animal homosexuality. His drawing depicted two male scarab beetles copulating (pictured)

The researchers then set about tracing the evolution of this behaviour, which scientists call the 'Darwinian paradox'. That is - why do animals practice same-sex sexual activity when it has no obvious evolutionary benefit and could lead to extinction if all members of species practice it?

Some animals that exhibit gay behaviour Invertebrates such as insects, spiders, echinoderms and nematodes

such as insects, spiders, echinoderms and nematodes Vertebrates including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals

including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals Non-human primates such as monkeys, lemurs and apes

such as monkeys, lemurs and apes Birds including ducks, penguins and swans Advertisement

But his paper detailing his observations was refused publication at the time for being too 'indecent' (and it wouldn't get published for another 100 years).

Yet still, Anderson and colleagues point out, the belief persists that homosexuality is not the norm in the animal kingdom.

For their study, they conducted an online survey of 65 wildlife researchers whose work focused on observations of different species.

Observations included monkeys, squirrels, mongooses, elephants, mole-rats, coati (a member of the raccoon family) and orca (the killer whale).

In all, 76 per cent said they had observed same-sex behaviour in their study species, but only 48.2 per cent) had collected data on it, and ever fewer (18.5 per cent) had published papers on it.

Such behaviour included 'mounting, intromission, and genital-oral or manual-genital contact' with members of the same sex, the team say.

It shows researchers widely observe yet seldom publish about same-sex sexual behaviour in primates and other mammals.

This is because it is perceived to be too rare to represent the species as a whole, or because it was not a research priority of their lab.

Same-sex displays may help increase social bonding and reduce conflict. Pictured, meerkats in an enclosure of the zoo Hellabrunn in Munich

In the black swan, males pair up and raise stolen eggs from females - although this is different from displaying gay sexual activity

'This appears to be due to a perception of researchers that same-sex sexual behaviour is very rare,' Anderson told the Guardian.

'We found, however, that it was commonly observed by our survey participants.

'One thing I think we can say for certain is that same-sex sexual behaviour is widespread and natural in the animal kingdom.'

Interestingly, there was no correlation between a researcher identifying as LGBTQ+ and recording data on, or publishing on, same-sex sexual behaviour.

Experts led by Spain's Estacion Experimental de Zonas Aridas reviewed the scientific literature related to gay behaviour in animals and created a database of their findings. They found that gay behaviour is equally common in both female and male animals (pictured)

In biology, something known as the 'Darwinian Paradox' may have led researchers to believe that animal homosexual activity is rare.

The paradox asks: why do animals practice same-sex sexual activity when it has no obvious evolutionary benefit and could lead to extinction if all members of species practice it?

In their new paper, Anderson and colleagues say: 'The notion of SSSB [same-sex sexual behaviour] as a rare, "Darwinian Paradox" have persisted throughout the literature, despite widespread reporting of SSSB across all major animal clades.'

Last year, an analysis revealed that same-sex displays were more likely to evolve in social species, which led them to conclude that such behaviour helps establish and maintain positive social relationships.
Since it was first proposed in 1950, passing the 'Turing test' has been seen as one of the highest goals in AI.

But now, researchers claim that ChatGPT has become the first AI to pass this famous test for human intelligence.

Proposed by computer pioneer Alan Turing, it claims that an AI should be considered truly intelligent if people can't tell if they are speaking to a human or machine.

In a pre-print paper, cognitive scientists from UC San Diego argue that the ChatGPT-4 can fool human test subjects more than half of the time.

However, the researchers say this might say more about the Turing test than it does about the intelligence of modern AI.

ChatGPT-4 has passed the famous 'Turing test' which was developed to see if computers have human-like intelligence

Overview of the Turing Test: A human interrogator (C) asks an AI (A) and another human (B) questions and evaluates the responses. The interrogator does not know which is which. If the AI fools the interrogator into thinking its responses were generated by a human, it passes the test

What is the Turing Test? The Turing Test was introduced by Second World War codebreaker Alan Turing in 1950. He predicted that computers would one day be programmed to acquire abilities rivalling human intelligence. He proposed the test, which would identify whether a computer is capable of thought. A person, called the interrogator, engages in a text based conversation with another person and a computer - and must determine which is which. If they are unable to do so the computer has passed the test. Advertisement

Back in 1950, British Second World War codebreaker Alan Turing created what he thought would be the ultimate test of computer intelligence.

He imagined that a human participant would sit at a screen and speak with either a human or a computer through a text-only interface.

If the computer could not be distinguished from a human across a wide range of possible topics, Turing reasoned we would have to admit it was just as intelligent as a human.

Replicating this famous test, the researchers asked 500 participants to speak with four different agents: three AIs and one human.

The AIs were ChatGPT-4, ChatGPT-3.5  two models behind the popular chatbot from OpenAI  and a 1960s-era chat programme called ELIZA.

Participants were placed in a chatroom and told that they either needed to convince the other person they were a human or figure out who they were speaking to.

Participants were then left to chat for five minutes before being asked whether they thought they were speaking to a computer or a human, why they thought that, and how confident they were.

Alan Turing (right) created a test in which participants speak through a text-only interface with either a computer or a human. The researchers replicated a modern version of this experiment through a text chat programme (left)

Turing Test: Can you tell the difference? One of these conversations is with a human and all three others are with AIs. Read them carefully and make your guess - answers are in the box below

While the outdated ELIZA fooled participants only 22 per cent of the time ChatGPT-3.5 passed undetected in 50 per cent of conversations.

The more advanced iteration, ChatGPT-4, did even better, with participants labelling it as human 54 per cent of the time.

This means that ChatGPT-4 is able to pass itself off as a human more frequently than chance would suggest.

And if this seems low, it is worth noting that participants only correctly identified humans as such in 67 per cent of conversations.

The researchers write that these results 'provide the first robust empirical demonstration that any artificial system passes an interactive 2-player Turing test'.

It is worth noting that this is a pre-print paper, meaning it is currently awaiting peer review, so the results must be taken with some degree of care.

However, if the results are supported this would be the first strong evidence that an AI has ever passed the Turing test as Alan Turing envisioned it.

Nell Watson, an AI researcher at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), told Live Science: 'Machines can confabulate, mashing together plausible ex-post-facto justifications for things, as humans do.

'All these elements mean human-like foibles and quirks are being expressed in AI systems, which makes them more human-like than previous approaches that had little more than a list of canned responses.'

Humans were correctly identified as humans just over 60 per cent of the time (blue bar), while ChatGPT-4 was able to fool its conversation partners in 54 per cent of cases

Turing Test - Answers Chat A: ChatGPT-4 Chat B: Human Chat C: ChatGPT-3.5 Chat D: ELIZA Advertisement

Importantly, the low performance of the ELIZA program also helps support the significance of these results.

While it might seem odd to include a 1960s programme in a test of cutting-edge tech, this model was included to test for something called the 'ELIZA effect'.

The ELIZA effect is the idea that humans might assign human-like characteristics to even very simple systems.

But the fact that people were fooled by ChatGPT and not ELIZA suggests that this result is 'nontrivial'.

The researchers also point out that shifting public perceptions of AI might have changed the results we should expect from the Turing test.

They write: 'At first blush, the low human pass rate could be surprising.

'If the test measures humanlikeness, should humans not be at 100%?'

This is the first time that an AI has passed the test invented by Alan Turing in 1950, according to the new study. The life of this early computer pioneer and the invention of the Turing test was famously dramatised in The Imitation Game, starring Benedict Cumberbatch (pictured)

In 1950, this assumption would make total sense since, in a world without advanced AI, we would assume that anything which sounds human is human.

But as the public becomes more aware of AI and our confidence in AI increases, we become more likely to misidentify humans as AI.

This might mean the small gap between the pass rate of humans and ChatGPT-4 is even more compelling as evidence for computer intelligence.

In February this year, researchers from Stanford found that ChatGPT could pass a version of the Turing test in which the AI answered a widely used personality test.

Although those researchers found that ChatGPT-4's results were indistinguishable from humans, this latest paper is one of the first times the AI has passed a robust 2-player Turing test based on conversation.

However, the researchers also acknowledge that there are long-standing and valid criticisms of the Turing test.

The researchers point out that 'stylistic and socio-emotional factors play a larger role in passing the Turing test than traditional notions of intelligence'.

The researchers say this does not necessarily show that AI has become intelligent, just that it has become better at impersonating humans (stock image)

Interrogators were much more likely to cite style, personality, and tone as a reason for identifying their conversation partner as a robot than anything associated with intelligence.

Likewise, one of the most successful strategies for identifying robots was to ask about human experiences, which worked 75 per cent of the time.

This suggests that the Turing test doesn't really prove that a system is intelligent but rather measures its ability to mimic or deceive humans.

At best, the researchers suggest that this provides 'probabilistic' support for the claim that ChatGPT is intelligent.

Participants were more likely to identify the AI based on an assessment of its personality and details given about itself rather than anything based on intelligence

But this doesn't mean that the Turing test is worthless, as the researchers note that the ability to impersonate humans will have huge economic and social consequences.

The researchers say that sufficiently convincing AIs could 'serve economically valuable client-facing roles that have historically been the preserve of human workers, mislead the general public or their own human operators, and erode social trust in authentic human interactions'.

Ultimately, the Turing test could be only part of what we need to assess when we are looking to develop an AI system.

Ms Watson says: 'Raw intellect only goes so far. What really matters is being sufficiently intelligent to understand a situation, the skills of others and to have the empathy to plug those elements together.

'Capabilities are only a small part of AI's value  their ability to understand the values, preferences and boundaries of others is also essential.'
Just a few weeks after Apple laid out its grand new AI project, it seems Amazon is getting in on the act too.

The tech giant is about to fit its smart assistant Alexa with powerful generative AI capabilities that make it much smarter, according to a report.

Alexa will be fitted with a 'conversational generative AI', it says  although it's unclear what AI model this will actually be.

It means she will be able to respond faster and in more human-like language in response to complicated prompts or queries.

Amazon's big rivals in tech already have their own AI chatbots, including Google (Gemini) and X (Grok) while Microsoft and Apple have integrations with ChatGPT.

Amazon is planning a major revamp of Alexa to include a conversational generative AI. Alexa powers the firm's Echo smart speakers (pictured)

Known internally as 'Banyan', Amazon's new project would represent the first major overhaul of the voice assistant since it was introduced in 2014 along with the Echo line of speakers.

Amazon has dubbed the new voice assistant 'Remarkable Alexa' according to 'people with direct knowledge of the company's plans' cited by Reuters.

It will cost a monthly fee of around $5 (4) to access, the report says, although there will still be a free and less capable version of the assistant without the AI.

Some of the Amazon employees who have worked on the project say Banyan represents a 'desperate attempt' to revitalise the Alexa service, which has never turned a profit.

Amazon has pushed workers towards a deadline of August to prepare the newest version of Alexa, the sources added, but it's unclear when it could be released.

The company's CEO Andy Jassy has reportedly taken a personal interest in seeing Alexa reinvigorated.

In an April letter to shareholders, Jassy promised a 'more intelligent and capable' Alexa  but did not provide additional details.

For Amazon, keeping up with rivals in generative AI is critical as Google, Microsoft and OpenAI have garnered more favorable attention for their AI chatbots that can respond almost instantaneously with full sentences to complicated prompts or queries

Earlier this month, Apple revealed that its smart assistant Siri will be powered by ChatGPT on the next major software update for its devices

In a statement, an Amazon spokesperson said the firm has 'already integrated generative AI into different components of Alexa'.

'[We] are working hard on implementation [of] over half a billion ambient, Alexa-enabled devices already in homes around the world-to enable even more proactive, personal, and trusted assistance for our customers,' the spokesperson said.

Amazon has already introduced a chatbot called Q, although it helps with business queries and is not designed for general use for news, weather and facts.

It comes a few weeks after Apple revealed that its smart assistant Siri will be powered by ChatGPT on the next major software update for its devices.

Apple insists that private user information and their queries will not be logged or stored by Siri, unlike the normal version of ChatGPT.

However, Elon Musk is among those who doesn't buy this, having tweeted that Apple is 'selling you down the river' by handing your data over to OpenAI.
A major cyberattack on CDK Global, a software service used by thousands of car dealerships, is now impacting the public.

The Illinois-based company issued an urgent warning Friday, cautioning people about bad actors posing as employees during phone calls to get credit card details and access to their accounts.

Roughly 15,000 US car dealerships rely on CDK Global - a software-as-a-service platform - that contains personal information for millions of customers.

Hackers gained entry to CDK's systems twice in the last week, forcing the company to shut down most of its operations that affected clients of General Motors, Nissan and a portion of BMW Group dealers.

CDK has issued an urgent warning to customers that the bad actors are posing as employees during phone calls to get credit card details and access to their accounts

General Motors is one of the dealerships that uses the hacked CDK systems

CDK provides dealerships with a computerized finance and insurance database to avoid physical paperwork, instantly accesses customer information when they call and offers a digital retail platform where customers can buy cars online.

The company was first hit on June 18 which forced it to shut down the majority of its systems and while it was still recovering from the first hack, a second attack struck the following day.

The company is still investigating the attack and has not yet confirmed what data was stolen.

In the wake of the attacks, CDK issued a message on its interactive voice response line telling customers to be cautious when receiving calls from people who say they're employees.

'We are aware that bad actors are contacting our customers posing as members or affiliates of CDK trying to obtain system access,' the pre-recorded line says.

'CDK associates are not contacting customers for access to their environment or systems,' it continued, adding: 'Please only respond to non-CDK employees and communications.'

Threat actors can use phishing emails or phone calls to trick unwitting customers into sharing their personal information or gain unauthorized access to proprietary systems and the company's financial assets.

CDK advised that customers remain vigilant and told them not to engage in any communication that appears to come from customer support or employees, saying they aren't reaching out to customers at this time.

There is currently no known 'estimated time frame for resolution and therefore our dealer systems will not be available likely for several days,' CDK said in its message.

It's still unclear how many customers were impacted by the attack, what group carried it out or where it originated.

The attack took place just days after a separate hack that pushed the Findlay Automotive Group offline.

Insurance company Zurich North America warned that dealerships are a prime target for hackers because they hold a 'treasure of information' on customers' credit applications and financial information.

'In addition, dealership systems are often interconnected to external interfaces and portals, such as external service providers,' Zurich explained, with many dealerships lacking 'basic cyber security protections'.

CDK produced figures suggesting attacks by cyber-hackers on individual car dealerships rose from 15 to 17 percent last year and boasts on its website that it offers a 'three-tiered cybersecurity strategy to prevent, protect and respond to cyberattacks.'

A Nissan dealership in Phoenix, Arizona is 'at a standstill' after CDK's cyberattack impacted 50,000 of its customers

Alex Padron, a sales manager at a Nissan dealership in Phoenix, told Bloomberg that business was 'almost at a standstill' on Thursday.

He told the outlet that the attack likely affected 50,000 customers which included everyone who purchased a vehicle through their store since 2014 - when it began using CDK's software.

The company told Axios it is still 'assessing the impact' of the cyberattack and will be providing customers with regular updates.

'We remain vigilant in our efforts to reinstate our services and get our dealers back to business as usual as quickly as possible,' CDK said.

DailyMail.com has reached out to CDK for comment.
An urgent warning has been issued to all the 400 million Outlook users after an bug was uncovered that lets enables email spoofing.

A security researcher at SolidLab shared his findings on X, revealing the vulnerability lets anyone impersonate accounts - allowing bad actors to send malicious emails to other users.

Vsevolod Kokorin provided a demonstration that showed he was able to spoof Microsoft's security email account.

The expert has advised all Outlook users to be weary when opening new emails, specifically avoid clicking on strange links.

An urgent warning has been issued to all the 400 million Outlook users after an bug was uncovered that lets enables email spoofing

Outlook is one of the most widely used email services worldwide, holding more than 40 percent market share in the email managing market.

However, the Microsoft service is the most commonly used for business.

Kokorin told TechCrunch that he reported the flaw to Microsoft shortly after uncovering it months ago, but said the company disregarded his findings.

Microsoft allegedly told the security expert that it could not replicate his findings.

The response led to Kokorin sending a demonstration video to the company showing how the attack was carried out and making his discovery public on X.

'Microsoft just said they couldn't reproduce it without providing any details,' Kokorin told TechCrunch. 'Microsoft might have noticed my tweet because a few hours ago they reopen [sic] one of my reports that I had submitted several months ago.'

TechCrunch claimed to have received a spoof email from Kokorin, confirming the bug exists.

DailyMail.com has contacted Microsoft for comment.

However, Kokorin noted that he has previously sent other issues he found to Microsoft and the company was receptive.

A security researcher at SolidLab shared his findings on X, revealing the vulnerability lets anyone impersonate accounts - allowing bad actors to send malicious emails to other users

KoKorin has refused to reveal how the flaw can be exploited, but it only works when sending emails from one Outlook account to another.

The issue comes just two months after Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced a massive overhaul to ensure security is the company's main focus.

In an internal memo, obtained by The Verge, Nadella shared how security was now Microsoft's 'top priority.'

'If you're faced with the tradeoff between security and another priority, your answer is clear: Do security,' Nadella wrote.

'In some cases, this will mean prioritizing security above other things we do, such as releasing new features or providing ongoing support for legacy systems.'

However, Microsoft has yet to make a formal announcement regarding the bug found by KoKorin.
A foodie who flew from Canada to the UK to try a range of takeaway meals has served up his verdict on Chinese food.

Yani Macute, 32, spent a month in the city of Leeds this February while he stayed at his cousin's house.

He said one of his objectives while exploring the UK, was to buy British-Chinese takeaway as he had seen people rave about it on TikTok.

Yani spent $44 on one meal with it comprising chicken balls, sweet and sour chicken Cantonese style, sesame prawn toast, chicken chow mein, fried rice, fries and curry sauce.

In a TikTok showing himself tucking into the meal, Yani explains that he was most excited to try the prawn toast as it wasn't something he saw in North America.

Yani Macute, 32, spent a month in the city of Leeds this February while he stayed at his cousin's house. He said one of his objectives was to buy British-Chinese takeaway

Yani spent $44 on one meal with it comprising chicken balls, sweet and sour chicken Cantonese style, sesame prawn toast, chicken chow mein, fried rice, fries and curry sauce

He explains in a follow-up clip what the item contains, telling his followers: 'There's minced prawn inside the deep fried toast with sesame seen on top. It is so good dipped in curry sauce.'

On trying the chicken chow mein, Yani describes the sauce as being 'thick' and 'almost like honey.'

Many viewers commented on the curry sauce in Yani's clip, deeming it an unusual accompaniment.

However, in another Tiktok he defends the condiment, telling his fans: 'For all you curry sauce haters out there, it's not like an Indian curry, it's like a Katsu curry, Japanese Katsu curry.

'It's kind of sweet but it's also curryish but it's nothing like an Indian curry.'

After having his first UK Chinese takeaway, Yani went traveling to the Philippines, but when he got back to England, he went in for round two.

He muses in a TikTok: 'I went traveling for a month and tell me why this is the first thing I wanted to eat when I got back to the UK?'

In a bid to mix things up a little, he opted for some different items to the first time, with his meal consisting of prawn crackers, fries, chicken in orange sauce, crispy chili beef, prawn toast, chicken chow mein, pork in sweet and chili sauce, fried rice and curry sauce.

The prawn crackers in the UK are much bigger than in Canada, Yani says

Many viewers commented on the curry sauce in Yani's clip, deeming it an unusual accompaniment

Some of the differences he notes, while he eats the meal, is the the prawn crackers are 'a lot bigger' than what he is used to.

He also reveals that in Canada, the chicken and orange sauce come pre-mixed but the meal he orders in the UK comes with both items presented in separate containers.

The color of the sauce is another difference, with it being 'bright yellow' in the UK, while an image Yani shows of the dish in Canada, it's more of a golden brown color.

On sampling a piece of the chicken dunked in the 'citrussy' yellow sauce, Yani describes it tasting like meat dipped in orange juice.

Meanwhile, he gives the crispy chili beef a thumbs up, noting that it is still crispy despite being covered in a mix of sauces.

Lastly, he dips a triangular piece of prawn toast in a tub of curry sauce, with a content look on his face as he bites into it.

Overall, Yani says that the UK dishes are 'pretty similar' to the Canadian Chinese takeaways but the UK Chinese has a different flavor and you get more freebies like prawn crackers and fries.

Explaining how he went about his food challenge, the self-employed photographer, who is originally from the Philippines but now based in Toronto, said: 'My mission when I got to the UK was to try a British Chinese takeaway.

'As soon as I arrived, I made it my mission to get one.

'Before I ordered it, I went online to do some research on what to order - I wanted the full experience.

'I would definitely get it again, although I do think Canada's Chinese is better.'

Commenting on a few of the biggest difference he noticed, he said: 'I noticed that some of the dishes are called the same in Canada but they are presented differently.

'A Canadian Chinese tends to be more salty - the flavor is very different.'

Yani said that while Canadian Chinese takeaway was superior to a British Chinese, there were two UK dishes he liked in particular.

He said: 'I loved the sesame seed prawn toast and dipping it into the curry sauce.

'I went back to the UK recently and I tried crispy beef - that it definitely one of my favorites.'
Too Hot To Handle's Emily Miller has given birth.

The reality TV, 29, welcomed her first child, a baby boy, with her partner Cam Holmes on Thursday with the couple announcing their happy news on Instagram.

The couple, who first met on the 2020 series, revealed they were expecting their baby in January, two years after suffering an ectopic pregnancy.

Alongside an adorable photo of their newborn son, she announced he was called Reggie.

Emily previously told how they had planned to name their son after her Grandad, after he sadly passed away.

Too Hot To Handle star Emily Miller, 29, welcomed her first child, a baby boy, with her partner Cam Holmes on Thursday with the couple announcing their happy news on Instagram

The couple, who first met on the 2020 series, revealed they were expecting their baby in January, two years after suffering an ectopic pregnancy (pictured last month)

She wrote: 'Reggie Ruston Miller-Holmes 20.06.2024'

In June, Emily shared a raw and honest paragraph alongside a slew of snaps, describing her past trauma as she marked two years since she suffered an ectopic pregnancy.

She wrote: 'Its a bitter sweet feeling today which marks 2 years since my ectopic pregnancy.

'My due date is only a week away but I had always secretly thought how weird it would be if I gave birth on the exact day. But Im now glad that wasnt the case as they both deserve their special day.'

An ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilised egg implants itself outside of the womb, usually in one of the fallopian tubes.

The fallopian tubes are the tubes connecting the ovaries to the womb. If an egg gets stuck in them, it won't develop into a baby and your health may be at risk if the pregnancy continues.

Unfortunately, it's not possible to save the pregnancy. It usually has to be removed using medicine or an operation.

She added: 'I lost my little Twix [dog] a month before I found out I was pregnant which is ironic in itself because Twix hated babies and children and I always said I would never be able to have a child with Twixxy being my number 1 baby as it just wouldnt work.'

Alongside an adorable photo of their newborn son, she announced he was called Reggie, after her late Grandad

Emily and Cam, who first met on the 2020 series of Too Hot To Handle, revealed they were expecting their baby boy in January

In June, Emily shared a raw and honest paragraph alongside a slew of snaps, describing her past trauma as she marked two years since she suffered an ectopic pregnancy

She wrote: 'My due date is only a week away but I had always secretly thought how weird it would be if I gave birth on the exact day' (pictured last month)

She added: 'I lost my little Twix [dog] a month before I found out I was pregnant which is ironic in itself because Twix hated babies and children and I always said I would never be able to have a child with Twixxy being my number 1 baby as it just wouldnt work'

'Fast forward a few months I then lost my wee Nan. This too is ironic because the reason I got Twix was that he was my grandads dying wish for me', she added

Emily continued: 'Fast forward a few months I then lost my wee Nan. This too is ironic because the reason I got Twix was that he was my grandads dying wish for me.

'Expect he was supposed to be a white Siberian cat. Not a stray dog from Batterseabut thats another story.

'Long story short- I always felt my grandads presence in Twix. My Nan and Twix had this incredible bond and I dont know why but I just alwayssss knew that they would cross over at the same time.

'And would you believe it - as my Nan got sicker with Dementia and Twix got older neither of them were giving up until eventually it was only a few months apart when they both died.

'Anyway to cut to the point Ive never been hugely into spirituality but I do feel like this has all been linked together and to top it off we are calling our son after my Grandad which Cam & I decided way before my nans death.

'Its crazy how our mind and body recovers so quickly from trauma when its replaced with love and hope.'

In June 2022 Emily revealed she suffered an ectopic pregnancy, after finding out she was pregnant a few weeks before.

She detailed the tragic news in a lengthy post to Instagram, telling followers that she 'collapsed in pain' and was rushed to hospital.

Emily detailed that she was 'extremely emotional' after the surgery and suffered a panic attack, adding that despite the physical pain, 'mentally it was even harder.'

The television personality explained that despite the 'shock' pregnancy she was 'quite excited' before being admitted to A&E with stomach pain.

Alongside a photo for her hospital bed, Emily penned: 'So a few weeks ago I discovered I was pregnant. Although it was a shock it was something I was also quite excited about.

'I always felt my grandads presence in Twix. My Nan and Twix had this incredible bond and I dont know why but I just always knew that they would cross over at the same time', she said

'Ive never been hugely into spirituality but I do feel like this has all been linked together and to top it off we are calling our son after my Grandad', she continued

'Its crazy how our mind and body recovers so quickly from trauma when its replaced with love and hope', she added

In June 2022 Emily revealed she suffered an ectopic pregnancy, after finding out she was pregnant a few weeks before

'However on Tuesday. I collapsed whilst being at the shops. I cannot even describe to you the pain- it felt like my whole stomach was collapsing and was quickly rushed to hospital. I waited in A&E until 3pm the next day, when I finally got my scan.'

She continued: 'As I laid on the table squeezing Cams hand the 2 nurses were so silent. I asked if everything is ok and she replied 'I'm just going to get my colleague for a second opinion' as the 3 nurses gathered round it was then they confirmed I had something called an ectopic pregnancy.

'For those who haven't heard of this (like me) it's basically where the fetus gets stuck and grows in your Fallopian tube which is fatal and if I had left it much longer my Fallopian tube would of burst.

'It's one of those things you just think will never happen to you. I was just so scared. Not only was I about to lose my baby but I was about to have my Fallopian tube removed with the potential of my ovary too.

'All I wanted to do was speak to my mum and I'm pretty sure I scared all the poor women in that waiting room with my crying.'
The kids took a break from the spotlight surrounding their dad and stepmom J-Lo's impending split

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Ben Affleck's children escaped the drama of their father's impending split from wife Jennifer Lopez and took to the skatepark to blow off some steam.

The Academy Award-winner, 51, shares kids Violet, 18, Fin, 15, and Samuel, 12, with his ex Jennifer Garner.

Fin and Samuel were spotted at the park on June 13, as the 15-year-old Fin sported a green helmet and knee pads for the shredding session.

The teen - formerly known as Seraphina Rose - was practicing several skateboarding tricks including ollies and riding along a ramp.

Fin, who came out as non-binary in April, wore white sneakers with mix-matched socks - one blue and one white - as well as tan cargo shorts and a striped navy long sleeve with a green shirt underneath.

Ben Affleck's child, 15-year-old Fin (pictured), was spotted letting loose at the skatepark while wearing mix-matched socks and protective gear

Younger bother Samuel, 12, and an unidentified friend joined Fin for the session, cheering on the 15-year-old from a picnic table outside of the park

Samuel wore a grey sweat suit with a rainbow stripe down the side as the youngsters got in the car after burning some energy at the skatepark

Wearing a grey sweat suit with a rainbow stripe down the side, Samuel cheered on his sibling while sitting on a picnic table outside the skating area.

The next day, the youngsters mother was pictured in black leggings and white shirt with a blue hat and sneakers while on a hike.

Garner is said to be teaming up with Affleck's mother Christine Anne Bolt to support the Gone Girl actor through his rumored divorce.

On Wednesday, J-Lo showed off her physique in a pastel yellow crop-top paired with matching shorts while relaxing on a yacht in Italy - thousands of miles away from her husband.

That same day, the 51-year-old and his son Samuel were pictured spending quality time together riding around Los Angeles on his electric motorcycle.

Affleck and Lopez sparked rumors that they were heading for a divorce after it was revealed he moved out of their marital home.

At the time, it was said that they had been living separately for 'weeks' already.

Fin, who came out as non-binary in April, was practicing several skateboarding tricks including ollies and riding along a ramp

The teen wore tan cargo shorts and a striped navy long sleeve with a green shirt underneath while sharpening their skateboarding skills

The Affleck brood's mother, Jennifer Garner, pictured in black leggings and white shirt with a blue hat and sneakers while on a hike as she is said to be supporting the father of her children during the rumored split

Affleck has been living in a $100,000 per month rental in Brentwood to be closer to his children, while Lopez, who shares 16-year-old twins Emme and Max from prior marriage to Marc Anthony, feels the 12-bedroom house they put on the market is simply 'way too big for her.'

After few and sparse public outings together in recent months, Lopez further fueled the speculation when she announced that she would be canceling her tour to focus on her family.

Sources told DailyMail.com the pop star has reached her wit's end with her 'grumpy' husband and no longer feels that she can do any 'more' to save the relationship.

'Jenny has had enough and she really tried but she can do no more, it's not getting any better, it's worse,' a music industry said.

While their marriage seems to be on the rocks, the couple has continued to show support for each others children.

On Father's Day, the Jenny From The Block songstress shared a snap of Ben from his 2001 action film Pearl Harbor to her Instagram Stories as she praised him on the special day.

'Our hero,' she wrote along with a white heart emoji. 'Happy Father's Day,' she added.

On June 14, while the Oscar winner was showing off his new Brentwood rental home to his mother, Lopez met up with his daughter Violet for lunch.

Affleck and Lopez sparked rumors they are splitting after it was revealed the couple is splitting their marital home and the Gone Girl actor has been living in a $100k per month rental property in Brentwood

The couple has had few public outings together in recent months, with J-Lo spotted relaxing on a yacht in Italy on Wednesday while her husband was thousands of miles away

While his wife was gallivanting in Italy, Affleck was spending quality time with his son Samuel riding around on his motorcycle

The couple was reunited at Samuel's graduation on June 12 where oddly enough Lopez, Affleck and Garner were not pictured in the same frame, despite all attending.

When the Bronx native left the graduation ceremony she did not seem to be in such a carefree mood. Ben also seemed a little on edge as his iced coffee was nearly finished.

DailyMail.com previously reported that Affleck has been drinking alcohol again amid his tense situation with Jennifer.

Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, friends say the actor  who has battled alcoholism and a gambling addiction for decades  is suffering 'acute sadness' as his marriage collapses.

They claim Affleck is either 'at risk' of slipping off the wagon, or is already back on the booze.
Robert Irwin has revealed his very unusual sleeping attire.

The 20-year-old conservationist took to Instagram on Thursday with a humorous video showing himself in bed.

Robert, dressed in his Australia Zoo khakis, opened his eyes and asked the camera, 'do you ever get that strange feeling when you wake up that you're being watched?'

He then panned around his bedroom to show a boom mic operator, a camera man, and various other film crew-members in the room with him.

In the caption, the newly-minted I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! host wrote, 'Tell me you do reality TV without telling me. And yes...I sleep in my khakis.'

Robert Irwin has revealed his very unusual sleeping attire. The 20-year-old conservationist took to Instagram on Thursday with a humorous video showing himself in bed. Pictured

Robert, who is dressed in his Australia Zoo khakis, opens his eyes and asks the camera, 'do you ever get that strange feeling when you wake up that you're being watched?' He then pans around his bedroom to show a film crew in the room with him

Fans showed their love for the Wildlife Warrior's gag in the comments, with many proposing a business idea for the young conservationist.

Australian model Ellie Gonsalves floated the idea of a brand of sleepwear.

'You need to sell Robert Irwin khaki PJs,' she commented on the video.

In the caption to the funny post, he wrote 'Tell me you do reality TV without telling me. And yes...I sleep in my khakis'

Fans showed their love for the Wildlife Warrior's gag in the comments, and Australian model Ellie Gonsalves floated the idea of a brand of sleepwear

Another commenter echoed this sentiment: 'I think we all would like a Robert Irwin collab with a pyjama brand now.'

Meanwhile, other followers were excited by the prospect of a new season of reality show Crikey! It's The Irwins that Robert seemed to tease in the clip.

The reality show, which followed Robert, his mum Terri and sister Bindi as they worked at Australia Zoo, premiered on Animal Planet in 2018, with its fourth season wrapping up in 2022.

Meanwhile, other followers were excited by the prospect of a new season of reality show Crikey! It's The Irwins that Robert seemed to tease in the clip

The reality show, which followed Robert, his mum Terri, sister Bindi and her husband Chandler Powell as they worked at Australia Zoo, premiered on Animal Planet in 2018, with its fourth season wrapping up in 2022. All pictured

'Please be a new season of Crikey! Its the Irwins!' wrote one fan.

'Ahhh yes, the only reality tv I'm willing to waste my life on,' wrote another.

'A new season of Crikey It's the Irwin's???? Finally!!!' someone else said.

While some fans were excited by the prospect of the reality show returning, others
Eva Longoria is a doting mother and is proud of her 'very cultured' son.

The Desperate Housewives star, 49  who recently showed off her sizzling style  explained that her six-year-old son, Santiago, has a passion for learning about other cultures.

'You know what I love is, hes always with me when Im working,' she said while on the Today Show on Thursday.

'If were in Spain, we just all go to Spain. If were in Rome, were all in Rome. And hes very cultured,' the Texas native expressed.

She went on to give example of what her son would say: '"Oh mom, can we have macaroons if you go to Paris? We can eat jamon when were in Spain."'

The Desperate Housewives star, 49, explained that her six-year-old son, Santiago, has a passion for learning about other cultures; seen in 2022

The brunette beauty shares her son with husband Jose Baston, 56, a Mexican film producer; seen in 2024

The actress explained, 'I just love how global hes growing up, and understands and appreciates other cultures and other languages.'

The brunette beauty shares her son with husband Jose Baston, 56, a Mexican film producer.

They said 'I do' back in 2016 and welcomed the youngster on June 19, 2018, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Santiago is the first child for Eva, but the fifth for Jose, who was previously married to Mexican actress Natalia Esperon.

His other children are Natalia, born February 1996, and triplets Mariana, Jose and Sebastian, all born November 2016, however, Sebastian died shortly after being born.

When asked in a 2019 interview what the secret is to her happy marriage, Eva explained that she and her husband have respect for each other, and support each other's goals and dreams.

The star said: 'When I was younger it was so much about what I needed to accomplish.

'I've accomplished so much already that I can really sit back now and enjoy the success and continue to dream bigger with a partner.'

The couple initially met on a December 2013 blind date arranged by a mutual friend in Mexico City, with Eva revealing her future husband had no idea who she was.

'If were in Spain, we just all go to Spain. If were in Rome, were all in Rome. And hes very cultured,' the Texas native expressed; Eva and Santiago seen in 2022

The actress explained, 'I just love how global hes growing up, and understands and appreciates other cultures and other languages'; Eva and Santiago seen in 2019

She and her husband welcomed the youngster on June 19, 2018, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles; Eva and Santiago seen in 2021

'I think it's funny when people say I'm an overnight sensation, because I've been working at it for 10 years,' she told Maxim Magazine in 2006; Eva and Santiago seen in 2019

Longoria made her television debut in 1999 as a host on L.A. In A Day, before landing roles on Beverly Hills 90210 and General Hospital.

She is best known for acting in ABC's 2003 comedy-drama Desperate Housewives which ran from 2004 to 2012.

'I think it's funny when people say I'm an overnight sensation, because I've been working at it for 10 years,' she told Maxim Magazine in 2006.
Joint efforts will lead to another golden 50 years for China-Malaysia ties -- Chinese premier

Xinhua) 14:54, June 21, 2024

Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivers a speech while attending the luncheon of China-Malaysia business community with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

KUALA LUMPUR, June 20 (Xinhua) -- With the concerted efforts of business communities and individuals across various sectors in both China and Malaysia, the next 50 years of China-Malaysia relations promise to be another golden era, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Thursday.

Li made the remarks when attending the luncheon of China-Malaysia business community with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Around 200 representatives from the business community of both countries attended the meeting.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Malaysia 50 years ago, economic and trade cooperation has always played a crucial role in bilateral relations, Li said.

In recent years, China-Malaysia economic and trade cooperation has rapidly expanded, with its scope broadened and quality improved, showcasing a thriving and vigorous growth, he noted.

As China-Malaysia relations continue to deepen, the alignment of their development strategies, the emergence of complementary strengths, and the ongoing advancement of industrial upgrades will bring more new opportunities for bilateral economic and trade cooperation, as well as for investment and business activities by enterprises from both nations, Li said.

China is ready to work with Malaysia to accelerate the implementation of various cooperation agreements, jointly advance major projects, and expand cooperation and achieve more win-win results for both sides, he said.

Li said enterprises play a leading role in economic and trade cooperation between China and Malaysia, forming an important foundation for the healthy development of bilateral relations.

He expressed hope that enterprises from both countries would continue to deeply explore each other's markets, make full use of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, continuously tap the potential for trade growth, strive to unleash investment cooperation momentum, and be practitioners of mutual benefit.

Li also encouraged enterprises to actively expand cooperation in emerging fields such as green development and the digital economy, make better plans for future industries like artificial intelligence and life sciences, and continuously optimize the allocation of various innovative resources, thereby becoming leaders in innovative development.

Additionally, he urged enterprises to contribute to people-to-people connectivity by promoting communication, dialogue, cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two nations, and sharing more stories of China-Malaysia friendship with both societies to enhance mutual understanding and trust.

Anwar said in his speech that China is an inclusive and friendly country that understands different cultures.

Malaysia and China always adhere to mutual respect and mutual learning, and their cooperation is mutually beneficial, he said, adding that Malaysia-China relations are rich in connotation and profound in significance.

Malaysia is firmly committed to deepening friendly relations with China and is willing to work with China to further enhance mutual understanding through dialogue, deepen cooperation in trade, investment, science and technology, education and other fields, and promote exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations, so as to better benefit the two peoples and future generations, he said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Nairobi, Kenya (PANA)  The African Union (AU) should work with the United Nations to deploy a civilian protection mission to address ongoing atrocities across Sudan, notably in Darfur, and act to ensure strong human rights investigations, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Thursday
Kate Ritchie got involved with an epic Home and Away reunion on Thursday night as she joined her former co-stars at Ray Meagher's 80th birthday celebrations.

The actress, 45, took to her Instagram Stories to give an insight into the fun-filled celebrations, which came two weeks ahead of Ray's big birthday on July 4.

Kate, who played Sally Fletcher on the soap opera, was all smiles as she posed for a selfie with her former co-star Emily Symons at the party.

Ada Nicodemou also put rumours of a 'rift' between her and her castmates to bed amid her new romance with James Stewart as she joined her co-stars at the bash.

In one snap, originally shared to Emily's Instagram, Kate cut a stylish figure in a white T-shirt and blazer as she grinned alongside her friend Emily, 54.

Kate Ritchie got involved with a Home and Away reunion on Thursday night as she joined her former co-stars including Emily Symons (pictured) at Ray Meagher's 80th birthday party

Emily, who starred as Marilyn Chambers-Fisher in the 90s, looked equally chic in a black high-neck jumper, while she opted for a high-glamour make-up palette.

The friends appeared on Home and Away at the same time with Kate's stint on the show running from 1988 until 2008, before a brief guest appearance in 2013.

Emily first joined the cast just one year after Kate and stayed on until 1992, before reprising her role in 1995 until 1999 and again in 2010 as she remains on the show.

Ada Nicodemou was also believed to have been among the Home and Away stars who attended the fun-filled 80th birthday party in honour of Ray.

Though she didn't share snaps from the event to Instagram, Daily Mail Australia understands that Ada, who portrays Leah Patterson on the show, attended the party.

Ada Nicodemou also put rumours of a 'rift' between her and her castmates to bed amid her new romance with James Stewart as she joined her co-stars at the jovial celebrations

Ada has started dating her co-star James Stewart, who plays love interest Justin Morgan (both pictured on the show), but it was claimed they failed to get approval from their co-stars

She put rumours of a 'rift' between her and her co-stars to bed with her appearance at the bash as they 'all had a great time' together on the 'lovely' night.

Ada has started dating her co-star James Stewart, who plays her love interest Justin Morgan, but it was claimed they failed to get the tick of approval from their co-stars.

Last month, a source close to the actress allegedly told Woman's Day that stars including Ray, Lynne McGranger and Emily Symone are all 'keeping an eye' on Ada.

'Most people are just worried about Ada. Ray and Lynne aren't the kind of people to get involved in someone else's business and will be keeping their heads down, but they will have raised their concerns with her,' the insider said.

Despite the rumours, Ada and James have gone from strength-to-strength since their romance emerged and are believed to be considering moving in together.

Kate also posed with her co-star Laura Vasquez, who played Sarah Thompson on the soap opera from 1993 to 1995, at the party

Laura also shared a picture of herself posing alongside a cardboard cutout of Home and Away legend Ray in a photo-booth style picture as she gave an insight into the party

Source close to the couple told New Idea that 'they've been talking about moving in with one another, and it's clear they are very serious about this relationship'.

They added that the pair are also planning their much-anticipated relationship 'hard launch' at the upcoming Logie Awards, set to take place in Sydney on August 18.

Their blossoming romance has been in the spotlight since they were first seen sharing a lingering kiss on Anzac Day.

Ada split from her ex-partner Adam Rigby just before Christmas last year, while James finalised his divorce from Sarah Roberts in March.

It is not known if James was also in attendance at Ray's 80th birthday party with his new girlfriend Ada and their co-stars.

Kate starred as Sally Fletcher on Home and Away from 1988 until 2008, before a brief guest appearance in 2013

Emily first joined the cast just one year after Kate and stayed on until 1992, before reprising her role in 1995 until 1999 and again in 2010 as she remains on the show

Also among the guest list at the celebrations was Laura Vasquez, who played Sarah Thompson on the soap opera from 1993 to 1995, before briefly returning in 2005.

Taking to her Instagram Stories, Laura shared a snap of herself cuddled up to Kate at the bash as they enjoyed a catch-up over 30 years on from their soap opera days.

Alongside the picture, Laura wrote: 'Catching up with this gem of a human tonight. So much love for you.'

She also shared a picture of herself posing alongside a cardboard cutout of Home and Away legend Ray in a photo-booth style picture.

The sign read: 'Ray Meagher's Birthday,' while Laura added in a caption: 'Celebrating this wonderful man tonight, Ray.'

Fan favourite Ray has starred as Alf Stewart on Home and Away since the show's very episode back in 1988

Fan favourite Ray has starred as Alf Stewart on Home and Away since the show's very first episode back in 1988.

He is the sole remaining original cast member on Summer Bay and the longest continuing performer in any Australian TV role.

Last year, Ray confirmed he had signed another five year contract with Home and Away, solidifying his position on the show at least until 2028.

He told The Sun at the time: 'I didnt ever really have a target of years or anything like that. People often say, "why would you stay that long?"

'I think the basic answer is the people. Weve got a wonderful crew and some of them have nearly been there as long as me.'

He is the sole remaining original cast member on Summer Bay and the longest continuing performer in any Australian TV role

'We have some wonderful actors who are now in the 10, 15 and 20 year bracket, and by and large I've thoroughly enjoyed my time on the show,' he added.

However, earlier this year, Ray slammed Home and Away for becoming less wholesome and straying away from his roots.

He suggested the crime-based storylines that have dominated the story action in Summer Bay for more than a decade have caused the show to stray too far from its 80s roots.

'There is still a penchant for a River Boy,' Ray said of the show's recent cast of 'bad boys' in a chat with industry blog TV Tonight.

'I mean, that was just a great period. But was it Summer Bay? Hmmm. in my humble opinion, not to that extent.'

Last year, Ray confirmed he had signed another five year contract with Home and Away, solidifying his position on the show at least until 2028

Ray's comment referred to the popular 'River Boys' storyline which was launched in 2011.

It featured a trio of tough male characters, played by Lincoln Younes, Steve Peacocke and Dan Ewing, who brought trouble to Summer Bay.

He praised the talent behind the 'River Boys' storylines but said he believed it moved away from the show's original premise, which centered on a family bringing foster kids to a little coastal village.

Ray said there was 'nothing wrong' with the 'sex, drugs and rock and roll' storyline of The River Boys but he adds: 'Except it came in too big a dose.'
Doctor Who fans have been left fuming after villain Sutekh's 1975 debut in the sci-series was seemingly altered with CGI, following his return to the show after almost 50-years last week.

The latest episode, The Legend of Ruby Sunday, the evil god - who first appeared in Pyramids of Mars and faced off against Tom Baker's Fourth Doctor - was confirmed as the Timelord's final foe of the 2024 series in a huge twist ahead of Saturday's finale.

To coincide with his return BBC Four spin-off series Tales of the TARDIS saw 15th Doctor Ncuti Gatwa regale companion Ruby (Millie Gibson) with his and Sutekh's first meeting, before the 1975 episode was shown in it's entirety.

But some eagle-eyed viewers took to X to complain after noticing one 'iconic' and famous aspect, known to many as 'The Hand of Sutekh' had been removed ahead of transmission.

In the original episode when the actor playing the villain stood from his throne in the bulky costume, a hand from a member of the crew could be seen briefly peeling a cushion from the character's bottom in a blink and you miss it moment.

Doctor Who fans have been left fuming after villain Sutekh's 1975 debut (pictured) in the sci-series was seemingly altered with CGI

The baddie made an epic return to the show last week (pictured)

But some eagle-eyed viewers took to X to complain after noticing one 'iconic' and famous aspect, known to many as 'The Hand of Sutekh' (R) had been removed ahead of transmission

Taking to X fans furiously wrote: 'Aww the hand of Sutekh's gone! I'm of mixed emotions about this': 'THEY DIGITALLY REMOVED THE HAND': 'Not only did they remove the Hand of Sutekh, they stole the Cushion of Sutekh too! Dr Who fans may now commence rioting'.

'Disappointed to see they've edited out the Third Hand of Sutekh holding down the Comfy Cushion of Sutekh': 'Yeah, very disappointed about that, spoilsports'.

MailOnline have contacetd BBC for comment.

In the new episode, the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) tried to identify Ruby's mother by reconstructing CCTV footage in 3D, but they were unsuccessful, leaving her emotional.

A dark red cloud then appeared inside UNIT's time window device and then escaped into the corporeal world.

Later, Susan Twist - who has been a recurring guest star and was thought to be the Doctor's granddaughter - morphed into a demonic entity while still on a worldwide livestream, leaving the Doctor stunned.

Sutekh described itself as both 'mother and father' to all of the gods of chaos in the universe, warning: 'He has hidden in the howling void.

'He has hidden within the tempest. He's braved the storm and the darkness and pain and he whispered to the vessel. All this time, he whispered and delighted and seduced and the vessel did obey.

In the original episode when the actor playing the villain stood from his throne in the bulky costume, a hand from a member of the crew could be seen briefly peeling a cushion from the character's bottom in a blink and you miss it moment.

To coincide with his return BBC Four spin-off series Tales of the TARDIS saw 15th Doctor Ncuti Gatwa regale companion Ruby (Millie Gibson) with his and Sutekh's first meeting, before the 1975 episode was shown in it's entirety (Tom Baker pictured in the episode)

Taking to X fans furiously wrote: 'Aww the hand of Sutekh's gone! I'm of mixed emotions about this': 'THEY DIGITALLY REMOVED THE HAND'

'The Lord of Time was blind and vain and knew nothing.'

Fans praised the episode, with one penning on X: 'Rather enjoyed that Doctor Who episode. Best of the series';

'That reveal was 1000/10'; 'What an amazing episode. I cannot wait until next week!'

Doctor Who's series finale will be released at midnight on Saturday on BBC iPlayer in the UK, and will air at 6:40pm on BBC One that evening. The series is available to stream internationally on Disney+.
Lara Worthington quickly deleted images she shared online Friday morning after she was slammed by followers for 'fat-shaming'.

The Australian model, 36, took to Instagram to post pictures from her latest Paris photoshoot which saw her pose in jeans more than twice her size.

But fans turned on the media personality and accused her of being 'insensitive' to people with larger bodies, prompting her to quickly take the photos down.

Posing up a storm in the streets of France, Lara was all smiles in the photos as she slipped her tiny frame into a larger pant size and belt for Side-Note magazine.

The loose sides were stitched together and held out to further accentuate the size difference between Lara and the black garment.

Lara Worthington, 36, (pictured) quickly deleted images she shared online Friday morning after she was slammed by followers for 'fat-shaming

Little context was given for the photoshoot, with the caption reading only: 'Me by @jessrubyjames & @vanessa_coyle for @side__note in Paris.'

Followers flocked to the comments of the post to slam Lara for 'fat-shaming' and making 'insensitive' commentary on other women's bodies with the photos.

'This looks really bad. Not sure what they were thinking when doing this shoot, but probably should post with a caption for context as it looks quite insensitive,' one said.

Another added, 'Is she fat shaming here? Wtf is this?' while a third wrote, 'Insensitive,' next to a sad face emoji.

The Australian model took to Instagram to post pictures from her latest Paris photoshoot (not pictured) which saw her pose in jeans twice her size

Someone else commented: 'She is smiling, this doesn't appear to be funny, more very inappropriate. Bad choice by her no matter which way you look at it.'

'Not an image that should be put out there by the fashion industry,' one user said.

Yet another chimed in with: 'Are you having a go at people bigger than you? Yuck.'

Despite the slew of criticism Lara received for the images, some fans spoke up in her defence.

But fans turned on the media personality and accused her of being 'insensitive' to people with larger bodies, prompting her to quickly take the photos down

Despite the slew of criticism Lara received for the images, some fans spoke up in her defence

'It's a great photo, nothing to do with fat shaming just a visual, people need to lighten up,' one wrote.

Someone else said, 'Love a wide leg pant,' while another posted a series of fire emojis beneath the post.

Several other followers simply wrote the word 'love' to share their support.

Daily Mail Australia reached out to Lara and her stylist for comment on the deleted images.
Shannen Doherty is trying to secure much needed spousal support from estranged husband Kurt Iswarienko as her monthly residual income decreases.

According to a report from People, the 53-year-old former Beverly Hills, 90210 actress has not received requested financial information regarding the 49-year-old photographer's archival work.

Doherty, who is battling stage four brain cancer, believes her ex is intentionally delaying the legal process to avoid paying her.

'It is simply not right that Kurt be permitted to prolong our divorce in hopes that I die before he is required to pay me while he continues to live his life and shirk his responsibilities to his dying wife of more than 11 years,' she stated in filed paperwork.

Iswarienko's attorney Katherine Heersema fired back, stating that Shannen was offered a settlement deal in October 2023 but denied it.

Shannen Doherty is trying to secure much needed spousal support from estranged husband Kurt Iswarienko as her monthly residual income decreases; Shannen pictured in February

According to a report from People, the 53-year-old former Beverly Hills, 90210 actress has not received requested financial information regarding the 49-year-old photographer's archival work; the exes pictured in June 2010

'Kurt is not "simply wait[ing] for Shannen to die." He wants the best for Shannen and he wants both of them to be able to put this case behind them and move forward,' she said.

In response, Doherty said she denied the proposed settlements because they 'skirted around the issues of his original works created during marriage' and 'his earning capacity.'

In a June 14 filing, the actress requested $15,343 in monthly support 'retroactive to June 1, 2024.'

She has also asked that Kurt contribute $9,100 to her legal fees.

Doherty stated, 'As a result of my recurrent health issues, I have been largely unable to work and have no future employment prospects. Today, virtually all of the income I earn is residual income from work that I performed prior to marriage.'

Per People, Iswarienkos average annual income from the last three years was $672,916 spendable, leaving 'at least' $56,076 per month in spendable spousal support.

For her part, Doherty's annual average was $259,708, including her work in 2021 and 2022, when she had health insurance.

Shannen says she has made a little more than $25,000 so far this year, showing a significant decrease.

The 53-year-old former Beverly Hills, 90210 star filed paperwork in Los Angeles on Friday, June 14, according to Us Magazine; the former spouses pictured in April 2012

She has also racked up close to $160,000 in legal fees and requested Iswarienko pay $130,000 for future fees.

She said in her filing last week: 'The majority of my residual income is from a television show called Charmed.

'I recently learned that Charmed will no longer be streaming on any major streaming platform after June 30, 2024. As a result, my future residual income will dramatically decrease.' It was also noted that the television star has not worked since 2022.

Shannen believes her ex, to whom she was married from 2011-2023, has the resources to contribute to her medical expenses.

In 2023 the cost totaled $21,640 and she expects it will 'dramatically increase' when she is no longer granted SAG health insurance as a result of not working.

Doherty argued in court paperwork that Kurt has put his lifestyle above all else.

'While I have been unable to work, incurring exorbitant medical expenses not covered by insurance to undergo experimental treatments in hopes of prolonging my life, Kurt has been utilizing the airplane, spending thousands of dollars at medical spas, jewelry stores, Gucci, and on flights for his 'agent,' while simultaneously claiming that he has insufficient funds with which to support me,' she expressed.

The performer has alleged that Iswarienko's agent, Collier Grimm, is also his romantic partner.

The now-exes together at a Stand Up To Cancer event in September 2016

'Although Kurts income is substantially more than mine, he has not made any temporary spousal support payments and has made no contributions to my attorneys or accounting fees and costs since the time our divorce action was filed,' Shannen stated.

It was also noted that Iswarienko has not provided the necessary documents to evaluate his earning capacity, assets and income.

She has subsequently filed a Motion to Compel.

The Hollywood veteran has requested another $11,800 from Iswarienko for the fees she says she's incurred 'in efforts to obtain Kurts complete responses.'

Shannen is battling stage four brain cancer

Doherty shared in the documents: 'It is abundantly clear to me that Kurt is intentionally delaying settlement in hopes that I will not survive the divorce proceedings.'

First diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, the Charmed alum had a single mastectomy in May 2016. It was followed by chemotherapy treatments and radiotherapy.

By 2017, Doherty announced that her cancer was in remission. But in February 2020, she revealed the cancer had returned in 2019, and that she was in stage four.

Last year, Doherty announced that her cancer had spread to her brain.
Ben Affleck has finally addressed why he tends to have a 'resting b***h face' in photos while also opening up about 'Sad Affleck' memes.

The Oscar winner, 51 - who recently made rare comments about wife Jennifer Lopez as he says her fame is 'bananas' - discussed the topic during the latest episode of Kevin Hart's talk show, Hart To Heart.

At one point during the interview - which took place before divorce rumors began to circulate around Ben and Jennifer - the star explained, 'I'm also a little bit shy. I also don't like a lot of attention.'

'That's why people see me and they're like, "Why's this dude always mad?" Because somebody has their camera and sticks it in my face and I'm like, "Okay, here we go."'

However, Affleck expressed that he becomes more bothered when it comes to his own children being photographed.

Ben Affleck, 51, has finally addressed why he tends to have a 'resting b***h face' in photos while also opening up about 'Sad Affleck' memes

The Oscar winner - who recently made rare comments about wife Jennifer Lopez as he says her fame is 'bananas' - discussed the topic during the latest episode of Kevin Hart 's talk show, Hart to Heart; seen in February 2023 in L.A.

'Actually, what I'd like to do is much more definitive than just look at you like this,' Ben said.

'I don't mind, you can take my picture at a club or a premiere, with my wife [Jennifer Lopez], I don't give a f***. Knock yourself out. I don't notice you. But with my children, that's a different thing.'

He also explained that sometimes his face naturally doesn't look happy and added, 'By the way, I also might be somebody who I do find myself - I'll be sitting at home, and they're like, "What's wrong?"'

'I'm like, "Nothing. I'm listening to this thing." I start thinking, is something wrong?' Affleck continued.

The comedian then told the actor that there is possibly a cause to his 'resting b***h face,' to which Ben humorously replied with, 'B***h?! Now, now, I have resting hard face.'

When it comes to public scrutiny of his facial expressions, the Good Will Hunting star added, 'People are projecting something onto me that I don't feel about myself at all.'

Earlier last year in February while attending the 65th Grammy Awards with wife, Jennifer, notably became a meme due to his rather disinterested expression at the event.

Social media users took to X to share their thoughts while some fans were left in hysterics over photos from the star-studded ceremony.

And back in 2016, while promoting Batman Vs, Superman: Dawn Of Justice, the star was the center of 'Sad Affleck' memes due to looking downcast during a press junket for the film with Henry Cavill

'That's why people see me and they're like, "Why's this dude always mad?" Because somebody has their camera and sticks it in my face and I'm like, "Okay, here we go"'

He also explained that sometimes his face naturally doesn't look happy and added, 'By the way, I also might be somebody who I do find myself - I'll be sitting at home, and they're like, "What's wrong?"'

Earlier last year in February while attending the 65th Grammy Awards with wife, Jennifer, notably became a meme due to his rather disinterested expression at the event

Social media users took to X to share their thoughts while some fans were left in hysterics over photos from the star-studded ceremony

One typed out at the time, 'Ben Affleck, blink if you're okay #Grammys,' while another added, 'Ben Affleck doing the Ben Affleck meme again. #Grammys2023.'

'Ben Affleck looks like he is having a blast,' a fan wrote, and another shared, 'Why does Ben Affleck always look like he's 10 minutes away from crying during a much needed smoke break.'

And back in 2016, while promoting Batman Vs, Superman: Dawn Of Justice, the star was the center of 'Sad Affleck' memes due to looking downcast during a press junket for the film with Henry Cavill.

In early 2022, Ben reflected on the 'Sad Affleck' memes during an interview with the Los Angeles Times - and its effect on his children.

The Gone Girl actor shares Violet, 18, Finn, 15 and Samuel, 12, with ex-wife Jennifer Garner - whom he was married to from 2005 until 2018.

'I got to a place where [the public perception] was so different from who I am that I just stopped reading and stopped caring.'

He continued, 'But then, as my kids got older and started seeing the internet themselves, that's the difficult part. Even the "Sad Affleck" meme - that was funny to me. I mean, there's nobody who hasn't felt that way at a junket.'

'But then my kids see it and I think, "Oh, are they going to think their dad is fundamentally sad or they have to worry about me?" That's really tough.'

'Ben Affleck looks like he is having a blast,' a fan wrote, and another shared, 'Why does Ben Affleck always look like he's 10 minutes away from crying during a much needed smoke break'

In early 2022, Ben reflected on the 'Sad Affleck' memes during an interview with the Los Angeles Times - and its effect on his children; seen in March 2023 in Austin

He also talked to the outlet about who he is in private is different from his public persona.

'I think when I was young, people saw me as somebody who had too much or was successful too easily or looked like some kind of cavalier, insincere, callow frat guy.'

'That was nothing like how I felt. I felt like this sort of insecure, anxious, overly verbal kid from Boston who had tried to break into this business and was dealing with his own stuff.'

Affleck continued, 'But there is an interesting thing about how we come off versus who we are.'

Also during his latest chat with Kevin Hart, Ben discussed his estranged wife Jennifer Lopez as the two continue to lead separate lives - he is in Los Angeles this week while the diva parties in Capri.

He unfortunately did not address the state of their marriage. That might be because the interview was filmed months ago as Ben had a full beard; he shaved it off in March to film The Accountant 2.

However, Ben shed light on what it was like being wed to someone so famous. The Air actor shared a story about how fans went 'bananas' when they spotted the Bronx-born beauty with him in Times Square in New York City.

Turns out, it was his idea to walk through one of the busiest neighborhoods with a superstar on his arm.

Also during his latest chat with Kevin Hart, Ben discussed his estranged wife Jennifer Lopez as the two continue to lead separate lives - he is in Los Angeles this week while the diva parties in Capri

However, Ben shed light on what it was like being wed to someone so famous. The Air actor shared a story about how fans went 'bananas' when they spotted the Bronx-born beauty with him in Times Square in New York City; seen in November 2023 in Las Vegas

'We went somewhere with [Jennifer] - I can't remember because she's so famous, and she creates this - people love her, and she really represents something important to people,' Affleck began.

'[To me,] people are like, "Hey, I like your movie," and then they're like "AAAHHHH! J-LO!" he yelled. 'It's amazing, you know what I mean?'

Then he got more specific. 'I think it was when we rolled through Times Square,' he continued.

'We get out of the car, we were going to a play, and I was like, "F*** it, babe, we're going to be late, we gotta walk a block and a half." [Lopez] was like, "Alright," she didn't say s***.'

They were with all their children - he has Violet, Seraphina and Samuel with Jennifer Garner and Lopez has Max and Emme with Marc Anthony.

'We get out with her, all the kids, through Times Square, and the s*** was like f****n' bananas,' Affleck noted.

'I was like, "Oh my God." There was a lady, she was smoking weed, in a full purple skintight suitshe's a heavy ladyand she starts running backwards filming, going "-LO!!"

He added, 'Like a herald, that then gets everyone else, and then all the tourists come in.' Affleck said the chaos was a lot to take in.

'We went somewhere with [Jennifer] - I can't remember because she's so famous, and she creates this - people love her, and she really represents something important to people,' Affleck began

This comes after a source told DailyMail.com that Lopez is over trying to fix her marriage to Affleck

'Then we've got our five kids, it's me and Jen and what feels like hundreds of people, and they're all screaming.'

When he began telling the story to Hart, he said his daughter has this thing where she is 'always throwing out titles to her autobiography.'

His daughter, he doesn't name which one, then turned to her dad in Time Square after the frenzy began and said a titled for her autobiography could be: J-Lo Was My Stepmother.

He does bring up why his daughter used the past tense. Ben then added: 'And I was like, alright that's a good title.'

This comes after a source told DailyMail.com that Lopez is over trying to fix her marriage to Affleck.

An industry insider has now claimed that the pop star has reached her wit's end and no longer feels that she can do any 'more' to save the relationship.

'Jenny has had enough and she really tried but she can do no more, it's not getting any better, it's worse,' a music industry source told DailyMail.com.

The insider add that the main reason J.Lo left her husband was because he was always 'grumpy and negative' like Oscar The Grouch from Sesame Street.

One of those new plans is resuming her This Is Me... Live tour for the summer of 2025 when she turns 56. She canceled the 2024 tour that was scheduled to kick off in July in order to 'recollect herself.'

One of those new plans is resuming her This Is Me... Live tour for the summer of 2025 when she turns 56. She canceled the 2024 tour that was scheduled to kick off in July in order to 'recollect herself

'She is excited about going on tour next year when her personal life is on calmer ground and she can connect with her fans. She will take her tribe with her and make the most of it,' said the source.

Lopez is also said to be 'shocked' by the bad press she has been getting, which she believes is not fair. 'If people could see what she has really gone through they would be easier on her,' said the source.

'Ben is a great guy but he can be grumpy and a downer. I think the world saw that in photos like when they were at the Grammys last year; he wouldn't smile. If they saw how it really was, they would not attack her,' said the friend of Jennifer.

'He chain smokes and cusses and seems irritated a lot of the time. Great director and actor, but not a lot of laughs with him, you know?' said the source. 'He is a wonderful father though.'

Most recently, the On The Floor songstress was spotted enjoying a solo trip to Italy without Affleck; seen in January in Beverly Hills

Lopez plans on pushing on. 'She is really not used to this kind of bad feedback, but she will get over it. She will march on,' said the pal.

'Jennifer is a very smart and strong woman and she will bounce back, she always does!'

The two have been embroiled in split rumors while also reportedly living separately - with Ben residing at a $100k-a-month rental in Brentwood, and Lopez staying at their $60M mansion.

Most recently, the On The Floor songstress was spotted enjoying a solo trip to Italy without Affleck.
Jane Fonda delivered a heartbreaking tribute to her 'brilliant' Klute co-star and former flame Donald Sutherland in wake of his death at age 88 on Thursday.

'I am stunned to hear that Donald Sutherland has died. He was my fascinating co-star in Klute and we loved working together,' the 'heartbroken' actress, 86, wrote on Instagram.

She included a black and white photo of herself and Sutherland on set of the 1971 crime thriller with director Alan Pakula.

Fonda won the Oscar for Best Actress for her work in the acclaimed film that spawned a secret romance with Sutherland that lasted from 1970 to 1972.

'In this photo we are on the Klute set with director Alan Pakula,' Fonda remarked, before recalling her many 'adventures' with Sutherland.

Jane Fonda delivered a heartbreaking tribute to her 'brilliant' Klute co-star and former flame Donald Sutherland in wake of his death at age 88 on Thursday

'I am stunned to hear that Donald Sutherland has died. He was my fascinating co-star in Klute and we loved working together,' the actress, 86, wrote on Instagram

She included a black and white photo of herself and Sutherland on set of the 1971 crime thriller with director Alan Pakula

'Donald was a brilliant actor and a complex man who shared quite a few adventures with me, such as the FTA Show, an anti-Vietnam war tour that performed for 60,000 active duty soldiers, sailors, and marines in Hawaii, Okinawa, the Philippines, and Japan in 1971.

Fonda, who was an outspoken opponent of the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War, recruited Sutherland and other top talents of the 1970s to partake in the road show launched by ex-US Army doctor Howard Levy in response to Bob Hope's pro-War USO tours that were funded in part by the Department of Defense.

'I am heartbroken,' the Barbarella star concluded.

Both Jane and Donald were at the height of their careers when rumors of a love affair erupted in the early 1970s.

Sutherland was married to actress Shirley Douglas at the time and they were parents to twins Kiefer and Rachel.

But the Klute co-stars stayed tight-lipped about their romance, that is, until years later, when Donald finally confirmed it to Rolling Stone.

During a 2018 interview, he confessed that he and Jane were indeed 'lovers for a few years,' explaining that the whirlwind romance began just before shooting kicked off for Klute.

And it turns out, Jane was the one who initiated it - despite him being a married man.

After being cast in Klute, Sutherland and Fonda had an affair from 1970 to 1972; seen in April 1972

In her tribute post, Fonda recalled her many 'adventures' with Sutherland, including in the FTA Show (pictured in 1972)

'We'd already been cast but had not started shooting,' he explained.

'And one day, she made it very clear, via a somewhat provocative suggestion, that I should come home with her. And I just said, "OK."'

After ending things with Fonda in 1972, Sutherland went on to meet and marry his third and final wife Francine Racette, 76, that same year.

Sutherland died Thursday in Miami after suffering a long illness, his talent agency CAA told The Hollywood Reporter.

Donald's career in Hollywood spanned decades, including appearances in The Hunger Games and the 1970s horror movie Don't Look Now.

He won a number of awards for his eclectic array of movie and TV roles, including a supporting actor Emmy for Citizen X in 1995.

Sutherland also picked up nine separate Golden Globe nominations for hits including M*A*S*H and Ordinary people, winning two.

Both Jane and Donald were at the height of their careers when rumors of a love affair erupted in the early 1970s; seen in Klute

But the two stayed tight-lipped about their romance, that is, until years later, when Donald finally confirmed it to Rolling Stone in 2018; seen in November 1971

Sutherland's most recent appearance came last year as Judge Parker in Lawmen: Bass Reeves, and he was set to star in upcoming apocalyptic flick Heart Land, which is in pre-production.

24 star Kiefer Sutherland paid a touching tribute to his late father on social media.

Kiefer said his father 'loved what he did and did what he loved', as he announced his passing on Thursday via X (formerly Twitter).

'With a heavy heart, I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away. I personally think one of the most important actors in the history of film,' Kiefer said on Instagram.

'Never daunted by a role, good, bad or ugly. He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more than that. A life well lived.'

Kiefer - who went on to emulate his father with starring roles in flicks such as Flatliners and Designated Survivor - shared a heartwarming image of himself as a young boy alongside his father during his heyday.

Michael Douglas, Henry Winkler, and Nancy Sinatra were also among the Hollywood stars taking to social media to remember Sutherland.

'What a lovely, talented, and curious man. RIP Donald Sutherland,' Douglas, 79, captioned a photo of him with Sutherland from their 1994 film Disclosure.

Sutherland died Thursday in Miami after suffering a long illness, his talent agency CAA told The Hollywood Reporter; seen in 2019

24 star Kiefer Sutherland paid a touching tribute to his late father on social media

Kiefer said his father 'loved what he did and did what he loved', as he announced his passing on Thursday via X (formerly Twitter); seen in 2015

Michael Douglas, Henry Winkler, and Nancy Sinatra were among the A-listers taking to social media to remember Donald Sutherland

Henry Winkler addressed Donald's son Kiefer Sutherland directly on X

Meanwhile Nancy, the daughter of Frank Sinatra, tweeted: 'This hurts. godspeed, Donald Sutherland,' along with a broken heart emoji

Elijah Wood took to X to remember Donald, writing, 'aww man. farewell, Donald Sutherland'

Winkler, 78, who starred opposite Donald's son Kiefer Sutherland in the 1998 film Ground Control, wrote to Kiefer directly on X, tweeting: 'Stacey and I send you our deepest sympathies .. Your dad was indeed singular . Warmly , Henry.'

Meanwhile Nancy, 84, the daughter of Frank Sinatra, tweeted: 'This hurts. godspeed, Donald Sutherland,' along with a broken heart emoji.

Director Ron Howard wrote in his tribute: '#RIPDonaldSutherland. I was blessed to direct him in #Backdraft. One of the most intelligent, interesting & engrossing film actors of all time. Incredible range, creative courage & dedication to serving the story & the audience with supreme excellence.'

Elijah Wood took to X to remember Donald, sharing a photo of the actor along with the message, 'aww man. farewell, Donald Sutherland.'
Bianca Censori tried out one of her most extreme looks yet when she nearly bared her breasts for a dinner date at Manko restaurant in Paris.

The 29-year-old Australian architectturnedwife and muse of Kanye West was spotted out in an ultra-revealing outfit in which she eschewed a top in favor of bandage-like halter suspenders that only covered her nipples.

The curvaceous beauty was seen exiting a van with a male friend Gadir Rajab that had chauffeured her to a restaurant where she was meeting the 47-year-old rapper for dinner.

After alternating between her raven tresses and platinum-dyed locks, Bianca rocked messy bubblegum pink hair that reached down to her shoulders in seemingly sweaty tendrils.

She debuted the colorful look earlier this week while spending time in France with her husband, but the messy look got largely negative reviews from fans on social media.

Bianca Censori, 29, tried out one of her most extreme looks yet when she nearly bared her breasts for a dinner date at Manko restaurant in Paris

The Australian architectturnedwife and muse of Kanye West was spotted out in an ultra-revealing outfit in which she eschewed a top in favor of bandage-like halter suspenders that only covered her nipples

The curvaceous beauty was seen exiting a van with male friend Gadir Rajab (pictured) that had chauffeured her to a restaurant where she was meeting the 47-year-old rapper for dinner

Bianca was first seen with her candy-colored hair at the PROTOTYPES Menswear spring/summer 2025 show in Paris on Wednesday.

Her risque outfit on Thursday night appeared to be of a single piece.

She had on a pair of beige low-rise shorts that reached down to the top of her knees, but they were actually constructed of strips of beige tape wrapped around her legs, and slight gaps between the strips opened up as she walked toward the restaurant.

Tucked into the pants was the single strand comprising her suspenders, which ran behind her neck halter style left almost nothing to the imagination.

The outfit, one of Bianca's most revealing to date, highlighted her flat midriff and trim arms and legs.

She completed the minimalist look with a set of matching beige open-toe heels with clear plastic straps.

Bianca was heading to the popular restaurant Gigi Paris to meet her husband Kanye.

It was a surprising move for her to continue wearing nearly explicit outfits, as she previously put herself in danger of violating indecency laws during an earlier trip to Paris in February.

Bianca stepped out in her most revealing outfit yet

She dined at Manko restaurant, a swanky French eatery, in the risque ensemble

Bianca dined at Manko restaurant in Paris (pictured)

Bianca nearly suffered a wardrobe malfunction as her leg straps slowly started to unpeel

Bianca covered her modesty with thin-strapped tapes

She debuted her new red and pink locks on the outing

She confidently strutted out of her private car into the restaurant

Her risque outfit on Thursday night appeared to be of a single piece

She had on a pair of beige low-rise shorts that reached down to the top of her knees, but they were actually constructed of strips of beige tape wrapped around her legs

Slight gaps between the strips opened up as she walked toward the restaurant

Tucked into the pants was the single strand comprising her suspenders, which ran behind her neck halter style left almost nothing to the imagination

The outfit, one of Bianca's most revealing to date, highlighted her flat midriff and trim arms and legs

She completed the minimalist look with a set of matching beige open-toe heels with clear plastic straps

At the time, she had worn a set of sheer stockings with no underwear that seemingly exposed her nether regions.

Although her hitmaker husband wasn't seen with her as she made her way to the restaurant on her own, he had accompanied her the day before when she debuted her pink hair at the PROTOTYPES Menswear spring/summer 2025 show.

Unlike some of her earlier extreme hair-color changes, Bianca appeared to have opted for a wig, based on the odd way her hair was draped over head, and some of her short mane appeared to peak out at her hairline.

The twisted strands also didn't appear to have the same texture as natural hair.

Although she technically covered up more of her chest on Wednesday with her beige body suit, it was sheer enough to expose much of her top half.

As usual, Kanye contrasted his wife with a white sweatsuit.

The Flashing Lights rapper has largely given up on the balaclavas and full face masks after wearing them extensively in the last few years, but he wore a throwback to those edgy looks with a white mesh mask that completely hid his identity.

Bianca's new pink locks received a largely negative review from fans on social media on Wednesday.

Bianca was heading to the popular restaurant Gigi Paris to meet her husband Kanye

It was a surprising move for her to continue wearing nearly explicit outfits, as she previously put herself in danger of violating indecency laws during an earlier trip to Paris in February

At the time, she had worn a set of sheer stockings with no underwear that seemingly exposed her nether regions

Kanye wasn't seen with her as she made her way to the restaurant on her own, but he accompanied her the day before when she debuted her pink hair at the PROTOTYPES Menswear spring/summer 2025 show

Unlike some of her earlier hair-color changes, Bianca appeared to opt for a wig, based on the odd way her hair was draped, and some of her short mane appeared to peak out at her hairline. The twisted strands also didn't appear to have the same texture as natural hair

Although she technically covered up more of her chest on Wednesday with her beige body suit, it was sheer enough to expose much of her top half

Bianca's new pink locks received a largely negative review from fans on social media on Wednesday

Some fans slammed the look as 'atrocious' and 'horrible'

'She's delusional if she thinks that's a good look  it's absolutely hideous,' one person wrote

In addition to getting negative reviews, the pink hair didn't dissuade social media critics who have accused her of copying Kanye's ex-wife Kim Kardashian, as she has previously worn pink hair, as has her sister Kylie Jenner

Some fans slammed the look as 'atrocious' and 'horrible.'

'She's delusional if she thinks that's a good look  it's absolutely hideous,' one person wrote.

Another person opined that 'Her hair looks melted, fried...horrible.'

One user blasted Bianca, saying, 'The more outrageous they try to be, the more boring they become.'

In addition to getting negative reviews, the pink hair didn't dissuade social media critics who have accused her of copying Kanye's ex-wife Kim Kardashian, as she has previously worn pink hair, as has her sister Kylie Jenner.
Legendary rock band Queen have reportedly sold their iconic back catalogue of hits for a whipping 1Billion pounds following a bidding war.

According to The Sun the surviving band members and Freddie Mercury's estate have agreed to the sale with Sony Music, more than doubling the record set by Bruce Springsteen, who sold the rights to his music for 393M in 2021.

The publication reports that Sony will now own all the band's hits including Bohemian Rhapsody, Don't Stop Me Now and I Want To Break Free.

But unlike Springsteen and Bob Dylan who sold his own back catalogue for 315M, the band will retain the rights to perform their music live.

Founding members Brian May, 75, and Roger Taylor, 74, continue to tour live with Adam Lambert, 42, as their new front man following Freddie's death in 1991.

Legendary rock band Queen have reportedly sold their iconic back catalogue of hits for a whipping 1Billion pounds following a bidding war (L-R) Roger Taylor, John Deacon, Freddie Mercury and Brian May in 1980

According to reports the surviving band members and Freddie Mercury 's estate have agreed to the sale with Sony Music, more than doubling the record set by Bruce Springsteen , who sold the rights to his music for 393M in 2021 Freddie in 1979)

While Bassist John Deacon, 72, retired from music in 1997.

The deal In is also said to include revenue from merchandise, cash generated by the 2018 biographic movie Bohemian Rhapsody and any other future projects and licensing deals.

MailOnline have contacted the band's reps for comment.

Springsteen's deal was inked before a string of other artists including Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Justin Bieber, also bagged hundreds of millions of dollars for their own collections. But the market has cooled since and some major investors have devalued their song collections by as much as 14 percent.

Disney Music Group owns the North America rights to Queen's music. But the band retains ownership of the global rights through the UK-based Queen Productions Ltd, which earned 39 million in royalties in 2021.

Investors view music catalogs much like owning shares in companies which pay dividends. The 1 billion valuation for Queen's catalog is based on the annual returns an investor can expect throughout the next several decades.

Ahead of the reports Guy Blake, a leading music industry attorney who has worked on catalog acquisitions, told DailyMail.com earlier this year that the Queen deal would be 'seismic'.

'In general, I don't see a problem with this [$1.2 billion] number being accurate, I think there's probably some degree of truth to it,' said Blake, a managing partner at Granderson Des Rochers.

It's said Sony will now own all the band's hits including Bohemian Rhapsody, Don't Stop Me Now and I Want To Break Free (pictured 1984)

Springsteen's deal in 2021 was inked before a string of other artists including Bob Dylan , Neil Young and Justin Bieber , also bagged hundreds of millions of dollars for their own collections

But unlike Springsteen and Bob Dylan (pictured) who sold his own back catalogue for 315M , the band will retain the rights to perform their music live

Founding members Brian May, 75, and Roger Taylor, 74, continue to tour live with Adam Lambert, 42, as their new front man (pictured) following Freddie's death in 1991.

'There aren't a whole lot of catalogs out there like Queen,' he said.'



In the streaming age, catalog valuations also rely heavily on a metric called 'album consumption units', which combine streams and downloads to estimate what the equivalent number of album sales would be. One album sale is equivalent to about 1,500 song streams, according to industry standards.

Queen's album consumption units in the US were 25.9 million between 1991 and 2017 then surged to 3.58 million in 2019 following the release of the Bohemian Rhapsody movie, according to Luminate figures reported by Billboard.

The popularity of the movie and continued airplay of Queen's hits decades after they were released has helped the band earn a legion of young fans - something that's also boosted the value of their catalog.

'Queen has found a much younger audience. And that's unique to a legacy catalog, Blake said.

'I don't know that there's a whole lot of rock bands out there that could say that they had the popularity with people under 30 that Queen has right now. There's just some uniqueness to so many of their songs that they just keep coming back, generation after generation.'
William Baldwin is reflecting on the life and career of a Hollywood original, Donald Sutherland, following his passing on Thursday, June 20, after a long illness at the age of 88.

Of the more than 200 films and television roles on his resume, Baldwin got to work alongside the late actor on three productions, including the action drama Backdraft (1991), the sci-fi thriller Virus (1999), and the ABC drama series Dirty Sexy Money (2007-2009).

After having played his onscreen son Patrick Darling IV for two seasons on Dirty Sexy Money, Baldwin said it turned out to be 'by far my favorite' of the three.

'Donald was a complex, complicated and quirky man in the most delicious way, he said in the statement on X. 'He had a gentle, childlike boyish streak in him that I absolutely adored. His persona onscreen and his personality in life were as interesting and original as the features on his face.'

'He was a true original. A one of a kind,' Baldwin continued. 'I have never known anyone remotely like him. His many incredible qualities and somehow even his flaws made him more unique, more charming... more lovable.'

William Baldwin, 61, shared a heartfelt tribute to late actor Donald Sutherland following his death at the age of 88 on Thursday, June 20

Baldwin proceeded to tell a story about how Sutherland's love and passion for his craft shined through until the end.

It happened shortly after a table reading for Dirty Sexy Money when Sutherland had big smile on his face' and a 'bounce in his step.'

'[He] said to me "Look at this... read this." He proceeded to hand me his script and I read a scene that had lots of snappy, brilliant ... dialogue in it,' the Forgetting Sarah Marshall star explained. 'He said to me "Can you believe that? Can you believe I get to say that how wonderful." It was so sweet and so exhilarating for me to see how excited he still was about the work [then] at 73 years old.'

Baldwin went on to share an intimate moment he shared with his friend and colleague that has left a lasting impact on him ever since.

'We had gotten so close during the two seasons we worked together that he once said to me "I have affection for you as if you were one of my sons." That meant to the world to me and I will never forget that,' he revealed.

Sutherland is survived by five children, including his 24 and Designated Survivor actor son Kiefer Sutherland, who took to his Instagram page to share the sad news of his dad's death.

'With a heavy heart, I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away,' the 57-year-old wrote with obvious emotion to his words. 'I personally think one of the most important actors in the history of film. Never daunted by a role, good, bad or ugly. He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more than that. A life well lived.'

Along with his five children, Sutherland also leaves behind his wife and actress Francine Racette, whom he married in 1972, and five grandchildren.

Baldwin revealed he had 'the honor and pleasure of working with Donald Sutherland on three occasions' during his career, including the action drama Backdraft (1991), the sci-fi thriller Virus (1999), and the ABC drama series Dirty Sexy Money (2007-2009)

After having played his onscreen son Patrick Darling IV for two seasons on ABC's Dirty Sexy Money, Baldwin said it turned out to be 'by far my favorite' of the three productions he starred with Sutherland; pictured in scene are William Baldwin, Natalie Zea, Glenn FItzgerald, Peter Krause, Zoe McLellan, Donald Sutherland, Jill Clayburgh

Sutherland , who passed away in Miami after a long illness, leaves behind his wife and five children, including son Keifer, and five grandchildren; he and Keifer are seen in 2006

Keifer Sutherland described his dad as someone who 'loved what he did and did what he loved,' in his Instagram tribute

The Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada native was married three times during his lifetime, which including to former child actress Lois Hardwick (1959-1966), as well as actress Shirley Douglas (1966-1970).

Spanning a career of more than 60 years, Sutherland made his professional acting debut on television in the BBC drama anthology series Studio 4 (1962), and on film in the British drama The World Ten Times Over (1962).

His many stellar performances include The Dirty Dozen (1967), M*A*S*H (1970), Kelly's Heroes (1970), Klute (1971), Don't Look Now (1973), Fellini's Casanova (1976), , 1900 (1976), The Eagle Has Landed (1976), Animal House (1978), Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1978), The First Great Train Robbery (1978), Ordinary People (1980), Eye Of The Needle (1981).

Sutherland was immortalized when he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in Hollywood, California on January 26, 2011

He later went on to star in many other films where he appeared either in leading or supporting roles such as A Dry White Season (1989), JFK (1991), Outbreak (1995), A Time To Kill (1998), Without Limits (1998), Space Cowboys (2000), Big Shot's Funeral (2001), The Italian Job (2003), Cold Mountain (2003), Pride & Prejudice (2005), Aurora Borealis (2006), and The Hunger Games (2012-2015).

Sutherland was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in Hollywood, California on January 26, 2011.

And while he received many accolades during his career, Sutherland has been cited as one of the best actors never to have received an Academy Award nomination, although he did get an Honorary Academy Award in 2017.

'There will never be another Donald Sutherland... ever,' Baldwin declared. 'We have lost a true acting master and a quirky, one of a kind, never met anyone like him before original.  He will be dearly missed.'
Heidi Klum tore off her shirt on Hot Ones and bared her cleavage in a scarlet bra, leaving host Sean Evans gobsmacked.

The 51-year-old supermodel was the latest guest on the hit web show, where celebrities answer questions while eating progressively spicier wings.

She confessed at the beginning that she did not have a taste for spicy food 'at all,' and always prepared 'mild' dishes for her children.

As she chowed down on the wings, the peppery flavor quickly became too much for her and she felt her temperature rising out of control.

In an attempt to cool down, Heidi flung her denim top open and fanned herself with it as Sean exclaimed: 'Whoa! Whoa! Now I'm getting hot too, Heidi!'

Heidi Klum tore off her shirt on Hot Ones and bared her cleavage in a scarlet bra, leaving host Sean Evans gobsmacked

The 51-year-old supermodel was the latest guest on the hit web show , where celebrities answer questions while eating progressively spicier wings

Eventually she became so worked up over the taste of the hot sauce that she peeled the shirt off altogether and placed it behind her.

'My mic is in my crotch, is that a slight problem?' she asked, only to be assured that there was a boom mic in the studio that could pick up her voice.

Her lingerie had become a topic of conversation earlier in the show when Sean asked her to name the most expensive outfit she ever wore.

Heidi's answer was the look she wore when she walked the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2003 - complete with the brand's world-famous Fantasy Bra.

She noted that the bejeweled brassiere was worth $12.5 million and came with a '$750,000 panty to match. Yes, you gotta have the matching panties!'

The Fantasy Bra was 'encrusted with diamonds and rubies and whatnot,' and was at that point the most expensive bra on the planet - which meant Heidi was pictured wearing it in the Guinness Book Of World Records.

During that fashion show in 2003, Heidi was four months pregnant with her daughter Leni, whom she had with controversial Italian businessman Flavio Briatore.

Years after his relationship with Heidi, Flavio was married for a few years to Elisabetta Gregoraci, who was famously once a spokesmodel for Wonderbra.

'My mic is in my crotch, is that a slight problem?' she asked, only to be assured that there was a boom mic in the studio that could pick up her voice

She confessed at the beginning that she did not have a taste for spicy food 'at all,' and always prepared 'mild' dishes for her children

As she chowed down on the wings, the peppery flavor quickly became too much for her and she felt her temperature rising out of control

In an attempt to cool down, Heidi tore her denim top open and fanned herself with it as Sean exclaimed: 'Whoa! Whoa! Now I'm getting hot too, Heidi!'

In spite of the fact she is unused to spicy food, Heidi bravely soldiered through the sauces

Her lingerie had become a topic of conversation earlier in the show when Sean asked her to name the most expensive outfit she ever wore

Sean appeared stunned at Heidi's decision to strip off - and her reaction to the hot sauce was so intense that she stayed shirtless for the rest of the show

The 51-year-old supermodel was the latest guest on the hit web show, where celebrities answer questions while eating progressively spicier wings

Her lingerie had become a topic of conversation earlier in the show when she recalled wearing the world-famous Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2003 (pictured)

Leni was later adopted by Heidi's second husband Seal, with whom she welcomed three more children - Henry, 18, Johan, 17, and Lou, 14.

Heidi is currently married to her third husband Tom Kaulitz, 34, who rose to fame as the drummer for the rock band Tokio Hotel.

The marriage has drawn particular scrutiny because her husband, who like her hails from Germany, is a quarter-century younger than she is.

'I'm 50 and no longer 20. I'm not a young girl who hasn't experienced anything yet or has no idea about life,' she acknowledged to Glamour UK last year.

'Time won't stand still for me and Tom will never catch up with me. I'll always be 16 years older, and I'm aware of that,' Heidi continued.

'I know that I will look older than him sooner. Maybe it will be a problem for me in ten years' time, maybe he won't like it then,' she reflected.

'In 20 years, I'll be 70. I usually plan for the future  but with my husband, I live in the here and now,' the Teutonic blonde shared.
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA)  The South African Human Rights Commission (HRC) on Thursday confirmed that it is investigating Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Renaldo Gouws after an old video clip of him resurfaced in which he can be heard saying: Kill all the kaffirs, a deeply divisive racial slur
Kylie Jenner promoted her clothing brand just shortly after her ex-boyfriend and baby daddy Travis Scott was arrested.

Just hours after her ex was arrested for disorderly intoxication and trespassing in Miami, the reality TV personality, 26, took to Instagram to share a clip of herself frolicking through a field.

She appeared to shrug off the drama as she posted a clip of herself in a sexy halter dress while promoting her clothing line Khy and the upcoming release of her newest collection.

This comes shortly after the father of her two children was arrested for a drunken disturbance and yacht fight.

Around the same time, he was seen jetting back to Los Angeles on a private plane after being booked and released in Miami Beach.

Kylie Jenner promoted her clothing brand just shortly after her ex-boyfriend and baby daddy Travis Scott was arrested. Just hours after her ex was arrested for disorderly intoxication and trespassing in Miami, the reality TV personality, 26, took to Instagram to share a clip of herself frolicking through a field

This comes shortly after the father of her two children, Travis Scott, 33, was arrested for a drunken disturbance and yacht fight

The former couple  who were in an on-and-off relationship for nearly five years before calling it quits in late 2022  share daughter Stormi, six, and son Aire, two.

On Friday morning, Jenner did not address the reports of her ex's arrest and shared a video of herself walking through a field during golden hour.

In the clip, she modeled a plunging, halter minidress with a figure-hugging silhouette.

She was seen hanging up some other clothing pieces from the upcoming release of her newest collection.

The Kardashians star also shared a photo of two women, one of which may have been herself, walking through a scenic valley.

In the caption, she announced the release date for her seventh drop titled 'poplin' would be next week on June 27.

This comes shortly after her ex, whose real name is Jacques Bermon Webster, made a hilarious post and wrote 'lol' on social media after his arrest.

He then immediately traveled back to Los Angeles in a private jet and was seen getting into his luxurious, two-tone Maybach.

He was seen in cozy, casual clothes and wearing baggy cream pants as he loaded up his belongings in the backseat of the vehicle before climbing in himself.

She appeared to shrug off the drama as she posted a clip of herself in a sexy halter dress while promoting her clothing line Khy and the upcoming release of her newest collection

The Kardashians star also shared a photo of two women, one of which may have been herself, walking through a scenic valley. In the caption, she announced the release date for her seventh drop titled 'poplin' would be next week on June 27

The Sicko mode rapper was arrested overninght for disorderly intoxication and traspassing at the Miami Beach marina on Thursday, according to the affidavit seen by DailyMail.com.

He was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center for the two misdemeanors around 4:35 a.m. that morning, per the court records.

According to the police, he was involved in a 'disturbance on a yacht,' which involved people 'fighting.'

Scott's lawyer Bradford Cohen told DailyMail.com the fight was verbal in nature and 'there was absolutely no physical altercation involved.'

Ten officers approached the boat and found Scott 'standing by the dock and yelling at the vessel occupants,' according to the affidavit.

They tried to defuse the situation by asking Scott to sit down, but he repeatedly stood back up and disregarded their orders, per the record.

Police said Scott had 'a strong smell of alcohol' on his breath, and Sergeant Lemus warned him to leave the dock or face arrest.

'Throughout the long walk from the vessel to the boardwalk, the defendant walked backwards yelling obscenities to the occupants of the vessel,' the affidavit reads.

Around the same time, he was seen jetting back to Los Angeles on a private plane after being booked and released in Miami Beach

The rapper, whose real name is Jacques Bermon Webster, was seen getting into his luxurious, two-tone Maybach. He was seen in cozy, casual clothes and wearing baggy cream pants as he loaded up his belongings in the backseat of the vehicle before climbing in himself

Scott eventually returned back to his vehicle, and ordered one of his security guards to get out of the SUV so that they couldn't leave the scene.

He then appeared to threaten his own security guard, telling officers 'if he gets in the vehicle he's gonna catch a fade,' meaning get into a fight.

The rapper eventually complied with officer's requests to leave. But just five minutes later he turned around and came back to cause more chaos.

Scott 'began yelling once again, becoming erratic, disturbing the peace of the occupants of the marina and nearby residential buildings causing a public disturbance' according to police.

He was detained and taken to Miami-Dade corrections facility.

When probed about whether he had been drinking alcohol, Scott said 'it's Miami' and admitted that he had.

He submitted a $650 bond  which includes $500 for the trespass charge, and $150 for disorderly intoxication.

His lawyer told DailyMail.com the rapper was 'briefly detained due to a misunderstanding'.

The former couple were in an on-and-off relationship for nearly five years before calling it quits in late 2022; seen in May 2019

The pair share daughter Stormi, six, and son Aire, two; seen in August 2019

He appeared to respond on social media with a tweet simply reading 'lol' at 8:45 a.m. on Thursday.

The booking comes just days before his international Circus Maximus stadium tour, which kicks off June 28 in the Netherlands.

Scott was recently spotted enjoying a family vacation in St. Tropez.

He was pictured on a boat with his and his ex-girlfriend, the billionaire makeup mogul's two kids in late May.

That prior week, Scott was involved in a skirmish with the Kylie Cosmetics founder's other ex Tyga, 34, in Cannes.
Ruby Tuesday Matthews sent pulses racing in a daring see-through dress on Thursday while enjoying a relaxing holiday in Bali with her family.

The glamorous Byron Bay-based influencer, 30, took to Instagram to share her holiday look, which consisted of a $389 slip dress from St. Agni and a black string bikini.

She paired her look with a black woven Bottega Veneta bag, black slides and posed outside Katamama restaurant near Seminyak before heading inside for a meal.

'Thinking I dont want to come home,' she captioned her post, adding that the dress was from the brand's previous season.

Her hair was styled out in a short bob after as she ditched her recent 'Bali bogan braids', a hairstyle often seen on Aussie tourists visiting the Indonesian island.

Ruby Tuesday Matthews sent pulses racing in a daring see-through dress on Thursday while enjoying a relaxing holiday in Bali with her family

The glamorous Byron Bay-based influencer, 30, took to Instagram to share her holiday look which consisted of a $389 slip dress from St. Agni and a black string bikini underneath

Sitting in the gutter on the side of a road with daughter Holiday, one, the mother-of-three had her dark locks twisted into rows of tight plaits.

'Tell me youre in Bali without telling me youre in Bali,' she captioned the series of photographs.

Ruby later addressed her hairstyle in her Instagram Stories as she filmed a 'get ready with me' video.

'Obviously you can tell, I got a new hairdo. Really just going for it here right now. Who do I think I am?' she said.

The transformation came after Ruby raised eyebrows for complaining about an airplane taking too long to take off - four years after she famously held up a Jetstar flight to indulge in oysters at a fancy restaurant.

She paired her look with a black woven Bottega Veneta bag, black slides and posed outside Katamama restaurant near Seminyak

She shared a video over the weekend to detail her trepidations while travelling to Bali with her three children, Rocket, five, Mars, four, and Holiday.

Posting to her Stories, Ruby shared a close-up photo of her son sitting in the plane looking less than pleased after their flight was delayed twice.

'Two failed attempts at taking off due to warning lights coming on right before takeoff. Been stuck on this plane for way too long,' she lamented in her caption.

Ruby returned to Instagram hours later after finally arriving at her hotel, sharing a photo of herself lying in bed looking sullen as Holiday slept on her chest.

'Traveling with two kids is a walk in the park. Three is WILD. No words. But we made it to the hotel 4.30am Aus time. The boys think it's the morning. I'm ruined,' she complained.

The Byron Bay influencer recently got Bogan Bali braids, often seen on tourists from Down Under visiting the Indonesian island

Sitting in the gutter on the side of a road with daughter Holiday, one, the mother-of-three had her dark locks twisted into rows of tight plaits

The following day, Ruby once again posted an update to her page, sharing a close-up photo of herself lounging by the hotel pool.

'To all the influencers making traveling with kids look easy - What the actual f*ck. Maybe it's my two spicy margaritas talking, but that was complete BS,' she ranted in the caption.

'Random baby vomit on the plane, no assistance, hours on the tarmac, failed takeoffs, and landing in Bali getting to the hotel at 4 AM with zero sleep today,' she continued.

The bathrobe entrepreneur compared her experience to a 'bender' she 'couldn't escape'.

She concluded her post on a more positive note, however, writing: 'On the bright side, the pool is amazing, and the margaritas are strong.'

The transformation came after Ruby raised eyebrows for complaining about an airplane taking too long to take off with her and her three children - Rocket, five, Mars, four, and Holiday, one - on board

Four years earlier, Ruby famously held up a Jetstar flight to indulge in oysters at a fancy restaurant

Ruby's horrific travel experience came four years after she made headlines for holding up a Jetstar flight so she could dine on oysters, only to complain when she was heckled by frustrated passengers.

She was supposed to be flying from Byron Bay to Sydney in the afternoon but a technical issue caused the flight to be delayed.

Jetstar asked travellers to stay at the airport while they flew an engineer over from the Gold Coast and told passengers the new departure time would likely be about 7.30pm that evening.

But Ruby and her travel companion decided to leave the airport to grab a bite to eat at a beachside restaurant while others ate at the airport.

The influencer later posted a video to Instagram showing her eating oysters with a friend, captioning the footage: 'Flight delayed f*** my life.'

Ruby's horrific travel experience comes four years after she made headlines for holding up a Jetstar flight so she could dine on oysters, only to complain when she was heckled by frustrated passengers

She kept frustrated passengers waiting on the tarmac, who heckled her as she boarded 30 minutes after the plane was due to take off.

Video footage shows passengers shouting 'how were the oysters' and 'what a day to be pretty' as she entered the aircraft.

While the pair were enjoying their meal, those at the airport were advised the engineer had arrived sooner than expected and the flight would be boarding at 6.20pm instead.

But passengers were forced to sit on the tarmac as Jetstar tried to trace a group of missing passengers, including Ruby and her mate.

It is understood an employee had to call her to advise her the plane was ready to depart and she needed to return to the airport as soon as possible.

When a passenger asked if the oysters were good, Ruby replied: 'Yes they were.'

The social media star then argued with the other travellers, telling them it was an 'innocent mistake' and that they were being rude.

She later took to social media where she blamed Jetstar for the incident, claiming staff did nothing to help her.
Kirsten Dunst put on a jaw dropping display as she supported husband Jesse Plemons at Kinds Of Kindness premiere in New York City.

The 42-year-old actress  who recently rocked a strappy semi-sheer black gown at the Critics Choice Real TV Awards  looked elegant in a floor length yellow gown by Erdem.

The short-sleeve ensemble sported a bejeweled rose on its side as the Spiderman star posed up a storm.

It was slightly rouched at her waist taking in her slim figure during the star-studded event.

Kirsten Dunst put on a jaw dropping display as she supported husband Jesse Plemons at Kinds Of Kindness premiere in New York City

The short-sleeve ensemble by Erdem sported a bejeweled rose on its side as the Spiderman star posed up a storm

She wore her signature short blonde locks parted to the side and curled, complementing her dress.

Dunst opted for a full face of glam that showed off her rosy pout, blue toned eyes and radiant skin.

She accessorized with a pair of dainty earrings and various silver rings.

Her husband, Jesse Plemons, rocked a simple black suit over a white collared shirt and dress shoes.

His dirty blonde locks were pushed to the side and styled his trimmed beard and mustache.

The A list actors share two sons together: six-year-old Ennis and three-year-old James Plemons.

Kirsten and Jesse started dating back in 2016 after meeting on the set of Fargo, and they became engaged the following year.

The couple starred opposite one another in the 2021 Netflix drama Power Of The Dog, which saw them play husband and wife.

She wore her signature short blonde locks parted to the side and curled, complimenting her dress

Dunst opted for a full face of glam that showed off her rosy pout, blue toned eyes and radiant skin

Her husband, Jesse Plemons, rocked a simple black suit over a white collared shirt and dress shoes.

Speaking of Jesse, Kirsten told the New York Times: 'My first impression was, "Oh, hes like me." We were two people who worked very similarly, and it felt like a soulmate'

Kirsten and Jesse started dating back in 2016 after meeting on the set of Fargo, and they became engaged the following year

'We kind of fell in love creatively first and fell in love as actors,' Kirsten previously said on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, adding her partner was her 'favorite actor.'

Speaking of Jesse, Kirsten told the New York Times: 'My first impression was, "Oh, hes like me." We were two people who worked very similarly, and it felt like a soulmate.'

'I knew he would be in my life forever,' she said. 'It was one of those connections where you just know. But were also very respectful people and were mindful of the fact that we were working together intensely.'

Jesse said of his actress wife, 'I knew that she would be in my life for a long time'

Jesse also had the same feeling. Speaking with the NY Times, he said: 'I knew that she would be in my life for a long time.'

Jesse also spoke glowingly about Kirsten at at her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in 2019.

'I don't often remember every detail about meeting someone  Immediately, without too many words being exchanged, I looked into her eyes and saw the beautiful, sweet, unguarded, welcoming human being that she is,' he said.
Dina Broadhurst stole the show this week as she went on an impromptu trip to Hobart, Tasmania.

The Sydney socialite, 46, stepped out at the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Australia's most southern state wearing a completely sheer dress.

Uploading a snap of the racy frock to Instagram, the artist turned her face away from the camera as she showed off her dazzling ensemble.

She made sure to turn heads as she posed up a storm in the fishnet gown, which was embellished with diamantes to give it a unique shimmer.

Dina wore high-waisted black underwear and a skimpy bralet beneath the completely sheer gown as she posed in front of the museum's artwork.

Dina Broadhurst stole the show this week as she stepped out at the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Australia's most southern state wearing a completely sheer dress

She gave herself a few extra inches in a pair of dramatic over-the-knee while boots as she pulled out all the stops with her racy look.

Dina - who is currently dating multimillionaire fridges heir John Winning - also shared an array of other snaps from her visit to Tasmania.

'Namedropping at MONA,' Dina simply captioned the post, in reference to her visit to the famous museum.

Her latest trip comes after Dina gave fans a glimpse inside her latest renovation project on Thursday.

Dina, 46, took to Instagram to share snaps from her impromptu trip to Tasmania as she had the time of her life

Her latest trip comes after Dina gave fans a glimpse inside her latest renovation project on Thursday as she transformed her new 'CASA' home studio

She gave fans the first sneak peek into her new 'CASA' studio after first announcing she was transforming the space back in April 2022.

After the long wait, Dina took to her Instagram Stories to share a short clip of the ongoing renovations of her studio.

The clip panned around to show the stunning modern arch doorway, as a team of builders were hard at work transforming the spacious room.

In 2021, Broadhurst and her former partner Max Shepherd spent two weeks transforming a historic Vaucluse property into a stunning 'CASA' studio. Both pictured in April 2022

Dina is now dating CEO and fourth-generation heir of Winning Appliances John Winning, and the pair went public with their romance in April

There were also brand new floorboards and a custom-designed wine display unit among the lavish amenities.

Dina's 'CASA' studios - meaning home studio - combine her passion for interior design, contemporary art, and mid-century furniture.

In 2021, Broadhurst and her now-ex partner Max Shepherd spent two weeks transforming a historic Vaucluse property into a stunning 'CASA' studio.

Dina is now dating CEO and fourth-generation heir of Winning Appliances John Winning, and the pair went public with their romance in April.
Bianca Censori is continuing to pull style inspiration from Kanye West's ex-wife Kim Kardashian as she emerged this week in a look Kim made famous nearly a decade ago.

On Thursday, the Yeezy architect, 29, was spotted wearing nude bandage suspenders that barely hid her nipples for dinner in Paris, France with West, 47.

Bianca's racy top, that attached to a pair of low-rise bandage capris, looked extremely similar to Kim's now-iconic 'boob tape' bra that she debuted in 2016.

But instead of wearing it publicly, Kim, 43, has only used gaffer's tape to create gravity-defying cleavage beneath her incredible red carpet looks.

Kim's method sees her secure copious amounts of tape from the tops of her shoulders to her ribcage  resembling Bianca's barely-there suspenders.

Bianca Censori is continuing to pull style inspiration from Kanye West 's ex-wife Kim Kardashian as she emerged this week in a look Kim made famous nearly a decade ago

On Thursday, Bianca (left), 29, was spotted wearing nude bandage suspenders that barely hid her nipples for dinner in Paris, France with West, 47. Bianca's racy top, that attached to a pair of low-rise bandage capris, looked extremely similar to Kim's now-iconic 'boob tape' bra that she debuted in 2016 (right)

When she launched her own line of boob tape by SKIMS, Kim gave fans pointers on how to correctly do the beauty hack themselves by demonstrating it on a model.

'I go right in over the nipple. I try not to go too much in by her neck because usually a dress comes in that way. You lift it to the desired lift,' she explained on her Instagram Story. Kim added: 'You try to not lift it too much to where it wrinkles.'

The multi-millionaire has called it a 'lifesaving secret' that she previously learned on set of a fragrance shoot.

But it was Kim's viral 2016 post that gave the once niche cleavage hack its widespread appeal.

Bianca's daring look in Paris not only jogged memories of Kim's 'boob tape' but her newly-dyed pink hair also appeared to be a nod to the reality TV icon.

That's because Kim did it first back in 2018 when she transformed her hair from bleach blonde to bubblegum pink.

It was a shock move after she lamented to fans about being 'sick of' her blonde hair.

Although she only stuck with pink locks for a month, the dye job is burned into the memories of Kim's devoted fans.

She also briefly returned to the color in April of this year for an edgy shoot.

This isn't the first time that Bianca has seemingly copied her husband's famous ex-wife as he's been parading her around the globe in racy looks since they wed in 2023.

But instead of wearing it publicly, Kim has only used gaffer's tape to create gravity-defying cleavage under her red carpet looks

When she launched her own line of boob tape by SKIMS, Kim gave fans pointers on how to achieve the genius beauty back themselves by demonstrating it on a model

Bianca's daring look in Paris not only jogged memories of Kim's 2016 'boob tape' but her newly-dyed pink hair also appeared to be a nod to the reality TV icon, who previously dyed her hair pink in 2018 and briefly in April 2024 (pictured)

This isn't the first time that Bianca has seemingly copied her husband's famous ex-wife as he's been parading her around the globe in racy looks since they wed in 2023; Kanye and Bianca seen in February

Back in April, Bianca partied in West Hollywood in a plunging white dress that looked near identical to the one Kim at her 34th birthday party 10 years ago.

Kim actually wore the frock in front of her then-husband Kanye, who joined her at the celebration held at TAO Nightclub in Las Vegas in 2014. The party occurred just months after hers and Kanye's March 2014 nuptials in Italy.

Bianca's 2024 frock boasted a similarly low-cut neckline and statement shoulders to Kim's.

Weeks before that, Bianca appeared to pull another look straight out of Kim's closet as she modeled a metallic silver micro miniskirt and thong as well as a busty triangle bikini top while out in LA.

Kim happens to be an avid wearer of silver bikinis and her clothing brand SKIMS famously released a metallic swimwear line in the summer of 2022.

One particular look had Italians turning their heads in horror in September 2023, as Bianca hit the streets wearing a pair of see-through, nude leggings and a minuscule bra.

However, it seemed that the shocking look was also actually first rocked by Kim, who wore a similar outfit back in 2017.

Unlike Bianca, Kim more modestly wore a nude bralette with her spray-on tights and a pair of lace-up boots.

Bianca instead paired the leggings with a ripped crop top, which exposed her breasts, and a pair of Perspex stiletto heels, similar to a pair Kim also owns.

She appeared naked in the jaw-dropping top which hugged her cleavage and trim waist, and bizarrely covered her chest with a purple cushion.

Back in April, Bianca partied in West Hollywood in a plunging white dress that looked near identical to the one Kim at her 34th birthday party 10 years ago

In March, Bianca (left) appeared to pull another look straight out of Kim's (right in 2018) closet as she modeled a metallic silver micro miniskirt and thong as well as a busty triangle bikini top while out in LA

One particular look had Italians turning their heads in horror in September 2023, as Bianca (left) hit the streets wearing a pair of see-through, nude leggings and a minuscule bra. However, it seemed that the shocking look was also actually first rocked by Kim, who wore a similar outfit back in 2017 (right)

Bianca (left in August 2023) also previously stepped out in a black bikini top and tights, another ensemble which bares a striking resemble to an outfit worn by Kim (right in March 2023) just last year in Los Angeles

Bianca's leggings appear to be from West's popular Yeezy line, for which Bianca acts as an architectural designer.

Bianca also previously stepped out in a black bikini top and tights, another ensemble which bares a striking resemble to an outfit worn by Kim just last year in Los Angeles.

Fashion designer Kanye is widely believed to be behind all of the Melbourne-born beauty's recent and controversial looks.

The couple were first romantically linked in January 2023 just months after his and Kim's divorce was finalized.

West and Kardashian share four children together  North, 10, Saint, eight, Chicago, six, and Psalm, four.

Throughout their longtime romance, Kanye called Kim his 'muse' and he heavily influenced her fashion choices.
Briana DeJesus learned a shocking truth about her mother Roxanne on the latest episode of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter.

Roxanne had been exhibiting erratic behavior ever since Briana, who previously lived with her, bought a house of her own and moved away.

Taking her young children with her, Briana relocated to a different part of town, over Roxanne's objections that her grandchildren are 'half mine.'

Now living alone, Roxanne began to spiral, even throwing water at her other daughter Brittany during an argument at a restaurant.

In a dramatic showdown with her daughters, Roxanne bared the traumas of her turbulent childhood when she had to inject heroin into her father's arm - and revealed a secret that left Brittany and Briana stunned.

Briana DeJesus learned a shocking truth about her mother Roxanne on the latest episode of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter

Roxanne had been exhibiting erratic behavior ever since Briana, who previously lived with her, bought a house of her own and moved away

The two sisters discovered methadone in her mother's belongings, showing Roxanne had suffered from addiction herself and was using the medication to recover.

Neither of Roxanne's daughters had any idea of her substance abuse issues, which finally provided an explanation for her past outbursts.

Right from the beginning of the episode, Briana and Brittany had a fraught equation with Roxanne over the latter's various deceptions.

Roxanne, it turned out, had concealed the identity of her daughters' biological father, letting them think their stepfather had actually helped conceive them.

'Throughout my whole entire life, it was just me, my mom, and my sister,' Briana said in a confessional. 'We were always together. And my mom, she's been our rock.'

She added pointedly: 'But over the years, we started learning that our mom has lied to us about some pretty big things.'

Briana has a daughter called Nova, 12, by her ex Devoin Austin, and another daughter called Stella, six, by another ex called Luis Hernandez.

Having moved away from the support system provided by Roxanne and Brittany, Briana was relying on her friends to help her with childcare.

Taking her young children with her, Briana relocated to a different part of town, over Roxanne's objections that her grandchildren are 'half mine'

Now living alone, Roxanne began to spiral, even throwing water at her other daughter Brittany (pictured) during an argument at a restaurant

In a dramatic showdown with her daughters, Roxanne bared the traumas of her turbulent childhood when she had to inject heroin into her father's arm

She also revealed a secret that left Brittany and Briana stunned

Briana told one of her friends about her mothers strange behavior, saying: 'She's been just, like, acting out. Like, she'll call us, cursing us out, crying.'

In order to finally get to the bottom of the situation, Briana called Brittany and the two of them arranged a confab with their mother.

On the appointed date, as Briana and Brittany waited for Roxanne to arrive, they expressed their joint anxieties about how the meetup would go.

Part of me wants to believe it's gonna be the best conversation we've ever had throughout our whole life, but then another part of me is like: "Hmm, we're not gonna get anywhere,"' Briana admitted. 'We'll figure it out.'

Roxanne blew in, declaring she felt 'like I got hit by a truck. F***ing everything. Menopause, my anxiety is through the roof. Just everything hit me at once.

Her daughters raised the possibility that being an empty nester - with Briana moving away and Brittany engaged - might be contributing to her state of distress.

Roxanne noted that she was also attempting to cope with her past, including some traumas that you just don't come back from.

Her angst was linked to the history of addiction in her family - a problem that was so severe that shooting heroin into my father's arm was the least of my worries.

In order to finally get to the bottom of the situation, Briana called Brittany and the two of them arranged a confab with their mother

Her daughters raised the possibility that being an empty nester - with Briana moving away and Brittany engaged - might be contributing to her state of distress

Roxanne noted that she was also attempting to cope with her past, including some traumas that you just don't come back from'

Her angst was linked to the history of addiction in her family - a problem that was so severe that shooting heroin into my father's arm was the least of my worries'

So how do you feel if you can't come back from some traumas, this stuff that you've done to us?' Brittany retorted. 'You treat me like s***. You talk to me like s***. You always cross the f***ing boundary. And what if we can't come back from that and we just can't be around you?

And that's the f***ng truck that's hitting me right now,' Roxanne candidly acknowledged. 'The fear, the anxiety for what I've done to you guys, what I've put you guys through, in particular you, those are the things that I have to deal with.'

Brittany mercilessly told her she must get help, because if she continued with her present course of behavior, she would not be asked to Brittanys wedding.

Roxanne flew into a fury, incredulous that Brittany would resort to such a low blow, but Brittany countered that she was only telling the truth.

As their confrontation reached a fever pitch, Roxanne finally decided to reveal that she was carrying methadone with her.

Meanwhile Leah Messer could be seen bonding with her father Gary Lee Miller over their shared history of addiction - and their shared attempts to overcome it.

At the time of this episode, Gary had finally agreed to enter rehab, and Leah decided to give him a chance to repair their fractured relationship.

Leah spoke to her sister Victoria about the difficulties of finding a rehab, as the available facilities were either too expensive or declined Gary's insurance.

Meanwhile Leah Messer could be seen bonding with her father Gary Lee Miller over their shared history of addiction - and their shared attempts to overcome it

Leah spoke to her sister Victoria (pictured) about the difficulties of finding a rehab, as the available facilities were either too expensive or declined Gary's insurance

However they eventually did find a center where Gary could go detox - and Leah was shortly thereafter seen picking him up for a bit of quality time

In her car, Leah bared her soul to her father about the pain she herself suffered while leaving her children to go to rehab for her own addiction

However they eventually did find a center where Gary could go detox - and Leah was shortly thereafter seen picking him up for a bit of quality time.

In her car, Leah bared her soul to her father about the pain she herself suffered while leaving her children to go to rehab for her own addiction.

'I think, more than anything, I didn't want to have to leave my kids. But I know that leaving my kids was - for 30 days was the best thing that I could do for them at that time,' Leah emotionally explained to Gary.

'They were my life. I was never a bad mom. I just got hooked on medications that were prescribed to me, and then I felt like it was sink or swim, but I kept sinking.'

'Yeah, well,' said Gary: 'I felt so bad doing them with you myself. It still bugs me. I've given you a stick of dynamite.'

'If anything, I held a bigger grudge because you just vanished when I was young,' said Leah. 'And I think there was a lot of responsibility put on me as the oldest. And, yes, I looked like you, and I acted a little bit like you, and I - Mom was angry.

Gary expressed his consternation of the years of life he had lost to addiction, sharing that he hoped to develop a bond with his grandchildren now that he was sober.

If you stick to this and you follow through -  said Leah, to which her father defensively interjected: If, what you mean, if?

'But I know that leaving my kids was - for 30 days was the best thing that I could do for them at that time,' Leah emotionally explained to Gary

'I just got hooked on medications that were prescribed to me, and then I felt like it was sink or swim, but I kept sinking,' Leah said to her father

Gary expressed his consternation of the years of life he had lost to addiction, sharing that he hoped to develop a bond with his grandchildren now that he was sober

If you stick to this and you follow through -  said Leah, to which her father defensively interjected: If, what you mean, if?

When you follow through with this, Leah said kindly, and you keep up with your recovery, that's really where your starting over will come into play. And I think a lot of times that you might have missed out on with us, you'll be able to regain that and find healing in building a relationship with your grandchildren. It's your legacy.

Maci McKinnney on the other hand was seen busily helping her son Bentley, who was then 15, prepare for a driving test to get his learner's permit.

Although Maci is currently happily married to one Taylor McKinney, she had Bentley when she was a teenager by her ex Ryan Edwards.

When Bentley took the test for the learner's permit for the first time, he failed, but Taylor still had faith that he would eventually be 'fine driving.'

Maci also noted that Bentley was watching his father undergo a turbulent period in life, including various legal problems that even landed him in jail.

About three months ago, Ryan was released from his halfway house and moved into [his parents] Jen and Larry's,' Maci explained in voiceover.

'Shortly after he was released, he was pulled over for speeding. Because of his DUI earlier this year, Ryan will have a restricted license for a year. However, he's sober and is doing well, she graciously pointed out.

Once he secured a learner's permit, Bentley would only be able to drive with a licensed adult over 21 in the car with him, a category that technically includes Ryan.

Maci McKinnney on the other hand was seen busily helping her son Bentley, who was then 15, prepare for a driving test to get his learner's permit

Although Maci is currently happily married to one Taylor McKinney (pictured), she had Bentley when she was a teenager by her ex Ryan Edwards

Once he secured a learner's permit, Bentley would only be able to drive with a licensed adult over 21 in the car with him, a category that technically includes Ryan (pictured)

However, Taylor and Maci both agreed that Ryan had some more proving to do before he could be alone in the car with his son while Benny was driving

However, Taylor and Maci both agreed that Ryan had some more proving to do before he could be alone in the car with his son while Benny was driving.

Bentley was seen finally passing his test and receiving his learners permit, watched proudly by his parents and grandparents.

I guess you could say that poetic justice is being served right now with Ryan having a restricted license, while Bentley is getting a restricted license, said Maci drily. I mean, at least Bentley's got a perfect example of what not to do.

Cheyenne Floyd could be seen hitting a bump in the road while co-parenting her seven-year-old son Ryder with her ex Cory Wharton.

Cory asked to have Ryder for her entire 10-day Christmas break so that he could take her on a trip to Michigan - one that he turned out to have booked months prior.

Cheyenne took exception to the fact that Cory decided to blindside her with his plans so close to Christmas, despite having made them so far in advance.

They began squabbling about their past Christmas arrangements, with Cory insisting Cheyenne usually 'had' Ryder 'for Christmas, while Cheyenne maintained that they share by divvying up Christmas Eve and Christmas morning.

Cory, however, found the present arrangements unfair because his family do not live in Los Angeles - where he, Cheyenne and Cheyenne's family live - so Ryder was never able to be with them for Christmas.

However, Taylor and Maci both agreed that Ryan had some more proving to do before he could be alone in the car with his son while Benny was driving

I guess you could say that poetic justice is being served right now with Ryan having a restricted license, while Bentley is getting a restricted license, said Maci drily

Cheyenne Floyd could be seen hitting a bump in the road while co-parenting her seven-year-old son Ryder with her ex Cory Wharton

Cory asked to have Ryder for her entire 10-day Christmas break so that he could take her on a trip to Michigan - one that he turned out to have booked months prior

It then emerged that Cory had neglected to even tell Ryder about his plans at that point - a mistake Cheyenne described as him 'digging' a deeper 'hole.'

Cheyenne took the matter to her husband Zach and her mother, sitting down with them and telling them what had happened between her and Cory.

Zach took Corys side, saying: But, like, you have to put your feelings aside, and, you know, we kind of live by the motto, put the kids first. You got to put the kids first.

Cheyenne's mother also expressed sympathy with Cory, saying: I'm sorry. I'm struggling 'cause, you know, that's my girl. But Cory is a great dad, and I feel he bends for you, as well. He'll say: "Why, when?"

'But he pays for those parties. He helps you pay for those birthday parties. He doesn't fuss. I'm just saying, you know, Cory basically does what you ask. Does he not?

Cheyenne decided to leave the decision in Ryders hands, and when Ryder said she wanted to go with Cory, Cheyenne resigned herself to the fact.

'He is a really good dad,' Cheyenne said in a confessional. 'He loves Ry. He loves all his girls. So I have to respect that, and I have to allow him to create memories with Ryder and his family that are just for them. And because of that, I'm trying not to be selfish in my own feelings, and it's hard. It's hard for me to hide them.'

Cheyenne sat Cory down to clear the air with him about the fracas over their Christmas arrangements - and to announce her decision.

Cheyenne took the matter to her husband Zach (left) and her mother, sitting down with them and telling them what had happened between her and Cory

Zach took Corys side, saying: But, like, you have to put your feelings aside, and, you know, we kind of live by the motto, put the kids first'

Cheyenne's mother also expressed sympathy with Cory, saying: But Cory is a great dad, and I feel he bends for you, as well'

Cheyenne sat Cory down to clear the air with him about the fracas over their Christmas arrangements - and to announce her decision

I just want to say, it was never a problem for her to go and be with you or your family,' Cheyenne clarified for him. 'My issue was just the way that you went about it. I feel like the reason that we co-parent so well, and have, and I want to continue to do is the way that we communicate.'

Cory apologized for how he handled the situation, and Cheyenne told him that she left the decision with Ryder, who wanted the trip to go ahead.

Cory reacted with glee but Cheyenne warned him not to expect a trend, as Christmas is a big deal and I want her too.

Cheyenne found herself in tears over not being able to be with her daughter over Christmas, but she acknowledged that co-parenting comes with sacrifice.'

Jade Cline was in the glow of newlywed bliss, having just returned from her honeymoon with her dashing new husband Sean Austin.

However once she got home, she was confronted with the fact her daughter Kloie, six, was having problems at school and returning home sobbing.

Kloie had previously gone to a private preschool and was having trouble adjusting to a public school where the other children were bullying her.

Jade attempted to bring the issue to the staff at the school, only to be met with indifference - so she and Sean decided on homeschooling.

They attempted to teach their daughter together, but their different methods eventually resulted in Sean and Jade having a furious row.

The pressures of homeschooling eventually became too much for Jade and Sean - particularly Sean who was acting as a stay-at-home dad - so they decided to search for a private school for their daughter.
It's the end of the road for Kevin Costner after he confirmed Thursday that he is done for good with his hit series Yellowstone.

In a short clip shared to his social media accounts on Thursday, the 69-year-old actor and filmmaker made it official that he would not be returning for an appearance on the hit Western crime series when it returns for season 5B.

'Hi everyone. I just want to reach out and let you know that after this long year and a half of working on Horizon and doing all the things that's required, and thinking about Yellowstone  that beloved series that I love, that I know you love  I just realized that I'm not going to be able to continue Season 5b or into the future,' Costner announced somberly while gazing into the camera.

Previous reports indicated that Costner was likely done for good with the series after conflicts between himself and producers over pay, his schedule and his availability to film his multi-part Western epic Horizon: An American Saga.

But fans held out hope that he might at least return to find a dignified ending for his patriarch John Dutton III, but his new video has seemingly dashed those hopes for good.

It's the end of the road for Kevin Costner after he confirmed Thursday that he is done for good with his hit series Yellowstone in a video posted to his social media accounts

'I just realized that I'm not going to be able to continue Season 5b or into the future,' he said somberly while adding that he 'loved' Yellowstone; still from the series

'It was something that really changed me,' Costner said of the Paramount Network series.

'I loved it, and I know you loved it,' he reiterated. 'I just wanted to let you know that I won't be returning.'

The actor and director concluded with what may have been an entreaty for his fans to see his upcoming Horizon films.

'I love the relationship we've been able to develop, and I'll see you at the movies,' he said as a slight smile crossed his lips.

The announcement means that Costner's final run of episodes were for season 5A, which aired from November of 2022 to January of 2023.

His character, the patriarch of the Dutton family, ran the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, a fictional ranch that was the largest in Montana.

It bordered Yellowstone National Park and the Broken Rock Indian Reservation, which often put the wealthy family at odds with their Native American neighbors and greedy developers looking to snatch up their land.

The primetime soap has been particularly popular among fans who applauded its so-called anti-woke politics, though the series is often critical of its main family, who have murdered multiple people to secure their land and fortune.

'It was something that really changed me,' Costner said of Yellowstone. 'I loved it, and I know you loved it'

The announcement means that Costner's final run of episodes were for season 5A, which aired from November of 2022 to January of 2023

His character, John Dutton III, ran the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, the largest in Montana. It bordered Yellowstone National Park and the Broken Rock Indian Reservation, which often put the wealthy family at odds with Native American neighbors and greedy developers

Before shutting the door on the possibility of returning for season 5B, Costner butted heads against producers, as he reportedly wanted to shoot fewer days for the season to accommodate filming of Horizon.

So far, that film is expected to earn a disappointing $12 million on its opening weekend, despite Costner having contributed $40 million of his own money to the passion project. However, his latest announcement may encourage some of his Yellowstone fans to buy a ticket to the high-profile Western.

Costner has disputed reports of the nature of his disagreements over Yellowstone, and he complained that the show's producers declined to defend him amid reports he disagreed with.

The actor has also denied that his issues with the series were due to his Horizon filming schedule.

He has said that he was ready to return to film season 5B, but the scripts for the second half of the season had allegedly not been written in time.

Some fans and critics have pointed the finger and showrunner and co-creator Taylor Sheridan, who has written all of the show's scripts since season three.

He is also the showrunner, writer and director of multiple Yellowstone spinoffs, as well as several other shows he has created for Paramount and its streaming service Paramount+, leading some to suggest that he has stretched himself too thin, which led him to allegedly fail to produce scripts in time for Costner to film the second half of season five.

Sheridan has disputed that he is too busy due to his multiples shows and other projects.

Costner also had the additional aggravation during his downtime of his divorce from his wife Christine Baumgartner, during which the two battled in court of their prenuptial agreement and financial support she was requesting.

Costner reportedly wanted more money for season 5B, as well as fewer days on set to focus on his Horizon films. But he denied those reports and instead said scripts hadn't been completed in time by showrunner and co-creator Taylor Sheridan

Fans of Yellowstone and Costner swarmed the comments of his new video to express their sorrow over his departure

Several fans expressed that sentiment that Yellowstone simply wouldn't work  or even exist  without Costner's gravitas

Several others applauded him for the nature of his announcement, as he avoided criticizing any of the other people involved in his departure

Fans of Yellowstone and Costner swarmed the comments of his new video to express their sorrow over his departure.

Several fans expressed that sentiment that Yellowstone simply wouldn't work  or even exist  without Costner's gravitas.

'Well, this really really breaks my heart. There's no Yellowstone without you, Sir,' mourned one commenter.

'There is no Yellowstone without Mr. Costner,' concurred another fan.

Several others applauded him for the nature of his announcement, as he avoided criticizing any of the other people involved in his departure.

'That was kind of you to let the fans know about the status of Yellowstone true gentleman through and through and thoughtful to his fans,' wrote one approving Instagram user.

Another said they couldn't bring themself 'to like' Costner's post, but added: 'Thank you for being upstanding and a gentleman about it. Wishing you all the best in your future endeavors, and can't wait to see what's next [dove and olive branch emojis].'

Others were more vocal about their sorrow over Costner saying goodbye for good to Yellowstone.

'NOOOOOOOOOOO MR. Dutton, Please don't do this to me,' commented one user who added a string of alternate broken heart and crying emojis.

While the comments were overwhelmingly positive toward Costner, a few had their knives out.

While the comments were overwhelmingly positive toward Costner, a few had their knives out, including some Taylor Sheridan fans

But even if his days with Yellowstone were now over for good, several of his fans made it clear they would be supporting his upcoming Horizon films

'I'm team Taylor Sheridan 100%. Goodbye Kevin!' one gleeful critic wrote.

But even if his days with Yellowstone were now over for good, several of his fans made it clear they would be supporting his upcoming Horizon films.

Horizon: An American Saga  Chapter One will be released in theaters on June 28, with Chapter Two hitting theaters on August 16.

Costner has already begun film Chapter Three, and he has said he plans to films Chapter Four concurrently.
The M3GAN universe is expanding with the nod of approval from Universal Pictures, meet Soulm8te.

While the horror film franchise already has sequel in the works with M3GAN 2.0 slated for a 2025 release, the network has something more horrifying up its sleeve.

James Wans Atomic Monster and Jason Blums Blumhouse are joining forces once again to develop the third addition to the universe with Soulm8te.

Per The Hollywood Reporter synopsis: 'A man acquires an Artificially Intelligent android to cope with the loss of his recently deceased wife.

'In an attempt to create a truly sentient partner, he inadvertently turns a harmless lovebot into a deadly soulmate,' it reads.

James Wans Atomic Monster and Jason Blums Blumhouse are joining forces once again to develop the third addition to the universe with Soulm8te; M3gan (voice: Jenna Davis) seen 2023

The original film followed 'an artificially intelligent doll, who develops self-awareness and becomes hostile toward anyone who comes between her and her human companion,' per an official description.

Kate Dolan is set to take the reins and direct the film, she also hand a hand in rewriting the script.

Soulm8te is described as having a traditional touch of 90s domestic thrillers but with a modern, technological twist.'

The filmmaker previously directed 2021s You Are Not My Mother and 2017's Catcalls.

'Fundamentally, I view this film as an exploration of relationships and loneliness,' she shared in a statement.

'Despite technological advances, there are enduring human truths we cannot escape, and I am looking forward to delving into those depths,' she finished.

Michael Clear and Judson Scott of Wans Atomic Monster banner are taking the role of executive producing. Alayna Glasthal is set to executively oversee the project for Atomic Monster.

Wan shared, 'SOULM8TE is a thrilling and seductive addition to the M3GAN universe.'

'A man acquires an Artificially Intelligent android to cope with the loss of his recently deceased wife. In an attempt to create a truly sentient partner, he inadvertently turns a harmless lovebot into a deadly soulmate,' the synopsis reads; Violet McGraw, M3gan (voice: Jenna Davis) and Allison Williams seen in 2023

Soulm8te is set to hit theatres on January 2, 2026; M3gan (voice: Jenna Davis) and Violet McGraw seen in 2023

In the flagship film, the eerie artificially intelligent doll was voiced by Jenna Davis, 20; Violet McGraw and Jenna Davis seen in 2024

M3GAN 2.0 will hit theatres on June 27, 2025 and will return stars Allison Williams and Violet McGraw; Amie Donald and Violet McGraw seen

M3GAN 2.0 will hit theatres on June 27, 2025 and will return stars Allison Williams and Violet McGraw.

In the flagship film, the eerie artificially intelligent doll was voiced by Jenna Davis, 20. The actress has previously landed roles on Vampirina and Disney's Raven's Home.

M3GAN 2.0 will be directed by Gerard Johnstone and will also feature multihyphenate Joshua Bassett.

Soulm8te is set to hit theatres on January 2, 2026.
Cher showed off her incredibly ageless visage as she partied it up in West Hollywood on Thursday night  after attending a big red carpet premiere earlier this week.

The Believe hitmaker, 78, attended an invite-only celebration for Tristan Schukraft at the popular Abbey Food & Bar on iconic Santa Monica Blvd.

She posed up on the event's red carpet in a chic outfit that included a white mesh bustier decked out with rhinestones and pearls.

Cher styled the busty top with a fitted cream-toned blazer and flared denim jeans with frayed hems.

She paraded around in sky-high heels and accessorized with flashy diamond and silver rings.

Cher showed off her incredibly ageless visage as she partied it up in West Hollywood on Thursday night

The music icon's long, raven tresses tumbled down her chest in loose curls.

As for her makeup, Cher rocked a shimmery pink eyeshadow look accented with fluffy fake lashes and plenty of mauve blush.

She topped off her glam with a generous amount of peachy pink lip gloss.

It's been a busy week full of red carpet appearances for Cher, who is based in Malibu, California.

On Monday night, she attended the premiere of The Bikeriders in Hollywood with her 38-year-old boyfriend Alexander 'AE' Edward.

The icon's boyfriend, whom she has been with on and off since November 2022, planted a sweet kiss on her cheek while posing for snaps on the red carpet.

Cher wowed in a cropped quilted leather jacket that she styled with a sheer lace floral top beneath.

The artist flashed a hint of her flat midriff in the low-slung glittery cargo bottoms.

The Believe hitmaker, 78, attended an invite-only celebration for Tristan Schukraft at the popular Abbey Food & Bar on iconic Santa Monica Blvd

She posed up on the event's red carpet in a chic outfit that included a white mesh bustier decked out with rhinestones and pearls

As for her makeup, Cher rocked a shimmery pink eyeshadow look accented with fluffy fake lashes and plenty of mauve blush

The Bikeriders film stars Austin Butler, Tom Hardy and Jody Comer, with a release date of June 21.

AE coordinated with his lady, opting for a leather jacket and trousers, adding a black tee, a beanie and boots.

The lovebirds cuddled on the red carpet and shared a sweet moment, with Cher putting her head on his shoulder as they grinned ear to ear.

Cher and AE, a music executive, first sparked dating rumors in November 2022, however they first met at Paris Fashion Week in September 2022.

She said that she spoke to him for 15 minutes during Fashion Week in Paris and a mutual friend gave her number to him.

'It was really shocking because people just don't give out my number. I. had been telling all my friends, "We're too old to go out with really younger men, and I will never fall in love on text." So I did what I said not to do!,' she told PEOPLE in October 2023.

Cher said that the reason why she broke her own rules for him was because he is 'just so special.'

'I hate when people say people are special, but lots of people say I'm special, so I can say that he's special. No matter what happens, I love being with him. He makes me laugh, and we have fun. What I learned is that it's never too late,' she told the outlet.

On Monday night, she attended the premiere of The Bikeriders in Hollywood with her 38-year-old boyfriend Alexander 'AE' Edward

The icon's boyfriend, whom she has been with on and off since November 2022, planted a sweet kiss on her cheek while posing for snaps on the red carpet

Cher wowed in a cropped quilted leather jacket that she styled with a sheer lace floral top beneath

'If you wrote out all the statistics you would go, "Well this is doomed." But we've been together for a year, and if it was just a year, it would've been worth it. I've had the best time.'

She said that she understands why people are interested in their relationship, telling the outlet: 'Alexander's got diamond teeth, tattoos, white hair, and he's way younger. He's a beautiful man. Also I think its fun to be interested in somebody else's love life!'

They split in May 2023, and it was amicable.

They reconciled by September 2023; they were seen holding hands while going out on a double date with J Balvin and his partner Valentina Ferrer.

Since then, Cher and AE's relationship has been going from strength to strength.

'If you have happiness, you can't think about how long it's going to last. You have to think about "How does it feel?" and live in the moment,' she told PEOPLE.
She's no stranger to flaunting her incredible curves.

And Kim Kardashian continued to catch the eye with yet another jaw-dropping ensemble as she enjoyed a night out with her pal Chris Appleton on Thursday.

The SKIMS mogul, 43, slipped into a racy illusion dress with bizarre matching nude leggings as she headed out for the evening.

Kim showed off her curves in a skintight velvet dress which gave the illusion of a far more revealing look.

The star teamed the look with the quirky matching sheer leggings, and clear perspex heels, which aptly matched her platinum blonde tresses.

Kim Kardashian continued to catch the eye with yet another jaw-dropping ensemble as she enjoyed a night out with her pal Chris Appleton on Thursday

The SKIMS mogul slipped into a racy illusion dress with bizarre matching nude leggings as she headed out for the evening

Kim showed off her curves in a skintight velvet dress which gave the illusion of a far more revealing look

The star's outing seemed particularly timed as it came after her ex Kanye West's new wife Bianca Censori appeared to take inspiration from her iconic 'boob tape' look.

On Thursday, the Yeezy architect was spotted wearing nude bandage suspenders that barely hid her nipples for dinner in Paris, France with West, 47.

Bianca's racy top, that attached to a pair of low-rise bandage capris, looked extremely similar to Kim's now-iconic 'boob tape' bra that she debuted in 2016.

But instead of wearing it publicly, Kim has only used gaffer's tape to create gravity-defying cleavage beneath her incredible red carpet looks.

Kim's method sees her secure copious amounts of tape from the tops of her shoulders to her ribcage  resembling Bianca's barely-there suspenders.

It comes as the billionaire promoted the upcoming release of new lip glosses for her SKKN beauty brand.

On Wednesday she uploaded her latest marketing reel, which showed her frolicking in an open field.

Engaging her 362 million followers, she wrote in the caption: 'Meet your new @skkn summer essentials: a sheer, cushiony Lip Gloss that builds color and shine with every swipe and a light-catching, buildable Highlighter with an effortlessly luminous finish.'

The star teamed the daring look with bizarre matching nude leggings as she headed out for the evening with her pal Chris

The star's outing seemed particularly timed as it came after her ex Kanye West's new wife Bianca Censori (left) appeared to take inspiration from her iconic 'boob tape' look (right)

Kim accessorised her outfit with eye-catching nude perspex heels which completed the bizarre outfit

The star was joined by her longtime pal Chris for the night out

It comes as the billionaire promoted the upcoming release of new lip glosses for her SKKN beauty brand

On Wednesday she uploaded her latest marketing reel to promote her makeup brand, which she renamed following her split from husband Kanye

She relaunched her makeup offerings under the SKKN umbrella on January 26, 2024

The entrepreneur shut discontinued her makeup brand KKW Beauty in August 2021 and her perfume brand KKW Fragrance on May 1, 2022

At the time, Kim noted that the rebrand was not due to her divorce from Kanye West, whose surname she had used throughout the marriage

The businesswoman said the reason behind it all was because she felt bad about the customer having to pay shipping costs at three different websites

Kardashian shares North, 11, Saint, eight, Chicago, six, and Psalm, five, with West

Kim put on another eye-catching display in her daring nude ensemble

The star showed off her racy look as she enjoyed a night out with her pal Chris

She relaunched her makeup offerings under the SKKN umbrella on January 26, 2024.

The entrepreneur shut discontinued her makeup brand KKW Beauty in August 2021 and her perfume brand KKW Fragrance on May 1, 2022, with the intention of rebranding under a new name.

At the time, Kim noted that the rebrand was not due to her divorce from Kanye West, whose surname she had used throughout the marriage, including it in her branding at the time.

The businesswoman said the reason behind it all was because she felt bad about the customer having to pay shipping costs at three different websites  KKW Fragrance, KKW Beauty and a skincare focused brand, which later turned out to be SKKN.

Kardashian shares North, 11, Saint, eight, Chicago, six, and Psalm, five, with West.

The two were married from 2014 until the former Keeping Up with the Kardashians personality filed for divorce in February 2021.

The Chicago-bred rapper-turned-designer went on to tie the knot with Australian architect Bianca Censori in 2022.

Kim dated comedian Pete Davidson from October 2021 through August 2022.
New York, United States (PANA) - The UN Secretary-General on Friday voiced profound concern over escalating violence and bellicose rhetoric between Israel and Hezbollah militants across the frontier with Lebanon, warning that one false move could trigger a catastrophe for the whole region and beyond
Laura Hamilton looked great as she attended Mrs. Doubtfire: The Musical's first anniversary at Shaftesbury Theatre in London.

The TV presenter, 42, appeared over the moon as she was snapped putting on a very playful display alongside TV alum Leigh Francis, who plays Keith Lemon.

Laura was the epitome of chic in a floral print green maxi dress with long sleeves which boosted her very toned frame after detailing her day-to-day struggles with an autoimmune disease.

The A Place In The Sun star teamed the stylish number with nude stiletto heels matching her stylish shoulder bag with chain straps.

Meanwhile the comedy sensation, 51, grinned from ear to ear as he sported a camel jacket and black wide-leg shorts.

Laura Hamilton looked glowing as she attended Mrs. Doubtfire: The Musical anniversary's first anniversary at Shaftesbury Theatre in London on Thursday after detailing struggles with auto-immune disease

The TV presenter, 42, appeared over the moon as she was snapped putting on a very playful display alongside TV alum Leigh Francis, who plays Keith Lemon

He was captured giggling and smiling alongside Laura, as he also sported red-tinted shades and a black top hat.

The duo then joined Dame Kelly Holmes as they all beamed while posing together for pictures at the event.

The British athlete, 54, showcased her muscled physique and array of tattoos in a denim sleeveless vest teamed with smart sky blue trousers.

She kept it cosy with trainers and carried a multicoloured shoulder bag as well as her denim jacket.

Dame Kelly looked radiant showing off a happy smile, and accessorised with plenty of necklaces and earrings.

Laura's appearance comes just weeks after the TV star gave followers a health update on her battle with a rare autoimmune disease.

The Channel 4 alum suffers from Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a disorder that causes you to have low platelet levels which often leaves her with excessive bruising.

And sharing her day-to-day struggle with the disease, Laura confidently posted a photo of her legs covered in bruises.

Laura was the epitome of chic in a floral print green maxi dress with long sleeves which boosted her toned frame

The A Place In The Sun star teamed the stylish number with nude stiletto heels

Meanwhile the comedy sensation, 51, grinned from ear to ear as he sported a camel jacket and black wide-leg shorts

The duo then joined Dame Kelly Holmes (right) as they all beamed while posing together for pictures at the event

The British athlete, 54, showcased her muscled physique and array of tattoos in a denim sleeveless vest teamed with smart sky blue trousers

She revealed she's been suffering with 'flair-ups' and has had to wear long dresses to cover the bruising for filming.

Alongside the photo, she wrote: ''This is ITP! Just a little flair up this week. But you won't see it under my dress for filming! #itp #autoimmunue #itpawareness'.

Speaking in a video, she said: 'Well hello and good morning. I just want to say thank you so much to everybody who reached out to me following my recent story with my legs that are bruised.

'So that's ITP, Immune thrombocytopenic purpura. It's a reaction from a low platelet count that I have in my blood.

'It's been a very, very crazy week for me which I'll tell you more about very soon. I've been really really busy and I think it's just taken its toll.'

Platelets are cell fragments that are found in the blood and normally help the blood to clot. In people with ITP, the body produces antibodies that attack and destroy the platelets.

The autoimmune disease can cause easy or excessive bleeding or bruising with many experiencing purple bruises, as well as tiny reddish-purple dots that look like a rash.

She captioned the video: 'Also sorry to hear from those of you that have ITP too, particuarly those whose children have it... I am happy to offer any advice that I can! Laura x'

Laura spoke about her disease for the first time in October 2022 and explained that for her, ITP flares up when she is stressed but it is under control at the moment.

She said: 'It was really mad a year ago I was filming A Place In The Sun with a lovely couple in France - Mark and Janine - and I just stood there and I had an insect bite on my leg and I started scratching it.

'I was like, "Oh, I shouldn't have done that because I'm gonna have bruises on my leg from ITP."'

She continued: 'It's kind of under control at the moment I don't have bruising quite like that on my legs but it does happen it does flare up but I'm always trying to be positive about things and be a glass half-full.'

The disease only affects 4000 adults at one time, and is most common among young women.

Laura previously posted the picture of herself showing the bruising by holding her arm up in the mirror before heading out to film the latest series of the show in France.

She wrote in the caption of the tell-all post: 'This week I might have posted a few photos in pretty dresses, but this is the reality of what is underneath and what you cant see

Continuing on she said: 'I have had bruising on my arms and my gums have been bleeding. This is ITP.

'Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an auto immune disorder that can lead to easy or excessive bruising and bleeding. The bleeding results from unusually low levels of platelets  the cells that help blood clot.'

It comes just weeks after the TV star gave followers a health update on her battle with a rare autoimmune disease
Michelle Keegan is reportedly earning an impressive 30,000 per week thanks to the global success of her Netflix hit Fool Me Once.

The actress has cemented herself as a multi-millionaire after cashing in with a string of projects, and her income is set to rise even further, with reports she's been offered a six-figure sum by the streaming platform.

According to accounts obtained by The Sun, Michelle's company Rosia Promotions Ltd has cash of 2.9m for her last 12 months of trading, and 3.6 million in company accounts.

A tax bill also shows that Michelle is earning around 1.5 million per year, which averages at 30,000 a week.

Michelle earned 60,000 per year when she starred on Coronation Street, but left the soap in 2014 to pursue other acting roles.

Michelle Keegan is reportedly earning an impressive 30,000 per week thanks to the global success of her Netflix hit Fool Me Once

The actress has cemented herself as a multi-millionaire with a string of projects, and it's been also been reported she's been offered a six-figure sum by the streaming platform

The star is now earning far more thanks to a string of acting projects, having recently wrapped filming on a second series of Ten Pound Poms.

Michelle is also set to start filming on a seventh series of the Sky comedy Brassic, with a sixth instalment set to air later this year.

The star also cashes in with various modelling deals, including clothing ranges with Lipsy and Very, as well as her own fashion company Aytee7 which she runs with husband Mark Wright.

A source said: 'Michelle is the complete package: a great actress, easy on the camera and a savvy businesswoman.'

Michelle recently earned global recognition thanks to her role in the thrilling Netflix series Fool Me Once, which is based on the Harlan Coban novel of the same name.

Following the success, it has now been reported that the streaming platform is keen to secure Michelle for a number of other projects.

The offer could help the former Coronation Street star crack America, and also bag a massive paycheck.

A source told The Sun: 'Shes proved you dont have to be the stereotypical plum-voiced leading lady to appeal to an international audience.

The star also cashes in with various modelling deals, including clothing ranges with Lipsy and Very, as well as her own fashion company Aytee7 which she runs with husband Mark Wright

'Michelle offers something different, but with all the charm, glamour and sex appeal that makes her one of Britains most exciting acting exports. America is seen as a market where they believe she could make the greatest impact.'

The insider added: 'With so many rival streamers eyeing Michelle up now, its a no-brainer for Netflix to sign her. But theyre likely to have to offer her a six-figure sum to keep her for multiple projects.'

It comes after MailOnline revealed that Michelle has become the talk of Hollywood after catching the eye of movie bigwigs in Fool Me Once.

She's been inundated with movie scripts and proposals for potential new roles as film chiefs fight it out to make Michelle the latest Brit actress to conquer the big screen.

A source said: 'The response to Fool Me Once has been overwhelming. The phone calls and offers have been coming in from Hollywood film executives, it's different to anything Michelle has experienced before.

'Netflix is a global platform and the show has given her the opportunity to shine. Her career has already been a success but now her star is rising, everyone can feel that this is the beginning of something special.

'Michelle feels lucky that she's always played likeable characters but now she's hoping to take it up a notch by landing a film role.

'She aspires to play a dark character in a hard-hitting thriller, which will be a challenge that she's completely ready for.'

Michelle shot to fame on Corrie as feisty Tina McIntyre back in 2008, starring on the soap for six years and in almost 900 episodes.

She went on to win main roles in BBC TV dramas Our Girl and Ten Pound Poms, plus Sky comedy Brassic.

After she left the soap opera to pursue other acting roles, Michelle admitted fearing she would never work again.

She described the decision as a 'risk', particularly as her character was killed off, ending any chance of a return to the role.

But she's since surpassed her own expectations by landing multiple TV roles and now playing the lead in Fool Me Once, which has been produced by Nicola Shindler, who was also behind Happy Valley.
Bo Derek showcased her age-defying beauty in a plunging green cardigan as she attended the 2024 Filming Italy awards in Sardinia on Thursday.

The 67-year-old model proved she has barely aged a day as she hit the red carpet with a subtle swipe of makeup.

Bo has hardly changed one bit since her modelling days in her twenties, in barely-there outfits.

The blonde beauty, who is married to Sexy And The City star John Corbett, 63, picked up a gong at the festival as she proudly posed with it in hand.

Bo looked radiant and glowing in a chic satin skirt and wore a statement star necklace.

Bo Derek, 67, showcased her age-defying beauty in a plunging green cardigan as she attended the 2024 Filming Italy awards in Sardinia on Thursday

Bo has hardly changed one bit since her modelling days in her twenties, in barely-there outfits (pictured age 23 in the 1979film 10)

Filming Italy festival will see more than 70 international and Italian films, TV series, documentaries and shorts be showcased.

The festival will also host local premieres of The Imaginary, Cult Killer, Immaculate, Wanted Man and Rare Objects.

Bo is an actress, film producer, and model perhaps best known for her breakthrough role in the 1979 film 10.

That starring role also launched a bestselling poster for Derek in a swimsuit, and subsequently she became an instant sex symbol.

She was also in Tarzan The Ape Man in 1981 and Bolero in 1984.

John and Bo secretly tied the knot in 2020 having begun dating in 2002.

They kept the news quiet until the following year, when John let slip in an interview: 'Around Christmas time, we got married. Bo and I got married.

'We got married, and this is probably the first time  were pretty private people, we didnt make an announcement...

The model proved she has barely aged a day as she hit the red carpet with a subtle swipe of makeup

The blonde beauty, who is married to Sexy And The City star John Corbett, 63, picked up a gong at the festival as she proudly posed with it in hand

Bo looked radiant and glowing in a chic satin skirt and wore a statement star necklace

Bo proudly displayed her age-defying looks with a natural swipe of makeup and a pink lip gloss

Bo and husband John Corbett secretly tied the knot in 2020 having begun dating in 2002 (pictured in 2024)

'All our friends and family knew. But this is the first time either one of us have said something publicly about it, because really we havent had the opportunity.

'After 20 years we decided to get married. We didnt want 2020 to be that thing that everyone looks back at and hated lets get one nice thing out of it'.

The couple were set up by John's talent agent after he told him he had no one to take to an Oscars party.

Initially, John said he 'was very intimidated' before first meeting Bo but once they got to know one another, Bo said 'it was just an attraction, a comfort.'

Before she met John she thought she would never find love again, having lost her husband John Derek to heart failure in 1998.

However she explained that when she met her second husband for the first time she felt 'just an attraction, a comfort. He makes me laugh all the time. Hes full of life, full of joy.'

Bo shared: 'I became attracted to him and I still am. We take things day by day and I think we are still there. Were starting to get a little more settled.'
A Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes star Tom Blyth has shared a heartwarming tribute to his President Snow predecessor, Donald Sutherland.

On Thursday, it was announced that the Hollywood icon had died at the age of 88.

The Canadian actor's movie star son Kiefer Sutherland shared the sad news of his father's death from a long illness.

Sutherland's career spanned over 60 years and he saw a resurgence in popularity with a younger audience in recent years, thanks to his role as the evil President Snow in The Hunger Games franchise.

Tom Blyth, 29, went on to play the 18-year-old version of the Capitol president in the prequel A Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes, which hit cinema screens in November 2023.

A Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes star Tom Blyth (pictured in November 2023) has shared a heartwarming tribute to his President Snow predecessor, Donald Sutherland

On Thursday, it was announced that the Hollywood icon had died at the age of 88 (pictured above in 2019)

The actor posted two pictures of Sutherland on Instagram, with the song Snow Lands On Top by James Newton Howard playing in the background.

He included one photo of the icon in character as Coriolanus Snow - and wrote a heartfelt tribute.

Blyth penned: 'Donald Sutherland came about as close to mastering the craft of acting as anyone gets. So many genius performances.

'I never had the honor of knowing him personally, but it was the honor of a lifetime to follow in his footsteps.

'Thank you sir for birthing one of the great movie characters of all time.'

Fans flooded the comments with love for both actors, writing:

'You do him such justice. RIP Donald.'

'Such a devastating loss, truly one of the greats. You did so well honouring him through your own portrayal as Coriolanus. He will be sorely missed.'

Sutherland (LEFT) played the evil President Snow in The Hunger Games franchise, a role that Tom Blyth (RIGHT) took on in the prequel

Sutherland was the first actor to step into the shoes of the fictional antagonist Coriolanus Snow in each of The Hunger Games installments, between 2012 and 2015

Tom Blyth's co-star Rachel Zegler, who plays Lucy Gray Baird (RIGHT) in the prequel movie, also commented a heart emoji

The actor posted two pictures of Sutherland on Instagram, with the song Snow Lands On Top by James Newton Howard playing in the background

Fans flooded the comments of the post with love for both actors

'Tom, you're a legend. One Snow honouring the other. RIP Donald Sutherland, he was truly fantastic.'

'Snow lands on top always and forever.'

Blyth's co-star Rachel Zegler, who plays Lucy Gray Baird in the prequel movie, also commented with a heart emoji.

It comes just after Tom revealed that he would 'love' to reprise his role as the infamous villain in Suzanne Collins' dystopian series.

'I'd love to do another [Hunger Games movie],' he told the Herald Sun.

'There's a lot more to tell about Snow and his cousin Tigris and I just feel like there is so much about that world that is so rich and eligible to be delved into more.'

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes explored the early days of the tyrannical President of Panem, who was the last hope for his fading lineage, a once-proud family that fell from grace in the post-war Capitol.

Meanwhile, Sutherland was the first actor to step into the shoes of the fictional antagonist Coriolanus Snow in each of The Hunger Games installments, between 2012 and 2015.

It comes just after Tom revealed that he would 'love' to reprise his role as the infamous villain in Suzanne Collins' dystopian series (pictured above in December 2023)

After his son Kiefer led tributes in announcing his father's passing, a number of big names honored his timeless career

The Canadian actor's movie star son Kiefer Sutherland shared the sad news of his father's death from a long illness

But, the Emmy and Golden Globe winner made a name for himself long before that, appearing on M*A*S*H, Klute and the 1970s horror movie Don't Look Now.

After his son Kiefer led tributes in announcing his father's passing, a number of big names honored his timeless career.

Broadcaster Piers Morgan said he was 'one of my all-time favorite actors who played so many great roles. What a sad loss.'

Director Ron Howard, who worked with Sutherland on the film Backdraft, said he was 'blessed' to have directed the icon.

'One of the most intelligent, interesting & engrossing film actors of all time. Incredible range, creative courage & dedication to serving the story & the audience with supreme excellence,' he said.
Claudia Winkleman is set to leave showbiz agency YMU In a huge career move due to be announced later this month.

The beloved TV presenter, 52, will be splitting from her long time Strictly co-host Tess Daly, 55, as she cuts ties with the company after a decade - Alison Boshoff reports.

The BBC favourite is rumoured to be heading for a new firm, Little Arrow Management Limited, which has been set up just earlier this year.

Documents filed at Companies House show it has two directors - one of them is Claudia's movie producer husband, Kris Thykier (who gives his name as 'Svend Christoffer Stael Thykier'), and Holly Bott, who was the host's agent at YMU, but left the company last year.

It'll be a big deal if she leaps, writes Boshoff, as Claudia is currently one of the best paid presenters in Britain.

Claudia Winkleman is set to leave showbiz agency YMU In a huge career move due to be announced later this month

The beloved TV presenter, 52, will be splitting from her long time Strictly co-host Tess Daly, 55, as she cuts ties with the company after a decade - Alison Boshoff reports (Tess and Claudia pictured at BAFTA last month)

She is thought to earn 150,000 a year for solely presenting Strictly Come Dancing on the BBC, but there is certainly more to add with her annual roles hosting The Traitors and Channel 4's The Piano.

In addition, the TV alum also boosts a lucrative advertising deal to promote Head & Shoulders shampoo.

Boshoff revealed last month that a celebrity series of The Traitors could shoot early this summer - as long as the BBC can get Claudia to sign on the dotted line.

The plan is to make a starry spin-off of the hit show 'back to back' with series three, currently in production near Inverness.

It had been thought that the celebrity version would go into production next year.

But Studio Lambert boss Stephen Lambert told Boshoff it's coming up much sooner than that. Possibly as early as this very month.

He said there won't be any tinkering with the successful format  which sees the faithful try to sniff out the traitors, while everyone is subjected to various games and challenges  for the celebrity version.

'The plan is to shoot them pretty much back to back, so at the moment it is just a question of having to be very nice to Claudia Winkleman, so she agrees to spend twice as much time up in Scotland.'

She is said to sign with Little Arrow Management Limited, of which one director is Claudia's movie producer husband, Kris Thykier (pictured together earlier this month)

She is thought to earn 150,000 a year for solely presenting Strictly Come Dancing on the BBC , but there is certainly more to add with her annual roles hosting The Traitors and Channel 4's The Piano

Boshoff revealed last month that a celebrity series of The Traitors could shoot early this summer - as long as the BBC can get Claudia to sign on the dotted line

Lambert added: 'We are very much going to make a series which is just like The Traitors, apart from the fact the contestants will be celebrities. We are in the process of finalising everything with the BBC.'

Speculation has been raging about who might take part, with Lambert saying he would like former Prime Minister Liz Truss in the series, and fans speculating that Courteney Cox  a friend of Claudia's  might do it.

Lambert was celebrating two wins at the Baftas on last month  for Squid Game: The Challenge and Celebrity Race Across The World.

The new series has been shooting for a week and Lambert said: 'We've had some amazing twists.

'It's hard making season three, because the expectations get bigger and bigger. Fortunately, I think it's going well.'

Filming normally lasts for around five weeks, meaning a June finish. So if the celebrity version comes together in that period, it would allow Claudia to be free for the summer holidays  children Matilda and Arthur are still at school, and oldest son Jake is at university  before work starts on Strictly Come Dancing in September.

One concern is the swarms of midges which can make summers in the Highlands a challenge.

Lambert admitted: 'The midges do worry me. Let's hope we manage.'

It comes after the planned 2024 series was thrown into chaos when it was revealed in March that amongst the 300,000 people who applied for a space on the show, some were plotting to conspire against the BBC.

According to The Sun, some applicants - who were through to stage 2 of the process at the time - had grouped up and planned to use a secret code if they appear in the show.

But one traitor had already betrayed their mini alliance by disclosing the plan to producers Studio Lambert.

A source told the publication: 'The group chats spoke about using code words. If they were chosen as a Traitor, they were going to say "I'm feeling hotter than usual today, anyone else?" Traitors would answer "yes", Faithfuls "no".

Speculation has been raging about who might take part, with Studio Lambert boss Lambert saying he would like former Prime Minister Liz Truss in the series, and fans speculating that Courteney Cox  a friend of Claudia's might do it (Claudia pictured with series 2 winner Harry)

The new series has been shooting for a week and Lambert said: 'We've had some amazing twists' (Pictured are Claudia and series 2 final five)

It comes after the planned 2024 series was thrown into chaos when it was revealed in March that amongst the 300,000 people who applied for a space on the show , some were plotting to conspire against the BBC

'They agreed to split the prize pot. Some were just interested in fame and had fake arguments planned to get more airtime.

'But they gave so much personal information away, they could be pinpointed directly to their auditions. One was a surgeon, so it was easy for casting to pick out applicants by name and give them the boot.'

Rest assured, all the swindlers were weeded out because they risked the integrity of the show.
Giovanni Pernice is in advanced talks to join the Italian version of Strictly Come Dancing, MailOnline can exclusively reveal.

The former Strictly professional, 33, was axed from the British series after being accused of bullying by actress Amanda Abbington, 50, who he was partnered with last year.

BBC bosses are currently investigating the complaints made against Giovanni, scouring years of footage during rehearsals featuring the dancer, who continues to withstand his innocence.

Presenter Laura Whitmore, 39, and Good Morning Britain's Ranvir Singh, 46, are also believed to have reported their mistreatment to the broadcaster, having been paired with Giovanni on the show.

MailOnline understands Giovanni, who 'rejects any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour', is now preparing to begin a new role on Dancing with the Stars in Italy, in a tactical move he hopes will give him the chance to carry on performing.

Giovanni Pernice is in advanced talks to join the Italian version of Strictly Come Dancing, MailOnline can exclusively reveal

The former Strictly professional was axed from the British series after being accused of bullying by actress Amanda Abbington, who he was partnered with last year

BBC bosses are currently investigating the complaints made against Giovanni, scouring years of footage during rehearsals featuring the dancer, who continues to withstand his innocence (pictured in June)

A source told MailOnline: 'Giovanni is in advanced talks to join the Italian version of Strictly, Dancing with the Stars.

'Bosses are really keen to sign him as a judge given his fame and status in the UK but are also open to the dancer performing as a professional, if he still wants to compete.

'It's a great move for Giovanni, who has weighed up the possibility of doing shows like I'm A Celeb, but dance will always be his passion.

'All he wants is a fresh start and to join Dancing with the Stars in Italy will certainly give him the new chapter he's been hoping for.'

Joining the cast of Dancing with the Stars in Italy will be Giovanni's first big job since his Strictly axe.

He is currently performing alongside judge Anton Du Beke in their touring show and will be appearing on Friday night in Tunbridge Wells.

The live shows finish on July 21 with Giovanni's Dancing with the Stars schedule believed to begin in August.

Giovanni's former Strictly co-star Vito Coppola won the Italian version of the show, Ballando con le Stelle, in 2021, before triumphing with Ellie Leach during last year's UK competition.

Joining the cast of Dancing with the Stars in Italy will be Giovanni's first big job since his Strictly axe

The dancer joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2015 and remained on the lineup until this year, when bosses axed him amid continued speculation about his training methods

It has been reported that Giovanni's former Strictly partners Amanda, Laura, and Ranvir met to discuss the Italian's training style and their negative experiences with him as their mentor

The dancer joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2015 and remained on the lineup until this year, when bosses axed him amid continued speculation about his training methods.

Legal firm Carter Ruck confirmed it has contacted the BBC regarding 'numerous serious complaints' about his alleged behaviour while filming Strictly.

It has been reported that Giovanni's former Strictly partners Amanda, Laura, and Ranvir met to discuss the Italian's training style and their negative experiences with him as their mentor.

In response to their allegations, Giovanni posted a statement on his Instagram, insisting the BBC investigation will eventually clear his name.

He said: 'As you know, I have always rejected any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour.

'I am cooperating fully with the ongoing BBC investigation, which will determine the truth. As requested, I have stayed silent, but I am looking forward to the conclusion of the investigation and ultimately clearing my name and establishing the truth.'

MailOnline has contacted Giovanni's representative for comment.
Travis Scott is capitalising on his recent arrest by selling T-shirts featuring his mugshot.

The Sicko Mode hitmaker was arrested on charges of disorderly intoxication and trespassing on a property after a warning in the early hours of Thursday morning.

However, the rapper is already taking advantage of the situation as he incorporated his mugshot into a new addition to the merchandise section of his website.

Editing the image he removed his straight face for a cheesy grin before pasting it onto the black top.

The Free the Rage Tee is priced at $35 and features Travis' mugshot in the centre, with the phrase 'It's Miami' written in quotes underneath.

Travis Scott is selling T-shirts featuring his mugshot as he capitalises on his arrest for disorderly intoxication and trespassing on a property after a warning in the early hours of Thursday morning (Original mugshot L, Edited T-shirt mugshot R)

The Free the Rage Tee is priced at $35 and features Travis' mugshot in the centre, with the phrase 'It's Miami' written in quotes underneath. The phrase he repeated to officers following his arrest

The official police report stated Travis continued to repeat 'It's Miami' to officers after his arrest.

A $5 contribution from the sale of each T-shirt will go to the Cactus Jack Foundation, which aims to empower and enrich the lives of youth by providing access to education and creative resources to ensure long term success.

Aiming to boost sales, the star also shared a link to his merchandise website on his Instagram Story as she captioned his smiling mugshot with the words: 'Free The Rage II'.

And Travis isn't the first celebrity to create merchandise from his mugshot after Donald Trump supports sported black and prison orange t-shirts with the ex-president's Georgia mugshot during a rally on Tuesday.

The T-shirt's slogan encouraged Trump to 'Never Surrender' despite the four criminal cases against him.

Travis was arrested overnight for allegedly causing a drunken altercation on a Florida yacht.

Ten Miami Beach cops were called to the marina just before 1am to reports of 'a disturbance' which involved people 'fighting', the department revealed.

When they arrived, they found the Astroworld artist 'yelling' at people from the dock.

Travis isn't the first celebrity to create merchandise from his mugshot after Donald Trump supports sported black and prison orange t-shirts with the ex-president's Georgia mugshot during a rally on Tuesday

Others donned shirts splattered with images of the former president and others wore general patriotic or pro-Trump garb

The Houston-born rapper - who has two young children, Stormi and Aire, with Kylie Jenner - was arrested by police at the Miami Beach Marina (pictured from above)

Travis responded to the night's chaos with a series of light-hearted tweets to calm fan fears about his upcoming tour and his mugshot photoshopped with shades and earphones

Travis appeared to respond to his brush with the law on social media with a tweet simply reading 'lol' at 8.45am Thursday

They arrested the rapper for two misdemeanors - disorderly intoxication and trespassing at the marina and when cops interrogated him about whether he'd been drinking, he replied: 'It's Miami'.

He also responded to the night's chaos with a series of light-hearted tweets to calm fan fears about his upcoming tour.

Travis wrote 'lol' on X and shared his booking photo complete with photoshopped shades and earphones via Instagram stories.

He told his fans that he will be going 'ham' on his Circus Maximus stadium tour - which means 'hard as a motherf*****r'. The tour is just six days away - it kicks off June 28 in the Netherlands.

Police said there was 'a strong smell of alcohol' on Travis' breath and that he had been 'disturbing the peace' of the marina by 'yelling' and 'behaving erratically' through the night.

He got into a 'fight' with people on a yacht at the marina, triggering the police response at 1.17am. Ten cops were dispatched to the scene for the mission of ushering him back to his vehicle - 'a long walk away' per the affidavit.

Travis could not be tamed, and continued 'yelling obscenities' at the vessel all the way according to police. When they got to his vehicle, he appeared to warn his security guard not to comply with police.

Referring to his employee, Travis told officers 'if he gets in the vehicle he's gonna catch a fade' according to the arrest document.

He was eventually detained and taken to Miami-Dade Corrections facility where his bleary-eyed mugshot was snapped.

Travis' lawyer Bradford Cohen told DailyMail.com the rapper was 'briefly detained due to a misunderstanding'.

Donald Trump also gifted Logan Paul a mughot T-shirt when he appeared on his 'Impaulsive' podcast this month

Travis was previously in a relationship with Kylie Jenner with who he shares daughter Stormi, six, and son Aire, two. The pair split up for good in October 2022 (pictured 2018)

'There was absolutely no physical altercation involved, and we thank the authorities for working with us towards a swift and amicable resolution,' Cohen said.

A source familiar with the situation also told DailyMail.com the fight was verbal in nature and 'there was no physical altercation with anyone'.

'This was a rowdy party and Travis was already bailed out for a few hundred dollars. He is already home,' they said.

They added that 'no further action' will be taken over the 'minor incident' they described as 'akin to receiving a ticket with no injuries'.

Travis submitted a $650 bond - which includes $500 for the trespass charge, and $150 for disorderly intoxication.
Austin Butler has reflected on filming alongside his 'intense' co-star Tom Hardy in The Bikeriders as he joined Jodie Comer for a Q&A in New York on Thursday.

Ahead of the film's release on Friday, the pair headed to a BAFTA New York Screening at AMC Lincoln Square Theater where they discussed starring in the Jeff Nicholls drama.

The film, which is based on Danny Lyons' 1967 photobook of the same name, focuses on the midwestern motorcycle gang The Vandals, and its evolution from a tight-knit family to a violent syndicate.

Discussing his role in the film as young biker Benny, Austin admitted that there was one scene alongside Tom, who plays gang leader Johnny, which showed his 'brilliance' in displaying the intensity of their exchange.

He said: 'That scene, what's interesting about that scene was it was never written like that, and when we got there on set and just blocked out the scene he said ''right Tom you'll be sitting on the bike there and Austin will come up on the crutch and you'll stand six feet apart for that scene.''

Austin Butler has reflected on filming alongside his 'intense' co-star Tom Hardy in The Bikeriders as he attended a Q&A to promote the film in New York on Thursday

Ahead of the film's release on Friday, the actor joined Jodie Comer for a BAFTA New York Screening at AMC Lincoln Square Theater

'We did it once like that, and then Tom walks up and gets as close as he does, and that's the proximity you don't normally get in your everyday life unless someone's going to kiss you!

'So, and he's an intense guy. and so he's holding that tension and Jeff talked about it because I couldnt' see the shot, they're moving the camera and realising he's getting closer and closer, and then Tom his brilliance cocks his head at one point and it just hit perfectly so you could see his face.'

During the Q&A, Austin revealed the terrifying moment that he began filming one of his riding scenes, fearing that he could suffer a crash due to the faulty brakes.

He said: 'The brakes don't really work, so when you're coming down a bridge shot on the other side, I was just going ''God I gope this bike stops!''

Jodie also reflected on her role as Kathy, who is drawn into The Vandals' world after marrying Benny.

The Killing Eve star said: 'It was interesting because there's actually a lot of mystery about them.

'There were a lot of questions about their relationship that I didn't have the answers to, and again which I kind of embraced.

'I think for me with Kathy it was very clear that she fell in love with this man who had such a sense of freedom, he wasn't tethered to one thing, and I think we can all related to when you meet someone like that.'



Discussing his role in the film as young biker Benny, Austin admitted that there was one scene alongside Tom which showed his 'brilliance' in displaying the intensity of their exchange

In the film, Austin plays young biker Benny, while Tom plays The Vandals' leader Johnny

Jodie also reflected on her role as Kathy, who is drawn into The Vandals' world after marrying Benny

Channelling her on-screen alter-ego, Jodie opted for an oversized leather jacket as she attended the Q&A

The Bikeriders is based on a 1967 photo book of the same name by Danny Lyon, and first premiered at the 2023 Telluride Film Festival last year in August

The Bikeriders is based on a 1967 photo book of the same name by Danny Lyon, and first premiered at the 2023 Telluride Film Festival last year in August.

Along with Jodie, Austin and Norman, other stars that were cast in the project also include Tom, Mike Faist and Michael Shannon.

The premise is: 'After a chance encounter, headstrong Kathy is drawn to Benny [Butler], member of Midwestern motorcycle club the Vandals.'

'As the club transforms into a dangerous underworld of violence, Benny must choose between Kathy and his loyalty to the club,' per an IMDB synopsis.

In regards to taking on the role of Kathy in the movie that is based on a real-life motorcycle gang, Jodie told Vanity Fair in February that The Bikeriders is 'told from her perspective.'

'I've been a massive fan of Jeff's for so long. I Zoomed with him when I was doing Prima Facie, and he sent me the script and he was like, "Just so you know, I have 30 minutes of audio of [the real-life] Kathy."'

Jodie added, 'When he sent me that, and I read the script, and I knew it was him directing it, I was just like, I have to do this. I was excited to try and get as far away from myself as I possibly could.'
Hawaii Five-0 actor and former wrestler Taylor Wily has died aged 56.

The Hawaii-born star passed away on Thursday, according to KITV News.

Wily was best known for his role as Kamekona Tupuola in crime dramas Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum P.I.

A cause of death has not yet been made public. He is survived by his wife Halona and their two children.

Wily's former colleague Peter M. Lenkov who hired him for the show was among those paying tribute to the 'gentle giant'.

Hawaii Five-0 actor and former wrestler Taylor Wily has died aged 56

'I am devastated. Heartbroken. Ill post some detailed feelings later. Just too hard right now,' he wrote in a post on Instagram.

His niece Latoya Levaiosina also honored her uncle in a touching post.

'It still feels like a bad dream. Unko Big Tee, we love you always,' she wrote on Facebook.

Born in Honolulu, Wily was of American Samoan descent.

His other TV credits included MacGyver, One West Waikiki and North Shore.

In addition to his TV work, Wily also appeared in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, starring opposite Jason Segel and Kristen Bell.

Wily was best known for his role as Kamekona Tupuola in crime dramas Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum P.I.

Wily is is survived by his wife Halona and their two children

In addition to his TV work, Wily also appeared in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, starring opposite Jason Segel and Kristen Bell

Wily transitioned into acting after a stint as a UFC fighter, debuting as a TV special in 1993, UFC 1: The Beginning.

He lost three teeth as well as the fight against Dutch kickboxer and MMA pro Gerard Gordeau and retired from the sport shortly after.

Prior to this he was a sumo wrestler who went unbeaten in his first 14 bouts. Weighing almost 440lb he was among the heaviest in the sport.

He retired from sumo in 1989 due to knee issues.

This is a breaking news story please check back for further updates...
Christopher Brosnan was spotted out shopping in London's Notting Hill on Friday.

The 51-year-old, who is the estranged son of Pierce Brosnan, popped into Waitrose as he walked along Portobello Road with a bag from the supermarket chain.

The filmmaker - who has worked as an assistant director on Pierce's films, Tomorrow Never Dies and The World Is Not Enough - layered up despite the summer weather as he wore a red Nike hoody over a navy top.

He then added a khaki gilet to the ensemble and completed the look with some worn looking Converse.

Meanwhile his long dark hair stuck out from beneath a navy blue flat cap which he wore backwards as he walked down the road.

Pierce Brosnan's estranged son Christopher, 51, wrapped up in hoody and gilet as he was spotted out and about in Notting Hill on Friday

The 51-year-old, who is the estranged son of Pierce Brosnan, appeared to have popped into Waitrose as he walked along Portobello Road holding with a bag from the supermarket chain

Chris is the biological son of Pierce's late first wife, Australian actress Cassandra Harris, and her ex-husband Dermot.

Pierce adopted both Chris and his late sister Charlotte when their birth father died in 1986 while he was married to Cassandra.

Charlotte tragically died from ovarian cancer - the same illness that took the life of her mother - in 2013 at the age of just 41.

However the father and son became estranged after Pierce revealed he had 'cut him off' when Christopher refused to kick his drug habit.

Chris fell into a downwards spiral and suffered from cocaine and heroin addictions, and once fell into a coma following an overdose.

Pierce appeared to reach out to Chris in a Father's Day post back in June 2022.

He wrote: 'My love forever to you dear sons, Paris, Dylan, Sean and Christopher, thank you deeply for your love on this Fathers Day.'

However while Pierce beamed alongside his other three sons Paris, Dylan and Sean, Chris was not present in the snap.

Chris is the biological son of Pierce's late first wife, Australian actress Cassandra Harris, and her ex-husband Dermot

Pierce adopted both Chris and his late sister Charlotte when their birth father died in 1986 while he was married to Cassandra (Cassandra and Pierce pictured in 1983)

Chris' long dark hair stuck out from beneath a navy blue hat as he walked down the road

Chris has had his struggles in the past after he fell into a downwards spiral and suffered from cocaine and heroin addictions, and once fell into a coma following an overdose

Pierce and Chris then became estranged after Pierce revealed he had 'cut him off' when Christopher refused to kick his drug habit

In 1997, the director was jailed for three months for drink-driving after being fined 1,000 for the same offence the year earlier.

Chris, who starred on the original Love Island series in 2005, was also involved in a massive brawl at Browns nightclub in London and was later banned from the venue.

He was also arrested for theft at another club Chinawhite, but charges were later dropped.

He was also involved in a massive brawl at Browns nightclub in London and was later banned from the venue.

Back in 2005, Pierce said Chris' woes had prompted him to 'cut him off'.

The filmmaker - who has worked as an assistant director on Pierce's films, Tomorrow Never Dies and The World Is Not Enough - layered up despite the summer weather as he wore a red Nike hoody over a navy top

Pierce appeared to reach out to Chris in a Father's Day post back in June 2022. However while Pierce beamed alongside his other three sons Paris, Dylan and Sean, Chris was not present in the snap

Christopher's sister Charlotte (R) tragically died from ovarian cancer - the same illness that took the life of her mother - in 2013 at the age of just 41 (Pictured 2003)

Speaking to Playboy in 2005, Pierce said: 'Christopher is still very lost. Shockingly so. I know where he is, but he's having a hard life.

'I can only have strong faith and believe he will recover. He has tested everybody in this family but none more so than himself. He knows how to get out. He doesn't want to.

Proving that it was a case of tough love, Pierce continued: 'It's painful because you shut down. You never completely cut them off, but I have cut Christopher off. I had to say, "Go. Get busy living, or get busy dying". He has my prayers.'

Pierce went on to marry Keely Shaye Smith. The pair have been together since 1994 and tied the knot at Ballintubber Abbey in County Mayo, Ireland, in 2001.
Padma Lakshmi's mini-me daughter Krishna is heading to high school in New York City.

On Thursday the 53-year-old Top Chef star shared the happy news as she posed with her mini me 14-year-old kid.

Both were dressed up for the girl's graduation from 8th grade as Krishna posed with a decadent white petite cake.

'I cant believe my baby girl is off to high school after the Summer,' wrote the chef.

'I want to thank all of the teachers, educators, counselors, security and staff at the United Nations School for taking care of Krishna all these years.'

And the former fashion model sounded like a proud mama.

'Im so proud of Krishna and all she has achieved in her young, happy life,' added Lakshmi.

Padma Lakshmi 's mini-me daughter Krishna is heading to high school in New York City. On Thursday the 53-year-old Top Chef star shared the happy news as she posed with her mini me 14-year-old kid

'Special thanks to the theater department at UNIS and all the wonderful members of the parents association. Ill miss you guys at the snack bar! As Littlehands would say... gurl, bye!'

Mindy Kaling hit the like button and called Krishna a 'legend.'

Krishna, whose full name is Krishna Thea Lakshmi-Dell, was wearing a white dress with a gold necklace that read DIOR.

This comes after she debuted the Padma X Bare Necessities line.

The star lay face down on a white fluffy comforter on a sofa as she flashed her bottom in lace thong underwear. And then she turned to her side, making her butt the focus of the frame.

The Top Chef veteran debuted the line with new images and an interview shared to DailyMail.com on Thursday.

'I know that womens bodies change and have different needs,' said the former Vogue cover girl.

'I hope this collection makes you not only look good but feel good,' she noted. 'I hope that my selection is versatile and makes women feel not only like they have something pretty and special on, but that its functional.'

Her body has changed in recent years as she has gone from a 34C bra size to a 36DD. And she has also said her hips got wider.

Now she wants to serve 'a variety of customers' of all body types.

'Ive always wanted to do a lingerie line,' the TV star - who talked about her 'sexual peak' recently - shared.

Both were dressed up for the girl's graduation from 8th grade

And she wants voluptuous women to feel safe.

'I hope that everybody enjoys the lingerie, but I designed it for women who might be a little more well-endowed,' she noted.

The ex of 76-year-old Salman Rushdie has embraced the changes to her body since she crossed 50.

'As I have aged, Ive found that my breasts have gotten bigger, and if you have a bigger bust, often you dont get enough coverage,' the Taste The Nation star added.

The star noted that she recently went from a 34C bra size to 36DD, which she said she 'wasn't prepared for.'

'So, I wanted something that would look pretty, but give the support that a woman with a larger bust needs, without looking matronly. We also have things like a beautiful bikini that look great on women with smaller busts.'

Turns out there is more of Padma to love.

'As Ive aged, Ive needed more support; my breasts have gotten bigger, and my hips have gotten curvier,' said the siren.

Krishna posed with a decadent cake. 'I cant believe my baby girl is off to high school after the Summer,' wrote the chef. 'I want to thank all of the teachers, educators, counselors, security and staff at the United Nations School for taking care of Krishna all these years'

And the former fashion model sounded like a proud mama. 'Im so proud of Krishna and all she has achieved in her young, happy life,' added Lakshmi

'And I prize comfort more than I used to. When I was young, I didnt mind wearing uncomfortable things to look good, but now Im not willing to do that as easily. '

The lingerie has 'rich textures, intricate prints and mix of influences shes gathered across the globe,' said a press release.

There are supportive bras and swimsuits as well as loungewear and coverups.

'I think putting on a nice piece of lingerie can be a mood-lifter,' she also said.

'Even if youre in jeans and a T-shirt, it can make you feel dressed up on the inside.

'Wearing lingerie is a way of caring for yourself thats very private, and thats also what I love about it. Its just for you, and those you wish to share it with, of course.'

The line is more than bras, however.

'I wanted to try my hand at a few different garments, and these items seemed like a good place to start. Its a humble capsule offering of the things that I think every woman needs: a couple of bathing suits, a bodysuit, a corset, bras, some pants to lounge in, a coverup to throw on over said bra and a stretchy, long dress to hang out in thats cozy but shapely.

'Pretty, delicate sky blue lace makes for a heavenly matched bra and panty set.

Here she was seen in a black thong look with a mirror behind her as she works with a lingerie brand this year

One of Padmas personal favorite pieces is this zip-up rashguard.

'One of my favorite pieces is the zip-up rashguard with the mesh panels. When youre going to the beach, you have to put on sunblock, but its such a pain, especially if youre a mom or you have a lot to do. This bathing suit is one-piece, with long sleeves for more coverage.

'Its a very utilitarian suit that also looks sporty, sexy and chic in a Bond Girl way, but without being too revealing. If you wanted to be more modest, it would be a good thing to wear.

And she kept the American woman in mind when designing.

'I dont pretend that my tastes are always mainstream, so it was important for me not only to design for myself but for other women, too,' said Padma.

She loved putting in the hours to create the line.

'It was fun to pick out the fabrics and see things go from the line drawings to actual samples. It was also fun to see everything on the fit models. All of us have different body types, so it was interesting to learn how things looked on each of us.'
Christian Bale was spotted at LAX cozying up to his wife of 24 years, Sibi Blazic, 54.

The Batman star, 50, is still sporting his shaved head for his role in the Maggie Gyllenhaal-directed The Bride.

Christian  who made his American Psycho co-star Chloe Sevigny feel uncomfortable while filming  and Sibi both wore jeans and black tops and had black backpacks on as they descended an escalator after arriving home in L.A. from New York City.

The longtime couple reportedly met thought Winona Ryder while she and Bale were working on Little Women in 1994.

Sibi was Ryder's assistant at the time. The two hit it if off, eloped to Las Vegas in 2000 and welcomed their two children, daughter Emmeline in 2005 and son James in 2014.

Christian Bale was spotted at LAX cozying up to his wife of 24 years, Sibi Blazic, 54

The Batman star, 50, is still sporting his shaved head for his role in the Maggie Gyllenhaal -directed The Bride

The couple have very cute nicknames for their kids, as Christian revealed in his 2019 Golden Globes acceptance speech for his role as Dick Cheney in Vice.

'Thank you to my beautiful wife who said less is more,' Bale said while accepting the Best Actor award.

'Say less right now, she knows the dumb crap that can come out of my mouth sometimes. I can sink and ruin a perfectly good movie and a so-so career in one speech. I wouldn't be working without her.'

He continued, 'And thank you for our beautiful children, Banana and Burrito. They've given me a love and a soul I never thought possible.'

And Bale, who is well known for being a Method actor who completely transforms himself for roles, credits his wife with his success.

'She's had to be married to so many different characters over our marriage  I know it truly would be impossible to do it without her. She's such a good, strong woman.'

Bale has also joked that his wife prefers some of the characters he's played over him.

'My wife definitely had favorites. She was like, "Ah, I miss him. He's gone. You're a d. I want you to be that character again,"' he told People.

And his wife's favorite character might surprise you  its Trevor Reznik from The Machinist, a role Bale famously lost 62 pounds for.

'I think it's just about him and me just f sitting there being too weak to be able to do anything. Totally incapable.'

The star debuted his shock Frankenstein transformation in haunting first look images from new film, The Bride

Bale will star alongside Oscar nominee Jessie Buckley, 34, who showed off her own gothic look as The Bride with a platinum blonde wig and smeared black lipstick

And Bale, who is well known for being a Method actor who completely transforms himself for roles, credits his wife with his success

Bale has also joked that his wife prefers some of the characters he's played over him. 'My wife definitely had favorites. She was like, "Ah, I miss him. He's gone. You're a d. I want you to be that character again,"' he told People

Christian is currently filming The Bride alongside Jessie Buckley, Annette Bening, Penelope Cruz and Gyllenhaal's husband, Peter Sarsgaard.

'A lonely Frankenstein travels to 1930s Chicago to seek the aide of a Dr. Euphronius in creating a companion for himself.

'The two reinvigorate a murdered young woman and the Bride is born,' the film's synopsis reads.

'She is beyond what either of them intended, igniting a combustible romance, the attention of the police and a wild and radical social movement,' according to Deadline.
Taylor Wily's devastated family have posted heart-wrenching tributes to the star following his death.

The Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum P.I. actor passed away on Thursday days after his 56th birthday.

His heartbroken loved ones are among those honoring the late actor and former wrestler.

Wily's sister shared a touching video of her family coming together to share in their grief, including a video of his nephews singing Bob Marley's 'Three Little Birds'.

'Mourning and celebrating our favorite brother and uncle the way he would want us to. Family, Food, Music and Good Vibes,' Alyssa Wily Tonga wrote on Facebook.

Hawaii Five-0 actor and former wrestler Taylor Wily has died aged 56

She posted the video of the boys singing with the caption, 'singing for their uncle Tee'.

His niece Latoya Levaiosina also took to social media to express her condolences to his wife Halona and their two children.

'It still feels like a bad dream Unko Big Tee we love you always,' she wrote. 'Gonna miss hearing you and Pops Ais' talking almost every night. So many good and funny memories.'

Wily's cause of death has not yet been made public.

The Hawaii-born actor was a beloved TV and film fixture, whose other credits included MacGyver, North Shore and Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

Former colleagues also paid their respects in posts praising the 'gentle giant' for his warm character and professionalism.

Wily is survived by his wife Halona and their two children with several member offering condolences while paying their respects

Family and friends including former co-star Dennis Chun paid tribute to the 'giant of a man' in touching posts on social media

Peter Lenkov, who cast Wily as Kamekona Tupuola in Hawaii Five-0, shared his fond memories and revealed the two had spoken just last week.

'T as I told you many times, I fell in love with you at the first audition,' he wrote.

'You came in with a towel on your head mopping up sweat, and I was smitten. You charmed me into making you a regular on the show and in my life.

'You were family. And I will miss you every day, brother.

'PS: when we spoke last week, we laughed at how right you were from Day 1. Five-0 was our dream job. And I was so lucky we got to share that magic together.'

Former co-star Dennis Chun posted a throwback photo of the two on set.

Wily was best known for his role as Kamekona Tupuola in crime dramas Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum P.I.

Peter N Lenkov, who cast Wily as Kamekona Tupuola in Hawaii Five-0, shared his fond memories

Wily's sister said the famiyl had gathered to reflected on their beloved uncle and brother's life

'Laura and I are heart broken to learn of the passing of Taylor Wily, he wrote on Instagram. He was not just a great talent but he was a giant of man.

'His aloha and heart always made sharing a scene with him such a joy. It was an honor to not only work with him but also to call him friend.

'Rest well Taylor. Hawaii and I weep tonight. Aloha Taylor until we meet again.'

Wily transitioned into acting after a stint as a UFC fighter, debuting as a TV special in 1993, UFC 1: The Beginning.

He lost three teeth as well as the fight against Dutch kickboxer and MMA pro Gerard Gordeau and retired from the sport shortly after.

Prior to this he was a sumo wrestler who went unbeaten in his first 14 bouts. Weighing almost 440lb he was among the heaviest in the sport.
Ed Kavalee has revealed how he knew he had seen the girl of his dreams when he flipped on the television one fateful day.

The 2DayFM radio host was watching game show Gladiators when its stunning host, fitness queen Tiffiny Hall, caught his eye.

The personal trainer was competing on the show as the Gladiator Angel, and Ed was smitten.

'I'm going to marry that girl on the TV,' the 44-year-old told himself, as he revealed on latest episode of Hall's podcast Bounce Forward.

Kavalee devised a plan to interview Hall and didn't waste the opportunity.

Ed Kavalee has revealed how he knew he had seen the girl of his dreams when he flipped on the television one fateful day. The 2DayFM radio host was watching game show Gladiators when its stunning host, fitness queen Tiffiny Hall, caught his eye. Pictured together

'Here I am about to go out and compete, so focused, and this guy is trying to chat me up,' Hall explained.

Unfortunately, their first meeting didn't go as the radio host had hoped.

'I didn't even remember meeting him, to be honest. But he didn't give up' Hall admitted.

Kavalee invited Hall to appear on his radio show multiple times before she got the message.

'I said to him "look do you want my number?" Because it would be a lot easier to just call me and chat rather than having me come in to do an interview on the radio station,' she explained.

The personal trainer was competing on the show as the Gladiator Angel (pictured), and Ed was smitten. 'I'm going to marry that girl on the TV,' the 44-year-old told himself, as he revealed on latest episode of Hall's podcast Bounce Forward

Kavalee invited Hall to appear on his radio show multiple times before she got the message. 'I said to him "look do you want my number?" Because it would be a lot easier to just call me and chat rather than having me come in to do an interview on the radio station,' she explained

The two finally went on a date, and had 'great chemistry' leading to a marriage that is approaching it's tenth anniversary.

The pair married in 2014 and they welcomed their second child Vada in 2022. They also have a son Arnold, six.

Tiffiny shared the exciting news to Instagram, alongside a black and white picture of her newborn daughter lovingly gripping her finger in hospital.

'Welcome Vada Kavalee,' Tiff captioned the image, before adding, '30.5.2022'.

The power couple sold their home in Melbourne in 2023.

The Moonee Ponds property, a single-fronted weatherboard house, sold for $1.5m before to its planned September 9 auction over the weekend.
Joey King made a humorous fashion statement on Thursday as she surprised attendees at a special screening of her new film A Family Affair in Los Angeles.

The 24-year-old actress, who plays a Hollywood assistant in the Netflix movie, arrived in a pale yellow T-shirt that read 'I HATE MY BOSS.'

King fittingly wore the short-sleeved top to the delight of a group of Hollywood assistants who went to the streamer's Tudum Theater to watch the flick.

For the Agents vs. Assistants screening, she added a pair of faded light wash jeans, finishing her casual look with white leather loafers.

The Kissing Booth sensation stars alongside Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron in the movie, which premieres June 28.

Joey King made a humorous fashion statement on Thursday as she surprised attendees at a special screening of her new film A Family Affair in Los Angeles

The 24-year-old actress, who plays a Hollywood assistant in the Netflix movie, arrived in a pale yellow T-shirt that read 'I HATE MY BOSS'

The film follows a young woman named Zara (King) who works as an assistant for a movie star (Efron).

The assistant learns her actor boss has awkwardly become attracted to her mother Brooke Harwood (Kidman).

Also starring in A Family Affair are Liza Koshy, Kathy Bates and Shirley MacLaine.

Production on the project started in Atlanta in August 2022.

The movie reunites Kidman with Efron after they co-starred in the 2012 crime drama The Paperboy.

Efron recently spoke to People about sharing the screen with Kidman for the second time.

'Reuniting with Nicole is always so great and as talented as she is as an actress, she is equally kind, caring, and wonderful to spend time with,' he gushed.

The High School Musical star went on to describe their dynamic as 'seamless, natural and fun.'

King fittingly wore the short-sleeved top to the delight of a group of Hollywood assistants who went to the streamer's Tudum Theater to watch the flick

The Kissing Booth sensation stars alongside Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron in the movie, which premieres June 28

The film is centered on a young woman who, while working as a movie star's assistant, realizes that he has become attracted to her mother

And King told the outlet she was enthusiastic about working with the Academy Award-winning actress.

'It's truly one of those moments where you have to remind yourself that it's actually your life and you're getting to work with this person, and somehow they're even more wonderful than you could imagine,' she said.

She added, 'Neither of us [was] afraid of messing up, or embarrassing ourselves because we're just having fun finding out what works.'

The romantic comedy will premiere on Netflix June 28.
It's been 50 years since Little House on the Prairie premiered on CBS in 1974.

The cast of the show  who appeared on GMA earlier this year  reunited earlier this month at the Monte Carlo Television Festival in Monaco.

Karen Grassle, Alison Arngrim, Melissa Sue Anderson, Matthew Labyorteaux, and Wendi Lou Lee sat on a panel and reflected on their favorite memories from the show.

They also addressed fans questions about a reboot or reunion of the beloved series.

'There have been lots of attempts to do a Little House on the Prairie again,' Grassle, 82, who played the show's matriarch Caroline Ingalls, explained to People.

It's been 50 years since Little House on the Prairie premiered on CBS in 1974

The cast of the show reunited earlier this month at the Monte Carlo Television Festival in Monaco

'There have been shows, there have been a musical, and I think we had a unique experience and it can't be repeated.'

'Michael [Landon] was a genius at casting and writing,' she added of her onscreen husband, who played Charles Ingalls.

'He understood things about how to translate that material into television for the public that was beyond what most writers understand.

'And he had his thumb on the pulse of the public and understood what people were longing for, and you don't find that every day,' she gushed about the late actor who was also an executive producer and writer for the show.

'And then the fact that we were all so perfectly cast was a kind of genius,' she added, looking at her costars.

But ultimately, what Grassle, the late Landon and the rest of the cast had was lightning in a bottle with Little House on the Prairie.

Based on the beloved series of children's novels by Laura Ingalls Wilder  portrayed by Melissa Gilbert in the series  the show premiere in September 1974 and ran for nine seasons.

Anderson, who played eldest sister Mary Ingalls, had her own reason for thinking a reboot wouldn't work and its because Landon wouldn't be part of it.

Karen Grassle, Alison Arngrim, Melissa Sue Anderson, Matthew Labyorteaux, and Wendi Lou Lee sat on a panel and reflected on their favorite memories from the show

They also addressed fans questions about a reboot or reunion of the beloved series.

'There have been lots of attempts to do a Little House on the Prairie again,' Grassle, 82, who played the show's matriarch Caroline Ingalls, explained to People

'There have been shows, there have been a musical, and I think we had a unique experience and it can't be repeated'

'Little House works on television because of him,' she said. Landon died in 1991.

Arngrim, 62, who played Nellie Oleson in the series is ready to take on a new role if there was ever a reboot of Little House  her mother.

'I always joke that if they do redo the entire thing, I am ready to play Mrs. Oleson. Absolutely, I'm down for that,' she sassed.

Little House on the Prairie followed the adventures of the Ingalls family as they built a homestead and life in the 19th century Midwest.
Young Parisians have expressed concern at the behaviour of Bianca Censori in the French capital after she was seen wearing a revealing outfit made only from tape.

It follows fears that the Australian architect, 29, is being controlled by her husband Kanye West, 47, as she steps out in a range of skimpy outfits.

The outfit, one of Bianca's most revealing to date, saw her wear bandage-like halter suspenders that only covered her nipples while out with her stylist Gadir Rajab.

She had on a pair of beige low-rise pedal pushers, constructed from strips of beige tape wrapped around her legs, with slight gaps opening up as she walked toward the restaurant.

Bianca's loved ones have expressed their fears after she married Kanye in December 2022 - with some going as far as staging an intervention, while her father Leo was reportedly keen to confront the rapper over his daughter's X-rated clothing.

Young Parisians have expressed concern at the behaviour of Bianca Censori in the French capital after she was seen wearing a revealing outfit made only from tape

It follows fears that the Australian architect, 29, is being controlled by her husband Kanye West , 47, as she steps out in a range of skimpy outfits (pictured together in February)

Speaking to MailOnline on Friday some Parisians deemed her outfits to be 'worrying' and claimed Kanye's 'publicity stunts' were both 'strange' and 'dangerous.'

Sarra Sean, a 20-year-old linguist, said: Shes free to do what she wants with her own body, but its a bit weird.

Im not that into celebrities, but there clearly has to be some concern if a famous person is acting strangely. Some of Kanyes political statements have been very worrying lately.

San Zaya, 18, a student, said both Bianca Censori and Kanya West had a responsibility to be a good example to young people.

She explained: Kanya in particular is world famous, and a very influential artist, so anything he does is copied everywhere.

People can dress how they look, but if they are being forced to behave in a certain way for the cameras, then that can be very dangerous.

These two are followed massively on social media. I like Kanye Wests music, but I dont like some of the publicity that has surrounded him lately.

Eli Sanne, 21, said: Some of the photos have certainly looked pretty worrying  Kanye is good at what he does, but his behaviour can be strange.

Sarra Sean, a 20-year-old linguist, said: Shes free to do what she wants with her own body, but its a bit weird. Some of Kanyes political statements have been very worrying lately'

San Zaya, 18, a student, said both Bianca Censori and Kanya West had a responsibility to be a good example to young people'

Eli Sanne, 21, said: Some of the photos have certainly looked pretty worrying  Kanye is good at what he does, but his behaviour can be strange'

Abdoulaye Bamba, 18, added: I like Kanyas music a lot  its been very popular for many years, but Im not interested in his publicity stunts'

There had been claims that Ms Censoris risque outfits might see her arrested for public indecency, but Paris lawyers have since said this is a ridiculous idea'

Abdoulaye Bamba, 18, added: I like Kanyas music a lot  its been very popular for many years, but Im not interested in his publicity stunts.

Fans have noticed that Ms Censori, an Australian, has looked tired and worn during her latest trip to Paris.

On Thursday evening, she appeared at Gigi, an Italian restaurant off the Champs Elysees, in a risque ensemble mainly compromising beige tape.

Her husband was not present, and she was instead accompanied by a stylist, and other members of the West entourage.

Whats the matter with her? Real question, an account holder wrote on comment platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Another wrote, Why does she allow anyone to denigrate her like this? It boggles.

Other comments included: looks like a sad clown, Wellness check needed, and Is she ok  she looks completely drained. OMG.

There had been claims, following an outing in Italy last year, that Ms Censoris risque outfits might see her arrested for public indecency, but Paris lawyers have since said this is a ridiculous idea.

A source working for city prosecutors said: Paris is the world fashion capital  nobody risks prosecution for their fashion choices.

Kanye has always been popular in Paris, where rap music is extremely popular.

In 212, his music was used by the then Socialist presidential candidate, Francoise Hollande.

In March this year, Bianca's mother flew from Australia to the US last week with the intention of 'saving' the Yeezy designer, according to insiders, who claim she is taking time 'to see for herself' whether her daughter truly does have everything under control.

'Bianca's mom had to see for herself after Bianca told her family she has this under control,' a source told DailyMail.com. 'This has been a wonderful opportunity for Alexandra to get to spend time with Bianca and assess the situation for herself.'

Bianca's concerned mom rushed out to try and 'save' her daughter, but has reportedly had her fears eased during this time together.

The insider continued: 'Right now is a pivotal time and Alexandra was lowkey believing she would come to save her daughter. But this is not the case.

'Kanye has started to turn things around since the release of Vultures in the sense that he is not going off on as many unhinged rants.

'He also knows how to sweet talk a mom. This has been really a good experience, and everyone is so relieved to see her with Alexandra.'

More recently, insiders claim Bianca's family are concerned Kanye is 'dragging her into the adult film world' and using her to promote his new Yeezy Porn venture.

The Grammy winner has been lambasted by fans for appearing to dismiss the Christian beliefs he had previously prioritized so publicly.

Bianca's family and friends are said to be among the critics and fear the architectural designer will be 'used' to 'promote sexual indecency' by the controversial musician.

'Bianca's family was willing to give Kanye the benefit of the doubt after her mom's recent visit to LA,' an insider told DailyMail.com exclusively.

'For Bianca's sake they were willing to overlook his anti-Semitic remarks and inappropriate behavior.

'They were even trying to accept that he was not forcing Bianca to do anything. They were aware of Kanye and Biancas project to create and sell their own brand of clothing.

'But with two feminist sisters and an equally feminist mother, it is hard to rationalize or accept her involvement in this new venture.'

More recently, insiders claim Bianca's family are concerned Kanye is 'dragging her into the adult film world' and using her to promote his new Yeezy Porn venture

Bianca (second, left) pictured with her mother Alexandra, second right is Bianca's sister Alyssia and far right is Bianca's other sister Angelina

They continued: 'The fact that he is dragging her into the adult film world with him and using her as a billboard already to promote sexual indecency is absolutely appalling and very worrying.

'They feel he has convinced her that this is a good idea because it will make them wealthier.'

The source said her loved ones fear the new move could be detrimental to their marriage, as Kanye previously claimed his ex-wife Kim Kardashian filed for divorce over his porn addiction.

'Her family and friends are aware of Kanyes history with pornography which makes it even more concerning,' they said.

'What is it going to do to his marriage with Bianca? He is already using her as a walking billboard for indecency.'
Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan are in negotiations to potentially appear in season two of the hit Netflix series Beef.

According to Deadline, Isaac, 45, and Mulligan, 39, might star in the follow-up, which would see two feuding couples.

The first season of the show starred Ali Wong and Steven Yeun.

The second season has not yet been greenlit but creator Lee Sung Jin is reportedly working on the storyline.

Earlier this year Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway were in talks to play the leading roles but the outlet reports that it 'ultimately did not come to fruition.'

Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan are in negotiations to potentially appear in season two of the hit Netflix series Beef

According to Deadline, Isaac, 45, and Mulligan, 39, might star in the follow-up, which would see two feuding couples

May December star Charles Melton and Priscilla actress Cailee Spaeny are being eyed to play the other couple.

Wong starred in the first season of the limited series as a small business owner of Chinese descent drawn into an escalating cycle of vengeance and self-sabotage after a road-rage incident involving a struggling Korean American contractor (Yeun).

The series won numerous accolades for its writing and lead actors including five Primetime Emmy Awards, three Golden Globes, four Critics' Choice Awards, two SAG Awards and trophies at the Independent Spirit and Producers Guild Awards.

Netflix and A24 were previously said to want production on the second season to begin by late summer or fall under the direction of showrunner and executive producer Lee Sung Jin.

In February Ali Ali notably won Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series at the Independent Spirit Awards.

In her acceptance speech, she acknowledged the cast and crew that were involved on the critically-acclaimed project.

'Oh man, Steven, Sonny, Jake, and the rest of the cast and amazing crew of Beef, I wouldn't be here without you. This is the best,' she gushed.

'It has been such a wonderful journey with you guys and I'm so proud that you guys are my friends, too,' she added.

The first season of the show starred Ali Wong and Steven Yeun; pictured in February

Wong starred in the first season of the limited series as a small business owner drawn into an escalating cycle of vengeance and self-sabotage after a road-rage incident involving a struggling contractor (Yeun)

She then humorously gave another shout out to the catering business that provided tasty food on set. '

And gosh, I really want to give a special shoutout to our catering Mario's,' Wong said.

The actress continued: 'Sonny is going to be so mad at me for letting out the secret that they are like the best, but they really have the best food and they really kept the morale going. We had such long days and just thank you so much. This means a lot. Thank you.'

Beef also won the award for Best New Scripted Series; Wong, Yeun and Jin took to the stage to accept the honor.
Kelly Clarkson hilariously dragged Austin Butler during her talk show on Friday.

The American Idol winner, 42, was left visibly impressed by the actor, 32, after his Bikeriders co-star Jodie Comer revealed that he makes his own pottery and gifts the pieces to friends.

'Could you be any hotter? Like, what the hell,' Kelly responded with a laugh. 'Do you save children in your spare time? You volunteer for the Boy Scouts? What else, Austin? Goodness!'

The subtle compliments continued after Austin shared that he had acquired his pottery skills during his time living in London.

'You know what? This is rude to all men living everywhere,' Kelly quipped. 'No, that's super cool.'

Kelly Clarkson hilariously dragged Austin Butler during her talk show on Friday

The American Idol winner, 42, was left visibly impressed by the actor, 32, after his Bikeriders co-star Jodie Comer revealed that he makes his own pottery and gifts the pieces to friends

Austin and Jodie chatted with Kelly to promote their new film The Bikeriders, which tells the fictional story of a Chicago outlaw motorcycle club called The Vandals, and is inspired by photographer Danny Lyon's 1967 portfolio of the same name.

The action-drama follows the tumultuous rise of the fictional 1960s midwestern motorcycle club as it goes from a gathering place for local outsiders to a more sinister gang.

Austin's character Benny comes into conflict with the biker gang's leader Johnny, played by Tom Hardy, as the group begins to shift towards more criminal dealings.

Jodie stars as Benny's girlfriend Kathy while the cast also features other big names including Norman Reedus and Michael Shannon.

Despite Kelly's efforts to compliment Austin, the matinee idol only has eyes for his girlfriend Kaia Gerber, whom he kissed at The Bikeriders premiere.

The Oscar-nominated star was spotted sneaking a smooch with the stunning model, 22, in a viral video shared by ET.

In the clip, Austin navigates through the red carpet crowd before meeting Kaia and quickly stealing a kiss.

Dressed in a distinctive all-black suit without a shirt, Austin then places his hand on Kaia's back as she dazzles in a chic mini dress.

Hollywood's It couple led a cavalcade of stars at the event, including Jodie, Jason Momoa, Cher, Norman Reedus, Mario Lopez and more.

The PDA display comes after Austin travelled Down Under earlier this month to attend the much-awaited Australian premiere of the crime thriller at Sydney Film Festival.

Austin is no stranger to Australia having previously spent time Down Under filming for Baz Luhrmann's smash hit Elvis biopic.

Taking on the leading role of Elvis Presley, Austin spent a considerable amount of time shooting on the Gold Coast for the epic.

'Could you be any hotter? Like, what the hell,' Kelly responded with a laugh, adding: 'Do you save children in your spare time? You volunteer for the Boy Scouts? What else, Austin? Goodness!'

The subtle compliments continued after Austin shared that he had acquired his pottery skills during his time living in London.

'You know what? This is rude to all men living everywhere,' Kelly quipped. 'No, that's super cool'

Dressed in a distinctive all-black suit without a shirt, Austin places his hand on Kaia's back as she dazzles in a chic mini dress

The actor began dating Kaia in December 2021, following her relationships with Jacob Elordi and Pete Davidson; (pictured 2023)

His last visit Down Under was to attend the film's premiere back in 2022.

His portrayal of the King of Rock and Roll earned him a Golden Globe and a BAFTA, along with an Academy Award nomination.

The actor began dating Kaia in December 2021, following her relationships with Jacob Elordi and Pete Davidson.

He previously dated Vanessa Hudgens from 2011 to 2019.
She gave her daughter a luxury vehicle for her 16th birthday earlier this week, and now Kyle Richards has responded to criticism the car may have been too expensive for her teenager.

Kyle and her estranged husband Mauricio Umansky gave their daughter Portia a Porsche Macan - a vehicle that has a starting price of $62,900.

When asked about the birthday gift by TMZ, Kyle, 55, insisted the vehicle wasn't as expensive as believed - and cited her daughter's good grades and driving skills as reasons she deserved the vehicle.

She also revealed she played no role in the actual purchase of the vehicle and that her 'husband' Mauricio had bought it himself.

'Well it wasn't as expensive as they reported but I understand that, I get that,' Kyle said.

Kyle Richards responded to criticism the luxury vehicle she and estranged husband Mauricio Umansky gave their daughter Portia was too expensive for the 16-year-old; Richards pictured earlier this month

'She's a very good driver, she's a straight A student, she's a good kid,' she said, adding she believed her daughter deserved the vehicle.

Kyle also shared she was unaware of how much the vehicle cost as Mauricio had made the purchase.

Notably, she referred to him as her 'husband' despite their separation.

'I said, my husband Mo, "She works very hard," and you know you can talk to him about that, that was his purchase,' she said.

She also revealed the surprising reason they selected a Porsche.

Asked if they purchased the car as it was similar to her daughter Portia's name, she replied: 'That may have had something to do with it.'

In a TikTok video posted Tuesday, Kyle and her estranged husband were seen surprising their daughter with the car. The vehicle sat parked in their driveway and was decorated with a huge red bow.

'Whose car is that?,' Mauricio wondered.

'Are you kidding me?,' Portia said as she covered her mouth before bursting into tears.

Kyle burst into laughter as Portia walked out and saw a black Porsche Macan with a big red bow on the front hood.

Richards and estranged husband Mauricio Umansky reunited to surprise their teenage daughter Portia with a brand new Porsche Macan

'Are you serious?,' Portia asked as Kyle continued laughing.

Kyle and Mauricio's daughter Sophia, 24, captured her sister's shocked reaction for social media and a camera crew also was spotted as Portia accepted the keys and owner's manual for the car.

The Porsche Macan has a starting price of $62,900, but it can climb higher with style and performance upgrades.

Kyle, Mauricio and Portia teamed up for a group hug as the teenager cried with joy.

Another TikTok post showed Portia taking her new Porsche for a spin with her sisters Sophia and Alexia, 28, and parents along for the ride.

'I'm whipping it,' Portia joked while driving.

Kyle and Mauricio announced their separation in July 2023 after 27 years of marriage.

They were shown on season 13 of The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills telling their children about their separation in an episode that aired in February.

'Are you kidding me?,' Portia said as she covered her mouth before bursting into tears

'Are you serious?,' Portia asked as Kyle continued laughing

Kyle, Mauricio and Portia teamed up for a group hug as the teenager cried with joy

Kyle and Mauricio's daughter Sophia, 24, captured her sister's shocked reaction for social media

Kyle shared a photo on Mother's Day with her daughters Farrah, Alexia, Sophia and Portia

Mauricio is shown planting a kiss on Kyle in October 2013 at a Bravo event in Hollywood

Portia turned 16 in March and her parents reunited to celebrate with her.

The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills was renewed for a fourteenth season and filming has started with Kyle back.

Kyle was spotted filming with co-star Dorit Kemsley, 47, on Saturday and appeared to be reduced to tears during a one-on-one conversation.

The castmates were shooting a spa-themed segment for the Bravo series and each wore luxurious white robes and slippers with their names monogrammed on them.
Coronation Street's Sally Ann Matthews left fans she had been sacked on Instagram on Thursday when she admitted she had been given 'a million years off'.

Sally, 53, who made her first appearance on the show in 1986, took to Instagram on Thursday night to tell fans they should get used to not seeing her around.

The actress plays Jenny Connor (nee Bradley): former landlady of The Rovers, and adopted daughter of Rita Sullivan (Barbara Knox).

Her first stint on the cobbles last five years. She returned for a month in 1993, and four months in 2015, before returning permanently in 2016.

Sally has been involved in huge storylines such as a romance with married man Robert Weston when she was underage, and abducting Kevin Webster's son Jack.

Coronation Street's Sally Ann Matthews, 53, worried fans she'd been sacked on Instagram on Thursday when she admitted she had been given 'a million years off' from the soap

Sally who made her first appearance on the show in 1986, took to Instagram on Thursday night to tell fans they should get used to not seeing her around

The actress plays Jenny Connor (nee Bradley): former landlady of The Rovers, and adopted daughter of Rita Sullivan (Barbara Knox)

As Jenny, Sally has been involved in huge storylines such as a romance with married man Robert Weston while underage, and abducting Kevin Webster's son Jack in 2016 (pictured)

Explaining why she was on holiday, Sally Ann took to Instagram Live and said: 'I chose to get on an aeroplane because Im particularly quiet at work.

'I've got, like, a million years off.'

Sally Ann continued: 'So, I chose to go on an aeroplane and I chose to remember happier times.'

She said she has been to Cyprus twice in five weeks and is planning to go away again this Saturday.

The actress went on: And then Im going to go back to Cyprus, and do nowt, and at some point I might get a job and someone might employ me, potentially.

According to The Sun, she went on to read fan queries, she said: '"Have you left the street?" Hmm. Hang on, next question.

In response to the words from the former Emmerdale star, fans commented: 'I'm confused';

'Are you not on Corrie any more. I feel like I've missed something or my memory blew up?????';

'You're not on Corrie anymore?', adding a shocked face emoji.

Sally pictured with Rita and Ken Barlow (William Roach), the longest-serving character in Corrie history in 2020

Jenny Connor was landlady of The Rovers from 2018 to 2023 (pictured with Audrey Robert's deceased son Stephen Reid, portrayed by Todd Boyce in 2023)

Metro.co.uk reported that Sally Ann later said: '"We havent seen much of Jenny for a while".

'No, youre not going to be seeing Jenny for quite a long while, so thats that!'

A source said: [Sally Ann] is not on "a break". She was filming last week, she may be off for a few weeks at the moment, but she is back filming early next month.

MailOnline has contacted ITV for comment.
Luisa Zissman showed off her slim frame in a bikini on Instagram on Friday as she enjoyed a holiday in Morocco with friends.

The reality star, 37, rocked a bikini decorated with large blue and yellow flowers in snaps shared to her Story.

She was joined by a friend, Cara Philipps.

Luisa displayed her enviable Hollywood smile as she added animal-print sunglasses to her look and lay on a blanket next to Cara.

The Apprentice runner-up then took a selfie on a boat, wearing pyjamas and a white dressing gown, and very strange-looking goggles.

Luisa Zissman, 37, showed off her slim frame in a bikini on Instagram on Friday as she enjoyed a holiday in Morocco with friends

The reality star was joined by friend Cara Philipps who she joked on her Story did a much better job at tanning than she ever could

The Apprentice runner-up then took a selfie on a boat, wearing pyjamas and a white dressing gown, and very strange-looking goggles

She pre-empted any queries from her 666,000 followers by captioning the photo: 'The sea sickness glasses are back'.

Towards the beginning of June, Luisa put on a show-stopping display as she threw an extravagant Bridgerton-themed party to celebrate her 37th birthday.

Luisa ensured she also dress to the nines for the occasion, donning a pink regency-style ballgown, covered in ruffles and bows, with lace detailing.

Her sprawling mansion was decked out with a giant marquee, which was laid with a purple carpet and festoons of lilac flowers.

There were a number of decked out tables inside and a dance floor adorned with purple flower arrangements and fake peacocks and parrots.

In August 2023, Luisa opened up about her intensive exercise schedule.

She said: 'I get up at 4.15am normally and workout at 5am with my PT. I am done by 6am then my day starts.

'If I didn't do that then I wouldn't workout. Then I sort the kids, do some work, ride my horses etc.'

Luisa added that she walks about 15,000 to 20,000 steps a day, the equivalent of 6.5 to 8.5 miles.

This regimen continued into 2024, despite the fact Luisa broke her back.

Luisa Zissman put on a show-stopping display at the weekend as she threw an extravagant Bridgerton-themed party to celebrate her 37th birthday

Luisa gets up at 4am, works with a personal trainer, and walks seven miles every day to maintain her incredible figure

This regimen continued into 2024, despite the fact Luisa revealed on her and Anna Williamson's podcast in February she had broken her back 'a year ago'

On her and Anna Williamson's podcast LuAnna: The Podcast from her bedroom in March, she spoke about her painful injury.

Anna said: 'She's not in the Maldives, she's in bed, where she has genuinely not moved for eight days. She's broken her back.

'Luisa added: 'I've been in bed for eight days, I am feeling better.

'I'm not in as much pain anymore because I basically have really good meds, all prescribed, but I actually broke my back a year ago and I just didn't realise it at the time.

She added: 'That isn't what's causing my pain but it doesn't help my situation that you can still see this fractured thing, a fractured back.

'I've also got two discs bulging onto two nerves which weirdly is on the left-side but [It's on] my whole right leg.

'I basically can't walk that well because of the nerves in my leg - It feels like I've got a wooden leg. So I haven't gone to the Maldives because I can't fly.'

Luisa also took to her Instagram stories to share photos from her hospital bed, writing: 'Should have been in the Maldives'.

Anna, 42, is a television presenter, known for her work on GMTV, Big Brother's Bit On The Side, and Channel 5 children's programming block Milkshake!.
Tallulah Willis went braless in a halter neck crop top as she sweetly held hands with her partner Justin Acee in Los Angeles on Thursday.

The actress, 30, paired her top with cropped and wide-legged white trousers and small black polka dots.

She finished her look with flat black sandals, a white purse, and black sunglasses and chatted to Justin.

He wore a shirt which read: 'Clean Sober and F***in' Crazy', grey jeans, and black loafers with white socks.

Justin, a musician, started dating the youngest daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore in 2022, after she split from her fiance Dillon.

Tallulah Willis, 30, went braless in a halter neck crop top as she sweetly held hands with her partner Justin Acee in Los Angeles on Thursday

She finished her look with white polka dot trousers while Dillon wore a shirt which read: 'Clean Sober and F***in' Crazy', grey jeans, and black loafers with white socks

Tallulah and Dillon began dating in 2020 and got engaged in 2021 on May 4, also known as Star Wars Day, for 'May the 4th''s similarity to 'May the force (be with you)'.

Dillon wrote on Instagram at the time: 'I can finally call you my fiance (sic). Love you forever Buuski Lu, you are my best friend #maythefourthbewithus'.

However, he called off the engagement in June 2022, following Tallulah's struggle with anorexia and immediately prior to her being diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).

Just three months before, Bruce was diagnosed with the frontotemporal dementia condition that he is still battling bravely.

Tallulah recalled to Vogue in 2023 how her family 'stepped in' to help by sending her to an in-patient facility in Texas, where she was diagnosed with BPD.

Of her anorexia, she devastatingly said she believes her father might have helped her with her eating disorder had he not been battling his own debilitating condition, writing: 'If he had understood, [he] might have scooped me up and said, "This is ending now."'

Having gotten sober when she was 20 years old, she says that she began restricting food because he was 'the last vice she got to hold on to'.

'For the last four years, I have suffered from anorexia nervosa,' Tallulah  who also shared that she has been trolled about her weight  wrote.

'By the spring of 2022, I weighed about 84 pounds. I was always freezing. I was calling mobile IV teams to come to my house, and I couldnt walk in my Los Angeles neighborhood because I was afraid of not having a place to sit down and catch my breath.'

Tallulah wrote that her body image battle began when she was just a young girl - recalling a time when, at age 11, she attended an event with her mom Demi and her then-partner Ashton Kutcher, only to face brutal public criticism over her appearance.

Justin, who a musician, started dating the youngest daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore in 2022, after she split from her fiance Dillon (Justin and Tallulah pictured in March)

The pair got engaged in 2021 on May 4 , also known as Star Wars Day for May the 4th's similarity to 'May the force (be with you)'

Dillon wrote on Instagram at the time: 'I can finally call you my fiance (sic). Love you forever Buuski Lu, you are my best friend #maythefourthbewithus' (pictured at engagement)

However, he called off the engagement in June 2022, following Tallulah's struggle with anorexia and immediately prior to her being diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder

The timing couldn't have been worse as just three months before, Bruce was diagnosed with the frontotemporal dementia condition that he is still battling bravely (both pictured in March)

On Sunday, Tallulah's big sisters Scout and Rumer, along with their mother Demi and stepmother Emma Heming, all praised Bruce for Father's Day with a joint Instagram post.

The retired actor, 69, could be seen holding his eldest child, 35-year-old Rumer, as a baby in two of the throwbacks.

Bruce (born Walter) beamed as he goofed around with his 30-year-old daughter Tallulah on the lawn of his $9.8M seven-bedroom mansion in Brentwood Park, and he held a toddler version of her in his T-shirt in a throwback.

The two-time Emmy winner has been married to Emma Heming for 15 years, and they share Mabel, 12, and Evelyn, 9. Mabel had graduated elementary school the week prior.
Bearded Zac Efron showed off his buff physique in a snug $125 Cotton Citizen 'Prince Tee' and slim-fit jeans in LA on Wednesday.

The actor, 36, was in town for the Jimmy Kimmel Live! and kept a low profile in black sunglasses and a black beanie.

Zac also wore a large classic watch and finished his look with white slip-on shoes and white socks.

Close behind was a personal assistant who carried a change of clothes for Zac in a garment bag over his shoulder.

On the show, Zac spoke to Jimmy about how he was introduced to acting at 12 years old when he attended a summer camp for college students.

Bearded Zac Efron, 36, showed off his buff physique in a snug $125 Cotton Citizen 'Prince Tee' and slim-fit jeans in LA on Wednesday

The actor was in town for the Jimmy Kimmel Live! and kept a low profile in black sunglasses and a black beanie

He told Jimmy: 'I didn't know it was a camp, it was more of a conservatory school.

'Basically, it was a three-week pretty intensive acting course, and to get in you had to be in college.

'But, they let a couple younger kids get in, they let two freshman in the programme, and I think I wasn't quite a freshman.

'I was 12.'

An incredulous Jimmy clarified: 'You were 12 in a camp with college kids?'

And Zac said: 'I sent a tape and they let me in, but I think I said I was 13 or 14.'

Zac shared that they regularly performed monologues and for one he chose a scene from the Matrix where Agent Smith interrogated Morpheus.

Unfortunately, the camp leaders were unimpressed, and Zac recalled: 'The teacher was like: "Zach, stop right now."'

He will soon appear in romantic-comedy A Family Affair with Nicole Kidman and The Kissing Booth's Joey King.

The film follows Zara (Joey), a young woman who works as the personal assistant to self-absorbed Hollywood star Chris Cole (Zac), who discovers that her boss is having a secret romantic relationship with her widowed mother (Nicole).

Nicole, 57, and Zac will set pulses racing when they strip off for a saucy sex scene in the film, which will hit Netflix on June 28.

He has starred in one other film this year: comedy Ricky Stanicky with John Cena and William H. Macy.

Zac cut an intimidating figure on Thursday with his bulging biceps and broad shoulders, a far cry from his young self

On Jimmy kimmel Live!, Zac spoke to Jimmy about how he was introduced to acting at 12 years old when he attended a summer camp for college students

Zac will soon appear in romantic-comedy A Family Affair with Nicole Kidman (pictured) and The Kissing Booth's Joey King

And it looks like Zac will not be short of roles as has been eyed by Rob Lowe to potentially play the Brat Pack member in a future biopic.

Rob, 60, got the idea after seeing Zac's 'amazing' performance in 2023 wrestling biopic The Iron Claw.

Zac told People: 'That'd be amazing. Oh my gosh. I mean, I would love to play Rob. He's the man.

'I know him so well personally and I cherish him, so I'm flattered and we'll see. I hope that comes together. It'd be really fun.'
Forever 21, the go-to store for American teenagers for decades, is asking landlords to cut its rent by as much as 50 percent in some areas.

The retailer is facing financial difficulties amid stiff competition from up-and-coming players in the fast fashion sector.

It is working to renegotiate the leases for its some 380 US stores as a way to cut costs, CNBC reported. For now it has not appointed special advisors and is not considering a second bankruptcy.

After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2019, it was bought out by two mall operators and Authentic Brands in an $81 million deal.

At its peak in 2015, Forever 21 was worth $6 billion, making its married South Korean founders Do Won Chang and Jin Sook Chang supremely wealthy.

Forever 21 is renegotiating the leases for its some 380 stores in the US as commercial rents soar across the country

Forever 21 is facing a series of problems that have been plaguing profitability for years.

These include increased competition from physical store rivals as well as online-only upstarts, problems making sure it got its stock levels right and losing touch with what shoppers want.

Shops like H&M and Zara, also common in American malls, used to be Forever 21's main competition in the fast fashion sector.

All three use a business model that involves rapidly producing trendy, cheap clothing - and selling it fast.

But in recent years, a new category of ultra-fast-fashion brands like Shein and Temu have left Forever 21 in the dust.

They don't have the massive disadvantage of costly physical locations and can get trendy outfits sold at lightning speed through viral social media posts.

'As soon as someone goes viral in a new outfit on TikTok, Shein is immediately making it and no regular brand can keep up with that,' a person familiar with Forever 21's thinking told CNBC.

'The speed is almost impossible to compete with. So if you juxtapose any brand that was around 20 years ago to these new, on-demand manufacturing fast-fashion companies  its like comparing a mobile phone from 2000 to the newest iPhone. The speed, the quality, everything is just different,' the person added.

Forever 21 has scaled down since filing for bankruptcy in 2019 when it had over 800 locations globally.

That is something that experts told CNBC is a tell-tale sign that the company expanding much too fast in its growth phase during the early 2010s.

The crown jewel of the brand's frenzied scaling up was its 90,000 square foot flagship store in Times Square, which opened in 2010. It's unclear if this location will be affected as the company continues to weigh its options going forward.

After its bankruptcy, Forever 21 tried to stop the bleeding by closing hundreds of stores, but its still massive brick-and-mortar footprint is being hammering by soaring rent costs.

The company's ailing financial health has also hurt the performance of its operator Sparc Group - a joint venture that includes the companies that bought Forever 21. This includes Authentic Brands and mall conglomerate Simon Property Group.

Shein is also included in this joint venture under a deal reached last year where Shein would acquire a third of Sparc.

Later in August 2023, Shein partnered with Forever 21 based on 'if you can't beat them, join them' thinking by executives.

Simon CEO David Simon was the mastermind behind this plan, according to Authentic Brands CEO Jamie Salter.

A line of shoppers get the first opportunity to shop on the opening day of fast fashion e-commerce giant Shein, which hosted a pop up inside Forever 21 at the Ontario Mills Mall in Ontario on October 19, 2023

Temu is another Chinese-based e-commerce retailer that sells clothes at ultra-cheap prices. It, along with Shein, have emerged as Forever 21's main competitors

Pictured: Forever 21's flagship location in Times Square, Manhattan. It spans 90,000 square feet and has four floors

Authentic Brands CEO Jamie Salter, pictured, said that acquiring Forever 21 was 'probably the biggest mistake' of his career. He added that he failed to see Shein and Temu as serious competitors and by the time he recognized the threat they posed, the damage was already done

As part of the joint deal, Shein agreed to make and distribute a line of co-branded Forever 21 apparel that would primarily be sold on the Shein website.

In return, Forever 21 began hosting Shein pop-up stores and accepting returns from the Chinese-linked fast-fashion dealer. This has reportely driven more foot traffic to Forever 21 shops.

Shein's pop ups, which have toured all over the US, are usually set up over the course of a weekend and sometimes draw thousands of customers.

Given the success of this business model, some industry watchers feel the previously online-only retailer could eventually take over Forever 21's stores.

Either way, bringing Shein on board hasn't been the life preserver Salter or Simon hoped it would be.

At a conference in January, Salter said acquiring Forever 21 was 'probably the biggest mistake' of his career, also noting that he initially failed to see Shein and Temu as the serious competitors they most certainly became.
McDonald's doesn't just have its $5 value meal deal this summer - it also has an offer on fries.

On Thursday, it confirmed customers can get four items - either a McDouble or McChicken sandwich, fries, soft drink and four McNuggets - for $5 from Tuesday (June 25).

Bosses said they were also bringing back app-only 'Free Fries Friday'. This app-only deal offers free medium fries with any $1 minimum purchase through the end of 2024.

Plus will also be some deals and discounts - also just on the app - in certain local areas too.

These include Buy One Get One for $1 breakfast sandwiches in Memphis, Tennessee, a Double Cheeseburger & small fries for $3.50 in Columbus, Ohio, or a mix and match McChicken and McDouble deal for $3.99 in parts of New York state.

McDonald's is offering Free Fries Friday - free fries with any purchase of $1 or more via the app

McDonald's deal goes on sale on Tuesday, June 25 for a month

'We heard our fans loud and clear  they're looking for even more great value from us, and this summer that's exactly what they'll get,' said Joe Erlinger, president of McDonald's USA.

'Value has always been part of our DNA. We're focused on living up to that legacy and offering delicious, affordable options customers can enjoy any time they walk through our doors, go through our drive thru or place an order through our app.'

Erlinger had has come out fighting on Thursday after criticism of the fast food chain's new $5 value meal.

It was thought that not every restaurant will offer the deal - with those that have higher labor and rent costs opting out.

But it has now emerged that McDonald's has a sneaky way around this, charging $6 at certain restaurants in Alaska, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, Manhattan in New York and Washington.

Some fans are also disappointed that the deal will only last for a month rather than all summer - like deals from rivals.

'We're committed to winning the value war,' Joe Erlinger, president of McDonald's US, said in an interview with Bloomberg News on Thursday.

After news of McDonald's deal leaked in May, rivals rolled out their offers ahead of it - and even took digs at the home of the Big Mac.

Burger King's $5 Your Way Meal landed in restaurants last week. It is almost identical to McDonald's - and lasts all summer.

Customers get a choice of one of three sandwiches - a Whopper Jr, a Bacon Cheeseburger or Chicken Jr - plus four chicken nuggets, fries and a soft drink.

Wendy's has a $3 breakfast offer.

Starbucks also made a surprise entry into the value war with a coffee and food breakfast combo from $5.

Erlinger wrote an open letter to customers claiming its price rises aren't as bad as some media is reporting

McDonald's made an eye-watering $14.5 billion profit last year.

McDonald's is trying desperately to battle perceptions that it has raised prices so much it is no longer good value.

In fact, last month Erlinger wrote an unprecedented open letter to customers claiming its price rises aren't as bad as some media is reporting.

In the letter, he says prices have 'only' gone up 40 percent across its 14,000 US restaurants since before the pandemic.
Hindustan Zinc Ltd on Friday said it has partnered with US-based AEsir Technologies, Inc for development of next-generation zinc batteries.

The company has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with AEsir Technologies, Inc., a company that specialises in next-generation zinc battery technologies, to be the preferred supplier of zinc, a key raw material, Hindustan Zinc Ltd (HZL) said in a statement. The MoU is in line with the company's efforts towards exploring emerging applications of zinc in the clean energy transition, it said, adding that zinc batteries are revolutionising energy storage due to their corrosion resistance, cost-effectiveness, recyclability, stability and environmental friendliness.

"This partnership with AEsir Technologies is yet another step in our ongoing developmental work in the emerging clean technology space.

"By providing high-quality zinc for cutting-edge energy storage, we are opening sophisticated new avenues for environmentally friendly solutions for a greener tomorrow," HZL Chief Executive Officer Arun Misra said.

AEsir Technologies CEO and Co-Founder, Randy Moore said energy storage is at the forefront of every major innovation in the energy transition space and "zinc batteries are the best story around energy storage".

"...This collaboration with Hindustan Zinc provides us with critical raw material for the development of next-gen nickel-zinc batteries," Moore added.

AESir's Nickel Zinc (NiZn) batteries have proven dependable and successful in the high-end defence sector, including aerospace and marine, renewable energy and critical infrastructure for data centres and 5G telecom, the statement said.

Zinc-based batteries have emerged as a compelling alternative to other modern energy storage solutions, delivering higher power at lower costs with minimal maintenance and longer life spans of up to 20 years. This makes them ideal for large-scale energy storage in industrial settings, it added.
The surge in global demand for renewable energy has placed solar power at the centre stage, particularly in India

Indias solar energy sector is shining brighter than ever, emerging as a goldmine for investors and entrepreneurs. The market, valued at $38 billion in 2021, is set to grow exponentially, reaching $238 billion by 2032, driven by an impressive 40 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR). The surge in global demand for renewable energy has placed solar power at the centre stage, particularly in India. With supportive Government policies, technological advancements and an increasing shift towards sustainability, the solar energy sector is witnessing unprecedented growth. Entrepreneurs and investors capitalise on this momentum, prioritising their goals to reap substantial benefits in the coming years.

Tech Advancements

Technological innovations are at the heart of the solar industrys success. Commercial solar panels have gotten way better at turning sunlight into electricity, cranking up the power they can produce per square foot. The switch from polycrystalline to more advanced bifacial solar panels, which can generate power from both sides, shows how the industry is focused on squeezing out as much efficiency as possible.

In recent years, PERC (Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell) technology has been predominant in Indias solar panel market. However, due to efficiency limitations in mass production, there is a gradual shift towards more advanced technologies like TOPCon (Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact) and HJT (Heterojunction Technology). Government Policies

The Indian Governments policies have played a crucial role in transforming the solar energy landscape. The Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, with substantial financial allocations (PLI-I with Rs. 4,500 crores and PLI-II with Rs. 19,500 crores), are designed to boost domestic manufacturing of solar components.

Further bolstering the Make in India initiative, the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) was reinStated on April 1, 2024, ensuring quality control and encouraging the use of domestically manufactured modules. Various projects by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), such as the CPSU Scheme Phase-II, PM-KUSUM Component B and the Grid-connected Rooftop Solar Programme Phase-II, mandate the use of Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) solar panels, providing subsidies to promote the adoption of solar energy.

Environmental Impact

The solar industry in India isnt just about fulfilling energy requirements - its also helping the environment. By using more solar power and relying less on fossil fuels, the solar industry is assisting in eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and fighting climate change. Shifting towards renewable energy, like solar power, is super crucial for Indias climate goals and ensuring a sustainable future.

Market Potential and Investment Opportunities

Indias solar energy market presents a plethora of opportunities for investors and entrepreneurs. The sectors rapid growth and the increasing acceptance of solar power for both commercial and personal uses underscore its potential. With Government support and ongoing technological advancements, the barriers to entry are diminishing, making it an attractive proposition for new ventures.

Besides, technological advancements enhance efficiency and reduce costs, increasing profitability. Entrepreneurs can explore various segments within the industry.

On a larger front, the global shift towards sustainability ensures a steady demand for solar energy solutions, providing businesses with a long-term growth trajectory. Moreover, Indias solar industrys robust market potential, Government support and technological innovation make it a compelling opportunity for those looking to invest or start a venture in renewable energy.

(The writer is the CEO, of Gautam Solar, views are personal)
The groundwater clock is ticking towards day zero. India needs a combination of strategy and investment to safeguard and revitalise the same

According to the India Water Portal, India uses 25 per cent of all groundwater extracted globally, ahead of the USA and China. Nearly 70 per cent of the water supply in Indian agriculture today is groundwater. For a resource that is under such heavy use, India still lacks a contingency plan when it comes to dealing with groundwater depletion and over-exploitation. Predictably, the writing on the wall is becoming increasingly clear. On June 19th, 2024 the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) dropped the shocking news that Delhi has already extracted 99 per cent of its available groundwater.

The latest CGWB report revealed a decline in both annual recharge and available groundwater for extraction in the city. According to the CGWBs findings, Delhis net annual groundwater recharge in 2023 was measured at 0.38 billion cubic meters (bcm), with only 0.34 bcm available for extraction. Shockingly, nearly all accessible groundwater has already been extracted, totalling 99.1 per cent. The concerning aspect here is the increased rate of extraction despite reduced groundwater recharge.

These trying conditions come at a time when Delhi is already reeling under the worst heatwave in the last 120 years which has claimed 192 lives so far. Sadly the issue of water distressed cities is becoming a worrying trend across India. Bangalore hit rock bottom earlier this year with over 500 million litres of water deficit daily with over 7000 borewells running dry. Coupled with abnormally harsh summers the water scarcity conditions can not only take a toll on human lives but also bring the urban economy to a grinding halt.

This trend of drying up groundwater may, unfortunately, become the norm for most cities in India unless urgent remedial measures are taken. But sadly, most of the action taken is at best knee-jerk and impulsive with neither long-term strategy nor investment attached to it. Consecutive Governments, both at the State and central levels have always dealt with groundwater-related issues on a passive basis instead of a proactive basis. As a result every year the nature of the problem not only becomes complex but also more difficult to solve.

The future of Indias water resources looks bleak and the Government must deploy a plethora of measures to ensure that the future generations have enough of this precious resource. As a first step, the central Government must conduct a nationwide satellite-assisted natural water body census along with the measurable extent of the water body. This will not only quantify the number of water bodies but will also capture any encroachment of the same. Additionally, steps have to be taken to rejuvenate and revive these water bodies.

This can be done by removing the vegetation and setting up artificial groundwater recharge points such as percolation wells. Apart from this, the roping in of local municipal authorities, especially the anti-encroachment departments can help remove unauthorised occupation from the water body area.

The central Government in association with State Government authorities can work on measures such as metered borewells to monitor and regulate groundwater extraction. The concept of metered borewells is not new. The State of West Bengal has metered borewells for a while now and as a result, the State has been experiencing better levels of ground water. The same can be replicated across India, especially in Karnataka which is witnessing over-exploitation of groundwater. Yet another measure that needs sincere application is rain-water harvesting(RWH). Even though a much-talked-about concept, RWH has seen minimal implementation in India.

Bangalore is an apt example of the abysmal application of RWH. According to Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) data, only 1.8 lakh out of the 19 lakh eligible properties in Bengaluru have installed rainwater harvesting systems. Experts have opined that the city harvests only 10 per cent of the rainwater while the rest 90 per cent drains away wasted. Conditions such as these point towards the unfortunate reality of hyped concepts that receive very little implementation. The Government must try and understand the latent potential of RWH and ensure that not only residential but commercial properties across India implement RWH and the same must be enforceable by law.

However conventional remedial measures may still not be able to rein in the runaway groundwater scarcity problem. Since the scale of the problem has risen, the Government must explore investments in innovative technologies to bolster the efforts to revive and boost the groundwater table in India. Efficient farming technologies that rely less on water for instance can make a huge difference.

Investments in precision agri-technology for the usage of groundwater for irrigation are an ideal solution for providing optimal water usage. This saves water compared to traditional flooding methods which increases output while conserving resources and reducing water wastage.

Similarly, App-driven water meters that automatically regulate extraction and smart groundwater pressure sensors that maintain critical and minimum water levels can all help alleviate the burdens weighing on groundwater.

With water scarcity spreading region-wise across India and with a rapidly increasing water use the structural imbalance between water supply and demand continues to widen. Therefore it is time that the Governments in association corporate under corporate social responsibility schemes (CSR) must increase capital expenditure on smart technologies that can actively provide solutions to water scarcity and water quality issues besides improving sustainability of water resources.

The groundwater clock is ticking towards day zero. India needs a combination of strategy and investment to safeguard and revitalise the same.

(The author is a policy analyst. The views are personal)
In an effort to further enhance bilateral ties between the two countries, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will pay a two-day state visit to India starting Friday. She was among the international leaders who attended the swearing-in ceremony of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Council of Ministers on June 09.

Announcing the visit, Ministry of External Affairs(MEA)said here on Thursday she is coming to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi. This will be the first incoming bilateral State Visit after the formation of the government in India following the 18th Lok Sabha elections.

During the visit, apart from holding bilateral consultations with the Prime Minister, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to call-on the President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is scheduled to call-on the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

The talks between the two prime ministers are expected to focus on taking the bilateral ties to new heights, sources said. The overall strategic ties between India and Bangladesh have been on an upswing in the last few years.

Bangladesh is an important partner for India under its "Neighbourhood First" policy and the cooperation extends to areas of security, trade, commerce, energy, connectivity, science and technology, defence and maritime affairs among others.

The achievements in the connectivity sector included the inauguration of the Maitri Setu bridge over river Feni in Tripura and the rollout of the Chilahati-Haldibari rail link.

Bangladesh is India's largest development partner with nearly one-fourth of New Delhi's commitment under the Line of Credit has been made to that country.

Moreover, Bangladesh is India's biggest trading partner in South Asia and India is the second biggest trading partner of Bangladesh in Asia.

India is Bangladesh's largest export destination in Asia, with approximately USD 2 billion of Bangladeshi exports to India in 2022-23. In 2022-23, the total bilateral trade has been reported as USD 15.9 billion.
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The death toll in Kallakurichi liquor tragedy reached 39 by Thursday evening and more than 100 persons who consumed the spurious liquor have been admitted to hospitals in the district. According to doctors in these hospitals, the death toll is likely to go up as the condition of many is reportedly serious.

It all started on Tuesday night at Karunapuram village in the district, 250 km south of Chennai, when people started consuming hooch (spurious liquor) and started vomiting. Some of the tipplers who were rushed to hospitals breathed their last before they reached the hospitals. Death caused by consumption of spurious liquor is nothing new in Tamil Nadu.

Accordign to sources people opt to buy the stuff from bootleggers who have a network of surreptitious outlets function across the State where manufacture and sale of arrack is banned by law.

Following reports that the concerned officials ignored complaints from the people in the district about rampant sale of hooch in the district, Chief Minister MK Stalin shunted out the district collector and ordered the suspension of senior police officers in the district. Stalin also announced Rs.10 lakh each to the families of the victims and Rs.50,000 to those who are being treated at the hospital. A retired judge of the Madras High Court has been appointed to the commission of inquiry to probe the reasons which caused the liquor tragedy. The commission has been asked to submit its report in three months and recommend measures for preventing such incidents in future.

What stands out in this mishap is that only people belonging to the poorest of the poor sections of the society who lost their lives. Edappadi Palaniswamy, leader of opposition and former Chief Minister urged the Tamil Nadu Government to increase the solatium to the deceased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 25 lakh. Palaniswamy said his party, the AIADMK, would offer financial assistance to children who lost both their parents in the tragedy and blamed the DMK Government for ignoring the pleas by his party MLA to take action against widespread sale and consumption of hooch.

"The spurious liquor cartel got a shot in the arm when the DMK Government was sworn in. Whenever the DMK is in power, the State sees a spurt in the manufacture, sale and consumption of spurious liquor," said Sree Priya Iyer, a BJP activist engaged in pulling people out of liquor consumption.
Congress workers on Friday held nationwide demonstration near the BJP headquarters across the State Capitals and elsewhere over the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2024 examinations.

The demonstrations were led by State presidents and several top party leaders after senior leader Rahul Gandhi gave a clarion call to protest widely on the recent NEET and NET entrance paper leaks.

The grand old party along with other Opposition parties have decided to take on the Government right from day one of the Special session of the Parliament which begins from Monday.

The medical entrance examination, National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET-UG, was conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 5 with around 24 lakh candidates taking part. The results were announced on June 4.

The University Grant Commission (UGC) National Eligibility Test (NET) was cancelled two days ago after inputs from the national anti-cyber-crime agency that the exam had been compromised.

There have been allegations of question paper leaks in states such as Bihar and other irregularities in the exam. The allegations have led to protests in several cities and the filing of petitions in several high courts as well as the Supreme Court.

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha on Friday said a request will be made to CM Nitish Kumar to recommend a CBI probe into the suspected links of the arrested prime suspect in the NEET "paper leak" with officials associated with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.

There are reports suggesting that the accused was also associated with RJD supremo Lalu Prasad when he was in judicial custody in Ranchi, the Deputy Chief Minister had alleged.

The EOU of Bihar Police had last month arrested 13 people as part of its investigation into the alleged paper leak in NEET-UG 2024. The arrested accused included examinees, their parents and alleged mastermind Sikander Prasad Yadvendu.

Protesting in Bhopal, senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh said corruption plagues every appointment in the BJP-led regime.

Congress alleged the National Testing Agency (NTA) chief Pradeep Kumar Joshi cancelled UGC-NET but he lied at every step in the case of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) where the future of lakhs of students is in danger, Singh alleged.

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati too demanded strict action against the main accused in the NEET-UG question paper leak.

Like other states and cities, Nagaland Congress leaders and workers too staged a demonstration over the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG and NET 2024 examination.

Co-Chairman of the Public Grievance Department of Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee, Meshenlo Kath wondered how long the Modi government at the Centre will continue to fool the people of the country.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also launched a scathing attack on the government over exam paper leaks, saying the issue has become a national problem under the BJP rule which has "ruined the future" of crores of youth.

"In the last five years, papers of 43 recruitment exams have been leaked in the country. Paper leak has become a national problem of our country under BJP rule which has ruined the future of crores of youth so far. India is the youngest country in the world. We have the largest youth population. Instead of making these youth skilled and capable, the BJP government is making them weak," she alleged.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday had attacked the Centre over the alleged irregularities in NEET and exam paper leaks issue, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "psychologically collapsed" post-elections and will now struggle to run the government.

He had also said the main reason for paper leaks was that educational institutions had been captured by the BJP and its parent organisation RSS. He asserted that paper leaks will not stop unless that is reversed.
AAP convener and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will have to remain in jail for now as the Delhi High Court on Friday halted his anticipated release on bail after an urgent petition filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) just hours before he was set to leave Tihar jail.

The court said it was reserving the order for 2-3 days as it wanted to go through the entire records. The High Court is expected to pronounce its verdict by June 25, with the Delhi Chief Minister remaining in judicial custody.

Kejriwal, who was arrested on March 21 by the ED could have walked out of Tihar jail on Friday had the high court not granted the interim relief to the ED.

The vacation bench of Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain said it would take two-three days to pronounce the order on ED's stay application. The court said till it heard the probe agency's petition, which could take another 2-3 days, Kejriwal would remain in jail. The High Court has asked the Kejriwals counsel to file the written submissions by Monday.

In the meantime the petitioner and the respondent shall be at the liberty to file written submissions latest by Monday, court noted in the order.

Vacation judge Niyay Bindu on Thursday granted bail to Kejriwal and ordered his release subject to bail bond of `one lakh, saying the ED has failed to give any direct evidence linking Kejriwal to the proceeds of the crime and has also failed to show that another accused, Vijay Nair, was acting on Kejriwal's behalf.

Kejriwals wife Sunita Kejriwal accused the ED of treating the Delhi CM as if he were the "most wanted terrorist in India." Her remarks came during a gathering in south Delhi's Bhogal, where Delhi Water Minister Atishi commenced an indefinite hunger strike to demand more water from Haryana. AAP leader and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said what the ED said about the trial court judge who granted bail to Kejriwal during High Court proceedings was shameful. The ED is not being able to submit any proof to the courts the AAP has been saying this consistently  this has also been noted in the trial court order , Bharadwaj said.

Earlier, Additional solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju presented the plea to Justices Sudhir Kumar Jain and Ravinder Dudeja, who were overseeing the matter during the court's vacation period called the trial court's decision as perverse, lopsided, one-sided and wrong-sided and that the findings were based on irrelevant facts. The relevant facts, he claimed, were not considered by the special judge.

The ASG said the trial court arrived on the decision based on wrong facts. "On wrong facts, wrong dates, you come to a conclusion that mala fide. But why, the reason is missing. My note not considered, not allowed to argue. The arrest was challenged. The remanding court said the arrest was correct. It was challenged before this court. The single judge said nothing wrong with the arrest," he said.

Material facts were not considered by the trial court. There cannot be a better case for cancellation of bail than this one. There cannot be greater perversity than this, he argued. Seeking a stay on the trial court's order, he contended that the ED was not given adequate opportunity to argue its case.

During the arguments, Raju said after the order was passed, when the ED lawyers urged the trial court to keep its order in abeyance for 48 hours to enable them to approach superior courts, the prayer was not considered.

I was not allowed to argue fully. I was not given proper time of 2-3 days to file written submissions. This is not done. On merits, I have an excellent case. The trial court said finish off in half an hour as it wanted to deliver the judgment. It did not give us full opportunity to argue the case, he contended, adding, I am making the allegations with full seriousness. Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) says an opportunity must be granted to the public prosecutor to present his case but that opportunity was not granted to me, he contended.

He said the trial court did not even look at his reply on the ground that it was bulky and claimed that the trial court came to a conclusion that there was malafide on ED's part after considering wrong facts and wrong dates. Raju contended that the trial court has given findings which are contrary to those of the high court while upholding Kejriwal's arrest. If irrelevant facts are considered, that itself is a reason for cancellation of bail. There is evidence that Kejriwal demanded Rs 100 crore but it was not considered by trial court, he argued.

The application for stay was vehemently opposed by senior advocates Abhishek Singhvi and Vikram Chaudhari, representing Kejriwal. They said Article 21 (protection of life and personal liberty) of the Constitution does not exist for the ED for which the liberty of a person figured low in priority. Singhvi said the ED argued for 3 hours and 45 minutes before the trial judge.

The trial court in its order also questioned the ED's silence on Kejriwal's assertion that he was arrested in the money laundering case related to the alleged excise scam without having been named in the CBI FIR or the ECIR registered by the anti-money laundering agency. Enforcement Case Informaton Report (ECIR) is ED's version of an FIR.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the number of yoga practitioners across the globe is growing every day as it is making new ways of positive change in society. Modi said the world is also looking at yoga as a powerful agent of global good.

The Prime Minister led the celebrations of the 10th International Yoga Day on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar and took part in the Yoga session.

The mega event was scheduled to be held in the open but early morning rain forced the event indoors. Despite the rains, Dal Lake in Srinagar provided a wonderful setting for this year's Yoga Day programme, reflecting perfect harmony with nature.

Scores of students were amongst those who joined the Prime Minister in performing various asanas on the occasion.

They also asked him for selfies and he happily obliged.

Addressing a gathering of yoga practitioners the Prime Minister said the expansion of yoga over the past ten years has changed perceptions associated with yoga.He conveyed his best wishes on the International Day of Yoga to all citizens and those practicing yoga in different parts of the world.

Talking about the theme of this year's Yoga Day -'Yoga for Self and Society', PM Modi said that the world is looking at yoga as a powerful agent of global good and it enables us to live in the present without the baggage of the past. PM Modi emphasised, "Yoga helps us realize that our welfare is related to the welfare of the world around us. When we are peaceful within, we can also make a positive impact on the world."

The Prime Minister said, "Yoga is now emerging beyond limited boundaries. The world is witnessing the rise of a new yoga economy". "In Bharat, a new trend of yoga tourism is being observed from Rishikesh and Kashi to Kerala. Tourists from all over the world are coming to Bharat because they want to learn authentic yoga". "Yoga retreats and yoga resorts are being established. Dedicated facilities for yoga are being created at airports and hotels. The market is seeing designer apparel and equipment for yoga. People are now hiring personal yoga trainers for their fitness. Companies are also starting yoga and mindfulness programs as part of employee wellness initiatives. All these have created new opportunities and employment for the youth".

Modi said yoga has the potential to transform the economy of Jammu and Kashmir by attracting more tourists.

"I have been seeing since yesterday that yoga is becoming popular with the people of Srinagar and (rest of) Jammu and Kashmir. It is a big thing that 50,000 to 60,000 people are associated with yoga. This will attract more tourists here," he said. He said yoga could help the union territory attract more tourists, which in turn would provide new livelihood opportunities to locals.

The Prime Minister cited a competition in Egypt where yoga was used to promote tourism.

"I recently saw a video from Egypt. They organised a competition and awarded the best yoga photographs and videos from iconic tourist places in the country. In the pictures and videos, I saw girls from Egypt standing in front of the iconic Pyramids doing yoga, it was so attractive.

Modi said, "The number of yoga followers is growing continuously. Wherever I go, there is hardly any (international) leader who does not talk to me about the benefits of yoga.

"In many countries, yoga is becoming a part of the daily lives of people," Modi said, citing the examples of Turkmenistan, Saudi Arabia, Mongolia and Germany.

In his address, the prime minister referred to 101-year-old Frenchwoman Charlotte Chopin who was awarded a Padma Shri for her services in popularising yoga in her country.

The prime minister described yoga as not just knowledge but also a science. He also expressed happiness that more than 100 institutes in India and 10 major foreign institutes have been recognized by the Yoga Certification Board formed by the Ministry of Ayush.

The prime minister said yoga provides solutions to several problems. "In this era of information revolution, there is a flood of information sources and it is a challenge for the human mind to focus on one subject. "A solution for this is also in yoga as it helps the mind to focus. That is why from army to sports, yoga has been included in their routine," he said. The Prime Minister said astronauts and people working on space projects are trained in yoga as it increases "productivity as well as tolerance".

Welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said the hosting of International Yoga Day celebrations in Srinagar has put Jammu and Kashmir on the global map.

"I am grateful to the PM for allowing J&K to lead the International Yoga Day celebrations. This historic event has put Jammu Kashmir on the global map", Lt Governor Sinha said. Yoga plays the most significant role in enhancing the physical, psychological, and emotional aspects of well-being, he said. The Lt Governor said that the Prime Minister has taken Yoga to the world and today this invaluable gift from our ancient tradition is being practiced across the globe. "Yoga is a holistic approach towards happiness. It is the first step towards a healthy life. It unites Body and Mind as Saint Patanjali had said that Body and Mind are one. Yoga brings consciousness and through consciousness, pure joy is born", he added.
India on Friday was critical of the Canadian Parliament observing "one minute silence" in the memory of Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was gunned down in Surrey, British Columbia, in June last year.

"We naturally oppose any moves giving political space to extremism and advocacy of violence," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

In an unusual move, the Canadian Parliament observed "one minute silence" two days ago in memory of Nijjar.

The relations between the two countries came under severe strain following Trudeau's allegations in September last year of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar's killing.

New Delhi rejected Trudeau's charges as "absurd".

India has been maintaining that the main issue between the two countries is that of Canada giving space to pro-Khalistan elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra last week said India's main issue with Canada continues to be the political space that Ottawa provides to anti-India elements which advocate extremism and violence.

India has repeatedly conveyed its "deep concerns" to Canada and New Delhi expects Ottawa to take strong action against those elements, he said. Nijjar, who was declared a terrorist by India, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in British Columbia on June 18 last year. The murder is being probed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
A complaint has been lodged with Koh-e-Fiza police after two suspicious youths entered the emergency ward of Hamidia Hospital last night by claiming to be policemen and questioned the doctor about a patient.

When the doctor questioned them on suspicion, they escaped the spot.

The incident was reported late in the night on Wednesday. CMO Dr. Manoj Raje said that he was sitting in my room at 10:10 pm, when two people came straight to me. They said that they came from Sagar.

They asked about a patient. They were talking indecently and threateningly which raised suspicion that they were not policemen. When they were asked which police station they were from, they could not tell. They were asking about the patient OP Chhatrapal. They could not even show their ID card.

When security was called one of them escaped. When the security personnel questioned the other youth, he kept calling himself a policeman. No documents related to the patient Chhatrapal were found with him. After a while, he also escaped.

Hamidia hospital management told that when both were being questioned, they were calling the concerned patient a criminal. They said that the patient has rape charges. He had jumped from the roof after which he was put here. Hospital management says that the patient with this name has been discharged. He had come like normal patients. In this entire incident, Hamidia hospital security is also seen to have failed, so how did both of them escape from there during the interrogation.

Police Station Incharge of Kohefiza Brijendra Merscole said that two people had come here claiming to be policemen. Hamidia hospital management has complained about the matter. The matter is being verified right now.
Delhi Water Minister Atishi on Friday began her indefinite hunger strike in south Delhi's Bhogal to intensify her demand for more water from Haryana following her visit to Rajghat where she paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal, along with AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, were present as Atishi began her fast. Sunita Kejriwal, who came into limelight after AAP supremo's arrest on March 21 in the alleged excise policy linked money laundering scam, read out a message from the chief minister, who is currently lodged in Tihar jail, in which he expressed hope that Atishi's 'tapasya' would be successful.

The chief minister said he was immensely pained by seeing on TV the plight of the people facing water shortage amid the ongoing intense heatwave, he said. "It's our culture to provide water to the thirsty. Delhi gets water from neighbouring states. We hoped support of neighbouring states in such intense heat. But, Haryana reduced Delhi's water share," he stated.

While referring to the BJP that is in power in Haryana, he said, "Although there are governments of different parties in the two states but is this time for politics over water." Earlier, Sunita Kejriwal, Singh, Bharadwaj and other leaders accompanied Atishi at Rajghat where they paid tributes before heading to Bhogal.

"Before the Water Satyagraha, paid homage to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi by visiting his samadhi at Raj Ghat. Decades ago, Bapu had adopted the path of Satyagraha for the country and for the rights of the common people. Today, following his path, I am sitting on a hunger strike to ensure that the people of Delhi get their share of water from Haryana. This Satyagraha will continue until my people of Delhi get their rightful share of water from Haryana," she said on her visit to X (formerly Twitter).

As she began her indefinite fast, the minister, sharing stage with other AAP leaders, said, "There is such intense heat in Delhi and the water requirements of the people have increased. In such times, the people need more water, but there is a shortage. All the water in Delhi comes from its neighbouring states."

She said her appeal to the Haryana government and a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for help did not yield any result and Delhi was not getting adequate water. "I am left with no choice now but to start an indefinite hunger strike as I am unable to watch the plight of the men, women and children of Delhi. This indefinite Jal Satyagrah will continue till Delhi people get water from Haryana," she said.

Delhi gets 1005 MGD water which is supplied to people in the city. She claimed that for the last two weeks, Haryana is giving 513 MGD instead of 613 MGD water to Delhi while more than 28 lakh people face shortage when Haryana stops 100 MGD of water.

"Haryana has further reduced the release of Delhi's share from 100 MGD to 120 MGD in the last two days," she alleged. In the morning, the minister said she would begin her indefinite hunger strike in Bhogal as, despite all efforts, the Haryana government was not releasing the full share of Delhi's water.
Delhi BJP attacked the ruling AAP government on Thursday accusing it of corruption, inaction and appalling apathy which has forced the city into an unprecedented water crisis despite the release of adequate water in Yamuna by neighbouring Haryana. Sharing data by the Haryana government, Delhi BJP leaders claimed that Haryana has been releasing 17.34 percent more water to Delhi than its usual share of 1050 cusec water.

In a joint press conference, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva accused Water Minister Atishi of dishing out lies on the issue and challenging her to verify the documents related to water released by Haryana. If there is shortage of water in Delhi, how is it possible that water tankers and bottled water is freely available, he asked.

"Earlier, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal used to blame Punjab and Haryana for the water crisis in Delhi. But, now AAP leaders do not say anything about Punjab or Himchal Pradesh ruled by their ally Congress which has refused to provide water to Delhi," he said.

Sachdeva alleged leakages in pipelines and tanker mafia as the main reasons behind the water crisis. "There are dozens of ruling party MLAs who are in collusion with tanker mafia," he charged.

The Delhi BJP president also accused Atishi of lying that Haryana was not providing water to Delhi. "Even yesterday Haryana released 17.34 per cent more water to Delhi than its usual share of 1050 cusecs of water in Yamuna which can be verified through documents," he said.

"AAP has lost all shame. Which government conspires to leave its own people thirsty? They have cheated Delhi people in the name of free water", he charged. Union Minister Harsh Malhotra said that the water crisis in Delhi is a serious issue, and it is the responsibility of the Kejriwal government to provide water to the people of Delhi. If the supply resource is sufficient, then why is Ms. Atishi making political accusations against others? Arvind Kejriwal and his ministers are not mature enough to fulfil their responsibilities. They have always acted negligently when given responsibility, whether in the Delhi government or the municipal corporation, he said, adding if STP plants had been installed at the outlets of 18 drains, Delhi would not be thirsty today.

The pipelines in Delhi are over 50 years old. Instead of making accusations, Atishi should ensure that the people of Delhi receive adequate water in an organised manner, he said.

North East Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari slammed the AAP asking why it was not calling a special session to discuss the issue of water crisis in Delhi. "It's because they will be exposed by the BJP in the assembly. They start talking about a problem only when it worsens," he said.

He also slammed the AAP saying it has failed to provide water to Delhi people while Modi government has ensured piped gas connections to 80 per cent of houses so far in the city. Water minister Atishi should apologise the Delhi people for lying over the water issue, said South Delhi MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri.

North West Delhi MP Yogendra Chandolia said that Atishi used to blame Haryana for not releasing water for Delhi in Yamuna but when her lies were exposed she changed her stand and started pleading for it on humanitarian ground. Meanwhile, Bansuri Swaraj, New Delhi MP, said that Delhi is in a dire state and the "apathy" of AAP is appalling.

"The Water minister is indulging in theatrics and not action to solve the problem," she blamed Atishi. Atishi has warned to sit on an indefinite hunger strike from Friday if Haryana does not release 100 MGD of water for Delhi. She said that around 28 lakh people in Delhi were not getting water due to Haryana not releasing water in Yamuna.
Amid the national capital facing an unprecedented heatwave on Thursday, the AAP has accused the BJP ruled Haryana government of reducing the citys water supply drastically while claiming that the city grappling with sweltering heat has seen a rise in its demand for water.

Quoting data, Delhi Water Minister Atishi highlighted that while Haryana is supposed to give Delhi 613 MGD of water, out of which 548 MGD comes from Munak canal and 65 comes through Wazirabad. However, on June 1, 488 MGD and 30 MGD came from Munal and Wazirabad respectively.

One MGD of water caters to the daily requirement of 28,500 people. By reducing 100 MGD of Delhi's rightful share of water supply, the Haryana government is taking away the water from the homes of 28 lakhs people of Delhi. They are directly responsible for playing with the lives of the people of Delhi, the senior AAP leader stated. She also said that Delhi's share of water has been constant at 1005 MGD since 1994, when its population was 1.1 crore. However, Delhi's population has increased three times, the water supply is still the same, she added.

Atishi said that while in 2019, Delhi government signed a MoU with the Himachal Pradesh government to procure an additional 50 MGD of water, but the Haryana Govt is not letting water from Himachal reach Delhi. The proposal is pending with the Upper Yamuna River Board, where Haryana has raised unnecessary and false concerns like Himachal Pradesh does not have sufficient water, she said.

On the accusations of water crisis being caused because of the leakage, she said, To reduce the leakage of water while transmission of water from Haryana to Delhi, DJB has spent about Rs 500 Crores in constructing Carried Lined Channel (CLC), reducing water losses from 30 per cent to 5 per cent. To utilise the water that reaches Delhi effectively, 3,500 km of old pipelines have been replaced

(437 km annually) in the last eight years. To reduce illegal tappings and water theft, over 7,300 km of new pipelines have been laid in Delhi the last 10 years i.e. 730 km annually. Approximately 5,200 km of these new pipelines have been laid in unauthorised colonies and 2100 km in rural areas and urban villages, Atishi claimed.
Bus overturns in Himachal; Four killed



Shimla: Four people were killed while three others sustained serious injuries when a bus overturned on the Kuddu-Giltari road in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla district early Friday. The Himachal Roadways Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus, with seven persons on board, was on its way to Giltari from Kuddu when the accident took place around 6:45 am near Chauri Kainchi after the driver lost control over the vehicle. While two persons identified as Birma Devi and Dhan Shah died on the spot, bus driver Karam Das and conductor Rakesh Kumar succumbed to injuries on way to hospital, Superintendent of Police, Shimla, Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi, said. The injured have been admitted to a hospital. "Preliminary enquiry has been ordered in the accident", Managing Director, HRTC, Rohan Chand Thakur said. Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri and Education Minister Rohit Thakur, who is also the local MLA, have condoled the loss of lives in the accident.



Cabinet meeting in Haryana on June 27



Chandigarh: Haryana Cabinet will meet under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on June 27 at 12.00 noon in the main committee room, fourth floor, Haryana Civil Secretariat, Chandigarh, a government spokesperson said on Friday.



BJP Govt playing with future of youth through paper leak, recruitment scams, alleges Hooda



Sonipat/Chandigarh: Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Friday alleged that the BJP government is playing with the future of youth through paper leak and recruitment scams. Be it NEET and UGC NET at the national level, or a series of recruitment scams happening in Haryana, BJP's misdeeds are being exposed at the national and state level, he added while addressing the Dhanyani Karyakarta Sammelan in Sonipat. In his address, Hooda said today Congress is protesting against NEET and NET paper scams across the country. In Haryana, Congress has been continuously raising this issue from the streets to the Assembly, but BJP never learned a lesson from its actions. Therefore, the public taught BJP a lesson in the Lok Sabha elections, he said.



Chd MC Commissioner reviews PGIs fire safety and waste management issues



Chandigarh: To ensure the safety of patients and staff, PGIMER Director Dr Vivek Lal and Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Anindita Mitra jointly reviewed the key issues and compliances with fire safety regulations at the institution with the authorities of PGIMER along with officers, Engineers and Doctors of PGI and senior officers of MC, Chandigarh. During the meeting, the Director PGIMER apprised the MCC about the fire safety measures taken including completion of Fire audit of all buildings of institute by CBRI, Roorkee, and works for one building for fire compliance which has been approved and contracts being concluded shortly. On the issue of solid and biomedical waste management, the Director apprised that the work of Sewerage Treatment Plant has been entrusted to CPWD as a deposit work which will be completed by December this year.



Yoga camps to enhance health & efficiency of employees: Hry CS



Chandigarh: To promote wellness and enhance work efficiency among employees, Haryana Chief Secretary TVSN Prasad on Friday announced organising special yoga camps within the premises of the Civil Secretariat, Chandigarh. Addressing the officers and employees at the Yoga Camp on the occasion of 10th International Yoga Day at Haryana Niwas, Prasad emphasized that yoga not only improves physical health but also strengthens mental resilience, essential for professionals working long hours in office environments. Highlighting the significance of the inaugural yoga camp for the Civil Secretariat staff, Prasad urged all officers and employees to embrace yoga as a daily routine. He stressed that regular practice of yoga asanas and pranayama would not only boost their efficiency but also enhance their immunity.



Punjab and Haryana HC celebrates International Day of Yoga-2024



Chandigarh: The International Day of Yoga-2024 was celebrated at the premises of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh, under the aegis of the Acting Chief Justice of the High Court Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia. The day was observed as per guidelines received from Union Ministry of Ayush, with Judges, members of Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association, officers and officials of the High Court participated in the event, displaying enthusiasm while performing different Yoga asanas and meditation.



Punjab Govt releases Rs 94.35L to 185 SC beneficiaries in Malerkotla



Chandigarh: Punjab Government has allocated Rs 94.35 lakh to 185 beneficiaries belonging to the Scheduled Castes in Malerkotla district. Sharing the information, the states Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Minister Dr Baljit Kaur said that Rs 1.71 crore has already been allocated to 337 beneficiaries from backward classes and economically weaker sections. Financial benefits were allocated to 57 beneficiaries in December 2022, 26 in January 2023, 51 in February 2023 and 51 in March 2023, totaling 185 beneficiaries, she said.



Govt operationalized 5 automotive, driving skill centers in Punjab



Tarn Taran: Punjab Government has established five Automotive and Driving Skill Centers across the state, providing accessible driving skills training to those in need. These centers are located in Bathinda, Roopnagar, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran. Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, during his visit to Tarn Taran Automotive and Driving Skill Center, run by the Red Cross Society, on Friday, inspected the facilities and distributed certificates to trainees. He mentioned that this center offers a two-day training program on road safety rules.
The CBSE State-level Principals conference on the National Credit Framework (NCrF), hosted by Dr. S Radhakrishnan Sahodaya Schools Complex Ranchi in collaboration with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), New Delhi, concluded successfully today at the Vivekananda Auditorium of Delhi Public School Ranchi. The conference, a pivotal initiative under the ambit of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aimed to explore the comprehensive integration of school, higher, and vocational education through the innovative NCrF. The event commenced with an inaugural address by Dr. Ram Singh, President of Dr. S Radhakrishnan Sahodaya Schools Complex Ranchi and Principal of DPS Ranchi, who emphasized the transformative potential of the NCrF in shaping the future educational landscape of India. Dr. Biswajit Saha, Director (Skill Education), CBSE, New Delhi, served as the Chief Resource Person, delivering a keynote on the core principles and operational aspects of the framework.The seminar witnessed active participation from more than 150 principals representing schools across the state of Jharkhand. Interactive sessions focused on the implementation challenges, potential benefits, and collaborative strategies for effective adoption of the NCrF. Key topics included lifelong learning opportunities, credit transfer mechanisms, and the role of technology in modern education.

The conference was organized with the primary objective of exploring the integration of school, higher, and vocational education, allowing students to accrue credits from pre-primary to PhD levels, familiarizing and strategizing the implementation of the NCrF across educational institutions in Jharkhand. The framework, designed to facilitate seamless educational mobility and competency-based learning outcomes was dissected through insightful discussions led by eminent educators and policymakers.

Addressing the gathering Dr. Biswajit Saha, Director (Skill Education), CBSE, New Delhi, said, The NCrF, a brainchild of a High-Level Committee constituted by the Government of India, outlines a structured approach to creditizing learning from pre-primary to PhD levels. It integrates academic grades, skill development programs, and experiential learning, thereby enabling students to accumulate credits across various learning domains. This holistic approach aims to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, preparing students for diverse career pathways.The integration of academic and vocational education is emphasised by the National Education Policy (NEP) and is provided by the NCrF. This mechanism ensures equivalence within and between the two education streams.

The total 'Notional Learning hours in a year' for assignment of Credits will be 1200 hours. A minimum of 40 credits may be earned for 1200 hours of learning every year with 20 credits per semester of six months.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of District Panchayat Indore Siddharth Jain inspected Malhar Ashram and Instructed to issue notice to the concerned if quality mid-day meal is not found.

CEO Indore zila panchayat Siddharth Jain instructed the officers to inspect the hostels regularly He himself inspected the CM Rise School under construction in Malhar Ashram premises. On this occasion, the concerned Sub-Divisional Officer, Construction Agency, Police Housing Corporation officials were present.

CEO c Siddharth Jain directed the concerned Sub-Divisional Officer to remove encroachment from the construction area. He directed the construction agency to complete the work with full quality within the stipulated time frame.

During the school entrance festival, Jain discussed with the students studying regarding educational quality and other activities. He also saw the quality of the mid-day meal provided to the students. He also inspected the mid-day meal production site. Expressing displeasure over the mid-day meal not being of good quality, CEO Siddharth Jain directed to issue a notice to the concerned agency.

He interacted with the students of Super 100 and obtained information regarding teaching. He also inspected the hostel and directed the hostel superintendent to ensure better arrangements. He directed to encourage the students for better education by ensuring basic facilities in the hostel. When the students complained about the quality of food during the inspection, CEO Jain directed to improve all the arrangements within 4 days and directed the concerned officer to inspect after the stipulated period and submit a report. He also directed the concerned officer to regularly inspect the hostel and communicate with the students and solve their problems on time. District Education Officer and other officers were present on this occasion.
Amidst reports of alleged leak of papers of NEET, UGC-NET etc, the Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday made a significant move in the Uttar Pradesh Police Constable Recruitment Examination paper leak case.

Following a report by the UP Special Task Force (UP STF), Edutest, the company responsible for conducting the recruitment examination, has been blacklisted by the state government.

According to information, the UP STF issued four notices to Vineet Arya, the companys owner, but he failed to respond. The owner allegedly slipped out of the country and has so far made no communication in response to the notice served on him by the STF in connection with the police constable recruitment examination paper leak.

Edutest, an Ahmedabad-based company, was given the responsibility of conducting the constable recruitment exam. This company had given the contract to a logistics company of Noida to deliver the constable recruitment exam paper. The officials of Edutest had inspected the warehouse of the transport company, owned by Shubham Mandal. On the instructions of Rajeev Nayan Mishra, Mandal opened the box kept in the warehouse and took the recruitment paper out.

Later, on the basis of the statement of Rajeev Nayan Mishra of Prayagraj, who played an important role in leaking the paper, the police intensified the search for mastermind Subhash Prakash. Once the leak was discovered, the authorities summoned Vineet Arya, the owner of Edutest. However, he did not appear. It was later revealed that Arya had travelled to the United States and had not returned since.

Earlier in February 2024, the Uttar Pradesh government cancelled the UP Police Constable Recruitment Exam for a total of 60,244 posts due to paper leak. More than 48 lakh candidates had applied for this exam. While cancelling the exam, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had assured to conduct the examination again within six months. The police recruitment board will soon release the new exam date (UP Police Constable Re-Exam Date 2024). Candidates are advised to continue their preparation and keep an eye on the official website of Uttar Pradesh Police Promotion and Recruitment Board.

Meanwhile, sources said that preparations have been started to conduct the cancelled constable recruitment exam for UP Police again. This time, security arrangements are being checked at many layers to ensure that there is no disturbance in the exam. To conduct the exam again, the police recruitment board has sought a report from the superintendents of police, senior superintendents of police and police commissioners of all the districts. The recruitment board has sought a report regarding the security arrangements at the treasuries of the districts. The recruitment board has asked whether the treasury premises of the districts are safe to keep the examination material or not? Is there a double lock system in the treasuries or not? If yes, then the keys of both the locks should be with different officers.
Dharmashastra National Law University (DNLU), Jabalpur, known for its dedication to academic excellence and holistic development, has taken a significant step forward in enhancing its academic standards through a new collaboration. DNLU inks a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bennett University on June 20, 2024, at a ceremony held at Bennett University's campus in Noida.

Established in year 2018 under the Madhya Pradesh Dharmashastra National Law University Act, 2018, DNLU aims to advance legal education and uphold the rule of law as per the Indian Constitution. Guided by Honble Judge of Supreme Court of India Justice JK Maheshwari as its Visitor, Acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh Justice Sheel Nagu as its Chancellor, and Prof. (Dr.) Manoj Sinha as its Vice-Chancellor, DNLU offers B.A. LLB (Hons.), LLM, and PhD programs. The Bennett University has been established under the Bennett University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh Act, 2016. Extending the core journalistic principles of Trust, Knowledge and Public Service, Bennett, Coleman and Co. Ltd. (BCCL) established over 178 years ago, has continually undertaken initiatives for the betterment of Indian society.

The group established its footprint in education sector by launching Bennett University with multi-disciplinary education to make students life and industry ready.

Prof. (Dr.) Ajith Abraham serves as the Vice Chancellor. During the last 25 years, Prof. Abraham has authored/ co-authored more than 1,400+ research publications with more than 56,000 academic citations. He has given more than 200 plenary lectures and conference tutorials in more than 20 countries. He was the Chair of the IEEE Systems, Man and Cybernetics Society Technical Committee on Soft Computing which has over more than 200 members, from 2008 to 2021. He was

the Editor-in-Chief of Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence (EAAI), from 2016 to 2021. He serves/served on the editorial board for over 15 international journals indexed by Thomson ISI. He served as a Distinguished Lecturer for the IEEE Computer Society Representing Europe, from 2011 to 2013.

Prof. (Dr.) Pradeep Kulshreshtha serves as Dean to School of Law. Prof Kulushresta is the senior academician with over 30+ years of extensive expertise in academic affairs, legal research & advisory services. He has authored 15 books, 35 research papers and conference papers. He has successfully guided three PhD scholars. Before joining Bennett University, he has served as Dean, Sharda School of Law, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Professor & Dean, School of Law KR Mangalam University, Gurugram.

Expressing gratitude for the partnership Prof. Sinha highlighted the enduring benefits that this collaboration would bring to both the institutions. He underscored the importance of collective efforts between DNLU and Bennett University in fostering growth and knowledge sharing.
A vacation judge while granting bail to AAP convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, has said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) failed to furnish direct evidence linking him to the proceeds of crime in the money laundering case against Kejriwal. Special Judge Niyay Bindu held that prima facie his guilt was yet to be established and the ED is acting with bias against him.

"The court has to take a pause to consider this argument which is not a potable submission that investigation is an art because if it is so, then, any person can be implicated and kept behind the bars by artistically procuring the material against him after artistically avoiding/ withdrawing exculpatory material from the record. This very scenario constrains the court to draw an inference against the investigating agency that it is not acting without bias," vacation judge Niyay Bindu said in the 25 pages order.

"On the prima facie basis, the guilt of the accused is yet to be established. In respect of the condition that he shall not involve in the offence after his release on bail, it is already undertaken so by the applicant in his application. Moreover, if bail is granted, the same shall be conditional which shall put the applicant under an obligation in this regard," the judge said.

The special judge also questioned the ED's silence on Kejriwal's assertion that he was arrested in the money laundering case related to the alleged excise scam without having been named in the CBI FIR or the ECIR registered by the anti-money laundering agency. Enforcement Case Informaton Report (ECIR) is ED's version of an FIR.

"It may be possible that some persons known to the applicant are having involvement in an offence....But ED has failed to give any direct evidence against the applicant in respect of the proceeds of crime," the judge said. The order said the ED is silent on certain issues including the fact that Kejriwal was not named by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in its first information report (FIR) or in the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) registered by the ED.

"...the ED has not shown anything on record that Vijay Nair was acting on the directions of the applicant (Kejirwal). It has also failed to establish that even if Vinod Chauhan has close relationship with Charanpreet, how come the same would establish the guilt of applicant even if the applicant is having acquaintance with both these co-accused," the order said.

"This is also noticeable that ED is silent about the facts as to how the proceeds of crime have been utilized in Assembly Elections in Goa by AAP as, admittedly, after about two years, the bigger portion of the alleged amount remains to be traced out," the judge said.

Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has been accused of receiving kickbacks of Rs 100 crore from the South Group, a cartel of politicians, businessmen and others to rig the Delhi liquor policy in favour of licencees. The money was allegedly used in the 2022 Goa assembly poll campaign. The judge said the ED has failed to clarify as to how much time it required to trace the complete money trail.

"Meaning thereby that until and unless this exercise of tracing out the remaining amount gets completed by ED, accused is supposed to remain behind bars that too without proper evidence against him. This is also not an acceptable submission of ED," the judge said.

The maxim of law that every person must be presumed innocent until proven guilty seems to be not applicable in the given case in respect of the present accused, she said.

The judge quoted Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the US, to say "It is better that 100 guilty persons should escape than an innocent person should suffer".

"Unfortunately, the mental and physical agony of such person cannot be compensated in any manner whatsoever," she said. If an accused undergoes the atrocities of the system till his innocence is discovered, he would never be able to conceive that justice has actually been done to him, she said.
A 72-year-old Haj pilgrim who went on Haj pilgrimage died of heat wave in Mecca, with this, the number of deaths of Hajis from Madhya Pradesh in Mecca during Haj has increased to 2. This has been confirmed by the officers posted in the control room of the MP Haj Committee.

According to the information received from the MP Haj Committee control room, 72-year-old Syed Mumtaz Hasan, who lived in Housing Board Colony Kohefiza, died in Mecca on June 14. He had left for Saudi from Mumbai on June 5.

Official sources said, Syed Mumtaz Hasan died due to heat in Mecca. He was buried in Mecca itself. Apart from this, a woman Haji Rabia Begum, resident of Shahdol in Madhya Pradesh, also died due to heat during the Haj pilgrimage.
Haryana's Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Dr Abhay Singh Yadav on Thursday has rejected the allegations of the AAP led Delhi Government and clarified that Haryana is giving Delhi its full share of water amid Delhi grappling with water scarcity.

He blamed the water shortage in Delhi on the citys internal poor management. Haryana does not do politics on water because we consider water as a necessity. It is everyone's responsibility to provide water to the national capital and we are not lacking in providing water to Delhi. He said that Haryana is giving 1050 cusecs of water more than the stipulated 719 cusecs, he stated.

In the press conference at Haryana Bhawan, the Minister said that the Delhi government is doing political drama regarding water. There has been repeated verification from time to time by different agencies. The data given by Haryana has been found to be correct. Not a single agency can say that Haryana has given less water,  he said and accused the AAP of not correcting its mismanagement and repeatedly blaming Haryana.

He informed that while replying to the petition filed by Delhi before the Supreme Court on June 13, the Haryana government has submitted the data of water supplied at Delhi Contact Point, Bawana for the period from May 23 to June 12. In which it was told that Haryana is continuously releasing 1050 cusecs of water for Delhi at Munak Head and more than 924 cusecs of water fixed by Upper Yamuna River Board is being given at Delhi Contact Point Bawana Point, Singh asserted.

While the Delhi government admits in official meetings that they are getting full supply of water, it presents misleading and imaginary figures in the media on political platforms, he claimed. Delhi Government has been continuously making baseless allegations about getting less water from Haryana for the last several years and Haryana has proved every time that the allegations made by Delhi were not based on facts, the minister claimed, adding that Haryana is giving 1050 cusecs of water more than the prescribed 719 cusecs




Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday disbursed a compensation amount of Rs 135 crore for damaged crops in Rabi-2024 directly into the accounts of over 54,000 farmers across the state through the e-Fasal Kshatipurti Portal. Besides this, under the Deendayal Upadhyaya Antyodaya Parivar Suraksha Yojana (DAYALU), he also released financial assistance of Rs.131.24 crore into the accounts of 3,527 eligible beneficiaries.



At a programme in Bhiwani, the Chief Minister reiterated his governments commitment to the farmers welfare and said that the Center and State's double-engine government is continuously working to empower the poor, farmers, laborers, women, and youth. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, various welfare schemes are being implemented for all sections of society, which has increased public trust in our government. If anyone thinks about the welfare of the poor, farmers, and marginalized sections of society, it is PM Modi, said Saini.



Saini said that the present state government is continuously working to strengthen the poor through various schemes. Over the last 10 years, under the leadership of PM Modi, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana has been running to ensure the security and empowerment of farmers.



While highlighting significant differences between the previous government's tenure and current governments tenure, the Chief Minister said, In 10 years, the Congress government gave only Rs 1,100 crore as crop damage compensation to Haryana's farmers, while our double-engine government has given Rs.12,500 crore in the last 9.5 years.



Accuses Oppn of spreading misinformation about MSP



Saini said that the opposition spread misinformation claiming that this government is anti-farmer and would abolish MSP. However, just two days ago, the central government increased the MSP of crops to benefit farmers. In Haryana, the double-engine government also buys 14 crops at MSP, he said.



The Chief Minister said that the previous government made a mockery of farmers. When Bhupinder Singh Hooda was Chief Minister, farmers were given cheques of Rs 2 and Rs 5 as compensation. In contrast, our double-engine government provides cheques of Rs 30,000, Rs 40,000, and Rs 50,000 for crop damage due to natural disasters.



Saini said that upon taking the oath for the third time as Prime Minister, Modi first signed for farmer welfare. Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, he provided Rs 20,000 crore in benefits to farmers. Besides this, he also ensured housing for 3 crore poor families in the next 5 years. PM Modi always thinks about the welfare of the poor, farmers, and marginalized sections, he said.



The Chief Minister said that farmers are producing more today than in 2014, and the government is purchasing it at MSP. He said that the present state government has planned to provide subsidies to farmers for purchasing agricultural machinery like tractors, reapers, and rotavators. The central government has linked mandis with e-NAM, allowing farmers to sell their produce at profitable prices in any mandi. The government is standing with the poor, farmers, and every section, ensuring they face no difficulties, said Saini.
For the sixth consecutive day, the Ladhowal toll plaza in Punjab, known for its high toll rates, has been operating toll-free due to ongoing farmer protests. The standoff, orchestrated by various farmer unions, has allowed more than 1.75 lakh vehicles to pass through without paying toll taxes, resulting in substantial financial losses amounting to nearly Rs five crore for the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

The protest, spearheaded by leaders such as Dilbagh Singh Gill from the Bharatiya Kisan Mazdoor Union and Indervir Singh Kadian from the Bharatiya Kisan Union, underscored farmers dissatisfaction with existing toll policies. They argue that toll charges, particularly at Ladhowal Plaza, are exorbitant and unfairly burden agricultural communities already grappling with economic challenges.

Farmers Ultimatum and Demands

Amidst a growing chorus of dissent, farmers issued a stern ultimatum to the NHAI and the government  if their demands are not met by June 30, they will escalate protests by locking down toll plazas across Punjab indefinitely.

Signaling a deep-seated resolve among farmers to challenge what they perceive as exploitative toll practices, the farmer leaders declared, If our demands are not met by June 30, various organizations under the banner of Bharatiya Kisan Union will converge at the toll plaza in a unified demonstration.

Subsequently, on June 30, they plan to permanently shut down the toll plaza and secure it with locks, announced Gill. They mentioned that for the past six days, vehicles have been allowed to pass through Ladhowal Toll Plaza free of charge, and this will continue until further notice.

Dilbagh Singh Gill, addressing the media during the protest, reaffirmed farmers unwavering commitment to their cause, asserting that they will not back down until their demands are met. He criticized the Government for what he termed as neglecting the plight of farmers and emphasized their readiness to endure prolonged protests if necessary.

NHAI officials have thus far refrained from direct engagement with protesting farmers, exacerbating tensions at the toll plaza. Toll booth operations remain suspended, with toll collectors and security personnel rendered idle in the face of sustained farmer demonstrations. The lack of dialogue between NHAI and farmers has further fueled grievances and hardened the resolve of protesters.

Support from Commuters and Local Residents

Despite disruptions caused by the toll-free protest, many commuters have expressed solidarity with the farmers cause, acknowledging their grievances regarding toll charges. Local residents within a 20-kilometer radius of Ladhowal Plaza, affected by the toll hikes, have also shown support for the ongoing protests, viewing them as a necessary stance against unjust economic policies.

New Toll Rates and Economic Impact

Effective June 2, NHAI implemented revised toll rates at Ladhowal Plaza, significantly raising charges  Rs 220 for one-way travel from earlier charges of Rs 215, Rs 330 for round trips from Rs 325, and Rs 7,360 for monthly passes from Rs 7,175. These steep increases have sparked outrage among farmers and commuters alike, contributing to the intensifying protest at the toll plaza.

Similarly, the previous rate for light vehicles was Rs 350 one way, Rs 520 round trip, and Rs 11,590 monthly pass. Under the new rates, it is Rs 355 one way, Rs 535 round trip, and Rs 11,885 monthly pass.

For two-axle buses or trucks, the old rate was Rs 730 one way, Rs 1095 round trip, and Rs 24,285 monthly pass. Now, it is Rs 745 one way, Rs 1120 round trip, and Rs 24,905 monthly pass. Three-axle vehicles previously charged Rs 795 one way, Rs 1190 round trip, and Rs 26,490 monthly pass, while the updated rates are Rs 815 one way, Rs 1225 round trip, and Rs 27,170 monthly pass.

For heavy construction machinery with four axles, the old rate was Rs 1140 one way, Rs 1715 round trip, and Rs 38,085 monthly pass, which has now been increased to Rs 1170 for one way, Rs 1755 for round trip, and Rs 39,055 monthly pass.

For vehicles with seven or more axles, the previous rate was Rs 1390 one way, Rs 2085 round trip. In the new rates, it is Rs 1425 one way, Rs 2140 round trip, and Rs 47,545 monthly pass. Additionally, the toll pass rate for residents within a 20-kilometer radius of the toll plaza has increased from Rs 330 to Rs 340 since June 2.
In a significant development in the ongoing battle for justice for the victims of the 1984 riots, Satnam Singh Gambhir, the Eastern India President of the All India Sikh Students Federation, has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring compensation for all affected families. Today, Gambhir, along with Inderjit Singh Dimple, an advocate for the victims from Daltonganj, handed over a comprehensive list of 178 victims to Advocate Diwakar Upadhyay.

The Jharkhand High Court had previously directed Gambhir, through his legal representative Advocate Upadhyay, to provide detailed information on the number of victims who have not yet received compensation, categorized district-wise. Following this directive, Gambhir undertook a painstaking journey across various districts in Jharkhand, personally meeting with victim families and compiling their information.

"Justice delayed is justice denied," Gambhir remarked solemnly. "We will try our best to get justice for the victims of 1984. It is our duty to ensure that not a single victim's family remains without the compensation they deserve."

The list handed over to Advocate Upadhyay today is a result of months of dedicated work and is a critical step towards achieving justice for the riot victims. Upadhyay, who is representing these families in court, has been urged by Gambhir to vigorously present their case in the Jharkhand High Court.

He has been a relentless advocate for the victims, regularly visiting Jharkhand to push for their rights. His efforts highlight the painful reality that many families still face, 40 years after the tragic events of 1984. "It is very painful to see that justice has not been served even after four decades," he said. "Our struggle will continue until the last victim's family receives their rightful compensation."

The event was also attended by social worker Rupesh Sharma, who has been a steadfast supporter of the victims' cause. The presence of committed individuals like Sharma underscores the broad-based support for this long-overdue justice movement.

As the legal battle progresses, the victims and their advocates remain hopeful that the court will heed their pleas and deliver a verdict that ensures justice and reparation for all affected families.

Satnam Singh Gambhir's unwavering dedication serves as a beacon of hope for those who have suffered for far too long.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has questioned the wisdom of the Uttar Pradesh government in giving contract for conducting the examination for the recruitment to state police to a Gujarat based company.

The state government has lodged a FIR against the company and has also blacklisted it.

Akhilesh Yadav on Friday demanded that the government make public the FIR against the Gujarati firm for its involvement in the police recruitment scam.

Akhilesh Yadav also raised questions about the police recruitment exam paper leak and its connection with the Gujarat-based company.

He said that the allegations were very serious that the Gujarat company which conducts the police recruitment exam was involved in leaking the paper and only after its owner successfully fled abroad, the UP government came to know about it. The state government, just to avoid public anger, had blacklisted that company, he said.

Yadav said the UP government should show some courage and send police to Gujarat and recover damages from his property as such criminal people were guilty of ruining the future of 60 lakh youths of UP.

Now the Bharatiya Janata Party government of UP should prove whether it is with these criminals or with the people of the state. The history and integrity and quality of every company operating in UP should be investigated, the SP president said.

He observed that when work is given to companies with tainted and shady records, the public should understand that the people of the department concerned of the UP government giving the work also have a stake in it. This is a partnership of corruption, he added.

Not only the company related to the conduct of this examination but also every minister or officer involved should be investigated and until the investigation is completed, they should be divested of all official duties and kept free from work and if the involvement is proved, strict punitive action should be taken by dismissing them, Akhilesh Yadav demanded.

We demand that every external company working or willing to work in UP should be thoroughly investigated and work should be given only after the credentials of the company are verified. By not doing this, when the work goes wrong, it hurts the image of UP and also leads to wastage of the peoples money, the SP chief said.

Ultimately it is the common people who have to suffer the consequences of all this. There is also a demand that priority should be given to UP companies and work should be given to outside companies only when UP government departments, corporations, boards or local companies do not have the capacity to complete the work with quality within the time limit or they lack experience in doing such work, the SP chief said.

The people of UP should also remember that this is the same BJP government, which till yesterday was issuing orders for recruitment on contract in the police department. Extremely condemnable! Leaking of papers of various examinations is a question mark on the integrity of the government, he added.
Madhya Pradesh Police areconstantly making efforts to maintain communal harmony and law and order in the state.

As per the intention of Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, Madhya Pradesh Police is taking prompt action towards banning the slaughter of cows and open sale of meat and illegal transportation in the state.

On the instructions of the Police Headquarters, the police in every district activated its intelligence system and took prompt action by identifying the transport route as a surveillance, which has yielded remarkable results.

After assuming office, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, during a meeting held at the Police Headquarters in December 2023, the police were instructed to take strict action against illegal transportation of cows in the state.

In line with these instructions, the police have registered a total of 575 cases related to illegal cows in the last 6 months. In these cases, 1121 criminals have been arrested and 7524 cows have been freed. In this action, 342 vehicles transporting illegally have also been seized so far.

It was necessary for the police to keep an eye on illegal transportation at a confidential level. Therefore, the Police Headquarters prepared an action plan by doing a thorough analysis of the trends and routes of illegal transportation of cows in the last 10 years.

On the basis of which it became clear to the police that the border districts of the south and west of MP like Balaghat, Seoni, Chhindwara, Barwani, Khargone, Burhanpur, Ujjain, Ratlam, Neemuch etc. are most affected by the illegal transportation of cows.

The police are taking prompt and careful action in all these areas. It has also been learned that many times the criminals who illegally transport cows try to take out the cows from the main roads through the forest and village's unpaved path, special attention is also being paid to this and in many cases the accused were caught from these places.

It is worth noting that on June 11, 2024, all the collectors and SPs of the state were directed by Chief Minister Dr. Yadav during video conferencing to take special action on illegal transportation of cows. In compliance with these instructions, the police ensured strict action on illegal transportation of cows by running a special campaign in the entire state from 13 to 20 June 2024 last week. During this campaign, 70 cases of illegal transportation of cows were registered in the entire state. In this, action was taken against 124 accused and 38 vehicles were seized and 528 animals were freed.

Under the Madhya Pradesh Cow Slaughter Prohibition Act, illegal transportation of beef and cows is banned in Madhya Pradesh. Defining beef and cows in the Act, their slaughter and illegal transportation has been prohibited. Similarly, slaughter of cows is also prohibited under the Madhya Pradesh Krishak Pashu Parikshan Act.

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act also prohibits beating, excessive riding, loading and causing any kind of pain or torture to any animal. Recently, the district officials were specially informed and trained regarding the provisions of the Act.
Punjab Police, in collaboration with senior officers from the Punjab Police headquarters (PPHQ), embarked on a sweeping state-level operation named Eagle-IV to eradicate drug hotspots across all 28 districts of the State. This intensive Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) was orchestrated under the direction of the state Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, targeting points notorious for drug trafficking and abuse.

Commencing at 8 am and continuing until 2 pm simultaneously across Punjab, Eagle-IV saw the deployment of Special DGP, ADGP, IGP, and DIG level officers from PPHQ to oversee operations in each district. The strategic planning and meticulous execution aimed to disrupt and dismantle entrenched drug peddling networks operating with impunity in these areas.

Speaking on the operation, Special DGP, Law and Order, Arpit Shukla, working closely with SSP Gulneet Singh Khurana in Rupnagar, underscored the multifaceted approach of the Punjab government  enforcement, deaddiction, and prevention (EDP)  as pivotal in the states comprehensive anti-drug strategy. This initiative signifies Punjabs unwavering commitment to cleanse its social fabric of the drug scourge and provide a safer environment for its citizens.

In response to the evolving tactics of drug smugglers, Shukla highlighted the vigilance on drone activities, revealing that Punjab Police had recorded 906 drone sightings in border districts since September 2019. These efforts led to the recovery of 187 drones involved in smuggling drugs, weapons, and explosives, reinforcing Punjab's proactive stance against cross-border criminal activities.

Emphasizing the financial crackdown on drug networks, Shukla reported the forfeiture of 459 properties worth Rs 200 crores belonging to major drug traffickers under the current administration. Additionally, 559 proposals to freeze properties worth Rs 246 crores are pending approval, demonstrating ongoing efforts to disrupt the financial lifelines of drug cartels.

During Eagle-IV, over 500 police teams comprising more than 4000 personnel effectively cordoned off 392 identified drug hotspots. The operation included the establishment of 352 strong checkpoints to prevent the movement of illicit substances and apprehend offenders. As a result, Punjab Police successfully registered 221 FIRs and apprehended 254 individuals suspected of involvement in drug-related crimes.

Significant seizures during the operation included 2.6 kg of heroin, Rs 15.71 lakh in drug money, 83 kg of poppy husk, 2.6 kg of ganja, 550 grams of opium, 7553 intoxicant tablets, and substantial quantities of illicit and licit liquor.
he recently constructed Ram temple, with an investment exceeding Rs 1,000 crore, is facing significant issues in its sanctum sanctorum, particularly regarding its drainage system, causing major difficulties for the temple priests. The primary concern is the lack of an outlet for water used in daily rituals.

This water remains stagnant, raising alarms among the priests and temple authorities. A priest, who wished to remain anonymous, explained that the daily ritual of bathing Ram Lalla involves using water from the Saryu river and a mixture called Madhu Purk, which includes milk, curd, ghee and honey. This is followed by another bath with Saryu water.

Unfortunately, there is no system in place to drain out the water that accumulates on the floor after these rituals, the priest lamented.

Presently, a large plate is used to collect the water, which is then offered to plants. Any leftover water is manually mopped, a temporary measure that poses an ongoing problem for the priests.

The priest pointed out that the temples construction did not take into account the ritual of bathing of Bhagwan Ram, leading to the absence of a drainage outlet in the sanctum sanctorum.

Engineers from L&T (Larsen & Toubro), the construction company, have been notified and they are working on a solution.

To combat the heat, two tower air-conditioners have been installed, but they are proving insufficient. The technical limitations also hinder the installation of a more effective cooling system within the sanctum sanctorum. The intricately carved stone structure would require substantial modifications to install air-conditioning or create a drainage system, which would damage the sanctum sanctorums aesthetics and is technically challenging due to the interlocking construction method.

The engineers of Ram mandir are actively seeking solutions to these problems, the priest added.

The Ram Mandir Trust is tasked with the difficult job of preserving the sanctum sanctorums beauty while addressing these technical issues. As engineers work on potential solutions, the priests and devotees are hopeful for a resolution that maintains the sanctity and integrity of this revered space, he added.

The Ram mandir was consecrated on January 22 this year, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the temple for the public. The ceremony was attended by several prominent figures from across the country. Despite the grandeur of the event, the temples technical challenges remain a pressing concern.
The BJP workers of Rohini Assembly constituency led by BJP MLA Vijender Gupta held a grand event at JMD Tents, Sector 10, Rohini, to celebrate Prime Minister Narendra Modi's hat-trick in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.

The newly appointed Minister of State Harsh Malhotra and the newly elected MP from North West Delhi Lok Sabha seat Yogender Chandolia were warmly received by a large gathering in Rohini.

At a 'Dhanyawad Samaroh' organised on the occasion, booth-level party workers were honoured for their dedication and efforts in securing the BJP candidates' victory. Forty office-bearers from the top three booths with the highest margins of votes cast in favour of the BJP candidate, were felicitated for their commendable work.

In his address, Minister Malhotra hailed the BJP victory in all Delhi parliamentary seats "despite the unholy alliance of Congress and AAP". He pointed out that Kejriwal's call of 'jail ka jawab vote se' failed to evoke much response from the voters, demonstrating that the people have zero tolerance for corruption.

MP Yogender Chandolia expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the voters for his win with the highest margin in Delhi. He specifically thanked the Rohini Assembly voters for their overwhelming support and pledged to work tirelessly to meet their expectations.

MLA Vijender Gupta highlighted the ongoing development projects in the Rohini Assembly area, asserting that Rohini consistently excels in all areas of development. He also asserted that the Kejriwal government was nearing its collapse and was almost non-functional, with complete absence of coordination among ministers and their departments.
Amritsar Commissionerate Police, in a 10-day long operation, busted a trans-border illegal arms and narco-terrorism hawala racket with the arrest of eight accused persons including a kingpin.



Sharing details, the state Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Thursday said that the kingpin has been identified as Ranjit Singh alias Kaka. Apart from him, other arrested persons have been identified as Rajinder alias Raja, Abhishek alias Abhi, Vishal alias Shalu, Lovepreet alias Kalu, Gurbhej alias Bheja, Gurjant and Jaspal  all residents of Gharinda in Amritsar.



DGP Yadav said that police teams have also recovered 4.10 kg heroin, two pistols  Pakistan-made Zigana pistol and .32 bore pistol  along with 45 live cartridges and Rs 2.07 lakh drug money from their possession, besides impounding their seven vehicles bought with drug money. The recovered vehicles include Hyundai Verna, Mahindra Thar, Hyundai i20, Maruti Swift Dzire, Maruti Zen, Activa scooter and Splendor motorcycle.



The operation is still ongoing to nab other entities with cross-border linkages and hawala involvement, he said.



The development came after meticulous investigations of backward and forward linkages carried out by the Amritsar Commissionerate Police into the arrest of a local drug peddler identified as Rajinder alias Raja (22) of Gharinda in Amritsar, who was arrested with 500 grams heroin, Rs 40,000 drug money, Verna car and a pistol. Accused Rajinder Raja was also wanted by the Amritsar Rural Police in an attempt to murder case.



Sharing more details, Amritsar Commissioner of Police (CP) Ranjit Singh Dhillon said that during investigation, carried out by team of CIA 1 led by Inspector Amandeep Singh and Police Station Islamabad under the supervision of ADCP Zone 1 Dr Darpan Ahluwalia and ADCP Detective Navjot Singh Sandhu, into the arrest of Rajinder Raja, backward linkage was traced to kingpin Ranjit Singh alias Kaka.



After the meticulous follow-up of financial trail and technical investigations, Police teams have successfully arrested kingpin Ranjit Kaka and other accused persons, with further recovery of smuggled heroin, firearms and live cartridges, he said.



CP Dhillon said that the probe has revealed that the kingpin Ranjit Kaka, who was in direct contact with Pak-based entities, was running a heroin and illegal weapons racket in Punjab, further fueling the hawala nexus, and re-routing to Pakistan.


In a move that has sparked a flurry of reactions, the Uttar Pradesh government has unveiled a new set of media guidelines for its officers and employees.

The guidelines, issued by Additional Chief Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi, mandates that government employees must seek official permission before engaging in any form of writing for print or digital media.

This significant policy shift, aimed at regulating the flow of information and maintaining a cohesive public narrative, places stringent controls on the content that can be publicly shared by government employees.

Under the new guidelines, any attempt to write articles, opinion pieces, or commentaries in newspapers, magazines or online platforms now requires prior approval from the government.

The rationale behind this move is to ensure that information disseminated by government employees aligns with official stances and policies, thereby preventing the inadvertent release of sensitive or conflicting information.

However, the directive is not an absolute gag on all forms of expression. Recognising the importance of creative and intellectual freedom, the government has explicitly excluded artistic, literary and scientific articles from this restrictive mandate.

This exception allows government employees to continue contributing to cultural and scientific discourse without seeking prior approval, provided their writings do not touch upon political or administrative matters.

The announcement, made public through an official order from Additional Chief Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi, has ignited a spectrum of responses from various quarters. Supporters of the guideline argue that it is a necessary measure to maintain the integrity and uniformity of governmental communication. They believe it will help prevent the spread of misinformation and ensure that all public communications are consistent with the official line.

On the other hand, critics of the policy have voiced concerns over the potential implications for freedom of expression. They argue that such stringent controls could stifle the voices of those within the government who might offer valuable insights or constructive criticism. The fear is that this move could lead to a culture of silence and compliance, where dissenting voices are discouraged and innovation stifled.

In light of these new regulations, government employees who wish to write on matters of governance, policy, or any other topic outside the artistic, literary, or scientific scope must now navigate an additional layer of bureaucracy. This involves submitting their proposed writings for review and awaiting official clearance before publication. The process is intended to be straightforward but adds a significant step to the creative process for those affected, a senior official said.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday pitched for a consensus for the post of the Lok Sabha Speaker amid suggestions that the opposition Congress was keen on a contest for the key position.

"It is always better if there is a consensus," Rijiju replied to questions whether he had reached out to the opposition leaders on the selection of the Speaker.

He said consultations with the NDA partners will be held before arriving at any decision.

"We will take steps very soon," was Rijiju's refrain to questions on talks with the the opposition leaders.

The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha will begin on June 24 and the election to the office of the Speaker, Lok Sabha has been fixed on June 26.

The names of BJP leaders D Purandeswari, Radha Mohan Singh and Bhartruhari Mahtab have been doing the rounds for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker.

A section of the political circles was also of the view that the current Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla could get a second term in the coveted office.

At any time before 12 noon on the day preceding the date fixed for the election, any member can give notice in writing to the secretary general of a motion supporting another member for the office of the Speaker, a Lok Sabha bulletin noted.

"In the present case, notices of motions for the election of the Speaker can be given before 12 noon on Tuesday, June 25," it explained.

The notice for the motion has to be seconded by a third member. Also, it has to be accompanied by a statement by the candidate contesting the poll that he or she is willing to serve as Speaker if elected.

A member cannot propose one's own name, or second a motion, the secretariat pointed out, citing rules.

If any motion is carried (adopted), the person presiding the proceedings (a pro-tem Speaker) will declare that the member proposed in the motion which has been carried has been chosen as the Speaker of the House.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his visiting Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina will hold wide-ranging talks on Saturday to give a new momentum to the bilateral ties.

Hours after Hasina began a two-day state visit to India, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met her and discussed various bilateral issues.

"Delighted to call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh this evening. Her State visit to India underlines our close and abiding ties.

Appreciate her guidance on the further development of our special partnership," he said on X.

Bangladesh is a key partner and trusted neighbour of India and PM Hasina's visit will give a major boost to the "celebrated bilateral partnership", external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

It is the first incoming bilateral state visit by a foreign leader after the formation of the new government in India following the Lok Sabha elections.

The Bangladesh prime minister was received at the airport by Minister of State in the external affairs ministry Kirti Vardhan Singh.

Modi and Hasina are scheduled to hold wide-ranging talks on Saturday during which both sides are likely to firm up a raft of agreements providing for cooperation in several sectors.

Hasina was among seven top leaders from India's neighbourhood and the Indian Ocean region who attended the swearing-in ceremony of Modi and the Union council of ministers at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on June 9.

Apart from holding bilateral consultations with Modi, the visiting leader is scheduled to call-on President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.

The talks between the two prime ministers are expected to focus on taking the bilateral ties to new heights, said a source.

The overall strategic ties between India and Bangladesh have been on an upswing in the last few years.

Bangladesh is an important partner for India under its "Neighbourhood First" policy and the cooperation extends to areas of security, trade, commerce, energy, connectivity, science and technology, defence and maritime affairs among others.

The achievements in the connectivity sector included the inauguration of the Maitri Setu bridge over river Feni in Tripura and the rollout of the Chilahati-Haldibari rail link.

Bangladesh is India's largest development partner with nearly one-fourth of New Delhi's commitment under the Line of Credit has been made to that country.

The neighbouring country is India's biggest trade partner in South Asia and India is the second biggest trade partner of Bangladesh in Asia.

India is Bangladesh's largest export destination in Asia, with approximately USD 2 billion of Bangladeshi exports recorded to India in 2022-23.

The two countries share 4096.7 km of border -- the longest land boundary that India shares with any of its neighbours.

There is active cooperation between various agencies of both countries to cooperate on police matters, anti-corruption activities and to combat illicit drug trafficking, fake currency, human trafficking, among others.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal on Friday lashed out at the Enforcement Directorate for challenging her husband's bail order in the high court, accusing it of acting as if the AAP national convener was the "most wanted terrorist in India".

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) cited the Rouse Avenue court order granting bail to Kejriwal, saying it had demolished the case of the ED and demanded that the BJP should apologise to the party and Kejriwal.

The central probe agency failed to furnish direct evidence linking Kejriwal to the proceeds of crime in the money laundering case against him, a Delhi court has said while ordering his release on bail on Thursday.

On the ED's plea, the Delhi High Court granted interim stay on the trial court's order giving bail to the chief minister. The high court also issued a notice to Kejriwal seeking his response on ED's plea challenging the trial court's June 20 order by which he was granted bail.

Speaking in south Delhi's Bhogal, where Delhi Water Minister Atishi began an indefinite hunger strike to press on her demand for getting more water from Haryana, Sunita Kejriwal, in an apparent attack on the BJP, alleged that dictatorship in the country has crossed all limits.

"It was only yesterday your chief minister got bail. In the morning, the order was supposed to be uploaded (on court's website). Even before the order was uploaded, the ED approached the Delhi High Court. This happened as if Kejriwal is the most wanted terrorist in India," Sunita Kejriwal said.

"Dictatorship in the country is crossing such limits that the ED violates someone's personal liberty and even immediately goes to the high court to get a stay against the bail of an elected chief minister. The decision of the high court is yet to come. We hope that the high court will do justice," she added.

Meanwhile, the BJP hit back alleging absurd statements were being made by the AAP leaders. It said such rhetoric and excuses are old habits of the AAP.

"It would be better if the AAP leaders understand the judicial systems before hastily commenting on the judicial decisions. Generally, every investigative agency challenges the bail granted to the accused, and this is what is happening in Arvind Kejriwal's case," Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said.

The AAP cited the trial court to attack the ED and also questioned the fact that the high court had stayed Kejriwal's bail in the morning even before the trial court order was uploaded.

Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, at a press conference, asserted that the entire case of the ED has been demolished by the trial court order.

"Now, the ED's case does not have anything. The trial court has demolished the theatrics of the two-year-long investigation and the fortress built on the basis of it. One would remember that a lower court judge Gitanjali Goel had posed some tough questions to the ED in the Satyendar Jain case and the case was transferred to another judge.

"Similarly, the Centre's ED said such shameful things for the judge who gave the bail order," he charged.

The minister asserted that the trial court has accepted that there is "no case against Kejriwal".

"You can say that whole case was over. That's why in panic, the ED and the Centre's lawyer in panic approached the high court even before the order of the trial court was uploaded. How did the high court stay the bail order despite the order not being uploaded?" he questioned.

Bharadwaj claimed that Section 45 of the PMLA says bail can be granted to an accused in a money laundering case only if twin conditions are satisfied -- there should be prima facie satisfaction that the accused has not committed the offence and secondly, he is not likely to commit any offence during bail.

"The trial court had granted bail (on Thursday) since it was satisfied that chief minister had not committed any offence. The ED is working as if it's their own matter. It seems that they have an enmity with Kejriwal. Even the trial court has said ED is biased.

"This is unprecedented that even before the order was uploaded, the stay was granted. All this is being done so that Kejriwal does not come out of jail," he said.

Earlier on Friday, Bharadwaj's party colleague and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making a mockery of the justice system.

At a press conference, Singh termed the trial court order was "historic" and it completely "exposed" the role of the BJP government and the ED operated by it.

The trial court clearly said that no evidence or money trail was presented by the ED in connection with alleged transactions related to Goa polls, claimed Singh.

In the order granting relief to Kejriwal on Thursday, Special Judge Niyay Bindu held that prima facie his (Kejriwal) guilt was yet to be established.

"It may be possible that some persons known to the applicant are having involvement in an offence... but ED has failed to give any direct evidence against the applicant in respect of the proceeds of crime," the judge said.

She also questioned the ED's silence on Kejriwal's assertion that he was arrested in the money laundering case related to the alleged excise scam without having been named in the CBI FIR or the ECIR registered by the anti-money laundering agency.

Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) is ED's version of an FIR.
India on Friday was critical of the Canadian parliament observing "one minute silence" in the memory of Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was gunned down in Surrey, British Columbia, in June last year.

"We naturally oppose any moves giving political space to extremism and advocacy of violence," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

In an unusual move, the Canadian parliament observed "one minute silence" two days ago in memory of Nijjar.

The relations between the two countries came under severe strain following Trudeau's allegations in September last year of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar's killing.

New Delhi rejected Trudeau's charges as "absurd".

India has been maintaining that the main issue between the two countries is that of Canada giving space to pro-Khalistan elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra last week said India's main issue with Canada continues to be the political space that Ottawa provides to anti-India elements which advocate extremism and violence.

India has repeatedly conveyed its "deep concerns" to Canada and New Delhi expects Ottawa to take strong action against those elements, he said.

Nijjar, who was declared a terrorist by India, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in British Columbia on June 18 last year.

The murder is being probed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
The Supreme Court Friday refused to defer the NEET-UG counselling process, scheduled to kick off on July 6, saying it is not an "open and shut" exercise, even as the political pot kept boiling over the controversy-ridden exam with the opposition attacking the Centre over alleged paper leak and other irregularities.

The National Testing Agency (NTA), under fire over the lapses in the conduct of NEET and UGC-NET, is gearing up to conduct on Sunday a retest for the medical entrance exam for 1,563 candidates who were earlier awarded grace marks to make up for the loss of time at six centres.

The Congress party, meanwhile, staged protests across the country over the alleged irregularities and demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who skipped the Delhi University's Yoga Day event where some students held a protest against the alleged irregularities.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra launched a scathing attack on the government, saying the issue has become a national problem under the BJP rule which has "ruined the future" of crores of youth.

The protests came a day after Pradhan ruled out any immediate action towards cancelling the NEET, saying the government cannot jeopardise careers of lakhs of students who cleared the exam rightfully because of isolated incidents of malpractices.

According to NTA officials, the re-exam for 1,563 candidates scheduled on Sunday would be conducted at seven centres.

"While all other examination centres have changed, one centre in Chandigarh, where only two candidates will appear, will remain the same. Besides, officials from the agency and Union education ministry will also be present at these centres. The step has been taken to ensure smooth conduct of the re-exam," a senior NTA official added.

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati demanded strict action against the main accused in the NEET-UG question paper leak.

In a post on X in Hindi, Mayawati said, "The government needs to take strict action against the main accused in the NEET (question) paper leak case due to which innocent students are suffering. And it is not right to do any politics under its guise."

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha said a request will be made to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to recommend a CBI probe into the suspected links of the arrested prime suspect in the NEET "paper leak" with officials associated with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.

Sinha had Thursday claimed that officials associated with Tejashwi Yadav were in constant touch with prime suspect -- Sikander Prasad Yadvendu -- in the NEET "paper leak".

Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghose on Friday said the spate of paper leaks has exposed the "governance deficit" of the Modi government, and asked why heads are not rolling after the irregularities in the conduct of exams have come to the fore.

The NEET-UG examination was held on May 5 across 4,750 centres and around 24 lakh candidates appeared in it. The results were expected to be declared on June 14 but were announced on June 4, with the NTA saying the evaluation of the answer sheets got completed earlier.

As many as 67 students scored a perfect 720, unprecedented in the NTA's history, with six from a centre in Haryana's Faridabad figuring in the list, raising suspicions about irregularities. It has been alleged that grace marks contributed to 67 students sharing the top rank.

The NEET-UG examination is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country.

The matter was heard by the Supreme Court on Friday and it refused to defer the counselling for the controversy-ridden NEET-UG 2024 examination scheduled to kick off on July 6, saying it is not an "open and shut" process.

The apex court issued notices to the National Testing Agency (NTA), the Centre and others on a petition seeking cancellation of the exam over alleged irregularities in holding it on May 5.

A vacation bench of Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti posted the matter for hearing on July 8 along with other pending pleas alleging irregularities in conduct of the examination.

The counsel appearing for the petitioners urged the bench that the counselling process may be paused for two days as the apex court is scheduled to hear all these pleas on July 8.

"I am not seeking any stay of counselling. I am only praying that the counselling which is scheduled to be held on July 6 may be paused for two days only. The reason being that the main matter is listed on July 8," the lawyer argued.

The bench observed, "We have been hearing the same statement. Don't think otherwise for interrupting you. Counselling does not mean open and shut. It is a process. That process commences on July 6."

When the bench asked about the duration of the first round of counselling,

one of the lawyers appearing in the matter said it will last around a week.

While hearing separate pleas on the NEET (Undergraduate)-2024 examination, the apex court had on June 18 said even if there was "0.001 per cent negligence" on the part of anyone in the conduct of the examination, it should be thoroughly dealt with.
The world has embraced yoga due to the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Friday on International Day of Yoga.

Governor Anandiben Patel and CM Adityanath performed different asanas as they led the Yoga Day celebrations in the state. They were joined by hundreds of people on the lawns of the Governor's House here.

Addressing the gathering, Patel said, "International Yoga Day is actually a day for new encouragement. The day encourages us to take pride in our traditions."

Speaking before her, the chief minister said "nearly 200 countries" have embraced yoga due to Modi's efforts.

"We owe this opportunity to our esteemed prime minister whose vision and initiatives have led to nearly 200 countries embracing International Yoga Day.

"These countries have aligned themselves with our rich Indian heritage, thus honouring and enriching our culture and traditions. There can be no greater tribute to our ancestors, traditions, and heritage than this," he said.

Adityanath emphasised that yoga paves the way for the welfare of all humanity, transcending the limitations of country, society, and time. By embracing yoga and connecting the entire human race, we show true respect for our ancestors and heritage, he said.

The International Yoga Day has become a medium for all of us to express our respect towards this tradition of India, he said,

Adityanath said yoga is a comprehensive knowledge that brings people together both physically and mentally.

"Reflecting on the sage tradition of India reveals their profound foresight in connecting society, where they made an innovative attempt to integrate 'dharma' with yoga in this way," he said.

He highlighted that the theme of the International Yoga Day was 'Yoga for all' which signifies that yoga is free from any form of discrimination and transcends barriers of caste, region, language, time, and country.

"My appeal is to incorporate yoga into your daily routine... You will realise that the time you have dedicated to yoga has greatly contributed to your health and longevity, benefiting both your physical and mental well-being. If we continue this practice regularly, we will reap its full benefits," he said.

The event commenced with the national anthem, followed by the presentation of the Raj Bhavan song. A significant number of yoga practitioners and instructors participated in the group yoga practice.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya participated in a yoga event in Prayagraj.
The landscape of employee health benefits has undergone significant transformations over the past few decades. From the dominance of traditional group health insurance plans to the emergence of more flexible and personalized options, employers and employees alike have sought solutions that better meet their diverse needs. Among these innovative solutions is the Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA), which has quickly gained traction as a viable alternative to conventional group health plans. With its unique approach, ICHRA offers a new way for employers to provide health benefits, ensuring both compliance and convenience. One company at the forefront of this movement is benefitbay, which has set new standards in ICHRA administration.

The concept of ICHRA was introduced as part of a regulatory change in 2019 aimed at expanding the options available to both employers and employees. Under an ICHRA, employers can contribute a fixed amount of money to employees' health reimbursement accounts, which employees can then use to purchase individual health insurance plans. This approach not only offers greater choice and personalization but also helps employers control and predict their healthcare costs more effectively.

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Unlike other ICHRA platforms that provide static proposals and require lengthy delays for adjustments, benefitbay offers a dynamic and interactive solution. Employers can sort employees into classes based on various criteria, such as location, job type, and age, and set different contribution amounts for each class. This level of customization ensures that the ICHRA plan meets the specific needs of the organization while remaining compliant with federal regulations.

One of the primary goals of benefitbay is to make the ICHRA experience as seamless as possible for employees. The Advanced Reimbursement Checking (ARC) accounts are a testament to this commitment. These accounts are set up for each employee and are pre-funded with both the employer's contribution and the employee's portion of the premium. This setup allows for automatic monthly premium payments, eliminating the need for employees to pay upfront and seek reimbursement later.

This approach not only reduces financial stress for employees but also prevents lapses in coverage due to missed payments. Employees can focus on selecting the best health plans for their needs without worrying about the logistics of payment and reimbursement. benefitbay's platform guides employees through the shopping and enrollment process, ensuring that they understand their options and make informed decisions.

benefitbay's tools not only enhance compliance and convenience but also drive significant cost savings for both employers and employees. The Subsidy Advantage tool is a prime example. By providing visibility into available government subsidies, this tool helps employees identify additional financial support that can often exceed the employer's contribution. As a result, both parties benefit from lower healthcare costs.

Employers using benefitbay's platform can also enjoy predictable and often reduced healthcare expenses. By leveraging ICHRA, employers can set fixed contributions and avoid the unpredictability of traditional group health insurance premiums. This financial stability allows businesses to allocate resources more effectively and plan for future growth.

To illustrate these benefits, consider a case study of a small business that adopted benefitbay's platform. The company was able to reduce its healthcare costs by 20% while providing employees with access to a wider range of health plans tailored to their individual needs. Employees, in turn, reported higher satisfaction with their health benefits, leading to improved morale and productivity.

The ICHRA market is poised for continued growth, with experts predicting that personalized benefits will soon overtake traditional group health plans. This shift mirrors the broader trend of personalization in various industries as consumers increasingly seek solutions tailored to their unique preferences and circumstances.

benefitbay is at the forefront of this movement, continually innovating to meet the evolving needs of employers and employees. As more businesses recognize the advantages of ICHRA, platforms like benefitbay will play a crucial role in shaping the future of employee health benefits. By offering advanced tools for compliance, convenience, and cost savings, benefitbay is not only setting new standards in ICHRA administration but also paving the way for a more flexible and responsive benefits landscape.
We Are China

Roadside concerts light up vibrant night life in Guiyang

People's Daily Online) 15:19, June 21, 2024

An aerial photo shows a roadside concert in Guanshanhu district, Guiyang, southwest Chinas Guizhou Province. (Peoples Daily Online/Yang Qian)

Various roadside concerts have been held in Guiyang, the capital city of southwest Chinas Guizhou Province, attracting a lot of tourists and local residents to the performances and to sing together on the bustling streets.

The roadside concerts, without tickets or fences, have received great affection since they were first held in 2023. A total of 102 roadside concerts were held in Guiyang last year, attracting more than 340,000 spectators.

Intern Xing Yawen contributed to this story.

An aerial photo shows a roadside concert in Guanshanhu district, Guiyang, southwest Chinas Guizhou Province. (Peoples Daily Online/Yang Qian)

The roadside concert sparks the spectators enthusiasm in Guiyang, southwest Chinas Guizhou Province. (Peoples Daily Online/Yang Qian)

The roadside concert sparks the spectators enthusiasm in Guiyang, southwest Chinas Guizhou Province. (Peoples Daily Online/Yang Qian)

Songs performed at a roadside concert attract a large crowd of spectators in Guiyang, southwest Chinas Guizhou Province. (Peoples Daily Online/Yang Qian)

Spectators hold up a light board during a roadside concert in Guiyang, southwest Chinas Guizhou Province. (Peoples Daily Online/Yang Qian).

A roadside concert at Wenchang Pavilion in Guiyang, southwest Chinas Guizhou Province. (Peoples Daily Online/Tu Min)

A roadside concert attracts a large crowd of spectators in Guiyang, southwest Chinas Guizhou Province. (Peoples Daily Online/ Tu Min)

Spectators wave glow sticks and sing together at a roadside concert in Guiyang, southwest Chinas Guizhou Province. (Peoples Daily Online/ Tu Min)

A local resident takes photos of the roadside concert in Guiyang, southwest Chinas Guizhou Province. (Peoples Daily Online/ Tu Min)

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
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Jordan Parker is a breaking news reporter for The San Francisco Chronicle. He graduated from Sacramento State University in May 2022 with a degree in journalism. During his time there, he spent three years as a reporter and editor for the university's award-winning student newspaper, The State Hornet. He spent his senior year of college serving as The Hornet's first Black editor in chief, leading the organization to two Pacemaker awards and several other national honors from the Associated Collegiate Press. When he's not chasing down a story, he likes watching movies, traveling and trying new restaurants.
Waymo will be allowed move forward with expansion plans to the Peninsula following a decision by the California Public Utilities Commission. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

Autonomous vehicle companies won two key regulatory battles this week that allow Waymo to move forward with expansion plans to the Peninsula and preserve Californias authority over the emerging industry.

On Thursday, the California Public Utilities Commission upheld its March decision to approve Waymos expansion from San Francisco to San Mateo County and Los Angeles over protests from local officials.

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Riding Waymos robotaxis in S.F. for the first time? Heres what you need to know

Earlier in the week, state Sen. Dave Cortese, D-San Jose, withdrew a bill that would have given cities the power to regulate the operations of autonomous vehicles within their boundaries. Cortese said he shelved the bill, which had a scheduled hearing Monday in the Assembly Transportation Committee, because the committee wanted to strip the bills essential element of local control.

The regulatory battles at the PUC and in the state Legislature reflect the ongoing tension between AV companies and California cities since Waymo and Cruises commercial deployment in San Francisco.

Alphabets Waymo and General Motors Cruise became the first companies to launch paid driverless ride-hailing services in the state after winning the PUCs approval last August.

While the Department of Motor Vehicles, another key regulator for driverless cars, allows dozens of companies to test their technology in the state, Waymo is currently the sole company deploying robotaxis for paid ride-hailing. Cruise remains suspended after one of its robotaxis ran over and dragged a jaywalking San Francisco pedestrian after she was struck by a human hit-and-run driver last October.

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Local officials over the past year have tried, unsuccessfully, to wrest some regulatory power from the PUC and DMV. These officials say that the current processes give them little input over how AV companies deploy self-driving cars on their public roads.

Senate Bill 915 would have given cities the authority to place restrictions on how many robotaxis companies are allowed to operate, as well as where and what times they could charge for driverless rides.

Jeff Farrah, CEO of the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association, said the bill would have made it difficult for AV companies to operate in the state by potentially requiring them to abide by rules that differ, even among adjacent cities.

Cities are critical partners for AV companies, and the AV industry remains committed to fostering close and collaborative relationships with city officials and local law enforcement to ensure the technologys benefits become a reality, Farrah said in a statement.

The battle over autonomous vehicles is not over. A lawsuit by San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu to overturn state regulators approval of Waymo and Cruises commercial deployment awaits a decision from the Court of Appeal.

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Cortese said he plans to reintroduce his AV local control bill next year.

I hope that, in the meantime, our communities do not suffer too much in terms of injuries and community damages due to the current regulatory gaps, Cortese said in a statement.

San Mateo Supervisor David Canepa said he was disappointed by the shelving of SB915 and the PUCs latest decision. Waymo announced in May that it would soon start testing fully driverless rides with employees in Peninsula cities.

Waymo has not said when it would launch commercial operations in San Mateo County. Canepa said county officials have not heard a peep from Waymo on the company plans.

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Stanford University is taking a hard line on a student who could face felony charges after being arrested this month while covering the takeover of the presidents office for the campus newspaper. Press freedom groups are crying foul. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

Over the objections of advocates for press freedom, Stanford University is taking a hard line on a student journalist who could face felony charges after being arrested this month while covering the takeover of the presidents office for the campus newspaper.

Police arrested freshman Dilan Gohill, 19, a reporter for the Stanford Daily, alongside a dozen protesters who broke into the administration building, locked themselves inside and caused extensive damage in the early hours of June 5, before being removed.

We believe that the Daily reporter reporting from inside the building acted in violation of the law and University policies, university officials wrote in an unsigned statement five days after the arrests.

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We fully support having him be criminally prosecuted and referred to Stanfords (disciplinary) Office of Community Standards along with the other students, the statement said, noting that Stanford will not intervene in the criminal investigation or withdraw the reporters disciplinary referral.

On Thursday, the First Amendment Coalition, a nonprofit advocacy group based in San Rafael, the Student Press Law Center in Washington, D.C., and two dozen journalism groups sent a letter to Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen asking him not to prosecute Gohill.

Freshman Dilan Gohill, a journalist with the Stanford Daily, was arrested alongside a dozen protesters who broke into the administration building, locked themselves inside and caused extensive damage in the early hours of June 5. Courtesy of Dilan Gohill

It is clear to us that Gohill was present to cover the news, the letter said, noting that the reporters news beat for the Daily was student activism and that the Israel-Hamas protest movement is one of the nations biggest news stories.

Based on the circumstances and absence of any criminal motivation, we urge your office to avoid expending significant resources prosecuting a young journalist who was acting in good faith to serve the publics interest in timely coverage of newsworthy events, the advocates wrote.

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The Stanford Dailys editors have also called on the district attorney not to prosecute Gohill.

Rosens office has not yet reviewed evidence or even received any cases yet, a process that can take six to eight weeks, said Sean Webby, a spokesperson for the district attorney.

After receiving a tip that pro-Palestinian protesters would take over the Stanford administrative building before dawn on June 5, the student newspaper sent two reporters to cover the story, university officials said in their statement.

When the activists broke a window and entered the building, one of the reporters remained outside. The other, Gohill, accompanied a dozen people inside. There, he reported that the protesters barricaded doors with bike locks, chains, ladders and chairs and covered security cameras with tin foil.

They also damaged the offices, the university said. Police arrived and arrested 13 people, including Gohill, who spent 15 hours in jail, said Max Szabo, a publicist and attorney acting as Gohills spokesperson.

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For a university renowned for churning out some of the brightest minds, Stanford leaderships calls for the criminal prosecution of a young journalist covering a protest is decidedly dim witted, Szabo said in a statement.

Gohill was among three members of the Stanford Daily staff who were present during the building occupation, where protesters also damaged the outside of several historic stone structures by painting threats and anti-Israel and anti-police graffiti in dozens of places.

The student reporter who stayed outside of the building wasnt arrested. Another newspaper staff member participated in the protest  not as a reporter  and was arrested. The paper demoted that student, who later resigned. All of those arrested, including Gohill, were suspended and barred from campus, while seniors were not allowed to graduate.

Since then, Stanford has lifted Gohills suspension and allowed him on campus because we do not believe he presents an immediate threat.

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But the university explained in its statement why administrators believe Gohill should be criminally prosecuted for following the protesters into the building.

Californias Penal Code 409.7 describes journalists right under the First Amendment to cover police actions without being arrested, but the same law lets police arrest anyone engaged in activity that is unlawful, Stanford said.

The First Amendment does not protect the right to break, enter, and/or trespass in a locked private building, the university said. Its statement also pointed to the Student Press Law Center, which reminds students on its website that being a journalist is not a license to jaywalk, trespass on private property, block automobile traffic or otherwise violate laws that apply to everyone else.

The Student Press Law Center, however, is among the First Amendment advocates urging the district attorney not to prosecute Gohill.

David Loy, legal director of the First Amendment Coalition, brushed aside questions of whether Gohill technically broke the law.

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We do not think its in the interest of justice to prosecute a reporter for being a reporter, Loy said.
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One of Sandra Lipkowitzs landline telephones is seen in the hallway of her home. Lipkowitz is a San Francisco resident who expressed concern about the possibility of AT&T taking away landlines. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle A landline telephone sits on San Francisco resident Sandra Lipkowitzs nightstand at her home. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

AT&T must continue offering landline telephone service in California, state regulators decided Thursday.

The California Public Utilities Commission rejected AT&Ts March 2023 request to be relieved of its duty as the states carrier of last resort, a decision welcomed by local officials who said it would have affected millions of households.

This is a victory for some of the most vulnerable residents in our county whose telephones are their lifeline, said Ray Mueller, a San Mateo County supervisor who led the effort against the telecommunications giants bid.

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AT&T took on the role of the carrier of last resort because of its past monopoly and state laws ensuring voice communication services for everyone.

However, AT&T argued that the outdated obligation forces it to maintain both an old narrowband network and a modern fiber and wireless broadband network. The company proposed transitioning the few remaining consumers with traditional copper-based phone service to newer technologies or providers.

AT&Ts plan would also have ended free access to 911 and telephone relay services for people with speech or hearing issues.

Mueller, whose district includes rural areas, stressed the importance of landline service during power outages and emergencies.

Despite the unanimous vote by the commission, landline service remains at risk, as AT&T could still retire copper facilities.

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There is also a measure, Assembly bill 2797, in the California Assembly that aims to simplify the process for companies like AT&T to withdraw from their "carrier of last resort" obligations under certain conditions.

Mueller plans to present a resolution to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to oppose AB2797.

Rep. Anna Eshoo, a Democrat representing parts of Silicon Valley, said, The CPUC made the right decision to hold AT&T to its promise and obligation to provide phone service to our constituents in areas with unreliable cell service. These lines of communication are lifelines to residents in rural areas, especially during public emergencies like fires, earthquakes, floods and landslides. Cost saving must never trump public safety.

Reach Aidin Vaziri: avaziri@sfchronicle.com
On Monday 24th June, Year 9 students at Foyle College in Derry are in for a real treat when multi award-winning author and teacher Sarah Mussi visits them. Sarahs first novel, The Door of No Return, won the Glen Dimplex and Irish Writers' Children's Book Award and was shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award, amongst others.

Her second novel, The Last of the Warrior Kings, was shortlisted for the Lewisham Book Award and inspired a London- themed walk. Her thriller Siege was nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal (2014) and won the BBUKYA award for contemporary YA fiction. Her novel Riot won the Lancashire Book of the Year Award 2015. Bomb, was listed in The Guardian New Best Kids Books 2015 list. Her latest, novels Here Be Dragons, Here Be Witches, Here Be Wizards, published by Vertebrate Publishing

/ Shine Bell part of The Snowdonia Chronicles trilogy are wonderful romantic fantasy thrillers set on Snowdon and featuring the timeless myths of Snowdonia and the Mabinogion.

Sarah will be talking to five classes of students about the inspiration for their own writing, enthusing them about the joy of reading and stimulating their creative writing. Each participating student will also be gifted a copy of Here Be Dragons, which Sarah will sign and dedicate. A signed book can be a permanent reminder of a special experience and can reinforce

the message about the pleasure and importance of reading.

The visit is part of a Literacy Project funded by the Merchant Taylors Foundation working with Authors Aloud UK, taking authors into schools in Southwark, Aylesbury, Wallingford and Derry. The aim is that by meeting the authors, young people will be encouraged to increase their reading for pleasure and develop their creative writing skills, and it will support

the literacy work that is done in the school.
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PICTURED ABOVE: Danielle McNally, Business Manager at Derry City and Strabane District Council; Andrei Gurca , QUB; and Maria McKeever, Business Officer, at Derry City and Strabane District Council at the Digital Transformation Programme Fund (DTFF) information session at the White Horse Hotel earlier this week.

Scores of local companies attended an information session hosted by Derry City and Strabane District Council this week where they were able to find out about a new funding opportunity which offers up to 20k to help them transform their business digitally and promote growth.

The session took place in the White Horse Hotel yesterday (Thursday, 20th June). Delivering the workshop alongside the William J Clinton Institute at Queens University Belfast, members of Councils Business Team offered tailored advice and information about the Digital Transformation Programme Fund (DTFF). Eligible businesses can apply for capital grant funding between 5,000 and 20,000 to support their businesss transformation journey to accelerate digital ambitions.

Those in attendance were able to access advice on the types of technology funded, the application process and the importance of leveraging this unique opportunity to address financial barriers to the adoption of advanced digital technologies.

Delighted to see so many local businesses interested in availing of the DTFF, Danielle McNally, Business Manager at Derry City and Strabane District Council said, We were thrilled to see such an expression of interest from a diverse range of businesses here in the Derry City and Strabane region. This is a unique and innovative funding opportunity for businesses to introduce new technologies that might not have been accessible to them before.

A number of on-line support sessions are also available which may be of interest to businesses looking to find out more about the DTFF. The Innovation Support and Grant Funding for Digital Transformation workshop will take place on Wednesday 26th June from 09:30-11am. An online Masterclass looking at top tips for writing a successful grant application is scheduled for Wednesday, 17th July. Grant Funding for Growth will run from 12-1.30pm.

Encouraging any business which feels they could benefit from support to grow their business digitally, Danielle added, The Business Team would love to hear from anyone who might be eligible for this funding. Anyone who would like some advice or support should get in touch to see how we can assist you in leveraging an opportunity that has the potential to take your business to the next level.

The Digital Transformation Fund (DTFF) is delivered by all local authorities in Northern Ireland under the Full Fibre Northern Ireland Consortium (FFNI) and supported by Invest NI. The project is part funded by the NI Executive, UK Government, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and all local authorities in Northern Ireland.

Some of the attendees at the Digital Transformation Programme Fund (DTFF) information session at the White Horse Hotel earlier this week

Applications are open until Friday 12th July 2024 at 12pm. For more information or to complete an Expression of Interest form, please visit www.derrystrabane.com/dtff.

Email business.support@derrystrabane for additional support and guidance in relation to the fund from Councils dedicated Business Support Team.
The future of the United Kingdom has never been in more peril due to the damage caused by post-Brexit trade barriers, the leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) party has warned.

At the launch of the TUV manifesto, Jim Allister heavily criticised his unionist rivals, the DUP, for failing to remove the so-called Irish sea border that has created checks and restrictions on the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Mr Allister was joined at the event by Reform UK deputy leader Ben Habib and both men were keen to downplay the recent move by Reform leader Nigel Farage to personally endorse two DUP election candidates, despite his party having an official electoral alliance with the TUV in Northern Ireland.

The TUV leader dismissed the furore as a media story that he insisted was not preoccupying voters in his own North Antrim constituency, where he is running on a joint TUV-Reform UK platform, even though Mr Farage has personally backed the DUP candidate in that area, Ian Paisley.

Launching his partys Restore the Union manifesto at a hotel in Co Antrim, Mr Allister accused the DUP of misleading unionist voters in February by dropping its two-year blockade of Stormont devolution and endorsing a UK Government deal that claimed to have dramatically reduced the Brexit red tape on internal UK trade.

He said the Safeguarding the Union command paper had not changed one word of contentious UK/EU agreements that had created the Irish Sea barriers  namely the Northern Ireland Protocol, and its successor, the Windsor Framework.

Mr Allister branded the February deal the greatest contrivance of lies and deception ever attempted on the unionist people.

It changed not one word of the protocol, yet was brazenly sold as having demolished the Irish Sea border, having neutered EU law, restored our place within the United Kingdom, he said.

The TUV leader claimed the DUP has since flip-flopped and performed a screeching U-turn on its previous endorsement of the command paper.

In this election, trust is rightly the defining issue for many, he said.

Those who in February falsely claimed that the Irish sea border was gone, that EU law was thwarted, that our place had been restored in the United Kingdom do not deserve your votes.

That is why I am delighted to be able to offer in this election the contrasting and unshakable unionism of TUV/Reform UK.

Its time to build back what has been lost. Its time to build back what has been squandered by those who previously were entrusted to deliver but those who failed miserably and left unionism in a much worse position than they found it.

The DUP stewardship of the Union has not just been woeful, it has been damaging, and our Union has never been in a more perilous state than it is today.

The challenge of building back is daunting. There is no doubt about that. But with truth on our side and with the help of men of principle, like Ben Habib, we will not falter. Thats our pledge to the people of Northern Ireland.

The TUV contends that the key to removing the NI Protocol/Windsor Framework is the introduction of a mutual recognition system whereby the EU and UK agree to check goods entering the others jurisdiction.

At the launch event, Mr Allister also dismissed the suggestion his party could contribute to a reduction in the overall number of unionist MPs returning to Westminster if the pro-Union vote is significantly split and the DUP fails to retain one or more seats as a result.

He said his party was ensuring the pro-Union vote could be maximised.

The TUV, which did not run in the 2019 General Election, formed an electoral alliance with Reform UK ahead of Julys poll and is standing in 14 constituencies in Northern Ireland.

While it will only be the TUV name on the ballot paper on July 4, the parties are promoting a joint TUV/Reform UK message on the campaign trail.

However, that arrangement was thrown into doubt when Mr Farage declared his personal endorsement for DUP candidates Mr Paisley in North Antrim and Sammy Wilson in East Antrim.

Despite this, the TUV and Reform UK have insisted their electoral alliance remains in place.

Both Mr Allister and Mr Habib were quizzed about the controversy as they fielded media questions at the Dunsilly Hotel on Friday morning.

It may be a media story about what politician endorses what politician, but the real endorsement is the endorsement of the people, said Mr Allister.

And that is where the sovereignty of the people lies. And they will make that choice.

And they will not be voting for Nigel Farage (in North Antrim), they will be voting either for me or for Ian Paisley, the candidate of a party that told them the Irish Sea border was gone, when it wasnt, and they then think people should trust them, when patently they shouldnt.

Mr Habib was asked whether Mr Farage regretted his decision.

I think regret is not an emotion that Nigel is familiar with, he replied.

Mr Habib went on to insist that his leaders endorsement of the two DUP candidates did not undermine the TUV/Reform UK partnership.

That doesnt in any way diminish or detract from the complete commitment that Reform UK has to the Union of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and therefore to the only political party in Northern Ireland with which we could possibly be allied, he added.
The TUV places its long-stated desire to remove post-Brexit trade barriers in the Irish Sea front and centre of its Restore the Union manifesto.

Here, the PA news agency examines what the party is proposing as a replacement system to govern the movement of goods and also looks at other policy commitments in the 30-page document.

 Post Brexit trade

The TUV claims post-Brexit trading arrangements struck between the UK and EU  the Northern Ireland Protocol and its successor, the Windsor Framework  have inflicted significant damage on the constitutional and economic integrity of the United Kingdom. It calls them a dynamo for Irish unification.

It says Northern Ireland has been left as condominium, ruled in part by UK laws and in part by EU laws, leaving the citizens of the region disenfranchised and without a say on laws that govern them.

The partys alternative is a system of mutual recognition whereby the EU and UK agree to check goods entering the others jurisdiction.

It says this would protect the integrity of the EU single market, avoid creating a hard border on the island of Ireland, while not disenfranchising a single person.

The manifesto says: Developed from within the EU, mutual enforcement provides a means of managing the border that involves the UK requiring, through its own legislation, that goods made in the UK for consumption in the Republic of Ireland must be built to Republic of Ireland standards, and the Republic requiring, through its legislation, that goods made in the Republic for sale in the UK must be made to UK standards.

 Immigration

The TUV says it agrees with Reform UKs policies on migration.

These include introducing a freeze on non-essential immigration; leaving the European Convention on Human Rights; and raising employer National Insurance rates for foreign workers to 20%.

 Economy

The party also adopts many of Reform UKs policies on the economy, including raising the starting threshold for paying basic income tax to 20,000; significant reductions to stamp duty rates; and cutting corporation tax from 25% to 15% over three years.

The TUV is also pressing for an increase in Treasury funding to Northern Ireland, although it makes clear any changes to the allocation model must be accompanied by self help from Stormont in the form of steps to cut squander and waste.

 Devolution

In respect of the return of devolved government at Stormont, the TUV claims the system is fast falling into its dysfunctional routine. It says its default position is a preference for direct rule from Westminster rather than Sinn Fein rule from Stormont.

 Life and family

The TUV says it will stand up, unashamedly, for traditional family values.

The manifesto claims the attack on gender identity is the latest target of agitators determined to rip apart the fabric of society.

It adds: TUVs moral compass means we remain resolute in opposing terrorists in government, amnesty for terrorists, destruction of the unborn and the dilution of marriage and gender identity as determined at birth.

The party also makes clear it opposes euthanasia.

We believe in the sanctity of life, the manifesto adds.

In the new parliament, especially if Labour wins, these will all be major issues.

 Tourism

The TUV wants an end to the international marketing of Northern Ireland as part of an all-island offering, saying the approach is nonsensical and is hampering the growth of the local tourism sector.

The party says more should be done to promote Twelfth of July loyal order parading events as a tourist attraction and is also calling for the creation of a rail link from Belfast International Airport.

 Sport

The TUV wants Stormont to pull the plug on the planned redevelopment of the west Belfast GAA stadium at Casement Park, claiming the project is resulting in a squander of public money.
At times we are unable to pick calls on a particular number for a lot of reasons. It is in those times that we prefer to get call forwarding on a number thats more convenient, or someone can pick it up on our behalf. If you are in such a situation and want to know how you can enable call forwarding and how to disable it when youre done, then youre at the right place. I am going to tell you how you can enable or disable it on Airtel, Vi, and BSNL.

Start and stop call forwarding by using these steps

For Airtel

If you are an Airtel user, then you can activate call forwarding on your number pretty easily. For this, simply dial- 21 followed by your phone number and #. For eg: 219412545xxx.

Now, you can even deactivate it anytime you like. For this, simply dial- ##21#.

Also read: Airtel and Ericsson successfully tested RedCap on 5G network. Can this change Indias 5G Infra?

For Vi

If you are a Vi user and wish to enable call forwarding, then it is pretty easy too. Simply dial 62 followed by your phone number and #. For eg: 629412545xxx. By dialing this you can enable it. When you change your mind and disable it, then just dial ##62#.

Also read: Vodafone Ideas new brand identity revealed  Vi

For BSNL

And lastly, if you are a BSNL user and want to enable call forwarding, then simply dial 21 and your phone number. For eg: 219412545xxx. And again, if you wish to deactivate it, then simply dial ##21#.

So these are some simple steps that you can follow to enable and disable it on your mobile number. It is pretty simple and doesnt take a lot of time.
Women participate in a drum circle at the annual Rainbow Family Gathering in July 2021 in the Carson National Forest, outside Taos, N.M. A Rainbow Family Gathering is planed for the coming weeks in Plumas National Forest. Cedar Attanasio/Associated Press 2021

Californias remote Plumas National Forest is expected to get a heavy dose of 1960s counterculture in coming weeks as thousands of people from across the country make their way to the annual gathering of the Rainbow Family.

Described as the largest non-organization of non-members in the world, the Rainbow Family is a loose-knit group bonded by such ideals as intentional community, nonviolence and alternative living, with a welcome embrace of tie-dye, patchouli oil and marijuana.

Its OK to hate hippies?: Rainbow Family irked by California reception

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But its not all peace and love in the mountains of northeastern California right now. Many residents in this rural and deeply red region, where hippie-tinged campers have already begun trickling in, are anxious about a large, unorthodox assembly in their backyard while Native American groups, worried about disruption to ancestral lands, have asked the Rainbow Family to stay out.

One county supervisor has called on his constituents to join him in stopping event-goers from reaching the gathering site.

Meanwhile, local police departments and sheriffs offices in Plumas and Lassen counties have joined with the U.S. Forest Service to assert a presence in and around the Plumas National Forest to manage crowds, enforce laws and make sure no environmental damage is done.

The diverse group of participants often includes individuals who engage in illegal or socially unacceptable behavior, such as public nudity, civil disobedience, drug and alcohol abuse, and confrontations with locals, said a news release by the Plumas County Sheriffs Office. The sheriffs office declined to talk further.

The Rainbow Family, which professes to have no leadership and no one who represents it, could not be immediately reached for comment.

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According to social media posts by the familys brothers and sisters, the group decided earlier this month to hold its annual gathering just north of Antelope Lake within the Plumas National Forest, about a five-hour drive from San Francisco, or two hours from Reno. The event runs during the first week of July, peaking on the Fourth.

The gatherings, essentially sprawling communal camps with drum circles, dancing and discussion groups, have been held at various places in the country, on public lands, since the inaugural event at the Arapaho National Forest in Colorado in 1972. Theyve drawn upward of 10,000 people.

Forest Service officials say any event with 75 or more people on federal land requires a use permit, so mitigations, such as portable toilets, can be put in place to help minimize impacts. But the agency has struggled to win compliance from the Rainbow Family, which has insisted that there is no leadership holding a central event and thus no need for a permit.

They say theyre a bunch of individuals in the woods that happen to be in the same vicinity, said Hilary Markin with the Forest Service. The national forests are open to all visitors, and everyone has the freedom to assemble. So its a challenge for us.

The Forest Service has assigned a 65-person national incident management team, consisting of 36 federal law enforcement officers from outside the Plumas National Forest, to help handle the 10,000 attendees the agency expects.

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But Lassen County supervisors say the group shouldnt be there in the first place.

Nobody is getting a permit, theyre going to have open campfires, and we might have another huge fire here, said Aaron Albaugh, chair of the Board of Supervisors. We just had the Dixie Fire.

Lassen County Supervisor Jason Ingram has visited the gathering site and already reported illegal campfires and water diversions. He said he and some friends pulled piping out of a creek that he said carried water almost a mile to campers.

Ingram was planning to do what he could to prevent the event from escalating from 100 or so people to thousands. At his directive, he said, a few hundred local residents would begin barricading the road to the gathering on Friday evening in what he called respectful resistance.

If youre a Rainbow, sorry, youre not going up the grade, he said. Go somewhere else.

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Robert Joseph, vice chairman of the Susanville Indian Rancheria, said hes worried not only about physical harm that might come to sacred Native American sites but also about the home of their ancestors being disrespected.

Its similar to Burning Man, but these guys here are just a little dirtier, he said. They kind of leave a trail (of trash) when they come to these places.

While most of the past gatherings have gone on without incident, there have been years when littering and petty crime were widely reported.

Joseph penned a letter earlier this month that he said was hand-delivered to members of the Rainbow Family, asking them to reconsider the gathering location. Joseph represents members of four tribes in the region: the Mountain Maidu, Paiute, Pit River and Washoe.
From Brussels to the world: EU AI Act advisor on shaping the future of AI regulation

On March 13, 2024, the European Parliament announced the passage of the "AI Act," a landmark piece of legislation set to be implemented in phases starting in mid-2025.

This act represents the EU's ambitious effort to establish comprehensive regulations for AI technologies. However, despite its ambitious goals and status as the first piece of concrete legislation in the world regarding AI regulations, the AI Act has sparked considerable debate over compliance costs and the fundamental definitions of AI systems.

Kai Zenner (KZ) is the Head of Office and Digital Policy Adviser for MEP Axel Voss of the EPP Group in the European Parliament. Over the past seven years, he has been deeply involved in the preparatory work and initial discussions surrounding AI regulation.

His expertise has been instrumental throughout the development of the AI Act, participating in several committees and co-leading technical agreements. In an interview with DIGITIMES Asia (DT), Zenner explains the background of EU legislation, the Act's impact on AI regulation within and beyond the region, international outreach, and the future potential of the legislation for the new technology across borders.

DT: What prompted the EU to start regulating AI?

KZ: There were several key factors.

Firstly, there was a growing concern that AI was increasingly replacing human decision-making, raising significant ethical and democratic issues. For instance, it's deemed unacceptable within our democratic system and ethical principles for a machine to decide on critical issues like whether surgery should proceed for terminally ill patients.

Secondly, there were fears about AI exacerbating existing biases and discrimination, making them harder to detect and address due to AI's "black box" nature. This could lead to more severe violations of human and fundamental rights.

Thirdly, there was anxiety about market concentration, where a few powerful companies could dominate the AI sector, mirroring issues in the digital economy. The EU aimed to create a competitive advantage for European companies by providing a clear and manageable legal framework, hoping to trigger a "Brussels effect" similar to GDPR.

This would ensure that European companies can develop and sell AI products globally with legal certainty. Finally, the potential of AI to address global challenges like climate change, supply chain issues, hunger, and resource scarcity was a significant driver. AI could detect patterns and improve procedures, helping to solve long-term issues facing humanity.

DT: Some critics argue that the newly passed EU AI Act may impose stringent regulations on tech enterprises and AI developers, leading to hefty compliance costs. How do you perceive the law's impact on AI development within the EU? Are the concerns about overregulation justified?

KZ: There are valid concerns about overregulation, especially given the more hands-off approaches in the UK and US, which can foster innovation in such a new and rapidly evolving field. The AI Act is quite complex, and it might not always be clear to companies what they need to do to comply, potentially increasing costs and making Europe less attractive for AI development.

However, if we manage to clarify the requirements and develop clear standards and best practices through bodies like the European standardization organization CENELEC, compliance could become straightforward and cost-effective. CENELEC is crucial in this process, as it will develop harmonized technical standards for AI systems.

If companies have clear guidelines and know precisely what is required to comply, the regulatory burden could be significantly reduced. This would minimize compliance costs and ensure that AI technologies developed in Europe align with our values of safety and trust. In this scenario, the AI Act could become a competitive advantage, providing a clear and consistent framework that helps European companies innovate confidently and responsibly.

DT: Has there been significant coordination between the EU and the UK-led AI safety summits and the pledges made on AI regulation and innovation? How do you view these collaborative efforts, and what impact do you think they will have on the future of AI governance?

KZ: International organizations and forums like the OECD, Council of Europe, United Nations, and UNESCO have played a significant role in shaping AI regulations. Many AI laws and policies across different countries are based on the same principles, originally developed by the OECD in 2019 and adopted by the G20.

This common foundation will simplify harmonization efforts in the future. However, the EU has faced challenges in active participation in these international forums due to internal structural issues.

The negotiators of the AI Act were not involved in international discussions such as the Trade and Technology Council with the United States or the G7 and G20 negotiations. This lack of coordination resulted from the Commission in Brussels becoming too large and compartmentalized, with various entities working in silos. As the political negotiations for the AI Act conclude and it becomes law, I hope the EU will allocate more resources to engage more effectively on the international stage.

DT: Do you foresee the establishment of a global regulatory framework for AI by the end of the year or in the near future? If so, what form might this regulation take, and what key challenges do you anticipate in achieving a consensus among international stakeholders?

KZ: The ethical standards for AI established by the OECD and G20 in the 2010s provide an excellent foundation for an international framework. We are likely to see countries selecting specific areas for cooperation, such as incident notification standards being developed by the OECD. This will establish a harmonized framework where countries and companies know the procedures to follow if a significant AI-related incident occurs, including who needs to be informed.

Beyond these technical areas, there is potential for broader international cooperation. If major players like China and the US can agree, we might see treaties or other cooperative efforts in areas such as autonomous weapons, AI in healthcare, and advanced robotics.

For instance, international agreements could emerge to regulate the use of AI in military applications, ensure safety and ethical standards in AI-driven healthcare, or facilitate research on advanced AI models to prevent scenarios where AI becomes too powerful. Cooperation on these big-picture issues could lead to significant advancements in AI governance, aligning with international principles, creating common procedures, and addressing global challenges collaboratively.

DT: Speaking of the big picture with issues such as AGI on the horizon, do you think the technology comes first and then the regulation gets enforced based on it, or should the government get ahead of it?

KZ: I believe regulation will always follow the development of technology. At the policy level, we can facilitate big-picture discussions beforehand. Personally, I am skeptical about AGI at this point.

For those concerned about it, the best approach is to invest heavily in research. This includes international research projects, similar to those in virology or space exploration, where experts from Asia, Africa, Europe, and other regions collaborate.

Governments can support these research efforts without prematurely imposing regulations. By bringing together top experts and listening to their insights, we can develop a well-informed approach to regulation.

This means that regulation should come early enough to address emerging issues but only after we have a clearer understanding of the direction the technology is taking. This way, we can ensure that regulation is informed and effective without stifling innovation.
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The Townhouse invited local publicans, restaurants, suppliers, local businesses and chamber reps to the award-winning restaurant last Friday to hear all about their chef John Kenwright's efforts to represent Ireland in the World Paella Day Competition.

World Paella Day Competition 2024 invites chefs from around the world to enter the competition with their take on the traditional Valencian Paella dish.

Johns initial entry was a video explaining his credentials for representing Ireland on a global stage. This video has got him to the second from last stage and now as the only Irish chef to reach this stage he needs the town of Dundalk and the country of Ireland to get behind him and vote via social media.

John has been a passionate chef for over 20 years and has been fortunate enough to be able to open a restaurant in his home town of Dundalk five years ago.

John said he is committed to creating an accessible menu that showcases the wealth of local products on our doorstep. Hes forged great relationships with local suppliers in order to bring the freshest, most affordable products to his customers. He has a particular interest in Mediterranean flavours and this is reflected in his seasonal dishes on the menu.

And on Friday night local publicans, restaurants, suppliers, local businesses and chamber reps came together at the Townhouse to show their support for the award-winning chef in the World Paella Day Competition 2024.

We gave everyone a taste of just one of John's paella recipes that will feature on our special boards throughout summer.

There was a great buzz and enthusiasm from those who attended and all left with full bellys ready to spread to get behind

John in the voting, our only Irish representative and one of our own from dtown

Voting takes only a few minutes by clicking on the link on the Townhouse's social media stories @townhousedundalk, or you can find John's video on the World Paella Day Competition website and please dont forget to verify your email address.
Yayoi Kusamas Dreaming of Earths Sphericity, I Would Offer My Love is set to reopen at SFMOMA.  Yayoi Kusama

Visitors to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art will get another chance to indulge their senses inside one of Yayoi Kusamas mirrored Infinity Rooms as Dreaming of Earths Sphericity, I Would Offer My Love is set to reopen this weekend.

The installation, included with general museum admission, will be on long-term view starting Saturday, June 22, and will also be open to visitors on regular free days at SFMOMA.

Originally featured in the 94-year-old Japanese artists first solo museum exhibition in Northern California, which ended on May 28, Dreaming of Earths Sphericity, I Would Offer My Love is now scheduled to remain open through January.

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Yayoi Kusamas Dreaming of Earths Sphericity, I Would Offer My Love.  Yayoi Kusama

Although Kusama has created mirrored environments since the 1960s, the immersive art installations that produce infinite reflections of lights and shapes have recently surged in popularity as backdrops for social media images. Despite earlier controversy over her past writings, for which she has apologized, the SFMOMA show drew 2,000 visitors daily.

After Kusama apologized for some writings perceived as anti-Black last fall, SFMOMA Director Christopher Bedford defended the museums role in supporting artists and continuing the exhibition.

More Information Yayoi Kusamas Dreaming of Earths Sphericity, I Would Offer My Love: 1-8 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Monday. June 22-January 2025. $19-$25. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 151 Third St., S.F. 415-357-4000. www.sfmoma.org

We think that this is an opportunity  to disclose and also condemn her expression from the late 60s at the same time as presenting the work in the present, Bedford told the Chronicle, adding that the institution is committed to truth in interpretation, not censorship.
Jamal Blake-Williams, from left, Joe Poz and Nate Valentine pose in the window of their new North Beach bar April Jean. Camille Cohen/Special to the Chronicle

A crew of San Francisco bar industry veterans is ready to bring a storied location back to life with a cocktail spot inspired by their mothers.

April Jean opens its doors on Friday night in North Beach, at 1371 Grant Ave., the longtime home of dive and live music venue Grant & Green Saloon. The new bar keeps the address longtime tradition as a bar, which goes back 100 years, with a hip, midcentury look and a concise list of craft cocktails.

The business is the latest from Jamal Blake-Williams and Nate Valentine, best known for their handsome bars Harper & Rye and Peacekeeper, as well as concert venue August Hall. Joining the duo is Joe Poz, the former beverage director at August Hall, who worked with Blake-Williams for 10 years at other bars. The team assembled in 2023 to purchase the space.

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Bar April Jean opened in a space that has housed bars for about 100 years. Camille Cohen/Special to the Chronicle

April Jean is inspired by the owners love and appreciation for their mothers, Valentine said, taking its name from Blake-Williams and Pozs moms, April Jean and Jean, respectively. My mom might be a bit sad about not being in the name, but I think she will be OK, Valentine said in jest.

However, Valentines mother, Patricia, may take solace in a Pats Choice ($13) cocktail. Its made with rhum agricole, sour lime, condensed milk and a bit of pie crust. Its one entry in a focused menu featuring matriarchs names, developed by Poz, who tapped into memories of his mothers cooking to develop drinks. The sparkling April Jean ($13) is inspired by lemon bars, and features vodka, spiced citrus oil and amaro. The Bitter Louise ($13) cocktail mixes gin with rhubarb bitters, absinthe and lemon.

A small selection of red, white and sparkling wines will be available, along with beer from local craft brewers. Budweiser in cans will also be on the menu, in a nod to the locations long history of dive bars.

Joe Poz, part owner of April Jean, behind the black stone bar, one of many thoughtfully chosen design elements. Camille Cohen/Special to the Chronicle

In line with Blake-Williams and Valentines other bars, April Jean will also feature eye-catching design. The homage to the owners mothers is unmistakable, with photos of them inside. Brittany Busacca, Blake-Williams wife, developed the look, taking elements from midcentury modern styles. Architect Nick Polansky and builder Julian Snellgrove installed reclaimed old-growth redwood throughout the bar, from cabinets and drink rails to seating and banquettes, in a nod to San Franciscos 19th century architecture. The bar top is made from black stone. There are banquettes and nooks around the space for groups to gather and hang out.

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We probably spent too much money on this type of stuff, but we want to have a place that will stand the test of time, Valentine said.

As part of the revamp, the team went down to the studs, uncovering four layers of walls erected by the past owners during the many iterations of bars at the location. During the buildout, the bar was moved opposite from where it has been for decades. Behind the newly built bar, the team sealed a time capsule with a few bottled drinks, photos of the founders and, of course, a note that documents the owners love for their moms.

The Pats Choice cocktail, named for the mother of one of the bar owners. Camille Cohen/Special to the Chronicle

We talk about how much our moms mean to us and the inspiration behind the name, Valentine said. We hope someone finds it after were all long gone.

April Jean. 1371 Grant Ave., San Francisco. 2 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday-Sunday barapriljean.com
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is abandoning the center-running bike lanes on Valencia Street  which are generally reviled by businesses, cyclists and drivers  and relocating them curbside. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle 2023

San Franciscos quest for a perfect Valencia Street  one that keeps cyclists and pedestrians safe, drivers calm and businesses thriving  remains elusive.

On Tuesday, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency unveiled a new plan to abandon its controversial center-running bike lanes, installed last year and generally reviled by businesses, cyclists and drivers alike, and relocate them curbside.

The bike lane between 15th and 23rd streets was the first of its kind in San Francisco, and it is odd. Two bike lanes running in different directions occupy the middle of the street. Cars move on either side of them, with parking at the curb.

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Theres almost no precedent for this design choice nationally, and everyone who used the street seemed to find it confusing. Cyclists reported feeling stuck in the lane, unsure how to safely exit mid-block or turn at an intersection. Left turns were banned to prevent motorists from crossing over the bike lanes  and yet many drivers continued to do so anyway. The road for motorists is so narrow that they cant pass an idling vehicle, creating tension and leading to honking horns. Merchants, unable to unload vehicles in front of their storefronts, hate it  with one business owner going on a hunger strike in protest of the layout.

Now, less than a year after construction was finalized, the agency is ready to ditch the design and try something new.

So, was this entire center bike lane idea a waste of time and money?

Valencias center-running bike lanes were always considered a pilot project, and the great thing about pilots is that they come with data. Valencia Street is a bustling commercial corridor and is also one of the flattest streets in the Mission District, making it popular with cyclists. Accordingly, its long been on the citys list of high-injury corridors. Before the pilot, it had an average of two collisions per month, half of which involved a cyclist.

Since the bike lanes were installed, theres been a slight but unimpressive drop in bike collisions and no change in collisions with pedestrians. Car traffic is down, with around 2,000 fewer cars on the street each day, which is around 23% less than before the bike lanes were installed.

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And then there were what SFMTA Transportation Director Jeffrey Tumlin, in an interview with the editorial board, called the unintended consequences. Largely: business owners were unhappy.

Valencia Street has not bounced back from the pandemic like other areas. The citys chief economist analyzed 29 commercial corridors late last year and found that most had returned to about 90% of the business they sustained pre-pandemic.

Valencia only has 70% of the sales levels it had in 2019. Dozens of businesses have closed in the past year.

Facing such dire economic realities, its understandable why merchants may blame the citys strange, experimental bike lane on the decline. However, the data does not back up that claim.

Those bikeway improvements do not contribute to explaining why Valencia Street had a weak business performance, Chief Economist Ted Egan told the Municipal Transportation Agency board. Its possible that some businesses were affected, but if there were any negative impacts on some businesses there would have to be positive impacts on others in order to create this net effect.

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If thats the case, there should be a concerted effort to identify exactly why this corridor has not rebounded and to provide business owners with the support they need to thrive.

Some merchants are cautiously optimistic that the proposed street redesign will help. The Valencia Corridor Merchants Association released a statement after the agency board voted to approve the change Tuesday, saying that it is pleased that the SFMTA has finally voted to remove the center bike lane on Valencia Street. However, they also stated that its support for a final design is contingent on the agency designing a street that accommodates cyclists, but also brings back customer parking.

The curbside bike lane, while still being designed, is unlikely to do that.

As the city heads back to the drawing board, new controversies are arising. Should the bike lane slalom around parklets, for example, or should it run between parklets and the sidewalk?

Tumlin is realistic about the difficulties in negotiating conflicting community feedback.

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In order to make sure that everyone has everything that they need, no one can get everything that they want, he said. Were trying to fine-tune the dials.

No system will operate perfectly when so many modes of transportation are forced to interact with one another on a busy commercial corridor. As one business owner put it, Valencia Street is not wide enough to have everything smooshed into one street.

What we choose to smoosh is the crux of the issue.

Center bike lanes are clearly not the way forward for Valencia Street, but they started a conversation. Before they were installed, any discussion about whether or not bike lanes should weave around parklets and how much parking its OK to lose  let alone big ideas like making the street one-way or removing cars altogether  would have been a political nonstarter, Tumlin said.

About Opinion The editorial positions of The Chronicle, including election recommendations, represent the consensus of the editorial board, consisting of the publisher, the editorial page editor and staff members of the opinion pages. Its judgments are made independent of the news operation, which covers the news without consideration of our editorial positions.

The same could be said of banning left turns on the corridor, which are especially dangerous for pedestrians.

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THE Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station in Union Hall is ten years old this year, and between operations, crew, shore, management and fundraising, there are around 60 volunteers.

The village hosts a vibrant fishing port and maintains a deep connection with the sea.

Just two years before the RNLI got a base in Union Hall, in 2012, there was a reminder of just how lethal the sea can be.

Hardly a mile from the coast, a fishing tragedy struck and five lives were lost. Devastation reverberated through the fishing community, with the towns of Union Hall and Glandore feeling it most.

Fishermen Michael Hayes, Kevin Kershaw, Saied Aly Eldin, Attia Shaban and Wael Mohamed lost their lives when their vessel, Tit Bonhomme sank.

Wael Mohammads brother, Abdelbak, was the only survivor, somehow making it to the shore amid perilous January conditions.

However, long before the RNLI set up base in Union Hall, local people had been supporting the lifesaving organisation.

Despite not having their own RNLI rib until 2014, the town has a 50-year history of fundraising for it.

Pamela Deasy, who hails from a fishing family in Union Hall, is a mature student at UCC and a life-long RNLI volunteer.

In the early days, long before there was a station at Union Hall, she was a fundraiser, and soon after the station launched in 2014, she became Station Press Officer.

She shares her insights into what catalysed the formation of the RNLI in her home town, and tells me about the community-led initiatives that have helped keep the lifeboats afloat in West Cork.

I always wondered how different things might have been for the crew of the Tit Bonhomme had we had an RNLI boat here at that time, Pamela tells me, on the pier in Union Hall.

Harriet and Ellen ORegan with Pamela Deasy, who have all been instrumental in fundraising for the RNLI. Picture by Noel Sweeney

The two flank stations of Baltimore and Courtmacsherry answered the call on the fateful morning. What followed was a month-long search to recover the lost bodies, with the fifth and final one recovered a month after the tragedy.

Every day down here there were thousands of people turning from all over, recalls Pamela of that sad search.

There was food sent from all over Ireland, support came, money came. In times of crisis, peoples humanity really shone through.

After that tragedy, I wrote a letter, in April, 2012, and basically said, if we had a lifeboat here, who knows what the outcome would have been that morning?

There was a loss of five lives in our harbour. It happened literally a mile from here and you think, when youve turned in the harbour, youre home, and unfortunately, they didnt get home.

Because I have grown up in a fishing industry and in a fishing family in a small community, Im fully aware of the dangers of the sea.

When the RNLI went operational in September, 2014, Pamela took on the role of Press Officer a couple of months after the station was set up.

But Im also involved with the fundraising committee as well. I sell souvenirs that youd buy at stations, Pamela explained

Having grown up in a fishing family, and having seen first-hand the devastation the sea can bring to communities, it was always second nature for Pamela to involve herself in the RNLI.

I suppose its bred into me, she said.

My mother would have been fundraising here for years and I would have been involved with her as a child, helping her with the biscuit tin, collecting money back over the years.

Across the UK and Ireland, the service has always relied on fundraising by volunteers and has never received funding of any kind from Irish or UK governments. Fundraising is the backbone of the RNLI.

But its about more than money; it binds a community together in a common purpose to ensure safety for all who venture into the water.

Ellen ORegan is a local primary school teacher and the chair of Fund-raising for Union Hall RNLI. Her late father had also played a pivotal role in fundraising for the organisation.

She acknowledges peoples generosity when it comes to making donations to the RNLI

People are great, really. A big thing is a Flag Day each year in May, so that brings in a lot.

We have our annual swim, every summer in June. We have coffee, a quiz at Christmas time. They are the main things really, Ellen said.

She uses her involvement in the RNLI to educate young generations in her school about the dangers of the sea.

I can educate them on a bit of water safety. Its good to keep local kids interested in it as well.

The RNLI does join forces with some government agencies on international initiatives related to water safety and drowning prevention programmes, such as working with fishers in Bangladesh on water safety and World Drowning Prevention Day, which happens annually on July 25.

This September will be the precise month of the 200th birthday of the RNLI, and also of the tenth birthday of Union Hall RNLI.

In the decade Pamela has been involved with the service at Union Hall, how has it benefited the community the most?

I suppose theres more emphasis on water safety and, especially, I think, for our own community and for holidaymakers that use this community during the summer, they have that added protection, an extra layer for when theyre here, that if they do get into difficulty in the water, that this service is here.

Were operational 24-7 and I suppose its just peace of mind for a lot of people that they can go out in the harbour.

This harbour is very busy between kayaking, commercial fishing, a rowing club, swimming clubs, sailing clubs, everyone uses this harbour.

So, its a busy little harbour in the summer and they have that extra layer of protection, that they know they can dial 999 or 112 if they get into difficulty and were literally a couple of minutes away from them. Ms Deasy said.
Tell us a little bit about yourself:

I have a love of the ocean which stems from spending summers in Church Bay, Crosshaven, where my grandfather built a house in the 50s. I love to travel and in my 20s headed off abroad to work and to see as many countries as possible. I ended up working at sea for many years, working with several cruise companies managing their tour departments which took me all over the world. I was lucky enough to be based out of places like Barbados, Egypt, Rio, UK and Majorca which allowed access to cruise itineraries in South America and the Caribbean, Norwegian Fjords, the Baltics, Russia and the Mediterranean and there was a full-world cruise squeezed in there as well at some stage.

Having spent so much time seeing what other countries had to offer, I returned to Ireland and started Cork Sea Safari. I could see there was an opportunity to provide tours of our magnificent harbour.

Only recently I have started Kinsale Sea Safari with a business partner of mine which is growing in popularity very quickly. People are loving the opportunity to be able to take tours to The Old Head of Kinsale.

Also, as great as the boat trips are, you have to keep in mind its a seasonal business and in reality theres only about four busy months of the year, which are May to August. As much as I love it, it would be very hard to make a living from it and everyone that I know in the business usually works two jobs. I work with the emergency services in Cork city for Cork City Fire Brigade which is a great job and theres never a dull moment. We do a lot of shift work, nights, days and weekends but this affords us time to do other things.

Jason Corkery of Cork Sea Safari, with tourists.

What is your ideal way to spend a Friday night?

Id say my ideal Friday night would be a barbecue at home with a few friends and family. I try to make the most of the long summer evenings in May and June. Throw a few burgers and wings into the mix, a few cold beers, a fire pit and good company. What more would you want?

Lie ins or up with the lark, which is it for you?

Usually its up at the dawn. Even though I love my bed, lie ins are a thing of the past. With a busy house full of kids those days are gone for now.

The morning between 6am to 8am is a great time to get a few things done.

My partner Emma would probably say that I get the lie ins compared to her as shes a very busy lady.

Does work creep into your weekend at all?

Work and the weekend go hand in hand. In the fire station we work every other weekend. A Saturday or Sunday shift is 24 hours and if Im not there Im either on the water around Cork Harbour or in Kinsale. Its just part of our life now.

If money was no object where would you head to on a weekend city break? And who would you bring with you?

Oh thats a difficult question but Id have to take city out of your question. If I have a weekend to enjoy Im definitely not going to spend it in any city. I think in Ireland its got to be Dingle or the Aran Islands. Both are magical places with stunning scenery, a special kind of atmosphere and a great mix of domestic and international tourism which add to the character. Id bring the whole family and well be heading there in July at some stage to visit the aquarium and to do Slay Head drive for a picnic with the kids.

If we could get away for a little longer, Fuerteventura is a fantastic destination. We usually stay in Corralejo in the north. Having travelled the world I think the beach there in the Nation Park is one of the best Ive ever seen.

Closer to home, is there some place you like to head to recharge the batteries?

We are blessed in Crosshaven with the amount of walks and beaches within a stones throw. We like to visit Church Bay.

I spent every summer climbing the rocks as a child, fishing, swimming and being surrounded by cousins and aunts and uncles.

Fountainstown is great for a paddle and ice cream or Rocky Bay for the scenery on a low tide during the winter months is great.

Jason at sea.

Do you like to catch up with family/friends at the weekend?

Yeah, Im pretty close to my family and we see each other regularly.

Do you get to indulge any hobbies? Even as a spectator?

I enjoy a bit of rugby. The Six Nations especially. I also go to watch a few local games.

Most of the trips I do along the coast I probably consider a hobby too. I love the scenery, history, wildlife, coastal birds, and the sense of freedom. This year has been exceptional for marine wildlife. Ive seen more basking sharks around The Old Head more than any other time in my life and we are seeing pods of dolphins very often and weve seen lots of minke whales between Cork Harbour and Kinsale too.

Entertain or be entertained? If its the latter do you have a signature dish?

Yes, seafood paella, overflowing with mussels, prawns, seafood mix and chorizo. I have my own paella dish and, if I can, do the lot on the barbecue. Along with a bottle of white wine, its a perfect combination.

We have so many places to eat out in Cork  where are your go to spots for coffee/ lunch/ special meal?

Three Fools for a coffee, thats an easy one. I took Orlando Bloom there for a coffee last year, but thats a whole other story. Oh, did I mention Katy Perry was with us too? I had the pleasure of showing them around Cork last year. It was gas, I walked the length of the city with both of them and no one copped it at all. They were onboard a visiting cruise ship and just wanted to see a few places before being dropped to their private jet in Cork airport.

We head to The Lodge in Myrtleville with the family on a occasion which is really chilled and do a great curry.

If its just the two of us, I am fond of a visit to Elbow Lane in the city. They do a great steak.

Jason feeding a seal.

Sunday night comes around too fast, how do you normally spend it?

If Im really lucky I might get to see some live music and have a pint in Crosshaven but usually its just preparing for the week ahead. Schedules, emails, social media etc and Emma is really busy getting the kids sorted for their week ahead too.

What time does your alarm clock go off on Monday morning?

No need for an alarm clock anymore. From about 7am there could be up to six of us in the bed.

Anything else you are up to right now?

Kinsale is the big thing. I think its going to be really busy in the future. The scenery around the Old Head is stunning and the views of Charles Fort and James Fort from the water just add to a really special trip.
Three moderate members of the San Francisco Board of Education have endorsed progressive incumbent Matt Alexander for reelection. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle 2022

It is not hyperbole to suggest that the futures of the San Francisco Unified School District and the nearly 50,000 kids it serves are currently on the line.

San Francisco cant solve these crises without a hyper-competent school board laser-focused on outcomes.

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This has not been the reality for many years.

But four of seven school board seats are up for grabs in the November election  priming the board for a radical transformation and a new era of fiscal responsibility.

That is if backroom shenanigans dont set off a political war that sends the district into even greater chaos first.

Earlier this month, three moderate candidates  Jaime Huling, Parag Gupta and John Jersin  formed an unexpected alliance with progressive incumbent Matt Alexander, whos served on the board since 2021 and alienated many parents by voting in favor of, among other things, renaming schools and ending merit-based admissions at the prestigious Lowell High School.

Even more surprisingly, the teachers union, United Educators San Francisco, formally endorsed Alexander and the parent-backed trio  marking the first time in at least a decade that the group has aligned itself with moderate candidates.

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At first glance, this certainly seems like a positive development: Democrats finally putting aside their differences for the sake of San Franciscos children.

The alliance also staves off a bruising election fight between moderate and union-backed candidates when the city is already embroiled in other costly intraparty battles, including the San Francisco mayors race. And it all but guarantees a 5-2 moderate majority if Huling, Gupta and Jersin  who impressed parents by vowing to focus on student outcomes, data and fiscal solvency  were to join incumbent moderates Lainie Motamedi and Lisa Weismann-Ward. (Motamedi, Weismann-Ward and Alida Fisher were elected to four-year terms ending in 2026.)

Rather than celebrating, however, many parents have greeted the deal with suspicion and outrage.

They betrayed our trust, Siva Raj, co-founder of SF Guardians, the parent group that spearheaded the 2022 recall of board members Gabriela Lopez, Alison Collins and Faauuga Moliga, told me. The group recently voted overwhelmingly to rescind its endorsements of Gupta and Jersin.

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And this week, SF Parents  another influential advocacy group that formed during the pandemic  held a tense and at times emotional virtual town hall with Huling, Gupta and Jersin, all of whom went through the groups Board of Education boot camp. (SF Parents has endorsed Huling and Gupta and is weighing whether to support Jersin.)

The town hall made clear that many parents found the trios decision to endorse Alexander incomprehensible and potentially inexcusable. They struggled to understand why the three candidates had aligned themselves with Alexander instead of Supryia Ray, who was the top vote-getter in both SF Parents and SF Guardians endorsement process.

Huling, Gupta and Jersin told me that they decided to support Alexander after multiple conversations demonstrated they could work together productively. Huling added that she was really surprised and impressed by the growth that hes shown  in his governance decisions and votes.

I made mistakes, Alexander acknowledged to me, adding that hes learned leadership is about being inclusive, not taking an ideological position and shoving it down some peoples throats.

Yet many parents remain skeptical, noting that Alexander in 2021 proposed an alternative school budget that dismissed the advice of state fiscal experts. They also accuse him of being dismissive of parent concerns.

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It doesnt help that the four candidates endorsements of each other  no matter how earnest  were undeniably part of a larger political calculus.

Huling, Gupta and Jersin hadnt earned much support from rank-and-file members of the teachers union during its endorsement process. But Alexander, the unions top vote-getter, told me he vouched for the three of them with union leadership. (The union did not respond to a request for comment.)

So did Nate Albee, a campaign consultant for each of the four candidates (whos also a spokesperson for Assembly Member Matt Haney, D-San Francisco). Albee told me that union leaders suggested they would be more open to backing the three moderates if they endorsed Alexander.

This is an unbelievable, epic win, Albee told me. Were going to have teachers, the union, the moderates and the school board all for the most part on the same side moving forward.

How that can be twisted into a loss, he added, really shows the level of mistrust and anger that we have right now.

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But with student outcomes in the tank, the district on the brink of insolvency and painful COVID memories still hanging overhead, its not much of a surprise that a partnership cutting out parents preferred candidate and elevating arguably their least favorite hasnt been met with cheers and roses.

After all, is it really a peace deal if all the warring factions dont agree to the terms?

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

The alliance may be a good-faith attempt to bring different sides together. But its secretive, quid-pro-quo appearance also reopened old wounds that had never fully healed.
POSTAL voting should be extended to all citizens to ensure they can vote even if they are out of the country on polling day, says Cork East TD David Stanton.

The Fine Gael TD made the suggestion in the Dail this week as he recounted experiences he had while canvassing for the recent local and European elections.

Mr Stanton said that he had encountered people who told him they wanted to vote but because they had arranged to go on holidays or were out of the country on business, they were unable to cast a ballot on polling day.

Currently, Irelands postal voting is restricted to specific groups such as students, people with disabilities, diplomats, and members of the Defence Forces, said Mr Stanton.

I argue that this system should be expanded to cover all Irish citizens who are temporarily unavailable to vote.

Positive steps have already been taken in this regard, including the expansion of the postal voting system to those with mental health issues and the establishment of An Coimisiun Toghchain, the independent statutory body that oversees elections in Ireland, under the Electoral Reform Act 2022.

Mr Stanton also cited examples in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and in the UK where the last day for securing a postal vote before the July 4 general election passed last week.

Mr Stanton said that the current postal voting system did establish a precedent and because a secure and efficient postal voting system was in place already, expanding it would be a natural progression, not an unprecedented leap.

Minister of state at the Department of Finance, Neale Richmond, said that there was a commitment made by the Elections Commission, An Coimisiun Toghchain, to examine the issue and that a report on the commissions research priorities would be published in the coming weeks.

While speaking in the Dail, the Cork East TD acknowledged that it would be unlikely that the question would be resolved before the next general election.

This demonstrates that it takes a long time to get anything done in this country, he said.
VETERAN West Cork councillor, Joe Carroll, appears to be in pole position to become the County Mayor at todays Council Annual General Meeting following what sources described as fruitful talks involving his party, Fianna Fail, Labour and independent councillors.

While remaining tight-lipped on the likely candidates for the role of Corks first citizen, Seamus McGrath, the Fianna Fail leader on the council, said that talks involving his own party, Labour and the independents about the work agenda for the new term as well as positions were going well.

Fine Gaels lead negotiator John Paul OShea spoke to The Echo in advance of a meeting with party colleagues on Wednesday and said his party would continue its talks right up to Fridays meeting.

Joe Carroll was first elected to Skibbereen Town Council in 1999 and took a seat on Cork County Council in 2004.

He lives in Skibbereen with his wife, Sheila, and has also served as chairman of the Southern Regional Assembly, a representative body which draws together members of local authorities in Cork, Kerry and other southern region counties.

After all the votes were counted from the June 7 election, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael were finely poised on 19 and 18 seats respectively. As there are 55 elected councillors, the threshold for a majority is 28 seats, leaving independent councillors, and those from smaller parties, in a powerful king-making position.

There are four parties represented among the 18 councillors who hold the balance of power.

Cllr. Joe Carroll (Fianna Fail) casting his vote in Skibbereen on local and European election day. Picture: Andy Gibson.

Independent Ireland, with four seats, is the largest party grouping, with the Social Democrats close behind on three, Labour on two and Sinn Fein with a solitary councillor.

There are eight other councillors, a contingent which includes former Fianna Fail member, William OLeary, who topped the poll in the Fermoy electoral area after splitting from the party over its stance on migration. Peter ODonoghue, who has campaigned against vaccination and Covid related lockdown, was also elected in the Fermoy electoral area.

Speaking to The Echo this week, Danny Collins, who held the position of County Mayor in 2022/23 and was re-elected as councillor for Independent Ireland in West Cork-Bantry, agreed that the emerging narrative was that Fianna Fail, Labour and Independents would be able to put a majority together.

Thats what I believe at the moment, thats the news on the ground but a lot can change between now and Friday, said Mr Collins, who was elected Mayor as part of the Independent grouping during the 2019-24 term but stood on this occasion as an Independent Ireland representative.

Ive been talking with certain party leaders and Ive given them my feelings and what not and Ive told them where I stood so, at the moment, nothing is put down in concrete yet.

He hinted that a number of independent councillors might not be happy to go get involved in the proposed Fianna Fail/Labour/Independent arrangement or, at the very least, had some reservations.

Along with Joe Carroll, other names suggested as possible successors to Frank OFlynn, include Macroom Electoral Area poll-topper Gobnait Moynihan and Bernard Moynihan in Kanturk.

Seamus McGrath secured the highest vote of any candidate in the local authority elections across the country with more than 5,000 first preferences and may also be be keen to take the front line position given the speculation that his brother, Finance Minister, Michael McGrath, may be heading to Brussels to take up the role of Irelands EU Commissioner.

This would leave a vacancy on the Fianna Fail ticket in Cork South Central which the Carrigaline councillor might be tempted to fill.
Funding for schools providing summer programmes for vulnerable students has decreased significantly, as a Cork mum and carer says she counts the days until the summer holidays are over.

The Department of Education has confirmed that the capitation grant per student that is available to schools under the 2024 scheme has been cut by 33% for both primary and secondary schools.

Cork mum Sarah ODonovan has four children, 12-year-old Ryan who is autistic, 10-year-old Jack who has Pitt Hopkins Syndrome, four-year-old Cian who is autistic, and two-year-old daughter Miya.

Jack is severely intellectually disabled and Ms ODonovan explained that his school is doing a summer programme for the first two weeks of July. Her family also have a grant from Brothers of Charity for 60 hours of care over summer, if they find their own carer, which is not always easy, she said.

Other than that, youre on your own  and those services are only for Jack, I dont have help for the other kids.

Over the summer, you see other families going out for the day but we cant do that unless we have someone to come with us and help or someone to look after Jack. We dont do many days out, any of the fun stuff, she said.

What annoys me is Ryan can do summer camps, but theres no camps for Jack, theres nothing inclusive when it comes to complex needs.

I count down the days until the school is back open again, she said.

Carer burnout is a serious thing. My motto is who cares for the carer?

Im not allowed a sick day ever, part of that comes with being a mum, but if you had neurotypical kids you could put on a movie and give them a bag of popcorn  I never get to switch off.

Jack attends a special school in the city, and travels there by bus, Ms ODonovan explained.

Hes gone from about 7.30am until about 4.30pm in the evening and he loves school.

He really struggles without it, he is off sick today and hes really annoyed about it  he hates not having his routine and I cant fill his day like they do, its not physically possible.

Jack doesnt sleep well either, when hes out of his routine he forgets to sleep, so I dont sleep either  he disturbs everyone in the house when he doesnt sleep.

Her eldest son, Ryan understands Jacks condition, but he struggles to accept it, she said.

He feels very isolated  it isolates all of us, none of us can do what I call the Insta Stories days at the beach.

A spokesperson for the Department of Education explained that more than 1,700 schools have expressed an interest in running this years Summer Programme, an increase from 1,400 in 2023 and 1,300 in 2022.

While the non-pay grant for mainstream primary schools was 45 in 2023, the non-pay grant for 2024 has been reverted to the 30 rate per week which is in line with the rate for the Inclusion Programme in schools previously.

This rate is cognisant of all costs associated with running a summer programme.

The goal is to maximise the number of schools and children taking part.

The rate of capitation will be kept under review to ensure we can support schools as much as possible with this.
Crew members from Youghal RNLI, along with helicopter Rescue 117 and Youghal Coast Guard yesterday came to the aid of a kayaker who got into difficulty and ended up in the water near Capel Island.

The rescue was the first call out as lifeboat helm for Youghal RNLI volunteer Jack Nolan.

Mr Nolan, alongside crew members Liam Keogh, Alan Revins and Jason Innes, made their way to the scene following a request to launch at 7.40pm.

Weather conditions were described as favourable with a gentle south westerly breeze and falling tide.

Shortly after being requested, the crew arrived at the location and found the casualty who had been in the water for some time after falling from their kayak and being unable to climb back in.

The lifeboat crew took the casualty and the kayak onboard and started to make their way to Ring Strand near Knockadoon.

Upon arrival and concerned for the casualty's condition, the crew requested the help of the Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 117 from Waterford and Youghal Coast Guard.

Once ashore, the lifeboat crew handed the casualty into the care of Youghal Coast Guard where they received medical assistance.

Speaking after the call out, Mark Nolan, Youghal RNLI launch authority, said:

We want to wish the casualty a speed recovery following their ordeal and commend the person ashore who raised the alarm by dialling 112 on seeing someone in trouble as time is always of the essence in situations like these.

This routine training exercise turned into a call out for us but we are prepared for that too.

I would like to commend all involved for their work in bring this casualty onboard the lifeboat ashore, providing casualty care and then handing them into the care of our colleagues in the Coast Guard.
THERE was a full house in the chamber of Cork County Council as the authority held the first meeting of its new term, elected new mayor, West Cork Fianna Fail councillor Joe Carroll, and paid tributes to the ultimate Duracell bunny, the outgoing County Mayor, Frank OFlynn.

Family members and supporters of re-elected and newly elected members filled every available chair as the formalities of nominations and elections were observed to fill the roles of Mayor and Deputy Mayor as well as the various committees who carry out a significant proportion of the work of Cork County Council.

Much of the preparatory work had been done away from the council chamber as negotiating teams from the different parties held talks to decide who would be elected to the various positions over the next five years as well as setting out a work agenda for that term.

In the end, a broad alliance involving Fianna Fail, Labour and the Independent members managed to agree an agenda and the division of posts with the name of Joe Carroll, who started off his career in local politics with his election to Skibbereen Town Council in 1999 before being elected to Cork County Council in 2004, emerging as the favoured candidate to be elected the first Mayor of the new term.

Councillor Joe Carroll is the new Mayor of the County of Cork following a vote by members of Cork County Council.



Nominated by Councillor Seamus McGrath and seconded by Councillor Alan Coleman, Mayor Carroll will be the first Mayor for the newly elected Council.



A Fianna Fail pic.twitter.com/CGsn6lghwY  Cork County Council (@Corkcoco) June 21, 2024

As Seamus McGrath, the Fianna Fail leader on the council remarked, though he wasnt elected in 2009, this allowed him to come back more full of energy than ever in 2014 and he has been re-elected at every time of asking since.

After a roll-call vote, the election result was announced  the Skibbereen councillor secured the necessary 28 votes while Anthony Barry of Fine Gael received 21 votes with six abstentions.

Two of the Social Democrat councillors voted for Anthony Barry while the third councillor, Isabel Towse, was among the abstentions.

After receiving the chain of office from Frank OFlynn, the new mayor thanked the Fianna Fail, Labour and Independent pact which saw him elected to the lofty position as he described it and lost no time in setting out his priorities for his term.

My key priority is ensuring Cork County Council is properly funded by central government  which its not, said the new mayor.

Mayor Carroll paid tribute to his predecessor for his energy, he agreed with Alan Coleman, the leader of the Independent councillors who described Mr OFlynn as the "ultimate Duracell bunny".

The new mayor said he would disagree with Mr OFlynn over his thanks for the recent additional allocation of 3.7m for the roads damaged by extreme weather events such as Storm Babet.

I regard it as an insult, he said. I was expecting 30m or 40m.

Among the other priorities the new mayor set out was a review of outdoor staffing levels and a new look at the quandary faced by young couples seeking a house because their incomes were too high to qualify for social housing but to low to secure a mortgage.

The election of the new deputy mayor of Cork County Council took place after numerous tributes from his colleagues to the new mayor.

That post went to Independent, Martin Coughlan.

The Macroom electoral area representative was elected with 30 votes while there were 22 votes for the Fine Gael nominee, Marie OSullivan from Bandon/Kinsale, and three abstentions.
A 29-year-old man who was arrested in Cork, and whose fingerprint crosschecked for 27 different names across the UK and Europe, was remanded until July 2.

On the application of Sergeant Aisling Murphy, Judge Mary Dorgan remanded the defendant in custody until that date.

Sergeant John Kelleher said at an earlier sitting of Cork District Court that the 29-year-old mans identity was checked through a fingerprint taken from him and it matched six names in France and 21 identities in England.

He has not provided any information on his identity in Ireland. We dont know who he is. So how can we deal with it?

This man has not given any information, documents, or anything, Sgt Kelleher said.

Defence solicitor Eddie Burke said the accused gave his name as Yousoof Angelina, adding: I would have thought a fingerprint would have been conclusive.

Mr Burke said the accused came from Syria and arrived in Cork by ferry at Ringaskiddy.

The solicitor said the accused no longer had travel documents.

Judge Dorgan said previously that the accused man should arrange through friends or family to get his passport or identifying documentation.

The defendant spoke up at Cork District Court on the video link from Cork Prison to say: I dont have family. I dont have no one.

He faces a number of burglary charges at Cork District Court.

The charges against him refer to burglary at Marine Villas, Monkstown, County Cork, on January 25, and burglary at Shamrock Place, Ringaskiddy, the following day.

He is charged with stealing a bicycle at Ensign Bar, Monkstown, on January 26, stealing another bicycle at another location in Monkstown, and stealing one at Ringaskiddy on the same date. He is also charged with having cannabis for his own use.

Finally, he is charged with failing to produce a valid passport or equivalent document at Togher Garda station on January 26.
A major fundraising campaign to restore the former clubhouse of the Royal Cork Yacht Club was recently launched in Cobh.

The former clubhouse of the Royal Cork Yacht Club, now the Sirius Arts Centre, is regarded as being one of Irelands most architecturally significant buildings.

The 2m multi-phase restoration and conservation project is required to address the buildings structure, and will include terrace underpinning, the reinstatement of historic chimneys, lead roofing, distinctive roof lantern, remodelled gallery space, a new artist in residence facility, and a cafe.

Built in 1854 to house the worlds oldest yacht club, the Italianate-style clubhouse was designed by renowned architect Anthony Salvin, who worked on Windsor Castle, the Tower of London, and several other significant castles and buildings in Britain.

In the late 1980s, thanks to the work of Peter Murray and other Cobh locals who set up Sirius Commemoration  along with the generosity of American philanthropists William and Joan Roth  the building was given a new lease of life, culminating in the foundation of Sirius Arts Centre to serve as a cultural resource for the Harbour area in 1995.

Through the support of members of the Irish Georgian Society in the US, funds were successfully raised to reinstate key elements of the Salvin design under Phase 1 of the restoration project.

The Government  through the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage  is supporting Phase 2, which includes the underpinning works to ensure the structure of the building for the future.

Further funds are required for Phase 3  covering the repurposing of exhibition space, creation of a feature cafe, new artist in residence accommodation and studio, and improved accessibility of the building.

Sirius Arts Centre chairperson Glen Barry described the centre as an important architectural and historic site, as well as a significant cultural resource.

As stewards of this special building, we want and need to ensure its conservation and restoration now and into the future for all to enjoy, he said.

The president of the Irish Georgian Society, David Davies, said the restoration of the old clubhouse building has generated huge interest with the societys members  especially those in the US.

He said that a central role of the Irish Georgian Society is the conservation of Irelands built heritage, and that its support for the Sirius Arts Centre was driven by a wish to revitalise one of Irelands most magnificent maritime buildings.

Dr Tom McCarthy, of McCarthy Developments, and chairperson of the restoration project, described the Sirius Arts Centre as a special building overlooking Cork harbour. He highlighted the enormous potential to create an exciting new future.

The Sirius Arts Centre welcomes gifts and donations of all values, which can be made at siriusartscentre.ie or by contacting Sirius Arts Centre directly.
Celebrity chef Rachel Allen from Ballymaloe will collaborate with Isaacs Restaurant on MacCurtain Street for a pop-up dinner as part of the Cork on a Fork Festival.

Rachel, who has garnered acclaim for her approachable cooking style and commitment to using fresh, local ingredients, will craft a menu that highlights the finest produce from Ballymaloes organic farm and the freshest fish and shellfish from Ballycotton Bay for the dinner event on Sunday, August 18.

I am thrilled to be part of the Cork on a Fork Festival and to join forces with Isaacs Restaurant for this special dinner, Ms Allen said.

Its a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the wonderful produce we have at Ballymaloe and the stunning seafood from Ballycotton Bay. I cant wait to share these dishes with everyone.

Manager of Isaacs restaurant, Phil Ryan, described the collaboration with Ms Allen as one that epitomises the spirit of the Cork on a Fork Festival  celebrating local produce and culinary excellence.

Tickets for the pop-up dinner, which takes place at 6.30pm on Sunday, August 18, are priced at 100 and can be booked directly with Isaacs Restaurant or on their website.
AT least a dozen people had gathered outside a new property development in Cork earlier today, ahead of its official launch tomorrow.

The Bayly development, situated off the Carrigaline Rd in Douglas, is due to start home showings on Saturday from 12pm to 2pm  with a second round of showings on Sunday.

It is reported that queuing for the showings began as early as 2pm on Thursday.

It is understood that those who queued at the development are hoping to be in with a chance of getting to bid on one of the first 30 houses released within the 193-home development.

The estate will be comprised of mainly semi-detached houses, with the cheapest three-bed, mid-terrace townhouse available to expectant buyers priced from 445,000.

The estate will also have options for four-bed, mid-terrace townhouses from 560,000.

The project has received some 4,000 applications of interest, with most of the homes eligible for Help to Buy and First Homes schemes.

The properties will also come with an A2 BER, making them eligible for a green mortgages.

This will be the first development project in Cork delivered by Dublin-based developers Cairns Homes, with the properties sold to buyers through the letting agent Savills.

Savills has been contacted for comment on the matter.
THE newly-elected Lord Mayor described Cork as a city unafraid to do things differently or to learn from where things have been done differently, as he pledged to help the city achieve its potential this year.

Green Party councillor Dan Boyle was elected Lord Mayor at the annual meeting of Cork City Council this evening, with 22 votes.

He was nominated for the position by his party colleague Oliver Moran, who praised Mr Boyles commitment to public life and unwavering hope that things can be better.

In his inaugural speech, Mr Boyle said that when he began his public service, his motivation was to work towards achieving a better and safer world for his daughter and her generation.

Now that ambition is also for my grandchildren and theirs, he said.

He said he was glad to have the support of his family and recalled the reaction of his parents when he was first elected.

Newly elected Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Dan Boyle with his daughter Saoirse Boyle and grandaughter Liamhain Hurley Wise after his election. Picture David Creedon

They have gone to eternal reward, but I will always have the memory of the jig we danced together in our house, when we learned I would become a member of this council 33 years ago, he said.

Mr Boyle was congratulated by his ward colleague, Fine Gaels Shane OCallaghan who said, It doesnt matter whether theyre popular or unpopular, or very unpopular - you stick to your principles.

He recalled a residents meeting about a cycle lane the residents and other councillors were opposed to, saying you probably lost votes by going there, but you went anyway and you put forward your case because thats what you believe in.

His party colleague Honore Kamegni was elected as deputy Lord Mayor.

In his inaugural speech, Honore Kamegni said that he canvassed for 14 months and knocked on over 15,000 doors, and received all sort of online abuse, hostility and hatred."

Newley elected deputy Lord Mayor of Cork, Honore Kamegni with his wife Viviane. Picture David Creedon

He said however, I did not let any of these toxic comments distract me from my target. I was meeting and speaking to the real people at door steps and they were very supportive and encouraging, finishing his speech in Irish to a round of applause.

Independent councillor Paudie Dineen suggested that the candidate who topped the poll in each of the five constituencies should get to do one year of Lord Mayor each during the five-year council term.

Outgoing Lord Mayor Independent councillor Kieran McCarthy gave a final speech, congratulating all re-elected and newly elected councillors.

You have walked thousands of kilometres and knocked on many doors in your pilgrimage to take your seat today, he told them.

He highlighted that during his 52 weeks as Lord Mayor he attended over 1,600 events.

"Its been a very deep honour, its one thing writing about the history of Cork, but its another being part of it.

Finally, he said if Im going to go down in history as a singing Lord Mayor... before calling his partner, Marcelline Bonea, up to join him for a few bars of Oh What A Beautiful Morning.

The leaders of other party groupings thanked him for his service, with Fianna Fails Terry Shannon saying you taught us how to get out of a tight spot, by bursting into song  you did become the singing Lord Mayor, but you were far more than that.
Attack helicopter lifts off for flight training

China Military Online) 15:31, June 21, 2024

An attack helicopter attached to a brigade of the PLA Army lifts off for a flight training exercise on June 2, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Sun Changyi)

Attack helicopters attached to a brigade of the PLA Army lift off successively for a flight training exercise on June 2, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Sun Changyi)

Maintenance men assigned to a brigade of the PLA Army conduct inspections on helicopters during a flight training exercise on June 2, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Sun Changyi)

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
The U.S. Supreme Court, in an 8-1 ruling, upheld an existing federal law that prevent domestic abusers from owning guns. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Domestic abusers who have attacked or threatened someone in their household can be prohibited from owning guns, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday. The ruling upheld a federal law and will apply to laws in California and other states.

This was the first firearms case the court had considered since June 2022, when it ruled that Americans had a constitutional right to carry concealed guns in public, striking down laws in New York, California and elsewhere that required proof of a particular need for self-defense. The court said the government must prove that its restrictions were part of our nations historical tradition of firearms regulation, dating back to the countrys founding.

Lower courts have relied on that ruling to overturn other gun control laws, and it was cited by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans in striking down a 1994 federal law that barred gun ownership by anyone who has committed or threatened violence against a spouse, another family member or a domestic partner. Californias law, like laws in about half the states, goes further and applies to violence against dating partners.

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But in a 8-1 ruling Friday, the court said the Constitution allows the government to keep guns out of the hands of those whose actions show them to be dangerous, such as perpetrators of domestic violence.

When a restraining order contains a finding that an individual poses a credible threat to the physical safety of an intimate partner, that individual may  consistent with the Second Amendment  be banned from possessing firearms while the order is in effect, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion.

Since the founding, our Nations firearm laws have included provisions preventing individuals who threaten physical harm to others from misusing firearms, Roberts said.

In a lone dissent, Justice Clarence Thomas said the federal law violates the Second Amendment, which protects the right to keep and bear arms.

Under the majoritys ruling, Thomas wrote, the Government can strip the Second Amendment right of anyone subject to a protective order  even if he has never been accused or convicted of a crime. He noted that the restraining order in this case, issued by a judge, was not a criminal conviction.

Gun control groups were relieved by Fridays decision.

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The Supreme Court ensured that the lives and safety of millions across the country will be protected over the desires of gun rights extremists, said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, the executive director of the group Moms Demand Action. This is a win for the gun safety movement and another loss for the gun lobby hell-bent on putting lives in danger.

The ruling was also welcomed by Gabrielle Giffords, who was a congresswoman in Arizona in 2011 when she was shot in the head and wounded by a gunman who killed six people, including a federal judge. Giffords left Congress in 2012 and founded the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, which is headquartered in San Francisco.

Women should be able to live their lives free from the fear of gun violence, she said in a statement. We know that firearms make domestic abuse situations significantly more deadly, and firearms effects on womens safety is a crisis. This ruling is a small step in the fight to stop violence against women.

The impact for women was also noted by Justice Sonia Sotomayor in a concurring opinion joined by Justice Elena Kagan. They said a woman living in a home with a domestic abuser is five times as likely to be murdered if the abuser has access to a gun.

While firearms advocates had urged the court to overturn the federal law, Chuck Michel, the president and general counsel of the California Rifle & Pistol Association, said Fridays ruling was very narrow.

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It did not decide whether the government can prohibit broad classes of people from possessing arms permanently, and it rejected the governments argument that 'irresponsible' people could prohibited from possessing arms, Michel said. He said his organization, affiliated with the National Rifle Association, could use some parts of the ruling to challenge other California gun laws.

For example, said Eric Ruben, a law professor at Southern Methodist University and a senior fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University, gun owners could still challenge laws in California and other states that states that allow a judge to issue temporary disarmament orders without holding a hearing. The federal law that the court upheld requires a hearing that the gun owner can attend, but state laws authorize judges to prohibit gun possession for a week or more before holding a hearing on a longer-term ban.

The ruling was definitely a victory for domestic-abuse survivors but still leaves open a lot of questions, Ruben said.

The Firearms Policy Coalition, which had filed arguments asking the court to overturn the law, said it disagreed with the ruling because the federal government has no constitutional authority to impose gun control on peaceable individuals, though it did not mention the violent actions of the gun owner in Fridays case. But the group said it would continue to work to eliminate disarmament schemes and was encouraged that the court had maintained its historical analysis of challenged gun restrictions.

The ruling shows that the court will not overturn all gun control laws and indicates that lower courts may have gone too far in relying on the 2022 decision to strike down restrictions on gun possession, said Joseph Blocher, a Duke University law professor and the co-director of the schools Center for Firearms Law.

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The court confirmed what common sense suggests, that when individual poses a clear threat of physical violence to another, the threatening individual can be disarmed, Blocher said.

The case involved Zackey Rahimi, a Texas man who was found by a judge to have assaulted his girlfriend and threatened to shoot her. Citing the federal law, the judge barred Rahimi from possessing firearms, but he ignored the court order and fired shots in public on five different occasions in the next two months.

Firearms advocates noted that the judge had ruled against Rahimi in a civil proceeding, not a criminal case, and that no laws at the time of the nations founding or the next few decades prohibited gun ownership by someone who had not been convicted of a crime.

The appeals court agreed, saying the government might be able to deny gun ownership to anyone who got a speeding ticket and was found potentially dangerous by a judge in a civil hearing. That ruling, if upheld by the Supreme Court, could have invalidated not only the federal law but also laws in California and 24 other states.

But in Fridays majority opinion, Roberts said disarmament of domestic abusers was consistent with laws dating back at least to the 17th century, when England authorized officers to seize guns from anyone judged dangerous to the peace of the Kingdom. He cited early surety laws in many U.S. states requiring gun owners to post bonds that they would forfeit if they were found to be carrying guns without reasonable cause.

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Those laws confirm what common sense suggests, the chief justice wrote. When an individual poses a clear threat of physical violence to another, the threatening individual may be disarmed.

Thomas, the author of the 2022 ruling on carrying concealed weapons, said in Fridays dissent that, unlike the current federal and state laws, the early U.S. laws did not prohibit gun ownership and required gun owners who violated the laws to surrender only their bond money, not their firearms.

States have a ready mechanism for disarming anyone who uses a firearm to threaten physical violence: criminal prosecution, Thomas wrote.

Unlike the federal law, which bans gun ownership only after a hearing that the gun owner is allowed to attend, Californias 1993 law allows brief restraining orders against firearms possession that a judge can issue without a hearing  for up to a week at the request of police contacted by the victim, and for another three weeks after a further request by the victim.

Then, after a hearing that both sides can attend, a California judge can extend the order for as long as five years.

State Attorney General Rob Bontas office said the rate of domestic violence-related killings is much lower in California than it is nationwide and added that from 1993 through 2019, domestic violence gun homicides in the state declined by 61%.

A nationwide study from 2014 to 2019 found that in more than two-thirds of all mass shootings, meaning shootings that killed or wounded at least four people, at least one of the slain victims was a partner or family member, or the perpetrator had a history of domestic violence.
THIRTEEN people in Cork were among thousands granted Irish citizenship in ceremonies today and on Thursday at the Convention Centre Dublin (CCD), in Dublin.

Around 5,400 applicants from 143 countries and living in 30 counties on the island of Ireland were conferred.

The events followed ceremonies in Killarney last week, attended by 4,800 applicants.

It is a great pleasure to, once more, attend a citizenship ceremony, my first opportunity to do so as Taoiseach, Simon Harris said.

These ceremonies are magnificent celebrations of all that it is to be Irish.

The richness of our nation isnt measured in wealth. It is measured in people.

Our newest citizens are part of us, and we of them.

I am very grateful to those who have made Ireland their home.

They contribute to the rich fabric of our nation and make exceptional contributions in a range of areas: From health and home care, to culture and construction, to transport and tourism.

I am very grateful to each of our new citizens for choosing Ireland as the home of their hearts and the home of our future.

Wishing the new Irish citizens well, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said citizenship is about belonging.

It connects you to this country, to your neighbours, and the generations that came before.

Citizenship in Ireland comes with both rights and responsibilities.

The rights protect your freedom and ensure that you have a voice in the direction our country takes.

Citizenship also brings responsibilities.

I encourage you to participate in your communities and share your skills, traditions and cultures, which can only enrich ours.

My heartfelt congratulations go out to all our newest citizens conferred at this weeks citizenship ceremonies.

Ireland is all the better for having you here and you are valued members of our society, she added.

The Department of Justice said that the citizenship division has introduced significant changes to speed up the applications process, including the introduction of an online digital application, online payments, and eVetting.

People attend citizenship ceremonies for more than 5,400 people at the Convention Centre in Dublin. Brian Lawless/PA Wire

These changes, the department said, have significantly reduced the processing times, which had lengthened due to the limits placed on staff attendance in the office during the pandemic.

In recent years, the median processing time for applications had peaked at 19 months. However, the majority of new applicants can now expect to receive a decision in 12 months, where documentation is in order.

It is the case that some international checks can take a considerable amount of time and are largely out of the control of the department.

Over the last two years, the citizenship division has gone from processing around 12,000 applications a year to processing over 20,000 applications in 2023, the department continued.

To date in 2024, 16,000 decisions have been made.

Ceremonies were introduced in 2011 to mark the occasion of the granting of citizenship.

Last year, the citizenship division more than doubled the number of ceremonies, with 15 held over the course of the year.

The department said this marked a significant increase on the six citizenship ceremonies held in 2022.

It is envisioned that this number will be significantly surpassed this year, with 15 ceremonies already taking place by the end of June, it added.

The new Irish citizens have agreed to faithfully observe the laws of the State and to respect its democratic values.

The presiding officers at the ceremonies today and on Thursday were retired judges Justice Deirdre Murphy and Justice Bryan McMahon, who administered the declaration of fidelity to the Irish nation and loyalty to the State.
AS disputably the second largest natural harbour in the world with sea fortifications over 400 years old and home to the oldest yacht club, Cork Harbour has a wealth of marine infrastructural heritage, most of which is still operational today. From the quays of the inner city to the plethora of jetties that line the seafront of Passage West, Cobh and Ringaskiddy, the harbour is a smorgasbord of marine structures that gets even the most sedate of coastal engineers excited. However, keeping these assets operational is an expensive activity, the Port of Cork Company, the largest asset owner in the harbour, estimates it spends approx. 5million alone on the maintenance of its quay structures every five years. Considering most of the operational quays in the harbour are over 100 years old, this figure will rise significantly with the added threats that climate change brings.

While we are all very aware of the climate driven flooding vulnerability in Cork City, the impact on the integrity of our marine structures can sometimes be a hidden issue, that is until a sudden failure occurs. This is particularly pertinent when considering groundwater flooding risks, whereby the groundwater pressure builds from the inside of the quay walls and remains after the levels in the Lee have receded causing an imbalance until the wall bursts out into the river. Through funding from Geological Survey Ireland, we are currently developing methods to better understand the groundwater element of flooding in the city centre, and this will help identify potential hotspots for historic structures at risk.

Unfortunately, there are more climate change related risks to consider when assessing marine infrastructure.

Increased storminess being an obvious one, it is predicted that wave heights will increase over this century as will the frequency at which storms batter our coast. The larger the waves the greater the pressure on the structures and the more likely they are to fail. The climate change driven increases in wave impacts will be most keenly felt in the lower harbour and of vulnerability is the Cobh seafront with its historic masonry quays. Masonry (cut stone) was one of the most widely used forms of quay wall construction in Cork harbour during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Masonry quays to their credit are fairly resilient due to the flexible nature of the block work with lime mortar joints and gravel based back filling. This form enables the structures to move slightly and thus absorb loads from waves or water pressure build up without significant damage. Despite this inherent resilience, there have already been some failures of masonry in Cork in the recent past due in part to increased waves action and washing out of the joints. The likelihood of repeat failure can be inadvertently increased when these structures are repaired with concrete which in the short term seems adequate but in fact the rigid nature of concrete means the masonry loses its flexibility and its not uncommon to see further damage present on quay walls beside a repaired section. Further out the harbour, towards Roches point, the magnificent sentinels that stand watch over the entrance to the harbour, Fort Meagher and Fort Davis are unlikely to be impacted by the increased waves but the masonry piers that serve both these forts are going to be under much greater pressure as the 21st century progresses.

Its not just our stone built marine heritage thats at increasing risk, the steel and concrete structures built in the 20th Century such as Tivoli, Verolme Cock Dock Yard, Marino Point, and even newer terminals in Aghada and Whitegate are at increased risk.

The main threat to both steel and reinforced concrete durability is rust.

The chlorides in salt water react with the circular steel piles and sheet piles and over time the piles lose thickness and hence strength. In reinforced concrete, the steel reinforcement bars rust, expand and crack the concrete, this is a trickier issue to solve. These types of failure happen over a long period of time (30  50 years) but the issue is that as our seas warm up and water acidity increases due to climate change it is expected that corrosion will accelerate reducing the available time to react while also increasing the costs and number of structures to repair. At UCC we are currently researching new lower carbon footprint high corrosion resistance concretes for use in corrosive environments with potential uses as a repair for these types of marine structures.

There is another type of rust caused by microorganisms that actually eats steel called Accelerated Low Water Corrosion (ALWC) and it is much more aggressive than your norm marine rust. It has become a major problem in harbours globally and is present in pockets of Cork Harbour. It can reduce even the thickest of steel piles to paper in a matter of years. The fear with ALWC is that because it thrives in polluted waters, increased temperatures will acclerate an already aggressive mechanism of structural failure. Its a key concern for the Jewel in the crown of marine hertiage in the harbour, the Spit Bank lighthouse located just off Cobh and Haulbowline. Built in the 1850s, it was designed by blind engineer Alexander Mitchel who used cast iron screw piles to fix the lighthouse to the Spit Bank. It is still operational today thanks to significant refurbishment works in 2013, although given its location and its composition it is going to face both increase wave loads and corrosion risk in the coming decades.

It would be remiss not to mention the timber marine heritage structures we have remaining in the harbour.

The finest example being Heartbreak pier in Cobh, pictured above, a timber jetty that was for millions of people from the 1850s onwards the last step before heading to America or less fortunately the last pasengers to board the Titanic. While not a functional pier any longer the structure is of immense heritage value.

The increase in waves impacts will undoubtedly impact the stability of this and other timber marine structures. Another potential risk is that increasing water temperatures associated with climate change may lead to an increase in wood booring organsims that could crtically reduce the integrity of the timber casusing it to collapse.

In conclusion, there is a rich tapestry of coastal heritage infrastructure that will require increased and innovative protection if future generations are to enjoy and use it. For now, I would say get out on the harbour and appreciate them while we still can.

About the author

Dr Michael OShea is a Lecturer in Structural Engineering,School of Engineering and Architecture UCC and Researcher in MaREI, the SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine coordinated by the Environmental Research (ERI) at University College Cork).
High Court reporters

A former Lidl worker who had sued the supermarket claiming she had injured her back at work has dramatically withdrawn her claim at the High Court after a video was shown of her doing vigorous exercise at a gym.

The video, which was taken by private investigators for the supermarket chain, showed Ewa Ledzinska this week running on the spot, swinging a kettlebell, lifting weights and stretching and doing burpees, which includes squatting and jumping, in a half-hour exercise session.

The counsel for Lidl, Finbarr Fox SC, instructed by Wayne Finn of Holmes O'Malley and Sexton, put it to Ms Ledzinska that she was fit enough to be in the army, and that this was rigorous training.

Ms Ledzinska replied: For me, it is stretching and cardio.

The 42-year-old, who lives in Kildare town, had sued former employer Lidl Ireland claiming she sustained a severe back injury and is in constant back pain as a result of her working conditions at the Newbridge Lidl branch.

She says her back pain began in 2021 when she lifted a 25kg box as she prepared the special offers aisle. Her claim, which included loss of earnings and an amount for aids and appliances, amounted to a total of 300,000 in special damages, the court heard.

Ms Ledzinska has not worked since and told Mr Justice Michael P OHiggins that she is now on an invalidity pension. She said she has pain and problems moving and wakes up for two to three hours every night.

On the second day of the hearing, a video of Ms Ledzinska on two days this week, which was taken by private investigators on behalf of Lidl, was shown to the court.

Mr Fox put it to Ms Ledzinska that she told the judge that she was only able to do gentle Pilates. You didnt tell the judge about this. It's very, very far away from gentle pilates, he said.

He said she had portrayed herself as a woman who was struggling with a disability and who couldn't walk for more than 10 minutes and here she was doing intense vigorous training.

Ms Ledzinska replied: I have two legs; I have two arms, and I am not in a wheelchair. I still have pain.

She agreed it was not gentle Pilates and said she started to go to the gym last February but had a break in March because it was so sore for her before resuming gym work again.

Mr Fox put it to Ms Ledzinska that she had allegedly conned the Department of Social Protection and you should not be on an invalidity pension no more than the man in the moon. Ms Ledzinska replied that to get her invalidity pension she had to send in her MRI scan results.

Counsel put it to her that she had deliberately sought to mislead the court on the level of her injury. Ms Ledzinska replied that she had two hands and two legs and she still has pain. She said she had strong legs but not her back.

At this stage, Mr Justice Michael P OHiggins intervened and said he would adjourn for a short time as there were issues to be discussed between the parties. He advised Ms Ledzinska to listen to her legal advisors.

When the court returned, counsel for Ms Ledzinska, Michael Byrne SC, told the judge it had been a difficult case and that Ms Ledzinska was now withdrawing her claim and her case could be dismissed. She had also agreed that she would make a contribution to the legal costs of Lidl.

Ms Ledzinska was not in court for the withdrawal of her claim.
By Cate McCurry and Grainne Ni Aodha, PA

There is more to do to maintain peace on the island of Ireland and improve Anglo-Irish relations, Taoiseach Simon Harris has said.

The Taoiseach was speaking at a British-Irish Council summit on the Isle of Man on Friday.

He said that former taoiseach Bertie Ahern, an architect of the Good Friday Agreement, was entirely correct when he said Anglo-Irish relations had become much more fragile and strained since Brexit.

Taoiseach Simon Harris, Alfred Cannan, Chief Minister of the Isle of Man, and Stormont deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly. Photo: Peter Byrne/PA.

Mr Harris, who became Taoiseach in April, said he intends to invest a significant amount of time in maintaining Anglo-Irish relations during his tenure.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, Scottish First Minister John Swinney, and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Emma-Little Pengelly, who were also at the summit, said they would like to see the next British prime minister attend the council.

Speaking at a press event on Friday, Mr Harris said he hoped that peace on the island is a little bit better than frosty, but added theres certainly more that we can do and should do.

The Taoiseach praised practical projects of co-operation, citing the Ulster Canal and construction of the Narrow Water Bridge.

I think forums like the British-Irish Council and the summit thats taking place here today are absolutely vital because Bertie (Ahern) is entirely correct, as is anybody else who understands that peace and meaningful engagement is based on interpersonal relationships, Mr Harris said.

It is really important that we, the custodians of the Good Friday Agreement, now harness the incredible gift that has been given to us.

Certainly, I intend to invest a significant amount of time in those interpersonal relationships.

I was really delighted to have the opportunity to visit the First and deputy First Minister and Stormont, very grateful to them for hosting me, I look forward to welcoming them to Dublin in the autumn for the next North-South Ministerial Council.

Stormont deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly. Photo: Peter Byrne/PA.

Ms Little-Pengelly added that vigilance on Anglo-Irish relationships is needed, and they need to be tended to.

The last number of years was a great demonstration of how those relationships can deteriorate very quickly, she said.

Mr Heaton-Harris said that the relationships formed at events such as the British-Irish councils are invaluable in times of crisis.

He said he believed he had tried to improve relations, which needs to be constantly cherished and nurtured.

Noting that the leaders got to know each other a bit better at a dinner on Thursday night, he said: Its through gatherings like this where, when problems come in a relationship, you have a personal relationship with someone who you can talk to.

You would be in danger of undervaluing this just by judging it from the communique that came out at the end of the day. We talked about really important issues. Ive learned so much in my time here.

Weve all got quite different politics and quite different remits. But we come together and learn from each other and those interpersonal relationships are unbelievably valuable, especially at times of crisis.

Asked about whether the next British prime minister should attend the council, Mr Heaton-Harris said it should be part of the calendar for any British prime minister, while Mr Swinney wholeheartedly agreed that it would be beneficial for the UK prime minister to be here on a regular basis.

Delighted to meet First Minister of Scotland @JohnSwinney today in the Isle of Man at the British Irish Council.

Ireland and Scotland share so much history and culture. We committed to strengthening our ties.

Looking forward to future collaborations and friendship. pic.twitter.com/OZAzqzgh3O  Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) June 21, 2024

Mr Swinney added: In general, I think we all see our politics is pretty fractured, and the political system is pretty fractured.

So actually the opportunity that is fostered by this body for political leaders across these islands to come together, and to have courteous and respectful dialogue  which is what weve had today, which has always been my experience of the British Council  we frankly cant have enough of that and we need more of it.

Mr Harris said that it merits consideration by the next British prime minister to attend the next British-Irish Council, particularly as the UK is no longer a member of the European Union.

So I think it merits consideration as to how do we ensure that theres plenty of structures in place for that regular dialogue between the British prime minister of the day and the Irish Taoiseach of the day, and indeed the administrations are represented here because certainly I would value that and look forward to being in London in July where the UK Government will host the European Political Community meeting and hoping to have early engagement with the British prime minister.

Ms Little-Pengelly added: Very many people around the table have very busy jobs and very few opportunities, I think, to actually have those conversations and this provides that opportunity to do so.

Certainly, moving forward, I would like to see that prioritised. I think it does show that respect as well to the range of countries and jurisdictions and places across the British Isles and gives us that opportunity to ensure that all of our issues are aired at an appropriate level.

First Minister Michelle ONeill, who did not attend the summit due to an illness, took part in the meeting via Zoom.
AS a young child, Celina Buckley, from Rylane, County Cork, knew what she wanted to do when she grew up, even before she realised it could be a career.

I loved art from a very young age, says Celina.

She studied art for junior and leaving certificate, and decided to become a primary school teacher so that it would always be part of her life.

I didnt realise art could be a job, that I could make a living from it, she says.

In 2015, Celina was working as a primary school teacher when she decided to embark on a two-year Masters in Childrens Book Illustration at the prestigious Cambridge School of Art in the UK. This programme opened up a whole world of possibility to her.

My masters helped me find my visual language, says Celina, which she explains as making art that comes from you  your eyes, your hands  not copying a photograph or image.

Celinas art focuses on capturing the world through her perspective. Through her teaching, she is passionate about helping others to draw from their daily life to create something special.

Drawing from observation is unique and individual to you, she says.

Celina Buckley, from Cork, who will host workshops at Kaleidoscope Festival.

Inspiring future generations

Since completing her Masters, Celina has published her first childrens picture book, a retelling of The Salmon of Knowledge. It was used for a storyboarding lesson on RTEs Home School Hub programme in 2020.

She now teaches illustration workshops in schools around Ireland and in countries such as Germany, Belgium, and Italy.

Celinas passion is working with young people to help them find their voice and visual language.

I want to pass on the knowledge Ive learned to future generations, she says.

Celina believes this is especially important nowadays with the arrival of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the art space.

I dont think creating art from AI is a good idea, she says. AI is taking from someone elses work, whereas if youre sitting outside with a sketchbook, no-one else has seen that moment.

To help foster creativity and inspiration, she recommends drawing from your own experience of the world by keeping a sketchbook with you to capture what you hear and see.

Creativity and mindfulness

For Celina, art is also a good mindfulness practice.

Im happiest when Im outside drawing from observation, she says. Her aim is to share this experience with children, to help them to be fully present.

As part of her work, Celina is delivering two workshops at the forthcoming Kaleidoscope Family Music Festival, taking place from June 28-30 in Blessington, Co Wicklow.

Kaleidoscope is a family-friendly event open to all ages, encompassing music, art, education and wellness. Musical acts performing at the festival include The Kooks, The Waterboys, King Kong Company, and Corks Lyra.

Celinas first session at the festival is a collage workshop, focused on exploring imaginary landscapes through composition, colour, story-telling and texture. Attendees will experiment with a kaleidoscope of materials, as they bring their dream landscapes to life.

Collage is the main medium Celina works in, as its the most fun, she says.

In 2022, she was a finalist in the Sky Landscape Artist of the Year competition with some of her collage work.

Celina Buckley, from Cork, who will host workshops at Kaleidoscope Festival.

Its what I create most of my art with, she says.

Her other workshop is called CoverVerse and is all about helping you design a captivating book cover, creating a gateway into an imaginary world.

Participants will explore composition, typography, and colour theory to create captivating book covers. Each child will leave with a personalised book cover that sparks curiosity and invites exploration. Both workshops are suitable for adults and children over the age of five.

An important moment in time

Outside of her work with young people, Celina continues to develop and nurture her own creativity. Recently, she created a series of sketches of the demolition of the iconic R&H Hall in Cork city, using charcoal and pencil.

Celinas drawings show the building as it was being knocked, not from photos.

She says she wanted to capture a moment in time.

It was an important moment in history to capture, and thats there for future generations, she says.

She was selected to exhibit her drawings of the R&H Hall as part of the K-Fest art festival in Killorglin, Co Kerry.

Celina continues to work part-time as a primary school teacher, and outside of that divides her time between workshops, art and books. This balance allows her to continue creating her own art as well as inspiring future artists. She says that above all, Im really passionate about sharing creativity and mindfulness with children.

Details of Celinas work can be found on www.celinabuckley.com.

Tickets and information on the Kaleidoscope Festival can be found at www.kaleidoscopefestival.ie
(Photo: WFP/Marco Frattin)Aerial views from drones and World Food Programme rescue helicopters clearly show the scale of the devastation in Mozambique in April 2019. i

In Mozambique, the Catholic apostolic administrator of Pemba issued an appeal on Palm Sunday for an end to violence in the northern province of Cabo Delgado where jihadi fighters linked to the group calling itself Islamic State are terrorizing the local population.

Bishop Antonio Juliasse, the Diocese of Pemba's apostolic administrator in Cabo Delgado, called for an end to the war in the province, where extreme violence by the terror group has led to at least 2,000 deaths and over 700,000 displaced, Vatican News reports.

The Islamic State, also known as ISIS, appears to be expanding its influence in Mozambique by solidifying its hold in Cabo Delgado, one of the country's most important provinces, the Global Observatory reported on March 26.

The reports focused on insurgent operations along the south coast of Africa in the country that borders countries like South Africa, Zimbabwe and Tanzania.

Its report reveals that the jihadists linked to ISIS, especially those operating under the name Al Sunnah wa Jama'ah (ASWJ), have consolidated their hold in Mozambique's northern Cabo Delgado region and captured the city of Mocimboa da Praia last year.

The fighters are now perpetrating attacks on the Afungi peninsula, only miles from energy giant Total's operations, targeting lines of communication and overrunning government outposts across the region.

PALM SUNDAY SERMON

Meanwhile, in his sermon for Palm Sunday, Bishop Antonio Juliasse invoked Christ's mercy so that "all can be changed from within" and this war "that no one understands and that harms everybody can finish as soon as possible."

He reminded Mozambican leaders of their duty to guarantee Justice so as "to preserve people from evils."

(Photo: Juan Michel/WCC)

The bishop said, "Justice in a nation is non-negotiable. A leader who does not practice Justice is no longer truly a leader."

He stressed that the government should pay attention to the poorest and help them overcome poverty, and no one should be excluded "for religious, political, ethnic or even regional reasons."

Bishop Juliasse also stressed that religious leaders should not incite violence because, he said, "there is no religion of violence.".

On the other hand, he noted that government leaders cannot "wash their hands" of their responsibilities, like Pilate, because it condemns innocent people.

If a leader washes his hands, he condemns all the people he governs", he emphasized.

The bishop called on God to show Mozambicans another way: "not the way of violence, not the way of cruelty, but the way of love, of fraternity."

In Geneva, United Nations agencies expressed horror and alarm on March 30 at the violence inflicted on civilians in Palma, where they have no access and insurgents who are locally known as "al-Shabaab" have control.

"What has happened in Palma is an absolute horror being inflicted on civilians by a non-state armed group," said Jens Laerke, spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) at a UN press conference in Geneva.
(Photo: The Herald)Robert and Grace Mugabe on their way out after military takeover in Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations have told the country's military which seized power in the country on Nov. 15 to ensure that human rights and dignity are respected and called for them to allow a government of national unity.

The church leaders are a powerful group representing the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference and the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe.

They issued a powerful and detailed statement in which they admitted the role of the churches in the complicity of what many people have dubbed to descent of "African bread basket" to "African basket case.".

Their statement came the day after the Zimbabwe Defense Forces seized the State broadcaster ZBC-TV and told the nation their action was targeted at "criminals" surrounding 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe who has ruled since 1980.

ZDF spokesman Major General Sibusiso Moyo, said what had happened in the Zimbabwe capital Harare with armored personnel carriers taking over the streets was not "a military takeover of government."

He said Mugabe, who was strongly supported by the military in extending his decades of dictatorial rule, was safe.

"We are aware that the Zimbabwe Defense Forces is currently managing the situation. But we want to make it clear to them that it is their responsibility to ensure that human dignity and rights are respected.

"Human life is God-given and is therefore sacred. All human beings, no-matter the wrongs they will have done, have rights. This is not a time to allow for lawlessness and vindictive and selective application of the law," said the heads of the churches.

The armed forces' takeover appeared to resolve a bitter battle to succeed Mugabe, which pitted his wife Grace against the former vice-president, 75-year-old Emmerson Mnangagwa.

A veteran of the struggle for independence from white minority rule like Mugabe, Mnangagwa was reported to have returned to Zimbabwe on Tuesday evening from South Africa.

STRUGGLE VETERAN

He fled the previous week after being stripped of his office by Mugabe in an apparent attempt to clear the path of South African-born Grace Mugabe to power.

"The Zimbabwe defense forces have stressed that theirs is not a military coup, but an effort to manage the current situation," said the church heads.

"In the light of this position, we are calling for the formalization of a transitional government of national unity that will oversee the smooth transition to a free and fair election."

That is a road the country had been down once before when Mugabe refused to admit he had lost an election in 2008 and agreed to such a government, only to wrest power back again later.

"The current situation is not only the doing of the ruling party and government," said the church leaders.

"It is also the result of the connivance of the different arms of the state and complicity of the church and civil society.

"All of us at some point failed to play our roles adequately. The church has lost its prophetic urge driven by personality cults and superstitious approaches to socio-economic and political challenges.

"Civil society over time has become focused on survival and competition and lost the bigger picture of the total emancipation of the population."

Mugabe was born on a Catholic mission near Harare, and was educated by Jesuit priests. He studied at South Africa's University of Fort Hare, where Nelson Mandela also graduated.
The single-family home at 30 North View Court in San Franciscos Russian Hill neighborhood is listed by Park North Real Estate for just $488,000 but comes with a major catch. Google Street View

UPDATE: The viral $488,000 San Francisco home has a buyer, and the offer is coming from inside the house

In a city where sky-high housing prices are the norm, a San Francisco gem is turning heads with its surprisingly low price tag.

Nestled in a charming Russian Hill cul-de-sac, the three-bedroom, two-bathroom home at 30 North View Court is listed by Park North Real Estate for just $488,000. Since hitting the market 13 days ago, the property has already garnered over 36,000 views on Zillow.

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However, this deal comes with a twist: The lucky buyer might not be able to unlock the door until 2053.

The listing describes the single-family home as an investment opportunity for just the right buyer and notes that the property is currently tenant-occupied and will be sold as-is.

Current tenant claims SF City tenant protection class status, it states. Tenants current lease appears to grant tenants strong long-term rent rate restrictions, unconventional methods of rental payment, and possible occupancy rights until 2053.

It does not explain what those unconventional methods might be.

According to Park North Real Estate, the tenant pays $416.67 monthly rent and pays separately for the garbage, monthly water and utility payments.

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The detached 1,100-square-foot home, built in 1924, includes a driveway, garage and fenced-in backyard. Comparable properties in the neighborhood are estimated to be worth approximately $3 million.

Bargain hunters should know that the property has a few other disclaimers.

The agents do not guarantee access to the home and strongly recommend that buyers review the seller disclosure package and consult with a local landlord/tenant agent before making an offer.

Additionally, they note that the former owner, a 100-year-old man, died of natural causes inside the home.

The propertys broker at Park North Real Estate did not immediately return a request for more information.

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The Russian Hill home is not the only bargain in the companys portfolio.

It also offers a one-bedroom condo at 249 Boardwalk Ave. in San Bruno for just $188,000, described as a true Fire Sale.

The listing explains: Property is gutted down to the studs due to fire. Outstanding opportunity for a contractor, investor, or homeowner willing to pay CASH. Please use caution when viewing, as there are exposed construction materials. No access to the private deck, as the slider is damaged from fire.
Apple reportedly said on Friday that it would delay iOS 18s marquee AI features in the European Union, conveniently blaming Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulations. The company claimed it would block the launch of Apple Intelligence, iPhone Mirroring on the Mac and SharePlay Screen Sharing in the EU this year, according to Bloomberg, which reported the news.

We are concerned that the interoperability requirements of the DMA could force us to compromise the integrity of our products in ways that risk user privacy and data security, the company said in a statement to Bloomberg. Apple didnt expand on how DMA regulations could force it to compromise user privacy and security.

The DMA, which passed in 2022, tries to usher in fair competition by reining in what Big Tech companies can do to stifle competition. It blocks them from pushing out smaller competitors, favoring their own services over those of rivals, locking customers data into their platform and limiting transparency about their use of advertising data.

This isnt the first time Apple has pinned blame on regulations  without offering much in the way of specifics  for blocking EU users from having nice things. Earlier this year, the company said it would remove the ability to add home screen web apps in Europe due to DMA rules. It later reversed course, citing requests it received. Google did something similar when it removed third-party apps and watch faces from European devices, blaming new regulatory requirements.

Apples delay comes when EU regulations present a thorn in the companys side. The European Commission formally opened an investigation into the company in March and reportedly plans to charge it in the coming weeks for DMA violations. The company was already fined 1.8 billion ($1.95 billion) earlier this year for preventing app developers from informing iOS users about cheaper music subscription plans outside of the companys ecosystem.
Did you know Meta has a customer services department? If you have a problem with Facebook, Instagram and the rest, you might find it hard to get some of that service. Instead, people have been taking Meta to small claims court to get some kind of response to their complaints. Engadget spoke with five individuals who have sued Meta in small claims court over the last two years. In three cases, the plaintiffs were able to restore access to at least one lost account, but all eventually got the attention of Metas legal team.

The company has argued that it is not liable for more than $100 in damages according to its terms of service. However, some plaintiffs were awarded thousands of dollars  which still might pale compared to lost earnings for those whose businesses revolve around their Facebook or Instagram presence. We chart the mixed results of these users and Metas logic in giving them so much attention.

 Mat Smith

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Popping them makes me jump.

You may have already noticed, but Amazon says it's reduced its use of plastic airbags included with its packages, shifting to compostable paper filler in most cases. It plans to eliminate using them by the end of the year. Its a move in the right direction: In 2021, the nonprofit ocean conservation group Oceana estimated that the waste produced from plastic air pillows alone would circle the Earth more than 600 times.

Continue reading.

But wheres that sequel?

Ubisoft

Ubisoft has released a trailer for its remake of the cult classic game Beyond Good and Evil, adding that it will launch on June 25. The understated cult hit has been upgraded to 4K and 60FPS  it was initially released on the PS2, so youll see the difference. It will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, with physical copies going on sale next month, too. What about the sequel that has been revealed, teased, promised, and seen (by me!)? No word.

Continue reading.

After years of scrutiny over the Russian company's government ties.

The Biden administration has taken sweeping action to ban Kaspersky Labs from selling its antivirus products to US customers. A source told Reuters that the company's connections to the Russian government made it a security risk. In a statement included in the report, Kaspersky added that its activities did not threaten national security and that it would pursue legal options. The FCC put Kaspersky on its list of companies posing unacceptable security risks in 2022, while back in 2017, federal agencies in the US banned Kaspersky products. The company cannot sell to new customers starting in July.

Continue reading.
This auto repair shop on Sixth Street was recommended Thursday by San Francisco Recreation and Park commissioners for purchase to turn into a greenspace next to Gene Friend Recreation Center, about to undergo construction. Sam Whiting/The Chronicle This auto repair shop on Sixth Street was recommended Thursday by San Francisco Recreation and Park commissioners for purchase to turn into a greenspace next to Gene Friend Recreation Center, about to undergo construction. Sam Whiting/The Chronicle The graded lot that is soon to become the new Gene Friend Recreation Center in South of Market. Sam Whiting/The Chronicle

A property that holds an auto repair shop on a ragged block on Sixth Street in San Franciscos South of Market neighborhood could be bought by the city and turned into a park under a plan advanced with a key vote Thursday.

The shop at 240 Sixth St. abuts the former site of the Gene Friend Recreation Center, which has been demolished and is now being rebuilt.

The Recreation and Park Department on Thursday unanimously recommended that the city buy the auto repair for $7.1 million and move ahead with demolishing it to make way for green space and a park.

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The recommended purchase must now be approved by the citys Board of Supervisors.

To invest in the future we have to acquire land, said Recreation and Park Commission President Kat Anderson. For us to have the opportunity to acquire land so we can grow parks is critical to our success and to our future.

If the project is approved, the money to acquire the property will come from Recreation and Parks Open Space Acquisition Fund, while the money to build the park will likely come from grants or bond funds.

Recreation and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg said the owner of the building at 240 Sixth St. approached the department to initiate negotiations. Because the site is contaminated, nearly $2 million of the sales price will go back to the city to help cover clean-up costs.



Sokol Belishova, an Albanian refugee who operates Euro Motorcars, a business on the second floor of the property, said his landlord never told him the building was for sale. Euro Motorcars is on a three-year lease that expires in 2026. The ground-floor space is now vacant.

Nobody gave us a heads up about this acquisition, he said during a public testimony Thursday at the commission.

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If the project moves ahead, the combined park and recreation center will cover nearly half a block on the north side of Folsom Street, between Sixth and Harriet streets.

We have a philosophy in this department of trying to think a few decades down the road, Ginsburg said.

The replacement for the Gene Friend Recreation Center, which originally opened in the 1990s, will cost $59 million and include a gymnasium with space for two basketball courts.

The project, in the works for nearly 10 years, finally broke ground in February. A voter-approved bond supplied $30 million in funding with additional funding coming from the Friend Family Foundation and developer fees. It is expected to be completed in 2026.

A rendering shows the new Gene Friend Recreation Center, which will replace the facility built in the 1990s in San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood. Rendering by Mark Cavagnero Associates / Courtesy Mark Cavagnero Associates and SF Recreation & Parks Department

If the new park is approved, public outreach will begin after the new Gene Friend Recreation Center reopens. The park could include a dog park and picnic area, to be determined by community input.

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A judge out of Douglas County was recently arrested at a club in Georgia early Thursday morning, per 'WSBTV.'

According to Fulton County Jail records, Judge Chritstina Peterson was charged with simple battery against a police officer and felony willful obstruction of law enforcement with threats of violence while at Red Martini Restaurant located on Peachtree Street.

A police report stated a crying woman was spotted in the lounge's valet area by an off-duty Atlanta police officer who was picking up an additional shift at the bar.

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The arrest report stated that once the officer attempted to speak with the woman, he was struck in the head by Judge Peterson.

Metro Atlanta judge arrested



Judge Christina Peterson was arrested at a nightclub early Thursday and charged with battery and felony obstruction, accused of striking an officer on the head and refusing to identify herself



Atlanta is gonna Atlanta https://t.co/v8GPvtMGBA  Phil Holloway  (@PhilHollowayEsq) June 20, 2024

The probate judge reportedly refused to identify herself and "appeared to be under the influence." Once Peterson was taken to jail, she continued to refuse to give her identity before telling them to notify another officer, who shared her identity.

'Fox 5' reported that the Metro Atlanta judge was scheduled to have her first appearance at Fulton County court Thursday, but chose to waive her appearance.

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The news hub also reported that in April, Peterson was found guilty by a Judicial Qualifications Commission Panel of "systemic incompetence," as the panel recommended she be removed from office.

In addition to the ruling, she was reportedly featured in several 'Fox 5' investigations since taking office in 2020, citing that the judge has faced 30 counts of misconduct in hearings dating back to September.

'Channel 2 Action' news claimed that Peterson's office told reporters that she was not in for work Thursday.
A Republican running for Missouri secretary of state is facing backlash over her comments about Juneteenth and Black Americans calling for reparations.

Valentina Gomez -- an immigrant from Colombia and supporter of Donald Trump -- posted a video message on X (formerly Twitter) Tuesday in which she called Black Americans "ungrateful" and told them to leave the United States if they "don't like" the country.

In the clip, the 25-year-old sported a shirt that read, "Don't be weak and gay," as she addressed her followers.

"Reparations from slavery and Black victimization is about to be shoved down our throats for the most ratchet holiday in America," Gomez said.

She went on to claim that Black Americans of today should stop seeking reparations since they have never experienced slavery themselves.

Gomez insisted that instead these "ungrateful people should be celebrating because they were born in the greatest nation to ever exist."

"Here's a tip -- If you don't like America, kindly, get the f**k out," Gomez concluded, before a photo of her sporting a tactical vest and holding an assault-style rifle flashed on-screen.

Juneteenth is ratchet, and I agree with @RealCandaceO If you dont like America, gtfo. pic.twitter.com/RR63dBKtcB  Valentina Gomez (@ValentinaForSOS) June 18, 2024

A number of X users immediately fired back at Gomez in the comments section of her now-viral video.

"Nobody cares what you think about Juneteenth," one critic commented.

"An immigrant from Colombia telling people whose ancestors have been here for 16 generations to 'get the f**k out' while cosplaying a military veteran. Go away, honey," another wrote.

A third commenter called out Gomez, writing: "It's always people who put Jesus and God in their bio spewing the most hate and supporting the devil. Crazy, ain't it?"

"Imagine a Columbian immigrant who is reaping the benefits of the accomplishments and sacrifices of Slaves, yet criticizing the very holiday made to celebrate their freedom!" another responded to her post.

However, some of Gomez's fellow Trump supporters praised her over her message, with one even calling her the "greatest politician in America."

"This is [fire emoji]!!!! Valentina Gomez is a National Treasure!!" one supporter commented.

"Victimhood is a specific demonic entity. It's for the weak. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. And Jesus will never give anything you can't handle," another wrote.

Despite the backlash, Gomez doubled down on her remarks in a statement to Newsweek.

"Straight White men built the roads we drive on, the buildings where we live, and the ones that fought and declared independence from the tyranny of the British for us to have freedom and the pursuit of happiness," Gomez said. "To anyone that does not like America, GTFO [get the f*** out]."

She added, "President Trump is the Greatest President of All Time, and I look forward to accepting his endorsement."

The Juneteenth holiday, which is celebrated every June 19, commemorates a significant date in Black American history. On June 19, 1865, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, found out that they had been freed, according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

It was designated a federal holiday in 2021.
Sauce Walka is making sure the fans who pay for his meet and greets get their money's worth.

Last week, the 33-year-old rapper and songwriter -- real name Albert Walker Mondane -- posted videos on Instagram showing him giving his female fans what he calls a "sauce ride" during his meet and greets.

Sauce Walka's "sauce rides" apparently involve him picking up a fan and, in most cases, holding her up by her thighs as they hang onto him.

In one of his posts, Sauce Walka boasted that he made one plus-sized woman's day when he successfully picked her up during a meet and greet in Oklahoma City.

The Houston native also called out Chris Brown for allegedly charging $2,000 for fans to take a photo with him before bragging that he offers a much better fan experience for just $500 a ticket.

"@chrisbrownofficial charging $2000 a pic I need $500 I had a line off women after my concert asking for me to pick them up," Sauce Walka wrote.

"First young lady I picked up was 300 [pounds.] I made her light say she never been picked up by a man in her life," he claimed. "[Ladies] love sauce."

According to XXL, Brown charges $1,111 for meet and greet sessions in his ongoing "11:11 Tour."

In another Instagram post, Sauce Walka shared a video of him picking up a woman and lifting her up until she was straddling his shoulders.

The rapper explained in the caption that he decided to "post this girl by herself 'cause she looked a little confused on what's her preference."

But he claimed that after he gave her a sauce ride, "her inter femininity started to glow."

"[I'm] bringing these young ladies back from vegetarians to man eaters LOL," Sauce Walka wrote, adding the hashtags for "MAGA" and "Drip God."

Many social media users were impressed by Sauce Walka's fan service and joked that his meet and greets doubled as workouts for him.

"This [is f**ckin'] smart," one person commented on his first post.

"She fell in love," another wrote, referring to the plus-size fan Sauce Walka picked up. "She never had nobody pick her up like that."

"You don't need to come to the gym after this workout," a third commenter quipped, while another dubbed Sauce Walka "the strongest rapper."

One of the fans who got the "sauce ride" also left a positive comment on his post, writing: "I can't believe he picked me up like a rag doll. Yup, he strong strong; he picked me up twice. I underestimated him."

However, other social media users praised Brown and slammed Sauce Walka for taking a swipe at him, with some claiming that the rapper was just copying the "Run It!" hitmaker.

Celebrity news and gossip account The Neighborhood Talk shared some of the photos Brown took with his fans at his meet and greets. One showed him picking up a fan, while another featured him giving a woman a kiss on the cheek.

"Let's be real Sauce took notes from Chris. @chrisbrownofficial was the FIRST celebrity to start doing this," one person commented on the post.

Another took a dig at the rapper, writing: "Sauce Walka is not Chris Brown byeee."

"Chris Brown can pick me up any day!" a third comment read.

"[$2,000] for a man like Chris Brown? I see no problem. This man can do everything," another claimed.

"I'm pulling up on Chris! [I don't know] who that other man is. And P.S., it's $1,111.00. Get it right," a fifth fan commented.

Brown is currently on his "11:11 Tour." He is set to perform two nights in Canada this weekend before returning stateside next week with shows in Boston, Philadelphia and Baltimore.
A Russian-American ballerina began trial Thursday after being accused of committing treason for a reported $50 donation to a Ukrainian charity, per 'The Guardian.'

Ksenia Karelina  who lives and works in Los Angeles  was detained by police in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg late January after taking a trip to Russia to visit her family.

Karelina who became a citizen of the U.S. in 2021, was held by Vladimir Putin's Federal Security Service (FSB) while visiting her grandparents. Detained due to suspicion of treason, the amateur ballerina can be seen held in a glass case, casually wearing a plaid button-up shirt and blue jeans.

Trial is set to be held behind closed doors.

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'The Daily Mail' reported that Karelina was accused of "funding the Ukrainian armed forces" and "taking part in public actions to support the Kyiv regime" after she reportedly donated $51.80 via bank transfer to a Ukrainian charity in the United States.

Per the news outlet, the 33-year-old was stopped at Koltsovo airport Yekaterinburg when her cell phone was checked using the word "Ukraine'' as a keyword. Officers allegedly found evidence of the bank transfer to a pro-Ukrainian foundation located in the U.S.

Although she wasn't detained in that moment, the next day she was invited to drop into a police station. Yekaterinburg journalist Dmitry Kolezev reported that upon her arrival, she was met with FSB officers.

Karelina was held for 14 days on an administrative charge of "using obscene language in a public space." However, she was told after that two weeks that she was unexpectedly facing more serious charges.

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According to the ballerina's ex-mother-in-law, Eleonora Srebroski, the L.A. Russian-American made a small donation to a New York-based organization called Razom for Ukraine  a non-profit that sends non-military assistance to the country.

Karelina was briefly married to Srebroki's son, who reportedly described her as a fun-loving woman who didn't care much about politics. The CEO of Razom, Dora Chomiak, made a public statement for the Californian, stating that the organization is "appalled" at her arrest.

"Vladimir Putin has repeatedly shown that he holds no sovereign border, foreign nationality or international treaty above his own narrow interest," Chomiak said, per 'The Mail.'

She concluded: "His regime attacks civil society activists who stand up for freedom and democracy."
SALEM, Ohio  Walking through the dairy farm he designed, Paul Keener explains the business plan that has allowed Rosedale Farms LLC to grow from 200 cows at one location to around 1,600 milking cows split between two farms. Milking takes place nearly around the clock as more than 900 cows at the first location in Jeromsville, Ohio are shuffled in and out of the milking parlor over 23 hours a day to take their turn during one of the 7.5-hour shifts. Ten miles away, just south of Ashland, Keeners second herd of over 600 cows follows a similar cycle, habitually, entering the milking parlor, tuning into a stall and waiting for the familiar process to begin.

Its what I loved to do growing up and so I made it a reality, Kenner said while overseeing operations and periodically commenting on the efficiency of his vision.

Both Keeners grandfather and father operated small dairies in West Salem, Ohio during his youth, and Keener grew up showing cattle and working on farms before attending Ohio State University to pursue an ag business and applied economics degree. His appreciation for that upbringing is still evident in his herd, in the few Brown Swiss cows that stand out among his Holsteins.

When Keener purchased Rosedale Farms in 2012, he set it up to be a 700-cow dairy, starting with 200 cows, around 150 acres and a plan to add on every two to three years. From the beginning, everything was set up to keep expanding. Keener was intentional in everything from the farms layout to the methodical milking process his herd managers follow.

I worked with Tom Stocksdale from the beginning with Farmers National and bought  like 150 acres right here. So we got started with that and 200 cows. And then once I built some equity and paid the cows down, then, Id make another jump and wed add on. I kinda set everything up from the beginning so we can just keep expanding. I tried to lay the farm out correctly so we wouldnt box ourselves in, Keener said.

Incidentally, Keeners first location is permitted for 1,000 cows today, and the opportunities for growth are limited due to the geography and the farm layout. In order to make another big jump, Keener would have to change the farms major infrastructure. So a couple of years ago, Keener found himself eyeing a second farm, just a 10-to-12-minute drive from his first.

After convincing the owner to sell instead of rent, Keener again contacted Stocksdale, senior vice president and agricultural lending manager of commercial lending at Farmers National Bank, and they got the deal done.

Some days it isnt the fastest but we always get it done, Keener said.

Keener went with Stocksdale and Farmers National from the beginning because Stocksdale is known for working with dairies in the area and he understands the dairy business. His story and experience are not unlike others in the area.

Mengel Dairy Farms

William and Jennifer Mengel started a dairy in Pennsylvania in 2016, while they both maintained full-time jobs off the farm. However, they were drawn back to Ohio where William grew up in 2018 when one of the farms they currently own came up for sale.

With help from Farmers National Bank, the Mengels purchased the farm and moved to Big Prairie, Ohio. Since then, they have expanded their operation from 50 milking cows to over 600, split between two locations.

They were willing to work with us with a less amount of leverage than other banks would, Mengel said.

The Mengels purchased the second farm about three years ago. Today, Ripley Dairy  just down the road from Mengel Dairy Farms  houses 150 of their 600 milking cows.

They were willing to loan us the money to buy cows to fill that place up without any hesitation, Mengel said.

Mengel believes that Farmers National Bank is committed to creating pathways for young and beginning farmers  a quality thats important to Mengel who has four sons, Brady, Mason, Connor and Landon, who he might like to pass the farm down to one day.

Farmers National is recognizing the lack of younger generations coming back to farms or trying to get started and realize there is a continued need for younger generations to be involved and that is all part of the reason they are willing to accept situations with less leverage than most other lenders, Mengel said.

A farmers-first approach

When Justin Troyer was promoted to vice president and commercial banking team leader of Farmers National Banks western market last year he already knew the importance of understanding the small communities he serves. But he wanted to put an even bigger focus on the customer service aspect of banking with Farmers National and make sure his lenders are doing more than talking to customers over the phone. The customer service that Troyer envisioned, and the kind of service his team offers, means visiting farmers, meeting customers face-to-face and formulating a plan thats tailored to each farms individual needs.

My biggest goal was to make sure from day one (that) we know who were working with, they know who we are, they have that face-to-face interaction. Because the better we assist that business or that farm, were not only helping that individual, but were helping their family, the local community. Thats my main objective to always make sure were offering the top-notch service, Troyer said.

Like many on his staff, Troyers agricultural background was rooted on a farm long before he found himself in ag lending. He grew up next door to his grandparents dairy farm, helping with chores and field work throughout his childhood.

In addition to Troyers background, his team also includes a former grain farmer, a former dairy farmer and an individual who worked with horses and pigs before working at the bank.

We can kind of cover a wide range of the industries just from the experience they have and its not just the lenders. We have certain underwriters that they basically just look at our ag loans. They have experience with farming. They know how it works. They know the numbers behind it, Troyer said.

Incidentally, Farmers National Banks specialized approach and working formula is one of the reasons they recently increased their foothold in Pennsylvania with the acquisition of Emclaire Financial Corp. in January. The acquisition expanded their reach to 62 total branches, including branches in 10 Ohio counties and 10 Pennsylvania counties.

The recent merger falls in line with both the banks overall objective to serve small to mid-sized communities that are farming and small business-oriented, and it increases the banks asset size, allowing them to remain aggressive, offer more services and serve a wide range of customers.

We have a saying fiercely local, fiercely loyal because we want to keep that small-town-community feel, but as a bank this size, we can offer treasury management programs, we can offer wealth management, we have our own insurance company, we have our own trust department. So pretty much if a farmer has a need of any kind, we have a division that can assist them with that, Troyer said.

Counting cows

In both the Mengels and Keeners cases, Farmers National Bank has facilitated continued growth. In Keeners case, hes not sure hes done.

His second dairy has the potential to milk up to 1,800 cows with the way its set up if he adds more barns and infrastructure. Time and better milk prices will determine how quickly those dreams are realized, but he has thoughts of maybe one day passing his farm down to his children, Jack, Henry, Emberly and a daughter he and his fiance Shyann are expecting in August.

When the timing feels right, well make another jump and keep going, he said.
HERMITAGE, Pa.  Watsons Inc. has been many things over the years. A gas station and convenience store. A Mack and Federal Trucks dealer. A distributor for Clark go-karts. For a while, it served as the polling place for the western half of Jefferson Township, as well as an after-hours hangout spot for old guys who took advantage of the fact that was one of the the first places locally with a television set.

Company President Dave Watson has seen the company through many of its forms, including its current one as a full-line Massey Ferguson dealer that sells and services tractors and equipment of all ages to customers of all kinds throughout western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio.

The company has adapted to change with the times without forgetting where it came from, making it one of few dealerships like it to stand the test of time. Theyve done this by staying focused on the future.

We tried to preserve it for the next generation, Watson said.

History

Watsons Inc started in 1932 as a gas station, convenience store and repair shop. Daves father, Alan Woody Watson, borrowed a couple hundred dollars from his dad and brother to buy the building on the new U.S. Route 62.

All the inventory could fit in the trunk of the car, Dave Watson said, because break-ins were frequent.

The business grew and evolved. Watsons added a school bus business in 1938, when Woody bought his first school bus. In addition to bussing students, they were involved in military transportation as well as transporting workers to build the Mosquito Creek Reservoir.

The company became a truck dealer for Mack and Federal in the 1940s. In the early 1950s, they got into selling Ferguson tractors around the time the Ferguson 30 came out. Not long after that, Ferguson merged with Massey Harris, which eventually renamed the company Massey Ferguson.

Dave Watson took over in 1981 after his father died. Hed been working at the business, doing various things over the years, after getting a bachelors degree in mathematics from Grove City College and doing a stint in the Army during the Vietnam War. His father told him he could find a better job than working at the family business, but its where he stayed. His son, Eric, is sales manager, although he does little bit of everything, as one does at a family business.

I was mopping the bathroom floor yesterday, he said.

Daves wife, Brenda, runs the bus garage that sits behind the tractor dealership. They have 40 school buses now and serve several school districts.

Consolidation

AGCO bought Massey Ferguson in 1994, bringing more changes to Watsons. The changes were gradual, though, Dave Watson said, as they added more of AGCOs other brands to their offerings. While the acquisition required Watsons employees to learn about new lines of equipment, it also opened them up to new groups of people.

It brings in customers we werent reaching before, Dave Watson said.

There was also consolidation at the local level. Dave Watson said there used to be six AGCO brand tractor dealers in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. Now Watsons Inc is only one to serve the county, as well as surrounding counties in Pennsylvania and Ohio. They service a 60-mile radius around the shop with two dedicated service trucks.

Their salesmen cover large territories as well. Jarrod Barry covers sales south of Interstate 80, and Wayne Sampson covers sales north of Interstate 80.

Changes

Staying relevant in an ever-changing world and business atmosphere has meant learning about new technology while keeping in touch with the past.

In the morning, you would be looking at something built in 1950, and later youre looking at something that has more technology than they had to go to the moon, Eric Watson said.

The last decade has seen the biggest jump forward in technology, with both tractors and equipment, Dave Watson said. For example, anything over 25 horsepower has a computer to deal with emissions. Additionally, more technology usually means more wires. This high-level equipment requires special training for service techs, but its also easier to operate and safer, Dave Watson said.

Older equipment that many farmers and smallholders in the region still have can also be a challenge, mostly when it comes to finding the right parts. Its a constant balancing act, Eric Watson said.

Anybody can sell this stuff. It takes a lot of knowledge, patience and focus to keep it working, he said.

Dave Watson believes they serve one of the most diverse groups of customers in the country. There are hobbyists, dairy farmers, crop farmers, and everyone in between, all with vastly different needs.

Sales of compact tractors have grown as people have moved back to rural areas. There are more people are coming into Watsons with less experience operating equipment. Some have never operated a tractor before, Dave Watson said. The key is to treat each customer with importance, whether theyre selling them a $300,000 tractor or a $3,000 lawnmower.

You have to approach every one of those situations as this is a big deal to them, Eric Watson said. Each one of those experiences needs to be as important to me as it is to the buyer.

Info

Watsons Inc is located at 7130 E State St, Hermitage, Pennsylvania. In addition to being a full-line Massey Ferguson dealer, they also sell and service Krone, McHale, Anderson, Rhino, Woods, Buhler- Farm King, EZ Trail, Unverferth, Remlinger, H&S, Hagedorn, Simplicity and Grasshopper.

Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. For more information, visit www.watsonsinc.com/ or call 724-346-6514.
June 20, 2024: Ukrainian forces have been supplied with SpaceX Starlink satellite communication terminals since the beginning of the Russian invasion. SpaceX allowed Ukrainian forces to use Starlink terminals free of charge and as of 2024 about 10,000 Starlink terminals are used in Ukraine by the military, government and some commercial enterprises.

SpaceX has kept Starlink operational over Ukraine since the war began in early 2022. This includes paying for rapid patches to defeat Russian EW (electronic Warfare) attacks and providing many Ukrainian users with the highest and most expensive level of service. This has cost SpaceX over $100 million. Maintaining the level of Starlink service Ukraine demands to maintain its communications advantage over Russia keeps growing. Both Russia and China have been seeking ways to disrupt or shut down Starlink over Ukraine.

When Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022, the Ukrainian minister of digital transformation contacted SpaceX for help in dealing with Russian efforts to cut Ukrainian access to the Internet. Starlink officials had already been negotiating with Ukraine to provide Starlink service locally. SpaceX agreed to help and within four days hundreds of Starlink satellites were moved into position to provide Ukraine with high-speed Internet service using hundreds of Starlink user kits SpaceX sent to Ukraine. SpaceX ultimately supplied Ukraine with nearly 2,000 terminals and managed to persuade countries supplying military aid for Ukraine to include Ukrainian requests for more Starlink terminals, especially the more expensive, and capable commercial models. In this way Ukraine was able to obtain over 40,000 terminals so far. Most of these are used to keep the economy going and the ones used by the military are subject to combat losses. Civilian users face a similar but lesser risk and about 500 terminals a month are lost to Russian attacks. These have to be replaced and most, if not all, of the replacements are paid for by military aid for Ukraine. The Starlink replacement terminals cost about a million dollars a month.

Early in the war American defense officials admitted that if the Starlink satellite internet service were government run, it would not have remained operational over Ukraine because government regulations do not allow for the quick responses Starlink management used to defeat Russian electronic attacks and keep Starlink operational in Ukraine.

SpaceX, the American firm that designed, built and put the Starlink satellites into orbit, accomplished this by encouraging innovation and acting quickly to deal with service interruptions, including deliberate efforts by hackers or hostile governments. By April 2022 about 20 percent of the initially planned Starlink global network satellites were in orbit. More satellites had to be put into orbit to provide the enormous demand Ukrainian military and civilian users were creating. Before 2022 Starlink was turned on over a few areas so reviewers and other volunteer users could test the system.

By February 2022 Starlink appeared to be a success but the network also displayed a remarkable resistance to attacks from hostile governments, and the Russians were the first ones coming after it with major jamming efforts and threats to destroy Starlink satellites over Ukraine. SpaceX pointed out that it could put additional Starlink satellites into orbit faster and far less expensively than Russia or anyone else could destroy them. This capability was part of the Starlink design that not only allowed satellite and user software to be quickly updated but new Starlink satellites often had new features added to improve performance and that included more resistance to hacking and jamming.

Starlink satellites are designed to last for up to seven years and the Starlink system is designed to expand to over 30,000 satellites if demand by paying customers is large enough to justify and pay for it. That is being tested by the heavy use of the Starlink satellites over Ukraine by Ukrainians who dont have to pay the usual one time $500 startup or and $99 monthly fees. This serves as a test of how much heavy use each satellite can handle, especially when constantly subject to heavy Russian hacking and jamming efforts. This got a lot more expensive as Starlink introduced its more capable, and expensive, commercial and military grade terminals.

Russia did seek to sever the fiber optic cables that connect Ukraine to the global Internet, and generally try to disrupt Internet service inside Ukraine. Starlink made this effort futile and Starlink became the first satellite communications service that could be described as combat tested. This is always a major selling point for military equipment or anything built to that is built to survive in a harsh environment. Starlink expected many emergency relief organizations would maintain Starlink accounts that could be taken into disaster areas where most communications were disabled. Starlink terminals can be linked to local networks and supply Internet service for locals and emergency workers.

Starlink resistance to hackers and jamming was quickly put to the test as Russia came after it several times in the first two months of the war, failing in each attempt because Starlink engineers could diagnose an attack, develop a software patch and implement it quickly, often in less than an hour. Starlink also responded by modifying the design of newly manufactured Starlink satellites to resist efforts to disrupt service.

The Ukrainians were equally innovative in finding new ways to use Starlink Internet service in combat. One example was using Starlink to support attacks on Russian supply lines day and night. The night attacks were effective because of the use of small Ukrainian designed UAVs equipped with GPS, a night vision camera, a laser range finder and a link to a nearby artillery unit via Starlink. The UAV patrolled Russian supply routes at night and, when a convoy was spotted trying to move safely in the dark, the artillery unit had the continually updated location of the trucks. That enabled the Ukrainians to fire at the convoy and destroy many of the vehicles while demoralizing the survivors who didnt believe the Ukrainians could detect them in the dark and call-in accurate artillery fire.

Similar innovations were developed to provide Ukrainian military units with better communications than the Russian invaders. That edge has been maintained and expanded even though Russians, now the Chinese, continue trying to disrupt Starlink service or find ways to locate active terminals quickly and target them for air or artillery attack.

Russian users obtained some Starlink terminals and tried to use them in Ukraine. SpaceX discovered this and disabled the Russian terminals.

The American military bureaucracy is not hopelessly trapped by mandatory rules and regulations. In wartime the system becomes a lot more responsive as the military is allowed to act quickly and effectively to deal with problems. This was the case during the recent war on terror in Afghanistan and Iraq/Syria. That effort is winding down and the rules and regulations are regaining their dominance. Commercial firms like SpaceX achieve success by using wartime rules and often eventually fade as more rules replace their freedom to quickly respond.
As Defra seeks to ban splash plates from 2025, and grants for slurry application equipment look likely to end soon, farmers have a short window to comply.

Andy Hayhurst, from slurry specialist Vogelsang, suggests that there are options available to farmers and that short term fixes may not offer long term cost savings.

One of the cheapest ways to comply with the splash plate ban is likely to be retrofitted tanker dribble bar systems" he explains.

Whilst these will be a lower investment than a trailing shoe applicator, he suspects that dribble bar systems are not a truly sustainable option.

Some parts of Europe have already banned dribble bar systems and the UK is likely to follow suit.

But Mr Hayhurt suggests that it could be false economy for farmers to choose the lowest cost option.

The use of tankers with smaller, lower cost applicators is often not as efficient as wider working width alternatives," he says.

"More hours are needed to cover the ground, during which the tractor is compacting more land and using more fuel.

"Making use of grants to invest in a wider trailing shoe system would help to mitigate against this and offer a future proof solution."

Further legislation that will require all slurry to be covered by 2027 will also have an impact on machinery efficiency.

Mr Hayhurt explains that when storage is no longer receiving rainwater, slurry will become thicker and present a greater challenge for any dribble bar or trailing shoe applicator. "A good macerator can help with this".

However, he says that using a separator is likely to alleviate the likelihood of slurry damaging application equipment.

The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) is offering 7,613 towards a separator, based on a purchase price of 19,033, as an investment with the potential to reduce storage requirements by up to 30%.

Mr Hayhurt says keeping slurry homogenous using mixers, and separating out dry matter, will provide the best quality liquid for application.

"Using a trailing shoe will ensure the crop is parted to enable the slurry to be applied to the soil and not tarnish the crop," he adds.

"This will also make it easier for the soil to absorb and make plant available the nutrients in the slurry."

It is likely that more grants will be available this year. However, following years of the FETF and the Slurry Infrastructure Grant, the end of these grants looks to be coming soon.

Securing a grant now could reduce the investment cost of a longer term option such as a trailing shoe before it is too late, Mr Hayhurt says.

Dribble bar applicators, with a working width of at least 6 metres and an expected purchase price of 10,500, will be met with 4,200 of grant funding.

Larger dribble bars, with a working width of at least 10 metres and an estimated cost of 13,500, will qualify for 5,400.

Trailing shoe and injection systems qualify for a more generous 50% grant, with the government estimating that a 6-metre injection system will cost 17,968 and the same sized trailing shoe 14,750.

There is a further grant for larger trailing shoe systems with working widths of more than 8 metres.

Mr Hayhurt concluds: "Farming is being asked and encouraged to reduce emissions, reduce run off and make better use of all natural fertilisers.

"We expect that, during this decade, all farms will be moved towards trailing shoe applicators."
An 'important breakthrough' in efforts to halt the advance of wheat blast, an emerging threat to food security, has come from a surprising source, researchers say.

A new study has unexpectedly revealed that wheat varieties with resistance to another pathogen, powdery mildew, also confer protection against wheat blast.

When seeking resistance to diseases it is common to search among varieties or old landraces from regions where the disease originated.

As wheat blast is a disease of humid sub-tropical regions, efforts to control the disease have focused on finding resistance genes among wheat varieties adapted to warmer climates.

A research collaboration led by the UK's John Innes Centre challenged this approach, suggesting that researchers should not ignore resistance in wheat varieties that have been bred to withstand other diseases including those of colder climes, like powdery mildew.

Using gene discovery methods developed at the centre, they have identified the first gene that protects wheat plants against the strains of the blast fungus that contain the protein effector AVR-Rmg8.

Surprisingly, the gene, located on chromosome 2A of the wheat genome, is Pm4, a gene that gives wheat resistance to powdery mildew, a disease of the cooler, wetter climates of the northern hemisphere.

European plant breeders have been selecting wheat with Pm4 for many years for resistance to powdery mildew; now those in the southern hemisphere will be urged to do the same as protection against wheat blast.

Professor Paul Nicholson a group leader at the John Innes Centre and coordinator of the study, said the findings were completely unexpected.

"They suggest that if you want to find resistance to wheat blast you should also look in varieties that come from non-tropical regions, where they already have resistance to mildew.

We need to be open to the idea of looking in unusual places because blast is a disease of high temperature, high humidity environments while mildew is a disease of low temperature high humidity environments.

"No one would have thought of looking in European varieties previously because one is looking for commonalities.

The research team made the discovery by screening over 300 varieties of wheat in the Watkins Collection, a diversity panel gathered from around the globe in the 1930s.

Out of this population, just three percent showed resistance to wheat blast pathogen strains that produce AVR-Rmg8.

Worryingly, all the varieties that were highly resistant to blast carried the Pm4 gene, indicating that only a single resistance was present among this highly diverse population.

The researchers said this emphasised the need to identify additional resistances to ensure robust, durable resistance against this new threat.

The team will now use the same gene discovery methods to search among European-bred wheat varieties for further resistance genes to blast, increasing the genetic armory which can be deployed against this destructive disease.

What is wheat blast?

Almost all cereal diseases have existed for thousands of years and the pathogens causing them have co-evolved with their hosts.

Wheat blast, by contrast, is a new disease, first emerging in 1985 in Brazil, and so there has been no time for the host to adapt to this new threat.

Following its appearance, it has spread throughout South America in humid tropical climates.

In 2016 wheat blast was reported in Bangladesh and in 2018 was identified in Zambia. In both instances it appears that the disease has been imported on grain from South America.

Fortunately, the strain(s) causing outbreaks of wheat blast outside Brazil all produce a small protein effector called AVR-Rmg8.

This molecule is part of the machinery used by the fungus to suppress wheat defences.

The presence of this protein, however, is a potential Achilles heel if the wheat variety can detect this protein and initiate its defence responses.
Eva Longoria is said to have no bad blood with her former Desperate Housewives co-stars Teri Hatcher and Nicollette Sheridan.

Eva Longoria is said to have no bad blood with her former Desperate Housewives co-stars Teri Hatcher and Nicollette Sheridan

The actress, 49, fuelled talk she was feuding with her fellow ex-performers, 59 and 60 respectively, by not naming them in a list of stars from the ABC show with whom she said she still keeps in touch.

But an insider has now told Page Six: (There is) no bad blood between (any of the co-stars.)

(Felicity Huffman and Marcia Cross) are just simply the ones (Eva) keeps in touch with.

Eva had said when the Daily Mail asked with which castmates she still keeps in touch with: I talk to Felicity all the time. I talk to Marcia a lot, but the one probably I talk to most is Ricardo (Chavira), my husband. And Jesse (Metcalfe.)

Despite the insistence there is no feud, Eva has in the past said she was bullied by an unnamed co-worker on the set of Desperate Housewives.

And in 2018, she did not mention Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman actress Teri when asked with whom from Desperate Housewives she was still friendly.

She told Jimmy Kimmel about Felicity, 61, and Marcia, 62, at the time: Were very good friends.

When Jimmy, 56, asked: All of you?, Eva added with a laugh: No. But 99 per cent of us are.

In 2019, Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry, 62, said it was impossible to get along with an unnamed woman on the show who he said exhibited behavioural problems.

He said: Felicity still insisted on saying, Good morning to this actress, even though she knew she wouldnt get a response.

I found out about this and asked Felicity about it. She smiled and said, Just because that womans determined to be rude, doesnt mean she can keep me from being polite.

The shows writer Patty Lin, who worked on season one of Desperate Housewives said about Teri in her book End Credits: How I Broke Up With Hollywood: The writers werent barred from the set, but we werent exactly welcome.

Usually wed only see the cast at table reads, where wed sit quietly in the back and try not to make eye contact with Teri Hatcher.
June 20, 2024: One rarely mentioned aspect of the Ukraine War is the frequent involvement of civilians and civilian groups in supporting the war effort. This was a factor from the beginning when civilians used their cell phones to capture pictures, with locations, of Russian military activity. The Ukrainian government quickly created an organization to receive all these civilian reports and provide civil or military authorities with useful information on a timely basis.

Ukraine was also welcoming when it came to weapons or other military related items developed by individuals or groups of civilians. This was quite different from the situation in Russia, where the government expects civilians to take orders, not make suggestions.

In contrast Ukrainian civilians, most of whom were born or came of age after the Soviet Union collapsed and Ukraine became an independent country, turned to the west for inspiration on how to live, govern and run the economy. When the Russians invaded in 2022, many officers and soldiers were surprised that Ukrainians were no longer culturally related to Russia but had become more like western Europeans.

An example of this was seen in 2023 when Ukraine announced that that was going to spend over half a billion dollars on UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), but what was not revealed was the extent of efforts to add more capabilities to commercial UAVs as well and the growing number being manufactured by Ukrainian companies. These developers and manufacturers are often small groups of civilian hobbyists that proved capable of creating new features for UAVs, both commercial and hobbyist-produced models. The Russian invasion spurred a lot of innovation, mainly among Ukrainian developers. Among the items available to commercial customers are a lot of miniature digital video cameras as well as lighter, miniaturized computer components that could be assembled and programmed by users to perform essential tasks, like using AI apps and data from onboard video cameras enemy forces, even if they are camouflaged or in underground bunkers. Constant combat use of these systems enables developers to address shortcomings and continually improves the hardware and software carried on these hunter killer UAVs. Earlier in the war two UAVs were needed for this but now all that tech and weapons can be carried and used by one UAV.

Wartime developers are able to improve their tech and hardware more rapidly because there was continuous feedback from users. Ukraine had an edge here because many of these developers were hobbyists who knew little about peacetime development, its bureaucracy and counter-productive over-supervision. Ukrainian developers were often creating these new UAV techs for friends or family members who were now in the military and eager for whatever help they could get. The Ukrainian military saw this entrepreneurial spirit as an advantage, not some form of insubordination or recklessness. Russians consider the entrepreneurial activities as unauthorized innovations. Despite that, some Russian innovations appeared, but the Russian innovations took longer to arrive and implement.

Most Russian commanders and civilian officials are less willing than their Ukrainian counterparts to encourage individual initiatives. Another problem was that the economic sanctions made it more difficult for Russians to obtain the commercial tech that Ukrainians used.

That free access to Western or Chinese components meant Ukraine could build very capable and lethal UAVs that were designed to carry out one or a small number of missions. That is why Ukraine and Russia are each losing thousands of UAVs a month. Cheap, useful and expendable is now the rule with most battlefield UAVs.

Russia is at a disadvantage when it comes to its UAV losses because Ukrainian civilians are quick to report to their military any useful information, they witness about Russian UAVs and military practices in general. Russia tried to shut down Ukrainian access to communications with the Ukrainian military. Initially this was handled by cellphone, but the Russians gradually replaced Ukrainian cell towers with Russian ones wherever they could. Ukrainian civilians found other ways to communicate with the Ukrainian military. One of these alternatives was the widespread use of SpaceX Starlink internet terminals that turned a Ukrainian cellphone, desktop computer or tablet into a communications device that could get past Russian jamming and efforts to eliminate the ability of civilians to communicate with the Ukrainian military or government. Civilians continued to take cellphone photos or videos of Russian activities and transmit this information back to the Ukrainian military. This provided lots of useful target information on Russian forces and facilities.

Many civilian photos and videos showed up on social media, which the Ukrainian military monitors for useful information. Throughout history civilians have often been useful informants for the military. With the appearance of cellphones, the internet and Starlink, civilian contributions have become more numerous, accurate and useful.
Jane Fonda has been left "heartbroken" by the death of the brilliant and complex Donald Sutherland.

Donald Sutherland has died at the age of 88

The veteran actor passed away on Thursday (20.06.24) aged 88 following a long illness and his 'Klute' co-star - who he dated around the time of making the 1971 movie - has reflected on the "adventures" they enjoyed together.

She wrote on Instagram alongside a photo from the set of the movie: "I am stunned to hear that Donald Sutherland has died. He was my fascinating co-star in Klute and we loved working together.

"In this photo we are on the Klute set with director Alan Pakula.

"Donald was a brilliant actor and a complex man who shared quite a few adventures with me, such as the FTA Show, an anti-Vietnam war tour that performed for 60,000 active duty soldiers, sailors, and marines in Hawaii, Okinawa, the Philippines, and Japan in 1971.

"I am heartbroken."

Dame Helen Mirren praised Donald - who she worked with on 2017's 'The Leisure Seeker' - as "one of the smartest actors" she'd ever shared the screen with.

She told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement: "Donald Sutherland was one of the smartest actors I ever worked with. He had a wonderful enquiring brain, and a great knowledge on a wide variety of subjects.

"He combined this great intelligence with a deep sensitivity, and with a seriousness about his profession as an actor.

"This all made him into the legend of film that he became. He was my colleague and became my friend. I will miss his presence in this world.

Michael Douglas also paid tribute to Donald, who he worked with on 1994's 'Disclosure'.

Sharing a photo of them in the mystery thriller, he wrote on Instagram: What a lovely, talented, and curious man. RIP Donald Sutherland.

Will Smith shared some photos from him and Donald working on their 1993 movie 'Six Degrees of Separation'.

He simply captioned the post on Instagram: Rest in Peace, Donald."

The 'Hunger Games' star won numerous accolades during his career, including a Primetime Emmy Award and two Golden Globe Awards. However, he is widely regarded as one of the best actors never to have been nominated for an Oscar.

Donald is survived by his wife, Francine Racette, as well as his sons Roeg, Rossif, Angus, and Kiefer, and his daughter Rachel.
Rob Lowe has hailed Donald Sutherland's "charisma and ability".

Rob Lowe has paid tribute to Donald Sutherland

The 60-year-old actor has taken to social media to heap praise on Sutherland, who died aged 88 after a long illness.

Alongside a throwback photograph of the Hollywood star, Rob wrote on X: "Today we lost one of our greatest actors, Donald Sutherland. It was my honor to work with him many years ago, and I will never forget his charisma and ability. If you want a master class in acting, watch him in Ordinary People. My condolences to Kiefer. (sic)"

Elsewhere, Elijah Wood has taken to social media to express his sadness.

The 43-year-old actor wrote on X: "aww man. farewell, Donald Sutherland (sic)"

Meanwhile, Kim Cattrall has also paid tribute to the late actor.

In response to the announcement, the 67-year-old actress said: "Such sad news! Was always a favorite. Was always wonderful. Broke my heart in Ordinary People RIP x (sic)"

Kiefer Sutherland, Donald's son, announced his dad's passing via a statement posted on social media.

The 57-year-old actor - who has also enjoyed a hugely successful career in Hollywood - paid a glowing tribute to Donald, observing that he "loved what he did and did what he loved".

In a statement posted on X, Kiefer said: "With a heavy heart, I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away. I personally think one of the most important actors in the history of film. Never daunted by a role, good, bad or ugly. He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more than that. A life well lived."
Travis Scott is capitalising on his arrest by selling t-shirts featuring his mugshot.

Travis Scott's new merchandise

The 'Sicko Mode' hitmaker was arrested on charges of disorderly intoxication and trespassing on a property after a warning in the early hours of Thursday (20.06.24) morning and he's already using the situation for good with the new addition to the merchandise section of his website.

The 'Free the Rage Tee' is priced at $35 and features Travis' mugshot in the centre, with the phrase "It's Miami" written in quotes underneath.

The official police report stated this was something the 33-year-old rapper said to cops after his arrest.

A portion of proceeds from the tee will got to the Cactus Jack Foundation, which aims to "empower and enrich the lives of youth by providing access to education and creative resources to ensure long term success."

According to local news outlet WSVN, the 'Highest in the Room' hitmaker had been on a charter boat in the Miami Beach Marina when the vessel's owner caused police and asked that Travis leave between midnight and 1am.

A police spokesperson told the TV station: He was drunk, causing a disturbance and asked to leave multiple times.

"[Travis] became irate, screaming profanities, left and returned to disturb some more.

A police report obtained by TMZ explained cops responded to a fight on one of the boats, and when they arrived Travis was arguing with the occupants on one of the yachts, but the person who reported him asked the officers to remove him.

Police started to escort Travis away - allegedly while he yelled obscenities - and took him to his waiting car past the docks, but he then returned five minutes later and was intercepted as he attempted to head back to the boat.

At this point, the 'Antidote' rapper is said to have become erratic and belligerent, and so he was arrested.

Cops arrested Travis at 1.17am, half an hour after arriving at the scene, before officially booking him three hours later.

A lawyer for the star - who has children Stormi, six, and two-year-old Aire with former partner Kylie Jenner - said the arrest had been a "misunderstanding".

Attorney Bradford Cohen said in a statement: "Mr. Scott was briefly detained due to a misunderstanding.

"There was absolutely no physical altercation involved, and we thank the authorities for working with us towards a swift and amicable resolution."
The second season of the House Of The Dragon showcases the natural beauty of the landscapes of Wales





The prequel to HBOs hit series Game of Thrones was filmed in eight locations across North Wales last year on a five-week shooting schedule.





Wales provides a suitably sombre backdrop for the fictional kingdom of Westeros.



Here are some of the Welsh locations that were repurposed





Yr Eifl Quarry, Gwynedd

Although the quarry shut down in 1963, the site was reopened in 1984. Believe it or not, this location appeared in Game Of Thrones as Dragonstone Castle  though much of the exterior was filmed in Spain.



In House Of The Dragon, locals reported that the quarry was draped with banners that bore the sigil of Rhaenyra Targaryen.




Vietnams exports grew by about 13.8 per cent year on year (YoY) to $188.97 billion in the first half (H1) this year, and imports rose by 18.4 per cent YoY, according to the ministry of industry and trade (MoIT)s planning and finance department.

Exports of the processing and manufacturing sector was $159.92 billion during the period, said Bui Huy Son, head of the department.

Vietnam's exports grew by about 13.8 per cent YoY to $188.97 billion in H1 2024, and imports rose by 18.4 per cent YoY, according to government statistics. The total export-import value during the period hit $369.59 billiona YoY increase of 16.03 per cent, with a trade surplus of $8.4 billion. An uneven recovery in industrial production was noticed.

The total export-import value during the period hit $369.59 billiona YoY increase of 16.03 per cent, with a trade surplus of $8.4 billion, a domestic news agency reported.

However, the department pointed to an uneven recovery in industrial production, along with difficulties in energy production and supply, especially electricity and oil and gas, due to price fluctuation in international and domestic markets.

Obstacles to exports include rising prices, particularly those of farm produce and energy, surging shipping rates, and the pressure of trade remedies investigations and technical barriers on some key export items to big markets like the European Union (EU) and the United States.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Deepika Padukone has been acing pregnancy fashion with every outing. The mother-to-be was clicked with husband Ranveer Singh at the airport yesterday. The two were said to be heading to London for their babymoon. Both twinning in black, they were all smiles as they headed in.



Soon after a picture of the couple posing with the staff at Mumbai Airport went viral online.

On the work front, Deepika Padukone is awaiting the release of her next Kalki 2898 AD on June 27, 2024. While Ranveer Singh is gearing up for Don 3.
Critic's rating 3.0 /5

The Exorcism revolves around an out of work actor Tony Miller (Russell Crowe), who after battling alcoholism and drug abuse, gets a chance to win stardom again after landing the lead role in a horror film. The film-within-the-film being shot is essentially a variation of William Friedkins influential 1973 classic The Exorcist. Its even titled The Georgetown Project, a nod to the setting of The Exorcist. Furthermore, the opening scene of The Exorcism reveals that The Georgetown Project centres on a priest with a crisis of faith, summoned to exorcise a demon from a teenage girl, with the set being a near replica of the iconic house from The Exorcist.



There are urban legends abound stating paranormal activity being witnessed on the sets of horror films. The director takes his clue from that and offers moments which have no explanation. But the film goes deeper than that. It's alluded to that Miller was abused by a priest as a child. So playing a priest in itself proves traumatic to him. Add to the presence of a real-life priest, Father Conor (David Hyde Pierce) and the situation gets worse. It doesn't help that he doesn't get along with his 16-year-old daughter Lee (Ryan Simkins), who has run away from boarding school after an altercation with her principal over gay rights. Lee gets involved with her father's co-star Blake Holloway (Chloe Bailey), who plays the demon-possessed girl in the film. Bogged down by his insecurities and also the fact that his director (Adam Goldberg) is an unfeeling jerk, he takes to drinking again. But more is at play here. It may not be just the alcohol which is consuming him. He might be the victim of demon possession himself



It looks like the director Joshua John Miller set out to make a psychological horror, segued into paying a homage to The Exorcist and then breaks for a full-blown horror film treatment towards the end. Incidentally, Miller's father Jason Miller played one of the protagonists, Father Damien Karras, in the original film. So there's a lot of subtext at play here. Sam Worthington plays Karras here, in a brief, brief role. The Exorcism faithfully copies moments from its parental film, including that of the priest jumping from a high-storeyed window and offering to sacrifice his life for another.



Do you really need to show an actual demon in a film about a protagonist dealing with his inner demons? Russell Crowe, who has played an exorcist earlier in The Pope's Exorcist (2023), seems as clueless as the rest of us. But you don't stop being an Oscar-winning actor even in the face of bad material. So he gamely plays on and provides another bravura performance. But even the best actor in the world can't exorcise the demons of a badly written script. No amount of low light camerawork (that begs another question  why doesn't anyone turn on a light switch in this film?) or jump scares will work if the actual exorcism scene is weak and doesn't frighten the audience.



The Exorcism film does fan service to horror film buffs, especially those who consider The Exorcist to be the greatest-ever horror film. Watch the film to see how a great actor can still perform even in the midst of faded glory...

TRAILER : The Exorcism
June 21, 2024: The Marines have decided to use the newly developed vehicle-based Madis (Marine Air Defense Integrated Future Weapons System) AUD (Anti UAV Defense) systems. Madis is transported in two Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JTL) vehicles, which replaced the smaller Hummer. Between them the two vehicles carry sensors, including radar and fire control equipment to detect targets. Weapons consist of two 30mm autocannon, with coaxial (adjacent and aimed at the same target) M240C 7.62mm machine-guns. The vehicles are also configured to use Stinger air defense missiles as well. These weapons are part of a RWS (Remote Weapons Station) and are operated by marines inside the enclosed vehicle. Madis is an upgraded version of the older L-Madis that was developed for ship defense and used successfully in 2019 when it shot down an Iranian UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), otherwise known as a drone. The marines expect to start receiving Madis, as well as an updated L-Madis in 2025. Ultimately the marines expect to receive 21 L-Madis and 190 Madis systems.

The marines are not the only American military personnel seeking more AUD systems. U.S. forces in the Middle East have requested more AUD systems to protect U.S. personnel from the growing UAV threat. UAVs are cheap, plentiful and can be armed or equipped with more capable video cameras, sensors, and communications capabilities. These accessories are relatively cheap and available from commercial outlets. The cheap and available angle has not only led to a lot more UAVs being used in wartime, with Ukraine being the combat situation where this is demonstrated in what is known as near-peer combat where two adversaries with roughly equal weapons and equipment fight each other. There has not been such a war since World War II. While many aspects of the two forces are similar to the World War II experience, there is a lot of new technology. Some of this new tech is cheap, widely used by both sides and continually evolves for as long as the fighting lasts. When peace returns, evolution will slow down and often stop. The reason for this is cost.

Right now, the fighting in Ukraine has led to a growing number of new AUD systems and one of these is the U.S. Navy system called EAGLS (Electronic Advanced Ground Launcher System) for ships. EAGLS can also be used by ground forces and that is the case for the EAGLS systems sent to protect American forces stationed in the Middle east. Currently, each EAGLS system costs about five million dollars.

EAGLS provides similar functions as the earlier Vampire AUD System that has already been sent to Ukraine and performed admirably. Like Vampire, EAGLS uses APKWS II, or Advanced Precision Killer Weapon System II 70mm laser guided rockets. APKWS 70mm laser-guided rockets weigh only 15 kg and have a range of about five thousand meters when fired from the ground. EAGLS can detect and fire APKWS laser guided rockets at air and even ground targets. Any UAV, cruise missile or helicopter within range is vulnerable.

EAGLS is a self-contained system with three components. There is a CROWS II (Commonly Remotely Operated Weapon Station II) equipped with a four-round 70mm rocket launcher loaded with laser-guided Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rockets, a sensor turret with electro-optical and infrared cameras, and a small radar array. The system is designed to be used from an immobile pallet on the ground or mounted in the back of a Humvee configured as a pickup truck. Any other similar truck will do and the Ukrainians undertake such improvisations quickly. EAGLS uses a DRS RPS-40 radar which can detect targets ten kilometers away and track them until they come within the five kilometer range of the APKWS rockets. To deal with that EAGLS also has an optical sight that enables the system operator to fire at targets within visual range. With a heat sensing (infrared) option EAGLS can detect and fire on targets at night.

It is possible for enemy forces to detect the radar signals emitted by the EAGLS radar and fire a guided missile at a stationary EAGLS system. Thats why EAGLS is usually mounted in the back of a truck or Humvee. A new version of the APKWS II is being developed with a range of 12 kilometers. This is a major improvement over the current five kilometers.

The U.S. Navy is equipping some of its destroyers with EAGLS to increase anti-aircraft capabilities while also providing a land attack option as well.

APKWS (Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System) is a 15 kg 70mm rocket, with a laser seeker, a six pound warhead and a range of about six kilometers. Laser designators on a helicopter, or with troops on the ground, are pointed at the target, and the laser seeker in the front of the APKWS homes on the reflected laser light.

APKWS was developed from the 2.75 inch (70mm) rockets used during World War II as an air-to-air weapon for use against heavy bomber formations. The Germans had developed a similar, and very successful weapon, the R4M, but before long it was noted that neither the Japanese nor the Germans had any heavy bombers, so the U.S. 70mm rocket was switched to air-to-ground use. Actually, the 70mm rocket was retained for air-to-air use into the 1950s, but it was never successful in that role. The 70mm rocket became very popular in the 1960s, when it was discovered that the weapon worked very well against ground targets when launched from multiple 7 or 19 tube launchers mounted on helicopters. The 107-140 centimeter long rockets could be fired singly or in salvoes and gave helicopter pilots some airborne artillery for supporting troops on the ground. There are many variations in terms of warheads and rocket motors. Some versions can go over 10 kilometers.

The United States has also sent six hundred Coyote UAV interceptors to protect American troops in the Middle East. Coyote is launched from an aircraft and weighs 5.9 kg and is a 60 centimeter long UAV with a wingspan of 247 centimeters. Coyote is launched from a pneumatic tube and the wings extend and the Coyote is directed to search for or attack a target by its remote operator who can be over 100 kilometers away. Coyotes can remain airborne for two hours while seeking a target. Cruising speed is 102 kilometers an hour, with a top speed of 130 kilometers. In 2022 the reusable Block 3 Coyote was introduced. Each one carries devices that enable it to destroy up to ten UAVs before landing to be rearmed and have its battery recharged or replaced with an already charged battery.
Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) hosts a technical seminar at Cannes Lions 2024 under the theme 'From Logic to Magic: 5 Ways to Make Tech Resonate'

The seminar highlights Nano Cooling Film and Hyundai Motor's recent 'Made Cooler By Hyundai' campaign, demonstrating its commitment to addressing social issues with advanced technology

Cannes Lions Festival showcases top global advertising and communication works, attracting over 13,000 participants from more than 100 countries

CANNES, France and SEOUL, South Korea, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) hosted a technical seminar entitled 'From Logic to Magic: 5 Ways to Make Tech Resonate' at Cannes Lions 2024 for global media and marketers. The Group is the first in the automotive industry to share its technical thought leadership in an official seminar session at the global event for creative communications.

From June 17, the five-day Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, established in 1954, showcases global advertising and communications excellence across 30 categories in almost 200 sessions. Now in its 71st year, the annual event attracts over 25,000 submissions and 13,000 participants from more than 100 countries. The official seminars and award ceremony are particularly interesting to global marketers due to the intense competition among multinational companies.

Through its seminar, the Group shared how Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation effectively communicate about its complex technologies, namely hydrogen energy, autonomous driving, robotics, advanced air mobility (AAM) and advanced materials, to tackle issues like accessibility, environmental impact, energy efficiency and traffic congestion.

The Group's presentation emphasized advanced materials and highlighted Hyundai Motor and Kia's commitment to sustainability and innovation, illustrating how material science supports all technology development by the Group.

The presentation highlighted Hyundai Motor and Kia's innovative Nano Cooling Film, which is designed to reduce a vehicle interior's temperature by up to 10C in hot weather without darkening the glass, significantly lowering the energy consumption needed to cool the interior.

Nano Cooling Film consists of three layers. The outer layer radiates heat at mid-infrared wavelengths from the interior to the exterior of the vehicle, while the inner two layers reflect incoming heat at near-infrared wavelengths, significantly reducing the total amount of heat that reaches the vehicle interior.

In April, Hyundai Motor first rolled out Nano Cooling Film in Lahore, Pakistan, where extreme heat, air pollution and window tinting laws pose challenges. The 'Made Cooler By Hyundai' campaign aimed at helping locals who often face pollution exposure or high fuel costs due to excessive air conditioning usage. Despite a local tinting ban, the company equipped over 70 vehicles with Nano Cooling Film for free, along with 'Made Cooler by Hyundai' campaign stickers.

The campaign underscored the film's benefits, like reduced temperatures and enhanced driving comfort, while respecting local regulations and cultural aspects. It highlighted the importance of understanding historical context, legal realities, local behavior, daily experiences and brand bravery when introducing advanced technologies.

More information about Hyundai Motor Group can be found at: http://www.hyundaimotorgroup.com.

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 20, 2024) - Lions Bay Capital Inc. (TSXV: LBI) (the "Acquiror") announces that on June 19, 2024, it acquired ownership of an additional 8,500,000 common shares of Fidelity Minerals Corp. (the "Issuer") as part a shares for debt transaction where the Acquiror settled $425,000 in outstanding loans at a deemed price of $0.05 (the "Acquisition").

Prior to the Acquisition, the Acquiror owned an aggregate of 42,827,811 common shares of the Issuer, representing approximately 48.23% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Issuer on an undiluted basis. As a result of the Acquisition, the Acquiror owns a total of 51,327,811 common shares of the Issuer, representing approximately 49.91% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Issuer on an undiluted basis.

"We are very excited by the potential of the Las Huaquillas property held by Fidelity, which we consider a tier one epithermal gold and porphyry target," stated Mr. John Byrne, the Executive Chairman of Lions Bay.

The securities acquired by the Acquiror will be held for investment purposes. The Acquiror may, depending on market and other conditions, increase or decrease its beneficial ownership of the Issuer's securities, whether in the open market, by privately negotiated agreements or otherwise, subject to a number of factors including general market conditions and other available investment and business opportunities.

This press release is being issued pursuant to National Instrument 62-103 - The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues which requires a report to be filed containing additional information with respect to the foregoing matters. A copy of the Acquiror's early warning report will be available on the Issuer's profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedarplus.ca.

The Issuer's head office is located at 1201 - 1166 Alberni Street, Vancouver, BC, V6E 3Z3.

John Byrne

Executive Chairman

Tel: +61 3 9236 2800

Email: jbyrne@lionsbaycapital.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/213882

SOURCE: Lions Bay Capital Inc.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 20, 2024) - City View Green Holdings Inc. (CSE: CVGR) (OTC Pink: CVGRF) ("City View" or the "Company"), an innovative Canadian-based cannabis-infused edibles manufacturing company, announces that further to its May 6, 2024, news release, it has now completed a first tranche (the "First Tranche") of its non-brokered private placement (the "Offering"). Under the First Tranche, the Company has issued 9,500,000 Units for gross proceeds of $95,000. No finder's fees were paid in connection with the First Tranche. All securities issued under the First Tranche are subject to a hold period expiring October 21, 2024, in accordance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE").

The First Tranche comprises the initial portion of the Offering, which is hereby extended, under which City View is selling up to $1,000,000 units of the Company at a price of $0.01/unit. Each unit consists of one common share (each a "Share") in the capital of the Company and one-half common share purchase warrant (each a "Warrant"). Each whole Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one common share of the Company (each a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.05 per Warrant Share for a period of 3 years following the date of issuance; except that, from and after the date that is one year after the closing date, if the average closing price of the Company's common shares on the CSE is equal to or exceeds $0.055 during any 10 trading day period, then the Company may anytime thereafter accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants to the date that is 30 days following the date on which the Company issues notice to all the Warrant holders of the new expiry date (and the Company will also issue a press release on the same date as it issues notice confirming the new expiry date of the Warrants). Refer to the Company's May 6, 2024 news release for further details on the Offering.

Rob Fia, the Company's President, CEO and director (the "Insider") participated in the First Tranche and purchased 1,500,000 Units for $15,000. Participation by the Insider in this financing is considered a "related party transaction" pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is exempt from the requirements to obtain a formal valuation and minority shareholder approval in connection with the Insider's participation in the Offering in reliance of sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(a) of MI 61-101, respectively, on the basis that participation in the Offering by the Insider did not exceed 25% of the fair market value of the Company's market capitalization The Company did not file a material change report at least 21 days prior to the closing of the First Tranche as participation of the Insider had not been confirmed at that time.

In addition, City View announces that it has engaged marketing firm Rocket Invest AI Corp ("Rocket Invest AI"), an arm's length third party, to provide various marketing services through multiple social media platforms as well as facilitating communication with the financial community. The initial term of the agreement is for 3 months effective June 20 2024, for which Rocket Invest AI will be paid $30,000 CAD.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons (as defined in the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration is available.

About City View Green Holdings Inc.

City View is a leading consumer packaged goods company focused on the development of cannabis infused edibles with the receipt of its Cannabis Act processing license on April 30, 2021. For more information visit: www.cityviewgreen.ca.

For further information contact:

City View Green Holdings Inc.

Rob Fia, CEO & President

Phone: 416.722.4994

Email: rob@cityviewgreen.ca

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulations services accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements which are not composed of historical facts. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. There are a number of important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include, among others, availability and costs of financing needed in the future, changes in equity markets, delays in the development of projects, and ability to predict or counteract potential impact of COVID19 coronavirus on factors relevant to the Company's business. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMPANY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PRESS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE THE COMPANY MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/213881

SOURCE: City View Green Holdings Inc.
Kunstliche Intelligenz hat spatestens nach dem Raketenstart von Chat GPT das Leben aller verandert. Doch der Superzyklus steht nach Meinungen von Experten erst am Anfang. Wahrend Aktien wie Nvidia von der ersten Aufwartsentwicklung stark profitieren konnten, versprechen aussichtsreiche Player aus der

zweiten Reihe noch enormes Aufwartspotenzial.



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New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - June 20, 2024) - A successful experiment with concrete structures will allow PNK Group to expand its range of structural solutions. The new type of structural frame can be used for production facilities and will eventually be offered to the company's clients interested in increasing the fire resistance, corrosion resistance, and durability of their buildings.

The next stage of PNK Group's engineering and design evolution is documented by analyzing the construction of three buildings in Pennsylvania. All of them were completed in 2023.

The first facility, located in Humboldt, is approximately 317,000 square feet. Its structural frame components were produced in a plant with extreme precision. As this construction method is practiced, it will provide advantages in installation quality and assembly speed.

The building's roof structures are made of steel joists and girders, and the trusses are made from I-beams. The roof is multi-pitched to keep the ceiling from rising above 45 feet.

PNK Group: A new building assembly set is set for industrial buildings

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/213689_0edef68554ce58f7_002full.jpg

The Allenwood building was constructed a bit differently. The approximately 478,000-square-foot building utilized the structural solutions used at Humboldt and new technologies. Among the latter are reinforced concrete long-span Girders in 50- and 60-foot lengths and short beams along the building's exterior columns in 25-, 28- and 30-foot lengths. All structures were prestressed.

The narrow central columns (cross-section of only 16x16 inches) were made of reinforced concrete and are one piece with the footing. These solutions reduced the number of welded connections; only 20% remained; the rest were bolted. At the previous facility, the ratio was different-40% bolted and 60% welded. PNK Group plans to switch to bolted connections by producing more precise products and expanding its production.

In general, replacing steel columns with reinforced concrete columns improved the building's functionality, allowing, among other things, to accommodate previously inaccessible equipment, such as cranes with a lifting capacity of up to eight tons. Along with functionality, the speed of construction has also increased.

The building was constructed with a combined facade; the designers combined concrete with PIR panels. This solution also contributes to the building's functionality, as these panels can be used to make many technological openings, which food manufacturers especially demand.

Another facility in the exact location in Allenwood features a different facade material. The exterior wall of the approximately 255,000-square-foot building is made entirely of horizontal reinforced concrete composite triple-layer panels with insulation in the center section. The structural frame utilizes 75-foot-long steel Girders.

In addition, the facility is notable because the speed bay area was extended from 60 feet to 75 feet. This did not require stopping construction work, and PNK Group's building assembly set got a speed bay with new characteristics.

Now, the company's design department is improving the system of high-precision prefab structural frames. In the future, it will allow the site to completely avoid welding work, assembling the building assembly set even faster without losing quality and reliability.

As an engineering and manufacturing pioneer, PNK Group spearheads technological advancements in industrial construction. The company's construction methodology, utilizing large-unit blocks, streamlines building assembly through precise element production, minimizing the need for extensive labor and heavy machinery.

Contact Info:

Name: Mark Stiles

Email: info@pnk.group

Organization: PNK Group

Address: 17 State Street, Suite 3930

Phone: 6465177915

Website: https://pnk.group/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/213689

SOURCE: Plentisoft
BOSTON, June 20, 2024, the global full-service clinical Contract Research Organization.



The report provides insights and key data on the global landscape of clinical trials for uterine cancer, primarily endometrial cancer (EC), focusing on prevalence, funding landscape, emerging trends, therapies, trial density, and patient recruitment for trial planning and research.

Since 2018, over 1,200 EC clinical trials have been initiated worldwide, with North America and Asia-Pacific contributing 39% and 33% of trials, respectively, followed by Europe at 22%.

EC ranks as the second most common, and fourth leading, cause of death globally among gynecology malignancies. In 2022 alone, there were nearly 420,370 new cases of EC globally, with approximately 97,720 deaths.

Asia (167,430) accounts for nearly 40% of global cases of EC in 2022

Europe (124,874)

North America (73,977)



Within Asia:

Mainland China reported the highest incidence with 77,722 cases

The United States had the second-highest incidence globally with 66,055 cases, accompanied by the highest ASR of 22.5 per 100,000 population

In Europe, Russia reported the third-highest incidence with 29,852 cases



Currently, the standard of care for EC is surgery with either partial or total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (TH/BSO). For recurrent EC patients, treatments vary based on extent and prior success, including surgery, radiation, and systemic therapy such as chemotherapy and hormonal therapy.

The report notes that projections for EC show an increase in new cases over the next 25 years, potentially surpassing 600,000 annual new cases by 2044.

This demand for therapies has seen EC clinical trial activity increase globally from 2014 to 2023, with the Asia-Pacific region experiencing the highest increase with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 22.9%. ROW followed closely at 14.9%, and the North American and European regions showed a steady growth rate at 9.7% and 5.2% respectively.

Similarly, the funding landscape is strong with the United States dominating in venture capital funding for EC research between 2019 and 2023, followed by China, with investments totalling $2129 million and $894 million, respectively. Public funding initiatives in Australia and the United States focused on expanding and improving the quality of care.

Further key clinical trial trend and treatment developments from the report include:

The United States led trial activity in North America, while Mainland China led in the Asia-Pacific region, followed by Australia and South Korea.

The trial phase trends show North America and Asia-Pacific conducting a higher volume of early and mid-phase trials (Phase 1 and 2), while Europe and the ROW concentrate on later-stage trials (Phase 3).

Asia-Pacific demonstrates the shortest median enrollment period (15.1 months) and the highest median recruitment rate (1.1 subjects per site per month), indicating efficient patient recruitment.

There are approximately six drugs in preclinical stages, 15 in Phase I trials, and 12 in combined Phase I/II studies.

In Phase III trials, Programmed Cell Death 1 Ligand 1 Inhibitor dominates the mechanism of action (MOA), followed by Programmed Cell Death Protein 1 Antagonist and Poly [ADP Ribose] Polymerase 1 Inhibitor.

Marketed drugs for EC mainly target DNA synthesis inhibitors, progesterone receptor agonists, and tubulin inhibitors.

The Novotech research analyst team provides these expert reports every month, completely free of charge. In addition to the highlights above, the report provides an in-depth SWOT analysis, to guide biotech firms on strategic decision-making, research opportunities, and challenges. They tackle the potential and real hurdles biotech firms face in specific therapeutic areas in the hopes of positively impacting and informing clinical trial decision-making, eventually improving success rates with new treatments.

Download the report here

About Novotech Novotech-CRO.com

Founded in 1997, Novotech is a global full-service clinical Contract Research Organization (CRO) focused on partnering with biotech companies to accelerate the development of advanced and novel therapeutics at every phase.

Recognized for its industry-leading contributions, Novotech has received numerous prestigious awards, including the CRO Leadership Award 2023, the Asia Pacific Cell & Gene Therapy Clinical Trials Excellence 2023, the Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Company of the Year Award since 2006.

The Company offers a comprehensive suite of services including laboratories, Phase I facilities, drug development consulting, regulatory expertise, and has experience with over 5,000 clinical projects, including Phase I to Phase IV clinical trials and bioequivalence studies. With a presence in 34 office locations and a dedicated team of 3,000+ professionals worldwide, Novotech is a trusted end-to-end strategic partner of choice.

For more information or to speak to an expert team member visit Novotech-CRO.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a2ce74ba-6793-437c-9766-0e04b71255ce
Elliptic Labs (OSE: ELABS), a global AI software company and the world leader in AI Virtual Smart Sensors currently deployed in over 500 million devices, has launched its AI Virtual Proximity Sensor INNER BEAUTY on vivo's V40 smartphone. The vivo V40 smartphone has been announced for the global market. This device is powered by Elliptic Labs' partners Qualcomm's Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset. Elliptic Labs previously announced this contract.

"The launch of our AI Virtual Proximity Sensor INNER BEAUTY on vivo's V40 smartphone brings the number of shipments with vivo to 13 smartphones," said Laila Danielsen, CEO of Elliptic Labs. "Our first shipment with vivo was just last year so we're very pleased about the growth trajectory of this partnership. It is a solid proof point that our AI software technology based on our Small Sensing Models has taken hold in the smartphone market. The biggest global OEMs like vivo continue to collaborate with Elliptic Labs to make their devices greener, smarter, and more user-friendly."

AI Virtual Proximity Sensor INNER BEAUTY

Elliptic Labs' AI Virtual Proximity Sensor detects when a user holds their phone up to their ear during a call, allowing the smartphone to turn off its display and disable its screen's touch functionality. This keeps the user's ear or cheek from triggering unwanted actions during the call, such as hanging up or dialing numbers. Turning off the screen also helps conserve battery life.

Proximity detection is a core capability that is used in all smartphones, but Elliptic Labs' AI Virtual Proximity Sensor is a unique, software-only solution that delivers robust proximity detection without the need for a dedicated hardware sensor. By replacing hardware sensors with software sensors, the AI Virtual Proximity Sensor reduces device cost and eliminates sourcing risk.

INNER BEAUTY is a registered trademark of Elliptic Labs.

AI Virtual Smart Sensor, AI Virtual Proximity Sensor, and AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform are trademarks of Elliptic Labs.

All other trademarks or service marks are the responsibility of their respective organizations.

About Elliptic Labs

Elliptic Labs is a global enterprise targeting the smartphone, laptop, IoT, and automotive markets. Founded in 2006 as a research spin-off from Norway's Oslo University, the company's patented software uses AI, ultrasound, and sensor fusion to deliver intuitive 3D gesture, proximity-, presence-, breathing- and heartbeat-detection experiences. Its scalable AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform creates software-only sensors that are sustainable, human-friendly, and already deployed in hundreds of millions of devices around the world. Elliptic Labs is the only software company that has delivered detection capabilities using AI software, ultrasound, and sensor fusion deployed at scale. The company joined the Oslo Brs main listing in March 2022.

Elliptic Labs is headquartered in Norway with presence in the USA, China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. Its technology and IP are developed in Norway and are solely owned by the company.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240620532120/en/

Contacts:

PR Contacts:

Patrick Tsui

pr@ellipticlabs.com

Investor Relations:

Lars Holmy

Lars.Holmoy@ellipticlabs.com
Idorsia's dual orexin receptor antagonist, a drug working by a new mechanism of action for the treatment of chronic insomnia, has been awarded the prestigious Prix Galien Suisse 2024 innovation prize in the category 'Primary & Speciality'.

Each year, the Prix Galien Suisse honors the most innovative new medicines and diagnostics on the Swiss market.

Allschwil, Switzerland - June 21, 2024

Idorsia Ltd (SIX: IDIA) announced today that its novel treatment for chronic insomnia has been awarded the prestigious Prix Galien Suisse 2024 innovation prize in the 'Primary & Speciality' category. The Prix Galien Suisse is awarded annually to the most innovative new medicines and diagnostics on the Swiss market, as judged by a jury of renowned Swiss scientists.

Alice Huisman, General Manager of Idorsia Switzerland and Austria, commented:

"We are very proud to have been awarded the prestigious Prix Galien. The recognition from the jury is a wonderful endorsement of Idorsia's commitment to innovation in Swiss healthcare and the value that the new treatment brings to improving Swiss patient care for chronic insomnia. My team is working to make this medicine accessible to all Swiss patients."

Martine Clozel, MD and Chief Scientific Officer added: "I am delighted that our innovative research in Switzerland has been recognized with the Prix Galien Suisse 2024. Our research team began working on the science of orexin and orexin receptors immediately after they were first described in 1998. Our initial work led to the understanding that antagonism of the orexin system was the key to increasing sleep while preserving a natural sleep architecture in patients with insomnia. The team set the target to design a dual orexin receptor antagonist that achieved a rapid onset of effect and a duration of action sufficient to cover the totality of the night - with minimal next-morning residual effect - at optimally effective doses. This task proved to be very challenging, and we had to synthesize and characterize more than 25,000 compounds to arrive to the innovative compound now recognized with the Prix Galien Suisse."

Notes to the editor

About insomnia disorders

Insomnia disorder is defined as difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, causing clinically significant distress or impairment in important areas of daytime functioning. This impact on sleep quantity or quality should be present for at least three nights per week, over the period of at least three months, and occurs despite an adequate opportunity to sleep.1

Insomnia is a state of overactive wake signals and studies have shown that in patients with insomnia, brain regions associated with wakefulness remain more active during sleep.2,3 Chronic insomnia is a common problem with an estimated prevalence in Switzerland of 9.2% of the working-age population.4

Insomnia as a disorder is distinctly different from a short period of poor sleep and it can affect both physical and mental health.1,5 It is a persistent condition that has a negative impact on daytime performance.1 Idorsia's research has shown that poor sleep quality can affect many aspects of daily life, including the ability to concentrate, mood and energy levels.

The goal of treating insomnia is to improve sleep quality and quantity, as well as daytime performance, while avoiding side and after-effects the next morning. The currently recommended treatment for insomnia includes sleep hygiene, cognitive behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy.4

About the orexin system

Wake and sleep signaling is regulated by intricate neural circuitry in the brain. One key component of this process is the orexin system, which helps promote wakefulness.6,7 There are two forms of orexin neuropeptides - small protein-like molecules used by nerve cells (neurons) to communicate with each other in the brain - orexin A and orexin B.6,8 Orexin promotes wakefulness through its receptors OX1R and OX2R. 6,8 Together, these neuropeptides and receptors make up the orexin system. The orexin system stimulates targeted neurons in the wake system - leading to the release of several chemicals (serotonin, histamine, acetylcholine, norepinephrine) - to promote wakefulness.9 Under normal circumstances, orexin levels rise throughout the day as wakefulness is promoted and then fall at night.10 Overactivity of the wake system is an important driver of insomnia.7

The Idorsia research team has been studying the science of orexin and orexin receptors since they were first described in 1998. The team's initial work led to the conclusion that antagonism of the orexin system is key to maintaining natural sleep architecture in patients with insomnia. With this goal in mind, the team developed dual antagonists with the aim of a rapid onset of action and a duration of action sufficient to bridge the night but short enough to minimize any negative residual activity the next morning at optimally effective doses.

References

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Buysse, D.J., et al. Drug Discov Today Dis Models. 2011;8(4):129-137. Levenson, J.C., et al. Chest. 2015;147(4):1179-1192. Hafner, Marco, et al., 2023. Santa Monica. CA: RAND Corporation. Wardle-Pinkston S., et al. Sleep Med Rev. 2019;48. Muehlan, C., et al. J Psychopharmacol. 2020;34(3):326-335. Boof, M.L., et al. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2019;75(2):195-205. Muehlan, C., et al. Expert Opin. Drug Metab. Toxicol. 2020;16(11):1063-1078. Clifford, B.S., et al. Trends Neurosci. 2001;24(12).726-31. Gotter, A.L., et al. BMC Neuroscience. 2013;14(1):14-19.

About Idorsia

Idorsia Ltd is reaching out for more - We have more ideas, we see more opportunities and we want to help more patients. In order to achieve this, we will develop Idorsia into a leading biopharmaceutical company, with a strong scientific core.

Headquartered near Basel, Switzerland - a European biotech-hub - Idorsia is specialized in the discovery, development and commercialization of small molecules to transform the horizon of therapeutic options. Idorsia has a 25-year heritage of drug discovery, a broad portfolio of innovative drugs in the pipeline, an experienced team of professionals covering all disciplines from bench to bedside, and commercial operations in Europe and North America - the ideal constellation for bringing innovative medicines to patients.

Idorsia was listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ticker symbol: IDIA) in June 2017 and has over 750 highly qualified specialists dedicated to realizing our ambitious targets.

For more information please contact

Andrew C. Weiss

Senior Vice President, Head of Investor Relations & Corporate Communications

Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Hegenheimermattweg 91, CH-4123 Allschwil

+41 58 844 10 10

investor.relations@idorsia.com

media.relations@idorsia.com

www.idorsia.com (http://www.idorsia.com)

The above information contains certain "forward-looking statements", relating to the company's business, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "estimates", "believes", "expects", "may", "are expected to", "will", "will continue", "should", "would be", "seeks", "pending" or "anticipates" or similar expressions, or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. Such statements include descriptions of the company's investment and research and development programs and anticipated expenditures in connection therewith, descriptions of new products expected to be introduced by the company and anticipated customer demand for such products and products in the company's existing portfolio. Such statements reflect the current views of the company with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected.

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Kupfer wird oft als das Gold der Energiewende bezeichnet, weil es aufgrund seiner hervorragenden elektrischen Leitfahigkeit eine zentrale Rolle in vielen Technologien spielt, die fur nachhaltige Energiesysteme entscheidend sind. Experten gehen aufgrund der Angebotsknappheit von einem Superzyklus aus.

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June 21, 2024: Ukrainian air force pilots are seeking better equipment and weapons to deal with Russian air defenses. The NATO nations supporting Ukraine have also been working on that and began back in 2016 when representatives of NATO air forces met to work on reviving and sharing Cold War era knowledge of sending aircraft into heavily defended air space. The presence of modern Russian anti-aircraft weapons in Syria and the hostile relations between Russia and NATO member Turkey made it useful to review SEAD (suppression of enemy air defenses) capabilities. Going after air defense systems, otherwise known as SEAD, rather than the World War II phrase "flak suppression", is an expensive task and a high priority one during the Cold War. Shutting down air defenses is only undertaken if the target being defended is important enough to warrant such an expensive application of air power. After the Cold War ended the growing number of precision missiles seemed to be a more efficient way to go after heavily defended targets. This spurred development of air defense systems that can hit missiles. The US Patriot SAM (Surface to Air) missile's ability to intercept SCUD missiles was the first combat example of this technique. While crude, the Patriot showed that it could be done in 1990. Since then the similar Russian S-300 system has acquired anti-missile capabilities. That said, nearly all the NATO aircraft losses in combat since the 1990s were from low tech weapons like machine guns and small SAMs.

The last time the United States had to do any serious SEAD was in 2003 during the invasion of Iraq. This was against second-rate Russian Cold War era systems sold to foreign customers. But the Russians have their most modern equipment in Syria and there is a possibility NATO aircraft may have to deal with it. So the 2016 meeting was a first step in figuring out how to handle a SEAD challenge not seen since the 1980s.

Flying into heavily defended enemy air space is a risky business. High and low altitude anti-aircraft defenses are numerous. Radars are all over the place. One approach is to sneak in with small groups of up to four planes. Coming in low, a few hundred meters high or low enough to singe the treetops, the enemy has little time to react before you are past him. Zipping along at 200 meters a second, there is not much for the enemy to see, or shoot at. Using electronic mapping and navigation devices, the target is found, most of the time, the munitions released and an equally rapid exit made. Few aircraft are capable of this approach and the most modern detection and weapons systems, like what Russia had in Syria, are designed to handle it. The Russians also claim they can detect American stealth aircraft. Designing aircraft for maximum resistance to detection to produce stealth capability was pioneered by the U.S. in the 1970s from a Russian concept that the Russians could not turn into a workable aircraft. Such an airplane had a reasonable chance of penetrating enemy defenses to hit targets with a high degree of surprise. This is important, as the damage done goes down with the amount of warning the target has. Five minutes of warning can reduce air base damage 40 to 80 percent depending on how many concrete aircraft shelters the base has. Stealth, using an F-117 aircraft worked for the U.S. in the 1990 and 2003 campaigns in Iraq but in case the Russians can detect and hit stealth aircraft you must be prepared to send in larger groups of aircraft, led by lavishly equipped electronics warfare planes, to ensure successful SEAD and destruction of the target. Since this process tends to destroy a lot of enemy ground defenses along the way that makes it easier for subsequent raids.

The package of fighters and support aircraft using SEAD to reach a target is led by Wild Weasel aircraft. These have radar detection and jamming equipment which can either hide the group from enemy radar or prevent the enemy from making accurate use of their ground-to-air missiles. You will need fighters to deal with enemy interceptors. Thus the battle can range from 10,000 meters up down to ground level. The Wild Weasels carry missiles that home in on enemy ground radars. The most dangerous opposition comes from enemy guns, which often can fire without radar in clear weather. For this reason, raids at night and in bad weather are often preferred. If all goes according to plan, the Weasels will protect the electronically less sophisticated strike aircraft to the targets, where they release their loads. Everyone then fights their way home past a thoroughly alerted enemy. The stealth aircraft are well suited to perform the Wild Weasel role and have done so. This has become a common mission as there are still a lot of non-stealth strike aircraft and a need to suppress anti-aircraft defenses. For targets where surprise is not critical, stealth led raids are the norm. This was the case in the 1990 and 2003 Gulf Wars.

Russia was striving, with some success until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, to catch up with Western strike aircraft in overall sophistication and effectiveness. Some of their new generation of strike planes, which have now been seen under combat conditions, were effective but not to the extent Russia hoped. Russia has its own AWACS and Wild Weasel aircraft, but both are somewhat tame compared to Western models. Russian pilots, by and large, are not as expert, experienced or audacious as their Western counterparts. Israel and Sweden, however, produce very capable AWACS, mainly for export, that are superior to anything the Russians have.

If the Russians in Syria do become a target, NATO allies have to know if the U.S. is ready to try using its latest stealth aircraft (F-22 and F-35) and how that would work in cooperation with other NATO warplanes, especially the most modern ones like Typhoon and Rafale. It is unclear how much has been decided about all this, but then details regarding SEAD and stealth capabilities and plans tend to be kept secret. Meanwhile the Ukrainians are using equipment and weapons provided by NATO countries to equip some aircraft as Wild Weasels for use against the Russian air force and air bases across the border in Russia.
TAIPEI, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2024 Tang Prize in Rule of Law is awarded to the lawyer and law professor, the former senator, president, United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the incumbent Chair of the Elders - Professor Mary Robinson. The prize recognizes her "powerful advocacy for the most disadvantaged in different spheres, including gender equality, poverty alleviation, human rights, and climate justice." In particular, the Selection Committee noted that her "passionate endeavors demonstrated an effective combination of legal acumen and practical solutions." The Committee also noted that "from the national to the global stage, legal and political, she has innovatively transformed and expanded the various positions in which she has served to strengthen the rule of law."

Professor Robinson was born into a Catholic family in County Mayo, Ireland. She began her career in 1967 as a legal professional, working on human rights litigations. From 1969 to 1975, she held the Reid Professorship of Constitutional and Criminal Law at Trinity College Dublin. Additionally, from 1969 to 1989, she served as a Senator, and in that position, she introduced significant human rights bills and pushed for changes in the face of conservative Catholic doctrine. In 1990, Professor Robinson became the first female President of Ireland. After her presidency concluded in 1997, Professor Robinson continued her work in human rights on the global stage. She held several key positions at the UN, including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa, Special Envoy on Climate Change, and Special Envoy on El Nino and Climate. In these roles, she led the international community to focus on the human rights protection for the most vulnerable groups as well as climate justice. Professor Robinson has also actively engaged in various intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and initiatives. Currently, she serves as a founding member and Chair of the Elders, an organization founded by the former South African President, Nelson Mandela.

All the positions served by Professor Robinson have demonstrated how her career paths over decades have ranged from legal to political realms and covered domestic and international levels. Over the years, she has been active in promoting the rule of law in different spheres. Through various positions she has served, Professor Robinson has consistently advocated for the rights of the most disadvantaged in different areas. Her endeavors have been fearless and tireless. As a litigator, she adapted novel arguments in landmark cases of domestic and regional courts to promote the human rights protection in Ireland. As a legislator, she introduced significant bills on gender equality and personal autonomy. As a president, she redefined the largely ceremonial role to become a symbol of unity and a voice for civil society, and this framework remains in place today. As a UN official, Professor Robinson urged the UN system to actively address the issue of lack of sufficient protections for the most vulnerable groups under international human rights law and international humanitarian law. As a global leader, she has brought the gender and justice dimensions into the global agenda on climate change, stressed the human rights responsibilities of private actors including multinational corporations, and placed particular attention to children's rights, poverty alleviation, and regional peace. Lastly, as a legal scholar, she has continued to write and publish throughout her decades of service. She has traveled the world to teach courses and deliver lectures, aiming to impart the values she promotes through education.

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MUNICH, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 19th, InterSolar Europe 2024, the world's leading renewable energy exhibition, grandly opened in Munich and attracted numerous new energy enthusiasts from around the world. Sungrow Hydrogen showcased its four-to-one ALK hydrogen production system and the latest PEM water electrolyzer, and was invited to talk about flexible green hydrogen production technology in Green Hydrogen Forum, conveyed the power of Sungrow Hydrogen to the world.

Sungrow Hydrogen four-to-one ALK hydrogen production system(1000Nm/h4) as well as 300Nm/h PEM water electrolyzer were jointly exhibited with Sungrow PV & ESS products, joining hands in promoting global energy transformation. In Green Hydrogen Forum, Stephen Zhang, Director of European Region, further introduced flexible green hydrogen production technology. Sungrow Hydrogen builds an "efficient, intelligent, safe" flexible green hydrogen production system with PWM hydrogen production power supply, water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment and intelligent hydrogen management system. Through comprehensive monitoring and cluster control from energy generation to application, better coupling between hydrogen production and wind & solar power could be achieved, enabling hydrogen production equipment and systems to operate more stably and with higher quality.

Green hydrogen, one of the cleanest secondary energy source, is essential for achieving carbon reduction target in Europe. The frequently introduced stimulus policies and the ambitious goal of green hydrogen production fully demonstrate EU's determination to thrive the green hydrogen industry. Recently, the subsidy for several low-carbon hydrogen projects with overall capacity up to 1.5GW has been approved in Europe, and more local projects will be finished in the future under active promotion. Sungrow Hydrogen flexible green hydrogen production solution which could provide "customized" and "one-stop" service is no doubt a good choice for local clients.

In recent years, as more and more countries are getting to explore the path of using hydrogen energy to achieve carbon reduction, Sungrow Hydrogen is attracting more attention internationally with its strength in technical accumulation and brand power. In the future, Sungrow Hydrogen will continue to innovate in technology and expand overseas markets, cooperating with more global clients to promote the landing of more high-quality hydrogen projects worldwide.

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Pilots illustrate how GenAI can enhance both productivity and growth, generating better outcomes in creativity and insights in less time.

Up to 60% faster concept development and 30% faster ad adaptation and localisation.

CANNES, FRANCE, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As the 71st Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity comes to a close with GenAI dominating the agenda, Reckitt, the company behind some of the world's most recognisable and trusted consumer brands in hygiene and consumer health, shares the results of innovative GenAI pilots that show how the technology is changing the face of marketing.

Reckitt's IT and Digital (IT&D) team, in partnership with Boston Consulting Group (BCG), undertook a series of pilots across Gaviscon, Finish and the company's overall marketing function, over a four-month period. The pilots illustrated the advantages of GenAI in enhancing insights, creativity, and productivity and generating better-quality outcomes, more consistently, in a significantly shorter length of time. Speaking at the Festival last week, Fabrice Beaulieu, Reckitt's Chief Marketing, Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer (CMO), talked about the potential opportunities for Consumer Packaged Goods companies (CPGs) in harnessing GenAI, and the critical role of change management and intentional leadership to help ensure the opportunities translate into long-term growth.

Beaulieu said: "As expected, GenAI was the most talked-about topic at Cannes - from the formal Festival programme, to fringe events and discussions with partners along the Croisette. As the festival draws to a close, we are proud to share the results of these pilots, as we move to scaling up."

Key takeaways from Reckitt's GenAI pilots

GenAI is a game-changer for new product development, with its ability to transform unstructured data into insightful new ideas and marketable concepts. Early findings showed that by using GenAI, teams can reduce concept development time by up to 60%, whilst significantly improving quality.

GenAI can stimulate creativity and produce advertising content more efficiently. By using GenAI to adapt assets for full funnel use and localise them between countries, Reckitt found an approximate 30% reduction in the time needed to adapt and localise ads, with increased consistency in asset quality.

GenAI takes the drudgery out of repetitive tasks. Findings showed that time spent on everyday tasks such as a post-campaign media analysis, could be reduced by up to 90%, with the quality improving two-fold.

Beaulieu continued: "These pilots give us clear insight and understanding of where the immediate opportunities for GenAI lie, which we are already acting upon."

"GenAI offers huge opportunities for growth, but only if harnessed in the right way - by rethinking the way the entire marketing community operates. Therefore, embracing GenAI successfully will come down to successful change management and intentional leadership."

"GenAI will transform our operations in a variety of ways, but ultimately the end goal is to help us deliver long-term value for the business and our stakeholders."

The pilots were conducted using a suite of tools that were tailored to Reckitt's needs. These included custom-built GPTs trained on Reckitt data and expertise, multi-modal GenAI tools for content adaptation and localisation, and an interactive interface to create, test, and refine new product concepts from consumer insights data.

Cutting Scope 3 emissions targets using AI and GenAI

Reckitt is also using AI and GenAI to help cut its Scope 3 emissions by 50% by 2030 (vs. 2015 base year) and achieve Net Zero by 2040. The company has already surpassed its initial targets for direct emissions and is now focusing on reducing Scope 3 emissions (which represent on average 96% of a company's total emissions), with its extensive network of suppliers.

Working with CO2 AI and Quantis, Reckitt collected over 300,000 data points to get more detailed insights into emissions per product, using AI and GenAI to transform these into a faster and more accurate carbon footprint, a process which previously involved manual categorization which was both time-consuming and less precise.

In just under four months, Reckitt obtained precise emissions data for each of its 25,000 products, improving the accuracy of its emissions footprint by 75 times - moving from 333 representative products to 25,000. This data revealed new ways to reduce emissions by 2030 which will significantly contribute towards Reckitt's Net Zero target.

http://www.reckitt.com/thisisreckitt

About Reckitt:

Reckitt* exists to protect, heal and nurture in the pursuit of a cleaner, healthier world. We believe that access to the highest-quality hygiene, wellness and nourishment is a right, not a privilege.

Reckitt is the company behind some of the world's most recognisable and trusted consumer brands in hygiene, health and nutrition, including Air Wick, Calgon, Cillit Bang, Clearasil, Dettol, Durex, Enfamil, Finish, Gaviscon, Harpic, Lysol, Mortein, Mucinex, Nurofen, Nutramigen, Strepsils, Vanish, Veet, Woolite and more.

Every day, around 30 million Reckitt products are bought globally. We always put consumers and people first, seek out new opportunities, strive for excellence in all that we do and build shared success with all our partners. We aim to do the right thing, always.

We are a diverse global team of c. 40,000 colleagues. We draw on our collective energy to meet our ambitions of purpose-led brands, a healthier planet and a fairer society. Find out more, or get in touch with us at www.reckitt.com

* Reckitt is the trading name of the Reckitt Benckiser group of companies

CONTACT DETAILS: Poppy Butcher, PRMYAGENCY, Mob. +44 (0) 7956 169209, Email. poppy@prmyagency.com

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TAIPEI, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BitoGroup, the leading cryptocurrency market leader in Taiwan, today announced its partnership with Far Eastern International Bank Bankee to launch the world's first dedicated crypto-friendly bank account. As cryptocurrency adoption by international institutions continues to grow, BitoGroup began serving financial institutions two years ago, setting a precedent as the first cryptocurrency exchange to form an alliance with financial institutions. This partnership promotes seamless integration between traditional banks and third-party payment processors. It represents a significant breakthrough for the financial market and has sparked considerable interest within Taiwan's financial sectors. By collaborating with large institutions, BitoGroup aims to strengthen the cryptocurrency ecosystem and plays a crucial role in driving innovation in financial technology.

The world's first dedicated bank account for cryptocurrency users is the result of three years of research and effort by BitoGroup and Bankee. This innovative service was achieved by integrating the systems and service processes of the two companies, while ensuring compliance with regulations and supervisory measures, and prioritizing user's experience.

"Both BitoGroup and Bankee place great emphasis on the security of member assets, platform stability, and user transaction experience," said Titan Cheng, Founder and CEO of BitoGroup., "Since the initial pilot phase, we have received positive feedback from the community. The Bankee dedicated account can be linked to BitoPro's exchange account and set up in as little as one hour, significantly enhancing user's convenience. During the pilot phase, the average daily transaction amount per user increased by 25%. With over one million members in Taiwan, we expect explosive growth once the service is officially launched.

Cheng emphasized that the cryptocurrency community is excited about the collaboration between exchanges and traditional financial institutions. This collaboration will positively improve user confidence in transactions and reverse the negative image of cryptocurrency scams. In the future, BitoGroup will join forces with Bankee to introduce more services, enriching the flexibility of utilizing both fiat and cryptocurrencies.

BitoPro has also partnered with Taiwan's largest third-party payment processors, Neweb Technologies, to launch "BitoPay", enabling 300,000 merchants and millions of members to use cryptocurrency for payments, making "BitoPay" the most widely accepted crypto payment solution in Taiwan.

BitoGroup believes that partnering with large institutions to integrate cryptocurrency use into existing operational systems is not only the best way to promote cryptocurrency usage but also fosters innovation. Initiatives such as exchanging convenience store loyalty points for digital currency, enabling cryptocurrency payments through e-commerce third-party payment services, and the recent launch of crypto-friendly accounts with Bankee, all contribute to expanding the existing ecosystem. BitoGroup's robust blockchain infrastructure, combined with a focus on optimizing service processes through technology, will create a win-win situation for institutions, exchanges, and users.

Taiwan's cryptocurrency industry has officially entered a new era of regulation with the establishment of the Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) Association. BitoGroup's founder and CEO, Titan Cheng, has been elected as the first Chairman of the VASP Association. This close cooperation between cryptocurrency and traditional financial institutions will help strengthen the trust of regulatory authorities and financial institutions in the cryptocurrency industry, laying a solid foundation for the crypto-financial system.

About BitoGroup

Founded in 2014, BitoGroup aims to use blockchain technology to achieve the goal of inclusive finance, including assisting companies and consumers to enter the new era of Web3. The businesses of the group include BitoPro (a cryptocurrency exchange), BELS (an NFT empowerment platform), and O2 META (a metaverse-focused social media platform).

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LONDON, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Frederic Dormeuil, CEO of SOS Yachting, has been named in the 2024 CEO Awards. The inspirational leader has been awarded for "CEO Innovation in Niche Services", celebrating the innovative strides his company has made in the commercial yachting sector.

The Business Worldwide CEO Awards recognise the most respected C-level executives globally. Unlike many other business awards that focus on the overall achievements of a company, here the focus is on honouring individual achievements and leadership. The aim is to give outstanding leaders the recognition they deserve, while inspiring others to achieve similar successes.

Frederic Dormeuil has been a transformative force in the commercial yachting industry, recently steering SOS Yachting to new heights with his visionary leadership. SOS Yachting specialises in fiscal representation services, providing tailored solutions that ensure smooth operations for commercial yachts across key yachting hubs in Croatia, France, Monaco, Greece, Italy, and Spain. With over 12 years of experience, the company excels in offering comprehensive operational guidance and unparalleled fiscal expertise.

SOS Yachting's success is underpinned by its deep understanding of charter operations, EU regulations, and maritime laws. This expertise enables the company to anticipate and address the complex needs of its clientele, ensuring regulatory compliance and providing real-time assistance. With more than 700 active VAT positions across the Mediterranean, SOS Yachting is a trusted partner in the yachting industry.

Dormeuil's professional journey is marked by a unique blend of experience in luxury goods and high-end retail, which he has seamlessly transitioned into the yachting sector. His background, coupled with a keen eye for emerging trends, has propelled SOS Yachting to the forefront of the industry, earning global recognition.

"A customer-centric approach, combined with maintaining quality stakeholder relationships and a policy of empowering employees, forms the bedrock of our operations," explains Dormeuil. "Contrary to popular belief, leadership is about empowering others to shine. At SOS Yachting, we nurture a culture where every employee feels valued and inspired to contribute their best."

Under Dormeuil's leadership, SOS Yachting continues to innovate and expand. The company provides a core focus on VAT representation for superyacht charters, ensuring compliance and optimising operational efficiency. SOS Yachting's comprehensive solutions alleviate the administrative burden and mitigate potential risks for clients, maintaining the highest standards of service.

Looking ahead, Dormeuil and SOS Yachting are poised for continuous growth and innovation. By strategically monitoring legislation and expanding into new markets, Dormeuil aims to tap into emerging opportunities and cater to the evolving needs of a diverse clientele.

For more information about SOS Yachting's services and ongoing developments, visit SOS Yachting's website.

Further information about the Business Worldwide CEO Awards can be found at https://www.bwmonline.com/awards/

About Business Worldwide Magazine

Business Worldwide Magazine is the leading source of business and dealmaker intelligence throughout the world. Our quarterly magazine and online news portal enables an established audience of corporate dealmakers to track the latest news, stories and developments affecting the international markets, corporate finance, business strategy and changes in legislation. This readership includes of CEO/CFO - Banks, Corporate Lawyers and Venture Capital/Private Equity Companies to name a few.

Contact:

David Jones

Awards Department

E: david@bwmonline.com

W: www.bwmonline.com

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Finsbury Growth & Income Trust PLC - Replacement: Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, June 21

Within the 'Transaction in Own Shares' announcement released at 17:07 on 19 June 2024 (ID: 4004171), the number of the Company's own shares purchased should read 211,753, as opposed to 211,7753 as previously announced. A corrected version of the full announcement is reproduced below.

For immediate release

19 June 2024

FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC

(the "Company")

MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES

The Company announce that it has today purchased 211,753 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 845.79 pence per Ordinary Share. Such shares will be held in treasury by the Company.

The transaction was made pursuant to the authority granted at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 23 January 2024.

Following this transaction, the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury is 45,663,255; the total number of Ordinary Shares that the Company has in issue, less the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury following such purchase, and therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 179,328,048.

The figure of 179,328,048 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations of interests in the Company's voting rights in accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

For and on behalf of

Frostrow Capital LLP

Company Secretary

For further information, please contact:

Victoria Hale

Frostrow Capital LLP

Tel: 020 3 170 8732
PORT VILA, Vanuatu, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Leveraging the momentum from its successful launch of "The Vantage Markets Podcast", leading multi-asset broker, Vantage Markets , is pleased to introduce its latest educational courses, now available on Vantage Academy .

The Vantage Academy Courses provide a comprehensive introduction to various financial instruments, such as shares, indices, and forex. Through engaging and easy-to-understand modules, interactive quizzes, infographics and videos, participants can delve into the world of trading with confidence. Moreover, traders can apply their newfound knowledge in a simulated environment by utilising a free demo account to reinforce their learning.

These courses - currently covering Forex, Stock, and Index trading for beginners - mark the beginning of a broader curriculum expansion planned by Vantage to encompass a wider array of topics and skill levels in the future.

"Gaining a solid understanding of the financial markets can be daunting, especially for newcomers," explains Geraldine Goh, Chief Marketing Officer at Vantage. "Our Vantage Academy Courses are meticulously crafted to provide structured guidance and foundational knowledge, ensuring an accessible learning experience for all participants."

These courses, along with the comprehensive suite of educational resources offered by Vantage Academy, including evergreen articles, market updates and analysis, webinars, e-books, beginner guides, and podcasts, reflect Vantage's commitment to empowering traders at every stage of their journey.

To explore the Vantage Education Courses and access these invaluable resources, visit Vantage Academy .

About Vantage

Vantage Markets (or Vantage) is a multi-asset broker offering clients access to a nimble and powerful service for trading Contracts for Difference (CFDs) products, including Forex, Commodities, Indices, Shares, ETFs, and Bonds.

With over 13 years of market experience, Vantage transcends the role of broker, providing a trusted trading ecosystem, an award-winning mobile trading app, and a user-friendly trading platform that empowers clients to seize trading opportunities. Download the Vantage App on App Store or Google Play.

trade smarter @vantage

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1745281/Vantage_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/vantage-enhances-educational-offerings-with-the-launch-of-vantage-academy-courses-302178865.html
Jiangsu International Culture Association

NANJING, China, June 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nanjing, a city hailed as a "City of Literature", captivates the world's attention with its profound cultural heritage and rich historical legacy. To truly understand a city, one should start by visiting its museums. During the recent Dragon Boat Festival, one of China's traditional festivals, Nanjing's various museums once again became popular destinations for both domestic and international visitors seeking to explore ancient history. According to data from Jiangsu International Culture Association, the city received a total of 5.49 million tourists during the three-day holiday (June 8-10), marking a year-on-year increase of 16.8%.



A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on the image or link below:

Museums are guardians of art and hold global significance. On May 18, the annual International Museum Day, Macedonian writer and poet Marijana Kotevska Georgieva visited Nanjing. Through a video vlog, she led international audiences on a virtual tour of various Nanjing museums, including Nanjing Museum, Art Museum of Nanjing University of the Arts, Deji Art Museum, and Nanjing Grand Bao'en Temple Ruins Museum, experiencing the diverse culture of the "City of Literature". "Art is an interconnected form of expression. As a poet, I see poetic expressions in the paintings displayed in the museums," said Marijana.

With their unique cultural appeal, Nanjing's museums continue to draw attention from audiences worldwide, particularly the Gen Z group. Nanjing Museum, one of China's three major museums, is a must-visit for culture enthusiasts due to its extensive collections and high-quality exhibitions. Art Museum of Nanjing University of the Arts attracts numerous art lovers, especially young artists and students, with its avant-garde exhibitions and innovative cultural activities. Deji Art Museum, with its distinctive architectural style and meticulously curated international exhibitions, has become a new cultural landmark integrated with commercial spaces in Nanjing. Nanjing Grand Bao'en Temple Ruins Museum showcases Nanjing's splendid cultural heritage, through the first fully immersive metaverse in the cultural heritage field, allowing both online and offline audiences to "immerse" themselves in the city's long history.

On the Facebook and YouTube pages of the "China Culture & Art" media account cluster, global netizens commented, "The museums in Nanjing are rich in regional characteristics and cultural heritage, housing fascinating Chinese ancient history." "I was amazed by the VR interactive exhibitions in the museums. I hope to have the opportunity to experience role-playing interactions and get closer to the history of the Song Dynasty in Nanjing and become a part of it."

In recent years, with the proliferation of social media and the diversification of cultural consumption, visiting museums has become a new lifestyle for many young people. Nanjing's various museums continuously innovate their narrative cores and enhance service levels, attracting more and more Generation Z visitors. In this charming city, museum culture uniquely nourishes the hearts of young people, inspiring their boundless love for history and art.

For more: https://sourl.cn/GDdupy

Source: Jiangsu International Culture Association
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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 21, 2024) - CopperEx Resources Corp. (TSXV: CUEX) (the "Company" or "CopperEx") today announced the commencement of a focused geological field exploration program in preparation for Phase II Drilling on the ADLP and Sopresa Targets at the Company's flagship Exploradora Norte Project, Northern Chile.

CopperEx plans to execute a three-week field work program with the exploration team having already mobilized on-site and commencing work on June 08, 2024. The field work program is designed to focus on infill areas and extensions in both the north and south directions on the ADLP Target, and infill areas and extension to the north on the Sorpresa Target. With the excavator now remobilized to site, the program is envisaged to include a total of approximately 12 additional trenches, adding to the four trenches excavated during the recently completed and published Phase I drill program. The inaugural drill program demonstrated robust gold grades including the following highlights:

114.00 meters of 0.95 g/t Gold from 4.00-118.00 meters in RC hole A-RC-02 including: 70.00 meters of 1.27 g/t Gold (22.00-92.00 meters) And 28.00 meters of 1.63 g/t Gold (46.00-74.00 meters) And 12.00 meters of 2.45 g/t Gold (62.00-74.00 meters)

58.00 meters of 0.74 g/t Gold from 68-126 meters in RC hole S-RC-01 including: 54.00 meters of 0.78 g/t Gold (72.00-126.00 meters) And 30.00 meters of 1.03 g/t Gold (72.00-102.00 meters) And 12.00 meters of 0.89 g/t Gold (114.00-126.00 meters)

85.00 meters of 0.42 g/t Gold from 76.00-161.00 meters in RC hole S-RC-02 including : 34.00 meters of 0.96 g/t Gold (76.00-110.00 meters) And 14.00 meters of 1.81 g/t Gold (88.00-102.00 meters)



For a complete list of drill intercepts from the inaugural drill program, see the Company's press release dated May 30th, 2024.

Once laboratory results have been received, the Phase II drill program design will be finalized, whereby the preliminary quotation process for drilling has commenced based upon a forecast range of meters to drill.

CopperEx expects to commence drilling Phase II in less than four months, with follow up drilling on the exceptional results of the recently completed and published inaugural drill program.

The ADLP and Sopresa Targets are located within the Franja del Oro area, part of an approximately 15-kilometer-long gold enrichment zone located in the northwestern part of the 23 by 13-kilometer (20,800 hectare) Exploradora Norte Project.

Highlights:

CopperEx has commenced a focused geological field exploration program in preparation for Phase II Drilling on the ADLP and Sopresa Targets.

The focused geological field exploration program is expected to be complete within three weeks and amongst other works will consist of approximately 12 additional trenches.

Once laboratory results are in hand, CopperEx will finalize the Phase II drill program, focusing on the ADLP and Sopresa Targets.

Phase II drilling is expected to commence in less than four months.

Dave Prins, President & CEO of CopperEx stated, "Based upon the excellent results of the recently published Phase I drill campaign, which demonstrated the robust gold grades and continuity at ADLP and importantly demonstrates that the newly identified surface gold mineralization at Sorpresa extends to depth and along strike, we are confident that the Phase II drill program will further expand on these results and the targets. We look forward to delivering the results from the Phase II drill campaign in a very timely manner, as was clearly accomplished on Phase I drilling."

John Robins, Technical Advisor to CopperEx stated, "I am excited as we begin preparations for our Phase II exploration program on the Sopresa and ADLP targets. The results from the Phase I program demonstrate the potential for a large oxide gold deposit, in addition to the project's copper potential."

Overall Exploradora Norte and Franja del Oro Plan

Figure 1: Exploradora Norte - Property map including key target areas and surface and trench rock geochemistry2.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10257/213784_ae55570364db7bc0_002full.jpg

Qualified Person

All scientific and technical information in this news release has been approved by Daniel MacNeil, PGeo, Technical Advisor to the Company. Mr. MacNeil is a qualified person for the purposes of NI 43-101.

Additional information about CopperEx and its Projects can be found on the Company's website at copperexcorp.com , or email info@copperexcorp.com.

Please click here to subscribe for future CopperEx news.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

CopperEx Resources Corp.

Dave Prins

President & CEO

For further information contact:

info@copperexcorp.com

+1 (604) 646-4527

About CopperEx Resources Corp.

CopperEx is a copper and gold focused exploration company with three porphyry and porphyry related gold and copper projects located in Chile and Peru in established mineral belts near producing mines. The Company's Flagship Property, Exploradora Norte, located in Northern Chile, has multiple high quality drill ready targets. At Exploradora Norte, CopperEx has the option to earn 65% and a Preferred Option for an additional 35% with no attached royalty.

CopperEx has an Option Agreement for the 20,800-hectare Exploradora Norte property, to earn a 65% ownership interest, with a preferred option to earn an additional 35%. The property is located along the prolific West Fissure fault system in northern Chile, north of El Salvador and south of Escondida at 3,400 meters above sea level in the Chilean pre-cordillera. The property has a year-round operating climate with good access.

In addition to the Exploradora Norte property, CopperEx owns 100% of its Kio Buggy (Northern Chile) and La Rica (Apurimac province Peru) properties, also with no attached royalties. The CopperEx Exploradora Norte property is immediately adjacent (to the north and east) of Codelco's Exploradora property which hosts a resource estimated by Codelco to contain 190-280 Mt @ 0.40% Cu.(1,2)

The Company's priority is to advance exploration of the Franja del Oro Target at Exploradora Norte which includes the Sorpresa and Agua de la Piedra (ADLP) Targets, and the surrounding favorable host rocks which remain significantly underexplored.

Exploradora Norte Advanced Exploration Targets.

The Franja del Oro Area contains sediment and volcanics hosted gold mineralization with associated replacement textures and alteration consistent with epithermal gold deposits that form distal to a porphyry copper-gold system. The Franja del Oro area hosts multiple parallel, north trending stratigraphically and structurally controlled mineralized zones. CopperEx has conducted extensive exploration along 4-kilometer-long north-south trending segments of the high priority Sorpresa and Agua de la Piedra ("ADLP") Targets to assess surface gold grades, continuity (along strike) and to define individual drill targets. CopperEx has identified gold mineralization over approximately 7 kilometers along the ADLP system (surface rock geochemical results). CopperEx leveraged the strong correlation between gold and arsenic to expand the geochemical footprint of the Franja del Oro area using Portable XRF technology to approximately 15 kilometers (and remains open).

Peuco - Porphyry Copper Gold Target : Geochemical and geophysical anomalies spatially associated with tourmaline breccia bodies. Breccias consist of potassically altered porphyry clasts in quartz-tourmaline matrix associated with peripheral polymetallic veins and skarn alteration.

Florencia Copper Gold Target - Centered on a NW-SE trending structural corridor extending to the Exploradora porphyry Cu deposit (Codelco) ~5 km to the NW. IP Geophysical features (resistivity and chargeability) suggest the potential for porphyry style copper-gold mineralization at depth. Epithermal style quartz veins and breccia, alteration, and geochemical anomalism exist at surface.

Strategic Alliances.

CopperEx is a member of Discovery Group based in Vancouver, Canada. For more information please visit: discoverygroup.ca.

Cautionary Note.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Notes

(1) Source: www.codelco.com/prontus_codelco/site/docs/20220808/20220808110240/fexmin_brochure.pdf

(2)Note: The deposits and projects shown or mentioned which fall outside of the CopperEx land position provide geologic context for the CopperEx's Property, but this is not necessarily indicative that the Property hosts similar grades or tonnages of mineralization.

Forward-Looking Information.

Forward-Looking Statement (Safe Harbor Statement): This press release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "expect", "estimate", "objective", "may", "will", "project", "should", "predict", "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements. In particular, this press release contains forward looking statements concerning the Company's exploration plans. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company cannot give any assurance that they will prove correct. Since forward looking statements address future events and conditions, they involve inherent assumptions, risks, and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of assumptions, factors, and risks. These assumptions and risks include, but are not limited to, assumptions and risks associated with conditions in the equity financing markets, and assumptions and risks regarding receipt of regulatory and shareholder approvals.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/213784

SOURCE: CopperEx Resources Corporation
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - June 21, 2024) - Argyle Resources Corp. (CSE: ARGL) ("Argyle" or the "Company") is thrilled to announce the acquisition of the Matapedia, Lac Comporte and Pilgrim Island Quartzite Silica projects located in Quebec (the "Property"). The Company acquired a 100% interest in the Property from Charlevoix Silica Inc. ("Charlevoix") pursuant to the terms of an acquisition agreement dated April 15, 2024, for consideration of $150,000CAD and the issuance of 750,000 common shares of Argyle.

Silica, or Silicon Dioxide, is a chemical compound with the chemical formula SiO2. It is predominantly found naturally in quartz and various living organisms. Silica is a critical component of sand in numerous parts of the world and belongs to one of most extensive and intricate material families. Silica has multiple uses across various industries, such as glass production, microelectronics, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals and photovoltaic solar cells. There are also technologies exploring the use of silicon to replace the current anode component of Lithium Ion batteries. In July 2023, the US Department of Energy added silicon and silicon carbide to the list of Critical Materials for Energy.

The Matapedia silica property includes 16 cells located in the lower St. Lawrence area, some 36 km from the coastal village of Grand-Metis (Figure 1). The Matapedia silica property covers an area of 912.8 hectares. Access to the property is easy via gravel municipal roads in the parish of Sainte-Moise. What makes this property particularly interesting is the presence of: silica, limestone, and aluminous claystones close together. This combination could be strategic for specific industrial applications. The presence of regional port infrastructure and the railway are positive factors in allowing the export of industrial minerals to the Great Lakes or to the eastern USA.

Figure 1: Property location map



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10451/213879_c9e576088450b916_001full.jpg

The Lac Comporte Project encompasses 1,945 hectares across 33 claims in the regional county municipality ("RCM") of Charlevoix-Est, located on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River near La Malbaie (Figure 1). The industrial potential of this showing will be explored in detail.

The Pilgrim Islands Project encompasses 810 hectares across 15 claims in the RCM of Kamouraska on the south shore of the St. Lawrence and more precisely in the St-Andre-de-Kamouraska sector is represented by Ile les Pelerins quartzite showing (Figure 1).

Argyle will execute an exploration campaign in collaboration with the National Institute of Scientific Research ("INRS"), to evaluate the mineral potential of the above-mentioned properties. The exploration and the analytical works are expected to include: Geophysical surveys, geological mapping, channel sampling, bulk sampling, granulochemical and geometallurgical study including X-ray fluorescence.

The INRS is a leading research and training institute. Dr. Richer-Lafleche's, P.Geo, who will manage the exploration works and his team possess exceptional geological and geophysical expertise, particularly in industrial grade silica projects. The INRS team has several portable gas analyzers, sampling equipment, and logistics required for collecting samples and conducting geophysical measurements on land or in aquatic environments.

CEO, Jeff Stevens commented, "Argyle Resources was purpose built to explore and identify prospective assets in the critical metals space. Acquiring the Matapedia, Lac Comporte and Pilgrim Island Quartzite Silica projects in Quebec to complement our graphite exploration property, Frenchvale Graphite in Nova Scotia provides our shareholders with exposure to two strategic critical metals. We are excited to initiate a work program this season and will share details for both in short order."

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

'Jeffrey Stevens'

President & CEO

George M. Yordanov, OGQ., P.GEO., an Independent Qualified Person as such term is defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the technical information reported in this news release.

About Argyle Resources Corp.

Argyle is a junior exploration company primarily focused on the Frenchvale graphite property on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. The company has an option agreement to acquire up to 100% of the property by funding or incurring expenditures for a series of work programs. There has been significant historic drilling, mapping and sampling work conducted at the Frenchvale site. The company is focused in the industrial materials such as graphite and silica.

For all other inquiries: info@argylresourcescorp.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-Looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Such statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, the statements with respect to the potential use of minerals on the Property for industrial applications; the possibility of exportation of industrial minerals to the Great Lakes or to the eastern USA; the potential for silica production; the execution of an exploration campaign in collaboration with INRS; and the initiation of a work program. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Important factors that could cause actual results to vary from forward-looking statements or may affect the operations, performance, development and results of the Company's business include, among other things that mineral exploration is inherently uncertain and may be unsuccessful in achieving the desired results; that mineral exploration plans may change and be re-defined based on a number of factors, many of which are outside of the Company's control; the Company's ability to access sources of debt and equity capital; competitive factors, pricing pressures and supply and demand in the Company's industry. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-Looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of the contents of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/213879

SOURCE: Argyle Resources Corp.
Philadelphia jury finds that Honda's design of its 2014 Grom motorcycle fuel system was defective and awards $20.7 million to man whose body was 50% covered with burns when gas escaped and ignited during an accident.

PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 / A jury in Philadelphia has awarded a $20.7 million verdict against Honda Motor Company for the design of the gas system of its 2014 "Grom" motorcycle, which was being ridden by a Philadelphia man when he struck a trash truck that pulled in front of him. The $20.7 million award is significantly higher than the $8 million pre-trial settlement demand made by the plaintiff.

Anapol Weiss Wins $20.7 Million Verdict Against Honda

Jamal Boyd, the plaintiff, sustained burns over 50 percent of his body when the gas cap of the motorcycle popped off during the accident. Gas covered Mr. Boyd, and he was ignited in fire seconds after impact with the truck.

The jury found that the 2014 Honda Grom motorcycle Boyd was driving was unsafe and not crashworthy.

"Honda's design of the fuel system, which included a press-on cap, not a screw-on cap, was unsafe because it can come off in an accident, just like it did in Mr. Boyd's case," explained Anapol Weiss shareholder Larry Coben, who represented Boyd along with shareholder Kila Baldwin.

Boyd suffered severe thermal burns, underwent twelve surgeries, and remains seriously scarred for life. He was in his early 20's when the accident occurred in 2020.

The $20.7 million award included $2.7 million for non-economic damages and $18 million for pain and suffering, loss of pleasures in life, scarring/disfigurement, and loss of bodily function.

"This young man's life was heavily altered by the design of the Honda motorcycle he was riding," noted Coben. "Companies have a responsibility to sell products that are safe. This jury sent a very clear message that they must put safety as a priority."

About Anapol Weiss

Anapol Weiss is an award-winning personal injury law firm headquartered in Philadelphia and serving clients all over the United States. Over the last 45 years, the firm has obtained hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of people injured by defective drugs and medical devices, medical malpractice, auto accidents, toxic materials, product defects, and other complex personal injury matters. https://www.anapolweiss.com

Contact Information

Michelle Fishburne

Director of PR and Media Strategy

michelle@esquiredigital.com

919-247-0384

Kila Baldwin

Shareholder

kbaldwin@anapolweiss.com

215-608-9645

SOURCE: Anapol Weiss

View the original press release on newswire.com.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Calibre Mining (TSX: CXB; OTCQX: CXBMF) ("Calibre" or the "Company") announces that B2Gold Corp. ("B2Gold") has transacted on 79.0 million shares of its Calibre share position to new long-term shareholders at a price of C$1.76, in an arm's length transaction. Following the transaction, B2Gold will remain a shareholder with 31,950,333 shares, or 4% of Calibre's issued and outstanding shares.

Blayne Johnson, Chairman of Calibre stated: "On behalf of the entire team at Calibre, I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Clive Johnson, President and CEO of B2Gold, and his team for entrusting us with their Nicaraguan assets which became the founding assets of Calibre. Their decision to transfer these assets to an emerging exploration company rather than opting for immediate complete monetization, required both vision and courage. This innovative approach has evolved into a highly beneficial partnership, enhancing value for the shareholders of both our companies. Although B2Gold's shareholding will be reduced through this transaction, we are pleased that they will continue to be a significant shareholder as we strive to further build shareholder value.

As a result of the reduced ownership, Randall Chatwin, B2Gold's representative on the Calibre Board of Directors has resigned."

About Calibre

Calibre is a Canadian-listed, Americas focused, growing mid-tier gold producer with a strong pipeline of development and exploration opportunities across Newfoundland & Labrador in Canada, Nevada and Washington in the USA, and Nicaragua. Calibre is focused on delivering sustainable value for shareholders, local communities and all stakeholders through responsible operations and a disciplined approach to growth. With a strong balance sheet, a proven management team, strong operating cash flow, accretive development projects and district-scale exploration opportunities Calibre will unlock significant value.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Darren Hall"

Darren Hall, President & Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

Ryan King

SVP Corporate Development & IR

T: 604.628.1012

E: calibre@calibremining.com

W: www.calibremining.com (http://www.calibremining.com)

Calibre's head office is located at Suite 1560, 200 Burrard St., Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3L6.

X (https://twitter.com/CalibreMiningCo) / Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/CalibreMining) / LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/calibre-mining-corp-cxb-/?originalSubdomain=ca) / YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@calibreminingcorp)

The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.


Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals (Beijing) Co., Ltd. ("Biocytogen", HKEX: 02315) announced United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) patent grant for independently developed RenLitefully human common light chain mouse platform.

RenLitemice, developed using Biocytogen's proprietary Size-Unlimited and Precise Chromosome Engineering (SUPCETM) technology, feature the in situ replacement of the entire human antibody heavy chain variable region genes and a single light chain variable region gene. This enables the generation of highly diverse fully human antibodies that share a common light chain, effectively avoiding light-heavy chain mismatches during the assembly of bispecific antibodies, thereby significantly reducing the complexity of the CMC process. The molecular structures of these bispecific antibodies resemble monoclonal antibodies, exhibiting favorable physicochemical properties. Leveraging RenLite and RenLite KO mice, Biocytogen has generated a library of antibodies targeting over 200 TAA targets, enabling the rapid development of bispecific antibody and bispecific antibody-drug-conjugate (ADC) therapies.

In addition to the RenLite platform, Biocytogen's independently developed RenMice series includes RenMabTM, RenNano, RenTCRTM and RenTCR-mimicTM platforms. These five fully human antibody/TCR mouse platforms cater to the diverse R&D needs of pharmaceutical companies globally. Since their debut in 2019, the RenMice platforms have garnered widespread recognition within the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. As of December 31, 2023, Biocytogen has established 47 target-nominated RenMice licensing projects with over 20 multinational corporations (MNCs) and biopharmaceutical/biotech companies, including Merck KGaA, Janssen, Xencor, BeiGene and Innovent. The RenMice platform has generated a library of over 400,000 fully human antibodies against thousands of targets and high-quality candidate antibodies, facilitating 103 projects encompassing co-development, out-licensing, and transfer agreements.

The U.S. patent authorization for the RenLite platform technology demonstrates Biocytogen's exceptional innovation capabilities and global competitiveness. Biocytogen will continue to pursue global patent strategies and protect key technologies, offering advanced technology platforms and robust intellectual property protection for its partners. Besides the United States, patent applications for the RenLite platform have been submitted in China, Europe, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Singapore, Russia, Israel, Australia, and other countries and regions with authorizations in progress.

About Biocytogen

Biocytogen (HKEX: 02315) is a global biotechnology company that drives the research and development of novel antibody-based drugs with innovative technologies. Founded on gene editing technology, Biocytogen leverages genetically engineered proprietary RenMice (RenMabTM/RenLite/RenNano/RenTCR-mimicTM) platforms for fully human monoclonal/bispecific/multispecific antibody discovery, bispecific antibody-drug conjugate discovery, nanobody discovery and TCR-mimic antibody discovery, and has established a sub-brand, RenBiologicsTM, to explore global partnerships for an off-the-shelf library of >400,000 fully human antibody sequences against approximately 1000 targets for worldwide collaboration. As of December 31, 2023, 103 therapeutic antibody and multiple clinical asset co-development/out-licensing/transfer agreements and 47 target-nominated RenMice licensing projects have been established around the globe, including several partnerships with multinational pharmaceutical companies (MNCs). Biocytogen pioneered the generation of drug target knock-in humanized models for preclinical research, and currently provides a few thousand off-the-shelf animal and cell models under the company's sub-brand, BioMice, along with preclinical pharmacology and gene-editing services for clients worldwide. Headquartered in Beijing, Biocytogen has branches in China (Haimen Jiangsu, Shanghai), USA (Boston, San Francisco), and Germany (Heidelberg). For more information, please visit http://en.biocytogen.com.cn.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240620000304/en/

Contacts:

Biocytogen

Antibody assets and platforms: BD-Licensing@biocytogen.com

Press Contact: pr@bbctg.com.cn
Temas Resources Corp. ("Temas" or the "Company") (CSE:TMAS)(OTCQB:TMASF) is pleased to announce that all resolutions put forward at the Annual General Meeting (the "Meeting") of the Company's shareholders held June 19, 2024, as described in the Company's Information Circular dated May 3, 2024 (the "Circular") were approved.

A summary of the results is set out below:

Number of Directions: The number of directors is set at four (4) until the next annual general meeting of the Shareholders.

Election of Directors: The nominees below were all elected as Directors until the next annual general meeting of the Shareholders. Detailed results of the vote are set out below:

Votes For % For S. Kyler Hardy 5,130,574 98.87% David Robinson 5,187,472 99.97% Veronique Laberge (1) 4,988,251 96.13% Tim Fernback 5,187,472 99.97%

Veronique Laberge replaced Rory Kutluoglu as a director nominee as per the Company press release dated June 14, 2024.

Auditor Appointment: The Shareholders approved the appointment of DeVisser Gray LLP as the auditors of the Company and further authorized the directors to fix the remuneration to be paid to DeVisser Gray LLP for the upcoming fiscal year.

Tim Fernback, Temas President & CEO comments "We are very pleased with the results of the AGM showing a resounding support of the Company and its Directors. We have some exciting plans for the upcoming year and believe that the Company is now in the best position to execute on those plans. We are looking forward to improving the overall asset value at our La Blache and Lac Brule Titanium Dioxide mineral properties with additional exploration and development for the ultimate benefit of our Shareholders."

About Temas Resources

Temas Resources Corp. is focused on the advanced La Blache and Lac Brule Iron-Titanium-Vanadium projects in Quebec. The critical metals the Company is exploring for are key to our national mineral independence. Additionally, the Company invests in and works to apply its green mineral recovery technologies across its mining portfolio to reduce the environmental impact and carbon footprint of metal extraction through advanced processing and patented leaching technologies.

All public filings for the Company can be found on the SEDAR+ website www.sedarplus.ca. For more information about the Company, please visit www.temasresources.com.

For further information or investor relations inquiries:



Tim Fernback

President and CEO

tfernback@shaw.ca

or



KIN Communications Inc.

Tel: 604-684-6730

tmas@kincommunications.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information under the provisions of Canadian securities laws including statements about the Company's plans. Such statements are necessarily based upon a number of beliefs, assumptions, and opinions of management on the date the statements are made and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those anticipated or projected. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors should change, except as required by law.

SOURCE: Temas Resources Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Trolltunga, Norway's most spectacular rock formation, has become a dream wedding destination. This year, a record number of couples exchanged vows on the longest day of the year, with ceremonies lasting until midnight on the Instagram hotspot.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240621968668/en/

"We came across a post on social media, and it feels surreal to finally be standing here on Trolltunga. We have been looking forward to this for a long time. It is incredible", explains Daniele Arcuri Lavinia Paretti. (Photo: Business Wire)

For the first time, wedding ceremonies on Trolltunga lasted until midnight to accommodate a record number of couples. Conducting the ceremonies on the longest day of the year the day with the most daylight provided a unique and unforgettable wedding backdrop.

"We wanted to do something special for our wedding, and now we are standing in the most beautiful nature we have ever seen. We are almost speechless. This was a truly fantastic experience", says Daniele Arcuri Lavinia Paretti from Italy.

An International Dream

Mayor Roald Aga Haug married twenty couples from 11 countries, including Norway, Scotland, Germany, Romania, Italy, Poland, Costa Rica, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden, and Denmark. Multiple couples describe it as a "dream to be married in the Norwegian nature" and feel "blessed to be allowed to do this."

"We loved it. This was exactly what we wanted and came to Norway Trolltunga for", says Federica Migliori and Luka Landucci, who also travelled from Italy.

A Growing Trend in Fairytale Landscape

Interest in nature weddings in Norway has increased significantly in recent years. When the possibility was first introduced, three couples got married on Trolltunga. The number has now grown to 20 couples for several reasons. Record-high temperatures in Europe have sparked massive interest in the Norwegian fjords. Never before have there been so many tourists in the Hardangerfjord region just outside Bergen.

The wedding day started with a 10-kilometer hike to Trolltunga. Equipment and wedding dresses were transported by helicopter, and several tents were set up for the couples to change before the ceremonies. Local musicians played captivating music to set the right mood during the ceremonies.

A Revitalized Region

Although weddings do not generate significant income, the increased interest in vacationing in Norway and Hardanger has led to million-dollar regional investments. The area is now flourishing with new activities and attractions every year. Hardanger, including Trolltunga, has become one of the most popular destinations in Norway.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240621968668/en/

Contacts:

Andreas Skogseth, CEO

+47 926 64 894

andreas@hardangerfjord.com
DNA Diagnostics Center (DDC), a global leader in consumer testing services, and part of the global network of Eurofins laboratories, announces its collaboration with Contraline, a clinical-stage medical device company specializing in reproductive health innovation, in their first of a kind clinical trial for ADAMTM, an investigational male contraceptive device.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240620661738/en/

DNA Diagnostics Center Partners with Contraline in ADAMTM Clinical Trial, Testing Revolutionary Male Contraceptive (Photo: DNA Diagnostics Center)

ADAMTM represents a significant advancement in male contraception. It involves injecting a proprietary hydrogel into the vas deferens, providing long-lasting and non-hormonal contraception for male patients. ADAMTM occludes sperm transport within the vas deferens, similar to a vasectomy, however, is designed to be non-permanent and easier to reverse. This innovative approach aims to offer men an alternative to traditional contraceptive methods such as condoms and vasectomy.Contraline's ADAMTM Study, a First-in-Human trial conducted in Australia, has fully enrolled 25 patients into the study and is now focusing on monitoring the long-term safety and efficacy of the device.

Contraline received approval from the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) to integrate DDC's SpermCheck Vasectomy into the ADAMTM Study protocol. SpermCheck Vasectomy is an accurate and convenient at-home test kit designed to confirm the success of vasectomy procedures by detecting the presence of sperm in semen samples. SpermCheck Vasectomy is a leading male fertility brand in the US, with over one million units sold, and is currently an investigational device in Australia.

SpermCheck Vasectomy will be utilized by patients implanted with ADAMTM to monitor the effectiveness of the male contraceptive in real-time. By offering a user-friendly and accessible solution for monitoring sperm presence, SpermCheck Vasectomy enhances the convenience and reliability of ADAMTM as a male contraceptive option.

Kevin Eisenfrats, co-founder CEO of Contraline, remarked, "We are excited to integrate SpermCheck Vasectomy into the trial. It's a natural fit to combine an at-home diagnostic like SpermCheck Vasectomy with a male contraceptive like ADAMTM because it will offer patients the ability to know whether ADAMTM is working from the privacy of their own home. We are excited to be collaborating with DNA Diagnostics Center to make this happen."

Both DNA Diagnostics Center and Contraline are dedicated to advancing the field of male contraception and improving reproductive health outcomes for individuals worldwide.

About DNA Diagnostics Center

DNA Diagnostics Center (DDC) is a global leader in DNA and personal health testing. The company provides comprehensive testing services for paternity and family relationships, fertility, lifestyle, veterinary, and consumer health through its family of 8+ brands worldwide. DNA Diagnostics Center is part of the Eurofins network of companies. To learn more, visit www.dnacenter.com.

About Eurofins the global leader in bio-analysis

Eurofins is Testing for Life. With ca. 62,000 staff across a network of more than 900 laboratories in over 1,000 companies in 62 countries, Eurofins offers a portfolio of over 200,000 analytical methods.

Eurofins Scientific S.E. shares are listed on Euronext Paris Stock Exchange.

About Contraline

Contraline, Inc. is a venture-backed, clinical-stage, medical device company focused on innovation in reproductive health. The company is developing ADAMTM, the world's first hydrogel designed to provide long-lasting, non-hormonal, and reversible contraception for men. The company was founded in 2015 by Kevin Eisenfrats and Dr. John Herr, and is headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia. To learn more, visit www.contraline.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240620661738/en/

Contacts:

For further information:

Christy Kaupinen

Vice President of Marketing

Christine.Kaupinen@dnacenter.com
ATLANTA,GA / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 / The music world is about to be set ablaze with the release of "Run It," the highly anticipated new single from Sincerely Amirror, an Atlanta-based powerhouse signed to Akon's Konvict Kulture label. "Run It" will be available for streaming and download on June 21, 2024, providing a thrilling preview of her debut EP Reflxns, which will follow on June 28, 2024.





Amirror

'Run It' Single Cover





Born in West Virginia, Amirror discovered her love for music at a young age, inspired by her family's rich culture of karaoke and soulful gatherings. Her journey began with talent shows and festivals, leading to an Artist Development program that honed her skills and set the stage for her future success.

Amirror's life took a pivotal turn when she met global sensation Akon, who was captivated by her unique sound and undeniable talent. Signing her to his Konvict Kulture label, Akon opened doors to a new world of musical opportunities, including a transformative visit to Senegal that deeply influenced her artistic vision.

Produced by Akon and co-produced by Spotless and Konvict Kulture's newest producer Nektunez, "Run It" showcases Amirror's dynamic fusion of Afro beats and Afro pop. Her music resonates with a deep connection to her roots and the influential artists she admires.

"Amirror's journey and dedication to her craft are truly inspiring," said Akon. "Her new single 'Run It' is a powerful introduction to the world of Reflxns and a testament to her unique talent and voice."

"Run It" is more than just a single; it's a reflection of Amirror's life experiences and her evolution as an artist. Her fans, known as "Reflections," connect deeply with her music, finding pieces of themselves in her lyrics and beats.

"I've poured my heart and soul into 'Run It' and the entire Reflxns EP," said Amirror. "I want my fans to feel the energy, the passion, and the connection to our shared heritage in every track."

With a career that has already seen international tours and collaborations with artists like Mase, Teni, and Rotimi, Amirror continues to break boundaries and redefine the music landscape. Her upcoming EP promises to be a deep, rhythmic exploration of Afro beats, offering both up-tempo and soulful tracks that speak to the heart.

Don't miss the release of "Run It" on June 21, 2024.

For more information and to download "Run It," visit https://vydia.lnk.to/AmirrorRunIt.

Contact Information

Katina Fields

Publicist - KFields PR Agency

katina@kfieldspr.com

(714) 865-5690

SOURCE: Sincerely Amirror

View the original press release on newswire.com.
MUNICH, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 19, 2024, Intersolar Europe 2024 kicked off in Munich, Germany, with Eenovance making a grand appearance, showcasing a comprehensive range of product solutions, including residential energy storage solutions, industrial and commercial energy storage products and solutions, as well as integrated industrial and commercial solutions.

At the exhibition, we unveiled two newly upgraded residential energy storage products, the MANA 5.12 Ultra and the Chakra 2.5-H Pro. The MANA 5.12 Ultra boasts flexible scalability, supporting up to 15 battery packs in parallel, with 100% DOD (Depth of Discharge), Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery cells, and 6000 charge-discharge cycles. The Chakra 2.5-H Pro features a 2.5kWh modular design, with each cluster capable of holding up to 10 battery packs and supporting up to 4 clusters in parallel. It offers intelligent maintenance, supporting remote monitoring and upgrades, and a plug-and-play installation process that eliminates the need for external wiring.

To cater to the diverse needs of customers, Eenovance presented two industrial and commercial energy storage products and technologies, the RT 5.12-H and the G-Power 5.11 MWh. These are suitable for various application scenarios such as photovoltaic and wind power energy storage, as well as energy storage power stations. The RT 5.12-H is a small-scale industrial and commercial energy storage high-voltage battery product with a 5.12kWh modular design. Each cluster can accommodate up to 12 battery packs, supporting up to 4 clusters in parallel. It offers one-touch switching, automatic ID allocation, and convenient fast-plug connectors for wiring. The G-Power series is Eenovance's new generation of string-based containerized energy storage system developed for power generation and grid-side energy storage applications. The system utilizes a 20-foot standard container, integrating batteries and string inverters (PCS). Each container offers 2.5MW/5MWh capacity, boasting deep integration, safety, reliability, and intelligent efficiency.

Europe is one of Eenovance's strategic markets, and we are committed to long-term development, contributing to the energy transition in Europe. We have established a subsidiary in Cologne, Germany, radiating our high-quality products and services to neighboring countries and regions, achieving long-term win-win outcomes with customers and partners.

Eenovance looks forward to exploring energy storage technology trends with global customers and partners in the future, supporting the development of global photovoltaic and energy storage, and jointly creating a better green energy future.

For more information, please contact:

Mira Li

Phone: +86-18312064809

E-mail: limeizhen@eenovance.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2444082/Eenovance_Energy.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/eenovance-showcases-comprehensive-product-solutions-at-intersolar-europe-2024-302179039.html
BizClik expands events to the US with Sustainability LIVE, Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE and Manufacturing LIVE to be held in Chicago on June 4/5th 2025

LONDON and CHICAGO, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- From humble beginnings post-pandemic, BizClik has forged its reputation as a 'Premium Event Organiser' with multiple conference and expo brands both in-person and via its award-winning virtual platform.

Fast forward to 2024, and the incredible growth of BizClik's events continues with major successes such as Sustainability LIVE Net Zero, being heralded as the 'No.1 Event in Sustainability' and having already hosted 11 major conferences globally in H1 across its Sustainability, Procurement, Supply Chain and FinTech brands. The outlook has never looked so bright - and with 12 more events and awards programs to come in H2, there is no slowing down.

BizClik has now announced exciting new plans to expand its events operations even further by launching into the US market in 2025:

BizClik In-Person LIVE Events head to Chicago in 2025

Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE , alongside its sister events Sustainability LIVE , and Manufacturing LIVE will be heading over the Atlantic Ocean to host its mega co-located event at Convene - 333 North Green, Chicago, IL, 60607 on 4th and 5th June 2025.

Having cultivated senior executive audiences globally with its burgeoning magazine business, BizClik will offer its unique blend of thought leadership, executive keynotes, fireside chats, panels and interactive workshops to an audience of over 2,000 sustainability, procurement, supply chain, finance and operations leaders across two days in Chicago.

Those that attend the co-located mega event will have the opportunity to connect, learn, and exchange insights on the latest trends, challenges, and best practices through engaging presentations, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and workshops as well as its new VR pavilion.

Glen White, CEO, BizClik: "From our humble beginnings, hosting virtual events in the height of lockdown back in 2020, BizClik debuted its first in-person event in September of 2021 - Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE. Since then our events have grown exponentially, branching out into Sustainability, Fintech, Technology, AI and Manufacturing.

"This growth reflects our global commitment to connecting the world's digital leaders, and to be a platform and voice for organisations, individuals and communities to showcase their corporate vision and success.

"It is an exciting time for BizClik as we expand our LIVE events across the globe to continue in our commitment to be a single source of invaluable information, insights, best practices, and networking opportunities alongside our growing list of major corporate partners - hard work pays off!!"

To keep up to date on LIVE events, subscribe to Supply Chain Digital , Procurement Magazine , Sustainability Magazine , and Manufacturing Digital .

Sustainability Magazine

Sustainability Magazine connects the leading sustainability and ESG executives of the world's largest brands. Our platform serves as a digital hub for connecting industry leaders, covering a wide range of services including media and advertising, events, research reports, demand generation, information, and data services. With our comprehensive approach, we strive to provide timely and valuable insights into sustainable practices, fostering innovation and collaboration within the sustainability community. Join us today and shape a sustainable future for generations to come.

Procurement Magazine

Procurement Magazine connects the leading procurement executives of the world's largest brands. Our platform serves as a digital hub for connecting industry leaders, covering a wide range of services including media and advertising, events, research reports, demand generation, information, and data services. With our comprehensive approach, we strive to provide timely and valuable insights into best practices, fostering innovation and collaboration within the procurement community. Join us today and shape the future for generations to come.

Supply Chain Magazine

Supply Chain Digital Magazine connects the leading supply chain and logistics executives of the world's largest brands. Our platform serves as a digital hub for connecting industry leaders, covering a wide range of services including media and advertising, events, research reports, demand generation, information, and data services. With our comprehensive approach, we strive to provide timely and valuable insights into best practices, fostering innovation and collaboration within the supply chain community. Join us today and shape the future for generations to come.

Manufacturing Digital

Manufacturing Digital Magazine connects the leading manufacturing executives of the world's largest brands. Our platform serves as a digital hub for connecting industry leaders, covering a wide range of services including media and advertising, events, research reports, demand generation, information, and data services. With our comprehensive approach, we strive to provide timely and valuable insights into best practices, fostering innovation and collaboration within the manufacturing community. Join us today to shape the future for generations to come.

BizClik

BizClik was first established in 2007, in Norwich, United Kingdom. By embracing a digital-first approach from Day 1, BizClik has been dedicated to connecting the world's digital leaders ever since.

Driven by a commitment to excellence, BizClik upholds the value of integrity, creativity, inclusion and sustainability in all that it does. As digital pioneers, BizClik understands the importance of building client partnerships that transcend boundaries and drive innovation. With a focus on continuous improvement and a dedication to fostering a diverse and collaborative environment, BizClik empowers businesses to thrive in the digital landscape.

BizClik is the world's fastest-growing media and event company for brands seeking sustainable, digital solutions and unrivalled ROI.

BizClik: The Global, Data-Driven, Digital Media & Event Partner, please visit https://www.bizclikmedia.com/

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/bizclik-announces-launch-of-new-chicago-events-for-june-2025-302179048.html
BaseFi Announces Inaugural Presale on June 25, 2024: Paving the Way for Project Incubation and Staking in the Base Ecosystem. BaseFi is a community-driven project incubator, staking platform, and DAO dedicated to enhancing the Base ecosystem. Leveraging the Base chain and Coinbase's extensive network, BaseFi aims to provide sustainable token economics, first-mover advantages, and robust DAO governance, driving the future of decentralized finance and innovation.

BaseFi, the first launchpad and incubator on the Base chain, is excited to announce its inaugural presale starting on June 25, 2024. This event marks a significant milestone in BaseFi's mission to foster the growth and diversification of the Base ecosystem through high-quality project incubation.

Presale Information

The BaseFi presale will span three days with a goal of raising 20 ETH by offering 10% of the token supply at a 200 ETH Fully Diluted Valuation (FDV). Post-presale, an Initial Dex Offering (IDO) will follow, and BaseFi will begin trading on Uniswap.

To mitigate initial sell pressure, 50% of presale tokens will be distributed to investors before the IDO, with the remaining 50% unlocked linearly over 30 days. The presale aims to bootstrap trading liquidity on Uniswap, reducing slippage and promoting price stability by increasing ETH in the liquidity pool. All presale proceeds will be added to the Uniswap Liquidity Pool (LP) alongside 15.5% of the BaseFi token supply, with LP redemption tokens being burned to bolster trading confidence.

BaseFi's Core Mission and Strategy

BaseFi aims to democratize access to early-stage investments on the Base chain by connecting teams with investors to crowdfund project development and DEX liquidity through its Presale and IDO structure. The platform's core strategy is driven by the 'community flywheel,' a concept inspired by Amazon's growth strategies. This three-stage, self-reflective cycle exponentially amplifies the growth of the BaseFi ecosystem:

Building and Sustaining the Core Community: Through staking incentives and referral programs, BaseFi cultivates a robust and engaged community. Attracting Quality Teams and Projects To Base: An active and supportive community attracts high-quality projects and teams to launch and fundraise through BaseFi. Expanding the Community: Successful project launches attract more community members, creating a cycle of continuous growth and attraction of quality teams.

Sustainable Revenue Generation

BaseFi's revenue model is designed to support long-term sustainability. Revenue generated from fundraising fees, early unstaking penalties, and a carefully structured staking distribution curve ensures the platform can maintain attractive Annual Percentage Rates (APR) for staking while balancing initial demand and long-term growth.

About BaseFi

BaseFi is a community-driven project incubator, staking platform, and DAO dedicated to enhancing the Base ecosystem. Leveraging the Base chain and Coinbase's extensive network, BaseFi aims to provide sustainable token economics, first-mover advantages, and robust DAO governance, driving the future of decentralized finance and innovation.

Presale Details

The presale on June 25th, 2024, offers investors a unique opportunity to become early adopters of BaseFi, securing their position in a promising and rapidly growing platform. Participants will gain access to exclusive benefits and be part of a pioneering community set to drive significant advancements in the Base ecosystem.

For more detailed information about BaseFi and the upcoming presale, please visit [BaseFi Documentation]( https://docs.basefi.org/ ) or https://basefi.org/presale

Media Contact

Organization: BASEFi

Contact Person: Tony Sircio

Website: https://basefi.org/

Email: contact@basefi.org

City: Phuket

Country: Thailand

SOURCE: BASEFi

View the original press release on accesswire.com
GREENVILLE, S.C. / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 / Duke Energy:

Funding will support 33 nonprofits and government agencies

Grants will pay for training, life-saving equipment and new technology to aid in disaster planning and recovery operations

GREENVILLE, S.C., June 21, 2024 /3BL/ - As hurricane season begins, emergency managers and first responders turn their eyes to the tropics as they continue to prepare their communities for the possibility of impacts from severe weather.

Duke Energy is preparing as well and stands in support of these communities across South Carolina by announcing $500,000 in microgrants through the Duke Energy Foundation. These funds will increase community resiliency and local ability to help residents prepare for and recover from the devastation brought by significant weather events.

"Preparing communities to respond to severe weather impacts begins in our neighborhoods and communities," said Mike Callahan, Duke Energy's South Carolina president. "Providing our fellow first responders with the tools and training to handle whatever Mother Nature throws our way is necessary in maintaining a resilient and prosperous South Carolina."

Duke Energy's Emergency Preparedness and Storm Resiliency Grant Program was designed to help organizations with roles in emergency preparedness increase their resiliency to these events through advanced preparation, planning, equipment and training. Applicants could request funds up to $20,000. Grants were awarded to 33 nonprofits and governmental entities across the state.

A complete list of recipients can be found here.

Quotes

"Cherokee County Emergency Management would like to thank the Duke Energy Foundation for awarding Cherokee County this year's grant. This grant will double our sheltering capabilities adding 100 cots and the necessities along with 10 special-needs cots, helping those in need when they need it the most. The grant will also allow us to purchase a pet sheltering kit so we can start to address those needs as well." - Douglas Bowers, Director of Emergency Management, Cherokee County

"Duke Energy is always a great partner for us at the City of Sumter, and this grant is no exception. Being storm-ready is crucial for us. It helps our employees prepare for potentially hazardous weather so that we, as a city, can best serve and protect our citizens and ideally prevent any damage before it gets to that point. At the City of Sumter, we like to Invest, Invite, and Serve. And thanks to Duke Energy, we can invest in this equipment that will allow us to better serve the people of Sumter in a safe and timely manner." - David Merchant, Mayor, City of Sumter

"This new eye in sky will generate an overhead picture of a scene and provide a more complete view for responding ground crews. Adding this new information to an emergency incident should allow us to implement new response strategies that will improve operations along with saving lives and property plus promoting a safer work environment for our personnel." - Jimmy Flynn, EMS Operations Coordinator, Landrum Area Fire & Rescue District

"We appreciate Duke Energy's assistance with providing funding for equipment to help the City of Clemson communicate information to our community, especially during power loss and challenging circumstances." - Jorge Campos, Chief of Police, City of Clemson

Duke Energy Foundation

The Duke Energy Foundation provides more than $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an ambitious clean energy transition, keeping reliability, affordability and accessibility at the forefront as the company works toward net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including expanded energy storage, renewables, natural gas and nuclear.

More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition.

Contact: Ryan Mosier

24-Hour: 800.559.3853

View original content here.





View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Duke Energy on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Duke Energy

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/duke-energy

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Duke Energy

View the original press release on accesswire.com
TIANJIN, China, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2024 World Intelligence Expo (WIE) commenced on June 20th in Tianjin. Themed "Intelligence: Expansive Development Space, Sustainable Growth Driver," the expo was co-hosted by the people's governments of Tianjin and Chongqing municipalities.

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the expo, pointing out that AI, as an important driving force for a new round sci-tech revolution and industrial transformation, will have a far-reaching impact on global economic and social development and human civilization progress. In his letter, Xi also noted that China has attached great importance to the development of AI, actively driven the deep integration of the Internet, big data and AI with real economy to cultivate and build the intelligent industry, accelerate the development of new quality productivity, and provide new momentum for high-quality development.

Chen Min'er, secretary of the CPC Tianjin Committee, addressed the opening ceremony of the expo. Wan Gang, chairman of China Association for Science and Technology, delivered the keynote speech. Hu Henghua, mayor of Chongqing; Wu Zhaohui, vice president of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Liu Liehong, head of the National Data Administration; Long Teng, vice minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology; and Shan Zhongde, vice minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, addressed the expo, respectively. Tianjin Mayor Zhang Gong presided over the opening ceremony.

In his speech, Chen Min'er pointed out that Tianjin has been adhering to sci-tech innovation and industrial innovation at the same time, actively propelling exploration and practical applications in the realm of AI, and accelerating the development of new quality productivity to better empower its high-quality development and living. Chen added, "Leading sci-tech innovation with intelligence, Tianjin will rev up the R&D and application of some key core technologies, vigorously develop the sci-tech service sector, streamline the supply and demand channels for sci-tech achievements, boost sci-tech and innovation parks to improve their quality and efficiency, and accelerate the inter-sector application of AI to help innovation and breakthroughs in the fields of life science, low-carbon technology, and future research.

According to Hu Henghua, Chongqing is speeding up in digital industrialization and industrial digitization to build itself into a new digital economy highland. The 2025 World Intelligence Expo is scheduled to be held in Chongqing. Hu invited everyone to delineate a new AI landscape together, share golden opportunities during the digitization of Chongqing, and co-build a promising future in the AI era.

Wu Zhaohui suggested strengthening the inter-discipline cooperation to consolidate the AI research foundation, enriching AI scenarios with applets, and deepening industry-institute interactions to build an AI innovation ecosystem.

Zeng Yi, chairman of China Electronics Corporation; Chen Zhongyue, chairman of China Unicom; Yang Yuanqing, chairman and CEO of Lenovo; and Zhou Hongyi, founder of Qihoo 360 delivered speeches.

Contact: Xing Meiqi

Tel: 0086-22-28209030

E-mail: maggiesing@vip.126.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2444782/Wan_Gang_Keynote_Speech.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2444783/WIE_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/2024-world-intelligence-expo-kicks-off-in-tianjin-302179056.html
Las Vegas, Nevada and Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 21, 2024) - Body and Mind Inc. (CSE: BAMM) (OTCQB: BMMJ) (the "Company" or "BaM"), a multi-state operations-focused cannabis company, is pleased to announce its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2024 ended April 30, 2024, and to provide shareholders with an operational update. All financial information is provided in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.

Q3 FY2024 (ended April 30, 2024) Financial Highlights:

Q3 FY 2024 Three Month Period Ended April 30, 2024 (in Millions of US$) Q3 FY 2024 Q3 FY 2023 Revenue $4.41 $4.17 Gross Profit $1.96 $1.93 Net Operating Profit (Loss) ($1.34) ($1.28) Net Income/(Loss) ($2.54) ($3.61) Q3 FY 2024 Nine Month Period Ended April 30, 2024 (in Millions of US$) April 30 2024 April 30 2023 Revenue $13.39 $13.24 Gross Profit $6.05 $5.43 Net Operating Profit (Loss) ($3.26) ($3.83) Net Income/(Loss) ($2.54) ($9.30)

Q3 FY2024 Operational Highlights:

Markham Illinois dispensary continues to show growth with new customers and increased transactions each month.

Continued construction on the Lynwood, Illinois dispensary with the building fully complete. The final stages of the project were delayed awaiting a permit from Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to finalize roadworks and connection of services that was granted a week ago. The dispensary is roughly one mile from the border of Indiana and images of the dispensary can be viewed at https://bodyandmind.com/illinois/lynwood-status.

Received the New Jersey Annual license for BaM Body and Mind Dispensary NJ, Inc. The dispensary will be 4,000 square feet with more than 100 parking places. Demolition is complete and the building permit has been granted. The dispensary in Lawrenceville is in a jurisdiction that has approved only two dispensaries and is on the main US 1 (Brunswick Pike) corridor with over 35,000 cars per day passing by.

Management Commentary

"We continue to execute on our strategy of reducing our footprint and focusing on developing our most valuable assets," stated Michael Mills, CEO of Body and Mind. "Our quarterly and nine-month financial results demonstrate modest revenue growth and improvements in bottom line results as we continue to streamline our operations. We're pleased that our Lynwood, Illinois location has recently received approval to connect the completed building to services and commence required roadwork. We look forward to completing construction for this operation shortly. We believe the Illinois and New Jersey markets remain underserved and our strong locations and capabilities will support high returning operations for the Company and shareholders."

For further details, please see the Company's recent Form 10-Q filing on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar/search, and the interim financial statements filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

About Body and Mind Inc.

BaM is an operations-focused cannabis company with active retail operations in Illinois and California and pending retail operations in Illinois and New Jersey. We work daily to increase our market share through delighting customers while also continuing to hone our operational efficiencies to drive profits. We are primarily guided by the metric of return on investment. Currently, we believe the most significant return on investment projects in front of us are successful retail cannabis store launches in Illinois and New Jersey, which augment our existing retail footprint. We also believe that our team's core operational skillsets will create significant future shareholder value as the cannabis industry matures.

Please visit www.bodyandmind.com for more information.

Instagram: @bodyandmindBaM

Twitter: @bodyandmindBaM

For further information, please contact:

Company Contact:

Michael Mills

CEO

Tel: 800-361-6312

ir@bodyandmind.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Safe Harbor Statement

Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian laws. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans, "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the actual results of activities, variations in the underlying assumptions associated with the estimation of activities, the availability of capital to fund programs and the resulting dilution caused by the raising of capital through the sale of shares, accidents, labor disputes and other risks. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release.

Certain matters discussed in this news release and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company may constitute forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Many of these factors are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and that could impact the Company and the statements contained in this news release can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/213895

SOURCE: Body and Mind Inc.
Regulatory News:

TotalEnergies (Paris:TTE) (LSE:TTE) (NYSE:TTE), as shareholder of Offshore Wind One GmbH, has been awarded the maritime concession N-11.2 by the German Federal Network Agency, following auctions held in Germany.

Located in the North Sea, around 120 kilometers north-west of the German island of Heligoland, concession N-11.2 (1.5 GW) covers an area of around 156 square kilometers. This success will enable TotalEnergies to build a 3.5 GW offshore wind hub in German North Sea, taking benefit of the synergies between this new lease and the 2 GW concession N-12.1 won last year.

Under the terms of this award, Offshore Wind One GmbH will pay, at the latest in June 2025, the German Federal government 196 million, which will be allocated to marine conservation and the promotion of environmentally friendly fishing. An annual contribution of 88 million will also be paid to the electricity transmission system operator in charge of connecting the project, for a term of twenty years starting from the commissioning of the site.

The concession will run for a term of 25 years, extendable to 35 years.

"Building upon the successful award of concession N-12.1 in the German North Sea last year, the award of the N-11.2 site will enable TotalEnergies to establish a 3.5 GW offshore wind energy hub, building on the quality of both sites and taking advantage of the development and operational synergies between them. This marks a new step for the deployment of TotalEnergies Integrated Power strategy in Germany after the acquisition of Quadra Energy, one of the top 3 aggregators of renewable electricity production and of Kyon Energy, a prominent developer of battery storage solutions. TotalEnergies is also very pleased to contribute to Germany's decarbonisation targets," said Stephane Michel, President Gas Renewable and Power of TotalEnergies.

TotalEnergies and electricity

As part of its ambition to get to net zero by 2050, TotalEnergies is building a world class cost-competitive portfolio combining renewables (solar, onshore and offshore wind) and flexible assets (CCGT, storage) to deliver clean firm power to its customers. At the end of 2023, TotalEnergies' gross renewable electricity generation installed capacity was 22 GW. TotalEnergies will continue to expand this business to reach 35 GW in 2025 and more than 100 TWh of net electricity production by 2030.

TotalEnergies and offshore wind

TotalEnergies' portfolio in offshore wind has a total capacity of more than 16 GW, with most farms bottom-fixed. These projects are located in the United Kingdom (Seagreen, Outer Dowsing, West of Orkney, Erebus), South Korea (Bada), Taiwan (Yunlin, Haiding 2), France (Eolmed), the United States (Attentive Energy and Carolina Long Bay), and Germany (N-12.1 and 0-2.2).

About TotalEnergies

TotalEnergies is a global integrated energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity. Our more than 100,000 employees are committed to provide as many people as possible with energy that is more reliable, more affordable and more sustainable. Active in about 120 countries, TotalEnergies places sustainability at the heart of its strategy, its projects and its operations.

@TotalEnergies TotalEnergies TotalEnergies TotalEnergies

Cautionary Note

The terms "TotalEnergies", "TotalEnergies company" or "Company" in this document are used to designate TotalEnergies SE and the consolidated entities that are directly or indirectly controlled by TotalEnergies SE. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" may also be used to refer to these entities or to their employees. The entities in which TotalEnergies SE directly or indirectly owns a shareholding are separate legal entities. This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TotalEnergies SE nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Information concerning risk factors, that may affect TotalEnergies' financial results or activities is provided in the most recent Universal Registration Document, the French-language version of which is filed by TotalEnergies SE with the French securities regulator Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF), and in the Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240621398818/en/

Contacts:

TotalEnergies

Media Relations: +33 (0)1 47 44 46 99 l presse@totalenergies.com l @TotalEnergiesPR

Investor Relations: +33 (0)1 47 44 46 46 l ir@totalenergies.com
articipation of 1,500 Domestic and International Startups and 250 Global Enterprises and Investors

Delegates from 26 Countries Including Japan, Germany, United States, and France Gather in Seoul

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 / Korea International Trade Association (KITA), led by Chairman Jinsik Yoon, in collaboration with Korea Development Bank (KDB), chaired by Seokhoon Kang, successfully hosted 'NextRise 2024, Seoul' at Coex on June 13th-14th.

NextRise 2024

Asia's Leading Startup Fair 'NextRise 2024'

This year marked the sixth iteration of the exhibition, drawing an unprecedented number of participants from the global startup ecosystem, including companies, investors, and support organizations. The event featured over 1,500 startups from Korea and abroad, 250 global enterprises and investors from 26 countries, and various startup support agencies. Approximately 25,000 visitors attended the event over its two-day run.

The 1:1 business meetups, the largest of their kind in Asia, facilitated over 3,600 meetings between 220 global enterprises and investors and 1,200 startups. KITA pre-matched the participating startups with global corporations and investors based on their technological capabilities and the demand fields of these global entities. As a result, participants were able to discuss substantial investment and business cooperation opportunities on site. Notably, participation from global corporations like LVMH, BMW, and SONY increased by approximately 60% compared to last year, raising expectations for expanded cooperation and overseas expansion for Korean startups.

Alexa Rios, Head of Innovation at Maersk, who participated in the business meetup, remarked, "Meeting with Korean startups that possess innovative technologies and ideas has provided opportunities to strengthen Maersk's business strategy." Youngjoon Kim, CEO of drone solution startup Pablo Air, also stated, "This exhibition allowed us to discuss practical business cooperation with global companies that understand our technological potential."

Various programs were also organized to strengthen cooperation with Japan, this year's guest country. The Japan Innovation Pavilion, operated by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and 10 Japanese startups, hosted IR demo days and forums. Additionally, KITA, in collaboration with the Japan Association of Corporate Executives, held the 'Korea-Japan Open Innovation Summit' to discuss ways to expand open innovation business cooperation between the startup ecosystems of Korea and Japan.

The startup fair featured numerous side events, including conferences reflecting global startup trends such as AI and mobility. Keynote speaker Ilya Strebulaev, professor at Stanford University, emphasized, "With the easing of regulations on CVC establishment, the proportion of CVC in total venture capital investment in Korea has risen to 30%. Long-term investment management is needed to foster innovative investments." In the mobility session, participation from global companies like BMW, Renault, Volvo, and Hyundai Motors was accentuated, presenting visions for startup cooperation projects and investment strategies. In the AI session, the latest trends in AI technology and innovative application cases were shared, highlighting the future impact of AI across various industries.

At the '2nd NextRise Awards' ceremony, held to support the growth and global expansion of promising startups, digital therapeutics developer WELT and AI image and video recognition technology company Deeping Source won the Top Innovator awards. Additionally, 25 companies from countries including Japan, Israel, Singapore, and Turkiye received innovation awards.

KITA utilized this event as an opportunity to engage in discussions aimed at enhancing cooperation and strengthening relationships with global partners visiting Korea. KITA signed a memorandum of understanding with AsiaBerlin, a startup support organization in Berlin, and exchanged views on cooperation between NextRise and IFA with Lief Lindner, CEO of IFA. Furthermore, KITA held partner events with startup support organizations and companies from various countries, including France, the United States, and Taiwan, providing networking opportunities and supporting overseas expansion for Korean startups.

Inho Lee, Vice Chairman of KITA, stated, "NextRise 2024, held at a record scale, serves as a gathering place for startups leading innovation and change, providing a platform for corporate exchanges and networking. KITA will continue to strengthen its role in expanding overseas opportunities for startup technologies and products, which are the new growth drivers of our trade."

Contact Information

NextRise Preperation Committee

nextrise@kita.net

+82 2 6205 3012

SOURCE: Korea International Trade Association

View the original press release on newswire.com.
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 / Henkel



Carita Hughes is a strong believer in leading with heart in all her efforts. She helps drive innovation through patent law, stirs a spirit of belonging, makes an impact on today's youth through the joy of music, and preserves a family legacy.

Our purpose is what unites us at Henkel North America: Pioneers at heart for the good of generations. Our pioneering spirit is reflective of the diverse backgrounds, experiences and talents of our employees and partners. They dare to make an impact on the world by collaborating to tackle challenges, find solutions and open new perspectives.

Their contributions allow us to deliver products, services and innovations that enrich and improve everyday life. We invite you to "meet" our pioneers in our series, "Pioneers for Good."

Introducing Carita

Carita Hughes is a Patent Paralegal at Henkel, playing an integral role in driving sustainability and innovation for the company. As patent experts, Carita and her team work to secure the rights to inventions, new products and solutions developed by Henkel's Research & Development teams. She works at the North America headquarters of the Henkel Consumer Brands business in Stamford, CT.

She is a pioneer of patents at the office, of music in the community, and of making everyone she meets feel welcome. Carita believes being a pioneer at heart is, "Using your passion and what is dear to your heart for the good of generations." This sentiment sits at the intersection of her enthusiasm for being a leader in her work and being an advocate for inclusion.

Building a sense of belonging

"Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are vitally important in an organization like ours," Carita says. As the current Membership Chair of Henkel's Black Alliance (HBA) ERG she aims to foster a community of acceptance and belonging like what she experienced when she first joined the group. Her role is instrumental in growing membership by celebrating cultural moments, making space for vulnerable conversations, and giving each other grace to build understanding across Henkel.

Celebratory moments are a core focus for ERGs, and she was extremely excited for the Juneteenth Festival this year. Carita's passion for celebrating cultures and uplifting communities is apparent in her role at Henkel and in her community service.

We're hosting a festival-like educational encounter with music, food, games, poetry, and vendors that showcase and support Black culture. The event is open to everyone at Henkel and our neighbors in the building to honor the history and significance of Juneteenth. Carita Hughes, Patent Paralegal at Henkel

Spreading the joy of music

Carita is a classical piano teacher and was looking for ways to help in the local community. She joined Intempo, a youth development organization, dedicated to educating students from immigrant and underrepresented communities in classical and intercultural music practices.

Carita recalls noticing the program did not have piano teachers and immediately jumped at the chance to work with them. "I was drawn to the work at Intempo as it provides a safe space for children and their families who are new to the U.S. We use the joy of music as a way of connecting to their culture and embracing their new home."

Through Henkel's Make an Impact on Tomorrow (MIT) initiative, Intempo received a grant which has helped the organization secure a new home and purchase new instruments. Carita has been with Intempo for 2 years and currently teaches six classes. She has been proud to witness the program grow by 30% over the course of two-years, helping over 42 students.

In starting our piano studio, Carita has helped so many of our youth develop not just their musical talents, but also their confidence, work ethic, and social skills. She has created so much joy in our classrooms and we're so grateful that she is a part of the INTEMPO family. Douglas Laustsen, Interim Co-Executive Director

Preserving a family legacy

In reflecting on her work at Henkel, role with the ERG, and community service, Carita feels an obligation to make the world better. This obligation is felt by her family as well. During her grandfather's lifetime when Black Americans faced denial of their basic rights of freedom, voting and land ownership, he found the means to buy and sell property leaving a legacy of hope for his family to live better. Today, Carita is the proud landowner of a 100-acre property in Mississippi that her grandfather passed down through family generations. This year she is arranging the planting of 33,000 trees to reforest the property and preserve it to pass onto the next generations of her family.

To experience success as a pioneer at heart for the good of generations, Carita is inspired by the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, "To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of childrento appreciate the beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded!"

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Henkel on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Henkel

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/henkel

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Henkel

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Chinese premier to attend 2024 Summer Davos

Xinhua) 16:08, June 21, 2024

BEIJING, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend the 15th Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Dalian on June 25, foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian announced here on Friday.

Premier Li Qiang will deliver a special address at the meeting, meet with Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab and foreign guests, and have a conversation with representatives of the foreign business community, the spokesperson said.

President of Poland Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh will attend the meeting. Over 1,600 representatives from the political, business, academic and media communities of close to 80 countries and regions will also take part in the meeting, Lin added.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 / The Wells Fargo Foundation announced today a $500,000 grant for Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago, Inc. (NHS) in support of its Chicago Flats Initiative. The goals of the initiative are to preserve and rehab two- and four-flats, maintain rental affordability, and help homeowners build wealth. To accomplish these goals, NHS is connecting homeowners and renters to available mortgage and rental assistance programs.

"We want to make sure we continue stabilizing housing for both renters and owners," said Neighborhood Housing Services President and CEO Anthony E. Simpkins. "According to our data, homeowners have 40 times the net worth of renters, so finding development solutions to foster the building of more affordable homes in our communities is a great return on investment."

The Chicago Flats Initiative will provide:

HUD-certified financial counseling services and Homebuyer Education classes

Foreclosure prevention resources to keep homeowners of two-and four-flats in their homes

Competitive mortgage loans through NHS

Home purchase assistance up to $15,000 for home improvement loans

Health and safety inspections

Construction management services

Enterprise, Institute for Housing Studies, Elevate, Preservation Compact, Greater Chatham Initiative, Resident of Greater Englewood (RAGE), Garfield Park Community Council, and Communities United are all partners on the Chicago Flats Initiative.

"We're excited to partner with NHS on this innovative program that will make a real difference in Chicago communities," said Trina Shepherd, Philanthropy and Community Impact Specialist at Wells Fargo. "Wells Fargo is dedicated to supporting initiatives designed to help close the wealth gap, boost homeownership, and revitalize communities."

Since 2018, Wells Fargo's philanthropic giving totaled nearly $40 million within Chicago in support of housing, small business growth, financial health, sustainability, and more.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a leading financial services company that has approximately $1.9 trillion in assets. We provide a diversified set of banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through our four reportable operating segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth & Investment Management. Wells Fargo ranked No. 47 on Fortune's 2023 rankings of America's largest corporations. In the communities we serve, the company focuses its social impact on building a sustainable, inclusive future for all by supporting housing affordability, small business growth, financial health, and a low-carbon economy. News, insights, and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.

Additional information may be found at www.wellsfargo.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wellsfargo

About Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago, Inc.

NHS of Chicago is a nonprofit organization working in partnership with businesses, government, and neighborhood residents to develop and support Chicago's neighborhoods. NHS offers a variety of homebuyer education classes, financial literacy instruction and provides HUD-certified counselors in efforts to stabilize communities and create neighborhoods of choice.

Contact Information

Jentill Neal

Wells Fargo

jentill.neal@wellsfargo.com

Representatives from the Wells Fargo Foundation and Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago celebrate a new grant focused on stabilizing housing for Chicago renters and homeowners.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Wells Fargo on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Wells Fargo

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/wells-fargo

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Wells Fargo

View the original press release on accesswire.com
SHANGHAI, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Infinix, a trendy tech brand crafted for young consumers, has once again been recognized in the Top 50 Kantar BrandZ Chinese Global Brand Builders 2024 ranking by Google and Kantar. This prestigious ranking, often regarded as the "Oscars" of the branding industry, highlights Infinix's continuous enhancement of brand power and global consumer recognition. This year, Infinix climbed to the 44th spot, up one rank from last year.

"We are honored to be included in the Top 50 Kantar BrandZ Chinese Global Brand Builders 2024 for the second year in a row. This recognition reflects our commitment to innovation and technology, earning the trust of global users. Our focus remains on delivering essential products, building brand value, and establishing international influence through differentiation. Through years of global localization, Infinix has evolved into a trusted global brand. We will continue to promote globalization through localization, deepen our understanding of user insights, provide superior products, and create a brand experience that embodies 'value'." - Lake Hu, the Chief Marketing Officer at Infinix.

Kantar BrandZ, the world's largest consumer-focused brand asset insights provider, uses a widely adopted brand valuation methodology. This evaluation assesses brand appeal based on meaningfulness, difference, and salience, determined by global user votes. Infinix's consecutive presence on this list validates its global brand influence and strength.

Leading with Innovation

Infinix continues to empower young people in emerging markets with cutting-edge technology and stylish design. This year, the NOTE 40 series and GT 20 Pro dual-core gaming flagship have garnered significant attention. The NOTE 40 series features All-Round FastCharge 2.0, including 100W Multi-Speed FastCharge, Wireless MagCharge, and the Cheetah X1 chip. The GT 20 Pro, equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Ultimate processor and Pixelworks X5 Turbo dedicated display chip, offers an eSports-level gaming experience with its powerful cooling system and 144Hz FHD+ AMOLED display.

Glocalization

Infinix follows a strategy of "global layout + localization practice," blending global trends with regional innovations to meet specific regional needs. For example, Infinix has developed universal tone photography technology, multiple SIM slots, and long battery life tailored for African consumers, and the rest of the world. Operating in over 70 markets, Infinix has successfully achieved global localization in R&D, production, and marketing.

About Infinix:

Founded in 2013, Infinix is a trendy tech brand designed for young consumers. With a presence in over 70 countries, Infinix delivers cutting-edge technology, stylish design, and outstanding performance. Our product lineup includes smartphones, TWS earbuds, smartwatches, laptops, and smart TVs. In 2023, Infinix was recognized in Kantar and Google's top 50 Chinese Global Brand Builders Report and ranked sixth in Fast Company's World's Most Innovative Companies of 2024 in the Asia-Pacific sector.

For more information, please visit: http://www.infinixmobility.com/

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2444788/Infinix_proudly_secured_a_spot_Top_50_Kantar_BrandZ_Chinese.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2316423/Infinix_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/infinix-secures-spot-in-top-50-kantar-brandz-chinese-global-brand-builders-list-for-second-year-302179091.html
AMSTERDAM, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- New Amsterdam Invest N.V. (the "Company", or "New Amsterdam Invest", or "NAI"), listed on Euronext Amsterdam, announces that at its annual general meeting of shareholders, held today at Van der Valk Hotel Utrecht, the Netherlands ("AGM"), all resolutions were duly passed.

This means amongst others, that the proposed interim dividend payment has been approved; 99.90% of the NAI-shareholders voted in favor. The results of all other voting items are listed below.

Other resolutions passed at the AGM

The AGM adopted the following items including the votes cast.

As at the AGM, in total 5,315,355 votes could be validly cast. The total number of shares for which valid votes were cast at the AGM amounted to 1,965,966 being 37% of the issued and outstanding share capital of NAI.

In accordance with section 2:120 paragraph 5 of the Dutch Civil Code, the outcome of the voting on the proposals discussed at the AGM is as follows:



Agenda item For % Against % Abstain %















5 Adoption of annual

accounts NAI for FY 2023 1,945,966 99.49 0 0.00 10,000 0.51 6 Advisory vote on the

remuneration report of FY

2023 1,860,966 94.66 0 0.00 105,000 5.34 7 Discharge of each of the

members of the

Management Board i. Aren van Dam ii. Arie Johannes Maarten

van Dam iii. Cornelis Maartinus

Verkade iv. Elisha Sjemtov Evers





i. 1,953,966 ii.1,893,966 iii. 1,878,966

iv. 1,918,966 99.39 97.33 96.56 97.61 2,000 42,000 42,000 2,000 0.10 2.16 2.16 0.10 10,000 10,000 25,000 45,000 0.51 0.51 1.28 2.29 8 Discharge of each of the

members of the

Supervisory Board i. Jan Louis Burggraaf ii. Paulus Johannes

Steman iii. Elbert Dijkgraaf i. 1,918,966 ii. 1,928,966 iii. 1,938,966 98.61 98.12 98.63 2,000 2,000 2,000 0.10 0.10 0.10 25,000 35,000 25,000 1.28 1.78 1.27 9 Authorisation of the Board

of Directors to acquire fully

paid-up ordinary shares or

depositary receipt for

shares in NAI's own

capital. 1,930,966 98.22 0 0.00 35,000 1.78 10 Designation of the Board of

Directors as the body

authorized to issue

ordinary shares in the

capital of NAI 1,930,966 98.22 0 0.00 35,000 1.78 11 Designation of the Board of

Directors as the body

authorized to limit or

exclude the statutory pre-

emptive right upon the

issue of ordinary shares in

the capital of NAI 1,930,966 98.22 0 0.00 35,000 1.78 12 Re-appointment of BDO

Audit & Assurance B.V. as

external independent

auditor for the year ending

31 December 2024 1,965,966 100.0 0 0.00 0 0.00 14 Interim dividend payment

for the financial year 2024

(2.25% in June 2024 and -

subject to (possible) future

prior approval of the

Supervisory Board -

2.25% in December 2024) 1,963,966 99.90 2,000 0.10 0 0.00

Financial Calendar 2024

Approval interim dividend  0,225 per ordinary share: 21 June

Ex-dividend: 25 June

Record date: 26 June

Payment date: 28 June

Publication of unaudited Half Year Report 2024 NAI: 29 August

About New Amsterdam Invest

New Amsterdam Invest N.V. is a commercial real estate company listed at Euronext Amsterdam with operating companies in the United States and the United Kingdom.

The main objective of New Amsterdam Invest is running commercial activities including the owning, (re-)developing, acquiring, divesting, maintaining, letting out and/or otherwise operating commercial real estate, all in the broadest possible meaning.

All information about New Amsterdam Invest, including its principles and objectives can be found on the company website: www.newamsterdaminvest.com

Disclaimer

Elements of this press release contain or may contain information about New Amsterdam Invest N.V. within the meaning of Article 7(1) to (4) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

This press release may include statements, including NAI's financial and operational medium-term objectives that are, or may be deemed to be, 'forward-looking statements'. These forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms 'believes', 'estimates', 'plans', 'projects', 'anticipates', 'expects', 'intends', 'may', 'will' or 'should' or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, plans, objectives, goals, future events or intentions. Forward-looking statements may and often do differ materially from actual results. Any forward-looking statements reflect NAI's current view with respect to future events and are subject to risks relating to future events and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to NAI's business, results of operations, financial position, liquidity, prospects, growth or strategies. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/new-amsterdam-invest-nv-annual-general-meeting-results-interim-dividend-approved-302179100.html
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78% of the Company's share capital represented at the General Meeting and resolutions approved by large margins

Regulatory News:

AFYREN (Paris:ALAFY), a greentech company that offers manufacturers bio-based, low-carbon ingredients produced using unique fermentation technology based on a completely circular model, today announces that its shareholders approved the resolutions proposed and agreed by the Board of Directors and submitted to the Annual Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meeting held on June 19, 2024.

On first call, the necessary quorum was reached, the voting shareholders representing 78% of the Company's share capital and 83% of its voting rights. They approved all the proposed and agreed resolutions, and the detailed results will be available as soon as possible on the AFYREN Investors website.

These resolutions include the renewal of the appointment to the Board of Directors of Stefan Borgas and Nicolas Sordet, as well as of Sofinnova Partners, AFY Partners and Valquest Partners, and the ratification of the co-option of Bpifrance, each as Director.

AFYREN thanks all the shareholders who attended and voted at the Meeting.

About AFYREN

AFYREN is a French greentech company launched in 2012 to meet the challenge of decarbonizing industrial supplies. Its natural, innovative and proprietary fermentation technology valorizes local biomass from non-food agricultural co-products, replacing petro-sourced ingredients usually used in many product formulations. AFYREN's 100% biobased, low-carbon and sustainable solutions can meet decarbonization challenges in a wide variety of strategic sectors: human and animal nutrition, flavors and fragrances, life sciences and materials, and lubricants and technical fluids. AFYREN's plug-and-play, circular technology combines sustainability and competitiveness, with no need for manufacturers to change their processes.

The Group's first French plant, AFYREN NEOXY, a joint venture with Bpifrance's SPI fund, is located in the Grand-Est region of France, in Saint Avold, serving mainly the European market.

AFYREN is also pursuing a project in Thailand with a world leader in the sugar industry, and is developing its presence in the Americas, following up on distribution agreements it has already signed.

At the end of 2023, AFYREN employed about 120 people in Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand and Carling Saint-Avold. The company invests 20% of its annual budget in R&D to further develop its sustainable solutions.

AFYREN has been listed on the Euronext Growth exchange in Paris since 2021 (ISIN code: FR0014005AC9, mnemonic: ALAFY).

Find out more: afyren.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240621282579/en/

Contacts:

AFYREN

Communication

Caroline Petigny

caroline.petigny@afyren.com

Investor Relations

Mark Reinhard

invest@afyren.com

NewCap

Investor Relations

Theo Martin Mathilde Bohin

Tel: 01 44 71 94 94

afyren@newcap.eu



NewCap

Media Relations

Nicolas Merigeau

Tel: 01 44 71 94 98

afyren@newcap.eu

International Media relations

Bogert-Magnier Communications

James Connell

+33 6 2152 1755

jim@bogert-magnier.com
TOKYO, JAPAN / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 / Kintetsu World Express, Inc. (Minato-ku, Tokyo; KWE) is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement with IAG Cargo, the cargo arm of International Airlines Group, to expand the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).









Under the deal, the company will purchase 640,000 liters of SAF environmental attributes, reducing Scope 3 emissions in its supply chain. The SAF is ISCC (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification) certified and is produced from used cooking oil and food waste, reducing lifecycle emissions by over 90% compared to conventional jet fuel.

Nobutoshi Torii, President and CEO of KWE, said, "When we see the natural disasters that have occurred around the world in recent times, we can't help but feel that we are finally approaching a global climate 'tipping point.' As a company in the transport sector, which accounts for around 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions, we must further accelerate more substantial industry-wide efforts to decarbonize. SAF is the most effective way to reduce emissions (Scope 3) from our core business of air freight transport. We are proud and delighted to be working with our long-standing business partner IAG Cargo to decarbonize the industry."

Saleem Saeed, Sustainability Manager at IAG Cargo, said, "This marks our first SAF partnership in Asia, and we are delighted to support KWE to address Scope 3 emissions for their supply chain. We are committed to minimizing our environmental impact and contributing to the wider sustainability goals of the air cargo industry. This is a great example of how we can help our customers in their decarbonization efforts."

KWE will continue to actively exploit these opportunities and make a tangible contribution to decarbonization.

About IAG Cargo

IAG Cargo is the single business created following the merger of British Airways World Cargo and Iberia Cargo in April 2011. Following the integration of additional airlines into the?business, including Aer Lingus,?Vueling?and?LEVEL, IAG Cargo now covers a global network covering six continents. It has a combined workforce of more than 2,250 people. Its parent company, International Airlines group, is one of the world's largest airline groups with 582 aircraft at 31st December 2023.

For further information on IAG Cargo, please visit the IAG Cargo YouTube channel at??https://www.youtube.com/user/IAGCargo or alternatively, visit the IAG Cargo website at https://www.iagcargo.com.

Media Enquiries

For media enquiries, please contact the IAG Cargo press office: Nadia.Bedra@iagcargo.com.

Contact Information

Mike Trejo

(310) 627-3129

SOURCE: Kintetsu World Express

View the original press release on newswire.com.
The "Europe Online Grocery Market Report by Products, Purchaser Type, Delivery Type, Countries and Company Analysis 2024-2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Europe Online Grocery Market size was valued at US$ 151.88 Billion in 2023 and is expected to reach US$ 673.15 Billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 17.99% from 2024-2032.

When online grocery shopping becomes more common, the traditional retailers will need to win the customers with all the advantages a physical shop has. Retailers need to offer an experience to a customer to retain them. The stores can serve as a meeting point where food and drink can be bought and consumed. The online food and grocery market in Europe has been growing in the past years, as people are looking more and more to make use of the convenient ways of grocery shopping and save time.

According to GSMA Intelligence, 474 million individuals in Europe (86% of the population) subscribed to mobile services in 2021, and this figure is predicted to rise to 480 million by 2025. Sustainability is currently and unsurprisingly a high priority for European consumers. In fact, 78% of them said they would switch to a new product, brand, or retailer if their regular one didn't match up to their own ideas about sustainability.

Europe Online Grocery Survey

Online grocery ordering has become more popular in recent years due to the increasing availability of smartphones and internet connections, which allow for faster meal delivery. In 2021, 474 million individuals in Europe (86% of the population) subscribed to mobile services, and this number is expected to increase to 480 million by 2025.

In 2021, a survey found that Swedish and Dutch shoppers with 37% and 35%, respectively.

The UK has around 60 million e-commerce customers in 2023. Adobe Digital Insights data from June 2018, indicated that 52% of UK adult internet users shopped online for groceries.

There were 60.80 million internet users in France in Jan 2024, when internet penetration stood at 93.8 percent.

Approximately 95 percent of Belgians have access to the internet, and in 2022, approximately 80 percent of those internet users made online purchases.

In 2023, with a share of 83% Germany internet users was ranked 6th among the EU states. Shopping on the web was particularly wide-spread in the Netherlands (93%), Sweden (91%) and Denmark (90%).

The number of ecommerce users in Russia is expected to increase from 98.1 million in 2019 to 105.8 million by 2023.

There were 10.44 million internet users in Sweden at the start of 2024, when internet penetration stood at 98.1 percent.

United Kingdom Online Grocery Market

Grocery stores in the UK have moved swiftly to meet this demand, encouraged further by the emergence of a variety of disruptive start-ups in the sector offering everything from delivery services to specialized products. When it comes to online grocery shopping in the UK, the revolution is already well underway. In the UK, the number of consumers who can envision doing most or all of their grocery shopping online within the upcoming years is markedly higher than most of the European countries.

The UK's online grocery market is booming thanks to growing consumer demand for convenience. Improved technology and infrastructure, like better internet and mobile apps, make online shopping easier. Safety concerns during the pandemic sped up the shift to digital grocery shopping. Established retailers and dedicated online platforms are expanding, driving market growth. Tesco had set a target of offering Whoosh from 800 stores by the end of February 2023 but has exceeded that target by 200 stores.

Europe Online Grocery Company News

April 2024, Auchan Retail Poland partnership with Ocado Solutions has announced it is now live with the Ocado Smart Platform (OSP).

February 2024, Carrefour is the top store brand for online grocery and beverage shopping in France.

Feb 2024, Ahold Delhaize is pleased to share that five of its European brands, digital experience- and IT teams, have spearheaded the delivery of an app convergence project. This strategic initiative has resulted in a unified, modular app framework designed to streamline and enhance the shopping experience for customers at Albert in the Czech Republic; Delhaize in Belgium and Luxembourg; Maxi in Serbia; Mega Image in Romania; and Alfa Beta in Greece.

Oct 2023, Ahold Delhaize acquired 100% of Romanian grocery retailer Profi Rom Food SRL from MidEuropa.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 185 Forecast Period 2023 2032 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $151.88 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2032 $673.15 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 17.9% Regions Covered Europe

Europe Online Grocery Company Analysis: Overview, Recent Developments, Revenue Analysis

Tesco Plc

ICA Gruppen AB

Auchan SA

Colruyt Group

Carrefour

Costco Wholesale Corporation

Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize N.V.

Ocado Group plc

Products Market breakup in 6 viewpoints:

Vegetables and Fruits

Dairy Products

Staples and Cooking Essentials

Snacks

Meat Seafood

Others

Purchaser Type Market breakup in 2 viewpoints

Subscription Purchase

One Time Purchase

Delivery Type Market breakup in 2 viewpoints:

Click Collect

Home Delivery

Country: Market breakup of 12 Countries:

Belgium

France

UK

Germany

Spain

Italy

Netherland

Norway

Sweden

Switzerland

Russia

Turkey

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/8drzcc

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240621380567/en/

Contacts:

ResearchAndMarkets.com

Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com



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Accern, the leading natural language processing (NLP) company for developing industry solutions, is thrilled to announce the launch of its new dataset for the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election. This cutting-edge solution includes a user-friendly dashboard and real-time API feed, designed to provide unparalleled insights into presidential candidates, their campaigns, policy implications, polling data, and public appearances.

The newly unveiled dataset is powered by Accern's robust NLP models and provides access to over 1 billion public news websites and blogs in real-time. This extensive coverage allows users to track and analyze sentiments surrounding the election effortlessly, and also to look back historically to identify trends.

Kumesh Aroomoogan, Co-Founder and CEO of Accern, stated, "With the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election shaping up to be one of the most pivotal in recent history, our goal was to create a tool that empowers our clients to stay ahead of the curve. This dataset is not just about data collection; it's about transforming how our clients engage with real-time political events to make informed decisions."

Features of the 2024 Election Dataset:

Entity Tracking:

Donald Trump and Joe Biden

Event Tracking:

Presidential Election - Candidate Controversy

Presidential Election - Campaign Policy

Presidential Election - Presidential Polls

Presidential Election - Candidate Rallies & Appearances

Controversies & Campaign Policies Discussions:

War / Geopolitical Risk

Macroeconomics

Taxes

Healthcare

Education

Budget

Analytics:

Sentiment Trends per Candidate

Story Volume Trends per Candidate

Word Clouds Highlighting Popular Events by Candidate

Grouping Similar Articles into Stories

Dashboards with Trillabit Accerns Lens:

Average Candidate Sentiment

Sources, Articles, and Signal Volumes

Sentiment Trends per Candidate

Volume Trends per Candidate

Signal details including article Title, Event, Sentiment, and URL

Event Sentiment Heatmap by Candidate

Top Event Hits by Signal Volume over time by Candidate

Use Cases of the 2024 Election Dataset:

Internal AI Model Training: Companies can utilize this rich dataset to train proprietary AI models, enhancing their internal analytics and predictive capabilities.

Investment Strategies for Hedge Funds: Hedge funds and other financial institutions can leverage real-time sentiment and trend analysis from the dataset to make agile trading and investment decisions.

Media and Public Relations: Media organizations and PR firms can use the dashboard to keep a pulse on campaign narratives and public sentiment, tailoring their strategies to current events.

Academic Research: Researchers and academics can access a wealth of data for studies on political communication, electoral influence, and more, fostering a deeper understanding of electoral dynamics.

Accern's Presidential Election dataset is designed to be a comprehensive tool for anyone seeking to gain a competitive advantage during the election cycle. Whether it's for developing AI models, executing timely trades, or crafting informed narratives, this dataset serves as a critical resource for a diverse range of users.

The dataset is available now and can be accessed through Accern's Lens Store via an API feed or a Dashboard, powered by Trillabit. For more information, visit Accern's website.

Contact:

Mitesh Kapadia

Chief Customer Officer, Accern

mitesh.kapadia@accern.com

About Accern:

Accern is the leading NLP company empowering enterprises to develop industry-specific solutions. Offering a comprehensive NLP platform, models, data, and chat tailored for multiple industries, the company accelerates time-to-value for leading organizations across Financial Services, Government, and beyond. With a streamlined no-code workflow complemented by pre-built taxonomies, over 50,000 classification models, and access to billions of rows of public data, Accern is revolutionizing operational efficiency across the global workforce.

Accern's remarkable achievements have earned it a notable position in Gartner's 2023 Hype Cycle for Data Science, Machine Learning, and Emerging Technologies in Banking, as well as recognition by Fast Company as one of the Next Big Things in Tech. Trusted by elite data teams from global leaders like Capgemini, UniCredit, Interactive Brokers, Mizuho Bank, and Standard Bank, Accern facilitates the building and deployment of NLP solutions at scale.

Headquartered in New York, NY, Accern is honored to be recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 company. The company has raised $40M from esteemed institutional investors including Fusion Fund, Tribe Capital, Shasta Ventures, Allianz Strategic Ventures, Mighty Capital, and many others. For more information about Accern, please visit www.accern.com .

About Trillabit:

TrillaBit is an analytics and business intelligence (BI) software company founded in 2022 and headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The company provides a no-code, search-driven, low-cost analytics cloud platform tailored for B2B SaaS providers. TrillaBit's platform, Quick Intelligence, delivers fast, easy, and secure access to data, allowing product owners and business users to create dashboards and visualizations without developer assistance.

The platform is designed to handle complex security scenarios, including multi-tenant environments, and supports a wide range of data sources. TrillaBit emphasizes data monetization through visualization, making data easily accessible and actionable for its users. The platform is scalable and affordable, designed to meet the needs of both small and large enterprises.

Key features of TrillaBit include self-service BI, dynamic data discovery, and robust user and workspace management capabilities. The company was founded by experienced data architects and engineers, who aimed to address the shortcomings they encountered with existing data accessibility tools in large-scale enterprise environments. For more information about TrillaBit, please visit www.trillabit.com

SOURCE: Accern

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Direct Relief today announced the appointment of three new members to the organization's Board of Directors, each bringing extensive business and nonprofit expertise to support the organization's growing humanitarian efforts. Henrietta Holsman Fore, Heitham Hassoun, MD, and Perry Siatis will be joining Direct Relief's board at a time of significant growth for the organization's global humanitarian response efforts, which last fiscal year included provision of essential medications, a broad range of medical supplies, and financial support in response to requests from healthcare providers and other local organizations across 88 countries and 55 U.S. states and territories.

A leader in providing medical humanitarian aid to those in need, Direct Relief is ranked fifth on the Forbes List of Top 100 Charities and earned a renewed four-star rating from Charity Navigator in 2024, America's largest independent charity evaluator, for the 13th consecutive year.

"Direct Relief is excited to welcome these accomplished individuals to its board," said Mark Linehan, Direct Relief's Board Chair. "The expertise that each brings will strengthen and further the organization's mission of mobilizing essential medical and other resources across the U.S. and around the world."

The new directors are:

Henrietta Holsman Fore recently served as the seventh Executive Director of UNICEF. Prior to taking up this appointment, she served as both the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance in the U.S. State Department. From 2005 to 2007, Ms. Fore served as Under Secretary of State for Management, the Chief Operating Officer for the U.S. Department of State. Prior to that, she was the 37th Director of the United States Mint, a position she held from 2001 to 2005. Currently Ms. Fore serves as the Chair of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Holsman International, a manufacturing and investment company.

Heitham Hassoun, MD, serves as the Chief Executive of International at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, California. In this role, he leads the institution's international patient services as well as global strategy and operations. He joined Cedars-Sinai in 2018 as vice president and medical director of International. He is a highly regarded clinician and healthcare leader with a wealth of experience in global partnerships, international patient services, health system development and academic medicine. Dr. Hassoun shepherded Cedars-Sinai's first global affiliation as well as several academic and strategic collaborations in China, Ecuador, Indonesia, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates. He also has overseen the expansion of Cedars-Sinai's regional offices in multiple countries, including China, Mexico and Singapore. In addition to leading International, Dr. Hassoun is a professor of Surgery at Cedars-Sinai and maintains a clinical practice in vascular and endovascular surgery. Prior to Cedars-Sinai, Dr. Hassoun served as global medical director at Johns Hopkins Medicine and as an associate professor in the Department of Surgery at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Perry Siatis is Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary at AbbVie, a global biopharmaceutical company, where he is responsible for Legal and the Office of Ethics and Compliance. He is credited with negotiating highly successful global business deals, navigating complex government policy, and providing strategic legal guidance for multiple billion-dollar brands. Mr. Siatis began his career by practicing commercial and intellectual property (IP) litigation at DLA Piper LLP. He joined Abbott in 2005 as Counsel and progressed to Division Counsel, IP Litigation, and later became Divisional Vice President and Section Head, IP Strategy. In January 2013, Mr. Siatis joined AbbVie where he served as Vice President, Biologic Strategic Development and Legal Regulatory. He also served as the Senior Vice President of Legal Transactions and R&D/Alliance Management and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer. In 2020, he led the legal strategy for the acquisition of Allergan, one of the largest acquisitions in pharmaceutical history.

The Direct Relief Board of Directors may serve up to three three-year terms.

A full list of Direct Relief's Board and leadership is available here.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Direct Relief on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Direct Relief

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/direct-relief

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Direct Relief

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 21, 2024) - Thesis Gold Inc. (TSXV: TAU) (WKN: A3EP87) (OTCQX: THSGF) ("Thesis" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that today the Company has closed its oversubscribed brokered private placement offering. Clarus Securities Inc. acted as lead agent (the "Lead Agent") and sole bookrunner (the "Bookrunner"), on behalf of a syndicate of agents including Cormark Securities Inc., Ventum Financial Corp., H&P Advisors Ltd., and Raymond James Ltd. (collectively, the "Agents"), for an equity private placement raising gross proceeds of approximately $21 million (the "Offering").

Under the Offering, the Company issued (i) 8,849,500 premium flow-through common shares (the "Premium FT Shares") at a price of $1.13 per Premium FT Share; (ii) 6,702,500 flow-through common shares (the "FT Shares", and together with the Premium FT Shares, the "Flow-Through Shares") at a price of $0.90 per FT Share; and (iii) 6,556,318 non flow-through common shares (the "Common Shares") at a price of $0.75 per Common Share, for total aggregate gross proceeds of $20,949,423. All securities issued under the Offering are subject to a four-month hold period in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") and applicable securities laws. The Offering did not result in the creation of any new "control person" (as defined under applicable securities laws) of the Company. The securities issued under the Offering were issued pursuant to certain private placement exemptions under applicable securities laws. The private placement Offering is subject to the final acceptance by the TSXV.

In consideration of the services rendered by the Agents in connection with the Offering, the Company paid the Agents upon closing of the Offering (the "Closing") a cash commission of $1,256,965 equal to 6% of the gross proceeds from the Offering (the "Agents' Commission"). In addition, the Company also issued to the Agents on Closing, 1,326,499 non-transferable compensation options (the "Compensation Options") to acquire a number of Common Shares equal to 6% of the aggregate number of Premium FT Shares, FT Shares and Common Shares sold under the Offering, having an exercise price of $0.95 per Common Share for 18 months following Closing.

Certain directors of the Company participated in the Offering, which constitutes a "related party transaction" as defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") and TSXV Policy 5.9 The Company is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of the securities issued to related parties nor the consideration for such securities exceeds 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The Company did not file a material change report more than 21 days before closing the Offering as matters relating to the related parties' participation in the Offering were not settled until within such 21-day period and the Company wished to close the Offering on an expedited basis for sound business reasons.

The gross proceeds from the sale of Premium FT Shares and FT Shares will be used by the Company to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" that will qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures" as such terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Qualifying Expenditures") related to the Company's projects in Canada. All Qualifying Expenditures will be renounced in favour of the subscribers of the Flow-Through Shares effective December 31, 2024. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to fund exploration and development expenditures at the Company's Lawyers-Ranch Project in British Columbia and for general corporate and working capital purposes.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Thesis Gold Inc.

"Ewan Webster"

Ewan Webster Ph.D., P.Geo.

President, CEO, and Director

About Thesis Gold Inc.

Thesis Gold is unlocking the combined potential of the Lawyers-Ranch Gold-Silver Project in the Toodoggone mining district of north central British Columbia, Canada. A 2022 Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Lawyers project alone projected an open-pit mining operation yielding an average of 163,000 gold equivalent ounces annually over a 12-year span1. By integrating the Ranch Project, the Company aims to enhance the economics and bolster the overall project's potential. Central to this ambition was the expansive 2023 drill program, which continues to define a high-grade out-of-pit Mineral Resource at Lawyers and augment the near-surface high-grade deposits at Ranch. The project now boasts a combined Measured & Indicated Mineral Resource of 4.0 Moz and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 727 koz, at respective grades of 1.51 and 1.82 g/t AuEq2. The Company roadmap includes, new metallurgical work (now delivered), a robust 2024 exploration and drill program and a combined updated Preliminary Economic Assessment slated for Q3 2024. Through these strategic moves, Thesis Gold intends to elevate the Ranch-Lawyers Project to the forefront of global precious metals ventures.

1Please refer to the Company's Preliminary Economic Assessment entitled, "Preliminary Economic Assessment, Lawyers Gold-Silver Project" with an effective date of September 9, 2022 filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

2Details of the mineral resource estimate are available in the Company's new current technical report titled, "Technical Report and Updated Mineral Resource Estimate of the Lawyers-Ranch Gold-Silver Project, Stikine Terrane, British Columbia" with an effective date of May 1, 2024, prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101-Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), which was filed under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca on June 13, 2024.

The scientific and technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael Dufresne, M.Sc, P.Geol., P.Geo., a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101.

For further information or investor relations inquiries, please contact:

Dave Burwell

Vice President Corporate Development

Email: daveb@thesisgold.com

Tel: 403-410-7907

Toll Free: 1-888-221-0915

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Offering, the renunciation of Qualifying Expenditures in favour of subscribers for Flow-Through Shares and the future plans or prospects of the Company. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market, and economic risks, uncertainties, and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the Company's filings, including in the risk factors in the Company's most recent annual management's discussion and analysis, which are available on the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca . The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Not for distribution to U.S. news wire services or dissemination in the United States

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/213948

SOURCE: Thesis Gold Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 21, 2024) - Questcorp Mining Inc. (CSE: QQQ) (the "Company" or "Questcorp") is pleased to announce that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement offering (the "Offering") of 4,999,999 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.07 per Unit for gross proceeds of $350,000. Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company and one common share purchase warrant entitling the holder to acquire a further common share of the Company at a price of $0.10 per share for a period of two years.

The proceeds of the Offering will be used by the Company to advance an exploration program at its North Island Copper Property and for general working capital purposes. Finders' fees or commissions may be paid in connection with the completion of the Offering, and all securities issued in the Offering will be subject to a four-month-and-one-day statutory hold period.

About Questcorp Mining Inc.

Questcorp Mining Inc. is engaged in the business of the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in Canada. The Company holds an option to acquire an undivided 100% interest in and to mineral claims totaling 1,168.09 hectares comprising the North Island Copper Property, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, subject to a royalty obligation. The Company's secondary objective is to locate and develop economic precious and base metals properties of merit.

Contact Information

Questcorp Mining Corp.

Saf Dhillon, President & CEO

Email: saf@questcorpmining.ca

Telephone: (604) 484-3031

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements, which reflect the expectations of management regarding the intended use of proceeds from the Offering. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. Except as required by the securities disclosure laws and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/214013

SOURCE: Questcorp Mining Inc.
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Commerce Resources Corp. (TSXv:CCE)(FSE:D7H0) (the "Company" or "Commerce") is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement of 28,000,000 flow-through units (each, a "FT Unit") at a price of $0.18 per FT Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $5,040,000 (the "Offering"). Each FT Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "FT Share") and one transferable common share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional non-flow through common share (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.25 per Warrant Share for a period of 24 months from the closing date. The FT Units were issued pursuant to an arrangement structured by Peartree Securities Inc.

Pursuant to an engagement agreement (the "Term Sheet") between the Company and Churchill SIG Pty Ltd. ("Churchill"), the Company paid cash finder's fees to Churchill in the amount of approximately $162,890.00 (the "Cash Fee") and issued 3,231,945 finder's warrants (each, a "Finder's Warrant") to Churchill as consideration for their services in introducing certain investors who acquired securities in connection with the distribution. Each Finder's Warrant entitles Churchill to acquire one additional common share in the capital of the Company (a "Finder's Warrant Share") at a price of $0.20 per Finder's Warrant Share for a period of two (2) years from the date of issuance of the Finder's Warrants.

The FT Units, FT Shares, Warrants, Warrant Shares, Finder's Warrants and Finder's Warrant Shares are subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day after closing of the Offering.

The FT Shares and Warrants qualify as "flow-through shares" (within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act")). An amount equal to the gross proceeds from the issuance of the FT Units will be used to incur eligible resource exploration expenses that are "Canadian exploration expenses" that qualify as a "flow-through mining expenditure" (as defined in the Tax Act). Qualifying Expenditures in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issue of the FT Units will be incurred (or deemed to be incurred) by the Company on or before December 31, 2025 and will be renounced by the Company to the initial purchasers of the FT Units with an effective date no later than December 31, 2024. The gross proceeds from the sale of the FT Units will be used by the Company to pay for the upcoming drilling program for the niobium targets on the claims owned by the Company in Nunavik, Quebec.

As a director of the Company is also a director of Churchill, Churchill is a 'related party' of the Company within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). Churchill received the consideration noted above for its services in connection with the distribution and its participation in the Offering and such transactions constitute a 'related party transaction' (as defined in MI 61-101). These transactions are exempt from the valuation requirement of MI 61-101 by virtue of the exemption contained in section 5.5(b) as the Company's common shares are not listed on a specified market and from the minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 by virtue of the exemption contained in section 5.7(a) of MI 61-101 in that the fair market value of the consideration paid to the related party did not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

None of the securities sold in connection with the Offering have been or will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and no such securities may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Commerce Resources Corp.

Commerce Resources Corp. is a junior mineral resource company focused on the development of the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit located in Quebec, Canada. The Company is positioning to be one of the lowest cost rare earth producers globally, with a specific focus on being a long-term supplier of mixed rare earth carbonate and/or NdPr oxide to the global market. The Ashram Deposit is characterized by simple rare earth (monazite, bastnaesite, xenotime) and gangue (carbonates) mineralogy, a large tonnage resource at favourable grade, and has demonstrated the production of high-grade (>45% REO) mineral concentrates at high recovery (>70%) in line with active global producers. In addition to being one of the largest rare earth deposits globally, Ashram is also one of the largest fluorspar deposits globally and has the potential to be a long-term supplier to the met-spar and acid-spar markets.

For more information, please visit the corporate website at www.commerceresources.com or email info@commerceresources.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

COMMERCE RESOURCES CORP.

" Chris Grove "

Chris Grove

CEO, President and Director

Tel: 604.484.2700

Email: cgrove@commerceresources.com

Web: http://www.commerceresources.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the expectations of management regarding the use of proceeds of the Offering; the expiry of hold periods for securities distributed pursuant to the Offering; that the Ashram deposit has the potential to become one of the largest fluorspar deposits and a long-term supplier to the met-spar and acid-spar markets; that the Company is positioning to be a long-term supplier of mixed rare earth carbonate and /or NdPr oxide to the global market; and that the Company is positioning to be one of the lowest cost rare earth element producers globally. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements including that: the proceeds of the Offering may not be used as stated in this news release and those additional risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except where required by law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE: Commerce Resources Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Jaguar Mining Inc. ("Jaguar" or the "Company") (TSX:JAG) is pleased to announce the voting results from its Annual General Meeting of shareholders held on June 21, 2024.

Election of Directors

Each of the nominees for election as directors listed in the Company's management information circular dated May 15, 2024 were elected as directors of the Company for the ensuing year or until their successors are elected or appointed.

The voting results for the election of directors were as follows:

Nominee Votes For % For Votes Withheld % Withheld William J. Kennedy 39,408,974 78.1% 11,032,242 21.9% Benjamin Guenther 48,600,728 96.4% 1,840,488 3.6% Luis Ricardo Miraglia 48,547,715 96.2% 1,893,501 3.8% Thomas Weng 39,026,923 77.4% 11,414,293 22.6% Shastri Ramnath 48,530,950 96.2% 1,910,266 3.8% Mary-Lynn Oke 42,733,809 84.7% 7,707,407 15.3% Vernon Baker 48,630,182 96.4% 1,811,034 3.6%

Other Items

Appointment of Auditors

The voting results for the appointment of the auditors of the Company, as well as authorizing the directors to fix the auditors' remuneration and the terms of their engagement, were as follows:

Votes For % For Votes Withheld % Withheld 50,640,182 96.1% 2,075,093 3.9%

Voting results for all resolutions can also be found under Jaguar's profile at www.sedarplus.ca .

About Jaguar Mining Inc.

Jaguar Mining Inc. is a Canadian-listed junior gold mining, development, and exploration company operating in Brazil with three gold mining complexes and a large land package with significant upside exploration potential from mineral claims. The Company's principal operating assets are located in the Iron Quadrangle, a prolific greenstone belt in the state of Minas Gerais and include the MTL Mining Complex (Turmalina Mine and Plant) and Caete Mining Complex (Pilar and Roca Grande Mines, and Caete Plant). The Company also owns the Paciencia Mining Complex, which has been on care and maintenance since 2012. The Roca Grande Mine has been on temporary care and maintenance since April 2019. Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.jaguarmining.com.

For further information please contact:

Vernon Baker

Chief Executive Officer

Jaguar Mining Inc.

vernon.baker@jaguarmining.com

416-847-1854

Alfred Colas

Chief Financial Officer

Jaguar Mining Inc.

alfred.colas@jaguarmining.com

416-847-1854

SOURCE: Jaguar Mining Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 /

Written by Samantha Harnett, Chief Legal Officer, Logitech

Logitech Blog

It's June, that time of year when many of us don our rainbow flag t-shirts, stake out prime spots at local Pride parades, and select the perfect tracks for our Pride party playlists. It's also a time to remember that Pride is much more than parties and rainbows. It's a celebration of hard-won queer joy and visibility, and a protest against the forces still working to dehumanize the LGBTQ community and deny them fundamental human rights.

For me, as the proud mom of a trans daughter, Pride month is a reminder to take stock of my role as an ally and ask whether I am truly doing all I can to create a world where my daughter and other trans kids can grow up with the same rights that the rest of us take for granted. And one thing I know for sure is that to be an ally requires more than the occasional social media "like" and a rainbow flag. To be an ally is to take action; to vote, to volunteer and perhaps most importantly to speak up-especially when it's uncomfortable, when your voice wavers and your knees shake (mine sometimes still do).

This principle of active allyship holds true both for people and the companies where many of us work. In 2022, Logitech launched a partnership with GLAAD, the world's largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization. Logitech's partnership with GLAAD focuses on the intersection of LGBTQ representation and technology. Recently, I joined many of my Logitech colleagues and Blair Durkee, Associate Director of GLAAD Gaming as she shared the groundbreaking results of GLAAD's inaugural Gaming Report, which Logitech sponsored.

The groundbreaking report revealed that LGBTQ people are a large and enthusiastic part of the gaming community (1 in 5 active gamers is LGBTQ) and yet, are all but absent from gaming content (less than 2% of gaming content includes LGBTQ stories). While these stats don't surprise me - the mom of an LGBTQ gamer who joyfully shares each rare instance of LGBTQ and gender expansive content she comes across - the report sent shockwaves through the industry. By taking action, in partnership with GLAAD, we are mobilizing some of the largest players in gaming. It's not just the right thing to do, it's smart business to create content relevant to people who make up 20% (and quickly growing) of your audience.

Blazing the trail for representation in gaming is just one example of Logitech's active allyship. We spoke up to support marriage equality in Switzerland. In the US, we joined 300+ companies like Microsoft, Sony and General Motors to publicly oppose the onslaught of state laws undermining the rights of LGBTQ people, and in 2023 we joined a coalition of businesses condemning extremist threats against companies celebrating Pride. At Logitech, we actively live our value of equality by standing vocally and consistently with LGBTQ people everywhere.

As we celebrate Pride 2024, the human rights of the LGBTQ community are under attack. Over 65 countries criminalize LGBTQ relationships between consenting adults, and last year in the US over 500 laws targeting LGBTQ people were proposed and nearly 100 were signed into law. I'll be honest, I lose sleep over these numbers. I also know that action is far more effective than worry, and I am energized and proud to be part of a company that is an active ally 365 days a year. We have the power as people and as members of the corporate community to write the history that we want to be part of. Let's celebrate Pride 2024 with action.



View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Logitech on 3blmedia.com.



Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Logitech

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/logitech

Email: info@3blmedia.com



SOURCE: Logitech

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 21, 2024) - Heliostar Metals Ltd. (TSXV: HSTR) (OTCQX: HSTXF) (FSE: RGG1) ("Heliostar" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed the initial tranche of its non-brokered private placement offering (the "Offering") previously announced on June 5, 2024. Pursuant to the Offering, the Company issued an aggregate of 16,904,585 common shares (the "Shares") at a price of $0.265 per Share for gross proceeds of approximately $4,479,715.

The Company expects to close a final tranche of the Offering upon receipt of TSX Venture Exchange approval for the creation of a new insider of the Company. Assuming such approval is obtained, the final tranche is expected to close on or around June 28, 2024, for gross proceeds of approximately $499,790.

3,773,585 of the Shares were offered pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions and will not be subject a statutory hold period. 13,131,000 of the Shares were offered to purchasers pursuant to the accredited investor exemption under Section 2.3 of NI 45-106 and will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day.

Mr. Eric Sprott increased his ownership in the Company by participating in the Offering with a lead order through 2176432 Ontario Ltd., acquiring 7,550,000 Shares for gross proceeds of $2,000,750.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering for the commencement of drilling at Ana Paula and general working capital.

Closing of the Offering is subject to final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The Company also paid finder's fees in connection with a portion of the financing, consisting of a cash fee of $200,000. In addition, the Company issued the finders 554,718 non-transferable finder's warrants (the "Finder's Warrants"). Each Finder's Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Share at a price of $0.265 for a period of 12 months.

The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), and may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the "United States" or "U.S. persons" (as such terms are defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act and all applicable state securities laws or compliance with an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Statement of Qualified Person

Stewart Harris, P.Geo., a Qualified Person, as such term is defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release and has approved the disclosure herein.

About Heliostar Metals Ltd.

Heliostar is a junior mining company with a portfolio of high-grade gold projects in Mexico and Alaska.

The Company is focused on developing the 100% owned Ana Paula Project in Guerrero, Mexico. In addition, Heliostar is working with the Mexican government to permit the San Antonio Gold Project in Baja Sur, Mexico. The Company continues efforts to explore the Unga Gold Project in Alaska, United States of America.

Ana Paula hosts measured and indicated resources of 710,920 ounces of gold (320,204 measured and 390,716 indicated ounces) at 6.60 g/t gold and an inferred resource of 447,512 ounces of gold at 4.24 g/t gold. The asset is permitted for open-pit mining and contains significant existing infrastructure including a portal and a 412-metre-long decline.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Charles Funk

Chief Executive Officer

Heliostar Metals Limited

Email: charles.funk@heliostarmetals.com

Phone: +1 844-753-0045

Rob Grey

Investor Relations Manager

Heliostar Metals Limited

Email: rob.grey@heliostarmetals.com

Phone: +1 844-753-0045

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "plan", "forecast", "may", "would", "could", "schedule" and similar words or expressions, identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information relate to, among other things, the intended use of proceeds of the Offering and the expected closing date for a second tranche of the Offering.

Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information relating to the terms and completion of the Facility, any future mineral production, liquidity, and future exploration plans are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the receipt of necessary approvals, price of metals; no escalation in the severity of public health crises or ongoing military conflicts; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; and the Company's ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms.

These statements reflect the Company's respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mining activities in foreign jurisdictions; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; risks regarding exploration and mining activities; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of public health crises; the economic and financial implications of public health crises, ongoing military conflicts and general economic factors to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and the factors identified under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's public disclosure documents. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.

THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/214048

SOURCE: Heliostar Metals Ltd.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 21, 2024) - NuGen Medical Devices Inc. (TSXV: NGMD) (the "Company" or "NuGen") a leading developer of needle-free devices for the subcutaneous administration of therapeutics, is pleased to announce that Sol-MillenniumTM Medical Inc. ("Sol-M") has placed its initial purchase order of 3,832 InsuJetTM injectors plus consumables to fulfill the first pharmacy orders received by Sol-M from distributors in Canada and Switzerland. NuGen is expected to deliver the devices starting in August through September 2024.

The underlying pharmacy demand for Sol-M's order is primarily in Canada, where 3,282 units are destined for large pharmacies. The remaining 550 InsuJetTM devices plus consumables are destined to meet initial pharmacy demand in Switzerland.

This initial order will generate $801,000 in aggregate revenue and represent a gross margin of $448,000 for NuGen. The value of this order is more than double NuGen's reported revenue for the full fiscal year 2023 and is a great example of the growth acceleration we expect in our major markets.

About NuGen:

NuGen is a leading developer of needle-free devices to administer therapeutics subcutaneously. The Company is marketing and selling its next-generation InsuJet needle-free injection system designed to improve the lives of millions of diabetics.

InsuJet is approved for sale in 42 countries around the world.

About Sol-M:

Sol-M is one of the world's largest manufacturers of needles and syringes. It is vertically integrated with locations across the globe. Sol-Millennium's innovative technology helps positive patient outcomes, saves on medication, and enhances both clinician and patient experience. With an international sales team dedicated to delivering knowledge and outstanding customer service, Sol-Millennium's goal is to partner with those in healthcare, focusing on a healthier tomorrow.

For further information, please visit:

Websites: www.insujet.com, www.nugenmd.com and www.solm.com/insujet/

Instagram: @NuGenMD

Twitter: @NuGenMD

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nugenmd/

and www.linkedin.com/company/sol-millennium-medical-group/

For further information, please contact:

Tony Di Benedetto

Executive Chairman

(416) 791-9399

tony@nugenmd.com

Ian Heynen

CEO

(416) 560-1019

ian@nugenmd.com

To arrange a media interview with NuGen, please contact:

Morna Gorman

(416) 553-1732

morna@nugenmd.com

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

Neither TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein is given as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/213941

SOURCE: NuGen Medical Devices Inc.
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - June 21, 2024) - Criterium Energy Ltd. (TSXV: CEQ) ("Criterium" or the "Company") announces that Mr. Robin Auld has taken a personal leave of absence. In his absence, the Company has appointed Matthew Klukas as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Klukas has held the position of Chief Operating Officer of Criterium since its recapitalization transactions in the fall of 2022 and has been instrumental in the development and execution of the Company's strategy.

About Criterium Energy Ltd.

Criterium Energy Ltd. is an upstream energy company focused on the acquisition and sustainable development of assets in Southeast Asia that can deliver scalable growth and cash generation. The Company focuses on maximizing total shareholder return by executing on three strategic pillars, namely (1) successful and sustainable reputation, (2) innovation and technology arbitrage, and (3) operational and safety excellence.

For further information please visit our website (www.criteriumenergy.com) or contact:

Matthew Klukas

Interim President and Chief Executive Officer Criterium Energy Ltd.

Email: info@criteriumenergy.com

Andrew Spitzer

VP Corporate Development Criterium Energy Ltd.

Email: info@criteriumenergy.com

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN UNITED STATES.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/214058

SOURCE: Criterium Energy Ltd.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 21, 2024) - Safe Supply Streaming Co Ltd. (CSE: SPLY) (FSE: QM4) (OTCQB: SSPLF) ("Safe Supply" or "the Company") announces today that Frank Salvati has resigned from the Company's Board of Directors, effective immediately.

The Board is considering the Company's options with respect to the future composition of the Board and will issue a further news release if and when a replacement is identified.

Bill Panagiotakopoulos, CEO of Safe Supply, commented: "The Company would like to thank Frank for lending his time and expertise to executing Safe Supply's strategies. We continue to look to review investments in emerging tech and medical testing companies and press forward in addressing current healthcare challenges."

About Safe Supply Streaming Corp

Safe Supply Streaming Corp. (CSE: SPLY) is a publicly traded company focused on innovative healthcare solutions, including safe supply methodologies, medical testing, and AI-powered technology. The Company is dedicated to improving mental health and addiction treatment through cutting-edge advancements and strategic partnerships.

Investor Relations Contact:

Safe Supply Streaming Corp.

Email: info@safesupply.com

Phone: (123) 456-7890

Bill Panagiotakopoulos

Chief Executive Officer and Director

bill@safesupply.com

Website: www.safesupply.com

Forward-Looking Information and Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events, or developments that the Company believes, expects, or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/214023

SOURCE: Safe Supply Streaming Co Ltd.
The Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA) Background Screening Credentialing Council (BSCC) announced today that Accurate Background has successfully demonstrated compliance with the Background Screening Organization Accreditation Program, (BSOAP), and will now be formally recognized as BSCC-Accredited to the General Background Screening Standard.

"We are incredibly proud to receive the global BSCC accreditation from the PBSA. This recognition is a testament to our unwavering commitment to the highest standards in compliance, client service, and delivery," said Accurate CEO Tim Dowd. "Being one of only two providers with global scale and scope to achieve this accreditation underscores our dedication to providing trusted, reliable, and comprehensive screening solutions for our clients. At Accurate, every day, we live our vision to make every hire the start of a success story, and this accolade further solidifies that commitment and our global leadership in the industry."

Each year, employers, organizations, and governmental agencies around the globe request millions of reports on data subjects to assist with critical business decisions. Background screening reports, which contain personal information about data subjects, are often regulated through data privacy and other employment laws.

Since its inception, PBSA has maintained that there is a strong need for a compliant, cohesive industry standard and, therefore, created the BSOAP. Governed by a strict professional standard of specified requirements and measurements, the BSOAP is becoming a widely recognized seal of achievement that brings recognition to background screening organizations around the globe. This recognition will stand as the industry "seal," representing a background screening organization's commitment to excellence, accountability, high professional standards and continued institutional improvement.

The BSCC oversees the application process and is the governing accreditation body that validates the background screening organizations seeking accreditation meet or exceed a measurable

standard of competence. To become accredited, organizations must pass a thorough desk audit of their operational documentation, followed by a rigorous virtual audit, conducted by a third-party auditor. This audit includes a review of its policies and procedures as they relate to six critical areas: Information Security, Legal and Compliance, Client Education, Third Party Service Providers, Verification Services Standards, and Business Practices.

Any employment or background screening organization is eligible to apply for accreditation. A copy of the Standards, the policies and procedures, and measurements is available at www.thepbsa.org.

About PBSA

Founded in 2003 as a not-for-profit trade association, the Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA) represents the interests of more than 900 member companies around the world that offer tenant, employment and background screening. PBSA provides relevant programs and training aimed at empowering members to better serve clients and maintain standards of excellence in the background screening industry and presents a unified voice in the development of national, state and local regulations. For more information, visit www.thepbsa.org.

About Accurate Background

Our vision is to make every hire the start of a success story. As a trusted provider of employment background screening and workforce monitoring services, Accurate Background gives companies of all sizes the confidence to make smarter, unbiased hiring decisions at the speed of demand. Experience a new standard of support with a dedicated team, comprehensive technology and insight, and the most extensive coverage and search options to advance your business while keeping your brand and people safe. To learn more, visit accurate.com.

Media Contact:

Jeramy Gordon

Media@Accurate.com

SOURCE: Accurate Background LLC

View the original press release on accesswire.com
MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 / Quebec Precious Metals Corporation (TSXV:QPM)(FSE:YXEP)(OTCQB:CJCFF) ("QPM" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce the closing of the second and final tranche of a non-brokered private placement offering (the "Placement"), for an amount of

$261,560. Under the final tranche, the Corporation raised proceeds of $160,000 from the sale of 3,200,000 units ("Hard Units") of the Corporation at a price of $0.05 per Hard Unit and proceeds of $101,560 from the sale of 1,154,091 flow-through units ("FT Units") of the Corporation at a price of $0.088 per FT Unit. Each Hard Unit and each FT Unit issued is comprised of one common share and flow-through share respectively, and one transferable common share purchase warrant of the Corporation (each a "Warrant"). Each Warrant gives the holder thereof the right to purchase one common share during the 36 months following the closing date of the Private Placement at an exercise price of $0.10. In total, taking into consideration the first tranche of the Offering (see press release dated May 31, 2024), the Corporation has issued an aggregate of 6,900,000 Hard Units and an aggregate of 1,154,091 FT Units for aggregate proceeds of $446,560.

The gross proceeds from the issuance of the FT Units will be used to incur Canadian exploration expenses (as such term is defined by the Income Tax Act (Canada) and its provincial equivalent) which, once renounced, will qualify as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditure" (as such term is defined by the Income Tax Act (Canada)) (the "Qualifying Expenditures"), which will be incurred on or before December 31, 2025, and renounced to the subscribers with an effective date no later than December 31, 2024. For a Quebec resident subscriber who is an eligible individual under the Taxation Act (Quebec), the Qualifying Expenditures will also constitute (i) expenses for inclusion in the "exploration base relating to certain Quebec exploration expenses" within the meaning of section 726.4.10 of the Taxation Act (Quebec), and (ii) expenses for inclusion in the "exploration base relating to certain Quebec surface mining expenses or oil and gas exploration expenses" within the meaning of section 726.4.17.2 of the Taxation Act (Quebec).

The net proceeds from the sale of Units pursuant to the Placement will be used for general corporate and working capital purposes and for exploration expenditures on the Corporation's projects located in the Province of Quebec.

All securities are subject to a four-month "hold period" commencing on the closing date pursuant to National Instrument 45-102 - Resale of Securities and, in Quebec, Regulation 45-102 respecting Resale of Securities, and the certificates or DRS advices representing such securities bear a legend to that effect. The Placement remains subject to the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange").

Insiders of the Company have participated in the Placement and subscribed for an aggregate of

200,000 Hard Units for proceeds of $10,000 and 240,000 FT Units for proceeds of $21,120. Such participation in the Offering is a "related party transaction" as defined in Regulation 61-101 respecting Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("Regulation 61-101"). The Placement is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of Regulation 61-101 as neither the fair market value of the securities issued to insiders nor the consideration for such securities by insiders exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. Each related party that participated in the Placement disclosed their respective interest in the Placement, and the non-interested members of the board of directors considered such participation and recommended to the board of directors to resolve that the Corporation should authorize such participation in the Placement with each concerned related party.

In connection with the Placement, the Corporation paid in respect of certain subscriptions a finders' fee or commission of $7,000 in compliance with section 1.14 of Policy 4.1 as well as Policy 5.1 of the Exchange. In addition, the finders received 140,000 non-transferable compensation warrants, with each such warrant being exercisable at a price of $0.10 per common share of the Company for a period of 36 months from the closing of the Placement.

Correction to news release of May 31, 2024

In connection with the first tranche of the Placement closed on May 31, 2024, the Corporation announced that it had paid in respect of certain subscriptions a finders' fee or commission of $1,750. In addition, the Corporation announced that it had issued 35,000 non-transferable compensation warrants, with each such warrant being exercisable at a price of $0.10 per common share of the Company for a period of 36 months from the closing of the Placement. The Corporation wishes to correct the above disclosure and confirms that it paid in respect of certain subscriptions a finders' fee or commission of $5,600 and that the number of non-transferable compensation warrants issued on May 31, 2024 was 112,000.

Shares for Services Agreements

The Corporation announces that it has entered into shares for services agreements with three current directors of the Corporation, namely James Shannon, Genevieve Ayotte and Wanda Cutler, pursuant to which the Corporation shall issue common shares in the capital of the Corporation (each a "Common Share") in consideration for services, such as strategic guidance, financial oversight and governance, to be rendered by such directors (the "Shares for Services Arrangement"). The Board of Directors and Management of QPM believes that the Shares for Services Arrangement is in the best interests of QPM as it will help the Corporation preserve its cash position.

Pursuant to the Shares for Services Arrangement, the parties have agreed that ninety percent (90%) of the quarterly compensation payable to such directors, being an aggregate amount of $19,462.50 per quarter, shall be payable in Common Shares to be issued on a quarterly basis. The Common Shares to be issued pursuant to the Shares for Services Arrangement will be issued at a deemed price not lower than the closing price of Common Shares on the facilities of the Exchange on the day immediately preceding the issuance of such of the Common Shares on the Exchange on the day before a news release is issued announcing issuance of Common Shares pursuant to the Shares for Services Arrangement and will be subject to a four-month hold period pursuant to applicable securities regulations and the policies of the Exchange. The Shares for Services Arrangement will continue to be in effect until any party is no longer a Director, at which time the agreement will terminate.

The Shares for Services Arrangement is considered a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Shares for Services Arrangement will be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as QPM's securities are not listed on any stock exchange identified in Section 5.5(b) of MI 61-101 and neither the fair market value of the common shares to be issued in the Shares for Services Arrangement nor of the services provided in connection with the debts which are the subject of the Shares for Services Arrangement shall exceed 25% of QPM's market capitalization. Each director of QPM that is a party to the Shares for Services Arrangement disclosed their respective interest in the transactions, and the sole non-interested member of the board of directors considered the terms of the Shares for Services Arrangement and recommended to the board of directors to resolve that the Corporation should enter into the Shares for Services Arrangement with each concerned director as the Shares for Services Arrangement is in the best interests of QPM.

The Shares for Services Arrangement is subject to regulatory approval, including that of the Exchange.

About Quebec Precious Metals Corporation

QPM has a large land position in the highly prospective Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory, Quebec, near Newmont Corporation's Eleonore gold mine. The Corporation focuses on advancing its Sakami gold project and its newly discovered, drill-ready Ninaaskuwin lithium showing on the Elmer East project. In addition, the Corporation holds a 68% interest in the Kipawa rare earths project located near Temiscaming, Quebec.

For more information please contact:

Normand Champigny

Chief Executive Officer

Tel.: 514 979-4746

nchampigny@qpmcorp.ca

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Statements with respect to final approval of the Exchange and the Corporation's expected work programs in 2024 are forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of the Corporation. Although the Corporation believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based on are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Corporation can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, including but not limited to the risks that market conditions, commodity prices, or other circumstances can affect the Corporation, the ability of the Corporation to raise further financing, as well as other risks with respect to the Corporation described in the Corporation's public disclosure filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. The Corporation disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

SOURCE: Quebec Precious Metals Corporation

View the original press release on accesswire.com
HeyGen, a Los Angeles, CA-based AI video generation platform for businesses, raised $60M in Series A funding at a $500M post-money valuation.

The round was led by Benchmark with participation from Thrive Capital, BOND, Conviction, Bond Capital, and others. Victor Lazarte from Benchmark has joined the board of directors.

The company, which has raised a total of $74M, intends to use the funds to expand operations and its business reach.

Led by Joshua Xu, CEO, HeyGen is an AI video generation platform that enables businesses to create, localize, and personalize studio-quality videos without a camera, cast, or crew, by typing their script and generate videos for marketing, communications, sales, learning & development, and more. HeyGen also allows users to localize existing videos into 175 languages and regional dialects with AI voice and lip sync.

The company has:

Over 40,000 paying customers;

Grown to over $35M in ARR in over a year

been profitable since Q2 2023



Additionally, HeyGen has added three executives including:

Dave King, former CMO of Asana, joined as Chief Business Officer.

Rong Yan, former VP of Engineering at HubSpot, joined as new Chief Technology Officer.

Lavanya Poreddy, formerly of Match Group and Meta, joined as Head of Trust and Safety.

FinSMEs

21/06/2024
Sava, a London, UK-based health monitoring company providing a wearable biosensor platform, raised $8M in Seed funding.

The round was led by Balderton Capital and Exor Ventures.

The company intends to use the funds to expand its team, design its product line with manufacturing capability, and demonstrate the platforms clinical performance.

Founded by Renato Circi and Rafael Michali, Sava is a consumer and medical device company developing a wearable biosensor platform that can detect molecules just under the skin. Its novel microsensor technology monitors biomarkers in the body in a real-time way, starting with, but not limited to, glucose.

The startup recently gained approval from the UKs Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to go ahead with clinical trials on patients with diabetes, which will help Sava validate its breakthrough technology on a larger scale. SAVAs microsensor will offer pain-free, real-time insights for users, with an upcoming clinical study scheduled to start with investigators from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

FinSMEs

21/06/2024
Platforms like PhonePe and Cred, which are members of BBPS, will not be able to process credit card dues for large banks and other non-compliant lenders. Industry insiders fear that this could lead to a substantial decrease in transaction volumes read more

The payments industry has requested a 90-day extension to the deadline, awaiting a decision from the regulator, as highlighted by the CEO of a leading payment firm. The Payments Council of India has formally petitioned the RBI on this matter, though no decision has been announced yet. Image Credit: Reuters

Fintech startups like Cred, PhonePe, BillDesk, and Inbeam Avenues are preparing for significant disruptions due to a new regulation mandating that credit card bill payments must go through a centralised billing network starting from July 1.

However, major Indian card issuers such as HDFC Bank with 20 million credit cards, ICICI Bank with 17 million, and Axis Bank with 14 million have yet to activate the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS), as reported by the Economic Times.

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This situation means that platforms like PhonePe and Cred, which are members of BBPS, will not be able to process credit card dues for these large banks and other non-compliant lenders. Industry insiders fear that this could lead to a substantial decrease in transaction volumes, according to executives speaking with ET.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) mandated that all credit card payments transition to BBPS after June 30.

Speaking to Firstpost, Yashwant Lodha, Co-founder, PayNearby said, The recent directive by the RBI to process all credit card bill payments through the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) is a significant move towards enhancing the efficiency and security of the payment ecosystem.

BBPS, being a robust and well-integrated network with thousands of billers and the presence of all major banks, offers a seamless and standardised experience for customers. This initiative aims to lower integration costs for issuers, improve oversight of collection points, and establish a uniform grievance redressal mechanism, added Lodha.

Currently, only eight out of 34 banks authorised to issue credit cards have activated bill payments on this central bank-backed network. These include major players like SBI Card, BoB Card, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Federal Bank, and IndusInd Bank.

A few banks are yet to comply, likely due to their existing investments in direct connectivity with various channels, viewing BBPS as an additional integration layer, said Lodha, on what could have possibly caused the delay.

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The payments industry has requested a 90-day extension to the deadline, awaiting a decision from the regulator, as highlighted by the CEO of a leading payment firm. The Payments Council of India has formally petitioned the RBI on this matter, though no decision has been announced yet.

While it is challenging to forecast the next steps on extension, we are confident that the regulator will prioritise customer interests, as it has consistently done in the past, explained Lodha.

BBPS, driven by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) under RBI oversight, offers a wide array of payment categories, from utilities to insurance premiums, mutual funds, and now credit cards.

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Currently, credit card users can pay their bills through netbanking or auto-debit mandates, but third-party applications will be phased out unless an extension is granted.

NPCIs Bharat Billpay (NBBL) is in discussions with major banks to onboard them onto BBPS, a process that could take several months. Meanwhile, there is speculation that the regulator might extend the deadline to mitigate potential disruptions, with an official decision anticipated later this month.

Data from NBBL indicates that credit card payments currently constitute a small fraction (1.5%) of total BBPS transactions, dominated by utilities and toll payments via Fastag. Despite the significant growth in credit card issuance and usage in recent years, the volume of bills paid through BBPS remains relatively low, with vast potential for growth once major private banks fully adopt BBPS.
Cast: Annu Kapoor, Manoj Joshi, Ashwini Kalsekar, Abhimanyu Singh, Ankita Dwivedi

Director: Kamal Chandra

Language: Hindi

Its not easy to dissect, critique, or even dismiss a film like Hamare Baarah. When The Kashmir Files was called out for its propaganda, director Vivek Agnihotri put out multiple tweets and gave interviews saying he had footages and facts to support what he showed in 2022s sleeper hit. When The Kerala Story reflected similar commercial rage, the makers held a press conference to substantiate what they showed in the drama was indeed a dark reflection of the women in that state. Its now turn for this film to hold its ground. It almost feels like a trilogy of crucial stories trapped in shoddy and second-rate storytelling.

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Hamare Baarah begins with a sense of pretense and tackiness. A Muslim woman walks inside the Uttar Pradesh High Court with desperate and seedy lawyers willing to extend help with her copious dismissals. Few seconds later, its the opposite. Her plea is gazed at with disdain ala the 2012 satirical comedy Oh My God. Ashwini Kalsekar gets a drab introductory shot supposedly to establish her fierce aura in court. She listens to the plea thats muted by a background music for us. Exactly, its what usually happens in films like these- A cliffhanger. Director Kamal Chandra shoots way too many top angle shots and theres something discomforting and dated in the way the characters speak, emote, act and react. With the kind of explosive controversy the film has been mired in, it feels like the makers are content with their subject, execution and treatment notwithstanding (The Kerala Story may have company soon).

Regressive or real?

The makers are likely to abide by the ghastly visuals on display by citing real instances. Women are still victims of domestic abuse and skewed mindsets of monsters parading as men. Annu Kapoor, a fine actor on a better day than this, takes his Dream Girl gag with way too sternness here. If you call him out for playing a repulsive Muhammadan, the team of the film will jump in defence and throw some names at your disbelieved faces. If you call Kapoor out for attacking and not approaching the character with the kind of vein-popping hamminess, hell probably say this is how vile men behave, or not behave, take your pick. If you question the portrayal of women as holy cows with no trace of agency or spine, and shrieking and pining at their husbands feet, the writers may unleash a monologue on how this is still the grim reality of India nobody wants to see. Its disappointing to see a subject like this being caricaturized instead of being celebrated. The same narrative and defense happened during The Kerala Story. I like when history repeats itself, but let this instance be an exception.

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The Courtroom Cacophony

An over-the-top Manoj Joshi overcooks the bad lawyer syndrome. There are some critical conversations about population control and its necessary impact but all done with such deafening score and in-your-face preach that the narrative looks more rhetoric than rousing. Theres no room for subtlety in the stubborn world Hamare Baarah creates. Kasbekar gives this role her all and its good to see her in a film not directed by Rohit Shetty or Sriram Raghavan. But all her fiery monologues go in vain as the film is too content with what its saying and not bothered about how its being communicated or carried out. Even humanizing the demon towards the finale is an act that feels sudden. If good intentions were enough to make good films, every film would be a masterpiece.

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Rating: 2 (out of 5 stars)
While Yoga has become a global phenomenon, we have our Bollywood beauties, who always promote this desi workout in the most amazing way read more

Today marks the celebration of International Yoga Day and we cant thank enough our ancient culture and tradition for this invaluable gift. While Yoga has become a global phenomenon, we have our Bollywood beauties, who always promote this desi workout in the most amazing way.

Jacqueline Fernandez

Jacqueline is one of Bollywoods fittest actors, and she follows ancient Indian traditions to keep her mind and body healthy. The actress is fit and attractive, and she makes tough asanas look so effortless.

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Alia Bhatt

Alia has often spoken about her passion for yoga and has been an avid practitioner for over 5 years now.

Sara Ali Khan

Sara has had an extremely inspiring weight loss journey, with yoga contributing to her amazing transformation. She often speaks about the benefits of Yoga and is known to practice yoga regularly.

Deepika Padukone

Deepika is a pro when it comes to performing the asanas, from headstands to graceful backbends, she does it all beautifully.

Janhvi Kapoor

Janhvi Kapoor, regularly does Yoga as she continues to spread the importance of it on her social media platforms.

Anushka Sharma

Not only is Anushka a great actress but also amazing at yoga. Her social media post went viral when she shared an image of herself doing yoga during her 7th month of pregnancy!

Alaya F

Alaya F continues to post about yoga and its benefits as Yoga Diaries on her Instagram account. She is an inspiration to the younger generation, urging them to practice yoga for a healthy lifestyle.
Cast: Junaid Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat, Shalini Pandey, Sharvari

Director: Siddharth P Malhotra

Maharaj has been in the headlines for some time as fans eagerly await Aamir Khans son Junaid Khans screen debut. While the first look created humongous curiosity, the OTT giant Netflix didnt share any video glimpse before the release. The movie got into the legal tussle due to its controversial subject based on a true story. However, by fighting all the odds, Maharaj has finally released.

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Set in the pre-independence era between 1850-1900, Karsandas ( Junaid Khan) is in the Vaishnav community in Gujarat. Since his childhood, he is a curious person. Post his mothers demise, he is taken to Mumbai (Bombay) by his uncle at a very young age.

As he grows up, his progressive thoughts including widow remarriage challenge the orthodox society. Despite British rule, JJ Maharaj (Jaideep Ahlawat), who claims himself from Lord Krishnas legacy, is the king of the city. During Holi and other festivals, he selects a woman from the group for his Charan seva.

Kishori (Shalini Pandey), the fiance of Karsan, who has blind faith in orthodox religious practices in the name of spirituality, gets selected by JJ for the charan seva during the Holi festival.

When Karsan searches for Kishori, he comes to know that she is doing charan seva. After entering the Haveli, Karsan sees JJ making out with Kishori. Agitated and angry, he tells Kishori to come home but she refuses and says this tradition has been going on for ages and breaking it will take her to hell. Karsan tries to make her understand that its not about ancient tradition, its about deciding what is right and wrong for humanity. However, Kishori does not listen to her and Karsan breaks the engagement.

After some time through a shocking revelation, Kishori realises that Karsandas was right and JJ is just using this tradition to fulfil his lust. She feels ashamed of herself and takes her life by drowning in the well.

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Karsan receives the last letter of Kishori from her younger sister, where she is urging him to expose JJ, who has destroyed the lives of many women under the tradition of charan seva.

And now, we see a battle between JJ and Karsandas to end this evil practice. Will Karsan succeed in defeating JJ or get manipulated by societal pressure and beliefs? For that, you need to watch Maharaj on Netflix.

Director Siddharth P Malhotra deserves appreciation for narrating the story of the unsung hero Karsandas Mulji, whose progressive mindset and ideas have saved and made the lives of women better.

In the technical department, the camera work, and editing play crucial roles in transporting you in that era and making the storytelling crisp and sharp.

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Director Malhotra managed to deal with this sensitive topic with utmost sincerity and maturity.

Talking about the performances, Junaid Khan makes a confident debut and puts his best foot forward for the unconventional role. While Shalini Pandey and Sharvari Wagh have played the role, its Jaideep Ahlawat, who has stolen the show with his impeccable and powerful portrayal of JJ. The versatile actor makes a strong statement even with his minimalistic dialogues thanks to his ability to deliver supreme emotions with layers.

On the whole, Maharaj deserves a watch for bringing out the sensitive part of Indian history and the heroic mindset of Karsandas Mulji.

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Rating: 3 (out of 5 stars)

Maharaj is streaming on Netflix
Actress Isha Koppikar, who shared screen space with megastars like Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan in the Don franchise, Salaam-E-Ishq and Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya? has shared her horrible experiences of the casting couch since she was 18.

It was never about what you can do. Heroes and actors used to decide. You have heard about #MeToo, and if you had values, it was very difficult. Many actresses left the industry during my time. Either the girls gave in or they gave up. There are very few who are still in the industry and havent given up, and I am one of them, Isha said while talking in an interview with Siddharth Kannan.

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I was 18 when a secretary and an actor approached me for casting couch. They told me that to get work, you have to be friendly with actors. I am very friendly, but what does friendly mean? I am so friendly that Ekta Kapoor once told me to have some attitude, the actress recalled.

The Fiza actress also revealed that once an A-list actor of Bollywood asked her to meet him alone. When I was 23, one actor asked me to meet him alone, without my driver or anyone else, because there were rumours about him being involved with other actresses. He said, There are already controversies about me, and the staff spreads rumours. But I refused and told him that I couldnt come alone. He was an A-list actor from the Hindi film industry, said Isha.

The Khallas girl also recalled the times when secretaries of stars used to touch her inappropriately. They wouldnt just come and touch you inappropriately; they would squeeze your arm and say, Heroes ke sath bahut dosti karni padegi (You will have to be very friendly with the actors), in a sleazy way, said Isha.
The Delhi High Court has halted the release order of Arvind Kejriwal in a money-laundering probe related to the citys excise policy case. This came after the Enforcement Directorate challenged the bail order today. Heres why the Delhi CMs bail order was significant for him and his party read more

A day after Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal secured bail from a trial court in a money laundering probe related to the Delhi excise policy case, the Delhi High Court has halted the order until it hears the case. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) moved the High Court today (21 June), challenging the bail order granted by a lower court on Thursday.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on 21 March and has been in judicial custody in Tihar jail since 1 April. Kejriwal had walked out of jail last month on interim bail to campaign for the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.

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As Kejriwals bail has been paused, why does the leader need it now more than ever? Lets take a closer look.

Arvind Kejriwals bail order paused

It is uncertain when Kejriwal will walk out of jail after the Delhi High Court said the trial courts bail order will not be acted upon till the HC hears the case.

Kejriwal was granted regular bail days after the same Delhi court, but a different judge rejected his interim bail plea on 5 June.

Special Judge Niyay Bindu, who granted the bail on Thursday, also declined the EDs request that the order be kept in abeyance for 48 hours.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the ED, claimed the agency had direct evidence to prove that funds used for AAPs Goa Assembly election campaign were moved via hawala channels, reported Indian Express.

Opposing the Delhi CMs bail plea, he argued that Kejriwal was not cooperating with the central probe agency by sharing his phone passwords.

You (Kejriwal) may not have committed the offence but you are responsible for the affairs of the AAP and if AAP is guilty of an offence, then you are guilty of the offence as well. This is as per Section 70 PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act), Raju reportedly said.

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Countering these allegations, Kejriwals lawyer questioned the timing of the Delhi CMs arrest just before the Lok Sabha polls and the EDs quality of evidence.

The entire case against Kejriwal is based on statements of those people who were arrested. These persons were promised bail and became approvers. Allurements of non-arrest and non-prosecution were given to them, Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhri, appearing for the Delhi CM, was quoted as saying by Indian Express.

The court dismissed the central probe agencys plea and granted bail to Kejriwal. The reasons behind the vacation judges decision for the bail were to be known on Friday.

AAP and BJP reaction

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The AAP welcomed the Delhi lower courts order on Thursday as the victory of truth.

This is a huge victory of justice and truth. The people of the country are very happy. Party workers are also very happy. It has been proven that this was all a conspiracy of the BJP, senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh told PTI.

                    



                 BJP   



-@SanjayAzadSln pic.twitter.com/Q1Lf4T5UAp  AAP (@AamAadmiParty) June 20, 2024

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Speaking to reporters after visiting Kejriwals home on Thursday, Singh said the AAP has repeatedly said the entire case is false, a part of the BJPs conspiracy.

After this, peoples faith in the justice system will increase further. I just met the CMs family. Everyone, his parents, wife and children are very happy with the courts decision, the AAP Rajya Sabha MP added.

The bail order has come as a surprise for the BJP, whose leaders went into a huddle on Thursday evening and were eagerly waiting for the EDs next move in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy case, according to Indian Express.

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No one had expected this, including the senior leadership. Everyone is waiting to see what the ED does next; if it will be able to get a stay on Kejriwals release from a higher court and if the agency will be able to secure his conviction, a BJP source told the newspaper.

Taking a dig at the AAP, BJP leader Manjinder Sirsa said that getting bail does not mean there is no evidence against Kejriwal. Evidence was there, and this is why the same court sent you to jail and then gave you bail, so you cant even say the court is biased," he said to PTI.

Why Kejriwals bail matters

If and when Kejriwal walks out of jail, it will be a big boost for the AAP. Delhi is slated for Assembly elections early next year.

The AAPs dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections needs an introspection. The party, which contested in alliance with the Congress in Delhi, failed to win a single Lok Sabha seat, with the BJP sweeping all seven constituencies in the National Capital.

There was no tie-up with the Congress in Punjab where the AAP could manage to win only three Lok Sabha seats.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal got interim bail last month to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections. PTI File Photo

Speaking to Indian Express, an AAP insider said, While discussions have taken place on the Lok Sabha loss, it is now important to focus on the next challenge, which is the Assembly elections, expected in the first half of February. This is not the first time that the AAP lost the Lok Sabha elections and won the Assembly polls by a landslide. It happened in 2014 and 2019. But ensuring a strong third term is the top priority for the party right now.

While Kejriwals release will bolster the partys rank and file ahead of the crucial 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, the chief minister has his task cut out. Delhi is battling a severe water crisis and the Opposition BJP has increased pressure on the AAP government over the recurring issue.

The saffron party is expected to target the Delhi CM over corruption allegations.

There are several pending matters as well that need Kejriwals attention.

With Assembly elections in mind, a senior AAP leader told Indian Express that the Delhi CM is likely to first focus on the implementation of the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Rashi scheme under which eligible women in the city will get an aid of Rs 1,000 per month.

After Kejriwal is out on bail, the Mayoral elections, which have been in limbo since April, are expected to finally take place.

As per the Indian Express report, a meeting of the National Capital Civil Services Authority (NCCSA), the body that oversees the transfer, posting, and vigilance-related issues of bureaucrats working with the Delhi government, could also be in the cards once Kejriwal is released from jail.

An AAP insider told the newspaper that the Delhi CMs release could give impetus to a significant bureaucratic reshuffle in the National Capital.

While the BJP is likely to corner Kejriwal over his out on bail status, the AAP may use the bail order to stress the Delhi CMs innocence.

It is quite tough to secure bail under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Section 45 (1) of this law states that no accused should be granted bail unless the Court is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that he is not guilty of such offence and that he is not likely to commit any offence while on bail.

Kejriwals bail has strengthened the AAPs claim that the money laundering case is fake.

If the High Court cancels the bail order, it would be a big setback for the Delhi CM and his party.

With inputs from agencies
The recent interception of the Philippine resupply airdrop is a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for control in the South China Sea. China has a dispute with every single country in this geopolitically volatile area. These territorial contestations betray the thinly veiled hegemonic ambitions that the Asian giant has in the region read more

On 17 June, Chinese Coast Guard boats intercepted a resupply airdrop destined for Philippine Marines stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre, a grounded World War II-era vessel maintained as an outpost by the Philippines since 1999. The Chinese vessels came within five meters of the Philippine outpost, seizing and discarding the airdropped supplies, which included food and medicine.

Chinese personnel were armed with knives and axes. They reportedly used these weapons to tear open the packages, throwing the contents into the sea in an attempt to prevent the resupply. The Philippines has condemned these actions as aggressive and unprovoked interference.

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Although the level of aggression this time around shook the region, this belligerence in the South China Sea is nothing new. After all, China has a dispute with every single country in this geopolitically volatile area. These territorial contestations betray the thinly-veiled hegemonic ambitions that the Asian giant has in the region.

We explain each major dispute and how they collectively fuel Beijings quest for dominance.

The nine dash line: Blueprint of Chinese ambition

Chinas claims in the SCS are primarily encapsulated in the nine dash line, a demarcation first introduced on Chinese maps in early 1950s. This line extends over 2,000 kilometers from the Chinese mainland, encompassing almost the entire SCS, and overlaps with the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of several Southeast Asian countries.

Map of South China Sea showing Chinas Nine Dash Line Claim (in green). Image courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Despite the 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague rejecting the nine dash line, Beijing continues to assert its claims aggressively.

China-Philippines territorial disputes

Scarborough Shoal: This small but strategically vital area has been a significant flashpoint between China and the Philippines. Control over the Scarborough Shoal, which Beijing annexed in 2012, provides a crucial vantage point for monitoring and potentially controlling maritime traffic in the region. The recent interception of the Philippine resupply airdrop shows Chinas aggressive posture in asserting its claims.

Spratly Islands: The Spratly archipelago, composed of numerous small islands, reefs, and atolls, is another critical area of contention. These islands are strategically located near important shipping lanes and are believed to be rich in natural resources. By establishing a military presence on these islands, China can project power across the South China Sea and deter rival claimants from challenging its hegemony.

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An aerial view shows the Philippine-occupied Thitu Island, locally known as Pag-asa, in the contested Spratly Islands, South China Sea, 9 March, 2023. File images/Reuters

China-Vietnam territorial disputes

The Paracel and Spratly islands group is surrounded by rich fishing grounds  and potentially by gas and oil deposits. They are at the heart of China and Vietnams territorial disputes.

Paracel Islands: Located closer to Vietnam, the Paracel Islands have been under Chinese control since a brief military conflict in 1974. These islands are strategically important for their proximity to major sea routes and potential underwater resources. Control over the Paracels enables China to extend its military reach and secure its southern maritime borders.

Spratly Islands: Parts of the Spratly Islands are claimed by both China and Vietnam. Hanoi claims that its sovereignty over the islands has been established since at least the 17th century in accordance with international law. Beijing, on the other hand, has said that it was the first to iscover, name, develop and manage these islands and archipelagos.

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The ongoing militarisation of these islands by China, including the construction of runways and other military infrastructure, serves to strengthen Beijings strategic depth in the region. This militarisation is a clear indicator of Chinas intention of power projection in the South China Sea.

Chinas disputes with Malaysia and Brunei

Malaysia: Chinas claims overlap with Malaysias EEZ, particularly around the Luconia Shoals, an area rich in natural gas and oil. By asserting control over these areas, China aims to secure vital energy resources and exert influence over Malaysias maritime activities. This control is crucial for Beijings long-term energy security and economic growth.

Brunei: Although Bruneis territorial claims are smaller in comparison, they are equally significant due to their resource-rich EEZ. Chinas claims in this area are part of a broader strategy to dominate the resource base of the SCS, ensuring that Beijing can leverage these assets for economic and strategic purposes.

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China and Indonesias claims over Natuna Islands

Chinas claims in the southern reaches of the SCS overlap with Indonesias EEZ around the Natuna Islands. This area is known for its substantial hydrocarbon reserves. By pressing its claims here, China seeks to expand its influence and secure additional energy resources, which are critical for sustaining its economic growth and military modernisation.

Indonesian Airforces F-16 Jet Fighter flies over Indonesian navy warship during an operation in Natuna, near the South China Sea, Indonesia, January 10, 2020. File image/Reuters

Taiwan: A critical node in the South China Sea

While Taiwan is not a formal claimant in the disputes in the region, its status is inherently linked to Beijings ambitions. China views Taiwan as a breakaway province that must be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary. Control over the South China Sea, particularly the areas around Taiwan, would provide China with a significant strategic advantage, enhancing its ability to project power and potentially isolate Taiwan from international support.

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Against Chinas hegemonic ambitions

Chinas actions in the South China Sea have not gone unchallenged. Countries in the region have increasingly pushed back through diplomatic, legal, and military means. The recent incident with the Philippine airdrop highlights the ongoing tensions and the resolve of smaller nations to resist Beijings coercive tactics.

Maritime security enhancements: Increased maritime security cooperation among Southeast Asian nations is a critical countermeasure. Joint patrols, military exercises, and intelligence sharing enhance regional capabilities and present a unified front against Chinese aggression.

International support: The involvement of external powers, notably the United States and Japan, plays a crucial role in balancing Chinas ambitions. The presence of US and Japanese naval forces in the region serves as a deterrent to unchecked Chinese expansionism and provides support to regional states in defending their sovereignty.

Public information campaigns: Countries like Vietnam and the Philippines have effectively used public information campaigns to highlight Chinese aggression. By bringing international attention to Beijings tactics, these nations garner support and pressure China to adhere to international norms.

In a nutshell

Chinas territorial disputes in the South China Sea are not isolated incidents but part of a broader strategy to establish regional dominance. Control over the region allows Beijing to secure critical sea lanes, access vast natural resources, and enhance its military reach. Each territorial claim, from the Scarborough Shoal to the Natuna Islands, fits into Chinas grand design of regional hegemony.

The recent interception of the Philippine resupply airdrop is a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for control in the South China Sea. As Southeast Asian nations and their allies continue to resist, it remains a crucial arena for understanding and countering Chinas hegemonic ambitions. Through a combination of diplomatic, legal, and military strategies, the region can work towards a stable and rules-based order that respects the sovereignty of all nations involved.

With inputs from agencies
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead International Yoga Day celebrations in Srinagar. Bangladeshs Sheikh is on a two-day state visit to India. Congress will hold nationwide protests over controversies surrounding the NEET-UG exams read more

The last day of the work week is set to be a busy one.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will perform Yoga at the banks of Srinagars Dal Lake to mark the occasion of 10th International Yoga Day.

Bangladeshs Sheikh Hasina will arrive in India for a two-day state visit.

Hasina, will hold wide-ranging talks with Modi and also meet President Droupadi Murmu and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar.

Meanwhile, Congress will hold nationwide protests over this years NEET-UG process amidst allegations of question paper leaks, inflated marks, and arbitrary allowance of grace marks.

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Delhi Minister Atishi will also begin an indefinite fast starting today amid a water crisis in Delhi.

The UN Security Council will also hold a review meeting on the current state of affairs in Afghanistan after a report pointed out prevalent crimes against women in the Taliban-ruled country.

Lets take a look at todays big news:

PM Modis Yoga Day celebration

To mark the occasion of 10th International Yoga Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is currently on a visit to Srinagar will perform Yoga on the banks of picturesque Dal Lake.

More than 7,000 participants will join Modi in performing Yoga, officials had earlier said.

The participants have been trained over the past three days in the Yoga Asanas to be performed by the prime minister, the officials added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed yoga at the UN headquarters last year in New York. File image/PTI

He is also expected to address a gathering and take part in the CYP Yoga session afterward.

This is Modis first visit to Srinagar since taking charge for his third term.

Modi on Friday inaugurated 84 development projects worth Rs 1,500 crore, distributed 2,000 appointment letters, and interacted with youth.

Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina on India visit

Bangladeshs Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to arrive in India today for a two-day state visit.

This comes after an invite from Prime Minister Narendra Modi,

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During her stay, Prime Minister Hasina will focus on enhancing bilateral relations, holding key meetings with Prime Minister Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, and Vice President Jagadeep Dhankhar.

Significantly, this visit marks Hasinas first bilateral state visit since the formation of the new NDA government after the 18th Lok Sabha elections.

NEET Row: Congress to hold nationwide protests

The Congress party plans to hold a nationwide agitation in response to the recent controversies surrounding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) examinations.

Members of the All India Students Association (AISA) protest against the NTA, at Shastri Bhawan, in New Delhi, on 19 June. PTI

On Wednesday, the partys general secretary K C Venugopal stated in a letter, Against this massive corruption and irregularities in the NEET Examination and the desperate inaction and silence of the NDA Government, all Pradesh Congress Committees are requested to hold massive protests at state headquarters on Friday, 21 June 2024, demanding justice for the students. The letter also instructed senior leaders and party members to join the protests.

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For several weeks, protests have erupted across India, with thousands of students taking to the streets over this years NEET-UG process amidst allegations of question paper leaks, inflated marks, and arbitrary allowance of grace marks.

Atishi to begin indefinite fast

Amid the ongoing water crisis in the National Capital, Delhi water minister Atishi will commence an indefinite strike starting today.

On Wednesday, Atishi warned, I have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the water crisis requesting him to resolve the issue. If the crisis is not solved within two days, I will go on an indefinite strike from June 21.

The AAP minister has repeatedly accused the BJP-ruled Haryana government of failing to release Delhis allocated share of water from the Yamuna river via the Munak canal, despite appeals on humanitarian grounds.

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UNSC to review Afghanistan situation

The United Nations Security Council is set to convene today to address the situation in Afghanistan following a report by Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur, which underscores the widespread and severe violence against women under Taliban rule.

Bennetts report states that the systematic oppression of women and girls by the Taliban could amount to crimes against humanity. He also called on the UN to refrain from recognising the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.

Since the Taliban regained control in August 2021, they have rapidly rolled back womens rights, enforcing stricter dress codes, prohibiting higher education for girls, barring women from the workforce, and limiting their freedom of movement in public spaces.

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On this Day: California Records unveil first vinyl LPs

In 1948, Columbia Records introduced the first vinyl LP (long-playing record) in New York, a groundbreaking development in music history.

Before the advent of the LP, records were limited to about three to five minutes of music per side. The 12-inch LP, playing at 33 1/3 RPM, extended the playtime to 20-30 minutes per side. This innovation revolutionised the industry, offering music enthusiasts a more immersive and satisfying listening experience.

Developed by Peter Goldmark and William S. Bachman, LPs quickly became the industry standard, maintaining their dominance until the rise of the compact disc (CD) years later.

With inputs from agencies
More than 1,000 pilgrims have died during the Hajj this week. About half of the pilgrims who started the journey last Friday, are unregistered. Overcrowding and extreme heat are the major reasons behind the swelling number of fatalities read more

Muslim pilgrims circumambulate the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Monday, 17 June 2024. AP

Nearly two million Muslims completed the Hajj pilgrimage this week.

However, extreme heat has been fatal for thousands who started the journey last Friday, to the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

According to the AFP, about 1,000 pilgrims died during the Hajj this year. About half of them are unregistered.

Thousands are also being treated for heatstroke as temperatures mounted to 49 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit) in Mecca.

Overcrowding at Mecca

To perform the Hajj, pilgrims must obtain official permission from Saudi Arabia to visit the nation. Saudi Arabia implements an annual quota system because there are more Muslims who wish to immigrate than there is room for.

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In the past, overcrowding and overheating have been major issues, according to the Indian Express.

Of the 1,000, over half of the pilgrims who died were unregistered.

Approximately 658 Egyptian pilgrims died, an Arab ambassador has said.

Muslim pilgrims gather at the top of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, 15 June 2024. AP

630 of them were pilgrims who had not registered.

About 90 of the dead, according to AFP sources, were Indian.

Dead pilgrims have also been reported from Senegal, Tunisia, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, and Senegal.

Numerous pilgrims are said to be missing as well; images of the missing and calls for information are all over Facebook and other social media platforms.

On Wednesday at the medical complex in Mecca, an Egyptian man broke down when he heard his mother was among the dead. He cried for some time before grabbing his cellphone and calling their travel agent, according to The Associated Press.

He left her to die, he shouted, referring to the agent. The crowd tried to calm him down.

Security appeared tight at the complex, with an official reading out names of the dead and the nationalities, which included people from Algeria, Egypt and India.

Those who said they were kin of the dead were allowed inside to identify the deceased.

Extreme heat making things worse

The number of dead this year suggests something caused the fatalities to swell.

Already, several countries have said some of their pilgrims died because of the heat that swept across the holy sites at Mecca, including Jordan and Tunisia, as per the report.

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Khalid Bashir Bazaz, an Indian pilgrim, speaking near the Grand Mosque on Wednesday, he saw a lot of people collapsing to the ground unconscious during this years Hajj.

Muslim pilgrims use umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun as they arrive to cast stones at pillars in the symbolic stoning of the devil, the last rite of the annual hajj, in Mina, near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, 18 June 2024. AP

Temperatures on Tuesday reached 47 degrees Celsius (117 degrees Fahrenheit) in Mecca and the sacred sites in and around the city, according to the Saudi National Centre for Meteorology.

Some people fainted while trying to perform the symbolic stoning of the devil.

Many Egyptians said they lost track of their loved ones in the heat and the crowds.

Heat-related deaths during the haj have been recorded since the 1400s. Pilgrims vulnerability stems from exertion, exposure, and older age, as well as a simple lack of acclimatisation to the heat. According to Saudi officials last year, more than 2,000 people suffered from heat stress during that haj.

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Climate change could make the risk even greater.

A 2021 study in the journal Environmental Research Letters found that if global temperatures rise by 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit above pre-industrial levels, heat stroke risk for Hajj pilgrims will increase by five times, as per Reuters.

Muslim pilgrims arrive to cast stones at pillars in the symbolic stoning of the devil, the last rite of the annual hajj, in Mina, near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, 16 June 2024. AP

A 2019 study by experts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that even if the world succeeds in mitigating the worst effects of climate change, the Hajj would be held in temperatures exceeding an extreme danger threshold from 2047 to 2052, and from 2079 to 2086.

Climate scientist Fahad Saeed says these deaths hint at future risks for millions of Hajj pilgrims.

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We need to prepare, we need to adapt, and we need to introduce the adaptation option as much as we can. While realising that it will compromise the centuries-old ritual, still we need to save people. But at the same time, we must take climate action to stop global warming at 1.5 degrees centigrade. At anything beyond that, we are putting those pilgrims at the risk of death.

Saudi Arabia has spent billions of dollars on crowd control and safety measures for those attending the annual five-day pilgrimage, but the sheer number of participants makes ensuring their safety difficult.

In 2016, Saudi Arabia implemented a heat strategy with shaded areas, water points at every 500 metres, and improved healthcare.

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Deaths during the Hajj

The Hajjs timing is based on the lunar year, moving back 10 days each year.

While the Hajj is now moving towards winter, it will occur in the peak of summer in Saudi Arabia by the 2040s.

More than 1.83 million Muslims performed the Hajj in 2024, including more than 1.6 million from 22 countries, and around 222,000 Saudi citizens and residents, according to the Saudi Hajj authorities.

Deaths are not uncommon at the Hajj.

There have also been stampedes and epidemics through the pilgrimages history.

A 2015 stampede in Mina during the Hajj killed over 2,400 pilgrims, the deadliest incident to ever strike the pilgrimage, according to an AP count.

Saudi Arabia has never acknowledged the full toll of the stampede.

A separate crane collapse at Meccas Grand Mosque, which preceded the Mina disaster that same year, killed 111 people.

The second-deadliest incident at Hajj was a 1990 stampede that killed 1,426 people.

Each year, the Hajj draws hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from low-income nations, many of whom have had little, if any, pre-Hajj health care, according to an article in the April edition of the Journal of Infection and Public Health.

Communicable illnesses can spread among the gathered masses, many of whom save their entire lives for the pilgrimage and can be elderly with pre-existing health conditions, it said.

Still, pilgrims remain determined  for some, its a once-in-a-lifetime affair.

Haj is the fifth pillar of Islam and it is a mandatory duty for every capable person. So you have to exert efforts and get tired. Haj is a difficult task, so you have to exert efforts and perform the rituals even in the conditions of heat and crowding. You use an umbrella, drink water and pour it onto your body to prevent dehydration. And the water sprinklers in the walkways help.

With inputs from agencies
While the Iron Dome has proven to be a robust defence system, it is not invincible. It can tackle only a certain number of incoming munitions, and is vulnerable to high-precision munitions, too. Hezbollahs vast arsenal and its record of breaching the Iron Dome in the past has give Israel and its allies a reason to worry read more

Israel has been trading fire with Iran-backed Hezbollah for the past eight months now. However, in the past two weeks, the intensity has gone up considerably. On June 12, a day after Israeli strikes in Lebanon killed a Hezbollah commander, the group unleashed a volley of missiles aimed at northern Israel.

On Tuesday, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz warned on Tuesday that a decision on an all-out war with Hezbollah was coming soon. Military experts and political analysts are now concerned about whether Israels renowned Iron Dome defense system can withstand the sheer volume and sophistication of Hezbollahs missile arsenal.

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What are the shortcomings of the Iron Dome? Can Hezbollah exploit these to overwhelm the defence system? We explain.

But first..

What is the Iron Dome? How does it work?

The Iron Dome is an advanced air defence system developed by Israel to intercept and destroy short-range rockets, artillery shells, and mortars. It was officially put into service in 2011 and has since been a cornerstone of Israels defensive strategy. The system uses radar to detect incoming threats and launches interceptor missiles to neutralise them before they can cause harm.

The Iron Dome comprises three main components: detection and tracking radar, battle management and weapon control system (BMC), and the missile-firing unit. When the radar detects an incoming projectile, it calculates its trajectory and determines whether it poses a threat to populated areas or critical infrastructure. If it does, the BMC directs one or more interceptor missiles to intercept the threat mid-air, minimising the risk of damage on the ground.

Israels Iron Dome anti-missile system is seen intercepting rockets launched from the Gaza Strip | Source: Reuters

The systems impressive success rate, reported to be around 90 per cent, has made it a model for other nations seeking to bolster their own defensive capabilities. Its ability to protect against a range of threats has provided a sense of security to Israels civilian population, particularly in regions frequently targeted by rocket fire.

What are the shortcomings of the Iron Dome?

Despite its praised effectiveness, the Iron Dome is not infallible.

Capacity limitation: One critical vulnerability lies in its capacity limitations. While the system is capable of handling a barrage of incoming threats, there is a threshold beyond which it can become saturated. This is what happened in October last year when Hamas barrage f around 5,000 munitions hit Israel.

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High-precision munitions: CNN quoted an Israeli official as saying that it would be more likely that some Iron Dome batteries are overpowered if Hezbollah conducted a large-scale attack principally using precision guided weapons, which could be challenging for the system to defend against.

Weak interception ability: The most challenging aspect of intercepting an artillery rocket is the need to destroy the warhead. If the interceptor hits the back end of the rocket, it only damages the empty rocket motor tube, which has no effect on the havoc that will be wreaked by the warhead. The only successful intercept is one that destroys the artillery rocket warhead, as this prevents it from reaching the ground and exploding.

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A 2014 analysis in the MIT Technology Review by Theodore Postol found that the actual interception rate might be as low as 5 per cent, primarily because the interceptor missiles often fail to destroy the warheads of incoming rockets. Instead, they may only divert the rockets paths, leaving a significant margin for error and potential damage.

Can Hezbollah exploit these shortcomings?

Hezbollah is likely to be able to overwhelm the Iron Dome batteries in Israel. CNN quoted three US officials as saying that they have serious concerns that in the event of a full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group could overwhelm Israels air defenses in the north.

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The numbers advantage: Hezbollah could easily follow a strategy similar to that used by Hamas in the 7 October attack. The group has a missile stockpile, estimated at 150,000 weapons. Using a bunch of them at once could presents a formidable challenge. In a full-scale conflict, a coordinated, massive salvo could potentially overwhelm the Iron Dome, allowing some missiles to penetrate and cause damage.

The distance factor: Back in April, when Iran, in its retaliatory attack for Israels strike on its embassy in Syria, sent missiles flying towards Israel, the Iron Dome was able to stop the attack quickly. Thats because the distance between Iran and Israel is quite significant. The time it takes for a launched missile from Iran to reach Israel is ample for readying defences. That is unlikely to be the case if Hezbollah attacks from its base in Lebanon, close to the Israeli border.

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Past breach: Hezbollah recently claimed that it has struck and destroyed an Iron Dome battery located at an army base in Ramot Naftali, northern Israel. This alleged attack, if confirmed, would mark the first documented strike on such an anti-aircraft system. Hezbollah released a video showing aerial photos of the base and footage purportedly captured by the missile used in the strike. This incident highlights the groups increasing capability to target and potentially overwhelm Israels missile defense systems.

Use of cheap drones: Drones have proven effective against the Iron Dome system due to their ability to operate at high speeds and low altitudes, often flying undetected. Hezbollah has used commercial-grade drones to gather intelligence and drop explosives, according to The Washington Post. These drones can maneuver around natural obstacles like mountains and canyons, exploiting blind spots in Israels detection systems. The Israeli military may mistake them for birds or its own drones, and even when identified, their erratic flight paths make them difficult to intercept. This capability allows Hezbollah to conduct reconnaissance and could help in strike missions against the Iron Dome, too.

In a nutshell

While the Iron Dome has proven to be a robust defense system, it is not invincible. Hezbollahs extensive and technologically sophisticated arsenal, combined with strategic and tactical planning, presents a formidable challenge. Whether Hezbollah can completely overpower the Iron Dome remains uncertain, but the potential for significant breaches in Israels defense grid in a large-scale conflict is a real and concerning possibility. The international community watches closely as tensions escalate, knowing that the implications of such a conflict could extend far beyond the immediate region.

With inputs from agencies
The international community is celebrating the 10th Yoga Day on 21 June, with enthusiasts displaying their skills and performing various asanas. As the world marks the event, lets remember the gurus who helped popularise modern yoga beyond India read more

Sadhus display their yoga skills on International Day of Yoga at the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati, Assam on 21 June 2024. AP

The world is marking the 10th International Day of Yoga today (21 June). Yoga enthusiasts are performing stretches, bends and breathing exercises to celebrate the event. Beyond India, this ancient discipline has been adopted by the global community, recognising yogas role in developing physical fitness as well as benefiting mental health.

Like every year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the Yoga Day celebrations on Friday. He performed the various yoga asanas in Srinagar to commemorate the event. The Indian leader has played a big role in making yoga Indias soft power. In December 2014, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed a resolution commemorating 21 June as International Yoga Day, months after PM Modis proposal. The international community has been observing Yoga Day since 2015.

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As the world marks the 10th International Day of Yoga, the contribution of famous gurus in popularising modern yoga has to be remembered.

We take a look at these leaders and their role in spreading the ancient Indian discipline in graphics:
PM Narendra Modi is performing asanas to mark the 10th International Day of Yoga in Srinagar. Last year, he was in New York for the Yoga Day celebrations at the United Nations headquarters. A vocal advocate of the ancient discipline, the Indian leaders choice of venues to mark the event packs a message of their own read more

June 21 marks the International Day of Yoga as the world celebrates and embraces the power of this spiritual discipline with roots in ancient India. Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is observing this significant day in Jammu and Kashmir.

Modi, who is on a two-day trip to the Union Territory, is leading the 10th International Day of Yoga (IDY) event at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) on the banks of the Dal Lake in Srinagar. The PMs J&K visit and his decision to celebrate the International Day of Yoga there matter, signalling a political message.

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From Srinagar to the United Nations headquarters, lets decode the messaging behind Modis choice of venues to mark International Yoga Day over the years.

PM Modis Yoga day in Srinagar

Modi is joined by thousands of people from different walks of life in Srinagar for the 10th International Day of Yoga celebrations.

The PM also addressed the gathering on the occasion.

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads Yoga session at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar on J&K, on International Day of Yoga. pic.twitter.com/N34howYGzy  ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2024

The International Day of Yoga has been celebrated across the globe since 21 June 2015. PM Modi has been a vocal advocate of yoga and his efforts to ensure the popularity of the ancient Indian practice extends much beyond Indias borders bore fruits when the UN General Assembly (UNGA) passed a resolution in December 2014 commemorating 21 June as International Yoga Day, recognising that yoga provides a holistic approach to health and well-being

This came less than three months after Modi proposed the idea to observe 21 June as the International Yoga Day. This particular day was chosen for the event as it marks the Summer Solstice in the northern hemisphere, making it the longest day of the year.

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Since 2015, PM Modi has led the Yoga Day celebrations across Indian cities. After celebrating the event in the United States last year, he is again performing yoga asanas with much fervour in an Indian city.

This years theme for the International Day of Yoga is Yoga for Self and Society, emphasising the ancient practices role in encouraging the well-being of the individual as well as society.

The venue of Srinagar to commemorate the 10th International Day of Yoga carries political significance. Modis visit to J&K has come just weeks after he took oath as Indias prime minister for a third straight term. This visit is happening in the run-up to the J&K Assembly elections slated for later this year.

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Modi in J&K leading the yoga event after the successful conclusion of Lok Sabha elections in the UT, which saw record voter turnout, is an exercise in optics for the global community, as per an NDTV report.

While the BJP won the two Lok Sabha seats in Jammu, the saffron party did not field any candidate on the three seats of the Kashmir Valley. The PMs visit has pumped up the morale of BJP workers who were disappointed by the party not nominating candidates from Kashmir.

(The) PMs visit to Srinagar, though strictly meant for Yoga day, is encouraging for us ahead of the Assembly elections. The visit will be encouraging for us and will boost morale of our workers and leaders, a BJP leader told ETV Bharat.

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Modis trip is also meant to convey the governments confidence and its long-term plans of peace and prosperity in J&K, according to NDTV.

World Yoga Day in New York

It was a grand event showcasing PM Modis success in making yoga Indias soft power.

He led the World Yoga Day celebrations at the United Nations headquarters in New York last June, with several dignitaries attending the event such as the then UN General Assembly president Csaba Korosi, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Deputy Secretary General of the UN Amina J Mohammed.

The 2023 World Yoga Day event created a Guinness World record for most nationalities  135  in a Yoga session.

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Speaking at the event, PM Modi had urged people to use the power of yoga to not only stay healthy but also kind to ourselves and others. When we do yoga, we feel physically fit, mentally calm, and emotionally content. But it is not just about exercising on a mat. Yoga is a way of life, it is a holistic approach to health and well-being, he said at the time.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi (C) waves following a yoga event at the United Nation headquarters in New York on June 21, 2023. AFP File Photo

Yoga has been one of Indias more popular exports, particularly embraced by Western nations. According to the International Yoga Federation, there were about 300 million (30 crore) yoga practitioners around the world in 2021.

As Modi led the ninth International Day of Yoga celebrations in the US with gusto, inspiring millions to adopt the healthy practice in their daily lives, Indians across the globe were filled with pride.

This was the first time that the Indian leader marked the Yoga Day celebrations on a global stage.

Previous venues

In 2022, PM Modi headed the International Day of Yoga celebrations at the Mysore Palace grounds in Karnataka. The event was attended by over 15,000 people as they observed Yoga For Humanity, recognising the role of the ancient Indian discipline in alleviating the sufferings during peak COVID-19.

The commemoration of yoga was shadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. The theme for the seventh International Yoga Day was Yoga for wellness and the PM had termed the meditative practice a ray of hope and a source of strength amidst the coronavirus pandemic in a televised address.

In 2020, the theme for the global event was Yoga at Home and Yoga with Family, focusing on performing yoga at home with ones family.

PM Modi did stretches, bends and breathing exercises at a mass yoga event at Prabhat Tara ground in Jharkhands Ranchi in 2019. The Lok Sabha speaker and other MPs had marked the International Yoga Day at the Old Parliament that year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, center, performs yoga along with thousands of Indians in Lucknow, India, 21 June 2017. AP File Photo

In 2018, PM Modi and 50,000 volunteers celebrated the fourth International Yoga Day in Dehradun. A year back, the Indian leader was in Lucknow performing various yoga asanas along with Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath.

PM Modi led the second International Day of Yoga celebrations at Capitol Complex in Chandigarh in 2016, with over 30,000 people, including 100 differently-abled children, marking their presence at the event.

The first UN International Day of Yoga was observed by Modi in Delhi as thousands joined him in a mass yoga programme at Rajpath (now Kartavya Path).
About 30 villagers, who were employed to track and monitor cheetahs 24x7 at Madhya Pradeshs Kuno National Park, have gone on strike. They refuse to kill domestic animals like goats to feed the cats and say they are paid very little for their exhausting work read more

In this file image, Cheetahs at Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur district. Namibian cheetah Shaurya died at the national park on Tuesday, state Forest Minister Nagar Singh Chouhan said, making it the 10th such fatality since the reintroduction of African big cats in India in 2022. PTI

Cheetahs are now walking free in India for the first time in many years.

However, concerns have been voiced about the cheetahs living conditions in the Sheopur district of Madhya Pradeshs Kuno National Park.

This time, however, the issue is distinct, even if the park has encountered numerous difficulties related to ecology and adaptation.

With serious claims against the administration, cheetah trackers employed in Kuno have gone on strike.

Heres why.

Cheetah-trackers on strike

About 30 villagers who were employed to track and monitor cheetahs 24x7 have gone on strike.

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Each tracker is given a particular cheetah to watch its behaviour inside the enclosure to enable more thorough surveillance and possibly develop a degree of trust.

This entails keeping an eye on food schedules, seeing to the cheetahs welfare, and offering recreational activities as needed.

The Times of India report quoted its source as saying that although developing close connections with wild animals is difficult, intimacy can help cheetahs adjust and gather information.

The trackers stopped working and came to Kuno four days ago. They went straight to the Chief Ministers office instead of raising the issue with park or wildlife headquarters first, an officer told the newspaper.

New-born cheetah cubs at Kuno National Park, in Sheopur district. PTI

That being said, the unexpected strike has hampered the cheetah monitoring initiative.

Currently, most cheetahs are within the secure enclosures and our existing staff can manage them. The villagers absence wont significantly impact cheetah tracking and monitoring, the officer said.

Refusal of animal slaughter

Soft-release bomas (SRBs) are unique enclosures where big cats are kept.

Most cheetah-trackers refuse to kill animals for their food.

According to NDTV, these locals were chosen primarily from the Gurjar and Yadav communities due to their familiarity with the terrain of the area.

But killing goats and buffaloes for the cheetahs is against their religious beliefs.

According to a TOI report, they have even turned down training provided by the park administration.

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Were on strike and havent heard back from park officials. Our demands are clear: we cant participate in the animal preparation for cheetah feeding, a tracker said.

Low pay

Another reason for the strike is extremely low pay.

Trackers operate in shifts and are paid approximately Rs 9,000 per month.

The forest is dangerous, according to the cheetah trackers, and they have to spend three to four days a week tracking the big cats.

The protesters claim that their religious beliefs are not being taken into consideration and that nothing is being done in the name of security.

A villager named Rajveer Gurjar claimed the government ought to assist them more, as per NDTV.

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Sitaram Yadav, another villager, said they are paid very little for their exhausting work.

According to TOI, insurance coverage and exemption from slaughtering duties are two important reasons that their representatives brought up when they visited the office of Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav to request action.

Although they were unable to see the CM, they were able to present their case to his OSD, SK Tiwari, who then followed up with concerned staff to get more information.

The cheetah trackers are looking for full insurance to be covered for any risks related to their employment in the park, such as runs-ins with wild animals or accidents received while tracking.

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Challenges for cheetah trackers

The cheetah trackers have faced numerous challenges when it comes to doing their job.

Veera, the female cheetah, had ventured outside the park boundaries once. She reached Baghwala village, which is close to the Gwalior-Morena boundary. The trackers and officers had been up at all hours trying to recover it, as per TOI.

Earlier, there were reports of Pawan, another cheetah, venturing outside the parks boundaries. He was recently recovered from the Karoli region of Rajasthan.

In one of the incidents, the trackers sent to find a cheetah that had left the park were attacked by residents of Burakheda town in Morena.

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Given their attire and midnight presence, the villagers assumed the team was a group of cattle thieves and attacked them with guns firing. There were no reported significant injuries.

Kuno National Park in tough spot

The strike exposes a possible dispute between efforts to conserve wildlife and traditional values.

In their haste to find alternatives, Kuno Park officials are thinking about outsourcing the tendering process for the purchase of pre-cut meat from authorised vendors.

The first batch of cheetahs were relocated from Namibia in September 2022 and released into enclosures by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The park is currently home to 26 cheetahs, half of them cubs.

Cheetah Gamini earlier gave birth to five cubs, bringing the total number of Indian-born cheetahs to 13.

With inputs from agencies
British prime minister Rishi Sunak said he was incredibly angry upon learning that three members of his Conservative Party were under investigation for allegedly betting on an early UK general election announcement. With just days left ahead of voting, the Tories are facing yet another challenge read more

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks Conservative Party is facing a major scandal just weeks before the 4 July national election. The controversy centres on allegations that several Conservative politicians and associated individuals placed bets on the election date using insider information.

This has led to investigations by the UKs Gambling Commission and law enforcement, casting a shadow over the partys already troubled campaign.

Sunak expressed his anger and frustration over the allegations, stating, I was incredibly angry, incredibly angry, to learn of these allegations. Its a really serious matter. Its right that theyre being investigated properly by the relevant law enforcement authorities, including a criminal investigation by the police.

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And I want to be crystal clear that if anyone has broken the rules, they should face the full force of the law. Thats what those investigations are there to do. And I hope that they do their work as quickly and as thoroughly as possible, he added during a BBC Question Time leaders special televised debate on Thursday.

How did the scandal break?

The scandal first broke when it was reported that a second Conservative candidate, Laura Saunders, was under investigation by the Gambling Commission. Saunders, running for the Bristol North West seat, is married to Tony Lee, the Conservative Partys director of campaigning. Lee has since taken a leave of absence from his position.

The UKs Gambling Commission contacted the Conservative Party about a small number of individuals connected to the investigation. The party declined to comment further pending the investigations outcome.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during a BBC Question Time Leaders Special in York, England, 20 June, 2024. Reuters

Saunders attorney, Nama Zarroug, in a statement, said, It is inappropriate to conduct any investigation of this kind via the media, and doing so risks jeopardiaing the work of the Gambling Commission and the integrity of its investigation. Saunders is considering legal action against the BBC and other publishers for infringement of privacy rights, reported AP.

Sunaks parliamentary private secretary, acknowledged placing a 100 bet on the election date before it was announced. He stated, I put a flutter on the general election some weeks ago. This has resulted in some routine inquiries and I confirm I will fully cooperate with these.

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One of Sunaks police bodyguards from the Royalty and Specialist Protection Command was also arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The officer allegedly placed bets on the election date before it was announced.

What could be the political repercussions?

The scandal has intensified the difficulties facing Sunaks campaign. Polls indicate that the Conservative Party trails the Labour Party by a significant margin, with Labour potentially poised for a landslide victory.

UK opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer speaks to the media next to UK Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves as he visits Morrisons supermarket during a Labour general election campaign event in Wiltshire, UK, 19 June, 2024. Reuters

UK finance minister Jeremy Hunt remarked to UKs Times, Its going to be very tough. I dont think any of us would pretend that is the most likely outcome. We can certainly do a lot better than the polls are suggesting and we are working very hard to do so.

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A UK YouGov poll suggested that Labour, led by Keir Starmer, could win with a 200-seat parliamentary majority, the largest for any party in a century. Another poll indicated that Sunak might become the first British prime minister to lose his own seat in a national election.

What are the legal and ethical implications?

Misconduct in public office is a criminal offence, and the Gambling Commission continues to lead the investigation into the alleged betting offences. The London Metropolitan Police force, after being contacted by the Gambling Commission, referred the matter to its Directorate of Professional Standards and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

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Also Read: What do the various manifestos of the UK parties say? How do they compare ahead of the UK general election?

Daisy Cooper, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, called for a full inquiry: Rishi Sunak must call a Cabinet Office inquiry into what is shaping up to be yet another scandal at the heart of government. An inquiry is needed to understand who knew what and when.

What is the impact on the Tories campaign?

The scandal has overshadowed the Conservative campaign, which has already faced several setbacks, including Sunaks controversial early announcement of the election date and his premature departure from D-Day commemorations in France.

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The Conservative Partys efforts to narrow the polling gap with Labour have so far been unsuccessful, further complicated by the gambling allegations.

Also Read: Who is Keir Starmer, the man standing between Rishi Sunak and 10 Downing Street?

The gambling scandal has added to the challenges facing the ruling arty, which is struggling to regain public trust and support ahead of the crucial 4 July election. The outcome of the investigations and the election itself will significantly impact the partys future and Sunaks leadership.

With inputs from agencies
Former United States president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, in a podcast released on Thursday, suggested that foreign students graduating from US colleges should be granted green cards to remain in the country. This proposal contrasts with his typically hardline stance on immigration read more

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event, in Racine, Wisconsin, 18 June, 2024. Reuters

Former United States president and the Republican partys presidential candidate Donald Trump recently made a surprising proposal to offer automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from US colleges. This idea represents a significant departure from his traditionally hardline stance on immigration.

Trump expressed the aforementioned desire in an interview on Thursday (20 June). He made these remarks during the All-In podcast, hosted by venture capitalists and tech investors.

What I want to do and what I will do is you graduate from a college, I think you should get automatically as part of your diploma a green card to be able to stay in this country. And that includes junior colleges too, anybody graduates from a college. You go there for two years or four years, Trump stated, stating his intention to address this on his first day in office.

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Trumps suggestion marks a dramatic shift from his typical anti-immigrant rhetoric. Offering green cards to potentially hundreds of thousands of foreign graduates could significantly expand Americas immigration system.

Traditionally, Trump has linked illegal immigration to public safety risks and job losses for American citizens. He has previously promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in US history if re-elected.

Why is Trumps statement contradictory in nature?

Trump and his allies have often distinguished between legal and illegal immigration. However, during his presidency, Trump also proposed restrictions on legal immigration, including family-based visas and the visa lottery program.

He issued the Buy American and Hire American executive order in 2017, aiming to award business visas only to the highest-paid or most skilled applicants. Trump has criticised the H1-B visa program, used by companies to hire foreign workers temporarily, calling it very bad and accusing tech companies of using it to hire cheaper foreign labour.

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is seen on a screen as he speaks during a campaign event, in Racine, Wisconsin, on 18 June, 2024. Reuters

During his presidency, Trumps administration took several steps to curb the use of skilled foreign workers. One notable move was the attempt to force tens of thousands of foreign students to leave the US if their schools transitioned to online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic. This order was later rescinded following legal challenges and opposition from educational institutions.

Trump has consistently emphasised his hardline stance on immigration throughout his campaign speeches, often using inflammatory rhetoric. He has compared migrants to fictional characters like Hannibal Lecter and made unsubstantiated claims about migrants bringing contagious diseases.

Also Read | Trump 2.0: How it may impact India-US relations

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In 2019, Trump proposed a merit-based immigration system prioritising highly skilled migrants. However, he also signed an executive order in 2020 that froze new visas for foreign workers.

Despite his new proposal, Trump blamed the COVID-19 pandemic for his inability to implement these measures while in office. He recounted stories of graduates from top colleges who wanted to stay in the US but were forced to return to their native countries, such as India and China, where they became successful entrepreneurs.

You need a pool of people to work for your company. And they have to be smart people. Not everybody can be less than smart. You need brilliant people, Trump said.

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Trumps campaign clarifies

Following the podcast, Trump campaign press secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a statement clarifying that only after the most aggressive vetting process in US history would the most skilled graduates be allowed to stay.

Republican presidential candidate former US President Donald Trump enters at a campaign event 18 June, 2024, in Racine, Wisconsin. AP

President Trump has outlined the most aggressive vetting process in US history, to exclude all communists, radical Islamists, Hamas supporters, America haters, and public charges. He believes, only after such vetting has taken place, we ought to keep the most skilled graduates who can make significant contributions to America, Leavitt said.

What has the reaction been?

While some view it as a progressive step towards retaining talent in the US, others remain sceptical given Trumps history of restrictive immigration policies. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy director at the American Immigration Council, told Reuters, I almost have to laugh because his administration adopted multiple policies aiming to restrict student visas and make it harder for people to stay in the country after graduating.

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David Sacks and Chamath Palihapitiya, venture capitalists and hosts of the All-In podcast, have shown support for Trumps proposal. They hosted a fundraiser for Trump in San Francisco earlier this month, raising approximately $12 million for his campaign.

Vivek Ramaswamy speaks before Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at a campaign event 18 June, 2024, in Racine, Wisconsin. AP

If implemented, Trumps proposal could significantly increase the number of green cards issued. The US State Department estimated that the US hosted roughly one million international students in the academic year ending in 2022, with the majority from China and India. Granting green cards to these graduates could vastly expand the pathway to US citizenship.

Also Read: Will Trump abolish income tax? Heres what US economy may look like if he wins

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Now, campaigning for another term in the White House, Trump continues to focus on anti-immigrant rhetoric, which contrasts sharply with this latest proposal of the former US president.

With inputs from agencies
A recent E. coli outbreak in the UK has been linked to contaminated lettuce, commonly used in sandwiches, wraps, and burgers, causing widespread concern among consumers and health authorities alike. After a spike in cases all over the country, dozens of sandwich types sold in supermarkets have been recalled by companies over fear of spreading the infection read more

Over 250 E. coli infections have been detected in UK, with authorities linking the source to lettuce. Reuters

A widespread E. coli outbreak has sickened more than 250 people in the United Kingdom (UK) in recent weeks, said the countrys Health Security Agency, further warning that the number of cases is likely to rise.

Further, at least 86 people have been admitted to hospitals after they experienced E. coli symptoms which is thought to be caused by some pre-packed sandwiches containing lettuce.

As authorities scramble to contain the outbreak and prevent further cases, three suppliers in the UK have in recent days recalled 60 types of pre-packed sandwiches, wraps, and salads over infection fears.

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Heres a comprehensive look at what we know so far.

What is E. coli?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, E. coli (Escherichia coli) is a group of bacteria that normally resides in the gut (gastrointestinal/GI tract) of healthy people and animals. The strains that inhabit the intestine are generally harmless and even aid in digestion. However, under certain conditions, some strains of E. coli can cause illness.

One such strain is Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), a bacterium known for causing severe foodborne diseases, including food poisoning. In the current outbreak, all recorded cases involve STEC, with young children, elderly people, and those with underlying conditions in their immune systems at the most risk.

Typically, the UK sees about 1,500 cases of STEC annually, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

How does E.coli spread?

According to Healthline, primary sources of STEC outbreaks are raw or undercooked ground meat products, raw milk, and fecal contamination of fruits and vegetables.

It is often spread by close contact with an infected person, as well as direct contact with an infected animal or its environment but can also be transmitted by eating contaminated food.

This time, the officials are confident that lettuce leaves used widely in sandwiches, wraps, and burgers are likely to be the source of rising E.coli infections.

Which companies have recalled products?

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On 14 June, Greencore, the sandwich manufacturer that supplies UK supermarkets, recalled its products because of an E.coli risk.

The products included sandwiches, wraps, and salads sold at Sainsburys, Asda, Aldi, Morrisons, Co-op, and retail pharmacy chain Boots.

Following Greencore, another sandwich manufacturer Samworth Brothers Manton Wood recalled its products.

Many sandwich manufacturers have recalled their products from supermarkets. Image for Representation. Pixabay

Subsequently, on June 17, another company called THIS! announced a recall specifically for a vegan chicken and bacon wrap sold exclusively at WHSmith.

These recalls were deemed precautionary steps by the companies involved. The Food Standards Agency has pinpointed the source of the outbreak to a small number of salad leaf products that have been used in sandwiches, wraps, subs and rolls.

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How could lettuce lead to infections?

Professor Jim Monaghan, a crop science expert at Harper Adams University in Shropshire, explained to Sky News that there are three main ways lettuce leaves can become contaminated with E. coli.

E. coli essentially wants to be inside the guts of warm-blooded animals, he said. Pathogenic strains can be found in 10-15 percent of dairy herds, meaning that a minority of manure is contaminated with E. coli.

This contaminated manure can directly contaminate lettuce leaves. In cases of indirect contamination, the bacteria can enter the soil or water and then be transferred to the lettuce.

Lettuce has been linked to widespread E coli infections in the UK, health officials have confirmed. Reuters

According to officials, 168 cases of E.coli have been detected in England so far, with 56 in Scotland, 29 in Wales and three in Northern Ireland.

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What are the symptoms?

According to Healthline, abdominal cramps, nausea vomiting and diarrhoea (often bloody) are some common symptoms associated with E.coli infections. Fever may be present but is usually mild.

In some cases, particularly among young children and the elderly, E. coli infection can lead to serious complications like hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a condition that causes kidney failure and can be life-threatening.

In an information leaflet, the UKHSA said that HUS may occur up to two weeks after the start of the diarrhoea while adding, If your symptoms do not go away or you develop easy bruising, feel you are passing less urine than usual or your urine is pink/brown in colour, please urgently seek medical advice as these symptoms could indicate the start of HUS and you may need further tests.

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Also, a small proportion of adults may develop a similar condition called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).

How is E. coli infection treated?

According to US Centres for Disease Control, there is no targeted treatment for a STEC infection, which typically resolves on its own within about a week.

Howver, managing symptoms involves staying well-hydrated since diarrhoea can quickly lead to dehydration. Its crucial to avoid antibiotics as they can heighten the chances of developing complications like HUS.

How to stay safe?

As per UK Health Security Agency, Washing your hands with soap and warm water and using disinfectants to clean surfaces will help stop any further spread of infection.

Additionally, If you are unwell, you should not prepare food for others while unwell and avoid visiting people in hospitals or care homes to avoid passing on the infection in these settings.

Do not return to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped, it added.

With input from agencies
When stories of new viruses hit the news, journalists write to virologists asking about their opinions on the same. However, everyones different professional background gives an idea of what to look for in a news story about a novel virus. So, here are some questions that can help you decide how much of a worry it might be read more

Adapting to humans is hard for a virus, so anything that gives a virus more chances to pull this off is a concern. Reuters

In the US, a dairy farm worker develops itching, blood-shot eyes. In Australia, a young girl falls ill after a foreign holiday and is rushed to hospital. In Mexico, another man, already ill and bed-bound, becomes seriously unwell and dies. Each of these recent cases was caused by a different strain of influenza virus. In each case, it was an animal virus, which should not normally have turned up in humans at all. Should stories like this worry us?

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When stories like this hit the news (and for influenza viruses, this happens quite often), journalists write to virologists and ask: how worried are you about this one?

The honest answer is that how any virologist really feels about a story depends on a lot of things, including our personalities: Some of us are natural optimists, while others tend to catastrophise. But our professional background does give us an idea of what to look for in a news story about a novel virus. When you next read about a novel virus in the news yourself, these are the questions that can help you decide how much of a worry it might be.

What is the extent of its progress?

This is usually the first question. Its actually really hard for a virus to adapt to growing well in a new host species. Even influenza viruses  basically bird viruses, but notorious for causing repeated human pandemics  only manage it every few decades.

For a virus, crossing into people from a different animal host is a staged process. (Im writing people," but its the same logic if youre worried about a virus crossing between any two host species, say, bird flu adapting to spread in cattle.)

Have people been exposed to the new virus and developed immune responses, but with no signs of infection? If there has been a spillover infection of a human (whether or not this caused serious illness), is there any sign that the virus has adapted enough to spread onwards to other people? And if the virus is now spreading among people, is that spread still at a point where it can be contained?

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What do we know about it?

Surveillance is hard work that requires resources and cooperation, but it is hugely important in understanding and controlling outbreaks. So what do we look for?

Testing people for immune responses to a virus (serology) tells us who has previously been exposed. Sequencing viral genomes (from infected people or from the environment) tells us where the virus is now, but it also lets us work out how it is spreading and how it is changing.

We can do this because viruses mutate quickly. Lining up the differences in their genetic sequences lets us build family trees (phylogenetic trees), which we can use to reconstruct how the virus got to particular places at particular times.

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Are we looking at one big outbreak or lots of separate outbreaks? Family trees can show us this. Looking at the changes in the virus genome also lets us look for any telltale signs that it is adapting to a new species  assuming we understand the virus well enough to work that out.

What exactly are we dealing with here?

The better we understand a virus, the more we can anticipate what it might do next. For some very well-studied viruses, like the influenza viruses, we know some of the genetic changes that are warning signs of adaptation to a new host species.

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What else can we look for? We worry more about viruses jumping between similar host species, because this is easier for the virus to do. Influenza thats already in a mammal is closer to being able to infect us than influenza from a bird.

We can look at likely routes of transmission  a respiratory virus is likely to spread more quickly than a virus spread through sexual contact. We can also try to guess at the outcomes of infection  viruses that cause serious disease are concerning, but in terms of spread, we also worry about less serious cases, which could lead to people spreading the virus without realising it.

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However, viruses are tricky things, and in practice, its really hard to predict what they will do.

The current outbreak of H5N1 influenza A viruses in cattle is a good example of this. An influenza A virus infecting cattle and then spreading through milk were both huge surprises. And while H5N1 is known to be capable of causing very severe disease, it seems that some cattle are carrying the virus without serious illness.

Experimental virology, in which animals and cell cultures are infected and studied under controlled conditions in secure laboratories, can be essential for understanding what a virus is really capable of.

Will it get worse?

Adapting to humans is hard for a virus, so anything that gives a virus more chances to pull this off is a concern. Sustained outbreaks are more of a risk than one-off cases.

We worry more about viruses in animals with close contact with humans. H5N1 spreading in North American cattle is more worrying than H5N1 spreading in South American elephant seals.

We worry about viruses taking shortcuts to adapting. For influenza viruses, this can happen in hosts like pigs that can pick up more than one virus at the same time and allow them to swap bits of their genome with each other.vir

And we worry about people doing anything that gives a virus more chances to get used to them. Things like drinking unpasteurised milk in areas where it could carry H5N1 influenza viruses, for example.

Whats the worst-case scenario?

What would happen if things did get worse? Do we already have vaccines to this virus or to one very like it? Is there the capacity for making large numbers of those vaccines and distributing them to large numbers of people? Do we already have antiviral drugs? Do we know whats needed to manage the symptoms caused by the virus effectively? Here, at least, it helps to face a virus like influenza that weve already been trying to fight for a long time.

The spread of a new strain of influenza virus around the world is just one of many viral threats, but the H5N1 strain of the virus has been doing a lot of things recently that cause us, as virologists, to watch it with concern.

While isolated cases can be devastating for the people involved, the bigger risk to society comes from viruses that spread  and H5N1 influenza is now spreading, in US cattle as well as in birds around the world. Importantly though, what it is not doing at the moment is anything that we would associate with it spreading among humans.

The current mood among virologists is definitely not what it was in, for example, in February 2020, when it became clear that SARS-CoV-2 was spreading uncontrollably among humans. But bird flu is doing enough concerning things at the moment to make us pay close attention to it. Hopefully, if we do that, we can all prevent things becoming a lot more worrying than they are now.

Ed Hutchinson, Senior Lecturer, Centre for Virus Research, University of Glasgow

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Every year large number of pilgrims from India attend Hajj, and some of them unfortunately pass away during the Hajj period. This year we have 175,000 Indians who have already visited Hajj So far, we have lost 98 of our citizens, said MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal read more

The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said that as many as 175,000 Indians have already visited Hajj and of them 98 pilgrims lost their lives due to natural causes and chronic illnesses.

Addressing a press briefing on Friday, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, Every year large number of pilgrims from India attend Hajj, and some of them unfortunately pass away during the Hajj period. This year we have 175,000 Indians who have already visited Hajj So far, we have lost 98 of our citizens. These deaths have happened on account of natural illness, natural causes, chronic illness, and also old age. On the day of Arafat, six Indians died and four Indians died on account of accidents.

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Last year the figure of Indians who died in Hajj was 187, he added.

The MEA statement comes a day after reports suggested that more than 1,000 pilgrims from 10 countries died during the pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

On the visit of the high-level US Congressional delegation to meet the Dalai Lama, Jaiswal said that Indias position on his holiness Dalai Lama is firm and clear.

I would like to reiterate Indias position on His Holiness Dalai Lama. He is a revered religious leader and is deeply respected by the people of India. His Holiness is accorded due courtesies and freedom to conduct his religious and spiritual activities, added the spokesperson.

On consular access to Nikhil Gupta who was extradited to the US, Jaiswal said he was extradited to the US on 14 June.

We have not received any request for consular access from Nikhil Gupta. But his family has got in touch with us And we are looking at the matter as to what can be done on their request, said Jaiswal.

Talking about Canadian Parliament observing two-minute silence on the death anniversary of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Jaiswal said that India opposes any move that gives political space to extremism.

We naturally oppose any moves giving political space to extremism and those advocating violence, he added.

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On the death of two Indians serving in the Russian Army, Jaiswal said that India is engaged with the Russian authorities both in New Delhi and in Moscow to facilitate the release and repatriation of those serving in the Russian army.

The number of people who have contacted us so far is between 20 to 25. 10 of them have been released Two people have died recently, we are in touch with the Russian Defence Ministry and the Foreign Ministry so that the mortal remains can be brought to India as soon as possible, added Jaiswal.

The MEA spokesperson also shared the details of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankars recent trip to Sri Lanka.

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This was his first bilateral visit to any country after being sworn in as External Affairs Minister His visit underscores Indias primacy that we accord to Sri Lanka in a Neighbourhood-First policy as also a SAGAR vision policy, he said.

EAM called on the President of Sri Lanka. He also called on the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dinesh Gunawardena. They had delegation-level talks in which several ministers from the Sri Lankan side were present. President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the EAM handed over 48 houses under the Model Village housing project in Colombo and Trincomalee During the visit, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, an important platform for search and rescue operations at sea, established with Indias grant of $6 million was also jointly commissioned in a virtual ceremony, added Jaiswal.

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On Khalistani terrorism, Jaiswal said that India has time and again said that Khalistani activities are a matter of serious concern.

We have been repeatedly calling upon the government of Canada to take action. Political space provided to extremist anti-India elements and those advocating violence must stop and they must take action, he added.

Hitting out at the Khalistani Citizens Courts in Canada, he said that India has strongly protested at the Canadian High Commission in India and sought appropriate action.

We have strongly protested at the Canadian High Commission here. Such courts or gatherings are not helpful at all. We have strongly taken it up with them and asked them to take appropriate action in the matter., said Jaiswal.

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When asked about French journalist Sebastien Farcis allegedly leaving the country owing to expiry of visa, Jaiswal said Farcis is an OCI card holder and required permission or a work permit to carry out journalistic activities here.

Sebastien Farcis is an OCI card holder. If you are an OCI card holder, you need permission or a work permit to carry on your journalistic activities. He applied in May of 2024 and his application is still under consideration. The question of his leaving the country is a decision for him to take. If he has taken it, thats fine. But, his work permit application is still under consideration. He had reapplied it here in May of 2024, Jaiswal added.

With inputs from agencies
The AAP leader is an accused in the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy case. While Kejriwals bail will let him come out of jail, the court has set some conditions for his freedom including cooperating with the investigation and appearing in front of the court whenever required read more

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in March in connection with the alleged Delhi liquor excise policy scam. AFP

Celebrations erupted among the Aam Aadmi Partys inner circles as their leader Arvind Kejriwal has been granted bail. He will soon walk out of the Tihar Jail and is likely to resume his duties as the Delhi chief minister.

The AAP leader is an accused in the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy case. While Kejriwals bail will let him come out of jail, the court has set some conditions for his freedom including cooperating with the investigation and appearing in front of the court whenever required.

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Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorates plea to the Rouse Avenue Court to stay Kejriwals bail for 48 hours has also been rejected, making his release more certain.

From November 2021 to June 2024 Kejriwal has had a long battle with the law. Heres a timeline of events that transpired to his imprisonment and eventually his bail.
The high court said that the trial courts bail order would be stayed until it hears the matter. Meanwhile, soon after the Rouse Avenue Court issued its order, ED the court to stay Kejriwals bail for 48 hours, which was eventually rejected by the trial court read more

Delhi High Court on Friday ordered a stay on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals bail issued by a trial court a day before.

The Rouse Avenue Court on June 20 granted bail to the Aam Aadmi Party leader upon payment of a Rs 1 lakh bond. Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 over the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy case.

The high court said that the trial courts bail order would be stayed until it hears the matter. Meanwhile, soon after the Rouse Avenue Court issued its order, ED the court to stay Kejriwals bail for 48 hours, which was eventually rejected by the trial court.

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The probe agency approached the high court on Friday where Additional Solicitor General SV Raju and Special Public Prosecutor Zoeb Hossain said, We were not given ample opportunity to argue the matter before the vacation judgeI was not even given time to file a written submission.

After the high court put a stay on the bail order, AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj, who had reached Kejriwals residence earlier during the day, said, The law has no meaning for the central government. When the order did not come, which order did the ED challenge in the High Court?

          ,       ED           ?  Saurabh Bharadwaj (@Saurabh_MLAgk) June 21, 2024

Last month, the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Kejriwal till June 1 to campaign for the Lok Sabha Elections for 21 days. On June 2, the chief minister surrendered and went back to Tihar Jail.

The Delhi Government under Arvind Kejriwal introduced the New Excise Policy to modernise alcohol sales in the national capital. The policy received mixed reactions, with one side backing it and the other raising concerns.

Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar submitted a report to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena alleging irregularities and violations in the new liquor policy. The report said that AAP leader Manish Sisodia took arbitrary and unilateral decisions in his capacity as the Excise Minister. This has resulted in financial losses to the exchequer. Kumar also accused the Delhi government of pocketing the money earned through kickbacks from owners who were given preferential treatment. Based on the report, the LG of Delhi recommended a CBI probe into the case.
About 2 lakh visas were issued to Chinese nationals in 2019 before the pandemic struck and the June 15, 2020 Galwan clash, and this number was brought down to just 2,000 in 2024 after a structural screening of Chinese investments in India, according to a report read more

The visas issued to Chinese nationals by India has seen a sharp drop, with the number dropping from 200,000 visas issued in 2019-20 to just 2,000 in 2024.

According to a Hindustan Times report, citing senior officials in the national security establishment and economic ministries, about 200,000 visas were issued to Chinese nationals in 2019 before the pandemic struck and the June 15, 2020 Galwan clash, and that this number was brought down to just 2,000 in 2024 after a structural screening of Chinese investments in India.

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Twenty Indian soldiers, led by Colonel Santosh Babu, were martyred at Galwan while thwarting a PLA incursion into Indian territory in East Ladakh. An undisclosed number of Chinese soldiers also lost their lives in the clash.

According to the report, the government, however, has granted around 1,500 visas to Chinese nationals over the past eight months. Of these, around 1,000 visas were issued to meet the requirements of the Indian electronics industry. Another 1,000 visas are currently being processed, primarily for the electronics sector, following rigorous screening procedures.

Despite the Indian governments efforts, including reducing corporate income tax and introducing a Rs 2 lakh crore production linked incentive (PLI) scheme across twelve sectors, the trade deficit with China widened to over $38.11 billion in the first five months of the current year. During January-May 2024, India managed to export only $8.93 billion worth of goods to China, while imports from Beijing totaled $47 billion.

Simultaneously, the Indian electronic industry reported job losses attributed to the lack of visas for Chinese businessmen and workers. However, official data released on 14 June revealed that Indias merchandise exports in May 2024 grew by more than 9 per cent year-on-year. This increase was driven by exports of petroleum products, engineering goods, and electronics, with electronic goods alone amounting to $29.12 billion in FY 2024 compared to $23.55 billion in FY 2023, largely due to the PLI scheme, added the report.

The structural screening of Chinese investments post-Galwan revealed that Chinese telecommunication companies such as Vivo were violating Indian laws, and were even charged by the Enforcement Directorate for laundering funds to China to evade Indian taxes, reported HT, citing five top officials.

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ED has accused Vivo of siphoning about $13 billion back to China, apart from violations of visa conditions by its executives and workers.

We are deeply alarmed by the current action of the authorities. The recent arrests demonstrate continued harassment and as such include an environment of uncertainty amongst the wider industry landscape. We are resolute in using all legal avenues to address and challenge these accusations, Hindustan Times report quoted Vivo as saying in a statement after the ED action.

While Indian industry advocates for increased visas for Chinese workers and technicians, the national security establishment, including economic ministries, insists that visas will only be issued following thorough vetting.

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Unchecked visa issuance risks undermining Indias Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative and could adversely affect domestic manufacturing, reported HT.

One official told HT that with the Xi Jinping regime continuing to put pressure on India on land and sea, the PM Modi government had no option but to take steps to ensure the economy is less dependent on China.

Indias national economic security cannot be compromised for a few pieces of silver. Visas will be issued for Chinese technicians and businessmen only after screening with assurance that travel conditions will not be violated, HT quoted a Cabinet minister as saying.

India-China bilateral relations have remained frosty since the PLA incursions in May 2020, with Beijing continuing to obstruct Indian Army patrols on its side of the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh.

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Despite numerous rounds of military and diplomatic discussions, the PLA has yet to de-escalate from the LAC and restore the pre-conflict status quo in East Ladakh. Four years after the Galwan incident, the Chinese military maintains a substantial presence in East Ladakh, supported by reserves from the mainland.

The situation in the Indian Ocean Region is similarly tense, with Chinese surveillance ships regularly deployed throughout the year. Recently, the Chinese ballistic missile tracking vessel Yuan Wang 7 was stationed 1,000 kilometers south of Kanyakumari, while PLA Navy anti-piracy units operated in Djibouti, the Gulf of Aden, and the Madagascar channel.

With inputs from agencies
International Yoga Day 2024 Live Updates: President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said yoga is Indias unique gift to humanity, and it has become far more important because of rising lifestyle-related problems read more

Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, will accompany the prime minister, as will Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Ayush and Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav.

On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the gathering and participate in the Common Yoga Protocol session in Srinagar, highlighting the benefits of yoga for physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

About 7,000 people are likely to participate in the Dal Lake event of Modi to mark the 10th International Yoga Day, according to Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. There seems to be a bigger message that the prime minister and his government want to send by this Yoga Day event in Srinagar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Srinagar to celebrate Yoga Day, keeping up with the tradition of choosing a different venue every year since he began organising public events on the day in 2015. This also comes in the series of state visits  Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar and now Jammu and Kashmir  by Modi after his reelection in Indias national polls held during April-June.

This date is notable because it is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and holds cultural significance in many parts of the world.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested creating an annual Yoga Day on June 21 in an address to the United Nations in September 2014.

To commemorate the occasion, an event will be conducted at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, hosted by Indias Permanent Mission to the UN in collaboration with the UN Secretariat. The ceremony will take place on the North Lawn Area at UN Headquarters.

This year marks the 10th International Day of Yoga, which focuses on the topic Yoga for Self and Society.

Early morning rainfall on Friday disrupted International Yoga Day events in Kashmir, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lead the celebrations on the banks of the Dal Lake, officials here said.

#WATCH | Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw takes part in a Yoga session in Delhi, on the occasion of International Day of Yoga. pic.twitter.com/iMzwhlfmXO

#WATCH | EAM Dr S Jaishankar and other diplomats perform Yoga in Delhi, on the International Day of Yoga. pic.twitter.com/MSbucUs40x

#WATCH | Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Army chief Gen Manoj Pande and others perform Yoga in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh on the occasion of International Day of Yoga. pic.twitter.com/ke7DgB80ld

Happy International Yoga Day to all my fellow Indians! Yoga is a precious art of living that has flourished in this holy land as a legacy. Combining health and spirituality, yoga has become a global life-enhancer. In 2014, yoga gained top recognition at the United Nations, pic.twitter.com/r8gIKoQjA7

Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads a Yoga session at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar on J&K, on International Day of Yoga. pic.twitter.com/4TkeJnMfcP

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads Yoga session at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar on J&K, on International Day of Yoga. pic.twitter.com/N34howYGzy

#WATCH | Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma says, " ...Everybody should do yoga and keep themselves healthy...Yoga is our tradition...PM Modi has made Yoga famous across the world..." https://t.co/C5TrsgVNUH pic.twitter.com/LVh1Ue1ntQ

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads a Yoga session at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar on J&K, on International Day of Yoga. pic.twitter.com/PClCj4aUHN

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets participants of the Yoga session at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar in J&K. He led the Yoga session here this morning. pic.twitter.com/8QiAaDwSBC

PM Modi greets participants of the Yoga session at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar in J&K

#WATCH | Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan says, "...I want to thank PM Modi from the bottom of my heart. He made Yoga reach the world...I hope everyone makes Yoga a part of their daily life...I do Yoga everyday..." https://t.co/ghGiB4X2bM pic.twitter.com/fzEkCzvm1q

#WATCH | Telangana: Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar participates in a Yoga session in Karimnagar on the occasion of International Day of Yoga. pic.twitter.com/g5BcO4KdYe

He also added that in India, from Rishikesh and Kashi to Kerala, We observe a burgeoning trend in Yoga tourism. International tourists flock to India seeking authentic Yoga experiences.

He said that in the last 10 years, the expansion of Yoga has altered perceptions surrounding it and today, the global landscape witnessed the emergence of a new Yoga economy.

#WATCH | Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav says, " Greetings to everyone on the occasion of International Day of Yoga...in a way, the whole world is a fan of Yoga now... " https://t.co/7iiietVhLs pic.twitter.com/rrkVJezrfH

The whole world is a fan of Yoga now, says Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav

#WATCH | Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav performs Yoga in Bhopal, on the occasion of International Day of Yoga. pic.twitter.com/oiQDa3tofG

#WATCH | Kolkata: West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose says, "The world has started seeing India through Yoga. Yoga represents India's quest to launch peace instead of war. We are the 'Vishwaguru' and through Yoga, we are reaching out to the world" https://t.co/1QDrluRzcL pic.twitter.com/QrchXpuHW4

The world has started seeing India through Yoga, says West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose

#WATCH | J&K: People perform Yoga at Pulwama stadium, on the occasion of International Day of Yoga. pic.twitter.com/TIiTptJqFC

Yoga is a way to physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Let us resolve to adopt yoga as an integral part of our day-to-day living, the President said.

Greetings to the entire global community, especially the fellow citizens of India on International Yoga Day! Yoga is Indias unique gift to humanity. In view of rising lifestyle related problems, Yoga has become far more important today.

She, along with other officials of the Presidents Secretariat, also performed yoga at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here.

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said yoga is Indias unique gift to humanity, and it has become far more important because of rising lifestyle-related problems.

The CM was at Nadabet, Banaskantha district, near the India-Pakistan border, to participate in a state-level event commemorating the 10th International Day of Yoga.

On the occasion of International Day of Yoga, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said on Friday that his administration will open 51 Yoga Studios around the state to promote the ancient discipline that benefited people greatly during Covid.

Gujarat to set up 51 Yoga Studios to promote the ancient practice, says CM Bhupendra Patel

Nadda, who performed yoga at the Yamuna Sports complex on the occasion of the International Day of Yoga, noted that the United Nations General Assembly, heeding a call by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had made a declaration to observe June 21 every year as an International Day of Yoga.

On Friday, Union Health Minister JP Nadda urged citizens to incorporate yoga into their day-to-day lives to yield benefits.

The inaugural Yoga Day festivities were conducted in 2015 on Raj Path in New Delhi. Modi and other dignitaries set two Guinness World Records: the worlds biggest yoga session (35,985 participants) and the most nations represented (84).

Last years theme was Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam  One Earth, One Family, and the celebrations were led by Prime Minister Modi on the North Lawn of the UN Headquarters in New York City.

June 21 is International Yoga Day, which is observed across the world. Every year, a topic for this day is announced; this years subject is Yoga for Self and Society.

#WATCH | Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel, along with BSF jawans and others, performed Yoga at Nadabet India-Pakistan border zero point in Banaskantha district today. #InternationalYogaDay pic.twitter.com/S46kxtsdW9

Bihar | Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai performs yoga at Sarairanjan, Samastipur on the occasion of International Yoga Day pic.twitter.com/3ES82VWTO8

#WATCH | Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbanand Sonowal performed Yoga at Tinsukia, Assam on the 10th International Yoga Day pic.twitter.com/VsWpyix4TN

#WATCH | Haridwar: Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev says, "Yoga is the cure for all diseases and problems of society...I urge everyone to practise Yoga daily...In the past 10 years, Yoga has made progress..." https://t.co/YVazbHAwnu pic.twitter.com/bX0uGpRsy3

Gujarat's Jail DGP along with male and female prisoners participated in a Yoga program organized in Ahmedabad Central Jail

#WATCH | Ahmedabad, Gujarat: DGP Jail Dr K L N Rao says, "More than 3000 prisoners, jail staff participated in Yoga program. The program is organised every year...There was a lot of enthusiasm among prisoners to perform Yoga..." https://t.co/KeDIEVrX4K pic.twitter.com/zShbvi2Hvh

There was a lot of enthusiasm among prisoners to perform Yoga, says DGP Jail Dr K L N Rao

We will be back later during the day as more updates come in from across the world.

We will be back later during the day as more updates come in from across the world.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday embarked on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir where he will inaugurate or kick start projects worth Rs 1,500 crore and participate in the International Yoga Day.

Leaving for Srinagar, where I will be taking part in two programmes. Later this evening, I will be at the Empowering Youth, Transforming J&K programme, which focuses on youth-led development.

Key projects worth over Rs 1500 crore will be inaugurated or their foundation stones would be laid. These works cover infrastructure, water supply, education and more. Tomorrow morning, I will take part in the Yoga Day programme in Srinagar, the prime minister posted on X before leaving for Srinagar.

This is Prime Minister Modis first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after taking charge at the Centre for the third term.

He will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of multiple development projects in J&K worth over Rs 1,500 crore. He will also launch competitiveness Improvement in Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP) worth Rs 1,800 crore.

On 21st June, around 6.30 am, the prime minister will participate in the 10th International Day of Yoga event at SKICC in Srinagar. The prime minister will address the gathering on the occasion and take part in the CYP Yoga session thereafter, an official handout from the Press Information Bureau said.

Stringent multi-layer security arrangements have been put in place for the prime ministers two-day visit to Kashmir. More than 7,000 participants will join him in performing yoga on Friday on the banks of picturesque Dal Lake, officials said.

The participants have been trained over the past three days in the yoga Asanas to be performed by the prime minister, the officials said.

Security forces personnel have been deployed in strength across the Srinagar city to ensure that the prime ministers visit passes off peacefully, they said.

The roads leading to SKICC have been sealed, they said.

The sanitisation operation at the SKICC was concluded on Tuesday and the background security check of all officials of the SKICC, security personnel and others on duty, and the sportspersons who will attend has been conducted, they said.

As part of the security measures, the Srinagar Police declared the city a Temporary Red Zone for the operation of drones and quadcopters.

Srinagar city has been declared as Temporary Red Zone for the operation of drones and quadcopters as per provisions of Rule 24(2) of Drone Rules, 2021 with immediate effect, the Srinagar Police said on X on June 18.

All unauthorised drone operations in the red zone are liable to being penalised according to provisions of the drone rules, the police said.

Ahead of the main function on Friday, a series of yoga events have been held over the past three days at many places in the city and elsewhere in the valley, the officials said.

A yoga event was held near the iconic clock tower at the Lal Chowk city centre here while a mega yoga camp was held at Polo Ground on Wednesday, they said.

Another event was also held at the SKICC here, the officials said, adding similar events were held at many places in the Valley to mark the celebrations for the 10th IYD.

This years celebrations will span across the Nation, with a notable event termed as Yoga for Space, wherein all the centres and units of ISRO will have programs on the practice of CYP or common Yoga Protocol. ISRO among other autonomous bodies will also participate in the CYP practice on June 21. Along with this active participation from the Gaganyaan project team is also scheduled for June 21. Observance of IDY at Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari is also in full swing.

Globally, Embassies and Indian Missions abroad will join the celebrations, reflecting yogas widespread influence.

Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary of Ayush, recently in a gathering highlighted the journey of IDY, emphasizing its role in promoting health, social values, and a sense of community.

The Whole of Government approach to IDY celebrations includes coordinated efforts across various government departments and active participation from state governments and union territories. The National Ayush Mission team is also organizing events nationwide, demonstrating yogas impact on holistic health.

In Delhi, the Ministry of Ayush has partnered with NDMC (New Delhi Municipal Corporation), ASI (Archaeological Survey of India), and DDA (Delhi Development Authority) to organize mass yoga events.

To engage the masses, the Ministry of Ayush has launched several contests and activities, including the Yoga with Family Video Contest in partnership with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) on the MyGov and MyBharat platforms. This contest encourages families worldwide to showcase the joy of yoga and reinforce family bonds, with submissions due by June 30, 2024.
The performance of the accused in the NEET paper leak was underwhelming despite having access to the question papers a day before the examination read more

In what can be described as an ironic turn of events, a NEET aspirant from Samastipur, Anurag Yadav, received the leaked question paper, memorised the answers beforehand, appeared for the exam and yet managed to score only 185 out of 720.

The NEET controversy has prompted students from across the country to take to the streets against irregularities in the examination process. The issue has now fallen under the radar of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) while the central government has cancelled NEET-UG.

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The Supreme Court has also swung into action. Last week, the apex court issued a notice to the National Test Agency (NTA) seeking answers and slamming the agency over the allegations.

Meanwhile, four people have been arrested in Bihar for leaking the question papers and Anurag Yadav is one of them. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadavs ally has also been accused of circulating the papers a day before the NEET-UG exams on May 5.

Leaked paper didnt prove helpful?

Expecting that Yadav might have scored well during the exams is only normal. But, his scorecard says otherwise.

Yadav, 22, on Wednesday, confessed that he received the question paper a day prior to the exam from his uncle. I was made to read and memorize it at night. When I went for the exam, I found the same questions which I had memorized correctly. After the exam, the police came and caught me, and I confessed my crime.

But that didnt help the aspirant. His scorecard shows that he got 185 out of 720 with a percentile of 54.84.

Physics: 85.8 per cent

Biology: 51 per cent

Chemistry: 5 per cent

Yadav is not the only student who performed poorly in the exams despite having access to the question paper beforehand.

The other three people who were arrested by the police also scored similarly with one scoring 300 out of 720.

Four accused confess

The mastermind behind the NEET paper leak, Sikander Prasad Yadvendu  uncle of Anurag Yadav  in his confessional statement admitted to having arranged question papers for four exam aspirants to prepare them a day before the test and demanded Rs 40 lakh from each candidate.

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According to sources in the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar police, Yadvendus confessional statement, recorded under Section 161 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) on May 5, also detailed his contacts with Nitish Kumar and Amit Anand, allegedly known for leaking prestigious exam papers such as NEET.

Yadvendu claimed that he demanded Rs 40 lakh from each aspirant, including his nephew Anurag Yadav, for providing the leaked question paper on May 4.

With inputs from agencies
In the last 10 years, the expansion of Yoga has changed the perception related to YogaToday, the world is seeing a new Yoga economy going forward. In India, from Rishikesh and Kashi to Kerala, a new connect of Yoga tourism is being seen said the Prime Minister read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a Yoga session at at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar on Friday. ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that a new connect of Yoga tourism is very much visible in India as Yoga enthusiasts from across the world are coming to India to learn authentic Yoga.

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads Yoga session at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar on J&K, on International Day of Yoga. pic.twitter.com/N34howYGzy  ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2024

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Addressing the 10th International Yoga Day event at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar, PM Modi said, In the last 10 years, the expansion of Yoga has changed the perception related to YogaToday, the world is seeing a new Yoga economy going forward. In India, from Rishikesh and Kashi to Kerala, a new connect of Yoga tourism is being seen."

#WATCH | Srinagar, J&K: On International Day of Yoga, PM Narendra Modi says, "In the last 10 years, the expansion of Yoga has changed the perception related to Yoga...Today, the world is seeing a new Yoga economy going forward. In India, from Rishikesh and Kashi to Kerala, a new pic.twitter.com/37xVqWtPWu  ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2024

Tourists from across the world are coming to India because they want to learn authentic Yoga in IndiaPeople are even keeping personal Yoga trainers for their fitnessAll of these have created new opportunities for the youth, new employment opportunities for youth," added the Prime Minister.

Extending greetings to people from India and across the world, he said International Yoga Day has completed a historic journey of 10 years.

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#WATCH | Srinagar, J&K: On International Day of Yoga, PM Narendra Modi says, "We can feel the energy in Srinagar, that we gain through Yoga. I extend greetings to people of the country and people performing Yoga in every corner of the world on Yoga Day. International Yoga Day has pic.twitter.com/N3sVDnF8XC  ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2024

In 2014, I proposed International Yoga Day at the United Nations. This proposal by India was supported by 177 nations and this was a record in itself. Since then, Yoga Day has been creating new records, said PM Modi.

He said today the world sees Yoga as a powerful agent for global good as it helps people live in the present without carrying the baggage of the past.

When I am abroad, global leaders discuss Yoga wit me, the Prime Minister said. As we mark 10th International Yoga Day, I urge everyone to make Yoga part of their daily lives, he added.

Talking about the popularity of Yoga, the PM said that many prestigious universities and institutions around the world are conducting research on Yoga and research papers are being published.

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#WATCH | Srinagar, J&K: On International Day of Yoga, PM Narendra Modi says, "This year in India, a 101-year-old woman Yoga teacher from France was accorded the Padma Shri. She had never come to India but she dedicated her entire life to creating awareness about Yoga. Today, pic.twitter.com/t0BYVB7V8R  ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2024

This year in India, a 101-year-old woman Yoga teacher from France was accorded the Padma Shri. She had never come to India but she dedicated her entire life to creating awareness about Yoga. Today, research on Yoga is being done in prestigious universities and institutions around the world; research papers are being published.

The event was scheduled to be held on the lawns of the SKICC on the banks of the Dal Lake but had to be shifted indoors due to incessant rain.

The event was attended also attended by Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha and Ayush Minister Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav.

With inputs from agencies
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the 50th G7 summit on June 14, 2024, in the city of Fasano in Apulia, Italy. The region of Apulia, throughout its history, has been inhabited by Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Normans, and Spanish. The region has also served as a bridge between the West and the East, thanks to its geography. Apulias rich history as a cultural crossroads underscores the significance of this years G7 summit, which brings together diverse global leaders.

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In this summit, along with the G7 countries, the other invitees were India, the African Union, Brazil, the UAE, Argentina, and others, making the location and the purpose of the summit significant. India took centre stage during the summit, and the family photograph taken post-summit is a testament to it.

Two years ago, India was invited to the 48th G7 summit in 2022, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The primary narrative at that time was to punish India for keeping the ties intact with Moscow. The Western experts, who are habituated to see things in binary, refused to believe that India can have ties with the G7 without harming relations with Russia. As per the Financial Times, the reason behind the invitation to India at the summit was to woo New Delhi away from its longstanding alliance with Russia. Two years down the line, Indias relations are not majorly harmed, neither with Russia nor with the G7 countries!

Freshly re-elected, PM Modis attendance at the G7 summit signals a robust continuation of his administrations foreign policy initiatives, particularly his advocacy for the Global South. In 2023, New Delhi organised the two Voice of Global South Summits, first in January and next in November, to understand the concerns of the developing countries. The words and advocacy of Modi in Apulia should be taken as a continuation of this.

Modi exploited the opportunities provided to put forward these concerns. India has considered it its responsibility to place the priorities and concerns of the countries of the Global South on the world stage, he said. At the same time, while putting forward his vision of a developed India in 2047, he emphasised that no section of society should be left behind in the countrys development journey," followed by applying this in the context of international relations. The countries of the Global South are bearing the brunt of global uncertainties and tensions. Then, Modi put forward the concern of ending monopolies in technology, one of the points of action at the end of the second Voice of the Global South Summit.

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On the sidelines of the G7 meeting, PM Modi also met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. However, Modi skipped the Ukraine Peace Summit, organised just after the G7 meeting, by sending a secretary-level delegation. The Indian delegation visited the summit but didnt sign the Joint Communique. This reflects a nuanced stance on the conflict, aligning with the broader Global Souths cautious approach.

Indias significant presence at the G7 summit, coupled with PM Modis diplomacy, marks a pivotal moment in its global engagement. By advocating for the Global South in the G7, India continued efforts to emerge as a leader of developing nations in a China-fearing world.

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The author is an independent columnist who writes on international relations and socio-political affairs. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Apart from the new law on Tibet, the visit to India of former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, along with other members of a Congressional delegation and their audience with the Dalai Lama, raises several questions read more

For Tibet watchers, the past few weeks have been special; one does not know which side to turn ones attention to.

Apart from the courtesy calls to the Dalai Lama by some of the candidates during the campaign for the legislative elections, an announcement about renaming some places in Tibet has been making the rounds (this, however, remains irrelevant as nobody has seen the new names yet).

More important was the news from Washington that the US Congress has passed the Resolve Tibet Act, now waiting for President Joe Bidens signature to become law.

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Among other things, the Act mentions that the claims made by officials of the Peoples Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party that Tibet has been a part of China since ancient times are historically inaccurate.

It has serious implications for Indias northern border, which for millennia had been with Tibet; unfortunately, after Tibets invasion in the early 1950s, it ended up being the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.

The Act also speaks of Beijings current policies, which are systematically suppressing the ability of the Tibetan people to preserve their religion, culture, language, history, way of life, and environment.

Since 1959, when the Dalai Lama crossed the Indian border into Arunachal Pradesh (then the North East Frontier Agency), successive governments in Delhi have supported the Dalai Lama and his followers in this regard and ensured that India was their second home. Today, projects such as the Nalanda University in Bihar could further strengthen the relations between Tibet, where the Nalanda Tradition was practiced for centuries, and India.

Then, the Act says that Beijing is failing to meet the expectations of the United States to engage in meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his representatives or to reach a negotiated resolution that includes the aspirations of the Tibetan people.

It is doubtful that concrete progress will be seen in this regard in the near future for the single reason that Beijing is today not in a mood to listen to any advice from the US (or India).

Perhaps more meaningful is the following point: The US public diplomacy efforts should counter disinformation about Tibet from [Beijing], including disinformation about the history of Tibet, the Tibetan people, and Tibetan institutions, including that of the Dalai Lama.

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Delhi should emulate this.

US delegation visit to India

Apart from the new law, the visit to India (and Dharamsala) of former United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, along with other members of a Congressional delegation and their audience with the Dalai Lama, needs to be looked into as it raises several questions.

Why did the US delegation visit Dharamsala just a few days before the Dalai Lama leaves for the US for knee surgery? Could not the delegation have met the religious leader in the US? But perhaps Washington was keen to involve India in the Tibetan issue? That Delhi agreed to this is clear, as the same delegation was received in Delhi by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar on its return from Dharamsala.

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Xi Jinping visits a Tibetan Monastery

The media missed another visit, which was certainly not a coincidence.

Xinhua News Agency reported that on June 18, the day the US delegation arrived in Dharamsala, President Xi Jinping conducted an investigation at the Hongjue monastery in Xining City (Qinghai province): to understand the Tibetan Buddhist community to carry forward the fine tradition of patriotism and love of religion, and to promote national unity and progress.

For Xi, Tibetan Buddhism obviously limits itself to patriotism.

The Hongjue monastery, which belongs to the Geluk school of Tibetan Buddhism (like the Dalai Lama), is located at the border between Tibet and China. Xinhua said: This thousand-year-old temple has witnessed the course of cultural exchanges and blending between Chinese and Tibetan cultures. It added: In the 7th century A.D., Princess [Chinese] Wencheng and [Tibetan Emperor] Songtsen Gampo, passing through Xining, built a soil altar used as a throne for Shakyamuni Buddhas twelve-year-old statue, this thousand-year-old temple witnessed the Tibetan Buddhism patriotic tradition.

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The article concluded: Entering the New Era [of Xi Jinpings rule], Hongjue monastery has always adhered to the direction of the Chineseization of Tibetan Buddhism and has continuously explored the contemporary connotation of the Chineseization of Tibetan Buddhism.

It says it all.

An important visit to Tibet

The visit of the US delegation to India came two days after the 39th EU-China Human Rights Dialogue took place in Chongqing on June 16. Prior to the meeting, a rare two-day visit to Tibet was organised for the European delegates.

During the Chongqing meeting, the EU stressed, The selection of religious leaders should happen without any government interference and in respect of religious norms, including in the case of the succession of the Dalai Lama. The message was clear and similar to the American one.

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The EU also reiterated its concerns about the very serious human rights situation in China, in particular in the Tibetan areas. A statement mentions: The EU further raised persistent concerns over the restriction of fundamental freedoms, labour rights, and the use of forced labour, limits on due process rights, and the lack of judicial independence in China. The EU is said to have raised the issues of freedom of expression, assembly, religion, or belief with the Chinese, who may have listened; however, it is doubtful if any action will follow.

The fate of Wu Jingjie

Another very significant news item has been missed by the media as the Tibet Autonomous Regions former Communist Party Secretary has been put under investigation.

Though a Han Chinese, Wu Yingjie spent 47 years in Tibet, including five years as the TAR Party Secretary (the seniormost Chinese official in Tibet). He is now under the lens of the dreadful Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and the National Supervisory Commission. What he has done wrong is not clear, but the 67-year-old apparatchik, who was recently posted in the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the countrys top political advisory body, is said to be undergoing disciplinary review and investigation. Though the CCDI did not release details of his crimes, it speaks of serious violations of discipline and laws, a euphemism for corruption or political misdeeds.

It needs to be noted that Wu was a rather mild Party Secretary compared to his predecessors and successors. But is it perhaps a political crime to be mild in China?

US Act and India

To come back to the US Act, it is important for India; from immemorial times, Indias northern boundary has been an Indo-Tibet border. The eastern sector (known as the McMahon Line), has been agreed upon by British India and independent Tibet in March 1914 during the Simla Conference. If one accepts the Chinese contention that Tibet has been part of China since immemorial times, the McMahon Line loses its validity. In this sense, the new Act and the visit of the US delegation are significant for India, as they revalidate the fact that Tibet was an independent nation before 1951.

Regarding the other issue mentioned in the Act (pressing China to resolve the Tibet dispute by providing a genuine autonomy to Tibet), it has no immediate relevance because the Chinese regime is not ready to provide any autonomy to the Dalai Lama and his countrymen, and the Tibetans have no muscle power to force anything on China. Moreover, the visit of the US delegation will certainly infuriate Beijing further; in these circumstances, there is hardly any question of negotiations.

We could ask: Where is India in all this?

Recently, in an interview for The Week, Penpa Tsering, the Tibetan Sikyong (president of the Tibetan administration in exile), was asked, Do you think it is time the Indian government openly declared that the Dalai Lamas successor will be chosen by the Dalai Lama himself or the Tibetan government in exile?

Tsering said, To some extent, it is taken for granted as to where India stands on this, whether it says it vocally or not. I am sure the Indian government is concerned about these issues and developing its own strategy. I am sure that the Indian government will also be seriously thinking about this, even though I have not had concrete conversations about this.

It is unfortunate that the Indian government and the political leaders have not been more vociferous about their Tibet conviction. Can India find its own Nancy Pelosi? Can the Indian MPs come together like in the 1950s or 1960s, as they did around a leader like JP Narayan? It is a big question, but it will be more and more necessary to contain the bully on the other side of the Himalaya. Indeed, we live in interesting times.

The writer is Distinguished Fellow, Centre of Excellence for Himalayan Studies, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence (Delhi). Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
There could be a trade-off where Moscow provides satellite technology in exchange for military weapons or equipment from Pyongyang read more

While North Korea has a dependence on food and energy assistance, interestingly, it is also depending on Russia for assistance in its space surveillance programme. Image: REUTERS

Russian President Vladimir Putins visit to North Korea (1819 June 2024) has attracted global attention. Today, both of these states are keen to cooperate to overcome the sanctions put on them by the US. This is Putins only second-ever visit to Pyongyang, with the first taking place way back in 2000. Obviously, a lot has changed during the last two decades or so. North Koreas other good friend, China, has welcomed this visit.

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Russia has always been important to North Korea. However, during the last few years, not much has happened towards any noteworthy engagement. During the 201819 period, the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was found engaging China proactively, and between the period of March 2018 and January 2019, he visited China four times. Also, around the same period, he met US President Donald Trump. Actually, Trump became the first sitting US president to visit North Korea in 2019.

Unfortunately, no efforts to engage North Korea have proved successful so far, and the only major countries that have cordial relations with North Korea remain its neighbours, namely Russia and China.

The recent increased bonhomie between Russia and North Korea could be said to have started with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visiting Russia in September 2023. Today, both of these states need each other much more than in the past. Moscow has some dependence on Pyongyang for supplies of arms and ammunition for fighting the war in Ukraine. While North Korea has a dependence on food and energy assistance, interestingly, it is also depending on Russia for assistance in its space surveillance programme.

When Kim Jong Un visited Russia in September 2023, he was assured by Putin of his assistance in the space domain. During the year 2023, North Korea made three attempts to launch a spy satellite in space. The attempts during May and August 2023 had failed, while the attempt during November 2023 was a success, with North Korea putting its first spy satellite, the Malligyong-1, on the back of its own Chollima-1 launch vehicle in space. Since during Kim Jong Uns September 2023 visit to Russia, there was a promise made for assistance in the space sector, there is a possibility that for the November 2023 launch, some Russian assistance was there.

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Unfortunately for North Korea, its recent launch (on May 27, 2024) to put up a military reconnaissance satellite (Malligyong-1-1) ended in failure. For a nuclear weapon state like North Korea, it is a necessity to have a mechanism for gathering real-time intelligence. Hence, it has interests in spy satellites. It is keen to establish a space-based architecture that offers intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. For this purpose, it wants to have increasing assistance from Russia in the space domain.

The potency of North Koreas nuclear deterrence structure would depend not only on the number of nuclear weapons in its kitty but also on various factors, like having capable missile systems to deliver the weapons correctly to the target. At the same time, it needs to guard its state from any attack by its adversaries. Hence, space-based ISR systems are important both for defence and offence purposes.

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There are reports indicating that North Korea has developed several types of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for ISR purposes. However, there are limitations in regards to the types of sensors in use. Also, endurance and communications restraints limit its utility.

North Korea is keen to expand its space program. It understands that there is a global watch on its space and missile programs. The South Korean and US investigators have analysed the recently failed (2023) two launches by North Korea. In its estimation carried out by analysing the recovered parts from these launches (fallen in the ocean), the North Korea payloads had no military use. This indicates that North Korea needs to improve on sensor technologies, satellite design and development capabilities, and rocket launch capabilities.

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Today, various activities undertaken by North Korea are being continuously monitored by the US with the assistance of Japan and South Korea. The US has the Combat Sent and the Cobra Ball systems for gathering electronic intelligence. It is known to carry out air espionage of the area from which North Korea is launching its space launches and undertaking ballistic missile testing.

These systems are part of the RC-135 family. The US Air Force flies aircraft for the purpose of measurement and signature intelligence collection. It is able to monitor ballistic missile flights at long range. North Korea is not keen to expose the trajectory of its technology development to its advisories. It feels that with Russian assistance, it can leapfrog.

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North Korea understands the importance of command-and-control systems for its nuclear weapon architecture. It needs satellite technologies urgently, and Russia could significantly assist them in advancing its spy satellite program. One important component of Putins visit to North Korea is about quid-pro-quo dynamics. It could be a trade-off where Russia provides satellite technology in exchange for military weapons or equipment from North Korea.

The author is Deputy Director General, MP-IDSA, New Delhi. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Apple has launched its Back to School offer in India, providing attractive deals for students, educators, and parents on various Mac and iPad models. Students and teachers can also get free Airpods and Apple Pencil, depending on their purchase read more

While Apple has not disclosed the exact prices of the devices on offer, it has shared some details on its official website. Image Credit: Apple

Apple has announced a Back-to-School sale in India, offering exclusive discounts to students, educators, and parents. This sale, which runs until September 2024, provides significant savings on Mac and iPad purchases.

While Apple has not disclosed the exact prices of the devices on offer, it has shared some details on its official website. Both, teachers and students can access all the details after verifying their eligibility on the Apple website.

Apple Back to School Offer on Macs

Customers purchasing the M3 MacBook Air, starting at Rs 1,04,900, the M3 MacBook Pro, starting at Rs 1,58,900, the Mac mini, starting at Rs 49,900, or the M3 iMac, starting at Rs 1,29,900, will receive a pair of Apple AirPods (3rd Generation) with a Lightning Charging Case for free.

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Additionally, buyers have the option to upgrade to AirPods (3rd generation) with a MagSafe Charging Case, AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with a MagSafe Charging Case, or Apple AirPods Max by paying Rs 1,000, Rs 5,000, and Rs 40,000, respectively.

Apple Back to School Offer on iPads

For those purchasing an iPad Air M2, starting at Rs 54,900, or an iPad Pro M4, starting at Rs 89,900, Apple is offering a free Apple Pencil.

Customers can choose between the Apple Pencil (USB-C) and the Apple Pencil Pro. However, it is important to note that the iPad (10th Gen) and iPad Mini (6th Gen) are not eligible for this offer.

Apple is also providing a 20 per cent discount on Apple Care+ plans when purchased alongside a device. Apple offers products at discounted prices through its Education Store, making it easier for students, parents, and educators to access the latest technology.

Eligibility and How to Avail

The Apple Back to School sale is live on the Apple Education Store, Apple BKC Store, and Apple Saket Store, and will continue until September 30. To benefit from these offers, online purchasers must verify their eligibility through UNiDAYs. Those making in-store purchases may need to present a student ID, acceptance letter, or other proof of eligibility to avail of the offer.

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These offers aim to support the academic community by providing advanced technology at reduced prices, ensuring that students and educators have access to the tools they need for success.

Apple is also introducing new bookable sessions at its stores aimed at helping students select the ideal Mac laptop tailored to their college experience. These sessions will also help students in customising their Macs to suit their specific needs and explore various options to fit their unique budgets.

If you ask us, Apple Retail at Saket, Delhi and BKC, Mumbai, are the best places for purchasing Apple products. Having said that, the revamped Apple education store online simplifies the shopping experience, offering services such as upgrading and trade-in options, migrating to Mac or iOS, and personalized shopping support.

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In addition to Macs, Apple provides a range of accessories that enhance student life. Products like AirTags, Apple Watch for staying connected and fit, and AirPods for long study sessions ensure that students have everything they need to stay productive and achieve a successful school year.
Instagram immediately began suggesting moderately suggestive videos upon the first time the account was logged into, featuring content like women dancing sensually. Things only got more bizarre from there read more

During the course of the investigation, the investigators also encountered videos featuring nudity and, in one case, a series of videos about some graphic and explicit sexual acts, within minutes of setting up the account. Image Credit: Pexels

Instagram has reportedly been suggesting explicit Reels to teenagers as young as 13, even when they are not actively searching for such content.

According to a investigative report by Northeastern University professor Laura Edelson and The Wall Street Journal the Meta-owned social media platform has been suggesting sexually explicit reels to teens. During tests conducted primarily between January and April this year, both parties created new accounts with ages set to 13 to examine Instagrams behaviour.

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The findings show that Instagram immediately began suggesting moderately suggestive videos upon the first time the account was logged into, featuring content like women dancing sensually or focusing on their bodies.

Accounts that engaged with these videos by watching them and skipping others soon started receiving recommendations for more explicit content.

Some of the recommended Reels included women mimicking sexual acts or offering to send nude photos in exchange for user comments. During the course of the investigation, the investigators also encountered videos featuring nudity and, in one case, a series of videos about some graphic and explicit sexual acts, within minutes of setting up the account.

Within just 20 minutes of initial engagement, the recommended Reels section became dominated by creators producing sexual content.

In contrast, similar tests conducted on TikTok and Snapchat did not yield recommendations for sexual content to the teenage accounts created on those platforms.

Even after actively searching for age-inappropriate content and following creators known for producing such videos, neither TikTok nor Snapchat suggested such content to the test accounts.

The Wall Street Journal notes that Meta, Instagrams parent company, had previously identified similar issues through internal research.

Despite these findings, Meta spokesperson Andy Stone dismissed the report, labelling the tests as artificial experiments that do not accurately represent how teens use Instagram. He acknowledged Metas efforts to decrease sensitive content seen by teens, claiming significant reductions in recent months.

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In January, Meta implemented substantial privacy updates aimed at safeguarding teen users, automatically placing them in the platforms most restrictive control settings, which cannot be opted out of.

Despite these measures, The Wall Street Journals tests, conducted post-update, were able to replicate concerning results as recently as June. Meta had introduced these updates shortly after a previous experiment by The Jour
NVIDIA had briefly surpassed Microsoft in market capitalisation on Tuesday. However, by Thursday, NVIDIAs market value had fallen to around $3.34 trillion, reflecting a significant loss of about $91 billion from its previous closing value read more

Despite the recent dip, NVIDIA has been enjoying a remarkable year. The companys stock price has almost tripled, driving substantial gains in the broader market. Image Credit: AFP

On Thursday, NVIDIAs shares took a significant hit, dropping by nearly 3.4 per cent, which caused the company to lose its brief status as the worlds most valuable company. This title was reclaimed by Microsoft, marking another shift in the ongoing competition among tech giants.

NVIDIA had briefly surpassed Microsoft in market capitalization on Tuesday. However, by Thursday, NVIDIAs market value had fallen to around $3.34 trillion, reflecting a significant loss of about $91 billion from its previous closing value. The companys shares were trading at approximately $131.88.

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Microsoft, meanwhile, also experienced a slight dip. Its market value decreased to $3.30 trillion, with shares dropping by 0.4 per cent to $444.8 in the afternoon trading session.

These fluctuations are part of a fierce competition among NVIDIA, Microsoft, and Apple, all vying for the top spot as the worlds most valuable company. Apple, led by CEO Tim Cook, saw its market capitalization at $3.22 trillion, with its shares declining by 2.2 per cent to $210.10 during the same afternoon.

Adding to the tech industrys dynamic developments, Elon Musk announced via his social media platform X on Wednesday that Dell and Super Micro are providing server racks for the supercomputer of his startup, xAI.

This supercomputer will enhance the capabilities of xAIs artificial intelligence tool, Grok.

Following Musks announcement, Dell Technologies and Super Micro Computer saw their shares fall by 1 per cent and 0.7 per cent, respectively. These companies produce servers equipped with NVIDIA chips, benefiting from the rising demand for processors crucial for AI applications.

Earlier this year, Musk disclosed that training the Grok 2 model required about 20,000 NVIDIA H100 graphics processing units (GPUs).

Looking ahead, he mentioned that future models, such as Grok 3, would need around 100,000 NVIDIA H100 chips.

Despite the recent dip, NVIDIA has been enjoying a remarkable year. The companys stock price has almost tripled, driving substantial gains in the broader market. Similarly, Super Micro shares have more than tripled in value, and Dells stock has surged by nearly 95 per cent this year.

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The Philadelphia SE Semiconductor Index, which tracks the performance of companies in the semiconductor industry, has risen by nearly 34 per cent since hitting a recent low in April. It reached a record high on Tuesday, reflecting the industrys strong performance.

Analyst Dan Ives from Wedbush Securities commented on the current tech market landscape, suggesting that the rise of AI technology will continue to benefit major tech companies.

He pointed out that established firms like Microsoft, Oracle, Dell, Amazon, Meta, Apple, and Google will likely grow stronger as they leverage AI to capitalize on their extensive installed bases across various sectors.

The competition among NVIDIA, Microsoft, and Apple to be the worlds most valuable companies underscores the rapidly evolving nature of the tech industry. While each company has experienced its share of fluctuations, the overall trend indicates a robust market driven by advancements in AI and semiconductor technology.

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This ongoing race highlights the critical role of innovation and strategic positioning in maintaining and enhancing market leadership in the tech sector.
In addition to the sales ban, the Commerce Department has added three Kaspersky-affiliated entities, namely AO Kaspersky Lab, OOO Kaspersky Group, and Kaspersky Labs Limited, to its sanctions list. read more

Kaspersky has a significant presence in the US, including clients within critical infrastructure sectors and state and local governments. Image Credit: Reuters

The US Commerce Department will impose a ban on all new sales of Moscow-based Kaspersky Labs cybersecurity and antivirus software starting next month. This decisive action marks the strongest stance yet against a foreign-owned security vendor, amidst concerns that such companies could be forced to collaborate with adversarial governments.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo highlighted the unprecedented nature of this ban, noting that it is the first time the department has prohibited the sale of a cybersecurity product in the US.

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The ban, effective from July 20, prevents Kaspersky Lab from selling its antivirus and cybersecurity software to American customers.

While current US users of Kaspersky Lab products can continue using the software, they will cease to receive updates after September 29. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) will be assisting critical infrastructure organizations to transition to alternative security solutions ahead of the deadline.

In addition to the sales ban, the Commerce Department has added three Kaspersky-affiliated entities, namely AO Kaspersky Lab, OOO Kaspersky Group, and Kaspersky Labs Limited, to its sanctions list.

Kaspersky Lab, a leading global provider of antivirus software with 270,000 corporate clients worldwide, has long been under scrutiny by US officials. There are fears that the company could be compelled to share customer information with the Russian government and potentially aid in cyber espionage activities.

This latest move follows a 2017 decision by the US government to ban Kaspersky Lab products from federal government systems. In response, Kaspersky Lab has actively contested these restrictions, including suing the federal government and relocating some data storage from Russia to Switzerland.

Kaspersky has a significant presence in the US, including clients within critical infrastructure sectors and state and local governments.

The Commerce Departments authority to issue this ban stems from a 2019 executive order by former President Trump, with regulations officially implemented in November 2021.

Secretary Raimondo justified the ban by citing the ongoing cyber threats posed by the Russian government and its potential influence over Kasperskys operations. She emphasised that this measure is necessary to protect American citizens and their personal data.

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In response, Kaspersky Lab announced plans to explore all legal avenues to maintain its current operations and relationships. The company reiterated that it does not engage in activities that threaten US national security and has consistently demonstrated its independence from any government.

Kaspersky argued that the Commerce Departments decision was influenced by current geopolitical tensions and theoretical concerns rather than a thorough assessment of the companys products and services.
One major obstacle is the need for companies to obtain approval for the commercial use of their LLMs. This means Apple must secure authorisation from Chinese officials for its on-device and cloud-based models read more

Censorship is another significant issue. For instance, OpenAI's ChatGPT, which is integrated with Siri in iOS 18, is banned in China. Image Credit: Reuters

Apples newly announced AI features, branded as Apple Intelligence, wont be making their way to China anytime soon. This delay is largely due to the countrys stringent regulations on artificial intelligence and the strong competition Apple faces from local brands.

At its annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June, Apple unveiled several AI-driven features such as text summarization, AI-powered image generation, and image editing, all powered by its proprietary generative AI software, Apple Intelligence. These features are set to be available in US English by late 2024.

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However, in China, these features are expected to face significant delays. China has strict laws governing generative AI software, large language models (LLMs), and data privacy, which pose substantial hurdles for Apples rollout.

A report by CNBC, which included insights from various analysts, highlighted the challenges Apple will encounter in bringing its AI technology to the Chinese market. One major obstacle is the need for companies to obtain approval for the commercial use of their LLMs. This means Apple must secure authorisation from Chinese officials for its on-device and cloud-based models.

Moreover, Apple might need to partner with a local company to manage the servers used for cloud-based AI tasks, similar to its existing arrangement for iCloud data in China. This necessity stems from Chinas 2021 data privacy law, which Apple must comply with.

Censorship is another significant issue. For instance, OpenAIs ChatGPT, which is integrated with Siri in iOS 18, is banned in China. Consequently, Apple may have to collaborate with a Chinese company that already has approval for its LLM technology. Alibaba and Baidu are potential partners for Apple in this regard.

In late March, reports suggested that Apple was looking to partner with a local AI provider in China. Shortly thereafter, it was indicated that Apple had chosen Baidu as its collaborator to introduce AI-related features to the Chinese market.

Beyond securing a local partner, Apple will also need to implement additional safeguards to prevent the generation of content that could be deemed anti-government. Apples current measures already block the generation of copyrighted, adult, and photo-realistic images within its apps, and similar controls will likely be needed in China.

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Craig Federighi, Apples senior vice president of software engineering, emphasized the companys desire to bring its best products to all customers, acknowledging that some regions have regulatory challenges to navigate.

Apple faces robust competition in China, particularly from domestic brands like Huawei, which enjoys significant popularity. Apples market share in China dropped from 20% to 15% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period the previous year, with Huawei being a major competitor in the premium smartphone segment.

Apples strategy typically involves extensive investment in time, resources, and marketing to ensure its products are competitive and well-received. This careful approach has seen Apple delay the launch of its in-house LLMs until after competitors like OpenAIs ChatGPT and Googles Gemini were already established. The same careful strategy will likely apply to Apples AI rollout in China, acknowledging that the process will be challenging and time-consuming.

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While Apple Intelligence promises advanced AI features for users in the U.S. and other regions, Chinese customers will have to wait due to regulatory and competitive hurdles. Apples journey to introduce its AI technology in China will be a complex and prolonged effort, reflecting the broader challenges and dynamics of operating in the Chinese tech market.
Relations between the two Koreas are at one of their lowest points in years, with Kim Jong Un hosting Russian leader Vladimir Putin this week, and signing a mutual defence agreement that has raised hackles in Seoul. In response, the South  a major weapons exporter  has said it will reconsider a longstanding policy that has prevented it from supplying arms directly to Ukraine. read more

In this undated photo provided on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, by South Korea Defense Ministry, North Korean soldiers work at an undisclosed location near the border area, as seen from a South Korean guard area.- AP

In the third incursion this month, North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the heavily fortified border Friday, forcing Seouls military to fire warning shots in retaliation. The nuclear-armed North has been reinforcing the border in recent months, adding tactical roads and laying more landmines, which has led to casualties among its troops due to accidental explosions, South Korea has said.

Relations between the two Koreas are at one of their lowest points in years, with Kim Jong Un hosting Russian leader Vladimir Putin this week, and signing a mutual defence agreement that has raised hackles in Seoul. In response, the South  a major weapons exporter  has said it will reconsider a longstanding policy that has prevented it from supplying arms directly to Ukraine.

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What happened?

On Friday, South Koreas military said it had fired warnings shots the previous day to repel several North Korean soldiers who briefly crossed the military demarcation line that divides the countries while engaging in unspecified construction work. Similar incidents took place on June 9 and June 18, each involving some 20 to 30 North Korean soldiers briefly crossing the demarcation line and retreating shortly after the South Koreans broadcast audio warnings and fired warning shots.

South Koreas military says the incursions were likely accidents, noting that the North Koreans did not return fire and withdrew immediately.

What does the demarcation line look like?

The demarcation line, in many parts of the DMZ, is simply a sign mounted on a stick or a slice of concrete.

People have stepped across it before, under very special circumstances, and usually at the border village of Panmunjom. Former U.S. President Donald Trump walked across with Kim Jong Un. Last year an American soldier facing possible military discipline dashed over the line to the North.

Outside of Panmunjom, much of the DMZ is wilderness, but it is heavily monitored on both sides. And while the demarcation line may be easily crossed, it is very difficult to do so without being spotted immediately.

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The southern side of the land border is protected not only by thousands of soldiers, guns and mines, but also by a dense network of cameras, motion sensors and other high-tech surveillance equipment. Breaches are very rare and are usually detected quickly. Defections from the North are also unusual along the North-South land border, though they have happened with frequency along the porous China-North Korea border and occasionally in the Yellow Sea.

The Norths accidental intrusions this month may have been caused by a sudden jump in North Korean troops fortifying their side of the border.

Because overgrown trees and plants may have been obscuring the signs marking the demarcation line, Seoul says, the North Korean troops may have stepped over the line without knowing it.

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Why are so many North Koreans working in the DMZ?

Relations between the rival Koreas are worse now than in many years.

Recent weeks have seen a tit-for-tat standoff that has resulted in Cold War-style psychological warfare. Both sides have said they are no longer bound by a landmark military agreement in 2018 to reduce tensions.

The North Koreans along the border, Seoul says, have been installing what appear to be anti-tank barriers, reinforcing roads and planting land mines, even as mine explosions have killed or wounded an unspecified number of North Korean soldiers.

The construction started around April and may be an attempt to curb North Koreans trying to defect to the South, according to Seouls military.

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Animosities may worsen as Kim continues to accelerate his nuclear weapons and missiles development and align with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the face of their separate, escalating confrontations with Washington.

On Thursday, South Koreas government condemned an agreement by Kim and Putin at their summit this week in which the two nations vowed to aid each other if attacked. In turn, Seoul said it will consider sending arms to Ukraine to help it fight Russias invasion.

Could it happen again?

Possibly, especially if the North Korean construction continues along the demarcation line.

But both sides appear intent on containing their animosities to the psychological warfare theyre engaging in.

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Still, there are worries that the hostilities are pushing them closer to a direct military clash. The Koreas have had no meaningful talks for years and could find it difficult to set up dialogue as tensions rise over the Norths development of nuclear-capable weapons.

Some analysts say the Koreas poorly marked western sea boundary  site of skirmishes and attacks in past years  is more likely to be a crisis point than the land border.

Kim, during a fiery speech in January, reiterated that his country does not recognize the Northern Limit Line in the Yellow Sea, which was drawn up by the U.S.-led U.N. Command at the end of the war. North Korea insists on a boundary that encroaches deeply into South Korea-controlled waters.

While the huge military presence on both sides of the DMZ means that years sometimes pass without incident, violence can quickly erupt. Two American Army officers were axed to death in 1976 by North Korean soldiers, for instance.

With inputs from agencies.
Spain, Ireland and Norway are among Western countries to officially recognise a Palestinian state, prompting Israel to pull its ambassadors from Madrid, Dublin and Oslo last month. read more

FILE - Palestinians storm rucks loaded with humanitarian aid brought in through a new U.S.-built pier, in the central Gaza Strip, Saturday, May 18, 2024.-AP

Armenia would recognise a Palestinian state on Friday, a ministry statement said, adding that the country supports a United Nations resolution on an immediate ceasefire in Israels war with Hamas in Gaza and is in favour of a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

The decision prompted Israel to summon its ambassador for what the Foreign Ministry described as a severe reprimand.

Dozens of countries have recognized a Palestinian state, though none of the major Western powers has done so. Palestinians believe the recognitions confer international legitimacy on their struggle, especially as Israels war against Hamas, now in its ninth month, faces growing international criticism over the campaign of systematic destruction in Gaza and huge cost in civilian lives.

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Also Friday, the head of a major hospital in north Gaza said his staff have seen some 250 children suffering from malnutrition, with numbers rising daily due to acute food shortages.

Palestinians face widespread hunger as the war has largely cut off the flow of food, medicine and basic goods to Gaza, which is now totally dependent on aid.

Turkiye welcomed Armenias decision to recognize the state of Palestine, said the countrys Foreign Ministry in a statement.

We welcome Armenias decision to recognize the State of Palestine, following countries such as Spain, Ireland, Norway and Slovenia, it said in a statement, adding that the recognition of the Palestinian state is a must for international law, justice, and conscience.

Meanwhile, Israels pledge to guard a new aid route into southern Gaza has fallen flat, as the U.N. and international aid organizations say a breakdown in law and order has made that route unusable.

The Israeli military said that two soldiers were killed in combat in central Gaza, while three were severely injured.

Israeli ground offensives and bombardments have killed more than 37,100 people, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count.

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.

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With inputs from agencies.
During the visit, both the leaders will hold a one-to-one meeting followed by delegation-level talks, and Dhaka and New Delhi will sign several agreements and MoUs to strengthen the existing bilateral ties further, it said read more

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday arrived in India for her second trip in a month to hold bilateral talks with her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

#WATCH | Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina arrives in New Delhi on a State Visit to India



She was received by MoS External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh. pic.twitter.com/rMhPMci166  ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2024

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PM Hasina came to New Delhi to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 9 and therefore her next trip comes in less than a fortnite.

Bangladesh has been keen on setting up a bilateral meeting between Hasina and Modi before the former departs for China in July as part of Dhakas efforts to strike a balance with the two nations, according to a report by Hindustan Times.

The Bangladeshi prime ministers official visit to India will be the first bilateral held by India under the Modi 3.0 government.

During the visit, both the leaders will hold a one-to-one meeting followed by delegation-level talks, and Dhaka and New Delhi will sign several agreements and MoUs to strengthen the existing bilateral ties further, it said.

Additionally, discussions on a potential trade pact are expected. Over the past decade, numerous cross-border initiatives have been launched as part of a robust regional partnership plan, the news agency reported.

This visit will be Sheikh Hasinas second trip to the Indian capital in less than 15 days, as she was among the dignitaries invited to Modis swearing-in ceremony on June 9.

On Friday evening, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will call on the prime minister.

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On Saturday morning, a red carpet will be rolled out at Rashtrapati Bhavan to receive Prime Minister Hasina by her Indian counterpart through a ceremonial reception where the national anthems of the two countries will be played. She will also inspect the Guard of Honour there.

With inputs from PTI
In a court filing, ByteDance accused the American government of unconstitutional singling out of TikTok, revealing fresh details about failed negotiations over a potential ban of the platform in the US read more

ByteDance the parent of TikTok urged US appeals court to slash down the controversial law passed by the Biden administration. Source: AP

A new legal filing from Chinese tech firm ByteDance has challenged the US governments decision to give an ultimatum to the video-sharing platform TikTok.

In the court filing, the tech giant accused the American government of unconstitutional singling out of TikTok, revealing fresh details about failed negotiations over a potential ban of the platform in the United States.

The controversial legislation in question was signed in April by US President Joe Biden and gave ByteDance the deadline of January 19 to either divest TikToks US assets or face a ban.

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In response to this, the tech firm maintained that such divestiture is not possible technologically, commercially, or legally and accused the US government of refusing to engage in any serious settlement talks after 2022.

Never before has Congress silenced so much speech in a single act, the brief filed by TikTok said, The Guardian reported. The proposed legislation will prohibit app stores, such as those run by Google or Apple to offer TikTok if ByteDance refuses to sell its stake. The law will also bar internet hosting services from supporting the platform in the United States as well.

What Byte Dance is saying?

In the filing, lawyers of ByteDance recalled the lengthy negotiations between the company and the US government. They claimed that these negotiations abruptly ended in August 2022. Revealing the redacted version of a 100-plus page draft national security agreement, Byte Dance also stated that it has spent over $2 billion in efforts to protect the data of TikTok users.

The draft included giving the US government a kill switch to suspend TikTok in the country at the governments sole discretion if the company did not comply with the agreement. ByteDance also mentioned that the US government demanded that TikToks source code be moved out of China.

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While TikTok was willing to partner with Oracle to move the source code, they wanted to maintain discretion about it, which did not sit well with the Biden administration.

TikTok says the ban is inevitable without the court blocking it

ByteDance continues to urge the court to intervene and strike down the law otherwise a ban on the social media platform in the United States is inevitable.

This law is a radical departure from this countrys tradition of championing an open Internet and sets a dangerous precedent allowing the political branches to target a disfavored speech platform and force it to sell or be shut down, ByteDance and TikTok argue in asking the court to strike down the law.

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Meanwhile, lawyers for a group of TikTok users who have joined the suit to prevent the app from being banned argued that the law would violate free speech rights.

They argued that there are no imminent national security risks in the United States because the law allows TikTok to continue operating through the rest of this year  including during an election that the very president who signed the bill says is existential for our democracy.

The US Department of Justice has yet to comment on the court filing. Interestingly, in 2020, then-US President Donald Trump was blocked by the courts in his bid to ban TikTok and Chinese-owned WeChat, a unit of Tencent, in the United States. Earlier this month, Trump joined Tiktok and even raised concerns about the potential ban.

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The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia will now hold oral arguments on a lawsuit filed by TikTok and ByteDance. TikToks future in the US may rest on the outcome of the case.

With inputs from agencies.
Tanks were forcing their way into the western and northern parts of the city, having already captured the east, south, and centre. Israeli forces fired from planes, tanks, and ships off the coast, forcing a new wave of displacement from the city, which had been sheltering more than a million displaced people, most of whom have been forced to flee again read more

The Israeli military declared on Friday that it was operating in the Rafah region, where troops were engaged in close-quarters fighting and had discovered terrorist tunnels, using "precise, intelligence-based" tactics Image Courtesy Reuters

Residents and Israels military stated that Israeli soldiers bombarded Rafah and other places in the Gaza Strip and engaged in close-quarters fighting with fighters led by the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas.

Locals reported that the Israelis seemed to be attempting to finish taking Rafah, the city on the southern border of the enclave that has been the target of an Israeli attack since the beginning of May.

Tanks were forcing their way into the western and northern parts of the city, having already captured the east, south, and centre. Israeli forces fired from planes, tanks, and ships off the coast, forcing a new wave of displacement from the city, which had been sheltering more than a million displaced people, most of whom have been forced to flee again.

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At least 12 Palestinians have died in separate Israeli military attacks on Friday, according to Palestinian health sources.

The Israeli military declared on Friday that it was operating in the Rafah region, where troops were engaged in close-quarters fighting and had discovered terrorist tunnels, using precise, intelligence-based tactics. It recorded events occurring throughout the enclave as well.

Residents of Rafah claimed that throughout the last two days, the Israeli raid has intensified in speed. They claimed that there had been nearly constant noises of explosions and gunfire, signifying intense battle.

Over eight months into the Gaza War, Israels offensive is now concentrated on the two regions that its forces still havent stormed: the area around Deir al-Balah in the center of the Strip and Rafah on its southern border.

Less than 100,000 people may have stayed in the citys far western sector, which was providing shelter to over half of Gazas 2.3 million residents prior to the Israeli onslaught that started in early May, according to UN and Palestinian data.

Hamas disputes claims made by the military that it uses Palestinian people as human shields.

The soldiers located inside a civilian residence large quantities of weapons hidden in wardrobes, including grenades, explosives, a launcher and anti-tank missiles, ammunition, and arms, the military said in a statement late on Thursday.

The armed wing of Hamas announced on Thursday that its fighters had destroyed soldiers attempting to escape through the alleyways by hitting two Israeli tanks with anti-tank missiles in the Shaboura camp in Rafah. Regarding the Hamas assertion, there was no immediate response from Israel.

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Three individuals, including a father and son, were killed by an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis, which is adjacent, on Friday, according to medics.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces engaged in combat with terrorists headed by Hamas as they pushed back farther into the northern suburbs of Gaza City. Locals reported that on Thursday, numerous homes in the center of Gaza City were demolished by IDF personnel.

Five individuals were murdered later on Friday, including four municipality employees, in an Israeli airstrike on a Gaza City municipality facility, according to the Civil Emergency Service of the region. Rescue crews were rummaging through the debris in search of additional casualties who had vanished.

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According to Israeli estimates, terrorists led by Hamas invaded southern Israel on October 7, killing almost 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages. This incident set off Israels land and air campaign.

According to Palestinian health authorities, the offensive has killed over 37,400 people, destroyed Gaza, and left almost all of the population homeless or in poverty.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the best way to run the Gaza Strip after the war ends would be by a civilian administration of Arab states read more

In a rare move, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hinted at the day-after plan for the Gaza Strip.

For months, Netanyahu has been criticised for waging the war against Hamas in Gaza without a plan to either end the war or a plan for the governance of Gaza once the war ends. While he had stated that Hamas, which has controlled and governed Gaza since 2007, will not be allowed to stay in power after the war, he had not presented any alternative arrangement so far.

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In an interview with Punchbowl News, an American news outlet, Netanyahu has now said that he seeks sustained demilitarization in Gaza after the war ends. He further said that he wants Arab countries to come together to govern the region.

The issue of the day-after plan for Gaza is a divisive issue in Israel as Netanyahus far-right allies have repeatedly called for the occupation of the Palestinian enclave and building Jewish settlements there. Netanyahus failure to come up with a coherent plan was also the reason Banny Gantz quit the War Cabinet, which Netanyahu dissolved days later. Gantz was an Opposition leader who had joined the War Cabinet of the unity government formed within days of the October 7 attack to mount a united war efforts against Hamas.

Netanyahus 3-step day-after plan for Gaza

In comments that could be hints for how post-war Gaza could be run, Netanyahu has said that there must be sustained demilitarisation of Gaza. He added that such a task could only be done by Israel against any resurgent terrorist effort. He did not elaborate whether this meant Israeli military would occupy Gaza after the end of the war.

Netanyahu further said that the best way to run Gaza after the war ends would be by a civilian administration of Arab states.

I think there has to be a civilian administration to administer not only the distribution of humanitarian aid but also civil administration. That has to be done, I think best done, with the cooperation of an inter-Arab sponsorship and assistance by Arab countries, said Netanyahu in the interview with Punchbowl published on Friday.

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Calling for sociological changes in Gaza, Netanyahu also called for deradicalisastion in the strip so that children there were not taught to kill Jews and harm Israel.

Netanyahu said, Then, the third thing would be obviously some kind of deradicalization process that would begin in the schools and the mosques to teach these people a different future than the one of annihilating Israel and killing every Jew on the planet.

Netanyahu further said that the reconstruction of Gaza would be undertaken by the international community in the final step.
In recent weeks, the fighting between Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah has increased to the extent that its feared that a full-blown war may be just a matter of time read more

Amid fears of an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah, United Nations (UN) chief Antonio Guterres has said that Lebanon must not become another Gaza.

In an apparent reference to the devastation from monthslong war in the Gaza Strip and the deaths and displacement of Palestinians in the region, Guterres said that the increased bellicose rhetoric from Israel and Lebanon posed the risk of triggering a catastrophe beyond imagination.

Since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas War in October 2023, Lebanon-based and Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah has clashed with Israel on a near-daily basis. In recent weeks, the fighting between the two sides has escalated as Hezbollah has launched hundreds of rockets into Israel that have set large swathes of territories in the countrys north ablaze. Israel has also assassinated senior figures of the group in Lebanon in airstrikes.

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Lets be clear: The people of the region and the people of the world cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza, said Guterres, as per AFP.

For months, tens of thousands of Israelis have been displaced from their homes in the countrys north amid fighting between Hezbollah and Israel. As the fighting has escalated in recent weeks, both Israel and Hezbollah have invoked the possibility of an all-out war.

The risk for the conflict in the Middle East to widen is real  and must be avoided. One rash move one miscalculation could trigger a catastrophe that goes far beyond the border, and frankly, beyond imagination, said Guterres.

Hezbollah warns of war with no rules & red lines

Just a day before comments from Guterres, Hezbollah had warned Israel of waging a war with no rules and no red lines.

Hezbollah is a Lebanon-based terrorist group which is backed by Iran. Along with the like of Gaza-based Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and Yemen-based Houthis, Hezbollah is also part of the Axis of Resistance sponsored by Iran. The group is rooted in the opposition to Israel and enmity with the United States.

We wont spare any of areas that we can reach, and we have a very, very large amount of data. Yesterdays Hoopoe footage is just short and selected excerpts from long hours of recorded videos captured above HaifaWe have video recordings for long hours of Haifa and nearby areas as well as areas beyond Haifa and beyond Haifa. Or resistance fight based on information, said Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in remarks carried by Al-Manar TV.

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Nasrallah was referring to a nine-minute footage released this week that showed videos of Israel cities purportedly taken from drones. The release of the footage appeared to convey that Hezbollah could reach and strike deep into Israel-proper beyond the northern border areas.

In a speech on Wednesday, Nasrallah further said that Hezbollah is not afraid of a full-blown war. He added that the Zionist entity would be struck in the land, sea and air. Just like Hamas and their patron Iran, Hezbollah uses the term Zionist entity for Israel as they refuse to recognise the right of Israel to exist and are committed to its destruction.

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The enemy knows very well that no place will be safe from our missiles and drones. We have a real and large bank of goals and we are capable to reach these goals discriminately and in a way that destabilizes the entity.The enemy knows that what awaits it in the Mediterranean is terrific, the Israeli coasts and ships will be targeted, said Nasrallah.
A man accused of desecrating Quran was lynched by an irate mob in Madyan tehsil of Swat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, leading to eight injuries and the destruction of the local police station, according to a report read more

An irate mob on Thursday lynched a man, who had been detained for alleged desecrating Quran, inside a police station in northwest Pakistans Swat.

According to a Dawn report, the mob then set fire to the suspects body, the police station and a police vehicle, injuring eight people in the incident.

Some individuals announced in a market that a man had committed blasphemy, leading others to apprehend him and hand over him to the police. But shortly afterwards, announcements were also made from mosques in Madyan, a known tourist destination in Swat, mobilising the people towards the police station in anger, reported Dawn, citing locals.

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The mob asked police to hand over the suspect to them, and on their refusal, forced their way into the police station. Police officials had to flee to save themselves, while more reinforcements were called in to deal with the tense law and order situation.

District Police Officer (DPO), Swat, Zahidullah said the man from Sialkot district of Punjab allegedly burnt some pages of Quran on Thursday night.

People set fire to the police station, and a police vehicle, The Dawn quoted the Swat DPO as saying, adding that the man was burnt alive.

Police officials said the suspect, whose identity was yet to be ascertained, did not belong to Swat and was staying at a local hotel. Media reports suggested that the deceased was a tourist hailing from Sialkot.

The District Police Officer (DPO) said that an investigation in the case was on.

Disturbing videos circulating on social media depicted the Madyan police station ablaze, and a large crowd surrounding the motionless body of the deceased, subsequently set on fire after being doused with fuel.

Chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, has requested a report from the provincial police chief on the desecration incident. He instructed the Inspector General of Police to take emergency measures to stabilize the area. The chief minister urged the public to remain calm and peaceful.

This marks the second recent incident of lynching based on blasphemy suspicions, following a similar incident last month in Sargodha where a man lost his life.

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With inputs from agencies
Pakistan witnessed the detention of several people belonging to the Ahmadiyya community for celebrating Eid. The authorities called their practices unconstitutional. But theres a catch read more

Pakistani volunteers collect debris from an Ahmadi mosque demolished by an angry mob, in the eastern city of Sialkot. Source: File Image / AP

Multiple people belonging to the Ahmadiyya community were detained by the police and were accused of violating the Constitution in Pakistans Gujranwala City. In the span of a few days, several people from the minority community were arrested for sacrificing a goat on Eidul Azha.

Part of the reason for this arrest was the fact that the Constitution of Pakistan does not consider Ahmediyya as part of the Muslim community. Earlier this week, a person from the Minority group was booked in Toba Tek Singh district, at the complaint of an official of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), for sacrificing a goat on Eid.

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Five similar cases were also registered across Punjab (Pakistan) last year, not only this, two members of the community were shot dead in Mandi Bahauddin earlier this month.

The cases were filed under Section 298-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). The aforementioned section deals with the penalty for a person of the Ahmadiyya group calling themselves a Muslim or preaching or propagating their faith. But whats the reason behind Pakistans disdain for Ahmediyyas?

Who are Ahmadiyya?

The Ahmadiyyas believe that the Messiah Ghulam Ahmad lived after Islams prophet Muhammad and insist that they are part of Islam. The minority group was declared as non-Muslim in Pakistan in 1974 by former PM Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

Since then, the group has been facing both legal and social discrimination in the Islamic country, and the attacks on their properties have increased manifold in the past decade. It is pertinent to note that the Islamization of Pakistan, which political analysts say started during former Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhuttos government in the 1970s, went on to culminate in the 1980s under the former military dictator General Zia ul-Haqs draconian regime.

It was during Haqs era that the Ahmadis were banned from calling themselves Muslims. They were also barred from opening mosques in the country and their existing places of worship were brutally shut down or desecrated by hard-line Islamists with the support of the state.

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According to Pakistans National Commission for Human Rights, more than 280 Ahmadis were killed in targeted violence from 1984 to September 2023. Another 415 faced assaults, 51 Ahmadia worship places were damaged, 39 were set on fire and 18 were forcibly occupied besides 46 others that were sealed by the authorities.

What does the Constitution say? The finality of prophethood

When Pakistans then-Prime Minister Bhutto shifted to hardline Islamist ideologies, he outrightly declared that Ahmedis were not Muslim since they didnt believe in the finality of the prophet Mohammad.

On September 7 1974, Pakistans Parliament passed the Second Amendment to the Constitution, defining the followers of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, as non-Muslims. This brought two changes in the constitution:

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Article 106, Clause 3 was amended to include persons of Qadiani or Lahori group, both of whom call themselves Ahmadis, in the list of religious minority communities. This means that they will no longer be considered Muslims.

Article 260 of the Constitution defines who a Muslim is and emphasises the finality of the prophet Mohammad. The amended version of the article read:

A person who does not believe in the absolute and unqualified finality of the Prophethood of Muhammad (Peace be upon him), the last of the Prophets, or claims to be a prophet, in any sense of the word or of any description whatsoever, after Muhammad (Peace be upon him), or recognizes such a claimant as a prophet or religious reformer, is not a Muslim for the purposes of the Constitution or law.

But are the Ahmedis really violating the constitution?

While the PPC bars, the Ahmadiyya group from calling themselves Muslim or preaching or propagating their faith, a 2022 Supreme Court judgement ruled that obstructing non-Muslims from practising their religion within the confines of their place of worship was against the Constitution as well.

To deprive a non-Muslim (minority) of our country of holding his religious beliefs, to obstruct him from professing and practising his religion within the four walls of his place of worship is against the grain of our democratic Constitution and repugnant to the spirit and character of our Islamic Republic, a nine-page judgment, authored by Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, stated at that time, Dawn reported.

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While in these particular cases, the group was asked not to perform rituals similar to Muslims, the constitution still protects the group from practising their religion, even if they are deemed as Muslims.

With inputs from agencies.
The Sierra Madre was intentionally run aground by the Philippines in 1999 to assert its claim over the reef, which is also claimed by China as part of its extensive and controversial sovereignty over much of the South China Seaa claim that is contested by several neighbouring countries. read more

FILE - Philippine navy ship BRP Sierra Madre is seen at the Second Thomas Shoal, locally known as Ayungin Shoal, at the South China Sea- AP

The Philippines has secretly reinforced a deteriorating warship, the Sierra Madre, stranded on a South China Sea reef that is at the center of a growing and perilous dispute with Beijing.

The Financial Times quoted six sources familiar with the matter as saying that the Philippine military has recently undertaken missions to reinforce the Sierra Madre, which is grounded on the contested Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands. This action was prompted by concerns that the rusting ship might break apart.

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The Sierra Madre was intentionally run aground by the Philippines in 1999 to assert its claim over the reef, which is also claimed by China as part of its extensive and controversial sovereignty over much of the South China Seaa claim that is contested by several neighbouring countries. In 2016, an international tribunal ruled against Beijings claims to the area, declaring that China had no legal rights to the Second Thomas Shoal, which is situated within the Philippine exclusive economic zone.

Recently, the Sierra Madre has emerged as a critical and volatile flashpoint in the Indo-Pacific. Chinas coast guard has increasingly employed aggressive measures, such as using water cannons, ramming boats, and brandishing weapons, to prevent the Philippines from delivering supplies to the Marines stationed on the ship.

The Sierra Madre was run aground on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal by the Philippines in 1999 to help reinforce its claim to the reef, over which China also asserts sovereignty- AP

The Philippines is currently engaged in its most determined campaign to counter Chinas increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea. Since Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office as president two years ago, he has spearheaded an initiative, supported by the United States and other allies, to challenge Chinas attempts to extend its military and political influence over this crucial waterway, which is also partially claimed by six other countries.

However, over the past year, this campaign has highlighted the limitations of the Philippines capabilities. Confronted by China, which possesses one of the worlds largest maritime forces, the Philippines has seen its vessels routinely rammed, swarmed, and targeted with water cannons by Chinese ships.

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The Philippines asserts claims over various disputed islands and maritime features, which it collectively refers to as the West Philippine Sea. In recent moves to strengthen its position, the Philippines has been developing military facilities on the contested Pag-Asa Island and has deployed warships to Sabina Shoal, another disputed atoll. These actions are part of the broader strategy to affirm its sovereignty and resist Chinas dominance in the region.

In this handout photo provided by Armed Forces of the Philippines, Chinese Coast Guards hold an axe as they approach Philippine troops on a resupply mission in the Second Thomas Shoal at the disputed South China Sea on June 17, 2024. The Philippine military chief demanded Wednesday that China return several rifles and equipment seized by the Chinese coast guard in a disputed shoal and pay for damage in an assault he likened to an act of piracy in the South China Sea.- AP

This week, Philippiness soldiers used their bare hands to fight off Chinese coast guard personnel armed with swords, spears and knives in the disputed South China Sea. The Philippine government on Monday accused Chinese ships of ramming and damaging its boats in the South China Sea during a confrontation in waters off the Second Thomas Shoal, home to a garrison of Filipino troops.

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The U.S. State Department called the incident the latest in a series of Chinese provocations to impede supplies from reaching Philippines personnel stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre, a Philippine vessel grounded at the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, site of repeated confrontations with China this past year.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.China has repeatedly warned the Philippines about entering what it calls its territorial waters. As of June 15, new Chinese regulations permit the coastguard to use lethal force against foreign vessels in these contested waters and detain suspected intruders for up to 60 days without trial.

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In reaction, the Philippine coastguard announced on Monday the deployment of two vessels to safeguard Filipino fishermen near Scarborough Shoal, another disputed area approximately 640 kilometers (345 nautical miles) from Second Thomas Shoal.

With inputs from agencies.
The proclamation from the Russian President Vladimir Putin came after Seoul announced that it would consider arming Ukraine in the ongoing war read more

Days after signing a historic treaty with North Korea, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned South Korea that sending lethal weapons to Ukraine would be a big mistake. The proclamation from the Russian leader came after Seoul announced that it would consider arming Ukraine in the ongoing war.

If South Korea supplies weapons to Ukraine, it will not be the answer. I hope they wont do it, it would be a big mistake, Putin said at a press conference in Vietnam, POLITICO reported. Hanoi was the final destination in his two-nation trip to Asia, the first stop being Pyongyang, North Korea.

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The Russian leader used his trip to North Korea to shore up ties with the hermit nation. In return for the gesture, the North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un pledged to support Russia in its fight against Ukraine.

Russia and South Korea butt heads

After Putin called the United States and South Korea two pariah states that are defensive in nature, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol gave out a stern response.

Its absurd that two parties with a history of launching wars of invasion  the Korean War and the war in Ukraine  are now vowing mutual military cooperation on the premise of a preemptive attack by the international community that will never happen, the South Korean presidential office said in a statement.

At the United Nations in New York, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-Yul went on to state that it is deplorable that Russia would act in violation of multiple UN sanctions resolutions against North Korea that Moscow voted for. On Friday, it was reported that South Korea summoned a Russian ambassador to protest a defence pact with North Korea.

South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong Kyun summoned Russian Ambassador Georgy Zinoviev to protest the deal between Putin and Kim Jong Un.

Tensions in the Korean peninsula escalated after South Koreas military observed that the North deployed large numbers of soldiers in frontline areas to build suspected anti-tank barriers, reinforce roads and plant mines in an apparent attempt to fortify their side of the border.

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With inputs from agencies.
A Canadian court has struck down an appeal by two Khalistani supporters seeking to get off the countrys no-fly list, saying there are reasonable grounds to suspect they will threaten transportation security or travel by air to commit a terrorism offence read more

A Canadian court has struck down an appeal by two Khalistani supporters seeking to get off the countrys no-fly list, saying there are reasonable grounds to suspect they will threaten transportation security or travel by air to commit a terrorism offence.

The courts ruling, which was delivered on 19 June by a three-judge bench, came against the backdrop of severe strain in India-Canada ties following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus allegations in September last year of a potential involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

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New Delhi had rejected Trudeaus charges as absurd and motivated.

According to Canadian Press news agency on Thursday, the Federal Court of Appeal in its ruling dismissed an appeal by Bhagat Singh Brar and Parvkar Singh Dulai after they lost a constitutional challenge of their no-fly designations under Canadas Secure Air Travel Act (SATA).

The two were not allowed to board planes in Vancouver in 2018. While Brar was prevented from boarding a flight at Vancouver International Airport on April 24, Dulai was denied boarding at the same airport on 17 May.

Dulai, an active member of Babbar Khalsa who is on MHA watchlist, is a close associate of New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh.

Dulai runs a channel named Channel Punjabi from Surrey and Global TV from Chandigarh. Both these channels spread Khalistani propaganda.

Brar is believed to be the son of Lakhbir Singh Rode, considered the head of the International Sikh Youth Federation, which is a proscribed terrorist entity in Canada. Rode, the nephew of extremist leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, died in Pakistan in December last year. Bhindranwale was killed in June 1984 when Indian forces stormed the Golden Temple in Amritsar during Operation Bluestar.

According to a Hindustan Times report, citing Global News, Brar, who is based in Brampton, featured in documents of Canadian security agencies in 2020 for working with Pakistans ISI intelligence service to plan an attack in India that was disrupted in 2017.

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The same documents alleged Dulai, based in Surrey, British Columbia, was suspected to be a facilitator of terrorist-related activities, and has shown an ongoing pattern of involvement within the Khalistani extremist milieu, added the report.

With inputs from agencies
The Bangladeshi official in charge of repatriation and refugee help, Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, stated that his office has heard of Rohingya crossing over to increase the number of people living in camps for refugees in the Coxs Bazar region to around a million read more

For decades, Rohingya have been persecuted in Buddhist-majority Myanmar. In 2017, a military-led crackdown on the minority group in Rakhine forced many of them to flee to Bangladesh Image Courtesy AFP

According to a prominent refugee official, rising violence in western Rakhine state of Myanmar may have encouraged some Rohingya Muslims to flee into Bangladesh, despite Dhakas insistence that it cannot take in any more migrants from its war-torn neighbor.

For decades, Rohingya have been persecuted in Buddhist-majority Myanmar. In 2017, a military-led crackdown on the minority group in Rakhine forced many of them to flee to Bangladesh.

The Bangladeshi official in charge of repatriation and refugee help, Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, stated that his office has heard of Rohingya crossing over to increase the number of people living in camps for refugees in the Coxs Bazar region to around a million.

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Some people have managed to enter Bangladesh in various ways and have taken refuge in different places, Rahman, who is based in the southeastern coastal region, told news agency Reuters.

I believe some people are being allowed to enter unofficially.

Following the collapse of the truce between the Arakan Army (AA), one of Myanmars most potent ethnic armies, and the ruling junta late last year, fighting has returned to Rakhine.

The junta is at its weakest since taking power in a coup in 2021 as a result of the AAs conquest of nine important towns in the coastal province and its continued drive to seize further territory.

Amidst allegations that it had singled out Muslims throughout the offensive, the AA announced in May that it had taken over the heavily Rohingya-populated town of Buthidaung. The insurgent organization refutes the accusations.

Maungdaw, a town west of Buthidaung mostly inhabited by Rohingya, received a warning from the AA on Sunday to evacuate in anticipation of an impending attack on the village.

However, a number of locals, a representative of the Rohingya community, and the UN human rights commissioner have stated that Maungdaws inhabitants have nowhere to go because escape routes have been blocked.

It is estimated that 70,000 Rohingya are stuck in the region.
While explaining his plans to make national service mandatory for people who turn 18, Sunak said that if the youngsters refuse to take part in the endeavour, he or she might face restrictions on access to finance or driving licences read more

As the United Kingdom braces itself for the upcoming General Elections, the countrys Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hinted that young people in the country might face sanctions if they refuse to do national service.

The proclamation from the British premier came while he was facing questions from the voters at the BBC Question Time special. While explaining his plans to make national service mandatory for people who turn 18, Sunak said that if the youngsters refuse to take part in the endeavour, he or she might face restrictions on access to finance or driving licences.

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When asked further whether this would mean denying people bank cards, Sunak responded: Theres a lot of different models around Europe. In the 30-minute long show, Sunak puts forward the case for why the Brits should support Tories despite Conservatives 14 turbulent years in office.

A tough crowd to please

During the show, the British prime minister received chants of shame after he refused to say that he would keep the UK within the European Convention on Human Rights. Sunak also challenged the recent reports about the alleged betting on the date of the general election.

The British premier emphasised that he was incredibly angry by the whole ordeal. Another tense situation emerged on the topic of the current state of the UKs National Health Services (NHS). While giving his take on the matter the British premier admitted that the government havent made as much progress as I would like in regards to the NHS.

When Sunak asked the audience member who posed the question, if he was satisfied by his answers, the questioner replied: No. Another audience member, a doctor, then attacked Sunak over his NHS plans, saying: People are suffering.

Sunak continued to emphasise that the voters should evaluate him on his own records, however, the audience pointed at the turbulence within the conservative party and Sunak if he faced any embarrassment representing the British grand old party.

Starmer faced the wrath as well

In the half-hour slot before Sunak, Labour Party leader Kier Starmer was also asked a series of tricky questions, with one audience member calling out all of the backtracking on policies from Labour.

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Starmer dismissed those allegations and insisted that tough decisions were needed, characterising one as being between reducing NHS waiting lists and removing student tuition fees.

They are political choices, he said, calling himself a commonsense politician and adding: Im telling you what they are before the election, so people can make their mind up.

Asked about transgender rights and differences within the Labour Party over the issue, Starmer insisted that he wants to bring the public together over the decisive issue and slammed Sunak for making a trans joke in parliament, winning applause.

With inputs from the agencies.
Among other things, four members of the Hinduja family are accused of taking workers passports, paying them in rupees instead of Swiss francs, preventing them from leaving the villa, and making them work unbearably long hours for meager remuneration in Switzerland read more

If found guilty in the trial that began on June 10, Prakash Hinduja and his wife Kamal, as well as their son Ajay and his wife Namrata, could receive prison terms of 4-1/2 to 5-1/2 years Image Courtesy AFP

A Swiss criminal court will make a decision on Friday about whether members of a billionaire family mistreated their primarily illiterate Indian servants who worked in their opulent Geneva lakeside villa and participated in unlawful human trafficking.

Among other things, four members of the Hinduja family are accused of taking workers passports, paying them in rupees instead of Swiss francs, preventing them from leaving the villa, and making them work unbearably long hours for meager remuneration in Switzerland.

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If found guilty in the trial that began on June 10, Prakash Hinduja and his wife Kamal, as well as their son Ajay and his wife Namrata, could receive prison terms of 4-1/2 to 5-1/2 years. Najib Ziazi, their business advisor, is also on trial.

The family, which has Indian ancestry, was revealed to have struck an undisclosed deal with the plaintiffs last week in criminal court. Prosecutors in Geneva began the case on charges of human trafficking, exploitation, and breaking Swiss labor regulations.

The family moved to Switzerland many years ago, and Prakash was found guilty in 2007 of similar, albeit minor, offenses. However, according to the prosecution, he continued to hire people without the necessary documentation.
Just after Wednesday midnight, the Boeing 737-800 from Las Vegas was given the all-clear to touch down at Will Rogers Airport in Oklahoma City. However, it descended sharply, causing the air traffic controller to issue a low altitude alert read more

The plane passed only 500 feet over a school building but quickly regained its altitude

Before making a dramatic landing in the US city of Oklahoma, a Southwest Airlines passenger plane dropped sharply, passing only 500 feet over buildings, according to local media.

Just after Wednesday midnight, the Boeing 737-800 from Las Vegas was given the all-clear to touch down at Will Rogers Airport in Oklahoma City. However, it descended sharply, causing the air traffic controller to issue a low altitude alert.

Southwest 4069, low altitude alert. You good out there? warned the ATC.

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The plane passed only 500 feet over a school building but quickly regained its altitude, reported The Oklahoman. It then circled and landed safely at another runway, it added.

Locals soon took to social media to discuss the incident. It woke me up and I thought it was gonna hit my house, a resident said in a Facebook group.

The airline said Thursday it was in touch with US aviation authorities to address any irregularities in its approach to the Oklahoma airport.

Southwest is following its robust Safety Management System and is in contact with the Federal Aviation Administration to understand and address any irregularities with the aircrafts approach to the airport. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees, an airline spokesperson told the media.
The issue began when Netanyahu claimed in a video posted on social media earlier this week that the US administration  Israels main military backer  has been withholding weapons and ammunitions from his country in recent months read more

New tensions emerged this week between President Joe Bidens administration and Benjamin Netanyahu over the Israeli premiers criticism of US weapons deliveries  comments the White House described Thursday as vexing and disappointing."

The issue began when Netanyahu claimed in a video posted on social media earlier this week that the US administration  Israels main military backer  has been withholding weapons and ammunitions from his country in recent months.

Those comments were deeply disappointing and certainly vexing to us, given the amount of support that we have and will continue to provide, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told journalists.

No other country is doing more to help Israel defend itself against the threat by Hamas and, quite frankly, other threats that theyre facing in the region, Kirby said.

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The previous day, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that we genuinely do not know what hes talking about.

With the exception of one particular shipment of munitions, Jean-Pierre said there are no other pauses. None.

She was referring to a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs that Washington has said is under review because of concerns about their use in densely populated areas.

Biden-Netanyahu tensions

But Netanyahu appeared to double down later on Thursday, saying in a statement that he is prepared to suffer personal attacks provided that Israel receives the ammunition from the US that it needs in the war for its existence.

The spat is not the first between the head of the Israeli government and Bidens administration since the start of the Gaza war, which began with an unprecedented Hamas attack in October.

Biden previously stated his strong opposition to a major Israeli operation in Rafah in southern Gaza, where more than a million civilians were located, and threatened to stop certain arms deliveries if his warning was not heeded.

On Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also warned Israel against escalating tensions in Lebanon as fears of a wider regional war grew with Hezbollah militants firing dozens of rockets into northern Israel.

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During a meeting with top Israeli officials in Washington, Blinken underscored the importance of avoiding further escalation in Lebanon and reaching a diplomatic resolution that allows Israeli and Lebanese families to return to their homes, the State Department said in a statement.

The Gaza war is a particularly thorny issue for 81-year-old Biden, who is seeking a second term in office this year.

The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the ever-rising death toll has led to sharp criticism of the president from the progressive wing of his party  pressure Biden has had to balance with a long-standing US policy of backing Israel.

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The latest round of bloody conflict between Israel and Hamas was triggered by an unprecedented October 7 attack by Palestinian militants 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.

Israels retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed at least 37,431 people, also mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory.
The Supreme Court voted 8-1 in support of a 1994 prohibition on firearms for those under restraining orders to stay away from their spouses or partners in the courts first Second Amendment issue since they enlarged gun rights in 2022. The justices overturned a federal appeals court in New Orleans decision that had declared the statute unconstitutional read more

The Bruen ruling from the US Supreme Court in June 2022 served as the direct basis for Friday's lawsuit Image Courtesy AP

On Friday, the federal gun restriction statute that aims to shield victims of domestic abuse was upheld by the US Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court voted 8-1 in support of a 1994 prohibition on firearms for those under restraining orders to stay away from their spouses or partners in the courts first Second Amendment issue since they enlarged gun rights in 2022. The justices overturned a federal appeals court in New Orleans decision that had declared the statute unconstitutional.

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The author of the 2022 decision, Justice Clarence Thomas, dissented.

A Trump-era prohibition on bump stocks, the fast-firing firearm accessory used in the bloodiest mass shooting in recent American history, was overturned by the court last week. The Justice Department went outside its jurisdiction in enforcing that, the court decided.

The Bruen ruling from the Supreme Court in June 2022 served as the direct basis for Fridays lawsuit. Zackey Rahimi, a Texas man, was charged with striking his girlfriend in a parking lot after they got into a fight and then threatening to shoot her.

During the November arguments, a few judges expressed apprehension that a verdict in favor of Rahimi may potentially compromise the background check system. According to the Biden administration, this system has prevented over 75,000 gun transactions over the previous 25 years due to domestic violence protection orders.

The case was also keenly monitored because it might have an impact on other cases where gun ownership restrictions have been contested, such as the well-known prosecution of Hunter Biden. The son of President Joe Biden was found guilty of lying on a document to purchase a gun while he was under the influence of narcotics. It appears that his attorneys plan to file an appeal.

The courts decision to overturn the firearms legislation related to domestic abuse may have also hinted at its doubts about the other regulations. In one or more of those other instances, the justices may shortly give their opinions.

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The Bruen ruling is the root of many gun law cases. In addition to extending Americans constitutionally guaranteed right to bear guns, the high court decision altered the standards by which courts must assess firearms prohibitions.

Rahimis case made its way to the Supreme Court following an appeal by the prosecution against a decision that overturned his conviction for gun possession while under restraining order.

U.S. Circuit Judge Cory Wilson stated that Rahimi was engaged in five shootings in the Arlington, Texas, area over a two-month period. Rahimi acknowledged possessing guns in the house and being in violation of a domestic violence restraining order that forbade gun possession when police recognized him as a suspect in the shootings and arrived at his residence with a search warrant, Wilson wrote.

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However, Wilson noted that although Rahimi was by no means a model citizen, the law in question could not be supported by historical precedent. That is the standard that Justice Clarence Thomas outlined in his Bruen court judgment.

The conviction was first upheld by the appeals court based on a balancing test that considered whether the restriction improves public safety. But after Bruen, the panel changed its mind. Since the Bruen ruling, the statute has been affirmed by at least one district court.

Gun control organizations and advocates for victims of domestic abuse had urged the court to preserve the statute.

Data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that, in recent years, firearms have been the most often used weapon in homicides of spouses, intimate partners, children, and relatives. During the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, there was an overall rise in domestic violence, with guns being used in over half of the killings57 percent.

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According to Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun control organization, intimate partners shoot and kill seventy women per month on average.

Gun rights organizations supported Rahimi, claiming that the appellate court correctly observed American history and found no comparable restriction to support the gun ban.
Israel and Lebanons Hezbollah have been fiercely clashing for weeks amid warnings that an all-out war is just a matter of time read more

In a speech this week, Lebanon-based Hezbollahs chief Hassan Nasrallah warned Israel that a war with no rules and no red lines would be waged if the Jewish state dared to act against the group.

Hezbollah is an Iran-backed terrorist group thats based in Lebanon. It controls vast swathes of Lebanese territories and is vastly influential in the countrys politics. Since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas War in October 2023, Hezbollah has clashed with Israels on its northern border on a near-daily basis. Tens of thousands of Israelis have been displaced for months from the fighting.

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The enemy knows well that we have prepared ourselves for the worst and that no place across the Zionist entity will be spared by our missiles and drones, said Nasrallah in remarks carried by Hezbollah-aligned Al-Manar TV.

Along with Israel, Nasrallah also warned the European nation of Cyprus that it would not be spared if it aided Israel in the countrys escalation of the conflict.

The Hezbollah is the largest of Iran-backed armed groups in the region. While Nasrallah has maintained that it has more than 100,000 fighters, the public assessment of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) says it has around 45,000 personnel. The Hezbollah is also reported to have an arsenal of around 150,000 missiles and rockets of various types. In the monthslong conflict with Israel, it has fired around 5,000 rockets in addition to anti-tank guided missiles and other incendiaries into Israel that have set ablaze large swathes in northern Israel in recent weeks.

Well treat Cyprus as part of war.

In the warning to Cyprus, Nasrallah said that Hezbollah believes that Israel could use the Cyprus airport for operations.

If Israel is allowed to use facilities in Cyprus for military purposes, then that would mean the country would be at war with Hezbollah, said Nasrallah.

I draw the attention of the Cypriot government that we have information that the Israeli enemy is conducting manoeuvres in preparation for a war with Lebanon, and that airports Cyprus could be opened to Israeli fighter jets. Hereby, and in one word, I call upon the Cypriot government to be aware that if it opens its airports to the Israeli enemy during a potential war, we will treat Cyprus as a part of the war, said Nasrallah.

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The European Union (EU) has come to the defence of Cyprus and has said that a threat to a member state is a threat against the whole bloc.

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides stressed that the country is not involved in the war and that lines of communication are open with Lebanon and Iran.

The statements are not pleasant, but they do not correspond in any way to what is being attempted, to present an image that Cyprus is involved in the war operations. In no way whatsoever, said Christodoulides, and went on to mention the countrys role in humanitarian operations.

Christodoulides further said, The Republic of Cyprus is not part of the problem. The Republic of Cyprus is part of the solution and our role in this, as demonstrated, for example, through the humanitarian corridor, is recognized not only by the Arab world but by the international community as a whole.

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Why has Hezbollah warned Cyprus of war?

Cyprus, a European country part of the EU, is located in the Mediterranean Sea. Its an island state that lies between the continental Europe and the Middle East.

In recent decades, Cyprus and Israel have developed a close relationship. This is a reversal of the previous stance of Cyprus when it sided with the Arab world and supported the Palestinian statehood.

The terrain of Cyprus is similar to that of Lebanon and the Israeli military has used the island to hold exercises in recent years there to prepare for a war with Hezbollah in Lebanon, according to CNN.

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The Israeli and Cypriot forces have also conducted joint military exercises in 2022 and 2023.

While these may be irritants for Hezbollah, a major irritant may be the British airbase in the country that the US and British air forces have used to carry out attacks against the Yemen-based Houthis, who have terrorised the maritime trade and transit in the region by attacking and hijacking ships.

The British and American air forces have used the Royal Air Forces Akrotiri (RAF Akrotiri) base in Cyprus to carry out operations in the Middle East. As the Houthis are part of the Iran-sponsored Axis of Resistance which is opposed to Israel and the United States, the usage of the islands territories against one of the Axis members may have led the Hezbollah to threaten the country.

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Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and other groups are part of the Axis. They are united in their backing from Iran and opposition to the existence of Israel and enmity with the United States.
Apple has announced a Back-to-School sale in India, offering exclusive discounts to students and educators. The sale includes free AirPods and Apple Pencil with select products and is now live on Apples Education Store.

Back To School offers on Apple Education store

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MacBook Air Offers

13 M2 chip (8 + 256GB)  Rs. 89,990

13 M2 chip (8 + 512GB)  Rs. 1,09,900

13 M3 chip (8 + 256GB) 8-Core CPU / 8-Core GPU  Rs. 1,04,900

13 M3 chip (8 + 512GB) 8-Core CPU / 10-Core GPU  Rs. 1,24,900

13 M3 chip (16 + 512GB) 8-Core CPU / 10-Core GPU  Rs. 1,44,900

15 M3 chip (8 + 256GB)  Rs. 1,24,900

15 M3 chip (8 + 512GB)  Rs. 1,44,900

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iPad Air Offers

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11 iPad Air 256GB  Rs. 64,990

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11 iPad Air 1TB  Rs. 99,900

13 iPad Air 128GB  Rs. 74,990

13 iPad Air 256GB  Rs. 84,990

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13 iPad Air 1TB  Rs. 1,19,900

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iMac Offers

8-core CPU / 8-core GPU (8 + 256GB)  Rs. 1,29,900

8-core CPU / 10-core GPU (8 + 256GB)  Rs. 1,44,900

8-core CPU / 10-core GPU (8 + 512GB)  Rs. 1,64,900

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Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11 (M4)  Rs. 27,900

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Free Engraving

AirPods (3rd generation) with Lightning Charging Case / MagSafe Charging Case

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Education savings on selected Apple products, including Mac, iPad, Apple Pencil, and more.

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The Back-to-School 2024 sale is available on the Apple Online Store and at Apple BKC & Saket stores until September 30, 2024.
vivo has announced that it will launch the vivo T3 Lite 5G, the companys next 5G smartphone, which it says will be its most affordable 5G smartphone.

This should be cheaper than the vivo T3x which was launched in the country back in April starting at Rs. 13,499. To remind you, last years vivo T2x was launched starting at Rs. 12,999, so this could be even cheaper.

The image shows dual rear cameras, grey and green colours for the phone.

It will reveal SoC and camera details in the coming days, but the company hints that it will use a Sony sensor, and the secondary camera should be a 2MP depth sensor.

Based on reports, the vivo T3 Lite 5G with the model number V2356 is said to be powered by MediaTek Dimensity 6300 SoC, which we had seen in several realme phones. This will be a minor upgrade compared to the Dimensity 6020 used in the vivo T3x.

There are also rumours of 120Hz LCD screen. The phone will be sold on Flipkart, in addition to vivo India online store and offline stores, according to the company.
China urges Philippines to immediately stop infringement, provocation on Ren'ai Jiao issue

Xinhua) 16:34, June 21, 2024

BEIJING, June 21 (Xinhua) -- China urged the Philippines to immediately stop infringement and provocations on the Ren'ai Jiao issue, and return to the right track of properly managing differences through dialogue and consultation as soon as possible, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Friday.

Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks at a regular news briefing when asked to comment on the recent moves by the Philippine military at Ren'ai Jiao, China's Nansha Qundao.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Defying China, US lawmakers meet with Dalai Lama

The visit comes after Congress passes the Resolve Tibet Act.

By Tenzin Pema for RFA Tibetan 2024.06.19 -- Defying a warning from China, a delegation of U.S. lawmakers met with the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, in northern India, on Wednesday, telling the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader that the recent passage of U.S. legislation is a major step toward ensuring the self-determination of the Tibetan people.

Led by Rep. Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican and chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the bipartisan delegation also visited the Central Tibetan Administration, or CTA, the Tibetan government-in-exile, which McCaul called "the temple of democracy."

Their two-day trip comes a week after Congress passed legislation known as the Resolve Tibet Act urging Beijing to resolve the China-Tibet dispute through dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his representatives - a bill they said President Joe Biden is expected to sign into law in coming days.

The bill "is a major shift in U.S. policy towards Tibet on a road of self-determination," McCaul told members of the CTA. "The United Nations talks about how every people and every country has a right to self-determination and we believe the people of Tibet have that right as well."

No formal talks with Beijing on how Tibet should be governed have happened since 2010.

McCaul said he was "so proud of the people of Tibet for having this temple of democracy in exile and I hope that one day this temple of democracy will be back in Tibet itself."

Upon receiving a framed copy of the U.S. legislation on Tibet, the Dalai Lama thanked the delegation and called the bill "very important."

Bipartisan delegation

The congressional delegation included former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi; Rep. Gregory Meeks, a Democrat from New York who is his party's ranking member on the Foreign Affairs Committee; Rep. Jim McGovern, a Democrat from Massachusetts who is also a member of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China.

It also included Rep. Ami Bera, a Democrat from California, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, an Iowa Republican, and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, a Republican from New York.

"Our presence here today is also a symbol, a sign to Chinese leaders that America will never ever waver in our support for the Tibetan people," McGovern told the CTA.

China invaded the independent Himalayan country of Tibet in 1950 and has controlled the territory ever since. The Dalai Lama fled into exile in India amid a failed 1959 uprising against Chinese rule.

Since then, Beijing has sought to legitimize Chinese rule through the suppression of dissent and policies undermining Tibetan culture and language. More recently, China has also sought to control the reincarnation process of Tibetan religious leaders in an attempt to interfere in the selection of the Dalai Lama's reincarnation.

"The Chinese Communist Party continues to threaten the freedom of the Tibetan people, and they have even attempted to insert themselves into the succession of the Dalai Lama," McCaul said.

"But we will not let that happen," he said.

Warning from China

Earlier this week, the delegation received a letter from the Chinese Communist Party warning them not to visit Dharamsala, McCaul said.

"But we did not let the CCP intimidate us, for we are here today," he said.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian on Tuesday criticized the trip.

"We are gravely concerned over the relevant reports and urge the U.S. side to fully recognize the anti-China separatist nature of the Dalai group, honor the commitments the U.S. has made to China on issues related to Xizang, have no contact with the Dalai group in any form, and stop sending the wrong signal to the world," Lin Jian said at a media briefing, using a term that China has started to use to refer to Tibet.

The United States must not sign the bill into law and China will take steps to "firmly defend its sovereignty, security and development interests," he added.

Beijing believes the Dalai Lama wants to split off the Tibet Autonomous Region and other Tibetan-populated areas in China's Sichuan, Qinghai, Yunnan, and Gansu provinces from the rest of the country.

However, the Dalai Lama does not advocate for independence but rather proposes what he calls a "Middle Way" that accepts Tibet's status as a part of China and urges greater cultural and religious freedoms, including strengthened language rights.

"We all are (the) same human being and we all have the same right. And this world belongs to humanity," he told the delegates at his residence.

"So we should take care of this world, irrespective of what religion or tradition (one belongs to). People of the world should be peaceful, happy," he said. "That's our goal."

Greeted warmly

Upon their arrival Tuesday at Dharamsala's Gaggal Airport, the delegation was greeted by hundreds of cheering Tibetans who were waving American and Tibetan flags.

Later that day and next, as the delegation visited the Central Tibetan Administration and the Tibet Museum, and participated in a public ceremony organized by the CTA.

"The Tibetan people possess a distinct religion, culture and historic identity and they should have a say in their own future. You should be able to freely practice your religion and that is why we are here today in defiance of CCP's warning," McCaul said at the ceremony.

Pelosi, the former House speaker, also underscored the importance of the Resolve Tibet Act.

"We had been fighting for this (bill) for a long time," she said.

"This bill is a message to the Chinese government that we have clarity in our thinking and our understanding of this issue of the freedom of Tibet," Pelosi said.

The legislation rejects Beijing's position that Tibet has been part of China since ancient times and calls on Beijing to "cease its propagation of disinformation about the history of Tibet, the Tibetan people, and Tibetan institutions, including that of the Dalai Lama."

"This message of the U.S. Congress should reach out to other governments," Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the democratically elected leader of the Central Tibetan Administration.

"I have also spoken with the State Department that once this becomes law then it's incumbent upon them to work with like-minded countries to make sure that similar resolutions or similar statements or similar laws are adopted in other nations," Tsering added.

Pelosi presented the Dalai Lama with a painting of the dome of the Capitol, which she said should serve as a constant reminder of the many friends he has there.

Additional reporting by Yeshi Dawa, Lobe Socktsang, Dickey Kundol, Tenzin Dhonyoe, Tenzin Lekmon, Dechen Wangmo. Edited by Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content 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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Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York

19 June 2024

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

** Occupied Palestinian Territory

Good afternoon and thank you all for your patience.

So first off, in Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that people continue to be displaced amidst active fighting and bombardment.

Currently, the UN Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA, estimates that 65,000 people remain in Rafah. This is in stark contrast to six weeks ago, when Rafah hosted 1.4 million displaced people before the Israeli evacuation orders and military operations.

UNRWA also tells us that for more than eight months now, 625,000 children have been out of school because of the hostilities. Humanitarian partners are lending support by offering psychosocial activities, but children need to resume their schooling.

Meanwhile, OCHA reports that for the first time since early June, five trucks of fuel entered Gaza. However, the supplies remain scarce as no fuel had been delivered in the Strip for the past two weeks.

** Libya

Stephanie Koury, the Deputy Special Representative for Libya, briefed the Security Council on her consultations with Libyans today, and she said that overwhelmingly, citizens conveyed the need for a political agreement so that credible national elections can be held to restore legitimacy to all institutions. She discussed the need for an inclusive Libyan-led process to overcome the political impasse and support the Libyan people in achieving their aspirations for peace, stability, prosperity and democracy.

Ms. Koury said that many Libyans continue to express deep concerns, which she shares, about the de facto division of the country and parallel governing institutions. These developments undermine economic, security and stability, as well as Libya's sovereignty and territorial integrity, amidst concerns about the impact of geopolitical tensions on Libya.

She commended the work of the Presidential Council and the House of Representatives Justice and Reconciliation Committee for agreeing on one draft law that upholds victims' rights and adheres to international standards. She calls on all relevant bodies to engage in the same spirit so that this vital legislation can be adopted based on consensus.

** Ukraine

As you know, yesterday afternoon, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, briefed the Security Council on Ukraine. She noted that this past weekend, many world leaders came together in Switzerland to build consensus on the elements of a just peace in Ukraine. Those discussions took place in the wake of a sharp escalation of hostilities and an appalling increase in civilian casualties.

Ms. DiCarlo said that in Switzerland over the weekend, many voices stressed the need to adhere to the principles of the UN Charter. She stressed that these principles are as valid today as they were in 1945.

Ms. DiCarlo added that the Secretary-General has been consistent and clear, calling for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in Ukraine, in line with the UN Charter, international law and relevant General Assembly resolutions. The United Nations welcomes and is ready to support all meaningful efforts and initiatives towards this end.

** HIV/AIDS

This morning, the Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, spoke at the General Assembly Annual Review of HIV/AIDS on behalf of the Secretary-General.

She said that on HIV and AIDS, we have an inspirational story to tell with more than three quarters of those living with HIV receiving live-saving treatment  that's almost 30 million people globally.

Access to antiretroviral therapy has expanded massively across sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia and the Pacific  which together are home to more than 80 per cent of people living with HIV.

She added that if progress is maintained, we are on course to reach a key global milestone next year: 34 million people receiving HIV treatment.

Ms. Mohammed urged countries to continue with this progress by supporting low- and middle-income countries so they can expand their national health and HIV investments.

** Haiti

We have an update on displacement in Haiti. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) says that nearly 580,000 people are now internally displaced across the country. This, they say, represents a 60 per cent increase since March.

In addition to the displacement in and around the capital, Port-au-Prince, violence has pushed ever greater numbers of people to flee to neighbouring provinces. As a result, in the Southern region, the number of internally displaced men, women and children has gone from 116,000 to 270,000 in the last three months.

Most of those displaced are currently hosted by communities already struggling with overburdened social services and poor infrastructure. IOM says this is particularly acute in the country's southern areas, already weakened by the 2021 earthquake.

In the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, two thirds of the people displaced live in spontaneous sites with very limited access to basic services.

Since the end of February, IOM has provided nearly 5 million litres of clean water to some 25,000 people and rehabilitated 22 water hand pumps. More than 37,000 people have been provided with relief supplies including blankets, water containers, solar lamps, kitchen sets and plastic sheets. Mobile clinics have also been deployed to provide medical assistance and psychosocial support has been made available, including through a free hotline.

** Sudan

Turning to Sudan: The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, who today concluded his second visit to Sudan since the outbreak of war last year, warned that without concerted peace efforts, many more people will flee the brutal war in Sudan and into neighbouring countries.

Mr. Grandi visited refugee camps and displacement centres in Kosti, in Sudan's White Nile State, where over a million people have sought shelter since the fighting started. He noted that the level of suffering is truly unconscionable, adding that Sudan is the definition of a perfect storm: shocking human rights atrocities, with millions uprooted by this insane war and other wars that came before it.

Mr. Grandi warned that a terrible famine is looming, and severe floods will soon hamper aid deliveries even more. He expressed deep alarm at the scale of the humanitarian emergency. Violence has escalated in El Fasher, North Darfur, and atrocities have been reported against civilians in Al Jazira State.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and partners have scaled up response efforts in White Nile and other areas. Since the start of the conflict, UNHCR has reached some 800,000 displaced Sudanese with protection assistance, services and referrals, cash, core relief items and emergency shelter.

** Air Pollution

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), in partnership with the Health Effects Institute, an independent United States-based nonprofit organization, today released a report that says air pollution is having an increasing impact on human health, becoming the second leading global risk factor for death.

The report found that air pollution accounted for 8.1 million deaths globally in 2021. The report also says that children under 5 years old are especially vulnerable, with health effects including premature birth, low birth weight, asthma and lung diseases. In 2021, exposure to air pollution was linked to more than 700,000 deaths of children under 5 years old, making it the second leading risk factor for death globally for this age group, after malnutrition. A staggering 500,000 of these child deaths were linked to household air pollution due to cooking indoors with polluting fuels, mostly in Africa and Asia.

More information online.

** International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict

Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, which this year focuses on health care. In a message for the day, the Secretary-General points out that conflict-related sexual violence is a devastating form of attack and repression, which has lasting, harmful effects on survivors' physical, sexual, reproductive and mental health, and destroys the social fabric of communities.

This past year has seen harrowing reports of sexual violence from Sudan to Haiti and Israel, he notes, adding that far too often, the perpetrators walk free while survivors spend their entire lives in recovery.

On this International Day, the Secretary-General calls on all to pledge to eliminate this scourge, stand in solidarity with survivors, and reaffirm our commitment to protecting hospitals and health-care facilities during conflict.

And I can flag that today, the Department of Peace Operations has launched the report "Preventing and Responding to Conflict-related Sexual Violence: 2023 Annual Summaries of Activities and Good Practices by United Nations Peacekeeping Operations".

The report is available online and if you need more information, you can contact our UN Peacekeeping colleagues.

** Briefing Guests

Tomorrow, our guests will be UN Development Programme (UNDP) Global Director for Climate Change Cassie Flynn and Professor of Political Sociology at the University of Oxford Stephen Fisher.

They will launch the second edition of the People's Climate Vote (PCV)  the largest ever poll of public opinion on global climate action.

** Questions and Answers

Deputy Spokesman : Yes. Dezhi and then Edie.

Correspondent : Never expect to be the first one...

Deputy Spokesman : Well, it's only because you keep saying that she asked your questions first. So, this time, you can do the same.

Question : Okay. So, Farhan, in my hand, this is the report, the 21-page report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and Israel. Just want to know, what does the Secretary-General have to say on the conclusion in this report? Does the Secretary-General support the conclusion? Does he think this conclusion is correct?

Deputy Spokesman : Well, certainly, he respects the work being done by the Commission of Inquiry, but this is a report, as you know, that goes to the members of the Human Rights Council, and it's for them to evaluate. And so, he will leave it for the Human Rights Council to evaluate the conclusions reached by the Commission of Inquiry.

Question : But this commission is set up to, I quote, "investigate all alleged violations of international humanitarian law and abuses of international human rights law leading up and since 13 April 2021". So technically speaking, this is not a rapporteur. This is a UN commission. Right?

Deputy Spokesman : Yeah. It's a commission of inquiry, which is set up by and reports to the Human Rights Council. And so that is where the reports go. Obviously, they've been doing serious work for some years now, and the Human Rights Council should listen to what they have to say.

Question : So, they suggest that both Hamas and [Islamic] Jihad group, as well as Israel IDF (Israel Defence Forces), they both... all of them committed war crimes and particularly crimes against humanity for the Israel. Does the Secretary-General think that is the situation here?

Deputy Spokesman : These are things ultimately that are being investigated by different bodies in different ways, as you know.

Question : So, this is an investigation, right? Then this is the conclusion.

Deputy Spokesman : This is one such body. There are other bodies also doing similar work. As you know, these are considerations that have been taken up by the International Criminal Court (ICC), by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has also been looking into reported violations, and so we let them go about their extremely serious work while this is ongoing.

Question : And my second question, the IDF just green-lighted a plan to have all-out war against Hizbullah in Lebanon. We know that yesterday, you mentioned about the situation near Blue Line. Does the Secretary-General have anything to say on the fast developing, let's say, deteriorating situation in the border area there?

Deputy Spokesman : Well, the Secretary-General has repeatedly spoken against any escalation of the conflict along the Blue Line. He, as well as Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, our Special Coordinator in Lebanon, and General Aroldo Lazaro, the Force Commander for UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon), have all been warning and trying to work with the parties to make sure that tensions are de-escalated, and we will continue with that work.

Question : I'm just curious. If Israel really started their operation in Lebanon, would that be considered as invasion?

Deputy Spokesman : I don't want to speculate on something that hasn't happened yet. But certainly, we have warned that any further tensions in the region, any escalation of tensions in the region would be devastating. And the Secretary-General has already warned against what has happened in Gaza, and we cannot afford to have the similar sort of violence happen elsewhere.

Correspondent : Okay. And I'll leave my colleagues to ask about DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) and Russia.

Deputy Spokesman : Okay, Edie?

Question : Thank you, Farhan. First, a follow-up on, what you said from UNRWA about the 1.5 million people who were in Rafah and only 55...

Deputy Spokesman : Sixty-five thousand.

Question : ...Thousand left. First, is there any breakdown on exactly where the rest of the people from Rafah actually went and fled to? And secondly, are the 55,000 people who are still in Rafah, are they... because the crossing is closed, are they actually getting any humanitarian aid and food?

Deputy Spokesman : We've warned for some time that the amount of food going into Southern Gaza as a whole is extremely limited, given the closure of the Rafah crossing. And so, we've been warning against that. We are trying and we continue to get some small amount of supplies in, but it's been very difficult. Regarding where the population has gone, there's no precise numbers to share at this time, but clearly very large numbers of people have gone into Khan Younis and Deir el-Balah. So, they're in other parts of Southern Gaza close to Rafah, but away from it.

Question : My second question goes to the road from Kerem Shalom to the North-South Highway; has any UN Humanitarian Aid gotten through on that road in the past day?

Deputy Spokesman : Yeah. What I can say, although no fighting was reported today in the area between Kerem Shalom and the Salah al-Din Road, our humanitarian colleagues were not able to pick up aid from Kerem Shalom due to lack of law and order in the area, as this is the sort of unrest that we've been warning about for some days now. Five trucks of fuel travelled via the fence road and entered Gaza via the military gate. The responsibility of Israel as the occupying Power does not stop at Kerem Shalom where aid is dropped off. It includes ensuring that this assistance reaches women, children, and elderly who need it the most and creating the enabling environment to do so. So, we have been working with our Israeli counterparts to make sure that those additional responsibilities are dealt with.

Question : Does the UN know who is responsible for this lawlessness? Is it criminals? Is it hungry people? Is it anybody else?

Deputy Spokesman : It's hard to say. It's clear that it's probably a combination of several factors. Criminal gangs are taking advantage of the unrest, but there's an overall anarchy and there are a lot frightened people. So, there's many different causes behind this.

Abdelhamid and then Amelie.

Question : Thank you, Farhan. The situation in the West Bank is really deteriorating so fast. Reports are coming from the West Bank about the settlers' violent attacks. Even now, there's hungry people in the refugee camps especially, because everything is under siege. Yet the West Bank situation does not show in your daily reports.

Deputy Spokesman : No. I disagree. I actually spoke extensively about the West Bank just yesterday.

Question : Yeah. My second question about Dr. Iyad Rantisi, who was kidnapped in November and found dead six days later. Now Haaretz is reporting that he died under investigation. He's the second doctor who killed, was murdered during the investigation. Do you have any information to share with us?

Deputy Spokesman : Certainly, we want this killing to be thoroughly investigated, but as you know, we stand firmly against the mistreatment, the harassment, and, in some cases, the killing of medical workers and medical professionals.

Amelie and then Gabriel.

Question : Thanks, Farhan. I have a few questions on the floating dock. The US over the weekend said that they are moving it to Ashdod port, to protect it from rough seas, and then they will bring it back later. So, considering all the difficulties, around this dock, from the UN point of view, is this worth bringing it back afterwards?

Deputy Spokesman : Well, certainly, questions about the relocation of the floating dock are really for our US counterparts. But on our side, our basic position has always been that we welcome any and all efforts to bring in additional aid to Gaza, given the crucial need for aid. But at the same time, we have made very clear the limitations of getting aid through these avenues.

Question : And was the security assessment by WFP finished? I mean, like, if the dock comes back, will WFP be able to restart their operation at the dock?

Deputy Spokesman : There's no further updates on our security evaluation of the situation. Gabriel?

Question : Thank you, Farhan. The UN High Commissioner of Human Rights released a report, a thematic report on indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks during the conflict in Gaza. It looked at six different attacks by the Israeli military, at a residential building, school, refugee camp, and a market. The report concluded that the Israel strikes did not... repeatedly violated the fundamental principles of the laws of war. Has the Secretary-General seen this, and what's his reaction to the report?

Deputy Spokesman : Yeah. Yes, he has, and he stands by the work done by the High Commissioner for Human Rights. It's clear that what our human rights colleagues have found is that there were failings in terms of abiding by the laws of war, particularly with respect to the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precautions. And we've been talking about this now for many months  that any attacks have to abide by norms regarding those topics. What Mr. [Volker] Turk has said is the need, the requirement to select means and methods of warfare to minimize civilian casualties appear to have been consistently violated during the bombing campaign. And this is something that the in-depth look at six specific incidents seems to bear out. So, we would encourage you to read the full report for that information.

Question : And who should be held accountable for this? How should accountability be carried out?

Deputy Spokesman : Well, as I'd mentioned in response to an earlier question, there are many different groups looking into things. Obviously, there will be the need, as with every conflict, for measures for accountability to be taken.

Yes, please, in the back. Yes, you.

Question : Me? Sorry, okay. It worked. Do you have any updates or timetable of Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Cyprus issue, Ms. Maria Holguin's upcoming visit to Cyprus?

Deputy Spokesman : Not at this stage. When we have a new visit by Ms. Holguin to Cyprus to announce, we'll let you know.

Correspondent : I asked you because Mr. [Stephane] Dujarric a week ago confirmed that Ms. Holguin is going to travel to Cyprus to continue her effort to find common ground between the two sides. Therefore, I asked.

Deputy Spokesman : Yeah. And certainly, a trip is planned. Once we have, any dates to share, we'll let you know. Stefano?

Question : Thank you, Farhan. This is a follow-up on UNIFIL. I understand that the Secretary-General wish that that there is not another front and so on, but it looks like it's not anymore "if" but it's "when".

Deputy Spokesman : No. That's not the case. It's still a case of "if".

Question : Okay. Let's hope. We all hope. Yes. But looks like the war is imminent there. So, my question is about UNIFIL. Does the UN have contact with the Israeli Government that the Israeli will inform in a timely manner when they're going to invade Lebanon, so that the UNIFIL troops can, I don't know, be maybe evacuated before this happened? Do you have any agreement on that?

Deputy Spokesman : The UN Interim Force in Lebanon is in touch with all the parties on both sides to the Blue Line to make sure that the situation can remain as calm as possible. And it will continue to work with the parties to deter any escalation of the conflict.

Question : Just a quick follow-up. So, if Israel will invade, you are telling me now that basically can happen a situation where there is an open confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah with UN blue helmet soldiers in the middle? They still there? They're going to still be there?

Deputy Spokesman : No. No. No. That's both speculative and alarmist. What we are trying to do is make sure that there's no escalation. This is what UNIFIL is working towards. This is what the Secretary-General and his key officials on the ground, including Ms. Hennis-Plasschaert, are working towards, and we will continue with that effort.

Yes, Linda, and then Yvonne.

Question : All right. Thank you, Farhan. I just have a question regarding the SG. I was just wondering, given what's happening in Gaza and now in Lebanon, has he been in touch lately with any of the leaders of these countries, whether it's Lebanon, Israel or Hamas? [cross talk] Recently. Like in the last... [cross talk]

Deputy Spokesman : He's been in touch periodically with the various leaders, and his officials on the ground are also in touch with the leaders.

Question : No. No. I understand that. I was just thinking maybe, you know, his own personal diplomacy.

Deputy Spokesman : Yeah. He has spoken to different leaders on each side, not in the last days, but certainly in recent weeks. Yvonne?

Question : Thanks, Farhan. Following up from Stefano's question, if... what is the protocol in the event of an all-out conflagration breaking out while peacekeeping troops are in that area, what is the protocol? What are the steps that the peacekeeping mission then has to take?

Deputy Spokesman : Again, without being drawn too much into speculation on this, in the past, whenever UN troops are in the middle of conflicts, this becomes an issue for the peacekeeping mission to deal with the parties, but also becomes an issue for the Security Council as it deals with what the appropriate mandate of the mission should be.

All right. Have a good afternoon.

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg

Prime Minister of Canada - Justin Trudeau

June 20, 2024

Ottawa, Ontario

Yesterday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Jens Stoltenberg.

Prime Minister Trudeau and Secretary General Stoltenberg discussed Russia's illegal and unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine and reiterated the importance of continued military, financial, and humanitarian support to the Ukrainian government and people. The leaders underscored Canada's significant support to Ukraine to date, through the donation of military equipment, training, economic support, and humanitarian assistance.

The Prime Minister and the Secretary General discussed Canada's contributions to reinforce NATO's eastern flank, including through Canada's leadership as the Framework Nation to NATO's multinational enhanced Forward Presence in Latvia. Prime Minister Trudeau reaffirmed Canada's commitment to strengthening shared security priorities and increasing defence spending, as announced in Canada's defence policy update, Our North, Strong and Free, which was released in April.

The Prime Minister and the Secretary General also discussed priorities for the upcoming NATO Summit, which will take place in Washington, D.C., in July, such as increasing support to Ukraine, bolstering defence and deterrence, enhancing industrial defence capacity and co-operation, as well as addressing other ongoing and future transatlantic security threats and challenges.

Prime Minister Trudeau and Secretary General Stoltenberg agreed to staying in close contact and looked forward to meeting again at the NATO Summit.

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Statement by the Government Spokesman, Mr Konstantinos Letymbiotis

Press and Information Office, Ministry of Interior, Republic of Cyprus

20-06-2024

Any public allegations that refer to an involvement of Cyprus, through its infrastructure or its territory, in the event of a confrontation that relates to Lebanon are totally groundless. Cyprus has never facilitated and will not facilitate any aggressive action or attack against any country.

Cyprus is a credible enabler of stability and an acknowledged regional hub for humanitarian operations, based on excellent relations with all the countries in the region.

Cyprus' profile is based on its reliability and predictability. Through its diverse practical initiatives, intense engagement and active diplomacy (including lately the humanitarian maritime corridor) it contributes to fostering conditions of regional peace, prosperity and security.

Cyprus is a champion of conflict resolution through peaceful means and dialogue in line with international law and the UN Charter.

Specifically, as regards Lebanon, the excellent relations between the two countries are well-known. President Christodoulides has visited the country twice in the last three months, spearheading the release of 1 billion euros EU financial assistance package for strengthening the stability in Lebanon.

Cyprus is not part of the problem. As it is widely acknowledged, its diplomatic footprint is part of the solution.



(RM//EP)

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June 20, 2024

Transcript

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder Holds a Press Briefing

MAJOR GENERAL PAT RYDER: All right. Well, good afternoon, everybody. Just a few things here at the top and we'll get right to your questions.

First up, I can confirm that U.S. Central Command personnel re-anchored and re-established the temporary pier to the Gaza beach yesterday. As has been the case in the past, Israeli Defense Force engineers provided all the necessary support to ensure the safe emplacement of the pier on the beach, and there were no U.S. boots on the ground during the re-establishment of the pier.

Overnight, the transfer of humanitarian assistance from Cyprus to Gaza resumed, with more than 656 metric tons, or 1.4 million pounds, being delivered to the marshaling yard in Gaza today. Since May 17, when the temporary pier first went operational, over 4,100 metric tons, or 9.1 million pounds, have been delivered through the maritime corridor for onward delivery by humanitarian organizations.

And I'd like to reiterate that while it's always been our intention for the pier to be a temporary solution as part of a broader international effort to surge humanitarian assistance into Gaza to meet the urgent needs of the Palestinian people, we have not established an end date for this mission as of now, contrary to some press reporting on the matter.

Therefore, we'll continue to facilitate the transfer of humanitarian aid via the maritime corridor, and as always, take necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of the personnel operating the pier, to include adjusting to sea states in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, the same way we do with aircraft operations in the event of inclement weather or conditions.

And finally, the orderly withdrawal of U.S. forces from Niger continues. As AFRICOM highlighted in their announcement earlier this month, U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft have begun ferrying personnel and equipment out of the country, in accordance with the arrangements made between U.S. officials and the CNSP in May.

While U.S. personnel numbers will naturally fluctuate during the drawdown period, there are currently approximately 600 U.S. personnel in country, and we remain on track for a complete withdrawal by September 15 as agreed upon.

We'll of course continue to keep you updated regarding any significant developments.

And with that, I'd be happy to take your questions. We'll go to Associated Press, Tara.

Q: Thank you, General Ryder. Thanks for doing this. With the aid moving back through the pier again, can you give us a sense of how much of it has actually moved out of the marshaling yard and onto it -its ultimate destinations, or is it all still in the marshaling yard?

GEN. RYDER: That's really a question I'll have to direct to USAID and World Food Program. As you know, they're responsible for the onward distribution. And so they're in the best position to talk about the current status of that aid and what their game plan is to deliver it.

Q: And World Central Kitchen said they were not using the pier in any way. So is it just World Food Program participants that are using this pier?

GEN. RYDER: Again, I'd refer you to USAID. I know they're working obviously with humanitarian organizations, to include the World Food Program, for distribution, but again, I think the important point here is that this is just one part of a broader international effort that consists of aid being delivered via a maritime corridor, the air, and of course ground being the optimal way to get aid. But again, we're going to continue to push as much aid into Gaza as we can.

Q: And are there any updates on airdrop operations?

GEN. RYDER: I don't have an update to provide, other than the fact that we will continue to conduct airdrops to get aid into Gaza.

Q: ... since the Rafah operation started, or do you have an intermittent start?

GEN. RYDER: Let me look  we've done  between March 2nd and today, there's been 39 humanitarian assistance airdrops. The last drop was on June 9th. But again, we will maintain the option and have the capability and will conduct airdrops in the future.

Let me go to Jennifer.

Q: General Ryder, how concerned is the Pentagon that war could break out on the Lebanese border with Israel right now?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, so of course this is something that we're continuing to follow very closely, Jennifer. You know, as we've mentioned before, we do have concerns about tensions along that border. We continue to encourage a diplomatic solution. And so we're going to stay very focused on that.

Q: And what was the purpose of the USS Ford coming in for a port call?

GEN. RYDER: The USS Ford coming to a port call?

Q: I was  well, maybe I misread that they were in the Mediterranean.

GEN. RYDER: I'm not tracking that, so yeah.

Q: ... that's a mistake  in terms of Putin's visit to North Korea and to Vietnam, how seriously do you take this new mutual defense treaty? Is this a return to the Cold War? Is it  are you seeing additional weapons moving from North Korea to Ukraine? How serious do you take this relation  new relationship?

GEN. RYDER: And just to clarify, you said Vietnam. Do you mean DPRK?

Q: North Korea  yeah.

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, I mean, it's obviously something that we're continuing to monitor very closely. As you've heard others in the U.S. government talk about, you know, there is no surprise here that they've been developing and fostering this relationship.

So it is something that we're going to take seriously, and it's something that we're going to continue to monitor, but what we've also said is that our focus when it comes to the Indo-Pacific, and broadly speaking, worldwide, is to work with likeminded nations on security and stability throughout the world, to include the Indo-Pacific region.

So we're going to continue to strengthen and bolster those alliances and those relationships, with the idea that our focus is on peace, security, and stability, but certainly are also going to continue to keep a close eye on this.

Q: And in Vietnam, Putin said that Russia's considering changing its nuclear doctrine and its first use doctrine. Do you take that seriously, or is this just nuclear saber-rattling?

GEN. RYDER: You know, we've seen nothing at this point that would require us to change our own strategic forces posture. Again, it's not the first time that we've heard of reckless nuclear saber-rattling. It's certainly irresponsible for countries that maintain these types of capabilities to make those kinds of comments.

But again, I go back to what I said earlier, that our focus is on security and stability, not only in the region but throughout the world. And so we'll continue to stay focused on that.

Let me go here to CNN.

Q: Thanks, General Ryder. So National Security Advisor Sullivan said earlier this week that with regards to the policy allowing Ukraine to use U.S.-made weapons to strike over the border into Russia, that policy, quote, "extends to anywhere that Russian forces are coming across the border from the Russian side to the Ukrainian side."

So is that consistent with the Pentagon's understanding of this policy, or has the policy expanded beyond just that kind of narrow Kharkiv region that it was initially understood to be when this policy was implemented?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, so there has been no change in the policy. And really, at the end of the day, this comes down to counter-fire, right? And what you saw in the Kharkiv region is Russia was conducting its offensive, was the massing of forces, artillery fire, preparatory fire into Ukraine as they conducted these operations.

And so, the ability to be able to fire back when fired upon is really what this policy is focused on.

So, again, as we see Russian forces firing across the border, the ability for Ukraine to fire back at those ground forces using U.S. provided munitions, it's self-defense, and so it makes sense for them to be able to do that.

Q: And that applies only to the border areas? Or could it be further into Russia?

GEN. RYDER: Again, if you look back at kind of the early days of this war, and you had Russian forces that were, and still are, to a large degree, but en masse within Ukrainian occupied territory, what you saw were force on force conflicts that were happening within sovereign Ukraine.

So, in this case, what you see is Russian forces attempting to use their border as a safe zone from which to conduct preparatory fires and attacks into Ukraine, in support of offensive actions. And so, again, as we see those forces conducting those types of operations, from across the border, we've explained, you know, Ukraine can and does have the right to fire back to defend themselves.

So, again, not a change to the policy that was announced earlier. Now, when it comes to long term or, excuse me, long range munitions like ATACMS, again, there's been no change in the policy in that regard.

Q: So, it's broader than just Kharkiv, to be clear?

GEN. RYDER: Correct. It's focusing on the strategic intent here, which is counterfire when you're attacked, returning fire. Thank you.

Q: Thank you, General. If I may go back to the situation on the borders between Israel and Lebanon, obviously, you've been looking at the tension there. In terms of how dense the situation, are you seeing an indication that this is higher than before and that could lead to a wider confrontation? And do you believe there's still room for a diplomatic solution between Israel and Lebanon?

GEN. RYDER: So, the latter part of your question first. Yes, I think there's always time to talk and there's always a room for diplomatic solutions. I think given the amount of rocket fire we've seen going from both sides of the border, we've certainly been concerned about that situation, and both publicly and privately have been urging all parties to restore calm along that border, and again, to seek a diplomatic solution.

And so, you know, you've heard the White House talk about the fact that they've sent a special envoy. Secretary Austin  this is something that he's spoken about with his counterparts in the region. And so, again, this is something that we'll continue to stay focused on.

Q: Is the situation between Israel and Lebanon and maybe potential for escalation, has this prompted the DoD to maybe review the U.S. forces' posture in the region or change it in any way so far?

GEN. RYDER: As of right now, I don't have any announcements to make in terms of a force posture. Again, I think seeing the forest through the trees here, what we don't want to see is a broader regional conflict. And so, again, we're going to stay very focused on working with the rest of the U.S. interagency and with our partners in the region, to attempt to ensure that that doesn't happen and that this is resolved diplomatically. Thank you.

Let me go to the phone here real quick. Reuters, Idrees?

Q: Hey, just a quick question. Could you, I may have missed this, but how much aid is currently in the marshalling area?

GEN. RYDER: Yes, I don't have a number to provide, Idrees. I'd refer you to USAID to talk about how much aid they currently have for onward delivery.

Q: Is there a capacity at which point aid cannot gather at the marshalling area anymore, or is that not a concern?

GEN. RYDER: I mean, there is a certain capacity that the marshalling area can hold. I don't know that we've reached that at this stage. But you know, certainly that's a factor. But I don't have a specific amount to provide to you. OK. Let me go in the room here.

Tony?

Q: A couple of geopolitical questions I want to, on the North Korea-Russia, is the Pentagon is assessing or what types of technologies Russia may give to North Korea that they haven't in the past? I'm thinking ballistic missile guidance technology or along those lines?

GEN. RYDER: Yes. Thanks, Tony. I don't have any details, nor am I going to discuss in detail any agreements between Russia and the DPRK at this point. Again, I'd go back to what I said earlier. We're not surprised about this continuing burgeoning of this relationship. It's something that we're going to monitor closely.

And again, what you have seen in the past is the DPRK providing Russia with munitions that are being employed in Ukraine, killing Ukrainians, and supporting Russia's illegal war. So, again, definitely concerning for all those nations that respect sovereignty, respect the rule of law.

Q: A Ukraine weapons question. The White House today announced that it was directing American contractors to ship AMRAAM and Patriot weapons, missiles that were earmarked for foreign customers, other foreign customers, to Ukraine, giving them the priority. What role does the Pentagon have in this directive in implementing this directive or overseeing the shift of missiles from FMS customers to Ukraine?

GEN. RYDER: Yes, sure. To your point, as you highlighted, the resequencing of planned deliveries 

Q: How are your missile deliveries not plane?

GEN. RYDER: What's that?

Q: You said plane deliveries?

GEN. RYDER: Planned. The planned resequencing of planned deliveries. So, we're working closely with industry on the appropriate contracting actions from this resequencing to ensure that we're able to continue to support our security assistance requirements.

So, I'm not going to be able to go into any specifics beyond that in terms of what those contracting actions are, those companies are. But needless to say, again, we're going to make sure that not only are we supporting Ukraine, but that we're continuing to keep on track with those FMS deliveries as quickly as possible.

Q: These are missiles, right? Not the batteries?

GEN. RYDER: Correct, these are missiles. That's correct. All right.

Noah?

Q: In reference to the policy on cross border strikes, I just want to make sure I understand clarity. Was the policy never geographically bound, and was always focused on the intent of counterfire, like you're describing there? I just want to make sure that I understand this correctly.

GEN. RYDER: Yes, I mean, I think, you know, the context was, again, this Russian offensive that was emanating from the Kharkiv Region. And so, being able to check that offensive and enable the Ukrainians to fire back, and to not allow Russia to use that zone across the border there as a safe haven from which to conduct those attacks.

Q: So, it changed in reference to the offensive near Kharkiv, but it was never intended just to be around Kharkiv, if I understand you?

GEN. RYDER: Yes, exactly. I mean, I think the policy here is, again, and I think, you know, the National Security Advisor put it, you know, in great words here, in the sense that it's not about geography, it's about common sense. Right? Being able to fire back if you're fired upon. If we can go to Tom.

Q: Thanks, General. Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthi rebels, today gave a speech in which he said that British  sorry, U.S. and British airstrikes have had no effect at all on the group. Could you comment on that?

GEN. RYDER: Well, they started with a certain amount of capability, and now they have a less amount of capability, so that's just factually incorrect.

Q: But the tempo and severity and damage caused by the attacks is increasing, and obviously the stress that the U.S. Navy is under is increasing too. So what's the end point here?

GEN. RYDER: Well, again, as I said on Tuesday, you know, the ultimate objective here is to ensure freedom of navigation through the Red Sea and to continue to work with the international community to safeguard mariners that are transiting this area, and we'll continue to do that.

And again, you know, the more that the Houthis continue to do these types of attacks long-term, it is going to also in the medium and near-term, it's going to continue to have significant impacts on their own citizens, the people that are living under Houthi control, in terms of the ability for aid to be delivered to Yemen, the environmental impact on the Red Sea, as well as the economic viability of that region.

So again, you know, we're not looking to get into a full-scale conflict with the Houthis. Our focus, again, continues to be on freedom of navigation and safety of the maritime corridor, and that's what we'll stay focused on.

All right, Luis?

Q: What is the department's comment on the situation that happened earlier this week in the Philippines to the Second Thomas Shoal? The Philippine government has released video that shows a machete-wielding, knife-wielding China Coast Guard service members attacking these boats belonging to the Philippines on a resupply mission. What do you have to say to that? And then I have a follow-up please.

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, I mean, I kind of touched on this earlier this week, right? I mean, this kind of behavior, it's provocative, it's reckless, it's unnecessary. It's also antithetical to the PRC's claims about respect for sovereignty.

And so again, the Philippines should have the right to be able to operate within their legal maritime claims. Those need to be protected. So again, we continue to stand by our ally, the Philippines, and we're going to continue to call out this kind of irresponsible and reckless behavior when we see it.

Q: And when you say "stand by," does that mean that the U.S. is considering moving some assets there to kind of show that support for the Philippines?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, I don't have any announcements to make, Luis. We're confident in our force posture in the region right now, and again, I'll just leave it at that.

Janne?

Q: Thank you, General. On the  I mean, North Korea and Russia's mutual defense agreement, this is a treaty that allows Russia to intervene militarily in case of emergency on the Korean Peninsula. What is the U.S.'s reaction on this?

GEN. RYDER: Well, again, without getting into the specifics of their agreement, the alliance that the United States has with the ROK and Japan is a defensive alliance, right? We're there to defend, we're not there to make war.

And so again, our focus is going to be on working with likeminded partners in the region, to include our allies ROK and Japan, on ensuring peace, security, and stability throughout the region.

Q: Can you tell us what is the difference between South Korea and United States' mutual defense agreement and North Korea and Russia's mutual defense agreements? Is there any difference, looks like, or ...

GEN. RYDER: Well, again, I'm not going to do a comparative analysis here from the podium in terms of the various agreements, other than to say we've been very clear about our ironclad support for our ROK allies.

Q: Kim Jong-un told President Putin he fully supported Russia's special military operation against Ukraine, and Putin promised military technology support  including fighter jets to North Korea. What change will this make to the war in Ukraine?

GEN. RYDER: Well, I just think it demonstrates the desperation that a country like Russia needs to align itself with the DPRK to subjugate the people of Ukraine. And the fact that they have to go to a country like DPRK to obtain munitions demonstrates how isolated Russia is right now. But again, our focus is on preserving regional peace and stability, and I just leave it there.

I'm going to move on, Janne, if that's all right. Go to Lara.

Q: Are you  is the Pentagon concerned about an increased risk to U.S. troops in the region if Israel expands the conflict into Lebanon?

GEN. RYDER: Well, look, from the very beginning of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, we have been focused on ensuring that our forces are protected in the region. You saw we deployed additional forces in support of deterrence efforts but also force protection efforts.

I'm not going to speculate or get into hypotheticals on what if, other than to say again we remain concerned about the potential for escalation along the Israel-Lebanon border, and we're going to continue to encourage a diplomatic resolution of that tension.

Q: Are you  is the Pentagon concerned about Israel's ability to wage a two-front war at this time if it's ...

GEN. RYDER: Again, look, the focus here broadly speaking is on preventing a wider regional conflict. And I think, you know, you've all been following this region long enough to know all the various players and actors that are in the region that have a stake in that part of the world. And so again, we're going to stay focused on encouraging a diplomatic resolution.

Konstantin?

Q: Thank you, Pat. Earlier this week, Staff Sergeant Gordon Black was sentenced to three years and nine months by a Russian court. You know, first question I guess is does the Pentagon have a reaction to this sentence? And then the second question I have is has anybody from the Pentagon been in contact with Staff Sergeant Black?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, thanks. So, obviously something that we continue to monitor closely. Both the department and the Army are in contact with State Department, which has the lead. As I'm sure you can imagine on something like this, given a U.S. citizen being held in a foreign country. So I'm going to have to refer you to State Department for any further questions on that.

Q: Thank you.

GEN. RYDER: Thanks.

Sir?

Q: Thank you. So I on the decision on to prioritize Patriot and NASAMS missile delivers to Ukraine  so first, why now and not earlier? And secondly, what does it mean for Ukrainians practically? Will they be receiving more of those missiles? Will it take less time for them to be delivered for Ukraine? Like, what is the quality change here?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah. So as I'm sure you know, the Foreign Military Sales program obviously supports numerous countries around the world, but in this particular case, in terms of why now, what we're seeing is Russia once again trying to destroy Ukraine's energy system and infrastructure ahead of winter. And so they urgently need air defense  additional air defense capabilities, which is again the topic you heard Secretary Austin talk about last week.

And so providing Ukraine with additional interceptors more quickly, it's an existential situation. And so this prompted the decision to re-sequence near-term planned deliveries of critical air defense interceptors to go to Ukraine. So that's the reason for why now.

And practically, what that means is that it will increase their inventories more quickly to enable them to continue to defend that critical infrastructure and the civilian population as we go into the winter here.

Q: One more on Patriot  we saw Romania today announcing that they will also provide additional system to Ukraine on the condition that the allies and the United States would help them to fill that gap. So could you please speak more about that? Will the U.S. replace the system that Romanians providing to Ukraine? Will it be something else?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, so I won't speak for Ukraine, other than to say, again, as Secretary Austin highlighted last week in Brussels and oh, by the way, has been talking about now for a long time, is air defense continues to be a priority.

And so the Ukraine Defense Contact Group  you know, over 50 allies and partners coming together to find ways to provide capabilities to Ukraine when it comes to air defense. And certainly, you know, many countries have stepped up in that regard, whether it be Patriots, whether it be SAMP/Ts, whether it be, you know, the NASAMS capabilities.

So we're obviously grateful for those countries that continue to do that, and we'll continue to keep after that.

Q: Are there specific plans to fill that gap for Romania? Cause they are saying that there's a condition that allies and especially the United States will help to find a temporary solution.

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, look, again, without getting into specific details, as a  you know, both bilaterally and as NATO allies, we work with all of our partners to take into account what their defense needs are, and we're going to do everything we can to support those.

You know, in the case of this re-sequencing here, again, all of the affected countries were notified, and again, we're working with them to make sure, as I highlighted to Tony, that industry can work to get those requirements filled.

So across the board, you know, we're going to do what good allies do. Oh, by the way, the fact that we've re-sequenced these interceptor deliveries for Ukraine  again, the bottom line message here is to our allies and partners is if there is an existential threat, you know, we're going to step up and we're going to help you, as we are in this case.

So yes, sir?

Q: Thank you. Yesterday, Pentagon DSCA said it was 5,000 autonomous systems and other military supplies to Taiwan. So  is the Pentagon concerned about the backlash from China? And also, do you feel that Taiwan is particularly prepared for attack by China at this time?

GEN. RYDER: Hey, I'm sorry, can you repeat that last part?

Q: Last question is  question's do you feel that Taiwan is particularly prepared for an attack by China at this time?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, so, you know, I guess the way I'd respond to that is, as Secretary Austin has said, we don't believe that an attack is either imminent or inevitable. And so I'll just leave it at that.

Time for a couple more. Yes, sir?

Q: Thank you, General. Regarding again to the tension at the border between Hezbollah and Israel, there is some reports claiming that the Israel officials have told the U.S. that they are planning to shift resources from southern Gaza to the northern of Israel in preparation for possible offensive against Hezbollah. So do you confirm these reports? Have you seen these reports?

And from the last Tuesday, when the IDF has been approved operational plans for an offensive in Lebanon  since that approval, does Israel ask for any new munitions or weapons from the U.S.? And what discussions the DOD had to try to deescalate the situation there?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah. So, you know, in terms of that press reporting, look, I'm not going to speak to potential Israeli operations or planning. I'd refer you to them to talk about their current status. Again, we've been very clear publicly and privately that we want to see calm restored along the border in our conversations with partners in the region, to include those in Israel and Lebanon.

And again, I'm not going to get into hypotheticals or speculate on, you know, if something could happen. Our focus right now is on preventing a wider regional conflict and on encouraging resolution of these tensions via diplomacy. So we'll continue to stay focused on that.

Q: And I have another one. Could you give us an update about the status of these 2,000-pound bomb shipments that (on) hold? Is this still on hold? And what about the other deal about the F-15 fire-fighters to Israel that already has been approved?

GEN. RYDER: OK, that was five questions.

(LAUGHTER)

OK, so no change in the one shipment that we've paused of the 2,000-pound unguided munitions. And as I mentioned on Tuesday, you know, final determination on how to proceed with that shipment has not been made.

As far as the press reporting on F-15 sales, as a matter of policy, we don't confirm or comment on proposed cases until they've actually been notified to Congress. So I'm not going to have anything additional.

All right, we can do one more question. Yes, sir?

Q: Thank you, General. Last Sunday, U.S. Central Command conducted airstrikes in Syria. According to CENTCOM, a senior ISIS official was killed. Do you believe ISIS still have a stronghold on the region? And how much it is a threat?

GEN. RYDER: So, you know, we've talked about this in the past. So ISIS, as it exists in Iraq and Syria, has been greatly diminished from where it was 10 years ago. We have not seen an uptick in terms of ISIS activity broadly speaking.

That said, they do remain a threat, which is why, again, you continue to see the international coalition, of which the U.S. is part, focused on working with regional partners to prevent a resurgence of ISIS and to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS.

And so it's one of those things that, again, as we've all seen, you can't take your eye off of it or else, you know, it can rear its ugly head again. And so we'll continue to stay focused, as CENTCOM was and is, vis-a-vis their news release.

So all right, thank you very much, everybody. Appreciate it.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3812734/

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June 20, 2024

By Matthew Olay, DOD News

Gazan Aid Delivery Resumes Following Reopening of Temporary Pier

The transfer of humanitarian aid from Cyprus to Gaza has resumed after U.S. Central Command personnel successfully reattached the command's temporary pier to the Gazan coastline Wednesday, the Pentagon has announced.

Centcom removed the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore pier June 14 and towed it to Ashdod, Israel, to avoid potential damage from volatile sea states.

"I can confirm that [Centcom] personnel reanchored and reestablished the temporary pier to the Gaza beach yesterday," Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told the media during a briefing today.

The reopening of the pier allowed for the overnight transfer of more than 656 metric tons  or 1.4 million pounds  of aid to be delivered to the marshaling yard in Gaza, Ryder said.

"As has been the case in the past, Israeli Defense Force engineers provided all the necessary support to ensure the safe emplacement of the pier on the beach, and there were no U.S. boots on the ground during the reestablishment of the pier," he added.

Despite having experienced some weather-caused damage and temporary shutdowns, the pier has delivered a substantial amount of aid to Gaza since last month, Ryder said.

"Since May 17, when the temporary pier first went operational, over 4,100 metric tons  or 9.1 million pounds  [of aid] have been delivered through the maritime corridor for onward delivery by humanitarian organizations," Ryder told reporters.

During the briefing, Ryder also pushed back on some reports in the media that the Defense Department has established an end date for the overall pier mission.

"While it's always been our intention for the pier to be a temporary solution as part of the broader international effort to surge humanitarian assistance into Gaza to meet the urgent needs of the Palestinian people, we have not established an end date for this mission as of now," Ryder said.

"Therefore, we'll continue to facilitate the transfer of humanitarian aid via the maritime corridor," Ryder continued.

"And, as always, [DOD will] take the necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of the personnel operating the pier; to include adjusting to sea states in the eastern Mediterranean Sea  the same way we do with aircraft operations in the event of inclement weather or conditions."

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South China Sea: Statement by the Spokesperson on recent developments

European External Action Service (EEAS)

20.06.2024

EEAS Press Team

The European Union is deeply concerned by the latest dangerous actions taken by Chinese Coast Guard and Maritime Militia vessels near the Second Thomas Shoal, in the South China Sea, on Monday 17 June. These actions caused damage to Philippine vessels and injury to official personnel.

The EU insists that the UN Charter, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Arbitration Award of 2016, as well as other relevant international rules and regulations relating to the safety of life at sea, should be upheld and respected at all times. This includes, in particular, the prohibition on the use of force or coercion, and the freedom of navigation.

Dangerous collisions are occurring with increasing regularity in the South China Sea, adding to a steady escalation of tensions, which must be defused rather than prolonged. The EU therefore reiterates its longstanding call for restraint and full respect of the relevant international rules, to ensure the peaceful resolution of differences and reduction of tensions in the region.

China's new 'Coast Guard Regulation' which entered into force on 15 June has added to tensions, rather than reducing them. This new Regulation mandates the detention of foreign persons and vessels throughout the entire area claimed by China, further negating the findings of the 2016 arbitral tribunal, and undermining core principles of UNCLOS.

The EU believes that such unilateral measures make it more difficult to achieve a durable solution to disputes in the South China Sea and increase the risk of dangerous confrontation.

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Finland and Norway sign a Memorandum of Understanding

Finnish Ministry of Defence

20.06.2024

Norway's Minister of Defence Bjrn Arild Gram and Finland's Minister of Defence Antti Hakkanen signed a Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation between the two countries in Bod, Norway, on 20 June 2024.

The Memorandum of Understanding replaces the framework agreement concluded between the countries' defence ministries in 2021. The Memorandum of Understanding provides a framework for defence cooperation between Finland and Norway.

Updating the cooperation documents between Finland and Norway into a Memorandum of Understanding between two allies will promote deeper bilateral cooperation and Nordic defence cooperation and strengthen NATO's deterrence and defence.

"The objective of defence cooperation between Finland and Norway is to strengthen both countries' defence and regional security. We also want to strengthen operational cooperation, interoperability and joint dialogue on security interests and challenges," says Minister of Defence Hakkanen.

Memorandum of Understanding

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Global worries grow over wider regional war amid Israel-Lebanon tension

Global Times

By GT staff reporters (Global Times) 15:58, June 20, 2024

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Wednesday that plans for an attack in southern Lebanon had been approved and steps had been taken to accelerate "readiness of troops in the field."

Since the onset of the Gaza conflict on October 7, Israel and Hezbollah militants have been locked in ongoing hostilities, with the rhetoric intensifying recently. Last week, Hezbollah launched rockets and drones at Israeli military sites following an Israeli strike that killed its most senior commander. The group has also hinted at potential attacks on Israel's third-largest city - Haifa, according to media reports.

On Tuesday, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz issued a warning on X, stating, "We are very close to the moment of decision to change the rules against Hezbollah and Lebanon. In an all-out war, Hezbollah will be destroyed, and Lebanon will be severely hit."

From a historical perspective, there has long been a possibility of escalation of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah as there is a deep-seated enmity between the two sides and there have been numerous clashes over the years, Liu Zhongmin, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

It remains to be seen whether the conflict between the two sides will escalate into a sustained conflict similar to that in Gaza, said Liu.

The latest round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has spilled over in several spots, including forces like the Houthi militants targeting Israel and the US on the Red Sea, and Iraqi militant groups launching drones and rockets. And Hezbollah, with support from Iran, remains a significant member of the anti-Israel forces, analysts said.

With Israel's operations in southern Gaza potentially nearing an end amid substantial international pressure, there is a likelihood that Israel may shift its focus northward to target Hezbollah, said Liu.

Escalation of the Israel-Lebanon conflict would make the surrounding situation increasingly tense, which would also bring more domestic and international pressure for Israel, said Liu.

The international community is also paying close attention to the situation in the Middle East and there are concerns about a wider regional war. Many observers called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to stop the situation from deteriorating.

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US using floating pier near Gaza as military base: Ansarullah

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 20, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The leader of Yemen's ruling Ansarullah movement has accused Washington of deception, noting that the US is using its floating dock off the coast of Gaza as a military base rather than for delivering aid.

According to the Yemeni Al-Masirah TV network, Abdul-Malik Badreddin al-Houthi, the leader of the Yemeni Houthi movement, stated in a weekly speech that the United States is resorting to deception. He said that Washington set up a naval dock in Gaza, claiming concern for the humanitarian situation, but is actually using it as a military base to occupy the region and support the "Zionist enemy."

Al-Houthi asserted that the US describes "occupation as liberation and support for genocide and massacre as assistance." He emphasized that the floating pier does not actually play any role in providing aid or meeting the needs of people in the Gaza Strip, and that the US moved the pier to the Israeli-occupied port of Ashdod amid an intensifying famine in Gaza.

The Americans are openly supporting the Israeli enemy, he said, adding that bombs and logistics are being shipped to the occupiers to be used in killing the Palestinian people.

He pointed out that the US is preparing to dispatch 50 F-15 fighter jets to support the occupying regime in order to bolster its capability to commit genocide in Gaza.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced that due to the high waves, the floating dock set up on the coast of Gaza will be transferred to the southern port of Ashdod. The Lebanese Al Mayadeen TV channel quoted Israeli media outlets as reporting that US destroyers have already docked in Ashdod.

The floating pier, which was heavily promoted, has turned into a major failure for President Joe Biden's administration.

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas announced that Washington's objective in creating the floating dock is to deceive the world's public opinion and to cover up its military support for the Zionist regime during the war on Gaza.

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Hezbollah retaliates with rocket barrage after Israel kills member

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 20, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets into northern occupied Palestine in retaliation for the Israeli assassination of one of its fighters.

According to the Al-Ahed news agency, Hezbollah issued a statement on Thursday announcing that the fighter named Abbas Ibrahim Hamza Hamada, born in 1965 from the town of Shahabiye in southern Lebanon, has been martyred.

The statement was issued following an Israeli drone attack on his vehicle in Deir Kifa town located in Tyre district in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah added that the Islamic resistance fighters, in support of the steadfast people of Palestine in the Gaza Strip and their brave and dignified resistance as well as in response to this assassination in Deir Kifa, targeted the Zareit military base of the Zionist enemy with tens of Katyusha rockets.

Some Israeli media outlets also reported the firing of dozens of rockets from Lebanon into occupied northern Palestine.

Following the onset of the Israeli onslaught on the Gaza Strip, Hezbollah started targeting Israeli military positions in the north of the occupied territories, but the Zionist military hits residential areas of southern Lebanon, killing Hezbollah memebrs and civilians.

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Hamas can't be eliminated: Zionist army spox

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 20, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The spokesman of the Zionist army has caused an uproar after acknowledging the regime's inability to destroy the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas movement and calling the talk of eliminating this movement a deception.

According to IRNA, citing the Palestinian Samaa news agency, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari revealed on Wednesday that Hamas will remain if the Zionist political leadership does not find an alternative to the resistance group.

He admitted that Hamas is a party and an idea that is in the hearts of the people, and anyone who thinks we can eradicate it from the hearts of the people is wrong.

"To say that we are going to make Hamas disappear is to throw sand in people's eyes. If we don't provide an alternative, in the end, we will have Hamas," Hagari told Israel's Channel 13 broadcaster, adding that ""Hamas is an ideology, we cannot eliminate an ideology."

His comments were quickly rebuffed by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose far-right cabinet has stated the Gaza war will not end until Hamas is defeated.

But in a separate statement on the social, the Zionist military clarified that Hagari had addressed Hamas "as an ideology... and his statements were clear and explicit". "Any other claim is taking the statement out of context."

Hagari remarks are in line with analysts and independent media outlets that have repeatedly said that the Zionist regime has completely failed in the Gaza war that it launched under the pretext of eliminating Hamas.

Meanwhile, a senior leader of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has described Hagari's remarks as the bitter confession to the occupying regime's defeat in the war on Gaza.

Ghazi Hamad stressed that the Zionist regime knows it is incapable of annihilating Hamas even if it bombards Gazans with hundred metric tons of explosives.

He continued and said it is clear that the Israeli officials are engaged in internal disputes and Netanyahu knows well that "this war" is fruitless but he shows his stubbornness and keeps defying calls to stop the Gaza mayhem.

However, after over eight months into genocidal onslaught on Gaza, the regime has failed to achieve its goal and has only brought death and destruction to the people of the costal strip.

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PM Netanyahu Visits ISA Special Operations Unit

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

Events and Speeches

The 37th Government

20.06.2024

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today ,visited the ISA Special Operations Unit, together with his Military Secretary, Maj.-Gen. Roman Gofman, ISA Director Ronen Bar, the ISA Deputy Director and the Head of the ISA Operations Branch.

The Prime Minister was presented with the sequence of actions initiated by the ISA Operations Unit, including the operations to rescue the hostages: Ori Megidish, Louis Har and Fernando Marman. Also presented was Operation Arnon in which four hostages were rescued: Andrey Kozlov, Shlomi Ziv, Almog Meir Jan and Noa Argamani.

The Prime Minister was also presented with the operations to rescue the bodies of deceased hostages from the Gaza Strip and the intensive ISA activity in the various sectors, including the significant operations that have been carried out recently in Judea and Samaria.

The Prime Minister met with ISA Operations Unit fighters who took part in the most recent rescue operation.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the ISA fighters:

"I am here with daring fighters, who come from all sectors of Israeli society and who make the impossible possible. You took part in many daring operations, which made the State of Israel proud, rescued hostages, and gave us security, so we can complete our missions.

We will not leave the Gaza Strip until we return all of our hostages - living and deceased. We will carry out this mission and many others about which we should keep silent at the moment, with your help.

I have come here to say thank you on behalf of all citizens of Israel. Accept heartfelt thanks for your heroism, sacrifice, intelligence and daring - thank you very much."

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PM Netanyahu Meets with the Families of Deceased Hostages

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

Press Releases

20.06.2024

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the Families of Deceased Hostages: "We are committed to returning everyone, all 120 hostages - living and deceased. Even if this is in stages, we will not give up on anyone."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara, today ,at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, met with families of hostages who have been notified that their loved ones are deceased.

Prime Minister Netanyahu to the families:

"We are committed to returning everyone, all 120 hostages - living and deceased. Even if this is in stages, we will not give up on anyone.

When we are in Gaza, the pressure changes; our activity creates opportunities to return the hostages.

We will not leave the Gaza Strip until all of the hostages return, and we will not leave until we eliminate Hamas's military and governing capabilities. We do not have the option of giving up; we do not have the option of giving up on victory.

This is my position. Whoever opposes it should do so openly."

The Prime Minister was accompanied by Coordinator for the Hostages and Missing Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Gal Hirsch, the Prime Minister's Military Secretary, Maj.-Gen. Roman Gofman, and Hostages, Missing and Captives Authority Director Yaron Cohen.

A meeting with additional families of deceased hostages is due to be held this coming Sunday.

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Baiba Braze and Radosaw Sikorski: Joint action by Latvia and Poland to tackle Russia's threat and strengthen external borders contributes to the security of the whole EU and NATO

Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

20.06.2024

On 20 June 2024, during her working visit to Poland, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braze, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Radosaw Sikorski, the Deputy Minister of the Interior and Administration Maciej Duszczyk, and the Deputy Head of the Joint Transitional Cabinet of the Belarusian Democratic Forces and Member of the Presidium of the Coordination Council Pavel Latushka, as well as with representatives from the Ukrainian Communications Group established by Poland and the United States of America.

Foreign Minister Baiba Braze: "We are on the same page with my Polish colleague that without a safe Baltic region, there is no safe Poland, and vice versa. Both Latvia and Poland are currently experiencing common threats: hybrid threats from Russia, the instrumentalisation of migration, cases of intensive sabotage. We will continue to closely cooperate and exchange information even more effectively for a more rapid response. Clearly, our common priority is to enhance the security and protection of strategic infrastructure and ensure its business continuity; however, this must become a priority for both our region and the transatlantic area as a whole."

Baiba Braze also thanked Poland for its contribution to strengthening of the region's security. The two ministers expressed their strong support for Ukraine, as well as emphasizing the importance of close regional cooperation in enforcing the existing sanctions and preventing their circumvention.

During the meeting, Foreign Minister Braze handed over the presidency of the European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region to Poland, which will be the lead country and coordinate cooperation under the strategy from 1 July onwards.

In a conversation with Maciej Duszczyk, Deputy Minister of the Interior and Administration of Poland, Baiba Braze emphasised the importance of bilateral and regional cooperation between Latvia and Poland in the protection of the EU's external border. The Foreign Minister stressed that the aim of the hybrid attacks conducted by Belarus and Russia is to destabilise the European Union Member States, including through instrumentalisation of migration.

During a meeting with Pavel Latushka, Deputy Head of the Joint Transitional Cabinet of the Belarusian Democratic Forces and Member of the Presidium of the Coordination Council, the Latvian Foreign Minister emphasised that the Belarusian democratic society can rely on Latvia's continued support in fight for democratic freedoms and respect for human rights.

Baiba Braze welcomed the Ukraine Communications Group jointly launched by Poland and the United States. For the representatives of the group, she confirmed Latvia's commitment to participating actively in its work.

"Our joint mission is to reduce the impact of Russia's disinformation - not only at the regional, EU or NATO level, but also on a global scale," the minister underlined.

As part of her visit, Baiba Braze also had a meeting with Sawomir Debski, Director of the Polish Institute of International Affairs, for a discussion on current regional security issues and support to Ukraine.

Background information

The EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region is the EU's first internal strategy for a European macro-region, which is based on an innovative and integrated long-term approach to the implementation of EU policies in the Baltic Sea region. The strategy covers eight EU Member States in the Baltic Sea region - Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Sweden.

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Secretary General praises Canada's NATO contributions in visit to Ottawa

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

19 Jun. 2024

Last updated: 20 Jun. 2024

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited Ottawa on Wednesday (19 June 2024) to meet with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and discuss final preparations for the Washington Summit in July.

The Secretary General delivered a speech at an event hosted by the NATO Association of Canada and the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association. He praised Canada for its role in strengthening NATO's deterrence and defence, including in Latvia, where Canadian troops lead a multinational battlegroup. He also paid tribute to the Canadian armed forces for their commitment, skill, and professionalism and welcomed Canada's indispensable support in the face of Russia's aggression, noting Canada has provided "billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine including air defence systems, battle tanks, and F-16 pilot training." He underscored that strong support to Ukraine will be "the most urgent" priority for the Washington Summit.

Mr Stoltenberg welcomed that Canada is increasing defence spending, "and will add billions over the coming years, including by purchasing high end new capabilities, modernising NORAD, and by investing in fifth generation F35 aircraft." He added: "I continue to expect that all Allies should meet the guidelines of spending two percent. I know that this is not always easy ... but when we reduce defence spending when tensions are going down, we must be able to increase spending, investments in our security, when tensions are increasing and are high as they are today."

Canada has long prioritised global partnerships and the Secretary General highlighted these as another priority for the Alliance ahead of its 75th anniversary Summit. "The war in Ukraine demonstrates that our security is not regional, our security is global," he emphasised, adding that "the growing alignment between Russia and its authoritarian friends in Asia makes it even more important that we work closely with our friends in the Indo-Pacific."

At the event, the Secretary General was presented with the Louis St. Laurent Award for his "outstanding service to peace and security". The honour is named for Canadian Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent, who was premier at the time of NATO's founding in 1949, and a strong proponent of the Alliance.

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DFA Statement on the Adoption of the UN Security Council Resolution on Ceasefire and Hostage Release in Gaza

Republic of the Philippines - Department of Foreign Affairs

MANILA 20 June 2024 -- The Philippines commends the collaborative efforts of Member States of the UN Security Council in crafting Resolution S/RES/2735, which underscores the urgent need to address the escalating crisis in Gaza. The resolution reaffirms the international community's commitment to upholding peace and stability in the region.

The Philippines reiterates its call for an immediate ceasefire, the safe release of hostages, and the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. The prompt implementation of the measures is imperative to alleviate the suffering of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.

The Philippines remains committed to supporting efforts aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Gaza. The country stands ready to contribute to initiatives that foster stability, security, and peace in the region. END



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PH calls for prompt implementation of resolution on Gaza ceasefire

Philippine News Agency

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora

June 20, 2024, 4:53 pm

MANILA -- The Philippines, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), on Thursday called for the "prompt implementation" of a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution that calls for an immediate ceasefire and hostage release in the Gaza Strip.

The UNSC Resolution 2735 (2024) was adopted by 14 votes in favor last June 10, with the Russian Federation abstaining, and proposes a comprehensive three-phase ceasefire deal to end the war in the Strip.

The measure urges both Israel and Hamas to implement it fully and without delay and condition.

"The Philippines reiterates its call for an immediate ceasefire, the safe release of hostages, and the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. The prompt implementation of the measures is imperative to alleviate the suffering of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire," the DFA said.

It said this resolution is a reaffirmation of the international community's commitment to upholding peace and stability in the region.

"The Philippines remains committed to supporting efforts aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Gaza. The country stands ready to contribute to initiatives that foster stability, security, and peace in the region," it said.

Phase 1 of the proposed approach includes an "immediate, full, and complete ceasefire with the release of hostages including women, the elderly and the wounded, the return of the remains of some hostages who have been killed, and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners".

Phase 2 seeks to see a permanent end to hostilities "in exchange for the release of all other hostages still in Gaza, and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza".

Meanwhile, a "major multi-year reconstruction plan for Gaza" would begin on Phase 3 and the remains of any deceased hostages still in the enclave would be returned to Israel. (PNA)

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'Barbarians', PH Navy exec says of China Coast Guard over WPS row

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno

June 20, 2024, 3:17 pm

MANILA -- A ranking Philippine Navy (PN) official on Thursday called the China Coast Guard (CCG) a "band of barbarians" for their aggressive actions against Manila's recent resupply mission to its contingent in Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

"I call them a band of barbarians and in the first place they have no right to wear the uniform, Coast Guard men are supposed to be responsible for (the) safety of life at sea. Their actions endanger life at sea. It does not speak well of a country that want(s) to be a global power," PN spokesperson for the WPS Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a media interview.

He was referring to the CCG's actions on June 17, where its personnel launched dangerous maneuvers and harassing Filipino supply boats.

These CCG personnel also boarded, looted, and damaged the Philippine military's rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) used in the mission aside from destroying the communications and navigation equipment of one of the craft, along with some personal items of its crew members, and threatening them with pointed and bladed weapons.

"Other countries should now be very careful in looking at what China is doing in the WPS because it will also be done (to) them, if not it's done (already)," Trinidad said.

He said they would "do more planning and there will be changes" in their tactics following the incident.

He also assured the public that all of their actions will be guided by the rules of engagement and would be carried out within the bounds of international law.

The Philippines will always assert its sovereignty and sovereign rights over the territory, he said.

Grave concern

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines(AFP) and the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) on Thursday jointly voiced their concern on the recent developments in the WPS following China's recent actions.

This came as AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. and JSDF chief of joint staff Gen. Yoshihide Yoshida met via video teleconferencing to discuss partnership opportunities and ways ahead following the CCG's hijacking of the AFP's rotation and resupply mission.

"JSDF always stands on the side of AFP, and JSDF will deepen its cooperation with Philippines and like-minded countries," Yoshida said.

Meanwhile, Brawner thanked the JSDF in its continued support to the AFP and the Philippines.

"We are very thankful for the support that Japan is giving us. Japan was one of the first countries that gave its support condemning the actions of CCG," he added. (PNA)

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Senators urge DFA to boost diplomacy after CCG harassment in Ayungin

Philippine News Agency

By Wilnard Bacelonia

June 20, 2024, 2:29 pm Updated on June 20, 2024, 6:35 pm

MANILA -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) must strengthen its diplomatic mechanisms in dealing with the continued bullying and harassment by Chinese troops in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), several senators said on Thursday.

Senate President Francis Escudero, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III and Senator Joel Villanueva made the call after watching the videos posted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) showing the China Coast Guard (CCG) "hijacking" the small boats of the Philippines conducting a resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre.

"The DFA should go beyond the filing of diplomatic protests each time an incident occurs, and must explore every means to conduct a meaningful dialogue with their counterparts from Beijing with the end in view of avoiding further escalation, without giving up any of our rights and privileges in our claimed territory vis-a-vis theirs," Escudero said in a statement.

He urged the AFP "to explore alternative methods" in delivering supplies to BRP Sierra Madre "so that our troops are properly resupplied while minimizing the risks and achieving our desired objectives."

He said the Senate will be seeking for a full briefing from the DFA on the latest incident, as well as the efforts being undertaken to address this.

Pimentel also stressed that it is time to "push the button of diplomacy" after the incident.

"Ang kalakasan ng Pilipinas, ang ganda ng reputation natin all over the world. Andami nating kaibigan, at sa international organizations, ganon din (The strength of the Philippines lies in our good reputation all over the world. We have many friends, same with international organizations). So, let us use our international connections like the International Red Cross," he said in an interview.

Meanwhile, Villanueva described China's latest action, and continuous bullying in the WPS as "sumosobra na (way too much)."

"Hindi na rin po uubra ang paawa epek at pa-victim nila dahil kitang-kita naman po kung gaano sila walang respeto sa loob ng ating sariling teritoryo. Klaro naman po na ang Ayungin Shoal ay atin (Their excuses and playing as the victim will no longer work because it is obvious how disrespectful they are within our own territory. It is clear that Ayungin Shoal is ours)," he said in another statement.

"Napakahalaga po na magkaisa tayong mga Pilipino sa labang ito (It is very important for Filipinos to be united in this fight). This and all other incidents provide an opportunity for Filipinos to unite and assert our rights in the West Philippine Sea more strongly than ever," he said.

The senator thanked the Philippine Coast Guard, AFP, and Filipino fishermen in continuing to assert the country's sovereignty in WPS, as well as the DFA and the National Mapping and Resource Information Agency for their leadership in this action.

Military matter

Bukidnon Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores said the continued aggression of China is now a military matter in addition to being a maritime law enforcement matter.

Flores, a member of the House Committee on National Defense and Security, said it is now time for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to take the lead in protecting Philippine sovereignty, territorial waters, and the lives of Filipinos in the WPS and the country's EEZ.

"China has crossed the line... This is a job for the AFP, not the PCG (Philippine Coast Guard)," Flores said.

"I prefer that the AFP conduct the resupply missions to the Ayungin Shoal and conduct protective maneuvers around other features in the WPS and EEZ. The Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force can ably operate in the WPS and EEZ while the Philippine Army can be stationed on the islands," he added.

He said the PCG should concentrate on ensuring freedom of navigation and fishing for Filipino fisherfolk, the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) should handle mapping missions while the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) should handle marine science initiatives.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group should focus on escorting fisherfolk and intercepting smugglers, he noted.

He further pointed out that new lighthouses and electronic buoys are urgently needed in the Kalayaan Island Group and the seas to the north of Batanes, Ilocos Norte, and Cagayan.

"We have to encourage other countries who value the freedom of navigation in the West Philippine Sea, to send their support now, in the form of patrol boats or warships for the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy. We cannot deter China from its aggressive moves if we do not have the resources," Flores said. (Filane Mikee Cervantes/PNA)

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AFP: Increasing Chinese aggression won't deter PH resupply missions

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno

June 20, 2024, 10:20 am

MANILA -- China's increasingly aggressive actions will not prevent the Philippines from carrying out rotation and resupply (RORE) missions to its troops in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said Thursday.

"That is our obligation and that is our right. We will not leave Ayungin Shoal," Brawner said in a message to reporters.

This came in the wake of the China Coast Guard's (CCG) violent acts against Filipino soldiers during the June 17 resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre in the WPS.

Photos and videos released by the AFP showed that CCG personnel launched dangerous maneuvers, rammed, boarded and looted Philippine rigid-hull rubber boats (RHIBs) involved in the resupply mission.

CCG troops also damaged sensitive equipment of the RHIBs and punctured the craft, aside from threatening the Filipino crew members with pointed and bladed weapons.

At least one Philippine Navy personnel lost a finger in the melee.

"Only pirates do this. Only pirates board, steal, and destroy ships, equipment, and belongings," Brawner said.

Brawner, however, stressed bravery and dedication of the troops involved in the RORE stood out against the "overwhelming and armed aggression by a careless world superpower."

"The good thing is that we fought. The Chinese Coast Guard personnel had bladed weapons and our personnel fought with bare hands. That is what's important. We were outnumbered and their weapons were unexpected but our personnel fought with everything that they had," he said. (PNA)

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Yemen operations testament to 'rise of Resistance Axis': Ansarullah

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 20 June 2024 10:48 PM

Yemen's Ansarullah popular resistance movement says the country's anti-Israeli operations serve as a testament to the unity of the regional Axis of Resistance in support of Palestine.

Ansarullah's spokesman Mohammed Abdul-Salam made the remarks to Lebanon's al-Mayadeen television network on Thursday.

"The operation proved that there is a genuine Axis of Resistance that speaks and acts, a real Axis that rises and moves when necessary," he said.

"The Yemeni operation has achieved an important goal by eliminating the abhorrent sectarianism," he stated, adding, "The Yemeni stance came to embody the true meaning of prioritizing the Palestinian cause over our own difficult situation."

Regional resistance groups hailing from Yemen, Lebanon, and Iraq have been conducting numerous operations against the Israeli regime since October 7, when Tel Aviv launched a genocidal war against the Gaza Strip.

Yemen has expanded its operations to include targets associated with the regime by attacking ships that sail towards the ports that lie across the occupied Palestinian territories.

Sana'a has vowed to keep up the strikes as long as the regime sustained the war and a crippling siege that it has been simultaneously enforcing against Gaza.

"The Yemeni people have made a clear and explicit stance in support of Gaza, and the operation has achieved its objectives on all levels," Abdul-Salam said.

"The impactful operations demonstrate advanced technical and qualitative capabilities and significant military development," he said.

"Drone manufacturing in Yemen has become very advanced, as well as ballistic missiles and technical, logistical, and intelligence capabilities."

'US, UK operations aimed at protecting Israel'

The Ansarullah official, meanwhile, pointed to the military operations that the United States and the UK have been conducting against Yemen as means of prompting it to stop its anti-Israeli operations.

"The American and British military operations came to protect Israel and not to stabilize Yemen," he said.

The spokesman, however, expressed certainty that the countries would fail in the same way that they failed to either prop up the Israeli regime in Gaza or help Saudi Arabia subdue Yemen during Riyadh's years-long Western-backed invasion of the Arab Peninsula nation.

"The American and British enemies will fail as they did in Gaza, which is only a few square kilometers; thus, it is more likely they will fail in Yemen," Abdul-Salam noted.

"The American and British operations failed just like the operations that took place in Yemen over the past nine years," he added.

"Yemen's capabilities have become clear, and Western generals talk about the terror they felt while at sea."

'Stopping Zionist arrogance only means of harnessing conflict'

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Yemeni official said the United States has been relaying messages to the country, alleging that Washington sought to avoid expansion of the conflict or the Yemeni support for Gaza.

"The response from the leader was that if they are keen on not expanding the conflict, they should stop the Zionist arrogance," Abdul-Salam said, referring to Ansarullah leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi.

Sana'a's support for Gaza, the spokesman said, rather hinged on "whatever the brothers in Palestine and resistance leaders decide regarding any agreement or suspension or truce of military operations." "Yemen will comply," he added.

'Warning to Saudi Arabia'

Amid his remarks, Abdul-Salam warned Saudi Arabia against re-escalating its attacks on Yemen or re-launching a siege that the kingdom used to be employing against the country, speculating that Riyadh could do so as means of "serving Israel."

"We hope that the Saudis do not slip again into implementing economic measures or punishments against the Yemeni people in service of Israel," the spokesman noted.

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Hezbollah targets Israeli outpost in response to attack on southern Lebanon

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 20 June 2024 5:50 PM

The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah has fired dozens of projectiles into the northern occupied territories in retaliation for an Israeli attack in southern Lebanon.

In a statement on Thursday, Hezbollah said its fighters targeted an Israeli barracks with "dozens of Katyusha rockets".

It said the attack was carried out in response to the assassination of one of its fighters in an Israeli strike in the village of Deir Kifa earlier in the day.

Lebanon's official National News Agency reported that the deadly Israeli drone strike left one dead after hitting a vehicle in the area.

Hezbollah later identified the assassinated fighter as Abbas Ibrahim Hamada.

The Israeli military claimed that Hamada was responsible for commanding Hezbollah ground forces in south Lebanon's Jouaiyya area.

Hezbollah has been carrying out almost daily rocket attacks on Israeli positions in retaliation for the regime's aggression against Lebanon and in response to the ongoing Israeli onslaught against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Israel threatened Lebanon with an "all-out war" on Tuesday with the military saying, "operational plans for an offensive in Lebanon were approved and validated."

Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah warned the regime on Wednesday that "no place" in the occupied territories would be spared in case of a full-blown war.

At least 455 people have been killed on the Lebanese border, according to a tally by AFP.

Two Israeli wars waged against Lebanon in 2000 and 2006 were met with strong resistance from Hezbollah, resulting in the retreat of the regime in both conflicts.

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Houthi: US pier in Gaza serving as military structure for Washington

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 20 June 2024 5:26 PM

Yemen's Ansarullah leader says the US-built pier to purportedly bring aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip serves to advance Washington's military agenda.

"The United States is practicing outright deception. Washington built a floating pier off Gaza, claiming it was aimed at delivering humanitarian aid to the territory. It is, however, used a tool to occupy Gaza and support the Zionist enemy's military," Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said in a televised speech broadcast live from the Yemeni capital Sana'a on Thursday.

"The US defines occupation as liberation, and murder and genocide as assistance."

The floating pier has no effective role in the arrival of aid deliveries in Gaza and meeting the basic needs of the Palestinian population there, Houthi said, adding the Americans removed the pier from its anchored position in Gaza and towed it to the Port of Ashdod in the occupied territories at the height of famine in Gaza.

"The Americans continue to openly support the Zionist enemy. Bombs and military logistics reach the [Israeli] occupying forces via air to kill Palestinians. The US is preparing to dispatch 50 F-15 fighter aircraft to support the occupation regime in continuing its genocide in Gaza," the Ansarullah chief said.

Gaza-based resistance fighters performing much better

Elsewhere in his remarks, Houthi pointed to the heavy casualties of the Israeli military in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, saying, "Any time that the enemy wants to turn the tide in its favor, it suffers a great deal of losses."

"The growing number of casualties within the ranks of the Israeli military compared to previous months shows that Gaza-based are performing much better than before. Despite a tight siege, unrelenting destruction and generous support of the United States and Britain for Israel, resistance fighters are still steadfast and firm. The steadfastness of fighters in Gaza has driven the enemy to the point that its leaders have acknowledged such a fact," he said.

Commenting on the cases brought against Israel at the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, Houthi said the entire international community expects concrete legal actions against the usurping regime.

"Israel does not care about the decisions of the Security Council, the United Nations and international courts of law. Nevertheless, we must know that any condemnation will upset the regime," he said.

Hezbollah strikes have frustrated Israel

Houthi praised retaliatory strikes by the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah against Israeli military positions in the northern side of the 1948 occupied territories, stating that the attacks are "painful" for the Tel Aviv regime.

"The Americans are trying to lessen the problems of the Israeli enemy on the Lebanese front; but their pressures cannot weaken the position of Hezbollah," he said.

The Ansarullah leader also praised Hezbollah's release of surveillance drone footage showing important infrastructure and military sites in northern Israeli-occupied territories, stressing that the measure terrified the Zionist regime.

153 vessels struck by Yemeni naval units in Red Sea

Houthi then pointed to the maritime operations that Yemeni naval units are conducting in the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestinians amid the Gaza war, stating that the forces have so far targeted 153 US, British and Israel vessels.

"Among the notable operations of the week was the missile strike on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier in the northern tip of the Red Sea for the third time. One of the latest major developments was the sinking of the Tutor bulk carrier. Yemeni forces managed to board the cargo ship, bomb it and seriously damage it by an uncrewed surface vessel (USV)," he said.

The Ansarullah chief said the impact of Yemeni naval operations against US and British interests are considerable, stating that enemies have recognized their inability to prevent the retaliatory strikes.

"Americans have acknowledged that their naval forces are facing their most daunting challenges since World War II," Houthi said.



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Centre assures states & farmers to procure pulses (Tur, Urad & Masur) at MSP

New Delhi, June 21 (UNI) Centre on Friday assured the states and farming community to procure pulses  Tur, Urad and Masur, at Minimum Support Prices (MSP) to ensure crop diversification and achieve self-sufficiency in pulse production.

Chairing a virtual meeting with agriculture ministers of various states, Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chauhan said e-Samridhi portal has been launched through National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) and National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India Limited (NCCF) for farmer registration, and the government is committed to procure these pulses at MSP for farmers registered on the portal.

He urged the state governments to encourage more and more farmers to register on this portal so that they can avail of the facility of assured procurement, an official release said.

The Union Minister said that the country is not self-sufficient in the production of these three crops and aims to achieve self-sufficiency by 2027.

The Minister complemented the states for their efforts in increasing pulse production by 50 percent since 2015-16 but called for more efforts in increasing the yield per hectare and motivating farmers to grow pulses.

He appreciated the fact that the country has achieved self-sufficiency in green gram (moong) and gram (chana) and mentioned that the country has reduced dependency on imports from 30 percent to 10 percent during the last 10 years.

States must work as a team with the Center to make India not only self-sufficient in foodgrain production but also the food basket of the world, he said.

He informed about the new Model Pulses Village scheme, which is being rolled out during the current Kharif season. The minister requested that the state governments utilize the fallow lands that are available for pulses after the rice crop is harvested.

He also asked the state governments to take up inter-cropping of Tur in a vigorous manner. He mentioned that the state governments should share their best practices with each other, and visits should be undertaken for this. He mentioned that the elected representatives, such as MPs, MLAS should be actively involved in the KVKs.

The Minister spoke regarding the need for crop diversification towards cash crops and the need to restore the fertility of the soil. He stressed the requirement of timely and quality inputs to farmers, such as good quality seeds, for increasing productivity and assured maximum support regarding this.

The meeting was called to realize the necessity for immediate attention to increase pulse production in the country with a view to reducing imports.

State Agriculture Ministers of the major pulse-producing states, namely, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Bihar, and Telangana, were present during the meeting.

UNI SKB ARN
Resistance must make Israel pay heavier price for aggression: Iran interim FM

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 20 June 2024 10:26 AM

Iran's Interim Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani says Palestinian resistance groups must make use of their entire capacities to force Israel to pay a heavier price for its aggression in the Gaza Strip.

Bagheri Kani made the remarks in a meeting with senior leader of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas Ismail Haniyeh in the Qatari capital Doha on Thursday.

He said resistance should not be limited to armed resistance inside Palestine against the occupying forces.

In parallel with armed resistance, he added, resistance needs to be exercised in the legal and political domains as well as in public diplomacy outside the occupied Palestine to support the Palestinian people's rights.

The top Iranian diplomat hailed Palestinians' brave resistance and outlined the Islamic Republic's latest political efforts to support resistance.

Haniyeh, for his part, thanked the support provided to his nation by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei as well as the Iranian nation and government.

He said the Palestinian people continue their strong resistance against Israel despite the continuation of the regime's brutal crimes and genocide in the Gaza Strip over the past nine months.

He added that a number of developments in the region and across the world indicate the "strategic maturity" of regional nations and the impossibility of returning to the era before Operation al-Aqsa Storm launched by Gaza-based resistance groups last October.

The Hamas leader noted that among those developments are Israel's internal political situation, its position at regional and international levels, the rise of the voice of people in the West and the US against the crimes of the occupiers as well as the field developments in Lebanon and Yemen.

Nearly nine months into extensive military aggression and genocide against the people of Palestine in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli forces has failed to achieve any objective, Haniyeh emphasized.

He said Hamas welcomes any mechanism that will meet all the demands of the Palestinian people.

Israel waged the 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, against the usurping regime on October 7.

At least 37,431 Palestinians have been killed, most of them women and children, and another 85,653 have sustained injuries. More than 1.7 million people have been internally displaced during the war as well.





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Battles intensify between Palestinian resistance fighters, Israeli forces in Rafah

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 20 June 2024 9:59 AM

Battles have intensified between Palestinian resistance fighters and Israeli forces in Rafah as the regime's tanks push into the southern Gaza Strip city.

Media reports said on Thursday that the fighting is taking place in western and central Rafah, Gaza's last refuge.

The reports added that some of the heaviest clashes are underway at the outskirts of al-Shaboura refugee camp.

Israel unleashed a genocidal war on Gaza on October 7, which has so far killed at least 37,396 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 85,523 others.

Seven months later, the occupying regime began a ground offensive in Rafah, home to displaced Palestinians who had fled from the rest of Gaza amid the bloody Israeli onslaught.

On Wednesday, eight Palestinians were killed in Rafah's al-Mawasi area and many families fled north in panic after Israeli tanks, backed by warplanes and drones, advanced deeper into the city.

Israeli troops blew up several homes in western Rafah, residents said, adding that heavy shelling and gunfire hit the tents of displaced families in al-Mawasi.

"Another night of horror in Rafah. They (the Israeli forces) opened fire from planes, drones and tanks on the western areas to cover for their invasion," a Rafah resident told Reuters.

"Bullets and shells landed in the al-Mawasi area near where people slept, killing and wounding many."

Meanwhile, medics said an Israeli air raid killed four Palestinians, including a child, at a house in the Gaza City suburb of Sheikh Radwan.

The armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad resistance groups said their fighters had battled the occupation forces with anti-tank rockets and mortar bombs, and have in some areas detonated pre-planted explosive devices against them.

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Iran rejects US claims, backs resolution of Yemen crisis via diplomatic channels: UN envoy

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 20 June 2024 9:26 AM

Iran's ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations has dismissed a recent US accusation regarding Yemen, stressing that the Islamic Republic has invariably been espousing a peaceful solution to the long-standing crisis in Yemen through diplomatic channels.

Amir Saeid Iravani made the statement in separate letters to the UN secretary general and the president of the Security Council on Wednesday as he outlined Iran's stance on the ongoing situation in war-torn Yemen and responded to US allegations about the Islamic Republic's aid to the Yemeni armed forces in their anti-Israel maritime operations.

Robert Wood, the US representative at the UN, claimed during the open session of the Security Council on June 13 that Iran "continues to directly support" the Yemeni forces in the Red Sea region and accused Tehran of "brazen violations of the arms embargo" on the Arab country.

It is regrettable that "the US representative, as is the US' typical behavior, abused the Security Council platform to accuse other sovereign states. The Islamic Republic of Iran unequivocally rejects these unfounded allegations," Iravani wrote in his letters.

"On numerous occasions, Iran has made it clear that it is committed to the Security Council's relevant resolutions on the situation in Yemen and has not been engaged in activities in contravention of these resolutions. Instead, Iran consistently advocates for the peaceful resolution of the Yemen crisis through diplomatic channels and underscores its dedication to maritime security and freedom of navigation," he added.

The Iranian envoy censured Washington and its coalition partners for perpetrating acts of aggression against Yemen's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"The United States and its coalition partners have committed and continue to commit acts of aggression against Yemen's sovereignty and territorial integrity, blatantly violating international law, the UN Charter, and pertinent Security Council resolutions," Iravani said.

"These egregious violations jeopardize regional peace and stability and obstruct efforts toward achieving a peaceful resolution in Yemen, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian crisis gripping the nation."

Underlining that the United States is fully responsible for such egregious violations, the Iranian envoy said, "It cannot deny its responsibility. Therefore, using failed tactics and spreading lies and misinformation campaigns about the situation in Yemen cannot justify or legitimize the United States' aggression against Yemen's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Yemenis have declared their open support for Palestine's struggle against the Israeli occupation since the regime launched a devastating war on the Gaza Strip on October 7 after the territory's Palestinian resistance movements carried out a surprise retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity.

Yemeni Armed Forces have said that they won't stop their attacks until unrelenting Israeli ground and aerial offensives in Gaza end.

Israel has killed at least 37,396 people and wounded over 85,523 in Gaza since October.

The leader of the Ansarullah resistance movement, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, has said it is "a great honor and blessing to be confronting America directly."

The attacks have forced some of the world's biggest shipping and oil companies to suspend transit through one of the world's most important maritime trade routes. Tankers are instead adding thousands of miles to international shipping routes by sailing around the continent of Africa rather than going through the Suez Canal.

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Hagari's acknowledgment of Hamas invincibility attests to Israel's defeat in Gaza: Official

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 20 June 2024 7:05 AM

A senior Hamas official says remarks by Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari on the impossibility of eliminating the Palestinian resistance group shows that the regime has failed in its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

Ghazi Hamad, a member of Hamas' political bureau, made the remarks on Wednesday after Hagari admitted that the declared aim of destroying Hamas is unattainable.

He described Hagari's remarks as "a bitter confession and proof of the occupying enemy's failure in the war on Gaza."

The Hamas official also said that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu still persists in continuing the aggression despite knowing that it is "futile and will lead nowhere."

"The Zionist regime knows that it cannot destroy Hamas even by dropping hundreds of tons of explosives on the people of Gaza," he added.

In an interview with Israel's Channel 13 news, Hagari said, "Hamas is an idea, Hamas is a party. It's rooted in the hearts of the people  whoever thinks we can eliminate Hamas is wrong," noting that anyone promising this is "throwing sand in the face of the Israeli public."

He further emphasized that it will be "impossible" to return all the Israeli captives being held in Gaza through the offensive, underlining the need for a "scenario" where the captives are returned in another manner.

In response, Netanyahu's office said in a statement that his so-called security cabinet "has defined one of the war's goals as the destruction of Hamas' military and governing capabilities" and that the Israeli army "is of course obligated to this."

The comments expose a deepening rift between the Israeli military and Netanyahu over the handling of the Gaza war.

Recently, Netanyahu dissolved his war cabinet after opposition leader Benny Gantz withdrew from it.

Gantz said Netanyahu is putting his own personal political considerations ahead of a post-war strategy. He also complained that "fateful strategic decisions are met with hesitancy and procrastination," calling on the Israeli prime minister to hold an election in the coming months.

Israel unleashed its brutal Gaza onslaught on October 7 after Hamas carried out a surprise operation against the usurping entity in retaliation for the regime's intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

However, almost nine months into the offensive, the Tel Aviv regime has failed to achieve its objectives in Gaza despite killing at least 37,396 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injuring 85,523 others.

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Yemen releases video of sinking ship during anti-Israeli operation

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 20 June 2024 2:12 AM

Yemen's Armed Forces have released a video depicting a fateful attack by them on a ship that had violated their ban on entering the ports of the occupied Palestinian territories.

The forces released the video on Wednesday, less than a week after conducting the operation against the vessel "Tutor" belonging to Evalend Shipping Co. S.A., a Greek company.

The footage showed the vessel being struck by two drone boats while sailing in the Red Sea, which resulted in its sinking.

The same day saw the forces using a number of missiles to attack and sink another ship, which they identified as "Verbena."

The Armed Forces began enforcing the ban following the onset of a genocidal war by the Israeli regime against the Gaza Strip on October 7 last year.

Israel has killed more than 37,390 Palestinians, most of them women and children, in Gaza since that October day.

Caption accompanying the footage read, "We have sent emails to the maritime companies informing them and warning that if their ships enter [the ports of the occupied territories], they will be on the banned list."

"The Yemeni Armed Forces renew their warning to companies to adhere to the ban and not enter their ships into the ports of occupied Palestine or deal with the Israeli enemy, according to what was stated in their previous statements," the caption added.

The forces have pledged that they would keep up their operations as long as the Israeli regime sustained the war and a crippling siege that the regime has been simultaneously enforcing against Gaza.

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'A Big Betrayal': Afghan Women Sound The Alarm Ahead Of Key International Event That Will Include Taliban

By RFE/RL's Radio Azadi and Abubakar Siddique June 20, 2024

Leading Afghan women's rights activists have sounded the alarm ahead of a major international conference on Afghanistan hosted by the United Nations.

Rights campaigners have slammed the world body for inviting the Taliban to the June 30-July 1 event in Qatar, a move that they say provides tacit international legitimacy to the Taliban's unrecognized and internationally sanctioned government.

Activists are also enraged that the UN has made major concessions to the extremist group, which has severely curtailed women's rights since seizing power in 2021. That includes preventing the participation of Afghan women and removing the issue of women's rights from the agenda of the meeting in the Qatari capital, Doha.

Sima Samar, an award-winning rights campaigner and the former head of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, is among those who have voiced their concerns ahead of the meeting.

"When we talk about the critical issues in Afghanistan, it will be meaningless without a discussion on human rights and the right of women to education and work," Samar told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi.

The Doha conference will bring together members of the Taliban, the special envoys to Afghanistan of over a dozen countries, and UN officials. Afghan women are barred from the main meeting, but have been invited to an informal dinner before the two-day event kicks off.

Intended to increase international engagement with Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, the meeting is expected to discuss issues that include economic development, climate change, and drug eradication.

The Taliban boycotted two previous UN-sponsored meetings held in Doha since last year. The hard-line Islamist group said it would only participate if it would be the sole representative of Afghanistan at the meetings.

The Taliban has also opposed the appointment of a UN special envoy to Afghanistan, one of the key issues discussed at previous Doha meetings. One of the envoy's main tasks would be to promote intra-Afghan dialogue.

The militants have also refused to discuss their alleged human rights violations. The Taliban has been accused of gross abuses, including extrajudicial killings, disappearances, arbitrary detentions, torture, and denying Afghans -- women and girls in particular -- their fundamental human rights.

"I'm very concerned," said Samar. "Human rights must top the agenda while everything else should be discussed within its framework."

Samar said she is not against international engagement with the Taliban, which has been accused of imposing gender apartheid in Afghanistan.

"But these talks must not mean ignoring all the human rights violations," she added. "Engagement with the Taliban should not translate to ignoring or closing your eyes to all the human rights violations."

Shaharzad Akbar is another prominent Afghan women's rights activist who has voiced alarm ahead of the meeting.

"This conference has been organized according to the wishes of the Taliban," Akbar, who runs the independent advocacy organization, Rawadari, told Radio Azadi.

"I'm deeply concerned because removing issues like the rights of girls and women from the agenda is a big betrayal," she added.

'Women's Rights Crisis'

International women's rights activists have also blasted the UN and accused the world body of bowing down to the Taliban.

Heather Barr, associate women's rights director at Human Rights Watch, said on X on June 17 that it was "shocking" that the UN had made "very serious concessions" to the Taliban by shutting out Afghan women from the Doha meeting and taking women rights off its agenda.

"The situation of women in Afghanistan is the most serious women's rights crisis in the world," Barr said in a statement on June 11. "That crisis is getting serious every day."

Meanwhile, Richard Bennett, the UN special human rights rapporteur in Afghanistan, said the Taliban "must not be allowed to dictate the terms of the UN-hosted meetings."

"Sustained improvements in human rights must form an essential part of any way forward," he told the UN Human Rights Council on June 18.

Zabiullah Mujahid, the chief Taliban spokesman, said Bennet's comments and his scathing recent report about human rights in Afghanistan was part of an effort to "mislead public opinion ahead of the Doha meeting."

Abdul Qahar Balkhi, a spokesman for the Taliban's Foreign Ministry, said on June 16 that "if there are any changes to the agenda and participation, it would naturally affect our decision" to participate in the Doha meeting.

Graeme Smith, a senior Afghanistan analyst at the Brussels-based International Crisis Group, said a host of Western countries complained in writing to the UN about the lack of non-Taliban Afghan voices invited to the Doha meeting.

"One of the factors that resulted in the Taliban's failure to attend previous meetings was the Taliban's insistence on serving as the only Afghans speaking on behalf of the country," said Smith. "Some international officials object to this idea, demanding the inclusion of so-called civil society actors."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-taliban-un-doha- confrence/33001627.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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Romanian President Withdraws NATO Bid, Clearing Final Hurdle For Rutte

By RFE/RL's Romanian Service June 20, 2024

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has withdrawn his bid to replace outgoing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, allowing Romania to throw its support behind the candidacy of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who is backed by all the other 31 members of the alliance.

Iohannis's decision was announced after a meeting of Romania's Supreme Defense Council (CSAT) on June 20 that also decided to supply Ukraine with a Patriot air-defense system that Kyiv has been pleading it allies for.

"During the CSAT meeting, the president of Romania said he had informed NATO allies at the end of last week about his withdrawing his candidacy for the position of NATO secretary-general," the CSAT said in a statement.

Iohannis then "asked the CSAT members about their position on Rutte's candidacy...and they declared they were in favor of Romania's throwing its support behind the Dutch premier's candidacy," the statement added.

On June 18, Hungary and Slovakia announced their support for Rutte, leaving Romania as the only member of the alliance that had yet to endorse the longtime Dutch prime minister for the position.

Iohannis, a former physics teacher who will end his second and last 5-year presidential term in December, announced in the spring that he would run for the NATO position that is to become vacant on October 1.

To back his candidacy, Iohannis had argued in an article in Politico in March that the alliance needed change and an Eastern European perspective amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

"NATO needs a renewal, with a strong, influential representation from this region, which meets the needs of the member states," he said.

Romania also agreed after much deliberation to donate one of its Patriot systems to Ukraine, which faces daily missile and drone strikes on its cities and civilian infrastructure.

"Taking into account the significant deterioration of Ukraine's security situation as a consequence of Russia's massive and constant attacks on its civilians and its infrastructure, especially its energy infrastructure...CSAT members, in close coordination with Romania's allies, have decided to donate Ukraine one Patriot system," the statement said.

Romania has so far received four out of the seven Patriot systems ordered from the United States for a total price of $4 billion.

At a G7 summit last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he "urgently" needed seven Patriot systems to protect Ukrainians and the country's infrastructure from Russia's continued bombardment.

U.S. President Joe Biden responded by saying the United States had received commitments from five countries -- which he did not name -- to provide Patriot and other air-defense systems to Ukraine.

Biden said the United States would supply one system, which will be redeployed from Poland. Germany has also said it too will provide several Patriot systems to Kyiv.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/romania-president-withdraws-nato- bid/33001707.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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Canada Must Respect Chinese Territorial Sovereignty, Interest in South-China Sea, China Says

Sputnik News

20240620

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - China strongly condemns a statement issued by the Canadian government on the South China Sea and urges Ottawa to respect Beijing's territorial sovereignty and interests in the region, the spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa told Sputnik on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the Canadian Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning China for actions it undertook against Philippine vessels in the South China Sea the day prior when one supply ship and two speed boats of the Philippines irrupted into what Beijing considers its sovereign waters.

"On June 18, Global Affairs Canada released a statement that disregarded the facts, distorted the truth, and groundlessly attacked China's fully justified law enforcement activities at Ren'ai Jiao," the spokesperson said. "China expresses its strong condemnation and firm opposition to the statement."

China urges the Canadian government "to genuinely respect China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea and stop creating disturbances and provoking confrontations in the South China Sea," the spokesperson added.

The Chinese Coast Guard took appropriate control measures to halt the intruding ships, in accordance with the law. The maneuvers were professional, restrained, justified and lawful, the spokesperson said.

The Chinese government stands ready to resolve differences and disputes that may arise in the South China Sea via dialogue with the countries directly concerned. However, Beijing will also "resolutely respond" to any provocation in the region, the spokesperson stressed.

"Canada is not a party to the South China Sea issue, yet frequently makes erroneous statements on this issue," the spokesperson noted. Ottawa repeatedly sends warships and helicopters to the region under the pretext of safeguarding the freedom of navigation, he added.

In recent years, tensions between the Philippines and China have heightened in the South China Sea due to territorial disputes. In May, the Philippines pledged to increase defense cooperation with the United States, Japan and Australia. The four allies also held their first joint naval exercise in the disputed South China Sea in April with the stated goal of enhancing regional stability. China criticized the formation of exclusive alliances that increased bloc confrontations in the region.

 Sputnik

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Gaza today: Scorching heat, visible signs of wasting and heavy fighting

20 June 2024 - Desperate shortages of essentials in Gaza have left the enclave's most vulnerable individuals struggling to carry on amid stifling heat, heavy fighting, disease spread and a breakdown in law and order, UN humanitarians warned on Thursday.

In an alert, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) reiterated deep concerns that people uprooted by ongoing hostilities in southern Gaza remain traumatized and are crammed into a narrow area along the beach "in the burning summer heat".

The UN agency's Deputy Executive Director, Carl Skau previously noted that "active conflict and lawlessness" have made it "near impossible" for WFP and its partners to meet the soaring needs.

Visible signs of wasting

Among the alarming shortages facing the people of Gaza, UN aid coordination office, OCHA, highlighted a lack of milk and formula for babies, along with nutritional supplements for children and pregnant and breastfeeding women.

"Despite visible signs of wasting among children, no nutrition screenings have been conducted to assess the scale of malnutrition and treat identified cases due to limited capacity," the UN agency noted in its latest report published late Wednesday.

Antenatal and postnatal care is also unavailable and some displacement sites have medical points that operate "only a few hours a day" without an adequate supply of medicines and "reports of emergency deliveries taking place in tents with no medical support at late hours during the night", the UN agency explained.

Rafah emptied

Meanwhile, in the southernmost governorate of Rafah, "people continue to be displaced amidst active fighting and bombardment," OCHA said. It cited estimates by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, that only around 65,000 people remain in Rafah governorate. Six weeks ago, before Israeli evacuation orders and military operations which have crippled aid relief work, the area hosted 1.4 million.

"At displacement sites, internally displaced persons are living in overcrowded makeshift shelters and tents which are in dire need of repair and do not offer any protection from extreme heat," OCHA said, citing latest assessments covering four sites in Deir al Balah, Khan Younis and Al Mawasi - a total population of more than 130,000 people.

In a related development, OCHA also reported that for the first time since early June, five fuel trucks entered Gaza. But supplies remain scarce "as no fuel had been delivered in the Strip for the past two weeks".

Aid stores hit

According to WFP's Mr. Skau who visited Gaza last week, one million displaced people in south Gaza remain "trapped, without clean water or sanitation. It's a public health and protection disaster."

In northern Gaza, he noted that aid deliveries have improved although people need a variety of more nutritious food. But delivering lifesaving relief is increasing difficult, as UN 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," Mr. Skau continued, amid scenes of "large-scale destruction, rivers of sewage (and) "traumatized and exhausted people...from the south to the northernmost tip of the Strip".

Meanwhile, OCHA said that ground incursions and heavy fighting continue to be reported in locations including Beit Hanoun, south of Gaza city, eastern Deir al Balah, northeastern Khan Younis, as well as in central and southern Rafah.

Deadly harvest

Latest UN assessments also indicate that in addition to the lack of access in southern Gaza to shelter, health, fresh food, water and sanitation, more than half of the enclave's cropland has been damaged.

This has severely disrupted Gaza's food supply chain, warned the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the UN Satellite Centre (UNOSAT), in its review of croplands, greenhouses and other agricultural structures.

Although more than 40 per cent of the Gaza Strip's total area is covered by fields, vegetable plantations and orchards - about 150 square kilometres (93 square miles) the UN agencies highlighted a "significant decline" in crop potential from "razing, heavy vehicle movement, bombing, shelling and other conflict-related operations".

As of May this year, about 57 per cent of Gaza's cropland is estimated to have been damaged, compared to more than 40 per cent in mid-February, according to FAO and UNOSAT.

Hundreds of agricultural structures have also been damaged, FAO said, including 537 home barns, 484 broiler farms, 397 sheep farms and 256 agricultural warehouses, in addition to almost half of Gaza's agricultural wells (1,049 out of 2,261) as of 20 May.

Latest data from the Gazan health authorities indicates that at least 37,396 Palestinians have been killed and 85,523 injured in the enclave.

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Haiti faces record displacement amid escalating gang violence

20 June 2024 - Escalating gang violence and political instability in Haiti have forced a record 578,074 people from their homes this year, making it the country with the largest number of displacements due to crime-related violence, UN independent human rights experts said on Thursday.

"Violence, particularly in the capital Port-au-Prince, has reached alarming levels, with armed groups controlling large areas and complicating humanitarian access," the experts, including the Special Rapporteur on the rights of internally displaced persons, said.

The clashes between gangs and the Haitian National Police have created a "pervasive environment of fear, restricting freedom of movement and access to basic services", they added.

In the first quarter of 2024 alone, gang-related violence reportedly claimed the lives of or injured 2,500 Haitians, including 82 children.

Women and children have been the worst affected, amid heightened risk of sexual violence and exploitation.

Mass displacement

Many internally displaced persons (IDPs) are living in "overcrowded and inadequate conditions without basic hygiene and sanitation, facing severe shortages of food, water, shelter, and medical care, including a lack of safe and private spaces for psychological support," the independent experts said.

According to the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM), nationally, 80 per cent of IDPs are living with host families while the remaining are sheltering in sites, many in gang-controlled or high-risk areas.

Nearly half of the country's population is suffering from severe hunger, with 18 per cent at "emergency" level of food insecurity.

Impact on children and women

Children and women have been disproportionately impacted by the effects of the violence and instability in Haiti, with more than 310,000 women and girls, and 180,000 children among the displaced.

More than half a million children are living in neighbourhoods controlled by armed groups, at heightened risk of violence and child recruitment.

Furthermore, the growing number of unaccompanied displaced children makes them particularly vulnerable to exploitation, abuse and trafficking by gangs.

The violence and attacks on educational facilities have also forced the closure of nearly 900 schools, affecting almost 200,000 children, disrupting learning and putting children at increased risk.

Sexual violence against women and girls at IDP sites is also surging as gangs continue to use rape as a weapon of terror, the Human Rights Council-appointed independent experts said.

Call to action

Amidst the alarming situation, the experts called for greater female leadership and participation to ensure a successful political transition in Haiti.

They also urged greater efforts to address root causes of displacement to build sustainable solutions for the future.

"Durable solutions for IDPs, such as safe return, resettlement, or local integration, require addressing the root causes of displacement, including violence, political instability, and environmental degradation," they said.

Independent experts

Appointed by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council and forming a part of its Special Procedures, Special Rapporteurs are mandated to monitor and assess the rights situation in certain thematic or country situations.

They work in their personal capacity, independent of the United Nations and national governments.

They are not UN staff and do not receive a salary.

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Press Statement on Democratic Republic of the Congo

Press Release

Security Council

SC/15739

20 June 2024

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Joonkook Hwang (Republic of Korea):

The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the recent series of attacks by the 23 March Movement (M23), that have resulted in civilian casualties and in one peacekeeper wounded. They also condemned recent series of attacks conducted by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), as well as the attack against the Mugunga camp for internally displaced persons on 3 May 2024, that have resulted in high level of civilian casualties, in the North Kivu province. The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest condolences to the families of the victims, and wished the injured peacekeeper a speedy recovery.

The members of the Security Council expressed their deep concern on the impact of these attacks, which are worsening the volatile security and stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in the region, and further exacerbating the current humanitarian situation and protection concerns, especially for those civilians dwelling in displacement sites. They are also deeply concerned by the intensification of systemic attacks by the ADF and the current M23 offensive toward Kanyabayonga that has displaced 350,000 people in the last week, and which resulted in the suspension of food distribution operations and hospital services. They called on all donors to scale up support in response to the 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan.

The members of the Security Council also strongly condemned all attacks against the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) as well as the unacceptable threats and pressure put by the M23 against MONUSCO. They condemned the use of heavy weapons in the vicinity of UN peacekeepers' bases, which puts civilians and peacekeepers at risk. They reiterated their support to MONUSCO and its troop-contributing countries in steadfastly maintaining its robust posture to protect civilians and ensure freedom of movement for humanitarian assistance to displaced person. They requested the Secretary-General, Member States, and the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to take all appropriate measures to ensure the safety and security of MONUSCO's personnel, in line with resolution 2518 (2020), in line with UN guidelines and best practices to improve the safety of peacekeepers.

The members of the Security Council urged all parties to adhere to international law, including international humanitarian law, and to allow and facilitate, in a manner consistent with relevant provisions of international humanitarian law, full, safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access to all civilians in need, especially women and children.

The members of the Security Council expressed concern about reports of continued violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights, including those involving gender-based violence and sexual violence in conflict, recruitment, use and abduction of children, as well as attacks against schools and hospitals. They demanded the immediate end to these violations. They further expressed concern about the intensification of misinformation and disinformation, including against MONUSCO. They renewed their condemnation of hate speech targeting any community and fuelling intercommunal violence. They emphasized the importance of protection of civilians and ensuring accountability for these violations and abuses, including sexual violence in conflict and post-conflict situations.

The members of the Security Council called on all parties to intensify diplomatic dialogue towards de-escalation, and a lasting, peaceful and sustainable solution to the protracted conflict in the region. They expressed support to all efforts aimed at reaching a cessation of hostilities, including the crucial role of regional peace processes, MONUSCO, the Office of the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes and international partners, and commended in particular the efforts of the President of Angola and Chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Joao Lourenco, to mediate between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda through the Luanda Process. They underscored the importance of full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women in all processes.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their condemnation of all armed groups operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including the M23, the ADF, and the Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (FDLR). They further condemned foreign military support provided to M23 and any other armed group operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and demanded the cessation of such support and the immediate withdrawal of any such external party from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They expressed deep concern at the reports of the Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo on foreign military support for M23 and direct military interventions on Democratic Republic of the Congo territory. They also condemned support, notably provided by military forces, to certain armed groups such as the Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (FDLR) and demanded the cessation of such support. The Members of the Council urged the return of foreign armed groups to their country of origins and the full implementation of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration processes for all armed groups operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo as well as all States in the region. They reiterated their full support to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Bintou Keita, and for the stabilizing actions of MONUSCO.

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US calls Israel's criticism of weapons deliveries 'deeply disappointing'

By VOA News June 20, 2024

The White House on Thursday expressed disappointment over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent criticism of U.S. weapons deliveries to his country, calling the statements vexing.

"Those comments were deeply disappointing and certainly vexing to us, given the amount of support that we have and will continue to provide," White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Thursday.

In a video statement posted on Tuesday, Netanyahu said that although he was grateful for U.S. support for Israel during its ongoing war against Hamas, "it's inconceivable that in the past few months, the administration has been withholding weapons and ammunitions to Israel."

The United States, however, said that there is just one shipment of 2,000-pound [900 kilogram] and 500-pound [200 kilogram] bombs that was paused in May over worries about how they may be used in densely populated parts of Gaza. Israel was still set to receive billions of dollars in U.S. weaponry.

"There is one shipment of high payload munitions that we have put under review and that remains under review. That's not a bottleneck. That's a policy review," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Thursday.

A group of 30 United Nations experts on Thursday, meanwhile, warned that arms and ammunition manufacturers that continue to transfer weapons to Israel could be complicit in human rights abuses and international law violations.

Kirby told reporters that the United States has communicated its displeasure directly to Israel.

"I think we've made it abundantly clear to our Israeli counterparts through various vehicles our deep disappointment in the statements expressed in that video and our concerns over the accuracy in the statements made," Kirby said. "The idea that we had somehow stopped helping Israel with their self-defense needs is absolutely not accurate."

Netanyahu seemed to dig in his heels even more on Thursday, saying in a statement that he is "prepared to suffer personal attacks provided that Israel receives the ammunition from the U.S. that it needs in the war for its existence."

The spat comes as White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken planned meetings with Netanyahu's two top aides to discuss the ongoing war in Gaza.

Overnight and into Thursday, Israeli forces attacked areas in central and northern Gaza, killing at least 14 people and wounding dozens of others, medics said.

Also on Thursday, humanitarian aid again started to flow over the U.S. military's floating pier off the coast of Gaza and into the Palestinian territory, the Pentagon said. The pier was re-attached to the shore on Wednesday after poor sea conditions forced it to be temporarily removed last week.

"I can confirm that U.S. Central Command personnel reanchored and reestablished the temporary pier to the Gaza beach yesterday," Pentagon spokesperson Major General Pat Ryder told journalists. Israeli forces helped in order to prevent American troops from being on the ground.

The total amount of aid brought into Gaza using the pier has now surpassed 4,100 metric tons, or 9 million pounds, the spokesperson said.

Biden announced in March the plan to build the pier for aid deliveries into Gaza. Israel had blocked or greatly reduced aid through land routes, which has exacerbated the risk of famine in the enclave.

The war was sparked when Hamas launched an attack in southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 others hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's military response in Gaza has destroyed much of the territory, killed more than 37,400 people and injured more than 85,600 others, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

Some information in this report came from Reuters and Agence France-Presse.

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Aid entering Gaza again via US-built temporary pier

By Carla Babb June 20, 2024

Aid is again entering Gaza by sea though a U.S.-built temporary pier after the structure was reconnected to the beach earlier this week, a defense official told VOA on Thursday.

The U.S. military had disconnected the floating pier last week and moved it to the port of Ashdod in Israel because of bad weather.

Even though supplies are now rolling in, U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq says the U.N. World Food Program has not restarted aid distribution to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip due to lingering security concerns.

The U.N. World Food Program temporarily halted distributions to local partners on June 9, with the agency saying it would resume once a security review is complete and when the U.N. was certain that its staff and partners could move around safely.

The pier arrangement is part of an effort to boost what humanitarian organizations say is a vastly insufficient amount of aid for Palestinian civilians amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Aid has been slow to get into Gaza due to long backups of vehicles at Israeli inspection points. The United States and other nations have air-dropped food into Gaza dozens of times in recent months, but air drops are much less efficient and provide greatly smaller quantities of aid than distribution via sea or land.

Following its completion in mid-May, the pier operated for just a few days before it was damaged by stormy weather in late May. That damage stopped operations until June 8.

U.S. Central Command again detached the pier last week to prevent expected rough seas from causing fresh damage to the pier.

The Pentagon says the pier was designed as a temporary measure and allowed the delivery of 3,500 metric tons of aid into Gaza.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of the U.N. spokesman's name in the third graph.

VOA U.N. Correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this report.

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Afghan evacuees in limbo: Humanitarian parole leaves 1,000s facing uncertainty in US

By Munaza Shaheed June 20, 2024

In 2021, the United States began one of its biggest humanitarian evacuations in history as it withdrew from Afghanistan, resettling more than 80,000 Afghans fleeing Taliban rule in the initial weeks of Operation Allies Welcome. However, they were brought into the U.S. through the humanitarian parole process that gives temporary immigration status to the displaced persons. But how has this temporary status affected Afghan evacuees in the U.S.?

Upon arrival in the United States, more than 70,000 evacuees were granted humanitarian parole for two years, a temporary immigration status with no path to permanent residency. Uncertainty around the humanitarian parole status has had several concrete effects on aspects of the evacuees' lives, including financial, employment, housing, and mental health.

This process has come with many challenges for the resettled men, women and children from Afghanistan.

Masi Siddiqi, who came to the United States after the Taliban took control over Kabul, was granted admission to the prestigious Columbia University in New York. However, his status hindered his ability to secure funding through loans to continue his studies.

"I was admitted to Columbia University for the fall of 2023, and I did attend one semester. I thought that I may be able to afford it at first because I had my family's support. But after doing one semester I found out that I was financially not able to do it because I did not qualify for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), for federal loans, for federal aid, grants, funds and for none of the benefits that a U.S. citizen or non-citizen would qualify for," Masi said.

Safiullah Rauf, founder of Human First Coalition, an organization providing aid primarily to Afghanistan and Afghans, leads a team of hundreds to provide food, medical care and resettlement services to more than 15,000 Afghans in need. The organization has helped evacuate more than 7,000 people, including 1,400 U.S. nationals, since the Taliban seized control of the country.

Rauf is visiting communities in the United States to gather support for Congress to do more to support Afghans in the U.S., including in the form of draft legislation known as the Afghan Adjustment Act.

"[The] Afghan Adjustment Act is one of the most important pieces of legislation that was introduced in 2022 to help those allies we brought to the U.S. in 2021,'' Rauf told VOA. ''There are over 80,000 allies that were brought to the U.S., and many came with the humanitarian parole. They had a two-year visa to stay in the U.S. and their future was uncertain though the parole was extended for another year; but they still face an uncertain future. The Afghan Adjustment Act makes sure that all who came in 2021 go through a vetting process and after that they will become a productive member of the society.

"In the United States, passing of any kind of legislation is a huge hurdle and you have to move mountains to approve any law, especially right now where [the] Senate and the House is most divided,'' Rauf said. ''Because this bill is somewhat related to immigration, the Republicans are very much against any immigration bills right now. However, this bill is different than a normal immigration bill. This bill is for those allies who supported the U.S. for over 20 years in Afghanistan and their life will be in danger and it is a certain death if they go back to Afghanistan. So they must be given a permanent residency here.''

According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS, legal assistance resources and immigration processing are experiencing extreme delays that could span years.

Laila Mangal, who is working for LLS resettlement agency as a case manager and cultural liaison in the state of Virginia, told VOA Deewa about the challenges faced by the Afghans who came to the U.S. on short notice and in chaotic circumstances. She expressed that the unclear nature of evacuees' immigration status for the near future, has posed a critical structural barrier to their well-being and, ultimately, their success in the U.S.

"When their legal case is in the process and it takes longer, the refugees go through stress and pressure,'' Mangal said. ''Sometimes this legal battle drains their mental health."

Masi, the student, calls on the Senate and the House of Representatives to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act so the displaced Afghans can be categorized as U.S. permanent residents.

"As the U.S. officials say 'we stand by our Afghan allies,' we do expect them to stand by their allies because I personally believe that they have not yet stood by their Afghan allies,'' Masi said. ''Not only with the ones that are left behind but also the ones that are currently facing the immigration limbo here in the U.S.; just like my family and myself. I really appreciate that the senators and the representatives from my state and from the other states should support the Afghan Adjustment Act. I think the social media slogans are not enough by themselves. They must push the majority leaders to bring the act to the floor because with bipartisan support, we can have the act pass.''

Like other resettled immigrants, Afghans were encouraged to find jobs quickly and felt the pressure to do so given the high costs of living, limited aid available, and, for some, the large families they're supporting. Many found low-wage jobs in manufacturing, hospitality, retail, food processing, trucking, or ride sharing to support themselves and their families.

But with the pending expiration of employment authorization documents this fall, employment stability is at risk for some. Stakeholders shared that because of the expiration date, some employers have begun notifying people they will lose their jobs later this year or that they are now no longer needed.

This story originated in VOA's Deewa service.

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Analysts: Presence of foreign actors complicates Sudan war situation

By Mariama Diallo June 20, 2024

As Sudan's humanitarian crisis grows more dire, concerns are growing that foreign actors with interests in Sudan are complicating the situation and making it harder to end a 14-month war that has driven millions from their homes and has put parts of the country on the brink of famine.

Calls to end the fighting during the past year have come from around the world, including the United Nations, the African Union, the Arab League and East Africa's Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). IGAD tried to send the presidents of Kenya, South Sudan and Djibouti to Khartoum to mediate the crisis, the group's spokesperson at the time, Nuur Mohamud Sheekh, told VOA.

But so far, that initiative has not materialized. Other powers like the United States, Egypt and Saudi Arabia have led efforts to broker cease-fires that came and went without much effect.

Some have questioned how each of the warring factions  the Sudan Armed Forces, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti  have funded the war and supported their fighters for 14 months.

"There's a lot of resources and money that is being invested in this war, particularly on the RSF side," said Hala al-Karib, regional director for the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa.

Al-Karib believes the RSF is getting military and political support from the United Arab Emirates, while the Sudanese army may be getting help from Iran and Egypt. Her views are echoed by other analysts, including Kwaku Nuamah, a senior lecturer at American University's School of International Services.

Russia's state-run militia formerly known as the Wagner Group has also been identified as a major supplier of arms to the RSF.

Egypt's support of al-Burhan is largely a reflection of long-standing ties between the SAF and the Egyptian military, Nuamah said. He added that Iran's role in the conflict  once generally neutral, now one of active support for al-Burhan  reflects past good relations with the Sudanese government and contemporary geostrategic concerns, including Tehran's need for allies as it faces crushing global sanctions.

However, Michael Walsh, a senior fellow in the Africa program at the U.S.-based Foreign Policy Research Institute, cautions that hard evidence of outside support for either side in the Sudan conflict is hard to come by.

"Many of the journalists who are covering the region, they are covering it from Egypt. People have been displaced, embassies have been displaced," he said. "Given the security implications of information of who's supporting either party, it's really difficult to get access to that information and there's a huge risk of misinformation and disinformation."

War, humanitarian crisis

The war began on April 15, 2023, when Sudanese citizens awoke to sounds of gunfire and clashes in the capital, Khartoum, pitting units of the Sudan Armed Forces against the RSF.

At the time, al-Burhan was head of Sudan's transitional governing Sovereign Council; Dagalo was the deputy head. Tensions between the generals had been rising over disagreements about how the RSF should be integrated into the Sudanese army. Restructuring the military was part of an effort to restore the country to civilian rule after the ouster of former Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir in 2019 and a 2021 military coup orchestrated by the two generals.

The war quickly spread beyond the capital. Since its beginning, more than 8.8 million people have fled their homes and nearly 16,000 fatalities have been reported by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), a data collection, analysis and crisis mapping project.

UAE links?

"Both sides have continued to violate the laws of armed conflict in multiple ways, with the support of outside actors allegedly ranging from the UAE to Russia to Iran to Egypt and others," Nathaniel Raymond, executive director at the Yale School of Public Health's Humanitarian Research Lab, told VOA.

The Yale humanitarian research lab has been tracking action in Sudan since the war started using satellite and other technology. In a report published last week, the lab used satellite images to identify an Ilyushin (IL-76)  a large Russian-made transport plane  flying June 11 near Sudan's El-Fasher region, above RSF-controlled territory.

The finding is significant, Raymond said, because the same model of plane has "also been seen at facilities identified by the United Nations panel of experts as being linked to alleged UAE lethal support activities on behalf of RSF in Sudan."

A report earlier this year by a U.N. panel of experts noted that accusations that UAE had provided military support to RSF via Amdjarass city in Chad were "credible."

About the IL-76, Raymond noted that "we don't know who was flying this plane and we are working to differentiate whether it was a Sudan Armed Forces plane or was resupplying RSF or was transiting through over El-Fasher."

Regardless, he said, it makes one wonder about what activities are going on to supply both sides in the conflict.

The UAE strongly rejects allegations of its involvement in the conflict and categorically denies the provision of military, logistical, financial or political support to any faction in Sudan, the UAE's foreign ministry told VOA in response to a query.

The UAE pointed out to VOA that after the Sudanese authorities refused a request in 2023 by the UAE to build a hospital inside Sudan to provide medical support to the wounded, the UAE built two field hospitals close to the Chadian-Sudanese border known as Amdjarass and Abeche. They have extended an invitation to the U.N. panel of experts to visit the hospitals and observe.

Why Sudan?

Walsh, at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, said it's important to remember "there are some individuals in this conflict who have relationships with foreign actors that extend way before the start of hostilities in the current civil war ... in Sudan. There are connections to Yemen and other conflicts."

Russia's Wagner mercenary group, which was renamed the Africa Corps after the death of its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has also reportedly been present for years in Sudan, although Wagner denied this. The U.S. Treasury Department accused the group last year of providing the RSF with surface-to-air missiles that have contributed to "a prolonged armed conflict that only results in further chaos in the region."

According to more recent media reports, Ukrainian special forces have intervened on behalf of SAF to counter the Russian mercenary group. Ukraine has been at war with Russia for over two years now. Russia has used Wagner fighters to help fight its war in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with al-Burhan in Ireland in September 2023 to discuss Russia-funded armed groups. At the meeting, Zelenskyy thanked the Sudanese general for his country's support of Ukraine's territorial integrity.

There are also reports that Sudanese authorities are about to strike a deal for the construction of a logistical supply base for the Russian navy on its Red Sea coast. The Sudan Tribune reported this month that a Sudanese military delegation would visit Moscow soon to discuss the country's needs for weapons and munitions.

American University's Nuamah said Sudan is of interest to outside actors because of its strategic location on the coast of Red Sea at the crossroads of sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East; its possession of lootable natural resources such as gold; and the fact that it shares borders with numerous fragile states in a turbulent region. The Red Sea provides access to the Suez Canal and is one of the most heavily traveled waterways in the world.

In any case, Sudan is looking at a gloomy situation for the near term. ACLED ranks Sudan as one of the 50 most violent countries in the world, saying that conditions continue to get worse as mass killings remain a key feature of that conflict.

Earlier this month, about 200 people were killed during attacks by RSF soldiers on unarmed civilians in the village of Wad al-Noura, in Sudan's Gezira state. The attack was widely condemned by the international community and prompted renewed calls for a cease-fire.

Al-Karib of the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa, who relocated to Uganda after the war started, still has friends and family in Sudan. Painting a grim picture of the war-torn country, she said that "people are getting killed regularly just for being themselves. People are being ... kidnapped and detained for lengthy periods of time. Women can't travel from point A to point B safely. Communities are looted completely."

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Georgia looks to China for investment; critics fear turn from West

By Henry Ridgwell June 20, 2024

Chinese investment in Georgia is set to increase significantly after a Chinese-led consortium was awarded the contract to develop a deep-sea megaport on Georgia's Black Sea coast, part of Beijing's envisaged 'Middle Corridor' trade route to Europe. But critics say the Georgian government is putting the country's economy and democracy at risk by turning away from Western partners and toward the east.

Anaklia, on Georgia's Black Sea shoreline, is currently little more than a small coastal resort of some 1,500 people. Under the plans, it is set to become a port capable of handling large volumes of containers and other cargo, to be built and run by Chinese firms.

The Georgian government last month awarded a 49% stake in the project to a Chinese-Singaporean consortium, thought to be worth several billion dollars. The exact details of the deal have not been revealed. The remaining 51% stake is held by the Georgian state.

The announcement was made a day after the government passed its so-called "foreign agent" law, similar to one in Russia, widely seen as a clampdown on Western-funded non-governmental organizations and independent media. The legislation triggered ongoing anti-government protests amid fears the ruling "Georgian Dream" party is turning away from a Western-aligned future in the European Union.

"That also obviously coincides with the very direct and open anti-Western rhetoric that we've been hearing from the government," said Giga Bedineishvili, a Georgian financier and dean of the business school at Tbilisi Free University.

"So, the speculation  and I think it's a well-founded one  is that the Georgian government is thinking about the possibility of losing Western investment and compensating for it [with] some money from Russia and China," he told VOA.

Georgia's government denies it is seeking to turn away from the West and says publicly it still aims to join the European Union by 2030.

Georgia maintains EU aspirations

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze defended the awarding of the Anaklia port contract to the consortium led by the China Communications Construction Company.

"At this time, it is one of the largest Chinese companies, which has extensive experience, including in this type of project. The successful bid by the Chinese company ensures the highest-level implementation of the Anaklia project," Kobakhidze told reporters May 30.

The Anaklia port project has been in the pipeline for several years and was set to be built by a joint American-Georgian consortium in a contract worth $2.5 billon. However, the government canceled that deal in 2020, claiming the group had not met contractual terms. The consortium partners accused the ruling party and its oligarch founder Bidzina Ivanishvili of deliberately sabotaging the project.

Why Chinese investment?

So, what's in it for China? The port would lie at the western end of what Beijing calls the 'Middle Corridor,' an envisaged trade route to Europe through Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan to Georgia's Black Sea coast, and beyond to the European Union. Currently, most rail and road freight from China to Europe goes through Russia, but the future of that route is in doubt, with Moscow now heavily sanctioned by the West after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Tinatan Khidasheli, a former Georgian defense minister who now chairs the Civic IDEA organization, which analyzes China's activities in Georgia, fears the project could leave Georgia in a so-called "debt trap."

The big question, Khindasheli said, is where the Georgian government will get its funding for the project.

"They are going to [borrow] the money for fulfilling the obligations they have under this 51%," he said. "And I'm pretty sure  it's not fact yet  but I'm pretty sure that that money is going to come from China as well. And we will end up in a situation like Sri Lanka ended up, or Philippines, or in Malaysia. They had also similar problems, Tanzania, they had similar problems."

The state-owned Chinese firm that is leading the Anaklia port consortium, the China Communications Construction Company, is subject to U.S. sanctions over its role in building artificial islands in disputed regions of the South China Sea. The firm was also banned from World Bank contracts until 2017 over corruption scandals.

China already has a visible presence in Georgia, including the Hualing Tbilisi Sea Plaza, a vast 420-hectare shopping mall, hotel and housing complex on the outskirts of the capital. Chinese companies are also involved in building new highways.

In 2023, Georgia signed a strategic partnership agreement with China, and is part of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative and Global Security Initiative.

Despite Georgia's overtures to Beijing, direct Chinese investment in Georgia remains relatively small at just over $47 million in 2023, making it the ninth largest investor  and far smaller than European and American investment in the country. In 2023, Britain was the biggest single direct investor in Georgia at $392 million, according to official statistics.

"When people just drive throughout the country, they see all these Chinese signs from different companies. It creates an image that we have such a huge Chinese investment. Everywhere you go, you have Chinese companies working. In reality, none of that is an investment," said Tinatan Khidasheli of Civic IDEA.

"It's all Georgian [state] budget money, which is granted to the contractors, whomever wins the bid. And the reality of Georgian bidding story is that every single contract that is over $100 million usually is won by a Chinese company," she said.

Georgia's government says China could become its leading trading partner. Others urge caution.

"China and Russia, they strategize when they do something like that  they want to invest to then have political influence and have an impact on the local situation. And therefore, we need to be careful on that," said Bedineishvili.

A NATO official who spoke on condition of anonymity told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, or RFE/RL, that the alliance had concerns about China's development of the port.

"It's well known that China has long sought influence in major overseas infrastructure projects. The Black Sea remains an area of strategic importance to NATO," RFE/RL reported the NATO official as saying.

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On-the-Record Press Gaggle by White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby

June 20, 2024

Via Teleconference

11:12 A.M. EDT

MODERATOR: Hey, everyone. Thanks for joining us. Hope everyone was able to take some time off yesterday, if you were, and relax.

Kirby has a few words here at the top, and then as always, we'll get through as many questions as we can.

MR. KIRBY: Good morning, everybody. What I want to talk about today is Ukraine and our efforts to meet their critical air defense capabilities, their needs.

For more than two years, at the President's direction, we have prioritized strengthening Ukraine's air defenses to help protect the Ukrainian people against Russia's aerial attacks. But in recent months, Russia has accelerated both its missile and its drone attacks against cities and civilian infrastructure. They are trying to destroy Ukraine's energy system ahead of this winter. Again, this is not a new tactic for them, but they have certainly applied a lot more energy and effort into it in recent months.

As we've heard from President Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian military is in desperate need of additional air defense capabilities. We take our partnership seriously, especially when a partner like Ukraine is in such jeopardy. Right now, we know that Ukraine urgently needs these additional capabilities.

We have continued to dig deep and provide Ukraine with a variety of air defense systems and interceptor missiles from our own stockpiles, including those of the Patriot system, NASAMs, and of course, the Hawks.

Many of our allies and partners have stepped up in historic ways as well. But obviously, more is needed, and it's needed now. So as a result, the United States government has made the difficult but necessary decision to reprioritize, near term, planned deliveries of foreign military sales to other countries of particularly Patriot and NASAM missiles to go to Ukraine instead.

So let me just take a moment to explain what this means.

As you know, the United States has a robust foreign military sales program where our defense industrial base produces and then exports material to other countries, including, of course, air defense missiles. And what we're going to do is we're going to reprioritize the deliveries of these exports so that those missiles rolling off the production line will now be provided to Ukraine. This will ensure that we'll be able to provide Ukraine with the missiles they need to maintain their stockpiles at a key moment in the war and as we get, again, towards the end of summer and into the fall.

As a result, deliveries of these missiles to other countries that are currently in the queue will have to be delayed. To be clear, those countries will still receive the missiles that they have ordered. It's just that the delivery timelines will now take a little longer.

We have, of course, informed all the affected countries that we are taking this extraordinary step. And we're making every effort to minimize any negative impact to countries with affected foreign military sales cases. If any of our other partners were ever in a situation similar to Ukraine's, we would go to extraordinary lengths to support their security as well.

This decision demonstrates our commitment to supporting our partners when they're in existential danger. The United States firmly believes that this is the best course of action right now to support Ukraine, while still ensuring other partners receive the air defense missiles and capabilities that they've committed to purchase, again, on a delayed timeline.

Look, the broader message here to Russia is clear: If you think you're going to be able to outlast Ukraine and if you think you're going to be able to outlast those of us who are supporting Ukraine, you're just flat-out wrong. And we're going to make sure that we give Ukraine the critical air defense capabilities they need now and into the future. And we're going to keep working with our allies and partners to make sure that they too get the air defense capabilities that they ordered. And we're grateful to the nations that we've reached out to and have not only understood but many of them have been fully supportive of this decision.

So with that, we can start taking some questions.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our first question will go to Steve Holland with Reuters.

Q Thank you. Along those lines, could you talk about what are the ramifications for the United States of the defense pact signed by Putin and Kim Jong Un over the last couple days?

MR. KIRBY: Steve, I did not hear that question. Can you repeat it? I'm sorry.

Q The ramifications of the defense pact that Russia and North Korea signed in the last couple of days.

MR. KIRBY: The ramifications of the 

Q Defense pact.

MR. KIRBY: The defense agreement that they signed?

Q Yes.

MR. KIRBY: Yeah, look, I talked about this the other day, you know, but I'm happy to revisit it here now that they've made public the text of this agreement.

Number one, no surprise here, Steve. We've been talking about this and warning about a burgeoning defense relationship between these two countries now for many months, through a series of downgraded intelligence that we put out there.

So we've been sharing information publicly about how the DPRK has been enabling Russia's war in Ukraine and about their weapons transfers. Obviously, it's something that we've taken seriously. If we didn't take it seriously, my goodness, we wouldn't have made it public and wouldn't have been talking about it for quite some time.

Number two  and I think this should be fairly obvious too  when you look at the body of work President Biden has directed the national security team to do, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, we have been strengthening and bolstering our allies, our alliances, and our partnerships all throughout that region throughout the entire three and a half years of this administration, including through the historic trilateral agreement between the Republic of Korea and Japan and the United States, including through the AUKUS initiative, including by expanding our access and cooperation with the Philippines. And of course, we're going to continue to evaluate our posture throughout the Indo-Pacific as needed.

But we have prioritized this part of the world since the beginning of this administration. And that work, that effort, we believe, has right now and will continue to put us in the best possible position to be able to thwart any threats and challenges, not just on the Korean Peninsula but elsewhere in the region.

Q And if you 

MR. KIRBY: But wait, just a couple more points, if I could.

That's not to say that this development, this agreement is not a concern. Of course, it is. It should be a concern to any country that cares about maintaining peace and stability, not just on the Korean Peninsula but in the Indo-Pacific. It should be a concern to any country that believes that the U.N. Security Council resolutions ought to be abided by. It should be a concern to anybody who thinks that supporting the people of Ukraine is an important thing to do.

And we would think that that concern would be shared by the People's Republic of China, since this agreement also seems to be in direct contrast with the statement that President Putin and President Xi made in Beijing just a month ago in which both countries called for a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

Now, last thing I'll say here, Steve, and then I'm happy to take any follow-ups you have, is: Our view is that this agreement is also a sign of Russia's desperation. I mean, they're reaching out to North Korea for missiles, reaching  they're still getting drones from Iran. They don't have a lot of friends in the world, and they're trying to do everything they can to pull on the strings of the friends that they do have.

Russia is absolutely isolated on the world stage. They've been forced to rely, again, on countries like North Korea and Iran.

Meanwhile, split-screen, if you will, Ukraine just organized a successful peace summit in Switzerland that had more than 100 countries and organizations sign up to support President Zelenskyy's vision for a just peace.

So, last thing I'll say, and then I promise I'll shut up on this: We're just going to keep supporting Ukraine as they defend themselves from Russia. And we're obviously going to keep looking for opportunities to strengthen, deepen, and bolster our strong and vast network of alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.

So, sorry, that was a long one. But go ahead, Steve. You have a follow-up?

Q Thank you. Just a quick follow-up. Mike Turner is giving a speech, saying that the Biden administration isn't taking the threat seriously enough of Russia's space-based nukes. What's your response to that?

MR. KIRBY: Well, he's just wrong. He's just flat-out wrong.

Look, we have absolutely taken this very seriously. We've been working this particular problem set from every possible angle, including through intense diplomacy with countries around the world and, obviously, through direct conversations with Russia. We've been working hard to get other countries to join us in making clear what the dangers are of an anti-satellite weapon that's designed to carry a nuclear weapon, just like the one that Chairman Turner is referencing. And we put forth a resolution at the U.N. Security Council to do that just about a month or so ago.

As we said at the time, in February, when this was made public, publicizing this highly sensitive intelligence was highly irresponsible, and it was something that the intelligence community themselves had serious concerns with. And we had assessed that starting with private engagement, rather than immediately publicizing the intelligence, would have been a much more effective approach. So, obviously, as we said at the time, and we still are, disappointed that that opportunity was prevented by Chairman Turner's letter and then, thus, making it public.

Nevertheless, what I can say is: We're going to continue our efforts to dissuade Russia from putting a nuclear weapon into orbit. We're going to do everything possible to prevent that outcome. This is a national security issue. And quite frankly, it's not something that anyone should be playing politics one way or the other.

All nations, all individuals, anybody in public service, particularly here in this country, ought to be similarly concerned about the manner in which we talk about this and the approach that we take to try to stymie the Russian plans.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Jordan with Bloomberg.

Q Thanks, Kirby. Two questions for you. First, on the Patriot missiles, can you tell us a timeframe of when the countries that will have their deliveries delayed, when they'll be able to get them? Are we talking weeks, months, years?

And secondly, wondering if the administration is aware of a pair of major cyberattacks on a software company used by auto retailers and whether there's been any determination if that's been carried out by a foreign actor and if there's any assessment of how that will affect the economy.

MR. KIRBY: So, on your first question, what I can tell you is that we expect the first shipments from this reprioritization of air defense missiles to Ukraine will happen over coming weeks. Certainly before the end of the summer, Ukraine will start to see the initial deliveries of these.

I can't say with specificity what the delay is going to be like for every country that is affected by this, because these are individual contracts. And as we have communicated to these countries and will continue to do so, we'll do the best we can to minimize their delay as much as possible. But each country is going to have a different set of circumstances applied to that based on how much they've ordered and, you know, what their own self-defense needs are.

But I also would just add that the scope of the deliveries that were given to Ukraine will span  will provide them enough capabilities over the rest of this fiscal year and, of course, all next fiscal year. So about 16 months will be the focus of the timeframe to fill out Ukraine's inventory. And then, after that, the countries that have been asked to delay will start to get their deliveries.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question 

MR. KIRBY: Oh, wait a minute, before you go to the next question.

You asked  I don't have a good answer for you on the reports of a cyberattack on the auto industry. I'm going to take that question, and we'll see if we can get something a little bit better for you.

Q Thanks, John.

MR. KIRBY: Yeah, sorry about that.

Q Thank you. Our next question will go to Arlette with CNN.

Q Hi, thank you. I have just two areas I want to touch on. Still on the Ukraine air defense capabilities: Do you have an idea of how many countries will be impacted by this?

And then, if I could also ask about Israel: How frustrated has the President been about Netanyahu's comments claiming that the U.S. was withholding some military aid for Israel? And what do you think Netanyahu's motivation was in making such a claim? And are there any plans  or where do things stand  plans for POTUS to meet with Netanyahu when he comes to Washington in July?

MR. KIRBY: Okay, there's an awful lot there.

Look, on the number of countries, I would just say it's a range of countries. But I think we're going to respect each country's prerogative to either acknowledge it and speak to it or not.

I would tell you  you didn't ask this, but just to make it clear that this reprioritization will not affect Taiwan and what Taiwan continues to need and to receive from the United States with respect to their self-defense.

Look, on the Prime Minister's comments  and I assume you mean the video that he put out, claiming that, you know, it was unconscionable for the United States to withhold assistance  I would just  a couple of points here.

Number one, obviously, we didn't know that video was common. And it was perplexing to say the least, certainly disappointing, especially given that no other country is doing more to help Israel defend itself against the threat by Hamas  and, quite frankly, other threats that they're facing in the region  than the United States. I mean, my goodness, this President put U.S. fighter aircraft up in the air, in the middle of April, to help shoot down several hundred drones and missiles, including ballistic missiles that were fired from Iran proper into Israel. There's no other country that has done more or will continue to do more than the United States to help Israel defend itself.

So those comments were deeply disappointing and certainly vexing to us, given the amount of support that we have and will continue to provide Prime Minister Netanyahu.

And I think you had, like, several other follow-ups on that. And I think I 

Q Well, what do you think his motivation was behind making such a comment?

MR. KIRBY: I 

Q (Inaudible) domestic audience at home, or is he genuinely concerned about some missing aid that they haven't gotten?

MR. KIRBY: No idea. You'd have to talk to the Prime Minister about what prompted him to do that. Again, it was vexing and disappointing to us, as much as it was incorrect. So, difficult to know exactly what was on his mind there.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Gordon with Wall Street Journal.

Q My question was asked. I'm good. Thanks.

MODERATOR: Okay. Thank you. Our next question will go to Nick with PBS.

Nick, you should be able  there we go.

Q Yeah, sorry, Sam. Thanks, John. I think I know the answer to this, but just making sure: Does any air defense system in Israel  is that affected by today's announcement?

And then, to go back to some statements from Israel: In the last 24 hours, what has been a private  or reasonably private, I suppose  dispute between the leaders of the IDF and the Prime Minister has exploded into public. Do you think that what is now a public dispute between the leaders of the IDF and the Prime Minister threatens U.S. goals when it comes to Gaza and the region and the overall war in Gaza? Thanks, John.

MR. KIRBY: Thanks, Nick. So, on your first question: No, there's no  there's going to be no impact felt by Israel as a result of this reprioritization.

On your second question, I think it would be imprudent, at best, for us to speak about any intragovernmental tensions in Israel right now, except to say  I think in answer to your question  we do not believe that there's going to be any  certainly any change to our objectives or our goals. And we don't see any impact of these tensions on our shared objective: getting all the hostages out, getting this deal in place, getting a ceasefire in place, and trying to find a way to end this war.

But beyond that, I'd let the parties speak to it.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Aurelia with AFP.

Q Hi, John. Thanks for taking my question. A follow-up maybe. On the Middle East: Can you confirm that Jake Sullivan is meeting today with the Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer? And what would be the agenda for that meeting?

And another question, if I may, on Darfur. One week ago, the United Nations Security Council demanded an end to the siege of the city of Al-Fashir. Since then, have you seen any sign that the fighting is calming down? And if not, what's the administration doing to try to prevent, like, a major humanitarian catastrophe there?

MR. KIRBY: I'm going to take your question on Darfur, Aurelia, and get back to you, rather than try to explain something that may just make me sound stupid. So I don't want to do that. I want to do that right and take the question for you.

On your first question: Yes, Jake will be meeting today with his counterpart, Ha-  Hagnebi [sic], and  I'm sorry about that  and Mr. Dermer. And it'll be a wide-ranging discussion, I think you can imagine, about everything that's going on with the Gaza war, with our support to Israel, with our efforts to get a better sense of how they're continuing to prosecute operations against Hamas, as well as continuing to talk about the importance of closing on this deal.

Sorry, I blanked on his last name. It's Hanegbi. Hanegbi.

Anyway, that's the focus of that meeting today.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Haley with Scripps.

Q Thank you. I'm curious, on the line of the hostage ceasefire talks, if there have been any additional developments or if you've heard back from Hamas additionally this week.

And then, when it comes to the supply of Patriots to Ukraine, I mean, I know  I'm guessing you're probably not going to put a specific number on this, but what impact do you expect this to make quantitatively for them when it comes to the numbers they're asking for?

MR. KIRBY: I can tell you, on the Patriots, it's in the realm of hundreds that we're talking about, as I said, over the course of the rest of this fiscal year and into next fiscal year, the entire fiscal year for '25. So in the realm of the hundreds.

I don't have an update for you on the progress on the ceasefire deal. Again, it's our understanding that Hamas  I'm sorry, that Qatar and Egypt are still talking to their interlocutors with Hamas and trying to see if they can close whatever gaps exist. And we're still hopeful and still watching this very, very closely.

And just to remind: As I said in my opening statement, it is in the realm of the hundreds, and it's both Patriot interceptor missiles and NASAM interceptor missiles. Both programs.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Keleigh with NewsNation.

Q Hey, John. Thanks for taking my question. I wanted to ask about the tensions between Hezbollah and Israel and the concerns of a wider war. I know something you've spoken about and the administration has spoken out about not wanting to see this grow into a wider war.

On Tuesday, the IDF approved operational plans for an offensive in Lebanon. Since that approval, what discussions have the U.S. had to try to deescalate the situation?

MR. KIRBY: Well, as you know, our envoy, Amos Hochstein, has been in the region the last few days, shuttling back and forth between Tel Aviv and Beirut to have these exact conversations.

I won't speak to IDF military planning; they need to do that. I would just tell you that we still don't want to see a second front opened up. Obviously, we take the tensions and the rhetoric seriously by both sides. And we're doing everything we can to try to prevent that outcome. And those conversations are ongoing, literally as we speak.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Anita with VOA.

Q Thank you so much, John. Going back to Putin and his travels in Asia: He's headed to Hanoi. Is there any indication, that you are aware of, that he seeks material support from Vietnam for the Ukraine war?

And then secondly, with the top State Department official headed to Hanoi as well this week, is the U.S. seeking a debrief from Hanoi on Putin's visit?

MR. KIRBY: Well, obviously, we have an embassy there, and they'll certainly have, in due course, appropriate conversations with their counterparts in the Vietnamese government.

But, look, I would just say, broadly speaking, our expectation is that Vietnam will continue to adhere to its commitment to, and its commitment and support for, the basic principles of the U.N. Charter, which include sovereignty, which include territorial integrity, and that they'll continue, as they have, to convey that these principles need to be upheld all across the world  in Europe, as well as in Asia.

I'll let the two countries speak for themselves about the particulars of this visit and whatever they might agree to coming out of it. But I think it's  I would remind you that that we, the United States, President Biden, elevated our bilateral relationship with Vietnam to a historic level, basically upgrading it to a comprehensive strategic partnership. And that's a partnership that we believe reflects well the strength of that bilateral relationship. And we're going to stay focused on continuing to deepen it, broaden it, improve it for our own mutual benefit to each other and to the region.

We're focused on this bilateral relationship in ways that we don't believe anybody else really is, and we're going to stay focused on that.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Yuna with Channel 12.

Q Hi, Kirby. Hi, Sam. Thank you for doing this. First, to follow up about a question I don't think was answered. Is there a plan for a meeting between the President and Prime Minister Netanyahu during his speech in Congress?

And the second thing is: After the video by Netanyahu, was there any talks behind the scenes? I know that he met Special Envoy Amos Hochstein, but was there any attempt to scale it down a little bit? Any apology coming from Israel?

MR. KIRBY: So, on your first question, I don't have anything on the President's schedule to speak to.

On your second question, I think we've made it abundantly clear to our Israeli counterparts, through various vehicles, our deep disappointment in the statements expressed in that video and our concerns over the accuracy in the statements made.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Nathan with KAN.

Q Thanks so much for taking my question. Going back to the issue of arms shipments to Israel, could you give us an update on the status of these 2,000-pound bomb shipments?

And is there anything to add about the shipment itself or advancing the deal of the F-15 fighters to Israel? Has that been approved, and will that go ahead?

MR. KIRBY: I'm going to let the State Department speak to the F-15 question; that's really more in their lane. I will just tell you a couple of things.

Number one, as I said earlier, material assistance to Israel and their ability to defend themselves has continued  has continued to flow, even though there had been a pause put on those 2,000-pound bombs. I don't have an update for you on that one way or the other. But the idea that we had somehow stopped helping Israel with their self-defense needs is actually just not accurate.

On the F-15s, the only other thing I'd add is that these would be slated to be delivered in, like, 2029, if they're approved. And that approval process is ongoing, not related at all to the current conflict. But again, I'd point you over to the State Department to talk about that in a little bit more in detail.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Neria with Israel 13.

Q Hey, Kirby. Thank you so much for doing this. After hearing Netanyahu's remarks, we've heard really tough comments by the White House, and also, we're hearing you now saying that it was very disappointing. Did you try to tell  to say anything to Israeli officials about it? Are you about to say today in your official meetings with Sullivan and senior officials in Israel?

MR. KIRBY: As I said earlier, I think to a question a few minutes ago, we've made it clear at various levels, through various vehicles, our concerns over the content of that video.

Q And why do you think that he did that? Why do you think that he put that video out there? Do you have an assumption?

MR. KIRBY: No idea. You'd have to talk to the Prime Minister's office.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Morgan with Semafor.

Q Hey, John. Thanks so much for doing this. Just one follow-up on the decision to reprioritize the air defense capabilities to Ukraine. You mentioned you notified other countries will be affected. What kind of reaction did you get? I mean, were they understanding? Was there a level of concern there?

MR. KIRBY: I think I could describe it as broadly understanding of it.

Q Thank you. And I think we have time for one more question. We'll go to Marek with Polskie Radio.

Q Thank you, Sam. Hi, John. On missiles: You said that Taiwan and Israel won't be affected. What about countries on the eastern NATO flank, close to Russia and Ukraine? Are those countries excluded? If not, why? There were cases when Russian missiles flew over Poland during Russian attacks on western Ukraine.

And my second question: Are you also considering putting on hold or redirecting deliveries of Patriot and NASAM systems itself, including launchers and radars?

MR. KIRBY: Including launchers?

Q And radars.

MR. KIRBY: Yeah, so to your first question, as I said earlier, we'll let the countries affected speak for themselves on this. As I said, the response we got was broadly supportive. And many of the countries that we talked to were, in fact, very supportive of this because they know how serious the need is in Ukraine.

As for the actual amount, this is about  just to be clear, this decision is about reprioritizing the deliveries of missiles, the actual interceptor missiles. We did take a look at the broader system writ large  the launchers, the radar systems, all that go with that  and I think we'd be open to it. But the way that FMS is  foreign military sales program  is structured, right now we just don't have eligible systems coming off the production line. So it was something we looked at, but right now the focus is really going to be on the missiles themselves.

Q Can I take it as a confirmation that eastern NATO flank countries are not excluded from the hold?

MR. KIRBY: Again, I'll let other countries speak for themselves. As I said, we spoke to a number of countries about this, and I don't think we're going to identify them here today. We'll let those countries speak for themselves. I mean, we're talking about air defense capabilities here. And some countries will likely be more willing to talk about their participation in this effort than others, and they should speak for themselves. So I'm just not going to get into that.

But I do want to go back, if I could, just on your question about systems. One thing I forgot to mention was: Separate and distinct from this effort  and as I said, we're open to continue to look at the possibility of systems themselves being redirected. But even before this decision, we had been working closely with other countries, in Europe and beyond Europe, that have systems  launchers, radar systems, and support systems  about their willingness to contribute those systems to Ukraine's air defense capabilities. And so, that effort is ongoing; I would even describe it as a parallel effort. And we're going to continue to do that going forward.

MODERATOR: Thank you. And thanks, everyone, for joining. As always, if we weren't able to get to you, reach out to the NSC press distro, and we'll try to get back to you as soon as we can. Thanks, everyone.

END 11:44 A.M. EDT

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Russo-Ukraine War - 20 June 2024 - Day 848

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A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that throughout June 2024 the Russian Air Force maintained pressure against the front-line in Ukraine with tactical aviation while One Way Attack drones continue to strike against deeper infrastructure and military related targets. However, between 12 and 18 June, Russian Long-Range Aviation switched the focus of its cruise missile strikes to target Ukrainian Air Bases, almost certainly borne out of frustration of continued Ukrainian air strike successes whilst also likely highlighting Russia's concerns about the future employment of F-16 aircraft.

A series of coordinated Ukrainian attacks against targets in Crimea resulted in the destruction of critical elements of Russian SA-20 and SA-21 surface to air missile systems. These successes highlight Russia's struggle to defend its assets in Crimea, despite their pride and significant economic outlay on Air Defence. While it is likely that Russia can replace systems quickly, continued attrition will likely force Russia to draw on equipment from other areas, as it has done previously, if it wishes to maintain its density of Air Defence coverage. Alternatively, Russia may be forced to accept a reduction in capability, placing its forces on Crimea at increased risk.

Further successful Ukrainian attacks against Russian airfields conducting strike operations, such as Mozdok, Akhtubinsk and more recently Morozovsk has highly likely forced Russia to maintain its policy of dispersing aircraft basing further from the front-line. This will almost certainly result in increased airframe and aircrew fatigue as sortie times increase. It is possible that the accidental loss of a Su-34 FULLBACK fighter bomber in the North Ossetia region of southern Russia on 12 June was linked to this.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the situation on the front remains tense but controlled. Defense Forces continue to decisively oppose attempts by Russian forces to advance deep into Ukrainian territory, directing efforts to disrupt the occupiers' execution of their offensive plans.

128 combat clashes have taken place since the beginning of the day. Russian aggressor tries to use advantage in live force, technique and support from the air. During the day, the Russian opponent made two missile strikes on the territory of Ukraine with the use of ten missiles. In addition, made 36 air strikes of 50 KABAMA and made 373 kamikadze drones. Along with that, Russian forces carried out 2,634 shelling on positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements using different types of weapons.

In the Kharkiv direction, Russian occupiers with the support of aviation tried to storm the positions of Ukrainian units in the area of Vovchansk, Liptsiv and Pacific All enemy attacks were unsuccessful.

According to the information available at this time, Russian BBM, two artillery systems, 22 BPLAs, two vehicles, a ground BPLA control station and two ammunition warehouses have been destroyed. Two cars, an armored vehicle and two Russian artsystems were also damaged.

16 times Russian forces attacked Ukrainian positions in the kupans .komu direction. Near the settlements of Stepova Novoselivka, Sinkivka, Stelmakhivka and Sand units of the Defense Forces repelled 15 offensive actions without success for the Russian opponent. The situation is intense. There is a fight near Stelmakhivka.

In the Lyman direction a day, Russian troops six times unsuccessfully attacked Ukrainian defenders in the areas of Nevsky and Serebryansky Forest. At this time, three clashes near Grekivka and Nevsky continue

A similar situation is also in the Toretsky direction, where Russian occupiers attacked seven times near Shumiv, Toretsky and New York. Four clashes are over, the fighting continues.

Intensely Russian attacks of Ukrainian defenders in the Pokrovsky direction. Here during the day, the Russian aggressor increased efforts - in total he carried out 48 assault and offensive actions. The greatest activity of the Russian occupiers is kept from the Ocheretynogo district, from where Russian forces in various directions tries to infiltrate Ukrainian combat orders. 29 attacks Ukrainian defenders have already fought, another 19 buezitknen 29 continue. The situation is a complicated one. The Defense Forces are making efforts to prevent Russian forces from advancing deep into Ukrainian territory.

In the Kurakhiv direction at this time of the day there are 13 unsuccessful Russian combat clashes. Zagarbniki tried to advance in the areas of settlements of Krasnogorivka, Georgiyivka, Pobeda, Paraskoviyivka and Konstantinivka.

In the Pridnipro direction, the Russian occupiers do not abandon trying to knock out the Defense Forces from positions on the left bank of the Dnieper. All six attacks of the Russian occupiers were unsuccessful.

In other directions, there have been no significant changes in the environment.

Ukrainian soldiers inflict tangible losses, actively apply the tools of fire on the Russian's live force and his equipment.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in response to the Kiev regime's attempt to damage Russian power facilities, the Russian Armed Forces launched a long-range high-precision group strike by air-based missiles, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles at Ukrainian power facilities ensuring production and weaponry for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The goal of the strike has been achieved. All the assigned targets have been engaged.

Units of the Sever Group of Forces continued advancing to the depth of the enemy's defences. Losses were inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 36th Marines Brigade, 120th, 127th territorial defence brigades, and 13th National Guard Brigade near Tikhoye, Volchansk, Glubokoye, and Liptsy (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 290 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M142 HIMARS MLRS launcher, one German-made 155-mm Panzerhaubitze-2000 howitzer, two 152-mm D-20 howitzers, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 electronic warfare station.

Units of the Zapad Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on formations of the AFU 14th, 21st, and 116th mechanised brigades near Nevskoye (Lugansk People's Republic), Sinkovka (Kharkov region), and Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic). Two counter-attacks launched by units of the AFU 3rd Assault Brigade were repelled.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 500 Ukrainian troops, one infantry fighting vehicle, two U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, five motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 howitzer, and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-37 electronic warfare station.

Two AFU artillery ammunition depots were destroyed.

Units of the Yug Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front line and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 24th, 28th mechanised brigades, and 79th Air Assault Brigade near Konstantinovka, Chasov Yar, and Kurakhovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

One counter-attack launched by units of the AFU 10th Mountain Assault Brigade was repelled.

The AFU losses amounted to more than 785 Ukrainian troops, five armoured fighting vehicles, including two U.S.-made M113 armoured fighting vehicles, 17 motor vehicles, one UK-made 155-mm FH-70 howitzer, three 152-mm D-20 howitzers, two UK-made 105-mm L-119 howitzer, and one Croatian-made 128-mm RAK SA-12 MLRS launcher.

In addition, one AFU electronic warfare station and five field ammunition depots were destroyed.

Units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation and inflicted losses on formations of the AFU 23rd, 47th mechanised brigades, and 110th Territorial Defence Brigade near Toretsk, Novgorodskoye, Rozovka, and Novosyolovka Pervaya (Donetsk People's Republic). Five counter-attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 68th Jaeger Brigade were repelled.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 380 Ukrainian troops, one U.S.-made MaxxPro armoured fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, one 152-mm 2A65 Msta-B howitzer, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, and one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 howitzer.

Units of the Vostok Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade, 102nd, and 128th territorial defence brigades near Velikaya Novosyolka, Urozhaynoye (Donetsk People's Republic), and Gulai Pole (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 140 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, and one U.S.-made 155-mm M198 howitzer.

Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, 141st Infantry Brigade, and 35th Marines Brigade near Zherebyanka, Nesteriyanka (Zaporozhye region), and Ivanovka (Kherson region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 70 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, one U.S.-made 155-mm M198 howitzer, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces engaged AFU manpower and hardware clusters in 105 areas during the day.

Air defence units shot down 74 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles and 21 U.S.-made MLRS projectiles.

In total, 613 airplanes and 276 helicopters, 26,008 unmanned aerial vehicles, 531 air defence missile systems, 16,385 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,346 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 10,665 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 22,726 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

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Summit on Peace in Ukraine: first NCSC report on Cyber Situation Network

Swiss Government

Bern, 20.06.2024 -- Even before the Summit on Peace in Ukraine got under way, cyberattacks on the conference and network infrastructure in Switzerland were expected. A number of cyberattacks were then confirmed, but they were all detected early and quickly averted. In order to jointly counter the expected cyberattacks, Switzerland set up a Cyber Situation Network coordinated by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). Today, the NCSC published an initial review of the work of the Cyber Situation Network.

Large events and international conferences are often used as opportunities for cyberattacks. This was the case with the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, which took place on 15-16 June at the BArgenstock resort and was attended by delegations from almost 100 countries. Even in the run-up to the event, cyberattacks on the conference and network infrastructure in Switzerland were expected.

Broad-based situation network

Switzerland launched a Cyber Situation Network as a joint approach to combat the expected cyberattacks. This was coordinated by the NCSC as a public-private partnership with almost 100 experts from national and cantonal authorities and private sector organisations. The broad support provided by the Cyber Situation Network was crucial in building cyber resilience ahead of the conference and enabling a rapid and effective response to cyber threats that attempted to disrupt the event. Cooperation was smooth at all times, thanks to the high level of commitment and thorough preparation of all those involved. The NCSC stood down the Cyber Situation Network on the evening of Sunday, 16 June.

Initial assessment by the NCSC

Switzerland experienced a number of cyber incidents shortly before, during and briefly after the summit. These included several DDoS attacks attempting to overload the websites of authorities and organisations involved in the summit, which were clearly perpetrated by the pro-Russian hacktivist group 'NoName057(16)'. They were within the expected range and caused only minor disruption to IT infrastructures. However, at no time was there any threat to the IT systems or data of the summit itself or the organisations involved in its organisation. The NCSC is currently still detecting individual DDoS attacks on targets in Switzerland. It can be assumed that the situation will normalise again in the coming days. There were also digital intrusion attempts against the IT systems of the cantons involved, Nidwalden and Obwalden, and a number of phishing attacks against employees of Lucerne's medical emergency call centre. The technical problems experienced during the live broadcast and the power outage on Sunday in the Bern region were not cybersecurity incidents.

The NCSC has published a report with an initial assessment of the work of the Cyber Situation Network and an overview of cyber incidents related to the Summit on Peace in Ukraine.

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Mexico-Based Drug Cartel Leaders Indicted and Sanctioned

Thursday, June 20, 2024

For Immediate Release

Office of Public

Rodolfo Maldonado-Bustos, also known as Don Jose, and Euclides Camacho-Goicochea, also known as El Quilles, who occupy leadership roles in the La Nueva Familia Michoacana drug cartel, were charged by a federal grand jury with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute heroin and conspiracy to import heroin into the United States.

Earlier today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) announced financial sanctions against Camacho-Goicochea and Maldonado-Bustos, who are fugitives believed to be residing in Mexico.

"These actions demonstrate that in addition to holding cartel leaders accountable for their crimes, we are working together with our partners at the Treasury Department to hit the cartels' criminal operations where it hurts the most - their profits," said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. "We will continue to mobilize a whole-of-government effort to disrupt the cartels profiting from the drug trafficking and human smuggling that devastate communities and endanger our national security."

"These cartel members allegedly imported massive amounts of heroin from Mexico to the Atlanta area and elsewhere in the United States," said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia. "The federal indictments in conjunction with the recent imposition of OFAC sanctions send a strong message that our office, in coordination with our law enforcement partners, will relentlessly investigate, prosecute, and defund individuals around the globe who import deadly drugs into our communities."

"Denying drug cartels the profits earned from distributing poison in our communities is an essential tool in DEA's efforts to combat these drug cartels," said Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Murphy of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Atlanta Field Division. "DEA Atlanta will continue to attack the La Nueva Familia cartel on all fronts by arresting its members, as well as seizing their drugs and assets."

"IRS Criminal Investigation special agents are highly skilled financial investigators who can unravel complex schemes cartels use to hide their money," said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI)'s Atlanta Field Office. "IRS-CI and other members of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces will continue working together to bring these international criminals to justice."

According to the indictments and other information presented in court, in September 2016, agents of the DEA and the IRS-CI initiated an investigation into Mexico-based La Nueva Familia Michoacana cartel members allegedly importing heroin, cocaine, and marijuana into the United States, including to the Northern District of Georgia. As part of the investigation, agents identified Maldonado-Bustos as a high-level cartel member who allegedly coordinated the manufacturing of large quantities of heroin in Mexico.

In particular, the investigation revealed that Maldonado-Bustos allegedly directed the harvesting of gum from opium fields, procured chemicals to process the gum into heroin, and supplied Camacho-Goicochea and other conspirators in Mexico with the heroin to import into cities in the United States, including Atlanta, and Houston. The investigation further revealed that Camacho-Goicochea allegedly coordinated the collection and return of drug proceeds from the United States back to Mexico. In early 2017, agents seized over $580,000 in drug proceeds from vehicles and homes in the Atlanta area, which were ultimately destined for the cartel in Mexico.

Rodolfo Maldonado-Bustos, also known as Don Jose, 59, and Euclides Camacho-Goicochea, also known as El Quilles, 51, both of Guerrero, Mexico, were charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute heroin and conspiracy to import heroin into the United States. Camacho-Goicochea was also charged with conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. The indictments were returned in August 2017 and were recently unsealed.

The DEA and IRS-CI investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebeca Ojeda for the Northern District of Georgia is prosecuting the case against Camacho-Goicochea and Maldonado-Bustos. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laurel Milam for the Northern District of Georgia and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Hartigan for the Eastern District of North Carolina, provided valuable assistance to the investigation.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.

The specific mission of the David G. Wilhelm Atlanta OCDETF Strike Force (the Strike Force) is to degrade and dismantle major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations in the Atlanta metropolitan area and the Northern District of Georgia. To accomplish this mission, the Strike Force will target these organizations' leaders, focusing on targets designated as Consolidated Priority Organization Targets (CPOTs), Regional Priority Organization Targets (RPOTs), and their associates. The Atlanta Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from ATF, DEA, FBI, HSI, USMS, USPIS, and IRS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, and the prosecution is being led by the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Topic: Drug Trafficking

Components: Office of the Attorney General

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

USAO - Georgia, Northern

USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

U.S. Marshals Service

Press Release Number: 24-787

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United States Sanctions Key La Nueva Familia Michoacana Members

US Department of State

Press Statement

Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

June 20, 2024

In close coordination with the Government of Mexico and in support of President Biden's Unity Agenda, today the U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on eight individuals affiliated with La Nueva Familia Michoacana, including leaders Rodolfo Maldonado Busto and Josue Ramirez Carrera. La Nueva Familia Michoacana is involved in significant fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine trafficking and migrant smuggling into the United States.

Synthetic drug traffickers pose a significant worldwide threat to health and security, and they exacerbate the overdose epidemic in the United States. Our sanctions authorities help sever criminal entities' ties to the United States' financial system, disrupting their networks' operations.

These actions are a core component of President Biden's strengthened whole-of-government approach to safeguard lives and dismantle the transnational criminal organizations responsible for the illicit distribution of fentanyl and other dangerous synthetic drugs. To accelerate and strengthen international action to respond to emerging synthetic drug threats, Secretary Blinken launched the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats. The coalition has grown to include over 1,500 participants from 156 countries and 15 international organizations.

Today's designations by the Department of the Treasury were taken pursuant to Executive Order 14059, which targets international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production. Those sanctioned are involved in various aspects of La Nueva Familia Michoacana operations including drug procurement and transportation as well as money laundering. This is one of the most powerful and violent cartels in Mexico and recently increased their fentanyl trafficking. More information is available here on President Biden's Unity Agenda . For more information on today's actions and a detailed list of the individuals and entities designated, see the Treasury press release.

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Secretary Yellen Announces Sanctions Against Top Leaders of Mexico's La Nueva Familia Michoacana Drug Cartel, New Fentanyl Advisory

U.S. Department of the Treasury

June 20, 2024

OFAC sanctions target powerful cartel trafficking fentanyl into the United States

FinCEN Advisory provides crucial information to help financial institutions track illicit fentanyl financial flows

WASHINGTON a Today, alongside law enforcement leaders in Atlanta, Georgia, Secretary Yellen announced that the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned eight Mexico-based targets affiliated with La Nueva Familia Michoacana drug cartel for trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine into the United States. In addition to narcotics trafficking, La Nueva Familia Michoacana smuggles migrants from Mexico into the United States. La Nueva Familia Michoacana is one of the most powerful and violent cartels in Mexico and has become a priority focus of the Mexican government in recent years.

Concurrently, Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued a Supplemental Advisory to highlight critical new information to help U.S. banks and other financial institutions guard against activity associated with the illicit fentanyl supply chain. The advisory includes new trends and red flags that can be indicators of activity associated with the procurement of precursor chemicals and manufacturing equipment used for the synthesis of illicit fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. Reporting from financial institutions of suspected financial transactions involving illicit fentanyl and narcotics trafficking plays a key role in law enforcement investigations and Treasury's sanctions efforts globally.

"The opioid crisis, and especially the rise of synthetic opioids like fentanyl, has devastated communities and claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans. President Biden and I are committed to using every tool we have to target illicit fentanyl and its precursor chemicals so we can disrupt these deadly supply chains," said Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen. "Treasury has unique capabilities and expertise to target the financial flows of these cartels who are poisoning our communities, and going after them is a top priority for me and the Department."

Treasury plays a leading role in countering the trafficking of fentanyl and other illicit drugs as part of President Biden's Unity Agenda, leveraging its expertise to fight illicit financing and financial crimes to disrupt the flows of money that criminal organizations rely on to operate. Over the past two years, Treasury has sanctioned more than 250 targets for involvement in drug trafficking activities at all stages of the supply chain, from major cartel leaders to under-the-radar labs, transportation networks, and chemical suppliers. Last year, Secretary Yellen launched the Counter-Fentanyl Strike Force, which brings together Treasury's expertise and resources in fighting financial crime, led by the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI) and IRS Criminal Investigation (CI). Secretary Yellen has also engaged with international partners to combat fentanyl trafficking, including during her travel to Mexico last year. In April, Secretary Yellen also announced the launch of an exchange with the People's Republic of China to enhance cooperating in combatting money laundering associated with drug trafficking and other crime.

Additionally, FinCEN and IRS CI recently established a new public-private information-sharing partnership series called "Promoting Regional Outreach to Educate Communities on the Threat of Fentanyl" (or PROTECT). Launched as part of the Counter-Fentanyl Strike Force, the PROTECT series brings law enforcement agencies and financial institutions together to share typologies and approaches on combatting illicit fentanyl trafficking in U.S. cities that are highly impacted by the opioid epidemic.

LA NUEVA FAMILIA MICHOACANA'S INVOLVEMENT IN DRUG TRAFFICKING AND HUMAN SMUGGLING

Historically, La Nueva Familia Michoacana trafficked mostly methamphetamine. However, in recent years, it has expanded into fentanyl trafficking, obtaining the necessary precursor chemicals, purchasing critical pill press machines, and then producing fentanyl in throughout Mexico, including in Mexico City, Pineda, Santa Teresa, Ciudad Altamirano, Tejupilco, Arcelia, Cuernavaca, Culiacan, Guadalajara, and Toluca, Mexico. La Nueva Familia Michoacana sends fentanyl and other drugs to the United States through Nuevo Laredo and Tamaulipas/Reynosa across the southern Texas border via buses, among other modes of transportation. Once the drugs are in the United States, the drugs are then sent to multiple cities across the United States, including Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Tulsa, Chicago, and Charlotte.

La Nueva Familia Michoacana is also involved in human smuggling. For instance, La Nueva Familia Michoacana members stage photos and videos in which individuals appear under interrogation or at risk of being murdered. With these photos or videos in hand, the individuals will then falsely claim to United States immigration officials their purported need to seek asylum in the United States. In return for this service, the individuals pay La Nueva Familia Michoacana money. Separately, La Nueva Familia Michoacana is also known for forcing individuals to enter the United States illegally with drugs for the purpose of selling narcotics in the United States. If the individuals do not comply with the order to sell the drugs provided by La Nueva Familia Michoacana, they are informed that they and their families will be killed. La Nueva Familia Michoacana also uses workers in the tobacco industry to smuggle narcotics into the United States.

TOP LEADERS OF LA NUEVA FAMILIA MICHOACANA

Rodolfo Maldonado Bustos is a powerful and trusted member of La Nueva Familia Michoacana cartel and is next-in-line to Johnny Hurtado Olascoaga and Jose Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga, the two co-leaders of La Nueva Familia Michoacana, both of whom OFAC designated in November 2022. Rodolfo Maldonado Bustos controls the drug routes that pass from Ciudad Altamirano, Guerrero, Mexico to the Zihuatanejo-Lazaro Cardenas, Guerrero, Mexico area. On April 23, 2017, a federal grand jury in the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia returned an indictment against Rodolfo Maldonado Bustos on two counts of heroin conspiracy charges.

Josue Ramirez Carrera is a financial leader and third-in-line in the leadership of La Nueva Familia Michoacana. Josue Ramirez Carrera is in control of laundering drug money for the La Nueva Familia Michoacana cartel through used clothing business. He is also involved in arms trafficking where he directs people along the Rio Grande Valley to conceal weapons within packs of used clothing destined for Mexico City.



Josue Lopez Hernandez is a key lieutenant for La Nueva Familia Michoacana and has significant regional connections with other cartels such as CJNG.



David Duran Alvarez is a key lieutenant for La Nueva Familia Michoacana and is known to send various drugs to Houston, Texas.



Uriel Tabares Martinez is a sicario, or assassin, that works directly for Johnny Hurtado Olascoaga and Jose Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga. He is known to have a La Nueva Familia Michoacana leadership role in the Guerrero/Ciudad Altamirano region of Mexico. He is known as "El Medico" for the violent and surgical manner in which he tortures and murders those that cross the high-ranking members of the La Nueva Familia Michoacana cartel.

Kevin Arzate Gomez is a key lieutenant for La Nueva Familia Michoacana and has contacts and associates along the Mexico/United States border. Kevin Arzate Gomez negotiates on behalf of the cartel to have drugs enter the United States and assists in getting the money from those drugs sales back to Mexico.



Euclides Camacho Goicochea works closely with Rodolfo Maldonado Bustos and Uriel Tabares Martinez. He moves a significant amount of drugs, particularly methamphetamine, to Houston, Texas, and Atlanta, Georgia, among other areas. On August 23, 2017, a federal grand jury in the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia returned an indictment against Euclides Camacho Goicochea on two counts of heroin conspiracy charges and one charge of money laundering.



Lucio Ochoa Lagunes is a key lieutenant for La Nueva Familia Michoacana and works directly for Jose Hurtado Olascoaga. He is also a leader of a sub-plaza in Tlapehuala, Guerrero, Mexico.



Rodolfo Maldonado Bustos, Kevin Arzate Gomez, and Euclides Camacho Goicochea are being designated for having engaged in, or attempted to engage in, activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production. Josue Ramirez Carrera, Josue Lopez Hernandez, David Duran Alvarez, Uriel Tabares Martinez, and Lucio Ochoa Lagunes are being designated for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, La Nueva Familia Michoacana.

These designations would not have been possible without the cooperation, support, and ongoing collaboration between the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia. This action was also coordinated closely with the Government of Mexico, including La Unidad de Inteligencia Financiera (UIF), Mexico's financial intelligence unit. In addition, today's action furthers efforts by Treasury's Counter-Fentanyl Strike Force, which leverages Treasury's unique expertise and capabilities to interdict and disrupt the illicit financial networks upon which the cartels rely. These collective partnerships highlight the importance of broader U.S. government collaboration in targeting illicit fentanyl supply chains.

FINCEN SUPPLEMENTAL ADVISORY

Today's Supplemental Advisory builds off FinCEN's 2019 Advisory with new typologies and red flags to assist financial institutions in identifying and reporting suspicious transactions potentially related to Mexico-based transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and their illicit procurement of fentanyl precursor chemicals and manufacturing equipment from People's Republic of China (PRC)-based suppliers. This financial reporting is a critical tool for FinCEN and partner law enforcement agencies to use in following the money behind the illicit fentanyl supply chain, identifying and prosecuting the illicit actors perpetrating these crimes, and combatting the opioid epidemic.



Mexico-based TCOs have become the predominant suppliers of illicit fentanyl and other synthetic opioids into the United States since 2019. These TCOs purchase precursor chemicals and manufacturing equipment from PRC-based suppliers and through chemical brokers to synthesize illicit fentanyl and other synthetic opioids in clandestine labs in Mexico. These TCOs then traffic these highly addictive and deadly drugs across the U.S. southwest border and into American communities.



The devastating impact of illicit fentanyl and other synthetic opioids on American communities is sobering and far-reaching as generations of Americans are destroyed in this epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 107,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in the 12-month period ending in December 2023, with over 74,000 of those deaths involving synthetic opioids, principally illicitly manufactured fentanyl.



This Supplemental Advisory furthers FinCEN's focus on combating the financing behind drug trafficking organization activity and transnational criminal organization activityatwo of FinCEN's Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism National Prioritiesaand is being issued pursuant to Section 3202ofthe recently enacted FEND Off Fentanyl Act.



It also advances efforts of the North American Drug Dialogue Illicit Finance Working Group, which is comprised of the financial intelligence units (FIUs) of Canada, Mexico, and the United States; among other goals, the three FIUs have spent the last year, since the working group was formed, exploring possible indicators related to illicit fentanyl.

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons. U.S. persons may face civil or criminal penalties for violations of E.O. 14059.

Today's action is part of a whole-of-government effort to counter the global threat posed by the trafficking of illicit drugs into the United States that is causing the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans annually, as well as countless more non-fatal overdoses. OFAC, in coordination with its U.S. government partners and foreign counterparts, and in support of President Biden's Unity Agenda, will continue to hold accountable those individuals and businesses involved in the manufacturing and sale of illicit drugs.

The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC's ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List), but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC's Frequently Asked Question 897 here. For detailed information on the process to submit a request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list, please click here.

Click here for the FinCEN Supplemental Advisory.

For more information on the individuals designated today, click here.

View a chart on the individuals designated today.

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Cyber threats will present an ever greater number of risks to international peace and security: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Statement by UK Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on cybersecurity.

20 June 2024

I will touch on three trends of importance to the UK.

First, as we've heard, ransomware can disrupt government functions and the provision of vital public services. This creates conditions for instability when occurring at scale or for sustained periods which, as this Council knows, can impact peace and security. Any state can be a victim of ransomware. This is why an international response is needed to constrict the ecosystem facilitating it and to enable all states to increase their resilience and their response capability. The UK is playing a leading role alongside Singapore as co-chairs of the policy pillar of the Counter Ransomware Initiative. We urge others to join the initiative.

Second, as the use of AI systems in our societies grows, we need to understand how cyber threats will change, whilst identifying opportunities for AI to support our cybersecurity goals. Malicious and irresponsible actors can exploit vulnerabilities in AI systems to induce specific behaviour or manipulate its decision-making. Maintenance of international peace will require AI systems to be secure by design. That is why the UK held the first ever Council debate on AI in our presidency last year, and it's why we published "Guidelines for Secure AI System Development" alongside the United States and a cross-regional group of eighteen states.

Third, malicious and irresponsible actors are also able to take advantage of the growing market in advanced cyber intrusion capabilities, leading to a more unpredictable threat landscape for us all. The UK and France invite international partners to join us in the multistakeholder Pall Mall Process as we consider approaches towards this shared concern.

In that context, we must continue to raise awareness of cyber threats. We are, for example, very concerned by DPRK's use of malicious cyber activities to obtain cryptocurrencies to fund their illegal weapons programme. This is why we need to redouble our efforts to ensure effective implementation of the DPRK sanctions regime.

And finally, cyber advances also increase the risks of disinformation. This is clearly a major challenge for our work. For Russia to accuse the UK of running a disinformation war is astonishing when their own disinformation machine has been so obviously and clearly exposed, including here at the UN. We were not the delegation who brought to the chamber and to the internet the conspiracy of weaponized bats and ducks. President, cyber threats will present an ever greater number of risks to international peace and security and governments need to evolve to address them effectively.

As part of this, the UK remains committed to upholding the UN Framework for Responsible State Behaviour and to working with others through capacity-building and enabling public-private partnerships.

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UN chief warns of 'cyber mercenaries' amid spike in weaponising digital tools

20 June 2024 - UN Secretary-General AntAnio Guterres on Thursday highlighted the dual-edged nature of cyberspace, stressing its potential for both immense benefits and significant risks when misused.

At a Security Council high-level debate on evolving threats in cyberspace, convened by the Republic of Korea, Council President for June, Mr. Guterres underscored the transformative power of digital technologies.

"Breakthroughs in digital technologies are happening at warp speed; digital advances are revolutionising economies and societies," he said.

"They are bringing people together, providing citizens with access to government services and institutions and supercharging economies, trade and financial inclusion."

However, he cautioned that the seamless and instant connectivity that fuels these benefits also makes people, institutions and countries vulnerable.

"The perils of weaponising digital technologies are growing by the year," he warned.

"Malicious activity in cyberspace is on the rise by both State and non-State actors and by outright criminals."

Cyber mercenaries, hacktivists

The UN chief warned that malicious cyber activities are on the rise, with serious cybersecurity incidents becoming "disturbingly common".

Essential public services such as healthcare, banking and telecommunications are frequently breached, and criminal organizations and "cyber mercenaries" engage in relentless illicit activities.

Additionally, a "legion of hate merchants" is spreading fear and division online.

"So called civilian 'hacktivists' are entering the fray, and in many cases are blurring the line between combatants and civilians," he said.

New vulnerabilities

The integration of digital tools with weapon systems, including autonomous systems, presents new vulnerabilities, Mr. Guterres said.

The misuse of digital technology is becoming more sophisticated and stealthier, with proliferation of malware software. The threat is further amplified by artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled cyber operations.

"Ransomware is one grievous example," the UN chief underscored, "a huge threat to public and private institutions and the critical infrastructure people depend on."

In 2023, total ransomware payments reached $1.1 billion.

Beyond financial costs, malicious cyber activities undermine public institutions, electoral processes and online integrity, eroding trust, fuelling tensions and sowing the seeds of violence and conflict, he added.

Incredible opportunity

Despite the threats, Mr. Guterres emphasised the "incredible opportunity" digital technology offers to create a more just, equal, sustainable and peaceful future.

He called for breakthroughs to be oriented toward the common good, highlighting his proposed New Agenda for Peace that places prevention at the core of all peace efforts.

"It calls for developing strong frameworks in line with international law, human rights and the UN Charter and focused efforts by all States to prevent the extension and escalation of conflicts within and through cyberspace," he said.

"As reflected in the New Vision for the Rule of Law, the rule of law must exist in the digital sphere as it does in the physical world."

Call for better integration

Secretary-General Guterres welcomed the General Assembly's commitment to action, including its dedicated working group on information and communication technologies (ICT) security.

He also urged the Security Council to integrate cyber-related considerations into its workstreams and resolutions, underscoring that many issues it addresses, such as the protection of civilians, peace operations, counterterrorism and humanitarian operations, are affected by cyberspace.

"Integrating this issue into your deliberations would be a useful way to lay the groundwork for more effective responses to this important question," he said.

Summit of the Future

In conclusion, Mr. Guterres stressed the importance of the upcoming Summit of the Future, in September.

"The pact that will emerge from the summit represents a pivotal chance to support the maintenance of international peace and security in cyberspace," he said.

Among other actions, it aims to safeguard critical infrastructure against harmful ICT practices and create enhanced accountability for data-driven technology, including AI.

"I look forward to working with this Council, the General Assembly and all Member States to ensure that technology is focused where it belongs: on the progress and security of all people and the planet we share," the Secretary-General concluded.

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Security Council Holds Open Debate on Addressing Evolving Threats in Cyberspace

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

9662nd Meeting (AM & PM)

SC/15738

20 June 2024

(Note: A complete summary of today's Security Council open debate on cybersecurity will be made available upon completion.)

MAINTENANCE OF INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY: ADDRESSING EVOLVING THREATS IN CYBERSPACE (S/2024/446)

Briefings ANTANIO GUTERRES, Secretary-General of the United Nations , observing that breakthroughs in digital technology are happening at "warp speed", said that digital advances are bringing people together, delivering information instantly, enabling citizens to access Government services and "supercharging" economies. "But, the very quality of seamless, instant connectivity that powers the enormous benefits of cyberspace can also leave people, institutions and entire countries deeply vulnerable," he added. Further, the perils of weaponized digital technology are growing, he said, pointing out that "cyberspace has kicked the doors wide open a anyone can walk through, and many are". Serious cybersecurity incidents are disturbingly common, including breaches of essential public services, relentless illicit activity and "a legion of hate merchants littering the information superhighway with fear and division", he emphasized. Additionally, the growing integration of digital tools with weapons systems presents new vulnerabilities.

He went on to say that cyberoperations enabled by artificial intelligence (AI) are "multiplying the threat", quantum computing could "break down entire systems" with its ability to breach encryption and hackers are actively targeting supply chains. Spotlighting ransomware as "one grievous example", he reported that total ransomware payments reached $1.1 billion in 2023 according to some estimates. "But, far beyond the financial costs are the costs to our common peace, security and stability a both within countries and among them," he emphasized. Malicious activity that undermines public institutions, electoral processes and online integrity erodes trust, fuels tension and sows the seeds of violence and conflict. Against that backdrop, he underscored that a while digital technology offers an "incredible" opportunity to create a more just, equal, sustainable and peaceful future for all a "breakthroughs must be oriented towards the good".

In that context, he noted that the "New Agenda for Peace" calls for focused efforts by States to prevent the extension and escalation of conflicts both within and through cyberspace, adding that "the rule of law must exist in the digital sphere as it does in the physical world". He also spotlighted Member States' work to reach consensus on a new cybercrime treaty, which should deepen cooperation while protecting human rights online. And underlining the "clear and growing links" between cyberspace and global peace and security, he urged the Security Council to integrate cyberrelated considerations into its existing workstreams and resolutions. While today marks only the second time that the 15-member organ has held a formal meeting on this issue, many of the issues it considers are affected by a and linked to a cyberspace, including the protection of civilians in armed conflict, peace operations, countering terrorism and humanitarian operations.

"Peace and security in the physical world demand new approaches to peace and security in the digital world," he stressed, noting that the pact that will emerge from the Summit of the Future in September will provide an opportunity to support the maintenance of international peace and security in cyberspace. Among other priorities, it will aim to reaffirm global consensus on safeguarding critical infrastructure and create enhanced accountability for data-driven technology such as AI. Concluding, he said that he will continue to work with the Council, General Assembly and all Member States "to ensure that technology is focused where it belongs a on the progress and security of all people and the planet that we share".

STAPHANE DUGUIN, Chief Executive Officer of the CyberPeace Institute , said that the Institute is an independent and neutral non-governmental organization in Switzerland that offers free cybersecurity assistance, provides threat detection and analysis and advocates for respect of laws and norms in cyberspace. Since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, the Institute has documented a proliferation of threats and threat actors siding with both belligerents. "Warfare is no longer the sole preserve of States," he said, noting that a range of non-State actors a from criminal groups, hacktivist collectives with geopolitical motives and other civilians a taking part in cyberattacks and operations. It traced 3,225 cyberattack campaigns by 127 different threat actors, targeting 24 different critical infrastructure sectors and affecting some 56 countries. The harm caused by these cyberattacks is felt far beyond the borders of the belligerent countries, with about 70 per cent of all cyberattacks impacting organizations in non-belligerent countries.

He reported that in February 2022, a cyberattack by the "AcidRain" malware targeted Ukraine's broadband satellite Internet access. It impacted the functioning of wind turbines across Europe. A major German energy company lost remote monitoring access to over 5,800 wind turbines, and thousands of satellite Internet service subscribers in Germany, France, Hungary, Greece, Italy and Poland were also affected. Cyberattacks are also used to evade international sanctions and finance illegal activities. Citing the activities of the Kimsuky and Lazarus groups that have been attributed to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, he said that "these criminal groups coordinate global cyberattacks of all types", including against supply chains, cryptocurrency exchange and financial institutions. More than $3 billion is estimated to have been gained by these groups through these attacks. "Such an escalation of State-sponsored cyberattacks can create massive harm," he said.

It is therefore important to foresee new risks, he said, citing the threat of quantum computing on cryptography and generative AI on criminal models. AI might be used to automate part of a cyberattack, which could bear "an unacceptable risk". He said that responding to fast-evolving cyberthreats through a coherent strategy is complex, outlining some measures to be taken, including operationalizing laws, norms and sanctions through the transparent documentation of violations to prevent the malicious use of cyberspace, including the misuse of AI or quantum computing. He also stressed the need to call out perpetrators. "There cannot be de-escalation without attribution," he said, as it can inform decision-making about countermeasures. It is also imperative to measure harm from cyberattacks comprehensively. The Institute is developing a methodology to measure such harm. "These aspects are critical to maintaining international peace and security, cooperating in solving the escalation of cyberthreats and harmonizing the actions of nations," he concluded.

NNENNA IFEANYI-AJUFO, Professor of Law and Technology, Leeds Beckett University and Vice-Chair of the African Union Cyber Security Experts Group , stressed the need to acknowledge both "our cybersecurity commonalities", as well as the differences between regions and country-specific realities. Drawing attention to the various frameworks currently in place in Africa, she pointed to the Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa a 2020-2030, adopted by the African Union Commission in 2014, as well as its Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection (the Malabo Convention), which entered into force in June 2023. The Union also adopted, in January 2024, the Common African Position on the Application of International Law to the Use of Information and Communication Technologies in the Cyberspace, "the first position document on the application of international law in cyberspace that includes a section on capacity-building", she pointed out.

Since 2023, she recalled, there have been cyberattacks on the African Union Commission headquarters which compromised the functioning of email systems. In 2023 alone, Kenya recorded 860 million cyberattacks targeting the country's critical information infrastructure, she said, adding that a group that calls itself Anonymous Sudan declared responsibility for these. Highlighting the blurry lines between State actors' and non-State actors' responsibility, she said the activities of terrorist and extremist groups are further enabled by cybertechnologies in places like Africa. There is also the danger of States breaching international human rights "on the alibi of cybersecurity, through shutting down Internet access during armed conflicts". That not only infringes on civilians' rights to communication and freedom of information, but have also prevented effective humanitarian action during conflicts, she added. Also underscoring the threat posed by cyberenabled disinformation and misinformation, she said this is further aggravated by the deployment of AI.

Stressing the need for capacity-building, she said this is not only a matter of legal, technical and operational capacity, but also a matter of social, economic and political realities. Priority areas include governance, policymaking, technical tools, infrastructure and research, she said, also pointing to the need to implement the UN norms of responsible State behaviour in cyberspace across all regions. Highlighting the voluntary nature of the norms, she said that confidence-building measures between States will decrease mistrust in the cyberdomain. The Council must develop mechanisms for understanding the cyberthreat landscape across regions, she said, adding that this may mean setting up a working group on peace and security in cyberspace. Developing functional regional cybersecurity centres and coordinating cross-border cooperation is essential, and regional organizations have key roles to play in formulating policies. The Council should promote a platform for effective dialogue and establish defined cyber governance principles and standards, she stressed.

Statements

CHO TAE-YUL, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea and Council President for June, spoke in his national capacity to say that developments since its first meeting on the issue three years ago sharply underscore the need to step up engagement cyberspace threats. In addition to the proliferation of attacks and the gaps in governance, highlighted in the Secretary-General's report, dramatic advancements in AI have also significantly empowered nefarious actors to create chaos in cyberspace, he said, stressing their realaworld impacts. Highlighting that the development of the weapons of mass destruction imperilling his country are largely funded through such activities, he pointed to the most recent report of the Panel of Experts of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006) which said that illicit cybermeans funds 40 per cent of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's weapons of mass destruction programmes. The Panel investigated some 60 suspected cyberattacks on cryptocurrency companies between 2017 and 2023 by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, he said, adding that, sadly, the Panel is now defunct. "Through digital means, the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] systematically evades the very sanctions adopted by this Council and challenges the international non-proliferation regime that is integral to the Council's work," he said.

"The Security Council must not bury its head in the sand," he said, urging the organ to strengthen its engagement in response to cyberspace threats. Just as the Council and General Assembly work in synergy when it comes to discussions on small arms, terrorism and non-proliferation, they can carve out complementary roles on cybersecurity, he said. To do so, the Council needs a clear diagnosis of the present situation and can request a regular report on how evolving cyberthreats impact international peace and security. Second, the prescription that follows could be mainstreamed into the Council's agenda like other cross-cutting issues, such as women, peace and security, youth and climate change, he said, noting the link between the malicious use of information and communications technology (ICT) and the various issues under the Security Council's remit, including sanctions, non-proliferation and terrorism. Third, the Council can convene meetings on malicious cyberactivities, urging all relevant actors to use cybertechnology in a responsible manner and pursuing accountability through the tools at the organ's disposal. "The Security Council must confront cybersecurity head on if it is to remain relevant and agile in addressing one of the most pressing security challenges of our time," he said.

The representative of the United States said that "cybersecurity enables our basic systems to function a our economies, democratic institutions and the UN itself". To safeguard the benefits of cyberspace, it is pivotal to work with all responsible actors, build digital solidarity and leverage technology to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). And yet, far too many State and non-State actors have taken an opposite approach a worldwide, they have exploited digital connectivity to extort victims for profit, steal money and ideas from Governments and private entities, target journalists and human rights defenders and threaten critical infrastructure, including at the UN. "As the Council, we must work together to address cyberthreats posed by State and non-State actors," she asserted, spotlighting the framework for responsible State behaviour in cyberspace, adopted repeatedly and by consensus, which makes clear that international law applies there. However, some countries choose to empower bad actors, she observed, noting that cyberoperations of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are used to fund its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic-missile programmes. Similarly, the Russian Federation's cyberactivities target political parties and democratic institutions in numerous countries, she added.

ROBERT PERSAUD, Foreign Secretary of Guyana , said that the malicious use of digital technology has demonstrated the potential to disrupt institutions and pose regulatory and policy challenges related to governance. Moreover, the transnational nature of cyberthreats has rendered traditional notions of national security and defence obsolete. As contemporary threats to cybersecurity become more sophisticated and multifaceted, he stressed that "so, too, must be our response". There must be accountability and oversight mechanisms in place to guard against cyberattacks, and in that context, he spotlighted recent discussions around whether cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure with grave consequences for life can amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide or the crime of aggression. Also urging cooperation to build cybersecurity capacity and resilience and to investigate and prosecute cybercrimes across countries and regions, he pointed out that many developing countries a such as Guyana a lack the necessary resources and expertise to combat cyberthreats and build resilience. "Building technical capacity in these countries must be viewed as an investment in our collective security," he stressed, adding that the Council "must be a part of the cybersecurity dialogue".

The representative of the Russian Federation said that his country was among "the initiators" of discussion on international information security at the United Nations 26 years ago, tabling the first draft resolution on this topic a text that has since become an annual one and enjoys the support of a vast majority of Member States. To discuss this matter, a group of governmental experts was created, which later grew into a more inclusive Open-Ended Working Group a the United Nations' single negotiation platform to discuss all questions related to international information security. Moscow has already submitted its vision for a permanent, inclusive mechanism in this field. "It is wise to preserve our common gains through creating a post-2025 permanent Open-Ended Working Group with a decision-making function," he said, opposing the involvement of the Security Council. "Moving this topic to this Council automatically excludes all States who are not on the organ," he said. There is still not even the most basic understanding of what cases of malicious use of ICT could be a direct threat to international peace and security. He also denounced the West for accusing "inconvenient countries" of cyberattacks, saying "attributions of responsibility require professional approaches to identify complete proof". The Kremlin advocated for never militarizing cyberspace long before the West, presenting to the General Assembly in 2023 a prototype of a UN convention on ensuring international information security.

The representative of Mozambique said "hardly a day goes" by without a report of a ransomware attack against public or private entities or a denial-of-service attempt against a country or services such as electricity grids, e-government and other critical infrastructures. Geopolitical competition has resulted in a cyberarms race, he said, adding that the "immobilism" or lack of progress towards an international agreement on cybersecurity norms risks undermining science and digital technology cooperation. Highlighting the Council's role in setting international norms for responsible State behaviour in cyberspace, as well as establishing capacity-building initiatives, he said there is a need for "situational awareness" briefings and the sharing of threat intelligence and best practices. Cyberthreats should be intrinsically linked to other Council agenda items, such as counter-terrorism and protection of critical infrastructure, he said, adding that the perspectives of the Global South should be heard in this discussion.

The representative of Sierra Leone called for increased collaboration to respond effectively to malicious activities in cyberspace, particularly those threatening critical infrastructure, humanitarian operations and the protection of civilians. "The malicious use of information and communication technologies acts as a threat multiplier when they exacerbate existing conflicts and challenges," he said, expressing support for regular briefings to assess evolving cyberthreats. Engagement by the Council can complement other ongoing United Nations processes, he said, suggesting mainstreaming cyber-related concerns into the Council's discussions on various thematic files, including peacekeeping missions, sanctions and non-proliferation and counter-terrorism efforts. He noted the creation of the National Computer Security Incidence Response Coordination Centre in Sierra Leone, which has bolstered the nation's cybersecurity resilience, and concluded by condemning cyberattacks against the International Criminal Court, reiterating a commitment to protect the Court, its officials and those cooperating with it, from interference and pressure.

The representative of Algeria observed that ransomware attacks on critical infrastructure and the theft of digital assets and data put public safety and political stability at risk. The involvement of both State and non-State actors makes the situation even more complex, he pointed out, adding that the spread of disinformation on online platforms fuels divisions, terrorism and intolerance, with false information interfering in State affairs, hampering cooperation and threatening peace. New technology a including AI a are further exacerbating cyberthreats. Accordingly, he called for a legally binding UN framework, taking into consideration every nation's concerns and interests. He further stressed the need to help developing countries build protection against cyberthreats and close the digital divide, as building their abilities is essential for securing cyberspace for all nations. Also, Governments must cooperate to face this challenge through continuous effort, he said, noting that "cooperation is key in our endeavours to effectively fight ever-changing cyberthreats."

The representative of Slovenia said that, as the Council bears the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, it "should therefore play a decisive role in de-escalating tensions and promoting accountability" when malicious cyberactivities threaten the same. Activities that support terrorism or the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction a or that exacerbate existing conflicts a "pose such a threat, necessitating the Council's response", he emphasized. The Council should also address disinformation campaigns that incite violence against civilians, cause humanitarian suffering or disrupt the work of humanitarian organizations and peacekeeping operations. "In an era marked by the growing digitalization of conflicts, it is crucial to emphasize the applicability of international law," he stressed, underlining his country's commitment to implementing existing norms of responsible State behaviour in cyberspace.

The representative of Malta expressed concern about the malicious cyberactivities targeting Government institutions and democratic processes, often with a direct intent to undermine security and erode trust in election outcomes. "Our collective efforts to promote stability in this domain must be rooted in human rights, both online and offline," she said, stressing that cyberpolicies must be conflict-sensitive, age-sensitive and gender-responsive. State-sponsored malicious cyberactors exploit ransomware and digital thefts to generate illicit revenues. Reports estimate that, in 2023, malicious cyberactivities by Democratic People's Republic of Korea-sponsored hackers generated $1 billion. The regime uses these revenues to fund its illegal weapons of mass destruction programme, which threatens peace and security in the Korean Peninsula and beyond. "These activities have been well-documented" in the reports of the Panel of Experts assisting the UN Sanctions Committee on that country, she said.

The representative of Japan , noting the alarming qualitative and quantitative increase in cybersecurity threats, said it is well-known that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is financing its weapons and ballistic-missile programmes through cyberoperations. Also noting the effect of spyware on national security and human rights, he said: "The stakes have never been higher." The international community must uphold the rule of law in cyberspace by implementing agreed norms and principles of responsible State behaviour. Sharing of information on potential threats is crucial, he said, also reaffirming the need for capacity-building and fostering trust. His country will continue its constructive engagement with the current Open-Ended Working Group, he said, adding that the Council needs to have a greater role in this field. It must monitor cyberincidents, hold regular briefings and address the cyberthreat to the non-proliferation regime.

The representative of the United Kingdom said that, as the use of AI systems grow, it is important to understand how cyberthreats will change while identifying opportunities for AI to support cybersecurity goals. "Maintenance of international peace will require AI systems to be secure by design," she said, urging continued awareness of cyberthreats and expressing concern over the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's use of malicious cyberactivities to obtain cryptocurrencies to fund their illegal weapons programme. "We need to redouble our efforts to ensure effective implementation of the DPRK sanctions regime," she said, adding that another cyber challenge is disinformation. "For Russia to accuse the UK [United Kingdom] of running a disinformation war is astonishing when their own disinformation machine has been so obviously and clearly exposed," she said. "We were not the delegation who brought to the Chamber, and to the Internet, the conspiracy of weaponized bats and ducks."

The representative of Switzerland voiced concern over the increasing digitization of conflicts and the use of cyberoperations in armed conflicts, transforming the nature of these conflicts. Concurrently, the growing intensity of attacks by ransomware and State-sponsored cyberattacks against critical infrastructure is equally alarming. The use of ransomware to extort currency and cryptocurrencies, or the targeting of essential infrastructures, threatens to paralyse vital structures in our societies. These activities also affect the international community's ability to achieve the SDGs due to developing countries' heightened vulnerability, posing a threat to international peace and security. For its part, the Council should regularly take note of current cybersecurity developments and threats, she stressed, noting that this awareness-raising would enable the organ to make fully informed decisions on specific geographical issues and in the context of peacekeeping operations. The Council should also emphasize the importance of State responsibility and due diligence and recognize the 11 norms of responsible State behaviour in cyberspace, she added.

The representative of China said that, as digital economies flourish, the world is "seeing accelerated integration into a community with a shared future, featuring intertwined interests and shared weal and woe". However, the risks are ever more serious, as cyberterrorism becomes a global menace, cyberspace is increasingly militarized and the digital divide among countries and regions continues to widen. Underscoring that cyberspace must "never become a new battlefield", he said that "a certain country" designated cyberspace as a domain of military operations, builds cybermilitary alliances and pushes for rules of engagement. This will only escalate the risk of conflict in cyberspace, and all parties should therefore abandon zero-sum games and cold-war mentalities and foster a vision of common, comprehensive and cooperative security. Erecting a "digital iron curtain" to achieve dominance will only hinder international efforts to govern cyberspace, he added, spotlighting his country's proposed global initiatives on AI governance and on data security as "blueprints for future rulemaking".

The representative of Ecuador said that the Council "cannot afford to drag its heels in the light of the development of these threats in cyberspace" because they are interconnected with various items on the agenda of this organ, including non-proliferation and counter-terrorism. In this regard, the Council must consider including, in its products, elements related to cybersecurity on a case-by-case basis a for example, a provision aimed at strengthening strategic communications in peacekeeping operations and special political missions. The development of international law in this field must be accompanied by capacity-building, particularly in countries in conflict situations, because they are the most susceptible to the malicious use of ICT. The Open-Ended Working Group has made significant progress in this area. "The outcome of their work could serve as a guide for the work of this Council," he said.

The representative of France , noting that cyberattacks can be threats to international peace and can impact critical infrastructure, pointed out that ransomware attacks in 2023 had increased by 30 per cent, and can disrupt economies and Governments. Highlighting the attacks carried out by Russian Federation on the satellite technology of Ukraine, he said the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's illegal weapons of mass destruction programme was partly financed by illicit cybermeans. The international community must ensure that "the cyberspace is not the Wild West", he said, expressing support for the work under way in the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) to establish a normative framework on cyberspace. The Council must encourage States to implement norms and include cyberissues in its mandate, he said, adding that it must receive regular expert presentations on this matter.

MAMADOU TANGARA, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Gambia , said the evolving threat of cybercrime is not just a matter of stolen data, but a direct challenge to international peace and security, demanding urgent attention. "We need a comprehensive approach that addresses this evolving menace," he said, suggesting three points. One, the Council must champion for exemplary norms of responsible State behaviour in cyberspace. Secondly, the organ can strengthen accountability for cybercrimes by building a unified front against impunity. And thirdly, the Council can leverage the expertise of United Nations agencies to adequately address the menace of undermining sustainable international peace, security and democracy. "The Security Council, therefore, is well-suited to become a leader in building a more secure and stable cyberspace for all," he said, stressing the need to encourage States to incorporate norms into action.

TOBIAS LINDNER, Minister of State of Germany , said that the international community is exposed to a growing number of State-sponsored and private cyberactivity incidents, which seriously impact the maintenance of international peace and security. Severe attacks by cybercriminals a including ransomware attacks a have shown that these attacks have the potential to threaten the stability of State institutions and affect entire societies. A recent trend is the emergence of hacktivist groups in the theatre of international conflicts, who attack key infrastructure targets. This has eroded trust in the delivery of public services and spread fear among civilians. "All these trends serve as threat multipliers, given that the cyberdomain extends conventional battlefields far into the civilian domain," he observed, highlighting the Council's important role in assessing the threat and its trust- and norm-building potential by putting international cyberconflicts on its agenda, investigating situations of cyberconflict or facilitating their peaceful settlement.

OMRAN SHARAF, Assistant Minister for Advanced Science and Technology of the United Arab Emirates , said that international law must guide the use of digital technology and that "addressing normative gaps requires continued convergences on how to uphold and maintain international law in the cyberdomain". He also expressed support for "mainstreaming cyberconcerns" in the Council's work, which could include referencing cyber-related concerns, trends and developments in briefings and feature statements on priority issues more regularly. For example, resolution 2341 (2017) a recognizing the need to protect critical infrastructure against terrorist attacks a underscores the importance of addressing the broad spectrum of cyberthreats that accompany digitization. He also encouraged the Council to consider convening an annual briefing on emerging technology threats and their implications for international peace and security. Further, the publication of an annual cybersecurity report by the Secretary-General would provide a comprehensive assessment of the global cyberthreat landscape, along with recommendations for enhancing international cooperation in this area. "Harnessing cybertechnologies is crucial for our future, but vigilance against their risks is essential," he observed.

DACE MELBARDE, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia , cited a growing number of cases where critical infrastructure, including information infrastructure, saying these cyberattacks could have catastrophic "real world" consequences. Cyberattacks have become an integral part of the Russian Federation's full-scale aggression against Ukraine. Threats and challenges in cyberspace merit regular deliberations in the Council, she stressed, adding that developing a more robust Council role in addressing cybersecurity matters cannot be accomplished in one day, as it is a step-by-step endeavour. The Council, however, should not replace the work already done in other UN formats under the General Assembly. It should instead reinforce the understanding reached in these formats, including the applicability of international law to cyberspace. Anticipating the establishment of a permanent UN mechanism to address cybersecurity, she said: "We see the potential for new synergies between the Council and the Assembly in this field".

The representative of Egypt , noting that the lines between conventional and non-conventional weapons continue to erode, especially in the cyberarms race, cautioned that technology developed by States is being transferred, copied or reproduced by terrorists and criminals. Recalling Assembly resolution 75/240 and acknowledging the progress made in the working group it established, she said it must lay the ground for a future mechanism that is action-oriented, single-track and consensus-based. Inclusive processes within the UN, primarily under the auspices of the General Assembly, are the most efficient way to establish equitable and effective arrangements in this domain, she stressed. While encouraging the Council to consider the opportunities offered by emerging technologies in peacekeeping and counterterrorism, she stressed that "the Council should not be utilized as a legislative body that attempts to set norms and rules on behalf of UN Member States on matters that necessarily require inclusive and transparent processes".

The representative of Ukraine , associating herself with the statement to be delivered by the European Union, said the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has been engaged in cyberespionage and cryptocurrency theft to further develop its nuclear and weapons of mass destruction programmes in violation of Security Council resolutions and recently the Russian Federation's cyberespionage group, APT28, conducted cyberattacks against several Member States. "Ukraine has been facing Russia's aggression, including in cyberspace since the start of the war," she said, adding that Moscow's cyberattacks have grown more sophisticated, targeting Government and security agencies, businesses and financial institutions and critical infrastructure as well as spreading disinformation and propaganda. Ukraine cooperates with international partners to defend itself against such attacks and has additionally begun to investigate and prosecute cyberattacks as war crimes. States must abide by their international commitments and obligations, including in the use of ICT. "International law, including the UN Charter, is applicable in the cyberdomain," she said.

The representative of Estonia underscored that the increasing sophistication and damage caused by malicious cyberincidents carried out by State and non-State actors cannot be ignored. The Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine has highlighted how cyberoperations are intertwined with kinetic warfare, he said, adding that Moscow's actions have highlighted the need to focus on the comprehensive approach to national defence and internal security. To strengthen Ukraine's resistance to cyberattacks, Estonia has actively supported the country in cyberdomain bilaterally, as well as through the Tallinn Mechanism and IT-Coalition a cybersecurity platforms for both civilian and military assistance. He also strongly condemned Pyongyang's malicious cyberactivities, which aim to fuel that country's weapons programme, destabilize regional security and threaten global peace. "[An] open, secure, stable, accessible and peaceful ICT environment cannot be taken for granted and is not separate from the physical world," he said, highlighting the Council's substantial role in this regard.

The representative of the Czech Republic , noting the increasing use of ICT in armed conflict and the use of cyberspace to spread disinformation, exacerbate existing social conflicts and incite terrorist acts, urged the Council to intensify efforts "to find effective ways to address these less obvious malicious activities in cyberspace". Further, it should raise awareness of the true scale of these threats and facilitate greater resilience. He reported that his country, for its part, publicly condemned the activities of "the Russian State-controlled actor APT28", which had been conducting a long-term cyberespionage campaign in Europe and targeting Czech Government institutions. Underscoring that such activities violate UN norms of responsible State behaviour in cyberspace, he endorsed an international order based on international law that promotes an open, secure, stable, accessible and peaceful ICT environment. He added that his country has engaged with States in Africa, the Indo-Pacific and Latin America to map out the evolving threat landscape and strengthen joint response.

The representative of the European Union , in its capacity as observer, said that the blurred lines a between criminal activities and State-sponsored attacks using cybercriminals for hire a make the already difficult task of attribution all the more challenging. In May, Germany shared its assessment that the Russian Federation-linked cyberespionage group APT28 compromised email accounts of the German Social Democratic Party. State institutions, agencies and entities, including in the Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia and Sweden, were targeted by the same threat actor before. These malign activities must stop. "The top lines are straightforward: international law applies in cyberspace," she stressed. For the bloc, focusing on developing and implementing the agreed framework for responsible State behaviour in cyberspace is crucial. For that framework to be effective, "we must uphold it together". She said this reinforces the importance of establishing a permanent, inclusive, action-oriented UN mechanism, expressing support for creating a Programme of Action. She also welcomed efforts to underscore the Council's important role in spotlighting the unique and specific international threats emerging in the cyberdomain.

The representative of the Philippines , expressing concern about the rise of AI-powered robocalls for fraud, the proliferation of deep fakes and ransomware attacks, said the international community must prioritize the development of robust cybersecurity policies and ensure the safe deployment of AI technology. His country has experienced firsthand the devastating impact of cyberattacks on national security and public trust, he said, recalling recent incidents, including the defacement of Government websites and large-scale theft of personal information. Non-State actors are also able to maliciously use this technology for commercial gain, he said, describing how cyberattacks can serve as "significant threat multipliers". The Security Council must reinforce the agreed normative framework of responsible State behaviour in cyberspace and convene annually to review the threat landscape, he said, also calling on the organ to lead on information gathering.

The representative of Indonesia warned of the clear and present danger of threats in cyberspace and encouraged a robust international response. First, mitigating the human cost of cyberattacks against critical infrastructure must be a priority. "We must ensure cyberspace is safeguarded as a domain free from conflict," he said. "Not an arena of conflict." Secondly, synergy and coherence within the UN system around cybersecurity, ICT and international peace and security are essential. Thirdly, it is important to strengthen regional cooperation, he said, highlighting the role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in enhancing regional resilience against cyberthreats. Finally, he noted the importance of bridging the technology gap to improve cyberresilience, a critical challenge for developing countries that leaves them vulnerable to escalating threats and undermines their stability.

The representative of Singapore emphasized that, to combat the global and transboundary nature of the cyberthreat landscape, the General Assembly and the Security Council must work together to strengthen adherence to the normative framework of responsible State behaviour. Cybersecurity is of vital importance for many small and developing States, he pointed out. Noting that the Council should avoid duplicating the work already done in other processes, he underscored the need to recognize the body's clear mandate to discuss matters relating to the maintenance of international peace and security. "We cannot rule out the possibility that a cyberincident could create misunderstanding between States and lead to an escalation and potential conflict, thereby creating an incident of international peace and security," he stated, adding that the Council should operate with the awareness that cyberthreats can have physical and real-world consequences.

The representative of Costa Rica , recalling that her country was the victim of large-scale ransomware attacks in 2022, emphasized: "We still feel the long-term impact caused by the disruptions to our health-care, social security, finance and other critically important Government sectors." Urging extension of the protection-of-civilians agenda to encompass cyberactivities affecting civilians during armed conflict, she called on States to join the "growing consensus that civilian data enjoys the same protection under international humanitarian law as all other civilian objects". She also stressed that the women, peace and security agenda should be updated to address the safety of women in the digital realm, calling on Council members to consider adopting a resolution to protect women and girls from online violence, abuse and exploitation. She added: "All States, whether members of the Council or not, are responsible for strengthening the international rule of law in cyberspace."

The representative of Cuba stressed that ICT use must be preserved for exclusively peaceful ends and opposed the militarization of cyberspace or any use of ITC as instruments to interfere in States' internal affairs. Article 51 of the UN Charter is not applicable, nor can it be invoked in the context of cyberspace, he said, warning against some States that include in their national security strategies the use of cyberweapons or the possibility of conducting cyberattacks to deter their enemies. Cuba supports negotiations on a legally binding international instrument that will make it possible to cover the significant legal gaps in cybersecurity and address the growing challenges and threats in this area. The Open-Ended Working Group mandated by the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) is the appropriate mechanism for exchanging views and an inclusive forum where all Member States can contribute equally to crafting consensus-based solutions, he stressed.

The representative of Bahrain , noting the interconnected nature of cyberspace, called for a multidimensional approach that leverages current tools and new strategies and involves all stakeholders. Cybertechnologies are no longer the exclusive domain of Governments, she pointed out, adding that capacity-building is crucial. Reaffirming support for the Assembly's efforts to strengthen collaboration in promoting cybersecurity, she highlighted the efforts of the working group on information and communications technology. Her Government's national centre for cybersecurity provides a safe cyberspace for the people of the country, she said, adding that the national strategy involves enhancing regional and international partnerships, especially in promoting effective governance and awareness of cyber security.

The representative of Poland stressed the growing dependence on cyberspace poses a challenge for States' security and sovereignty, given the growing number of malicious activities carried out by both non-State and State actors. He noted that, under certain circumstances, actions in cyberspace may constitute a violation of the prohibition of the use of force and that a cyberattack may be qualified as an armed attack. "For us, the right to self-defence applies to cyberspace," he said. "We shall not seize from efforts aimed at bringing responsible States, and cybercriminals, to justice." Some States, instead of fighting cybercriminals operating from their territories, groom and protect them for political or economic gain, and in so doing, undermine the stability of others. A permanent platform for cooperation within the UN framework is needed, he said, aligning himself the European Union and expressing support for the Programme of Action.

The representative of Romania sounded alarm over the number of malicious cyberactivities targeting Government institutions and democratic processes. Cyberoperations, often in combination with disinformation aiming to influence public opinion and perceptions a including during elections a could undermine the integrity of democratic processes and the resilience of our societies, he warned. Equally concerning are cyberattacks against critical infrastructure and essential services, adding that "these malicious activities must stop". Irresponsible conduct in cyberspace creates risks to international peace and security, and the Council is entitled to address such issues and encourage increased accountability. Stressing that international law applies in cyberspace, he underlined the need to enhance the Council's role in addressing cyber threats in a manner complementary to other UN processes on ICT.

The representative of Austria , aligning himself with the European Union, said that it "adds conceptual clarity to approach this debate through the common language we all agreed on a international law". Observing that "cyberactivities do not take place in a separate virtual space, but in the real world", he stated that such activities, therefore, do not constitute a new domain that requires new rules or distinct application of international law. "In the end, this Council addresses State behaviour," he emphasized, adding that it is "only logical" that the Council does not shy away from one form of such behaviour a cyberactivities a whenever it becomes relevant for its mandate. Spotlighting sanctions as an example, he said that all activities a including cyberactivities a aimed at breaching binding sanctions decided on by the Council merit its attention. Mainstreaming cybersecurity in the Council's files is, thus, crucial.

The representative of Kazakhstan said malicious acts in cyberspace could disrupt critical infrastructure and serve as a "threat multiplier" in existing conflicts, requiring the Council's involvement. His country supports the global intergovernmental points-of-contact directory launched by the Open-Ended Working Group in May and is appointing such points of contact. The directory helps Member States respond to cyberincidents. The Council could play a key role in coordinating international efforts and implementing specific countermeasures, including by supporting capacity-building, especially in developing countries and by involving non-State actors, such as tech companies and civil society organizations, in strengthening collective efforts. The 15-member organ can also raise awareness of cybersecurity issues and organize regular reviews of the changing cyberlandscape, he said.

The representative of Iran , noting that his country has been "the primary target and main victim of numerous cyberattacks", recalled the Stuxnet and Duqu attacks on his country's nuclear facilities, as well as cyberattacks on its critical industrial infrastructures. Stressing that the primary responsibility for maintaining secure ICT rests with States, he said they must act in accordance with international law. "Current international law often lags behind the rapid pace of technological change, creating gaps that malicious actors exploit," he pointed out, adding that States must refrain from using ICT for economic, political or other coercive measures. They must also avoid abusing related supply chains and ensure appropriate measures for companies and platforms with exterritorial impacts within their jurisdiction, he said.

The representative of Pakistan noted that cyberwarfare has emerged as an important domain of warfare by State and non-State actors. Stressing that several countries, including Pakistan, are victims of disinformation, he highlighted reports from the European Union Disinformation Lab regarding anti-Pakistan propaganda and cyberwarfare against Pakistan involving more than 10 so-called non-governmental organizations fraudulently accredited to the UN Human Rights Council; more than 750 fake media outlets and 550 fake websites even resurrecting dead people. Describing it as a systematic, State-led campaign, he stressed that the campaign aimed to malign Pakistan. He recalled the General Assembly's 2021 adoption by consensus of a resolution on disinformation, sponsored by Pakistan (document A/RES/76/227). The text affirmed the responsibility of States to counter the dissemination of disinformation that undermines the promotion of peace and the cooperation among States. "As a victim of continuing hostile cyber- and other propaganda, Pakistan remains committed to countering the virus of disinformation," he said.

The representative of Uruguay supported initiatives to promote positive actions to counter the malicious use of ICT in all their forms, observing that most countries have suffered from some type of cyberattack. Cyberspace has become unsafe, impacting critical infrastructure, while AI serves as a multiplying factor in cyberspace attacks, increasing the capacity for damage. Noting that "cyberspace should be free, open and safe", she underscored the need to promote the safe use of the Internet. She emphasized that developing countries need to be given the technology and equipment to effectively counter the challenges that stem from the malicious use of ICT. Highlighting the UN's fundamental role in safeguarding international peace and security, she stressed the importance of crafting an international convention to counter the malicious use of ICT for criminal purposes.

The representative of Albania recalled that her country was the target of "unprecedented heavy cyberattacks" by multiple hacker groups linked to Iran that aimed to destroy Government infrastructure, paralyse public services and create insecurity. As Western Balkan States continue to face a growing number of continuously evolving cyberthreats, Albania works to build capacity in the region through programmes focusing on cybersecurity, cybercrime and cyberdiplomacy. Additionally, the regional summit on cybersecurity that Albania will host in July will aim to foster greater cyberresilience in the Western Balkans. Emphasizing that "more should a and could a be done at the international level", she urged the Council to become more engaged. Further, accountability for malign State and non-State actors should "become more present in joint efforts for a more secure cyberspace", she said, also calling for strengthened capacity building in developing countries that lack the resources and expertise to address cyberthreats.

The representative of Greece said that "cyberspace is not a lawless domain". As part of the framework of responsible State behaviour in cyberspace, all States have agreed that existing international law, particularly the UN Charter, is applicable in maintaining peace and stability. He expressed hope that the Council will adopt a more active role in matters that involve emerging and contemporary threats. His country is fully committed to further discussions on "this important topic", including during its 2025-2026 term as a non-permanent Council member. Highlighting the high level of women's participation in the Open-Ended Working Group, he underscored the importance of promoting the effective and meaningful participation and leadership of women in decision-making processes related to international cybersecurity.

The representative of Spain , reaffirming commitment to tackling cyberthreats through regional and international cooperation, said that "cyberresilience is key." Expressing concern about alarming trends such as data theft and manipulation of information, he said these hybrid strategies have changed the very nature of conflict and "the crystal-clear distinction between war and peace is no longer valid". Stressing that any mechanism concerning ICT must be based on agreed upon frameworks regarding the responsible conduct of States, he said it should be crafted in an inclusive process.

The representative of Portugal stressed that the impact of cyberinsecurity on the physical world cannot be underestimated. The increasing offensive capabilities of hostile cyberactors has increased the cost of preventing and recovering from their attacks, he said, noting that, following disruptive attacks from alleged ransomware groups, Portugal joined the International Counter Ransomware Initiative. "It is worth noting that ransomware is also increasingly used as a cover for the pursuit of strategic objectives by State-sponsored actors," he said, adding that AI has further expanded the threat landscape. In the face of these challenges, he expressed hope that the future UN convention to combat cybercrime will soon be finalized and able to promote international law enforcement cooperation against cybercrime. The Council has an important role to play while preserving the role of the Open-Ended Working Group on Information and Communications Technology security, he said.

The representative of El Salvador underscored that digital technology represents the backbone of modern interactions. However, the threats linked to the use of ICT in the context of international security continue to evolve in scale and intensity: associated with the misuse of emerging technology, such as AI or quantum computing, they could generate new types of attacks. Due to the increasing connectivity of digital infrastructure in all areas of governance a social, economic and political a there may be a cascade effect whose impacts are difficult to predict. Against this backdrop, she emphasized that the Council should more systematically and proactively address cyberspace-related threats to peace and security as part of its mandate. This could be done through discussions related to the protection of critical infrastructures and critical information infrastructures, the risk analysis of evolving threats in the field of information security, the detection, response and recovery to cybersecurity incidents, and the implementation of the regulatory framework.

The representative of Bulgaria underscored the critical importance of enhancing the Council's role in addressing cyberthreats. Its proactive engagement in cybersecurity, aligned with its primary responsibility to maintain international peace and security, helps the Council better respond to malicious cyberactivities. The interconnected nature of cyberspace requires all stakeholders to engage. The multistakeholder approach is thus vital to address the evolving cyberthreats properly, she said. States and international institutions, including the Council, should aim to reinforce regular and structured exchanges with all stakeholders, including the private sector, academia and civil society.

The representative of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) stressed the need to enhance understanding of the modern cyberthreat landscape which is fragmented across regions and sectors. Highlighting her organization's Gateway model which facilitates industry data access and information-sharing, she highlighted its tailored cybercrime platforms and 24/7 points-of-contact list and regional working groups. There remain significant disparities in cyberresilience, she said, reaffirming commitment to supporting States in overcoming the digital divide by providing technical assistance and capacity-building. "We aim to equip law enforcement with the knowledge and skills needed to face today's cyberchallenges," she said, adding that it is essential to maximize synergies through regular institutional dialogue and multilateral mechanisms. "Collaboration, not duplication, is key," she underscored.

The representative of India said that in this interconnected world, the reliance on cyberspace is profound and has exposed the world to a myriad of cyberthreats. "The cryptocurrency heists, data hijacking, deep fakes, misinformation and incitements are commonplace now," he said, adding that the potential of AI to add scope and scale to cyberattacks are notable. Such nefarious acts undermine trust and confidence and create potential flashpoints between States. "India has been a victim of terrorism for several decades and we are cognizant of the serious nature of the cyberterrorism challenge," he said, stressing that the threats in cyberspace have the potential to undermine the very fabric of global stability and that to combat them requires a united front. The international community should achieve uniformity in counterterrorism crime laws, he said, arguing global cooperation in this area will help harmonize cybersecurity benchmarks, best practices and regulations.

The representative of Cambodia said that the rapid advancement of ICT has brought immense possibilities, but it also exposes new and evolving risks that threaten international peace and security. "The recent rise in cyberattacks has demonstrated that ICT systems are more vulnerable than ever," he stated, noting his Government's commitment to fostering a secure digital environment for all. Highlighting the importance of international cooperation, he urged the global community to provide technical assistance and knowledge-sharing to enhance cybersecurity, particularly in developing countries. For its part, Cambodia took decisive action by establishing the Digital Security Committee aimed at cybercrime prevention and cybersecurity, he noted. Furthermore, he advocated for robust legal frameworks and international norms that promote responsible behaviour in cyberspace, upholding national sovereignty and preventing malicious actions.

The representative of Brazil said that the right forum for these discussions continues to be the General Assembly. In 2024, the Council revealed its limitations in setting rules for the new domains when it twice failed to adopt a resolution on weapons in outer space. On both occasions, delegations raised concerns about bringing to the Council complex issues best addressed by the full UN membership. "These concerns are valid and apply here, too," he said. The ongoing Open-Ended Working Group has been "productive in identifying cyberthreats", highlighting ransomware and cryptocurrency threats, as well as other vectors of attack, including on critical infrastructure. It is discussing concrete measures to implement the framework for responsible State behaviour. "In an era when progress in disarmament has almost stalled, the area of cybersecurity stands out as a result of the significant progress achieved in the General Assembly," he said, urging: "Let us work to sustain that momentum."

The representative of Guatemala , noting that electrical networks, hospital systems and schools have become vulnerable to cyberattacks, said that malicious activity in cyberspace has a multiplier effect in conflict situations. Cyberattacks fuel conflict both internally and internationally, she said, adding that AI can be used to undermine confidence in institutions and threaten democracy. It is crucial to strengthen existing efforts, she said, noting the need to establish a mechanism to impose sanctions to regulate conduct in cyberspace and increase assistance to States to enhance their cybercapacities. The Council must play a greater role in tackling cyberthreats.

The representative of Belgium , also speaking on behalf of Luxembourg and the Netherlands , expressed deep concern over the malicious cyberactivities that continue to rise in scale and may be further exacerbated by emerging technology, such as AI and quantum computing. One worrying trend is the increase of ransomware attacks, the use of ransomware as a service and malicious cyberthreats targeting critical infrastructure, he said. "The effects of such incidents, and the risks of spillover effects, are, of course, a threat to international peace and security," he said, noting that the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) adopted by consensus the UN Framework for Responsible State Behavior which confirms that international law applies to cyberspace. Expressing support for a UN convention to combat cybercrime, he said the Council has an important role in promoting an open, free and secure cyberdomain. In conclusion, he called for a victim-centered approach of the discussions.

The representative of Norway , speaking also on behalf of Denmark , Finland, Iceland and Sweden , voiced concern over the developments in the cyberthreat landscape, noting that State-sponsored cyberaction has continued, most notably in the context of Moscow's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. That country's cybercapabilities have been weaponized in Ukraine in an attempt to undermine trust in authorities and destroy critical infrastructure. In this context, he underlined that international law applies in cyberspace. Additionally, the blurring of lines among State-sponsored, non-State and criminal actors has continued to grow, he observed, voicing concern over the increasing number of ransomware attacks and the accessibility of advanced cybertools and techniques to a broader range of State and non-State actors. Considering the evolving cyberthreats, the Security Council should discuss the issue more regularly, he said, noting that such discussions can help raise awareness of the threats, share lessons and formulate appropriate responses.

The representative of Croatia commended the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for highlighting that cyberspace is not a lawless domain and affirmed that international humanitarian law applies equally in both the physical realm and cyberspace. That is why the Council should consider further developing its understanding of this highly complex matter through regular exchanges with various stakeholders in cybersecurity, peacebuilding, conflict prevention and mediation. The Council's role in addressing cyberthreats could develop in a mutually reinforcing and complementary manner, alongside the existing work of other UN bodies and multilateral initiatives. "The Council could assume an important role in the existing UN cybersecurity ecosystem and improve safeguarding international peace and security in the digital age," he said.

The representative of Chile , noting that cyberattacks can affect different groups in different ways, said it is important to consider their impact on women, girls and adolescents. Expressing concern about attacks on supply chains and Internet servers, malware such as Trojan horses and phishing, she said it is vital to strengthen joint cooperation, exchange lessons learned and implement international law in this field. All stakeholders, from civil society to the private sector, must be involved in this discussion, she said, adding that the Council has a role to play in establishing a cyberspace that is peaceful and open. Noting that malicious actors often target countries that do not have the tools and capability to respond fully to their attacks, she said the Council must work to build the capacity of vulnerable countries.

The representative of Nepal said no infrastructure or system is immune from cyberattacks a be it civilian infrastructure or nuclear weapons or autonomous weapon systems. Nepal has also been the victim of cyberattacks and ransomware attacks against its banking institutions, government websites and servers, highlighting the need to implement a robust set of rules based on the accepted norms of international laws including the UN Charter while ensuring cyberspace's openness, stability and security. Stressing the importance of regular briefings with insights from tech-focused companies, private sectors, civil society and academia, he noted that countries like Nepal are more vulnerable to such emerging threats. "We should promote cybersecurity through inclusive development and prosperity for all by bridging digital divides among the States," he said. "By taking proactive, comprehensive and coordinated actions, we can ensure a secure, open and peaceful cyberspace for all."

The representative of Bangladesh said that cyberthreats have become pervasive and imminent, disrupting global financial, democratic, sociocultural and security structures. "The 2024 Global Risks Report underscores cyberthreats as one of the most serious challenges of our time, estimating potential cybercrime costs of $24 trillion by 2027," he stated, adding the appalling impact of cybercrime on individuals and societies cannot be underestimated. The proliferation of cyber threats a including ransomware attacks, cyberespionage, and misinformation and disinformation campaigns through deep fakes poses significant risks to global peace and stability. These threats target critical infrastructure and undermine democratic processes by spreading xenophobia, intolerance and stereotypes. Also, advancements in AI and quantum computing have magnified the scope and complexity of cyberthreats. "With billions relying on digital platforms for daily activities, the urgency to address these threats has reached an unprecedented level," he stressed, noting the need to enhance international cooperation, strengthen cybersecurity measures, foster information-sharing mechanisms and invest in capacity-building initiatives.

The representative of Viet Nam urged the Council to give more attention to this issue and address the interlinkages between cyberthreats and other key issues on its agenda, such as conflict prevention, counter-terrorism and the protection of critical infrastructure. His Government has embraced a comprehensive, society-wide approach to addressing cyberthreats by enacting a cybersecurity law in 2018. Reiterating its support for a concerted global effort to establish robust frameworks and mechanisms aimed at upholding the principles of sovereignty, noninterference and responsible behaviour in cyberspace, he declared: "Through constructive dialogue and cooperation, we can effectively address the challenges that come with the evolving technologies while safeguarding the integrity of the global cyberspace and information ecosystem."

The representative of Ghana said that Africa has witnessed an "exponential growth of information and communications technology challenges and threats", from phishing and identity theft to trade in small arms and ammunition on the dark web. "Private businesses and critical public infrastructure have not been spared," she said, adding that, while ICT has a positive influence in empowering African citizens, fake news, disinformation and misinformation have resulted in setbacks. Stressing also that Governments must avoid overreaching in regulating this sphere, she said African leaders have been working together to bolster a continental cybersecurity strategy. The Council must promote action towards a reliable and safe cyberspace for all, she said, adding that it must supplement the Assembly's role in promoting responsible State behaviour in this field. Underscoring the need for a legal framework to tackle cybercrimes, she said a subsidiary body devoted to the matter would be a good starting point.

The representative of Panama recognized the importance of building global architecture to effectively combat cyberthreats, which are constantly evolving. The Security Council can play a fundamental role in addressing these challenges and safeguarding our shared digital space, she said, stressing that the Council must explore ways to respond to malicious cyberactivities that may impact critical infrastructure, civilians and humanitarian efforts. In navigating the complex landscape of these cyberthreats, it is essential to consider discussions under way regarding a comprehensive international Convention to counter the use of ICT with criminal purpose, she said. "The evolving nature of cyberthreats demands adoption of a and strengthening of a our legal frameworks," she said. "In updating these frameworks, we can better address the new challenges that arising in cyberspace," she said, adding that the Council must work in coordination with Member States, international organizations and other interested actors.

The representative of Italy , aligning himself with the European Union, expressed concern about the increasing number of malicious cyberactivities and the development of ICT capabilities for military purposes. The Security Council is uniquely positioned to respond to cybersecurity threats for the benefit of all nations, he emphasized, noting the need to strengthen the UN's capacity to respond to malicious ICT use. This is especially relevant vis-A -vis the protection of civilians, critical infrastructure and humanitarian operations, he observed, adding that new technology a such as AI a have the potential to multiply existing conflicts. For its part, Italy will host a national conference on 2 July on enhancing the ecosystem of public and private entities tasked with cybercapacity-building activities worldwide, he added.

The representative of Israel said that, since the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023, his country has also been under ongoing massive cyberattacks "orchestrated by Iran" with the active support and participation of its proxies, Hizbullah, Hamas and other terror groups, targeting the most critical and sensitive infrastructure, such as water and energy facilities and hospitals. Iran must be condemned for blatantly violating the norms of responsible State behaviour in cyberspace and for breaching basic humane and moral standards. Israeli and Jewish communities around the globe are experiencing a global wave of incitement, hate speech and antisemitism, hugely augmented by coordinated, unauthentic behaviour on social media. Despite the evolving efforts by some big tech companies and their social media platforms to mitigate hate, much more must be done, he said, calling on all social media platforms to demonstrate more responsibility in that regard. Hate speech of any kind "should not be allowed to echo around the world", he said.

The representative of Morocco , reaffirming the importance of greater cybersecurity cooperation among Member States, said it should be a shared domain that preserves its peaceful nature. Given the unpredictable geopolitical context, the international community needs a framework for a global digital transition. Stressing the importance of sharing best practices and promoting capacity-building at the request of Member States, he said his country's approach to cybersecurity hinges on cooperation with friendly African and Arab nations. The Council must be more dynamically engaged in this sensitive area, he said, calling for more inadepth discussions on this matter. Women and young people, as well as the private sector and academia, must participate in this process, he said, adding that the United Nations must maintain the momentum of the past decade and secure a safe cyberspace.

The representative of Liechtenstein stressed that the escalating sophistication and frequency of cyberattacks a including in the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine a requires clarity on how international law applies to cyberspace. Relevant assessments have affirmed that the International Criminal Court can investigate and prosecute cyberattacks. "This is only logical: international humanitarian law applies to cyberoperations," he said. "Therefore, violations of international humanitarian law that meet the ICC's gravity threshold are prosecutable." Prosecuting cyber- and cyberenabled crimes at the Court is instrumental to effectively address the evolving cyberthreat landscape, he said, noting that, building on Liechtenstein's Council of Advisers report, the Court's Prosecutor recently launched a multistakeholder consultation process with Microsoft to develop an official International Criminal Court policy to address cyberenabled crimes through the Rome Statute system, a welcome development to help international law practitioners gain a deeper understanding of the complexities associated with prosecuting cyberenabled crimes, he said.

The representative of TArkiye said that cyberthreats are evolving and becoming even more complex, with security vulnerabilities in ICT systems often threatening the economy, public order and national security. Terrorism, digital espionage, fraud, online child abuse, and exploitation and misuse of personal data conducted via ICT are among these threats, also posing risks to international peace and security. He voiced concern over the growing number of cyberattacks: in 2023, there were more than 317 million ransomware and more than 6 billion malware attempts worldwide. Due to technological developments, cyberattacks have become easier to carry out, while the adverse effects on the victims are rapidly increasing. Given the transborder nature of cyberthreats, increasing international cooperation and capacity-building are crucial, he observed, adding that his country engages in cyberthreat intelligence-sharing and contributes to cooperation strategies within regional and international organizations.

The representative of Saudi Arabia detailed how his country advanced cybersecurity domestically, regionally and globally. It developed "a Saudi model" for cybersecurity based on centralized governance and decentralized operability. In 2017, it established the National Institute for Cybersecurity. His country has received international recognition and was ranked second in cybersecurity globally and first in the Arab world by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) global cybersecurity index. Saudi Arabia also provides capacity-building exercises worldwide, with over 40 States and organizations participating in such training. Moreover, its capital city of Riyadh will host the Secretariat and the Executive Office of the Arab Cybersecurity Ministerial Council, which was formed under the aegis of the League of Arab States.

The representative of Argentina , stressing that capacity-building must not undermine the territorial integrity and sovereignty of States, said the Council's work must not overlap with other efforts, and must be complementary to the work of the Open-Ended Working Group. The Council will benefit from having reports or presentations from representatives of the private sector "since they, in most cases, are the owners and operators of critical infrastructures", he said, noting that they also have greater capacity to study this topic and can provide updated information on current threats in real time. Capacity-building is an indispensable element, he said, adding that cybersecurity gaps do not discriminate. While States with less capacity in cybersecurity are more vulnerable to attacks, the interconnected nature of cyberspace means that can have significant repercussions elsewhere. The actions of the Council must be in line with established norms, he said.

The representative of Georgia stressed that the Council's role remains crucial in addressing and minimizing threats to international peace and security, including those stemming from cyberspace. In recent years, the international community has witnessed how certain States and non-State actors threaten the rules-based international order by combining conventional methods of warfare with newly developed unconventional ones, with some using cybertactics to gain strategic advantages, such as disabling communication networks and targeting critical infrastructure. "We all witness aggressive application of hybrid toolkits against Georgia's sovereignty by Russia," he said. "Georgia was the first case where, along with the conventional military engagement, the country became a target of numerous attacks in cyberspace over the course of Russia's full-scale military aggression in 2008." He stressed capacity-building as an indispensable element of multilateral cooperation, given the uneven distribution of ICT capabilities.

The representative of Australia , speaking also on behalf of Canada and New Zealand , underscored that cyberthreats undermine the transformative opportunities otherwise provided by digital technology. These threats are increasing in scale and sophistication and pose particular challenges when employed in connection with armed conflicts. "The services that we a as citizens and consumers a rely on in everyday life also mean that cyberincidents against critical infrastructure can cause devastating and cascading impacts across society," he cautioned, noting that they serve as a "threat multiplier" to existing risks and can threaten the effective functioning and public trust in Government. Detailing significant cyberincidents on critical infrastructure, he said that, in Australia, a heinous ransomware incident on the health-care sector exposed the personal information of millions of people. In Canada, a ransomware incident paralysed the systems of provincial health-care providers, which caused serious delays and imperilled sensitive information pertaining to thousands of staff and patients. In New Zealand, the proportion of financially motivated activity has exceeded State-sponsored activity for the first time, he noted.

LAETITIA COURTOIS, Permanent Observer of the International Committee of the Red Cross , said that the organization works to protect people affected by 120 armed conflicts worldwide. In many of these conflicts, cyberoperations are creating additional risks for people's security and well-being. She drew attention to three concerning trends: cyberoperations disrupting the provision of essential services for civilian populations, such as electricity, water and medical care; the growing involvement of civilian actors a individuals, hacker groups and tech companies a in cyberspace activities related to armed conflicts; and a growing threat of such operations to humanitarian organizations, including data breaches and disinformation. The Council should mainstream the potential human cost of cyberoperations in its work, she said, stressing: "In today's digitalized world, the Security Council should not ignore the threats that ICT activities pose to civilian populations during armed conflict."

The representative of Kiribati , expressing concern about cyberoperations against critical civilian infrastructures, such as water and electricity, stressed the importance of respecting international humanitarian law. "Imagine a world where these protections would not apply to cyberoperations and ask yourselves whether such a world is the kind we want to live in and call it home. For us, the answer is no," he said. The Security Council should listen to the stakeholders, non-governmental organizations and academia who voice concerns about malicious cyberactivities, he said, calling on it to mainstream humanitarian concerns into cyberoperations and uphold the limits placed on all means of warfare, including cyberoperations, under international humanitarian law. Further, the global tech companies in control of ICT must ensure that such technology is used responsibly to build "a more human and loving home planet", he said.

The representative of Iran , taking the floor for a second time, responded to the unsubstantiated claims by Albania and the Israeli regime, falsely accusing his country of supporting cyberattacks. "We categorically reject and denounce these baseless claims," he said. Regarding the unwarranted statement by the representative of Albania, he said the Government of Albania was misled by misinformation from the MKO, a terrorist organization based in Albania that has carried out cyberterrorist attacks against Iran's critical infrastructure, with the assistance and support of certain States, including the Israeli regime. "This terrorist organization has martyred numerous Iranian officials and civilians," he said. Regarding the unfounded allegations made by the Israeli regime, he noted the irony that a regime, notorious for its malicious, criminal and terrorist activities in both cyberspace and real space, accuses other of the very actions it repeatedly commits.

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Amid Growing Cybersecurity Threats, Rule of Law in Digital Sphere Critical to Ensure New Technologies Are Used for Common Good, Secretary-General Tells Security Council

Press Release

Secretary-General

Statements and Messages

SG/SM/22280

20 June 2024



Following are UN Secretary-General AntAnio Guterres' remarks to the UN Security Council's high-level debate on "Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Addressing Evolving Threats in Cyberspace", in New York today:

I thank the Republic of Korea for convening this high-level debate on an issue that affects us all a peace and security in cyberspace.

Breakthroughs in digital technologies are happening at warp speed a from information and communication technologies and cloud computing, to blockchain, 5G networks, quantum technologies and more.

Digital advances are revolutionizing economies and societies. They are bringing people together. Delivering information, news, knowledge, and education at the tap of a screen or click of a mouse. Providing citizens with access to government services and institutions. And supercharging economies, trade and financial inclusion.

But the very quality of seamless, instant connectivity that powers the enormous benefits of cyberspace can also leave people, institutions and entire countries deeply vulnerable. And the perils of weaponizing digital technologies are growing by the year.

Cyberspace has kicked the doors wide open. Anyone can walk through. And many are. Malicious activity in cyberspace is on the rise by both State and non-State actors, and by outright criminals.

Serious cybersecurity incidents are disturbingly common. From breaches of essential public services like health care, banking and telecommunications. To relentless illicit activity, including by criminal organizations and so-called "cyber mercenaries". To a legion of hate merchants littering the information superhighway with fear and division. To the increasing use of cyberspace as another weapon in ongoing armed conflicts.

So-called civilian "hacktivists" are entering the fray, and in many cases are blurring the line between combatants and civilians. And the growing integration of digital tools with weapon systems, including autonomous systems, presents new vulnerabilities.

At the same time, the misuse of digital technology is becoming more sophisticated and stealthy. Malware, wipers and trojans are proliferating. Artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled cyberoperations are multiplying the threat, and quantum computing could break down entire systems with its ability to breach encryption. Software vulnerabilities are being exploited and cyberintrusion capabilities are even sold over the Internet.

And companies' supply chains are being actively targeted by hackers, with serious, disruptive and cascading effects. Ransomware is one grievous example a a huge threat to public and private institutions and the critical infrastructure people depend on. According to some estimates, total ransomware payments reached $1.1 billion in 2023.

But far beyond the financial costs are the costs to our common peace, security and stability a both within countries and among them. Malicious activity that undermines public institutions, electoral processes and online integrity erodes trust, fuels tensions, and even sows the seeds of violence and conflict.

Digital technology offers an incredible opportunity to create a more just, equal, sustainable and peaceful future for all. But breakthroughs must be oriented towards the good.

The New Agenda for Peace places prevention at the heart of all peace efforts. It calls for developing strong frameworks in line with international law, human rights and the UN Charter, and focused efforts by all States to prevent the extension and escalation of conflicts within, and through, cyberspace. As reflected in the New Vision for the Rule of Law, the rule of law must exist in the digital sphere as it does in the physical world.

I also welcome the General Assembly's commitment to action in this area. This includes its dedicated, open-ended working group on information and communication technologies security. States are building on the universally endorsed normative framework of responsible State behaviour in the use of these technologies. And they are actively considering the applicability of international law to State activities in this domain.

Also, under the auspices of the General Assembly, Member States are working to reach consensus on a new cybercrime treaty in the coming months, which should deepen cooperation while protecting human rights online.

But given the clear and growing links between cyberspace and global peace and security, this Council can also play a key role by integrating cyber-related considerations into your existing workstreams and resolutions.

This is only the second time the Security Council has held a formal meeting on this issue. But so many of the issues considered around this table are affected by and linked to cyberspace a including the protection of civilians in armed conflict, peace operations, counter-terrorism and humanitarian operations. Integrating this issue into your deliberations would be a useful way to lay the groundwork for more effective responses to this important question.

Peace and security in the physical world demand new approaches to peace and security in the digital world. This September's Summit of the Future represents a vital opportunity to enhance cooperation on critical global challenges and reinvigorate the multilateral system.

The Pact that will emerge from the Summit represents a pivotal chance to support the maintenance of international peace and security in cyberspace. Among other priorities, Chapter 2 of the Pact aims to re-affirm global consensus on safeguarding critical infrastructure against harmful information and communications technology (ICT) practices, and creating enhanced accountability for data-driven technology, including artificial intelligence.

Meanwhile, my High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence is completing its final report on how we can govern artificial intelligence for humanity, while addressing its risks and uncertainties.

I look forward to working with this Council, the General Assembly, and all Member States to ensure that technology is focused where it belongs: On the progress and security of all people and the planet we share.

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Turner Warns of Russia's Nuclear Anti-Satellite Weapons Program During Speech at CSIS

US House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

Washington, D.C., June 20, 2024

Today, Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10), Chairman of the House Permanent Select on Intelligence, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, and head of the U.S. delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly delivered a major speech about the Russian nuclear anti-satellite threat at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Below are Chairman Turner's remarks as prepared for delivery:

The Space Age began when Russia launched Sputnik in 1957. The eyes of the world turned to the sky and wondered how space and technology would now change life on Earth. The Space Age will end when Russia launches its nuclear anti-satellite weapon into orbit.

General Salzman, Chief of Staff of the United States Space Force, has referred to the potential launch date of Russia's nuclear anti-satellite weapon as "Day Zero." Because, from that day, no one can count on space the next day. From that day forward, the assumption on Earth must be that in order to preserve our economic, social, and military structures, we must have an alternative to space. Right now, there isn't one.

Trillions and Trillions of dollars and time we don't have will be required to build duplicative and redundant systems just to preserve what we accomplished in the Space Age. For some things, no alternatives exist.

The United Nations' Outer Space Treaty entered into force in 1967, signed by the Russian Federation, the United States, and the United Kingdom, declared: "States shall not place nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in orbit or on celestial bodies or station them in outer space in any other manner." The treaty was entered into based upon the promise to "mankind" of advances on planet Earth that might arise from the exploration and utilization of space.

The signatories could not have imagined the world of today where agriculture, medicine, commercial transactions, communications, maritime navigation, international security, and even our ability to tell time is space dependent. Similarly, we cannot imagine a world where it is not. On "Day Zero," at the end of the Space Age, we will have to.

The Biden Administration, only after having been challenged by a group of bipartisan Members of the House Intelligence Committee, reluctantly declassified that Russia is developing a nuclear anti-satellite weapon intended to be placed in orbit in outer space. No additional information has been released.

News reports have speculated that the weapon is past development, exists, and is preparing to launch. Additional news reports have speculated that Russia already has a satellite in orbit that is a "test" first phase of Russia's anti-satellite nuclear weapon system. Without confirming or denying the accuracy of any of these reports, the questions they raise must be answered by the Biden Administration immediately.

Regardless of Russia's timing or the possible immediacy of this evolving threat, this crisis is the "Cuban Missile Crisis in Space," and the Administration is failing. The advances that mankind has made during the Space Age are at risk, and the Administration is sleepwalking into an irreversible "Day Zero."

Dr. Plum, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, testified before the House Armed Services Committee that Russia's nuclear anti-satellite weapon if detonated in low earth orbit (LEO), would indiscriminately decimate all satellites within LEO and would render that orbit and space unusable for likely at least a year. Mankind would be unable to repopulate LEO satellites during this period, and manned space exploration would be deadly.

This threat would mean that our economic, international security and social systems come to a grinding halt. This would be a catastrophic and devastating attack upon Western economic and democratic systems. Vladimir Putin knows this, checkmate.

"Day Zero" can be avoided. Imagine how different the world would have been if President Kennedy had allowed Nikita Kruschev to place nuclear weapons in Cuba. Europe would not be free. The United States would have been too fearful to challenge Russia in Europe with nuclear weapons just off the coast of Florida. Just as Kruschev could have held the United States hostage with nuclear threats from Cuba, Vladimir Putin will hold the world's space assets hostage to counter attempts to stop him from reassembling the Soviet Union.

There is precedent for Russian-United States nuclear weapons control treaties to include the dismantling of destabilizing weapons, inspection regimes, and prohibitions against deployment. But such treaties are only negotiated through strength, something the Biden Administration seems incapable of showing.

In order to avoid "Day Zero" the Biden Administration must immediately declassify all known information concerning the status of Russia's nuclear anti-satellite weapons program. Vladimir Putin thrives in secrecy. Putin's plans and weapons programs must be fully disclosed by the Administration and understood by the world.

In addition, the United States and its NATO allies must join together to declare the resolve to enforce the UN Outer Space Treaty.

There are risks in confronting Russia. The Biden Administration is incredibly reluctant to take any action that would appear to be escalatory. However, Russia is the aggressor, and an escalation has already occurred. Now, the United States must stand strong with our allies to stop "Day Zero" and preserve space, as the UN Outer Space Treaty intended, for the betterment of all mankind.

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US 'sleepwalking' into space disaster, lawmaker warns

By Jeff Seldin June 20, 2024

A key U.S. lawmaker warned Thursday that Russia is on the verge of ushering in the end of the Space Age with its new, nuclear anti-satellite weaponry.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner, an Ohio Republican, told an audience in Washington that allowing Russia to gain such an advantage would be catastrophic. He called on President Joe Biden to mount an aggressive response.

"This crisis is the Cuban missile crisis in space," Turner said, comparing the moment to the 1962 confrontation between the U.S. and the former Soviet Union, which took both sides to the brink of nuclear conflict.

But in this case, Turner said, Russia could unilaterally impose high costs on the U.S. simply by detonating a nuclear anti-satellite weapon in orbit.

"This threat would mean that our economic, international security and social systems come to a grinding halt," he said. "This would be a catastrophic and devastating attack upon Western economic and democratic systems."

Turner, who accused Biden of "sleepwalking into an irreversible day zero," called on the White House to immediately declassify all of its intelligence on the Russian program to make the world aware of the full extent of the threat.

The White House on Thursday rejected Turner's accusations.

"He's just wrong. He's just flat-out wrong," White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

"We have absolutely taken this very seriously," Kirby said. "We've been working this particular problem set from every possible angle, including through intense diplomacy with countries around the world and, obviously, through direct conversations with Russia."

Russia has repeatedly denied the U.S. accusations, including last month when Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov dismissed concerns as "fake news."

"The Americans can say whatever they want, but our policy does not change," Ryabkov told the Interfax news agency, adding that Moscow, "always consistently opposed the deployment of strike weapons in low-Earth orbit."

Turner first raised concerns about the prospect of a Russian anti-satellite weapons program in February, when he issued a statement warning of "a serious national security threat" and issued his initial call for the White House to declassify the relevant intelligence.

Biden responded by confirming that Russia was developing a space-based, anti-satellite weapons system but added there was no indication that Russia had decided to move ahead with the program and that there was no nuclear threat to anyone on Earth.

Concerns spiked last month when the U.S. accused Russia of using a May 16 space launch to deploy what the U.S. Defense Department described as an anti-satellite weapon "capable of attacking other satellites in low-Earth orbit."

"Russia deployed this new counterspace weapon into the same orbit as a U.S. government satellite," Major General Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, said at the time. "So, you know, obviously that's something that we'll continue to monitor."

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HMAS Sydney departs for regional presence deployment

Issued by Defence Media

20 June 2024

HMAS Sydney has departed for its regional presence deployment - the Australian Defence Force's continued commitment to regional security.

The Hobart class guided-missile destroyer, with its embarked MH-60R Seahawk helicopter and crew of approximately 200 personnel, was farewelled by loved ones at Fleet Base East last week.

During the four-month deployment, HMAS Sydney will participate in the world's largest international maritime exercise, Exercise RIMPAC, Exercise Pacific Dragon and Operation Argos - the Australian Defence Force's contribution to international efforts to enforce United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea.

HMAS Sydney will also conduct activities with regional partners aimed at improving cooperation, interoperability and interchangeability.

RIMPAC 24 will combine some 40 surface ships, four submarines, 14 national land forces, more than 170 aircraft and approximately 25,000 personnel from 30 nations, offering a unique training opportunity while fostering relationships crucial for regional security.

Joint Force Maritime Component Commander, Commodore Jonathan Ley, said regional presence deployments demonstrated Australia's commitment to engaging closely with allies and partners as part of maintaining a near-continuous presence in the Indo-Pacific region.

"I wish the commanding officer of HMAS Sydney, Commander Grant Coleman, and his crew all the very best as they go forward representing Australia on this important deployment," Commodore Ley said.

Commander Coleman said the crew were looking forward to the privilege of representing Australia at Exercise RIMPAC and throughout the rest of their deployment.

"Representing Australia at the world's biggest international maritime exercise and in the many other activities ahead of us is a huge privilege," Commander Coleman said.

"The importance of this deployment and the responsibility we shoulder as we take the baton of duty from HMAS Hobart is not lost on myself or HMAS Sydney's crew."

HMAS Sydney will return to Fleet Base East, Sydney, in October.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian's Regular Press Conference on June 20, 2024

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

2024-06-20 19:48

CCTV: China announced President of Poland Andrzej Duda's state visit to China. Could you share with us the program and China's expectation of the visit? How does China view the current China-Poland relations?

Lin Jian: During the visit, President Xi Jinping will have talks with President Andrzej Duda to draw up a blueprint for the growth of bilateral relations. The two presidents will have an in-depth exchange of views on issues of mutual interest and attend the signing ceremony of cooperation documents. Premier Li Qiang and Chairman Zhao Leji will meet President Andrzej Duda respectively.

Poland is among the first countries to recognize the People's Republic of China. In recent years, the two countries have grown bilateral relations smoothly and had fruitful practical cooperation. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between the two countries. China stands ready to work with Poland through this visit to deepen political mutual trust, expand exchange and cooperation in various fields, stay at the forefront of the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and the cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries, and enrich the China-Poland comprehensive strategic partnership.

Xinhua News Agency: Premier Li Qiang is visiting Malaysia this week. As this year marks the 50th anniversary of China-Malaysia diplomatic ties and the Year of China-Malaysia Friendship, leaders of the two countries attended the celebration events. Could you share more details with us?

Lin Jian: At the invitation of Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council is paying an official visit to Malaysia which started on June 18 and will end today. Yesterday, Premier Li Qiang met with King of Malaysia His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim and had talks with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The two prime ministers attended the reception celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia and the Year of China-Malaysia Friendship and the groundbreaking ceremony for Malaysia's East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) Gombak integrated terminal station.

Premier Li Qiang pointed out that no matter how the international landscape has evolved over the past half a century, theatwo countries have always treated each other with sincerity, pursued win-win cooperation, and engaged in exchanges and mutual learning, achieving steady progress in bilateral relations, and making the China-Malaysia relationship a front-runner and a primeaexampleainaChina's relations with countriesain the region.aLast year, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reached important common understandings on building a China-Malaysia community with a shared future, drawing a blueprint for the growth of bilateral relations in the new era. China is ready to work jointly with Malaysia to continue to develop bilateral relations as a priority of their respective foreign policy, and take the 50th anniversary as an opportunity to accelerate the building of a China-Malaysia community with a shared future by maintaining close high-level contacts, further deepening cooperation across the board, and enriching the substance of two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership.

Premier Li Qiang stressed that be it in the past, present or future, friendship remains the defining feature of China-Malaysia relations. The two countries have brought this relationship to a new starting point, and we share the aspiration to carry it forward to future generations. We need to enhance our traditional friendship, consolidate the foundation for bilateral relations, and pursue wide-ranging cooperation in the context of building a China-Malaysia community with a shared future. We need to synergize our development strategies and expand shared interests to deliver more benefits to our two peoples. The two sides need to deepen exchanges and mutual learning to cement the foundation for people-to-people affinity, and build a stronger bond between our peoples. We need to strengthen solidarity and coordination to address global challenges together, and jointly build a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful, amicable and harmonious home in Asia.

The two prime ministers agreed to unswervingly strengthen and deepen bilateral cooperation and takeathe building of the China-Malaysia community with a shared future to a higher level. Both sides will continue to promote high-quality implementation of RCEP, and strive to conclude at an early date negotiationsaforaVersion 3.0 of the CAFTA, in order to build a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.

The two prime ministers agreed that China and relevant ASEAN countries should handle the South China Sea issueaandamanage disagreements and differencesaindependentlyaand in a properamanner, promote dialogue and cooperation, and stay committedato solving problems through bilateralaefforts.

The two prime ministers also witnessed the exchange of bilateral cooperation documents in such areas asatrade, science and technology, culture, tourism, postal service, agricultural export to China, digital economy, green development, urban development and higher education.

Beijing Daily: Today is World Refugee Day. The 2024 Global Trends report recently published by the UN Refugee Agency shows that last year forced displacement surged to historic new levels across the globe. What's your comment?

Lin Jian: We noticed this report. According to the report, as of May this year, the total displaced population worldwide has increased for 12 consecutive years, amounting to 120 million. Behind everyanumber is a preciousahuman life, challenging the international fairness and justice and questioning human morality and conscience.

The refugee issue is caused by regional instability and unbalanced development. From Afghanistan to Syria, refugee crises caused by wars launched under various pretexts remain far from being resolved, and we are seeing even more horrendous humanitarian tragedies unfolding in Gaza. Entering its 8th month, the Gaza conflict has killed more than 37,000 thousand civilians, injured over 85,000 people and displaced nearly 2 million. Realizing ceasefire and saving lives are the strong call of the international community and the most urgent imperative now. China once again calls on relevant parties to fully implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions, immediately stop the fighting, and do everything possible to avoid hurting innocent civilians. We are ready to work with the international community and continue to play a constructive role in promoting the ceasefire, improving the humanitarian situation in Gaza and realizing international fairness and justice.

As a contracting party to the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its Protocol, China has always earnestly implemented international duties and actively participated in international cooperation on refugees in a humanitarian spirit. We are committed to promoting talks for peace and the political settlement on regional hotspots and have provided assistance for relevant countries to address refugee crises through bilateral and multilateral channels. It's worth noting that the refugee issue is a global issue and requires a global response. Unless certain countries abandon their hegemonic mindset and stop militarily interfering in other countries' affairs and benefiting through war, there will not be a real solution to the refugee issue. We urge relevant countries to reflect on what they have done, take concrete actions to address the root cause of the refugee issue and step up to their responsibility. China is ready to work with the international community, firmly support multilateralism and contribute to a more effective global refugee protection system and efforts to resolve the refugee issue.

Yonhap News Agency: I have two questions. First, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement signed by the DPRK and Russia yesterday provides for timely mutual military assistance and other assistance with all the means at disposal in the case of aggression against either country. What impact does China think the new agreement will have on the peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the Eurasian region? Second, after the meeting with Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK yesterday, Russian President Putin said that Russia "does not rule out military-technical cooperation with the DPRK," calling for reviewing the UN sanctions on Pyongyang. Since China is also a permanent member of the UN Security Council, how does it comment on President Putin's position?a

Lin Jian: On your first question, we noted the reports. I would not comment on the bilateral cooperation between the DPRK and Russia. On the Korean Peninsula issue, China's position is consistent. We always believe that upholding peace and stability on the Peninsula and advancing the political settlement of the Peninsula issue serve the common interests of all parties and hope various parties will make constructive effort to this end.a

On your second question, the cooperation between Russia and the DPRK is a matter between two sovereign states. We do not have information on the relevant matter. As a principle, China believes that on issues related to the Peninsula, blindly imposing sanctions and pressure will not solve the problem. Political settlement is the only viable way out.

Anadolu Agency: I also want to ask about the North Korean and Russian strategic partnership agreement. I wonder how do you see the new situation in the Korean Peninsula? Do you think if we are in a moment that some kind of military alignments or military blocs are forming around this conflict? And how will China position itself in face of these military alignments?a

Lin Jian: I just answered the relevant question. The agreement between the DPRK and Russia is related to their bilateral cooperation. I have no comment on it. China's position on the Korean Peninsula issue is consistent and clear. Upholding peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and advancing the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue serves the common interests of all parties. China is ready to work with other parties to play a constructive role to this end.

Shenzhen TV: The National Forestry and Grassland Administration held a press conference today on progress in wildlife conservation and relevant international cooperation. It announced in particular the return of overseas Chinese giant pandas this year and the upcoming new cooperation. What's your comment?

Lin Jian: We also noticed the information released by the NFGA today. Giant pandas are a precious endangered wild species and are loved by people around the world. They are emissaries of friendship from the people of China. Carrying out international cooperation on giant panda conservation has played an important role in better informing the foreign public of the progress China has made in giant panda and wildlife conservation and ecological conservation, and in enhancing people-to-people friendship. China's effort in this area is also a significant contribution to the research on giant panda breeding and conservation in the wild as well as talent cultivation in this field.

This year, the international cooperation on giant panda conservation has witnessed smooth progress. We've learned that China has started a new round of international cooperation on giant panda conservation with Spain, and will launch a new round of international cooperation on giant panda conservation with the San Diego Zoo of the US, the National Zoo in Washington DC, and the Adelaide Zoo in Australia. At present, the two sides are making good preparations for the exit and entry of giant pandas. In accordance with the cooperation agreements of giant pandas between China and other countries, more than 10 overseas giant pandas are scheduled to return to China this year when relevant programs expire or when cubs reach the breeding age.

China attaches great importance to the health and safety of overseas Chinese giant pandas and has constantly improved the management system and technical standards. Every year, field examination and assessment and all-year-round regular health monitoring and evaluation are conducted that cover all overseas institutions that have cooperation with China on giant pandas. Going forward, China's competent authorities will continue to strengthen regulation, ensure the health and safety of overseas giant pandas, share with the public regular updates on their status and share more scientific knowledge with the public about giant pandas. We are ready to work with all parties to contribute to better conservation of endangered species and global biodiversity.

Bloomberg: The "prime minister" of the "Tibet government-in-exile" said that it's going to use the new US legislation that was passed the other day to try to force China to the negotiating table and that they're also going to try to get other countries to put pressure on China to negotiate. Would the Ministry like to respond?a

Lin Jian: The so-called "Tibetan government-in-exile" is entirely a separatist political group. It is an illegal organization that violates China's Constitution and laws. No country in the world recognizes it.

When it comes to the contact and talksabetween the Chinese Central Government and the 14th Dalai Lama, our policy is consistent and clear. The key is that the 14th Dalai Lama must have a complete reflection on and thoroughly correct its political propositions.

China News Service: It's reported that the Defense Security Cooperation Agency of the US Department of Defense said in two press releases that the State Department has made a determination approving military sales of Switchblade 300 and ALTIUS 600M-V Unmanned Aerial Vehicles as well as relevant equipment and training manuals to Taiwan for an estimated cost of US$ 360 million in total. What's China's comment?

Lin Jian: In disregard of China's repeated opposition and serious protests, the US once again sold arms to China's Taiwan region. Such sales seriously violate the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiquAs, especially the August 17 CommuniquA of 1982. The sales undermine China's sovereignty and security interests, harm China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and send a gravely wrong message to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. China strongly condemns and firmly opposes this.

The US's frequent arms sales to Taiwan embolden the DPP authorities as they cling to the stance of "Taiwan independence" and make deliberate provocations on the one-China principle. This once again shows that the separatist moves for "Taiwan independence" and connivance and support for such moves from US-led external forces are the biggest threat facing cross-Strait peace and stability and source of damage to the real status quo in the Taiwan Strait. Let me stress that the DPP authorities' attempt to seek independence through military build-up and what the US has done to assist that agenda will only backfire and lead nowhere.

The Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests, and the first red line that cannot be crossed in China-US relations. No one should underestimate China's firm determination and ability to oppose "Taiwan independence" and safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity. China urges the US to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiquAs, revoke its wrongful decisions to sell arms to Taiwan, stop the dangerous trend of arming Taiwan, stop wrongful moves to connive at and support "Taiwan independence" forces, and stop endangering cross-Strait peace and stability. We will take strong and resolute measures to defend our national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.

AFP: On the confrontation between Chinese and Philippine vessels happened near Ren'ai Jiao, the Chinese side said that China Coast Guard didn't take direct measures against the Philippine personnel. But later on, the Philippine military released a new video footage of the incident, claiming that Chinese personnel fired tear gas, damaged equipment and brandished bolos. Is the Philippine description of the incident true? Can you share more details on the measures China Coast Guard took?

Lin Jian: The Philippine side has been calling white black and falsely accusing China. Ren'ai Jiao is part of China's Nansha Qundao and it is Chinese territory. The Philippine side illegally intruded the waters of Ren'ai Jiao without China's permission, which violated international law and the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. This is sheer provocation and has no justification whatsoever.

What is more, this operation of the Philippines is absolutely not about "humanitarian resupply." The Philippine vessels secretly carried construction materials and even weapons and equipment, and they deliberately rammed Chinese vessels. The Philippine side threw water and hurled objects to Chinese enforcement personnel. These acts clearly escalated tensions at sea, and severely threatened the safety of Chinese personnel and vessels. The Chinese side took necessary measures in accordance with law to safeguard its sovereignty, which was lawful and justified, and done in a professional and restrained manner. It was beyond reproach.

China will firmly safeguard its lawful rights and interests. We urge the Philippines to stop infringement and provocation at sea at once. Otherwise, the consequences shall be borne by the Philippines.

PTI: Further to what you said about the talks with the Dalai Lama as for comments by the administration there. Will you be commenting also on the visit of the US congressional delegation to Dharamshala where they held talks with the Dalai Lama and also has questioned China's claim on Tibet as well as called for China to hold talks with the Dalai Lama? Will you be commenting on whatever they have said during this particular tour?a

Lin Jian: We made clear China's position on the related issues previously. The Chinese government's position on Xizang-related issues is consistent and clear. Xizang's affairs are China's internal affairs, which brook no external interference. We urge the US to fully recognize the importance and high sensitivity of Xizang-related issues, earnestly respect the core interests of China, abide by the commitments it has made to China on Xizang-related issues, have no contact with the Dalai group in any form, and stop sending the wrong signal to the world.

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Chinese premier sees mixed success in Asia-Pacific charm offensive

By Adam Hancock June 20, 2024

Chinese Premier Li Qiang has wrapped up a three-country tour of the Asia-Pacific region, boosting trade ties and rebuilding relations. But the trip also saw a reemergence of some thorny diplomatic issues.

Through this visit Li, the second most powerful official in China, became the first premier to visit New Zealand and Australia since 2017.

He wrapped up his trip with a stop in Malaysia, marking an almost decade-long lull since his predecessor Li Keqiang visited the Southeast Asian nation in 2015.

Li's tour heralded some results, including the announcement of new trade deals with New Zealand and Malaysia.

But a bizarre incident in Canberra involving Chinese officials and a formerly imprisoned local journalist was described as "entirely inappropriate" by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Li's tour began in a more muted manner, with the premier meeting New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon for talks in Wellington.

The pair announced new agreements on trade and climate change, with Li describing the two countries as "good friends."

Luxon, though, said the split was "probably 50-50" in time spent discussing differences between the two countries compared to their common interests.

New Zealand's leader had a "challenging course" to navigate, according to Kathryn Paik, a senior fellow with the Australia Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, balancing economic priorities with concerns over China's increasing engagement in the Pacific.

"This balancing will become more difficult, as New Zealand continues to become more aware of the detrimental effects of Chinese actions abroad," Paik told VOA.

The Chinese premier also raised concerns about New Zealand's potential participation in the AUKUS security alliance a a trilateral pact between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States a that is seen as a counter to Beijing's influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

From New Zealand, Li touched down in Australia for a meeting closely watched after relations between the two took a nosedive during the pandemic.

Australia's former Prime Minister Scott Morrison was a vocal critic of China on a number of issues, from human rights to calling for an international inquiry into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beijing hit back, slapping tariffs and restrictions on a variety of Australian goods and commodities.

The Albanese administration has worked to rebuild the relationship with the key trading partner and this visit was evidence of how far things have come.

Canberra and Beijing "are back to the normal pattern of relations now," said former Australian Ambassador to China Geoff Raby.

"Sure, there are big differences and issues that we disagree on. But that's the same in all relationships," Raby told VOA.

Beijing's so-called "panda diplomacy" was on full display during the visit, with Li announcing China would send Adelaide Zoo two new giant pandas, replacing Wang Wang and Fu Ni who are returning to their homeland.

The premier also offered 15-day, visa-free entry for Australian visitors to China, something also promised to New Zealand citizens during his visit there.

Albanese said he and Li also discussed improving military dialogue between the countries, after a recent incident when a Chinese jet dropped flares in the pathway of an Australian defense helicopter over the Yellow Sea.

But while Albanese may have said the trip "renewed and revitalized" relations with China, all local media outlets could talk about was what happened with Cheng Lei a an Australian journalist who recently returned home from three years detention in China.

Lei was reporting on a press conference at Canberra's Parliament House when Chinese officials appeared to block cameras from filming her.

"It was a complete stuff-up by the Chinese side, stupid, completely stupid. They are their own worst enemies," said former ambassador Raby.

"It really did deflect attention within Australia from the positive aspects of the visit. It was such a stupid thing," Raby told VOA.

The final leg of Li's tour was in Malaysia, with the Chinese premier marking fifty years of diplomatic relations with his hosts.

Li met with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the pair witnessed the signing of a slew of new deals, such as a five-year agreement to boost economic and trade cooperation.

The pair also jointly pushed a lever to break ground at the construction of a new railway station that will form a key part of China's prized Belt and Road Infrastructure project.

In addition, China promised to begin importing fresh durians from Malaysia. The Southeast Asian nation is one of the world's biggest producers of the notoriously smelly fruit.

Malaysia, like much of the Indo-Pacific, is walking a tightrope in balancing relations with its biggest trading partner China and the United States. Kuala Lumpur recently received large investments from major U.S. companies including Microsoft and Google.

It's an approach of "strategic ambiguity," according to James Chin, professor of Asian studies at the University of Tasmania. "They don't show their hand too openly."

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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's answer to a question from Channel One, Pyongyang, June 19, 2024

19 June 2024 21:22

1162-19-06-2024

Question: Would you comment on the article in the Russia-DPRK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty regarding assistance in case one of the countries is under attack? Does this mean that we might have to fight for the Koreans, and the Koreans for us?

Sergey Lavrov: If anyone doubts the legality of this clause, then they need to read it carefully. It says that in the event of aggression against one of the parties, the second party will provide it with all necessary assistance in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter and the national legislation of Russia and the DPRK.

If someone regards this as unlawful, then this article can only be objected to by those who are planning aggression against the DPRK or the Russian Federation. In our case it is a purely defensive position.

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Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Has Talks with President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, had talks with Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, president of the Russian Federation, on June 19.

Prior to the talks, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un had a photo taken with Comrade Putin against the background of the national flags of the two countries at the Kumsusan State Guesthouse.

Present at the talks from the DPRK side were Kim Tok Hun, premier of the DPRK Cabinet, Choe Son Hui, foreign minister of the DPRK, Pak Jong Chon, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the WPK and secretary of the C.C., WPK, Kim Song Nam, international department director of the C.C., WPK, Yun Jong Ho, minister of External Economic Relations who is chairman of the DPRK side to the DPRK-Russia Inter-governmental Committee for Cooperation in Trade, Economy, Science and Technology, and Im Chon Il, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs.

Present from the Russian side were Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Mantrov, Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Nobak, Aide to the President of Russia for Foreign Policy Yuri Ushakov, Minister of Defense Andrei Beloussov, Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology and Chairman of the Russian side to the Russia-DPRK Inter-Governmental Committee for Cooperation in Trade, Economy, Science and Technology Alexandr Kozlov, other entourage members and Russian Ambassador to the DPRK Alexandr Matsegora.

At the talks Kim Jong Un , on behalf of the DPRK government and people, warmly welcomed President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin on a state visit to the DPRK with feelings of friendship and comradeship.

Noting that great wave of welcome, which pervaded the streets of Pyongyang today, vividly reflects the present state of the relations between the two countries in a new era of overall efflorescence, he said that Putin's visit would be a strategic one of significance in developing the DPRK-Russia good-neighborly relations, further consolidating the friendship between the peoples of the two countries and the basis of their mindsets and defending global peace and stability.

Appreciating the important mission and role of the Russian Federation in foiling the imperialists' hegemony policy, maintaining the strategic stability and balance of the world and building a peaceful multi-polar world, he affirmed that the DPRK government would further strengthen the strategic communication with the Russian leadership to cope with the ever-changing complicated international political situation and consolidate the solid foundation for the invincible DPRK-Russia friendship and solidarity.

Putin said that he was very pleased to visit the DPRK at the invitation of President of the State Affairs Kim Jong Un , adding that the Russia-DPRK relations have vigorously developed in all fields, including politics, economy and culture, since the historic meeting at the Vostochny Spaceport.

Noting that he was deeply touched by the sincere welcome of Pyongyang citizens today, he said he was greatly impressed at the very beautiful appearance of Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK, which has changed beyond recognition, thanks to the wise guidance of Comrade Kim Jong Un and the devoted efforts of the diligent Korean people.

Saying that the deep friendship and close good-neighborly relations based on the principle of equality and mutual respect are linking the Russian Federation with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, he expressed belief that the current talks would prove very effective.

The top leaders of the two countries openly discussed the long-term plans for steadily expanding the practical action measures for comprehensively implementing the agreements reached at the summit in September 2023 and for promoting mutual trust by further boosting the multi-faceted exchange and cooperation between the two countries.

At the talks, they had a wide-ranging and in-depth exchange of views on the crucial changes recently taking place in the world political arena and on the international and regional issues of mutual concern, and reached a consensus. They also discussed the important issues arising in further deepening the strategic cooperation and tactical collaboration to promote the well-being of the peoples of the two countries and defend their core interests.

Expressed at the talks was the Russian government's deep apprehension over the negative impact of the irresponsible and unreasonable provocations of the U.S. and its allies seriously threatening the security environment of the Korean peninsula on the sovereign rights and security interests of the DPRK and regional and global peace and stability. And reconfirmed were the full support and solidarity of the DPRK government and people to the Russian government and people as regards the special military operations in Ukraine.

The talks were followed by a tete-a-tete between Kim Jong Un and Putin.

Kim Jong Un discussed important issues with Putin for at least two hours.

The top leaders discussed the issue of putting the relations between the two countries on comprehensive strategic partnership and expanding them in an all-round way and reached a perfect consensus on it and came to satisfactory agreement on the important issues arising in defending regional and global peace and international justice and on the matters of immediate cooperation.

The talks proceeded in a friendly and comradely atmosphere.

After the talks, Kim Jong Un presented a gift to Putin in commemoration of his visit to the DPRK.

Putin expressed deep thanks for this and presented Kim Jong Un with a gift reflecting his utmost sincerity.

The historic Pyongyang talks between the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un and the respected Comrade Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is a great event as the injected great vitality into the power-building cause of the peoples of the two countries, who are dynamically advancing along the road of justice and truth with anti-imperialist independence as their ideological basis, and opened up a new heyday of friendship between the DPRK and Russia and their relations of strategic cooperation. -0-

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"Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation" Signed The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Signs Treaty with Comrade Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- An inter-state treaty on establishing comprehensive strategic partnership on the principle of equality, respect for sovereignty, good neighborliness and mutual benefit was signed between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation.

Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, president of the Russian Federation, signed the "Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation" on June 19.

Attending the signing ceremony were state leading officials of the DPRK and Russia.

When Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin signed the treaty and exchanged documents, the participants gave a big hand of congratulations.

Kim Jong Un had a photo taken with Putin in commemoration of the conclusion of a historic treaty to be specially recorded in the history of the DPRK-Russia relations.

The two top leaders made a joint statement as regards the conclusion of the treaty.

Noting that his heart was overflowing with deep emotion as he was together with the comrades of Russia, the sincerest and closest comrades-in-arms, at the significant moment when the whole world focuses their attention on Pyongyang that received a friendly mission from Russia, Kim Jong Un said that he signed with Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin a treaty to be eternally etched in the history of the development of the DPRK-Russia friendly relations.

Terming it a great event, he said that he felt really honoured to responsibly bring about, together with President Putin, a political event of great strategic weight and significance, in his capacity as the president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, for the good peoples of the two countries and for the present and the future.

He said that the conclusion of the treaty put the relations of the two countries on a new higher stage called the relations of alliance, and thus established a legal framework for carrying out the far-reaching plan of the leaderships of the DPRK and Russia and the century-old desire of their peoples to build powerful states while firmly defending the regional and global security environment in conformity with their common interests. The relations of the two countries have also been placed on a better track of long-term development conducive to the progress and well-being of the two countries through the expansion of mutual cooperation in various fields, including politics, economy, culture and military affairs, he added.

He said that he would like to stress in particular that the birth of the most powerful treaty in the history of the DPRK-Russia relations would be unthinkable apart from the outstanding foresight, bold decision and will of Comrade Putin, a close friend of the DPRK people.

The great DPRK-Russia alliance, which will serve as a watershed in the history of the development of the DPRK-Russia relations, has signaled the start of its grand voyage after raising the anchor of history at this meeting, he said, affirming that the DPRK government will always be faithful to its obligation specified in the treaty throughout the future journey for steadily developing the comprehensive strategic partnership, the invincible relations of alliance with the Russian Federation.

He expressed his firm belief that the powerful treaty, concluded between the two countries, would become an engine for accelerating the building of a multi-polarized new world free from domination, subordination, hegemony and high-handed practices as a very constructive, long-term, thoroughly peace-loving and defensive one for promoting and safeguarding the fundamental interests of the peoples of the two countries.

He solemnly declared the invariable will of the DPRK government that there will be neither an iota of difference in interpretation nor any slightest hesitation and vacillation in fulfilling all the historic tasks conducive to the eternal development of friendship and promotion of the wellbeing of the peoples and posterity of the two countries and in remaining faithful to performing the duty to tackle with concerted efforts any affairs, events and national difficulties already faced and to be faced in the future by the two countries.

Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin said that the Russian Federation has attached primary significance to strengthening the traditional friendly and good-neighborly relations between the Russian Federation and the DPRK, adding that the Russian Federation has accumulated great experience in the development of mutual cooperation with the DPRK in various fields for decades.

He said that the treaty on the comprehensive strategic partnership, signed between Russia and the DPRK, is an actual breakthrough document reflecting the desire of the two countries to put the relations of Russia and the DPRK on a new quality level, not merely remaining in the state of conclusion.

Saying that Russia and the DPRK are both pursuing the independent foreign policies of their own, not tolerating any language of blackmail and pressure but actually opposing any imposing of politically-motivated sanctions and restrictions, Putin stressed that the two countries will continue to cope with the sanctions and pressure, methods habitually employed by the West to maintain its hegemony in politics, economy and other fields, and in that context, the indefinite restrictions imposed on the DPRK by the UN Security Council at the instigation of the U.S. and its followers, should be reexamined.

Saying that the main reason for ever-escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula is the confrontational policy of the U.S. scaling up and intensifying military exercises with the involvement of the countries hostile toward the DPRK, including the ROK and Japan, he noted that Russia will never tolerate the attempt to shift the blame for the aggravating situation onto the DPRK.

He said that the DPRK has the right to bolster up its own defence capabilities, ensure the national security and defend its sovereignty, adding that Russia has the willingness to make political and diplomatic efforts as ever to remove the danger of the recurrence of armed conflicts on the Korean peninsula and establish a long-term peace and stability structure in the region on the basis of the inevitable principle of security.

Stressing that the treaty on comprehensive strategic partnership signed that day envisages ensuring mutual support if one of the signatories to the treaty is invaded, adding that the Russian Federation does not rule out military technical cooperation with the DPRK under the treaty.

Expressing belief that the talks would contribute to further developing the friendship and partnership between Russia and the DPRK and strengthening security in all regions, he expressed thanks once again to Kim Jong Un and all the friends of the DPRK for according cordial hospitality and organizing a beneficial joint undertaking.

The top leaders of the DPRK and Russia hoped that the significant treaty-signing ceremony would serve as a strategic choice whose significance would be further highlighted along with the development of the DPRK-Russia relations for the next one hundred years and as an unforgettable occasion promising the bright futures of the peoples of the two countries, strongest and wisest in the world.

The powerful comradely unity and militant friendship between the DPRK and the Russian Federation, which has been remarkably developed into the comprehensive strategic partnership and invincible relations of alliance in the new era under the outstanding and energetic leadership of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un and the respected Comrade Vladimir Putin, will encourage the struggle of the progressive mankind desirous of a just and peaceful new world and demonstrate its great vitality to the whole world. -0-

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Agreements between Governments of DPRK and Russian Federation Signed

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- The agreements were signed between the governments of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation on building a motorcar bridge over the River Tuman on the DPRK-Russia border and on cooperation in the fields of public health, medical education and science.

Present at the signing ceremony held at the Mansudae Assembly Hall from the DPRK side were Kim Kyong Jun, minister of Land and Environment Protection, Jong Mu Rim, minister of Public Health, and officials of the Foreign Ministry.

Present there from the Russian side were Minister of Transport Roman Starovoyt, Minister of Health Mikhail Murashuko, working officials and staff members of the Russian embassy here.

Kim Kyong Jun and Jong Mu Rim signed the agreements respectively on behalf of the DPRK government, and Roman Starovoyt and Mikhail Murashuko on behalf of the government of the Russian Federation. -0-

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Russian President Leaves Pyongyang after Paying State Visit to DPRK Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Warmly Sends off Comrade Putin

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, president of the Russian Federation, who paid a state visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea at the invitation of Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, left Pyongyang by the presidential plane at night of June 19 after successfully finishing his visit schedule.

At the Pyongyang meeting, which recorded a new page in the history of the DPRK-Russia relations of friendship and cooperation proud of a long history and good tradition, the top leaders of the two countries further deepened their comradely relationship firmly based on the noble ideology and brought about important and meaningful results in ensuring the long-term development of the strategic and future-oriented DPRK-Russia relations and comprehensively expanding them in the new era.

That day Pyongyang citizens warmly saw off the closest and precious friends along streets of the capital city full of the DPRK people's special respects and sincere feelings of friendship towards President Putin and the Russian people.

The DPRK people's will to further strengthen full support and solidarity with the Russian people struggling for independence, peace, justice and truth and further deepen the ties of friendship and unity between the DPRK and Russia were fully displayed at the roadsides.

The guard of honor of the Korean People's Army lined up at the stopping place of Pyongyang International Airport, where the national flags of the DPRK and the Russian Federation were fluttering, and a large number of people and pretty children stood with flowers.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un came to Pyongyang International Airport to send off President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin.

Present at the airport were Choe Son Hui, foreign minister of the DPRK, Pak Jong Chon, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the WPK and secretary of the C.C., WPK, Jo Yong Won, secretary of the C.C., WPK, Kim Song Nam, director of the International Department of the C.C., WPK, and Kim Yo Jong, vice department director of the C.C., WPK.

Seen there were Alexandr Matsegora, Russian ambassador to the DPRK, and his embassy members.

An array of cars carrying friends of Russia, a close neighboring country, arrived at the airport amid warm send-off by the citizens.

A ceremony took place to see off Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin.

The national anthems of the DPRK and the Russian Federation were played.

Kim Jong Un , together with Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, reviewed the guard of honor of the KPA.

Putin bid farewell to senior state officials of the DPRK who came to send him off.

Kim Jong Un said that he was very satisfied with the fact that he further deepened the genuine comradely friendship with Comrade Putin and reached excellent agreements consolidating the cornerstone of the DPRK-Russia relations in the new era, even though his stay in the DPRK was not long, adding that it is the consistent stand of the WPK and the DPRK government to attach the utmost importance to the friendship and cooperation between the two countries and steadily develop them.

He warmly said that the WPK and the DPRK government will fully support and encourage the sacred cause of Russia for building a powerful country and achieving independence and justice in the future, too, and that he and the DPRK people will always be with Comrade Putin and the Russian people, wishing the president safety on his way home.

Putin expressed his heartfelt thanks to the DPRK government and people for having offered warm hospitality and organized grand events for him with utmost sincerity during his visit and to President of the State Affairs Kim Jong Un for having shown special care to ensure that his Pyongyang visit could produce a wonderful and satisfactory result.

The two top leaders warmly embraced each other and shook hands, promising to steadily develop the friendly and cooperative relations and militant unity between the DPRK and the Russian Federation, which have reached a new strategic level, in conformity with the aspirations and desire of the peoples of the two countries.

The presidential plane of Putin left Pyongyang International Airport.

That day Putin visited the Jongbaek Church before leaving Pyongyang.

The visit to the DPRK by Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, which recorded the most brilliant page in the history of the great DPRK-Russia friendship and unity, serves as an important occasion of providing fresh vitality and great motive power to the progress and development of the two countries advancing with the goal of building a powerful state. -0-

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Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Hosts Banquet for Russian President

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, hosted a banquet on Wednesday evening in welcome of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin's visit to the DPRK.

Present there on invitation were Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov, First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Mantrov, Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Nobak, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration and President's Press Secretary Dmitri Peskov, Aide to the President of Russia for Foreign Policy Yuri Ushakov, Minister of Defense Andrei Beloussov, Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology and Chairman of the Russian side to the Russia-DPRK Inter-governmental Committee for Cooperation in Trade, Economy, Science and Technology Alexandr Kozlov, Minister of Health Mikhail Murashuko and Minister of Transport Roman Starovoyt, other entourage members and Russian Ambassador to the DPRK Alexandr Matsegora and staff members of his embassy.

On hand were Kim Tok Hun, vice-president of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and premier of the Cabinet, Choe Ryong Hae, first vice-president of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, secretaries of the Central Committee of the WPK and other senior officials of the Party, the government and the military.

When Kim Jong Un appeared at the banquet hall together with Putin, all the participants welcomed with enthusiastic applause the top leaders of the two countries who are ushering in a new heyday of the DPRK-Russia friendship with their rare wisdom and outstanding leadership.

Kim Jong Un made a speech in welcome of Vladimir Putin's visit to the DPRK.

Warmly welcoming President Putin, who visited Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK, again as he did 24 years ago when greeting a new millennium, and all other Russian friends, he extended his profound respect and warm fraternal greetings to the Russian government and people on behalf of the DPRK government and people.

He expressed his excitement of sharing the table at the banquet welcoming Putin, the highest honoured state guest of the Korean people, on the historic day when the great event of concluding the most powerful and comprehensive new inter-state treaty took place in the DPRK-Russia friendly relations.

He expressed once again his heartfelt thanks to Putin for fully showing in practice his will to write a new history of the DPRK-Russia relations and guarantee the eternal well-being of the peoples in the two countries and their future for the next one hundred years, saying that today's great event witnessed in the development course of the DPRK-Russia relations is the brilliant fruit of President Putin's decision, efforts and meticulous care.

Saying that it is the greatest pride and honor of the DPRK to have a powerful state like Russia as a strategic partner and an ally, he clarified the invariable stand of the DPRK government to permanently develop the invincible DPRK-Russia friendly relations while strongly supporting and cooperating in various fields with the Russian Federation in an all-round way on the basis of a new inter-state treaty.

Kim Jong Un proposed a toast to the good health of the respected Comrade Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, ceaseless prosperity of Russia, the most friendly neighbor, the immortality of the invincible DPRK-Russia friendly relations to be envied by the world and the health of all comrades and friends present at the banquet.

Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin made a reply address.

He expressed once again his sincere thanks to Comrade Kim Jong Un and all other friends of the DPRK for inviting him to pay a state visit to the excellent DPRK.

Saying that he was deeply impressed by the kind banquet, he said that the talks confirmed the mutual interest to further develop equal and reciprocal cooperation.

Recalling that the two countries have steadily strengthened the ties of comradely relations, fraternal support and good-neighborly cooperation, on the basis of the glorious traditions provided by the preceding generations, under the unstable world situation, he stressed that the two countries are proactively cooperating with each other in the international arena to promote peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the rest of the world and jointly struggling against the hegemony and neo-colonialist practices of the U.S. and its vassal forces and the attempts to impose the development model and view of value that have nothing to do with the two countries.

Citing a saying common to Russia and the DPRK "a good neighbor is better than a brother far off", he said that such public wisdom reflects the character of the relations between the two countries.

Putin proposed a toast to further strengthening of friendship and cooperation between the Russian Federation and the DPRK, the well-being and prosperity of the peoples of the two countries and the good health of Comrade Kim Jong Un , president of the State Affairs, and the friends of the DPRK present at the banquet.

The banquet proceeded in an amicable atmosphere overflowing with friendly feelings. -0-

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North Korea, Russia agree to offer military assistance if either is attacked

The new partnership treaty will replace bilateral treaties that North Korea and Russia agreed earlier.

By Taejun Kang for RFA 2024.06.20 -- North Korea and Russia have agreed to offer military assistance "without delay" if either is attacked under a new partnership treaty signed after a summit between their leaders on Wednesday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Pyongyang for talks aimed at bolstering their economic and security relations and underscoring her defiance of Western sanctions.

North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency, or KCNA, reported details of their new pact on Thursday, as Putin was beginning a visit to Vietnam.

"If one of the two sides is placed under war situations due to an armed invasion from an individual country or several nations, the other side provides military and other assistance without delay by mobilizing all means in its possession in line with the Article 51 of the U.N. Charter and the laws of the DPRK and the Russian Federation," the treaty reads.

DPRK, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is North Korea's official name.

The Article 51 of the U.N. Charter stipulates that all U.N. member countries have the inherent right of individual and collective self-defense right if an armed attack is staged against them.

The new treaty also requires both sides not to sign treaties with third countries that infringe on the other's core interests or participate in such acts, KCNA reported.

The mutual defense provision in the new Russia-North Korea treaty recalls the 1961 Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between North Korea and the Soviet Union that became void upon the collapse of the latter in 1991.

The mutual defense clause was notably missing when the two countries signed a Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighborliness, and Cooperation in 2000, at the beginning of Putin's reign.

The new partnership treaty will replace bilateral treaties that North Korea and Russia agreed earlier, including the 2000 treaty.

John Kirby, the spokesperson for U.S. President Joe Biden's National Security Council, said Thursday the announcement was "no surprise" but boded poorly for the people of Ukraine and the Korean peninsula.

"Our view is that this agreement is also a sign of Russia's desperation," Kirby added. "I mean, they're reaching out to North Korea for missiles, and they're getting drones from Iran. They don't have a lot of friends in the world."

After his meeting with Kim, Putin said that the treaty provided for mutual assistance in the event of aggression against one of the two countries, while Kim declared the bilateral relationship has been upgraded to the level of alliance.

Views are still divided as to whether the treaty can be seen as a mutual defense treaty, but experts believe the agreement is likely to boost cooperation between two nations in weapons production.

"The more likely consequence of the treaty is simply closer cooperation in weapons production, with North Korea manufacturing more munitions for Russia and Russia providing more high-end help for North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, likely including aid in developing submarines capable of launching ballistic nuclear missiles," Sue Mi Terry, senior fellow for Korea studies, told the American think tank Council on Foreign Relations.

"This will lead Russia to improve North Korean WMD [weapons of mass destruction] capabilities. There is some evidence of this already happening, with Russia possibly providing help to North Korea with its successful satellite launch last November, just two months after the last Putin-Kim meeting," Terry added.

"This is deeply concerning because of the substantial overlap between the technologies used for space launches and intercontinental ballistic missiles."

Edited by RFA Staff. Updated to include comments from National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby.

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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Germany Blasted For Considering Deportations Of Afghans, Syrians

By RFE/RL June 20, 2024

A push for Germany to consider the viability of using third countries to deport Afghan and Syrian refugees and process asylum seekers is meeting stiff resistance from rights groups and advocates.

The issue was a major topic of discussion in talks between Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the leaders of Germany's 16 states in Berlin on June 20.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said during a meeting of regional interior ministers the same day that "concrete negotiations" are under way and that she was "confident" a way would be found to deport Afghan or Syrian immigrants convicted of serious crimes.

Faeser said the measures would only affect a small number of people, and that in the case of Afghan nationals deportations could be conducted via third countries such as Uzbekistan.

Ahead of the meetings, which came on World Refugee Day, more than 300 organizations issued an open letter to Scholz in which they sharply criticized the initiative.

"Please issue a clear rejection of plans to outsource asylum procedures," said the letter, whose signatories included Amnesty International Germany, Doctors Without Borders, and the German migrant advocacy group Pro Asyl.

"Plans to deport refugees to non-European third countries or to carry out asylum procedures outside the EU...do not work in practice, are extremely expensive, and pose a threat to the rule of law."

The signatories argued such measures would result in serious human rights abuses and integrating asylum seekers into society can succeed with greater cooperation.

The backlash against refugees has risen among conservative and hard-right politicians after a 25-year-old Afghan was accused of stabbing a German police officer to death late last month.

Germany halted deportations to Afghanistan after the Taliban seized power in Kabul in August 2021, and Berlin has no diplomatic ties with the de-facto government formed by the hard-line Islamist leaders.

Germany is also a major destination for Syrians seeking to escape that country's civil war and rule under leader Bashar al-Assad. Syrians are the largest refugee group in Germany, with hundreds of thousands allowed into the country since 2015.

The security and human rights situations in both Afghanistan and Syria are considered dire by watchdogs.

Scholz has previously backed dropping Germany's ban on deportations, however. On June 19 his vice chancellor, Robert Habeck, voiced his support for deportations at least in situations where individuals were suspected of terrorism or convicted of serious crimes like murder.

Proponents of the idea are reportedly considering whether it might be possible to conduct such deportations through third countries such as Uzbekistan while still staying in compliance with international law.

Faeser told the Neue Osnabrucker newspaper that negotiations have taken place with "various countries" and "we want to consistently expel and deport Islamist threats."

The Interior Ministry is also reportedly seeking ways of conducting asylum proceedings in third countries outside the European Union, similar to plans by Italy with Albania. The United Kingdom's deal to send asylum seekers to Rwanda has also been cited by advocates as an example.

Michael Stuebgen, the interior minister of the eastern state of Brandenburg, has argued Germany could engage in talks with the Taliban and that parts of Syria are secure enough to allow the returns of refugees.

Opponents have argued that deportations of Afghans and Syrian refugees would go against the German constitution and commitments under international law and that the outsourcing of asylum procedures would violate asylum-seekers' human rights.

During their three days of talks that end on June 21, the state interior ministers are also reportedly considering cutting welfare benefits paid to Ukrainian refugees.

With reporting by dpa and AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/germany-considering- deportations-afghans-syrians/33002628.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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Canada Adds Iran's Revolutionary Guards To Its List Of Terrorist Groups

By RFE/RL's Radio Farda June 19, 2024

Canada has listed Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist entity and advised any Canadians in Iran to leave the country.

Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc made the announcement on June 19 at a news conference in Ottawa, saying the decision to declare the IRGC as a terrorist organization is based on "very strong and convincing evidence."

LeBlanc told reporters that Canada "uses all possible means to fight the terrorist acts of the IRGC."

Foreign Minister Melanie Joly noted at the same news conference that Ottawa broke off diplomatic ties with Tehran several years ago. She urged Canadians against travel to Iran and said those in the country now should "come back home."

The designation of the IRGC as a terrorist group has long been sought by Iranian expats and relatives of those killed on a flight brought down in January 2020 by Iranian forces shortly after takeoff from Tehran, killing all 176 passengers and crew, about half of them Canadians.

The Association of Families of Ukrainian Flight PS752 said in a statement on June 19 that it was grateful to the government for making the designation and to "all political parties, activists, and individuals who contributed to this achievement."

The statement added that that the association is "also grateful to the brave people of Iran who have stood up against this oppressive organization and have continuously supported the families of the victims."

The association also said it continues to insist on its other demands, including pursuing the case of the downed flight in the International Court of Justice and before other international courts.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government had been reluctant to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization over concern that listing it as such would have unintended consequences that could inadvertently impact Iranians in Canada opposed to the regime.

Trudeau signaled the move earlier this year at a memorial service for the victims of the downed plane, saying that his government was looking for ways to add the IRGC to the list of terrorist organizations.

"We know there is more to do to hold the regime to account and we will continue our work, including continuing to look for ways to responsibly list the IRGC as a terrorist organization," Trudeau said on January 8.

Once a group is placed on Canada's terrorism list, police can charge anyone who financially or materially supports the group and banks can freeze assets.

Ottawa has previously listed the Quds Force, a branch of the IRGC, as a terrorist entity, and in 2022 permanently denied entry to more than 10,000 Iranian officials, including members of the IRGC.

Ottawa severed diplomatic relations with Tehran in 2012.

With reporting by AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/canada-iran-irgc-terrorism- trudeau/32999909.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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Canada's move against IRGC 'a gift' to Israel, terrorists: Iran acting FM

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 20, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani has said that Canada's decision to designate the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization is a gift to the Israeli regime, terrorists and other enemies of peace and stability in the West Asia region.

Bagheri Kani made the comment on Thursday on X, formerly Twitter, a day after the Canadian government took the measure against the IRGC, following in the footsteps of the US that listed the Iranian military force as a terrorist group in 2019.

"Canada's unlawful act of labeling an integral part of official armed forces of I.R. Iran that has had an unmatched role in defending the national security and territorial integrity of beloved Iran, in protecting the regional security and stability and in countering Da'esh terrorism, as terrorism, is a malicious provocation that violates the principles and rules of international law and is just a gift to the genocidal regime, terrorists and other enemies of regional peace and stability", the Iranian diplomat said in his post.

He added that the "Canadian government will be responsible for the consequences of this provocative and irresponsible decision."

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani had also strongly condemned Canada's "unwise decision", describing it as a hostile act that runs contrary to international norms and principles.

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Iran censures Canada for blacklisting IRGC

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 20, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman has strongly condemned Canada for designating the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, calling the move political-motivated, provocative and irrational.

Canada's unwise decision is a hostile act and contrary to international norms and principles which prevent interference in other governments' internal affairs, IRNA quoted Nasser Kanaani as saying on Thursday.

Such a provocative and irresponsible act is in line with a wrong path taken by Canada for over a decade, Kanaani said, noting that the Canadian government has been under the impact of warmongers, violators of the human rights and the backers of terrorism.

The spokesman further reiterated the IRGC is a state entity, that along with other branches of Armed Forces, is active in fighting terrorism as well as safeguarding national security as well as bringing about sustainable peace and stability to the region.

In his remarks, Kanaani described Canada's anti-IRGC measure as disgusting, noting that it will not affect the Islamic Republic's strive to get more legal deterrent power and expand the level of its authority.

The Islamic Republic preserves right to reciprocally respond to Canada's measure which is against the international laws and against the rights of the Iranian nation and government, he added.

Canada's federal government, in yet another hostile and reckless move, has announced that it will place Iran's IRGC on its so-called list of terrorist organizations, according to the Globe and Mail newspaper.

In May, the Canadian House of Commons unanimously passed a motion to designate IRGC, a branch of the Iranian Armed Forces, as a terrorist group.

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Canada takes another hostile action against Iran

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 20, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Canada's federal government, in yet another hostile and reckless move, has announced that it will placed Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on its so-called list of terrorist organizations.

According to IRNA, citing the Globe and Mail newspaper, Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs talked about blacklisting of the IRGC under Canada's Criminal Code during a press conference on Wednesday night.

He said that Ottawa will "use all of the tools at its disposal" to combat the IRGC's activity in Canada.

In May, the Canadian House of Commons unanimously passed a motion to designate IRGC, a branch of the Iranian Armed Forces, as a terrorist group.

Iran's Foreign Ministry Nasser Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani then described as an unwise and hostile the move of the Canadian parliament.

"The irresponsible move is in continuation of the wrong path that the Canadian parliamentarians have taken over the past decade under the influence of the Zionist regime and in unison with some rejected groups that have no status or value," Kanaani said, adding that the plan runs contrary to the accepted standards and principles of international law.

Canada's CBC on Wednesday while reporting about the blacklisting of IRGC said: If a group is included in the terrorist list of the federal government of Canada, the police of this country can prosecute any person or group that provides financial or material support to the sanctioned organization. Banks can also freeze its assets''.

According to Reuters, Canadian opposition lawmakers have long called for the IRGC to be included in the terrorist list, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government has refrained from doing so, warning that it could have unintended consequences.

Canada had previously included the Quds Force of the IRGC in the terrorist list.

Ottawa severed diplomatic relations with Tehran back in in 2012.

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Iran: Canada's blacklisting of IRGC 'mindless gift to Israel, terrorists'

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 20 June 2024 6:48 PM

Iran's interim Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani has denounced the Canadian government's decision to blacklist the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), describing it as a senseless gift to the bloodthirsty Israeli regime, terrorists and enemies of peace and stability in West Asia.

"Canada's unlawful act of declaring an integral part of the official military force of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which has played an irreplaceable role in defending the national security and territorial integrity of dear Iran, and protecting the security and stability of the region and confronting the terrorism by Daesh, was malicious and violates the principles and rules of international law," Bagheri Kani wrote in a post published on the social media platform X on Thursday.

The Iranian official added that it was "a mindless gift to the bloodthirsty regime, terrorists and other enemies of peace and stability in the region."

Bagheri Kani said the Canadian government will be held accountable for the consequences of the provocative and irresponsible decision.

"May all enemies be afraid of you! May the hearts of the wicked ones be cut in half!" the interim Iranian foreign minister stated.

In a hostile move against Iran, Canada's Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc Ottawa on Wednesday listed the IRGC as a "terrorist entity" under the Criminal Code and called on Canadians in Iran to leave.

Last month, the Canadian House of Commons adopted a non-binding resolution calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government to blacklist the IRGC and expel an estimated 700 Iranians.

The move makes Canada the second country in North America after the United States to blacklist the IRGC.

Canada broke off diplomatic ties with Iran and closed its Tehran embassy in a surprise move in 2012, citing various reasons, including Iran's support for Syria, its nuclear work, and alleged threats to the Israeli regime.

In the same year, however, Ottawa took off the anti-Iran terrorist Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) from its list of terrorist organizations.

In 2022, Iran's Foreign Ministry imposed sanctions on eight Canadian officials and one institution over their support for anti-Iran terrorists and acts of terror among other things.

Canada has also been serving, for years, as a safe haven for Iranian embezzlers, who have fled their safe in the knowledge that Ottawa would not take the trouble to extradite them.

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Unwise move: Iran says reserves right to give proper response to Canada's blacklisting of IRGC

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 20 June 2024 7:00 AM

Iran says it reserves the right to reciprocate with a "proper" response Canada's unlawful act to designate the country's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) as a "terrorist organization."

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani on Thursday denounced the "political, unconventional and unwise" move by the Canadian government against the IRGC.

"The reprehensible move of the Canadian government against the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps will have no impact on [the force] generating legitimate and deterrent power," he said.

He added that such measures will fail to hinder the elite force from increasing the level and scope of its power rooted in the Iranian nation.

Canada's imprudent decision is a hostile move which runs counter to the recognized principles of international law, including non-interference in the internal affairs of countries, and it constitutes an example of violating Iran's national sovereignty, the spokesperson emphasized.

"This irresponsible and provocative move is in line with the wrong path that the Canadian government has taken for more than a decade under the influence of warmongers and true violators of human rights and the main sponsors of terrorism," Kan'ani pointed out.

He noted that the IRGC is an official and legal entity enshrined in Iran's Constitution, which, along with other Armed Forces, is responsible to safeguard national security and borders and promote lasting security and stability in the region by fighting the vicious phenomenon of terrorism.

In yet another hostile move against Iran, Canada's Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc Ottawa on Wednesday listed the IRGC as a "terrorist entity" under the Criminal Code and called on Canadians in Iran to leave.

Last month, the Canadian House of Commons adopted a non-binding resolution calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government to blacklist the IRGC and expel an estimated 700 Iranians.

The move makes Canada the second country in North America after the United States to list the IRGC as a terrorist organisation.

In a post on his X account on Wednesday, Secretary of Iran's High Council for Human Rights Kazem Gharibabadi strongly condemned Canada's hostile move which "opposes the principles of the international law."

Canada broke off diplomatic ties with Iran and closed its Tehran embassy in a surprise move in 2012, citing various reasons, including Iran's support for Syria, its nuclear work, and alleged threats to the Israeli regime.

In the same year, however, Ottawa took off the anti-Iran terrorist Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO) from its list of terrorist organizations.

The delisting came after around a decade of campaigning and expenditure of millions of dollars by the cult, which has openly boasted about carrying out terrorist operations against thousands of Iranian officials and civilians.

In 2022, Iran's Foreign Ministry imposed sanctions on eight Canadian officials and one institution over their support for anti-Iran terrorists and acts of terror among other things.

The North American country has also been serving, for years, as a safe haven for Iranian embezzlers, who have fled their safe in the knowledge that Ottawa would not take the trouble to extradite them.

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Adviser To Iranian Presidential Candidate Praised After Storming Off TV Set

By RFE/RL's Radio Farda June 20, 2024

Supporters of Iranian reformist presidential candidate Masud Pezeshkian have praised his adviser Mohammad Fazeli for storming off the set of a live televised discussion program after a fiery exchange with a hard-line pundit.

Iran's state-run broadcaster IRIB has been holding televised roundtables as part of its election programming where candidates appear on set accompanied by two advisers to face a three-person panel of experts picked by the IRIB.

Fazeli appeared in the studio on June 19 as one of Pezeshkian's two advisers on cultural issues, where he found himself on the receiving end of stinging remarks by Shahab Esfandiari, a panelist and the head of IRIB University.

In 2021, Fazeli was among a slew of professors and lecturers who were forced out of universities during the early months of the late President Ebrahim Raisi's tenure in office.

Between 2013 and 2017, during the first term of moderate President Hassan Rouhani, Fazeli served as a deputy energy minister and later served as an adviser to the ministry.

Esfandiari, who is said to be close to hard-line candidate Saeed Jalili, accused Fazeli of "violating" his contract with the prestigious Shahid Beheshti University when he took positions in the government.

He also charged that Fazeli had "made a scene in the media" after being fired from the university and accused him of "damaging the image of higher education."

Fazeli insisted he had been cleared by the university to work in the government and maintained that Esfandiari was "lying."

The exchange quickly spiraled, with Esfandiari cutting in as Fazeli tried to speak. At one point, Pezeshkian jumped in, telling Esfandiari to "let him [Fazeli] speak."

Having lost control of the situation, the moderator, Jafar Khosravi, cut off Esfandiari and Fazeli's microphones. Fazeli proceeded to leave his seat, unhook his microphone, and throw it down before walking off the set.

A video later emerged showing a large group of Pezeshkian's supporters who had gathered in a conference hall at Tehran's Milad Tower to watch a livestream of the debate break into applause when Fazeli stormed off.

On social media, supporters of Pezeshkian criticized the state broadcaster for not allowing Fazeli to respond to Esfandiari's comments and accused the hard-line panelist of settling personal scores on live television.

Conservatives, however, argued that the incident provided a glimpse into what a Pezeshkian administration would look like.

Written by Kian Sharifi based on an original story in Persian by RFE/RL's Radio Farda

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-election-fazeli- leave-tv-studio/33002532.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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Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Dermer and National Security Advisor Hanegbi

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

June 20, 2024

The following is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi and Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer today. The Secretary reiterated the United States' ironclad commitment to Israel's security. He discussed ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of all hostages. The Secretary emphasized the need to take additional steps to surge humanitarian aid into Gaza and plan for post-conflict governance, security, and reconstruction. He also underscored the importance of avoiding further escalation in Lebanon and reaching a diplomatic resolution that allows Israeli and Lebanese families to return to their homes.

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Kazakh President Signs Into Law Controversial Bill On Media

By RFE/RL's Kazakh Service June 20, 2024

ASTANA -- Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev has signed into law a controversial bill on mass media that will hinder journalists from getting comments from officials and interviews.

Domestic and international rights groups and media experts have expressed concerns over the new law, saying it will compromise independent journalism and lead to self-censorship in the Central Asian country.

According to the law Toqaev signed on June 20, all Internet resources are now considered media outlets.

Among other things, the law introduces a three-year period to file lawsuits over materials published in the media, as well as new regulations for the registration of media outlets in the tightly controlled former Soviet republic.

By 2027, weekly broadcasting in the Kazakh language will be increased from 50 percent to 60 percent, while rebroadcasting of foreign programs will be cut to 10 percent from 20 percent.

Currently 50 percent of programs broadcast on television and radio are in Russian.

The Culture and Information Ministry will monitor media programs "to prevent damaging effects on society's moral development, as well as disruption of the universally humane, national, cultural, and family values."

In 2024, Kazakhstan slipped from 134th place to 142nd in the press index of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which monitors media freedom across the world.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/toqaev-kazakhstan- law-media/33000764.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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Senior Myanmar monk shot dead by junta soldiers, colleague says

Junta-controlled media blames death on rebel fighters.

By Thiri Min Zin for RFA Burmese 2024.06.20 -- A senior Buddhist monk in Myanmar was shot dead Wednesday in his car as it left an airport in the central Mandalay region a an attack perpetrated by junta soldiers, according to another monk who was in the car with him.

Junta-controlled media, however, blamed the death of Sayadaw Bhaddanta Munindabhivamsa, the abbot of Win Neinmitayon Monastery in the Bago region and retired member of the State Sangha Nayaka Committee, which oversees the nation's Buddhist clergy, on rebel fighters.

Television broadcaster MRTV announced that the abbot's car was caught in a firefight between junta troops and guerillas from the rebel People's Defense Forces, resulting in the vehicle overturning and the abbot's death.

But in a video that spread on social media Thursday, the abbot's colleague, Sayadaw Bhaddanta Gunikabhivamsa, who was a passenger in the car at the time of the attack, said junta soldiers in a truck fired around seven or eight shots at the car, killing the abbot and injuring himself and the driver.

"[I said] how can you soldiers be so cruel?" the monk recounted. "They replied that they did not know monks were inside the car."

The soldiers said they believed the car was an enemy vehicle because the windows were closed, so they shot at it, he said.

Gunikabhivamsa's account appeared to match a report on the incident submitted by the chief of the Mandalay Region Religious Affairs Department, the online journal The Irrawaddy reported.

The report cited local authorities who said soldiers conducting a security patrol killed the abbot when they shot at his vehicle after he did not pull over as instructed.

RFA contacted junta spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, for comment, but did not receive a response.

RFA could not reach the Mandalay PDF for comment, either.

Sayadaw Bhaddanta Munindabhivamsa will be cremated on June 27.

Translated by Kalyar Lwin for RFA Burmese. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content June not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Journalists' killings mount amid declining freedoms in Pakistan

By Sarah Zaman June 20, 2024

As Pakistan this week celebrated Eid al-Adha a the festival coinciding with the Hajj pilgrimage a journalists in the country mourned the loss of yet another colleague.

On Tuesday night, unidentified gunmen killed Khalil Jibran and injured a lawyer accompanying him in the Khyber tribal district of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Reports indicate the journalist was on his way home with friends when the attackers ambushed his car.

Authorities said Jibran's bullet-riddled body showed signs that he might have had a physical altercation with his attackers at the crime scene before being killed.

This was at least the sixth killing of a journalist in Pakistan this year. Four media members were killed just in May.

"It makes me feel miserable and insecure, and unsafe," said veteran Pakistani journalist Absar Alam, who survived an assassination attempt in April 2021 in the nation's capital, Islamabad.

'An alarming deterioration'

The first three months under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have been marred by "an alarming deterioration in press freedom," according to Reporters Without Borders.

Listing the attacks on journalists and a raft of government measures, Reporters Without Borders, known by its French acronym RSF, recently urged Sharif's coalition government to uphold its commitment to media freedom.

"The many press freedom violations reveal a climate of violence and a determination to censor that has little in common with the undertakings given by the political parties in their election campaign manifestos, and the message of support for journalists by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif," said Celia Mercier, head of RSF's South Asia desk.

The organization ranks Pakistan very low a 152nd out of 180 countries in its global press freedom index, in which 1 is the best.

"Space for true journalism has reduced in Pakistan. It's toxic. It's unsafe. There are all kinds of actors a state actors, nonstate actors a who are making our space more limited," said Alam.

Electronic curbs

The latest step that could further limit space for journalism and access to information may be the implementation of a national firewall to filter any online content authorities deem inappropriate.

In a January interview with a news channel, Pakistan's then-interim prime minister, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, announced the measure.

"Very soon a national firewall will be deployed," Kakar said.

A high-ranking government official recently confirmed to VOA Urdu that Sharif government authorities were working to deploy that nationwide online censorship tool, although the government has not issued a formal statement about it.

This follows the mid-February suspension of the X social media platform, formerly Twitter, on orders of Pakistan's Ministry of Interior.

Speaking to VOA, the ministry spokesperson said he did not have information about the national firewall.

"It is not the domain of the Interior Ministry," said Qadir Yar Tiwana, adding that just because the ministry banned X, it could not be held responsible for all similar measures.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, the country's independent telecom regulator, and the Ministry of Information Technology - two offices Tiwana said would be responsible for implementing any firewall a did not respond to VOA requests for comment.

Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar received VOA's query about the firewall but did not share a response in time for the publication of this story. At a recent press conference, however, Tarar dismissed the suggestion that Pakistan discussed acquiring the firewall from China during Sharif's recent visit there.

Sadaf Khan, co-founder of the nonprofit Media Matters for Democracy, told VOA the lack of information about the firewall was adding to fears of further decline in media freedom and privacy in the country.

"There is no clarity on what this firewall is [or] how invasive it is. Is it surveilling data? Is there an encryption blockage?" Khan said. "If there is a bit of digital literacy, if people are smart about it, they will still be able to access the information that they need. However, obviously, it does increase the chance for surveillance. There might just be a chilling effect. This kind of ambiguity creates a lot of fear."

Legislative curbs

Government efforts to curb what it considers fake news and propaganda online have compounded fears of declining freedoms of information and expression.

In May, the federal government created the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency under the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act. Despite the existence of the Federal Investigation Agency's Cybercrimes Cell, Tarar said in a press conference that "there was a call for a specific authority to address the issue of online harassment."

Critics say it is unclear how broad the new agency's powers will be or what its impact on privacy and online freedom might look like.

Later that same month, the government in Punjab province, where Sharif's niece Maryam Nawaz is the chief minister, enacted what was called an anti-defamation law. Media and civil society condemned the law for protecting state institutions from scrutiny and requiring no proof of damage for filing a defamation lawsuit. The law is currently being challenged in the Lahore High Court.

Alam, the veteran Pakistani journalist who served as the chairman of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority from 2015 to 2017, said some of the state's concerns regarding fake news are not unfounded.

"It's not only the state that suffers from fake news and irresponsible journalism," Alam said, pointing to cases where Pakistani citizens won defamation lawsuits in Britain for content broadcast there by Pakistani channels.

Given Britain's tough laws, Alam said, Pakistani news channels now often refrain from airing potentially defamatory content in the United Kingdom but still show it in Pakistan.

Still, he acknowledged, strict laws in Pakistan are often used as a tool to target journalists.

"Past history tells that all governments have been using such laws against journalism, not against fake news spreaders," Alam said.

Awaiting justice

Media watchdogs regard Pakistan as a dangerous country for journalists. Most cases of journalists targeted for their work remain unresolved.

On Thursday, journalists in several towns across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa protested Jibran's killing. The day before, locals, journalists and civil society activists protested with Jibran's shrouded remains, temporarily blocking a highway that runs to the border with Afghanistan.

Although Sharif condemned the killing, Alam is not optimistic that justice will be served anytime soon.

"Successive governments in the last many years have not apprehended the culprits who attacked journalists," said Alam, whose attackers and their financiers are out on bail or have disappeared. "So, I think the statement by the prime minister may be part of the verbal support to journalists but, practically speaking, the problem is in our culture."

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Moscow, Hanoi deepen ties to 'Washington's annoyance'

Global Times

US' hegemony-centered world order is disintegrating: analyst

By Zhang Han Published: Jun 20, 2024 10:59 PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Vietnamese capital Hanoi after a state visit to Pyongyang, starting his first visit to the country since 2017, drawing an anxious tone of criticism from the US.

Large crowds of residents waved the two countries' flags and a 21-gun salute was held to welcome the Russian leader, according to Vietnam News.

The two sides discussed collaboration in "trade and economic, scientific, technological and humanitarian areas" and also exchanged views on key issues on the international and regional agenda, according to media reports.

Putin called Vietnam one of Russia's most reliable partners, and said relations had come a long way and withstood many tests with honor, TASS reported. The two countries also agreed that the Asia-Pacific region needs a reliable security architecture without military blocs.

This visit is of great significance, further deepening the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership in all fields, especially in the context of the two countries striving to realize the joint statement on the comprehensive strategic partnership vision to 2030, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported Thursday.

There is ample room to promote trade between Vietnam and Russia's Far East, head of the Vietnam Trade Office Branch in the Far East region Nguyen Hong Thanh told VNA, expressing the hope of opening connection channels between enterprises and tourists, new air routes and removing payment barriers.

President Putin's visit takes place in the context of the rapidly developing, comprehensive, and amicable Vietnam-Russia relationship. It serves as a model of mutually beneficial and equal cooperation, for the sake of peace, cooperation, and development in the region and worldwide, Vietnam News reported.

For Russia, its diplomacy is "turning east and moving south," in order to have practical cooperation with "the majority of the world" in energy, food, technology and other fields, seek support from the "middle land" in major power competition, and tackle Western containment and diplomatic isolation, Zhao Long, deputy director of the Institute of Global Governance at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, wrote in an opinion piece for the Global Times.

The development of Russia-Vietnam relations is based on the two sovereign countries' interests and is conducive to strategic stability and balance in the region, Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Thursday.

However, the US is unhappy with their relationship. Voice of America claimed the visit will put Vietnam in a difficult position and could even be seen as risky for Hanoi, expecting no breakthrough from the visit.

"No country should give Putin a platform to promote his war of aggression," a US embassy spokesperson in Hanoi told media.

Li said the US has to accept the reality that its attempt to isolate Russia by forcing other countries to take sides is futile. There are many countries that do not want to be US puppets, and Washington, despite being unhappy with that, has to adapt to it, Li noted.

Vietnam, which officially pursues a neutral foreign policy that it calls "bamboo diplomacy" in its relations with world powers, did not join the Western condemnation of Russia over its military operation in Ukraine, media reported.

By pointing fingers at Russia-Vietnam relations, the US only exposes its "sense of privilege" in strength, ideology and system when handling foreign affairs, Li said.

US President Joe Biden visited Vietnam in September 2023, during which the two countries upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

But the US should stop dreaming of pushing Vietnam around with this relationship, as the US hegemony-centered world order is disintegrating and Washington should learn to deal with other sovereign countries on an equal footing, analysts said.

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Meeting with President of the National Assembly of Vietnam Tran Thanh Man

Vladimir Putin had a conversation with President of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Tran Thanh Man.

June 20, 2024

13:40

Hanoi

President of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Tran Thanh Man (retranslated): On behalf of the National Assembly of Vietnam, we warmly welcome you, Mr President, along with all members of the Russian delegation. I would like to say on behalf of our party and people that Vietnam is delighted by your state visit.

I would also like to extend congratulations to the Russian Federation on holding successful presidential elections. Your election with a significant majority manifests that Russian people put their immense trust in you.

We deeply value and remember with gratitude the tremendous historic assistance provided to us by the Soviet Union and the Russian people.

We consistently prioritise our comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, as it holds a pivotal position in our foreign policy.

We want to advance cooperation with Russia across all areas to foster peace, stability, and development in our region and globally.

I understand your schedule has been packed this morning with talks involving our President, Prime Minister, and General Secretary.

I am happy to have this chance to meet with you.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: I am delighted to have the opportunity to meet with you during this visit and discuss important matters for the development of Russia-Vietnam relations within the framework of our parliamentary ties.

Firstly, I would also like to congratulate you on your election to this high position.

The parliamentary aspect, as I mentioned earlier, holds great significance in our relationship. We have maintained interstate ties since the 1950s, and now we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the founding Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Vietnam and Russia.

I would also like to note that, similar to your perspective, Vietnam holds an unequivocal priority in our foreign policy. As I mentioned earlier, the parliamentary dimension of our cooperation is crucial, including corresponding parliamentary structures on both sides. I understand that from the Vietnamese side, you lead this structure.

Certainly, parliaments play an essential role in developing and strengthening our relations. Specifically, legislative decisions serve as a robust, reliable foundation for our practical and enduring cooperation in security, economic, cultural and humanitarian development.

We anticipate that your election to the high position of President of the National Assembly will further strengthen this aspect of our parliamentary cooperation.

Our recent negotiations with the President, Prime Minister, and General Secretary have been very productive.

<...>

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Meeting with Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh

Vladimir Putin met with Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Pham Minh ChAnh. The talks were held in the working breakfast format.

June 20, 2024

10:50

Hanoi

Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh (retranslated): Comrade President of the Russian Federation, Russian and Vietnamese friends,

First of all, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Comrade President and the high-ranking delegation of the Russian Federation on their state visit to Vietnam. This is your fifth visit to Vietnam since 2001.

Let me congratulate you on your convincing and absolute victory in the recent presidential election, which indicates of the immense trust the Russian people have placed in you and the right direction in Russia's development course.

I would also like to congratulate you on the success of your recent visits to China and the DPRK.

Over the past two decades, relations between Russia and Vietnam have achieved great success, thanks to your sincere sentiments and attention towards Vietnam. We established a strategic partnership in 2001, followed by a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2012. Currently, we are actively implementing our vision statement on our relations until 2030.

Your current visit holds great importance as we commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Treaty on Foundations of Friendly Relations between Vietnam and the Russian Federation. It serves as a strong message of our countries' determination to invigorate the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and the Russian Federation in the near future. Together, we will unleash our potential for the benefit of the two nations and in the interest of peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

The Russian Federation has always been an essential partner for Vietnam. Our traditional friendship, sincerity, political trust, and friendly cooperation are invaluable assets of our two nations. They have been built through the efforts of many generations of our countries' leaders and people, withstanding the tests of time and distance. The Vietnamese people always remember with gratitude the selfless help and support that the Russian people and you personally provided to Vietnam in our efforts to build, defend and develop the country.

At our meeting today, I would like to discuss with you in a candid and sincere atmosphere further areas, guidelines, and measures for enhancing our economic, trade, and investment relations. Together we aim to bring our relations to a new level of development, making them even more effective, fruitful, and substantial.

Thank you very much.

The floor is yours.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, Comrade Pham Minh Chinh!

Friends, colleagues,

It is a pleasure to be here in beautiful Vietnam, the hospitable Socialist Republic of Vietnam, one of our long-standing and reliable friends and partners.

The Russian-Vietnamese relations of trust and mutual understanding have come a long way, as you have just mentioned, and have stood the test of time with honour.

The Soviet Union, as you also noted, provided effective assistance in the Vietnamese people's heroic struggle against the French and later the American invaders, and subsequently contributed to the peaceful development of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

It is important for us that Vietnam also remembers this and cherishes this memory.

In recent decades, we have significantly expanded the legal framework for cooperation. In addition to the cornerstone Treaty on Foundations of Friendly Relations, which just recently turned 30 years old, more than 80 interstate and intergovernmental agreements are now in place between our countries. A number of important bilateral documents were also signed during the current visit.

The political dialogue is intensive and meaningful. There is steady and effective interaction between ministries, agencies, and regions - involving political parties as well as the general public.

Trade and economic cooperation is also gaining momentum. Trade increased by 8.3 percent in 2023, adding another 33 percent in January-May 2024. This year, Russia will host a regular meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation.

Joint ventures are effectively operating, primarily in the energy sector: Vietsovpetro is involved in petroleum production on the continental shelf of Vietnam, and Rusvietpetro, operates in the Nenets Autonomous Area in Russia. We are ready to conclude long-term contracts to supply hydrocarbons, including LNG, directly to Vietnam. Russia has provided assistance in building numerous power generation facilities in Vietnam. We are interested in developing new projects and participating in the modernisation of Vietnam's HPPs.

Automotive assembly plants are gaining traction - I am referring to the GAZ plant in Da Nang. Cooperation in agriculture and food production is also advancing. Vietnamese investors are implementing large projects in Russia, in the Moscow and Kaluga regions and the Primorye Territory.

Educational cooperation continues; the government has established a quota of 1,000 university places with state grants to admit Vietnamese citizens next year.

Russia will host Days of Vietnamese Culture this year. Vietnamese athletes took part in the BRICS Games earlier this month.

Many Russian cities and regions, including Moscow, St Petersburg, the Kaluga, Rostov and Ulyanovsk regions, are active in cooperating with cities and provinces of Vietnam.

I would like to underscore that despite all the current challenges, we are committed to strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the Russian Federation and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and we will do our utmost to advance it. I hope that this visit will serve to strengthen our ties; I have no doubt about it.

Thank you.

<...>

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Meeting with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong

Vladimir Putin met with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) Nguyen Phu Trong. The talks took place in the CPVCC building.

June 20, 2024

12:30

Hanoi

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong (retranslated): Dear friend,

I am delighted to once again meet with Comrade President, a valued and esteemed friend of our party, our state, and our people. We extend a warm welcome to all members of the Russian delegation.

Comrade President has consistently shown affection and strong support for the Vietnamese people and our bilateral relations. Together with our leaders, you personally initiated the establishment of a strategic partnership, and later elevated our relationship to the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership.

I deeply appreciate your acceptance of our invitation to visit Vietnam following your re-election and inauguration. This marks your fifth visit to Vietnam, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the Treaty on Foundations of Friendly Relations between our countries, as well as the recent centenary celebration of our President's visit to Russia, which laid the foundation for our bilateral relations. We are also preparing to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries.

Your visit holds great significance. Since the signing of this crucial agreement, our relations have flourished, steadily expanding and strengthening. Your current visit presents an excellent opportunity for us to discuss further measures and directions to enhance the comprehensive strategic partnership between our countries for the benefit of our peoples, and to promote peace, cooperation, and development in the region and globally in this new era.

Our party, state, and people deeply appreciate and remain grateful to the Russian people for their selfless assistance and support during Vietnam's struggle for independence, as well as in the subsequent development and defence of our homeland. Our people and I personally, as someone who once lived and studied in Russia, cherish fond memories of our warm-hearted Russian friends and hold Russia, a great and beautiful country, in high regard.

I now give the floor to you, Comrade President.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong, friends.

I want to extend my gratitude for the warm reception extended to our delegation, and, of course, thank you for the invitation, which we all gladly accepted.

Vietnam has been and continues to be a reliable friend and partner for us. As you mentioned, Comrade General Secretary, our relationship has withstood the test of time, including during the heroic struggle of the Vietnamese people for their independence. These ties are built on trust and mutual support, enabling us to tackle even the most challenging issues and make progress with confidence.

It is noteworthy that my visit to Vietnam coincides with a significant milestone, the 30th anniversary of the Treaty on the Foundations of Friendly Relations, which established the legal framework for our ongoing cooperation.

We are steadfast in our commitment to further enhancing the comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam, which remains a key priority for Russian foreign policy. We are prepared to continue our collaborative efforts across various areas, including the economy, science, technology, defence, security, culture and humanitarian contacts.

Bilateral trade is showing positive dynamics with a growth rate of over 8 percent in the past year. The intergovernmental commission is tasked with further solidifying this upward trend and contributing significantly to its continuation.

Cooperation in personnel training continues as well. Over the years, approximately 75,000 Vietnamese specialists have received an education in Russian universities. Currently, more than 3,000 Vietnamese citizens are pursuing their studies in Russia under the state quota system.

Today, I plan to meet with graduates of Soviet and Russian universities. I am aware that among them are numerous outstanding people from your country who have made significant contributions to strengthening Russian-Vietnamese relations and to Vietnam's development. I recall the warm and friendly atmosphere of a similar event held back in 2001.

I would also like to note that Russia and Vietnam hold similar positions on numerous pertinent international issues. We are aligned in our vision of building a just, democratic, multipolar international order grounded in international law, sovereignty principles, and equality among nations.

We interact closely and constructively within international organisations, particularly in the UN, and we value your balanced stance on the most pressing crises.

Today presents a valuable opportunity to discuss key aspects of our comprehensive bilateral cooperation and to outline joint priorities for the future. Moreover, we will discuss the state of international affairs.

I am confident that our current visit will significantly boost the advancement of our relations across the entire spectrum of Russian-Vietnamese relations.

Thank you.

<...>

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Putin visits Vietnam to establish new 'security architecture'

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 20 June 2024 4:37 PM

President Vladimir Putin of Russia has made a state visit to Vietnam aimed at bolstering ties to establish a new "security architecture" in the region.

Putin arrived in Hanoi on Thursday after a stop in North Korea, where a new security pact was signed strengthening the already cordial relations between the two neighboring countries.

On Thursday, Putin continued on the objective of deepening relations with Moscow's regional allies by signing at least a dozen more deals with his Vietnamese counterpart.

The new deals signed by Putin and Vietnamese President To Lam covered a wide range of issues, including cooperation in education, science and technology, oil and gas exploration, clean energy, health, nuclear technology, and other deals that were not made public.

Putin said the two countries shared interests in "developing a reliable security architecture" in the Asia-Pacific region, and that both sides had "identical or very close" positions on key international issues.

Lam told reporters after talks with Putin that both nations pursued a common goal that required Moscow and Hanoi to "further cooperate in defense and security."

"The two sides want to push up cooperation in defense and security, how to deal with non-traditional security challenges on the basis of international law, for peace and security in the region and the world," Lam said.

The two leaders also clarified in a joint statement that their defense and security cooperation was "not directed against any third country" and contributed to "peace, stability and sustainable development" in the Asia-Pacific region.

Nguyen Khac Giang, an analyst at Singapore's ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, told media that the Russians provided two important services in Vietnam. Firstly, Russia is the biggest supplier of energy and defense equipment to the Southeast Asian nation. Second, Russian oil exploration technologies help Vietnam develop its resources.

Vietnam is a decades-long ally of Russia. Moscow has been a main supplier of weaponry to Hanoi, accounting for more than 80 percent of imports between 1995 and 2023.

In UN votes, Vietnam has abstained condemning the Russian operation in Ukraine, and in an op-ed in the Communist Party newspaper Nhan Dan, Putin thanked Hanoi for its "balanced stance on the Ukraine crisis".

Also, Vietnam is a major producer exporting its products worldwide and has carefully hedged its foreign policy position for years, seeking to be friends with all sides.

As countries seek to increase their diplomatic clout in Southeast Asia, Hanoi tries to avoid picking sides in the intensified global rivalry.

In September, US President Joe Biden visited Hanoi to promote ties as his administration seeks to build up Vietnam as an alternative supplier of key high-tech components to reduce American dependence on China.

Biden's visit to Vietnam also aimed to shore up support against China's increasing influence in the world.

China's President Xi Jinping, however, made his own state visit to Vietnam about three months later, consolidating Beijing's traditional relations with its neighbor.

Putin on Wednesday signed a security pact with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, pledging mutual aid in the event of a military invasion on the countries. Kim vowed "full support and solidarity" with Russia over the war in Ukraine.

Putin's Asia tour came as Western powers stepped up sanctions aimed at constraining Russia's war in Ukraine.

The United States, Britain and the European Union all announced new sanctions over the past week, while the G7 agreed to use profits from frozen Russian assets to provide a new $50-billion loan to Kiev.

Reacting to Putin's tour, Japan said it was "seriously concerned" regarding the developments in the region.

One senior aide to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky downplayed Putin's tour of "yesterday's satellites of the USSR", claiming the Russian leader needed "military and technical aid and cannon fodder" from the Southeast Asian countries in order to continue the war against the former Soviet republic.

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Putin visits Vietnam, aiming to renew Cold War ties

Vietnam gives the US-sanctioned Russian president a warm welcome on a largely symbolic visit.

By RFA Staff 2024.06.20 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin was given a grand welcome with a 21-gun salute on Thursday after arriving in old ally Vietnam on a trip that is likely to be promoted by Moscow as more evidence of the West's failure to isolate him over the invasion of Ukraine.

Presiding over the ceremony was Vietnam's new president, To Lam, and not the Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong, due to the latter's ailing health.

The two presidents saluted their countries' flags before inspecting the guard of honor, who cheered, "We wish the president good health!"

In later talks, Lam congratulated Putin on his re-election and praised Russia's achievements, including "domestic political stability," Reuters reported.

The Vietnamese president told a press briefing that both Vietnam and Russia were committed to the principle of "not forming alliances nor agreements with third parties to take actions that harm each other's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and fundamental interests."

Putin arrived in Hanoi in the early hours from Pyongyang, where he and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed an agreement that pledges "mutual assistance in the event of aggression" against one of them.

He was met at Hanoi's airport by the head of Communist Party's external affairs commission and a deputy prime minister in a much more low-key reception compared with the lavish fanfare laid on for him in North Korea.

No major agreement is expected during the Russian president's 24 hours in Hanoi but he's scheduled to meet with, besides President To Lam, the general secretary of the Communist Party, the prime minister and the National Assembly's chairman.

Putin, who has been on a U.S. sanction list since 2022 for ordering the invasion of Ukraine, is also wanted by the International Criminal Court, or ICC. Vietnam is not a member of the ICC and so is under no obligation to act on its arrest warrant.

"Few countries now welcome Mr. Putin," Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski wrote on social media platform X in a rare post by a foreign envoy. "But he needs to demonstrate that he is still a 'world leader'. So Vietnam is doing him a huge favour and may expect favours in return."

No nuclear power, for now

Ahead of his arrival in Hanoi, Putin praised the close ties between the two countries, who he said share "the same, or similar approaches" to current issues on the international agenda.

"We are grateful to our Vietnamese friends for their balanced position on the Ukrainian crisis and for their desire to help find tangible ways to resolve it peacefully," he wrote in an article on Vietnamese Communist Party's mouthpiece Nhan Dan.

Hanoi has declined to denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine and did not take part in last weekend's Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland, to which Russia was not invited.

Asked on Thursday if the United States was concerned about Putin asking Vietnam for support for its war in Ukraine, John Kirby, the spokesperson for U.S. President Joe Biden's National Security Council, told reporters he would let Hanoi speak for itself.

"Our expectation is that Vietnam will continue to adhere to its commitment and support for the the basic principles of the U.N. Charter, which includes sovereignty [and] territorial integrity, and that they'll continue ... to convey that these principles need to be upheld all across the world, in Europe as well as in Asia," Kirby said.

Putin said that trade and investment, especially in the energy industry sectors, were the two governments' priorities.

Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom is "ready to help Vietnamese partners develop their national nuclear power industry," he said.

Russia maintains a strong global influence in nuclear power and is the world's leading exporter of nuclear power plants.

Yet Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told Rosatom's Director General Alexey Likhachev on Wednesday that his country "has not had any policy to return to developing nuclear power but will continue to research and consider nuclear energy as an important solution to achieve net zero emissions by 2050," according to the Vietnam News Agency.

Hanoi shelved a plan to build its first nuclear power plant in 2016, citing lack of resources and concerns of safety.

Rosatom, however, is helping construct a nuclear science and technology research center in the southern province of ong Nai.

Putin's visit is generally seen as symbolic and could help strengthening interactions in traditional areas such as economy and investment, science and technology, education and training, culture and tourism, and also defense and security.

Vietnam is one of the largest buyers of Russian arms and still relies on Moscow to maintain and upgrade its arsenal but no contract signing is envisaged during the visit.

Russia is a traditional ally and supported Vietnam throughout the Cold War but the dynamics of the relationship have changed as Vietnam adopts a new multilateral, diversified foreign policy that enabled it to forge new partners such as the U.S. and Japan.

"Russia will never again be a strategic partner for Vietnam. Moscow has chosen a different partner and a different strategic destiny," Australian Ambassador Goledzinowski wrote, apparently referring to Vietnam's neighbor China.

Hanoi and Beijing are at odds over their sovereignty claims in the South China Sea, an important waterway shared by several countries but China claims having historic rights to more than 80% of it.

Russia has maintained a neutral position in the South China Sea and is involved in many oil and gas projects in the region but it has recently voiced support for China's rejection of "external interference", or in other words, the role of the U.S. and its allies, in the region's maritime disputes.

Edited by Taejun Kang. Updated to include comments from National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby.

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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Amid Growing U.S.- Russian Tensions, Dual Citizen Goes On Trial In Yekaterinburg

By RFE/RL June 20, 2024

The trial of U.S.-Russian citizen Ksenia Karelina (married name Khavana) in the Russian Urals city of Yekaterinburg began with the judge ruling that the proceedings on a treason charge will take place behind closed doors.

Judge Andrei Mineyev, who is scheduled to try another U.S. citizen, Evan Gershkovich, later this month on an espionage charge, handed down his ruling Karelina's case on June 20.

The 33-year-old resident of Los Angeles was arrested in February during a visit to her native Yekaterinburg after security officers accused her of sending $51.80 from her U.S.-based bank account to the Razom for Ukraine foundation, which helps Ukrainian civilians.

The Federal Security Service (FSB) said at the time that it suppressed the illegal activities of a U.S.-Russian citizen who was "involved in providing financial assistance to a foreign state in activities directed against the security of our country."

Washington has repeatedly criticized Russia for targeting and arresting U.S. citizens, accusing Moscow of detaining them as bargaining chips to exchange for Russians being held in U.S. prisons.

In late March last year, the FSB in Yekaterinburg arrested Gershkovich on espionage charges that he, his employer The Wall Street Journal, and U.S. officials reject a groundless.

Another U.S. citizen, former Marine Paul Whelan, is also being held in Russia on espionage charges. Whelan and the U.S. government reject the charges as politically motivated. While Gershkovich is still in pretrial detention, Whelan was sentenced to 16 years in prison in June 2020.

A third U.S. citizen, RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who also holds Russian citizenship, has been in pretrial detention since October 2023 on charges of violating the so-called "foreign agent" law and spreading false information about the Russian military. The U.S. government and her employer say the charge is in reprisal for her work.

In total, at least nine Americans are currently being detained in Russia on various charges or convictions.

The State Department in September 2023 issued a "Do Not Travel" warning to U.S. citizens in the background of U.S. support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia's full-scale invasion of that country. The note cited "the singling out of U.S. citizens for detention by Russian government security officials" in its warning.

With reporting by SotaVision

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us--russia-trial- yekaterinburg-treason-karelina/33001692.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 residential facilities of Russian Ministry of Defence in Snegovaya Padi (Vladivostok)

20.06.2024

Within the framework of inspection of military units of the Pacific Fleet, the head of the Russian military department together with the Governor of Primorsky Krai Oleg Kozhemyaka visited the construction site of the housing fund for servicemen and heard reports of the garrison command and representatives of the developer.

The Russian Defence Minister pointed out that it was impossible to delay the construction period and ordered to intensify work on five unfinished high-rises.

Andrei Belousov noted that decisions on the source of funding for the measures have been taken and the necessary instructions have been given.

The head of the Russian military department was reported that two houses will be built by the end of the year, and two more will be completed in July 2025.

In addition, it is necessary to put into operation in July this year a residential building for 190 flats, the construction of which is currently being completed. The Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation inspected all the facilities personally.

Andrei Belousov also paid particular attention to the development of social infrastructure in the neighbourhood. Oleg Kozhemyaka said that it is currently planned to build a school for 1,125 children, a fitness and health complex and two kindergartens in the neighbourhood.

In addition, the Russian Defence Minister drew attention to the existence of complaints by residents of already built houses about the work of management companies. He instructed to create a working group of representatives of the responsible departments of the military department, the region, management companies and the tenants themselves.

The Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation noted that all appeals of residents of the houses of the Ministry should be worked out and assessed the actions of management companies that service the facilities.

'When the first of these houses is occupied, servicemen participating in the special military operation and members of their families should be provided with housing as a priority,' Andrei Belousov added.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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Putin: West Going to Blame Zelensky for Unpopular Decisions and Remove Him in 2025

Sputnik News

20240620

On the last day of his official visit to Vietnam, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a press conference where he shared his thoughts on a number of poignant geopolitical issues.

Here are some key takeaways from the president's remarks.

On Russia's Renewed Alliance With North Korea

Commenting on the results of his recent trip to the DPRK, Putin said he hopes the agreements between Russia and North Korea will become a deterrent in the Korean crisis to prevent it from escalating.

"The Korean crisis has such a smoldering character, but we assume and hope that our agreements with North Korea will be a deterrent to a certain extent to prevent this crisis from escalating into some kind of burning phase," he said.

On South Korea's Threats to Send Lethal Weapons to Ukraine

Possible deliveries of such weapons to the conflict zone in Ukraine by South Korea would be a mistake, Putin warned.

"As for the supply of lethal weapons to the combat zone in Ukraine, it would be a very big mistake. I hope it will not happen. If it does, then we too will then make the respective decisions, which South Korea's current leadership is unlikely to be pleased with," he said.

On Arms Shipments to Other Countries

Russia is not ruling out supplying weapons to other countries in response to deliveries of Western arms to Ukraine, Putin said on Thursday.

"Those who are supplying these weapons believe that they are not at war with us, well, I have said, including in Pyongyang, that we reserve the right to supply weapons to other regions, bearing in mind our agreements with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, I don't rule out this as well, where will these [weapons] go," Putin said.

On US Manners in International Relations

The United States' rudeness in relations with other countries does not do Washington any favors, Putin suggested.

"In strategic terms, it is only harmful, because no one likes this snobbery. And no one will ever forgive it, even in the medium-term historical perspective," he remarked.

On UNSC Reform

Russia supports a reform of the United Nations Security Council, but it needs to be based on consensus, Putin said.

"We are in favor of reform [in the UNSC], but only, I repeat, based on broad consensus," Putin told reporters, adding that behind-the-scenes discussions will not be beneficial for the global community.

On Volodymyr Zelensky's Future

The West will blame Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky for unpopular decisions and will find a replacement for him, possibly in the first half of the next year, Putin guessed.

"In the West, they simply do not want to replace him [Zelenskyy], the time is not right. I think it's obvious to anyone. They will blame all unpopular decisions on him, including lowering the [military] draft age, and that's it. And then they'll replace him. I think it will happen sometime in the first half of next year," Putin told Russian reporters.

On Behind-The-Scenes Talks With West

Talks on Ukraine could take place as early as tomorrow, but Russia will use the current situation as a starting point, the president added.

"We have been conducting these behind-the-scenes talks, and what we hoped for has failed," Putin told reporters.

A Sputnik

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Russia Thinking About Possible Changes To Its Nuclear Doctrine - Putin

Sputnik News

20240620

Russia may consider amending nuclear deterrence policy, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned.

According to Putin, this matter became a subject of debate in light of the recent discussions in the world on lowering the threshold of nuclear weapon use.

At the same time, the Russian president noted that Russia has no need an ability to launch a preemptive nuclear strike.

Putin delivered these remarks today at a press conference held during his visit to Vietnam. The Russian president arrived in Hanoi on June 19 upon the conclusion of his trip to North Korea.

A Sputnik

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Russian-Vietnamese Strategic Partnership: Key Takeaways From Putin-Lam Talks

Sputnik News

20240620

Vladimir Putin's state visit to Vietnam began in the early hours of Thursday morning when his plane landed at Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport, shortly after the Russian president met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang.

Negotiations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Vietnamese counterpart To Lam concluded in Hanoi on Thursday as part of the Russian head of state's two-day official visit to Vietnam.

Strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam remains one of Russia's priorities, Putin stressed during the talks, where the two leaders made the following statements.

Putin: Russia-Vietnam Trade Turnover on Rise

"Last year, [bilateral] trade grew by 8 percent. The intergovernmental commission on both sides is working closely on this. The growth of trade is, of course, facilitated by the implementation of the 2015 free trade agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union and Vietnam," the Russian president added.

He recalled that in 2024 Moscow and Hanoi will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the signing of a bilateral friendship treaty.

"All this time, we have maintained regular and meaningful political contacts, including through parliaments, ministries, agencies, parties, regional authorities and public organizations," Putin said.

According to him, Moscow and Hanoi coordinate their actions in the international arena.

"Russia attaches great importance to the development of dialogue with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Vietnam is one of the leading members," the Russian President said.

Separately, Putin said he would be glad to see the Vietnamese president at the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in World War II (Great Patriotic War) of 1941-1945 in Moscow.

To Lam Praises Friendly Russian-Vietnamese Ties

For his part, To Lam emphasized that Vietnam "will always remember with gratitude the Russian people's selfless support for its struggle for independence.

The country pursues "an independent and self-sufficient peaceful foreign policy, but at the same time attaches great importance to the development of traditional friendship and a comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia." Hanoi sees Russia as one of Vietnam's foreign policy priorities, Lam added.

He also said that Russia, under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, has achieved "important successes" both domestically and internationally.

"We are glad that political and social stability in Russia is strengthening, the economy is actively developing, the living standards of the population are improving; Russia's position and authority are steadily growing on the international arena," the Vietnamese leader concluded.

A Sputnik

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Vietnam, Russia pledge to deepen bilateral ties

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 08:29, June 21, 2024

HANOI, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam and Russia signed multiple cooperation documents and agreed to further deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership on Thursday during Russian President Vladimir Putin's state visit to Vietnam, Vietnam News Agency reported.

During the visit, Putin talked with his Vietnamese counterpart To Lam and both witnessed the signing of the multiple bilateral cooperation documents in the fields including education and judiciary.

At a press briefing, Lam said both sides had agreed to further enhance high-level exchanges and promote bilateral trade and investment, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

On Thursday, Putin also met and talked with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Tran Thanh Man, respectively.

For his part, Putin said at the press briefing that the Russian side attaches great importance to further strengthening the Russia-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership, according to the Kremlin on Thursday.

Before his Vietnam visit, Putin also paid a state visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), during which the two countries signed the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

According to the official Korean Central News Agency, Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, hailed Putin's visit as a "significant strategic move."

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Suicide drones to be delivered to Taiwan 2024-2025: U.S. State Department

ROC Central News Agency

06/20/2024 02:32 PM

Washington, June 19 (CNA) The Switchblade 300 loitering munitions and ALTIUS 600M-V unmanned aerial vehicles that Taiwan has ordered from the United States are scheduled for delivery between this year and 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) indicated on Wednesday.

The DOS on Tuesday notified Congress of its approval of the possible Foreign Military Sales of up to 720 Switchblade 300 and up to 291 ALTIUS 600M-V to Taiwan.

The drones, estimated at a cost of US$300 million, and the anti-armor loitering missile system and related equipment, with an estimated cost of $60.2 million, will represent the 15th arms sale package to Taiwan during the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden.

In response to a query from CNA on the sales, the U.S. Bureau of Political-Military Affairs said in a written response Wednesday that "both sales are for delivery in 2024-2025," but it did not specify whether the full supply of 1,011 weapons systems will be delivered within that time frame.

U.S.-Taiwan Business Council President Rupert Hammond-Chambers told CNA, however, that he believed the delivery would be completed in the next 18 months.

"There is no industrial base issue with delivery in this timeline," he said in a written response to CNA. "That would have been a consideration for these programs."

A loitering munition is a drone designed to loiter around a target area and then attack it when spotted.

According to Taiwan's defense ministry, the loitering munitions supply to Taiwan can complement the various precision missiles the country already has and, coupled with domestically manufactured drones, will accelerate Taiwan's efforts to create a multi-layered deterrence system.

The U.S.' decision to supply the drones, which have reconnaissance and immediate strike capabilities, will help Taiwan respond more quickly to enemy threats, the ministry said.

(By Shih Hsiu-chuan and Sean Lin)

Enditem/pc

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Taiwan's Air Force conducts large-scale joint air defense drills

ROC Central News Agency

06/20/2024 08:01 PM

Taipei, June 20 (CNA) Taiwan's Air Force in the early hours of Thursday conducted air defense exercises in multiple zones aimed at preparing the armed forces for possible attacks from China on critical military infrastructure and bases, according to a military source with direct knowledge of the matter.

The drills, held from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. to avoid disrupting civilian air traffic, were part of the Air Force's quarterly joint air defense exercises and saw the participation of Taiwan's flagship fighter jets: the Indigenous Defense Fighters (IDF), Mirage 2000-5 fighters and F-16Vs, the source said.

In one of the zones where the drills were conducted, Republic of China (Taiwan) aircraft playing the role of People's Liberation Army military aircraft flew around Taipei to test the responses of the armed forces, the source said.

Other aircraft deployed included C-130H military transport aircraft, as well as AH-64E Apache attack helicopters under the Army Aviation and Special Forces Command.

Meanwhile, various types of aircraft under the Air Force's 1st, 2nd, and 3rd tactical fighter wings, as well as its 5th and 6th composite wings also took part in the exercises, according to the Air Force.

In addition, Tien Kung air defense missiles, Patriot missiles, and anti-aircraft cannons were also deployed in the drills, the Air Force said.

Thursday's drills tested the functions of military and civil air defense systems and joint combat command mechanisms, and involved the military's air defense weapons systems and intelligence and electronic warfare units, according to military sources.

The Air Force said that it will continue to hold realistic training programs in response to potential threats posed by changes in the multilayered battlefields of modern warfare.

(By Matt Yu and Sean Lin)

Enditem/AW

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Cabinet, opposition lawmakers remain at odds over oversight bills

ROC Central News Agency

06/20/2024 09:11 PM

Taipei, June 20 (CNA) The Cabinet and opposition party lawmakers on Thursday continued to argue over recently passed amendments that enhance oversight of the executive branch, just one day before the Legislature votes on the revisions again after they were sent back by the Cabinet for reconsideration.

Premier Cho Jung-tai () told lawmakers on the legislative floor that the Cabinet has concerns over the "rarely seen" and even "unprecedented" powers created for the Legislature through the amendments after "carefully examining the provisions."

These measures, Cho argued, would allow the Legislature to "act as if it were a court or prosecutors," thus violating the principle of the separation of powers stipulated in the Constitution.

The powers he mentioned refer to the different powers endowed in the five branches of government -- the Executive Yuan, the Legislative Yuan, the Judicial Yuan, the Examination Yuan, and the Control Yuan -- under the Constitution of the Republic of China, Taiwan's official name.

If legislators vote to uphold the passage of the law revisions on Friday, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led Cabinet will consider further options, Cho said, likely referring to obtaining a ruling from the Constitutional Court on the constitutionality of the measures.

However, Chen Gau-tzu (), a legislator from the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), called on the Executive Yuan to "cease sowing division" with its attempts to invalidate the amendments and instead "recognize the purpose of the revisions" as a legislative reform.

The TPP lawmaker was alluding to the passed measures that give the Legislature new investigative powers and the power to hold hearings, which include potential penalties and jail time for public officials if they refuse to attend or provide information, or present false information.

In the case of individuals or groups from the private sector, they would only face penalties if they do not cooperate.

Chen cited examples of several DPP lawmakers, who while in opposition, accused government officials of showing "contempt" for the Legislature by arguing with lawmakers or refusing to attend meetings.

She added that the DPP and its lawmakers have changed their tune now they are in power.

In response, Cho said any acts of contempt towards the Legislature were unacceptable and needed to be addressed, but he maintained that the measures passed on May 28 "exceeded" the Legislature's authority and that lawmakers should devise "better provisions."

Meanwhile, the Kuomintang's (KMT) Wang Yu-min () accused the government of "conflicting" statements, given that Cho had previously voiced support for legislative reforms but the Cabinet is now seeking to have the amendments rejected entirely.

The Cabinet last week requested that the Legislature reconsider the revisions to the Law Governing the Legislative Yuan's Power and the Criminal Code, pushed through by the KMT and TPP lawmakers, who have a majority in the Legislature, claiming they are "unconstitutional" and "difficult to execute."

Wang also criticized the Cabinet's opposition to hearings at the Legislature, which she noted are common in "advanced democratic countries" such as the United States, France and Germany.

She also refuted Cho's comments suggesting that the amendments lacked restrictions, arguing that according to the passed measures, hearings could only be held on "important matters concerning the public."

The amendments merely sought to address the long-standing problem of insufficient oversight of the executive branch of the government by the Legislature, Wang argued.

She added that those who have served as lawmakers, including Cho himself, are aware that the Executive Yuan's power "dominates" other branches, leaving them unable to effectively monitor the government.

(By Chen Chun-hua, Kuo Chien-shen and Teng Pei-ju)

Enditem/AW

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8 retired Taiwan military, police officers held in China in past year: MAC

ROC Central News Agency

06/20/2024 10:40 PM

Taipei, June 20 (CNA) At least eight Taiwanese retired military and police personnel have been detained in China in the past year, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said Thursday, urging individuals with similar backgrounds to stay cautious if they travel there.

Chinese authorities wanted to gather information about the individuals, specifically regarding their work, colleagues and networks, Liang Wen-chieh (), deputy head and spokesperson of the MAC, Taiwan's top government agency handling cross-strait affairs, said at a press conference.

When asked how long the eight people were held for, Liang replied "The durations vary," without elaborating.

Such detentions could be an attempt to recruit individuals to work for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Liang said, citing cases prosecuted in the past few years involving retired military personnel working for the CCP.

"Seniors recruit juniors, superiors recruit subordinates, and even former comrades introduce one another," Liang added.

One of the recent espionage cases involving Taiwanese military personnel being recruited by the Chinese centered around Liu Sheng-shu (), a retired Air Force colonel, who served as a spy and used his connections within the military to recruit active Navy and Air Force officers to engage in espionage.

In April last year, Liu and six officers were indicted for violating the Classified National Security Information Protection Act, and later in the year, the Taiwan High Court branch in Kaohsiung found six of the seven defendants, including Liu, guilty.

Liu was sentenced to 20 years in prison and his illegal gains paid by China were seized.

Meanwhile, two anglers surnamed Hu () and Wu () from the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen islands were detained by Chinese authorities after they went astray during a fishing trip and were rescued by the Chinese coast guard on March 17.

Wu and his fishing boat were handed over to the Kinmen coast guard by Chinese officials on March 23, but Hu, an active soldier whose retirement had been approved on May 8, has not yet been released by Chinese authorities.

When asked about the case, Liang said the MAC has used several channels to communicate with the Chinese side in an attempt to expedite the return of Hu, but has received no response.

"This incident has now lasted for over three months -- no matter what needs to be investigated, it shouldn't take longer than that," Liang said, adding that the MAC is not clear on the reason for the long period of detention.

He said that in the waters between Kinmen and Xiamen, there has always been an understanding between the two sides regarding low-level incidents, such as anglers going astray.

"When we rescue their people, we send them back, and in the past, they did the same," Liang noted. "Why this incident is an exception is something we honestly cannot understand."

As of now, the Chinese authorities have not classified the incident as immigration-related or suggested Hu committed a crime, they have only confirmed he is being held due to his military background, he added.

Chen Binhua (), spokesman of the Chinese State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, said on March 22 that Hu was being held because he "intentionally fabricated information about his occupation in an attempt to conceal it," noting that the relevant authorities needed to verify Hu's identity to fully understand the situation.

On May 15, Chen said information related to the event "is still being verified."

(By Sunny Lai)

Enditem/kb

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China strongly opposes US sales of drones and missiles to Taiwan island: FM spokesperson

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Jun 20, 2024 08:31 PM

The US once again sold arms to the island of Taiwan in disregard of China's repeated opposition and serious protests, which severely undermines China's sovereignty and security interests, seriously harms China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, sending a gravely wrong signal to the Taiwan independence separatist forces, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Thursday in response to a military sale approved by the US State Department to the island of Taiwan.

The Biden administration on Tuesday approved a new $360 million weapons sale to the island of Taiwan, sending the island hundreds of armed drones, missile equipment and related support material, the State Department said in a statement.

The arms sales include Switchblade 300 Anti-Personnel and Anti-Armor Loitering Missile System and related equipment as well as ALTIUS 600M-V Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and related equipment.

During a regular press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that China strongly condemns and firmly opposes the US who once again sold weapons to the island of Taiwan despite China's consistent opposition and solemn representations, which seriously violated the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, particularly the August 17 Communique of 1982. The spokesperson added that this move severely infringes on China's sovereignty and security interests, seriously damages China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, and sends a gravely wrong signal to the Taiwan independence separatist forces.

The US has repeatedly sold weapons to the island of Taiwan, encouraging and supporting the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in their stubborn adherence to the "Taiwan independence" stance and their provocations against the one-China principle, Lin said, noting that this once again shows that the separatist moves for "Taiwan independence" and connivance and support for such moves from US-led external forces are the biggest threat facing cross-Straits peace and stability and source of damage to the real status quo in the Taiwan Straits.

The DPP authorities' attempt to seek "Taiwan independence" through military build-up, and US' determination to support "Taiwan independence" with weapons, will inevitably backfire, leading to self-destruction and ending in failure, Lin said.

The Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests and the first red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations and no one should underestimate China's firm determination and strong capability to oppose Taiwan independence and defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Lin added.

China urges the US to earnestly adhere to the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, revoke its wrong decision of arms sales to the island, cease the dangerous trend of arming Taiwan, stop supporting and encouraging the wrongful actions of Taiwan independence secessionist forces, and stop endangering cross-Straits peace and stability, Lin said.

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South Korea says to reconsider supply of weaponry to Ukraine

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 20 June 2024 2:35 PM

South Korea says it will review the possibility of supplying weapons to Ukraine, after North Korea and Russia signed a mutual defense pact during President Vladimir Putin's visit to Pyongyang.

Putin and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un signed the "comprehensive strategic partnership pact" and agreed to provide military assistance if they are ever attacked.

In an official statement released on Thursday, Seoul condemned the agreement, saying it violates United Nations sanctions.

The presidential office said South Korea will reconsider the issue of arms supply to Ukraine, but will maintain strategic ambiguity regarding the types of weapons.

"Specific measures will be revealed later, and it will be interesting to see how Russia responds, rather than revealing our plans in advance," National security adviser Chang Ho-jin told reporters.

Chang said the pact would aid North Korea to enhance its military capabilities. "We plan to reconsider the issue of arms support to Ukraine."

South Korea is an ally of the US-led collective Western countries alliance that has been fighting a proxy war against Russia since Moscow launched its "special military operation" against Ukraine in early 2022.

Kim, an ally of the Russian leader, praised Putin for his "correct decision and guidance... to foil the hostile forces' escalating threats."

The North Korean leader promised his Russian counterpart "full support", describing the war in Ukraine as a US "proxy war" aimed at destroying Russia.

North Korea "expresses full support and solidarity with the Russian government, army and people in carrying out a special military operation in Ukraine to protect their sovereignty, security interests, as well as territorial integrity," Kim said.

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U.S. To 'Reprioritize' Missile Sales To Speed Ukraine Deliveries

By RFE/RL June 20, 2024

WASHINGTON -- The United States will "reprioritize" planned deliveries of Patriot air-defense missiles to get them to Ukraine faster, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on June 20 as Washington works to fill Kyiv's "desperate need" for more air-defense capabilities.

The decision means that the deliveries of "missiles rolling off the production line" will go to Ukraine and other countries will have to wait for missiles they ordered.

"This will ensure that we'll be able to provide Ukraine with the missiles they need to maintain their stockpiles at a key moment in the war," Kirby said, describing the decision as "difficult but necessary."

The decision also affects missiles used in the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) as well as missiles used in the Patriot systems, Kirby said, stressing that only missiles are involved in the decision.

The other components -- radar systems and launchers -- currently are not available, Kirby said.

"Right now, we just don't have eligible systems coming off the production line. So, it was something we looked at. But right now, the focus is really going to be on the missiles themselves."

U.S. defense contractor RTX, formerly Raytheon, makes the radar systems and launchers for both the Patriot and the NASAMS. The missiles for the two systems are made by Raytheon and other companies.

Mark Cancian, an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington think tank, told RFE/RL recently that it could take as long as two years to produce a new Patriot system.

Kirby said the first shipments headed to Ukraine will happen before the end of the summer. The total deliveries will cover an estimated 16 months of Ukraine's needs. He declined to say which countries agreed to reprioritize deliveries, though he said the decision will not have an impact on missile deliveries to Taiwan.

Kirby's comments came after Russia attacked Ukraine with missiles and drones overnight, damaging energy infrastructure and prompting more power blackouts. Ukraine's national power company, Ukrenerho, said on June 20 that four regions were targeted in the attacks.

Ukraine's largest private energy company, DTEK, said it was the seventh mass attack on the company's thermal power plant in the last three months. The latest wave of Russian strikes has also increased the number of scheduled power outages for domestic consumers, Ukrenerho said.

The Ukrainian Finance Ministry recently cut its outlook for economic expansion this year due to the energy shortage caused by Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Western nations last week announced a $50 billion loan for Ukraine, part of which will go toward helping rebuild the nation's energy system.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-reprioritize-missile- sales-ukraine-russia-war/33002683.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, Russia Target Energy Facilities With Drones, Missiles

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and RFE/RL's Russian Service June 20, 2024

Russia attacked Ukraine with missiles and drones overnight, damaging energy infrastructure and prompting even more power blackouts, while Ukrainian drones reportedly struck deep inside Russian territory, setting oil installations on fire in two regions.

Ukraine's national power company, Ukrenerho, said early on June 20 that four regions were targeted in the latest wave of Russian drone and missile attacks.

"Equipment was damaged at energy facilities in the Vinnytsya, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, and Kyiv regions," Ukrenerho said in a message on Telegram.

A thermal power plant sustained "serious damage" in the Russian strikes, according to Ukraine's largest private energy company, DTEK.

"This is already the seventh mass attack on the company's thermal power plant in the last three months," DTEK said on Telegram, without disclosing the location of the facility. It said three workers were injured in the attack.

The latest wave of Russian strikes has also increased the number of scheduled power outages for domestic consumers, Ukrenerho said, adding, however, that electricity supply for critical infrastructure will not be restricted.

Separately, the air force reported that Russia attacked Ukraine with nine missiles and 27 drones. Ukrainian air defenses shot down all the drones and five missiles, the military said.

Russia has systematically targeted Ukraine's critical energy infrastructure, causing enormous damage and limiting electricity supply for the civilian population, prompting regular blackouts.

Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskiy said during a June 20 meeting with senior Ukrainian military officials that he hopes to develop a renewable energy infrastructure in response to the attacks.

"All public and administrative buildings must be equipped with energy-saving technologies. Solar panels, smart meters, and energy storage facilities should appear in every school and hospital as soon as possible," Zelenskiy said.

In return, Ukrainian drones have struck deeper inside Russia, damaging energy facilities critical for Moscow's military effort, mainly oil installations.

On June 20, drones belonging to Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) struck a fuel and lubricants warehouse in Russia's Tambov region, some 400 kilometers southeast of Moscow, and a LUKoil oil depot in the North Caucasus region of Adygea, setting both on fire, a Ukrainian security source told RFE/RL.

The Baza channel, which is linked to Russian security services, confirmed that a fire had broken out at the Platonov oil depot in Tambov.

Veniamin Kondratyev, the governor of the Russian region of Krasnodar, said a private house was completely destroyed, and a local resident was killed in a Ukrainian drone attack on the city of Slavyansk-on-Kuban.

The SBU told RFE/RL that its drones had carried out almost three dozen successful attacks on Russian oil facilities in various regions since the start of the war.

None of the claims could be independently confirmed.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-strikes-energy- infrastructure/33000408.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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Ukrainian Drone Crashes on Private House in Russia's Kuban, One Person Killed

Sputnik News

20240620

SOCHI (Sputnik) - A drone has crashed on a private house in the town of Slavyansk-on-Kuban in Russia's Krasnodar Territory, destroying the house and killing one person as a result, the region's operational headquarters said on Thursday.

"On the night of June 20, Slavyansk-on-Kuban was attacked by the Kiev regime. According to the information from the PSAP [Public Safety Answering Point] in the Slavyansk district, a drone crashed on a private house, and it was completely destroyed. All operational and emergency services are working on the site, removing the rubble. According to preliminary information, there is a fatal casualty," the HQ said on Telegram.

The HQ added in a separate post that media reports about a fire at the Afipsky oil refinery after the drone strike were false.

Krasnodar Territory Governor Veniamin Kondratyev confirmed on Telegram that a female resident of Slavyansk-on-Kuban was killed in the incident. He instructed local authorities to provide all necessary assistance to the family of the deceased person.

Regional emergency services told Sputnik that they received four reports from residents about explosions in the village of Afipsky in Kuban.

A Sputnik

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Situation in the Energy Sector and Preparations for the Heating Season: President Held a Meeting of the Staff

President of Ukraine

20 June 2024 - 18:57

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy chaired a meeting of the Staff focused on preparations for the heating season.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Minister of Energy German Galushchenko, Head of Naftogaz Oleksiy Chernyshov, and Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk reported on preparations for the autumn-winter period and overcoming threats in the energy sector.

Pursuant to the decision of the Staff, the Cabinet of Ministers must immediately approve a state program that will encourage households to install solar generation and energy storage facilities. It will provide tax and customs benefits for the import of equipment into Ukraine.

The government has to approve plans for completing protective structures for the fuel and energy sector infrastructure and preparing for the heating season. It also has to approve the projected balance of natural gas supply and distribution in Ukraine for 2024-2025.

Within a month, the strategy for the development of distributed generation and the national action plan for the development of renewable energy until 2030, as well as plans for their implementation, must be approved.

Decisions must be made on the mandatory installation of solar generation and energy storage facilities in all public and administrative buildings, including medical and educational institutions. Regional state administrations and the Kyiv City State Administration must approve the relevant regional programs within a month.

This also includes the installation of smart meters, providing critical infrastructure facilities with backup electricity and heat sources, and stimulating the construction of balancing and maneuverable capacities.

It is necessary to ensure the installation of the maximum possible number of new generation capacities, including gas piston, gas turbine, and cogeneration units.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine must take measures to bolster air defense of energy infrastructure facilities that may be subject to repair and restoration work.

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Andriy Yermak Discussed Peace Formula Implementation with Advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada

President of Ukraine

20 June 2024 - 16:17

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak had a phone call with National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada Nathalie Drouin.

Andriy Yermak thanked Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau for participating in the Global Peace Summit and personally Nathalie Drouin for moderating the panel on the release of prisoners and the return of deported Ukrainians.

The parties discussed the outcomes of the Global Peace Summit. The Head of the President's Office noted the importance of Canada's support for the Joint CommuniquA on a Peace Framework adopted at the Summit and expressed confidence that more countries and international organizations would join it.

The parties discussed further steps in cooperation between Ukraine and Canada, as well as the organization of a series of thematic conferences dedicated to the implementation of the points of the Peace Formula.

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Ukraine and Ireland Discussed Peace Summit Outcomes and Future Bilateral Security Agreement

President of Ukraine

20 June 2024 - 10:53

Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva met with Deputy Secretary for the Department of Foreign Affairs of Ireland Sonja Hyland.

The interlocutors discussed the outcomes of the inaugural Peace Summit and pledged to work together to increase the number of countries supporting the Joint CommuniquA on a Peace Framework; they also coordinated the next steps for the implementation of future international activities in this regard.

"We are grateful for the personal participation of the Taoiseach of Ireland, Simon Harris, in the Peace Summit and Ireland's signature on the Joint CommuniquA following its results. Our joint efforts bring closer the establishment of a just peace, the restoration of the UN Charter and international law," Igor Zhovkva emphasized.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the possibility of concluding a bilateral security agreement in pursuance of the G7 Declaration of Support for Ukraine, which Ireland and more than 30 other countries joined shortly after it was signed. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Taoiseach of Ireland Simon Harris agreed to begin consultations in this regard during their previous telephone conversation last month.

Ihor Zhovkva thanked the Irish side for its continued support of Ukraine, in particular on our country's path to EU membership.

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US asks Vietnam to support Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity

By Nike Ching June 20, 2024

The United States called on Vietnam Thursday to support Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity following Vladimir Putin's one-day visit to Hanoi, part of the Russian president's brief Asian tour seeking to shore up alliances in the face of mounting Western sanctions.

"We expect that any country, when it engages in conversations with the government of Russia, and especially when it hosts leaders from the government of Russia, will make clear their respect for the principles of the U.N. Charter, including sovereignty and territorial integrity, and convey that those principles must be upheld across the world," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told VOA during a briefing on Thursday.

US diplomat to Hanoi

Meanwhile, the State Department's top diplomat for Asia is traveling to Hanoi to reaffirm ties after the U.S. and Vietnam upgraded their bilateral relationship last year.

Daniel J. Kritenbrink, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, will travel to Hanoi, Vietnam, June 21 to 22, according to a State Department press release.

Kritenbrink will meet with senior Vietnam government officials "to underscore the strong U.S. commitment to implementing the U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and to working with Vietnam in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region," said the release.

Kritenbrink's trip was planned "well before" Putin's visit to Hanoi, said Miller.

Vietnam maintains three tiers of diplomatic relationship with other countries: Comprehensive Partnerships; Strategic Partnerships; and Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships. The United States, China and Russia are among the countries that maintain top-tier ties with Vietnam.

U.S. officials did not have an assessment, when asked by reporters, if there is any indication that Vietnamese companies or people are providing material support to Moscow for its war on Ukraine, or whether Washington has warned Hanoi against it.

At the White House, John Kirby, the National Security Council communications adviser, told reporters that the U.S. will "stay focused on continuing to deepen" the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Vietnam and "broaden it, improve it, for our own mutual benefit to each other and to the region."

Putin's visit to North Korea

Russia and Vietnam pledged Thursday to deepen ties during a state visit by Putin aimed at bolstering his alliances to counter Western efforts to isolate Moscow over the war in Ukraine.

Russia and Vietnam "want to push up cooperation in defense and security, how to deal with nontraditional security challenges on the basis of international law, for peace and security in the region and the world," Vietnamese President To Lam told reporters after talks with Putin.

Putin traveled to Vietnam, a close ally of Moscow since the Cold War, after talks in Pyongyang with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Those two countries signed a mutual defense pact.

"It's a significant visit," said William Courtney, an adjunct senior fellow at the Rand Research organization about Putin's trip to Vietnam amid Russia's war on Ukraine and Russia's growing isolation over that war.

"There's no question Vietnam does depend on Russia for oil, for military equipment and some technology," Courtney said. "But Vietnam appears to be now trying to broaden its aperture to look in other directions for military equipment as well. One reason might be that Vietnam has seen that a lot of Russian military equipment has performed poorly in Ukraine."

In Washington, Republican Representative Mike Turner, who is the chairperson of the U.S. House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, voiced concerns over the possibility of Russia providing North Korea with technological assistance to improve its long-range ballistic missiles and their ability to directly target the United States.

"I think we've all sort of felt intuitively that China, Russia, North Korea, Iran are working together in both their development of capabilities and in their threats to the United States. These symbolic meetings, I think, should allow us to focus on this as a threat that has already been occurring," Turner said during an event at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

VOA's White House Correspondent Anita Powell, National Security Correspondent Jeff Seldin and Kim Lewis contributed to this report. Some material in this report came from Reuters and Agence France-Presse.

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OTTAWA, June 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The United Steelworkers union (USW) is celebrating today a historic victory for workers across Canada, as the anti-scab legislation passed the final stage of the legislative process in the Parliament of Canada, receiving Royal Assent. This milestone marks the culmination of decades of relentless struggle by the Steelworkers, alongside the broader labour movement, the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois.



"The Steelworkers and the entire labour movement have fought for decades to make this legislation a reality," said Marty Warren, USW National Director. "This is a historic day and, above all, a major achievement in the fight for the rights of federally regulated workers, who will now be protected during labour disputes."

The newly adopted legislation, which will come into force on June 20, 2025, will ban the use of replacement workers during labour disputes, and thereby restore greater balance to collective bargaining. It will not only facilitate the negotiation of better working conditions, but also reduce the number and duration of labour disputes.

"This victory would not have been possible without the ongoing work with our parliamentary allies, who have consistently supported us in this fight and are committed to advancing workers rights," added Warren. The inclusion of this measure by the NDP in the Supply and Confidence Agreement with the government was also critical to the success of this legislation.

The USW also expresses its appreciation to those who remained dedicated to this fight. This victory shows the power of collective action and solidarity and reaffirms the unions commitment to advancing the rights and well-being of workers across Canada.

About the United Steelworkers union

The USW represents 225,000 members in nearly every economic sector across Canada and is the largest private-sector union in North America, with 850,000 members in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean.

Each year, thousands of workers choose to join the USW because of the unions strong track record in creating healthier, safer and more respectful workplaces and negotiating better working conditions and fairer compensation  including good wages, benefits and pensions.

For more information, please contact:

Francois Soucy, USW Communications, fsoucy@usw.ca, 873-355-2841
Las Vegas, NV, June 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft have become a popular and safe alternative for many people. They can easily choose cars and drivers, pay, and even tip through the apps. While these services have the potential to reduce alcohol-involved crashes, they are not immune to everyday accidents. Passengers and other drivers using other cars can still find themselves in an Uber or Lyft accident.

When the unfortunate happens, victims - whether a driver of another car or a passenger - need medical attention and assistance in pursuing compensation. The Schnitzer Law Firm has been championing those peoples rights and guiding them through compensation processes for years.

The firm begins by building a solid case to ensure clients are compensated for property or vehicle damages resulting from the accident. Other losses clients might qualify for compensation include loss of wages due to an injury, current and future medical expenses, emotional suffering, and pain.

As with other auto accidents, the main challenge is dealing with insurance companies. While rideshare companies have attempted to make policies much easier to understand, many clauses and conditions remain confusing for those seeking compensation.

For example, the law requires rideshare companies like Lyft and Uber to maintain insurance for their drivers in Nevada. However, drivers are not considered part of the ridesharing company when an app is off. Therefore, their insurance must pay for damage and injuries. When building a case, The Schnitzer Law Firm takes all these factors into account.

In addition, the firm is committed to ensuring the pursuit of justice does not interfere with the victims healing process. By dealing with insurance and handling medical bills, the team gives clients time to get their lives together. Throughout this period, the firm ensures clients are familiar with the processes, and if they have questions about the legal processes, the attorneys are on standby to answer them.

The Schnitzer Law Firm is also unafraid to explore alternative means to secure fair compensation for clients through courts. The lead attorney, Jordan Schnitzer, loves the courtroom and has successfully secured many verdicts in jury trials. With this record, most insurance companies are more likely to offer fair offers to avoid the court route of dealing with disputes.

In addition, the firm educates the public on various issues, such as the importance of understanding local traffic laws and the consequences of distracted driving. These efforts align perfectly with the firm's commitment to promoting safety and legal education.

About The Schnitzer Law Firm:

The Schnitzer Law Firm is a personal injury attorney that assists individuals injured in auto, bicycle, motorcycle, Uber and Lyft, truck, and other accidents in pursuing justice. The firm helps clients manage communications with insurance companies, handle medical bills, and create strategies. Additionally, the firm operates on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no consultation fees, upfront costs, or attorney fees until the case is resolved.

Media Contact:



Company Name: The Schnitzer Law Firm

Contact Person: Jordan Schnitzer

Phone: (702) 960-4050

Address: 710 S 9th St, Suite 2

City: Las Vegas

State: Nevada

Postal Code: 89101

Country: USA

Website: https://theschnitzerlawfirm.com/


VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bunker Hill Mining Corp. (Bunker Hill or the Company) (TSX-V: BNKR; OTCQB: BHILL) announces the voting results on matters considered at its annual general meeting of stockholders held on June 20, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia (the Meeting).



At the Meeting, all six (6) directors nominees listed in the Companys proxy statement dated May 16, 2024 (the Proxy Statement), being (i) Sam Ash, (ii) Mark Cruise, (iii) Dickson Hall, (iv) Pamela Saxton, (v) Paul Smith and (vi) Richard Williams, were re-elected to the board of directors of the Company (the Board). The Company would like to acknowledge the contributions of Cassandra Joseph, who did not stand for re-election as a Director of the Company.

In addition, at the Meeting, the Companys stockholders: (i) ratified the appointment of MNP LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, as auditor of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024; (ii) approved the adoption of the Companys amended and restated restricted stock unit incentive plan (the Amended and Restated RSU Plan); (iii) approved the renewal of the Companys stock option plan; (iv) approved, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of the Companys named executive officers as disclosed in the Proxy Statement pursuant to the executive compensation disclosure rules of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC); and (v) approved having an annual advisory vote regarding the compensation of the Companys named executive officers.

Amended and Restated RSU Plan

The Amended and Restated RSU Plan, in the form attached as Schedule B to the Proxy Statement, was ratified, confirmed and adopted by the Companys stockholders. The Amended and Restated RSU Plan was previously approved by the Board and the TSX Venture Exchange (the TSX-V), subject to stockholder approval at the Meeting.

The Amended and Restated RSU Plan is a fixed plan with the number of shares of common stock (Common Shares) issuable thereunder fixed at 33,909,921 Common Shares, being 10% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares as at May 8, 2024. Additional information regarding the Amended and Restated RSU Plan can be found in the Proxy Statement available for review on the Companys website at www.bunkerhillmining.com, on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

ABOUT BUNKER HILL MINING CORP.

Under Idaho-based leadership, Bunker Hill intends to sustainably restart and develop the Bunker Hill Mine as the first step in consolidating and then optimizing a number of mining assets into a high-value portfolio of operations, centered initially in North America. Information about the Company is available on its website, www.bunkerhillmining.com, or within the SEDAR+ and EDGAR databases.

On behalf of Bunker Hill Mining Corp.

Sam Ash

President and Chief Executive Officer

For additional information, please contact:

Brenda Dayton

Vice President, Investor Relations

T: 604.417.7952

E: brenda.dayton@bunkerhillmining.com

Cautionary Statements

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are within the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as well as within the meaning of the phrase forward-looking information in the Canadian Securities Administrators National Instrument 51-102  Continuous Disclosure Obligations (collectively, forward-looking statements). Forward-looking statements are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Companys future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as believes, anticipates, expects, estimates, may, could, would, will, plan or variations of such words and phrases.

Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Companys objectives, goals or future plans, including the restart and development of the Bunker Hill Mine, and the achievement of future short-term, medium-term and long-term operational strategies.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those risks and uncertainties identified in public filings made by Bunker Hill with the SEC and with applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities, and the following: the Companys inability to raise additional capital for project activities, including through equity financings, concentrate offtake financings or otherwise; the fluctuating price of commodities; capital market conditions; restrictions on labor and its effects on international travel and supply chains; failure to identify mineral resources; failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves; the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results; the Companys ability to restart and develop the Bunker Hill Mine and the risks of not basing a production decision on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability, resulting in increased uncertainty due to multiple technical and economic risks of failure which are associated with this production decision including, among others, areas that are analyzed in more detail in a feasibility study, such as applying economic analysis to resources and reserves, more detailed metallurgy and a number of specialized studies in areas such as mining and recovery methods, market analysis, and environmental and community impacts and, as a result, there may be an increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit, with no guarantee that production will begin as anticipated or at all or that anticipated production costs will be achieved; failure to commence production would have a material adverse impact on the Company's ability to generate revenue and cash flow to fund operations; failure to achieve the anticipated production costs would have a material adverse impact on the Company's cash flow and future profitability; delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals; political risks; changes in equity markets; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; the inability of the Company to budget and manage its liquidity in light of the failure to obtain additional financing, including the ability of the Company to complete the payments pursuant to the terms of the agreement to acquire the Bunker Hill Mine complex; inflation; changes in exchange rates; fluctuations in commodity prices; delays in the development of projects; and capital, operating and reclamation costs varying significantly from estimates and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such statements or information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all, including as to whether or when the Company will achieve its project finance initiatives, or as to the actual size or terms of those financing initiatives. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing risks and uncertainties are not exhaustive. Additional information on these and other risk factors that could affect the Companys operations or financial results are included in the Companys annual information form or annual report and may be accessed through the SEDAR+ website (www.sedarplus.ca) or through EDGAR on the SEC website (www.sec.gov), respectively.
Dublin, June 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "World Market for Beauty and Personal Care" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The beauty and personal care industry exceeded expectations in 2023, driven by the mass and premium segments, key beauty categories, premiumisation in personal care categories and rising consumption. The largest engines of growth were skin care, Asia Pacific, beauty specialists and e-commerce, and dermocosmetics. Wellness, ingredients and value creation are set to be key trends in 2024, as well as sustainability and artificial intelligence.



The World Market for Beauty and Personal Care global briefing offers an insight into to the size and shape of the Beauty and Personal Care market and highlights buzz topics, emerging geographies, categories and trends as well as pressing industry issues and white spaces. It identifies the leading companies and brands, offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market - be they new product developments, packaging innovations, economic/lifestyle influences, distribution or pricing issues. Forecasts illustrate how the market is set to change and criteria for success. The report also explores developments in the premium vs mass/masstige segments, and the evolution of novel beauty concepts.



Product coverage: Baby and Child-specific Products, Bath and Shower, Colour Cosmetics, Deodorants, Depilatories, Dermocosmetics Beauty and Personal Care, Fragrances, Hair Care, Mass Beauty and Personal Care, Men's Grooming, Oral Care, Oral Care Excl Power Toothbrushes, Premium Beauty and Personal Care, Prestige Beauty and Personal Care, Skin Care, Sun Care.



Data coverage: Market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares, brand shares and distribution data.



Key Report Features:

Get a detailed picture of the Beauty and Personal Care market;

Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change;

Understand the competitive environment, the market's major players and leading brands;

Use five-year forecasts to assess how the market is predicted to develop.

Key Topics Covered:

Introduction

State of the industry

Leading companies and brands

Recommendations/opportunities for growth

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/k067wy

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
Dublin, June 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Europe Online Grocery Market Report by Products, Purchaser Type, Delivery Type, Countries and Company Analysis 2024-2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



Europe Online Grocery Market size was valued at US$ 151.88 Billion in 2023 and is expected to reach US$ 673.15 Billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 17.99% from 2024-2032.



When online grocery shopping becomes more common, the traditional retailers will need to win the customers with all the advantages a physical shop has. Retailers need to offer an experience to a customer to retain them. The stores can serve as a meeting point where food and drink can be bought and consumed. The online food and grocery market in Europe has been growing in the past years, as people are looking more and more to make use of the convenient ways of grocery shopping and save time.





According to GSMA Intelligence, 474 million individuals in Europe (86% of the population) subscribed to mobile services in 2021, and this figure is predicted to rise to 480 million by 2025. Sustainability is currently and unsurprisingly a high priority for European consumers. In fact, 78% of them said they would switch to a new product, brand, or retailer if their regular one didn't match up to their own ideas about sustainability.



Europe Online Grocery Survey



Online grocery ordering has become more popular in recent years due to the increasing availability of smartphones and internet connections, which allow for faster meal delivery. In 2021, 474 million individuals in Europe (86% of the population) subscribed to mobile services, and this number is expected to increase to 480 million by 2025.

In 2021, a survey found that Swedish and Dutch shoppers with 37% and 35%, respectively.

The UK has around 60 million e-commerce customers in 2023. Adobe Digital Insights data from June 2018, indicated that 52% of UK adult internet users shopped online for groceries.

There were 60.80 million internet users in France in Jan 2024, when internet penetration stood at 93.8 percent.

Approximately 95 percent of Belgians have access to the internet, and in 2022, approximately 80 percent of those internet users made online purchases.

In 2023, with a share of 83% Germany internet users was ranked 6th among the EU states. Shopping on the web was particularly wide-spread in the Netherlands (93%), Sweden (91%) and Denmark (90%).

The number of ecommerce users in Russia is expected to increase from 98.1 million in 2019 to 105.8 million by 2023.

There were 10.44 million internet users in Sweden at the start of 2024, when internet penetration stood at 98.1 percent.

United Kingdom Online Grocery Market



Grocery stores in the UK have moved swiftly to meet this demand, encouraged further by the emergence of a variety of disruptive start-ups in the sector offering everything from delivery services to specialized products. When it comes to online grocery shopping in the UK, the revolution is already well underway. In the UK, the number of consumers who can envision doing most or all of their grocery shopping online within the upcoming years is markedly higher than most of the European countries.



The UK's online grocery market is booming thanks to growing consumer demand for convenience. Improved technology and infrastructure, like better internet and mobile apps, make online shopping easier. Safety concerns during the pandemic sped up the shift to digital grocery shopping. Established retailers and dedicated online platforms are expanding, driving market growth. Tesco had set a target of offering Whoosh from 800 stores by the end of February 2023 but has exceeded that target by 200 stores.



Europe Online Grocery Company News

April 2024, Auchan Retail Poland partnership with Ocado Solutions has announced it is now live with the Ocado Smart Platform (OSP).

February 2024, Carrefour is the top store brand for online grocery and beverage shopping in France.

Feb 2024, Ahold Delhaize is pleased to share that five of its European brands, digital experience- and IT teams, have spearheaded the delivery of an app convergence project. This strategic initiative has resulted in a unified, modular app framework designed to streamline and enhance the shopping experience for customers at Albert in the Czech Republic; Delhaize in Belgium and Luxembourg; Maxi in Serbia; Mega Image in Romania; and Alfa Beta in Greece.

Oct 2023, Ahold Delhaize acquired 100% of Romanian grocery retailer Profi Rom Food SRL from MidEuropa.

Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 185 Forecast Period 2023 - 2032 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $151.88 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2032 $673.15 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 17.9% Regions Covered Europe

Europe Online Grocery Company Analysis: Overview, Recent Developments, Revenue Analysis

Tesco Plc

ICA Gruppen AB

Auchan SA

Colruyt Group

Carrefour

Costco Wholesale Corporation

Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize N.V.

Ocado Group plc

Products - Market breakup in 6 viewpoints:

Vegetables and Fruits

Dairy Products

Staples and Cooking Essentials

Snacks

Meat & Seafood

Others

Purchaser Type - Market breakup in 2 viewpoints

Subscription Purchase

One Time Purchase

Delivery Type - Market breakup in 2 viewpoints:

Click & Collect

Home Delivery

Country: Market breakup of 12 Countries:

Belgium

France

UK

Germany

Spain

Italy

Netherland

Norway

Sweden

Switzerland

Russia

Turkey

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/pcdsw0

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
TORONTO, June 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Federal Court approved the first Claims Process for the First Nations Child and Family Services and Jordans Principle Settlement (the Settlement), marking a significant milestone towards providing compensation to individuals included in the historic $23.34 billion Settlement Agreement.

The first Claims Process focuses on two Classesthe Removed Child Class and Removed Child Family Class. These Classes include First Nations individuals who were removed from their homes as Children, on Reserve, or in the Yukon, and placed into care funded by Indigenous Services Canada between April 1, 1991, and March 31, 2022, as well as their eligible Caregiving Parents or Caregiving Grandparents.

The Courts approval of the first Claims Process marks a pivotal step towards providing compensation for First Nations Children and their families, says Stuart Wuttke, General Counsel for the Assembly of First Nations and Chair of the Settlement Implementation Committee. While were pleased to see the Settlement moving forward, theres still a lot of work to be done before the Claims Process can open. Our focus now is to make sure Class Members are aware of their rights and what they need to get ready to submit their Claim.

The Removed Child Class and Removed Child Family Class represent the first two of nine Classes under the Settlement. The Claims Period for each Class will open in phases following Court approval of each associated Claims Process.

We expect that members of the Removed Child Class and Removed Child Family Class will be able to apply for compensation by the end of the year, explains David Sterns, Class Counsel, partner at Sotos LLP and member of the Settlement Implementation Committee. Once the Claims Period opens, Class Members will need to submit a Claim Form to the Administrator to make their Claim for compensation.

Although compensation is not yet available, Class Members can take steps now to prepare for when the Claims Period opens, says Robert Kugler, Class Counsel, partner at Kugler Kandestin and member of the Settlement Implementation Committee. Anyone who submits a Claim will need to provide a copy of government-issued identification and a mailing address, and they should also have access to a bank account in their name for compensation deposit. We encourage people who are planning to submit a Claim to have these minimum requirements in place before the Claims Period opens.

The Administrator for the Settlement will accept a wide range of government-issued identification, including a Certificate of Indian Status, drivers licence, provincial or territory photo ID, birth certificate or an old age security ID card. A full list of accepted identification required to submit a Claim will be available on FNChildClaims.ca in the next few weeks.

General information about the Settlement and the Claims Process is available to Class Members through the Settlement website, FNChildClaims.ca. Class Members who have questions about the Settlement can also contact the Administrator at 1-833-852-0755.

In addition, when the Claims Period opens, resources such as an Eligibility Assessment Tool will be made available. Class Members will also have access to Claims Helpers at no cost to provide one-on-one support for completing the Claim Form virtually or in person. Claims Helpers will also assist Class Members with connecting to local services and wellness resources.

Mental health counselling and crisis support is available to Class Members 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through the Hope for Wellness Helpline at 1-855-242-3310 or online at HopeForWellnes.ca. Counselling is available in English, French, Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut upon request. Children and youth can also call the Kids Help Phone anytime at 1-800-668-6868, or text 686868.

The First Nations Child and Family Services and Jordans Principle Settlement Agreement was approved by the Federal Court on October 24, 2023, and intends to compensate those harmed by discriminatory underfunding of the First Nations Child and Family Services Program and those impacted by the federal governments narrow interpretation of Jordans Principle. The $23.34 billion Settlement Agreement followed compensation orders from the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal in 2019, which addressed systemic discrimination against First Nations Children and families.

Fact Sheet: Overview of the First Nations Child and Family Services and Jordans Principle Settlement Agreement (Link)

For more information, please contact:

Deborah Perne

Media Relations, Castlemain

First Nations Child and Family Services and Jordans Principle Settlement

Email: media@fnchildclaims.ca

Media line: 1-877-360-1557

A PDF accompanying this announcement is available at: http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/d3b734c4-5586-4e31-91e7-004cea4a5dbc
The new equipment allows for comprehensive analyses of various Lithium battery formats, including button and up to 21700 cylindrical batteries.



This acquisition significantly enhances our self-sufficiency, reducing dependency on external laboratories, accelerating testing processes, and enabling benchmarking of proprietary materials against commercial standards.

MONTREAL, June 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HPQ Silicon Inc. (HPQ or the Company) ( TSX-V: HPQ ) ( OTCQB: HPQFF ) ( FRA: O08 ), a technology company specializing in green engineering of silica and silicon material production, is pleased to announce the acquisition of new battery testing equipment by its France-based affiliate, NOVACIUM SAS ("Novacium").

The new battery test bench, a TOB-BTS-5V6A analyzer, was recently received, installed, and operationalized in Novaciums laboratory in Solaize (Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region, France). This acquisition enhances Novaciums laboratory-scale testing capabilities, enabling comprehensive analyses of Lithium batteries in various formats, including button up to 21700 cylindrical batteries.

We are thrilled about the potential of this new capacity, said Dr. Jed Kraiem, Ph.D., COO of Novacium. It will speed up our testing processes and allow us to obtain critical information more efficiently. Itll also enable us to benchmark our materials against other commercially available batteries, reducing the costs associated with external validation."



Image collage of the TOB-BTS-5V6A Battery Analyzer. This state-of-the-art 8-channel analyzer, equipped with a climate chamber, enables comprehensive testing of polymer and cylindrical batteries. Key features include precise battery capacity measurement, detailed charge-discharge profiling, and advanced data visualization for accurate performance evaluation.

ADVANCED TESTING SYSTEM PROVIDES ENHANCED EFFICIENCY

The TOB-BTS-5V6A is an 8-channel battery analyzer designed for polymer and cylindrical batteries ranging from 12 mA to 6000 mA and up to 15V. Equipped with a climate chamber, it enables accurate battery capacity measurement, detailed charge-discharge profiling, extended cycle performance evaluation, C-rate and fast charge analyses, internal resistance measurement, and anode material characterization. The system features eight independently programmable channels, offering high precision and accuracy with a voltage range of 10 mV-5 V for charge and 2.5 V-5 V for discharge. Integrated software supports various operating modes, real-time monitoring, data visualization, and automated reporting. A robust data protection feature ensures test continuity and data integrity after power interruptions.

Investing in high-precision testing equipment is crucial for advancing our development of future generations of silicon-based materials, said Mr. Bernard Tourillon, President and CEO of HPQ Silicon Inc. and NOVACIUM SAS. Rapid access to testing results enables us to optimize our research and development efforts, use our resources more effectively, and maintain a competitive edge in the market. Our goal is targeting performance metrics that exceed current industry standards.

Weve been looking for ways to be self-sufficient in testing and validating our advanced silicon-based materials, and this acquisition is a major step towards that, added Dr. Kraiem.

Clarification

The company refers to the transaction disclosed in its press release issued on June 5, 2024, relating to the acquisition of rights in the French company Novacium SAS and confirms that after the conclusion of this transaction, it will hold a 20% stake in Novacium SAS.

About NOVACIUM SAS

Novacium is an HPQ - affiliated company started in Q3 2022. This green technology startup is based in Lyon, France and is a partnership with HPQ and three of Frances leading research engineers, Dr. Jed KRAIEM PhD, Novacium's Chief Operating Officer (COO), Dr. Oleksiy NICHIPORUK PhD, Novacium's Chief Technical Officer (CTO), and Dr. Julien DEGOULANGE PhD, Novaciums Chief Innovation Officer (CIO). Novacium is a new Research and Development company which allows the researchers to develop their own technology in high added value fields connected to renewable energy, and allows HPQ Silicon Inc, a Canadian company, to expand the depth and reach of its technical team to help develop its silicon and new renewable energy projects.

About HPQ Silicon

HPQ Silicon Inc. ( TSX-V: HPQ ) is a Quebec-based TSX Venture Exchange Tier 1 Industrial Issuer.

HPQ is developing, with the support of world-class technology partners PyroGenesis Canada Inc. and NOVACIUM SAS , new green processes crucial to make the critical materials needed to reach net zero emissions.

HPQ activities are centred around the following four (4) pillars:

1) Becoming a green low-cost (Capex and Opex) manufacturer of Fumed Silica using the FUMED SILICA REACTOR, a proprietary technology owned by HPQ being developed for HPQ by PyroGenesis.



2) Becoming a producer of silicon-based anode materials for battery applications with the assistance of NOVACIUM SAS.



3) HPQ SILICON affiliate NOVACIUM SAS is developing a low carbon, chemical based on demand and high-pressure autonomous hydrogen production system.

4) Becoming a zero CO 2 low-cost (Capex and Opex) producer of High Purity Silicon (2N+ to 4N) using our PUREVAP Quartz Reduction Reactors (QRR), a proprietary technology owned by HPQ being developed for HPQ by PyroGenesis.



For more information, please visit HPQ Silicon web site .

Disclaimers:

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements containing the words "may", "plan", "will", "estimate", "continue", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "in the process" and other similar expressions which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectation and assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, our expectations regarding the acceptance of our products by the market, our strategy to develop new products and enhance the capabilities of existing products, our strategy with respect to research and development, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new product development, and uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and other risks detailed from time-to-time in the Company's ongoing filings with the securitys regulatory authorities, which filings can be found at www.sedar.com. Actual results, events, and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements either as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This News Release is available on the company's CEO Verified Discussion Forum , a moderated social media platform that enables civilized discussion and Q&A between Management and Shareholders.

Source: HPQ Silicon Inc.

For further information contact:

Bernard J. Tourillon, Chairman, President, and CEO Tel +1 (514) 846-3271

Patrick Levasseur, Director Tel: +1 (514) 262-9239

Email: Info@hpqsilicon.com
MONTREAL, June 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- nesto, Canadas leading digital mortgage lender, announced today the acquisition of the CMLS Group (CMLS), the third-largest mortgage finance company in Canada. The combined entity will build Canadas Mortgage Ecosystem of the Future.

The acquisition of CMLS by nesto creates the largest technology-enabled lender in Canada. The combined entity will be both a leader in residential and commercial mortgages, with over 1,000 employees across ten offices and more than $60 billion in mortgages under administration. The transaction was supported by investments from Diagram Ventures, Portage, NAventures (National Bank of Canadas corporate venture capital arm), IGM Financial, BMO Capital Partners, Fonds de solidarite FTQ and Fondaction.

This acquisition reinforces our commitment to delivering on our mission: to offer a positive, empowering and transparent property financing experience, simplified from start to finish, to all Canadians, said Malik Yacoubi, CEO of nesto. Combining our strengths will allow us to better serve Canadians and set new standards in the mortgage industry. We look forward to building Canadas Mortgage Ecosystem of the Future together with our new colleagues at CMLS.

nesto and CMLS are committed to continuing to serve its vast network of partners and clients. All CMLS Group executives and employees will transition to the combined entity. CMLS shareholders will have an equity stake in the combined entity.

In addition to the strong business rationale for the transaction, we were very impressed by the strong entrepreneurial values at CMLS and how engaged employees are. There is a clear culture fit for our organizations. We are excited to build the Mortgage Ecosystem of the Future with CMLS, shared Malik Yacoubi, CEO of nesto.

Established as a commercial lender in 1974, over the past 50 years CMLS has evolved into a leading lender, advisor, asset manager and software and services provider across nearly all commercial and single-family residential real estate markets in Canada. CMLS delivers these products and services through CMLS Financial, Intellifi , and CMLS Asset Management.

Joining forces with nesto will accelerate our next chapter of growth and further help our people, partners and clients succeed. Im delighted to build on our proud history and reputation with a partner who shares our commitment to culture and delivering value to partners and clients, said Sam Brown, CEO of CMLS.

The teams at nesto and CMLS Group are excited to join forces, united by a common culture of entrepreneurship, innovation and ownership mindset. Malik Yacoubi will be CEO of the combined entity. Sam Brown, will continue as President and Head of the Commercial Division. All nesto, CMLS and Intellifi brands will remain.

For more information

Martin Aubut

CMO nesto

martin.aubut@nesto.ca

514.262.6712

About nesto

nesto is Canadas leading digital mortgage lender. The company is on a mission to offer a positive, empowering and transparent property financing experience, simplified from start to finish, to all Canadians. nesto is delivering on this mission by offering Canadians the most advanced direct-to-consumer digital mortgage experience. nesto also enables Canadian Financial Institutions to transform their mortgage experience via nestos proprietary technology: the nesto Mortgage Cloud .

Awarded 2023-2024 Canadian Mortgage Lender of the Year by the Canadian Lending Association

Awarded Best Mortgage Lender 2023-2024 by Forbes Advisor

Awarded Deloittes Technology Fast 50 program winners for 2023

About CMLS Group

CMLS Group is one of Canadas largest independently owned real estate finance companies, with offices across the country. Founded in 1974, the company provides a wide range of commercial lending services, residential mortgages, and institutional services. Many of Canadas most prominent financial institutions, insurance companies and investment managers rely on CMLS Group for a variety of critical mortgage services.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3bd4b2ef-e72b-4c52-a54b-8f370b9c6793
QINGDAO, China, June 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The 2nd Council Meeting of the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia was held in Qingdao, Shandong Province on June 19. During the meeting, the proposed amendments to the Charter of the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia were approved, officially transitioning the alliance from an international cooperation mechanism for cultural heritage to an intergovernmental international organization. It is the first regional intergovernmental organization in the field of cultural heritage initiated and led by China. The meeting welcomed Uzbekistan and Maldives as new member countries and Honduras as the first partner country, bringing the total number of member countries, observer countries, and partner countries to 20.



A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link.

Mr. Li Qun, Chairman of the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China, and Director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, expressed China's active participation in promoting global civilization initiatives, expanding the alliance's network, advocating for the alliance, advancing integration with relevant international organizations and cooperation mechanisms, enlarging the alliance's partners, proceeding pragmatic cooperation projects in the cultural heritage field with Asian countries, developing talent pool, and launching training programs together with international organizations such as the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property.

The meeting reviewed the implementation of the alliance's work plan for 2023-2024 and discussed the work plan for 2024-2025, announcing funding for 15 Asian cultural heritage conservation projects in 2023 across countries such as Iran, Syria, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and the United Arab Emirates.

During the meeting, Mr. Li Qun and Gloria Annarella Velez Osejo, Minister of Culture, Arts, and Heritage of Honduras, signed an agreement to boost cultural heritage exchanges and cooperation. It marks the first cultural heritage cooperation agreement between China and Honduras since the establishment of diplomatic relations, aiming to collaborate on heritage protection, archaeology research, museum exchanges, personnel training, and deepen cooperation on the archaeological research and display of the Maya Site of Copan for closer cultural exchanges and people-to-people bond between the two countries.

The meeting was co-hosted by the National Cultural Heritage Administration and the People's Government of Shandong Province, with 150 representatives from 23 countries and 2 international organizations present. The meeting also featured an exhibition showcasing cultural heritage conservation achievements in Qingdao, as well as activities demonstrating intangible cultural heritage skills and creative cultural products to highlight Qingdao's cultural heritage achievements and promote traditional culture.

Qingdao, as the host city of the meeting, boasts a rich cultural heritage passed down through generations. It is an important coastal center city, a seaside resort destination, an international port city, and a national historical and cultural city in China, with a history of human activities spanning over 50,000 years and nearly 7,000 years of agricultural culture history. Currently, the city has 13 historical and cultural districts, 550 cultural heritage protection units, and nearly 200,000 movable cultural relics. There are 207 intangible cultural heritage projects at municipal level and above, including 16 national intangible cultural heritage projects and 72 provincial intangible cultural heritage projects.

Source: The People's Government of Shandong Province
ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HRCI, the premier credentialing and learning organization for the human resource profession, has earned the prestigious 2024 Top Workplaces award from The Washington Post. Derived from the findings of a workplace survey administered by Energage, HRCI has been validated as an employer of choice. Cited as the three top organizational strengths of HRCI were (1) aware leaders who understand whats really happening (2) supported growth that helps employees grow in their jobs and (3) an inclusive culture.



Founded in 1973, HRCI develops and offers world-class learning and provides exceptional professional development opportunities for both HR and business professionals. Committed to the ongoing development and engagement of its own employees, HRCI has been lauded as a respectful, collaborative and participatory workplace. Many HRCI employees have earned one or more of the organizations certifications, which include diversity, equity and inclusion courses.

To qualify for participation in the Top Workplaces awards, the organizations employees complete a confidential survey that requests feedback on an employers priorities for health and wellbeing, work-life balance, social responsibility and diversity and inclusion. Comments describing HRCI included collaborative, welcoming, supportive and rewarding. One employee expressed, Everyone on the team is mission-focused and supports one another in our common goals.

HRCI CEO Amy Dufrane, Ed.D., SPHR, CAE, said, What an honor to be recognized by The Washington Post as a Top Workplace in our region! At HRCI, we pride ourselves on nurturing the potential of our workforce in the same manner as we support the ongoing development of the HR community. Based on their direct feedback, were particularly grateful that our team members feel they can thrive here, as our primary focus is creating a workplace where each of them is respected and valued.

The full list of Top Workplaces 2024 will be published in the June 21, 2024 issue of The Washington Post. For more on HRCI, visit https://topworkplaces.com/company/hrci.

About HRCI

HRCI is the premier credentialing, standards and learning organization for the human resources profession. For 50 years, HRCI has set the global standard for HR expertise and excellence through its commitment to developing and advancing those in the people business. Secretariat for International Organization for Standardization (ISO) TC 260, HRCI helps HR professionals achieve new competencies that drive results by creating and offering world-class learning and administering eight global certifications. HRCI is also the parent company of HRSI, certifying organizations based on ISO standards. To learn more about HRCI and HRSI, visit www.hrci.org or www.hrsi.org .

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8b107d9a-69e3-4461-bb46-d63abbb20ee6
ATLANTA, June 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Monarch Private Capital (Monarch), a nationally recognized impact investment firm that develops, finances, and manages a diversified portfolio of projects generating both federal and state tax credits, is proud to announce the release of its 2023 Impact Report. This comprehensive report, titled "Touchpoints," showcases the firm's significant contributions to renewable energy, affordable housing and historic rehabilitation projects through its extensive network of partners.



"Touchpoints" is more than just an impact report; it is an annual narrative that underscores Monarch's dedication to sustainability initiatives, legislative advancements, investor engagement and community involvement. Each year, Monarch's team works tirelessly to make a positive impact on team members, partners, stakeholders and communities, enriching lives and fostering growth. While the nature of our touchpoints may evolve, our commitment to investing in communities and championing a better, more sustainable future remains steadfast.

Creating a Sustainable Future

Monarch leads the way in creating customized structuring solutions, empowering fund investors to engage in projects that drive meaningful change in their local communities and beyond. Leveraging its relationships and expertise, Monarch is dedicated to being the partner of choice in the impact-driven investment space. With a strong foundation built on trust, transparency, responsibility and service, Monarch collaborates with clients to work towards a more sustainable and equitable future.

At Monarch, were deeply passionate about driving substantive change through our investment projects, Melanie Frontczak , Director, ESG & Tax Credit Investments for Monarch Private Capital. Committed to enhancing communities and improving lives, we take immense pride in the positive influence of our investments and are proud to present their impact in the 2023 Impact Report.

Explore Monarchs 2023 Impact Report Touchpoints here .

For more information on Monarch Private Capital and tax equity impact investing, please contact George Strobel at gstrobel@monarchprivate.com .

About Monarch Private Capital

Monarch Private Capital manages impact investment funds that positively impact communities by creating clean power, jobs and homes. The funds provide predictable returns through the generation of federal and state tax credits. The Company offers innovative tax credit equity investments for affordable housing, historic rehabilitations, renewable energy, film and other qualified projects. Monarch Private Capital has long-term relationships with institutional and individual investors, developers and lenders participating in these federal and state programs. Headquartered in Atlanta, Monarch has offices and professionals located throughout the United States.

CONTACT

Jane Rafeedie Monarch Private Capital jrafeedie@monarchprivate.com

470-283-8431
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Great Pacific Gold Corp. ("Great Pacific Gold, GPAC, or the "Company") (TSXV: GPAC) (OTCQX: FSXLF) (Germany: 4TU) is pleased to announce new high-grade gold assays from a follow up diamond drill hole of the Comet gold discovery at the Lauriston Gold Project in Victoria, Australia (Figure 1). Diamond drill hole CDH10 intersected 4.0 at 22.3 g/t Gold from 101.9m.



This high-grade intercept, together with additional gold assays received, occur within and below the previously identified main zone of the initial high-grade reverse circulation (RC) percussion discovery hole CRC07 (8m at 106 g/t Gold including 5m at 166 g/t Gold including 2m at 413 g/t Gold including 1m at 468 g/t Gold and 1m at 358 g/t Gold (from 95 metres) (see news release January 11, 2024)).

In addition to the high-grade gold assays from CDH10, the Company also received a number of deeper high-grade gold intervals from diamond drill hole CDH09 including 0.35m at 55.6 g/t Gold from 130.4m, 0.2m at 22.23 g/t Gold from 133.8m and 0.2m at 15.67 g/t Gold from 170.75m. These high-grade assays at depth show the significant potential of the system being drilled at Comet (see Figure 2  Updated Comet Cross Section below).

GPAC Chief Operating Officer and Director, Rex Motton, states, Our latest gold assays intersected stacked zones of mineralization providing us with important geological information on the potential scope of the system. Importantly, high-grade gold at depth was associated with widespread quartz veining. Drilling has focused on understanding the controls of the gold mineralization and led to the development of a structural geological framework. This structural setting highlights several possible high-grade targets deeper and further west of the current drilling pattern, as well as along strike. We are looking forward to continuing drilling to better understand the controls on this highly prospective set of gold mineralized structures and to discover more high-grade gold mineralization.

Figure 1  Comet Location Maps





Figure 2  Updated Comet Cross Section 5850093mN





Figure 3 - Visible Gold Contained within CDH10 Quartz Vein Associated with Arsenopyrite and Stibnite needles





Assays reported in this news release cover nine diamond drill holes totalling 1,380m. See Table 1 for all gold assay results received from the diamond drill program at Comet.

The Comet gold mineralization is hosted by Ordovician slates and sandstones, which are folded in a series of north-south striking concertina folds and regionally form part of the Fosterville Sub-Domain, east of Bendigo. The west dipping thrust fault at Comet, known as the Comet fault zone, is associated with the gold mineralization at the prospect. This high-grade gold discovery is located within the core of the Comet Anticline, where it is intersected by the Comet Fault Zone, which is a similar structural setting of the mineralization present at Fosterville. Further diamond drilling has determined that the Comet anticlinal fold is moved westerly with depth below the main Comet thrust melange - fault zone and that a set of flat lying auriferous extensional quartz veins occurs below the main thrust fault.

The Comet prospect has epizonal characteristics of Au-As-Sb mineralization similar to the Fosterville gold deposit. Other epizonal Victorian projects include the Costerfield and Sunday Creek gold deposits.

A review of the drilling done to date has meant that there remain sections of the drilling that require further core cutting and assaying particularly in the lower part of CDH02 drillhole.

Figure 4  Deformation model





An example of the mechanisms for the development of this large structural framework is presented in Figure 4. East-West compression causes the development of bedding plane slip surfaces, thrusts and extension arrays through progressive coaxial shortening (Sibson and Scott, 1998). West dipping thrust faults and extensional flat lying quartz veining especially in the zone of east dipping beds east of the anticline are dilational and create foci for gold mineralization to occur. Later strike slip faulting disrupted and fractured the gold mineralization previously deposited.

The model indicates that further gold mineralization will occur along the west dipping thrust faults especially when in proximity to the core of the anticline, as well as within the extensional quartz veined array.

Apart from planned drilling along strike, further drilling is planned west of CDH02 to determine the location of the Comet Anticline and Comet Thrust intersection repetition (Figure 5).

Figure 5  Comet drill targets for further exploration.





Drill Results and Intercepts:

HoleID East North Azimuth

(deg.) Dip (deg.) From (m) To (m) Downhole

Interval

(m) Au g/t CDH02 263510.26 5850092.31 90.12 -78.7 117.0 124.1 5.1 0.71 and 131.0 133.5 2.5 0.98 and 136.45 140.0 3.55 1.29 and 186.7 191.1 4.4 0.72 and 217.7 218.9 1.2 0.68 CDH03 263526.67 5850125.28 84.22 -64.6 85.0 88.0 3.0 1.03 and 101.0 102.0 1.0 1.04 CDH04 263524.08 5850124.16 82.72 -74.8 103.0 105.0 2.0 0.60 and 112.0 115.0 3.0 0.36 and 148.0 149.0 1.0 0.51 CDH05A 263519.28 8580092.64 92.12 -65.6 81.50 84.10 2.6 0.48 and 86.65 87.65 1.0 0.32 and 90.95 92.95 2.0 4.79 CDH06 263514 5850093 75 -63 88.90 90.00 1.85 0.67 and 97.45 98.00 0.55 0.97 and 100.78 102.5 2.94 0.81 and 104.95 105.30 0.4 10.90 CDH07 263514.03 5850093 68 -72 105.55 115.95 10.40 1.21 and 119.25 120.65 1.4 0.64 CDH08 263511 5850090 107 -70 95.9 98.2 2.3 0.66 and 99.8 105.3 5.5 0.92 and 107.75 110.45 2.7 2.18 and 114.6 116.9 2.3 0.35 and 141.7 141.97 0.27 0.67 and 151.35 151.70 0.35 0.33 and 168.75 169.3 0.55 6.26 CDH09 263510 5850090 82 -73 117.45 118.45 1.0 10.62 and 130.40 130.75 0.35 55.60 and 133.8 134.0 0.2 22.63 and 170.75 170.95 0.2 15.67 CDH10 263532 5850120 143 -69 101.9 105.9 4.0 22.3



Except for diamond drill holes CDH09 and CDH10 that use a 1.0 g/t Au cut off, the above results use a 0.3 g/t Au cut-off grade and maximum 2m internal waste. True widths are not known due to the complexities of the mineralization. Additional drilling is required to determine true widths. The assays are not capped.

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

All assays were subject to quality control measures appropriate for percussion drilling with duplicates, blanks and commercially available standards with the expected results from the samples submitted. All assays were conducted by Onsite Laboratory Services Ltd (ISO: 9001), located in Bendigo, Victoria, using fire assay techniques with a 25g or 50g charge and ICP or AAS finish. The quality control results are consistent.

About GPAC

Great Pacific Gold has a portfolio of high-grade gold projects in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Australia.

In PNG, Great Pacific Gold recently assembled a 2500 sq. km mineral exploration land package in PNG. The land package comprises of exploration licenses (EL). It includes both early-stage and advanced-stage exploration targets with high-grade epithermal vein and porphyry-style mineralization present.

The Arau Project consists of two exploration licenses, located in the Kainantu region, and includes the Mt. Victor Prospect, where previous drilling found a multiple phase intrusion complex hosting copper and gold mineralization.

The Wild Dog Project consists of two granted exploration licenses, EL 2761 and 2516, located on the island of New Britain and about 50 km southwest of Rabaul and Kokopo, PNG.

The Kesar Creek Project consists of one exploration license, EL 2711, and is contiguous with the K92 Mining Inc. tenements.

The Tinga Valley Project consists of one exploration license, EL 2720. The OK Tedi Copper Gold Mine is 140km to the northwest along the same belt is a superb geological comparison to the Tinga Valley Property.

In Australia, Great Pacific Gold began with two, 100% owned, high-grade gold projects called the Lauriston and Golden Mountain Projects, and has since acquired a large area of granted and application tenements containing further epizonal (low-temperature) high-grade gold mineralization and associated intrusion-related gold mineralization all in the state of Victoria, Australia. The Great Pacific Gold land package, assembled over a multi-year period, notably includes the Lauriston Project which is a 535 sq. km property immediately to the south of and within the same geological framework that hosts Agnico Eagle Mines Ltds Fosterville Gold Mine and associated exploration tenements. The Golden Mountain Project is an intrusion-related gold project on the edge of the Strathbogie granite and occurs at the northern end of the Walhalla Gold Belt. The acquired projects include the epizonal gold Providence Project containing the Reedy Creek goldfield which adjoins the Southern Cross Golds Sunday Creek exploration project and a large group of recently consolidated granted tenements called the Walhalla Gold Belt Project, which contain a variety of epizonal and intrusion related style gold mineralization. Additionally, Great Pacific Gold has another gold-focused project called the Moormbool Project which has epizonal style gold mineralization and associated potential intrusion-related gold mineralization, as well as the Beechworth Project occurs in the northeast of the state and contains intrusion related and mesozonal gold mineralization.

All GPACs properties in Australia are 100% owned and have had historical gold production from hard rock sources despite limited modern exploration and drilling.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed, verified and approved by Rex Motton, AusIMM (CP), COO of GPAC, a Qualified Person under the meaning of National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Motton is responsible for the technical content of this news release.

On behalf of GPAC

Rex Motton

Chief Operating Officer and Director

Reference

Sibson and Scott, 1998, Stress/fault controls on the containment and release of over-pressured fluids: Examples from gold-quartz vein systems in Juneau, Alaska; Victoria, Australia and Otago, New Zealand. Ore Geology reviews, Vol13, pp 293-306.

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Great Pacific Gold cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by many material factors, many of which are beyond their respective control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Great Pacific Gold's limited operating history, its exploration and development activities on its mineral properties and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Great Pacific Gold does not undertake to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information: Adam Ross, Investor Relations, Direct: (604) 229-9445, Toll Free: 1 (833) 923-3334, Email: info@greatpacificgoldcorp.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/75608985-bb19-407f-9020-2ae53aa6a399

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/61e9993d-f35e-415b-b4e9-89ad92150aa0

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Dublin, June 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Smoking Cessation & Nicotine De-Addiction Product Market 2024-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Smoking Cessation & Nicotine De-Addiction Product Market size was estimated at USD 28.25 billion in 2023, USD 30.89 billion in 2024, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.65% to reach USD 53.87 billion by 2030.







Rising public awareness concerning the health hazards posed by smoking and nicotine addiction enhance the adoption of smoking cessation products. Stringent regulations and policies aiming to curb smoking rates contribute to the market growth. Ongoing innovations in product offerings, such as e-cigarettes and app-based support for smoking cessation. However, stringent regulations and the potential banning of certain nicotine-containing products can hamper market growth. The high propensity for relapse among quitters poses a persistent challenge to the efficacy of cessation products. Moreover, developing personalized cessation plans using big data analytics to improve success rates. Wearable devices that monitor physiological parameters to offer real-time support and feedback, enhancing use of smoking cessation and nicotine de-addiction products.



Regional Insights



The United States and Canada represent significant markets for smoking cessation products in the Americas. The Americas region is characterized by high consumer awareness and willingness to adopt smoking cessation aids, supported by healthcare policies and community support programs. The EMEA region presents a mixed picture, with EU countries leading in smoking cessation initiatives, while the Middle East and Africa face challenges due to varying regulatory environments and smoking culture. Strict advertising restrictions and smoke-free laws drive the demand for smoking cessation products in European countries. The Asia Pacific region, comprising significant markets such as China, Japan, and India, showcases diverse consumer behavior towards smoking cessation. Robust governmental anti-smoking policies combined with a growing awareness of smoking hazards contribute to the escalating demand for nicotine de-addiction products in the APAC region.

Market Drivers

Growing Prevalence of Numerous Diseases due to Smoking Such as Respiratory Disorders and Lung Cancer

Expanding Market Penetration of De-Addiction Products Globally

Favorable Government Initiatives to Promote Anti-Smoking Policy and Raising Awareness of the Health Impact due to Smoking

Market Restraints

Product Recalls by the Manufacturer and Companies owing to increasing Technical Faults and Stringent Approval Process

Market Opportunities

Increasing Approvals and Development of New Nicotine Replacement Products

Significant Online Market Presence Coupled with Social and Communal Support for Smoking Cessation Products

Market Challenges

Side Effects Associated with the Continued Usage of De-Addiction Products Coupled with Rising of Alternatives to Tobacco

Market Segmentation Analysis

Product: Rising adoption of E-cigarettes for smoking cessation

Distribution: Customer inclination towards online pharmacies for convenience and discretion

Industry Insights

Market Disruption Analysis

Porter's Five Forces Analysis

Value Chain & Critical Path Analysis

Pricing Analysis

Technology Analysis

Patent Analysis

Trade Analysis

Regulatory Framework Analysis

FPNV Positioning Matrix



The FPNV positioning matrix is essential in evaluating the market positioning of the vendors in the Smoking Cessation & Nicotine De-Addiction Product Market. This matrix offers a comprehensive assessment of vendors, examining critical metrics related to business strategy and product satisfaction. This in-depth assessment empowers users to make well-informed decisions aligned with their requirements. Based on the evaluation, the vendors are then categorized into four distinct quadrants representing varying levels of success, namely Forefront (F), Pathfinder (P), Niche (N), or Vital (V).



Market Share Analysis



The market share analysis is a comprehensive tool that provides an insightful and in-depth assessment of the current state of vendors in the Smoking Cessation & Nicotine De-Addiction Product Market. By meticulously comparing and analyzing vendor contributions, companies are offered a greater understanding of their performance and the challenges they face when competing for market share. These contributions include overall revenue, customer base, and other vital metrics. Additionally, this analysis provides valuable insights into the competitive nature of the sector, including factors such as accumulation, fragmentation dominance, and amalgamation traits observed over the base year period studied. With these illustrative details, vendors can make more informed decisions and devise effective strategies to gain a competitive edge in the market.



Recent Developments

BC Cancer Launches Nicotine Replacement Therapy Pilot Program in Prince George

Imperial Tobacco Canada Is Excited To Launch A Smoking Cessation Product

NCDHHS Launches New QuitlineNC Services to Make Stopping Tobacco Use and Vaping More Accessible

Strategy Analysis & Recommendation



The strategic analysis is essential for organizations seeking a solid foothold in the global marketplace. Companies are better positioned to make informed decisions that align with their long-term aspirations by thoroughly evaluating their current standing in the Smoking Cessation & Nicotine De-Addiction Product Market. This critical assessment involves a thorough analysis of the organization's resources, capabilities, and overall performance to identify its core strengths and areas for improvement.



Key Company Profiles



The report delves into recent significant developments in the Smoking Cessation & Nicotine De-Addiction Product Market, highlighting leading vendors and their innovative profiles. These include:

22nd Century Group, Inc.

Alkalon A/S

Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.

British American Tobacco PLC

Cipla Ltd.

Ditch Labs

Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Limited

Enorama Pharma AB

GlaxoSmithKline PLC

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Limited

Imperial Tobacco Company of India Limited

Itaconix

Japan Tobacco Inc.

Johnson & Johnson

JUUL Labs, Inc.

Novartis International AG

Perrigo Company PLC

Pfizer Inc.

Philip Morris International Inc.

Pierre Fabre S.A.

Rusan Pharma Ltd.

Samyang Holdings Corporation

Sparsha Pharma International Pvt. Ltd.

Strides Pharma Science Limited

Market Segmentation & Coverage



This research report categorizes the Smoking Cessation & Nicotine De-Addiction Product Market to forecast the revenues and analyze trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Product- Drug Therapy

Chantix (Varenicline)

Zyban (Bupropion)

E-Cigarettes

Nicotine Inhalers

Nicotine Replacement Therapies

Nicotine Gums

Nicotine Lozenges

Nicotine Sprays

Nicotine Transdermal Patches

Nicotine Sublingual Tablets

Distribution

Drug Store

Hospital Pharmacies

Online Pharmacies

Retail Pharmacies

Region

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Europe, Middle East & Africa

Key Attributes

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 183 Forecast Period 2024-2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $30.89 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $53.87 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 9.6% Regions Covered Global

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/sm9gnm

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Dublin, June 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Disulfiram Market by Indication (Alcoholism Treatment, Co-occurring Disorders), Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacies, Online Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies) - Forecast 2024-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Disulfiram Market was estimated at USD 375.19 million in 2023, USD 392.75 million in 2024, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.81% to reach USD 521.63 million by 2030.



The increasing prevalence of alcohol dependency worldwide is a significant factor contributing to the expansion of disulfiram use. Additionally, healthcare providers often support the use of disulfiram for patients struggling with alcoholism, particularly when combined with counseling and psychological support, thereby promoting its adoption. However, certain side effects from the medication itself, including liver toxicity and allergic reactions hamper the market growth. Rising research & development activities to develop more patient-friendly formulations with fewer side effects are expected to create opportunities for market growth.





Regional Insights



In the Americas, the disulfiram market is rapidly expanding due to established healthcare infrastructure and awareness regarding alcohol dependency treatments. The availability of disulfiram is supported by both insurance coverage and treatment programs that incorporate the drug as part of wider alcohol abuse rehabilitation protocols. In South America, the market dynamics differ, with variable access to disulfiram largely influenced by local healthcare policies and economic conditions.

The Asia-Pacific region shows a varied landscape for disulfiram. Countries including Australia and Japan have better access to treatment options, including disulfiram, with supportive healthcare systems and regulations. Europe constitutes a major part of the disulfiram market in the EMEA region. Northern and Western European countries generally display higher awareness and treatment rates for alcoholism, including the use of disulfiram. The regulatory environment and healthcare networks in Europe significantly support the accessibility of disulfiram. Cultural attitudes towards alcohol and alcoholism treatment are expanding the adoption of treatments including disulfiram in the Middle East and Africa.

Market Drivers

Growing cases of alcohol addiction across the globe

Increasing patient awareness and higher treatment-seeking rate

Market Restraints

Side effects associated with the use of disulfiram

Market Opportunities

Favorable efforts from the governments to curb the use of alcohol

Innovations in drug delivery systems, such as more efficient oral formulations

Market Challenges

Issues associated with the effectiveness of disulfiram

Market Segmentation Analysis

Indication: Rising usage of disulfiram for the treatment of chronic alcoholism

Distribution Channel: Rising availability of disulfiram in hospital pharmacies which are located within medical facilities

Industry Insights

Market Disruption Analysis

Porter's Five Forces Analysis

Value Chain & Critical Path Analysis

Pricing Analysis

Technology Analysis

Patent Analysis

Trade Analysis

Regulatory Framework Analysis

FPNV Positioning Matrix



The FPNV positioning matrix is essential in evaluating the market positioning of the vendors in the Disulfiram Market. This matrix offers a comprehensive assessment of vendors, examining critical metrics related to business strategy and product satisfaction. This in-depth assessment empowers users to make well-informed decisions aligned with their requirements. Based on the evaluation, the vendors are then categorized into four distinct quadrants representing varying levels of success, namely Forefront (F), Pathfinder (P), Niche (N), or Vital (V).



Market Share Analysis



The market share analysis is a comprehensive tool that provides an insightful and in-depth assessment of the current state of vendors in the Disulfiram Market. By meticulously comparing and analyzing vendor contributions, companies are offered a greater understanding of their performance and the challenges they face when competing for market share. These contributions include overall revenue, customer base, and other vital metrics. Additionally, this analysis provides valuable insights into the competitive nature of the sector, including factors such as accumulation, fragmentation dominance, and amalgamation traits observed over the base year period studied. With these illustrative details, vendors can make more informed decisions and devise effective strategies to gain a competitive edge in the market.

Strategy Analysis & Recommendation



The strategic analysis is essential for organizations seeking a solid foothold in the global marketplace. Companies are better positioned to make informed decisions that align with their long-term aspirations by thoroughly evaluating their current standing in the Disulfiram Market. This critical assessment involves a thorough analysis of the organization's resources, capabilities, and overall performance to identify its core strengths and areas for improvement.



Key Company Profiles



The report delves into recent significant developments in the Disulfiram Market, highlighting leading vendors and their innovative profiles. These include:

Abbott Laboratories

Alkem Laboratories Ltd.

Allergan plc

Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited

Aurobindo Pharma Limited

Bausch Health Companies Inc.

Bayer AG

Cipla Inc.

Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd.

Eli Lilly and Company

Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Merck KGaA

Mylan N.V.

Novartis AG

Odyssey pharmaceuticals inc

Par pharmaceutical inc

Pfizer Inc.

Sanofi S.A.

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Watson laboratories Inc.

Zydus Lifesciences Limited

Market Segmentation & Coverage



This research report categorizes the Disulfiram Market to forecast the revenues and analyze trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Indication

Alcoholism Treatment

Co-occurring Disorders

Distribution Channel

Hospital Pharmacies

Online Pharmacies

Retail Pharmacies

Region

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Europe, Middle East & Africa

Key Attributes

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 199 Forecast Period 2024-2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $392.75 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $521.63 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 4.8% Regions Covered Global

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/u7lujt

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Dublin, June 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Cocaine Use Disorder Market by Therapeutic Approaches (Behavioral Therapies, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Contingency Management), Medications (Anticonvulsants, Antidepressants, Antipsychotics), Treatment Setting - Forecast 2024-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Cocaine Use Disorder Market was estimated at USD 1.32 billion in 2023, USD 1.39 billion in 2024, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.21% to reach USD 2.01 billion by 2030.



The increased awareness and social acceptance of addiction issues are necessitating the treatments for cocaine use disorders. The governmental and private funding for addiction treatment programs influences the market scope. The advancements in treatment methodologies and the growing prevalence of cocaine use worldwide are also enhancing the adoption of cocaine use disorder treatments.

However, the limited availability of specialized healthcare providers and social stigmas associated with drug addiction may limit the adoption of treatment options. Regulatory hurdles and variability in treatment effectiveness across populations also pose significant challenges for market growth.

Moreover, personalized medicine approaches utilizing genetic and psychosocial markers to tailor treatments generate significant growth potential. The application of artificial intelligence and machine learning in predicting treatment outcomes and enhancing patient engagement through digital platforms also creates significant opportunities for market expansion.





Regional Insights



In the Americas region, cocaine remains a significant public health concern, with considerable investments into research on novel treatments and rehabilitation programs. The demand for effective treatment options underscores the urgent consumer need for support in managing cocaine use disorder in the United States and Canada. Recent patents in the Americas region have highlighted innovative therapeutic approaches, including pharmacological interventions and digital health solutions designed to curb addiction.

The European Union countries demonstrate a varied spectrum of cocaine use patterns, from high prevalence rates in nightlife settings to more contained use in broader populations. Significant efforts are being made to unify data collection and reporting standards across the EMEA region to better address consumer needs. Initiatives to tackle cocaine use are in nascent stages in the Middle East and Africa region, often integrated within broader drug misuse prevention programs.

In the APAC region, Major countries such as China, India, and Japan enacted strict drug enforcement policies and are investing in public education campaigns to deter substance use. Research into the nature of drug addiction and its treatment is growing in APAC countries, reflecting a burgeoning awareness of the need for evidence-based interventions in the management of cocaine use disorder.

Market Segmentation Analysis

Treatment Setting: Increasing preference for residential rehabilitation facilities

Medications: Need-based preference for psychostimulants for treatment of cocaine use disorder

Industry Insights

Market Disruption Analysis

Porter's Five Forces Analysis

Value Chain & Critical Path Analysis

Pricing Analysis

Technology Analysis

Patent Analysis

Trade Analysis

Regulatory Framework Analysis

FPNV Positioning Matrix



The FPNV positioning matrix is essential in evaluating the market positioning of the vendors in the Cocaine Use Disorder Market. This matrix offers a comprehensive assessment of vendors, examining critical metrics related to business strategy and product satisfaction. This in-depth assessment empowers users to make well-informed decisions aligned with their requirements. Based on the evaluation, the vendors are then categorized into four distinct quadrants representing varying levels of success, namely Forefront (F), Pathfinder (P), Niche (N), or Vital (V).



Market Share Analysis



The market share analysis is a comprehensive tool that provides an insightful and in-depth assessment of the current state of vendors in the Cocaine Use Disorder Market. By meticulously comparing and analyzing vendor contributions, companies are offered a greater understanding of their performance and the challenges they face when competing for market share. These contributions include overall revenue, customer base, and other vital metrics. Additionally, this analysis provides valuable insights into the competitive nature of the sector, including factors such as accumulation, fragmentation dominance, and amalgamation traits observed over the base year period studied. With these illustrative details, vendors can make more informed decisions and devise effective strategies to gain a competitive edge in the market.



Recent Developments

Scientists Develop a Vaccine for Cocaine

FDA Approves New Buprenorphine Treatment Option for Opioid Use Disorder

Strategy Analysis & Recommendation



The strategic analysis is essential for organizations seeking a solid foothold in the global marketplace. Companies are better positioned to make informed decisions that align with their long-term aspirations by thoroughly evaluating their current standing in the Cocaine Use Disorder Market. This critical assessment involves a thorough analysis of the organization's resources, capabilities, and overall performance to identify its core strengths and areas for improvement.



Key Company Profiles



The report delves into recent significant developments in the Cocaine Use Disorder Market, highlighting leading vendors and their innovative profiles. These include:

Alkermes PLC

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Camurus AB

Indivior PLC

Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc.

KemPharm, Inc.

Novartis International AG

Orexo AB

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.

Pfizer Inc.

Revive Therapeutics Ltd.

Sage Therapeutics, Inc.

Shionogi & Co. Ltd.

Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.

Viatris Inc.

Market Segmentation & Coverage



This research report categorizes the Cocaine Use Disorder Market to forecast the revenues and analyze trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Therapeutic Approaches

Behavioral Therapies

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Contingency Management

Medication-Assisted Treatment

Motivational Enhancement

Medications

Anticonvulsants

Antidepressants

Antipsychotics

Psychostimulants

Treatment Setting

Hospital-Based Treatment Programs

Inpatient Rehabilitation Centers

Outpatient Rehabilitation Centers

Residential Rehabilitation Facilities

Region

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Europe, Middle East & Africa

Key Attributes

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 198 Forecast Period 2024-2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $1.39 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $2.01 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 6.2% Regions Covered Global

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/vsy8g0

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Dublin, June 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Carbon Fiber Textile Market: Trends, Opportunities and Competitive Analysis (2024-2030)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global carbon fiber textile market is expected to reach an estimated $4 billion by 2030 with a CAGR of 6% from 2023 to 2030.

The major drivers for this market are growing demand for lightweight and high performance composite materials in transportation, marine, wind energy, aerospace/defense, and construction industries. The future of the global carbon fiber textile market looks promising with opportunities in transportation, marine, wind energy, aerospace and defense, construction, consumer goods end uses.

Features of Carbon Fiber Textile Market

Market Size Estimates: Carbon fiber textile market size estimation in terms of value ($M) and volume (M lbs).

Trend and Forecast Analysis: Market trends (2018-2023) and forecast (2024-2030) by various segments and regions.

Segmentation Analysis: Market size by end use, product type, and region

Regional Analysis: Carbon fiber textile market breakdown by North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World.

Growth Opportunities: Analysis of growth opportunities in different end use, product type, and regions for the carbon fiber textile market.

Strategic Analysis: This includes M&A, new product development, and competitive landscape for the carbon fiber textile market.

Analysis of competitive intensity of the industry based on Porter's Five Forces model.

The study includes trends and forecast for the global carbon fiber textile market by end use, product type, and region.

Carbon Fiber Textile Market Insights

Wind energy will remain the largest end use by value and volume and it is also expected to witness the highest growth over the forecast period due to higher strength and stiffness properties.

Woven textile will remain the largest segment due to its wide application area in transportation, aerospace/defense, and wind energy industries. The non-woven textile is expected to witness highest growth over the forecast period due to its better drapability, optimization in component design, and de-lamination resistance.

Europe is expected to remain the largest region due to presence of leading carbon fiber composite component manufacturers and RoW is expected to witness the highest growth over the forecast period due to growing end use industries in the region.

Regional Insights: Europe Expected to Remain the Largest Region

United States: American companies like Hexcel Corporation and Toray Industries are investing in carbon fiber textile production for aerospace and automotive applications. Initiatives such as the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) drive research and development in advanced materials, including carbon fiber textiles. Government support through programs like the Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) consortium accelerates market growth.

China: Chinese manufacturers including Weihai Guangwei Composites and Jiangsu Hengshen Co., Ltd. are expanding carbon fiber textile production capacities to meet domestic and international demand. Government initiatives promoting innovation in high-tech industries and advanced materials drive market expansion. The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) supports the development of carbon fiber textile technologies.

Germany: German firms like SGL Carbon and BMW Group are at the forefront of carbon fiber textile research and application. Government initiatives promoting innovation in lightweight materials and sustainable transportation drive market growth. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy provides funding for research and development in carbon fiber textile technologies.

Japan: Japanese companies such as Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation and Toray Industries, Inc. are investing in carbon fiber textile production for automotive and industrial applications. Government initiatives promoting carbon fiber technology as a key component of lightweighting strategies drive market expansion. The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) supports research and development in advanced materials, including carbon fiber textiles.

South Korea: South Korean manufacturers like Hyosung Corporation and Kolon Industries are expanding carbon fiber textile production to cater to global demand. Government initiatives promoting technological innovation and industrial competitiveness drive market growth. The South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (MOTIE) supports research and development in carbon fiber textile technologies.

Emerging Trends in the Carbon Fiber Textile Market



Emerging trends, which have a direct impact on the dynamics of the industry, includes strategic collaborations between automotive part manufacturers and carbon fiber producers, increasing length of wind turbine blades demands high performance composites, and development of new methods suitable for mass production.

Recent Developments in Carbon Fiber Textiles

Growing Demand for Energy-Efficient Building Materials: With increasing awareness of energy conservation and sustainability, there's a growing demand for energy-efficient building materials like low-e glass. This trend is driven by regulations promoting energy-efficient construction and consumer preferences for green buildings.

Advancements in Coating Technologies: Manufacturers of low-e glass are investing in research and development to enhance the performance of their coatings. New coating technologies are being developed to improve solar control, thermal insulation, and visible light transmission properties of low-e glass.

Focus on Smart Glass Solutions: Integration of low-e coatings with smart glass technologies is gaining traction in the market. Smart glass products, such as electrochromic and thermochromic glass, combined with low-e coatings, offer dynamic control over light and heat transmission, contributing to energy savings and occupant comfort.

Expansion of Low-e Glass Applications: Low-e glass is being increasingly used in various applications beyond traditional windows, such as facades, curtain walls, and skylights. This expansion is driven by advancements in manufacturing techniques, allowing for larger and more complex glass configurations with low-e coatings.

Regional Market Dynamics: Market dynamics for low-e glass vary by region, influenced by factors such as building codes, climate conditions, and construction trends. In regions with extreme climates, there's higher demand for low-e glass with superior thermal insulation properties.

Key Topics Covered



1. Executive Summary



2. Market Background and Classification

2.1: Introduction, Background, and Classifications

2.2: Supply Chain

2.3: Industry Drivers and Challenges



3. Market Trends and Forecast Analysis from 2018 to 2030

3.1: Macroeconomic Trends and Forecasts

3.2: Global Carbon Fiber Textile Trends and Forecast

3.3 Global Carbon Fiber Textile by End Use

3.3.1: Transportation

3.3.2: Marine

3.3.3: Wind Energy

3.3.4: Aerospace and Defense

3.3.5: Construction

3.3.6: Consumer goods

3.3.7: Others

3.4: Global Carbon Fiber Textile by Product Type

3.4.1: Woven Textiles

3.4.2: Non-Woven Textiles



4. Market Trends and Forecast Analysis by Region

4.1: Global Carbon Fiber Textile by Region

4.2: North American Carbon Fiber Textile Market

4.3: European Carbon Fiber Textile Market

4.4: APAC Carbon Fiber Textile Market

4.5: RoW Carbon Fiber Textile Market



5. Competitor Analysis

5.1: Product Portfolio Analysis

5.2: Operational Integration

5.3: Geographical Reach

5.4: Porter's Five Forces Analysis



6. Growth Opportunities and Strategic Analysis

6.1: Growth Opportunity Analysis

6.1.1: Growth Opportunities for the Global Carbon Fiber Textile by End Use

6.1.2: Growth Opportunities for the Global Carbon Fiber Textile by Product Type

6.1.3: Growth Opportunities for the Global Carbon Fiber Textile by Region

6.2: Emerging Trends in the Global Carbon Fiber Textile Market

6.3: Strategic Analysis

6.3.1: New Product Development

6.3.2: Capacity Expansion

6.3.3: Mergers and Acquisitions



7. Company Profiles of Leading Players

7.1: Saertex Group

7.2: Sigmatex (UK) Ltd.

7.3: VECTOPLY CORPORATION

7.4: Chomarat

7.5: BGF Industries

7.6: SGL Carbon

7.7: Hexcel

7.8: SELCOM S.r.l

7.9: Toray Industries, Inc.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/2nrr19

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
NEW YORK, June 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Lincoln National Corporation (Lincoln National or the Company) (NYSE: LNC) and reminds investors of the June 24, 2024 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.



Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses Exceeding $100,000 In Lincoln National To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options

If you suffered losses exceeding $100,000 investing in Lincoln National stock or options between November 4, 2020 and November 2, 2022 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). You may also click here for additional information: www.faruqilaw.com/LNC.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) that the Company was experiencing a decline in its VUL business; (2) that, as a result, the goodwill associated with the life insurance business was overstated; (3) that, as a result, the Companys policy lapse assumptions were outdated; (4) that, as a result, the Companys reserves were overstated; (5) that, as a result, the Companys reported financial results and financial statements were misstated; and (6) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants positive statements about the Companys business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

On November 2, 2022, after the market closed, Lincoln National released its third quarter 2022 financial results, reporting a net loss of $2.6 billion for the quarter. This was compared to a net income of $318 million for the third quarter of 2021 the previous year. The Company explained [t]he current quarters adjusted operating results included net unfavorable notable items of $2.0 billion, or $11.62 per share, related to the companys annual review of DAC and reserve assumptions. The Company also disclosed that it incurred a $634 million goodwill impairment to the life insurance business.

On this news, Lincoln Nationals stock price fell $17.27, or 33.2%, to close at $34.83 per share on November 3, 2022, on unusually heavy trading volume.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Lincoln Nationals conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.





A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5e848124-9c14-4bab-ba13-256ecec0c433
US private equity firm is attempting a no premium take-over in an effort to promote their own self-serving agendas at a critical point in Voxturs transformation

Private Equity Nominees have multiple conflicts of interest, lack Canadian public company experience and are not aligned with Voxtur Shareholders

Voxtur Shareholders are urged to vote FOR the management nominees today. For questions or assistance with voting, contact Laurel Hill Advisory Group by phone at 1-877-452-7184 (within North America) +1 416-304-0211 (outside North America), or by email at assistance@laurelhill.com



TORONTO and TAMPA, Fla., June 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Voxtur Analytics Corp. (TSXV: VXTR; OTCQB: VXTRF) (Voxtur or the Company), a North American technology company creating a more transparent and accessible real estate lending ecosystem, acknowledges the recent announcement by a group of activist shareholders, led by US-based private equity fund Rice Park Capital Management LP (Rice Park), and receipt of director nominees (the Private Equity Nominees) for the upcoming Annual General and Special Meeting of shareholders (the AGM) scheduled for Friday, June 28, 2024, at 9:00 AM (Eastern Time). The Company is currently reviewing the materials disseminated by Rice Park, but wishes to address its concerns around this development and reiterate its commitment to shareholder value, long-term strategy, and transparency.

The Private Equity Nominees Have Put Forward No Credible Plan

Despite seeking full control of the Voxtur Board of Directors (Board) from shareholders, the Private Equity Nominees have not provided any specific nor credible plan, pointing only to a vague strategic plan, operational enhancements, and a strategic review.

The Company has already been diligently executing a comprehensive strategy aimed at enhancing long-term shareholder value that it believes is in the best interests of all shareholders of Voxtur (Voxtur Shareholders). Over the past fourteen months, the Company has implemented several initiatives, including:

Strategic Operational Enhancements : Focused efforts on streamlining operations, reducing costs, eliminating debt, and improving efficiency to boost profitability. In fact, since May 2023, the Company reduced operating expenses by approximately $9.5 million CAD annualized and in the last quarter of fiscal 2023, the Company reduced term debt by approximately $23 million CAD.



: Focused efforts on streamlining operations, reducing costs, eliminating debt, and improving efficiency to boost profitability. In fact, since May 2023, the Company reduced operating expenses by approximately $9.5 million CAD annualized and in the last quarter of fiscal 2023, the Company reduced term debt by approximately $23 million CAD. Strategic Plan : In January 2024, the Company engaged a reputable North American bank to conduct a strategic asset review to identify opportunities for value creation (the  Financial Advisor ), which Nicholas Smith (a Private Equity Nominee) supported while he was Chairman of the Board. Furthermore, the outcome agreed to by the Board at the time was to materially reduce the Companys debt which would ultimately unlock shareholder value. Under the Companys current plans, it is expected that debt will be materially reduced by the end of this fiscal year or sooner. Engaging a second strategic review just six months later and while the existing Financial Advisor is engaged would be an unnecessary, costly, and unwelcome distraction as Voxtur focuses on its execution.



: In January 2024, the Company engaged a reputable North American bank to conduct a strategic asset review to identify opportunities for value creation (the  ), which Nicholas Smith (a Private Equity Nominee) supported while he was Chairman of the Board. Furthermore, the outcome agreed to by the Board at the time was to materially reduce the Companys debt which would ultimately unlock shareholder value. Under the Companys current plans, it is expected that debt will be materially reduced by the end of this fiscal year or sooner. Engaging a second strategic review just six months later and while the existing Financial Advisor is engaged would be an unnecessary, costly, and unwelcome distraction as Voxtur focuses on its execution. Innovative Growth Initiatives: Investment in new technologies, products, and markets to drive sustainable growth and competitive advantage. A cornerstone to this initiative is the technology solutions that Blue Water provides. Despite the underwhelming performance and material financial drain that Blue Water has had on the Company since the time of acquisition, Management has remained committed to and confident in the immense potential that Blue Water has. We have continued to invest in the development of Blue Waters technology solutions and are confident that as market conditions turn, this investment will become a turning point for the company and will provide material value to shareholders.



The activist shareholder group is in essence attempting to affect a no premium takeover of control of the board disguised by a repurposed plan that is already being advanced by the Board. Voxtur Shareholders should be deeply wary of providing control of the board to the Private Equity Nominees at this opportunistic point in time, as the Companys turnaround is beginning to take shape.

Concerns About Private Equity Nominees Multiple Conflicts of Interest and Efforts to Gain Control of Voxtur Without Paying a Premium

Voxtur Shareholders should be aware that the Private Equity Nominees are not aligned with other shareholders. The Company has reason to believe that nearly all of the Private Equity Nominees proposed as directors are engaged in activities that are in direct competition with the Company.

Prior to his resignation as a director of the Company, the Board expressed concerns on multiple occasions to Mr. Smith (as did Al Qureshi, who is now one of the Private Equity Nominees!) regarding Mr. Smiths conflicts of interest and he was encouraged by the Board to seek independent legal advice regarding his conflict of interest and the potential legal consequences of him failing to declare such conflicts of interest. Shortly after being told to seek such advice, Mr. Smith - presumably on the basis of advice received  abruptly informed the Board that he would be resigning.

Mr. Qureshi approached the Board in early 2024 with a proposal for Mr. Qureshi and a purported financial backer of his to acquire Voxtur. The Company, along with its Financial Advisor determined that the offer was not credible and undervalued.

Furthermore, Rice Park (a former major shareholder of Voxturs wholly-owned subsidiaries, Blue Water Financial Technologies, LLC, and Blue Water Financial Technologies Services, LLC (collectively Blue Water)), along with Mr. Smith, (former Chairman of the Board, a senior advisor to Blue Water and current Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer of Rice Park), Chris Bixby (Managing Director, Rice Park), Jeffrey Hilligoss (Senior Advisor to Blue Water) and Mr. Qureshi, (current President of Blue Water) have all had business dealings with each other in the past and have a connection to Blue Water, a prized asset of Voxtur which they sold to Voxtur in 2022. The activist shareholder group is acting jointly and in concert and transparently attempting to take control of Blue Water, via Voxtur, without paying shareholders a control premium. It appears the intention of the activist shareholder group is to acquire control over Voxtur without any payment to Voxtur Shareholders as they now see the true potential in Blue Water after Voxturs investment post acquisition. This is all the more troubling given Mr. Smiths reckless conduct which could potentially, if he is successful, push Voxtur into insolvency and allow him and his associates to acquire the assets of Voxtur at a significant discount and leave shareholders high and dry  see Concerns About Debt Covenant Provisions below.

Concerns About Illegal Use of Insider Information and Breach of Securities Laws

The Company will be investigating the Private Equity Nominees who may have engaged in the inappropriate use of material non-public information and insider knowledge to further their opportunistic, no premium takeover. The Company takes this matter very seriously and is committed to determining the extent of any inappropriate use of confidential company information and material non-public information and reserves all legal options to protect the Company from the misuse of this information.

We are deeply concerned about the potential misuse of insider information and are taking all necessary steps to protect the integrity of our operations and the interests of our shareholders, said Chair and Interim CEO Gary Yeoman. We are confident that our ongoing initiatives are the right course of action and are fully committed to upholding the highest standards of corporate governance.

Rice Park, and Messrs. Smith, Hilligoss, Qureshi, Neel and Holthus may also be acting jointly and in concert in respect of the 19.3% of the Shares disclosed in the June 19 press release issued by the group of undisclosed shareholders led by Rice Park, as they have had prior business dealings, directly or indirectly, through mutually known persons and have admitted in the information document that they intend to cause all of the shares of the Company owned and/or controlled by them to be voted at the Meeting. This group claims to be the Voxtur Shareholders for Accountability, do the Voxtur Shareholders not deserve transparency as to who else forms part of this group, including whether the former CEO of Voxtur, Jim Albertelli, is part of this group?

Concerns over lack of Canadian Public Company Experience, Lack of Qualifications and Troubling Track Record

In order to act as a director of a TSX Venture Exchange listed Company the TSX Venture Exchange considers a number of factors including sufficient public company experience in Canada.

None of the Private Equity Nominees proposed by Rice Park have experience as directors of a Canadian public company, (other than Mr. Smith, who has limited experience), nor have they been approved by the TSX Venture Exchange to act as directors, to the knowledge of the Company. With little to no experience in Canadian capital markets, absence of evidence of TSX Venture Exchange approval for the Private Equity Nominees to act as officers and directors of a public company and based on the existing public track record, serious questions should be raised about their ability to govern appropriately and in the best interest of all shareholders  especially given their conflicts of interest.

Rice Park proposes that Mr. Hilligoss serve as the Chair of the Audit Committee and as the Independent Chair, a position of leadership on the board. Mr. Hilligoss was terminated1 by his former employer, Cargill Financial Services Corporation for, among other reasons: (i) the substantial losses Cargill experienced as a result of investment under his responsibility, (ii) his lack of leadership (evidenced by a trip to Hawaii and upcoming trip to Bermuda at a time when the investment was experiencing serious problems) and (iii) engaging in conduct that created a conflict of interest based on communications he had with an outside entity regarding the potential sale of the investment. Shareholders should give serious pause as to whether Mr. Hilligoss judgement is suitable to serve on the Voxtur board at all, let alone as its Independent Chair and Audit Chair.

Concerns About Debt Covenant Provisions

Voxtur Shareholders should be aware that certain covenants in the Companys credit agreements contain provisions that deem a change of control to be an event of default. Surely Mr. Smith, as former Chair of the Board, is aware that the proposed changes to the Board would constitute a change of control and trigger an event of default, risking the Companys solvency and putting the investment of all Voxtur Shareholders at risk. Voxtur Shareholders should ask whether Mr. Smiths actions are careless, reckless, or opportunistic and to further the true aims of Rice Park and its associates to acquire Voxturs assets at a significant discount and to eliminate a competitor.

Concerns About Potential Non-Compliant Proxy Solicitation Process and Intimidation

The Company has been advised that the proxy solicitation process undertaken by the activist shareholder group may be in violation of securities laws. The Company is also investigating these potential transgressions to ensure shareholders and the director election process are protected.

The Company is also deeply alarmed by reports that Voxtur Shareholders and supporters have received threats of legal action from legal counsel representing the dissident shareholder group in an effort to silence any criticism of the Private Equity Nominees, and potentially coerce Voxtur Shareholders from supporting the incumbent Board and management of Voxtur. These are troubling actions in just the first 24 hours of Rice Parks campaign. If they treat shareholders like this now, can you imagine how they would treat the minority shareholders if they acquired control of Voxtur?

Act Now to Protect Your Investment  Vote Today

The deadline to submit proxy votes in advance of the meeting is June 26, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time). The Company urges shareholders to REJECT the conflicted Private Equity Nominees and vote FOR each of the Voxtur director nominees: Gary Yeoman, Michael Harris, Ray Williams, and Allan Bezanson.

If you have questions or require assistance with voting, please contact Voxturs proxy solicitation agent, Laurel Hill Advisory Group by telephone at 1-877-452-7184 (toll-free in North America), or +1 416-304-0211 (outside North America), or email at assistance@laurelhill.com.

For more information, please visit Voxtur.com or contact Jordan Ross at jordan@voxtur.com.

About Voxtur

Voxtur is a transformational real estate technology company that is redefining industry standards in a dynamic lending environment. The Company offers targeted data analytics to simplify the multifaceted aspects of the lending lifecycle for investors, lenders, government agencies and servicers. Voxtur's proprietary data hub and workflow platforms more accurately and efficiently value assets, originate and service loans, and securitize portfolios. As an independent and transparent mortgage technology provider, the Company offers primary and secondary market solutions in the United States and Canada. For more information, visit www.voxtur.com.

Neither TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, forward-looking information). Any information contained herein that is not based on historical facts may be deemed to constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian and United States securities laws. Forward-looking information may be based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release, and may be identified by the words may, would, could, should, will, intend, plan, anticipate, believe, estimate, expect or similar expressions. Forward-looking information may include, but is not limited to: the completion of the Issuance; approval of the Issuance by the TSXV; expectations for the effects of certain milestones or the ability of the Company to successfully achieve certain business objectives; the effects of unexpected costs, liabilities or delays; success of software activities; regulatory approval; the competition for skilled personnel; expectations for other economic, business, environmental, regulatory and/or competitive factors related to the Company, or the real estate industry generally; anticipated future production costs; and other events or conditions that may occur in the future. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflects estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the information is provided. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, such information involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance, or achievements of the Company. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information include but are not limited to: additional costs related to acquisitions; ; integration of acquired businesses; implementation of new products; changing global financial conditions, especially in light of the COVID-19 global pandemic; reliance on specific key employees and customers to maintain business operations; competition within the Company's industry; a risk in technological failure or failure to implement technological upgrades in accordance with expected timelines; changing market conditions; failure of governing agencies and regulatory bodies to approve the use of products and services developed by the Company; the Companys dependence on maintaining intellectual property and protecting newly developed intellectual property; operating losses and negative cash flows; and currency fluctuations. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information contained herein.

This forward-looking information is provided as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise this information to reflect new events or circumstances except as required in accordance with applicable laws.

Voxtur's common shares are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol VXTR and in the US on the OTCQB under the symbol VXTRF.

For media inquiries:

Jacob Gaffney

Tel: (817) 471-7627

jacob@gaffneyaustin.com

For shareholder inquiries:

Laurel Hill Advisory Group

Toll-free: 1-877-452-7184 (North America)

Collect calls outside North America: +1 416-304-0211

assistance@laurelhill.com

_____________________

1 Hilligoss v. Cargill, Inc. Supreme Court of Minnesota C4-01-632, C6-01-227 649 N.W.2d 142 *; 2002 Minn. LEXIS 505 **
ZURICH, June 21, 2024 - At the inaugural ETP Summit in Zurich last week, leading financial experts called for a paradigm shift in portfolio management, recommending a 3-5% allocation to digital assets in what they term "Portfolio 3.0".

Key Takeaways:

Industry leaders from Fidelity, Apex Group, Coinbase, and Galaxy endorse digital asset integration

Stablecoin circulation expected to increase fivefold by 2030

Switzerland emerges as global ETP capital due to favourable regulations





The first ETP summit, organized by MPE.Swiss, a close distribution partner of issuance.swiss AG powered by Apex Group, brought together traditional finance giants and blockchain innovators. Attendees included representatives from SIX Swiss Exchange, Swissquote, Natixis, Bank Frick, Banque Syz, Sygnum Bank, Amina Bank, Vontobel, Julius Baer, Pictet, UBS, and Fidelity, alongside digital finance entrepreneurs from Figment, Liqwid, Cardano, SwissBorg, 21X, 3iQ, Copper, Zodia, and the Crypto Finance group.

"Investors are increasingly favouring digital assets over venture capital and private equity investments," said Florian Volery, co-founder of Liqwid Finance, citing instant liquidity as a key advantage.

Laurent Kssis, director of issuance.swiss, predicted, "By 2030, the volume of stablecoins in circulation will increase another fivefold," highlighting the integration of digital assets into traditional finance.

Switzerland's regulatory environment has positioned it as the global ETP capital. Unlike U.S. ETFs, Swiss ETPs allow investors to invest in structure holding underlying assets while accessing staking returns said Matthieu Gueissaz, event manager and founder of MPE.Swiss AG

"Regulators must keep pace with the ongoing movement towards tokenization," urged Carlos Martin Doncel, Head of Digital Asset Products at Swissquote.

Bruce Jackson, chief of digital assets at Apex Group, called tokenization "the last hurdle before massive global adoption of blockchain technology."

Fidelity's Martha Reyes-Holmes emphasised, "Investors need to have at least 3% digital assets in their portfolio."

The consensus among participants: blockchain-based financial flows and digital token inclusion in global savings are inevitable, marking the dawn of Portfolio 3.0.





For more information, contact: Press@issuance.swiss & press@mpeswiss.ch tel +4144 551052







About issuance.swiss AG:

Issuance.Swiss AG is a specialised Swiss company dedicated to listing financial products on regulated European stock exchanges. They offer a comprehensive "issuance-as-a-service" solution to bring both vanilla and complex digital asset strategies to market in the form of publicly traded exchange traded products (ETPs).

Incorporated in Zug, Switzerland, Issuance.Swiss AG's standalone setup allows them to seamlessly list strategies from European and U.S. clients who may face compliance constraints in directly managing digital assets. Clients can leverage a white-label revenue model, with Issuance.Swiss AG handling all administrative and operational aspects.

Their streamlined process is estimated to successfully list new ETPs within 8 weeks of engagement. Issuance.Swiss AG is fully equipped with onboarded key service providers across fund administration, custody, market making, audit and legal functions. This comprehensive solution provides clients a rapid path to market while Issuance.Swiss AG manages all operational requirements.

Through their specialised issuance expertise, Issuance.Swiss AG empowers clients to capitalise on digital asset strategies via a fully regulated, publicly traded ETP structure across European exchanges.

About MPE.Swiss:

MPE.Swiss is a leading Swiss-based distributor of innovative financial products, specialising in new-generation Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) in the digital asset space. As the distribution arm of issuance.swiss, MPE.Swiss leverages its extensive international network to promote cutting-edge ETP solutions issued by issuance.swiss and the Apex Group. MPE.Swiss is committed to driving innovation in the financial sector, providing investors with secure, regulated access to the opportunities presented by blockchain technology and digital assets. Through its expertise and strategic partnerships, MPE.Swiss continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of investment products in Switzerland and beyond.

Disclaimer

This document and the information contained herein are not for distribution in or into (directly or indirectly) the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan or any other jurisdiction in which the distribution or release would be unlawful. This document does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in or into the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan.This document does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, any securities in the United States. This document is only being distributed to and is only directed at: (i) to investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order"); or (ii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"); or (iv) persons who fall within Article 43(2) of the Order, including existing members and creditors of the Company or (v) any other persons to whom this document can be lawfully distributed in circumstances where section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply. The approval of the 2023 Base Prospectus (EU) should not be understood as an endorsement by the FMA of the securities offered or admitted to trading on a regulated market. Eligible potential investors should read the 2023 Base Prospectus (EU) and the relevant Final Terms before making an investment decision in order to understand the potential risks associated with the decision to invest in the securities.
"CanadianSME Small Business Show 2024 to Highlight the Critical Role of Digital Transformation in Small Business Success"



MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, June 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The CanadianSME Small Business Show 2024 is powered by CanadianSME, a leading platform for small and medium-sized enterprises across Canada. This one-day in-person event, exclusively designed specifically for Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises, is due on June 24, 2024, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building, Level 100. Please visit www.smeexpo.ca to register.

The CanadianSME Small Business Show 2024 is our commitment to continuing to support Canadian SMEs. Thus, this year's theme, "Embracing Digital Transformation for Small Businesses," stresses the unique challenges and opportunities that small businesses face in the digital era. As the Canadian business landscape changes rapidly with technological advancements, its essential for small businesses to adapt and thrive.

This event emphasizes the need for digital innovation to grow small businesses. Attendees will learn to integrate digital solutions into their infrastructure and create innovative long-term business growth plans. We cordially invite all small business owners to our business transformative event, which features best practices from different organizations and networking opportunities.

Don't miss out on this year's show! Our exceptional lineup of keynote speakers, workshops, and panel discussions on crucial topics such as Accelerating Success: Navigating Digital Transformation for SMEs, Mastering the Tech Triad: Navigating Cloud, AI, and Security in the Digital Age, and Fostering Inclusion: Building Diverse and Inclusive Workplaces are certain to make this event a memorable one. This is your chance to boost your business needs. Join us to benefit from the opportunity to grow and develop your business.

Core Topics for Panel Discussions :

Accelerating Success: Navigating Digital Transformation for SMEs: Understanding the essential steps and strategies for small businesses to implement and benefit from digital transformation successfully.

Understanding the essential steps and strategies for small businesses to implement and benefit from digital transformation successfully. Mastering the Tech Triad: Navigating Cloud, AI, and Security in the Digital Age: Exploring the critical aspects of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, and how they can be leveraged to enhance business operations and security.

Exploring the critical aspects of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, and how they can be leveraged to enhance business operations and security. Fostering Inclusion: Building Diverse and Inclusive Workplaces: Strategies and best practices for creating diverse, inclusive workplaces that drive innovation and business success. You might want to check the list of speakers, and heres a rundown of it.



Exclusive Keynotes:

Leveraging Logistics for Digital Transformation presented by Paul Gaspar, Director, Small Business, UPS  Canada.



presented by Paul Gaspar, Director, Small Business, UPS Canada. How to choose the right accountant to grow your business led by Michael Mehr, Partner of Edmison Mehr Chartered Professional Accountants and Xero Ambassador.



led by Michael Mehr, Partner of Edmison Mehr Chartered Professional Accountants and Xero Ambassador. Achieving Growth as an SME in Canada with Frank Vella, CEO of Constant Contact.



with Frank Vella, CEO of Constant Contact. Navigating Business Travel Challenges: Strategies for Small and Midsize Enterprises by Tarandeep Singh, Regional VP  Commercial, Marketing & Revenue Management | IHG Canada.



by Tarandeep Singh, Regional VP  Commercial, Marketing & Revenue Management | IHG Canada. Transforming with Data: How to Optimize Operations and Drive Growth will be presented by Ok Ikejiani, Founder & Chief Innovation Officer of Red Thread Innovations.



will be presented by Ok Ikejiani, Founder & Chief Innovation Officer of Red Thread Innovations. Top 3 lessons learned scaling from 1 to 25,000 customers with Shrad Rao, CEO and Co-founder of Wagepoint & Laurinda Lee-Retter, Founder of Kind Karma Company.



with Shrad Rao, CEO and Co-founder of Wagepoint & Laurinda Lee-Retter, Founder of Kind Karma Company. Digital Transformation: Empowering Small Businesses to Grow and Build Stronger Brands by Olivia Cicchini, Employment Law Expert & Presenter at Peninsula Canada.



by Olivia Cicchini, Employment Law Expert & Presenter at Peninsula Canada. SME and the Digital Age: How to ensure advances in digital technology work for you and not against you will be led by Dave Smiderle, PhD, Associate Dean Humber College & Francis Syms, MASc, PEng, PMP Associate Dean Humber College.



Amazing Workshops:

Parthiban Dhakshnamurthy, Procurement Assistance Team Leader, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC)  Procurement Assistance Canada  Ontario Region, will be delivering a workshop titled "How the federal government buys what you sell"



Georges Levesque, President at Levesque Negotiation, will help us "Learn to Negotiate in 30min"



Glen DaSilva, Distribution Account executive from Asus Canada, will lead a workshop called "ASUS SMB Solutions - Unlocking Incredible Possibilities"



Luis Santos, Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) Specialist, Okta, will be delivering a workshop titled "Build the 360-degree view of the customer using Identity"



Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success, Constant Contact, will equip the attendees with "Email Marketing Must-Haves: Quick Tips for Lasting Success"



Roop Johal, Director of Partnerships at Small Business BC, will present the strategies for "Accessibility Awareness and Information for Small Businesses"



Olivia Cicchini, Employment Law Expert & Presenter at Peninsula Canada, will explore "Employment Lifecycle - From Hiring to Firing"



Anatoly Dvorkin, founder and CEO of HRC Law Professional Corporation, will dive deep into the world of terminating employees with his workshop, "Terminations Done Right."

Join the Business Mixer Networking Event at the Small Business Show 2024!

Calling all SMB owners! You just cant afford to miss the Business Mixer Networking event at the Small Business Show 2024. This event is a great opportunity is your chance to connect, share, and grow with fellow entrepreneurs. Forge valuable relationships, spark innovative ideas, and discover new paths to success. Register now and be part of a dynamic community dedicated to mutual growth and collaboration!

Visit smeexpo.ca to explore the full event schedule, and register now to ensure you don't miss this chance to connect and grow!

Demo Stage Sessions:

"Rev Up Your H2 Sales Engine: Quick insights, better decisions with Maximizer Sales Leader Edition," led by Victoria Hamilton, Account Executive at Maximizer.



Mandar Patel, CPA, CA President, SourceIn Canada, and CA Anand Sanghvi, Founder & CEO, SourceIn Canada, will present the demo session titled "SourceINYour Extended Financial Desk Drive Growth with Customized Accounting Solutions."



"Tailored IT Solutions for SMBs from Pathway: Unlocking Efficiency, Growth and Security" will be delivered by Walter Zenko, Senior Vice President at Pathway Communications.



Leah Green  Sales Account Executive, Flawless Inbound & Liliane Youssef  President and Co-Founder at Flawless Inbound, will be leading "Sustainable Growth vs Growth at All Cost: What How to Think about Your Growth and Go To Market in 2024 and Beyond".



Simplifying Digital Transformation: Unlock Business Success with Inspiration Digital by Dinesh Juneja, Co-Founder & Chief Digital Officer at Inspiration Digital.



Sponsors and Partners:

The CanadianSME Small Business Show 2024 is thankful to its sponsors and partners, including:

Google - Tech Partner

UPS - Exclusive Shipping Partner

Xero - Exclusive Accounting Software Partner

Constant Contact - Exclusive Email Partner

Nexim Healthcare Consultants - Gold Partner

TD Bank - Gold Partner

Orna App - Silver Partner

Asus - Silver Partner

Okta - Silver Partner

Maximizer - Bronze Partner

BDC - Bronze Partner

Wagepoint - Keynote Sponsor

F12 - Bronze Partner

IHG - Exclusive Hospitality Partner

Peninsula - HR Partner

TMU - Panel Sponsor

Humber College - Keynote Sponsor

Red Thread Innovation - Keynote Sponsor

A1 Global - Registration Desk Sponsor

Green Shield - Titanium Sponsor

About CanadianSME Small Business Show:

Ultimately, the CanadianSME Small Business Show 2024 is a premier event where business owners can connect with over 2,000 industry professionals nationwide. Participants can share innovative ideas, gain knowledge, and showcase their best services and craftsmanship. The events agenda includes business expert workshops, keynote sessions hosted by industry leaders, and live Q&A sessions from expert CEOs. This is a great opportunity to get all your queries answered and to network with some of the biggest and most successful names from several industries.

To learn more, visit https://smeexpo.ca/ .
Ottawa, June 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global logistics automation market size is predicted to increase from USD 65.25 billion in 2023 to approximately USD 217.26 billion by 2033, according to a study published by Precedence Research. The logistics automation market is driven by increasing demand for new technology, beneficial properties of automation, and government initiatives.



In 2024, the global logistics market size accounted for USD 9.97 trillion in 2024 while the logistics market is projected to grow at 9.35% of annual growth.

The Europe logistics automation market size is estimated to grow from USD 17.01 billion in 2023 to reach around USD 48.62 billion by 2033, expanding at a remarkable CAGR of 11.18% from 2024 to 2033. The Europe logistics automation market is driven by the fast growth in both the retail and e-commerce industries.

The logistics automation market refers to the industry segment focused on the development, implementation, and utilization of automated technologies and systems to optimize various processes within the logistics and supply chain management ecosystem. The application of computer software or automated equipment to improve the productivity of logistics processes, usually at a warehouse or distribution center, is known as logistics automation. It can be customized for specific nodes within a larger logistics network and function in tandem with higher-level computer systems.

Systems include mobile technology, conveyors, sortation systems, automated storage and retrieval systems, and industrial robots. Operational control software handles low-level decision-making, business control software handles higher-level functions, and integration software handles overall control of the automation gear. Automated goods in processes, automated goods retrieval for orders, automated dispatch processing, and automated repackaging are some of the advantages of logistics automation.

Logistics Automation Market Key Insights

North America has held a major revenue share of 42.13% in 2023.

Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period.

By component, the hardware segment has contributed more than 61.50% of revenue share in 2023.

By application, the transportation segment has generated the biggest revenue share in 2023.

By end-use, the manufacturing segment dominated the market in 2023.



U.S. Logistics Automation Market Size and Forecast

The U.S. logistics automation market size was valued at USD 19.28 billion in 2023 and is predicted to surpass around USD 67.32 billion by 2033, registering a solid CAGR of 13.34% between 2024 and 2033.

North America dominated the logistics automation market in 2023 due to its benefits, including increased customer service, scalability, speed, organizational control, and fewer errors. Robotics is a rapidly developing supply chain technology, with the U.S. ranking as one of the world's major marketplaces for automated solutions. The strong U.S. economic growth, e-commerce activity, and growth in manufacturing are driving demand for solutions for automation in industries such as retail, automotive, food & beverage, and pharmaceuticals. The largest industry is food and beverage manufacturing, which requires equipment such as palletizers and sorting systems. The region is collaborating with cutting-edge technologies to generate higher-quality products at faster rates and lower costs.

Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. Companies in APAC are increasingly recognizing the value of automation in warehouse processes, with 46% of transport and logistics and 42% of manufacturing organizations planning to use IoT solutions. Automation technologies have become more scalable and versatile, resulting in faster ROI. Smart fulfillment, which combines RFID, real-time location systems, and wearables, improves operational efficiency by providing dynamic picking assignments, increased workflow efficiency, and automated analysis for decision-makers. The need for breakthrough technology and speedy deployment is driving the automation trend.

Scope of Logistics Automation Market

Report Attribute Key Statistics Logistics Automation Market Size in 2033 USD 217.26 Billion Market Size in 2024 USD 73.47 Billion Growth Rate from 2024 to 2033 12.8% of CAGR Largest Market North America Base Year 2023 Historical Year 2021-2022 Forecast Period 2024 to 2033 Segments Covered Components, Organization Size, End User, Type, Mode of Freight Transport, Application, and Regions Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa



Logistics Automation Market Highlights

Components Outlook

The hardware segment dominated the logistics automation market in 2023. Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) steer themselves using magnetic tape or rods. Overhead trolleys are self-contained carts used for cargo transport. Automated conveyance robots with AI have emerged, including those that transport goods without magnetic tape, follow workers, and move shelves.

Conveyors and sorters are used to sort and transport huge cargoes. Automatic labeling machines print and attach labels on containers. Racks and shelves are examples of storage equipment, whereas autonomous guided vehicles are included in factory automation designs.

Application Outlook

The transportation segment dominated the logistics automation market in 2023. There are five advantages to logistics automation in transportation management systems (TMS): lower costs, better customer service, organizational control, faster processing, and real-time data. Reducing manual data entry, increasing speedier product transit, and integrating with ERP systems are ways to cut costs.

Auto-pick-up and real-time tracking improve customer service by guaranteeing on-time delivery. The ability of TMS to enforce efficiency policies and adapt to unique business regulations preserves organizational control. Reducing the need for extra staff to oversee the transportation, freight, and logistics divisions is how speed is increased. With real-time data, activities are fully visible, allowing for more informed business decisions based on historical and trend data.

End-Use Outlook

The manufacturing segment dominated the logistics automation market in 2023. Logistics process automation (LPA) expedites order processing, shortens lead times, and boosts manufacturing operational performance by increasing speed and efficiency in the supply chain. Better resource usage, less excess stock, and optimized inventory levels lower costs.

Moreover, LPA reduces errors in order processing, data entry, and other processes, increasing accuracy. It facilitates scalability as manufacturing processes expand, streamlines production scheduling and sequencing, and offers real-time visibility into supply chain operations. The process of collecting and evaluating data from different stages of the manufacturing process leads to data-driven decision-making.

Browse More Insights:

Logistics Robotics Market Size and Forecast: The global logistics robotics market size was valued at USD 8.78 billion in 2023 and is projected to surpass around USD 39.55 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 16.24% from 2024 to 2033.

The global was valued at USD 8.78 billion in 2023 and is projected to surpass around USD 39.55 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 16.24% from 2024 to 2033. Logistics Outsourcing Market Size and Forecast : The global logistics outsourcing market size was estimated at USD 1,206.44 billion in 2022 and it is expected to hit around USD 1,909.73 billion by 2032, expanding at a CAGR of 4.7% from 2023 to 2032.



: The global was estimated at USD 1,206.44 billion in 2022 and it is expected to hit around USD 1,909.73 billion by 2032, expanding at a CAGR of 4.7% from 2023 to 2032. Automotive Logistics Market Size and Forecast: The global automotive logistics market size was valued at USD 315.99 billion in 2022 and is expected to hit USD 636.26 billion by 2032, poised to grow at a CAGR of 7.3% from 2023 to 2032.



The global was valued at USD 315.99 billion in 2022 and is expected to hit USD 636.26 billion by 2032, poised to grow at a CAGR of 7.3% from 2023 to 2032. Generative AI in Logistics Market Size and Forecast: The global generative AI in logistics market size was estimated at USD 707.99 million in 2023 and it is expected to hit around USD 23,465.58 million by 2033, expanding at a CAGR of 41.69% during the forecast period from 2024 to 2033.



The global was estimated at USD 707.99 million in 2023 and it is expected to hit around USD 23,465.58 million by 2033, expanding at a CAGR of 41.69% during the forecast period from 2024 to 2033. Retail Logistics Market Size and Forecast : The global retail logistics market size was valued at USD 250.9 billion in 2023 and is predicted to hit around USD 753.69 billion by 2032, expected to grow at a CAGR of 13% from 2023 to 2032.

The global was valued at USD 250.9 billion in 2023 and is predicted to hit around USD 753.69 billion by 2032, expected to grow at a CAGR of 13% from 2023 to 2032. Third-party Logistics Market Size and Forecast: The global third-party logistics market size accounted for USD 1.10 trillion in 2022 and it is projected to hit USD 2.43 trillion by 2032, expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.25% from 2023 to 2032.



The global accounted for USD 1.10 trillion in 2022 and it is projected to hit USD 2.43 trillion by 2032, expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.25% from 2023 to 2032. Chemical Logistics Market Size and Forecast: The global chemical logistics market size was estimated at USD 261 billion in 2022 and is expected to hit USD 377.14 billion by 2032, poised to grow at a CAGR of 3.8% from 2023 to 2032.



The global was estimated at USD 261 billion in 2022 and is expected to hit USD 377.14 billion by 2032, poised to grow at a CAGR of 3.8% from 2023 to 2032. Pharmaceutical Logistics Market Size and Forecast: The global pharmaceutical logistics market size was valued at USD 86.64 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach over USD 185.08 billion by 2032 with a registered CAGR of 8.80% from 2023 to 2032.



The global was valued at USD 86.64 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach over USD 185.08 billion by 2032 with a registered CAGR of 8.80% from 2023 to 2032. Biopharmaceutical Third Party Logistics Size and Forecast : The global biopharmaceutical third party logistics market size was valued at USD 110 billion in 2022 and is expected to hit over USD 192.39 billion by 2032 and growing at a CAGR of 5.80% from 2023 to 2032.



: The global was valued at USD 110 billion in 2022 and is expected to hit over USD 192.39 billion by 2032 and growing at a CAGR of 5.80% from 2023 to 2032. Cold Chain Logistics Market Size and Forecast: The global cold chain logistics market size was valued at USD 342.8 billion in 2023 and is expected to surpass around USD 1,242 billion by 2033, expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.9% from 2024 to 2033.

Logistics Automation Market Dynamics

Driver: Improved customer service

In the commercial environment, clients frequently seek better shipping conditions and services from competitors. Logistics automation can improve customer service by allowing for improved shipping control and supply chain management. This software enables automatic accounting, complete tracking of goods movement, transaction tracking, automated document preparation, invoice payments, and custom specifications.

Customers can also obtain up-to-date information on the status of their shipment, including its location and expected arrival date, which builds credibility and trust. Businesses that deploy the correct logistics software for process automation can avoid losing critical clients while also providing the finest service and quality possible. Businesses that employ logistics automation can avoid losing key customers and keep a competitive advantage in the market.

Restraint: Infrastructure and investment

Digital transformation can lower expenses by 7% to 34%, but the initial costs of innovative technologies sometimes limit widespread adoption. These expenses include the purchase of technology and possible infrastructural upgrades.

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) may struggle to deploy cash due to budget limits, and they may not see rapid returns on investments. For example, AI expenses for supply chain management have fallen by more than 20%, but server and backup prices may exceed $12,000. These fees may be prohibitively expensive for small businesses with narrow profit margins.

Opportunities

Collaboration and integration

Logistics will become more integrated as businesses interact and integrate their ecosystems. Automation technology will help to facilitate this integration by allowing for seamless information sharing, increased efficiency in supply chains, and real-time data transmission. This will connect logistics systems to suppliers, manufacturers, retailers, and customers, resulting in more accurate demand forecasts, streamlined management of inventory, and synchronized manufacturing and distribution schedules. This integration will cut lead times while improving overall supply chain productivity.

Green and sustainable initiatives

The future of logistics is inextricably related to sustainability and environmental activities. As environmental concerns grow, logistics companies face pressure to reduce their carbon footprint. Automation technologies can help accomplish these objectives by optimizing routes using AI algorithms, developing energy-efficient self-driving cars, and enhancing warehouse inventory management. By embracing automation, logistics organizations may help to create a greener future and fulfill the growing need for sustainable logistics solutions.

Logistics Automation Market Leaders

Daifuku (Japan)

Honeywell Intelligrated (US)

E&K Automation (Germany)

Seegrid (US)

Jungheinrich (Germany)

TGW Logistics Group (Austria)

Zebra Technologies (US)

SBS Toshiba Logistics (Japan)

Falcon Autotech (India)

Swisslog (Switzerland)

HighJump (Korber) (US)

Dematic (US)

GreyOrange (US)

Knapp (Austria)

Locus Robotics (US)

Manhattan Associates (US)

Eyesee (Hardis Group) (France) SSI Schaefer (Germany)

System Logistics (Italy)

Murata Machinery (Japan)

Oracle (US)

SAP (Germany)



Recent Developments:

In May 2024, C.H. Robinson developed an innovative solution that automates transactions for shippers that continue to utilize email. The technology uses artificial intelligence to categorize incoming emails, analyze them, and reproduce the processes required to complete a customer request. Shippers using this technology can achieve the same speed-to-market and cost reductions as those who are more digitally linked. The company receives more than 11,000 emails per day.





In March 2024, APM Terminals and Hateco Haiphong International Container Terminal signed an agreement for port automation and green logistics, understanding further collaboration on terminal expansion in Haiphong, North Vietnam. The deal was signed during a Dutch trade mission to Vietnam that concentrated on logistics, waste management, and renewable energy.





In May 2024, Posti, a Finnish delivery operator, is investing 14 million in its Baltic parcel business, building a new operations center for parcel carrier Itella in Estonia. The three-hectare site in Tallinn is expected to host one of Posti's largest sorting facilities in the Baltics. Construction began in May 2024, with the logistics center projected to be operational by 2025.



Logistics Automation Market Segmentation

By Components

Hardware

Software

Warehouse Management System (WMS) software

Transportation Management System (TMS) software

Services

Consulting

Implementation

Support and Maintenance

By Organization Size

Small and Medium Enterprises

Large Enterprises

By End User

Manufacturing

Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals

Fast-Moving Consumer Goods

Retail and E-commerce

Automotive

Others

By Type

Sales Logistics

Production Logistics

Recovery Logistics



By Mode of Freight Transport

Air

Road

Sea



By Application

Transportation

Infotainment system

Safety and alerting system

Others

By Region

North America

Europe

Asia-Pacific

Latin America

Middle East & Africa (MEA)

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Dallas, TX, June 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Incrementum Global Brands (IGB) is excited to announce the reopening of Dickeys Barbecue Pit in Kennesaw, Georgia, located at 1610 Ridenour Boulevard, at the intersection of Ridenour and Barrett Parkway. This reopening marks a new chapter for Dickeys in Kennesaw, bringing the beloved Legit. Texas. Barbecue. back to the local community under new ownership as of May 2024.

Dickeys Barbecue Pit, a trusted name in American barbecue since 1941, is renowned for its commitment to quality and tradition. The Kennesaw location will continue this rich legacy, offering eight signature slow-smoked meats, smoked on-site over hickory wood, and their fan favorite, homestyle sides.

Farrell Winchester, Director of Operations at IGB, expressed his enthusiasm, We are excited to welcome the Kennesaw store into the IGB family. Our team is dedicated to upholding the exceptional standards and traditions of Dickeys brand while introducing innovative approaches to enhance customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.

To mark IGBs recent acquisition, Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickeys Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., appeared on FOX 5's Good Day Atlanta to support the reopening. I was so thrilled to celebrate the store reopening, as well as National Barbecue Month alongside the fantastic team of our Kennesaw location, said Laura Dickey. Kennesaw has always been a special community for us, filled with vibrant and supportive people. Its an honor to reconnect with everyone and to bring our authentic, high-quality barbecue back to this wonderful city. We are dedicated to continuing our support for Kennesaw through various initiatives and partnerships.

Dickeys Barbecue Pit aims to become a cornerstone in the Kennesaw community. IGBs expansion into Kennesaw reflects our dedication to meeting the demand for exceptional dining experiences and fostering strong community connections in this vibrant area, Winchester added.

For the latest updates on the reopening and ongoing community activities, visit Dickeys Kennesaw or follow us on social media at @DickeysKennesaw.

To learn more, follow Dickeys Barbecue Pit on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Download the Dickeys Barbecue Pit app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

About Dickeys Barbecue Restaurants, Inc.

Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., the worlds largest barbecue concept, was founded in 1941 by the Dickey family. For the past 80 years, Dickeys Barbecue Pit has served millions of guests in 44 states Legit. Texas. Barbecue.  At Dickeys, all our barbecued meats are smoked onsite in a hickory wood burning pit. Dickeys proudly believes theres no shortcut to true barbecue and its why our name isnt BBQ. Dickeys is led by both Roland Dickey, Jr., CEO, Dickeys Capital Group, who has had a large hand in the brands international expansion into 8 countries, as well as the opening of their USDA Certified manufacturing and distribution plant, and his wife, Laura Rea Dickey, CEO, Dickeys Barbecue Pit, Inc. The Dallas-based, family-run barbecue franchise offers eight slow-smoked meats and 12 wholesome sides with 'No B.S. (Bad Stuff)' included. Dickeys Barbecue has over 500 locations across the United States and eight other countries.

Dickeys was named to Newsweeks 2022 Americas Favorite Restaurant Chains list, Nations Restaurant News 2024 list for Fast-casual restaurant brands that scored the highest for value, and USA Today 2021 readers choice awards. Dickeys has finished in the Top 20 of the Fast Casuals Top 100 Movers and Shakers four out of the past five years. The barbecue brand been named a Top 500 Franchise by Entrepreneur and named to Hospitality Technologys Industry Heroes list. Led by CEO Laura Rea Dickey, who was recently named to D Magazines Top 500 CEOs in 2023, was named among the countrys 50 most influential women in foodservice in Nations Restaurant News, was recognized by Fast Casuals Top 100 Movers and Shakers list and honored by Dallas Business Journal. Dickey's Barbecue Pit has also been recognized by Fox News, Forbes Magazine, Franchise Times, The Dallas Morning News, The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine and QSR Magazine. Dickeys Barbecue is part of Dickeys Restaurant Brands which has more than 700 restaurants nationwide including brands Wing Boss, Trailer Birds, Big Deal Burger and bbqathome.com. DRB is led by CEO Roland Dickey Jr. For more information, visit www.dickeys.com.

About Incrementum Global Brands, Inc.

Incrementum Global Brands, Inc. (IGB) is a family-owned, purpose-led, and principle-based firm focused on value creation through acquiring, managing, and developing branded fast casual and quick service restaurants. Across a diverse and expanding portfolio of fast-growing, quality food brands and services, IGB fulfills its vision to make the world better by bringing people together through its commitment to service-at-scale.

Dickeys Barbecue Pit continues to move Texas-style barbecue into the international market. In addition to the new expansion into Mexico, and the recent deal in the United Kingdom, Dickeys can also be found in Botswana, Brazil, Egypt, Japan, Pakistan, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.

To learn more, follow Dickeys Barbecue Pit on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Download the Dickeys Barbecue Pit app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Attachment
NEW YORK, June 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gainey McKenna & Egleston announces that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of all persons and entities who purchased securities of UiPath, Inc. (NYSE: PATH) (the Company) between December 1, 2023 and May 29, 2024, inclusive (the Class Period).



The Complaint alleges that Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) UiPaths turnaround strategy had failed because fruitless investments and inconsistent execution plagued UiPaths overhauled go-to-market strategy; (ii) UiPaths AI-powered Business Automation Platform suffered from UiPaths inability to adequately scale its AI-powered tools and caused confusion among customers; and (iii) as a result, UiPath experienced significant difficulties closing and/or expanding large multiyear deals.

The Complaint further alleges that on May 29, 2024, UiPath announced the resignation of defendant Robert Enslin as CEO effective June 1, 2024, and the reappointment of defendant Daniel Dines as CEO. The Complaint also alleges that UiPath also revealed disappointing first quarter 2025 financial results and a significant cut in its revenue guidance for fiscal year 2025. On this news, the price of UiPath stock fell more than 34%, according to the UiPath class action lawsuit.

Investors who purchased or otherwise acquired shares of UiPath should contact the Firm prior to the August 19, 2024 lead plaintiff motion deadline. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. If you wish to discuss your rights or interests regarding this class action, please contact Thomas J. McKenna, Esq. or Gregory M. Egleston, Esq. of Gainey McKenna & Egleston at (212) 983-1300, or via e-mail at tjmckenna@gme-law.com or gegleston@gme-law.com .
NEW YORK, June 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation of 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/.

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New York, NY 10016

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Calgary, June 20, 2024 - Suncor Energy (TSX: SU) (NYSE: SU), one of the largest oil sands companies in Canada, and a member of the Pathways Alliance, is steadfast in our commitment to environmental performance and operational emissions reduction. To support our commitment, we have strived to be transparent about our actions and plans, which we believe is critical to building trust and driving improvement.

However, our ability to remain transparent has been significantly compromised as a result of Bill C-59, which was recently passed and includes amendments to the Competition Act related to environmental and climate disclosure. With these changes, it is possible that certain public representations by a business about the benefits of the work it is doing to protect or restore the environment or address climate change will violate the Competition Act and subject it to significant financial penalties unless the business can adequately and properly substantiate their claims according to "internationally recognized methodology," which may or may not exist.

Creating a public disclosure standard that is so vague as to lack meaning and that relies on undefined "internationally recognized methodology" opens the door for frivolous litigation, particularly by private entities who will now be empowered to directly enforce this new provision of the Competition Act. This represents a serious threat to freedom of communication.

These amendments create significant uncertainty and risk for all Canadian companies regardless of sector, that communicate publicly about environmental performance, including actions to address climate change. As a result, we have been forced to remove information on environmental and climate performance, progress, and plans from our website, social media platforms and other communications channels at this time. These actions are a direct consequence of this legislation and are not related to our commitments or belief in the accuracy of our environmental communications.

The result of this legislation, which has been quickly put in place with little or no consultation, is to silence Canadian businesses taking climate action. We will continue to impress on the federal government the need for clarity regarding these new amendments so that we and all other industries can share the important work we are doing to preserve and restore the environment and address climate change.

Suncor Energy is Canada's leading integrated energy company. Suncor's operations include oil sands development, production and upgrading; offshore oil production; petroleum refining in Canada and the U.S.; and the company's Petro-CanadaTM retail and wholesale distribution networks (including Canada's Electric HighwayTM, a coast-to-coast network of fast-charging EV stations). Suncor is developing petroleum resources while advancing the transition to a low-emissions future through investments in power and renewable fuels. Suncor also conducts energy trading activities focused primarily on the marketing and trading of crude oil, natural gas, byproducts, refined products and power. Suncor's common shares (symbol: SU) are listed on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges.

For more information about Suncor, visit our web site at suncor.com.

Media inquiries:

1-833-296-4570

media@suncor.com

Investor inquiries:

invest@suncor.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/213814
VANCOUVER, June 20, 2024 - Bunker Hill Mining Corp. ("Bunker Hill" or the "Company") (TSX-V: BNKR; OTCQB: BHILL) announces the voting results on matters considered at its annual general meeting of stockholders held on June 20, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia (the "Meeting").



At the Meeting, all six (6) directors nominees listed in the Company's proxy statement dated May 16, 2024 (the "Proxy Statement"), being (i) Sam Ash, (ii) Mark Cruise, (iii) Dickson Hall, (iv) Pamela Saxton, (v) Paul Smith and (vi) Richard Williams, were re-elected to the board of directors of the Company (the "Board"). The Company would like to acknowledge the contributions of Cassandra Joseph, who did not stand for re-election as a Director of the Company.

In addition, at the Meeting, the Company's stockholders: (i) ratified the appointment of MNP LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, as auditor of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024; (ii) approved the adoption of the Company's amended and restated restricted stock unit incentive plan (the "Amended and Restated RSU Plan"); (iii) approved the renewal of the Company's stock option plan; (iv) approved, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of the Company's named executive officers as disclosed in the Proxy Statement pursuant to the executive compensation disclosure rules of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"); and (v) approved having an annual advisory vote regarding the compensation of the Company's named executive officers.

Amended and Restated RSU Plan

The Amended and Restated RSU Plan, in the form attached as Schedule "B" to the Proxy Statement, was ratified, confirmed and adopted by the Company's stockholders. The Amended and Restated RSU Plan was previously approved by the Board and the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSX-V"), subject to stockholder approval at the Meeting.

The Amended and Restated RSU Plan is a fixed plan with the number of shares of common stock ("Common Shares") issuable thereunder fixed at 33,909,921 Common Shares, being 10% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares as at May 8, 2024. Additional information regarding the Amended and Restated RSU Plan can be found in the Proxy Statement available for review on the Company's website at www.bunkerhillmining.com, on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

ABOUT BUNKER HILL MINING CORP.

Under Idaho-based leadership, Bunker Hill intends to sustainably restart and develop the Bunker Hill Mine as the first step in consolidating and then optimizing a number of mining assets into a high-value portfolio of operations, centered initially in North America. Information about the Company is available on its website, www.bunkerhillmining.com, or within the SEDAR+ and EDGAR databases.

On behalf of Bunker Hill Mining Corp.

Sam Ash

President and Chief Executive Officer

For additional information, please contact:

Brenda Dayton

Vice President, Investor Relations

T: 604.417.7952

E: brenda.dayton@bunkerhillmining.com

Cautionary Statements

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are within the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as well as within the meaning of the phrase 'forward-looking information' in the Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", "plan" or variations of such words and phrases.

Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's objectives, goals or future plans, including the restart and development of the Bunker Hill Mine, and the achievement of future short-term, medium-term and long-term operational strategies.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those risks and uncertainties identified in public filings made by Bunker Hill with the SEC and with applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities, and the following: the Company's inability to raise additional capital for project activities, including through equity financings, concentrate offtake financings or otherwise; the fluctuating price of commodities; capital market conditions; restrictions on labor and its effects on international travel and supply chains; failure to identify mineral resources; failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves; the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results; the Company's ability to restart and develop the Bunker Hill Mine and the risks of not basing a production decision on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability, resulting in increased uncertainty due to multiple technical and economic risks of failure which are associated with this production decision including, among others, areas that are analyzed in more detail in a feasibility study, such as applying economic analysis to resources and reserves, more detailed metallurgy and a number of specialized studies in areas such as mining and recovery methods, market analysis, and environmental and community impacts and, as a result, there may be an increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit, with no guarantee that production will begin as anticipated or at all or that anticipated production costs will be achieved; failure to commence production would have a material adverse impact on the Company's ability to generate revenue and cash flow to fund operations; failure to achieve the anticipated production costs would have a material adverse impact on the Company's cash flow and future profitability; delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals; political risks; changes in equity markets; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; the inability of the Company to budget and manage its liquidity in light of the failure to obtain additional financing, including the ability of the Company to complete the payments pursuant to the terms of the agreement to acquire the Bunker Hill Mine complex; inflation; changes in exchange rates; fluctuations in commodity prices; delays in the development of projects; and capital, operating and reclamation costs varying significantly from estimates and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such statements or information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all, including as to whether or when the Company will achieve its project finance initiatives, or as to the actual size or terms of those financing initiatives. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing risks and uncertainties are not exhaustive. Additional information on these and other risk factors that could affect the Company's operations or financial results are included in the Company's annual information form or annual report and may be accessed through the SEDAR+ website (www.sedarplus.ca) or through EDGAR on the SEC website (www.sec.gov), respectively.
VANCOUVER, June 21, 2024 - Starr Peak Mining Ltd. ("Starr Peak" or the "Company") (TSXV:STE) (OTCQX:STRPF) is pleased to announce that the company has identified several exciting untested geochemical soil anomalies on its NewMetal property ("NewMetal" or "the Property"), located in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt of Quebec near the town of Normetal. This program, covering some of the priority areas, was completed last year before winter. An analysis from this survey has returned base and precious metal anomalies over new areas, as well as strengthening knowledge on historical zones.

Interpreted results from this survey highlighted several geochemically anomalous areas, some of which are located along VTEM (Versatile Time Domain Electromagnetic) geophysical anomalies, and therefore have generated priority drill targets for the company. A total of twelve (12) areas of interest have been identified:

Three (3) areas are characterized by a Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS) base metal signature, enriched in Zn, Cd, Pb, In, with a minor enrichment in As, Bi, Sb (See: Figure 1).

Five (5) areas are characterized by precious metal mineralization associated with VMS systems, enriched in Ag, Pb with minor enrichment in Cu, Au, and depletion in Fe (See: Figure 2).

Four (4) areas characterized by anomalous gold (Au) content (See: Figure 3).

The soil survey covered three (3) priority areas over the NewMetal property (See: Figure 4) which include:

The mine horizon to the West of Normetmar which was tested for continuation of the recently discovered Eastern VMS anomaly by Amex Exploration (See press release: Amex Exploration Generates Multiple New Gold and VMS Targets at Perron From Regional Exploration Program, dated May 30, 2023) that appears to extend into the western part of the NewMetal property.

The surroundings of the VMS horizon intersected by hole STE-22-98 and corresponding VTEM geophysical anomalies.

The surroundings of hole STE-22-112 which returned anomalous gold results hosted into the granodiorite Pluton de Normetal, located in the north-east part of the property.

Johnathan More, Chairman and CEO of Starr Peak commented, "We are gearing up for an active 2024 exploration program. Our neighbor, Amex, has been active and proving up a gold deposit of importance and are drilling towards us on trends and strike for base metals commodities. With our promising areas, including the new Normetmar deep discovery, we are looking forward to the next drilling phase to come."

The 2022 Normetmar deep VMS discovery and the new geophysical BHEM deep plate along the long deeper hole will be a focus for next drilling phase targets. This is in accordance with a potential for continued mineralization at depth when compared to the old historical Normetal mine, which was mined down to 2,400 metres. (See press release: Starr Peak Discovers Massive New Untested Bhem Anomaly On The Normetmar Deep Zone And Reports Drill Program Update, dated October 25, 2022). The next drilling campaign will also include testing geochemically anomalous areas, some of which overlap with priority VTEM geophysical anomalies.

The company also plans to complete a 2-week field program prior to executing the drilling phase, with the purpose of validating anomalous areas to refine drilling targets.

The soil samples were sent to ALS Canada for processing and Ionic LeachTM analysis (ME-MS23). In addition, all soil samples were separately tested for paste pH analysis (OA-ELE07). Ionic Leach samples used a static leaching process using sodium cyanide with a highly sensitive ICP-MS finish capable of sub-ppb detection. The Ionic Leach method aims to detect mineralization through deep overburden coverage. Geochemical anomalies sourced from mineralization often present sharp and high-amplitude signals, which are ideal for drill targeting.

The analysis and interpretation of the soil geochemical data was provided by Vision Geochemistry Ltd. A comprehensive review of the soil descriptions to ensure consistency in the interpretation of the soil data. Due to the heterogeneous overburden cover, the dataset was geochemically levelled using the z-score method. Z-scores are commonly used in statistical analysis to normalize populations of data, and therefore establish meaningful connections between datasets. Geochemical anomalies containing several elements (Figure 1 and Figure 2) have been presented as weighted-sums models, which is a simple multivariate technique to reduce several variables to a single variable.

Qualified Person

Alexis Paulin Bissonnette, Ing. (OIQ 5037621), an independent Qualified Person as defined by Canadian NI 43-101 standards, has reviewed and approved the geological information reported in this news release. The exploration and soil program were planned and supervised by Alexis Paulin Bissonnette. The samples were analyzed by ALS Canada Ltd. using Ionic Leach Method (ME-MS23 and OA-ELE07). The Qualified Person has not completed sufficient work to verify the historic information on the Property, particularly in regards to historical drill results. However, the Qualified Person believes that drilling and analytical results were completed to industry standard practices. The information provides an indication of the exploration potential of the Property but may not be representative of expected results. Program is designed and supervised by Laurentia Exploration Inc.

References and disclosures

Normetal historical Mine and Normetmar:

Summary Report, Normetmar Project, January 1988 by L. Boivin

The Company wishes to caution that historical resources described above are historical. The historic resources are relevant to give a ballpark estimate of the potential on the property. Historical resources should not be relied upon. The key assumptions, parameters and methods used to prepare the historical estimate is not known and thus the difference between the historic estimates and NI 43-101 compliant estimates is also not known. The historical estimates used categories other than the ones set up in sections 1.2 and 1.3 of National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. A qualified person has not reviewed the historical estimates and has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources and Starr Peak is not treating the historical estimates as current mineral resources under National Instrument 43-101 and CIM Standards for mineral resources and reserves. Further exploration work needs to be done to correctly evaluate these historical resources. Additionally, the methodology of calculation is unknown by the qualified person.

Grab samples are selective by nature and the values reported may not be representative of the mineralized zone.

Mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Company's property.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Starr Peak Mining Ltd.,

"Johnathan More"

Johnathan More

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Starr Peak Mining Ltd. is a Canadian based mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and exploration of precious and base metal mineral deposits. The primary objective of the Company is to acquire, explore and develop high potential and quality gold and base metal deposits and projects in the Americas. The Company is committed to create long term shareholder value through mineral discoveries.

https://www.starrpeakminingltd.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.

No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The securities being offered have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to, or for the account or benefit of, a "U.S. person" (as defined in Regulation S of the U.S. Securities Act) unless pursuant to an exemption therefrom. This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of the Company in any jurisdiction.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

This press release contains forward-looking information based on current expectations, including the use of funds raised under the Offering. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, Starr Peak assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by law.

Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to several factors and risks including various risk factors discussed in the Company's disclosure documents which can be found under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com.

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The TSXV has neither reviewed nor approved the contents of this press release.

SOURCE Starr Peak Mining Ltd.







Contact

For more information please contact: Johnathan More, Chairman & CEO, Tel: 515-401-7479, info@starrpeakminingltd.com


VANCOUVER, June 21, 2024 - Heritage Mining Ltd. (CSE: HML) ("Heritage" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed the first tranche ("Tranche One") of its non-brokered private placement financing previously announced on June 12, 2024 (the "Offering").

The Company raised an aggregate of $593,003.96 pursuant to Tranche One, of which $362,000.00 was raised on the issuance of 7,240,000 units ("Units") and $231,003.96 was raised on the issuance of 3,850,066 flow-through units ("FT Units"). Each Unit was issued at a price per Unit of $0.05 and is comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company ("Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant entitling the holder to acquire one Common Share for a period of 36 months at an exercise price of $0.075 ("Warrant"). Each FT Unit was issued at a price of $0.06 and is comprised of one Common Share which will qualify as a "flow-through share" as defined in subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and one Warrant.

The Company paid an aggregate $23,320.32 in cash commissions and issued an aggregate 400,806 compensation options (the "Compensation Options") in connection with Tranche One. Each Compensation Option entitles the holder to acquire one additional Unit at a price of $0.05 for a period of 24 months following the date of issuance.

Proceeds of Tranche Two will be used to fund the Company's exploration and drilling program on its flagship Drayton-Black Lake Project, in addition to general working capital. All securities issued pursuant to the Tranche One are subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus one day from the date of issuance, in accordance with applicable securities legislation.

ABOUT HERITAGE MINING LTD.

The Company is a Canadian mineral exploration company advancing its two high grade gold-silver-copper projects in Northwestern Ontario. The Drayton-Black Lake and the Contact Bay projects are located near Sioux Lookout in the underexplored Eagle-Wabigoon-Manitou Greenstone Belt. Both projects benefit from a wealth of historic data, excellent site access and logistical support from the local community. The Company is well capitalized, with a tight capital structure.

For further information, please contact:

Heritage Mining Ltd.

Peter Schloo, CPA, CA, CFA

President, CEO and Director

Phone: (905) 505-0918

Email: peter@heritagemining.ca

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain statements that constitute forward looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events of the Company. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "forecast", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe", "outlook" and similar expressions are not statements of historical fact and may be forward looking information. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements.

Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such risks include, among others, the inherent risk of the mining industry; adverse economic and market developments; the risk that the Company will not be successful in completing additional acquisitions; risks relating to the estimation of mineral resources; the possibility that the Company's estimated burn rate may be higher than anticipated; risks of unexpected cost increases; risks of labour shortages; risks relating to exploration and development activities; risks relating to future prices of mineral resources; risks related to work site accidents, risks related to geological uncertainties and variations; risks related to government and community support of the Company's projects; risks related to global pandemics and other risks related to the mining industry. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward?looking information should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update any forward?looking information except as required by law.

This document does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities of the Company in Canada, the United States, or any other jurisdiction. Any such offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein will be made only pursuant to subscription documentation between the Company and prospective purchasers. Any such offering will be made in reliance upon exemptions from the prospectus and registration requirements under applicable securities laws, pursuant to a subscription agreement to be entered into by the Company and prospective investors.

NOT INTENDED FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Axed Russian sponsor wins legal battle with Haas F1

Haas' axed former title sponsor has won a legal battle against the Formula 1 team in a Swiss arbitration court.

Nikita Mazepin, Russian GP 2021

 Haas

Uralkali, a Russian fertiliser giant, heavily backed the similarly-ousted driver Nikita Mazepin until the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in early 2022.

The company sought compensation for the terminated sponsorship deal through the Swiss legal system - and on Thursday the arbitration tribunal agreed that Haas had improperly ended the deal.

The arbitration established the fact of breach of contract by the team and awarded compensation to Uralkali, Uralkali's press office announced.

Haas was also denied all counterclaims against Uralkali.

Uralkali continued: The company expects Haas to promptly fulfil its obligations confirmed by the arbitration tribunal decision. The funds received are planned to be used for the development and modernisation of potash fertiliser production.

(GMM)
7/4/1948 - 6/15/24

Dr. Thomas E. Spicer, M.D. passed away on June 15th, 2024 after living a full and enormous life.

Tom was born on Independence Day, July 4, 1948 in Rock Springs, Wyoming, the son of Eldon and Beverly Spicer. He grew up splitting his time between the family home on Virginia Street in Rock Springs and the family sheep ranch north of Farson. He had two sisters and two brothers.

He graduated from the old Rock Springs High School in 1966 and attended the University of Wyoming where he was a proud member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. Tom married his soulmate, Debbe (Harrell) Spicer in June 1969 and they started their life together in married student housing in Laramie. He graduated from the University in 1970 with honors.

Tom was accepted to the University of Washington Medical School and the married couple began a new adventure in Seattle where their son Justin was born. He graduated from Washington with his M.D. in 1974 and began an internal medicine internship at the University of Kansas. He later moved to Salt Lake City to begin a general surgery residency. In 1976, the family welcomed their daughter Sarah in Salt Lake City, Utah.

In 1979, the family moved to Dallas, Texas for Tom to begin a plastic surgery residency at Texas Southwestern University at Parkland. He became an renowned plastic and reconstructive surgeon and was Chief Resident during his time there. He was a professor while also in private practice. One of his favorite causes became repairing children's cleft palates; there are hundreds of his former patients whose lives were enriched by his exceptional skills and bedside manner. He also treated burn patients, as well as those with catastrophic hand injuries.

In 1985, their youngest daughter Emily was born in Dallas. Later that year, Tom and Debbe took a leap of faith and moved their family back to Rock Springs where he opened his own practice.

Dr. Tom quickly became a fixture of the Sweetwater County medical community. He served the hospital as Chief of Staff, and later after his retirement, he was appointed as a member of the hospital's board of trustees. He loved being a surgeon, partly because of the rigor and skill required and partly because he got all the juicy Rock Springs gossip from his patients. He was loved at the hospital and in his practice and he made a difference in the health of his patients. He learned, then retold, dozens of terrible and inappropriate jokes that came up during surgery.

Tom served his community well and in many capacities. He was a member of the county planning and zoning board, airport board, the Wyoming Centennial Commission, The UW Foundation, and the UW Alumni Association.

In 1997, then-Gov. Geringer appointed him to the University of Wyoming Board of Trustees, and he discovered a new passion. Tom loved the university and everything about it. He served as president of the trustees for two years, and was re-appointed to the board by Gov. Freudenthal. He completed his second term on the board in 2009. He relished the honor of presenting his daughters Sarah and Emily their bachelors' degrees. He always treasured his connection to the university and its mission around the state.

Dr. Tom retired from his plastic surgery practice in 2013 and immediately found more boards and committees to join. He served on the WWCC board of trustees, the Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County board, as well as the state Blue Cross/Blue Shield board of directors.

Tom was a history buff and loved Wyoming. He explored Wyoming and the world on his bike. He rode many, many miles on roads and trails all over the world accompanied by his very brave siblings. There are more than a few riders who saw nothing but his rapidly disappearing taillights as he passed them going uphill.

Dr. Tom was a Wyoming guy, through and through. He loved the state, its university, its history, and its people. He had a huge map of the state in his office and knew virtually every back road and trail. He took many photographs around the state which can still be found framed and displayed at the hospital and airport.

Above all, he loved his wife and his family. He was fiercely protective of them. He attempted to be in the delivery room for several of his grandchildren but was rebuffed by the labor nurses. He became "Poppy" and for a while, he had an unprofitable pediatric practice devoted solely to his grandchildren. He constantly had to be told to behave himself at family meals and was usually the catalyst for everyone getting in trouble.

Tom is survived by his wife Debbe, his son Justin (Maggie), his daughters Sarah Mailloux (Alan) and Emily Guier (Zach), and ten grandchildren: Sophie, Hannah, Bella, Mia, Aubrey, Tyler, Ted, Eli, Elsie, and Hedley. Additionally, he is survived by his brothers Bob (Debbie) and Paul (Kathy), and sisters Sue (Charles) and Marci (Fritz), and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Eldon and Beverly Spicer, and sister-in-law, Cathy Spicer.

Cremation has taken place; a Celebration of Life will be conducted at 11:00 A.M. Sunday, June 23, 2024 at the Sweetwater Events Complex, 3320 Yellowstone Road, Rock Springs, Wyoming.

Condolences may be left at http://www.vasefuneralhomes.com.
Dear Editor,

I am disappointed to learn that Jordan World Circus is scheduled to visit Rock Springs on June 25 given its history of recurrent violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act.

The USDA has cited Jordan World Circus numerous times for providing inadequate, unsafe enclosures and depriving animals of proper veterinary care, nutritious food, clean water, and shelter from the elements.

Despite prior violations, Jordan World Circus continues to hire outside exhibitors to feature potentially dangerous large, wild animals such as elephants, camels, and bison, putting the public at risk.

Th...
This past week I was lucky enough to visit Washington D.C. with my daughter as part of The Gold Medal Summit for Congressional Gold Medal award recipients. The Congressional Award Program was actually started here in our great state of Wyoming in 1979 by Wyoming Senator Malcom Wallop. It is the highest civilian honor awarded to the youth of our country for participating and recording nearly one thousand hours of Voluntary Public Service, Physical Fitness, Personal Development along with Expedition and Exploration. I was in complete awe of the young and brilliant minds I was surrounded by and p...
When you walk into Pepper Rynio-Brandt's classroom at Green River High School, you're immediately struck by the warmth and energy that radiate from within. Walls adorned with inspiring quotes from literary giants and student artwork set the stage for an environment where creativity and learning thrive.

Mrs. Rynio-Brandt, a dedicated English teacher with an infectious passion for literature, has recently been honored with the prestigious Teacher of the Year award for Sweetwater County School District No. 2. Her journey to this accolade is a testament to her innovative teaching methods, unwaveri...
Seated exams provide many benefits for patients and technologists

With safe, seated mammography trending in the United States and Europe, Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County says its use of the Danish-made VELA Mammography Chair has provided significant physical benefits for patients, health benefits for mammographers, and better breast imaging.

Tracie Soller, MHSC Director of Imaging, explained that while many patients are comfortable in the traditional standing position, the mammography chair is appropriate for mammograms for women who are not steady on their feet, use a walker or a cane, are wheelchair-bound, are overweight, may be experiencing dizziness, or are recovering from a stroke.

Although falls during standing mammography are rare, Soller said patients who are anxious, nervous, cannot relax, and tense up may be prone to falling. "And I would rather have them in my mammo chair before that happens," she said.

Clearer imaging is achieved because the mammography chair is a stable platform that reduces patient motion, with wheels that lock it into place and electric height adjustment that better positions the patient for the mammogram while avoiding what she termed "challenging positions" for the mammographer.

"Just to see the effects it has had on our patients, when they look at the mammography chair, they know that we made an investment in them, that they matter to us," Soller said.

Soller recommended that before their next mammogram, women who find traditional standing mammography intimidating or uncomfortable should ask about seated mammography. "But I would go one step further and ask them what type of seated mammogram, specifically what type of chair they have," she said. "This particular chair makes all the difference."

MHSC and Converse Memorial Hospital in Douglas, the only two in Wyoming with a VELA chair, purchased the VELA Mammography Chair from Florida-based Enable Me, a VELA Company.

"We had some patients who were unsteady on their feet, so we got the mammography chair several months ago and it has been a lifesaver," said Tia Agent, Radiology Director at Converse Memorial Hospital.

For more on MHSC's Imaging and Radiology Department and all that Sweetwater Memorial has to offer, go to sweetwatermemorial.com.
OnePlus previously confirmed it was working on a new battery technology called Glacier Battery, and today, the company shed more light on the project in a series of Weibo posts.

The battery solution will be more efficient, durable and extremely energy-dense compared to other existing solutions. The new cell will be able to provide at least 80% of its original capacity after four years of regular use, way above the industry average of 800 charging cycles.

OnePlus also confirmed the previously rumored 6,100 mAh capacity and revealed that we will see the battery in the Ace 3 Pro, which will launch next week.

The new pack will have a 763Wh/L energy density, and the the battery will weigh just 14 grams.

The battery will also retain the 100W fast charging support, allowing the 6,100 mAh pack to go from 1% to 100% in 36 minutes.

The battery was developed jointly with CATL, the largest battery manufacturer in the EV field. The Ningde-based company provided the know-how and the physical plants to manufacture the batteries.

Source (in Chinese)
Redmi's ever-expanding portfolio of affordable smartphones is soon going to add yet another device - the Redmi 14C 5G. Its predecessor, the Redmi 13C 5G, launched in December of 2023, and it looks like its successor simply can't wait for a whole year to pass before it arrives as well - such is the nature of the cut-throat entry-level smartphone market.

The Redmi 14C 5G has been spotted in an IMEI database, and thus it's definitely coming soon. Not 'soon' as in the next few days or weeks, but clearly a lot sooner than December - so this series is getting a very fast refresh cycle.

The Redmi 14C 5G will be available in China, India, Japan, and global markets, so this will be a very wide release by the brand's standards. This will be the first Redmi C-series handset to launch in Japan, for what it's worth.

Unfortunately there have been no leaks or rumors regarding its specs yet, but since it's the Redmi 13C 5G's successor it should be a better specced device than that one.

Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G

For reference, note that the Redmi 13C 5G comes with a 6.74-inch 720x1600 LCD touchscreen with 90 Hz refresh rate and 600-nit peak brightness, the MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ chipset, 4/6/8GB of RAM, 128/256GB of expandable storage (with a dedicated microSD slot), a 50 MP main camera, a 5 MP selfie snapper, and a 5,000 mAh battery with support for 18W wired charging. The Redmi 14C 5G should naturally turn things up a notch. We'll let you know when we find out more about it.

Via
The Guam Fire Department ended the search for a possible distressed swimmer seen beyond the reef of Gun Beach at 1:20 p.m. Friday after confirming there was no one reported missing, spokesman Capt. Kevin Reilly said.

After confirming no missing persons reported locally, the accountability of visiting military personnel, and no reports of missing hotel guests, the Guam Fire Department has suspended its search for the reported missing swimmer, pending further developments, he said.

However, the U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam said it would continue to search for the possible distressed swimmer.

The USGCC Frederick Hatch crew were expected to arrive in the search area at 7 p.m. Friday.

Joint Rescue Sub-Center Guam watchstanders intend to continue the search effort using Frederick Hatch crew through Friday night and throughout the day Saturday, the Coast Guard said.

U.S. Coast Guard Station Apra Harbor is intended to rejoin the search effort Saturday morning.

The Coast Guard is asking the public if they have any information to contact the JRSC watch at +1 671-355-4824 or email rccguam@uscg.mil.

At 12:15 a.m. Friday, five people entered the ocean at Gun Beach in Tumon after reportedly seeing another person facedown outside the reef, Reilly said.

At approximately 12:20 a.m., watchstanders at the Joint Rescue Sub-Center, Guam, received a call from Guam Fire Dispatch reporting a possible distressed swimmer near the reef at Gun Beach. The reporting source described the individual as a Caucasian male wearing green pants, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The JRSC immediately issued an urgent marine information broadcast to mariners and assumed Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator responsibilities under the leadership of Lt. Chelsea Garcia, who oversaw the coordination of all search efforts.

A report was made to the Beach Bar manager, and a 911 call was initiated, Reilly said.

GFD Rescue, Engine, and Medic units responded and commenced the initial search. A U.S. Coast Guard response boat and Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 also joined the search for the reported missing swimmer, he said.

The GFD and USCG drone units conducted aerial search patterns while GFD engine units searched the shoreline, he said.

Reilly earlier Friday said they couldnt confirm if there was in fact a missing person and reached out to the Guam Visitors Bureau to conduct hotel checks to make sure no visitors are missing. GFD also reached out to federal counterparts like the U.S. Navy because of a recent visit by the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan.

We cannot confirm that the individual in fact is missing, Reilly said.

The Coast Guard had also asked the publics help with any information about the case.

As of 11 a.m., the U.S. Coast Guard Station Apra Harbors 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew remained onsite, conducting thorough shoreline and reef line searches. Guam Fire Rescue resumed first light searches at approximately 6:20 a.m. and also deployed motorized water ski operators and divers. HSC-25 crews had conducted an additional aerial search.

The initial response included the launch of the U.S. Coast Guard 45-foot RBM crew and a briefing with HSC-25, requesting aerial support. Guam Fire Rescue also deployed personnel for shoreline and surface searches and drones for overhead search support. At first light, HSC-25 launched for a three-hour search, the RBM crew swapped out for a fresh crew, and the U.S. Coast Guard also deployed drone operators, according to the Coast Guard.

Further investigation revealed that the initial report came from two individuals at a beach bar who believed they saw a person in the water more than 200 yards away. The U.S. Coast Guard and partner agencies treated the situation with the utmost urgency and seriousness.

The cooperation of all the agencies involved exemplifies the community spirit here on Guam and our dedication to safety, said Cmdr. Ryan Crose, deputy commander, U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam.

Reilly said GFD recommends anyone going out to the water to be safe and use a buddy system. Check in with your family or your friends and let them know where youre going and what time youre getting out of the water, he said.
New Orleans is widely known as one of the top food destinations in the entire country.

From mom n pop Jamaican joints to James Beard-award winning eateries, the citys Black-owned restaurants make up the core of our world-renowned food scene. If youre in town for Essence Fest  the 3-day music and arts festival celebrating Black culture  make sure to make a stop at one of these restaurants.

Addis NOLA

Where: 2514 Bayou Rd., New Orleans.

Addis Nola, located on the historic Bayou Road, is known for its vibrant atmosphere and authentic Ethiopian cuisine. The food is typically enjoyed family-style, with a spongy sourdough flatbread called injera as the base, served alongside a variety of flavorful meat and vegetable stews.

Dooky Chases

Where: 2301 Orleans Ave., New Orleans.

Dooky Chases is a longstanding hub for New Orleans culture and history. The restaurants walls feature artwork and memorabilia celebrating prominent Black leaders and civil rights activists who have frequented the restaurant over the years.

Their menu includes Creole favorites like gumbo, red beans and rice, chicken jambalaya and stuffed shrimp.

Compere Lapin

Where: 535 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans. (Located inside the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery.)

This sophisticated eatery combines Chef Nina Comptons Caribbean roots with her love of Italian cuisine and classical French culinary training. The result is innovative, playful and delicious.

BABs (Bywater American Bistro)

Where: 2900 Chartres St, New Orleans.

This approachably upscale American restaurant and cocktail bar is nestled in the artsy Bywater neighborhood. Stay for dinner, with plates like waygu beef lasagna and shrimp cavatelli, or drop in for the daily Aperitivo Hour from 5:30  7 p.m.

Morrows

Where: 2438 St. Claude Ave., New Orleans.

Located in the trendy Marigny neighborhood, Morrows blends classic New Orleans cuisine with Korean BBQ. Enjoy a discount on their signature cocktails every Monday through Friday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Backatown Coffee Parlor

Where: 301 Basin St. #1, New Orleans.

Get your caffeine fix in this cozy authentic coffee parlor, located just a few blocks off the French Quarter.

Fritai

Where: 1535 Basin St., New Orleans.

Dig into jerk chicken, fried plantains and spicy mango wings at this colorful Haitian restaurant, located in the Treme neighborhood. Make sure to save room for cocktails like the Melon Kraze, made with sugarcane rum, watermelon syrup, mint and lime.

Neyows Creole Cafe

Where: 3332 Bienville St, New Orleans.

Make sure to arrive at Neyows Creole Cafe in Mid-City on an empty stomach. This laidback restaurant is known for its hearty Creole cuisine, like gumbo, fried seafood platters, poboys, and most importantly, some of the best bread pudding in town.
They say New Orleans is a dangerous city, but this is the first time Ive been out in public without a bullet-proof vest in months, said Stormy Daniels, speaking into a rhinestone-encrusted microphone at the AllWays Lounge & Cabaret in New Orleans on Wednesday, June 19.

The sold-out comedy show marked one of the first public appearances for the director and adult film actress following her recent testimony in Donald Trumps hush-money trial. On May 31, Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts related to his concealment of a $130,000 payment to Daniels, which he paid in exchange for her silence regarding their alleged sexual encounter in 2006.

While Daniels began her stand-up set with a promise to avoid focusing on the ex-president (whom she referred to as both Tiny and the goblin), their history-making rendezvous snuck its way into several punchlines.

Between jokes, the Baton Rouge-native spoke candidly about her financial woes.

While sharing a story about remodeling a bathroom in her house, Daniels said it was kind of an abort mission at this point, since Trump is taking it now.

She interrupted her story to elaborate: Oh, is that a surprise? Oh yeah, you know they gave E. Jean Carrol 80 million, but Im on the hook for $600,000 because Avenatti filed a defamation suit behind my back?

In 2018, Daniels alleged that her lawyer Michael Avenatti filed a defamation lawsuit against Trump without her consent. Since losing the suit, Daniels now owes Trump more than $600,000 in legal fees due to accumulated interest, the 2024 documentary Stormy first revealed.

Daniels says shell go to prison before paying a dime.

Theyre coming to take our house next week, so we live in an RV now, she said, before encouraging the audience to check out the merchandise table.

Daniels continued by clarifying that she supports E. Jean Carroll, the columnist who was awarded over $88 million in a defamation case related to claims that Trump sexually assaulted her in a Manhattan department store.

Daniels poses for a photo with audience members after her stand-up show in New Orleans on June 19, 2024. The show, at times hilarious and others poignant, touched on her testimony at Donald Trump's hush money trial.Emily Topping

Other bombshell revelations included the fact that Daniels, who has become a target for MAGA right-wingers, is a Republican herself.

If you really want to make a change, you guys have to vote. And I am not here to sway your politics, or tell you who to vote for, Daniels said. Im a fucking Republican.

She continued: Not socially, though.

In the past, Daniels has shown support for the LGBTQ+ community and raised money from meet-and-greets to benefit New Orleans abortion funds.

Despite her financial troubles, Daniels told the crowd she felt compelled to spend $10,000 of her own money to travel to New York to testify in Trumps trial.

Is that patriotic or stupid? At this point, I dont even know anymore, she said.




Haiti - FLASH : Up to 30% of civil servants receive their salaries while being absent





Thursday June 20, 2024, Prime Minister Garry Conille denounced at a press conference the bad governance, the lack of transparency and the corruption which plague public administration and which make the State "totally ineffective". He announced that his Government would implement an anti-corruption strategy aimed at restoring citizen confidence.



"Up to 30% of state personnel receive their salaries while being absent. This is a problem that we need to make immediate decisions to address. We will prohibit the administration from setting up a system to collect funds that are not provided for by law. We are going to clean up the administration payroll. We will work on cleaning up the distribution of debit cards. We will ensure transparency in the decisions that we will adopt," declared Conille after the installation of Marie Chantal Dumay, Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister, responsible specifically for the sanitation of State institutions and the fight against corruption. and impunity.



"We are committed to taking measures as quickly as possible to promote transparency [...]" declared Conille, who promised to do everything possible to restore citizens confidence in the government "the population must have the certainty that the State does not tolerate corruption and impunity towards those who squander State funds and property [...] The population must have the feeling that there is a State working in their favor."



"We are committed to acting quickly on transparency. We will follow up [...] to ensure that public opinion participates and understands what we are doing, why we are doing it and how we can give these guarantees."



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Haiti - Politic : The USA will submit a resolution supporting Haiti to the next UN Assembly





Thursday, June 20, 2024 during a press conference convened by the Department of State, the United States Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), Francisco Mora, raised the possibility of adopting a resolution to continue to support Haiti, particularly in the monetary area, during the next UN General Assembly which will be held from June 26 to 28 in Asuncion, Paraguay.



The resolution indicates that the continent must take "urgent measures" to restore security, strengthen humanitarian aid and defend human rights and democracy in Haiti.



"It is very likely that the General Assembly will adopt a resolution to continue supporting Haiti, particularly on the issue not only of security, but also financial and monetary," Mora said.



During a meeting of the Permanent Council in Washington, Thomas Hastings, number 2 of the American mission to the OAS, clarified that this initiative, the text of which is still being negotiated with the member states, underlines the importance of have an "inclusive dialogue" between all Haitians to improve the political future of the country.



Furthermore, the text underlines the "critical need" to offer Haiti technical assistance to strengthen its institutional capacity so that it can face the criminal gangs which have plunged the country into chaos.



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Haiti - Haiti Air Ambulance : 10th anniversary of its first flight





Wednesday June 20, 2024, Haiti Air Ambulance (HAA) celebrated the 10th anniversary of its first patient flight in Haiti. Since its inception, HAA has been a vital lifeline, providing emergency medical transportation and critical care to thousands of Haitians in need, regardless of their ability to pay.



Over the past decade, Haiti Air Ambulance has flown more than 2,000 missions, transporting patients from remote and underserved areas to hospitals equipped to provide the specialized care they need.



HAAs efforts extend beyond emergency transportation. The organization has been instrumental in delivering medical supplies, supporting disaster relief efforts, and training local healthcare professionals. HAA's Basic Life Support training programs have taught Haitians lifesaving skills, transforming ordinary individuals into first responders in critical situations.



"Looking ahead, we are dedicated to expanding our reach and enhancing our services," said David Ellis, Executive Director of Haiti Air Ambulance, adding "We invite our supporters to join us in this journey. Your donations make it possible for us to continue providing critical medical care and hope to the people of Haiti"



About Haiti Air Ambulance:

Haiti Air Ambulance (HAA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in operation in Haiti since 2014. HAA operates the only medically equipped helicopter based in Haiti and is dedicated to making healthcare accessible to all. HAA relies on donations https://www.haitiairambulance.org/donate/ to finance its rescue missions. These donations allow HAA to continue providing emergency medical transportation, delivering essential medical supplies and offering life-saving training programs.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





Rapes : increase of 500%

According to the UN, since January 2024, rapes have increased fivefold. The main victims are women (80%) and girls (16%), sometimes very young.



PNH : Second chance for Normil Rameau

Prime Minister Dr. Garry Conille welcomes the appointment of Normil Rameau as Acting Director General of the Haitian National Police (PNH) https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-42591-icihaiti-pnh-normil-rameau-new-dg-order-published-in-the-official-journal.html . He hopes that the new Director General will demonstrate responsible leadership capable of inspiring confidence in the police officers. Remember that Normil Rameau returns to the head of the PNH, 4 years after being dismissed in the middle of a security crisis having shown himself incapable of reducing insecurity and bringing order within the PNH (uprising of certain police officers birth of the violent group "Fantome 509")...



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42555-haiti-flash-frantz-elbe-dg-of-the-pnh-dismissed-replaced-by-a-former-dismissed-dg.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-42591-icihaiti-pnh-normil-rameau-new-dg-order-published-in-the-official-journal.html



Installation of 2 Delegate Ministers

Thursday June 20, 2024, the Prime Minister, Garry Conille, installed Ms. Marie Chantal Dumay as Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister responsible for the sanitation of State Institutions and the fight against corruption and impunity and Herwil Gaspard, as Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister in charge of solidarity and humanitarian affairs.



The Government soon in retreat

Prime Minister Garry Conille announces the organization of a government retreat in the coming days in order to facilitate the introduction of ministers into their new functions linked in particular to administrative and budgetary management activities, accountability and governmental cohesion. This retreat will also be used to finalize the ministers roadmaps.



AYITIKA : Gourmet-Silver medal for its 70% dark chocolate

As part of the 4th edition of the chocolate competition originally developed, which was held in France and which brought together 170 qualities of chocolate from more than 20 countries, the Agency for the valorization of agricultural products AYITIKA , obtained a Gourmet-Silver medal for its 70% dark chocolate "Amelonado-Criollo" See also: https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38180-haiti-agro-industry-haiti-and-the-dr-together-at-the-salon-international-du-chocolat-2022.html



The CEH was unaware of the CPT's meeting with a Catholic organization

The Conference of Catholic Bishops of Haiti (CEH) announced, in a note dated June 20, that "none of its institutions, canonically constituted and represented by its President, has requested and held a meeting with the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT) The CEH says it is surprised to learn the information according to which the CPT met on Monday June 17 with an organization of the Catholic Church around "a mega project". It should be noted that the CPT met with the organization Haitian Center for Research in Planning and Development (CHRAD) of the Catholic Church, represented by the Advisor to Pope Francis, Mario Paredes, accompanied by Jean Lucien Ligonde. They discussed a mega national production project that seeks to establish public and private partnerships.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















We're a family of eight living in Georgia where Andrew's a professor at GSU and Nancy is a PhD student at UGA. You can read more about us here
On Wednesday, a police spokesperson revealed that investigators have found indications that the act may have been modelled after the stabbing that took place in the same shopping centre five days earlier, on Thursday, 13 June.

OFFICERS at Oulu Police Department have confirmed that a second, possibly racist stabbing took place in Valkea Shopping Centre on Tuesday, 18 June.

The suspect in the first case is a notorious far-right activist with a history of violent crime, whereas the suspect in the second case is tentatively believed to have had a racist motive. People of foreign backgrounds were targeted in both attacks.

Police rushed to the shopping centre at about 9.30pm on Tuesday, responding to a call indicating that a stabbing had taken place and that the suspect had been apprehended by security guards. Oulu Police Department on Wednesday confirmed that the incident is being investigated as attempted manslaughter in co-operation with social welfare authorities on account that the suspect is an over 15-year-old minor.

As far as his age is concerned, he has criminal liability for his actions, reads an earlier press release from the police department.

The victim  described by police as a local adult male of foreign background  sustained multiple stab wounds in the attack, but he is not in mortal danger.

Last week, the 33-year-old far-right activist stabbed a 12-year-old child of foreign background and tried to stab another child, a 14-year-old of foreign background, in the shopping centre. The District Court of Oulu on Monday detained him for probable cause of two attempted murders.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) and President Alexander Stubb both commented on the stabbings on Wednesday.

News about the Oulu stabbings are repulsive. As are the possibly racist motives of the acts. There is no room for racism in Finland. Violence must always be condemned, Orpo stated on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Stubb underlined that everyone in the country has the right to feel safe.

Police suspect that the motive was racist. I firmly condemn racism in all its forms. We must not give an inch to racism or racist violence in Finland, he commented. Only together can we weed out racism. Only together can we build a safe Finland.

Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen (PS) stated to Helsingin Sanomat on Wednesday that she condemns violence by far-right organisations, adding that the recent incidents suggest a need for legislation that enables police to conduct body searches in designated high-risk areas without suspicion. Such legislation has been enacted in, for example, Denmark.

The Oulu city centre is now an area where it should be possible to check peoples backpacks and take away knives without a criminal suspicion, she said to the newspaper.

Rantanen added that she agrees with the message sent by the president and prime minister, with one addition: violent acts must be condemned regardless of why they are committed.

Im concerned about violence in general in Finland, she responded when asked if she is worried about far-right violence. Police statistics show that youth are committing more violent acts and robberies. We also have a bigger problem on our hands. The far right and extremist thinking are one thing.

With the stabbings stirring up concerns among the immigrant community in Oulu, Helsingin Sanomat asked the minister what she would say to the parents of non-white children in the roughly 200,000-resident city.

My starting point is that no one in this country should have fear for their children, no matter if its immigrant children in Oulu or native-born children in the capital region, she replied. We cant have a society where you have to fear that your child is stabbed or that your childs brand clothes are robbed with a knife.

The stabbings have also set off discussion about the role of political rhetoric. Tuija Saresma, a professor of cultural studies at the University of Jyvaskyla, told Helsingin Sanomat after the first stabbing that discussion about racism has become constantly more permissive, a development that she fears increases the risk of extremist acts no matter how small the group of people capable of committing such acts.

Rantanen told Helsingin Sanomat that the responsibility for violent acts rests solely with whoever is wielding the knife against another. Politicians talk politics, she said.

Also she has come under fire for a questionable, since-deleted play on the Finnish word sinisilmainen on her website in the run-up to the 2023 parliamentary elections. We mustnt be so blue-eyed that soon we wont be blue-eyed, the website read in mid-June 2023.

Sinisilmainen translates literally to blue-eyed and figuratively to gullible and naive.

I dont think that Ive spread racist thinking in Finland. And what does that have to do with this stabbing in Oulu? she responded when asked about the detail by Helsingin Sanomat on Wednesday.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
Amnesty International and the Refugee Advice Center are calling on Finnish parliamentarians to vote against a proposed emergency law, arguing that its passage would undermine Finlands commitment to human rights and the rule of law.

Legal experts consulted by the Constitutional Law Committee have overwhelmingly opposed the law, deeming its enactment impossible. Both the Council of Europes Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Refugee Agency have demanded its rejection. Despite these warnings, the legislation is still being advanced.

When Parliament votes on this proposal, it will essentially be deciding whether Finland remains committed to human rights and the rule of law. The emergency law would greenlight violence at the border and mark a step towards eroding the rule of law. Is this really the path Finland wants to take? I hope MPs do not let this happen, said Frank Johansson, Director of Amnesty Internationals Finland section.

The proposed law is utterly unsustainable. This is clearly demonstrated by the expert consensus against it. MPs must listen to what these experts are saying. In a state governed by the rule of law, the only possible solution is to reject this proposal, Johansson added.

The emergency law contravenes the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to a country where they would face danger or torture. This principle is absolute and cannot be violated under any circumstances, including war or national emergency. The law could result in people being sent back to life-threatening situations or torture.

Beyond its legal issues, the law would cause significant human suffering and distress for those seeking protection. Amnestys research shows that elsewhere in Europe, closed borders and so-called pushbacks have led to increased human rights violations, violence by border authorities, and forced asylum seekers to take more dangerous routes.

No emergency law can legalize pushbacks. The European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union have addressed numerous cases of pushbacks at the borders of Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania. Currently, there are over 30 cases against these countries in the European Court of Human Rights. Some asylum seekers crossing Finlands eastern border have already experienced violent pushbacks in these countries before arriving here, Johansson noted.

The proposed law aims to prevent asylum applications at the eastern border and push people back to Russia.

Lawmakers need to consider the situation in Russia. Russia is not a safe option for people needing protection. There is no functioning asylum system in Russia, and the human rights situation is dire. People could be sent back to countries where they fled human rights abuses, said Pia Lindfors, Director of the Refugee Advice Center.

A far better alternative to the emergency law would be to handle asylum applications through normal procedures. If necessary, an arrangement center could be established near the border to register asylum seekers. Additionally, the possibility of submitting asylum applications at Finnish embassies has not been thoroughly explored.

Amnesty International and the Refugee Advice Center stress that rejecting the emergency law is the only viable solution to maintain Finland's integrity as a state committed to human rights and the rule of law.

HT
Kiljunen highlighted that numerous international law experts, UN special rapporteurs, researchers, and human rights organizations have warned about the risk of genocide in Gaza.

In light of Israel's military actions in Gaza, Kimmo Kiljunen , Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee and member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has submitted a written question urging the Finnish government to evaluate and monitor the country's arms trade with Israel.

"The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has affirmed that there is a real and imminent risk of genocide in Gaza. By January, a group of UN special rapporteurs stated that it is not just a risk, but an ongoing genocide," Kiljunen noted.

In April, Finland supported a resolution by the UN Human Rights Council calling for an end to all arms exports to Israel. Besides the export of weapons by Patria, Finland also participates in arms exports through the international company Nammo, in which Patria holds a 50% stake. According to Yle's reporting, Nammo's weapons have been used in Gaza, Kiljunen stated.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs claims it does not monitor Nammo's arms exports because the weapons are not exported from Finland. Similarly, the Ministry of Defence has stated that it does not oversee this matter.

"Finland has ratified the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which has been incorporated into Finnish law. I ask how the government monitors Finland's arms trade with Israel, and specifically how it ensures that the arms exports by Patria and Nammo comply with international law, the UN Human Rights Council resolution, and numerous agreements on arms exports?" Kiljunen questioned.

Kiljunen's inquiry seeks clarity on the Finnish government's stance and actions concerning the arms trade with Israel, emphasizing the need for adherence to international human rights obligations and the prevention of potential human rights abuses in conflict zones.

HT
Exhibit of 'Ashevilles Boomtown Architect' to open in Old Fort

A new traveling exhibit, Douglas Ellington: Ashevilles Boomtown Architect, opens at the Mountain Gateway Museum Saturday, June 29.

The exhibit runs through Jan. 26, 2025.

Ellington is known as the architect who changed Asheville into an Art Deco showplace during the late 1920s. In five years, from 1925 to 1930, he transformed the landscape of downtown Asheville.

Short for the French, Arts decoratifs (decorative arts), Art Deco design turned modernism into fashion. The intention, be it in individual items, mass-produced products or architecture, was to create a sleek elegance, symbolizing wealth and sophistication. Art Deco shows an admiration for modernity, and the design qualities of machine-made objects. The key characteristics of Art Deco are simplicity, planarity, symmetry and repetition of elements.

This traveling exhibit, from the Asheville Museum of History, examines both the life of Douglas Ellington, as well as his work in Asheville and elsewhere. During Ashevilles pre-Depression building boom, Ellington combined the bold colors, geometric patterns and extravagant ornamentation of Art Deco with other architectural styles to create an iconic cityscape that is unique in Western North Carolina.

These one-of-a kind buildings include the City Building, Asheville High School, First Baptist Church and S&W Cafeteria. Douglas Ellington: Ashevilles Boomtown Architect presents a look at his iconic Asheville creations along with other buildings Ellington completed throughout his career in other cities. Exhibit features include artwork by Ellington, architectural designs and blueprints and survey equipment.



A regional branch of the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh, the Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center is the westernmost facility in the Division of State History Museums of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources Nestled at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of historic Mill Creek in downtown Old Fort, the museum uses artifacts, exhibitions, educational programs, living history demonstrations, and special events to teach about the rich history and cultural heritage of the states mountain region, from its original inhabitants through early settlement and into the 20th century.
County OKs 166-unit apartment complex in Naples

County commissioners approved a rezoning to allow 166 apartments in seven buildings on Naples Road a mile west of the AdventHealth campus.

The Henderson County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday granted a rezoning to allow a 166-unit apartment complex on Naples Road between Asheville Highway and AdventHealth hospital.

Developer Luis Graef, of Coral Springs, Florida, sought a conditional use rezoning to allow the one-, two- and three-bedroom rental units in seven three- and four-story buildings on 10.4 acres a mile west of the AdventHealth campus.

Plans include a clubhouse and pool, 5-foot sidewalks, parking lot landscaping and an existing buffer of trees along I-26. The site plan also includes space for a possible Apple Country Transit shelter. The site will have 53 percent pervious surface and 30 percent open space. In a traffic impact analysis it submitted to the NCDOT, the developer said the apartment complex would generate 1,140 car trips a day.

During the meeting on Wednesday, responding to a question from Commissioner Michael Edney, Graef said rents are expected to be $1,400 for a one-bedroom unit, $1,600 for two-bedroom and $1,900 for three-bedroom.

A rendering showed a multi-unit building constructed from wood with a shingled roof. Engineer Jared Deridder has described the look as very similar to Brittany Place on U.S. 64 East in Hendersonville. The Naples Road property is in a land-use category that encourages mixed-use development, especially multistory units, county planners said.

Other requests are pending

In two other requests, the Henderson County Planning Board is scheduled to take up two applications next month that would clear the way for residential development:

Landowners Kenneth and Alline Rhodes and Hoopers Creek Land LLC are seeking a rezoning from Residential Two Rural, which allows two units per acre, to Residential One, which permits up to 16 units per acre and structures up to 40 feet tall. The 13-acre site, which contains two houses and some storage sheds, is at 384 and 390 Hoopers Creek Road, north of Livingston Farms.

The Ann Greenwood and Doris K. Cole revocable trusts and applicants Richard Greenwood and Michael Cole are seeking a rezoning of 22 acres from Regional Commercial to Residential Two Rural (R2R). Site of the old Cole orchard, the land fronts along Continental Divide Drive and Summit Springs Drive, east of the U.S. 25 connector and north of Gosnell Used Auto Parts.

The Planning Board, which canceled its June 20 meeting for lack of a quorum, is next scheduled to meet on July 18.
(JTA)  Diane von Furstenbergs design business was stagnating in the 1980s when she got a call that her mother had had a nervous breakdown in Europe. The breakdown, her mothers companion said, may have been triggered by hearing German men speaking loudly. Her mother was cowering under a hotel concierges desk.

Von Furstenberg, newly divorced and worrying about the future of her dress label, immediately headed to Europe with her children. She knew that her mother had survived the Holocaust, but on that trip she learned awful details about Lillis experience in Auschwitz. Arriving home in New...
By Hal Simonds

On March 31 Chabad of North Orlando' s Rabbi Yanki Majesky led a local contingent to Israel for one week to take part in JLI's Solidarity Trip to show love and support to the Israeli people.

As stated, the trip was to show support to the Israeli people; so that perhaps they could draw strength to help them carry on through the horror of a heinous attack and the ongoing war against evil. It turns out the people of Israel provided us with strength. At each stop, with every speaker, we were shown the grit, determination, resiliency, and trust in G-d that the Israeli people have to...
(JTA) - Taylor Swift's detachment from contentious global conflicts is a hallmark of her superstardom. For some fans in Israel, it's also a selling point.

Michal Paz-Klapp, the Young Adult editor at Israel's prominent Modan Publishing House, snatched the opportunity to publish a Hebrew-language edition of "Who Is Taylor Swift?," by Kirsten Anderson. The U.S. children's book came out in April as part of Penguin Workshop's bestselling "Who Was?" and "Who Is?" series, a range of illustrated biographies chronicling public figures from Ruth Bader Ginsburg to Confucius.

The Hebrew version of "Who Is...
(JTA) - They wanted to capture a growing Jewish generational divide over Israel. The Jewish makers of "Israelism" accomplished that - and then some.

Over the last seven months, the documentary critiquing the American Jewish relationship to Israel has become something closer to a foundational text for the campus pro-Palestinian movement. It's been screened at more than 100 colleges, including several encampments. It has toured overseas and won support from an array of Jewish groups on the left, from the liberal J Street to avowed anti-Zionists.

Fights over campus screenings have spilled over in...
(JTA)  An exhibit about Jews in Hollywood that launched at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles following an outcry from Jewish critics is now getting a revision  following another outcry from Jewish critics.

The museum opened its first-ever permanent exhibit, a deep-dive on the Jewish pioneers that laid the groundwork for Hollywood, on May 19. Hollywoodland: Jewish Founders and the Making of a Movie Capital launched two and a half years after the museum opened without the history of the industrys Jewish beginnings.

Designed as a response to critics who complained about Je...
(JTA)  Morrie Markoff, who was born to Jewish parents in an East Harlem tenement in 1914 and lived to become what was believed to be the oldest man in the United States, died June 3 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 110.

Markoffs remarkable lifespan was matched by his remarkable lucidity: After he turned 100, Markoff became an avid blogger and author and saw his scrap metal sculpture exhibited at a Los Angeles gallery. His memoir, Keep Breathing: Recollections from a 103-year-old, was published in 2017.

The Brain Donor Project, a nonprofit organization that supports the National Institute...
(JNS)  Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, a key figure in the global Jewish community and pioneer of Jewish life around the globe, died on June 4. He was 74 years old, just days shy of his 75th birthday.

As vice chairman of Merkos LInyonei Chinuch (the educational arm of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement), he played a crucial role in the growth of the Chabad network worldwide. Entrusted by the Lubavitcher RebbeRabbi Menachem Mendel SchneersonKotlarsky oversaw the establishment of thousands of Jewish centers, guiding shluchim (or emissaries) through the challenges of setting them up in diverse and often...
By

(JTA)  Ten Israeli soldiers were killed in Gaza on Saturday in one of the bloodiest days for the Israeli military since the beginning of its war with Hamas.

An additional soldier died of wounds sustained in battle earlier in the week.

The casualties came as Israel is negotiating with Hamas over a potential ceasefire that would see the release of hostages held by the terror group. Israel reportedly expects Hamas to reject the ceasefire offer, made with U.S. support. The incidents also came on the first day of a pause Israel announced that will stop fighting along a key southern Gaza road ev...
(JNS)  Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Tuesday slammed a reported decision to release 30 Palestinian terrorists who were captured by Israel Defense Forces troops in the Gaza Strip.

The decision by the IDF and the National Security Council to release terrorists back into the Gaza Strip without conditions is unfathomably delusional, the Otzma Yehudit Party leader told Channel 14 News.

The IDF is expected to withstand the shortage of prison space during a war when there are tens of thousands of detained terrorists, just as the Israel Prison Service does very well, he ad...
(JNS)  In his first meeting with the new Palestinian Authority prime minister on Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed the PAs plans to pass a series of administrative reforms.

Blinken stressed the need for full and consistent implementation of those reforms to achieve the aspirations of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza in his meeting in Sweimeh, Jordan, with Mohammad Mustafa, the P.A. prime minister, per a U.S. readout of the meeting.

The U.S. secretary also reaffirmed the Biden administrations support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state wi...
(JNS)  Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., recently announced plans to eliminate 60 employees due to financial difficulties.

These decisions have not been made lightly, the academic institutions senior leaders wrote in an email to staff. We have examined spending across the university to find savings. Unfortunately, it was not possible to identify sufficient savings without needing to reduce positions.

The cuts may hit non-tenured faculty the hardest. The need for contract faculty will be reviewed as contracts come up for renewal, said Julie Jette, interim senior vice president of c...
(JNS)  I am very cheerful and full of joy. For the first time since October 7, I feel that I can breathe again, Aviram Meir, the uncle of Almog Meir Jan, told JNS on Thursday.

Meir Jan was rescued during Operation Arnon last Saturday along with Noa Argamani, Andrey Kozlov and Shlomi Ziv from two separate locations in Nuseirat Camp in the central Gaza Strip.

Hamas terrorists abducted all four from the Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Reim during the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre.

We thank all the decision-makers, the planners and the soldiers who conducted this operation. We will meet with...
(JNS)  Hamas has rejected the Israeli hostage-ceasefire deal, claiming that it is fundamentally different than the one presented by U.S. President Joe Biden on May 31, the Saudi daily Asharq al-Awsat reported on Thursday.

The Gaza-based terror group sent a clarification memorandum to the Palestinian terror factions on Wednesday, the text of which was seen by the news outlet. It claims that the current proposal does not promise a permanent ceasefire, the occupations forces will remain in Gaza, and when they receive the hostages, they will renew the destruction against our nation.

Hamas is d...
(JNS)  The U.S. House of Representatives voted 247 to 155 on Tuesday to pass H.R. 8282, the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act. Two Republicans voted present and 42 Democrats voted with Republicans for the bill.

AIPAC stated that the bill responds to the morally bankrupt and legally baseless attack against Israel leveled by Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, a United Nations agency located in The Hague.

Khan announced that he was seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as for Hama...
(JNS) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has informed members of his government of his intent to dissolve the War Cabinet set up after Hamas's Oct. 7 attack.

The premier told ministers on Sunday that the powerful forum, which was established when National Unity Party leader Benny Gantz joined the wartime government in October, had become obsolete following the latter's June 9 decision to return to the opposition.

Discussions on the war will continue to take place in a small forum with the participation of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Shas Pa...
David Isaac

(JNS) - While Israeli security officials have requested that the four hostages rescued by the Israel Defense Forces on Saturday keep their experiences secret, some details have nevertheless emerged.

The four - Noa Argamani, 26, Almog Meir Jan, 21, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 40 - appeared to be in good health when first seen on camera on June 8, the day of the raid.

But two days later, Dr. Itay Pessach of the Sheba Medical Center revealed they were in a "state of severe malnutrition."

"They all suffered from all types of abuse - physical abuse and mental abuse, and for a lon...
(JTA) - BERLIN - The success of German extremists in Sunday's European Parliament election has mainstream Jewish leaders and politicians worried. Some say they fear the country is veering into political territory that resembles the era just before the rise of the Nazis here nearly a century ago.

The strong showing for far-right parties reflects worries about increasing numbers of Muslim refugees since 2015 in Germany. The Alternative for Germany Party stresses isolationism, takes an anti-EU and pro-Russian stance, and is accused of fomenting anti-Muslim sentiment. Some of its most extreme repr...
IDF has downed more than 150 drones since Oct. 7

(JNS)  Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7, the Israel Defense Forces has intercepted over 150 drones using ground-based systems such as the Iron Dome, the military announced Monday night.

Additional UAVs have been downed by fighter jets, according to the IDF.

On Tuesday morning, the IDF announced the interception of a suspicious aerial target heading towards Israel from the east. No warning sirens were activated as the target did not cross into Israeli territory.

Hours earlier, another suspicious aerial target was downed af...
Since when did terrorism enter the lexicon of valid political or diplomatic debate? Since when did intellectual up become intellectual down and the real targets of intended genocide, Israel and the Jewish people, become the accused perpetrators of genocide?

In a recent interview with the foreign media, a Hamas terrorist was asked, How is it that most of your missiles fall in open areas to such an extent that they are predominately inaccurate? In response he allegedly replied simply that our missiles are accurate, but the God of the Jews moves them  So the interviewer then asked him if so,...
In a poll from last year, the Muslim occupiers in West Bank and Gaza gave Hamas a 76 percent rating. Islamic Jihad was at 84 percent. The UN was at only 9 percent. And America was at 0 percent.

Maybe the latest $400 million check will turn things around.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken announced an additional $404 million in new aid to Palestinians, while attending the Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza Conference in Jordan on Tuesday.

This is in addition to the more than $1.8 billion in development, economic, and humanitarian aid that the United States has pro...
(JNS)  The blatant antisemitic act regarding the 2024 edition of the East Brunswick High School yearbook recently made headlines. The action resulted in a picture of Muslim students replacing the original photograph of the Jewish students who are part of the Jewish Student Union club. In addition, there is a complete absence of the names of the Jewish students. JSU, a division of NCSY, stands in unwavering support of our students, advisers and parent community at East Brunswick High School in New Jersey.

For more than a decade, our club at the school has provided a vital space for Jewish stud...
(JNS)  There is much room to improve international law in order to deal with terrorism and the use of force by non-state actors. But that is not essential to fighting terrorism. The law matters but is not always either the problem or the solution. It was not the lack of applicable law that resulted in the Oct. 7 massacre and the international criticism of Israels response has nothing whatsoever to do with the law.

International law already prohibits the terrorism and genocide being waged by the Palestinian Authority and Iran (directly and through proxies including Fatah, Hezbollah, Hamas and...
(JNS)  The unbearable images of the war in Gaza have shaken the world, prompting urgent calls for an end to the suffering. However, neither calls for an immediate unilateral ceasefire, nor incantations, nor grand speeches, nor votes at the United Nations will be enough to bring about peace or stop the violence. Yet somehow, this approach seems to prevail in much of the international community. To think that a solution can magically emergewhere hostilities cease overnight without the release of hostages or a significant weakening of Hamass military infrastructure, leading to its loss of cont...
Commitment ensures effective communication for deaf and hard of hearing individuals when they receive or participate in critical social and human services and programs

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced actions taken by the Puerto Rico Department of the Familys Administration for Families and Children (the Department of the Family) to improve communication for, and with, deaf parents prior to removing their minor children from their homes under various Federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. The complaints alleged that the Department of the Family had failed to provide sign language interpreters to deaf parents during the agencys investigation and removal of their minor children. The Department of the Family has committed to implementing numerous corrective actions relating to its provision of auxiliary aids and services. As part of finalizing this agreement, OCR Director Melanie Fontes Rainer met with Puerto Rico Family Secretary Cieni Rodriguez Troche today in San Juan, Puerto Rico. They discussed the measures that the Department of the Family has taken to strengthen its existing communication policies and procedures and areas for future work and collaboration.

Children rely on their parents and caregivers for support and parental guidance, and the government must ensure this is true even when investigating family issues. Thats why it is critical to ensure that prior to removal of children from their families, appropriate communication tools must be used to ensure that those parents who are deaf or hard of hearing are fairly given the ability to understand what is happening with their children, communicate with their children, and ensure the safety and wellbeing of their children. Removal of children without providing parents appropriate communication can never happen again. said OCR Director Melanie Fontes Rainer. We applaud the commitment to take corrective steps by the Department of the Family to ensure that deaf or hard of hearing parents dont lose their basic rights to parent their children because of a disability.

Through its investigation, OCR drove corrective action on behalf of the deaf parents and family members under three Federal laws: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504), Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (Section 1557), and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), all of which prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities, including those who are deaf or heard hearing. Specifically, these laws and their corresponding regulations require government agencies to use appropriate auxiliary aids and services, such as sign language interpreters, to ensure that they communicate with individuals with disabilities as effectively as they communicate with other individuals.

As a result of these efforts by OCR, the Department of the Family has agreed to take the following steps:

Establish a Department of the Family Disability Coordinator with specific roles and responsibilities;

Identify resources and services that may be used to provide individuals with disabilities involved with the Department of the Family programs with auxiliary aids;

Streamline and establish a process for requesting auxiliary aids and services within the Department of the Familys local and regional offices so that caseworkers can request sign language interpreting services directly from the interpreting agency without prior approval from the regional offices;

Require that the Department of the Familys staff document the provision of auxiliary aids and services to participants with disabilities;

Identify and increase awareness of a process for participants and their representatives to make a disability-related complaint, including a complaint of disability discrimination, to the Department of the Family;

Provide a process by which the Department of the Family will request auxiliary aids for emergency visits/removals and contingency planning;

Acknowledge the specific needs for some members of the deaf and hard of hearing communities in Puerto Rico for native/regional sign language resources;

Enter into a contract with a sign language interpreting agency, which includes the availability of video remote interpreting, native/regional sign language interpreters, and interpreting services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week;

Develop a training program that provides an overview of deaf culture and how to request and access sign language interpreter resources, including video remote interpreting; and

Provide training to all Department of the Family staff, including its social workers.

Develop a Nondiscrimination Notice to inform individuals of the Department of the Familys Disability Effective Communication Policy;

Create a process for continually reviewing what reasonable modifications and auxiliary aids and services are needed by program participants; and

Create a process for ensuring that service providers know when auxiliary aids or services may be necessary.

Todays action is the latest by OCR to strengthen policies and advance law enforcement work to ensure nondiscrimination against people with disabilities in health care. OCR has recently taken several other actions to strengthen access to health and human services for people with disabilities: On April 26, 2024, OCR finalized the Section 1557 rule, which strengthens protections against discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, and disability. On May 1, 2024, OCR finalized the Section 504 rule, substantively updating the rules for the first time in nearly 50 years. Section 504 clarifies and strengthens civil rights protections for people with disabilities, addresses discrimination in medical treatment, adds enforceable standards for accessible medical diagnostic equipment, and ensures accessible web content and mobile apps.

To inform the public of their rights and encourage compliance with civil rights laws by the health care system, OCR has several Fact Sheets, FAQs and other resources.

Specific resources for deaf and hard of hearing services can be found here.

A copy of the Closure Letter is available at: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr-closure-letter-puerto-rico-dept-family.pdf

If you believe that you or someone else has been discriminated against for being deaf or hard of hearing, on account of another disability, or on account of race, color, national origin, age, sex, or religion, please file a complaint with the HHS Office for Civil Rights at https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/filing-a-complaint/index.html.

Lea el comunicado de prensa en espanol


Friday June 21, 2024



Somalia's Fawzia Yusuf Adam Resists Pressure to Withdraw AU Chairperson Candidacy







Mogadishu (HOL)  Somalia's candidate for African Union (AU) Chairperson, Fawzia Yusuf Adam, announced that the Somali government and leaders of four federal member states are pressuring her to withdraw her candidacy at the request of Djibouti's President, Ismail Omar Guelleh.

She added that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud excluded her bid for the AU seat in 2016 during his term because Kenya was also contesting for that position. "I have been denied the AU chairmanship twice. I do not know if it is because I am a woman or for other hidden reasons," she remarked.

Adam's candidacy was formally announced in February 2024, challenging Kenya's Raila Odinga. Her bid was supported by Somali national leaders aiming to bolster Somalia's influence within the AU. In March, the Somali government began lobbying efforts and formed a special committee to support her campaign, underscoring the importance of securing this influential position.

The juxtaposition of Somalia's leaders privately lobbying Adam to withdraw while publicly supporting her candidacy reveals the power dynamics at play. Despite public displays of support, she claims that Somali leaders have been under pressure from external forces, particularly Djibouti and Kenya, to reconsider her candidacy.

In May, members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) expressed their support for Adam, boosting her campaign against Raila Odinga. The OIC's endorsement was significant, signalling broader support from Islamic nations that could sway votes in her favour.

Last year, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud faced heavy criticism for refusing to support Somali lawmaker Marwa Abdi Bashir's candidacy for the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) presidency. Instead, he backed Tanzania, which eventually won, in exchange for Tanzania's support in helping Somalia join the East African Community and securing another United Nations seat.

The race for the AU Chairperson seat became more competitive with the entry of Djibouti's Mahmoud Ali Youssouf in April 2024. Youssouf's candidacy introduced new complexities to the regional dynamics, altering the balance of power and strategic alliances within the Horn of Africa. Djibouti, with its significant geopolitical influence due to its strategic location and international military bases, challenges both Somalia and Kenya for the AU's top post. Djibouti's entry intensified lobbying efforts among neighbouring countries and exposed underlying tensions and alliances.

Kenya's President William Ruto, who seeks to solidify Kenya's leadership role in regional politics and international relations, also played a pivotal role in the race. According to Kenyan media outlets, Ruto actively lobbied Somalia to withdraw her candidacy in favour of Kenya's candidate, Raila Odinga.

The competition further intensified with Seychelles entering the race, making it a four-way contest.
The Brhadaranyaka Upanishad proclaims that nothing in the universe is aleatory. The mystical pronouncement justifies this bewildering preamble I am still at school, living abroad, holidaying in India. My mothers friend insistently punctuates our sightseeing expedition to tarry at temples in Vrndavan. In exasperation, the brat that I am, I announce with chutzpa, Im here to see the Taj Mahal, Red Fort and Fatehpur Sikhri. Im not here on pilgrimage. Those fateful words pronounced, instantaneously a bizarre concatenation of events befall us. The car grumbles, stumbles, retards the journey to Fatehpur Sikri. The site reached, our driver vanishes, with the car. This is pre-mobile era. Chaos descends. Until the driver rocks up casually In furore we resume the odyssey only to hiccup into a tyre puncture. Theres no jack and aeons elapses before help comes. We reach Agra, the sun is dipping, I am in frenzy, but at the security checkpoint we are stalled endlessly, the cars paperwork scrutinised with heedless scrupulousness, which gorges another hour. Then theres an inexplicable road block. Its nearing 6pm, when The Mahal shuts. I am shrieking histrionically. The road opens minutes before 6pm. A sympathetic guardian permits 10 minutes to visit The Taj. The Red Fort is denied us. My mothers friend asks wryly, What were you saying? Im here to see the Taj Mahal and Red Fort, Im not here on pilgrimage? The Airavatesvara Temple in Kumbakonam. (Srinivasan.Clicks/Shutterstock)

I should have realised that something out there is listening and that in temples inhere a mystique and might. Notwithstanding, when we move from The UK to Chennai in 2011, and Parveen Travels sends us on temple tours including the Navagraha Temples, I find myself bleating, Temples of historic and architectural significance alone interest me. Im not on pilgrimage.

Little do I then suspect that Destiny will deviate me on a near-obsessive decade-long pilgrimage to the temples of Tamil Nadu.

The Brihadisvara Temple in Gangaikondacholapuram, Tamil Nadu. (Reality Images/Shutterstock)

What commences as staggering awe at the architectural splendour of legendary temples, rock-hewn and sculpted intricately, will translate into an insatiable urge to tap into their energies and the occult power beyond stone. Or the mystical divinity therein.

And stone, from the lofty viewpoint of the Upanishads, which declare the Oneness of all existence, isnt an inanimate clump of matter, but a manifestation of Brahman, the Supreme Being, and therefore endowed with a degree, however infinitesimal, of Consciousness. All living creatures there are that move or do not move are impelled by Consciousness. (Aitareya Upanishad III.i.3). Is stone living? Otherwise how come certain Shiva lingams are declared jyothirlingams, repositories of palpable energy, and others are svayambhu lingams wielding their own power? We hear of cows consecrating with cascades of milk from their udders a particular spot which eventually coughs up a svayambhu lingam. Such an episode occurred recently in Tamil Nadu which jostles with 38,615 temples. Officially. There might well be as many unregistered temples.

Most of these temples swirl in energy constellations around Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadus spiritual epicentre and to them gravitate hundreds of thousands of pilgrims annually, as if drawn by an irresistible, ineluctable force.

A force which eludes me when I first stand bewitched by poetry in stone at the grandest of all temples, Raja Raja Cholas Brhdeswarar Big temple, in Thanjavur. This UNESCO-stamped marvel, emblazoning the majesty of the Cholas, doesnt quite excite religious fervour, fetching more tourists than pilgrims. Why is this august temple spiritually stunted? It is, after all, 1000 years old. I shall discover a millennium is nothing in TN where temples are over 2000 years old! Ill also learn alignments are imperative and the Big Temples lingam isnt aligned right

NRIs, however, throng to pay annual homage to the Navagraha with placatory poojas as armament against planetary malevolences. This ingenuous faith I deride, I dont worship planets. But my lifes circumstances seem tightly-scripted by that ineffable Power to impress the Science of Spirit and the mystical interplay of energies, be they from planets, stones, or the alignment thereof in the temples of Tamil Nadu!

The Adi Kumbeswarar Temple in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu. (travel sojourns/Shutterstock)

When my father dies of brain cancer, I find myself back in Kumbakonam. Now, not to gawp at temple architecture. But to decrypt that labyrinthine architecture of the Universe with its inscrutable interconnectedness of things.

At Shaktivinoths Bohar Nadi Astrological Centre, Sivamurugan who reads predictions of ancient sages inscribed on leaves, initiates the elucidation.

Nadi astrology is practiced around Vaitheeswaran Koil, the Navagraha Mars Temple which I saunter into. The evening aarti is unfurling, but today the sanctum glows. Every wall glitters with the bobbing dance of fiery tongues in cupped lamps. I am entranced. My mind, like scattered marbles of helter-skelter thoughts, is suddenly brought under the impelling converging forcefield of an ineluctable magnetism. As if I am ordained to divine something. And I do. It strikes that today is EXACTLY a month since my father passed. In that moment of exaltation I feel he communed with me. This occasions momentous transfiguration in my approach to temples.

Those whove remarked the cataclysmic upheavals in life that planetary play effects will understand why I repair back to Sivamurugan to understand if none can escape the clutches of the grahas, which in Sanskrit means seizing, reflecting how the planets clench us and dont extract their scorpion claws until they have sucked their dues. Sivamurugan pronounces enigmatically that Navagraha Temples are Shiva temples. Above grahas reigns Shiva, Supreme.

Here, you supplicate Shiva and propitiate the energies the planets emanate that pursue and persecute you inexorably, like harpies. They are the Universes retributive powers, ones karmic consequences from countless lifetimes which Cosmic Forces resolve so that planets align seemingly for your singular torment and Karma boomerangs on you as punctually as a Shinkansen.

Strangely, Shiva Ive always been oblivious of at the Buddhan Temple where I spend hours at a Buddhan abhishekam, but leave without vaguely suspecting the main Shiva temple exists.

At the Kethu Temple, seconds before I reach, the priest smashes shut the gates. I entreat, it isnt closing time, Ive travelled long to this far-flung temple. The priest is unyielding. Again I seek Sivamurugan and am proffered another cryptic utterance, You have to be invited to visit a temple.

The converse holds too- whenever Ive vowed to pilgrimage and, the boon granted, have conveniently not, thinking God can wait, life wont, life stops, machinating circumstances which invariably recall to mind my omission, impelling vow-fulfilment!

The Shani Temple, where hordes prostrate whenever the formidable slow tread of Shani catches up with them, leaves me indifferent. Sivamurugan avers, When the time is right a temple resonates with you. The same temple wont be relevant at every phase in life.

Over a nadi reading translator Veeramani is cast my way.

Veeramani runs a travel company presenting esoteric temples. He opens deeper realms into the mystical as I plummet down resistless into what seems a tunnel of gushing light.

Veeramani has us discover 40 temples including Adi Kumbeswarar. Glorified in hymn by Doyen of Carnatic Music Purandaradasa, it once left me unmoved, but now has me in thrall. It will infuriate my mother that I stand an hour in each temple, hands joined, eyes shut, mind away. Echoing my reaction to her friend in Vrandavan decades ago, she strides out of Adi Kumbeswarar temple in exasperation. And pain  she CANNOT stand an hour in each temple. This is INSANE! Maybe. But I feel transfiguration.

This ninth century Chola temple, Veeramani reveals, gave Kumbakonam its name for legend has it that Brahmas mythical pot, kumbh, containing the seed of living beings, swivelled off during Pralaya and halted where Kumbakonam now stands. The temple is both a Paadal Petra Sthalam (amongst 276 temples of the Saiva canon revered by 7th-Cent Shaivite saint-poet Appar in Tevaram) and also a Shakti Peettha where energy associated with Parvati finds intense concentration.

Veeramani presents temples classed amongst the 108 Divya Desham temples (Vishnu temples eulogised in Nalariya Divya Prabandham by Alwar poet-saints) but professes a preference for Shiva temples, They are more peaceful. People go to Vishnu for money. And to Shiva for moksha!

The path to moksha, as chartered in the Taittiriya Upanishad, is personified by the 1800-year-old early-Chola Pancha Bhoota Water Temple whose five fortressing walls evoke Taittiriya Upanishads five koshas sheathing the soul.

Veeramani next unveils a curious enshrined deity conceived by a clairvoyant, untutored 12-year-old boy who recites the Vedas. Considered a Siddha incarnation, he opines that my mind is like a monkey jumping from tree to tree and diagnoses that my meditative efforts flounder for I have one foot on land and one in water -- meaning, irresolute, I vainly straddle spiritual and terrestrial paths.

If hitherto Ive jollied away on January 1 after a New Years Eve bash, I now take to pilgrimaging. We return to Heritage Madurai not for their year-end gala but to pray for mental direction at the great Meenakshi Temple where we almost lose life and limb in the savage onslaught of pilgrims.

Covid strikes. We spend much of the pandemic at Svatma, Thanjavur. In July 2021 the Shani temple is revisited, academically, to assess its impact given that Saturn is in retrogression, wreaking havoc. It now exudes hypnotic serenity that transfixes me before Shiva. An hour elapses, much to Mums chagrin. When I stop at the Shani shrine, my mother and brother strut out haughtily. We dont bow before planets. Then Mum explodes, Whats this NONSENSE getting stuck in every temple for hours?! I reflect on her imprudence, fear reprisals. Unsurprisingly, domestics will plague us yearlong, driving Mum to distraction (Saturn governs the domestics department).

The pillared hall in the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram in Tamil Nadu. One of great living Chola temples, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Rahul DSilva/Shutterstock)

After Mums tantrum subsides, I menace to cancel the temple visits so Mum can luxuriate in the hotel. But driver Mani, allocated to us at Svatma, quietly winds us to Mukteeswarar Temple where Ram performed tarpanam for Dasharat. Brahmins boys chant the Vedas and the incantations like a snake charmer who beguiles snakes into submission with his music and assuage the Minds serpents that puffed their hoods outside the Shani Temple. Adjoining Mukteeswarar Temple is the Naramukha Ganesha shrine, one of only two in India with a human-faced Ganesh.

At Paapanasham, Rama worshipped Shiva after vanquishing Ravana. As we weave through the array of 108 lingams, the vibrations are palpable. The crescent moon traditionally depicted ensconced in Shivas locks seems to have amplified in the cosmos into a disc so big and blinding bright I can barely behold it. Standing in the tumble of silver light I suddenly realise its auspicious Guru Purnima.

31 Dec 2021, we return to Svatma. The driver gets lost, we reach 10 hours later. I am shrieking like a banshee, but boyish new GM Vaibhav Pai eases the tautest nerves.

01 Jan 2022, I wonder if Mum can brook the journey to Pancha Bhoota Arunachaleswarar Fire temple in Thiruvannamali after yesterdays disaster. Mum is resolute. Having said we are going to the temple, we must. So we drive six hours to the largest Shiva temple on planet Earth. A temple whose nascence predates Navagraha worship (although now incorporating a Navagraha grid).

The Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur is a UNESCO world heritage site. (AJP/Shutterstock)

We are early, this will be quick. But we are in Tamil Nadu, at a capital temple, on 01 January, and the miracle of finishing swiftly doesnt happen. In the mad crush and heave of people we are billowed on and on as devotees, blithely maskless during Omicron, trying to infiltrate a monolith of mankind between whom air hasnt space to circulate. Hours later, we attain the sanctum enshrining a lingam that emanates energies such that temperatures within the sanctum exceed those outside. The lingam glitters in the sway of lights snaked brilliantly out of lamps. We are permitted mere seconds before this piece of rock that has the power, they say, to cleanse the filthiest sin. The bedazzlement of those seconds impresses my minds eye in Darshan which isnt physically perceiving the deity but mentally attuning to the temples vibrations, envisioning formless Divinity.

The temples exit differs from the entrance. Mani doesnt know where we are. Our slippers are elsewhere. I erupt. My brother says with sanctimony, You have just had darshan and should be calm. But you are not. I shant repeat the expletives that cross my mind.

On the way back, a six-hour journey, I ask Mani which temple is more powerful, The Fire Temple or Srikalahasti, the Pancha Bhoota Wind Temple near Tirupati, a ravishing 2000-year-old Chola temple in present-day Andhra that dispenses absolution from Rahu-Ketu curses. Ancient Tamil sources call it Kailasa of the South and the river above whose banks it towers tall and white the Ganges of the South. The immaculate Ganges gushing from Shivas head represents the awakened mind. But the temples spirituality is eclipsed by its power to alleviate Sarpadosha on a terrestrial plane, which Mani scorns, Srikalahasti is Rahu-Ketu Kshetram, for people who want to escape suffering in life. But The Fire Temple is for freedom from life. At Thiruvannamalai siddhas attained moksham.

Its the Tamil month of Marghazi (15 Dec-15 Jan) devoted to piety and the Soolini temple beckons. Veeramani prescribed it in January 2019, but the temple was unaccountably shut whenever we went. It eventually granted me audience but not Mum. Mani, otherwise an authority on temples, hasnt heard of it. Surely, the famous Kali temple? Ah, that he knows. Mani whisks us to a 1000-year-old temple whose inception harks to Mahabharata times. But this isnt the Soolini Temple. Still, we queue up to cram hours later into a minuscule shrine with a most ferocious form of Kali before whom we havent time to bow as a corpulent priest viciously smacks Mums head and hurls her out. I realise this is the black magic Prathiangiradevi Temple, which the late Jayalalitha patronised. The temple exit, again, differs from the entrance where our chappals are. My brother has to chappal-hunt. He is peeved. I asseverate, You have just had darshan and you should be calm, but you are not

The Arunachaleshwarar temple towers in Thiruvannamali, Tamil Nadu. (Rajeswari Sundaresan/Shutterstock)

When we reach the stunning Lalitambigai Temple the sun has slid into slumber and dusk obfuscates the divinely sculpted Shiva embracing Parvati. When I genuflect before Durga a lotus cascades off her finely chiselled head onto my crown, as if symbolising the Sahasrara Chakra opening. Over the hour lavished at the temple, I see divine grace. My mother and brother see time wasted.

The legend-imbued Markandeya Temple, the Puranas say, is where gods descended to imbibe amrtam from the Samudra Manthan but in their zeal forgot to invoke Ganesha, mandatory before any grand enterprise, so Ganesha retaliated by purloining the amrtam and caching it at the temple site where he created a Shiva lingam, consecrated with the amrtam. Thus, the lingam is known as Amrtam Ghat Eshwarar and to it sage Markandeya famously clung when Yama appeared, noose-bearing, to entrain his soul at his predestined death: Markandeyas 16th birthday. Defying Shivas command to spare Markandeya Yama proudly insisted on Deaths punctuality. So Shiva abolished Death. But Bhumi Devi couldnt nourish an exponential immortal population. So Death was resurrected. For longevity, at this temple people pray.

The fabled ninth-century Thiagaraja temple is matchless in Ganesha shrines and lingams speckling the sprawling complex. After circumambulating this temple for two hours, bowing at every shrine and lingam, exploding into raptures at the architectural feats, we are about to leave, Mum is wearied, when something impels me into a hall, seemingly a flower repository, but actually the Parvati shrine. If this is the main Devi shrine then those we took for Shiva and Shakti sancta must be incidental. Some divine inspiration guides me to the actual temple. If, over multiple visits to the Buddhan Temple, I remained oblivious to the primary Shiva temple, Shiva today summons me to Him. In ecstasy, I make Mum empty her purse towards this early Chola temples sustenance.

We finally ferret out the secretive Soolini temple, so long denied Mum. Finally, she is received. The colossus of a Kali in a unique embrace of eight terrific Bhairavas exhales awful power. Mum feels healed.

When Omicron intensifies, landing Mums coevals in ICU, she remains unscathed. She nevertheless wants a Covid test. I prohibit it. That would be impugning the shielding powers of those stupendous temples we visited!

For Adi (15 July-15 Aug), another spiritual Tamil month, we return to Svatma. GM Vaibhav crafts a temple trail, seeing us off matutinally as Mum would me to school, there to receive us on return  like Mum!

At the Shani temple, which last year incited tantrums, some benign soul draws me to the sanctum where I feel my being quicken. I am about to bypass an incidental shrine but Mum suddenly stops and we witness an abhishekam. We are exiting the temple when the same soul who accosted me at entry leads me to a glorious evening Aarti. We reach the Shani shrine and the Shani abhishekam happens! This time my mother and brother stay put. Now I understand Sivamurugans revelation five years ago, You have to be invited to a temple and The same temple will respond to you differently through different phases of life!

If Rina Vimochana Lingeswarar is the debt-clearance temple that abolishes purva janma karma, then you appease Shiva at the Brahmahatha Dosha Mahalingaswami temple as did a Chola prince pursued by the spirit of a Brahmin he slew. The jyothirmayalingam, which sprung from a flame before sages, including Agastya, is 2000-odd years old. This Pancha Linga Stalam, endowed with five lingams, is amongst the largest of Tamil Nadus temples. Such were its treasures that the Cholas had to appoint an army for its protection!

Mum will NOT brook more temples. But Sri Vilvaneswarar beckons. The Vedas, realising that everything, including the Vedas, would be annihilated during Pralaya, sought Shiva who counselled them to do tapas as vilvam trees here. The first thing that strikes is the Nandi facing east rather than regarding Shiva. This temple, where Maha Shivaratri initiated, has four Nandis facing east to combat Yamas aggressive incursions. Worshipping the Svayambhu lingam circumvents untimely death.

The temple towers at Vaitheeswaran Koil (trichyashok/Shutterstock)

That these temples have vibrations I have felt. How each temple is endowed with powers to alleviate specific afflictions I know not but I do know that collaborations between shrewd astrologers and temples is big business dispatching woebegone mankind for extravagant rituals to temples bearing particular curative powers. However, by mere rituals sins arent abolished for every ritual requires mental tapas. As Yajnavalkya declares in the Brhadaranyaka Upanishad, if a single priest falters during a homam the yajamana is considered the worst of sinners for the mysterious interconnectedness of things ensures that your sins generate circumstances that damningly land a bungling priest at your homam!

As if to reiterate the Brhadaranyaka Upanishad philosophy of the fathomless interconnectedness of things, I receive a random call from Sankar, someone I met five years before at Chennais Anantapadmanabhanswamy Temple where five years before meeting me, Sankar had worshipped and fortuitously fell into a tourism management degree. He suddenly remembers I am a travel writer. He calls to say he runs a travel company, TraevlDia, which curates temple tours and asks if I am visiting Tamil Nadu. Its Adi 2023 and coincidentally I am JUST embarking to Chennai.

A black stone Nandi bull sits on Chamundi Hill on the way to the Chamudi temple in Mysore, Karnataka. (AnilD/Shutterstock)

Sankar furnishes a car to Kumbakonam. Strange circumstances contrive to land me at INDECO Swamimalai, from where I ventured my first tour of TNs temples 12 years ago. Somehow Veeramani, GM Vaibhav and driver Mani from Svatma get involved on the trip. Veeramani recommends the Pralaya Ghata Ganesha temple where the Cholas worshipped before proceeding to rule for 400 years. En route to the temple Mani explains Adi is dedicated to Amman worship. Just as I enter the temple, a Durga abhishekam begins. That evening I witness a Parvati abhishekam at Lalitambigai, coincidentally.

At the Shani temple, in the whirling vortex of pilgrims (theres a Shani transit), Id never have reached the Shani shrine but feel catapulted bang before Shani. None other than Krishnamachary Srikkanth, who was at the temple coincidentally, propelled me forth.

The recondite temples weve visited have occasioned a journey to the immaterial thresholds of the formless Supreme Being.

I cannot fathom the abstruse minutiae behind the science of temple architecture and its alignments but it is this intriguing interconnectedness of things that translates mental tapas into perceivable impact on ourselves. Then, beyond the tumult of temple drums and bugles you hear the rhythm of the Universe refined into an endless OM. Darshan is when an awakened eye perceives rock vanish in an arcane interplay of energies, forces, powers -- quite like in Quantum Mechanics or the Mass-Energy equation of Relativity. These are energies, forces, powers with the capacity to melt a mind as solid as rock.

I do know that the temples of Tamil Nadu have transformed an irremediable brat like me. Mum doesnt agree.

After reading physics, French and philosophy at Oxford, Devanshi Mody gadded about the globe until her parents wearied of funding her errancy. And so, she stumbled quite fortuitously into travel writing.
More and more Dell employees are saying no to working from the office after the company resorted to strict mandates and punitive policies to get employees back in the office. In February, Dell introduced a return-to-office mandate, as the company told employees to formally classify themselves as either hybrid or remote. The company had then said that employees who chose to work from home will not be eligible for promotion or be able to change their roles. For hybrid workers, the company said that they must come to office 39 days in a quarter- which is roughly three days a week. The company also said that the attendance of these employees will be monitored using a color-coded system. In February, Dell introduced a return-to-office mandate, as the company told employees to formally classify themselves as either hybrid or remote.

Internal data showed that almost 50% of Dell's full-time workers in the US have opted to stay remote, Business Insider reported. These means that these employees will not be eligible for promotion while around a third of international staff chose to stay remote. On this, the company said as per the report, that it believes "in-person connections paired with a flexible approach are critical to drive innovation and value differentiation."

One worker told the outlet, My team is spread out around the world. Almost 90% of the team did the same as in our case there was no real advantage going to the office.

Another said as per the report that there are personal and financial benefits of working remotely which are too good to give up. They said, I benefited a lot from being WFH since 2020 and had a lot of personal growth. I'm not willing to give that up if I don't have to, adding that prior to Covid their life "was basically home and work," and nothing else.

The more time I have to spend in the office, the less time, money, and personal space I have for all of that. I can do my job just as well from home and have all of those personal benefits as well, they said while another cited cost of commuting as the reason to skip work from office, With the salary that we are receiving, a return to the office would leave a huge hole in our budget.

A staffer on the global team of the company said, I am not going to work eight hours in a Dell office and then come home and work three more hours in meetings with my folks in India or Malaysia.
Indian carriers have been on a fleet ordering spree. Amongst IndiGo, Tata group and Akasa Air there are over 1000 planes which were ordered in a span of 12 months. Beginning pre-COVID and more so on the other side of it, IndiGo and Air India are investing heavily in expansion to foreign shores. The last couple of years have seen foreign carriers, largely led by Emirates asking for more access to India. This involves not just an increase in seats but also access to other points in the country. For a typical week in June, there are 4130 international departures as per data shared by Cirium - an aviation analytics company.

For a typical week in June, there are 4130 international departures as per data shared by Cirium - an aviation analytics company, exclusively for this article. While Indian carriers operate 47.6% of all international flights from India by frequencies, it's only 38.2% by seats deployed. This is because Indian carriers have fewer wide body aircraft, though this is set to change in future.

While there may be over 120 airports which are operational in India, only a handful cater to International operations and even those which do, have a varied pattern beyond the major metros. This is largely to do with the Bilateral Air Services Agreement.

Airports which handle only foreign carriers

There are five airports in India where only foreign carriers operate the international flights.

There are Coimbatore, Bagdogra, Guwahati, Nagpur and Vizag.

Coimbatore sees two operators, Scoot and Air Arabia to Singapore and Sharjah respectively. Nagpur sees Qatar Airways flights to Doha. Bagdogra - where Bhutans Druk Air offers twice weekly flights to Paro and Bangkok; Guwahati - from where Druk Air operates to Paro and Singapore, while Thai AirAsia connects to Bangkok and Vizag from where Thai AirAsia connects to Bangkok, AirAsia Bhd to Kuala Lumpur and Scoot to Singapore.

Airports where international flights are operated only by Indian carriers

There are seven airports where only airlines from India serve international services. All of which are those where foreign carriers do not have rights. Interestingly, while foreign carriers have point of call within India, Indian carriers in most cases are not restricted by point of call for origin and can start international flights from any point in India.

Kannur - which has been making multiple submissions to allow foreign carriers is one such example where only Indian carriers operate international flights. There are 69 weekly flights from Kannur to points in the Middle east. Mangalore follows with 34 weekly international flights, all operated by Indian carriers. Chandigarh, Pune, Surat, Indore and Vijayawada are the other cities from where only Indian carriers operate international flights.

The mix

The top most airport in India, Delhi - sees 46% departures by foreign carriers while 54% by Indian carriers. The split is 53% Indian and 47% foreign carriers at Mumbai - the second busiest airport in India.

Airports which see higher frequencies by foreign carriers are Ahmedabad (69%), Bengaluru (74%), Kolkata (69%), Kochi (59%), Goa - Dabolim (69%), Goa - MOPA (80%), Hyderabad (55%), Jaipur (76%), Chennai (64%), Trivandrum (67%), Trichy (53%). Most if not all have a higher penetration of carriers from the middle east leading to a lot of missed opportunities for Indian carriers who are looking to create a hub at Delhi or Mumbai. For Tier II cities, it still means a one-stop connection, with the stop being in India rather than abroad.

There remain six airports where both Indian and foreign carriers operate but Indian carriers have higher frequencies. Amritsar (56%), Bhubaneshwar (70%), Calicut (60%), Madurai (74%), Lucknow (56%), Varanasi (78%) are airports where Indian carriers have a higher share of frequency over foreign carriers.

Tail Note

There are around 590 departures a day for International flights, much less than the over 3000 domestic departures. The passenger numbers are about one fourth of domestic passenger numbers.

International traffic has not been on the recovery path as fast as the domestic ones. However, international flights have their own advantages for the airline. In an environment where a lot of its expenditure is dollar denominated, earning in foreign currency is one of it. Additionally, the taxation on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) for international flights is much lower than domestic - giving a level playing field for airlines against foreign carriers.
Nvidia is no longer world's most valuable company as it lost the top spot to Microsoft after Jensen Huang-led company's shares declined 3.4%. Nvidia, whose market capitalization surpassed that of Microsoft earlier this week, lost around $91 billion to its last closing market value of $3.34 trillion. Microsoft's market value also slipped to $3.30 trillion as the three-horse race to become the world's most valuable company continues between Nvidia, Microsoft and Apple. The Nvidia headquarters in Santa Clara, California. Nvidia edged ahead of other tech companies to become the world's most valuable publicly traded company this week.(AFP)

Apple's market capitalization was at $3.22 trillion with its shares down 2.2% at $210.10 while Dell Technologies and Super Micro Computer fell 1% and 0.7%, respectively. Bot companies make servers equipped with Nvidia chips.

This comes as Elon Musk said earlier this year that training the Grok 2 model took about 20,000 Nvidia H100 graphic processing units and that the Grok 3 model and beyond would require 100,000 Nvidia H100 chips.

What experts said on Nvidia stock?

Jake Dollarhide, chief executive officer of Longbow Asset Management, said as per news agency Reuters, While Microsoft both spends and makes money in AI, Nvidia only makes money and lots of money and profits in AI. That's why you cannot spell Nvidia without AI.

Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives said, This will be a tech market in which the strong will get stronger as AI technology helps Big Tech Stalwarts monetize their massive installed brs across the enterprise (Microsoft, Oracle, Dell, Amazon, etc) and consumer landscape (Meta, Apple, Google) over the coming years.
A Swiss court on Friday sentenced Indian-born business tycoon Prakash Hinduja and three other members of his family to four and a half years in prison after finding them guilty of exploiting their domestic workers. The court threw out the severe charges of human trafficking, AP reported. Indian-Swiss billionaire family members Namrata Hinduja (L) and Ajay Hinduja (2ndR) arrive at the Geneva's courthouse with their lawyers Yael Hayat (C) and Robert Assael (R).(AFP file photo)

Besides Hinduja, his wife Kamal, son Ajay and daughter-in-law Namrata, were accused of trafficking of their servants, mostly illiterate Indians who were working at their lakeside villa in the Swiss city Geneva.



ALSO READ: The billionaire Hinduja family: Who they are, their companies, and the scandal



The fifth accused Najib Ziazi, the Hinduja family's business manager, was handed an 18-month suspended sentence.



According to the report, the court found the Hindujas guilty of exploiting their workers and providing unauthorised employment. Besides this, the family was accused of seizing their staffs' passports, paying them in rupees and not Swiss Francs, preventing them from leaving the villa and forcing them to work long hours in Switzerland.

Last week, it was reported that the Hindujas had made an undisclosed settlement with the plaintiffs.



The prosecutors had opened the case of alleged illegal activity including exploitation, human trafficking and violation of Swiss labour laws, the report added.



ALSO READ: Ajay Hinduja on Swiss human-trafficking trial says nanny was like second mum

According to the AP report, Swiss authorities have already seized diamonds, rubies, a platinum necklace and other jewelry and assets from the Hindujas in anticipation that they could be used to pay for legal fees and possible penalties.

According to the prosecutors, the workers were forced to work up to 18 hours a day with little or no vacation time off and for pay that was equal to less than one-tenth of the comparable amount required under Swiss law.



The employees claimed to have worked later for receptions and made to sleep in the basement of the villa. They alleged a climate of fear under Prakash Hinduja's wife Kamal. The employees spoke only in Hindi and were paid wages in Indian currency in banks back home that they were unable to access.
Based on a complaint by Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) legal cell secretary, advocate B K Bopanna, Bengaluru police on Thursday served notices to a Noida YouTuber Ajeet Bharti for allegedly creating hatred and enmity between the religions. The YouTuber was asked to appear for questioning at High Grounds police station in Bengaluru within a week. YouTuber Ajeet Bharti.

Also Read - Anonymous social media user describes brutal gang fight on Bengaluru road

According to reports, Ajeet Bharti shared a controversial video on his X handle claiming that Rahul Gandhi wants to construct Babri Masjid in Ayodhya once again. The video was titled Rahul trying hard to fuel fire; Nasser wants Modi in skull cap. Bengaluru police travelled to Noida and reached the YouTubers house in Sector 57 on Thursday to serve the notice.

Speaking to news agency PTI, a senior police officer from Karnataka said, Our team also reached the house soon, and the Karnataka Police left after serving the notice. Usually, it's a procedure that any visiting police team informs their local counterparts of, but that did not happen in this case.

Meanwhile, Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra lashed out at CM Siddaramaiah-led Congress government and called the move dictatorial. He extended his support to the YouTuber and said that the party would be with him to fight the case.

In an X post, Vijayendra said, Law and order in the state have plummeted to their lowest point. Criminals having a field day, high-profile murder cases and harassment of women have almost become daily occurrences, yet the @siddaramaiah government seems least concerned. Instead, the police have been forced to invest their valuable time and resources in intimidating and harassing the opposition and our supporters who are fighting for the Hindu cause.

He further called Siddaramaiah a Puppet in external hands.
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said that people who live in Karnataka should learn Kannada. He also called Kannadigas generous and said they must create a Kannada atmosphere in the state. Kannadigas should create Kannada atmosphere in Karnataka: CM Siddararamaiah

Also Read - Karnataka to become USD 1 trillion economy by 2032: CM Siddaramaiah

Speaking at an event in Bengaluru, Karnataka CM said, In Karnataka, people from all over the country can live without learning Kannada. But when we see the other states like Tamil Nadu, it is not easy to survive there without learning the local language. Kannadigas are generous and welcoming.

He further said that people living in the state must learn and respect the local language. The duty of Kannadigas is to create an atmosphere of Kannada in the state. Everyone must decide to speak only in Kannada with the people who live in this land. Speaking in our mother tongue in our land must make us feel proud, Siddaramaiah added.

Earlier this year, an ordinance was approved during a cabinet meeting on January 5, sought to amend the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Act, 2022, and put in place a provision that mandates 60% space on signboards must be taken by Kannada language, and the remaining 40% by any other language including English.

The decision to bring an ordinance followed violent demonstrations by pro-Kannada groups targeting businesses in Bengaluru for allegedly neglecting the state language.
Urge people to dial toll-free number 7669400500 or log in to cmdiyogshala.punjab.gov.in for free yogatraining in their areas Sakshi Sawhney said yoga was an ancient and the greatest gift to world given by India. (HT file photo for representation)

Deputy commissioner (DC) Sakshi Sawhney on Friday exhorted people of the district to make yoga part of their daily routine for leading a healthy life.

Addressing the gathering to mark the International Day of Yoga at Government College for Girls here, the DC termed yoga an essential medium of being fit.

DC Sawhney said the day is celebrated every year after the United Nations unanimously adopted a resolution piloted by India to celebrate day on June 21, which is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year in northern hemisphere.

The day serves as a reminder to take out some time for our body and mind. The day also acts as a driving force which can encourage millions to start practising yoga for a healthier body and mind, she said.

The commissioner said yoga was an ancient and the greatest gift to world given by India. She said it was a natural insurance cover that kept diseases at bay and boosted immunity, leading to the overall wellness of body, mind, and soul. She exhorted people to ensure that they spared at least an hour for yoga daily.

Sawhney added that in an effort to promote physical and mental wellness, as many as 185 yoga classes under the CM Di Yogshala initiative have been offering free training to them at their doorsteps in the district.

The classes are currently being held in various areas of Ludhiana city, Khanna, Jagraon, Malaud, Samrala, Sudhar, Sidhwan Bet, Machhiwara, Dakha, and Payal, where 34 yoga instructors are offering training in morning and evening shifts. These instructors have been trained at Guru Ravidas University to teach yoga.

The Punjab government has set up a helpline number 7669400500 where people can request a free yoga instructor via a missed call. They can also register on cmdiyogshala.punjab.gov.in

If a group of 25 people wanted to do yoga in their mohalla or any colony, they can simply give a missed call to the phone number for free yoga training. Trained yoga instructors will be provided by the government for free yoga training in open parks and other public places.

She added that yoga has also become an effective tool in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression which are posing risks to human lives these days.
Police arrested atleast three individuals in a cordon and search operation (CASO) in Chhawni Mohalla and Ghoda Colony, two hot spots for sale of drugs in the city on Friday. Police officials searching random individuals on Friday. (HT Photo)

Led by additional director general of police (ADGP) NRI Parveen Kumar Sinha, police recovered 4 kg poppy husk from a Chhawni Mohalla resident. A case was lodged against him.

The police team also conducted multiple raids in Ghoda Colony and arrested two people, recovering 1 kg cannabis, one stolen bike and 3.15 lakh in cash from their possession.

The ADGP stated that such operations are being conducted all over the state to deter drug peddling. The police teams conduct such raids at random locations, he said.

Police commissioner Kuldeep Singh Chahal stated that 12 senior officers, 10 station head officers, 200 other police personnel and police control room squads conducted the checks from 8 am to 1 pm.

Chahal said during the checking, police teams scanned suspects. Police also conducted checks at houses of people facing serious charges, including drug peddling cases.

He further added that the raids were a surprise for people involved in criminal activities. Such raids will be continued in other parts of the city, Chahal said.
NEW DELHI : The ministry of external affairs (MEA) on Friday said it did not receive a formal request for consular access for Indian national Nikhil Gupta, who was extradited to the US last week. Gupta, 52, is facing charges of a murder-for-hire plot against pro-Khalistan leader and Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) legal adviser Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil. He was arrested by Czech Republic authorities but was later extradited to the US. The DOJ indicted Nikhil Gupta for allegedly plotting to assassinate Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. (AP)(HT_PRINT)

Nikhil Gupta's extradition: What FBI, US Attorney General said after his court appearance

The MEA said the Indian government was in touch with Guptas family.

Gupta pleaded not guilty on Monday to murder-for-hire conspiracy charges in a court in Manhattan and a source close to his family told Reuters on Thursday that it wanted New Delhis help to get justice.

We have so far not received any request for consular access from Gupta, but his family has got in touch with us, EAM spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters.

We are in touch with the family members and we are looking at the matter as to what can be done on their request, he said.

The US government has said it thwarted the alleged plot to kill Pannun and warned India about concerns of its involvement.

India has designated Pannun an individual terrorist but has dissociated itself from the plot, saying it goes against government policy. Pannun advocates for a sovereign Sikh state in northern India.

A source, who declined to be named given the sensitive nature of a case that has diplomatic implications, had said Guptas family has not been able to establish direct contact with him since his extradition.

Nikhil Gupta, extradited to US in Pannun probe, hasnt sought consular access

Regardless of the allegations raised against him, he is an Indian citizen and a patriot who deserves the rights and protections granted by the government to its citizens, the source said.

The family believed Gupta is a victim in this series of events but that he will get justice.
Unearthing a scam amounting to 1.55 crore, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) raided a warehouse, seized two trucks laden with 1,138 bags of rice and arrested three persons in Maur Mandi, Bathinda, its spokesperson said on Friday. Among those arrested are Gopal Goyal, owner of Shiv Shakti Rice Mill, Garhshankar, Hoshiarpur, along with two truck drivers Jagpal Singh and Sukhwinder Singh. The Punjab Vigilance Bureau says it call officials of a warehouse in Maur Mandi and those of Food Corporation of India for questioning to ascertain if they have any role in the rice scam. (Picture only for representational purpose)

The spokesperson said officials of Global Warehouse in Maur Mandi and those of Food Corporation of India would be called for questioning to ascertain if they have any role in the scam.

According to him, under the Bharat Brand Scheme being run by the Centre, about 70,000 metric tonnes of rice were being distributed by the National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India in Bathinda, Bhucho, Maur, Rampura Phul and Budhlada to poor families, costing about 130 crore.

Out of this, about 1,000 metric tonnes has to be distributed at 18.5 per kg after filling it in bags weighing 5 kg and 10 kg. The tender for supplying this rice to the beneficiaries at the rate of 29 per kg in Bathinda district was awarded to Jai Janedar firm.

The VB spokesperson said the agency got information that an attempt was being made to embezzle rice worth 3.4 crore following which two trucks loaded with 1,138 rice bags, which were to be sent to Fatehabad, Haryana, were impounded. The firm neither cleaned the rice nor filled it in bags as mandated as its motive was to sell it illegally, the VB informed.

During the probe, it was also found that the aforementioned firm wanted to sell it for 34 per kg.

According to the spokesperson, the owners of Jai Janedar firm procured rice from Global Warehouse (Soma Warehouse) in Maur Mandi in connivance with staff of the warehouse through a broker, Harish Kumar, and unknown officials of the Food Corporation of India.

After allegedly paying the bribe, the rice bags were shifted to Anjani Rice Mill, Kuttiwal Kalan, Maur Mandi, from where these were to be taken to Shiv Shakti Rice Mill, Garhshankar, Hoshiarpur.

The VB police station, Bathinda, has registered a case against Harish Dalal, owner of the Jai Janeder firm; Shiv Shakti Rice Mill (Garhshankar) owner Gopal Goyal who also owns Anjani Rice Mill in Kuttiwal Kalan, Maur Mandi, Bathinda, and two truck drivers under Prevention of Corruption Act. Further investigation is underway, the spokesperson added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said yoga can help Jammu and Kashmir attract more tourists which will provide new livelihood opportunities to local residents. Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking a selfie with people after performing yoga on the 10th International Day of Yoga in Srinagar on Friday. (PTI Photo)

Addressing a gathering on the 10th International Yoga Day on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar, the Prime Minister cited a competition held in Egypt wherein yoga was used to promote tourism in the North African country. I recently watched a video from Egypt. They organised a competition and awarded the best yoga photographs and videos from iconic tourist places in the country. In the pictures and videos, I saw girls from Egypt standing in front of the iconic pyramids doing yoga, it was so attractive. For Kashmir, yoga can become such a big source of livelihood. It can become a centre of attraction for tourists, Modi told the yoga practitioners on the lawns of the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC).

The Prime Ministers event was scheduled to be held under the open sky but early morning rain forced the venue to be shifted indoors.

However, Modi addressed the people after the rain stopped and lauded their determination to stay back even in adverse weather.

Our daughters used their yoga mats to protect themselves from rain but they did not leave. It is heartening to see, he said.

The Prime Minister said many people consider yoga as a spiritual journey aimed at finding God which often makes them give up on meditation. When people talk about yoga, most of them think it is a spiritual journey as if it is to find Allah, Ishwar or God... Leave aside the spiritual journey, for now, you can focus on personal development and yoga is a part of that. If you approach it that way, I am sure you will get a lot of benefits. Personal development leads to the benefit of society which in turn leads to the benefit of humankind, he said.

The Prime Minister said yoga, once made a part of daily life, gives uninterrupted benefits for a long time. We have to understand the importance of yoga in life. Just like brushing teeth or combing hair becomes a daily routine, with similar ease yoga becomes a process to follow when you get used to it. It keeps giving benefits every moment, he said.

He cited the example of trainers who help people improve their memory power through the use of special techniques. The attention is linked to how much our mind is focused. You must have seen many people develop techniques to improve memory power and for those who follow the process, their memory power improves. Similarly, working with a focus on any issue will give the best of the best results, which leads to personal development and with the least exertion you get maximum satisfaction, he said. If you do something while your attention is divided among the 10 things, it increases exhaustion, he added.
New Delhi, Delhi Water Minister Atishi began her indefinite hunger strike in south Delhi's Bhogal on Friday to get more water from Haryana, in the presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal and other A leaders. HT Image

Sunita Kejriwal read out a message from the chief minister, who is currently lodged in Tihar jail, in which he expressed hope that Atishi's 'tapasya' would be successful.

The chief minister said he was immensely pained by seeing on TV the plight of the people facing water shortage amid the ongoing intense heatwave, he said.

"It's our culture to provide water to the thirsty. Delhi gets water from neighbouring states. We hoped support of neighbouring states in such intense heat. But, Haryana reduced Delhi's water share.

"Although there are governments of different parties in the two states but is this time for politics over water," he said, referring to the BJP that is in power in Haryana.

Earlier, Atishi, accompanied by Sunita Kejriwal, A MP Sanjay Singh, Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj and other leaders paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat before heading to Bhogal.

In the morning, the minister said she would begin her indefinite hunger strike in Bhogal as, despite all efforts, the Haryana government was not releasing the full share of Delhi's water.

"I will start 'Pani Satyagraha' from today... I will start an indefinite fast at Bhogal, Jangpura from 12 o'clock until the people of Delhi get their rightful share of water from Haryana," she said on X earlier in the day," she said on X.

The minister has claimed that Haryana for the last two weeks was releasing 100 million gallons per day less water to Delhi against its share of 613 MGD, as a result, 28 lakh people in Delhi were affected.

Delhi is facing an unprecedented heatwave as a result the water demand has increased.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
In another policy change after the BJP suffered a shock defeat in the Faizabad Lok Sabha constituency earlier this month, the Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) on Thursday slashed the price of shops by 30% for allottees who were displaced due to a road widening project undertaken in the temple town. Traders in Ayodhya have welcomed the state governments decision. (HT File)

In addition, it approved the proposal to hand over 500 newly constructed shops to allottees in Ayodhya on 20-year easy installment without interest. Hindustan Times on June 16 had reported that this proposal for possession first and pay later with interest-free, long-term instalments was in the pipeline.

Now that it has been cleared, the ADA will send the proposal to the state government.

Also Read | In the land of Ram, traders say compensated, not rehabilitated

Ayodhya divisional commissioner Gaurav Dayal, who chaired the board meeting, later said, We have approved a proposal to cut shops cost by 30%. In addition, shops will be handed over to allottees on a 20 -year easy installment without interest. Dayal is also chairman of the Ayodhya Development Authority.

These shopkeepers were displaced in the 13- km road widening project from Sahadatganj to Naya Ghat which has been named as Ram Path. The project was completed in December 2023.

Earlier, shopkeepers had to pay the full amount to the ADA to take possession of shops. As these shops cost around 15 lakh to 20 lakh, shopkeepers were unable to pay the amount. The only option before them was to take bank loans.

Also Read | Book those ridiculing Ayodhya citizens: SP ex-Ayodhya MLA

In December last, these shops were ready. But due to financial constraints only around 75 shopkeepers took possession of shops till the last month.

We are thankful to the state government for bringing down the cost of shops by 30%. And the remaining amount will be payable in easy interest -free installments of 20 years, said Ved Prakash Gupta, BJP MLA from Ayodhya (Sadar) assembly constituency.

The traders in Ayodhya have welcomed the state governments decision.

This is a much needed breather for traders of Ayodhya. After much effort, there is relief for us, said trader leader Nandlal Gupta, who had played a prominent role in all agitations by shopkeepers.

In the recently concluded parliamentary election, the BJP suffered one of its most humiliating defeats in the Faizabad Lok Sabha constituency where its two-time MP Lallu Singh lost to Samajwadi Partys Awadesh Prasad.

The INDIA bloc candidate won the prestigious seat by a margin of 54567 votes. Prasad got 554289 votes and Singh bagged 499722 votes.

After the grand opening of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya by PM Narendra Modi on January 22 this year, the people of Faizabad voted for the first time and rejected the BJP. The Faizabad Lok Sabha constituency, the geographical centre of Kamandal or temple politics, has consistently witnessed an undercurrent of caste dynamics since the late 1980s.

State BJP chief Bhupendra Chaudhary was in Ayodhya on a two-day visit on Wednesday to ascertain reasons behind the partys defeat in the temple town.
Mumbai: To counter the meteoric rise of Maratha activist Manoj Jarange-Patil the bloc of Other Backward Class (OBC) community has found its own leader. The 46-year-old former professor of Fergusson College, Pune, Laxman Hake, has been on an indefinite hunger strike for the last eight days, seeking assurance from the state government that in allowing reservation in academia and employment to the Maratha community, the OBC quota will not be touched. OBC activist Laxman Hake has been on an indefinite hunger strike for the last eight days, in Wadigodri village, Jalna. (Santosh Bhutekar)

As the issue of reservation has been on the centrestage in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, politicians from both the ruling and opposition parties are going all out with their conciliatory efforts towards the OBC activist. On Thursday, chief minister Eknath Shinde said a delegation will be sent to meet Hake on Friday. Shindes assurance came after senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar met Hake at Wadigodri village, in Ambad tehsil, Jalna district. He called the CM from the site of agitation with a request to send a government delegation to look into the demands of the protestors.

Ask Hake to take care of his health. The state government has ensured that the OBC quota will not be touched. The reservation for the OBC community exists and will remain so in the future, said Shinde on Thursday.

The activist, who is surviving only on water, told HT, I will not withdraw my hunger strike till the state gives me in writing that the OBC reservation will not be affected by any means.

After Maratha activist Manoj Jarange-Patils hunger strike, Jalna has become the crucible of protests. Wadigodri is approximately four kilometers from Antarwali Sarathi village, from where the Maratha activist led the stir from August, 2023.

Earlier on Wednesday, given Hakes deteriorating health, people from the OBC community observed a bandh at Ambad city in his support. They also blocked the Dhule-Solapur Highway twice.

Laxman Hake belongs to the Dhangar community, and hails from Jujarpur village, in Sangola tehsil, in Solapur district. After attaining a Masters degree in Marathi literature from Fergusson College, in 2003, he worked as a professor in the college for the next five years. Before taking up higher studies, he worked as a sugarcane cutter. His wife Vidya is a professor at VIT college, Pune.

In January 2021, Hake was appointed one of the nine members of the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission (MSBCC), after the OBC reservation was struck down for local body elections by the Supreme Court. He subsequently resigned from the position in December last year, along with two other members, alleging interference from the state government over preparing a report to provide reservation to the Maratha community.

He also nurtures political ambitions  he had contested the state assembly elections from Sangola constituency as a Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) candidate against Shiv Senas Shahajibapu Patil and secured only 267 votes in 2019. In August 2022, he joined Shiv Sena (UBT) but chose to contest the recently concluded elections from Madha constituency as an independent candidate even when Dhairyasheel Mohite-Patil, of NCP (SP) was contesting from the seat as an MVA candidate. Hake bagged 5,134 votes only.

In 2019, he formed an outfit called OBC Sangharsh Sena, to fight for the community and held several agitations. I want to tell my OBC brothers and sisters that Mahatma Phule, Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj and Babasaheb Ambedkar will not return to save your reservation. We have to do it on our own by coming together, Hake said recently while on protest.

Jarange-Patil has alleged that Hakes protest was state sponsored. It is a ploy by the state government, he said, that is looking to buy time to fulfil the Maratha demand of Sage-Soyare notification. Hake, on the other hand, said Jarange-Patil held meetings to ensure the defeat of OBC leaders like Pankaja Munde and Mahadev Jankar in the LS elections.

Meanwhile, the state government is caught in a tug-of-war  it is treading cautiously as OBCs are considered BJPs traditional vote bank, but does wish to displease an already irked Maratha community, which has consolidated its forces against the ruling Mahayuti, especially BJP.

On one hand, the state government says OBC quota will not be impacted and on the other, Jarange-Patil claims the Maratha community has already entered into OBC quota. Who is right and who is wrong? This has created an unease among the OBC community regarding the reservation, said Hake, adding between 400 to 450 gram panchayats have passed resolutions supporting his demands.

Mrudul Nile, professor in the department of Civics and Politics, University of Mumbai, said Hakes ascendancy is BJPs ploy to consolidate the OBC votes by implementing the Madhav formula, to counter the Marathas. Madhav is an acronym of the Mali, Dhangar and Vanjari communities.

The results of the elections indicate that the Maratha community was against BJP and Jarange-Patil played an important role in it. If BJP succeeds in consolidating OBC voters, it can help them compensate the damage caused by the Maratha community, said Nile.

Interestingly, prominent leaders from all three communities  Mali, Dhangar and Vanjari  are with Mahayuti allies, noted Nile. Chhagan Bhujbal (Mali), who has been at the forefront of OBC agitation until now, is with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, Gopichand Padalkar (Dhangar) and Panjaka Munde (Vanjari) are with the BJP.

The Madhav formula was implemented by late BJP leader Gopinath Munde, and others, to attract OBCs in the BJP in Maharashtra.
MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Friday expressed concerns about the mental health and trauma faced by the 17-year-old juvenile allegedly responsible for the deaths of two techies in the Pune Porsche incident. The WCD department has issued an eight-page notices to two JJB members for showing too much leniency in giving bail to the 17-year-old teenager

A division bench of Justice Bharati Dangre and Justice Manjusha Deshpande, while acknowledging the trauma experienced by the victims families, also noted the potential trauma faced by the juvenile involved in the accident.

I do not remember anything as I was drunk: Pune teen to cops on Porche accident

Two people have lost their lives. There was trauma, but the child was also in trauma, give him time, the court remarked and questioned the legality of the orders remanding the minor to an observation home, particularly since he had been granted bail on May 19.

Where is the provision for observation home custody? We would like to know the source of power for your remand, the court inquired.

According to the court, there is no concept under the Juvenile Justice Act that allows the remand of a child to an observation home once bail is granted.

The incident occurred on May 19 when the juvenile, allegedly driving a Porsche car at high speed while intoxicated, crashed into a bike, killing two software engineers, Aneesh Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta, in Punes Kalyani Nagar.

The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) granted the 17-year-old bail the same day, ordering that he be placed under the care and supervision of his parents and grandfather. He was also asked to write a 300-word essay on road safety. However, amidst public uproar, the bail order was amended, and the juvenile was sent to an observation home in Pune, where he has been detained since.

Pooja Jain, the juveniles paternal aunt, subsequently approached the court, alleging that the remand orders were illegal, sought his immediate release.

During Fridays hearing, senior advocate Aabad Ponda, arguing for Jain, contended that the remand orders were not only illegal but also passed without jurisdiction. He argued that the state should have applied for the cancellation of bail with an appropriate appellate authority rather than seeking amendment of the bail order, which is not permissible under the Juvenile Justice Act.

The bail is neither cancelled, nor altered, nor set aside by a superior court. Its not a case of re-arrest either. How can the board resort to the amendment of the bail order under the Act, when he has not been sent to an observation home in the first place? Ponda questioned.

You cannot turn back the clock. Had bail been refused, Child in Conflict with Law (CCL) could have been sent to an observation home. But having been granted bail, how can he be sent back to an observation home? Ponda added, emphasising that the juvenile is undisputedly 17 years and 8 months old.

Ponda further argued that a person released on bail under the Act can in no circumstance be sent to an observation home. Once out on bail with a fit person, the juvenile can only be sent with another fit person and not to an observation home.

He also pointed out the absurdity of the states amendment application, which stated that they did not intend to cancel the bail while the reality is that he has been detained in the observation home.

The court questioned why the police did not move an application for the cancellation of the bail. Public prosecutor Hiten Vengaonkar responded that the state never intended to cancel the bail, nor is the confinement a remand as defined under the Criminal Procedure Code. The confinement to the observation home was for the childs safety, as there was no one fit to claim his custody. According to Vengaonkar, no one has since made an application to be released to their safe custody. He further mentioned that the initial order was rightly or wrongly passed, and that the blood samples of the juvenile were tampered with.

Action has been taken against the errant officers and doctors. We have to send a strong message to society. Just writing a 300-word essay is not enough, Vengaonkar asserted.

Pune Porche accident: Protesters throw ink at police van carrying father of minor | Video

In response, the court questioned why there was no attempt to declare the parents and grandfather unfit if the issue was merely a change in custody. The court also asked why the juvenile was not allowed to travel freely if the situation did not involve a cancellation of bail but merely a custody change.

He is a person who has been granted bail, but now he has been confined to an observation home. Is this not confinement? the court asked. After hearing both sides, the court reserved its orders, which will be pronounced on June 25.
Mumbai, The Bombay High Court on Friday queried if it amounted to confinement when the juvenile accused in the Pune Porsche case was granted bail but was taken back in custody and kept in an observation home. The WCD department has issued an eight-page notices to two JJB members for showing too much leniency in giving bail to the 17-year-old teenager who killed two young techies after crashing his Porsche Taycan into their bike in Pune on May 19. (PTI)

A division bench of Justices Bharati Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande said there was no denying that the accident was unfortunate.

Two people have lost their lives. There was trauma, but the child was also in trauma, the court said.

The bench also questioned the police under what provision of law, the order granting bail to the minor accused in the Porsche accident case was amended and how he has been kept in confinement.

In the early hours of May 19, the juvenile was allegedly driving a Porsche car at very high speed in an intoxicated state when the vehicle crashed into a bike, killing two software engineers  Aneesh Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta  in Punes Kalyani Nagar.

The 17-year-old was granted bail the same day by the Juvenile Justice Board, which ordered that he be kept under the care and supervision of his parents and grandfather. He was also asked to write a 300-word essay on road safety.

Amid a nationwide uproar over the quick bail, the police appealed to the JJB to amend the bail order. On May 22, the board ordered the boy to be taken into custody and remanded him to an observation home.

Also Read | Pune Porsche accident: New CCTV footage shows hospital staff receiving bribe

Last week, the teenagers paternal aunt filed a habeas corpus petition claiming that he was illegally detained and sought his immediate release.

The bench, while hearing the arguments in the plea on Friday, noted that till date, the police have not filed any application before a higher court seeking cancellation of the bail order passed by the JJB.

Instead, an application was filed seeking amendment of the bail order, HC said, adding that based on this application, the bail order was amended, the boy was taken in custody and remanded to an observation home.

What type of remand is this? What is the power to remand? What kind of procedure is this where a person has been granted bail and then a remand is passed taking him in custody, the court said.

The bench added that the minor was taken away from the care and supervision of his family members and sent to an observation home.

He is a person who has been granted bail, but now he has been confined to an observation home. Is this not confinement? We would like to know your source of power, HC said.

The bench said it also expected the Juvenile Justice Board to be responsible.

The court questioned why the police did not move an application for cancellation of the bail.

The court reserved its order on the plea and said it would be passed on Tuesday .

Public prosecutor Hiten Venegaonkar submitted that the remand orders passed by the board were all valid and hence no interference was required.

On May 19, Venegaonkar said, the JJB bail order was rightly or wrongly passed, and also the blood samples of the juvenile were tampered with.

Action has been taken against the errant officers and doctors. We have to send a strong message to society. Just writing a 300-word essay is not enough, Venegaonkar said.

Senior counsel Aabad Ponda argued that the boy's fundamental rights were violated.

A free citizen's personal liberty has been trampled upon. Can a child be taken in custody when he has been granted bail and the bail order is in force," Ponda said.

He added that there was no provision under the law where such a review of a bail order can be sought and passed.

You cannot turn back the clock. Had bail been refused, CCL could have been sent to an observation home. But having been granted bail how can he be sent back to an observation home, Ponda said.

The senior counsel said such things are not even done in serious offences under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act and Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act. How the police can do this in a juvenile's case, he asked.

The boy's aunt in the plea claimed that because of the public uproar coupled with political agenda, the police deviated from the right course of investigation concerning the minor thus defeating the entire purpose of the Juvenile Justice Act.

The teenager is currently in an observation home till June 25.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Bihar Public Service Commission will release BPSC Head Teacher Admit Card 2024 on June 21, 2024. Candidates who will appear for Head Master written examination can download the admit card through the official website of BPSC at bpsc.bih.nic.in. BPSC Head Teacher Admit Card 2024 releasing today, heres how to download

As per the official notice, the written examination will be conducted on June 28 and 29, 2024 in single shift- from 12 noon to 2.30 pm. To download the admit card, candidates can follow the steps given below.

BPSC Head Teacher Admit Card 2024: How to download

Visit the official website of BPSC at bpsc.bih.nic.in.

Click on BPSC Head Teacher Admit Card 2024 link available on the home page.

Enter the login details and click on submit.

Your admit card will be displayed on the screen.

Check the admit card and download the page.

Keep a hard copy of the same for further need.

The exam code details will be available on June 25, 2024 and the admit card will be available for download till June 27, 2024.

Candidates will be allowed to enter the examination center only 1 hour before the commencement of the examination, i.e. entry will be closed 1 hour before. After the end of the examination period, the Used OMR Answer Sheet will be left in the examination room only after it is sealed.

The BPSC had to cancel the TRE 3.0 exam held on March 15 amid allegations of question paper leak. Around 3.75 lakh aspirants took part in the exam. For more related details candidates can check the official website of BPSC.
Anurag Kashyap has spoken many bitter facts about Bollywood in his multiple interviews recently. Be it calling out the lack of support to Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine as Light from Indian government or rising star fees, the filmmaker never hesitates to speak his mind. In a recent interview with Janice Sequeira for her YouTube channel, Anurag called out the racism and hypocrisy in the Hindi film industry. (Also read: Anurag on Abhay Deol rift: If I speak the truth, he won't be able to face it) Anurag Kashyap recently called out the racism and hypocrisy in Bollywood.

Anurag Kashyap says industry does not value talent

Anurag said that there is a misconception about him being a star-maker. He referred to Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Pankaj Tripathi and Manoj Bajpayee as self-made and opined, This industry doesnt respect people. They think that Nawazuddin is dark-skinned, Pankaj Tripathi is normal, Manoj Bajpayee is a gaonwala (villager) Thats how they view people. They think if these people can become stars, so can they. They think that I can make anybody a star; I cant. They dont realise that these actors are genuinely talented artists. Ive only made films with them; I havent made their life.

Anurag Kashyap's association with Manoj and Nawazuddin

Anurag has collaborated with Nawazuddin, Manoj and Pankaj in movies like Gangs of Wasseypur - 1 and Gangs of Wasseypur - 2. The filmmaker started his career as a screenwriter in films like Ram Gopal Varma's Satya and Kaun. He made his directorial debut with Paanch, which never got released. His political-thriller Black Friday based on 1993 Mumbai blasts was banned for almost five years beofre it released in theatres. The filmmaker shot to fame with movies like Gulaal, Dev D and his thriller series - Sacred Games based on Vikram Chandra's novel of the same name. Anurag recently played antagonists in Vijay Sethupathi's Tamil action-thriller Maharaja and the crime series - Bad Cop featuring Gulshan Deviah.

Anurag's upcoming neo-noir thriller - Kennedy was screened at Cannes Film Festival 2023.
Kanye West's wife, Bianca Censori, recently turned heads in Paris with a bold outfit choice. Known for her sleek style, the former Yeezy architect surprised onlookers by appearing in just suspenders covering her top. The 29-year-old had previously debuted a curly pink bob and during another outing in Paris with Kanye, her usual poker face appeared noticeably exhausted. Bianca Censori in Paris with Kanye west

Bianca Censori turns head in Paris

Strolling through the cobblestone streets of the fashion capital, Bianca, the A-lister often at the centre of fashion discussions, flaunted her new pink hairdo. On Thursday night, she made a striking appearance at the celebrity hotspot Gigi Paris in Paris, France, wearing minimal attire. Censori wore only suspenders, barely covering the top half of her body, for her night out without her husband Kanye West in attendance.

Also read: Ben Affleck breaks marriage silence, says Jennifer Lopez's fame is 'bananas': 'Attention isn't my thing...'

The young model sported matching coloured capris and heels, opting for a natural look without makeup or accessories. Yesterday, both Kanye and Bianca attended a runway show in Paris, where she wore a sheer, nude-coloured bodysuit that surprisingly garnered internet approval. However, this time they couldn't help but notice her weary appearance as she stepped out solo without Kanye by her side.

Bianca Censoris Paris outing sparks concern

As usual, fans expressed concerns about Kanye's 'controlling' behaviour towards Bianca, with many still believing she is 'forced to act' this way in public while she is often seen dressing casually with family or friends. Whats the matter with her? Real question, a user wrote on X (formerly Twitter.) Others chimed in, Why does she allow anyone to denigrate her like this? it boggles. looks like a sad clown, Wellness check needed, Is she ok..she looks completely drained..omg, This is abuse, report on this controlling behaviour.

Also read: Justin Timberlake's ego crushed: Young cop unaware of his fame, album flops, trolls go wild

Bianca Censori's outfit sparks controversy in Japan

Earlier this month, Ye and his wife's Tokyo adventure took a dramatic turn when many protested the look Bianca sported in public. Bianca's wardrobe choice, a leotard with ribbed details that were barely concealed, caused quite a stir among those who spotted her on an outing with Kanye, including the store staff who appeared clearly uncomfortable and shocked by this bizarre dressing sense of the couple. This clear disregard for traditional modesty standards in Japan prompted some to describe it as "public indecency," a breach that could lead to a significant penalty.
Ben Affleck spoke about his marriage and Jennifer Lopez in a new interview which was reportedly shot before he started living separately in Brentwood. In an unusual move for the notoriously private actor, Affleck discussed the adjustments of being married to the pop star, stating that her fame is F.n Bananas. He reportedly admitted that J. Lo's level of fame, while likely thrilling to many, isn't exactly his cup of tea. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez at the premiere of This Is Me...Now: A Love Story

Ben Affleck opens up about his marriage to JLO

"We went somewhere with JenniferI cant remember because shes so famous and she creates this... People love her, and she really represents something important to people," the 51-year-old opened up about his rekindled romance with Jennifer Lopez that led to their marriage in 2022 during an appearance on Kevin Harts Hart to Heart talk show.

Discussing how it feels to be married to someone that popular, the Accountant 2 star excitedly said, [To me,] people are like, Hey, I like your movie, and then theyre like AAAHHHH! J-LO!'

Also read: Justin Timberlake's ego crushed: Young cop unaware of his fame, album flops, trolls go wild

Jennifer Lopezs fame is fn bananas

With Jennifer Lopez being a huge star in both music and acting, it's no surprise fans get a little excited to see her in public. Affleck recounted a recent family outing to Times Square in New York City with their blended family. This includes his three children with Jennifer Garner, Violet (18), Seraphina (15), and Samuel (12), along with Lopez's twins, Max and Emme, from her marriage to Marc Anthony.

We get out of the car, we were going to a play, and I was like, Fk it, babe, were going to be late, we gotta walk a block and a half. [Lopez] was like, Alright, she didnt say st, he said. Affleck continued, We get out with her, all the kids, through Times Square, and the st was like fn bananas.'

Also read: Taylor Swift's private Jet vandalised at Stansted Airport in London ahead of Wembley Eras Tour

The Hollywood A-lister, however, didnt shed any light on marriage troubles or separate housing choices, likely because the interview was conducted before their split and divorce rumours started circulating in Tinseltown. He did address why he always appears 'grumpy' when facing cameras and paparazzi, contrasting with JLO, who absolutely enjoys it.

Ben Affleck breaks silence on his grumpy face

For a long time, Affleck's 'grumpy' and 'low-looking' demeanour has been linked to rumours of their split or trouble in paradise. However, a close friend later revealed that he simply doesn't like cameras, and it turns out they were right. Affleck directly addressed those facial expressions, stating that he sometimes appears frustrated in paparazzi photos because he's a little bit shy.

I dont like a lot of attention. This is why people see me and theyre like, Why is this dude always mad? Because someone had their camera sticking in my face, and Im like, OK, here we go, the Hollywood A-lister said.
The Kill Me, Heal Me star Ji Sung made his smashing comeback with the new psychological crime thriller Connection this May on SBS. With tvN's Lovely Runner and Queen of Tears fever gradually fading out from South Korean broadcasting networks, other ongoing underrated series are making small leaps on the weekly K-drama ranking charts. Ji Sung's SBS drama is one such title holding the audience's attention, and the buzzworthy K-drama chart for the second week of June reflects its glowing growth on both local networks and the OTT space. Ji Sung, as seen in SBS TV's Connection (left). The cast of Netflix's Hierarchy (right).

About Ji Sung's drama, Connection

Streaming on Wavve and Coupang Play in South Korea, Vidio in Indonesia, Kocowa in the Americas and Viki in select regions, the investigative TV series centres around the ace detective from the narcotics teams, played by Ji Sung, who ends up drowning himself in drug addiction. Eventually, the protagonist is consumed by an emerging murder mystery surrounding his friend. Once he returns to the overwhelming world of thrilling investigation, he finds himself unravelling a 20-year-old friendship and unlikely connection.

Also read | The Atypical Family star Chun Woo Hee could star opposite Song Joong Ki in new K-drama: Report

As of June 18, Good Data Corporation's latest readings revealed that the renowned actor's show is topping both the TV and TV-OTT categories on the buzzworthiness chart. While it gained a 17.05% score in the former, it secured 13.49% buzzworthiness in the latter list. Meanwhile, the leading actor himself ranked fourth on the most buzzworthy performers (actors/actresses) chart this past week, with his co-star Jeon Mi Do rounding out the Top 10 chart.

As for new additions to the list, JTBC's My Sweet Mobster and Miss Night and Day earned their top-ranking debuts on the chart.

OTT titles winning big on weekly charts

On the OTT side of the competition, Hierarchy and The 8 Show again maintained their power on the list. Despite all episodes of the latter premiere releasing simultaneously in May, it's still holding strong months later.

Hierarchy, the supposed Korean version of the Spanish drama Elite, claimed the fifth rank on the TV-OTT chart of Good Data Corp's buzzworthiness Fundex. However, its original streaming platform, Netflix, accorded it with unmatchable regard, as the series completed its second consecutive week in the Global Top 10 non-English TV category. From June 10-16 alone, the Netflix K-drama raked in 6.3 million views, securing the top rank on the list. Similarly, The 8 Show continued its 5-week streak on Netflix's non-English TV Top 10 chart at 6th place, attracting 900,000 views this past week.

Also read | 'Isn't Marjorie Taylor Greene scary?': The Boys creator has no plans of sugar-coating Season 4 character inspirations

Even though both Queen of Tears and The Atypical Family slipped out of the South Korean buzzworthy chart, which only ranks upcoming or ongoing shows, Netflix again credited them with cushioned seats on the Global Top 10 list. The Kim Soo Hyun-Kim Ji Won starrer rom-com continued breaking records with its long-running spell of 15 consecutive weeks on this OTT chart (700,000 views from June 10-16). On the other hand, The Atypical Family came back for its sixth week, making way for 1.7 million views.

Top 10 Kdramas that generated the most buzz in Week 2 of June

TV-OTT TV 1. Connection (13.49%) 1. Connection (17.05%) 2. The Midnight Romance in Hagwon (10.77%) 2. The Midnight Romance in Hagwon (13.60%) 3. My Sweet Mobster (10%) 3. My Sweet Mobster (12.64%) 4. Miss Day and Night (7.96%) 4. Miss Day and Night (10.06%) 5. Hierarchy (6.84%) 5. The Player 2: Master of Swindlers (8.39%) 6. The Player 2: Master of Swindlers (6.64%) 6. Bitter Sweet Hell (8.13%) 7. Bitter Sweet Hell (6.44%) 7. Crash (6.98%) 8. The 8 Show (5.56%) 8. Beauty and Mr Romantic (6.24%) 9. Crash (5.53%) 9. Missing Crown Prince (4.07%) 10. Beauty and Mr Romantic (4.94%) 10. Suji & Uri (3.24%)

Top 10 drama actors who generated the most buzz in Week 2 of June
Pakistans cities are sizzling under a heat wave, much like India. But the political heat is on, as Prime Minister Shabaz Sharif presented the budget, giving the signal for national dismay and threat of serious protests. Its also likely to be a time for strong political theatrics as coalition partners threaten to boycott the session, and then relent as its an open secret. Pakistan doesnt have much choice on most of the budgets most unpopular aspects, like taxation. But it did have a choice of sorts, and that was to refrain from increasing the defence budget, at a time when the crunch on the common man is already biting. It chose not to make that choice. Thats going to cost. A view of the Parliament House building during sunset hours in Islamabad, Pakistan.(Reuters)

The run up to the budget session was not propitious. The opposition launched their protests just as the Finance Bill was presented, which was expected. What created chaos was the last-minute protest by coalition partners the PPP (Pakistan Peoples Party) which threatened to boycott the session at the last minute. The finance minister remained standing for nearly 20 minutes as the drama unfolded, and only subsided when the former finance minister Ishaq Dar promised to address the grievances of the partner. Thats theatrics, since no political head wants to be associated with such an unpopular budget. Even more hilarious was that the budget papers were not kept on the desk because the government was apprehensive that it would be used as projectiles!

That was hardly surprising. There is much in the budget for people to get violent about. For one, its set itself a challenging tax revenue target of 13 trillion rupees ($47 billion), a close to 40% jump, which is going to mean that the man on the street and everyone else is going to find the going even tougher. Pakistans sponsors have been trying to get Islamabad to raise taxes for years, without success, but it ends up spending nearly double its revenue, leading to not just deficits, but also a complete breakdown in spending on infrastructure. Its taxation structure is also skewed, with more taxes on exports  which means firms prefer to sell inside the country discouraging competitive products, not to mention a foreign exchange crisis. The present budget proposes to increase such taxes on exports including on textiles, that is a major source of revenue for the government. Thats odd and bound to be resisted. It also refuses to tax agriculture, since most of the big politicians are land owning families. A report notes that the state of Punjab in Pakistan with a population of 100 million, collects less urban property tax than the city of Chennai in India, which is home to about 10 million people. The present budget makes a big rise in the tax target with 48% increase in direct taxes and 35% hike in indirect taxes. Non-tax revenue, including petroleum levies, is seen increasing by a whopping 64%.That going to be another huge blow for the man on the street. Red lights ahead. Meanwhile the parallel economy, estimated at 44%t of nominal gross domestic product (GDP) escapes unscathed due to the absence of a proper recording system.

The defence naturally goes up. A Prime Minister who travels with the Army Chief at his side is hardly likely to be able to even freeze allocations. The budget goes up from a (stated) PKR 1.8 bn to PKR 2.2 bn not counting an increase in pension as well from to above a billion Pakistani rupees. It is well known that Pakistans actual budget is well hidden among a range of other heads. Meanwhile, happily, the salaries of government employees has gone up considerably. The perks enjoyed by Government servants has been a source of annoyance particularly in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, where residents pay tax to a Parliament that it is not represented in.

Which brings the whole to the issue of the provinces. As per the budget. Balochistan  which is the largest province and home to the gas and resources that holds up the state  gets a mere 9 per cent of the total share for provinces. While Punjab gets upwards of 51%. Khyber Pakthunkwa, where Imrans party reigns, gets by with a mere 14%. All this is based on the very convenient clause that the cake with priorities population ( where Punjab easily wins) as against revenue generation. Not a word about the poor Kashmiris. Their fate will be decided by diktat. In India, Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Kashmir budget in Parliament recently.

Pakistans biggest danger comes from climate change. As the Economic Survey notes, agriculture has been robust, and contributed heavily to an improvement of the GDP growth to 2.38%  which shows a recovery of sorts. But this recovery is due to the rise in wheat and rice production, both highly water intensive crops. From an abundance of water, it is now the 15th most water stressed country in the world, and may become water scarce by 2035. Its recurring floods are likely to become an annual phenomenon, and thereby impeding all its projected goals. The problem? That Climate crisis is also Indias biggest problem as we struggle with a heat wave of unprecedented proportions. The lesson? To get going in the world, Pakistan needs to throw overboard its terrorist policies in both Afghanistan and India, and work hard to earn the trust of all neighbours, so that all work towards finding climate solutions for the vast amount of territory that is South Asia. And with that kind of an initiative, trade and trust will follow. Remember that second commandment in the Bible, love thy neighbour as yourself. Not the best advice perhaps for a country that burns even its own religious affiliates, but none the less, its there, and in almost all religions. Better to heed it before another flood of biblical proportions arrives.

The article is authored by Tara Kartha, director (R&A), Centre for Land Warfare Studies.
Nushrratt Bharuccha has had a long relationship with Yoga, from attending camps organised at her house by her uncle and aunt to taking personal training. Yet, it was always an on and off equation. However, last year, she developed a deeper bond with it, and on International Day of Yoga today, the actor shares how Yoga helped her in one of the most challenging situations of her life. Nushrratt Bharuchha on International Day of Yoga 2024

Last year, Bharuccha got stuck in Israel during the ongoing Israel-Plaestine War, and after returning to India, she got into Yoga again. She shares, I got in touch with recently because right after the incident, I was diagnosed with PTSD. Doctors had advised me to take anxiety pills, but I am not a pill person. So, I called an Ayurveda centre which provides natural therapy, including two hours of Yoga in the morning. They provide you with food that balances your chakras and shell out a daily routine plan so that you can be one with nature.

Nushrratt Bharuccha on International Day of Yoga 2024

The actor took a 14-day session in October 2023 and insists it brought me out of anything and everything. I was able to sleep, eat and function and I didn't have any anxiety post that. It became a reason for me to restore my mental stability, she says.

Its often said that Yoga can help you find peace of mind, but for Bharuccha its about figuring oneself out. The person who finds peace within is very lucky. But if you can only silence your mind, its a great outcome, she says, adding that its necessary to realise the kind of Yoga that works for you. I know Iyengar Yoga works for me. It helps my body and muscles to open up in a certain pattern aligned with my breath. My body is moving in ways I hadnt known, and I am making postures which I never felt before. You start to breathe differently, walk differently and get a very holistic approach towards your body.

Nushrratt Bharuccha on International Day of Yoga 2024

Bharuccha insists that Yoga has helped her professionally too. It helps you cut the bulls**t out. It helps you differentiate between whats needed and what is not, and helps you stay calm. As actors, you see a lot of chaos around, but Yoga has helped me find my centre while teaching me how to conserve my energy and not get disturbed by everything happening around, she says, adding, This time my connection with Yoga is not like a holiday but a part of lifestyle now.
Slowing down and letting yourself and your body breathe is one of the best things you can do for yourself, given the templated fast-paced lives we live. While most must have at some point or the other given Yoga a shot, the expansive world of the discipline actually has a variant perfectly suited to your body's very unique needs. Let us take a look at some lesser-known forms of Yoga that you may not have heard of. International day of Yoga 2024: Heal your body, mind and spirit with these lesser known forms of the discipline

Trauma-informed Yoga

Unbeknownst to us, each body has it's own way of storing the emotional impact of everyday life. More often than not, this trauma is physically held by the body. If not addressed properly, partaking in 'mainstream' Yoga practice for trauma survivors can have quite the opposite impact on them.

Certain Yoga poses are specifically geared towards opening the body and helping release trauma(Yoga Journal)

Something which really stands out about trauma-informed Yoga is the necessary creation of an environment that lets the yogi ease into how they are approaching the choreographed movement. This feeling of having agency with regards to how one is moving their body is particularly significant when it comes to survivors of sexual trauma, though it can be as impactful for other kinds of trauma as well. More than physical sculpting, the objective of trauma-informed Yoga is to make the yogi feel supported.

Yogilates

Very simply, Yogilates is the fusion of the disciplines of Yoga and Pilates. Considering the fact that both disciplines make use of breathwork, consciously held prolonged poses and core-control as some of its cornerstones, the Yogilates crossover is actually rather seamless. The fusion discipline is the brainchild of Pilates instructor and Yoga enthusiast Jonathan Urla.

A templated Yogilates routine will start slow, letting the body ease into flow before it moves to realigning its focus on improving flexibility and building strength. The more intense stretches of a typical routine are also periodically balanced out by slightly challenging Yoga poses, allowing one to enjoy the best of both worlds.

Yin Yoga

The premise of Yin Yoga is Chinese medicine. The foundation of the practice involves holding onto poses for prolonged periods of time. For those used to rushing through their day, gym routines and life, Yin Yoga can serve as an appreciable, much-needed pause where one can acquaint themselves with their bodies through poses which hyper-focus on connective tissues.

Yin Yoga focuses on restoring the life force in your organs by allowing your body to pause and reflect(Pinterest)

The impact of what Yin Yoga can do for you is more mental and emotional than physical. It essentially helps in restoring the 'chi' or life force in your organs. For context, it's counterpart, Yang Yoga, entails the more typical routines such as Hatha or Ashtanga Yoga which focus on the muscles.

Qigong  'Chinese Yoga'

Right off the bat, Qigong is actually a variant of Martial Arts. The discipline however, has found itself a place on this list owing to the fact that it is rather similar in approach to Yin Yoga. Both tend to invoke a sense of meditation by honouring breathwork and delayed, slow movement. Their principles however, differ from one another.

Qigong is a form of Martial Arts, incorporating the principles of Yoga

As per the Qigong Institute, Qigong is often referred to as Chinese Yoga. Healing may not be at the forefront of what Qigong can help one achieve, but it's principles form the foundation of Tai Chi and Wushu, all of which are "considered both part of and precursor to Traditional Chinese Medicine".

Yoga Nidra

What lies at the heart of Yoga Nidra is consciously enabling the body to exist in a state of relaxation, something which is definitely tougher than it sounds. More than a 'practice', Yoga Nidra is essentially a type of guided meditation that enables the body to enter a state of yogic sleep. This sleep however, as per Ekhart Yoga, is one where our body rests while our mind explores the consciousness.

Yoga Nidra focuses on restoring the mind by putting the body in a state of conscious rest

Yoga Nidra is supposed to leave you feeling whole. As intangible as that sounds, it definitely cannot hurt to give it a try.

If you are still looking for inspiration, there are no dearth of Indian celebrities who swear by Yoga for maintaining their health and vitality. Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sara Ali Khan, Malaika Arora, Kiara Advani, Rakul Preet Singh and Esha Gupta are a few well known Yoga enthusiasts.

Will you be trying your hand at any of these lesser-known Yoga variants this international day of Yoga?
At least 98 Indian citizens have died of natural causes, old age and illness during this years Haj pilgrimage that was marked by searing heat and intense high temperatures, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday. Muslim pilgrims use umbrellas to shade themselves from the sun as they arrive at the base of Mount Arafat, also known as Jabal al-Rahma or Mount of Mercy, during the annual hajj pilgrimage on June 15, 2024.(AFP)

Around 1,75,000 Indians performed Haj pilgrimage this year. The fatalities also include four people who were killed in an accident.

This year, we have 175,000 Indians who have already visited Hajj... So far we have lost 98 of our citizens. These deaths have happened on account of natural illness, natural causes, chronic illness, and also old age, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. "On the day of Arafat, six Indians died. Four Indians died on account of accidents. Last year, the figure of Indians who died in Hajj was 187..."

According to AFP, around 10 countries have reported 1,081 deaths during the pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam that all Muslims with the means must perform at least once.

Also Read | Haj 2024: Pilgrims converge at Mount Arafat for day of intense worship

The haj pilgrimage, whose timing is determined by the lunar Islamic calendar, fell again at a time when Saudi Arabia faces extensive heat.

The total figure includes 658 Egyptians, 183 Indonesians, 68 Jordanians and 58 from Pakistan, reported AFP. Deaths have also been confirmed by Malaysia, Iran, Senegal, Tunisia, Sudan and Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region.

Many of those killed unregistered worshippers who performed the pilgrimage in extreme heat. The group is more vulnerable as, without official permits, they cannot access air-conditioned spaces provided by authorised pilgrims.

Also Read | Two Haj pilgrims from Bengaluru die in Mecca

An Arab diplomat told AFP the main cause of death among Egyptian pilgrims was the heat, which triggered complications related to high blood pressure and other issues.

Egyptian officials were visiting hospitals to obtain information and help Egyptian pilgrims get medical care, the country's foreign ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

Last year various countries reported more than 300 deaths during the hajj, mostly Indonesians.

(Inputs from AFP)
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has accused former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy of holding onto taxpayer-funded expensive furnishings and fittings worth crores at his residence-cum-camp office in Tadepalli, labelling him a 'furniture thief'. The complex is spread over 9.88 acres atop Rushikonda hills in Visakhapatnam. (HT photo)

TDP's Kodela Sivaram alleged Reddy built a 500-crore "hilltop palace" in Visakhapatnam with public money, while the poor struggled.

TDP's IT minister, Nara Lokesh, also mocked Reddy, asking when he plans to return the furniture, NDTV reported.

Premium read- 500 crore sea view mansion built by Jagan Reddy govt in focus under TDP rule

Lokesh also took potshots at Reddy for the luxurious camp office. While the poor struggled to thatch a roof over their children's heads, Y S Jagan was building a palace for himself with the money meant for them. His exploits have left the country shocked, he said.

Well ensure that an inquiry is done, justice is served, and the building is devoted to the people of Andhra Pradesh, Nara Lokesh added.

Reddy has already offered to pay for furniture: YSRCP

In response, a YSR Congress leader stated that Reddy has already written to the state government, offering to pay for all the furniture and fittings on his premises.

ALSO READ- Who will be the Lok Sabha Speaker? Modi 3.0 'kingmakers' JD(U), TDP differ on key issue

Andhra assembly session begins today

YSRCP was relegated to just 11 Assembly and four Lok Sabha seats in the recently concluded simultaneous elections in Andhra Pradesh.

The NDA comprising TDP, BJP and Janasena won a landslide victory by securing 164 Assembly seats out of 175. Of the 25 Lok Sabha seats, the alliance got 21 seats.

ALSO READ- BJP helped TDP-led alliance win Andhra Pradesh elections: Jagan

The first session of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly after the NDA alliance of TDP, BJP, and Janasena came to power will be held from Friday. This two-day session will include the swearing-in of MLAs and the election of the speaker and deputy speaker. Senior TDP leader and Narsipatnam MLA C Ayyanna Patrudu is likely to be elected as the speaker.
Arvind Kejriwal LIVE Updates: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal addresses supporters and members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) at the party's headquarters in New Delhi, India, June 2, 2024.

Arvind Kejriwal highlights: Delhi High Court has temporarily halted the bail granted to chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in a money laundering case related to alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy. This decision came in response to an urgent plea filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which argued it was not given adequate time to oppose the bail and claimed the trial court's order was flawed. The court's stay on Kejriwal's release will remain in effect until it hears and decides on the ED's appeal seeking to overturn the lower court's decision. Kejriwal's legal team countered, describing the lower court's decision as a discretionary order following due process....Read More

Delhi court grants regular bail to Arvind Kejriwal

On Thursday, the Rouse Avenue Court granted regular bail to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in the money laundering case. Vacation judge Nyay Bindu of Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court granted the bail upon furnishing a bail bond of 1 lakh, despite opposition from the ED.

The ED had requested the court to delay the bail bond process for 48 hours to allow them time to challenge the order in the High Court. However, the court declined this request and stated that the bail order had not been stayed.

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested on March 21, shortly before the parliamentary elections. On May 10, the Supreme Court granted him interim bail until June 1 to allow him to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections.
The Enforcement Directorate will likely move the Delhi high court today against regular bail granted to chief minister Arvind Kejriwal by the city's Rouse Avenue court in the excise policy case. Delhi CM and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal with his family members on June 2.(ANI)

On Thursday, vacation judge Nyay Bindu granted bail to the Aam Aadmi Party chief  who has been in judicial custody since March  on a bond of 1,00,000. As the Rouse Avenue court refused to entertain ED's request to postpone the process of filing the bail bond for 48 hours, the agency will likely move a plea against the judgement in the higher court on Friday morning, reported ANI.

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the agency on March 21 in connection with a money laundering probe linked to the now-scrapped liquor policy.

On May 10, the Supreme Court had granted a 21-day interim bail to Kejriwal in view of the Lok Sabha elections. The AAP chief surrendered before the Tihar Jail authorities on June 2.

Arvind Kejriwal had first moved the Delhi high court to challenge his arrest. The court, however, upheld the agency's action saying it was left with no other option as the Delhi chief minister had skipping successive summonses.

He applied for a regular bail last month after the Supreme Court's office refused to entertain his plea to extend his interim bail.

Opposing the bail application, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju alleged that the kickbacks received by AAP leaders for formulating a policy favouring certain business interests, had been funneled into the party's election effort in Goa through Hawala channels. He alleged that Kejriwal had been in touch with Hawala dealers.

The bribe money was sent by one Vinod Chauhan and was received by Chanpreet Singh Rayat, who had been handling the election campaign of AAP in Goa, he added.

He also claimed Arvind Kejriwal had stayed at the Grand Hyatt in Goa in November 2021. The bill was paid by Singh from his bank account.

The agency claimed it was Chanpreet who received 45 crore from Hawala operators.

Kejriwal's lawyer told the court that the agency had not furnished any evidence proving AAP ever received 45 crore.

Chanpreet did not say anywhere that he had paid for the AAP election or that he collected proceeds of the alleged crime, he argued.

The lawyer appealed to the court to not consider Arvind Kejriwal as "someone special" while considering granting bail.

Meanwhile, a war of words broke out between the Opposition's INDIA bloc and the ruling BJP after Arvind Kejriwal's bail.

Prominent lawyer and Rajya Sabha member, Kapil Sibal said bail to Kejriwal was long overdue.

"From the prosecution's standpoint now that elections are over, (there was) no need to keep him in jail. The justice delivery system has been unfair," he wrote on X.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said the bail was the victory of truth.

"The bail of Delhi's popular chief minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal ji is another victory of truth. The power and unity of the 'India Alliance' is going to liberate the people of India from the painful rule of BJP. Very soon India will form a coalition government," he said.

AAP Legal Cell's state president Sanjeev Nasiar alleged that the ED was working under "someone's pressure."

Truth has won. This case was false, it was a conspiracy of the BJP. This is a huge win for AAP, for the country and all of us. ED has no proof against any of our leaders and they are working under someone's pressure. They wanted to finish the political career of Arvind Kejriwal but they failed, he said.

AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar claimed that regular bail in a PMLA case was nothing less than an acquittal.

This case is completely fake, the whole case has been written in the BJP office. We are very grateful to the court for giving a historic verdict, Kakkar said.

The BJP, meanwhile, said the defeat of the AAP-Congress alliance in Delhi in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls represent the people's view on the allegations.

"The bail granted to the Delhi chief minister was part of the judicial process. In a democracy, the final verdict on any politician is given by the people, who have already expressed their view by defeating the Aam Aadmi Party and Congress alliance," Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said in a statement.

All seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi were bagged by the BJP.

With inputs from ANI, PTI
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal on Friday claimed that the Enforcement Directorate challenged her husband's bail order even before it was uploaded on the trial court's website. She said her husband is being treated as if he is a terrorist. Delhi ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj, AAP MP Sanjay Singh and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal leave from the Rajghat. (PTI)

Speaking in south Delhi's Bhogal, where Delhi water minister Atishi began an indefinite hunger strike to get more water from Haryana, Sunita Kejriwal accused the Central government of running a dictatorship.

She said the dictatorship in the country has crossed all limits.

"Even before Kejriwal's bail order was uploaded, ED reached the high court. They are behaving as if he is a terrorist," she was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Sunita Kejriwal showed solidarity with Atishi. She said the Delhi minister will only drink water and not eat anything.

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"To appeal to the Haryana government, Delhi minister Atishi is going to do satyagraha for an indefinite period. She will not eat anything and only take water. She is doing this for the thirsty people of Delhi. CM Arvind Kejriwal says that he is pained to see on TV the suffering of the people of Delhi. He hopes that Atishis penance will be successful and the public will get some relief," said Sunita Kejriwal.

She claimed neighbouring states are not giving water to Delhi. "Is this the time to indulge in politics," she asked.

Meanwhile, AAP MP Sanjay Singh claimed the people of Delhi have been longing for water because of the BJP's cruelty.

Also read: Delhi high court pauses Arvind Kejriwal's bail amid ED's stay demand

"Its a belief in every religion that giving water is a virtuous act. However, today people of Delhi are longing for water because of the BJPs cruelty. Delhi water comes through Haryana and Haryana gets water from Punjab. The Punjab government says that we wont stop Haryanas water supply. However, the BJP government in Haryana isnt doing the same," he said.

Arvind Kejriwal was on Thursday granted bail by a trial court in Delhi. However, the ED today moved the Delhi high court seeking a stay on the order.

In a big blow to Kejriwal, the court today said the trial court's order will not be implemented till it finishes its hearing.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, both at the Centre and in Assam, of betraying the people by failing to deliver on their promise to make the state flood-free. Villagers use a temporary bamboo bridge to cross a river after the bridge over it washed away in flood water at Subankhata village in Assams Baksa district on Sunday. (PTI)

The flood situation in Assam is grim. Lakhs of people are affected in 15 districts and 36 people have lost their lives, till now. Congress party stands in solidarity with the people of Assam. Our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. We expect the Modi Govt and Assam Govt to provide prompt assistance, relief and compensation to the affected people, Kharge wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Read: Over 1.6 lakh people affected in Assam due to heavy rainfall; Karimganj worst hit



Taking a swipe at the PM Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre, Kharge said, The people of the state have been squarely betrayed by the double engine promise of Modi and Shah to make Assam a flood-free state.

In the past 10 years, on every issue, Modi Govt has only indulged in the politics of lies, deceit and treachery! India suffers due to the BJP, the Congress chief added in his post.



Union home minister Amit Shah, on October 8, 2022, while addressing a BJP workers gathering in Assam, sought a five-year period to completely resolve the persistent flood issue in the state.

BJP promised an Assam free from terrorism, corruption, and floods. The first two have already been achieved, and give us five more years; we will make Assam free from floods, Shah said.

The flood situation in Assam worsened on Wednesday as relentless rainfall in several parts of the state left at least five more people dead and nearly three lakh displaced, pushing the river levels above the danger mark, even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned of more intense showers in the next three days.

Data provided by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) showed the northeastern state received 323.5mm rainfall between June 1 and 18, which is 28% higher than normal. On Wednesday, the state recorded 42.2mm rain, which is 211% higher than normal.
Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to defer the implementation of three criminal laws  Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. Banerjee has sought further discussions on these in the Parliament. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee (File Photo)

Expressing grave concerns, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo over the impending implementation of these laws, I humbly request you to consider our appeal for a deferment of the implementation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, the Bharatiya Sakhsya Adhiniyam (BSA) 2023, and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanita (BNSS) 2023. We believe that this postponement will enable a renewed Parliamentary review/mandate, reinforce public trust in the legal system, and uphold the rule of law in our beloved country, states the letter dated June 20.

On December 25, 2023, the President of India gave assent to the BNS, BSA and BNSS. As notified, these new criminal laws are to take effect from July 1 this year.

The new laws will replace the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872 respectively.

Banerjee noted that the three bills were passed in Lok Sabha with no debate and at a time when 146 MPs were suspended.

Also Read: Put on hold three criminal laws, consult stakeholders: Stalin in letter to Amit Shah

If you kindly recall, on the 20th of December last year, the outgoing Government of yours had passed these three critical Bills unilaterally, and with absolutely no debate. That day, almost one hundred members of the Lok Sabha had been suspended and a total of 146 MPs of both Houses were thrown out of the Parliament. The Bills were passed in an authoritarian manner in that dark hour of democracy. The matter deserves review now, she wrote.

Banerjee further wrote that it would be in the fitness of things to place them (BNS, BSA and BNSS) for fresh deliberation and scrutiny in the newly elected Parliament.

Earlier we had argued that these legislative attempts were retrograde, regressive and reactionary. I had argued that the outgoing Lok Sabha should not pass the new bills with far-reaching significance in an undue hurry, she wrote, citing that she had earlier written twice to the Union home minister.

Any far-reaching legal change requires meticulous groundwork beforehand to ensure effective enforcement and administration and we do not have any reason to avert such homework, the letter reads.

Speaking to media persons, the state Bharatiya Janata Party leader and spokesperson said that the Bharatiya Janata Party parliamentary committee and the PM would take the final call on this.

The state BJP has no comments on this. Before the bills were passed, the centre had held discussions with all stakeholders. The opinion of all chief ministers was sought. But the chief minister (Mamata Banerjee) has written in the letter that no discussions were held. We have objections to this, Bhattacharya told reporters in Kolkata.
NEW DELHI: Dhakas plans to develop its section of the Teesta river and the signing of several agreements to bolster bilateral cooperation are expected to top the agenda for Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas two-day visit to India from Friday. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (Right) and EAM S Jaishankar.(X/Jaishankar)

Hasina was among the leaders of seven regional countries invited to New Delhi for the inauguration of Prime Minister Narendra Modis third term on June 9, and her decision to undertake a bilateral visit within a fortnight reflects the importance attached by Bangladesh to the ties with India.

The Bangladesh side was also keen to go ahead with the prime ministers trip to India in June before her planned visit to China in July, people familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity. This is being seen as part of Dhakas efforts to balance its ties with New Delhi and Beijing.

Hours after Hasinas arrival in the Indian capital, external affairs minister S Jaishankar met her to discuss bilateral ties. Delighted to call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh this evening. Her State visit to India underlines our close and abiding ties, Jaishankar said on X after the meeting.

Appreciate her guidance on the further development of our special partnership, he added.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a regular media briefing that Bangladesh is a key partner and trusted neighbour of India and Hasinas visit will give a major boost to the celebrated bilateral partnership.

This is also the first incoming state visit by a foreign leader after the formation of the new National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in India. Hasina is scheduled to meet Modi on Saturday morning.

The Indian side is expected to raise the issue of Bangladeshs plans to develop its section of the Teesta river, especially in the context of Chinas offer to carry out the work, the people cited above said. About 10 agreements covering a wide range of areas of bilateral cooperation, including one on collaboration between defence training institutions, are expected to be signed on Saturday. Some of the agreements will be renewals of existing treaties, they said.

On her arrival, Hasina was received at the airport by minister of state for external affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh.

Apart from holding bilateral consultations with Modi, Hasina is scheduled to meet President Droupadi Murmu and vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday.

The strategic ties between India and Bangladesh have been on the upswing over the past decade. Bangladesh has been one of the main beneficiaries of Indias Neighbourhood First policy, especially grants and lines of credit aimed at strengthening energy, financial and physical connectivity.

The achievements in the connectivity sector include the inauguration of the Maitri Setu bridge over the Feni river in Tripura and the launch of the Chilahati-Haldibari rail link.

Bangladesh is Indias largest development partner, with nearly one-fourth of New Delhis commitments under lines of credit made to that country. Bangladesh is also Indias biggest trade partner in South Asia and India is the second biggest trade partner of Bangladesh in Asia

India is Bangladeshs largest export destination in Asia, with exports worth $2 billion during 2022-23.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to defer the implementation of the three criminal laws, which are set to be rolled out on July 1. Mamata Banerjee said the deferment would enable a renewed Parliamentary review (File)

In a letter to the prime minister, Banerjee said the deferment would enable a renewed Parliamentary review of the criminal laws.

The new laws are the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Act. The laws will replace the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872 respectively.

The new laws aim to provide speedy justice to the citizens of the country and will strengthen the judicial and court management system.
New Delhi: The number of visas issued to Chinese nationals by India has seen a sharp drop since the border clash between soldiers of the Indian Army and the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) at Galwan four years ago, with the Narendra Modi government focusing sharply on national economic security, according to top officials and data accessed by HT. A file photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chinese president Xi Jinping

Twenty Indian soldiers, including Colonel Santosh Babu, lost their lives at Galwan while trying to push back an attempt by the PLA to nibble at Indian territory in East Ladakh. An unspecified number of Chinese soldiers were also killed in the skirmish.

HT has learnt from senior officials in the national security establishment and economic ministries that about 200,000 visas were issued to Chinese nationals in 2019 before the pandemic struck and the June 15, 2020 Galwan clash, and that this number was brought down to just 2,000 in 2024 after a structural screening of Chinese investments in India.

However, the government in the past eight months has issued about 1,500 visas to Chinese nationals  of which around 1,000 visas have been to facilitate Indian electronics industry demands. Another 1,000 such visas are in the pipeline, most of them again for the electronics industry based on intensive screening.

Yuan Wang 7 ballistic missile tracker 1000 km south of Kaniyakumari.

The trade deficit with China crossed $38.11 billion in the first five months of the current year as India could export only $8.93 billion worth of merchandise to China between January-May 2024 while goods worth $47 billion were imported from Beijing -- despite the government reducing corporate income tax and launching a 2 lakh crore production linked incentive (PLI) scheme in a dozen sectors to boost production.

Also read: India lodges strong protest with Canada over Khalistani protests in Vancouver

While the Indian electronic industry claims job losses due to the denial of visas to Chinese businessmen and workers, official data released on June 14 showed Indias merchandise exports in May 2024 jumped over 9% percent on an annualised basis, driven by petroleum products, engineering goods and electronics, in that order. India exported electronic goods worth $29.12 billion in FY 2024 compared to $23.55 billion in FY 2023, largely due to the PLI scheme.

According to five top officials, the structural screening of Chinese investments post-Galwan revealed that Chinese telecommunication companies such as Vivo were violating Indian laws, and were even charged by the Enforcement Directorate for laundering funds to China to evade Indian taxes. ED has accused Vivo of siphoning about $13 billion back to China, apart from violations of visa conditions by its executives and workers.

"We are deeply alarmed by the current action of the authorities. The recent arrests demonstrate continued harassment and as such include an environment of uncertainty amongst the wider industry landscape. We are resolute in using all legal avenues to address and challenge these accusations," Vivo said in a statement after the ED action.

While Indian industry clamors for more visas for Chinese workers and technicians, the national security establishment -- including the economic ministries -- are clear that visas will only be issued after vetting, as unchecked issuance of visas will hit Indias "Atmanirbhar Bharat" plan and impact domestic manufacturing.

India-China bilateral ties have been in the deep freeze since the PLA transgressions in May 2020, with Beijing still creating hurdles to the Indian Army patrolling its own side of the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh. Even after multiple rounds of military and diplomatic talks, PLA is still to de-escalate from LAC and restore the status quo ante in East Ladakh. Four years after Galwan, the Chinese military is deployed in full strength in East Ladakh, with Chinese reserves backing them from the hinterland.

The situation in the Indian Ocean Region is no different as Chinese surveillance ships are deployed in the region round the year. Even on Thursday, Chinese ballistic missile tracker Yuan Wang 7 was deployed 1,000 kilometers south of Kanyakumari and PLA Navys anti-piracy forces were deployed in Djibouti, Gulf of Aden and in the Madagascar channel.

One official said that with the Xi Jinping regime continuing to put pressure on India on land and sea, the Modi government had no option but to take steps to ensure the economy is less dependent on China. Indias national economic security cannot be compromised for a few pieces of silver. Visas will be issued for Chinese technicians and businessmen only after screening with assurance that travel conditions will not be violated, said a Cabinet minister who asked not to be named.
The Delhi high court on Friday halted the release of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal from jail by staying a trial courts order granting him bail in the excise policy case, dealing a setback to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and changing the course of the ongoing legal dispute yet again. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal (ANI)

In a day of dramatic developments, the high court on Friday morning stayed the trial courts bail order less than 24 hours after it was passed, before hearing the Enforcement Directorates (ED) plea. The high courts order later in the day, issued by a vacation bench of justice Sudhir Kumar Jain, reserved the decision on the agencys petition and extended its stay until the pronouncement of its verdict in two or three days.

Delhi HC stays trial court order granting bail to Arvind Kejriwal till decision on ED's plea challenging bail

I am reserving the order for two to three days. I have to go through the entire record. Until the pronouncement of the order on the stay application, the operation of the impugned trial court order shall be stayed. I will pronounce it by Tuesday, justice Jain stated, also issuing notice on EDs plea to set aside the trial courts order.

This legal twist came as a setback to the AAP, which had been buoyed by the previous days favourable order and was hopeful of the imminent release of its leader, who has been in custody since March 21 following his arrest by ED, apart from a 21-day interim bail in May for Lok Sabha election campaigning.

It was also a key moment for the AAP, which will vie for a third consecutive term in Delhi in the assembly polls scheduled in eight months. If released, Kejriwal  the face of the party and its tallest leader  will boost the partys campaign.

AAP leaders said that the lower court order, which granted bail to Kejriwal, had exposed both the BJP and ED. After ED presented all evidence, witnesses and made arguments, the court issued an order for regular bail, the BJP people should have been ashamed. But they still sent ED to high court without any order, said party leader Sanjay Singh in a press conference on Friday.

People in Kejriwals legal team indicated that they may approach the Supreme Court on Saturday to challenge the high courts interim stay on his release, demanding a resolution to this rapidly evolving legal saga.

The case against the CM stems from allegations of irregularities in Delhis now-scrapped excise policy of 2021-22, which the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) began probing following a recommendation by Delhis lieutenant governor in July 2022. Kejriwal was the third AAP leader arrested in this connection. Former deputy CM Manish Sisodia has been in jail since February 2023, and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh was granted bail by the top court in April this year after six months of custody.

The release order by the vacation trial court judge Niyay Bindu on Thursday evening had come days after the general elections threw up surprisingly positive results for the Opposition but found the AAP winning no seat in Delhi and only three in Punjab.

ED swiftly moved the high court on Friday morning. The agency argued that the trial courts order was passed without giving the agency adequate opportunity to oppose the bail application and despite judicial acknowledgment of the offence of money laundering. ED, arguing through additional solicitor general (ASG) SV Raju, also criticised the trial court for refusing to stay the bail order temporarily to allow for an appeal to a higher court.

On Thursday, judge Niyay Bindu had ordered Kejriwals release, citing a lack of direct evidence implicating him in the money laundering case and suggesting a potential bias in EDs investigation. The detailed order released on Friday highlighted that only 40 crore of the alleged 100 crore was traced, with no clear timeline for the rest. The trial judge also noted EDs failure to explain how the proceeds of the crime were used in the 2022 Goa assembly elections by the AAP, emphasising that a significant portion of the alleged amount remained untraced nearly two years later.

Assailing the trial court verdict, ASG Raju argued that the impugned order was perverse and lopsided as it was passed without a thorough review of the documentary evidence. He claimed that the agency traced 45 crore and provided an end-to-end money trail linking Kejriwal to the alleged 100 crore bribe demand.

The law officer emphasised that the April 9 Delhi high court order affirming the legality of Kejriwals arrest by ED stood as valid since it had not been stayed by the Supreme Court. He further stressed that Kejriwal was both individually and vicariously liable for money laundering under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

In response, Kejriwals legal team, led by senior advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Vikram Chaudhari, defended the trial courts bail order as a well-considered discretionary judgment. They criticised EDs expectation for the trial court to extensively document its contentions and stressed that the order had addressed all arguments comprehensively. They further pointed out that Kejriwals surrender after his interim bail ended demonstrated his bona fide conduct and that his release would not pose any danger or prejudice.

The legal team underscored that interim stays on bail orders are typically reserved for cases involving terrorists or those likely to flee, highlighting that Kejriwal did not fit these criteria.

They also argued that the high courts April 9 order could not have been considered as a final order as the Supreme Court, while reserving verdict in Kejriwals petition challenging his arrest and remand, had expressly granted their client the liberty to move trial court for bail.

The high court, however, said that it would need two or three days to go through the records of the case before taking a call on EDs interim plea to suspend Kejriwals bail till the time a final decision is taken on the agencys petition for the cancellation of his bail. Till a decision on EDs interim bail plea, justice Jain said, the trial court order of releasing the CM on bail will not be given effect to.

The decision sparked a political controversy.

ED not acting without bias, said Delhi judge who granted bail to Arvind Kejriwal

AAPs Sanjay Singh said that ED went to the high court to stop Kejriwals bail even before the trial court order was uploaded on the courts website. I believe that the high court will definitely take cognizance of what has been written in the trial courts order... There is a strong basis for his bail and even the trial court judge has in her order quoted the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, said Singh.

Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said AAP leaders are masters of spreading lies. The countrys judiciary is independent and works in an unbiased manner based on facts. It would be better if AAP leaders understand the judicial systems before hastily commenting on judicial decisions, said Sachdeva.

On June 5, Kejriwals plea for interim bail on medical grounds was dismissed by another trial court, citing his active involvement in election campaigning as evidence that he does not suffer from any serious or life-threatening ailments. To address Kejriwals health concerns, the court, however, ordered the revival of the AIIMS medical board constituted earlier to examine him and conduct necessary medical tests for prescribing any required treatment.

Last month, ED filed a supplementary charge sheet in the money laundering case, naming Kejriwal and the AAP as accused. The court has reserved its order on cognisance of this charge sheet.
Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, along with three other individuals, has been remanded to two-day police custody by a court in Bengaluru on Thursday. The decision came following a request from the prosecutor citing the need for further investigation into the case. Bengaluru: Actor Darshan being taken to a Bengaluru court in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case, in Bengaluru on Thursday. (PTI)

The court also ordered co-accused Dhanraj, Vinay, and Pradosh into police custody, while the other 13 accused including Pavithra Gowda will remain in judicial custody.

The victim Renukaswamys body was discovered near a storm-water drain next to an apartment in Sumanahalli on June 9. The post-mortem report concluded that Renukaswamy died due to shock and haemorrhage. As per the investigation so far, Renukaswamy was subjected to electric shocks as part of the torture, which resulted in 39 injuries, including seven-eight burns.

Following the proceedings on Thursday evening, Darshan and the three co-accused were escorted back to Annapoorneshwari Nagar police station. Simultaneously, arrangements were being made to transfer the remaining accused to the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison Complex.

In the remand application filed before the court, a copy of which is available with HT, police said that the probe, since the court granted them custody, has unearthed substantial evidence implicating Darshan and others in the crime.

According to the police, Darshan, in order to avoid the legal process and suppress the connection to the other accused, obtained 40 lakh from his friend Mohan Raj. This money was kept in his house through a third party and was meant to be used for distribution.

On June 19, police searched Darshans residence, seizing 37.4 lakh in cash along with a military green Puma bagFurther revelations during the investigation indicated that Darshan had sent 3 lakh in cash and other items to his wife, Vijaya Lakshmi, through a third party from Radisson Hotel in Mysore, read the remand application.

Following a notice issued on June 18, Vijaya Lakshmi complied and brought the cash to Annapoorneshwari Nagar Police Station.

Additionally, investigators have collected bills and receipts from Reliance Trends in Ideal Home, where Darshan allegedly made purchases for clothes after the crime. CCTV footage and other relevant evidence from the store were also gathered and documented as part of the ongoing probe.

Police have said that A1, Pavitra Gowda, is identified as the main instigator of the crime, having provoked and conspired with the other accused to commit the murder, which has been confirmed during the investigation.

It further added that A2, Darshan, has used his money and influence over his fan group, who are also co-accused, to participate in and facilitate the crime. Darshan exploited his financial power and influential fan base to orchestrate the abduction of the innocent deceased Renukaswamy Swamy by involving A4 (Raghavendra), A6 (Jagadish) and A8 (Ravi). They intimidated and robbed the deceased of his gold ornaments. The accused A10, Vinay, who is related to Jayanna, provided a shed in the town where A1 and the other accused brutally assaulted and killed the deceased. This has been corroborated by physical, technical, and scientific evidence gathered during the investigation, the remand application summarised the crime.

Meanwhile, the counsel representing the arrested Kannada superstar said on Thursday that the bail petition seeking his release will be filed in the court after he is sent to judicial custody. He told reporters, We are not filing the bail petition today (Thursday). Our team will sit and discuss and then make a decision.
New Delhi, The Supreme Court on Friday granted interim bail for two weeks to activist Mahesh Raut, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, for attending the rituals following the death of his grandmother. Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case: SC grants two-week interim bail to activist Mahesh Raut

A vacation bench of justices Vikram Nath and S V N Bhatti directed that the interim bail will commence from June 26 and Raut shall surrender without fail on July 10.

The bench passed the order on his application seeking interim bail to attend the rituals which are likely to be held on June 29-30 and July 5-6.

"Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and the period of incarceration already undergone by the respondent and also the nature of request made for the purpose, we are inclined to grant two weeks interim bail to the applicant which may commence from June 26, 2024 and end on July 10, 2024," the bench said.

It said the terms and conditions of the release shall be determined by the special court and the National Investigation Agency would be at liberty to request the trial court to impose such stringent conditions as may be necessary.

"The applicant, on being released on June 26, shall surrender without fail on July 10, 2024, that is, on completion of two weeks," it said.

The top court had in September last year extended the stay granted by the Bombay High Court on the implementation of its verdict granting bail to Raut.

The NIA had earlier challenged in the top court the September 21 last year order of the high court granting bail to 33-year-old Raut, who was arrested in June 2018 and is presently lodged in judicial custody at the Taloja prison.

After the high court had pronounced its verdict, the counsel representing the NIA had sought stay on the operation of its order to enable the probe agency to challenge it before the Supreme Court.

During the hearing on Friday, Raut's counsel told the bench that he was earlier granted bail by the Bombay High Court and the NIA approached the apex court challenging that order.

The NIA's counsel said Raut's grandmother had passed away in May and he wanted interim bail now.

"What is the necessity to rush to this court?" the NIA's counsel said.

The bench said the NIA's plea is pending before the apex court.

"Bail granted by the high court has been stayed by this court on your petition. Obviously, where will the respondent move for interim bail?" the bench said, adding, "because of the stay granted by this court, do you expect the special court to entertain the application filed by the applicant?"

The case pertains to the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017, which according to the Pune Police was funded by Maoists.

The inflammatory speeches made there led to violence at the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial in Pune the next day, the police had alleged. The case was later probed by the NIA.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
New Delhi: The Delhi high court on Friday halted the release of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in the money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), a day after he was granted regular bail by a trial court nearly three months after he was arrested in connection with the alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy case. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has been in custody since March 21 following his arrest by ED (File Photo)

The decision came after the ED moved the high court, challenging the trial courts bail order. A vacation bench of justices Sudhir Kumar Jain and Ravinder Dudeja said that the order granting bail to the CM would not be given effect till the court heard the probe agencys plea challenging the bail later in the day.

The bail order will not be given effect. We have not passed the final order. You may argue for as much as you can. Let the files come. It (files) will be here in 10-15 minutes, the court told additional solicitor general (ASG) SV Raju, appearing for the ED, and senior advocates Vikram Chaudhari and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kejriwal.

During a brief hearing on Friday morning, ASG Raju urged the court to stay the execution of the order granting bail asserting that the probe agency was not given a clear opportunity to oppose.

He pointed out that though the trial court passed the order at 8:00 pm on Thursday, the same has not been uploaded yet. We have not been given an opportunity to oppose the bail. I was told to finish the arguments. I was not allowed. My argument was curtailed. In my reply, I was not allowed to argue fully & I was not given the opportunity to file a written submission, the ASG said.

He added that the trial court had also turned down EDs request to stay the bail order. Order cannot stand even for a day when a public prosecutor has not been given the opportunity to argue fully.

Advocates Chaudhari and Singhvi for Kejriwal said that there were at least 10 Supreme Court judgements pointing out that cancellation of bail is different from grant of bail.

Considering the submissions, the court clarified that the bail order would not be given till it heard the matter and posted the plea for hearing later in the day.

The ED moved the Delhi high court on Friday, less than 24 hours after the Delhi court granted bail to Kejriwal. On Thursday, the city court while granting bail to the CM had rejected EDs request to delay the acceptance of the bail bonds by 48 hours to allow the agency time to challenge the order in a higher court, clarifying that Kejriwals counsel can furnish bail bonds on Friday before the concerned judge. There is no stay on the order of granting bail, the judge said.

Kejriwal approached the trial court two days before his interim bail ended. He was arrested on March 21 for alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy for 2021-22 and was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court on May 10 to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections. He surrendered on June 2 after the Supreme Court declined to extend the interim bail.

During the bail hearing, senior advocate Chaudhari argued that ED had failed to prove a money trail linked to Kejriwal or substantiate claims of AAP leaders receiving kickbacks through the policy. He emphasised that the case was based on statements from tainted co-accused who had been granted bail or pardon, highlighting contradictions and a lack of material corroboration in these statements.

He further pointed out that Kejriwal was not made an accused in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case, while also probing the excise policy case separately, and was called as a witness instead. They asserted that ED lacked evidence to prove AAP received Rs.45 crore as kickbacks and that Kejriwal had connections with individuals who allegedly managed the funds. Chaudhari further contended that the apex court permitted Kejriwal to apply for regular bail while reserving judgment on his plea on May 17.

Opposing the bail, ASG Raju argued that there was undeniable evidence of money laundering. He stated that ED had concrete proof of Kejriwals involvement, including telephone call records and call data records (CDR) showing co-accused Chanpreet Singhs receipt of 45 crore as kickbacks.

Citing the rigours of Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the ASG said it was Kejriwals responsibility to demonstrate that he was not guilty of a PMLA offence, regardless of his constitutional post.

The case against Kejriwal stems from allegations of irregularities in Delhis excise policy, which the CBI began probing following a recommendation by Delhis LG in July 2022.

Kejriwal was the third AAP leader arrested in this connection. Sisodia has been in jail since February 2023, and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh was granted bail by the top court in April this year after six months of custody.

The ED, in its submissions before all courts, has accused the CM of being the kingpin and key conspirator of the alleged corruption in the 2021-22 Delhi excise policy
The death toll in the hooch tragedy in Kallakurichi district of Tamil Nadu increased to 38 on Thursday while over 100 people remained hospitalised, officials said, as the incident triggered a political row with the opposition AIADMK attacking the DMK government and demanding the resignation of chief minister MK Stalin over the tragedy. A family member weeps next to the dead body of a victim who died after consuming toxic alcohol in Kallakurichi district of Tamil Nadu. (AFP)

Stalin held a high-level review meeting with senior officials over the hooch tragedy and announced a judicial probe into the incident by forming a one-man commission of retired Madras high court judge B Gokuldas. The retired judge has also been asked to recommend measures to prevent such tragedies in the future and file a report within three months.

Most of the victims consumed the spurious liquor, sold as packet arrack, at Karunapuram village in Kallakurichi on Tuesday night. On Wednesday, as the illicit liquor, allegedly mixed with toxic methanol, started taking effect, many people complained of vomiting, dizziness and sudden loss of vision and hearing, officials said.

While some of them died at their houses, many were rushed to the Kallakurichi Government Medical College Hospital as well as hospitals in Salem, Tiruvannamalai and Puducherry.

Thirty-eight people have died and more than 100 are undergoing treatment in four different hospitals, states public works minister EV Velu told reporters.

Dr Rakesh Aggarwal, director of Puducherry-based Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), in a statement said on Wednesday the hospital received 19 patients, three of whom were brought dead while the remaining 16 were seriously ill.

All the patients are being provided the best possible care by inter-disciplinary teams of doctors in the hospital as per the requirements of the patients and they are also being closely monitored, the statement said, adding that at least 10 patients required urgent ventilatory support and they continue to remain critically ill.

Four people have been arrested so far in connection with the case that has been handed over to the state polices Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID), which started its probe on Thursday by constituting five teams, a senior police officer said.

Following the incident, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led state government transferred district collector Sravan Kumar Jatavath and suspended superintendent of police (SP) Samay Singh Meena as well as the entire prohibition wing in the district. On Thursday, MS Prasanth took charge as the district collector and Rajat Chaturvedi as the new SP.

We will look into the police connivance, if any, Chaturvedi told reporters after taking charge as the SP.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu assembly session began on Thursday by paying respects to the people who died after consuming spurious liquor in Kallakurichi.

Mourning the deaths, Stalin in a statement said: A thorough investigation will be done. I have directed the police to find the source of the supply for methanol (used by the accused) to contaminate it in the liquor.

He also announced 10 lakh ex gratia for the family of the deceased and 50,000 for those being treated in the hospital.

AIADMK general secretary and leader of the opposition Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS), who skipped the assembly session to meet the families of the victims in Kallakurichi, demanded Stalins resignation.

This incident has happened in a core location within Kallakurichi very close to a police station and a court. We have received information that there is a huge mafia behind this, EPS told reporters. DMK is behind illicit liquor sales in Tamil Nadu. Stalin should resign since there is mismanagement and many deaths.

The AIADMK also moved the Madras high court seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The court is likely to hear the application on Friday.

Attacking the DMK government, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state chief K Annamalai demanded the resignation of states prohibition and excise minister, S Muthusamy. He said the party will meet Union home minister Amit Shah to transfer the probe to CBI.

At the very least prohibition minister S Muthusamy must resign because his job is to prevent manufacturing of illicit liquor, Annamalai told reporters after meeting families of the victim undergoing treatment in Kallakurichi. The minister has to take responsibility for the failure of the entire DMK government.

Actor Vijay, who has floated the Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam, also visited those undergoing treatment in the hospital.
Almost every street held a funeral while several bodies were lined up for cremation in Karunapuram, which is at the center of the hooch tragedy in Kallakurichi district of Tamil Nadu. A man stands next to piles of wood arranged for the mass cremation of people, who died after drinking illegally brewed liquor in Kallakurichi district of Tamil Nadu. (AP)

Of the 38 victims, at least 19 of them died from the locality after consuming spurious liquor sold in packets on Tuesday night.

Three teenage siblings Kokila, Harish, and Raghavan  were orphaned overnight after they lost their parents R Suresh and S Vadivukarasi to the tragedy.

Their father, a painter, bought the illicit liquor in a packet and emptied it onto a tumbler and drank some. The mother, a construction worker, mistook it to be water and drank it as well. She is among the four women who have died.

My mother mistook it for some water and drank the leftover, said 16-year-old S Kokila. My mother didnt have a drinking habit. Only my father did.

The siblings went to school on Wednesday and got back home to learn about the death of their parents from television news. The siblings are now left with their 63-year-old grandmother.

They are among the several children and family members who have been grieving inconsolably for more than a day. Visuals of a girl crying over her fathers body went viral on social media in one of the worst hooch tragedies in Tamil Nadu.

The victims are daily wage workers such as painters and coolies. The deceased include four women and a trans person. I lost two of my relatives  Suresh and Praveen  in the tragedy, Arumugam, their relative said. Both of them have children. Who will take care of them? Who is answerable to our family? Who will help them with their education and how will the children ever come out of this tragedy? he asked.

Kavitha, a 33-year-old who lost her husband, said that her spouse drank regularly. He consumed illicit liquor only because it was available so freely, she said. Several women here blamed the government and the complicity of officials which allowed the spurious liquor to be sold. One of the arrested accused manufactured and sold illicit liquor in packets within the Karunapuram village.

R Chitra, wife of a victim named Ravi, also said that her husband drank regularly. On Tuesday, he came home at 5 in the evening after drinking and complained of pain, she said. He started vomiting the next morning and he began losing his vision. I took him to a private hospital. Suddenly he became breathless and we had to rush him to the government hospital where he died. The doctors asked him if he drank the spurious liquor because by then seven people had died but he didnt want to reveal anything in front of me, so he had kept quiet.
Chennai, The International Day of Yoga was observed with fervour across Tamil Nadu on Friday with Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth leading the celebrations in Dhanushkodi. Participating in a special yoga session organised by the Indian Coast Guard at Dhanushkodi in which IG Donny Michael, Commander, Coast Guard Region East took part, Seth said, Yoga is a holistic practice that offers a comprehensive approach to enhance lifes quality by promoting physical & mental health. Former Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, who joined the 10th International Yoga Day function at Nehru Yuva Kendra auditorium, here, said "let's practice the art of yoga daily to keep our body and mind calm and happy." The Dakshin Bharat Area, Chennai celebrated the 10th International Yoga day in a unique way with tri-services personnel, their families and Youth of NCC at Marina Beach, here. Lieutenant General K S Brar, General Officer Commanding, Dakshin Bharat Area was the chief guest. Mrs Jasbir Brar, Zonal President AWWA enthusiastically took part in the event with over 300 soldiers, air warriors, sailors and their families in the well organised event at pristine surrounding and calming sound of waves at INS Adyar, extension of Marina beach, a release said. The General Officer Commanding emphasised the significance of yoga and said it should be practised daily to develop a healthy mind, improve concentration and build a creative mindset. Similar events were held at various places including the Regional Passport Office Chennai, The Madras Regimental Centre at Srinagesh Barracks, and the Ordnance Depot, Avadi, in collaboration with Brahma Kumaris. Ahead of the celebrations, the National Institute of Siddha at Tambaram here initiated a two-day training programme for school students. As per the direction of Director Prof Dr. R Meenakumari, International Yoga Day training has been successfully conducted for school-going children at Tambaram Municipal Higher Secondary School, Selaiyur, Chennai on June 19 & 20, the NIS said. The training was organized by the Nanju Maruthuvam department of the institute and it aimed at educating the students on the numerous benefits of practicing yoga. The Southern Railway observed the 10th International Yoga Day through various events across the zone. R N Singh, General Manager, Southern Railway inaugurated the yoga session at Railway Officers Club at Nungambakkam. Kaushal Kishore, Additional General Manager, and other officers and staff participated. The participants demonstrated the 'asanas' specified in the Common Yoga Protocol issued by the Ministry of Ayush. "The participants practised some of the basic asanas enlisted in the Common Yoga Protocol such as Tadasana, Vrksasana, Bhadrasana, Vajrasana, Trikonasana, etc. with great zeal and enthusiasm. All the six divisions of Southern Railway and the Workshops of Southern Railway observed International Yoga Day," M Senthamil Selvan, Chief Public Relations Officer, said in a release here.

Fervour marks Yoga Day celebrations in TN, Union Minister Sanjay Seth participates in yoga session
AHMEDABAD: Parents of about 30 students whose answer sheets for the National Eligibility Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) were to filled by teachers at an exam centre in Gujarats Godhra have skipped the initial summons issued to them, a senior Godhra police officer said on Friday. A protest outside the ministry of education over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG exam in New Delhi (HT Photo/Representative Image)

The officer said fresh summons would be issued to them in connection with the investigation. Five persons have already been arrested in this case,

The parents of these students were called for questioning on Thursday but they did not turn up. We will soon send them fresh summons, said NV Patel, deputy superintendent of police, Godhra.

The names of the students figured on a list of candidates whose answer sheets were to be filled by teachers at the Jay Jalaram School in Godhra in Panchmahal district. The case was unearthed after the Panchmahal collector received a tip ahead of the exam.

The Godhra case comes amid a swirling controversy around skewed results and allegations of paper leaks during the examination for undergraduate medical college admissions across the country.

Police said the initial probe revealed that the alleged cheating indicated the involvement of the school principal where the irregularities were reported and an invigilator appointed by the National Testing Agency.

The officer said cheating at the centre, where around 2,500 aspirants appeared for the exam on May 5, was facilitated by local education professionals and consultants and that it involved a pay-for-pass plot.

Among those arrested are Tushar Bhatt, a physics teacher and deputy superintendent for the exam appointed by National Testing Agency, Parshuram Roy of Roy Overseas, an education consultancy firm and Purshottam Sharma, principal of Jalaram School where the exam was held. Two others including Vibhor Anand, who reportedly introduced students to Roy and Arif Vora, a local resident implicated as Bhatts accomplice have also been arrested.

Roy conducted seminars, especially for overseas education. He would meet these students and their parents at these seminars. He charged varying amounts from different aspirants, offering them deals that included money to help them score better in NEET, said Patel. The amount that Roy took from the aspirants to improve their NEET score would vary from 5 lakh to 10 lakh per student, he added.

Students who paid money to the accused were asked to leave the answers to questions they were unable to attempt blank. Bhatt, the school teacher, was to fill those blank spaces after the exam was over and before the answer sheets were sealed.

The authorities came to know about this scam ahead of the exam and they arrested Bhatt in whose car cash of 7 lakhs was found. Four others were also nabbed soon, said another police official.

On Friday, a local court in Godhra rejected the school principals bail plea.
AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat high court on Friday lifted its temporary stay on the release of the film, Maharaj by streaming giant Netflix, holding that the film Maharaj was based on events that to the 1862 Maharaj Libel Case and was not targeted on hurting the sentiments of any community. A poster of Netflix film 'Maharaj', starring Aamir Khan's son Junaid Khan. (PTI)

Justice Sangeeta K Vishen, who had barred the release of the movie on June 13, decided to let Netflix stream the movie on Friday after watching the film.

This court arrives at the prima facie conclusion that the film, Maharaj, is based on events that led to the filing of the libel case and is not targeted at hurting the sentiments of the Pushtimargi community. The film had been certified by the Central Board for Film Certification, an expert body after considering the relevant guidelines The interim relief granted on June 13 has been vacated, the court said.

The film, originally slated for release on 14 June, was put on hold after the high court barred Netflix from streaming the movie after a group of businessmen petitioned the court on the ground that it had the potential to offend the religious sensibilities of a Vaishnavite community.

The film Maharaj is based on a 2013 book by Gujarati writer Saurabh Shah on the landmark libel case of 1862 filed by a leading Vaishnavite figure, Jadunathji, against social reformer Karsandas Mulji who had written against sexual exploitation by the all-powerful Maharaj.

Also Read: Karsandas Mulji's battle against religious orthodoxy echoes through time

Muljis expose of the exploitative practice in his magazine The Satyaprakash led to a libel case which became the celebrated Maharaj Libel Case.

Justice Vishen said the primary grievance by the petitioners that the film runs down, defames, and insults the Vaishnavite community, has no force. Thus his court is constrained to come to the conclusion that the apprehension of petitioners is based on surmises. Since the film is yet to be released for public viewing, thus on mere presumption, the freedom of expression guaranteed under Article 19 (1)(a) of the Constitution cannot be curtailed, the court said.

The core message of the film. as rightly contended by the respondent, is that the film focuses on the social evil and fight for social reform by Karsandas Mulji who himself was from Vaishnavite community, she said, dictating the order in open court.

The film in no manner affects or hurts religious feelings. The film concludes that the sect is far more important than any individual or incident. Treating this incident as an exception the Vaishnav sect and its followers continued to grow and remained a proud and integral part of the social, cultural and religious fabric of India. An apprehension is raised that it is likely to cause communal disharmony. However, the book was published in 2013 based on the same libel case and no incident has been reported. Even the petitioners have not made any submission that the book has caused any communal disharmony, she said.
NEW DELHI: India on Friday reiterated its concerns about the Canadian government giving political space to extremist elements and those advocating violence, reflecting the sharp downturn in bilateral ties. Asked about the Canadian Parliament observing a minutes silence for Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, India said New Delhi opposes giving political space to extremism and those advocating violence (Screengrab)

India-Canada ties cratered in September last year, when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that Indian government agents were linked to the killing of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India dismissed the accusation as absurd and said Canadian authorities hadnt provided any evidence to back up their claim.

New Delhi has also been angered by recent protests by Khalistani elements in Canada, such as a peoples court outside the Indian consulate in Vancouver where an effigy of the Indian premier was burnt, and the observance of a minutes silence by Canadas House of Commons on Tuesday to mark the first anniversary of the murder of Nijjar, already declared a terrorist by India.

When external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was asked at a regular media briefing about the Canadian Parliament observing a minutes silence for Nijjar, he replied: We naturally oppose any moves giving political space to extremism and those advocating violence. So, that is our position on this particular issue.

The external affairs ministry had sent a note verbale, or an unsigned diplomatic correspondence, to the Canadian high commission on Thursday to protest against the citizens court organised by Khalistani activists outside the mission in Vancouver.

Jaiswal said the activities of Khalistani elements in Canada continue to be a matter of concern for India. We have been repeatedly calling upon the government of Canada to take action. We have said that the political space that is provided to extremist anti-India elements and those advocating violence must stop and they must take action, he said.

On the matter of the so-called citizens court, the Indian side has strongly protested with the Canadian high commission. Such courts or such gatherings are not helpful at all. We have strongly taken it up with them and told them to take action as appropriate in the matter, Jaiswal said.

Jaiswal was also asked about the 1985 bombing of Air India flight 182 by Khalistani terrorists that resulted in the death of all 329 people on board, including 268 Canadian citizens. The anniversary of one of the worst terrorist attacks involving an airliner will be observed on June 23.

He responded by saying that the political space given by Canada to extremists [and] people who advocate violence and an anti-India agenda is the real problem.

Jaiswal added, Therefore, we have time and again been insisting that the Canadian authorities take action against them.

The latest developments followed a brief meeting between Trudeau and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on the margins of the G7 Summit in Italy, which had given rise to speculation about a possible thaw in bilateral relations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads International Day of Yoga celebrations, at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar on Friday.

International Yoga Day Live Updates: Rain disrupted the Yoga Day event scheduled on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on Friday, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was supposed to perform yoga for the 10th International Yoga Day. Later, he was seen performing yoga at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar. This marks his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir since starting his third consecutive term in office....Read More

This year's celebration theme, Yoga for Self and Society, emphasises yoga's impact on personal well-being and community health. The event in Srinagar aims to boost grassroots participation and promote yoga in rural areas.

Modi participated the Yoga Day event at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) located on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar.

Since the inception of the International Day of Yoga in 2014, the prime minister has led celebrations at various iconic sites, including Kartavya Path in Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Ranchi, Lucknow, Mysuru, and even the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

International Yoga Day

The International Day of Yoga (IDY) is observed every year on June 21 to highlight its immense benefits for overall health and well-being. This observance was established by the United Nations in 2014.

PM Modi proposed the idea of a global day dedicated to yoga during his 2014 address to the United National General Assembly (UNGA). In December 2014, the UNGA passed a resolution declaring June 21 as International Yoga Day.

The United Nations describes yoga as an ancient practise with physical, mental, and spiritual elements, originating in India. The word yoga comes from Sanskrit, meaning to join or unite, which signifies the integration of body and consciousness.

2024 Yoga Day celebrations

- Union Health Minister JP Nadda urged everyone to incorporate yoga into their daily routines, emphasising its holistic benefits. He said, On this occasion, I want to appeal to everyone to make yoga a part of your daily life. Yoga combines our physical, mental, and spiritual self.

- Union ministers S Jaishankar, Anurag Thakur, Mansukh Mandaviya, Nitin Gadkari and others were seen performing yoga on the occasion of 10th International Yoga Day on Friday.

- The Ministry of Culture will hold International Day of Yoga celebrations on Friday at the historic Purana Quila site in Delhi. Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will lead a celebration at Sun Dial Lawns, Qutab Minar, as mentioned by a senior official.

- President Droupadi Murmu participated in the 10th International Yoga Day celebrations on Friday. She took part in a yoga session on the occasion, saying, Greetings to the entire global community, especially the fellow citizens of India, on International Yoga Day! Yoga is India's unique gift to humanity. In view of rising lifestyle related problems, Yoga has become far more important today. Yoga is a way to physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Let us resolve to adopt yoga as an integral part of our day-to-day living.

- In Israel, over three hundred participants performed yoga asanas at the Peres Centre for Peace and Innovation in Tel Aviv as part of the International Yoga Day celebrations.

- Hundreds of yoga enthusiasts gathered to celebrate International Yoga Day at an event where India's Deputy Ambassador to the US, Sripriya Ranganathan, delivered an address.

(With ANI, PTI inputs)

Scroll down for latest updates on 10th International Yoga Day celebrations
Indian Army personnel participated in the 10th International Yoga Day celebrations on Friday by performing yoga on mountains and glaciers along the northern frontier. Despite the snowy weather, more than 10 soldiers were seen performing various asanas in the norther frontier on Friday.(ANI)

In a video shared by the news agency ANI, soldiers were seen practising yoga while fully covered in their uniforms. Despite the snowy weather, more than 10 soldiers were seen performing various asanas.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, along with Army Chief General Manoj Pande, performed yoga in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura to mark the 10th International Day of Yoga. The Union Minister highlighted the benefits of yoga, stating that with the rise of issues like depression, blood pressure, and diabetes, practising yoga is a better alternative to relying on medication.

Singh expressed pride in the global acceptance of yoga, emphasising that it is a testament to India's rich cultural heritage.

In another video shared by the news agency ANI, schoolchildren were seen practising yoga at the Pangong Tso Lake in Ladakh for International Yoga Day. Indian Army jawans also performed yoga at Col Sonam Wangchuk Stadium in Leh, Ladakh, on the occasion of International Day of Yoga.

Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel participated in yoga sessions at an altitude of over 15,000 feet in the Muguthang Sub Sector of Sikkim, near the Indo-China border on the Nakula axis.

Indian Navy personnel perform yoga onboard warships

On International Yoga Day 2024, Indian Navy personnel performed various yoga asanas, including the Surya Namaskar, aboard warships such as INS Tarkash and INS Teg.

Sailors on India's aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya took part in an early morning yoga session on Friday to mark the occasion.

Additionally, some children joined Navy personnel in practicing yoga.

The X account of Goa Naval Area tweeted pictures of personnel performing yoga on the INS Hansa, saying, #IDY24 was celebrated by the Goa Naval Area with a rejuvenating and soulful Yoga session at #INSHansa. Professional #Yoga Instructors from 'The Yoga Institute' guided the #GNA personnel and families through the session.

International Yoga Day 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the 10th International Day of Yoga celebrations at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on Friday.

This year's event highlights yoga's profound impact on young minds and bodies, aiming to unite thousands in the practice of yoga to promote health and wellness globally.

The theme for this year, Yoga for Self and Society, underscores yoga's essential role in enhancing both individual well-being and societal harmony.

Celebrations will take place nationwide, featuring a notable event called Yoga for Space, where all ISRO centers and units will participate in practicing the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP). Internationally, Embassies and Indian Missions will also join in, reflecting yoga's widespread influence.

(With inputs from ANI, PTI)
Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday hit out at the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), accusing it of violating parliamentary conventions by not appointing Congress's Kodikunnil Suresh as pro-tem Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Vijayan accused the BJP of not following parliamentary democratic principles and past conventions while being arrogant.(ANI)

According to convention, the most senior MP in the Lok Sabha is supposed to be the pro-tem speaker and Suresh is the senior most MP serving eight times.

CM Vijayan also asked why BJP hasn't clarified those who suspect that Suresh was not considered due to "upper caste politics", which is followed by the Sangh Parivar, reported PTI.

Suresh was elected from the reserved constituency of Mavelikkara in Kerala by defeating CPI's candidate Arun Kumar CA by a margin of 10,868 votes, according to the Election Commission of India.

Vijayan also demanded clarification on why the convention was not followed in this issue, following BJP leader Bhartruhari Mahtab's apppointment as the pro-tem Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

Mahtab, a seven-term parliamentarian was appointed as the pro-tem Speaker on Thursday.

ALSO READ | President Droupadi Murmu appoints BJP's Bhartruhari Mahtab as Lok Sabha protem speaker

Vijayan accused the BJP of not following parliamentary democratic principles and past conventions while being arrogant.

Vijayan also questioned the ruling party's rationale behind keeping the post of Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha vacant for five years while not allowing anyone from the opposition to take up the role.

ALSO READ | Pinarayi Vijayan faces rare censure within CPI(M) after LS polls drub

Vijayan also said that this haughty approach of the BJP leadership is challenge and insult to the Indian democracy, reported PTI.

The pro-tem Speaker will preside over the Lok Sabha sessions until the Speaker is chosen through an election which is set to take place on June 26. The pro-tem Speaker will administer the oath to the newly elected members of the 18th Lok Sabha which will take place June 24-25, reported PTI.
Parliamentary Affairs minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday responded to the Congress' criticism over the appointment of BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab as pro-tem Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha. Parliamentary Affairs minister Kiren Rijiju.(ANI)

Mahtab, who won the recently concluded Lok Sabha election for the seventh time, was appointed as the pro-tem Speaker by the President of India on June 19.

The Congress has, however, accused the BJP-led government of "destroying parliamentary norms" by ignoring Kodikunnil Suresh, an eight-term Lok Sabha MP.

On Friday, Rijiju accused the Congress of politicising the appointment of Lok Sabha pro-tem Speaker and asserted that conventions were followed.

Rijiju claimed that Suresh, though an eight-term MP, was not a member of the Lok Sabha in 1998 and 2004 and hence did not have an uninterrupted tenure in the Lok Sabha.

"We expected the Parliament proceedings to start on a good note. But, even before the start of the first session of the Parliament, Congress resorted to spreading lies and misleading everyone through social media posts," Rijiju said, according to PTI.

Rijiju also added that the post of pro-tem Speaker is very temporary and that they play their role till the election of the new Speaker.

"I have to say it with great regret that I feel ashamed that the Congress party has talked like this. First of all, they created an issue about the pro-tem Speaker. This post of pro-tem Speaker is very temporary. They play their role till the election of the new Speaker. They do not have to do any business transaction," Rijiju said, according to PTI.

The minister cited past precedents to claim that the UPA government had ignored the seniority principle in 2004 when it had appointed eight-term member Balasaheb Vikhe-Patil as the pro-tem Speaker, when nine-term MP George Fernandes was a member of the Lok Sabha.
The Indian Air Forces (IAF) hunt for new medium transport aircraft (MTA) is set to gather speed in Prime Minister Narendra Modis third consecutive term in office, and US aerospace firm Lockheed Martin has begun exploring the possibility of setting up a manufacturing line in India for its C-130J aircraft as it competes with two other global plane makers  Airbus and Embraer  for the multi-billion-dollar order. The air force currently operates a fleet of 12 C-130J medium-sized airlifters (IAF file photo)

The MTA competition provides us a significant opportunity to meet IAFs tactical airlift requirements. We are exploring options for setting up an assembly line for the C-130J in India, Anthony G Frese, vice president, business development (air mobility and maritime missions), Lockheed Martin, told HT.

Watch: IAF's C-130J aircraft makes historic night landing at Kargil airstrip

IAF currently operates a fleet of 12 C-130J medium-sized airlifters that have been extensively used for a variety of missions, including support to the militarys forward deployments in the Ladakh sector where the dragging border standoff between India and China is now in its fifth year.

The two other players vying for the MTA order, European Airbus Defence and Space with its A-400M aircraft and Brazilian Embraer Defense and Security with its C-390 Millennium, also have presence in the Indian defence market.

Airbus is jointly executing a 21,935-crore project with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) to equip the air force with 56 C-295 aircraft to modernise its transport fleet, and Embraer has thus far supplied eight jets to India for VVIP travel and use as airborne early warning and control aircraft.

The C-130Js performance is proven in IAF service, and the aircraft has an availability rate (measure of airworthiness) of almost 90%, said Frese, who, along with other Lockheed officials this week, met IAFs leadership including its chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari. It has an impressive track record of accomplishing missions and that places us in an advantageous position in this competition Frese said.

The three-cornered contest to equip IAF with 40 to 80 aircraft is in line with the governments Make in India initiative to boost self-reliance in the defence manufacturing sector. IAF is looking for a new transport aircraft in the 18 to 30-tonne cargo-carrying capacity to meet its growing airlift needs.

TASL is one of the Indian companies that Lockheed Martin could partner with to bid for the project for which the air force sought information from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) last year on the aircraft they can offer to meet its requirements, HT has learnt. However, no decision has been taken yet.

The two firms already operate a joint venture in India.

Located in Hyderabad, Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited (TLMAL) is the single, global source of empennages (tail assembly) for the C-130J aircraft and the JV has delivered over 220 such assemblies since it began operations in 2010. The empennage assemblies built by TLMAL have been installed on C-130Js produced in Marietta in the US and delivered by Lockheed Martin to its global customers, including IAF.

In February, Embraer and Mahindra signed a memorandum of understanding to bid for the MTA order.

Airbus has not yet announced who it will partner with to compete for the project, though TASL and state-run plane maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) could be among the likely options, HT has learnt.

India will float a tender for the MTA procurement after the defence acquisition council (DAC) grants its acceptance of necessity (AoN) for the project. DAC is Indias apex military procurement body and headed by defence minister Rajnath Singh. Under Indias defence procurement rules, AoN by the council is the first step towards buying military equipment.

IAF has seen a level of success with the existing fleet and that will continue with the new C-130Js, said Frese. Apart from the aircrafts versatility, reliability and low operating costs, there will also be commonality in training, maintenance, spares and logistics support, he added.

The information sought by IAF from OEMs last year related to scope of technology transfer; possible methods to enhance indigenisation, and to setup a dedicated manufacturing line, including design, integration and manufacturing processes in India; capability to undertake indigenous manufacture of systems, subsystems, components and spares; and making India a regional or global hub for manufacturing and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of the equipment.

Uttarakhand: IAF chopper pressed into service to douse forest fire in Almora

In the request for information for MTA, IAF asked foreign vendors to provide a general estimate of the cost of aircraft and associated equipment for a batch of 40, 60 and 80 aircraft. The C-130J can carry a load of 20 tonne compared to C-390s 26 tonne and A-400Ms 37 tonne.

IAF needs transport aircraft in the 18 to 30-tonne class to carry out a variety of roles, and it should select a plane that best meets its requirements and can be indigenised the most, Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retd), former director general, Centre for Air Power Studies, earlier said.
Kannada organisations in Belagavi have raised concerns over Maharashtras recent appointments of Marathi-trained teachers to Kannada medium schools in southern Maharashtra. Marathi teachers appointment to Kannada schools sparks row

The organisations have urged the Karnataka state government to intervene and coordinate with Maharashtra to address this issue and safeguard the interests of Kannada-speaking students.

The Kannada Organisations Action Committee has brought this matter to the attention of chief minister Siddaramaiah and education minister Madhu Bangarappa, urging them to ensure that teachers trained in Kannada are appointed to Kannada medium schools.

Maharashtra has recently appointed 20 teachers trained in Marathi medium to 20 Kannada schools in southern Maharashtra, which is completely unacceptable and it threatens our language in that region, said committee convener Ashok Chandaragi.

He highlighted that the population of Kannadigas in Sangli and Solapur districts exceeds 25% of the total population. Despite this demographic, only 4 out of 24 Kannada medium schools in these districts have Kannada-speaking teachers, while the rest have teachers trained in Marathi. This move by Maharashtra to appoint Marathi-trained teachers seems like a concerted effort to gradually phase out Kannada medium education and impose Marathi on our people, Chandaragi added.

He further said that there are hundreds of unemployed Kannada teachers available in Maharashtra who could be appointed to these schools instead. The Karnataka government needs to act swiftly and engage with its Maharashtra counterpart to rectify this situation, Chandaragi urged.

Vikramsinh Sawant, the MLA from Jat constituency in Sangli district, had previously raised concerns about this issue with the Karnataka chief minister and education minister, but he didnt receive a satisfactory response. Chandaragi also pointed out that neighbouring states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Goa, and Telangana are also undermining Kannada medium education, forcing Kannada students to learn in other languages.

Chandaragi cited the example of four Kannada high schools in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, which shifted to CBSE syllabus in 2021, thereby making Kannada-speaking students study in English and Hindi instead of their native language. The neglect of Kannada medium education by other states and the lack of proactive measures by the Karnataka government have led to this situation, he said.

The Border Area Development Authority, under the guidance of former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, had previously submitted a report recommending 5% reservation in education and employment for students educated in Kannada medium. However, the implementation of these recommendations has been delayed due to changes in government.

Responding to queries about the governments actions, Chandaragi referred to Chief Minister Siddaramaiahs assurance that a letter had been sent to Maharashtra regarding this matter five months ago. He stressed that Maharashtra should reciprocate by giving equal importance to Kannada in Marathi medium schools in Karnataka.
Imphal: Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Friday said that an action plan to address the ethnic unrest in the state will be formed by the Modi 3.0 government soon, and a solution for the ongoing crisis in the state might come within two to three months. The CM made the statement during the International Yoga Day 2024 celebration held at Khuman Lampak Indoor Hall, Imphal, on Friday. Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh (File Photo)

Violence is everywhere, and it has reduced particularly in Manipur. However, some sporadic firing took place in fringe areas, but in other places, schools, government establishments, markets, and businesses are opening across the state, which is an indication of returning to normalcy, Singh said.

He added that the actual crisis in Manipur took place only for 6-7 months, however, there has been unrest in Manipur for 14 months.

Regarding the Jiribam violence, the chief minister agreed that the violence occurred due to a lack of security arrangements. He added that the law and order situation has improved in the bordering district as all the security personnel left for Lok Sabha election duty have been redeployed to vulnerable areas.

Fresh incidents of violence erupted in the Jiribam district following the killing of a 59-year-old farmer from Sorok Atingbi Khunou village, which borders Assams Cachar district, on June 6.

Biren said the situation in Manipur is getting better. The present unrest in the entire northeast is due to the influx and drug menace from outside the region. It shows a clear indication of the involvement of some outsiders. After knowing the route, treatment will be very easy, he claimed.

The Modi 3.0 government has included the Manipur violence as a top priority to bring back peace to the state of Manipur, said the CM, adding that Union home minister Amit Shah has taken up a high-level security meeting with all the agencies, and he is collecting all the information. An action plan will definitely come up within 2-3 months for a solution to the Manipur unrest, Singh said.

Meanwhile, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) issued a statement on Friday, mentioning, Our suspension of operation (SoO) groups have already submitted our political demand, asking for a Union Territory with a legislature under Article 239(A) of the Indian Constitution. In support of our political demand, on Monday, June 20, 2024, the ITLF is organising a mass rally to expedite our political solution.

It further imposed a total shutdown on the day of the rally.

Manipur has witnessed ethnic crisis between Meiteis and Kukis since May last year, which has so far claimed more than 200 lives and displaced more than 50,000 people. Most of the displaced people are still staying in the relief camps.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Friday postponed the joint Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and University Grants Commission (UGC) National Eligibility Test (NET), adding more fire to an already raging controversy over alleged irregularities in the medical entrance test and the cancellation of the UGC-NET earlier this week. Congress workers protest against the irregularities in NEET 2024 in Lucknow, on Friday. (Deepak Gupta/HT Photo)

NEET fiasco is a test of the govts outreach skills

The decision by NTA to cancel the June edition of the CSIR-UGC-NET  the exam for postgraduatescience students is held twice a year  will raise further questions about the role of the agency and the processes followed by it, and stoke an already stormy political row.

The move came two days before the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha where the irregularities around three premier examinations, which affect a total of 3.5 million students across the country  2.4 million who sat for NEET, 900,000 who appeared for NET, and 200,000 who registered for CSIR-NET  is likely to be a major flashpoint between the government and the Opposition.

The joint CSIR-UGC-NET Examination June-2024 which was scheduled to be held between 25.06.2024 to 27.06.2024 is being postponed due to unavoidable circumstances as well as logistic issues. The revised schedule for the conduct of this examination will be announced later through the official website, NTA said in a circular on Friday evening.

A senior NTA official said on the condition of anonymity that with the cancellation of the UGC-NET, and the retest of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for 1,563 candidates, it was not possible to conduct another examination immediately.

NTA will soon reschedule the exam and declare results at the earliest so that the academic session does not get affected, added the official.

But this is unlikely to douse the fire surrounding allegations of mismanagement, corruption and paper leaks that is now dogging not only three premier examinations but also NTA.

The joint CSIR-UGC-NET is conducted to screen Junior Research Fellowships (JRF), assistant professors and doctoral admissions in select science courses.

The exam  which is independent from UGC-NET and is considered tougher  is conducted twice a year in June and December in five subjects: Chemical Sciences; Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences; Life Sciences; Mathematical Sciences; and Physical Sciences in computerised format.

The results of the test are accepted for admissions in all premier institutions offering PhD courses in these disciplines, including IITs, Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) and top research institutes funded by CSIR.

The December 2023 edition of the exam saw 175, 000 students take the test. This time, more than 200,000 students had registered for it. Their futures will now be in limbo until NTA announces new exam dates.

The controversy began with this years NEET after allegations surfaced that in one centre in Rajasthan, students appearing for the Hindi medium test got question papers in English amid reports of torn OMR sheets and delay in distribution of question papers. A case was lodged in Patna over an alleged paper leak, after which the police arrested 13 people involved in solving question papers and supplying answers as part of a racket. The arrested people include four examinees.

For weeks, protests swept across India as thousands of students hit the streets amid allegations of question paper leaks, inflated marking and arbitrary allowance of grace marks, even as opposition parties called for a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the allegations. The Supreme Court, which allowed NTA to withdraw grace marks to 1,563 students and conduct a retest for them on June 23, is set to hear a raft of petitions on the issue on July 8.

NEET-UG, UGC-NET row: 'BJP's corruption weakening country,' says Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

Then, on Wednesday evening, the education ministry cancelled the UGC-NET examination and said the integrity of the process may have been compromised. The June edition of the exam was held on June 18 with 908, 580 candidates appearing at 1,200 centres, taking the test 83 subjects using pen and paper on OMR sheets.

But 24 hours later, the ministry said that UGC, Indias higher education regulator, received certain inputs from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit of Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the home ministry on the examination.

On Thursday, Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan shed further light on the decision. He said that the agency that tracks cyber crime for the Union home ministry informed UGC at 3pm on Wednesday that a specific question paper of UGC-NET set was leaked on the darknet.

We tallied the questions on darknet with the original UGC-NET questions and they matched. We immediately decided to cancel the paper, and order a CBI inquiry into the matter. All these activities take place on Telegram these days. It is a challenge to track the complex nature of Telegram without a high level investigation, the minister said.

The debacle prompted the Opposition to call for his resignation. The Central Bureau of Investigation has filed a first information report (FIR) against unknown persons on the complaint of K Sanjay Murthy, education secretary, and handed over the probe to its Anti-Corruption Branch, Delhi unit.

On Friday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met a group of NEET aspirants and vowed to take up the exam issue personally in Parliament.

I want to talk to the 24 lakh NEET students. From the streets to Parliament, we are with you. I want to tell you that you are not alone. In the last ten years, 70 times exam papers have been leaked and two crore youth have suffered. We will fight together and win it, Gandhi said in a video message.

NEET UG Re-test: 1,563 candidates to appear for re-exam on Sunday, NTA, Education Ministry officials to be present

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh told HT that the party also wanted a Supreme Court-monitored probe and the system adopted by NTA to be reviewed thoroughly. Power is in your hands, Gandhi said in his message to all NEET aspirants, Your aspirations, your vision will become the countrys vision. If the government cant protect you, the Opposition will.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his silence over the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2024 examinations. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.(X)

Releasing a video of his interaction with NEET-UG students on Thursday, Gandhi assured them of support from the leaders of the INDIA bloc.

Thousands of students taking the NEET exam are on the streets with their families in the scorching heat, and Narendra Modi is silently watching the spectacle, Gandhi wrote in a post on X in Hindi.

I assure them that in this struggle, from the streets to the parliament, INDIA is with you.

Gandhi's meeting with the aspirants comes amid a massive row over alleged irregularities in the conduct of medical entrance exam NEET.

NEET is a nationwide entrance examination conducted by the NTA for admission in undergraduate medical programs.

The examination was held on May 5 across 4,750 centres and around 24 lakh candidates took it. The results were expected to be declared on June 14 but were announced on June 4, apparently because the evaluation of the answer sheets got completed earlier.

There have been allegations of question paper leaks in states like Bihar and other irregularities in the prestigious exam. The allegations have led to protests in several cities and petitions in several high courts and the Supreme Court.

The Opposition has demanded a probe under the supervision of a sitting Supreme Court judge. Some leaders have also demanded the removal of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the disbanding of the National Testing Agency (NTA).

On its part, Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan has announced the formation of a high-level committee to review the functioning of the NTA.

The government is going to form a high-level committee which will be investigating several issues pertaining to the NTA. Recommendations will be expected from that high-level committee to further improve NTA, its structure, functioning, examination process, transparency and data security protocol. We are committed to zero error exam, the minister said at a press conference on Thursday.
Amidst the controversy surrounding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) -UG 2024 results, the reported scorecards of four aspirants allegedly involved in the paper leak case have surfaced. Students holding placards protest against the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination, at Shashtri Bhawan in New Delhi (File) (ANI)

According to an NDTV report, the scorecards include that of of Anurag Yadav, one of the individuals arrested in connection with the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak case. While Anurag has been taken into custody, the other three have been subjected to questioning.

Here are the scores

Anurag's scorecard, issued by the National Testing Agency (NTA), indicates that he obtained 185 marks out of 720, with a total percentile score of 54.84 (rounded off). However, a closer examination of his scores in individual subjects reveals a peculiar inconsistency. Anurag achieved 85.8 percentile in Physics, 51 percentile in Biology, but only 5 percentile in Chemistry.

Anurag's all-India rank is listed as 10,51,525, with his category rank as an OBC candidate being 4,67,824.

One of the remaining three students obtained a total score of 300 out of 720 in the examination, resulting in a percentile of 73.37 (rounded-off). Despite achieving an 87.8 percentile in Biology, this student obtained 15.5 and 15.3 percentiles in Physics and Chemistry, respectively.

In contrast, the scorecards of the other two students present a contrasting scenario, demonstrating good performance across all three subjects. One of these students secured a total score of 581 out of 720, while the other attained a score of 483.

NEET-UG 2024 results row

Numerous irregularities have emerged since the results for the NEET-UG 2024 were declared on June 4 leading to thousands of medical aspirants having taken to protesting.

Concerns have been raised over several aspirants achieving perfect scores of 720 marks in what is considered one of the most challenging exams in the country, prompting suspicions of irregularities.

Amid allegations of a paper leak in the NEET-UG 2024, Anurag Yadav, 22, a candidate from Samastipur has confessed to receiving the leaked question paper from his uncle a day before the examination held in May this year, according to police statements.

In his statement to the Patna police, Anurag Yadav revealed that his uncle called him from Kota, Rajasthan, to Samastipur, Bihar, assuring him that all arrangements for the exam had been taken care of. Anurag's uncle, Sikandar Prasad Yadavendu, an engineer stationed at Bihar's Danapur Town Council, instructed him to return to Samastipur.

In his statement to the police, Anurag disclosed that he received the NEET exam question paper and answer sheet the night before the exam, held on May 5, and was instructed to memorise the answers.

With inputs from ANI, PTI
The Centre is in touch with the Bihar government and is satisfied with the state polices investigation into alleged irregularities in the conduct of the National Eligibility Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG), Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Thursday, as a group of state officials left for the national capital to submit evidence to the education ministry in the case. NEET-UG paper leak: Centre in touch with Bihar govt over probe, says Pradhan

At least 13 people have been arrested so far in connection with the alleged irregularities during the exam on May 5 in Patna, further escalating the controversy over allegations of paper leak, malpractice, manipulation of examination centres, and discrepancies in declaration of results in the premier medical entrance examination this year. One of the arrested persons had earlier confessed to receiving a leaked question paper, police said.

Speaking to the media in the national capital, Pradhan addressed concerns about the exam and said the Union government is in communication with the authorities in Bihar over an alleged case of paper leak.

He also said the incident that came to light in Patna is an isolated one and it should not affect other students who took the exam.

I would like to say humbly that we have to pay attention to the interests of lakhs of brilliant students who passed the exam after working very hard. As I said the work of Patna police is commendable. They have been able to round up one isolated incident. Some more information is yet to come. We will take final action on it soon. We are satisfied with their investigation. Officials of the Government of India and senior officials in the Bihar Police are in constant dialogue, he said.

His remarks came a day after the ministry sought a report from the Bihar Polices Economic Offences Unit (EOU), which took over the case on May 11.

Regarding certain irregularities alleged in the conduct of the examination in the Bihar capital, a detailed report has been sought from the Economic Offences Unit of Bihar Police. An EOU team has left for the national capital to place all evidence and necessary documents before the ministry in the matter, a police officer familiar with the details said.

The team, the officer added, has gathered evidence like burnt question papers, booklet numbers, OMR sheets, post-dated cheques and admit cards and also seized cellphones and laptops of the arrested people.

According to Patna police officials, 13 people, including four aspirants, were arrested on May 5 and admit cards, post-dated cheques and educational certificates were recovered from a boys hostel during raids that were carried out on the eve of the exam following a tip off of possible paper leak.

During the course of interrogation, one of the arrested persons earlier admitted that he was handed over the leaked question paper by his uncle, a day before the exam.

The accused, Ayush Kumar (19) from Danapur Town Council (Danapur Nagar Parishad), who is also an aspirant, confessed saying he received the questions a day before the exam, another police officer had earlier said.

The student said he struck a deal for a hefty price ranging from 30-50 lakh for confirmed admission, the officer added.
New Delhi: The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) re-examination for 1,563 candidates will be held on Sunday with the officials National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Union education ministry present at the examination centres, officials said on Friday while emphasizing that six new centres have been issued to students this time. Students hold protest against the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination (File Photo)

Officials said that NEET-UG re-examinations will be conducted for 1,563 candidates who were earlier given grace marks as compensation due to lost time during their examination held on May 5. The delay happened due to administrative issues like the distribution of wrong question papers and torn OMR sheets, among others.

The issue was reported at six examination centres in Meghalaya, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Chandigarh.

Senior NTA officials on Friday said that a re-exam would be conducted at seven centres on Sunday. While all other examination centres have changed, one centre in Chandigarh, where only two candidates will appear, will remain the same, said a senior NTA official.

Besides, officials from the agency and Union education ministry will also be present at these centres. The step has been taken to ensure smooth conduct of the re-exam, the official added.

When asked how many of these 1,563 students have opted for re-exam, the official said, The admit card has been issued to all. We will see how many of them will turn up on Sunday only.

The NTA had earlier stated that such candidates who were given grace marks may appear for re-test or will be given the actual marks sans the grace marks. The matter was challenged in the Supreme Court. Later, the NTA withdrew the grace marks, and these 1,563 students were given a choice to either appear for a re-exam on June 23 or consider their original scores without the grace marks.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Friday refused the counselling of NEET-UG, which is scheduled to begin on July 6, and it will hear the petitions on July 8.

The NEET-UG 2024 exam was conducted on May 5 and the results were declared on June 4, ahead of its scheduled announcement date of June 14. Protests were held, alleging irregularities and paper leaks.

Earlier on Thursday, the Union education minister acknowledged there have been some errors limited to specific regions, referring to Bihars investigation into allegations of paper leak, and announced that the government is forming a high-level committee, including experts, technocrats, scientists, education administrators and academics, to review the functioning of NTA.

However, on the possibility of scrapping NEET-UG, Pradhan said, I would like to say humbly that we have to pay attention to the interests of lakhs of brilliant students who have passed that exam after working very hard. 
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday slammed the Narendra Modi government over paper leaks, alleging that 'BJP's corruption is weakening the country'. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi during a public meeting in Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh.(PTI)

In a post on X, Gandhi said that under the BJP, paper leaks turned into a national problem and have ruined the future of millions of youth.

In the last 5 years, papers for 43 recruitment exams have been leaked in the country, Gandhi wrote in Hindi. Under BJP rule, paper leaks have become a national problem that has ruined the future of millions of youths.

The Congress leader said that instead of making youths skilled and capable, the BJP government is weakening them.

Millions of promising students study day and night, preparing for various exams, with their parents bearing the burden of education costs despite their own hardships, she wrote. Students wait for vacancies for years. When vacancies are announced, there are expenses for filling out the forms for travelling to the exam centres, and in the end, all efforts are wasted due to corruption. BJP's corruption is weakening the country.

Gandhi's criticism comes days after the University Grants Commission (UGC) cancelled the UGC-NET examination on Wednesday, a day after it was held.

UGC-NET is a test to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for the award of junior research fellowship, for appointment as assistant professors and admission to PhD in Indian universities and colleges.

The decision by the ministry happened amid a massive row over alleged irregularities in the conduct of medical entrance exam NEET.

NEET is a nationwide entrance examination conducted by the NTA for admission in undergraduate medical programs.

The examination was held on May 5 across 4,750 centres and around 24 lakh candidates took it. The results were expected to be declared on June 14 but were announced on June 4, apparently because the evaluation of the answer sheets got completed earlier.

Also Read | NET fuel to NEET fire as exam row explodes; CBI begins probe

There have been allegations of question paper leaks in states like Bihar and other irregularities in the prestigious exam. The allegations have led to protests in several cities and petitions in several high courts and the Supreme Court.

The Opposition has demanded a probe under the supervision of a sitting Supreme Court judge. Some leaders have also demanded the removal of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the disbanding of the National Testing Agency (NTA).

What Centre said on paper leaks, NTA



Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday announced the formation of a high-level committee to review the functioning of the NTA. The government is going to form a high-level committee which will be investigating several issues pertaining to the NTA. Recommendations will be expected from that high-level committee to further improve NTA, its structure, functioning, examination process, transparency and data security protocol. We are committed to zero error exam, the minister had said at a press conference.
Amid national outrage over irregularities in NEET-UG and UGC-NET, union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan has vowed that the National Testing Agency  which conducts these entrance exams  will be strengthened and those responsible for paper leaks will be punished. Syed Ekram Rizwi, Joint Secretary (Admin), ministry of education, talks with the students from various student organizations. (Hindustan Times file photo)

The Congress is expected to mount a massive nationwide protest today over the NEET row. The party's general secretary, KC Venugopal, has asked supporters to protest against irregularities in the medical entrance exams, at district headquarters.

Thousands of medical aspirants have been protesting since the NEET-UG results came out earlier this month. Dozens of aspirants had scored full 720 marks in one of the toughest exams in the country, raising suspicions of irregularities.

Here are 10 points on NEET-UG and UGC-NET rows:

The minister said on Thursday that the government is committed to holding zero-error exams. It has formed a high-level committee to help NTA improve its functioning. The government has cancelled the exams of over 1500 students who got grace marks. Regarding NEET, the first discrepancy that came to light was regarding the grace mark, due to some procedural mismanagement. A fear spread, a few students got agitated and people went to court. Later, NTA (National Testing Agency) kept a new petition before the court so that a reexamination of those students who got grace marks could be conducted. So a solution was found to the main issue related to NEET, said Pradhan. The government earlier this week cancelled the UGC-NET exam after it found that its question paper was leaked on the internet. The minister called it an institutional failure of the National Testing Agency (NTA). "The paper leak is an institutional failure of NTA. We are assuring you that there will be a reform committee and action will be taken," he said. The government has said that the cancellation of the UGC-NET exam was not a knee-jerk reaction. The exam was cancelled after the authorities got evidence that the paper was leaked on darknet. It was also circulating on Telegram. The high-level committee will make recommendations to further improve NTA, its structure, functioning, examination process, transparency and data security protocols. Global experts will be placed on the panel. Earlier this week, four people, including NEET aspirant Anurag Yadav, his uncle and two others, were arrested in Bihar for receiving the leaked question paper. "Then, a few issues from Patna came to light, and due to timely intervention, all those who were behind it were caught, further probe is underway. Bihar government officials and central government officials are working together to take it to a logical end," said Pradhan. The Central government has ordered a CBI probe into the UGC-NET paper leak case. The exam was held on June 18. The NEET exam was held on May 5 and its results were declared on June 4. A whopping 67 students got the perfect score of 720, raising suspicions of a paper leak. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Thursday that the main reason behind the paper leak was that the education system had allegedly been captured by the BJP's "parent organisation" (RSS). "This is an anti-national activity because this is the future of the country and the youth of the country are facing the brunt of it, Silence (of government) is because the PM is crippled. Right now, the PM's main agenda is the (election of) Speaker. He is bothered about his government and the Speaker. The PM has psychologically collapsed and he will struggle to run a government like this," he said. The Ministry of Education has said it is waiting for a report of Bihar Police's Economic Offences Unit on alleged irregularities in the conduct of NEET in Patna and will take further action on the basis of that. Meanwhile, Bihar's deputy chief minister Vijay Kumar Sinha claimed the arrested prime accused in the NEET "paper leak" is linked to officials associated with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.

With inputs from PTI, ANI
NEW DELHI: Indian authorities have not received any request for consular access from Nikhil Gupta, the Indian national extradited from the Czech Republic to the US for alleged involvement in a murder for hire plot targeting Khalistani leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Indian national Nikhil Gupta, accused of plotting to kill a Sikh separatist, being extradited to the United States from Prague, Czech Republic on June 17 (PTI)

Gupta, who was detained in the Czech Republic on the request of American law enforcement in June last year on the charge of involvement in the plot to assassinate Pannun in New York, was extradited to the US on June 14. He pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned in a federal court in Manhattan on June 17.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a regular media briefing on Friday that Gupta had not made a request for consular access, though his family in New Delhi had contacted Indian authorities seeking assistance.

He was extradited to the US on June 14. We have so far not received any request for consular access from Mr Gupta but his family has got in touch with us, Jaiswal said.

We are in touch with the family members and we are looking at the matter as to what can be done on their request, he said.

Also Read: Wont tolerate attempts to silence, harm our citizens, says US Attorney General

While Gupta was being held in the Czech Republic, Indian officials were given consular access to him on several occasions.

People familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity that the issue of consular access would be decided in line with provisions of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963. Article 36 of the Convention states that a detained person will have to make a request for consular access to authorities of his or her country  which means Gupta will have to initiate a request for such access or give his assent, the people said.

Nevertheless, consular officers shall refrain from taking action on behalf of a national who is in prison, custody or detention if he expressly opposes such action, the provision said.

According to Article 36, consular access will be exercised in conformity with the laws and regulations of the receiving State. This means that consular access must conform with US laws in the case of Gupta.

Gupta, 52, was named in an indictment filed by US prosecutors in the federal court in Manhattan last November as the person who allegedly worked with an unnamed Indian government official to plot the assassination of Pannun, already declared a terrorist by India.

The US indictment alleged the Indian government employee, who was a field operative responsible for intelligence and was identified only as CC-1, had ordered the assassination of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) leader Pannun. The SFJ has been outlawed by India.

The unnamed Indian official was subsequently identified by the media as Vikram Yadav, an officer of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) seconded to the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

India has set up a high-level inquiry committee to examine inputs provided by the US regarding the alleged plot against Pannun. Jaiswal recently said the probe by this body is still underway.
Hundreds of protestors gathered in front of the District Collector's office from Fida Chowk in Turbat, Balochistan, demanding the safe release of victims of enforced disappearances. Pakistan: Protesters in Balochistan demand safe return of disappeared people (Photo by Fida HUSSAIN / AFP)(AFP)

The Baloch Yakjahti Committee (BYC) alleged that the Pakistani administration has not paid any attention to the matter.

This protest entered its fifth consecutive day on Friday.

Read more: US supports direct discussions between India, Pakistan: State Dept Spokesperson Matthew Miller

"After four days of sit-in protest in the scorching heat, the families are now marching towards the D.C. office, where they will continue their protest until their loved ones are returned. In this difficult time, we urge our nation to participate in the sit-in in front of the D.C. office and encourage our elderly men, women, and children, for their sufferings and miseries are beyond words," the BYC posted on X.

https://x.com/BYCKech/status/1803811876532330816

The BYC also reported that the health of the demonstrators is severely deteriorating as Pakistan currently witnesses a major heatwave. But, they affirmed that the determination of the protestors to recover the forcibly disappeared victims remains 'resilient'.

Read more: Sikh jatha leaves for Pakistan for Ranjit Singhs death anniversary

"Sit-In Protest by Families for Safe Recovery of Their Beloved Ones Enters 4th Day. In this burning heat, they are fighting for their lives, while the district administration pretends to be on leave. They can't even attend the Sit-In protest and listen to these elderly women And man, which is extremely disappointing. We appeal to the people of Kech to participate in this Sit-In and support our elders, for we are their only hope," it said in a subsequent post.

https://x.com/BYCKech/status/1803696455078588885

Previously, the BYC announced that the ongoing protest at Shaheed Fida Chowk in Turbat will persist until victims of enforced disappearances are safely released.

The BYC further said that despite promises from the local administration regarding the safe return of the disappeared individuals, there has been no response from the current authorities.

Read more: Rise in polio cases in Pakistan: Is there a way out?

"Eid has come and gone, but Baloch families continue to protest at Shaheed Fida Chowk Turbat, demanding the safe return of their loved ones who have been missing since Eid. The District Administration had falsely assured them of their loved ones' release before. Now, no state authority has come forward to address their demands," the BYC stated.

The Baloch Yakjahti Committee also called upon the international community to show solidarity on the issue and demanded the release of all Baloch individuals who have been forcibly disappeared.
For the first time since he was elected to power in 2016, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the administration he runs has come under censure of his party, CPI(M), in the backdrop of the Left Democratic Front (LDF)s severe drubbing in the recent Lok Sabha polls. Pinarayi Vijayan faces rare censure within CPI(M) after LS polls drub

A five-day review undertaken by the CPI(M)s state committee and state secretariat, which came to an end on Thursday, pointed to the dissatisfaction among the public towards the Vijayan-led government and the failure to implement its promises as among the principal reasons for the LDFs defeat, said sources.

While the LDF vote share in the LS polls came down by nearly 3% this time, it succeeded only in winning one of the 20 seats on offer. Its principal rival UDF too suffered a 2% drop in vote share compared to 2019, but romped home with 18 seats. And what hurt the LDF the most was the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) increasing its vote share by 3.6%, making significant inroads in its strongholds, and even winning the partys first ever LS seat  Thrissur  in the state.

Post-elections, CM Vijayan, who has always held an iron grip over the affairs of the party and the government in the absence of a strong internal challenger, is facing significant pushback within the party. There was general consensus among members that an anti-incumbency sentiment against the state government contributed to the defeat. The failure of the government in delivering welfare pensions on time, absence of provisions at civil supply stores especially during price rise and the perceived failure of the police to tackle lawlessness and rising crime rates were all seen as reasons, said a senior party leader who attended the meetings, adding that the police came under the home department which is among the chief ministers portfolios added to his criticism.

Additionally, the state government carried out a statewide Nava Kerala Sadas yatra with the chief minister and his full cabinet in attendance last year to mount criticism against the Centre for its alleged apathy towards the state in financial matters. But that yatra did not make an imprint on the public and generated needless controversy, said the CPI(M) leader, who added that Vijayan was present for a part of those review meetings.

The censure is new for the CM who is seen as a disciplinarian within the party and is known to brook no dissent. When a Left-aligned former Christian bishop criticised the government for the coalitions setback in polls, the chief minister publicly called him an idiot. And in the Assembly, contrary to the partys internal assessment, CM Vijayan denied any factor of anti-government sentiment influencing the defeat. There was a feeling of insecurity among a large section of people against the Modi government. They felt that to oust the Modi government, it would be better to vote for the Congress-led UDF, he said.

Failed to read peoples minds

CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan, while briefing the press on Thursday after the conclusion of the partys review of the LS results, admitted that it failed to understand the sentiments of the people. However, he stopped short of criticising the chief minister and holding the government accountable for the loss.

The results showed that we were unable to win the confidence of the public. Therefore, we will go back to the people and understand their needs. We will clear their misconceptions and work accordingly, said Govindan at the AKG Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram.

The senior CPI(M) leader claimed a host of factors contributed to the LDF defeat. According to him, they included support of communal outfits like Jamaat-e-Islami and SDPI, the BJP making inroads along communal lines into caste outfits like SNDP Yogam and certain Christian communities.

We lost a large section of votes especially among the Ezhava community due to the BJPs attempts to create communal divide within the SNDP. Through the BDJS headed by Tushar Vellappally, the BJP has made inroads into that community, Govindan admitted. The OBC Ezhava community is one of the principal vote banks of the Left and the BDJS is an ally of the BJP.

The party, he underlined, has always made corrections after similar defeats and the process will be continued this time as well. After a comprehensive five-day assessment, the state secretariat of the party will prepare a blueprint charting its revival ahead of the local body polls next year and the all-important Assembly polls in 2026.

At the same time, when questioned whether CM Vijayan will be asked to change his style of functioning, the CPI(M) leader shot back, What style should the chief minister change? You have been saying this for a long time. In 2021, our government came back to power with 99 seats for the first time in history. Pinarayi was at the helm even then too. A section of the media has been trying to distort his image among the public.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the International Yoga Day in the land of sadhna , Srinagar, on Friday. Addressing an event in Jammu and Kashmir's capital city, PM Modi said yoga helps its practitioners realise that our welfare is related to the welfare of the world around us. Noting that the number of people practising the ancient Indian system has increased over the last 10 years, the Prime Minister said "yoga economy" has generated employment in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the gathering on the occasion of the 10th International Day of Yoga, in Srinagar. (PTI)

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposal, the United Nations declared June 21st the International Yoga Day in 2014.

"I extend greetings to people of the country and people performing Yoga in every corner of the world on Yoga Day. International Yoga Day has completed a historic journey of 10 years. In 2014, I proposed International Yoga Day at the United Nations. This proposal by India was supported by 177 nations and this was a record in itself. Since then, Yoga Day has been creating new records," he said.

Follow International Yoga Day live updates

"I have got an opportunity to come to the land of 'yoga' and 'sadhna'. In Srinagar, we can feel the 'shakti' that we get from yoga. I extend my wishes on the occasion of Yoga Day from the land of Kashmir to people performing yoga all across India and the world," said PM Modi, who is on a two-day tour to Srinagar.

PM Modi said the expansion of yoga across the world has provided a fillip to yoga tourism in India.

"In the last 10 years, the expansion of Yoga has changed the perception related to Yoga...Today, the world is seeing a new Yoga economy going forward. In India, from Rishikesh and Kashi to Kerala, a new connection of Yoga tourism is being seen. Tourists from across the world are coming to India because they want to learn authentic Yoga in India...People are even keeping personal Yoga trainers for their fitness...All of these have created new opportunities for the youth, new employment opportunities for youth," he added.

PM Modi said since the International Yoga Day was adopted, the number of people doing yoga has been continuously increasing across the world.

"Their attraction towards yoga is also on the rise. Wherever I go and whoever (global leaders) I meet, they ask me about yoga with curiosity. Yoga is becoming a part of daily life, he said.

PM Modi further said that yoga fosters strength, good health and wellness.

He urged the masses to adopt the ancient system dedicated to physical, mental and spiritual well-being, as an important part of their daily lives.

"This year in India, a 101-year-old woman Yoga teacher from France was accorded the Padma Shri. She had never come to India but she dedicated her entire life to creating awareness about Yoga. Today, research on Yoga is being done in prestigious universities and institutions around the world; research papers are being published," he added.

With inputs from ANI, PTI
A Pune court on Friday granted bail to Vishal Agarwal, the father of teen who allegedly ran over two engineers while driving his Porsche in Pune's Kalyani Nagar on May 19.



Agarwal, arrested on May 21, was granted bail in one case pertaining to the Juvenile Justice Act, PTI reported. The owner of reality firm Brahma Group was booked under relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act (MVA) and the Juvenile Justice Act (JJA) for failing to do his duty as a guardian.



ALSO READ: Pune Porsche case: Is it not confinement if juvenile is kept in custody after bail, asks HC



The police action was taken after it was found that the Porsche car that he bought for his son in March this year had not been registered as he did not pay 44 lakh road tax on the car. The minor son did not have a driving license.



Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Costa, the two software engineers hailing from Madhya Pradesh, were killed after the Porsche allegedly driven by the 17-year-old teenager in a drunken state hit them in Pune's Kalyani Nagar in the wee hours of May 19.



ALSO READ: Probe panel flags lapses, misconduct in Juvenile Justice Board's bail to minor



On June 14, the Pune court sent the teenager's parents and another accused to 14-day judicial custody. Vishal Agarwal and Shivani Agarwal and the alleged middleman Ashpak Makandar are facing investigation for alleged switching of blood samples of the teenager to establish that he was not in an inebriated state at the time of accident.



Makandar is accused of acting as a middleman between the Agarwals and doctors at the Sassoon General Hospital where blood samples are collected in such cases.

A 17-year-old teenager allegedly killed two young techies after crashing his Porsche Taycan into their bike in Pune on May 19. (PTI file)
NEW DELHI: India said on Friday it expects Russia to act on New Delhis demand for a verified stop to the recruitment of Indian nationals in the Russian Army following the death of four Indians while serving on the frontlines of the conflict with Ukraine. Russian army servicemen drive a tank on a street in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine (REUTERS FILE)

Following the recent deaths of two Indians nationals in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Indian side on June 11 demanded a verified stop to further recruitment of Indians by the Russian Army. The Indian side resorted to the unusual step of making the demand soon after the foreign secretary attended the National Day reception at the Russian embassy.

We had sought a verified stop to recruitment and we have taken up this issue with all sincerity with the Russian authorities with the expectation that theyre going to act, ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a regular media briefing.

Its a matter of utmost and deep concern to us, and the Russian authorities will act on it soon, he said while responding to a question on the release and repatriation of Indians serving with the Russian Army.

People familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity that the Russian side is yet to formally respond to Indias demand for a verified stop to the recruitment of Indian citizens.

Jaiswal said the Indian side has again taken up the issue with Russian authorities. We have been continuing with this process. We are engaged with the Russian authorities both here in New Delhi as also in Moscow, so that people who are serving in the Russian Army can be released and repatriated to India as soon as possible, he said.

The Indian side is also in touch with the Russian defence and foreign ministries to ensure that the bodies of two Indians who were killed recently can be brought back to the country as soon as possible.

About 25 Indians serving with the Russian military have so far contacted Indian authorities seeking help to be released. Out of those, 10 had been released and repatriated to India, Jaiswal said.

While reports have suggested that up to 200 Indian nationals had been recruited by the Russian military to serve as support staff, such as cooks and helpers, the people cited above said the number could be about 100. However, it has been difficult for Indian authorities to establish contact with Indian nationals who are believed to be serving on the frontlines because of the frequent movement of military units and the lack of proper communications, the people said.

The external affairs ministry had earlier urged Indian citizens to exercise caution while seeking employment opportunities in Russia.

Many Indian nationals were duped by recruiting agents based in Indian cities and Dubai into taking up jobs with the Russian military. Besides the four deaths, several Indians have been injured. Indians have also posted videos on social media seeking help to get out of such jobs.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recently busted a human trafficking network spread across several states that lured gullible young men through social media channels and agents with the promise of highly paid jobs in Russia.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday granted interim bail for two weeks to 2018 Bhima Koregaon violence accused Mahesh Raut to attend rituals of his deceased grandmother and allowed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to seek stringent bail conditions before the trial court to ensure he does not misuse his liberty. Raut had approached the top court against a June 5 order passed by the NIA special court in Mumbai denying interim bail (Representative Photo)

A vacation bench of justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti directed the bail to commence from June 26 as two rituals were scheduled to be held by June end and in the first week of July. Raut was told to surrender on July 10.

Hearing an application filed by Raut, the top court said, Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the period of incarceration undergone by the applicant and the nature of the request made, we are inclined to grant interim bail of two weeks commencing from June 26 and ending on July 10. The terms and conditions of his release will be determined by the trial court, the bench added.

Raut had approached the top court against a June 5 order passed by the NIA special court in Mumbai denying interim bail noting that the case is being reviewed by the top court.

Advocate Aparna Bhatt appearing for Raut submitted that the applicants grandmother died on May 26, and two ceremonies are to be held  one on June 29 and 30 and another on July 5 and 6.

The application by Raut said, At this difficult time if the applicant is denied permission to be a part of her (grandmothers) mourning rituals, it will have a severe adverse impact on his physical and mental wellbeing.

The NIA represented by advocate Annam Venkatesh told the court that the charges against Raut are serious. Due to the stay granted by this court on your petition, are you expecting any high court or trial court to pass an order? This court will haul them up. They have rightly approached this court, the Supreme Court bench told NIA.

Venkatesh argued that since the rituals are to end by July 6, he should not be granted bail for two weeks, as requested in his application.

The bench remarked, We are balancing competing concerns by passing this order. You (NIA) can approach the trial court and insist upon conditions to ensure liberty granted to the applicant is not misused.

In its order, the bench addressed the concern saying, The NIA will be at liberty to request the trial court to impose such stringent conditions as may be necessary. The court clarified that the applicant should surrender on July 10.

Raut, a social activist, was arrested in June 2018 in connection with the violence that took place at Bhima Koregaon in Maharashtra on January 1, 2018, in which one person was killed.

The NIA has charged him with offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), alleging that Raut was one of the persons linked with the violence instigated at the instance of the banned terror outfit  Communist Party of India (Maoist).

He was granted bail by the Bombay High Court on September 21 last year but the stay on the bail order was extended by the Supreme Court on an appeal filed by the NIA. Raut is currently lodged at Taloja jail, Maharashtra.
Imphal/Bishnupur/Churachandpur Driving along pockmarked roads flanked by vast open fields in Bishnupur, you eventually arrive at a cluster of old government buildings. These structures, once vibrant with the energy of school and college students, now serve a sombre purpose - housing thousands of internally displaced people affected by the ethnic clashes in Manipur over the past year. Signs above doorways display class names and sections, a poignant reminder of what these spaces used to represent  a future, hope and aspiration.

Nekgilal Suantak, who fled through jungles to escape the violence, at a relief camp in Churachandpur. (HT PHOTO)
The Supreme Court has yet again declined to stay NEET-UG 2024 counselling amid massive row over the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the medical entrance exam. The apex court has issued a notice to the National Testing Agency. The Supreme Court of India.

The Supreme Court has tagged the fresh pleas along with pending petitions and posted them for hearing on July 8.

On Thursday, the apex court stayed proceedings before three high courts hearing petitions challenging the conduct of the National Eligibility Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2024 and seeking an independent probe into alleged malpractices involving a paper leak and award of grace marks.

A vacation bench of Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti issued notice on four transfer petitions filed by the National Testing Agency (NTA), the body that conducts NEET-UG, and 11 other petitions raising similar grievances. The matter was posted along with a batch of pending cases on the same issue coming up for hearing on July 8.

Also read: 'If there is 0.001% negligence...': Supreme Court issues notice to NTA, Centre over NEET

Last week, the court had refused to stay the counselling, observing that even a minor negligence needed to be dealt with thoroughly

"If there is 0.001% negligence on the part of anyone it should be thoroughly dealt with, the court had said.

The exam was conducted on May 5. The results cameout earlier this month.

After around over 60 students scored full marks in the NEET exam, which is considered one of the toughest exams in the country, medical aspirants claimed there were irregularities in the conduct of the entrance test.

Also read: Supreme Court stays proceedings in HCs on scrapping NEET

There had also been furor over grace marks awarded to some students. After protests, the NTA asked over 1500 medical aspirants to retake the exam.

Meanwhile, after the UGC-NET paper was leaked on the Internet leading to the cancellation of the exam, education minister Dharmendra Pradhan informed the media that a panel has been constituted to make recommendations on reforms in NTA.

"The government is going to form a high-level committee regarding reforms in NTA. The committee will be expected to make recommendations to further improve NTA, its structure, functioning, examination process, transparency and data security protocols. Zero-error testing is our commitment. The panel will be notified soon, it will also have global experts," he said.

With inputs from PTI, ANI
New Delhi After a heated general elections season that saw the Congress and the Trinamool Congress at loggerheads in West Bengal and sharp comments from either side, the two key INDIA bloc allies have reached out to each other to jointly formulate strategies on issues and bolster the Oppositions united offensive against the government in the upcoming session of Parliament, people aware of developments said on Friday. The upcoming Parliament session starts from June 24. (ANI)

The perceptible thaw in the relationship that had hit a low during the Lok Sabha polls -- TMC chief Mamata Banerjee pulled out of the alliance in West Bengal amid repeated barbs by Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury -- also comes weeks after the latter lost his home seat of Baharampur to the TMC.

TMC cutting off water, power supplies in areas where it was losing in polls: BJP

On Thursday, former Union minister P Chidambaram met Banerjee in a bid to improve the ties between the two sides. The two leaders discussed the large number of bills passed in the past 10 years that needed review and better coordination in Parliament, said the people cited above. The Congress even asked Banerjee if she would campaign for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is fighting her maiden election in Keralas Wayanad, which her brother Rahul Gandhi vacated earlier this week in favour of Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh.

In the last INDIA meeting before polls, Banerjee had suggested that Priyanka Gandhi should fight against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi. The TMC also wants the Lefts importance to be reduced in the Opposition alliance.

In the INDIA bloc, across both House, the Congress has 125 MPs in Parliament, followed by TMCs 42 and Samajwadi Partys 41.

There is a large section of the Congress leadership that wants a good relationship with the Trinamool, said TMCs Rajya Sabha leader Derek OBrien.

TMC leaders indicated that with the defeat of Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in the Lok Sabha, a major roadblock in the TMC-Congress relationship was removed.

In the upcoming session starting from June 24, the Opposition is set to target the government over the simmering controversy surrounding examinations such as the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and the University Grants Commission (UGC) National Eligibility Test (NET) .

We want a Supreme Court-monitored probe and the system adopted by the NTA needs to be reviewed thoroughly, said senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.

A senior Congress leader pointed out that NEET will be the main issue in the session. DMK will ask for scrapping of NEET. Karnataka Congress leaders too want NEET to be scrapped. In Maharashtra, the NEET 2024 has become a big issue as not many local students got selected for state colleges, the leader said, requesting anonymity.

Ramesh agreed. Time has come to review NEET. It puts state curriculum students at a disadvantage, he said.

TMCs Sagarika Ghose also raised the pitch about NEET. The Modi-led govts sheer governance deficit has been cruelly exposed by the spate of paper leaks of major national competitive exams. Over 70 papers have leaked in the last ten years. And the UGC-NET exam was also cancelled because it was leaked on the darknet. Who is responsible for these paper leaks? Who is the Modi government protecting? What are the permanent solutions? she asked in a video message.

The three new laws that will replace colonial-era codes from July 1 will be another issue for the Opposition.

Hours after the Banerjee-Chidambaram meeting, the Bengal CM wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to defer the implementation of three new laws and for further discussions on these in Parliament.

I humbly request you to consider our appeal for a deferment of the implementation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, the Bharatiya Sakhsya Adhiniyam (BSA) 2023, and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanita (BNSS) 2023. We believe that this postponement will enable a renewed Parliamentary review/mandate, reinforce public trust in the legal system, and uphold the rule of law in our beloved country, Banerjee wrote in her letter on June 20.

TMC MP Yusuf Pathan approaches Gujarat HC against encroachment notice by VMC

If you kindly recall, on the 20th of December last year, the outgoing government of yours had passed these three critical bills unilaterally, and with absolutely no debate. That day, almost one hundred members of the Lok Sabha had been suspended and a total 146 MPs of the both Houses were thrown out of the Parliament. The bills were passed in an authoritarian manner in that dark hour of democracy. Matter deserves review now, she added.

The Opposition parties are set to hold a formal meeting on Monday to fine-tune the strategy for the session.
Agartala: The Tripura government on Friday terminated the hostel warden and caretaker after at least 15 students of Bodhjung Girls Higher Secondary School fell ill, following severe stomach and chest pain, allegedly due to food poisoning. Tripura CM Manik Saha visited the students at the hospital on Thursday (Twitter Photo)

The incident took place on Thursday morning during the prayer session.

In a letter to the secretary/president of Maharaja Bir Bikram Welfare Residential Hostel, additional secretary and director of Tribal Welfare Department S Prabhu stated that a total of ten hostel students were admitted to Agartala Government Medical College (AMC) and Govind Ballabh Pant (GBP) hospital after they complained of severe stomach pain accompanied by vomiting on June 20.

During the inspection of the hostel, it was found that it was not as per the hygiene required in the premises, reads the notice sent to hostel administration.

Also Read: Over 20 schoolgirls fall ill in Tripura; CM seeks report from officials

It was also reported that boarders are not being provided meals as per the food menu circulated by the Tribal Welfare Department, the government of Tripura, it reads.

In view of the above, you are entrusted immediately to terminate the hostel warden and the caretaker and submit a copy of the termination to this office within 21st June 2024 (Friday), further reads the notice.

Meanwhile, chief minister Dr Manik Saha, who visited the students at the hospital, ordered his concerned officials to look into the matter and send him a detailed report at the earliest.

The chief minister said that it might have occurred due to food poisoning.
Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Thursday that a specific question paper for the UGC-NET was leaked on the darknet, leading to the cancellation of the exam that is used to screen PhD candidates, pick assistant professors and award Junior Research Fellowship (JRF). UGC-NET paper on darknet, panel to review NTA: Pradhan

The cancellation was announced on Wednesday in the midst of widespread anger over the possibility that another important national academic test, the NEET-UG that is used for medical college admissions, was leaked or its evaluation process bungled due to question errors.

The government, Pradhan said, will form a high-level committee to review the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA) that oversees such national examinations.

Taking both tests into account, close to 3.4 million people are affected due to the controversies surrounding the two tests.

Pradhan announced that the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) was cancelled within 24 hours of its conduct on Wednesday due to concerns about the integrity of the process.

We tallied the questions on darknet with the original UGC-NET questions and they matched, Pradhan told reporters. We immediately decided to cancel the paper, and order a CBI inquiry into the matter.

The decision came after the UGC received information from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit of Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which operates under the Union home ministry.

Pradhan said a new date for the UGC-NET, held twice a year, would be announced soon. The June edition of the exam was held June 18, with 908,580 candidates taking tests in 83 subjects at 1,200 centres.

On the criticism about the NTAs functioning, Pradhan said: I have said earlier also that there is a need for improvement in the functioning of NTA. Therefore, the government is going to form a high-level committee regarding reforms in NTA. The high-level committee will be expected to make recommendations to further improve NTA, its structure, functioning, examination process, transparency and data security protocolsZero-error testing is our commitment.

The high-level committee reviewing the NTA will include experts, technocrats, scientists, education administrators and academics. Pradhan emphasized the governments commitment to zero-error testing.

The minister also addressed concerns about the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Undergraduate programs (NEET-UG), saying the government is in communication with Bihar authorities regarding an alleged paper leak incident there.

According to the preliminary information, there are errors found in specific regions, Pradhan said. I want to assure you that once the information comes, strictly action will be taken against the guilty.

He urged students not to believe rumours and requested opposition parties refrain from politicising the issue.

According to the preliminary information, there are errors in specific regions. I want to assure you that once the information comes, strict action will be taken against the guilty. Even if we find involvement of senior officials of the NTA, strict action will be taken against them. In this whole process priority will be given to the interest of the students, Pradhan said.

Pradhan also said that the incident of paper leak in UGC-NET is an institutional failure of NTA.

According to senior ministry officials, action is likely to be taken against senior NTA officials, including the director general of the testing agency. When contacted, NTA DG Subodh Kumar Singh refused to speak over it.

When asked if there is a possibility of scrapping NEET-UG, Pradhan said: I would like to say humbly that we have to pay attention to the interests of lakhs of brilliant students who have passed that exam after working very hard. As I said in the preliminary information that the work of Patna police is commendable. They have been able to round up one isolated incident. Some more information is yet to come. Therefore, we will take final action on it soon. We are satisfied with their investigation. Officials of the Government of India and senior officials of Bihar Police are in constant dialogue

The Supreme Court is hearing petitions over the matter, including pleas to scrap the exam, and the matter will next be heard on July 8.
The UK High Commission and embassies of the United States and Israel were among the diplomatic missions in India that joined in the yoga day celebrations on Friday. Members of several diplomatic missions joined 10th International yoga day celebrations in New Delhi.(@DrSJaishankar (X))

The 10th International Day of Yoga was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who took part in a yoga event in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar, while several Union ministers participated in yoga sessions held in different parts of the national capital.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, joined by his two deputies Kirti Vardhan Singh and Pabitra Margherita, performed a few asanas, along with several members of the diplomatic community at an indoor facility in Delhi.

After they stretched, inhaled and exhaled during the yoga session, Jaishankar posted a few photos on X.

"Participated this morning at the #IDY2024 event in New Delhi with members of the diplomatic community. Developing Yoga enthusiasm and awareness around the world has been an inspiration. Happy to see that #YogaforSelfAndSociety has become an essential way of life for so many," he wrote on the social media platform.

British High Commission in New Delhi shared on X photographs of some of its members performing a few yoga asanas in the morning.

"...inhale' exhale' Armed with our yoga mats, team #UKinIndia joined millions of people in India and around the world to celebrate International #YogaDay," the UK High Commission here wrote on X.

The US Embassy and the Israeli Embassy shared a video each to mark the day.

The Israeli Embassy video featured envoy Naor Gilon and some of its staff, as they shared their thoughts on yoga and its benefits.

"Namaste! ... This #InternationalYogaDay, our diplomats share why they LOVE #yoga. They might not be yogis yet, but they sure have fun trying! Tell us in the comments why YOU love yoga.#IDY2024#YogaDay#InternationalYogaDay2024#YogaDay2024#YogaForAll," it posted on X along with the video.

The US Embassy video featured little children trying their hands at different yoga asanas.

"It's Yoga Day and our adorable little yogis are stealing hearts with their smiles and stretches! Watch as our tiny warriors strike adorable poses, from Virabhadrasana to the Bhujangasana! This #YogaDay, join us as we celebrate the flexibility, balance, and cuteness overload," the embassy posted on X.

Recognising its universal appeal, in December 2014, the United Nations proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga by a resolution. The day aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practising yoga.

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 Modi and accepted in 2014. Minister of State for External Affairs Margherita also posted on X to underline the significance of the day.

"Participated in the #IDY2024 today in New Delhi with HMEA @DrSJaishankar ji, MoS of @MEAIndia @KVSinghMPGonda ji and members of the diplomatic community. Yoga is a priceless gift from Bharat to the entire humanity. HPM @narendramodi ji's vision has helped Yoga transcend boundaries," he wrote on X.
National security planners have found several irregularities in the operations of Chinese companies and the import of Chinese products into India  ranging from improper documentation for visas, evading local taxes, and bypassing scrutiny by the ministry of home affairs (MHA) -- according to people aware of the matter. Post the Galwan clash in 2020, the Union government cracked down on the issuance of visas, with only 2,500 business visas and another 3,000 e-visas given to Chinese companies and workers in 2023-24. (PTI)

Road ahead for PM Modi, India in a China +1 world

Indian Intelligence and financial investigating agencies have also found that there was large-scale misuse of the e-visa scheme prior to 2020, with some Chinese nationals not only overstaying in India without the mandatory visa renewals but also travelling to the border states and UTs such as Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, the people added.

Officials in three ministries dealing with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the current visa regime was also being exploited by some Chinese companies by mis-declaring visa categories. For instance, some Chinese firms were applying for business visas for the installation and commissioning of industrial units though the correct category for this purpose is an employment visa.

While officials have been are concerned about the impact of importing billions of dollars worth of furniture, lighting, fixtures and sanitaryware annually from China, and its impact on the local industry  just as Chinese telecom companies flooded the Indian market, setting back domestic phone makers -- a pattern they have observed is some Chinese firms claiming Make in India benefits to establish units in India and then importing or sourcing up to 80% parts in those units from China.

This problem, the officials said, even extends to some Chinese firms that have been operating in the country for roughly two decades. The officials asked that the firms not be named until formal complaints are registered against them and action is initiated.

There have also been quality concerns over Chinese products -- many of which are cheaper than Indian products but of inferior quality -- and it was during the Modi government that the Union commerce ministry in July 2023 started issuing quality control orders (QCOs) to set benchmarks and implement standards.

For Modi, economic security is priority with China, not profit for Indian business

While 47,000 business visas were issued to Chinese companies in 2018, the number of e-visas during the same period was 150,000. The number of business visas issued to Chinese nationals in 2019 was about 19,000 but the number of e-visas jumped to 200,000. Post the Galwan clash in 2020, the Union government cracked down on the issuance of visas, with only 2,500 business visas and another 3,000 e-visas given to Chinese companies and workers in 2023-24.

Officials said the numbers were unlikely to rise until several of the issues cited above were sorted, and the boundary issue in East Ladakh that arose after the Galwan incident is resolved.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the 10th International Day of Yoga celebrations at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on Friday. PM Modi takes part in 10th International Day of Yoga celebrations

"I have had the privilege of coming to Kashmir, the land of yoga and meditation, on International Yoga Day. In Srinagar, we are feeling the power that yoga gives us. I congratulate all the people of the country and those practicing yoga in every corner of the world on this occasion from the land of Kashmir," said PM Modi during his address at the gathering.

PM Modi participated in the Common Yoga Protocol session and emphasised yoga's importance in nurturing physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. He participated in various yoga asanas and meditation sessions in Srinagar.

Follow- International Yoga Day Live

New trend of Yoga Tourism is emerging in India: PM Modi

"From Rishikesh and Kashi to Kerala, a new trend of Yoga Tourism is emerging in India. People from all over the world are coming to India to learn authentic yoga," PM Modi added.

He said that there is growing attraction towards yoga in Jammu and Kashmir, saying, "The enthusiasm with which people here are eager to connect with yoga is an opportunity to boost tourism in the region."

International Yoga Day reaches its 10th year

International Yoga Day has reached a historic milestone of 10 years. In 2014, PM Modi proposed International Yoga Day at the UN, receiving support from 177 countries, a record in itself. Since then, Yoga Day has been setting new records.

Over 7,000 people gathered on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar to mark this special occasion.

ALSO READ- International Yoga Day: How PM Modi celebrated in last 9 years

Since 2015, Prime Minister Modi has led International Day of Yoga (IDY) celebrations at various iconic locations, including Kartavya Path in Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Ranchi, Lucknow, Mysuru, and the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Patna, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha on Friday said a request will be made to CM Nitish Kumar to recommend a CBI probe into the suspected links of the arrested prime suspect in the NEET "paper leak" with officials associated with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. Will request Bihar CM for CBI probe into links of accused in NEET case with RJD: DyCM

Sinha on Thursday had claimed that officials associated with Tejashwi Yadav were in constant touch with prime suspect Sikander Prasad Yadvendu in the NEET "paper leak" and had demanded a 'high-level' probe into the matter.

"Recommending a probe by any independent agency like the CBI is the prerogative of the CMwe will meet him and urge him to do the needful in the matter pertaining to suspected links of arrested accused in the NEET 'paper leak' case with officials associated with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav," Sinha told PTI.

The DyCM demanded a high-level probe into the matter amid the rising nationwide protests over the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG-2024 exam and hearing before the Supreme Court in the matter on July 8.

When specifically asked why is 'demanding' a high-level probe when there is already the BJP-led NDA government in the state and he is part of that in which a simple recommendation of a high-level probe by the state government is required, the DyCM said, "I am once again repeating it that it is the prerogative of the CM. We will apprise him and request for a high-level probe, including CBI."

Talking about his Thursday's claims and the ongoing probe by the Bihar Police into alleged NEET paper leak case, the DyCM said, "I explained everything before the media on ThursdayI even shared certain evidence in this regard with media personsnow these things are in public domain I also hope that the Economic Offences Unit of Bihar Police, which is probing the alleged NEET 'paper leak' case, will probe this aspect ."

Sinha on Thursday claimed "The official associated with Yadav used to arrange accommodation for Sikandar at guest houses in Patna and other places. I have details of messages which the official had sent to the persons concerned for arranging accommodation for Sikandar".

The DyCM said he has the mobile number from which those messages were sent. He said, "It needs to be thoroughly probed. Why is the RJD leader maintaining a stoic silence on this?"

There are reports suggesting that the accused was also associated with RJD supremo Lalu Prasad when he was in judicial custody in Ranchi, the deputy chief minister had alleged.

The EOU of Bihar Police had last month arrested 13 people as part of its investigation into the alleged paper leak in NEET-UG 2024. The arrested accused included examinees, their parents and alleged mastermind Sikander Prasad Yadvendu.

"The entire sequence of events reveals how RJD leaders indulge in corrupt practices. There are reports suggesting that the accused was associated with Lalu Prasad during his judicial custody in Ranchi," the deputy CM had alleged.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Describing Amaravati as the peoples capital, Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday regretted that the capital city had been subjected to extensive damage during the previous regime of YSR Congress Party. Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu offers prayers at Praja Vedika during his tour of Amravati. (PTI)

Speaking to reporters after undertaking a tour of the capital city region for more than four hours, Naidu said several constructions like the state assembly building, residential quarters of MLAs, judges, IAS and IPS officers, gazetted and non-gazetted officers and state government employees, which were completed to the extent of 80%, were abandoned during the YSRCP regime.

All these structures are now lying in a state of utter neglect, surrounded by thick bushes and trees. We have to call for tenders to clear these areas completely to ascertain the exact status of these buildings, the CM said.

Naidu alleged that the roads were dug up indiscriminately and construction material, including gravel, pipes and sand was looted. An investigation would be ordered into the theft of construction material. All the roads were abandoned midway, he added.

He declared that the government would come out with a white paper on the status of the Amaravati capital city works, so that people would know how the previous government had systematically sabotaged a prospective world-class capital city.

Naidu said the erstwhile Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government had planned to develop Amaravati capital city in a self-financing mode. Nearly 29,000 farmers had given away their 34,000-odd acres of land voluntarily for the capital city under the land pooling scheme, he pointed out.

Along with the government lands and other private lands acquired, we wanted to construct the capital city in around 54,000 acres of land. We planned to monetise a big part of the land and plough back the money into the capital city construction. It could also generate revenue for the state government to take up welfare programmes after its completion, the chief minister said.

Naidu began his visit with the inspection of the `Praja Vedika, the public interface platform of Naidu during 2014-19 which was demolished by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government in 2019. He went round the capital city to take stock of the situation and examined all destroyed roads and half-constructed canals in the region.

Naidu also visited Uddandarayunipalem, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation for the capital in 2015. He knelt down before the foundation stone area and prayed for the restoration of the capital city.

Claiming that he tried to create the Amaravati brand, the chief minister alleged that former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had tried to kill the project by making false allegations of insider trading and driven away the contractors and international consultants. The YSRCP government harassed the farmers, who had given their lands for capital development, he also alleged.

Naidu said the farmers had called off their agitation with the confidence that Amaravati would be resurrected with the change of government in the state. The farmers agitation for 1,631 days for the capital will remain as an example for the future generations, he observed, adding that Amaravati would remain as the peoples capital and the youth could confidently work in their state without migrating to other states in search of employment.
Work on it began a bit before that point, in the 1980s, when a prolific musician named David Cope was tasked with creating the music for an opera.

At that time, Cope was suffering from a serious case of composers block. So, as the deadline approached, instead of working on the opera, he started work on a new project. Cope had studied computing and artificial intelligence and began trying to create a program that would take his earlier compositions as input, and generate music in his style as the output.

He called the program Experiments in Musical Intelligence or EMI (no relation to the music label, which was already decades old at this time), and used it to get over his block.

He then used it to do something entirely different: create an entire album of machine-generated music, called Bach by Design.

Bach by Design was generated by EMI using a number of compositions by the German composer as input. The album, released in 1994, was largely panned. But it did catch the eye of Douglas Hofstadter, professor of cognitive science and comparative literature at Indiana University (and author of that staple of engineering college hostel rooms of the 1980s, the book on symmetry, self-reference and human cognition titled Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid).

Hofstadter was intrigued by Copes experiment, and decided to take it a step further.

He created a sort of Turing test for music, inviting Steven Larson, a teacher of music theory at University of Oregon, to compose a piece of music in the style of Bach. Larsons wife Winifred Kerner then played three pieces of music to an audience: Her husbands composition, a lesser-known piece by Bach, and a piece from Bach by Design. The audience was asked to identify which was which.

By a large majority, the listeners decided that EMIs composition was the genuine Bach. They thought Larsons piece sounded most like something generated by a computer.

This was in 1997.

***

Since then, the questions around art created by algorithm have only become murkier.

At the core are two issues. The first is the economic impact of AI creativity, which acts, to use words beloved of LinkedIn posters, as a disruptor in the arts industry, causing a paradigm shift.

Generative AI threatens the existence of graphic designers and stock-image services; the careers of musicians and film extras, and of writers of books, movies and TV.

Artist groups have already begun to protest. Most recently, in March, Artist Rights Alliance (ARA) issued an open letter signed by more than 200 musicians, including Pearl Jam, Stevie Wonder, Elvis Costello, Nicki Minaj, Billie Eilish and the estate of Frank Sinatra. In it, the artists urge AI developers, technology companies, platforms and digital music services to refrain from employing AI in ways that undermine and diminish the rights of human creators. A tweet from ARA emphasised that AI represents an existential threat to their craft.

Since the emergence of mainstream AI image generators in 2022, visual artists have voiced their opposition. As the technology expanded into creative fields such as writing, acting and filmmaking, professionals from these domains have organised stirs too (perhaps most notably the Hollywood artist unions SAG-AFTRA).

It is a hard spot to be in. Technically, while an individual work of art can be copyrighted, styles cannot. To prove that an AI image generator has copied their work, an artist would need to show that their artwork has been fed into the system. This is hard to do because of how complex the algorithms typically are.

Meanwhile, in a flip side to the copyright issue, most AI models need massive amounts of material to be fed to them, as training material. And while AI companies use large amounts of copyright-free content, from Bach to the Bible, there have been accusations that they have not always been so scrupulous.

Earlier this month, for instance, Adobe, the creator of popular graphic-design tools, updated its terms of use to give itself sweeping permission to access and use user-generated content and train AI on that content. The terms and conditions were displayed on an unskippable pop-up window, which meant that users would have to accept if they wanted to use software they had already paid for, including the popular photo and video-editing tools Photoshop, Illustrator and After Effects.

The reaction was swift and severe, as people took to online platforms to register their protest and announce that they would be discontinuing their subscriptions. Adobe has since said it will modify the phrasing of its terms of use to better serve its customers. But the truth is, we can expect to see more of this harvesting, as AI moves into the mainstream and competition between technology giants intensifies.

As far back as 2022, popular platform DeviantArt came under heavy criticism for its partnership with Stability AI, which introduced an internal image-generation tool named DreamUp, capable of collecting every piece of art posted on the platform for training. In January 2023, the website ArtStation faced similar criticism when it appeared that art posted on the site had been used in a dataset of 5.85 billion images and text captions, created to help train AI imaging and text models.

The New York Times is currently suing OpenAI for allegedly using its content, without permission, to train ChatGPT. When a user asks about the latest news, the suit states (among other complaints), the program sometimes quotes verbatim from NYT articles that cannot otherwise be accessed without a subscription.

***

The spookiness of real-world misuse, meanwhile, is already around us.

OpenAI is currently revising the voice of its virtual assistant Sky, after actress Scarlett Johansson threatened to sue the company for creating a voice that sounded just like hers, after she refused to lend her own to the project.

Meanwhile, scammers are replicating voices, then calling family members of the people whose voices they have replicated, faking an emergency or accident, and pleading for help (usually in the form of a quick money transfer).

Faked explicit imagery of musician Taylor Swift went viral on X in January. Child pornography is being generated in this manner too.

Countries are conscious of the urgent need for effective legislation. China now requires disclosure of deepfake technology use in media, and distribution of deepfakes has to be accompanied with a clear disclaimer that the content has been artificially generated.

The European Union (EU) has put forward legislation mandating that social media companies eliminate deepfakes and other false information from their platforms (though it is not clear how they would achieve this, even assuming that they wanted to).

The EUs Code of Practice on Disinformation currently deals with deepfakes by imposing fines of up to 6% of global revenue on those who breach its norms. In India, while parts of Section 66 of the IT Act, the Copyright Act of 1947 and the Indian Penal Code, may apply to deepfakes, so far there have been only advisories to social media and media organisations regarding deepfakes. Specific legislation has yet to be framed.

Despite all the fear and concern around AI, its large-scale adoption in our lives seems inevitable.

Microsoft and Apple have made AI an integral part of their operating systems. The former has been an early investor in OpenAI, and Apple just signed an agreement to integrate ChatGPT into experiences within iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.

Meanwhile, in Hollywood, struggling actors are selling their likenesses for use by AI for as little as $500. And while NYT may want to slug it out in court with OpenAI, media houses such as Vox and The Atlantic have signed deals allowing the company to train its algorithm on their content, for a fee.

There is always the argument that AI is just a tool; an upgrade not very different from when blood and animal fats gave way to watercolours, and oils to acrylics.

How is an argument against AI any different from Socrates fearing the popularity of the written word, because he believed it promoted forgetfulness? Generative AI is, after all, a sophisticated autocomplete.

Except when it isnt.

After the Bach test, Hofstadter described himself as baffled and troubled, in an interview with The New York Times. The only comfort I could take at this point comes from realising that EMI doesnt generate style on its own, he said. It depends on mimicking prior composers. But that is still not all that much comfort. To what extent is music composed of riffs, as jazz people say? If thats mostly the case, then it would mean that, to my absolute devastation, music is much less than I ever thought it was.

The technology companies may cheer, but we could be looking at a world where the arts  arguably the most human of endeavours  are subsumed by a set of intangible machines. And now that they have begun their work, it does seem like there will be no stopping it.
This school of art dates to the 16th century and the rule of the lavishly wealthy Wodeyars (who reigned, more or less uninterrupted, until 1947).

The canvases, typically tinged with gold, depict deities and, sometimes, imposing rulers.

Most of the works that survive are in the collections of museums such as the Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery (formerly the Jaganmohan Palace) and in situ at the Mysore Palace, the erstwhile seat of the Wodeyars.

But every once in a while, a piece ends up at an antiques shop, an art gallery or a local estate sale. These are the paintings that R Gyaneshwar Singh, 57, has been collecting for nearly four decades. His Ramsingh Museum is named after his late father, who bought him the two-storey bungalow in which it sits. There are now 600 Mysore school paintings preserved here.

In all my travels across India, I noticed that only a few museums in Bengaluru had sections dedicated to this school of art, Singh says. In other museums where these paintings are displayed, they are clubbed together with works from Thanjavur or other south Indian schools. But the Mysore style has its own sensibilities and history, and demands to be celebrated by itself.

Hence the museum.

Singh, 57, has been collecting such works since he was 19.

In a particularly interesting twist, Ramsingh Museum houses about 200 pieces created recently, between 1995 and 2024. The new works are often reproductions of old masterpieces, but many are distinctive, bearing the names and unique styles of their creators. Some of these artists are fourth- to seventh-generation descendants of traditional chitragars. The collection thus represents the wide breadth of this school and its evolution, says art historian Raghu Dharmendra, curator of the museum.

Walking through the halls, then, one sees row after row of deities with oval faces, almond-shaped eyes and protruding chins, all designed to bear a resemblance to the Wodeyars themselves.

Rare works include landscapes commissioned by Krishnaraja Wodeyar III (who ruled from 1799 to 1868) that tell an interesting story. This was a Wodeyar king who had been reduced to the status of nominal ruler, by the British. He rarely left Mysore, says Dharmendra. So he sent his confidantes on pilgrimages to sites such as Kashi and Tirupati, and he sent artists with them, so they could bring back for the king idealised representations of the places they had visited in his stead.

A rare landscape depicts the mausoleum of Tipu Sultan (1751-1799). (Courtesy Ramsingh Museum)

One such landscape tells a story within that story. It depicts the mausoleum of Tipu Sultan (1751-1799), the son and successor of Hyder Ali, a former Wodeyar commander who declared himself ruler, also turning the Wodeyars into nominal kings for a time. I got the Tipu Sultan painting in the 1990s, for 2,000, from an old Mysuru family who was demolishing their home, he recalls.

Another unusual set of works consist of sketches of the wall and ceiling decorations of the Mysore Palace, made by artists of this school as part of a restoration effort, after the palace was damaged in a fire in 1897.

What did it take to bring 600 such art works together? Singh says he wouldnt have dreamed it possible, and didnt set out with that aim.

He started out just being riveted by the play of light on these gilded pieces, when he first saw them as a teenager during a visit to the Mysore Palace.

Then, in 1987, he was sent out to buy himself new clothes for his 20th birthday, when he passed an antique store. He couldnt believe his eyes. There in the window was a large work with the same oval faces and gilded finish. It was a painting of Paravasudeva, an aspect of Vishnu, seated on a serpent in his heavenly abode of Vaikuntha, says Singh.

He added money of his own to the 400 that his mother had given him, and bought the work for 1,000. He rode home with it balanced carefully on his scooter. His parents didnt know what to make of it, but it just felt precious to me, he says.

Time went on and Singh graduated in geology and joined the familys handicrafts business. But every year since that one, he bought at least a few more works, as they came his way.

He soon developed a network of antique dealers, art collectors, friends and acquaintances who would tip him off when a Mysore school painting became available. There was no email or WhatsApp through most of these years, so they would call me up and explain the features, show me photographs or send me catalogues by post, he says.

An old acquaintance, a silversmith in Mysuru, once told me that some kings kept certain gems in their treasury, believing that they would attract other rare and precious objects. That first Paravasudeva painting, he told me, was that gem in my collection, Singh says, smiling.

Before his father bought the bungalow for his museum in 2010, the paintings lived in a garage. For years after he had the space, Singh painstakingly unpacked and installed his works, until the museum was finally ready for visitors in 2020. Access is free but by appointment. Free curatorial tours are led by Singh and Dharmendra.

Currently, only tourists who have read about the museum or art-lovers who are interested in the Mysore style visit us, Dharmendra says. We are working on diversifying our reach through activities, exhibitions and collaborations.

That will be the next step in helping the Mysore school reach a wider audience, says Singh.
Science is a bit like a giant jigsaw puzzle, isnt it? The corners have been in place for centuries. Most of the edges have taken shape. This framework supports a dynamic state of play in which reality as we know it is constantly being tinkered with, altered, re-imagined.

Such tinkering has given us rocket ships, MRIs, the internet and AI. As we fit pieces together in new ways, we change our world.

But what happens if we take the puzzle apart all the way to the edges, and start over? The results can send ripples through the whole board.

Ankur Gupta, who studied at IIT-Delhi and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and pursued postdoctoral research at Princeton University, and is now an assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering at the University of Colorado, Boulder, has led just such an effort.

He has spent seven years unravelling exactly how high-performing energy-storage devices work, all the way down to the nanopores (well get to what those are in a bit), working alongside Pawel Jan Zuk of the Polish Academy of Science and Colorado Boulder PhD student Filipe Henrique.

This teams research has now opened the door to a re-imagined energy-storage system that could potentially recharge a car in minutes, a laptop in under a minute, and a phone in seconds, according to findings that have made news worldwide since they were published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in May.

The ramifications are dramatic, for the role of energy in our lives. The proposed system could change how power grids deal with fluctuating inflows. It could alter how we use electric vehicles, digital devices, even lifts and uninterrupted power supply (UPS) systems.

The big shift would involve making supercapacitors a core element of electronic devices. But they would be supercapacitors of a very different kind.

So far, these energy-storage systems  which soak up energy really fast, but also discharge it quickly  have been used in situations where relatively short-lived streams of energy are required, such as UPS and wireless alarms, laptops and cellphones. Since they dont last long on a single charge, they remain unsuited for use in something like an electric car. And they remain relatively high-maintenance wherever they are used.

For decades, researchers have tinkered with new materials, in attempts to get supercapacitors to hold on to their energy for longer. But in none of this research, says Gupta, was anyone theoretically studying what was happening at the molecular level within.

Say a supercapacitor uses a dense network of carbon to soak up energy in the form of charged ions, retaining its charge as long as these ions can zip back and forth between electrodes. Why was no one asking the question, Gupta wondered, of how these ions move within such a network; and how these movements might be made faster, for better results?

When Gupta dove in, studying the movement of ions within a single cylindrical nanopore of carbon, it was a bit like examining the flow of dense traffic down a narrow road, he says. Using mathematical models, the recent paper shows that it is possible to predict ion movement across a complex network of pores.

This finding is expected to upend research in the area because, so far, the focus has been to design materials that can soak up the most energy, and then find ways to keep that energy contained. Now, the effort could focus instead on materials that, quite simply, boost the movement of charged ions.

The search has gone all the way back to the edges of the board. Entirely new horizons are visible. It is possible, Gupta says, that biodegradable materials (think, wood) could be roped in.

***

Gupta, 34, says his journey towards supercapacitors began with a love of complex math, in school.

Growing up in Ghaziabad, he was a high-performing student and had the usual dreams of pursuing engineering at an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). But he didnt only want a well-paid job. He wanted to invent and discover. That was always what excited him about science.

The idea that so many things around us can be explained through mathematical models was fascinating to me, he says. In school, I loved spending time with mathematical problems that took time and effort. Just the idea of answering a question, or even rediscovering something that somebody had already done, but doing it differently, was very, very satisfying.

After graduating in chemical engineering from IIT-Delhi, Gupta headed to the US, where he developed an interest in supercapacitors as a postdoctoral fellow at Princeton University, in 2017. It is here that he met Zuk, and the two began working together in 2019.

Together, they began to create and test models as they sought to understand the traffic movements within supercapacitors. They found first success in a paper published in the journal Physical Review Letters in 2020. It laid out, in rare detail, how ions move through a single cylindrical nanopore. The paper was widely praised and we felt that we should keep working in this direction, Gupta says.

In 2022, his PhD student Henrique joined the team. The trio expanded the scope of study from a single pore to an intersection of pores (or a junction). The key question we addressed is how the ions will split along junctions, and how that will unfold when we have thousands and perhaps millions of interconnected junctions, Gupta says.

What excites him now is that he could be shaping the future. In a world that is becoming more electric, and is likely to rely more heavily on renewable sources of electricity such as solar and wind power, which are prone to fluctuation, smarter energy storage will be vital, Gupta says.

Since supercapacitors can pack energy in and can be programmed to release it very fast too, they would be better placed to deal with fluctuations, as we draw more of our energy from the wind and the sun.

And, of course, they could make it possible to charge a car in minutes, and a phone in just a few seconds.
As weddings evolve from one-size-fits-all ceremonies to deeply personal celebrations that reflect each couple's unique journey and bond with nature, the Bohemian theme has blossomed as a cherished choice among brides for their haldi and mehendi functions. Characterised by its rustic elegance, this growing trend is rooted in couples' desires to break free from traditional constraints, seeking instead to infuse their celebrations with elements that are true to their individual styles and connected to the natural world. Decor tips to infuse your wedding with Bohemian charm using eclectic floral styling (Photo by Belle The Magazine)

Wildflower decor for Bohemian charm:

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Srishti Kapur, Co-Founder of Floral Art, shared, At the heart of the bohemian aesthetic is the fusion of various natural elements to achieve a dreamy yet grounded ambiance. Incorporating an array of wildflowers, such as lavender, wild daisies and sunflowers, alongside dry pampas grass creates a whimsical yet earthy feel. These florals, when paired with lush greenery like Eucalyptus and Asparagus ferns, weave a narrative of romantic wilderness that is both inviting and intimately personal.

The Ultimate Bohemian Wedding Inspiration From Hawaii (Photo by Green Wedding Shoes)

She suggested, Using these elements in decor, from centrepieces to floral arches, allows couples to craft a space that truly reflects their spirit and love for the unconventional. These elements, coupled with a palette of sunset hues and earth tones, work in harmony to embody the real bohemian spirit. Additionally, alternatives like leafy garlands that forgo flowers in favour of lush, green foliage further encapsulate the essence of bohemian charm.

Integrating natural elements:

To complement the floral arrangements and truly encapsulate the bohemian vibe, Srishti Kapur recommended that it is very effective to use materials such as jute, foliage and dried succulents. She advised, Additionally, integrating non-floral elements is key. Textured carpets that whisper tales of distant lands, Aztec prints that add a layer of mystery, macrame hangings that bring a touch of artisanal craft and strategically placed mirrors to reflect the soft, natural light all contribute to creating a holistic bohemian atmosphere. These elements, when blended with the natural beauty of flowers, enhance the aesthetic, making every corner of the venue a reflection of the couples wanderlust and free-spirited nature.

Bohemian mehendi decor inspiration (Photo by Design & Arts)

According to the decor expert, another dimension to embodying the bohemian theme is through the choice of adornments. Srishti Kapur said, Opting for dry floral jewellery not only complements the decor but also allows the bride to immerse herself fully in the bohemian trend. This personalised touch adds to the overall narrative, enabling the bride to express her individuality and connection with nature in a fashion thats both comfortable and stylish. The incorporation of floral jewellery, be it in the form of headpieces, necklaces, or wristlets, serves as a bridge between the wearer and the essence of bohemia, elevating the entire wedding ensemble to reflect the themes core values of freedom, beauty, and natural harmony. As the trend towards bohemian weddings continues to grow, it encourages couples to view their celebration not just as a day to remember but as a heartfelt expression of their deepest dreams and values, all set against the backdrop of natures splendour.

Tips to incorporate Bohemian flair:

Bringing her expertise to the same, Jaya Bakhru, Founder of RB Weddings and Luxury Events echoed, As weddings continue to evolve, couples are increasingly drawn to unconventional themes that reflect their unique personalities and lifestyles. One such trend gaining momentum is infusing bohemian charm into wedding celebrations through eclectic floral styling. With its relaxed yet romantic vibe, bohemian weddings offer a refreshing departure from traditional ceremonies, embracing nature-inspired elements and a free-spirited ambiance.

Here are some tips to help you incorporate bohemian flair into your special day through vibrant and diverse floral arrangements -
In our fast-paced, hectic lives, finding moments of relaxation and calm is essential for maintaining mental and physical well-being and yoga - an ancient practice originating in India - has become a valuable tool for individuals seeking relaxation and stress management. Through a combination of physical postures, breathing techniques and mindfulness, yoga offers a holistic approach to unwinding and promoting mental calmness. International Yoga Day 2024: Looking for mental calmness? Here's how Yoga exercises help you unwind and manage stress (Image by wavebreakmedia_micro on Freepik)

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar, Founder of Akshar Yoga Kendraa, highlighted why yoga is such an effective method for relaxation -

1. Mindful breathing:

One of the fundamental aspects of yoga is mindful breathing. This practice involves paying close attention to the breath as it flows in and out of the body. The rhythmic and focused nature of yogic breathing, known as pranayama, has a calming effect on the mind.

During a yoga session, participants are guided to take slow, deep breaths, which triggers the body's relaxation response. This response counteracts the "fight or flight" stress response, reducing the production of stress hormones like cortisol. As a result, individuals experience a sense of relaxation and mental calmness.

2. Stress reduction:

Yoga is renowned for its ability to reduce stress. The physical postures, or asanas, in yoga often involve gentle stretching and holding poses. These movements release tension in the muscles and encourage relaxation. When practiced regularly, Yoga can help individuals let go of physical and mental stress, promoting a sense of ease and tranquility.

The mindful aspect of yoga extends beyond the mat. It encourages participants to be present in the moment, letting go of worries about the past and anxieties about the future. This mindfulness is a powerful tool for managing stress and promoting mental calmness in daily life.

3. Muscle relaxation:

Yoga asanas target different muscle groups, promoting relaxation throughout the body. When you hold a pose, you may initially feel some resistance but with focused breathing and gentle stretching, the muscles gradually relax and release tension.

Muscle relaxation is not only beneficial for physical comfort but also for mental well-being. Tense muscles are often a physical manifestation of stress and anxiety. By releasing this tension through yoga, individuals can experience a deeper sense of relaxation and mental calmness.

4. Improved sleep quality:

A good night's sleep is essential for relaxation and overall well-being. Many people struggle with sleep disorders or find it difficult to unwind before bedtime due to racing thoughts. Yoga can be a valuable tool for improving sleep quality.

Yoga's relaxation techniques, such as progressive muscle relaxation and guided imagery, can be particularly beneficial for those who have trouble falling asleep. These practices calm the mind, reduce mental chatter and prepare the body for restful sleep.

5. Emotional regulation:

Yoga promotes emotional regulation by encouraging individuals to acknowledge and accept their emotions without judgment. Through the practice of mindfulness and self-compassion, individuals can navigate their emotional landscapes more effectively.

When faced with challenging emotions, yoga provides a safe space to explore and process them. This emotional intelligence fosters mental calmness and resilience in the face of life's ups and downs.

6. Enhanced mental clarity:

Yoga's emphasis on mindfulness and concentration enhances mental clarity. It helps individuals declutter their minds, reduce distractions and improve focus. This mental clarity contributes to a sense of calm and inner peace.

Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar asserted, Yoga is a powerful practice for relaxation and stress management. Through mindful breathing, stress reduction, muscle relaxation, improved sleep quality, emotional regulation and enhanced mental clarity, yoga promotes mental calmness and well-being. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced practitioner, integrating Yoga into your routine can provide you with the tools to unwind and find relaxation in the midst of life's demands. It's a holistic approach that nurtures both the body and mind, allowing you to experience a profound sense of tranquility and inner peace.
International Yoga Day 2024 is once again bringing people together for a healthier and more peaceful way of life. Bollywood celebrities, known for their dedication to fitness, have adopted yoga as a lifestyle to achieve both professional and spiritual growth. Rakul Preet Singh, recognized for her strict fitness routine, often shares her yoga videos and photos on social media. Recently, the actor posted pictures of her doing yoga asanas on her Instagram as she was joined by Jacky Bhagnani. Rakul Preet Singh, Jacky Bhagnani performed unique Yoga asanas on International Yoga Day.

Rakul Preet shares inspiring post about Yoga

In the photos, Rakul and her husband can be seen practising unique yoga postures. The actor shared a series of pictures showing her performing joint yoga asanas with Jacky. The pictures are from two different yoga sessions that the couple have trained together. The Indian 2 actor, and the Bade Miyan Chote Miyan producer are seen wearing yoga attire for their intense training.

Rakul captioned her post as, Together in wellness and all things beautiful (heart emoji) happy #internationaldayofyoga to all you lovely people .. #fittogetherstaytogether (heart emoji) take baby steps towards a healthier you (two Yoga emojis) @anshukayoga making us do partner stretches like never before (heart and laughing emojis). Yoga is a state of mind , a state of bliss, a feeling of being one with yourself and the universe.

Rakul Preet-Jacky Bhagnani perform Yoga Asanas

In the first slide she and her partner sit facing each other in their respective Yoga mats engaged in Navasana or Buddy Boat Pose. The duo is seen holding hands with both their legs in the upwards direction while touching the sole of the partner's feet. In the second photo, Rakul and Jacky are seen balancing an intense Double Boat Pose or Partner Navasana as they hold hands and make a V-shaped posture posture. In the third picture, the couple showcase strength and stamina while doing Seated Forward Bend or Pashchimottanasana. In the Yoga pose, Rakul performs the Seated Forward Bend, while Jacky lies back over her with a backbend. The last picture is symbolic of flexibility, trust, team-work and patience as the couple performs the toughest Bose Pose or Dhanurasana. As Jacky does the standard Bow Pose, Rakul helps him by gently pulling his arms backwards.

About International Yoga Day

International Yoga Day is celebrated worldwide on June 21 every year. The United Nations adopted this day in 2014, following an initiative by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his UN address. The resolution was backed by 177 nations and passed unanimously in the United Nations General Assembly.
Early this month, the band Pixies released two songs: a new original titled Youre So Impatient, and a cover of the 1955 classic Que Sera, Sera.

It was a big deal. Any new release by Pixies is. The story of the 38-year-old band, formed in Boston, is the stuff of legend. For most of their career, they have been an underrated group, but their influence in the late 80s and early 90s, on bands that would become huge successes, is undeniable.

Nirvana, Radiohead, The Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer and many others have often declared how much Pixies shaped their music.

The new original, Youre So Impatient, runs a shade over two minutes and is a tense song about love dynamics between two people, set against the grisly backdrop of a dead shopping mall full of zombies.

The version of Que Sera, Sera is an eerie twist to Doris Days original, which featured in the 1956 Alfred Hitchcock film The Man Who Knew Too Much. The Pixies version was created for the American TV horror series From (2022; about an American city that imprisons everyone who enters).

These are the sorts of things one expects from this band, whose current line-up features Black Francis, Joey Santiago, David Lovering and Emma Richardson.

Francis, 59 (born Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV) is the lead vocalist, lyricist, and plays the rhythm guitar; Santiago, 59, plays lead guitar; Lovering plays the drums. Richardson is a new addition. The former bassist of the British Band of Skulls was recruited this year after Pixies abruptly announced the departure of Paz Lenchantin, who had been their bassist for a decade. Lenchantin had replaced Kim Deal, co-founder and bassist, in 2014.

When Pixies started out, with the mini-album Come On Pilgrim (1987) and studio album Surfer Rosa (1988), the reception in the US was lukewarm. Europe took to the band more wholeheartedly. Their style of alternative rock contained elements of punk rock that appealed to audiences in the UK and Europe, which had a more established punk/alt scene then.

Yet, from their early days, other musicians were big fans. In an interview still available on YouTube, the late David Bowie calls theirs among the most compelling music of the 1980s. He quotes a cliche that goes something like Not many people bought Velvet Undergrounds albums but those who did started a band themselves and points out that, similarly, not many people may have bought Pixies records but those who did wanted to play like them.

The band stood out for its trademark song structure, which was innovative at the time. They were the first rock band to alternate relatively quiet verses with explosive blasting choruses. Franciss lyrics were unique; he used unconventional narratives to talk about what might be everyday subjects, creating a surreal effect.

The other standout was the bands lead guitarist, Santiago, whose textural riffs, abrasive, minimal, and unpredictable, gave Pixies the sound they are known for: a blend of punk and classic rock.

By the time I got to see them perform live, it was 2015. The gig was at New Yorks storied art deco Beacon Theatre, and John Grant, then relatively unknown, was opening for the band. A new Pixies album, Indie Cindy, had just been released, featuring the new bassist Lenchantin. The hall was, surprisingly, not filled to capacity, but the band delivered the goods.

Delving into their catalogue, they performed a mix of old and new songs. From 1989, they did Debaser, which references surrealist filmmaker Luis Bunuels Un Chien Andalou. They played 1991s U-Mass, named for the University of Massachusetts that Francis and Santiago both attended (both dropped out to become musicians). They performed Monkey Gone to Heaven, a 1991 nod to environmentalism; and many more. For the encore, if I remember right, they performed Vamos, an old song with a chorus in Spanish.

In 1993, after five studio albums, the band broke up. Deal moved full-time to what had been her side band, The Breeders. Francis segued into a solo career, occasionally performing with Santiago. Lovering, curiously, became a magician.

Then, by the early 2000s, the four were reuniting for occasional gigs, and released a song or two. In 2013, Deal formally quit the band. Lenchantin replaced her, and more albums followed after Indie Cindy: Head Carrier (2016), Beneath the Eyrie (2019), Doggerel (2022).

Compared to their pioneering late-80s and early-90s albums, which defined their abrasive yet melodic style, the newer releases have tended to be more polished while still capturing aspects of their classic sound. There is still something very distinctive about it.

Their quiet-loud dynamic, once a trademark, may have been adopted by many others, but the Pixies do it in a style of their own. Lenchantins departure could disappoint some fans. She played the violin too, and her vocals complemented Franciss well. Yet, in the ongoing, evolving reunion, the quality of music has never flagged. A cruise through the Pixies discography bears this out.

Another way of appreciating their music is to watch them perform without rocks heavy amplification. There is on YouTube a 10-year-old video of the band playing at an NPR Tiny Desk Concert. Francis plays an acoustic guitar, Lenchantin is on violin and Santiagos lead riffs are tender. It is worth checking out.
China and Australia will provide each other's citizens with multiple-entry visas of up to five years for tourism and business from Friday, the Chinese foreign ministry said. China, Australia announce 5-year multiple-entry visas for tourists and business travellers (AP Photo/Ariel Ley)

The visa arrangement followed a milestone trip by China's Premier Li Qiang to Australia earlier this week that marked a stabilisation in bilateral relations after a period of frosty ties.
When I decided to quit my full-time job with this newspaper and go freelance so that I could spend more time with my then school-going daughters, my father-in-law was appalled. But he didnt want to directly question my decision and, so, told a friend that he would make sure my children were well looked after at home. New Delhi, India - June 21, 2024: Young women react as they are clicked during rains, in New Delhi, Friday, June 21, 2024. Light rainfall on Friday brought some relief to the people in Delhi after a relentless heatwave in the region for over a month. (Photo by Sanjeev Verma/ Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times)

I knew that but quit anyway. When I wrote a 12-part series on womens declining workforce participation that went on to win a national award, Baba, which is what we called Murlidhar Bhandare, couldnt have been prouder  though he continued to believe that I could, and should, have dodged the motherhood penalty, one of the barriers to workforce participation that I had written about.

Baba was my feminist ally, the sort of man every woman should have in her corner. Someone who believes in her, thinks twice before questioning her decisions, and remains her most enthusiastic cheerleader.

After the death of his wife, a Delhi high court judge, he had started the Justice Sunanda Bhandare Foundation with the goal of gender equality. In truth, it was as much his goal as it was hers. The freedom to choose, the right to excel was the motto he chose. Ever the optimist, he believed that given the opportunity, there was no reason why women could not flourish. The challenge lay in creating the right environment.

Sunanda Bhandare had married young. To say that her husband was responsible for her success would be to undermine her grit and brilliance. But he was the catalyst that ensured she not only completed her law degree but went on to a successful law practice while raising two children with him.

We dont talk enough about the value of male allies. The wrestler from Haryana who trains his daughters and nieces in defiance of social norm. The airport loader who sells his land to finance his daughters education. The shop owner who is assisted by his daughter when she returns from college.

This is not an avuncular benevolence but an ingrained belief that everyone around you regardless of gender or sexuality or circumstance is deserving of dignity and freedom. That society cannot advance without taking everyone along. And that everyone gains when women and girls gain.

At 95, Baba might not have been up-to-date on issues like gender identity. He could be anachronistic about his choice of words  preferring lady to woman, for instance  and was unquestionably paterfamilias. But his feminism shone through his actions and the way he lived his life.

Where families are so often the gatekeepers of gender roles and morality, particularly of daughters, he had thrown away the key. He was happy to be challenged and proud to follow the budding careers of his granddaughters.

Every time my column was published, he would call with feedback  not always positive  but always willing to listen. What a loss for me then that I will not be receiving his call after this one.

Namita Bhandare writes on gender. The views expressed are personal
Unity Small Finance Bank has purchased commercial properties in two separate locations in Mumbai in deals valued at around 400 crore, property registration documents showed. Unity Small Finance Bank acquires commercial properties worth more than  400 crore in Mumbai (Representational photo)(Bloomberg)

The two transactions were registered on June 18, 2024.

In the first deal, valued at 227 crore, the private lender has secured several units in Wing A of Unity Towers located in Santacruz West, Mumbai. The seller in the big ticket transaction is Intercon Corporation Ltd, according to property registration documents accessed by FloorTap.com.

Simultaneously, multiple units were purchased from L&T Seawoods in Tower 1 of Navi Mumbais Seawoods Grand Central. This deal is valued at 165.60 crore, documents accessed by Propstack showed.

Email queries have been sent to Unity Small Finance Bank, Intercon Corporation Ltd and L&T Seawoods. The story will be updated once a response is received.

In the Santacruz West deal, the property purchased in Unity Towers includes units in the ground and upper basement, and the first floor of the multi-storied building spanning 70,030 square feet. Additionally, the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th floors have been taken over completely by Unity Small Finance Ltd, as part of the transaction. The deal also includes parking space for 120 cars, the documents shared by Floortap showed.

This latest purchase is in close vicinity of the banks corporate office in Santacruz East. A stamp duty of 13.62 crore was levied on the transaction, the documents showed.

In the second deal, the company bought as many as 20 office units in Seawoods Grand Central with a combined carpet area of 97,920 square feet, for 165.60 crore, the documents shared by Propstack showed.

Also Read: Office market surges to 16.2 mn sq ft transactions in Q1 2024; Residential sector keeps pace with sale of 86,345 units

Founded by Centrum Financial Services and BharatPe, Unity Small Finance Bank is a digital-first lender, headquartered in Mumbai. According to data available in the public domain, the bank has a network of 140 branches, spread across 25 cities.

The Mumbai-headquartered banking entity registered a 75% year-on-year jump in net income to 981 crore in financial year 2023-24. Meanwhile its net profit grew 12-fold to 439 crore. "The company's shareholders' fund includes around 1,900 crore, making the bank well capitalized for such a purchase," a source told HT Digital.

Outright purchase versus lease



Commercial real estate experts, who spoke to HT Digital, said that there has been an increase in the number of corporates buying commercial real estate space rather than going in for lease.

Larger corporates and business conglomerates, particularly from technology and BFSI sector, having clarity over long-term real estate requirements, perhaps find it economically more viable to own commercial assets, said Vimal Nadar, who heads research at property consultancy Colliers.

Recently, the UK Consulate bought 12 office units from Macrotech Developers Ltd, which operates under the Lodha brand, in the project One Lodha Place in Lower Parel, Mumbai, for 101.2 crore.

Also Read: UK Consulate buys office space in Mumbais Lower Parel area from Lodha Group for 101.2 crore

In February this year, Bandhan Bank Ltd had purchased 12 commercial units in INS Tower, Bandra Kurla Complex, in Mumbai for 135.64 crore, documents accessed by FloorTap.com, a marketplace for commercial properties showed.

Also Read: Bandhan Bank purchases 12 commercial units in Mumbai's BKC for 135 crore
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) administrator Bill Nelson has announced that the US space agency will enhance its collaboration with India, including a "joint effort" aboard the International Space Station (ISS) with an Indian astronaut. NASA administrator Bill Nelson(AP / File)

This statement follows the iCET Dialogue between US national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Indian counterpart Ajit Doval, which revealed plans for advanced training for Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) astronauts in the US.

ALSO READ- After Chandrayaan-3, Isro eyes return moon missions

Nelson highlighted the growing partnership, saying, Building on my visit to India last year, NASA continues to further the United States and India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology for the benefit of humanity.



"Together we are expanding our countries' collaboration in space, to include a joint effort aboard the International Space Station with an ISRO astronaut," Nelson, wrote on X on Wednesday.

"While specific details about the mission are still in work, these efforts will support future human spaceflight and improve life here on Earth," Nelson said.

ALSO READ- Wonder how it feels to plunge into a black hole? NASA's visuals will shock you

In New Delhi, Sullivan and Doval announced the Strategic Framework for Human Spaceflight Cooperation, which aims to deepen interoperability in space. They discussed plans for advanced training for ISRO astronauts at NASA's Johnson Space Center and the first joint mission between NASA and ISRO astronauts at the ISS, marking a significant milestone in US-India space cooperation.

ALSO READ- ISRO identifies 48 backup points for safe return of Gaganyaan astronauts

NASA will assist in training two Indian astronauts, one of whom is scheduled to fly to the International Space Station (ISS) later this year. ISRO chairperson S Somanath had previously mentioned that ISRO plans to select four astronauts for training.

Additionally, the two countries are preparing to launch the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar, a satellite that will map Earth's surface twice every 12 days to address climate change and other global challenges.
A restaurant in Gujarats Ahmedabad was sealed after a diner found a dead rat inside the sambar bowl. According to reports, the incident happened at Devi Dosa restaurant in Nikol, Ahmedabad. This comes days after a decomposed frog was found in a packet of chips purchased from a shop in Jamnagar. Gujarat: The image shows the dead mouse inside the sambar bowl at a restaurant in Ahmedabad. (Instagram/@ahmedabad.updates)

The video was shared on the Instagram page Ahmedabad Updates with a caption in Gujarati. When translated to English, it reads, A dead baby rat was found in the sambar in Nikol area in the dosa restaurant.

The video that is all over the internet shows the dead rat inside the sambar bowl at the restaurant. The video further shows the unhygienic kitchen space.

Watch the video below:

According to a report by Times Now, after the restaurant owner Alpesh Kevadiya took no immediate action on the incident, the matter was escalated to the health department of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC).

The department reacted to the complaint and a team visited the restaurants kitchen. The authorities found the kitchen space open and deemed it unsafe. They further sealed the restaurant and issued a notice to Kevadiya.

The authorities have asked the owner of the restaurant to address the issues immediately to avoid any further repercussions.

Earlier, a social media user, Vidit Varshney, claimed that his uncle and aunt found a dead cockroach in the food served on Vande Bharat Express from Bhopal to Agra on June 18.

The Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC) promptly responded to the complaint raised on the microblogging platform X and imposed a suitable penalty on the service providers. They further stated that they have intensified the production and logistics monitoring.
An American CEO has earned the internets disdain for his social media post about firing an employee. Matthew Baltzell, founder and CEO of Cap X Media, shared a detailed breakdown of his meeting with the affected employee on LinkedIn last week. The post sparked outrage on social media, with many calling it tone-deaf. Matthew Baltzell shared a post on firing an employee. (LinkedIn/@thematthewbaltzell)

In his post, Baltzell said the entire meeting took 10 minutes, during which the employee was informed he was being laid off. He explained that the ex-employee was offered a severance package and a reference for a future job, should he need it. The CEO said he kept the whole thing short and direct and the employee handled it professionally and with grace.

After the meeting, I sent a message over Slack to inform everyone that the employee was no longer with us, without giving details, he said, adding that he did not want secrecy surrounding the layoff. This approach shows my team that if they ever have to leave, they'll be treated with respect, not discarded like trash, explained Baltzell.

Take a look at the post below:

The post divided opinion on LinkedIn, where some praised Baltzell for his leadership and others called the account tone-deaf and insensitive. One person in the comments section called it typical LinkedIn drivel. Another asked the CEO to grow up.

You just made someones exit incredibly problematic for yourself, the commenter wrote.

A screenshot of the post also reached X, where it was shared with the caption: Imagine getting fired, heading over to LinkedIn, and seeing this.

Reactions on X were largely negative. Some people brought up the CEO of Hypersocial, who in 2022 went viral for posting a selfie of himself crying after laying off hundreds of employees.

If I've fired someone, the last thing I want to do is post about it on social media, wrote one founder.

This is horrifying. A real leader doesnt need to brag about how good of a job they thought they did in firing someone, another said.
A young girl in China kicked off a viral trend in the country with her creative life-sized rat-shaped The Chinese girl made rat-shaped dumplings while she was alone at home. (Instagram/chinesewithmia)

dumplings. It all started when she was left alone at home while her mother ran some errands. The mother had instructed the girl to wrap dough for dumplings while she was away. On returning home, the mother was not prepared for what she was about to witness.

Her daughter welcomed her with dumplings ready to be steamed; but the catch, they were shaped exactly like rats.

In Instagram and YouTube videos posted by a channel called "Chinese with Mia", the narrator explains the impact of the Chinese girl's quirky idea.

The girl had even made a tiny 'baby rat' dumpling perched on top of a grown-up 'rat'.

In the viral video, the girl is seen picking up the 'rodent' by its tail and swallowing it whole, body first.

This is not the only incident in which the girl used her creativity with food. When asked to peel eggplants for dinner, the young girl scooped out the inside and used the skin as a shoe for her tiny feet.

No one going to talk about the way she made the smaller rat sit on top of the bigger one. Shes so creative. I hope she only grows to be even more talented a Youtube user commented on the video which was posted in April.

Clearly the dumpling video blew up on the internet in China. With over 1.6 million views on Instagram, over 61,000 'likes' and over 600 comments.

Click here to watch the viral video.

The video also shows other people adopting this unique rat shaped dumpling and trying it themselves. A woman made them for her boyfriend after they had a fight.

Another prepared the dumplings for her husbands friend who visits their home uninvited and eats up all their food.

It is safe to say he won't be back anytime soon," the narrator of the video says jokingly.

(Brain teaser: Can you guess what this dumpling-like object is? Hint: Its from out of this world)

While it's cute and very creative, I prefer the usual shape ones for myself. But the idea of serving rat dumplings to people who annoy you is awesome," said another user, Moniq Jen.

Another user said, That girl is going to bring so much creativity into the world. Shes coming up with unique ideas I hope she continues like this into adulthood.

Another person commented, I like the reason why it's going viral. Like it's a subtle passive aggressive move, you don't even have to say anything

(Also Read: College student sells 'shot momos', her idea wows people)
Marina Kharbani, a Russian influencer married to an Indian man, is pregnant. In April, she broke the news of her pregnancy to her parents and in-laws, a recording of which has been absolutely adored by viewers. Marina Kharbani, originally from Russia, is currently based in Shillong, Meghalaya. (Instagram/terk_love)

Kharbani, who is settled in Shillong, Meghalaya, with her husband and in-laws, begins the video with a clip of her breaking the news to her Russian parents.

I am pregnant, she says, sitting between her mother and father.

You are kidding! the fathers says, in absolute surprise.

He then proceeds to express his happiness and excitement by letting out a soft scream, embracing his daughter with tight hugs and kisses. Look at her. Was keeping a secret from parents What a news he said, kissing his daughter.

Her mother could not believe her daughter was seven weeks pregnant.

The second part of the video has Kharbani showing her Indian family her ultrasound imaging with the baby visible in it. At first, the elders did not have a clue as to what she presented. In the viral video, they look confused at the images and turn towards their son for an answer.

They don't know what it means, her husband Kyntiew Kbani tells her. The Russian woman then points at the images and shows her belly to try to help them make sense of the scan. Eventually, they get the point that their son and daughter-in-law are pregnant.

Okay and a thumbs up gesture was the husbands fathers reaction to the news, which was hilarious considering the intensity of the news and how people would normally react to it. The mother continued enjoying her snack.

Good job, says Marina Kharbani, jokingly interpreting her in-laws' response.

Watch the viral video here:

Over twenty three million people have come across this video with the reel gaining over seven lakh likes, 3000 comments, and 19,000 thousand shares

Here is how Instagram users reacted to the viral video:

User Virginia Marie Cates said, I would gave given anything to feel this kind of love by parental figures. Bless you all congrats.

Same amount of happiness, different way of expressing," said Batriti Diengdoh.

Another user, Aaditi, reacted to Kharbani's in-laws' response commenting, Thats just Indian parents behavior but they are really happy.

Several stories of Russian influencers in India have been viral earlier this year. Mariia Chugurova, a vlogger from Russia, visited the famous Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai and shared her experience on Instagram in May. The vlogger currently resides in Goa and paid a short visit to the temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha.

Namaste dosto (friends). Today was a truly special day as I had the opportunity to visit one of Mumbais most revered and iconic landmarks: The Siddhivinayak Temple, she wrote as caption on her video on Instagram.
An Indian business leader living in Singapore has revealed why he made the decision to move back to Bengaluru. Aakash Dharmadhikari, co-founder of AI platform Realfast, says his decision to return to the motherland was prompted, in part, by how good life in Singapore was his family. An Indian man reveals why he is moving back to Bengaluru from Singapore.

In a post shared on the social media platform X, Dharmadhikari said that he and his wife wanted their daughter to get used to the uncertainties of life - something that she, living in Singapore, had no idea of.

Partly we are shifting to Bangalore to get my daughter used to uncertainties of life. Singapore is just way too perfect, and we thought its making her soft, he wrote.

However, after seven years of living in Singapore, Dharmadhikari also seems to have forgotten how life in India can be. Unfortunately we also had forgotten what the Indian chaos feels like.. turns out we have also become soft, he added with a laughing face emoji to end his post.

Take a look at the post below:

Aakash Dharmadhikari started his career as a software engineer with Infosys in 2005, according to his LinkedIn profile. In nearly two decades, he has switched several jobs. He spent the early part of his career in Bengaluru, the Silicon Valley of India.

However, according to his LinkedIn profile, the Realfast co-founder has been based in Singapore since September 2017.

In the comments section of his X post, several users offered advice on moving back to India. Some said they understood the decision, given the loneliness and culture shock of living in a foreign country. Others, however, advised Dharmadhikari to consider the decision carefully.

Life in Bangalore is way tougher than other cities of india. Its particularly tough due to reduced mobility due to high traffic, wrote one X user. Dharmadhikari responded saying he did not contend the point but wanted to move back as he has friends in Bengaluru.
A man in Uttar Pradesh claims a sex change surgery was performed on him without his consent. Mujahid, a 20-year-old from Muzaffarnagar, says he was sedated by one Omprakash and transported to a hospital where the surgery was performed as he lay unconscious. A UP man claims sex change surgery was performed on him without his consent (Representational image)

According to an NDTV report, Mujahid says the whole thing was orchestrated by Omprakash in collusion with doctors of a local medical college in Uttar Pradeshs Muzaffarnagar district.

The 20-year-old man claimed that Omprakash had been molesting and harassing him for the past two years. On June 3, Omprakash allegedly convinced the doctors of Begrajpur Medical College in Mansoorpur to perform the surgery on Mujahid.

He brought me here, and the next morning I had an operation. When I regained consciousness, I was told that I had been changed from a boy to a girl, said Mujahid.

When I woke up, Omprakash told me that I am a woman now and that he would take me to Lucknow to marry me. He threatened to kill my father if I resisted, Mujahid was quoted as saying by India Today. He added that doctors acted in collusion with Omprakash to perform the surgery without his consent.

What the doctors said

However, doctors of Begrajpur Medical College deny this claim. They say that Mujahid underwent sex reassignment of his own will.

Omprakash was arrested on June 16 based on a complaint made by Mujahids father. The case has sparked outrage, with Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) staging a protest outside the medical college.

BKU leaders say the hospital was involved in illegal organ trade and other illicit activities. I believe there is a very big racket going on here where they remove vital organs of the body and sell them at a higher price, says farm leader Shyam Pal.

Pal is demanding the government pay 2 crore compensation to Mujahid.
A woman in France has sued her employer for not assigning her any work while still paying her full salary for 20 years. Laurence Van Wassenhove, who is disabled, has decided to sue telecom giant Orange, alleging harassment and discrimination based on her health condition, reported VN Express. A woman has sued her employer for not assigning her any work.(Bloomberg)

Wassenhove was hired by France Telecom in 1993, before Orange took over the company. France Telecom knew of her physical constraints - she was paralyzed on one side of her body and suffered from epilepsy. Therefore, she was offered a role suitable for her.

Wassenhove worked as a secretary and in human resources until 2002, when she requested a transfer to another region of France. She did not find her new workplace suitable.

However, Orange reportedly refused to make any adjustments. Instead, she was paid her full salary, but no work was assigned to her. Wassenhove says this was done to push her out of the job without having to fire her outright.

Hard to bear

While getting paid to do no work may seem like the dream scenario to many, the French woman claims it is very hard to bear, according to The Sun.

In 2015, she complained to the government and High Authority for the Fight against Discrimination. After this, Orange appointed a mediator to resolve the situation. However, Wassenhove claims her situation did not improve even after this.

Being paid, at home, not working is not a privilege. It's very hard to bear, she said.

Her lawyer, David Nabet-Martin, also claims that she developed depression due to the isolation.

Orange, on the other hand, claims that it had done everything possible to ensure she worked under the best conditions. The telecom giant said it took her personal social situation into account and planned "a return to work in adapted position" policy for Wassenhove, which never happened as she was regularly out on sick leave.
Toronto: A Canadian court has rejected an appeal by two alleged Khalistan supporters to be taken off a no-fly list they were placed on in 2018. A view of the airport in Toronto, Canada on June 10. (AFP)

The agency Canadian Press reported that Bhagat Singh Brar and Parvkar Singh Dulai wanted their no-fly designations under the Secure Air Travel Act to be removed. However, the Federal Court of Appeal ruled against their plea, which challenged a judgment from a court in 2022 that upheld their being placed on the list.

The court found that the government had reasonable grounds to suspect that the appellants would travel by air to commit a terrorism offence.

The hearings were held on June 13 and June 17 and the decision was delivered on June 19 by the three-judge bench.

Brar is believed to be the son of Lakhbir Singh Rode, considered the head of the International Sikh Youth Federation, which is a proscribed terrorist entity in Canada. Rode, the nephew of extremist leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, died in Pakistan in December last year. Bhindranwale was killed in June 1984 when Indian forces stormed the Golden Temple in Amritsar during Operation Bluestar.

Brar was prevented from boarding a flight at Vancouver International Airport on April 24, 2018, while Dulai was denied boarding at the same airport on May 17 the same year.

In July 2020, the outlet Global News had reported that Brar, based in Brampton in the Greater Toronto Area , was accused in documents of Canadian security agencies of working with Pakistans ISI intelligence service to plan an attack in India that was disrupted in 2017. Inter-Services Intelligence or ISI is Pakistans spy agency.

The same documents, the outlet reported, alleged Dulai, based in Surrey, British Columbia, was suspected to be a facilitator of terrorist-related activities, and has shown an ongoing pattern of involvement within the Khalistani extremist milieu.
Toronto: Family members of the victims of the terrorist bombing of Air India flight 182, the Kanishka, have expressed anguish over misinformation over the attack by Khalistani extremists and return of the movement again gaining ground in Canada. Sikh protesters stand outside of Surrey Provincial Court, where four suspects arrested by Canadian police for the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, appeared, in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, on May 21. (REUTERS)

The 39th anniversary of the worst ever incident of terror in Canadian history is on June 23. In 1985, the terrorist bombing of the aircraft resulted in the loss of 329 lives, including those of 86 children and is observed in Canada as the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism.

Memorial services for the victims will be held in Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa and Montreal on Sunday. However, now the secessionist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) has announced it will organise counter Khalistan Solidarity rallies at the same venues at the same time on the anniversary.

Among those who are upset with the burgeoning Khalistani activity in Canada is Toronto-based Deepak Khandelwal, who was just 17 when he lost his sisters Chandra and Manju in the tragedy. Those same types of actions we saw pre the 1985 bombing seem to be appearing again, and we cant let another terrorist event like this happen again and kill more innocent people, he said.

People can peacefully demonstrate in our society. However, I dont agree with the use of violence or glorification of terrorist acts as has been done recently. With the recent rhetoric - it is painful and hurtful that the facts regarding the bombing of Air India 182 are being lost. It is very concerning that people are trying to rewrite history with misinformation, he added.

SFJ has once again raised the discredited conspiracy theory that India was behind the bombing. SFJ has become emboldened in Canada since the countrys Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated 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 Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia three months earlier. Nijjars was SFJs principal organiser in the province. Canadian media has compounded the matter by referring to the separatists as activists.

That sentiment is shared by Edmonton-based Meera Nair, who lost friends of her family in the terror attack. She said, The first time, Canada ignored the rising extremism. This time, Canada is encouraging it.

She was offended by SFJs proposed rallies, which she called repugnant.

Canadas system of the rule of law, revealed through a trial, a public inquiry, and another trial that Talwinder Singh Parmar and his associates were responsible for the bombing of Air India 182 on June 23, 1985. The public inquiry paid close attention to claims that the Indian government was involved and concluded that such claims were baseless. The Indian government of the day did everything in its power to warn Canada of the threat of violence, including identifying the date of suspected violence. Canada ignored all that information, to tragic outcomes, she added.

SFJ has also called for a boycott of Air India flights out of Canada, starting on June 23.

Professor Chandrima Chakraborty, who is curating a public archive of the tragedy at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, was also troubled by the Ottawa deafness and silence on the issue. She said, It is unfortunate that Canada has not learnt its lessons from the Air India bombing. And one of the reasons for this is its failure to embrace this tragedy and its losses as Canadian losses despite a public inquiry, the longest and most expensive criminal trial and a federal government apology. The negligence and mistreatment of the families continues in the governments inability and unwillingness to address the rise of Khalistani rhetoric.
Israeli and Palestinian authorities said at least two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli operation in the occupied West Bank city of Qalqilya on Friday. Israeli and Palestinian authorities said at least two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli operation in the occupied West Bank city of Qalqilya on Friday. (Representational picture)(AFP)

"Police forces have killed 2 wanted terrorists in Qalqilya", Israeli authorities told AFP.

In a joint statement, the Israeli police, army, and Shin Bet security service said that Israeli forces "attempted to arrest two terrorists" from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group, one of whom "was planning to carry out an attack in the area."

"During the arrest, fire was opened on our forces, who returned fire and neutralised the terrorists", the statement read, adding that the forces found handguns on the Palestinians.

ALSO READ| Israel-Hezbollah tensions drive fears of widening Gaza war

The Palestinian ministry of civil affairs also reported the death of the two men.

"The General Authority of Civil Affairs informed the Ministry of Health of the martyrdom of Mahmoud Hassan Abdul Rahman Zaid (28 years old) and Ihab Abdul Karim Musa Abu Hamed (29 years old) by Israeli gunfire in Qalqilya", it said in a statement.

The official Wafa Agency reported that eyewitnesses saw Israeli special forces firing live ammunition at a vehicle on Friday afternoon as it passed along the main street of Qalqilya, in the northern West Bank.

The West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967, has experienced a surge in violence for more than a year, particularly since the Israel-Hamas war erupted on October 7.

At least 549 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers across the West Bank since October 7, according to Palestinian officials.

Attacks by Palestinians have killed at least 14 Israelis in the West Bank over the same period, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.
Prince Harry and Prince William might soon conclude a long-standing feud due to pressure from King Charles III, according to a royal expert. Prince Harry flew more than 5,000 miles to see his father after King Charles III was diagnosed with cancer. But he did not see his estranged brother, William, during a visit that lasted scarcely 24 hours. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)(AP)

Charles asked the Duke of Sussex to look for a property in the UK so that the monarch could spend more time with his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lillibet.

Royal expert Tom Quinn suggested that King Charles is keen on having a closer relationship with his grandchildren. Quinn told Mirror UK, King Charles has been putting pressure on Harry to do just this as he is angry that his only relationship with his grandchildren so far is via video calls, which Charles hates.

ALSO READ| Prince Harry on his own as King Charles thinks criticism of Camilla is unforgivable, expert says

King Charles urges Prince Harry to return to UK

The prospect of Prince Harry and Prince William reuniting at a UK home has also been floated, though it is believed that Meghan Markle might not join her husband due to her negative experiences within the Royal Family.

Quinn elaborated, William and Kate's children would spend the weekend at Highgrove and Harry's children could then easily pop over from their house nearby.

This would neatly get round the problem of Meghan  she just wouldn't need to be there and the children could be whisked back to the States after a week or two.

It is clear that King Charles' younger son's life is firmly rooted in the US. He has previously expressed ambivalence about becoming an American citizen.

During an interview with Good Morning America, when host William Reeve asked the duke Do you feel American?, Harry responded, Do I feel American? No... I don't know how I feel. When pressed on what would stop him from applying for American citizenship, he replied, I have no idea. I'm here standing next to these guys. The American citizenship is a thought that has crossed my mind, but certainly not something that is a priority for me right now.

ALSO READ| King Charles in talks for official America tour over desperation to meet just 3 people

However, it was reported earlier that Prince Harry changed his country of residence from the UK to the US.

And also, Meghan appears very content with her life in California. Another royal author, Omid Scobie, has claimed in his book, Endgame, that the Suits star never felt at home in the UK and has no desire to set foot again in England.
Monsoon rains and upstream river water from India have caused widespread flooding in northeastern Bangladesh, stranding more than 2 million people, and the situation could worsen, officials said on Friday. An aerial view shows flooded area in Companiganj of Sylhet district on June 20, 2024. In Sylhet, lashing rain and rivers swollen by flooding upstream in India also swamped heavily populated areas. (AFP)

The U.N. children's agency UNICEF said trapped residents in the region, including more than 772,000 children, were in urgent need of assistance.

"Children are the most vulnerable, facing heightened risks of drowning, malnutrition, deadly waterborne diseases, the trauma of displacement, and potential abuse in overpopulated shelters," said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh.

ALSO READ| Floods worsen in Assam, toll increases to 26

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department forecast further heavy rainfall in the next few days that could exacerbate the flooding and cause landslides in hilly areas.

At least 10 people, including eight Rohingya Muslims, were killed on Wednesday after heavy monsoon rains triggered landslides in refugee camps in southern Bangladesh.

The northeastern region has been particularly hard hit, with heavy rainfall and upstream water from India causing widespread inundation. Bangladesh is still recovering from a cyclone that hit its coastal belt in the south late last month.

"I fear it could be as devastating as the 2022 floods," Sylhet resident Shameem Chowdhury said, referring to flooding that was the worst in the region for 122 years.

TV footage showed extensive flooding in fields and villages with people wading through knee-deep water in Sylhet city as the rainfall dangerously swelled water levels along four rivers in the region.

Vast areas of land are submerged, posing a significant threat to crops if the floodwaters linger for an extended period, agriculture ministry officials said.

The flooding has also caused significant damage to infrastructure with over 810 government schools in the Sylhet division flooded and nearly 500 being used as flood shelters, UNICEF said. Almost 140 community clinics were also submerged, disrupting essential healthcare services.

A 2015 analysis by the World Bank Institute estimated that approximately 3.5 million people in Bangladesh, one of the world's most climate-vulnerable countries, were at risk of annual river flooding. Scientists attribute the exacerbation of such catastrophic events to climate change.
China appears to be keeping its distance as Russia and North Korea move closer to each other with a new defence pact that could tilt the balance of power among the three authoritarian states. North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un (R) and Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) shaking hands after a signing ceremony(AFP)

Experts say China's leaders are likely fretting over potential loss of influence over North Korea after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the deal this week, and how that could increase instability on the Korean Peninsula. But Beijing may be struggling to come up with a response to because of its conflicting goals: keeping peace in the Koreas while countering the U.S. and its Western allies on the global stage.

Also read | South Korea summons Russian ambassador as tensions rise with North Korea

Beijing so far has not commented on the deal  which requires both countries to provide defence assistance if the other is attacked  and only reiterated boilerplate statements that it seeks to uphold peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and advance a political settlement of the North-South divide.

The Chinese response has been very weak," said Victor Cha, senior vice president for Asia and Korea chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, adding that it could be a sign that Beijing doesn't yet know what to do.

Every option is a bad option, he said. Youre either unable to make a decision because of very strongly held competing views or ... youre just incapable of making a decision because you just dont know how to evaluate the situation.

Some in Beijing may welcome the Russia-North Korea partnership as a way of pushing back at America's dominance in world affairs, but Cha said that there is also a great deal of discomfort in China, which doesnt want to lose its sway over its neighbour to Russia, doesnt want to see a destabilizing nuclear power on its doorstep, and doesnt want to bring the conflict in Europe to Asia.

Also read | Russia and North Korea sign partnership agreement | All you need to know

But China isn't raising these concerns publicly. They dont want to push Kim Jong Un further into the arms of Vladimir Putin, Cha said, referring to the leaders of the two countries.

Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, declined to comment on the new agreement. The cooperation between Russia and the DPRK is a matter between two sovereign states. We do not have information on the relevant matter, he said, referring to North Korea by the initials for its official name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

John Kirby, the White House national security spokesman, told reporters that the pact between Russia and North Korea "should be of concern to any country that believes that the U.N. Security Council resolutions ought to be abided by. The Security Council has imposed sanctions on North Korea to try to stop its development of nuclear weapons.

Kirby also said the agreement "should be of concern to anybody who thinks that supporting the people of Ukraine is an important thing to do. And we would think that that concern would be shared by the Peoples Republic of China."

One area that China could be concerned about is whether Russia will help North Korea's weapons program by sharing advanced technology, said Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center.

If China is indeed concerned, it has leverage in both Russia and North Korea and it could probably try to put some limitations to that relationship, he said.

The meeting between Putin and Kim this week was the latest chapter in decades of complicated political and military relationships in East Asia, where the Chinese Communist Party, once an underdog, has emerged as a leading power that wields influence over both North Korea and Russia.

That and other developments have raised alarms in the U.S. that Beijing, now the world's second-largest economy, could challenge the U.S.-led world order by aligning itself with countries such as Russia, North Korea and Iran. Beijing has rejected that allegation.

Sun Yun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center, said Beijing doesn't want to form a three-way alliance with North Korea and Russia, because it needs to keep its options open."

Such a coalition could mean a new Cold War, something Beijing says it is determined to avoid, and locking itself to Pyongyang and Moscow would be contrary to China's goals of maintaining relationships with Europe and improving ties with Japan and South Korea, she said.

Sun added that the rapprochement between North Korea and Moscow opens up possibilities and potentials of uncertainty, but based on what has happened so far, I don't think that China's national interests have been undercut by this.

Closer ties between Putin and Kim could weaken Beijing's sway and leave it as the biggest loser, said Danny Russel, who was the top U.S. diplomat for Asia in the Obama administration.

Apart from irritation over Putins intrusion into what most Chinese consider their sphere of influence, the real cost to China is that Russias embrace gives North Korea greater impunity and room to manoeuvre without consideration to Beijings interests, he said.

Russel, now vice president for international security and diplomacy at the Asia Society Policy Institute, said that Kim is eager to reduce his countrys dependence on China.

The dilution of Chinese leverage means Kim Jong Un can disregard Beijings calls for restraint," he said, "and that is much more likely to create chaos at a time when (Chinese leader) Xi Jinping desperately wants stability.
South Korea summoned the Russian ambassador to protest the country's new defence pact with North Korea on Friday, as border tensions continued to rise with vague threats and brief, seemingly accidental incursions by North Korean troops. President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol (via REUTERS)

Earlier Friday, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un issued a vague threat of retaliation after South Korean activists flew balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets across the border, and South Koreas military said it had fired warning shots the previous day to repel North Korean soldiers who briefly crossed the rivals land border for the third time this month.

Also read | Russia and North Korea sign partnership agreement | All you need to know

That came two days after Moscow and Pyongyang reached a pact vowing mutual defence assistance if either is attacked, and a day after Seoul responded by saying it would consider providing arms to Ukraine to fight Russias invasion.

South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong Kyun summoned Russian Ambassador Georgy Zinoviev to convey Seouls stance on the deal between Putin and Kim and on alleged military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. Seouls Foreign Ministry didnt immediately confirm what was said during the meeting.

Leafletting campaigns by South Korean civilian activists in recent weeks have prompted a resumption of Cold War-style psychological warfare along the inter-Korean border.

The South Korean civilian activists, led by North Korean defector Park Sang-hak, said it sent 20 balloons carrying 300,000 propaganda leaflets, 5,000 USB sticks with South Korean pop songs and TV dramas, and 3,000 U.S. dollar bills from the South Korean border town of Paju on Thursday night.

Pyongyang resents such material and fears it could demoralize front-line troops and residents and eventually weaken Kim Jong Uns grip on power, analysts say.

In a statement carried by North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency, Kim Yo Jong, one of her brothers top foreign policy officials, called the activists defector scum and issued what appeared to be a threat of retaliation.

When you do something you were clearly warned not to do, its only natural that you will find yourself dealing with something you didnt have to, she said, without specifying what the North would do.

After previous leafletting by South Korean activists, North Korea launched more than 1,000 balloons that dropped tons of trash in South Korea, smashing roof tiles and windows and causing other property damage. Kim Yo Jong previously hinted that balloons could become the Norths standard response to leafletting, saying that the North would respond by scattering dozens of times more rubbish than is being scattered on us.

In response, South Korea resumed anti-North Korea propaganda broadcasts with military loudspeakers installed at the border for the first time in years, to which Kim Yo Jong, in another state media statement, warned that Seoul was creating a prelude to a very dangerous situation.

Tensions between the Koreas are at their highest in years as Kim Jong Un accelerates his nuclear weapons and missile development and attempts to strengthen his regional footing by aligning with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a standoff against the U.S.-led West.

South Korea, a growing arms exporter with a well-equipped military backed by the United States, says it is considering upping support for Ukraine in response. Seoul has already provided humanitarian aid and other support while joining U.S.-led economic sanctions against Moscow. But it has not directly provided arms, citing a long-standing policy of not supplying weapons to countries actively engaged in conflict.

Putin told reporters in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Thursday that supplying weapons to Ukraine would be a very big mistake," and said South Korea shouldnt worry about the agreement if it isnt planning aggression against Pyongyang.

North Korea is extremely sensitive to criticism of Kims authoritarian rule and efforts to reach its people with foreign news and other media.

In 2015, when South Korea restarted loudspeaker broadcasts for the first time in 11 years, North Korea fired artillery rounds across the border, prompting South Korea to return fire, according to South Korean officials. No casualties were reported.

South Koreas military said there are signs that North Korea was installing its own speakers at the border, although they werent yet working.

In the latest border incident, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said several North Korean soldiers engaged in unspecified construction work briefly crossed the military demarcation line that divides the two countries at around 11 a.m. Thursday.

The South Korean military broadcast a warning and fired warning shots, after which the North Korean soldiers retreated. The joint chiefs didnt immediately release more details, including why it was releasing the information a day late.

South Koreas military says believes recent border intrusions were not intentional, as the North Korean soldiers have not returned fire and retreated after the warning shots.

The Souths military has observed the North deploying large numbers of soldiers in frontline areas to build suspected anti-tank barriers, reinforce roads and plant mines in an apparent attempt to fortify their side of the border. Seoul believes the efforts are likely aimed at preventing North Korean civilians and soldiers from escaping to the South.
Tajikistan, a central Asian nation neighbouring Afghanistan, is set to impose a hijab ban on its citizens after the Tajikistan parliament's upper house, Majlisi Milli, passed a law on June 19 prohibiting "alien garments" and children's festivities during two major Islamic holidaysEid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. The women's garments have been arriving in Tajikistan from the Middle East in recent years and are seen by officials as linked to Islamic extremists. (AP/File)

On June 19, the 18th session of the Majlisi Milli, led by its chairman Rustam Emomali, was held.

The bill was passed on May 8 by the lower chamber, the Majlisi Namoyandagon, and it primarily focuses on banning the hijab and other traditional Islamic clothing.

What is the law about?

Sulaiman Davlatzoda, the head of the Religion Committee, had then said as per Radio Libertys Tajik Service, Radio Ozodi, that children's holidays were banned to ensure proper education and ensuring their safety during Ramadan and Eid al-Adha.

According to the Majlisi Milli press centre, during the session, they supported changes to Tajikistan's laws concerning holidays, cultural practices, the role of teachers in children's upbringing, and parental duties.

Regarding the women's garments, they have been arriving in Tajikistan from the Middle East in recent years and are seen by officials as linked to Islamic extremists. The bill has caused debate among Tajikistan's mostly Muslim population in the tightly governed ex-Soviet republic.

What is the punishment?

Lawmakers also agreed on new changes to the rules for breaking the law, which include large fines for those who break them. The rules did not previously list wearing a hijab or other religious clothing as something citizens can't do.

Radio Ozodi reported on May 23, that the Tajikistan authorities decided that the fines for people who break these rules would be different for different entities.

Individuals could get fines as high as 7,920 somonis, while companies could get fined up to 39,500 somonis. Government officials and religious leaders might have to pay even more if they're found guilty, with fines reaching 54,000 somonis for officials and 57,600 somonis for religious leaders.

Read more : Kolkata teacher resigns over alleged hijab ban, university issues clarification

Has Tajikistan already banned hijab unofficially?

Tajikistan has officially banned the Islamic Hijab after years of it being unofficially restricted. The Tajik government started cracking down on the hijab in 2007 when the Ministry of Education prohibited both Islamic attire and Western-style miniskirts for students.

This ban was later expanded to include all public institutions, with some organisations requiring their employees and visitors to remove their headscarves. Local authorities formed special teams to enforce this informal ban, and police even conducted raids in markets to apprehend people breaking the rule. However, officials have denied multiple reports from women who claimed they were stopped on the street and fined for wearing the hijab, Asia Plus reported.

In recent years, the Tajik government has promoted traditional Tajik clothing through a campaign. In 2017, millions of people received text messages urging women to wear Tajik national clothes. The messages emphasised the importance of respecting and making it a tradition to wear these outfits. This effort peaked in 2018 with the release of a 376-page manual titled "The Guidebook Of Recommended Outfits In Tajikistan," which detailed appropriate attire for various occasions.

Read more : Indias engagement with Taliban should redefine Tajikistan relationship

Additionally, Tajikistan has informally discouraged men from wearing bushy beards. Reports indicate that thousands of men have been forcibly stopped by police over the past decade and had their beards shaved off against their will.

Tajikistan's government on the issue

In March this year, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon said, Xenophobia in clothing, i.e. wearing foreign clothes with fake names and hijab, is another pressing issue for our society.
Lara Trump has asserted that Donald Trump's potential imprisonment would have no bearing on his status as the Republican Presidential nominee. As the Republican National Convention approaches in Milwaukee, where he is expected to be nominated for president, the former president's family stands firmly behind him following the Hush Money trial verdict. However, this support comes amidst the looming sentencing by Judge Juan Mercha, scheduled just three weeks before the convention. Doesnt matter if Donald Trump is in prison, Lara Trump says father-in-law will remain Republican Presidential nominee

Donald Trump will remain Republican nominee says Lara Trump

The ex-president of the United States was found guilty in a scandalous case involving adult film star Stormy Daniels. He faced 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, a felony in New York. Even with the threat of imprisonment, the Republican Party shows no signs of backing down. Speaking to Real Americas Voice, Trumps daughter-in-law Lara asserted that his physical presence at the convention is irrelevant and that he will accept the nomination regardless of his whereabouts.

Also read: Justin Timberlake's ego crushed: Young cop unaware of his fame, album flops, trolls go wild

Lara answered host Terrance Bates's question, which was about Judge Juan Merchan potentially sentencing President Trump to prison, thereby preventing him from attending the Republican National Convention which will happen just a few days after the courts final sentencing  a major concern. Lara stated, 'He will continue to be our candidate all the way to November 5th, when he is reelected as our 47th president,' as reported by Vanity Fair."

Lara Trump views 34 felony convictions in positive light

The outlet then asked the spouse of Eric Trump, former U.S. President Donald Trumps third child, about the 'guilty verdict' and its impact on the upcoming RNC convention. She claimed that her father-in-laws 34 felony convictions have been a positive for him because people see how third-world and communist it is, and they do not want to see this as the future of America. However, the internet did not view this positively and thus ridiculed her.

Also read: Prince Louis' five word remark to his sister Charlotte and mom Kate shows his true nature at Trooping the Colour

"They literally can't think of anyone to replace Trump because literally every elected Republican is hated by the vast majority of the country. I'm grabbing the popcorn and putting on the poncho for the incoming s---show, a person joked on X. Others trolled Lara as nepo baby. "The Trump family will milk idiots for every penny they can before they surrender their golden cow, wrote another.

Will Donald Trump face jail time?

With each passing day, this question is becoming more pressing. Recent reports state that the former POTUS himself has grown increasingly concerned. According to the report, he has been asking his friends and aides about what prison might be like and where he might be sent. However, while many think he probably wont face jail time, not everyone agrees. Diana Florence, a former prosecutor, said Trump's case is serious and, based on all the evidence from the trial, she believes he should go to state prison if convicted, as per Puck News.
Former President Donald Trump said in an interview posted on Thursday he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges, a sharp departure from the anti-immigrant rhetoric he typically uses on the campaign trail. Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during his campaign event, in Racine, Wisconsin, U.S. June 18, 2024. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid(REUTERS)

Trump was asked about plans for companies to be able to import the best and brightest in a podcast taped Wednesday with venture capitalists and tech investors called the All-In.

What I want to do and what I will do is you graduate from a college, I think you should get automatically as part of your diploma a green card to be able to stay in this country. And that includes junior colleges too, anybody graduates from a college. You go there for two years or four years, he said, vowing to address this concern on day one.

Immigration has been Trump's signature issue during his 2024 bid to return to the White House. His suggestion that he would offer green cards  documents that confer a pathway to U.S. citizenship  to potentially hundreds of thousands of foreign graduates would represent a sweeping expansion of America's immigration system that sharply diverges from his most common messages on foreigners.

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Trump pledges largest deportation operation amid immigration policy debate

Trump has blamed immigrants who are in the country illegally for committing crimes, stealing jobs and government resources, and suggested that they are poisoning the blood of our country. He has promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history if elected.

Trump and his allies often say they distinguish between people entering illegally versus legally. But during his administration, Trump also proposed curbs on legal immigration such as family-based visas and the visa lottery program.

Right after taking office in 2017, he issued his Buy American and Hire American executive order, directing Cabinet members to suggest reforms to ensure that business visas were only awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers.

He has previously said the H1-B program commonly used by companies to hire foreign workers temporarily  a program he has used in the past  was very bad and used by tech companies to get foreign workers for lower pay.

ALSO READ| Vivek Ramaswamy says Donald Trump is the George Washington of our day at Wisconsin rally

During the conversation with All-In, Trump blamed the coronavirus pandemic for being unable to implement these measures while he was president. He said he knows of stories of people who graduate from top colleges and want to stay in the U.S. but can't secure visas to do so, forcing them to return to their native countries, specifically naming India and China. He said they go on and become multibillionaires, employing thousands of workers.

You need a pool of people to work for your company, Trump said. And they have to be smart people. Not everybody can be less than smart. You need brilliant people.
Former US President Donald Trump, an ardent opponent of immigration, surprised the world when he declared that he will grant automatic green cards to all US college graduates if elected. Even as several have thanked Trump for his outreach his critics wonder, what will happen to "Buy American, hire American?"(AFP)

"Let me just tell you that it's so sad when we lose people from Harvard, MIT, from the greatest schools and lesser schools that are phenomenal schools also," Trump stated in a podcast.

"But what I want to do, and what I will do is if you graduate from a college, I think you should get, automatically as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country, and that includes junior colleges too. Anybody graduates from a college, you go in there for two years or four years, if you graduate, or you get a doctorate degree from a college, you should be able to stay in this country."

In a statement released hours after the podcast was posted, Trump's campaign press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, Trump has outlined the most aggressive vetting process in U.S. history, to exclude all communists, radical Islamists, Hamas supporters, America haters and public charges."

"This would only apply to the most thoroughly vetted college graduates who would never undercut American wages or workers. he further added.

Indian Immigration community hails Trump's remarks

Trump's announcement was met with enthusiastic applause by Indian Americans who have been advocating for green card reforms. Indians are among the biggest victims of US visa and immigration laws. For the first time, Trump has talked about improving the legal immigration system and about high-skilled talent from India, Atal Agarwal, a prominent voice of immigration rights for Indians, told HindustanTimes.com. Its high time Indian immigrants support Trump since Democrats arent supporting the community.

Just on this point alone, I would vote for him and ignore his other shenanigans. It's a win-win. I was forced to leave the US because of precisely this issue...Inability to convert an H1B into a green card, Suchit Ahuja, a professor at Concordia University stated.

However, this statement marks a significant departure from Trump's usual rhetoric on immigration. In the past, he has claimed that immigrants are poisoning the blood of our country and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in US history if elected.

Populist Trump strikes again! Now all an illegal migrant has to do is graduate from Phoenix University and wham-bam Green Card! Trump flip-flops on immigration, and Ill bet MAGA just rolls over and accepts it! stated a user on X (formerly Twitter).

Frank DeScushin, a Republican supporter on X argued, Trump's plan to give any foreign student graduating a US college a green card, including two-year colleges, will increase the number of immigrants coming to and staying in the US, and increase the competition for college spots making it more difficult for American students

So, can Donald Trump be trusted over green card remark?

He made similar promises in 2016 as well, then did the opposite as president and implement to curtail legal immigration. "Trump literally slowed down H1B renewals and cancelled the right to work for H1B spouses. This man is a liar. He will say anything to anyone." Anshu Sharma, Indian entrepreneur from California stated.

Trump made remarks like these in 2016 (one example below) as well, then did the opposite as president to curtail legal immigration. He has even termed H-1B as very bad.

During his presidential tenure Trump even proposed curbs on legal immigration such as family-based visas and the visa lottery program and went on to issue his Buy American and Hire American executive order.

While this proposal could potentially benefit many immigrants, including high-skilled Indian professionals, it raises questions about its feasibility and consistency with his past policies. Considering Trump has already irked his biggest Maga voter base after this statement.

Trump has a track record of making bold promises during campaigns, some of which have not materialized or have faced significant legal and political hurdles. His previous statements and actions, including aggressive deportation policies and derogatory remarks about immigrants, suggest a complex and often contradictory approach to immigration reform. Rhetorically seen the statement looks more like a strategic move to garner support from immigrant communities ahead of the election rather than an ideological shift.
On Tuesday, June 18, Joe Biden launched a new initiative to offer immigration relief to up to half a million undocumented spouses of Americans. Although the sitting president's election-year move was clearly recognised as a sharp contrasting response to front-running Republican rival Donald Trump's restrictive plans for mass deportations, his decision ultimately lit up a hopeful path to citizenship for many undocumented family members who have been living in the country for at least 10 years. Additionally, the new Biden policy also extended support to around 50,000 children (under 21) with an American citizen as their parent. DACA recipient Javier Quiroz Castro introduces U.S. President Joe Biden, before the announcement an executive action to provide immigration relief for spouses of U.S. citizens, coinciding with the 12th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, at the White House in Washington, U.S., June 18, 2024.(REUTERS)

Despite the president's methods extending welcome relief to the eligible parties, spouses and children of backlogged Green Card applicants weren't included in the newly announced legality of status and continue to be plagued by excessive Green Card backlog.

FIIDS demand Biden administration include family members of backlogged Green Card applicants in new policy

The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora (FIIDS) spotlighted this exclusion in an official press release addressed to President Biden on June 21. Now, demanding the US president to Include Documented Dreamers and Spouses of Backlogged Green Card Applicants in Newly Announced Legal Status and Work Permits," they've started a petition and are spreading the word online.

According to its official website, FIIDS is a US-based non-profit organisation that aims to engage IndianSouth Asian diaspora in the United States to further strengthen collaboration in international affairs, education, science and technology, geopolitical, trade and economic policy, counter-terrorism, international peace, and people-to-people engagement.

Also read | H-1B and L-1 visa extensions could weigh thousands of dollars heavier on US employers, according to new DHS proposal

With its headquarters in Washington, D.C., FIIDS launched a Change.Org petition titled Pres. Biden: Extend EAD/GC Immigration Relief to Legal Dreamers Stuck in GC Backlog.

Their official press release reads:

"On June 18th, President Biden announced that undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens residing in the U.S. for 10 or more years can apply for expedited citizenship. Additionally, undocumented children with college education will be eligible for immediate work visas and future legal residency. We recognize President Bidens commitment to keeping American families together and his intentions to promote family unity and strengthen the economy.

On this important initiative, we regretfully bring to attention that this announcement missed an opportunity to include hundreds of thousands of spouses of legal, tax-paying, contributing immigrants who are stuck in long green card waits due to the 7% country-wise quota. Their U.S.-educated children are becoming out of status at 21. They too have dreams; they are dreamers too. Just because they are legal, they shouldnt be excluded from such measures.

We respectfully request extending this compassionate offer to include spouses of documented immigrants on H1B who are waiting for green card (backlogs) for 10+ years to get work permit/EAD . Allowing these spouses to obtain EAD and apply for separate green card without being limited by their spouse's employment-based green card status, and granting their children immediate EAD based on their education, would keep families together and enable them to contribute to the US economy with their full potential."

FIIDS USA also foregrounded the concerning issue on social media. Change Petition https://chng.it/w5RMPNTvZB for Spouses and children of long backlogged H1Bs #gcbacklog also have dreams, they are dreamers too! Extend immigration relief ! EAD for them !@DcWalaDesi @lalitkjha @POTUS @IndianEmbassyUS @RoKhanna @CongressmanRaja @ShriThanedar @RepJayapal @khanderao @DrSJaishankar @IndianEmbassyUS, they tweeted on X/Twitter.

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Their tweet was a direct response to President Biden's June 18 video message, which was captioned, We are a better and stronger nation because of Dreamers. In the clip, POTUS is heard addressing the nation: A few days ago, we marked the 12th anniversary of taking care of Dreamers that President Obama and I put in place. These young people known as Dreamers  Hispanics, South Asians and more  who came to American as children, only know American as their home and had been able to live and learn out of the shadows. So many of them have graduated from high school and college and are starting families on their own. We're a much better and stronger nation because of Dreamers like Javier, who just introduced me. So, today I'm announcing new measures to clarify and speed up worse visas to help people including Dreamers who have graduated from US colleges and universities, landed jobs in high-demand, high-skill professions. It's the right to do.

India-born H-4 dependent aging out of his mother's work visa due to excessive H-1B backlog

FIIDS raises a significant demand for the family members of Green Card applicants who are still waiting in a seemingly never-ending queue of petitioners, further plagued by an immense backlog. Their address to Biden comes just days after the youth-led organisation 'Improve the Dream' spotlighted the heart-breaking case of India-born Roshan Taroll, who's been forced to self-deport from the US after aging out of his mother's work visa.

Taroll originally came to the US with his family on an H-4 dependent visa when he was ten years old. His mother passed away before getting her green card and now that he's past the age of 21, he's aged out of his mother's petition.

He eventually converted to an F-1 student visa to attend Boston College, following which he continued to work for a semiconductor company on his Optional Practical Training (OPT). Nevertheless, all his hard work fell to the ground after he wasn't selected in the H-1B lottery despite his company trying to secure his visa thrice. He's been pushed into self-deportation and exposed to the risk of family separation. (Read more here: India-born H-4 visa holder forced to self-deport from US after aging out from his mother's green card petition)
In a podcast taped Wednesday, former US President Donald Trump has promised to give an automatic green card to every foreign student who graduates from any US college as a part of their diploma. Trump advocates for 'high-skilled immigration' with automatic green cards(All-In Podcast)

And the Indians across the Atlantic are going into a spiral over the fact the former POTUS always lauded the anti-immigrant rhetoric throughout his presidential campaigns.

In an All-In Podcast Trump was asked what's his plan for the companies to be able to import the best and brightest, the former president replied, What I want to do and what I will do is you graduate from a college, I think you should get automatically as part of your diploma a green card to be able to stay in this country. And that includes junior colleges too, anybody graduates from a college. You go there for two years or four years, if you graduate, or you get a doctorate degree from a college, you should be able to stay in this country

US immigration was the main ranting topic of the 2024 Trump campaign, largely based on open borders, huge backlogs and illegal immigrants. Specifically, his proposal of the creation of a pathway to a green card  papers that grant a foreign national a legal right to live in the US and work toward the acquisition of US citizenship  to potentially hundreds of thousands of graduates from foreign universities would signify a bold scaling up of the size of immigration to America that differs starkly from the majority of his comments on individuals from other countries.

ALSO READ| Trump's big statement on green card backlog, promises to give automatic citizenship to foreign grads

Indians overseas are lauding Trump

And for the first time internet seemed to be unified and backing Trump. Like one British-Algerian-American immigrant, LisaWehde posted her thoughts on X (formerly Twitter), fwiw  sharing this quote isn't an endorsement. I think high-skilled immigration & keeping incredible talent in America is one of the most important issues of all time, and added, I'm glad high-skilled immigration is discussed as a top priority in this election cycle.

All in on Trump  Let's donate to Trump, one Indian-American chimed in.

Well done Jason and DavidSacks for pushing Trump on this critical issue for American competitiveness, one user commented on the All-In Podcasts' video posted on X.

Another piped in, Trumps interviews are getting better. Like really good.

Another Indian-American X user posted, Trump's immigration policy of granting automatic green cards to college graduates is visionary and revolutionary. It promises stability and encourages innovation, ensuring our contributions flourish in America's entrepreneurial landscape.

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Now thats a healthier immigration policy. I think open borders may be a little naive if at least 180 countries arent doing the same thing. But it does push conservatives to accept ideas like giving green cards to non citizen US college graduates, another lauded the former POTUS' promise.

This is the right approach, one Indian-American user chimed in.

However, a bit sceptical Indian journalist Anil Gupta pointed out, Well, he does promise green card stapled to your US degree AND more #H1B visa But no word on removing 'country of birth' discrimination Without which, all promises will just remain a carrot dangling in front of Indians!

Following this, many users started raising suspicion, like one saying, Never going to happen, please dont sell dreams, while another wrote, Given it not in presidents authority to such things, all this can be for sound bites only. So how?
Kate Middleton stood as a pillar of strength at King Charles III's birthday parade, Trooping the Colour ceremony this past weekend, a reassuring presence for her fans despite her ongoing battle with cancer. Kate Middleton was sported in the same dress she wore to attended King Charles' coronation in May 2023.(Getty)

She might be the Princess of Wales, but she is still a mother and wife and going through the same set of emotions and worries and fears as anyone else in that set of circumstances would be, Queen Elizabeth's former press secretary, Ailsa Anderson, told People.

The Princess of Wales' appeared for the first time since her cancer diagnosis was really a show of strength, another insider claimed, The treatment is punishing, and it is different for different people. And the side effects can be unforgiving

ALSO READ| Prince Louis' five word remark to his sister Charlotte and mom Kate shows his true nature at Trooping the Colour

Redditors spotted Kate in Texas

Amidst this situation, some Redditors claim to have spotted Kate in Houston, Texas, in the past couple of weeks. Is this why the Princess of Wales missed her Trooping the Colour audition?

One Redditor claimed to be visiting friends at the St. Regis and they spoke about her being at the hotel. The Things is the first to report this.

Another online sleuth mentioned hearing from a staff member at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center that they had seen Kate hiking and laughing with her bodyguard near the hospital. MD Anderson is globally known to be a medical expert in dealing with different cancers, including breast, ovarian, lung, prostate, melanoma, and leukaemia, among others.

Life & Style earlier cited a source, There are multiple witnesses who claim to have seen her in Texas.

Its believed shes flying back and forth for secret cancer treatment there.

Notably, earlier, it was also claimed that Pope Francis' medical team, Romes esteemed Gemelli Clinic, reportedly flew to London back in January to perform the Princess' abdominal surgery.

ALSO READ| Queen Camilla displayed sense of unity and collaboration with Charles and Kate at Trooping the Colour: expert

Kate said she was doing well

Just days before the monarch's birthday parade, Kate released a statement r giving an update on her health: 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, the Princess of Wales concluded. However, Kate didn't reveal the type of cancer she is diagnosed with.
Fifteen people were shot after an illegal "sideshow took over a peaceful Juneteenth celebration in Oakland, California, police said Thursday. Investigators are seeking multiple shooters  more than 50 shell casings were recovered at the scene  following the violence Wednesday night at Lake Merritt, but no arrests had been made by Thursday afternoon. Oakland police officers respond to a multiple shooting during a Juneteenth celebration near Lake Merritt in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. A Juneteenth celebration in Oakland, California, turned violent when several people were shot, police said. (Ray Chavez /Bay Area News Group via AP)(AP)

Violence breaks out at Oakland Juneteenth

About 20 vehicles -- mostly all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes  arrived around 8:15 p.m. Wednesday and started a sideshow on the north side of the lake as 5,000 people attended the Juneteenth event.

Sideshows, also known as street takeovers, involve stunts like doughnuts, drifting and burnouts. Street takeovers often involve hundreds of spectators. Cars block access to an intersection, stopping traffic in all directions and making it harder for police to respond. Its become a widespread problem around the country, including Oakland and other cities across the U.S.

15 injured in shooting incident

Oakland Police Chief Floyd Mitchell on Thursday said one person walked across the hood of a sideshow vehicle. Multiple occupants got out and attacked the person, whose injuries required them to be hospitalised.

Some of the people in the crowd also attacked police officers, Mitchell said during a news conference. A woman was taken into custody for assaulting an officer while the officer was giving first aid to a gunshot victim. Detectives are combing social media for leads to the shooters' identities, Mitchell said.

At least one gunshot victim was in critical condition. The victims ages ranged from 20 to 30 years old. Other injuries included the loss of fingers and minor gunshot wounds.

The opportunity to celebrate with your family and friends should never be marred by gunfire, Mitchell said.

June 19, or Juneteenth, marks the day in 1865 enslaved people in Galveston, Texas found out they had been freed  after the end of the Civil War, and two years after President Abraham Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation.

Juneteenth was designated a federal holiday in 2021 and has become more universally recognized beyond Black America. Many people get the day off work or school, and there are a plethora of street festivals, fairs, concerts and other events.

In 2021, a shooting during a Juneteenth celebration at Lake Merritt left several people injured and a 22-year-old San Francisco man dead.
Prince Louis, the scene-stealing youngest child of Kate Middleton and Prince William, was at it again at this year's Trooping the Colour. As the Royal family descended on the Palaces balcony with full force one couldnt help but keep admiring the youngest whose bubbly personality left everyone in splits. Always full of life, Louis charmed onlookers with a sweet, five-word exchange with his sister Charlotte, while mom Kate Middleton kept a watchful eye on the children. Experts believe he showed signs of early maturity. Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis attend the Trooping the Colour parade which honours King Charles on his official birthday in London, Britain, June 15, 2024. (REUTERS)

Prince Louis's true colours at Trooping the Colour revealed

Prince Louis, known for his playful antics that have earned him the "cheeky" nickname, might be surprising everyone with a touch of maturity. A lip reader noted a heartwarming scene during the ceremony drenched by rain. As storms rolled through London, umbrellas sprouted like a sea of flowers along the Mall during the parade. A lip reader recorded a gentle conversation between Louis and his sister Charlotte, suggesting that Louis is beginning to understand others' feelings better.

Also read: Ben Affleck breaks marriage silence, says Jennifer Lopez's fame is 'bananas': 'Attention isn't my thing...'

According to the Daily Express, the young prince observed the crowd standing in heavy rain and remarked, "They're going to get wet!" Earlier, he gained attention when a video showed him yawning, prompting his sister Charlotte to remind him to watch the parade. However, he replied, "I won't." The young prince was also observed yawning once more and fiddling with a window blind cord while standing alongside his two siblings and mother, Princess Kate.

What did Prince Louis whisper to Kate Middleton?

Kate made her much-awaited comeback to the royal limelight after maintaining a low profile for months following her abdominal surgery in January. The princess disclosed her cancer diagnosis and was reported not to return to duty for the rest of the year; however, she surprised everyone with her appearance at Trooping the Colour. Kate was seated beside her youngest son, who appeared to be engaged in conversation with her, displaying an animated expression on his face.

Also read: Justin Timberlake's ego crushed: Young cop unaware of his fame, album flops, trolls go wild

According to lip reader Gaby Lane, as little Louis pointed to the crowds lined along the Mall in Central London, he mouthed the words "Look over there, ma." Kate reportedly responded with, "Okay, look at that," as per Lane's interpretation via The Sun. Later while interacting with Williams he said, Papa, Papa, Papa, look at all that color, pointing towards the jets flying in the air.
A Southwest Airlines flight came close to plunging into an Oklahoma neighbourhood as it flew below 500 feet. The Boeing 737 plane triggered a low altitude alert at approximately 12:05 am local time Wednesday, the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed. The dangerously low flight of the aircraft from Las Vegas prompted federal authorities to launch an investigation. A Southwest Airlines' Boeing 737 aircraft flew at dangerously low altitude levels of 500ft(AP)

Boeing 737 aircraft dives below 500ft while landing in Oklahoma City

The Southwest Flight 4069 was cleared to land at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City. However, it passed by Yukon High School shortly after midnight, setting off altitude alarms. As it narrowly missed homes in the residential area, an air traffic controller alerted the pilots, reported Mirror.

Southwest 4069, low altitude alert. You doing OK? the controller can be heard warning the Southwest crew in an audio recording obtained by LiveATC.net. The pilot replied, Yeah, we're going around. 4069. However, the air traffic controller instructed the aircraft to maintain an altitude of 3000 feet.

ALSO READ: Delta's Boeing 757-200 declares emergency after nose landing gear issue

Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 revealed that the Southwest aircraft had dropped to 525 feet above ground level while still nine miles away from its destination. It eventually landed after regaining altitude and circling around the airport. The officials confirmed that the aircraft missed its designated landing area the first time, causing it to fly at a dangerously low altitude.

Residents left traumatised by low flight of Southwest's Boeing 737

As the plane flew past the homes of the Oklahoma neighbourhood's residents, many recounted their terror online. One person wrote on Facebook, Thought I was having cool dreams about airplanes other night but actually had a 737 buzz my house. Another Facebook user said, It woke me up and I thought it was gonna hit my house, per Oklahoman.
Donald Trump and son Barron in trouble? Barron Trump 18, developed the TrumpCoin (DJT) token with the agreement of his Donald Trump, and is in possession of the private keys to its smart contract address, claimed Martin Shkreli.(Getty)

Martin Shkreli, who is also known as "Pharma Bro," claimed that he and Barron Trump are responsible for the introduction of the enigmatic DJT crypto token, a cryptocurrency named after Donald Trump.

The investor and convicted securities fraudster's assertion comes after a spike in the price of the meme coin DJT due to rumors of its alleged connection to the former US President.

Barron, 18, developed the TrumpCoin (DJT) token with the agreement of his father, and is in possession of the private keys to its smart contract address, according to Shkreli.

Shkreli, who was sentenced to over six years in jail for securities fraud, alleges that Barron asked him to establish the Solana-based coin in April. Based on statistics from Birdseye, the token is currently valued at $146 million.

Regarding the subject, neither Donald Trump or Barron have made a public statement.

Shkreli asserted at a Mario Nawfal-hosted X Spaces that he did not actively participate in the launch of the token, and he only offered guidance to his "friend" Barron over the token's debut.

He further claimed that Trump was the real DJT inventor and included influencer "Ansem" from the bitcoin space.

"I have over 1000 pieces of evidence I created it with Barron," Shkreli said to online crypto investigator ZachXBT, who provided the data on X.

He sent the message to ZachXBT after blockchain startup Arkham Intelligence announced $150,000 reward for identifying the person or people behind the DJT coin.

Martin Shkreli says he didn't act alone

In a post on X, Shkreli said ten persons were engaged in the token launch. I taught someone how to make a contact, and they pushed the button, not me. Keys are with Trump, not me. He added that I did not act alone.

He additionally asserted that Trump had spoken with Kraken, a cryptocurrency exchange, about possibly listing DJT.

Calming that Donald Trump "approved it", the 41-year-old Pharma Bro said: I have receipts of Barron saying his dad approved it.

We did this on [Barrons] computer. He ran the programs, he said. We spoke every day for 10 hours a day for the last week.

In an attempt to support his claims, Shkreli brought the "Mongolian Prince"a teenaged figure with fewer than 500 X followers who was purportedly involved with Shkreliinto the X Spaces.

When someone in the audience asked the somewhat shy Mongolian Prince if "Barron made the token" and "has the private keys," he answered with a "mmhmm."

Another audience member asked the Mongolian Prince who deployed the contract, he firmly said, Barron," adding that he wanted to do something special, something significant, and we all wanted to help him with that.

According to Mongolian Prince, he met with Trump in Florida. Before the DJT token debut, the Mongolian Prince said Trump laughed when Barron showed him Phantom wallet, which is based in Solana.

Blockchain expert ZachXBT received a $150,000 prize from blockchain analytics company Arkham Intelligence for purportedly identifying Shkreli as the developer of the DJT cryptocurrency.

Adam Cochran, a partner at Cinneamhain Ventures, charged that Shkreli was "trying to throw Barron under the bus" in an effort to clean his own name.

Many spectators in the X Spaces agreed with Shkreli's account of events, while others disagreed, saying Trump wouldn't be foolish enough to jeopardize his father's reputation during an election year.

Donald Trump and Barron not involved in DJT Solana Meme Coin: Roger Stone

One of Trump's close advisors, Roger Stone, refuted any involvement of the former president or Barron with the DJT memcoin as the conversation around his involvement grabbed center stage on social media.

In 2017, Shkreli was found guilty on two charges of securities fraud and one charge of conspiracy in a federal court. He was sentenced to almost seven years in prison and was fined almost $70 million as a result.

Many people have speculated that his current involvement may breach his parole restrictions, Shkreli has refuted this.

In response to the 1.6 million followers X account "BORED," which threatened to send him back to prison, Shkreli responded, "Read the law, idiot."

Also Read: Trump makes hurtful revelation on how son Barron feels about his hush money conviction

How DJT affected other meme coins

The influence on the prices of cryptocurrencies with Trump themes has been significant, regardless of the general skepticism over the purported links between the DJT token and the Trump family.

The MAGA-inspired TRUMP cryptocurrency fell 31% in the four hours following the reports, according to data from CoinGecko, from its prior level to $7.46. The token's market valuation has dropped by almost $150 million as a result of this sudden dip, dealing a serious blow to the cryptocurrency with the Make America Great Again theme.

It's interesting to see that other Trump-related meme currencies were also affected by the backlash. In a comparable amount of time, the Solana-based Donald Tremp (TREMP) token plummeted dramatically falling 36.8% from $0.95 to $0.60. Following the first sell-off, TREMP was able to partially recover to $0.76.
By Greg Torode, Gerry Doyle, Laurie Chen U.S. and China hold first informal nuclear talks in 5 years, eyeing Taiwan

HONG KONG, - The United States and China resumed semi-official nuclear arms talks in March for the first time in five years, with Beijing's representatives telling U.S. counterparts that they would not resort to atomic threats over Taiwan, according to two American delegates who attended. The Chinese representatives offered reassurances after their U.S. interlocutors raised concerns that China might use, or threaten to use, nuclear weapons if it faced defeat in a conflict over Taiwan.

"They told the U.S. side that they were absolutely convinced that they are able to prevail in a conventional fight over Taiwan without using nuclear weapons," said scholar David Santoro, the U.S. organiser of the Track Two talks, the details of which are being reported by Reuters for the first time.

Participants in Track Two talks are generally former officials and academics who can speak with authority on their government's position, even if they are not directly involved with setting it. Government-to-government negotiations are known as Track One. Washington was represented by about half a dozen delegates, including former officials and scholars at the two-day discussions, which took place in a Shanghai hotel conference room.

Beijing sent a delegation of scholars and analysts, which included several former People's Liberation Army officers.

A State Department spokesperson said in response to Reuters' questions that Track Two talks could be "beneficial". The department did not participate in the March meeting though it was aware of it, the spokesperson said. Such discussions cannot replace formal negotiations "that require participants to speak authoritatively on issues that are often highly compartmentalized within government circles," the spokesperson said.

Members of the Chinese delegation and Beijing's defence ministry did not respond to requests for comment. The informal discussions between the nuclear-armed powers took place with the U.S. and China at odds over major economic and geopolitical issues, with leaders in Washington and Beijing accusing each other of dealing in bad faith. The two countries briefly resumed Track One talks over nuclear arms in November but those negotiations have since stalled, with a top U.S. official publicly expressing frustration at China's responsiveness. The Pentagon, which estimates that Beijing's nuclear arsenal increased by more than 20% between 2021 and 2023, said in October that China "would also consider nuclear use to restore deterrence if a conventional military defeat in Taiwan" threatened CCP rule.

The Track Two talks are part of a two-decade nuclear weapons and posture dialogue that stalled after the Trump administration pulled funding in 2019.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, semi-official discussions resumed on broader security and energy issues, but only the Shanghai meeting dealt in detail with nuclear weapons and posture.

Nuclear policy analyst William Alberque of the Henry Stimson Centre think-tank, who was not involved in the March discussions, said the Track Two negotiations were useful at a time of glacial U.S.-Chinese relations.

"It's important to continue talking with China with absolutely no expectations," he said, when nuclear arms are at issue.

NO FIRST-USE? The U.S. Department of Defense estimated last year that Beijing has 500 operational nuclear warheads and will probably field more than 1,000 by 2030.

That compares to 1,770 and 1,710 operational warheads deployed by the U.S. and Russia respectively. The Pentagon said that by 2030, much of Beijing's weapons will likely be held at higher readiness levels. Since 2020, China has also modernised its arsenal, starting production of its next-generation ballistic missile submarine, testing hypersonic glide vehicle warheads and conducting regular nuclear-armed sea patrols. Weapons on land, in the air and at sea give China the "nuclear triad" - a hallmark of a major nuclear power.

A key point the U.S. side wanted to discuss, according to Santoro, was whether China still stood by its no-first-use and minimal deterrence policies, which date from the creation of its first nuclear bomb in the early 1960s.

Minimal deterrence refers to having just enough atomic weapons to dissuade adversaries. China is also one of two nuclear powers - the other being India - to have pledged not to initiate a nuclear exchange. Chinese military analysts have speculated that the no-first-use policy is conditional - and that nuclear arms could be used against Taiwan's allies - but it remains Beijing's stated stance.

Santoro said the Chinese delegates told U.S. representatives that Beijing maintained these policies and that "'we are not interested in reaching nuclear parity with you, let alone superiority.'"

"'Nothing has changed, business as usual, you guys are exaggerating'," Santoro said in summarising Beijing's position.

His description of the discussions was corroborated by fellow U.S. delegate Lyle Morris, a security scholar at the Asia Society Policy Institute. A report on the discussions is being prepared for U.S. government but would not be made public, Santoro said.

'RISK AND OPACITY'

Top U.S. arms control official Bonnie Jenkins told Congress in May that China had not responded to nuclear-weapons risk reduction proposals that Washington raised during last year's formal talks.

China has yet to agree to further government-to-government meetings.

Bejing's "refusal to substantively engage" in discussions over its nuclear build-up raises questions around its "already ambiguous stated "no-first-use" policy and its nuclear doctrine more broadly," the State Department spokesperson told Reuters.

China's Track Two delegation did not discuss specifics about Beijing's modernisation effort, Santoro and Morris said.

Alberque of the Henry Stimson Centre said that China relied heavily on "risk and opacity" to mitigate U.S. nuclear superiority and there was "no imperative" for Beijing to have constructive discussions.

China's expanded arsenal - which includes anti-ship cruise missiles, bombers, intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarines - exceeded the needs of a state with a minimal deterrence and no-first-use policy, Alberque said.

Chinese talking points revolved around the "survivability" of Beijing's nuclear weapons if it suffered a first strike, said Morris.

The U.S. delegates said the Chinese described their efforts as a deterrence-based modernisation programme to cope with developments such as improved U.S. missile defences, better surveillance capabilities, and strengthened alliances. The U.S., Britain and Australia last year signed a deal to share nuclear submarine technology and develop a new class of boats, while Washington is now working with Seoul to coordinate responses to a potential atomic attack.

Washington's policy on nuclear weapons includes the possibility of using them if deterrence fails, though the Pentagon says it would only consider that in extreme circumstances. It did not provide specifics.

One Chinese delegate "pointed to studies that said Chinese nuclear weapons were still vulnerable to U.S. strikes - their second-strike capability was not enough", said Morris.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
HONG KONG - The United States and China resumed semi-official nuclear arms talks in March for the first time in five years, with Beijing's representatives telling U.S. counterparts that they would not resort to atomic threats over Taiwan, according to two American delegates who attended. U.S. and China hold first informal nuclear talks in 5 years, eyeing Taiwan

The Chinese representatives offered reassurances after their U.S. interlocutors raised concerns that China might use, or threaten to use, nuclear weapons if it faced defeat in a conflict over Taiwan. Beijing views the democratically governed island as its territory, a claim rejected by the government in Taipei.

"They told the U.S. side that they were absolutely convinced that they are able to prevail in a conventional fight over Taiwan without using nuclear weapons," said scholar David Santoro, the U.S. organiser of the Track Two talks, the details of which are being reported by Reuters for the first time.

Participants in Track Two talks are generally former officials and academics who can speak with authority on their government's position, even if they are not directly involved with setting it. Government-to-government negotiations are known as Track One.

Washington was represented by about half a dozen delegates, including former officials and scholars at the two-day discussions, which took place in a Shanghai hotel conference room.

Beijing sent a delegation of scholars and analysts, which included several former People's Liberation Army officers.

A State Department spokesperson said in response to Reuters' questions that Track Two talks could be "beneficial". The department did not participate in the March meeting though it was aware of it, the spokesperson said.

Such discussions cannot replace formal negotiations "that require participants to speak authoritatively on issues that are often highly compartmentalized within government circles," the spokesperson said.

Members of the Chinese delegation and Beijing's defence ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

The informal discussions between the nuclear-armed powers took place with the U.S. and China at odds over major economic and geopolitical issues, with leaders in Washington and Beijing accusing each other of dealing in bad faith.

The two countries briefly resumed Track One talks over nuclear arms in November but those negotiations have since stalled, with a top U.S. official publicly expressing frustration at China's responsiveness.

The Pentagon, which estimates that Beijing's nuclear arsenal increased by more than 20% between 2021 and 2023, said in October that China "would also consider nuclear use to restore deterrence if a conventional military defeat in Taiwan" threatened CCP rule.

China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control and has over the past four years stepped up military activity around the island.

The Track Two talks are part of a two-decade nuclear weapons and posture dialogue that stalled after the Trump administration pulled funding in 2019.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, semi-official discussions resumed on broader security and energy issues, but only the Shanghai meeting dealt in detail with nuclear weapons and posture.

Santoro, who runs the Hawaii-based Pacific Forum think-tank, described "frustrations" on both sides during the latest discussions but said the two delegations saw reason to continue talking. More discussions were being planned in 2025, he said.

Nuclear policy analyst William Alberque of the Henry Stimson Centre think-tank, who was not involved in the March discussions, said the Track Two negotiations were useful at a time of glacial U.S.-Chinese relations.

"It's important to continue talking with China with absolutely no expectations," he said, when nuclear arms are at issue.

NO FIRST-USE?

The U.S. Department of Defense estimated last year that Beijing has 500 operational nuclear warheads and will probably field more than 1,000 by 2030.

That compares to 1,770 and 1,710 operational warheads deployed by the U.S. and Russia respectively. The Pentagon said that by 2030, much of Beijing's weapons will likely be held at higher readiness levels.

Since 2020, China has also modernised its arsenal, starting production of its next-generation ballistic missile submarine, testing hypersonic glide vehicle warheads and conducting regular nuclear-armed sea patrols.

Weapons on land, in the air and at sea give China the "nuclear triad" - a hallmark of a major nuclear power.

A key point the U.S. side wanted to discuss, according to Santoro, was whether China still stood by its no-first-use and minimal deterrence policies, which date from the creation of its first nuclear bomb in the early 1960s.

Minimal deterrence refers to having just enough atomic weapons to dissuade adversaries.

China is also one of two nuclear powers - the other being India - to have pledged not to initiate a nuclear exchange. Chinese military analysts have speculated that the no-first-use policy is conditional - and that nuclear arms could be used against Taiwan's allies - but it remains Beijing's stated stance.

Santoro said the Chinese delegates told U.S. representatives that Beijing maintained these policies and that "'we are not interested in reaching nuclear parity with you, let alone superiority.'"

"'Nothing has changed, business as usual, you guys are exaggerating'," Santoro said in summarising Beijing's position.

His description of the discussions was corroborated by fellow U.S. delegate Lyle Morris, a security scholar at the Asia Society Policy Institute.

A report on the discussions is being prepared for U.S. government but would not be made public, Santoro said.

'RISK AND OPACITY'

Top U.S. arms control official Bonnie Jenkins told Congress in May that China had not responded to nuclear-weapons risk reduction proposals that Washington raised during last year's formal talks.

China has yet to agree to further government-to-government meetings.

Bejing's "refusal to substantively engage" in discussions over its nuclear build-up raises questions around its "already ambiguous stated "no-first-use" policy and its nuclear doctrine more broadly," the State Department spokesperson told Reuters.

China's Track Two delegation did not discuss specifics about Beijing's modernisation effort, Santoro and Morris said.

Alberque of the Henry Stimson Centre said that China relied heavily on "risk and opacity" to mitigate U.S. nuclear superiority and there was "no imperative" for Beijing to have constructive discussions.

China's expanded arsenal - which includes anti-ship cruise missiles, bombers, intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarines - exceeded the needs of a state with a minimal deterrence and no-first-use policy, Alberque said.

Chinese talking points revolved around the "survivability" of Beijing's nuclear weapons if it suffered a first strike, said Morris.

The U.S. delegates said the Chinese described their efforts as a deterrence-based modernisation programme to cope with developments such as improved U.S. missile defences, better surveillance capabilities, and strengthened alliances.

The U.S., Britain and Australia last year signed a deal to share nuclear submarine technology and develop a new class of boats, while Washington is now working with Seoul to coordinate responses to a potential atomic attack.

Washington's policy on nuclear weapons includes the possibility of using them if deterrence fails, though the Pentagon says it would only consider that in extreme circumstances. It did not provide specifics.

One Chinese delegate "pointed to studies that said Chinese nuclear weapons were still vulnerable to U.S. strikes - their second-strike capability was not enough", said Morris.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
With each passing day, the 2024 US election's inevitability grows more profound. Among several other factors influencing voters to pick either side of the presidential debate, student loan debt has emerged as another seemingly consequential, hard-to-miss aspect. FILE PHOTO: Combination picture showing former U.S. President Donald Trump attending the Trump Organization civil fraud trial, in New York State Supreme Court in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., November 6, 2023 and U.S. President Joe Biden participating in a meeting with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 1, 2024. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid and Elizabeth Frantz//File Photo(REUTERS)

A new Bankrate survey indicates that nearly one in five adults (18%) claim student loan debt will play a massive role in unlocking their vote this November's upcoming election. Moreover, more than one in four Americans perceive student loan debt as a national crisis" (29%), with 27% of Americans blaming the federal government for not providing enough financial assistance to borrowers, according to Bankrates Student Loans and the Presidential Election Survey.

The collective image especially spotlights a concerning issue: According to the Federal Reserve, over 40 million borrowers owe $1.77 trillion in loans.

Of the pollees with student loans, 29% agreed that this factor would significantly impact their vote this fall.

Also read | Louisiana: Public schools are not Sunday schools, ACLU to sue US state over Ten Commandments school displays

Joe Biden vs Donald Trump: How heavily will student loan debt impact voters' decision?

The Biden administration has launched numerous student loan relief initiatives. During his time in office, the sitting president of the country has forgiven a cumulative sum of $167 billion in loans for nearly 5 million borrowers despite his 2023 forgiveness program being rebuffed by the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, as reported by Forbes, former president Donald Trump lauded the Supreme Court's decision to overrule Biden's loan forgiveness program in 2024.

However, he, too, instituted a pandemic-era forbearance program that lasted more than three years and halted payments and interest.

With rising college fees directly proportional to the national student loan balance, the Federal Reserve states that the latter has skyrocketed by 66% over the past decade. The Education Department's latest data revealed that the average tuition fee for a four-year private nonprofit university spiked 14% from the 2010 fall to 2021 fall, according to reporting from USA Today.

Also read | 'Isn't Marjorie Taylor Greene scary?': The Boys creator has no plans of sugar-coating Season 4 character inspirations

As for how the student debt issue is affecting people, Bankrate analyst Sarah Foster described it best: Borrowers in Bankrate polls dating back almost a decade indicate that their debt is casting a dark shadow over their financial lives, impacting their ability to achieve the same financial milestones as generations before them.

The survey also painstakingly appears to conclude on a heart-rending note, with nearly one in four having student loan debt for themselves or someone else having no expectations about ever being able to pay off their student loan debt, accounting for 24% of Americans.

This sad picture may be a pressing issue, determining the future votes of Americans with student debt. However, contrary to experts' and possibly even candidates' perceptions, it didn't stand tall among the country's youngest voters as a critically influential factor swaying their votes either way. In fact, Gen Zers (ages 18-27) juggling student debt were actually the least likely to indicate that it will have a major influence over their choice in the voting booth" (22%).

On the other hand, Americans with higher incomes dealing with some form of debt were more likely to address it as a major decision-making factor" (Between $50,000 and $99,999: 31%; $100,000 or more: 37%).
The US election season is heating up, and the political landscape is abuzz with anticipation as President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump prepare for their first debate of the 2024 election cycle. Set to take place next week, the debate promises to be a defining moment in this year's campaign. US Election: Democrat Joe Biden will debate his Republican rival Donald Trump on CNN next week(REUTERS)

Over the summer, both Biden and Trump will officially become their parties' 2024 candidates. However, their first showdown will occur next week on CNN, marking the beginning of a heated contest that will see them clash on at least two occasions before the November 5 election.

When and Where is the Biden vs Trump Debate?

The highly anticipated debate will kick off at 9:00 PM EST (1:00 AM GMT) on Thursday, June 27. Broadcast live from Atlanta, Georgia, the event will be available on CNN, CNN International, CNN en Espanol, CNN Max, and the CNN website.

What Are the Rules for Biden vs Trump Debate?

Veteran CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will moderate the 90-minute debate, which includes two commercial breaks. The candidates have already flipped a coin to determine podium placement and the order of closing statements. The Biden campaign chose tails, placing the president on the right side of the screen, while Trump will stand on the left. Trump opted to have the last word, allowing Biden to deliver his closing statement first.

Both candidates will stand throughout the debate, dispelling rumors that Biden had requested a seat. Campaign staff are barred from interacting with the candidates during the event, including breaks. Each candidate will have a pen, a pad of paper, and a bottle of water, but no props or pre-written notes are permitted. Unlike previous debates, microphones will be muted except during each candidate's turn to speak. Additionally, there will be no studio audience, with CNN committed to maintaining a civil discourse.

When will Biden-Trump debate after June 27?

In May, Biden challenged Trump to two debates, and Trump quickly agreed. Besides the CNN debate next week, a second debate is scheduled for September 10 on ABC News. While Trump has called for additional debates with live audiences, Biden has not agreed to this proposal.

Why are RFK Jr. and Other Candidates not debating?

Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. did not qualify for the CNN debate, missing the network's polling and ballot requirements. Kennedy has accused the Biden and Trump campaigns of colluding with CNN to exclude him, calling the decision "undemocratic, un-American, and cowardly."

Biden vs Trump Debate Preparations

Both candidates are intensely preparing for the debate, though their approaches differ significantly. Biden is working with his advisors at Camp David, focusing on framing the election as a choice between two opposites and continuing his "punchier" approach towards Trump. Meanwhile, Trump is holding informal policy discussions with lawmakers and advisors, setting a low bar for Biden while alleging media bias against him.
The United States said on Thursday that it supports India and Pakistan having a direct discussion with each other, but it believes the two countries should decide the pace, scope and character of the talks. US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller (AP/File)

At a daily news conference on Thursday, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said that the US values its essential relationships with both  India and Pakistan.

As we have said, we support direct discussions between India and Pakistan, but the pace, scope and character should be determined by those two countries, not by us, he said.

Answering another question, Miller stated that the US and Pakistan both have a common goal of addressing regional security threats.

We partner with Pakistan on security through our high-level counterterrorism dialogue, including several counterterrorism capacity building programmes, and we support a series of US-Pakistan military-to-military engagements, said Miller.

We are in regular communication with Pakistani leaders as a part of our partnership on CT issues, and we will continue to discuss regional security in detail, including through our annual counterterrorism dialogue and other bilateral consultations, he added.

In April this year, Miller said that the US would urge the two neighbouring nations to avoid escalation and settle their issues through dialogue but will "not get in the middle of the situation".

When asked about reports that Indian government agents allegedly conducted assassinations in Pakistan, Miller said, "We have been following the media reports about this issue. We don't have any comment on the underlying allegations."

Relations between the two countries worsened after India revoked Article 370 on August 5, 2019, removing Jammu and Kashmir's special status and splitting it into two Union Territories. Pakistan strongly reacted by downgrading diplomatic ties and expelling the Indian envoy. India has repeatedly told Pakistan that Jammu and Kashmir was, is and shall forever remain a crucial part of the country.

India has expressed a desire for stable neighbourly relations with Pakistan in a terror-free, hostility-free, and violence-free environment.
A secretive billionaire who backed Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s presidential campaign donated $50 million to a super PAC supporting Donald Trump the day after the former president was convicted in May of 34 felony counts in his New York hush money trial, according to a report.

The huge donation from Timothy Mellon, an heir to the wealthy and influential Mellon family from Pittsburgh, Pa., came as the PAC, Make America Great Again Inc., had only $34.5 million on hand at the end of April, the New York Times reported.

Mellon's contribution made up the lion's share of the $70 million the super PAC raised in May, the report said.

The super PAC on Wednesday and Thursday began reserving $30 million in ads to run in the swing states of Georgia and Pennsylvania over the Fourth of July holiday.

The report said Mellon, the grandson of former Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon, is the first donor to give $100 million in disclosed federal contributions this year.

He contributed $25 million each to super PACs supporting Kennedy's campaign and Trump's campaign.

Mellon did not respond to requests for comment from the New York Times.
Donald Trump's one-time White House strategist Steve Bannon lost his third attempt to stay out of jail Thursday night just days before his four-month sentence for contempt of Congress is set to begin.

"It was enough that Bannon knew what the [congressional] subpoena required, yet intentionally refused to appear or to produce any of the requested documents," the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals flatly ruled 2-1.

Bannon's case "does not warrant a departure from the general rule" that defendants begin serving their sentence after conviction, the ruling concluded.

Trump appointee Judge Justin Walker disagreed, saying Bannon should remain free as the Supreme Court considers his petition to overturn his conviction.

The far-right podcaster is scheduled to head to prison July 1 for ignoring a subpoena to testify before the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection.

Bannon has argued that he did not "wilfully" ignore the subpoena because he was following the advice of his attorneys, and, as a "top adviser" to Trump's campaign, should be free to comment on and participate in the presidential race.

The court decision warned that wholesale noncompliance with a subpoena based on the advice of counsel could nullify all investigations by Congress.

Bannon has been pulling out the stops to stay out of prison. He told a conservative crowd in Detroit earlier this month that the Department of Justice will be "purged" and the FBI taken "apart" FBI if Trump wins the presidency.

"We're going to come and get you," Bannon warned the FBI.

Former FBI Director Andrew McCabe told Anderson Cooper on CNN Thursday that such threats are the kind of "red meat" Bannon and his crowd throw out to provoke supporters who "feel they've been wronged."

Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe responds to recent threats of retribution by former Pres. Donald Trump and his allies. pic.twitter.com/VG0M44RaWf  Anderson Cooper 360 (@AC360) June 21, 2024

Bannon's case is similar to Trump's one-time trade adviser Peter Navarro, who also ignored a congressional subpoena. Navarro has been behind bars serving a four-month sentence since late March.

Trump pardoned Bannon as he was leaving the White House when Bannon faced charges with others who were convicted in a plot to defraud Trump supporters as they raised $25 million in private donations to finish building the former president's southern border wall.

Two of Bannon's partners in the operation were sentenced last year to three years and to just over four years in prison.
Power outages have been reported across at least five European countries as they deal with extreme heat.

Widespread outages have been reported in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovia, Croatia and Montenegro, according to the Metro.

The outage across most of Montenegro was blamed on an exploding transmission line.

Several cities in Southern Croatia suffered a massive outage due to "an international disturbance."

Countries along the Adriatic coast were experiencing temperatures topping 100 degrees Fahrenheit, WorldEcho News reported.

The exact cause of the outage wasn't immediately known.

Bosnia's state power company blamed it on a regional distribution line, while Albania's state power company said it was "extreme heat."
Former President Donald Trump, who routinely spouts harsh anti-immigrant rhetoric at his campaign rallies, is now suggesting that foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges should be rewarded with a green card so they can stay in the country.

Trump was asked on the "All-In" podcast about his plans to attract the "best and brightest" from around the globe to the United States, pertaining to recruiting high-tech workers.

"What I want to do and what I will do is you graduate from a college, I think you should get automatically as part of your diploma a green card to be able to stay in this country. And that includes junior colleges, too," he said.

"Anybody graduates from a college. You go there for two years or four years. If you graduate, or you get a doctorate degree from a college, you should be able to stay in this country," he continued, noting that his administration would take on the issue immediately upon taking office.

He added that it is "so sad when we lose people from Harvard, MIT, from the greatest schools, and lesser schools that are phenomenal schools, also."

It was a surprising position from Trump. The podcast comments with tech industry executives don't reflect his hardline campaign trail rhetoric where he has promoted his border wall and accused migrants of "poisoning the blood our our country."

In 2020, he signed an executive order freezing green cards for new immigrants and suspending work visas for temporary workers, such as the H-1B visa used by professional and tech workers to protect American jobs.

Speaking at a predominantly Black church in Detroit last Saturday, Trump told the congregants that migrants coming to the U.S. are "taking your jobs."

"They're coming into your community, and they're taking your jobs," he said. "We have to get them out."

President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced a large-scale immigration program that will offer legal status and a streamlined path to U.S. citizenship to some 500,000 currently unauthorized immigrants married to American citizens.
At least 20 masked and black-hooded thieves brazenly broke into a California jewelry store in broad daylight, smashed glass display cases and quickly fled with the stolen goods.

The suspects fled in multiple vehicles after the weekday afternoon heist earlier this month as police raced to the scene in downtown Sunnyvale an hour south of San Francisco.

Suspects in one of the vehicles began tossing jewelry from the car as police closed in. Only five men were arrested as of Friday.

No one was injured even though the store was staffed by workers during the robbey.

The total value of the stolen jewelry has not yet been provided by police. Some of the jewelry was recovered.

Suspects arrested have been charged with a number of crimes, including armed robbery, felony vehicle evasion, conspiracy to commit a crime, vandalism, possession of burglary tools, and outstanding warrants.

 With reporting by TMX
An elderly Missouri couple was attacked after they were attacked at a Nebraska rest stop. The man was killed and his was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.

The Hall County Sheriff's Office says Gary Weaver, 72, and Mary Weaver, 71, were stabbed during an attempted robbery on June 19 at a stop on I-80.

A police affidavit says the incident was captured by the dashcam of a semi trailer at the rest stop.

The video shows the suspect going inside the RV and making a stabbing motion. Later the suspect was shown outside the RV stabbing Mary Weaver in the side of her head, according to KSNB-TV.

Police have arrested James Thompson Jr., 22, on murder and attempted murder charges.

They say he fled the crime scene and was pursued by the Nebraska State Patrol at speeds reaching 120 mph.

Thompson eventually drove into the Platte River, according to the Associated Press. State troopers used a K-9 to find him after a 30-minute search.

The couple's daughter, Victoria Eudy, said her father was an "incredible father and grandpa."

A court appointed attorney will represent Thompson. He is due back in court next month on an arraignment.

Mary Weaver's condition has been upgraded to stable.
A Florida woman was arrested after stealing an ambulance from a children's hospital and leading deputies on a wild chase through the streets of Fort Myers, according to the sheriff's office.

Ariel Marchan-Le Quire, 30, allegedly stole the emergency vehicle from Golisano Children's Hospital Thursday morning and deputies tracked it via its GPS system to a nearby gas station, the Lee County Sheriff's Office said.

When deputies confronted Marchan-Le Quire at the station, she fled.

"This ambulance is all over the road and it's running red lights. It's going to end up killing someone. It's purposefully, recklessly driving crazy," a deputy says in a video of the chase released by the sheriff's office.

As they pursued the ambulance, deputies said Marchan-Le Quire was swerving between lanes, banging into curbs and nearly flipping the vehicle over.

She pulled over at one point, but when deputies approached she took off again, turning on the emergency lights.

Deputies halted their pursuit, but a helicopter continued to track her.

When she pulled over again, deputies arrested her.

Marchan-Le Quire was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of a crash, resisting an officer, fleeing and eluding, and theft of emergency equipment, the sheriff's office said. No one was injured in the chase, and the ambulance was empty.
In the second major decision on constitutional gun rights this month, the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a firearms ban for violent domestic abusers.

Justice Clarence Thomas was the lone dissenter.

"Our tradition of firearm regulation allows the government to disarm individuals who present a credible threat to the physical safety of others," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the decision in United States v. Rahimi.

The case centered on a 1994 federal law barring gun ownership for those who have been targeted in domestic violence restraining orders, and involved Texas resident Zackey Rahimi, who was convicted of violating the law following a series of shootings.

The defense argued that the law violated Second Amendment gun rights, and that the nation's founding generation never responded to domestic violation by banning gun possession.

The challenge to the domectic abusers gun ban was one of a number launched against federal firearms restrictions since the conservative majority strengthened gun rights two years ago in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. That decision called for historical arguments when defending laws restricting firearms.

Justice Thomas wrote that the court and government failed to "point to a single historical law revoking a citizen's Second Amendment right based on possible interpersonal violence."

He warned that in the "interest of ensuring the Government can regulate one subset of society, today's decision puts at risk the Second Amendment rights of many more."

The court last week struck down a ban on gun bump stocks, which enables vastly increased rapid firing.
Following the suffocation death of a 7-year-old girl who got trapped in a sinkhole on a Florida beach earlier this year, town officials in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea have passed an ordinance in an effort to prevent similar tragedies.

Sloan Mattingly and her 9-year-old brother, Maddox, were digging for seashells during their family vacation at the beach on Feb. 20 when the sand hole collapsed on them. The sibling became trapped.

Bystanders were able to dig Maddox out in time, but Sloan died.

In response, the town passed an ordinance last week that prohibits beachgoers from digging holes deeper than 18 inches and orders the holes be filled before leaving, officials announced, according to WTVJ-TV, WPLG-TV, and WFOR-TV.

"When we go to the beach, we think of water safety. And this never, ever once crossed my mind," Sloan's mother, Therese Mattingly, told ABC News earlier this year.

Mattingly said the collapse happened "really fast."

"That part just hurts really bad because it didn't matter that we were literally right there," she said. "It was just a hole, and then there's nothing."

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea recently approved a "Sandcastles for Sloan" campaign to raise awareness about beach safety.
Main Street Hospitality is pleased to announce a key appointment to their Executive Management team, with the promotion of Scott Williams, as Chief Development and Brand Officer. Scott will continue working closely with Founder & CEO, Sarah Eustis, and the rest of the Executive team with a focus on the strategic growth and evolution of the brand. He will be responsible for leading enterprise-wide brand architecture and positioning, development, marketing and communication initiatives and experience design for the independent hospitality group and its portfolio of storied properties located across the Northeast.

Scott joined Main Street Hospitality in 2021, and in his tenure, has successfully transformed and strengthened the brand's identity and market positioning. His leadership skills and innovative tactics have ignited strategic marketing partnerships and programs that have elevated each hotel in the Main Street portfolio and significantly advanced the hospitality brand. As Chief Development and Brand Officer, Scott will continue to implement strategies that support the brand's growth, while enhancing their purpose of creating places that enable people to connect in meaningful ways.

In conjunction with the Executive team, Williams will work to amplify the brand and identity of Main Street Hospitality and their individual properties through their continued growth. He will advance the company's goal of providing exceptional experiences by embracing an authentic approach to hospitality that focuses on the integration of local communities surrounding the hotels, and likeminded brands and individuals.

Throughout his distinguished career, Scott has propelled growth in both the hospitality and media sectors. Williams was the President of The Nantucket Project and has also led marketing and creative initiatives for renowned global brands including Commune Hotels & Resorts, Morgans Hotel Group and Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

Prior to hospitality, Williams had a career in television with creative and production stints at CBS, ESPN and HBO. He is currently an active member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and serves on the programming committee at the Harvard Club New York and the Advisory Board of the Independent Lodging Congress (ILC).
Hotel revenue generated by Japan-based members already ahead of 2023

The US (Hawaii) and Thailand are top destination picks for Japanese travellers

BELLUSTAR TOKYO and HOTEL GROOVE SHINJUKU are GHA top performers in 2023 and 2024 to date

New experiences and safety matter most when travelling overseas

Japan most popular destination for GHA DISCOVERYs membership, led by US market

Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the worlds largest alliance of independent hotel brands, revealed key 2024 Japanese travel and tourism trends at its global CEO conference this week. Staged in Japan for the first time, the CEOs of more than 40 GHA hotel brands and media gathered at HOTEL GROOVE SHINJUKU in Tokyo to hear insights into the preferences and behaviours of Japanese travellers.

GHA brings together a diverse collection of independent hospitality brands with GHA DISCOVERY, a multi-brand loyalty programme leveraging a shared technology platform. GHA DISCOVERY member data shows its membership base in Japan continues to grow, now up to 340,000 members. Hotel revenue generated by its Japan-based members is increasing too, already ahead of total 2023 figures just five months into 2024, indicating a return to international travel, which has been slow to recover since the pandemic.

Top international destinations for Japan-based GHA DISCOVERY members so far in 2024 are the US and Thailand in terms of nights stayed and spend, followed by Singapore.

When it comes to which GHA properties they like to stay at the most, the most popular destinations, in terms of nights spent, are in Hawaii, Yangon and Kuala Lumpur, while in revenue terms the top three are the Outrigger hotels in Waikiki.

Looking at Japan as an inbound destination, it remains the most popular choice among GHA DISCOVERYs 27-million-strong global membership, with the US being the top source market in 2024, followed by Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong respectively.

Further reinforcing the popularity of Japan, BELLUSTAR TOKYO, a partner of Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts, together with HOTEL GROOVE SHINJUKU, a PARKROYAL partner hotel, were the top-performing GHA properties in 2023 and 2024 to date, by nights stayed and revenue generated by GHA DISCOVERY loyalty members. In the last twelve months members delivered 50,983 room nights to the two hotels, which only opened in May 2023.

Delving deeper into Japanese traveller trends, a recent survey conducted by Interbrand Japan, in collaboration with Global Hotel Alliance, found:

International travel picking up slowly: Japans number of outbound travellers in 2023 was about half that of 2019, with a slower recovery compared to domestic travel demand. 74% of respondents do not plan to travel internationally in 2024, citing high prices, a weak Japanese Yen, and uncertainty as main deterrents.

Japans number of outbound travellers in 2023 was about half that of 2019, with a slower recovery compared to domestic travel demand. 74% of respondents do not plan to travel internationally in 2024, citing high prices, a weak Japanese Yen, and uncertainty as main deterrents. New experiences  and safety  matter: Japanese tourists that are travelling overseas seek new experiences (45% of respondents) and are eager to spend days sightseeing and shopping (42%), while familiar and secure experiences, and relaxing in hotels, are less important.Safety, comfort, and affordability are crucial factors in destination choice, with high-end customers seeking adventurous new experiences.

Japanese tourists that are travelling overseas seek new experiences (45% of respondents) and are eager to spend days sightseeing and shopping (42%), while familiar and secure experiences, and relaxing in hotels, are less important.Safety, comfort, and affordability are crucial factors in destination choice, with high-end customers seeking adventurous new experiences. Hotel quality counts the most: For hotel selection, quality of accommodation, a convenient location, and affordability are important, with high-end customers also valuing hotel amenities and accommodation size.

For hotel selection, quality of accommodation, a convenient location, and affordability are important, with high-end customers also valuing hotel amenities and accommodation size. Loyalty starts with the basics: Members of loyalty programmes appreciate membership rates, discounts, and rewards the most, while high-end customers place additional importance on emotional experiences and service quality.

Members of loyalty programmes appreciate membership rates, discounts, and rewards the most, while high-end customers place additional importance on emotional experiences and service quality. Market nuance: the affluent Japanese traveller - Supporting its research, Interbrand Japans focus group with affluent travellers found this demographic had a strong appetite for international travel. Bucking the general market trend, these travellers are not as concerned about safety, but motivated by unique, local, and exclusive experiences in the destinations they visit, informed by other in the know travellers, rather than mainstream guidebooks. They identified Budapest, Rome, Prague and mountainous destinations in the US and Switzerland as current travel inspirations. Affluent Japanese travellers also prefer independent hotels with local character and charm to cookie-cutter brands and value loyalty programme benefits that make their travel experience more seamless and convenient, such as upgrades, complimentary breakfast, and early check-in/late checkout.

GHA CEO Chris Hartley, alongside Choe Peng Sum, CEO of Pan Pacific Hotels Group, Dillip Rajakarier, Group CEO of Minor International and Masahito Namiki, President & CEO of Interbrand Japan, shared their insights on these trends and more at the CEO meeting and media event in Tokyo.

It is clear the growing number of GHA DISCOVERY members in Japan are contributing to our global network, delivering business to GHA hotels in key destinations around the world, and this is expected to increase as confidence in international travel returns, Japan is not only a crucial market for outbound travel but also one of the most popular destinations for our global members. This has translated into significant revenue for hotels based in the country, a trend we anticipate will continue to grow, as we look to expand our presence in the country. Chris Hartley

The GHA CEO event in Tokyo is also timed to celebrate the alliances 20th anniversary. Since it was established in 2004, GHA has grown into a collection of 40 brands with more than 800 hotels, resorts and palaces in 100 countries, supported by GHA DISCOVERY. First launched in 2010, and reimagined in 2021, this loyalty programme now serves 27 million members worldwide, and generated $2.3 billion in revenue and 10 million room nights in 2023.

About Global Hotel Alliance (GHA)

Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) brings together a diverse collection of independent hospitality brands with GHA DISCOVERY, a multi-brand loyalty programme leveraging a shared technology platform. Through membership in GHA, brands expand their global reach, drive incremental revenue, and reduce dependence on third-party channels, all while maintaining management independence and individual positioning. GHA represents a collection of 40 brands with more than 800 hotels in 100 countries. The award-winning GHA DISCOVERY programme serves 26 million members and generated $2.3 billion in revenue and 10 million room nights in 2023. GHA's brands currently include Anantara, Araiya, ASMALLWORLD, Avani, Bristoria, Capella, Corinthia, Divani, Doyle, Elewana, JA Resorts, Kempinski, Leela, Lore, Lungarno, Maqo, Marco Polo, Mysk, NH Collection, NH Hotels, nhow, Niccolo, Nikki Beach, NUO, Oaks, OUTRIGGER, Pan Pacific, PARKROYAL COLLECTION, PARKROYAL, Patina, The Residence by Cenizaro, The Set Collection, Shaza, Sukhothai, Sun International, Tivoli, Ultratravel Collection and Viceroy. For more information, visit www.globalhotelalliance.com.

About GHA DISCOVERY

Launched in 2010, GHA DISCOVERY is the world's largest loyalty program for independent hotel brands, featuring more than 800 hotels, resorts, and palaces across 40 brands. Members enjoy VIP recognition, thoughtful benefits and generous rewards at home or away. GHA DISCOVERY members earn and spend DISCOVERY Dollars (D$), an exclusive rewards currency. They also enjoy member-only Experiences curated by each hotel, plus they have access to properties close to home, without a stay, through member-only Local Offers. For more information, visit ghadiscovery.com.
The war in Ukraine has had a profound impact on the economy, including the hotel industry. The year 2022 was challenging, with a significant drop in demand for hotel services and many establishments temporarily closing their doors. However, with its remarkable resilience and adaptability, the Ukrainian hotel sector bounced back in 2023, demonstrating its strength in the face of adversity.

The main trends:

The growing importance of security:

Security has become one of the critical factors for customers. Hotels with shelters, generators, water tanks, conference rooms on the -1 and -2 floors, and other security features are more popular.

Security has become one of the critical factors for customers. Hotels with shelters, generators, water tanks, conference rooms on the -1 and -2 floors, and other security features are more popular. Refocusing on domestic tourism: One of the key trends in the Ukrainian hotel market is the shift towards domestic tourism. The decrease in foreign tourists and the suspension of air travel have prompted hotels to redirect their services to the domestic market. This shift has changed the demand structure and led to hotels catering to diverse customers, including business travelers, internally displaced persons, and Ukrainians exploring their own country.

One of the key trends in the Ukrainian hotel market is the shift towards domestic tourism. The decrease in foreign tourists and the suspension of air travel have prompted hotels to redirect their services to the domestic market. This shift has changed the demand structure and led to hotels catering to diverse customers, including business travelers, internally displaced persons, and Ukrainians exploring their own country. Changing the concept of regions: Until 2022, seasonality was clearly defined, but now it is somewhat leveled due to many factors, including restrictions on the movement of Ukrainian men, the closure of the sea coasts in the summer season of 2023, and the deferred demand for recreation in 2019-2022. For example, traditionally in demand only in winter, mountain resorts are now busy in summer.

Until 2022, seasonality was clearly defined, but now it is somewhat leveled due to many factors, including restrictions on the movement of Ukrainian men, the closure of the sea coasts in the summer season of 2023, and the deferred demand for recreation in 2019-2022. For example, traditionally in demand only in winter, mountain resorts are now busy in summer. Diversification of the audience: The market situation encourages hoteliers to implement new approaches, offer consumers a variety of service packages, and listen to market needs to implement non-standard solutions. For example, during BlackOut (3-6 hours without central electricity after bombing and missile attacks), hotel rooms and tables in restaurants and conference rooms in suburban complexes serve as offices and coworking spaces, and hotels and suburban complexes in relatively safe Western part regions with access can provide children's camp and education services.

The market situation encourages hoteliers to implement new approaches, offer consumers a variety of service packages, and listen to market needs to implement non-standard solutions. For example, during BlackOut (3-6 hours without central electricity after bombing and missile attacks), hotel rooms and tables in restaurants and conference rooms in suburban complexes serve as offices and coworking spaces, and hotels and suburban complexes in relatively safe Western part regions with access can provide children's camp and education services. Inclusivity: Compliance with the criteria of barrier-free accessibility is becoming a priority for hotels, as it makes them accessible to all people, regardless of their physical abilities. In addition to the worldwide trend for the accessibility index of the hospitality sector, in Ukraine, it is stimulated by the increasing number of disabled guests harmed by attacks, bombings, and fights, either among civilians or militarians.

Compliance with the criteria of barrier-free accessibility is becoming a priority for hotels, as it makes them accessible to all people, regardless of their physical abilities. In addition to the worldwide trend for the accessibility index of the hospitality sector, in Ukraine, it is stimulated by the increasing number of disabled guests harmed by attacks, bombings, and fights, either among civilians or militarians. Introduction of new technologies: The Ukrainian hotel industry is embracing new technologies to enhance service quality, optimize costs due to the lack of labor, and meet guest expectations. From online registration and mobile keys to smart home management systems, hotels leverage technology to improve the guest experience. Notably, the industry's rapid adoption of global satellite Internet communication channels like StarLink, solar panels, and generators for uninterrupted power supply and mobile communication support is a testament to its commitment to providing qualitative service even in wartime.

The Ukrainian hotel industry is embracing new technologies to enhance service quality, optimize costs due to the lack of labor, and meet guest expectations. From online registration and mobile keys to smart home management systems, hotels leverage technology to improve the guest experience. Notably, the industry's rapid adoption of global satellite Internet communication channels like StarLink, solar panels, and generators for uninterrupted power supply and mobile communication support is a testament to its commitment to providing qualitative service even in wartime. Development of new formats: There is a growing demand for Aparthotels and service apartments that offer comfortable accommodations with a kitchen and additional services. This demand is caused by the trend of big house losses and internal migration when families are not able to purchase new flats or houses and prefer to rent them until the situation stabilizes and the war ends.

In the context of adapting to the realities of today and searching for new opportunities, the Ukrainian Hotel and Resort Association (UHRA) is actively looking for new partners among online booking systems, tour operators, and other distribution channels. These partnerships allow UHRA member hotels to access a broader range of potential customers and distribution channels to expand their offer and offer customers more options. In particular, the following developments and partnership agreements were reached:

TrustYou Gmbh: A memorandum of cooperation was signed, under which TrustYou Gmbh provides UHRA members with special pricing on its services. The service offers a comprehensive reputation management solution that helps hotels collect and analyze customer feedback. It has the incredible advantage of integrating AI into the processing of reviews and the formation of responses.

A memorandum of cooperation was signed, under which TrustYou Gmbh provides UHRA members with special pricing on its services. The service offers a comprehensive reputation management solution that helps hotels collect and analyze customer feedback. It has the incredible advantage of integrating AI into the processing of reviews and the formation of responses. Booking and Hotelbeds: The largest B2C and B2B distribution channels supported the Ukrainian hotel market and participated in the Cold Start-3 training seminar organized by UHRA.

The largest B2C and B2B distribution channels supported the Ukrainian hotel market and participated in the Cold Start-3 training seminar organized by UHRA. Association of Incoming Tour Operators of Ukraine (AITOU): A Memorandum (Manifesto) was signed between AITO, DART, and UHRA on prioritizing the tourism industry in Ukraine's reconstruction and development strategy and broad mutually beneficial cooperation aimed at supporting and restoring the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises in the industry. A joint project, the All-Ukrainian Survey of Tourism Businesses, has been launched. This survey will collect information on the impact of the war on various segments of the tourism industry (accommodation facilities, tour operators and agents, catering establishments, tour bureaus/guides), as well as analyze and develop joint steps to preserve and support the hospitality industry.

A Memorandum (Manifesto) was signed between AITO, DART, and UHRA on prioritizing the tourism industry in Ukraine's reconstruction and development strategy and broad mutually beneficial cooperation aimed at supporting and restoring the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises in the industry. A joint project, the All-Ukrainian Survey of Tourism Businesses, has been launched. This survey will collect information on the impact of the war on various segments of the tourism industry (accommodation facilities, tour operators and agents, catering establishments, tour bureaus/guides), as well as analyze and develop joint steps to preserve and support the hospitality industry. STR: the world leader in market analytics and the most potent benchmarking tool in the hospitality industry. The parties agreed to support small hotels and that STR would provide analytical data to the Association and connect Ukrainian hotels to its platform free of charge for one year. More than 30 hotels have already taken advantage of this opportunity.

the world leader in market analytics and the most potent benchmarking tool in the hospitality industry. The parties agreed to support small hotels and that STR would provide analytical data to the Association and connect Ukrainian hotels to its platform free of charge for one year. More than 30 hotels have already taken advantage of this opportunity. BookLogic: During the negotiations, BookLogic agreed to provide UHRA member hotels with exclusive terms for its services, including a free Maxi Channel manager for 2-3 sales channels for up to 2 years, the creation of a hotel website on a complimentary basis, the provision of a CMS (content management system), and a booking system on commission basis.

During the negotiations, BookLogic agreed to provide UHRA member hotels with exclusive terms for its services, including a free Maxi Channel manager for 2-3 sales channels for up to 2 years, the creation of a hotel website on a complimentary basis, the provision of a CMS (content management system), and a booking system on commission basis. Light House: This benchmarking tool will provide the Association with business intelligence on the state of the hotel market, which it will share with its members. Thanks to such tools, Ukrainian hotels can analyze their business strategies as part of the global market, look for solutions based on market demand, and formulate tariff policies based on competitive opportunities.

This benchmarking tool will provide the Association with business intelligence on the state of the hotel market, which it will share with its members. Thanks to such tools, Ukrainian hotels can analyze their business strategies as part of the global market, look for solutions based on market demand, and formulate tariff policies based on competitive opportunities. Room I Room is a global marketplace featuring more than 50,000 hotels worldwide for travel agencies to book their services. A memorandum of cooperation was signed, and Room I Room entered the Ukrainian market, under which it will effectively promote Ukrainian hotels on its platform.

is a global marketplace featuring more than 50,000 hotels worldwide for travel agencies to book their services. A memorandum of cooperation was signed, and Room I Room entered the Ukrainian market, under which it will effectively promote Ukrainian hotels on its platform. Visit Ukraine: a service portal about Ukraine that has started developing a new area of its business - distribution of hotel services in the B2C segment. The parties agreed on mutual media support and the development of domestic tourism through the Ukrainian hotel booking platform on Visit Ukraine.

a service portal about Ukraine that has started developing a new area of its business - distribution of hotel services in the B2C segment. The parties agreed on mutual media support and the development of domestic tourism through the Ukrainian hotel booking platform on Visit Ukraine. GO GLOBAL TRAVEL: An international company that provides tourism and travel services for more than 1 million hotels in 70 thousand locations worldwide. The company's core business includes an online booking system for hotels, travel agencies, tour operators, and other travel industry professionals. Negotiations are underway to bring the global operator back to the Ukrainian market and restore inbound tourism, which was closed with the start of the full-scale invasion.

It is important to note that the Ukrainian Hotel and Resort Association (UHRA):

Actively cooperates with government agencies, specialized associations, and international partners to promote the development of the Ukrainian hotel market.

Conducts training seminars, webinars, and other events to help hotels adapt to new conditions and increase their competitiveness.

Works on collecting and analyzing data on the state of the hotel market, which will help to understand its needs and development trends better.

Overall, Ukraine's hotel market is experiencing a challenging but exciting period. Thanks to the resilience of Ukrainian businesses, adaptability, and innovative approaches, the hotel industry has every chance to recover and reach a new level of development after the war ends.

For more information:

EU4Business: SME Recovery, Competitiveness and Internationalisation is co-funded by the European Union and the German Government and implemented by the German federal company Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The program aims to support Ukraine's economic sustainability, recovery, and growth, create better conditions for developing Ukrainian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and support innovation and exports. More information:www.eu4business.org.ua

The strategic implementer of the program is the German federal company Deutsche Gesellschaftfur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The local implementing partner is the Association of Hotels and Resorts of Ukraine (UHRA).

The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the Ukrainian Hotel and Resort Association (UHRA) and does not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union, the German Government, or GIZ.

#UHRA #eu4business, #MovingForwardTogether, #gizSME, #StandForUkraine
HBX Group, a leading player of the TravelTech B2B ecosystem, announced today the launch of an investment fund dedicated to financing startups and scaleups developing innovative technological solutions in the travel sector, as well as investing in corporate venture capital funds in the travel sector.

This investment fund is built on the success of TravelTech Lab, by HBX Group, created in 2023 to support and collaborate with startups and scaleup businesses in the travel tech industry, fostering a community dedicated to introducing groundbreaking solutions and facilitating their application in real business scenarios.

With the creation of this investment vehicle, TravelTech Lab by HBX Group, will further the companys mission of contributing to technological innovation in the travel sector. The fund will have an initial dedication of 50 million euros in capital to invest in the next 10 years. The specific investment in each selected startup will be defined on a case-by-case basis, ensuring that the most promising technologies receive the support they need to thrive. This strategic initiative underscores HBX Group's commitment to innovation, which has been at the heart of the company since its creation in 2001.

To date, TravelTech Lab has successfully partnered with over 300 startups across various markets, including Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Singapore, and South Korea, and collaborates with leading organizations such as New York University's School of Professional Studies Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, and the Mastercard Tourism Innovation Hub. This collaborative effort has led to significant advancements in the travel sector, benefiting both the industry and travellers alike.

The travel sector is in constant evolution, and only companies that innovate will remain competitive. Our goal at HBX Group is to find solutions to unresolved challenges through innovation, thereby enhancing the customer experience. The creation of TravelTech Lab in 2023 was a significant step in this direction. Our investment fund will not only facilitate our access to future technologies but also promote the development of a global ecosystem of startups and scaleups in the travel sector. We believe that by supporting these innovative companies, we can drive the next wave of transformation in the travel industry. Nicolas Huss, CEO of HBX Group

Since its founding in 2001, HBX Group has been a pioneer in the travel industry, dedicated to innovation and enhancing the customer experience. Through initiatives like TravelTech Lab, by HBX Group, and now its new investment fund, the company continues to lead the way in solving the travel sector's most pressing challenges.

About HBX Group

HBX Group is a global B2B TravelTech company that owns and operates Hotelbeds, Bedsonline and Roiback. We offer a network of interconnected travel tech products and services to partners such as travel agencies, tour operators, destinations, and hotels, as well as companies wanting to leverage the travel sector. Our vision is to simplify the complex and fragmented travel industry through a combination of cloud-based technology solutions, curated data, and an extensive portfolio of products designed to maximise revenue. HBX Group is present in 170 countries and employs more than 3700 people around the globe. We are committed to making travel a force for good, creating a positive social and environmental impact. For more information visit www.hbxgroup.com.
NBCC Celebrating Community at Adams Event

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  The Northern Berkshire Community Coalition is venturing south to hold its annual meeting in Adams for the first time.

The Adams Theater, reopened and under renovation, will be the site of the 38th annual meeting on Friday, June 28, from 11:30 to 1:30.

Executive Director Amber Besaw sees it as a way to demonstrate that the coalition is really about all of Northern Berkshires.

"We're sort of trying to make sure that people know we serve the whole region by not only having them in North Adams," she said.

NBCC held its annual gatherings at the old Williams Inn, as did so many other organizations, then switched to GreylockWorks in the city's West End when the hotel was demolished.

That worked out but the coalition is eager to include another venue in a community that it serves. The keynote speaker will be Yina Moore, an architect and financier, who purchased the theater three years ago. Moore is working to make the theater a community and cultural hub in Adams.

She's also invested in the Topia Inn, now called the Trail, behind the theater and other real estate in the area.

The meeting will also honor founding board member and NBCC's "biggest champion," the late Steve Green, with the Northern Berkshire Hero Award. "You know he's our hero," said Besaw.

Berkshire Catering Co. is serving the light luncheon and the meeting will include a look back over the past year, plans for the coming year and updates on initiatives and on projects, such as NBCC's plans for its new home on State Street.

Besaw and communications coordinator Suzy Helme said they got some input from staff that maybe the description of the event as a "meeting" doesn't communicate that the public is more than welcome to attend.

"We did get a little bit of some thoughts from some staff who are new. We call it our annual meeting. And so people in the community might feel like it's not a thing for them, but it's really a celebration of community," said Besaw. "This is an event that we hold every year but it's really a celebration of community and community members are invited to come."
realme Philippines, alongside Global HQ, officially launched The Flagship Killer via a livestream event on June 20. The all-new realme GT 6 is set to change the flagship smartphone landscape with its impressive performance and power efficiency.

Discover how Power Meets AI with the all-new realme GT 6 and score P5,000 OFF as an early-bird offer

Under the hood, the realme GT 6 is backed up by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 and is fabbed at 4nm. It comes with 5G connectivity, boasts a 1,500,000 AnTuTu benchmark score, and has a clock speed of up to 3.0GHz.

This latest smartphone addition from realme redefines user experience with its customizable frequency or clock speeds for the processors cores. Depending on preferences and gaming habits, users can toggle higher frequencies for more demanding games or set lower frequencies to save power when playing compatible games such as PUBG: Mobile and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, among others.

Regarding display, users get a large 6.78-inch 62 Curved 8T LTPO Panel with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The realme GT 6 offers a 120Hz Refresh Rate and a 360Hz Touch Sampling Rate with 2,500Hz Instantaneous Touch Sampling for smoother graphics.

Even under direct sunlight, its easy to use because it has SGS Sun Glare Certification with up to 6,000 nits and SGS AI Eye Protection Certification that was granted since the realme GT 6 includes Nature Tone Display, Eye Comfort, and Sleep features. On top of this, the realme GT 6 is flicker-free certified by TUV Rheinland due to its 2160Hz PWM Dimming.

Available in the 12GB+256GB storage variant and two colors, Fluid Silver and Razor Green, the realme GT 6 retails for P34,999 SRP at select realme official stores.

Score the realme GT 6 at only P29,999 during online first-selling

As an exclusive introductory offer, the realme GT 6 can be purchased at P29,999 in the realme Flagship store on Lazada only from June 21-27. The first lucky customers will get exciting freebies such as realme Buds T300 and a Globe Prepaid 5G SIM while enjoying a 1-year realme Care for FREE.

On top of this, the Squad can also revel in amazing bundle deals during the Lazada Super Brand Day happening until June 27. During the campaign duration, every purchase of the realme GT 6 comes with an exclusive discount on the newly launched realme Buds Air6 and realme Buds Air6 Pro. In this bundle deal offer, the Squad can get the realme Buds Air6 for only P1,999 (P3,499 first-selling price) and the realme Buds Air6 Pro for P2,999 (P3,999 first-selling price). The Squad can also opt for a flexible payment via LazPaylater.

Meanwhile on Shopee Flagship Store and official TikTok Shop, the all-new realme GT 6 will be available starting June 28 and will retail at an early-bird price of P29,999 until July 4 only. Similarly, the first customers to purchase will enjoy a FREE realme Buds T300, Globe Prepaid 5G SIM, and realme Care.

Dont miss out on promos in selected realme physical stores

Those who placed a pre-order of the realme GT 6 from June 21 to July 4 can claim their product on July 5 onwards, and can take home a FREE realme Buds Air 5 or a TechLife Multi-Capsule Coffee Maker while stocks last.

Furthermore, each purchase of the realme GT 6 on July 5-7 comes with a FREE TechLife Portable Steam Iron or TechLife Foldable Trolley while stocks last.

realme also offers flexible payment options for the Squad. Fans can enjoy an 18-month 0% rate using Credit Card when purchasing from June 20 to July 31. Meanwhile, the Squad can get an 18-month installment plan with 0% interest in Home Credit when they buy from June 20 to July 31.

Keep posted on the latest news on realme GT 6 by visiting the realme official Facebook page or website.
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Morgan Freeman has dismissed the idea of Black History Month, saying: My history is American history.

The 87-year-old The Shawshank Redemption and Seven star had previously called the annual event, which is observed throughout February, an insult.

In a new interview with Variety, Freeman elaborated on those feelings. I detest it, he said. The mere idea of it. You are going to give me the shortest month in a year? And you are going to celebrate my history?! This whole idea makes my teeth itch. Its not right.

He added: My history is American history. Its the one thing in this world I am interested in, beyond making money, having a good time and getting enough sleep.

Freeman is currently promoting The Gray House, a Civil War-era historical drama he produced alongside Kevin Costner. The Roland Joffe-directed series, which stars Mary-Louise Parker, Amethyst Davis, Daisy Head and Ben Vereen, was shown at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival last week.

If you dont know your past, if you dont remember it, you are bound to repeat it, commented Freeman.

Morgan Freeman in Monte-Carlo in June 2024 ( Getty Images )

The Gray House, which is based on a true story, explores the secret work carried out by Union spies during the Civil War.

Its so wide-ranging, said Freeman. There are so many people in the series, because we are acknowledging they were there. If you can do that, if you are given space to do that, bravo. It didnt just happen to one group of people.

Earlier this year, Freeman was one of a group of fictional former presidents to offer advice to President Joe Biden ahead of his State of the Union address.

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Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free

In a post on X/Twitter, the US president wrote: You mayve heard Ive got a big speech coming up. So, I thought I would hear from some folks who have done the job before  sort of.

Along with Freeman, Biden also spoke to Bill Pullman (President Whitmore from Independence Day), Michael Douglas (President Shepherd from The American President), Geena Davis (President Allen from Commander in Chief) and Tony Goldman (President Grant from Scandal).

Freeman, who played President Beck in the disaster movie Deep Impact, told Biden: Well sir, in my capacity as president, all I had to deal with was a meteor.

He added: My advice is just keep telling us how youre working for us and building hope.
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The Green Party have used the design of Charli XCXs Brat album artwork to encourage the public to vote for them in the forthcoming UK general election.

In a post shared to X/Twitter on Thursday (20 June), the party shared an image with a green background and vote green written in black Arial font.

Identical to Charlis album cover aside from the title, the Green Party captioned the picture 14 days to go in countdown to the election on Thursday 4 July.

People on X/Twitter were quick to comment on the Green Partys unusual campaigning strategy.

The way I got this instantly, said one follower, while another declared: Liked and followed.

When I go to the booth I wanna hear those club classics, joked one person, who riffed on the lyrics to the third second song on Brat, Club Classics.

Since Charli released Brat at the start of June, thousands of social media users have been putting their own message onto the Brat design on social media.

However, some users who are unfamiliar with Charlis latest record criticised the minimalist graphic, asking the Green Party: Are you serious. Can you not find a capable designer who will work for you?

Multiple parties have also attempted to appeal to younger voters online by posting videos to TikTok, which is currently used by over nine million people in the UK.

Social media has been touted as a key battleground in general elections for many years, but having launched in the UK in August 2018, TikTok was only in its infancy during the last poll at the end of 2019.

Political advertising is banned on TikTok, though both parties will be hoping content reaches the right audiences through the apps complex user algorithms.

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open image in gallery The Green Party have used the design of Charli XCXs Brat album artwork to encourage votes in the general election ( Atlantic Records/Getty )

Labour launched its account on the app three days before the Conservatives, posting an 11-second video on Thursday evening of Sir Keir Starmer declaring: Change. That is what this election is about.

Since then, the feed has been a mixture of clips from the partys campaign trail, brief explainers and, most successfully, memes mocking the Tories and the Prime Minister.

A post with over two million views and more than 316,000 likes, captioned Rishi Sunak announcing national service, sees Lord Farquaad, the diminutive chief antagonist of the 2001 film Shrek, announce: Some of you may die, but its a sacrifice I am willing to make.
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The woman who cushioned Ian McKellens fall from the stage at the Noel Coward Theatre earlier this week has said she spent the night in hospital after the incident.

McKellen, 85, slipped and fell off the stage during a fight scene in Robert Ickes adaptation of Shakespeares Henry IV Player Kings and allegedly landed on the 30-year-old in the front row.

Johanna from Leatherhead, Surrey  who did not give reporters her surname  said she was left in pain and shock and claims staff at the theatre did not provide adequate care.

Speaking to the BBC, Johanna said she had her legs crossed when McKellen tripped on a prop and flew head first into her and collided with her knee quite hard.

Getting crushed by Gandalf the Grey, thats something you dont expect, she said, adding she had been taken to hospital with soft tissue injuries in the aftermath of the actors fall.

Johanna recalled how McKellen had screamed out in pain, which sent her into shock. While staff rushed to help the actor, two women from the audience  one of whom was a doctor  took care of Johanna, who said she was visibly in distress.

I felt a bit like I wasnt really being checked on, she said, adding if it werent for the doctor who helped her, she might not have necessarily got the same amount of care from staff.

open image in gallery The woman who cushioned Ian McKellen s fall from the stage at the Noel Coward Theatre says she was injured in the incident ( AP )

A spokesperson at the Noel Coward Theatre apologised for the incident and said it offered Johanna support and assistance from the moment it happened and will continue to do so.

The Independent has contacted McKellens representatives for comment.

Johanna said she spent the rest of the night in the emergency department of Epsom hospital where she was given medication for pain in her neck, shoulders and upper back.

She said she didnt know any details about McKellens condition and was so worried something really bad had happened.

Johanna added it was an unforgettable encounter but not necessarily the encounter I would ever want to have with Sir Ian.

open image in gallery Ian McKellen as Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings franchise ( New Line Cinema )

Sir Ian McKellen has said he is having physiotherapy, light exercise and a lot of essential rest at home after three nights in hospital following the fall from the stage.

I want to thank everyone for their kind messages and support, the actor said via his publicist, Clair Dobbs, on X/Twitter on Tuesday (18 June).

Since the accident, during a performance of Player Kings last night, my injuries have been diagnosed and treated by a series of experts, specialists and nurses working for the National Health Service.

To them, of course, I am hugely indebted.
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Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey will play Richard II in a new production of the Shakespeare play directed by Nicholas Hytner at the Bridge Theatre in London.

It will reunite the 36-year-old actor with Hytner, whose 2013 version of Othello at the National Theatre featured Bailey as Cassio. The actor also played Edgar opposite Ian McKellens King Lear at Chichester Festival Theatre in 2017.

The role will be Baileys most high-profile Shakespeare role to date, following his success playing Lord Anthony Bridgerton in Netflixs racy regency drama, Bridgerton, alongside Simone Ashley, who plays his love interest Kate Sharma.

Before the Richard II run begins in February, Bailey is currently busy in production for the new Jurassic World film, while also preparing for the press tour for the forthcoming Wicked movie, in which he plays Fiyero.

The actor followed his Bridgerton success with a role in the acclaimed TV miniseries Fellow Travellers, in which he plays Timothy Laughlin, a congressional staffer in the 1950s. The show follows a decades-long turbulent romance between his character and Hawkins Fuller (Matt Bomer) as they navigate the changes the era brings.

Hytners Richard II will be staged in what the director described as a cross between in-the-round and traverse, rather than the immersive style of Hytners A Midsummer Nights Dream and Julius Caesar, which both allowed audiences to be up close to the actors.

open image in gallery Bailey found international fame from his role in Bridgerton ( AFP via Getty Images )

Richard II has a delicacy and interiority that isnt going to respond to that kind of treatment, Hytner told The Guardian of plans for the production.

He said the plays central question is: What do you do when a ruler is absolutely inadequate? How do you get rid of the rightful leader?

Adding that Shakespeare wrote the play in a way that left his own opinion ambiguous, Hytner said: On the one hand, the play endorses Richards right to rule and on the other hand it appears to endorse [his adversary] Bolingbrokes greater capacity to rule.

The director said the play will examine a feudal world on the cusp of modernity.

Performances of Richard II will begin at the Bridge on 10 February.
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After months of speculation about his future on the show, Kevin Costner has officially confirmed that he will not be returning to Yellowstone.

The 69-year-old has starred as the lead in the hit US series since it first aired in 2018, playing ranch owner John Dutton. Created by Taylor Sheridan, the show follows a group of American ranchers and land developers in rural Montana.

Costner exited the series in 2023. It was revealed at the time that his leaving the show would prematurely bring it to an end, with Sheridan expressing disappointment over the Bodyguard stars decision. The final episodes of season five are set to arrive this November.

In February this year, the programme was left shaken by reports that it was behind-the-scenes drama between Sheridan and Costner that was to blame for the actors departure.

As recently as Monday (17 June), Costner had maintained that he has not ruled out the possibility of a return.

Now, however, theactor has finally ended speculation on his future with Yellowstone, confirming that he will not be returning to the show  ever.

In a video post shared to his Instagram, which he captioned, An update for you guys. Ill see you at the movies, the actor, who recently released his own Western saga, Horizon, at the Cannes Film Festival, explained his decision.

I want to reach out and let you know that after this long year and a half of working on Horizon and doing all the things thats required, and thinking about Yellowstone, that beloved series that I love, that I know you love, I just realised that Im not going to be able to continue Season 5B or into the future, he said.

open image in gallery Costner confirmed he would not be returning as John Dutton ( Paramount )

It was something that really changed me. I loved it. And I know you loved it. And I just wanted to let you know that I wont be returning and I love the relationship weve been able to develop and Ill see you at the movies.

While Yellowstone initially divided critics, it has gone on to become one of the most successful TV programmes in recent years.
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China on Friday threatened to impose the death penalty in extreme cases for diehard Taiwan independence separatists, a ratcheting up of pressure even though Chinese courts have no jurisdiction on the democratically governed island.

China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, has made no secret of its dislike of President Lai Ching-te who took office last month, saying he is a separatist, and staged war games shortly after his inauguration.

Taiwan has complained of a pattern of ramped up Chinese pressure since Mr Lai won the election in January, including ongoing military actions, trade sanctions and coast guard patrols around Taiwan-controlled islands next to China.

The new guidelines say Chinas courts, prosecutors, public and state security bodies should severely punish Taiwan independence diehards for splitting the country and inciting secession crimes in accordance with the law, and resolutely defend national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, according to Chinas state-run Xinhua news agency.

The guidelines are being issued in accordance with laws already on the books, including the 2005 anti-succession law, the news agency reported.

That law gives China the legal basis for military action against Taiwan if it secedes or seems about to.

Sun Ping, an official from Chinas Ministry of Public Security, told reporters in Beijing the maximum penalty for the crime of secession was the death penalty.

The sharp sword of legal action will always hang high, she said.

There was no immediate response from Taiwans government. One official told Reuters they were still digesting the contents of the new guidelines.

The guidelines detail what is considered a crime worthy of punishment, including promoting Taiwans entry to international organisations where statehood is a condition, having external official exchanges and suppressing parties, groups and people that promote reunification.

The guidelines add a further clause to what could be considered a crime - other acts that seek to separate Taiwan from China - meaning the rules can be broadly interpreted.

Mr Lai has repeatedly offered to hold talks with China but has been rebuffed. He says only Taiwans people can decide their future.

China has taken legal measures against Taiwanese officials before, including imposing sanctions on Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwans former de facto ambassador to the United States and now the islands vice president.

Such punishments have little practical effect as Chinese courts do not have jurisdiction in Taiwan, whose government rejects Beijings sovereignty claims.

Senior Taiwanese officials, including its president, also do not visit China.
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Taiwan is looking at Ukraines resistance under Russian invasion and learning how it can prepare for a possible attack by China, the islands vice-president said in London on Thursday.

Hsiao Bi-khim was speaking at an event hosted by Chatham House, reported The i news.

We are learning from Ukraines defence, where smaller combat forces have proven nimble and adaptable, Ms Bi-khim said, stating that Taiwan is seeing parallels with Ukraines fight back against a larger neighbour.

Chinese president Xi Jinping has instructed his countrys military to be ready by 2027 to invade Taiwan, according to US intelligence. China views the democratically-governed Taiwan as a breakaway province and maintains the position that it will not renounce force to bring Taiwan under its control.

The 70-year-old autocrat has previously vowed to ensure Taiwan is reunited with the mainland during his time in power, and has also said the matter of the islands future cannot be passed on from generation to generation.

As long as the Peoples Republic of China has not renounced the use of force against Taiwan, and as long as they continue to exercise force, we have no choice but to step up our defences accordingly, Ms Bi-khim said, in remarks that risk angering Beijing.

The Taiwanese vice president, hinting at preparation towards a possible invasion, said that Taipei must reform and decentralise our military command structure.

And we understand thats not only relevant for our military, we are working to enhance our whole societys resilience, incorporating civil defence in our homeland, she said.

Taiwan is actively taking steps to bolster its readiness against a Chinese attack, Ms Bi-khim said. These steps include doubling up Taiwans defence budget and taking a leaf out of Ukraines combat against invading Russian forces.

We have extended the mandatory military service and training period from four months to a year, she said. Taiwan has prioritised its new arms acquisitions and management systems that are cost effective, nimble and survivable, the vice-president said.

Faced with Russian onslaught of aerial attacks from hypersonic, ballistic, cruise missiles and drones, Ukraine has amped up its own domestic production on aerial and reconnaissance drones to fight back.

It has helped the war-hit nation sustain the frontline troops in the weeks western aid has slowed down. From being a minimal ammunition importer in 2019, Ukraine in 2023 became the number one global arms importer.

In a similar fashion, Taiwan is also investing in their own domestic defence industry and working on establishing a mechanism to introduce new and emerging technologies, the vice president added.

She said Russias invasion of Ukraine has reminded Taiwan that it cannot take its peace for granted. The official cited backsliding of basic human rights and civil rights in Hong Kong as a wake-up call for Taipei.

Last month, Taiwans outgoing foreign minister Joseph Wu had warned that defeat of Ukraine can inspire Chinas expansionism ambitions.

If Ukraine is defeated in the end, I think China is going to get inspired and they might take even more ambitious steps in expanding their power in the Indo-Pacific and it will be disastrous for the international community, he said.

He cautioned that nobody should be... thinking that they are immune from authoritarian influence.

In late May, Beijing deployed warplanes and naval vessels in a mock invasion of the island to demonstrate its anger towards the new president in Taipei.

The Chinese military openly said its two-day war games are designed to test the [armed forces] ability to jointly seize power... and occupy key areas around Taiwan and the island chains it controls.

The escalation of Chinas military activity around Taiwan is being watched with growing alarm from around the world, with neighbouring powers in the Asia-Pacific urging the two to maintain peace and stability.
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The celebration surrounding the release of Delhi leader Arvind Kejriwal was cut short on Friday after a court paused its order and cancelled his bail just hours before he was to walk out of jail.

Mr Kejriwal, who is the chief of the Aam Aadmi Party (Common Mans Party) that governs capital Delhi, was arrested in March over his alleged involvement in a now-scrapped liquor policy case in which the exact charge against him is yet to be pronounced.

His arrest was a blow to the united Indian opposition which was challenging prime minister Narendra Modi and his majoritarian Hindu nationalist government. The AAP called it political vendetta ahead of the national elections. Mr Modi won a historic third consecutive term as Indias prime minister  but his victory was overshadowed by the failure of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to win an expected outright majority.

On Thursday, the Delhi High Court paved the way for Mr Kejriwals release and granted him bail on a personal bond of Rs 100,000 (946) on certain conditions. The Delhi chief minister was asked to not try to hamper the investigation in the corruption case or influence witnesses.

According to the High Court, the investigative agency Enforcement Directorate (ED) has not presented enough evidence to pin down Mr Kejriwal since his arrest on 21 March.

He was granted interim bail by Indias apex court in May to campaign for the federal elections before going back to jail again on 2 June.

Friday saw hectic parlays at the Delhi High Court once again as Mr Kejriwals lawyer continued his arguments for release from jail. The bail was paused after the probe agency challenged Mr Kejriwals bail.

Top leaders of Mr Kejriwals party and his wife Sunita Kejriwal were planning a grand welcome and expected to reach Tihar Jail in New Delhi where he is currently lodged.

The rejected bail is among a series of trial hearings where the Delhi leader was denied release from jail. Mr Kejriwal has denied the accusations.

While the federal agency accused Mr Kejriwal of being a key conspirator in the liquor bribery case, the opposition parties accused the government of misusing investigation agencies to harass and weaken its political opponents. They pointed to a series of raids, arrests and corruption investigations of key opposition figures in the months before the national election.

His party, AAP, is part of a broad alliance of opposition parties called INDIA, which was the main challenger to Modi during the election, which concluded earlier this month.
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Soft drink maker Britvic has rejected a 3.1 billion takeover move by Danish brewing giant Carlsberg.

The Robinsons squash and J2O maker saw its shares jump by as much as 15% on Friday in response.

The Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire-based company said it received a proposal from Carlsberg for the whole business on June 11.

It said the potential bid valued to the company at 1,250p per share, or 3.1 billion.

It recognises its fiduciary duties and will consider any further proposal on its merits Britvic

But Britvic said it concluded that the approach significantly undervalues Britvic, and its current and future prospects and rejected the move days later.

It came a week after it rejected a 1,200p per share approach from Carlsberg.

Britvic told shareholders: The board remains confident in the current and future prospects of Britvic.

It recognises its fiduciary duties and will consider any further proposal on its merits.

There can be no certainty that any firm offer will be made for the company, nor as to the terms of any such offer, should one be made.

Carlsberg believes that the potential transaction would enable it to capture appealing long-term growth opportunities from Britvics comprehensive portfolio of leading brands in an attractive segment of the beverage market where Carlsberg already has a strong track record Carlsberg

Carlsberg issued a separate statement confirming the move to its investors, saying it believes there could be long-term growth opportunities from a deal.

The Danish company said: Carlsberg believes that the proposal represents a compelling opportunity for Britvic shareholders to realise their investment in full in cash at an attractive valuation.

Carlsberg believes that the potential transaction would enable it to capture appealing long-term growth opportunities from Britvics comprehensive portfolio of leading brands in an attractive segment of the beverage market where Carlsberg already has a strong track record.

It comes four years after Carlsberg significantly expanded in the UK through its 780 million joint venture deal with Marstons, creating the Carlsberg Marstons Brewing Company, which makes brands including Hobgoblin and Pedigree.
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Human-caused climate change dialed up the thermostat and turbocharged the odds of this month's killer heat that has been baking the Southwestern United States, Mexico and Central America, a new flash study found.

Sizzling daytime temperatures that triggered cases of heat stroke in parts of the United States were 35 times more likely and 2.5 degrees hotter (1.4 degrees Celsius) because of the warming from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas, World Weather Attribution, a collection of scientists that run rapid and non-peer reviewed climate attribution studies, calculated Thursday.

It's an oven here; you can't stay here, 82-year-old Magarita Salazar Perez of Veracruz, Mexico, said in her home with no air conditioning. Last week, the Sonoran Desert hit 125 degrees (51.9 degrees Celsius), the hottest day in Mexican history, according to study co-author Shel Winkley, a meteorologist at Climate Central.

And it was even worse at night, which is what made this heat wave so deadly, said Imperial College of London climate scientist Friederike Otto, who coordinates the attribution study team. Climate change made nighttime temperatures 2.9 degrees (1.6 degrees Celsius) warmer and unusual evening heat 200 more times more likely, she said.

There's just been no cool air at night like people are used to, Salazar Perez said. Doctors say cooler night temperatures are key to surviving a heat wave.

At least 125 people have died so far, according to the World Weather Attribution team.

Were looking at a shifting baseline - what was once extreme but rare is becoming increasingly common, Carly Kenkel, University of Southern Californias marine studies chair

This is clearly related to climate change, the level of intensity that we are seeing, these risks," said study co-author Karina Izquierdo, a Mexico City-based urban advisor for the Red Cross and Red Crescent Climate Centre.

The alarming part about this heat wave, which technically is still cooking the North American continent, is that it's no longer that out of the ordinary anymore, Otto said. Past studies by the group have looked at heat so extreme that they found it impossible without climate change, but this heat wave not so much.

From a sort of weather perspective in that sense it wasn't rare, but the impacts were actually really bad, Otto told The Associated Press in an interview.

The changes we have seen in the last 20 years, which feels like just yesterday, are so strong, Otto said. Her study found that this heat wave is now four times more likely to happen now than it was in the year 2000 when it was nearly a degree (0.5 degrees Celsius) cooler than now. It seems sort of far away and a different world.

open image in gallery Patrons try to cool off inside at the Justa Center as temperatures soar in Pheonix ( AP )

While other groups of international scientists  and the global carbon emissions reduction target adopted by countries in the 2015 Paris climate agreement  refer to warming since pre-industrial time in mid 1800s, Otto said comparing what's happening now to the year 2000 is more striking.

Were looking at a shifting baseline - what was once extreme but rare is becoming increasingly common, said University of Southern California Marine Studies Chair Carly Kenkel, who wasn't part of the attribution team's study. She said the analysis is the logical conclusion based on the data.

The study looked at a large swath of the continent, including southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize and Honduras and the hottest five consecutive days and hottest five consecutive nights. For most of the area, those five days ran from June 3 to 7 and those five nights were June 5 to 9, but in a few places the peak heat started May 26, Otto said.

For example, San Angelo, Texas, hit a record 111 degrees (43.8 degrees Celsius) on June 4. Between June 2 and June 6 the night temperature never dipped below 80 degrees (26.7 degrees Celsius) at Corpus Christi airport, a record each night, with two days when the thermometer never dropped below 85 (29.4 degrees Celsius) according to the National Weather Service.

open image in gallery The southern half of the United States was under prolonged heatwaves that have driven temperatures well above 100F in parts of the southwest like Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and California ( NOAA/NWS )

Between June 1 and June 15, more than 1,200 daytime high temperature records were tied or broken in the United States and nearly 1,800 nighttime high temperature records were reached, according to the National Center for Environmental Information.

The attribution team used both current and past temperature measurements, contrasting what is happening to what occurred in past heat waves. They then used the scientifically accepted technique of comparing simulations of a fictional world without human-caused climate change to current reality to come up with how much global warming factored into the 2024 heat wave.

The immediate meteorological cause was a high pressure system parked over central Mexico that blocked cooling storms and clouds, then it moved to the U.S. Southwest and is now bringing the heat to the U.S. East, Winkley said. Tropical Storm Alberto formed Wednesday and is heading to northern Mexico and southern Texas with some rains, which may cause flooding.

Mexico and other places have been dealing for months with drought, water shortages and brutal heat. Monkeys have been dropping from trees in Mexico from the warmth.

This heat wave "exacerbates existing inequalities between rich and poor in the Americas, Izquierdo said, and Kenkel agreed. The night heat is where the inequalities really become apparent because the ability to cool down with central air conditioning depends on how financially comfortable they are, Kenkel said.

And that means during this heat wave Salazar Perez has been quite uncomfortable.
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People in New Mexico at risk from devastating wildfires this week are now facing extremely dangerous flooding.

At least two people died in the South Fork and Salt Fires which have destroyed 23,000 acres in southern parts of the state since Monday.

Some 7,000 people in and around the village of Ruidoso, around 200 miles south of Albuquerque, were forced to evacuate on Monday. A total of 8,000 people in the region have been evacuated, with many of them staying in emergency shelters. The larger South Fork fire destroyed some 1,400 buildings in the area, including 500 homes, said New Mexico Governor Lujan Grisham.

It is heartbreaking to look at what our landscape looks like after a fire moves through it, Kerry Gladden, a spokesperson for the Village of Ruidoso, told The New York Times. Such a thing of beauty now has whole mountain sides that are covered with charred trees.

open image in gallery A flash flood rushes through the village of Ruidoso, pictured, in New Mexico. Residents are facing extremely dangerous floods while two major fires scorch the region ( Jesus Figueroa /TMX )

And now, Ruidoso is facing extremely dangerous flooding in the wake of the fires as thunderstorms, hail and high winds hit the region, the National Weather Service said. Burn scars left behind by wildfires make areas more susceptible to flooding because charred ground cant absorb water, unlike healthy soil and vegetation.

Meanwhile, heavy rain and lime-sized hail turned the nearby village of Willard into a large lake, forecasters told The Associated Press. The storms dropped up to eight inches on the 200-person village in just eight hours, and flooding also left dozens of cars stranded on a nearby highway.

My semi weighs 80,000 pounds, and it was rocking, commercial truck driver Mike Bischoff told the AP.

Meanwhile, blowing dust caused by severe weather in northern New Mexico caused a highway pileup on Wednesday. Eighteen people were hospitalized, Santa Fe New Mexican reports.

People were also rescued from their homes in the Ruidoso area after being stranded by heavy flooding, forecasters said.

Emergency crews were forced to evacuate from eight different areas on Wednesday due to the extreme flooding but have since returned and continued rescue efforts in Ruidoso, public information officer Jerry Corliss told The Independent on Thursday.

Emergency crews worked quickly on Thursday to clear roadways of debris caused by the floods, Corliss added.

The region remains under a flash flood watch until late on Thursday. Emergency crews worked quickly on Thursday to clear roadways of debris brought in by the floods, Corliss told The Independent.

open image in gallery Satellite imagery shows the wildfires burning through southern New Mexico. At least two people are dead as the South Fork and Salt fires rage on ( Maxar Technologies )

New Mexico state police said at least two people died in the blazes. Patrick Pearson, 60, died on Tuesday. Officials found him on the side of a road near a motel with several burns.Police have yet to identify the second person, whose skeleton was found in a charred vehicle also on Tuesday.

The governor has declared a state of emergency in Lincoln County and the Mescalero Apache Reservation due to the fires.

The human-caused climate crisis will continue to create prime conditions for destructive wildfires as global temperatures increase, making rain more erratic and droughts more prolonged and intense. Climate scientists say that it is very likely 2024 will be the hottest year on record globally, following the record-setting temperatures of 2023.

From 2000 to 2024, the acreage in the US destroyed by wildfires has more than doubled compared to the 1990s.
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The cybersecurity firm Kaspersky denied Friday that it is a security threat after the U.S. Commerce Department banned the use of its software in the United States.

The Moscow-based company  whose CEO Eugene Kaspersky is Russian  said in a statement that the Commerce Departments decision would not affect its ability to sell and promote its cyber security products and training in the U.S.

Kaspersky said the government had based its decision on the geopolitical climate and theoretical concerns rather than independently verifying if there was a risk.

The government says Kasperskys Russian connections mean the company poses an undue or unacceptable risk to U.S. national security or the safety and security.

The company conducts much of its business in Russia and, as a Russian citizen who lives in that country, Eugene Kaspersky himself is subject to Russian law, the Commerce Department said in a decision dated June 14 that was posted on the Federal Register.

The department said it had considered Kaspersky's objections to the initial findings of its investigation into whether its products or services posed a threat and found that the decision to ban its software was well supported.

Aside from the company's obligation to abide by Russian laws and decisions, its software can be exploited to identify sensitive U.S. citizens' data and make it available to Russian government actors, the department said.

The risks to U.S. national security addressed in this Final Determination stem not from whether Kasperskys products are effective at identifying viruses and other malware, but whether they can be used strategically to cause harm to the United States, it said.

Kaspersky boasts one of the worlds most popular consumer antivirus products and a research unit widely respected for routinely exposing elite hacking groups.

In 2019, The Associated Press found that an undercover operative had targeted several cybersecurity experts in an apparent effort to gather intelligence about critics of Kaspersky.

The company says it cannot deliberately obtain sensitive data on Americans and that its operations and employees in Russia can only access aggregate or statistical data not attributable to a specific person. It said the main impact of the U.S. government's decision would be to benefit cybercrime, while also diminishing the freedom of consumers and organizations to choose the cyber protection they want.

We look forward to what the future holds, and will continue to defend ourselves against actions that seek to unfairly harm our reputation and commercial interests, it said.
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Endurance swimmer Joan Fennelly is undaunted by frigid water and long distances, swimming year-round in the wild. But she takes extra precautions in her own backyard. The River Thames is one of Britain's many waterways contaminated with sewage and agricultural pollution.

If it looks right, if its smells right, Ill go in," Fennelly said.

Britain has become notorious as a place where a casual swim could lead to an extended visit to the toilet, if not the hospital. A torrent of news on dirty water has spilled into next month's election to determine which party controls government for the next four or five years.

While not a top campaign issue, it stinks of a larger problem: Britain's aging infrastructure  from aging schools, hospitals and prisons to pothole-riddled streets.

Bad water is decades in the making, tied to the privatization of waterworks under Prime Minister Margaret Thatchers Conservative government in 1989 and to fiscal austerity after the 2008 financial crisis that slashed budgets for watchdogs and others.

The British public discovered the extent of the mess during the COVID-19 pandemic as outdoor recreation such as canoeing and wild swimming took off. The sight and smell of feces, toilet paper and other waste in streams and on beaches led to an outcry, along with clean water campaigns by some London newspapers.

We are suffering with shockingly poor infrastructure as a consequence of long-term underinvestment by water utilities who appeared more interested in paying shareholder dividends, said Nick Kirsop-Taylor, an environmental policy lecturer at the University of Exeter. Theres far more to it than just that, though  its the culture of poor regulation.

Britain had such an anti-regulatory culture on the environment that it was known as the the dirty man of Europe in the 1970s and 1980s, Kirsop-Taylor said. That changed when it joined the European Union, but he said there has been backsliding since its vote in 2016 to leave the EU.

While private companies have run regional monopolies providing combined water and sewage service, the population has swelled and industrial demand on the system has increased. Plumbing  dating to the Victorian era in many places  has not been updated to meet needs.

On top of that, climate change has brought heavier rainfall to overburdened sewers.

The water companies have a choice: they either allow sewage to back up into peoples homes or they open the pipes and it flows out into nature, said Charles Watson, founder and chair of River Action, founded in 2021. That is why our rivers are full of human excrement.

The number of untreated sewage discharges increased by more than 50% last year from the previous one to a record 464,000 spills. The cumulative duration of the spills doubled to 3.6 million hours, according to the Environment Agency, one of the two water regulators.

The increase was largely due to a wetter year and because monitors have now been installed on most sewage outflow pipes, according to Water UK, a trade group for water companies. But there's no similar monitoring for farm runoff like manure, an even bigger problem than sewage.

While sewage releases are legal during periods of rain, their frequency has drawn scrutiny and led to criticism that the industrys financial regulator, Ofwat, has not done enough to ensure infrastructure is updated.

Water companies accuse Ofwat of not allowing them raise rates enough to finance improvements. Ofwat would not comment on specific criticism because of the pending election but noted that companies had underspent their budgets for improvements by 25% since 2020.

Water companies have felt the pressure. Water UK apologized last year for sewage releases, with CEO David Henderson saying the industry should have woken up sooner.

We recognize the current levels of sewage spills are unacceptable and have a plan to sort it out," Water UK said in a statement to The Associated Press. "Companies want to invest more than 10 billion pounds ($12.7 billion) to reduce spills by 40% by the end of this decade. We now need Ofwat to give us the green light so we can get on with it.

Activists accuse the companies of paying dividends to shareholders while running up large debts. Watson with River Action said the industry paid 11 million pounds ($14 million) last year for environmental violations such as dumping sewage while paying more than 100 times that in dividends  1.4 billion pounds ($1.8 billion).

That is not a deterrent, Watson said. That is an incentive to pollute.

A bipartisan committee in the House of Lords last year found the two regulators needed to go further in fining and prosecuting polluters and needed more government funding. The Environment Agency's number of prosecutions has declined significantly over the years, from 787 cases in 2007-2008 to 17 in 2020-2021.

The Industry and Regulators Committee also said Ofwat had prioritized lower water bills for customers over infrastructure improvements.

Political parties are capitalizing on the crisis with tough talk. Labour leader Keir Starmer has accused the Conservative government of turning Britains waterways into an open sewer.

But neither Conservatives nor left-of-center Labour has offered much of a detailed plan. Like most other parties, they have not promised to increase regulator funding.

The leader of the centrist Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey, has made the biggest campaign splash, plunging into water for the cameras.

The Conservatives have allowed the water companies to pump their filthy sewage into our rivers, into our lakes, onto our beaches and into our sea, Davey said as he announced a detailed plan that includes replacing Ofwat with a tougher new regulator.

The Green Party, which struggles in a political system that makes it hard for small parties to win seats in Parliament, has even suggested that water services be nationalized again.

Some communities agree. The town council in Henley-on-Thames, in a Conservative bastion west of London, this month cast votes of no confidence in Thames Water, which is on the brink of insolvency, and called for its water provider to be nationalized.

The town is the site of the Henley Royal Regatta that draws 50,000 people a day for rowing races in July. But dirty water has tarnished its image. The center of town is downstream from a Thames Water sewage treatment plant, which the company says it plans to upgrade by the end of 2026.

I wouldnt swim that stretch for love nor money, said endurance swimmer Fennelly, who suspects she got a nasty E. coli infection once there.

She and other members of the Henley Mermaids, a group of wild swimmers, now consult the Thames Water phone app that shows sewage releases. They also do the sniff test before jumping in.

On a recent morning, Fennelly and Jo Robb walked across a pasture, tied floating devices around their waists and climbed down to the Thames. The current was strong from rain the night before.

Robb screamed as she hit the river, not because it was dirty, but because of the chill. It was refreshing  the way water should be.
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A boy has been found guilty of attempted murder after attacking two sleeping students and a teacher with hammers in a devastating rampage in the middle of the night at a private school.

The 16-year-old was wearing just his boxer shorts when he bludgeoned the two boys and a housemaster at Blundells School in Tiverton in Devon.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had claimed he was sleepwalking during the horrific incident on 9 June last year, and that he kept the weapons in his room in fear of a zombie apocalypse.

After a trial lasting more than a month at Exeter Crown Court, a jury found the boy, now aged 17, guilty of three charges of attempted muder on Friday.

Mr James Dawes KC, prosecuting, had told the court how the boy had climbed up to where his victims were sleeping in cabin-style beds before smashing a hammer on their heads, arms and backs.

These blows smashed their skulls, said Mr Dawes.

After being awoken by the noise, housemaster Henry Roffe-Silvester went into the bedroom before he was also struck over the head with a hammer.

Mr Roffe-Silvester retreated down the corridor with the defendant attacking him again and again with the hammer around his face and head, Mr Dawes said.

A paramedic responding to the attack described the bedroom as a scene from a horror film.

A colleague added: I have served in Iraq and had never seen such a scene of carnage, with blood over the desks, over the walls and the beds.

Both the boys attacked suffered skull fractures and are living with the long-term consequences of the attack, said Mr Dawes, but added they had no memory of the incident.

The defendant, who gave no comment to questions in police interviews, told the jury he had not been conscious at the time of the attack.

Giving evidence to the jury, he said he remembered going to sleep before the attack, then seeing the dormitory covered in blood.

I didnt remember doing anything so the only rational thing I was thinking was that I was sleepwalking, he said.

Expert Dr Mark Pressman also described the attack on Mr Roffe-Silvester as a textbook example of sleepwalking violence and said there were no features in the case inconsistent with sleepwalking.

And relatives of the defendant also told the court about a history of sleepwalking in their family.

However, the jury members, who heard how the boy had been using his iPad in the moment before the assaults, reached their verdict after 40 hours of deliberation.

Concluding the opening of the crowns case, Mr Dawes said a police investigation had uncovered an obsession the defendant had with hammers and one of the boys.

It may not be palatable, and it may not be particularly logical, but it appears to be an obsession which he carried out, he said.

Parents pay up to 46,000 annual fees for full boarding students at Blundells School, which was opened in 1604.

Among its past pupils is Sir Christopher Ondaatje who made his fortune in a business in Canada before returning to live in the UK. He is the brother of Michael Ondaatje who wrote The English Patient.

The schools alumni also includes R.D. Blackmore, who wrote the romance novel Lorna Doone in 1869, and physiologist Archibald V. Hill, who helped rescue thousands of academics from Nazi-dominated Europe.

On Friday, trial judge Mrs Justice Cutts said she would adjourn sentencing for the preparation of pre-sentence reports, including a psychiatric report, and would pass sentence on 18 October.

Detective Inspector Dave Egan, of Devon and Cornwall Police, welcomed the jurys verdict while thanking paramedics who responded to the incident, providing life-saving assistance to those injured.

He added: The assaults were both brutal and savage and I believe that his intent was to kill.

Our detectives worked tirelessly to prove that the offender had indeed been fully conscious when committing this horrendous attack  which had been pre-planned.
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The Ministry of Defence has been accused of trying to bury an admission that the special forces had power over the UK sanctuary applications of Afghan allies amid an ongoing inquiry into potential war crimes in Afghanistan.

The MoD has previously insisted that UK special forces could not block relocation applications of Afghan soldiers, some of whom could be witnesses to crimes allegedly committed by British units.

Hundreds of Afghan special forces soldiers who served in two elite units known as the Triples have had their applications to come to the UK rejected by the MoD - with some subjected to murder and torture at the hands of the Taliban after being refused help.

A joint investigation by The Independent, Sky News and Lighthouse Reports first revealed that relocation applications from alleged Triples members must be approved by the United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF), which should verify the applicants role and approve them.

Afghan special forces members have been systematically rejected for relocation to the UK ( Supplied )

Defence minister Andrew Murrison has now admitted that UKSF told caseworkers whether they would sponsor an application. Their assessment of the Afghan applicant was then used by MoD caseworkers to determine if they should be approved for relocation to the UK.

The admission that the UKSF did have an effective veto power on applications has been described as extraordinary by SNP MP Stewart McDonald.

Mr McDonald, who received the clarification from Mr Murrison in a letter last week, said: That the letter has been sneaked out in the most underhand fashion - clearly in the hope that it would go under the radar during an election campaign - is unprecedented.

Mr McDonald said the defence minister had tried to sneak out the letter by sending it to the SNPs generic HQ email rather than directly to him, adding: Clearly they hoped this would be missed entirely and go under the radar.

He said the letter represents a 180 reversal of the public position advanced by the UK government. Mr McDonald added: The veto power outlined in the letter represents a clear conflict of interest for UK special forces, as it gave them decision-making power over applications at a time when a public inquiry about alleged war crimes committed by UK special forces is underway.

Some Afghan members of the unit Commando Force 333 were partnered with the SAS during the period that is being investigated over potential war crimes.

Independent inquiry officials are particularly interested in the Triples units because they may be able to provide testimony that is relevant to the inquiry.

The government is currently conducting a review into some 2000 applications by those who served in Afghan specialist units. The review comes after the MoD admitted mistakes had been made in the sanctuary decisions following extensive reporting on the issue.

An MoD Spokesperson said: There has been no evidence to suggest that any part of the MoD has sought to prevent former members of Afghan specialist units from giving evidence to the inquiry.

This is a fully independent Inquiry which has the full support of the MOD, and we encourage anyone with relevant information to come forward.
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A seven-month-old baby mauled to death by her familys pet dog has been named by police, who say no criminal offence was committed.

Elle Doherty suffered serious injuries to her head after she was bitten by the dog, registered as a Belgian Malinois, at her home in Coventry on Sunday.

Paramedics arrived within minutes, but despite their best efforts she was pronounced dead. The dog was removed from the house and destroyed on the same day.

On Friday, West Midlands Police released a statement confirming that detectives were satisfied no criminal offence had been committed.

A force spokesperson said: Following a detailed investigation into the circumstances of the death of a baby who tragically died after being bitten by a pet dog at a home in Coventry, detectives are now satisfied that there have been no criminal offences.

Elles family have been notified of the decision by the force and a file is now being prepared for a coroner. ( West Midlands Police )

They added: Our thoughts remain with the family at this tragic time, and they have now asked to be left to grieve in private.

Elles family have been notified of the decision by the force and a file is now being prepared for a coroner.

Belgian Malinois is one of four breeds of a Belgian Shepherd which are known for being energetic, smart and loyal to their owners.

On the tragic incident in Shorncliffe Road, a West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesperson said: We were called to a medical emergency at a private address on Shorncliffe Road in Coventry at 3.01pm on Sunday.

Two ambulances, a specialist paramedic, a paramedic officer and the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance were sent to the scene. On arrival, crews found a female patient, a child, who, following treatment, was taken to hospital via land ambulance.

Six months ago, The Independent revealed how the number of fatal dog attacks had surged to a record higher in the past two years with 16 deaths recorded in 2023, compared to six in 2022.

There have been more deaths this year, including a 39-year-old grandmother killed by two dogs in Jaywick in Essex, and a woman, aged in her 50s, who died afer she was mauled by her two registered XL Bully dogs in Hornchurch.

The rise in dog attacks saw the previous government amend the Dangerous Dogs Attack to ban XL Bully dogs.

Only owners who register their XL Bully dogs can keep them, with restrictions including using a muzzle in public and taking out insurance.

However, the change in law has been criticised by some, including the RSPCA, which say the focus should be on ownership instead of breed.
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The Conservatives have been warned they face an existential crisis over housing after new figures showed ownership has declined in dozens of seats held by the party.

Home ownership is down in a fifth of all seats currently held by the Conservatives, analysis of Census data by The Independent reveals. The number of people owning a property dropped by almost a quarter in some constituencies once considered Conservative strongholds in the decade between 2011 and 2021.

The figures led one academic to suggest young people may never forgive the party for their inability to get on the housing ladder and being left renting for life.

While ownership has declined in nearly half of seats held by Labour (48 per cent), experts say the Tories are more likely to be hurt at the polls due to the higher levels of home ownership among Conservatives.

At the 2019 general election, an Ipsos Mori study found 315 of the 365 seats won by the Conservatives (86 per cent) had above average levels of home ownership, compared to just 53 of Labours 202 seats (26 per cent).

Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London, said it had long been the case that people who own their own homes tended to vote Conservative.

In the long term, the Tories have created a generation or two of young adults  some well into their thirties -who might never forgive them for denying them what they grew up assuming would one day be theirs almost by right, he said.

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Of the 72 Conservative seats to record a slump in home ownership between 2011 and 2021, Kensington in west London saw the biggest drop.

Home ownership there was down 23 per cent in a constituency that has returned a Tory MP at every election since its creation until 2017, when Labour won. The Tories got the seat back in 2019 with a tiny majority of 150, but a recent MRP poll by Ipsos suggests the well-heeled seat will turn red again on 4 July.

Cities of London and Westminster, another traditionally safe Conservative seat, had the second-highest drop at 19.7 per cent. Labour took control of Westminster Council at the 2022 local elections and Ipsoss survey says Labour is on course to take the seat.

Chelsea and Fulham, which has repeatedly returned a Conservative MP since 2010, was third most affected with 13.6 per cent and is also expected to be won by Labour.

Outside London, Great Grimsby (5.7 per cent), Hyndburn (5.4 per cent) and Blackpool North and Cleveleys (4.7 per cent) recorded the biggest drops.

Rishi Sunaks party has been accused of not doing enough to tackle the housing crisis ( PA )

Buying a home has become unachievable for a large percentage of young people across the country in recent decades. Soaring prices mean they struggle to raise enough cash for a deposit or secure a big enough mortgage to afford a property.

The latest data from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) shows that in 202223, 39 per cent of 25- to 34-year-olds owned their home, 20 percentage points lower than the peak figure for that age group in 2000.

A 2018 report by the Resolution Foundation found one in three millennials, now aged from their late 20s to their early 40s, may never own their own home.

Housing is a key battleground ahead of the 2024 general election and was a key theme of the Conservative Partys manifesto, with Mr Sunak telling activists and MPs last week at an event at Silverstone that his party wanted to create a society where everyone has a chance to own.

Angela Rayner says the Tories have put the dream of home ownership out of reach for a huge number of Britons ( PA )

The Tories have promised to keep the threshold at which first-time buyers pay stamp duty at 425,000, a change introduced in 2022, a new and improved help-to-buy scheme and pledged to deliver 1.6 million homes in England over the course of the next parliament.

Labour, meanwhile, has promised to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housing in a generation, promising to build 1.5 million new homes over the next five years, as well as a reform of the planning system and mandatory housing targets for councils.

Angela Rayner, Labour deputy leader, accused Mr Sunak of being too weak to push through the difficult reforms needed to build more homes.

Ms Rayner, the shadow secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities, also claimed that 14 years of Tory chaos had put the dream of home ownership out of reach for thousands across the country.

She added: Labour is the party of home ownership, and the only party serious about building the homes Britain needs. We will deliver the change needed and end the Tory chaos.

Michael Gove, the outgoing secretary of state for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities accepted that his party hadnt built enough houses since coming to power in 2010 but had a better record than the last Labour government.

But he rejected the accusation that his own party had failed on housing. In an interview this week, Mr Gove said the Conservatives would make it easier for first-time buyers to access finance and build more homes.
 Close Jay Slaters father makes six-word plea to son at visit to site of search

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Jay Slaters family have been urged to use fundraising donations to hire experts to continue the search for the missing teenager.

Spanish police said the hunt for the 19-year-old from Lancashire had ended, with the case remaining open on Sunday as the gruelling search entered another week.

But his family have vowed to carry on looking for him regardless.

TV detective Mark Williams-Thomas flew out to conduct his own investigation and has urged the family to use some of the 46,000 raised to help continue the search.

He wrote on X: In light of the police search ending. I have suggested the family should use the GoFundMe money to continue the search using experts in searching.

It comes as an amateur sleuth claimed to be following an unofficial new clue.

TikTok climber Paul Arnott, who has been searching for Jay in Tenerife, said that a pair of sunglasses similar to the ones Jay was last seen wearing had been found close to where his mobile phone last pinged.
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Stickers appearing to threaten arson attacks on second homes have been posted in the Lake District.

The stickers, which have been stuck on signs near the popular destination of Lake Windermere, have been described as concerning by local police.

Thought to be a rise in the use of properties in the area as second homes, the stickers read F*** your second homes, with a drawing of a house going up in flames.

Cumbria Police said: We are aware that a number of concerning stickers have been placed on signage in the Lakes area over the last few months.

Offensive language and implying that property will be subject to arson will never be acceptable and police inquiries to identify those responsible are ongoing.

Lake Windermere at Bowness in the Lake District national park ,Cumbria (Alamy/PA)

Second home-ownership has become an increasing concern for residents in popular tourist destinations such as Cornwall, Devon and the Lake District.

One person, responding to the stickers, wrote on social media: Second home ownership is one cause of the shortage of affordable homes in the Lake District. Something needs to be done, but burning houses down will make the problem worse, not better.

Another wrote: Its destroying the local communities. Local people have no chance in buying in the area there from its sad really.

Tourists flood the area in peak season, staying in holiday rentals or their second homes ( Alamy )

Last year, Westmorland and Furness Council estimated that up to a quarter of homes may be owned by non-residents, making it harder for locals to buy properties and live in the area full time.

Andy Beeforth OBE, CEO of Cumbria Community Foundation, said at the time: The beauty of the Lake District often disguises the fact that too many of our residents are experiencing hardship. The significant increase in the number of holiday lets in the past few years has reduced the availability of housing for local people, as well as reducing the council tax revenue which pays for local services.

Earlier this year, the council implemented a 100 per cent council tax premium for furnished second homes and unoccupied furnished properties to start from 1 April 2025  meaning second home owners would have to pay a 200 per cent council tax bill.

Earlier this year, the council also implemented a 100 per cent council tax premium for furnished second homes ( PA )

Similar stickers have cropped up in other areas of the country before. In 2023, a mystery protest was launched against Air BnB in the Welsh village of Llanberis.

Villagers came across stickers with Death to AirBnb written on them, along with a picture of a noose. It is understood the stickers are manufactured by the same company as the ones found in the Lake district.

If you have any information which would assist police please get in touch on 101 or email 101@cumbria.police.uk.
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A water company fined 90,000 for dumping sewage into a river has been unable to explain two of the spillages.

Following a successful prosecution of Welsh Water Ltd for dumping excessive waste into the River Wye near Hereford, the Environment Agency warned that it will go after firms behind preventable spillages.

Routine sampling showed the companys Kingstone and Madley sewage treatment works dumped waste at above the permitted level on three occasions between August 2020 and June 2021.

In the second incident, effluent levels were recorded at 74 milligrams per litre of biochemical oxygen  more than 10 times the permitted 7 milligrams per litre.

Welsh Water said it could not identify the cause of the breaches on the first two occasions, but that the third breach happened because of a storm.

Following its Worcester Crown Court prosecution, the water company was fined 90,000 ( Getty Images )

David Gillam, co-founder of Save the Wye, a coalition campaign to restore the river, said it was really distressing to learn of the repeated sewage dumping.

Living only a few miles from the Madley sewage works, Mr Gillam told The Independent: What is really surprising is on two occasions, Welsh Water couldnt even explain how it happened.

Praising the EA prosecution, he said: I hope they will treat other companies that poison the Wye in the same way. Its right for companies who regularly pollute the river to be fined.

And I would hope that the fine goes into a fund to restore the Wye.

On 7 June, the company pleaded guilty at Worcester Crown Court in a prosecution brought by the Environment Agency.

The company was fined 90,000 and told to pay a further 14,275 in costs.

The Environment Agencys Adam Shipp said: Incidents like this are preventable and are completely unacceptable. Water companies are aware that their activities have the potential for serious environmental impacts, and they know that we will take action when they cause pollution.

A spokesperson for Welsh Water said: We take our responsibility for protecting the environment seriously. We helped ensure 44 per cent of our rivers meet good ecological status compared to 16 per cent in England.

They added: We are committed to playing our part to help protect river water quality. We have invested 53 million over the past 12 months, on seven schemes to help improve the quality of the River Wye, which have all been completed ahead of schedule.
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As a leading TV presenter championing womens rights, Shabnam Khan Dawran is no stranger to death threats.

The latest one  received on Twitter/X just an hour before our interview  says if she doesnt stop speaking out against the Taliban on her London-based show you know what will happen to your family.

The threats are not abstract. Her father has already been arrested three times in Afghanistan.

On one occasion he was beaten and left for dead  his head bleeding, arm and leg broken as a message to Shabnam. More recently, the Taliban tracked her family to the country where they have been forced into hiding.

Having fled Afghanistan in 2021 after an online clip of her challenging the Taliban went viral, she recently received messages with the address and photo of her familys new safe house. The implication was clear: stop challenging us or we will kill your parents.

The pressure on the 26-year-old journalist would be too much if it was not for her fathers resilience in the face of persecution, she says. Wearing a traditional Afghan embroidered black blouse, she speaks clearly in the English she has been rapidly improving during her three years living here.

As she searches for the words to express herself, the impact of the constant danger that her family is facing is clear from her tone of voice: He told me I cannot stop.

Recalling her fathers words to her after his brutal attack, she said: Now I am older I can sacrifice myself for Afghanistan, for human rights for women and girls, but dont stop just for me. If you are my friend, my daughter, a member of my family, promise me you have to carry on.

Shabnam is a TV anchor with Afghanistan International in London ( The Independent )

I made that promise, she said. Tears come to her eyes as she describes the cost of doing so: Now my father cannot stand by his own feet. He has to hold something to help him up. He used to be in good health but now his leg is broken, his arm broken. He is an unwell man, just for supporting his daughter.

Journalism is not a crime. Being an anchor is not a crime, she said, adding that her first wish is to be able to hug her mother and father again.

While Shabnam and her two younger siblings were airlifted to safety in the UK as part of the Western forces evacuation of Afghanistan in August 2021, her older sister and parents were left behind.

Her father, an army pilot for the previous Afghan government, applied to come to Britain under the Ministry of Defences Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) but was rejected twice because he didnt work directly for UK troops.

Despite the most pressing threat to his life coming directly as a result of the journalism Shabnam is able to do in the UK, the government has refused to help.

Former British army officer tells of the terrifying way Taliban targets critics

There is currently no route for those who were airlifted out under Operation Pitting, the Western forces evacuation effort, to be reunited with family members who have been left behind. Despite pressure from a number of MPs, including Tory Sir Julian Lewis and Lib Dem Wendy Chamberlain, and a promise to set up a resettlement route, the Home Office has yet to start any additional help.

MPs have criticised the department for acting too slowly to bring womens rights activists and others who have supported the British mission to the UK. The government pledged to bring 20,000 people over five years to the UK under the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme. But in the whole of 2022 and 2023 combined just 1,611 Afghans were relocated through the Home Office and Foreign Office schemes, MPs said.

The visa for the country where Shabnams family fled to has now run out and they are desperate to get to a place of safety, to be finally out of the Talibans reach.

Shabnam in her previous role as a journalist before the Taliban takeover ( Supplied )

Ash Alexander-Cooper, a former British army officer who worked in Afghanistan, has been supporting Shabnams family in hiding.

Describing the effort to evade Taliban retaliation, he said: Witnessing the way in which the Taliban are deliberately, methodically tracking her parents and her family, is terrifying. From the time I spent in Afghanistan, there are many who we didnt evacuate in time, who have been tracked down and murdered.

[The Taliban] do not want to be challenged. Shabnam will not stop challenging them, and rightly so. But unfortunately, innocent victims like her and her father will continue to be targeted, and hunted unless we can find them a safe haven.

Shabnams father had his leg and arm broken in a Taliban attack ( Supplied )

The operation to bring Shabnam to the UK began after she tried to go to work three days after the Taliban takeover. Confronted by guards with guns, she tried to argue with them to be let into her office.

In their first news conference following their stunning takeover of Afghanistan on 17 August 2021, the Taliban had promised to protect womens rights and press freedom. They said women would be allowed to work and study, but when Shabnam went to test this in the real world she was barred.

On the third day, I decided to go to my job with Afghanistan National TV. They had said that the media would have freedom to publish what they wanted, but that was just a lie. I was wearing a long dress, covered my hair and my face and I had my ID card. I tried to enter the gate and one of the Taliban confronted me, saying lady where are you going?

Despite his suffering, Shabnams father has urged her to continue her work ( Supplied )

Defiant, she tried to explain that the new leaders had promised women would have the right to work. But the Taliban guards told her she would have to go back home. Twenty years of liberation had been enough, they said, women had had their chance.

The argument escalated until she was threatened with being shot and forced to return home to relative safety. But later, in the quiet of her room, considering the future that lay before her, she realised she couldnt do nothing.

She recorded a video explaining what had happened to her, telling her followers that the Taliban regime had lied about how they would treat women under their power. It went viral. She was soon being contacted by journalists around the world wanting to interview her and, after lobbying, the UK government decided they must intervene.

Ministers approved her and her younger siblings relocation under Arap and she began her life in the UK. The life she has been able to build in London has led to a position as the leading news anchor of a nightly Pashto talk show on Afghanistan International TV, named Sparana.

Sparana in Pashto means to negotiate, to try and find a solution. We invite three guests with different opinions on each night and we create a debate. We speak about what is happening in Afghanistan and we even invite the Taliban. I have debated with the Taliban many times on this programme. I ask them why the schools are banned, and why they have stopped girls rights.

On the days that I present, I really try to speak about human rights, especially the plight of women and girls in Afghanistan. Girls dont have any rights there. They are just living in a jail  they get food, water and oxygen and nothing else.

It has been over 1,000 days since Afghan girls have been banned from attending secondary school, making Afghanistan the only country in the world with such strict restrictions on female education.

Shabnam now supports her 16-year-old brother and her 22-year-old sister who are with her in the UK. Her sister, who was also a journalist back in Afghanistan, is now studying English in the UK and her brother is in school, where hes thriving. Shabnam sends money to her family abroad as it is currently too dangerous for them to work publicly where they are.

The cruel reality is that the opportunities which she has been given in the UK are resulting in danger for her family.

Mr Alexander-Cooper explained: It is directly because of the help and support that the UK rightly gave to Shabnam and the success of her ongoing journalism here, thats causing her father and the remaining two family members to be at such great risk.

Weve moved them a number of times and they are now somewhere protected. Yet [her family are] still in a country where I cant rest and Shabnam cant sleep at night knowing they are not yet safe.

Over 27,900 eligible people have been moved to safety from Afghanistan through various schemes across the MoD, FCDO and Home Office. The Home Office do not comment on individual cases.
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Victoria Beckham had no financial benefit from having Meghan Markle wear her clothes, an explosive new biography has claimed.

Writing in the newly released House of Beckham, celebrity biographer Tom Bower claims the former Spice Girls decision to give the Duchess of Sussex free clothes did not increase sales.

Victoria agreed to provide a coat, dress, boots and a handbag worth 6,000 to Meghan for the Royal Familys traditional Christmas Day parade in Sandringham, he claimed.

Later, Meghan wore a Beckham custom-made pregnancy outfit and a white coat and dress for a service in Westminster Abbey.

Victorias style also attracted Melania Trump. She wore a Victoria Beckham dress during the presidents official visit to London.

But despite having two of the worlds most high-profile women wear her designs, other women were not inspired to follow suit.

But the financial benefit was nil, Mr Bower added.

Meghan Markle pictured in Victoria Beckhams clothes at Sandringham ( Shutterstock )

However, Ms Markles endorsement of the designs  which notably failed to take off at the London Fashion Week, despite Harper Beckham sporting an Anna Wintour-style haircut  was not completely in vain.

The only success in 2019 was a 1,400 handbag that had been displayed by Meghan, Mr Bower said. But he added the sales were likely prompted by Victorias Instagram video and not the duchess.

This was not the only eyebrow-raising claim made about the two women in the new book.

Mr Bower claims Ms Markle also deluded herself into believing that her status in the royal family put her above Beckham in the social pecking order.

In Meghans celebrity world, ranking depended on wealth and fame, Mr Bower wrote.

He claims that after putting on airs around Ms Beckham, Ms Markle was irritated to learn the extent of her wealth.

They owned five homes, had constant access to private jets, invitations to sail on yachts and much more money. And she was soon to be a duchess, he added.

The Duchess of Sussex was reportedly irritated by the Beckhams wealth ( Getty Images )

The biographer then claimed that the two womens relationship fell apart when Ms Markle accused the former Spice Girl of leaking information about her to the press. It followed a story in The Sun, which claimed she had given the duchess makeup advice.

Mr Bower wrote: Harry was ordered to complain to David Beckham.

The fashionista denied leaking information to the press and speculated it must have come from a beautician, but the biographer claimed the culprit was probably a boastful publicist.

House of Beckham was released by HarperCollins on Thursday, 20 June.

The Independent has reached out to a representative for Victoria Beckham and Meghan Markle for further comment.
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Labour has suggested it could put in place long-term budgets for organisations which have helped trace the ancestry of dogs to ancient wolves, developed the DragonFire laser weapon, and started work on a lung cancer vaccine.

The partys deputy leader Angela Rayner promised to relight the fire of our regions with 10-year budgets for research and development (R&D) institutions which receive taxpayers cash.

The Conservatives have also courted R&D institutions with their manifesto, which pledges 22 billion for R&D each year and a promise to maintain our R&D tax reliefs.

Labour will relight the fire of our regions and drive growth in every corner of the country. You can believe that Labour is committed to tackling regional inequality in Britain because it is in our DNA Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner

Ms Rayner, who will visit a manufacturing centre in the Midlands on Friday, said: Labour will relight the fire of our regions and drive growth in every corner of the country.

You can believe that Labour is committed to tackling regional inequality in Britain because it is in our DNA.

For over a century it has been a mission of every Labour prime minister to rebuild our economy, hand-in-hand with local leaders so no-one is left behind.

Ms Rayner added: The choice at this election is five more years of chaos and decline under the Tories, or stability, opportunity and wealth creation with Labour.

After the Tories failure to deliver high-quality jobs and economic growth for Britain, Labours plan will create the stability that is needed for us to lead the world in the industries of the future  creating the kinds of jobs we want for our kids, in the places we live.

In a statement, the party said it would support 650,000 new high-quality jobs that will be created as Britain shifts to clean power by 2030, with many more in sectors like AI (artificial intelligence) and life sciences.

Labour has also pledged to roll out a new industrial strategy.

Its 10-year budgets plan could support organisations such as the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry and the UK Atomic Energy Authority, the party claimed.

Its statement read: Other organisations that could be in scope include world-leading laboratories like the Crick Institute in London and Whittle Laboratory in Cambridge, which support our life sciences and aerospace sectors. It could also support funding bodies like ARIA, which funds pioneering AI research, and the Defence and Science Technology Laboratory (DSTL), headquartered in Wiltshire, which ensures our armed forces have the cutting-edge technology they need.

The Conservatives manifesto reads: Artificial intelligence (AI) will accelerate human progress in the 21st century, just as the steam engine and electricity did in the 19th century.

The UK is well positioned to spearhead this transformation and is already leading global work on AI safety.

Over the last 14 years, the Conservatives have turned the UK into a science and innovation superpower.
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Sir Mohamed Mansour, the senior treasurer of the Conservative Party, announced on Saturday he was resigning from his post 10 days after Rishi Sunaks election defeat.

The Egyptian-born billionaire had donated 5m to the party and had been a key player in raising other funds. His donation was the biggest for the Conservatives since 2001.

He told The Independent: I have been honoured to serve my country and party since December 2022 and it has been a privilege to do so.

Rishi Sunak has announced his intention to depart as party leader, and it makes sense for me to also step down at this time. A new leadership team will bring fresh talent and thinking to the task ahead: guiding the party on its path of renewal.

It adds to the growing list of vacancies for the Tories as they seek a new leader in the aftermath of the worst electoral defeat in its history. Key to their future after selecting an MP to lead them in opposition will be the need to refill their coffers.

Mr Mansour was given a knighthood by Sunak in a surprise honours list in March last year alongside Demis Hassabis, founder of artificial intelligence company DeepMind, and filmmaking couple Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas, who received a knighthood and a damehood. American businessman Ted Sarandos, the co-chief of Netflix, was also given an honorary knighthood.

The 76-year-old billionaire is a naturalised British citizen who has donated to many charitable causes including the Kings Foundation and a memorial for the victims of Covid. His knighthood was awarded for services to business, charity and political service.

Mr Mansour has previously spoken about the prime minister in glowing terms and has said he understands how growth is generated in the modern economy.

He also served from 2005 to 2009 as a transport minister in Egypt under Hosni Mubarak, the late president who quit office during the 2011 Arab Spring. Mr Mansour resigned to return to business life. He famously went from rags to riches, twice losing his fortune due to nationalisation by Egypt and also Sudan, each time rebuilding.

Mubarak, who died in 2020, was considered an autocrat and was accused of maintaining his grip on office by cracking down on political opposition and stifling free speech.

Mr Mansour will continue to support the Tory party but not as an active member of the partys executive.

He is also one of the biggest investors in football in the US on the brink of buying a Major League Soccer franchise for a record $500m (400m). The new franchise, based in San Diego, California, is the sixth biggest football deal in the world, behind Chelsea, AC Milan and Manchester United, but more than the 305m Saudi takeover of Newcastle in 2022.

He is expected to create the club from scratch by recruiting a full set of players, staff and an academy, which sources suggest could add an extra $200m to the bill.
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Nigel Farage has been condemned for saying Andrew Tate is an important voice for men.

The Reform UK leader claimed the online influencer had raised awareness of men becoming feminine and stood up for their ability to be a bloke. Tate has been facing charges since December 2022 of rape, human trafficking and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women, all of which he denies.

Click here for our live coverage of the general election campaign.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has spoken out in support of Andrew Tate ( PA Wire )

Shadow minister for domestic violence Alex Davies-Jones told the Guardian Tate was a dangerous misogynist who is facing multiple charges of human trafficking and sexual offences  and it is inexplicable that a politician would praise him.

Tate is not a positive role model for young boys, he added. He will drag them down a horrific rabbit-hole of objectifying and abusing women. It is never just banter  it is part of a toxic culture that sadly often leads to violence.

Tate has amassed millions of followers across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok over the past decade. But he has also seen his accounts banned over inflammatory statements he has made, often appearing to advocate violence against women, which the platforms ruled violated their policies.

He has been frequently accused of embodying toxic masculinity and misogyny, having claimed that women cannot drive, belong in the home and are a mans property.

Andrew Tate is facing serious charges in Romania ( AP )

But Mr Farage told the Strike It Big podcast in February that Tate had been an important voice for men, who were being emasculated.

He said: Tate was a very important voice for an emasculated  you three guys, you are all 25, you are all kind of being told you cant be blokes, you cant do laddish, fun, bloke things  Thats almost what youre being told. That masculinity is something we should look down upon, something we should frown upon. Its like the men are becoming feminine and the women are becoming masculine and its a bit difficult to tell these days whos what.

And Tate fed into that by saying, Hang on, whats wrong with being a bloke? Whats wrong in male culture? Whats wrong in male humour? He fed into those things. His was a campaign of raising awareness, his was a campaign of giving people perhaps a bit of confidence at school or whatever it was to speak up 

Asked about the comments, Mr Farage told The Guardian: Theres an awakening in a younger generation who have had enough of being dictated to, have had enough of being lectured to. Theyre seeing through the rubbish theyre getting taught in schools and universities. If no other politician is willing to reach out to this group of people, then I will.

The criticism comes as Mr Farage faces questions about some of his candidates views ( REUTERS )

But the comments come ahead of a crucial general election grilling for the Reform leader, who faces a BBC Panorama interview with presenter Nick Robinson at 7.00pm.

On Friday he returned to the campaign trail in Clacton, the Tory-held Essex seat he is contesting at the general election. He is widely expected to win in the constituency, which would see him enter parliament on his eighth attempt.

On Thursday he taunted Rishi Sunak over the Tory election betting scandal and said he would be willing to make the biggest bet of his life that Reform will win seats at the general election.

He said: Weve had a close protection bodyguard of the Prime Minister, a party official, Conservative Party candidates, all of whom won money on it being an early election.

So, it looks as though the corruption within that organisation perhaps runs deeper than any of us have realised. I think things are getting worse and worse for them.

But Mr Farage faced a fresh headache as it emerged a Reform candidate compared the governments pandemic response to the Holocaust.

Jake Fraser, who is standing for Mr Farages party in Widnes and Halewood, likened the introduction of vaccine passes for holidays to the genocide of Jewish people during the Second World War.

In comments made in 2021 and first reported by the Daily Mail, Mr Fraser wrote on social media: Were on the precipice of a health Holocaust.

The same methodology the Nazis used to rise to power, with minimal opposition by appealing to both sides of the political spectrum... is unfolding before our eyes.

The party has been hit by a series of revelations about the online activities of some of its would-be MPs, from links to a British fascist leader to suggestions the UK should have remained neutral in the fight against the Nazis and admiration of Adolf Hitlers brilliant ability to inspire action.
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Nigel Farage has claimed the West provoked Russia into its deadly invasion of Ukraine two years ago.

The Reform UK leader said the European Unions expansion as well as Nato had provided Vladimir Putin with an excuse.

His incendiary comments came in a high-profile television interview less than two weeks before voters go to the polls.

They are likely to prompt an angry backlash from politicians across the spectrum, who have supported Ukraine as it attempts to fight off the Russians.

The Reform UK leader was appearing on The Panorama Interviews with Nick Robinson series (Jeff Overs/BBC/PA) ( PA Media )

In the head-to-head with the BBCs Nick Robinson, the former Ukip leader was challenged over his previous comments that he admired Putin.

Of the war in Ukraine, Mr Farage said: We provoked this war.

He added: Of course, its his fault, hes used what weve done as an excuse.

But asked We provoked the invasion of Ukraine?, he replied: yes.

He added: Very interestingly, once again, 10 years ago when I predicted this  by the way, Im the only person in British politics that predicted what would happen, and of course everyone said I was a pariah for daring to suggest it.

He added: I stood up in the European Parliament in 2014 and I said, and I quote, there will be a war in Ukraine. Why did I say that? it was obvious to me that the ever-eastward expansion of Nato and the European Union was giving this man a reason to (go to) his Russian people to say theyre coming for us again, and to go to war.

Mr Farage pulled out of the same BBC interview last week as his Reform UK party faced a row over whether the UK should have appeased Hitler.

The Panorama special was set to have been broadcast on Tuesday night, but it was pulled from the schedules and postponed, despite Mr Farage continuing to campaign in Barnsley and Nottinghamshire.

The move came after it emerged one of his candidates claimed the country would have been far better off if it had taken Hitler up on his offer of neutrality instead of fighting the Nazis.

A Ukrainian soldier approaches his position ( Press service of 24 Mechanised brigade )

Ian Gribbin, who is standing in Bexhill and Battle, also described Winston Churchill as abysmal and praised Mr Putin.

New figures show Reform UK raised 742,000 in the second week of the campaign, largely thanks to a 500,000 donation from Britain Means Business Ltd, a company controlled by party chairman Richard Tice.

The party also received 50,000 from former pop star and Neighbours actor Holly Valance, who hosted a fundraising event for former US president Donald Trump in London recently.

The figure dwarfed the 292,500 raised by the Conservatives between June 6 and 12.
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Labour will not impose VAT on private school fees until at least 2025 if it wins the general election, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has suggested.

Sir Keir Starmers party believes it can raise some 1.6bn a year by ending the 20 per cent VAT exemption as part of its plans to recruit around 6,500 specialist state school teachers in England.

The policy is among the most-discussed in Labours manifesto, and has raised concerns of local authority schools being strained by a sudden influx of pupils taken out of private schools due to rising fees.

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves speaking during the Times CEO Summit in London ( Jack Hill/The Times CEO Summit/PA )

Sir Keir said in the early days of the election campaign that his party  which is some 20 points ahead in the polls  would seek to implement the change straight away and as soon as it can be done.

Ms Reeves, the shadow chancellor, has now suggested that the policy will not be enforced until 2025.

Were not going to have a retrospective tax, she told the Times CEO Summit. I dont think that would be the right thing to do. So these changes would be in our first budget, but they would come in after that, not retrospectively.

The plans would become law after being passed in Labours first finance bill, meaning the earliest they could take effect would be the term starting in January 2025, according to The Times, which reported that experts believe the policy would likely not commence until the start of the new school year in September.

Ms Reeves said she did not expect schools to pass on the full cost to parents, and suggested that she is prepared to give them time to make savings before ending the VAT exemption.

Labour has faced backlash over the plan ( Getty Images )

Over the last 14 years state schools have had to make huge efficiencies because of the cuts to real-terms spending, the Labour frontbencher said. I strongly believe that private schools as well, have to be able to make efficiencies.

Sir Keir has faced questioning about the policy from concerned audience members during campaign debates, responding during the Sky News panel last week that he had nothing against private schools, but said that every parent has aspiration for their children whether they go to private school or not.

A recent survey of 2,000 people with investable assets of more than 250,000, conducted alongside the latest Saltus Wealth Index report, found that some 26 per cent claimed they would have to take their children out of private schools if VAT was imposed.

Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council, welcomed Ms Reeves comments ruling out retrospective VAT, but told The Times: This is only one part of the picture: families and schools still do not have the clarity they need to properly plan.

In particular we are concerned about the prospect of in-year tax rises and the acute negative effect that would have on parents budgets and childrens education. We hope that any policy would take into account the school year and admissions cycles.

A Labour spokesperson said: The next Labour government will hit the ground running on day one to break down the barriers to opportunity by recruiting 6,500 new teachers through ending the tax breaks for private schools.
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Jeremy Corbyn would have made a better prime minister than Boris Johnson had he been elected in 2019, Sir Keir Starmer said.

Sir Keir dodged a series of questions during a BBC Question Time debate on Thursday night over whether he truly believed his predecessor would have made a great prime minister, as he said five years ago.

Host Fiona Bruce repeatedly challenged him over his one-time statement, with Sir Keir insisting: It wasnt a question that really arose because I didnt think we were going to win the election.

Follow live updates here

But when Bruce asked for a yes or no answer to whether he meant it, Sir Keir insisted that Mr Corbyn would have made a better prime minister than Mr Johnson.

Sir Keir Starmer said he believed Jeremy Corbyn would have made a better PM than Boris Johnson (Stefan Rousseau/PA) ( PA Wire )

The Labour leader has in recent weeks sought to distance himself from Mr Corbyn, while his party is forecast by opinion polls to sweep to victory in the election.

He criticised the Conservatives election offer as a Jeremy Corbyn-style manifesto that would load everything into the wheelbarrow without explaining how to pay for it.

An audience member asked the Labour leader about his remarks. You criticised the Tory manifesto as Jeremy Corbyn-like, they said, adding: Anything you want can go in it, nothing is costed. Why did you back his original manifesto in 2019?

Sir Keir replied: In 2019 I campaigned for the Labour Party as Ive always campaigned for the Labour Party.

He said that afterwards it became clear the electorate thought it was too much and they wanted to see something which was fully costed and fully funded.

Jeremy Corbyn, who is standing as an independent in Islington North, has accused Sir Keir of double standards over his comments ( PA Wire )

Mr Corbyn has accused his successor of attempting to rewrite history with his recent comments about the 2019 Labour manifesto.

The now independent candidate for Islington North said Sir Keir had displayed double standards in expressing this opinion now, but not while serving in Mr Corbyns shadow cabinet.

The BBC Question Time special also featured Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and Scotlands first minister John Swinney for the SNP, with prime minister Rishi Sunak up last.

Sir Ed, who was first in the line-up, faced difficult questions about his record in the coalition years and as minister in the Horizon scandal.

Mr Sunak also faced tough questions and at one point was met with boos and cries of shame when he claimed he would take the UK out of the European Court of Human Rights.
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Rishi Sunak has said he could take drivers licences and bank accounts off 18-year-olds if they refuse to take part in his mandatory national service.

The prime minister has so far failed to say how he will force young people to participate in the scheme, which would see them volunteer with community groups or join the armed forces.

And, pressed by BBC Question Time presenter Fiona Bruce, Mr Sunak suggested the government will consider stopping young people having access to finance or drivers licences.

Rishi Sunak suggested 18-year-olds could lose their driving licences or bank accounts ( BBC )

The PM said there are all sorts of things countries across Europe do to ensure young people take part in mandatory national service.

Whether that is looking at driving licences, or their access to finance or all sorts of other things, thats the right thing to do, Mr Sunak said.

National service is one of the key announcements made by the Tories during the general election campaign.

The Tory manifesto sets out that every 18-year-old in the UK will be given the choice between a year of civic service or military service.

It promised a year-long full-time placement in the armed forces or cyber defence for 30,000 18-year-olds, while others will be forced to volunteer for one weekend each month with organisations such as the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

The military service option promises to be competitive and paid, so our armed forces recruit and train the brightest and the best, taking up much of the estimated 2.5bn cost of the policy.

The policy is aimed at shoring up support among the older and more patriotic Conservative base. But the party has come unstuck since announcing the plans, with ministers repeatedly refusing to say how it will work and how 18-year-olds will be forced to take part.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has come under fire from the Question Time audience ( PA Wire )

Foreign office minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan even suggested parents could be punished on behalf of their children if they refused to participate.

As well as questions over how it will be paid for and enforced, the policy has been panned by the former head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Lord West, and other senior military figures.

Lord West, who was first sea lord from 2002 to 2006, warned that anyone with the most basic experience of how much it costs, and what it entails, to turn a new recruit into someone that can usefully serve in our armed forces would not need a royal commission to tell them that the proposal as currently presented is utter nonsense.

This ill-thought-out conscription scheme will increase pressure on defence and waste money, the former Navy chief wrote, adding: Rather than enhancing our defence capability, it would further reduce it.

The Conservatives were asked to comment.
Sir Keir Starmer has accused Rishi Sunak of total lack of leadership after the prime minister failed to deny cabinet ministers are among senior Tories who placed bets on the election date.

As pressure mounted over the betting scandal, Labour also condemned Mr Sunaks decision not to suspend two candidates who are under investigation by the Gambling Commission.

Multiple cabinet ministers were forced to deny they had had a flutter on the polling date before it was announced to the public.

And as questions grew over what the prime minister knew and when, the Liberal Democrats called for WhatsApps from his inner circle to be probed.

Dominic Grieve, the former Tory attorney general, warned the party was held in contempt by voters.

It came as new figures showed the Tories had been dwarfed by Labour on fundraising, raising just 292,500 between 6-12 June compared to 4.4m.

Amid Tory fears the scandal will spread, defence secretary Grant Shapps told The Independent he had not placed a bet.

Rishi Sunak continues to face questions about allegations Conservative candidates may have placed bets on the date of the election before he announced it ( PA Wire )

Welsh secretary David TC Davies said: I just want to put on record that I certainly havent bet myself.

It is understood that transport secretary Mark Harper did not place a bet, while friends of Commons leader Penny Mordaunt say she did not either.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt referred questions from The Independent to his press office.

The scandal has seen the partys director of campaigning, Tony Lee, take a leave of absence in the middle of the election. Meanwhile, his wife Laura Saunders  a candidate in Bristol and who has worked for the party since 2015  and Craig Williams, Mr Sunaks parliamentary private secretary, are under investigation for placing bets on the poll date just before the surprise snap election was announced.

Mr Williams, who is Mr Sunaks closest aide, has admitted he made a huge error of judgement betting on the election date.

Campaigning in Wales, Mr Sunak refused to be drawn on whether he was aware of other Conservative candidates or officials who had placed bets on a 4 July election, saying there were multiple investigations under way that were independent and confidential.

He dodged a follow-up question on whether he could rule out a member of the cabinet having also placed a bet, instead repeating that it was a job for the Gambling Commission and the police to investigate.

Anyone found to have broken the rules should not only face the full consequences of the law, but I will ensure that they are booted out of the Conservative Party too, he added.

The Conservatives have confirmed they have been contacted by the commission about a small number of individuals.

Craig Williams served as the prime ministers parliamentary private secretary ( PA Media )

Sir Keir said: The prime minister is showing a total lack of leadership. Of course he should suspend these candidates. If they were my candidates, theyd be gone by now, out of the door. He needs to take tough action. Hes not even saying today whether there are more involved.

Liberal Democrats have called for WhatsApps about betting to be investigated. The partys Sarah Olney said: WhatsApp messages of the Prime Ministers inner circle must be handed over to the Cabinet Office, or else it raises suspicion of yet more Conservative cover-ups.

Mr Sunak has said he is incredibly angry that members of his inner circle have been caught up in the furore over bets on the date of the election.

But he has refused to suspend either candidate.

Betfair data appears to show a flurry of bets on a July election were placed on 21 May  the day before Mr Sunak made his surprise announcement  including some worth hundreds of pounds at odds that would have delivered returns in the thousands.

Welsh secretary David TC Davies said he had not placed a bet on the election date ( Getty )

Paul Scully, a former Tory minister, described the looming vote as a punishment election for the party, that the outcry over gambling allegations would exacerbate.

It feels like were shooting ourselves in the foot and were not millipedes. Weve only got two feet, he said. When youve got people that are wanting to punish the Conservatives and so theyre going to be looking under the microscope at absolutely everything that we do, and then were making it easy for them to punish us even further on that basis.

Mr Grieve said that voters recognised the good the coalition government did until 2015, despite the pain of austerity. But he said they had expected a much better period to follow.

Instead, Brexit had led to a high level of political chaos which was thoroughly predictable and therefore rests upon the shoulders of those who created it in the first place, namely those who advocated a reckless policy, Mr Grieve said.

And then to solve it, because they were becoming desperate, they went and got themselves a prime minister [Boris Johnson] who was, in fact, a charlatan. And he behaved exactly in a way that was both predictable and predicted.

And, in fact, for all his boosterism and the fact he took them to an extraordinary election, because charlatanism often works in the short term, people landed in the long term with a massive problem of loss of public confidence, and then loss of public confidence in the integrity of government.

Dominic Grieve, the former Tory attorney general, said the party was getting what they deserve after years of chaos ( AFP/Getty )

Then they were so desperate  they went off and got somebody [Liz Truss] who wrecked the economy in 49 days and caused even more trouble.

He added: It seems to me that getting exactly the recognition they deserve for their efforts. Which is that theyre held in contempt by the electorate.

He added that that was unfair in one sense to many, including the current prime minister. But that it should not come as a surprise to [the party] that this is a punishment election.
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Rishi Sunak confessed to being incredibly angry over members of his inner circle being caught up in a gambling scandal over bets on the date of the election.

But, as the prime minister faced a BBC Question Time audience with just two weeks of the election to go, he refused to suspend two candidates currently being investigated by the Gambling Commission.

In an extraordinary move on Friday, a cabinet minister was also forced to deny he had placed a bet on polling day just before it was announced by the prime minister.

Welsh Secretary David TC Davies said: I just want to put on record that I certainly havent bet myself.

He added he had absolutely no idea if any more names would emerge, amid fears the scandal will spread.

Betfair data appears to show a flurry of bets on a July poll placed on May 21, the day before Mr Sunak called the election, including some in the hundreds of pounds and at odds that would have delivered profits in the thousands.

With polls still pointing to a massive Labour majority and a Tory wipeout with many voters defecting to Reform, Mr Sunak needed his half-hour slot in the debate to be a platform to turn things around in the closing stages of the election campaign.

Instead he was confronted by the betting scandal which saw his director of campaigning Tony Lee take a leave of absence. Meanwhile, Mr Lees wife Laura Saunders, a candidate in Bristol who has worked for the party since 2015, and Craig Williams, his parliamentary private secretary, are all being investigated for placing bets just before Mr Sunak called his surprise snap election.

Keir Starmer was asked about his previous comments on Jeremy Corbyn ( PA )

A tired and tense looking Mr Sunak looked exasperated as he was confronted with hostile questions on his own performance during the campaign, the scandal and other issues.

At the end of his 30 minutes he managed to attack members of the audience and was booed and catcalled with cries of shame over his promise to quit the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) if it prevented him from protecting the UKs borders on migration.

He told the Question Time audience: It was the right moment to call the election, for the reasons that I have outlined.

Asked if he was glad to have called the election, he added: I am.

The prime minister, who attacked his predecessors Boris Johnson and Liz Truss several times, compared his current prospects to those he had during the Tory leadership contest of 2022 against Ms Truss.

In a defiant note on why he would not give up even with the polls stacked against him, Mr Sunak said: Even though people didnt want to hear it at the time, I kept going, I kept saying what I thought was right for this country, I kept going until the end and you know what? I was proved right then.

And that is why you can trust me now when I say that what Keir Stammer is promising you is the same fantasy as Liz Truss did and it is just going to make your taxes go up and that matters to me because I dont want that to happen.

A tense Sunak answers questions from the audience ( PA )

Mr Sunak, who was a Leave supporter in 2016, also defended Brexit. Asked if Brexit had denied young people a future, he said we had a referendum, its time to get on.

He said it is time to make sure we realise all the benefits of Brexit.

Earlier, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was challenged on the number of U-turns he has made and his integrity as a politician.

He was challenged over his previous support for Jeremy Corbyn and claims that he would make a great prime minister, which saw Sir Keir again try distance himself from his recent past.

The Labour leader said: I am a common sense politician. I work through the issues and to me it did not make sense to nationalise energy and not get the bills down, so I decided we would go for getting the bills down.

However, he refused to give a number or time frame for his pledge in bringing migration down.

He was also challenged on his treatment of Canterbury Labour candidate Rosie Duffield, who has been marginalised over her belief in protecting female biological rights.

Quizzed about his views on the definition of a woman, Sir Keir said he agreed with Sir Tony Blairs recent comment that a woman has a vagina and a man has a penis.

Sir Keir said: There are many people who dont identify with the gender they are born into.

The Labour leader said he wanted to give dignity to everyone and criticised Mr Sunak for a trans jibe allegedly linked to Brianna Ghey.

I want to bring the country together, he added, during the pandemic people were looking out for each other.

The first two up before the audience were Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey and SNP leader John Swinney.

Mr Davey faced tough questions about his record in the coalition years and as minister in the Horizon scandal, as grilling of the four main party leaders by members of the public kicked off.

Challenged by a student over the Lib Dems abandoning their pledge to scrap tuition fees in the coalition government, Sir Ed said: I understand why your generation lost faith in us. It was a difficult government to be in.

He said the loss of trust in his party after that period was very scarring and admitted he was not proud of some of the votes he had to take part in.

In the SNP leaders session Fiona Bruce repeatedly challenged Mr Swinney on what it would mean for his democratic mandate for independence if the SNP failed to win a majority of Scottish seats in July given, she suggested, it would be a democratic decision that you shouldnt be pursuing independence.

When he repeated that he wanted people in Scotland to confidently vote for the SNP so the party could turn its manifesto into reality, she voiced her conclusion that he was not going to answer the question.

He was also asked why the SNP had backtracked on its opposition to new oil and gas licences, and he said that while the need to transition to net zero was absolutely inescapable it would be necessary to use fossil fuels for some time to come.
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Prosecutors showed jurors at Sen. Bob Menendez s trial on Thursday multiple instances when he researched the value of gold as he tried to help a New Jersey businessman who authorities say bribed him with gold and cash.

The evidence about the Democrats online searches was prominently displayed to a New York jury as prosecutors traced the history of his text messages and internet queries as he allegedly tried to aid Fred Dabies, a prominent New Jersey real estate developer who is on trial with him.

The evidence is considered crucial in the governments effort to prove that Menendez and his wife received gold bars, cash and a luxury car from 2018 to 2022 from three New Jersey businessmen who benefited from favors Menendez allegedly delivered in return.

Menendez, Dabies and another businessman and codefendant, Wael Hana, have pleaded not guilty. His wife, Nadine Menendez, faces trial at a later date after she recovers from breast cancer surgery. She too has pleaded not guilty.

A third businessman pleaded guilty prior to trial and testified against the other defendants before the trial entered its sixth week in Manhattan federal court.

The gold bars found in the home Menendez shared with his wife in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, took a prominent role early in the trial when an FBI agent described a 2022 search of the residence the senator moved into after the couple was married in 2020, two years after they began dating.

The search found gold bars worth more than $100,000 and over $486,000 in cash, some stuffed in the pockets of coats hanging in closets or in shoes and boots. A Mercedes-Benz that prosecutors say was a bribe was parked in the garage.

On Thursday, the topic of gold came up repeatedly as another FBI agent described internet searches Menendez conducted when he researched the price of gold in April 2019, twice in May 2021, again in October 2021, twice in December 2021, once in January 2022 and again in March and May 2022.

Among the searches, Agent Paul Van Wie said, were instances when Menendez researched the worth of a gram, an ounce and a kilo of gold. The agent said a search of Menendez's internet history since 2008 showed that the senator had never searched for gold prices during that span until April 5, 2019.

Defense lawyers have said gold bars found in the home belonged to Nadine Menendez and that she kept the senator in the dark about gifts she accepted when she was strapped for cash.

Prosecutors sought to prove Thursday through emails, text messages and the online searches for the price of gold that Menendez was interested in gold as he allegedly sought to recommend a new federal prosecutor for New Jersey who could help Dabies get a favorable outcome to a criminal case against him.

The online searches also occurred as Menendez allegedly used his international clout to help Dabies secure a $95 million investment from a Qatari investment fund by taking actions favorable to Qatar's government.

Daibes has been credited with the construction of a string of luxury waterfront buildings, known as the gold coast, in the New Jersey town of Edgewater.

Prosecutors showed the jury email and text correspondence Thursday reflecting that Menendez introduced Daibes to a member of Qatar's royal family who was a principal in the investment firm and also met with Qatari officials and made public statements supportive of Qatar as the real estate deal was being negotiated.

After the deal was signed in May 2022, prosecutors say, Daibes gave Menendez at least one gold bar.

In the 2022 search of the Menendez home, FBI agents found two 1-kilogram gold bars and nine 1-ounce gold bars with serial numbers showing they had previously been possessed by Daibes, along with about 10 envelopes of cash with tens of thousands of dollars bearing the fingerprints or DNA of Daibes, according to the evidence shown to jurors.

In August 2021, evidence shown to the jury Thursday showed, Menendez used an encrypted messaging application to send Daibes the text of a press release in which he praised the government of Qatar, before texting Daibes: You might want to send to them. I am just about to release.

When Menendez was charged last fall, he held the powerful post of chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a position he relinquished after he was charged. He has resisted calls, including from prominent Democrats, that he resign from the Senate.
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Eight crew members of the MV Dali can finally head home after being stuck on the cargo ship for three months following its deadly collision with Baltimores Francis Scott Key Bridge.

The crew were cleared to leave after an agreement was reached allowing lawyers to question them as part of investigations into the incident in which six Latino immigrant construction workers were killed. They were working an overnight shift to fill potholes on the bridge.

None of the 21 crew members, predominantly Indians, have been able to leave since their ship lost power and crashed into one of the bridges supporting columns on 26 March.

The wreckage of the fallen bridge also led to the blocking of maritime traffic into the harbor. It was fully reopened to its original depth and width earlier this month after massive clean up efforts, with workers removing an estimated 50,000 tons of steel and concrete from the Patapsco river.

While the FBI has launched a criminal investigation into the matter, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the cause of the power outage.

The ongoing civil litigation began with a petition from the ships owner and manager, two Singapore-based companies, seeking to limit their legal liability for the deadly disaster.

According to the emails included in Tuesdays court filings, the eight crew members scheduled to return home have already been interviewed by Department of Justice investigators who do not object to their departure. The crew members were flying out of Baltimore likely on or about Thursday, an attorney for the ships owner and manager wrote.

Department of Justice attorneys leave the Edward A. Garmatz United States District Courthouse in Baltimore, Thursday, 20 June 2024 ( AP )

Under the agreement, which was confirmed by US District Judge James K Bredar during a hearing on Thursday, the crew can return home but must be available for depositions.

Attorneys had asked the judge Tuesday to prevent the roughly two dozen total crew members  all hailing from India or Sri Lanka  from leaving.

In the court filings, attorneys representing the city of Baltimore said the men should remain in the US so they can be deposed in ongoing civil litigation to decide who is responsible for costs and damages resulting from the bridge collapse.

The crew consists entirely of foreign nationals who, of course, have critical knowledge and information about the events giving rise to this litigation, the attorneys wrote. If they are permitted to leave the United States, Claimants may never have the opportunity to question or depose them.

Attorney William H Billy Murphy Jr, representing one of the claimants said, "we were concerned that the men would be spirited away and never be seen again", reported NBC affiliate WBALTV.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, center, speaks during a news conference to mark the full reopening of the Port of Baltimore after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March, Wednesday, 12 June 2024 ( AP )

Everybody is paying close attention to the details so that we can unravel all aspects of this and come up with a just result, Mr Murphy said.

Seven attorneys represented the federal government at the hearing. Two lawyers who represented the Dalis owner ignored questions as they left the courthouse.

Lawrence B Brennan, a longtime admiralty lawyer based in New Jersey, said these kinds of legal battles are not uncommon or even unprecedented.

Its going to get complicated for a while, said Mr Brennan, who previously worked for the Justice Department and is an adjunct law professor at Fordham University. And I dont think anything is going to get resolved in the next few weeks or months, unless somebody decides its in their best interest to pay off the case.

Mr Brennan said its important to complete the depositions soon to avoid stalling the case. We dont want to be talking these same issues two to three to four years from now, he said.

But he warned it can be hard to make witnesses comply with such an agreement once they have leave the US. The promise to come back is hard to enforce, Mr Brennan said. So, if it isnt enforced, then the court has to decide what the consequences are. And usually that is punishment for the party who broke the agreement.

Darrell Wilson, a spokesperson for the ships owner, said on Tuesday evening that some crew members were scheduled to leave but he couldnt say when, and that others would remain to assist with the investigation. He also said he wasnt sure when the ship would leave Baltimore for Norfolk, Virginia, where it will receive extensive repairs.

Andrew Middleton, who runs Apostleship of Sea  a programme that ministers to ships coming through Baltimore  told BBC that there were mixed emotions among sailors as the ones that get to go home are happy, relieved", he said.

"But the ones that are staying are wondering when they will get to go home too. Thats added to the mental strain."

Additional reporting by agencies
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Prosecutors dropped all criminal charges against dozens of pro-Palestinian student protesters arrested in April after occupying and barricading a building at Columbia University in New York City, a Manhattan court was informed on Thursday.

Hundreds of students seized Hamilton Hall, an academic building that is home to the schools undergraduate Columbia College and the Deans office, on 30 April protesting Israels war on Hamas in Gaza.

They unfurled banners from the windows and barricaded the doors of the hall that have symbolic value to the protesters as one of the several buildings occupied during a 1968 civil rights and anti-Vietnam War demonstration on campus.

Student protests over the war in Gaza spread like wildfire across the US, following the lead set by Columbia University students. The protests were met with police crackdowns and mass suspensions.

Charges were dismissed against 31 of the 46 people arrested in connection to occupation of Hamilton Hall due to lack of evidence and prosecutorial discretion.

The prosecutors, however, refused to drop the trespass charges against 13 defendants, two of whom were Columbia students. They were told that the cases against them would be dropped if they avoid being arrested for next six months, reported NBC News. However, they have declined the offer and will return to court next month on 25 July.

Another arrested protester accepted the offer earlier in June.

Meanwhile, a protester James Carlson, who has no affiliation with the University, has two cases opened against him, including that of burning an Israeli flag prior to the takeover and for damaging police surveillance camera in jail.

The hearing at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse came seven weeks after Columbia administrators called in hundreds of armed and heavily armored police officers to the universitys campus in a high-profile law-enforcement response that was broadcast live on national news channels.

The police detained 46 protesters after clearing a weeks-old encampment on a nearby Columbia lawn. They were arrested on the night of 30 April about 20 hours after taking over the academic building and were initially charged with trespass in the third degree, a misdemeanor.

At least nine of the 46 protesters arrested sustained injuries beyond minor scrapes and bruises, according to medical records, photographs shared by protesters, and interviews.

Informing the court about his offices decision to not prosecute the protestors, Stephen Millan, a prosecutor in the Manhattan district attorneys office, said the demonstrators wore masks and covered surveillance cameras, and there was insufficient evidence to show that any individual defendant damaged property or injured anyone.

No police officers were injured during the arrests, the prosecutor noted. None of the arrested students had any prior criminal history, and all were facing disciplinary proceedings, including suspensions and expulsions, by Columbia.

"All these matters are dismissed and sealed in the interest of justice," Judge Kevin McGrath announced in the courtroom where dozens of defendants and their supporters appeared with keffiyeh scarves around their shoulders. The scarves have become a symbol of the pro-Palestinian movement.

A Columbia spokesperson declined to comment on Thursdays developments in court.
 Close Multiple gunshots heard during shooting in Arkansas

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Ten people were injured and three were killed, in a shooting at an Arkansas grocery store on Friday afternoon.

The shooting was reported at the Mad Butcher market in Fordyce, about 70 miles south of Little Rock, around noon, according to local outlets.

Deputies said that a shooter was also critically injured after being shot by police and had been taken into custody.

Police later confirmed at a press conference that a total of 14 people had been injured from gunfire.

All three of those who died were civilians, with eight more injured. Two law enforcement officers were also wounded.

Authorities later identified the shooter as 44-year-old Travis Posey. He was taken to the Ouachita County Jail and charged with first degree murder. His motive for the shocking attack remains unknown.

Video online showed a heavy police presence at the local grocery story. Locals later described the incident at the Fordyce supermarket as a terrible day for our little town.

This is a small town and we personally know several people that were very nearby when the shooting took place. Its just such a horrible thing that happened to people simply trying to grocery shop, Fordyce resident Charise Ellson wrote on Facebook.
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A California man posed as a delivery driver in order to break into homes and steal thousands of dollars worth of items, authorities say.

Marcus Allen Corner, 37, of Monrovia was arrested on Wednesday in connection with burglaries dating back to November 2023. Irvine Police Department tracked him down via social media.

Footage of the crimes were caught on surveillance cameras located in residential areas.

In one of the videos its actually a Starbucks bag with a receipt stapled on it, much like you would see if someone was carrying out to deliver it, Kyle Oldoerp, a police spokesperson, told NBC4 Los Angeles.

It allows him to wander around the area, check his phone. If anyone challenges him, hes there to do a DoorDash delivery.

Police arrested Marcus Allen Corner, 37, of Monrovia on Wednesday. The suspect has been accused of posing as a DoorDash worker to steal from homes in California ( Irvine Police Department )

The man used the delivery driver trick to break into a unit at a condominium complex in Irvine, about 45 miles south of LA, police say.

One couple told NBC that the man stole tens of thousands of dollars worth of jewelry from their unit. Their RING doorbell cam showed the man passing by the couples front door then returning to ring the doorbell to check if anyone was inside.

When no one answered, he broke into the home by gaining access to a second-story loft window. Footage later caught the man opening the front door from the inside. The window was shattered when the husband returned home.

The stolen jewelry included pieces that had been given to his wife when she was a baby. Theyre irreplaceable items, but I think at the end of the day, neither of us are injured, the wife said.

The suspect is responsible for at least four other burglaries, police said. Authorities are urging anyone who believes they may be a victim to come forward.
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An attempted robbery at a rest stop in Nebraska left a 72-year-old man dead and his 71-year-old wife in critical condition when the couple was attacked by a man with a knife.

Gary and Mary Weaver, of Eureka, Missouri, who had been traveling across the state in their mobile home, stopped at the rest area along Interstate 80 around 7 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Hall County Sheriffs Office.

When deputies responded to the scene of the stabbing, they found the couple with multiple knife wounds.

Gary Weaver died from his injuries at Grand Island Regional Hospital and an autopsy has been ordered. His wife suffered life-threatening injuries and remains in critical condition.

The suspect, later identified as James Thompson Jr., 22, of Elyria, Ohio, had already fled the area but was apprehended by the Nebraska State Patrol a short time later.

State troopers tried to stop a vehicle matching that description of the suspects and chased it up to speeds of 120 mph before the vehicle exited the interstate and drove into the Platte River.

Initial details on this morning's active investigation in central Nebraska. Excellent teamwork by Troopers and Hall County Deputies to quickly locate and apprehend the suspect.



Our hearts are with the two victims and their family. https://t.co/f7Jxbqz3Ap  Nebraska State Patrol (@NEStatePatrol) June 19, 2024

A police dog was used to find the suspect about 30 minutes later.

Thompson was booked in the Hall County Jail and faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and robbery.

Excellent teamwork by Troopers and Hall County Deputies to quickly locate and apprehend the suspect, the Nebraska State Patrol wrote in a post on social media. Our hearts are with the two victims and their family.

The investigation is ongoing.
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A California college student killed her friends 6-week-old baby and assaulted his twin brother at their parents home in Pittsburgh, police said.

Nicole Virzi, 29, was babysitting the infant twins Saturday. The University of California-San Diego psychology PhD student, a longtime friend of the family, told the parents she noticed scratches on one twins face, belly and genitals, The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

The parents rushed the newborn to the hospital and left the student alone to watch his brother, Leon Katz. That evening, the baby suffered multiple skull fractures that led to his death, authorities say.

Virzi has been charged with homicide, aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of children. The parents said they did nothing wrong and did not see how either newborn was injured other than by the babysitter, the Union-Tribune reports.

Nicole Virzi was arrested after Pennsylvania police said she killed a six-week-old and assaulted his twin brother ( Allegheny County Jail )

Virzi told police she placed Katz in a highchair that night but forgot to strap him in before leaving the room to get a bottle, according to the Union-Tribune. When she came back, the six-week-old was on the floor and had a large bump on his head, Virzi said. She then called 911.

Emergency crews rushed Katz to a local hospital, where he died on Sunday from blunt-force trauma to the head. Doctors said the injuries resulted from child abuse, according to CBS Pittsburgh.

Katz did not give a plausible explanation for the infants extensive injuries, police say.

Defense attorney David Shrager told CBS Pittsburgh Katzs death was an awful thing but it does not mean someone is culpable.

Our client denies these allegations, Shrager said, according to local outlet WTAE. She is a loving person and a friend to these people and would never harm anyones child, let alone theirs.

Nicole Virzi, a PhD student in California, has pleaded not guilty to the charges that include homicide ( San Diego State University )

Virzi pleaded not guilty to all charges, according to the Union-Tribune. She is being held in the Allegheny County Jail after her bond was denied.

Virzi is a PhD student in a clinical psychology program jointly run by San Diego State University and the University of California-San Diego. Her research areas include behavioral medicine, womens health and eating disorders, according to the San Diego State University website.
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A pair of gun-wielding robbers stole a mans $100,000 watch outside a high-end New York restaurant before fleeing on a moped, police have said.

The incident occurred on Tuesday evening outside the exclusive Italian eatery Carbone in Manhattans Greenwich Village neighborhood.

The duo walked up to the 39-year-old victim outside the restaurant and pressed the firearm to his chest while demanding the Patek Philippe watch off his wrist, police and law enforcement sources told The New York Post.

The two thieves then reportedly jumped onto a moped and escaped, driving north on Thompson Street.

Carbone has a reputation for being a hard reservation to snag and is frequently patronized by celebrities including Justin and Hailey Bieber, Drake, Adele, and the Kardashians.

The exclusive restaurant in Greenwich Village is frequently patronized by celebrities including Justin and Hailey Bieber, Drake, Adele and the Kardashians ( AFP via Getty Images )

According to the online policy, guests may be refused entry if they do not appear sufficiently well-presented. Reservations at Carbone have reportedly been sold on a so-called black market at up to $450.

It is unclear whether the victim of Tuesdays crime had been a customer at Carbone, though they were reportedly not injured.

The Independent has reached out to Carbone for comment on the incident, and restaurant employees refused to comment to the Post.

Major Food Group, the management company of the upscale restaurant, has also been contacted for comment about the incident.

There have been no arrests and an investigation is ongoing.
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A federal appeals court has shot down former Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannons request to stay out of prison while he appeals his conviction for defying a subpoena to testify in an investigation over the US Capitol attack.

Bannons bid was denied by a three-judge panel on Thursday at the US Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia after they came to a 2-1 ruling, in which two judges said that his arguments did not present a substantial question of law that could see his conviction reversed.

"Bannons proposal  that to prove willful default, the government must establish that the witness knew that his conduct was unlawful  cannot be reconciled with the Supreme Courts approach to the statute," Judges Cornelia Pillard and Bradley Garcia said in the order.

The third judge, Justin Walker, however, said that Bannon should not go to prison before the Supreme Court considers his forthcoming petition, in a two-page dissent.

On Friday, Bannon submitted his appeal to the nations highest court.

He must turn himself over to federal prison by July 1 to serve a four-month sentence.

Steve Bannon appearing in court in New York in January 2023. A federal appeals court panel has rejected his bid to stay out of prison while he fights his conviction ( AP )

The ruling on Thursday also wrote that Bannon knew what the subpoena required yet intentionally refused to appear or to produce any of the requested documents.

A jury found him guilty in 2022 of contempt of Congress after he refused to comply with a subpoena from the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack at the US Capitol in 2021.

The former aide has managed to stay out of jail over the past few years while appealing his conviction. In May, his conviction was upheld and earlier in June, a federal judge granted prosecutors motion to reverse the stay on his sentence.

Bannon, who has been raging against the decision, filed an emergency motion to the appeals court in DC last week, asking to overturn a lower courts order for him to report to prison.

The government seeks to imprison Mr Bannon for the four-month period leading up to the November election when millions of Americans look to him for information on important campaign issues, Bannons lawyer wrote.

A protester greets Bannon as he arrives at a federal courthouse in Washington DC for sentencing on June 6 ( Getty Images )

Yet from prison, Mr Bannons ability to participate in the campaign and comment on important matters of policy would be drastically curtailed, if not eliminated.

Bannon was found in contempt of Congress in two instances  including refusing to sit for an interview with the January 6 committee and then refusing to provide documents about his efforts supporting Trumps campaign to overturn the former presidents election loss in 2020.

This is about shutting down the MAGA movement, shutting down grassroots conservatives, shutting down President Trump, Bannon told reporters after a brief court appearance on 6 June. Not only are we winning, we are going to prevail  There is nothing that can shut me up, and nothing that will shut me up.

Bannon  still an influential voice in MAGA circles  must surrender to prison to begin a four-month sentence on July 1 ( EPA )

He is claiming he will use all legal avenues available to appeal his conviction, including taking his case to the Supreme Court.

Theres not a prison built or jail built that will shut me up, Bannon said earlier this month.

Bannons four-month prison sentence mirrors the one handed down to former Trump aide Peter Navarro, who also refused to comply with a subpoena from the House select committee investigating the Capitol attack.

The Independent has contacted Bannons representatives for comment.
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A USC student has been absolved of criminal liability after he fatally stabbed a homeless man who broke into his car.

Ivan Gallegos, 19, acted in self-defense when he killed 27-year-old Xavier Cerf on Monday, the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office said on Thursday. He will not face criminal charges.

Cerf broke into Gallegos 2010 Mercedes Benz, which was parked in the rear parking lot of his fraternitys house on Greek Row on Monday. Gallegos and a couple of friends heard his car alarm go off around 8pm. Security footage showed the man breaking into the car, according to ABC 7.

They subsequently went outside to check on the vehicle.

Gallegos was armed with a knife and another friend had a large stick. The men armed themselves because the area was known to be dangerous. The group approached Cerf and asked him to get out of the car. He did not comply with the requests and said the car was his because it was calling him and had his name.

He then got out of the car but claimed he had a gun and reached for his waistband. Gallegos tried to use his left hand to stop Cerf from reaching for the supposed gun. He used his right hand to stab the man in the chest, the outlet reported.

The men continued to struggle and Cerf reached for his waistband again, prompting Gallegos to stab him three more times and pull him out of the car. The man then walked away and the students walked inside the house and called police. In the end, officials discovered that the man did not have a gun.

Other people confirmed the story and said they heard Cerf claim to have the weapon.

The use of deadly force under these circumstances was both proportionate and objectively reasonable and would support a claim of perfect self-defense. Filing is rejected, documents from the district attorneys office that were obtained by the news station read.

Gallegos is attending the universitys Marshall School of Business.

There is consistency in the assessment that the decedent indicated he had a gun, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon said Thursday.

Although he didnt have a gun, he did reach out for his waistband. When you look at the totality of the circumstances, it really indicates there was a reasonable belief that Mr Gallegos believed his life was in danger.
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A woman had her newly-adopted dog mistakenly euthanized by a local shelter just an hour before she was set to pick her up.

The tragic mixup happened after Jianna Maarten Sadda called the Los Angeles Animal Services South LA Shelter to say she would pick up Sheba, her newly adopted pit bull mix, by 3pm on June 11.

But when she called again at 2pm, shelter staff told her Sheba was dead, NBC Los Angeles reported.

Lived half her life in the shelter, so she had been in for a whole year, Sadda said, of the two-year-old dog. And after a year, a dog will usually go crazy after being in jail, so we call it. And she was still such a good dog.

Two-year-old Sheba, pictured, was euthanized at a Los Angeles animal shelter just one hour before her new owner was set to rescue her ( Paw Pals South LA/Instagram )

The South LA Shelter Networker, an Instagram account that highlights dogs at the shelter, described Sheba as a a playful girl who enjoys fetch.

The shelter told Sadda they euthanized the two-year-old dog due to a communication error, according to NBC.

The same day Sheba died, LA Animal Services started a new temporary policy. Dogs with dangerous behavior now need to be adopted or saved by an authorized rescue group within three days, or theyll be killed. Before, the dogs on the red list for behavior had one week.

The new policy came after a 63lb dog mauled kennel supervisor Leslie Corea on May 31. Corea needed at least three surgeries to recover, NBC Los Angeles reports.

Sheba, pictured, was euthanized the same day LA Animal Control announced that all dogs with behavioral problems will be killed if not adopted or saved by an authorized rescue group within three days ( Paw Pals South LA/Instagram )

There are so many people that have been bit and mauled at the shelters and it needs to stop because were overcrowding and were not euthanizing the animals that need to be euthanized in a timely manner, Corea said.

But Sadda told NBC Los Angeles there was no behavioral reason to euthanize Sheba. She was purely killed for space, she said.

The South LA Shelter Networker also described Sheba as well-behaved, both around people and other dogs.

Meanwhile, many community members have pushed back on the new policy. A group of Animal Services volunteers have contacted LA Mayor Karen Bass to share their concerns, NBC Los Angeles reports.

The Independent has contacted Los Angeles Animal Control for comment.

Last month, a Maryland woman said she experienced a similar communication breakdown when she brought her ill puppy to a shelter to be euthanized, and a year later he was up for adoption at the same center.

Kristie Pereira said she decided to put her dog down after consulting several experts who agreed he would not recover, the Associated Press reports. But after finding Beau up for adoption a year later, Pereira said the shelter had decided he did not need to be euthanized.

The person that called me was so rude and just disrespectful and just being really nasty towards me, Pereira told tAP last month. Just saying, you know, that I abandoned him, and that I left him to die. That I never cared about him.

She was told that the dog will never go back to you. As of late May, Beau was still listed on the shelters website.
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Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg indicated on Friday that hes willing to partially lift Donald Trumps gag order in his hush money trial, but slammed the former president for his patent disrespect for the rule of law and warned the trial judge of credible bomb threats made against people involved in the case.

Trump  who is blocked from publicly attacking witnesses, jurors and other parties in the case, excluding Bragg and Justice Juan Merchan  has asked the judge to lift the gag order entirely, now that the criminal trial has come to an end with guilty verdicts on all 34 counts against him.

In a filing on Friday, Bragg said his office agrees that the gag order can be amended to lift the restrictions against trial witnesses  but thats as far as he will go.

There is no basis whatsoever to let Trump attack attorneys and court staff and their families who are protected under the gag order, according to prosecutors with Braggs office.

Trump has repeatedly used his Truth Social account to rage against the case, witnesses Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels, the judge and prosecutors, which have fueled harassing and threatening messages aimed at attorneys, court staff and their families, according to law enforcement.

Investigators with the New York City Police Department have logged dozens of actionable threats against the district attorney, his family and staff since Trump was indicted, including 56 that were made in April, May and June of this year.

The office has also received nearly 500 threatening emails and phone calls since April, the month that the trial started, according to the DAs office. That includes bomb threats to two people involved in the case on April 15, the first day of the trial.

One post disclosed the home address of a Manhattan prosecutor, and another depicted sniper sights on people involved in this case or a family member of such a person.

Threats warned prosecutors we will kill you all and that they should be in witness protection and your life is done, according to Braggs office.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announces a 34-count guilty verdict against Donald Trump on May 30. On June 21, he agreed that a gag order in the case can be partially lifted. ( Getty Images )

But prosecutors agree that restrictions against Trumps statements about trial witnesses no longer [need] to be enforced.

This change of circumstance does not mean that [the] defendant has carte blanche to resume his reprehensible practice of publicly attacking individuals involved in litigation against him, prosecutors wrote.

Prosecutors also shot back at Trumps false claims that the office was working in concert with President Joe Biden and a cast of associates to pursue the New York case against him.

Defendant offers no factual basis for this assertion, and there is none: the claim is a lie, prosecutors wrote.

These knowing falsehoods are just the latest examples of defendants patent disrespect for the rule of law and the impartial administration of justice, they wrote. As [Trumps] continued conduct makes clear, the need to protect participants in this criminal proceeding and the integrity of the criminal justice process from [his] attacks remains critically important.

Trump is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11. It is unlikely he will face jail time but could face up to four years in state prison, probation, and fines, or some combination of those sentences.

Throughout the course of the trial, Tump was fined $10,000 for 10 statements posted on Truth Social directed at witnesses and the jury during the trial, and Judge Merchan threatened him with jail if he continued to violate the terms of the order.

The magnitude of such a decision is not lost on me, he told Trump last month.

But at the end of the day I have a job to do, and part of that job is to protect the dignity of the justice system, he said. Your continued violations  threaten to interfere with the administration of justice, and constitute a direct attack on the rule of law.

This week, New Yorks highest appeals court rejected Trumps demand for a swift appeal of a court ruling that shot down his claims that that the gag order violates his First Amendment rights.

A decision from the New York Court of Appeals on Tuesday said that no substantial constitutional question is directly involved in his challenge to the gag order.
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Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has received more than 100 threats and abusive messages in the weeks since his office finished convicting Donald Trump in the former presidents unprecedented hush money case, more than all the threats the prosecutor received in the previous year.

The threats, analyzed by the DAs New York Police Department security detail and obtained by the New York Daily News, included messages filled with hateful racial slurs, and ominous comments like Bragg in Trouble and a messenger who sent an email from an address named ThisMeansWar.

The volume of aggression far outpaces what Bragg has faced previously, according to court filings. There were 89 threats against the DA in 2023, New York prosecutors disclosed as they sought a gag order in the Trump hush money case, up from just one threat prior to when Trump was indicted.

Throughout the prosecution of Donald Trump, which ended in May, Bragg, who is Black, has received a deluge of threats, many of them racist, including a package sent to his campaign mailbox with a cutout of him hung from a noose.

His office was also sent multiple envelopes with threatening messages and mysterious white powder during the hush money prosecution, including a letter that read, ALVIN: I AM GOING TO KILL YOU.

In February 2023, a Utah man, Craig DeLeeuw, who made violent threats against Joe Biden and Alving Bragg, was killed in a firefight with FBI agents, who were visiting DeLeeuws Provo home to serve a search warrant.

DeLeeuw, 74, claimed online he would be waiting in in the courthouse parking garage with my suppressed Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm, a silenced gun, for Bragg.

The potential for threats against participants in the hush money prosecution was a key motivator for New York officials to seek a gag order against the former president.

This week, the New York Court of Appeals rejected Trumps demand to repeal the gag order now that the trial is finished.

During the high-profile case Trump was fined $10,000 for 10 statements posted on Truth Social directed at witnesses and the jury during the trial, and the judge overseeing the trial threatened him with jail if he continued to violate the terms of the order.

Alex Woodward contributed reporting to this story.
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Donald Trump has been aggressively courting the cryptocurrency community as part of his 2024 campaign, including meeting with bitcoin miners, fundraising in Silicon Valley, and opening his campaign to crypto donations last month, a first for a major party candidate.

Now, Trump, who in 2019 called bitcoin a currency based on thin air, is embroiled in his first cryptos scandal, amid allegations that his youngest son Barronor maybe disgraced pharma exec Martin Pharma Bro Shkreliis behind a cryptocurrency meme coin called DJT, the same letters as the former presidents initials.

Earlier this week, vague rumors began circulating that the coin, which launched in May, was going to be the former presidents official token, sending the value of the crypto coin surging.

As of Thursday afternoon, DJTs value had soared by triple-digit percentages, reaching a market capitalization of over $150m.

The run on DJT, which shares a three-letter abbreviation with stock in the former presidents actual media company, inspired a feverish search for whether Trump or his campaign was behind the crypto effort.

On Tuesday, Arkham, a market intelligence firm, offered a $150,000 bounty for the person who could prove who was behind DJT.

A day later, the company announced that a crypto analyst using the X screenname ZachXBT had submitted definitive evidence that Shkreli, who was released from prison in 2022 for a series of fraud charges related to his time running two hedge funds, was the brains behind the operation.

The analyst shared screenshots of what he said were direct messages with Shkreli, in which the former pharmaceutical investor, known for jacking up the price of cancer drugs, claimed, I have over 1000 pieces of evidence I created it with Barron, a reference to Trumps son.

ZachBXT also claimed the coin was linked to a Discord user named Cameron Roxborough, who claimed to be a classmate and friend of Trumps son.

A LinkedIn profile under that name shows Roxborough attending the same Florida school from which Barron Trump recently graduated.

After the bounty announcement, Shkreli claimed he created the coin after being approached by Roxborough on behalf of Barron Trump, and that the former president approved of the idea.

The investor said in a live X Spaces discussion that he didnt have any personal incentives in the coin, and created the product to see where it would go, and that everything made on the scheme would go to Barron and the Trump family.

I can prove Trump and/or Trump family involvement, he later wrote on X.

The Trump family and campaign have not publicly commented on the DJT coin.

The Independent has contacted the Trump campaign and Roxborough for comment.
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Donald Trump may see a bump in the polls after the first debate because of a long-running trend: Incumbents tend to do worse in the first debate of the presidential election season.

Presidential debate historian Alan Schroeder explained to NBC News that a presidents life exists in a protected bubble. The first debate takes them outside of that bubble, where theyre forced to face off against a pumped up opponent whos been itching for a showdown.

The first debate in this election cycle will be hosted by CNN in Atlanta on June 27.

Incumbents tend to grow accustomed to the deference theyre shown within the White House, and after four years, theyre in for a rude awakening when their opponent throws punches on the debate stage, Schroeder said, noting that presidents tend not to hear much conflicting information during their four years in the bubble.

He added that incumbents may need to transition back to being a normal citizen.

Every president thinks, I know how to run a presidential campaign because I won one a few years ago, Samuel Popkin, who played Ronald Reagan during mock debates with Jimmy Carter during the 1980 campaign, told NBC.

Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan debate each other on October 31, 1980 ( Getty Images )

Popkin said Carter became uncomfortable and embarrassed when Popkin played Reagan during the preparations.

The president looked lonely and vulnerable when he heard Reagans critique in front of his wife, his closest friends, and his inner circle, Popkin wrote in his book The Candidate.

A bewildered Carter suggested they stop after just 11 minutes. Reagan won in a landslide, carrying 44 states. But in 1984, it was his turn to step out of the bubble as he faced Carters Vice President Walter Mondale.

For much of the debate, Mr. Reagan appeared less confident than he customarily does on television, The New York Times noted at the time. Later, as Mr. Mondales advisers, clearly pleased, asserted that the former Vice President had rejuvenated his candidacy, Reagan aides were noticeably subdued.

Bill Clinton faced off against Bob Dole in 1996 ( AFP via Getty Images )

Even Bill Clinton, who was a really good debater, his first debate against Bob Dole in 1996 as an incumbent president was not his finest moment by any stretch of the imagination, Schroeder told NBC.

Sara Fegen, who worked on President George W Bushs 2004 campaign, told the network that incumbents have the tougher task, because theyre defending the sitting record.

At the time, a Pew Research poll found that voters believed that challenger Senator John Kerry won the first debate with Bush by a margin of two to one.

Kerry and Bush debate at the University of Miami on September 30, 2004 in Coral Gables, Florida ( Getty Images )

Jim Messina, the manager of President Barack Obamas 2012 re-election campaign, recalled when speaking to NBC how he told Obama that If its a referendum on the incumbent, the incumbent usually loses.

He added: If it is a choice between the two candidates, youll win.

CNN and Pew polls found that voters believed Obamas challenger, ex-Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, won the first debate.

Obama and Romney smile after their first debate on October 3, 2012 in Denver, Colorado ( Getty Images )

Schroeder called Obama rusty, saying that he appeared a little uncomfortable.

The president blew off one of the last debate sessions before the first debate. He definitely did not do that after the first debate, Messina told NBC, recalling how he was overjoyed after the second debate because Obama had driven the choice narrative over and over and over.

The Biden campaign told the network that the president is set to project himself as the wise and steady leader in contrast to Trumps chaos and division.

While its difficult to show that debate performances have large impacts on elections, changing the minds of just a few voters could be key when the polls are as tight as they are, with Biden just 0.1 percent ahead in FiveThirtyEights average of national polls.
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Donald Trump declared his love for the Ten Commandments and called for them to be displayed in schools and many other places in an all-caps, late-night post on his social media platform, Truth Social.

His post came after Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry signed legislation this week that requires the display of the Ten Commandments in every public classroom in the state, a move that will be challenged in court. Elementary, middle and high schools, as well as public colleges, must all display posters no smaller than 11 by 14 inches and the commandments must be the central focus of the poster and in a large, easily readable font, the law states.

Louisiana is the only state in the country with such a requirement  but Trump suggested hed like to see that changed.

I LOVE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PRIVATE SCHOOLS, AND MANY OTHER PLACES, FOR THAT MATTER. READ IT  HOW CAN WE, AS A NATION, GO WRONG??? THIS MAY BE, IN FACT, THE FIRST MAJOR STEP IN THE REVIVAL OF RELIGION, WHICH IS DESPERATELY NEEDED, IN OUR COUNTRY. BRING BACK TTC!!! MAGA2024, Trump wrote in the early hours of Friday.

Trump, however, has been accused of breaking the 7th Commandment, which forbids adultery. He was accused of having an affair with Stormy Daniels and was convicted in New York of 34 felonies to make hush money payments to keep it secret.

Donald Trump announced his support for publicly posting the Ten Commandments in schools in an all-caps late-night Truth Social post ( Getty Images )

On Friday, the federal judge presiding over Trumps classified documents case in Florida is hearing arguments on a long-shot defense effort to get the indictment thrown out. It is the latest update in the slew of court cases facing the former president.

He is also facing state and federal cases in connection with his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results which he has falsely claimed was stolen from him. Trump has denied all the charges against him.

The Louisiana law has been backed by Trump, who has growing support among Christian conservatives, with 84 percent of white evangelicals backing him in 2020, compared to 77 percent in 2016, according to Pew Research.

However, the legislation also has been heavily criticized with the American Civil Liberties Union and the Americans United for Separation of Church and State group planning to sue.

Were going to be seeing Gov. Landry in court, Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State said on Wednesday.

She added that the organization is worried about public school families and students in Louisiana.

They come from a variety of different traditions and backgrounds, different religious beliefs, nonreligious beliefs and students in those classrooms will be made to feel like outsiders when they see the government endorsing one set of narrow religious beliefs over others.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry addresses members of the House and Senate on opening day of a legislative special session, Feb. 19, 2024 ( AP )

Landry previously said at a GOP fundraiser in Tennessee that he cant wait to be sued over the law.

The new legislation is part of an effort by conservative legal groups to reverse Supreme Court rulings protecting the separation of church and state after justices shot down a similar state law in Kentucky more than 30 years ago, on the grounds that the state violated the First Amendments prohibition against any laws respecting an establishment of religion.

In 2005, the Supreme Court ruled that the public display of the Ten Commandments in two Kentucky county courthouses was similarly unconstitutional.
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Judy Sheindlin, better known as TV icon Judge Judy, has described Donald Trumps criminal hush money trial in New York as nonsense.

The retired judge spoke with CNNs Chris Wallace on Friday about the former president and his recent felony conviction. Sheindlin was the star of reality TV hit Judge Judy, where she presided over small claims cases on the show, which ran from 1996 to 2021.

Sheindlin, who is originally from Brooklyn, said that she had not been in favor of Trumps Manhattan prosecution.

I would be happier as someone who owns property in Manhattan, if the district attorney of New York County would take care of criminals who are making it impossible for citizens to walk in the streets and use the subway, to use his efforts to keep those people off the street, than to spend 5 million or ten million of taxpayers money trying Donald Trump on this nonsense, she said.

Last month, a Manhattan jury unanimously convicted Donald Trump of falsifying business records to cover up a payment to porn star Stormy Daniels to stay quiet about an alleged affair in the run-up to the 2016 election.

Judy Sheindlin, pictured, described Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs prosecution of Donald Trump as nonsense ( CNN )

You had to twist yourself into a pretzel to figure out what the crime was, he doesnt like [Trump], Sheindlin said of Bragg.

But despite her defense of the former president, Sheindlin had some strong criticism.

I dont think that Donald ever should have been president, and I dont think that even Donald thought he was going to be president, the TV star said.

Sheindlin, 81, did not endorse Trump for the 2024 presidential election, instead backing former GOP candidate Nikki Haley, who dropped out of the race in March.

Last month, Sheindlin sued the publisher of The National Enquirer, the tabloid which endorsed Trump in 2016 and played a key role in his hush money trial.

During Trumps trial, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified that he was the Trump campaigns eyes and ears, using the publication to catch and kill stories on Trumps alleged affairs. He spent about $180,000 purchasing two stories.

Sheindlin is suing a360 Media, and its parent company Accelerate360, after she said the tabloid damaged her reputation with unequivocal falsehoods that she was trying to overturn the conviction of two California murderers, Lyle and Erik Menendez.

The case, initially filed in the Collier County, Florida Circuit Court, has now been moved to US District Court, Middle District of Florida. After filing for an extension, the defense team has until July 5 to respond, according to court filings.
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A judge in Nevada has dismissed a criminal case against six so-called fake electors who tried to overturn Donald Trumps loss in the 2020 presidential election.

Fridays ruling marks the first time that a case related to the Trump campaigns efforts to reverse his election results has been dismissed.

Clark County District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus found that the case from state prosecutors was filed in the wrong county.

Attorneys for the six defendants had argued that the case should have been brought in Carson City, where they approved false certificates certifying Trumps electors, or in Douglas County, where those documents were mailed.

We disagree with the judges decision and will be appealing immediately, according to a statement from the office of Nevada Attorney General to The Independent.

The charges joined several state-level criminal cases against Trump allies who were part of a nationwide scheme to overturn 2020 results by certifying alternate electors in states that Trump lost.

Nevada GOP chair Michael McDonald speaks to Donald Trumps supporters ata campaign rally in Las Vegas on June 9. Charges against him and other so-called fake electors were dismissed on June 21. ( AP )

Those results would then be certified in Congress, part of an allegedly criminal scheme that is central to the federal and state election interference charges against the former president.

Nevadas sitting GOP chair Michael McDonald, Clark County chair Jesse Law, state party vice chair Jim Hindle III, Jim DeGraffenreid, Shawn Meehan and Eileen Rice each face charges of offering a false instrument for filing and uttering a forged instrument by submitting fraudulent documents to state and federal officials.

Convictions on those charges could include a maximum of four and five years in prison and a minimum of one year in prison.

Similar prosecutions targeting fake electors and Trump allies connected to the scheme are underway in four other states, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin.

The defendants in the Nevada case each signed off on false Electoral College votes for Trump in December 2020 despite his loss, according to Nevadas attorney general as well as special counsel Jack Smith and the House select committee investigating the events surrounding January 6.

Former Trump-allied attorney Kenneth Chesebro, among the architects of the discredited plan to introduce alternate slates of electors, pleaded guilty as part of a deal with Fulton County prosecutors in Georgias sprawling election interference case.

Chesebro had agreed to meet with investigators in Nevada in an apparent effort to avoid prosecution in the state.

Last year, the Supreme Courts conservative supermajority wholly rejected the alternate elector plan.
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The Supreme Court has upheld a law designed to keep firearms out of the hands of domestic abusers.

The courts 8-1 ruling in United States v Rahimi on Friday holds that when an individual has been found by a court to pose a credible threat to the physical safety of another, that individual may be temporarily disarmed consistent with the Second Amendment.

The only dissent came from conservative Justice Clarence Thomas, whose 2022 decision in a major Second Amendment case vastly expanded gun rights and opened the door for lawsuits across the country that tried to tackle the profliferation of firearms and severe rates of gun violence.

Fridays decision is a sigh of relief for survivors of domestic abuse, and a powerful reminder that the gun lobby cannot  and will not  be the arbiter of the lives of women and families across the country, according to Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of gun violence reform group Moms Demand Action.

Zackey Rahimi pleaded guilty to violating a law that required him to relinquish his firearm because he had been subject to a two-year restraining order.

But instead of giving up his gun, he was involved in five shootings in a two-month span.

Rahimi argued that federal law violates his constitutional right to own a firearm, a decision affirmed by the right-wing-dominated Fifth Circuit federal appeals court just 15 days after the Supreme Court handed down a major decision in another landmark Second Amendment case.

Activists hold up signs outside U.S. Supreme Court during a gun-control rally on November 7, 2023 in Washington, DC. ( Getty Images )

The Supreme Court had made it easier for people like Rahimi to bring Second Amendment lawsuits after the conservative majority overturned a New York state law that restricted people from obtaining concealed-carry licenses.

That decision  written by Justice Thomas  established a new test for gun-restricting laws: they must be consistent with the Nations historical tradition of firearm regulation.

The explosive 2022 ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v Bruen has changed  if not confused  the way that courts across the country have interpreted laws intended to curb the proliferation of firearms across the US in the grips of a growing gun violence crisis.

With that new standard in place, a three-judge panel from the conservative Fifth Court of Appeals unanimously took Rahimis side.

During the Supreme Courts oral arguments in November, Rahimis lawyer, Michael Wright, argued Rahimi should be allowed a firearm because there was no historic tradition of firearm bans for people without felony convictions.

But justices werent convinced that argument was strong enough to put guns in the hands of abusers.

Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar raised concerns about the impact on survivors of abuse, noting that women are five times more likely to be murdered if their partner has access to a gun.

There is also legislative consensus, as 48 states and territories share the view that disarming abusers is an appropriate response to protect survivors, she said.

Those protections combat a profound harm, as a body of evidence and harrowing statistics underscore the lethal intersection of domestic violence and gun ownership, she argued.

I know how important todays Supreme Court ruling is because I have lived it, said gun violence survivor LaShea Cretain, a member of Everytown for Gun Safety and a volunteer with Moms Demand Action.

She recovered from a coma and still lives with all five bullets in her body.

While the Supreme Court reached the right conclusion today, the fact that this extreme case made it this far only underscores why we cannot let our foot off the gas in the fight to protect women and families from gun violence, she said in a statement. Today, we celebrate but our fight for justice does not end here.
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The Florida district judge who dismissed Donald Trumps classified documents case has attracted no shortage of criticism given a series of controversial rulings  and the fact that it was Trump himself who elevated her to the bench.

Aileen Cannon is the federal judge with the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida who oversaw the Espionage Act and obstruction of justice case against Trump, who was charged with the illegal possession of classified documents at his Florida estate after leaving the White House in January 2021 and for impeding efforts by the US government to reclaim them.

The case was dismissed by Cannon in a court order on July 15 after she ruled that the appointment of special counsel Jack Smith violated the Constitution.

Cannon wrote in the order: In the end, it seems the Executives growing comfort in appointing regulatory special counsels in the more recent era has followed an ad hoc pattern with little judicial scrutiny.

Prosecutors are expected to appeal the ruling.

According to the indictment, Trump attempted to hide boxes of classified documents following a grand jury subpoena that ordered their return. Trumps aide Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos de Oliveira were also indicted and have also had their charges dismissed.

Trump previously insisted that he is an innocent man in angry statements and postings to Truth Social, alleging that he was the victim of rabid wolves and the weaponization of the justice system by the corrupt Biden administration, even as the indictment revealed photos of boxes of files stacked high in the glitzy ballrooms and bathrooms of his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach.

Angela Noble, the courts chief clerk, insisted that normal procedures were followed in assigning Cannon to the case.

However, Cannon came under fire for delivering rulings widely considered favorable to Trump throughout the investigation into the classified documents.

After the FBI executed a search warrant in August 2022 to enter Mar-a-Lago and search for classified documents, lawyers for Trump filed a complaint arguing that the search had been illegitimate and unconstitutional.

Aileen Cannon is a federal judge with the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida ( Southern District of Florida/Wikimedia Commons )

Cannon subsequently issued an order prohibiting the US government from further review and use of any of the materials seized from Mar-a-Lago for criminal investigative purposes.

The ruling attracted concern in legal circles as an unprecedented instance of a federal judge assuming the authority to halt a pre-indictment criminal investigation into a suspect. It was later reversed by the US Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.

In 2022, Cannon also sided with Trumps request that an independent special master be appointed to review the documents before they could be examined by the Justice Department, a decision that was branded deeply flawed by Trumps own former attorney general Bill Barr.

After appointing special master Raymond Dearie, Cannon then overruled a number of his procedural proposals and sided with Trumps attorneys on several key points.

The appeals court ruled that Cannon had improperly exercised equitable jurisdiction and directed her to stand down from the case.

Slate legal analyst Mark Joseph Stern called that decision one of the most humiliating appellate smackdowns in recent history, a total demolition of literally every action that Cannon had taken from the outset of the case, also labeling the judge a venal mediocrity.

On March 14, Trump joined his attorneys in federal court in Florida for a hearing on his attempts to throw out the criminal charges in the classified documents case.

In two of their motions to dismiss the case, lawyers for the former president argued that his charges under the Espionage Act are unconstitutionally vague and that the Presidential Records Act protects him from prosecution.

Judge Cannon came under fire for delivering rulings widely considered favorable to Trump throughout the investigation ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Trumps attorneys argued in court filings that Trump had virtually unreviewable authority to designate presidential records as personal ones and that the National Archives and US Department of Justice were unauthorized to retrieve records that Trump was given unreviewable discretion to label personal before he left the White House.

On March 14, Cannon suggested those arguments were premature.

Prosecutors with the office of the special counsel previously argued in court filings that the documents recovered from Mar-a-Lago are indisputably presidential, and that the Presidential Records Act would still apply to any classified information discovered at his residence. The former president was not charged with violating the PRA.

Judge Cannon has appeared combative against prosecutors, been slow to take care of pretrial motions, and put the trial on hold before dismissing the case ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

In early April, Cannon denied a motion to dismiss the case based on the PRA. Cannon noted at the time that the indictment made, no reference to the Presidential Records Act and that it does not provide a pre-trial basis to dismiss.

It was reported in mid-June that Cannon declined private requests from two federal judges that she step aside from the case after she was assigned to it.

The two more experienced South Florida judges told Cannon it would be best if she passed the case on to one of their colleagues, but she ultimately ignored that suggestion and chose to remain in charge of the proceedings, according to The New York Times.

The judges, one of whom is Southern District of Florida Chief Judge Cecilia Altonago, approached Cannon after she was assigned the case last June. Cannons assignment prompted concerns regarding her limited trial experience and how she had previously intervened in the Department of Justice investigation that ultimately led to Trumps indictment.

Lawyers who work in the Southern District of Florida said that Cannon broke with general practice to delegate some pretrial motions in the documents case to a magistrate, according to The Times. In this case, that would be Judge Bruce Reinhart, whos subordinate to Cannon but has more experience. Reinhart signed off on the 2022 FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago to recover classified documents from Trumps residence and private club.

Afterward, Cannon appeared combative against prosecutors, was slow to take care of pretrial motions, and put the trial on hold despite both sides indicating they could be ready to begin proceedings this summer.

On July 15, she dismissed the case, arguing that Smiths appointment violated the Constitution and usurps Congresss role in funding his office.

Smiths office is expected to appeal Cannons dismissal of the case, which could go all the way to the Supreme Court.

The Court is convinced Special Counsel Smiths prosecution ... breaches two structural cornerstones of our constitutional scheme  the role of Congress in the appointment of constitutional officers and the role of Congress in authorizing expenditures by law, Cannon wrote in her ruling.

Cannon is of American-Cuban descent and was born in Cali, Colombia, in 1981. She was raised in Miami where she attended the Ransom Everglades School, then Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and then the University of Michigan Law School.

She clerked for an appellate judge in Iowa for one year after graduating, then worked for the corporate law firm Gibson Dunn in Washington, DC, from 2009 to 2012, and then as a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of Florida, based out of Fort Pierce, from 2013 to 2020.

Following her nomination by Trump, she was confirmed as a federal judge by the US Senate in November 2020 in the dying days of his one-term administration.

Her appointment to the bench came just 12 years after she first qualified to practice law, the minimum experience the American Bar Association requires nominees to have.

Cannon is a registered Republican, has been a member of the conservative Federalist Society since 2005, and reportedly donated $100 to Florida governor Ron DeSantiss gubernatorial election campaign in 2018.

Gustaf Kilander contributed to this report
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Donald Trumps classified documents case in Florida is moving ahead without any trial date in sight.

Instead, the federal judge presiding over the case has heard motion after motion from defense attorneys in their long-shot attempt to dismiss the charges against the former president and his co-defendants while attacking the prosecutors who brought the case against them.

On Friday, US District Judge Aileen Cannon  who was appointed to the bench by Trump  will hold a daylong hearing that questions the credibility of special counsel Jack Smith, and whether he was lawfully appointed under the Constitution.

The pretrial hearing is the first of five that Judge Cannon has scheduled over three days. Trump is not required to attend.

In a rare move, she is allowing nonparties in the case to argue inside the courtroom on Friday, rather than in briefs submitted to the court.

The judge will hear from Josh Blackman with the conservative Landmark Legal Foundation as well as Gene Schaerr, who represents right-wing Citizen United legal advocacy group and a Heritage Foundation-linked group of former Republican attorneys general.

The attorneys are arguing in support of Trumps motion to dismiss the charges against him by claiming that Smith was unconstitutionally appointed.

In a motion to argue in support of Trump, the groups claimed that the Supreme Court will take a keen interest in the judges decision, signaling that a challenge at the nations highest court could follow, further prolonging a trial over Trumps allegedly unlawful retention of classified materials at his Mar-a-Lago compound.

Trump-appointed Judge Aileen Cannon holds a hearing at the Alto Lee Adams Sr. United States Courthouse in Fort Pierce, Florida on June 21. ( Getty Images )

Judge Cannon also allowed one constitutional law expert, Matthew Seligman with Stanfords Constitutional Law Center, to defend Smiths appointment on behalf of a group of former federal officials and US attorneys, legal scholars and pro-democracy advocates.

It is highly unusual for a federal trial judge to allow third parties who are not affiliated with the case to argue in court as part of the defendants challenge to the case itself.

The judges decision to allow those so-called amici or friends of court to argue in the courtroom  and not just in court filings  signals that she could be compelled to disqualify Smith and dismiss the case against Trump based on their arguments.

Next week, Cannon will hear more arguments challenging Smiths appointment, including how Smiths office has been funded, another line of attack from conservative legal groups.

The former president and his legal team have pushed for delays in all his criminal proceedings in an effort to avoid a trial during the 2024 presidential campaign and, ultimately, after the election, in the hopes of challenging the constitutionality of holding any trial at all if he is elected president.

If he returns to the White House, he could try to force the Department of Justice to drop the two federal cases against him, and pressure officials in Georgia to stop the prosecution of his election interference case in that state.

US district judge Aileen Cannon ( Southern District of Florida )

Cannon has been roundly criticized for a series of decisions that have been favorable to Team Trump and for appearing to slow-walk the case to help him avoid a trial before the 2024 election.

More than 1,000 complaints about the judge were submitted to a court that oversees her Florida district within one week last month.

The hearing on Friday also comes one day after The New York Times revealed that more experienced judges had urged her to hand the case off to another jurist  advice that she ignored.

The former president faces 40 separate charges stemming from allegations that he withheld hundreds of classified documents after leaving the White House for his private Mar-a-Lago compound in Florida, then conspired to obstruct government attempts to retrieve them.

He has pleaded not guilty.

His co-defendants Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, who are accused of helping Trump mishandle documents at the Florida property, have also pleaded not guilty.
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Former President Donald Trump spoke about releasing the files surrounding the assassination of President John F Kennedy in a recent podcast appearance, suggesting the CIA had applied pressure to stop some information being released.

Trump appeared on the All-In Podcast on Thursday, hosted by Silicon Valley technology investors, and spoke on an array of topics, from his political rival President Joe Biden and their upcoming debate to suggesting that foreign students should get green cards after they graduate US college.

The former president was also questioned by venture capitalist and podcast host Chamath Palihapitiya over a promise he made during his presidency that he would release files pertaining to the assassination of Kennedy that occurred on November 22, 1963.

Palihapitiya questioned Trump about what happened over the release of the JFK files and what he would do next should he be re-elected.

I actually did do it, Trump said. I released a lot, as you know, but when it came to the whole thing, I was hit by some people that work for me that are great people, that you would respect and they asked me not to do it.

And Im saying why. Tell me why. And they said, Sir, I think it needs a little more time.

President John F Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy in an open car motorcade shortly before he was assassinated in Dallas, Texas ( Getty Images )

He did say, however, that he released a lot, but I said, if they feel so strongly, I respect the people and would have done that again.

Yet, Trump said that this time round, if he were to win the presidential election, he is just going to do it.

The podcast hosts also touched on Robert F Kennedy Jr, who is going up against Trump as an independent candidate in the presential election, and his suggested belief that the CIA was linked to his uncle JFKs death.

When asked about this, Trump appeared to claim it may have been the CIA who stopped the release of the files.

This wasnt CIA that asked me, but I think CIA was probably behind it. They wouldve preferred that I not release the rest of it, he said on the podcast about the files being released.

The CIA has been accused in the past of complicity in the assassination, which has produced a host of conspiracy theories over the years.

Trump went on to promise that if he is re-elected, he will release the rest of the files.

Its going to be done early on, Trump said. A lot of people want to see that and whatever it may say  I wont say it, I have an idea  but whatever it is it will be very interesting for people to see and were going to have to learn from it.

Trump had made his own assertions over the death of Kennedy, passing a comment in 2016 during the Republican primary before he became president in which he suggested his GOP rival Ted Cruzs father was connected to the assassination.

During an interview with Fox News eight years ago, he brought up a story run in the National Enquirer that published a photo that it said shows Rafael Cruz with Kennedy assassin Lee Harvey Oswald.

"His father was with Lee Harvey Oswald prior to Oswalds being  you know, shot. I mean, the whole thing is ridiculous," Trump said.

"I mean, what was he doing  what was he doing with Lee Harvey Oswald shortly before the death? Before the shooting?"

Cruzs campaign at the time responded by saying it was another garbage story.

"Trump is detached from reality, and his false, cheap, meaningless comments every day indicate his desperation to get attention and willingness to say anything to do so," the Cruz campaign said in a statement.

Trump himself was recently caught up in a wild assassination claim after Marjorie Taylor Greene said in May that the DOJ was planning to assassinate Trump, even prompting the FBI to release a statement debunking this.

Greene made the wild accusation that the Justice Department had authorized the use of deadly force during an FBI search of Trumps Mar-a-Lago residence, claiming they were planning to assassinate him.

The Georgia congresswoman made this claim after court files were unsealed in May in Trumps classified documents case, which included orders relating to when the FBI searched Mar-A-Lago in 2022 and seized hundreds of documents.

The operation order in the newly unsealed filing stated that Law enforcement officers of the Department of Justice may use deadly force when necessary.

The FBI put out a statement about the situation. The FBI followed standard protocol in this search as we do for all search warrants, which includes a standard policy statement limiting the use of deadly force, the statement read.

No one ordered additional steps to be taken, and there was no departure from the norm in this matter, it added.

Trump, however, also chimed in at the time about the wording of the order.

WOW! I just came out of the Biden Witch Hunt Trial in Manhattan, the Icebox, and was shown Reports that Crooked Joe Bidens DOJ, in their illegal and UnConstitutional Raid of Mar-a-Lago, AUTHORIZED THE FBI TO USE DEADLY (LETHAL) FORCE, Trump wrote in a post.
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Donald Trump significantly outraised President Joe Biden in May, despite becoming the first US president to be convicted of a crime.

Trumps campaign and the Republic National Committee (RNC) reported that they raised a massive $141m in May. However, they declined to report how much money the campaign had left in their funds at the end of the month, which they are not legally required to report until July.

The Biden campaign and the Democratic National Committee raised $85m in May, with $212m sitting in the campaigns bank at the end of the month, federal filings released on Thursday detailed. Reports suggest Trump has upwards of $170m. Trump was $100m behind Mr. Biden at the start of April.

Filings show the Trump campaign had $116.5m cash on hand  not committed elsewhere  at the start of June, compared to $91.6m for the Biden campaign.

The Biden fundraising number does not include recent fundraising efforts in June, such as the around $40m raised recently or the $20m donation from former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to pro-Biden groups, according to the Associated Press.

Bidens campaign has been helped by a glitzy, star-studded fundraiser in Hollywood last Saturday that cleaned up a reported $30m. The event included appearances from former president Barack Obama and actors Julia Roberts and George Clooney.

Trump, who was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in the historical hush money trial last month, has not let his criminal conviction stop him from raking in millions of donations in his bid for the presidency. The former presidents campaign reported they raised nearly $53m within the space of 24 hours after the jury in Manhattan handed over the guilty verdict in connection to the hush money offences.

Billionaire Timothy Mellon donated $50m to a pro-Trump super PAC the day after Trump was found guilty, the filings say.

Julie Chavez Rodriguez, a Biden campaign manager, told the AP that their efforts are a stark contrast to Trumps PR stunts and photo ops that hes pretending is a campaign.

Our strong and consistent fundraising programme grew by millions of people in May, a clear sign of strong and growing enthusiasm for the president and vice president every single month, she said.

The money we continue to raise matters, and its helping the campaign build out an operation that invests in reaching and winning the voters who will decide this election, she added.

Mays fundraising was the presidents second-best month this cycle, just behind March, according to CNBC.

However, it was the second month in a row that Trump had outraised Biden  the Trump team brought in $25m more in April  as the former president continues to close the gap in total fundraising for the presidential campaign trail.

Meanwhile, the pro-Trump super PAC called MAGA Inc, significantly helped by Mellons giant donation, has put aside $3.5m for television advertising set to begin on 3 July across Georgia and Pennsylvania, according to AdImpact, a media tracking firm.

The group reported that it received $68.8m in May, ending the month with $93.7m in its account.

In contrast, independent candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr is seriously lagging. The filings revealed his campaign took just $2.6m by the end of May.
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Donald Trump keeps pointing to the Presidential Records Act (PRA) to argue that he has done nothing wrong in the classified documents case, but what does the legislation say?

In 2022, the FBI conducted a raid on Mar-a-Lago, finding more than 100 classified documents that had not been handed back to the government despite several requests and subpoenas being issued. He was subsequently hit with dozens of charges alleging that he withheld the classified documents after leaving the White House, then obstructed the federal governements investigation. Trump has pleaded not guilty.

In March of this year, Judge Cannon on the US District Court of South Florida heard arguments regarding the notion that the PRA protects Trump from prosecution and that the case should be dismissed. While Trumps attorneys argued that the law is too vague about national defense information, experts say that Trump has misinterpreted the law.

Barack Obama-era US attorney Joyce Alene White Vance wrote on X on March 14 that the motions from the Trump team were barely better than frivolous.

Trump insists he designated the documents as personal records under the PRA so his possession of them was authorized and he cant be prosecuted for it. But hes never been able to explain how the PRA trumps laws about handling classified and national defense [information]. It doesnt, she argued. Even if, by some stretch of the imagination, a president can hang onto classified information by claiming its personal records, Trumps still obstructed justice according to multiple first-hand witnesses.

In the March hearing, Cannon appeared skeptical of Trumps assault on the Espionage Act as well as his attempt to use the PRA as a shield. But she also suggested that part of Trumps arguments could be noteworthy when the time comes for jury instructions, asking that each side take on Trumps argument based on the PRA.

Special Counsel Jack Smith, who brought the charges against Trump, argued in a response to her filing that her interpretation of the legal premise was wrong.

But in early April, Cannon denied a motion to dismiss the case based on the PRA. Cannon noted at the time that the indictment made, no reference to the Presidential Records Act and that it does not provide a pre-trial basis to dismiss.

However, Cannon also denied Smiths request for final jury instructions and defended her jury instruction form, calling Smiths request unprecedented and unjust.

She argued that her suggested jury instructions shouldnt be misconstrued as declaring a final definition of any essential element or asserted defense in this case and was only a genuine attempt to better understand the parties competing positions and the questions to be submitted to the jury.

Put in place after Watergate

The Presidential Records Act was put in place in 1978, four years after the resignation of President Richard Nixon in the wake of the Watergate scandal. The legislation was a reaction to Nixons attempt to destroy recordings done in the White House, The Washington Post noted.

The legislation states that presidential records, such as recordings, belong to the American people and that they must be handed over to the National Archives and Records Administration (Nara) at the end of each presidency.

The PRA also applies to vice presidential documents and records, as well as classified information, which is also governed by other legislation. But before Nixon, presidential records had been seen as private property.

The PRA defines presidential records as materials given to the president or his staff intended to advise or assist the president, in the course of conducting activities which relate to or have an effect upon the carrying out of the constitutional, statutory, or other official or ceremonial duties of the president.

An absurd legal theory

Appearing on Face the Nation on CBS in June last year, Trumps former Attorney General Bill Barr said he believes Trump lied to the Justice Department in the classified documents case. He added that Trump has absolutely mischaracterized the law.

The legal theory by which he gets to take battle plans and sensitive national security information as his personal papers is absurd. It's just as wacky as the legal doctrine they came up with for having the vice president unilaterally determine who won the election, Barr said last summer. The whole purpose of the ... Presidential Records Act is to stop presidents from taking official documents out of the White House  it was passed after Watergate. That's the whole purpose of it.

Therefore it restricted what a president can take, he said at the time, adding that the act states that the president can take materials that are purely private and which have nothing to do with the deliberations of government policy. Obviously, these documents are not purely private.

It's obvious and they're not even now arguing that it's purely private. What they're saying is the president just has sweeping discretion to say they are even though they squarely don't fall within the definition. It's an absurd argument, he said.

In a filing on February 22, Trumps legal team argued that the PRA conferred unreviewable discretion on President Trump to designate the records at issue as personal. As such, President Trumps possession of those records was not unauthorized as alleged.

Meanwhile, prosecutors wrote in a filing on the same day in February that Nothing in the PRA leaves it to a President to make unilateral, unreviewable, and perpetually binding decisions to remove presidential records from the White House in a manner that thwarts the operation of the PRA  a statute designed to ensure that presidential records are the property of the United States and that they are preserved for the people.

Cannon declined requests she step aside

It was reported in mid-June that Cannon declined private requests from two federal judges that she step aside from the case after she was assigned to it last year.

The two more experienced South Florida judges told Cannon it would be best if she passed the case on to one of their colleagues, but she ultimately ignored that suggestion and chose to remain in charge of the proceedings, according to The New York Times.

Trump team argues Smith appointment was unlawful

On Friday, a hearing is set to begin as Cannon entertains a motion from the ex-commander-in-chiefs legal team that Smith was unlawfully appointed as special counsel.

The Trump argument that Smiths appointment was illegal stems from the claim that Attorney General Merrick Garland doesnt have the legal authority to appoint a special counsel who hasnt been confirmed by the Senate.

The Department of Justice has argued that the attorney general has the power to appoint inferior officers  including special counsels.
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The cold-case murders of two women, who were killed in a national park three decades ago, have finally been solved.

Julie Williams, 24, and Lollie Winans, 26, who were in a romantic relationship, were last seen on a hiking trip in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia on May 19, 1996.

They were supposed to return to their summer jobs in Vermont on May 28 but failed to show, and were reported missing by Williams father on May 31.

Their bodies were found at a campsite the following day near the Skyland Resort, a hotel located in the national park, with their throats slashed.

In 2002, federal authorities filed capital murder charges against Darrell D Rice, a computer programmer from Maryland, in the case. Officials believed that the motive behind the killings may have been anti-gay and anti-woman rage. Surveillance also showed Rice, who had a history of violence against women, going into the park close to when the women were murdered.

Couple Lollie Winans, left, and Julie Williams, right, were murdered in the Shenandoah National Park, Virginia in May 1996. Their murders have finally been solved, 28 years on ( FBI )

But prosecutors dropped the charges against Rice in 2004, after DNA evidence from the scene ruled him out.

In 2021, a FBI investigative team conducted a review of the case. Investigators identified evidence from the crime scene to retest, and submitted it to an accredited private lab. The lab subsequently pulled DNA from several items, and a profile was submitted to the FBIs Combined DNA Index System.

A match came back for Walter Leo Jackson Sr, the FBI said Thursday in a news release.

Even though we had this DNA match, we took additional steps and compared evidence from Lollie and Julies murders directly to a buccal swab containing Jacksons DNA. Those results confirmed we had the right man and finally could tell the victims families we know who is responsible for this heinous crime, said Stanley M. Meador, the agent in charge of the investigation.

Walter Leo Jackson Sr in a photo from June 1996. On Thursday, the FBI said that he was responsible for the deaths of Julie Williams, 24, and Lollie Winans, 26, in 1996 ( FBI )

Jackson Sr died in prison in 2018 at the age of 70. He was serving time for rapes, assaults and kidnappings, and had a long criminal history.

The murderer, from Cuyahoga County, Ohio, was known to be an avid hiker who frequently visited Shenandoah National Park. The FBI said he had been known to alter vehicle license plates and use temporary tags.

Williams father, Tom Williams, told NBC4 that FBI officials flew to his home in Minnesota to tell him that his daughters killer had been identified. Its immaterial that Jackson Sr is dead, he said.

Knowing that its truly the right person involved in the killings and other assaults, that hes the right person, is good. It would not serve me or anybody having to sit through [a trial], legally saying This is the person and putting him away, Williams said.

Law enforcement offered words of condolence to the families following the findings.

After 28 years, we are now able to say who committed the brutal murders of Lollie Winans and Julie Williams in Shenandoah National Park, US Attorney Christopher Kavannaugh said.

I want to again extend my condolences to the Winans and Williams families and hope todays announcement provides some small measure of solace.
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Tobacco company Philip Morris International is suspending online sales on Zyn.com after finding their affiliate may have illegally sold products in the nations capital.

Swedish Match North America, an affiliate of the tobacco giant who owns the nicotine pouch brand Zyn, faces a subpoena in Washington, DC. The districts Attorney General has zeroed on Zyn sales and if they comply with a 2022 ban on flavored tobacco and flavored synthetic nicotine.

Zyn pouches are small, nicotine-filled pouches that a user places between their gums and their upper lip. The products do not contain tobacco, the company says. Zyn pouches also differ from snus  another oral nicotine product  because they contain nicotine powder, rather than shredded tobacco leaf.

Zyn.com is halting sales after Phillip Morris preliminary investigation revealed the flavored nicotine pouches may have been sold in Washington, DC, mostly from online sales and independent sellers, according to a statement. As the company reviews its sales and supply chain arrangements, it will no longer be selling products online as an initial remedial measure.

In the event of an unfavorable outcome related to this matter, a material liability is reasonably possible though not estimable at this time, the company said in a statement.

Phillip Morris announced online sales are stopping on Zyn.com as the company faces a subpoena from the Washington, DC, attorney general ( Getty Images )

The pause on online sales does not mean Zyn products are going away  sales on the Zyn website have made up a small percentage of nationwide Zyn volumes since Phillip Morris bought the company, according to their statement.

Zyn products have been a point of controversy for months.

In January, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called for regulators to investigate the nicotine pouches, citing their appeal to teenagers. The Food and Drug Administration says it is watching underage use of nicotine products.

Roughly 1.5 percent of high school and middle schoolers reported using nicotine last year, the FDA said, much lower than the 10 percent of students who reported using e-cigarettes.
 Close Greece shuts Acropolis, schools as it braces for 43C heatwave

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The Greek authorities are investigating whether wildfires that threatened to engulf Athens were sparked by a single arsonist.

Civil protection minister Vassilis Kikilias said officials verified indications that the fire near Athens was the result of arson as well as extreme weather conditions.

A fire service spokesman has said the force is struggling to deal with the spate of blazes, adding: Almost every 10 minutes a new fire breaks out.

In Koropi, a storage facility and at least one home were burned, and flames crept into a boat dry dock and across fields of dry grass and olive trees. Authorities evacuated two nearby villages.

Amid the heatwave, several foreign tourists have died or gone missing while hiking in high temperatures. The girlfriend of a missing American tourist has criticised Greek authorities for allegedly doing little to help search for him.

Albert Calibet, 59, has been missing since last Tuesday while hiking on the island of Amorgos.

At least five tourists have been found dead on the Greek Islands in recent weeks.

Have you been affected by this? Email barney.davis.ind@independent.co.uk
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Pope Francis has been told by a university student to stop using offensive language against LGBT+ people less than a month after the Vatican had to apologise over the use of a homophobic slur.

Filipino Catholic university student Jack Lorenz Acebedo Rivera, from the Ateneo de Manila University, told the pontiff that such words caused immense pain.

Speaking during the Building Bridges live online video panel, a forum intended to bring together Catholic university students from different countries, Mr Rivera told Pope Francis that he has been outcasted and bullied due to my bisexuality, my gayness, my identity and being the son of a single parent.

Wearing a rainbow-coloured sash over his traditional Filipino garment, he added: Stop using offensive language against the LGBTQIA+ community."

The students comments came after reports that the pontiff reportedly said gay men should not be allowed to train for the priesthood during the Italian Bishops Conference last month, before adding that there was already an air of frociaggine, which translates as a highly offensive slur.

After someone leaked the comments, made in a closed door meeting, to the Italian tabloid website Dagospia, the Vatican said that the pontiff did not mean to offend anyone.

As he [the Pope] has stated on more than one occasion, In the Church there is room for everyone, everyone! Nobody is useless or superfluous, there is room for everyone, just the way we are, the statement quoted the director of the Holy See  the Catholic Churchs governing body  Matteo Bruni, as saying.

The Pope never meant to offend or to use homophobic language, and apologises to everyone who felt offended [or] hurt by the use of a word.

The Pope then faced accusations of repeating the slur in another closed door meeting in June.

The pontiff did not address Mr Riveras remarks directly during the video panel but said, via a translator, that he was advising the student to differentiate between true and false love.

Always pick true love, he said.

He then told the group of students that women are the best people, recounting a meeting with a female European leader who he said had a maternal ability that afforded her an edge over men.

"Many women have brought children on their own... a widower can hardly go on their own, he said. A woman, alone, can certainly grow her family. This is the greatness of women."
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The multistorey building stands alone just off a main road. The houses around it are completely destroyed, razed to the ground by relentless Russian shelling, and the dirt road is scarred by shrapnel. All that can be heard is the sound of a bomb being dropped, followed seconds later by a mighty explosion.

The bomb smashes into the ground 10 metres from the building, opening up a huge crater before a swelling fireball engulfs the entire three floors. When the smoke eventually dissipates, the footage shows the buildings whole roof has been ripped off.

This, Russian military bloggers are claiming, is the first test of a 3000kg glide bomb, otherwise known as the Fab-3000, a modified munition that is packed with nearly a tonne and a half of explosives. Earlier versions of these explosives, which are Soviet-era munitions retrofitted with fixed wings and GPS navigation systems that extend their range beyond the reach of Ukrainian anti-air defences, appeared earlier this year. These were the Fab-500s and the Fab-1500s.

This building is located on the eastern side of Lyptsi, a small village just behind the front line in the northeast Ukrainian region of Kharkiv.

Kharkiv has been under relentless ground and aerial assault since thousands of Vladimir Putins forces pushed over the border from Russia in mid-May. Having moved several miles towards the regions namesake capital, home to around 1.3 million civilians, Ukraines forces have managed to halt the attack about two miles north of Lyptsi. It is about 20 miles from Kharkiv.

This alleged new model threatens to worsen an already dire situation facing not only Ukraines soldiers but the millions of civilians living within range of these glide bombs.

Since their introduction, they have killed hundreds, even perhaps thousands, of Ukrainians. Aid workers in Kharkiv city say the explosives have even rendered bomb shelters irrelevant.

If a glide bomb hits then youve just got no hope, says Ada Wordsworth, who runs a charity rebuilding homes in the wider Kharkiv region. The destruction is so massive. Its a weird kind of psychological torture [to face them].

The footage posted by the Kremlin-approved Russian military blogger Fighter Bomber, believed to be in the Russian air force, purports to show a new version of the glide bombs that is twice as heavy as its predecessor, and twice as destructive.

This is an excellent result even for a guided munition, Fighter Bomber wrote alongside the video, before claiming that fragments of the bomb retain their destructive power at a range of 1,240 metres.

He added: Here there is one bomb but you can throw 10 of them [at once].

Nina Korsunova gets emotional as she walks inside the destroyed Epicenter shopping complex in Kharkiv, Ukraine, hit by Russian glide bombs earlier this month. At least 11 people were killed ( AP )

In March, footage showed Russias then defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, touring a weapons manufacturing plant located around 250 miles east of Moscow, where production of a new Fab-3000 M-54 was announced.

Ukrainian officials say they have noted the latest video, but that fragments of the weapon  which would be used to identify it  have not yet reached investigators. All we can say for sure at the moment is that such objects have not yet been submitted to us for examination, Natalia Nestor, deputy director of the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise, the investigative arm of Ukraines Ministry of Justice said. She added that if confirmed, this would be the first piece of evidence of the Fab-3000.

The Institute for the Study of War, which monitors Russias invasion, is taking the footage as proof of the use of the bombs. The fact that Russian forces have figured out how to launch FAB-3000s is a significant development, the Washington-based think tank wrote in its latest daily update, citing the video posted by Fighter Bomber. It will increase the destructive potential of Russias ongoing glide bomb attacks against Ukrainian forces and infrastructure.

Other analysts have been more circumspect in their assessments, choosing to wait for confirmation from the ground before determining whether this marks a new weapon. In either case, the level of destruction the video shows has had people in Ukraine calling for more to be done to deal with glide bombs.

Photo from an undated video released by the Russia shows a glide-guided bomb being released by a Russian air force jet ( Russian Defence Ministry Press Service )

If this is not a FREAKING MASSIVE WAKE UP CALL for finally doing everything possible and impossible to find a solution to the notorious [glide bomb] problem, I dont know what is, Illia Ponomarenko, Ukraines most followed journalist, wrote on Twitter/X.

The problem of glide bombs is notorious because they are extremely difficult to shoot down. The bombs navigation modifications mean they can be fired well beyond the range of Ukrainian air defences from deep within Russia territory.

The most effective way to stop the missiles is to shoot down the fighter jets carrying them, either in the air or while they are stationed at a base. But up until last month, Ukraines Western allies had barred Kyiv from using their missiles to strike over the border, meaning that fighter jets could launch these glide bombs without fear of being hit within Russia itself.

The Pentagon said on Friday that Ukraine's military is now allowed to use longer-range missiles provided by the US to strike targets inside Russia across more than just the front lines near Kharkiv, if Kyiv is acting in self defence, opening the way for Ukraine to halt the glide problem at the source.

But Ukraines leaders have been clear that US-made F-16 fighter jets are also crucial for its fight against the glide bomb threat. The first batch of F-16s, from around 80 promised by several European countries, is expected to arrive in Ukraine this summer, and they will allow Kyiv to go toe to toe with Russian fighter jets while in the air.

Against these [glide bombs], even air defence systems are not so useful, said Mykhailo Podolyak, an aide to president Volodymyr Zelensky, last month. Only F-16s will work.
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More than 1,000 people have died during this years Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia  with temperatures having reached a peak of 51.8C in Mecca in recent days.

Around 1.8 million Muslims have taken part in the days-long, mostly outdoor pilgrimage this year, which is a requirement of every Muslim able to partake at least once in their life.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is yet to comment on the official death toll, though reports suggest around 10 countries have reported 1,081 deaths during the annual pilgrimage.

Hundreds of people lined up at the Emergency Complex in Al-Muaisem neighbourhood in Mecca, to claim their loved ones bodies and find information about their missing family members.

Outside the complex, an Egyptian man broke down when he heard his mother was among the dead. He cried for some time before reaching for his phone and calling their travel agent.

Pilgrims use umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun ( AP )

He left her to die, he shouted, referring to the agent. The crowd tried to calm him down.

An official read out names of the dead and the nationalities, which included people from Algeria, Egypt and India. Those who said they were relatives of the dead were allowed inside to identify the deceased.

An Arab diplomat told news agency AFP that deaths among Egyptians alone had jumped to more than 650, with 630 of them being unregistered. Each year tens of thousands of pilgrims attempt the Hajj through other channels as they cannot afford official permits. Saudi authorities have said that it has cleared hundreds of thousands of unregistered pilgrims from Mecca this month.

Out of around 150,000 pilgrims, Pakistan has recorded at least 58 deaths, a diplomat briefed on the tally told AFP. I think given the number of people, given the weather, this is just natural, the diplomat said.

People rest after casting stones at pillars in the symbolic stoning of the devil, the last rite of Hajj ( AP )

Indonesia, which had around 240,000 pilgrims, said the nations death toll had reached 183 according to the Ministry of Religious Affairs. They added 313 deaths were due to heatstroke.

Khalid Bashir Bazaz, an Indian pilgrim, speaking near the Grand Mosque, said he saw a lot of people collapsing to the ground unconscious.

Deaths are not uncommon at the Hajj, There have also been stampedes and epidemics throughout the pilgrimages history. Each year, the Hajj draws hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from low-income nations, and illnesses can spread among the gathered masses, many of whom save their entire lives for the pilgrimage.

More than 1.83 million Muslims performed the Hajj in 2024, including more than 1.6 million from 22 countries, according to the Saudi Hajj authorities.

More than 1.83 million Muslims performed the Hajj in 2024, including more than 1.6 million from 22 countries ( AP )

Saudi Arabia has spent billions of pounds on crowd control and safety measures for those attending the annual five-day pilgrimage, but the sheer number pilgrims makes ensuring their safety difficult.

Islam follows a lunar calendar, so the Hajj falls around 11 days earlier each year.

By 2029, the Hajj will occur in April, and in the next several years after that it will fall in the winter, when temperatures are milder.

A 2015 stampede in Mina during the Hajj killed over 2,400 pilgrims, the deadliest incident to ever strike the pilgrimage, though Saudi Arabia has never acknowledged the full toll of the stampede.

Additional reporting by AP
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A woman is demanding answers from American Airlines after she says she managed to track down her missing luggage to a Hollywood homeless encampment.

Aunny Grace said her travel nightmare began at Dallas Airport on May 29 when her flight was delayed.

American Airlines left thousands of people stranded in the airport overnight for days, actually, said Grace.

open image in gallery ( NBC4/Supplied )

She then spent the night in Dallas Airport as she waited to board her flight home to Hollywood Burbank Airport, and was told that her luggage would be delayed.

However, she later discovered her luggage at a homeless encampment near the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Western Avenue, she said.

Grace was able to track her luggage down thanks to an Apple AirTag inside her suitcase, but now she wants to know how it ended up there.

open image in gallery Aunny Grace, who lost her luggage in Hollywood ( NBC4 )

It went to Denver, then Denver back to Dallas, and then eventually, five days later, it made its way back to Burbank, Grace told NBC4, adding that after five days, she was delivered the wrong suitcase.

She said she was initially told that her luggage was fine and that it had been delivered to her home in Hollywood, But her AirTag told a different story.

open image in gallery Grace said at the airport, some of the bags are out in the open, making it easy for anyone to grab them ( NBC4 )

When the carrier called me, he said he was at my house. I looked and I saw my AirTag twinkling down Western Avenue very slowly, like no direction, really, Grace said. I knew intuitively something was wrong. Something was way off.

Sometime between midnight and 7 a.m., my bag wound up in Homeless Town Hollywood, she added.

Grace then decided to travel to the location of her AirTag where she found her luggage. But her nightmare wasnt over yet.

When she found her suitcase, she discovered it had been opened and that everything had been taken out.

open image in gallery Graces missing luggage ( NBC4 )

Im just crying, grabbing my stuff, she said. I had jewelry, medicine, bags I bought from Bali in Peru. My toiletry bag was flipped upside down, completely empty. Makeup bag, empty. This homeless man just ransacked through my stuff.

Grace was able to retrieve her belongings after she and a friend paid the homeless man, she told NBC4. She has now filed a police report, and has also contacted American Airlines, who she said told her they would reimburse up to $1,700 for her items, well below what she says was worth more than $6,300.

As she was searching for her items, she noticed other bags as well.

I saw suitcases with American Airline tags on them, said Grace.

She added that the homeless man told her he had bought her suitcase down the street.

I want to know: How did my suitcase go from the Burbank Airport to a homeless encampment in Hollywood on a corner of Western and Sunset? said Grace.

She went on to explain that at the airport, some of the bags are out in the open, making it easy for anyone to grab them.

The bags that are delayed, they remove them from the carousel line, and they bring them to the office. So you have the bags in the office, and then you have the rest of them are just outside, she told NBC4.

Following the incident, American Airlines released a statement on Tuesday which read: We strive to ensure that our customers checked luggage and other items arrive at their destinations on schedule and in their original condition. We are investigating what occurred here and, in the meantime, a member of our team is in contact with the customer to apologize and resolve the issue, KABC reported.

But Grace says she is still not satisfied with the airlines response.

Its going to keep happening until someone takes responsibility. This has to be placed on the responsibility of the airline, said Grace.

The Independent has contacted American Airlines for comment.
A killer teen was captured on CCTV fleeing a murder scene after stabbing 15-year-old Alfie Lewis to death in Leeds.

Bardia Shojaeifard, who was 14 at the time of the murder, stabbed Alfie in te cest and leg, sortly befoe 3pm on 7 November, last year.

The incident happened in a busy street during school home time, outside a local primary school, when Alfie was on his way to meet friends from Horsforth School, where he had previously been a student.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing Alfie backing away and being heard saying chill out and what are you doing? as Shojaeifard swung at him with the knife.

He ran off, leaving the knife near the scene, and was arrested from his home about an hour later after being identified by witnesses.

Shojaeifard was today (21 June) given a life sentence with a minimum term of 13 years.
Sir Keir Starmer was applauded as he hit out at Rishi Sunaks trans jibe allegedly linked to murdered teenager Briana Ghey.

During a special BBC Question Time election leaders debate on Thursday evening (20 June), Sir Keir was quizzed about his views on the definition of a woman.

The Labour leader said he agreed with Sir Tony Blairs recent comment that a woman has a vagina and a man has a penis.

Sir Keir said: There are many people who dont identify with the gender they are born into.

The Labour leader then criticised Mr Sunak for a trans jibe allegedly linked to Ms Ghey during PMQs earlier this year.
Vladimir Putin waved goodbye to Kim Jong-un through the window of his private jet as he completed his state visit to North Korea earlier this week.

The two leaders spent more than 10 hours together during the one-day visit, according to TASS news agency.

They held wide and one on one talks, attended wreath laying ceremony at the memorial to soldiers of Red Army killed in action liberating Korea in World War Two and had a ride on a limousine.

Kim described Putin as the dearest friend of Korean people and Putin thanked the host nation and its leadership for their balanced stance in regard of the situation on Ukrainian direction.
Building groups redevelopment plan for Murphys Yard was shelved following local opposition

Murphy Group lorries in London. The building firm, known as the Green Murphys to many, employs almost 4,000 people

The Irish family behind the London-based Murphy Group construction firm have amassed a property portfolio now worth 295m (349m), according to analysis by the Irish Independent.

Meanwhile, the builder  which is headed by John Murphy Jr, with five other family members as directors  reported a profit of 71m on 1.4bn of revenue last year for its Irish, UK and Canadian businesses.
The Court of Appeal has cut a damages award after finding it was so disproportionate as to amount to an error of law.

Mr Justice Seamus Noonan said the award was further erroneous as the High Court judge failed to have regard to the Personal Injury Guidelines in his oral judgment, a move required by legislation.

It was noteworthy that neither legal team in the case referred to the guidelines during the hearing and provided absolutely no assistance on how to approach assessing damages, the judge added.

The guidelines were introduced in 2019 in a bid to standardise awards for common injuries.

Mr Justice Noonan, supported by two colleagues, ruled that the High Courts award of 99,162 at full liability should be cut to 59,162. Applying a 15pc discount for contributory negligence, the appeal courts net award came to 50,287.

The sum was awarded to Courtney Collins for injuries sustained in a terrifying car crash in March 2019, when was 15. She and three school friends were passengers in the car driven by Steffan Parm, said Mr Justice Noonan.

The judge said Ms Collins, with an address in Clonmore, Hacketstown, Co Carlow, described a chaotic and extremely frightening scene.

Her case was against Mr Parm, Anneli Parm and Toomas Parm, described as the owners of the vehicle. They, under the care of AXA Insurance DAC, admitted partial liability subject to a plea of contributory negligence on the part of Ms Collins, who had not been wearing a seatbelt. The High Courts Mr Justice Cian Ferriter found she was 15pc liable for her injuries.

The High Court judge identified that her dominant injury was psychiatric and that her post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) had upended almost every aspect of her life for many months, although the position has improved.

He awarded 55,000 general damages for this and an uplift of 40,000 for her other injuries.

The defendants appealed the High Court award, arguing it was excessive, inadequately explained and a departure from the 2019 guidelines.

Ruling on the appeal, Mr Justice Noonan said it was somewhat ironic that the defendants complained the judge had no regard to the guidelines, when they themselves did not refer to them or to comparative cases.

Assessing the value of Ms Collinss psychiatric injuries, Mr Justice Noonan noted the defendants conceded it could be valued at up to 35,000. Therefore, this should stand. With other injuries and factoring in 15pc contributory negligence, the net award was 50,287.
Ryanairs Michael OLeary says Ireland needs nuclear power, but not near his estate

Outspoken airline chief suggests Wexford as possible site and says he can provide the land

Michael O'Leary at Ryanair's HQ in Swords. Photo: Steve Humphreys

John Mulligan Fri 21 Jun 2024 at 03:30

Ryanair boss Michael OLeary says the country will need to build a nuclear power plant to make sure Ireland has enough electricity, but he doesnt want one built near his Gigginstown estate in Co Westmeath. The airline chief previously voiced his opposition to plans for wind farms near his home.
Bank of Ireland's IT specialists are scrambling to get its online app back online. Photo: Getty

Bank of Ireland customers have expressed frustration after the banks online application went down again.

The banks 365 Online app is out of action, impacting consumers trying to carry out banking transactions on laptops, on tablets and on mobile phones.

One customer commented on X, formerly called Twitter: Here we go again with Bank of Ireland.

Another frustrated customer told the bank: Perhaps you might so good as to actually post a notice for people on your website and socials so we are not waiting on customer support on the phone.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 21st June 2024

Other customers said it was annoying that the online banking app went down on a Friday when people are trying to carry out transactions ahead of the weekend.

The bank subsequently said the system was restored just after mid-day, having been down for one hour and 40 minutes.

As recently as April Bank of Irelands online banking services suffered an outage.

And in August last year the bank was hit by a major outage which led to significant disruption for customers and chaotic queues at some ATMs.

Asked about the latest outage, Bank of Ireland said: Our app and 365 online are currently unavailable.

We are working to fix this as soon as possible and we apologise for any inconvenience.

In March last year, Bank of Ireland was fined 750,000 by the Data Protection Commission (DPC) following an investigation into 10 data breaches involving the bank's Banking 365 system.

In April 2022, Bank of Ireland was fined 463,000 for data breaches affecting more than 50,000 customers.

In December 2021, the bank was fined 24.5m by the Central Bank for regulatory breaches related to its IT systems and related internal controls.
Smoke rises after an explosion on a ship that Houthis say is an attack by them on Greek-owned MV Tutor in the Red Sea. Photo: Reuters

The sinking of a coal-carrier by a sea drone in the Red Sea has boosted the risk of navigating the vital Bab el-Mandeb chokepoint to a new level and is driving a fresh surge in insurance costs.

The British navy said that the only visible objects in the last known location of the Tutor dry-bulk carrier  at which point it was semi submerged  were some debris and an oil slick. Yemen's Houthi militants managed to strike it with a seaborne drone, killing one crew member and injuring others. They said they eventually sank it with explosives.
Despite playing many soldiers throughout his career, Donald Sutherland was a passionate anti-war campaigner.

The Canadian actor began his career with a number of small roles on British TV before taking on the minor role of Hospitalman Nerney in 1965 war film The Bedford Incident  setting off a trend of involvement in the genre.

Sutherland came into his own as dim-witted Vernon Pinkley in 1967 film The Dirty Dozen, which saw condemned soldiers trained as a crack commando team to undertake a mission in Nazi-occupied France.

Canadian actor Donald Sutherland arriving at Londons Heathrow Airport in September 1985 (David Parker/Alamy/PA)

The actor was praised for his portrayal, which many considered his breakout role.

However, it was his role in sitcom M*A*S*H, which followed the staff of a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War, that shot Sutherland to international stardom.

His portrayal of Captain Benjamin Franklin Hawkeye Pierce secured him roles in many other war projects, including Kellys Heroes in 1970.

Sutherland plays Sergeant Oddball in the film which follows a group of US soldiers during the Second World War as they desert their posts to rob a bank thought to contain German gold.

In the same year, he starred in Revolution Without Me, set during the French Revolution, playing an identical twin, with the other twin played by US actor Gene Wilder.

Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland (Pictorial Press Ltd/Alamy/PA)

Despite playing numerous soldiers, Sutherland was a vocal opponent of the Vietnam War.

In 1971, he staged a travelling roadshow opposite his Klute co-star Jane Fonda in front of US soldiers  a reaction to Bob Hopes pro-war United Service Organisations (USO) tour.

It was turned into a documentary entitled FTA in 1972, capturing the anti-war sentiment of the 1970s.

Documents declassified in 2017 revealed the CIA had placed Sutherland on a watch list because of his anti-war activities.

His political activities did not adversely affect his career, and he starred in 1976 Second World War film The Eagle Has Landed.

Donald Sutherland (Daniel Leal/PA)

The film follows a group of Germans who plot to kidnap British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, with Sir Michael Caine portraying Colonel Kurt Steiner, while Sutherland plays agent Liam Devlin who accompanies him on the mission.

In 1981, Sutherland starred in A War Story, which tells the story of Major Ben Wheeler who was taken prisoner by the Japanese during the Second World War, as well as 1985s Revolution alongside Al Pacino.

Sutherland later appeared opposite Dame Helen Mirren in Bethune: The Making Of A Hero in 1990 set during the Chinese Civil War, and in 2002 appeared in TV film Path To War  a role which won him a Golden Globe.

The veteran actor channelled his political beliefs into some of his roles, including The Hunger Games where he played the tyrannical President Snow.

In 2015, he told the BBC that he hoped the films socio-political message would help young fans become more aware of the world around them.
I should have gone to my GP sooner, but I put it off because I knew it was MS  mum urges people with symptoms to seek help immediately
Tanaiste and Defence Minister Micheal Martin said he unequivocally condemned what he described as "a shocking attack that was violent and vicious" by a Defence Forces soldier on an innocent woman on a Limerick street.

Natasha OBrien was beaten unconscious by the soldier, who walked free from court yesterday.

Cathal Crotty (22) was handed a three-year suspended sentence at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court and ordered him to pay 3,000 compensation to Ms OBrien.

The case is now being dealt with by Defence Forces authorities after Mr Crottys conviction because it had waited until the criminal case came to a conclusion.

Mr Martin said Defence Forces personnel were trained to protect people  and he stressed he had been working for some time to achieve "a culture change" within the service in the wake of the Women of Honour revelations about bullying, harassment and other forms of abuse.

Tanaiste condemns attack on Natasha OBrien by Defense Forces member Cathal Crotty

He pointed out that the Limerick incident occurred in civilian life and not directly within the Defence Forces.Mr Martin's comments came as it was confirmed a disciplinary process is now under way within the Defence Forces, which could result in the soldier being dismissed.

Speaking in Cork, Mr Martin admitted it was "a shocking incident".

"I want to condemn unequivocally the shocking attack on Natasha O'Brien. It was a violent and vicious attack which was unprovoked and I want to commend the bravery, courage and indeed the dignity of Natasha O'Brien in the face of such an assault and the manner in which she has conducted herself, he said.

"I am conscious that the judicial process may not yet be complete. I cannot comment any further because of course it could prejudice any further deliberations at that level.

"I want to also clarify and point out that there has been some commentary about the presence of Cmdt (Paul) Togher in court. He was there under Defence Force regulations.

"When a member of the Defence Forces is before the courts, there is an obligation under regulations that there would be a commanding officer in court for two purposes.

"One, to cooperate with the court if the court requires  and sometimes an officer can be cross-examined and was on this occasion both by the defence and the prosecution and to provide whatever material is on the file to the court.

"But also secondly to report back to the Defence Forces. This is all under Defence Force regulations. To report back in terms of what actually transpired at the court. So, then, for further process to develop and to start.

"I can confirm that that process has commenced. Again, I cannot comment on that process for fear of prejudicing the outcome of that process within the Defence Forces which is currently under way."

The Tanaiste said the senior officer was not in court to offer any kind of character reference on behalf of the soldier.

Mr Martin said he had read the regulations involved in respect of the proceedings the soldier now faced.

"There is a very clear process in place in terms of how the military responds to that, he said.

Commandant Paul Togher, who is Mr Crottys superior at the Limerick army barracks, , said the soldier was an exemplary, courteous, professional and disciplined officer.

Asked in court for his reaction to the evidence of the attack, Comdt Togher replied he was exceptionally disappointed and surprised because it was, in his opinion, very out of character for the defendant. He was most disappointed because Crotty as a soldier is expected to keep people safe.

Asked by Donal Cronin, defending, whether he had been asked by Crotty to come to court, Comdt Togher said he was required to attend criminal cases involving Irish soldiers and to report back to superior officers on matters that may affect a soldiers future in the forces.

A spokesperson for the Defence Forces said today that the Court Liaison Officer (LO) was there in an official capacity as per Defence Forces regulations.

When a serving soldier is in court for any reason an officer attends as an LO to give details on the individual's contract, they said.

"The role of the Court LO is clearly outlined in DF regulations, and they are not there to give a character reference.

While the Court LO informs the court of the conduct rating of the serving member, this does not reflect any personal opinion of the Court LO.

In a statement, a spokesperson said the Defence Forces commend the bravery of the victim in this case, and hope for her full recovery from the injuries sustained.

The Defence Forces unequivocally condemn any actions by serving personnel that are contrary to or do not reflect our values.

Any conviction in a civilian court may have implications for the retention and service of members of the Defence Forces, as stipulated in Defence Forces Regulations. Once due process has been completed in a civilian court of law, it then becomes a matter for the relevant Defence Forces authorities, in accordance with Defence Forces Regulations.

As this particular case is now in the process of being dealt with by those relevant authorities, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.

Mr Crotty had been drinking alcohol throughout the evening of May 29, 2022, and hit Ms OBrien, who was walking home with a friend after work, with up to six punches in a violent assault.

Ms OBrien, who lost consciousness during the incident and sustained a broken nose, bruising, nightmares and panic attacks afterwards, said she thought Crotty was going to kill her during the attack.

He fled when a male passer-by intervened, but his friends remained at the scene.

Ms OBrien told the court she went into a state of shock and felt completely helpless when the serving soldier launched the attack.

"As I lay in the foetal position, and losing consciousness, he continued his relentless beating  my last conscious thought was, Hes not stopping, Im going to die.

The physical injuries I sustained were devastating: a severe concussion, a broken nose, severe swelling, and bruising on both arms, shoulders, head, right upper thigh, left eye, cheek and jaw, she said in a victim impact statement.

I spent the following weeks and months attending hospital and doctor appointments, and due to persistent concussion symptoms I was deemed highrisk for a brain bleed, and I received a battery of tests including a head CT scan.

She said she lived in constant fear that these injuries could result in her death and she has since suffered with symptoms of PTSD.

"A sense of constant dread and isolation was unlike anything I have ever experienced and I spiralled into self-destructive behaviours and lost all interest and motivation for life.

Ms OBrien said she ultimately lost her job due to declining performance and she became numb and detached from reality, living in perpetual fear of seeing him again.

"He [Crotty] may not remember, but my memory of the vicious sinister look in his eyes as he approached me will haunt me forever, she said.

I consider myself incredibly fortunate to be here today to have my voice heard, I am lucky to be alive and I believe the male passer-by, who intervened, saved my life.

Crotty pleaded guilty, with the judge taking into account that he had no previous convictions, entered his plea early and that a trial would have compounded Ms OBriens trauma.

In fairness to him [Crotty], he has come to court and publicly admitted his wrongdoing, and he has made a public acknowledgement of his criminality, the judge said.

Judge ODonnell said a headline sentence was five years, but he imposed a three-year sentence, which he suspended in its entirety.
Fine Gael councillor James Geoghegan has been elected the Lord Mayor of Dublin

Councillor James Geoghegan was elected the 356th Lord Mayor of Dublin, succeeding Councillor Daithi de Roiste. Mr Geoghegan is pictured with his wife Claire and children Hugh (age 6), Harry (age 4) and Lila (age 2). Photo: Conor McCabe Photography

Fine Gael councillor James Geoghegan has been elected the new Lord Mayor of Dublin at the first annual meeting of Dublin City Council since the local elections.

"Im honoured and humbled to be elected the 356th Lord Mayor of Dublin, he said, thanking his party colleagues and members in the pact between Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, the Green Party and Labour for electing him.

Mr Geoghegan is the first Fine Gael Lord Mayor of Dublin in 12 years. Originally from Ranelagh, he was first elected to the Pembroke local electoral area in 2019.

In 2021, he ran for his party in the Dublin Bay South Dail byelection, where he lost out to Labours Ivana Bacik, who went on to become the leader of her party. Mr Geoghegan, who like Ms Bacik is a barrister, has also been selected to run at the next general election in the constituency where his party has not held a seat since former Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy left politics, triggering the byelection.

I intend to put all my energy and focus into representing the city that I love and to deliver solutions to some of the challenges faced by the capitals communities and businesses, Mr Geoghegan said.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 21st June 2024

My priorities as a councillor over the last four and a half years have been on the delivery of homes for young people, tackling anti-social behaviour and crime, and ensuring we have an inclusive society where families and individuals can enjoy a good quality of life.

It is also essential that agencies including Dublin City Council continue to work together to ensure Dublin city is a safe and welcoming place where visitors and residents alike can enjoy our renowned hospitality and culture.

I am humbled to take up the role of Dublin Lord Mayor and will continue to work hard on behalf of the capitals citizens.

Councillor James Geoghegan was elected the 356th Lord Mayor of Dublin, succeeding Councillor Daithi de Roiste. Mr Geoghegan is pictured with his wife Claire and children Hugh (age 6), Harry (age 4) and Lila (age 2). Photo: Conor McCabe Photography

Mr Geoghegan paid tribute to the work of outgoing Lord Mayor Daithi De Roiste for his work supporting neurodiverse people during his term.

Mr Geoghegan was proposed by Fianna Fail councillor Deirdre Heney, who joked she looked forward to working with him for the next four months, a nod to him being chosen to run in Dublin Bay South in the next general election.

The newly formed progressive alliance, composed of the Social Democrats, Sinn Fein, People Before Profit and left-wing independent councillors proposed councillor Daniel Ennis for the role.

He was proposed by his Social Democrats colleague Cat ODriscoll and seconded by Sinn Fein councillor Daithi Doolan.

Fine Gael councillor James Geoghegan has been elected the Lord Mayor of Dublin

The progressive alliance was set to form a ruling pact in Dublin City Council, however lost the support of the Labour Party over a disagreement around the Local Property Tax.

Labour instead opted to enter the ongoing agreement with Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Green Party.

Green Party councillor Donna Cooney was elected Deputy Lord Mayor, while the progressive alliance put Sinn Fein councillor Janice Boylan forward for the role.

An artist, long-time activist and lifelong Clontarf resident, Ms Cooney said she planned to bring her brand of activism to the role and her immediate plan was to meet with her local Tidy Towns group on Saturday morning.

She paid tribute to her brother who died eight years ago to the day.
Convicted killer Fat Freddie Thompson has failed in a bid to have his upcoming trial on charges of assaulting and making threats to kill a senior prison officer at Portlaoise Prison moved from Portlaoise to Dublin.

Lawyers for Thompson, a leading figure in the Kinahan crime cartel, claimed he had concerns about choosing a jury from an area where a lot of people would know prison officers.

Defence counsel, Patrick McCarthy BL, told a sitting of Portlaoise Circuit Criminal Court on Friday that the trial was expected to hear from ten witnesses who were prison staff as well as from the alleged victim.

Thompson (43), formerly of Loreto Road, Maryland, Dublin 8, is accused of threatening to kill or cause serious harm to an assistant chief officer in Portlaoise Prison on May 15, 2022.

He is also accused of the same offence as well as a separate charge of assault causing harm on the same prison officer in the prison on November 17, 2022.

Thompson, who attended the hearing via videolink from prison, did not address the court during the 10-minute hearing.

Mr McCarthy said the two prisons in the area  Portlaoise and Midlands  were a large employer in the local community with potential jurors likely to know prison staff.

'Fat' Freddie Thompson

He applied to have Thompsons case transferred to a court in Dublin under Section 32 of the Courts and Courts Officers Act 1995 on grounds that it would be manifestly unjust for the trial to go ahead in Portlaoise.

The injured party is connected to the community, he added.

Mr McCarthy argued the prosecution would suffer no prejudice from having the case transferred away from Portlaoise.

He said moving the case to Dublin would remove Thompsons concerns about a jury trial in Portlaoise.

The court heard the trial is likely to last two weeks.

Opposing the application, counsel for the DPP, Will Fennelly BL, said any people on a jury panel could be given appropriate warnings and cautions about knowing someone involved in the case.

Trials have proceeded on that basis without difficulty over decades with appropriate warnings given, said Mr Fennelly.

He pointed out that Thompsons lawyers had not provided any copies to court of media reports about the case over which they had expressed concern.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 21st June 2024

Mr Fennelly said Portlaoise Prison was one of a number of large institutions in Laois and there was nothing in relation to jury selection that could not be dealt with by way or a warning to potential jurors.

Rejecting the application, Judge Keenan Johnson said Portlaoise Circuit Criminal Court had a long history of dealing with alleged offences committed in the towns two prisons without any difficulty.

The judge pointed out that the potential pool of jurors in the county of Laois was around 100,000.

He also noted that jurors were always given comprehensive warnings about not being on a jury if they knew any of the parties or witnesses involved in a case.

I am absolutely satisfied Mr Thompson can receive a fair trial in Portlaoise, he added.

Judge Johnson observed that it was also likely that the trial would get dealt sooner in Portlaoise than if it had been transferred to Dublin.

He adjourned the case for mention until October 29.
Karley Linnane, a mother of two, was pronounced dead last Friday after overdosing on counterfeit benzodiazepine drugs

A grieving mother has pleaded with people not to take counterfeit benzodiazepine tablets following her daughters death.

Karley Linnane (25) from Kilrush, Co Clare, was pronounced dead last Friday after taking the tablets.

It is understood another death in Clare in recent days is linked with the drugs, while there have been overdoses reported in the mid-west and other parts of the country.

Ms Linnanes mother, Joann Casey, says the drugs are in circulation and are extremely dangerous.

She said: I understand people who are in addiction might think they can take certain substances and get away with it, but with these tablets they might as well write killer on them. They are killing.

Theres no way out of it  if you take these tablets, you are going to die. Theres no ifs, buts or ands; you are going to die. You cant challenge them; theyre a killer. If you take them, youre going to die.

Benzodiazepines are a type of sedative medication. However, the HSEs National Drug Treatment Centre has found that nitazene  a potent form of synthetic opioid  is in the counterfeit benzodiazepine tablets.

The centre has urged people to be extremely cautious.

It stated: Analysis by the emerging trends laboratory at the HSE National Drug Treatment Centre has confirmed nitazene in yellow, round counterfeit benzodiazepine tablets associated with these overdoses.

The HSE advises that there is extra risk at this time and strongly recommends people not to take these tablets.

Ms Casey recalled the terrible moment last Thursday night when she realised her daughter was dying.

She said: Karley had previously been in rehab. She was out about eight weeks and she was doing really well.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 21st June 2024

I got a phone call at about 10.15pm that she wasnt waking up and her lips were blue. I went to the house, went into the room and she was grey. I knew there and then.

She didnt know what her daughter had taken at the time, nor had she any awareness of the substance that claimed her life.

They worked on her in the house for about an hour-and-a-half, added Ms Casey.

When we got to the hospital, it was only then that the doctors came out to speak to me and told me about these tablets.

Five people had been brought in during a 24-hour period. One had already passed away, one was in intensive care, Karley was the third one and the other two werent too bad.

I had no idea about these things that were going around. I only saw the warning afterwards.

Im not in that world; I hadnt a clue about them.

Recalling the trauma of the night, she said: I sat there and held my daughters hand. Its the hardest thing for a mother to sit there and feel the life leave your child. I felt the life leave my daughter.

I wouldnt wish it on my worst enemy to have to do that. She was the mother of two children. No mother should have to leave the world like this.

Ms Casey praised the medical team for their efforts in trying to save her daughter. She wants to make people aware of the perils of the drugs.

I will have to tell her daughter and son that their mother got sick and had to go to heaven, she said.

They will never get a hug again from their mother, never get a kiss goodnight. She herself will miss out on everything. Thats the reality of these drugs.

We dont know how many packets are out there, how many dealers have them. I know the guards are doing everything they can do, but the situation with drugs has gone ridiculous.

Its in every town and village  everywhere. The guards can only do so much.

Ms Casey believes dealers are aware of how dangerous their products are.

They would know. Theyd have a fair idea; theyre in that world. From what Im hearing, this drug came from America or somewhere.

If people dont start listening, theres going to be a lot more bodies. I hope Karleys death wont be in vain, that it can save at least one soul.
Gardai have seized almost 144,000 worth of cannabis and arrested a man in Galway.

The joint operation between Gardai and Revenue seized exactly 143,800 worth of cannabis on Friday.

As part of the intelligence-led operation, Revenue officers seized approximately 7.1kgs of the drug on June 21.

The seizure was made as a result of a joint operation involving Revenues Customs Service, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) and the Galway Divisional Drugs Unit.

The man, aged in his 20s, was arrested by An Garda Siochana and is currently detained at a garda station in County Galway under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996.

The seized cannabis is now subject to examination by Forensic Science Ireland.

Investigations are ongoing.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 21st June 2024
Childrens Minister short odds to beat Pippa Hackett

Green Party leadership frontrunner Roderic OGorman is not expecting any other challengers to emerge between now and the close of nominations on Monday.

And he does not anticipate any challenger if he wins the race and leads the party into a general election.

Green Party rules call for the leader to resubmit themselves to the membership within six months of such a poll. But Mr OGorman believes it would be unfair for either he or Senator Pippa Hackett to face internal opposition within their first year.

He is at 1/5 with the bookies, with Ms Hackett at 3/1. He also refused to indicate how long he expected to serve if elected leader, after it was pointed out to him that Eamon Ryan had been in charge for 13 years before the dismal party performance in the local and European elections.

Mr OGorman added that he had no plans to leave his own department if he becomes leader, which suggests there may be no major reshuffle if he is successful.

He said he was receiving extremely strong support from members and his aim would be to broaden the Green Partys policy offering and to highlight its many successes  such as in public transport.

Meanwhile, Green Party Media Minister Catherine Martin said she hoped to stay on in her role, despite the licence fee issue still not being resolved as promised.

She denied the RTE crisis had impacted her leadership ambitions, after she narrowly lost a contest with Mr Ryan in 2020.

Ms Martin revealed Mr Ryan had told her months ago of his plans to step down during this Dail, with the timing then under consideration.

Ruling herself out for now and denying the RTE scandal may have sunk any future leadership chances for ever, Ms Martin said: Never say never.

She added that she would not be publicly backing either of the candidates for leadership.

I think its really important for a woman in leadership never to rule themselves out. So who knows? But for now, Im absolutely committed to supporting the next leader of the party.

Meanwhile, Mr OGorman has denied misleading the Irish people on the March referendums. The Integration Minster insisted during the campaign there would be no legal impact on immigration law if the Family and Care proposals were passed.

After both were heavily defeated, a slew of departmental documents expressed just such reservations on a series of welfare and entry fronts.

The paperwork had been denied to Independent Senator Michael McDowell after a Freedom of Information application in the run-up to the polls.

Mr OGorman said yesterday: Every Government department brings the issues it has about the proposed wording to the interdepartmental group.

Whenever two civil servants meet, they have a different view on a particular proposal.

But ultimately we have to take legal advice and the binding, authoritative advice that Government follows is the legal advice of the Attorney General.

The legal advice of the AG was very clear on the issue of potential impact on immigration, and on all the issues that I spoke to. All my comments were to the definitive legal advice that the Attorney General provided.

Mr OGorman said he did not believe it reflected on his credibility and suitability as leader.

He added: I dont think I ever suggested that these were non-complex issues.
After our daughter goes to bed, well put on our music hats and write  Love Command0 duo on how creating music makes them better parents

On the release of their new album Integration, husband and wife Jamie and Bex Fox share their difficult journey to parenthood and why writing songs together has been a form of therapy for them both

Bex and Jamie Fox of Love Command0, who have a daughter called Luna

Lauren Murphy Fri 21 Jun 2024 at 03:30

When they met at a techno gig in the back alley of a Dublin restaurant a decade ago, Jamie and Bex Fox couldnt have known what life would have in store for them. Ten years after that fateful encounter, the husband and wife duo are speaking from their home in Berlin, their daughter tucked up safely in bed, on the cusp of releasing their debut album as electronic duo Love Command0.
Currently a three-bedroom farmhouse with outbuildings, The Grove at Rathbraughan Line in Sligo started its life as a small cottage 170 years ago

Asking price: 895,000

Agent: DNG, Shane Flanagan (071) 915922

The rise of Airbnb has increased the interest in older farming homes in tourist areas that come with a typical smattering of sizeable outbuildings which bring potential to provide additional income earning accommodation alongside a family home.

The Grove at Rathbraughan Line in Sligo is a good example. It began expanding earlier than most. Currently a three-bedroom farmhouse, it actually started its life as a small single-storey cottage when it was first built 170 years ago.

Vendor Chris Jermyn says the property has 'massive potential'

Thanks to more recent and deft conversions the now 1,895 sq ft-property comes with a detached one-bedroom cottage and a converted hay barn. But theres more accommodation possible.

It sits on three and half acres of land, that also includes a mature orchard. But there are also a number of outhouses, currently used for timber, turf and tools, which could be converted.

Theres massive potential there, says the owner, Chris Jermyn. You could add another wing to the house, for example, and have more bedrooms, or they could be rented. Theres also space for parking in the courtyard.

A living area

The house and land had previously been the property of the family Jermyns late wife, Lynne Rowlette. The Rowlettes lived there for four generations before the couple moved in in 2017.

The single-storey cottage had been converted to a two-story farmhouse about 150 years ago.

After my father-in-law, William Rowlette died, my mother-in-law, Lila moved into our house in 2007, and this home became vacant, says Jermyn. In 2013, we began renovating it, starting with tidying up the overgrown orchard. We moved into the main house in 2017 and have been working on it since then.

An overview of the property with outbuildings

Originally from Dalkey, Co Dublin, Jermyn, who works as a service engineer, attended boarding school in Sligo from the age of nine. He and his late wife first met as teenagers and were married for 46 years, before she passed away suddenly in 2021.

He designed and conducted much of the work on the extension himself. Lila, who was also an artist, designed the interior. She was talented, and I think never realised just how good she was, says Jermyn. Lynne used to come with ideas, and I would execute them. We worked well together.

The glass porch of the front is typical of farmhouses but is not original. I added it in recent years to balance the aesthetic, says Jermyn. It opens into the original hallway which has a staircase, and a view of an exposed brick wall in the landing.

The games room

In fact, exposed brick is a feature of the interior and sections of it can be found throughout. Its been used in the homely open plan kitchen/dining/living room on the other side of the building.

This room is a combination of what was once a garage, the bones of a greenhouse, destroyed in 1962 by a storm, and a kitchen with an open hob, which was separate from the rest of the house.

All of these spaces, Jermyn knocked into one, using the footprint of the original kitchen and extending it and keeping the gable of the old greenhouse. The window, with the window seat below it, was originally the garage door. Here, shelving has been added around the window, along with a miniature dresser to the side.

Laminated wooden beams run the length of the room and were installed in 2017. They combine well with the hard wood floors, the exposed brick, and the mostly cream furnishings.

There are a number of big skylight windows that let in the light, hanging copper lamps above the island and candelabra style fixtures in the dining area. A lot of thought has gone into this room, and it really is the heart of the house, says Jermyn.

Conservatory

The downstairs bathroom was part of an extension added to the house in 1957. It was renovated and a free-standing bathtub added. There are two sitting rooms. One is now used as a TV room. The other is bigger and has an original black marble fireplace. Both have sash windows.

Upstairs, there are three ensuite bedrooms all with modern furnishings. Originally there were just two bedrooms, but they were divided to make three at some point. I added ensuite bathrooms in all of them and a walk-in wardrobe in one, says Jermyn.

The old byer, which previously housed pigs and cows, in the grounds of the house, had been renovated by Lynnes brother over 30 years ago. Jermyn set about modernising it and turning it into a granny flat.

It now consists of an open plan kitchen/dining/living room and a mezzanine bedroom accessed by a spiral staircase. The farm hands used to sleep up there, above the cattle years ago, says Jermyn.

The hay barn, meanwhile, was made into a music studio as Jermyn has a keen interest and plays the drums. Theres also a games room, and a basement which Lila used to store her collection of vintage clothes and jewellery.

Another view of the house

The Grove sits in a quiet rural area, surrounded by fields with tall trees. It faces south but gets the sun all day as it moves around. It sits on an elevated site and at night, you can see the lights of Sligo town, which is just a mile and a half away.

It has views of the Benbulben and Knocknarae mountains in the distance. Rosss Point is 8km away and Strandhill 12km from the house.

Despite the amount of work hes put into renovating the house and the other buildings, Jermyn is selling it now as his two children, Chris (30) and Leah (23) are living away, and he finds it too big for his needs.

Ive been very comfortable and happy living here, but I plan to downsize and stay in Sligo. I want to move while Im at an age when Im able to do it, he says.

Obviously, it wont be easy to leave as its been our family home. But time moves on. My hope is that another family will buy it and enjoy living in it like we have. Its really a very special place.

DNG, Shane Flanagan seeks 895,000.
There is nothing peaceful about the defence pact that Vladimir Putin signed on Wednesday with his North Korean counterpart, Kim Jong Un. On the contrary, the comprehensive strategic partnership agreed between the leaders during the Russian presidents visit to Pyongyang demonstrates the deepening bond between two rogue states whose main aim is to forge a new axis of evil to confront the West.
Cllr Joe Carroll has been elected as the new Mayor of the County of Cork

Fianna Fail councillor Joe Carroll has been elected as the new Mayor of the County of Cork.

The new mayor succeeds his party colleague Cllr Frank OFlynn who held the role for the last 12 months.

Control over the next term of Cork County Council will be held by a combination of Fianna Fail, Independent councillors and Labour Party councillors after they agreed a pact.

Fianna Fail as the largest party in Cork County Council with 19 elected members will hold three of the five mayorships over the five year term.

Cllr Carroll was elected after he held off a challenge from Fine Gael councillor Anthony Barry.

Cllr Carrolls nomination was proposed by his colleague Cllr Seamus McGrath and seconded by Independent councillor Alan Coleman.

After the votes were counted, there were 28 votes in favour of Cllr Carroll and 21 votes in favour of Cllr Barry. Six councillors abstained.

The new mayor who is based in Skibbereen said: I want to thank my party colleagues, the Independent and Labour pact that made it possible for me to be elected mayor. As Mayor of the County of Cork with the help of the CEO and her team I hope to give our people the services they need and deserve.

Mayor Carroll outlined a number of issues he plans to prioritise during his team as County Mayor. My key priority is ensuring that Cork County Council is adequately funded by central government because it is not. I want to make certain that we can provide the services that matter most to the people of County Cork, like restoring our roads to their proper standing as well as supporting the growth of our towns and villages.

My intention is to renew the delegation to Dublin and not to leave Dublin until we get parity for Cork County in our roads. We are sick and tired of hearing about Kerry and Limerick. We get 6,000 per kilometre for our roads in Cork County. They get 10,500 in Kerry and 11,000 in Limerick, he added.

Mayor Carroll also pledged to assist the hospitality sector in their quest to reduce the VAT rate to 9% and to help communities throughout the county. I look forward to using my time as mayor to support communities and businesses across the county. I will be asking the CEO to review the outdoor staffing numbers in Cork County Council. I look forward to working with each of you for the next 12 months united in our shared mission to serve the people of Cork County with integrity, passion and dedication.

Fianna Fail councillor Seamus McGrath wished his party colleague well for the next 12 months. I know you have a very strong family behind you. I wish you well for the year.

Joe and I go back a long way, said Fine Gael councillor John Paul OShea. I was mayor in 2015 and Joe was my right hand man as deputy mayor. You are most deserving of the accolade of being County Mayor. I look forward to working with you over the next 12 months. We have done a lot of social housing in this county in recent years, but we need to do more in terms of affordable and cost rental housing.

Independent councillor Alan Coleman backed the new mayor to be an excellent leader while the leader of the Independent Ireland party Danny Collins said the new mayor has great charisma and panache.

The new Chief Executive of Cork County Council Moira Murrell congratulated the new mayor: We go back to Skibbereen Town Council which is a while ago. We worked well together. I know the priorities that are identified by you as mayor for the year ahead. On behalf of the senior management team we look forward to working with you and the full council over the term of this council.
Independent councillor Martin Coughlan has been elected as the new Deputy Mayor for the County of Cork

Independent councillor Martin Coughlan has been elected as the new Deputy Mayor for the County of Cork.

Cllr Coughlan who is a councillor for the Macroom electoral area held off a strong challenge from Fine Gael councillor Marie OSullivan to be elected deputy mayor for the next 12 months.

Cllr Coughlan will work alongside the new elected county mayor Joe Carroll.

Cllr Coughlan was nominated for the deputy mayor role by Independent councillor Alan Coleman.

The nomination was seconded by Fianna Fail councillor Seamus McGrath.

Cllr Coleman said Cllr Coughlan has a solid head on his shoulders. Martin is a councillor with vast experience. He has been a member of this council for 15 years. He is certainly a solid councillor and a team player. He will be an excellent deputy mayor. He has served in the position before. He has a solid head on his shoulders.

Cllr Seamus McGrath, the Fianna Fail leader on Cork County Council said: Martin is a very decent public representative. He has a very easy going personality. Behind that there is a very strong steel in his role as a public representative fighting for his area.

Cllr Marie OSullivan was nominated by her party colleagues Cllr Sinead Sheppard and Cllr Noel McCarthy.

After the votes were counted Cllr Coughlan received 30 votes, while Cllr OSullivan received 22 votes. Three councillors abstained.

The new Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Joe Carroll congratulated Cllr Coughlan on his election as deputy mayor.

Mayor Carroll added that he is looking forward to working with him.

Fine Gael councillor John Paul OShea also extended his best wishes to the new deputy mayor. I want to congratulate Martin on being elected. Im sure Martin will very much work hand-in-hand with Joe (Carroll) over the next 12 months.

The leader of the Independent Ireland party Danny Collins wished Cllr Coughlan the very best in his new role, while the leader of the Labour Party on the council Cathal Rasmussen also congratulated the new deputy mayor.

Cllr Martin Coughlan said he is looking forward to working with the new County Mayor. I would like to thank my proposer and seconder and the members of the Independent Group for giving me this chance to be deputy mayor. I would like to wish the new mayor and his family all the very best for the 12 months ahead. I know you going back to the Town Council in Skibbereen. You have always been an outgoing man.

You always had a good and kind work for everyone you met. I am sure that will be seen throughout the county over the next 12 months. To all my colleagues and friends, thank you very much, he added.

CEO of Cork County Council Ms Moira Murrell extended her best wishes to the new deputy mayor and said she is looking forward to working with him over the coming year.
Aung Bo to join herd as part of European Breeding Programme

A new arrival will soon be joining the herd of elephants at Dublin Zoo after making the short trip across the pond from England.

Aung Bo, a 22-year-old male Asian elephant, has been at Chester Zoo, outside Liverpool, since 2012 when he was moved from Seville in Spain.

Keepers at Chester Zoo describe the animal as very calm and say he has always got along famously with all of the other elephants in the herd, and the vast team of keepers at the zoo who have cared for him day in, day out.

As part of the European Endangered Species Breeding Programme (EEP), Aung Bo is making the short trip to Dublin Zoo, which has been identified as the perfect place for him to move to thanks to careful scientific matchmaking and genetic analysis.

Richard Fraser, Team Manager of elephants at Chester Zoo said: Although well very much miss Aung Bo, its natural for males to drift in and out of family herds.

So, when Aung Bo moves in with his new herd at Dublin Zoo, it will be replicating elephant behaviour in the wild.

Aung Bo leaves behind three beautiful calves, Riva (4), Anjan (7) and Indali (8), and also played a part in saving the life of his eldest offspring.

When Indali fell ill with a dangerous virus called EEHV, experts were able to save her life with Aung Bos help by taking blood plasma for transfusions to help her fight the virus.

In preparation for his move, members of the Dublin Zoo team have spent time in Chester learning about Aung Bo, including everything he enjoys right down to his subtlest personality traits that make him such a great character.

An elephant care expert who has built up a close relationship with Aung Bo over the years, will be right by his side all the way to his new home where theyll stay with him to make sure he has a familiar face around while he settles into life at Dublin Zoo.

The team at Chester Zoo has been planning and preparing for him to make the journey for almost a year, including helping him to slowly get used to a special crate which has been designed to keep him safe and comfortable throughout the duration of the trip.

We know that Aung Bo will be extremely well cared for by the team at Dublin Zoo and we look forward to hearing about his progress over the coming weeks, months and years as we collectively work to safeguard the Asian elephant from extinction, Chester Zoo added.
Councillor Kazi Ahmed, the new Leas-Cathaoirleach of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, with his family

A councillor originally from Bangladesh and living in Ireland for the past 22 years, said he is honoured and humbled to serve as vice-chairperson for Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

Fine Gael councillor Kazi Ahmed, who has represented the Glencullen-Sandyford ward since 2019, was elected as Leas-Cathaoirleach at the councils annual general meeting today.

As the first person of a migrant background and different faith in the history of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, he said he was honoured and humbled by his election.

Mr Ahmed has been in Ireland for 22 years, and has been a resident of Sandyford for over 16 years, proudly becoming an Irish citizen in 2012, and holding advanced degrees in International Business.

He has over 18 years of experience in IT, sales, marketing, public service, and project management.

I joined politics in 2013 with the view to make positive changes for the next generation and the people living in our beautiful county, he said.

Today, my family is here with me in the chamber, my beautiful wife Nahid and my two kids Sarrinah and Safwan, who have given me immense support in my political journey.

My wife is the most wonderful lady. I missed many family events and left her alone with the kids most of the time, missing dinners and getting home late.

She always accepted my apology with a smile and the view that Im there to make positive changes to create a better place for our family and the families within this county.

Born in Bangladesh, Mr Ahmed attended a military boarding school at the age of 11 and left the country after the equivalent of his leaving cert, travelling the world before settling in Ireland.

I never faced any discrimination in this beautiful country, but in the last year I have faced it on numerous occasions, he said.

I considered standing down from politics because of it, but with support from family and friends I continued. I believe that racism has no place in Ireland.

Fine Gael Councillor Jim OLeary, first elected to the council in 2019 and serving Dundrum, was elected Cathaoirleach of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

Mr OLeary said he was looking forward to working with the chief executive and that the success of the council would be determined by the way they all work.

Over the next few months, we have to prepare a five-year corporate plan. This offers us the opportunity to produce a document that reflects the priorities of this chamber, guides our budget, and acts as a reference point for the funds of the council, he said.

Cllr Justin Moylan thanked the last Cathaoirleach, Labour Party councillor Denis OCallaghan, and the previous Leas-Cathaoirleach, Green Party Councillor Eva Dowling, for their hard work throughout the year.

Reflecting on Denis OCallaghans impending retirement, Cllr Moylan added that he served his community with great honour and wished him the best of luck.
Explosives found by gardai that had been manufactured in a residence in a remote location in Kerry were so dangerous they could not be handled  or measured  the Circuit Criminal Court has heard.

Hobbyist explosive manufacturer Ivan Gilder of Gearha North, Blackwater, Sneem, was aware of how dangerous the substances he made from household items were but was blithely unaware of how unlawful, his counsel told the sentencing hearing at Killarney Courthouse.

Mr Gilder (63) had pleaded guilty to seven charges at the Circuit Criminal Court in Tralee in November, including manufacturing explosives and having firearms and ammunition at his home near Sneem in March 2021. The offences are under the Offences Against the State and the Criminal Justice Acts.

Five of the seven offences Ivan Gilder admitted to at his home at Gearha North on March 27, 2021, are under Section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1883, as amended by Section 15 (4) of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998.

They include making an explosive substance, namely a white crystalline powder containing Erythritol Tetranitrate (ETN) under such circumstances as to give rise to the reasonable suspicion that he did not make it for a lawful object, according to the charge.

Tom Rice, counsel for the DPP, prosecuting, said how a second accused man, Thomas Albright (34), son of Mr Gilder, had pleaded guilty to two lesser offences  possession of a firearm without a licence and possession of ammunition.

Evidence of the facts was called by Mr Rice. In March 2021, gardai in Dublin became aware through confidential information of activity in south Kerry. A combined operation of defence forces, local gardai as well as gardai from the ballistics unit and from the Garda Special Detective Unit went to a remote area around eight miles from Sneem as well as to a house at Ardeen, Sneem, Mr Rice outlined..

Detective Garda Shay ODonnell of the Garda Ballistics Section in Garda HQ and who has 18 years experience in ballistics and improvised explosive devices, was part of the search team to arrive at the remote residence of Ian Gilder on March 27, 2021.

Ian Gilder was living in makeshift accommodation  an adapted horsebox without services or electricity with access via an untarred road, the garda agreed with Mr Rice.

A native of the UK, he had moved to Kerry in the 1980s and worked as a labourer. He was the sole occupant of the horsebox house. In a locker close to the bed in the small bedroom, there were firearms and ammunition. The guns, including a rifle and an over-and-under shotgun, were not loaded.

Gilder agreed there were dangerous substances present and he showed us items of interest, Det Garda ODonnell said. These included tall glass containers and several packages with explosive ETN and another high explosive as well as a lower grade black powder explosive.

He was manufacturing them on site, the court heard.

The ingredients were available on the internet as well as in household products and hardware stores, the garda told Judge Sinead Behan, and added that Mr Gilder was mixing and boiling them.

Some 200 grammes of ETN were stored in the kitchen, enough to make two car bombs causing serious injury to occupants, as evidenced in Northern Ireland, the court heard.

There was also a peroxide-based explosive which was very dangerous to handle and so could not be weighted but estimated at about 100 grammes.

Yes, its a dangerous amount, Garda ODonnell replied, when questioned by Judge Behan.

Peroxide explosives were a relatively new phenomenon and were widely used in Islamic terrorism Det Garda ODonnell said. They would explode on shock, such as on impact with the ground. ETN was more stable and required a detonator.

Other items at Gearha North included home-made initiators and pipe bomb casing. The guns recovered were all hunting types and had been used for target practice, the court was told.

Det Garda ODonnell agreed with Elizabeth Murphy, counsel for Mr Gilder, cross-examining, that ordinary household items such as bleach were being turned into explosives.

Her client was not contesting the fact that he was manufacturing explosives, his father was in the explosive division of the British army and Mr Gilder was a hobbyist, she said.

Det Sergeant Ronan Judge of the Special Detective Unit (SDU), said gardai do not believe Mr Gilder was in contact or had any connection with any criminal or political organisation.

Gardai believed he was acting on his own. He had admitted the items in his son's house were belonging to Mr Gilder and Gardai accepted this. .

Mr Gilder claimed he was living in fear arising from the suspected murder in 1991 of English man Brook Pickard in south Kerry, as well as from the treatment of the Sioux nation in America, Det Judge agreed with Mr Rice, agreeing also that Gardai allowed him to express his views in interviews.

He had used the explosives to get rid of rats in ditches and for fishing, he told detectives. There was no evidence he was making money from the manufacture.

There were no previous convictions of relevance. Mr Gilder had two minor convictions including for intoxication in a public place in Ireland; 35 convictions between 1977 and 2007 in the UK were for burglary, assault, unauthorised taking of a vehicle and motoring offences, Det Sgt Ronan outlined for Mr Rice.

Ivan Gilder also pleaded guilty to having in his possession an explosive substance namely black crystalline powder known as black powder. Mr Gilder has also admitted to having in his possession an explosive substance, a pipe bomb. He further pleaded guilty to having in his possession an explosive substance namely a radio-controlled, multi-channel pyrotechnic initiator and control transmitter which he had made or manufactured.

He further admitted to having an explosive substance which he had manufactured and was described as an improvised electric match.

Ivan Gilder also admitted to possessing a firearm, a 12-gauge Lamber make shotgun, as well as to having 367 rounds of .22 calibre ammunition and 86 shotgun cartridges, in suspicious circumstances. These two counts are contrary to Section 27 of the Firearms Act, 1964, as substituted by Section 59 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006 as amended by Section 38 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007

His counsel, Elizabeth Murphy, said her client wished to express his regret to the army and gardai for exposing them to danger. He suffered from a number of medical conditions, physical as well as mental.

She said his father was in the explosives division of the British army and her client was a hobbyist

While he was aware of how dangerous it was, he was blithely unaware how unlawful it was, she said.

He lives in this island of explosives, Ms Murphy added.

Judge Sinead Behan said she had a number of concerns in relation to Mr Gilder and would not finalise sentence until she had both a psychiatric and probation office report. This was for his own needs and for the protection of society. She was also concerned about his living conditions without services in a remote area. She adjourned the matter and remanded Mr Gilder in custody, ordering medical and psychiatric attention.

She finalised sentencing on his son, Thomas Albrighton, who in November had pleaded guilty at Tralee Circuit Court to possession of ammunition at Ardeen, Sneem on March 27, 2021, including 271 rounds of .22 ammunition and nine 12 gauge shotgun cartridges. Mr Albrighton also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm, a .22 calibre Marlin rifle which was not authorised by a Firearms Certificate.

Thomas Albrighton was very vulnerable, his counsel Katie OConnell submitted. Now a father of three children of tender age, he had been in foster care until he was aged 16; He had made contact with his father, only in September 2020 when he came to south Kerry to look after him. He was now estranged from him and back living with his mother in Wales. He was involved in his church and worked as a roofer and his employer was in court.

These are very serious offences, Judge Behan said of both counts but added that when peeling back the layers, Thomas Albrighton was in a different situation to his father and was co-operative.

The court heard, though, that ammunition and a rifle had been found in a bedroom, a place of residence to which children and others had access.

Morally, Mr Albrightons culpability was at the lower end and this was a complex case and he had his own vulnerability, the court further heard.

Mr Albrighton was described as a man of good character and his employer had travelled from Wales.

Judge Behan imposed a two-year sentence, suspending it fully for a period of three years.

Mr Rice said he would be seeking a destruction order for the gun and ammunition at the finalisation of Mr Gilder's case.
Patricia Whiteside, Cian Whiteside, Cecil Whiteside and Aoife Whiteside celebrate the supermarket's new look.

The new look SuperValu, which employs 83 people, was launched on June 15

Sustainability has been a central focus as Whitesides SuperValu carried out its revamp works, with the team going to extensive lengths to be as environmentally conscious as possible in designing the new look store.

Energy efficient refrigeration and LED lighting are within the stores innovative design. It is envisaged that these measures will lead to a significant reduction in energy consumption across the premises.

The store now offers Superscan in-store which helps customers track their spend, lets them pack as they shop and go through the checkout faster,

Whitesides SuperValu has been a longstanding supporter of the Ballisodare community for 16 years, having opened its doors in July 2008 and been part of the fabric of Ballisodare since.

The store has supported many local charities and clubs including Ballisodare United, Owenmore Gaels and Sligo LGFA.

Cecil Whiteside, store owner said: We are delighted to be opening our new look store after significant investment and significant hard work from the team.

The new state-of-the-art store will deliver premium, quality and fantastic value to our customers through offerings including our new look Bakery, Food-to-Go and Fresh Meat Counter with our Expert Butchers, as well as fantastic local products in our Taste of Local section.

We believe in enhancing local communities by caring for our environment, so we are particularly proud of the dedicated eco-friendly technologies throughout the new store.

We cant wait to bring our new offering to the people of Ballisodare and are extremely grateful to all our loyal customers who continue to support us in the local community.

We look forward to seeing them in store again soon.

The revamp of Whitesides is part of SuperValus continuing revamp and upgrade programme which is being undertaken at stores nationwide.

The revamp programme is designed to enhance the customer experience, with a focus on SuperValus market-leading butcher, baker and fishmonger counters.

It is also designed to extend its local and Irish product offering  another area of market leadership for SuperValu.
Sligo based filmmaker Marian Quinn excited about new film set around women in Dublins gangland

Filmmaker Marian Quinn returns to the directors chair with a powerful new irish feature which will be released on Friday. Neha Kumari reports.

Marian Quinn

Neha Kumari Sligo Champion Thu 20 Jun 2024 at 09:55

Sligo based filmmaker Marian Quinn is back with an Irish feature film TWIG, a modern-day adaptation of Ancient Greek tragedy Antigone, set in the ganglands of Dublin.
The Mango Tree restaurant and cafe opened its doors to the Enniscorthy public recently providing delicious food and desserts to people.

The restaurant, positioned on the Old Dublin Road beside the NCT centre, is a new branch of the business originally established in Bunclody in 2017. The owners of the restaurant decided to spread their wings and expand the business, enjoying the prospect of a new challenge and hope to further expand in the future.

During the restaurants opening week in Enniscorthy, they enjoyed great sales and an outpouring of community support from their neighbours towards the new business.

Customers can choose from the menu with assorted treats on offer, including chocolate cake, curry and rice, and even a full-Irish breakfast.

Their Bunclody establishment has received stellar reviews, complimenting the portion sizes and the friendly and helpful atmosphere curated by the staff. The Enniscorthy restaurant will be open seven days a week, from 8am to 5pm.
When I heard Oliver Callan say what he said about the Vatican I was agreeing and disagreeing with him, but it was still hurtful.

On the first week after his return from a few days off air Oliver Callan was making jokes about the Vatican. Maybe they were not jokes but at one stage he referred to the Vatican as being an enclave of total corruption, and the largest homophobic organisation in the world.
Bernie with the photo of her father who received his medal 70 years ago this month.

Almost 70 years after her father visited Buckingham Palace to receive a medal for bravery, one of Wexfords most committed RNLI volunteers has been honoured in similar fashion. Bernie Mullen, from Rosslare Harbour, visited Westminster along with volunteers from across Ireland and the UK to meet Princess Anne in a ceremony which recognised those who have dedicated their lives to the RNLI.

And for Bernie, who received a long-service award, the day was made all the more momentous because of her family background.

In 1955 Bernies dad, Richard Walsh received a silver medal from Princess Marina for his role in saving the lives of seven crewmen from a Liberian oil tanker. Richard was the coxswain on the Rosslare Lifeboat which was called out on November 27, 1954 when the 28,000 tonne tanker broke in two in the middle of the Irish Sea during a hurricane.

During a rescue operation which lasted for 26 hours, his crew rescued seven crewmen from the drifting wreck. For their endeavours, bronze medals were awarded to Second Coxswain William Duggan and Motor Mechanic Richard Hickey while the thanks of the institution inscribed on Vellum were awarded to the other members of the crew.

There were other, unofficial, gifts too.

Bernie Mullen and daughter Claire at Buckingham Palace.

Afterwards each member of the crew received a big hamper from Harrods and a crisp five pound note, which was a lot of money in those days, Bernie revealed. In addition to my father, the crew also contained my mothers two brothers, her nephew, and my dads cousin.

Joined by her daughter, Claire, Bernie said the visit to the Palace was both emotional and exciting as she retraced her late fathers footsteps. This sense of coming full circle was heightened by the conversations she had with fellow RNLI volunteers.

A lot of them knew my fathers story, she said, "I have a scrapbook with all my dads stuff so Ill put the medal with all of that. It does feel like we went full circle going back there, its something really nice for the family.

Describing Princess Anne as quite a warm lady and someone who took a genuine interest in the work of all the volunteers, Bernie said being escorted through the gates and into the foyer of the building was an incredibly special feeling.

The big question though was whether she managed to bring back any additional unofficial mementos?

We did have a look at the teaspoons, they looked nice, but they had metal detectors there, she laughed.
As part of the contract win, Sodexo has invested in upgrading the dining area at the French independent pharmaceutical companys Wicklow base to enhance the workplace and employee experience.

With a focus on sustainability, Sodexo will be delivering a greater range of fresh produce and plant-based options from its Kitchen Works offering, which is designed to meet the needs of employees in manufacturing environments.

Sodexo will also introduce its WasteWatch powered by Leanpath food waste reduction programme alongside campaigns and promotions to educate and engage Servier employees on nutrition and the positive environmental impacts of sustainable food choices.

David Fox, Managing Director at Sodexo Ireland, said: We are delighted that Servier, a fellow French company based in Ireland, has chosen us to work in partnership with them in enhancing the workplace and employee experience, building a sense of community and meeting the growing demand for wellbeing, flexibility and sustainability.

With Servier, we share a mutual commitment to ensuring the wellbeing of those we serve and to doing all we can to limit our impact on the planet through the delivery of sustainable experiences every day.

Sodexo Irelands commitment towards improving the workplace and employee experience has been recognised with four wins at the 2024 Facilities Management (FM) Awards for Ireland: Total FM Service Provider of the Year, Facilities Management CSR Initiative of the Year, Best People Development in Facilities Management and FM Service Professional of the Year.

The company also won the Net Zero Carbon Award at the 2024 Business & Finance ESG Awards and its Health & Safety team garnered the Team of the Year accolade at the 2024 Health & Safety Excellence Awards.

Servier is a global pharmaceutical group governed by a foundation that aspires to have a meaningful social impact, both for patients and for a sustainable world.
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), Irelands independent energy, energy safety and water regulator, secured a prosecution against Brian White, of Eastmount, Sea Road, Arklow, for carrying out illegal electrical works and falsely claiming to be a registered electrical contractor (REC).

Mr White received the criminal conviction at Arklow District Court, sitting in Bray, on June 19 for illegally carrying out restricted electrical works on a private family house. Judge Kennedy also took into consideration three counts of falsely portraying himself in a manner likely to suggest he was a registered electrical contractor (REC) while not being registered with Safe Electric.

Judge Kennedy imposed a criminal conviction and a fine of 500 plus 750 towards legal costs. The court heard evidence from Jonathan Clare, Electrical Investigation Officer with the CRU, that inspections found a large number of breaches of the national wiring rules, including exposed live parts within the ESB meter cabinet and the electrical distribution board inside the home, which posed a serious risk to the occupants of the house.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 21st June 2024

There are approximately 4,000 registered electrical contractors in Ireland. By using a REC, consumers can have confidence that they are dealing with a competent contractor who has the required expertise in electrical safety to ensure the safe operation of their electrical installation. The REC is insured, and a sample of their work is inspected by Safe Electric on an annual basis. A REC must issue you with a completion certificate for electrical works carried out.

The penalties for non-compliance for those caught undertaking the works include a fine of up to 50,000 and/or imprisonment for up to three years.

Members of the public who wish to report an unregistered individual who has undertaken electrical works or has portrayed themselves as a REC should visit safeelectric.ie.

Speaking after the hearing, the CRUs Director of Energy Safety, Loretta Joyce, said: This prosecution highlights that safety is paramount, and the CRU will proactively investigate and prosecute any unregistered individuals that act outside the law."
An MMR catch up vaccination clinic will be taking place in Wicklow as part of the HSEs continued campaign to protect against measles.

It follows advice to families who are travelling abroad with babies aged six-11 months to get an additional MMR vaccine due to rising incidence of measles cases across Europe.

Some 56 cases of measles have been confirmed in Ireland to date this year, according to the latest figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC). The majority of confirmed cases this year have been in people aged 34 or younger. Two cases have been confirmed in children younger than 12 months.

A MMR catch up vaccination clinic will be taking place in Wicklow Vaccination Base, Kiladreenan, Newtownmountkennedy, Wicklow, A63 K061 on Thursday, June 27 from 2.30pm  4.30pm. You can book an appointment on hse.ie. Walk-ins will also be facilitated.

The HSE has advised that the MMR vaccine is the only protection against measles. Two doses of MMR vaccine in your lifetime are needed to give full protection. Measles is a highly infectious disease that can cause serious complications, particularly in children under one year of age, pregnant women, and the immunosuppressed.

The HSEs MMR catch-up campaign aims to protect against measles due to a rise in cases of the disease in the UK and Europe. It focuses on delivering the MMR vaccine to key groups, who may have missed their vaccines in the past:

Children

Young adults

Health and care workers

Anyone born in Ireland from January 1978 onwards, who does not have evidence of two MMR vaccines, is eligible for a catch-up vaccination. Anyone born outside of Ireland that does not have evidence of two MMR vaccines at any age is also eligible to receive the MMR vaccine.

If you are planning a holiday outside Ireland, you can now get your baby vaccinated before you go. They must be between six and 11 months. They should then get their next dose as normal at 12 months and the final dose in junior infants.

MMR vaccines are available free of charge from GPs to all groups, but primarily to those under 18 years, and from HSE community clinics for eligible people.
Cultural Day at Woodstock ETNS. Children of 2nd and 3rd classes with some of the parents and teachers

Sandra and Gabi McGroarty with Kit and Alex Calder at Cultural Day at Woodstock ETNS. Photo: Leigh Anderson

Last Friday Woodstock Educate Together National School (ETNS) in Newtownmountkennedy hosted a Cultural Day in the Newtown Community Centre, with parents of the students gathering to showcase foods, costumes and symbols that reflected their cultures.

From Borscht soup from Ukraine to Chinese dumplings, Bangladesh spices and Italian pizza, over fifteen countries were represented by parents of the students, with their vibrant displays and traditional foods enjoyed by members of the community.

For the week preceding Cultural Day, classes enjoying storytelling from Germany, Spain and the Philippines. Pupils took lessons in making Greek ceramics and clay toys and learnt traditional games from different countries, as well as their own project work.

Speaking after the event, the Principal of Woodstock ETNS, Dr Nicola Martin, stated: Watching people interact and embrace each other reflects the inclusive and respectful spirit of the school.

In Woodstock ETNS we stand for kindness, our motto is educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.

A huge thanks goes out to all the parents, children, teachers and all the locals from Newtownmountkennedy who came along to celebrate and share our Cultural Day.

Thank you to the community centre for providing us with the hall for the morning, and to everyone for attending, from the community gardai to the local councillors and tidy towns and mens sheds representatives.

As our fledgling school continues to grow, our success depends on the support of the many community groups and individuals around the town, and we are grateful for their involvement as we campaign for the Woodstock Educate Together permanent facility.

Students from the school embraced the day, with a performance of Its Cultural Day, a specially adapted version of Timber.

Younger students were encouraged to interact with the stands by asking questions, while older students incorporated their musings into their class podcasts.

The day was coordinated by the schools Deputy Principal, Grainne Ni Chuinn, and Philip McCarthy, who has a masters in intercultural education.

McCarthy believes that linguistic diversity and the promotion of intercultural dialogue benefit the overall language skills of students.

Theres a theory called the funds of knowledge. This is based on how when the knowledge that children bring with them to school from their own cultural and linguistic backgrounds is transferred to their school activities, it adds to the classroom.

Having a bigger linguistic repertoire in the school creates a positive environment around languages, and you can see the benefits when this is transferred to Gaeilge and English.

Days like these are extremely important for the school because it brings a greater depth of knowledge across all cultures and everything we do in Woodstock Educate Together.

Woodstock ETNS opened in 2019 and is based in one of Irelands fastest-growing towns. With a keen focus on learning in a student-centric manner, the school excels in its focus on STEM and languages.

Educate Together Schools are based on values like equality and justice and an emphasis on the importance of diversity, inclusion and respect for the cultures and practices of people from all backgrounds.
Vladimir Putin continues Asian public relations blitz in Vietnam visit

Russian president is embraced by two communist leaders as he signs pacts in Hanoi

Russia's president Vladimir Putin appearing at an event with Vietnam's president To Lam. Photo: Reuters

Khanh Vu and Minh Nguyen Fri 21 Jun 2024 at 03:30







Russian president Vladimir Putin said he wanted to build a reliable security architecture in the Asia-Pacific region during a state visit to Vietnam yesterday, part of a trip to Asia seen as a show of defiance to the West.
LATEST | We will evaluate it when it comes closer  Tanaiste responds to soldiers concerns they may not be able to come home at end of Lebanon tour
LATEST | Benjamin Netanyahu rages after Israeli military says Hamas cant be eliminated

Rift between army and government widens as notion of victory questioned

Palestinians walk near houses destroyed in the Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip. Photo: Reuters

Tom Watling UK Independent Fri 21 Jun 2024 at 03:30







Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu has hit back at comments from the nations military that destroying Hamas is an unattainable goal, as rifts between the government and armed forces widen while the war in Gaza rages on.
Understanding Indias Manufacturing Landscape

India is strategically positioning itself to become a global manufacturing hub to meet domestic growth objectives, achieve export targets, and fulfill geopolitical aspirations.

Indias ascent as a premier manufacturing hub for global firms is fueled by several key factors. Its expansive developing economy, coupled with strategic logistics and maritime capabilities, alongside a substantial consumer base, form the bedrock of its appeal. Investments in both physical and digital infrastructure, complemented by landmark tax reforms, have nurtured a conducive business environment. The governments pro-business policies further amplify Indias attractiveness.

Moreover, abundant natural resources and a youthful workforce provide fertile ground for sustainable growth and innovation. Emphasizing high rates of technology adoption and a commitment to sustainability, Indias readiness for modern manufacturing solidifies its status as a sought-after destination for global firms looking to expand operations.

Overview of Indias manufacturing sector

India is projected to be the fastest-growing major economy over the next three years, particularly as credit rating agencies observe a slowdown in China. India hopes to become the third-largest economy in the world with a GDP of US$5 trillion in the next three years and touch US$7 trillion by 2030 on the back of continued reforms. Ten years ago, India was the 10th largest economy in the world, with a GDP of US$1.9 trillion at current market prices. Today, it is the 5th largest, with a GDP of US$3.7 trillion (estimate FY24).

The Indian economy is now entering a pivotal phase on the S-curve, characterized by rapid urbanization, industrialization, rising household incomes, and increased energy consumption. This phase, spanning several decades, typically witnesses accelerated growth in these domains.

Indias manufacturing sector currently accounts for around 17 percent of the countrys GDP. The sector is experiencing a surge in investments, positioning the country as a strong emerging player in global supply

chains. The mobile phone industry is a standout example and could provide a template for how industrial policies can attract foreign investments and lead to optimal production outcomes.

In fact, policymakers in India want it to become the new-age factory of the world and aim to raise manufacturing to 25 percent of the GDP by 2025. There is a sense of urgency as wellwith such a large workforce and a median age of around 28, India needs to create jobs at a faster pace, which cannot be met by the services sector alone.

Manufacturing sector performance

In the first quarter of FY 2024 (AprilJune 2023), the manufacturing gross value added (GVA) reached an estimated US$110.48 billion. By January 2024, Indias manufacturing activity measured on the PMI Index recorded 56.5, the highest in four months, driven by increased export orders. Projections for real GDP growth for FY 202324 stand at 7.3 percent, with manufacturing GVA growth forecast to accelerate to 6.5 percent from a modest 1.3 percent the previous year. Additionally, mining GVA is expected to rise by 8.1 percent, up

from 4.6 percent in 202223, while construction GVA growth is anticipated to remain robust at 10.7 percent, building upon the 10 percent increase observed in 202223.

Regional spread of manufacturing capacity

Projections from Colliers indicate that by 2025-26, the manufacturing market in India could reach an impressive US$1 trillion milestone, with Gujarat emerging as a key manufacturing hub, closely followed by Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. These regions boast conducive environments for industrial investments, driven by factors such as labor availability, robust infrastructure, and government support.

Notable investments from giants like Toyota, Coca Cola, and Micron Technology underscore Gujarats emerging appeal as a manufacturing destination. Maharashtra, with its high FDI inflow and well established and conducive business environment, closely trails Gujarat, while Tamil Nadus skilled workforce, strong traditional industries, and vibrant ODM/OEM ecosystem contribute to its strong position in the Indian manufacturing landscape. The automotive, electronics, and textiles sectors are leading Indias manufacturing growth trajectory, attracting significant foreign investments and witnessing increased merger and acquisitions

activities. These three states stand out in terms of their performance in these sectors alongside other heavyweights like Karnataka, Haryana, and Telangana.

Furthermore, emerging sectors such as semiconductors, agri-tech, and waste management demonstrate promising potential, fueled by advancements in technology and sustainable practices.

Government initiatives and policies affecting manufacturing

A policy and spending focus on enhancing infrastructure and logistics connectivity, coupled with efforts to streamline bureaucracy, has led to several global multinational corporations (MNCs) redirecting their investments to India. The country is also increasingly being chosen as a key production and assembly base in Asia due to geopolitical factors.

Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India), the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, the FAME Scheme, the Bharatmala Pariyojana Project to boost highway connectivity among the countrys major districts, the proposed DESH Bill to reform the special economic zones model, and the National Logistics Policy are among a handful of government initiatives that are playing a pivotal role in bolstering domestic manufacturing and attracting foreign investment.

Alongside an emphasis on sector-based manufacturing and policies geared towards the creation of local supply chains, the government has prioritized major infrastructure spending. Improving connectivity between industrial hubs, transport corridors and ports, and markets will accelerate the pace of manufacturing expansion in the country within the coming 10 years. By 2047, India wishes to become a developed country. Scaling up the countrys manufacturing capacity alongside modernization and research and development will

serve as necessary growth drivers.

Further, Indias ease of doing business reforms have centered around streamlining and digitizing regulatory compliance processes throughout the entire business lifecycle, spanning from incorporation to the cessation of operations. For example, in the Union Budget for 2023-24, the government declared a reduction in over 39,000 compliances and the decriminalization of more than 3,400 legal provisions.

Indias improving logistics

In terms of logistics, India has moved up six places to reach the 38th rank out of 139 countries on the Logistics Performance Index. The LPI index measures countries on six aspects of logistics performance, including infrastructure quality, customs efficiency, logistics services quality, international shipment arrangements, on-time delivery frequency, and shipment tracking. Logistics is integral to the growth of the manufacturing sector and any improvements in the countrys logistics ecosystem has business positive outcomesranging from operational efficiency to expanding supplier networks to boosting last-mile-reach to meet demand.

The Bharatmala Pariyojna project The Bharatmala Pariyojna is a comprehensive infrastructure project aimed at connecting 550 District Headquarters with a minimum 4-lane highway, increasing the number of corridors in India to 50 and moving

80 percent of freight traffic to National Highways. This initiative involves the development of logistics parks, inter corridors, feeder routes, and waterway ports, along with the construction of tunnels, bridges, flyovers, and interchanges to ensure optimized connectivity. Funded by the central government, Bharatmala integrates

various existing highway projects, including the National Highways Development Project (NHDP). With an estimated investment of INR 10.63 trillion (approx. US$128.04 billion), it prioritizes connecting remote areas and satellite cities of major urban centers. The project spans across states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and extends to the Himalayan territories and border regions, with a focus on rural and tribal areas. Additionally, Bharatmala aligns with other government schemes like Sagarmala (for maritime and port infrastructure development), Dedicated Freight Corridors, and Make in India, serving as both an enabler and beneficiary of national development initiatives.

Consequently, India seeks to reduce its logistics costs from 16 percent of the GDP to a global average of 8 percent by 2030. Per some estimates, the worth of the Indian logistics market will be around US$215 billion in the next two years.

The Production Linked Incentive Schemes

The Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemes are a strategic initiative by the Government of India, aimed at fostering domestic manufacturing as a catalyst for Indias economic growth and employment generation. The PLI schemes involve significant financial allocations, with a total outlay of INR 1.97 trillion (over US$23 billion) for 14 key sectors.

All sectors approved under the PLI Schemes adhere to a broad framework centered around new and emerging technologies. Capacity development in these areas offer India the opportunity to leapfrog and achieve substantial economic gains while also harnessing their export potential.

The core objectives of the PLI schemes are to improve efficiency, foster economies of scale within the manufacturing sector, and position Indian manufacturers as globally competitive, thereby facilitating their integration into global value chains.

Under the PLI Schemes, financial incentives of 4-6 percent are disbursed over a specified period on incremental sales of products manufactured domestically. Incentives are not guaranteed and are released based on annual performance and meeting stipulated criteria in the respective scheme guidelines. Eligible enterprises must hit their yearly targets to receive the incentive payout for the schemes operational period, which ranges from 4-6 years after the base year. The PLI schemes thus allow a gestation period for applicants to begin commercial production.

Official data released on January 17, 2024, showed that the PLI schemes saw over INR 1.03 trillion (approx. US$12.40 billion) worth of investment till November 2023. This investment in turn resulted in production/sales worth INR 8.61 trillion (approx. US$103.72 billion) (US$1=INR 83.01). Besides, more than 678,000 jobs (both direct and indirect) have been created in the process.

Key industries and sectors driving manufacturing growth

Compared to Chinas mature manufacturing capacities, India has only recently set the ball rolling. Vendors of large American, European, and Asian companies are gradually building up their presence in India, with automotive, electronics, and footwear manufacturing being just few examples.

Indias automotive sector is a cornerstone of the nations manufacturing prowess and has garnered significant attention from global giants like Toyota, Kia, Tesla, and Ford, signaling their intentions to either establish, expand, or re-enter manufacturing operations within the country.

Likewise, the electronics manufacturing industry has experienced a surge in investments, particularly in the smartphone production segment. Notably, major players such as Apples contract manufacturers have set up assembly units in India, signaling a shift towards localized production strategies.

Furthermore, the textiles and garment manufacturing sectors have witnessed increased investment activities, with several global brands reassessing their sourcing strategies and investing in Indian textile units to leverage the countrys competitive advantages in this domain.

In line with fostering industrial growth, the Government of Indias Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises introduced SAMARTH Udyog Bharat 4.0 in 2021. This strategic initiative aims to bolster the competitiveness of the manufacturing sector, primarily focusing on the capital goods domain.

Moreover, the central government remains steadfast in promoting comprehensive national development by prioritizing the development of industrial corridors and smart cities, that feed into investment opportunities and capital requirements in the construction and allied industries. Per investment management company Colliers, upcoming planned industrial corridors are creating a conducive environment for industrial growth,

potentially generating employment opportunities for over 27 million workers.

Challenges and opportunities in the Indian manufacturing sector

As foreign manufacturers and investors consider entering the Indian market, they will have to navigate diverse challenges and opportunities inherent in the countrys manufacturing landscape.

Understanding Indias regulatory environment and its nuances across different states is paramount. Tapping into national industrial programs, including incentives for sunrise industries, can lower costs. Investing in complementary sectors may additionally be necessary to optimize operations and introduce management efficiencies. Indias technology sector present opportunities for innovative and hyperlocal solutions.

Recognizing Indias infrastructure deficits, particularly in port capacity, underscores the need for strategic investments in transportation and logistics infrastructure. Exploring partnerships with local entities and subscribing to government schemes can facilitate smoother entry into the market.

Moreover, aligning investment strategies with Indias burgeoning sectors, such as mobile phones, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing, can position foreign manufacturers and investors for long-term success.

Ultimately, navigating Indias dynamic business landscape requires patience, strategic planning, and a willingness to adapt to local market dynamics. By leveraging opportunities and addressing challenges proactively, foreign firms can unlock the vast potential of Indias manufacturing sector.
London: Around 1,500 Tata Steel workers in Britain will commence an indefinite strike on July 8 in response to the company's decision to shut down two blast furnaces and eliminate up to 2,800 jobs, Reuters reported citing the trade union Unite.

Unite stated that this strike, occurring at Tata's Port Talbot and Llanwern locations in Wales, will be the first strike action by British steelworkers in four decades.

The closure plans, unveiled in January, are part of Tata's strategy to revitalize its struggling UK operations by transitioning to lower carbon electric arc furnaces. This plan is supported by 500 million ($632 million) in government funding, the Reuters report said.

"Tatas workers are not just fighting for their jobs - they are fighting for the future of their communities and the future of steel in Wales," Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Tata Steel has over 8,000 employees in the UK.

The company announced in January that approximately 2,500 of the total job cuts are expected to occur over the next 18 months.
Photo courtesy: IBNS

Maintaining a healthy and fit body is a requirement in Islam, which teaches a Muslim that his or her body is a gift from Allah. Yoga happens to be a common ground between Hindus and Muslims.

Ever since Sufi encounter with ancient practice of Yoga in medieval India, the confluence has withstood the tests of times and the wrath of fanatics. Today we may come across a number of Muslim yogis (Yoga practitioners) active in almost all parts of the country. They include women too.

Like facing obstacles in Muslim countries, the reception of Yoga among Indian Muslims too had to endure backlash from conservative clerics. But they were countered with a potent argument: Yoga is a science and thus religion-neutral.

Yoga, according to Ashraf F. Nizamis book Namaz, the Yoga of Islam is not a religion. Rather, it is a set of techniques and skills that enhance the practice of any religion. Nizami writes that in namaz various constituents like sijdah is like half shirshasana while qayam is vajrasana in the same way as ruku is paschimothanasana.

According to Badrul Islam, a yoga instructor at a government academy in Dehradun, one of the most obvious correspondences between Islam and yoga is the resemblance of the salat (five-time prayer a day) to the physical exercises of yoga asanas.

Badrul Islam is a yoga instructor at a government academy in Dehradun. Photo: IBNS

The root meaning of the word salat is to bend the lower back, as in yoga; the Persians translated this concept with the word namaz, from a verbal root meaning 'to bow', etymologically related to the Sanskrit word namaste.

Leading Indian seminaries and Sufi figures have lent their support to the practice of Yoga, freeing it from religious yoke. Darul Uloom Deoband, which has earlier issued fatwas against Yoga, has now mellowed down. It has established in popular imagination that Yoga today is a way of life for the followers of all religions.



Yoginis, the women practitioners

Among those who have taken the lead to popularise the ancient curative techniques is Azra Qadri, who is associated with a leading political party and doubles as a Yoga instructor. She told the media that Muslims must break social barriers and take to every positive practice that is prevalent in India.

Qadri holds a yoga class for around 32 women.

Women participation in promoting Yoga has yielded rich dividends and the number of women taking to physical exercises to stay fit has surged phenomenally in recent times. Almost every park of the cities in the country has men and women doing Yoga at different parts of the day.

PM participates in 10th International Day of Yoga celebrations at Srinagar, in Jammu and Kashmir on June 21, 2024.

Like Qadri, Tasneem Kanchawala is busy making Yoga a lay-persons guide to good health. She herself has recovered various ailments after regularly doing Yoga asanas. She overcame acute thyroid with the help of yoga and recognised its power in making a person healthy.

It was after her recovery, she made it a point to trickle in her experience to help other women of society, most specifically Muslim ladies.

"Even if you are a homemaker, yoga will help you remain fit and ward off diseases. Yoga is an important part of Indian culture and science, and when the whole world is embracing yoga we, as Indians, should not lag behind," she told The Times of India in an interview.

Yogis, the men practitioners

One of the prominent Indian Muslims who have been practicing Yoga and have written in its favour is Kaif Mahmood, who teaches Comparative Religions at Jamia Millia Islamia.

He advocates that narrowing down Yoga to its attachment to religion is belittling its therapeutic benefits. He however is not in favour of forced following of the practice.

He says that Yoga is not an ancient version of modern gym where one learns various exercises to keep the body in shape.

"Yoga  as far as it has a bodily aspect, which incidentally, is not its most important aspect  is, and always was, a method of knowing oneself through a subtle, experiential, intimate awareness of ones musculature, breath and emotions, and the links between them," he wrote in an article on explaining Yoga in www.kafila.org.

Mufti Shamoon, head of Uttarakhand Madrasa Board and a friend of Baba Ramdev, has been promoting Yoga for years. He likens the benefits of Yoga to those of namaz and roza (prayer and fasting). Self-control, piety and rhythmic momentum of the body and other spiritual gains the goals of these disciplines; he averses in his interactions at the Yoga gatherings.

Some Muslims in India have pursued Yoga with so much passion that they have almost attained perfection and are called acharya (teacher) because of their expertise. One such teacher is Acharya Rafik Khan, a 39-year-old devout Muslim, who has not let the fierce backlash and hostility from his own community affect his pursuit of Yoga.

A popular man in Hemgiri block of Sundargarh district, Acharya Khans relentless efforts to promote Yoga in the remote tribal-dominated pockets as well as his community have gradually brought the results.

Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

Taking inspiration from him, a number of Muslims have shed their inhibitions and have become ardent practitioners of Yoga.s

His pupils comprise people from all age groups, school and college students, working men and senior citizens.

"My only mission is to take Yoga to every household irrespective of religion and caste. Yoga is not religious, it's only goal is to promote physical and mental well-being among the people, he said in his interview with The New Indian Express.

Apart from above examples of Muslim men and women taking Yoga to courtyards of Indian homes, a crop of such enthusiasts is added to the list every year in a mission that mixes holy with holistic.
Photo Courtesy: Screengrab from video posted on X page of BJP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (July 21, 2024) led the nation in celebrating the 10th International Day of Yoga (IYD) by participating in the main event in Srinagar city of Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing the occasion, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude for being present in Jammu & Kashmir, the land of Yog and Sadhna, on the occasion of International Day of Yoga.

The atmosphere, energy and experience from Yoga can be felt in Jammu & Kashmir today, Modi said.

He conveyed his best wishes on the International Day of Yoga to all citizens and those practicing Yoga in different parts of the world.

Noting the 10th anniversary of International Yoga Day, the Prime Minister recalled that a record 177 countries endorsed Indias proposal in the UN.

He also mentioned subsequent records made in the context of IYD such as 35,000 people doing yoga on Kartavya Path in 2015 and more than 130 countries participating in the Yoga event led by the Prime Minister at the UN Headquarters last year.

He also expressed happiness that more than 100 institutes in India and 10 major foreign institutes have been recognized by the Yoga Certification Board formed by the Ministry of Ayush.

The Prime Minister underlined that the number of people practicing yoga is growing worldwide while its attraction is constantly on the rise.

He highlighted that yogas utility is also being recognized by the people and stated that there is barely any world leader who has not discussed yoga during his interactions.

All world leaders show a keen interest in Yoga during their interactions with me, he said.

He asserted that yoga has become a part of daily life in every corner of the world.

Throwing light on the growing acceptance of yoga around the world, the Prime Minister recalled inaugurating a Yoga Center during his visit to Turkmenistan in 2015 and that Yoga has become extremely popular in the country today.

He further informed that State Medical Universities in Turkmenistan have included Yoga therapy, Saudi Arabia has made it a part of their education system and Mongolian Yoga Foundation is running many yoga schools.

He also recalled India awarding a Padma Shree this year to a 101-year-old French yoga teacher for her contributions to yoga even though she had not visited India even once.

He further added that yoga has become a topic of research today and multiple research papers have already been published.

Touching upon the changing notions about yoga due to its expansion in the last 10 years, the Prime Minister talked about a new Yoga Economy.

He mentioned the growing attraction for yoga tourism and people's desire to visit India to learn authentic Yoga.

He also mentioned yoga retreats, resorts, dedicated facilities for yoga at airports and hotels, yoga apparels and equipment, personal yoga trainers, and companies carrying out yoga and Mindfulness wellness initiatives.

All these are creating new avenues of employment for the youth, he added.

Talking about the theme of this years IYD -Yoga for Self and Society, PM Modi said that the world is looking at yoga as a powerful agent of global good and it enables us to live in the present without the baggage of the past.

PM Modi emphasized, Yoga helps us realize that our welfare is related to the welfare of the world around us. When we are peaceful within, we can also make a positive impact on the world.

Stressing the scientific aspects of Yoga, the Prime Minister highlighted its importance for coping with information overload and maintaining focus as, he said, concentration is the greatest power.

That is why, the Prime Minister explained, yoga is being incorporated in fields ranging from army to sports.

"Astronauts are also being trained in yoga and meditation. Yoga is also being used in prisons to spread positive thoughts among the inmates," Modi said.

Yoga is scripting new pathways of positive change in the society, PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister expressed confidence that inspiration derived from yoga will give positive energy to our efforts.

The Prime Minister lauded the enthusiasm of the people of Jammu & Kashmir, especially Srinagar, towards yoga and said that it provides a platform to boost the tourism of the Union Territory.

He also praised the spirit of the people to come out and show their support despite the rainy weather conditions.

Association of 50,000 to 60,000 people with yoga program in Jammu & Kashmir is huge, he added.
Photo courtesy: UNI

New Delhi/IBNS: The Enforcement Directorate has filed a plea challenging the bail granted by a lower court to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the alleged money laundering scam linked to the liquor policy case, hours ahead of the politician's scheduled release from Tihar Jail, media reports said.

Kejriwal is expected to walk out of the jail on Friday evening.

Kejriwal's lawyer had argued that the ED had no evidence against him.

His lawyer told the Delhi court that the ED's entire case against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief rested on statements given by those who turned approver in the case.

The court denied the ED's request to allow at least 48 hours to sign the bail bond for the central agency to challenge it before the relevant court.

"The statements are of those people who have confessed to being guilty. They are not saints here. They are those who are not only tainted, but it appears that some who were arrested were given a promise of bail, and a promise of being granted pardon. Approvers.

"And there is another category who have not been arrested," Kejriwal's lawyer had said earlier today, after which the court had reserved its order, only to announce the bail around 8 pm.

"Circumstances have to be so intrinsically linked (as to) lead to the guilt. These statements by tainted persons discredit the case of prosecution. There is no evidence that  100 crore came from 'South Group'. These are all statements. There is no evidence," the Chief Minister's lawyer said.

He was referring to the ED claims that the 'South Group', a lobby from Telangana that allegedly conspired to grab liquor licenses in the national capital.

Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 over money laundering allegations while framing the Delhi liquor policy for 2021-22, which was later scrapped after the Lieutenant Governor raised red flags.

The ED has alleged the money Kejriwal got from the liquor sellers was used to fund the party's campaign in Goa since he is the convenor of the AAP.

Kejriwal and the AAP have throughout maintained the Centre has been misusing its agencies to harass the Opposition with false cases.

Kejriwal was given an interim bail in May for a brief period until June 2 for campaigning in the Lok Sabha polls.

He went back to the jail on June 2, the day next to the last phase poll date.
Photo courtesy: Arvind Kejriwal Facebook

New Delhi/IBNS: In a setback for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo in the liquor policy case, the Delhi High Court on Friday stayed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's bail order till the hearing of the Enforcement Directorate (ED)'s plea challenging the release, media reports said.

The ED on Friday filed a plea challenging Kejriwal's bail in the alleged money laundering scam linked to the liquor policy case, hours ahead of the politician's scheduled release from Tihar Jail.

Kejriwal was expected to walk out of the jail on Friday evening.

Kejriwal's lawyer had argued that the ED had no evidence against him.

His lawyer told the Delhi court that the ED's entire case against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief rested on statements given by those who turned approver in the case.

The court denied the ED's request to allow at least 48 hours to sign the bail bond for the central agency to challenge it before the relevant court.

"The statements are of those people who have confessed to being guilty. They are not saints here. They are those who are not only tainted, but it appears that some who were arrested were given a promise of bail, and a promise of being granted pardon. Approvers.

"And there is another category who have not been arrested," Kejriwal's lawyer had said earlier today, after which the court had reserved its order, only to announce the bail around 8 pm.

"Circumstances have to be so intrinsically linked (as to) lead to the guilt. These statements by tainted persons discredit the case of prosecution. There is no evidence that  100 crore came from 'South Group'. These are all statements. There is no evidence," the Chief Minister's lawyer said.

He was referring to the ED claims that the 'South Group', a lobby from Telangana that allegedly conspired to grab liquor licenses in the national capital.

Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 over money laundering allegations while framing the Delhi liquor policy for 2021-22, which was later scrapped after the Lieutenant Governor raised red flags.

The ED has alleged the money Kejriwal got from the liquor sellers was used to fund the party's campaign in Goa since he is the convenor of the AAP.

Kejriwal and the AAP have throughout maintained the Centre has been misusing its agencies to harass the Opposition with false cases.

Kejriwal was given an interim bail in May for a brief period until June 2 for campaigning in the Lok Sabha polls.

He went back to the jail on June 2, the day next to the last phase poll date.
Photo courtesy: PIB

New Delhi/IBNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the citizens of Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir at Dal Lake on the occasion of International Day of Yoga on Friday.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said the spectacle of enthusiasm and commitment shown by the people of Jammu & Kashmir towards yoga will be immortalized in the minds of people.

He underlined that the rainy weather conditions leading to a fall in the temperature failed to dampen the spirit of the people, even though the International Yoga Day program was delayed and had to be fragmented into 2-3 parts.

Post Yoga selfies in Srinagar! Unparalled vibrancy here, at the Dal Lake. pic.twitter.com/G9yxoLUkpX  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 21, 2024

Modi highlighted the importance of yoga in becoming an instinct of life for self and society and said that the benefits of yoga can be reaped when it gets associated with daily life and takes a simpler form.

Photo courtesy: PIB

The Prime Minister said that meditation, which is part of yoga, can intimidate common people due to its spiritual overtones, however, it could be understood easily as concentration and focus on things.

Slideshow: India Army performs yoga in highest battlefield Siachen as PM Modi leads the day from Kashmir

He said that this concentration and focus can be cultivated with practice and techniques. This state of mind gives great results with least tiredness and helps to avoid distractions. He said apart from the spiritual journey, which will eventually come, meditation is a tool for self-improvement and training.

"Yoga is as important, applicable and powerful for the self as it is for society," the Prime Minister emphasized.

He said that entire humanity benefits when society benefits from yoga. He recalled watching a video about a competition organized in Egypt regarding photographing or making a video on yoga at the countrys iconic tourism centers and praised the efforts of those taking part in it.

"Similarly, yoga and tourism can become a major source of employment in Jammu & Kashmir." the Prime Minister highlighted.

Photo courtesy: PIB

Concluding the address, the Prime Minister lauded the commitment of the people of Jammu & Kashmir to withstand the harsh weather conditions and come out in large numbers to show their support for the International Yoga Day, 2024 event in Srinagar.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh joined all ranks and their families for the celebrations in the ancient city of Mathura.

General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Army Staff, was also in attendance.

In Delhi, the International Day of Yoga was commemorated at Cariappa Parade Ground, Delhi Cantonment, where serving Indian Army personnel, Defence Attaches of Friendly Foreign Countries along with their families and NCC cadets participated.

The Yoga session in Delhi was led by Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi, the Vice Chief of the Army Staff.

Besides India, the International Day of Yoga was also observed by all Indian Army contingents deployed in United Nations Missions across the globe. The local population participated in the celebration in overwhelming numbers.
Photo courtesy: X/@dasadarshan

Bengaluru/IBNS: The probe into the murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy in Karnataka's Bengaluru has revealed Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa borrowed Rs. 40 lakh from his friend and paid other accused to destroy evidence, media reports said.

The actor has reportedly confessed to the police officials.

Darshan, his girlfriend Pavithra Gowda and 11 others have been arrested for allegedly planning and executing the murder.

Chilling details of the murder

The probe has found out that Renukaswamy's testicles were ruptured and had an ear missing.

Renukaswamy's face was half-eaten by dogs when the victim's body was found in the drain.

The victim was tied, beaten up with sticks and was given electric shocks before his body dumped in the drains of Kamakshipalya, probe report finds.

Genesis of the murder

According to police, the victim had posted an objectionable comment on Kannada actress Pavithra Gowda's Instagram handle accusing her of causing a rift between Thoogudeepa and his wife Vijaya Lakshmi.

This happened after Pavithra posted an Instagram video celebrating his 10-year relationship with Darshan, who has been married to Vijaya Lakshmi for 20 years.

Darshan's aides reportedly carried Renukaswamy in a taxi from Chitradurga to their Bengaluru hideout where they tortured the victim to death.

After allegedly beating to death, Renukaswamy's body was dumped in a stormwater drain at an area which falls under Kamakshipalya Police Station.

Police reportedly got to know from a food delivery man who saw a dog eating the body of the victim.
Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina visits India.Photo Courtesy: Randhir Jaiswal X page

Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina arrived in India on Friday for her State Visit at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

She is visiting the neighbouring nation from June 21 to June 22.

"This will be the first incoming bilateral State Visit after the formation of the government in India following the 18th Lok Sabha elections," read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

"During the visit, apart from holding bilateral consultations with the Prime Minister, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to call-on the President Smt. Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar," the statement said.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishanakr is scheduled to call-on the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was among the international leaders who attended the swearing-in ceremony of the Prime Minister and the Union Council of Ministers on 09 June 2024.
Shehbaz Sharif and Narendra Modi Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Common/PIB

A top US official said his nation supports direct dialogue between India and Pakistan .

He said the US believes the two countries should decide the pace, scope and character of the talks.

Speaking to reporters, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said: "We value our important relationships with both India and Pakistan. As we have said, we support direct discussions between India and Pakistan, but the pace, scope and character should be determined by those two countries, not by us."

The relationship between India and Pakistan has remained tense over the past several years.

Recently, Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif congratulated his Indian counterpart after Narendra Modi took oath as the Prime Minister of the world's largest democracy for the record third straight term.

The Pakistani PM was not reportedly invited to attend Modi's oath-taking ceremony event.

Several key leaders like Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu attended the grand ceremony after they were invited for the event.

In his positive message, former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif urged Modi that the two countries' leadership should replace hate with hope and seize the oppurtunity to shape the destiny of the two billion people of South Asia.

"My warm felicitations to Modi Ji (@narendramodi) on assuming office for the third time. Your party's success in recent elections reflects the confidence of the people in your leadership. Let us replace hate with hope and seize the oppurtunity to shape the destiny of the two billion people of South Asia," he said.
Photo Courtesy: S Jaishankar X page

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday jointly commissioned the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre.

The centre was built with an Indian grant of USD 6 million.

Jaishankar paid an official visit to Sri Lanka on June 20.

It was his first bilateral visit following his addition to the new Indian Cabinet.

It follows immediately after the visit of President Ranil Wickremesinghe to India on 09-10 June to attend the swearing in ceremony of the new government following the General Elections in India.

In the recent past, EAM visited Sri Lanka four times in January 2021, March 2022, January 2023 and October 2023.

During the visit, EAM called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and held meetings with his counterpart, Foreign Minister M.U.M Ali Sabry.

S. Jaishankar had separate meetings with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, and leaders of the various political parties from the North, East and the upcountry region.

Across party lines, a stronger India-Sri Lanka partnership was seen as beneficial for continued growth and prosperity of the peoples of both countries.

Concluded a productive visit to Sri Lanka, my first in this new term.



We will always be a reliable friend and a dependable partner for our Sri Lankan friends.  



Heres a brief look: pic.twitter.com/3Pe2TExE51  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 20, 2024

The visit of the External Affairs Minister underscores the central place Sri Lanka occupies in Indias Neighbourhood First Policy and SAGAR Vision.

Following Sri Lankas economic recovery and stabilization, forging deeper long-term economic cooperation was underlined as a priority for sustainable and equitable growth of Sri Lanka, and mutual prosperity in the Indian Ocean Region.
Photo Courtesy: Neha Dhupia Instagram page

It is International Yoga Day and several Bollywood stars set fitness goals for their fans by performing the traditional exercise practice.

They shared their images and videos on Instagram platforms which will surely drive you to adopt the habit in your daily lifestyle.

Known for practising yoga, Shilpa Shetty Kundra posted on Instagram: " Every emotion is connected with the breath. If you change the breath and its rhythm with awareness, you can change the emotion This Yoga Day, lets make every breath count ."

She may not have shared today her daily regime of practising yoga, but Dunki actress Taapsee Pannu practices the age-old exercise and often shares image of it on social media platforms.

Slideshow: India Army performs yoga in highest battlefield Siachen as PM Modi leads the day from Kashmir

Last year, she posted an image of her yoga session and wrote on Instagram: " The calm before the storm."

Vowing to practise yoga everyday, actress Neha Dhupia gave a strong message to her fans on Instagram: "Practise your practise everyday . Its never too early to start or too late to stop  #yogaforeveryone #internationalyogaday."

Actress Malaika Arora Khan, who is known for setting an unparalleled fitness standards, added her video of performing yoga and wrote on the platform: " Gratitude post .. #internationalyogaday."

Chak De India actor Vidya Malvade urged fans to keep themselves fit by practising yoga and wrote on Instagram: " Practice with me this.. #INTERNATIONALYOGADAY For me its Today & everyday on & off the mat. #happyinternationalyogaday."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the citizens of Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir at Dal Lake on the occasion of International Day of Yoga on Friday.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said the spectacle of enthusiasm and commitment shown by the people of Jammu & Kashmir towards yoga will be immortalized in the minds of people.

The Yoga session in Delhi was led by Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi, the Vice Chief of the Army Staff.Besides India, the International Day of Yoga was also observed by all Indian Army contingents deployed in United Nations Missions across the globe. The local population participated in the celebration in overwhelming numbers.

(Photo Courtesy: Vidya malvade,Shilpa Shetty Kundra,Neha Dhupia,Malaika Arora,Taapsee Pannu Instagram pages)
Photo Courtesy: Rob Lowe X page

Canadian actor Donald Sutherland, who worked in movies like The Italian Job and Pride & Prejudice, has died after a prolonged illness.

He was 88.

His son and actor Kiefer Sutherland announced the death of his father and posted on X: "With a heavy heart, I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away. "

With a heavy heart, I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away. I personally think one of the most important actors in the history of film. Never daunted by a role, good, bad or ugly. He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more pic.twitter.com/3EdJB03KKT  Kiefer Sutherland (@RealKiefer) June 20, 2024

"I personally think one of the most important actors in the history of film. Never daunted by a role, good, bad or ugly. He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more than that. A life well lived," he said.

The actor has worked in movies across a career spanning more than half a century.

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau described the actor as one of the 'greats'.

Weve lost one of the greats. Donald Sutherland brought a level of brilliance to his craft few could match. A remarkable, legendary actor  and a great Canadian. My thoughts are with his loved ones. Rest in peace, Donald.  Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) June 20, 2024

" Weve lost one of the greats. Donald Sutherland brought a level of brilliance to his craft few could match. A remarkable, legendary actor  and a great Canadian. My thoughts are with his loved ones. Rest in peace, Donald," the PM posted on X.

Today we lost one of our greatest actors, Donald Sutherland. It was my honor to work with him many years ago, and I will never forget his charisma and ability. If you want a master class in acting, watch him in Ordinary People. My condolences to Kiefer. pic.twitter.com/qjMz69Nraq  Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) June 20, 2024

Saying Donald Sutherland's charisma will not be forgotten, actor Rob Lowe said, "Today we lost one of our greatest actors, Donald Sutherland. It was my honor to work with him many years ago, and I will never forget his charisma and ability. If you want a master class in acting, watch him in Ordinary People. My condolences to Kiefer."

Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, and later moving to Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Sutherland rose to fame after starring in films such as The Dirty Dozen (1967), M*A*S*H (1970), and Kelly's Heroes (1970). He subsequently starred in many films both in leading and supporting roles, including Start the Revolution Without Me (1970), Klute (1971), Don't Look Now (1973), The Day of the Locust (1975), Fellini's Casanova (1976), The Eagle Has Landed (1976), 1900 (1976), Animal House (1978), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), Ordinary People (1980), Eye of the Needle (1981), A Dry White Season (1989), Backdraft (1991), JFK (1991), Six Degrees of Separation (1993), Without Limits and Fallen with Denzel Washington (1998), The Italian Job (2003), and Pride & Prejudice (2005). More recently, Sutherland portrayed President Snow in The Hunger Games franchise.
Photo Caption: UNRWA/Fadi

Desperate shortages of essentials in Gaza have left the enclaves most vulnerable individuals struggling to carry on amid stifling heat, heavy fighting, disease spread and a breakdown in law and order, UN humanitarians warned on Thursday.

In an alert, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) reiterated deep concerns that people uprooted by ongoing hostilities in southern Gaza remain traumatized and are crammed into a narrow area along the beach in the burning summer heat.

The UN agencys Deputy Executive Director, Carl Skau previously noted that active conflict and lawlessness have made it near impossible for WFP and its partners to meet the soaring needs.

Visible signs of wasting

Among the alarming shortages facing the people of Gaza, UN aid coordination office, OCHA, highlighted a lack of milk and formula for babies, along with nutritional supplements for children and pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Despite visible signs of wasting among children, no nutrition screenings have been conducted to assess the scale of malnutrition and treat identified cases due to limited capacity, the UN agency noted in its latest report published late Wednesday.

Antenatal and postnatal care is also unavailable and some displacement sites have medical points that operate only a few hours a day without an adequate supply of medicines and reports of emergency deliveries taking place in tents with no medical support at late hours during the night, the UN agency explained.

Rafah emptied

Meanwhile, in the southernmost governorate of Rafah, people continue to be displaced amidst active fighting and bombardment, OCHA said. It cited estimates by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, that only around 65,000 people remain in Rafah governorate. Six weeks ago, before Israeli evacuation orders and military operations which have crippled aid relief work, the area hosted 1.4 million.

At displacement sites, internally displaced persons are living in overcrowded makeshift shelters and tents which are in dire need of repair and do not offer any protection from extreme heat, OCHA said, citing latest assessments covering four sites in Deir al Balah, Khan Younis and Al Mawasi - a total population of more than 130,000 people.

In a related development, OCHA also reported that for the first time since early June, five fuel trucks entered Gaza. But supplies remain scarce as no fuel had been delivered in the Strip for the past two weeks.

Aid stores hit

According to WFP's Mr. Skau who visited Gaza last week, one million displaced people in south Gaza remain trapped, without clean water or sanitation. Its a public health and protection disaster.

In northern Gaza, he noted that aid deliveries have improved although people need a variety of more nutritious food. But delivering lifesaving relief is increasing difficult, as UN 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, Mr. Skau continued, amid scenes of large-scale destruction, rivers of sewage (and) traumatized and exhausted peoplefrom the south to the northernmost tip of the Strip.

Meanwhile, OCHA said that ground incursions and heavy fighting continue to be reported in locations including Beit Hanoun, south of Gaza city, eastern Deir al Balah, northeastern Khan Younis, as well as in central and southern Rafah.

Deadly harvest

Latest UN assessments also indicate that in addition to the lack of access in southern Gaza to shelter, health, fresh food, water and sanitation, more than half of the enclaves cropland has been damaged.

This has severely disrupted Gazas food supply chain, warned the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the UN Satellite Centre (UNOSAT), in its review of croplands, greenhouses and other agricultural structures.

Although more than 40 per cent of the Gaza Strips total area is covered by fields, vegetable plantations and orchards - about 150 square kilometres (93 square miles) the UN agencies highlighted a significant decline in crop potential from razing, heavy vehicle movement, bombing, shelling and other conflict-related operations.

As of May this year, about 57 per cent of Gazas cropland is estimated to have been damaged, compared to more than 40 per cent in mid-February, according to FAO and UNOSAT.

Hundreds of agricultural structures have also been damaged, FAO said, including 537 home barns, 484 broiler farms, 397 sheep farms and 256 agricultural warehouses, in addition to almost half of Gazas agricultural wells (1,049 out of 2,261) as of 20 May.

Latest data from the Gazan health authorities indicates that at least 37,396 Palestinians have been killed and 85,523 injured in the enclave.
Photo Courtesy: Fawad Chaudhry X page

A Pakistani mob killed a man after he allegedly desecrated the Holy Quran in Madyan area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday.

Eight people were injured in the unrest, according to Swat District Police Officer (DPO) Dr Zahidullah Khan, reported Dawn News.

He said the police had moved the suspect of the alleged desecration incident to the police station but a charged mob attacked the police station and took the suspect away.

And the madness continues. We are hell bent to commit Suicide as a Society #Extremism https://t.co/FVc7IGBcoX  Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) June 20, 2024

People set fire to the police station and a mobile vehicle, the DPO said, adding that the suspect was torched.

An investigation into the incident is currently going on.

Several videos of the incident have now gone viral on the social media where a mob could be seen standing close to a body on fire.

Madyan is considered as a popular domestic tourist spot in Pakistan's Swat Valley.

Former information minister Fawad Chaudhry expressed his displeasure over the incident and posted on X: "And the madness continues. We are hell bent to commit Suicide as a Society #Extremism."

Minorities in Pakistan have been targeted on various occasions ever since former President of Pakistan Gen Ziaul Haq made blasphemy punishable by death.

At least 2,120 persons are reported to have been accused of committing blasphemy between 1987 and 2022, reported Dawn News.

Police saved a Christian man in Sargodha from an enraged mob after he was alleged to have desecrated the Holy Quran.

He died later due to the injuries he suffered.
The flag of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Several Ahmadiyya Muslim community members in Pakistan were detained for allegedly sacrificing animals during Eid-ul Adha celebration earlier this week.

Under the country's constitution, the community is considered as non-Muslims.

The Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan, which represents the minority community in the country, strongly protested against the authorities for allegedly preventing Ahmadis from offering their religious rites within the confinement of their homes during Eid, reported WION news channel's website.

According to Amir Mehmood, a spokesperson for the Jamaat Ahmadiyya in Pakistan, at least nine FIRs were registered across Punjab against members of the community, reported Dawn News.

Data collected by the spokesperson claimed that three FIRs were filed in Sheikhupura, while one each was filed in Gujranwala, Rahim Yar Khan, Toba Tek Singh and Sargodha.

In a conversation with Dawn.com today, CPO Saleem said the detainees were asked to not perform any ritual similar to Muslims, but the special branch and police security teams found some of them violating the law.

He said they had provided security to 16 Ahmadiyya worship places in Gujranwala where they freely observed their religious rituals, adding that the police had detained some to maintain the law and order while no animal was taken into custody by the police.

Saleem said the district administration had issued six-day detention orders for some Ahmadis, however, they had written to the district administration to issue their release orders as Eid had passed peacefully.
Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

At least 10 picnickers were allegedly kidnapped by unknown armed men in the Quetta region of Pakistan.

According to officials, a large number of people went to the Shaban area for picnic the other day, during which a group of armed men encircled the mountains and started checking the national identity cards of the picnickers, reported Dawn News.

An eyewitness told Dawn News that the armed men later released four individuals, but took away 10 people whose national identity cards showed addresses in Punjab.

A customs official was also among the 10 kidnapped people who went to Shaban for picnic, an official told the newspaper.

Security forces reached the spot and commenced investigation into the incident.

Security forces have launched a search operation in a nearby mountainous area to trace the kidnappers, the official said.

Banned Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the incident.
In a world where stereotypes continue to persist, actress Shruti Haasan recently took a bold stand against a comment that attempted to reduce South Indian identity to a cliche. Known for her dynamic roles in both Bollywood and South Indian cinema, Shruti is not one to shy away from speaking her mind, and her latest response is a testament to her bold personality.

Shruti Haasan shuts down Instagram user with an epic reply

Instagram

The actress who has recently broken up with her boyfriend Santanu Hazarika hosted an AMA session on Instagram where fans asked her many questions. One of them, however, asked her to speak in South Indian accent. To be precise, the user wrote to her, "Say something in South Indian accent."

Kamal Haasan's daughter wasn't impressed with this, she called out the micro racism and wrote, "Ok... So This sort of micro racism is not ok And its not ok when you look at us and say idli dosa sambar either. And no you dont imitate us well so dont try and be funny."

Also Read: Orry Says Shruti Haasan Showed Him 'Unnecessary Attitude' And Was Rude, Hints She Is Married

Born Tamilian, Shruti is upset with South Indians being mocked both on and off screen.

When Shah Rukh Khan called Ram Charan Idli Vada

SRK calling Ram Charan and Salman and Aamir joined pic.twitter.com/BsGbHhOUoW  Aman (@amanaggar02) March 3, 2024

This incident is not an isolated one. Many actors from the South Indian film industry have faced similar remarks and have spoken out against them. This reminds us of a recent incident when Shah Rukh Khan had called Ram Charan "Idli vada" during Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's pre-wedding bash in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The actor and his wife's make-up artist was so miffed with this that she walked out of the party and later posted about this on Instagram.

Also Read: Make-Up Artist Walks Out Of Ambani Bash After Shah Rukh Khan's 'Disrespectful' Remark Towards Ram Charan

Micro racism against South Indians

The daughter of legendary actors Kamal Haasan and Sarika, Shruti's clap back is a reminder of the deep-rooted biases that still exist in society, where even in casual conversations, people often overlook the impact of their words. The reference to "idli sambhar dosa" isn't just about food; it's a symbol of how South Indians are often unfairly typecast. Shruti's stand is a call for everyone to appreciate and respect the rich cultural diversity that India has to offer and not mock it both on or off-screen.



For more news and updates from the world of celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.


There is a large section of people around us who believe that ancient humans have been contacted by aliens. According to the proponents of such theories, the relics of several unexplained ancient megastructures are proof of such contacts between humans and aliens in the past. One such place that has attracted UFO and alien enthusiasts from across the world is Skara Brae, a prehistoric settlement in modern-day Scotland.

What is Skara Brae

Located on the Bay of Skaill in the Orkney archipelago, Skara Brae is a stone-built Neolithic settlement that is believed to have been occupied from roughly 3180 BC to about 2500 BC. It consisted of ten clustered houses, made of flagstones, in earthen dams that provided support for the walls.

Also read: Time Traveller Warns 'Hostile Aliens Will Infiltrate The Governments And Start A War Against Humanity'

Ancient Scotland

Signs of aliens in Skara Brae

There are others who argue that such ancient stone circles were designed to ward off extraterrestrial invasions. According to Ron Halliday, a paranormal investigator, sites like the Skara Brae settlement and Maeshowe, an old cairn on Mainland Orkney, came about as a response to possible alien landings. "There are some Pictish stones with pictures of folk kind of fleeing away from things. I thought maybe this kind of thing represents an attack from the sky," he said.

Ancient Scotland

Protection from nuclear war

According to him, the possible use of these ancient structures has never been satisfactorily explained by modern archaeologists. "There are questions about whether Skara Brae or Maeshowe on Orkney were intended as protection from nuclear war and an ancient battle with aliens. These structures could represent something entirely different from what some archaeologists make out they are," he said.



Also read: Expert Reviews Chilling Video Of 8ft-tall 'Aliens' In Cloaks Walking Around Yard In US

Ancient Scotland

Signals to aliens

He also suggested that the brochsstone towersmight have connections to alien invaders, and their beginnings are similar to the construction of the pyramids. "These could be signals to aliens to attract their attention or to recognize that we knew there were aliens out there and that we had been visited by them," he argued.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
A Dutch model and social media influencer who made her potential boyfriends fill out an application has reportedly rejected them all. The London-based woman, Vera Dijkmans, had reportedly received around 5,000 responses, but none of them ended up becoming her boyfriend, and she is still single.

Inviting applications for boyfriend

It all began last year when Dijkmans announced via TikTok that she was taking applications from men wanting to become her boyfriend. The potential suitors had to fill out a 15-question quiz to see if they lived up to her high expectations, including whether they still live with their parents, whether or not they own a car, and more.

Also read: Italys 'Most Handsome Man' Gives Up Flourishing Modelling Career To Become Priest

Twitter

Only three were appealing

She then went through the thousands of boyfriend applications and rejected most of them. Only three proved to be appealing, and she went on dates with them. "I'd say I received around 5,000 applications, but after going through most of them, I found just three guys who I thought were suitable. I went on a date with them  but I'm currently still single," she said.

There was one famous applicant

Talking about the applications she received, Dijkmans said there were many weird guys and even a famous one. "I had to filter through quite a lot of strange applications. One man offered to send me a sample of his blood and asked for mine in return  which I ignored. I also had a famous person slide into my DMs; I cant say who it is, but I definitely didnt expect it! Most of the applicants were from Texas, and a lot of them had the Aquarius star sign," she said.

Also read: Woman who missed her flight sues boyfriend for failing to drive her to airport

Twitter

Maybe I will do it again

Despite failing to find herself a boyfriend from the thousands of applications she received, Dijkmans is not disheartened and is willing to give it another shot. "I wouldnt do another application process online. If I do it again, I will probably make it a real-life event," she said.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
A couple from New Zealand have broken up and gotten into a court battle after a woman missed out on attending a concert she had planned to attend. The woman blamed her ex-boyfriend for her missing the flight and sued him. According to the unnamed woman, her boyfriend at the time was supposed to drive her to the airport, but he failed to do so.

Boyfriend filed to drive her to airport

In her complaint, the woman alleged that the man, with whom she had been in a relationship for six years, had agreed verbally to pick her up and drive her to the airport. But he failed to do so, resulting in the woman missing her flight. According to her, she had to arrange another pick-up for the following day.

Also read: CA Boyfriend's Breakup Invoice To Girlfriend Includes EMI Option

Unsplash

Financial losses

She further alleged that her boyfriend had also agreed to stay at her house while she was away and look after her dogs, which he also did not do. Following this, the woman had to incur an additional cost to put her dogs into a kennel.

Agreement is legally-binding

The woman said she ended up paying for the fare and claimed the man would reimburse her. Arguing that the verbal agreement between her and her boyfriend was legally binding, she took her boyfriend to the Disputes Tribunal, demanding that she be compensated for her losses.

What the court said

However, the Tribunal held that while a promise was made, it fell short of being a contract, with the promises exchanged as a normal give and take in a relationship. Partners, friends, and colleagues make social arrangements, but it is unlikely they can be legally enforced unless the parties perform some act that demonstrates an intention that they will be bound by their promises.

Also read: Prenup Not Legally Enforceable In India, Says Court

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When friends fail to keep their promises, the other person may suffer a financial consequence, but it may be that they cannot be compensated for that loss, the judge said.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Priyanka Chopra's previously-backed restaurant, Sona, located in New York, is set to permanently shut down. Renowned for its modern take on Indian cuisine, the restaurant will conclude its operations with a final brunch service scheduled for June 30th.



The announcement of the restaurant's closure follows nearly 10 months after Priyanka Chopra ended her partnership and withdrew from the establishment. This update was communicated through a post on Instagram.

Sona restaurant had a three-year run

The restaurant released a statement on June 19 announcing the end of its chapter. It read,

After more than three remarkable years, Sona will be closing. We have immense gratitude for everyone who walked through our doors. Its been our greatest honour to serve you. It further added, SONAs final service will be brunch on Sunday, June 30.

Three years ago, Priyanka Chopra inaugurated the restaurant with a puja ceremony. It was often frequented by celebrities, such as Mindy Kaling, Anupam Kher, Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif.

The restaurant offered authentic Indian dishes like roast chicken, pumpkin kofta and paneer lababdar. They also offered eclectic cocktails.

Priyanka Chopra co-founded the restaurant in New York with Maneesh Goyal. She frequently showcased the establishment on her social media platforms, highlighting beautifully plated dishes, diverse food offerings, and unique items like vodka pani puri. The specific reason for its closure has not been disclosed yet.

Also Read: Basketball Court To Home Theatre: Inside Priyanka Chopra And Nick Jonas's Rs 166 Crore Lavish LA Mansion

Speculations suggested Priyanka Chopra withdrew from the restaurant after two years due to a rift with her business partner, Maneesh Goyal.

After two years since its opening, Priyanka Chopra ended her partnership with SONA amid reports of a rift with her business partner, Maneesh Goyal.

The restaurateur announced that while Priyanka moved away from the business, her fingerprints were all over SONA. She would continue to remain part of the SONA family despite no longer being a creative partner moving forward.

In 2023, an official statement from Priyankas representatives read, Bringing Sona to life will invariably be a proud and significant moment in her career. Priyanka has always endeavoured to bring Indian culture to the fore through storytelling, whether thats via engaging content for film and TV, or a beautifully plated dish that embodies the haute cuisine of India.

At that time, Maneesh said that collaborating with Priyanka has been a dream come true.

We are grateful for her partnership and support. While she will no longer be involved as a creative partner, she remains part of the Sona family, and we look forward to our respective new chapters ahead, he said in a statement to People.

Also Read: Priyanka Chopra's Rome Affair: The Price Of 200-Carat Bulgari Necklace Will Make Your Jaw Drop!

sona home

A month after her departure, speculation continued regarding the circumstances surrounding Chopra's exit. Many believed that the Diwali fiasco added to it.



According to a report by Page Six, PCs close friend Anjula Acharia and business partner Maneesh Goyal hosted a joint Diwali bash in 2022. However, in 2023 Acharia wanted to host her own party while Goyal was bent on hosting a separate one. This situation had put Priyanka Chopra in a fix. People close to her, revealed to the publication that she felt that she was made to pick sides similar to a post-divorce holiday dilemma - "It's like, who's going to Mom's party and who's going to Dad's?"

When Goyal was asked to comment on the dual events, he had responded, "I'm thrilled that after co-hosting with Ms. Acharia, the wonderful South Asian community is large and vibrant enough to warrant two events. I'm so looking forward to both events and the Diwali season ahead."

As per grapevine, bankruptcy issues could be the reason behind permanent closure of Sona

Following the announcement, speculation arose about potential bankruptcy issues influencing the closure of the restaurant. Unconfirmed reports floating on reddit suggested that their annual earnings were approximately equivalent to Rs. 50 crore. Prices for items ranged from Rs. 4000 to Rs. 10,000, depending on the type of cuisine offered.

In its short span, Sona had managed to get Michelin recognition as well.

architectural digest

In October 2022, Priyanka had posted about it on her Instagram stories along with a screenshot of a news article announcing Michelin's list of 30 new NYC restaurants, which included Sona. PeeCee wrote in her story, "Bravo @sonanewyork, Were starting the week strong with Michelin's recognition."



What is a Michelin star?

Michelin started its prestigious red guide back in 1900, which included anonymous reviews of European restaurants that focused on the quality and flavour of food. Today, Michelin stars are considered as a stamp of authenticity, and utmost quality of fine dining and food by the worlds top chefs and restaurant patrons. This is because it isnt easy to obtain the recognition, given that only the best restaurants in town win the recognition.

Now with Sona in the league, it is certainly a big achievement for Priyanka and the restaurants team, spearheaded by Chef Hari Nayak.
In the past few days, there have been several reports making the rounds that Indian millionaires are considering moving abroad.

The emigration of High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs) from India is influenced by diverse factors such as the pursuit of enhanced lifestyles, safer living conditions, and access to superior health and educational facilities.

Cut to this Indian founder, who has decided to move back to Bengaluru from Singapore because its way too perfect.

Aakash Dharmadhikari, co-founder of AI platform Realfast, announced his decision to relocate from Singapore to Bengaluru, expressing a desire for his family, particularly his daughter, to experience life's uncertainties. Dharmadhikari shared his thoughts on social media platform X, highlighting how the perceived perfection of life in Singapore influenced his move back to India.

Indian market/Revv

Dharmadhikari clarified that he and his wife aimed to expose their daughter to life's unpredictability, an experience she hadn't encountered in Singapore. "Partly we are shifting to Bangalore to get my daughter used to uncertainties of life. Singapore is just way too perfect, and we thought its making her soft," he wrote.



The entrepreneur shared that he and his family miss the chaotic nature of life in India

Having spent seven years in Singapore, Dharmadhikari humorously admitted that he and his family had grown accustomed to the city's orderliness, forgetting the chaotic nature of life in India, he said, "Unfortunately we also had forgotten what the Indian chaos feels like.. turns out we have also become soft."

Dharmadhikari embarked on his professional journey as a software engineer with Infosys in 2005, as outlined on his LinkedIn profile. Over the course of nearly two decades, he has held diverse roles, primarily in Bengaluru during the early years of his career. Starting from September 2017, Dharmadhikari has been residing in Singapore.

Partly we are shifting to Bangalore to get my daughter used to uncertainties of life. Singapore is just way too perfect, and we thought its making her soft. Unfortunately we also had forgotten what the Indian chaos feels like.. turns out we have also become soft   aakash dharmadhikari (@aakashd) June 20, 2024

Internet has mixed reactions to this

In response to his announcement on X, users shared varied reactions and advice. Some empathized with his decision, acknowledging the cultural and emotional challenges of living abroad. Others cautioned him to reconsider, citing the potential difficulties of life in Bengaluru.



One user remarked, Life in Bangalore is way tougher than other cities of India. Its particularly tough due to reduced mobility due to high traffic.

Dharmadhikari replied to the above comment citing his determination to move back especially Bengaluru, because he has friends over there.

Another user commented, "Moved back from the US in 1996 and loved it! It isnt about the place or your daughter, its about where your heart feels at home because thats what you offer to your daughter  pray that you find yourself here"

Also Read: Insane ROI, tech startup CEO sends pizzas worth Rs 12.5 lakh to potential clients, earns Rs 8.3 crore in revenue

This isnt the only reason, he shared that he also misses eccentric and passionate conversations that he had in Bengaluru

While replying to a user, Dharmadhikari also gave one more reason to move to India. "To be clear - this wasnt the primary reason for us though, I was missing the eccentric and passionate conversations I routinely have in Bangalore. I wanted to work with people I worked with here the past decade, I was missing that in Singapore," the co-founder wrote.
Whether you're a movie enthusiast or not, the name Amitabh Bachchan resonates with every Indian around the world. A Bollywood megastar, Bachchan has been captivating audiences for fifty-five years. Even at 82, he remains one of the busiest actors in India, juggling multiple projects including films, advertisements, and the show Kaun Banega Crorepati.

Recently, he made headlines with his upcoming movie Kalki 2898 AD, whose trailer was launched a few days ago. Bachchan is also one of the wealthiest actors in the country and owns a collection of luxury cars. Lets take a look at the top five luxury cars owned by Amitabh Bachchan.

READ ALSO: Meet Navya Naveli Nanda: Granddaughter Of Amitabh Bachchan, Leading Change In The Family's Tractor Business

1. Bentley Continental GT

The Bentley Continental GT is one of the most luxurious cars in the world. It features a 6.0-litre 12-cylinder engine that delivers 644 bhp and 900 Nm of peak torque. The Continental GT range is priced between Rs 5.23  8.45 crore (ex-showroom).

2. Lexus LX 570

Bachchan owns both a Toyota Land Cruiser and its luxury version, the Lexus LX 570. This car has a 5.7-litre V8 engine producing 383 horsepower and 700 Nm of peak torque.

Lexus LX 570

3. Rolls Royce Phantom VII

Amitabh Bachchan is known to be a true Rolls Royce fan, having owned several models from the British brand over the years. The top choice among them is the Rolls Royce Phantom VII. Powered by a massive 6.75-litre V12 engine that generates 563 bhp and 900 Nm of peak torque, the Phantom range is priced between Rs 9.00 to 10.50 crore (ex-showroom).

4. Mini Cooper S

The Mini Cooper S is likely the smallest car in Bachchans collection, gifted to him by his son Abhishek. It has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 189 horsepower and features a special number plate ending with 2882.

5. Land Rover Defender

The newest addition to Bachchans garage is a Land Rover Defender. He was recently seen driving his new stylish SUV, a gift to himself on his last birthday. The Defender he was driving is the top-of-the-line Defender 130 in a custom maroon shade. Prices for the Defender 130 range from Rs 1.39 to Rs 1.46 crore (ex-showroom).

Land Rover Defender amitabh bachchan | DriveSpark

READ ALSO: Ghadi Detergent Powder Owner Is UP's Richest Man With Rs 12,000 Cr Net Worth, This Is His Story!

For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here
A 55-year-old man in the village of Myrtia, in NW Peloponnese, who was helping firefighters died on Friday.

According to information, the man fell ill while he was helping put out with the fire in Alpochori, Ilia prefecture. An ambulance transported him to the Hospital of Pyrgos, where he was pronounced dead after failed efforts to revive him.

Meanwhile, the health

authorities placed the hospitals of Patras, Pyrgos, and the Argolid on alert.

The fire in Chanaki, Ilia, has been pronounced "out of control" by Deputy Regional Governor Nikos Korovesis, who additionally said that the fire in Alpochori burned homes. In the latter case, efforts are made to prevent it from spreading to the Agios Ilias coast, site of a dense forest and several homes.

A new emergency message was sent through 112 to ask residens of Skafidia and Agios Ilias to evacuate towards Pyrgos.

   iefimerida.gr
The Kano State Police Commissioner, Usaini Gumel, has responded to Governor Abba Yusufs directive on the eviction of the deposed Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero.

Recall that Yusuf on Thursday night, through the State Attorney General And Commissioner of Justice, Haruna Dederi, directed the CP to remove the deposed 15th Emir of Kano from the Nasarawa mini palace.

However, Gumel, in a chat with Punch on Friday, said obeying Governor Yusufs eviction order would be equivalent to jumping the gun.

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According to Gumel, the same government that gave the order had filed a case at the State High Court on the eviction order, which would come up on Monday, 24th June 2024.

His words: The police will not evict the deposed Emir because the same government has filed a case at the State High Court on the eviction order, which would come up on Monday, 24th June 2024.

READ ALSO: Kano Govt Orders Police To Evict Dethroned Bayero From Palace

The government is jumping the gun because the same government has filed a case on the eviction order, which is coming up on the 24th of June, 2024. So, if we carry out the order, it is like we are pre-empting the court because we dont know what will happen at the court.

While the Police had yet to comply with the Yusufs directive, one of Bayeros supporters, who spoke with the platform, confirmed the deposed Emir was still in the mini palace receiving the traditional greetings from some traditional rulers loyal to him.

The supporter also debunked the report that a bulldozer has been stationed at the palace in readiness to demolish the place.

The source said, Let me tell you, Emir Aminu Ado Bayero is still in the mini palace and as I am talking to you now, he is receiving the traditional greetings from those loyal to him.

I heard that there is a rumour going around in some quarters that a bulldozer has been stationed at the Nasarawa mini palace ahead of the demolition. This is a social media propaganda.


The All Progressives Congress (APC) says Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, is the architect of the crisis in the State.

This was said in reaction to a comment by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alleging plots to take over the government of Rivers forcefully.

In a Thursday statement, Felix Morka, APCs National spokesperson , said the opposition party made the fake claim without addressing the issues bedevilling the State.

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According to him, since assuming office, Fubara has shown a disdain for the rule of law.

Quite contrary to the PDPs misplaced quibbles against Chief Okochas comments, Governor Siminalayi Fubara is the supreme architect of the horrific crisis rocking Rivers State.

Since assuming office over a year ago, Governor Fubara has displayed reckless disdain for the rule of law and democratic institutions and conducted his government in flagrant violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In an unprecedented display of autocratic arrogance, Governor Fubara declared the democratically elected Rivers state House of Assembly to be non-existent and, without lawful authority, constituted a bogus and an illegal 3-man sham Assembly in brazen violation of express provisions of the Constitution on the threshold composition of the House of Assembly and in disregard of the separation of powers doctrine.

READ ALSO: Your Plan To Takeover Rivers Has Failed  PDP Replies APC Over Call For State Of Emergency

The Governor has continued to expend public funds without lawful appropriations by a duly constituted legislature, thereby undermining the will of the good people of Rivers State and their right to effective and accountable democratic governance, the statement reads.

He said a serious and focused Governor would have set a clear programme to conduct local government elections in the State.

Asides Fubaras rift with Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which has torn apart the Rivers House of Assembly, the State is witnessing a crisis at the local government level.

On Tuesday, Fubara asked the heads of Local Government (LG) administration to assume control of the 23 council areas of the state following the tenure expiration of the Chairmen.

Despite the Governors directive, some former LG chairmen reportedly attempted to resume duty at the council secretariats but were chased away by youths.

The development sparked political tension in Rivers as residents protested at the LGA secretariats while police officers fired multiple shots into the air to disperse protesters.

Although the Governor has sworn in caretaker committee chairs for the LGAs, they have not been allowed to assume their offices.
A Point of Sale operator (POS) has been killed by gunmen on Thursday in the teaching hospital district of Ado Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State.

On the same day, the assailants killed a wheelbarrow pusher selling rice in the state capitals Oja Bisi district.

According to sources, the attackers arrived on a motorbike and shot the PoS operator before making off with his money and other belongings.

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The source, who was familiar with the matter, said, The PoS operator had just arrived for the days business when the gunmen attacked him and left him in a pool of his blood.

The source further stated that police officers who came on the site shortly after took the PoS operators body to the hospital.

According to sources, assailants on motorcycles shot and killed the rice hawker in the market area.

Another source said, Traders were shocked and had to flee for safety. The development forced traders and passersby to flee for safety.

READ MORE: Blessing CEO Compares Betting To Yahoo, Calls for Prohibition Of Platforms In Nigeria

The Ekiti Police Command Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, who confirmed the incidents, said, Immediately we got the information, we deployed our men to the scenes, the body of the victims had been recovered to the morgue.

The Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, Mr Adeniran Akinwale, has ordered an investigation into the incidents so that those who perpetrated the incidents can be brought to book.
Kanayo Kanayo, a Nollywood actor, has issued a warning and clarion call to Nollywood movie makers over fast-rising actress Angel Unigwe.

The actress mother was criticised by the veteran in a video that he uploaded to his Instagram page on Friday for supposedly holding movie producers ransom.

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He claimed to have heard accounts of her mothers behaviour but had not believed them until it happened to him.

According to him, he hired the actress for an upcoming film and established an arrangement with her mother, which she broke.

In a note to film producers, Kanayo warned them not to cast the actress in any films or risk having their set interrupted by him.

READ MORE: God Called Me Because Of My Stubbornness, You Cant Do His Work Without It  Pastor Yul Edochie Reveals

In his words,

I am making this video to protect the entertainment industry in Nigeria. A particular woman has been holding producers to ransoms and it is unfortunate it has happened to me. Unfortunately she is Angel Unigwes mother. A contract is breached by every producers, orally or written and its all respected but I found out that immediately this woman takes money from you, everything changes. She took her daughter at 9pm when the particular date that we agreed hasnt expired. She came at 9pm and took her daughter

I have gotten reports from people before it happened to me. This is a Clarion call to producers, I beg you in the name of professionalism, from this moment to the first day of July, 2024 any set that employs the services of Angel Unigwe, I will come to that set and make sure filming doesnt hold. Her mother has been threatening many producers.

Watch him speak below


The Kano State Government, on Thursday, directed the police to remove Aminu Ado Bayero, the 15th Emir of Kano, from the Nassarawa mini palace with immediate effect.

State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had issued a similar directive when Ado Bayero returned to the state two days after his dethronement.

At the time, he ordered police to arrest the dethroned monarch whom he accused of fueling tension, but more soldiers were deployed in the mini palace to provide security for Ado Bayero.

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However, State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Haruna Isah Dederi, addressing journalists at Government House, Kano, said the dethroned monarch should be evicted because all is set for the reconstruction and renovation of the property.

READ ALSO: Court Sacks Emir Sanusi, Halts Implementation Of New Emirate Law In Kano

His words: By the ruling of the Court, it has unequivocally. reaffirmed the validity of the law passed by Kano State House of Assembly and assented to by His Excellency the Executive Governor of Kano State on Thursday 23rd May, 2024 by 5:10pm. This part of the judgement is very fundamental to the entire matter.

Further implication of the ruling is that all actions done by the Government before the emergence of the interim order of the honorable Court, are equally validated. This means that, the abolishing of the Five emirates created in 2019 is validated and the deposition of the Five emirs is also sustained by the Federal High Court. By implication this means that Muhammadu Sanusi II remains the emir of Kano.

Following this Courts ruling, Kano State Government has directed the State Commissioner of Police to remove the deposed emir of the 8 metropolitan local governments from the Government property where he is trespassing as Government has already concluded arrangements for the general reconstruction and renovation of the property including the demolishing and reconstruction of the dilapidated wall fence with immediate effect.
A pregnant woman named Mrs Ogunbunmi has reportedly been kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in Ogun State.

Mrs. Ogunbunmi, who is due for delivery, was alleged to have left her home in Oke Lantoro for the State General Hospital in Ijaiye, Abeokuta.

According to reports, her husband, Ogunbunmi Lateef, claimed to have received a WhatsApp message informing him of his wifes kidnap by the abductors.

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In a statement issued on Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the occurrence and stated that the suspected kidnapping was reported to the Command.

READ MORE: Ojude Oba Festival: No One Is Interested In Your Fashion Parade; End Cultism, Money Rituals In Ogun  Kemi Olunloyo To Governor Abiodun

She said, One Ogunbunmi Lateef of Oke Lantoro reported that his pregnant wife due for delivery left home for State Hospital Ijaiye Abeokuta.

He received a WhatsApp message confirming the abduction of his wife by unknown armed men.
Usman Okai Austin, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State, has accused Governor Usman Ododo, of obstructing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting the former Governor of the State, Yahaya Bello.

Bello has been in a running battle with the anti-graft agency over alleged involvement in the mismanagement of the State fund to the tune of N80.2billion during his tenure.

In a statement on Friday, Okai said Ododo was reportedly seen with Bello during the Sallah celebration and questioned his commitment to fighting corruption.

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Speaking on the recently enacted Kogi State anti-corruption bill, Okai accused Ododo of hypocrisy and labelled the legislation as a mockery of the entire anti-corruption system.

He also urged Ododo to demonstrate his dedication to fighting corruption by taking concrete steps to hand over Yahaya Bello to the EFCC for investigation.

Usman Ododo was seen accompanying Bello to a Sallah celebration in Okene, despite Bellos alleged involvement in corrupt activities.

READ ALSO: N80 Billion Fraud: Political Masters Shielding Yahaya Bello, Disgracing Nigeria  EFCC

This perceived complicity has raised concerns about the governors true intentions in the fight against corruption and has prompted calls for him to take decisive action to uphold the rule of law.

As a prominent figure in Kogi State politics, it is imperative that governor Ododo addresses these concerns and takes concrete steps to demonstrate his commitment to combating corruption and promoting good governance in Kogi State.

Despite his declaration to attack corrupt practices and make it impossible for corruption to thrive, his actions suggest otherwise.

To genuinely demonstrate his dedication to fighting corruption, Governor Ododo must take concrete steps, such as handing Yahaya Bello over to the EFCC for investigation.

Until then, his actions will be seen as hypocritical and obstructing the anti-corruption war.

We urge Governor Ododo to practice what he preaches and take meaningful action against corruption by handing over the wanted Bello to the EFCC. the statement read.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has confiscated 25 commercial and 15 private vehicles that were operating illegal garages and generating traffic congestion in the Oyingbo, Ijora, and Idumota areas.

This was revealed via a post on LASTMAs X account on Friday, June 21.

According to LASTMA, the operation targeted unauthorised garages, causing traffic congestion in the Oyingbo, Ijora, and Idumota neighbourhood.

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Kayode Odunuga led the team, which received supervision from Sola Giwa, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation.

The post reads in part, In a decisive move to restore order and ensure the free flow of traffic, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, specifically targeted illegal garages that have been a persistent source of congestion and inconvenience for residents and commuters.

He noted that this endeavour is part of the governments overall aim to improve transportation efficiency and maintain road safety.

Giwa emphasised the need of enforcing traffic rules to guarantee a smooth flow of traffic.

Illegal garages have been a significant challenge in our quest to maintain a seamless traffic flow in Lagos. These impoundments send a strong message to all offenders that the state will not tolerate activities that disrupt public order and endanger the lives of our citizens, he said.

According to Giwa, the move is part of a larger push to improve the citys transport network while also maintaining road safety.

Our goal is to create a safe and orderly environment for all road users and this action is a crucial step in that direction.

The targeted districts include Oyingbo, Ijora, and Idumota, which have high traffic congestion owing to unauthorised parking and improvised garages.

LASTMAs action centred on removing these roadblocks and improving traffic conditions in these critical areas.

Residents and business owners have expressed support for the governments measures, citing the good influence on their daily lives.

READ MORE: Im Catholic But My Mum Is A Redeemed Pastor  Odumodublvck Spills

LASTMA has guaranteed the public that the operation will continue and expand to other areas of the city where illegal garages and related activities are common.

Giwa emphasised the necessity of all vehicle owners and operators adhering to the states traffic laws and collaborating with authorities to avoid fines.

He reiterated the governments primary goal of making Lagos more pleasant and habitable for all.

Giwa urged drivers to treat the roads as their own and to immediately report any broken down or abandoned trailers to LASTMA.

SEE POST:
The Debt Management Office (DMO) has disclosed that Nigerias total public debt reached N121.67 trillion within three months.

This figure represents an increase of N24.33 trillion or 24.99 percent from the N97.34 trillion as of December 2023.

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According to the DMO, the increase was primarily due to new domestic borrowing by the Federal Government to partly fund the deficit in the 2024 budget as well as disbursements by multilateral and bilateral lenders.

Total domestic debt was N65.65 trillion (USD46.29 billion) while total external debt was N56.02 trillion (USD42.12 billion).

Excluding naira exchange rate movements in Q1 2024, only the domestic debt component of total public debt grew from N59.12 trillion on December 31, 2023, to N65.65 trillion on March 31, 2024.

The increase was from new borrowing to part-finance the 2024 Budget deficit and securitization of a portion of the N7.3 trillion Ways and Means Advances at the Central Bank of Nigeria.

READ ALSO: Alleged Corruption: Kaduna Youths Storm Govt House, Demand El Rufais Prosecution (Pictures)

Whilst borrowing, as provided in the 2024 Appropriation Act, will continue, we expect improvements in the governments revenue to enhance debt sustainability.

Nigerias public debt profile consists of domestic and external debt stocks of the federal and subnational governments  the 36 states and the federal capital territory (FCT).

On June 13, Wale Edun, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, announced the approval of two major financial support packages by the World Bank, valued at $2.25 billion.

In May, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) said the Federal Government has secured a $500m World Bank loan to boost electricity distribution in the country.

Prior to this, the federal government had received $750 million from the World Bank for humanitarian and social reforms and $1.5 billion for its economic stabilisation plan.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, on Thursday, arrested one Tijani Uzairu in connection to the murder of a mechanic identified as Chukwu Chukwudi at the Kugbo mechanic village Abuja.

Earlier in the day, a riot broke out at the mechanic village located along the Keffi-Abuja road, following the gruesome murder of the victim by a soldier.

The victim was allegedly stabbed to death during an argument, after which the suspect and his accomplices fled the scene.

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The FCT Police Command in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, later in the day, said Uzairu and four other suspects who are currently at large, brought in a vehicle for repairs before the incident happened.

READ ALSO: Insecurity: Military Deserves Commendation For Protecting Nigeria  Reps

Adeh said the deceased was stabbed on the neck with a dagger by one of the suspects.

Upon receipt of the complaint, police operatives from Karu Division mobilized to the scene where one Tijani Uzairu who accompanied the other suspects was arrested and the victim was rushed to the hospital where the doctor on duty confirmed him dead.

The Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Benneth C. Igweh has ordered that a discreet investigation be conducted into the matter, as normalcy has since been restored.

He also advises members of the public to shun all acts of violence, noting that the consequences are mostly dire and regrettable, the statement read


The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational Associated Institutions (NASU) have issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government over their withheld salaries.

SSANU and NASU have been at loggerheads with the Federal Government over alleged unfair treatment and discrimination.

Both unions expressed concerns that the Federal Government failed to pay them like their academic counterparts.

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In a statement dated June 19, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the unions issued the ultimatum to the government, demanding the release of the four-month salary of their members withheld during an eight-month strike in 2022.

The unions, in March, issued a seven-day ultimatum and began a one-week warning strike, which led to a nationwide action on March 18.

READ ALSO: Withheld Salaries: FG Considers Half Pay For SSANU, NASU Members

The protesting staff shut down students hostels, cut off power supply, withdrew security and administrative services in public universities.

But the warning strike was called off after one week.

In their latest letter addressed to the Minister of Education, SSANU and NASU said the failure of the government to pay the salaries is creating a high level of agitation and contention among our members.

They expressed regrets and dismay that the government has not paid the four-month salary despite the various letters, engagements, and assurances.

The unions stated that they have given the government two weeks to pay the withheld salaries, after which they will shut down activities across universities in the country.

We can no longer guarantee industrial peace and harmony on university campuses.

We demand the immediate payment of the four (4) months withheld salaries to our members not later than two (2) weeks from the date of this correspondence, the statement added.
Argentina Johnson-Lowery pleaded guilty to homicide by vehicle while DUI on Friday at the Montgomery County Courthouse. Read more

A Norristown woman was sentenced to three to six years in state prison on Friday for causing a crash with a SEPTA bus that killed her 14-month-old son last year. She was high on narcotics when she hit the bus.

Argentina Johnson-Lowery, 35, pleaded guilty to homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence during a hearing before Montgomery County Court Judge Thomas P. Rogers. She will report to state prison on July 5, as per an agreement between her attorney, Matthew Hagarty, and prosecutors.

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Hagarty said in an interview after the hearing that Johnson-Lowery is remorseful and has been sober since her arrest.

She is dealing with the consequences of this every day for the rest of her life, and she wanted to accept responsibility for her actions, Hagarty said.

Investigators responding to the crash, which occurred on Old Arch Road and East Johnson Highway in East Norriton on Sept. 30, found Johnson-Lowery trapped inside her vehicle, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed for her arrest. The SEPTA bus she drove into had significant damage to its front end.

Medics transported her son to Suburban Hospital. The injuries to his head and face were so severe he was airlifted to Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, where he later died, the affidavit said.

Witnesses told police that Johnson-Lowery had been driving recklessly before the crash, hitting another vehicles bumper before colliding with the front of the bus as it was unloading passengers. After the crash, Johnson-Lowery screamed for bystanders to Get [her] baby, the affidavit said.

As investigators worked to free Johnson-Lowery from her van, they saw an empty bottle of Yukon Jack whiskey, as well as a cigarette box that had two marijuana cigarettes and a packet of cocaine inside of it.

At Jefferson Abington Hospital, where Johnson-Lowery was taken for treatment, doctors drew her blood because of the seriousness of the crash, the affidavit said. It tested positive for marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine and Bromazolam, a designer benzodiazepine drug similar to Xanax.

Assistant District Attorney Gabrielle Glenning told reporters after Fridays hearing that a sentence in state prison was appropriate for Johnson-Lowery, given her actions.

This is the ultimate crime that someone can commit when they get behind the wheel intoxicated, and, unfortunately, in this case, it was even more horrendous that it was this womans own 14-month-old son who lost his life due to her intoxication, Glenning said.

And so anything less than the mandatory [minimum sentence] would depreciate the significance of what happened here, she added.
George W. Hill Correctional Facility Warden Laura Williams, seen here in March 2022, is the subject of a vote of no confidence by members of the union representing the jail's guards. Union leaders say Williams has ignored complaints of unsafe conditions and low morale and has retaliated against guards who raise these issues. Read more

Members of the Delaware County Prison Employees Independent Union this week passed a vote of no-confidence against George W. Hill Correctional Facility Warden Laura K. Williams, asserting her tenure at the county jail has led to dangerous working conditions and low staff morale.

Two of the unions members, President Frank Kwaning and Albert Johnson, a guard at George W. Hill, announced the vote to the Delaware County Council at its meeting Tuesday night. Their announcement came with a petition to remove Williams signed by 541 people, including more than 300 current employees at the county jail, as well as members of the community and relatives of prison staff.

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For the past two years that the county has taken over the facility, there has been chaos, Kwaning said at the meeting. We are not telling the county how they should be running the facility, but what we will not be doing as a workforce is sit by unconcerned. This is unacceptable.

Williams, 38, was hired to lead George W. Hill in February 2022 as the county prepared to take over managing the jail after decades of the facility being operated by The GEO Group, a private prisons firm.

The petition submitted this week lists 42 issues raised by the unions members, including a lack of mental-health resources for workers, favoritism, and retaliation against employees who voice their concerns about management.

Understaffing remains an issue, the petition says, and there is a lack of emphasis on training.

Ultimately with the vote of no confidence, the facility has a formula for disaster going now, Johnson, one of the union members, said. The county is investing a lot of money into infrastructure, and we dont knock that.

But it doesnt matter if youre investing that money if you have an administration that cant retain staff, Johnson added. Not a single department there is happy with the warden and her abilities.

In a statement, members of the county council said they recognize that staff have expressed morale and communication issues within the facility and that the unions concerns are not unheard. The county pledged to investigate each allegation.

Converting the last private prison in Pennsylvania to county control is a monumental task and represents a major staff and culture change for a large organization, the council said. Our goal is to work with staff and management to address legitimate concerns, and we have taken steps to do so.

The council members noted that officials are continuing to address physical conditions and infrastructure at the jail, built in the late 1990s, budgeting a $40 million improvement project scheduled to begin in September.

They also said that the Pennsylvania Prisons Society recently gave George W. Hill a positive review, saying the facility had improved since its previous inspection in 2022.

We believe George W. Hill is moving in the right direction and will continue that progress, the council said. We appreciate everyone that works there and will continue to listen and address concerns as they arise.

The petition is not the first time that the union has spoken out about Williams.

Kwaning and the unions vice president, Ashley Gwaku, filed a complaint with the states Labor Relations Board last year alleging their contracts were not renewed by the county as punishment for their involvement with the union. A judge ruled against them, saying the county was justified in its decision.

The two were later among a group of 15 former jail employees who filed a federal discrimination lawsuit accusing Williams of maintaining a hit list of people she targeted for firing. That case is ongoing.

Gwaku, in an interview, said that he and Kwaning had expressed their uncertainty about hiring Williams to county council in 2022, citing a class-action lawsuit filed in 2020 by former inmates of the Allegheny County Jail, where Williams previously worked as chief deputy warden of health care services.

In that suit, the former inmates said they were denied appropriate and necessary mental-health care and that excessive force had been used against them. A settlement in the suit has been reached and is awaiting a July hearing to be approved by a federal judge.

If we had taken a different approach, a different lens of scrutiny, we wouldnt be here today, Gwaku said. We didnt want to see our officers in the same predicament as Allegheny County.
A 43-year-old Philadelphia woman described as highly intoxicated allegedly attacked a 10-year-old boy and his father at a Jersey Shore motel pool on Monday and then later bit a police officer, the Wildwood Crest Police Department said.

Fallan Turner was charged with endangering the welfare of children, aggravated assault on law enforcement, resisting arrest with force, failure to allow fingerprinting, and related offenses, police said in a statement.

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Police were called to the motel, which was not named, on the 6200 block of Ocean Avenue around 2:30 p.m. Monday and were told by witnesses that a highly intoxicated female  was out of control in the pool, the police department said. There are several motels along that section of Ocean Avenue.

Police were told that Turner allegedly grabbed an unrelated 10-year-old juvenile male, and swung him around in the pool, dunking him underwater. When the boys father attempted to intervene, she allegedly jumped on his back and grabbed him inappropriately. Turner also was charged with criminal sexual contact.

When police tried to speak with Turner, she became belligerent and was placed under arrest. While handcuffing Mrs. Turner, she pushed the arresting officer in the face as she resisted his control. During processing at police headquarters, she continued to be highly uncooperative and combative towards officers and even bit an officers hand. Neither officer sustained significant injury, the police department said.

Turner was taken to Cape May County Correctional Facility, where she remained Thursday, according to New Jersey online inmate records.

Police did not say if Turner knew the child or his father.
There is no clear scientific evidence that social media is causing mental health issues among young people. Public health officials are pushing for regulation anyway.

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy on Monday called for social media platforms to add warnings reminding parents and kids that the apps might not be safe, citing rising rates of mental health problems among children and teens. It follows an advisory Murthy issued last year about the health threat of loneliness for Americans, in which he named social media as a potential driver of social isolation.

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But experts  from leading psychologists to free speech advocates  have repeatedly called into question the idea that time on social media like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat leads directly to poor mental health. The debate is nuanced, they say, and its too early to make sweeping statements about kids and social media.

Heres what we do know about children and teens, social media apps, and mental health.

Why its hard to get a straight answer

There is evidence that adverse mental health symptoms among kids and teens have risen sharply, beginning during the global financial crisis in 2007 and skyrocketing at the beginning of the pandemic. But research into social medias role has produced conflicting takeaways.

While many studies have found that social media use is correlated with dips in well-being, many others have found the opposite. One problem may be that terms such as social media use and mental health have been defined broadly and inconsistently, according to analyses of existing studies. Whatever the reason, its challenging for researchers to find causal relationships (meaning A causes B) between social media and mental health without closely controlling childrens behavior.

Thats hasnt stopped health organizations from issuing warnings, such as a 2011 statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Communications and Media urging parents to look out for Facebook depression. A 2013 study suggested such warnings were premature.

To help answer the question, How does social media impact kids? researchers need more robust data.

In a Monday opinion essay in the New York Times, Murthy also called for social media companies to share data and research into health effects so independent experts can examine it. While the platforms claim they are making their products safer, Americans need more than words. We need proof, he wrote.

Vulnerable kids are more likely to struggle

Sometimes, social media appears to boost anxiety and depression. Other times, it appears to boost well-being and connectedness, according to a 2022 analysis of 226 studies.

So when we ask whether social media is a community hub for LGBTQ+ youths or a rabbit hole of warped information, the answer can be both. Bigger factors may be a teens existing vulnerabilities and what theyre actually doing on social media apps, American Psychological Association Chief Science Officer Mitchell Prinstein has said.

Some studies have found that kids and teens who already struggle with their mental or emotional health are more likely to come away from social media feeling anxious or depressed. Its hard to determine whether social media is causing depressive symptoms. One 2018 study found that while time on social media didnt correlate with depression, young women with depression tended to spend more time on the apps.

Its not clear why social media might affect mental health

Social media leaves some people feeling bad, some studies suggest, but scientists still dont understand why.

David Yeager, a developmental psychologist at the University of Texas at Austin, said some possible contenders are social comparison, where we weigh our own life next to another persons. Or maybe its guilt, where we feel lazy or unproductive after spending time scrolling. Of course, disappointment and guilt are age-old feelings, but social media may provoke them, Yeager said.

Social media isn't the first new technology to raise concerns. A newspaper clipping from 1882 shows an author claiming the telephone was "an aggravation of so monstrous a character as to merit public denunciation." People in the 1920s were worried that the radio would make people stop socializing in person.

Instead of fighting about whether social media is good or bad, its more important to figure out how to minimize the harm of social medias negative elements and maximize the benefit of its good ones, Yeager said.

Our technology has changed, but human nature hasnt, he said. The things that drive us, compel us and trap us are still the same.

Social media companies design products to keep us scrolling

Like all businesses, social media companies exist to make money. That means creating experiences to keep users scrolling on their apps  and viewing advertisements.

One way they accomplish that is by gaming our attention or emotions. Washington Post reporting has shown, for instance, that Facebooks algorithm at one point weighed the anger reaction more strongly than a like because outrage tended to create more engagement.

Rather than scaring kids and parents with half-truths, we should demand policies that force companies to end harmful business practices like surveillance advertising and manipulative design features, said Evan Greer, director at the digital rights nonprofit Fight for the Future. Surgeon General Murthy called for similar measures in his Times essay.

Why some people are playing up (or downplaying) risks and worries

Most experts call for a measured approach to discussing social media's potential health impacts, but not all. For example, social scientist Jonathan Haidt recently published "The Anxious Generation," a book that attributes poor mental health among teens to social media. In it, Haidt calls for parents to keep kids off the apps before high school and off smartphones altogether until age 16. Other researchers, including University of California Irvine psychologist Candice Odgers, have said the book misinterpreted existing studies to fuel a moral panic.

This book is going to sell a lot of copies, because Jonathan Haidt is telling a scary story about childrens development that many parents are primed to believe, Odgers wrote in an essay for Nature. Some of Haidts readers, meanwhile, celebrated what felt like direct acknowledgment of a difficult problem.

Future research may come at this contested question from new directions. An article published in Nature last month, for instance, recommended researchers consider how changes to behavior and cognition during adolescence might interact with social media and put mental health at risk.

Taylor Lorenz contributed to this report.
Police surrounded Rickia Young's vehicle, bashing the windows and pulling her from the drivers seat, in October 2020 during civil unrest following the police shooting of Walter Wallace Jr. Read more

An earlier version of this article suggested that another officer, Sgt. David Chisholm, was also fired in connection with the Rickia Young incident. However, Chisholm was fired in connection with a separate unrelated incident that was part of the broader response to the unrest in West Philadelphia that night. Chisholm faced no criminal charges and was later reinstated following an arbitration hearing.

A Philadelphia judge dismissed all charges Friday against a former city police officer accused of participating in the beating of a 28-year-old mother during civil unrest in October 2020  but prosecutors quickly refiled the case to bring it back to court.

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The development came as Darren Kardos, 43, was set to be tried on counts including simple assault and reckless endangerment over the beating of Rickia Young, a Black home health-care aide from North Philadelphia who said she was driving to pick up her teenage nephew in West Philadelphia in October 2020, when she attacked by officers and pulled from her car after inadvertently getting caught between police and people protesting in the area.

Police also separated her from her toddler, which contributed to the incident attracting national attention and criticism.

Prosecutors said Friday that a key witness  another police officer  did not show up to testify after being subpoenaed, making it impossible for them to try Kardos. Young was not in court either, but Assistant District Attorney Lyandra Retacco said prosecutors had video evidence to put the case on without her testimony.

Still, with crucial witnesses unavailable, Kardos attorney, Coley Reynolds, asked Municipal Court Judge Henry Lewandowski III to dismiss the case. Lewandowski agreed, even as he acknowledged prosecutors were likely to refile the charges  making the dismissal something of a procedural step as opposed to a final resolution.

I can confirm, Assistant District Attorney Lyandra Retacco quickly responded. We will refile.

The office did so by Friday afternoon, Retacco said.

Kardos was in the courtroom but did not comment.

Kardos, a seven-year veteran who worked in the 19th Police District, was the only officer to face charges over the beating of Young, which involved scores of other police. The incident happened in October 2020, hours after other officers fatally shot 27-year-old Walter Wallace Jr., a Black man who relatives said was experiencing a mental health crisis and had lunged toward police while wielding a knife.

Protests erupted within hours, and some in West Philadelphia began burglarizing stores and vandalizing police vehicles. As police responded to the unrest, a group of them encountered Youngs SUV on Chestnut Street. Video showed scores of officers surrounding the car, bashing in the windows, pulling Young and a passenger out of the vehicle, striking them, and then removing a 2-year-old from the backseat.

Prosecutors said Kardos used his metal baton to bash in Youngs windows, and then pulled her out of the car by her hair, after which officers struck her with fists and batons.

Young said she had been driving to pick up her 16-year-old nephew at a friends house before she encountered a police barricade. After being pulled from her car and beaten, she said, she was detained in a police van, driven to Police Headquarters, then taken to the hospital and handcuffed to the bed. She was never charged.

Her toddler, meanwhile, was found by her mother hours later with police in a cruiser near the Department of Human Services offices in Center City.

The case attracted national attention, and the city later agreed to pay Young $2 million to settle a lawsuit. Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said afterward that the officers involved had terrorized Young, and Mayor Jim Kenney called the officers actions absolutely appalling.

Kardos was fired for excessive use of force and physical abuse with a baton.

Prosecutors charged Kardos last year. He had been free on bail while awaiting trial.
Crowds greet the Battleship New Jersey as it returns home to the Camden Waterfront Thursday, June 20, 2024, after a restorative hull repainting and other maintenance work in Philadelphia. Read more

The Battleship New Jersey has returned home to the Camden waterfront, after undergoing a $10 million facelift in South Philadelphia.

This ships in its best shape since it was deactivated in the early 1990s, so were really proud that the ship is going to keep floating open as a museum here in Camden for the next 30 years, Battleship New Jersey CEO Marshall Spevak said at a Thursday event celebrating the ships return.

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The ship  887 feet long, four stories tall, and weighing 45,000 tons  arrived in Camden at 1:29 p.m. on Thursday to a crowd of more than 300 people, including mascots like the Phanatic, Gritty, Swoop, Franklin the Dog, Phang, and the battleships very own Black Dragon.

We see her, we see her, onlookers cheered from the pier, as they saw the battleship from a distance while listening to BStreetBands cover of Bruce Springsteens Born in the U.S.A.

The two-months-long transformation  which included routine maintenance, repairs, and repainting  marked the first time the decorated battleship had ventured out since 2001. The battleship left Camden for a stop in Paulsboro on March 21, then moved to Philadelphia on March 27.

Philadelphia Ship Repair workers repainted and repaired the hull, in addition to replacing anticorrosion technology. The hull project also included an inspection and sealing of about 160 through holes that drew in seawater to cool the engines when the ship was operational. Carpenters installed a new teak deck.

Gov. Phil Murphy allocated $5 million last summer for the project through the N.J. Historical Commission. Camden County also financed the project with $3.2 million in guaranteed revenue bonds, and the Home Port Alliance for the USS New Jersey Inc. raised money to pay for the work.

Ahead of the ships arrival, hundreds gathered on the dock in Camden for food and face paint. Many waited patiently for the battleship to return home.

Thats my ship coming back, said Jerry Barnish, a radio technician by trade who is now a volunteer helping with radio for the battleship. I missed it.

His father worked on the ship as a defense worker in the 1940s. He said he hopes the ships return helps to recruit more volunteers.

Dave Stepnowski works alongside Barnish as a volunteer. He said the battleships makeover is part of preserving history.

Keep the history alive, said Stepnowski, who is retired and whose father served in Korea. What [veterans] did, what they mean to this country.

The Battleship New Jersey, or Big J, was launched from dry-dock at what was then the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on Dec. 7, 1942, the first anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Production of the ship already was underway before Dec. 7, 1941.

One of four Iowa Class battleships produced, Big J is the most decorated vessel in U.S. Navy history. After World War II, the ship was again put into service during the Korean conflict, the Vietnam War, and as part of Ronald Reagans defense buildup in 1981. The ship was decommissioned in 1991 and turned into a floating museum in 2001.

When Big J was built, thousands of people were employed at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Thousands also served on it during World War II. The ship is a reminder that their legacy lives on.

Were living here on their legacies, Spevak said. We hope that we do it justice.

While Spevak and the crew are finished with their repairs, the dry-docking is just the beginning of a new era for the Big J.

It is the start of taking this museum to another level, and Im really proud of the crew that we have here on our team and with tremendous supporters, Spevak said. I think were really poised to really up our game here.
Brian Burrows, former president of Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, leaves the federal courthouse in Center City Philadelphia after he was convicted in a $600,000 embezzlement scheme involving himself and five other union officials and employees. Read more

The former president of Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers could spend nearly six years in federal prison if prosecutors get their way at his sentencing hearing on union embezzlement charges next week.

In a court memo filed Thursday, government lawyers described Brian Burrows, the second-highest-ranking official at Local 98, as a leader who betrayed union members by stealing tens of thousands of dollars of their money to renovate his Mount Laurel home as well as a bar and residential building in Philadelphias Pennsport he co-owned.

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Even worse, they added, he turned a blind eye to rampant misspending by others, including the unions longtime head John Johnny Doc Dougherty, allowing, in total, more than $600,000 to evaporate from union coffers over seven years.

At every turn, Burrows consciously disregarded responsibilities that might have revealed to union membership that Dougherty was taking and using union funds for nonbusiness purposes, Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Costello Jr. wrote in the filing seeking a sentence of anywhere from 57 to 71 months behind bars.

The position of power and authority that [Burrows] held, as president of Local 98, the prosecutor added, allowed him and Dougherty to steal undetected from the union for years.

That proposed punishment for Burrows  who will learn his fate Wednesday during a federal court hearing in Reading  is the stiffest prosecutors have sought yet for any of the six Local 98 officials and members convicted in an embezzlement scandal that has prompted the ouster of much of the politically powerful unions top leadership since 2019.

And that could spell trouble for Dougherty. Government lawyers are all but certain to seek even more prison time when he faces sentencing next month for his role in the thefts as well as on separate bribery charges involving former Philadelphia City Councilmember Bobby Henon  and as the potential for a retrial on a separate set of extortion charges still looms.

In addition to the time behind bars, prosecutors maintain Burrows and Dougherty, both 64, should be jointly ordered to repay their former union more than $1.6 million for the money they stole plus the legal costs Local 98 incurred dealing with their prosecution.

But Burrows lawyers are preparing for a fight and are arguing their client shouldnt be held responsible for Doughertys misspending.

One would need to be clairvoyant, defense attorney Thomas A. Bergstrom wrote in a letter filed with the court last week, to foresee Dougherty stealing tens of thousands of dollars on personal expenses ranging from the extravagant to the mundane.

That list included, Bergstrom continued: $66,000 from petty cash [for] clothing for himself and his brother [Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice] Kevin [Dougherty;]  thousands of dollars at Lowes, Target, IKEA, [and] C&D Appliance  for personal items from condoms to baby wipes and toothpaste; an extravagant birthday dinner for [former Local 98 political director Marita] Crawford; [and] $15,698 for concert tickets purchased with a credit card in Burrows name, which he never used.

Bergstrom has suggested a sentence of roughly two years or lower.

 READ MORE: Johnny Doc is accused of spending thousands on his friends and family with Local 98 money. Heres what prosecutors say he bought.

Where U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl will ultimately fall remains to be seen. But so far, the sentences hes imposed against other Local 98 defendants have been significantly shorter than what prosecutors recommended.

In February, he gave Local 98s former head of apprentice training, Michael Neill, 13 months behind bars, when the government had asked for up to two years.

Crawford, the former political director, got two weeks in prison plus three months house arrest. Prosecutors had pushed the court for up to six months incarceration.

Two other codefendants  Niko Rodriguez and Doughertys nephew Brian Fiocca, both low-level Local 98 employees who prosecutors said had largely acted as gofers for the union chief  each received sentences of probation.

But all four of them pleaded guilty. Burrows and Dougherty took their chances at trial  and lost.

It took a jury roughly 14 hours in December to convict the union leaders on more than 60 counts including embezzlement, conspiracy, and tax and wire fraud, concluding they allowed Local 98 money to be spent on everything from home renovations, horse-racing and gambling trips, pricey dinners and tickets to see Nicki Minaj, Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen in concert to thousands of dollars worth of groceries and home goods.

 READ MORE: John Dougherty and Brian Burrows union embezzlement case: Day-by-day updates

As the unions primary fiscal overseer and one of two people whose signature was required on every check drawn from Local 98s general fund account, Burrows was in a unique position to see where its money was going.

Costello balked in his memo at Burrows contention that misspending by others was unforeseeable.

Witnesses testified at the trial that union auditors had previously raised questions about Doughertys spending of petty cash and free use of Local 98 credit cards. Though they urged the implementation of antifraud measures, Burrows did nothing.

Instead, he warned Henon in a call caught on an FBI wiretap that Dougherty needed to be cautious when selecting a new member for the unions executive board  which has financial oversight of the union. He shouldnt pick someone, Burrows said, who want[ed] to see all of the things, including financial records and payroll.

Burrows himself signed off on paychecks for some of Doughertys relatives and other Local 98 employees, while complaining they did little to no work for the union.

In another wiretapped call, Burrows groused that he didnt know why the union was paying Rodriguez, Fiocca, and another employee who prosecutors say largely spent his time running personal errands for Dougherty.

Its all smoke and mirrors with them kids, he said, adding later in the conversation: What do they do all day?

But particularly egregiously, Costello noted, Burrows cooked up a scheme to bury the cost of more than $380,000 in renovations to his home and businesses  as well as those of Neill, Dougherty, and several of Doughertys relatives  in invoices for other legitimate construction work billed to Local 98.

Contractor Anthony Massa  who was charged alongside the union leaders, then pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against them  told jurors that as far as he knew Dougherty wasnt aware of the fraudulent bills he submitted for that work.

It was Burrows, he said, who instructed him to bill it that way.

The fact that Burrows was one of the few people who had both the ability and authority to detect and stop the thefts committed by his codefendants, especially John Johnny Doc Dougherty and Michael Neill, make his crimes even more serious, Costello wrote.

In addition, prosecutors have urged the judge to consider Burrows role in other misspending that was not included in the case they presented against him at trial.

After a union contractor  and childhood friend of Doughertys  was sentenced in 2008 for failing to pay required benefit payments for union members and ordered to pay $673,000 into Local 98s health and welfare fund, Burrows voted in favor of a settlement deal to reduce that sum to $200,000.

 READ MORE: Contractor tied to labor chief Johnny Doc sentenced to two years for tax fraud, theft from union fund

He then secretly, prosecutors said, approved of a plan to give the man $170,000 from a separate pot of Local 98 money meant to help contractors offset the higher cost of employing union workers. The contractor used the funds to pay off all but $30,000 of his debt to the union, prosecutors said.

When Dougherty in 2011 unilaterally announced pay cuts for all Local 98s business agents and officers  including him and Burrows  citing a slowdown in business, Burrows secretly restored his salary and Doughertys within months to their pay rates before the cuts and kept Local 98s members in the dark.

The reduced wages for the unions business agents and other officers remained in effect.

But Bergstrom noted in his brief to the court that most Local 98 employees werent complaining. By and large, Local 98s finances were in great shape during Burrows 13 years as the unions second-in-command, he said, and members received profit sharing checks from a pot of funds that ran into the millions.

Over the course of years that Brian Burrows was president of Local 98 he was responsible for the extraordinary financial growth of [the union], he said, the ultimate beneficiaries of which are the 5,000 members of Local 98.
Police investing the scene of a fatal shooting of a 29-year-old pizza delivery driver on the 2000 block of Ridge Avenue outside of Pete's Pizza Thursday night, June 20, 2024. Read more

A 29-year-old pizza shop delivery driver was fatally wounded in a shooting outside the business Thursday night in North Philadelphia, police said.

The shooting happened shortly after 9 p.m. across the street from Petes Pizza on the 2000 block of Ridge Avenue, said Chief Inspector Scott Small.

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The victim, identified by police as Danny Matthews, had just returned from a delivery run and was about to pick up another order. He was shot multiple times inside his Hyundai sedan, Small said.

Matthews was transported to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9:31 p.m., Small said.

Surveillance video showed the shooter walking up to the Hyundai and then trying to open the drivers door, Small said. The victim put the Hyundai in reverse and it rolled about 20 to 25 feet before hitting a parked vehicle.

The shooter held on to the door the entire time and started shooting into car after it crashed, Small said.

Police found three spent shell casing right next to Matthews door and three more inside the vehicle, Small said.

It was unclear if this was an attempted robbery or a targeted shooting, Small said.

The shooter remained at large.
The four new members of Philadelphia City Council, from left, Jeffery Young, Jr., Nicolas ORourke, Nina Ahmad, and Rue Landau gather after their first Council meeting at City Hall in January. Read more

Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and City Council President Kenyatta Johnson, both of whom took office in January, have understandably taken up most of the oxygen in City Hall so far this year.

But Council has an interesting freshman class, with some of the members making history just by being sworn in.

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Heres a look at how Councils four freshmen fared between the start of the session and summer recess:

Councilmember Nina Ahmad, Democrat, at-large

Legislation: Ahmad was the primary author of one bill, requiring the owners of publicly accessible electric vehicle charging stations to maintain and repair their stations if they go out of service. It passed.

Notable moment: A Bangladeshi immigrant, Ahmad is the first South Asian person to win a Council seat in Philly, and she made history when she took the oath of office in January.

Analysis: First-year Council members are often encouraged to keep their heads down and learn the legislative process by passing one bill, ideally on a noncontroversial topic. Ahmad played it by the book in her first six months. Ahmad, a former scientist and public health researcher, also chaired a hearing on maternal health that she expects will lead to legislation later this year.

Councilmember Rue Landau, Democrat, at-large

Legislation: Landau was the primary author of three bills, all of which passed. One increases transparency around fees charged by professional tax preparers. Another empowers the city to address consumer protection cases, such as fraud and scams. And the third allows restaurants to expand outdoor dining to adjacent properties if the property owner agrees.

Notable moment: Landau, the first openly gay member of Council, has made Philly LGBTQ history several times. In 2014, she and her wife, Kerry Smith, obtained the first marriage license for a same-sex couple in Pennsylvania. And in June she sponsored a resolution recognizing Pride Month, becoming the first member of the LGBTQ community to do so.

Analysis: A former civil rights attorney, Landau is a progressive  but she isnt as closely tied to the citys progressive political organizations as Kendra Brooks and Nicolas ORourke. So City Hall observers have been watching to see how closely she works with her colleagues on the left. So far, Landau appears to be sticking with the group on major issues such as budget requests, but also carving out her own lanes, such as by championing restaurant streeteries.

Councilmember Nicolas ORourke, Working Families Party, at-large

Legislation: ORourke wasnt the primary author of any new bills.

Notable moment: ORourke, who is a pastor, made a splash on the first regular Council meeting of the year with a lengthy introductory speech that included singing a hymn. He later poked fun at himself in a social media post.

Analysis: Over the last two election cycles, ORourke and Councilmember Kendra Brooks have won two Council seats set aside for minority party or independent candidates that were held by Republicans for 70 years, marking a major leftward shift in Councils composition.

Although he hasnt been the primary author of any bills, he worked closely with Brooks and other progressive members, and by sticking together during budget negotiations the group scored victories including funding the citys rental assistance program. ORourke said through a spokesperson that he has been intentional about leaning into collaboration, which manifested through his work as an effective budget advocate.

Councilmember Jeffery Jay Young Jr., Democrat, 5th District (North Philadelphia, Center City)

Legislation: Young was the primary author of 18 bills, 10 of which have passed. He is involved in more bills than his fellow freshmen because he is the only new member who represents a district, which requires him to introduce legislation for zoning and parking changes and sales of city-owned land.

Notable moment: When news broke in May that Parkers administration was planning to expand a homeless shelter in Youngs district to add residential drug treatment beds, Young was outraged that he didnt get advance notice and went all out to block it, which he did by passing a bill in June that prohibits the city from renewing its lease at the facility.

Analysis: Young won his seat under bizarre circumstances last year when all other candidates seeking to replace former Council President Darrell L. Clarke were disqualified from the ballot. Consequently, few knew what to expect this year from Young, who is a former Clarke staffer but did not have his old boss endorsement. Young has surprised some by weighing in on major policy issues and being unafraid to clash with powerful opponents from the mayor to the 76ers, whose Center City arena proposal he opposes.

Lining up (early) for an open House seat

As soon as State Rep. Donna Bullock (D., Philadelphia) announced that she will take over Project HOME, several Democrats were already lining up to take her spot in Harrisburg.

At least three people  two ward leaders and one of Bullocks top staff  are rumored to be considering a run at filling Bullocks seat once she leaves the state House.

The 32nd Ward leader Darnell Deans, 28th Ward leader Keith Sea Harris, and Bullocks chief-of-staff Odessa Tate are all front-runners to fill the vacancy.

Bullock hasnt said when shell resign  but House Majority Leader Matt Bradford (D., Philadelphia) said shed stay at least through budget negotiations. She also said she wont run for reelection, so whoever would run to fill her vacancy in a special election would presumably also replace her on the November ballot.

Harris, Deans, and Tate could not be reached for comment Thursday.

The ward leaders in Bullocks district  which includes parts of Strawberry Mansion, Fairmount, Brewerytown and North Philly  will come together in the next few months to choose a candidate for the overwhelmingly Democratic district.

Were going on hiatus

This is a programming note: The Clout column is going on vacation until after the November election.

To our readers: Youll still be able to find plenty of reporting on political hijinks across The Inquirers coverage.

To our tipsters: Keep em coming! Weve still got a website to fill. You can reach Anna Orso at aorso@inquirer.com and Sean Collins Walsh at swalsh@inquirer.com.

And to our subjects: Our column might be going on an extended break, but unfortunately for you, we are not.

Staff writer Anna Orso contributed to this column.

Clout provides often irreverent news and analysis about people, power, and politics.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. arrives on stage to a sea of Kennedy signs to announce he's running for president as an independent in October in Philadelphia. Read more

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. filed paperwork Thursday to get on the ballot in Pennsylvania, a state where his base could pull support from the mainstream candidates and tilt the scales enough to affect the outcome.

While Kennedy doesnt have much of a chance of winning the presidential election, his presence on the ballot has the ability to influence a close race. The race in Pennsylvania is expected to be particularly close. President Joe Biden won the state in 2020 by a little more than 1 percentage point and former President Donald Trump won in 2016 by a little less than 1 percentage point.

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A recent Philadelphia Inquirer/New York Times/Siena College poll showed 10% of registered voters supporting Kennedy, 70, and a dead heat between Biden, 81, and Trump, 77.

 READ MORE: Here are takeaways from an Inquirer/NYT/Siena poll.

Kennedy, an environmental lawyer and prominent anti-vaccine activist, abandoned his Democratic primary challenge to Biden and announced his independent bid at a Philadelphia event last year. Without an establishment party behind him, he has to secure ballot access state by state, which requires him to collect millions of signatures that must be verified by election officials before his candidacy is approved.

Kennedy is required to file 5,000 signatures from registered voters in Pennsylvania to qualify for the ballot. He filed six weeks ahead of the Aug. 1 deadline, at which point his paperwork can be challenged in court.

Its unclear whether Kennedy could sour the chances more for Biden or Trump. In the NYT/Siena polls of all six swing states  including Pennsylvania, where The Inquirer was a partner  Kennedy voters were evenly split between Trump and Biden if forced to choose a major candidate.

The Democratic National Committee and Biden campaign have both already lashed out at Kennedy as a potential threat, and are likely to challenge his eligibility to be on the Pennsylvania ballot.

Democrats believe Green Party candidate Jill Stein hurt Hillary Clintons chances against Trump in Pennsylvania in 2016. Stein won 49,941 votes in the state  more than the 44,292 votes by which Trump beat Clinton.

 READ MORE: Will Robert F. Kennedy Jr. make the ballot in Pennsylvania?

To push back against enthusiasm for Kennedy, Biden held an event in North Philadelphia in April with other members of the Kennedy family, who endorsed the presidents reelection.

The DNC has also deployed mobile billboards in locations where Kennedy was campaigning, criticizing him for getting donations from Trump donors.

The DNC declined to comment on Kennedys latest milestone on Friday.

Were expecting a close election in 2024 and were gonna be prepared for any contingency and thats gonna include making sure third-party and independent candidates play by the rules, DNC spokesperson Matt Corridoni said last month. Were also going to be working to define Robert Kennedy and make sure voters know hes a spoiler in this race.

The window for legal challenges will be relatively tight because Pennsylvania counties will need to begin sending out mail ballots by mid-September.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Former President Donald Trump delivers remarks to supporters at a rally behind the Schnecksville Fire Hall in Schnecksville, Pa. on Saturday, April 13, 2024. Trump typically ventures to more rural areas of the state but Saturday he will be in Philadelphia. Read more

Before former President Donald Trump utters a single word at his rally at the Liacouras Center on Saturday, its useful to remember that not everything hes said in, around, and about Philadelphia in recent years has been 100% true.

While its not clear whether hes any more inaccurate speaking here than elsewhere, weve nevertheless heard enough misstatements and distortions to create the impression that Trump has a problem with us.

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Maybe its that in the 2020 election, President Joe Biden received 604,175 votes, or 81%, to Trumps roughly 18%, or 132,870 votes. And in North Philadelphia, where hes appearing this weekend, Biden won the vast majority of votes in those wards  between 79% and 95%.

Those numbers appear to be hard for Trump to let go of, as evidenced by his oft-repeated falsehood that the Pennsylvania election was stolen.

Here are six noteworthy falsehoods from the former president about Philly or Pennsylvania.

1. Bad things happen in Philadelphia

Even before that 2020 vote, Trump was trash talking the Keystone State. During the October 2020 presidential debate with Biden, the then-president said that bad things happen in Philadelphia.

One interpretation has been that Trump was expressing frustration with how Democratic-majority Philadelphia has long been a problem for Republican candidates.

But in an interview Thursday, Pennsylvania State University misinformation expert Matt Jordan said that the bad things quote was clearly a dog whistle about race in Philadelphia.

Its not even that much of a dog whistle, Jordan continued. Trump was just referencing race and how the majority of the citys people of color vote Democratic.

2. Joyful warriors at the Marriott

Trump was campaigning for the 2024 election when he attended the Moms for Liberty summit at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown last June.

There he misinformed again, praising the alleged hate group as being no hate group at all: You are joyful warriors, you are fierce, fierce patriots. Youre not a threat to America.

The Southern Law Poverty Center differs. It calls Moms for Liberty a far-right organization that engages in anti-student inclusion activities and self-identifies as part of the modern parental rights movement. The group opposes LGBTQ and racially inclusive school curriculum, and has advocated books bans.

3. Mitt Romney getting almost zero votes in Philly

As it happens, Trump has infrequently visited Philadelphia, except for the rare pop in to sell sneakers, as he did in February.

But that doesnt mean he avoids using the City of Brotherly Love as a punching bag when convenient.

During a 2020 rally in Allentown, he made the false case that the presidential election of 2012 between then-President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney was somehow fraudulent. Taking the opportunity to bad-mouth Philadelphia again, Trump implied that something suspicious was going down, according to CNN. Thats because, he said, Romney got almost zero votes in the city.

In truth, Romney garnered 96,476 votes, 14% of the Philadelphia total, according to CNN.

4. Former Gov. Tom Wolf counting our ballots

Later in the same speech, Trump incorrectly stated that then-Gov. Tom Wolf had counted the 2020 presidential election mail ballots in Pennsylvania himself. This is the guy thats counting our ballots? Trump asked. It doesnt work. It doesnt work.

Governors dont count ballots; county election officials do.

Also at that rally, Trump repeated the misinformation that a Philadelphia judge had ruled in a lawsuit that Trumps people had been unable to watch the polls during the 2020 election. The judge stated that Trumps campaign didnt have the right for poll watchers to observe activities only inside the citys new satellite election offices, where no votes were being counted.

5. Changing Pennsylvanias name

In one of the odder Trump misstatements, the former president told an audience at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg in February, We have to win in November, or were not going to have Pennsylvania. Theyll change the name. Theyre going to change the name of Pennsylvania.

Possible interpretations include a guess that Trump was somehow lumping William Penn among historical figures whove been canceled because of purported misdeeds.

6. Abortion law lies in Wildwood

Closer to home, Trump told a crowd in Wildwood last month, without evidence, that Democrats want to pass an abortion law that enables doctors to execute newborns.

And a photo circulated by Trump allies said to be of that Wildwood rally was actually the photo of a Rod Stewart concert on a beach in Rio de Janeiro.

Anticipating his Saturday talk in North Philadelphia, Jessica Myrick, a misinformation expert and media studies professor at Penn State, said Trump will likely talk about violent crime going up, when its actually going down.

Hell possibly talk about [fictional movie character] Hannibal Lecter, and also about sharks, with which Trump is fascinated, Myrick said And hell tell people once again about how the Pennsylvania vote in the 2020 presidential election was rigged, when it wasnt.

Myrick concluded, Trump is very good at telling people the same things over and over, whether theyre true or not.
Former President Donald Trump is making his Philadelphia campaign rally debut at Temple Universitys Liacouras Center Saturday night and he can expect Philadelphians of all political persuasions to be there to greet him.

Out in full force will be young Republicans from the Temple community who will be there to support their candidate of choice and his right to speak on campus, said Billy Walker, president of Temple University College Republicans, which officially endorsed Trump on June 14. Some members of the club also will be volunteering at the event.

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They will be sharing the steamy summer night air with protesters who plan to make it known that they are unhappy to see the GOP presidential candidate appear at Temple, which overwhelmingly supported Biden in the last election and has long preferred Democratic candidates.

Philadelphia and Temple police will work together on security with city police taking the lead, given that it isnt a Temple sponsored event, said Jennifer Griffin, Temples vice president for public safety. We are no stranger to large events throughout the city, she said. There is a template already for how we handle this.

The city police civil affairs unit will be there to help with whatever protests or counterprotests may arise, she said. The university is mindful of First Amendment rights and there will be areas for people to gather, she said. With high temperatures forecast, a water station and medics also will be on hand to help, Griffin said.

Heres what to expect from any protests or demonstrations against Saturdays rally.

Philly is Biden Country

The Pennsylvania Democratic Party is hosting a protest on Saturday in conjunction with other local groups to and show support for President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.). Casey is running his reelection bid in November against McCormick.

The protest is expected to start at 5 p.m.  two hours before Trumps event is officially slated to begin. The demonstration will consist of marching, several speakers and protesters holding posters, said State Sen. Sharif Street (D., Philadelphia) who represents the district that includes Temple and chairs the state Democratic Party.

Street expects the participation of activists from Philadelphia Young Democrats and organized labor unions as well as clergy and elected officials  a whole lot of folks, he said.

He added that individuals from other organizations, like Reclaim Philadelphia or Philly Democratic Socialists of America, will also be participating, though they have no official partnership with the rally.

I want people to know that theres support for [Biden], Street said. Hes strong and Philly is Biden country.

Biden received more than 603,000 votes in Philadelphia in 2020, surpassing former President Barack Obamas more than 595,900 in 2008. But he netted fewer votes in Philadelphia (81%) than any Democrat since John Kerrys 80% in 2004.

Reserving tickets (and then not showing up)

Soon after news broke about Trumps visit to North Philly, Temple University Democrats came together to hatch a plan to make their protest against the former presidents arrival heard, despite so many students being physically away from campus for the summer.

The club is using its Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook pages as well as word of mouth to encourage members, family and friends to book two tickets to the rally, and then not follow through on the reservation, in hopes of producing many empty seats at the event.

We want to encourage young people and students to legally and peacefully use their voices to express their disdain for the former presidents visit, said Lourdes Cardamone, a rising junior and the president of Temple University Democrats.

Cardamone said its frustrating that Trump would choose to visit Temples campus despite the large number of students who are displeased with his candidacy.

Seventy-three percent of Temples eligible student voters cast a ballot in the 2020 election. A vast majority supported Biden in that election with Trump winning only 5% of the vote in the precincts within a half-mile radius of the universitys main campus.

Were going to give Trump the welcome he deserves, which is just an auditorium of empty seats, Cardamone said.

Pro-Biden Kiosks, Billboards, and More Billboards

The national Democratic Party is launching new ads just in time for Trumps arrival at Temple in the form of billboards, pro-Biden kiosks touting Bidens policies for students, and a mobile billboard that will circle campus.

The billboard, located south on I-95 at the east side of Westmoreland, will display an ad about Trumps relationship with Black Americans. The mobile billboard will also explore Trumps relationship with Black Americans and mention North Philadelphia.

Donald Trump was a disaster for minority communities  particularly Black Americans. He says hes not racist, but his record says differently, said Abhi Rahman, a DNC spokesperson, noting unemployment rates and the racial wealth gap during Trumps presidency.

Rahman also emphasized the importance of reelecting Biden and Harris to maintain their student debt forgiveness policies.

President Biden is pro-education, full stop. When it comes to communities of color and students, the choice for President couldnt be clearer, Rahman said.
Former President Donald Trump is hosting his first Philadelphia rally at Temple University on Saturday. Its an unusual location choice for Trump, who has received abysmal levels of support from North Philadelphia voters in the last two presidential elections.

Trump lost Pennsylvania to President Joe Biden by a little more than 1 percentage point in 2020, after winning the state in 2016 by a little less than 1 percentage point. Needless to say, Pennsylvania is an incredibly important battleground for both candidates, who are head-to-head in the state.

Philadelphia is a Democratic stronghold, and while some parts of the city lean in favor of Trump, the Temple area hasnt been one of them.

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While Philadelphia saw some shifts between the 2016 and 2020 elections, Trumps low support remained the same within a half-mile radius of Temple Universitys main campus, at just 5%.

Biden saw a drop in support in 2020 compared to Hillary Clintons 2016 run in the area around Temple, but Trump was unable to capitalize on that shift. Instead, he lost 200 votes.

Citywide, Biden had more support in 2020 than Clinton did in 2016.

Trump received about 24,000 more votes in Philadelphia in 2020 than in 2016, but that only lifted him up by three points due to the rise in Democratic support for Biden compared to Clinton.
Supporters react as former President Donald Trump arrives to deliver remarks at a rally behind the Schnecksville Fire Hall in Schnecksville, Pa., in April. Read more

Former President Donald Trump is holding his first-ever rally in Philadelphia on Saturday at Temple University.

The Republican presidential candidate is expected to speak at the Liacouras Center on Temples campus in North Philadelphia at 7 p.m. Doors will open at 3 p.m. And protesters are expected.

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Temple Universitys footprint, and voting precincts within a half-mile radius, showed astonishingly low support for Trump in both 2016 and 2020, so it seems odd for him to pay it a visit. Philadelphias electorate as a whole is overwhelmingly blue. But polls show Trump and President Joe Biden fighting head-to-head in Pennsylvania, and both candidates are expected to visit Pennsylvania frequently between now and November.

Why is Donald Trump coming to Temple?

Pennsylvania is a critical swing state where every single vote counts. Trump won the state in 2016 by a little less than 1 percentage point and then lost to Biden in 2020 by a little more than 1 percentage point.

Biden will rely on maintaining or growing support in Philadelphia and its suburbs, due to the regions high concentration of Democratic voters compared to the rest of the state. And even a slight uptick in support for Trump in the Philadelphia area could help him tip the scales in his favor.

 READ MORE: Trump is still lying about winning Pa. in 2020. Hes still wrong.

Trumps campaign is also seeking to capitalize on polling that shows his support among young and non-white voters may have strengthened  or at least that Bidens support among those groups has weakened. The population within a half-mile radius of Temples campus is 73% non-white, which is higher than the citywide non-white population of 66%, according to 2020 census data.

Trump and Biden have both made recent efforts to connect with Black voters in Philadelphia. While Biden is still favored to win a large majority of the vote in Philadelphia and among the citys Black voters, even a slight uptick in support for Trump could make a difference in the tight statewide race. Trump and his surrogates have attempted to make inroads in Philadelphia this year, with Trumps February visit to Sneaker Con and a cigars and cognac event this month hosted by U.S. Reps. Byron Donalds (R., Fla.) and Wesley Hunt (R., Texas). The cigar event drew national attention and backlash due to Donalds remarks about Black voters.

President Trump is making inroads with historically Democrat voters, including Black Americans and Hispanics, because he is unafraid to bring his message to deep-blue areas as evidenced by this trip to Philadelphia and recent visits to Detroit, Harlem, and the Bronx, Trump campaign spokesperson Janiyah Thomas said in a statement.

 READ MORE: A billionaire-backed conservative Latino outreach push comes to Pa. days after Democrats launched their own

Saturdays rally will likely also attract Republicans from outside of Philadelphia. While the Temple rally may draw a different crowd than Trump rallies in more rural parts of the state, his supporters are known to travel to see him, and he is ultimately trying to reach all Pennsylvania voters.

One of those traveling supporters will be Republican Senate candidate Dave McCormick, who lives in Pittsburgh and also spends time in Connecticut. McCormick said that he will talk about the leadership needed to get our country back on track in a post on X. The event will be McCormicks first time at a Trump rally, his campaign confirmed. Trump endorsed McCormick at an April rally in Lehigh County.

What are people saying about Trump coming to Temple?

Philly politicians, unsurprisingly, have made clear Trump wont receive a warm welcome in the overwhelmingly Democratic city.

Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, a Democrat and a staunch supporter of Biden, said this week that she believes Philadelphians are focused on preserving our democracy and that Trumps visit to the city is a diversion from the agenda shes working to implement.

Were focused on getting things done here in our city and, to me, any attention in that direction is a distraction, she said. And Im not interested in Philadelphians focusing on distractions.

Councilmember Jeffery Young Jr., whose district includes Temples campus, said he plans to show the city that Biden is the best choice for president and will join protesters Saturday.

The 5th district is a diverse place where we welcome all perspectives, he said in an email. However I and other Philadelphians will be sure to take to the streets to show our disdain for his policies and politics.

The Temple University Democrats said in an emailed statement that the group is frustrated to have the former president and his fascistic followers enter our community, and pointed to Trumps recent felony conviction.

Although many Temple students go home for the summer, we want him to know that he is never welcome here, members of the group said. " ... And come November, we will show up again at the polls to ensure he will never be welcomed into the White House again. We young people are the future, and we have a lot to say. We will not be silenced.

He will be embraced, however, by the Temple College Republicans, who endorsed him for president.

The Temple College Republicans are excited and thankful to have Donald Trump come to the campus for his Rally on Saturday, chair Billy Walker said in an email. We thank the University for its commitment to allowing an environment of diverse thought and opinion. We look forward to seeing President Trump and pray for a peaceful rally.

 READ MORE: Why some young voters in deep blue Philadelphia are backing the former president.

The university said that letting Trumps campaign rent out event space does not equate to an endorsement, as with any other speaker. The venue is managed and operated by a third-party firm, according to the university, and Temple is not incurring costs for the event.

Former President Barack Obama and Biden campaigned for Democrats at the Liacouras Center in 2022.

What has Trumps campaign done in Philadelphia this year?

Trump has made various stops in Philadelphia over the years, like when he spoke at the Union League during his 2016 campaign. He also held a rally in Delco that year. But hes never rallied in Philadelphia, which more often hosts large events for his Democratic rivals.

Trump did, however, stop by Philadelphias Sneaker Con earlier this year to launch his own sneaker, and a Bucks County fan paid $9,000 for them.

 READ MORE: Meet the Bucks County degenerate collector who paid $9,000 for Trump sneakers  and says theyre worth more

Trump also visited the Philadelphia region twice during his recent criminal trial for falsifying business records in relation to hush money payments. He was convicted on all 34 felony counts.

During the weekend before jury selection in April, he held a fundraiser in Bucks County, where he was greeted by hundreds of supporters, before heading to a Lehigh Valley rally.

During his trial last month, he held a rally in Wildwood.

Trumps campaign opened its first office in the city, in the Holmesburg section of Northeast Philly, earlier this month as part of its Black Americans for Trump effort. That push drew backlash, after an additional event hosted by his allies just hours after the office opening dominated the news cycle over a comment Donalds, a Black congressman, made about the Jim Crow era. Democrats also criticized the events for not having any Black Philadelphians as speakers.

That event came shortly after Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris visited Philadelphia to connect with Black voters.

Staff writer Anna Orso and graphics editor John Duchneskie contributed to this article.
Graduates lined up outside the Liacouras Center for Temple University's 137th Commencement on May 8. Former President Donald Trump will be the first Republican presidential candidate to hold a campaign event on Temple's campus. Read more

Donald Trump may become the first Republican presidential candidate to hold a campaign event on Temples campus when he speaks at the Liacouras Center on Saturday.

James W. Hilty, a retired Temple professor and campus historian who wrote a book on the universitys history published in 2010, said he found no evidence of a Republican candidate campaigning on the campus through that time. Thats at least no one who left any record of a visit in any newspaper, book, magazine, or the Temple archives.

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University spokesperson Steve Orbanek confirmed none have campaigned on campus in at least the last decade either.

Democrats, by comparison, have appeared frequently, including Hillary Clinton in 2016. Hilty noted that Franklin Roosevelt came in 1936, an election year, to dedicate Sullivan Hall, the main administration building. John Kennedy made a campaign stop in 1960, Lyndon Johnson in 1964, George McGovern in 1972, Jimmy Carter in 1980, John Kerry in 2004, and Barack Obama in 2008.

Most recently, the Liacouras Center has been used by Democrats during the 2022 Pennsylvania midterms. President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama joined forces with then-Lt. Gov. John Fetterman and then-Attorney General Josh Shapiro amid their respective senatorial and gubernatorial campaigns.

In a message to the university community on Saturday, after Trumps visit was announced, Temple emphasized a nonpartisan standpoint and shared that its common for political events to occur on campus during election season. The university added that it makes spaces available to rent for third-party organizations regardless of their politics. Trumps visit does not qualify as the universitys endorsement of the former president, the university said.

Temple is committed to protecting the First Amendment including freedom of speech and assembly, wrote university president Richard Englert and chief operating officer Ken Kaiser. This means that Temple fosters an environment open to a diversity of thought, opinion and peaceful expression.

Despite the universitys statement, the Temple Association of University Professors, the faculty union, said in an email to its members Thursday that they were disappointed to hear of Trumps rally on campus.

While we firmly believe in free speech and the right to assembly, we are also deeply troubled by the decision to associate the Temple community with Donald Trump, they wrote.

The union, which is currently amid negotiations for a new contract with the administration, said the university has resisted proposals to add protections for academic freedom to a new contract.

We proposed a new article  to protect academic freedom, including freedom of speech inside and outside the classroom, as well as freedom from surveillance, for all members of our bargaining unit, they wrote. Where is the commitment to protecting open debate and free inquiry for the Temple community?
"Strong and strategic partnerships have always been instrumental to Steadfast Group and the wider insurance industry, said Robert B. Kelly AM, founder, managing director, and CEO of Steadfast Group. We're pleased to see the continuation of this successful relationship, enabling CHU to continue providing its superior and award-winning insurance services within the strata sector.
"Clinical practice guidelines produced by Cancer Council Australia and endorsed by the National Health and Medical Research Council provide guidance for healthcare professionals and their patients on the need for and timing of future surveillance colonoscopy. By improving adherence to these guidelines, we can ensure high-quality care and better health outcomes for patients," O'Connor said.
Based on strong trading performance year to 31 May 20241, and accretive acquisitions made, Steadfast now expects to deliver FY24 results either at the top end of or slightly exceeding the stated FY24 guidance range announced with the 1H24 results in February 2024, it said.
Louisianans have suffered from ridiculously expensive auto insurance premiums for far too long. We all have friends in states like Texas and Mississippi who save money while we pay twice as much to insure our family vehicles. Louisiana businesses, especially those near our borders, are setting up shop in other states to avoid our extreme rates, Temple said.
Citing a case where an employee tripped over their dog while working from home, which was later overturned and ruled not compensable, Adkins said, You have to be cognizant of different statutes and rules in various states, but also understand your employees remote work environments.
Attorneys are asking a federal judge to prevent crew members on the cargo ship Dali from returning to their home countries amid ongoing investigations into the circumstances leading up to the deadly collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March.

Eight of the Dalis crew members were scheduled to debark the ship and return home as early as Thursday, according to emails included in court filings Tuesday. The roughly two dozen total seafarers hail from India and Sri Lanka.

That would mark the first time any of them can leave the ship since it lost power and crashed into one of the bridges supporting columns shortly after leaving Baltimore on March 26.

In the court filings, attorneys representing the City of Baltimore said the men should remain in the U.S. so they can be deposed in ongoing civil litigation over who should be held responsible for covering costs and damages resulting from the bridge collapse, which killed six construction workers and temporarily halted most maritime traffic through Baltimores busy port.

The crew consists entirely of foreign nationals who, of course, have critical knowledge and information about the events giving rise to this litigation, attorneys wrote. If they are permitted to leave the United States, Claimants may never have the opportunity to question or depose them.

The petition requested an emergency hearing on the matter. No ruling has been issued in response.

Darrell Wilson, a spokesperson for the ships owner, said Tuesday evening that some crew members are scheduled to leave.

A portion of the crew are going home and a portion are remaining here to assist with the investigation, he said in a text message.

Wilson said he was unable to provide additional details about how many crew members were leaving and when. He also said he wasnt sure when the ship itself would leave Baltimore for Norfolk, Virginia, where it will receive more extensive repairs.

The hulking container ship remained pinned amid the wreckage of the fallen bridge for almost two months while workers removed thousands and thousands of tons of mangled steel and concrete from the bottom of the Patapsco River at the entrance to Baltimores harbor.

The ships crew remained onboard even when explosives were detonated to break apart fallen bridge trusses and free the vessel from a massive steel span that landed across its bow.

The ongoing civil litigation began with a petition from the ships owner and manager, two Singapore-based companies, seeking to limit their legal liability for the deadly disaster.

A National Transportation Safety Board investigation found the ship experienced two power outages in the hours before it left the Port of Baltimore. In the moments before the bridge collapse, it lost power again and veered off course. The agencys investigation is still ongoing to determine what exactly caused the electrical issues.

The FBI also launched a criminal investigation.

According to the emails included in Tuesdays court filings, the eight crew members scheduled to return home have already been interviewed by Department of Justice investigators and that the department doesnt object to their departure. The crew members will fly out of Baltimore likely on or about June 20th, an attorney for the ships owner and manager wrote.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A delivery driver failed to convince her employer or the Virginia Workers Compensation Commissioner (VWCC) that she injured her knee in a fall on the job because she had to rush to complete deliveries on a schedule.

She maintained that she slipped and fell while descending stairs while delivering packages, although its unclear if thats what happened or what she told her employer. She also indicated that it was raining but she was inconsistent in her view on whether that was why she fell.

Her employer opposed her claim for medical and wage loss benefits, asserting that the injury did not arise out of the employment.

She appealed her employers denial. A VWCC deputy commissioner heard and weighed the evidence and delivered her bad news, denying her claim after determining that all this evidence demonstrated a lack of a causal connection between her rushed pace and her injury.

She then appealed the deputys denial to the full VWCC.

When all was said and done, officials had doubts about her story, which the VWCC signaled when it packaged its bad news along with a somewhat damning comment: A witness credibility may, in part, be determined by his appearance and demeanor upon testifying.

The VWCC called the evidence speculative as to the cause of the claimants fall and found no error in the deputy commissioners assessment of the record and the claimants testimony. The panel further noted that the deputy commissioner had the best opportunity to observe the appearance and demeanor of the witness and it would respect the deputys judgment.

The VWCC agreed with the deputy commissioner that there was a lack of a causal connection between the claimants rushed pace and her injury.

The evidence was murky.

It showed that when the accident occurred the claimant was not behind schedule, but instead was on track to meet her on-time delivery metrics. Similarly, there was no indication her employer prompted her to speed up her pace before the accident.

There was no evidence the claimant identified the ostensible cause of the accident when she reported it to her employer.

Medical records noted that the claimant fell on concrete accidentally, had a fall three months ago, and had fallen down stairs while working.

The deputy also found that there was no evidence that the stairs were wet.

In her appeal to the full VWCC, where she had the burden of proving her injury arose out of the employment, the claimant told the VWCC that she had a work-related requirement to rush, and this fast pace made her fall compensable. She argued that contrary to the deputy commissioners depiction, an employee can be rushing and on time simultaneously, and that does not negate the injury from arising out of the employment.

She acknowledged that if a deliverer was behind or moving too slowly, the employer would send another employee to help. The employer tracked drivers progress throughout their shifts.

She confirmed that prior to her fall, she was on track with her deliveries. She maintained that to keep up with her required delivery schedule, she moved at a fast pace, and she was working at a face pace when the accident occurred.

However, and most significantly, according to the VWCC, the evidence, as a whole, did not substantiate that the claimant truly attributed her fall to a rushing activity. When testifying, the claimant initially stated that on the way coming down the steps, I took a tumble.

We are not persuaded, and we agree that the evidence fails to preponderate that a condition of rushing caused the fall, the VWCC stated. While the claimants employment may have certain risks associated with the completion of her tasks, there is insufficient evidence that the injury alleged is a consequence of that risk.

Topics Personal Auto
Aircraft leasing firms have struck settlements with Russia totalling around $2.7 billion for over a quarter of the roughly 400 aircraft stuck in the country since Moscows invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

In return, international lessors handed ownership of the planes to state insurance company NSK, which transferred them to Russian airlines.

Lessors have been suing dozens of insurers over losses of at least $8 billion over the trapped planes.

Some of the worlds largest aircraft lessors faced off against their insurers in a Dublin courtroom last week at the start of a months-long battle over around 2.5 billion euros ($2.7 billion) of insurance claims related to the jets.

A similar case is scheduled for London in October. Some cases are also due to be heard in U.S. states.

Below are details of settlements reached between lessors and Russia.

AERCAP

Ireland-based AerCap, the worlds largest lessor, said in September 2023 it had received $645 million from NSK in a settlement over 17 jets and five spare engines leased to state-controlled airline Aeroflot and its subsidiary Rossiya.

In December 2023, the lessor reached a second settlement worth $572 million over 47 aircraft and five spare engines leased to JSC Ural Airlines and JSC Siberia Airlines (S7).

AerCap has sued insurers such as AIG and Lloyds of London for $3.5 billion over the loss of 116 aircraft and 23 aircraft engines in Londons High Court under its all-risks policy.

AIRCASTLE ADVISOR

Aircastle said in January 2024 it had received $43 million in a settlement relating to four aircraft formerly on lease to two Russian airlines.

Aircastle filed a claim in New York against more than 30 insurers in October 2022 over nine aircraft and other equipment stranded in Russia.

Aircastle said in 2022 it had booked $252 million in impairment losses for the jets.

AIR LEASE

Air Lease said in December 2023 it had received about $64.9 million in cash as part of an insurance claim settlement for four Airbus jets it had leased to S7 Airlines. The settlement does not include five other aircraft previously leased to S7.

BOC AVIATION

BOC Aviation received $219 million in October 2023 for nine aircraft leased to Aeroflot subsidiaries Pobeda and Rossiya and $50 million in December 2023 for three aircraft leased to S7, out of a total of five aircraft leased to S7, according to court documents presented at the Dublin trial, where BOC is suing insurers.

Singapore-based BOC recognized an $804 million asset write-down in August 2022 relating to 17 aircraft in Russia.

CDB AVIATION

Irish-based lessor CDB Aviation, owned by the China Development Bank, said in October 2023 it had settled for 1.417 billion yuan ($195 million) over four planes and in December 2023 said it had settled for 145 million yuan for one plane.

The first settlement was for planes leased to Aeroflot and the second for a plane leased to S7, according to Dublin court documents.

CDB Aviation recognized a 747 million yuan asset write-down in August 2022 but said this was not the full value of the jets.

DUBAI AEROSPACE

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) said in December 2023 it had received a cash settlement totalling around $118 million for seven aircraft previously leased to Aeroflot.

It wrote off almost $600 million for 19 aircraft stuck in Russia in 2022. DAE and its subsidiary Falcon are suing 11 insurers for $900 million in London over 21 aircraft and equipment.

GA TELESIS

GA Telesis said in December 2023 it had received an insurance settlement for two planes previously leased to Rossiya. It did not provide financial details.

SMBC AVIATION CAPITAL

Irish-headquartered SMBC, owned by a consortium including Japans Sumitomo Corp. and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, said in October 2023 it had received a settlement of $710 million for 16 aircraft and their engines previously leased to Aeroflot.

SMBC fund GAEL received $18 million in September 2023 for one aircraft leased to Aeroflot, according to Dublin court documents. SMBC also received $46 million in December 2023 for three aircraft leased to S7, out of a total of 10 aircraft leased to S7, according to the documents.

SMBC recorded an impairment of $1.6 billion in 2022 to cover the full financial impact of having 34 jets stuck in Russia.

($1 = 0.9321 euros)

($1 = 7.2604 Chinese yuan renminbi)

(Compiled by Carolyn Cohn, Padraic Halpin, Conor Humphries, Kirstin Ridley and Gleb Stolyarov; editing by Mark Potter)

Topics Aviation Russia
Assicurazioni Generali SpA is seeking to sell its units in Turkey and the Philippines, people with knowledge of the matter said.

The Italian insurer has kicked off separate processes to dispose of its small Istanbul-based Generali Sigorta AS subsidiary and of Generali Life Assurance Philippines, the people said, asking not to be identified as the matter is private. Discussions involve about half a dozen suitors in each process, they said, adding that theres no certainty the talks will lead to transactions.

A spokeswoman for Generali declined to comment.

The sales are part of Generalis drive to streamline its structure and focus on core markets and segments. Generali last year sold both Tua Assicurazioni, a unit inherited from its purchase of a smaller Italian rival, and its Deutschland Pensionskasse AG unit.

Chief Executive Officer Philippe Donnet, whos working on a new strategy that will be announced at the beginning of next year, is looking to improve profitability through more lucrative products as he seeks to reach annual per share earnings growth between 6% and 8% for 2021-2024.

Photograph: The Assicurazioni Generali SpA sign on the headquarters in the CityLife Shopping District in Milan, Italy, on Monday April. 30, 2024. Photo credit: Francesca Volpi/Bloomberg

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.
Human-caused climate change dialed up the thermostat and turbocharged the odds of this months killer heat that has been baking the Southwestern United States, Mexico and Central America, a new flash study found.

Sizzling daytime temperatures that triggered cases of heat stroke in parts of the United States were 35 times more likely and 2.5 degrees hotter (1.4 degrees Celsius) because of the warming from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas, World Weather Attribution, a collection of scientists that run rapid and non-peer reviewed climate attribution studies, calculated Thursday.

Its an oven here; you cant stay here, 82-year-old Magarita Salazar Perez of Veracruz, Mexico, said in her home with no air conditioning. Last week, the Sonoran Desert hit 125 degrees (51.9 degrees Celsius), the hottest day in Mexican history, according to study co-author Shel Winkley, a meteorologist at Climate Central.

And it was even worse at night, which is what made this heat wave so deadly, said Imperial College of London climate scientist Friederike Otto, who coordinates the attribution study team. Climate change made nighttime temperatures 2.9 degrees (1.6 degrees Celsius) warmer and unusual evening heat 200 more times more likely, she said.

Theres just been no cool air at night like people are used to, Salazar Perez said. Doctors say cooler night temperatures are key to surviving a heat wave.

At least 125 people have died so far, according to the World Weather Attribution team.

This is clearly related to climate change, the level of intensity that we are seeing, these risks, said study co-author Karina Izquierdo, a Mexico City-based urban advisor for the Red Cross and Red Crescent Climate Centre.

The alarming part about this heat wave, which technically is still cooking the North American continent, is that its no longer that out of the ordinary anymore, Otto said. Past studies by the group have looked at heat so extreme that they found it impossible without climate change, but this heat wave not so much.

From a sort of weather perspective in that sense it wasnt rare, but the impacts were actually really bad, Otto told The Associated Press in an interview.

The changes we have seen in the last 20 years, which feels like just yesterday, are so strong, Otto said. Her study found that this heat wave is now four times more likely to happen now than it was in the year 2000 when it was nearly a degree (0.5 degrees Celsius) cooler than now. It seems sort of far away and a different world.

While other groups of international scientists  and the global carbon emissions reduction target adopted by countries in the 2015 Paris climate agreement  refer to warming since pre-industrial time in mid 1800s, Otto said comparing whats happening now to the year 2000 is more striking.

Were looking at a shifting baseline  what was once extreme but rare is becoming increasingly common, said University of Southern California Marine Studies Chair Carly Kenkel, who wasnt part of the attribution teams study. She said the analysis is the logical conclusion based on the data.

The study looked at a large swath of the continent, including southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize and Honduras and the hottest five consecutive days and hottest five consecutive nights. For most of the area, those five days ran from June 3 to 7 and those five nights were June 5 to 9, but in a few places the peak heat started May 26, Otto said.

For example, San Angelo, Texas, hit a record 111 degrees (43.8 degrees Celsius) on June 4. Between June 2 and June 6 the night temperature never dipped below 80 degrees (26.7 degrees Celsius) at Corpus Christi airport, a record each night, with two days when the thermometer never dropped below 85 (29.4 degrees Celsius) according to the National Weather Service.

Between June 1 and June 15, more than 1,200 daytime high temperature records were tied or broken in the United States and nearly 1,800 nighttime high temperature records were reached, according to the National Center for Environmental Information.

The attribution team used both current and past temperature measurements, contrasting what is happening to what occurred in past heat waves. They then used the scientifically accepted technique of comparing simulations of a fictional world without human-caused climate change to current reality to come up with how much global warming factored into the 2024 heat wave.

The immediate meteorological cause was a high pressure system parked over central Mexico that blocked cooling storms and clouds, then it moved to the U.S. Southwest and is now bringing the heat to the U.S. East, Winkley said. Tropical Storm Alberto formed Wednesday and is heading to northern Mexico and southern Texas with some rains, which may cause flooding.

Mexico and other places have been dealing for months with drought, water shortages and brutal heat. Monkeys have been dropping from trees in Mexico from the warmth.

This heat wave exacerbates existing inequalities between rich and poor in the Americas, Izquierdo said, and Kenkel agreed. The night heat is where the inequalities really become apparent because the ability to cool down with central air conditioning depends on how financially comfortable they are, Kenkel said.

And that means during this heat wave Salazar Perez has been quite uncomfortable.

___

Felix Marquez in Veracruz, Mexico and Teresa de Miguel in Mexico City contributed to this report.

The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content.

Photograph: Margarita Salazar, 82, wipes the sweat off with a tissue inside her home amid high heat in Veracruz, Mexico, on June 16, 2024. Human-caused climate change intensified and made far more likely this months killer heat with triple digit temperatures, a new flash study found Thursday, June 20. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics USA Climate Change Mexico
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by Exxon Mobil Corp. against Arjuna Capital after a lawyer for the activist investor group vowed not to try to resurrect a shareholder policy opposed by the company.

The judge in Fort Worth, Texas, issued his order Monday hours after holding a hearing in the closely watched case over Exxons novel move to use the courts to keep environmental and social investor bids out of annual meetings. The suit was part of a broader corporate pushback to the power wielded by the US Securities and Exchange Commission in the vetting of shareholder proposals.

US District Judge Mark Pittman had previously rejected Arjunas request for dismissal, agreeing with Exxons argument that even after Arjunas original proposal was pulled, there was nothing to stop the activist group from continuing to file similar ones. But Arjuna then unconditionally and irrevocably pledged not to submit similar proposals.

At base, the second times the charm for Arjuna, as its unconditional and irrevocable pledge ensures Exxon the offending conduct wont recur, the judge wrote.

At the hearing, Pittman told a lawyer for Arjuna that if the firm or an ally group repackages the anti-fossil fuel proposal, Ill take your law license away.

Read More: Arjuna Lawyers License at Risk if Investor Revives Exxon Policy

Publicly traded companies typically debate the merits of individual proposals with the SEC, which can advise whether they be excluded from the ballot. But critics of the process, including Exxon, claim the SECs advice can vary widely depending which administration is in office.

Exxon welcomed Arjunas pledge to not submit similar proposals in the future.

Weve heard a lot about shareholder rights, and our suit has always been about preserving those rights because shareholder democracy is only as strong as the rules that govern it, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Darren Woods said in a statement. Making repeated proposals that garner a small minority of support doesnt serve anyones interest except the proponents.

Exxons highly unusual decision to seek legal judgment rather than go through the SEC was seen as a test of corporations ability to shut down activist investor proposals they dont like.

Arjuna had argued that Exxon was using the lawsuit to fight a proxy war with the securities regulator.

But the US Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable backed Exxon in a February court filing. The business trade groups said the SECs decision to allow shareholder proposals pushing social and political agendas enables a subset of activists to commandeer corporate proxy statements for their own parochial ends. This takes time away from genuine proposals and wastes company money printing and distributing the activist proposals, they said.

As Exxon and amicus note, the trend of shareholder activism in this country isnt going anywhere, the judge wrote Monday. The SEC is behind the ball on this issue. But the court cannot advise Exxon of its rights without a live case or controversy to trigger jurisdiction.

The case is Exxon Mobil Corporation v. Arjuna Capital, LLC, 24-cv-00069, US District Court, Northern District of Texas (Fort Worth).

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits Legislation
Los Angeles has agreed to pay $300,000 to cover the legal fees of a local journalist and a technology watchdog group that had been sued by the city last year for publishing photos of names and photographs of hundreds of undercover officers obtained through a public records request, the journalists attorney said.

The photos release prompted huge backlash from Los Angeles police officers and their union, alleging that it compromised safety for those working undercover and in other sensitive assignments, such as investigations involving gangs, drugs and sex traffickers. The city attorneys subsequent lawsuit against Ben Camacho, a journalist for progressive news outlet Knock LA at the time, and the watchdog group Stop LAPD Spying Coalition drew condemnation from media rights experts and a coalition of newsrooms, including The Associated Press, as an attack on free speech and press freedoms.

Camacho had submitted a public records request for the LAPDs roster  roughly 9,300 officers  as well as their photographs and information, such as their name, ethnicity, rank, date of hire, badge number and division or bureau. City officials had not sought an exemption for the undercover officers and inadvertently released their photos and personal data to Camacho. The watchdog group used the records to make an online searchable database called Watch the Watchers.

The city attorneys office filed its lawsuit in April 2023 in an attempt to claw back the photographs, which had already been publicly posted. The settlement came after the city approached Camacho and Stop LAPD Spying last month to go into mediation over the case, said Camachos lawyer Susan Seager.

It shows that the city is acknowledging that  when the city gives a reporter some documents, they cant turn around and sue the reporter and demand they give them back after the fact, Seager said.

Seager said if the city had won the lawsuit, any government agency would be suing reporters right and left to get back documents they claimed they didnt mean to give them.

The city attorneys office did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment on Monday. The LAPD declined to comment.

This case was never just about photographs, the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition said in a statement. It was about the publics relationship to state violence.

The city will also have to drop demands for Camacho and Stop LAPD Spying to return the images of officers in sensitive roles, to take them off the internet, and to forgo publishing them in the future, according to the Los Angeles Times. The settlement now goes to the City Council and mayor for approval, according to court documents.

This settlement is a win for the public, the first amendment and ensures we will continue to have radical transparency within the LAPD, Camacho said Monday in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Camacho still faces a second lawsuit filed by the city attorneys office to force him and the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition to pay damages to LAPD officers who sued the city after the photo release.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits
Set during a civil war on the lawless streets of inner-city Dublin, Twig (15A) is a modern retelling of the Greek tragedy of Antigone.

In the wake of a gangland feud, crime boss Leon (Brian F OByrne) issues an edict that the brothers responsible are now persona non grata, this as a warning to anyone else who might try to challenge his authority.

But Leon has reckoned without the indomitable Twig (Sade Malone), a young and supposedly powerless woman who refuses to bend the knee and instead sets about doing the right thing by her brothers.

Written and directed by Marian Quinn, Twig is occasionally too literal as it attempts to graft Greek tragedy onto a contemporary Irish setting  the dialogue, especially, is a little on the nose as the characters stomp around declaring their intentions.

And yet the blend of old and new is also strikingly effective: the sight of quasi-fascistic armed guards enforcing an autocrats diktats is a chillingly timeless one.

Its textual extravagances aside, Twig is an ambitious, challenging film that shows us a Dublin we would prefer not to imagine, with Sade Malone quietly compelling as a woman who refuses to be cowed by the illegitimate rule of a self-righteous tyrant.
WERE about to enter peak holiday season. Thousands of people across Ireland are planning to spend time during July and August soaking up the sun on European beaches, staycationing at home, or simply taking a break from the daily grind of work.

While most of us cherish every day of our annual leave, CSO figures from 2021 reveal that one in five Irish workers does not take their full allocation.

Also, some workers keep a close eye on what is happening in the office during their time off. A 2016 survey of 5,700 people carried out by AA Travel Insurance found that 20% of Irish adults read work emails while on holiday and another 13% admitted to making and taking work calls.

Allowing our professional lives to spill over into holiday time is a mistake, says clinical psychologist Dr Vincent McDarby. We need to be able to step away from the stresses and responsibilities of work so that we can unwind from the mental burden involved, he says.

Taking holidays allows us to function better. After holidays, we experience lower levels of depression and anxiety and enhanced levels of engagement and productivity and those of us who take regular holidays have fewer sick days overall.

Studies prove this is so. Research from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans showed that annual leave improved employee productivity by up to 40% and reduced the risk of sick leave by 28%. A 2013 report compiled by the American Sociological Association stated that holidays lead to a decline in psychological distress and lower the risk of depression, anxiety, and burnout.

Chartered psychologist and wellbeing researcher with the RCSI, Jolanta Burke, says holidays are essential for our mental health.

The scientific literature suggests that taking regular holidays helps to prevent mental health issues by allowing us a chance to recover from the daily hassles of work, she says. While some stress isnt necessarily bad for us, if its relentless and we dont get a break from it, it can negatively impact our wellbeing. Holidays give us that much-needed break.

Burke believes they also provide a fillip to our wellbeing. Holidays make life more interesting, she says. They add psychological richness by giving us an increased opportunity to experience positive emotions and to gain more meaning from our lives.

Holiday benefits

Most of us know what it is like to return from holiday with a sense of renewed energy, fresh ideas, and a clearer perspective. However, we also know that such feelings tend to be short-lived. A 2010 German study found that these positive post-holiday effects tend to fade away within two weeks to a month.

Are there steps we can take to maximise the benefits of our holidays?

Burke recommends spending time planning for and looking forward to holidays. Preparing for your holidays is almost as beneficial as the holidays themselves, she says. Anticipating the good time youre going to have boosts your positive emotions and enhances wellbeing. So, allow yourself time to daydream. Studies show that your high levels of wellbeing are likely to continue for longer after your holidays if you do.

She follows her own advice. I always book holidays six months in advance and once a month or so, I take time to think and talk about what I plan to do on my holidays, she says. I get the whole family involved in the discussion about where we might go and what we might do. It gives us all a boost to think about it.

She also advises being careful about the duration of your holiday and the likely weather. A 2012 Finnish study found that the eighth day of your holiday is the day you experience peak relaxation so allow yourself at least eight days of holidays, she says.

And sunny places have been shown to accelerate the process of disconnecting from the stresses of work.

McDarby, a chartered member of the Psychological Society of Ireland, suggests that we allow ourselves plenty of time to get our work tasks done before we shut up shop for the holidays. People usually underestimate the time it will take to get all their work done and forget that other things are likely to come up too, he says. So factor in more time than you think to avoid putting yourself under last-minute pressure.

When you finally finish your work, put your work devices away, says McDarby. Emails especially can eat into our holidays and prevent us from fully detaching from work, he says. Set your devices aside while youre on holiday.

He recognises that some people, particularly the self-employed, may find it challenging to completely ignore their inboxes and has strategies to help with this.

You could get someone else to monitor your inbox, with the understanding that they will contact you if needs be, he says. Or you could set up an out-of-office message, letting people know that youre on holiday and are only to be contacted if its an emergency.

Employers can make this easier for employees by introducing holiday email policies. The Daimler car company has a great one, says McDarby. If anyone emails an employee while they are on holiday, they receive a response telling them that person is on holiday and their email has been deleted. They are urged to email again when the person returns from holiday or to email someone else. With a policy like this, employees never feel the temptation to check emails while they are away because they know their inbox is empty.

Chartered psychologist and wellbeing researcher with the RCSI, Jolanta Burke

Complete break

It makes little difference what type of break you choose  far-flung adventure, Mediterranean beach, or quiet staycation  once it is a total work break.

Some peoples ideal is to lie on the beach doing nothing while others prefer being active, says McDarby. It doesnt matter which you prefer. As long as you succeed in detaching from work, youll come back from your holiday feeling good.

Burke advises scheduling a free day before you return to work.

The last day of holidays can be stressful what with travelling back home, she says. This can set you up badly for the work week ahead. Having a day to settle at home and to look back at the holiday, going through pictures and chatting about the wonderful experiences, is a great way of keeping the positive emotions going. That will set you up perfectly for going back to work.

McDarby urges you to build on this even further by gradually easing yourself back into the work routine. Lots of us make the mistake of scheduling a load of meetings for our first day or two back, he says.

But thats stressful in itself. Its far better to give yourself time and space to get up to speed by going through the mountain of emails that are likely to be waiting for you and attending to any tasks that require your immediate attention before getting back into the thick of it again.

In todays fast-paced and demanding work environment, it is never been more important to schedule regular breaks. They make such a difference to our health and wellbeing, says Burke. And by making the most of them, they can enhance our working lives and enrich our lives in general.
ITS (technically) summer, and again, we ask the annual question  to shave or not to shave? I say we. I mean women, who are expected to follow the hair rules: Obligatory on your head, unwanted everywhere else. But unwanted by whom? Patriarchy? Capitalism? Yourself, having internalised the other two?

First, lets be clear  we all do it to some degree. Dr Breanne Fahs, author of Unshaved, writes that Between 92% and 99% of women in the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and much of Western Europe regularly remove their leg and underarm hair, while from 50% to 98% of women report that they removed some or all of their pubic hair.

Fahs terms this extraordinary compliance. She says weve been socialised to think of female body hair as unhygienic, disgusting, unfeminine, and contaminated.

However, it seems we dont want to talk about it.

It took another academic, Professor Karin Lesnik-Oberstein, 20 years to find a publisher for her 2007 book The Last Taboo: Women & Body Hair.

Even feminist writers and academics had very little to say about why women remove their body hair, she writes in the Shewolf blog. If they mention it at all, its to advocate either not practising hair removal in order to return to a natural body, or celebrating hair removal as an enjoyment of beautification.

She wanted to understand more why it was done  what it meant. In a nutshell, it seems we have got our cultural confused with our natural.

The belief that womens body hair is gross, or disgusting, or tainting of their reputations speaks to the punitive qualities of women violating traditional gender roles, says Fahs.

That said, none of that is actually scientifically true. Womens body hair is remarkably protective against bacteria and other intruders. Gynaecologists have grown increasingly concerned with the removal of pubic hair and its links to staph infections and such.

Why then is the female smooth/male hairy construct more embedded than an ingrown pube?

Ive been everywhere, from werewolf to egg and back; its always on a sliding scale of laziness. While liking the sensation of smoothness, often I just cant be bothered. Yet despite laziness and conscious awareness that female hairlessness is a manmade construct, as a Gen X woman, I remain brainwashed enough to always have razors, creams, and wax strips in my bathroom. They can go unused for ages, but theyre there.

Gender is powerful, and the rules of gender are omnipresent in our lives, says Fahs. It is always hard to violate the unwritten but powerful rules of gender.

Lynn Enright, in her book Vagina: A Re-Education, comments on how the practice of paying someone to inflict pain on you by pulling your pubic hair out by the roots is undeniably bizarre.

Anyone who has ever had a stranger doing things to them with warm wax will concur  however, context is all. I believe there are far bigger and more pressing issues than pubic hair, she writes.

Alongside period poverty, FGM, reproductive rights, and post-natal care, to wax or not to wax is hardly the question.

Pic: iStock

History of hair-removal

Humans have always removed their body hair: The ancient Egyptians invented sugaring, a precursor to waxing, as they associated body hair not with gender but with social hierarchy (only servants were hairy). Current norms of female hairlessness stem from the advent of fashion photography (legs and armpits) and the mainstreaming of porn aesthetics  the Brazilian wax arrived via Manhattan in 1990, originally connotating sexual adventurousness until porn sent us all bald. However, the rise in manscaping suggests hairlessness around the genital area is not strictly women-only.

But unless youre a male swimmer, hairless legs and pits are still heavily gendered. When my partner shaves his pits for hygiene reasons, he says he feels self-conscious because hes been socialised to think of hairiness equalling manliness. When I dont shave mine, I feel self-conscious for the opposite reason  that hairiness is unwomanly, which is biological nonsense.

The older women are, the more conditioned they tend to be. YouGov research from 2021 showed that 26% of women aged 16-24 felt they should shave their pits, compared with 64% of women over 60.

Bel Olid, author of Hairless, says the elimination of womens body hair, particularly on their vulvas, blurs the line between prepubescent girls and grown women, adding that its particularly disturbing that many men think this is sexually appealing.

Its intrinsically feminine and even sexy when body hair is present as its a biological marker of sexual maturity, says Olid. Instead weve reached a point where its the contrary.

Much of the social control over womens bodies comes from family members and friends who let them know when they are performing femininity correctly, says Olid. We can choose not to partake in body-policing. Gossiping about someone elses looks is a way of setting what is acceptable, a way to let everyone know what they have to do to be a part of our group. If we stop judging bodies, more people can feel comfortable with their choices.

A recent meta-analysis of pubic hair removal practices showed that women are prone to express stronger associations with feelings of cleanliness, comfort, sex appeal, adherence to social norms within their peer group, and affordability as influential factors influencing their chosen pubic hair style.

We spend a lot on keeping ourselves artificially hairless. According to Harpers Bazaar, salon waxes can average around 27,000 over a lifetime unless you DIY at home, in which case the lifetime cost of razors, creams, wax strips, etc is just under 8,000. Permanent laser hair removal can cost thousands.

Yet despite us associating hairlessness with cleanliness, Fahs notes how its no longer standard medical practice to shave women before C-sections. A 2016 US study found a higher prevalence of STIs among those who groomed, but this is likely due to greater sexual activity rather than actual grooming causing STI infection  similar to the risk of getting a shaving rash.

Pic: PA

Embrace your body hair

Perhaps female hairlessness will go the way of corsets and bras  shrugged off by upcoming generations of women who couldnt be bothered to shave. Hair-embracing celebs include Miley Cyrus, Emma Watson, and famously Julia Roberts in 1999 for five seconds (were still talking about it). Adele has said, with characteristic candour: No man is telling me to shave my fucking legs.

Ungirl, a sex-positive Instagram site, posts how it shouldnt be radical for me not to shave my body hair, while Januhairy, also on Instagram, encourages young women to embrace their winter body hair. Theres even been a micro-trend in Seattle for dyeing your armpit hair, which, while fun, seems like a faff.

Like most of her peer group, my Gen Z daughter, 23, remains ambiguous about the hair/no hair discussion and is more concerned about avoiding single-use plastic disposable razors than being hairy.

I dont shave my legs or pits that often and dont feel pressure to, she says. Most people just do what they feel comfortable doing. I dont think its such a big deal, despite all the available products. Its more socially normal to have hairy armpits and legs. I think its cool; it shows that the person doesnt care what others think. It rebels against how women are told we should look.

Or as the Ungirls on Instagram put it, Rock a bush or dare to go bare, you do you.

A century of hair removal

During the First World War, soldiers returned home carrying shaving kits given to them by Gillette. Their wives began borrowing the kits, and Gillette realised there was a gap in the market. In 1915, Gillette invented the first lady razor, as womens clothing changed to reveal more legs and armpits.

Remington followed with the first womens electric razor in 1940, wax strips in the 1960s, and laser treatment in the 1970s. As the second wave of feminism began in the 1960s, female body hair became a battleground. In 1972, Ms magazine published an article titled Body Hair: The Last Frontier, encouraging women to embrace hairiness. Feminist Betty Friedan, author of The Feminine Mystique, criticised it, arguing body hair is less important than issues like child care, reproductive rights, etc. Hairy feminist became a pejorative term that lingers to this day.

The Brazilian wax made its Western debut in a Manhattan salon in 1990, imported by six sisters from Bahia, northeast Brazil  Carrie in Sex & The City undergoes one. Since then, the pendulum has swung back towards hairiness  or rather, a less prescriptive attitude, leaving to shave or not to shave down to the individual.
As a result of an ongoing dispute between Aer Lingus and members Irish Airline Pilots Association (IALPA), the airline has announced that it has cancelled a further 122 scheduled flights next week.

Aer Lingus has begun contacting affected passengers, and is attempting to rebook them onto alternative flights or offering them refunds.
Guilty pleas to all charges will be entered by a man accused of burgling a funeral home as well as carrying out burglaries at two neighbouring properties.

Sergeant Aisling Murphy said at Cork District Court that the Director of Public Prosecutions had not yet decided if the cases should proceed at district or circuit court level.

Daniel Jackson, aged 34, appeared at Cork District Court by video link from prison. His solicitor, Frank Buttimer, said that irrespective of what directions come from the DPP, Mr Jackson will be pleading guilty to the charges against him.

He faces three counts of burglary and one count of possession of a knife.

Judge Detective Garda Maurice Hickey outlined the allegations against Daniel Jackson when the 34-year-old allegedly burgled AJ Tyres on Boreenmanna Road at 10.40pm on April 22 and tried to get into three cars parked outside.

The second alleged offence related to a break-in at Jeremiah OConnors funeral home on Boreenmanna Road about 20 minutes later and then burgling a house at Bellfield Abbey nearby half an hour after that while armed with a knife and confronting two young Spanish men who were living there.

Mr Buttimer said the accused was consenting to a four-week remand in custody in the hope that DPP directions would be available on the next occasion.

Judge Mary Dorgan suggested that the indication of the guilty plea might assist in that regard. The case was adjourned until July 18.
An elderly man has died following a house fire in Limerick City on Thursday night.

Gardai and Limerick fire services attended the scene of the incident at around 11.45pm in the Kilmurry Village area.

It is understood the house is on the campus grounds of the University of Limerick.

The man was found dead after the fire was extinguished by the fire brigade. He is understood to have been an academic.

A garda spokesperson said his body remains at the scene.

The scene is currently preserved for gardai to carry out a technical examination of the scene.

Gardai at the scene of the fire. Picture: Press 22

An autopsy will also take place in due course.

"The results of this, along with the findings of the technical examination, will determine the course of the Garda investigation," the garda spokesperson added.

In a statement, University of Limerick said the village staff "acted immediately after the alarm was raised" but the man "sadly passed away. 

"A Garda investigation is underway and UL will be making no further comment at this time," the statement added.

A garda source said Gardai had yet to formally identify the victim.
The Tanaiste and Defence Minister Micheal Martin has condemned unequivocally the violent and vicious assault on Natasha OBrien by a serving Irish soldier and confirmed that the Defence Forces has launched an internal process to deal with her attacker.

Cathal Crotty, 22, of Parkroe Heights, Ardnacrusha, Co Clare, beat Ms OBrien unconscious in a random street attack, and boasted about it afterwards on social media. He walked free from a court on Wednesday after getting a fully suspended sentence.

He had initially tried to blame the innocent victim, Ms OBrien, 24, by wrongly telling the gardai who arrested him that she had instigated the attack at OConnell Street, Limerick, on May 29, 2022.

However, after gardai showed Crotty CCTV footage of him setting upon Ms OBrien without provocation, he admitted his guilt, Limerick Circuit Criminal Court heard on Wednesday.

Speaking in Cork on Friday, Mr Martin praised Ms OBrien for her bravery and condemned the assault.

It was vicious. It was unprovoked and I want to commend the bravery, the courage and the dignity of Natasha OBrien in the face of such an assault, and for the way in which she has conducted herself since, he said.

I am conscious that the judicial process may not be complete and I cant comment any further because it could prejudice any future deliberations at that level.

He also moved to explain the presence of a superior officer in the courtroom on Wednesday. He said that officer, Commandant Paul Togher, was there under Defence Forces regulations.

When a member of the Defence Forces is before the courts, there is an obligation that a commanding officer would have an officer in court for two purposes  one, to co-operate with the court if the court requires and sometimes an officer can be cross-examined and was on this occasion by both defence and the prosecution, and to provide whatever material is on the file to the court, and secondly to report back to the Defence Forces in terms of what actually transpired in court, he said.

Cathal Crotty had initially tried to blame the innocent victim.

He also confirmed that he has spoken to the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces who has confirmed that a separate internal process is now underway in relation to Crotty.

He declined to go into detail on whether or not it could be described as a disciplinary process but said the process is governed by Defence Forces regulations.

I have read them myself in terms of what happens when the member of the Defence Forces is before the civilian authorities, before the courts. There is a very clear process in place in terms of how the military responds to that. And that is now underway.

He said Defence Forces personnel are fundamentally trained to protect civilians and to protect society and to keep people safe.

Those are the values of our Defence Forces. I am very conscious of that, so is everybody involved in the Defence Forces, he said. I cant prejudice any process that is underway and one is underway and we have to allow that now to be concluded."

'The legal process may not yet be concluded because it is absolutely always open to the DPP to appeal a sentence'

Meanwhile, Taoiseach Simon Harris praised Ms OBrien for coming forward and speaking out against her attacker. He said it was really important that victims come forward.

However, Mr Harris said that he was unable to comment directly on the sentencing, citing the separation of powers.

I find myself precluded from being allowed comment on the sentence of a court, despite perhaps having quite a lot that I would have liked to be able to say, Mr Harris said.

The legal process may not yet be concluded because it is absolutely always open to the DPP to appeal a sentence and also to appeal the leniency of a sentence.

Mr Harris echoed comments by Justice Minister Helen McEntee, saying that there is still an epidemic of gender-based violence in Ireland.

Its really important that every part of society plays its full role in getting us to that zero-tolerance place that we need to be, which we clearly arent there yet, Mr Harris said.

Lets be absolutely categoric about that. There is still far too much violence against women in our country. I, as Taoiseach, as a parent, as a father to a daughter, want to create a very different society for young women to grow up in.

Mr Harris welcomed the Defence Forces beginning an investigation into the attack, saying that individuals involved needed to be of the highest standards, highest integrity and respect for the law.
The leader has departed, long live the leader. Whenever a political party goes through a leadership change, there is a promised reset.

So it was a few short months ago with Simon Duracel bunny Harris. He brought oodles of energy that made things happen fast and injected confidence into his party. Following the recent election results, the reset is coming along nicely for him and Fine Gael.

Now the Green party is looking to reset. Eamon Ryan departs his role having done the State, society at large, and the planet, a service. He is not departing because a reset is required. The party, and the cause it serves, will be poorer without him. Not that you would think that if you perused social media or listened to some of those who have appointed themselves spokespeople for something called rural Ireland.

As far as theyre concerned, Ryan espoused policies and made comments that suggested he had no time for the sections of society that are based beyond medium to large conurbations. Or something like that, because it is entirely unclear to what these people are referring when they claim to speak on behalf of rural Ireland.

They have, however, been effective in propagating a narrative that the Greens, particularly as personified by Ryan, are anti this version of rural Ireland. So it is, that those vying to succeed Ryan have placed great emphasis on a reset that is focused on showering this mythical place with love.

Senator Pippa Hackett, Mayo born and based in Offaly, is a perfectly competent politician. She told Newstalk that if elected leader she would represent a fresh start, and that she is not a conventional Green. I live in rural Ireland, Im a beef and sheep farmer, she said.

She went on to note that her perspective and certainly my different life experiences can make the Green party relevant and relatable. If elected she would be the first female and non-Dubliner leader. That would be refreshing, but she also sounds like she believes it would give the party a fillip in attempting to relate to rural Ireland.

Her rival for the leadership, Roderic OGorman, was in the same neighbourhood. He said on Wednesday that Ms Hackett is a fantastic colleague but that it is simplistic to say if we have someone living in rural Ireland  problem solved.

All of this is playing into a false narrative. First off, it infers that rural Ireland begins beyond the M50 Dublin ring road. Tell that to the denizens of the cities of Cork or Limerick, Waterford or Galway. Tell it to those who live in big and medium sized towns across the State. What common cause does north Kildare have with south Kerry, or residents of Knocknaheeny have with the people of Knocknagoshel? The reality is that most of the state is urbanised and would be even more concentrated were it not for the proliferation of one-off houses usually within 10km of large towns or cities.

The rural Ireland of which Ryan stands accused of perpetrating depopulation and other various crime is, to the greatest extent, the agriculture sector. This is a sector that is having to endure a disproportionately greater change than the rest of us. The Climate Action Act of 2021 requires that agriculture must reduce carbon emissions by 25% by 2030 in order to meet our obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Senator Pippa Hackett, Mayo born and based in Offaly, is a perfectly competent politician. She told Newstalk that if elected leader she would represent a 'fresh start', and that she is not a conventional Green. 'I live in rural Ireland, Im a beef and sheep farmer,' she said. Picture: Conor O Mearain/Collins

That has not been easy, but many farmers are making huge efforts to put a shoulder to the wheel. There are some legitimate and proportionate concerns about a lack of state aid in achieving these targets, and the upheavals some are experiencing. There is also a powerful lobby that amplifies these challenges, borne from a long and historic capacity of the farming sector to get its way with the body politic.

Out of this milieu and the challenges associated with climate change, a narrative has grown up. Its all the Greens fault. They are imposing a green agenda on rural Ireland. This infers that climate change is a pet project of the Green party.

The reality is unlike others, Ryan and the Greens do not play politics with this matter which science has deemed an existential threat to the planet. They do not, as some have made out, pretend to farmers that they are opposed to measures deemed necessary to attempt to arrest the blight. They do not flip flop on what has been agreed internationally must be done. Nor do they attempt to apportion blame on any other political entity, or blame them up in Dublin, or them over in Brussels, or them goddamn polar bears in the Antartic.

When talking or acting on climate change, Ryan and his colleagues are not focused on how it will play ahead of the next election.

Thus a narrative takes hold. And like all false narratives this one is amplified and distorted further on social media and by the tribunes who have appointed themselves as political guardians of what they claim to be rural Ireland.

Eamon Ryan is not the only minister in recent history to be hoisted on the petard of the self-appointed spokespeople for vested interests. Defenders of rural Ireland. His predecessor as Minister for Transport in the 2016-20 government was Shane Ross. He also was cast as a wrecker of rural Ireland on the basis that he was determined to implement a drink driving regime befitting a developed western state.

At every juncture he was cast as the Bogeyman, coming down from Dublin, telling the poor people of rural Ireland that their ways must change. Most agreed with him, but as always it was the vested interests who shouted loudest. After Ross lost his seat in 2020, TD Michael Collins, now of Independent Ireland, described him as one of the biggest scumbags in politics. Collins later withdrew the remark but said he was glad Ross had lost his seat.

Rural Ireland has many parts and is many voices. More often than not those who shout loudest represent only a small vocal minority. So whomever becomes leader should every now and again just patiently counter the false narrative with facts. In that vein, it would be no bad idea to now and again send out somebody like Senator Roisin Garvey, who describes herself as living in the middle of nowhere, to put forward a contra view to the science-sceptic one that currently prevails.

After the way she filleted Michael Healy Rae on RTEs Prime Time last Tuesday, she would be well up to the job.

Agriculture is certainly being asked to shoulder a fair load in tackling climate change, and assistance should be given, strains mitigated. But wrapping it all up as an attack on rural Ireland, and pointing at the Greens is a fraud. It serves nobody but those in search of cheap votes.
Home of seven iconic Irish whiskey brands  Jameson, Redbreast, Powers, Midleton Very Rare, The Spot Whiskeys, Method and Madness, and Knappogue Castle  visitors from all over the world have been blown away by the recent upgrade to the iconic visitor attraction in East Cork.

Complimenting the existing array of tours and tastings in Midleton, a brand-new immersive cocktail making experience is proving particularly popular. The 60-minute masterclass sees participants provided with everything required to concoct the perfect trio of cocktail masterpieces  all the ingredients, bar tools, knowledge (and Jameson of course!). Hosted in a custom-built bar space, the cocktail classes are nestled privately in the upper floors of the original distillery buildings.

Come explore the incredible, recently revamped Midleton Distillery Experience for yourself  and pick up a few new skills along the way!

I think the reaction has been so positive because it's something truly different, shares Experience Manager Kelly OMahony. I can think of so many times spent with friends looking for something interesting to do, or something you havent done a million times already. People are crying out for new experiences that are fun, creative, and memorable, where you can roll up your sleeves and learn a new trick or two. This is the perfect mix.

Pictured at Midleton Distillery Experience are from left: Kelly O'Mahony, Emma Allen, David Byrne, all of Midleton Distillery; Evelyn O'Sullivan and Seamus Heaney of Visit Cork; Una Connolly and Helen Murphy of Midleton Distillery.

"Weve hosted a great blend of guests so far; from couples to families, friend groups to corporate clients, celebrating a broad variety of special occasions. Our overseas tourists are always seeking something fun to do on holidays, and our corporate clients visit for teambuilding events. The class hosts up to sixteen people and can be fully booked on a private and exclusive basis.

"We offer a late afternoon class each day at 4:30 PM, so it is perfect on a Friday, say, if you finish up in the office and want to get together with the team. If you fancy it, you could even head in to Midleton afterwards and explore some of the fantastic restaurants in the town.

Whether youre a whiskey connoisseur or someone with a curious or passing interest, the cocktail class hits a sweet spot. Using much-loved whiskeys from the Jameson range, alongside the freshest of local ingredients from East Cork, youre expertly guided through the process of perfecting some of the worlds most popular cocktails.

When people think about Irish whiskey cocktails, often there are two classic signature drinks that come to mind; the Whiskey Sour and the Old Fashioned, Kelly explains. Both are great cocktails, with very different flavour profiles and each with great stories to tell. The Old Fashioned is much more spirit-forward than the Sour, for example, and the process of making each is a nice contrast  with one shaken, the other stirred.

The third cocktail our guests prepare is our Jameson Punch, which always goes down a treat. We create seasonal variations throughout the year. Currently, a delicious Blackberry Whiskey Sour is on the menu, in line with the blackberry season.

Shaken or stirred? In this immersive cocktail making experience, you decide!

We try to pick cocktails that are not only fun to make but afford the opportunity to impress others as well! For a family party in December, I tried my hand at preparing Whiskey Sours for everyone. They were blown away! And of course, they all get to enjoy Jameson then too, so it's a win-win.

That win-win mindset can sometimes be forgotten about within the actual classes, however. Whether you're truly interested in learning about mixology or just there for a bit of fun, you'll soon find yourself totally swept up in the atmosphere of the class  with some good-natured competition bound to kick in!

People are always curious before they start the class about what its going to be like and how hands-on it will be, so there's always a sense of anticipation when they first arrive into the room, Kelly shares. Because we typically host mixed groups, not everyone knows each other beforehand, but it is always amazing to watch how quickly the ice is broken! Our team is key here, doing full introductions at the start  they really want to get to know everybody, and ensure that everybody knows everybody else, so that a bit of craic ensues in the room.

By the end of the class everyone ends up laughing and joking, enjoying their finished cocktails together at the bar, and they leave with a smile on their face every time. Weve even had groups departing together for dinner, having never met before the class. It is lovely to see people make friends from an experience like that.

As well as going in with an open mind and getting to know the other people, there are plenty of other things you can do to get the most out of your cocktail making class, Kelly advises.

Never underestimate the level of detail that goes into making a good cocktail! I certainly did  I remember the first time I had to shake my cocktail tin full of all my ingredients and, of course, a load of ice. I honestly thought my hands would freeze right through, she laughs.

What feels like two minutes could actually be only 10 seconds when you're working with those shakers because it's so cold, and then how long you do it and how good you are at shaking all impact the quality of the end result! When the cocktails are poured at the end, some people might have a big frothy head while others will have none because they didn't shake it enough. It's fascinating, what you think will be easy walking into it can trip you up, but some parts youre apprehensive about might be easy peasy!

Of course, those hosting the class manage to make it all look easy. The Mixologists working at Midleton Distillery Experience are among the best in their field, so learning from them puts you in very safe hands indeed.

When we were creating this experience, we interviewed very specifically to find mixologists who not only had a high level of expertise but who could also communicate their knowledge well to teach our visitors how to make the best cocktails, Kelly explains. We now have three Mixologists who host this experience, with many years of combined experience between them; working all around the world, in high-end bars and hotels that specialise in cocktails. Were very lucky to have this expertise here in Midleton.

Youll be provided with the tools of the trade, as well as the freshest seasonal ingredients (and Jameson of course), to create the ultimate trio of cocktails.

Learning from these world-class experts will certainly leave you with some impressive tricks up your sleeve, enough to keep you practising and refining your newfound skills in your own time too.

As part of the experience, all the participants get a cocktail book to bring home. Its a lovely keepsake that gives a little insight into the history of Midleton Distillery and of Jameson Irish Whiskey. It also guides you through the basics of making a whole list of cocktails, not just the ones you make in class but some additional ones too. Its great, because if you really want to test out your mixology skills, youve got this little book to help you.

You can also stock up on everything youll need to practice with before leaving the distillery; with a jaw-dropping selection of whiskeys from all seven of our award-winning brands available in the Whiskey Vault shop, as well as fold-out cocktail kits containing all the shakers, strainers and jiggers you could want.

The new retail spaces are just one of many extra pitstops you could enjoy at Midleton Distillery Experience while visiting. As Kelly points out, you could quite easily spend an entire day there and still find plenty to see and do.

Were very lucky here at Midleton Distillery Experience to have tours that run every ten minutes for anybody who wants to learn how we make our Irish whiskey or to see more of the old distillery. You can also visit our brand-new Malthouse Cafe, which has indoor and outdoor seating, so its a great spot to grab a bite to eat year-round.

Midleton Distillery Experience is so much more than a tourist attraction. We invite you to visit and browse, theres no tickets or admission fees to our Cafe, retail, and incredible Kiln Bar. It really is worth coming in just to have a look around  you never know what might take your fancy!

For the months of June and July, Midleton Distillery Experience is offering 20% off experiences* (including the cocktail making class). For on-line bookings only, using promo code LOCAL OFFER. Subject to availability. 18 years old and over.

Visit the Midleton Distillery Experience website for more information and bookings.

*Excludes The Distillers Apprentice Tour and The Irish Whiskey Academy.
South Koreas military said it had fired warning shots to repel North Korean soldiers who temporarily crossed the rivals land border for the third time this month.

Meanwhile, an activists group said it flew more balloons carrying propaganda leaflets toward North Korea, continuing a campaign that has aggravated animosities between the rivals and prompted a resumption of Cold War-style psychological warfare along their border.

The intrusions are likely related to the large number of troops North Korea has been deploying in frontline areas to fortify their side of the border, possibly to prevent civilians and soldiers from defecting to the South, as Pyongyangs leadership continues to tighten its grip over the population.

South Korea has recently retaliated for North Koreas trash-carrying balloon launches with propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts at border areas (South Korea Defence Ministry via AP, File)

The South Korean civilian activists, led by North Korean defector Park Sang-hak, said it floated 20 balloons attached with 300,000 propaganda leaflets, 5,000 USB sticks with South Korean pop songs and TV dramas, and 3,000 US dollar bills from the South Korean border town of Paju on Thursday night.

Analysts say Pyongyang resents such material and fears it could demoralise frontline troops and residents and weaken leader Kim Jong Uns grip on power.

After previous leafletting by Mr Parks group and other South Korean activists, North Korea launched more than 1,000 balloons that dropped rubbish in South Korea, smashing roof tiles and windows and causing other property damage.

In retaliation for the trash balloons, South Korea resumed anti-North Korea propaganda broadcasts with military loudspeakers installed at the border for the first time in years, to which Pyongyang warned that Seoul was creating a prelude to a very dangerous situation.

Tensions between the Koreas are at their highest in years as Mr Kim accelerates his nuclear weapons and missile development and attempts to strengthen his regional footing by aligning with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a standoff against the US-led West.
A Muslim mob in north-western Pakistan has broken into a police station, snatched a man who was held there and then lynched him over allegations that he had desecrated Islams holy book, the Koran.

The attackers also torched the station in Madyan, a town in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and burned police vehicles parked there, according to local police official Rahim Ullah.

The dead man, Mohammad Ismail, was a tourist who was staying at a hotel in the town when some locals turned on him and accused him of blasphemy.

Mr Ullah said police officers took the man to the station for his protection but the mob swelled and pursued them.

The attackers also torched a police station which had held the man in Madyan and burned police vehicles parked there (AP)

The mob then attacked the station, snatched Ismail, beat him to death and then burned his body and left it on the road.

Additional police forces have arrived in Madyan to bring the situation under control, Mr Ullah said.

It was not immediately known if any of the attackers were arrested.

Attacks on people accused of blasphemy are common in this conservative Islamic nation where charges of blasphemy can carry the death sentence. International and national rights groups say blasphemy accusations have often been used to intimidate religious minorities and settle personal scores.

Last month, a mob in Pakistans eastern Punjab province attacked a Christian man, Nazir Masih, 72, after accusing him of desecrating pages of Quran. He later died in hospital.
Japans space agency has suffered a series of cyber attacks since last year, officials said.

However, sensitive information relating to rockets and satellites was not affected, officials at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa) said, and it is continuing to investigate and take preventative measures.

Japans chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi acknowledged that Jaxa has suffered a number of cyber attacks since late last year.

Jaxa has investigated the extent of illegal access while shutting down the affected networks and verifying that they did not contain classified information about operations of rockets and satellites and national security, he said.

Mr Hayashi vowed to strengthen Japans ability to counter cyber attacks.

Japan has been accelerating a military build-up in response to Chinas growing military might and is hoping to be able to develop a counter-strike ability, but experts say Tokyo will continue to need to rely heavily on the United States for launching long-range cruise missiles at targets.

Officials on Friday said they were not aware of any information leak from the cyber attacks.

Defence minister Minoru Kihara told reporters that the attacks on Jaxa have not affected his ministry, but that he is keeping a close watch on the investigation by the agency, which is one of his ministrys key contractors.

Education and science minister Masahito Moriyama also told a news conference Friday that he believed there was no actual damage from the cyberattacks.

Officials said JAXA is currently working with the governments cybersecurity team to introduce counter-measures.
Ukraines military is allowed to use longer-range missiles provided by the US to strike targets inside Russia across more than just the front lines near Kharkiv if Kyiv is acting in self-defence, the Pentagon said.

US President Joe Biden initially loosened the restrictions on how Ukraine could use US-provided munitions to give it another option to better defend the eastern city of Kharkiv from a relentless barrage of Russian missiles.

Since the beginning of Russias 2022 invasion, the US had maintained a policy of not allowing Ukraine to use the weapons it provided to hit targets inside Russia for fear of further escalating the war.

As we see those forces conducting those types of operations from across the border, weve explained Ukraine can and does have the right to fire back to defend themselves

Russia has been firing on Ukrainian targets from inside its border, treating its area as a safe zone, said Major General Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary.

As we see those forces conducting those types of operations from across the border, weve explained Ukraine can and does have the right to fire back to defend themselves, Maj Gen Ryder told reporters on Thursday.

The White House also announced on Thursday that it is rushing delivery of air defence interceptor missiles to Ukraine by redirecting shipments planned for other allied nations, as Washington scrambles to counter increased Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

The US was already sending Ukraine a consistent stream of interceptors for its air defence systems, including for the Patriot missile batteries and the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, or NASAMS.

National security spokesman John Kirby told reporters that more was urgently needed as Russias military has accelerated missile and drone attacks against cities and infrastructure centres ahead of this winter.

The rushed shipments are expected to include hundreds of Patriot missiles.
Armenia has said it would recognise a Palestinian state, prompting Israel to summon its ambassador for what its foreign ministry described as a severe reprimand.

Three-quarters of the 193 United Nations member nations have recognised a Palestinian state, including Ireland and Spain, although none of the major Western powers has done so.

Palestinians believe the recognitions confer international legitimacy on their struggle, especially as Israels war against Hamas, now in its ninth month, faces growing international criticism over the campaign of systematic destruction in Gaza and huge cost in civilian lives.

Also on Friday, the head of a major hospital in north Gaza said his staff have seen some 250 children suffering from malnutrition, with numbers rising daily due to acute food shortages.

Palestinians face widespread hunger as the war has largely cut off the flow of food, medicine and basic goods to Gaza, which is now totally dependent on aid.

Meanwhile, Israels pledge to guard a new aid route into southern Gaza has fallen flat, as the UN and international aid organisations say a breakdown in law and order has made that route unusable.

On Friday the Israeli military said two soldiers were killed in combat in central Gaza, while three were severely injured.

One soldier killed was the son of the one the first Israeli Olympic medalists, according to the countrys Olympic Committee.

Omer Smadga, whose death was announced by the army, was the son of Oren Smadga, the winner of a bronze medal in judo at the 1992 Summer Olympics. The army did not provide further details about the circumstances of his death.

Israels Olympic Committee said they bowed their heads in deep pain with the Olympic medalist and coach, who helped train the current Israeli Olympic judo team. The committee did not say whether or not Mr Smadga would travel to Paris with the judo team.

Mr Smadgas success, along with Yael Arad, who also won a silver medal in judo at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, helped propel the sport in Israel.

Israeli ground offensives and bombardments have killed more than 37,100 people in Gaza, according to the territorys Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count.

Israel launched the war after Hamass October 7 attack, in which militants stormed into southern Israel, killed some 1,200 people  mostly civilians  and abducted about 250.
A Swiss criminal court on Friday sentenced four members of the wealthy Hinduja family to between four and four and a half years in prison for exploiting their vulnerable domestic workers.

The court at the same time threw out the more severe charges of human trafficking.

The four  Indian-born tycoon Prakash Hinduja and his wife, son and daughter-in-law  were accused of trafficking of their servants, mostly illiterate Indians, who were employed at their luxurious lakeside villa in Geneva.

Prakash Hinduja and his wife Kamal each received four and a half year sentences, while their son Ajay and his wife, Namrata, were sentenced each to four years.

Lawyers representing the defendants said they would appeal.

The four were not in court in Geneva though a fifth defendant, Najib Ziazi, the familys business manager, was in attendance. He received an 18-month suspended sentence.

15.8 billion Estimated net worth of Hinduja family

The court said the four were guilty of exploiting workers and providing unauthorised employment. It dismissed the trafficking charges on the grounds that the staff understood what they were getting into.

The four Hinduja family members were accused of seizing workers passports, paying them in rupees  not Swiss francs  barring them from leaving the villa and forcing them to work long hours for a pittance in Switzerland, among other things.

Last week, it emerged in criminal court that the family  which has roots in India  had reached an undisclosed settlement with the plaintiffs. Geneva prosecutors opened the case for alleged illegal activity including exploitation, human trafficking and violation of Swiss labour laws.

The family set up residence in Switzerland decades ago and other members of the Hinduja family established themselves in London. Prakash Hinduja was already convicted in 2007 on similar, if lesser charges, though prosecutors say he persisted in employing people without proper paperwork anyway.

Swiss authorities have already seized diamonds, rubies, a platinum necklace and other jewellery and assets from the family in anticipation that they could be used to pay for legal fees and possible penalties.

Prosecutors said that at times the staffers  in jobs such as cooks or house help  were forced to work up to 18 hours a day with little or no holiday time off and for pay that was equal to less than one-tenth of the comparable amount required under Swiss law.

Employees worked even later hours for receptions and slept in the basement of the villa in the upscale Cologny neighbourhood  sometimes on a mattress on the floor, prosecutors said. They described a climate of fear instituted by Kamal Hinduja.

Some employees allegedly spoke only Hindi and were paid their wages in Indian rupees in banks back home that they could not access.

A separate tax case brought by Swiss authorities is pending against Prakash Hinduja, who obtained Swiss citizenship in 2000.

Along with three brothers, he is a leader of an industrial conglomerate in sectors including information technology, media, power, real estate and healthcare. Forbes magazine currently puts the net worth of the Hinduja family at some 20 billion dollars (15.8 billion).
Shelton, CT  June 21, 2024  As the ITEXPO #TECHSUPERSHOW, one of the largest and longest-running business technology events, approaches, we are pleased to announce the addition of Reinvent Telecom to the already impressive lineup of exhibitors and sponsors.

ITEXPO once again projects total attendance of more than 7,000 business and technology professionals.

Reinvent Telecom will showcase their innovations and contribute to the dynamic discussions shaping the future of business technology.

Details:

Event Name: ITEXPO #TECHSUPERSHOW

Dates: February 11-13, 2025

Location: Broward County Convention Center, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Event Website: https://www.itexpo.com

Exhibitor Company: Reinvent Telecom

Exhibitor Booth Number: 2162

Exhibitor Website: https://reinventtelecom.com/

Media Opportunities at the ITEXPO #TECHSUPERSHOW:

Explore innovations and new releases from more than 400 exhibitors.

Conduct interviews with company representatives.

Gain insights into the latest business technology trends, including AI, automation and new contact center technologies.

For Media Inquiries or Press Passes:

Michelle Connolly

Senior Marketing Manager

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Brad Smith, Microsoft's vice chair and president, stated that the company will assess its employees' cybersecurity contributions during reviews, which will influence their compensation. This comes ahead of a US House committee hearing on Thursday focusing on the software maker's security practices.

Microsoft's Cybersecurity Challenges

The modifications reflect Microsoft's endeavors to respond to concerns regarding the extent of its efforts in safeguarding its clients' data. In April, the Department of Homeland Security released a report regarding significant cyberattacks involving the company's services in the summer of 2023, where a Chinese-based group gained access to Outlook email accounts in the US and Europe. Subsequently, in early 2024, a Russia-based group breached the email accounts of several of Microsoft's senior executives. In response to the deficiencies highlighted in the report, Microsoft pledged to alter certain practices.

Microsoft's Secure Future Initiative

Microsoft's response to these incidents involved the launch of its Secure Future Initiative. Earlier this year, the company declared that enhancing security would supersede all other priorities. However, shortly after that, Microsoft faced criticism for its new Recall feature in Windows 11. Cybersecurity experts found that accessing or pilfering data from users' PCs would be easy with this feature enabled. Consequently, Microsoft announced that Recall would become an opt-in feature upon its launch.

Microsoft President Brad Smith traveled to Washington, DC, to testify before the US House Committee on Homeland Security in response to these challenges. In an addendum to his written testimony on Wednesday, he mentioned that security will be a new core priority, alongside other areas, for its employees' bi-annual reviews with managers starting on July 1 in the 2025 fiscal year.

READ ALSO: US Corporations Warned: Disgruntled Workers Tend to be "Human Assets" Chinese Spies Are Targeting

A Modified Executive's Pay Program

As Smith stated, for senior executives who regularly meet with CEO Satya Nadella, one-third of their bonuses' individual performance portion in the 2025 fiscal year will be linked to a review of their cybersecurity efforts by the board's compensation committee. He further noted that an undisclosed third party would furnish Nadella and the board committee with an independent assessment to aid the review process. These senior executives may observe cybersecurity-related effects reflected in their current fiscal year compensation.

Smith noted that for the current fiscal year ending June 30, the Compensation Committee will assess each SLT member's cybersecurity performance as part of its annual evaluation of executives. Additionally, beyond the modifications made to the executive pay program to enhance cybersecurity accountability, the board retains the discretion to adjust compensation outcomes as deemed necessary.

Last month, Charlie Bell, Microsoft's executive vice president for security, revealed that compensation for senior executives would partially hinge on the company's advancement in meeting cybersecurity objectives, though specifics were not disclosed.

The hearing will commence on Thursday at 1:15 p.m. ET and will be streamed live on YouTube.

RELATED ARTICLE: AI Saga Update: Elon Musk Drops Lawsuit Accusing OpenAI of Betraying Founding Mission

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The Information reported that Sam Altman's vision for OpenAI appears to be evolving from its original conception when he co-founded the startup with highly skilled partners, planning to transition it towards a for-profit strategy.

OpenAI, the organization responsible for the widely known chatbot ChatGPT, is contemplating a significant change in its management framework. Last week, CEO Sam Altman notified certain shareholders that a for-profit business modelwould no longer be under the control of its current non-profit board.

With a private valuation approaching $86 billion, OpenAI is exploring this transformation to support its goals of advancing artificial general intelligence (AGI) research, bolstering its financial position, and expanding its technological influence.

OpenAI Adopting A For-Profit Corporation

One option currently under review is adopting a for-profit benefit corporation model, similar to those embraced by OpenAI's competitors like Anthropic and xAI. This would enable OpenAI to seek profits while maintaining a focus on broader societal benefits, citing someone familiar with the comments.

According to The Information, should OpenAI adopt a for-profit business strategy, it would result in the loss of control by the current non-profit board. However, the company's website still indicates that shareholders' investments are considered donations to date.

Exploration of Alternative Options to Sustain OpenAI's Vision

Altman is reportedly exploring alternative options to generate a sustainable revenue stream due to insufficient funds to sustain OpenAI's non-profit vision. This effort to change the company's business model coincides with Altman's recent restructuring of the board, which includes his addition and three new members. Paul Nakasone, a retired U.S. Army General and former head of the National Security Agency, recently joined the board of OpenAI. Edward Snowden, a former U.S. intelligence contractor, has expressed strong disapproval of Nakasone's appointment.

Altman is also contemplating another possibility: OpenAI might adopt the name B-Corp and concentrate exclusively on profit generation, operating independently of the non-profit board. However, as a B-Corp, OpenAI would be obligated to consider financial gains and the broader societal implications of its existence and future actions.

READ ALSO: Ex-OpenAI Board Members Casting Doubt on Altman's Leadership, Cite Profit-Driven Pressures Necessitate External Oversight

Discussions about restructuring at OpenAI are still ongoing and subject to change, with Altman and the board of directors ultimately deciding on a different course of action. Responding to Reuters queries, OpenAI emphasized its continued commitment to developing AI for the benefit of all, highlighting that the non-profit aspect remains fundamental to its mission and will be preserved.

OpenAI's Backlash from Elon Musk

Proposed changes at OpenAI have sparked controversy, drawing criticism from public figures like Elon Musk, who had previously backed the company's profit-oriented strategies. Musk has openly disapproved of recent developments, such as introducing new products like the Sora text-to-video AI platform. His accusations of a "Breach of Mission" against OpenAI highlight the increased scrutiny and debate over the company's commitments and the ethical implications of its technological progress.

RELATED ARTICLE: AI Saga Update: Elon Musk Drops Lawsuit Accusing OpenAI of Betraying Founding Mission

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On Monday, the U.S. government filed a lawsuit against Adobe, alleging that the company, known for Photoshop and Acrobat, harmed consumers by hiding substantial termination fees in its popular subscription plan and creating roadblocks to canceling subscriptions.

Adobe's Hidden Fees and Other Obstacle Course

According to the federal regulator's complaint filed in the federal court in San Jose, California, Adobe fails to adequately disclose fees. These fees are calculated as 50% of the remaining payments when customers cancel within their first year, and according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), can amount to hundreds of dollars.

The FTC also alleged that Adobe employs various tactics to create obstacles for subscribers seeking to cancel their subscriptions, such as hiding termination fees and other critical terms in its annual subscription plan behind hyperlinks, fine prints, and text boxes.

The FTC stated that Adobe compels subscribers seeking to cancel online to navigate through multiple unnecessary pages. In contrast, subscribers who attempt to cancel by phone often face disconnections, repeat themselves to multiple representatives, or encounter resistance and delays from these representatives.

According to reports, David Wadhwani, the president of the digital media business, and Maninder Sawhney, the senior vice president of digital sales, are involved as defendants.

The FTC's Allegations

Samuel Levine, director of the FTC Consumer Protection Bureau, stated that Adobe trapped customers into year-long subscriptions with hidden early termination fees and numerous cancellation hurdles. He emphasized that American consumers are already tired of companies that hide terms during subscription sign-up and create obstacles when they attempt to cancel.

In a press release, the regulator pointed out that Adobe shifted primarily to a subscription model for its products after 2012, and most of the company's revenue now stems from subscriptions.

READ ALSO: Apple Accused of Questionable Business Practices, Faces About $539M Fine in EU Antitrust Investigation

Adobe's Denial of FTC's Allegations

The company aims to challenge the FTC's allegations in court. Dana Rao, Adobe's general counsel and chief trust officer, cites subscription services as convenient, flexible, and cost-effective, allowing users to select plans that fit their preferences. Adobe also emphasizes its transparency regarding subscription agreements' terms and conditions, which provide a straightforward cancellation process.

Subscriptions made up $4.92 billion or 95% of Adobe's $5.18 billion revenue for the quarter ending March 1st.

The Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act's Violation

The FTC accused Adobe of also violating the Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act, a federal law enacted in 2010 that prohibits merchants from imposing charges, including those subscriptions that are related to automatic renewals, unless they disclose material terms and obtain customers' informed consent.

The lawsuit, titled U.S. v. Adobe Inc. et al., seeks civil penalties and an injunction to prohibit further misconduct, among other remedies. It was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on Monday, with case number 24-03630.

RELATED ARTICLE: Amazon Misleading Subscribers with a New Ad-Tier, Faces $5 Million Lawsuit for Unfair, False Advertising

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California's labor regulator on Tuesday imposed a fine of nearly $6 million on Amazon for breaching a state law intended to limit the imposition of demanding warehouse productivity quotas.

The California Labor Commissioner's Office reported conducting investigations at two Amazon facilities in Moreno Valley and Redlands, situated east of Los Angeles. There, they discovered 59,017 violations of the state's Warehouse Quotas law, which have emerged as a significant concern among Amazon employees.

The Warehouse Quotas Law

The "Warehouse Quotas" law was implemented in 2022. It mandates employers disclose productivity quotas to both employees and government agencies, with outlined consequences if employees fail to meet these quotas. Employers are also prohibited from imposing unsafe quotas, such as preventing warehouse employees from taking state-mandated meals and rest breaks or from simply accessing restroom facilities.

According to a statement from the Labor Commissioner's office on Tuesday, Amazon did not provide written notice of quotas but rather depended on a peer-to-peer evaluation system, which Labor Commissioner Lilia Garcia-Brower criticized as the same system the Warehouse Quotas law was trying to prevent.

In recent years, Amazon has been scrutinized for its treatment of warehouse and delivery employees. Critics and regulators have focused particularly on the pace of work, where speed requirements increase the risk of injury among workers.

READ ALSO: United Airlines Held Liable for an Accident Crushing Worker's Foot, Demanded $14,502 for Negligence on Safety Procedures

Amazon's Labor Law Violation

Safety regulators in Washington also fined Amazon in 2022 for willfully violating workplace safety laws, causing an increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders by requiring employees to work on repetitive tasks.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the Labor Department has repeatedly cited Amazon for safety violations, but Amazon has announced its intention to appeal all the citations. Several states, including New York, Washington, and Minnesota, have enacted similar regulations addressing workplace safety concerns, with Senator Ed Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts, introducing a federal bill on this matter last month.

Amazon, the second-largest private employer in the US, has stated that it does not employ fixed quotas but rather utilizes performance expectations that consider various indicators, including team performance within specific sites. Amazon has also contested claims that its employees do not receive adequate breaks. The company has also defended its safety record, stating in March that its injury rates have shown improvement and revealed intentions to allocate over $750 million towards safety initiatives throughout the year.

According to Maureen Lynch Vogel, Amazon's spokesperson, the company has initiated an appeal process to dispute the allegations. As clarified in an email statement, Amazon does not have fixed quotas, and individual performance at Amazon is assessed over an extended period, taking into account the performance of the entire site team. Employees are encouraged to review their performance at any time and can approach a manager for assistance if they encounter difficulties in accessing information.

RELATED ARTICLE: Tesla Settles Lawsuit From Ex-Worker Who Was Fired After Reporting Harassment and Workplace Injury

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Tesla might face a class-action lawsuit, as a US Judge signaled Tesla vehicle owners to revive a dismissed case in November, accusing Elon Musk's electric car company of monopoly.

According to owners, Tesla's alleged coercion violated the federal Sherman Antitrust Act and California's antitrust laws.

Tesla's Dismissed Monopoly Case

US District Judge Trina Thompson in San Francisco dismissed an antitrust lawsuit that accused Elon Musk's electric car company, Tesla, of monopolizing the vehicle maintenance and replacement parts market, allegedly forcing customers to endure high prices and extended repair times. Thompson ruled that the plaintiffs in the proposed class action did not demonstrate that these issues were not widely recognized when they purchased their vehicles, nor did they anticipate the costs of maintaining them. Thompson also noted that the customers did not provide sufficient evidence to support their claim that Tesla coerced them into using its services and parts solely due to their initial purchase of the vehicles.

Reviving The Monopoly Lawsuit

Thompson ruled on Monday that vehicle owners could attempt to demonstrate that Tesla compelled them to pay high prices and endure extended wait times for vehicle repairs, fearing the loss of warranty coverage.

Thompson identified evidence of a repair monopoly in Tesla's purported failure to establish enough authorized service centers and in designing vehicles that necessitate diagnostic and software updates that only the company could provide exclusively. She also noted the restriction of the original equipment manufacturers from selling to entities other than Tesla, limited direct sales of parts to consumers, and Tesla's alleged illegal tying of various markets that coerce customers into making unnecessary purchases as evidence of parts monopoly.

READ ALSO: Tesla Sues Ex-Supplier Matthews for Stealing EV Trade Secret, Claiming Patent Its Own

Matt Ruan, representing the plaintiff owners, expressed satisfaction with the court's thorough and thoughtful decision and eagerly anticipated the next steps in the case. The complaint consolidates five lawsuits from vehicle owners who have incurred expenses for Tesla repairs and parts since March 2019, arguing that the Austin, Texas-based company distinguished itself from competitors by requiring that it manage servicing and parts rather than allowing owners to utilize independent shops and components from other companies.

An Illogical Theory

Tesla and its legal representatives did not respond promptly to requests for comment on Tuesday. Still, they contended that the complaint rested on what they described as an illogical theory that Tesla deliberately degraded repairs and parts, which could potentially jeopardize its more lucrative business of vehicle sales and leasing.

Tesla is known for selling its vehicles directly to consumers, bypassing franchisees. In 2023, the company reported $8.3 billion in revenue from services and other automotive-related activities, constituting 9% of its total revenue of $96.8 billion. Vehicle sales accounted for the majority of its revenue, at $78.5 billion.

The case is Lambrix v. Tesla Inc., filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California under case number 23-01145.

RELATED ARTICLE: Google Faces Off with US Judge, Grilled on Monopoly Trial During Closing Arguments

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US senators on Tuesday blasted Boeing's Chief Executive Dave Calhoun with inquiries about his compensation, Boeing's safety practices, and why he plans to retire at year's end instead of resigning immediately, overshadowing his safety remorse during a hearing before the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.

Boeing's CEO Grilled Over Safety Woes

The hearing marked the first occasion where Calhoun faced questioning from lawmakers, drawing attention to Boeing's deteriorating safety reputation and the CEO's intention to resign by the end of the year amidst a restructuring of Boeing's management.

In response to tough questioning from Republican Senator Josh Hawley, who queried why he had not resigned and accused him of strip-mining Boeing despite earning a multimillion-dollar pay package, Calhoun only asserted that he was proud of every action his company has taken so far.

Prosecutors must notify a federal judge in Texas of their decisions by July 7. In May, the Justice Department determined that Boeing had not adequately developed, implemented, and enforced a compliance and ethics program, which was required under a deferred prosecution agreement following the fatal crashes.

Calhoun accepted responsibility for the incidents that have plunged Boeing into crisis over the past five years, admitting that a manufacturing defect caused the January 5 Alaska Airlines door plug incident. Boeing also acknowledged responsibility for the development of a critical software system associated with the 2018 and 2019 fatal crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia, resulting in a total of 346 fatalities. Calhoun told the reporters of his commitment to transparency. He turned to the families of the crash victims as he entered the hearing room, expressing his apologies for the deeply distressing grief, adding Boeing's full dedication to addressing safety issues.

READ ALSO: Boeing Slaps Back at Whistleblower's Complaint, Defends 787 Dreamliner Against Aircraft's Structural Safety

Boeing's Whistleblowers

Boeing's chief engineer, Howard McKenzie, minimized safety worries regarding hundreds of incorrectly tightened fasteners found on certain widebody 787 jets, a discovery initially reported by Reuters recently. McKenzie acknowledged that the fasteners had been torqued incorrectly but stated that Boeing's initial analysis indicated they were safe.

Last week, Boeing informed the US Justice Department that it believed it had not breached a deferred prosecution agreement, which protects the company from criminal charges related to the crashes.

Senator Blumenthal criticized Boeing's focus on quarterly earnings calls instead of long-term innovation, emphasizing the need for the company to prioritize future generations. He mentioned that a new whistleblower, Sam Mohawk, who works as a quality assurance investigator at Boeing's 737 factory in Renton, Washington, came forward after a previous whistleblower testified in April.

Blumenthal revealed that Mohawk informed the panel about systemic issues concerning potentially defective parts and inadequate documentation handling at Boeing. According to a committee report released before the hearing, Mohawk stated that his responsibilities dealing with non-conforming parts became significantly more challenging after the resumption of MAX production in 2020 got involved with two fatal crashes. The report also mentioned that Mohawk submitted a related claim to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in June.

Boeing's Commitment to Safety Standards

Boeing issued a statement indicating that it is currently reviewing the claims it became aware of on Monday. Boeing emphasizes the safety of its aircraft and the flying public as its foremost priority. Boeing also noted that it has expanded the size of its quality team and significantly increased the number of inspections per airplane since 2019.

Since the mid-air blowout of a door plug on a 737 MAX 9 jet on January 5, regulators and airlines have intensified their scrutiny of Boeing. The National Transportation Safety Board reported that four critical bolts were absent from the Alaska Airlines aircraft, and the Justice Department initiated a criminal investigation in response to the incident.

Boeing also submitted a quality improvement plan to the FAA on May 30, after being given a 90-day deadline by Whitaker to create a thorough strategy addressing systemic quality-control issues. Whitaker has also prohibited Boeing from increasing production of the MAX aircraft.

RELATED ARTICLE: Boeing Intensifying its Quality, Safety, Compliance Efforts, Receives 500% Upsurge in Speak Up Reporting

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Achieving a significant career milestone, be it reaching a six-figure salary or securing a major promotion, might initially appear to solve the feeling of fulfillment at work. However, feelings of emptiness, boredom, or lack of fulfillment may persist after accomplishing these goals.

That is the same with a Harvard Business School professor and co-chair of the school's Managing the Future of Work initiative, Joseph Fuller, who explains with CNBC Make It that careers often do not align perfectly with how individuals expect them.

Fuller cautions that the same principle applies to any professional goal you pursue. Having unrealistic expectations that a salary increase or job change will resolve all issues or meet every expectation could only lead to disappointment and failure. Fuller adds that a common career mistake that can lead to burnout and unhappiness is failing to honestly assess your priorities and the trade-offs you are willing to make in your work.

READ ALSO: A Psychology Expert's Tip to Live a Meaningful Life: "Work's Just Part of Our Big Life"

Fuller frequently advises his students that those most unhappy in their careers often have not truthfully evaluated which objectives to prioritize and what they are willing to sacrifice to achieve them. For instance, if prioritizing weekends off and maintaining a work-life balance is crucial to you, accepting a job that requires 80-100 hour workweeks may not be advisable, regardless of how attractive or impressive the salary or title might be.

Clearly Define Your Goals in Life

While no job is flawless, you can discover a position that aligns with most of your criteria by clearly defining your top priorities and understanding the trade-offs you are willing or unwilling to make before committing to an offer.

Assess The Company Culture Firsthand

You can assess a company's culture by inquiring about how it supports employees' professional growth, provides feedback, and addresses challenges, among other relevant questions. Fuller adds that securing a job where you feel a sense of control and enthusiasm for the work can bolster motivation and prevent burnout.

Asking insightful questions during job interviews can also significantly enhance your understanding of your potential employer. LinkedIn's vice president and workforce expert, Aneesh Raman, recommends inquiring about learning culture before committing to a job. He underscores that despite uncertainties about the future, organizations fostering a culture of learning and encouraging active employee engagement in learning will be better equipped to adapt to changes.

Integrate Your Core Values in Your Tasks

Another strategy for achieving career satisfaction is integrating your core values into your daily tasks. Fuller suggests proposing a meaningful side project to your boss, organizing office social events, or taking the initiative to lead a weekly meeting, all of which align with what you value most.

However, when one defines success, Fuller emphasizes the importance of working for an organization whose objectives align with their personal goals and ambitions, whether those goals involve financial success or significantly changing the world.

RELATED ARTICLE: The Know-It-All Mentality: The No. 1 Red Flag CEOs Hate to See at Work

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Snapchat's parent company on Wednesday agreed to settle $15 million into a three-year investigation by the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) over allegations of discrimination, retaliation, and sexual harassment of its female employees, according to state officials.

California Civil Rights' Three-Year Investigation

The California Civil Rights Department, which conducted the investigation, revealed that Snapchat Inc., the technology company behind the popular social media app, treated its female employees unfairly despite its rapid growth from 2015 to 2022.

According to the state officials, Santa Monica-based female employees were either discouraged from actively seeking promotions or lost out on promotions to less-qualified male counterparts. Aside from facing unwelcome sexual advances and other forms of harassment, the CRD also alleged that women workers faced retaliation when raising such concerns, including the issuance of negative performance reviews, deprivation of professional opportunities, and termination of their employment.

Snapchat's Commitment to Resolving The Allegations

Snap emphasized its dedication to upholding a fair and inclusive environment, stating on Wednesday that it does not perceive any current systemic issues related to pay equity, discrimination, harassment, or retaliation against women. Despite its disagreement with the claims and analyses from the California Civil Rights Department, Snap acknowledged the financial and reputational impacts of prolonged litigation and opted to resolve the claims to prioritize its future focus.

The statement further indicated that Snap has been successfully implementing tools and governance for several years to achieve pay equity, affirming the company's commitment to ongoing investment in policies that ensure team members are consistently valued and compensated fairly for their work.

READ ALSO: American Tech Company Scrutinized for Discriminatory Job Ad, Faces Penalty After Restricting Candidates to "Whites Only"

Under the settlement pending court approval, Snap will pay fifteen million dollars to cover direct relief and litigation costs, with fourteen million five hundred thousand dollars earmarked for compensating female employees who worked at the company from 2014 to 2024. Snap also committed to hiring an independent consultant who would guide its pay and promotion policies and undergo a third-party audit to assess its compliance with sexual harassment, retaliation, and discrimination standards.

California's Pride in Holding Companies Accountable

Kevin Kish, the Director of the Civil Rights Department, emphasized California's pride in its innovators, who significantly contribute to the national economy and the state's civil rights laws, which protect workers from discrimination and promote opportunities for success.

The settlement represents one of California officials' recent actions to hold the state's tech giants accountable. In December, the Civil Rights Department reached a $54 million settlement agreement with video game company Activision Blizzard to address similar allegations of pay discrimination against women.

Attorney General Rob Bonta has also pursued legal actions against tech industries, including joining a multi-state lawsuit against Google that led to a $700 million settlement by the end of 2023. Bonta settled with DoorDash in February over allegations of selling its customers' personal information.

RELATED ARTICLE: Elon Musk Sued by Eight SpaceX Engineers Over Wrongful Termination, Gender Bias, Harassment Lawsuit

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As remote work has become a standard practice for many white-collar employees, many employers remain resistant to this trend, including Dell, which has opted for stringent mandates and punitive measures to compel employees to return to the office.

Dell's Stricter Mandates to Lure Workers Back on Site

Dell introduced its return-to-office (RTO) policy in February. Under this policy, employees are required to officially categorize themselves as either hybrid or remote. Remote workers forfeit eligibility for promotions or role changes, while hybrid employees are mandated to be in the office for 39 days per quarter, approximately three days per week, with attendance tracked using a color-coded system.

Despite being implemented for several months, Dell's RTO policy has shown limited success. According to internal data reported by Business Insider, only 50% of Dell's full-time workers have chosen to remain remote. Unless they agree to change their classification, these workers are now ineligible for promotion.

READ ALSO: Managers Are Allowing "Hushed Hybrid" Despite RTO Mandates, How Could It Tarnish Company'sCulture?

Dell did not respond to specific inquiries from BI regarding the data but emphasized its belief that in-person collaborations paired with a flexible approach are crucial for fostering innovation and distinguishing value.

What Workers Think of This RTO Fiasco?

Eleven employees from sales, tech support, engineering, and HR departments who requested anonymity shared with BI why they decided on remote work despite the potential impact on career advancement:

WFH Benefits are Too Good to Give Up

One Dell employee has found significant personal growth from working remotely since 2020 and is reluctant to give it up. Working from home during the pandemic allowed them to spend more time with family, pursue hobbies, and socialize outside of work. They argued that returning to the office would reduce their time, money, and personal space for these activities despite being able to perform their job just as effectively from home.

Another employee expressed concern about the financial impact of returning to the office, mentioning that commuting costs and meal expenses would strain their budget with the current salary.

No Real Benefit in Going to The Office

Some Dell employees indicated they had to classify themselves as remote due to the closure of nearby offices or impractical commuting distances.

Some employees residing near offices also found commuting unnecessary because their teams were dispersed across different states and time zones, arguing that their current roles did not require a cohesive team physically present in one location.

Another employee, whose work is global, emphasized the importance of schedule flexibility, stating that splitting time between going to a Dell office and coming home to attend remote meetings with colleagues in distant time zones doesn't make sense.

These employees expressed concerns over HR's apparent lack of response regarding how the policy affected team dynamics and how offices where colleagues opted for hybrid work appeared nearly empty. During a company town hall, questions arose about the rationale behind the policy, with COO Jeff Clark reportedly discussing the benefits of office work in facilitating knowledge sharing among staff.

Mandates are Just Meaningless Threats

Several senior employees conveyed to BI that they had already reached their limit in terms of promotion at Dell, as no further advancement opportunities were available unless they opted for management roles.

A junior employee also observed that promotion prospects had been limited in recent years, irrespective of the policy changes. Several individuals might have been dissuaded from continuing remote work out of concern for potential promotion risks. However, they viewed this threat as meaningless and had no promotion opportunities.

Multiple employees also informed BI they were planning to leave the company because of Dell's new working policies. One employee noted that every mother she spoke with at Dell actively sought other jobs due to the need for remote work. Another employee expressed their intention to leave when they found a new opportunity, noting that almost everyone they knew at Dell, except junior employees, shared similar plans. Before the fiasco in Dell's working policies, the employee stated that they had never considered looking for another job elsewhere, expressing that feeling like a second-class citizen has severely limited their career opportunities.

RELATED ARTICLE: Shadow Policy: Companies are Mandating RTOs, But Why Isn't Everyone in The Office?

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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Marc Randolph, co-founder of Netflix, shared that his greatest pride is not solely tied to launching the streaming giant. Instead, at 66 years old, he takes pride in not letting his success come at the expense of his personal and family life.

Not Letting His Career Steal His Personal Time

In a recent social media post on platform X, Randolph attributed this balance to a regular practice: Tuesday night dates with his wife. He explained that for over 30 years, he maintained a strict schedule: He left work at exactly 5 p.m. every Tuesday to spend the evening with his best friend, regardless of circumstances.

In the post shared on LinkedIn last year, Randolph shared that his most significant source of pride is not the companies he founded, despite currently serving on several company boards like Solo Brands. Instead, he values maintaining his marriage, being present for his children as they grow up, and having time to pursue his other passions outside of work.

Randolph's commitment to prioritizing his family also contributed to his professional success, where experts suggest that establishing clear boundaries between work and personal life can help prevent burnout. But achieving a work-life balance is easier said than done, with Randolph admitting to occasionally breaking his rule, as he wrote in a post on Substack in February.

The Truth About Work-Life Balance

During the most demanding phases of his career, such as when launching companies or undertaking significant projects, Randolph acknowledged on Substack that he often did not have sufficient time to return home physically.

While launching Netflix with Reed Hastings in 1997, Randolph admitted breaking his rule. In the weeks leading up to the official launch, he detailed rushing home to have dinner with his family before returning to work. Reflecting on this period, he acknowledged in his Substack post that achieving daily balance is a challenge few can manage consistently, including himself.

When Randolph could not adhere to his regular Tuesday night plans, he sought to compensate for family time and relaxation through different approaches he outlined. Following the launch of Netflix, he prioritized taking breaks. He aims to condense his workweek by scheduling meetings primarily on two specific weekdays, dedicating another day for focused deep work, and allocating more time to be with his family on the remaining days, he detailed.

READ ALSO: NVIDIA CEO's Perception of Time Management, Which His Younger Self Wouldn't Understand

While a well-structured schedule can be disrupted by unforeseen work emergencies, during periods of smooth operation, he rewards himself with a four-day weekend to ensure he fully relaxes and decompresses.

Billionaire entrepreneur and startup investor Mark Cuban reiterated Randolph's sentiment during a March SXSW panel. According to Cuban, there are phases in one's career where sacrificing date nights, particularly when launching a business, may be necessary.

As an entrepreneur starting your company, achieving a work-life balance is not feasible, according to Cuban. He emphasized that competitors always strive to outperform you, so focusing solely on work is often necessary.

Randolph's advice is to aim for balance but not to criticize yourself if you sometimes fall short. According to Randolph, it is impossible to maintain a daily routine of exercising, meditating, hustling, focusing, socializing, and delivering outstanding presentations while eating healthily and getting enough sleep every day. In reality, no one can sustain such a routine every day. He emphasized the importance of finding one's way to achieve balance in whatever way or means that would fit your schedule.

RELATED ARTICLE: NVIDIA CEO's Meeting Tactic: "Recurring One-on-One Is Not an Option

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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CDK Global, which provides software for sales and service management to 15,000 US auto dealerships, has been hit by a cyberattack, which has temporarily shut down its primary systems.

CDK Global Shutting Systems Due to Cyberattack

A spokesperson for CDK informed CBS News on Wednesday that the company is actively investigating a cyber incident, temporarily shutting down its IT systems, phones, and system applications as a precautionary measure to prioritize customer safety and look into restoring operations the quickest time possible.

READ ALSO: Change Healthcare Attacked by Ransomware, Causing Outages Disrupting Clerical and Reimbursement Systems

CDK announced later on Wednesday afternoon that certain systems had been successfully restored and were operational after undergoing testing and consultation with third-party experts. According to a statement provided to CBS MoneyWatch, CDK's core dealer management system and Digital Retailing solutions had been restored. The company added that extensive testing was ongoing for all other applications, with further updates to follow as these applications were brought back online.

While some systems have been restored, numerous social media reports suggest that many dealers are still unable to process sales deals or other transactions.

CDK Global Hit with Second Day of Hacking

However, according to information provided to CBS MoneyWatch on Thursday afternoon, CDK's systems were offline again following another cyberattack on Wednesday. A spokesperson stated that CDK encountered an additional cyber incident in the late evening of June 19 and took proactive measures to shut down most of its systems. They mentioned ongoing collaboration with third-party experts to evaluate the impact and provide regular customer updates. CDK emphasized their continued vigilance in restoring services promptly to ensure dealers can resume normal operations swiftly.

Calls to CDK's customer support hotline were met with a continuous busy signal. Still, the company's automated recording informed callers that there was no estimated timeframe for resolution, indicating that dealers' systems might remain unavailable for an extended period, according to PC Mag.

Numbers of Cyberattack Cases in The Past Year

A notable increase in cyberattacks has been observed in the past year, where data firm SOAX reported over 3,200 data breaches in 2023, marking a 78% surge compared to the previous year, affecting over 65 million individuals during that period.

CDK's dealer management system (DMS) is a centralized hub allowing businesses to monitor operations through a unified interface. At the same time, its retail tools enable dealerships to conduct transactions both online and in physical showrooms.

How are Dealerships Responding?

Under the CDK down thread on Reddit, an employee inquired how many others were idle due to their reliance on CDK for their dealership operations. Users from Wisconsin and Colorado confirmed that their dealership transaction systems were offline as well. Some dealerships resort to creative measures to sustain operations during the outage, and some use spreadsheets and sticky notes to handle small parts sales and repairs, although they are unable to process larger transactions.

RELATED ARTICLE: UnitedHealth Confirming Data Breach in Cyberattack, Paid Threat Actors Ransom to Prevent Patient Data Disclosure

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Though Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries signed onto inviting Israeli PM Benjamin Bibi Netanyahu to address Congress on July 24 in the spirit of bi-partisanship, many US and Israeli Jews loudly object. They plan a major demonstration in Washington to show up his address. The organization UnXeptable is organizing an effort to have Bibis Congressional speaking invitation rescinded. Considering Schumers bold break to become the highest ranking elected Jewish-American to call for Bibis resignation, it is surprising he would execute this abrupt about-face and sign on to such an outrageous invitation. While Bibis showmanship may be entertaining in a dark Trumpian way, no one expects him to have a sudden epiphany, and decide to embrace US leadership or to honor a cease fire in Gaza. He is not an honorable negotiating partner.

Biden and the Democrats do not get the sea change in Israeli politics under this government, into which Netanyahu invited the most extreme factions of Jewish Power and Religious Zionism. One of his predecessors, Ehud Barak, served honorably as Israeli PM from 1999 to 2001, and has a distinguished record as a general. He sees Bibi as trying to stage a judicial coup, with its goal of establishing a racist, ultranationalist, messianic and benighted religious dictatorship.

Its painfully obvious that Bibi is playing President Joe Biden for a stooge. After he upstaged President Barack Obama with a speech to Congress in 2015, it is absolutely mystifying that Democrats would leave themselves open to another choreographed insult with this invitation. Biden and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken are letting Bibi make fools of them. While Donald Trump hopes to be president again to stay out of jail, Bibi is struggling to stay in power to avoid going to prison. But Biden and Blinken act as though they are dealing with an decent ally, rather than a wily and treacherous war monger.

Bibi is openly mocking Biden! Despite his reticence to deny significant military aid to Israel despite its deliberate atrocities in Gaza, Biden did withhold one shipment of 2,000-pound bombs in response to the Rafah invasion, which crossed Bidens red line. These munitions cannot be used in Rafah in any case, or ought not to be.

ILTV Israel News Video: Netanyahus Video Prompts Furious Response From Biden Admin

Haaretz columnist Yossi Verter called out how Bibi has dared to dictate to the US about its own foreign policy, when said, Its inconceivable that in the past few months, the administration has been withholding weapons and ammunition to Israel. Israel, Americas closest ally, is fighting for its life, fighting against Iran and our other common enemies. Bibi forgets that Israel is the client-state, and the US is the benefactor and enabler. Bibi also had the audacity to compare himself to Winston Churchill, as if hes a liberator rather than a genocidal oppressor.

The July 24 demo led by UnXeptable is appropriately titled, Non-Grata. Offir Gutelzon, founder of UnXeptable, said, We hope that Jewish-Americans will get off the fence and join us. We know that the majority of them support the Biden plan to end the war and bring home the hostages, and they also must know that most Israelis oppose Netanyahu, so there is good reason to be there showing their solidarity with us. Their campaign pitch states: Benjamin Netanyahu has lost the faith of Israeli citizens, and does not deserve the honor of addressing Congress. UnXeptable calls on all who those who care about Israels future as a liberal and democratic state to join American Jews and Israelis, including families of hostages still held in Gaza, in declaring Netanyahu to be persona non grata.

NYT columnist Thomas Friedman articulated objections to Bibis invitation to Congress, saying that Biden and Blinken are debasing themselves by going along. Doing so illustrates how badly most US leaders fail to recognize how destructively radical this Israeli government is. It is ludicrous to think Bibi could offer any thoughtful perspective, to share the Israeli governments vision for defending democracy, combatting terror, and establishing a just and lasting peace in the region. Thats because Bibi is actively destroying Israeli democracy and the justice system, with his Trumpian efforts to avoid prison by continuing as PM  and because he is inciting and promoting terror, not combatting it. He has adamantly and repeatedly refused to work toward any long-term peace agreement, and insists on prosecuting the genocidal campaign in Gaza.

Though he called for Bibis resignation in March, Schumer said he signed on, because Americas relationship with Israel is ironclad and transcends one person or prime minister, I joined the request for him to speak. That presumes that Bibi is a reasonable man, open to embracing new ideas and approaches. Many prominent Democrats including Sen. Elizabeth Warren plan to boycott the event. She said, Prime Minister Netanyahu has created a humanitarian catastrophe. He has also made clear that he does not support U.S. policy for a two-state solution that will let the people of Israel and the Palestinians develop their own national self-determination and live with dignity.

Meanwhile, disingenuous Republicans continue with their campaign of divisiveness, and wail their phony concerns about anti-Semitism (while promoting it with their unqualified support of Bibis government, among other factors.) They fail to recognize that the genocide in Gaza is driving global anti-Semitism worse than any time since WWII. Republicans are weaponizing anti-Semitism as a cudgel of divisiveness for the US electorate. Though Biden is also guilty of some pandering to weaponize anti-Semitism, Trump and Republicans employ this tactic with greater cynicism to their perceived advantage. Bibis July 24 invitation is designed by Speaker Mike Johnson to elicit cat-calls and insults from House Democrats, in order to alienate Jews from their Democratic loyalties, and drive them to vote for Trump. So many are sitting this one out. Its yet another attempt by Bibi to interfere with US electoral politics, as no Israeli or other foreign leader has ever done; that is beyond Putins brazen election interference to aid Trump in 2020. Both Putin and Bibi are biding their time for Trumps re-election, and doing all they can to promote it.

Bibis goal is to expand Israels territory with permanent annexations of the West Bank and Gaza in violation of international law, and in the teeth of overwhelming world opinion. He doesnt deserve a platform in a joint session of Congress to promote this aggressive expansionism. With a Republican majority in the House, the invitation wont be rescinded. Ideally, both Schumer and Jeffries would revisit their foolish invitation, and withdraw their support. They can do it gracefully by pointing out how quickly the situation in Gaza has deteriorated under Bibis leadership and campaign of genocide. They signed on. They should sign off!
( Middle East Monitor )  Since October last year, it is estimated that approximately 70,000 tons of bombs have been dropped by Israel on the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza. The devastating death toll currently stands at around 36,550 Palestinians, including more than 15,000 children, and a further 10,000 missing, presumed dead, under the rubble of what remains of their homes. With famine looming in Gaza, these figures are set to be eclipsed, with the most recent warning from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN projecting that over a million people  more than half of Gazas population  will face death by starvation by mid-July.

This catastrophic analysis makes it clear that, in the absence of meaningful international aid intervention and an end to this latest onslaught against the Palestinian population, more civilians will die due to enforced starvation than as a direct result of unprecedented Israeli military bombardment.

It is important to be clear that this famine is entirely man-made. It is equally important to identify who is responsible. And there is plenty of opprobrium to go around. With backing from Western allies, who have continued to send military aid to Israel whilst failing to intervene meaningfully and secure a ceasefire, Israel has been given a green light to enforce starvation on the Palestinian population in Gaza.

Whilst famine is often a consequence of armed conflict, enforced starvation of a civilian population is something else.

It is a tactic deployed routinely by colonial powers to exert dominance over a colonised people. The current starvation of the civilian population in Gaza, therefore, involves numerous intersecting factors, all of which relate directly to Israels decades-long and enduring domination over Palestinian lives and livelihoods.

By preventing humanitarian aid supplies from entering the Gaza Strip, whilst imposing additional layers of bureaucratic hurdles to control what can and cannot be let in, Israel continues to create the conditions that perpetuate, and even accelerate, the starvation of Palestinians living in the Strip. Attacks on civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including the apparatus needed to provide and distribute food to the Palestinian population, we suggest, is a deliberate Israeli military tactic. And the evidence stacks up. Water sanitation stations, factories for processing food, aid warehouses, bakeries and flour mills have all been targeted routinely by Israeli military bombardment. Alongside infrastructure, those responsible for delivering life-saving aid have also been singled out for attack.

Hence, this manufactured famine cannot be analysed in isolation, but must be seen within the context of decades of colonial practices that have targeted Palestinians, attempting to erase both their physical and historical presence in Palestine. Indeed, since the start of the blockade against Gaza in 2007, Israel has engaged in a policy of enforced food insecurity through discriminatory and multi-layered policies, including the monitoring of certain food stuffs that are and are not permitted entry into the Strip. Siege warfare  illegal under international law  has meant that Palestinians daily calorie intake in Gaza is monitored and controlled by the occupation state, with food essentials such as meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables becoming a luxury.

Democracy Now! Video: UNICEF Decries Israels War on Children as Starvation & Deaths Mount in Gaza

According to a report released by Oxfam, food insecurity has increased rapidly during this ongoing genocide, to the point whereby the average daily calorie intake for Palestinians living in the north of the Gaza Strip has been decimated to just 245.

Yet those who are scouring the streets for food in Gaza today could receive humanitarian aid in less than fifteen minutes, if Israel opened the border crossings that it has closed purposefully, those crossings being in some instances a mere five kilometres away. Consequently, it is unsurprising that both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant stand accused by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of, amongst other alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, using starvation as a weapon of war.

It was Gallant who made very clear Israels intent to starve the Palestinian civilian population in October last year, when he declared a complete siege on Gaza and said: There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed. We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly.

To this day, no Western governments are taking decisive action to intervene, and they stand accused of aiding and abetting such crimes.

It could be argued that the international community, with insufficient aid and continued business-as-usual approach with its well-protected Israeli ally, is complicit in this erasure of Palestinian life. It should also be remembered that international allies, including British Prime Minister-in-waiting Sir Keir Starmer, were quick to suggest that Israel did, in fact, have a right to turn off water supplies to the Palestinian population in Gaza.

That the Israeli state can manufacture a famine that is starving children at the fastest rate ever recorded, whilst simultaneously enjoying impunity, is a damning indictment of international law. Forcing starvation on a civilian population who have endured over eight months of western-sponsored military bombardment, is a stain on the international community and our institutions, one that will be impossible to repair. International intervention must be forthcoming immediately.

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
( Tomdispatch.com )  Walk through any art museum and youre likely to see a mix of the classical and contemporary, impressionist and surrealist, refined and raw, beautiful, eerie, and provocative. Looking at art allows me at least a few moments of relief from the thats just the way it is attitude of our hyper-consumerist, hyper-militarized, hyper-nihilist nation. I can step outside my day-to-day life and accept an invitation, however briefly, to boundlessness! I can experience invention, creation, and re-creation just moments apart. I can see everyday objects with new eyes as theyre repurposed and reframed in extraordinary ways. I can celebrate the relentless power of human vision and imagination. In a museum, I often find that I can actually breathe.

The Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London, Connecticut, where I live, has one floor for its permanent collection, with works from the 1600s to perhaps a decade ago, a mixture of famous names and those that are (at least to me) obscure indeed. That collection on the first floor remains the same, year in and year out, while new exhibits circulate through the upstairs galleries every few months. I try to take in each new exhibit and often find myself surprised, inspired, and even educated by what I see.

Recently, I visited an exhibit Ive been unable to get out of my mind: Beatrice Cuming: Connecticut Precisionist. Ever heard of her? No? Well, neither had I. Cuming was born in 1903 in Brooklyn and studied painting at the Pratt Institute. She continued her studies in France, traveling extensively to Brittany, Italy, Tunisia, and elsewhere before ending up in New London of all places. Cuming had returned to New York from her travels in 1933 and then decided to move to Boston. On a train with all her belongings, she looked out the window  so the story goes  as it pulled into New London and impulsively got off, drawn by what she later described as the obviously beautiful, powerful, dramatic, [and] exciting subject matter in our town.

And she stayed, painting city scenes and diving into the local arts community. To support herself, she got a job as a security guard at the General Dynamics Electric Boat company. I try to imagine her, maybe wearing a green jumpsuit, a flashlight, and a ring of keys at her waist, patrolling Electric Boats massive yard and docks in nearby Groton. During World War II, that company must have been a 24/7 operation as it churned out 74 submarines and 398 PT boats from those very docks. Those subs were responsible for fearsome (and stealthy) destruction of Japanese targets. That war ended, of course, with the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and, in the 1950s, with the Cold War with the Soviet Union ramping up, Electric Boat would start manufacturing nuclear submarines.

Submarines As Still Life

Eventually, realizing the prodigious talent of its security guard, the company commissioned Cuming to begin documenting its contributions to the war effort. As Electric Boats artist-in-residence (so to speak), she produced a number of breathtaking works. All too literally. I sat across from her painting Welders at Electric Boat Company unable to breathe.

Its a dark painting with enormous pieces of metal being transformed by heat and fire, the background crowded with partially built submarine components. Its dominant colors are brown and yellow. At the center, a white-hooded welder bends over his work as plumes of white smoke billow upward. There are four other workers in the painting, all indistinguishable, hooded and jump-suited in layers of protective gear. Thats the detail that stays with me, that stuck in my throat  those workers enshrouded in their safety suits.

However those suits may have protected them, count on one thing: what they and their successors built will not protect us. The power they wielded (and welded) to shape and connect part to part in the last days of World War II has held the world hostage ever since. We, all 8.1 billion of us, are today anything but protected from the nuclear submarines their successors would make. In our flimsy pedestrian garb, we remain so desperately vulnerable. In the background of Cumings painting, there are ladders up to a platform and almost out of the painting. Where do the ladders lead? Does Cuming mean to offer an escape from that man-made hell? That might be reading too much into the painting. But what else are you supposed to do in an art museum?

Its a mesmerizing wartime portrait that draws you in  even though theres nothing beautiful about it. Another of Cumings works from that period, Chubb, is at least set outside, with glimpses of sea and sky through the unfinished hulk of another sub, the USS Chubb, as it towers on that dry dock.

Breathless at Billions and Kilotons

What took my breath away? I kept thinking about all the labor and money invested in constructing submarines  from the relatively crude and uncomfortable boats of the 1940s and 1950s to the brand new Columbia Class nuclear submarine that General Dynamics Electric Boat is building right now. The Navys budget for just 12 of those ballistic missile submarines is $126.4 billion. Imagine! If the Navys budget for that one weapons system was a country, it would have the third-largest military budget on earth.

The Columbia will be the biggest and most expensive submarine ever built. How perfectly American, right? Even down to the fact that its named in honor of the District of Columbia, the disenfranchised, desperately unequal, and remarkably segregated capital of the United States of America. Id love to see an artwork that encapsulates that grim irony.

Those new Columbia subs will dwarf what Beatrice Cumings welders were working on when she captured them in 1944. Each will be 560 feet long, or a few feet more than the height of the Washington Monument. And its bulk will displace 20,810 tons of water.

But the size and expensiveness arent anywhere near as important as the payload of nuclear weapons it will carry with a power those welders of Cumings time could hardly have imagined and that Cuming would have been hard-pressed to render with brushes and paint. Each of those 12 new submarines will be equipped with 16 nuclear missile tubes for Trident II D5 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs). And those tubes will each be able to house up to 12 independently targetable nuclear warheads, known as W88s, costing about $150 million each and packing a mind-boggling 455-kiloton wallop.

Okay, now do the math with me. What does 12 times 16 times 12 equal? Thats right: 2,304. Now, multiply that by the thermonuclear force of 455 kilotons, and you get more than one million kilotons. An unthinkable power.

Now, look back into history and recall the utter devastation of the Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, and of Nagasaki three days later by Fat Man and Little Boy, two comparatively crude and small atomic bombs by todays standards. They leveled two cities, caused more than 200,000 deaths (mostly of Japanese civilians), and spread radioactive material responsible for cancer and birth defects for years to come while poisoning landscapes.

And Fat Man was a 21 kiloton weapon; Little Boy, just 15 kilotons.

In short, the firepower of the future Columbia class submarine fleet will be nearly 30,000 times the combined power of the bombs that destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki. What would a canvas depicting that devastation look like? I have no idea. I cant imagine, and I wonder whether a visual artist would even be able to represent or capture that sort of  if you dont mind the invention of a term  dis-creation.

Of course, not all of those Columbia-class submarines will be deployed at once and they could be outfitted with fewer than 12 warheads, and some of those warheads could be the smaller W76 variety. Those qualifications and caveats aside, the math is the math and its catastrophic. Each of those future billion-dollar behemoths could menace the world with the equivalent of 5,824 Hiroshimas.

In the words of the Congressional Research Service, the basic mission of such new nuclear-armed subs would be to remain hidden at sea with their SLBMs, so as to deter a nuclear attack on the United States by another country by demonstrating to other countries that the United States has an assured second-strike capability, meaning a survivable system for carrying out a retaliatory nuclear attack.

What a mission! How anything but basic! To accept such logic is to invest all those billions of taxpayer dollars in the possibility of destroying even the last gasp of life on Planet Earth.

Exploring New London and Groton, you might happen upon a brightly painted, chubby submarine in a park or public square. There are 20 of these mini-subs around our community, almost a decade after the region celebrated Connecticuts Submarine Century. When they were smaller, my kids loved to climb on the one down by the train station, riding it like a carousel horse. Theres another inside my daughters school. The creativity and collaboration are delightful, but the reduction of submarines to kitschy local icons is downright insidious. Those shiny fiberglass mini-subs have no connection to the sleek, metallic nuclear-armed leviathans that carry about 70% of this countrys nuclear arsenal. You cant enjoy those public art objects and think about the Biden administrations 2022 Nuclear Posture Review, which asserted the right of the United States to use nuclear weapons unilaterally and offensively. The cognitive dissonance is just too loud.

Imagining The New

Beatrice Cuming painted her Electric Boat canvases nearly 80 years ago. As I sat in the quiet of the Lyman Allyn museum staring at her welder painting, the Israeli Defense Forces were undoubtedly dropping American-manufactured bombs on Gaza, killing civilians, including women and children. The chief financial officer of General Dynamics, Cumings old employer and muse, responded to that new wave of warfare (and high stock prices) with a prediction that the Israel situation is only going to put upward pressure on [the] demand for the companys artillery. Nearer to home, New Londons city council is raising taxes on residents to close gaps in the school budget, among other things. Meanwhile, General Dynamics recently petitioned to have its New London property values reassessed and won, giving the countrys fifth-largest weapons manufacturer tens of thousands of dollars in tax relief (money our community could really use).

Sitting in the Lyman Allyn gallery pondering all of this, I concluded that the military-industrial complex should more often be a subject for painters. What, I wondered, would Cuming capture today? The work has changed so much. Would she paint a test engineer stuck in her car as peace activists blockaded the main entrance to the General Dynamics complex? A configuration management analyst hunched over a computer terminal, his mind numbed by data, while he worried about his mortgage?

The story of Beatrice Cuming arriving in New London, working for Electric Boat, being hired to paint their products it all now sounds to me like the potential set-up for a spy movie. And when you add in that Cuming had traveled the world, spoke French and Arabic, had relationships with women, and was investigated by the FBI for supposedly spying on Los Alamos Nuclear Laboratory, hers would certainly be an alluring tale today: a lesbian artist working undercover as a security guard, waiting for her moment, plotting to gain access to the sensitive heart of the matter?

No such luck, of course! Beatrice Cuming doesnt appear to have been motivated in any way by anti-militarism or an anti-modernist critique. In fact, in a 1946 interview with the Brooklyn Eagle, she remarked, There is beauty in the growth of America. We are busy going forward. We cant go back.

The inevitability of progress, at all costs, is deeply ingrained in American thinking. Unfortunately, its exactly the wrong answer. We can, in fact, go back. We have to. Of course, we cant uninvent the atomic bomb, but we can begin to control nuclear weapons. We can begin arms-controlling the heck out of them on the way to disarmament, opening up the possibility of nuclear abolition. And in all of this, artists could indeed lead the way. The power of creativity and imagination is  if you dont mind my inventing an apt word for this moment  kilotonic. At least in our imagination, we can recall all our weapons of mass destruction from around the world: creating the biggest weapons buyback program in history. After all, there simply is no way forward through the military-industrial complex and no possibility of peace lurking there.

Last week, I ran across the Gold Star Memorial Bridge, a mile-long span over the Thames River  no, not in London, but right in my neighborhood of New London, Connecticut  on the narrow, cramped bike lane with views up the river. When I was almost at the top of the bridge, nearly 155 feet above the water, I saw a submarine headed up the river, escorted by tugboats and moving smoothly. There, high above the water, I was struck by how a vessel so massive and fearsome could look so small and toylike down below.

I was grateful then for the implacability of that river, the height I was above it, and the huge expanse of sky above me. For a moment, I could breathe. For a moment, I wasnt afraid.

Copyright 2024 Frida Berrigan

Via Tomdispatch.com
Highlights:

Total of 3,268 meters drilled from 26 RC Drillholes

Results pending for 11 drillholes totaling 1,442.8 meters

Summer Surface Mapping, Rock and Soil Sampling Planned Across Southern Block of Expansion Area

Definition of Expansion Area Footprint; Mine Development Planning

Placer Miners Open Up New Area in Northern Expansion Block Expanding Target Potential

CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 / Tocvan Ventures Corp. (the "Company") (CSE:TOC) (OTCQB:TCVNF) (FSE:TV3), is pleased to provide a progress update from its 2024 Reverse Circulation (RC) drill program at its road accessible Pilar Gold-Silver project in mine-friendly Sonora, Mexico.

To date, the 2024 drill program has completed 3,268 meters across 26 drill holes. Results for eleven drill holes are currently pending analysis (green squares on Figure 1). Drilling at Pilar has been paused to allow for the review of results and assess the summer weather conditions. A second drilling rig for core is being contemplated for later this year to expedite the build out of a robust geological model and accompany the remaining infill and step out drill holes for resource estimation.

"We are extremely pleased with the progress of the 2024 drill program, having completed 3.3 kilometers of the planned seven kilometers of drilling at Pilar already." commented Brodie Sutherland, CEO. "So far this year, we have hit the most significant step-outs ever at Pilar. With more results pending we are looking forward to the remaining half of the year. To enhance our understanding of Pilar and build out our geologic model, core drilling will be implemented again at Pilar. In 2022, an initial core program yielded some of the best results ever from the Main Zone, we look to continue that work this year. Across the broader expansion area numerous targets are taking shape, our focus will be on the immediate expansion of Pilar and defining new areas of mineralization along with areas suitable for mine development infrastructure. There is a large footprint to sample, and we are excited to display the ultimate scale of Pilar."

Current placer mining activity has increased along a new corridor heading northeast along the central part of the property (Figure 2). The new activity indicates another prospective area exists where no sampling data has been collected. The Company will evaluate the area for potential targeting. Across the Northern Alteration Zone (Figures 2 and 3) a major producer has been focused evaluating the exploration potential of the area. The Company is encouraged by their initial observations. An additional two weeks of work is expected across the expansive area.

Summer Field Operations

Work will be ongoing at Pilar during the summer months with an emphasis on detailed surface evaluation of the geology and geochemistry of the expansion area. Initial rock sampling and mapping has provided key evidence for a much larger mineralized footprint at Pilar. The same volcanic andesite host rock is present across the southern block hosting the same vein, breccia and disseminated mineralization as seen at the Main Zone. Recently built roads have provided new access to the area. Sampling so far has defined an elevated footprint of gold and silver 2.5x larger than the current extent of drilling at Pilar. Mineralization remains open to the north and east across the southern block. Grid soil sampling along with mapping and rock chip sampling will be completed across the area to better define the extents of mineralization. Later in the year the Company is evaluating a UAV based magnetics survey to further assist in the definition of fault structures and alteration. The objective of the surface work will be to: 1) Further define drill targets across the expansion area for additional resource potential; 2) Identify areas with no significant mineralization adequate for leach pads, tailings and other mine infrastructure including processing facilities.

Plate 1. A. Company management meeting with local community stakeholders to discuss plans for 2024 and beyond. B. Project Manager, Isaac Ortega touring local geologist on the expansion area. C. Intense clay alteration at the northern extent of the expansion area. D. Gold from Pilar.

Figure 1. Summary map of drill highlights and surrounding surface results.

Figure 2. Pilar Project Planview map showing the southern block made up of the Pilar Main Zone and the newly discovered placer source with additional gold-silver mineralization extending to the south. Within the northern block, a large alteration zone that spans 3.3 km by 1.5 km (North Alteration Zone) has returned high-grade gold and silver values in the first few sampling programs across the newly acquired area.

Figure 3. Aerial view of the North Alteration Zone where the first two and only samples collected to date returned up to 3.2 g/t Au and 1,225 g/t Ag associated with old underground workings tied to a large area of advanced argillic alteration. The broader North Alteration Zone extends for over 3.3 kilometers in length and is 1.5 kilometers wide.

About the Pilar Property

The Pilar Gold-Silver property has returned some of the regions best drill results. Coupled with encouraging gold and silver recovery results from metallurgical test work, Pilar is primed to be a potential near-term producer. Pilar is interpreted as a structurally controlled low-sulphidation epithermal system hosted in andesite rocks. Initially three primary zones of mineralization were identified on the original property from historic surface work and drilling and are referred to as the Main Zone, North Hill and 4-T. Each trend remains open to the southeast and north and new parallel zones have been discovered. Structural features and zones of mineralization within the structures follow an overall NW-SE trend of mineralization. Mineralization extends along a 1.2-km trend, only half of that trend has been drill tested so far. The Company has now expanded its interest in the area by consolidating 22 square-kilometers of highly prospective ground where it has already made significant surface discoveries.

Pilar Drill Highlights:

2022 Phase III Diamond Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 116.9m @ 1.2 g/t Au, including 10.2m @ 12 g/t Au and 23 g/t Ag 108.9m @ 0.8 g/t Au, including 9.4m @ 7.6 g/t Au and 5 g/t Ag 63.4m @ 0.6 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag, including 29.9m @ 0.9 g/t Au and 18 g/t Ag

2021 Phase II RC Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 39.7m @ 1.0 g/t Au, including 1.5m @ 14.6 g/t Au 47.7m @ 0.7 g/t Au including 3m @ 5.6 g/t Au and 22 g/t Ag 29m @ 0.7 g/t Au 35.1m @ 0.7 g/t Au

2020 Phase I RC Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 94.6m @ 1.6 g/t Au, including 9.2m @ 10.8 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag; 41.2m @ 1.1 g/t Au, including 3.1m @ 6.0 g/t Au and 12 g/t Ag; 24.4m @ 2.5 g/t Au and 73 g/t Ag, including 1.5m @ 33.4 g/t Au and 1,090 g/t Ag

15,000m of Historic Core & RC drilling. Highlights include: 21.0m @ 38.3 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag 13.0m @ 9.6 g/t Au 9.0m @ 10.2 g/t Au and 46 g/t Ag 61.0m @ 0.8 g/t Au

Pilar Bulk Sample Summary: 62% Recovery of Gold Achieved Over 46-day Leaching Period Head Grade Calculated at 1.9 g/t Au and 7 g/t Ag; Extracted Grade Calculated at 1.2 g/t Au and 3 g/t Ag Bulk Sample Only Included Coarse Fraction of Material (+3/4" to +1/8") Fine Fraction (-1/8") Indicates Rapid Recovery with Agitated Leach Agitated Bottle Roll Test Returned Rapid and High Recovery Results: 80% Recovery of Gold and 94% Recovery of Silver after Rapid 24-hour Retention Time

Additional Metallurgical Studies: Gravity Recovery with Agitated Leach Results of Five Composite Samples Returned 95 to 99% Recovery of Gold 73 to 97% Recovery of Silver Includes the Recovery of 99% Au and 73% Ag from Drill Core Composite at 120-meter depth.



About Tocvan Ventures Corp.

Tocvan is a well-structured exploration and development company. Tocvan was created in order to take advantage of the prolonged downturn in the junior mining exploration sector, by identifying and negotiating interest in opportunities where management feels they can build upon previous success. Tocvan has approximately 51 million shares outstanding and is earning into two exciting opportunities in Sonora, Mexico. The Company has consolidated an attractive land position at its Pilar Gold-Silver Project where it holds 100% interests in over 21 square kilometers of prospective area and a majority ownership (51%) in a one square kilometer area shared with Colibri Resources. The Company also holds 100% interest in the Picacho Gold-Silver project in the Caborca Trend of northern Sonora, a trend host to some of the major gold deposits of the region. Management feels both projects represent tremendous opportunity to create shareholder value.

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

Samples were shipped for sample preparation to ALS Limited in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico and for analysis at the ALS laboratory in North Vancouver. The ALS Hermosillo and North Vancouver facilities are ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 certified. Gold was analyzed using 50-gram nominal weight fire assay with atomic absorption spectroscopy finish. Over limits for gold (>10 g/t), were analyzed using fire assay with a gravimetric finish. Silver and other elements were analyzed using a four-acid digestion with an ICP finish. Over limit analyses for silver (>100 g/t) were re-assayed using an ore-grade four-acid digestion with ICP-AES finish. Control samples comprising certified reference samples and blank samples were systematically inserted into the sample stream and analyzed as part of the Company's robust quality assurance / quality control protocol.

Brodie A. Sutherland, CEO for Tocvan Ventures Corp. and a qualified person ("QP") as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains "forward-looking information" which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Offering. Such forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words and phrases such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.

These forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business. Management believes that these assumptions are reasonable. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, risks related to the speculative nature of the Company's business, the Company's formative stage of development and the Company's financial position. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

For more information, please contact:

TOCVAN VENTURES CORP.

Brodie A. Sutherland, CEO

820-1130 West Pender St.

Vancouver, BC V6E 4A4

403-829-9877

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The Howard Group

Jeff Walker

VP Howard Group Inc.

403-221-0915

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 21, 2024) - CopperEx Resources Corp. (TSXV: CUEX) (the "Company" or "CopperEx") today announced the commencement of a focused geological field exploration program in preparation for Phase II Drilling on the ADLP and Sopresa Targets at the Company's flagship Exploradora Norte Project, Northern Chile.

CopperEx plans to execute a three-week field work program with the exploration team having already mobilized on-site and commencing work on June 08, 2024. The field work program is designed to focus on infill areas and extensions in both the north and south directions on the ADLP Target, and infill areas and extension to the north on the Sorpresa Target. With the excavator now remobilized to site, the program is envisaged to include a total of approximately 12 additional trenches, adding to the four trenches excavated during the recently completed and published Phase I drill program. The inaugural drill program demonstrated robust gold grades including the following highlights:

114.00 meters of 0.95 g/t Gold from 4.00-118.00 meters in RC hole A-RC-02 including: 70.00 meters of 1.27 g/t Gold (22.00-92.00 meters) And 28.00 meters of 1.63 g/t Gold (46.00-74.00 meters) And 12.00 meters of 2.45 g/t Gold (62.00-74.00 meters)

58.00 meters of 0.74 g/t Gold from 68-126 meters in RC hole S-RC-01 including: 54.00 meters of 0.78 g/t Gold (72.00-126.00 meters) And 30.00 meters of 1.03 g/t Gold (72.00-102.00 meters) And 12.00 meters of 0.89 g/t Gold (114.00-126.00 meters)

85.00 meters of 0.42 g/t Gold from 76.00-161.00 meters in RC hole S-RC-02 including : 34.00 meters of 0.96 g/t Gold (76.00-110.00 meters) And 14.00 meters of 1.81 g/t Gold (88.00-102.00 meters)



For a complete list of drill intercepts from the inaugural drill program, see the Company's press release dated May 30th, 2024.

Once laboratory results have been received, the Phase II drill program design will be finalized, whereby the preliminary quotation process for drilling has commenced based upon a forecast range of meters to drill.

CopperEx expects to commence drilling Phase II in less than four months, with follow up drilling on the exceptional results of the recently completed and published inaugural drill program.

The ADLP and Sopresa Targets are located within the Franja del Oro area, part of an approximately 15-kilometer-long gold enrichment zone located in the northwestern part of the 23 by 13-kilometer (20,800 hectare) Exploradora Norte Project.

Highlights:

CopperEx has commenced a focused geological field exploration program in preparation for Phase II Drilling on the ADLP and Sopresa Targets.

The focused geological field exploration program is expected to be complete within three weeks and amongst other works will consist of approximately 12 additional trenches.

Once laboratory results are in hand, CopperEx will finalize the Phase II drill program, focusing on the ADLP and Sopresa Targets.

Phase II drilling is expected to commence in less than four months.

Dave Prins, President & CEO of CopperEx stated, "Based upon the excellent results of the recently published Phase I drill campaign, which demonstrated the robust gold grades and continuity at ADLP and importantly demonstrates that the newly identified surface gold mineralization at Sorpresa extends to depth and along strike, we are confident that the Phase II drill program will further expand on these results and the targets. We look forward to delivering the results from the Phase II drill campaign in a very timely manner, as was clearly accomplished on Phase I drilling."

John Robins, Technical Advisor to CopperEx stated, "I am excited as we begin preparations for our Phase II exploration program on the Sopresa and ADLP targets. The results from the Phase I program demonstrate the potential for a large oxide gold deposit, in addition to the project's copper potential."

Overall Exploradora Norte and Franja del Oro Plan

Figure 1: Exploradora Norte - Property map including key target areas and surface and trench rock geochemistry2.

Qualified Person

All scientific and technical information in this news release has been approved by Daniel MacNeil, PGeo, Technical Advisor to the Company. Mr. MacNeil is a qualified person for the purposes of NI 43-101.

Additional information about CopperEx and its Projects can be found on the Company's website at copperexcorp.com, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Please click here to subscribe for future CopperEx news.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

CopperEx Resources Corp.

Dave Prins

President & CEO

For further information contact:

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+1 (604) 646-4527

About CopperEx Resources Corp.

CopperEx is a copper and gold focused exploration company with three porphyry and porphyry related gold and copper projects located in Chile and Peru in established mineral belts near producing mines. The Company's Flagship Property, Exploradora Norte, located in Northern Chile, has multiple high quality drill ready targets. At Exploradora Norte, CopperEx has the option to earn 65% and a Preferred Option for an additional 35% with no attached royalty.

CopperEx has an Option Agreement for the 20,800-hectare Exploradora Norte property, to earn a 65% ownership interest, with a preferred option to earn an additional 35%. The property is located along the prolific West Fissure fault system in northern Chile, north of El Salvador and south of Escondida at 3,400 meters above sea level in the Chilean pre-cordillera. The property has a year-round operating climate with good access.

In addition to the Exploradora Norte property, CopperEx owns 100% of its Kio Buggy (Northern Chile) and La Rica (Apurimac province Peru) properties, also with no attached royalties. The CopperEx Exploradora Norte property is immediately adjacent (to the north and east) of Codelco's Exploradora property which hosts a resource estimated by Codelco to contain 190-280 Mt @ 0.40% Cu.(1,2)

The Company's priority is to advance exploration of the Franja del Oro Target at Exploradora Norte which includes the Sorpresa and Agua de la Piedra (ADLP) Targets, and the surrounding favorable host rocks which remain significantly underexplored.

Exploradora Norte Advanced Exploration Targets.

The Franja del Oro Area contains sediment and volcanics hosted gold mineralization with associated replacement textures and alteration consistent with epithermal gold deposits that form distal to a porphyry copper-gold system. The Franja del Oro area hosts multiple parallel, north trending stratigraphically and structurally controlled mineralized zones. CopperEx has conducted extensive exploration along 4-kilometer-long north-south trending segments of the high priority Sorpresa and Agua de la Piedra ("ADLP") Targets to assess surface gold grades, continuity (along strike) and to define individual drill targets. CopperEx has identified gold mineralization over approximately 7 kilometers along the ADLP system (surface rock geochemical results). CopperEx leveraged the strong correlation between gold and arsenic to expand the geochemical footprint of the Franja del Oro area using Portable XRF technology to approximately 15 kilometers (and remains open).

Peuco - Porphyry Copper Gold Target : Geochemical and geophysical anomalies spatially associated with tourmaline breccia bodies. Breccias consist of potassically altered porphyry clasts in quartz-tourmaline matrix associated with peripheral polymetallic veins and skarn alteration.

Florencia Copper Gold Target - Centered on a NW-SE trending structural corridor extending to the Exploradora porphyry Cu deposit (Codelco) ~5 km to the NW. IP Geophysical features (resistivity and chargeability) suggest the potential for porphyry style copper-gold mineralization at depth. Epithermal style quartz veins and breccia, alteration, and geochemical anomalism exist at surface.

Strategic Alliances.

CopperEx is a member of Discovery Group based in Vancouver, Canada. For more information please visit: discoverygroup.ca.

Cautionary Note.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Notes

(1) Source: www.codelco.com/prontus_codelco/site/docs/20220808/20220808110240/fexmin_brochure.pdf

(2) Note: The deposits and projects shown or mentioned which fall outside of the CopperEx land position provide geologic context for the CopperEx's Property, but this is not necessarily indicative that the Property hosts similar grades or tonnages of mineralization.

Forward-Looking Information.

Forward-Looking Statement (Safe Harbor Statement): This press release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "expect", "estimate", "objective", "may", "will", "project", "should", "predict", "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements. In particular, this press release contains forward looking statements concerning the Company's exploration plans. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company cannot give any assurance that they will prove correct. Since forward looking statements address future events and conditions, they involve inherent assumptions, risks, and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of assumptions, factors, and risks. These assumptions and risks include, but are not limited to, assumptions and risks associated with conditions in the equity financing markets, and assumptions and risks regarding receipt of regulatory and shareholder approvals.
Rights groups called Thursday on the United Nations to take action nearly two years after the publication of a report detailing a litany of violations in China's Xinjiang region.

In a statement slammed by China, four leading rights organisations urged UN rights chief Volker Turk to "provide a public update of measures taken by the Chinese government and by his office to address the human rights situation in Xinjiang".

"The ongoing absence of public reporting by the high commissioner to follow-up the atrocity crimes documented by his own office, risks undermining the trust placed in his office by victims and survivors," warned Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the International Service for Human Rights, and the World Uyghur Congress.

Turk's predecessor Michelle Bachelet published a report in August 2022, citing possible "crimes against humanity" in Xinjiang.

It detailed violations against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, urging the world to pay "urgent attention" to rights in the region.

The report -- harshly criticised by Beijing -- highlighted "credible" allegations of widespread torture, arbitrary detention and violations of religious and reproductive rights.

- 'Double-standards' -

Speaking to diplomats on the sidelines of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Human Rights Watch Asia director Elaine Pearson highlighted the "gravity of the report".

"Now it's up to the UN high commissioner to make full use of that report to improve the situation for Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang."

The rights groups acknowledged that Turk had vowed to continue to "engage" with China on rights issues, including in Xinjiang, but that he had never provided "any specifics about his engagement with the government, a substantive update on the situation in Xinjiang, nor an assessment of the implementation of the report recommendations by his office".

In the meantime, Beijing had "continued to arbitrarily imprison hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs" as part of its crackdown, they said.

Pearson called on the rights council to "ensure that there is independent, international scrutiny and interrogation of violations, particularly when accountability is not being delivered by the government".

"Double-standards have to be avoided. We have to hold China accountable," said Zumretay Arkin, global advocacy director at the World Uyghur Congress.

A number of countries also called for a concrete follow-up to the Xinjiang report, pointing to the finding that crimes against humanity may have been committed.

"A conclusion as serious as that deserves careful attention," insisted the Netherlands ambassador Paul Bekkers. Britain's ambassador Simon Manley asked what the council should do "to ensure that the report's recommendations do not simply gather dust".

A representative for China criticised the event, accusing "a small number of NGOs and Western countries" of acting "as liars and rumour makers to serve their anti-China separatist plots".

The rights groups are meanwhile working to ensure that the UN report's findings are more easily accessible to those on the ground.

While the UN only published its report in English, the groups on Thursday presented their own unofficial translations into the remaining official UN languages: Arabic, French, Russian, Spanish, and Chinese.

Having a version of the report in Chinese is "particularly significant", Pearson told AFP.
A Stockholm court on Thursday acquitted a Syrian former general of war crimes charges, saying prosecutors had not proved his involvement in the attacks carried out during the country's civil war.

Former brigadier general Mohammed Hamo, 65, who lives in Sweden and was one of the highest-ranking Syrian military officials to stand trial in Europe. He stood accused of "aiding and abetting" war crimes in the first half of 2012.

The Stockholm district court said that while the Syrian military had used "indiscriminate attacks" at that time, the prosecution had not proved that Hamo's division had been involved in those attacks, or that he had had a role in providing arms for the assaults.

Prosecutors had argued that Hamo, in his role as brigadier general and head of the 11th division's armament unit, had helped coordinate the supply of arms and ammunition to units involved in attacks near the towns of Homs and Hama.

"The main issues in the case are whether the 11th Division of the Syrian Army participated in indiscriminate attacks in certain areas and whether the defendant participated in arming the division in those attacks," judge Katarina Fabian wrote in a court statement issuing the verdict.

- 'Indiscriminate attacks' -

"According to the District Court, there is no evidence to clarify these issues," Fabian added. "The evidence presented by the prosecution has therefore not been deemed sufficient to convict the defendant of a criminal offence."

Prosecutor Karolina Wieslander told AFP she would need to review the verdict in detail before deciding whether to appeal.

She has until July 11 to decide.

Wieslander said the acquittal showed the difficulties in "investigating these types of crimes within military structures."

"What is positive in the ruling is that the court concludes that the Syrian regime has carried out indiscriminate attacks" in the region, she added.

The war between President Bashar al-Assad's regime and armed opposition groups, including Islamic State, erupted after the government repressed peaceful pro-democracy protests in 2011.

It has killed more than half a million people, forced millions to feel their homes, and ravaged Syria's economy and infrastructure.

Hamo denied criminal responsibility and his lawyer, Mari Kilman, told the court at the outset of the trial that the officer could not be held liable for the actions "as he had acted in a military context and had to follow orders".

- Still important -

Aida Samani, senior legal advisor at rights group Civil Rights Defenders, which has been monitoring the trial, stressed the importance of the trial.

"What is noteworthy about this case is that this is the first trial concerning the Syrian military's warfare -- that is, how the warfare was carried out."

No European court has previously dealt with this issue and the impact on civilian lives and infrastructure, she added.

"It is likely disappointing for victims and those affected by these war crimes," Samani said of the verdict.

But it was still important that the court concluded that "several of these attacks amount to war crimes", she added.

Hamo is the highest-ranking military official to go on trial in Europe in person, though other countries have tried to bring charges against more senior members.

In March, Swiss prosecutors charged Rifaat al-Assad, an uncle of President Bashar al-Assad, with war crimes and crimes against humanity.

However, it remains unlikely Rifaat al-Assad -- who recently returned to Syria after 37 years in exile -- will show up for the trial, for which a date has yet to be set.

Swiss law allows for trials in absentia under certain conditions.

In November, France issued an international arrest warrant for Bashar al-Assad, accusing him of complicity in crimes against humanity and war crimes over chemical attacks in 2013.

Three other international warrants were also issued for the arrests of Bashar al-Assad's brother Maher, the de facto chief of the army's elite Fourth Division, and two generals.

And in May, a Paris court ordered life prison sentences for three top Syrian security officials for complicity in crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The accused -- Ali Mamlouk, former head of the National Security Bureau; Jamil Hassan, former director of the Air Force intelligence service; and Abdel Salam Mahmoud, former head of investigations -- were all tried in absentia, but there are international warrants for their arrest.

In January 2022, a German court sentenced former colonel Anwar Raslan to life in jail for crimes against humanity.

That was the first international trial over state-sponsored torture in Syria and was hailed by victims as a victory for justice.
Humanitarian access to war-torn Sudan remains woefully "insufficient", raising the risk of starvation among its population, Filippo Grandi, the head of the UN refugee agency, warned.

War has raged since April 2023 between the regular military under army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces led by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.

The conflict has left tens of thousands dead and displaced more than ten million people, according to the United Nations.

In an interview with AFP on Wednesday, Grandi, who leads the United Nations' refugee agency UNHCR, said that although he had "seen a little bit of progress in the last few weeks", much more action was needed to improve access.

"We are asking all the parties to give access to humanitarians because our presence there is insufficient to help the people in need, and especially to bring the food and the other supplies that are needed for people that otherwise risk starvation," he said.

Aid workers were able to get "a bit more" access than before, due to "insistence... on the part of the international community", said Grandi, during a visit to South Sudan, which has seen a huge influx of returnees from Sudan since April last year.

The global community had to continue lobbying for aid access, he said, "because otherwise we risk having more displacement, and even worse, we risk seeing people dying of hunger."

"I am very worried because I was hoping at the beginning like many Sudanese did, that this would be a short-lived conflict."

Both sides have been accused of war crimes including deliberately targeting civilians, indiscriminate shelling of residential areas and blocking humanitarian aid, despite warnings that millions are on the brink of starvation.

Rights groups and the United States have also accused the paramilitaries of ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.

Christos Christou, the international chief of the medical charity Doctors Without Borders, on Thursday described Sudan as "one of the worst crises the world has seen for decades... yet the humanitarian response is profoundly inadequate."

"There are extreme levels of suffering across the country, and the needs are growing by the day," he said on X.
It was a Friday. At 12 noon, I was out running an errand in the town centre, says Huguet Francis Mongombe, former commissioner of the Truth, Justice, Reparation and Reconciliation Commission (CVJRR). A colleague called me and asked me to hurry back to the office. The gendarmerie has come to close the doors of the Commission, he told me on the phone. I quickly went back. I arrived and found a massive presence of gendarmes.

On that day, CVJRR first vice-president Serge Hubert Bangui was returning from a mission to Nola, in the southwest of the country, to collect, he says, testimonies about the deadly events that took place between 2012 and 2016 in the Central African Republic. When we arrived, there were around 20 hooded gendarmes in two vehicles. They told us to take the essentials and leave the office, he says.

Suddenly, some gendarmes arrived and told us that they had been ordered to close the headquarters, says Marie-Edith Douzima, president of the CVJRR, who was on site. I asked them: Who gave the order. Do you have a document? They said No, it's just an order we received. So far, we havent received any documents.

In the rush, Mongombe was only able to take his notebook, a few books and his computer. Since that day, I havent set foot there, he says. For the former CVJRR commissioner, this act is an aggression on the part of the government, in violation of the law creating the CVJRR, which sets out the conditions for terminating the mandate of commissioners.

Proven mismanagement

On May 7, four days after the closure of the CVJRR, a decree was read out on national radio, dismissing all the commissioners of this institution.

Then, a few days later, the government spokesman called a press conference and gave an official explanation. In the Council of Ministers, the Minister for Humanitarian Action informed the government of the problems that had arisen with the CVJRR since it was set up. Rivalry, a war of positions between the members of the commission has undermined the work internally, said Minister of Communication and government spokesman Maxime Balalou. There are cases of proven mismanagement, resources allocated by partners used for other purposes, misuse of material resources. This is not right.

The government is therefore abruptly ending the mandate of the eleven commissioners of the CVJRR, a commission created in 2020, and is launching a recruitment procedure for new commissioners, who have until June 26 to submit their applications.

The reasons put forward by the State are mostly confirmed by some of the commissioners themselves, as well as by other justice and human rights players.

Serge-Hubert Bangui, for example, denies the accusations of embezzlement. What document did the government use as a basis for saying that there was embezzlement? For us, it remains an allegation. But he says that he has been warning of mismanagement for a long time: The president has confiscated the institutions accounts. On two occasions, the government allocated 200 million CFA francs [around 305,000 euros] to the commission. The president has always dealt with the accounting officer. But this is a matter for the plenary assembly [of the CVJRR]. Since 2022, we have repeatedly asked the Cour des Comptes to come and carry out an audit. It has never been done.

When questioned by Justice Info, commission president Douzima denied having confiscated the management of the accounts: The law stipulates that the Ministry of Finance must appoint an accountant to the CVJRR. He was appointed in January 2023. I was just the authorising officer, but the real financial manager was the accountant. Before the appointment of the accountant, any outflow of money required two signatures: mine and that of the vice-president.

An intractable leadership crisis

The dysfunction within the CVJRR was hardly a secret. Even at meetings and round-table discussions with partners, they [the commissioners] were clashing with each other in front of everyone. It didnt make for a calm atmosphere in which to get on with the job, says Evrard Bondade, Secretary General of the Central African Observatory for Human Rights (OCDH).

According to another former commissioner, who requested anonymity, this dysfunction was due to a leadership crisis: The president was not with us. She continued to work as a lawyer in violation of the law, which states that the office of commissioner is incompatible with other public, private or political offices, he said. In March 2023, we organised a round table with the partners and presented our strategies and work plans. All this went unheeded. Because just after that, the president left for The Hague. She returned in September. He points out that the quarrels within the CVJRR began very early. Just after the commissioners were sworn in, the setting up of the bureau already created divisions.

The law establishing the Commission stipulates in Article 13 that commissioners shall work full-time for the CVJRR. But working as a lawyer is not incompatible with the CVJRR law. Its a liberal profession, retorts Douzima. And that has not prevented me from carrying out my duties as president of the CVJRR.

For the victims organisations, the situation was untenable. We welcome this decision. It was wise to suspend the mandate of these commissioners. The task entrusted to them is immense. They had to start somewhere, but they were putting their own interests first (...) and wasting time with internal squabbles, adds Bondade of OCDH.

It was predictable. There was no agreement between the commissioners. A group of partners tried to reconcile them, but it didnt work. There is a leadership conflict and nothing works. I agree with the government, says Francine Evodie Ndemade, vice-president of the national platform of associations of victims of the crisis in CAR.

The CVJRR has never been independent

According to Serge Hubert Bangui, the commission president was imposed on them by the ministers of Justice and Humanitarian Action. When the commissioners realised that things were not moving forward, they decided to remove the president by majority vote. Why did the government refuse to validate her dismissal? he asks.

When the decision was taken in April 2023 to remove the president, thats when we saw the true face of politics, says a former commissioner, who also asked to remain anonymous. The CVJRR was never independent. The State introduced several civil servants into the CVJRR to control the commissions actions. We were working with spies, and the government was aware of all our discussions.

These allegations are confirmed by Aubin Kotto Kpenze, director of the association of victims of Joseph Konys LRA, who says he is shocked, as are many of the victims. The CVJRR is our hope. It should shed light on what happened to us. But the Central African authorities dont want light to be shed," he says. Some authorities are allegedly involved in crimes in this country. Today, they are in positions of responsibility, they govern and take decisions. The CVJRR is working with its hands tied.

Some ten victims heard in three years

In three years, the commission has not held a single public hearing. And fewer than a dozen victims, mostly community leaders, have been heard," says its president. We were sworn in in July 2021, says Serge Hubert Bangui. We were able to rent a headquarters in July 2022. The rules of procedure drawn up when we took office were not validated until March 2023. All these steps have kept us going round in circles.

Huguet Francis Mongombe thinks the commission has nevertheless been able to move forward. When we started, the only working document we had was the law. Today, we have drawn up nearly 20 scientific documents to guide the CVJRR in its mission, he says, citing strategies for intervention, communication, investigation, protection of witnesses and victims, rules of procedure and evidence, and a three-year plan.

According to several commissioners, the commission had entered a phase of gathering information on events from 2012 to 2016" - a period from the birth of the Seleka rebellion to the first election of current president Faustin-Archange Touadera. We made a lot of progress, says Douzima. And Bangui also tells us that we had planned to start the hearings in December, after the September hearings.

Whatever the former commissioners may say, Arnaud Yaliki, head of the Central African Observatory for Transitional Justice says there is a [historical] peculiarity in the CAR: the commissioners are unable to overcome their divisions and concentrate on their mission. This unfortunately led to their ousting. I cant say that they did nothing. But they could have done better if they had been responsible and professional.

In three years, the results are mixed, he concludes. Above all, it is deplorable for the many victims who are waiting for truth, justice, reparations and institutional reforms to correct the inequalities and injustices that are at the root of the recurring crises in the Central African Republic.
EXO Suho is making a buzz as he is embroiled in a dating rumor with this "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo" actress.

Can you guess who she is?

Is It True? Suho is Dating K-Drama Actress Kang Han Na

EXO Suho trended on a famous online community forum after a post claimed that he is dating someone.

On June 21, a post, titled, "I Am Revealing A Couple I Just Found Out About," went viral. In less than a day, the post was already viewed by more than 95k users.

In the written post, the author alleges that Suho is dating "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo" actress Kang Han Na.

"E.X. S.H and K.H.N are dating. I was surprised because I would never guess these two were a couple."

However, despite the claim, the owner of the post has no evidence to support it.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE : Kim Ji Won, Kim Soo Hyun, Byeon Woo Seok, More Nominated at the Seoul Drama Awards 2024

Despite having no proof, netizens were quickly invested in the rumor and expressed their sentiments over the author's cryptic message.

"All I can think of is Kang Han Na. If this is true, how did they meet? This is pretty random."

"Is it EXO Suho and Kang Han N.?"

"Han Na and Suho have the same height."

"Oh, this is another exhausting post."

"There are many K.H.N."

"All EXO members are dating. They are all looking for wives."

"Let Suho date. His group is a mess and I'm sure he's tired alone.

Kang Han Na is best known for her roles in "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo," "Rain or Shine," "Designated Survivor: 60 Days," "My Roommate is a Gumiho," "Start-Up," "Bloody Heart," and her newly-concluded series "Frankly Speaking."

Suho, on the other hand, just successfully finished his comeback drama "Missing Crown Prince," where he worked with rising actress Hong Ye Ji. The series concluded with an impressive rating.

Following his acting project, the idol is expected to continue his overseas schedule for his solo concert "SU:HOME."

The idol-actor is set to serenade his fans in Manila this June 22 at Araneta Coliseum. After this, he will visit Hong Kong, Taipei, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur, for his concert tour.

In addition, being the leader of his group, Suho is also busy working on EXO's activities.

Suho is also nominated at the Seoul International Drama Awards 2024 under the category of Asia Star Awards.

What can you say about Suho and Kang Han Na's dating rumor? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Shai San Miguel wrote this.
Global food group Savencia Fromage & Dairy plans to continue deepening its presence in the Chinese market to leverage the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France this year, according to a senior executive. "This milestone offers a platform for Savencia to strengthen its corporate image and deepen its connections with Chinese customers and stakeholders," said Jean-Baptiste Elslande, APAC CEO of Savencia Group. Elslande stated that the company will build a deeper connection with local consumers by bringing the best dairy products and related culture to China, highlighting its French heritage and expertise in the art of food. "We will also make adjustments to our high-quality products according to the needs of the local teams, making them more in line with the needs of local consumers," he added. According to Elslande, China is a large and competitive dairy market, with an annual consumption of approximately 45 billion liters of milk. Since entering the market in 1996, Savencia has been committed to product innovation and bringing professional knowledge and technology from the food industry to China. During the Bakery China 2024 exhibition held in Shanghai last month, a groundbreaking B2B digital platform that serves practitioners in the catering and pastry industries was co-launched by Savencia and Sinodis, a subsidiary of Savencia in China. "MySinodis simplifies the way to access our products. Customers can order through their phone, easily access our wide portfolio and receive professional training anytime, anywhere," said Elslande, adding that the platform is pivotal in driving business growth and enhancing customer relationships for Savencia in Asia-Pacific, particularly in China. "We are very proud to make it in China because it is one of the most digitized countries in the world. If we start from China, we are sure that we can develop it in other countries," he added. In addition to digital innovation, Sinodis, an international brand specializing in baking, pastries and desserts, is also constantly improving products and service standards to adapt to the local market. "A major trend in recent years is that Chinese consumers care more about health, and the manifestation in pastries and desserts is that they demand less sugar and less fat," said Denis Vergneau, general manager of Sinodis. He added that local consumers now appreciate food labels with healthy and clean content. Furthermore, the challenging economic situation and the pressures of daily life have increased the demand for desserts among consumers. In response to these trends, Vergneau explained that the baking industry has started focusing on using clean-label ingredients, offering low-sugar and low-fat options, and other healthy alternatives to cater to the health and nutrition needs of consumers. "In China, our role is to observe the trend and anticipate the trend so that we can collaborate with our premium brands to adapt and propose flavors to satisfy our consumers," Vergneau said, "We are working closely with all plans to transfer these food trends into proper creativity."
Larvicide will be dropped into about 12,000 roadside catch basins by contractors riding scooters throughout much of the Central Okanagan next week. The City of West Kelowna does not have full participation in the program, nor does it operate one of its own.






Friday, June 21, 2024 - A Massachusetts teen was shot dead just hours before her middle school graduation and her older boyfriend has been arrested for the killing.

Ahliana Dickey, 15, was found dead from gunshot wounds in a first-floor bedroom of her home in Lowell on Friday evening, June 14, the Middlesex County District Attorneys Office said.

Dickey was set to attend her middle school graduation later that day, the officials explained.

When she didnt show up, her family became concerned and went to the home to look for her.

The teens grandmother called the police to report their tragic discovery around 6:10 p.m., the District Attorney explained.

When police responded to the scene, they learned that Dickey was in an abusive relationship with an older man, who was later identified as 21-year-old Trevor Bady.

Shortly after midnight on Friday, Lowell authorities had received a call from one of Ahlianas neighbors, who reported that a man and a woman were fighting loudly across the street, the official statement said.

The woman could be heard yelling get off me, get away from me, I dont want to be with you anymore before gunshots rang out, the caller claimed.

Police responded to the scene but the parties could not be located, the official statement explained.





Surveillance video retrieved from the scene showed Dickey yelling for help shortly before midnight, and a male suspect leaving her home around the same time, the statement added.

The day after the killing, police discovered that Bady had taken an Uber to and from Dickeys home before and after the shooting. One of the Uber drivers was interviewed, and identified their passenger as Bady.

Bady was arrested without incident in Peabody on Monday, June 17.

He pleaded not guilty to murder, armed home invasion, unlawful possession of a firearm and other charges in Lowell District Court on Tuesday, June 18, and was held without bail.

Two days before Dickey was killed, the teen supposedly told someone that Bady threatened to kill her and her grandmother, the prosecutor said in court, according to CBS News.

Travor Bady is due back in court on July 30.

My worst fear has happened. Loosing (sic) a child, I wouldnt wish this pain on anyone, Dickeys father, Scott Dickey, wrote on Facebook Monday.






Friday, June 21, 2024 - U.S. Marshals in Texas have captured an African woman accused in the murder of her 2-year-old son.

Sharday Bakare was captured by Marshals on Monday, June 17, on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated child neglect, and aggravated child abuse.

According to Shelby County court records, the Memphis Police Department (MPD) and EMTs responded to the 2600 block of Margot St. just before 6 a.m. Monday, Sept. 4, 2023, where they found the two-year-old boy unresponsive, bruised, and bleeding from the mouth. The child was taken to the hospital but later died.





On June 17, U.S. Marshals found Bakare at a residence in Glenn Heights, Texas. She was taken into custody without incident and awaits extradition back to Tennessee, officials said.

Last month, Bakare's boyfriend was arraigned on charges that he beat the 2-year-old to death.

Anthony Andrews was indicted by a Shelby County Grand Jury on May 9, 2024, on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse. He is currently in the Shelby County Jail on a $250,000 bond.





According to the affidavit, the child's mother said he was left in the care of her boyfriend, Andrews, while she slept. She said she had recently noticed bruising and marks on him when left with Andrews, but he told her it was because the child fell out of bed.

The affidavit said she told investigators she saw Andrews hitting the child with a belt and a braided dog toy as recently as a few weeks ago.

According to the affidavit, Andrews admitted to police he hit the child "harder than he should have" the previous week and hit him seven or eight times in the face and back with a braided dog toy Sunday night, throwing him in a corner of the house.

He then said he put the child in bed, when the boy fell out several minutes later, unresponsive.






Friday, June 21, 2024 - Alec Baldwin once fired a blank round at a crew member on the set of Rust, prosecutors alleged in new court papers, as they accused the actor of being reckless with firearms while filming.

Prosecutors in the New Mexico involuntary manslaughter case against the 30 Rock star said they plan to bring evidence at his trial  slated to begin on July 9 showing that Baldwin had a history of flouting safety protocols on set, which led to Halyna Hutchins tragic shooting death in 2021.





One such reckless moment came when Baldwin, 66, pointed his gun and fired a blank round at a crew member while he held the person target in his line of sight, prosecutors alleged in the filing.

Other examples of Baldwin ignoring safety procedures between Oct. 12, 2021 up until the day of the shooting included him using his gun as a pointer; firing the weapon after filming was over in violation of safety rules; holding his finger on the trigger in scenes that didnt require it; rushing armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed to reload his gun faster; and being on FaceTime with his family and making videos for them during firearms training, the court papers claimed.



And before filming even started, Baldwin who is one of the producers and the leading actor in the movie  asked to be assigned the biggest gun available, the filing alleged.

Prosecutors said they have photos and videos of Baldwin acting carefree on set, that they plan to show a jury.

In one clip, he can be seen engaging in horseplay with his gun and pulling his gun when the scene did not call for the pulling of his gun, the papers claimed. When he pulls his gun the muzzle of the gun is pointed directly at another actor.

Prosecutors said many clips show an angry and aggressive Baldwin, who can also be seen halting filming to yell and swear at the crew.



Mr. Baldwin can be seen screaming intermittently throughout the attempts at filming the scene, the filing claimed. He exercises complete control over the set by stopping the acting sequence, cursing loudly and rushing the other cast and crew.

When pieced up, this intrinsic evidence of Baldwins other acts leading up to Hutchins death shows that the incident wasnt an accident or mistake  as Baldwin has maintained all along, prosecutors said.

During a rehearsal on the set of the Western film, Baldwin aimed his revolver in the direction of cinematographer Hutchins when it fired, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza.

Baldwin pleaded not guilty and faces up to 1 and 1/2 years if convicted.

The film's Armorer Gutierrez-Reed, 26, was sentenced to 18 months behind bars in April after her conviction on the same charge Baldwin now faces.




Friday, June 21, 2024 - Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has mourned the death of Rex Kanyike Masai, who was shot dead by a rogue police officer during Thursdays protests against the Finance Bill 2024.

Babu wondered how ironic it was that the 24-year-old died at the hands of a police officer.

"Rest in Peace Rex. This is so heartbreaking to lose a comrade in the hands of a police officer whos supposed to protect Kenyans," Babu wrote on his social media page.

Masai died on Thursday after he was allegedly shot by an unidentified police officer.

He was among the many protesters who had taken to the streets to reject the Finance Bill 2024. The young man was reportedly shot at dusk.

In response to the tragic news, many Kenyans expressed condolences and called for justice on social media for the young man who lost his life while exercising his constitutional right.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Friday, June 21, 2024 - Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has asked Kenyan Police officers not to be used by President William Ruto to break the law.

Following the shooting of Rex Kanyike during Thursday's protest in Nairobi, Babu Owino stated that the police should respect the constitution by allowing Kenyans to demonstrate.

Rex Kanyike Masai, 29, was allegedly shot and killed by police during Thursday's protests in Nairobi.

The incident took place at about 7 pm along Moi Avenue. An aerial video captured the moment the victim was shot.

"I am warning police officers, do not be used to break the law. Your child, sister, or brother could easily be in that crowd," Babu said.

"Things will never be the same again. And we will not tolerate even a single life lost recklessly," he added.

The legislator further raised concern over what he termed as an increase in cases of police officers wearing masks in a bid to conceal their identities during dispatch of official duty.

"If we cannot hold individual officers accountable then we will come for the Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome and hold him individually responsible," he added.

The incident happened when a group of protesters had been pushed by police from parts of Kenyatta Avenue, City Hall Way, and other places where they had gathered to air their opposition to the Bill.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Friday, June 21, 2024 - The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has launched investigations into the shooting of a protester on Thursday by a rogue police officer.

Rex Kanyike Masai was allegedly shot and killed by police along Moi Avenue while constitutionally exercising his duty of opposing the Finance Bill 2024.

IPOA, in a statement on Friday, said an investigations team has established contact with Masai's family.

"The Authority has documented the death of Masai allegedly as a result of police shooting and several serious injuries suffered by other demonstrators including police officers," IPOA chairperson Anne Makori said.

According to IPOA, the National Police Service Act and service standing orders dictate that force used by an officer shall be proportional to the objective to be achieved, the seriousness of the offense, and the resistance of the person against whom it is used.

The authority lauded protesters for holding peaceful demonstrations while unarmed.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Friday, June 21, 2024 - Kenyans on X have shared a photo of the rogue cop who killed Rex Kanyike Masai during Thursday's anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests in Nairobi.

Kanyike was killed by the cop on Thursday evening when he constitutionally joined other youths in protesting against the Finance Bill 2024.

The latest surveillance photo has shown the picture of the notorious cop who killed the young man who was only 24 years old.

Embakasi East Member of Parliament, Babu Owino has condemned the incident and urged police officers not to be used by the government to kill protestors, especially young people.

Here is a clear photo of the rogue police officer who killed Rex Kanyike.





The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Friday, June 21, 2024 - Netizens have unmasked the identity of the rogue police officer who shot dead a 29-year-old protester in Nairobi Central Business District during anti-finance bill protests.

The rogue officer identified as Isaiah Murangiri alias Ndumba is reportedly an errand boy for Central Police Station OCPD.

He was captured on camera shooting Rex Kanyike Masai during the Thursday protests that rocked the city.

One of the police officers exposed his identity even as the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) announces an investigation into the shooting incident.

The incident has caused widespread outrage and calls for justice across the nation.

IPOA's Chairperson, Anne Makori, emphasized that the authority has already launched an investigation into the fatal shooting and has established contact with Masai's family.

See photos of the killer cop.





































The Kenyan DAILY POST.






Friday, June 21, 2024 - An Indiana man stabbed his own son in the heart during an argument over dirty dishes in the sink, police say.

The incident happened on Friday, June 14, at their home.

Timothy Ray Lisby, 59, faces an initial charge of aggravated battery and is being held without bond, according to Marion County Jail records.

A family friend who witnessed the grisly death of 31-year-old Christopher Allen Lisby on June 14 believes the father should face murder charges, he told Fox 59.

The case has been turned over to homicide detectives since the battery charge was filed and their investigation is ongoing.

Jeremiah Green told the outlet that after bickering over a pile of dirty dishes, Lisby and his son wrestled each other to the floor inside the mobile home on Dogie Road in Indianapolis.

Then, the father lashed out with cutlery.

Tim had a spoon in his hand and started stabbing Chris with it, Green told the outlet. Chris said, Jeremiah get the spoon out of his hand, so I did.

Then the father grabbed hold of another weapon,, Green said.

Tim ran in the kitchen and grabbed something shiny, something sharp  and pushed it into Chriss chest as hard as he could, Green said.

Green dialed 911, according to the outlet, and Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers arrived at the scene. There, they found the son with a bleeding wound to the chest in the living room, according to an affidavit filed in the case and obtained by Law & Crime.

Christopher Lisby was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he stabilized after surgery on his lacerated heart, police said, but succumbed to his injuries the next day.

After Green called for help, he said the father realized the gravity of the situation and tried to render first aid to his son.

He was putting pressure on Chris and saying, Dont die. Dont die,' Green told Fox 59. Since that day Ive been crying, and I cant sleep.

Green said he will testify against Lisby in court, and that he will do whatever is necessary to put him down.

Chris was my friend. I loved him to death, Green said.

Ive never seen anyone bleed that bad and that really hurt me. When he stabbed Chris in the heart, its like he stabbed mine.

He killed the only friend I have in the world. Hes gonna pay for what he did, Green told Fox 59.

The father is next due in court on June 21, according to online jail records.






Friday, June 21, 2024 - A baby girl has died after being bitten by her family's pet dog in Coventry, police have said.

West Midlands Police raced to the property where they found the seven-month-old with severe head injuries following the attack. She was rushed to hospital but did not survive.

The dog, which was not classed as a dangerous breed, was humanely destroyed.

Detectives are now investigating the horrifying attack.

The tragedy unfolded on Sunday afternoon, June 16, when officers were called to a street in the Coundon area of the city. No arrests have been made over the attack.

A police spokesperson said: "A baby has tragically died after being bitten by a pet dog at a home in Coventry. We were called to a property at Shorncliffe Road shortly after 3pm on Sunday. Together with our ambulance colleagues we arrived within minutes.

"A seven-month-old baby girl had received serious injuries to her head after being bitten by the familys dog inside the home. She received treatment at the scene by paramedics before being rushed to hospital for further treatment. Tragically, she died a short time later. Our thoughts remain with her family at this devastating time.

"The pet dog, which isnt classed as a dangerous breed, was removed from the home on Sunday and humanely destroyed."

The force added: "We are in the early stages of our investigation and our enquiries are continuing. Anyone with any information should contact us via live chat on our website or by calling 101 quoting log 2407 of 16 June."

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We were called to a medical emergency at a private address on Shorncliffe Road in Coventry at 3.01pm on Sunday. Two ambulances, a specialist paramedic, a paramedic officer and the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance were sent to the scene.

On arrival, crews found a female patient, a child, who, following treatment, was taken to hospital via land ambulance."




Friday, June 21, 2024 - Siaya County Governor James Orengo has lauded the younger generation, nicknamed Gen-Z, for taking the lead in opposing the Finance Bill 2024.

For the better part of the week, thousands of Gen-Z, along with pockets of Millennials, have been demonstrating in Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa, and Nakuru cities against the bill, which they claim will burden Kenyans with taxes.

Unlike previous demonstrators who were often violent and chaotic, the Gen-Z protestors have been peaceful and tech-savvy. This has surprised President William Ruto and his advisors.

Reacting to the demos that have made Kenya Kwanza Alliance leaders panic, Orengo, one of the second liberation heroes, lauded the young lads for exercising their constitutional duty and also for killing Rutos legitimacy.

Methinks Ruto's legitimacy is gone.

"This revolt has momentum and resolve.

"Providence has a way of dealing with injustice.

"This hour, this time, no half measures. Thanks to Gen Z., Orengo wrote on his X( formerly Twitter).

The Kenyan DAILY POST










Friday, June 21, 2024 - Friends and family searched for missing hajj pilgrims on Wednesday, June 19, as the death toll surged past 900.

Relatives who couldn't reach their loved ones scoured hospitals and pleaded online for news after temperatures hit 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 Fahrenheit) in Mecca, Islams holiest city, on Monday, June 17.

About 1.8 million people from all over the world, many old and infirm, took part in the days-long, mostly outdoor pilgrimage, which this year fell during the hot Saudi summer.

An Arab diplomat told AFP that deaths among Egyptians alone had jumped to at least 600, from more than 300 a day earlier, mostly from the unforgiving heat.

That figure brought the total reported dead so far to 922, according to an AFP tally of figures released by various countries.

The diplomat later added that Egyptian officials in Saudi Arabia had received 1,400 reports of missing pilgrims, including the 600 dead.

Mabrouka bint Salem Shushana of Tunisia, in her early 70s, has been missing since the climax of the pilgrimage on Saturday at Mount Arafat, her husband Mohammed told AFP on Wednesday, June 19.

Because she was unregistered and did not have an official hajj permit, she was unable to access air-conditioned facilities that allow pilgrims to cool down, he said.

Shes an old lady. She was tired. She was feeling so hot, and she had no place to sleep, he said. I looked for her in all the hospitals. Until now I dont have a clue.

Facebook and other social media networks have been flooded with pictures of the missing and requests for information.

Those searching for news include family and friends of Ghada Mahmoud Ahmed Dawood, an Egyptian pilgrim unaccounted for since Saturday.

I received a call from her daughter in Egypt begging me to put any post on Facebook that can help track her or find her, said one family friend based in Saudi Arabia, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he did not want to anger Saudi authorities.

The good news is that until now we did not find her on the list of the dead people, which gives us hope she is still alive.




Friday, June 21, 2024 - Kenyans are currently mourning the death of Third Liberation hero, Rex Kanyike Masai, who was killed by a rogue cop along Moi Avenue, Nairobi on Thursday.

Kanyike was among thousands of Gen Z protesters who turned out in Nairobi to demonstrate against the Finance Bill 2024.

However, despite the constitution allowing the protests, a rogue cop killed Kanyike on Thursday evening.

Here are photos of the rogue cop who killed Kanyike and we hope the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) will deal with this miscreant









The Kenyan DAILY POST.






Friday, June 21, 2024 - The leader of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, has threatened to target the European island of Cyprus if war breaks out between Israel and Lebanon.

Cyprus will be part of this war too if it opens its airports and bases to Israeli forces, Hassan Nasrallah said in a televised address that came just a day after Israel warned the powerful Iran-backed militant group that the prospect of all-out war was getting very close.

Cyprus has held joint military exercises with Israel since 2014 and as recently as last year.

Cyprus is a member of the European Union and lies in the Mediterranean sea, roughly 125 miles (200 kilometers) from Lebanon.

The comments by the Hezbollah leader are the first time he has threatened Cyrus.

Tensions between Hezbollah and Israel have been rising since the October 7 Hamas attacks and the ensuing military campaign by the Israel Defense Forces in Gaza. In recent weeks, the intensity of cross-border attacks between the two has increased, raising concerns over the prospect of a full-blown war.

Things took a turn for the worse on Tuesday, when Hezbollah showed off a 9-minute video filmed by a drone showing civilian and military locations in and around one of Israels largest cities, Haifa. The video prompted Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz to warn of an all-out war in which Hezbollah will be destroyed, and Lebanon severely beaten.

On Wednesday, Nassrallah celebrated the video as evidence of its growing ability to gather intelligence.

The enemy knows that no place in the entire (state) is safe from our missiles, and it wont be arbitrary. Everything will be deliberately targeted, Nasrallah said in his speech.

We have long hours of footage of Haifa, of the outskirts of Haifa, and what comes after Haifa, and after after Haifa, Nasrallah said, in an apparent reference to a Hezbollah slogan from the 2006 war with Israel, when the groups rockets hit Haifa for the first time.

In response to the threat by Nasrallah, Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides said the island was in no way involved in the war conflicts.





The Republic of Cyprus is not part of the problem. The Republic of Cyprus is part of the solution, Christodoulides said. And our role in this, as demonstrated, for example, through the humanitarian corridor, is recognized not only by the Arab world but by the international community as a whole.

Nasrallah also threatened to shake the pillars of Israel if a war were to be imposed on Lebanon.

Parts of the Hezbollah drone footage, filmed in the daytime, claimed to show Krayot, a cluster of highly populated residential cities north of the Israeli city of Haifa and 28 km (17 miles) south of the Lebanese border, along with malls and high rises.

Other parts showed a military complex near Haifa belonging to Israeli weapons manufacturer Rafael  including Iron Dome batteries, missile storage sites and radar sites  and military boats, ships and oil storage depots in the port of Haifa.




Friday, June 21, 2024 - Nandi police commander, Dickens Njogu, has confirmed a tragic incident where an ACK priest identified as Reverend James Kimei, was brutally murdered by a KDF officer who caught him in bed with his wife.

According to the police boss, Kimei was brutally murdered by the enraged military officer.

His legs and limbs had been broken after being brutally assaulted.

His tool of procreation had also been pulled out and had deep cuts on his head.

Church members said they are reeling in shock following the incident.

It did not cross their minds that the Man of God they trusted would prey on someones wife.

We are shocked by the incident. We were planning to throw a party for him after he was transferred to another parish, one of the church members said.

A neighbour to the KDF officer who committed the brutal murder said he would do the same thing if he caught a man with his wife in their matrimonial bed.

I would do the same thing. Why sneak into another mans matrimonial bed at night? he posed.

Watch the video.





The Kenyan DAILY POST.






Friday, June 21, 2024 - Genevieve Nnaji has shared what she experienced while seeking partnerships in Hollywood after the success of her 2018 film, LionHeart.

The actress said she realised that she was viewed as a commodity, with Hollywood interested in exploiting her talent and African stories for their benefit.

She noted that they wanted to use her to tell their own stories, rather than authentic African stories.

Genevieve said this while on a panel at the 2024 AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum/Afreximbank Annual Meetings.

She said: "For the first time, I realised I was a commodity. I thought, you know, given what I had done with Lionheart, and all of that, I was going to have an opportunity to do more. Getting there and having the kind of support that obviously CANEX is bringing on board, but I thought I could find it in Hollywood. That was not quite the case.





"They wanted what I had but for their benefit. It was all about their story. It was all about how, even if it was our story, I could make it more authentic to their own understanding of whatever Africa is because they did have a lot of literature in their archives."

Genevieve said she chose to stay in Africa and contribute to the industrys growth rather than pursue opportunities in Hollywood.

She said: "But I am Nollywood. I could have gone to Hollywood a long time if I wanted to. But I had a dream to build an industry here that could rival it. Thats because Ive always believed in that. I have always believed that we were capable of actually owning an industry like that, that told our story for our people. I wanted that. I respect what Hollywood is doing. I respect what Bollywood is doing and I felt like Nollywood had an equal chance at it.

So when I found it wasnt quite what they had in mind I was like Im just going to wait this out and the Covid happened and the worlds switched at that point and Africa sort of became it.




Friday, June 21, 2024  Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka has vowed to take serious disciplinary action, including suspension and expulsion, against Wiper MPs who supported the controversial Finance Bill 2024.

In a concise statement, Kalonzo, through his party, indicated that it had instructed its legislators to vote against the contentious bill.

MPs who defied this directive would now face consequences.

The party emphasized its commitment to this stance, stressing that no exceptions would be made once the disciplinary process commences.

Notably, among those identified for disciplinary action is Dadaab MP Farah Maalim, who recently voted in favour of the Finance Bill, contravening the party's directive.

According to Wiper, the party members who voted in favour of the bill betrayed Kenyans and that it would not relent on taking stern measures against them.

"All our MPs were instructed to reject the Finance Bill 2024 and that is on record. There were no exemptions," read part of a statement by Wiper Party.

"Choices have consequences not just for the two, but for all who betrayed Kenyans."

In a separate statement, Kalonzo lauded Kenyan youths for taking to the streets to protest against the bill which he termed as unreasonable, unsound, and uncorrectable.

Kalonzo accused police officers using force to intimidate protesters who were peacefully exercising their constitutional rights to picket and demonstrate.

The Azimio principal also went ahead to commend the 115 members of parliament who voted against the bill.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Friday, June 21, 2024 - A Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officer has sent an Anglican Church pastor to his maker after he found them making out at his matrimonial bed.

Pastor James Kemei, 43, was killed by the KDF officer who had set a trap for them after realising the man of the cloth and his wife were lovers.

The officer reportedly sneaked into his home and hid in one of the rooms before immobilising the priest once he went to bed.

The KDF officer then fled the scene.

Kemei was rushed to Kapsabet Level 5 Hospital before being referred to Top Hill Hospital in Eldoret, where he was confirmed dead on arrival.

Nandi Police Commander Dickens Njogu confirmed the incident.

"We have very scant details on the incident and DCI has taken over the investigation," Njogu said.

Njogu said they have launched a manhunt for the officer to identify what happened.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Friday, June 21, 2024 - A Florida landlord gunned down a family of four with young kids and burned their remains in the fire pit of the home they shared, police said Tuesday, June 18.

Rory Atwood, 25, allegedly admitted to slaughtering the family  which included children aged 5 and 6  after getting into a dispute with the parents, who he was friends with since high school.

If there wasnt evil in this world, we wouldnt have to pray as much. And when I talk about this story today, youre going to hear about evil, Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco told reporters.

Atwood initially denied having any knowledge of the whereabouts of the Zilliot family, which included Rain Mancini, 26; Phillip Zilliot II, 25; and their young kids Karma and Phillip III, 6 and 5, respectively, Nocco said.

The family, who was staying at Atwoods Hudson home, were reported missing Thursday, June 13, by Mancinis mother after the mom-of-two failed to keep up their daily communications.

Atwood, a father himself, permitted investigators to search the property that same day, but detectives didnt notice anything amiss other than the backyard firepit that was actively smoldering and smoking, the criminal complaint states.





The next day, a friend of Atwood told police that the landlord had called him the night prior and admitted to killing his roommates and their children, the document said.

Investigators returned to the property with cadaver dogs, which reportedly pulled small skeletal remains, soft tissue and two human vertebrae out of the fire pit. The back patio was also drenched in a strong chlorine odor.

Atwood, who initially claimed he kicked them out earlier over failure to pay rent, eventually buckled and confessed to killing the family.

According to his account, Zilliot II and Mancini stormed into the home Wednesday night, June 12, with both parents wielding knives. Zilliot II tried to use a knife on Atwood, his high school friend, but resorted to a fistfight when Atwood disarmed him, the accused killer claimed.

The landlord snapped when he saw Mancini using her knife to poke his own 4-year-old daughter in the throat, he told detectives.

They struggled over the knives and a firearm Zilliot II reportedly brought, with Atwood ultimately gaining control and firing it at both his former friends, according to court documents.





He did not disclose where the victims children were during the struggle, but told police he believes the parents killed their children.

Atwood later backtracked and said little Karma and Phillips bodies were also in the fire pit, but didnt admit to killing them.

Thats when Atwood used his adrenaline to drag Zilliot II and Mancinis bodies to the fire pit and into the flames he claims they started.

Investigators are still working to tie the family to the bodies found at the scene, but have charged Atwood in their deaths based on his testimony, Nocco said.

Atwood pleaded not guilty Monday, June 17, and is being held without bond, court records show.




Friday, June 21, 2024  Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome and Nairobi Regional Police Commander Adamson Bungeis days are now numbered.

This is after Raila Odingas Azimio demanded their resignation as soon as possible following the killing of Gen Z demonstrator Rex Masai.

Addressing the media, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka said the senior police officers failed to protect protestors during the anti-finance bill demonstrations.

As Azimio and on behalf of the people we demand that Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome and Nairobi Regional Commander Adamson Bungei immediately tender their resignation for failing to protect peaceful demonstrators, said Kalonzo.

The former vice president demanded that the Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga charge Koome, Bungei, and police officers involved in the killing of Rex Masai.

We also demand that the director of public prosecutions brings charges against Koome Bungei and their rogue officers for the murder of Rex and 75 people who were killed in the Azimio demos in 2023, Kalonzo added.

Further, Kalonzo called on security agencies to release all protestors who were arrested during the anti-finance bill protests on Thursday.

We further demand that all protestors detained illegally by state security agencies be released immediately and unconditionally, the Wiper leader added.

Rex Masai was shot in the leg by a police officer on Thursday evening.

He was rushed to a clinic around Archives, Nairobi CBD, to receive treatment but succumbed due to the injuries.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Friday, June 21, 2024 - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un have vowed to aid each other if either country is attacked on a rare visit by Putin to North Korea, his first time in 24 years to the hermit nation.

The mutual defence clause is part of a comprehensive strategic partnership the pair signed in a bid to unite against the US.

Russian state media said Putin spoke to Kim face-to-face for about two hours and thanked him for his country's support for the war in Ukraine.

Thousands trooped to welcome Putin in a lavish ceremony when he arrived in the North Korean capital on Wednesday, June 19

Western worries have grown over an arrangement in which North Korea provides Russia with badly needed munitions in exchange for economic aid and technology transfers that could enhance Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and missile program.

Kim said the "fiery friendship" was now even closer than during Soviet times, and promised "full support and solidarity to the Russian government, army and people in carrying out the special military operation in Ukraine to protect sovereignty, security interests and territorial integrity".

He also hailed Russia's "important role and mission in preserving the strategic stability and balance in the world".

"The situation in the world is exacerbating and changing rapidly," Kim said.

"In this situation, we intend to strengthen strategic interaction with Russia."

The two leaders also exchanged gifts, with Kim reportedly receiving a Russian-built limousine, a tea set and an admiral's dirk (dagger) and Putin being given various works of art.

North Korea is under heavy sanctions from the United Nations Security Council - of which Russia is a member - over its weapons program while Russia faces sanctions by the US and its Western partners over its aggression in Ukraine.

Watch videos below

Wow, the entire population of Pyongyang showed up to welcome Putin!



North Korea and its hospitality.



President Putin and Kim Jong-un left Kim Il-Sung Square in an open-top car for negotiations at the Kumsusan Palace. pic.twitter.com/LEKuXLpl0C  S.L. Kanthan (@Kanthan2030) June 19, 2024

MASSIVE red carpet rolled out for Putin on arrival to North Korea pic.twitter.com/GOLkFpRqsx  COMBATE | (@upholdreality) June 18, 2024




Friday, June 21, 2024 - The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has vowed to punish Bondo Member of Parliament Gideon Ochada and his Suba South counterpart, Caroli Omondi, for supporting the Finance Bill 2024.

n a statement on Thursday evening, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna said the two MPs went against the party's principle of opposing the punitive bill.

I celebrate the 115 Patriots who heeded the call of Kenyans and voted against the Finance Bill 2024. Know their names.

"As to the 204 who voted yes, I will leave to our new overlords, Gen Z, to do with as they please. As SG of ODM, I will be recommending to the Party NEC that we initiate recalls in one or two constituencies held by some of those who went against the wishes of the People, Sifuna wrote on X.

Though the opposition tried to oppose the Bill in Parliament on Thursday, the government side managed 204 MPs voting to approve it against 115 who rejected it.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Friday, June 21, 2024 - American rapper, Remy Ma's son has reportedly been charged with first-degree murder.

According to Fox 5, Remy's son Jayson Scott, 23, was charged with another man with first-degree murder.

The pair were also charged with two counts of weapons possession and reckless endangerment.

The charges are reportedly in connection with a June 7, 2021 murder of 47-year-old Darius Guillebeaux in Queens.

Investigators are looking into the possibility that it was a murder for hire.

The report also said an arraignment is expected to take place at the Queens County courthouse.

Jason, also known as "Jace Smith" appeared in several episodes of Love & Hip: New York with his mother.




Friday, June 21, 2024 - The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has called upon Kenyans to submit complaints regarding police conduct amid the ongoing Anti-Finance Bill demonstrations.

This comes even as police killed one of the Gen Z protestors by the name Rex Masai who was shot at a close range yesterday in the CBD.

In a series of tweets, the Authority expressed openness to receiving complaints related to police behaviour, despite the unrest caused by demonstrations against the Finance Bill in different parts of the country.

Citizens willing to lodge complaints against any member of the National Police Service are encouraged to use the following contacts:

Toll-free No.: 1559 (free of charge)

Eldoret: 0204403548

Nairobi: 0792532627; 0773999000; 0204906000

Garissa: 0791559346

Mombasa: 0799019998

Kisumu: 0799862244

Nakuru: 0736435616

Kakamega: 0204403549

Meru: 0777490652

Nyeri: 0202004664

This comes a day after the policing oversight authority deployed its officers to begin monitoring activities on how the National Police Service (NPS) has conducted public order management during the demonstrations over the Finance Bill in various counties.

The authority further noted the already used excessive force during order management posing serious injuries to both protestors and the police.



"We have recorded two serious injuries amongst members of the NPS which occurred during tear gas canister deployment," read part of the statement issued on Wednesday.

The Oversight Authority urged the Inspector General of Police to ensure adequate equipment handling training for cops.

The Kenyan DAILY POST












Friday, June 21, 2024 - A second Gen Z protester who was injured by the police during the Thursday demonstrations against President William Rutos punitive Finance Bill, has tragically succumbed to his injuries.

Evans Kiratu, who was struck by a tear gas canister in his groin during the protests, has passed away at noon today.

Kiratu was swiftly taken to Kenyatta National Hospital by a group of well-wishers, where he was treated for severe injuries and internal bleeding. Chris, one of those who helped transport Kiratu to the hospital, confirmed that Kiratu died around 12 p.m. on Friday.

Chris revealed the distressing details of Kiratu's final moments. He also disclosed that Kiratu had no siblings and his mother expressed a desire to disassociate herself from him.

Despite attempts to inform her of her son's critical condition, she remained adamant. As of now, the hospital and police have yet to officially confirm Kiratu's death.

His passing marks the second fatality linked to alleged police actions during the protests.

Earlier, Rex Masai, the 29-year-old Gen Z protester, succumbed to injuries after he was fatally shot by police in the Central Business District yesterday.

The incident, captured on camera, has sparked outrage and calls for justice.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Friday, June 21, 2024 - Rex Kanyike is among the list of victims who have died due to police brutality after he was shot dead by a rogue police officer from Central Police Station along Kimathi Street.

The 29-year-old man was protesting against the punitive finance bill with his friends when a plain-clothed police officer shot him at close range.

It is now emerging that the ruthless cops watched as Rex fought for his life.

His friend, Alex, requested the cops to help carry him to a nearby hospital but his pleas fell on deaf ears.

They told him  Wacha Akufe( let him die).

Rex was not armed but the blood-thirsty cop went ahead and killed him.

Revealing the circumstances surrounding Rexs death, activist Boniface Mwangi tweeted;

In Rex Kanyikes pocket were his Identification Card, and phone.

"He wasnt armed. He knew that Kenya Police harasses any young person who walks around without an ID.

"After the police shot him, his friend Alex, asked the police to help carry him, they told him Wacha akufe!





The Kenyan DAILY POST.






Friday, June 21, 2024 - On Fathers Day, a 35-year-old man, Siyanda Magagu kidnapped his girlfriend's 3-year-old son, Anganam Magxwalisa and hung him to die on a tree in Xholora township, Stutterheim, in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Eastern Cape NPA spokesperson, Luxolo Tyali said Magagu appeared on charges of kidnapping and murder at the Stutterheim Magistrates Court on Tuesday, June 18, 2024.

He was remanded in custody.

It is alleged that Magagu, who was in a relationship with Anganams mother, took the child from his 13-year-old cousin, saying he was going to buy him sweets at a local spaza shop.

This allegedly happened after he had argued with the childs mother.

According to the family's spokesperson, Babalwa Goroleki, Magagu had been in the childs life since he was two months old.

We are deeply shocked, said Goroleki.

We never thought he would do something like this. He loved him like his own. We just dont understand what could have possessed him to do something like this.

Even here at home, we had a good relationship with him because we could see how he treated the little boy.

Was it just because he argued with the mother? I dont understand how someone could involve a child in something like that, said the visibly distraught Goroleki.

Provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa said the mother contacted the police to report that Anganam was missing.

Police found his body hanging from a tree a few hours later.

Magagu, a taxi driver, was arrested early on Sunday morning.




Friday, June 21, 2024 - Former rapper and Ghetto Radio boss, Maji Maji, was among the celebrities who joined the youth in the streets on Thursday to protest against the punitive finance bill.

Majimaji, who is also an aspiring politician, was pictured taking cover after police threw teargas to disperse the protesters.

As he was protesting in the streets of Nairobi, he bumped into his son in the protests.

Maji passionately hugged his son, who is part of the fearless Gen Z generation fighting for better leadership.

See photos.









The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Friday, June 21, 2024 - A video has emerged of former President Uhuru Kenyatta warning Kenyans about a growing youthful generation, which he termed a ticking time bomb.

Speaking at a function, Uhuru said that if the youthful generation took the law into their own hands, it would be hard to control them.

"Let us not cheat ourselves, and the young generation is a big problem.

"How do we handle the young generation?

"This young generation you use and dump is a time bomb that no one will put off if it goes off.

"Our young people, if not properly handled, can be a time bomb that can blow this country to pieces," Uhuru said.

Uhuru's past video has emerged after thousands of Gen Z protesters took to the streets of Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Nakuru to protest against the Finance Bill 2024.

The youthful group has urged the government to withdraw the punitive and retrogressive bill, claiming it will overburden Kenyans with taxes.

Here is a video of Uhuru warning Kenyan leaders against Gen Z

President Uhuru Kenyatta was ahead of Time. What Former President Uhuru Kenyatta said about Gen Z is currently being Televised in Nairobi CBD as they are busy Rejecting The Finance Bill 2024! pic.twitter.com/cuU6GUA0ce  Omwamba  (@omwambaKE) June 20, 2024

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Friday, June 21, 2024 - Four members of the Hinduja family, the richest family in the UK, are facing charges in Switzerland related to the treatment of their domestic staff.

The allegations include exploitation and human trafficking, with claims that servants from India were paid low wages, worked long hours, and had their passports confiscated.

The trial has brought to light the stark contrast between the family's alleged spending on their dog and the daily wages of their servants, with allegations claiming they spent more money caring for their dog than their servants.

The family own a villa in Genevas wealthy neighbourhood of Cologny, and the charges against them all relate to their practice of importing servants from India to look after their children and household.

Its alleged that Prakash and Kamal Hinduja, together with their son Ajay and his wife Namrata, confiscated staff passports, paid them as little as $8 (7) for 18-hour days, and allowed them little freedom to leave the house.

Although a financial settlement over exploitation was reached last week, the Hindujas remain on trial for trafficking, which is a serious criminal offence in Switzerland.

They deny the charges.

This week in court, one of Genevas most famous prosecutors, Yves Bertossa, compared the almost $10,000 a year he claimed the family had spent on their dog, to the daily amount they were allegedly paying their servants.

The Hinduja family's lawyers did not specifically deny the allegations of low wages, but said they must be viewed in context - noting that the staff were also receiving accommodation and food.

The charge of long hours was also disputed, with one defence lawyer arguing that watching a film with the Hinduja children could not really be classed as work.

Some former servants testified for the Hindujas, describing them as a friendly family who treated their servants with dignity. But the allegations that servants passports were confiscated and that they could not even leave the house without permission, are serious because they could be judged as human trafficking.

Mr Bertossa is calling for prison terms, and millions of dollars in compensation as well as legal fees.




Friday, June 21, 2024 - Angry youth stormed Bondo CDF offices to protest after the area Member of Parliament Gideon Ochanda voted in favour of the punitive finance bill.

They carried a coffin written Rest in Peace Ochanda and camped at the CDF offices.

They were sending a message to the MP that he should prepare to go home in 2027 for siding with the oppressors.

ODM party secretary general Edwin Sifuna has announced intentions to summon party MPs who disregarded the publics plea to oppose the bill.

Ochanda is among the rebel ODM MPs from Railas stronghold, who have vowed to work with President William Ruto.









Watch a video of angry youth storming CDF offices and calling out the MP.

Angry mob storms Bondo CDF offices in protest after MP Gideon Ochanda voted 'YES' to in favour of the Finance Bill. pic.twitter.com/6pDvRmD3PB  Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@C_NyaKundiH) June 21, 2024

The Kenyan DAILY POST.
Roughly a month ago, a prestigious consulting firm found itself, once again, in hot water for its involvement in allegedly contributing to the opioid crisis. We saw many of the same headlines competing for the top spot in our inbox.

Justice Department is investing in an elite consulting firm.

Top management firm under criminal investigation.

Beneath that, we saw a second layer of headlines, with a more scandalous tinge of corporate gossip.

Former partner claims he was made opioids scapegoat.

The consulting firm advised drug companies how to turbocharge opioid sales.

The headlines would have piqued more attention if we hadnt heard them before. At the end of last year, the firm agreed to another settlement, this time with health insurers, for 78 million dollars. Thats on top of the 600 million dollars the consulting firm paid to American states in 2021 and the 280 million dollars paid to local municipalities in September 2023.

But this one is different. Now the consulting firm is being investigated criminally: Something that has been a long time in the making.

From the early 2000s until 2019, the firm worked with opioid manufacturers, as well as federal agencies like the FDA, on opioid-related projects. The extent of its involvement in the opioid crisis came to light in January 2019 through documents disclosed by the Massachusetts Attorney General in its litigation against Purdue Pharma.

These documents originated from the firms archives and are released based on the stipulations outlined in the settlement agreement.

In November 2021, just months after the settlement, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform reviewed the newly available documents and initiated an investigation. In April 2022, the Committee released a report revealing significant, years-long conflicts of interest, where the consulting firm would consult both federal regulators and opioid manufacturers, often at the same time, for similar opioid-related issues.

The report, though not intended to be part of any criminal prosecution, provides the mold for how the federal government will make its criminal case:

Detail elements of the business strategy that the firm used to advise its clients. Emphasize the marketing elements, including discussions on sales. Correlate the sales discussions with the rise in opioid prescriptions.

We have seen this formula used by different state attorneys general offices when they filed complaints against the consulting firm. In California, the state focused on the firms targeting and rewarding high-volume opioid prescribers. In Washington state, the complaint focused on deceptive marketing tactics, branding the firm as a corporate stooge for Purdue Pharma.

The complaints are based on multiple questionable stipulations:

Opioid manufacturers promoted a product that was more harmful than good because, in their estimates, the risk of addiction outweighed the benefits of pain management. Opioids are not effective for long-term chronic pain. A rise in prescription opioids portends a rise in opioid-related overdose deaths.

The three points, when taken together, imply the following: Had the consulting firm adhered to ethical business practices, which include regulatory compliance with the law, it wouldnt have advised its clients the way it did.

But these points arent entirely true in the clinical sense. Prescription opioids hold tremendous value for select patients with long-term pain. True, they shouldnt be first-line treatment for either acute or chronic pain, but they have clear clinical benefits. The CDC acknowledges this and developed practical guidelines after conducting systematic reviews of the best available evidence on the benefits and risks of prescription opioid treatments.

This is the crux of the matter. Federal prosecutors have little clinical evidence to substantiate any criminal investigation. So, they make the case for criminal misconduct using the documentation as evidenceeffectively stating that a failure to maintain regulatory compliance is a crime.

They cannot prove the direct correlation between prescription opioids and overdose deaths. In fact, none of the complaints include any clinical evidence that prescription opioids cause unilateral harm. Nor do they detail whether the firm advised its clients to violate state or federal prescribing laws.

Thats the point. Its the insinuation that prescription opioids are a uniquely harmful product that creates the pretense of criminality in the documents. Criminal cases are immensely complex. But most come down to two key concepts:

Mens rea Actus reus

Mens rea refers to criminal intent. Its the literal translation from Latin for guilty mind. Actus reus refers to the specific criminal act or an omission that would then comprise the elements of a crime: Intent and act.

Therefore, despite all the sensationalization, the case will be decided in a much more mundane way: Through the firms compliance system.

The prosecution will identify certain actions, such as the deletion of emails or the years-long history of undisclosed conflicts of interest, as actions that substantiate a particular intent or a criminal state of mind.

Its the most straightforward argument, and theres legal precedent  namely, the litany of previous opioid settlements and prior guilty pleas from other corporate entities.

The precedent that most accurately predicts the governments strategy comes from a 2020 civil case filed by the Department of Justice against Wal-Mart. The case claims Wal-Mart didnt do enough to stop the fulfillment of suspicious prescription opioid orders. Like most of the litigation at that time, it eventually led to a settlement, but the legal arguments presented by the federal government were telling.

The government characterized prescribing opioids as a closed system. This means all entities involved in the manufacturing, distributing, prescribing, and dispensing of prescription opioids must register with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). As part of that registration process, certain stipulations must be met.

Distributors must detect and report suspicious orders.

Failure to report suspicious orders subjects the distributor to civil penalties.

In a closed system, liability spreads to consulting firms. Prosecutors will use this framework to argue that the firm deliberately engaged in criminal behavior by failing to warn its clients and the public about the dangers of its consulting work.

The consulting firms defense rests on the argument that the firm acted in good faith and provided honest consulting advice using the available clinical evidence and similar consulting procedures across all clients, regardless of whether the project involved opioids. Itll argue that a conviction requires specific criminal actions, not simply the speculation that arises from not acting in a way that can be retroactively construed as criminal.

In other words, the legal argument will be based on its compliance systemthe mundane, esoteric bookkeeping and data recording that everyone from physicians to administrators abhors.

Sure, therell be plenty of scandal and intrigue. But set that aside; thats just noise. The core legal arguments boil down to compliance requirements and who fell short and why.

How do you define criminal actions that would fit the legally accepted definition of criminal intent as it applies to opioid litigation? Do these actions have to be actual acts that occurred, or can they also be acts that did not occur but should have? How much of a deviation is permissible while remaining within the bounds and the intent of the compliance system?

How prosecutors and legal representatives for the firm wrestle with these three questions will determine how the legal case proceeds. How the courts ultimately answer these questions will determine the fate of this once prestigious consulting firm.

Jay K. Joshi is a family physician and author of Burden of Pain: A Physicians Journey through the Opioid Epidemic. He is also the editor-in-chief of Daily Remedy, which is on Facebook, YouTube, X @TheDailyRemedy, Instagram @TheDailyRemedy_official, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.

Daily Remedy was founded in 2020. It has quickly transformed into a trusted source of editorialized health care content for patients and health care policy experts. Readership includes federal policymakers and physician executives who lead the largest health care systems in the nation.

Ron Chapman II, a federal criminal defense attorney and former Marine, joined his father, a seasoned health care law attorney, in private practice over a decade ago. They saw growing challenges in medical practice due to stricter regulations and harsher penalties.
Oncology is a kind of specialty in medicine that involves seeing the same patients for many years. This can be beneficial when your patient is cured in cases of limited-stage disease or if the disease is stable on treatment for a long period of time in cases of advanced disease. In both scenarios, you follow the patient closely regularly and form a strong bond with them, even if you dont try. You get to know their personal stories, and they get to know you.

Some patients, who always remain in good spirits, undergo their treatment with a lot of patience and ultimately become disease-free; they are prized by the doctor and form the closest and most friendly bonds. These patients are the favorites, whether the physician expresses it or not. One such patient is a 60-year-old lady with breast cancer. On her first visit, she was accompanied by her son, who is around 25-30 years old. I always remember those patients whom I examine or take their history on their first visit, maybe because it is the longest and most detailed interaction with the doctor. She had multiple comorbidities and came with a huge breast lump. Despite this, she was always in good spirits whenever she came. Thankfully, her metastatic workup was negative, and she was started on neoadjuvant chemotherapy. At each cycle of chemotherapy, she came with her younger son, who was very lively. During her first meeting, she told me about her two sons: the elder one, a rheumatologist in America, and the younger one, an unmarried businessman. The younger son was super supportive and caring throughout her treatment.

She became one of my favorite patients because whenever she came, she would find me wherever I was in the clinic. She would meet me and tell me all the details about her treatment, her sons, and her daily life. She continued her chemotherapy with good tolerance and then underwent surgery. I went to meet her when she was admitted for surgery. She was in a good mood and really happy to see me. Her younger son was sitting beside her bedside, and we had a good conversation about her post-op care and further treatment plans.

After surgery, she had radiation therapy and a few more cycles of oral chemotherapy. Today was her last day of the final chemotherapy cycle, and this time, she came with her elder son instead of the younger one. After thoroughly examining and reviewing her labs, I met her elder son and asked about the younger one. He told me that his younger brother had recently gotten married and had come to Pakistan to attend his wedding. He was extremely surprised when I told him I had known him for the past two years because her mom had mentioned him on each visit. I was happy for her because she had completed her treatment today, and her favorite son, whom she missed a lot, was also there for this visit. I pray that she remains disease-free and happy as she is today.

Another favorite patient of mine is a little boy who is only four years old. He had a Wilms tumor, and we treated him with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Currently, he is on follow-up and disease-free. On his first visit, he was a bit scared but became comfortable after some time. Whenever he comes, he first hugs me, then sits on my lap during the consultation and tells me about his school. He speaks Urdu with a slight lisp, and he is really adorable. When he leaves after the consultation, he hugs me again for a long time. Sometimes, I am the last one to let go. Then he always says, Now please let me go home, doctor. I feel as if he is my own kid, and I wait for him every three months. I always keep chocolates for him, and he finds me in the OPD even when I am not on rotation with his treating physician because he knows he is very dear to me. He makes my day brighter with his presence. I always pray for his health and happiness and enjoy seeing him grow a little at every follow-up.

Oncology is about living for such interactions, and even one of these patients can lighten your mood and make you forget the extreme weariness of the day. If I can make a difference in a single patients day with kind words or a little affection, it makes me happy and proud of my work.

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so he walked faster to catch up. As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean. He came closer still and called out, Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing? The young man paused, looked up, and replied, Throwing starfish into the ocean. I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean? asked the somewhat startled wise man. To this, the young man replied, The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I dont throw them in, theyll die. Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You cant possibly make a difference! At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, It made a difference for that one.

 Loren Eiseley

Damane Zehra is a radiation oncology resident in Pakistan.
Busiki County Member of Parliament Paul Akamba has been committed to High Court for trial on charges of soliciting a bribe from the chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commisison Mariam Wangadya to have the Commissions budget for the financial year 2024/2025 passed.

On June 17th 2024 the Anti-Corruption court presided over by Chief Magistrate Joan Aciro Committed his two co- accused MPs; Cissy Namujju, the Lwengo District Member of Parliament and Bunyoli Easts Yusuf Mutembuli to stand trial.

However, MP Akamba was a no show after being re-arrested by security operatives immediately after he was granted bail.

However, the troubled MP has not been allowed to go home, since he is charged once again on fresh charges with MPs; Michael Mawanda(Igara East) and Ignatius Mudimi Wamakuyu (Elgon County).

The trio is accused of divertng over Shs73m meant to compensate war veterans.

On these fresh charges, Akamba, Muduni and Mawanda are jointly charged with City Lawyer Julius Kirya Taitankoko and Leonard Kavundira, the principal cooperative officer, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.

According to the committal papers presented before Court, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) says she will prove that the accused persons are guilty basing on evidences including among other things: CCTV footage showing the three MPs arriving at Hotel Africana in Kampala in their respective cars, Call Data records showing communication between Wagandya and the MPs and other audio recordings.

According to the DPPs summary of evidence against, Hon.Mutembuli, Namujju and Paul Akamba in 2023, Mariam Wangadya; the Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commisison led her team to the legal and parliamentary committee of parliament to present the budget framework of the UHRC.

That while still in the prencists of parliament, Wangadya interacted with MP Mutembuli who offered to help her with the UHRC financial challenges if only she could remit to him and his undisclosed friends 5% of the enhanced budget.

Mutembuli is said to have asked for the telephone details of the UHRC accounting officer and Wangandyas business card before meeting with the accounting officer at the UHRC offices in Naguru and further insisted on his alleged 5% to havd the said budget enhanced.

And that it was after this interactions thaf Wangandya reported Mutembulis demands to President Museveni who promised to handle the matter but on the13th of May 2024, Mutembuli called Wangadya to meet at Hotel Africana to discuss the said matter with other very important people.

According to the intended eviddence, Wagandya then approached a security personel and asked for a recording device and proceeded to Hotel Africana where she met Mutembuli, Namujju and Akamba at Elgon restaurant in Hotel Africana.

The three MPs are said to have offered to help Wangadya with the commissions financial issuesbut had increased their demands to 20% inorder to influence members on the budget committee and officials in the Ministry of Finance .

Evidence further shows that all the said interactions were recorded by Wangadya before their arrest.

The suspects will now stay on remand until court sets a date to hear their case.
Fianna Fail councillor, Michael McCarthy has described his election to Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council as a 'watershed moment' for him personally.

Cllr McCarthy was proposed by Cllr Peter 'Chap' Cleere (FF) and seconded by Cllr Mary Hilda Cavanagh (FG) at a meeting of the local authority earlier this afternoon (Friday).

The proud Freshford man has been a member of Kilkenny County Council since 2014 and he has served as Cathaoirleach of the Castlecomer Municipal District in recent years.

Addressing councillors at today's meeting of Kilkenny County Council, Mr McCarthy set out his stall for the next 12 months, where amongst his targets; he intends to tackle the issue of vacant homes and derelict premises, assist in local flood relief programmes and advocate for more rural services.

The North Kilkenny councillor told his fellow council representatives he will have an open door policy from early morning to late at night, adding, it's 'imperative' as a council everyone works together.

The occasion proved to be an emotional and heartwarming experience for McCarthy on a personal level, stating he was 'humbled' and 'greatly honoured'.

READ MORE HERE

Mr McCarthy went on to congratulate his predecessor Cllr Michael Doyle and thank Peter 'Chap' Cleere and the 'iron lady from Kilkenny' Mary Hilda Cavanagh for nominating him to the post.

The former Kilkenny minor hurler and selector also paid tribute to Chief Executive of Kilkenny County Council, Lar Power as well as his wife Patricia, many loved ones and friends.

Cllr Peter 'Chap' Cleere described his party colleague as an 'incredible councillor' with great 'genuineness, humility and honesty.'

Cllr Cleere also acknowledged McCarthy's three great loves - Family, Fianna Fail and Freshford.

"He will be a fantastic role mode for Kilkenny," the Fianna Fail councillor concluded.

Ireland's longest serving councillor and Fine Gael representative in the Castlecomer Local Electoral Area (LEA) alongside Mr McCarthy, Mary Hilda Cavanagh echoed 'Chap's' sentiments, praising the newly appointed Cathaoirleach for his contribution in the same position in the Castlecomer LEA during two separate terms.

The Class of 2024/2025 - Elected members of Kilkenny County Council
After 17 years awarding third level student scholarships, the Naughton Foundation Scholarship scheme is reminding students from Kilkenny to apply.

The 2024 closing date is fast approaching, and all applicants are advised to submit their entries sooner rather than later!

The Naughton Scholarships are a scheme of scholarships to promote the study of engineering, science and technology at third level by students in Ireland.

Each year, from February to June, Leaving Certificate students can apply for a scholarship if they intend on studying science, computer science, mathematics, engineering or technology at third level that year.

The closing date for receipt of application forms for The Naughton Foundation Scholarship 2024 is Friday, June 28 at midnight.

There will be one guaranteed scholarship for each of the participating counties, 36 allocated in total.

Students are invited to apply if they are currently attending secondary schools in Louth and if they are studying two or more of the following subjects: physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, mathematics, and applied mathematics.

Each scholarshio is valued at 20,000 - 5,000 for each year of the students third-level course in any publicly funded university or third-level institution in Ireland, including Northern Ireland.

The school of each winner is also awarded 1,000.

The 2024 application forms for The Naughton Foundation Scholarship Programme are available for download and can be completed online on The Naughton Foundation website: www.thenaughtonfoundation.com
Kilkenny Arts Festival is back this year with another incredible lineup of visual arts, opera, theatre, literature, music and much more.

The programme launch took place at the Pembroke Hotel last Wednesday and chair of the board, Tom OToole welcomed everyone and thanked the hardworking festival team for creating another fantastic festival programme.

Festival director, Olga Barry said that this years programme has some unmissable wow moments, including a number of new world premieres.

Ms Barry also paid tribute to Helen Comerford who died earlier this year. Helen Comerfords solo exhibition The Nineteen was a highlight of the festival in 2021, and following her unexpected death in Spring , A Legacy - an exhibition of some of her sketches, drawings and studio notes - offers a first glimpse of the intimate practice of this wonderful artist at work.

Another great friend of the festival and talented artist, Ross Costigan will also be remembered and celebrated at this years festival. The Festival Gallery this year will be relocated to the Parade, with an exhibition of the photography of iconic Kilkenny photographer Ross Costigan who died in 2017.

Highlights of this years festival include Niall Vallely who will present his unique project 78 Revolutions - a concept grown out of his fascination with some of the earliest recordings of Irish traditional music. Composer and performer Vallely has assembled a stellar cast of musicians, Liz Knowles, Ryan Molloy, Mick McAuley, Kate Ellis and Mick OBrien along with dancer Sibeal Davitt in a multimedia event directed by Tom Creed.

Those who were fortunate enough to witness 2023s Migration Sonata, which culminated in a dance work devised within a group of new residents to Ireland who had spent eight months in workshops building trust and a common story about migration, wont want to miss the follow up project, Migration Sonatina. With John Scott and Irish Modern Dance Theatre returning for an intimate event which will be part conversation, part performance at the Parade Tower.

Installations feature heavily at Kilkenny this summer, with A Mothers Voice in residence with music from Linda and Irene Buckley and performances from Musici Ireland. This project devised by Beth McNinch deploys the voices of women from the Mother and Baby Homes. Kilkenny Arts Festival will also partner with KCAT Studio in Callan where Re-Connection will feature artists from eight international peer organisations in a group show including KCAT itself.

For more kilkennyarts.ie
Hubert Butler was born in a very small place, Bennettsbridge in County Kilkenny, yet his outlook was utterly international. Born to an Irish Protestant family on October 23 in 1900, he arrived with a new century that would be tumultuous and see immense changes in the world. Hubert Butler would be directly involved in some of the most dramatic events of that century both internationally and in Ireland.



Born into a minor branch of the Butlers of Ormonde, the family was nevertheless wealthy by the standards of the day. Butler was therefore educated in the English public school system going to Charterhouse and later to Oxford followed by the School of Slavonic Studies in London, where he learned Russian and Serbo Croat. On graduation he taught English in Soviet Russia in Leningrad and translated the major Russian writers including Chekov.



Meeting young Serbs and Croatians in college had sparked his interest in the region so he travelled to Central and Eastern Europe in the 1930s. While the early part of these travels was idyllic, they later awoke Butler to the rising tide of antisemitism in Europe.



In 1938 after the Night of Broken Glass when Jewish communities across the Third Reich were attacked, he travelled to Vienna to help hundreds of Jews to escape Nazi persecution. There he worked with the Quaker community in the city, using his Anglo Irish charm and manners to woo embassy officials and obtain exit visas for the people he was trying to save.



Some of these Jewish families he brought to Bennettsbridge, giving them temporary shelter before they moved on to new lives in other locations.



After World war II, Butler returned to Croatia to investigate what had happened to the hundreds of thousands of victims who had died in Nazi death camps there. At the time it was evident to Butler that no other Western person had been there before him to investigate these appalling war crimes. He discovered evidence of ethnic cleansing of the Orthodox Serbs with the complicity of the local Catholic Church. When he subsequently tried to make this knowledge public, it made him deeply unpopular with the Irish authorities and the Irish Catholic hierarchy.



Butler exposed the behaviour of Ante Pavelic, the leader of a puppet regime in Croatia during WWII when he was the head of the Ustashe, a fascist militia who began a programme of death and persecution mere weeks into their rule. Hubert wrote extensively about what had happened in the concentration camp Jasenovac, where the Ustashe clinically slaughtered thousands of people, mostly Serbs, but also Jews Roma and political opponents.



This ruthless campaign was carried out to make Croatia racially and spiritually pure by forcibly converting Orthodox Serbs to Catholicism with the tacit support of the Catholic hierarchy. Local Cardinal Aloysius Stepinac gave his blessing to the Ustashe and Ante Pavelic when they assumed power, although he later condemned their murderous campaign. He was arrested by Marshall Tito when the communist assumed power in Yugoslavia after the war and was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment. Hubert attended some of the war trials in Zagreb and even interviewed Stepinac briefly on one occasion.



In Ireland Stepinac became a cause celebre due to his incarceration, so when Butler sought to inform a meeting in Dublin about the forced conversion campaign and the Papal Nuncio to Ireland walked out in protest, it was a major controversy. Butler was subsequently ostracised by the national and local Kilkenny establishment. He was forced to resign as Secretary of Kilkenny Architectural Society, the society he had revived and suffered accusations that he was a communist sympathiser and a spy.



Ireland, then dominated utterly by the Catholic Church, was not a place that tolerated dissent, and Butler paid dearly for his honesty. He resigned from KAS despite surviving a motion to expel him, was shunned in the street and was condemned by a Kilkenny Council motion. Butler later said that he had been unaware of the nuncios presence at the meeting and had no intention to cause offence.

Undeterred, Butler continued to write, later investigating how Pavelics fugitive Interior Minister Andrija Artukovic managed to live in Ireland for a year between 1947 and 1948 on false Irish papers that subsequently allowed him to enter America.

When the full extent of the Nazi Holocaust was revealed, Butler was vindicated but was never fully appreciated in Ireland. He received a posthumous apology from the Mayor of Kilkenny in 2000 for the events of the past.



Butler was married to Peggy Guthrie, the sister of Tyrone Guthrie and in 1941 after his fathers death they had returned to make their marital home at Maidenhall, his family home in Bennettsbridge. The couple made the house a centre for intellectual debate and discussion, founding the Kilkenny Lectures to encourage dialogue between the people of Northern Ireland and the Republic. In 1944 he revived the Kilkenny Architectural Society and was particularly proud of its role as a place where people of both traditions could meet. Today the Butler Gallery in Kilkenny is named in his and Peggys honour.



Although born into the Protestant Anglo Irish class, Butler as he matured became a passionate nationalist and Wolfe Tone was his personal hero. Throughout his life and in his writings he sought to explore how the identities of Irelands two traditions could be reconciled and live respectfully in harmony. The themes of freedom of thought, the origins of nation states and the violence of totalitarianism defined his work. He also sought to draw attention to the contribution of the Anglo Irish community to Ireland.



He continued to travel and write: in the late 60s he travelled to the Deep South to meet the nascent Civil Rights movement, in 1956 he aided refugees from the Soviet invasion of Hungary and in 1973 explored a US coup detat in Chile. He also remained active in Irish civil rights, campaigning on the pro-choice side in the 1983 8th Amendment to the Constitution campaign.



In his eighties, Hubert found a delayed recognition and appreciation for his writing when the Lilliput Press began to publish his essays in volume form. His unique insights into Eastern Europe and his recognition of the corrupting power of totalitarian states had made his perspective years ahead of his time in the 40 and 50s but now struck a very relevant note. Titles including Escape from the Anthill, The Children of Drancy and The Invader Wore Slippers won him a loyal and devoted readership.



He died on January 5, aged 91 in 1991. Ironically Butler never considered himself a writer although Roy Foster, the historian said of him that he was one of the great Irish writers. His lessons are still utterly relevant today, particularly those about the aggression of totalitarian empires, the suppression of free speech and the ugly face of extreme nationalism.



His life and his work combined the personal with his devotion to a belief in the need for a more pluralist society. The marginalisation of Hubert Butler for so long meant that Ireland lost the benefit of his wisdom and intellect as the country emerged as an independent nation. Fortunately his books still survive to promote the unique insights of this remarkable man.
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NewJeans to launch pop-up stores in Seoul, Tokyo to celebrate release of 'Supernatural'

By KTimes

NewJeans member Hyein will be gradually returning to her schedule following an improvement in her health. Ador, the agency representing NewJeans, announced on Thursday via their fan platform that Hyein's condition has improved sufficiently to enable her participation in some upcoming events.

Hyein had been focusing on recovering after experiencing foot pain during practice in April. A detailed medical examination revealed she had a microfracture, prompting her to prioritize rest and rehabilitation.

Consequently, she missed various activities, including music broadcasts for the new song "How Sweet" and appearances on TV variety shows like "2 Days & 1 Night."

Medical professionals have recommended that Hyein gradually increase her activity over the next month.

She will take part in the "Bunnies Camp 2024" fan meeting at Tokyo Dome on June 26 and 27.

Despite her participation in the fan meeting, she will not join the promotional activities for NewJeans' Japanese debut single "Supernatural" due to the need for a sufficient rehabilitation period.

We have been advised to gradually increase her movement over the next month. Therefore, while Hyein will join the 'Bunnies Camp 2024' fan meeting at Tokyo Dome, she will not participate in the official activities for 'Supernatural,'" the agency said.

Ador said that they are adjusting her schedule to ensure her injury does not worsen and that they are working to present a full five-member performance in scheduled domestic music broadcasts as much as possible.

Pop-up stores in Seoul and Tokyo

Celebrating their Japanese debut single "Supernatural," NewJeans will open pop-up stores simultaneously in Korea and Japan. The pop-up stores will operate in collaboration with IPX (formerly Line Friends), starting from June 26.

The pop-up stores will be located at Line Friends Square in Myeongdong, Seoul, and Line Friends Square in Shibuya, Tokyo.

The stores will feature products created in collaboration with renowned Japanese artists, including pop artist Takashi Murakami and fashion designer and music producer Hiroshi Fujiwara.

The items available will include bags and pouches adorned with characters that combine Murakami's signature style and the NewJeans logo, featuring a unique flower character design.

This collaboration showcases the intersection of pop art and fashion, appealing to fans of both NewJeans and the artists involved.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
By Yi Whan-woo

Korea's four major commercial banks  KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana and Woori  are offering more lenient rates to civil servants and military personnel over other professions.

The banks consider annual salary and other eligibility conditions in determining the lending rates.

In that regard, the four companies' lending rules are drawing interest, as there are other professions, such as doctors and lawyers, that typically earn higher salaries.

The finding is based on an analysis of 36 loan programs offered by the four banks combined.

Concerning KB Kookmin Bank, the rates ranged between 4.54 percent and 5.54 percent on credit loans for all civil servants except for service members.

The bank sold a separate loan for non-commissioned officers and officers at rates of 4.68 percent to 5.58 percent. Those with military civilian jobs were also eligible for the loan.

In contrast, separate loans for doctors and lawyers were offered at a range of 5.04 percent to 6.44 percent.

Shinhan Bank offered the lowest credit loan rates  from 3.96 percent to 5.77 percent  to military personnel.

Most professions in the civil service sector, including teachers from private schools, were able to take out credit loans at a range of 4.29 percent to 5.7 percent.

On the other hand, the rates were higher for police officers and tax officials.

The rates ranged between 4.54 percent and 5.85 percent for police officers and between 4.4 percent and 5.6 percent for tax officials.

Hana Bank set the rates between 4.59 percent and 5.49 percent for civil servants, compared to 5.98 percent and 6.88 percent for doctors, nurses and other medical professionals.

Woori Bank offered a range of 4.04 percent to 5.94 percent for civil servants, lower than the 4.59 percent to 6.29 percent for doctors and lawyers.
Number of new accounts opened monthly by foreign investors triples

By Anna J. Park

The Korean stock market's accessibility to foreign investors has improved significantly since the scrapping last December of a mandatory requirement for foreign investors to register their identities before making investments in Korea, the top financial regulator said Friday.

According to the numbers revealed earlier in the day by the Financial Services Commission (FSC), a total of 1,432 accounts held by foreign investors have been opened during the past six months. The period dates from Dec. 15 last year, when the Korean financial regulator formally abolished the foreign investor registration system, until June 12 this year.

Specifically, among the 1,432 accounts opened, 1,216 were held by institutional investors, while 216 were individual accounts. This shows the keenness of foreign institutional investors, who tend to make investments at a larger scale than retail investors, to take advantage of Korea's improved market accessibility.

The positive impact of attracting more foreign investors to the Korean stock market, resulting from the abolition of the registration requirement, is evident in the surge in the average number of account openings each month.

The average monthly number of account openings by foreign investors has been standing at around 300 to 400 in recent months, greatly surpassing last year's monthly average of 105.

With the country's registration requirement for foreign investors abolished after 30 years under the system, foreign investors, both institutional and retail investors, can now instead use their Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) and passport numbers. The LEI is a globally standardized form of identification adopted in G20 countries in 2011.

"Following the abolition of the foreign investor registration system, the convenience of opening accounts for foreign investors has led to a significant increase in the number of new accounts opened by them," FSC Vice Chairman Kim So-young said, vowing to continue to closely monitor market conditions for further enhancement of market accessibility.

The financial authorities said that they have been actively gathering market feedback from foreign investors and their agents to devise and implement further remedial measures for some of the inconveniences raised since the system's abolition.

As to the Korean market's response to the abolition of the foreign investor registration system, an official from the top financial regulator told The Korea Times that the domestic investment sector has responded positively to the change.

"From the perspective of domestic investors, there are basically no increased inconveniences passed on to them with the system change. Accordingly, there's no reason for them to view the abolishment of the previous system negatively. Rather, there has been positive feedback due to expectations of market expansion," the FSC official said on Friday.

The financial authorities and related institutions plan to continue promoting and closely communicating to enhance the Korean capital market's accessibility to foreign investors.
The United States took Korea off its list of countries to monitor for their foreign exchange policies for the second consecutive time while adding Japan to the list, a Treasury Department report showed Thursday.

The department released the semiannual "Report to Congress on Macroeconomic and Foreign Exchange Policies of Major Trading Partners of the United States" following its November report, where Korea was excluded from the list for the first time since April 2016.

The latest monitoring list comprised China, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Germany.

U.S. trading partners are put on the list when they meet two of the three criteria set by the U.S. Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, also known as the 2015 Act.

The criteria are a bilateral trade surplus with the U.S. of at least $15 billion, a material current account surplus of at least 3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and persistent, one-sided intervention in the foreign currency market in at least eight months during a year and with net purchases totaling at least 2 percent of an economy's GDP over a 12-month period.

"Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Germany all meet the criteria for having a significant bilateral surplus and a material current account surplus, and Singapore meets the criteria for engaging in persistent, one-sided foreign exchange intervention and having a material current account surplus," the department said in the report.

"Malaysia met two criteria in the last Report, but only the significant bilateral surplus criterion in this Report," it added.

On China, the department said that China's failure to publish foreign exchange intervention and broader lack of transparency around key features of its exchange rate mechanism continues to make it an outlier among major economies and warrants its close monitoring. (Yonhap)
North Korean troops working in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas have briefly crossed the border into the South before returning to their side after the South fired warning shots, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Friday.

The North Korean soldiers crossed the Military Demarcation Line within the DMZ in the central section of the border at around 11 a.m. Thursday, the JCS said in a message to reporters.

The South Korean military conducted warning broadcasts and fired warning shots, prompting the North Korean soldiers to return to their side of the border, it said.

It marked the third border violation by the North this month after similar incidents involving a group of 20 to 30 North Korean soldiers in other areas of the central section of the border on June 9 and June 18, respectively. The JCS earlier said both cases appeared to be unintentional.

A JCS official said the latest incident also appears to be accidental, adding the soldiers soon resumed their jobs and continued working into the night after returning to the North.

Hundreds of troops were working in the nearby area when the small number of soldiers briefly crossed the border, according to the official.

"Similar situations may occur going forward as North Korean soldiers are carrying out the activities across several locations within the DMZ," the official said, adding the military is responding in a stern, principle-based manner.

The border violations came as North Korea has been deploying large numbers of troops in front-line areas since April to conduct an array of activities, such as planting mines, erecting walls assumed to be anti-tank barriers and reinforcing roads.

The JCS earlier estimated the North to have mobilized hundreds of soldiers in 10 different locations within the DMZ for such activities. It said the North appears to be pushing ahead with the work despite multiple casualties caused by mine explosions in the area. (Yonhap)
Medical professors serving as senior doctors at Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) and its affiliates decided Friday to end an indefinite walkout, officials said.

On Monday, hundreds of senior doctors at SNUH in Seoul and its three affiliates began an indefinite walkout in protest against the government's increase of the medical school admission quota.

Holding a vote on whether to continue the walkout through next week, 73.6 percent of 948 professors said they should halt the operations suspension and seek a "sustainable way of protest," according to its emergency response committee.

Some 20.3 percent voted for continuing the walkout.

The walkout came as a majority of junior doctors have walked off the job since late February against the quota increase, and some community doctors affiliated with the Korean Medical Association (KMA) held a one-day strike on Tuesday.

The KMA, a main doctors' lobby group, has threatened to launch an indefinite strike next week to press the government further. (Yonhap)
CHONGQING  As night falls, more than 1,000 sets of lights on the Chongqing Baijusi Yangtze River Bridge illuminate, dazzling tourists in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality. The bridge, which has gained popularity on multiple social platforms due to its unique sci-fi look, attracted tourists from all over the country during the recent May Day holiday. Chongqing Baijusi Yangtze River Bridge is 1,384 meters long, connecting the districts of Dadukou and Banan in the city. The main tower of the bridge is 236 meters high, which is equivalent to the height of an 84-story building. It is the tallest bridge tower in the central urban area of Chongqing. The bottom of the bridge tower is designed as a transparent circle, evoking the image of a science fiction movie under the play of light and shadow. In April this year, a news conference titled "This is Chongqing  China's bridge capital" was held under the Chongqing Baijusi Yangtze River Bridge. According to the conference, there are more than 20,000 bridges in Chongqing, including 105 ultra-large bridges across the Yangtze River and Jialing River. Xi Hong, deputy director of the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, said that the Yangtze River, Jialing River, Wujiang River and other rivers divide Chongqing into many parts. As a result, bridges have become important transport arteries in the city. In 2005, the bridge committee of the Peking Mao Yi-sheng science and technology education foundation selected Chongqing as China's bridge capital at its annual meeting. "Chongqing's bridges have witnessed the rapid rise of China's construction," Xi Hong said, noting that Chongqing's bridge construction has contributed experience to the world and is a milestone in the history of bridges. She added that 60 percent of Chongqing citizens have to cross more than two bridges every day during their daily commute. "It used to take at least 30 minutes to drive from Babin Road to Dadukou on the opposite side, but the time has been reduced to five minutes since the Baijusi Yangtze River Bridge opened to traffic," said Liu Gongfeng, deputy head of Banan district. Liu said that the bridge has changed people's lives. In particular, the local government has seized the opportunity presented by the bridge's popularity to build infrastructure such as viewing trails, viewing platforms, convenience service points and public toilets in response to the needs of citizens and tourists. According to statistics, since the beginning of this year, driven by the Baijusi Yangtze River Bridge, the passenger flow of several key business areas in Banan district has increased significantly. It has attracted more than 900,000 tourists and stimulated tourism revenue exceeding 270 million yuan ($37.3 million). During this year's May Day holiday, in order to improve the tourist experience, the Chongqing Qiansimen Jialing River Bridge was closed to traffic. This provided tourists with a chance to stroll across the bridge and safely take in the beauty of Chongqing. In recent years, Chongqing has upgraded the space under the bridge, building all kinds of convenience facilities and slow traffic systems. The vibrant Jiulongtan Square lies under the E'gongyan Bridge, which spans the Yangtze River. Citizens can use solar-powered fitness facilities in the 1,000-square-mile smart fitness area. They can also use three connected riverside walks. "A few years ago, there was only an abandoned quay under the bridge, and it was overgrown with weeds, which made it difficult to walk, so we hardly went to the riverside to play," said Wu Feng, a local resident. "Now the space under the bridge has been transformed, and we have another place close to nature." Xinhua
South Korea summoned the top Russian envoy in Seoul on Friday to lodge a protest over a new treaty signed with North Korea that calls for immediate military assistance if either is attacked.

First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun called in Russian Ambassador Georgy Zinoviev to deliver Seoul's position on the "comprehensive strategic partnership" treaty inked between Moscow and Pyongyang at their leaders' summit Wednesday.

The treaty provides for military and other assistance from one side to the other "with all means" at its disposal and "without delay," if either of the two gets invaded or put in a state of war.

Article 4 of the treaty is seen as warranting automatic military intervention in the event of an attack on either country, a provision that restores the Cold War-era alliance 28 years after their mutual defense treaty was scrapped in 1996.

Kim was expected to stress that Russia's military cooperation with the North is a clear violation of the U.N. Security Council resolutions banning activities that would help Pyongyang's arms buildup.

He was also expected to make it clear to Russia about the possibility of Seoul providing Ukraine with arms support in response to Moscow's signing of the treaty with the North, as announced the previous day by the National Security Council.

South Korea's presidential office condemned the pact as a threat to national security in violation of U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. It warned of a negative impact on its relations with Moscow.

Chang Ho-jin, South Korea's top security adviser, said after holding a National Security Council meeting Thursday that Seoul will reconsider its stance on the arms supply to Ukraine. South Korea has so far maintained a policy of only providing nonlethal aid to Kyiv.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was on a state visit to Vietnam, warned that it would be a "very big mistake" if South Korea provided lethal weapons to Ukraine.

Attending a U.N. session in New York on Thursday (local time), Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul said it was "deplorable" that Russia violated the resolutions that it itself has agreed to adopt as a permanent UNSC member.

Cho called on the international community to stand united against "any direct or indirect" cooperation that would help the North's military buildup that constitutes a violation of UNSC resolutions. (Yonhap)
South Korea will determine the extent of its arms supply to Ukraine based on Russia's stance toward its relations with North Korea, a presidential official said Friday.

National Security Adviser Chang Ho-jin said Thursday South Korea will review the possibility of supplying weapons to Ukraine after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a pact pledging mutual defense in the event of war.

In response, Putin warned South Korea would be making a "big mistake" if it decided to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine.

"There are various options for providing weapons, and our position on the recent developments between Russia and North Korea depends on how Russia approaches the situation going forward," the official said in a phone call with Yonhap News Agency.

South Korea has only supplied non-lethal items and equipment to Ukraine for its war against Russia under a policy that bans providing lethal weapons to countries at war.

Among potential weapons under consideration are 155-mm artillery shells, as well as air defense systems, which are needed in Ukraine, according to government sources.

Seoul officials have maintained strategic ambiguity regarding the types of weapons, seen as a diplomatic move to leverage the option to pressure Moscow to refrain from transferring key military technology to Pyongyang.

Later in the day, South Korea is expected to call in the top Russian envoy in Seoul to lodge a protest over the new treaty signed with North Korea, according diplomatic sources. (Yonhap)
By Kim Hyun-bin

The Embassy of Turkey in Seoul and the Yeongdeungpo District Office signed an agreement to collaborate on renovating and managing the Turkish Traditional Vineyard House located in Ankara Park in Seoul on Tuesday.

The protocol outlines collaborative efforts in the renewal, maintenance and operation of the Turkish House and its surroundings, aiming to enhance cultural ties between Korea and Turkey. Both parties will work together to organize events at the venue to foster social and cultural interactions between Korean and Turkish communities.

"Ankara and Seoul became sister cities in 1971, and a park named after Turkey's capital city was created to commemorate this alliance," a Turkish Embassy official said.

"In 1992, a building resembling a traditional Turkish vineyard was constructed within the park. Shortly thereafter, the City of Ankara donated various traditional folk items and decorated the interior of the building, which opened as Ankara House in 1995," the official added.

"The exhibits at Ankara House include everyday items such as furniture, kitchenware, farming equipment and other daily tools and utensils used in a Turkish vineyard in Ankara."

The signing ceremony was held at the Turkish Embassy in Seoul, which was attended by officials from the embassy and the district office as well as those from Korean academia and the media.
By Kim Hyun-bin

German Vice Chancellor and Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck expressed worries about growing collaboration between North Korea and Russia and reiterated Germany's backing for Ukraine amid the ongoing war between Kyiv and Moscow.

Habeck arrived for a two-day official visit to Seoul on Thursday and met with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. He also met with representatives of European companies in South Korea before leaving for China on Friday.

"(Han) informed me about the visit of Vladimir Putin in North Korea. I shared my concern that the militarization of North Korea and the cooperation with Russia, also by circumventing sanctions, is of real concern for me and I think for the whole world," Habeck said, speaking to reporters in Seoul, Thursday.

The concerns come in the wake of the new treaty signed during the summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang, Wednesday, where the two agreed to enhance cooperation and offer military assistance "without delay" if either is attacked.

In response, South Korea said it will reconsider its stance on supplying arms to Ukraine. Seoul's National Security Advisor Chang Ho-jin hinted at the possibility of a shift in its policy that has so far allowed only non-lethal assistance to Kyiv.

Habeck stated, "I have thanked the prime minister for the unwavering support of (South) Korea for Ukraine against Russian aggression. This is a war that is quite far away, but you have understood that this is not a regional conflict in a country far away but this is about fighting for freedom and not letting Putin impose imperialistic measures again in the world order."

The vice chancellor also highlighted the importance of international solidarity and cooperation in addressing growing geopolitical challenges.

"So I think in the end, all countries are affected by the war, but not all the countries stand as strong in solidarity as Korea is doing. So I thank the prime minister many times, and I do it once again," he said.

Habeck outlined the three primary purposes of his visit: engaging in political discussions about geopolitical changes, celebrating and reinforcing democratic values and promoting business opportunities.

"I have a huge business delegation with me, mainly small- and medium-sized companies, so I'd like to bring concrete business opportunities to both our economies," he said, emphasizing the robust economic ties between South Korea and Germany, citing over 500 German companies already invested in Asia's fourth largest economy.

He also covered energy systems and future cooperation in green and climate-neutral technology mentioning ongoing discussions about offshore wind energy and renewable energy sources, emphasizing the importance of aligning regulatory frameworks.

"We talked about the energy system and I explained how the European regulation is developing that green technology and climate-neutral technology is the basis of future cooperation," he said.

Habeck stressed the significance of South Korea as a strategic partner in a challenging region, emphasizing the symbolic nature of his visit.

"I think it's important that Korea knows and sees that the people of Korea understand that we see you as a true partner in a very difficult and, some would say, dangerous region. Therefore, yes, this is also symbolic that we belong and stand together," he said.
Seoul reconsiders supplying lethal weapons to Ukraine in response to Kim-Putin's mutual assistance pact

By Nam Hyun-woo

Fears are growing that the Korean Peninsula may become the center of a new cold war as Pyongyang and Moscow are elevating their military bond to a quasi-alliance level along with a landmark treaty which involves providing defense assistance if either nation is attacked.

In addition to strengthening their anti-West front, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a news conference in Vietnam, Thursday (local time), that South Korea would be making a big mistake if it decides to supply arms to Ukraine, and Moscow would respond in a way that would be painful for Seoul.

Putin visited Vietnam after signing the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Wednesday. He made the comments in response to South Korean Director of National Security Chang Ho-jins remarks on Thursday that Seoul will reconsider its earlier stance not to provide weapons to Ukraine.

As for the supply of lethal weapons to the war zone in Ukraine, that would be a very big mistake, Putin said. I hope that this will not happen. And if it does happen, then we will also take appropriate decisions, which are unlikely to please the current leadership of South Korea.

An official at the South Korean presidential office said that Seouls position on the recent developments between North Korea and Russia hinges on how Russia will approach the situation, adding that there are various options for providing weapons to Ukraine.

U.S. Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller said Thursday (local time) that Seoul sending arms to Ukraine is a decision for South Korea to make but added, We welcome any support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.

U.S. National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby also said the treaty is a concern that should be shared by the Peoples Republic of China, since this agreement also seems to be in direct contrast with the statement that President Putin and President Xi made in Beijing just a month ago in which both countries called for a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

In response to Putins remarks, South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday called in Russian Ambassador to Seoul Georgy Zinoviev to lodge its protest. Seoul stressed to the summoned diplomat that the treaty is a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and threatens not only bilateral relations between Seoul and Moscow but also regional stability.

Ambassador Zinoviev, for his part, stressed that any attempts to threaten Russia cannot be accepted, according to the Russian Embassy in Seoul.

As a counter to the Kim-Putin treaty, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul had phone conversations with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa.

In the calls, the ministers slammed the treaty for posing a significant threat to the security of the region, and discussed ways for strengthening trilateral security cooperation.

As South Korea, the U.S., and Japan pledged trilateral security cooperation to counter the enhanced relationship between North Korea and Russia, the rising tensions between the two Koreas are increasingly linked to Russias invasion of Ukraine. This development stokes fears that a new cold war may unfold on the Korean Peninsula.

In the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine, the confrontation between values and political systems has worsened, Asan Institute for Policy Studies Principal Fellow Cha Du-hyeogn said.

Russia is seeking to form a coalition with countries sharing similar traits, and North Koreas Kim is taking advantage of this situation, showing that this is a natural realignment amid the ongoing clash of values. Simply put, regardless of whether South Korea supports Ukraine or not, Russia would have approached North Korea.
By Jung Min-ho

A Jeju hotel receptionist accused of raping a Chinese traveler in her room has been arrested on the charge of sexual assault, according to police on Friday.

The Jeju District Court approved an arrest warrant on Thursday evening for the employee, in his 30s, of a hotel in Yeon-dong on the island's northern coast.

The suspect faces indictment after allegedly accessing the room with a master key, entering the room and raping the guest at around 4 a.m. on June 14 while she was highly intoxicated following a night out with other Chinese tourists.

Security camera footage police secured showed the employee entering the womans room shortly after she had been escorted there by other travelers who left immediately thereafter. After the alleged crime, he returned to the reception desk.

She later told one of her travel companions what had happened. The companion reported it to police.

The suspect admitted to police that he entered the woman's room but claimed that he believed he was partaking in consensual sex with the woman.

The woman told police that she was too drunk at the time of the crime to take any evasive action.

Given that she was scheduled to return to China soon after the incident, police and the prosecution took legal steps for the preservation of evidence, which prosecutors can use against the suspect once his trial begins.
By Nam Hyun-woo

The Ministry of Government Legislation held a meeting with the heads of nine legal tech firms, Friday, to explore ideas for utilizing the ministrys vast law database for legal services based on generative artificial intelligence (AI).

During the meeting, the ministry said it will open 600,000 cases on the governments statutory interpretations of laws and special administrative appeals from various ministries via its Korean Law Information Centers open application programming interface (open API). An open API is publicly available programming code or software that allows software applications to communicate with each other.

The ministry plans to finish this by December to help legal tech firms to use the Korean Law Information Centers data for developing their services.

Generative AI is integrating into the legal field worldwide rapidly, boosting lawyers work efficiency on tasks such as legal research, summarizing, reviewing and drafting legal documents, Law&Company CEO Kim Bon-hwan said during the meeting. To develop a competitive legal AI, we need access to precise and extensive public data more than in any other field.

Law&Company is the developer of LawTalk, a mobile platform providing legal counseling services which has staged legal battles for more than eight years with domestic lawyers.

BHSN CEO Lim Jeong-geun also emphasized the need for a high-quality, large-scale public database in the development of legal AI services. He expressed hope for further expansion of access to legal information and court decision data. BHSN develops an AI-based management tool for corporate contracts and legal affairs.

We should double our efforts to establish a foundation for the advancement of the domestic legal tech industry, as we live in a world where AI is becoming a part of everyday life, Minister of Government Legislation Lee Wan-kyu said. The ministry will continue our support for legal tech firms through law amendments and holding regular consultations.

After holding the first meeting with four legal tech-related companies in December 2021, the ministry has been visiting legal tech firms regularly to listen to their voices. A ministry official said discussions are underway regarding the direction of amending relevant laws to support the development of the domestic legal tech industry.

The ministry will continue focusing on promoting AI-based legal tech. It plans to host its annual Asian Legislative Experts Symposium (ALES) in November, and this years theme will be cooperation opportunities for the development of legal tech in the Asian region. Minster Lee requested legal tech firms interest and participation in the ALES.
A district court issued an arrest warrant for two Army company commanders Friday over the death of a trainee soldier following a session of demanding disciplinary training last month.

The suspects are accused of ordering six recruits from a unit to undergo a disciplinary session in Inje County, 126 kilometers northeast of Seoul, on May 23, in violation of relevant training rules, resulting in the death of one conscript.

The soldier was taken to a civilian hospital after collapsing during the training but died two days later.

The recruit, who joined the Army on May 13, was reportedly ordered to run around the unit's training ground and do push-ups in full combat gear, despite relevant rules banning such demanding training in full gear.

The Chuncheon District Court granted the arrest warrant request for the company commander and deputy commander after just three hours of deliberation, citing the risk of destroying evidence.

The company commander remained tight-lipped to reporters' questions as she appeared before the court, and the deputy commander, who showed up shortly afterward, simply said he was "sorry." (Yonhap)
Suffering from the prolonged walkout by junior doctors and the subsequent disruptions to the health care system, angry patients will hold a rally on an unprecedented scale next month, officials said Friday.

An association of patients' groups said it is organizing a protest, together with other patients' organizations, in Seoul on July 4 by bringing together around 1,000 people to urge doctors to end their walkout and call on the government to enact a law meant to prevent any recurrences.

There has not been such a rally by patients on this scale, as the members are either patients or their family members.

Patients have erupted in anger over a medical service vacuum after a majority of junior doctors have walked off the job since late February in protest of the quota increase.

Some community doctors held a one-day strike Tuesday, and a major doctors' lobby group is threatening to launch an indefinite strike next week.

In support of the junior doctors' move, the Seoul National University (SNU) hospitals suspended their operations indefinitely Monday, except for emergency rooms and services for critical patients, and other senior doctors were to decide whether to join their SNU colleagues.

"It is really hot these days, but we've decided to make our voice heard," Ahn Gi-jong, chief of the association, said.

"We've had meetings with high-ranking government officials and lawmakers, but nothing has changed. Nobody has listened to us, and we want to make an appeal directly to the people." (Yonhap)
'Government seems to be telling parents to work more instead of raising children'

By Lee Hae-rin

The Yoon Suk Yeol administration's recently announced set of countermeasures against the plummeting birthrate is facing cynical and skeptical responses from citizens. They said the plans, which include expansion of maternity and paternity leaves and afterschool child care programs, are only fragmentary solutions that cannot fundamentally solve the underlying cause of the demographic crisis.

Critics cited chronic problems of long working hours and high living costs in the country as the key causes of the problem, calling on policymakers to have a clearer perspective and come up with more substantial and effective countermeasures for the long term.

A woman surnamed Jeon, an office worker living in Seouls Dongjak District and a mother of a 2-year-old boy, said child-rearing has been a challenge, as it is physically impossible for a dual-income couple to spend time with their kid in Korea.

She and her husband have a maximum of an hour or two to spend together with their son during weekdays after work, which makes it impossible to have an emotional connection with him.

It is unimaginable to have a second child in this country, she said.

Its even questionable whether the expansion of afterschool child care programs is a low birthrate policy, because the government seems to be telling parents to work more instead of raising their children. The fundamental solution is to shorten working hours, but the government seems to prefer opening more child care facilities while the working hours remain long.

Korea has the worlds lowest total fertility rate at 0.65, which means the average number of children a woman will have in her lifetime is well below the replacement rate. Seouls birthrate has sunk to 0.55. If this trend continues, the nations population is projected to halve by 2100.

Regarding this, the government declared a "national demographic emergency" on Wednesday, announcing the countermeasures, which also included easing standards for income from special loans for households with newborns.

President Yoon said at the time that the country will operate a pan-national task force to overcome the low birthrate issues, speaking of the ancient Spartan empire which he said went extinct after a demographic crisis.

However, many view that the announcement was nothing new and only a repetition of existing policies.

Another Seoul-based office worker surnamed Lee, 32, said, Not many young women in their 20s and 30s want to get married and have children out of concerns over the high cost of living and career interruption.

No matter how hard we work, we will never make enough to afford to own a home. Its completely unreasonable to spend all that money to get married and have a child then have my career ruined, but the government doesnt seem to care about that, she said.

A 35-year-old Seoul resident surnamed Jeong, who has been married for over two years, also said she does not see herself having a child in Korea in this lifetime as childbirth seems like it will put her into the start of an endless economic vicious cycle.

Its difficult to afford living as a three-person household as a single-income family in Seoul, she said, explaining that she and her husband chose to keep living a child-free life in the capital where there are better job opportunities, despite expensive housing costs.

Others questioned the sincerity of the Yoon government over the issue, as it has been pushing to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.

The government plans to abolish the gender equality ministry and neglects the important roles it plays in family and womens issues, an online commenter wrote. "It seems ridiculous that the government would attempt to deal with the demographic crisis without it."
By Ko Dong-hwan

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is facing criticism for not regulating two halal slaughterhouses that violated Korea's animal protection law by slaughtering cows without first rendering them unconscious, according to ministry officials and animal rights activists, Friday.

The activists are calling on the ministry to take immediate action to suspend the operation of the halal slaughterhouses.

The ministry admitted to The Korea Times that it hadn't monitored the practices carried out by the halal slaughterhouses in Gangwon Province. The slaughterhouses, both located in Gangwon Province, were certified halal by the Korea Muslim Federation Halal Committee (KMF) earlier this year.

Handawoon FSL in Hongcheon County which produces 13 cuts of beef  from tenderloin to shank, ribs and brisket  acquired the certification in February. Hoengseong KC in Hoengseong County, which produces 11 cuts of beef, was certified halal in March. Both licenses will expire in a year.

Halal slaughter, a ritualistic practice based on Islamic beliefs, requires the use of a sharp knife to cut the throats of live and healthy animals, severing the jugular vein, carotid artery and windpipe and draining blood completely.

The method goes against Korea's Animal Protection Act, which defines methods of slaughtering animals. It states that the suffering of animals must be minimized by first making them unconscious by methods specified by the ministry, including gas or electrical stunning. Slaughter should happen "only where the animals are unconscious."

The KMF, upon the slaughterhouses' requests for halal certification, invited officials from Malaysia's Department of Veterinary Services to inspect the slaughterhouses and their butchery methods in person. Passing the inspection, the slaughterhouses acquired a certification by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia, also known as JAKIM.

"The Malaysian authority acknowledged the slaughterhouses' halal slaughter methods," a KMF official told The Korea Times.

Handawoon started exporting halal beef products to Malaysia earlier this month.

Ministry officials said that they haven't inspected the butchery practices at the two slaughterhouses.

The agro-livestock sanitary and quality team at the ministry's marketing and consumer policy bureau said that while they are responsible for slaughterhouses nationwide, their tasks are limited to checking if the butchers handle livestock cleanly in accordance with the country's Livestock Products Sanitary Control Act. They added they have never ventured to visit either of the two slaughterhouses.

"We don't have any legal clauses regarding halal slaughter," an official from the team said. "The right to issue or revoke slaughterhouse licenses belongs to local governments, not the central government. So it's not really our job to visit a slaughterhouse for inspection. Besides, the animal protection law was made much later than the Livestock Product Sanitary Control Act. We've been adhering to the sanitary control act since the 1960s."

An official at the ministry's animal welfare policy division also mentioned the act and highlighted the legal obligation of making animals unconscious before slaughtering them.

"Any violation of the law is being monitored by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety," the official said.

The issue of the illegal slaughter practice emerged in April when the Korea Association for Animal Protection (KAAP) staged a protest against the practice at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul.

The activists said that halal slaughter is against the Animal Protection Act.

"A video released by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals on April 11 showed Australian cows being shipped to Indonesia, slaughtered in the halal method and suffering in pain after their throats were cut," KAAP President Lee Won-bok said.
Hanwha Group said Friday it has invested $100 million in Philly Shipyard to acquire a 100 percent stake in the U.S. shipbuilder, marking the first entry of a Korean company into the U.S. shipbuilding industry.

The acquisition involves the group's two defense units, Hanwha Systems and Hanwha Ocean, according to Hanwha Group.

Founded in 1997, Philly Shipyard is a subsidiary of Aker ASA, a Norwegian industrial investment company. It has delivered approximately half of the large U.S. Jones Act commercial ships in the United States since 2000.

The shipyard constructs not only large commercial vessels, including tankers and container ships, but also training vessels for the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD).

Hanwha Group said it plans to utilize Philly Shipyard's largest dock in the United States for shipbuilding, maintenance, repair and operations, tapping into the U.S. naval market, which is in need of additional shipbuilding facilities due to a production shortage for the Navy's fleet.

Hanwha Systems, the group's defense electronics and IT technologies unit, aims to collaborate with the U.S. shipbuilder to develop civilian merchant ships capable of autonomous operations.

The company's advanced technologies in unmanned maritime systems, naval radars and sensors will be integrated into commercial vessels and special-purpose ships, such as unmanned underwater vehicles.

Hanwha Ocean plans to diversify its sales by leveraging Philly Shipyard's expertise in midsized tankers and container ships. This acquisition is expected to expand Hanwha Ocean's market presence by securing an overseas production base and increasing orders in these segments.

"The opportunity to collaborate with Philly Shipyard, a significant shipbuilder with a storied history, is an exciting strategic opportunity that will allow Hanwha Systems to deploy its state-of-the-art naval systems and associated technologies in the U.S. market," said Eoh Sung-chul, CEO of Hanwha Systems. (Yonhap)
By Baek Byung-yeul

Roh Soh-yeong, who is engaged in Koreas largest-ever divorce settlement lawsuit with SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, was ordered by the Seoul Central District Court, Friday, to vacate the SK Group building which houses Art Center Nabi art museum, of which she is a director.

The court ruled in the first trial of a lawsuit filed by SK Innovation, an energy unit of SK Group, against Art Center Nabi, ordering the art museum to hand over the 560.3 square meter space it occupies to the SK subsidiary and pay 1.0456 billion won ($753,501) in damages.

SK Innovation filed this lawsuit against Art Center Nabi in April 2023. The art museum has been occupying the fourth floor of SK Seorin Building in central Seoul since December 2000.

Art Center Nabi's lease with SK Innovation already expired in 2019, and the SK Group unit filed the lawsuit because repairs could no longer be postponed as they were renovating the entire building but couldn't touch the area occupied by the museum.

"The defendant is using the space as a museum according to the lease agreement with the plaintiff. Since the plaintiff has legally terminated the contract on the specified date, the defendant is obligated to hand over the property," the court said.

The court said the art museum is obligated to pay damages to SK Innovation for the period after the contract termination, adding that "the court doesnt accept Art Center Nabis claims that the contract cannot be terminated unilaterally or that it is an abuse of rights or breach of trust.

Lee Sang-won, an attorney of Pyeong An Lawfirm representing Rohs side, said after the verdict that the lawsuit "feels excessive for a museum that was relocated 25 years ago at the request of Chairman Chey."

"We'll think about whether to appeal, but we don't have a place to go in this heat," Lee added.

Roh, a daughter of late former President Roh Tae-woo, married the SK Group chairman in 1988. They have been going through a divorce lawsuit since 2017, two years after the SK chief confessed in a letter to a local newspaper that he had a child out of wedlock and could no longer maintain his marital relationship with Roh.

On May 30, the Seoul High Court ruled in the appeal trial that Chey should pay Roh 1.38 trillion won, or 35 percent of his assets, in property division, as the court evaluated that the former president's daughter had made significant contributions to the SK Group chief's asset accumulation.

In response, the chairman appealed to the Supreme Court, claiming there were clear errors in the court's calculations.
The government on Friday ordered low-cost carrier T'way Air to come up with measures to address repeated safety and flight delay issues.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said it has conducted a special inspection of T'way Air and ordered the airline to implement safety measures by next month.

The airline experienced four flight delay incidents last week alone, affecting hundreds of international passengers on flights between South Korea and overseas destinations, including Japan and Thailand, due to maintenance problems.

Air safety authorities also plan to implement special safety management for T'way Air, which plans to soon launch four routes to Europe, and low-cost carrier Air Premia, which is expanding its long-haul routes, particularly to North America.

T'way Air will begin flights to Rome, Paris, Barcelona and Frankfurt later this year. Air Premia is scheduled to launch flights to Seattle and Honolulu next year.

T'way will take over the European routes from domestic industry leader Korean Air as part of conditions set by the European Union over Korean Air's envisioned acquisition of No. 2 player Asiana Airlines.

Further, the ministry plans to conduct a thorough investigation into the delay and cancellation incidents of T'way Air and Air Premia during the summer season and impose penalties, such as fines, if they fail to fulfill consumer protection obligation measures.

The ministry noted that consumer dissatisfaction within the air travel industry has increased of late, and it plans to push for the enhancement of safety operations of the airline industry.

A spokesperson of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency has told Yonhap News Agency that the organization will be "ready to react appropriately" against possible flight delay and maintenance issues of the European operation of T'way Air. (Yonhap)
A White House official on Thursday expressed concern over a new security treaty between Russia and North Korea, and vowed to continue to evaluate America's defense posture throughout the Indo-Pacific "as needed."

National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby made the remarks after Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty during a summit in Pyongyang on Wednesday.

The treaty stipulates that in case any one of the two sides is put in a state of war by an armed invasion, the other side will provide military and other assistance with "all means" "without delay" in accordance with the U.N. Charter and relevant Russian and North Korean laws.

"Of course, it is (a concern). It's to be of concern to any country that cares about maintaining peace and stability not just on the Korean Peninsula, but in the Indo-Pacific," he said during an online press briefing.

"It should be a concern to any country that believes that the U.N. Security Council resolutions ought to be abided by. It should be a concern to anybody who thinks that supporting the people of Ukraine is an important thing to do," he added.

Stressing President Joe Biden's policy focus on strengthening alliances for regional peace, Kirby pledged U.S. efforts to continue to ensure stability in the Indo-Pacific.

"Of course, we are going to continue to evaluate our posture throughout the Indo-Pacific as needed, but we have prioritized this part of the world since the beginning of this administration," he said.

"That effort, we believe, has right now and will continue to put us in the best possible position ... for any threats and challenges not just on the Korean Peninsula but elsewhere in the region," he added.

Kirby also stressed that Beijing would also share the concern about the recent development in cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.

"We would think that that concern would be shared by the People's Republic of China (PRC) since this agreement also seems to be in direct contrast with the statement that President Putin and President Xi (Jinping) made in Beijing just a month ago, in which both countries call for a peaceful and diplomatic solution to this situation on the Korean Peninsula," he said.

PRC stands for China's official name.

In a separate press briefing, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder commented on the new treaty between Moscow and Pyongyang, saying the U.S. will monitor related developments "very closely."

"There is no surprise here that they have been developing and fostering this relationship. ... It is something that we are going to continue to monitor," he said.

"But what we've also said is that our focus, when it comes to the Indo-Pacific region, and broadly speaking worldwide, is to work with like-minded nations on security and stability throughout the world to include the Indo-Pacific region," he added.

Ryder stressed the "defensive" nature of the South Korea-U.S. alliance, reaffirming America's "ironclad" security commitment to its Asian ally.

He also said that the summit between Putin and Kim showed how Russia is "isolated."

"I just think it demonstrates the desperation that a country like Russia needs to align itself with the DPRK to subjugate the people of Ukraine and the fact that they have to go to a country like the DPRK to obtain munitions," he said.

DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. (Yonhap)




The White House announced Thursday that it will rush delivery of air defense interceptor missiles to Ukraine by redirecting planned shipments to other allied nations, as Washington scrambles to counter increased Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

National security spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. had taken the difficult but necessary decision to reprioritize near-term planned deliveries of foreign military sales to other countries, though he wouldn't say which nations would be affected or how many.

Right now, we know that Ukraine urgently needs these additional capabilities, Kirby said on a call with reporters, adding, Obviously more is needed, and its needed now.

The announcement comes after President Joe Biden, during last week's Group of Seven meeting in Italy, suggested such action might be necessary, saying, Weve let it be known for those countries that are expecting, from us, air defense systems in the future, that theyre going to have to wait."

Everything we have is going to go to Ukraine until their needs are met, Biden said. And then we will make good on the commitments we made to other countries.

The U.S. was already sending Ukraine a consistent stream of interceptors for its air defense systems, including for the Patriot missile batteries and the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, or NASAMS. But Kirby said that more was urgently needed as Russia's military has accelerated missile and drone attacks against cities and infrastructure centers trying to destroy Ukraine's energy system ahead of this winter.

Russia has resumed its aerial pounding of Ukraines power grid while Kyivs forces are again targeting Russian oil facilities with drone strikes, as each side seeks to hinder the other's ability to continue fighting.

The number of interceptors to be sent isn't clear but Kirby said it could involve hundreds of Patriot interceptor missiles.

Kirby said Ukraine will get prioritized shipments as soon as systems roll off assembly lines for the next about 16 months, and those will provide the country with "enough capability during that period.

After that, he said, Countries that have been asked to delay will start to get deliveries of systems they had already ordered.

Kirby said the move means a range of countries will face delays in receiving missile systems that are being diverted to Ukraine but that the shift would not affect Taiwan or what it continues to need and receive for self-defense" in the face of potential threats from China.

Asked to describe how other countries reacted to the shift, Kirby said they were "broadly understanding of it.

They know how serious the need is in Ukraine," he said. (AP)
Deadly heatwaves are scorching cities on four continents as the Northern Hemisphere marks the first day of summer, a sign that climate change may again help to fuel record-breaking heat that could surpass last summer as the warmest in 2,000 years.

Record temperatures in recent days are suspected to have caused hundreds, if not thousands, of deaths across Asia and Europe.

In Saudi Arabia, nearly two million Muslim pilgrims are finishing the haj at the Grand Mosque in Mecca this week. But hundreds have died during the journey amid temperatures above 51 degrees Celsius (124 degrees Fahrenheit), according to reports from foreign authorities.

Egyptian medical and security sources told Reuters on Thursday that at least 530 Egyptians had died while participating  up from 307 reported as of yesterday. Another 40 remain missing.

Countries around the Mediterranean have also endured another week of blistering high temperatures that have contributed to forest fires from Portugal to Greece and along the northern coast of Africa in Algeria, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Earth Observatory.

In Serbia, meteorologists forecast temperatures of around 40 degrees this week as winds from North Africa propelled a hot front across the Balkans. Health authorities declared a red weather alert and advised people not to venture outdoors.

Belgrade's emergency service said its doctors intervened 109 times overnight to treat people with heart and chronic health conditions.

In neighbouring Montenegro, where health authorities also warned people to stay in the shade until late afternoon, tens of thousands of tourists sought refreshment on the beaches along its Adriatic coast.

Europe this year has been contending with a spate of dead and missing tourists amid dangerous heat. A 55-year-old American was found dead on the Greek island of Mathraki, police said on Monday  the third such tourist death in a week.

A broad swath of the eastern U.S. was also wilting for a fourth consecutive day under a heat dome, a phenomenon that occurs when a strong, high-pressure system traps hot air over a region, preventing cool air from getting in and causing ground temperatures to remain high.

New York City opened emergency cooling centres in libraries, senior centers and other facilities. While the city's schools were operating normally, a number of districts in the surrounding suburbs sent students home early to avoid the heat.

Meteorological authorities also issued an excessive heat warning for parts of the U.S. state of Arizona, including Phoenix, on Thursday, with temperatures expected to reach 45.5 degrees (114 degrees F).

In the nearby state of New Mexico, a pair of fast-moving wildfires abetted by the blistering heat have killed two people, burned more than 23,000 acres and destroyed 500 homes, according to authorities. Heavy rains could help temper the blazes, but thunderstorms on Thursday were also causing flash flooding and complicating firefighting efforts.

All told, nearly 100 million Americans were under extreme heat advisories, watches and warnings on Thursday, according to the federal government's National Integrated Heat Health Information System.

The brutal temperatures should begin easing in New England on Friday, the weather service said, but New York and the mid-Atlantic states will continue to endure near-record heat into the weekend.

Counting the dead

India's summer period lasts from March to May, when monsoons begin slowly sweeping across the country and breaking the heat.

But New Delhi on Wednesday registered its warmest night in at least 55 years, with India's Safdarjung Observatory reporting a temperature of 35.2 degrees at 1 a.m.

Temperatures normally drop at night, but scientists say climate change is causing nighttime temperatures to rise. In many parts of the world, nights are warming faster than days, according to a 2020 study by the University of Exeter.

New Delhi has clocked 38 consecutive days with maximum temperatures at or above 40 degrees since May 14, according to weather department data.

An official at the Indian health ministry said on Wednesday there were more than 40,000 suspected heatstroke cases and at least 110 confirmed deaths between March 1 and June 18, when northwest and eastern India recorded twice the usual number of heat wave days in one of the country's longest such spells.

Gaining accurate death tolls from heat waves, however, is difficult. Most health authorities do not attribute deaths to heat, but rather the illnesses exacerbated by high temperatures, such as cardiovascular issues. Authorities therefore undercount heat-related deaths by a significant margin  typically overlooking thousands if not tens of thousands of deaths.

Record warm temperatures

The heat waves are occurring against a backdrop of 12 consecutive months that have ranked as the warmest on record in year-on-year comparisons, according to the European Union's climate change monitoring service.

The World Meteorological Organization says there is an 86 percent percent chance that one of the next five years will eclipse 2023 to become the warmest on record.

While overall global temperatures have risen by nearly 1.3 degree above pre-industrial levels, climate change is fuelling more extreme temperature peaks  making heatwaves more common, more intense and longer-lasting.

On average globally, a heat wave that would have occurred once in 10 years in the pre-industrial climate will now occur 2.8 times over 10 years, and it will be 1.2 degree warmer, according to an international team of scientists with the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group.

Scientists say heat waves will continue to intensify if the world continues to unleash climate-warming emissions from the burning of fossil fuels.

If the world hits 2 degrees of global warming, heat waves would on average occur 5.6 times in 10 years and be 2.6 degrees hotter, according to the WWA. (Reuters)
An oil spill off Singapore has spread to beaches in southern Malaysia, a government official said Friday, with clean-up operations underway.

Around 25 people were involved in the clean-up of two beaches spanning one kilometer in southern Johor state, local government official Ling Tian Soon told AFP.

"Work began today and we hope to complete the task tomorrow. From our observation, marine life or fishermen activities have not been affected," he said.

The oil spill resulted from an accident on Friday at Singapore's Pasir Panjang terminal between a Netherlands-flagged dredger and a stationary Singapore-flagged bunker vessel, Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) said.

Photos Ling posted on Facebook showed men in white protective gear picking up black sludge from a beach and placing it into plastic bags.

Ling added that Malaysia's maritime officials were monitoring to see if the oil spill spreads to other parts of the coast. (AFP)
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(G)I-DLE member Shuhua is being dropped by her fans after she attended actor Kai Ko's birthday party.

On June 18, 2024, Kai Ko celebrated his 33rd birthday. To celebrate, the Taiwanese actor held a small celebration with friends over hotpot. The actor invited a few of his close friends and celebrated his day with a "Frieren" cake.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: (G)I-DLE Soyeon's Return Sparks Excitement Among Nevies: 'She's Ready To Rock The Stage Again!'

However, one guest stood out among the rest: Shuhua of (G)I-DLE.

Fans of the female idol were disappointed to see Shuhua being friends with Kai Ko. That is due to the actor's scandalous career.

In 2014, Kai Ko was arrested for drug use alongside Jaycee Chan, the song of Hong Kong film star Jackie Chan. He was apprehended by Beijing Police amid a massive anti-drug crackdown on Chinese celebrities.

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At the time, both Kai Ko and Jaycee Chan tested positive for marijuana. After admitting to his drug usage, Kai Ko was sentenced to 14 days in administrative detention. He was released on August 28 and was required to do another round of interrogations by the Taipei District Prosecutors Office in Taiwan.

Ironically, he had starred in an anti-drug advertisement in 2012.

CHECK THIS OUT: (G)I-DLE Yuqi Reveals She Was Invited at Her K-pop Bias' Wedding - But Why Didn't She Attend?

Due to his scandals, fans of Shuhua are slamming the female idol for being friends with Kai Ko, noting how chummy they appeared as she posed next to him in several photos. Chinese and Taiwanese fans of the idol are turning their back on her, stating their dissatisfaction with her friendship circle as one of the reasons.

What do you think of the situation? Tell us in the comments below!

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In other news, (G)I-DLE's last musical release was their second studio album, "2," which was released on January 29, 2024. The album sold over one million copies in South Korea.

Its lead single, "Super Lady," entered the top ten of the charts. However, it was "Fate" that topped the charts, despite not being released as a single.

READ MORE: Is (G)I-DLE Shuhua 'Abandoning' Korea? K-Netz React to Idol's Recent Instagram Posts

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China's commerce ministry said Friday that the European Union is to blame for escalating trade frictions, which could lead to a "trade war."

Zarazeno pa 21.06.2024 11:06:22 Vydano Zdroj scio.gov.cn Original english.scio.gov.cn/pressroom/2024-06/21/content_117267495.htm lang en
InvestEU supports exports by European companies to Ukraine

Today's agreement enables the InvestEU guarantee to be used by the EIB Group's risk-capital subsidiary, the European Investment Fund, to support the export credit sector, aimed at boosting exports to Ukraine by small and medium-sized companies in the EU.

This initiative is part of a wider EU effort to support Ukraine's economic recovery by promoting trade and economic exchanges.

The European Commission, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF) have agreed today to establish a 300 million export credit guarantee facility under the EU flagship investment programme InvestEU. Thanks to this facility, the EIF will now be able to use the InvestEU programme to support European small and medium-sized companies exporting goods and services to Ukraine. The agreement was signed in the margins of the ECOFIN meeting of EU Finance Ministers in Luxembourg, which had support for Ukraine high on its agenda.

In the coming weeks, the EIF will proceed with a Call for Expression of Interest to begin offering guarantees to export credit agencies (ECAs) to support businesses in EU Member States, as well as Norway and Iceland, that wish to export to Ukraine. This initiative aims to reduce financial risks, encouraging EU businesses to increase exports to Ukraine and revitalise trade. The facility will strengthen economic ties with the EU and contribute to Ukraine's economic recovery.

EIB Group President Nadia Calvino said, In partnership with the European Commission, we have taken an important step today to support trade between the EU and Ukraine. This facility will remove risk for EU companies wanting to export to Ukraine and will provide essential services and goods supporting the country's resilience and reconstruction, such as materials, machinery, technologies and vehicles. The agreement will enable European business to play a crucial role in Ukraine's recovery, reinforcing economic ties and deepening connections ahead of Ukraine's eventual accession to the EU.

EIF Chief Executive Marjut Falkstedt said, Today's agreement marks a very important extension of the InvestEU programme, which will enable the establishment of our 300 million Ukraine export credit guarantee facility. This partnership between the European Commission and the EIB Group can support both European businesses by providing the necessary guarantees to shoulder some of the risks they face, and also Ukraine's economic recovery at a time of great need.

Background information

The InvestEU programme provides the European Union with crucial long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds in support of a sustainable recovery. It also helps mobilise private investment for EU policy priorities, such as the European Green Deal and the digital transition. InvestEU brings together under one roof the multitude of EU financial instruments previously available to support investment in the European Union, making funding for investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient and more flexible. The programme consists of three components: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub and the InvestEU Portal. The InvestEU Fund is deployed through implementing partners who will invest in projects using the EU budget guarantee of 26.2 billion. The entire budget guarantee will back the investment projects of the implementing partners, increase their risk-bearing capacity and thus mobilise at least 372 billion in additional investment.

Overall EU support for Ukraine

Since the start of the war, almost 100 billion in support has been provided to Ukraine and Ukrainians. This includes financial, humanitarian, emergency budget and military support for Ukraine from the EU, Member States and the European financial institutions, as well as resources made available to help Member States cater for the needs of Ukrainians fleeing the war.

The EU's Ukraine Facility will provide up to 50 billion in grants and loans for the period 2024-2027 to support Ukraine's efforts to sustain macro-financial stability, promote short-term recovery and rebuild and modernise the country, whilst implementing key reforms on its EU accession track. It will support the transition towards a green, digital and inclusive economy that is progressively aligned with EU rules and standards. Out of this, 6 billion has already been disbursed in exceptional bridge financing and an additional 1.9 billion in pre-financing under the facility is expected to be disbursed later in June.

Under the Ukraine Facility Investment Framework, the facility's investment arm, the first guarantee and grant agreements totalling 1.4 billion were signed at the recent Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin to support the country's recovery and reconstruction. These agreements will benefit private companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises, municipalities and Ukrainian state-owned enterprises. They will focus on the repair, rehabilitation and development of energy infrastructure, which has been heavily targeted by Russia in recent months. Other programmes focus on the transport and municipal sectors, and on access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises, especially businesses affected by the war in de-occupied and front-line regions.

The EIB in Ukraine

Present in Ukraine since 2007, the EIB has stepped up its financial support for the country's resilience and modernisation since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Since then, the EIB has provided swift relief, disbursing 2 billion of financing for emergency repairs to the country's ravaged infrastructure. Through its EU for Ukraine (EU4U) Initiative, coupled with its key role in implementing the European Union's 50 billion Ukraine Facility, the EIB is strongly committed to accelerating its activities in line with the mandate given by EU leaders and in close cooperation with the European Commission, the European Parliament, EU Member States and international partners.

Quote

This pilot facility reconfirms the EUs steadfast commitment to support Ukraine, its recovery and reconstruction. Smaller businesses are the backbone of the economy: by helping European SMEs export to Ukraine, these credit guarantees will strengthen Ukraines economy, encourage much-needed private investment and increase open trade between us. This economic boost comes at a time when Ukraine needs it the most on its path to EU accession

Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President for an Economy that Works for People 2024-06-20

With the extension of our flagship InvestEU programme, we are reaffirming our strong support for the economic recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine. The new facility will make it easier for European small and medium-sized businesses to export goods and services to Ukraine, further deepening our close economic ties. This is good news for Ukraine at this critical juncture and a vote of confidence on its road to EU accession.

Paolo Gentiloni, Commissioner for Economy 2024-06-20
New Delhi, Jun 21 (PTI) Anandi Iyer, director of the Fraunhofer Office, India has been honoured by the German government with a prestigious recognition that celebrates her outstanding contributions to Indo-German relations for over 25 years, the embassy here said.

She has been honoured with the Bundesverdienstkreuz (Federal Cross of Merit), the embassy said in a statement on Thursday.

Also Read | NTA Announces To Postpone Joint CSIR-UGC-NET 2024 Due to Unavoidable Circumstances and Logistic Issues.

Iyer has been at the helm of the Fraunhofer Office in India for over 16 years, fostering strong ties and partnerships between India and Europe in the fields of science and technology, it said.

Her work has significantly advanced collaborative efforts in innovation and applied research in various fields such as smart cities, renewable energy, smart manufacturing and digitalisation, a testament to her membership in the Indo-German Expert Group on Digitalisation, established by the heads of government of both nations, the statement said.

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This prestigious recognition celebrates her outstanding contributions to Indo-German relations for over 25 years, coinciding with 50 years of Indo-German Science and Technology Cooperation, the German Embassy said.

"Anandi Iyer's exemplary work has not only strengthened the Indo-German relationship but has also paved the way for significant advancements in technology and innovation between the two countries. Her dedication to empowering women in science and technology is truly inspiring. It is an honour to present her with the Bundesverdienstkreuz, acknowledging her invaluable contributions and relentless spirit," Philipp Ackermann, German Ambassador to India ws quoted as saying in tate-pujo-6329556.html" title="Happy Durga Ashtami 2024 Wishes and Kumari Puja HD Images: Send Subho Maha Ashtami Messages, Greetings, Quotes and Wallpapers To Celebrate Pujo">Happy Durga Ashtami 2024 Wishes and Kumari Puja HD Images: Send Subho Maha Ashtami Messages, Greetings, Quotes and Wallpapers To Celebrate Pujo
New Delhi, June 20: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday announced the formation of a high-level committee to probe into the issues pertaining to the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA) amid the allegations of irregularities in the NEET-UG examination. "We are committed to holding zero-error exams, and a high-level committee is being formed to improve NTA functioning," Pradhan said at a briefing.

"The government is going to form a high-level committee which will be investigating several issues pertaining to the NTA. Recommendations will be expected from that high-level committee to further improve NTA, its structure, functioning, examination process, transparency and data security protocol. We are committed to zero error exam,"Pradhan said at a press conference after the Opposition demanded answers from the Modi-led government over NEET issue and UGC-NET exam cancellation. NEET UG 2024 Paper Leak Case: Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Reacts to Demand for Cancellation of NEET Exam, Says 'One Isolated Incident Should Not Affect Lakhs of Students'.

Dharmendra Pradhan Announces High-Level Committee To Probe

#WATCH | On UGC-NET exam cancellation, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan says, "...Paper leak is an institutional failure of NTA. We are assuring you that there will be a reform committee and action will be taken..." pic.twitter.com/zwBzqD2Eba  ANI (@ANI) June 20, 2024

#WATCH | Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan says, "Some irregularities have come to the notice of the government. We take responsibility for it. I would like to request the students very politely not to believe in rumours..." pic.twitter.com/TXNRWB4BX7  ANI (@ANI) June 20, 2024

The Education Minister said that it will not compromise on transparency and is committed to protecting the interests of the students. "...I want to assure everyone that the government is committed to protecting the interests of students. We will not compromise on transparency...," Pradhan said.

Speaking about the reports of the 'paper leak' from Patna, Pradhan said, "In the context of the NEET exam, we are in touch with Bihar government. We are receiving some information from Patna. Police Police are investigating and a detailed report will be submitted by them. Following credible information, strict action will be taken against the guilty." NEET UG 2024 Paper Leak Case: Group of NEET Aspirants, Their Parents Meet Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi To Seek Support for Re-Examination (See Pics and Videos).

Pradhan however said that the incident in Bihar is an isolated one and it should not affect other students. "One isolated incident (Bihar paper leak) should not affect lakhs of students who took the exam sincerely," the Education Minister said.

On why the UGC-NET examination was cancelled, Pradhan said that a question paper was found on Dark Net that matched with the original one. "Soon after it was clear that the UGC-NET question paper on Dark Net matches the original question paper of UGC-NET, we decided to cancel the examination," he said.

On Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's statement regarding NEET issue and UGC-NET exam cancellation, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, "...I will again appeal to my opposition friends to have faith in our system... Our government is 100 per cent committed to transparency, to the betterment of the future of our students. And I assure you again, no malpractice, no irregularity will be tolerated by our government."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked the Modi-led central government over the NEET issue and UGC-NET exam cancellation and alleged that the reason behind "paper leaks" is that all the Vice Chancellors, the education system has been captured by the Bharatiya Janata Party's "parent organisation" (RSS).

"I have spoken about institutional capture in various organizations. This is happening in the education institutions. The reason behind paper leaks is that all the Vice Chancellors, the education system has been captured by the BJP and its parent organisation (RSS)," Rahul Gandhi said in a press conference on Thursday.

Rahul Gandhi said that paper leaks could continue till this "institutional capture" of education institutions by the BJP is not reversed."Till the time this is not reversed, paper leaks will go on. Modi has facilitated this capture. This is an anti-national activity because this is the future of the country and the youth of the country are facing the brunt of it," the Congress MP said.

"It is a national crisis, it's an economic crisis, it's an educational crisis, institutional crisis. But I don't see any response...Regarding Bihar, we have said that there should be an inquiry and action should be taken against those who have leaked the paper," he added.

The NEET-UG 2024 exam was conducted on May 5 and the results were declared on June 4, ahead of its scheduled announcement date of June 14. Protests were held alleging irregularities and paper leaks as the results showed that as many as 67 students had topped the exam with a perfect score of 720.

The NEET-UG examination, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), paves the way for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country. The Ministry of Education on Wednesday cancelled the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on June 18.

A fresh examination shall be conducted, for which information shall be shared separately. On June 19, 2024, the University Grants Commission (UGC) received certain inputs from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs on the Examination. These inputs prima facie indicate that the integrity of the aforesaid examination may have been compromised.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kallakurichi (Tamil Nadu) [India], June 20 (ANI): Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting a CBI enquiry into the deaths caused by illicit liquor in Kallakurichi.

Annamalai on Thursday accused the ruling DMK government of involvement in the Kallakurichi illicit liquor death incident, alleging collusion between DMK members and local liquor sellers.

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His comments come after a hooch tragedy took place in Tamil Nadu's Kallakurichi on Wednesday in which several people reportedly lost their lives.

"We want to inform your good office that a similar incident that occurred in May 2023 in Marakkanam of Tamil Nadu's Villupuram district and Chengalpattu district claimed 23 precious lives. In the past two years, Tamil Nadu has lost over 60 lives to hooch because of the ineffective governance of the DMK government," he said in a letter to the Union Home Minister.

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He mentioned that as per his reliable sources that the production and sale of illicit liquor in Tamil Nadu is happening at the behest of party functionaries and cadres belonging to the DMK, where points of sale of such liquor are located near judicial courts, police stations, and other government offices.

The families of the deceased in the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy claim that the sale of illicit liquor happened in the prime areas of the town.

"It is evident that the sale of illicit liquor is done in full public view with the knowledge of the local police, who operate under the direction of local political leaders belonging to the DMK.Considering the dire state of governance in Tamil Nadu under the DMK rule, on behalf of BJP Tamil Nadu, we kindly request your good office to order a CBI enquiry on this matter as we firmly believe that the DMK Government will curtail the State Police's from bringing all the persons responsible for the deaths before the court of law," he said in the letter.

He said that the BJP party has met all those family members who had lost their loved ones after consuming illicit liquor in Tamil Nadu's Kallakurichi district and added that the Tamil Nadu BJP will provide Rs 1 lakh to each affected family member.

"The death toll is expected to rise. In the last 4 hours, we have visited all houses. Tamil Nadu BJP is releasing Rs 1 lakhs each to the families of the deceased," he said.

He said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Health Minister JP Nadda had called in the morning to inquire about the Kallakurichi illicit liquor death incident and had asked us to submit a report on it.

"This morning, Amith Shah and JP Nadda called and inquired about the incident and asked us to submit a report on it... Our first appeal to Amith Shah is to initiate a CBI enquiry on this Kallakurichi illicit liquor death incident ...Illicit liquor is being sold near court, police station," he said.

"A committee led by our senior vice-president will visit all homes here. They will submit report on one Central scheme which should reach these houses," he said.

He also took a swipe at Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, saying that the CM should meet the affected people and not send just his son Udhayanidhi Stalin.

He also said that the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, MK Stalin, in his 2021 election manifesto, said liquor sales will be decreased in Tamil Nadu in a phased manner; however, contrary to that, sales of liquor in Tamil Nadu are increasing by 18 to 20 per cent every year.

"CM, in his 2021 election manifesto, said liquor sales will be decreased in Tamil Nadu in a phased manner. But 18 to 20 per cent of sales of liquor in Tamil Nadu are increasing year by year... From the DMK side, it is deeply disappointing that CM MK Stalin has yet to come to Kallakurichi but he is sending his son Udhayandihi Stalin. Even in such a time, he wants to do dynastic politics," he said.

He also demanded that Tamil Nadu CM Stalin visit Kalalakaruchi immediately and sack the Minister for Prohibition and Excise in the next 24 hours.

"We demand the CM visit Kalalakaruchi immediately and sack the Minister for Prohibition and Excise in the next 24 hours. This is a clear administrative and law and order failure," he said. (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 York [US], June 21 (ANI): The members of the New York chapter of the Awami Action Committee (AAC) and people belonging to the diaspora of Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) organised a demonstration outside the Pakistan consulate in New York.

The demonstrators demanded the immediate and safe release of the political prisoners arrested from various districts of PoJK during the recent Muzzafarabad protest.

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During the protest, the demonstrators raised their voices on several issues persisting in PoJK, like the revocation of wheat and flour subsidies and severe power cuts in the entire area.

The demonstrators also stated that if the demands of the AAC are not met, then the diaspora will round up and organise demonstrations outside the consulates of Pakistan situated in Bartania and the US.

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The demonstrators also stated that they would organise demonstrations outside the UN if the demands are not met by the PoJK administrations soon.

During the demonstration, a demonstrator stated that, "our people in PoJK still struggle to survive, and are not given even basic amenities. In their own land, they are being treated as second-grade citizens. They are still struggling for their basic needs like water electricity and cheap flour."

"When we raise our voices for our rights, a puppet minister is sent to negotiate with us, a person who does not belong to our lands and doesn't understand our problems is sent by the administration to listen to our demands. What has been happening for over 70 years was once again repeated and we were backstabbed. Our signs were taken on the MOU's and then non of the promises were kept. Now again the action of backstabbing is prepared in PoJK, but this time we promise that we will continue our protests until the demands are not met" he added.

The demonstrators also claimed that activists from PoJK are often arrested on baseless accusations and, are often detained whenever by law enforcement agencies. Meanwhile, the abduction of Khwaja Khursheed Ahmed, a prominent figure from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), has triggered widespread protests in the region.

Local activists and student leaders organised sit-ins and demonstrations across various districts of PoJK on Wednesday, demanding the unconditional release of Ahmed and other detained political activists. They also issued a warning that a long march from Kotli to Muzzafarabad would be initiated if their demands were not met.

During a sit-in, Khawaja Mujtaba Banday, a student leader from PoJK, voiced his concerns, stating, "We have been highlighting the issue of enforced disappearances for a long time. Our activists advocating for people's rights are being abducted. They talk big about freedom, but the reality is different. It seems our struggle for rights is never-ending. Every time we speak up, our activists are abducted by unknown men. We condemn the authorities who use covert means to suppress dissent."

Banday emphasized the importance of due process, saying, "If anyone is accused of wrongdoing, the courts and constitution of PoJK are here to ensure justice. No constitution allows for the abduction and torture of individuals." He demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all imprisoned activists from PoJK, including Ahmed, and criticised the administration for its treatment of locals. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Dubai [UAE], June 21 (ANI/WAM): Major General Abdullah Ali Al Ghaithi, Assistant Commandant for Operations Affairs at Dubai Police, emphasised the force's commitment to raising traffic awareness and promoting a culture of safety among road users that prevents traffic accidents and related fatalities, ensuring the highest levels of safety for all.

Al Ghaithi stated that Dubai Police is dedicated to enhancing road safety through intensified traffic control operations.

Also Read | Live News Updates Today.

"These operations target traffic violations and reckless drivers, contributing to safer roads and fewer fatalities," he said.

Al Ghaithi highlighted the significant risk posed by e-scooters, bicycles, and electric bikes, primarily when used in unauthorised areas or on public roads. "Dubai Police prioritises the safety of riders and other road users through regular awareness campaigns," he reaffirmed.

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In the first half of 2024, accidents involving e-scooters, bicycles, and electric bikes resulted in four fatalities, one severe injury, 19 moderate injuries, and five minor injuries. 7804 violations were recorded, and 4474 scooters and bicycles were confiscated.

Al Ghaithi outlined various fines for violations, such as riding on roads with a speed limit exceeding 60 km/h, riding dangerously, carrying passengers on e-scooters, and riding against traffic.

He emphasised the importance of adhering to safety measures, including using designated lanes, wearing appropriate clothing and helmets, and avoiding riding at night or in adverse weather conditions.

Al Ghaithi urged cyclists to adhere to traffic rules and regulations, use designated paths, and prioritise safety. He also encouraged the public to report any negative phenomena or dangerous behaviours through the "Police Eye" service or call the "We Are All Police" service at 901. (ANI/WAM)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
The Canadian actor was known for his varied roles in "M*A*S*H" and "The Hunger Games," among others. His son said Sutherland "loved what he did" and led "a life well lived."Canadian actor Donald Sutherland has died, his family announced on Thursday. He was 88.

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"With a heavy heart, I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away," his son Kiefer Sutherland posted on social media.

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Sutherland won numerous accolades during his career spanning the 1960s through to the 2020s.

A storied career on screen

Sutherland was once one of the biggest stars in Hollywood thanks to his roles like Hawkeye Piece, the rascally army surgeon in "M*A*S*H," or a quirky tank commander Sgt. Oddball in the film "Kelly's Heroes."

He was known for his tall frame and piercing eyes, that helped him play both dashing lead men as well as antiheroes and villains.

Sutherland remained active long after his initial stardom and won over a new generation of fans in the 21st century as President Coriolanus Snow in "The Hunger Games."

"I personally think [he was] one of the most important actors in the history of film. Never daunted by a role, good, bad or ugly," his son wrote.

"He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more than that. A life well lived."

Sutherland attributed his illustrious career to his love of cinema.

"I love to work. I passionately love to work," he once said in 1998.

"I love to feel my hand fit into the glove of some other character. I feel a huge freedom  time stops for me. I'm not as crazy as I used to be, but I'm still a little crazy."

In 2017, he received an Academy Honorary Award for his acting but failed to get an Oscar nod during his lengthy career. He won two Golden Globe awards for "Citizen X" and the TV film "Path to War."

"I wish I could say thank you to all of the characters that I've played, thank them for using their lives to inform my life," Sutherland said in his speech accepting the honorary Oscar.

His talent agency CAA said, "Sutherland is survived by his wife Francine Racette, sons Roeg, Rossif, Angus, and Kiefer, daughter Rachel, and four grandchildren."

zc/ab,lo (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 21, 2024 12:00 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
On 20 June eight of the ten candidates in Venezuelas 28 July presidential election signed an agreement to respect the election results, although, the candidate for the main opposition coalition Plataforma Unitaria Democratica (PUD), did not sign.

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The Venezuela elections are about to happen next month, and eight of the 10 candidates vying to be president have all signed an agreement binding them to respect the results of the race. Nicolas Maduro was one of the signatories. However, one notable exception is the opposition's main candidate Edmundo Gonzalez who is leading the dictator in the polls. Maduro is known for cheating his way to victory as his numbers remain dismal.

Venezuela's electoral body was behind the pledge, but many in Venezuela found the declaration dubious as Maduro has repeatedly been accused of cheating, and the declaration could cement his victory if he wins in questionable ways.

"Now, it is the document of the electoral arbiter. Whatever the electoral arbiter says, amen," the Venezuelan strongman said after the signing ceremony. "I call on all Venezuelans to support this document and to respect the electoral arbiter, the National Electoral Council, and that its word be sacred."

The Associated Press noted that the electoral body that oversees the election has already been stacked with allies of the ruling party. Any challenge may also be shut down as Maduro has also packed the Supreme Court with justices allied to him. These same Supreme Court justices upheld the disqualification of united opposition candidate Maria Corina Machado, not allowing her to run.

Gonzalez himself shot back, saying that any "agreement can never be imposed unilaterally" and "must emerge from a respectful dialogue between the parties."

He also pointed out that the Venezuelan government had already violated the agreement it had with the opposition when it rescinded g an invitation to the European Union to send a mission of electoral observers and increasing "the persecution against leaders and supporters of our campaign."

READ MORE: Colombia Gives Legal Status to 540,000 Migrants from Venezuela

Venezuela Opposition Says Only Massive Electoral Fraud Can Stop Edmundo Gonzalez from Winning

Meanwhile, the other members of the Venezuelan opposition are sounding the alarm as Maduro ramps up his repression and may be poised to win another election where he is polling far behind his opposition opponent.

"This is anything but a conventional election," Maria Corina Machado told the Financial Times. She was replaced by Gonzalez after the Maduro-allied Supreme Court upheld her ban. "Many Venezuelans fully understand what this opportunity represents: something far bigger than the election itself."

If opinion polls are to be believed, Maduro and his United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) may be losing big as they trail far behind. Because of this, Machado stated in her Financial Times interview, "If all the votes are counted, we will win by a landslide. The only way that won't happen is if there is a monumental fraud."

Venezuela Elections Facing Many Obstacles

Venezuela's stunt in disinviting the EU to observe its election has now thrown the fairness of the race into question, especially with the Supreme Court upholding Machado's disqualification and breaking the government's promise to the US to allow banned opposition candidates to run.

According to Americas Quarterly, to make matters worse, Colombia's Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo announced that they would not be sending observers, while Brazil has announced it will not also send a mission to observe the election. The UN and the Carter Center are still invited but are still considering their responses to Venezuela's invitations after the EU was kicked out.

Venezuela's government is also looking into blocking ballot access and impeding voter registration for Venezuelans who are living abroad. Many have since fled the country because of the persecution from the Maduro regime.

READ MORE: Venezuela Election: Opposition Candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Holds First Rally

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Venezuela Elections 2024: Thousands rally in support of President Maduro | Race To Power - WION
Deadly heat waves in the United States, Mexico, and Central America have become 35 times more likely due to global warming, according to climate scientists.

The World Weather Attribution (WWA) group found that the extreme heat in May and June was four times more likely now than 25 years ago.

This heat has killed at least 125 people in Mexico and caused numerous heat strokes, according to Aljazeera.

WWA warns that ongoing fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions will expose millions more to dangerous heat levels.

This year is already the hottest on record, with extreme temperatures even before summer's start.

READ NEXT: American Man Dies, Wife Injured in Mexico Resort Jacuzzi Electrocution

Impact of Extreme Heat

Heat is identified as the deadliest form of extreme weather, often underestimated despite its severe impact on vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, and outdoor workers.

In Mexico and Central America, poor housing conditions and limited access to cooling services worsen its effects, especially in informal settlements.

The stability of the electricity supply, crucial for healthcare facilities, is also threatened by extreme heat.

An intense and persistent Mexico heat wave has led to numerous deaths and over 2,300 cases of heat-related illnesses this year alone.

Wildlife in southern Mexico, including howler monkeys and tropical birds, has succumbed to the extreme temperatures, exacerbating water scarcity amid drought conditions.

Migrants and construction workers endure additional hardships under the relentless sun.

Margarita Salazar Perez, 82, described her struggle without air conditioning as temperatures soared, illustrating the widespread impact on daily life, AP News reports.

The occurrence and intensity of heat waves are on the rise due to climate change, as highlighted by the WWA study across regions like southern California, Arizona, and Central America.

Record-breaking temperatures and unprecedented warm nights underscore the influence of global warming.

The heat wave has exacerbated socio-economic disparities, with marginalized communities facing greater risks due to inadequate cooling resources.

Future warming will likely intensify these events, necessitating robust heat safety laws, resilient infrastructure, and improved urban planning.

As global temperatures rise, urgent measures are crucial to protect those most vulnerable to increasingly common and deadly heat waves.

Human-Caused Climate Change Raises Heat Wave Frequency, Posing Dire Risks for Central America and Mexico

The analysis comes from World Weather Attribution, a research group specializing in rapid attribution studies.

These studies quickly determine how much human-caused climate change, fueled by activities like burning fossil fuels, contributes to severe weather events such as heat waves and floods, CBC News noted.

According to their findings, today's climate makes such heat waves expected every 15 years, compared to approximately once every 60 years under conditions resembling the year 2000.

This means residents in parts of Central America, Mexico, and the southern US could experience five to six heat waves in their lifetime, with increasing frequency as global temperatures rise.

Beyond the daytime highs that garnered attention, the analysis emphasized the significant impact of high nighttime temperatures on health and comfort.

Researchers found that nighttime temperatures in Central and North America are now 200 times more likely due to human-caused climate change.

The study underscores the vulnerability of Central America and Mexico, which lack resources compared to wealthier nations like the US, which have dedicated climate officials and governance systems to address extreme heat.

Karina Izquierdo of the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, part of the study, highlighted disparities in heat adaptation and infrastructure.

The research urges communities to prepare heat warning systems, protective laws for outdoor workers, reliable electricity, and improved urban planning to mitigate future heat waves.

READ MORE: Haiti: Surge in Gang Violence Forces Hundreds of Thousands to Flee Homes

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Climate change turbocharged killer heat wave in Southwest US and Mexico, researchers say - From WBNS 10TV
Two Illinois girls tragically lost their lives in a devastating collision between a WaveRunner and a boat on Lake Marie, part of the Chain O'Lakes.

Identified as Elle Kim, 13, from Long Grove, Illinois, and Sarina Vootkur, 16, from Lake Forest, California, the incident occurred Tuesday evening, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office, according to ABC 7.

Details of the Incident

The crash occurred around 5:15 PM when a Yamaha WaveRunner, operated by one of Illinois girls, Sarina Vootkur, was traveling near the channel to Grass Lake.

At the same time, a Sea Ray Cabin Cruiser, piloted by a 55-year-old Antioch man, approached the area, Lake and McHenry County Scanner reports.

Witnesses reported that the WaveRunner, traveling at high speed, collided with the boat despite efforts to avoid it.

Both girls on the WaveRunner, wearing life vests, were thrown into the water upon impact.

The boat's occupants swiftly rescued the girls, administered aid, and called emergency services.

Despite these efforts, both victims succumbed to blunt force injuries at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office, alongside the Illinois Conservation Police, continues to investigate the incident.

Preliminary findings indicate that the collision was a tragic accident.

The community and emergency responders expressed condolences to the families affected.

Fire departments from Fox Lake, Lake Villa, Round Lake, Spring Grove, and Grayslake assisted at the scene, highlighting the collaborative effort in responding to the tragedy.

READ NEXT: Texas Truck Driver Admits Cocaine Use Before Fatal School Bus Crash

Eyewitness Accounts and Safety Concerns

Eyewitnesses recounted seeing the WaveRunner and the Sea Ray approaching each other at high speeds near the Grass Lake Channel.

Despite efforts to maneuver, the collision was unavoidable.

Deputy Chief Chris Covelli described it as a heartbreaking Illinois jet ski crash, emphasizing either vessel's lack of evasive action.

Randy Chmiola, a frequent boater in the area, expressed deep concern over the incident, CBS News noted.

He noted the challenges of controlling watercraft and the inability to brake on roads.

Illinois jet ski crash, he stressed, underscores the risks, especially for young and inexperienced operators.

As investigations continue, authorities are focused on understanding the sequence of events leading to the collision and ensuring safety measures on the waterways.

The incident has prompted discussions among local boating communities about safety protocols and the importance of vigilance while navigating the Chain O'Lakes.

The tragic loss of Illinois girls has deeply impacted the local community, with condolences pouring in for their families and friends.

Many have shared memories of the girls and expressed shock over the suddenness of the accident.

In response to the incident, authorities and boating enthusiasts advocate for enhanced safety awareness on Lake Marie and other interconnected lakes.

This includes education on boating regulations, speed limits, and life-saving equipment such as life vests.

Local officials, including Chief Jon Cokefair of the Antioch Fire Department, highlighted the swift response of emergency services and emphasized the importance of preparedness in such emergencies.

Efforts are underway to review existing safety protocols and consider additional measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

The Lake County Coroner's Office conducted autopsies on both victims, confirming the cause of death as blunt force injuries sustained during the collision.

This grim detail has underscored the need for continued vigilance and adherence to safety guidelines on the waterways.

As the investigation progresses, the Lake County Sheriff's Office remains committed to providing updates and supporting the affected families through this difficult time.

The community, united in grief, is rallying around the families of Illinois girls, offering support and solidarity in their mourning.

READ MORE: Texas Authorities Identify Body of 12-Year-Old Girl Found in Creek

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Girls, 16 and 13, killed in WaveRunner crash on Lake Marie in Antioch identified by medical examiner - From ABC 7 Chicago
A Bucks County man is facing 35 felony charges for his alleged role in a daytime heist last month at an Allentown bank.

Kareem Ali Greene, 40, of Telford, is charged with a dozen felony counts of robbery and multiple additional charges. Court records do not show any attorney information yet for Greene.

Allentown police were called to Muhlenberg College, 2400 Chew St., for a reported gunman carrying two firearms inside a campus building at 12:15 p.m. on May 6. A minute later, Lehigh County dispatch received another 911 call reporting a gunman walking around the same area.

As investigators swept the campus and several city public schools went on lock down, an armed robbery at 12:28 p.m. May 6 was reported at a nearby Wells Fargo bank, 100 Block of College Drive. The bank is just blocks away from the college.

Wells Fargo bank is just blocks away from Muhlenburg College in Allentown.Google maps

A masked man wearing a black cape, later identified as Greene, entered the bank while carrying a handgun and ordered everyone inside to the ground, according to the affidavit of probable cause. City police said patrons and employees were both inside the bank at the time of the incident.

Greene then allegedly climbed over the teller counter and began emptying tills, pocketing over $20,000 in cash. Witnesses were able to provide the vehicle registration of the Mitsubishi Greene allegedly arrived and fled in. The car was reported stolen, city police said.

Plate reader software showed the Mitsubishi at 12:03 p.m. May 6 parked at Lehigh and Lumber streets, city police said. Residential video surveillance footage later showed Greene exiting that car while wearing the black cape and entering a Dodge Charger parked behind the vehicle, according to police.

On May 17, city police were called to a reported suspicious vehicle matching the description of the Mitsubishi in the 2600 block of College Lane in Salisbury Township. College Lane is a few blocks away from the Wells Fargo Bank involved in the alleged robbery.

Investigators connected the license plate on the Dodge with a Ford Focus from New York that is currently suspended, according to court records. Investigators tracked the Dodge shortly before 11 a.m. May 6 traveling along American Parkway and then parking in the 200 block of Hamilton Street, court records state.

Video surveillance footage showed Greene on a motorized scooter meeting up with the Dodge driver and getting into the vehicle, according to court records. Greene later placed the scooter into a Jeep, which was registered to him, court records state.

City detectives were familiar with Greene, who had a prior July 2021 conviction, police said. They were able to match still photographs and video footage from the robbery to Greene, according to court records.

Police on May 22 obtained a search warrant for Greenes cellphone. Data showed he made a 911 call to Muhlenberg College allegedly as a diversion just prior to the bank robbery, court records state.

Video surveillance footage showed three men at the alleged crime scene, with two staying in the Dodge Charger, authorities said. Greene was shown getting into the rear passenger side  the same door he got into after the robbery, city police said.

Plate readers additionally showed the Dodge Charger active from the time it left South Sixth Street until the bank robbery, authorities said. Then, video surveillance footage showed Greene at 1:54 p.m. and after the robbery, walking toward, entering and driving away in the Jeep, according to police.

Footage also shows Greene counting the money and handing it off to an unknown male, court records state.

In addition to robbery, he is charged with: a dozen counts of felony conspiracy to commit robbery; seven counts of felony making terroristic threats; two counts felony of firearms offenses; one count of felony theft; one count of felony receiving stolen property; one count of misdemeanor weapons possession; and six counts of misdemeanor simple assault.

Greene on Thursday was arraigned before District Judge Linda Vega Sirop, who set bail at $800,000. In lieu of bail, he was taken to the Lehigh County jail.

Greene is due back in court for a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled for 1:15 p.m. July 3 before Sirop. That hearing will determine if theres sufficient evidence to send the new charges toward trial in the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas.

City officers sometime before 2 p.m. Monday, May 6, 2024 were dispatched for a reported armed robbery at the Wells Fargo bank in the 100 Block of College Drive. That incident followed an unfounded report of an armed person at Muhlenberg College, city police said.Mike Nester | lehighvalleylive.com contributor

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Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
A Bethlehem Township man who hosted the incendiary podcast Alt-Right Armory was sentenced last week to three years and a month in prison from charges stemming from his cache of 13 machine guns.

Prosecutors described Joseph Paul Berger as a dangerous man who was fascinated with guns and violence and who hosted an anti-government and anti-law enforcement podcast. He was charged with illegally owning 12 machine guns and 13 silencers. He pleaded guilty to one count each of possession of a machine gun and possession of a non-registered suppressor.
Taoiseach Simon Harris has praised a woman for coming forward and speaking out after she was assaulted by a serving Irish solider.

Cathal Crotty, 22, with an address at Parkroe Heights, Ardnacrusha, Co Clare, pleaded guilty to assaulting Natasha OBrien in Limerick in 2022.

Ms OBrien has criticised the three-year suspended sentence handed down to Crotty.

Asked about the case on Friday, Mr Harris said he wanted to create a very different society for young women.

I want to thank Natasha OBrien and praise her for coming forward, for standing up, for speaking out, Mr Harris said, speaking from the Isle of Man.

I think that is really important. I would encourage any victim or survivor of violence, of gender-based violence to always come forward.

Asked about the suspended sentence Crotty received, Mr Harris said: I find myself precluded from being allowed to comment on the sentence of a court despite perhaps having quite a lot that I would have liked being able to say, other than let me say this  the legal process may not be concluded because it is absolutely always open to the DPP to appeal a sentence and also to appeal the leniency of a sentence.

I need to be particularly careful in that context.

But we are living in a country where there is still an epidemic of gender-based violence.

We need to call that and every single person in Irish society, and every single person, no matter what role youre in, has a role to play in relation to this.

I know as a Government, we remain absolutely determined to create a society where there is a zero-tolerance approach in relation to this.

We have a zero-tolerance approach in Ireland to sexual violence, to gender-based violence.

Its really important that every part of society plays its full role in getting us to that zero-tolerance place that we need to be, which we clearly arent there yet, lets be absolutely categoric about that.

There is still far too much violence against women in our country. I, as a Taoiseach, as a parent, as a father of a daughter, want to create a very different society for young women.

The Defence Forces said it had begun internal proceedings in relation to Crotty, which Mr Harris welcomed.

We should always expect people in our Defence Forces to be people of the highest standards, highest integrity and respect for the law, he said.

Earlier, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said that Ireland still had a long way to go in tackling violence against women.

Ms McEntee described the incident as a vicious and unprovoked attack and commended Ms OBrien for her bravery in coming forward.

Speaking in general, she said that she expected the sexual offences legislation she had been working on to be enacted before the Dail summer recess in three weeks time.

In the next few weeks, therell be new laws implemented to make sure that if somebody gives character references in cases, that they are willing to come forward and stand over those and to be cross-examined  in cases when it comes to domestic violence, sexual violence, violence against women, she told RTE Radio.

This is not in the middle of a trial where obviously you have somebody defending themselves, but where somebody has been found guilty and there is a sentencing, if somebody is willing to stand up knowing that someone has been found guilty, they should be in a position that they can be cross-examined, and that they should be able to stand over what theyre saying  and I say that broadly.

She added: My job is to make sure that there was a maximum sentence there and over the last number of years, what I have seen consistently, where you have assaults that have taken place, sentences have not seemed strong enough.

Thats why Ive doubled the sentence from five years to 10 years, giving greater discretion to the judges who are hearing the cases.

When asked about the safety of women in Ireland in general, Ms McEntee said: I think we have a long way to go.

I think were in a much better space than we were.

Womens Aid last year saw more women than ever before seeking their help and I think we have to look at the positives of that.

I dont think that suddenly the number of women that are being assaulted and violently assaulted in their homes, or elsewhere, has increased that much in a year.

I think its that more women are coming forward, because were talking about it, because we now have a whole-of-government strategy that says everybody has a responsibility to deal with this issue, because were talking about changing behaviours more broadly, because were talking about engaging with young people at the earliest stage to say that this type of behaviour and action is not to be tolerated.

Its not that long ago that people said, well, thats a domestic thats in somebodys home, we dont have anything to do with that.

I think were much better than we were and were in a much better place than we were only a few years ago. But we have a long way to go.

This is an epidemic. I really believe that.

I think if what we saw what happened to Natasha was happening at the same rate as we know its happening in peoples homes, there wouldnt be a day that we werent talking about it. But because its behind closed doors, because its in peoples homes, theres still a reluctance to talk about it in the way that we should.

But I think we need to keep at it, she said.

In a statement on social media, the Irish Defence Forces said: Any conviction in a civilian court may have implications for the retention and service of members of the Defence Forces, as stipulated in Defence Forces Regulations.

Once due process has been completed in a civilian court of law, it becomes a matter for the relevant Defence Forces authorities in accordance with Defence Forces Regulations.

We can confirm that these proceedings have commenced and as such, it would be inappropriate to comment further on this specific case.
There is more to do to maintain peace on the island of Ireland and improve Anglo-Irish relations, Irish premier Simon Harris has said.

The Taoiseach was speaking at a British-Irish Council summit on the Isle of Man on Friday.

He said that former taoiseach Bertie Ahern, an architect of the Good Friday Agreement, was entirely correct when he said Anglo-Irish relations had become much more fragile and strained since Brexit.

Mr Harris, who became premier in April, said he intends to invest a significant amount of time in maintaining Anglo-Irish relations during his tenure.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, Scottish First Minister John Swinney, and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Emma-Little Pengelly, who were also at the summit, said they would like to see the next British prime minister attend the council.

Speaking at a press event on Friday, Mr Harris said he hoped that peace on the island is a little bit better than frosty, but added theres certainly more that we can do and should do.

The Taoiseach praised practical projects of co-operation, citing the Ulster Canal and construction of the Narrow Water Bridge.

I think forums like the British-Irish Council and the summit thats taking place here today are absolutely vital because Bertie (Ahern) is entirely correct, as is anybody else who understands that peace and meaningful engagement is based on interpersonal relationships, Mr Harris said.

It is really important that we, the custodians of the Good Friday Agreement, now harness the incredible gift that has been given to us.

Certainly I intend to invest a significant amount of time in those interpersonal relationships.

I was really delighted to have the opportunity to visit the First and deputy First Minister and Stormont, very grateful to them for hosting me, I look forward to welcoming them to Dublin in the autumn for the next North-South Ministerial Council.

Ms Little-Pengelly added that vigilance on Anglo-Irish relationships is needed and they need to be tended to.

The last number of years was a great demonstration of how those relationships can deteriorate very quickly, she said.

Mr Heaton-Harris said that the relationships formed at events such as the British-Irish councils are invaluable in times of crisis.

He said he believed he had tried to improve relations, which needs to be constantly cherished and nurtured.

Noting that the leaders got to know each other a bit better at a dinner on Thursday night, he said: Its through gatherings like this where, when problems come in a relationship, you have a personal relationship with someone who you can talk to.

You would be in danger of undervaluing this just by judging it from the communique that came out at the end of the day. We talked about really important issues. Ive learned so much in my time here.

Weve all got quite different politics and quite different remits. But we come together and learn from each other and those interpersonal relationships are unbelievably valuable, especially at times of crisis.

Asked about whether the next British prime minister should attend the council, Mr Heaton-Harris said it should be part of the calendar for any British prime minister, while Mr Swinney wholeheartedly agreed that it would be beneficial for the UK prime minister to be here on a regular basis.

Delighted to meet First Minister of Scotland @JohnSwinney today in the Isle of Man at the British Irish Council. Ireland and Scotland share so much history and culture. We committed to strengthening our ties. Looking forward to future collaborations and friendship. pic.twitter.com/OZAzqzgh3O  Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) June 21, 2024

Mr Swinney added: In general, I think we all see our politics is pretty fractured, and the political system is pretty fractured.

So actually the opportunity that is fostered by this body for political leaders across these islands to come together, and to have courteous and respectful dialogue  which is what weve had today, which has always been my experience of the British Council  we frankly cant have enough of that and we need more of it.

Mr Harris said that it merits consideration by the next British prime minister to attend the next British-Irish Council, particularly as the UK is no longer a member of the European Union.

So I think it merits consideration as to how do we ensure that theres plenty of structures in place for that regular dialogue between the British prime minister of the day and the Irish taoiseach of the day, and indeed the administrations are represented here because certainly I would value that and look forward to being in London in July where the UK Government will host the European Political Community meeting and hoping to have early engagement with the British prime minister.

Ms Little-Pengelly added: Very many people around the table have very busy jobs and very few opportunities, I think, to actually have those conversations and this provides that opportunity to do so.

Certainly moving forward I would like to see that prioritised. I think it does show that respect as well to the range of countries and jurisdictions and places across the British Isles and gives us that opportunity to ensure that all of our issues are aired at an appropriate level.

First Minister Michelle ONeill, who did not attend the summit due to an illness, took part in the meeting via Zoom.
Celtic Con is once again returning to the Dunamaise Art Centre in Portlaoise, and is set to be bigger than ever.

The convention is completely free to attend, and is suitable for all ages. It is running as part of the Old Fort Quarter Festival.

Organisers have said that sadly, this may be the last year the event takes place in Portlaoise, so this year will be bigger and better than ever in a bid to save the Con.

Alongside our trusty mascot, Celtic Connor, were trying to save our convention! Our Portlaoise event has been running since 2017 having been first set up by Martin Moore of Celtic Comics (Sadly now closed) in Portlaoise, said organisers.

The group have spoken on the difficulties in being heard in an area that is predominantly interested in sports.

At Celtic Con, we feature a range of different talents. Talents that can go overlooked, especially in a smaller area like the Midlands, they said.

Celtic Con is THE convention of the Midlands. Were based in an area that is predominantly interested in sports, but we want to make our voice heard. Celtic Con is all about bringing together people from all walks of life. Be it people who just want to have a wander, artists, comic lovers, gamers, cosplayers and more!.

This year, the talent featured are both local and international.

Special guests include Jmac Makeup (finalist, Glow Up Series 2),Brick Con, Colm Griffin (Image, IDW, Titan Comics, Source Point Press), Special Cosplay Guests REEL ICONS Ireland, 501 Ireland Garrison (The StarWars guys) and The Guild of Nerds.

We showcase some of Irelands finest comic and childrens books creators, digital and traditional artists, crafters, and more! Our talents this year are both local and international, and we are very excited to have such a range, Celtic Con said.

All are worth coming along to see, and purchasing from if you can. Every little helps, and everyone is truly grateful for the support!.

Celtic Con Old Fort Quarter Festival.

Celtic Con has always had a gaming zone, but this year a partnership with Level Up Gaming has included a gaming van at the event. The gaming van includes 10 4K resolution TVs, and a variety of of consoles such as PS5s, Xbox Series, and Nintendo Switches. There will also be exhibitors and market stalls at the event.

The group aim to create a safe and welcome environment for all, with particular emphasis on support for the LGBTQ+ community, and for those on the spectrum.

Everyone has a place and everyone is welcome in our space. We pride ourselves on creating a safe space, filled with love, support and accessibility, they said. We believe in everyone having a voice and a space. We love seeing our community shine.

Celtic Con will take place on June 29 from 12pm to 5pm at the Dunamaise Arts Centre. Entry is free, with the Con raising money in a Charity Auction for the Irish Cancer Society.
It has emerged that the soldier convicted of an unprovoked attack on a woman in Limerick city has been formally brought before his commanding officer and told that he faces dismissal from the Defence Forces.

Cathal Crotty, aged 22, of Parkroe Heights, Ardnacrusha, Co Clare, beat Natasha OBrien, 24, unconscious in a random unprovoked attack, which occurred on May 28, 2022, on OConnell Street in Limerick, and boasted about it afterwards on social media.

Mr Crotty, a serving Irish Defence Forces soldier, received a three-year sentence, suspended in its entirety, after pleading guilty to assault causing harm.

The Journal reports that Mr Crotty was paraded before a senior commanding officer earlier this Friday, June 21, and informed that he is likely to face dismissal from the military in the wake of his conviction.

In a statement posted on X this Friday, the Defence Forces confirmed that proceedings had commenced against Mr Crotty, who presently serves as a private, however stated it would be "inappropriate" for them to comment any further at this time.

"We wish to address the conversation that is currently taking place on social media, as we are an organisation committed to honesty and transparency," they stated.

"Any conviction in a civilian court may have implications for the retention and service of members of the Defence Forces, as stipulated in Defence Forces Regulations.

We wish to address the conversation that is currently taking place on social media, as we are an organisation committed to honesty and transparency.



Any conviction in a civilian court may have implications for the retention and service of members of the Defence Forces, as  Oglaigh na hEireann (@defenceforces) June 21, 2024

"Once due process has been completed in a civilian court of law it becomes a matter for the relevant Defence Forces authorities, in accordance with Defence Forces Regulations.

"We can confirm that these proceedings have commenced and as such, it would be inappropriate to comment further on this specific case," the statement reads.

The suspended three year sentence, handed down on Thursday by Judge Tom O'Donnell, has provoked ouutrage across the country.

There has been a swell of outrage across the nation and the case has been the subject of headlines and long discussions on the national media including RTE's Liveline and The Pat Kenny Show on Newstalk.

Meanwhile, ROSA, the Socialist Feminist Movement, have organised a demonstration this Saturday, June 22 at 3pm on Bedford Row, the details of which have been widely shared across social media platforms this Friday by members of the public.

"The patriarchal justice system makes its priorities clear again, abusers livelihoods mean more than womens lives. Protest the culture of impunity that perpetuates male violence against women this Saturday at 3pm on Bedford Row," ROSA stated in their press release.
The HSE has advised that the MMR Vaccine is the only protection against measles.

Two doses of MMR Vaccine in your lifetime are needed to give full protection.

The HSE MMR vaccine catch up programme is now running in community vaccination clinics in Leitrim.

Measles is a highly infectious disease that can cause serious complications, particularly in children under one year of age, pregnant women, and the immunosuppressed.

The MMR catch-up campaign aims to protect against measles due to a rise in cases of the disease in the UK and Europe.

The campaign focuses on delivering the MMR vaccine to key groups, who may have missed their vaccines in the past:

Children

Young adults

Health and Care workers.

Those eligible are those born in Ireland from 1.1.1978 and do not have evidence of two MMR vaccines or if born outside of Ireland and do not have evidence of two MMR vaccines at any age.

If you are planning a holiday outside Ireland, you can now get your baby vaccinated before you go. They must be between six and 11 months. They should then get their next dose as normal at 12 months and the final dose in junior infants.

MMR vaccines are available free of charge from GPs to all groups, but primarily to those under 18 years, and from HSE community clinics for eligible people.

A list of Vaccination Clinics is available here: https://www2.hse.ie/services/mmr-vaccine/vaccination-clinics.

All clinics are walk-in or you can book an appointment by visiting: https://www2.hse.ie/services/mmr-vaccine/book-an-appointment.

Additionally, the HSE will also provide targeted clinics for specific groups including students and young people in education settings and underserved groups.

Further information about measles symptoms is available at: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/mmr-vaccine.

If you have these symptoms, please seek medical advice. Phone ahead prior to attending your GP, Emergency Department or other healthcare provider to inform the healthcare professionals that you have these symptoms, so they can make necessary arrangements. In addition, please alert medical staff if you have been in contact with someone who has measles or if you have recently travelled to an area where you know measles has been spreading.

Clinics in Leitrim will take place at the below times and dates:

DATE: Tuesday, June 25, 2024

LOCATION: Leitrim Community Vaccination Base, Leitrim Road, Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim, N41 XC59

TIME: 1.30pm to 3.30pm

DATE: Wednesday, June 26, 2024

LOCATION: Leitrim Community Vaccination Base, HSE Community Services, Leitrim Road, Carrick on Shannon, Co. Leitrim N41 XC59

TIME: 10am to 12.30pm
The Department of Public Health, HSE West and North West, is encouraging the public to be aware of an increase of COVID-19 infections in our community. Ongoing awareness of symptoms of COVID-19 and taking steps to prevent the spread in both the community and in healthcare settings remain important to protect those most vulnerable.

There is a new COVID-19 variant (JN.1) circulating in Ireland. This new variant in the community has resulted in an increase in outbreaks in nursing homes, hospitals and other healthcare settings putting vulnerable patients at risk of infection.

If you have any symptoms of COVID-19 and feel unwell, you should:

 Stay at home until 48 hours after your symptoms are mostly or fully gone.

 Avoid contact with other people, especially people at higher risk from COVID-19.

 You do not need a COVID-19 test unless a GP or health professional tells you to. If you choose to do one, there is different advice to follow if you have a positive COVID-19 test.

Dr Aine McNamara, Area Director of Public Health, Department of Public Health HSE West and North West, said: We are reminding everyone of the importance of taking steps to prevent the spread of serious illness from COVID-19, particularly for those most vulnerable in our community. Avoid visiting those in healthcare settings such as hospitals and nursing homes if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19:

 Wash your hands properly and often.

 Cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue or your sleeve - put used tissues into a bin and wash your hands.

 Let fresh air into your home by opening windows, doors and air vents as much as possible.

 Clean objects and surfaces that other people touch.
NASA, Partners Conduct Fifth Asteroid Impact Exercise, Release Summary





WASHINGTON, June 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- For the benefit of all, NASA released a summary Thursday of the fifth biennial Planetary Defense Interagency Tabletop Exercise. NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office, in partnership with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and with the assistance of the U.S. Department of State Office of Space Affairs, convened the tabletop exercise to inform and assess our ability as a nation to respond effectively to the threat of a potentially hazardous asteroid or comet.

Although there are no known significant asteroid impact threats for the foreseeable future, hypothetical exercises provide valuable insights by exploring the risks, response options, and opportunities for collaboration posed by varying scenarios, from minor regional damage with little warning to potential global catastrophes predicted years or even decades in the future.

"The uncertainties in these initial conditions for the exercise allowed participants to consider a particularly challenging set of circumstances," said Lindley Johnson, planetary defense officer emeritus NASA Headquarters in Washington. "A large asteroid impact is potentially the only natural disaster humanity has the technology to predict years in advance and take action to prevent."

During the exercise, participants considered potential national and global responses to a hypothetical scenario in which a never-before-detected asteroid was identified that had, according to initial calculations, a 72% chance of hitting Earth in approximately 14 years. The preliminary observations described in the exercise, however, were not sufficient to precisely determine the asteroid's size, composition, and long-term trajectory. To complicate this year's hypothetical scenario, essential follow-up observations would have to be delayed for at least seven months ? a critical loss of time ? as the asteroid passed behind the Sun as seen from Earth's vantage point in space.

Conducting exercises enable government stakeholders to identify and resolve potential issues as part of preparation for any real-world situation. It was held in April at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, and brought together nearly 100 representatives from across U.S. government agencies and, for the first time, international collaborators on planetary defense.

"Our mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters," said Leviticus "L.A." Lewis, FEMA detailee to NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office. "We work across the country every day before disasters happen to help people and communities understand and prepare for possible risks. In the event of a potential asteroid impact, FEMA would be a leading player in interagency coordination."

This exercise was the first to use data from NASA's DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) mission, the first in-space demonstration of a technology for defending Earth against potential asteroid impacts. The DART spacecraft, which impacted the asteroid moonlet Dimorphos on Sept. 26, 2022, confirmed a kinetic impactor could change the trajectory of an asteroid. Applying this or any type of technology to an actual impact threat would require many years of advance planning.

To help ensure humanity will have the time needed to evaluate and respond to a potentially hazardous asteroid or comet, NASA continues the development of its NEO Surveyor (Near-Earth Object Surveyor), an infrared space telescope designed specifically to expedite our ability to discover and characterize most of the potentially hazardous near-Earth objects many years before they could become an impact threat. The agency's NEO Surveyor's proposed launch date is set for June 2028.

NASA will publish a complete after-action report for the tabletop exercise later, which will include strengths and gaps identified from analysis of the response, other discussions during the exercise, and recommendations for improvement.

"These outcomes will help to shape future exercises and studies to ensure NASA and other government agencies continue improving planetary defense preparedness," said Johnson.

NASA established the Planetary Defense Coordination Office in 2016 to manage the agency's ongoing planetary-defense efforts. Johns Hopkins APL managed the DART mission for NASA as a project of the agency's Planetary Missions Program Office.

To learn more about planetary defense at NASA, visit:

https://science.nasa.gov/planetary-defense/

SOURCE NASA

20 june 2024 at 16:24

News published onand distributed by:
PPMD Applauds FDA Decision to Expand ELEVIDYS Label for Ages Four Years and Older





WASHINGTON, June 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) , a nonprofit organization leading the fight to end Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne) , applauds the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its decision to expand the labeled indication for ELEVIDYS, a micro-dystrophin gene therapy, to include individuals at least 4 years of age and remove ambulation restrictions, marking a significant milestone in the Duchenne treatment landscape. Additionally, the FDA has converted the ELEVIDYS accelerated approval to a traditional approval for ambulatory patients. The indication in non-ambulatory patients is under the accelerated approval pathway and will require confirmatory studies to convert to traditional approval.

The ELEVIDYS label now states that the adeno-associated virus (AAC) vector-based gene therapy is indicated in individuals at least 4 years of age: "For the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in patients who are ambulatory and have a confirmed mutation in the DMD gene," as well as, "For the treatment of DMD in patients who are non-ambulatory and have a confirmed mutation in the DMD gene," expanding the label previously approved and filed with the FDA through Accelerated Approval in June 2023 . This expanded indication offers hope and opportunity for a broader spectrum of individuals living with Duchenne and their families.

"This decision by the FDA represents a monumental leap forward in our collective efforts to end Duchenne muscular dystrophy," said PPMD Founding President and CEO Pat Furlong. "By expanding the label's age inclusion and removing ambulation restrictions, ELEVIDYS can now reach and benefit a more diverse population of Duchenne patients, providing more families with the opportunity to consider this treatment as an option for their child or themselves."

ELEVIDYS is made available and marketed in the United States by Sarepta Therapeutics. The FDA had previously granted an Accelerated Approval to ELEVIDYS for patients ages 4-5 years old in June 2023. In February 2024, FDA accepted and filed Sarepta Therapeutics' efficacy supplement to the Biologics License Application (BLA) for ELEVIDYS, with the efficacy supplement seeking to expand the therapy's labeled indication.

During its review, FDA also evaluated the efficacy supplement to convert the ELEVIDYS accelerated approval to a traditional approval. FDA approval of a drug means that data on the drug's effects have been reviewed by the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), and the drug is determined to provide benefits that outweigh its known and potential risks for the intended population. After review of the efficacy supplement, FDA has converted the ELEVIDYS accelerated approval to a traditional approval for ambulatory patients. ELEVIDYS is approved for non-ambulatory patients through the Accelerated Approval pathway based on the surrogate outcome of micro-dystrophin expression. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial.

"We extend our sincere appreciation to the FDA for its flexibility and dedication to patient-centric decision-making and its commitment to advancing therapies for rare diseases. Furthermore, we are eternally grateful to the Duchenne community, including patients, families, clinicians, researchers, and advocates, whose unwavering support and collaboration have been instrumental in driving progress in the fight to end Duchenne," Furlong added. "Patients and families need treatment options, and we applaud the expansion of these options. We also recognize this is just the beginning for AAV-based gene therapies, and we eagerly look forward to continued innovation and progress."

PPMD has long been optimistic that gene therapy could be a potential treatment for Duchenne. PPMD launched its Gene Therapy Initiative in 2017 as a long-term concept seeking to accelerate the potential of gene therapy as a therapeutic for Duchenne. Its early strategy was to bring attention to and fund key questions that must be answered in order for the technology to progress toward approvals. Since the launch of the Initiative, PPMD has funded over $7 million in a variety of gene therapy and related approaches to several institutions, including the work of Dr. Jerry Mendell at Nationwide Children's Hospital's Abigail Wexner Research Institute, which led to the development of ELEVIDYS.

The label for ELEVIDYS currently excludes patients who are younger than age 4. Sarepta has ongoing studies in these patients to determine if ELEVIDYS is safe and effective. Additionally, ELEVIDYS is currently not available for people with DMD gene deletions in exons 8 and/or 9 due to safety concerns.

Sarepta will participate in PPMD's 30th Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, taking place June 27-29, 2024, where we look forward to learning more about the expanded label.

For three decades, PPMD has been dedicated to working with researchers, clinicians, industry, and families to advance treatments for all people living with Duchenne and Becker. The organization employs a comprehensive approach to identify opportunities to accelerate development of all therapies for Duchenne, including regulatory, research, and patient-recruitment counsel to help expedite the progress of investigational products.

PPMD's patient-report registry, The Duchenne Registry , as well as PPMD's Duchenne Outcomes Research Interchange, serve as resources for researchers and industry to access aggregated, de-identified data provided by patients and families. Additionally, PPMD remains committed to its innovative patient engagement efforts, which include multiple patient preference studies and a revised community-generated draft guidance document, recently updated to reflect advancements in knowledge, understanding, care, clinical trials, and approvals. PPMD also takes a lead role in advocating for national newborn screening efforts for Duchenne, Becker, and carrier identification, as well as policy efforts around access and reimbursement.

ABOUT PARENT PROJECT MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY



Duchenne is a genetic disorder that slowly robs people of their muscle strength. Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) fights every single battle necessary to end Duchenne.

We demand optimal care standards and ensure every family has access to expert healthcare providers, cutting edge treatments, and a community of support. We invest deeply in treatments for this generation of Duchenne patients and in research that will benefit future generations. Our advocacy efforts have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in funding and won eight FDA approvals.

Everything we do?and everything we have done since our founding in 1994?helps those with Duchenne live longer, stronger lives. We will not rest until we end Duchenne for every single person affected by the disease. Join our fight against Duchenne at EndDuchenne.org . Follow PPMD on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , and YouTube .

SOURCE Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD)

20 june 2024 at 18:54

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Takeda's HyQvia Approved as Replacement Therapy for Primary Humoral Immunodeficiency and Secondary Humoral Immunodeficiency in Pediatric Patients 2 years of Age and Older





HyQvia, which may be administered at home, will provide children and adolescents living with immunodeficiencies with a new treatment option

TORONTO, June 21, 2024 /CNW/ - Takeda Canada Inc. ("Takeda") is pleased to announce that Health Canada has expanded the marketing authorization (NOC) for HyQvia (normal immunoglobulin [human] 10% and recombinant human hyaluronidase solution for subcutaneous infusion) as a replacement therapy for primary humoral immunodeficiency (PI) and secondary humoral immunodeficiency (SI) in pediatric patients 2 years of age and older. HyQvia is the only subcutaneous immune globulin (SCIG) infusion that can be administered every three or four weeks.1

"This approval is significant as it gives children and adolescents living with immunodeficiencies another treatment option," said Whitney Ayoub Goulstone, Executive Director, ImmUnity Canada. "Children living with immunodeficiencies can be severely impacted as it affects them physically, emotionally and socially. Our organization welcomes treatment options for patients in Canada as this is to the benefit of better health outcomes and patient preference."

There are more than 300 genetic defects and disorders of the immune system that are recognized as PI. These forms range widely in severity and symptoms. On average, 1 in every 1,200 individuals are affected by this disease and early diagnosis and treatment are vital in saving lives. Approximately 29,000 Canadians suffer from PI and over 70% are undiagnosed.2

"The pediatric indication for HyQvia provides another treatment option for patients impacted by immunodeficiency disorders," said Jefferson Tea, Vice President, Medical & Scientific Affairs, Takeda. "We are committed to creating innovative solutions for Canadians living with immunodeficiency and are excited that parents and caregivers will have the option to support administration of this treatment to their children in their own home."

Authorization for the treatment of pediatric patients was based on two pivotal studies in 66 patients ranging in age from 2 to 16 years. HyQvia was shown to be efficacious and no new safety signals were detected when compared to the adult population. Based on evidence from the pivotal, prospective, open-label, non-controlled Phase 3 clinical study in 44 pediatric patients with PI, there were no clinically meaningful differences in trough IgG levels across age groups. During the 12-month trial period, it was shown to be efficacious with respect to the occurrence of acute serious bacterial infections (ASBIs), a primary endpoint.1

The mean rate of ASBIs per subject-year was 0.04 and was statistically significantly lower (p<0.001) than the threshold rate of 1.0 ASBI per subject-year favoring efficacy of this treatment in pediatric subjects with PI. The efficacy of the treatment in this study was further demonstrated by the overall rate of infections per subject, which is consistent with results obtained in the pivotal clinical study. The mean rate of all infections per subject-year was 3.20, with an upper limit of the 95% CI of 4.05. The results of Study 161503 indicated similar safety profiles to adults.1

About HyQvia

HyQvia is indicated as replacement therapy for primary humoral immunodeficiency (PI) and secondary humoral immunodeficiency (SI) in adult and pediatric patients 2 years of age and older.1 This therapy is used in patients who do not have enough antibodies in their blood or have a weakened immune system and get frequent infections.1

Consult the product monograph for contraindications, warnings, precautions, adverse reactions, interactions, dosing, and conditions of clinical use. The product monograph is also available through our medical information department.

About Immunodeficiency

Primary immunodeficiency disorder (PID) refers to a large heterogeneous group of disorders that result from defects in immune system development and/or function. PIDs are broadly classified as disorders of adaptive immunity (i.e., T cell, B-cell or combined immunodeficiencies) or of innate immunity (e.g., phagocyte and complement disorders). Although the clinical manifestations of PIDs are highly variable, many disorders involve an increased susceptibility to infection.2

Secondary immune deficiencies or acquired deficiencies, more frequent than primary immune deficiencies, are problems of the immune system that are not genetic and which are caused by external factors including viruses (such as HIV), severe malnutrition, certain chronic diseases such as diabetes, immunosuppressive medication or chemotherapy, certain cancers such as leukemia, and the absence of the spleen.3

About Takeda Canada Inc.

Takeda Canada Inc. is the Canadian organization of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE: 4502/NYSE: TAK), a global, values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical leader headquartered in Japan, committed to discovering and delivering life-transforming treatments, guided by our commitment to patients, our people and the planet. Takeda focuses its R&D efforts on four therapeutic areas: Oncology, Rare Genetics and Hematology, Neuroscience, and Gastroenterology (GI). We also make targeted R&D investments in Plasma-Derived Therapies and Vaccines. We are focusing on developing highly innovative medicines that contribute to making a difference in people's lives by advancing the frontier of new treatment options and leveraging our enhanced collaborative R&D engine and capabilities to create a robust, modality-diverse pipeline. Our employees are committed to improving quality of life for patients and to working with our partners in health care in approximately 80 countries and regions. For more information, visit: https://www.takeda.com/en-ca/

References

SOURCE Takeda Canada Inc.

21 june 2024 at 08:00

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Fiera Capital Senior Management Acquires Shares from Desjardins in a C$53 Million Transaction





MONTREAL, June 21, 2024 /CNW/ - Fiera Capital Corporation (TSX: FSZ) ("Fiera Capital" or the "Company"), a leading independent asset management firm, is pleased to announce that the Company's senior management and a number of its board members have acquired all units of Fiera Capital L.P. ("Fiera LP") and all shares of Fiera Holdings Inc. ("Fiera Holdings") previously held by Desjardins Financial Holding Inc. ("Desjardins"), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Federation des caisses Desjardins du Quebec (the "Transaction"). There are no outside buyers involved in the Transaction. The Transaction involves units of Fiera LP and shares of Fiera Holdings (the "Purchased Securities") representing 7,257,960 Class B voting shares ("Class B Shares") and Class A subordinate voting shares ("Class A Shares") of the Company, representing 6.8% of the total outstanding shares.

This acquisition follows the April 2024 announcement that Desjardins intended to sell its units of Fiera LP and shares of Fiera Holdings. Per the limited partnership agreement governing Fiera LP, unitholders were granted a right of first refusal to purchase the offered securities.

This acquisition enables the Fiera Capital senior management team to solidify their investment in the firm's future, aligning their interests and long-term incentives directly with the Company's strategic goals through increased ownership stakes.

"Desjardins has been a supportive and valued partner since our inception, backing us over the last two decades," said Jean-Guy Desjardins, Chairman of the Board and Global Chief Executive Officer. "Despite the repurchase of shares, Desjardins continues to be a valued client, and we look back with satisfaction on our successful partnership."

"This transaction is in line with our investment strategy. Fiera Capital remains an important business partner for Desjardins. We will continue our business relationship with Fiera, particularly in the management of our trust funds," said Guy Cormier, President and CEO of Desjardins Group.

"We are pleased with the smooth execution of this transaction, which reflects the strength and expertise of our teams and marks another milestone in our continued success," said Gabriel Castiglio, Executive Director, Global Chief Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary. "It underscores our belief in Fiera Capital's strategic vision and operational strength. Importantly, our organizational structure remains unchanged, allowing us to continue executing our growth plans seamlessly."

The consolidation of ownership with Fiera Capital's management underscores the Company's exceptional track record and innovative approach, positioning it as an international benchmark in the asset management industry. This strategic move is poised to reinforce Fiera Capital's leadership, ensuring sustained value creation and the execution of forward-looking strategies that will drive long-term growth and stability.

Transaction Terms?

The Purchased Securities were acquired at a price equivalent to C$7.25 per Purchased Security for an aggregate purchase price of approximately C$53 million. A portion of the aggregate purchase price was financed through a credit facility (the "Credit Facility") in the amount of C$20 million made available by a Canadian bank to 16121136 Canada Inc. ("ExecCo"), a corporation formed by members of senior management of the Company. The obligations under the Credit Facility have been guaranteed by the Company (the "Company Guarantee'').

Pursuant to its mandate, the Nominating and Governance Committee of the board of directors (the "Committee"), composed exclusively of independent directors, was asked to review, evaluate and consider the proposed Company Guarantee, including whether the Guarantee would be in the best interests of the Company. It was unanimously determined, after consultation with its external independent legal advisors, that the Company Guarantee is in the best interests of Fiera Capital Corporation. After receipt of the unanimous recommendation of the Committee, the Company Guarantee was unanimously approved by the board of directors of Fiera Capital.

The Company Guarantee represents a "related party transaction" for the purposes of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ? Protection of Minority Securityholders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") but is exempt from the majority of minority shareholder approval and formal valuation requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to Section 5.5(a) and 5.7(a) of MI 61-101 on the basis that the fair market value of the Company Guarantee represents less than 25% of the market capitalization of the Company.

The Company did not file a material change report more than 21 days before the closing date of the Desjardins Transaction and the grant of the Company Guarantee, as the details of the Company Guarantee were not settled until shortly prior to closing the Desjardins Transaction and the grant of the Company Guarantee.

Early Warning Disclosure

On June 21, 2024, in connection with the exercise of existing divestiture rights by Desjardins as a unitholder of Fiera LP and a shareholder of Fiera Holdings, Mr. Jean-Guy Desjardins ("Mr. Desjardins"), who indirectly controls Fiera Holdings Inc., the sole general partner of Fiera LP, purchased, through Fiera International Inc., an entity indirectly wholly-owned by Mr. Desjardins, 1 887 621 units of Fiera LP (representing the same number of shares of Fiera Capital) at a price of C$7.25 per unit for a total consideration of approximately C$13.7 million.

As at September 25, 2023, being the date of its last early warning report, Fiera LP owned 1,647,492 Class A Shares, representing approximately 1.92% of the issued and outstanding Class A Shares as of September 25, 2023, and a total of 19,412,401 Class B Shares. Assuming the conversion of its 19,412,401 Class B Shares into Class A Shares, Fiera LP would then have owned 21,059,893 Class A Shares, representing approximately 20.04% of all the issued and outstanding shares of Fiera Capital as of September 25, 2023.

As of the date hereof but before the closing of the Desjardins Transaction, Fiera LP owned 2,617,353 Class A Shares, representing approximately 3.01% of the issued and outstanding Class A Shares, and a total of 19,412,401 Class B Shares. Assuming the conversion of its 19,412,401 Class B Shares into Class A Shares, Fiera LP would then own 22,029,754 Class A Shares, representing approximately 20.72% of all the issued and outstanding shares of Fiera Capital.

Immediately after the closing of the Desjardins Transaction and assuming the exercise by Mr. Desjardins of his vested stock options, the Class A Shares held by Fiera LP, DJM Capital Inc. ("DJM"), an entity indirectly owned as to 80% by Mr. Desjardins and Mr. Desjardins would represent approximately 3.88% of the then issued and outstanding Class A Shares, and assuming the conversion of the 19,412,401 Class B Shares held by Fiera LP into Class A Shares, the Class A Shares held by Fiera LP, DJM and Mr. Desjardins would collectively represent approximately 21.33% of all the then issued and outstanding shares of Fiera Capital.

The Class A Shares and Class B Shares owned by Fiera LP, or the persons considered to act as joint actors with respect to Fiera LP, are held for investment purposes, and Fiera LP and such joint actors intend to review on a continuing basis their investment in Fiera Capital. Fiera LP and any joint actor in relation thereto, may, depending on market and other conditions, increase or decrease their beneficial ownership, control or direction over securities of Fiera Capital through market transactions, private agreements, public offerings or otherwise. Decreases of beneficial ownership can also occur as a result of the exercise of existing divestiture rights by current and former employees of Fiera Capital holding Class A Shares through Fiera LP, without control by or involvement of Mr. Desjardins with respect to such disposition. Fiera LP and its joint actors do not have any current plans or proposals that relate to or that would result in any of the transactions or other matters specified in clauses (a) through (k) of Item 5 of Form NI 62-103F1 ? Required Disclosure under the Early Warning Requirements of the Canadian Securities Administrators. Fiera LP and/or any joint actors however may at any time and from time to time, review or reconsider and change their position and/or change their purpose and/or develop such plans or future intentions with respect to the business and affairs of Fiera Capital.

The head office address of Fiera Capital is 1981 McGill College Avenue, Suite 1500, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0H5.

For further information please refer to the Early Warning Reports of Fiera LP and Mr. Desjardins to be posted on Fiera Capital's SEDAR profile at www.sedarplus.ca or which may be obtained by contacting Mr. Gabriel Castiglio at 514-954-6467.

About Fiera Capital Corporation ?

Fiera Capital is a leading independent asset management firm with a growing global presence. Fiera Capital delivers customized and multi-asset solutions across public and private market asset classes to institutional, financial intermediary and private wealth clients across North America, Europe and key markets in Asia. Fiera Capital's depth of expertise, diversified investment platform and commitment to delivering outstanding service are core to our mission of being at the forefront of investment management science to create sustainable wealth for clients. Fiera Capital trades under the ticker FSZ on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Headquartered in Montreal, Fiera Capital, with its affiliates in various jurisdictions, has offices in over a dozen cities around the world, including New York (U.S.), London (UK), and Hong Kong (SAR).

Each affiliated entity (each an "Affiliate") of Fiera Capital only provides investment advisory or investment management services or offers investment funds in the jurisdictions where the Affiliate is authorized to provide services pursuant to an exemption from registration and/or the relevant product is registered.

Fiera Capital does not provide investment advice to U.S. clients or offer investment advisory services in the U.S. In the U.S., asset management services are provided by Fiera Capital's affiliates who are investment advisers that are registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) (the "SEC") or exempt from registration. Registration with the SEC does not imply a certain level of skill or training. For details on the particular registration of, or exemptions therefrom relied upon by, any Fiera Capital entity, please consult: https://www.fieracapital.com/en/registrations-and-exemptions.

Additional information about Fiera Capital, including Fiera Capital's annual information form, is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements relating to future events or future performance and reflecting management's expectations or beliefs regarding future events. Forward-looking statements include comments with respect to the intentions of Fiera LP relating to its participation in the Company. Such statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on factors and assumptions it considers to be reasonable based on information currently available to management and may typically be identified by terminology such as "believe", "expect", "aim", "goal", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "may increase", "may fluctuate", "predict", "potential", "foresee", "forecast", "project", "continue", "target", "intend" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology and similar expressions of future or conditional verbs, such as "may", "will", "should", "would" and "could."

By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and the risk that predictions, forecasts, projections, expectations or conclusions will not prove to be accurate. As a result, the Company does not guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. A number of important factors, many of which are beyond Fiera Capital's control, could cause actual events or results to differ materially from the predictions, forecasts, projections, expectations, or conclusions expressed in such forward-looking statements which include, but are not limited to those factors described in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2023 under the heading "Risk Factors and Uncertainties" or discussed in other materials filed by the Company with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time to time which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

When relying on forward-looking statements in this document and any other disclosure made by Fiera Capital, investors and others should carefully consider the preceding factors, other uncertainties and potential events. Fiera Capital does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by it or on its behalf in order to reflect new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws.

SOURCE Fiera Capital Corporation

21 june 2024 at 11:55

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Government of Canada protects federally regulated workers





GATINEAU, QC, June 21, 2024 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is growing the economy in a way that helps every generation get ahead. This includes fair protection for working Canadians by tackling the big issues in our workplaces and in our society that are holding workers back.

Today, Minister of Labour, Seamus O'Regan Jr., welcomed royal assent of legislative changes to support federally regulated employees when it comes to accessing the benefits and protections they're entitled to, maintaining a healthy work-life balance and having the time they need for health challenges or becoming a parent.

More specifically, these changes to the Canada Labour Code will:

protect gig workers' access to the rights, protections and entitlements of employees under each part of the Code by strengthening the prohibition against misclassification, including through a presumption of employee status.

improve work-life balance by requiring employers to issue right to disconnect policies in consultation with employees or unions;

support workers who have experienced the loss of a pregnancy with a new three-day paid leave; and,

bring in a new 16-week unpaid leave for parents welcoming children by adoption or surrogacy, ensuring they have job protection when they access a corresponding Employment Insurance benefit once it is fully implemented.

The Minister commends the many employers who provide benefits and leaves that go above and beyond the minimum standards of the Labour Code. For workers in workplaces where this is not the case, these changes represent the new minimum standards that all employers will be held to in federally regulated industries. Changes to better protect gig workers come into effect immediately; all other changes will require regulations and are expected to come into effect next year to ensure employers have enough time to prepare.

Quotes

"Right to disconnect. Parental leave. Banning worker misclassification. It's all about making life better for workers. So every worker can be at their best"

? Minister of Labour and Seniors, Seamus O'Regan Jr.

"We are listening to Canadians and making changes to better reflect family life in Canada today. All parents deserve time to welcome their children home, and all children benefit from that time. I am very pleased that parents going through adoption and surrogacy will soon have the same access as other parents to the time and support they need to welcome their new children home."

? Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnault

Quick facts

There are approximately 19,150 employers in federally regulated private sector industries, including federal Crown corporations that together employ approximately 1,020,000 people (about 6% of all employees in Canada ).

). The federally regulated private sector is composed of workplaces from a broad range of industries, including interprovincial air, rail, road, and marine transportation; pipelines; banks; and postal and courier services.

It's estimated that 41,000 gig workers currently operate in federally regulated industries. Examples of gig workers in federally regulated industries include some self-employed truck drivers, couriers, network technicians, freelancers, artists and cultural workers.

The new 15-week shareable Employment Insurance benefit for parents welcoming children by adoption or surrogacy benefit is expected to provide support for approximately 1,700 Canadian families each year.

Associated links

Backgrounder: Legislative changes to support federally regulated employees

Budget 2024

2023 Fall Economic Statement

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Backgrounder: Legislative changes to support federally regulated employees

On June 20, 2024, An Act to implement certain provisions of the fall economic statement (Bill C-59), received royal assent. It includes the following legislative changes to the Canada Labour Code:

Leave related to pregnancy loss

A new three-day paid leave following a pregnancy loss. Dealing with pregnancy loss can be extremely challenging, and individuals who experience it often need time away from work to support their recovery. This new leave will come into force on a day to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council, but no later than by December 2025.

Leave for placement of child

A new 16?week unpaid leave to support workers who need to carry out responsibilities related to the placement of a child(ren ) into their care, whether through adoption or surrogacy . This will ensure they can access the Employment Insurance benefit for adoptive parents without fear of losing their jobs. This new leave is expected to come into force through an Order in Council. The additional week of leave considers the waiting period prior to receiving EI benefit.

On June 20, 2024, Budget Implementation Act, 2024, No. 1, (Bill C-69), received royal assent. It includes the following legislative changes to the Canada Labour Code:

Better protections for gig workers

A growing share of Canada's workforce is comprised of gig workers?individuals who enter more casual work arrangements to complete specific and often one-off tasks, frequently through digital platforms. While gig work can offer many benefits, such as flexibility and more freedom at work, these kinds of work arrangements can also deprive workers of the rights, protections and entitlements they deserve.



The new legislation to better protect gig workers in federally regulated industries improves job protections for gig workers by strengthening the current prohibition against misclassification. Misclassification is when an employee is wrongfully classified as an independent contractor and denied rights, protections and entitlements as a result. The current prohibition is being strengthened through a presumption of employee status and new provisions that will ensure gig workers in federally regulated industries can access the rights, protections and entitlements of employees under each part of the Code. All workers ? including gig workers ? are now considered employees unless proven otherwise when their classification is contested. Independent contractor status is the exception instead of the norm when employee status is being contested, and the burden of proof would be on the employer. The changes will not affect legitimate independent contractors.

Guidance documents regarding gig worker legislation is available online:

For any questions, please contact the Labour Program at 1-800-641-4049.

The right to disconnect

Employers will be required to establish a right-to-disconnect policy that would help limit work-related communication outside of scheduled working hours. This change will ensure employer expectations are clear, employee work-life balance is better protected, and employees are compensated fairly for engaging in work-related communication outside of their scheduled hours of work.

They will also require employers to:

review and update the policy every three years;

consult with employees when developing or updating the policy;

keep records of the policy and consultations; and

post and provide the policy to employees.

Evidence shows that disconnecting from work is critical to well-being and productivity. Right-to- disconnect policies can reduce the informal expectation that employees must remain constantly connected, while maintaining the flexibility employers need to keep the economy moving.

Information, tools and resources will be made available to employers and employees before the coming into force, which will take place in 2025 to ensure employers have enough time to prepare.

SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada

21 june 2024 at 13:09

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Canadian creativity expands into new international markets





Creative Export Canada helps Canadian businesses expand globally

GATINEAU, QC, June 21, 2024 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is committed to helping Canadian creative businesses and organizations enhance their visibility and increase their profits in global markets, benefiting Canada's creative professionals and our economy.

The Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage, announced today that Aurora Heat is receiving funding from the Creative Export Canada program as part of the latest cohort of the Export Development Stream. This support helps Canadian companies and organizations grow their business and achieve financial success abroad.

Aurora Heat specializes in handcrafted, sustainable winter accessories for adults and children. They focus on environmentally conscious products and have begun expanding into international markets. The Creative Export Canada program's Export Development Stream is providing $80,000 to help fund a targeted advertising campaign and website development, aimed at reaching environmentally conscious consumers in the United States.

The inaugural intake of the Export Development Stream supports projects by Canadian businesses and organizations that are entering international markets and expanding their global networks. This includes creative businesses and organizations from equity-deserving communities, including Indigenous recipients.

Quotes

"It can be difficult for small and medium-sized businesses to expand into international markets. Creative Export Canada provides these companies with the support they need to meet the global demand for quality Canadian craftsmanship. Aurora Heat is an excellent example of how Canadian creativity and culture can be expressed in unique ways and provide valuable products to markets abroad. We're proud to support Canadian innovation and talent breakthrough in global markets."

?The Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage

"Small businesses like Aurora Heat are the backbone of Northern communities. I look forward to seeing this local business continue to grow and expand their market here in Canada and abroad with this support."

?Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament (Northwest Territories)

Quick Facts

As part of the renewal of the Creative Export Strategy in April 2023, the Creative Export Canada program received $33 million over three years, from 2023 to 2026. The Export-Ready Stream invests $7 million per year in export-ready projects that generate export revenues and help Canadian creative industries reach more people around the world. The new Export Development Stream invests $4 million per year in new and early-stage exporters entering international markets and in experienced exporters expanding their global networks.

With the inaugural intake of the Export Development Stream, the Creative Export Canada program expanded its eligibility criteria to businesses specializing in artistic crafts. Aurora Heat is one of the first recipients resulting from this expanded funding model.

Since its launch in 2018, Creative Export Canada has invested $51.7 million in 117 export-ready projects under the Export-Ready Stream, and $5.95 million in 80 projects under the Export Development Stream.

Canadian Heritage recently published a new guide for Doing business with Indigenous creative industries in Canada. This publication was developed in collaboration with an Indigenous advisory panel and is designed to help foster more positive interactions between international buyers and Indigenous creative industries in Canada.

Related Products

Helping Canada's creative industries succeed in global markets

Associated Links

Creative Export Canada

Creative Export Strategy

Doing business with Indigenous creative industries in Canada

SOURCE Canadian Heritage

21 june 2024 at 14:00

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Standards Alliance Awards Inteleos Foundation to Expand Ultrasound Training in Kenya





ROCKVILLE, Md., June 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Inteleos Foundation, a public non-profit organization driving positive health outcomes through education in medical imaging, received a three-year, $180,000 subaward from the Standards Alliance Phase 2 (SA2) Program; a public private partnership between United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), to fund an innovative ultrasound training program in Kenya.

The SA2 program implemented by ANSI aims to help increase the capacity of developing countries to implement accepted international best practices around National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) and prevent or remove non-tariff barriers, and stimulate economic growth, while also preserving and expanding markets for U.S. businesses.

In collaboration with Inteleos, a non-profit certification organization, the activity will support the Inteleos Foundation's efforts to establish standardized ultrasound education and certification at a national scale to increase access to essential ultrasound services across Kenya. This initiative aligns with SA2's focus on improving maternal health outcomes through expanding access to point-of-care ultrasound, including developing training curriculum and certification for midwives and nurses.

"We are grateful for the generous support of ANSI and USAID. The subaward will allow us to make significant strides in building the ultrasound workforce capacity in Kenya," said Pamela Ruiz, chief business development officer at Inteleos. "This funding enables us, with local partners, to develop a standard level of proficiency and certification for primary maternal clinicians for high-quality ultrasound care, ultimately improving maternal and fetal health outcomes."

The Standards Alliance funding will be distributed over three years to fund the following key initiatives:

Establish a national task force to recommend policies for ultrasound practice by nurses, midwives and maternal clinicians

Develop a standardized ultrasound curriculum in partnership with educational institutions

Implement ultrasound training and certification programs, targeting 90 trainees in the first year

Expand ultrasound training to reach more healthcare providers across multiple regions

Evaluate the impact of training on clinicians and patients

Develop a sustainable financing model to ensure program continuity

"Developing an activity to work in the health sector in Kenya was a natural fit under the Standards Alliance's goals, and we are pleased to be working with Inteleos, as their expertise in the field will help improve maternal health in Kenya and foster development," said Leslie McDermott, senior director for the International Development department at ANSI.

"The collaboration between USAID-ANSI's Standards Alliance and Inteleos in Kenya is playing a vital role in helping our partner country achieve its development goals," said Daniel Vazquez, USAID's senior standards specialist. "This work under the Standards Alliance exemplifies our Agency's ability to work in innovative ways with the U.S. private sector to achieve sustainable development results. Leveraging its expertise and localizing it within Kenyan partners is critical to our approach."

Inteleos will work closely with the Kenyan Ministry of Health, healthcare facilities, academic institutions like Amref International University and professional associations to execute this comprehensive program, as well as the USAID local Mission in the country. The project aims to address the critical need for accessible and skilled ultrasound services, particularly in regions with high maternal mortality rates.

"For the five years Amref International University has actively trained on Point of Care Obstetric Ultrasound screening (OPOCUS), there is evidence that this is the gateway to mitigating risks that are associated with preventable maternal deaths in developing countries," said Dr. Micah Matiang'i, principal investigator, OPOCUS training at the Amref International University.

The ultrasound training initiative in Kenya aligns with USAID's regional health priorities and commitment to strengthening healthcare systems and improving access to quality care highlighted in their Kenya Country Development Cooperation Strategy .

Learn more about the Inteleos Foundation and its global health initiatives.

Learn more about the Standards Alliance Phase 2 program.

About Inteleos

Inteleostm is a non-profit organization that fuels the global health community to ensure access to quality care. Inteleos is the overarching governance and management organization for the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) the Alliance for Physician Certification & Advancementtm (APCAtm) and the Point-of-Care Ultrasound Certification Academy tm (PCA) which together represents more than 141,000 certified medical professionals throughout the world.

About the Inteleos Foundation

The Inteleos Foundation accelerates the global expansion of the mission-driven work of Inteleos, ARDMS, APCA and the POCUS Certification Academy through its philanthropic efforts.

21 june 2024 at 15:45

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Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks during a rally at Festival Park on June 18, 2024 in Racine, Wisconsin. SCOTT OLSON / AFP

Donald Trump said he wants to grant green cards to foreign graduates from US colleges, in an apparent softening of his typically hard-line view on immigration, a key election issue.

The Republican candidate made the remarks in a podcast published Thursday, June 20, days after President Joe Biden announced a citizenship pathway for immigrants married to US nationals, counterbalancing his recent crackdown on illegal border crossings.

Read more Subscribers only Biden eases citizenship pathway for 500,000 undocumented spouses of Americans

"What I want to do and what I will do is, you graduate from a college, I think you should get automatically as part of your diploma a green card to be able to stay in this country," Trump told the All-In podcast.

A green card is the commonly used name for a permanent resident card in the United States and a step toward citizenship.

'Anybody who graduates from a college'

Trump said this should include "anybody who graduates from a college," including those who complete two-year programs, known as junior colleges, and doctoral graduates.

Asked initially on the podcast if he would promise to help import the "best and the brightest around the world to America," Trump replied: "I do promise." He added: "I know of stories where people graduated from a top college, or from a college, and they desperately want to stay here... and they can't. "They go back to India, they go back to China. They do the same basic company in those places and they become multi billionaires employing thousands and thousands of people," Trump said.

He also said that US companies need "smart people," adding "they can't even make a deal with a company because they don't think they're going to be able to stay in the country." "That is going to end on day one," Trump added.

During Trump's 2017-2021 presidency, he ordered construction of a wall on the US-Mexico border and implemented a travel ban on people from mostly Muslim countries.

His comments came after Democrat opponent Biden on Tuesday relaxed visa rules for around half a million spouses of US nationals, making it easier for them to obtain citizenship.

The democrat  often accused of being soft on immigration by Republicans  earlier in June signed an executive order barring migrants who enter the United States illegally from claiming asylum when numbers surge past 2,500 in a day.
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GARDAI are warning people to be wary of fake banking apps, after a man in County Limerick lost more than 7,000 in what he believed was a legitimate transaction.

The man in his early 30s was selling camera equipment on the popular website DoneDeal.

He was contacted by someone who was interested in buying the equipment, a price was agreed and they agreed to meet to hand over the equipment and the money was to be transferred.

READ MORE: Limerick schools' fundraiser supports flood victims in Brazil

On June 12, the two men met in Newcastle West and the man who was meant to be buying the equipment showed the seller a screenshot of a banking app with the correct transfer details on it.

Sergeant Ber Leetch explains to Limerick Live what happened next: It looked like the amount of over 7,000 had been transferred. The buyer left with the equipment, but the money never came into the sellers bank account.

It was a fake banking app and I just want to raise awareness of how criminals are using fake banking apps to trick people.
LIMERICK Fire & Rescue Service have confirmed a fatal fire occurred at a residence in Kilmurry Village on the grounds of University of Limerick on Thursday night.

They were alerted to the blaze at 23:41pm on Thursday, June 20.

An elderly man was located deceased in the residence.

Responding to a query from Limerick Live, a garda spokesperson said: "The body remains at the scene. The scene is currently preserved and a technical examination will be conducted today (Friday 21st June 2024).

"A post-mortem examination will be arranged and the results of this, along with the findings of the technical examination, will determine the course of the Garda investigation."

Three units from Limerick city and one unit from Cappamore responded to the fire, with the crews departing at 5:09am this Friday morning.

Kilmurry Village is an on-campus student accommodation village in University of Limerick. Outside of the college academic semesters the village can be occupied by people other than students.
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India  Business Wire India

IIFL Finance has been recognized by Great Place To Work India as Best Workplace in NBFC Industry for 2024. This is in addition to the earlier recognitions - India's Best Workplaces in BFSI 2024 and the certification - Great Place to Work for the 6th time in a row. GPTW certification is the gold standard in terms of employer branding in the industry.



As a global authority on workplace culture, Great Place To Work has been studying employee experience and people practices across organizations for over three decades. Every year, more than 100 million employees from over 150 countries worldwide take the Great Place To Work for assessment, benchmarking, and planning of actions to strengthen their workplace culture.



In this year for India, based on a rigorous evaluation methodology, 50 organizations among India's Best Workplaces in BFSI 2024 have been recognized. These organizations among other practices particularly excel both on people practices that they have crafted for their employees and proactively acting on the feedback to create a High Trust Culture. In further classification best in industry firms have also been recognized. IIFL Finance has been recognized as best in NBFC industry through this method.



At IIFL, a caring work environment is about nurturing a culture of trust, respect, and belonging. It's about empowering employees, recognizing their contributions, and fostering a sense of purpose. This intangible asset translates directly into tangible benefits  higher customer satisfaction, improved operational efficiency, and, ultimately, a stronger financial performance.



Our people are the heart of IIFL Finance and the key to our success. Being recognized as the Best in Industry: NBFC is a testament to the Dedication, Hard work, and Talent of our incredible team. At IIFL Finance, we are committed to creating a supportive and innovative environment where our employees can thrive, through our core values  Fairness, Integrity and Transparency. We focus on continuous Growth, Inclusivity, and Collaboration, ensuring everyone feels valued and empowered. We are proud of this achievement and will continue to strive for excellence in the NBFC sector.



By Ms. Richa S Chatterjee, CHRO, IIFL Finance.



About IIFL Finance

IIFL Finance Ltd is one of the leading retail focused diversified NBFC in India, engaged in the business of loans and mortgages along with its subsidiaries - IIFL Home Finance Limited and IIFL Samasta Finance Limited. IIFL Finance, through its subsidiaries, offers a wide spectrum of products such as Home loan, Gold loan, Business loan, Microfinance, Capital Market finance and Developer & Construction finance to a vast customer base of over 8 million+ customers. IIFL Finance has widened its Pan-India reach through extensive network of branches spread across the country and various digital channels.

The report and the complete list (in alphabetical order) India's Best Workplaces in BFSI 2024 can be viewed on the GPTW website.



About Great Place To Work

Backed by 30 years of data, Great Place To Work is the global authority on workplace culture. Through its proprietary for All Model and Trust Index Survey, it gives organizations the recognition and tools to create a consistently positive employee experience. Its mission is to help every place become a great place to work for all, driving business growth, improving lives, and empowering communities. Through globally recognized and coveted Great Place To Work Certification and highly competitive Best Workplaces Lists, Great Place To Work enables employers to attract and retain talent, benchmark company culture, and increase revenue. Its platform enables leaders to truly capture, analyse and understand the experience of every employee and compare outcomes with data collected from more than 100 million employees in 150 countries worldwide.
(Bloomberg) -- Barcelona plans to enact a citywide ban on all short-term rentals to address complaints that tourism is to blame for a local housing crisis and soaring rents.

The Mediterranean city will stop giving new licenses and wont renew existing ones so that in 2029 no homes will have permission to be rented as tourist accommodation, Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni said at a press conference on Friday. There are now about 10,000 houses registered as rentals for tourists.

More supply of housing is needed, and the measures were presenting today are to provide more supply so that the working middle class does not have to leave the city because they cant afford housing, Collboni said. This measure will not change the situation from one day to the next. These problems take time. But with this measure we are marking a turning point.

While many cities around the world are facing similar strains, Barcelonas move may mark the worlds most aggressive stance toward short-stay apartments, which are often listed on online platforms such as Airbnb Inc.

Cities including New York, Vancouver and Tokyo now insist that hosts must live in apartments they rent, while San Francisco and Seattle limit the number of properties a single host can list. Dallas has banned short-stay apartments from certain neighborhoods, while many others  London, Amsterdam and Paris among them  have placed limits on the number of nights an apartment can be rented annually on the market.

To date, Berlin went the furthest with restrictions, when it introduced a ban on short-stay lets of entire homes in 2016. After this blanket ban proved hard to implement, however, the city revoked the law in 2018, replacing it with looser restrictions and higher fines for breaking them.

Barcelona has already banned rentals of rooms for tourists, said a spokesperson for the citys urban planning department. Rents have kept climbing.

Collboni said on Friday that Barcelona currently has skyrocketing rental prices that are becoming more expensive every day.

Rent prices per square meter in Barcelona increased 14% in the 12 months through April and are the highest among Spanish cities, according to Idealista, the countrys largest website for property listings.

The city was visited by 16 million tourists in 2023, according to the Barcelona Tourism Observatory.

Airbnb didnt immediately reply to a request for comment.

--With assistance from Feargus O'Sullivan.

(Updates with details about other cities from fourth paragraph.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Food and Drug Administration on Friday authorized the first menthol-flavored electronic cigarettes for adult smokers, acknowledging that vaping flavors can reduce the harms of traditional tobacco smoking.

The FDA said it authorized four menthol e-cigarettes from Njoy, the vaping brand recently acquired by tobacco giant Altria, which also sells Marlboro cigarettes.

The decision lends new credibility to vaping companies longstanding claim that their products can help blunt the toll of smoking, which is blamed for 480,000 U.S. deaths annually due to cancer, lung disease and heart disease. E-cigarettes have been sold in the U.S. since 2007 but in recent years their potential benefits for smokers have been overshadowed by their use by adolescents and teens.

Parents and anti-tobacco groups immediately criticized the decision, which follows years of advocacy efforts to keep menthol and other flavors that can appeal to teens off the market.

This decision could mean well never be able to close the Pandoras box of the youth vaping epidemic, said Meredith Berkman, co-founder of Parents Against Vaping E-cigarettes. FDA has once again failed American families by allowing a predatory industry to source its next generation of lifetime customers  Americas children."

Youth vaping has declined from all-time highs in recent years, with about 10% of high schoolers reporting e-cigarette use last year. Of those who vaped, 90% used flavors, including menthol.

All the e-cigarettes previously authorized by the FDA have been tobacco, which isn't widely used by young people who vape.

Njoy is one of only three companies that previously received FDA's OK for vaping products. Like those products, two of the Njoy menthol varieties come as cartridges that plug into a reusable device that heats liquid nicotine, turning it into an inhalable aerosol. The other two Njoy menthol products are disposable e-cigarettes.

Njoys products accounted for less than 3% of U.S. e-cigarette sales in the past year, according to retail data from Nielsen. Vuse, owned by Reynolds American, and Juul control about 60% of the market, while hundreds of disposable brands account for the rest.

Most teens who vape use disposable e-cigarettes, including brands like Elf Bar, which come in flavors such as watermelon and blueberry ice.

Altria's data showed Njoy e-cigarettes helped smokers reduce their exposure to the harmful chemicals in traditional cigarettes, the FDA said. The agency stressed the products are neither safe nor FDA approved, and that people who dont smoke shouldnt use them.

Fridays action is part of a sweeping FDA review intended to bring scientific scrutiny to the multibillion-dollar vaping market after years of regulatory delays. Currently the U.S. market includes thousands of fruit- and candy-flavored vapes that are technically illegal but are widely available in convenience stores, gas stations and vape shops.

The FDA faced a self-imposed court deadline at the end of this month to wrap up its yearslong review of major vaping brands, including Juul and Vuse.

Those brands have been sold in the U.S. for years, awaiting FDA action on their scientific applications. To stay on the market, companies must show that their e-cigarettes provide an overall health benefit for smokers, without significantly appealing to kids.

Based upon our rigorous scientific review, in this instance, the strength of evidence of benefits to adult smokers from completely switching to a less harmful product was sufficient to outweigh the risks to youth, said Matthew Farrelly of FDAs Center for Tobacco Products.

Richmond-based Altria previously took a $13 billion stake in Juul in 2018, when the brand controlled most of the U.S. vaping market. But Juul's value plummeted after it was hit with lawsuits and investigations over its role in sparking a national spike in underage vaping.

___

This story has been updated to correct that two of the four menthol e-cigarettes from Njoy are disposable products.

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Hinduja Group is set to raise approximately 7,300 crore ($873 million) through two rupee bond offerings, Bloomberg reported citing sources. This move is part of the funding strategy for acquiring Reliance Capital, it added.

Barclays Plc and 360 ONE have been appointed as arrangers and underwriters for this bond issuance. According to the sources, the arrangers commenced the syndication process last week to attract investors. The deal is anticipated to close within a month.

Representatives from the Hinduja Group, Barclays, and 360 ONE did not respond to queries, the report added.

Also Read | Hindujas: A look at the billionaire family and their companies

Speculation Around Financing of Acquisition Private credit funds are currently in discussions with the arrangers to subscribe the bonds, one of the sources added.

This development ends months of speculation regarding the financing of Hinduja Group's acquisition of Reliance Capital (R-Cap).

A financial services firm formerly under the control of Anil Ambani  the younger brother of Asias wealthiest man, Mukesh Ambani, IndusInd International Holdings (IIHL) successfully bid for the resolution of the debt-ridden R-Cap. IIHL is a subsidiary of the Hinduja Group.

NCLT Defers IIHL's Plea for Deadline Extension The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has postponed the decision on IIHL's plea to extend the deadline for completing R-Cap's resolution to June 25.

The Bench remains scheduled to have the next hearing on June 25.

IIHL had sought a 90-day extension from May 27, 2024, to implement the approved resolution plan under Section 60(5) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016, and Rule 11 of the NCLT Rules, 2016.

The tribunal heard the matter on June 13 and June 20.

Background of Reliance Capital's Issues In November 2021, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) superseded R-Caps board due to governance issues and payment defaults by the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group company. The RBI appointed Nageswara Rao Y as the administrator, who invited bids in February 2022 to take over the company.

R-Cap had a debt exceeding 40,000 crore. Initially, four applicants submitted bids with resolution plans, but the committee of creditors rejected all four due to lower bid values. A challenge mechanism was then initiated, involving IIHL and Torrent Investments  which the former won.
(Adds background in paragraphs 2 to 6, comments in paragraphs 9, 11)

By Emma Rumney and Juveria Tabassum

June 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized four of Altria's menthol e-cigarette products for sale in the country on Friday, making them the first ever flavored vapes the agency has permitted on the market.

The decision shows vape makers can provide evidence satisfying the FDA that the benefits their products offer in terms of helping smokers quit outweigh the risks posed to youth.

"In this instance, the strength of evidence of benefits to adult smokers from completely switching to a less harmful product was sufficient to outweigh the risks to youth," said Matthew Farrelly, director of the Office of Science at the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products.

The FDA first began regulating e-cigarettes in August 2016 and it has authorized 27 e-cigarette products for sale in the U.S. to date, including Altria-owned NJOY's menthol vape products.

The regulator has rejected the vast majority of the 26 million applications it has reviewed so far, including from British American Tobacco, and all of those relating to flavored products.

This has sparked pushback from the industry, with manufacturers launching court cases to challenge its decisions, some of which were successful.

The agency's nod to Altria's NJOY menthol vape products was a positive for the broader industry sentiment, and bodes well for flavors ultimately getting back on the market with Bluetooth age-verified technology, Jefferies analyst Owen Bennett said in a note.

The U.S. is the world's largest market for e-cigarettes, and the FDA has had to crack down on the sale and distribution of illicit vapes.

"This decision is especially troubling given the FDA's failure to do its job and clear the market of unauthorized, illegal e-cigarette products," said Yolonda Richardson, CEO of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, adding that the decision was "hard to understand".

The FDA's authorization comes at a time when the U.S. government is reviewing a potential ban on menthol cigarettes.
XINING, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed continued efforts to protect the ecology of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau during an inspection tour in Qinghai Province from Tuesday to Wednesday. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, also called on the province to promote high-quality development through deepening reform, expanding opening-up, and pursuing green development, ethnic unity and common prosperity. The plateau, located in northwest China, boasts rich, diverse yet fragile ecosystems. It is home to the Sanjiangyuan area, dubbed as "the water tower of China," where the Yangtze River, Yellow River, and Lancang River originate. Qinghai is a province with concentrated ethnic minority groups. On Tuesday afternoon, Xi went to a middle school in the provincial capital Xining. It is a boarding school funded and built with assistance from Shanghai and accommodates ethnic minority students from the pastoral areas in Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Xi visited the school's canteen, a dormitory building, and a classroom where he listened to the students telling how their hometown had changed and viewed the students' drawings. Xi highlighted the notable achievements of the collaboration between the country's eastern and western regions as well as paired assistance, particularly in education. This fully showcases the strength of the Party's leadership and the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, as well as the support for each other among members of the big family of the Chinese nation, Xi said. Paired assistance plays a crucial role in China's development. The pairing of developed and underdeveloped regions is widespread across sectors including healthcare, education, and industries. Within this framework, capital, skilled workers, and other resources are directed from wealthier regions to those lagging behind to foster their development. On the campus square, Xi was surrounded by the faculty and students. He expressed the hope that the students will study hard and strive for a bright future. Later, Xi visited the centuries-old Hongjue Temple. He said the temple had played an important role as a bridge in strengthening the bond between the central government and Tibetan Buddhism over generations. "It is essential to protect this precious historical and cultural heritage, and renew efforts to foster a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation and promote ethnic unity and progress," Xi said. He expressed the hope for the Tibetan Buddhist circle in the province to carry on the fine traditions of patriotism, help promote religious, social and ethnic harmony, and play an active role in advancing Chinese modernization. On Wednesday morning, Xi listened to the report of the provincial committee of the CPC and the provincial government on their work. Noting that Qinghai is tasked with the crucial mission of safeguarding ecological security, Xi said the province must keep in mind what to do and what not to do in developing its industries. Qinghai should effectively tap into its resources and accelerate building itself into a world-class salt lake industrial base, a national clean energy hub, an international eco-tourism destination, and a supplier of green agricultural and livestock products, Xi said. He asked the province to further overall reform, expand opening up, improve the business environment and contribute to building a Green Silk Road. Xi emphasized that strengthening eco-environment protection is a primary task for Qinghai. He said the province must earnestly implement the law on ecological conservation on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and carry out major projects for preserving and restoring key ecosystems. He said the priority is to safeguard "the water tower of China," protect biodiversity and enhance water conservation capacity. Qinghai should establish exemplary nature reserves, typical of China and with global influence, through the construction of a nature reserve system with national parks as mainstays, he said. Xi called for solid efforts to resolve pressing difficulties and problems that concern the people most, and make basic public services more balanced and accessible. "Rural revitalization should prioritize increasing income for farmers and herdsmen," he said. Xi added that the Party's major principles and policies on work related to ethnic and religious affairs should be fully implemented, with a focus on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation. He underlined the importance of remaining committed to the principle that religions in China must be Chinese in orientation, and strengthening religious affairs administration in line with the law. (Video reporters: Yin Jiajie, Wang Yan, Zhang Long; Video editors: Li Ziwei, Wei Yin, Li Qin, Meng Na)
(Bloomberg) -- Lawmakers in Slovakia approved an overhaul of public media, effectively putting broadcasters under government control in a move criticized by the opposition and international organizations for undermining press independence.

As of July, the ruling coalition will nominate its own candidates to the governing bodies of Slovak public television and radio after legislators in Bratislava backed the measure Thursday.

Anti-media sentiment has intensified after an assassination attempt last month on Prime Minister Robert Fico, which he blamed on a hostile atmosphere fueled by the press and the opposition. His administration has consistently criticized coverage in the European Union member state, calling it biased or anti-government.

The public media are not objective because they are in direct conflict with the Slovak government, Fico said in April when proposing the bill. He claimed that the basic right of Slovak citizens to access objective information is violated.

The minister responsible for media has criticized the public broadcaster for unbalanced reporting, particularly regarding the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, alleging that they present only the mainstream view.

At the same time, Fico and his allies praise alternative media that avoid critical coverage and echo the premiers main narratives, including criticism of pandemic measures and vaccines during Covid-19, as well as spreading conspiracies about the war.

The administration has also faced criticism for using financial pressures to soften private media outlets, mirroring policies of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Slovak journalists have cautioned against the Orbanization of media. The host of the most-watched private television channel recently accused the management of political pressures in favor of the ruling coalition in an unexpected on-air comment.

The Slovak opposition argues the changes arent in the public interest. The current management of the public broadcaster has condemned the governments purposeful change driven by the desire to control the public media, and employees have repeatedly protested against the law.

Reporters Without Borders has also warned the law could violate the European Media Freedom Act, which was approved last month to secure media pluralism and independence within the EU bloc.

Slovakias premier has drawn scrutiny from Brussels since his return to office in October, while his decision to overhaul the criminal code and ditch a special prosecutors office sparked public protests.

Ficos previous government stint ended five years ago when he was forced to resign amid national outrage over the murder of an investigative journalist.

Slovakia has dropped from 17th to 29th place in the press freedom index since Ficos return to power. Pavol Szalai, head of the EU-Balkans desk at Reporters Without Borders, sees the risk of further decline.

A battle is taking place in Slovakia over whether the media will remain pluralistic and impartial, Szalai said in an interview last week.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has closed an investigation against Unitech Ltd's former promoters Sanjay Chandra and Ajay Chandra over allegations of stock manipulation.

The markets regulator had initiated the investigation on its own to ascertain whether there was any routing of funds to the securities market through the Switzerland-based bank UBS AG during April 1, 2006 to March 31, 2008.

Lack of sufficient corroborative evidence Sebi chief general manager G. Ramar, the adjudicating officer in the case, observed in the order that there was a lack of sufficient corroborative evidence to establish the allegation that the brothers had dealt with Unitech securities in a fraudulent manner.

Read | Delhi court grants bail to Unitech's ex promoters Sanjay Chandra, Ajay Chandra in money laundering case I do not find sufficient corroborative evidence, either in the IR or in the material made available along with the IR to establish the allegation that noticees (former promoters) have dealt in securities of Unitech indirectly in a fraudulent manner and employed manipulative and deceptive practices in connections with the purchase and sale of securities of Unitech or have misrepresented the truth and concealed a material fact known to them of buying the shares of Unitech fraudulently," Ramar noted.

Sebi had noticed during initial investigations that employees of UBS were communicating with the former promoters on the latters request to subscribe to Pluri Emerging Companies PCC Fund for a certain amount for the account of United Corporate Parks Plc (connected to Unitech).

It was alleged that the funds were transferred by the Chandra brothers from Indian accounts of Unitech to various overseas subsidiaries of Unitech. Thereafter, these parked funds in the UBS accounts were ultimately routed to Pluri which were directly or indirectly used to buy the shares of Unitech Ltd.
TOKYOSoftBank Group founder Masayoshi Son on Friday lamented what turned out to be a $150 billion blunder: selling shares in Nvidia years before the chip maker became one of the worlds most valuable companies.

Son, known for some of the most successful investments in technology history, recalled one of his less-cherished moments on Friday at SoftBank Groups annual shareholder meeting in Tokyo.

Its frustrating to remember the ones that I missed," Son said. I had to tearfully sell the shares" of Nvidia, he said, because at the time SoftBanks Vision Fund investment vehicle felt it needed to lock in returns.

The fish that got away was big," Son said.

In 2019, the Vision Fund sold its entire 4.9% stake in Nvidia and booked a $3.3 billion return on its investment.

It seemed like a big win, since SoftBank had spent about $700 million for its stake. But Nvidia was just getting started in its rise to the top, powered by demand for its chips in artificial-intelligence applications.

This past week, Nvidia briefly became the worlds most valuable listed firm, before falling back Thursday into second place behind Microsoft. As of Thursdays close in the U.S., Nvidia was valued at about $3.22 trillion, just behind Microsoft at $3.31 trillion.

Had SoftBanks fund held on to its Nvidia stake, it would be worth around $160 billion today, meaning SoftBank missed out on a gain of more than $150 billion by selling in 2019.

Son said Friday he once had a plan to make Nvidia part of his technology conglomerate. The month after SoftBank bought U.K. chip designer Arm in 2016, he sat down with Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang in the yard of Sons home in California and had a four-hour talk about a potential acquisition, Son said.

There was one theme: I bought Arm. Now I want to buy you, Nvidia, " Son recalled.

Son wanted to acquire Nvidia and privatize the company while keeping Huang as the leader, but the deal didnt work out, he said. An Nvidia representative declined to comment.

Son also said he planned at one point to inject funds into OpenAI, maker of AI chatbot ChatGPT, but OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman eventually chose to accept an investment from Microsoft.

In 2022, his plans to sell Arm to Nvidia also didnt go through owing to antitrust concerns.

There are other fish that got away but there is no point in talking about them," Son said.

Son has enjoyed many investing successes over decades, including a $20 million investment in Chinese internet company Alibaba that ultimately produced tens of billions of dollars in return.

Arm has also turned into one of Sons greatest hits. SoftBank owns about 90% of Arm, which listed its shares in the U.S. last year and had a market value of $168 billion as of Thursdays close.

If given a second chance to choose between Arm and Nvidia, I would choose Arm without a second of hesitation," Son said. I believe in the future of Arm that much."

Most smartphones use chips designed by Arm, and its designs are also going into the next generation of chips that power AI applications.

The Arm stake is currently SoftBanks biggest asset. SoftBanks net asset value increased by $126 billion in about a year to $214 billion as of Thursday.

Son said Friday he wanted to realize artificial super intelligence," which he said would be 10,000 times smarter than human intelligence. He said ASI would be widely used in about 10 years, helping humans cope with disease, car accidents, wars and even a meteor crash.

I seriously believe the reason why Masayoshi Son was born is to make ASI come true," he said.

Write to Megumi Fujikawa at megumi.fujikawa@wsj.com
Bengaluru: Insurtech startup InsuranceDekho is in early-stage discussions to raise $100-150 million through a mix of primary and secondary transactions. The company has appointed investment bank Avendus Capital to facilitate this process, two people familiar with the matter told Mint.

This could become one of their largest rounds... the company is seeing a lot of demand and may get their first term-sheet in the next 30-45 days," said one of the people cited above.

The company has started receiving initial commitments and may see a much higher valuation than the previous round, the second person said.

While a large part of the funding will be primary, a small portion will come from secondary transactions, this person added.

Avendus declined to comment, and InsuranceDekho did not immediately respond to Mint's request for comment.

This development comes less than a year after InsuranceDekho raised $60 million in its Series B round in October at a valuation of $630 million. The round was led by Japans Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), BNP Paribas Cardif through its insurtech fund managed by European investment major Eurazeo, Beams Fintech Fund and Yogesh Mahansaria Family Office.

At the time, the company outlined plans to beef up tech capabilities, enhance marketing efforts finance new initiatives like reinsurance, and pursue inorganic growth plans through the fund-raise.

Prior to this, InsuranceDekho raised $150 million in its Series A round led by Goldman Sachs Asset Management and TVS Capital Funds in February last year. Its other existing investors include Investcorp, Avataar Ventures and LeapFrog Investments.

Large ticket transactions

The funding ecosystem has seen an uptick in large ticket transactions in recent months. For instance, online beauty Purplle may see a $100 million infusion from Abu Dhabi Investment Authority in a mix of primary and secondary transactions, Mint first reported in April.

Earlier this month, Mint also reported that Singapore's state-owned investment firm Temasek and Fidelity Management & Research Company purchased Lenskart shares worth $200 million in a secondary transaction.

Quick commerce startup Zepto also raised $665 million at a valuation of $3.6 billion valuation from a set of new and exisiting investors, it said on Friday.

Founded in 2017 by Ankit Agrawal and Ish Babbar, InsuranceDekho earns about 82% of its premium from Tier-II cities and beyond.

With more than 6 million customers, the company has direct integration with 46 insurance companies in India, offering over 380 insurance products, including 175 products for health and life and claims to be present in about 1500 towns. It competes with the likes of Acko, Turtlemint and PolicyBazaar.

InsuranceDekho is a subsidiary of automobile portal CarDekho, which pivoted from selling used vehicles to vehicle financing. Jaipur-based CarDekho, which turned unicorn in 2021, competes with CarTrade, Spinny, and Cars24. In December 2023, it acquired shared mobility startup Revv.

In FY23, InsuranceDekho doubled its revenues to 100.3 crore from a year earlier and reduced its losses to 51.6 crores from 72.3 crores the previous year, according to Tracxn data.

CEO Ankit Agrawal had in October announced that the company turned a profit for the quarter ending June 2023 and is expected to achieve full-year profitability for FY24. The company is yet to file its audited results for the year.
New Delhi: The governments social security scheme Atal Pension Yojana (APY) crossed total enrolments of 66.2 million as of 20 June, of which 12.2 million are new accounts opened during the last financial year, chairman, Pension Fund Regulatory and Authority (PFRDA) Deepak Mohanty said on Friday.

Speaking at an annual felicitation programme of APY in Delhi, Mohanty said that APY enrolments last year were the highest ever in a financial year since the launch of the scheme in 2015.

Read | Public-sector banks to launch new schemes to support women entrepreneurs He ascribed the success to the participation of public sector banks (70% share in FY24 enrolments) and regional rural banks (20% share).

According to APY data, around 70.44% of the total enrolments into the scheme has been done by public-sector banks, 19.80% by regional rural banks, 6.18% by private sector banks, 0.37% by payment banks, 0.62% by small finance banks and 2.39% by cooperative banks.

Popular among women, youth The government pension scheme achieved a growth of 24% in gross enrolments at the end of FY 23-24 standing at 64.4 million. APY is rapidly gaining popularity among women and youth, Mohanty said.

In FY24, out of the total enrolments, 52% were women and out of the total gross enrolment since inception, 70% subscribers are in the age bracket of 18 to 30 years.

UP has highest enrolments Among the states, 12 account for more than 80% of enrolments. Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of over 10 million, followed by Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu (5 million each); Madhaya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Karnataka (3 million each); and Gujarat, Odisha, Jharkhand (2 million each).

In HIS Independence Day 2021 speech Prime-minister Narendra Modi spoke about the need to saturate the governments social security schemes including APY for each and every entitled person.

PFRDA, in line with the saturation mission has undertaken to conduct outreach programs in co-ordination with all SLBCs (State level Bankers' Committee) and RRBs across the country. In the FY24 , various physical outreach programs were conducted and more will be conducted in the current Financial Year.

Also this | Women entrepreneurs could help enrich the world by $6 trillion Targeting youth PFRDA aims to target Jan Dhan account holders, promote digital mode of enrolment to target young population, involving other Central ministries, state governments and agencies like NRLM/ SRLM (National and State Rural Livelihoods Mission) for APY outreach programs through webinars and townhall meetings.

APY is the guaranteed pension scheme of the government, administered by PFRDA. The scheme allows any citizen aged 18-40 to join through a bank or post office branches where one has the savings bank account.

Under the scheme, a subscriber would receive a minimum guaranteed pension of Rs.1,000 to Rs. 5,000 per month from the age of 60 years, depending upon their contribution. The same pension would be paid to the spouse of the subscriber after the demise of subscriber and on demise of both the subscriber and spouse, the pension wealth as accumulated till age 60 of the subscriber would be returned to the nominee.
With Union Budget 2024-25 set to be tabled in July, the real estate sector pins renewed hope on the Modi 3.0 regime.

"Expectations are high for tax reliefs and other sentiment boosters. The future of the overall industry also depends on unfettered infrastructure deployment to support and improve urban living standards as well as to develop and promote newer areas," said Anuj Puri, chairman, Anarock Group, in a recent budget expectations note.

Puri questions whether the government will finally grant industry status to the entire housing sector and take substantial measures to revive the affordable housing segment, which has steadily declined since the pandemic.

As per the report, the Indian housing sector remained upbeat in 2024 to date, with housing sales and new launches creating new peaks in the top 7 cities. Sales reached an all-time high at about 4.93 lakh units in FY23-24, while 4.47 lakh units were launched.

However, Puri emphasised that while the current growth momentum in the housing sector is strong, it is largely skewed towards mid-range and premium housing. He highlighted that this trend cannot be sustained if affordable housing continues to lag, considering the specific needs of Indias lower-income groups.

According to Anarock Research, the sales share of affordable housing dropped significantly after COVID-19, falling from over 26 percent in 2022 and over 38 percent in 2019 to around 20 percent in Q1 2024. This segment's share of the total housing supply in the top seven cities also declined to 18 percent in Q1 2024, down from nearly 40 percent in 2019, due to low demand.

Also Read | Budget 2024: A look at what corporate India expects from FM Nirmala Sitharaman

Puri noted that many incentives previously offered to buyers and developers of affordable housing have expired over the last two years. To revive this crucial segment, high-impact measures such as tax breaks for developers and buyers are necessary to encourage focus on affordable housing and improve affordability.

Additional measures to reignite affordable housing could include: Credit-linked subsidy scheme under PMAY: According to Puri, the scheme for EWS/LIG, which expired in 2022, should be revived to incentivise first-time buyers of affordable homes across cities, thereby boosting demand in this segment. Previously, the CLSS was available for housing loans to EWS/LIG buyers for new constructions and for adding rooms, kitchens, and toilets to existing dwellings, subject to government guidelines. Under PMAY (Rural), the subsidy was also available for converting 'kaccha' homes into 'pucca' ones, provided they met the eligibility criteria. Reviving this scheme would invigorate demand in the affordable housing sector.

Re-introduce 100 percent Tax Holiday for affordable housing developers: Puri also pointed out that to boost supply and incentivise developers to build more affordable housing, the government can re-introduce the 100 percent Tax Holiday' benefit they previously enjoyed under section 80-IBA in the Finance Act, 2016. This section provided for major tax relief on the profits earned from developing and building affordable housing projects.

Tweak the definition of affordable housing criteria to widen additional deductions benefits to more buyers: According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, affordable housing is defined by property size, price, and buyers income. Specifically, it includes houses or flats with a carpet area up to 90 sq. m. in non-metropolitan cities and towns, and 60 sq. m. in major cities, valued up to 45 lakh. In contrast, the central bank defines affordable housing based on the loans banks provide for building or purchasing homes, Puri noted.

The government should seriously reconsider revising the pricing of homes within the affordable housing budget to reflect city-specific market dynamics. While the current definition's unit size of 60 sq. m. is appropriate, the price cap of 45 lakh is not viable in most cities, he said.

Also Read | Railways may step up investment for augmenting network in FY25 full budget

For example, in Mumbai, a budget of less than INR 45 lakh is unrealistic and should be increased to at least INR 85 lakh. In other major cities, the budget should be raised to at least INR 60-65 lakh. These revisions would allow more homes to qualify as affordable, enabling more buyers to benefit from lower GST rates at 1 percent without ITC, government subsidies, and other incentives.
Officials of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Union education ministry will reportedly be present at the examination centres where the reexamination for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) will be held this week.

Meanwhile, an NTA official was quoted by the Hindustan Times as saying, "All other examination centres have changed; one centre in Chandigarh, where only two candidates will appear, will remain the same."

Moreover, one of the centres that has been changed includes Haryana's Jhajjar from where six students had secured a perfect 720, NDTV reported.

The report added that officials from the agency and Union education ministry will also be present at these centres. "The step has been taken to ensure smooth conduct of the re-exam," the official reportedly said.

The NEET (UG)-2024 was conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 5 at 4,750 centres in 571 cities (including 14 cities abroad) for more than 24 lakhs candidates. The result of the NEET (UG)  2024 was declared on June 4, 2024.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) announced the re-conduct of the NEET (UG)2024 for 1563 candidates in six cities on June 23 from 02:00 pm to 05:20 pm. These students were granted compensatory/grace marks.

The development came after "irregularities" were reported in NEET-UG exam results. The issue was reported at six examination centres in Meghalaya, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Chandigarh, the Hindustan Times reported.

"...NTA decided to reconduct the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) [NEET (UG)]  2024 on 23 June 2024 for 1563 candidates who had experienced time loss during the originally scheduled examination on 05 May 2024 and were awarded compensatory marks," the NTA said in a release.

The tentative date of re-examination result is June 30, 2024.

The NTA also informed that the Score Cards of all affected (1563) candidates issued on June 4 will stand cancelled and thus withdrawn.

"The result of those affected candidates (1563) who do not wish to appear for the reexamination will be declared based on their actual marks (without compensation) obtained in the examination conducted on 05.05.2024," the NTA added.

Meanwhile, the marks obtained by the candidates who will appear in the re-test will be considered and their marks based on examination on May 5 will be discarded.
SEOULThe revival of a Cold War-era military pact between Russia and North Korea has unnerved the U.S. and its main Asian partners, stirring uncertainty and concern that the agreement could undermine regional security.

The accord signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday includes a clause under which if one country is attacked, the other would provide military and other assistance with all means in its possession without delay."

The pact, similar to one signed between Russia and North Korea before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, gave Pyongyang security assurances that Moscow would support it in the case of conflict.

But with tensions high across Northeast Asia, Putin used his first trip to Pyongyang in nearly a quarter-century to restore what has been a historic military relationship with North Korea.

While the pacts open-ended language left unclear how strong the commitment is, it drew a swift rebuke from Washington, Seoul and Tokyo. A security pact signed in August at Camp David by President Biden and the heads of South Korea and Japan reaffirmed bilateral commitments to swiftly consult each other in response to regional threats. The agreement was aimed at strengthening trilateral cooperation amid growing threats from North Korea and China.

South Koreas national security adviser described the treaty as troubling and said Seoul would reconsider its prohibition against providing weapons directly to Ukraine. Until now, South Korea had a longstanding policy of not supplying weapons to countries actively engaged in conflict, despite calls from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization for Seoul to do more to help Kyiv.

South Korea summoned Russias ambassador in Seoul on Friday to protest the new treaty. Seoul plans to sanction Russian ships and organizations involved in weapons transfers to North Korea.

Japans Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said the type of military aid Russia is talking about providing North Korea may develop into a violation of United Nations sanctions. North Koreas language referring to an alliance suggested that its military ties with Russia would be extremely close, she said, speaking at a news conference Friday.

The Russia-North Korea agreement potentially poses great harm to the regional security environment surrounding Japan, and our government is gravely concerned," Kamikawa said.

The Pyongyang-Moscow accord raises the possibility of an increased flow of weapons between the two countries and a wider proliferation of weapons. Pyongyangs weapons have already been used by Russian soldiers in fighting with Ukraine.

The broad nature of support suggested under the agreement sends a clear signal to the West that North Korea and Russia are banding together, said Paul Poast, a professor of international relations at the University of Chicago.

Its all up to interpretation, negotiation and bargaining regardless of whats on paper," said Poast, who researches military alliances.

China hasnt commented on the Russia-North Korea pact. It has largely kept quiet on the growing cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang, characterizing it as a matter between the two countriesand showing a lack of interest in trilateral efforts.

There are a number of mutual defense pacts around the world, the best known of which is NATOs Article 5 agreement stipulating that if an ally is the victim of an armed attack, every member of the alliance will come to its assistance. While Article 5 is considered one of the worlds strongest defense commitments, such articles are rarely invoked, signaling that military support isnt automatic, Poast said.

Instead, it is likely that more weapons transfers will occur as a result of the pact, rather than North Korea or Russia intervening militarily in a conflict, as interpretations of alliance obligations will always vary, said Tongfi Kim, a research professor in Asian geopolitics at the Brussels School of Governance.

Great powers like the U.S. worry about hurting their reputation by abandoning an ally, but neither Russia nor North Korea have such a reputation to protect," Kim said.

The North Korea-Russia defense treaty revives a 1961 pledge, which was renounced after the fall of the Soviet Union and Russias establishment of diplomatic relations with South Korea. The treaty was succeeded by weaker security assurances in 2000.

By reviving terms of the 1961 agreement, Kim received the strongest form of military, economic and diplomatic support from Putin that is possible now, especially the suggestion of being drawn to the defense of North Korea, said Lee Yong-joon, a former South Korean nuclear envoy.

The language used in the treaty is purposefully broad, allowing any form of military assistance that Russia and North Korea agree on," said Lee, who was South Koreas deputy representative during six-party talks on North Koreas nuclear program that included Russia, the U.S. and others.

Kim Jong Un said the treaty was defensive in nature, while Putin said South Korea had nothing to worry about" unless Seoul plans an attack on Pyongyang. Yet their growing military cooperation has drawn the condemnation of the U.S. and its allies.

South Korea, through an indirect arrangement, has provided artillery shells for Ukraines war efforts with Russia. There are various options apart from lethal weapons that South Korea could consider, a presidential official told reporters on Thursday.

South Koreas Foreign Trade Act stipulates that weapons exports can only be used for peaceful purposes."

Such export permission is reviewed by South Koreas Defense Acquisition Program Administration, the countrys arms-procurement agency, and a presidential decree to overturn the policy barring exports to Ukraine wouldnt need parliamentary approval, said Bang Jong-kwan, a former South Korean Army major general.

If South Korea sees Russias expansion as a bigger threat to international peace, aiding Ukraine and stopping Putins ambitions becomes a matter of preventing further global conflicts," Bang said.

Putin, who traveled to Vietnam after his trip to North Korea, said Seoul would be making a big mistake" if it supplies arms to Kyiv, and threatened to make decisions that are unlikely to please the current leadership."

Ann M. Simmons and Peter Landers contributed to this article.
US State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller on Thursday said the United States will support direct discussions between India and Pakistan while emphasising that the pace, scope, and character of the talks should be determined by the two countries themselves. Speaking at a daily press conference, Miller said the United States values its essential relationship with both India and Pakistan.

Millers comments came after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharifs congratulatory message to Narendra Modi on securing a third term as the Prime Minister of India.

Reiterating the US stance on encouraging bilateral dialogue, Miller said, As we have said, we support direct discussions between India and Pakistan, but the pace, scope and character should be determined by those two countries, not by us.

In response to another query, Miller stated that the US and Pakistan share a mutual objective of tackling regional security threats.

On the US's partnership with Pakistan, Miller said, We partner with Pakistan on security through our high-level counter-terrorism dialogue, including several counter-terrorism capacity building programmes, and we support a series of US-Pakistan military-to-military engagements.

In a letter to the Pakistan Prime Minister in March 2024, US President Joe Biden stated that the United States will stand with Pakistan to address global and regional challenges.

We are in regular communication with Pakistani leaders as a part of our partnership on CT issues, and we will continue to discuss regional security in detail, including through our annual counter-terrorism dialogue and other bilateral consultations, Miller said.

India and Pakistan have a history of strained relationships due to border and cross-terrorism issues. Diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan hit a rough patch after the abrogation of Article 370, which removed the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Since then, the trade and diplomatic ties between the two neighbouring countries have become negligible.

Also Read | No commentary to offer: What Pakistan says on Lok Sabha elections in India
Mumbai: Two of the largest loan proposals in recent history, worth a combined 55,000 crore, have evoked disparate reactions from bankers. While lenders are salivating at Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltds (BPCLs) 32,000 crore loan proposal, they are circumspect on lending to Vodafone Idea, which is looking to raise 23,000 crore through loans to strengthen and expand its network. Combined, the two loans equate to about 2% of the outstanding loans to large industries.

Three bankers who have been involved in discussions with both firms said they were keen on lending to state-owned BPCL, given the strength of its balance sheet and strong sovereign backing. The company, they said, has appointed SBI Capital Markets (SBI Caps) as its transaction advisor for the 15-year loan deal. The public-sector undertaking (PSU) is looking to raise money for capital expenditure at its Bina Refinery and has set the minimum loan by an individual bank at 1,600 crore.

Also read: No gain for Vodafone Idea from parent's 18% stake sale in Indus Towers

The loan is expected to be benchmarked to State Bank of Indias three-month marginal cost of fund-based lending rate (MCLR), which is currently at 8.3%," said one of the bankers cited above. Such loans are priced with a 5-10 bps margin over the benchmark, and individual banks will propose their rates to join the deal." A fourth banker, who is only involved in the discussions with BPCL, said all major banks were keen on lending to the PSU.

In May 2023, BPCL announced plans to spend 49,000 crore to increase its presence in petrochemicals and renewable energy. In a statement on 17 May 2023, the company said the core component of the expansion plan was its ethylene cracker project, which would drive the production of essential petrochemicals. It said it also planned to expand refinery capacity at the Bina Refinery in Madhya Pradesh from 7.8 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) to 11 MMTPA.

Vodafone Idea's plan elicits caution

The same bankers, however, were circumspect on lending to Vodafone Idea. One of them said the primary concern was that Vodafone Idea was upgrading its 4G networks while its competitors had moved on to 5G. The company plans to raise the loan in three months but I do not think anything will happen before six months. SBI will do a techno-economic viability (TEV) study and banks will decide based on the outcome," this banker added. A TEV study assesses the technical feasibility, market potential and financial viability of a project.

The bankers said senior executives at the telecom company, including chief executive Akshaya Moondra, recently gave them a presentation on its capex plans. The telco is looking to raise 23,000 crore through loans and another 10,000 crore through non-fund-based guarantees, they said.

Also read | Vodafone Idea to begin 5G services in six months: CEO Akshaya Moondra

There was a meeting with Vodafone Idea in August 2023 as well, but we werent quite keen on [giving loans]. Given that the telco has now raised funds, we might look at it more positively this time round, but there are some concerns that we have raised," said one of the bankers. We were keen to know what Vodafone Idea had to say. The mood at the meeting was one of caution mixed with openness to listen," another banker said. A third banker said their bank had neither accepted nor rejected the proposal.

On 16 May, Vodafone Idea said its recent equity raise of about 21,500 crore and planned debt funding would be used primarily for capex of 50,000-55,000 crore over three years. A day later, Moondra said on an earnings call that the funds would be spent on expanding 4G coverage, growing 4G capacity, and rolling out 5G.

Emails sent to Vodafone Idea, BPCL, SBI Caps and SBI remained unanswered.

Corporate credit needs a boost

Banks have been trying to boost corporate credit, which has been lagging other types of loans for several quarters. Bankers have said this is due to a dearth of large fresh capex projects and companies' reluctance to take on additional debt and instead use internal accruals.

Also read: India's private capex not secular across industries, says HSBC's Malhotra

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been nudging companies to boost capex, taking the baton from the government, which had been pushing for this. Experts said private capex would support corporate credit growth in FY25.

Ajit Velonie, senior director at Crisil Ratings, said in a note on 28 May that steel, cement and pharmaceuticals would lead the capex recovery, while emerging sectors such as electronics and semiconductors, electric vehicles (EVs) and solar modules would also contribute to capex, especially over the medium term.
New Delhi: State-run ONGC and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to set up a small liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant near the Hatta gas field in the Vindhyan basin in Madhya Pradesh, ONGC said in a statement on Friday.

"The establishment of the Hatta LNG plant will significantly enhance the Vindhyan Basin's status, upgrading it from a Category II to a Category I Basin," ONGC said.

India's sedimentary basins cover 3.4 million square kilometres and are divided into three categories. Category-I sites are those that have already started extracting hydrocarbons, while category-II sites have resources but are yet to begin commercial production. Category-III sites are those that have prospective resources awaiting discovery.

"The plant will use cutting-edge technology to produce LNG, a cleaner alternative to traditional fossil fuels, significantly reducing carbon emissions and aligning with India's climate change mitigation goals," the statement added.

The discovery at Hatta represents the culmination of five decades of sustained exploration. ONGC has already submitted its field development plan (FDP) to the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) to monetise its assets in the Hatta area.

These efforts are aimed at increasing India's LNG production and eventually lowering imports. In FY24, India imported LNG worth $13.40 billion. In the current financial year (April 2024-May 2025) LNG imports stand at $2.2 billion, compared to $3.2 billion during the same period last fiscal year.

In FY24, ONGC reported its highest-ever consolidated net profit of 57,101 crore. The state-run energy major's crude-oil production in the January-March quarter of FY24 increased 2.4% over the third quarter, while gas production decreased 3%.

India in talks with Equinor for long-term LNG deals On 16 June, Mint reported that the Indian government is in talks with Norwegian energy giant Equinor to secure its participation in Indias strategic petroleum reserves (SPR), as part of efforts to enhance the energy security of the worlds third-largest energy consumer.

In a related move, negotiations are also ongoing for long-term deals for supply of liquified natural gas (LNG) from Equinors extensive portfolio in the US and Qatar, according to two people aware of the development.

Also read: Indian Oil Corp faces a slippery slope after weak Q4 results

We are asking Equinor to come in our SPR, and also participate in our E&P (exploration and production) programme," one of the two people cited above said, requesting anonymity. "The discussions are ongoing. We are talking with Equinor for sourcing long-term LNG from their portfolio in the US and Qatar.

If talks are successful, it would mark the second commitment to Indias SPR programme, following a deal with Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (Adnoc). Such deals allow India to have large amounts of crude oil in reserve for emergencies.
To witness Indias growing role as a manufacturing hub, dodge Bangalores notorious traffic and head north. Around 45km outside the city, amid the dust and debris of construction, Foxconn, a Taiwanese contract manufacturer, is turning 120 hectares of farmland into a factory that will produce around 20m iPhones a year. Foxconns plant will be the third facility near Bangalore dedicated to churning out phones for Apple, an American tech giant. The other two are run by Tata, Indias largest conglomerate.

Bangalore, home to many of Indias IT giants, is better known for its software than its hardware. However, the new factories suggest that, in one industry at least, Indias efforts to transform itself into a manufacturing powerhouse are bearing fruit. Electronics manufacturingthe business of building mobile phones, televisions and other gadgetsis thriving in India. The value of electronics it produced rose from $37bn to $105bn (3% of GDP) between the fiscal years ending in March 2016 and March 2023 (see chart). The government wants to triple this again by fiscal 2026. Although Indias production of electronics accounts for just 3% of the global total, its share is growing faster than any other countrys.

View Full Image (The Economist)

Nowhere is this boom more evident than in the production of phones, which makes up nearly half of Indias electronics industry. The country is the worlds second-largest maker of the devices, trailing only China. In fiscal 2015 India imported almost four-fifths of its phones. It now imports barely any. Apple sources about one in seven of its iPhones from India, double what it did a year ago. Samsung, a South Korean rival, has its largest phone-making facility in the country.

Contract manufacturers, which build products on behalf of other companies, have been rapidly expanding in India. Foxconn, which assembles nearly two-thirds of Indian-made iPhones, now has more than 30 Indian factories and employs 40,000 Indian workers. Although its Indian operations account for less than 5% of its total revenue, the company is steadily increasing its investments. It has set aside $2.6bn for its Bangalore factory. Last year Liu Young, Foxconns boss, told investors that the several billion dollars it had invested in India so far was only the beginning". A steady stream of foreign suppliers to Foxconn and its peers have also set up shop in India. PwC, an advisory firm, estimates that the share of value India added to phones produced in the country increased from 2% in 2014 to 15% in 2022.

It is not only foreign firms that have piled in. Tata first entered phone-making in 2021 by building parts for older models of the iPhone. After initial issues with quality control, the company has found its footing. In November it acquired the Indian operations of Wistron, a Taiwanese firm, and began assembling iPhones. Tata now plans to expand its factories to nab a larger share of business with Apple.

Another Indian company benefiting from the device-making bonanza is Dixon Technologies, Indias largest domestic electronics manufacturer. The company, which began making gadgets for the local market three decades ago, has jumped into producing smartphones for foreign companies. It now employs 27,000 people, up from 2,000 a decade ago. Over the past year its share price has risen by 150%.

Indias electronics boom reflects a combination of the desire of Western tech firms such as Apple to reduce their reliance on China and the vast appetite of Indias 1.4bn people for whizzy devices such as smartphones. Generous handouts from the government have sweetened the deal for companies mulling production in India. In 2020 the government announced a programme of production-linked incentives" for manufacturers in various industries, including electronics.

Sunil Vachani, Dixons boss, credits the government for its belief in Indias manufacturing potential, which he says has brought about a change in the mindset" of the country. Indias government has certainly been busy wooing foreign manufacturers. In January it awarded the Padma Bhushan, the countrys third-highest civilian award, to Mr Liu of Foxconn.Pranay Kotasthane of the Takshashila Institution, a think-tank in Bangalore, says the government has been courting companies such as Foxconn to lure in anchor investors" around which supply chains can form.

The hope is that India will one day be able to dislodge China as the worlds electronics factory. Narendra Modis electoral setback earlier this month, in which the prime minister lost his parliamentary majority, does not appear to have dampened enthusiasm for that goal. His new government has signalled continuity in its support for manufacturing.

Indias progress certainly looks promising. In the 12 months to the end of March, its electronic exports reached $29bn, up by 24%, year on year. Still, that is a far cry from the almost $900bn of electronics China exported last year. There is, then, plenty more to do. Naushad Forbes, an Indian businessman, argues that unless Indian firms invest in deepening their technical know-how, they will struggle to compete in more advanced areas like chipmaking. Indias reluctance to lower trade barriers with its Asian neighbours is also a hindrance. Import duties for the raw materials and components needed to produce electronics are typically higher than in other countries that are vying to steal production away from China, such as Vietnam.

For his part, Mr Vachani of Dixon is bullish. He believes that this a Y2K moment" for Indias electronic manufacturing, a reference to the panic over a computer bug at the turn of the century that put the wind in the sails of Indias IT industry. Perhaps, in time, the term Bangalored" could refer not, as today, to the draining of white-collar jobs away from America, but of blue-collar ones from China.

 2024, The Economist Newspaper Ltd. All rights reserved.

From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
Shares of Thermax, a leading energy and environment solutions provider, have been on an upward trend over the last seven months, producing a stellar performance and significantly enhancing shareholder wealth in a relatively brief timeframe.

During this period, the company's shares have grown from 2,533 apiece to the current market price of 5,061, resulting in a gain of 100%. Notably, the company finished 6 out of 7 months in positive territory, with December witnessing the largest monthly gain with a return of 22%.

Zooming out, the company's shares have delivered a massive return of 617% from their October 2020 low of 705.90 apiece. After experiencing a significant rally without any substantial pullback, analysts remain cautious about the stock's short-term outlook but maintain a favorable view on the company's long-term growth prospects.

In its latest note, domestic brokerage firm Sharekhan expects the company to benefit from Indias transition to green energy, citing its diverse offerings in the space and ongoing investments. Future prospects in biomass, waste heat recovery (WHR), and water desalination also remain strong.

However, the brokerage notes that the company's current outstanding order book of 10,111 crore (1.1x TTM revenue) is soft, due to the absence of large orders. Some sectors witnessed a slowdown in order book activity due to elections.

The brokerage notes that the stock is trading at premium multiples of 76x/63x its FY25/26 EPS. Therefore, it has retained its 'Hold' rating, believing that long-term growth prospects are already priced into the stock.

Regarding the stock's near-term price movements, Sonam Srivastava, Founder and Fund Manager at Wright Research, stated, "Predicting near-term price movements is challenging. While the stocks currently rank high in momentum and analyst ratings, unforeseen events can still cause significant fluctuations."

Thermax's long-term outlook appears promising. The company operates in the expanding energy and environmental solutions sector, which is poised for growth due to increasing government focus on infrastructure development and sustainability initiatives, she pointed out.

Additionally, she highlighted the company's focus on green hydrogen and chemicals, suggesting strategic positioning for future market demands. However, she said investors should give careful consideration to the company's financial performance, order book health, and management's ability to capitalise on these trends to translate long-term potential into concrete results.

Speaking on the outlook for the company, she noted that it may not align perfectly with the capital goods sector as a whole. While the sector's overall health will undoubtedly impact Thermax's performance, the company's specific product segments and target markets could lead to some divergence, she further added.

"Fundamentally, Thermax is one of the largest players in the engineering segment of capital goods but is slightly overpriced compared to its peers. The company's significant focus on green hydrogen and chemicals could provide it with an advantage over the sustainability trend," noted Sonam Srivastava.

Thermax provides solutions in the energy and environmental space. The energy business contributes 89% of the revenue, the environment business contributes 5%, and the chemical business contributes 5%.
Domestic brokerage firm Incred Equities has retained its 'add' rating on NMDC, the country's largest iron ore producer, with a one-year target price of 319 apiece, as the brokerage believes that the company is in the sweet spot amid rising pellet export demand coming from China.

The company's shares have been on a roll over the last 12 months, climbing from 104 apiece to the current level of 273, resulting in a multibagger gain of 162%.

The brokerage highlighted several key factors impacting the steel and pellet markets. It stated that high pollution levels in steel-producing regions and the unavailability of scrap in adequate quantity have made scrap more expensive compared to pellets.

Pellet prices exhibit seasonality, as Chinese steel mills buy fewer pellets during the summer due to dust emissions during the sintering process but are forced to shift to pellets in the winter.

Currently, the pellet premium over iron ore is at a minimum level but is expected to revert to the mean value of US$0.50/t/% Fe content. The brokerage projects that a 67% DRI grade pellet will trade near US$150/t over the long run.

China's focus on scrap usage in electric arc furnaces led to a rapid increase in scrap usage. However, local scrap availability has stagnated, resulting in a fall in scrap usage in CY23. The decline in scrap exports from the Western world has not helped the situation for China. To curb pollution and remain cost-effective, China must import high-grade pellets, as global scrap prices are at a 10-year high compared to pellets, it noted.

Consequently, 6567% pellets will likely trade at a US$4045/t premium over iron ore in the coming months. Pellet premiums are cyclical and can rise higher in winter due to smog concerns and fall below the mean in summer.

India exports approximately 10 million tonnes of pellets to China, but most Indian pellets are of lower quality (6263%) compared to Brazilian pellets. Since Indian pellet exports do not attract export duties like iron ore, the brokerage anticipates that the pellet makers will continue their exports to China, keeping the domestic market finely balanced.

Also Read: Nifty Metal skyrockets nearly 1,100 points in just 9 sessions

Please note that the pellets are a refined form of iron ore that offers several advantages in steel production, including efficiency, environmental benefits, and consistency.
Shares of textile manufacturer Raymond surged 12 percent in intra-day deals today to hit a record high of 2,694.95 apiece. The stock is now over 81 percent higher than its 52-week low of 1,487, hit on December 1, 2023.

The rise in Raymond comes on the back of a strong business outlook as well as new acquisitions recently.

The stock has gained almost 40 percent in last one year and over 56 percent in 2024 YTD. It jumped 49 percent just since April 2024.

Raymond shares have risen almost 14 percent in June so far, extending gains for the third straight month. It advanced 5 percent in May and 16.3 percent in April. However, the stock shed 1.4 percent in March. Before that it was positive for the first two months of the current calendar year, adding 3.4 percent in February and 2.9 percent in January.

It has also given multibagger returns in the long term, surging over 613 percent in 3 years.

Earlier this month, Raymond Realty, a subsidiary of Raymond, bagged a second redevelopment project in Bandra (East), which is projected to generate a revenue of more than 2,000 crore over the project period. This project spreads over an area of 2 acres. This expansion in projects is in line with the company's aggressive growth plans for Real Estate development in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, it had said in an exchange filing.

Raymond Realty had previously signed 3 JDAs in Bandra, Sion, and Mahim with an estimated revenue potential of over 5,000 crore.

Earlier this year, Raymond announced the acquisition of a 59.25% stake in Maini Precision Products Limited (MPPL) for 682 crore, financed through a combination of debt and internal resources. This move aims to transform Raymond's engineering division into a major player in engineering, automotive, electric vehicle (EV), aerospace, and defence components.

The acquisition consolidates JK Files, RPAL, and MPPL into a new subsidiary, 'Newco', where Raymond Ltd will hold a 66.3 percent stake. Chairman Gautam Hari Singhania anticipates significant growth opportunities in sectors like aerospace, defence, and EV.

Also Read | Time Technoplast spikes 12.7% as company secures approval for hydrogen cylinders

In the March quarter, Raymond reported an 18 percent increase in its net profit driven by robust demand in its real estate segment. Consolidated profit for the three months ending March 31 rose to 229 crore as against 194 crore a year earlier. Revenue from operations also grew by 21 percent during the quarter to 2,608.5 crore.

The company noted significant momentum in its real estate segment, especially following the launch of its inaugural joint development project in Bandra, Mumbai. This segment now contributes 25 percent to the revenue mix, with its revenue more than doubling in the quarter. Meanwhile, the textile segment, the largest in terms of revenue, experienced a modest 2 percent growth due to subdued customer demand and challenging market conditions.
The year was 2008, and Saahil Goel was in the middle of his master of business administration (MBA) degree at Pittsburgh Universitys Katz Graduate School of Business. Looking for some management books, he logged on to a new Indian e-commerce website to order a cheaper reprint that could be delivered to his home in Delhi. But he accidentally placed the order twice. I wrote to the websites customer care saying please cancel one order. A guy responded to my email saying they would do the needful. His email ID was binny@flipkart.com," recalls Goel, 40, managing director and CEO of Shiprocket, one of the largest e-commerce enablers in the country that offers logistics and shipping software solutions.

In the early days of Indian e-commerce pioneer Flipkart, it was not unusual for co-founder Binny Bansal to be on customer care duty. Goel still has the email archived and enthusiastically shows it to me at Shiprockets Gurugram office. After a bonding session with the companys chief happiness officer" Bruno, a Labrador, I sit down with Goel for this chat in a room named Big Bang".

He was my dog. But hes now Shiprockets dog and Akshay (Ghulati, CEO of international shipping at Shiprocket) is sort of a foster parent," says Goel.

Shiprocket provides shipping solutions across more than 24,000 serviceable pin codes within India and more than 220 countries and territories across the world. It has slowly carved a stable position in the direct-to-consumer e-commerce space in India. In FY23, it powered deliveries to more than 45 million consumers, recording a 78% revenue growth to 1,089 crore in FY23 from 611 crore in FY22. The unicorn aims to achieve multifold growth on its current gross merchandise value (total value of merchandise sold) of $3 billion ( 24,900 crore), potentially increasing it by three-four times, in the next five years.

Goel says he was keen on working with technology right from his school days at St Columbas in Delhi, learning how to write code at the schools computer lab. By the 2000s, I was already building websites and hacking the school computer," he recalls.

After completing his graduation in computer science in the US at Drexel University College of Engineering, Pennsylvania, his first job was at Max New York Life Insurance Company (now known as Max Life Insurance), where he worked on product development. After getting an MBA degree, he worked with Kasper Consulting, which focused on information technology (IT) and business process consulting. His last professional role before starting his own company was in the US with the health insurance company Highmark in 2011. Its not that I was not a good worker. But I get bored very quickly, staying true to my nature," he says.

Shiprockets story started around 2011-12. Both Goel and co-founder/COO Gautam Kapoor, whom Goel had met during his undergraduate years, come from families that ran small businessestechnically, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). While Kapoors family dealt in automobile parts, Goels family business involved steel manufacturing. Both Gautam and I were in touch and exchanging ideas. We always wanted to do something around SMEs," says Goel. I was into tech, while Gautam is a great commercial thinker. SMEs are the backbone of the country, and no one was giving them tech. We were clear that connecting SMEs to technology was going to be our theme."

Shiprocket began life in 2012 as SmartStore with brands like Da Milano, Globalite Sport and Tiekart as some of the first customers. We had a vision: we were going to help merchants run their stores in a smart way. We would connect shipping, payments and marketing on one platform, with smart delivery for shipping, smart remit for payments and so on," says Goel.

They looked at the growing e-commerce market in India, finding inspiration in the likes of Shopify and BigShoeBazaar (which later became Yebhi). The fact that a website was selling shoes online indicated that there was demand and interest in e-commerce. Customers were warming up to online transactions through a host of travel-related platforms such as MakeMyTrip, Cleartrip, Yatra.com and IRCTC.

(But) startups were not glamorous back then. We didnt even know we were a startup," says Goel. They changed the companys name to KartRocket in 2013 to sound more like a startup". Our angel investor Pearl Uppal, who was running FashionandYou.com and was a marketing guru at Yahoo!, helped us," Goel adds.

But it wasnt scaling fast enough. It was a tough time. We had to convince businesses to sell online," Goel says. After three years, we had some 800-1000 merchants." However, digital adoption was picking pace and data was becoming cheaper, along with affordable smartphones. We realised that a lot of micro businesses were available on the mobile," Goel says, as they studied other models and exampleseverything from Facebook Pages to Quikr and OLX.

KartRocket was among the first Indian services enabling businesses to set up and manage online stores through an app-based platform called KartRocket Studio. Most people thought we were crazy... But we were already using image AI to pull keywords and categories from images that merchants were uploading. We offered baked-in payment gateways and shipping. You could be online in 30 seconds. That was the tagline: Get your online store in 30 seconds."

"Our understanding of this market is rock solid... We have always looked at ourselves as an e-commerce enabler and as tool makers, says Goel. The way Amazon is obsessed with consumers, we are obsessed with merchants

It was a masterclass in how Indians use the internet. We used only the mobile medium and made the tech free, charging 10% commission on sales. The idea was, rather than me charging you a monthly subscription, lets look at the platform approach... Let the users come and then we make money when they make money. We realised that India ko ye model samajah main aata hai (India understands this model)," explains Goel. While it didnt fully work, we were able to distribute at scale and get 5,000-10,000 users who did everything by themselves: signing up and building their own websites. If you give them a simple, consumer-style interface, it does work. That was our big bang moment (referring to the name of the room where we are conversing)."

In 2015, the company launched their direct-to-consumer marketplace Kraftly, selling lifestyle and fashion goods from artisans, small vendors and homepreneurs. A year later, Ghulati and Vishesh Khurana joined as the two other co-founders.

While there were many learnings through these different pivots, the one constant challenge that Goel faced was shipping. It would break at every step," he says. Issues with cash on delivery, high costs, and complex logistics were plaguing many small businesses. Moreover, the big couriers did not want to work with the small guys. Noticing a clear gap, Goel and his team started Shiprocket in 2017 almost as a side hustle: a technology-driven platform that would aggregate multiple courier partners and offer shipping solutions that were both cost-effective and reliable.

Today, shipping is Shiprockets largest revenue stream, accounting for about 80% of total earnings and the company delivers more than 300,000 shipments daily. Our understanding of this market is rock solid... We have always looked at ourselves as an e-commerce enabler and as tool makers," says Goel. The way Amazon is obsessed with consumers, we are obsessed with merchants, businesses, brands, retailers. I think that allows for lots of interesting opportunities in terms of problem solving."

Leveraging technology to build micro innovations along the way has been key to Shiprockets success in streamlining and simplifying logistics and shipping for e-commerce businessesbe it a B2B wallet system or a courier recommendation engine for sellers or a checkout engine.

Towards the end of our conversation, we turn our attention to AI. MSMEs and small businesses also want to delve into itaccording to the GoDaddy 2024 Global Entrepreneurship survey released in May, Indian small businesses see AI as a major game changer for their business operations. The survey showed that 94% of Indian small business owners believe implementing AI would result in tangible positive outcomes.

Goel agrees and says AI could change the business of e-commerce and help merchants in several waysfor marketing tech, consumer support (especially for businesses with a large consumer base) or simply adding AI into their products. If you ask me: its as big as the internet," says Goel.

He is still curious to learn and experiment. I still love to code and whip out some projects on the weekend. I am constantly using chatGPT to write code now. Its like having an assistant," he says.

In a previous interview with Mint, he had spoken about playing the guitar. I used to be in a band. There was a time when I wanted to study music engineering. But now I teach my 11-year-old daughter. She and I play together and jam every now and then," says Goel, who also has a six-year-old son.

The 40-year-old says he is slowly getting back to reading. He shows me a couple of books, including one on a compilation of quotes from Berkshire Hathaways vice-chairman Warren Buffet, that he has been reading. He also runs every morning without fail. It helps me structure my thoughts," he says. I dont do to-do lists. I ruthlessly prioritise (tasks). Because ultimately, theres only this much time. So, you must learn to pick."

Most of his schedule is about optimising time between family and work. While hes not a fan of overworking, Goel says work-life balance is a myth. If you hate your job, then you should balance it, but if you like it then what is there to balance? But I dont think you can work non-stop. No matter how much you love your work."
Blockchain can provide a transparent mechanism for tracking ownership and automating transfers of unclaimed assets through smart identification of claimants, said Vikash Kumar Jain, Co-Founder & Director, Share Samadhan.

In an interview with MintGenie, Jain said that securities may lie unclaimed due to lack of awareness, change of address, failure to update contact information, death of the shareholder with uninformed heirs, lost documentation, and inactive accounts.

Edited Excerpts: What are unclaimed shares and dividends? Unclaimed shares and dividends are equity shares and their payouts that have not been claimed by their rightful owners even after the declaration of a dividend. Reasons include lack of awareness, outdated contact information, or heirs being unaware of investments. These shares and dividends if unclaimed for seven years or more are accumulated and transferred to the IEPF Authority as per regulatory requirements.

What are the reasons for these securities lying unclaimed? Securities may lie unclaimed due to lack of awareness, change of address, failure to update contact information, death of the shareholder with uninformed heirs, lost documentation, and inactive accounts. These factors contribute to shareholders losing track of their investments, resulting in unclaimed assets.



Also Read: How to claim unclaimed deposits and investments? A step-by-step guide

Could you demonstrate how unclaimed investment identification and claims could be made easier using contemporary technologies like blockchain or artificial intelligence? Blockchain can provide a transparent mechanism for tracking ownership and automating transfers of unclaimed assets through smart identification of claimants. Artificial Intelligence can analyze data to detect unclaimed investments and match them with potential owners by cross-referencing sources like death records and address changes. These technologies can streamline and secure the identification and claims process.

What part, in your opinion, do organizations such as yours and financial advisors have in assisting clients in managing and recovering their unclaimed investments? Organizations like Share Samadhan and financial advisors play a key role by educating clients, providing end-to-end support services, and maintaining proactive communication with Registrars, Companies, and Authorities. They help in professionally managing the entire paperwork along with legal documentation and follow up with various authorities to assist the investor with the claims process.



Also Read: RBIs Udgam portal: How to check details of unclaimed deposits? A step-by-step guide

What proactive measures can be taken to reduce these risks and how might changes in personal circumstances, such as marriage, migration, or work changes, contribute to the problem of unclaimed investments? Proactive measures include regularly updating contact information, consolidating accounts, financial planning, and robust notification systems. Personal changes like marriage, migration, or job changes often lead to address updates that, if not communicated, result in unclaimed investments. Timely updates and proactive financial management can mitigate these risks.

Would you please provide the most recent estimate of the amount of unclaimed deposits and investments in India, including mutual funds, shares, and debentures? The latest data indicates that unclaimed deposits and investments in India, including mutual funds, shares, and debentures, amount to several thousand crores of rupees.

Regulatory authorities like SEBI and RBI periodically update these figures, highlighting the significant volume of unclaimed assets in the country. If we talk about an estimate of some of the amount of unclaimed investment in various asset classes, shares transferred to IEPF amount to 29,000 crores, mutual funds to 24000 crores, PPF to 48000 crores, bank accounts to 26000 crores, etc.
A loan, though old, is not a gift" is an old Hungarian saying. This is especially apt in todays digital age where even a minute delay is reported into the system and is remembered by lenders and others for a very, very long time.

Word to the wise  do not think of sweeping your loan (if defaulted) under the carpet and make sure that your lines of communication with your lender are prompt and concise.

A settlement (of a loan) is when you negotiate with the lender to pay less than the outstanding balance, explains Adhil Shetty, CEO, BankBazaar.

Essentially, this means youre paying less than the amount originally agreed upon with the lender.

In such situations, the lenders report this to credit bureaus as a "settled" debt instead of a "paid in full" debt. Settled accounts imply a failure to fulfil the original credit agreement fully and indicate that the lender did not receive all the money they were owed.

So credit bureaus generally view a settlement negatively and as a result, a settlement can lower your credit score. That your loan is turning bad is something that needs to be factored in in todays changing financial world.

Personal loans have become increasingly popular among customers today as they eliminate the need to rely on others for financial support, says Mayank Khera, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, Credgenics.

In todays evolving world, the convenience of having anytime, anywhere access, minimal paperwork, and quick disbursement of loans has further fuelled the demand for personal loans.

Several banks, NBFCs, and FinTechs provide personal loans to meet customers' increasing financial requirements, including various short-term needs like purchases, medical emergencies, travel expenses, education, and weddings, thus catering to the appetite of Indias populace for a quick financial fix.

Todays (financial) consumers must know the process when for whatever reason they cannot pay their personal loan.

When a payment is missed, lenders usually send reminders via SMS, email, or phone calls. These reminders start immediately after the due date.

If the borrower continues to miss payments, the lender will issue a formal notice of default, which often also outlines the consequences of continued non-payment and may be the last chance the borrower has to settle the dues without further action.

In the event, if the borrower is facing genuine financial difficulties, the lender may consider restructuring the loan. This restructuring of the loan can involve extending the loan tenor or providing a temporary payment holiday.





Also Read | Impact of Credit Score on Personal Loan: 6 key factors it can influence

As a last resort, the lender might initiate legal proceedings against the borrower to recover the unpaid debt, leading to the seizure or auction of the borrowers assets that were pledged as security or collateral. Lenders usually look at legal action as a last resort and prefer to negotiate a settlement or restructured payment plan wherever possible, say experts.

Most lenders provide a grace period of 30-90 days after the due date during which the borrower can make payments without the loan being marked as a default. However, lenders report the borrowers payment status to credit bureaus throughout the collection process. So any defaults and delays in payments will affect the borrower's credit score negatively for the long term, cautions Shetty.

It is crucial for borrowers to understand their rights, seek legal advice if uncertain, and explore options such as negotiating a settlement. Ignoring the situation makes it worse and proactive engagement is the key to minimising the consequences and addressing the issue effectively, stresses Khera.

Defaulting on a loan results in several adverse consequences Initially, your credit profile and credit score take a hit, making it harder to secure future loans on favourable terms.

Next, lenders may engage collection teams to pursue repayments, potentially leading to legal action. Defaulting also incurs additional fees and interest, increasing the total borrowed amount. If the loan is secured, repossession or foreclosure of the collateral is possible, cautions Khera.

Do consider that co-signers may face financial strains Open communication with the lender is crucial, as they may offer options like repayment plans or assistance programs. Despite the challenges, there are avenues for credit recovery, such as debt consolidation or credit counselling, to mitigate long-term effects, advices Khera.
Mumbai, India's financial powerhouse, is a magnet for real estate investors aiming for high returns. Within this dynamic market, luxury real estate stands out as a particularly lucrative investment. Heres why putting your money into Mumbais luxury properties is a smart move.

Firstly, the demand for luxury homes in Mumbai is on the rise. The city is a hub for high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and expatriates who seek premium living spaces with top-notch amenities. Neighbourhoods like South Mumbai, Bandra, and Worli have become hotspots for luxury real estate, attracting both domestic and international buyers. This steady demand keeps property values high and promises substantial appreciation potential for investors.



Also Read: Is India's real estate sector witnessing unprecedented growth among wealthy Indians and NRIs?

Secondly, luxury properties in Mumbai offer exceptional lifestyle benefits, making them highly attractive. These residences are often located in prime areas and come with state-of-the-art facilities and exclusive services such as valet, private security, and concierge services. These features not only enhance the living experience but also lead to higher rental yields. Investors can take advantage of this by leasing their properties to expatriates and affluent professionals, ensuring a reliable income stream.

Furthermore, Mumbais strategic importance as a business hub ensures continuous growth in the real estate sector. The city hosts numerous multinational corporations, financial institutions, and startups, which draw a constant influx of professionals. This economic vibrancy drives demand for luxury housing, pushing property prices and rental rates upwards.



Also Read: Residential real estate market sets record, sales surge 48% in FY23: Anarock

Additionally, luxury real estate in Mumbai is relatively immune to economic fluctuations. While mid-range and affordable housing may experience volatility, luxury properties often maintain their value due to their exclusivity and the financial stability of their buyers. This makes luxury real estate a safer investment, even during economic downturns. Investors can find solace in the fact that their assets will likely retain value and provide stability in uncertain times.

Moreover, the allure of Mumbais luxury real estate is further amplified by its historical significance and cultural vibrancy. Owning property in such a prestigious locale not only signifies status but also offers a unique living experience intertwined with the city's rich heritage. This cultural and historical charm attracts discerning buyers, adding an extra layer of desirability to luxury investments.



Also Read: Luxury projects make cautious comeback amid slump in realty

Investing in luxury real estate in Mumbai offers high returns through capital appreciation, strong rental income, and economic resilience. For investors seeking to maximise their returns, the luxury property market in Mumbai presents an attractive and reliable opportunity. With continuous demand, prime locations, and economic stability, Mumbais luxury real estate sector stands out as a smart and lucrative investment choice.
Jailed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals wife Sunita Kejriwal on Friday claimed that her husbands bail was challenged way ahead of it being uploaded on the trial courts website. Sunita Kejriwal commented that the chief minister was being treated as if he was a terrorist. Aravind Kejriwal was arrested in a money laundering case linked to a now-scrapped excise policy in March.

The CMs wife said the central government has become increasingly dictatorial, crossing all limits. They are treating him as if he is the most wanted terrorist, NDTV quoted Sunita Kejriwal as saying.

She also extended support to Delhi Water Minister Atishi, who started an indefinite hunger strike in South Delhi, to demand more water from Haryana.

"To appeal to the Haryana government, Delhi minister Atishi is going to do satyagraha for an indefinite period. She will not eat anything and only take water. She is doing this for the thirsty people of Delhi. CM Arvind Kejriwal says that he is pained to see on TV the suffering of the people of Delhi. He hopes that Atishis penance will be successful and the public will get some relief," said Sunita Kejriwal, according to a report by the Hindustan Times.

Aam Admi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Haryana for Delhis water shortage, reported HT.

"Its a belief in every religion that giving water is a virtuous act. However, today, the people of Delhi are longing for water because of the BJPs cruelty. Delhi water comes through Haryana, and Haryana gets water from Punjab. The Punjab government says that we wont stop Haryanas water supply. However, the BJP government in Haryana isnt doing the same," Singh stated.
Delhi water crisis: Delhi Education Minister Atishi on Friday, June 21, started an indefinite hunger strike to demand 100 million gallons of water per day from Haryana. The minister said she was forced to go on strike as her appeal to the Haryana government and a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for help did not yield any results, and Delhi was not getting its share of water.

Atishi was accompanied by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh, Saurabh Bharadwaj, and other party leaders as she paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat before heading to Bhogal, where she sat on an indefinite hunger strike.

"As water minister, I made all efforts to get water for Delhi; am left with no choice now but to start an indefinite hunger strike as I am unable to watch the plight of the men, women and children of Delhi. This indefinite Jal Satyagrah will continue till Delhi people get water from Haryana," PTI quoted Atishi as saying. Water scarcity has added to the troubles as scorching heatwaves continue to take a toll on Delhi residents.

She asserted that the strike would continue until the Haryana government gave in to Delhi's demands. She added, This hunger strike will continue till the Haryana government gives Delhi its due share of water.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's wife, Sunita Kejriwal, also accompanied Delhi Education Minister Atishi, who began an indefinite fast.

Sunita Kejriwal said, To appeal to the Haryana government, Delhi Minister Atishi is going to do satyagraha for an indefinite period. She will not eat anything and only take water. She is doing this for the thirsty people of Delhi," Sunita Kejriwal said, according to the PTI report.

Sunita Kejriwal read out a message from the chief minister, who is currently lodged in Tihar jail. She said, "CM Arvind Kejriwal says that he is pained to see on TV the suffering of the people of Delhi. He hopes that Atishis penance will be successful and the public will get some relief.

Atishi alleged that Haryana supplied 513 MGD instead of 613 MGD water to Delhi in the last two weeks. This creates water shortage for over 28 lakh people. She further accused Haryana of increasing Delhi's restricted water supply share from 100 MGD to 120 MGD in the last two days.
The Central Asian nation of Tajikistan, bordering Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, is set to impose a hijab ban after the upper chamber of the country's parliament approved a bill on June 19. The bill was passed during the 18th session of the upper house of Parliament, Majlisi Milli, presided over by its head, Rustam Emomali, Asia-Plus reported.

In its bill, the Majlisi Mill banned "alien garments" and children's celebrations for two most important Islamic holidays - Eid al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha. These Muslim festivals are known as idgardak, during which children visit houses in their streets to greet people.

On May 8, the lower chamber of the country's parliament, Majlisi Namoyandagon, approved the bill. It targets traditional clothing, specifically the hijab, an Islamic head scarf.

The development came after Majlisi Namoyandagon approved amendments to the code of administrative violations. As per the new amendments, violations of law could attract hefty fines. However, the code of administrative violations did not previously mention hijab or other religious clothing as violations.

The lawmakers have imposed penalties for offenders that range from 7,920 somonis for individuals to 39,500 somonis for legal entities, Radio Liberty's Tajik Service reported. Moreover, government officials and religious authorities are subject to significantly higher fines of 54,000 somonis to 57,600 somonis, respectively, upon conviction.

Tajikistan's official clampdown on hijab comes after years of an unofficial ban. The country has unofficially banned bushy beards as well. In 2007, the Education Ministry banned both Islamic clothing and Western-style miniskirts for students and later extended this ban to all public institutions.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP)  A serial killer who admitted he was responsible for the deaths of five Alaskans, including committing the first when he was only 14, has died in an Indiana prison, officials said.

Joshua Wade, 44, was found unresponsive in his cell June 14, Brandi Pahl, a spokesperson for the Indiana Department of Correction, said in an email Friday.

Despite life-saving measures being performed, he was pronounced dead, she said.

An autopsy was to be performed after Wade died at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, Indiana, to determine the cause of death. An email sent to the La Porte County, Indiana, coroner was not immediately returned Friday.

Wade was convicted of state and federal crimes in 2010. He was serving his term at Spring Creek Correctional Center, a maximum-security prison in Seward, Alaska. Four years later, he struck a deal to be moved to a federal prison in Indiana in exchange for admitting to additional deaths.

In 2000, Wade was charged with killing Della Brown by striking her in the head with a large rock. Her body was later found in a shed. However, a jury convicted him only of witness tampering and acquitted him on murder and sexual assault charges.

Shortly after serving the sentence for tampering, Wade bound, gagged, kidnapped, tortured and then shot his neighbor, nurse practitioner Mindy Schloss, in a wooded area near Wasilla in 2007. He faced state and federal charges.

Wade entered into a plea agreement. He received life sentences for both state and federal charges in the Schloss killing and admitted to killing Brown. The plea meant he wouldnt face the death penalty if a federal jury convicted him. The state of Alaska does not have capital punishment.

Wade was sentenced in separate proceedings Feb. 17, 2010, in state and federal court. At both appearances, he apologized for his crimes.

In state court, he said, I deserve much worse. Im sorry, while turning to look at family members of the two murdered women.

In federal court, he reiterated the apology but then got in an angry exchange with U.S. District court Judge Ralph Beistline.

What an evil thing youve done, Beistline said. What kind of person could take pleasure in the random destruction of another life?

Beistline then described Wade as heartless, selfish and a coward.

At that point, Wade told the judge in an angry voice, Dont push it, man.

The judge responded, Im going to push it.

Beistline said Wades angry outburst was very revealing and said that type of anger could have been one of the last things Schloss experienced, and underscores what a danger Wade would be if free.

After serving four years at the Alaska prison, he struck another deal with prosecutors that would get him transferred to a federal prison in Indiana. In exchange, he admitted to killing John Michael Martin in 1994, when Wade was 14, and Henry Ongtowasruk, 30, in 1999. Wade also told prosecutors he killed an unidentified man on the night he killed Brown.

Then-Alaska Assistant Attorney General John Novak told The Associated Press at the time that by allowing Wade to transfer to the federal prison, Wade would dismiss a post-conviction relief case, meaning he would never get out of jail.

In my evaluation, that's an important benefit to the people, to make sure that conviction stays in effect, he said. Novak noted that juries are unpredictable, and he pointed to Wades acquittal in the Brown murder case.

Novak said he didnt care where Wade served his sentence as long as he served it.
Arvind Kejriwal news Highlights: The Delhi High Court will pronounce the final order in connection with the bail of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the next two-three days. Till then, the high court has stayed the trial court's June 20 order granting bail to Kejriwal. This means, there's no bail for Kejriwal yet.

The Delhi High Court was hearing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) plea, challenging the trial court's bail order in a money laundering case linked to now-scrapped excise policy.

Kejriwal, the AAP national convenor, was granted bail on June 20. The Rouse Avenue Court granted bail on a bail bond of 1 lakh. The court, however, imposed certain conditions on Kejriwal before granting him the relief  he should not try to hamper the investigation or influence the witnesses.

The judge also directed Kejriwal to appear before the court whenever required and to cooperate with the investigation. The ED had on Friday challenged the order dated June 20, 2024, passed by Special Judge (Vacation Judge), Rouse Avenue District Courts that granted bail to Kejriwal.

Here are latest updates on Arvind Kejriwal's bail hearing news: 5:42 pm: Bail is not a relaxation, says BJP MP Manoj Tiwari On Delhi High Court staying CM Arvind Kejriwal's bail order, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said, "...The fight against corruption will continue. I have full faith in the court and the investigation agencies... AAP should learn to respect the court's decision... Bail is not a relaxation..."

On Delhi Minister Atishi sitting on an indefinite hunger strike over the water crisis, he says, "AAP leader and Delhi Minister Atishi is protesting against the water crisis. It was the duty of the Delhi government to provide water to the people. She is protesting against her own government..."

5:30 pm: Delhi HC to issue verdict on stay order by Monday or Tuesday After hearing both sides of the argument, the high court reserved its order and has asked the parties to give written submissions, if any, within the next two days. The court will give its verdict on the stay order by Monday or Tuesday, said advocate and AAP Legal Cell head Sanjeev Nasiar

4:55 pm: No bail yet for Delhi CM! Delhi High Court stayed he trial court order granting bail to Arvind Kejriwal. The court said it will pass order on the ED's stay application in two-three days and till then, the trial court order will remain stayed.

3:50 pm: 'ED is a sacred cow...,' says Delhi CM's lawyer Taking potshots at the ED for opposing Kejriwal's bail, the Delhi CM's counsel remarked, "If my lords goes against me, I lose, and I am in jail. ED is a sacred cow that says how can anyone get bail under my nose? Not one paisa has been traced to me.

3:15 pm: Can trial court rely on SC order granting Kejriwal interim bail? What ED and Delhi CM said in court today Advocate Singhvi, appearing for Kejriwal, said the Supreme Court gave express liberty to the trial court to consider the bail application.

"The Court expressly said you can approach the trial court for bail. My question is if J Sharma's judgement was final as suggested by ED why this express liberty given by SC? Number two, if the illegal arrest proceedings can be mixed up with bail as the ED is doing then why did the SC make a distinction between go to bail and we are reserving order on illegal arrest?," Singhvi was quoted by Bar and Bench as saying.

Earlier, the ED's lawyer, while opposing Kejriwal's bail, had said the trial court relied on the SC order where Kejriwal was released on interim bail. The SC itself said this order can't be relied upon. The SC said he can't go to the CM secretariat, he added.

3:30 pm: Does a stay on bail mean cancellation of bail? Kejriwal's lawyer said, "Stay is nothing but a cancellation of bail. The application is styled like Section 439(2). These two words are nothing but cancellation." He said, "I am on the basic point that bail grant and bail cancellation are two different things. Singhvi refers to judgements on the issue.

3:00 pm: ED completely partisan, says Delhi CM's counsel Advocate Singhvi, appearing for Kejriwal, said, " The ED is completely partisan. There is complete partisanship in every argument, every submission." He added, This matter last for five hours. Nearly 3 hous 45 minutes were taken by Mr Raju and then trial judge is faulted because they don't repeat every comma and full stop.

2:50 pm: No such finding that Kejriwal is guilty, says ED Additional Solicitor General SV Raju: There has to be finding that he is not guilty. There is no such finding... There cannot be a better case for cancellation of bail.

2:45 pm: Kejriwal guilty of money laundering offence in 2 capacities, says ED Additional Solicitor General SV Raju said the ED's case is that Kejriwal is guilty of money laundering offence in two capacities. One is individual capacity where he personally demanded 100 crore and was part of the policy. His role shows generation of proceeds of crime. Second, he is vicariously liable because the AAP is guilty of offence of money laundering, he added.

2:30 pm: We have given direct evidence, says ED Additional Solicitor General SV Raju preparing for the ED: The order says ED failed to give direct evidence. We have given direct evidence. Statement of Magunta Reddy is there. You can decide against me, but don't give wrong facts...There is Direct evidence. The person says Kejriwal said give me 100 crore Rupees. This is proceeds of crime.

2:15 pm: Court hearing resumes Additional Solicitor General SV Raju refers to trial court order.

1.59 pm: Sunita Kejriwal on ED's plea against Arvind Kejriwal's bail, 'behaving as if he is a terrorist Even before Kejriwal's bail order was uploaded, ED reached HC; they are behaving as if he is a terrorist: Delhi CM's wife Sunita Kejriwal said as quoted by news agency PTI.

1.36 pm: Sunita Kejriwal reads out CM's message from jail Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal says, " Kejriwal says that 'when I see on tv, the way Delhi people are suffering due to water scarcity, it hurts me. I hope Atishi's 'tapasya' will succeed and Delhi people get relief. I wish all the best to Atishi, may God protect her'..."

1.30 pm: BJP MP Manoj Tiwari on Arvind Kejriwal's bail hearing On Arvind Kejriwal's bail hearing, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari says, "Bail is a temporary process, not a relaxation. We have faith in the court. We are fighting against corruption. Our stand is zero tolerance against corruption...Court and investigation agencies are independent bodies..."

1.17 pm: ASG SV Raju for ED says that the trial court order is perverse. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju appearing for Enforcement Directorate calls the trial court order perverse and says proper opportunity has not been given to probe agency for argument before the trial court. He informed Delhi HC that the trial court says records are voluminous and passes the order. He further says that without going through documents filed by both sides and without giving the probe agency an opportunity, the matter is decided. Without going to documents how can you say it's relevant or not relevant, ASG Raju points out.

1.12 pm: In the last 10 years, Jairam Ramesh criticizes Modi govt of misusing Central Investigation agencies On Arvind Kejriwal & Hemant Soren, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh says, "...In last 10 years, Narendra Modi has grossly misused the Central investigation agencies like CBI, ED. These agencies must function in an unbiased manner..."

1.07 pm: Delhi HC begins hearing ED's plea challenging trial court order Delhi High Court begins hearing on Enforcement Directorate plea challenging trial court order granting bail to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in liquor policy case

12.48 pm: What is the HC hearing? Bail order of lower court has not been uploaded yet? questions AAP's Saurabh Bharadwaj Delhi Minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj questioned the Delhi High Court's haste in hearing the ED petition. Speaking to ANI he said: Never heard of such a thing before. The bail order of the lower court has not been uploaded yet, we also haven't received it. When the order itself hasn't come, what is the High Court hearing? With what ED approached the court? and on what basis is the Court saying they will hear the matter? What is ED challenging...BJP's central govt is taking this as personal enmity. This is not the way a central agency should be working.

12.15 pm: Law has no meaning for central government says AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj Taking to X, AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said, The law has no meaning for the central government. When the order did not come, which order did the ED challenge in the High Court?

12.01 pm: Sanjay Singh says slams PM Modi after Delhi HC puts on hold trial court order on Kejriwal's bail AAP leader Sanjay Singh on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making a mockery of the justice system after the Delhi High Court put on hold the trial court order granting bail to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the money laundering case linked to the alleged excise scam.

Taking to X, Singh said in a post in Hindi, "Look at the hooliganism of the Modi government, the trial court's order has not yet come, even a copy of the order has not been received, so Modi's ED reached the High Court to challenge which order? What is happening in this country?

"Modi ji, why are you making a mockery of the justice system? The whole country is watching you?" the AAP MP said.

10.30 am: Delhi HC agreed to take up ED plea Delhi High Court agreed to take up the ED plea seeking urgent hearing on its appeal challenging trial court order granting bail to Kejriwal.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday announced the updation of the Electoral Rolls as it kicked-off preparations for holding assembly elections in Haryana, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir.

The assembly elections in Maharashtra are likely to be held in October.

July 1, 2024, will be the qualifying date for roll updation.

The EC said that the term of the existing Legislative assemblies in the three states  Haryana, Jharkhand and Maharashtra  are going to end on November 3, November 26 and January 1, 2025, respectively and elections to these Legislative Assemblies are required to be conducted before the completion of their terms.

Witnessing the huge participation of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the recently concluded Lok Sabha Elections, the Commission has also directed the updation of the electoral rolls in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir with July 1, 2024, as the qualifying date, said the poll panel.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that assembly elections would be held soon in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Supreme Court had directed the poll panel in December 2023 to hold assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September 30.

Also Read | BJP candidate from Maharashtra among those to apply for EVM verification

Pre-revision activities to include: House to House survey by the BLOs: Booth Level Officers shall make house to house visits within their area of jurisdiction to collect the following information:

Un-enrolled eligible citizen (eligible on 01.07.2024)

Multiple entries/dead electors/permanently shifted electors

Corrections in the ER entries The final publication of the electoral roll will take place on August 20, 2024.

Schedule for Special Summary Revision (SSR) activity

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The poll panel said that the Commissions intensive and sustained focus has always been in ensuring inclusivity, purity and health of the electoral roll so that no eligible citizen is deprived of their right to be included in the electoral roll and to maintain an error free electoral roll without any duplicate and ineligible entries, to the extent possible.
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council is planning amendments to GST laws concerning extra neutral alcohol (ENA), a highly pure form of alcohol used in liquor production but not for direct consumption. These changes aim to clarify that ENA should not be subject to GST, potentially bringing much-needed relief to the spirits industry by avoiding dual taxation.

In addition to the legislative tweaks, the Council is also expected to propose a scheme that would allow central and state tax authorities to drop the recovery of past tax dues, benefiting the spirits sector. This move is part of a broader effort to resolve ongoing tax disputes and streamline the taxation process.

At its meeting scheduled for Saturday in the national capital, the GST Council will review amendments recommended by a committee of officers. This committee was tasked with drafting legislative changes to ensure ENA remains outside the GST regimea decision first taken at the GST Councils 52nd meeting on October 7 last year, according to two people with the Centre-state discussions.

Read This: Online gaming firms likely to be left in the lurch at GST Council meet The proposed amendments aim to prevent ambiguity in tax implementation by specifying that ENA is excluded from GST under section 9 of the Central and state GST laws. This section currently provides for GST on goods and services other than liquor for human consumption but does not explicitly mention ENA.

The clarification is expected to prevent the same commodity from being taxed under different taxation streams, alleviating the tax burden on the alcoholic beverage industry. The Centre will propose amendments to the CGST and IGST Acts in Parliament, while states will amend their respective SGST laws.

ENA, derived from fermenting and distilling molasses or grain, has historically been understood to be outside the GST framework since the indirect tax reform began in 2017. However, discrepancies in its application have caused confusion and hardship for producers.

Experts said the proposed changes will streamline the taxation of the liquor industry and provide certainty to producers.

Making sure that ENA is taxed only under the excise duty regime and bringing clarity to the GST laws to that effect will bring relief to the industry and help in reducing litigation as the taxation of this commodity will become uniform across the country, said Rajat Mohan, executive director at accounting and advisory firm Moore Singhi.

IP Suresh Menon, secretary general of The International Spirits & Wines Association of India (ISWAI), emphasized the importance of keeping ENA under the state excise and VAT regime. This would allow producers to continue utilizing VAT credits, which would not be possible under GST, potentially increasing production costs and affecting sales and state tax revenues.

Levy of GST would have become an added cost without tax credit facility, potentially leading to cost pressures for the producers, adversely affecting sales as well as tax revenue to the exchequer of the states, Menon explained. He added that the proposed legislative amendments would benefit both the states and the spirits industry while protecting consumers from additional costs.

The spirits industry is diverse, with segments including integrated producers who make their own molasses and do not pay GST on the raw material, those who buy molasses with GST, and those who brew liquor from grain without having to pay GST on the raw material. This diversity has led to uneven production costs and varying state interpretations of GST applicability, resulting in past litigation.

The proposal to close past tax periods without demand or refund will bring much needed closure to a long-pending issue to the industry, Menon noted.

More Here: The caveat you need to know while reading the GST record in April "In its 52nd meeting, the GST Council, despite having the legislative competency to tax extra neutral alcohol, had agreed that states would levy tax on the ENA used for manufacture of alcoholic liquor for human consumption. However, the actual legal implementation of this decision by appropriate amendment was pending," said Payal Thaker, partner at BDO, a consulting firm. "It is expected that the GST Council would address this in the upcoming GST Council meeting," she said.

The GST Council will also consider a proposal to mandate the GST Appellate Tribunal to handle GST-related profiteering cases, a responsibility currently managed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI). The CCI has requested the government to transfer this responsibility, arguing that its primary role is to ensure market competition rather than directly intervene in pricing matters, according to another source.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) responded on Friday to the Canadian Parliament's recent move of observing a "one-minute silence" in memory of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Nijjar, stating its strong opposition to such actions.

We naturally oppose any moves giving political space to extremism and those advocating violence, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in his weekly briefing.

Nijjar was killed outside the Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, last year.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegation in September last year of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar's killing had led to severe strain in relations between the two countries.

However, India dismissed the allegations, calling them "absurd and motivated."

In 2023, Nijjar was designated a terrorist by India's National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is probing Nijjar's murder. Four Indian nationals have also been arrested in connection with the murder.

MEA on Khalistani 'Citizen's Courts' in Canada Speaking on Khalistani 'Citizen's Courts' in Canada, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that time and again, they have said that Khalistani activities are a matter of serious concern for India. "We have been repeatedly calling upon the government of Canada to take action. Political space provided to extremist anti-India elements and those advocating violence must stop, and they must take action," Jaiswal said.

According to newswire PTI, India, on Thursday, June 20, issued a note verbale or diplomatic note to the Canadian high commission conveying its serious objection to the latest actions by the Khalistani elements.

Also Read | Indians accused of killing Hardeep Singh Nijjar appear before Canada court

Trudeau meets Modi Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Canadian PM Justin Trudeau at the G7 Summit in Italy.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed on Friday that 98 Indian pilgrims died during the Hajj this year. MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, This year, 1,75,000 Indian pilgrims have visited Hajj so far... and so far we have lost 98 of our citizens.

These deaths have happened on account of natural illness, natural causes, chronic illness, and old age. On the day of Arafat, six Indians died, and four Indians have died on account of accidents, Jaiswal said. He added that many died due to heatwave on the day of Arafat.

The MEA spokesperson said 187 Indians had died during Hajj last year.

When asked about the actions taken by the Indian government, Jaiswal said, "We instantly speak with the kin of those affected and take necessary probe and action required."

As per an AFP report, the death toll from this year's Hajj has exceeded 1,000. It stated that the new deaths reported on June 20 included 58 from Egypt, according to an Arab diplomat who provided a breakdown showing that of 658 Egyptians who died, 630 were unregistered pilgrims.

Around 10 countries reported 1,081 deaths during the pilgrimage, the AFP reported. The pilgrimage involved hours of walking and praying in a country where temperatures reached 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 Fahrenheit) this week.

The Hajj has recently been taking place in the sweltering Saudi summer. According to research released last month, the area where the rituals are performed experiences an increase in temperature of 0.4 degrees Celsius (0.72 degrees Fahrenheit) every 10 years.
Kallakurichi hooch tragedy: A District Court judge has sent the three accused in the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy to 15-day judicial custody until July 5. Govindaraj, Damadoran, and Vijaya are being detained at Cuddalore prison.

The death toll has risen to 47 on June 21, and at least another 30 people are in critical condition, PTI reported.

The mortal remains of 29 people who died till Thursday were handed over to their relatives and the bodies were either buried or cremated, Kallakurichi District Collector Prasanth MS said.

A total of 165 people were admitted to the Kallakurichi, JIPMER, Salem and Mundiambakkam government hospitals after consuming spurious liquor. Of them, 47 have died so far. The condition of 30 among 118 undergoing treatment is critical. A heartening news is that three affected persons have recovered, the collector said.

He also appealed to those among the public who had consumed illicit liquor to voluntarily subject themselves to medical examination soon and undergo treatment if needed and thus avert possible threat to their lives.

On Friday morning, Tamil Nadu state opposition AIADMK MLAs wore black clothes at the State Assembly in Chennai to commemorate the dead. The session of the House began yesterday. However, chaos erupted both inside and outside the Assembly and protesting MLAs were being removed by the police.

Here's what we know so far As many as 34 people died after consuming methanol mixed arrack in the southern state.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on June 20 announced compensation of  10 lakh ex-gratia for the families of the deceased and people under treatment in the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy.

10 lakh ex-gratia for the families of the deceased and people under treatment in the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy. Stalin said the state Home Secretary and Director General of Police would submit a report on the incident.

Officials have been directed to notify a one-man commission to be led by retired Madras High Court Judge B Gokuldas to make recommendations to the government on measures to be taken to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.

The Madras High Court division bench, comprising Justices D Krishnakumar and K Kumaresh Babu, has agreed to hear an urgent petition regarding the Kallakurichi illicit liquor tragedy. The petition, filed by AIADMK advocates, is scheduled for today, June 21.

Further, Tamil Nadu state opposition AIADMK MLAs wore black clothes to the State Assembly in Chennai today. The protesting MLAs were removed by police after chaos erupted inside and outside the Assembly due to the protest.

Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai has written a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting a CBI enquiry into the deaths caused by illicit liquor in Kallakurichi.

Annamalai accused the ruling DMK government of involvement in the incident, alleging collusion between DMK members and local liquor sellers. In his letter, he mentioned reliable sources mentioned that the production and sale of illicit liquor in Tamil Nadu is happening at the behest of party functionaries and cadres belonging to the DMK, where points of sale of such liquor are located near judicial courts, police stations, and other government offices.

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The national capital on Friday received a much-needed relief from a sizzling heatwave as various parts of Delhi received rainfall.

According to the Regional Meteorological Centre, the national capital is likely to experience a partly cloudy sky and rain accompanied by gusty winds at a speed of 40-50 kmph.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Coastal and South Interior Karnataka, Kerala, Konkan and Goa during the next 5 days.

These regions are likely to receive heavy rainfall, said the weather department.

Konkan and Goa According to the weather department, on June 21 and 22, Konkan and Goa are very likely to get isolated heavy (64.5-115.5 mm) to very heavy rainfall (115.5-204.4. Whereas, from June 23 to 25, the region is likely to get isolated heavy (64.5-115.5 mm) to very heavy rainfall (115.5-204.4 mm) to extremely heavy falls (>204.4 mm).

Kerala and Mahe On June 21 and 22, Kerala and Mahe are very likely to get isolated heavy (64.5-115.5 mm) to very heavy rainfall (115.5-204.4 mm). Whereas, from June 23 to 25, the region is likely to get isolated heavy (64.5-115.5 mm) to very heavy rainfall (115.5-204.4 mm) to extremely heavy falls (>204.4 mm).

Coastal Karnataka Coastal Karnataka is very likely to get isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall to extremely heavy falls on June 21 and 22. Whereas, isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall to extremely heavy falls is likely during June 23 and 25.

According to the IMD, the South Interior Karnataka is very likely to get isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall on June 21 and 22.

Southwest Monsoon advances The IMD said that the Southwest Monsoon has advanced into some more parts of Maharashtra, the remaining parts of Vidarbha, some parts of Madhya Pradesh, some more parts of Chhattisgarh & Odisha. It has also advanced into some parts of Gangetic West Bengal, the remaining parts of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and some parts of Jharkhand.
NEET UGC Row: Opposition Congress leaders have begun their planned nationwide protest over the NEET exam row in Delhi today.

On June 20, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of failing the youth of India and remaining silent on critical issues. He also criticised the Central Government for cancelling the NET exam and highlighted irregularities in the NEET-UG exam.

Prime Minister Modi has failed the youth of India. First, with the NEET exam, 24 lakh people have been disappointed, and now through the NET exam, 9 lakh students have been betrayed. Yet the PM chooses to be silent, Gogoi told ANI on June 20.

Questioning Government Stances, Protests Planned Gogoi questioned the government's inconsistent approaches, saying, I don't know why this government is adopting two different positions. On NET exam, they are willing to cancel and reschedule. Why can't they do the same with NEET? On the NET exam, they feel that the paper leak has occurred. Why on the matter of NEET, is the Education Minister (Dharmendra Pradhan) giving a clean chit to the National Testing Agency? Clearly, this government is trying to bury the issue.

He further mentioned, Rahul Gandhi and Congress will not let them go. Tomorrow, the Congress party will hold a nationwide protest on this matter. Rahul Gandhi will raise the matter of NEET students in the House.

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Ministry of Education Cancels NET Exam On Wednesday (June 19), the Ministry of Education cancelled the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). A fresh examination will be conducted, and information will be shared separately.

On June 19, 2024, the UGC received inputs from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit indicating that the integrity of the NET exam may have been compromised. The Education Ministry stated that the test was scrapped due to these concerns and emphasised that action will be taken against those responsible.

Irregularities in NEET-UG Exam The NEET-UG 2024 exam, held on May 5, had its results declared on June 4, ahead of the scheduled date of June 14. Protests erupted alleging irregularities and paper leaks, with 67 students reportedly scoring a perfect 720.

The NEET-UG exam, conducted by the NTA, is crucial for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and related courses in institutions across the country.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said that India has not received any request for consular access from Nikhil Gupta.

Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, is accused of being involved in a murder-for-hire plot against Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York.

He was extradited to the United States on June 14. We have not received any request for consular access from Nikhil Gupta, said MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

However, Jaiswal said that his family has got in touch with them. We are looking at the matter as to what can be done on their request, said Jaiswal.

Pannun holds dual American and Canadian citizenship.

At the request of the US government, Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic last year.

Attorney General Merrick Garland has said that Gupta will now face justice in an American courtroom. He asserted that the US will not tolerate attempts to "silence" or "harm" its citizens.

What Gupta's attorney said Speaking to PTI, earlier this week, Gupta's attorney Jeffrey Chabrowe said that this is a complex matter for both our countries.

"It is extremely important that we refrain from rushing to conclusions so early in the process. Background and details will develop that may cast government allegations into an entirely new light," he said.

He added that they will pursue his defence vigorously and ensure he receives full due process, regardless of outside pressures.

Charges against Gupta Federal prosecutors allege that Gupta hired a hitman to kill Gurpatwant Singh and paid USD 15,000 in advance.

However, Gupta, through his attorney, has denied the charges.

What FBI director said FBI Director Christopher Wray said the agency will not tolerate attempts by foreign nationals or anyone else to repress constitutionally-protected freedoms in the United States.
The Union health ministry has asked the Union home and external affairs ministers to sensitize foreign nationals visiting India for organ transplants about the legal requirements for the process.

The move comes amid a rise in alleged commercial dealings involving foreign citizens in the country.

It is essential for these foreign nationals visiting India for organ transplants to understand the specific guidelines and legal requirements that regulate the process of organ transplantation in India, Apurva Chandra, Union health secretary, communicated to the ministry of home and external affairs in a 19 June letter reviewed by Mint.

Also Read: Many lives could be saved by making organ donation our default option Chandra has requested both ministries that the information related to organ transplant laws should be displayed at prominent places at airports and on the Bureau of Immigration's web portals for a wider reach.

Rules and regulations The letter stated that organ and tissue donation and transplantation are regulated in India under the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994.

The law prohibits any commercial dealings in human organs or tissues. However, it allows an Indian to donate her organs to a close relativespouse, son, daughter, father, mother, brother, sister, grandfather, grandmother, grandson or granddaughter.

Foreign donors or recipients require prior approval from the Authorization Committee for organ or tissue transplantation. Besides, a senior officialof the embassy of the country of origin in Indiais required to certify the relationship between the donor and the recipient as per form 21.

Also Read: Organ donations may not remain just a family affair for much longer In this case, foreign patients needing organ(s) from a deceased donor for transplant can also seek registration in India through their treating hospital, after which their name will be included in the waiting list registry. However, such cases would be considered for o only when there is no Indian patient, is available to take that organ in the whole country, the letter said.

Increased vigilance In April, the Union health and family welfare ministry also asked state governments, Union territories and the ministry of external affairs (MEA) to share details of foreign patients coming to India for medical treatment and transplants.

Foreigners mostly come to private hospitals, and it is the duty of private hospitals to educate such patients before they come to the country, said Dr Anil Kumar, director, National Organ Tissue Transplantation Organization (NOTTO), adding that it is not being done properly.

Also Read: From road rage to anxiety  Understanding noise pollutions impact on health That's why "Indian high commissions, Bureau of Immigration and the MEA have been requested to display these messages to educate foreign patients.

Queries sent to spokespersons of Union health and external affairs ministries remained unanswered.
Vishal Agarwal, the father of a minor accused in the Pune Porsche case, was on Friday granted bail in one case pertaining to the Juvenile Justice Act.

Agarwal, a real estate developer, was granted bail in the primary case where he was booked under sections 75 & 77 of the Juvenile Justice Act.

My client has been granted bail by the Sessions Court in Pune. It is his duty to abide by the conditions imposed by the Court, and he shall continue to cooperate with the investigation agency, ANI quoted Agarwal's advocate Prashant Patil.

The Porsche car driven by Agarwal's 17-year-old son on May 19, hit the bike from behind on which the IT professionals Aneesh Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta were travelling. Both of them died in the accident.

The teenager is currently in the observation home.

The juvenile's parents, Vishal and Shivani Agarwal, are being probed for alleged switching of the teenager's blood samples.

A forensic laboratory report showed that the blood samples of the mother were swapped with those of her 17-year-old son.

The teen's mother was arrested on June 1 on conspiracy charges.

Ashpak Makandar, who was acting as a middleman between the Agarwals and doctors at the Sassoon General Hospital to swap the blood, is also arrested in the case.

Police have also found CCTV footage showing Sassoon General Hospital employee Atul Ghatkamble allegedly receiving a bribe from Makandar.

Police have claimed that of 3 lakh given by builder Vishal Agarwal, the juvenile's father, co-accused Dr Shreehari Halnor accepted 2.5 lakh, while Ghatkamble got 50,000.
The Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers thrashed a migrant shopkeeper in Navi Mumbai for not speaking in Marathi language.

The video of the incident, which took place on June 20, in a shop located at sector-3 of Airoli in Navi Mumbai, has gone viral on social media platforms.

The MNS workers thrashed the shopkeeper for not speaking in Marathi language as well as not heeding to a request to play Marathi song.

In a video, posted by News18 Lokmat, the party workers can be seen repeatedly slapping the shopkeeper while asking him if he won't speak in Marathi.

You stay in Maharashtra and you don't know Marathi, asked one of the workers as they continue to slap the shopkeeper, despite him apologising.

Another party worker was heard asking him to play Marathi songs whenever he is asked to do so.

Marathi songs has to be played daily. Don't act smartly, else will shut the shop, said one of the workers.

Another person from the shop, who speaks Marathi, tried to defend the migrant worker, but he was also lambasted by the MNS men.

However, this is not the first time such incident has taken place.

In 2022, a manager and staff of a hotel in Vashi were thrashed by the MNS workers for delaying in playing Marathi songs.
NEET UG 2024 row: Amid controversy over the NEET UG 2024 exam, scorecards of arrested aspirants have emerged in the media, revealing discrepancies that raise questions about the integrity of the examination process.

According to a report by NDTV.com, two candidates from Bihar who allegedly accessed the question paper before the examination show a bizarre mismatch of numbers.

Anurag Yadav, aged 22 and among those arrested, in his confession letter to Patna police, said that his uncle had asked him to come back from Kota, Rajasthan, to Samastipur, Bihar, saying that all arrangements for the NEET exam had been made.

Anurag's scorecard issued by the National Testing Agency shows that he had scored 185 marks out of 720. His total percentile score is 54.84 (rounded off)."

However, the individual subject scores present a stark inconsistency: 85.8 percentile in Physics, 51 percentile in Biology, and a mere 5 percentile in Chemistry

Anurag Yadav attributed his access to the leaked questions to his uncle, Sikandar Prasad Yadavendu, an engineer at Bihar's Danapur Town Council. According to his confession to the Patna police, he received the leaked questions the night before the exam, which later appeared in the NEET paper. Anurag's all-India rank stands at 10,51,525, and as an OBC candidate, he ranks at 4,67,824.

Sikandar told the Patna police that he got in touch with four students for the leaked question papers.

Another arrested candidate scored 300 out of 720 in NEET UG 2024, with percentiles of 87.8 in Biology and significantly lower scores in Physics (15.5 percentile) and Chemistry (15.3 percentile).

The scorecards of the other two candidates tell a different story. One scored 581 out of 720, and the other 483.

The NEET UG exam 2024 for admission to MBBS and other courses was held on May 5 across 4,750 centres.

Originally expected to be announced on June 14, the NEET UG 2024 results were declared on June 4.

Also Read | NEET 2024 row: Supreme Court again refuses to stay counselling process
Telangana Congress MLA M Satyam's wife was found dead at her residence in a suspected case of suicide.

Rupa Devi was found hanging in their house by some family members on Thursday night, police said on Friday. She is suspected to have taken the extreme step owing to health issues, they said based on preliminary inquiry.

Also Read | Kallakurichi hooch tragedy: Three accused sent to judicial custody till July 5

M Satyam represents Choppadandi constituency in Karimnagar district of Telangana.

A case was registered and investigation is on, they added.
Significant developments across India mark today's events. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday to participate in the International Yoga Day celebrations in Srinagar. Take a look:

PM Modi to lead 10th International Day of Yoga in JK's Srinagar Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, for a two-day visit. He will unveil various development projects and participate in International Yoga Day celebrations on Friday.

This is PM Modi's first visit to Jammu and Kashmir since taking office for a third straight term.

On 21 June, Prime Minister Modi will lead the International Yoga Day celebrations at SKICC, Srinagar. The Prime Minister will address the gathering on the occasion and participate in the CYP Yoga session thereafter.

Delhi excise policy PMLA case: Arvind Kejriwal to be out of Tihar jail The Rouse Avenue court granted bail for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with a money laundering case linked to Delhi's Excise Policy. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had objected to his bail application.

Justice Nyay Bindu, serving as the vacation judge, granted bail to Arvind Kejriwal upon submitting a bail bond worth One Lakh. The court directed that the release order be dispatched to the Tihar jail authorities by 4 pm on Friday through the court's messenger. Following this, the jail authorities will initiate the process to prepare the release memorandum, which could take additional time.

Bangladesh PM Hasina begins state visit to India on Friday Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will pay a two-day state visit to India beginning Friday to further expand the close ties between the two countries.

It will be the first bilateral state visit by a foreign leader after the formation of the new government in India following the Lok Sabha elections.

Hasina was among seven top leaders from India's neighbourhood and the Indian Ocean region who attended the swearing in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Council of Ministers at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on June 9.

Modi and Hasina are scheduled to hold wide-ranging talks on Saturday, and both sides are likely to firm up a raft of agreements for cooperation in several sectors.

10th round of commercial coal auctions to be launched The Ministry of Coal is set to launch the next tranche of coal block auctions. Union Minister of Coal and Mines, G. Kishan Reddy, will launch the 10th round of Commercial Coal Mining auctions on 21st June 2024 in Hyderabad.

According to an official release, the auction round includes 60 coal blocks encompassing a diverse range of coking and non-coking coal mines. These blocks strategically located across different States/Regions will support regional economic development and employment generation.

NEET-UG row: Congress plans nationwide protests The Congress party plans to organise demonstrations at state headquarters this Friday, demanding justice for students in the aftermath of the glaring anomalies in the conduct of the NEET-UG 2024 exam.

A letter stressing the immediate necessity of addressing the students' concerns has been circulated to state unit chiefs, Congress legislature party leaders, state in-charges, general secretaries, and other senior officials.

As you are aware, the National Testing Agency (NTA) released the results of NEET-UG 2024 on 4th June 2024. The results have been marred by allegations of irregularities and paper leaks following the inflated marks of some aspirants, Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal said.

Delhi water crisis: Atishi to sit on indefinite hunger strike from Friday Delhi Water Minister Atishi said she will sit on an indefinite hunger strike at Bhogal in south Delhi from Friday noon to press on her demand to get 100 million gallons of water per day from Haryana.

At a press conference, Atishi said she would first visit Rajghat at 11 AM on Friday to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, whose path of Satyagraha was the only option available, as no water was provided to Delhi.

"Delhi requires 1,005 MGD of water, of which 613 MGD comes from Haryana. Since the last two weeks, Haryana has reduced this to 513 MGD. The 100 MGD less water has caused around 28 lakh people in the city to crave for every drop of water," she said.

CJI, fellow judges to participate in 10th International Yoga Day Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud and other Supreme Court judges will participate in the 10th International Yoga Day celebrations to be held on Friday.

"On the occasion of the 10th International Yoga Day on 21 June 2024, a Yoga Event will be organised for Officers and staff members of the Registry in Congregation Hall, 2nd floor, C Block and Yoga and Recreation Hall, 4th Floor, A Block, Additional Building Complex, Supreme Court of India. The Chief Justice of India and other judges will participate in the event.

"Officers and staff members are requested to make the event a success by their participation. Yoga Asanas will be supervised by Yoga Experts," an apex court circular said.

US PMI data Investors will watch out for key US economic data to be released today, including the S&P Global Manufacturing & Services PMI for June and Existing Home Sales data for May.

First session of new Andhra Pradesh Assembly The first session of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, after the TDP-led coalition came to power in the state, is likely to commence on June 21. Though initially it was decided to convene from June 24, it has been advanced to Friday, PTI reported citing a TDP source on Wednesday.

Odisha govt extends curfew in Balasore With tension still prevailing in some parts of Balasore town, the Odisha government on Thursday further extended the curfew period till midnight of June 21, while also allowing six-hour relaxation on Friday, PTI reported citing officials.

Balasore District Collector Ashish Thakare said in an X post, Curfew in the areas under Balasore Municipality has been extended till 21.06.2024 midnight with relaxation for general public from 6 am to noon to meet their daily needs. During this period, all commercial establishments and routine services are allowed to operate.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday summoned Trinamool Congress MLA Tapas Saha for questioning in connection with the West Bengal teacher recruitment scam, more than a month after the apex court stayed a Calcutta HC order cancelling the appointment of nearly 24,000 teachers and non-teaching staff in the state.



The Tehatta MLA was issued a summons in connection with the recruitment scam in primary and secondary schools across West Bengal in 2016. "We have summoned him for questioning in connection with irregularities in recruitment," a CBI official told the PTI.



Saha told the PTI that he would appear before the central probe agency. It could not be independently ascertained when the Trinamool legislator is slated to appear before the investigating agency.

Also Read : https://www.livemint.com/news/bengal-ssc-scam-no-vote-from-teachers-govt-workers-mamata-banerjee-hits-out-at-opposition-11714016538055.html



More than 23 lakh candidates took the test for the 24,000 job vacancies in 2016. A petition before the Calcutta High Court charged that most candidates were given jobs after wrongly evaluating the Optical Mark Recognition sheets.

Earlier last year, the CBI said that Saha would be asked to verify all the information it had gathered from other sources, along with the documents that had been seized from the MLAs residence and office, The Print reported. The national agency had also seized information from two mobile phones the MLA had.

In August 2023, Firdous Samim, an advocate, had cited several irregularities in the recruitment process of teachers at several stages, and employment of Group C and Group D officials in state- run schools, The Hindu reported.

On April 22, 2024, the Calcutta High Court ordered the termination of all recruitments made in 2016, causing over 24,000 teaching and non-teaching staff to lose their jobs. The West Bengal government then filed a petition against the Calcutta High Court order.
International Yoga Day 2024: PM Modi has urged the people of the country to make yoga a part of their daily lives. He was delivering an address at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar on the occasion of 10th International Day of Yoga. The PM also took part in the Common Yoga Protocol session.

The PM took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) and stated, As we mark the 10th International Day of Yoga, I urge everyone to make it a part of their daily lives. Yoga fosters strength, good health and wellness. Wonderful to join this year's programme in Srinagar.

He congratulated all the people of the country and those doing Yoga in every corner of the world and said the world is witnessing a new Yoga economy.

Also Read | International Yoga Day 2024: A glimpse of celebrations across the globe

Posting yoga selfies, the PM claimed Srinagar had anUnparalleled vibrancy . he also interacted with yoga practitioners.

In his speech, PM Modi suggested that 177 nations supported India's proposal to celebrate International Yoga Day at the United Nations.

"Today, from the land of Kashmir, I congratulate everyone around the world on International Yoga Day! Ten years ago, I proposed the celebration of International Yoga Day at the United Nations. India's proposal was supported by 177 nations, which is a record in itself. In 2015, on Kartavyapath in Delhi, 35,000 people performed Yogasanas together," news agency ANI quoted PM Modi as saying.

Also Read | International Yoga Day 2024: Top 5 yoga poses to lose weight

He called Kashmir the land of yoga and meditation and said the occasion offered him the opportunity to visit the state. He said, In Srinagar, we are feeling the power that Yoga gives us. I congratulate all the people of the country and those doing Yoga in every corner of the world on International Yoga Day from the land of Kashmir.

He mentioned that over the past decade, the expansion of Yoga has altered its global perception, adding a new Yoga economy was emerging worldwide. He highlighted that the trend of Yoga Tourism is emerging in India, suggesting that hospitality, tourism, apparel and other sectors are booming due to the massive inflow of people. "This is creating new avenues for employment opportunities for youth," the PM remarked.

Also Read | International Yoga Day celebrations across the world | Watch videos here

The theme for this year's celebrations is Yoga for Self and Society, underscoring Yoga's vital role in fostering both individual well-being and societal harmony.
(Bloomberg) -- As Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Premier Li Qiang wrapped up separate meetings in Southeast Asia this week, the two partners in the BRICS economic bloc encountered a region keen to join a group seen as a hedge against Western-led institutions.

During an interview with Chinese media ahead of Lis visit to Malaysia, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim declared his intention to apply to the bloc after it doubled in size this year by luring Global South nations  partly by offering access to financing but also by providing a political venue independent of Washingtons influence.

Thailand  a US treaty ally  last month announced its own bid to join BRICS, named after members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The bloc represents a south-south cooperative framework which Thailand has long desired to be a part of, Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa told reporters last week.

For countries seeking to mitigate the economic risks of intensifying US-China competition, joining BRICS is an attempt to straddle some of those tensions. But its also a way of signaling increasing frustration with the US-led international order and key institutions that remain firmly in the control of Western powers, like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

Some of us, including people like myself, think that we need to find solutions to the unfair international financial and economic architecture, former Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said in an interview. So BRICS would probably be one of the ways to balance some things.

For Putin and Xi, the interest in BRICS also shows their success at pushing back at attempts by the US and its allies to isolate them more broadly over the war in Ukraine and military threats to Taiwan, the Philippines, South Korea and Japan. Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy struggled to convince Asian nations to back his peace summit in Switzerland earlier this month, and Putin this week signed a defense pact with North Korea while warning he had the right to arm US adversaries around the world.

A club that for years consisted of just five members expanded to nine with the inclusion of Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia and Egypt this January. That was a push largely driven by China as tries to increase its clout on the global stage.

Another Southeast Asian nation, Indonesia, was considered an early favorite to join last year before President Joko Widodo indicated he would not be rushed into the decision.

Still, the momentum to add new members has continued. Despite US and European efforts to prevent countries from dealing with Moscow, representatives from 12 non-member nations appeared at a BRICS Dialogue in Russia this month. They included longtime US foes like Cuba and Venezuela, but also nations such as Turkey, Laos, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan.

Also present was Vietnam, which last year upgraded ties with Washington in a move seen as pushback on Beijings rising influence in the region. Hanoi has been following the groupings progress with keen interest, as state broadcaster Voice of Vietnam put it last month.

Vietnam is always ready to participate in and contribute actively to global and regional multilateral mechanisms, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said at the time.

Read: How BRICS Became a Club Thats Inviting New Members: QuickTake

Vietnam welcomed Russias leader this week despite strong objections from the US on the grounds that no country should give Putin a platform to promote his war of aggression in Ukraine. Vietnam and Russia have ties going back to the Cold War and Soviet era.

In their joint statement issued at the conclusion of their talks, Russia welcomed Vietnams participation in the dialogue earlier this month and said they would continue to strengthen ties between the BRICS countries and developing countries, including Vietnam.

It wasnt clear how much BRICS was part of Putins closed-door talks in Vietnam, though the two nations pledged to boost defense and energy cooperation. Chinas Li used his trip to Malaysia deepen trade and economic ties and advance construction of major projects.

Unwieldy Group

After this years expansion, BRICS plans to invite non-member countries to take part in its next summit in the Russian city of Kazan in October. Just hosting the event gives Moscow a chance to showcase to the world that it isnt totally isolated by Western opposition to the war in Ukraine.

Its no secret that Washington doesnt love the BRICS, particularly with Iran and Russias membership, said Scot Marciel, a former US ambassador to Indonesia, Myanmar and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

At the same time, the larger the bloc grows, the less likely it is to find consensus on key issues, he said. My sense is, Washington is probably not applauding the move by Thailand and Malaysia to join it, but I dont think its going to cause massive heartburn.

Officials at the US State Department didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

The potential benefits for joining BRICS go beyond geopolitics.

$33 Billion

The blocs members have agreed to pool $100 billion of foreign-currency reserves, which they can lend to each other during emergencies. The group also founded the New Development Bank  a World Bank-modeled institution that has approved almost $33 billion of loans mainly for water, transport and other infrastructure projects since it began operations in 2015.

That investment pool would be useful in Southeast Asia, where official development finance dwindled to a low of $26 billion in 2022, according to a report this month by the Sydney-based Lowy Institute.

Another draw to membership, Malaysias Saifuddin said, is the residual negative sentiment toward institutions like the IMF, which pushed austerity measures sometimes blamed in the region for worsening the economic hardship caused by the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s.

Washington isnt sitting still. It has deepened security links in the region on matters like counter-terrorism, and with countries like Vietnam and the Philippines who are increasingly worried about their disputes with Beijing in the South China Sea. But as the great power competition intensifies across the board, there is also a recognition the region needs to hedge its bets.

There is increasingly less space for smaller countries to maneuver, Ong Keng Yong, the former secretary general of Asean said in an interview. By joining organizations like BRICS, countries are signaling that they want to be friendly to all sides, not just to the US and its allies.

--With assistance from Thomas Kutty Abraham.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
A French woman has filed a lawsuit against her employer for failing to give her any work assignments for 20 years, despite offering her full pay. The disabled woman, Laurence Van Wassenhove, has chosen to sue telecom giant Orange, claiming that she has been the victim of harassment and discrimination because of her health, according to VN Express.

In 1993, Wassenhove was employed by France Telecom prior to Orange acquiring the business. The physical limitations that France Telecom was aware of included her epilepsy and one side of her body being paralysed. She was thus given the opportunity to play a role that fit her.

Prior to her request for a transfer to a different part of France in 2002, Wassenhove worked as a secretary and in human resources.

However, Orange allegedly declined to modify anything. Rather, she received her entire pay, but she was not given any tasks. According to Wassenhove, this was done in an attempt to force her to leave the company without firing her directly.

Fight against discrimination While many people would consider it the ideal situation to be paid to do nothing, the French woman claims it is very hard to bear, according to The Sun.

She filed a complaint with the authorities in 2015 citing the discrimination. Orange then designated a mediator to settle the dispute. Wassenhove asserts that even after this, her circumstances did not get any better.

David Nabet-Martin, her attorney, asserts that she suffered from depression as a result of her seclusion.
Meta Platforms-owned Facebook declined advertisements that promote stories about climate change under a policy on sensitive topics, said a report by RNZ.co.nz citing New Zealand Geographic magazine.

According to the report, New Zealand Geographic publisher James Frankham said that the Facebook algorithm was preventing important journalism from reaching new readers.

It was impossible to find out exactly why posts were rejected, he added.

Frankham said changes to the kinds of posts Meta promoted automatically into people's feeds meant he now had to pay to get any traction for links to the magazine's journalism, as per the report.

The Facebook policy require authorisation for advertising on what it deems sensitive, political or social issues. The policy flags topics such as gun control, discussion, debate or advocacy for or against ... climate change.

Calling the Facebook algorithm a black box, Frankham said: You can't call 0800 Facebook and speak to somebody.

Meta Platforms policy for New Zealand on its website said: Ads about environmental politics, with ad content that includes discussion, debate or advocacy for or against topics including but not limited to climate change and gas extraction, are subject to review and enforcement.

The policy varies country to country.

Citing some media commentators, the RNZ report said the New Zealand Geographic magazine was not alone in finding its journalism being restricted on the Facebook, as Meta had stopped sharing links to news.

Facebook was a private company and could set its own policies - but in this case, it had it wrong, said Colin Peacock of RNZs Mediawatch.

There was a strong interest of the people being able to find journalism discussing topics such as climate change, he added.

Australia and Canada had implemented laws that require the Facebook to pay for news shared on its platform.

While in New Zealand, progress on the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill  drafted on similar lines to Australian law - had been stalled.

Also Read | Mark Zuckerberg takes Bill Gates to where Facebook was launched
Happy International Yoga Day 2024: The art of healthy living, Yoga, which originated in India, is now a global phenomenon with millions of people celebrating the ancient practice across the world on International Yoga Day 2024 on June 21.

The day is celebrated every year as Yoga Day after the United Nations unanimously adopted a resolution piloted by India to celebrate the International Day of Yoga on June 21 which is the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The day serves as a reminder to take out some time for our body and mind. The day also acts as a driving force which can encourage millions to start practising yoga for a healthier body and mind. Here are some quotes, wishes, and messages to send to your friends and family on International Yoga Day 2024 and encourage them to include the ancient practice in their lives.

Happy International Yoga Day wishes to send in the morning 1. May yoga continue to inspire people worldwide to prioritize mental and physical well-being.

2. May every individual find inner peace and harmony through the practice of yoga.

3. May yoga contribute to a healthier planet by promoting sustainable living practices.

4. May communities come together through yoga to foster understanding and unity.

5. May children and young adults embrace yoga to nurture their minds and bodies from an early age.

6. May yoga practitioners deepen their practice and explore its spiritual dimensions.

7. May workplaces integrate yoga for employees' holistic development and stress management.

8. May governments support initiatives that make yoga accessible to all socioeconomic groups.

9. May yoga teachers and practitioners collaborate globally to share knowledge and enhance learning.

10. May International Yoga Day inspire a commitment to health, peace, and mindfulness throughout the year.

Also Read | International Yoga Day: A list of essentials for a comfortable workout

International Yoga Day 2024: Quotes to share -Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured.- B.K.S. Iyengar

-Yoga, an ancient but perfect science, deals with the evolution of humanity. This evolution includes all aspects of one's being, from bodily health to self realization. Yoga means union - the union of body with consciousness and consciousness with the soul. Yoga cultivates the ways of maintaining a balanced attitude in day to day life and endows skill in the performance of one's actions.- B.K.S. Iyengar

-Yoga is a study of life  the body, breath, mind, intellect, memory, and ego. Its a study of your inner faculties.- Gurudev Shri Shri Ravishankar

-Yoga is the cessation of the movements of the mind. Then there is abiding in the Seers own form.- Patanjali (Author of the Yoga Sutras)

-Yoga is not just a workout, it is about working on yourself.- Baba Ramdev

-Yoga is about the journey, not the destination.- Oprah Winfrey

Happy International Yoga Day 2024: GIFs to share with friends and family

International Yoga Day WhatsApp images

International Yoga Day 2024: May the practice of yoga strengthen your body, calm your mind, and uplift your spirit. Happy Yoga Day

International Yoga Day 2024: On this International Yoga Day, may you find the balance and strength within. Namaste
After years of bitter feud, Prince Harry is likely to reunite with his family in the United Kingdom. The development is expected to be followed after making peace with brother Prince William, driven by "pressure" from King Charles, reported UK Mirror, citing a royal expert.

According to the news report, the long bitter feud between the two brothers could end because of King Charles, who wants to spend more time with his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lillibet, a royal expert Tom Quihnn told UK Mirror, hinting at a possible reunion of Prince Harry and William in future.

The British monarch is unhappy because he cannot spend more time with his grandchildren, Princess Archie and Princess Lillibet, and is worried because his relationship with the two is limited only to video calls.

Also Read | Desperate Meghan Markle ready to reconcile with Kate Middleton

King Charles has been putting pressure on Harry to do just this as he is angry that his only relationship with his grandchildren so far is via video calls, which Charles hates, the Mirror quoted Quihnn.

Will Meghan Markle return to the UK with Prince Harry? The royal expert's comments on Prince Harry might have raised speculations about his return to his homeland, but the main question remains intact about Meghan Markle. Quihnn added that the Duchess of Sussex is unlikely to join her husband following her negative experience with the Royal family.

King Charles might arrange a nearby place in the UK for Prince Harry and his children. With this, William and Kate's children would spend the weekend at Highgrove, and Harry's children could easily join them from their house nearby.
Weather today: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Karnataka, Maharashtra, Bihar, Assam, and Meghalaya, hinting at the possibility of heavy showers during the day. Uttar Pradesh is set to experience heatwaves during the day, the IMD indicated with a yellow alert.

In a press release dated June 20, the weather agency said that the Southwest monsoon has advanced into Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal, and Bihar.

Also Read | Weather update: IMD issues heat wave red alert for Uttar Pradesh today

Let's have a look at monsoon showers likely during the week:

The IMD suggested the possibility of thunderstorms with light to moderate rainfall, lightning and gusty winds in the northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and West Bengal till June 25.

Also Read | No heatwaves in country till Monday: IMD

 Isolated heavy to hefty rainfall very likely over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, Assam and Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh in the next few days and isolated heavy rainfall seen over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura on June 22 and June 23, the India Meteorological Department said. A wet spell accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning has been predicted for Gujarat, Goa and Maharashtra until June 25.

The weather department forecasts light to moderate rainfall in Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry until June 25. Thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds would accompany these weather conditions.

The weather bulletin predicts heavy showers until June 24 in some regions of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Rains forecast in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh in the upcoming week. Heavy showers will grace Uttarakhand on June 23 and June 24 and Uttar Pradesh on June 24. Let's have a look at regions to be impacted by heatwaves during the week:

IMD's weather report says, Heat wave conditions very likely in isolated/some pockets of West Uttar Pradesh till July 23.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is coming on a two-day state visit to India starting today.

This visit, her second this month, holds significance as it marks the first incoming bilateral state visit by a foreign leader following the formation of India's new government after the Lok Sabha 2024 elections. Invited by Modi, this visit aims to strengthen and broaden Bangladesh and India's already strong ties, fostering cooperation and collaboration on various fronts.

Hasina was among seven top leaders from India's neighbourhood and the Indian Ocean region who attended Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Council of Ministers' swearing-in ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on June 9.

What's on the agenda? Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh will participate in bilateral consultations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during her visit.

Additionally, during her stay, she will meet with President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and have consultations with Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar.

Hasina and Modi are scheduled to meet on June 22 at Hyderabad House. They will hold wide-ranging talks on Saturday, during which both sides will likely firm up a raft of agreements to cooperate in several sectors.

At the invitation of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina will pay a state visit to India on June 21 and 22, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

This will be the first incoming bilateral state visit after the formation of the government in India following the 18th Lok Sabha elections, the statement said.

The MEA said in the statement that in addition to holding bilateral consultations with Modi, the visiting leader is scheduled to call on President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.

The talks between the two prime ministers are expected to focus on taking the bilateral ties to new heights, a source told PTI.

Further discussions are anticipated to finalise the inauguration of the Feni Moitree Bridge for public transport and the commissioning of the second unit of the Rampal Moitree power plant. These projects signify the strengthening connectivity between India and Bangladesh.

Additionally, passenger movement through Maitri Setu, the bridge linking India and Bangladesh in the South Tripura district, is slated to commence by September this year.

India-Bangladesh relations Bangladesh is an important partner for India under its Neighbourhood First policy. The cooperation extends to areas of security, trade, commerce, energy, connectivity, science and technology, defence and maritime affairs, among others.

Earlier in 2021, S Jaishankar had said that Bangladesh was not only a key part of Indias neighbourhood first policy but also crucial for New Delhis Act East policy, which aims to cement ties between India and Southeast Asia.

Bangladesh is pivotal as India's largest development partner, with nearly one-fourth of New Delhi's commitment under the Line of Credit directed towards Bangladesh. Moreover, Bangladesh is India's largest trading partner in South Asia, while India ranks as Bangladesh's second-largest trading partner in Asia.

Bilateral ties Bangladesh and India are members of several regional and international organisations, including SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation), BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation), IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association), and the Commonwealth. These memberships facilitate diplomatic and economic cooperation between the two countries on regional and global platforms.

In the fiscal year 2022-23, Bangladesh exported goods worth approximately USD 2 billion to India, making India the largest export destination for Bangladeshi products in Asia during that period. The bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh for the same fiscal year amounted to USD 15.9 billion, reflecting the robust economic ties and mutual cooperation between the two countries.

Indo-Pacific region Both countries are viewed as twin engines of growth because they possess abundant and affordable human capital and deeply rooted social capital, emphasising cultural values.

Culturally, Bangladesh and certain eastern Indian states like West Bengal and Tripura share deep ties due to their common Bengali-speaking population. This linguistic similarity fosters strong cultural bonds, influencing shared traditions, literature, music, and cuisine.

This combination enables both nations to align their visions for the Indo-Pacific region, leveraging these assets for joint initiatives in connectivity, infrastructure development, and sustainable investments.
The US Justice Department is dropping one of two proposed claims against ByteDance Ltd.s TikTok, planning to focus a consumer protection lawsuit later this year on childrens privacy instead of allegations the video-sharing platform misled consumers about their data security.

The department is preparing to file the lawsuit on behalf of the US Federal Trade Commission, which investigated the case, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified discussing interagency communications.

The FTC gave the Justice Department a referral with two parts. The department plans to drop one part of the complaint alleging that TikTok deceived US consumers by failing to inform them that Beijing-based employees of its parent company, ByteDance, would have access to their personal and financial information, the people said. The DOJ plans to proceed with allegations the company violated the Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act, which bars collecting data about children under the age of 13.

TikTok has faced enormous scrutiny over the security of user data and ties between its parent company, ByteDance, and the Chinese government. President Joe Biden in April signed a law that would ban TikTok unless it is sold within a year. The company is challenging the law in the courts.

The FTC declined to comment on the DOJs decision.

The Justice Department cannot comment on the substance of the referral from the FTC against TikTok, said DOJ spokesman Terrence Clark. Consistent with our normal approach, the Department consulted with FTC in advance of this referral and will continue that consultation going forward.

The Justice Department, which is litigating against TikTok in the D.C. Circuit, is uniquely situated to evaluate the best ways to hold TikTok accountable for the violations of law alleged here while also ensuring that this case does not interfere with other proceedings raising critical national security issues, Clark added.

When the FTC seeks monetary penalties  such as when a firm violates a settlement agreement  it must refer the matter to the Justice Department for litigation. The same goes for cases the FTC investigates under federal consumer protection laws related to childrens online privacy.

The FTC recommended the agency sue TikTok over the two violations and took the unusual step of making its referral public on June 18. The FTC and Justice Department have been at odds over recent consumer protection cases involving Amazon.com Inc. and Meta Platforms Inc.

For more: TikTok Argues US Disregarded National Security Plans Before Ban

TikTok in 2019 paid $5.7 million to settle similar FTC allegations that it had illegally collected personal information from children. As part of that, the company agreed to provide annual reports to the agency about its data collection and compliance with the settlement. Those reports helped lead to the current case.

The DOJs Consumer Protection Branch has 45 days from when the FTC makes a referral to decide whether it wishes to litigate or send the case back to the FTC. The Justice Department almost always opts to take charge of the case as it can retain as much as 3% of the civil penalties it collects.

Earlier this year, the FTC asked Congress to amend the law and allow it to litigate its own cases, saying the process for referring cases to the Justice Department is badly broken.

With assistance from Emily Birnbaum.
Famous Canadian actor Donald Sutherland, known for his iconic roles in films like 'The Dirty Dozen' and "The Hunger Games," has died at the age of 88 in Miami following an extended illness, according to Variety.

Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Sutherland rose to fame with a diverse array of roles that showcased his versatility and talent. He became a countercultural icon with roles in classic films such as "The Dirty Dozen," "MASH," "Klute," and "Don't Look Now," among many others. Throughout his career, he portrayed villains, antiheroes, romantic leads, and mentor figures with equal aplomb, winning accolades and adoration from audiences worldwide.

Sutherland's recent acclaim included his role as President Snow in "The Hunger Games" franchise, which brought him renewed prominence in popular culture. He continued to captivate audiences with his performances, appearing as Judge Parker in the series "Lawmen: Bass Reeves" and in the 2022 series "Swimming With Sharks."

A Long, Illustrious Career His achievements were not limited to the big screen. Sutherland won a supporting actor Emmy for his compelling portrayal in HBO's "Citizen X" in 1995 and received critical acclaim for his role in the Lifetime miniseries "Human Trafficking" in 2006.

Beginning his career with roles in low-budget horror films like "Castle of the Living Dead" (1963) and "Die! Die! My Darling!" (1965), Sutherland quickly ascended to more significant roles, including his memorable part in "The Dirty Dozen" (1967) and his collaboration with Elliot Gould in "Little Murders" (1971) and Irvin Kershner in "SPYS" (1974).

His role as Sgt. Oddball in the WWII action film "Kelly's Heroes" (1970), alongside Clint Eastwood, solidified his reputation as a scene-stealer with his portrayal of an eccentric tank commander. Sutherland later reunited with Eastwood in "Space Cowboys" (2000), showcasing his versatility as a former hotshot pilot.

In 1971, Sutherland starred in "Klute," directed by Alan J. Pakula, opposite Jane Fonda, marking a significant milestone in his career. His portrayal of a troubled detective who becomes romantically entangled with a call girl (Fonda) earned critical acclaim, with Fonda crediting Sutherland for her Oscar-winning performance.

Beyond his acting prowess, Sutherland was known for his activism during the Vietnam War era. Alongside Fonda, Peter Boyle, and Howard Hesseman, he co-founded the controversial antiwar troupe FTA (Free the Army), which performed for troops and drew the ire of government agencies like the Pentagon and the FBI.

A Legacy of Memorable Performances Sutherland's career continued to evolve with roles in influential films such as Nicholas Roeg's psychological thriller "Don't Look Now" (1973), where his restrained acting style complemented Julie Christie's performance in a haunting tale of grief and loss.

Despite occasional setbacks, including turning down roles in films like "Deliverance" (1972) and opting for unconventional choices like "Alex in Wonderland" (1970) over "Straw Dogs" (1971), Sutherland's commitment to challenging roles remained unwavering. His portrayal of complex characters in films like "Fellini's Casanova" (1976) and Bertolucci's "1900" (1977) underscored his willingness to take risks and explore diverse facets of human nature.

In 1980, Sutherland delivered a career-defining performance in "Ordinary People," directed by Robert Redford, where he portrayed a grieving father navigating family turmoil. His portrayal earned widespread acclaim, showcasing his ability to delve into profound emotional depths.

Throughout his career, Donald Sutherland's contributions to cinema were marked by his dedication to his craft, versatility in roles, and a commitment to artistic integrity. His passing leaves behind a legacy of memorable performances and a lasting impact on the film industry.
The kingdom hauled in more than $54 billion this year to fund its massive spending ambitionsequivalent to about 5% of its gross domestic product. It loaded up on debt, sold shares in crown-jewel oil company Aramco and cashed out bets on U.S. tech giants.

Even with the fresh injection of money, however, Saudi Arabia faces increasingly hard fiscal choices, with growing bills for planned futuristic megaprojects and an economic overhauland narrowing ways to pay for them.

In all, Saudi Arabia has launched well over $1 trillion of projects under the umbrella of Vision 2030, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans plan to rapidly pivot the economy away from oil. Faced with limited funds, Saudi officials say they have begun to scale back some of those plans, which face funding gaps of hundreds of billions of dollars.

Some of the recent transactions will be difficult to repeat," said Tim Callen, a visiting fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute think tank in Washington.

He believes the Saudis expect oil prices to rise significantly in future years, a risky approach that could mean tough choices, especially if oil falls.

Saudi officials have said they are confident they are on stable fiscal footingand have plenty of levers to pull to keep funding their investments.

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan told CNBC in an interview earlier this year that the deficits current sizearound 2% of GDPis at an acceptable level.

As long as that deficit is going to fuel growth and capital programs and strategies, I think its a good deficit, not a bad deficit," he said.

However, Saudi Arabias prized assetits 97% stake in Aramco, formally known as Saudi Arabian Oil Co.hasnt proved to be the geyser of spending money once imagined.

Saudi officials initially eyed raising $40 billion to $50 billion by selling additional stock in the company to investors, people familiar with the plans said. But this month it ultimately settled on raising $11.2 billion after bankers scoured the market for demand, selling 0.64% of the company.

While the governments shares in Aramco have a market value of nearly $1.8 trillion, finding global investors to buy tens of billions of dollars of stock would be difficult at any company. Aramcos listing on Saudi Arabias small stock exchange, where many Western funds dont operate, makes the task even more challenging.

Aramco stock, meanwhile, has barely budged over the past three years even as the shares of rivals such as Exxon Mobil and Shell are up over 70%.

Raising sums significantly larger than this months offering would be difficult in the future, said Craig Coben, a former top investment banker at Bank of America and now managing director at Seda Experts.

Its an attractive companyits very profitablebut its a lot of stock and there are some structural headwinds," Coben said.

Another source of cash also has its limits. In the first three months of the year, Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund, a sovereign fund, sold roughly $15 billion of stock in U.S. companiesmuch of which was in tech firmsleaving a portfolio worth $20.5 billion as of March, securities filings show.

The sovereign-wealth funds other international investments are largely stakes in private companies that would take longer to selland investments tied up in private-equity funds that take years to return money.

Fueling concerns is the scale of Vision 2030.

Much of the money is going toward more than two dozen giant real-estate developments and the creation of an entire new region called Neom, where the Saudis are building an arid mountain ski resort and the first phase of what is meant to be a 106-mile-long pair of 1,600-foot skyscrapers called the Line. Many of the biggest projects are just starting to ramp up construction, requiring a surge in spending to finish by 2030.

Just the first 1-mile chunk of the Line is estimated internally to cost more than $100 billion by 2030, people familiar with the cost have said. That would require the equivalent of more than eight offerings of Aramco stock on the scale completed this month. The Saudis have gradually scaled back Neoms first phase amid cost pressures, according to former employees on the project.

PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan said at a conference in February that the fund would increase annual spending on domestic projects to about $70 billion, up from $40 billion to $50 billion now.

Other Saudi officials, however, have said the country has shelved unannounced projects and delayed others past 2030 because of funding gaps and to avoid overheating the economy. They have provided little detail about the cutbacks.

The International Monetary Fund said in a review of the Saudi economy and fiscal policy this month that making the changes public will be important to help provide clarity on government priorities to investors and the public." The review generally gave the kingdom good marks for its economic reforms of recent years.

Over half of the states $333 billion budget is funded by oil revenue. Analysts at S&P recently estimated that Saudi Arabia needs oil to reach at least $96 a barrel to balance its budget, a so-called break-even level that has increased with swelling spending. Brent crude oil has been hovering around $82 a barrel.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has been borrowing far more than at any point in recent years, save for a brief period in the pandemic.

The kingdom took on $17 billion in new sovereign debt in the first three months of the yearalready hitting its debt target for all of 2024, according to budget documents. It then raised another $5 billion through a sharia-compliant bond offering, known as a sukuk, in May.

Still, the kingdom has imposed its own limits to prevent it from relying too much on borrowing.

The Saudi finance minister recently said the country should keep its debt levels below 40% of GDPup from a ceiling of 30% instituted before the pandemic. Its debt is the equivalent of 27% of GDP, up from 1.5% a decade ago, a rapid jump to a level still well shy of major Western economies, where levels tend to be well above 60%.

Meanwhile, it has been trying to add debt on state-owned companies and subsidiaries of PIF, which itself has borrowed over $5 billion this year.

Write to Eliot Brown at Eliot.Brown@wsj.com
As nearly two million Muslim pilgrims converged on Saudi Arabias deserts for the annual hajj, the kingdom was braced for everything from terrorist attacks to demonstrations against Israels war in the Gaza Strip.

Instead, the threat came from the heat.

Temperatures soared above 125 degrees Fahrenheit at one point this weekunusually high for mid-Juneand more than 1,000 people died. Among them were a number of Americans, a State Department spokesperson said. The situation was worsened by a large number of unpermitted pilgrims who didnt have access to cooling facilities or the full range of available healthcare.

The death toll is the highest at the hajj since a stampede in 2015 killed more than 2,000 people. The fatalities are still being counted and are likely to rise, as hundreds of people are either missing or in the hospital with severe heat stroke. Hundreds of Egyptians were among the dead.

Pilgrims began to succumb to the heat last Saturday, the first day of the event, when worshipers make a trek of nearly 10 miles to climb Mount Arafat then stand outside for hours to pray before returning to Mecca.

Ahmed Mohammed, a 31-year-old Egyptian who attended hajj without a permit, said that as he came down from Arafat he tried to help an older man who was too exhausted to continue. The police and medics told him they had other calls to respond to first, so he pushed the man in a wheelchair for an hour to a private clinic, which refused to admit him. Finally, Mohammeds cousin was able to get close enough with a car for them to load the man in and take him to a public hospital, where he entered intensive care.

Most people are walking long distances, and the crowds are immense," Mohammed said. The police and ambulance service were overwhelmed with reports that they were not prepared to handle."

Saudi Arabia limits the number of pilgrims from each country. To circumvent the caps and save on the cost of sanctioned travel packages that usually start at several thousand dollars, many people travel to the country as tourists then slip into the hajj rituals.

Unpermitted pilgrims dont have standard access to official buses or air-conditioned venues, so they ended up making the trek to Arafat and spending all day in the sun, often without enough water or parasols.

In interviews with The Wall Street Journal and video testimonies posted online, pilgrims said the Saudi police had granted them access to Arafat on Saturday without permits but later didnt respond to pleas for help when they reported that people had collapsed on the walk. Others said police had distributed food, water and parasols but that ambulances were overwhelmed by the need.

An Egyptian lawyer said he had rented an apartment in Mecca before the security forces locked down the city ahead of hajj so that he could participate without a permit. He walked for seven hours on Saturday morning in a sea of other unpermitted pilgrims to reach Arafat, where he said he saw many people dying.

They were standing in the sun, and the temperature was above 50 degrees," he said, the Celsius equivalent of more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. They couldnt withstand the hot weather."

Saudi Arabia hasnt commented on the death toll and didnt respond to questions about what happened at this years hajj, in which some 1.83 million people participated. It said Monday that more than 2,700 people had been treated for heat stroke. The army had deployed more than 1,600 personnel with medical units specifically for heat stroke and had staffed 30 rapid-response teams. An additional 5,000 health and first-aid volunteers also took part.

Health Minister Fahd Al-Jalajel said Tuesday that health plans had been carried out successfully, with no outbreak of disease or other threats to public health. He said heat-stress injuries had been minimized by discouraging pilgrims from performing rituals during peak temperatures.

Saudi officials have asked pilgrims to stay hydrated and carry umbrellas. They advised pilgrims on Monday against performing the symbolic stoning of the devil" ritual at midday after temperatures soared, and on Thursday encouraged worshipers to pray at local mosques across Mecca rather than the central mosque to reduce crowding and avoid high temperatures.

The hajj, a five-day event that has been held since the seventh century, is a once-a-lifetime duty for Muslims able to make the journey and is one of the worlds largest annual gatherings. Its also a source of great political and religious prestige for Saudi Arabia as the custodian of Islams two holiest sites and generates billions of dollars in revenue for the kingdom each year.

Safety and security incidents can carry geopolitical risk, fueling calls from Saudi rivals like Iran and Yemens Houthi rebels to place Mecca and Medina under international administration.

Ahead of this years hajj, the most obvious concern was that Israels war against Hamas in Gaza risked sparking unrest among Muslim worshipers, many of whom oppose the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories as well as Saudi Arabias openness to establishing formal relations with Israel in a U.S.-backed deal.

Saudi Arabia has sought to curb the number of unpermitted pilgrims with threats of arrest and fines, even as the kingdom aims to double the official capacity of the hajj to six million by 2030. But the kingdoms efforts to build a traditional tourism industry have also made it easier for foreigners to enter the country for other purposes and hide out in Mecca waiting for the rituals to begin.

Saudi public-security director Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Bassami said ahead of hajj that unpermitted pilgrims were partners in this transgression" and repeated warnings that they would be arrested if they sought to participate in the rituals.

Unpermitted pilgrims could be said to bear responsibility for endangering their own lives, said Umer Karim, an expert on Saudi politics at the University of Birmingham in England. But, he said, hajj authorities could have taken quick measures and that might have saved some lives."

Among the dead were more than 600 Egyptians, officials from their government said, almost all of whom had participated without permits.

At least 212 Indonesians also died, according to the countrys Ministry of Religious Affairs, which identified widespread heat stroke and pneumonia as the most common causes. About 90 Indian nationals died, though not all of their deaths were heat-related, according to an Indian government official. Both countries have suffered higher tolls in previous years.

Dozens of other pilgrims have also died, including from Jordan, Pakistan, Tunisia, Turkey and Iran.

It wasnt clear how many Americans had died. The situation is dynamic, so we do not have a precise number for you at this time," the State Department spokesperson said late Thursday.

Many of those who died were sick or elderly, making them more vulnerable to heavy exertion in the heat. Recent studies have found that consistently rising temperatures in Mecca could jeopardize the running of hajj during summer months as soon as the 2040s.

Menna Farouk, Suha Maayeh, Jon Emont, Rajesh Roy, Saeed Shah, Aresu Eqbali and Elvan Kivilcim contributed to this article.

Write to Stephen Kalin at stephen.kalin@wsj.com
SEOUL, South Korea  South Korea said Thursday that it would consider sending arms to Ukraine, a major policy change that was suggested after Russia and North Korea rattled the region and beyond by signing a pact to come to each others defense in the event of war.

The comments from a senior presidential official came hours after North Koreas state media released the details of the agreement, which observers said could mark the strongest connection between Moscow and Pyongyang since the end of the Cold War. It comes at a time when Russia faces growing isolation over the war in Ukraine and both countries face escalating standoffs with the West.

According to the text of the deal published by North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency, or KCNA, if either country gets invaded and is pushed into a state of war, the other must deploy all means at its disposal without delay to provide military and other assistance. But the agreement also says that such actions must be in accordance with the laws of both countries and Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which recognizes a U.N. member states right to self-defense.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the pact at a summit Wednesday in Pyongyang. Both described it as a major upgrade of bilateral relations, covering security, trade, investment, cultural and humanitarian ties.

The office of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol issued a statement condemning the agreement, calling it a threat to his country's security and a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, and warned that it would have negative consequences on Seouls relations with Moscow.

Its absurd that two parties with a history of launching wars of invasion  the Korean War and the war in Ukraine  are now vowing mutual military cooperation on the premise of a preemptive attack by the international community that will never happen, Yoons office said.

At the United Nations in New York, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul called it deplorable that Russia would act in violation of multiple U.N. sanctions resolutions against North Korea that Moscow voted for.

Yoons national security adviser, Chang Ho-jin, said that Seoul would reconsider the issue of providing arms to Ukraine to help the country fight off Russias full-scale invasion.

South Korea, a growing arms exporter with a well-equipped military backed by the United States, has provided humanitarian aid and other support to Ukraine, while joining U.S.-led economic sanctions against Moscow. But it hasn't directly provided arms to Kyiv, citing a longstanding policy of not supplying weapons to countries actively engaged in conflict.

Speaking to reporters in Hanoi, where he traveled after Pyongyang, Putin said Thursday that supplying weapons to Ukraine would be a very big mistake on South Korea's part. If that happens, Putin said that it would lead to "decisions that are unlikely to please the current leadership of South Korea.

He said that South Korea shouldnt worry about the agreement, if Seoul isn't planning any aggression against Pyongyang.

Asked whether Ukrainian strikes on Russian regions with Western-supplied weapons could be considered an act of aggression, Putin said that it needs to be additionally studied, but its close to it, and that Moscow isn't ruling out supplying weapons to North Korea in response.

A number of NATO allies, including the United States and Germany, recently authorized Ukraine to hit some targets on Russian soil with the long-range weapons they are supplying to Kyiv. Earlier this month, a Western official and a U.S. senator said that Ukraine has used American weapons to strike inside Russia.

Putin has said in response that Moscow reserves the right to arm Western adversaries, and reiterated that notion on Thursday.

I said, including in Pyongyang, that in this case we reserve the right to supply weapons to other regions of the world," he said. "Keeping in mind our agreements with the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, Im not ruling that out.

The summit between Kim and Putin came as the U.S. and its allies expressed growing concern over a possible arms arrangement in which Pyongyang provides Moscow with badly needed munitions for the war in Ukraine, in exchange for economic assistance and technology transfers that could enhance the threat posed by Kims nuclear weapons and missile program.

Following their summit, Kim said the two countries had a fiery friendship, and that the deal was their strongest-ever treaty, putting the relationship at the level of an alliance. He vowed full support for Russias invasion of Ukraine. Putin called it a breakthrough document, reflecting shared desires to move relations to a higher level.

North Korea and the former Soviet Union signed a treaty in 1961, which experts say necessitated Moscows military intervention if the North came under attack. The deal was discarded after the collapse of the USSR, replaced by one in 2000 that offered weaker security assurances.

Theres ongoing debate on how strong of a security commitment the deal entails. While some analysts see the agreement as a full restoration of the countries Cold War-era alliance, others say the deal seems more symbolic than substantial.

Ankit Panda, a senior analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said that the text appeared to be carefully worded as to not imply automatic military intervention.

But "the big picture here is that both sides are willing to put down on paper, and show the world, just how widely they intend to expand the scope of their cooperation, he said.

The deal was made as Putin visited North Korea for the first time in nearly a quarter-century, a trip that showcased their personal and geopolitical ties. Kim hugged Putin twice at the airport, their motorcade rolling past giant Russian flags and Putin portraits, before a welcoming ceremony at Pyongyangs main square attended by what appeared to be tens of thousands of spectators.

According to KCNA, the agreement also states that Pyongyang and Moscow must not enter into agreements with third parties, if they infringe on the core interests of any of them and mustn't participate in actions that threaten those interests.

KCNA said that the agreement requires the countries to take steps to prepare joint measures for the purpose of strengthening their defense capabilities to prevent war and protect regional and global peace and security. The agency didnt specify what those steps are, or whether they would include combined military training and other cooperation.

The agreement also calls for the countries to actively cooperate in efforts to establish a just and multipolar new world order, KCNA said, underscoring how the countries are aligning in face of their separate confrontations with the United States.

How the pact affects Russia's relations with South Korea is a key development to watch, said Jenny Town, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center in Washington and director of the North Korea-focused 38 North website.

Seoul had already signed onto sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, souring its relations with Moscow. Now with any ambiguity of Russias partnership with North Korea removed, how will Seoul respond? she said. Is there a point where it decides to cut or suspend diplomatic ties with Russia or expel its ambassador? And have we reached it?

Kim has made Russia his priority in recent months as he pushes a foreign policy aimed at expanding relations with countries confronting Washington, embracing the idea of a new Cold War and trying to display a united front in Putins broader conflicts with the West.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are at their highest point in years, with the pace of both Kims weapons tests, and combined military exercises involving the U.S., South Korea and Japan intensifying in a tit-for-tat cycle.

The Koreas also have engaged in Cold War-style psychological warfare that involved North Korea dropping tons of trash on South Korea with balloons, and Seoul broadcasting anti-North Korean propaganda with its loudspeakers.

Edith M. Lederer contributed to this report from the United Nations.
By Alexandra Ulmer and Gram Slattery

-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in a podcast released on Thursday said that students graduating from U.S. colleges should get a green card to stay in the country, a proposal that runs counter to his hardline immigration stance.

During the All-In podcast hosted by Silicon Valley tech investors, angel investor Jason Calacanis told Trump that the U.S. needs to be able to legally retain more high-skilled workers, a major issue for the tech industry.

"Can you please promise us you will give us more ability to import the best and brightest around the world to America?" Calacanis said.

"I do promise," Trump said. "But I happen to agree, otherwise I wouldn't promise... You graduate from a college, I think you should get automatically as part of your diploma a green card to be able to stay in this country and that includes junior colleges too."

A green card, also known as a permanent resident card, allows individuals the right to live and work permanently in the United States and is a step towards citizenship.

It was not clear if Trump was referring to all foreigners, including those who came to the United States illegally or overstayed their visas, or only those people on student visas.

Asked for comment, the Trump campaign said in a statement that only after "the most aggressive vetting process in U.S. history" would "the most skilled graduates who can make significant contributions to America" be able to stay.

The Biden campaign cast doubt on whether Trump would in fact enact the proposal he outlined on Thursday, given the hardline immigration stances he adopted during his 2017 to 2021 term.

"Every chance Donald Trump got in office, he made it his mission to rip apart immigrant families for his own political gain," said Biden campaign spokesperson Kevin Munoz.

"Trump's empty promise is both a lie and an insult, especially to the countless people that have been permanently damaged by his first-term in office."

Immigration advocates were also unconvinced by Trump's proposal.

"I almost have to laugh because his administration adopted multiple policies aiming to restrict student visas and make it harder for people to stay in the country after graduating," said Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy director at the American Immigration Council.

During his presidency, Trump's administration took steps aimed at curbing U.S. companies' use of skilled foreign workers on H-1B visas, a key visa option for international students seeking to remain in the United States.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the Trump administration tried to force tens of thousands of foreign students to leave the country if their schools held all classes online. Faced with lawsuits and strong opposition from colleges and universities, the administration later rescinded the order.

Trump has vowed a wide-ranging crackdown if reelected in the November election against Democrat Joe Biden, and has lambasted Biden's efforts to curb the record number of migrants crossing into the U.S. illegally.

Two of the All-In hosts, venture capitalists David Sacks and Chamath Palihapitiya, hosted a swanky fundraiser for Trump in San Francisco earlier this month, raising some $12 million for his campaign.

UKRAINE, ABORTION

During the interview, Trump ruled out committing U.S. troops to Ukraine.

"I would guarantee it," he said, when asked if he would pledge not to put boots on the ground there. "I wouldn't do it, no."

Trump also appeared skeptical of creating a pathway for NATO membership for Ukraine. The Biden administration supports Ukraine's eventual ascension into the mutual defense alliance.

On abortion rights, Trump said he would not support a federal ban, echoing previous comments.
By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS, - Russia must abide by United Nations sanctions on North Korea, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday after the two countries this week deepened ties and agreed to provide immediate military assistance if either faces armed aggression.

The pact - signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday - follows

U.S. accusations

that Pyongyang has been transferring weapons to Russia for use against Ukraine, which it invaded in February 2022. Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied the accusations.

The U.N. Security Council will meet June 28 on North Korea, diplomats said, at the request of the U.S., France, Britain, South Korea and Japan, who want to discuss weapons transfers by Pyongyang in violation of council resolutions.

Formally known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , North Korea has been under U.N. sanctions since 2006 for its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and those measures have been strengthened over the years - with Russia's support.

"There are sanctions approved by the Security Council in relation to the DPRK," Guterres told reporters on Friday. "Any relationship that any country has with DPRK, including the Russian Federation, must entirely abide by those sanctions."

Russia's mission to the United Nations declined to comment on Guterres' remarks.

For the past several years the 15-member Security Council has been divided over how to deal with Pyongyang. Russia and China say more sanctions will not help and want such measures to be eased. They proposed some sanctions be lifted in December 2019 but have never put their draft resolution to a vote.

In May 2022, the pair vetoed a U.S.-led push to impose more U.N. sanctions on North Korea over its renewed ballistic missile launches. Russia then vetoed in March the renewal of a panel of experts monitoring enforcement of U.N. sanctions.

Before the panel disbanded at the end of April, three of the experts traveled to Ukraine and -

in a report to the Security Council seen by Reuters

- determined that the debris from a missile that landed in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Jan. 2 was from a North Korean Hwasong-11 series ballistic missile.

China and Russia say joint military drills by the United States and South Korea provoke Pyongyang, while Washington accuses Beijing and Moscow of emboldening North Korea by shielding it from more sanctions.
Former US President Donald Trump, in an interview posted on Thursday, stated that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign graduates from US colleges, a departure from his usual tough stance on immigration.

As reported by AFP, Trump made these comments on a podcast days after US President Joe Biden announced a plan to provide a path to citizenship for immigrants married to US citizens. This move contrasted with Biden's recent efforts to tighten controls on illegal border crossings.

What I want to do and what I will do is, you graduate from a college, I think you should get automatically as part of your diploma a green card to be able to stay in this country, Trump told the All-In podcast.

A green card is the commonly used name for a permanent resident card in the United States and is considered a key step towards obtaining US citizenship.

Trump said this should include anybody who graduates from a college, including those who complete two-year programmes, known as junior colleges, and doctoral graduates.

When asked initially on the podcast if he would promise to help import the best and the brightest around the world to America, Trump replied, I do promise.

He added: I know of stories where people graduated from a top college, or from a college, and they desperately want to stay here... and they can't.

They go back to India, they go back to China. They do the same basic company in those places, and they have become multi-billionaires, employing thousands and thousands of people, Trump said.

He also said that US companies need smart people, adding, They can't even make a deal with a company because they don't think they're going to be able to stay in the country.

That is going to end on day one, Trump added.

During Trump's 2017-2021 presidency, he ordered the construction of a wall on the US-Mexico border and implemented a travel ban on people primarily from Muslim countries.

President Joe Biden, Donald Trump's Democratic opponent, recently announced the easing of visa regulations for approximately half a million spouses of US citizens, facilitating their path to citizenship.

Joe Biden also streamlined procedures for Dreamers, undocumented migrants brought to the US as children, enabling them to obtain work visas with college degrees and high-skilled job offers.
There are many companies developing AI models. But one company is integral to almost every major artificial intelligence project: Nvidia, since it has a monopoly on the computer chips required to run the intensive calculations required for AI operations.

During every gold rush in history, the really smart investors have put their money into picks, shovels, and mining equipment instead of trying their luck digging for gold. In the 21st century rush to develop AI, the smartest investors have backed this chip-design giant, elevating Nvidia to the status of the worlds most-valuable company.

Nvidias rise has been meteoric. When OpenAI made its ChatGPT conversational AI tool available to the common user in November 2022, Nvidia had an annual revenue of $26.9 billion and $4.3 billion in net profit. In 2023, as many tech companies focussed on developing AI models, Nvidias revenue jumped to $60.8 billion and its net profit to $29.7 billion.

In May 2023, Nvidias market capitalisation crossed $1 trillion for the first time, and has tripled in the 13 months since. Analysts expect the US companys revenue to double again in 2024, and to hit $160 billion by 2026. That is incredible growth backed by strong margins.

Nvidias corporate culture is worth mentioning. For one, it has fewer than 30,000 employees, which pales in comparison with other trillion-dollar giants. Microsoft has about 220,000 employees, Apple about 161,000, and Google about 180,000. Nvidias work culture is driven by desperation. Its chief executive Jensen Huang used to start every presentation with a warning: Our company is 30 days from going out of business."

Nvidia is the worlds most famous chipmaker, but it doesnt actually make chips. It designs them and gets them fabricated by contract manufacturers. It has a stranglehold on the gaming industry, being present in over 80% of game devices. It also has a near-monopoly in high-end AI-related systems and research and development. Some of its AI-capable chips are sold for about $100,000 and resold at huge premiums. Nvidia has a big presence in crypto-mining as well.

Nvidias lead in graphics processing unitsor GPUs, which are chiefly used in image processing, video games, AI, and crypto-miningoriginated with its focus on the gaming industry, where it has a significant R&D lead over its rivals.

GPUs run in conjunction with central processing units, or CPUs, where Intel Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) are bigger players than Nvidia. But GPUs do the heavy lifting in terms of the intensive number-crunching required to render images, run AI algorithms, and solve the mathematical puzzles involved in crypto-mining.

Apart from supplying chips, Nvidia also has an enormous number of global partnerships with companies, institutions, and research labs working in AI. It also has a big presence in India; partnerships with the Indian government-owned National Informatics Centre (NIC), with several of the premier Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), and various companies including Tata Group, Reliance Group, and Infosys Ltd.

Nvidia is setting up AI data centres in India with Tata and Reliance, and its Mumbai-based partner Yotta Data Services has set up a state-of-the-art facility at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, or GIFT City.

Nvidia is partnering with IIT-Bombay, IIT-Jodhpur, and Thapar Institute for healthcare and medical research, with Infosys for developing enterprise solutions, with IIT-Hyderabad for R&D in agriculture and transport solutions, and with NIC for e-governance solutions.

In each case, Nvidia brings the infrastructure and hardware to the table, and seeks ways to develop optimised solutions with its partners.

All this should help bridge the gap in AI-capable infrastructure in India as Nvidia brings in its supercomputing Grace Hopper chips and its MGX-server cloud systems. CEO Huang has said he expects India will become a global AI powerhouse.

There is, however, one potential cloud on the horizon of this sunrise industry. Nvidias massive valuations and sensational growth have arisen from its monopoly in cutting-edge AI. That monopoly developed naturally from its decades of R&D in image-rendering GPUs. It makes Nvidia an indispensable part of high-end AI projects, but that represents a possible danger.

If Nvidia has any sort of problem, global AI development could run into a supply bottleneck. Even now, Nvidias chips are in short supply. Market forces will certainly lead to competition in this area. Chip designers will be looking for ways to close the gap in terms of design capabilities, and eventually, there will be comparable chips from other manufacturers. But until there are credible alternatives to Nvidias superchips, this could be a source of concern.

One could argue that Intel and AMD already provide credible alternatives. But Nvidias proprietary software platform makes it difficult for its customers to jump ship, since more than 4 million global developers rely on it to build AI and other apps.

That said, the Unified Acceleration Foundation was established in September with Intel, Qualcomm, Samsung, and VMware among its members to prevent AI developers from building apps specifically for one vendors GPUs. If successful, this may break Nvidias stranglehold.

Until that happens, Nvidia remains an indispensable link in the AI supply chain.
Ola founder Bhavish Aggarwal recently expressed displeasure at big tech companies like OpenAI using data from India to pre-train their large language models (LLMs) and profit from it, describing the trend as a form of data and AI colonisation."

According to Aggarwal, while India generates 20% of the world's data, only a fraction of this is stored within the country. He elaborated, "...20%, because we are 20% of the world's population..."

He went on to criticise the practice of exporting Indian data to global data centres only to have companies like OpenAI process it and sell the insights back to India at high prices.

He also drew a historical parallel, asking rhetorically, "Does this sound similar to something that happened 200 years ago? Yeah, East India Company."

As an entrepreneur with a degree in computer science and engineering from IIT Bombay, Aggarwal has proved himself in the field. He not only founded Ola Cabs and Ola Electric but also launched an AI venture called Krutrim, which is a now a unicorn, or a startup valued at $1 billion or more.

Aggarwal's concerns about data sovereignty" and the need for India to become self-reliant are valid. And its hard to fault him, or anyone for that matter, for arguing that India must produce more domestically to compete with global powers like the US and China.

This includes everything from batteries and vehicles to semiconductor manufacturing plants and data centres, as well as e-planes, rockets, bullet trains, hyperloops, foundation models, and LLMs to rival tech giants Google, Microsoft, Nvidia, and OpenAI.

This is not the first time that someone has voiced concerns over data and AI colonisation," which is broadly defined as big tech companies (mostly from the US) using data from emerging economies to enrich themselves.

Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani voiced this concern back in December 2018 when he said, In this new world, data is the new oil. And data is the new wealth. Indias data must be controlled and owned by Indian people and not by corporates, especially global corporations."

On 20 March, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang raised this question with a section of the media. He said: Prime Minister Narendra Modi told me that India should not export flour to import breadthis makes perfect sense. Why export raw material, only to import the value-added product? Why export Indias data, only to import AI?"

Data-aware, self-reliant

Urging Indians to feel proud about making more products in India and exhorting them to be confident when dreaming big about building LLMS, electric vehicles, or even semiconductor fabs (as Ambani and Aggarwal did) is an effective prescription.

The country's entrepreneurs began building India-specific LLMs only after C.P. Gurnani, then then CEO and MD of Tech Mahindra, and Rajan Anandan, MD of venture firm Peak XV Partners, took offence when OpenAI CEO Sam Altman doubted if Indian entrepreneurs could develop a generative pre-trained transformer (GPT)-type of LLM with just a $10 million investment, a fraction of what OpenAI was spending.

The result: Indian entrepreneurs have already released local language models including Aggarwal's Krutrim, Tech Mahindra's Project Indus, Sarvam AI's OpenHathi series, AI4Bharat, SML's Hanooman series, Sutra series from Two AI, and CoRover's BharatGPT.

In March, the Union Cabinet approved the national-level IndiaAI Mission with a budget outlay of 10,371.92 crore, aimed at developing a manufacturing base for graphic processing units (GPUs) in a public-private partnership, and multi-modal domain-specific LLMs. That very month, India took a big step towards achieving self-reliance in electronics when PM Modi laid the foundation stones for three semiconductor facilities in India, worth almost 1.25 trillion.

These include a fab by Tata Electronics with Taiwans PSMC in Gujarat; an outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) facility in Assam, also by Tata Electronics; and an OSAT facility by CG Power in partnership with Renesas.

India is advancing rapidly in space and technology. Beyond ISRO's space missions, Skyroot launched India's first private rocket in 2022, and Agnikul Cosmos launched its sub-orbital test vehicle featuring the world's first single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine.

India is making significant progress in electric vehicles, with Tata Motors, Mahindra Electric, Ashok Leyland Electric, Hyundai, Hero Electric, Kia Motors, and startups Ather and Ola Electric Mobility contributing to this growth.

Cut slack on data, AI colonisation

Here are factors to consider in the data and AI colonisation-versus-self-reliance debate:

First, lets ask ourselves: Must we paint big tech companies as antagonists in the 'Make-in-India' film to drive home our concerns over data and AI colonisation? Especially when many big tech global companies continue to contribute towards generating employment in the country and put India on the global research and development (R&D) map with their global capability centres (GCCs)?

Also, experience reveals that pure-bred Indian companies too can manipulate and profit from user data stored within Indian shores.

Second, India's stand on data localisation itself has grey areas. The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, which was notified last year, eased the stance on cross-border data transfer restrictions by adopting a blacklist" approach.

This, some experts argue, could lead to a shortage of high-quality datasets that are crucial for AI R&D. Any specific law pertaining to any specific sector will supersede the DPDP Act when it comes to "banning" these geographies, such as Reserve Bank of India regulations that state that the personal data of payment systems are to be stored in India.

Third, there is a rapid rise in the number of local data centres in India. Yet, as of March 2024, the US hosts more than 50% (5,381) of the little over 10,000 data centres, according to Statista, while India had 163 including those set up by Microsoft, Google, NTT Data, and Amazon Web Services.

Fourth, global tech companies have contributed to India's tech growth by setting up their centres of excellence (COEs) in India and investing millions of dollars in setting up incubators and accelerators. They are partnering with educational institutions and Indian startups too.

By 2025, India is expected to have over 1,900 GCCs employing 2 million people. By 2026-27, Nasscom forecasts the number of GCCs in India to exceed 2,000.

Fifth, while Aggarwal may likely disagree, it would take billions of dollars and years to build a single entity that he envisions -- one that can train foundational models and LLMs, design custom AI chips, have an AI cloud infrastructure, and build a developer platform too.

OpenAIs GPT was in the works for more than six years, cost upwards of $100 million and used an estimated 30,000 GPUs. Krutrim is a separate business, according to Aggarwal, for which he raised $50 million from Matrix Partners India.

Sixth, many Indian startups that are developing local language models are building them atop (hence, called wrappers) the foundation models of OpenAI's GPT, Meta's LLaMA, Google's Gemini, and Anthropic's Claude, to name a few. Building a foundation model, as indicated above, is expensive. Thus, they too are capitalising on the very data that big tech companies would have used from India.

Besides, there's a shortage of GPUs (a single Nvidia H100 GPU can cost about $25,000) to run these AI models, and Indian companies have to rely on global tech companies to provide them, even if they run much smaller language models. Moreover, funding for Indic language models is not easy to come by.

Seventh, as suggested by Mihir Kaulgud in an October 2022 paper published by the Social and Political Research Foundation, if India wants to combat data colonialism, it should focus on both the states sovereignty and the people who generate data, thus being attentive to datas social characteristics and moving the foundations of policy away from the 'data as resource' metaphor."

Quoting Svensson, J., & Poveda Guillen, O. (2020). What is Data and What Can it be Used For?, he explained that the data generated by highly networked societies" has to be captured, quantified, and processed."

All of these practices give the data a particular shape, suggesting that data is deeply cultural and infused with societal norms and values," Kaulgud argued.

Wrapping up

Indias tryst with semiconductors started in the 1960s. It failed many times but did not give up. The current semiconductor projects should provide the building blocks for local microchip-making and the critical semiconductor value chain of design, fabrication, assembly, testing, marking and packaging.

The new investments will manage to make chips of only 28-40 nanometres, while sophisticated plants globally have moved on to 2-3nm. Yet, here too, India is drawing on the expertise of global tech companies, which is a sensible strategy.

On the data front, too, while India may generate 20% of global data, how much of it is good quality data? Besides, foundation models and LLMs of OpenAI, Meta and Google have been pre-trained on data that is 60-70% in English.

Further, many of the 22 official Indian languages do not have digital data, which makes it challenging to build and train AI models with local datasets. Bhashini, a unit of the National Language Translation Mission, has so far spent $6-7 million to collect data from different sources.

Ironically, Google India has been working with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) on Project Vaani, which will gather speech data across India. And so is Microsoft, which has been helping with Indic languages, it's partnership with Sarvam AI being a case in point.

The hope now is that the government's proposed unified data platform, the IndiaAI Datasets Platform, will provide Indian startups and researchers access to quality non-personal datasets.

Simply put, public-private partnerships, investments, and global cooperation, even with big tech companies, should be able to push India's AI resolve without the need to raise the bogey of data and AI colonisation, which is, in the least, not geopolitically right.
There was a time when the workplace seemed like a space where only people of a certain demographic profile could thrive and climb the corporate ladder. Women were expected, if they worked at all, to fulfil administrative and secretarial roles with little to no representation on the board. The other group to face prejudice historically was the LGBT+ community.

For many years, people belonging to this community were apprehensive of disclosing their true identities at work. Yet, today, extensive research-backed studies demonstrate that inclusive workplaces that fostered innovation and enhanced employee trust and satisfaction over the years have been able to boost overall business performance.

Diversity has become a key enabler for gaining a competitive edge in attracting talent, expanding the customer base and becoming an employer of choice. Companies are constantly updating their practices and formulating inclusive policies aimed at protecting people against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

So, what can progressive organizations do that will contribute positively to workplace equality? What efforts will help them nurture a safe environment for their LGBT+ colleagues? How can organizations foster a culture of acceptance and mutual respect?

Awareness: From an inclusive approach to hiring to grooming diverse people for leadership roles, organizations should embed the desired values and behaviours among all their employeesincluding their recruitment teams and partners, colleagues, and leadership.

Recruitment teams and partners are the first touchpoint for any new hire, including those belonging to the LGBT+ community, making it imperative for them to have a deep understanding of their inherent challenges, so that their unique requirements can be catered to.

An equal emphasis needs to be placed on employee sensitization across teams. Reverse mentoring by people from the LGBT+ community is a powerful tool to inspire a change in outlook through the sharing of their lived experiences, workplace struggles and acceptance journeys.

NatWest Group, for example, has been running an All-Inclusive Mentoring programme for the last two years. The programme helps the company to drive action that is necessary to attract and develop LGBT+ talent.

Action: Leaders must play an active role in employee-led networks to address the deep-rooted concerns of the LGBT+ community in a meaningful way and spur real change. Such regular engagements are necessary to re-evaluate and redesign initiatives and policies that can evolve with employees diverse needs and requirements on an ongoing basis.

It translates to benefits that extend beyond the individual to their partnerssuch as gender-neutral cover for partner leave, including adoption and surrogacy leave, medical and life insurance, and other policies aimed at fulfilling community specific requirements.

Allies are central to advocating LGBT+ rights and taking a stand for equality. This can be achieved through sensitisation workshops aimed at eliminating subconscious biases and getting more people to commit themselves to sponsoring the equitable advancement of their LGBT+ colleagues as a just cause.

Also read: Queer influencers laying pitch for brands to deliver on their diversity goals

Advocacy: Community initiatives like Rainbow Bazaars, Pride Marches, Rainbow Mixers and industry roundtable discussions demonstrate affirmative action and provide a platform for individual advocacy. It is imperative for LGBT+ talent to be offered the right kind of opportunities to get fully integrated into the workforce.

Take, for instance, NatWest Groups Trans-pire programme, a 6-month, fully paid on-the-job training module that empowers people of the LBGT+ community to upskill themselves and become employable.

Similarly, ecosystem collaborations and partnerships need to be a part of the journey to an all-inclusive, safe and trustworthy workplace. Embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion is at the heart of a more just and compassionate societya responsibility that we all share.

The author is Chief Financial Officer and Head of Finance Hub, NatWest Group India, and an executive sponsor of LGBT+ India Network.
Ever since the coronavirus began to come under control, companies have been grappling with an issue that has elicited strong feelings from those in the C-suite as well as those confined to a cubicle: Should they pull all of their employees back to the office? Or should they let them work from home?

Our latest research suggests that the optimal answer is yesand yes. A blended approach is often best.

Weve based our assessment on a measure of corporate effectiveness created by the Drucker Institute at Claremont Graduate University. It forms the foundation of the Management Top 250, an annual ranking produced in partnership with The Wall Street Journal. Bendable Labs, a private firm, works with the institute to make the calculations and interpret them.

The institutes model rests on the central teachings of the late management scholar Peter Drucker. It uses 34 separate indicators to gauge how companies fare across five areas, as determined through standardized scores with a typical range of 0 to 100 and a mean of 50customer satisfaction, innovation, social responsibility, employee engagement and development, and financial strength. These categories are then combined into an overall score that reflects a companys total effectiveness, which Drucker defined as doing the right things well."

The Management Top 250 for 2023, published in December, was drawn from a larger universe of 794 companies.

Innovation and engagement

In our most recent inquiry, we examined data from Lightcast, a labor-market analytics provider, to see which companies most frequently issued remote job postings among all of their openings last yearand, in turn, how they stacked up in our innovation and our employee engagement and development categories. (Its important to note that most jobscaregiver, retail clerk, fast food worker, cashier, material handler and many otherscant be done from home; only about 4 in 10 can.)

We zeroed in on those two areasinnovation, and employee engagement and developmentbecause a host of executives have complained that working from home can negatively affect peoples ability to generate new ideas and can undermine morale and productivity.

Given these concerns, our results can seem surprising at first. When we divided the 634 companies for which Lightcast had data into quartiles, those with the highest percentage of remote postings had an average innovation score of 52.3, compared with 48.4 for those with the smallest portion of remote postings. Thats a significant gapthe difference between being in the upper third of the rankings in innovation versus the middle of the pack.

The spread for employee engagement and development was even greater: 54.1, on average, for companies with the highest share of remote postings and 45.5 for those with the lowest share.

In understanding these numbers, the key is to recognize that a remote" posting doesnt mean that somebody always works from home. Lightcast says that only about 17% of remote listings in 2023 spelled out that the job was fully remote" or home-based" or used similar language. (The other 83% were ambiguous.)

Whats remote?

Other evidence points to the fact that most remote" jobs are actually hybrid jobs, with some days in the office mandatory. The monthly Survey of Working Arrangements and Attitudesrun jointly by the University of Chicago, the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford Universityhas shown that nearly 70% of full-time employees who work from home are in a hybrid position.

Given this, it appears that the companies scoring well in the Drucker rankings have discovered a sweet spot, demanding enough in-office time to ensure that employees have a chance to interact spontaneously with colleagues, brainstorm as a group and get exposure to more senior leaders but offering enough flexibility to attract people who dont want to schlep in five days a week.

Two or three days in the office is probably enough to be innovative," says Nicholas Bloom, a Stanford economist. At the same time, he adds, letting employees work from home the other two or three days helps companies recruit and retain top talent."

Best of both worlds

Boston Scientific is a believer. The medical-device maker, which was No. 78 in last years rankings, views hybrid work as the best of both worlds." Those in such roles are expected in the office three days a week, with someones exact schedule hashed out with their manager.

On in-office days, meeting in person allows employees to make tangible connections that build a sense of camaraderie and valuable growth and learning opportunities," says Wendy Carruthers, Boston Scientifics executive vice president of human resources. On the days when employees are working from home, they gain the time back from not commuting to manage both their work and personal obligations. For some employees, work-from-home days can provide an ideal environment for tasks that require focus and quiet."

At Intuit, the maker of TurboTax software, which was No. 60 in last years rankings, hybrid has become the primary way of working," says Michael Merola, vice president of places. Being in the officeespecially if teams are highly intentional" about when theyre togetherfosters serendipitous moments where employees can bounce ideas off one another and develop new and innovative solutions," along with a sense of inclusion and belonging," he explains. But Intuit has also observed that working from home some days leads to happier employees."

Ultimately, its about finding the right balance between in-office collaboration and remote flexibility to create an environment where all employees can thrive," Merola says.

Rob Sadow, the CEO of Scoop, which helps companies benchmark their work-from-home policies and manage attendance to achieve desired outcomes, anticipates that more businesses will go hybrid. By Scoops count, 32% of companies are now fully flexible," meaning that employees are directed to work remotely all of the time or that its up to them whether to come into the office. But 37% are structured hybrid," with some amount of time in the office stipulated. (The average is about 2.5 days.)

Thats up sharply from early 2023, when just 20% of companies had structured hybrid" setups. I think its going to continue to trend that way," Sadow says.

Fewer companies, meanwhile, are insisting that everyone be in all the time. Indeed, whenever he sees a company implementing an aggressive RTO"return-to-office orderBloom takes it that they may well be in serious trouble and the CEO is trying to cast the blame on employees for working from home. Its a sign to sell the stock," he says.

Considering our findings, its tough to argue with that. Unless employees have a mix of days in the office and at home, the chances of corporate success have becomewell, rather remote.

Rick Wartzman is co-president and Kelly Tang is chief data scientist at Bendable Labs. They are also both senior research fellows at Claremont Graduate University.
PARISSerge Klarsfeld is a world-renowned Nazi hunter, a historian of the Holocaust and a moral authority in France who has pushed the country to reckon with its dark history of antisemitism.

That is why many in France were shocked this week when Klarsfeld defended the far-right party of Marine Le Pen, which counts among its founders a former Nazi paramilitary soldier. Klarsfeld, an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor, said the main threat to Frances Jews now comes from the far left and that he wouldnt hesitate to vote for Le Pens party, the National Rally, in the coming parliamentary elections if the alternative were a coalition of leftist parties, the New Popular Front.

The National Rally supports Jews, supports the state of Israel," Klarsfeld said on national television. When there is an anti-Jewish party and a pro-Jewish party, I will vote for the pro-Jewish party."

Klarsfelds comments are the fruit of a rapprochement between French Jews and the far right that is reordering French politics and helping push the National Rally to the doorstep of power. The National Rallys antisemitic past long made it radioactive to Jewish voters and much of the French electorate; the partys founder, Le Pens father, Jean-Marie, was convicted of antisemitism several times for calling the Nazi gas chambers a detail" of World War II history.

Now the taboo is fading. The National Rallys outreach to French Jews, particularly in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attack in Israel, has solidified the partys place in the mainstream of French politics, helping put it on track to win the most seats in the parliamentary elections, which conclude next month. French President Emmanuel Macron called for snap parliamentary elections after the National Rally trounced his centrist party in European elections this month. Polls show the National Rally leading in the first round of the French elections set for June 30, followed by the New Popular Front.

It is unclear whether the candidates of the National Rally will have enough support to win an outright majority in the National Assembly after the second round of the elections on July 7.

The Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas and the ensuing Israeli offensive in Gaza have had a profound impact in France, deepening political divisions in the home to Europes largest Jewish community and one of its largest Muslim communities. Leaders of the far-left party France Unbowed didnt immediately condemn the attack and then stridently criticized Israel. Jewish groups and Macrons government say the partys rhetoric has fueled a surge in antisemitism in France since Oct. 7.

Those fears were amplified by the alleged assault and rape of a 12-year-old Jewish girl last weekend in Courbevoie, a suburb of Paris. French authorities brought preliminary charges against three adolescents for the crime.

The National Rally has seized the moment to attack the far left and make the case to the public that it has renounced antisemitism. Jordan Bardella, the partys president, participated in a march against antisemitism after the attack and has strongly defended Israel.

It provided a chance for the National Rally to redeem itself," said Olivier Costa, a research professor at Paris-based Sciences Po university and Frances National Center for Scientific Research. The National Rallys anti-Muslim rhetoric also resonates with part of the conservative Jewish electorate, he added.

Then Frances Socialist and Green parties decided to form an alliance with France Unbowed ahead of the snap elections. The alliances platform condemns the Hamas attack, and one of its leaders is a Socialist member of the European Parliament, Raphael Glucksmann, who is of Jewish descent. But most French Jews say they cant vote for the alliance because of the presence of France Unbowed.

We have no trust in France Unbowed," said Yonathan Arfi, president of the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions, or CRIF, an umbrella group of Jewish associations. Its a real turn in our relationship with parts of the left."

Many French Jews, however, are wary of the National Rally. Despite the pro-Jewish and pro-Israel rhetoric of the partys leaders, Jews fear that antisemitic sentiment is still strong among the partys rank-and-file. There is also concern that the National Rallys policies would damage the French economy.

Its not good. Its just less worse," said Jonathan Behar, a 42-year-old entrepreneur.

The National Rally plans to restrict the rights of foreign residents living legally in France, and tighten access to citizenship, welfare and housing. Le Pen also wants to increase minimum sentences and establish a presumption of legitimate defense for security forces. She sought to build a coalition with Les Republicains, Frances conservative party, ahead of the elections. But most Les Republicains lawmakers refused, saying they would never build alliances with the far right.

Le Pen has spent years attempting to distance her party from its controversial founders, including her father and Pierre Bousquet, who was a member of the French division of the Waffen-SS during World War II. Then called the National Front, the party was ostracized by mainstream French politics as the country grappled with its role in deporting tens of thousands of French Jews to Nazi death camps during World War II.

Le Pen changed the partys name to the National Rally in 2018. She also changed some of her positionssuch as a plan to pull France out of the eurothat were particularly unpopular with the French public. Those moves helped her win more than 40% of the vote in the 2022 presidential runoff against Macron, the best showing of the far right in the history of modern France.

After the Oct. 7 attack, Le Pen met several times with Klarsfeld, most recently in February at his apartment in the 8th arrondissement of Paris.

The National Rally has matured," Klarsfeld said in the interview this week.

Le Pen rejoiced after Klarsfelds comments were broadcast, calling him a great conscience and guardian of the memory of the Shoah."

But the party hasnt completely disavowed the figures of its controversial past.

After the Oct. 7 attack, a television interviewer asked Bardella, who is 28, whether Jean-Marie Le Pen was an antisemite.

I was born in 1995. Youre talking to me about an era I didnt experience," Bardella said, before adding: I dont believe Jean-Marie Le Pen is an antisemite. Now, I obviously wouldnt make the comments he made about the detail because, for me, the horrors of the Holocaust arent a detail of history."

All of which has left Frances Jews contemplating the dilemma of voting for a party that was once almost a metonym for French antisemitism.

I never would have imagined voting in favor of the National Rally to blockade against antisemitism," the writer Alain Finkielkraut told French magazine Le Point this month. The current situation is heartbreaking for the Jews of France."

Write to Matthew Dalton at Matthew.Dalton@wsj.com and Noemie Bisserbe at noemie.bisserbe@wsj.com
Seven-term parliamentarian and BJP leader Bhartruhari Mahtab was on June 20 appointed pro-tem Speaker of the Lok Sabha, deviating from the largely followed convention of appointing the senior most member of the House to the post, drawing sharp criticism from the opposition Congress.

The primary job of the pro-tem Speaker is to administer the oath to the newly- elected members of the 18th Lok Sabha and preside over the Lower House till the election of the Speaker.

Also Read: A fiery debut session ahead for 18th Lok Sabha with stronger Opposition in place

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced that President Droupadi Murmu has appointed Mahtab as the pro-tem Speaker and that he will be assisted by senior members K Suresh (Congress), T R Baalu (DMK), Radha Mohan Singh and Faggan Singh Kulaste (both BJP) and Sudip Bandyopadhyay (TMC).

'Destroying Parliamentary Norms' Shortly after Rijiju's announcement, the Congress accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government of "destroying parliamentary norms" by ignoring the claim of Suresh, an eight-term Lok Sabha member, to the post of the pro-tem Speaker.

"In yet another attempt at destroying parliamentary norms, Bhartruhari Mahtab, a seven-term MP, has been appointed the pro-tem Speaker, superseding Kodikunnil Suresh, who will be entering his eighth term," AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said in a post on X.

Also Read: Bhartruhari Mahtab appointed as Speaker Protem of Lok Sabha

Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal, in a post on X, said, appointing BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab as Pro-tem Speaker of Lok Sabha was another attempt at destroying Parliamentary norms.

The BJP said the Congress should "relax" as the grand old party has lost the Lok Sabha elections. "You have just lost an election. Relax. Reflect on third consecutive defeat, instead of whining about everything," BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya said on X.

Mahtab, who switched sides from the BJD to the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, won the Cuttack parliamentary seat.

The process Since the Speaker has to be elected by a simple majority in the House, until then, a pro-tem Speaker is chosen to perform the Speakers duties, including the oath-taking of MPs. The word pro-tem means for the time being or temporarily.

The pro-tem post is not mentioned in the Constitution. The Handbookon the Working of Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs', however, mentions the Appointment and Swearing in of Speaker pro-tem.

The duties of the Speaker will be performed by a Member of the House (Lok Sabha) appointed by the President as Speakerpro tem, according to the rules mentioned in the handbook.

The President usually appoints three other elected MPs to administer the oaths to other MPs. The rules mentioned in the handbook say that the senior most members of the Lok Sabha, in terms of the number of years as MP, are chosen for this purpose.

There have been exceptions, though. The practice of appointing the senior most member as the pro-tem Speaker was not followed in 1956 when Sardar Hukam Singh was appointed to the post. In 1977, DN Tiwari was appointed as pro-tem Speaker. He, too, was not the senior most member of the House.

In 2019, Virendra Kumar, then a seven-term member of the Lok Sabha, was appointed as pro-tem Speaker. Maneka Gandhi was the senior most member of the previous Lok Sabha being an eight-term member.

The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha will begin on June 24. The newly-elected members will take oath/affirmation on June 24-25.
Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao defended the state government's move to hire a US-based consulting firm to oversee the state's finances. He said, "Even PM [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi has used BCG [Boston Consulting Group] to prepare a blueprint of his vision for 2047..."

Rao's comments came a day after Karnataka BJP chief BY Vijayendra condemned the state government's decision as "outrageous" and "akin to handing over the reins to the East India Company."

"...The Karnataka Congress government is effectively declaring itself unfit & incompetent. When the State Government operates under the directions of an external agency, the welfare of the people takes a backseat, and innocent citizens are the ones who suffer!," Vijayendra posted on X on Thursday.

Karnataka minister defends hiring BCG company Rao reacted to the criticism on Friday, saying that the Boston Consulting Group is a recognised group across the world." He said, "Even PM Modi used the Boston Consulting Group to prepare his Vision 2024 blueprint."

He claimed that former Karnataka Chief Ministers BS Yediyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai used this group. " Not only BCG, but so many other groups like McKinsey, KPMG, and Deloitte...," Rao told ANI.

The Congress leader further informed that governments and non-government use the groups' services to "get feedback, information and also to take their advise on latest thing there and how we can improve our systems".

"So if he talks foolishly, it just lacks knowledge, that's all we can say," Rao said while responding to the Karnataka BJP chief's remarks. He said "bogus and stupid kind of remarks" were being made by the state BJP president.

The Congress-led Karnataka government recently roped in BCG as a consultant to help with suggestions to boost its revenue. According to the Money Control report, BCG will work with the state finance department for six months and has quoted a fee of around 9.5 crore.

The report added that BCG has also started working with the finance department to streamline expenditures in tenders across major departments.
Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Dr. Justin Robertson has already said he would not allow teachers to have guns on school property after a new law was passed in Tennessee.

School board member Jill Black wanted to support Dr. Robertson's stance.

She put a resolution before the board to for the school system to opt out of allowing teachers to carry a firearm.

Tennessee senate passes bill allowing certain teachers to carry guns It would allow teachers and school administrators to carry a concealed firearm inside their classrooms.

The motion failed in Thursday night's school board meeting.

The four school board members who supported Black's resolution to oppose the state law were Ben Connor, Karista Jones, Marco Perez and Tiffany Robinson.

The members who opposed the resolution were Larry Grohn, Gary Kuehn, Rhonda Thurman, Joe Wingate, Faye Robinson, and Joe Smith.

Senate Bill 1325 has caused a lot of debate in school districts across the state as they decide whether or not to follow this law.

"I feel like it is important for our constituents and parents of children who come to Hamilton County Schools to know where the board stands," said Black of District 11.

Superintendent Justin Robertson says the school system has taken steps to enhance security with armed SROs and SSOs at every school and says arming teachers, as the new law allows, is unnecessary in Hamilton County.

Some school board members say it offers additional protection, while those opposed fear the law creates more problems for students and teachers.

Black says she has heard from many opposed to the law and brought this resolution to give parents a sense of security.

"It's incredibly concerning that the superintendent, the sheriff, and the principal of a school can decide that a staff member can conceal carry a weapon and not notify anyone," continued Black.

School board members not only voiced their opinions on the law, but also support for Dr. Robertson.

"When I read the law, I thought it was the most absurd law in the world," expressed Perez of District 2.

"I'm going to vote for this to show that we got the superintendent's back," said Connor of District 6.

School board member Joe Wingate wanted district leaders to evaluate other schools.

He says there hasn't been enough conversation between teachers and law enforcement.

"Talk to some places that have already implemented these things and find what best practice is," said Wingate.

"I don't know why this is such an issue because a lot of schools started doing this after some of the shootings in schools is when they started bringing guns in schools," said Thurman of District 1.

As it stands, teachers will not be allowed to carry guns, but board members will continue this conversation.
Primary school teachers from County Longford, recently joined teaching colleagues from across the region for a Food Dudes Presentation Day at the Longford Arms Hotel to celebrate the achievements of schools that have completed their four-year participation in the award-winning Food Dudes Programme.

The four-year curriculum-linked programme includes a year of intervention, followed by three in-school Food Dudes Weeks, aimed at promoting healthy eating habits amongst primary school children.

The healthy eating programme encourages children to eat more fresh produce and is based on repeated tastings of fresh fruit and vegetables, rewards and positive role models.

PICTURES | Milestone celebration in history of renowned north Longford primary school

The Food Dudes Presentation Days provide teachers with an opportunity to network and feel part of a community of change. Ideas about ways in which the Food Dudes programme can be integrated into the curriculum and daily routines are shared, and peer to peer support is encouraged.

PICTURES | Sun and smiles galore as Longford youngsters shine at Community Games athletics finals

A new and improved Food Dudes programme is currently being rolled out in schools and includes new varieties of fruits and vegetables, additional tasting days, new eco-friendly rewards, as well as new teaching and learning materials which include videos, recipes and a range of bilingual activities.

There are currently over 1,600 primary schools engaged in the four-year Food Dudes programme, creating a movement of life-long change embedding healthy eating within the school and wider community in a way that promotes healthy eating habits amongst children, helps to reduce obesity rates, and improve overall wellbeing. Over the lifetime of Food Dudes, over 3,300 primary schools and more than one million pupils have taken part.

PICTURES | Night of style and fond memories as dedication of retiring Longford teachers is recognised

The Food Dudes Healthy Eating Programme is managed by Bord Bia in Ireland and is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with support from the European Union under the School Fruit and Vegetables Scheme. The programme was first developed by the Food Activity Research Unit, School of Psychology at Bangor University, Wales.

Also read: Big wedding celebrations for Longford families in Wicklow and Leitrim ceremonies

More information about the Food Dudes Programme can be found at www.fooddudes.ie

CAPTION: Pictured are front row from L-R - Brid Glynn (Colehill), Jennifer Jones (Tashinny), Sinead Connellan (Whitehall NS), Claire Flood (Saint Mels) Back Row from L-R - Claire Hamrock Food Dude Project Manager, Fiona Hughes (Naomh Dominic N.S), Martina Chapman (Naomh Earnain N.S), Laura Sorohan (S.N Cnoc an Mharchaigh), Melissa Hussey (S.N Mhuire Clondra ), Raisin Regan (Fermoyle Mixed NS) PICTURE: MAXWELLS

CAPTION: Pictured are front row - (L-R) - Sheila Lambden (Rath Eoghan N.S) Lorraine Rowan (Ballynacargy Mixed N.S) Wendy Gillespie (Castlepollard Parrot NS) (Naomh Tola NS) Jennifer King (S.N Naomh Brighid) Caroline Clarke Back Row - (L-R) - Claire Birmingham (Forgney N.S), Dervla Guckian (St Bernards Mixed NS), Irene Brady (Scoil Mhuire), Gail Waters (St John's National School) and Carol Kennedy (Naomh Padraig N.S) PICTURE: MAXWELLS
A former psychiatric nurse who was found with 690 child pornography images and one video has been given a three-year prison sentence at Nenagh Circuit Court.

Philip Whelan (52) of 3 Tullaskeagh Road, Roscrea, county Tipperary, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography, contrary to Section 6(1) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998.

In passing her sentence, Judge Catherine Staines said child pornography is often seen as a victimless crime.

However, the images are created because there are people who would view them and the children in the photos, suffer in their creation.

An adult penis inserted into a child must have inflicted extreme pain and damage on the child, said Judge Staines.

EXTRACTION

Garda Detective Anthony Kirby of the Garda Protective Services Unit told the court that in February 2020, they carried out a search of the defendants home where they seized a Samsung Galaxy phone.

Gardai extracted 690 images and one video which depicted children of various ages but as young as four engaged in sexual acts or in sexually suggestive positions.

Of those 255 were category one images, as was the video, which Garda Kirby confirmed depicted intercourse with a child.

The remaining 435 were category two, which depict children with their genitals exposed.

The guard described just ten of the images for the court and said one had been photoshopped. The defendant was charged on February 20, 2022, and on interview made certain admissions.

COOPERATIVE

Acting for the defendant, William OBrien BL, said that his client had gone through a difficult divorce ten years ago and had used the images to cope.

He said his client started with lawful pornography and progressed to darker material.

Mr OBrien said his client was attracted to the riskiness of the material, as opposed to its substance.

Mr OBrien confirmed with the guard that the images found on the phone were more of a trace and had not been stored in a way that could be accessed by any user.

His probation officer was satisfied that he was remorseful and that it is not a victimless crime and is willing to engage with treatment, the court heard.

The report also said he is at low risk of reoffending.

Mr OBrien said that when charges were brought against him, Mr Whelan resigned from his job as a psychiatric nurse and is now estranged from his adult children.

He gave up his job because he didnt want to work with vulnerable people when this came to light, said Mr OBrien.

The court heard that Mr Whelan moved back in with his parents, and after his mother died last year, he became the primary carer of his father, who has dementia.

Mr OBrien asked the court to take that into account as well as his clients work history and the fact that he has been a useful member of society.

JUDGEMENT

In passing her judgement, Judge Staines noted the Garda evidence, the number of images and their categories.

She said aggravating factors include the age of the children, with some as young as four-years-old, and the damage inflicted in the creation of the images. Therefore, the judge set a headline sentence of four years. In mitigation, the judge noted that the defendant had pleaded guilty and had no previous convictions.

She also noted his poor mental health, his fathers deteriorating health, that he was at a low risk of reoffending and that he had effectively lost his job.

Judge Staines said the point of a custodial sentence is prevention, but if people dont download the images, they would not be created. Therefore, sentences passed must deter the crime.

She handed the defendant a three-year sentence with the final six months suspended for two years under the supervision of the probation service.

The defendant is also to be registered on the sex offenders register.
Following their major triumph with the fast paced productions of Footloose and Legally Blonde in the comeback from the Covid pandemic, St Mels Musical Society are returning to a traditional show with the decision to stage Me and My Girl in April 2025.

Featuring such famous songs as Leaning on a Lamp-post, The Sun Has Got His Hat On, The Lambeth Walk and the show title tune Me and My Girl, the Longford group will be working with the vastly experienced Galway-based Director Peter Kennedy for the first time.

Belfast native Kennedy has just completed another term as one of the AIMS adjudicators and he will be joined on the St Mels Musical Society production team next season by Longfords own maestro Fintan Farrelly who is returning in the role of Musical Director after a few years absence.

The new choreographer is Dylan OKeeffe, a graduate of the Cork School of Music with a degree in musical theatre.

Audition details will be announced in the coming weeks, and new members are welcome, whether you're an experienced performer or a newbie to the stage!

To register your interest, email st.melsmusicalsociety1@gmail.com

Me and My Girl is a musical with music by Noel Gay and its original book and lyrics by Douglas Furber and L Arthur Rose.

The story, set in the late 1930s, tells of an unapologetically unrefined Cockney gentleman named Bill Snibson, who learns that he is the 14th heir to the Earl of Hareford. The action is set in Hampshire, and in Mayfair and Lambeth in London.

Pictured celebrating the nomination for Best Choreography in the Gilbert section for their superb production of Legally Blonde (with Choreographer Niamh OBrien holding the runners-up trophy) are members of St Mels Musical Society who were among the 1,400 attendees at the 2024 AIMS Awards Gala Banquet in the INEC Killarney on Saturday night last.

The Best Choreography Award was won by Maynooth University Musical Society for their production of Cats.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: June 20 2024

New York Establishes the Nations Most Stringent Protections To Safeguard Kids on Social Media.

Governor Kathy Hochul today signed nation-leading legislation to combat addictive social media feeds and protect kids online. Legislation S.7694A/A.8148A establishes the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) For Kids Act to require social media companies to restrict addictive feeds on their platforms for users under 18. Legislation S.7695B/A.8149A enables the New York Child Data Protection Act to prohibit online sites from collecting, using, sharing or selling personal data of anyone under the age of 18, unless they receive informed consent or unless doing so is strictly necessary for the purpose of the website.

Young people across the nation are facing a mental health crisis fueled by addictive social media feeds  and New York is leading the way with a new model for addressing the crisis and protecting our kids, Governor Hochul said. By reining in addictive feeds and shielding kids personal data, well provide a safer digital environment, give parents more peace of mind, and create a brighter future for young people across New York.

The Governor was joined at todays bill signing by Attorney General Letitia James and bill sponsors State Senator Andrew Gounardes and State Assemblymember Nily Rozic, marking the culmination of a jointly led push to pass and sign this nation-leading legislation.

With this newly signed legislation, New York has established the nations most stringent protections to safeguard kids on social media. This action also builds on Governor Hochuls ongoing efforts to address the youth mental health crisis.

New York State Attorney General Letitia James said, Addictive feeds are getting our kids hooked on social media and hurting their mental health, and families are counting on us to help address this crisis. The legislation signed by Governor Hochul today will make New York the national leader in addressing the youth mental health crisis and an example for other states to follow. I applaud the sponsors, Senator Gounardes and Assemblymember Rozic, for working with my office to introduce and advance this legislation, and I thank the legislative leaders for their support of these historic bills. As we move forward with the rulemaking process, my office will work tirelessly to defend these new laws to protect New York children.

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, As we navigate the threats social media poses to our youth in todays ever-evolving technological landscape, Im proud that, under my leadership, the Senate Majority created the Senate's Internet and Technology Committee to focus on these issues. I thank Governor Hochul, Attorney General James and Bill Sponsor Senator Gounardes for their diligent work on this legislation and collaborating with stakeholders and colleagues to reach an agreement that best supports our youth in achieving healthier social media usage. Together, we will continue to take all necessary actions to protect the mental well-being of our children.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said, As technology evolves, so must the ways we protect our kids from harm  both on and offline. These bills will give parents the tools to help protect kids from predatory practices that impact their mental health by eliminating the addictive personalized feeds and will make online privacy the default for New Yorks children, preventing companies from collecting and using their data. Thank you to our Assembly sponsor Nily Rozic and to Governor Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James and our partners in the Senate for all the work theyve done on this to make online spaces safer for kids.

The legislation signed today addresses critical challenges facing young people. According to an advisory issued by the U.S. Surgeon General, recent research shows that adolescents who spend more than three hours per day on social media face double the risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes, such as symptoms of depression and anxiety. Additionally, a recent report from Pew Research Center found that six out of 10 teens say they feel they have little or no control over the personal information that social media companies collect about them.

The SAFE For Kids Act

Addictive feeds, or algorithmically driven feeds, facilitate unhealthy levels of social media use. This legislation will require social media companies to restrict addictive feeds on their platforms for users under 18. Unless parental consent is granted, users under 18 will not receive addictive feeds. Notably, the SAFE for Kids Act is the first bill of its kind to be signed into law in any state across the nation.

Under this law, kids may still use social media. For example, they can continue to search for specific topics of interest or subscribe to creators but will not be subject to algorithmically driven feeds that promote unhealthy levels of engagement. The law will also prohibit social media platforms from sending notifications regarding addictive feeds to minors from 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. without parental consent. The law will authorize the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to enforce the law and ensure compliance, including by seeking civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation, among other remedies. And finally, it calls for the establishment of acceptable age verification and parent consent methods, to be determined by the OAG as part of a rulemaking process.

The New York Child Data Protection Act

This legislation will prohibit online sites and connected devices from collecting, using, sharing or selling personal data of anyone under the age of 18, unless they receive informed consent or unless doing so is strictly necessary for the purpose of the website. It also authorizes the OAG to enforce the law, including by seeking civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation.

Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, New York State is once again leading the way by adopting laws to protect our youth from the negative impact of social media and the harmful algorithms they use on their platforms. Under Governor Hochuls leadership, we are also building out robust mental health services and supports for young people, so they have resources to address the behavioral health challenges they encounter. I commend her commitment to youth mental health and to building a strong system of care in our state that will serve the needs of all New Yorkers.

Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Executive Director Kelli Owens said, We know setting our kids and teens up for online success can help foster healthy minds and healthy relationships in the future, both online and in the real world. Thank you, Governor Hochul, for your dedication to protecting our youth from harmful and addictive social media practices. New York is leading the way, setting an example for other states to follow. Thanks to the investment from the Governor, OPDV is committed to building on this foundation with our work on the upcoming sextortion trainings and awareness campaign.

State Senator Andrew Gounardes said, New York is sending a clear message to Big Tech: your profits are not more important than our kids privacy and wellbeing. As a father of two young kids, this victory is personal, and I am particularly grateful to the young people, parents, educators, and organizations from across the state who stood up to some of the most powerful companies in the world and demanded a safer digital world. Today would not have been possible without Governor Kathy Hochul's leadership and steadfast commitment to protecting children from the harms of social media, and I thank her for signing these two critical bills into law. This milestone isnt just a win for New Yorks children  our new laws pave the way for the rest of the country to follow suit. We beat Big Tech, and you can too.

Assemblymember Nily Rozic said, Over two decades after child online privacy laws were last updated, the signing of these bills into laws signals that New York is taking the lead in putting New Yorkers' safety and privacy at the forefront. We are taking decisive action to protect our kids from the harmful influence of addictive algorithms and unchecked data collection enacting the SAFE for Kids Act and the NY Child Data Protection Act. I thank Governor Hochul, Attorney General James, and Senator Gounardes for their unwavering collaborative efforts in order to protect young people in the digital age.

NYSUT President Melinda Person said, Protecting children online in the midst of a mental health crisis is common sense, and we are proud that New York is leading the way. The legislation advanced by Attorney General James, Senator Gounardes and Assemblymember Rozic, and signed by Governor Hochul, will take historic action to address the most dangerous aspects of social media. NYSUT educators across the state made their voices heard to support these bills, and we will continue to do everything in our power to safeguard the mental health of our students.

United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew said, New York is standing up for our kids by taking on the tech companies and requiring heightened privacy for our children as well as greater protection from the addictive and predatory features of social media platforms. We applaud Gov. Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Tish James, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Senator Andrew Gounardes, and Assembly Member Nily Rozic for protecting our children.

Common Sense Media Founder and CEO James P. Steyer said, When the state's most powerful leaders join forces to prioritize the well-being of kids and families over Big Techs profits, amazing things can happen. Governor Hochul, Attorney General James, Senator Gounardes, and Assemblywoman Rozic deserve all New Yorkers' gratitude for fighting for these groundbreaking bills and enacting them into law. Common Sense looks forward to using this win for kids' online safety and privacy as a model for the nation.

Mothers Against Media Addiction (MAMA) Founder and Executive Director Julie Scelfo said, This new legislation to safeguard children from the real-world harms of social media is a major victory for parents and families across New York. We are grateful to Governor Hochul, Attorney General James and the New York legislature for prioritizing the health and well-being of our children over a handful of tech companies, which profit from targeting kids with addictive algorithms and dangerous content. We hope other states will look to New York as a model for how to protect kids online and give them the childhood they deserve.

Long Island Coalition Against Bullying Founder and Executive Director Joseph A. Salamone said, This legislation is an extraordinary victory for parents, teachers and young people across our state and sends a clear message that the days of technology companies prioritizing profits over the well being of children, is over. Im grateful to Governor Hochul for her historic efforts as we work together to build a better future for our children.

NAMI NYS Executive Director Sharon Horton said, Throughout this session, NAMI-NYS has stressed the need to address the needs of New Yorks future, our youth. It is vitally important that New York addresses the multiple negative stressors contributing to the youth mental health crisis. NAMI-NYS is grateful that Governor Hochul and New York State leaders have taken tremendous steps to advance many crucial measures needed to support our youth and meet them where they are in their mental health journey. This includes leading the nation in working to address the role social media plays in eroding youth mental wellness. We applaud, Governor Hochul, Attorney General James and our legislative leaders for prioritizing our future by addressing the negative impacts of social media and protecting the privacy of our young people. Their leadership on these issues is paving the way toward achieving NAMI-NYSs vision of a world where all those affected by mental illness, live healthy, fulfilling lives, supported by communities that care.

Mental Health Association in New York State CEO Glenn Liebman said, Among the many issues impacting the mental health of young people, addictive social media feeds have become an increasingly serious problem. By signing this landmark legislation, Governor Hochul is leading the way to address that problem by restricting addictive feeds and creating safer spaces for young people online. We greatly appreciate Governor Hochuls unwavering commitment to protecting the mental health of young people across New York State. We also thank Attorney General James, State Senator Gounardes and Assemblymember Rozic for their tireless work and leadership on this critical issue."

Pushing the National Discussion Forward

By signing this legislation, Governor Hochul established New York as the leader in creating a safer digital environment for young people. Legislation based on the principles of the SAFE For Kids Act is being considered in California, and advocates have called for other states to introduce similar proposals. Additionally, advocates and other stakeholders have called for greater action at the federal level. For example, in a recent op-ed, as part of a range of new ideas, the U.S. Surgeon General pushed for federal legislation that reflects some elements of the SAFE For Kids Act and New York Child Data Protection Act.

Safeguarding Teens from Online Exploitation

In addition to the legislation signed today, Governor Hochul has also taken other steps to protect young people online. As part of Governor Hochuls FY25 Enacted Budget, the Governor directed the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV) to develop sextortion-focused training and technical assistance programs as well as a public facing informational website and to conduct a public awareness campaign. The training and technical assistance programs will assist both gender-based violence support organizations and law enforcement agencies seeking to support victims and investigate sextortion crimes. The public-facing website will provide educational materials for guardians and other audiences. The public awareness campaign will use social media platforms to publicize the warning signs of sextortion, technology-facilitated abuse and deepfakes.

Addressing the Youth Mental Health Crisis

As part of the Governors $1 billion investment in mental health statewide, Governor Hochul has also significantly expanded access to mental health care and resources for young people and their families. This focus on youth supports and services continued with additional investments secured by the Governor in the FY25 Enacted Budget.

Governor Hochul took steps in her Enacted Budget to expand mental health support for children across the state and ensure their voices are heard, making good on an agenda she unveiled in her State of the State address in January. The Governor announced $20 million in start-up funding for school-based mental health clinics and launched a rolling application, which will make it easier for interested schools to establish these satellites than through the state procurement process previously used. The announcement built on the $5.1 million awarded in November to support 137 new school-based clinics, including 82 at high needs schools, and bringing the total number of clinics to more than 1,200 statewide.

The Governors FY25 Enacted Budget also includes an investment of more than $19 million to provide critical care to young people outside of school environments, including increasing resources for youth receiving treatment in their community or, when necessary, in residential care. Key initiatives such as the Youth Assertive Community Treatment teams, which provide wraparound services and support to young people at risk of entering residential or inpatient psychiatric treatment, have been expanded with $9.6 million to continue serving them at home and within their community whenever possible. Additionally, the Governor secured an additional $4 million to support a loan forgiveness program specifically for licensed mental health clinicians serving children and families.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: June 21 2024

Aphasia is the loss of the ability to understand or express speech, and in some cases, can affect a person's ability to read or write.

On Tuesday, June 18, Legislator Tom McKevitt partnered with Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman to declare the month of June Aphasia Awareness Month, and honor Matthew Weingartner. Weingartner, only 36-years-old, was diagnosed with nonfluent Aphasia after his stroke in 2018 and has since become an advocate for aphasia awareness.

Aphasia is the loss of the ability to understand or express speech, and in some cases, can affect a person's ability to read or write. Aphasia is caused by brain damage, most commonly a stroke. The most prominent person diagnosed with aphasia is Bruce Willis, but two million people nation-wide live with aphasia.

Communication is a fundamental human need, so the loss of it can be debilitating and frustrating, Legislator Tom McKevitt said. Aphasia is not as well-known as many other diseases of the brain, but it is just as common, and I hope that declaring June Aphasia Awareness Month and lighting the dome grey will bring more awareness.

Matthew Weingartner spoke on the personal struggles that he has experienced with Aphasia and the significance of raising awareness and funding treatment options for this disorder. As Matthew so profoundly said during his remarks, Aphasia is a loss of language, not a loss of intellect. Matthew shared the struggles, frustrations, and triumphs that he has gone through on his post-stroke journey.

While 2 million Americans struggle with aphasia, a language impairment that steals their voices but not their minds, many suffer in silence, unaware of the support and resources available; Matthew Weingartner's inspiring recovery journey shines a light on this hidden epidemic, challenging us to raise awareness and empower those living with aphasia, State Senator Steve Rhoads said. It's an honor to have Matthew as a constituent, as he serves as a beacon of hope, encouraging others to maintain a positive and resilient mindset during their recovery journey. Last year I was happy to work with Matthew on passing a resolution declaring June as Aphasia Awareness Month, coordinating an Aphasia Awareness Day at LIU Post, and working with the County Executive to light the County dome for aphasia awareness. Matthew's continued advocacy highlights the critical need to enhance the visibility of aphasia at local, state, and national levels. That's why I am proud to once again pass a resolution declaring June as Aphasia Awareness Month across New York State, acknowledging the significance of raising awareness and empowering individuals with Aphasia. Through ongoing collaboration with Matthew Weingartner and other dedicated advocates, we aim to break down barriers, provide resources, and create a more inclusive and supportive environment for those impacted by aphasia.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: June 21 2024

On June 5, 2024, dedicated LIBOR members volunteered their time and skills alongside HFHLI site supervisors to install fencing and perform ground clean-up in Brentwood.

In recognition of National Homeownership Month and National Association of REALTORS (NAR) 2024 REALTORS Are Good Neighbors Volunteer Days, Long Island Board of REALTORS (LIBOR) has partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Long Island (HFHLI) and Rebuilding Together Long Island (RTLI) to help build and repair homes within our local communities. At the heart of LIBOR's mission is the commitment to making the American Dream of homeownership accessible to all.

On June 5, 2024, dedicated LIBOR members volunteered their time and skills alongside HFHLI site supervisors to install fencing and perform ground clean-up in Brentwood. This effort was in preparation for an affordable home build for a deserving family, one of the first 3-D printed homes constructed by HFHLI. This collaboration highlights LIBOR's ongoing dedication to helping Long Islanders achieve homeownership and making a lasting impact in our communities.

The REALTOR volunteer effort coincided with the NAR 2024 REALTOR Volunteer Days, a nationwide initiative uniting REALTOR associations, brokerages, and members in community service projects. This weeklong event is part of the REALTORS Are Good Neighbors campaign, demonstrating how REALTORS make a real difference by serving their neighbors and strengthening communities.

LIBOR proudly supports HFHLI's mission to foster sustainable and transformative development across Long Island. By providing affordable and stable homes, HFHLI enables families to allocate more resources towards essential needs such as food, medicine, child care, and education, thereby establishing long-term financial security. In addition to volunteer labor, LIBOR contributed $2,500 to help construct the new home. Since 2004, LIBOR has sponsored the building of 18 Habitat for Humanity homes across Long Island.

Additionally, on June 18, 2024, LIBOR members volunteered with RTLI to build a wheelchair-accessible ramp and landscape the yard of a homeowner in need in Massapequa. The new ramp will allow the elderly homeowner to move freely in and out of their home, and the landscaped yard will provide a welcoming space for the family to enjoy. Earlier this year, LIBOR also made a $3,000 donation to RTLI, supporting their mission to rebuild the homes and lives of people in need. RTLI's dedicated volunteers provide a wide range of services, including plumbing and electrical repairs, yard work, carpentry, roof repair, and wheelchair ramp constructionall at no cost to the homeowners.

"LIBOR is proud to continue our long-standing partnerships with both Habitat for Humanity of Long Island and Rebuilding Together Long Island, said Kevin Leatherman, LIBOR President. These partnerships exemplify LIBORs commitment to creating affordable housing, building strong communities, and fostering pride in homeownership throughout Long Island.

National Homeownership Month, designated to celebrate the significance of homeownership and its impact on American families, communities, and the economy, marks its 22nd anniversary this June. Initiated as a weeklong recognition in 1995, it was proclaimed a month-long celebration in June 2002 under President George W. Bush.

The Biden administration issued a Proclamation on National Homeownership Month 2024, calling upon "the people of this Nation to safeguard the American Dream by ensuring that everyone has access to an affordable home in a community of their choice."

Every family deserves the opportunity to reap the benefits of homeownershipfrom building generational wealth to creating lifelong memories, said Doreen Spagnuolo, LIBOR CEO. In addition to partnering with these exceptional organizations dedicated to expanding homeownership opportunities, LIBOR members help consumers navigate the homeownership process, providing essential support and serving as trusted advisors through one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives.

For REALTORS across the country, National Homeownership Month allows them to raise awareness about the benefits of owning a home and the importance of making homeownership more attainable for all Americans.

About Long Island Board of REALTORS
Prior Felon Sentenced to 25 Years to Life in Prison for Assaulting Two Police Officers and Possessing Illegal Handgun

Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: June 20 2024

Matthew Esposito was Convicted after a Jury Trial in April.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Matthew Esposito, 50, of Miller Place, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after a jury found him guilty of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree and other charges in April.

We will not tolerate attacks on those who protect and serve, said District Attorney Tierney. Todays sentencing sends a clear message that our streets belong to law abiding citizens, not to criminals who disregard our laws and attack police officers who are working to keep our communities safe.

The evidence at trial established that on September 9, 2022, the Suffolk Police Department responded to the report of a shooting at the Bellport train station. Two officers assigned to the Emergency Services Section of the police department responded to assist in locating the suspect. The officers spotted Esposito coming out of the woods about a block south of the train station. He then hid behind a car that was parked on the shoulder of the road. When officers got out of their truck to investigate, they found a pistol under the car, right where Esposito was hiding. When they attempted to arrest Esposito, he resisted and attacked them.

Both officers suffered injuries as a result of the attack, but were able to take Esposito into custody. One officer sustained a concussion, laceration to the head, and a torn quadricep muscle. The other officer broke three bones in his wrist, suffered a torn ligament in his wrist, and a sprained shoulder. During Espositos arrest, the officers recovered a high-capacity magazine from his pocket. It was later discovered that the pistol police found under the vehicle was loaded with an additional high-capacity magazine which was identical to the magazine found in Espositos pocket.

On April 2, 2024, Esposito was convicted after a jury trial heard before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei, for:

One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree; a Class C violent felony;

One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree; a Class D felony

Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree; a Class D violent felony;

Two counts of Assault in the Second Degree; a Class D violent felony; and

One count of Resisting Arrest; a Class A misdemeanor.

In 1993, Esposito was convicted and served time in prison for Criminally Negligent Homicide and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree. In 1998, less than four years after his release, Esposito was convicted a second time and charged with Assault in the First Degree and five other felonies for which he served 12 years in prison.

On June 20, 2024, Justice Mazzei determined Esposito to be a persistent felony offender and sentenced him to 25 years to life in prison. He was represented by Christopher Ross, Esq.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Veronica M. McMahon and Jacob DeLauter of the Major Crime Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by from Suffolk County Police Department Detective Michael Richardson, Detective Robert Suppa, and Sergeant Cynthia Strafford.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: June 21 2024

As Long Island Webmaster Grigorian, Greg specializes in website repair and maintenance.

There are still many aspects of the world wide web that require the knowledge and skills of a true webmaster. And when it comes to the intricacies of website maintenance and repair, search engine optimization, web design, and much more, theres no one more qualified to help you navigate the world wide web than the Long Island Webmaster himself, Greg Grigorian.

Oh, and lets not forget the organizations Chief Happiness Officer and official Mouser, Gregs cat Bella.

The term "webmaster" encompasses a great many skills and responsibilities. A jack of all trades, they essentially create, maintain, and manage websites; basically, anything and everything pertaining to websites and how they function is the webmasters purview, and no one on Long Island does it better than Greg.

The first webmaster in the world was Tim Berners-Lee, who released the world wide web along with the first web browser on August 6th, 1991, Tim also established the term "webmaster" to identify anyone who was a website owner, Google was actually created for webmasters to index their websites on the Google search engine, and Tim Berners-Lee advised the Google team on how to create a better search engine for webmasters. Greg aims to continue to educate people about the term "webmaster" as, oddly enough, a lot of people in the website services industry or with a website in-general don't know what a webmaster is. Without Tim Berners-Lee, the first webmaster, you wouldn't have websites or apps like you do today, and webmasters continue to operate the web from the backend!

As Long Island Webmaster, Greg mainly specializes in website repair and maintenance.

Most of the calls I get are when a website crasheswhen that happens, people will get a message to contact their web hosting service or webmaster, from there they'll Google 'webmaster Long Island' or a similar term and that's how they find me, he said. I'll be able to repair their website and then I'll sell them on my per-month maintenance package which enables website security along with keyword ranking (Google likes updated websites), as well as additional services such as backlinks, things like that."

While Greg less frequently engages in services such as website design, he's nonetheless fully capable of doing so if a client's site has crashed to the point of being unrecoverable and a new one is needed from scratch. In fact, there appears to be absolutely nothing that Greg can't do when hunched over his keyboard. Greg even types 120 words per minute and is known to have a Typing Competition on an annual basis in the Long Island area, last year was in five towns!

Being a webmaster is like being a maestro in a symphony, Greg noted. When he's conducting the players of musical instruments, the players are the masters of the instruments, but the maestro also knows these instruments and how to coordinate them all at once. That's akin to what a webmaster does. A webmaster needs to know all the components of all the web skills.

A quick rundown of the many services Long Island Webmaster provides includes website repairs, website design, website transfers, server database cleanup and repair, search engine optimization, website management, website crash recovery, server/database/website malware cleanup, server/website set-up and installation, and much more; Greg even offers webmaster classes on a variety of subjects, including how to manage and maintain your own business website.



Greg at a New York Arm Wrestling Association event at the American Dream mall.



Greg founded Long Island Webmaster in 2016, later registering his iconic domain name the following year. At the time he was doing web-related work for an attorney in Long Beach that specializes in representing Amazon Sellers on Amazon.com  C.J. Rosenbaum  who he described as being a tough yet very fair employer, an early mentor in business to Greg Grigorian. Rosenbaum gave Greg the opportunity to prove that he could create a website that would attract website traffic and lead to clients, retainers, and more.

"He said, 'show me what youve got,' and he was already threatening to fire me on the first day. But that was just how he is, and some people fold under pressure, while others thrive." Greg said. When I started there, his website was getting, like, 60 people a month, and after my first month there he got 300, the second month 600, and so on. He was gaining tremendous amounts of website traffic and that was converting into money for the company."

Despite Rosenbaums admiration for his talented new hire, he also understood that with his skill set, Greg should potentially strike out on his own at some point and start his own business. To that end, the attorney encouraged Greg to do so, even generously offering to put up the supplies and capital required to get Long Island Webmaster off the ground.

"He said I should continue working there and start my own business on the side, and he was confident that I would grow," Greg said. "He gave me the computers, the equipment, helped me with advertising, whatever I needed. He also gave me more hours at my job and a raise, which really helped out."

Greg went out and started spreading his name around in an attempt to grow Long Island Webmaster, and found name-dropping Rosenbaum often helped to open doors, given the lawyers well-known reputation; when people found out that Greg is the one that developed Rosenbaums website  amazonsellerslawyer.com  for his internationally-known practice, people sat up and took notice, and from there his business grew exponentially.

"A lot of Amazon Sellers and Ecommerce guys would say to me, 'You know CJ Rosenbaum? You built CJ Rosenbaum's website?' People were really impressed," he said.

Code essentially runs through Greg's blood; his mother owns a piano school and his father a Mercedes repair shop, and as a child both of them were hopeful that their son would follow in one of their respective footsteps. However, a fateful trip to summer camp one year instilled in him an intense interest in computers, and when he arrived home, both his parents were initially dismayed when he told them his new career ambition in life...especially his father.

I was 14 years old when I told my father I wanted to be a webmaster when I came back from camp, and he turned to my mother and said, 'they made him gay.'" Greg laughed.

However, Greg's parents became quite supportive of his new endeavor; Greg would often stay up late at night using the family's computer  which they moved into his room  as well as doing intense webmaster-related research at the library and delving into what information he could find online during the days of dial-up internet. Greg really admired former and current webmasters like Elon Musk, Larry Paige, Sergey Brin, Mark Zuckerberg, and the list goes on, because there are so many great webmasters, especially a lot of the current billionaires like Mark Cuban (broadcast.com).

Today, Greg whiles away the hours of the day typing on his keyboard serving his many satisfied customers while his trusty black cat, Bella, hangs out with him, offering support in exchange for chin scratches.

"In addition to being the Chief Happiness Officer, she's also Long Island Webmasters' official expert Mouser," he said. "But we don't have any mice, so she must be really good at her job."



Chief Happiness Officer Bella.



And when he isn't repairing websites, Greg has a side hustle that would be wholly unexpected to many for a keyboard warrior- he's the co-owner of the New York Arm Wrestling Association (NYAWA), with the organization setting up matches throughout New York State in order to test the muscle and might of competitors - both male and female - from around the world.

"My father was actually at the first NYAWA event back in 1977 in Sunnyside, New York when he was 14 years old," he said. "My father competed and wasn't able to win the amateurs, and now 44 years later his son becomes an owner of the organization."

Greg noted that having taken something that started as a childhood interest and turned it into a blossoming and successful career is something he takes a great deal of pride in, and is looking to continue to grow Long Island Webmaster and serve his customers well into the future.

"This business is all about establishing trust with your customers. Every time somebody contacts me, the trust needs to be established. Once I fix their website within 1 to 2 hours. I show them how I do it, and I don't charge them until after I fix it, so the trust is already established, he said. "This is what I do for 16 hours a day, literally eight hours on the phone doing sales and eight hours of repairs. This is a one-man operation and I have to be on top of things. This is my life...I have a girlfriend but she's second place compared to this job. That's the amount of dedication I have to it, I'm here for the long-run, not a short-time."

Greg has had the opportunity to work with different brands such as Serendipity 3 (Selena Gomez), Copacabana Nightclub (John Juliano), Extreme Cage Fighting (Christian DeFiris), and has worked on over 400 websites from larger websites to smaller websites. Greg is dedicated to living his life as a webmaster and giving clients the right advice and guidance from his experience working with hundreds of websites, Greg has an incentive to help his clients, because by extension, he is helping the Long Island Webmaster brand grow larger each week!

You can also catch Greg on Nassau Community College Radio once a year, NCC invites him every year to a radio interview for students, alumni, staff, and business owners.

To find out more about the Long Island Webmaster and the services he can provide for you, please call 516-499-1914 or visit https:// longislandwebmaster.com.
Suffolk DA: Defendant Sentenced to 22 Years to Life in Prison for Sexually Abusing Two Elderly Women in Their Homes

Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: June 21 2024

Derrick Clancy Pleaded Guilty in April.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Derrick Clancy, 43, was sentenced to 22 years to life in prison after pleading guilty in April to burglary, sexual abuse, and other related charges, for breaking into the homes of two elderly women in Mastic Beach and sexually assaulting them.

Breaking into the homes of elderly women and subjecting them to sexual abuse is utterly reprehensible, said District Attorney Tierney. My office will continue to aggressively pursue justice for our most vulnerable citizens and ensure that those who prey on them face the full consequence of their actions.

According to the investigation and the defendants admissions during his guilty plea allocution, during the early morning hours on October 10, 2023, Clancy broke into a Mastic Beach home where the first victim, a woman over 70 years old, was inside alone. To get inside the home, Clancy cut a hole in a window screen and climbed through the window. Clancy then physically and sexually abused the victim while repeatedly claiming he had a knife. Following the abuse, the victim pressed her medical alert system button for help, and Clancy fled the home. The victim was treated at a local hospital for her injuries.

Clancys second attack occurred during the early morning hours of October 17, 2023, when a woman over 70 years old heard a noise coming from a closet inside her home. When the victim looked inside the closet, she saw Clancy coming into her home through a window in the closet. Clancy then physically and sexually abused the victim before he fled. The victim immediately called 911 and was subsequently treated at a local hospital for her injuries.

Clancy was arrested on October 21, 2023, following an investigation conducted members of the Suffolk County Police Department, the United States Marshals Services New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force, Suffolk County District Attorneys Office, and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. Upon his arrest, detectives recovered the mask and knife that Clancy had used during the first burglary.

On April 30, 2024, Clancy pleaded guilty to the following charges before Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen M. Wilutis:

Two counts of Burglary in the First Degree, Class B violent felonies;

Two counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, Class D violent felonies;

Two counts of Assault in the Second Degree, Class D violent felonies; and

Two counts of Criminal Obstruction of Breathing or Blood Circulation, Class A misdemeanors.

On June 21, 2024, Justice Wilutis sentenced Clancy to 22 years to life in prison. He was represented by Christopher Brocato, Esq.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Tara ODonnell and Jacob DeLauter of the Major Crime Bureau, with investigative assistance from Detectives Michael Langella and Erik Pedersen of the Suffolk County Police Departments Seventh Squad.


The foreign ministers of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Taliban discussed taking joint action against Israel in support of Hamas. The Taliban and Iran have cooperated in the past to oust the US from Afghanistan and overthrow the Afghan government.

Iranian Interim Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani and Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi called on the member states of the Islamic Cooperation Organization to exert pressure on Israel during a phone conversation between the two diplomats, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-affiliated outlet Mehr News reported on June 17.

The Taliban had informed Tehran that it is prepared to deploy thousands of troops to fight against Israel, a senior reporter working with the Lebanese Hezbollah-run Al Akhbar Daily claimed in an interview on June 13. Iran has sought to facilitate a relationship between the Taliban and the Iranian regimes proxies, including Hezbollah.

A week prior, Tehran hosted various meetings between members of the Taliban and Hamas, in addition to other high-level gatherings during the funeral of former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in late May. Taliban Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesperson Hafiz Zia Ahmad reported on the meetings between Hamas Chief Political Leader Ismail Haniyah and Taliban Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and Foreign Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani held in Tehran on May 23.

Iran and the Taliban align on Israel

The Tehran regime and the Taliban administration have reaffirmed their growing ties and anti-Israel sentiment throughout the Gaza conflict. In February 2024, Iranian Special Presidential Envoy for Afghanistan Affairs Hassan Kazemi Qomi stated that if need be, a martyrdom division from Afghanistan is prepared to fight in Gaza, adding that the way we see it, Afghanistan is also part of the Axis of Resistance.

Following the Islamic Republics April 13 drone and missile attack on Israel, the Taliban was quick to issue a statement supporting the action by employing a similar rhetoric regarding Israel. The next day, Taliban Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi posted on X that Irans attack on the criminal Zionist regime was a legitimate defense.

Iran supported the Talibans insurgency

Although the Taliban and Iran have clashed in the recent past over controversial issues such as water rights and refugees, the two also cooperated for nearly two decades as the Taliban fought to expel the US and its allies from Afghanistan. The Taliban ultimately succeeded when the US left the country in August 2021.

Iran provided significant support for the Taliban, including safe havens, training, finances, intelligence, and weapons. The extent of this assistance was proven in US federal court in October 2022, in Cabrera v. Iran. (Note: Bill Roggio was a witness in this case. His expert report can be read here, and the courts opinion can be read here.)

Iran supported the Taliban because it did not want the US to maintain a presence on its eastern border, nor did it want an American-friendly government in power in Afghanistan. Not only did Iran provide a safe haven for Taliban leaders and fighters in Iran, but it also operated training facilities for Taliban recruits. Additionally, Iran provided safe havens and support to Taliban allies such as Al Qaeda. Top Al Qaeda leaders, including the groups purported emir, Sayf al Adl, are known to operate in Iran.

Additionally, Iranian members of Qods Force, the external operations branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), entered Iran to provide training, advice, and intelligence to Taliban commanders in western and southern Afghanistan. IRGC support for Taliban networks extended all the way into the capital of Kabul.

While discussions of Taliban support for Irans proxy terror network may be downplayed as aspirational or propaganda, they should not be dismissed out of hand, given the deep ties developed between the Taliban and Iran over the past two decades.

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. Janatan Sayeh is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on Iranian domestic affairs and the Islamic Republics regional malign influence.
IDF soldiers deployed in Gaza on June 20. (IDF photo)

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) extended operations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah during the third week of June. The IDF has been in Rafah since the evening of May 6, and it appears the campaign will now extend through July. The IDFs presence continues because of the large number of tunnel shafts and significant terrorist infrastructure Israeli forces have discovered and must dismantle. Israels military estimates that it controls between 60 to 70 percent of Rafah city and its environs.

The IDFs battle for Rafah is led by the 162nd Division. The division has several key units that have been conducting the work of finding tunnels and removing munitions and other terrorist infrastructure. These include the Givati Infantry Brigade, the Nahal Infantry Brigade, the 401st Armored Brigade, and the Negev 12th Reserve Infantry Brigade.

Members of the Nahal Infantry Brigade took several Israeli journalists along the Philadelphi Corridor, which runs along the Egyptian border south of Rafah, and also provided insights into the difficulties faced in the citys neighborhoods. Colonel Yair Zuckerman, Nahals commander, described the lower-intensity nature of the fighting.

Yes, we are using less firepower, but I have aerial support whenever I need it, and my officers fire their shells at any target I tell them to, Zuckerman told Israels Ynet. He said his unit has encountered more tunnels in Rafah than anywhere else hes fought in Gaza. Nahal found 17 tunnels in recent days in its sector, including many shafts in civilian homes. These discoveries add to the tally of dozens of tunnels found elsewhere along the border.

Over the past few weeks, the soldiers [of the Nahal Reconnaissance Battalion] have been carrying out intelligence-based scans and raiding terrorist targets in the area, the IDF said on June 20.

Soldiers found large quantities of weapons hidden in wardrobes in one civilian building, including: grenades, explosives, a launcher and anti-tank missiles, ammunition and arms, according to the IDF. In another scan made using a drone, a tunnel shaft was located under a childs bed, and in another room, the soldiers located a passage in the wall that Hamas terrorist operatives had created in order to pass between residences in crowded neighborhoods, the IDF stated.

Colonel Liron Betito, commander of the Givati Brigade, described the challenges his forces face from booby-trapped buildings in an interview with the Times of Israel.

Hamas took an approach here where it avoided fighting with terrorists at the front, but instead chose to booby-trap [structures]. And it booby-trapped loads of buildings. I havent seen this many booby-trapped buildings before, Betito said. The perspectives of the Nahal and Givati Brigades highlight the complex battlefield facing the IDF in Rafah and its adjoining neighborhoods.

While fighting continues in Rafah and the IDF uncovers tunnels and weapons, there is also combat in other areas of Gaza. Sirens have sounded in Israels border communities every day due to sporadic rocket and mortar fire. Some alarms have been determined to be false and triggered for various reasons. Nevertheless, one community bordering the Gaza Strip has experienced sirens daily, and many sound due to legitimate attacks.

In response, an Israeli warplane struck a launch site used by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Khan Younis. In addition, the Israeli Air Force said it eliminated the terrorist Muhammad Abu Taha, a drone operator in the Hamas terrorist organization, adding, During the war, Abu Taha carried out numerous attacks against IDF forces.

In another targeted airstrike in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun, the IDF said it killed Ahmed Hassan Salame Alsauarka. He was a squad commander in the Nukhba Forces who infiltrated into and carried out attacks on Israeli communities in southern Israel during the October 7th Massacre. Alsauarka led and directed sniper activity in the area of Beit Hanoun and took part in Hamas attacks on IDF troops, the IDF stated.

Hamas and several other smaller terrorist groups continue to target IDF forces in southern Gaza and the Netzarim Corridor, a strip of territory in central Gaza. The Netzarim Corridor is the only other area besides Rafah where IDF troops are located inside the Gaza Strip. On June 21, the IDF reported that two soldiers were killed by mortar fire in central Gaza, while three were severely wounded.

Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post, and author of The October 7 War: Israel's Battle for Security in Gaza (2024).
Manchester, VT (05254)

Today

Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High near 60F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds overnight. Low around 50F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph.
An aerial drone photo taken in June 2024 shows a view of the Tianwan Nuclear Power Station in Lianyungang City, east China's Jiangsu Province. (China National Nuclear Corporation/Handout via Xinhua) NANJING, June 19 (Xinhua) -- China has successfully completed a project aimed at transporting steam generated by a nuclear power station to a petrochemical base. The project is designed to help reduce carbon emissions and explore collaborative energy utilization in nuclear and traditional industries. The project, named Heqi No. 1 and constructed by the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), went into operation on Wednesday. It will deliver 4.8 million tonnes of steam annually from the Tianwan Nuclear Power Station to a petrochemical base in Lianyungang City, east China's Jiangsu Province. Nuclear power plants mainly rely on nuclear fission to release energy, heat water into steam and drive steam turbines to generate electricity. Additionally, the steam can not only be used for power generation, but also be applied in industrial production, said Liu Yongsheng, maintenance general manager of the Jiangsu Nuclear Power Corporation of the CNNC. For petrochemical enterprises, steam is an indispensable heat source and power source in the production process. The petrochemical industry, which faces the challenge of a clean and low-carbon transformation, prefers to replace coal consumption with nuclear energy to provide heat, steam, and power, Liu said. The project uses the steam generated from the turbine system of the Tianwan Nuclear Power Station Unit 3 and Unit 4 as the heat source. It transports the steam through industrial gas pipelines to the petrochemical industrial base via multi-stage heat exchange, replacing traditional coal consumption and addressing the heat and power needs of petrochemical enterprises. The project is expected to reduce the consumption of standard coal by 400,000 tonnes annually, equivalent to cutting the emissions of 1.07 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, 184 tonnes of sulfur dioxide and 263 tonnes of nitrogen oxides. It's also comparable to planting 2,900 hectares of new woods each year, and saving over 700,000 tonnes of carbon emission allowances for the petrochemical base annually, according to the CNNC. The nuclear power units have four layers of safety barriers, and multi-layer isolation measures and radiation monitoring instruments are adopted to ensure the safety of the production and transmission of the steam, according to the corporation. The cooperation between the Tianwan Nuclear Power Station and the petrochemical base has set an example for China's nuclear industry, while also providing a new solution for the green upgrading of energy supply in the traditional petrochemical industry, said Zhang Yi, chairman of the Jiangsu Nuclear Power Corporation. Huang Ping, secretary-general of the China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA), said the CAEA supports the application of nuclear technology in industries, agriculture, healthcare, environmental protection, safety and other fields. The CAEA will continue to nurture and develop promising nuclear technology projects and applications. According to Ye Qizhen, an academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, this approach can meet the diverse energy needs of energy-intensive industries and provide decarbonization solutions for high-carbon emission sectors. According to the CAEA, nuclear energy has been widely used in various fields in China, including isotope production, hydrogen production and seawater desalination. Moreover, nuclear technologies have been applied in all aspects of people's lives, such as industries, agriculture, medicine, environmental protection and security.  This photo taken in June 2024 shows a facility of Heqi No. 1 in Lianyungang City, east China's Jiangsu Province. (China National Nuclear Corporation/Handout via Xinhua) An aerial drone photo taken on June 19, 2024 shows a view of the Tianwan Nuclear Power Station in Lianyungang City, east China's Jiangsu Province. China has successfully completed a project aimed at transporting steam generated by a nuclear power station to a petrochemical base. The project is designed to help reduce carbon emissions and explore collaborative energy utilization in nuclear and traditional industries. (Xinhua/Li Bo) An aerial drone photo taken on June 19, 2024 shows an energy station of Heqi No. 1 project in the Tianwan Nuclear Power Station in Lianyungang City, east China's Jiangsu Province. China has successfully completed a project aimed at transporting steam generated by a nuclear power station to a petrochemical base. The project is designed to help reduce carbon emissions and explore collaborative energy utilization in nuclear and traditional industries. (Xinhua/Li Bo) A drone photo taken on June 19, 2024 shows Heqi No. 1 project's pipelines in the Tianwan Nuclear Power Station in Lianyungang City, east China's Jiangsu Province. China has successfully completed a project aimed at transporting steam generated by a nuclear power station to a petrochemical base. The project is designed to help reduce carbon emissions and explore collaborative energy utilization in nuclear and traditional industries. (Xinhua/Li Bo) An aerial drone photo taken on June 19, 2024 shows the Unit 3 and Unit 4 of Tianwan Nuclear Power Station in Lianyungang City, east China's Jiangsu Province. China has successfully completed a project aimed at transporting steam generated by a nuclear power station to a petrochemical base. The project is designed to help reduce carbon emissions and explore collaborative energy utilization in nuclear and traditional industries. (Xinhua/Li Bo) A drone photo taken on June 19, 2024 shows Heqi No. 1 project's pipelines in the Tianwan Nuclear Power Station in Lianyungang City, east China's Jiangsu Province. China has successfully completed a project aimed at transporting steam generated by a nuclear power station to a petrochemical base. The project is designed to help reduce carbon emissions and explore collaborative energy utilization in nuclear and traditional industries. (Xinhua/Li Bo) An aerial drone photo taken on June 19, 2024 shows a view of the Tianwan Nuclear Power Station in Lianyungang City, east China's Jiangsu Province. China has successfully completed a project aimed at transporting steam generated by a nuclear power station to a petrochemical base. The project is designed to help reduce carbon emissions and explore collaborative energy utilization in nuclear and traditional industries. (Xinhua/Li Bo)
A bicyclist was killed after they collided with a box truck in Cambridge Friday morning, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryans office announced.

The crash occurred around 8:20 a.m. at the intersection of Hampshire and Portland streets in the city, Robert Goulston, a spokesman for Cambridge Police, told MassLive. Investigators believe the box truck and the cyclist were traveling in the same direction on Hampshire Street and the truck was turning right on to Portland Street at the time of the crash.

The bicyclist, identified in a statement from Ryans office as a 24-year-old Cambridge woman, was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The truck driver stayed in the area after the crash.

The crash remains under investigation by Ryans office as well as Cambridge and Massachusetts State Police.
The list of charges against former Massachusetts Senator Dean Tran is growing yet again after he and his sister were indicted on a charge of trying to cover up a sham job offer from the sisters company to Tran, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced on Friday.

Tran, 48, of Fitchburg, was indicted on one count of obstruction of justice and one count of making a false statement. Tuyet T. Martin, 54, of Pelham, N.H., was indicted on two counts of obstruction of justice and one count of perjury.

The charges against Dean Tran and his sister represent a serious breach of public trust, said Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy. He added the duo had showed a disturbing disregard for the law.

Martin was arrested this morning, the office said, and will appear in Boston federal court on Friday afternoon. Tran will appear in court at a later date.

The former senator had been arrested in November 2023 and faced 28 charges in a federal indictment, in connection with his fraudulent collection of over $80,000 in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits while he was working, and willful omission of the consulting and rental income from his tax returns in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Tran has been in hot legal waters several times over in recent years. He was charged with stealing a gun from an elderly constituent in July 2022 and indicted on ethics charges in September 2023 related to his campaign work in 2018 and 2020. He also sued sued Gov. Maura Healeys administration in 2022, claiming the administration was politically targeting him.

During the investigation into Trans believed pandemic unemployment and tax fraud schemes, in a June 2022 search warrant at his home, law enforcement found a letter that appeared to be a job offer from Martin to Tran, the office said.

It was for a position at Alecon Enterprises, Inc., which his sister was the owner and CEO of.

When questioned, Tran lied to the agents about whether Martin had actually written the letter and whether her signature was on it, the office said.

In addition, Martin has been accused of deleting emails about the job offer letter between her and Tran and of giving false testimony before a grand jury in July 2023 about the letter.

Anyone who obstructs a federal investigation is attempting to subvert the course of justice, said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division.

Today, former Massachusetts State Senator Dean Tran and his sister Tuyet Martin are accused of doing exactly that, in an effort conceal Mr. Trans alleged attempts to steal tens of thousands of dollars from public assistance programs at the expense of those in need, Cohen said.

Obstruction of justice charges can give a sentence of up to 20 years in prison with three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Both false statement and perjury charges can be a sentence up to five years in prison, three years supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

Martin lied to Special Agents in an effort to obstruct an ongoing Federal investigation. Martin attempted to protect her brother, former State Senator Dean Tran, from being arrested but now she must face justice for her actions, said Special Agent in Charge, Harry T. Chavis Jr., IRSs Criminal Investigations, Boston Field Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Mulcahy and Dustin Chao of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit are prosecuting the case.
Seasonal white shark sightings around Massachusetts have increased in recents years, and with a growing population of gray seals on the Outer Cape, its become a popular location for white sharks, according to Mass.gov.

Since 2009, Massachusetts shark program tagged more than 120 white sharks to study the movement of this species.

While sharks tend to leave the coast of Cape Cod for the southeastern U.S. and to the Gulf Coast come fall, Bay Staters have a few more months before sharks migrate from their swimming grounds.

Since last week, the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy reported at least three confirmed shark sightings  two around Cape Cod and another off the Gulf of Maine.

LeeBeth was the only tagged shark spotted during the first week of June. But she was not detected off of Cape Cod during that time. Courtesy of the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.Atlantic White Shark Conservancy

On Sunday, June 16, signs of a great shark were reported off the southern coast of Chatham with a dead seal washed ashore, according to the Atlantic White Shark Conservancys shark tracking app, Sharktivity.

Another dead seal washed ashore this week off the coast of Chatham, though this time off the Stage Harbor Inlet on Friday, June 21. Sharktivity reported signs around 11:09 a.m. Friday.

Further up north earlier in the week, another dead seal was reported off the Gulf Coast of Maine on Tuesday, June 18, around 9 a.m., according to Sharktivity.

While no satellite data shows any of these sightings were tagged sharks, one shark that tends to frequent the area is a 14-foot-long female white shark named LeeBeth.

LeeBeth was first tagged by the White Shark Conservancy on Dec. 8, 2023, according to the conservancys website and has been seen previously this year swimming off North Carolinas coast on June 3, according to the conservancys Sharktivity app.

She was next seen four days later in the north Atlantic Ocean at around 8:48 p.m. on June 7. LeeBeth zigzagged east to north and was detected nine more times until the 10th and latest time she was detected on Tuesday, June 11, at around 8:02 a.m.

She swam 31 nautical miles northeast of Nantucket and 40 nautical miles southeast of Barnstable, according to the National Weather Service latitude and longitude distance calculator.
A high-profile Boston liquor license lawyer has been fired from her firm after one of her clients came forward in mid-May and said she obtained a false license for their new Allston/Brighton location.

Lesley Delaney Hawkins, former general counsel of nearly five years for both the Boston Licensing Board and Boston Cannabis Board, joined Prince Lobel Tye LLP in 2021 to lead clientele with her expertise through license regulatory processes.

Among several media appearances, Hawkins spoke on a WBUR show on May 23 to discuss liquor licensing in the city and its barriers.

Read more: Bicyclist killed after colliding with truck in Cambridge Friday morning

Her termination in the past few weeks from the firm followed an internal investigation, said Thomas Elcock, a partner and in-house counsel.

A client contacted us with an issue about a liquor license that Lesley obtained for them, said Elcock. The license was invalid and not properly issued by the Boston Licensing Board, he said in a phone interview Friday.

The investigation revealed the client had no knowledge of or role in getting the license that had a fake number, Elcock said. He added law enforcement had not contacted Prince Lobel in connection with the case. Hawkins had no history of similar issues, he said.

The client, Craft Food Hall, received a license with a fake serial number from Hawkins earlier in the year and tried to use it to purchase liquor, Boston Magazine reported.

It was supposed to be the food halls tenth location, but the doors closed shortly after officials said the high-value certificate had a made-up number, the outlet reported.

As soon as the city was made aware of these disturbing allegations, the invalid license was seized, a spokesperson for Mayor Michelle Wus office said. The city is grateful to those who swiftly raised these concerning actions.

Hawkins worked for the city of Boston starting in 2017 and left for Prince Lobel after almost five years. She brought ten years of experience in licensing, permitting and zoning law to the firm, according to its website, and was respected in the community of liquor license attorneys.

Liquor licenses are a current point of contention between city officials and Massachusetts lawmakers.

Under a House bill approved on May 30, Boston would gain 205 alcoholic beverage licenses and an opportunity to bolster restaurants and revitalize neighborhoods and communities of color, according to the State House News Service.
Testimony in the trial of Karen Read is expected to wrap up next week, and the case could be sent to the jury for deliberations as early as Monday.

Judge Beverly Cannone told jurors Friday afternoon as she dismissed court for the weekend that the trial was on schedule and they would begin deliberations next week, a timeline she has stuck to for the last few weeks.

While Cannone did not give any other details about next weeks schedule, according to NBC Boston, Reads defense lawyers said after court Friday that they have only three witnesses left to call and expect to be done on Monday.

Prosecutors finished examining their final witness Friday morning. The defense has called three witnesses so far, a plow driver, dog bite expert and digital investigator.

Read is accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John OKeefe, by hitting him with her car after a night out drinking and leaving him outside in a blizzard in Canton on Jan. 29, 2022.

Reads defense has claimed that she is being framed for OKeefes death by friends who they were drinking with that night.

The trial began in April and has lasted 10 weeks thus far. It is unknown how long the jury will take to deliberate.
Testimony in the trial of Karen Read, a Mansfield woman charged in the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend, John OKeefe, resumed Friday morning.

This story will be updated throughout the day with the latest testimony.

3:25 p.m. Prosecutor questions defense experts credentials

On cross-examination, prosecutor Adam Lally asked Richard Green if he had read the reports written by digital forensics experts Jessica Hyde and Ian Whiffin, who both disagreed with his assessment that Jennifer McCabe searched hos long to die in cold at 2:27 a.m.

I absolutely understand that, sir, Green said.

Lally asked if Green had any certifications for Cellebrite, the software used to extract cellphone data, and he said he did not but he had attended hundreds of training events for Cellebrite and other similar programs.

Green said he had reached out to Cellebrites technical support while investigating the case and that the person he spoke to had elevated his questions. Lally asked if Green had been referred to Whiffins team, and he said he was not; Lally further asked if a member of Whiffins tem had reached out to him, but he had never called them back.

Not that Im aware of, Green said.

Lally next asked about the location data from OKeefes phone, which Green said could not have been accurate within a 3 foot radius, because GPS data typically is not that accurate.

He also said Reads cellphone did not have any cached location data, which is usually stored for a few weeks.

Lally turned back to McCabes cellphone, and asked Green about the deleted data entries. Green said that while the user could not delete the entries from the database, they could delete their browser history, and that would affect what was stored in the database.

Lally asked about a suggested Google search for how long to digest food that showed up in McCabes browser data at 6:23 a.m. Green admitted that he had previously, in an earlier affidavit, believed this was something that McCabe had searched and not an automatic suggestion, but he had since learned that this was incorrect.

Youve done subsequent testing and that shows that you were wrong? Lally asked, and Green agreed.

Greens testimony next turned to the Apple Health and location data from OKeefes cellphone. Lally asked about Greens earlier statement that step counts have been shown to be 98% accurate, and asked if it was possible other movement or driving in a car could have been registered as steps.

Green said he had done testing with iPhones, bringing one with him in a car and testing different types of movement, and did not see anything registered as steps that was not.

When Lally asked about the location data from Waze with three different time stamps, Green said he did not know what that information revealed but only thought it was important to bring to the case.

Ive not decoded Waze, its not something that has been done, but I think we need to consider the 3 minute offset as it applies to the significance of the Apple Health data and the Waze GPS, he said.

Finally, Green said his analysis of the data could have differed from Whiffins because of the existence of two versions of Cellebrite, one of which has been more recently updated than the other. He said he had used the other version of the program and gotten different results.

Currently, Cellebrite is providing examiners, law enforcement and people worldwide with two different versions with two different results, he said.

Green was allowed to step down from the witness stand and Judge Beverly Cannone dismissed the court for the weekend at about 3:18 p.m.

Richard Green, an investigator for Karen Reads legal team discusses cell phone records during Karen Reads trial in Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds, Pool) AP

2:47 p.m. update: Defense expert says data shows 2:27 a.m. Google search for hos long to die in cold

When court resumed at about 1:55 p.m., the defense called Richard Green to the stand.

Green is the owner of United States Forensics, a digital investigation company based in Michigan. He said he testified as an expert in his first case in 1996 and started the company in 2006.

The defense team reached out to Green in September 2022 and asked him to examine data from Karen Reads, John OKeefes and Jennifer McCabes cellphones.

The first data discussed was the location and health data from OKeefes cellphone. Green said the location data showed OKeefe arrived at 34 Fairview Road 12:24 a.m. and 28 seconds.

Defense attorney David Yannetti asked Green if at any point the location data was accurate within 3 feet, and he said there was no data that had that degree of accuracy.

For the Apple Health data, Green said studies have shown the step data recorded has a degree of accuracy of about 98%.

He said the data on OKeefes cellphone showed him traveling 87.74 meters and 80 steps between 12:21 a.m. and 10 seconds and 12:24 a.m. and 22 seconds, and three floors of stairs between 12:21 a.m. and 14 seconds and 12:24 and 37 seconds. He said the data does not say whether the floors are up or down.

He said the steps and floors could have happened at any time within these time periods, and were not necessarily spread equally throughout them. He noted that the time period for the health data ended after the recorded arrival time at 34 Fairview Road.

Green said iPhones use three different clocks, and app developers can use any of the three to record and display time. He showed a particular artifact from the cellphone data for the Waze navigation app, which showed two clocks with almost the same time and one that was three minutes ahead.

He next turned to data from McCabes cellphone. He said he found a Google search for hos long to die in cold at 2:27 a.m. in the data from her phone, which was marked as deleted.

He said this was the last entry in the phones database for the Safari browser tab.

That wouldve happened at or before Jan. 29, 2022 at 2:27:40 a.m., Green said. By how this particular phone operates with that exact operating system and comparing it to other data on that phone and the way it presented itself, its all consistent with that search happening at or before that time.

He said he found a lot of other deleted artifacts in the data from McCabes cellphone from the morning of Jan. 29. He said he found one artifact indicating there was a phone call made to a contact labeled Uncle Brian A.

Green showed a call log from McCabes phone that showed a number of calls before 8:50 a.m. and after 8:59 a.m., and he said the earlier calls were marked as deleted but the later calls were not.

Those wouldve been user deleted, he said.

Dr. Marie Russell, a retired emergency room physician describes her educational and professional experience during Karen Reads trial in Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds, Pool) AP

1 p.m. update: Prosecution questions reliability of expert analysis of injuries

Prosecutor Adam Lally began his cross-examination by asking Dr. Marie Russell when the last time she worked in a coroners office was, and she said it was 1995.

Russell said the first time she spoke to anyone about the case was on May 17, when she read an article in the Boston Globe about it and reached out to a district attorney she knew in Los Angeles, who put her in touch with Reads defense team. She communicated with them through email and they sent her the relevant files, after which she offered her opinion.

Lally said that during voir dire earlier this week, when asked what materials she had reviewed for the case, she had not listed an affidavit from Dr. Frank Sheridan, a pathologist hired by the defense, a report from University of California Davis or bite history records from the town of Canton, but she did mention them in her testimony Friday.

Russell said she had not known about those files when she was asked on Tuesday and learned about and reviewed them since. She said the defense had most likely provided them to her originally, but because of technical difficulties with her computer, she had not seen them.

Lally asked how long Russell had had a subscription to the Boston Globe, and she said she couldnt remember, but it had been either a six month or 12 month subscription. Lally asked if she had said Tuesday that it was an 18 month subscription, and she said she didnt remember saying that.

That was the first time you had seen anything about [the case]? Lally asked, referring to the article Russell read on May 17.

The first time I paid attention to anything, yes, she said.

Lally asked why Russell had not written a report about her opinion, and she said she had not been asked to.

Lally then asked if Russell was familiar with a 2008 report by the National Academy of Science saying that forensic odontology, the study of bite marks, was unreliable. She said she had not read the report but had heard some parts of the field were no longer considered reliable.

There are certain aspects of bite marks that have been deemed not reliable, she said. That, I believe, has to do with saying that this particular person or animal inflicted this particular bite, but thats very specific.

Lally asked Russell about one of the publications she authored about injuries sustained from dog bites, which included descriptions of types of injuries sustained in over 700 dog bite cases seen at emergency rooms. She said the paper had a skewed population because not all dog bites come to the emergency room.

Is it normal in an animal attack for injuries to occur just on one side of an arm and nowhere else on a persons body? Lally asked.

It can be, yes, she said.

She confirmed that there was nothing else anywhere on OKeefes body that was consistent with an animal attack.

Lally asked if she could determine anything else about the injuries, such as what the animal or breed of dog was, where and when the injuries were sustained and if they happened inside or outside a house. She said she knew the injuries happened within minutes to hours of OKeefes death, but that was all she could definitively say.

She confirmed that she had not examined OKeefe, only seen photographs.

Lally asked if she knew that a lab at UC Davis had found no canine DNA on swabs taken from OKeefes arm. She said she understood that there was clothing in between, and he asked if she knew that the swabs were taken from his clothing. She said she did not know the clothing was sent to UC Davis.

She said that while she had reviewed a report about Nicole and Brian Alberts dog Chloe attacking another dog, there was no record of Chloe attacking a human when there was no dog present. She said the injuries from that incident did not look like OKeefes injuries.

Lally asked if she could definitively say that the injuries could only have come from an animal attack, and not a blunt force impact.

Ive seen thousands of people with injuries to their skin, from blunt, from sharp, from all different mechanisms, she said. Those injuries did not look like blunt force injuries.

Thats based on photographs and other materials you began reviewing on May 17? Lally asked.

Yes. Im an ER doctor. I need to make a diagnosis quickly when I see something, Russell said. Im trained to do that. Thats my specialty.

Before Russell ended her testimony, defense attorney Alan Jackson asked her about the 2008 report on forensic odontology, and she repeated that she understood the report to have been specifically about the unreliability of matching a bite mark to a specific person or animal.

Jackson also pointed out that the UC Davis lab had found pig DNA in the samples sent to them, but Russell said she had not drawn any conclusions from this finding.

He asked her why she believed the injuries from the incident where Chloe the German shepherd attacked another dog did not resemble OKeefes, and she said there were a variety of wound patterns that can be found in animal attacks.

Animals, and dogs in particular, can inflict a wide variety of injuries on the skin, she said. It depends a lot on the thickness of the skin, the movement between the victim and the animal, and also the power of the animal and the training of the animal.

Court was dismissed for a lunch recess just before 1 p.m.

12:24 p.m. update: Expert witness says injuries on OKeefes arm were consistent with animal attack

The next witness to testify was Dr. Marie Russell, a recently retired emergency room physician and forensic pathologist who lives in California. Before her medical training, Russell was an officer for the Malden, Massachusetts Police Department from 1977 to 1984.

During voir dire earlier this week, Russell said she had come forward to the defense in May after reading news reports about the trial, and told them she believed John OKeefes injuries were consistent with a dog attack.

While prosecutors argued Russell should not be allowed to testify because the defense did not provide timely information about her testimony in discovery, Judge Beverly Cannone allowed her to testify on her opinion as it related to the potential dog attack. However, Cannone said Russell would not be allowed to testify on police procedure or her opinion on what the injuries were inconsistent with.

Russell said over the course of her career, she has published at least two journal articles relating to dog bites and has treated patients with animal bites on at least 500 occasions, although she said it could be double that number.

I have a very strong interest in wounds in general and I have a strong interest in dog bites in particular, she said.

Russell said she reviewed photos of OKeefes body from the hospital, autopsy reports and photos, grand jury testimony by the pathologist who performed the autopsy, an affidavit from a forensic pathologist hired by the defense and dog bite records from the town of Canton, a toxicology report and neuropathology report to come to a conclusion about the injuries to OKeefes arm.

I believe these injuries were sustained by an animal, possibly a large dog, because of the pattern of the injuries, she said.

She said the injuries included parallel cuts and smaller, round punctate wounds, which could have been caused by the upper and lower teeth of a dog.

Defense attorney Alan Jackson asked if the injuries could still be consistent with a dog bite even though there were only injuries to the outside, or back, of OKeefes arm, indicating the dog did not have its mouth around the entire arm, and Russell said this was possible.

When an animal inflicts an injury, the type of injury depends in part on the actual type of contact and how much force is applied by that animal, in addition to any movement between the animal and the victim, Russell said.

Plough driver Brian Loughran of Canton, Mass. testifies in Karen Reads trial in Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds, Pool) AP

11:43 a.m. update: First defense witness says he did not see OKeefes body while plowing Fairview Road

The first witness called by the defense was Brian Loughran, a Canton resident who was driving a plow on the night of John OKeefes death.

Loughran said he grew up in Canton and knew the Albert family. He said he went to school with Chris Albert and worked for the familys pizza shop delivering pizzas in his twenties.

Loughran, who works for the town of Canton in the Water and Sewer Department, was driving a truck equipped with a plow during the blizzard. His truck, which he said was outfitted with many pieces it was not originally manufactured with, was nicknamed the Frankentruck.

Loughran said the seat in the truck is raised so he has a field of vision about 5 feet to both the drivers and passengers side out of the windshield and the lights on the truck provide an enormous amount of light.

Its almost driving with a spotlight, he said.

During the blizzard from Jan. 28 to 29, 2022, Loughran was driving a plow route that consisted of Cedarcrest Road from Kings Road to Chapman Street. A map of his route was projected in the courtroom to illustrate his testimony.

Loughran said when he first plowed Cedarcrest, Fairview Road was on his left and he did not initially turn onto it to avoid pushing snow across the road and blocking it. He drove to the end of Cedarcrest, which ends in a cul-de-sac, and plowed the cul-de-sac before coming back up the street and turning right onto Fairview Road.

He said he was familiar with the Alberts home at 34 Fairview Road. He said his headlights were bright enough that he could see almost the entire front lawn at about 2:45 a.m.

My attention is focused to the front of me and then to the sides, Loughran said. Im making sure there are no animals, no pedestrians, and making sure no ones coming out of their driveways not expecting to see me.

He said when he passed the house he saw nothing on the front lawn. He got to the end of Fairview Road and did a three-point turn, coming back down the street to return to Cedarcrest, and still did not see anything.

Did you see a body? defense attorney David Yannetti asked.

No, Loughran said.

Loughran said he repeated the route, arriving back at Fairview Road between 3:15 and 3:30 a.m. He said at that time, he saw a Ford Edge parked in front of the Alberts house, but did not see anything on the front lawn.

The Alberts never had cars that were parked out front, he said. It just stuck out as weird.

The town policy was that during a snow emergency, cars were not supposed to be parked on the road. Plow drivers were meant to call their supervisor if there was a vehicle parked on the street, and the police would either contact the owner to move it or have it towed.

However, Loughran said he did not do this, and instead went around the car.

I was being courteous to the Albert family, he said.

When he came back down the street after turning around at the end, the car had not moved, he said. He was not able to see as much of the yard at this time because the car blocked his view.

Loughran said he returned to Fairview Road at about 5:30 a.m. and was only able to go as far as Carriage Lane because first responders at 34 Fairview had blocked off the road.

Loughran said he was approached by an investigator named Paul, who had been employed by the defense, on Feb. 15, 2022, but was not approached by State Police investigators Trooper Michael Proctor and Sgt. Yuriy Bukhenik until 2023.

Prosecutor Adam Lally began his cross-examination of Loughran by asking about the typical procedure of plowing. Loughran explained he begins by plowing the center of the road using a technique called windrow right, meaning the snow is pushed to the right side of the road so it does not obstruct cars.

Loughran said when he met with the defense investigator, they met at a skating rink. Lally asked if he initially told the investigator the car he saw was a small SUV, rather than a Ford Edge, but Loughran said this was not correct.

He said he told the investigator that it was a Ford Edge and then the investigator took him out to the parking lot and showed him a Ford Edge to confirm it was what he saw. When Lally asked, he said he knew the difference between a Ford Edge and a Jeep Cherokee because of the shape of the taillights.

Loughran said he is colorblind so he did not know the color of the vehicle, but he knew it was lighter in color.

Lally asked Loughran where he told the investigator he saw the car, and he said it was about 3 feet to the left of where the front door was, in front of the flagpole. Lally asked if he had told the investigator that the car was in front of where the body was found, and he said yes.

He said he knew where the body was found from news reports.

Lally next turned to Loughrans interview with police in May 2023. He asked if Loughran had initially told them he began plowing between 11 p.m. and 12 a.m., seen the car at 1:30 or 2 a.m., and seen police cruisers blocking off Fairview Road at 3 or 3:30 a.m., as indicated in Proctor and Bukheniks report.

Loughran repeatedly said this was incorrect, and that he didnt begin plowing until about 2:30 a.m.

Lally asked if it was possible he had seen a black Lexus SUV in front of 34 Fairview Road at about 5 a.m., and he said he had not.

In response to Lallys questioning, Loughran admitted that he had hit a basketball hoop on Tippycart Road while plowing that morning, and called the incident in to his supervisor, although he did not remember what time that had happened. Lally asked if he hadnt seen the basketball hoop, but Loughran said he had tried to go around it and misjudged the distance.

Youre sure about all the times you went down Fairview Road? Lally asked.

Yes, Loughran said.

And you have no idea what time you went on Tippycart and struck the basketball hoop? Lally asked.

I dont recall exactly what time I hit that net, Loughran said.

On redirect questioning, Yannettis only questions were about Lallys suggestion that Loughran had seen a black SUV.

At any point that night while you were plowing, did you see a black Lexus in front of 34 Fairview? he said.

No, Loughran said.

Before Loughran was allowed to step down, Lally again questioned Loughrans timeline. He pointed out that Loughran had said he had come back to Fairview Road three hours after seeing the car, but that would be inconsistent with his stated time of 5:30 a.m.

Loughran said he was always monitoring Fairview Road because it was considered a main road and needed to be kept clear for emergency access.

He stepped down at about 11:35 a.m.

10:45 a.m. update: Judge denies defense request for immediate not guilty verdict

Before calling any witnesses, defense attorney Alan Jackson made a motion for the court to find Karen Read not guilty, saying no reasonable jury would ever find her guilty.

He said the prosecutions case rested on the testimony of Trooper Joe Paul, a crash reconstruction investigator who testified earlier this week. He said all of the counts against Read rested on whether her vehicle hit John OKeefe, and Pauls testimony was not enough to believe that.

[Pauls] theory, according to the commonwealth, is that John OKeefes arm was struck, he was spun around in sort of a pirouette, projected 30 feet to the left, hit his head on a curb or the road in the intervening time, before coming to a final rest spot about 30 feet away, Jackson said. Everything in the commonwealths case, everything relies on that theory.

He said other than the evidence presented by Paul, there was no medical or physical evidence to support the theory.

The commonwealths own medical examiner does not believe this is a homicide, he said. She went on this morning to say in her expert opinion, the injuries are not classic pedestrian injuries and they are, every single one of them, consistent with a physical altercation.

He said that he did not believe a rational or reasonable jury would ever believe the collision theory, and that Read should therefore be found not guilty.

Prosecutor Adam Lally argued the opposite, saying even if the jury did not believe Paul, there was plenty of other evidence to support the collision theory.

He listed the physical evidence at the scene, including OKeefes sneaker and the broken drinking glass found near his body, the broken pieces of glass and the pieces of plastic which could be reconstructed to fit Reads taillight, the DNA found on the taillight, witness testimony, Reads statements to paramedics, GPS data from OKeefes cellphone and from Reads vehicle and other evidence.

Theres more than sufficient evidence from a medical perspective, from a forensic perspective, from a witness perspective and from the investigation of this case, Lally said.

Judge Beverly Cannone said she was satisfied that the commonwealth had met its burden and denied the defenses request. The jury was called back into the courtroom and the defense called its first witness, Brian Loughran.

Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello, a medical examiner for the states medical examiners office looks at an autopsy photo of John O'Keefe during her testimony in Karen Reads trial in Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds, Pool) AP

10:06 a.m. update: Prosecution rests its case

Prosecutor Adam Lally began his redirect questioning by asking Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello if John OKeefe had any injuries to his knees, and she said he had a small abrasion on the side of his right knee.

He then asked about the defenses theory that OKeefes facial injuries were caused by being punched, and Scordi-Bello said it was one possibility, but that they could also have been caused by a fall or an impact with a blunt object.

Would that impact injury to back of head also be consistent with striking frozen ground? Lally asked.

Could be, yes, she said.

Lally then asked what defensive wounds Scordi-Bello would expect to see after a fight.

I would expect to see, or I have seen multiple bruising to the posterior aspect of the forearm. I have seen cuts, lacerations, depending on how a person might be defending themselves, the position of their arms, she said, adding that she had seen bruising to knuckles and broken fingers.

Finally, Lally asked her for her opinion on how the injuries were caused.

A single impact with a fall could cause all the injuries that were seen in the brain and the skull, she said.

Following the examination of Scordi-Bello, the prosecution rested its case just after 10 a.m.

Karen Read, center, reacts to testimony from Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello, a medical examiner for the states medical examiners office during Reads trial in Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds, Pool) AP

Karen Read, center, reacts to testimony from Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello, a medical examiner for the states medical examiners office during Reads trial in Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds, Pool) AP

9:59 a.m. update: Defense pushes theory of physical fight

Defense attorney Elizabeth Little began her cross-examination of Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello by asking her about the blunt impact injuries on John OKeefes body. She asked if those blunt injuries could be caused by an object like a baseball bat or dumbbell, and Scordi-Bello agreed, then asked if it could be caused by the claws of a German Shepherd.

Claws? Possibly, Scordi-Bello said.

Little asked Scordi-Bello if OKeefe had any injuries to the lower parts of his body, from the torso down, other than rib fractures caused by CPR, and she said he did not.

Would you agree John OKeefes injuries, or lack thereof, are inconsistent with having struck by a vehicle at 24 miles per hour? Little asked.

I would say its likely and unlikely at the same time, depending on the position of the body and the vehicle in question, Scordi-Bello said.

Little further asked if Scordi-Bello agreed that the injuries to OKeefes arm were inconsistent with being struck by a vehicle.

I dont know. Im not a reconstruction expert. Im not a biomechanics expert, she answered. I never personally inspected the car, so I cant offer an opinion on that.

Little asked about the injuries to OKeefes face, as well as a laceration on his tongue, and whether they could be caused by being punched, which Scordi-Bello said was a possibility. She also said when asked that it was possible the laceration to the back of his head could have been caused by being dragged on the ground.

Little next asked about the scratches to OKeefes arm, which Scordi-Bello described as discrete, or separate injuries, rather than all meshed together.

She asked if the medical examiner agreed the injuries were inconsistent with having been struck by a smooth rear taillight at 24 miles per hour, but the prosecution objected to the question and the judge sustained the objection.

Scordi-Bello had previously testified that contusions, or bruises, on the backs of OKeefes hands were consistent with attempts to insert an IV line. Little pointed out that hospital records showed IVs had been inserted on OKeefes shins and later, at the hospital, through a catheter. She asked if the bruises were consistent with defensive wounds, and Scordi-Bello said it was possible.

Scordi-Bello had also testified that she had not seen evidence OKeefe was in a physical altercation because his fingernails were not damaged and there were no fractures in his hands. Little asked if those were the only observable signs of a fight, and asked if the laceration and egg over OKeefes eye, abrasions on his nose, laceration on his tongue and bruising on his hands were consistent with injuries from a fight, but the judge again sustained an objection to the question from the prosecution.

Before ending her cross-examination, Little finally asked about redness near OKeefes ribcage that could be seen in photos of his body, and Scordi-Bello said it was caused by lividity, or pooling blood after death, and was not caused by an injury.

Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello, a medical examiner for the states medical examiners office testifies during Karen Reads trial in Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds, Pool) AP

9:34 a.m. update: OKeefe did not have the classic injuries from a pedestrian collision, doctor says

Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said Friday morning that she is always provided with a police report when her office accepts a case.

Often, if the autopsy combined with the initial police report do not provide enough information to determine a manner of death, she will reach out to the agency investigating the death to see if any more information has turned up surrounding the circumstances.

When an event is unwitnessed, we usually reach out to the investigating agency and ask them whether they have any more information than they did on the day the autopsy was done, she said. Investigations sometimes take some time, so in the days and the weeks following the autopsy I reached out and asked if there was any more information than what I was originally presented with. Was there any video from the surrounding areas? Did anybody come forward to say they actually witnessed whatever happened?

She said in this case, there was no new information provided that could clearly determine whether his death was an accident or a homicide, so she could not certify a manner of death.

She said she spoke with Trooper Michael Proctor about the autopsy and when asked if she had felt pressured to make a determination of the manner of death, she said she had not and would not have done so even if she had.

I am responsible for what goes on the death certificate and unless I have enough information, clear and convincing evidence, I cannot determine a manner, she said.

Photographs of OKeefes body were projected in the courtroom and Scordi-Bello used a laser pointer to show certain injuries on his body that she did or did not believe contributed to the cause of death. Most of the smaller injuries, including abrasions and bruises on his arms, hands and face, did not contribute to his death, she said.

Prosecutor Adam Lally asked if OKeefes injuries were consistent with a fall or with being struck by a vehicle and falling to the ground, Scordi-Bello said it was possible. She had the same answer when he asked if the injuries to his arm were consistent with scratches from a piece of glass, plastic, or metal.

However, when he asked if the injuries were consistent with other pedestrian collisions she had seen, she said, Theyre not the classic pedestrian injuries we observe, no.

She said injuries in pedestrian collisions depend on a number of factors, including whether the pedestrian is moving, the speed of the car, whether the brakes were applied and the size and shape of the vehicle.

She said often, she will see injuries to the lower extremities of the body, as the person is struck by the cars bumper; however, in this case, the vehicle was much larger and higher, she said.

After asking Scordi-Bello again about the cause of death, which she said was blunt force impact to the head and hypothermia, the prosecution said they had no further questions for her.

9:06 a.m. update: Medical examiner continues testimony about autopsy

Testimony resumed just after 9 a.m., with Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner returning to the stand.

On Thursday, the jury heard from two medical examiners who described OKeefes injuries, saying he died from blunt force trauma to the head that incapacitated him, followed by hypothermia.

Read, 44, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of OKeefe, who was found cold to the touch and unresponsive on Jan. 29, 2022, outside of a home in Canton.

Norfolk County prosecutors say Read struck OKeefe with her SUV while driving intoxicated. Reads attorney, David Yannetti, said during the trials opening statements that her car never struck OKeefe and that others are to blame for his death.

The trial is taking place in Dedhams Norfolk County Superior Court.
Four incredibly loving and sweet 4-month-old pups are their seeking fur-ever homes in Massachusetts.

One boy, and three girl Belgian Malinois-Cane Corso mixed puppies are currently in the care of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield but are listed as ready to adopt for those seeking a new furry companion.

Bear, the only boy of the bunch, loves to play with toys and is still learning how to navigate his large body.

He hasnt yet learned how to use his very large legs and paws so he flings himself around joyfully, Dakin says. He is guaranteed to make you laugh when you see him play.

Read more: Senior dog finds forever home in Worcester after searching for eight years

But these pups are not your average puppies, according to Dakin.

Unlike other breeds, the Cane Corso and Belgian Malinois breeds are large guardian dogs and are likely to grow well over 100 pounds.

Those interested in adopting one of these large, sweet, loving and playful pups should understand their unique needs and be prepared to properly care for them.

Dakin describes their ideal owner as patient, knowledgeable and committed to positive reinforcement training classes to help them grow into confident and well-adjusted dogs.

As young littermates Bear, Queenie, Mouse and Degu were not well-socialized and are pretty shy and fearful around other new people, places and animals.

Given their size and temperament, these puppies are in need of a dog owner with experience with extra-large guardian breeds such as Rottweilers, Great Danes, Cane Corsos, Malionois or Great Pyrenees, according to Dakin.

While Dakin describes his color as brindle, Bear has dark-brown and black fur with a white-tuxedo chest marking. He has dark brown eyes.

Queenie, who is also described as brindle, is much darker in comparison to her brother Bear and has a deep-brown, black coat with specks of honey brown. Her eyes are also dark brown but look nearly black.

Mouse and Degu are both described as black, though differ in looks.

Mouse, has a distinct honey-brown striped pattern on her hind legs, and Degu is almost entirely black but has a distinct white marking on her chest.

Each puppy is up for adoption at $650 each, which includes spay/neutering, rabies and kennel cough vaccinations, distemper vaccinations, microchips, a vet exam, tick and flea treatment and more.

To learn more and to adopt one of these large pups, check out their listings on Dakin Humane Societys website.
Editors note: This article contains a description of a sexual assault.

A Quincy man was sentenced to prison after he plead guilty to 10 charges in connection with multiple nightmarish attacks in Boston.

Amos F. Sykes 36, pleaded guilty on Monday in Suffolk Superior Court to 10 charges, including two counts of aggravated rape and two counts of kidnapping, according to the Boston Globe.

On Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, he grabbed a woman walking through an alley between Shawmut Avenue and Washington Street and threatened to kill her with a knife, court records state, according to the Boston Globe.

Dont scream, dont make a sound, dont try to get anyones attention or Ill put this knife in your [expletive] throat, Sykes said, according to prosecutors.

The Boston Globe reported that he then dragged the woman to a parking lot. She was eventually able to escape.

At around 8:30 p.m., officials said he attacked another woman on Appleton Street, the Globe reported. Officials said he raped the woman twice and only stopped because another person threatened to call the police.

About a hour later, a woman was walking down Columbus Avenue when a man, later identified as Sykes, grabbed her from behind. He tackled her to the ground, started punching her in the head and attempted to remove her clothes, Boston police reported.

She began screaming for help, police said.

Several people heard the woman. Sam Holder told WCVB he ran from his sixth-floor apartment to help. Police said Holder was fighting Sykes when they arrived. But he refused to call himself a hero.

Im not a hero. Im not a hero at all, Holder told the news outlet. I just did what any man should do.

Sykes attempted to run from police but was immediately arrested, police said.

This was a nightmarish attack that left the victim bloodied and bruised, and would likely have resulted in an even worse outcome if not for the extraordinarily brave intervention of a Good Samaritan, Hayden said. I thank Boston Police for their quick response and arrest and I am especially grateful for this Good Samaritans courageous action.

Sykes was sentenced to 12 to 16 years in state prison, the Globe reported.

If you are a victim of sexual assault, you are not alone.

Rape Crisis Centers in Massachusetts offer free, confidential services for adolescent and adult survivors as well as their loved ones.
Middlesex Superior Court convicted two men on Tuesday who were part of a group known as Rise of the Moors on gun charges in connection with an hours-long armed standoff on Interstate 95 in Wakefield in 2021, according to Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan.

Jamhal Tavon Sanders Latimer and Steven Anthony Perez were both found guilty on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and use or wearing body armor during a felony, Ryans office said in a statement Friday morning. Latimer was also convicted of unlawful possession of a large-capacity weapon, unlawful possession of a large-capacity feeding device, unlawful possession of a shotgun or rifle, improper storage of a rifle or shotgun near a minor, and unlawful possession of ammunition.

On July 3, 2021, Latimer and Perez and two of their vehicles were found by Massachusetts State Police in the breakdown lane on Interstate 95 in Wakefield wearing military-style camouflage and body armor. Latimer was armed with an AR-style large-capacity rifle and told police he was the leader of an armed militia from Rhode Island.

Read more: What we know about Rise of the Moors

Latimer and Perez told State Police troopers that they were on their way from Rhode Island to Maine, where they were going to train, according to Ryans office. There were nine other people with Latimer and Perez on the highway that day, who Latimer called his men. The other individuals were similarly clad in military-style clothing and body armor.

Police learned Latimer and Perez did not have drivers licenses or registrations for the vehicles they were driving and did not have licenses for the guns they were carrying, according to Ryans office. When they were asked to put their weapons down, Latimer and Perez refused, prompting an eight-and-a-half-hour-long standoff on the highway.

Latimer and Perez surrendered after speaking with State Police crisis negotiators and were arrested. Police seized three large capacity AR-style rifles from their vehicles, as well as a bolt-action rifle, a semi-automatic shotgun, two drum large capacity magazines capable of holding fifty or more rounds of ammunition, dozens of thirty-plus round large capacity magazines and three semi-automatic pistols along with hundreds of rounds of ammunition in varying calibers, according to the statement.

Both men will be sentenced on July 16, Ryans office said.

In the statement, Ryan said both men demonstrated a disregard for our laws and failed to comply with the directives of multiple police agencies on scene.

When individuals come here with weapons, especially high capacity firearms like the ones these defendants had, without being in compliance, they create a substantial danger, she said in the statement.

When the first of the 11 men arrested appeared in court in 2021 for his arraignment, he told the court he was a foreign national, repeatedly objected to a judges basic questions, declined to be interviewed by a public defender and insisted he had the right to bear arms, MassLive reported.
What is the difference between being not racist and anti-racist?

This was the overarching question posed to three diversity, equity and inclusion scholars at Embrace Bostons Ideas Festival. The multi-day event brings together guest panelists to discuss art, culture and activism.

Part of Thursdays panel brought together three Black leaders: Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, the director of the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University, Colette Phillips of Colette Phillips Communications Inc. and Malia Lazu, a strategist in diversity and inclusion at M.I.T, to discuss how to implement anti-racist strategies.

For Phillips, its about creating allyship, a coalition of people who can rely on one another.

We cannot do this work alone or in silo we must work together, collectively, she said. Not to necessarily be the white knights on white horses. But willing to stand in the breach, shoulder-to-shoulder.

Phillips said she called this the four Ls: Leaning in, listening, learning and leading from behind.

A good ally, as detailed in Phillips book, The Includers: The 7 Traits of Culturally Savvy, Anti-Racist Leaders, demonstrates character, cultural intelligence, communication, connections, collaboration, courage and commitment.

But when it comes to the idea of allyship, we must stress authenticity, Lazu added.

Shortly after the police murder of George Floyd in 2020, large corporations expressed their support for diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Lazu, who was working for Berkshire Bank as its chief experience and culture officer at the time, said she was fielding numerous calls from people asking how they could be an ally.

Lazu developed the three Ls  listening, learning and taking loving action  as an inclusive framework to help people be in the right in a relationship.

Part of the reason why most DEI efforts fail is because they are inauthentic, she said. Authentic allyship is what works. People more like Elenor Roosevelt than others, people who put their bodies in harms way.

Read More: Andre Lynch works to support marginalized students in higher education

To Kendi, part of the problem when it comes to conversations about race in America is that people say they are either not racist or they cant be racist.

But, his book, How to Be an Antiracist, challenges these notions by stating that the heart of racism is denial.

The opposite of being racist isnt being non-racist, its being anti-racist, Kendi said.

Notions that particular groups of people are more susceptible to committing crimes are racist ideas, he added. If Americans can understand that, then we must ask: What are the opposite of those ideas?

The opposite of those ideas is that there is nothing wrong or right about any racial group, he said. And so those are anti-racist notions.

Kendi said that we need to spend more time assessing whether certain policies perpetuate racial inequalities in our country and instead focus on pushing forward action that helps further equality such as affirmative action.

But thats a task easier said than done, he said.

Unfortunately, too many of us imagine ourselves to be not racist, Kendi said. Not too many of us have a perpetrator perspective as opposed to a victim perspective. Too many of us focus on intent instead of outcome.
Pregnant individuals and new mothers could soon benefit from expanded physical and mental health care options under a sweeping maternal health bill the House unanimously passed on Thursday.

Representatives say the legislation, which now heads to the Senate, could stem the tide of deteriorating maternal health outcomes, particularly among people of color, by creating a pathway for certified professional midwives (CPMs) and lactation consultants to be licensed in Massachusetts and removing regulatory barriers to open birth centers that offer home-like environments during labor.
The warning was for Essex, Middlesex and Worcester counties.

"The storms which prompted the warning have weakened below severe limits, and no longer pose an immediate threat to life or property. Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire. However gusty winds and heavy rain are still possible with these thunderstorms. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 11 p.m. for eastern, central and northeastern Massachusetts," says the National Weather Service.

Lightning on the horizon: Expert safety measures for thunderstorms

Each year, lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times, with the majority of these electrifying events occurring during the summer months. Unfortunately, lightning is responsible for claiming the lives of approximately 20 people annually, as reported by the weather service. The threat of lightning becomes more pronounced as thunderstorms draw nearer, peaking when the storm is directly overhead and gradually waning as it moves away.

To ensure your safety during a thunderstorm, keep these recommendations in mind:

1. Lightning safety plan:

When venturing outdoors, it's crucial to have a lightning safety plan in place.

Stay vigilant by monitoring the sky for ominous signs and listening for the telltale sound of thunder. If thunder is audible, it's a clear indication of nearby lightning.

Seek shelter promptly in a safe location, preferably indoors.

2. Indoors safety measures:

Once you've found shelter indoors, abstain from using corded phones, electrical appliances, or plumbing fixtures, and refrain from approaching windows and doors.

Lightning can follow conductive pathways, and these precautions reduce the risk of electrical surges.

3. Wait for the all-clear:

After the last lightning strike or thunderclap, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities.

Lightning can strike even when a storm has seemingly passed, so exercise caution.

When indoor shelter isn't available:

If you find yourself outdoors with no access to indoor shelter during a thunderstorm, take these steps to maximize your safety:

Avoid open fields, hilltops, or ridge crests, which expose you to greater lightning risk.

Steer clear of tall, isolated trees and other prominent objects. In wooded areas, stay close to lower stands of trees.

If you're in a group, ensure that individuals are spaced out to prevent lightning current from transferring between people.

Camping in an open setting during a thunderstorm is strongly discouraged. If no alternative exists, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low-lying areas. Remember that a tent offers no protection against lightning.

Do not approach water bodies, wet objects, or metal items. Although water and metal do not attract lightning, they conduct electricity effectively and can pose significant risks.

In summary, when facing the threat of lightning, preparedness and vigilance are your best allies. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of lightning-related incidents and prioritize your safety.

Driving through downpours: Safety guidelines for wet roads

Rain can turn roads into hazards. Stay informed and follow these tips from the weather service to ensure safety during heavy rainfall:

Beware of rapid water flow:

Avoid parking or walking in close proximity to culverts or drainage ditches, as the swiftly moving water during heavy rain can potentially carry you away.

Maintain safe driving distances:

Use the two-second rule to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you and allow an extra two seconds in heavy rain.

Reduce speed and drive cautiously:

If it is raining and the roads are wet, slow down. Take your foot off the accelerator and let your speed drop gradually. Never use the brakes suddenly because this may cause the car to skid.

Choose your lane wisely:

Stay toward the middle lanes - water tends to pool in the outside lanes.

Visibility matters:

Enhance your visibility in heavy rain by turning on your headlights. Watch out for vehicles in blind spots, as rain-smeared windows can obscure them.

Watch out for slippery roads:

The initial half-hour of rain is when roads are slickest due to a mixture of rain, grime, and oil. Exercise heightened caution during this period.

Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:

Large trucks and buses can reduce your visibility with tire spray. Avoid tailgating and pass them swiftly and safely.

Mind your windshield wipers:

Heavy rain can overload the wiper blades. When visibility is so limited that the edges of the road or other vehicles cannot be seen at a safe distance, it is time to pull over and wait for the rain to ease up. It is best to stop at rest areas or other protected areas.

If the roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guard rail, and wait until the storm passes. Keep your headlights on and turn on emergency flashers to alert other drivers of your position.

By following these safety measures, you can significantly reduce risks and ensure your well-being when heavy rain pours down. Stay informed about weather conditions and heed advice from local authorities to make your journey safe and sound.

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.
A 50-year-old man was found guilty Thursday of murder and other charges in connection with a January 2022 armed robbery in Springfield, Hampden County District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni announced.

Curtis Stevenson, of Springfield, was also found guilty of attempting to commit a crime, carrying a firearm without a license, possession of a firearm without a license, and possession of ammunition without a license, according to a statement from Gullunis office.

Springfield police went to an address on Hayden Avenue around 6:50 p.m. on Jan. 5, 2022, after receiving a ShotSpotter activation for the area. When officers arrived, they found a man, later identified as Lashar Garner, 37, of Springfield, with gunshot wounds near the intersection of Cambridge and Burr streets. Investigators determined Garner was lured to the area in an attempted robbery that led to his death.
SPRINGFIELD  Federal prosecutors were inches away from solidifying a plea deal with alleged fraudster Hanibal Tayeh on Friday, until the Saudi Arabian native began suggesting he was pressured into the plea by the government.

U.S. District Judge Mark G. Mastroianni refused to accept Tayehs plea that afternoon after a lengthy and sometimes strained hearing at the Springfield federal courthouse.
The Department of Public Health, HSE West and North West, is encouraging the public to be aware of an increase of COVID-19 infections in their communities.

Ongoing awareness of symptoms of COVID-19 and taking steps to prevent the spread in both the community and in healthcare settings remain important to protect those most vulnerable.

Dr Aine McNamara, Area Director of Public Health, Department of Public Health HSE West and North West, said: We are reminding everyone of the importance of taking steps to prevent the spread of serious illness from COVID-19, particularly for those most vulnerable in our community.

Avoid visiting those in healthcare settings such as hospitals and nursing homes if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, she added.

There is a new COVID-19 variant (JN.1) circulating in Ireland. This new variant in the community has resulted in an increase in outbreaks in nursing homes, hospitals and other healthcare settings, putting vulnerable patients at risk of infection.

The department and HSE West and North West have advised the public if they have symptoms of COVID-19 and feel unwell to stay at home until 48 hours after your symptoms are mostly or fully gone, avoid contact with other people, especially people at higher risk from COVID-19, but you do not need a COVID-19 test unless a GP or health professional tells you to. If you choose to do one, there is different advice to follow if you have a positive COVID-19 test.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19 wash your hands properly and often, cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue or your sleeve, put used tissues into a bin and wash your hands, let fresh air into your home by opening windows, doors and air vents as much as possible and clean objects and surfaces that other people touch.

For more information, see the HSE website.
LONG-serving Fianna Fail county councillor Blackie Gavin has caused a major shock after joining a multi-party technical group on Mayo County Council.

Cllr Gavin refused to vote for the partnership between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, which was formalised today with the election of John OHara (Fine Gael) as Cathaoirleach of the local authority and Fianna Fails Brendan Mulroy as Leas-Cathaoirleach.

The Castlebar-based councillor will be part of a ten-member technical group consisting of himself, Independents Cllr Harry Barrett, Cllr Richard Finn, Cllr Michael Kilcoyne, Cllr Mark Duffy, Cllr Patsy OBrien, Cllr Joe Faughnan, Cllr John OMalley, Sinn Feins Gerry Murray, and Independent Irelands Chris Maxwell.

When asked about his decision afterwards, Cllr Gavin said he could not support Fianna Fail entering coalition with Fine Gael because the party had failed to deliver for his area during their time in government.

He also said being part of a group would allow him to take up positions on one of the numerous committees which county councillors were elected at todays Annual General Meeting of Mayo County Council.

First elected in 1994, Cllr Gavin said he would continue to fight tooth and nail for the people of Castlebar despite not being a member of the Fianna Fail grouping.

I wasnt happy with going in with Fine Gael, from day one. I made it quite clear, as a Fianna councillor, a party, the Fine Gael party who failed to deliver to this town and this county as far as Im concerned, said Cllr Gavin.

We were promised the extension to the A&E in Mayo General Hospital in 2014. This is 2024, it still hasnt been delivered, so theres no way that I could go in with a party that hasnt delivered to Castlebar or to this county.

When it was put to him that his party has been in government with Fine Gael since 2020, Cllr Gavin said he was entitled to make my own decision on what group he joined on the local authority.

Theres some of our own members within the Fianna Fail party that werent happy going in with the Fine Gael group but they decided at the end of the day to go in with Fine Gael, I decided not to.

He added: I dont regret that, I still have a voice, an independent voice on the council and Im looking forward to getting the capital projects that were promised for Castlebar delivered for the next five years.

When asked if the party whip would be imposed on him, Cllr Gavin said that it was up to the Fianna Fail organisation locally here in Castlebar.

Ive talked to my family, I've talked to a lot of my friends, a lot of people that canvassed with me and theyre very happy with the decision Ive made. I wasnt going to be someone that was going to be pushed into a corner for the next five years, he said.

I will be fighting for the people of the Castlebar Municipal District and the people of this county for the next five years, whether Im Independent or whether Im Independent-Fianna Fail, I will continue lobbying and fighting hard for the services that the people of this county deserve.

When asked by The Mayo News if he would support the party re-entering coalition with Fine Gael after the next election, Cllr Gavin said it would depend on the result.

Echoing comments he made before the election, Cllr Gavin said that voters wanted change. Just two sitting councillors, Christy Hyland (Independent) and Tom Connolly (Fine Gael) were unseated at the recent local elections, which saw Fianna Fail and Fine Gael win ten seats each.

All we can do is wait and see the outcome of the next election and whether money keeps coming into the town, Cllr Gavin said, adding that Castlebar was starved of funding for capital projects.

So wed be hoping that a lot of them projects that were promised that they would be delivered within the next five years, and thats my job to do for the next five years and I will continue to fight tooth and nail for the people of this area.
by Ray Schultz , June 21, 2024

The purported takeover of The Washington Post by British editors has suffered one setback.

Robert Winnett, who was to join the Post as editor after the election this year, will instead remain at The Daily Telegraph as deputy editor of its Media Group, the Post reported Friday morning.

Im pleased to report that Rob Winnett has decided to stay with us, Chris Evans, Telegraph editor, wrote to the staff. As you all know, hes a talented chap and their loss is our gain.

The announcement follows a New York Times report that Winnett and Will Lewis, the embattled CEO/publisher of the Post, had done stories based on stolen records.

In a perhaps euphemistic statement, the Post story states that Winnett and Lewis are veterans of London newsrooms that operate by different rules than their American counterparts.

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Two Pulitzer Prize winners at the Post have called on Lewis himself to resign.

Winnetts withdrawal has delayed development of the Third Newsroom, a project intended to reach audiences that consume news in different ways. It will now be launched during the first three months of 2025.

Matt Murray, another British news veteran who was to serve as executive editor until the election, will remain afterwards.

The fast-moving story started earlier this month when Sally Buzbee stepped down as executive editor of the Post.

Lewis informed the staff that the Post is seeking a replacement for Winnett, and will "soon announce both the recruiting firm and process we will utilize to ensure a timely but thorough search for this important leadership role, he wrote.



The Washington Post sets and models the highest ethical standards in journalism to which every Post employee is expected to adhere, a Post spokesperson said, according to the Post account.
by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, June 21, 2024

A collaboration between Spanish luxury goods maker Loewe and a Japanese ceramicist studio Suna Fujita won the Grand Prix in the newly Launched Luxury & Lifestyle Lions.

The partnership spawned an exclusive collection of bags, sweaters, accessories and more that were inspired by Suna Fujitas ceramic creations.

advertisement advertisement Beyond the global luxury fashion target, the partnership enabled Loewe to appeal to artisanal enthusiasts as well as increase the Loewe fanbase in Asia.

Special packaging, including boxes, ribbons and tags, as well as a special pop-up holiday storybook gave the campaign a dimension beyond the collection itself.

Special animations were made for 3D screens in prime locations: London, Shanghai and Tokyo.

The collection was also brought to life in a stop-motion film crafted by hand from needle-felted wool. In addition, Loewe created a documentary that showcased the life and work of the duo behind the artisanal ceramicists studio.

Engagement and sentiment were strong across Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, organic impressions reached 17.4M, organic engagements reached 1.6M and video views soared to 11.1M.

The collection drove increased traffic during the Christmas period: gifting season search sessions were up 45% versus 2023, with a 35% increase in revenue.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, June 21, 2024

A federal appellate court on Thursday declined to hear an appeal by Google users who want to proceed with class-action claims centered on the company's real-time bidding system.

The court's move leaves in place a decision issued by U.S. District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers who said the users could not seek monetary damages on a class-wide basis because their privacy claims would turn on whether they consented to Google's practices.

Questions about consent would require the kind of case-by-case analysis that's inconsistent with class-action lawsuits, Rogers wrote in a decision issued in April.

Her ruling doesn't prevent individual users from attempting to sue Google, doing so can be prohibitively expensive.

The Google users had asked the 9th Circuit to immediately review Rogers' decision, arguing that it would effectively prevent class-actions in privacy lawsuits.

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The company countered that the dispute didn't involve the kinds of exceptional circumstances that would warrant an immediate appeal.

A two-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with Google and rejected the users' request.

The privacy battle dates to 2021, when Missouri resident Kimberley Woodruff and other users alleged the company's real-time bidding ad system violates people's privacy by sharing their personal information with thousands of outside companies. Other Google users, including California and out-of-state residents, later joined in the complaint.

Among other claims, the users said Google violated promises that it wouldn't share people's personal information.

Two years ago, Rogers rejected Google's request to throw out the lawsuit at an early stage of the proceeding. She said at the time that the allegations in the complaint, if proven true, could show that Google violated federal and California privacy laws, as well as promises to avoid sharing personal information.

The users subsequently urged Rogers to certify a class of all Google account holders whose personal information was transferred by Google through real-time bidding after June 28, 2016 -- the date Google revised its privacy policy in a way that allowed the company to combine data about pseudonymous web-browsing activity with personally identifiable information.

Google opposed certification, arguing that key questions about users' consent to data sharing couldn't be answered on a class-wide basis.

Rogers agreed that claims for monetary damages would require individual evaluation and rejected the motion for class-certification with prejudice regarding those claims. She also rejected the class-certification motion for purposes of obtaining an injunction against Google, but without prejudice -- meaning the plaintiffs could gather more evidence and renew their attempt to obtain an injunction.
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International Day of Yoga



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Communities around the globe come together to honor the #InternationalDayofYoga, celebrating the unity of mind and body. #yogabenefits #yogaforhealth

Embassy Shares Highlights of Yoga Day Celebration in Japan

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International Day of Yoga - (https://www.un.org/en/observances/yoga-day)

The International Day of Yoga () is being celebrated in numerous countries worldwide, including Japan, New Zealand, Thailand, and Malaysia, where events organized by Indian missions saw enthusiastic participation.These events underscored the global appeal of yoga and its benefits for a healthy lifestyle. In Japan, despite the inclement weather, the Indian Embassy in Tokyo celebrated the 10th International Day of Yoga at Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple. The event saw overwhelming participation from a large number of people.The embassy shared pictures on X saying, "Rain or shine Yoga in Japan: Celebrations of the 10th IDY by the Indian Embassy in Tokyo at Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple witnessed an overwhelming participation from Japanese leadership, diplomats, Yoga enthusiasts & friends of India in Japan."In New Zealand, the Indian High Commission celebrated the day with Indian community members, Kiwi friends, and representatives of various yoga institutes. The embassy posted, "10th International Day of Yoga 2024 was celebrated at the High Commission with Indian community members, Kiwi friends & representatives of various Yoga Institutes. Yoga has indeed become a global movement with a positive impact on many lives."In Thailand, several universities and institutions hosted yoga events in collaboration with the Indian Embassy. At Siam University, an event saw significant participation from students and faculty and was graced by Thailand President Pornchai Mongkhonvanit.In Papua New Guinea, the High Commission of India organized a yoga event in Port Moresby, attended by diaspora members, PNGeans, and diplomats."Diaspora, PNGeans and Diplomats joined to practice yoga at an event organised by the High Commission of India in Port Moresby. NCD Governor Powes Parkop encouraged the community to make it a mass movement spreading the benefits of yoga to communities," the embassy shared in a post on X.In Malaysia, a mega yoga celebration was held at the iconic Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, commemorating the yoga day. This event highlighted the widespread appreciation and adoption of yoga across diverse cultures and regions, further solidifying its role as a global movement for wellness and unity.Source-IANS
A nonprofit group is lobbying for the Defense Department to provide data to service members on community safety, hate crimes and compassionate reassignments at prospective duty stations to help their decisions when accepting orders.

The Secure Families Initiative, a nonprofit founded in 2000 to provide military families a voice on national security and foreign policy matters, launched its "Campaign for PCS Safety" this week to advocate for the disclosure of information that may sway a family's decision to move -- especially households who belong to a racial minority.

Shalena Critchlow, the wife of a Marine veteran and mother of an active-duty Marine, said her family experienced racial discrimination when seeking housing in Birmingham, Alabama, where her husband was assigned to recruiting duty. Critchlow, who is of Mexican descent, and her husband, who is Black, were told not to stop on their drive from Alabama to Mississippi for a Marine Corps ball one year.

Read Next: Texas Congressman Won't Stop Wearing Combat Infantryman Badge that Was Revoked

"We weren't from the South and only in the area because of military orders. But that moment was the first time that I feared we might be in harm's way," Critchlow wrote in a blog post on the organization's website.

Roughly one-third of all active-duty service members identify themselves as members of a racial minority, and 18% say they are Latino or Hispanic. The Defense Department does not collect race or ethnic data on military family members, but the Secure Families Initiative says that nearly half say they belong to a minority group.

A family's identities and composition are "rarely taken into account," however, when the military issues orders for a permanent change of station move, or PCS, according to the organization.

With this in mind, the group says troops regardless of rank or ethnicity should be provided information to make informed decisions on PCS orders. SFI Organizing Director Brandi Jones said that, while many states provide crime data, little is available from the federal government on the safety of its installations.

"The main takeaway is [there are] some policies that could help our families feel more safe ... like what is the crime rate, what are the hate crimes that are happening? Have you sent families home from this location for compassionate reassignment because of racial or ethnic bullying and how many? And was it a family like mine?" Jones said during an interview with Military.com.

Nearly universally, the spouses who spoke during a rollout session of the initiative on Facebook recounted experiences with racism in Southern states, although Utah also stands out as unfriendly to military families of color, said Kate Marsh Lord, the group's spokeswoman.

"There's a specific base where multiple families have been reassigned for bullying, bullying in schools," Lord said during an interview.

According to the Justice Department, the number of hate crimes in the U.S. rose from 10,840 in 2021 to 11,634 in 2022. Race-based crimes made up 56% of those incidents, while nearly 18% were related to religion -- largely anti-Jewish bias. Roughly 15% were crimes against gays or lesbians.

The group is seeking uniformity across the services on policies that improve service members' quality of life, including adoption of a Navy initiative that lets sailors defer a PCS move for a year if they have a high school senior, and the Air Force's policy on expediting compassionate moves.

Even if the information on future duty stations is readily available, refusing orders to a duty station can damage or even end a military career. Jones said the information still could help service members decide to leave their families at their current community or send them home while the military member moves, known as "geo-batching."

SFI members met this spring with Senate Armed Services Committee members and staff seeking data transparency on crime, education policies and installation safety. They believe their voices have been heard, given that the Senate has included the creation of a commission on quality of life for military and civilian workers in its proposed fiscal 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, according to Jones.

While the text of the bill has yet to be released, the commissions creation is noted in the legislations executive summary published Monday.

Jones said military children have a right to attend schools where they won't be bullied for their skin color, and spouses should be able to live in safe communities that feel like home. She added that the issues are also relevant to recruitment.

Citing her own child's experience encountering racism at various duty stations, she could see why military dependents might not follow in their parents' footsteps.

"These children ... are at that crossroad of having grown up and been treated this way, having concerns for their safety and not being included in the community. ... Would that be something they would want to continue?" Jones asked.

Related: Gay, Bisexual Troops More Likely to Suffer Sexual Assaults, Study Suggests
Troops at Colorado Space Force Base Will Have to Bring Their Own To-Go Boxes for Dining Hall

While the initiative is aimed at reducing waste on base, the spokesperson added that they hope it will give troops on base...
Air Force Special Operations Command may shift the number of its CV-22 Osprey pilots and aircrew as it reevaluates how the controversial tilt-rotor aircraft is used -- and as officials probe the cause of recent deadly crashes.

The review of the size of the Osprey force is part of a larger analysis of the aircraft operations being conducted by Air Force Special Operations Command, or AFSOC, Lt. Col. Rebecca Heyse, a command spokesperson, told Military.com. It's possible that those service members could be trained for other aircraft.

The crash of an AFSOC Osprey off the coast of Japan in November that killed eight airmen signaled the most recent mishap for the aircraft and triggered a monthslong grounding of Ospreys flown by the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. An investigation is underway to find the root cause of the mechanical issues that are believed to be causing Osprey mishaps, and the aircraft remains restricted to flying within 30 minutes of a safe landing space.

Read Next: Air Force Colonel in Alaskan Command Was Killed when Civilian Airplane Crashed into Alaska Lake

"AFSOC is currently evaluating all aspects of our CV-22 operations to ensure that we are properly organized, trained and equipped to conduct safe and effective missions," Heyse said. "As part of this evaluation, we are considering various courses of action, including an analysis of the size of our CV-22 aircrew force."

Heyse added that the command has "a long history of cross-flowing aviators into other AFSOC airframes" and said that "no final decisions have been made at this time." The revelation that the size of the Air Force's Osprey community could be in flux comes as officials continue the investigation into the deadly CV-22 crash off the coast of Japan.

The Air Force's decision to look at the size of the Air Force CV-22 pilot and aircrew force also comes after Vice Adm. Carl Chebi, head of Naval Air Systems Command, said during a congressional hearing last week that all of the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy Ospreys will not have the 30-minute flight restriction lifted "before mid-2025."

"The primary goal of this evaluation is to ensure that our aircrews get the necessary experience and flight hours to operate the available aircraft safely and effectively, as well as have development opportunities throughout their careers," Heyse added.

Spokespeople for the Marine Corps and Navy did not respond prior to publication on whether those services are undergoing similar evaluations.

The Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy grounded their Osprey variants for roughly four months after the deadly crash off the coast of Japan.

Marine and Navy aviators had their variants up in the sky within a month of the grounding being lifted in March, whereas the Air Force only recently stated that "several" of its aircraft were flying at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico "conducting aircrew currency flights."

Military.com reported last month that the Joint Program Office guidance regarding the Osprey limits them to flights within 30 minutes of a suitable landing zone.

Officials with that office also told Military.com this week that they've recently developed "a leading theory" into a long-standing clutch issue responsible for a deadly 2022 crash in California that lead to the deaths of five Marines.

The cause of the November crash in Japan hasn't been publicly released, but officials said at the time it was due to a mechanical failure -- one that had never been seen before, according to officials.

 Konstantin Toropin and Drew F. Lawrence contributed reporting.

Related: After Deadly Crashes, New 'Leading Theory' on Osprey Issues Points to Sprag Clutches
More than a month after a news report revealed that the Combat Infantryman Badge Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, wears on his lapel was revoked since he was never eligible for the award to begin with, the congressman refuses to take the pin off.

Nehls' stubbornness has garnered growing criticism from veterans and others in the community of stolen valor researchers, who say the issue is simple: The rules for the CIB are clear, and Nehls did not qualify.

"The veteran community is starting to get to the point now where there's no room for forgiveness at this point because now they see, Hey, this wasn't an error. He's doubling down now," said Anthony Anderson, an Army veteran who runs Guardian of Valor and was instrumental in uncovering Nehls' revoked award. "He knows he didn't earn this award."

Read Next: Air Force Captain, Staff Sergeant Permanently Disabled in 2023 Search and Rescue Tactical Vehicle Rollover

CBS News and Anderson's Guardian of Valor first revealed in May that the Army revoked Nehls' CIB in March 2023 because at the time he was awarded it in 2008 he served as a civil affairs officer, not an infantryman or Special Forces soldier.

The Combat Infantryman Badge originated during World War II, both as a means of establishing the infantry as a prestigious role in the Army to help with recruitment and to reward soldiers who saw combat. Enlisted recipients of the badge at the time were paid $10 extra per month. The law establishing that bonus was rescinded in 1948.

"He gets in the infantry, we build his ego, his pride in his branch," Maj. Gen. Miller White, who oversaw Army personnel policy at the time, said to lawmakers during a 1944 hearing on the badge.

The establishment of the badge also came with the Expert Infantryman Badge, an accolade for showing a high level of proficiency in combat tests such as marksmanship, grenade handling and physical fitness. In effect, infantrymen who did not see combat still had an opportunity to identify themselves and distinguish themselves from the non-combat roles in the Army.

To qualify for the CIB, a soldier must be an infantryman or Green Beret, be serving in those roles at the time of the award, and engage an enemy in direct ground combat.

In 2005, the Army established the Combat Action Badge, or CAB -- effectively the same award but for soldiers in all other roles. The award was spurred after tank and cavalry units played a significant role in the invasion of Iraq, but were not awarded recognition as their infantry counterparts were. It was also retroactively awarded to soldiers who qualified for it in any action after 9/11.

Nehls was awarded a CAB in 2006 for a 2004 deployment to Iraq that no one is calling into question.

While Nehls first enlisted in the Wisconsin National Guard in 1988 as an infantryman, his military occupational speciality in 2008 was civil affairs, according to documents published by Guardian of Valor.

CBS and Guardian of Valor also found that Nehls' military record shows only one Bronze Star while Nehls has claimed he was awarded two. After their reporting, Nehls posted certificates for both Bronze Stars on social media.

His refusal to stop wearing the CIB is what has attracted the most criticism a month later.

"It was revoked," Frederick Bourjaily, national commander of the Combat Infantrymen's Association, a nonprofit group that supports CIB veterans, told Military.com in a phone interview. "He should take it off."

While Nehls has the right to appeal the revocation, Bourjaily added, he should not wear the pin while that process is playing out.

"If the Army told me I couldn't wear mine, I'd take it off," Bourjaily said.

Nehls' office did not respond to Military.com's request for comment for this story.

But the congressman has defended himself on social media and in comments to other news outlets, casting himself as a victim who is being targeted for his conservatism and support for former President Donald Trump.

"I disagree with the Awards and Decorations Branch revocation of my CIB, which was awarded by the 101st Airborne Division," Nehls wrote in a letter to the Army he posted on social media. "I further believe this is a concerted effort to discredit my military service and continued service to the American people as a member of Congress."

Nehls has also questioned whether any other CIBs have ever been revoked, rhetorically asking news outlet NOTUS whether it is "just Troy Nehls, Mr. MAGA guy?"

It's unclear how common administrative errors are, but it isn't unheard of for soldiers to be improperly awarded accolades due to poorly trained personnel staff, misunderstandings or fraudulent documentation. But soldiers should also know whether they receive an award they clearly were not qualified for, given how clear service regulations are on most accolades.

"Any soldier that has served a week in the military knows the requirements for the CIB," Anderson said. "Everybody knows the CIB is an award for infantrymen and Special Forces soldiers only. Period."

Those who have made it their life's mission to uncover stolen valor say the Nehls case is egregious.

"We are fed up with politicians doing this and still get accolades, re-elected and having no consequences," Mary Schantag, chair of the POW Network and a historian who verifies accusations of stolen valor, said in an email to Military.com. "He is not the first pol and certainly will not be the last to make headlines over [stolen valor]. It never ends."

Criticism of Nehls is also coming from other Republicans. Several of his GOP House colleagues who are veterans have accused him of stolen valor, including former Trump administration interior secretary and current Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., who told NOTUS that "if you didn't earn it, you shouldn't wear it."

Anderson was admanent his work on Nehls is not political.

"I've got friends that I visit every Memorial Day that have earned this award, and it's put them in the ground," Anderson said. "That's why this is such a big issue. We have to protect these awards because if we just let anybody and everybody wear them just because they claim them, it waters them down, and it doesn't make them as prestigious, and it just hurts the award system altogether."

Related: Stolen Valor Researchers Sound Alarm on House Proposal to Curtail Access to Military Records
ChatGPT is one of the most promising AI technologies that has the potential to change the world in countless ways. This essay aims to provide an introduction to the concept of chatbots and their potential impact on society.







(How Chat Gpt Will Change The World)

Chatbots are computer programs that simulate human conversation by generating text responses to user queries or prompts. They are often used for various purposes, such as customer service, language translation, and customer support. In recent years, they have become increasingly popular as a way to automate repetitive tasks and provide personalized assistance to users.

One of the main benefits of chatbots is their ability to quickly process vast amounts of information and generate relevant responses. This means that businesses can save time and resources by reducing the need for human labor and improving efficiency. Additionally, chatbots can be used to help people with disabilities by providing companionship and support through natural language processing.

However, chatbots also present some challenges. One of the biggest issues is ensuring that the responses generated by chatbots are accurate and unbiased. It is difficult to ensure that the algorithms used to generate responses are not biased towards certain groups of users or the data used to train them. Additionally, there may be issues with privacy and security when handling personal data collected by chatbots.

Despite these challenges, chatbots continue to grow and evolve. Some companies are using chatbots as a key part of their customer experience strategy. For example, Bank of Americas mobile banking app uses chatbots to assist customers with basic transactions such as adding money to a checking account. Other companies, like Uber and Airbnb, use chatbots to provide recommendations and reservations based on user preferences and historical data.







(How Chat Gpt Will Change The World)

Overall, chatbots have the potential to transform many aspects of society. From automating repetitive tasks to improving customer service and enhancing privacy and security, chatbots have the power to make a positive impact on the world. As chatbots continue to improve, we can expect to see even more innovative applications and services emerge in the years ahead.
ChatGPT is a conversational AI that has gained popularity in recent years due to its ability to generate human-like responses to questions. While it has been praised for its natural language processing capabilities, it has also been criticized for its impact on employment.







(How To Use Chat Gpt For Job Search)

For many people, using chatGPT for job search can be both helpful and distracting. On one hand, it can provide access to valuable information and insights about job opportunities, which can help you make an informed decision about your career path. On the other hand, it can also distract you from more important tasks, such as research and planning, which can be time-consuming and your productivity.

One effective way to use chatGPT for job search is to engage in active conversations with the platform itself. This can involve asking open-ended questions and seeking to understand what the company or position is looking for. By doing so, you can gain insight into their values, mission, and culture, and demonstrate that you have a genuine interest in the companys mission and values.

Another strategy is to use chatGPT to create your own content, such as personal stories or infographics. This can help you communicate your unique skills and experiences, while still demonstrating that you are professional and knowledgeable. You can use this tool to showcase your qualifications and expertise in a particular field, and connect with potential employers.

However, it is important to keep in mind that chatGPT is not always accurate or up-to-date. As the technology evolves, some companies may choose to discontinue use of the platform altogether. Additionally, the quality of the information provided by chatGPT may vary depending on the provider, and users should be careful when interpreting the results.







(How To Use Chat Gpt For Job Search)

In conclusion, chatGPT is a powerful tool for job search, but it is important to use it responsibly and with caution. Engaging in active conversations with the platform, creating content on your own, and using this tool to learn more about the company and job opportunities can all help you make an informed decision about your career path. With these strategies, you can leverage chatGPT for your job search successfully and make an informed choice.
The Angels placed starter Jose Soriano on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to June 17, with an abdominal infection. Los Angeles is off tonight, so they didnt immediately reveal the corresponding move. The Halos also announced that Cole Tucker went unclaimed on waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Salt Lake after being designated for assignment on Monday.

Soriano has been a rare bright spot in a rough season. Los Angeles transitioned the hard-throwing righty to the rotation this year. It was a gamble, as Soriano had been one of the clubs better relievers as a rookie. The second-year hurler has taken well to the starting role. In 72 1/3 innings, he carries a 3.48 earned run average. While Sorianos strikeout rate has plummeted from last years 30.3% clip to a modest 20.3% mark, he has offset that with a drastic uptick in grounders.

Among pitchers with 50+ innings, only Framber Valdez has run a higher ground-ball rate than Sorianos 60.2% clip. The Angel hurler has also trimmed his walk rate by almost three percentage points. This years 9.5% walk percentage still isnt great, but it has been sufficient for Soriano to work to mid-rotation results. He has held huge velocity in extended stints, averaging 97.8 MPH on his sinker.

Tucker, 27, signed a minor league deal in April. He hit well in 10 games for Salt Lake to earn an MLB look a couple weeks later. Tucker didnt carry that success over in 25 contests for the Halos. Over 57 trips to the plate, he hit .180/.263/.300 while striking out nearly 30% of the time. A former first-round draftee of the Pirates, Tucker has played in the majors in six consecutive seasons. He owns a .213/.266/.316 batting line over 536 plate appearances between Pittsburgh, Colorado and Los Angeles.

This is the fourth career outright for Tucker. He has the right to test free agency each time he clears waivers. The Angels didnt announce whether hell rejoin Salt Lake or head back to the open market in search of a minor league opportunity elsewhere.
The Rockies announced theyve selected outfielder Sam Hilliard onto the MLB roster. Colorado also reinstated second baseman Brendan Rodgers from the 10-day injured list. The Rox placed Charlie Blackmon and Adael Amador on the 10-day IL in corresponding moves. Amador has right oblique tightness  manager Bud Black had termed it a mild strain last night  while Blackmon suffered a strained right hamstring. Blackmons placement is retroactive to June 19.

Hilliard joins the big league club for the first time this year. Hes in line for his second major league stint with the Rockies. Colorado initially drafted him back in 2015. Hilliard turned in a .212/.294/.424 line in parts of four seasons. The Rox traded him to the Braves within days of the 2022-23 offseason getting underway. Hilliard played in 40 games for Atlanta a year ago, running a .236/.295/.431 slash in 78 trips to the plate.

Last winter, the Wichita State product bounced from Atlanta to the Orioles and back to Colorado via waivers. The Rox designated him for assignment in Spring Training and successfully passed him through the waiver wire. Hilliard reported to Triple-A Albuquerque and has had an excellent season. He owns a .288/.374/.542 mark with 14 homers and 13 stolen bases over 65 contests. Hilliard has drawn walks at a strong 12.5% clip while striking out around a quarter of the time.

Whiffs have been the biggest problem for Hilliard at the MLB level. He has significant raw power in a 64 frame but hasnt made enough contact to tap into it on a consistent basis. The left-handed hitter has punched out in 33.8% of his 717 MLB plate appearances. Despite a decent 9.8% walk rate and 32 home runs, the strikeouts have led to a subpar .215/.294/.424 career batting line.

Blackmons injury will give Hilliard another opportunity to put things together offensively. Colorados veteran DH/right fielder has taken his customary spot atop the batting order. Hes hitting .266/.337/.410 across 246 plate appearances. Blackmon returned for his 14th season in Denver on a $13MM extension last fall. He would unlock up to $2MM in incentives by tallying 500 plate appearances ($500K apiece at 425, 450, 475 and 500 PAs).

Colorado had an open spot on their 40-man roster for Hilliard after placing reliever Gavin Hollowell on waivers earlier this week. Theyll need to create a 40-man spot on Sunday when they reinstate Kyle Freeland from the 60-day injured list. Hilliard is out of options, so the Rox cant send him back to Albuquerque without again exposing him to waivers.
There may be no player who is more likely to be traded over the next month than Tommy Pham, who is hitting well as an affordable rental on the worst team in the league. Itd be very surprising if the White Sox didnt move him before the July 30 deadline.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that the Royals are one of the teams that have shown interest. Theres nothing to suggest the Royals are the favorite or that any Pham trade is imminent. Heyman writes that multiple clubs are unsurprisingly looking at the veteran outfielder.

Kansas City has the worst outfield among playoff contenders. Royal outfielders have been the least productive offensive group in the majors. They entered todays game with a cumulative .209/.268/.343 batting line. Theyre 28th in batting average and slugging and dead last in on-base percentage. Six of the seven players who have logged meaningful outfield reps for K.C. have been well below-average hitters. The lone exception, utility player Garrett Hampson, has league average numbers propped up by a .418 batting average on balls in play.

The Royals have used Hunter Renfroe, Kyle Isbel and MJ Melendez as their primary outfield. Melendez is hitting .180/.246/.364 over 224 plate appearances. Isbels .225/.270/.348 line isnt much better. Renfroe had a terrible first two months after signing a two-year free agent deal. Hed started to heat up in June before suffering a left foot injury that shelved him last week. Since Renfroe went down, the Royals have rotated Adam Frazier, Dairon Blanco and primary designated hitter Nelson Velazquez through right field. None of that trio has provided much offensively this year.

Pham is probably a better hitter than anyone in the Kansas City outfield. The 36-year-old ran a .256/.328/.446 line with 16 home runs across 481 plate appearances between the Mets and Diamondbacks last season. That didnt translate into the kind of free agent interest that his camp was anticipating. Pham remained unsigned into the middle of April. He eventually inked a minor league contract with Chicago, though that came with an understanding that hed be called up by the end of the month after getting some tune-up work in Triple-A.

The deal comes with a $3MM base salary and includes a $500K assignment bonus in the event of a trade. Pham and the Sox front office were likely both hoping for such an outcome. A trade would allow the Sox to recoup a mid-level prospect while giving the outfielder an opportunity to play for a contender.

Pham has held his up his end of the bargain, turning in solid numbers over 39 games. Hes hitting .276/.349/.388 over 169 plate appearances. His power is down  he has only three homers  but hes drawing walks at a solid 9.5% clip against a 20.1% strikeout rate. Pham had a minimal injured list stint earlier this month because of a mild left ankle sprain.

Chicago gave Pham 26 starts in center field while Luis Robert Jr. was on the shelf. Thats his first fairly regular work there since 2018. A contender wouldnt view him as more than an emergency option in center, but hes a roughly average defender in left field.

That has been Melendezs purview in Kansas City. Hes a former top prospect who hasnt made enough contact to tap into his power upside. Melendez has punched out in 26.5% of his career plate appearances and owns a .217/.302/.388 line over parts of three seasons. Hes a left-handed hitter who hasnt found consistent success against pitchers of either handedness.

The Royals presumably still have hope for Melendez, who is in his age-25 season. K.C. general manager J.J. Picollo said he anticipates improvements from the in-house outfielders while acknowledging the team could look outside the organization if they dont start getting more production.

Earlier this week, Picollo told Jayson Stark and Doug Glanville on The Windup podcast that the team would like to add a player with the versatility to move between the infield and outfield. Thats not Pham, who has played all 7000+ innings of his MLB career on the grass. Picollos comments certainly dont rule out acquiring a traditional outfielder, though. The GM expressed a broad desire to deepen the batting order and suggested hed be aggressive in supporting the organizations best chance at a playoff berth since their 2015 World Series.

The White Sox wont have any qualms about trading Pham within the division. Conversely, the return would be modest enough that Kansas City shouldnt be concerned about surrendering the kind of prospect capital necessary to a division rival. Beyond the desire for offensive help, Picollo has spoken on a couple occasions about their desire to add power arms to the bullpen. White Sox closer Michael Kopech fits the bill and has reportedly drawn some attention from K.C., among others. Theres no indication the teams have actively explored any kind of package deal, but its easy enough to see the potential appeal of that kind of arrangement.
ROTHBURY, MI  As the gates opened for another weekend of Electric Forest, many eager festivalgoers headed into Sherwood Forest for a special opening act.

Others were drawn that direction by the beautiful melodic sounds coming from a one-man orchestra.

With a 5-string electric violin in hand, and surrounded by towering pines, Dixons Violin stood alone at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 20, as he began improvising on the Observatory stage.

Hundreds danced, while others sat on tiered platforms soaking in the performance.

Its really fun to have the artistic freedom to just see what happens. If its an old favorite, something that started as an improvisation and turned into something great. If Im feeling like taking a left turn in the middle of the set, (or a) right. Its nice to have that freedom, Dixon told MLive by phone last week.

Dixons Violin opens The Observatory stage during the first day of Electric Forest at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Mich. on Thursday, June 20, 2024. Dixon left a distinguished career creating multi-dimensional data visualization in 2011 to go on tour and inspire others with his electric violin. He has played over 1,000 concerts across North America and has been a mainstay at Electric Forest since 2012.Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Dixon, a Flint-area native, has opened the stage in the middle of the forest for several years now.

Electric Forest has even proclaimed him as the most beautiful sound in Sherwood Forest.

At the end of this years festival-opening, free-flowing set, he challenged the attendees to have an open mind as they began their 2024 Forest journey.

It was a festival and an open mind that led him to where hes at, after all.

Born as David James Hammond, Dixon first picked up the violin at age 10. He played throughout his elementary, high school and college years, eventually joining the Midland Symphony. For a long time, classical violin was just a hobby for him, coming second to his career in the corporate world.

A computer science grad from University of Michigan-Flint (undergrad) and Michigan State (masters), Dixon spent 20 years working for start-up technology companies in the Lansing and Dearborn areas. At one point, he even created his own patent in virtual reality.

Then, on a whim, in 2005, Dixon ventured to the Black Rock Desert for Burning Man.

The annual festival shocked him. It was a mirror onto himself that he was not living as his truest self and expressing who he really was.

Burning Man was the first place that I faced my fears about improvising, about playing without sheet music and that was a big step for me, Dixon said.

Dixons Violin opens The Observatory stage during the first day of Electric Forest at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Mich. on Thursday, June 20, 2024. Dixon left a distinguished career creating multi-dimensional data visualization in 2011 to go on tour and inspire others with his electric violin. He has played over 1,000 concerts across North America and has been a mainstay at Electric Forest since 2012.Joel Bissell | MLive.com

For the next 6 years, Dixon worked dayside creating multi-dimensional data visualization and on nights and weekends he worked on perfecting his sound, sitting in with any band that would take him, playing a variety of different genres.

During the process, he tried several different foot pedals and looper tunnels.

Eventually, he realized he could put his tech-savvy skills to work. He built his own looping system, resulting in the creation of his all-live, one-man symphony sound.

In 2011, Dixon took a leap of faith and parted ways with his tech career, plunging full-time into his dream of touring with his electric violin.

Fast forward to the present and Dixon has played over 1,000 concerts across North America and has given five TED Talks. He has played at Burning Man 11 times and has been a mainstay at Electric Forest since 2012, even playing at the second Rothbury Festival in 2009.

Rumor has it that Ive played more sets that Electric Forest than any other act, Dixon said, saying he plays five to six sets every year at the festival.

Dixons Violin talks with the crowd as he opens The Observatory stage during the first day of Electric Forest at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Mich. on Thursday, June 20, 2024. Dixon left a distinguished career creating multi-dimensional data visualization in 2011 to go on tour and inspire others with his electric violin. He has played over 1,000 concerts across North America and has been a mainstay at Electric Forest since 2012.Joel Bissell | MLive.com

In 2017, Dixon recorded a live album for Sherwood Forest called From the Forest, which he released the following year. He has recorded four other albums and said a sixth one is currently in the works.

Like it does for many, the Forest holds a very special place in Dixons heart.

Its like a new world of possibility, he said. It is such a spectacle. It is such an immersive environment. It really feels like youre on another planet, like you get so far removed from your everyday experience.

It just opens your mind to possibilities that you might not have thought were possible before.

This year was extra special with the summer solstice occurring during Dixons set.

The beginning of the first day of astronomical summer occurred at 4:51 p.m. when the sun was at its highest angle in the sky that it will be this entire year  at about 70 degrees during solar noon.

Dixon celebrated the moments just prior with those in attendance as he prepared to launch into a new song.

My intention is to share my heart with you and to share my soul with you, he said. And to do this, I need to feel deeply. And I encourage you to do the very same.

As for sheet music?

There was none anywhere to be seen. Its been years since hes used it, he told MLive. Although he may still have some in his basement, collecting dust, he said.

The 12th installment of Electric Forest runs through Sunday, June 23 at the Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury.

Click here to find out where and when Dixons Violin will be headed next. Most likely he will be driving his Prius, pulling his teardrop camper behind him, as he pulls up to the gig.

Dixon plays 120 to 130 shows across the country every year.

For more Electric Forest coverage from MLive, click here.
SAUGATUCK, MI -- A new brunch spot has arrived on a prominent corner of Saugatuck, facing Kalamazoo Lake.

The beach towns popular coffee house Uncommon Coffee Roasters opened Malu, a sister restaurant and a cafe on the corner of Culver and Griffith.

RELATED: Michigan beach spot beats Key West for Best Coastal Small Town by USA Today

Malu opened in May by Uncommon owners Bruno Nobre and Mauricio DaSilva, who bought Uncommon from founders Guy Darienzo and Stephen Keye in 2021.

Just a block from waterfront Coghlin Park, Malu is serving a American brunch classics with farm-to-table like ingredients. The menu weaves from a breakfast burrito to a grain bowl to eggs benedict.

The Malu menu gives a nod to its local vendors, giving diners insight into where the meat and produce came from, right down to blueberries and microgreens.

The brunch spot was inspired by Nobres mother.

You could feel the love and passion in my mothers cooking, said Nobre. With our commitment to quality, creativity, and community, we look forward to sharing her same passion and becoming a dining destination for both locals and visitors.

RELATED: 6 new restaurants to check out in Michigans Best Coastal Small Town

If you arrive to Malu on a busy Sunday morning, you can round the corner to Malu Cafe on Griffith and get an Uncommon coffee while you wait.

In addition to coffee, Malus menu also features juices by Midwest Juicery, Brix soda and mocktails.
YPSILANTI, MI - Eastern Michigan University President James Smith will step down in 2026, at the end of his current contract.

Smith, who will have spent 10 years at EMU, announced his intentions to leave during the Thursday, June 20 Board of Regents meeting. He will leave at the conclusion of his second term, which ends June 30, 2026.
KENT COUNTY, MI - A teacher at Calvin Christian High School is accused of sexually assaulting a student.

Michael Hoekwater, 57, was arraigned Friday, June 21, in Grandville District Court on two charges of fourth-degree criminal-sexual conduct, a two-year, high-court misdemeanor.

He was held Friday afternoon on $50,000 bond, Kent County Jail records said. The school is located at 3750 Ivanrest Ave. SW in Grandville.

Grandville police said that early Thursday, June 20, investigators were made aware of an incident of improper touching between a teacher and student from Calvin Christian High School.

Hoekwater was arrested later that day.

Eric Burgess, head of school, said school officials are cooperating with Grandville police and referred questions regarding the alleged incident to police.

But, he said: Were taking it very seriously.

Police believe it was an isolated incident.

Hoekwater has worked at Calvin Christian Schools for 35 years, teaching biology, chemistry and algebra, according to his LinkedIn profile.
JACKSON, MI  A man who pleaded no contest to robbing several banks in Jackson while he was on parole for bank robbery has been sent back to prison.

Jackson County Circuit Judge Thomas Wilson sentenced Thomas Carl Pryor, May 23 to serve 13 and half to 30 years in prison after pleading no contest to armed robbery and bank robbery charges, court records show.

Pryor, 50, was not credited for any days served as he was on parole for a previous bank robbery at the time of the crime and is ineligible to be granted credit.

Related: Man pleads no contest to robbing bank while on parole for other heists

Pryor was arraigned Sept. 25 for robbing a pair of banks in September in Jackson County. He was a suspect in a third bank robbery in Summit Township, but authorities did not charge him in that heist.

Police were called at 11:08 a.m. Sept. 19, to the American 1 Credit Union, 930 W. North St., in Jackson. Pryor was accused of entering the credit union and giving a note to the teller demanding an undisclosed amount of money, police said. No weapon was brandished and Pryor was not identified as the suspect at the time, police said.

The next day at 9:13 a.m. Sept. 20, police were called to Flagstar Bank, 301 W. Michigan Ave., in Jackson. During the second robbery, the suspect indicated he had a weapon before being handed an undisclosed amount of money and fleeing the area, police said.

Investigators were able to identify Pryor as the suspect in both robberies and soon arrested him, police said.

Unbeknownst to Jackson officers responding to the second robbery, there was a third bank robbery reported minutes earlier at 9:02 a.m. at the Flagstar Bank, 704 S. Brown St., in Summit Township, south of Jackson, said the Jackson County Sheriffs Office.

A male suspect matching Pryors description entered the bank and demanded cash from a teller while acting as if he had a firearm, police said. No firearm was actually observed.

Pryor was arrested about 9:24 a.m. Sept. 20 on Steward Avenue near Demay Court in Jackson. Surveillance video confirmed he was the person who robbed the Summit Township bank, police said.

Pryor was on parole for two different bank robberies in Jackson committed in 2001 and 2007, Michigan Department of Corrections records show. He was released on parole Oct. 25, 2022, after serving the minimum 15 years of his 15-to-40-year prison sentence.

Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily newsletter.
CASS COUNTY, MI -- Police have named a suspect, releasing his name and photograph, in the stabbing of three people in Southwest Michigan.

A three-count warrant for assault with intent to murder has been issued for John Henry Coons, 28, from the Dowagiac area, the Cass County Sheriffs Office said in a news release on Friday, June 21.

The stabbing happened about 10:40 p.m. Thursday, June 20, at a residence on the 32000 block of School Street in Cass Countys Silver Creek Township. Deputies found three victims suffering from multiple stab wounds from a single assailant.

Charles Coulson, 73, is in critical condition at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. Shirley Coulson, 75, is in stable condition at Lakeland Hospital. Cody Coulson, 31, refused medical treatment.

Sheriff Richard Behnke is asking for the publics help to locate Coons.

Coons is considered armed and dangerous, police said, warning the public against trying to apprehend him.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call the Cass County Sheriffs Office at 269-445-8644 or call the local police agency.

Cass County is just southwest of Kalamazoo County, along the Indiana-Michigan border.

Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter.
LANSING, MI  Lansing police are seeking three felony charges, including one for an alleged sexual assault, against a Republican state lawmaker arrested in the early morning hours Thursday.

Ingham County Prosecutor John Dewane on Friday, June 21, reviewed the requested charges against state Rep. Neil Friske, R-Charlevoix, and called for further investigation by Lansing police before issuing any potential charges.

Lansing police initially said Friske was arrested around 2:45 a.m. Thursday, June 20, in his neighborhood about 3 miles southeast of the Capitol Building after officers responded to reports of a man with a gun and possible shots fired.

Dewane said Friday that officers at the scene also learned of a possible sexual assault involving an adult woman. Friske, 62, was then arrested.

The incident happened in a neighborhood off of Forest Road between Aurelius Road and I-496 where Ingham County property records show Friske owns a home.

Related: Republican state lawmaker was arrested after reports of shots fired, Lansing police say

The charges sought by Lansing police against Friske are single counts each of felony sexual assault, felony assault and a felony weapons offense. Police did not go into further detail about the charges.

The Ingham County Prosecutors Office did not immediately respond for further comment. Friskes attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.

Friske was in the process of being released from jail Friday morning as officers continued their investigation, a spokesperson for the Lansing Police Department said.

In a statement on social media Thursday afternoon, Friskes campaign said the lawmaker is always exercising his 2nd Amendment right and that they knew nothing about the incident other than what has been reported in the media.

The campaign called the timing of the incident highly suspect and suggested it is related to Friskes reelection campaign and his upcoming Aug. 6 primary battle against a Republican opponent who they allege has deep-state ties.

Friske is serving out his first term in the state House and is up for reelection this year. He was elected to the seat representing all of Charlevoix and Emmet counties and portions of Cheboygan, Chippewa, and Mackinac counties in 2022.

Friske faces one challenger, Parker Fairbairn, in the Aug. 6 Republican primary.

In a statement, Fairbairn said Friske should be presumed innocent until proven guilty. But, Fairbairn said, the people of his district deserve better than Friske and his abysmal and immoral voting record, pointing to Friskes votes against bills banning child marriage, deepfake porn and others.

Friske is a member of the highly conservative House Freedom Caucus and owner of Friske and Sons Property Management.

According to Friskes biography, he frequently serves at his local church and is a member of the National Rifle Association, Farm Bureau, Michigan United Conservation Clubs and Right to Life.
Catcher Ali Sanchez, who spent a summer in the Detroit Tigers organization, is coming back to the big leagues.

The 27-year-old native of Venezuela was traded from the Chicago Cubs to the Miami Marlins this week. The Marlins designated struggling catcher Christian Bethancourt for assignment and plan to add Sanchez to their active roster, according to MLB.com.

Sanchez spent part of 2022 with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens after being claimed off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals. He was never called up to Detroit.

He was waived by the Tigers after the 2022 season; claimed and waived by the Pittsburgh Pirates; claimed by the Arizona Diamondbacks; and then put back on the waiver wire around Christmas time. He finally went unclaimed and was outrighted to Triple-A Reno, where he spent the entire 2023 season.

Sanchez signed a big-league deal to return to the Pirates before the 2024 season, but was waived at the end of spring training. He landed with the Cubs, where he played for Triple-A Iowa until the recent trade to Miami.
UNESCO official praises China for its exemplary role in promoting geoparks Pub Date:24-06-21 09:48 Source:Xinhua The Changbaishan Global Geopark was inaugurated last week during the Jilin Tourism Development Conference. It received high praise from a UNESCO official for its role in promoting the concept of UNESCO geoparks. Editor:

Related News 'Wanhe' Tourism Group Departs from Hefei t... The Central and Eastern European market we... NE China upgrades traditional industries, ... LenstoLens | China-Australia trade full of...
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10th International Yoga Day: How PM Modi cultivated a global celebration over the years
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Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu made a vow in 2021, fulfils it in 2024
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International Yoga Day Live Highlights: Early morning rainfall disrupted International Yoga Day events in Kashmir. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lead the celebrations on the banks of the Dal Lake. The main yoga event at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) was scheduled to start at 6:30 am.

Stringent multi-layer security arrangements have been put in place for the prime minister's two-day visit to Kashmir. More than 7,000 participants will join him in performing yoga on Friday on the banks of picturesque Dal Lake, officials said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will participate in a yoga event in Ahmedabad today.

Several other leaders such as Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, JP Nadda, EAM S Jaishankar will perform yoga at events today.

Theme for this year's Yoga Day - Yoga for self and society. This year marks the 10th International Day of Yoga with the theme Yoga for Self and Society.

Recognizing its universal appeal, on 11 December 2014, the United Nations proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of Yoga.
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On June 20th, the Conference on the Development of New Energy Vehicle, Advanced Photovoltaic and New Energy Storage Industry was held at Gotion High-tech Co., Ltd. in Hefei, Anhui, with the theme of "Regional Partnership for Common Development". This conference was part of the 2024 RCEP Local Governments and Friendship Cities Cooperation (Huangshan) Forum series of activities, aiming to promote and strengthen exchange and cooperation among RCEP member countries in the fields of new energy vehicles, advanced photovoltaics, and new energy storage, and jointly explore development opportunities to achieve win-win cooperation. The conference was hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Anhui Provincial People's Government, and organized by the Hefei Municipal People's Government, the Anhui Provincial Development and Reform Commission, the Anhui Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, and the Anhui Provincial Government Foreign Affairs Office, with Gotion High-tech Co., Ltd. and others as co-organizers. "Today's RCEP has become the world's largest free trade area, exuding new vitality, creating new miracles, and embracing new hopes," said Li Zhen, chairman of Gotion High-Tech Co., Ltd. "We are also very willing to bring Gotion's advanced technology to RCEP countries, and work together to make green energy serve humanity and achieve shared prosperity!" At the conference, Qi Fangfang, deputy director of the China Economic Information Service Xinhua Index Research Institute, released the "2024 RCEP 'New Trio' Trade Vitality Index Report". She said that the implementation of RCEP has provided new opportunities for regional trade partners to open up to the outside world on a larger scale and at a higher level. As typical high-tech green trade products, the "New Trio" have been widely welcomed by regional partners, effectively supporting the development of regional green low-carbon and trade resilience. The index calculation results show that in 2023, the "New Trio" trade vitality index for RCEP was 136.5 points, an increase of 12.8% year-on-year. The conference also held dialogues on the new energy vehicle industry as well as advanced photovoltaic and new energy storage industry, where representatives discussed and promoted further cooperation in the "New Trio" industries under the RCEP agreement framework. "Anhui is one of the leading provinces in China's new energy industry development. In recent years, Anhui Province has attached great importance to the development of advanced photovoltaic and new energy storage industry, and has made every effort to build internationally influential advanced photovoltaic and new energy storage industrial hubs," said Jiang Chenjie, director of the Electronic Information Department of the Anhui Provincial Industry and Information Technology Department, during the advanced photovoltaic and new energy storage industry dialogue. The 2024 RCEP Local Governments and Friendship Cities Cooperation (Huangshan) Forum aims to actively promote mutual understanding, seek business opportunities, establish friendly relations, and carry out cooperation among local governments of RCEP member countries, focusing on promoting high-quality foreign exchange and cooperation in new energy vehicles, advanced photovoltaics, new energy storage, as well as cultural tourism and education, telling the amazing story of Chinese path to modernization in Anhui, continuously enriching and expanding the fruitful results of friendship city cooperation, and better serving the country's overall diplomacy.

Source: anhuinews.com
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Hindujas, UK's richest family, get jail terms for exploiting staff at Swiss mansion
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The challenges are transforming the way companies communicate about climate change

Kenza Bryan and Attracta Mooney in London

At a recent address to investors, the former BP chief executive Lord John Browne urged them to consider Aesops fable of the rider who stops feeding his horse in peacetime, only to find it lame when war comes.

The soldier in the analogy represented the companies who are pulling back on climate action, creating more long-term risk for all concerned as the ever-greater effects of the climate crisis loom.

The story is a
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This may come as a surprise to the rest of New Zealand but Christchurch has been named the 'Happiest City in NZ'

Researchers from a London-based institute called Quality of Life, have created a '2024 Happy City Index' list of the world's happiest cities, with Christchurch being the only New Zealand city to feature.

So how did Christchurch make the cut? The research is based on a few things including education, economy, mobility, and access to green areas.

Despite damage from the Earthquake lingering in some parts, Christchurch has emerged with a modern charm, plenty of space, and easy access to nature, all no doubt contributing to its high happiness score.

Some locals were surprised Christchurch received such a title, commenting on our More FM Canterbury Facebook page saying "Has he been here lol"

"Can't imagine why" another added.

One person questioned whether the researchers were confused with a different city that is located in the UK, also called Christchurch.

In a Reddit thread, one person supported the title, explaining "Having lived in Wellington for three times as long as I have been here (Christchurch). It's much easier to be happy here" going on to say "The ease of access to the activities, I like and the more settled weather"

Other Cantabrians who were still passionate about their hometown commented on our Facebook page saying "The support services are great. The people overall have been nothing but friendly and welcoming.

While we didn't have Christchurch being the happiest place to live in New Zealand on our 2024 bingo card, we're here for it.

Across the globe, Aarhus in Denmark took the top spot, with Brisbane leading the charge as Australia's happiest city coming in 21st.
Yves here. We posted in May on a prominently-placed Wall Street article that lamented plunging birthrates in advanced economies, and increasingly even in developing ones. The problem of course is that despite lowering the amount of resource consumption and garbage production would be good for the planet, its bad for the economy. It means no or negative groaf via an increasing population (barring immigration) and the supposed difficulty of managing a society with proportionately more old people and fewer young people.

Of course, no one mentions how neoliberalism has played into this equation. Nuclear families are just about the worst way to manage child and elder care, due to inefficiency and hired caregivers too often not developing emotional bonds to their charges. From that post:

The perceived need for growth is so strong that a new Wall Street Journal story, Suddenly There Arent Enough Babies. The Whole World Is Alarmed, does not feel the necessity to unpack much why declining birth and population rates are perceived to be highly problematic. Ambitious young men need new worlds to conquer, and that impulse can become destructive when the economic pie shrinks or increases only slowly. And lordie, what will happen to real estate prices? Similarly, the press and punditocracy covers Japan, which has merely had a static but aging citizenry, with horror, even though the Japanese, between having generally very robust oldsters, plus high levels of social cohesion, seems to be wearing its affliction awfully well. It seems odd for a business paper to be so puzzled as to what is happening. Late stage capitalism is not child-friendly. It expects workers to be mobile when that can mean moving away from relatives that provide back-up junior care. The now scarce-as-hens-teeth 9 to 5 day for office workers and professionals, and regular shift work for factory laborers, gave scheduling predictability that helped with organizing child supervision and gave the kids themselves a sense of order in the world. Late-stage neoliberalism has also produced in the US and many other advanced economies a large increase in income and wealth inequality and a corresponding fall in income/class mobility. That further increases the stakes of raising children well: getting them into the right schools and/or making sure they travel in circles that increase the odds of landing good jobs and/or good romantic partners. A final factor is at least some, and perhaps many, potential parents are concerned about the state of the world and wonder if having children is the right thing to do. And that does not just mean that their progeny will add to the environmental load but also that those offspring might suffer from societal upheaval, violence, and other dystopian outcomes as competition for scarce resources becomes desperate.

The study below looks at how higher housing costs are playing a role in lower birth rates and posits that policies that would promote more affordable housing. But that is contrary to the interests of powerfully placed rentiers, who with their allies in government, have succeeded in creating a system which keeps pushing prices higher, in recent decades well in excess of population growth rates.

By Jeanne Lafortune, Professor, Department of Economics Pontificia Universidad Catolica De Chile and Corinne Low, Associate Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy at Wharton University Of Pennsylvania. Originally published at VoxEU

Marriage has declined as the central organising structure of the American family, and some worry this will increase inequality. This column posits that inequality creates the marriage gap in the first place because access to assets, such as homeownership, may be essential to foster the commitment necessary for both partners to benefit from marriage. Marriage now offers a weaker contract than it once did. Policymakers looking to encourage marriage should enable more couples to commit, for instance, by facilitating home ownership.

The rise of inequality in the US has been described by many observers (Saez and Zucman 2020, Hoffmann et al. 2020). Others have highlighted that institutions like marriage may make this worse (Greenwood et al. 2014, Eika et al. 2019). Kearneys recent book (2023) on the two-parent privilege suggests that the uneven retreat from marriage in the US, documented by Lundberg and Pollack (2014), has had negative economic impacts. Rather than decrying the disappearing tradition of marriage, we suggest instead that understanding the reasons behind it can lead to interesting policy solutions, like making housing more affordable for all.

We hold the view that one reason for the decline in marriage is the increasing similarity between marriage and non-marital fertility, which has led more people to drift between these two potential family structures. Before the 1970s, marriage was difficult to exit and was the only way to obtain transfers, post-separation. However, unilateral divorce (i.e. divorce without mutual consent) and the establishment of paternity rights outside of marriage have increasingly blurred the lines between marriage and non-marital arrangements such as cohabitation (Table 1).

Table 1 Changes to separation in the US, pre-1970 vs today

Notes: NMF = non-marital fertility.

This has led some to suggest that modern American couples desire less commitment, which is why they avoid marriage. But this does not align with the observed relative selection. In modern US society, only individuals with assets that are divided upon the end of the relationship in marriage, and not in cohabitation, continue to marry (Lafortune and Low 2017). Those for whom relationship dissolution is more complicated and costly are the ones who continue to marry. We suggest that this implies the retreat from marriage is because it provides too little commitment and not too much.

Figure 1 Marriage rates for those with and without assets

Notes: SIPP = Survey of Income and Program Participation.

Housing, the largest asset class Americans own, appears to be particularly relevant in this relationship. American couples tend to combine the decision of marriage and homeownership. This is not the case for the birth of the first child, whether within marriage or outside of marriage (Figure 2).

Figure 2 Marriage or non-marital fertility, birth of the first child, and home ownership

Notes: NMF = non-marital fertility.

Why would couples seek more commitment? If we consider marriage merely as a means for couples to generate returns to scale, such as preparing only one meal for all or sharing a common roof, there appears to be no economic incentive for commitment. Marriage may be more about creating joint value by allowing for jointly optimal decisions that place some possible future risk or burden on one individual. For example, Choukhmane et al. (2023) documented that spouses take advantage of higher retirement matches in one anothers accounts by shifting savings toward the spouse with the higher match, when they would never dream of creating such an arrangement with a friend, no matter how close. The secret is commitment.

The same may apply to one of the other major sources of gain in marriage, specialisation. This is an old story going back to Becker (1991). If one partner will be making a significant investment in what we may call marriage-specific capital (Stevenson 2007), such as their childrens human capital, they need some guarantee of protection in case the relationship breaks down. After all, post-divorce, both parties would continue to benefit from having well brought-up children, but only one would continue to cash pay-cheques if the partners have highly specialised roles. Thus, a partner would only be willing to make a substantial investment when provided with adequate protection in case of a relationship breakdown.

How can a partner be insured in the relationship? We propose that purchasing a house during the relationship is likely to provide such insurance, or collateral. This is because, even in US states with equitable division (i.e. where relative contributions are taken into account), the family home tends to be divided in a way that gives more benefits to the custodial parent, often the one who may have invested more heavily in the children during the relationship. Thus, housing in the context of marriage guarantees a higher payoff to the spouse who invested more heavily in the relationship while also reducing their spouses incentive to seek divorce, because they will face a higher loss at that point.

We test this hypothesis using variation in housing prices around the age of first marriage (Lafortune and Low 2023). We find that couples who faced higher housing prices and were thus less likely to buy and then later own a house were less specialised. Given that 75% of couples have a higher-earning male partner, this manifests in a gender difference: couples having a harder time buying a home have women working more and spending less time on home production, and men working less and subsequently earning less.

Figure 3 Effect of an increase of House Price Index at time of marriage

While Lundberg and Pollack (2014) emphasise that those who do not wish to invest in children will find marriage less attractive, we suggest that it may not be a lack of will but rather a lack of way. Couples with lower wealth, who have nothing to risk in the event of a break-up, will find marriage offering them limited benefits. Due to the weaker contract, they would receive lower benefits from marriage, including the family investments that are often cited as reasons to encourage marriage.

This conclusion also changes the policy prescription. We should not engage in a cultural war trying to make family formation something more desirable. We should instead focus on helping couples in lower socioeconomic strata accumulate wealth, particularly in housing, so that they have something to collateralise their marriage. And our work points to the tremendous potential downstream impacts of discriminatory practices that create wealth inequality, particularly in housing, such as redlining.

We offer some direct evidence that there is a link between marriage commitment and marriage rates. We show that asset ownership did not predict marriage rates prior to the change in the 1970s toward unilateral divorce. But, as unilateral divorce was introduced, asset ownership became an important predictor of who got married. Similarly, as non-marital contracting was strengthened through paternity enforcement out of marriage, the gap widened further between those with assets and those without when it came to marriage rates. Policy changes, in other words, have created the gap in marriage rates between the haves and have-nots, which carries deep implications.

Our work shows that more wealth, in particular access to home ownership, leads to more specialisation and higher levels of marital stability and investment. Linking this to the literature that has emphasised the role of two-parent households in transmitting human capital, income, and wealth reveals further implications for intergenerational inequality. If higher-wealth couples are more likely to commit and thus more likely to invest in their marriage, their offspring may benefit from the strength of that contract, leading them to have more wealth and economic opportunity and in turn also be able to enter such a union.

We think this is a timely conclusion. Newer generations are particularly struggling with the ability to become homeowners and accumulate assets (Paz-Pardo 2022, Lewellyn and King 2024). They are also delaying marriage at rates never seen before (Fry and Parker 2021). These two facts may be interconnected and require more than societal disapproval to resolve.

Some may argue that we perpetuate a traditional and sexist view of marriage. First, we would like to emphasise that there is nothing in our argument that states that it should be women who specialise in household production. Irrespective of gender, the spouse that dedicates resources more disproportionally towards the household at the cost of their career progress will only do so, we argue, when insurance on those investments is provided. As a demonstration of this, our results on specialisation are only visible in the case of couples where the man outearns his spouse. Thus, it is not gender but rather relative earnings that seem to matter.

Second, our results say that for couples who wish for one of the partners to invest more into the union, marriage with housing as collateral is needed. Finally, we think our results speak to any kind of investment that carries a risk for one person  such as moving for a spouses job  which may make up the very foundation of what we find valuable in the marital relationship. The idea that such investments are only possible with commitment, and that asset-holding and homeownership affects commitment, is our key emphasis.

Overall, the results of this new strand of literature emphasise that the marriage contract has weakened too much for some socioeconomic groups, highlighting the need to facilitate asset accumulation, particularly homeownership, to reverse that trend. Therefore, the challenge now lies with policymakers to consider how to enable younger, poorer couples to access the commitment required for collateralised unions. What policies do we need, especially as mortgage rates hover at 7%, to make homeownership and the benefits it offers accessible more broadly?

See original post for references
Yves here. My impression is that most medical industry information systems, including those operated by major hospitals, are as well run as those of a candy store. Even if you attempt to minimize your risk of having your data exposed, compromise of a major system can harm patient care. Confirming the risks described below, some NHS hospitals had to cancel procedures in the wake of cyber attacks. From CNN in early June:

A cyberattack on a contractor to Englands National Health Service has forced several major hospitals in London to cancel operations, blood tests and appointments and send patients elsewhere. Kings College Hospital, Guys and St Thomas have all been affected, as have numerous primary care providers in the UK capital, a spokesperson for the National Health Service (NHS) said Tuesday. The hospitals and providers affected are all partnered with Synnovis, a company that provides lab services to the NHS. The company said Tuesday it had been hit by a ransomware attack that affected all its IT systems resulting in interruptions to many of our pathology services. Among the services most disrupted were those involving blood tests or transfusions.

Note that this NHS case demonstrates that not only are the hospital systems at risk, but major providers are also vulnerable.

By Rachana Pradhan, KFF Health News correspondent, who formerly reported for Politico, and Kate Wells of Michigan Public. Originally published at KFF Health News

In the wake of a debilitating cyberattack against one of the nations largest health care systems, Marvin Ruckle, a nurse at an Ascension hospital in Wichita, Kansas, said he had a frightening experience: He nearly gave a baby the wrong dose of narcotic because of confusing paperwork.

Ruckle, who has worked in the neonatal intensive care unit at Ascension Via Christi St. Joseph for two decades, said it was hard to decipher which was the correct dose on the medication record. Hed never seen that happen, he said, when we were on the computer system before the cyberattack.

A May 8 ransomware attack against Ascension, a Catholic health system with 140 hospitals in at least 10 states, locked providers out of systems that track and coordinate nearly every aspect of patient care. They include its systems for electronic health records, some phones, and ones utilized to order certain tests, procedures and medications, the company said in a May 9 statement.

More than a dozen doctors and nurses who work for the sprawling health system told Michigan Public and KFF Health News that patient care at its hospitals across the nation was compromised in the fallout of the cyberattack over the past several weeks. Clinicians working for hospitals in three states described harrowing lapses, including delayed or lost lab results, medication errors, and an absence of routine safety checks via technology to prevent potentially fatal mistakes.

Despite a precipitous rise in cyberattacks against the health sector in recent years, a weeks-long disruption of this magnitude is beyond what most health systems are prepared for, said John Clark, an associate chief pharmacy officer at the University of Michigan health system.

I dont believe that anyone is fully prepared, he said. Most emergency management plans are designed around long-term downtimes that are into one, two, or three days.

Ascension in a public statement May 9 said its care teams were trained for these kinds of disruptions, but did not respond to questions in early June about whether it had prepared for longer periods of downtime. Ascension said June 14 it had restored access to electronic health records across its network, but that patient medical records and other information collected between May 8 and when the service was restored may be temporarily inaccessible as we work to update the portal with information collected during the system downtime.

Ruckle said he had no training for the cyberattack.

Back to Paper

Lisa Watson, an intensive care unit nurse at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis hospital in Wichita, described her own close call. She said she nearly administered the wrong medication to a critically ill patient because she couldnt scan it as she normally would. My patient probably would have passed away had I not caught it, she said.

Watson is no stranger to using paper for patients medical charts, saying she did so for probably half of my career, before electronic health records became ubiquitous in hospitals. What happened after the cyberattack was by no means the same.

When we paper-charted, we had systems in place to get those orders to other departments in a timely manner, she said, and those have all gone away.

Melissa LaRue, an ICU nurse at Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, described a close call with administering the wrong dosage of a patients blood pressure medication. Luckily, she said, it was triple-checked and remedied before that could happen. But I think the potential for harm is there when you have so much information and paperwork that you have to go through.

Clinicians say their hospitals have relied on slapdash workarounds, using handwritten notes, faxes, sticky notes, and basic computer spreadsheets  many devised on the fly by doctors and nurses  to care for patients.

More than a dozen other nurses and doctors, some of them without union protections, at Ascension hospitals in Michigan recounted situations in which they say patient care was compromised. Those clinicians spoke on the condition that they not be named for fear of retaliation by their employer.

An Ascension hospital emergency room doctor in Detroit said a man on the citys east side was given a dangerous narcotic intended for another patient because of a paperwork mix-up. As a result, the patients breathing slowed to the point that he had to be put on a ventilator. We intubated him and we sent him to the ICU because he got the wrong medication.

A nurse in a Michigan Ascension hospital ER said a woman with low blood sugar and altered mental status went into cardiac arrest and died after staff said they waited four hours for lab results they needed to determine how to treat her, but never received. If I started having crushing chest pain in the middle of work and thought I was having a big one, I would grab someone to drive me down the street to another hospital, the same ER nurse said.

Similar concerns reportedly led a travel nurse at an Ascension hospital in Indiana to quit. I just want to warn those patients that are coming to any of the Ascension facilities that there will be delays in care. There is potential for error and for harm, Justin Neisser told CBS4 in Indianapolis in May.

Several nurses and doctors at Ascension hospitals said they feared the errors theyve witnessed since the cyberattack began could threaten their professional licenses. This is how a RaDonda Vaught happens, one nurse said, referring to the Tennessee nurse who was convicted of criminally negligent homicide in 2022 for a fatal drug error.

Reporters were not able to review records to verify clinicians claims because of privacy laws surrounding patients medical information that apply to health care professionals.

Ascension declined to answer questions about claims that care has been affected by the ransomware attack. As we have made clear throughout this cyber attack which has impacted our system and our dedicated clinical providers, caring for our patients is our highest priority, Sean Fitzpatrick, Ascensions vice president of external communications, said via email on June 3. We are confident that our care providers in our hospitals and facilities continue to provide quality medical care.

The federal government requires hospitals to protect patients sensitive health data, according to cybersecurity experts. However, there are no federal requirements for hospitals to prevent or prepare for cyberattacks that could compromise their electronic systems.

Hospitals: The No.1 Target of Ransomware

Weve started to think about these as public health issues and disasters on the scale of earthquakes or hurricanes, said Jeff Tully, a co-director of the Center for Healthcare Cybersecurity at the University of California-San Diego. These types of cybersecurity incidents should be thought of as a matter of when, and not if.

Josh Corman, a cybersecurity expert and advocate, said ransom crews regard hospitals as the perfect prey: They have terrible security and theyll pay. So almost immediately, hospitals went to the No. 1 target of ransomware.

In 2023, the health sector experienced the largest share of ransomware attacks of 16 infrastructure sectors considered vital to national security or safety, according to an FBI report on internet crimes. In March, the federal Department of Health and Human Services said reported large breaches involving ransomware had jumped by 264% over the past five years.

A cyberattack this year on Change Healthcare, a unit of UnitedHealth Groups Optum division that processes billions of health care transactions every year, crippled the business of providers, pharmacies, and hospitals.

The cyberattack on a unit of UnitedHealth Groups Optum division is the worst on the health care industry in U.S. history, hospitals say. Providers struggling to get paid for care say the response by the insurer and the Biden administration has been inadequate.

In May, UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty told lawmakers the company paid a $22 million ransom as a result of the Change Healthcare attack  which occurred after hackers accessed a company portal that didnt have multifactor authentication, a basic cybersecurity tool.

The Biden administration in recent months has pushed to bolster health care cybersecurity standards, but its not clear which new measures will be required.

In January, HHS nudged companies to improve email security, add multifactor authentication, and institute cybersecurity training and testing, among other voluntary measures. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is expected to release new requirements for hospitals, but the scope and timing are unclear. The same is true of an update HHS is expected to make to patient privacy regulations.

HHS said the voluntary measures will inform the creation of new enforceable cybersecurity standards, department spokesperson Jeff Nesbit said in a statement.

The recent cyberattack at Ascension only underscores the need for everyone in the health care ecosystem to do their part to secure their systems and protect patients, Nesbit said.

Meanwhile, lobbyists for the hospital industry contend cybersecurity mandates or penalties are misplaced and would curtail hospitals resources to fend off attacks.

Hospitals and health systems are not the primary source of cyber risk exposure facing the health care sector, the American Hospital Association, the largest lobbying group for U.S. hospitals, said in an April statement prepared for U.S. House lawmakers. Most large data breaches that hit hospitals in 2023 originated with third-party business associates or other health entities, including CMS itself, the AHA statement said.

Hospitals consolidating into large multistate health systems face increased risk of data breaches and ransomware attacks, according to one study. Ascension in 2022 was the third-largest hospital chain in the U.S. by number of beds, according to the most recent data from the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

And while cybersecurity regulations can quickly become outdated, they can at least make it clear that if health systems fail to implement basic protections there should be consequences for that, Jim Bagian, a former director of the National Center for Patient Safety at the Veterans Health Administration, told Michigan Publics Stateside.

Patients can pay the price when lapses occur. Those in hospital care face a greater likelihood of death during a cyberattack, according to researchers at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

Workers concerned about patient safety at Ascension hospitals in Michigan have called for the company to make changes.

We implore Ascension to recognize the internal problems that continue to plague its hospitals, both publicly and transparently, said Dina Carlisle, a nurse and the president of the OPEIU Local 40 union, which represents nurses at Ascension Providence Rochester. At least 125 staff members at that Ascension hospital have signed a petition asking administrators to temporarily reduce elective surgeries and nonemergency patient admissions, like under the protocols many hospitals adopted early in the covid-19 pandemic.

Watson, the Kansas ICU nurse, said in late May that nurses had urged management to bring in more nurses to help manage the workflow. Everything that we say has fallen on deaf ears, she said.

It is very hard to be a nurse at Ascension right now, Watson said in late May. It is very hard to be a patient at Ascension right now.
Yves here. Your humble blogger is unable to verify the claims made regarding damage to Ukraine versus Russian energy assets, although the Ukraine utility DTEK did confirm yet another successful strike on a thermal plant.

Twitter does show dramatic photos of big-looking fires at some Russian refineries, typically to what are depicted as storage units. However, I have yet to hear any of the (admittedly Ukraine-skeptic) commentators mention these fires. which suggests they are not as consequential as the images suggest.

There has also been a general propensity by Ukraine, and therefore Western officials and media relying on information from its government, to considerably exaggerate the effectiveness of their drone and missile attacks. For instance (as Brian Berletic explains in exhaustive detail on a recent talk), Ukraine has claimed it done substantial damage to Russian air defense systems. Berletic went though how many were allegedly hit, that they were only damaged and Russia has both ample parts and amply output of these systems (as in they could be replaced in their entirety, although that did not seem to be at all warranted in these recent cases).

So my reflex is to discount Ukraine claims of meaningful damage. But we have many readers who read Russian Telegram, and many Russian milbloggers are highly critical of how the war is being conducted, and thus would not be shy about reporting that damage was significant, if that were the case. So I hope readers can help sanity check this account.

By Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Cross posted from OilPrice

Russia attacked Ukraine with missiles and drones, targeting energy infrastructure and causing increased power outages in several regions.

Ukrainian drones struck deep inside Russia, setting oil installations on fire in the Tambov and Adygea regions.

The attacks have intensified the conflict, with significant damage to energy facilities on both sides and civilian casualties reported.

Russia attacked Ukraine with missiles and drones overnight, damaging energy infrastructure and prompting even more power blackouts, while Ukrainian drones reportedly struck deep inside Russian territory, setting oil installations on fire in two regions.

Ukraines national power company, Ukrenerho, said early on June 20 that four regions were targeted in the latest wave of Russian drone and missile attacks.

Equipment was damaged at energy facilities in the Vinnytsya, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, and Kyiv regions, Ukrenerho said in a message on Telegram.

A thermal power plant sustained serious damage in the Russian strikes, according to Ukraines largest private energy company, DTEK.This is already the seventh mass attack on the companys thermal power plant in the last three months, DTEK said on Telegram, without disclosing the location of the facility. It said three workers were injured in the attack.

The latest wave of Russian strikes has also increased the number of scheduled power outages for domestic consumers, Ukrenerho said, adding, however, that electricity supply for critical infrastructure will not be restricted.

Separately, the air force reported that Russia attacked Ukraine with nine missiles and 27 drones. Ukrainian air defenses shot down all the drones and five missiles, the military said.

Russia has systematically targeted Ukraines critical energy infrastructure, causing enormous damage and limiting electricity supply for the civilian population, prompting regular blackouts.

In return, Ukrainian drones have struck deeper inside Russia, damaging energy facilities critical for Moscows military effort, mainly oil installations.

On June 20, drones belonging to Ukraines Security Service (SBU) struck a fuel and lubricants warehouse in Russias Tambov region, some 400 kilometers southeast of Moscow, and a LUKoil oil depot in the North Caucasus region of Adygea, setting both on fire, a Ukrainian security source told RFE/RL.

The Baza channel, which is linked to Russian security services, confirmed that a fire had broken out at the Platonov oil depot in Tambov.

Veniamin Kondratyev, the governor of the Russian region of Krasnodar, said a private house was completely destroyed, and a local resident was killed in a Ukrainian drone attack on the city of Slavyansk-on-Kuban.

The SBU told RFE/RL that its drones had carried out almost three dozen successful attacks on Russian oil facilities in various regions since the start of the war.

None of the claims could be independently confirmed.
On Friday (21 June 2024), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg wrapped up his trip to the United States and Canada, in preparation for the upcoming Summit in Washington D.C. in July.

During his visit, Mr Stoltenberg unveiled new defence expenditure figures across the Alliance, highlighting the biggest increase in defence spending across European Allies and Canada for decades  up 18 percent this year. He further announced that 23 Allies will invest at least 2 percent of GDP in defence this year.



On Monday, Mr Stoltenberg met with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House where he announced the new defence spending figures and outlined priorities for the upcoming Summit, including urgent support to Ukraine. He also delivered a speech at the Wilson Center, emphasising that keeping Europe safe and NATO strong is in the vital national interest of the United States.



On Tuesday, at a joint press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington D.C., Mr Stoltenberg welcomed an historic improvement in burden sharing within NATO. He outlined that since 2014, Europe and Canada have added over 640 billion extra in defence spending. The Secretary General also met with members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and members of the Senate NATO Observer Group.

On Wednesday in Ottawa, Mr Stoltenberg thanked Canada for its many contributions to NATO, and stressed the importance of Allies spending at least 2% of GDP on defence. He met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, and delivered a speech at an event hosted by the NATO Association of Canada and the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association.



On Thursday, Mr Stoltenberg met with U.S. National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan. Their discussion focused on strengthening Allied resilience, further boosting transatlantic defence industry and supporting Ukraine for the long term. He also met with Congressman Mike Turner and Congressman Gerry Connolly.
On Monday, 24 June, the NATO Secretary General, Mr Jens Stoltenberg, will travel to France.

The Secretary General will meet with the President of France, Mr Emmanuel Macron, in Paris.

Media advisory

17:00 (CEST) Statements to the press by the NATO Secretary General and the President of France.

Media coverage

The Secretary Generals press statements will be streamed live on the NATO website, and broadcast live on EBU News Exchange.

Transcripts of the Secretary Generals press statements, as well as photographs and video, will be available on the NATO website.

For more information:

Contact the NATO Press Office

Follow us on X (@NATO, @jensstoltenberg and @NATOPress).
On 20 June 2024, the North Atlantic Council approved the nomination of Admiral Pierre Vandier, French Navy, to the post of Supreme Allied Commander Transformation.

Admiral Pierre Vandier is currently serving as the Vice Chief of Defence. Admiral Vandier will succeed General Philippe Lavigne, French Air and Space Force, at a change of command ceremony at the Headquarters of Supreme Allied Command Transformation in Norfolk, Virginia in September 2024.

On behalf of all Allied governments, the North Atlantic Council expressed deep and lasting gratitude for the distinguished service rendered by General Lavigne as the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation.
Apple goes all in with support for Zionist occupation of Palestinian lands

More than 100 current and former employees of Apple called on the tech giant to stop matching employee donations to organizations that support illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and others that support the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The open letter signed by 133 people is the latest form of discord from within the Big Tech company. It started with a campaign called Apples4Ceasefire, which has been insisting that Apple remove two organizations from its donation platforms that fund West Bank settlements.

The said donation-matching program allows workers to make contributions to various non-profit organizations and receive matching funds from the company through a platform called Benevity. Among the charities that employees are allowed to send funds to, that the company will match, are Friends of the IDF, which collects donations on behalf of Israeli occupation soldiers and several groups that contribute to the settlement enterprise in the West Bank, such as HaYovel, One Israel Fund, the Jewish National Fund and IsraelGives.

"We stand in solidarity with our colleagues in Apples4Ceasefire who have requested Apple remove two organizations funding illegal settlements from Benevity," the letter said. "We are amplifying that message and asking that Apple must promptly investigate and cease matching donations to all organizations that further illegal settlements in occupied territories and support the IDF," it added. The group stood firm that their demands needed to be honored as not acting right away only risked undermining trust in Apple's commitment to safety, community, justice, and, most importantly, human rights.

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.

"We add our voices to the Apples4Ceasefire open letter in expressing disappointment in Apple's continued internal and public silence after more than half a year of escalated Israeli violence against Palestinians, which resulted in more than 33,000 of them killed in Gaza, in majority women and children. A silence that starkly contrasts with a prompt company-wide email Tim Cook sent sympathizing with the Israeli victims of October 7th," the letter ended.

Meanwhile, this is not the first dissent from within the company. Back in April, nearly 300 current and former Apple employees published a letter alleging that several retail and corporate employees of the company were "wrongfully terminated" for expressing support for Palestinian people through pins, bracelets or keffiyeh, such as what happened to a Palestinian retail employee at Apple retail store in Lincoln Park Chicago. who was wearing pro-Palestinian clothing and accessories.

Moreover, Apple is not the only tech company where workers have demanded support for Palestinians since the latest Israel-Hamas conflict began. On March 4, more than 600 Google employees signed a petition demanding that the company withdraw its sponsorship funding for an Israeli tech conference in New York, with dozens of employees protesting outside the event. A Google Cloud software engineer interrupted a talk at the conference by Google's managing director for Israel, calling for an end to Googles work with the Israeli government under "Project Nimbus." Employees have noted that Nimbus tools are capable of mass surveillance, but Google and the Israeli government never admitted that Nimbus is used for that purpose. The employee was forcibly removed from the event and then fired by Google the same week.

Apple claims Palestinian flag emoji suggested when "Jerusalem" is typed is a "bug, following backlash from Israel "fans"

Apple was also involved in a controversy three months ago when iPhone users got a Palestinian flag whenever they typed in "Jerusalem." Apple immediately said that it was a bug and they were working on a fix after they received a massive backlash from fans and supporters of Israel.

According to the tech firm, the predictive emoji was because of a software issue that had appeared on the latest update of its iOS operating system for some users and said it was not intentional.

British TV presenter Rachel Riley, a vocal and proud pro-Israel activist, posted on X that the update was a "form of antisemitism, which is itself a form of racism against Jewish people." "Please explain whether this is an intentional act by your company or whether you have no control over rogue programmers," she said, signing the post as "a Jewish woman concerned about the global rise in anti-Semitism."

Dear @Apple @AppleSupport @tim_cook Ive just upgraded my software to version iOS 17.4.1, and now, when I type the capital of Israel ??, Jerusalem, Im offered the Palestinian flag emoji. ?? This didnt occur on my phone immediately before this update. Below is a pic.twitter.com/Cw9TDmE6VD  Rachel Riley MBE ? (@RachelRileyRR) April 9, 2024

The United Nations and most members of the international community view Jerusalem as effectively two cities and consider East Jerusalem, including the Old City, as part of the West Bank, which is Palestinian territory occupied by Israel in defiance of international law.

This incident is not the first time a tech giant's automatic features have inadvertently exacerbated tensions in the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Last year, Facebook's parent company Meta issued an apology after Instagram's auto-translation feature added "Palestinian terrorist" to the bios of some users, despite the words not being in their original descriptions. (Related: Elon Musk tours Auschwitz to DISTRACT THE WORLD while Israel bombs tens of thousands of Palestinians to death.)

Visit IsraelCollapse.com to read more stories on the ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel.

Sources for this article include:

MiddleEastEye.net

OpenLetter.earth

Wired.com

AlJazeera.com
Biden campaign calls for CENSORSHIP of disinfo after video clip of president wandering off at G7 summit goes viral

The Biden campaign has called for censorship of "disinformation" on social media after a clip of President Joe Biden's suspected mental decline during the Group of Seven (G7) summit went viral.

Campaign spokeswoman Adrienne Elrod urged Big Tech platforms to remove or limit the footage's distribution, telling MSNBC in an interview that "disinformation is alive and well."

"Look, we're [going to] see more of this. I mean, this is just the reality of campaigning in 2024  so we have to combat that disinformation. We have to hit it hard when it happens and make it clear that these are dirty tactics that [Make America Great Again] Republicans are using, because they can't run on the issues," she said.

"We're going to do what we can to combat it, but it does take the voices of surrogates across the country. It does take the media to call it out."

The footage showed Biden awkwardly walking away from other world leaders as they posed for photos. The president took a few steps away while watching a skydiving display, seemingly unaware of what's happening. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni then reached out to him, tapping his shoulder to take him back to the group.

Meanwhile, Elrod's calls for censorship of alleged disinformation did not sit well with critics. They argued that such attempts to control media narratives through censorship are detrimental to public discourse. They also stressed the importance of transparency and the free exchange of ideas, even if they are unfavorable to those in power.

In a separate press conference, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre blasted Republicans for "deceptively editing" the video clip in a "misleading manner." She called the viral clip at the G7 a "cheap-fake."

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.

"It tells you everything that we need to know how desperate Republicans are," Jean-Pierre told reporters. She also claimed that Biden was moving to give a thumbs-up to the parachutists, before Meloni called his attention.

White House also takes offense at other clips of Biden's mental decline

The White House also took issue at other viral clips that showed the Democratic incumbent's mental decline. The second clip showed Biden motionless on stage during a Juneteenth celebration in the White House, as the people around him were dancing.

"The president stood there listening to the music, and he didn't dance," said Jean-Pierre. "Excuse me, I didn't know that not dancing was a health issue."

"That is a weird thing to actually flag. If you look at the people around him, there were some folks who were not dancing either."

A third clip, taken during a fundraiser event led by former President Barack Obama in California, showed Biden also "freezing" on stage. This motionless episode went for seven seconds, until Obama led his former vice president off the stage. In response to this clip, White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates explained that Biden was waiting on the stage to appreciate the applause from his supporters.

Earlier in June, the Wall Street Journal published an article revealing Biden struggling to remember meetings from one day to the next, mixing up key details of his policies and, at times, speaking so softly that aides struggle to hear him. (Related: WSJ admits Biden showing signs of COGNITIVE DECLINE during closed-door meetings.)

Visit JoeBiden.news to read more about Biden's mental status and how it affects his capabilities if he reclaims the White House seat.

Watch former President Donald Trump lambasting Biden for blaming his gaffes on artificial intelligence in the clip below.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Biden's cognitive decline is now painfully obvious to the world, yet Dems continue to deny it.

White House concerned about Bidens DECLINING mental state and Kamala's UNPOPULARITY.

Majority of Americans doubt Biden can still serve another term after a report revealed the extent of his COGNITIVE DECLINE.

Sources include:

ReclaimTheNet.org

AlJazeera.com

WSJ.com

Brighteon.com
CANCER has been routinely induced by VACCINES since 1960

Oh, the insidious cancer industrial complex of America. Do not put anything past it. Vaccines have been dirty, adulterated and contaminated since the onset. You can't even say the word 'vaccines' without some pro-vax-zealot/historian spitting up the name Jonas Salk and that supposed "medical triumph." The highly-uncontrolled Polio vaccine experiment , and that's what it was, of the 1950s and 60s, exposed nearly 100 million Americans to SV40 (Simian Virus 40), a monkey virus that can cause cancer in humans.

If you thought mRNA was the first vaccine to cause cancer in humans, think again. Take a close look at what Dr. Salk really did when he developed his so-called "vaccine." Instead of using human tissues to grow the polio virus, he used rhesus macaque monkey kidneys. Then Salk used formaldehyde to deaden or "deactivate" it. After field trials where half-a-dozen kids were left with paralyzed arms from the vaccine, he declared it "safe and effective." Sound familiar?

Guess what? SV40 catapults turbo cancer. That's what's happening now to people who got the mRNA gene-mutating spike-protein injections (Covid jabs). Each dose of an mRNA Covid injection contains millions, if not billions, of copies of SV40 enhancer, as identified in the Pfizer Wuhan Virus stab. These contaminants, like with the polio vaccine, trigger cancer cell growth, including fast-growing tumors (turbo cancer), and spread it, with the ultimate goal of eliminating the host, which is the human who got the vaccine (and thought they were building immunity, not destroying it).

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.

From Simian Virus 40 in polio jabs to spike proteins in mRNA, VACCINE-INDUCED CANCER is nothing new to the insidious medical industrial complex

For seventy years and counting, the medical industrial complex has been manufacturing cancer-causing vaccines, then using them as biological weapons of mass destruction on hundreds of millions of innocent people, all while disguising the weapons as "medicine." They are still doing it. Who knows this? Health Canada knows.

Health Canada confirmed the presence of DNA contamination in Pfizer's Covid mRNA jabs. In fact, multiple sequences of SV40 were identified, according to Janci Lindsay PhD, director of toxicology and molecular biology for Toxicology Support Services, including an SV40 promoter in addition to an SV40 enhancer. Not sure of Dr. Lindsay's credentials? Have a look.

Dr. Lindsay has EXTENSIVE experience, over 30 years of scientific experience, in toxicant pharmacology and the cellular effects of toxins that impair human health. Health Canada confirmed the presence of this contamination in the Pfizer vials, but never disclosed it to the public (as required in Canada and the USA). The cancer-causing monkey virus SV40 is ILLEGAL for use in vaccines, per U.S. federal law passed in 1961.

In other words, the vaccine industry purposely and illegally uses viral pieces or fragments (think spike proteins and SV40) as cancer promoters that is directly attributed to cancer development in humans. There are billions of copies of these viral fragments per dose of vaccine. Talk about chronic inflammation, autoimmune disorders and turbo cancer. No wonder this is happening to millions of injected humans.

History repeats itself: mRNA-vaccine-induced CANCER nothing new if you dial it back to when the Polio vaccine gave millions of people SV40

SV40 is a known animal carcinogen that did not simply "find its way" into polio vaccines. They were engineered that way. This is very difficult for most Americans to wrap their head around. Here's how you know. A federal law was passed in 1961 OUTLAWING vaccines from containing SV40. Why else would they point out SV40, among all the other viruses, bacteria and contaminants out there? Now they're using it again in the Covid jabs, and nobody is calling it out, except a handful of whistle-blowing scientists and journalists, who are then smeared and silenced. History repeats itself. Follow the bouncing ball.

Did you know that mRNA-vaccine-derived analog of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein significantly INHIBITS DNA damage repair, and that repair is essential for preventing cancer? The spike protein localizes in the cell nucleus and suppresses the p53 gene, also known as the guardian of the genome, thus inhibiting DNA repair. Got breast cancer or ovarian cancer? Now you know the most likely culprit.

As for turbo cancer, researchers discovered that spike protein impairs VDJ recombination, a complex genetic process of the adaptive immune system that generates T-cell receptors and antibodies that can recognize and combat a wide range of pathogens. You can bet your last Microsoft update fee that Bill "Depopulation" Gates knows this inside and out.

Bookmark Vaccines.news to your favorite independent websites for updates on so-called "vaccines" that cause cancer and Long-Vax-Syndrome.

Sources for this article include:

Pandemic.news

NaturalNews.com

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

Expose-news.com
EV startup Fisker files for bankruptcy after suspending production

Electric vehicle startup Fisker has filed for bankruptcy protections to sell its assets and restructure its debt after it suspended production

Earlier this year, the company's founder, automotive designer Henrik Fisker, already expressed his doubts about the company's ability to remain in business. The company's failure to secure a crucial investment from Japanese automobile giant Nissan led to a significant $350 million funding shortfall from another unnamed investor. This financial blow forced Fisker to scale back its operations and explore alternative options, like ramping up the production of its Ocean SUVs.

However, the Ocean SUV, dubbed an "asset-light model," initially designed to reduce vehicle development times and lower market entry costs experienced numerous software and hardware issues. Additionally, the car is under regulatory investigation for braking problems, difficulty shifting into park and other modes and doors occasionally failing to open. (Related: EV COLLAPSE: Electric vehicle manufacturer Lordstown Motors files for bankruptcy.)

Moreover, Fisker switched from a direct-to-consumer sales model to a dealership-based distribution approach, signing agreements for 15 dealer locations in the U.S. and 12 partners in Europe. But then, the company delivered less than half its over 10,000 produced vehicles in 2023, while struggling to clear its inventory of more than 5,000 cars.

"Like other companies in the electric vehicle industry, we have faced various market and macroeconomic headwinds that have impacted our ability to operate efficiently," the company stated.

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.

As a result of all these failures, Fisker Group Inc., the operating unit of Fisker, was forced to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Delaware on June 17, with estimated assets of $500 million to $1 billion and liabilities of $100 million to $500 million. This filing marks a second bankruptcy for Henrik Fisker, whose first venture, Fisker Automotive, filed for bankruptcy in 2013. That company fell victim to the 2008 financial crisis and a battery failure in its Karma hybrid sedan, which led to a substantial recall.

"Fisker has been on life support for months now, so today's announcement doesn't come as a surprise. It wasn't the first EV upstart to declare bankruptcy and we don't think it'll be the last," Garrett Nelson, vice president and equity analyst at California Family Rights Act Research said on June 17.

Fisker already warned employees about potential layoffs before filing for bankruptcy

The filing comes after Fisker warned its employees about potential layoffs in April.

According to the announcement, sent through an email by John DiDonato, Fisker's newly appointed restructuring officer, employees might be terminated effective June 28 and the company's facilities could be closed.

"Over the past few months, Fisker's leadership team has been pursuing all avenues to preserve the future of the business and its path forward. Fisker is diligently pursuing all options to address our operating cash requirements, including maintaining discussions with prospective buyers and investors and exploring various restructuring alternatives. There is a possibility, however, that these efforts will not be successful. Should this possibility materialize, the Company has an obligation to provide "conditional notice" that employees  including yourself  will be terminated on June 28, 2024. If the Company must terminate your employment in the future, the job loss will be permanent and the facility will be closed," the email stated.

This communication complied with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, which mandates a 60-day notice period for large-scale layoffs or plant closures for companies with more than 100 employees.

Learn more about electric cars and their manufacturers at RoboCars.news.

Watch this clip from Newsmax as Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst talks about how President Joe Biden's push for electric vehicles is unrealistic.

This video is from the News Clips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Ford to lay off 1,000 employees as focus on EVs costs the company BILLIONS.

Bankruptcy filings in U.S. surge at fastest pace since 2009 as Bidenflation continues to ravage Americans, businesses.

Germanys economic backbone at breaking point as millions of family-owned companies face bankruptcy.

Chinese shadow banking giant Zhongzhi Capital declares bankruptcy due to inability to pay off $64 BILLION in debt ripple effect to follow.

Rudy Giuliani petitions for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after a jury ordered him to pay $146M in damages to 2 Georgia election workers.

Sources include:

Axios.com

Reuters.com

BusinessInsider.com

Brighteon.com
FAA probes Boeing and Airbus over alleged use of COUNTERFEIT TITANIUM in aircraft parts

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has opened an investigation over allegations that both Boeing and Airbus may have used "counterfeit" titanium in their passenger aircraft

The FAA announced the beginning of the probe on June 13, when it started investigating fake documents used to verify titanium parts in some new Boeing and Airbus jets. The investigation was spurred on after a supplier found tiny holes in the material caused by corrosion.

Spirit Aerosystems, which makes parts for both Boeing and Airbus, is also looking into the issue. Spokesperson Joe Buccino claims the problem is with titanium that got into the supply chain through possibly counterfeit documents. Titanium is crucial in building airplanes, used for parts, like blades, landing gears and turbine discs. (Related: FAKED: Thousands of jet engine parts with falsified safety certificates installed in commercial aircraft.)

"When this was identified, all suspect parts were quarantined and removed from Spirit production. More than 1,000 tests have been completed to confirm the mechanical and metallurgical properties of the affected material to ensure continued airworthiness."

The FAA's investigation will check how serious the problem is, including how many aircraft are affected and whether those planes are safe to continue flying.

There is a high demand for new planes due to increased travel after the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. However, supply chain issues and part shortages are making it hard for manufacturers to keep up, leading to manufacturers opting to speed up production through means that may compromise passenger safety.

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 FAA stated that Boeing had voluntarily reported finding out about materials bought from a distributor who might have provided fake or incorrect records. Boeing also issued a warning to its suppliers to watch out for counterfeit records.

In an emailed statement, Boeing said this issue affects the entire industry and involves a small number of parts from specific suppliers. They remove these parts from planes before delivery and ensure there is no safety risk.

Airbus, which holds about 60 percent of the commercial airline market compared to Boeing's 40 percent, said they are aware of the situation. Tests on parts from the same supplier showed that the planes are still safe. Airbus emphasized that safety and quality are their top priorities and they are closely working with their supplier.

FAA probe adds to long list of issues hounding Boeing

Boeing's rough 2024 continues to worsen. Its terrible year began on Jan. 5, when an Alaska Airlines flight lost a door plug  used to replace an emergency exit  just 10 minutes after takeoff. On Feb. 6, a National Transportation Safety Board investigation found that important bolts were missing from the Boeing plane.

Multiple other accidents have hounded Boeing planes over the past few months, leading to Airbus attempting to capitalize on Boeing's troubles. In mid-March, United Airlines considered leasing planes from Airbus instead of Boeing. Uniteds CEO Scott Kirby mentioned they were open to switching if the deal made financial sense.

Boeing delivered only 83 planes in the first quarter  the lowest since 2021. It initially aimed to increase 737 Max production to 50 planes a month by 2025, but recent setbacks have slowed down progress.

Boeing's stock has fallen by about 29 percent in 2024  making it one of the worst performers in the S&P 500. The company is borrowing $10 billion to address its issues, with Fitch Ratings warning that Boeings financial situation is nearing "junk bond status."

Watch this video about the FAA's investigation of Boeing allegedly using fake titanium parts.

This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

FLYING COFFINS: 3 Boeing aircraft suffered mechanical FAILURES in 2 days.

Boeing under investigation for "misconduct," falsified plane inspection records at non-union South Carolina plant.

Boeing 737 Max 8 skids off runway as gear collapses after landing in Houston.

TERRIFYING: Mid-air blowout leaves gaping hole on the side of Boeing 737 Max 9.

Boeings nosedive: How greed ruined a great American company.

Sources include:

NBCNews.com

NYTimes.com

Reuters.com 1

Qz.com

Brighteon.com
Federal judge overturns ATF pistol brace rule

A federal judge in Texas has overturned a rule issued by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) that targeted pistol attachments known as stabilizing braces or pistol braces and treated pistols fitted with such devices as short-barreled rifles, subjecting them to various restrictions.

(Article by Tom Ozimek republished from TheEpochTimes.com)

In a 12-page decision issued on June 13, U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor ruled that the ATFs rule that treated roughly 99 percent of pistols fitted with the braces as short-barreled rifles violated the Administrative Procedures Acts procedural requirements because it was not a logical outgrowth of the proposed version of the rule.

The Court finds that the adaptation of the Final Rule was arbitrary and capricious for two reasons, Judge O'Connor wrote. First, the Defendants did not provide a detailed justification for their reversal of the agencys longstanding position. And second, the Final Rules standards are impermissibly vague.

The judge granted the plaintiffs motion for summary judgment and ordered the rule vacated. The plaintiffs in this case are two individual members of the Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC), Maxim Defense, and FPC.

FPC President Brandon Combs said the ATF had lawlessly acted to turn millions of gun owners into felons.

FPC members should be proud of what was accomplished today. We look forward to defending this victory on appeal and up to the Supreme Court, just as we have in other cases, Mr. Combs said in a statement.

He said he expects the defendants, which include the ATF and the Department of Justice (DOJ), to appeal.

The Epoch Times has reached out to the ATF and DOJ with requests for comment on the ruling and whether they intend to appeal

Background

The pistol stabilizing brace was invented more than a decade ago to assist the disabled and others who may need help shooting large-format pistols built on the AR-15 and similar platforms. The accessory attaches to the rear of the pistol and the shooters forearm, enabling a steadier aim while holding the firearm with one hand.

Restrictions on stabilizing braces have been the subject of intense debate after the ATF proposed them in 2020. Initially, the ATF said in several open letters that it did not consider the braces as converting pistols into short-barreled rifles but in the final rule, the agency cited changes in the braces design in saying they convert pistols into restricted short-barreled rifles.

In January 2023, the DOJ announced that it had submitted the final rule to the Federal Register, formalizing the regulation that President Joe Biden advocated for in April 2020 after it was found that a man killed 10 people at a grocery store in Boulder, Colorado, using a gun with a stabilizing brace.

The rule has faced pushback from Republicans and gun-rights groups like the National Rifle Association, which pointed out they were originally designed for disabled veterans. The rule was also the subject of litigation that led to a preliminary injunction in April 2024and eventually led to the June 13 ruling that vacates the rule and sets up a possible U.S. Supreme Court appeal.

The rule went into effect immediately upon publication. Any firearms with stabilizing braces or similar attachments that qualified them under the new rule as short-barreled rifles had to be registered no later than within 120 days, or modified by removing the brace and restored into a regular pistol, or turned into a local ATF office, or destroyed.

Short-barreled rifles are subject to more strict regulations under the National Firearms Act (NFA), with those found in possession of unregistered NFA firearms can face fines of up to $10,000, ten years in prison, and a felony conviction that would disqualify them from future firearm ownership.

Tim Harmsen, an Indiana-based firearms dealer, told The Epoch Times in an earlier interview that, in his view, the ATFs stabilizing brace rule was part of a broader strategy of gun control by a thousand cuts.

On the campaign trail and since taking office, President Biden has pledged to get tougher on guns, citing the need to curb gun-related violence.

President Biden has publicly said he would back measures that ban magazines that carry 10 rounds or morewhich are common and are owned by millions of Americansand so-called assault weapons.

The number of Americans impacted by the ATFs brace rule is difficult to determine. The ATF estimates that 3 million pistol braces have been sold. Second Amendment advocates say the number is closer to 40 million.

Read more at: TheEpochTimes.com
G7 planning to escalate war by using frozen Russian assets to give billions more to Ukraine

The Group of Seven (G7) gathering in Italy just ended last week, and the plan this time is to finagle a $50 billion fund for Ukraine that will be backed by frozen Russian assets.

The Biden regime is pushing the European Union (EU) and other G7 nations to set up the fund quickly so the Zelensky regime will be flush with cash for his war well into the future.

The money will technically be a "loan," and it will be paid back over time using income derived from frozen assets from Russia's Central Bank. Right now, the United States and its allies have frozen about $280 billion in Russian Central Bank funds, most of which is currently being held in Europe.

President Biden recently signed a law giving himself the power to steal the $5 billion in Russian assets being held in the U.S., but the EU is not as keen on stealing all of the Russian assets it currently has in its possession. The EU instead agreed to a plan to use the interest from the holdings to provide about $3 billion per year to Ukraine, which Volodymyr Zelensky says is not nearly enough for his liking.

As a compromise, the U.S. wants to provide Ukraine with a massive loan that will allegedly get paid back over time with the profits from the stolen frozen assets.

(Related: Did you hear? The Moscow Exchange [MOEX] just halted all trading in dollars and euros after U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen imposed new sanctions against Russia.)

How will Russia respond to the threat of asset theft by the West?

To put it simply, the U.S., the EU, and Western powers in general think they are going to just stroll on out the door with hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of frozen Russian assets for Ukraine and get away with it. How foolish can they be?

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.

President Putin is in the process of setting up military armaments all around the U.S. for an attack, this after the West upped the ante in its economic war against Moscow. Russia is also planning to seize U.S. assets in the coming days as a retaliatory measure.

Putin signed a decree this week allowing Russia to seize any U.S. assets as necessary to compensate for the frozen Russian assets that are being stolen by Western ghouls to help Zelensky.

"The decree could be applied to any American individuals or companies that have assets in Russia, and it came after President Biden signed a bill into law that gave him the power to confiscate Russian assets and use them to pay for aid to Ukraine," reports Antiwar.com.

"Putin's decree would allow the Russian central bank or any companies that lost assets in the U.S. to apply to Russian courts 'with a claim to establish the fact of unjustified deprivation of his rights to property due to a decision by a U.S. state or judicial authority and to receive compensation for said damage.'"

The U.S. has indicated that it will not follow through with stealing frozen Russian assets unless all of its allies agree to do the same. After all, this is a lot of money that Putin is sure to want to get back  and likely will get back through whatever means once the time is right.

As for the $3 billion per year that the EU has offered to Ukraine, Zelensky scoffed at it, calling it "almost nothing" while demanding that his Western backers hand over all Russian assets immediately.

How much longer do you think it will be before the nukes start flying? Find out more at WWIII.news.

Sources for this article include:

Antiwar.com

NaturalNews.com

Antiwar.com
Rumble finds video of Google exec admitting to search engine bias

YouTube (Google) competitor Rumble has published a video of former Google VP of Search Products Marissa Mayer, showing her addressing recruits and breaking down the very essence of how Google arranges results on its search page.

(Article by Didi Rankovic republished from ReclaimTheNet.org)

According to what Mayer is heard saying in the video shared by Rumble CEO Chris Pavlovski, its simple: Google products are always shown on top. Thats regardless of popularity, metrics, or other criteria  its based solely on Googles decision to make it so.

?BREAKING NEWS: Our legal team has unearthed a video of Google's former VP of Search Products, Marissa Mayer, laughing to Google recruits about preferencing Google owned products in Google Search. This will be exhibit 1 in our self-preferencing antitrust lawsuit against Google pic.twitter.com/AGD98yyILx  Chris Pavlovski (@chrispavlovski) June 13, 2024

And this is a documented statement of fact that Rumble is hoping will help its legal case against Google, where it is accusing the giant of self-preferencing antitrust violations.

Mayer, the former Google exec, is heard talking about how the establishment of Google Finance changed the way the stock quotes were displayed (she even mentioned that her previous employer, Yahoo, had previously appeared on top).

And so before there was Google Finance, Mayer continued, We were actually ordering the links based on various published metrics like Comscore and media metrics.

But then, instead of continuing with the practice of actually having the top five finance sites appear thanks to their popularity  the Google Finance platform resulted in the giant putting the Google link first.

Its only fair, she went on. To whom, though? To the user, the search market, the competition, the law  or only to Google itself, as an isolated behemoth?

It will be very interesting to see how the US courts view this practice. Not least because in the same video, Mayer is heard confirming that it didnt stop with Google Finance.

So when we rolled out Google Finance, we did put the Google link first. But for Google Maps, again, its the first link, and so on and so forth. And after that, its ranked usually by popularity, she is heard saying.

The air of the unbearable lightness of breaking antitrust law  namely, Mayer is seen laughing while explaining all this to her audience  is something Rumble must be hoping to capitalize on, on top of the actual statements made.

And the place to capitalize is the court  Rumble is suing Google as an unfair competitor, a giant dominating the market and from that position, preferencing its own products, against antitrust rules.

The lawsuit that accuses Google of abuse of its monopolistic position in the market was launched in January 2021, alleging that Google (YouTube) was rigging its algorithm against competition.

Rumble CEO Pavlovski is now promising the Mayer video will be exhibit 1 in our self-preferencing antitrust lawsuit against Google.

Read more at: ReclaimTheNet.org
Australian supermarket chain imposes limits on EGG PURCHASES following bird flu-related poultry culls

Australian consumers who visit a major supermarket chain in the Land Down Under may find that they can't purchase eggs beyond a certain amount

Grocery chain Coles has enforced a maximum purchase limit of two cartons of eggs per customer, YourNews reported. The maximum purchase limit, which is on a temporary basis, applies to all states save for Western Australia.

At present, Coles is the only retailer in Australia to impose such limits. Its competitors Woolworths and Aldi are not putting a limit on egg sales. But comparable restrictions may follow from other stores if additional culls become necessary.

"We are working closely with all of our suppliers to ensure eggs remain available for our customers. We are providing support to the industry in responding to the avian flu cases in Victoria," a spokesperson for the grocery chain said.

The limit on egg purchases at Coles followed considerable poultry culls in Victoria state, which prompted the culling of over 500,000 birds on five farms in the southwest due to the H7N3 strain of avian influenza. This strain varies from the H5N1 strain discovered on dairy farms in the U.S. and the H5N2 strain connected to a reported death in Mexico. (Related: South Africa CULLS 7.5M chickens to contain BIRD FLU outbreaks, triggering shortages of poultry and eggs.)

According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), four farms near the town of Meredith were infected with the H7N3 bird flu strain. Meanwhile, an infection of the H7N9 strain was found in the town of Terang, also in Victoria.

We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Explore our decentralized, peer-to-peer, uncensorable Brighteon.io free speech platform here. Learn about our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance.

The Victorian Farmers Federation said about one in 16 egg-laying chickens had been culled, decreasing the state's supply by about 450,000 eggs a day. The culling also dealt a serious blow to Victoria, the third biggest egg-producing state in the Land Down Under.

Aussie officials claim EGG SHORTAGES are far-fetched

Egg producers have recently warned about a probable shortage on supermarket shelves, but officials have dismissed such claims as far-fetched.

Australian Eggs (AEggs) Managing Director Rowan McMonnies said the outbreak just caused a little interruption to the supply. AEggs is a member-owned not-for-profit corporation that gives marketing, research and development services to Australian producers.

"Some of those farms were supplying to Coles, so they've thought it was either necessary or responsible to go first and say we are going to limit supply," he told ABC's "Country Hour" during a recent appearance. "You might have to shop outside your normal patterns, but you will be able to find eggs."

McMonnies added the market was resorting to discovering fresh sources to fill the void left by the five producers. He added some egg exports could be redirected to the domestic market.

Murray Watt, the Australian federal minister for agriculture, described the purchasing limit by Coles as preemptive. He also asked shoppers to be respectful to employees. Wyatt, who is concurrently the federal emergency management minister, also expressed confidence in the work of Victorian authorities to manage the outbreak.

"It's now at a point where we do have bird flu in five different poultry farms across Victoria but frankly it would have been a lot more if the Victorian government, supported by the Commonwealth, hadn't moved as quickly as they had," he said.

Follow FoodRationing.news for more stories about purchase limits on foods such as eggs and more.

Watch this clip about the bird flu outbreak at an Australian farm.

This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN TAKEDOWN: Over 4 million chickens to be slaughtered after bird flu detected at egg farm.

Avian flu isnt responsible for egg shortage; skyrocketing livestock feed costs are

FOOD RATIONING: British supermarkets Asda and Lidl now limiting the number of eggs customers can buy.

BE AFRAID: A bird flu pandemic could be 100 times worse than COVID, warn researchers in obvious fear mongering psyop.

US egg factory roasts alive 5.3m chickens in avian flu cull before firing almost every worker.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

ABC.net.au

Brighteon.com
Israeli arms exports hit record sales for third year in a row despite war in Gaza

Israel has reached its third consecutive year of record-breaking arms exports , as annual arms sales soared to $13.1 billion in 2023 despite the increased scrutiny the Israeli military establishment is facing over allegations of war crimes in Gaza.

According to the Israeli Ministry of Defense's International Defense Cooperation Directorate, the $13.1 billion in arms exports for 2023 marks a $500 million increase from the previous year. This marks nearly double the value of exports compared to five years ago when figures ranged between $7.5 billion and $8.5 billion from 2018 to 2020.

Missiles, rockets and air defense systems comprised over a third of these exports, with the most significant contract being a $4 billion deal with Germany for the Arrow 3 long-range anti-ballistic missile system. Radar and electronic warfare systems, along with weapons launchers, each represented 11 percent of exports. (Related: Israel inks deal to get 25 additional F-35 fighter jets from U.S. paid for by American taxpayers.)

Cyber-intelligence systems, although notable, only make up four percent of sales and have faced scrutiny for allegedly being used by authoritarian nations to monitor journalists and political dissidents. The remainder of the exports included unmanned aerial vehicles and drones, manned aircraft, avionics, observation systems, communication systems, vehicles, maritime systems, ammunition and other services.

Geographically, the Asia-Pacific region emerged as the largest buyer of Israeli defense products, accounting for 48 percent of total exports. Europe followed with 35 percent, while North America represented nine percent, Latin America three percent, and Africa one percent. Notably, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco  which normalized relations with Israel under the 2020 Abraham Accords  accounted for only three percent of arms purchases, a significant drop from 24 percent in 2022.

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This surge comes amid increased production and demand following the outbreak of war on Oct. 7. The Defense Ministry stated that it has been operating in an "emergency mode," with defense contractors intensifying their efforts to manufacture weaponry and equipment for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) around the clock while fulfilling prior international orders.

"Even in a year in which the State of Israel is fighting against seven different arenas, the defense exports of the State of Israel succeed in continuing to break records. This fact is a certificate of honor, first and foremost, for our defense industries and the creative and talented minds that work in them and drive them to the heights of breakthrough innovation," boasted Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

"This year's figures show that even though our defense industries are committed to the war effort, they continue to sign more and more significant export deals, thus enabling the realization of the effort led by the Defense Ministry to increase defense exports while opening them to new markets," he added.

Colombia and France boycott Israel's arms exports

But despite the surge in arms exports, Israel is facing increasing criticisms and boycotts due to its ongoing military operations in Gaza.

In May, a French court banned Israeli companies from participating in the 2024 annual Eurosatory Arms and Defense Industry Exhibition in Villepinte, Paris, this June, likely in response to the assault on Rafah in southern Gaza.

"By decision of the government authorities, there will be no stand for the Israeli defense industry at the Eurosatory 2024 fair," organizers of Coges Events said on May 31. "Conditions are no longer met to host Israeli companies at the show at a time when President Emmanuel Macron is calling for Israel to cease operations in Rafah."

Similarly, in April, President Gustavo Petro of Colombia announced the suspension of weapons purchases from Israel after the IDF allegedly fired on people seeking food in Gaza. Petro blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the violence around the aid convoy and then described the deaths as "genocide."

"Asking for food, more than 100 Palestinians were killed by Netanyahu," Petro said in a post on X. "This is called genocide and is reminiscent of the Holocaust, even if the world powers do not like to recognize it. The world must block Netanyahu. Colombia suspends all purchases of weapons from Israel."

Visit MilitaryTechnology.news for similar stories.

Watch this report from Southfront Press discussing how Israel has decided to double down on its conflict against Palestinians despite military pressure from multiple fronts and growing international pressure.

This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com.

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Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

TimesofIsrael.com

AlJazeera.com

APNews.com

Brighteon.com
Ukrainian Azov neo-Nazis biggest lobbyist and supporter? Former British prime minister Boris Johnson

President Biden's recent decision to allow the United States to arm Ukraine's neo-Nazi Azov Brigade was motivated by former British prime minister Boris Johnson, sayseditor-in-chief Raheem Kassam.

Speaking to War Room host Stephen K. Bannon this week, Kassam explained why he believes Johnson, the Azov Brigade's biggest and most influential lobbyist, was the driving force behind the sudden change.

"The Azov Battalion ... has absolute direct links to neo-Nazism," Kassam said of the group. "This is not something that is disputed."

The Azov Brigade fights under the same wolf's hook emblem that was formerly used by Adolph Hitler's Das Reich Waffen-SS division during World War II. It was also founded by an ultra-nationalist who preaches a "final crusade ... against Semite-led Untermenschen," Untermenschen meaning subhumans.

"This is not something that even they dispute," Kassam continued in explaining what the Azov Brigade is. "What they say is that they have undertaken a PR operation to change their image and to try and put a lot of those things in the past."

(Related: Did you know that Ukraine maintains an "enemies list" of U.S. government officials and journalists that some believe is also an assassination list?)

Biden, Johnson and the neo-Nazis running Ukraine

At no point in time has the Azov Brigade even attempted to divest itself of its neo-Nazi reputation. In fact, the group seems to take pride in its neo-Nazi agenda, which is fully supported by many world leaders including Biden and Johnson.

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.

"They've not, by the way, said, 'Oh, and we divest of that, and we repudiate all of that," Kassam continued. "They say, 'We're trying to soften our image'  and, of course, one of their biggest lobbyists in the world at the moment, as we reported just a couple of weeks ago, is former British prime minister Boris Johnson, a lobbyist for Neo-Nazis."

"And it looks like the efforts of his lobbying have been targeted at Joe Biden at the U.S. State Department and beyond, and been successful."

Since its founding, the Azov Brigade and its members have looked at themselves as the heirs of Stepan Bandera, a 20th-century Ukrainian nationalist and independence fighter who was widely revered throughout the country.

Prior to 1991, Ukraine was part of the Soviet Socialist Republic. Part of its current territory was also owned by Poland, though Bandera, through a series of political murders, helped pave the way for the modern-day state of Ukraine to take ownership of the land.

Bandera and many of his fighters and supporters welcomed and collaborated with the German Nazis when they invaded the Soviet Union in 1941 and started ethnically cleansing via genocide Polish people in what is now recognized as western Ukraine.

Hitler's original plan was to colonize Ukraine, though, rather than grant it independence. He proceeded to intern Bandera, who hid from the Soviets in West Germany until he was ultimately assassinated by the KGB in 1959.

Today, the Azov Brigade is carrying on the legacy of Bandera and the group's Nazi roots. It exists as a testament to the persistence of Nazism in the world, and it would not have the power it currently does were it not for the advocacy and support of corrupt politicians like Johnson and Biden who are apparently Nazis themselves.

Quite frankly, anyone who supports Ukraine technically supports Nazism as the country is not what it seems. The land called Ukraine is not actually Ukraine, which is at the heart of the conflict between the Zelensky regime and Russia, with Russia wanting back what was taken from it.

The latest news about America's continued financial and military support for the neo-Nazis in Ukraine can be found at Corruption.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheNationalPulse.com

NaturalNews.com
Secret Service agent who was robbed at gunpoint during Bidens fundraiser in Los Angeles fired gun, investigation reveals

A United States Secret Service member was robbed at gunpoint in Orange County, California on Saturday, June 15. According to local and federal law enforcement agencies, the agent fired his government-issued weapon during the incident.

The Secret Service agent, whose identity was not revealed, had his bag stolen near a residential area as he was returning from a work assignment, as per a release from the Tustin Police Department (TPD). TPD said officers responded to a call regarding the robbery just after 9:30 p.m. and confirmed that an officer-involved shooting had taken place.

"A member of the U.S. Secret Service was the victim of an armed robbery in Tustin, California, late Saturday when returning from a work assignment," the Secret Service said in the statement following the incident. "The employee discharged their service weapon during the incident but unknown if the assailants were struck. We are thankful that the employee did not sustain any injuries."

A source familiar with the investigation said that the officer was operating in a support capacity during President Joe Biden's California trip, but he was off-duty at the time of the incident and was not a part of Biden's protective detail. The police department, like the Secret Service, also said in a separate statement they do not know if the suspect was injured as a result of the incident, who left the scene in a silver car and has not been located. Meanwhile, some of the Secret Service agent's belongings were recovered.

The police said that the investigation remains open and ongoing.

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Meanwhile, 81-year-old Biden was in Los Angeles for a fundraising event on the same day. Biden, along with many celebrities, gathered at the Peacock Theater and went back to his hotel room by 9 p.m., half an hour before the armed robbery incident occurred.

This is not the first time this year that unwanted publicity for the president's protective service came out. The National Pulse reported in late April that a member of Vice President Kamala Harris' Secret Service detail was involved in a physical fight with her superior. It was subsequently revealed that the agent in question, Michelle Herczeg, had thrown menstrual pads at other agents and had a concerning history of mental health incidents. Agents within the service had raised numerous concerns regarding Herczeg's erratic behavior and history.

"The agent was removed from their assignment while medical personnel were summoned. The vice president was at the Naval Observatory when this incident occurred and there was no impact on her departure from Joint Base Andrews," Anthony Guglielmi, Secret Service chief of communications, said in a statement shared with Fox News Digital. "The U.S. Secret Service takes the safety and health of our employees very seriously. As this was a medical matter, we will not disclose any further details." (Related: DEI-hire Secret Service agent assigned to VP Harris ASSAULTS superior while on duty.)

First family's dog Commander bit Secret Service agent while Biden was walking him

Biden gets a front-row seat whenever his embattled German Sheperd bites people around him and according to newly released records, Commander bit a secret service agent while the president was walking him around the grounds of the White House back in September.

The Secret Service agent was about to approach Biden to help him with something, the records obtained by conservative activist group Judicial Watch and reviewed by ABC News show.

"As I started to walk toward him to see if he needed help, Commander ran through his legs and bit my left arm through the front of my jacket. I pulled my arm away and yelled no," according to an email sent from an unnamed agent. "When turning to close the door, Commander jumped again and bit my left arm for the second time." According to the email, while no skin was broken, bites tore three holes in the suit and the agent filed a $943 reimbursement.

Meanwhile, after it was reported in the press, another agent was bitten. In one incident, a Secret Service uniformed officer had to be taken to the hospital after a bite from Commander. Then, only two days later, an official in the Secret Service's agency's Safety, Health & Environmental Division wrote: "Can we please find a way to get this dog muzzled?"

The dog was moved from the White House in October, due to a string of a total of 11 biting incidents, according to a tally from the news outlet.

Check out NationalSecurity.news for more stories related to this.

Watch the video below that talks about the robbing incident where a Secret Service agent is involved near Biden's fundraising event.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Nikki Haley asks for Secret Service protection following spike in THREATS.

Secret Service let group of children walk right by January 6 pipe bomb, fueling speculation about who planted it.

CRUEL: Biden habitually kicks first dog, eventually boots it out of White House for biting staff, Secret Service officers.

Big surprise: Secret Service quickly finishes its probe into cocaine found in White House with NO suspects identified.

Biden administration denies Secret Service protection for RFK Jr. despite repeated death threats.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

CBSNews.com

FoxNews.com

ABCNews.go.com

Brighteon.com
Former Democratic operative who raised millions for Obama is now endorsing TRUMP

Allison Huynh, a former Democratic operative who raised millions for former President Barack Obama, has now seen the light and voiced out her intent to endorse Republican former President Donald Trump . Huynh lamented that the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW is "asleep at the wheel."

"He's allowed Big Tech as well as the looters to take over Silicon Valley. San Francisco has been the science experiment that's gone awry," Huynh said about Biden during an appearance on "Fox & Friends First."

"I wake up in the morning, [there are] no grocery stores to go, [there are] no malls to take my teenage girls shopping to. The streets are not safe. There are more fentanyl users and dealers than high school students in our once great city."

According to the New York Post, Huynh and her then-husband Scott Hassan helped raise millions of dollars for the Obama campaign in 2008. The two first met in 2000 and were married the year after, but divorced acrimoniously in 2020  after 19 years of marriage.

She mentioned that her role at the time "was to bring in Silicon Valley people for the $50,000- and $100,000-per-plate dinners." With the help of her husband, a programmer at Google, they managed to bring in the search engine giant's co-founders Sergey Brin, Larry Page and Eric Schmidt.

But sixteen years on, Huynh has stopped identifying as a left-leaning Democrat and has branded herself as a Trump-supporting independent. Fox News also mentioned that she has recently traveled to Mar-a-Lago in Florida to support the real estate mogul at a fundraiser.

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 Post also mentioned that Huynh is also selling her collection of Democratic collectibles. These include a rocking chair that once belonged to the late President John F. Kennedy, which they purchased for nearly $100,000 at an auction in 2005. It also includes the art piece by artist Shepard Fairey that served as an inspiration for the Obama's Hope posters, which Huynh and Hassan paid more than $1 million for in 2008.

Huynh admits to being blinded by Obama's platform of "hope"

According to Fox News, Huynh's nature as a "hopeful" person and Obama's "great ideas" led her to support the then-U.S. senator for Illinois in his presidential campaign.

"When [Obama] came into power, he was very scared. In his biography, he talked about being afraid of doing things because he didn't want to ruin it for future Black leaders and Black presidents. And therefore, he let the government bureaucracy and red tape take over him," she said.

Huynh noted how things improved when Trump took over in 2016 but took a turn for the worse when Biden  who served as Obama's vice president  assumed the presidency in 2020.

"Biden is changing that. Right now, it's very hard in this country to make money unless you work for a Big Tech company. If you're an emerging tech company, they're driving you offshore."

The 48-year-old Huynh, herself an immigrant from Vietnam, remarked that border policy is another issue that has led her to abandon her Democratic alignment. Since becoming president, Biden has espoused an open border policy that has fueled the ongoing migrant crisis.

"I am all for hardworking immigrants, but not for open admission of immigrants," she clarified. "We have to differentiate between legal immigrants who come here and work hard, and illegal immigrants who come here and commit crimes." (Related: Breitbart's Alex Marlow: Biden favoring OPEN BORDERS to keep wages down and Democrats in power.)

In contrast, Huynh had nothing but positive words for Trump. She noted how he was "very specific with coming out with great ideas to allow people to grow great wealth."

"I was surprised when I met Trump. He was light, funny and intelligent. The people there were down-to-earth," she said.

"I was happy with how knowledgeable Trump is about what is going on in the country and the economy. He had the information. He is all there with the things that matter."

Watch Allison Huynh explaining why she ditched the Democratic Party to support Trump in the clip below.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

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Trump thanks former rival DeSantis for RAISING FUNDS for his campaign.

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Sources include:

100PercentFedUp.com

FoxNews.com

NYPost.com

Brighteon.com
Israel preparing for mass burials ahead of impending offensive in Lebanon

Israel is preparing for a mass burial in the northern part of the country as the possibility of an attack on nearby Lebanon looms and tensions rise between the two adversaries.

Israeli Minister of Religious Affairs Michael Malchieli told the media that his ministry was handling several issues related to the war in Gaza, and preparing for burials is just one of them.

He told Channel 14: "We are busy with many things related to the war, in preparation, unfortunately, also for whatever - may it not happen - in the north."

When the interviewer asked him if Israel is anticipating any mass burial scenarios, he answered in the affirmative, saying that additional deaths from the conflict with Lebanon were a real possibility.

"We in the ministry are holding meetings and preparations for bigger things in the north, yes," he replied.

The Israeli military recently announced that plans for an upcoming offensive in Lebanon had been approved, and they have already started launching strikes on Hezbollah drone launch squads. They also said they have made decisions about increasing the readiness of troops in the field.

Just hours before the announcement, the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group broadcast video footage it claims was taken by a surveillance drone over Haifa, a port city in northern Israel, in what is widely being interpreted as a warning to Israel against starting a conflict with them. The video ran for nine minutes and pinpointed important locations such as civilian infrastructure and military sites.

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.

Israel responded angrily to the video. Foreign Minister Israel Katz cautioned in a post on X: We are very close to the moment of decision to change the rules against Hezbollah and Lebanon. In an all-out war, Hezbollah will be destroyed and Lebanon will be severely hit."

The State of Israel will pay a price on the front and home fronts, but with a strong and united nation, and the full power of the IDF, we will restore security to the residents of the north, he added.

The Lebanese militant group has been trading fire with Israeli forces on a regular basis since the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza began last October. However, there has been a significant escalation in the last week, with Hezbollah firing dozens of rockets at Israel after the Jewish state killed one of their commanders with an air strike.

Israel shifting its focus from Gaza to fighting Hezbollah in Lebanon

It is believed that when fighting in Gaza slows down, Israel will shift its full focus to its northern border, where it will try to push Hezbollah back so that the tens of thousands of Israelis who have been displaced can return home before school starts in the fall.

American and Israeli officials are worried that if a full-blown war breaks out between Israel and Hezbollah, the group may overwhelm Israeli air defenses in the northern part of the country, including its Iron Dome air defense system. They believe that at least some of the Iron Dome's batteries could be overwhelmed when faced by Hezbollahs impressive arsenal of drones and missiles, especially if they carry out a large-scale attack with precision-guided weapons.

U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein was dispatched to the region this week for meetings in both Lebanon and Israel to try to soothe tensions. He told reporters in Beirut on Tuesday that the two countries had reached a serious time and a critical moment.

Its in everyones interest to resolve it quickly and diplomatically. That is both achievable and it is urgent, he added.

Israel wants Hezbollah to pull its forces back from the border area, while Hezbollah maintains it wont agree to any deals without a ceasefire in Gaza.

Sources for this article include:

MiddleEastEye.net

FT.com

CNN.com
Italy mulls sending long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine

Italy is considering sending long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine , further escalating tensions in an already volatile war.

According to a June 18 report by the Italian daily newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano, the missiles will be part of Rome's ninth arms package to Kyiv. The outlet cited sources within the Italian Ministry of Defense.

The arms package will be presented by Defense Minister Guido Crosetto to the Italian Parliament's Committee for the Security of the Republic for approval by the end of the month. It is set to be finalized before the NATO summit in Washington starting on July 9. This transfer would mark a more aggressive stance by Rome on the Ukraine conflict. (Related: Putin threatens to station missiles close to the U.K. after Brits supplied Ukraine with long-range missiles.)

The Storm Shadow cruise missile has a range of up to 560 kilometers (348 miles) and can potentially hit targets far within Russia. It is known as SCALP-EG in France, an abbreviation of its French name. Aside from the Storm Shadow, Italy's ninth arms package for Ukraine also includes the SAMP/T air defense system, artillery and Stinger surface-to-air missiles.

While Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has supported Kyiv, her government previously hesitated to allow Ukrainian use of Italian weapons for deep strikes in Russia. Both Crosetto and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani emphasized last month that using Italian-supplied weapons on Russian soil was prohibited by Italy's constitution. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini also warned that Rome would halt military support to Kyiv if assurances weren't given that the weapons would not be used inside Russia.

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.

While the list of Italian weapons sent to Ukraine remains classified, British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps revealed in May that Italy had been supplying Storm Shadows alongside the U.K. and France, especially for use in Crimea. Yuri Sak, an advisor to Ukrainian Strategic Industries Minister Oleksandr Kamyshin, also confirmed that London and Paris have supplied Kyiv with Storm Shadow missiles. He added that some of these missiles have been used to strike deeper into Russian territory.

Storm Shadow missiles touted as game-changers, but will they make a difference?

Recently, Ukrainian leadership has increased pressure on NATO countries to provide more critical weapons and allow their use against Russian targets.

Some North Atlantic Treaty Organization member states, including the U.K., Poland, and Latvia, support Ukrainian strikes within Russia. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and U.S. President Joe Biden have also stated that Ukraine is permitted to target Russian positions near the front lines. In response, Russian Pesident Vladimir Putin warned earlier this month that Moscow might consider arming adversaries of Western nations that supply Ukraine with the means to strike Russian soil.

Ukraine was expected to use the limited supply of Storm Shadows against key Russian military assets in occupied areas. In turn, Kyiv has modified its Soviet-era Su-24 jet fighters to launch these missiles, allowing for safer, more precise strikes.

Ben Barry of the International Institute for Strategic Studies noted that the missile's range and capability to penetrate hardened structures will force Russia to reassess the protection of its logistics, command centers, and equipment behind the frontline. This could lead to repositioning Russian air defenses, he added.

Security expert J. Andres Gannon of the Council of Foreign Relations noted that Russia may need to devote more resources to protecting its hubs or pull them further back, slowing their operations. The Storm Shadow, despite being fewer in number, could further disrupt Russian operations.

However, there are political constraints. Ukraine has agreed not to use these missiles against targets inside Russia to avoid escalating the conflict.

Watch Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya explaining how the West is directing Ukraine's use of long-range weapons.

This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Ukrainian official says British long-range missiles are already being used to strike Russia.

U.S. quietly sent Ukraine long-range missiles following a secret directive from Biden.

Could Russia deploy ballistic missiles in Mexico?

Sources include:

RT.com

BBC.com

Brighteon.com
Malaysia, which controls 25% of the worlds sea route trade via the Strait of Malacca, announced it is joining BRICS

In an interview with Chinese media outlet, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim revealed that his country is preparing to join the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) alliance of emerging economies.

Last year, BRICS decided to expand its membership ranks to challenge the current Western-led world order, which has become an overflowing cesspool of filth and corruption. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, Argentina and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are all joining BRICS, as is Malaysia  and some 40 more countries want to join as well.

"We have made a decision," Anwar said. "We will be placing the formal procedures soon ... we are just waiting for the final results from the government in South Africa."

Anwar's comments came just ahead of a three-day visit by Chinese Premier Li Qiang as part of a celebratory event marking the 50th year of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China.

Reuters received confirmation as to the authenticity of Malaysia's plans to join BRICS via a representative from Anwar's office, which provided no additional details as to the country's application process.

Strategic geography a win-win for Malaysians and BRICS

It turns out that Malaysia is a vitally important country in the global scheme of things pertaining to trade. It controls upwards of 25 percent of the world's sea route trade via the Strait of Malacca (SoM).

Put differently, 25 percent of the world's sea route trade passes through the Strait of Malacca, which is controlled by Malaysia.

Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia together border the Strait, one of the most important aspects of which is the fact that it is one of the quickest routes connecting the Indian Ocean with the Pacific Ocean.

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.

"This makes the Strait particularly important for both the United States and China in the realm of international commerce," explains Cimsec.org. "According to a 2016 report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, roughly $874 billion in exports from mainland China passed through the South China Sea, a body of water that is linked to the Indian Ocean primarily by the SoM."

"This dwarfs the same figure for the United States, which stood at $83 Billion. Despite this, prominent U.S. allies had high export values as well, such as South Korea ($249 Billion), Japan ($141 Billion), and Germany ($117 Billion). Additionally, it must be noted that not all exports sent through the South China Sea will go through the SoM. Due to its importance, the SoM has become a source of contention not only under the purview of economics, but security as well."

One by one, the world's producing countries are joining BRICS while the mostly non-producing, overindulgent, corrupted West loses dominant status at increasing speed. What will be the straw that finally breaks the camel's back?

Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr. Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid says that the benefits to the Malaysian people of their country joining BRICS will be enormous.

"It will effectively insulate the country and the region from the changes in the United States' monetary policy and currency volatility, potentially improving predictability in the currency market and lowering transaction costs for exporters and importers," he is quoted as saying.

Thailand is another nearby country that also wants to join BRICS, recognizing that the Western-controlled world order is collapsing.

"Joining BRICS will enable member countries to align their positions on issues such as infrastructure development (following the Belt and Road Initiative model), economic policies as well as climate policies," says Mohd Sedek Jantan, a fellow of the Asian Financial Cooperation Association Think Tank.

The latest news about the global transition away from the petrodollar and into BRICS can be found at Collapse.news.

Sources for this article include:

Reuters.com

Cimsec.org

NaturalNews.com

Csis.org

TheMalaysiaReserve.com
Mexican illegal previously DEPORTED 16 TIMES charged for fatal vehicle crash that killed Colorado man

An illegal alien from Mexico who was previously deported 16 times has been charged with causing a fatal vehicle crash that killed a Colorado man.

Mexican Ignacio Cruz-Mendoza, 47, faces multiple charges  including vehicular homicide, vehicular assault, reckless driving and driving without a commercial driver's license. The charges stem from an incident that resulted in the death of Scott Miller, 64, a resident of Bailey, Colorado.

According to the Colorado State Patrol, Cruz-Mendoza was driving a semi-truck for the Indio, California-based Monique Trucking on Highway 285 near Conifer, Colorado. The truck veered off the road and rolled over, causing the pipe and angle iron it was carrying to spill onto five vehicles. It also caused the highway to be closed in both directions for multiple hours.

Miller was in one of the five vehicles and was pronounced dead at the scene. Another driver sustained serious injuries during the incident, but was fortunately rushed to a local hospital and is now out of harm's way.

Meanwhile, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that Cruz-Mendoza is an illegal immigrant who has been deported back to his home country 16 times. He was first deported in May 2002 after being arrested in Oregon. Despite multiple deportations over the past 20 years, he has continually re-entered the U.S., allegedly through the southern border.

ICE officials have also issued a detainer on Cruz-Mendoza, which requests that he be handed over to their custody if released from police custody. The Mexican illegal is under the custody of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office in Colorado.

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.

Another illegal deported multiple times caused chaos in Colorado last December

The incident involving Cruz-Mendoza isn't the first time the Centennial State witnessed such an instance. In December, an illegal who had been deported multiple times was involved in a road accident that claimed the lives to two bona fide U.S. citizens in they city of Broomfield, Colorado.

Thirty-seven-year-old Jose Menjivar, who hails from El Salvador, crashed his vehicle into another car on Dec. 12, 2023. The incident killed Melissa Powell, 39, and her 16-year-old son Riordan. The Broomfield Police Department immediately arrested the Salvadoran after his release from the hospital.

Menjivar faces charges of vehicular homicide reckless, vehicular homicide DUI (driving under the influence) and being a habitual offender. Authorities speculate that alcohol and speed may have played a role in the accident.

Court records from Boulder County revealed that Menjivar has a history of prior convictions for drunk driving offenses spanning from 2007 to 2019. To make matters worse, a spokesperson for ICE stressed that the Salvadoran illegal had shown "no regard for immigration law" based on the agency's records.

Per the spokesperson, Menjivar had reportedly entered the U.S. at an unknown time and place. An immigration judge issued a final order for him on April 14, 2009, and the illegal was deported in June of the same year. Despite the removal order, Menjivar managed to enter the country multiple times after that  in June 2012, November 2014 and finally in January 2015. (Related: Illegal immigrant charged with VEHICULAR HOMICIDE in Colorado had already been deported FOUR TIMES.)

ICE Denver lodged a detainer with Broomfield County on Dec. 18, 2023  six days after the tragic accident that claimed the lives of the Powells. The detainer indicates the agency's intent to seek Menjivar's arrest.

"As part of its routine operations, ICE targets and arrests non-citizens who commit crimes and other individuals who have violated our nation's immigration laws," said the ICE spokesperson. "All non-citizens in violation of U.S. immigration law may be subject to arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removed from the U.S. regardless of nationality."

The National Pulse meanwhile remarked: "The spike in violence and deaths of American citizens at the hands of illegal immigrants has fueled a backlash against the Biden government among voters. Immigration and the border crisis have routinely ranked as a top issue for Americans heading into the 2024 presidential election."

Watch Justin Barclay discussing a potential plan by President Joe Biden to grant amnesty to illegal immigrants below.

This video is from the Justin Barclay channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

ICE Boston arrests three illegal immigrants suspected as child predators.

Venezuela emptying prisons, CRIMINALS blending in with migrants trying to cross US border.

Illegals who beat cops in liberal NYC seem to face ZERO CONSEQUENCES and get free bus rides out of town.

Illegal alien who entered the country undetected has been arrested, charged with CHILD RAPE in Massachusetts.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

Breitbart.com

KKTV.com

TheEpochTimes.com

Brighteon.com
Wild video: No-knock wellness check leads to shootout, three injured police officers

(Article by Kelen McBreen republished from Infowars.com)

Bodycam footage captured the intense scene:

A 32 yard old man was alone in his home and his family called 911 as they were concerned about his safety/mental health. According to police, they attempted to contact him but couldn't. So, instead of waiting they decided it was a good idea to break into his house in full pic.twitter.com/V4DQy6taLg  Mrgunsngear (@Mrgunsngear) June 19, 2024

Officers were told by the mother of Jonathon Gounaris that he was threatening to commit suicide and homicide.

Next, police attempted to contact Gounaris and decided to break into his home when their communication attempts failed.

Using a battering ram and never once announcing their presence on the property, officers busted in the door and were almost immediately met with gunfire.

In the melee, tactical medic Tyler Carls with the Rochelle Fire Department was hit twice in the body armor. Oregon Police Department Sergeant Tad Dominski was shot in the upper arm and Lieutenant Jason Ketter with the Ogle County Sheriffs Office was shot in the face, according to WIFR.

Carls and Dominski were released from the hospital and Ketter is set to undergo surgery.

Gounaris was shot in the stomach during the firefight, requiring surgery at a nearby hospital.

On Tuesday, the Ogle County States Attorneys Office charged Gounaris with four counts of attempted first-degree murder, three counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm, three counts of aggravated battery and two counts of possession without a Firearm Owners Identification Card (FOID).

Illinois State Police are investigating the shooting.

Read more at: Infowars.com
North Koreas Kim Jong Un, Russias Vladimir Putin sign mutual defense treaty

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un have signed a pact pledging mutual defense in case either country is attacked. The agreement was formalized during a summit in Pyongyang, marking a rare visit by Putin to the reclusive, nuclear-armed state as both nations face increasing confrontations with the West.

In a press conference following the summit, Putin described the treaty as "a truly breakthrough document," emphasizing the shared intent to elevate bilateral relations across security, trade, investment and cultural and humanitarian sectors. Kim characterized the pact as a peaceful agreement that formalizes an alliance between the two countries.

The comprehensive strategic partnership may facilitate the transfer of military technology to Pyongyang in exchange for munitions that Russia needs for its war in Ukraine.

U.S. officials have warned that such exchanges could significantly bolster North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, posing a threat to the Asia-Pacific region.

Kim, who has been ramping up weapons testing and heightening tensions with Western-friendly South Korea, pledged his "full support" for Russias special military operation in Ukraine during the summit. (Related: South Korea preparing to swiftly eliminate Kim Jong Un and other top Pyongyang officials in the event of an all-out war.)

Putin's visit, his first to North Korea in 24 years, came as Kremlin forces seek breakthroughs in Ukraine's east and north, while Kyiv's defenses are strengthened by new commitments from its allies. Putin arrived at midday for a welcome ceremony at Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung Square, named after Kim's grandfather, North Korea's founder.

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.

Amid a crowd of cheering civilians, Putin and Kim greeted officials on a red carpet outside the squares main building, beneath portraits of themselves.

Military bands played the national anthems of both countries, and children waved balloons and flags. The leaders then proceeded to the Kumsusan Palace for summit talks.

Delegation discussions lasted about an hour and a half, followed by two hours of one-on-one talks between Kim and Putin, according to Russian state media.

The leaders exchanged gifts, with Kim receiving a Russian-made Aurus limousine, a tea set and a naval officer's dagger. Putin received busts and other artwork depicting him.

Earlier, Kim personally welcomed Putin at Pyongyang International Airport, embracing him and accompanying him to the Kumsusan State Guest House. The state-run Korean Central News Agency reported that the leaders "exchanged their pent-up inmost thoughts" during the ride, showcasing the "invincibility and durability" of Russia-North Korea ties.

Following the signing of the agreement, Putin and Kim attended a state reception in Pyongyang. Putin last visited Pyongyang in 2000 to strengthen ties with Kim's father, Kim Jong Il. Kim Jong Un's visit to Russia's far east last year signaled a deepening relationship.

Agreement could see North Korea flooded with Russian weapons

The agreement may pave the way for expanded arms deals between the two nations and enhance the growing anti-American and anti-Western coalition Putin is forming, according to Lami Kim, a professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies.

Western officials are concerned about weapons and intelligence-sharing that could aid Russia in Ukraine and threaten the United States and its allies in Asia.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken remarked that Russias efforts to strengthen relations with North Korea indicate desperation to sustain its war in Ukraine. U.S. intelligence suggests that Russia might be providing North Korea with nuclear submarine and ballistic missile technology in exchange for munitions, a move that could enable North Korea to field a nuclear-armed submarine.

Both Russia and North Korea have denied any arms transfers, which would violate United Nations Security Council resolutions that Russia previously supported.

Russia's recent veto of UN sanctions monitoring against North Korea has raised concerns about avoiding scrutiny and shielding Kim from consequences for weapons tests.

The agreement with Moscow could provide Pyongyang with essential oil and natural resources for its economy and missile program, further undermining the effectiveness of sanctions.

Watch this video showing Russian President Vladimir Putin's arrival in Pyongyang.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

North Korea hires Russian influencer to promote hermit kingdoms tourism.

North Korea blasts "sinister" U.S. approval of F-16 jets for Ukraine.

North Korea tests solid-fuel missile with HYPERSONIC warhead in newest display of power.

North Korea, Russia vow to form NEW WORLD ORDER free of U.S. domination.

Sources include:

NBCNews.com

APNews.com

Brighteon.com
Poll: Majority of Hispanics favor MASS DEPORTATIONS of illegals

The survey conducted by CBS News and YouGov polled 1,615 registered voters between June 5 and June 7, and had a margin of error of 3.8 points. It found that 62 percent of respondents overall would favor the federal government commencing "a new national program to deport all undocumented immigrants currently living in the U.S. illegally." Only 38 percent of respondents overall said they would oppose such a program.

The poll also found that based on ethnicity, mass deportation was popular with Hispanics (53 percent for, 47 percent against) and Whites (67 percent for, 33 percent against). Fifty-three percent of Blacks meanwhile opposed mass deportation, compared to 47 percent in favor.

The CBS News/YouGov poll's results mirror an earlier survey by Axios, whose results were published in April. It found that a majority of Americans, including 45 percent of Hispanics, support the mass deportations of illegals.

According to Newsweek, "the results of the latest survey indicate that many would back former President Donald Trump's plan to launch the largest deportation operation in U.S. history if he wins back the White House in November." (Related: Trump to launch biggest DEPORTATION effort in U.S. history if elected.)

"The polling is reflective of just how dissatisfied American voters are with the failure of both Republicans and Democrats to secure the border," said Thomas Gift, director of the Center on U.S. Politics at University College London in the United Kingdom. "Immigration is again surging to the top of the 'most important problem' list because Washington has shown itself completely ill-equipped to execute common-sense immigration enforcement."

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.

Trump promises MASS DEPORTATIONS if elected to a second term

Mirroring Gift's remarks, immigration regularly ranks among the voters' top issues ahead of the U.S. presidential elections. Trump and incumbent President Joe Biden are set to face of in a repeat of the 2020 race.

The real estate mogul and presumptive Republican presidential nominee has made cracking down on illegal immigration a centerpiece of his campaign. This strategy, Newsweek pointed out, fueled his rise to power in 2016.

Trump expounded on his plan to address illegal immigration if elected to a second term in an April interview with Time magazine. He floated the idea of using the National Guard as part of mass deportation efforts and even insinuated the possible use of active-duty military members.

"If I thought things were getting out of control, I would have no problem using the military, per se," Trump said at the time. "We have to have safety in our country. We have to have law and order in the country. And whichever gets us there, but I think the National Guard will do the job."

Meanwhile, Biden took action earlier this month by issuing an executive order (EO) that effectively halts asylum claims at the southern border. The EO issued June 5, which limits asylum processing once encounters with migrants between ports of entry reach 2,500 daily, immediately went into effect.

Latest figures from immigration authorities found that encounters with migrants were far higher than the 2,500 limit  about 4,000 daily. Thus, the EO served as an effort on Biden's part to deflect attacks against him on his handling of immigration.

According to the incumbent Democratic chief executive, Republicans had left him with no choice but to issue the EO after GOP lawmakers  urged by Trump  shot down a bipartisan asylum reform bill. Had it passed, it would have overhauled the asylum system to provide faster and tougher immigration enforcement. But recent numbers show that Biden's EO is having little effect on the number of illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Watch former President Donald Trump explaining his biggest deportation plan against illegal immigrants to Fox News below.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Trump vows to implement the largest domestic deportation operation in American history if re-elected as president in 2024.

Latest polls show majority of Americans now approve of MASS DEPORTATIONS for illegal immigrants.

EXCLUSIVE details on Trumps MASS DEPORTATION plan to save America from being overrun.

New poll shows rising Latino support for border wall, mass deportation of illegals.

Get ready for large-scale military-run concentration camps across America.

Sources include:

Newsweek.com

Brighteon.com
SNAFU  U.S. gives up on failed $230 million Gaza humanitarian aid pier  disassembly to begin as early as July

More government waste is making headlines after the Biden regime announced that it is giving up on the $230 million Gaza humanitarian aid pier boondoggle in the Middle East.

After operating for just 10 days at a cost of $23 million per day, the Gaza aid pier is being deconstructed in the latest example of federal government tomfoolery, compliments of U.S. taxpayers.

Remember back in March when President Biden rattled off from his teleprompter during his State of the Union (SOTU) address about how important the pier was to alleviating the humanitarian catastrophe imposed by Israel in the Gaza Strip? Well, it seems the pier was not important after all.

"The pier will go down as one of history's costliest publicity stunts," reported Zero Hedge.

"The impetus for the pier was mounting political pressure on Biden  particularly from his own party  as Israel's response to the Oct. 7 Hamas invasion killed tens of thousands, displaced more than a million, and caused a territory-wide food and medical-supply crisis."

(Related: Russian insider Viktor Bout believes that a global thermonuclear holocaust is imminent  what do you think?)

Democrats are tired of Biden's poor performance

This sudden announcement about the aid pier's deconstruction in Gaza came just one week after the Michigan primary in which it was revealed that 13 percent of Democrats, amounting to more than 100,000 people, in the state voted "uncommitted" as a way to voice their disapproval of Biden's presidency.

"Any second lieutenant could have foreseen this train wreck," tweeted the @LeighWolf X account. "Absolute humiliation for our troops all because Biden wanted a talking point in his reelection campaign."

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U.S. taxpayers and the country as a whole gets stuck with the bill, but at least Israel is happy, right? The independent media in general could not help but notice that all this insanity surrounding the aid pier is indicative of a much larger problem of political pandering at the behest of the Zionists.

"Unable to persuade its perennial, multi-billion-dollar beneficiary to allow sufficient aid to pass through land crossings, the U.S. government felt compelled to spend $230 million trying to bypass the blockade  a blockade the same U.S. government continued to facilitate via military and financial aid," Zero Hedge explained about America's bizarre and abusive relationship with Israel.

As for what happened at the aid pier during the 10 days it operated, we know from media reports that desperate Palestinians ransacked the first aid trucks to arrive before the vehicles could even reach a distribution warehouse managed by the World Food Programme, resulting in the pier having to be shut down for two days.

Then came the bad weather and rough seas, which destroyed portions of the pier and left it unusable, resulting in four associated vessels running aground and crashing, prompting another pause in operations.

All in all, the Gaza aid pier was never really open as intended. And yet the hundreds of millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars spent on it are gone forever, adding to the national debt and the collapse of the country under the heavy weight of unmitigated corruption and greed.

A U.S. service member was also critically injured while trying to build the pier. He was flown all around for treatment, eventually finding himself in San Antonio where he is said to still be in critical condition.

BREAKING: Waves swept away a section of the American floating pier installed to carry aid to Gaza, Israeli media reported Saturday. I would say this sums up Biden's efforts. Can't even build a structurally sound pier. pic.twitter.com/Blu78HmwXX  ?? Larry ?? (@InterStarMedia) May 25, 2024

The latest news about the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East can be found at Chaos.news.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

NaturalNews.com
In the verdant rainforests of southwest England, a team of scientists from the University of Exeter has embarked on an extraordinary journey to uncover the secrets of one of the UK's most elusive and rarest insects-the blue ground beetle.

This groundbreaking study, supported by the Woodland Trust and other partners, is not just a tale of scientific inquiry but a beacon of hope for conservation efforts in the region.

Beetle Backpacks: A Technological Leap in Ecological Research

The blue ground beetle, a species confined to the temperate rainforest fragments of Dartmoor, has long been shrouded in mystery.

To shed light on their behavior and habitat use, researchers have equipped these beetles with miniature radio trackers, affectionately termed "beetle backpacks."

This innovative approach has allowed the team to record the nightly escapades of these six-legged athletes, revealing their remarkable ability to traverse distances that, to them, are the equivalent of several kilometers.

Dr. Nick Royle and Ph.D. researcher Brogan Pett lead the study, which has already yielded fascinating insights.

For instance, one male beetle, identified by his tag number R9, demonstrated exceptional vigor, covering over 25 meters in a single night.

These findings are crucial, as they highlight the beetles' preference for old-growth rainforest and their avoidance of habitat edges-information that is vital for developing effective conservation strategies.

Conservation Implications: Protecting the UK's Green Heritage

The implications of this research extend far beyond academic curiosity.

The data collected will inform the Woodland Trust and its allies on how to manage these precious rainforest patches, ensuring the survival of the blue ground beetle and the myriad of other species that call these habitats home.

With the beetles' active period limited to warm, humid evenings in late spring and early summer, the race is on to understand and protect these creatures before it's too late.

As the study progresses, the hope is that these beetles' multi-day 'adventures' will not only continue to fascinate but will also pave the way for a future where the UK's rarest rainforest beetles-and the enchanting forests they inhabit-thrive for generations to come

Also Read: Unique and Tiny Beetle Found in Borneo Forest

The Blue Ground Beetle

The blue ground beetle, Carabus intricatus, is a rare and striking species native to the UK's temperate rainforests, particularly in Dartmoor.

Recognizable by its vibrant blue wing cases, this beetle is one of the largest ground beetles in the UK, reaching up to 38mm in length.

It leads a mostly nocturnal life, emerging on warm, humid evenings in late spring and early summer to feed and mate.

Conservationists have taken a keen interest in this beetle due to its rarity and the fragmented nature of its habitat.

In an effort to understand and protect this species, researchers from the University of Exeter, in collaboration with the Woodland Trust, have initiated a pioneering study.

They've equipped the beetles with miniature radio trackers, or 'beetle backpacks,' to monitor their movements.

These trackers have revealed that the beetles can be quite active, with some individuals covering impressive distances equivalent to several kilometers in human terms.

The study, led by Dr. Nick Royle and Ph.D. researcher Brogan Pett, has provided valuable insights into the beetle's habitat preferences, such as old-growth rainforest and avoidance of habitat edges.

This information is crucial for developing conservation strategies to ensure the survival of the blue ground beetle and the health of the UK's unique rainforest ecosystems

Related article: The Discovery of a Fossil Beetle in a Coconut Gives Fresh Light on Neotropical Rainforests
A study reveals a sad reality that only one-third of the biggest marine protected areas (MPAs) in the world presently have a significant conservation efforts.

Conservation And Protection

Marine conservation is becoming more and more about the art of keeping people out of certain oceanic regions. Government efforts to do this are typically modeled after marine protected areas, which are large portions of the sea reserved and managed to protect marine life and its habitats.

The study, which was carried out by a global team of researchers under the direction of the Marine Conservation Institute in Seattle, Washington, concentrated on the top 100 MPAs worldwide, which combined cover more than 7% of the ocean's surface.

The researchers discovered that only 2.6 percent of the world's ocean area-roughly one-third of these MPAs' total area-is fully or highly protected. They discovered that a third of the areas within these MPAs were open to damaging operations like industrial fishing and mining, which rendered them fundamentally irreconcilable with conservation.

A further 25% of the protected areas they examined were classified as "paper parks," which means that although these maritime areas had been formally suggested or named MPAs, no further conservation actions had been taken. For instance, other than being designated as a protected area, more than 60% of the OSPAR MPA network, which collectively occupies around 7% of the Northeast Atlantic Ocean, doesn't seem to have benefited from any protection efforts.

These results are diametrically opposed to the 3030 proposal, which calls for the protection of thirty percent of the world's lands and waterways by 2030 and was agreed upon by 188 states in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which was endorsed during the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in December 2022.

Although the 7 percent of the ocean that will be protected by 2024 already falls short of the 30 percent that must be protected by 2030, this new analysis raises doubts about whether the states that signed the COP15 accord have made even that much progress.

The researchers combined information from the publicly accessible World Database on Protected Areas, which counts MPAs and their coverage as they are officially recognized by governments all around the world, to compile these findings. They then distinguished between the categories based on their practical efficacy using The MPA Guide, a set of assessment standards based on scientific research.

Read Also: Biodiversity and Marine Protected Areas: Four Percent of Ocean Protected

Lack Effectiveness

Mark Spalding, president of The Ocean Foundation and an authority on ocean law said the report confirms everything that marine scientists believe about lack of political will, lack of financial resources, and lack of effectiveness of MPAs.

"We need to have the government, the will, the strategy and the financial resources put behind marine protected areas to make them actually effective," he added.

Even though the current study only looked at the biggest MPAs in the world, many ocean experts think smaller MPAs are equally significant.

This may be partially due to the fact that smaller areas-particularly those with substantial human traffic and high biodiversity values-are simpler to reconcile with the demands of the sea from human activity.

Even though most governments are falling short of the 30x30 goals, there has been debate over the goal itself. Many environmentalists seek to make sure that MPAs maintain the quality of their protection in addition to its quantity.

Related Article: New marine protected area established in the Batangas Province of the Philippines
Air pollution has surpassed inadequate sanitation and a lack of clean water to become the second largest health risk factor for young children worldwide, killing about 2,000 of them every day.

Second Leading Risk

According to a new analysis from the Health Effects Institute (HEI), air pollution contributed to almost 8 million adult and pediatric deaths in 2021. The health effects of pollution, both indoors and outdoors, are only getting worse.

The research, which was created for the first time in collaboration with UNICEF, reveals that children under five are particularly at risk for health consequences such as low birth weight, asthma, lung disorders, and premature birth.

After starvation, exposure to air pollution was found to be the second-leading risk factor for death worldwide in 2021, accounting for about 700,000 deaths of children under five. A startling 500,000 of these child fatalities-mostly in Asia and Africa-were attributable to indoor fuel cooking, which causes air pollution in homes.

The report's principal author and head of HEI's global health, Pallavi Pant, drew attention to the enormous disparities the research discovered.

"Far too much of the burden [is] borne by young children, older populations, and low and middle-income countries," she said.

According to the HEI, the consequences of the climate calamity are also degrading air quality. According to the report, when droughts get worse and last longer and the land gets drier, wildfires destroy once-thriving forests and dust storms affect large plains, bringing particles into the air that stay in the air for a long time.

The effects of airborne pollutants like nitrogen oxides, which at high temperatures can more easily convert into ozone, an irritating gas when breathed in, can also be exacerbated by higher summertime temperatures. The study discovered that roughly half a million deaths in 2021 were caused by prolonged exposure to ozone.

Read Also: Watch as Asian Air Pollution Chokes the World

PM2.5 Particles

The study suggests that over 90% of air pollution-related deaths worldwide are caused by tiny particles known as PM2.5, which have a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers. It has been discovered that PM2.5 particles can harm all of the body's organs and enter the bloodstream. They have been linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, dementia, miscarriage, and lung illness, among other conditions.

According to the paper, elevated levels of PM2.5 pollution are now "the most consistent and accurate predictor of poor health outcomes" globally, demonstrating how widespread and harmful the pollution has grown.

Taking action against air pollution may also benefit the climate. A little over 500,000 child fatalities in 2021 were attributed to indoor air pollution, primarily as a result of cooking with unclean fuels such as coal, biomass, charcoal, and paraffin. Emissions of carbon dioxide and PM2.5 might be significantly reduced by switching to cleaner fuels, like solar cookstoves.

There are almost 2.3 billion individuals without access to safe cooking fuels worldwide. According to projections from the International Energy Agency, the problem in sub-Saharan Africa alone will require an annual investment of almost $4 billion between now and 2030. It hosted a worldwide summit last month and raised $2.2 billion for initiatives aimed at assisting the transition of people around the continent to greener practices.

Kitty van der Heijden, deputy executive director of UNICEF, claims that the health and wellness of the future generation are suffering long-term consequences due to our inaction.

"It is imperative that governments and businesses consider these estimates and locally available data and use it to inform meaningful, child-focused action to reduce air pollution and protect children's health," she said.

Related Article: Air Pollution vs. Ozone Pollution Seesaw: Impacts on Health, Agriculture, Environment, Scientists Warn
Telangana demands Centre allot coal mines in the state to Singareni Collieries

T

he Congress government in Telangana has urged the Centre not to auction coal mining blocks in the state and allot them to public sector miner Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL).

A day before the launch of the 10th tranche of auctions of coal mines by the Ministry of Coal in Hyderabad, Deputy Chief Minister and Finance and Energy Minister, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said all the mining blocks in the coal belt area of the state should be allotted to the SCCL.

A delegation of the state government led by Vikramarka will meet Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy on Friday to make a representation in this regard.

Addressing a press conference along with Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao in Khammam, the Deputy CM said the state would seek allotment of new mines through nomination, not auction, as SCCL was a public sector company.

They said if Singareni was not allotted new coal mines, its very existence would be at stake.

The ministers urged Kishan Reddy, who hails from Telangana, to take the initiative in allotting mining blocks to SCCL. Vikramarka said the government, if necessary, would take an all-party delegation to Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to request him to allot mining blocks to SCCL for its needs beyond 2030. He mentioned that currently coal is extracted from 40 mines in the state but 22 of these mines are nearing depletion. These mines are likely to close by 2030 and this will affect 42,000 direct employees and 26,000 outsourced workers of the SCCL.

The current coal production of 70 million tonnes is likely to drop to 15 million tonnes.

The ministers demanded that the Koyagudem coal block of Sattupalli that was auctioned recently should also be allotted to the SCCL.

They alleged that the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) had supported a bill brought by the BJP government in the Parliament to deprive the public sector companies of coal mines. The BRS MPs had supported an amendment made to the Mines and Minerals Act mandating the auctioning of coal mines and now the same party was opposing the auction. They said the then BRS government did not allow SCCL to participate in the auction and ensured that mining rights of the Koyagudem block were given to the companies whose leaders were closely associated with the party. Alleging that Singareni suffered losses during the BRS rule, they said the closure of old blocks and the non-allocation of new blocks resulted in a steep decline in the workforce.

 Telangana demands Centre allot coal mines in the state to Singareni Collieries

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Farmers to receive Rs 3,100 paddy MSP per quintal, says Odisha minister

O

disha Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra on Thursday announced that paddy will be procured from the farmers at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 3,100 per quintal in the current Kharif season.

The hike in paddy MSP is one of the major promises made by the ruling party during the recently held elections.

Speaking to mediapersons here on Thursday, the Food Supplies minister said: "We will ensure the procurement is conducted as per the procedure and will not allow the 'katni chatni' (forcible deduction of paddy by millers during procurement). As we had declared in our manifesto, farmers will receive Rs 3,100 as paddy MSP and the amount will be deposited in their accounts within 48 hours. We have already issued directions in this regard and work has already been started accordingly."

Patra also announced that the farmers would receive the enhanced MSP amount for paddy during procurement from this Kharif season.

The Minister also made another major announcement that, with technological support from the United Nations World Food Programme, 'Rice ATM' will be inaugurated in Bhubaneswar soon.

The ration card beneficiaries can get rice from the ATM using a card provided to them.

Patra also stated that the authorities of the World Food Programme have been requested to open such rice ATMs in different districts of the state as well.

 Farmers to receive Rs 3,100 paddy MSP per quintal, says Odisha minister

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Will continue to work with India under Modi 3.0: US

T

he US reiterated on Thursday that it continues to consider India a "close partner" and looks forward to continuing to work with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in its third term.

This reassertion came at the US State Departments briefing in response to a question.

"India continues to be a close partner of the United States, not just at the government level but at the people the people level we do share close economic ties, close cultural ties, they continue to be a partner that we work with on our Indo Pacific strategy, and we will look forward to continue to do that with the government with Prime Minister Modi's government," spokesperson Mathew Miller said.

Prime Minister Modi and President Joe Biden spoke shortly after the election and met briefly on the sidelines of the recent G7 meetings in Italy.

In response to another question about the Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan, Miller said: "We value our important relationships with both India and Pakistan. As we have said we support direct discussions between India and Pakistan. But the pace, scope and character should be determined by those two countries, not by us."

 Will continue to work with India under Modi 3.0: US

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Canada unveils national school food policy

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anadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has unveiled the federal government's policy to deliver the National School Food Program across the country.

With an investment of 1 billion Canadian dollars ($730 million) over five years, the programme will provide meals to up to 400,000 more kids every year, beyond those served by existing school food programmes, according to a news statement from the Prime Minister's website.

On average, the programme is expected to save participating families with two kids up to 800 Canadian dollars ($584) a year in grocery bills, the statement said as quoted by Xinhua news agency report.

The programme includes investments that will support school food programming for First Nations, Inuit, and Metis communities as well as Self-Governing and Modern Treaty partners, many of whom have some of the highest rates of food insecurity in Canada, the statement added.

According to Statistics Canada estimates, in 2022, 22.3 per cent of families and more than 2.1 million children under the age of 18 in Canada reported experiencing some level of food insecurity over the past 12 months.

 Canada unveils national school food policy

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PM Modi's choice of Kashmir as Yoga Day venue is symbolic & assertive

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he decision by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold the 10th International Day of Yoga in J&Ks Srinagar city is both symbolic and assertive.

Srinagar, June 21 (IANS) The decision by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold the 10th International Day of Yoga in J&Ks Srinagar city is both symbolic and assertive. PM Modi chose to join the Yoga participants in Srinagar in the aftermath of a series of terror attacks in the Jammu division, including the one on innocent pilgrims in the Reasi district.

Nine pilgrims were killed and 44 injured in the Reasi terror attack on June 9 when terrorists first killed the driver of the bus and then kept firing at the overturned bus for 20 minutes to ensure that no pilgrim survived the cowardly attack.

The terror attack in Reasi and Kathua district followed the large participation of the people especially from the Valley in the Lok Sabha polls.

As the PM said the terror attacks were the last ditch efforts of the enemies of Kashmirs progress, India would teach them a befitting lesson.

PM Modi chose Srinagar as the venue for the Yoga Day celebrations because he knew that the focus of the world would be on this event.

Yoga has caught the imagination of the world in such a large manner that has perhaps not been matched by any other event before.

A total of 177 countries at the UN supported the Indian resolution on Yoga which was passed in a record time of 90 days. Never before in the history of the UN has any other resolution been passed in such a record time.

It was under this backdrop that PM Modi decided to have the world's attention focused on Kashmir by his presence in Srinagar.

Undeterred by the terror attacks, PM Modi made the big announcement that preparations for the Assembly elections are already underway and that the people of J&K would soon have an Assembly of elected representatives.

He also assured restoration of statehood to the UT saying that J&K would soon touch new heights of progress and prosperity with its statehood back.

This was a clear and loud message to the enemies of democracy in J&K. The country is determined to restore complete democracy in J&K and return political power to the elected members of the Legislative Assembly.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has already issued the primary notification asking the political parties to apply for election symbols.

In all likelihood, Assembly elections would be held in J&K before the deadline of September 30 set by the Supreme Court.

PM Modi also spoke about the security situation when he said that the Centre is determined to eradicate terrorism at all costs from the soil of J&K.

He referred to two security review meetings taken by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in this regard.

The detractors of PM Modi have been blaming him for denying the people of Kashmir a truly representative local government.

PMs speech, which was watched by the World as he spoke from the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) by the banks of the Dal Lake, has put a full stop to his detractors.

The abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A on August 5, 2019, by Parliament removed the last barrier between J&K and the rest of the country.

PM Modis assurance of early Assembly elections and restoration of statehood would serve two national objectives -- the promise of complete integration of J&K with the country and an equal share of democracy, progress and prosperity for the people here who have seen over 30 years of worst violence and uncertainty.

 PM Modi's choice of Kashmir as Yoga Day venue is symbolic & assertive

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Joe Biden, Helen Mirren, Edgar Wright and Ron Howard pay tributes to Donald Sutherland

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fter Canadian star Donald Sutherland passed away aged 88 after a long illness, a string of Hollywood personalities along with US President Joe Biden paid their tributes.

President Biden took to X to honour Sutherland, who he described as a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and one-of-a-kind actor who inspired and entertained the world for decades.

Veteran star Helen Mirren, who starred with him in The Leisure Seeker, shared a statement, where she said Donald Sutherland was one of the smartest actors she ever worked with.

Mirren added: He had a wonderful enquiring brain and a great knowledge of a wide variety of subjects. He combined this great intelligence with a deep sensitivity, and with a seriousness about his profession as an actor.

This all made him into the legend of film that he became. He was my colleague and became my friend. I will miss his presence in this world.

In the thriller Klute, Sutherland starred as a romantic lead and titular character John Klute across Jane Fondas Bree Daniels. Fonda called Sutherland a brilliant actor and a complex man in her tribute on Instagram, saying the pair loved working together on the film, reports variety.com.

Filmmaker, actor and 2017s Baby Driver director Edgar Wright posted his tribute to X, praising Sutherlands legacy in film and TV.

RIP the great Donald Sutherland, a favourite actor and always fascinating screen presence. He starred in two of my very favourite and most influential films  Dont Look Now and the 1978 Invasion Of The Bodysnatchers,' Wright tweeted.

But that is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of his legendary filmography; a funny, laconic, but also intense and dramatic presence in so many memorable movies, starting with his break-through in The Dirty Dozen, and then on an incredible run in the 70s, 80s and beyond with M*A*S*H, Kellys Heroes, Little Murders, Klute, Dont Look Now, The Day Of The Locust, Ordinary People and JFK, among many others, Wright said

I even adore his very early appearances in Dr Terrors House Of Horrors and The World Ten Times Over, as well as his very silly cameo in Kentucky Fried Movie.

I know many of you following me will feel the same way about this great screen legends passing, so please list your favourite Donald Sutherland films, Wright added.

So sorry to see you go Donald, but what a legacy you leave behind.

Director Ron Howard wrote: I was blessed to direct him in #Backdraft. One of the most intelligent, interesting & engrossing film actors of all time. Incredible range, creative courage & dedication to serving the story & the audience with supreme excellence.

Actor Rob Lowe remembered Sutherland and said: Today we lost one of our greatest actors, Donald Sutherland. It was my honour to work with him many years ago, and I will never forget his charisma and ability."

"If you want a master class in acting, watch him in Ordinary People. My condolences to Kiefer.

The Batman Director Matt Reeves called Sutherland one of the all-time greats in his tribute on X.

Sutherland worked over 200 film and TV credits over 60 years starring in films like Ordinary People and Dont Look Now. Sutherland landed his first big role in 1967s The Dirty Dozen, which later earned him a spot as surgeon Capt. Hawkeye Pierce in MASH.

His son Kiefer Sutherland called him one of the most important actors in the history of film.

 Joe Biden, Helen Mirren, Edgar Wright and Ron Howard pay tributes to Donald Sutherland

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People across the world celebrate International Day of Yoga

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he International Day of Yoga is being celebrated in several countries across the world, including Japan, New Zealand, Thailand, and Malaysia, which witnessed enthusiastic participation in events organised by the Indian missions.

These events underscored the global appeal of yoga and its benefits for a healthy lifestyle.

In Japan, despite the inclement weather, the Indian Embassy in Tokyo celebrated the 10th International Day of Yoga at Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple. The event saw overwhelming participation from a large number of people.

The embassy shared pictures on X saying, "Rain or shine Yoga in Japan: Celebrations of the 10th IDY by the Indian Embassy in Tokyo at Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple witnessed an overwhelming participation from Japanese leadership, diplomats, Yoga enthusiasts & friends of India in Japan."

In New Zealand, the Indian High Commission celebrated the day with Indian community members, Kiwi friends, and representatives of various yoga institutes.

The embassy posted, "10th International Day of Yoga 2024 was celebrated at the High Commission with Indian community members, Kiwi friends & representatives of various Yoga Institutes. Yoga has indeed become a global movement with a positive impact on many lives."

In Thailand, several universities and institutions hosted yoga events in collaboration with the Indian Embassy.

At Siam University, an event saw significant participation from students and faculty and was graced by Thailand President Pornchai Mongkhonvanit.

In Papua New Guinea, the High Commission of India organised a yoga event in Port Moresby, attended by diaspora members, PNGeans, and diplomats.

"Diaspora, PNGeans and Diplomats joined to practice yoga at an event organised by the High Commission of India in Port Moresby. NCD Governor Powes Parkop encouraged the community to make it a mass movement spreading the benefits of yoga to communities," the embassy shared in a post on X.

In Malaysia, a mega yoga celebration was held at the iconic Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, commemorating the yoga day. This event highlighted the widespread appreciation and adoption of yoga across diverse cultures and regions, further solidifying its role as a global movement for wellness and unity.

 People across the world celebrate International Day of Yoga

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Sri Sri Ravi Shankar leads Yoga Day celebrations at UN in Geneva

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piritual leader and founder of The Art of Living based in Bengaluru, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, led the International Yoga Day (IYD) Celebrations at the United Nations Office in Geneva on Friday.

The Yoga Day celebrations are spread over two days, on June 20 and 21, said an official release on Friday.

During the keynote address at the UN, the spiritual guru shared, Its time for this ancient art of inner blossoming to be in the spotlight. Yoga has proved to be a boon for humankind. We have seen, that it helps heal illnesses, resolve problems, increase resilience, make the mind happy and sharpen the intellect. Yoga should be done along with pranayamas and meditation, without which Yoga Asanas remain just physical exercises.

Thousands of participants in Malaysia, Taiwan, Australia, Sweden, Iceland and New Zealand joined the Art of Living in this global celebration of Yoga. The Indian Embassy in Copenhagen, Tallinn and other European countries also joined the celebrations.

The Art of Living also led the celebrations along with the Ministry of Ayush at many locations across India. From the Sino-Bhutan borders of India to airports in Gujarat; from Nehru Park in Delhi to beaches in Chennai -- throughout the length and breadth of India, millions of Yoga enthusiasts, led by Art of Livings Sri Sri Yoga teachers, welcomed the dawn of 10th International Yoga Day celebrating this ancient gift of India to the world.

 Sri Sri Ravi Shankar leads Yoga Day celebrations at UN in Geneva

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A new UCLA Health study has found that resilient people exhibit neural activity in the brain regions associated with improved cognition and regulating of emotions, and were more mindful and better at describing their feelings. The same group also exhibited gut microbiome activity linked to a healthy gut, with reduced inflammation and gut barrier.

For the study, rather than examine microbiome activity and composition linked to disease conditions-- like anxiety and depression -- the researchers wanted to flip the script and study the gut microbiome and brain in healthy, resilient people who effectively cope with different types of stress, including discrimination and social isolation.

If we can identify what a healthy resilient brain and microbiome look like, then we can develop targeted interventions to those areas to reduce stress." Arpana Gupta, PhD, senior author and co-director of the UCLA Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center

This is believed to be the first study to explore the intersection of resiliency, the brain, and the gut microbiome.

Gupta and her team focused on methods to cope with stress because research has shown that untreated stress can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, obesity, and diabetes. While stress is an inevitable part of life, studying how to handle stress can help prevent developing diseases.

To conduct the study, published in Nature Mental Health, the researchers surveyed 116 people about their resiliency  like trust in one's instincts and positive acceptance of change -- and separated them into two groups. One group ranked high on the resiliency scale and the other group ranked low. The participants also underwent MRI imaging and gave stool samples two or three days before their scans.

The researchers found that people in the high resiliency group were less anxious and depressed, less prone to judge, and had activity in regions of the brain associated with emotional regulation and better cognition compared to the group with low resiliency. "When a stressor happens, often we go to this aroused fight or flight response, and this impairs the breaks in your brain," Gupta said. "But the highly resilient individuals in the study were found to be better at regulating their emotions, less likely to catastrophize, and keep a level head," added Desiree Delgadillo, postdoctoral researcher and one of the first authors.

The high resiliency group also had different microbiome activity than the low resiliency group. Namely, the high resiliency group's microbiomes excreted metabolites and exhibited gene activity associated with low inflammation and a strong and healthy gut barrier. A weak gut barrier, otherwise known as a leaky gut, is caused by inflammation and impairs the gut barrier's ability to absorb essential nutrients needed by the body while blocking toxins from entering the gut.

The researchers were surprised to find these microbiome signatures associated with the high resiliency group.

"Resilience truly is a whole-body phenomenon that not only affects your brain but also your microbiome and what metabolites that it is producing," Gupta said. "We have this whole community of microbes in our gut that exudes these therapeutic properties and biochemicals, so I'm looking forward to building upon this research," Delgadillo said.

The team's future research will study whether an intervention to increase resilience will change brain and gut microbiome activity. "We could have treatments that target both the brain and the gut that can maybe one day prevent disease," Gupta said.

A new UCLA Health study has found that resilient people exhibit neural activity in the brain regions associated with improved cognition and regulating of emotions, and were more mindful and better at describing their feelings. The same group also exhibited gut microbiome activity linked to a healthy gut, with reduced inflammation and gut barrier.

For the study, rather than examine microbiome activity and composition linked to disease conditions-- like anxiety and depression -- the researchers wanted to flip the script and study the gut microbiome and brain in healthy, resilient people who effectively cope with different types of stress, including discrimination and social isolation.

"If we can identify what a healthy resilient brain and microbiome look like, then we can develop targeted interventions to those areas to reduce stress," said Arpana Gupta, PhD, senior author and co-director of the UCLA Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center. This is believed to be the first study to explore the intersection of resiliency, the brain, and the gut microbiome.

Gupta and her team focused on methods to cope with stress because research has shown that untreated stress can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, obesity, and diabetes. While stress is an inevitable part of life, studying how to handle stress can help prevent developing diseases.

To conduct the study, published in Nature Mental Health, the researchers surveyed 116 people about their resiliency  like trust in one's instincts and positive acceptance of change -- and separated them into two groups. One group ranked high on the resiliency scale and the other group ranked low. The participants also underwent MRI imaging and gave stool samples two or three days before their scans.

The researchers found that people in the high resiliency group were less anxious and depressed, less prone to judge, and had activity in regions of the brain associated with emotional regulation and better cognition compared to the group with low resiliency. "When a stressor happens, often we go to this aroused fight or flight response, and this impairs the breaks in your brain," Gupta said. "But the highly resilient individuals in the study were found to be better at regulating their emotions, less likely to catastrophize, and keep a level head," added Desiree Delgadillo, postdoctoral researcher and one of the first authors.

The high resiliency group also had different microbiome activity than the low resiliency group. Namely, the high resiliency group's microbiomes excreted metabolites and exhibited gene activity associated with low inflammation and a strong and healthy gut barrier. A weak gut barrier, otherwise known as a leaky gut, is caused by inflammation and impairs the gut barrier's ability to absorb essential nutrients needed by the body while blocking toxins from entering the gut.

The researchers were surprised to find these microbiome signatures associated with the high resiliency group.

"Resilience truly is a whole-body phenomenon that not only affects your brain but also your microbiome and what metabolites that it is producing," Gupta said. "We have this whole community of microbes in our gut that exudes these therapeutic properties and biochemicals, so I'm looking forward to building upon this research," Delgadillo said.

The team's future research will study whether an intervention to increase resilience will change brain and gut microbiome activity. "We could have treatments that target both the brain and the gut that can maybe one day prevent disease," Gupta said.
Durlax Top Surface IPO: The initial public offering (IPO) of Durlax Top Surface Ltd, which manufactures solid surface materials, is going to be closed today, June 21. The Rs 40.80-crore IPO, which was opened for public subscription on June 19, has received a strong response from investors. Till 4:01 pm on the final day of bidding on Friday, the IPO received 152.50 times subscription, garnering bids for 77,89,88,000 shares as against 51,08,000 on offer.

The quota for non-institutional investors got subscribed 411.74 times while the category for Retail Individual Investors (RIIs) fetched 159.89 times subscription. The Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs) portion received a 48.29 times subscription.

Durlax Top Surface IPO: Allotment And Listing Dates

The Durlax Top Surface IPO allotment will likely be finalised on June 24, while its listing will take place on the NSE SME on June 26.

Durlax Top Surface IPO: Price and Lot Size

The price band of the Durlax Top Surface IPO was fixed at Rs 65 to Rs 68 per share.

Investors need to apply for a minimum of 2,000 equity shares and in multiples thereof. Hence, the minimum investment by retail investors would be Rs 1,36,000 (2,000 (lot size) x Rs 68 (upper price band)).

Durlax Top Surface IPO GMP Today

According to market observers, unlisted shares of Durlax Top Surface Ltd are trading Rs 64 higher in the grey market as compared with its issue price. The Rs 64 grey market premium or GMP means the grey market is expecting a 94.12 per cent listing gain from the public issue. The GMP is based on market sentiments and keeps changing.

Grey market premium indicates investors readiness to pay more than the issue price.

Durlax Top Surface IPO: More Details

The Durlax Top Surface IPO is a combination of fresh issue of 42 lakh shares aggregating to Rs 28.56 crore and offer for sale of 18 lakh shares aggregating to Rs 12.24 crore.

Durlax Top Surface Limited, formerly known as Durlax Archtech Private Limited, manufactures solid surface materials that are sold across India. It was established in 2010.

The company has two brands, namely LUXOR and ASPIRON. The LUXOR brand offers acrylic UV solid sheets while ASPIRON offers modified solid sheets. Both brands offer seamless designs, antibacterial and fire-retardant properties, ensuring a comprehensive range of high-quality solid sheets.

The products are used in residential, commercial, hospitality, healthcare, outdoor and various other industries, providing stylish and durable solutions for countertops, vanities, offices, retail spaces, hotels, hospitals, outdoor projects and more.

Its revenue increased 35.9 per cent and profit after tax (PAT) rose 141.15 per cent in the financial year 2023-24.

Expert Global Consultants Private Limited is the book running lead manager of the Durlax Top Surface IPO, while Bigshare Services Pvt Ltd is the registrar for the issue. The market maker for Durlax Top Surface IPO is Globalworth Securities.
Stanley Lifestyles IPO: The initial public offering (IPO) of luxury furniture brand Stanley Lifestyles Ltd opens for public subscription on Friday, June 21. The Rs 537-crore issue will conclude on June 25. The price band of the IPO has been fixed at Rs 351-Rs 369 per share.

Stanley Lifestyles IPO Key Dates: Subscription, Allotment And Listing

The Stanley Lifestyles IPO will remain open between June 21 and June 25. Its allotment will likely be finalised on June 26, while its listing will take place on both BSE and NSE on June 28.

Stanley Lifestyles IPO: Price and Lot Size

The price band of the Stanley Lifestyles IPO has been fixed at Rs 351 to Rs 369 per share.

Investors need to apply for a minimum of 40 equity shares and in multiples thereof. Hence, the minimum investment by retail investors would be Rs 14,760 (40 (lot size) x Rs 369 (upper price band)).

Stanley Lifestyles IPO: Category-Wise Quota

The issue has been reserved up to 50 per cent for qualified institutional buyers (QIBs), 15 per cent for non-institutional investors (NIIs), and 35 per cent for retail investors.

Stanley Lifestyles IPO GMP Today

According to market observers, unlisted shares of Stanley Lifestyles Ltd are trading Rs 162 higher in the grey market as compared with its issue price. The Rs 162 grey market premium or GMP means the grey market is expecting a 43.9 per cent listing gain from the public issue. The GMP is based on market sentiments and keeps changing.

Grey market premium indicates investors readiness to pay more than the issue price.

Stanley Lifestyles IPO: Should You Subscribe?

Recommending for subscribe for long term, brokerage firm Anand Rathi Research in an IPO note, said, On the valuation front, at an upper band, the company is richly priced at a P/E of 60x post-issue of equity shares on a FY earnings basis, the company has no listed peers. We believe that the company has a scope for business improvement on the back of industry tailwinds, brand recall, and business scalability. We recommend a Subscribe for long term rating to the IPO.

Stanley Lifestyles IPO: More Details

The IPO comprises fresh issuance of equity shares worth Rs 200 crore and an offer-for-sale (OFS) component of 91.33 lakh equity shares by the companys promoters and other shareholders to the tune of Rs 337 crore at the upper-end of the price band.

A day before IPO, Stanley Lifestyles on June 20 said it has raised a little over Rs 161 crore from anchor investors.

Those who have been allotted shares are  SBI Mutual Fund (MF), Nippon India MF, ICICI Prudential MF, HDFC MF, Quant MF, Motilal Oswal MF, Bandhan MF, SBI Life Insurance Company and Max Life Insurance Company, according to a circular uploaded on BSEs website.

Stanley Lifestyles has decided to allot 43.66 lakh equity shares to 16 funds at Rs 369 a piece, taking the aggregate transaction size to Rs 161.1 crore.

The net proceeds from the fresh issue to the tune of Rs 90.13 crore will be used by the company towards expenditure for opening new stores, Rs 39.99 crore expenditure for opening the anchor stores and Rs 10.04 crore expenditure for renovation of existing stores.

Funds to the tune of Rs 8.18 crore for funding the capital expenditure requirements for purchase of new machinery and equipment by the company and its material subsidiary, SOSL (Stanley OEM Sofas Ltd) and for general corporate purposes.

Half of the issue size has been reserved for qualified institutional buyers (QIBs), 35 per cent for retail investors and the remaining 15 per cent for non-institutional investors.

Moreover, investors can bid for a minimum of 40 equity shares and in multiples of 40 equity shares thereafter.

Bengaluru-based Stanley Lifestyles is a luxury furniture brand and it is among the few Indian companies operating in various price categories, including super-premium, luxury, and ultra-luxury, through its multiple brands.

The company operates two manufacturing facilities in Bengaluru.

For FY23, the companys revenue from operations rose to Rs 419 crore, from Rs 292.20 crore a year ago, while net profit increased to Rs 34.98 crore in FY23, as against Rs 23.22 crore a year back.

Axis Capital, ICICI Securities, JM Financial and SBI Capital Markets Ltd are the book running lead managers to the issue. The equity shares of the company will be listed on BSE and NSE.
Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy on Friday launched the 10th round of commercial coal mine auctions here. The 10th round of auction includes 67 coal mines. The move will enhance domestic coal production and ensure energy security for the nation, according to an official statement from the Ministry of Coal.

Speaking on the occasion, Kishan Reddy favoured reducing coal imports and increasing coal production. He said 107 coal mines have been successfully auctioned in the previous nine rounds of auction.

An official release earlier said 60 coal blocks would be part of the 10th round of auction. Highlighting the importance of coal in power production, Kishan Reddy described it as black gold.

The vibrant and reform-oriented coal sector is the key to achieving the goals of Atma Nirbhar Bharat, he said. Since the launch of commercial coal auctions in 2020, the transparent and fair auction process has been well received by the industry and all organizations. The Ministry of Coal is also undertaking several initiatives such as coal gasification.

In 2024, 997.23 million tons production we achieved. The coal production target for 2024-25 is one billion tons. Of this, 190.38 million tons already we have achieved. Expecting more than 175 million tons from captive commercial mines also, he added.
UGC NET 2024 'Paper Leak Is An Institutional Failure Of NTA': Pradhan During a conference on June 20, Dharmendra Pradhan stated that the leak of UGC-NET question papers is a institutional failure of the NTA. He stated that a committee would be formed to bring about change and that appropriate actions would be taken.

NEET UG 2024 Latest News: Jairam Ramesh Calls Anti-Paper Leak Law a 'Damage Control Measure' Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took to X on Saturday to talk the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024. He stated that the Act came into force on June 21, 2024, despite having been approved by the President of India on February 13, 2024, calling it a damage control measure for the NEET, UGC-NET, CSIR-UGC-NET, and other scams. While he acknowledged the necessity of the law, he emphasized the need for systems to prevent leaks from occurring in the first place. On Feb 13 2024, the President of India gave her assent to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means), Bill, 2024. Finally, just this morning the nation has been told that this Act has come into force from yesterday, that is June 21, 2024. Clearly this is damage control pic.twitter.com/VrC9IWX20X  Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 22, 2024

Govt Forming Special Committee to Investigate Functioning of NTA, Says Pradhan According to Dharmendra Pradhan, the government has formed a special committee to look into the data operations of the NTA. The high-level panel will provide recommendations to improve the NTAs structure, operations, inspection process, transparency, and data security standards. I appeal to all not to spread rumours or politicise this sensitive issue. No culprit will be spared and this will be taken to its logical end, he saidread more

NEET UG 2024 Latest News: Which Are The Exams Conducted By NTA?  CUET UG  CUET PG  UGC-NET  Joint Entrance Examination (JEE)  Common Management Test (CMAT)  Jawaharlal Nehru University Entrance Test (JNUET)  ICAR All India Entrance Exam  Hotel Management Joint Entrance Examination  Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test  IIFT Entrance Examination  IGNOU PhD & OPENMAT (MBA) Entrance Exam  Joint CSIR-National Eligibility Test (Joint CSIR-NET)  Delhi University Entrance Test  Annual Refresher Programme in Teaching  Study Web of Active Learning by Young and Aspiring Minds (SWAYAM) Exam

NEET UG 2024 Latest News: Tejashwi Yadav Urges Probe as Paper Leaks Persist in BJP States Patna: "In BJP-ruled states, paper leaks continue to occurAnd the person responsible for the leak is still roaming freelySanjeev Mukhiya is the most important leader in this paper leak and I appeal to investigating agencies to investigate against him" says RJD leader pic.twitter.com/DRkei3JHaK  IANS (@ians_india) June 22, 2024

Who is NEET-UG Paper Leak Alleged 'Mastermind' Sanjeev Mukhiya? The NEET-UG paper leak case is being investigated by the Bihar Polices Economic Offences Unit (EOU), which has declined to comment. However, sources within the department told News18 that speaking with those who have been arrested thus far has revealed the identity of one Sanjeev Mukhiya, the alleged racket mastermind who remains at large. Sanjeev Mukhiya, a native of Nagarsauna in Bihars Nalanda district, works as a technical assistant at Nalanda College Noorsarai. He had worked at Sabour Agricultural College before being moved to Noorsarai. He was arrested by Uttarakhand Police in 2016 after being connected to another controversy involving a paper leakread more

NEET UG 2024 Latest News: 'Failure of Government', Says Congress leader Raj Babbar Addressing the NEET and UGC-NET concerns, Congress leader Raj Babbar states, The Government is a failure. The country can see its attitude towards the youth and students. This is a huge scam, a conspiracy to ensure that the youth do not get jobs. #WATCH | On NEET and UGC-NET issues, Congress leader Raj Babbar says, The Government is a failure. The country can see its attitude towards the youth and students. This is a huge scam, a conspiracy to ensure that the youth do not get jobs. pic.twitter.com/lKPFvi21Be  ANI (@ANI) June 22, 2024

NEET UG 2024 Latest News: Why is NTA Conducting a Retest for 1563 Students? The NTAs decision to conduct the NEET UG re-test followed the revocation of previously issued grace marks to students. Six testing centres across the states of Meghalaya, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, and Chandigarh received these scores to make up for the time lost as a result of the exams start delays.

NEET UG 2024 Latest News: Rahul Gandhi to Raise 'Paper Leak' Issue Personally in Parliament Rahul Gandhi has criticised the Centre for alleged anomalies in NEET, stating that he will personally address the issue in Parliament and that the opposition will put pressure on the government to guarantee justice for students. He also posted a video of his conversation with a group of NEET applicants and their parents on his X profile. NEET                  -                  INDIA          : pic.twitter.com/XLMjKXktYn  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 21, 2024

'Disclose MH-CET Marks to Students', Says Aaditya Thackeray Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray requested on Friday openness in the recently held Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MH-CET) engineering examinations in the state, demanding that students scores be released and answer papers be provided. Addressing a news conference, he stated that the CET was conducted in a weird manner, with tests for two papers held in 30 groups. One paper was held in 24 batchesread more

NEET UG 2024 Row LIVE: SC Received Petitions for CBI Probe into Paper Leak The Supreme Court issued notices to the Centre and the National Testing Agency in response to a petition seeking a CBI investigation into claims of question paper leaks and other irregularities in NEET UG 2024. Meanwhile, the Gujarat Police and Bihar Police are looking into charges of paper leaks in Godhra and Patna, respectively.

UGC-NET 2024 Cancelled as Question Paper Found on Darknet Soon after it was clear that the UGC-NET question paper on the Darknet matches the original question paper, we decided to cancel the examination. By taking responsibility, we have to rectify the system, said Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan

NEET UG 2024 Latest News: Re-Exam for 1563 Students Tomorrow The NTA has made the admit cards for candidates sitting the NEET UG 2024 retest accessible. The retest is limited to applicants who received grace marks from the NTA due to a shortage of exam time. The hall tickets for the June 23 test are available at the NTAs official website, neet.ntaonline.inread more

NEET UG 2024 Latest News: Rahul Gandhi's 'Nyay for NEET Aspirants' Interaction   24         NEET                    ,              NEET              pic.twitter.com/FQXPTlxWIB  Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) June 22, 2024

NEET UG 2024 Latest News: Bihar EOU Looking For Mastermind of Paper Leaks In the context of the NEET UG paper leak, Bihar Polices Economic Offenses Unit (EOU) is hunting for the mastermind, Sanjeev Mukhiya, who is linked to multiple exam leaks, including constables, teachers, and NEET. Mukhiya, now on the run, has sought pre-arrest bail, with a hearing set for the 25th. The EOUs report to the Ministry of Education includes statements from 13 arrested individuals and 4 students, along with evidence like student admit cards, answer booklets, and burnt question papers found during raids.

NEET UG 2024 Latest News: Karnataka Medical Education Minister Demands CBI Probe Karnataka Medical Education and Skill Development Minister Sharan Prakash Patil described the NEET-UG 2024 as a massive scam perpetrated by the Central government on Friday, calling for a CBI investigation. The minister also stated that the Centres refusal to initiate an inquiry into the NEET issue despite widespread protests raises concerns among the publicread more

After NEET, UGC NET, NTA Postpones CSIR-UCG NET Slated for June 2527 The CSIR-UCG NET exam, originally slated for June 2527, has been rescheduled in the midst of controversy surrounding NEET and NET 2024. According to the NTA, logistical issues and unforeseen circumstances led to the decision.

What is the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 In February of this year, the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act was passed. The anti-paper leak bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on February 5, 2024, and approved a day later, on February 6. The Act intends to reduce paper leaks and malpractices in recruitment exams like as UPSC and SSC, as well as entrance tests such as NEET, JEE, and CUET. According to the Act, anyone found guilty of leaking a paper or tampering with answer sheets faces a minimum 3-year prison sentence, which may be increased to 5 years and a fine of up to Rs 10 lakhread more

NEET UG 2024 Latest News: Anti-Paper Leak Law Notified On June 21, the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which prohibits the use of unfair recruitment and common entrance exam practices, went into effect.
The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) will be rescheduled for 1,563 candidates, who were awarded grace marks in the exam held on June 16, officials at the National Testing Agency (NTA) said on Friday.

According to NTA officials, all precautions will be taken with senior officers from the testing agency as well as the union education ministry being present at the examination centres this time.

The exam will take place at seven centres across the country this Sunday (June 23).

We have assigned six new centres for these candidates while only one centre at Chandigarh where only one to two students are to appear is the same, said a senior NTA official, who didnt wish to be named.

The exam is being rescheduled for 1,563 candidates from six centres, who were awarded grace marks to compensate them for time lost while writing the test due to administrative reasons such as wrong distribution of question papers, torn OMR sheets, etc.

The NEET-UG exam was held on May 5. However, controversy broke out soon after the results were announced on June 4 with allegations of inflated marks for candidates from six centres, including those from Meghalaya, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, and Gujarat. It also led to protests in several states with allegations of paper leak and irregularities.

Several candidates and their parents approached the court as well on the matter.

The re-examination is a choice for these candidates while admit cards have been issued to all. As of now, we cannot say how many of these 1,563 will appear for the exam on Sunday. We will know the exact numbers only that day, the official said.

The matter was challenged in the Supreme Court. Following this, the NTA withdrew the grace marks, and these 1,563 students were given a choice to either appear for a re-test on June 23 or consider their original scores without the grace marks.

Also, the apex court on Friday refused to postpone the counselling of NEET-UG, which is scheduled to begin on July 6. The SC will hear the pleas on July 8.

Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan while addressing the media this week on the NEET controversy accepted that there were some errors limited to specific regions. At the same time, he announced that the ministry is constituting a high-level committee comprising cyber experts, academics, administrators, and scientists to look into the functioning of the NTA.

Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website.
The historic participation from Jammu and Kashmir in Lok Sabha elections 2024 has prompted the Election Commission of India to initiate preparations for Assembly elections in the Union Territory, starting with the updating of electoral rolls.

The last time J&K voted in Assembly elections was in 2014 when it was still a state and enjoyed special status under Article 370. In 2019, special status to the state was revoked and it was divided into two UTs  J&K and Ladakh. The UT has been awaiting Assembly elections since then.

The Supreme Court has set September 30, 2024 as the deadline for the EC to complete the election process in J&K. Earlier this month, News18 had reported that the EC has started groundwork in the UT and the period between August and September is being considered for holding Assembly elections. However, the Election Commission is yet to announce the tentative timeline for the polls.

In a statement, issued on Friday, the poll body said that after the successful completion of the Lok Sabha elections, it has initiated preparations for Assembly elections in Haryana, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand along with the process to update electoral rolls in these states with July 1, 2024 as the qualifying date.

The terms of the Haryana and Maharashtra Assemblies end in November. The term of the Jharkhand Assembly ends in January 2025. Elections to these Legislative Assemblies are required to be conducted before the completion of their terms.

Besides, General Election to the Legislative Assembly of UT of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) is also to be conducted for constituting a new house after delimitation of constituencies. Witnessing the huge participation of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the recently concluded Lok Sabha Elections, the Commission has also directed for the updation of the electoral rolls in the UT of J&K with July 1, 2024 as the qualifying date, the EC statement said.

Earlier this month, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar had said that the huge participation of J&K in Lok Sabha elections is very hopeful and inspiring, showing how eager people are to participate in democracy.

Its crucial for people to stay peaceful and united, fulfilling their aspirations and decide their future and governance. The Commission is excited and gratified to help make this happen and will soon start the Assembly election process in J&K, he had said.

The EC statement also added that the commissions intensive and sustained focus has always been in ensuring inclusivity, purity, and health of electoral roll so that no eligible citizen is deprived of their right to be included in the electoral roll and to maintain error free electoral roll without any duplicate and ineligible entries, to the extent possible.

Therefore, the Commission appeals to all the eligible citizens to come forward to get themselves enrolled in the electoral roll, if not enrolled so far, to exercise their voting right in the forthcoming elections, it added.

Jammu and Kashmir recorded the highest voter turnout in a Lok Sabha poll in last 35 years, with the Kashmir Valley witnessing a massive 30 points jump in poll participation compared to 2019. The combined voter turnout at the polling stations for the entire Union Territory with five Lok Sabha seats was 58.46 per cent.

The three seats in the Valley  Srinagar, Baramulla and Anantnag-Rajouri  recorded turnout of 38.49 per cent, 59.1 per cent and 54.84 per cent, respectively, which has been the highest in last three decades. The other two seats in the UT  Udhampur and Jammu  recorded 68.27 per cent and 72.22 per cent voter turnout, respectively.
New details have emerged in the Renukaswamy murder case, revealing that Pavithra Gowda, the main accused and a close friend of Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, was present when Renukaswamy was subjected to beating with sticks and administered electric shocks.

Renukaswamy, 33, a fan of Thoogudeepa, was found murdered and dumped in a drain in Kamakshipalya, Bengaluru on June 8.

According to sources, Renukaswamy was abducted from his hometown Chitradurga by several other accused and transported 200 km away to a shed in Bengaluru. The two actors allegedly joined them, with Gowda reportedly present at the scene for at least part of the time while Renukaswamy was assaulted with sticks and subjected to multiple electric shocks, as per NDTV report.

So far, at least 17 people, including Thoogudeepa and Gowda, are implicated in the high-profile murder case.

Pavithra Gowda Had Beaten Up Renukaswamy With Slippers: Police

According to a recent remand note presented in court by the police, Pavithra Gowda allegedly assaulted the victim with her slippers.

Further details from the police remand note reveal that Gowda was present at the scene of Renukaswamys murder. Police have also seized slippers, clothing, materials, and documents linked to Thoogudeepa from her residence.

Earlier today, the Karnataka police investigating the murder case disclosed that Thoogudeepa had contacted several individuals shortly after the alleged killing. Another accused has confessed to administering electric shocks to the victim.

In an effort to evade legal repercussions and cover up the conspiracy and destruction of evidence, Thoogudeepa, accused number two in the case, reportedly borrowed Rs 40 lakh from a friend. The money has since been recovered, police stated.

Police provided these updates in a remand application filed before the 24th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court on Thursday, seeking police custody for Thoogudeepa and three others, and judicial custody for his friend Gowda and the remaining accused.

Meanwhile, according to the findings in the murder investigation, Renukaswamy had sent inappropriate messages to Gowda, which allegedly provoked Thoogudeepa, ultimately leading to his murder. His body was discovered near a storm-water drain next to an apartment in Sumanahalli on June 9.

Police have identified Pavithra Gowda, as accused number one, as the primary instigator in Renukaswamys murder. They asserted that she was involved in instigating other accused, conspiring with them, and actively participating in the crime.

An autopsy report also revealed that Renukaswamys death was caused by shock and hemorrhage resulting from multiple blunt injuries sustained during the assault. Details of his injuries, including a ruptured testicle and electric shocks, were corroborated by statements from an accomplice during police questioning.

(With inputs from PTI)
Fight Against Corruption Will Continue: BJP MP Manoj Tiwari On Delhi HC Staying Kejriwal's Bail Order On Delhi High Court staying CM Arvind Kejriwals bail order, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said, The fight against corruption will continue. I have full faith in the court and the investigation agencies AAP should learn to respect the courts decision Bail is not a relaxation

Arvind Kejriwal To Stay In Jail As Delhi High Court Pauses Bail Granted By Trial Court Delhi High Court on Friday granted an interim stay on the trial courts bail order to AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal in the money laundering case regarding the alleged liquor policy scam. I am reserving the order for two to three days. Till the pronouncement of the order, the operation of the trial court order is stayed, a vacation bench of Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain said.

Arvind Kejriwal Bail Hearing LIVE: 'Hearing On Cancellation Of Bail Plea Will Take Place Later,' Says ASG Raju On Delhi High Court staying CM Arvind Kejriwals bail order, ASG SV Raju said, Kejriwals bail order has been stayed and the final order will come in 3-4 days and hearing on cancellation of bail plea will happen later and notice has been issued in this regard

Arvind Kejriwal Bail Hearing LIVE: Delhi HC Reserves Order On Application Seeking Stay On Trial Court's order I am reserving the order for two to three days. Till the pronouncement of the order, the operation of the trial court order is stayed, a Delhi HC bench said.

Arvind Kejriwal Bail Hearing LIVE: Court Reserves Order On Bail Application The Delhi High Court has reserved the order on the application seeking a stay on Trial Courts bail order. Until the pronouncement of the order on stay application, the order wont be operational,  the court said.

Arvind Kejriwal Bail Hearing LIVE: Arguments Over, Court Issues Notice On Stay Application

Arvind Kejriwal Bail Hearing LIVE: Advocate Representing Kejriwal Asks What Evidence ED Has Against Delhi CM What is their direct evidence? It is statements. There are findings of the court, how can it be termed perverse? These findings are after consideration of materials, senior advocate Vikram Chaudhari said.

Arvind Kejriwal Bail Hearing LIVE: 'ED Is Doing A Paper-counter...' Says Senior Advocate Singhvi

Arvind Kejriwal Bail Hearing LIVE: 'Law If Very Clear On Grant of Bail...' Says Advocate Representing Kejriwal Appearing for Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that ED is still treating the high court order as the last word. Though it was on question of arrest, not the bail. If the High Court order was final as suggested by the ED, why did the Supreme Court liberty to approach the trial court for bail. And the Supreme Court reserved its order on the legality of the arrest. Singhavi added that the law is very clear on the grant of bail and cancellation/ reversal of bail is different.

Arvind Kejriwal Bail Hearing LIVE: Advocate Representing Kejriwal Opposes Stay On Bail Order Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi representing Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, opposed the stay on bail order and said the decision is a complete misunderstanding of the trial court. He further said that stay in a case like this is equal to cancellation of bail.

Arvind Kejriwal Bail Hearing LIVE: Money Circulated Through Hawala Channels, Claims ED In Court The ED representative, while explaining the operation of Hawala channels at court, claimed that Vinod Chauhan and Kejriwal knew each other well and Chauhan is the person who circulated the crores of money through hawala channels.

Arvind Kejriwal Bail Hearing LIVE: No Better Case Than This For Cancellation Of Bail, Says ED At HC The ED argued in the court saying that there is no finding on the rigours of Section 45. He further said that, There cant be a better cae than this for cancellation of bail.

Arvind Kejriwal LIVE: Hearing Resumes in Delhi HC, ED Lawyer Shows Trial Court Order The lawyer representing the Enforcement Directorate showed the trial court order in the High Court after the hearing resumed and questioned it, while calling it shocking.

Arvind Kejriwal LIVE: ED Alleges Trial Court Didn't Go Into Material amd Evidence The Enforcement Directorate argued in the court alleging that the trial court did not go into material and evidence before giving bail order.

Arvind Kejriwal LIVE Updates: ED Calls Trial Court's Order Totally 'Perverse' In Delhi HC The ED while putting forth their argument in court said that the trial court has considered irrelevant facts and failed to consider the relevant facts while granting bail. ASG SV Raju, who is representing the ED also said that the trial courts order is totally perverse.

Arvind Kejriwal LIVE Updates: It Seems As If Arvind Kejriwal Is Most Wanted Terrorist of India, Says Delhi CM Wife Arvind Kejriwals wife Suita Kejriwal said, Just yesterday, your CM got bail. Order was to be uploaded in the morning but before that the ED reached the HC to obtain a stay. It is as if Arvind Kejriwal is the most wanted terrorist of India. Tanashahi has crossed limits.

Arvind Kejriwal LIVE: Modi Has Grossly Misused Central Investigation Agencies, Says Cong's Jairam Ramesh On Arvind Kejriwal & Hemant Soren, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, In last 10 years, Narendra Modi has grossly misused the Central investigation agencies like CBI, ED. These agencies must function in an unbiased manner.

Arvind Kejriwal LIVE: Kejriwal's Legal Team To Make Urgent Mentioning Before Delhi HC Arvind Kejriwal legal team to make urgent mentioning before Delhi High Court.

Kejriwal LIVE Updates: AAP MP Slams Govt After Delhi HC Puts on Hold Trial Court Order on Kejriwal's Bail AAP leader Sanjay Singh on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making a mockery of the justice system after the Delhi High Court put on hold the trial court order granting bail to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the money laundering case linked to the alleged excise scam. Taking to X, Singh said in a post in Hindi, Look at the hooliganism of the Modi government, the trial courts order has not yet come, even a copy of the order has not been received, so Modis ED reached the High Court to challenge which order? What is happening in this country? Modi ji, why are you making a mockery of the justice system? The whole country is watching you? the AAP MP said.
The Kushiyara River and its tributaries in the Karimganj district, Assam have flooded following incessant rainfall over the last few days. Other districts, including Biswanath, Lakhimpur, Hojai, Bongaigaon, Nalbari, Tamulpur, Udalguri, Darrang, Dhemaji, Hailakandi, Goalpara, Nagaon, Chirang and Kokrajhar, are also affected by the flood.

The floods have affected more than 300 villages in five residential areas of Karimganj district. The administration has opened about 60 shelters so far. About 2,00,000 people have been affected by the floods so far. The management officials are on the rescue mission everywhere. According to official data, 82 villages in Nilam Bazar, 71 in Ramkrishnanagar, 22 in Badarpur and 50 in North Karimganj have been affected due to the floods. Overall, 235 villages in the districts are under flood water.

The government has already started rescue work, while a group of youths are also working to rescue the flood victims. Two teams of disaster allies have been divided to help the flood victims. One name is Sujan Deb Roy, who has stood by the people from the coronavirus pandemic to the floods in Shillong and Karimganj in 2022. He is now working with government rescue teams.

The Aapda Mitra team is also formed in this situation, who are engaged in providing service to people. Currently, two teams of Sujan are working together. Those who could not make it to the shelters have been trapped inside their homes and living in indescribable conditions.

VIDEO | "Severe floods have been reported in Karimganj. All of our three rivers, Kushiyara, Longai and Singla, are above the danger level due to which we have opened 30 relief camps. 9,212 people are taking shelter in them and close to 1.5 lakh people have been affected in the pic.twitter.com/yLgsPWXgi8 Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 20, 2024

Earlier, while talking to PTI, Karimganj District Commissioner Mridul Yadav said, Severe floods have been reported in Karimganj. All of our three rivers, Kushiyara, Longai and Singla, are above the danger level, due to which we have opened 30 relief camps. 9,212 people are taking shelter in them and close to 1.5 lakh people have been affected in the villages.

According to The Assam Tribune, 2,34,535 animals have been impacted, and a 3238.8-hectare crop area has been inundated. Additionally, the district has seen numerous landslides and severe erosion in various locations.
Delhi Water Minister Atishi on Friday began her indefinite hunger strike in south Delhis Bhogal to press on her demand for 100 million gallons of water per day from Haryana amid the ongoing water crisis in the national capital.

Before the onset of her strike, the AAP leader met his party colleagues, including Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh and Sunita Kejriwal, at party supremo and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwals residence.

Atishi will also visit Rajghat at 11 am before the strike to pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi who taught that the path of Satyagraha has to be adopted to struggle against injustice, the minister said.

I will start Pani Satyagraha from today I will start an indefinite fast at Bhogal, Jangpura from 12 oclock until the people of Delhi get their rightful share of water from Haryana, she said on X.

Here Are the Top Updates On the Delhi Water Crisis
In a turn of events, the Delhi High Court on Friday temporarily stayed the trial court order granting bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a money laundering case related to the now-scrapped excise policy. The court said the trial court order will remain on hold till the time it is hearing the EDs case.

This comes after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) approached the Delhi High Court challenging the trial court. The plea was urgently mentioned before a Vacation Bench comprising Justices Sudhir Kumar Jain and Ravinder Dudeja by Additional Solicitor General (ASG), SV Raju, on behalf of the ED.

I am moving for an urgent stay. The order was pronounced yesterday at 8. The order is not uploaded. We were not given a clear opportunity to oppose bail, ASG Raju argued.

ASG Raju further said that his prayer for a stay on the bail order wasnt even considered.

I am demanding that the order be stayed and the matter be heard as soon as possible. We were denied the full opportunity to argue the case. I am making allegations with full seriousness, he stated.

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing CM Kejriwal, opposed the stay request, citing legal precedents.

There are ten Supreme Court judgments that cancellation of bail is radically different from grant of bail, Singhvi contended.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the High Court directed that the bail order should not be enforced until the matter is heard in full.

The bail order will not be given effect. We have not passed the final order. You may argue for as much as you can, the Bench stated, effectively halting CM Kejriwals release.

The court has scheduled the matter for a hearing later in the day on Friday.

AAP MP Slams Govt

AAP leader Sanjay Singh on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making a mockery of the justice system after the Delhi High Court put on hold the trial court order granting bail to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the money laundering case linked to the alleged excise scam.

Taking to X, Singh said in a post in Hindi, Look at the hooliganism of the Modi government, the trial courts order has not yet come, even a copy of the order has not been received, so Modis ED reached the High Court to challenge which order? What is happening in this country? Modi ji, why are you making a mockery of the justice system? The whole country is watching you? the AAP MP said.

Trail Court Granted Bail To Kejriwal

A trial court in Delhi on Thursday granted him bail in a money laundering case stemming from the alleged excise scam. Special Judge Niyay Bindu also declined the Enforcement Directorates prayer to keep in abeyance the bail order for 48 hours to allow the central agency to avail legal remedies like moving a superior court in appeal.

The judge ordered Kejriwals release on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh but imposed certain conditions before granting him the relief, including that he would not try to hamper the investigation or influence the witnesses.

The judge also directed Kejriwal to appear before the court whenever required and to cooperate with the investigation.

Case Against Kejriwal

The ED had arrested Kejriwal on March 21, shortly after the Delhi High Court refused to grant him protection from arrest on his petition challenging summonses issued to him.

On May 10, the Supreme Court had granted interim bail to Kejriwal till June 1 to campaign in the Lok Sabha elections, saying he will have to surrender and go back to jail on June 2. Kejriwal had surrendered before Tihar jail authorities on June 2 and has been there since then.

The trial court had on June 5 denied him interim bail which he sought citing several ailments.
From the icy heights of Ladakh to the serene landscapes of Sikkim and heavy seas, Indian soldiers on Friday spearheaded the nationwide celebrations of the International Day of Yoga, displaying enthusiasm as they participated in yoga sessions with great zeal.

Indian Army troops and ITBP personnel braved icy heights in Eastern Ladakh and North Sikkim to perform yoga on the northern frontier, celebrating International Yoga Day. School children also joined in the yoga session, practicing alongside Pangong lake in Ladakh. Here are some of the early morning visuals of the Yoga Day celebration from across the country:

Indian Army personnel perform Yoga in icy heights on the northern frontier

#WATCH | Indian Army personnel perform Yoga in icy heights on the northern frontier on #InternationalYogaDay2024(Source: Indian Army) pic.twitter.com/7zjIBfJ0Ye  ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2024

ITBP personnel at Muguthang Sub Sector in Muguthang Sub Sector, Sikkim

At an altitude of more than 15,000 feet

ITBP personnel at Pangong Tso in Leh

#WATCH | ITBP personnel perform Yoga at Pangong Tso in Leh, on the 10th International Yoga Day.(Video source  ITBP) pic.twitter.com/6LCV406hla  ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2024

Indian Army officers perform Yoga on International Day of Yoga

School children perform Yoga alongside Pangong Tso in Ladakh

#WATCH | On #InternationalYogaDay, school children perform Yoga alongside Pangong Tso lake in Ladakh.(Source: Indian Army) pic.twitter.com/SLEfie4yv8  ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2024

Indian Army jawans at Col Sonam Wangchuk Stadium in Leh

#WATCH | Indian Army jawans all set to perform Yoga at Col Sonam Wangchuk Stadium in Leh, Ladakh on the occasion of International Day of Yoga. pic.twitter.com/cm2qcTYQVf ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2024

Yoga asanas, including the Surya Namaskar, on board the warships INS Tarkash

VIDEO | International Yoga Day 2024: Indian Navy personnel performed various Yoga asanas, including the Surya Namaskar, on board the warships INS Tarkash, INS Teg among others.#InternationalYogaDay2024 #YogaDay(Source: Indian Navy) @indiannavy pic.twitter.com/yP69W8gKiD  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 21, 2024

Indian Navy personnel perform Surya Namaskar on board INS Shivalik

The theme Yoga for Self and Society emphasises yogas dual benefits in fostering individual and communal well-being. This years event aims to enhance grassroots participation and promote yogas reach in rural communities across India.

On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the world sees yoga as a powerful agent for global good as it helps people live in the present without carrying the baggage of the past.

Addressing a gathering at the 10th International Yoga Day event in Srinagar, the prime minister said yoga has helped people realise that their welfare is linked to the welfare of the world around them.
Confessions of four accused, including a candidate, arrested in Bihar in connection with the NEET paper leak case have sent shockwaves across the country, particularly at how easily the question paper was leaked on the eve of the May 5 exam.

As per the confession statements accessed by News18, prime accused Sikander Prasad Yadvendu, a junior engineer in the Danapur Town Council, arranged question papers for four exam aspirants to prepare them a day before the test and demanded Rs 40 lakh from each candidate. The statement also detailed his contact with middlemen Nitish Kumar and Amit Anand, allegedly known for leaking prestigious exam papers such as NEET.

Yadvendu claimed that he demanded Rs 40 lakh from each aspirant, including his nephew Anurag Yadav, for providing the leaked question. On May 4, all four candidates were called to a guest house where Nitish and Anand helped them prepare using the leaked paper, Yadvendu claimed. All four  Yadvendu, Nitish Kumar, Amit Anand and Anurag Yadav  were arrested when Yadvendu was caught with the admit cards of the candidates during a vehicle check on May 5.

The candidates later confessed that the same questions appeared in the actual exam on May 5. Anurag Yadav, who was preparing for NEET-UG in Kota, said in his confession statement: My uncle spoke to me when I was in Kota and told me he had access to the question paper. I came to Patna, and my uncle introduced me to two people  Amit and Nitish  who provided me with the question paper and answer key. They helped me prepare the questions overnight. They were the same questions in the actual question paper on May 5.

CAME TO KNOW FROM TV, NEWSPAPERS

Anurag Yadav is a resident of Pirdah village under Hasanpur police station area in Bihars Samastipur. When News18 visited the village, several residents said they are coming to know about the case details from TV and newspapers.

We read newspapers, we know from them. But we dont know exactly what happens where, said Dinesh, a resident of the village, declining to speak further on-camera.

Another resident, Kusho Yadav, said the same. Whatever happened in the village we only get to know from newspapers and TV. We are illiterate people a poor persons child does not become a Collector, DIG or doctor.

HIS FATHER WORKED HARD TO EDUCATE HIM

Another villager told News18 that Anurag Yadav comes from a farming family and that his father worked hard to educate him. This Anurag of Parida village who has been arrested in the NEET case has a relative from the Vidhan block itself. We have come to know from the media that he got the NEET question paper through him. He has been arrested in the same case. This boy came to the village less often. His father comes from a farmer family. He worked hard to educate his son. He was preparing for NEET. But it is very unfortunate that this happened. Because the brilliant students who are preparing, their morale breaks if the question paper is leaked like this.

News18 also spoke to a young man who used to play with Anurag Yadav. He said he is aware of Anurag Yadavs arrest and that he comes from a good family. But when the paper gets leaked like this, the morale of the students studying is broken.

NEET-UG CASE SO FAR

The NEET-UG 2024 exam was held on May 5 across 4,750 centres and around 24 lakh candidates took it. The results were expected to be declared on June 14 but were announced on June 4, apparently because the evaluation of the answer sheets got completed earlier.

There have been allegations of question paper leaks in states like Bihar and other irregularities in the prestigious exam. The allegations have led to protests in several cities and filing of petitions in several high courts as also the Supreme Court.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court said even if there was 0.001 percent negligence on the part of anyone in the conduct of the NEET-UG 2024 examination, it should be thoroughly dealt with.

The NEET-UG examination is conducted by the National Testing Agency for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in the government and private institutions across the country.

Amid the raging row and demands to re-conduct the medical entrance exam, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday said isolated incidents of malpractices should not affect lakhs of students who cleared the examination rightfully.

Terming the leak of the UGC-NET exams question paper an institutional failure of the National Testing Agency (NTA), he said the government will constitute a high-level panel to look into the functioning of the agency.
India on Thursday lodged a strong protest with Canada over Khalistani extremists holding a so-called citizens court and burning an effigy of the Indian prime minister outside the Indian consulate in Vancouver, authoritative sources said.

India issued a note verbale or diplomatic note to the Canadian high commission conveying its serious objection to the latest actions by the Khalistani elements, they said. In the note, India is also learnt to have communicated to the high commission its anguish over the space being given to the Khalistani separatists in Canada by the Justin Trudeau government.

New Delhis protest came a day after the Canadian parliament observed a moment of silence in the memory of Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was gunned down in Surrey, British Columbia, in June last year. On June 14, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau held a brief conversation on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italys Apulia region.

The interaction came against the backdrop of severe strain in India-Canada ties. The relations between the two countries came under severe strain following Trudeaus allegations in September last year of a potential involvement of Indian agents in Nijjars killing. New Delhi rejected Trudeaus charges as absurd.

India has been maintaining that the main issue between the two countries is that of Canada giving space to pro-Khalistan elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra last week said Indias main issue with Canada continues to be the political space that Ottawa provides to anti-India elements which advocate extremism and violence.

India has repeatedly conveyed its deep concerns to Canada and New Delhi expects Ottawa to take strong action against those elements, he had said. Nijjar, who was declared a terrorist by India, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in British Columbia on June 18 last year. The murder is being probed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Yoga Blends Physical Exercises with Spirituality: CJI Chandrachud Yoga is a combination of physical exercises and spirituality, and the International Yoga Day underlines its importance in maintaining a balanced lifestyle, Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud said on Friday. Read full Article

Rajasthan CM Celebrates International Yoga Day at SMS Stadium A state-level function was held at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Friday to celebrate the 10th International Yoga Day. Governor Kalraj Mishra, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani and Deputy Chief Minister Premchand Bairwa attended the programme organized by the National Institute of Ayurveda. Read full Article

Delhi LG VK Saxena Performs Yoga on Banks of Yamunas Delhi Lieutenant Governor and DDA chairman VK Saxena on Friday performed yoga at Baansera on the bank of Yamuna River on the occasion of International Yoga Day, a statement said. Read full Article

Ambassadors, Diplomats Join Yoga Day Celebrations in Delhi Several diplomats, ambassadors and embassies in India joined the Yoga Day celebrations here on Friday with German envoy Philipp Ackermann describing yoga as highly introspective that also connects people as mindful human beings. Read full Article

Security Personnel Perform Yoga At Isha Centre in Coimbatore | Video Around 1,000 NCC cadets of 5 Karnataka Battalion from 20 colleges in Chikkaballapura, 200 soldiers from the Madras Engineering Corps (MEG) of the Indian Army, 120 Jawans and 2 officers from the Subsidiary Training Center (STC), Border Security Force (BSF) performed Yoga At Adiyogi, Isha Yoga Center In Coimbatore. Karnataka: Around 1,000 NCC cadets of 5 Karnataka Battalion from 20 colleges in Chikkaballapura, 200 soldiers from the Madras Engineering Corps (MEG) of the Indian Army, 120 Jawans and 2 officers from the Subsidiary Training Center (STC), Border Security Force (BSF) performed pic.twitter.com/A32Yfgi24c  ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2024 Read full Article

Indian Navy Officials Perform Yoga Onboard INS Saryu | WATCH Indian Navy personnel performed Yoga onboard INS Saryu, at Belawan in Indonesia. #WATCH | Indian Navy personnel performed Yoga onboard INS Saryu, at Belawan in Indonesia#InternationalYogaDay (Source: Indian Navy) pic.twitter.com/gZMqA2e5R4  ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2024 Read full Article

Indian Army Personnel Perform Yoga | Watch Indian Army personnel performed Yoga on the occasion of International Yoga Day at Kaman Post near the Line of Control (LoC). #WATCH | Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir: Indian Army personnel performed Yoga on the occasion of International Yoga Day at Kaman Post near the Line of Control (LoC). pic.twitter.com/s26mybDMLL  ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2024 Read full Article

PM Modi Share Glimpses Of His International Yoga Day Celebration In Srinagar Dal Lake in Srinagar provided a wonderful setting for this years Yoga Day programme, reflecting perfect harmony with nature. The rains did not dampen the spirit of the countless people gathered there. Here are some glimpses, PM Modi said in a post on X. Dal Lake in Srinagar provided a wonderful setting for this years Yoga Day programme, reflecting perfect harmony with nature. The rains did not dampen the spirit of the countless people gathered there. Here are some glimpses. pic.twitter.com/sIaLuxkSpA  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 21, 2024

International Yoga Day Celebrated with Fanfare in Karnataka International Yoga Day was celebrated with much fanfare across Karnataka on Friday. The main event took place on the grand steps of Vidhana Soudha where Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot along with Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, Legislative Council Chairperson Basavaraj Horatti and senior government officials took part in the event. A large number of students too took part in the event and did Yogasanas. Speaking on the occasion, Gehlot highlighted the profound impact of yoga on mental peace and emotional satisfaction. He also underscored yogas deep roots in Indian culture and its global significance.

International Yoga Day 2024 LIVE: Arunachal Governor, CM, DyCM Participates in Celebrations The International Yoga Day was celebrated in Arunachal Pradesh on Friday with Governor Lt Gen K T Parnaik (Retd), Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein and various ministers participating in events organised across the state. The chief minister urged the people of the state to practice yoga for a healthy society. yoga, a person can imbibe some very good qualities like courage which protects like a father, forgiveness as possessed by a mother and mental peace which becomes a permanent friend, Khandu posted on X after performing yoga at an event in Itanagar.

International Yoga Day 2024 LIVE: Yoga Promotes Unity, Harmony in Society, Says Union Minister Jadhav Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav on Friday said yoga not only boosts physical and mental health but also promotes unity and harmony in the society. Jadhav, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ayush ministry, was addressing a gathering at the 10th International Yoga Day event that was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the SKICC Srinagar. This years theme is yoga for self and society which highlights yogas dual role in fostering individual and societal well-being. It nurtures physical, mental, and spiritual growth while promoting societal harmony, the minister said.

International Yoga Day 2024 LIVE: Navy Organises Yoga Session On Board INS Vikramaditya Navy personnel perform Yoga asanas on board aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya on the occasion of International Yoga Day 2024. VIDEO | Navy personnel perform Yoga asanas on board aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya on the occasion of #InternationalYogaDay2024. (Source: Third Party) @indiannavy pic.twitter.com/BKQjCPmRS1  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 21, 2024

International Yoga Day 2024 LIVE: India Emerging As Cultural Superpower, Says West Bengal Guv International Yoga Day 2024: The world has come to realise the secret of health and wealth. India is emerging as a cultural superpower, said West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose as he performs yoga at Raj Bhawan in Kolkata.

International Yoga Day 2024 LIVE: Karnataka Govt Plans To Start Yoga Classes in Schools, Says Dy CM Shivakumar International Yoga Day 2024: Its a great day. Karnataka government also has plans to start yoga classes in schools, says Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar. VIDEO | International Yoga Day 2024: Its a great day. Karnataka government also has plans to start yoga classes in the school, says Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar. (Full video available on PTI Videos  https://t.co/dv5TRARJn4) pic.twitter.com/PhFztEACT8  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 21, 2024

International Yoga Day 2024 LIVE: Sudarsan Pattnaik's Sand Art At Puri Beach Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik created sand art on the occasion of International Yoga Day 2024 at Puri Beach in Odisha. VIDEO | Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik created sand art on the occasion of International Yoga Day 2024 at Puri Beach in Odisha. (Full video available on PTI Videos  https://t.co/dv5TRARJn4)(Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/gfciu0BdOu  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 21, 2024

International Yoga Day 2024 LIVE: UNion Minister L Murugan Performs Yoga At Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya Union Minister L Murugan performed yoga at Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya, Nilgiris on International Yoga Day.

Yoga Can Attract More Tourists to J-K, Create Jobs for Locals, Says PM Modi rime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said yoga can help Jammu and Kashmir attract more tourists which will provide new livelihood opportunities to the local residents. Addressing a gathering on the 10th International Yoga Day on the banks of Dal Lake here, the prime minister cited a competition held in Egypt wherein yoga was used to promote tourism in the North African country. I recently saw a video from Egypt. They organised a competition and awarded the best yoga photographs and videos from iconic tourist places in the country. In the pictures and videos, I saw girls from Egypt standing in front of the iconic Pyramids doing yoga, it was so attractive. For Kashmir, yoga can become such a big source of livelihood. It can become a centre of attraction for tourists, Modi told the yoga practitioners on the lawns of SKICC on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar.

International Yoga Day 2024 LIVE: The World Has Adopted Yoga, Says Union Minister Sonowal Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbanand Sonowal performed Yoga at Tinsukia, Assam on the 10th International Yoga Day. On the occasion, Sarbanand Sonowal said, Today, under the leadership of PM Modi, the people of the world have adopted Yoga. This is a big achievement for the people of India. #WATCH | Tinsukia, Assam | On Yoga Day, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbanand Sonowal says, Today, under the leadership of PM Modi, the people of the world have adopted Yoga. This is a big achievement for the people of India. pic.twitter.com/pStTy52qeG  ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2024

International Yoga Day 2024 LIVE: Governor, Dy CMs Lead Yoga Day Celebrations in Bihar The 10th International Yoga Day was celebrated across Bihar on Friday with Governor Rajendra V Arlekar, Deputy Chief Ministers and other state ministers attending the main events in the state capital. In a post on X, Raj Bhavan (Bihar), said, The governor, officials and employees of the governors secretariat practised yoga in the yoga camp organised at Raj Bhavan on the occasion of the 10th International Yoga Day on Friday . Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha and several other ministers and senior bureaucrats participated in a yoga session at an event held at the Patliputra Sports complex to mark the occasion. I participated in the mass yoga programme organized by the State Ayush Committee Health Department, at Pataliputra Sports Club and did yoga with dignitaries present there. Yoga is an effective medium to concentrate the body, mind and soul, which makes not only the body but also the mind healthy. I want to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi, from the bottom of my heart. He made yoga reach the world, wrote Sinha in his post on X.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin ordered a commission of inquiry on the recent Kallakurichi hooch tragedy that killed over 45 people. Retired judge of the Madras High Court, Justice P Gokuldas will lead the probe.

The state government also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the families of each victim and Rs 50,000 to those who were critically injured and undergoing treatment.

This decision comes after the Madras High Court reviewed the matter and sought details from the state government on actions being taken against those responsible for the tragic incident, including the suspension and transfer of officers.

The court also inquired about the administrations efforts to prevent such incidents in the future, as well as details of de-addiction centres.

This is a problem everywhere. Not just for poor families but for affluent families also. Illicit liquor is not the only problem. This has become a common problem. People are even committing suicide, said the court.

Calling it a terrible tragedy, Tamil Nadu Advocate General PS Raman said, Right now, all our efforts are concentrated on saving lives. On the other allegations made by the petitioners (AIADMK), let me say that even larger tragedies have taken when their government was in power.pol

Tamil Nadu Hooch Tragedy

At least 47 people died and the condition of at least 30 people is critical after consuming illicit packet arrack in Tamil Nadus Kallakurichi.

The mortal remains of 29 people who died till Thursday were handed over to their relatives and the bodies were either buried or cremated, Kallakurichi District Collector Prasanth M S said.

The Collector said special teams have been formed to prevent the sale of illicit arrack in the district and they have been told to take up intense combing operations.

The administration had sufficient stock of medicines to treat the affected and presently efforts were on in taking door enumeration in Karunapuram on the number of persons who could be affected.

He appealed to those among the public who had consumed illicit liquor to voluntarily subject themselves to medical examination soon and undergo treatment if needed and thus avert possible threats to their lives.

Opposition Demands CBI Probe, Ruckus in Assembly

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state unit president K Annamalai urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to order a CBI probe into the incident. The state government, meanwhile, transferred the case to CB-CID.

Tamil Nadu lost over 60 lives to hooch in the last two years due to the ineffective governance of the DMK, he stated in the letter.

The production and sale of illicit liquor in Tamil Nadu happened at the behest of party functionaries and cadres belonging to the DMK and the points of sale were located close to courts, police stations, and other government offices, Annamalai alleged.

Meanwhile, the AIADMK members in the Tamil Nadu Assembly were evicted en masse on Friday after the main opposition tried to raise some issues during the Question Hour, but the ruling was withdrawn by the Speaker soon, following an appeal made by Chief Minister M K Stalin.
At least six policemen were injured in Maharashtras Jalgaon on Thursday night after an angry mob protesting against the rape and murder of a minor girl laid siege to a police station.

Protest erupted late on Thursday night after the man accused of raping and killing a 6-year-old girl was arrested and brought to the Jamner Police Station. The minor was murdered nine days ago.

A restive crowd gathered outside the police station and started demanding the accused should be handed over to them.

To disperse the crowd, police resorted to lathicharge. The injured policemen were admitted to a district hospital.

The police reportedly also detained around 15 people for stone-pelting.

In the videos showing the aftermath of the clash, it can be seen that the mob vandalised some vehicles and burnt tyres.

VIDEO | Maharashtra: Protest erupted in #Jalgaon late on Thursday over rape and murder of a minor girl.(Full video available on PTI Videos  https://t.co/n147TvqRQz) pic.twitter.com/jVG2NxiFfe  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 21, 2024

Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena (UBT) has attacked the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led government in Maharashtra for failing to control the law and order situation in the state.

Maharashtra is witnessing increasing incidents of violence; there are cases of broad daylight murders in Vasai, and in Jalgaon, a 6-year-old girl was raped and murdered. The publics anger in Maharashtra is at its peak, and trust in the police is dwindling. Where is the state government asked Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey.

Mumbai: Maharashtra is witnessing increasing incidents of violence; there are cases of broad daylight murders in Vasai, and in Jalgaon, a 6-year-old girl was raped and murdered. The publics anger in Maharashtra is at its peak, and trust in the police is dwindling. Where is the pic.twitter.com/uvTvxI9YfU IANS (@ians_india) June 21, 2024

The Case

A 6-year-old girl was allegedly raped and killed by 35-year-old Subhash Imaji Bhil in Jamner nine days ago. Since then, the accused was on the run.

He was arrested on Thursday, he was arrested from Bhusawal, a small town approximately 30 km away, after cops got intel on his hideout.
Amid the chaos over NEET paper leak, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Aaditya Thackeray has alleged different papers were given to 24 batches in the recently held CET in Maharashtra.

The exams have become a point of contention. The MH-CET cell administered different papers to 24 batches, each with its own set of questions. Its been a mess. No one seemed to clarify the curriculum before hand. And if you wanted to challenge a question, it cost you a thousand rupees. With 1,425 objections filed, the CET cell has made quite a bit of money from this mess they created, said Thackeray.

The unrest over such critical exams isnt just local; its spreading across the country. Reports of leaked papers and suspicions of corruption in NEET exams are already circulating. Similar controversies have erupted around Maharashtras CET, raising questions about whos benefiting from these exams, students or someone else, asked Thackeray.

There are 232 unique objection IDs, but despite all this, the CET cell and those who set the papers claim they didnt make any mistakes. However, students have identified 54 errors in the papers. Ironically, those running the show havent been subjected to the same scrutiny they put their students through, said Thackeray.

Thackeray said that while students dont want to take a re-examination, they have the right to know their marks, instead of percentile. If the minister concerned has any interest in this issue, he should clarify to all those students who had appeared for this exam. We have no hopes from this government. Post October, when we establish our government in the state, we will abolish this pattern of exam and instead of different papers for different batches, will keep only one paper for all students appearing for this exam, he said.

Thackeray and a delegation of Shiv Sena UBT leaders are likely to meet the Governor of Maharashtra soon to seek justice for MH-CET students.
The Enforcement Directorate and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal were at loggerheads in the Delhi High Court on Friday as the government agency challenged the bail granted to the Aam Aadmi Party chief by a trial court on Thursday. While ED called the trial courts order perverse, Kejriwal called the ED completely partisan, adding that the probe agency was doing a paper encounter.

The ED on Friday came out all guns blazing in the Delhi High Court against the trial courts order. The ED called the Delhi trial courts order perverse and one sided.

The ED alleged that the trial court did not go into the material and evidence provided by the agency in the case and denied it an adequate opportunity to oppose the bail. ED was deprive of the proper opportunity. The judge hurried the hearing when we were arguing, said Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju in court.

Kindly have the look at the trial court order. The court does not hear us, does not look at the documents given by us and says it is voluminous. Court says bulky documents have been filed. There cant be any more perverse order than this, he added.

ASG Raju said that the trial courts decision to grant bail to Kejriwal was based on wrong facts. With wrong facts and wrong dates you come to conclusion that it is mala fide. Why is it mala fide? It is missing, Raju said pointing out that the trial court order mentioned that the ECIR from August 22, 2022, but the ECIR was registered in July 2022.

While arguing in the High Court, ASG Raju called the order lopsided and said, What kind of an order is this? There is direct evidence. The person says Kejriwal said give me Rs 100 crore. This is proceeds of crime. We have given all the evidence. There is corroboration in the form of visitors register. I will show how perverse and lopsided the order is.

Arguing that Kejriwal cannot be given bail just because he is the Chief Minister of Delhi, Raju said, Holding a constitutional chair is a ground for bail? That means every minister will be granted bail. You are a CM so you will be granted bail? Unheard of! There cannot be anything more perverse than this.

Our case is that Kejriwal is guilty of money laundering on two counts. One is in his individual capacity where he personally demanded 100 crore. Secondly, he is vicariously liable because AAP is guilty of the offence of money laundering. Why? Because AAP used the money generated from proceeds of crime and used it in election campaign for their candidates and their events, Raju said.

Calling the order silent, Raju said, The order says ED is silent. ED is not silent, the order is silent. ED was shouting at the rooftops.

ASG Raju also lashed out at the trial court for ignoring the entire trail of evidence that the ED has gathered. We have chats to show intimacy between Vinod Chauhan and Kejriwal. Chauhan sent 25 crore of the 100 crore proceeds of crime to one Sagar Patel. We have chats between AAP people and these Angadias who were dealing with huge amounts of cash.. There are telephone calls. All this has been glossed over by the trial court, Raju said.

Kejriwals Counter

Countering the EDs arguments, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, called the ED partisan. There is misconception about what a bail hearing should be like. Must mean that judge must write an essay. Just because there is a political antagonism involved and that if all the commas etc are not dealt with by the judge, it gives Mr Raju right to malign the judge. This is deplorable, sad. it should never have come from a govt authority. The ED is completely partisan. There is complete partisanship in every argument, every submission, Singhvi said.

There is no perversity. I may write differently, you may write differently, this is not perversity. I may even write wrongly but that is not perversity, Singhvi argued.

The law is clear that a grant of bail as opposed to cancellation has two very distinct things. He makes a gigantic admission against himself. He admits that he knows the law. He says the order is perverse and therefore limits to one small aspect. Like Alice in Wonderland, ED has its own understanding of perversity, he added.

At the worst if the stay application is denied today and tomorrow the same is allowed. What will be the problem? The problem is for ED, Article 21 is non existent. The liberty of a person is very very low in the eyes of the ED, if it exists at all, Singhvi said while arguing against Raju.

Lashing out at the ED further, with instances of how people were granted bail on opposing Kejriwal, Singhvi said, If my lords goes against me, I lose, and I am in jail. ED is a sacred cow that says how can anyone get bail under my nose, adding that the ED was doing a paper-encounter.
A porn addict alcoholic man allegedly killed his 12-year-old daughter for resisting rape in Telangana, police said. He even filed a missing complaint against his daughter to misguid the police.

The mans family had moved to Miyapur in Hyderabad from the Mahubabad district of Telangana a fortnight ago. On June 7, the 12-year-old girl said she wanted to return to Mahbubabad, therefore, her father picked her up from a local grocery store at around 10:00 am saying he would take her to her mother, police noted.

The accused was caught on CCTV camera parking his vehicle in an isolated area and taking his daughter inside a forest where he allegedly tried to rape her.

According to a report in The Hindu, police said that the accused, reportedly a porn addict, allegedly wanted to enact a scene with his daughter. The girl, however, screamed and threatened to tell her mother.

According to Miyapur police, the man pushed her daughter to the ground due to which she suffered injuries and started bleeding. He then proceeded to hit her with a stone and left her to die.

Eleven minutes later, the accused came back to check if the girl was dead. He then went home and changed his red shirt with a white one and told his wife that their daughter was missing.

He then filed a missing complaint with the police the same day, requesting the cops to find his daughter.

On June 13, a decomposed body was found in the forest in Miyapur. Police began a probe into the case and scoured the CCTV footage which showed the man entering the forest with his daughter and leaving alone.

Upon investigation, the accused confessed to killing his daughter and was later arrested.

ACP Narasimha Rao noted that the man had confessed to killing his daughter to an elder in his native tribal habitat and had been advised to surrender, at around the same time the police had suspected his role in the killing of his daughter.
A sessions court in Pune granted bail to Vishal Agarwal, the father of the teenager accused in the Pune Porsche accident, in the Juvenile Justice Act case.

Advocate Prashant Patil, who represented Agarwal, confirmed that the court granted bail to him on Friday evening.

Patil noted that the argument on his clients bail application took place 10 days ago, during which he pointed out that Section 75 of the JJ Act is non-cognizable and does not include a provision for arrest.

While granting bail to the juveniles father, the court directed him to abide by all imposed conditions and cooperate with the police, Patil said.

The court also granted bail to five other accused, including the owners and managers of two bars, who were arrested for allegedly serving liquor to underage patrons.

Agarwal, a real estate developer, was booked under the Juvenile Justice Act for exposing a child to danger by handing over an unregistered car to him while knowing that he had no driving license.

The 17-year-old accused was allegedly driving the Porsche car at a very high speed while intoxicated on May 19 when it rammed into a bike, resulting in the deaths of two software engineers, Aneesh Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta.

The teens father, Vishal Agrawal and his mother Shivani were arrested in connection with the case for their suspected involvement in swapping his blood samples.

This comes days after the Pune police submitted the final report to the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) detailing all evidence against a 17-year-old boy allegedly involved in a car crash in Punes Kalyani Nagar last month.

The teen driver, involved in the Porsche car accident in the early hours of May 19, is currently lodged at an observation home in the city.

The police had filed a plea to allow them to treat the juvenile as an adult for trial in the case. To support their case, the police have now submitted relevant evidence to the JJB.

Meanwhile, investigation has revealed that the juveniles blood samples, which were swapped with those of his mother, were disposed of as bio-medical waste at Sassoon General Hospital.

The minor boys mother and father, along with two doctors  Dr Ajay Taware and Dr Shrihari Halnor  and a hospital employee, Atul Ghatkamble, are currently in jail for their alleged involvement in the blood sample swapping case.

(With inputs from PTI)
The Bombay High Court on Friday queried if it amounted to confinement when the juvenile accused in the Pune Porsche case was granted bail but was taken back in custody and kept in an observation home.

A division bench of Justices Bharati Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande said there was no denying that the accident was unfortunate.

Two people have lost their lives. There was trauma but the child (juvenile) was also in trauma, the court said.

Court Asks Police Why Accused Was Confined Despite Bail

The bench also questioned the police under what provision of law, the order granting bail to the minor accused in the Porsche accident case was amended and how he has been kept in confinement.

In the early hours of May 19, the juvenile was allegedly driving a Porsche car at very high speed in an intoxicated state when the vehicle crashed into a bike, killing two software engineers  Aneesh Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta  in Punes Kalyani Nagar.

The 17-year-old was granted bail the same day by the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), which ordered that he be kept under the care and supervision of his parents and grandfather. He was also asked to write a 300-word essay on road safety.

Amid a nationwide uproar over the quick bail, the police appealed to the JJB to amend the bail order. On May 22, the board ordered the boy to be taken into custody and remanded him to an observation home.

Juveniles Family Files Complaint

Last week, the teenagers paternal aunt filed a habeas corpus (produce person) petition claiming that he was illegally detained and sought his immediate release.

The bench, while hearing the arguments in the plea on Friday, noted that to date, the police have not filed any application before a higher court seeking cancellation of the bail order passed by the JJB.

Instead, an application was filed seeking amendment of the bail order, HC said, adding that based on this application, the bail order was amended, and the boy was taken in custody and remanded to an observation home.

What type of remand is this? What is the power to remand? What kind of procedure is this where a person has been granted bail and then a remand is passed taking him in custody, the court said.

The bench added that the minor was taken away from the care and supervision of his family members and sent to an observation home.

He is a person who has been granted bail, but now he has been confined to an observation home. Is this not confinement? We would like to know your source of power, HC said.

Bombay HC Raps Juvenile Justice Board

The bench said it also expected the Juvenile Justice Board to be responsible.

The court questioned why the police did not move an application for cancellation of the bail.

The court reserved its order on the plea and said it would be passed on Tuesday (June 25).

Public prosecutor Hiten Venegaonkar submitted that the remand orders passed by the board were all valid and hence no interference was required.

On May 19, Venegaonkar said, the JJB bail order was rightly or wrongly passed, and also the blood samples of the juvenile were tampered with.

Action has been taken against the errant officers and doctors. We have to send a strong message to society. Just writing a 300-word essay is not enough, Venegaonkar said.

Senior counsel Aabad Ponda argued that the boys fundamental rights were violated.

A free citizens personal liberty has been trampled upon. Can a child be taken in custody when he has been granted bail and the bail order is in force, Ponda said.

He added that there was no provision under the law where such a review of a bail order can be sought and passed.

You cannot turn back the clock. Had bail been refused, CCL could have been sent to an observation home. But having been granted bail how can he be sent back to an observation home, Ponda said.

The senior counsel said such things are not even done in serious offences under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act and Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act. How the police can do this in a juveniles case, he asked.

The boys aunt in the plea claimed that because of the public uproar coupled with political agenda, the police deviated from the right course of investigation concerning the minor thus defeating the entire purpose of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act.

The teenager is currently in an observation home till June 25.
Its 7pm on Thursday and the small cremation ground in Karunapuram Village of Kallakurichi is packed. Its the kind of record footfall no town hopes to witness at its cremation ground but the deaths of more than 45 men and women in the hooch tragedy has forced horrendous scenes upon the villagers.

As many as 22 pyres are lined up in this small ground and an intermittent drizzle threatens to snuff the flames. But pyres burn nevertheless. Young children orphaned, aged parents left alone, women widowed, wailing siblings  all struggling to come to terms with the collective grief of losing 47 lives.

On June 20, news of the deaths following the consumption of illicit packet arrack spread like wildfire. Families in disbelief trooped to the hospital, hoping it wasnt true. By Thursday evening, the death toll had climbed to 42 and touched 47 on Friday morning.

The gravity and magnitude of the tragedy hits harder when one visits the narrow streets that count more than 10 deaths; the dwellings here have no space between them and now neither do the dead bodies.

Three children in particular are in shock, their eyes all dried out. Both their parents died after consuming the illicit liquor. When we returned from school, we were told our parents were unwell and were taken to the government hospital. Little did we realise that they had passed away while we were in school, says 14-year-old Raghavan.

Their father was a painter and their mother was a construction worker. With their parents deaths, there is no one left to pay rent or school fees.

Breaking down, their grandmother says: My daughter was suffering from stomach pain. She was having medical syrup. My son-in-law used to consume illicit arrack. On that fateful day, he consumed half of it and kept the remaining half. My daughter thought that was her medicine and drank it accidentally. Sometime later she raised alarm that she isnt able to see anything and complained of stomach pain. When we rushed to the hospital, she was declared brought dead.

Other bereaved residents of Karunapuram are similarly devastated. Several children lost one of their parents, while many families lost breadwinners.

The bootlegger, Govindaraj allias Kannukutti, who was arrested, is also a resident of this village. His mother admitted while speaking to News18 that her son had been selling spurious liquor for the last one year.

Many distraught families say the local administration turned a blind eye and that spurious liquor was being sold for years but no action was taken to stop the sale or production of illicit arrack.

The police officers are aware of the sale of arrack. They work hand-in-glove with the bootleggers. If the local administration says they were not aware of the sale of illicit liquor, they are lying. Every resident in Kallakuruchi knows about the consumption of hooch, says 30-year-old Andal.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has constituted a one-man committee headed by Justice B Gokuldas to probe the incident and to submit a report within three weeks. Stalin also announced solatium of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those who are hospitalised.

The opposition, meanwhile, has demanded the ruling DMK to take moral responsibility for the hooch tragedy. While the AIADMK has demanded the resignation of Stalin, the BJP wants a CBI inquiry.

Speaking to News18, Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai said: Why is CM Stalin sending his son? Shouldnt he set up a camp here and monitor the situation? Why hasnt he taken moral responsibility? We believe there is connivance between DMK party functionaries and those selling illicit liquor.

Hooch tragedies are not uncommon in Tamil Nadu; one unfolded as recently as a year ago in in Tanjavur district. Will the mounting casualties in Kallakurichi finally force the government and local administrations to crackdown on other such operations across the state?
The Delhi High Court, recently, granted an injunction to Infosys in a trademark infringement suit against a company using Southern Infosys as its mark. The court highlighted that while Infosys might have started as a potentially descriptive term, it had undoubtedly acquired a distinct secondary meaning linking it indelibly to the plaintiff.

The bench of Justice Sanjeev Narula said, The defendants argument that the term remains merely descriptive is, therefore, not persuasive.

Infosys, represented by advocate Peeyoosh Kalra, argued that the company, a global leader in information technology and consulting services with a market capitalisation of approximately 93.6 billion USD, was established in 1981. The trademark Infosys coined and adopted in 1981, had been in continuous and uninterrupted use. Through relentless and extensive publicity and promotional efforts, their trademark had amassed formidable goodwill and an outstanding reputation both within India and internationally. Consequently, the term became exclusively associated with the company, particularly recognised as a hallmark in the technology sector.

Upon discovering the unauthorised use of its trademark, Kalra told the court that the company promptly issued a cease-and-desist notice, which the defendant did not respond to. He argued that no amount of time elapsed could legitimise the defendants use of the infringing mark, as its initial adoption was dishonest and in bad faith.

Advocate Piyush Kaushik, representing Southern Infosys (defendant), opposed the grant of an injunction on several grounds. He argued that Infosys deliberately concealed crucial facts, such as an earlier cease-and-desist notice, and its failure to mention this notice in their plaint. When confronted, Infosys could not justify this omission, suggesting it was a tactic to secure an ad-interim injunction based on incomplete disclosures.

Additionally, Kaushik asserted that the term was deemed generic and descriptive. He further argued that there was no deceptive similarity between the trademarks, and the substantial differences in the nature of the businesses further eliminated the likelihood of confusion.

The court referred to the scope of infringement under Section 29(5) of the Act, noting that the section deals with instances where a defendant used a trademark identical or similar to the plaintiffs registered trademark. These sub-sections apply to goods or services that are the same as, similar to, or different from those offered by the plaintiff.

The HC clarified that sub-section (5) of Section 29 addresses a distinct issue. Section 29(5) stipulates that trademark infringement occurs only when the registered trademark is used by the Defendant as part of their trade name and the Defendant engages in commerce concerning the goods or services for which the trademark is registered, the court highlighted.

The court further examined the trademarks of the parties and noted that although the prefix Southern suggested some differentiation, Infosys remained the dominant element. The HC therefore concluded that the combination of visual, phonetic, and conceptual similarities between the marks significantly raised the likelihood of consumer confusion, suggesting that Southern Infosys Limited might be mistakenly associated with Infosys.

The court, while assessing the generic nature of the term Infosys, noted that the critical test for determining whether a mark was descriptive did not hinge solely on its original, generic usage but rather on its association in the public mind over time. The court emphasised, Acquired distinctiveness occurs when a term, initially considered generic or descriptive, evolves through extensive and sustained commercial use, advertising, and public recognition to signify a specific source rather than just the product or service itself.

Accordingly, the court allowed the application and refrained defendants from using the term Infosys.
The UGC-NET June 2024 exam, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), was cancelled on Wednesday amid concerns of paper leak. Sources have told News18 that a routine input, which included initial details of analysis by the Ministry of Home Affairs I4C, triggered the cancellation of the UGC-NET exam.

According to top-level sources, the input contained details about leaks, links, a brief, and screenshots, including a leaked sample paper that was later matched by Education Ministry with other details. Sources also told News18 that I4C officials found that the exam paper was being sold for Rs 5,000 on Telegram and had asked Education Ministry to act on it.

As per sources, the input mentioned about the compromise of the exams integrity, with the exam paper available on Telegram before the test was conducted. Sources also said that officials had traced a group where the paper was selling at Rs 10,000. Sources added that the paper was available on various groups days ahead of day of the exam.

The input has details about groups which has their subject mentioning about NET leaked. As per the input, sources said, that Telegram has emerged as the epicentre of the leak, with several groups created to maximise profits through advertisements. Multiple links were provided to the Education Ministry where the paper was being sold.

Though it has not been found yet from where the Telegram groups administrators got the paper, but it is expected that it was sourced through Dark web, said sources.

Officials became aware of Telegram groups where the NET paper was being sold. During the initial analysis, social media apps showed messages of the leaked NET paper circulating from these groups. A report was prepared and sent to the Ministry of Education, a senior official familiar with the situation told News18.

When asked about the nature of the input, the official said, Every day, we receive information about leaks and attacks, prompting us to request action from concerned agencies, departments, or ministries. Similarly, our team found that the NET paper was being sold. It was a routine input with initial details such as links to the groups and screenshots, the official added.

The cancellation of NET came amid a major controversy that has over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2024 medical entrance exam, with the matter now before the Supreme Court. On Wednesday night, the Union Education Ministry ordered the cancellation of the UGC-NET following concerns that the exams integrity had been compromised and referred the matter to the CBI for investigation.

CBI Registers a Case

On Thursday, the CBI registered a case against unknown accused persons under Sections 120B and 420 of the IPC based on a complaint received on 20.06.2024 from the Secretary, Department of Education, Government of India.

The complaint alleged that on 19.06.2024, the University Grants Commission (UGC) received inputs from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analysis Unit of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs indicating that the integrity of the UGC-NET 2024 Examination, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) in two shifts across different cities, may have been compromised, the CBI said in a press release.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday led the 10th International Day of Yoga celebrations at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Complex (SKICC) in Jammu and Kashmirs Srinagar. This was Modis first visit to the Valley after becoming prime minister for the third consecutive term.

Speaking at the event, PM Modi said the world sees yoga as a powerful agent for global good as it helps people live in the present without carrying the baggage of the past. He noted that yoga has helped people realise that their welfare is linked to the welfare of the world around them and highlighted the growth of the Yoga economy in the past decade.

The world is looking at yoga as a powerful agent of global good. Yoga helps us live in the present moment without the baggage of the pastWhen we are peaceful within, we can also make a positive impact on the worldYoga is making new ways of positive change in the society, the prime minister said.

PM Modis event was scheduled to be held on the lawns of the SKICC on the banks of the Dal Lake but had to be shifted indoors due to incessant rain. Later he took selfies with local women against the vibrant backdrop of Dal Lake.

Post Yoga selfies in Srinagar! Unparalled vibrancy here, at the Dal Lake. pic.twitter.com/G9yxoLUkpX Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 21, 2024

Sharing glimpses from his picturesque event in Srinagar, the Prime Minister said, Dal Lake in Srinagar provided a wonderful setting for this years Yoga Day programme, reflecting perfect harmony with nature. The rains did not dampen the spirit of the countless people gathered there.

Dal Lake in Srinagar provided a wonderful setting for this years Yoga Day programme, reflecting perfect harmony with nature. The rains did not dampen the spirit of the countless people gathered there. Here are some glimpses. pic.twitter.com/sIaLuxkSpA Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 21, 2024

The prime minister said the number of yoga practitioners across the globe is growing every day and the regimen is becoming a part of their daily life.

The number of yoga followers is growing continuously. Wherever I go, there is hardly any (international) leader who does not talk to me about the benefits of yogaIn many countries, yoga is becoming a part of the peoples daily lives, Modi said as he cited the examples of Turkmenistan, Saudi Arabia, Mongolia, and Germany, saying the ancient form of meditation was fast becoming popular there.

In his address, the prime minister also mentioned 101-year-old Frenchwoman Charlotte Chopin who was awarded a Padma Shri for her services in popularising yoga in her country.

Modi said the spread of yoga globally has led to a change in perception about it as more people are travelling to India to get authentic knowledge about it.

In the last 10 years, the expansion of Yoga has changed the perception related to YogaToday, the world is seeing a new Yoga economy going forward. In India, from Rishikesh and Kashi to Kerala, a new connect of Yoga tourism is being seen. Tourists from across the world are coming to India because they want to learn authentic Yoga in IndiaPeople are now hiring personal yoga trainers for fitness, and companies are including yoga in mind and body (fitness) programmes for their employees. It has opened new avenues of livelihood, he said.

The prime minister said yoga provides solutions to several problems faced by people today.

Yoga is not only knowledge but it is science as well. In this era of information revolution, there is a flood of information sources and it is a challenge for the human mind to focus on one subject.

A solution for this is also in yoga as it helps the mind to focus. That is why from army to sports, yoga has been included in their routine, he said.

The prime minister said astronauts and people working on space projects are also trained in yoga as it increases productivity as well as tolerance.

In many prisons, the inmates are also taught yoga so that they can think positively, he added.

Modi expressed satisfaction that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are also taking up yoga which will help the tourism sector of the Union Territory.

I have been seeing since yesterday that yoga is becoming popular with the people of Srinagar and (rest of) Jammu and Kashmir. It is a big thing that 50,000 to 60,000 people are associated with yoga. This will attract more tourists here, he said.

The United Nations General Assembly, heeding a call by Prime Minister Modi, declared in December 2014 to observe June 21 every year as the International Day of Yoga.
Anil Kapoor has finally opened up about his alleged rift with filmmaker-brother, Boney Kapoor for not casting him in No Entry 2. Recently, Kapoor was interacting with the media during the Bigg Boss OTT 3 press conference when he was asked about the rift. However, the veteran actor refused to address the issue saying it was a family matter.

Ghar ki baat hai, ghar mein rehne do. Use kya discuss karna (Its a personal matter, why should we discuss it)? Anil Kapoor said as quoted by Indian Express. When asked about Boneys statement, the actor added, Haan toh koi nahi. Aage badho (Its okay. We should move on). Even though Anil Kapoor was questioned further about the alleged rift, he maintained, Dekho ghar ki baat ko kya discuss karna (Look, what is there to discuss about family matters). And, he (Boney) is never wrong.

The reports of a rift between Anil Kapoor and Boney Kapoor made headlines earlier this year when the former was not announced as a cast in No Entry 2. The original No Entry starred Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Fardeen Khan, Esha Deol, Lara Dutta, Bipasha Basu and Celina Jaitly. However, Anil will not be a part of the films sequel which will have Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh and Arjun Kapoor.

Later, Boney Kapoor revealed that Anil wanted to be a part of the sequel, but unfortunately, there was no space. He revealed that after the cast of No Entry 2 leaked, Anil got upset and was not talking to him. Before I could tell my brother Anil about the No Entry sequel and the cast involved, he got angry as the news was already leaked. It was unfortunate that it was leaked. I know he wanted to be a part of the No Entry sequel, but there was no space. I wanted to explain why I did what I did, Boney told Zoom in an interview.

Boney Kapoor further explained why he decided to cast Varun, Arjun and Diljit in the movie and revealed, Varun and Arjun are great friends. Their chemistry could come out in the story, and Diljit is massive today. He has a great fan following. I wanted to make it relevant in todays time. Thats why I did this casting.
Actor Annu Kapoor has reacted to actor-politician Kangana Ranaut getting slapped by a CISF woman constable at Chandigarh airport. Annu, who is known for not mincing his words, first tried to dodge the question by saying that he doesnt recognise Kangana, however, he later said that the newly-elected MP should have resorted to legal action.

The actor, who is busy promoting his new film Hamare Baarah, spoke about the slap incident during a press conference. When the actor was asked about the incident, he said, Yeh Kangana ji kaun hain? Please batao na kaun hain? Zaahir hai aap pooch rahe hain toh koi bahut badi heroine hongi? Sundar hain kya? (Who is this Kangana? Is she a big heroine? Is she beautiful?)

When a media person pointed out that Kangana is now a newly elected MP from Mandi, to which Annu said, Oho woh bhi ho gayi! Abhi toh bahut shaktishaali ho gayi hain. (Oh, she has become that too. She is powerful now).

The actor then said that Kangana should take legal action against the personnel who slapped her, as he would have done the same if he were in her position.

A CISF woman constable slapped Kangana at the security area of Chandigarh airport on June 7. Following the incident, the constable was suspended and an FIR was registered against her. Kangana was allegedly hit when she was on her way to Delhi.

In a video later, Kangana said, First of all, I am safe, I am perfectly fine As soon as I came out after the security check, a woman in another cabin, a CISF security staff, she waited for me to cross her and hit my face from the side. She started abusing me. When I asked her why, she said that she supports the farmers protest. I am safe but my concern is how we handle the terrorism and extremism that is increasing in Punjab.
Ben Affleck is well aware of what people say about some of his expressions. The Oscar-winner appears in a new episode of Peacocks Hart to Heart, hosted by Kevin Hart, where he discussed why hes been frequently photographed appearing in a sour mood.

First of all, Im also a little bit shy. I also dont like a lot of attention, Aflleck told Hart. Its [like] why people see me and theyre like, whats with this dude? Always mad. Hes always mad, because when somebody has their camera and its sticking in my face and Im like, okay.

Affleck said hes even more bothered by paparazzo cameras when he is with his kids.

I may be angry that youre around my children. I dont mind you taking my picture. Coming out of a club or premiere [or] whatever. Go ahead. Knock yourself out, Affleck said. I dont notice you. But with my children, thats a different thing.

When Hart suggested he has resting b*tch face, Affleck clarified that he likes to think of it as resting hard face.

Ive noticed this. Im like, people are projecting something onto me that I dont feel about myself at all, Affleck explained. Whether its a certain look or, I dont know, role or something For a long time theyd be like, this guys a frat guy. Ive never been in a fraternity one day in my life! Never once been inside of a frat house, nothing against it. How can I have anything against it? Ive never been there. But I dunno why you are all saying Im a frat guy either. What does that mean? Im like, I didnt go to college.

Affleck also spoke about what its like to be married to Hollywood icon Jennifer Lopez.

We went somewhere with [Lopez]I cant remember because shes so famous, and she creates thispeople love her, and she really represents something important to people, Affleck says. [To me,] people are like, Hey, I like your movie, and then theyre like AAAHHHH! J-LO!, he yelled. Its amazing, you know what I mean?

Hart and Affleck filmed their conversation in January. Hart to Heart is streaming now on Peacock.
Dakota Johnson faced a wardrobe malfunction while attending an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live. On June 19, the Madame Web actress marked her presence at the popular celebrity chat show for the promotions of her upcoming film Daddio. Directed by Christy Hall, the American drama also stars Sean Paul in the lead. The film is slated to hit the silver screens on June 28. Mid-interview with television host Jimmy Kimmel, Dakota Johnsons dress fell off as one of the straps on the dress broke. But, the actress who encountered similar situations in the past, handled the matter with sheer confidence.

The incident occurred when Jimmy Kimmel was showing the audience a clip from Daddio, reported People. During the session, Dakota Johnson was seen struggling with the straps of her ensemble. She donned a black slip dress featuring metallic straps, adorned with floral embellishments. One of the straps appeared to be broken leading Johnson to hold her outfit in place, lest the dress came off. Noticing the actress adjusting the straps, a concerned Kimmel asked, Part of your dress just came unhooked. You all right? The actress dealt with the malfunction quite maturely and replied, My dress just, it just fell off. Well, Ill just hold it, with a laugh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch

Jimmy Kimmel joked that Dakota Johnson needed to hold the important part of her dress which prompted the actress to place her hands over her chest to keep the bodice in place. Holding that pose, Johnson joked, The movie (Daddio) is really good, seemingly taking the circumstance light-heartedly. Like an expert, she was able to hold the straps together throughout the interaction. Unfazed, she answered all the questions related to her yet-to-be-released film.

This is not the first time that Dakota Johnson encountered a wardrobe mishap. Previously while accepting an award at the 2016 Peoples Choice Awards for the favorite dramatic movie actress category, she experienced an identical situation. While sharing a hug with presenter Leslie Mann, Johnsons Armani Prive Couture crop top came undone while on stage. Leslie just broke my dress. Well, its not like nobody here hasnt already seen my boobs, she said jokingly, presumably indicating her intimate scenes with co-star Jamie Dornan in the Fifty Shades film franchise.
Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa will continue to stay in jail for two more days. On Thursday, a Bengaluru court extended his police custody till June 22. Darshan is being probed in connection to the Renuka Swamy murder case. He was arrested by the Karnataka police on June 11 following which he was sent to 6-day police custody.

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.

Meanwhile, the Bengaluru court on Wednesday (June 19) also restricted media from publishing any defamatory news against Darshan. Live Law reported that the court restrained the media, their reporters, anchors or any other persons from printing, publishing, or telecasting any defamatory statements against Darshan, his wife Vijayalakshmi or their family.

It shall be noted that the investigations has not been completed and therefore it is too premature to the defendants to express any opinion about the guilt or otherwise of the husband of the plaintiff. It is well-settled law that the doubts how so ever high it will not substitute the proof. Hence it is to premature to the defendants to express any opinion about the or otherwise of her husband in the alleged crime. It is improper to publish or telecast the information and news as if he has committed the guilt. Having regard to these aspects, an order of exparte temporary injunction is very much necessary, the court said.

Several Kannada actors have come out in support of Darshan, mentioning that they have full faith in the judiciary and hoping that the truth to come out soon. Recently, actress Rachita Ram also urged the media to be unbiased and transparent while talking about the probe. I pray for the departed soul, Renukaswamy. I hope his family gains the strength to bear the loss. I hope justice will be delivered in this murder case. Darshan introduced me to the cinema industry. He is like my mentor. I cannot believe that the person who used to correct my mistakes and guide me was involved in the case. I believe that the police will bring out the truth. Hope the media will remain unbiased and transparent in their reports, her statement read.
Hamare Baarah Movie Review: Back in 2011, a Pakistani film titled Bol created quite a buzz for its bold subject. It marked the film debuts of Atif Aslam and Mahira Khan and dealt with themes such as consent, toxic patriarchy and misogyny with its bottom line being  why is giving birth without any family planning not a sin? Annu Kapoor starrer Hamare Baarah which released today will constantly make you think about Bol. The Hindi film questions the orthodox and radical beliefs and ideologies of Islam and how oppression of all kinds is sometimes falsely glorified in the name of treading the path of divinity and virtue.

Hamare Baarah is set in Lucknows Aminabad and opens with a sequence that sees a woman named Alfia moving the Lucknow High Court to file a case so to as to give her stepmother the right to abort. Her case gets easily dismissed by many with a lawyer telling her, Bhaang kha ke aayi ho kya? It is then that she meets a woman lawyer whos introduced as someone who paise ke liye nahi, haq ke liye ladti hai and is known for fighting many polygamy cases.

Back home, Alfia has ten other siblings. Her father, Mansoor Ali Khan Sanjeri is an orthodox and staunch Muslim, who only believes in the madrasa style of education. According to him, western schooling drives youngsters towards drugs, alcohol and debauchery. He expects his children  both sons and daughters  to not digress from the teachings of Allah and if that requires him to pin down their wings, so be it.

His first wife Salma had passed away after giving multiple births and his second wife Rukhsar is about to meet a similar fate. She gets pregnant with Mansoors twelfth child, a news that brings him immense joy and pride but which can prove fatal to Rukhsars life as frequent pregnancies have weakened her uterus. However, the topic of abortion riles him up as he believes its a form of rejecting Allahs gift and blessing. And this drives Alfia to fight for her stepmother, which obviously doesnt sit well with Mansoor.

Hamare Baarah makes for a tough watch. Its packed with several uncomfortable moments. Case in point: Mansoor thrashing his daughter Zareen when he comes to know that she has been selected in the top 30 of a musical reality show and has to travel to Mumbai to fulfill her dreams. Another distressful sequence is the one where Rukhsar falls to Mansoors feet at a hospital and begs him to not divorce her through the utterance of triple talaq. Its the conditioning and fear of patriarchy that doesnt let the women in the household raise their voices against his wrongdoings with Alfia being the only exception.

Hamare Baarah grapples with a controversial, critical and pertinent issue. It strives to question and critique social and religious conditioning but its shoddy treatment and execution comes in the way. Here, the makers believe that theatrics and histrionics are the only way to portray and convey a grave story that needs telling. At 2 hours 28 minutes, the film seems like a long meandering train ride that keeps stopping at every station with no certainty on when it will reach its final destination. Song sequences pop up every now and then. In fact, the first half of the film boasts of four such sequences. As for the second half, the courtroom scenes appear too long-drawn and repetitive.

Credit, however, goes to writer Rajan Agarwal who tactfully manages to pen a script that doesnt attack Islam and Quranic teachings but cast the spotlight on how the community is misrepresented and misinterpreted by those who practice it as well as outsiders. While the story emphasises on women empowerment, it doesnt throw men under the negative light in the process. So, on one hand, theres Mansoor and Shahnawaz, his eldest son, who are misogynists and tyrants blinded by religious fanaticism. On the other hand, the film has Shoaib, Mansoors second son, and Danish, a journalist, who are feminists and are unafraid to voice their exasperation against toxic traditionalism.

Annu Kapoor ably carries Hamare Baarah on his shoulders. Youll end up hating his Mansoor and wishing for his redemption. However, he takes the dramatic quotient many notches high in most of the scenes and it is this loudness that diminishes what the film truly set out to achieve. Paritosh Tripathi and Rahul Bagga are impressive. Aditi Bhatpahri as Alfia is a revelation. She holds her own among the ensemble cast. She proves her mettle in the emotionally heavier scenes and youll root for her against all odds.

Parth Samthaan as Danish brings about some much-needed calm to this high-octane narrative and he emerges as the wind beneath Alfias wings. Ashwini Kalsekar and Manoj Joshi as lawyers are also top-notch. The rest of the cast members, especially Ankita Dwivedi, deserve applause for their impact performances. Ankitas vulnerability and helplessness will surely tug at your heartstrings. But all said and done, Hamare Baarah even with its heart and intent in the right place doesnt leave an impact as strong as the nuanced and sensitively told story of Bol.
Beauty influencer Farah El Kadhi, who participated in the first series of Love Island Malta, has passed away after suffering a suspected heart attack while onboard a yacht. She was 36. Farah was reportedly holidaying on the European island of Malta when she suffered the heart attack on June 17, according to the Times of Malta and Malta Today.

Sources told the Times of Malta that Kadhi was rushed to the Mater Dei Hospital, where she sadly passed away. Soulayma Hneynia, a North African influencer who also appeared on Love Island Malta, paid a moving tribute to Farah in an Instagram Story post. Soulayma called her late friend a truly wonderful person, known for her kindness, generosity, and warmth.

Farahs most recent Instagram post was shared on July 7. In the photo, which was taken in Mykonos, Farah donned a red and white kaftan dress. The caption read, Les violettes sont bleues.. les roses sont rouges, which translates into English as Violets are blue.. roses are red.

Netizens flooded her last Instagram post with emotional tributes. One user said, She just performed umrah in May. Its like shes a newborn baby with no sins. May paradise be your destiny. Another one said, No words May your memory be eternal. Rest in peace, a third user said.

Local media reports suggest that Farah had no signs of injuries and had arrived in the country for a one-week holiday. An autopsy is likely to be conducted and a magisterial inquiry has been opened to find out her exact cause of death.

Farah, who worked as an architect for company Key Concept, was one of Tunisias most popular social media influencers. She had over 1.2 million followers on Instagram. She used her social media account to promote her fashion brand and other paid brand campaigns.
Yash Raj Films has issued an official statement after the Gujarat High Court lifted its stay on the release of Aamir Khans son, Junaid Khans debut film Maharaj. The stay order on the film was lifted today by a single bench of Justice Sangeeta K Vishen.

In the statement by YRF, the makers expressed their gratitude to the judiciary and wrote how the film celebrates one of the most important social reformers of our country, Karsandas Mulji.

We are grateful to the judiciary for allowing the release of Maharaj, a film that celebrates one of the most important social reformers of our country, Karsandas Mulji. Karsandas, a hero and a devout Vaishnav, stood for righteousness, protected women and safeguarded his community and faith. Maharaj is a tribute to his indomitable fighting spirit and his courage to be on the right side of history, the statement read.

The film was supposed to be released earlier this month, but the stay order was imposed after a plea alleged that it hurt the sentiments of the Pushtimarg community. However, after finding that the film does not target hurting any sentiments, the stay order has been lifted and the film is finally available to be streamed on Netflix.

This decision comes a day after Justice Vishen had said that she would watch the film before the next hearing to decide on the matter. Yash Raj Films (YRF), the producer of the movie, offered to provide the link and password to the court to watch the movie to decide whether it hurts the religious sentiments of a particular community as argued by the petitioners.

For the unversed, members of the Pushtimarg sect had filed a petition against the release after they came across articles about the film, which is based on the libel case of 1862 heard and decided by the British judges.

The petitioners pointed out that the British-era court, which had decided the libel case, Castigates the Hindu religion and makes seriously blasphemous comments against Lord Krishna as well as the devotional songs and hymns. The court then agreed to watch the film before giving its judgement.

(Watching the movie) will be in addition to the submissions made by the learned counsels for the respective parties, Justice Vishen said after YRF offered to provide the link and password for the court to watch the movie.

The lawyers for the petitioners as well as respondent YRF submitted that while the court may watch the movie, they were not giving up on issues of maintainability of the petition.

Let the arguments get over. If the court feels the need we will give the link, if the court feels there is no need, we will not, lawyer Shalin Mehta appearing for YRF said. Appearing for the petitioners, advocate Mihir Joshi said that he has no issue with the court watching the movie to decide on the petition. If it (movie) does not run down our religion then let them go ahead with the release. We are not interested in stretching the matter any further, he said.

Earlier, the petitioners had approached the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, requesting it to take immediate measures to block the films release. However, there was no response or action from the ministry, it was stated.

The 1862 libel case was centred on a clash between a Vaishnavite religious leader and social reformer, Karsandas Mulji, who, in an article in a Gujarati weekly, had alleged that the godman had sexual liaisons with his female devotees.
Shatrughan Sinha has confirmed that there were some tensions in his family about Sonakshi Sinhas wedding to Zaheer Iqbal. However, the veteran actor has also clarified that all stress has been resolved now and they are okay. In addition to this, Shatrughan also revealed that June 23 is not Sonakshis wedding date, as several reports have mentioned. In fact, it is the date of her reception.

Read More: Shatrughan Sinha Confirms Pre-Wedding Conflict With Sonakshi Sinha, Zaheer Iqbal: The Stress Has

Shah Rukh Khans ideal Sunday involves quality time with his family, relaxation, board games and dancing. In the 90s, Shah Rukh spoke to Farida Jalal for an interview and told her his full Sunday routine. The video has resurfaced on social media and has gone viral in no time.

Read More: When Shah Rukh Khan Revealed His Sunday Routine: First Thing I Hear Is Scolding From Gauri | Watch

Time and again, Indian cinema has given us stories from the pages of history textbooks or allowed us to travel back in time to witness landmark cases. And director Siddharth P. Malhotras latest Netflix film, Maharaj, is one such story. The film is an honest attempt to portray a legal battle, inspired by the 1862 Maharaj Libel Case, which is also called the greatest trial of modern times since the trial of Warren Hastings.

Read More: Maharaj Review: Aamir Khans Son Junaid Shines in Debut Film, Jaideep Ahlawat Is Simply Terrific

Back in 2011, a Pakistani film titled Bol created quite a buzz for its bold subject. It marked the film debuts of Atif Aslam and Mahira Khan and dealt with themes such as consent, toxic patriarchy and misogyny with its bottom line being  why is giving birth without any family planning not a sin? Annu Kapoor starrer Hamare Baarah which released today will constantly make you think about Bol. The Hindi film questions the orthodox and radical beliefs and ideologies of Islam and how oppression of all kinds is sometimes falsely glorified in the name of treading the path of divinity and virtue.

Read More: Hamare Baarah Review: Annu Kapoors Hard-Hitting, Bold Film Is Marred by Histrionics and Shoddy Execution

In a happy turn of events for Aamir Khans son, Junaid Khan, the Gujrat High Court has allowed his film to be released on Netflix. The film was supposed to be released earlier this month, but the stay order was imposed after a plea alleged that it hurt the sentiments of the Pushtimarg community. However, after finding that the film does not target hurting any sentiments, the stay order has been lifted and the film is finally available to be streamed on Netflix.

Read More: Relief For Aamir Khans Son Junaids Debut Film Maharaj, Gujrat HC Lifts Stay Order On Its Release
Sonakshi Sinha is all set to tie the knot with her longtime boyfriend Zaheer Iqbal. While the couple will take the wedding vows on June 23, their pre-wedding functions have already begun. On Thursday night, Sonakshi was seen arriving at Zaheers house in Mumbai ahead of their wedding.

In a video that surfaced on social media, Sonakshis car was seen arriving at Zaheers residence. The actress covered her cars window panel with black curtains and also added a bedsheet in the front to ensure no paparazzi is able to take her pictures. Later, Sonakshi was seen stepping out of the car when she refused to pose and rushed insider Zaheers building. Watch the video here:

Besides Sonakshi, her parents, Shatrughan and Poonam Sinha were also photographed at Zaheers residence. Later, they were also photographed leaving Zaheers house around midnight when Shatrughan happily posed with Zaheer and also hugged the groom-to-be. Rumours were doing the rounds that Sonakshis family was upset with her sudden wedding plans with Zaheer. However, their photos and videos have finally put a full stop to all the speculations.

Shatrughan also, in a recent interview, addressed the rumours surrounding Sonakshis wedding and called out those who are spreading lies against his family. Tell me, whose life is it anyway? Its just the life of my only daughter Sonakshi, whom Im very proud of and immensely fond of, Shatrughan told Times Now.com/Zoom. She calls me the pillar of her strength. I will be there at the wedding, certainly. Why shouldnt I and why wont I?

Meanwhile, News18 Showsha has exclusively learnt that Sonakshi and Zaheers wedding wont really be an intimate affair as it will see some of the biggest names in Bollywood gracing their big day to shower blessings and love on the couple. A source close to the couple told us that actors Aayush Sharma, Huma Qureshi and Varun Sharma are likely to attend the wedding. Besides this, Salman Khan has also been sent an invitation. Sonakshi has also invited her Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar co-stars including Fardeen Khan, Taha Shah Badussha, Aditi Rao Hydari and Sharmin Segal Mehta among others.
Sonakshi Sinha is all set to get married to her longtime boyfriend Zaheer Iqbal on June 23. Well, the marriage has been the talk of the town after it was reported that there has been an ongoing family feud. However, last night all rumours were put to rest after veteran actor and father of bride-to-be Shatrughan Sinha made his first public appearance with Zaheer Iqbal. But looks like Sonakshi Sinhas brother Luv and Kush were missing. The photos that have gone viral on social media suggest so.

In the photos, we can see everyone including Sonakshi Sinha, her mother, Shatrughan Sinha, Zaheer Iqbals family and others. But both brothers cannot be seen. This has once again raised speculations. Well, a couple of weeks ago Luv Sinha has dropped a cryptic post on his official Instagram account ahead of his sisters wedding. He has shared a throwback photo of himself on his social media account alongside a cryptic caption. Posting the pic, he wrote, What side will you embrace today? #twoface #duotone #duality #throwback #portrait.

Take a look at the photos here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Instant Bollywood (@instantbollywood)

Earlier, Luv Sinha shared a throwback photo from his trip to Baku on his Instagram handle. Interestingly, Luv doesnt follow Sonakshi on Instagram (at the time of writing this article). Sharing the throwback photo, Luv wrote, The problem with time is, that we never have enough of it. #Memories #Baku #Throwback #Streetphotography #Christmas #Nightlife #A7R5.

On Thursday, Sonakshi was spotted by paparazzi in Mumbais Bandra area. The actress was clicked wearing an all-white ensemble. She refused to pose for the shutterbugs and looked very caught up. Interestingly, her father was also papped arriving in Bandra. For the unversed, Sonakshis wedding reception will take place at Shilpa Shettys restaurant Bastian in Bandra.

Meanwhile, Shatrughan addressed the rumours surrounding Sonakshis wedding and called out those who are spreading fake news. Tell me, whose life is it anyway? Its just the life of my only daughter Sonakshi, whom Im very proud of and immensely fond of, Shatrughan told Times Now.com/Zoom. She calls me the pillar of her strength. I will be there at the wedding, certainly. Why shouldnt I and why wont I?
Kamal Haasan is one of the biggest superstars in the Indian film industry, especially when it comes to Tamil cinema. He also ventured into Hindi films with Ek Duuje Ke Liye in 1981. However, after a short stint in Bollywood, Kamal Haasan decided that he did not want to pursue the Bombay dream.

The times those times were like that. I was a poorer cousin of Hindi cinema. I had to do my own laundry and stuff like that. They were really spoilt and rich. They could make one film for two and a half years and they could do 6 films at a time. I thought that was very defeating in character-building, both morally and technically speaking. That was one of the reasons, he told India Today in 2017.

Kamal Haasan added, The other reason was there were too many underworld connections. I didnt want to stay there to either oppose it or succumb to the threat. I was one of the actors to decide that I would not have anything to do with black money.

When asked if it was possible for an actor to make it big without corruption, he said, It is, Im living proof of it. Im quite happy. I drove in a car. It is quite possible. Someone else did it earlier. Cameraman Vincent. He never touched black money. It was much before any government threatened him to not keep black money. My brother and I made that call.

Meanwhile, Kamal Haasan will soon be seen in Kalki 2898 AD with Amitabh Bachchan, Prabhas, Deepika Padukone and Disha Patani among others. In a press conference in Mumbai, Kamal said he spent a sizable time with director Nag Ashwin to come up with the look for the film. Kamal will be playing the villain in the film.

I was mourning to Amit ji in the backstage that I always wanted to play the bad man. The bad man gets to do all the good things in films. Where the heroes are singing romantic songs and waiting for the heroine, I thought I am going to play the bad man so it is going to be fun. (Nag) wanted it to be different so I am almost like a sage with a bad idea, Kamal said.

Kalki 2898 AD will be released in cinemas on June 27. There is already quite a buzz surrounding the film and it will be interesting to watch if it matches up to its hype.
Kunal Kemmu made his directorial debut earlier this year with the comedy film Madgaon Express, starring Divyenndu, Pratik Gandhi, Avinash Tiwary and Nora Fatehi. The film has received widespread acclaim from critics and fans are waiting for the news of a sequel. In a recent interview, producer Ritesh Sidhwani, who co-produced the film alongside Farhan Akhtar, discussed the possibility of a second installment of the comedy film.

In a conversation with Pinkvilla, the interviewer asked about the possibility of a sequel to Madgaon Express, as hinted at the films conclusion. Ritesh Sidhwani responded by confirming that Madgaon Express 2 was definitely being considered. However, he added, The right person to answer that is Kunal Kemmu. But if you ask him, he will tell you yes. Will it be his next film? I dont think so because thats on him to decide as a filmmaker what he wants to do next.

Moreover, Ritesh Sidhwani revealed that the script for Madgaon Express, written by actor-director Kunal Kemmu, remained unchanged throughout the production process. He credited Kunals conviction and belief in the project as key factors that contributed to the films success.

Earlier, Kunal Kemmu had also addressed questions about the possibility of a sequel to his directorial debut. In an interview with India Today, Kunal had said, Id love to (come with sequel). I have always maintained that when people came to watch Madgaon Express, they came with no expectations. But now, when they come next, there will be expectations. It will be my responsibility to meet these.

Furthermore, he mentioned there are a few ideas he has been deliberating on for the sequel but will not pitch it until he is convinced which one to choose.

The film was released in theatres in March this year and started streaming on Prime Video last month. Madgaon Express revolves around three childhood friends, Dodo, Pinku, and Ayush, who could never fulfil their teenage dream of travelling to Goa together. Years later, they reunite to finally embark on their dream journey, where they are unwittingly drawn into the world of drug trafficking.
As the Modi 3.0 government commences work in earnest following its historic mandate for a third consecutive term, and as Bharat moves closer to the centenary of its independence in 2047, the vision of Viksit Bharata developed Indiaremains centre stage and non-negotiable in its policy objectives.

Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision for Viksit Bharat 2047, while rooted in economic prosperity, also emphasises social equity, inclusive growth, and environmental sustainability, ensuring equitable and sustainable development. As such, this goal is non-negotiable and vital, and PM Modis third term will make it a reality.

This goal is not just aspirational but a necessity for Indias future for several reasons-

Economic Stability: Achieving developed nation status will ensure financial stability and resilience, which are crucial for withstanding global economic shocks and fostering sustainable growth.

Achieving developed nation status will ensure financial stability and resilience, which are crucial for withstanding global economic shocks and fostering sustainable growth. Social Equity: Addressing issues like poverty, unemployment, and social disparity is essential for creating a cohesive and harmonious society.

Addressing issues like poverty, unemployment, and social disparity is essential for creating a cohesive and harmonious society. Global Standing: A developed India will have a stronger voice on the world stage, capable of influencing international policies and contributing to global peace and prosperity.

Over the past decade, Prime Minister Modis government has laid a solid foundation for Viksit Bharat through various reforms and initiatives. These efforts have already set India on a transformative path-

Infrastructure Development: Projects like Bharatmala Pariyojana, the Sagarmala Programme, and the Smart Cities Mission have significantly improved connectivity and urban infrastructure.

Digital Transformation: The Digital India initiative has revolutionised governance and service delivery, making public services more accessible and transparent.

Economic Reforms: Implementing the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), and ease of doing business reforms have enhanced economic efficiency and attracted foreign investment.

Social Welfare: Programs like Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan have improved healthcare, housing, and sanitation, uplifting millions of lives.

Prime Minister Modis third term will focus on several key initiatives to drive India towards the goal of Viksit Bharat-

Advanced Infrastructure: Continued investment in highways, railways, airports, and urban development will create a world-class infrastructure network, boosting economic growth and connectivity. Innovation and Technology: Promoting innovation and technological advancements through initiatives like Startup India and Make in India will foster a dynamic and competitive economy. Green Growth: Emphasising on renewable energy and sustainable practices will ensure environmentally responsible development, address climate change, and conserve resources. Human Capital Development: Enhancing education and healthcare systems will develop a skilled and healthy workforce, which is crucial for a developed nation. Social Inclusion: Strengthening social welfare programs will ensure that the benefits of development reach all sections of society, promoting social equity and cohesion.

Continuity in leadership is crucial for the sustained implementation of long-term policies and projects. Prime Minister Modis third term will ensure policy stability, accelerate impetus for critical development projects, and prevent disruptions and policy paralysis. Building on the momentum of the past decade, PM Modis leadership will drive further advancements in infrastructure, digitalisation, and economic reforms and help guide the nation through complex challenges, leveraging his experience and strategic insight.

The pro-incumbency wave and public support for PM Modis leadership reflect confidence in his development agenda and have provided a stable mandate for his third term, along with the expansion of the BJPs and NDAs footprint in the new states of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, and a comfortable win again in Arunachal Pradesh. This, combined with the BJPs organisational strength and extensive grassroots network, ensures the effective implementation of policies at all levels.

Elections will come and go in the hurly-burly of our great democracy, and their related analysis and scrutiny will continue as we head towards 2047, but the vision and goal of Viksit Bharat must be safeguarded and should be the key objective of all new governments. The Opposition must also align with this imperative and ensure that the journey to a developed Bharat is neither stonewalled nor thwarted. It is the duty of the Opposition to question and challenge the government of the day, but it also has a responsibility to emphatically support higher national objectives.

Viksit Bharat 2047 is not just a vision but a comprehensive roadmap for transforming India into a developed nation. It is a non-negotiable goal for Indias future, and Prime Minister Narendra Modis third term is pivotal in realising this vision. With a strong foundation already in place, the continued leadership of PM Modi will ensure policy stability, strategic alignment, and effective implementation.

As India stands on the brink of a transformative journey, PM Modis third term promises to be a decisive phase in achieving the dream of a developed and prosperous nation by 2047.

The author is an angel investor and startup mentor for the Atal Innovation Mission, Government of India, and the Atal Incubation Centre-Rambhau Mhalgi Prabhodhini. He is presently the Convenor (Western Maharashtra) of the BJP Intellectual Cell and has recently co-edited the book  Modis North East Story. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Businesses today are racing against time, and professionals are no strangers to tension and stress, especially in high-stakes environments that demand constant alertness, rapid decision-making, and steady focus. Besides, heavy workloads, long commutes, little autonomy and long work hours can cause chronic stress, making it difficult to separate emotions from work.

According to Gallups State of the Global Workplace 2024 Report, 41 per cent of employees across the globe are experiencing rising stress, which is causing a rapid increase in incivility at work. In India, 32 per cent of employees are feeling stressed while 35 per cent of them are angry as compared to the global average of 21 per cent. Interestingly, not only employees but leaders as well are highly susceptible to stress, as they ensure business continuity and workplace safety while managing their emotions as well as their teams.

In the face of these mounting challenges, yoga emerges as a powerful tool for stress management, offering tangible benefits that extend to individual well-being and team dynamics.

Yoga for Stress Management in High-Pressure Settings

Understanding and managing stress is crucial for effective leadership and professional success since chronic stress affects not only mental clarity but also physical health, leading to a drop in productivity. Coupled with meditation, yoga provides a framework that is holistic and hence, an effective solution. The benefits of yoga for stress reduction are well-documented. Practices such as deep breathing (pranayama), physical postures (asanas), and meditation, can help regulate the bodys stress response.

Research shows that regular yoga practice leads to increased activation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) which may counteract detrimental effects of stress on the brain. It also impacts the activity of the amygdala, a part of the brain involved in processing emotions. Yoga may also increase the volume of the hippocampus, another part that regulates memory and learning but decreases in size with age. It also positively affects brain networks that may interfere with cognitive function and increase resilience and adaptability.

A regular yoga routine promotes relaxation and mental clarity, enabling leaders to navigate high-pressure situations with greater ease and composure. Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce, credits meditation and mindfulness, which are integral to yoga, for his ability to maintain focus and manage stress acquired from a previous workplace. Similarly, companies like General Mills and Target have incorporated yoga, meditation and mindfulness practices into their routines for more than a decade now. Companies that have embraced these policies and integrated yoga into their wellness programs have seen substantial benefits.

Aetna, a US insurance giant, introduced mindfulness and yoga programs for its employees, resulting in a significant reduction in healthcare costs and an increase in productivity. Employees reported lower stress levels, better sleep, and a higher overall sense of well-being, translating into tangible business benefits.

Yoga Together for Stronger, Resilient Teams

Lowering stress levels through yoga not only benefits individuals but also strengthens team dynamics. Stress often hampers communication and collaboration, critical components of effective teamwork. By reducing stress, yoga practices foster emotional intelligence, enhance empathy and understanding among team members and help create a more harmonious and productive team environment. Group yoga sessions, in particular, can serve as team-building activities, promoting a sense of unity and mutual support. This enhanced emotional connectivity leads to better cooperation and more resilient teams.

A study conducted by Awaris and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) demonstrated that mindfulness fosters collective intelligence. 31 teams that participated in a ten-week mindfulness program showed an average increase of 13 per cent in collective intelligence, validating the significant impact of mindfulness on emotional intelligence, an essential component for increasing collective intelligence. Tapping into this collective intelligence creates an enormous opportunity for companies to build resilient teams who can find solutions to complex problems.

Resilient teams can adapt to changes, overcome setbacks, and thrive in the face of adversity. Yoga contributes to building this resilience by fostering mindfulness and promoting a calm and focused mindset. The mental discipline fostered by yoga encourages a mindset of acceptance and adaptability, essential qualities for navigating uncertainty, and enables individuals to stay composed under pressure and unexpected challenges.

Policies that Corporates Can Benefit From

Recognising the health benefits of yoga, the government has implemented policies to promote its practice in workplaces. The concept of yoga breaks, also known as Y-Breaks, is a case in point. The Y-Break App, aimed at working professionals, was introduced by the Ministry of AYUSH in 2021. The app is a five-minute yoga protocol comprising asanas, pranayama, and dhyana for office goers to help them de-stress, refresh and refocus at their workplace and increase their productivity. Last year, the Haryana government made yoga breaks mandatory in government and private universities, colleges, and offices.

The Ministry of AYUSH actively promotes yoga through various initiatives, offering resources and support to organisations that wish to implement yoga programs. Such government backing not only encourages a healthier workforce but also presents a cost-effective way for companies to reduce healthcare expenses and improve employee morale.

Incorporating yoga into the daily routine of leaders and teams offers numerous benefits, from stress reduction and enhanced team dynamics to increased resilience. Companies that adopt yoga-related wellness programs can foster healthier, more productive work environments. As the business landscape continues to evolve, the integration of holistic practices like yoga will be increasingly vital for sustaining high performance and navigating unforeseen challenges.

By embracing yoga, leaders can not only manage their stress more effectively but also build stronger, more resilient teams poised to thrive in any situation.

Sayantani De is Founding Partner, Peak IX Consulting. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Chosen by PM Modi, June 21 is the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere, holding special meaning in many cultures. (Image: News18 Creative)
I will stay away from the House till I return to power. With this vow, TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu had walked away from the Andhra Pradesh Assembly in November 2021 after an emotional and heated exchange with the then ruling YSR Congress members. Nearly 2.5 years on, Naidu fulfilled his vow on Friday, returning to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly as the states Chief Minister.

Five years after suffering a humiliating defeat at the hands of a much younger Jagan Mohan Reddy, Naidu led his party towards a landslide victory in the Andhra Pradesh assembly elections, with allies BJP and Janasena Party (JNP) in tow.

Naidus electoral triumph, wherein his Telugu Desam Party won 135 seats, came months after his arrest in an alleged corruption case. In the previous House, the TDP had 23 members.

Among Naidus priorities in his latest term is chief minister is the development of capital Amaravati. On Thursday, he said he is in a dilemma over Amaravati, after taking stock of the stalled projects in the greenfield capital he had championed.

He promised to soon release a white paper on the status of Amaravati and elicit suggestions from people on the way forward.

Amaravati capital city project came to a standstill from 2019 to 2024 under the previous YSRCP regime. However, the change in government has breathed life into the capital city project as Naidu categorically declared that Amaravati would be the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh.

This was the first time the CM was visiting Amaravati after assuming the office for the fourth term.

After going around Amaravati, I am confused as to what to do. Today, I came for the first time to see where we are and what to do in the future. We will take suggestions from various quarters in the state and all the people should deliberate on this issue, Naidu told reporters.

What Happened in 2021

On November 19, 2021, Chandrababu Naidu had vowed to step into the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly again only after returning to power. In an emotional tone, the then Leader of the Opposition said in the House that he was pained by the continuous abuses by the ruling YSR Congress members.

For the last two and a half years, I have been bearing the insults but remained calm. Today, they have targeted even my wife. I was always lived with honour and for honour. I can take it no more, Naidu had said said.

As per reports, even as Naidu was speaking, then Speaker Tammineni Seetaram cut the mic while YSR Congress members called Naidus remarks a drama.

Naidu had vented his frustration following an acrimonious exchange of words between the two sides in the House during a short discussion on the farm sector.

Later, he held an impromptu meeting with his party legislators in his chamber, where he reportedly broke down.

The stunned TDP legislators reportedly consoled Naidu after which they all came back into the House. Naidu then announced his decision to stay away from the House till I return to power.
A political slugfest has erupted in Bihar over the NEET paper leak controversy with both Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) linking each other with the prime accused of the case. After BJP claimed that one of the prime suspectsSikander Prasad Yadvenduis linked to Tejashwi Yadavs personal secretary (PS), the RJD has hit back with a photo of another accused Amit Anand with Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav also defended his PS and said the BJP wants to divert peoples attention from the masterminds.

The INDIA alliance is united on this issue. We want the NEET exam to be immediately cancelledThey (BJP) have all the investigation agencies, they can call the PS or PA anyone for a probeThey want to divert the issue from the kingpinThose who want to drag my name or my PAs name, this will not benefit anyoneThe engineer who is talked about could be a beneficiary but Amit Anand and Nitish Kumar are the masterminds of the paper leak. The people of the country know that whenever BJP comes to power, then paper leaks happen.

The official X handle of RJD also shared a picture of Dy CM Choudhary being allegedly felicitated by the accused.

The main accused in the NEET exam paper leak scam with the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, RJD said in the post.

The so called powerful minister who was felicitated by the accused has deleted all his photos with him from his social media handles, but dont worry, we have them all. Send this to your worried counterparts the other Deputy Chief Minister, the party added.

BJPs Allegations

This comes a day after Bihars other Dy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha on Thursday claimed that one of the arrested accused, an engineer, is linked to Tejashwi Yadavs PS, and demanded an investigation into it.

Sinha claimed that the official was in constant touch with Sikander Prasad Yadvendu, the arrested prime accused in the case.

The official associated with Yadav used to arrange accommodation for Sikandar at guest houses in Patna and other places. I have details of messages which the official had sent to the persons concerned for arranging accommodation for Sikandar, the deputy chief minister said.

He said he had the mobile number from which those messages were sent.

Sinha said, It needs to be thoroughly probed. Why is the RJD leader (Tejashwi Prasad) maintaining a stoic silence on this?

NEET Paper Leak

The Economic Offences Wing of Bihar Police had last month arrested 13 people as part of its investigation into the alleged paper leak in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET-UG 2024.

The arrested accused included six examination mafias, four students and three parents.
Seven-term parliamentarian and BJP leader Bhartruhari Mahtab was on Thursday appointed pro-tem Speaker of the Lok Sabha, bucking the largely followed convention of appointing the senior-most member to the post, drawing sharp objections from the opposition Congress and strong counter from the BJP.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced that President Droupadi Murmu has appointed Mahtab as the pro-tem Speaker and that he will be assisted by senior members Kodikunnil Suresh (Congress), TR Baalu (DMK), Radha Mohan Singh and Faggan Singh Kulaste (both BJP) and Sudip Bandyopadhyay (TMC). Mahtab, who switched sides from the BJD to the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, won the Cuttack parliamentary seat.

Reacting to his appointment as pro-tem Speaker, Mahtab said: I am happy that I have been appointed as the new pro-tem Speaker. It is a big responsibility. I am happy and proud to get this responsibility. No one was pro-tem Speaker from Odisha earlier.

The pro-tem Speaker administers the oath to the newly elected members of the Lok Sabha and presides over the Lower House till the election of the Speaker. The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha will begin on June 24. The newly elected members will take oath on June 24-25. The election of the Speaker is scheduled to take place on June 26.

CONGRESS OBJECTION

Shortly after Rijijus announcement, the Congress accused the BJP-led NDA government of destroying parliamentary norms by ignoring the claim of its leader K Suresh, an eight-term Lok Sabha MP, to the post of the pro-tem Speaker.

In yet another attempt at destroying parliamentary norms, Bhartruhari Mahtab, a seven-term MP, has been appointed the pro-tem Speaker, superseding Kodikunnil Suresh, who will be entering his eighth term, AICC general secretary KC Venugopal said in a post on X.

In yet another attempt at destroying parliamentary norms, Mr. Bhartruhari Mahtab (a 7-term MP) has been appointed the Pro-Tem Speaker, superseding Sh. @kodikunnilMP, who will be entering his 8th term. It is an unquestioned norm that the senior most MP presides over the  K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) June 20, 2024

Congress leader Manickam Tagore, in a post on X, said: First mistake as Parliamentary Affairs Minister: 7-term BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab chosen as Protem Speaker of Lok Sabha over senior-most Dalit MP Kodikunnil Suresh of Congress.

First mistake as Parliamentary Affairs Minister: 7-term BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab chosen as Protem Speaker of Lok Sabha over senior-most Dalit MP Kodikkunnil Suresh of Congress. What are the minister's intentions? #BiasedDecisions #ProtemSpeaker https://t.co/HfFq20ZYo4 Manickam Tagore .B . (@manickamtagore) June 20, 2024

Reacting to the development, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said: MP who has served the maximum terms is appointed Speaker Protem for the first two days when the oath is administered to all newly elected MPs The senior-most MPs in the 18th Lok Sabha are Kodikunnil Suresh (INC) and Virendra Kumar (BJP), both of who are now serving their eighth term.

By convention, the MP who has served the maximum terms is appointed Speaker Protem for the first two days when oath is administered to all newly elected MPs.The seniormost MPs in the 18th Lok Sabha are Kodikunnil Suresh (INC) and Virendra Kumar (BJP), both of who are now  Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 20, 2024

The latter is now a Union minister and hence it was expected that Kodikunnil Suresh would be the Speaker Protem. Instead, a seven-term MP, Bhartruhari Mahtab has been appointed Speaker Protem. He was a BJD MP for six terms and is now a BJP MP, Ramesh said on X.

BJP COUNTER

Reacting to the criticism, the BJP said the Congress should relax, reminding the grand old party that it had lost the Lok Sabha elections.

You have just lost an election. Relax. Reflect on third consecutive defeat, instead of whining about everything, BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya said on X.

With 98 seats, it is not for the Congress to decide who the Protem Speaker should be. It is above their pay grade. So, instead of punching above weight, the Congress must pick veteran MP Kodikunnil Suresh as the LoP. Anyway, Third Time Fail Rahul Gandhi is not up for it. https://t.co/PmhoXJKFQW Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) June 20, 2024

The BJP said the Congress should relax as the grand old party has lost the Lok Sabha elections.

WHAT CONVENTION SAYS

Though the norm is to appoint the senior-most MP as pro-tem Speaker, this convention has been bucked on several occasions.

The practice of appointing the senior-most MP as the pro-tem Speaker was not followed in 1956 when Sardar Hukam Singh was appointed to the post.

In 1977, DN Tiwari was appointed as pro-tem Speaker. He, too, was not the senior-most member of the House.

In 2019, Virendra Kumar, then a seven-term member of the Lok Sabha, was appointed as pro-tem Speaker. Maneka Gandhi was the senior-most member of the previous Lok Sabha being an eight-term member.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday took a swipe at the Congress party for its objection to the appointment of BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab as pro-tem speaker of the Lok Sabha, suggesting that any violation of the system would be noticed only by those who have not read the system and its rules.

The Congress had accused the BJP-led NDA government of destroying parliamentary norms by overlooking the claim of its leader Kodikunnil Suresh, an eight-term Lok Sabha MP, to the pro-tem Speakers post.

They (Congress) took the name of Suresh Kodaikanal. His total term is 8. But his break happened in 2004 and 1998Here, any violation of the system will be felt only by those who have not read the system and its rules. We have followed this tradition, Rijiju told the media during a press briefing.

#WATCH | On BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab appointed pro-tem Speaker of 18th Lok Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju says, I have to say it with great regret that I feel ashamed that the Congress party talks like this. First of all, they created an issue about the pic.twitter.com/iKwodsMRg3

Justifying Mahtabs appointment as the pro-tem Lok Sabha speaker, the Union Minister noted that he is the longest-serving member of the Lower House of Parliament.

They objected to the name of Bhartruhari Mahtab. Bhartruhari Mahtab has been a member of the Lok Sabha for seven consecutive terms without a break and at this time he is the longest-serving member, Rijiju stated.

He further clarified that the pro-tem speakers role is temporary, lasting only until the election of the new speaker. They do not have to do any business transactions or anything, and the pro-tem speaker has a limited role, he added.

Blatant disregard for democratic principles: Pinarayi Vijayan

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday also criticised Mahtabs appointment as pro-tem Lok Sabha speaker and accused the BJP of showing a blatant disregard for democratic principles.

The recent decision to appoint the pro-tem speaker in the Lok Sabha flouts established parliamentary norms, showing the BJPs blatant disregard for democratic principles. By overlooking Kodikunnil Suresh (INC), the senior-most MP in the 18th Lok Sabha, they undermine our parliamentary traditions. This raises serious questions about the BJPs commitment to democracy, Vijayan wrote on his X post.

The recent decision to appoint the pro-tem speaker in the Lok Sabha flouts established parliamentary norms, showing the BJPs blatant disregard for democratic principles. By overlooking Kodikunnil Suresh (INC), the senior-most MP in the 18th Lok Sabha, they undermine our Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) June 21, 2024

On Thursday, Rijiju announced that President Droupadi Murmu had appointed Mahtab as the pro-tem Speaker of the Lok Sabha, assisted by senior members Kodikunnil Suresh (Congress), TR Baalu (DMK), Radha Mohan Singh, Faggan Singh Kulaste (both BJP), and Sudip Bandyopadhyay (TMC).

President is pleased to appoint Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab, Member, Lok Sabha as Speaker Protem under Article 95(1) of the Constitution to perform the duties of Speaker till election of the Speaker, Rijiju shared on X.

Backlash after Rijijus announcement

Following Rijijus announcement, the Congress objected to Mahtabs selection, emphasising the seniority of Kodikkunnil Suresh, an eight-term parliamentarian and prominent Dalit MP.

In yet another attempt at destroying parliamentary norms, Bhartruhari Mahtab, a seven-term MP, has been appointed the pro-tem Speaker, superseding Kodikunnil Suresh, who will be entering his eighth term, AICC general secretary KC Venugopal said in a post on X.

In yet another attempt at destroying parliamentary norms, Mr. Bhartruhari Mahtab (a 7-term MP) has been appointed the Pro-Tem Speaker, superseding Sh. @kodikunnilMP, who will be entering his 8th term.It is an unquestioned norm that the senior most MP presides over the  K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) June 20, 2024

Meanwhile, another Congress leader, Manickam Tagore, remarked, First mistake as Parliamentary Affairs Minister: 7-term BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab chosen as Protem Speaker of Lok Sabha over senior-most Dalit MP Kodikunnil Suresh of Congress.
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha on Friday said he would request CM Nitish Kumar to recommend a CBI probe into the suspected links of the arrested prime suspect in the NEET paper leak case with officials associated with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.

Responding to this, Yadav said the state government is free to order a high-level probe into Sinhas allegation and asserted that the BJPs links with two other arrested accused persons also need to be investigated.

Recommending a probe by an independent agency like the CBI is the prerogative of the CM. We will meet him and urge him to do the needful in the matter about suspected links of the arrested accused in the NEET paper leak case with officials associated with Tejashwi Yadav, Sinha told PTI.

The BJP leader had on Thursday claimed that officials associated with Yadav were in constant touch with prime suspect Sikander Prasad Yadvendu in the NEET paper leak and demanded a high-level probe into the matter.

The DyCM demanded the probe amid rising nationwide protests over the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG-2024 exam. The Supreme Court will hear the matter on July 8.

Asked why he needs to demand a high-level probe when BJP is the ruling party in Bihar and only a recommendation by the state government is required for such an investigation, Sinha said, I am repeating that it is the prerogative of the CM. We will apprise him (CM) and request for a high-level probe, including CBI.

The deputy CM said he had shared with the media pieces of evidence regarding the involvement of officials close to Yadav in the row.

I hope that the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police, which is probing the alleged NEET paper leak case, will probe this aspect, he said.

The EOU of Bihar Police had last month arrested 13 people in connection with the NEET-UG 2024 row. The arrested accused included examinees, their parents and the mastermind Sikander Prasad Yadvendu.

Sinha had on Thursday alleged that the official associated with Yadav used to arrange accommodation for Sikandar at guest houses in Patna and other places.

The BJP leader had also claimed that he had details of messages which the official sent to the persons concerned for arranging accommodation for Sikandar.

Reports also suggested that the accused was associated with RJD supremo Lalu Prasad when he was in judicial custody in Ranchi, the deputy chief minister had alleged.

Responding to the allegations of Sinha, Yadav said the investigating agencies are under the BJP governments at the Centre and in the state and they are free to order a high-level probe.

The former deputy chief minister said, They should call and question my officials, about whom they are talking. Why are they hesitating to order a probe into the matter? He told reporters he would ask the chief minister to call his personal secretary or personal assistant and conduct an inquiry into the matter.

If they find anything suspicious, they should arrest him, Yadav told reporters.

Its a fact that the official about whom the deputy CM is talking about was brought by the BJP leaders in the state urban development department in 2021. They should know whether he is beneficiary or not, Yadav claimed.

He said that the EOU, which is investigating the case, is not keeping mum. They (BJP leaders) dont know anything since the EOU does not report to them, he said.

Accusing Sinha of diverting peoples attention from the core issue, Yadav wondered why the BJP leader was not talking about other accused persons such as Amit Anand and Nitish Kumar, who were arrested by the EOU.

What is the association of the two kingpins with them (BJP) needs to be probed. Its a well-known fact that whenever BJP comes to power, question papers of crucial exams are leaked, he said.
A UFO investigator garnered headlines after presenting two alleged alien corpses in the Mexican parliament. Jaime Maussan, who has led investigations into the alien phenomena for decades, stood with scientists to unveil two corpses in front of Congress and other officials. Scientists claim that these dead bodies of aliens have been recovered from Cusco, Peru. The researchers claim that corpses presented in the parliament were not part of our terrestrial evolution as 30 per cent of their genetic composition is still unknown. National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) carbonated the alleged alien corpse and found that it was pictured with three-fingered hands, no teeth and stereoscopic vision. Maussan claimed that the corpses were more than 1,000 years old. Many scientists dont share the consensus. A scientist named Christopher Heaney claims that these corpses are not of aliens but of humans.

Jaime Maussan said that these mummies could be of a hybrid species made from a combination of aliens and humans. In the last 12 months, Jamie has claimed several times that he has the bodies of aliens. He even went to the Mexican parliament with these two bodies and is constantly fighting with the Peruvian culture ministry. He is also fighting a legal battle with the Peruvian government over these mummies.

Scientists claim that these bodies were recovered from the debris of a UFO. This UFO crashed in Cusco, Peru. These bodies were buried here for centuries and slowly turned into fossils. The experts in Congress presented the apparent X-rays of the specimens and told the deputies that one of them carried eggs with embryos inside them. Maussan described the event as a watershed moment, as it was the first time that Mexico held a formal dialogue over the existence of aliens. The alien corpses were presented in Septemeber, last year.

Abraham Avi Loeb, the Director of the Harvard Astronomy Department who appeared via the video link asked the Mexican government to allow international scientists to further research the specimens. In 2015, Jaime Maussan unveiled another mummified body, claimed to be alien. The body was found near the Nazca Lines.
Festivals like Christmas and New Year are common celebrations observed with much pomp and enthusiasm globally. The traditions might be different in every country, but the date of the celebration remains the same. But are you aware of an East African country, whose New Year celebrations are quite different than the rest of the world? In Ethiopia, the natives mark the beginning of their New Year in September. And thats not all, while the entire world has already rung in 2024 and looking forward to 2025, Ethiopia will be entering 2017 on their New Year.

According to the Ethiopian calendar, Ethiopians will officially step into the year 2017 on September 11, marking the beginning of the New Year. Ethiopia, the second most populous country in Africa, is seven years and eight months behind the world, still living in 2016. The ancient Coptic calendar is the Ethiopian calendars source, commonly called the Geez calendar. There are thirteen months in total: 12 months of 30 days each and Pagum  an intercalary month with five or six days depending on whether it is a leap year.

According to a report by CNN, Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian, or Western, calendar in 1582. Since then, Ethiopians have observed that Jesus Christ was born seven or eight years later. Experts claim that the Ethiopian Orthodox Church chose to adhere to the older dates, while the Roman Church revised the calculations around 500 CE. Ethiopia has maintained its calendar even though a large part of the world has switched to the Gregorian calendar.

Since international organisations widely follow the Gregorian calendar, many Ethiopians are forced to keep track of both the Western and the traditional Ethiopian calendar, claims CNN. According to Ethiopian archaeologist Goitom W Tekle, when communicating with Ethiopians, particularly those who are headquartered in rural areas, some institutions have to constantly switch between the two calendars, taking into account the various dates and hours.

Another interesting aspect of Ethiopia is that Ethiopians employ a 12-hour clock system that spans from dawn to dusk, commencing at 1 am, in contrast to most other countries where the day begins at 12 am.
Motoring experts and health professionals in the United Kingdom have teamed up to propose sensible revisions to the countrys drink-driving laws. The British Medical Association (BMA) proposed several practical suggestions that garnered support from various charities, road groups and motoring experts, reported The Daily Express. John Kushnick, Legal Operations Director at National Accident Helpline, believes that the new rules could bring long-term benefits. Currently, the UKs law permits an alcohol limit of 80mg per 100ml of blood since 1967. However, the BMA recommends lowering this limit to 20mg for commercial drivers and newly qualified licence holders, to enhance road safety across the country.

In a conversation with the UK daily, Kushnick said, Lobbying for the next government to reduce Englands drink-driving limit is a wholly positive movement. Were seeing tragic consequences from people continually getting behind the wheel when they know they are over the limit. Accidents are often caused by people who are aware theyre not in a fit state to drive but take the chance anyway. It is also the case that drivers overestimate how much they are allowed to drink before going over the drink-driving limit.

In addition to solutions like stricter law enforcement, more robust implementation and better awareness of the rules, the BMA has also suggested reducing the alcohol limit from 80mg to 50mg per 100ml of blood.

The medical association has also recommended that the limit should be further lowered for new and commercial drivers to just 20mg.

In response to deaths linked to drunk driving in recent years, at least 17 organisations have shown their support for the newly suggested drink-driving limits. The British Medical Association, in a statement, claimed that alcohol and drug-related harm, particularly when driving, puts unnecessary pressure on individuals, society emergency services, the NHS and the economy. They argue that reducing these risks through strict new rules could improve these burdens.

According to earlier data from the insurance comparison website Confused, July stands out as the worst month for drunk driving in the UK. In July 2022 alone, police arrested 4,217 individuals, while the majority of cases happened in London, Northern Ireland and Somerset.
Russian President Vladimir was in North Korea for a two-day visit starting on June 18. This was Putins first visit to North Korea in 24 years. During the highly publicised visit, both Vladimir Putin and the supreme leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un were seen in a jovial mood as they took a ride in a Russian-built Aurus limousine, which is the presidential state car of Russia. With the Russian President behind the wheel, Kim Jong Un sat in the passenger seat. A video of the leaders bonding during the car ride has sparked a ton of memes about their bromance. It was reported that Vladimir Putin later gifted the Aurus to Kim Jong Un, who gifted his Russian counterpart a pair of Pungsan dogs.

Other than serious political commentary about the growing closeness of Russia and North Korea, many people have used Putins North Korean visit as fodder for memes. Both leaders are considered dictatorial due to their governing style. They rarely let their guard down in most media interactions or public events, therefore seeing them being cheerful was interesting for the world.

Many memes pointed to how Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un can impulsively trigger major geopolitical events without much consideration for other countries. The viral memes made references to possible nuclear attacks or World War 3, plotted by Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un during their car ride.

A section of memes showed the point of view of the USA at the growing friendship between its two main rival nations. Some people linked the joy ride scene of Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un with similar scenes from comics, anime, and films. Here are some of the best memes on Putin-Kim bromance:

Oh no we are doomed pic.twitter.com/3eG95EO8lm Ferrowerro (@stillferro) June 20, 2024

I'm obsessed with Putin and Kim Jong Un having the Bromance of The Summer pic.twitter.com/KWGdo5nSeo Zayne Sovereign (@StaySovereign) June 21, 2024

when you always get bullied all over the world and no one seem to understand you, all you need is each other. https://t.co/2gOAOwzHpB Pradhono Surya (@prdn23) June 20, 2024

People also equated the friendship between the two leaders, with other fictional characters with whom they matched the energy.

Joe Biden left the group chat  pic.twitter.com/aIhpux801E peter (@petersteve8209) June 20, 2024

Even worse, youre in the drive thru line at McDonalds and the person says your meal was paid for by the car in front of you and asks if youd like to pay it forward to the car behind you pic.twitter.com/2DojvkthIF greg (@greg16676935420) June 20, 2024

Putin and Kim.Where is the bromance? pic.twitter.com/fNOtMLLbUZ Fat Cat  (@FATCAed) June 20, 2024

Just having funpic.twitter.com/mp0LokH2xb This Video Shocks (@ThisVideoShocks) June 20, 2024

This is not the first time that an interaction between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un inspired memes. In 2019, a manipulated clip that showed both leaders giving a toast to each other and then placing their drinks down without sipping went viral.

  Russian President Putin to visit North Korea tomorrow to meet with Kim Jong Un.Scenes from North Korea. pic.twitter.com/Zu91q47T16  Saanjana Rathore  (@saanjana918_R) June 17, 2024

The video implied that Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un did not sip the drink because they feared assimilation via poisoning. The clip poked fun at their insecurity and intricate security measures. This clip was cheekily titled Trust Issues. The full unedited video showed that both leaders sipped from their drinks after their toast.
The external affairs ministry said it took up the matter of Indian nationals being recruited to the Russian Army with relevant authorities in Moscow on Friday.

The spokesperson, during the weekly briefing, said that 10 Indians have been recently released from Russia and have been repatriated.

So far 10 Indian nationals have been released and repatriated. This remains a matter of utmost concern for us and we expect action. We have also sought a verified stop to the recruitment, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

We have taken up the matter with the Russian side for early release and repatriation of Indians recruited by the Russian army. We continue to be in touch with the Russian side, both in New Delhi and Moscow, on this issue, he further added.

Jaiswal said that four Indian nationals have been killed in the 2022 Russo-Ukrainian conflict so far.

We are working with the Russian side for early transportation of the mortal remains of the two Indians who died recently. We are in touch with their family members as well.

The issue of Indians being duped or lured into fighting for the Russian Army surfaced when Gujarat resident Hemil Mangukiya who signed up to become a helper for the Russian army died in a missile strike earlier this year.

Reports by news agencies from earlier this year said that few Indians were being forced to fight alongside Russian troops.

The reports claimed that some Indians who had signed up as security helpers with the Russian army were forced to fight beside Russian troops along the border with Ukraine.

They also said that Indian citizens were stranded at several places along the Russia-Ukraine border, in the cities of Mariupol, Kharkiv and Rostov-on-Don.
Marking the upcoming anniversary of the Air India Flight 182 bombing, an Indian-origin Canadian lawmaker has warned that the dark forces of the Khalistan movement, which claimed the lives of 329 people in 1985, are energized again.

In an address to the parliament, Chandra Arya cautioned about the enduring presence of Khalistani ideology within Canada, citing recent incidents that have sparked concerns among Hindu Canadians. During his speech, he condemned the cowardly act of terror orchestrated by Canadian-based Khalistani extremists, labeling it the deadliest mass killing in the countrys history.

June 23, 2024 marks the 39th anniversary of the 1985 Air India bombing by Canadian based Khalistani terrorists. On Tuesday I made a statement in our parliament (text below).Wherever possible, please attend the memorial services on June 23.Ottawa: Air India Flight 182 Monument pic.twitter.com/xxGdSQwqme Chandra Arya (@AryaCanada) June 20, 2024

June 23, 39 years back

Mr. Speaker, June 23 is National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism. 39 years back, on this day, Air India Flight 182 was blown-up mid-air from a bomb planted by Canadian Khalistani extremists. It killed all 329 passengers and crew members and is the largest mass killing in Canadian history, Arya began, recounting the devastating mid-air explosion of Air India 182 over the Atlantic Ocean in 1985.

Arya expressed dismay over ongoing demonstrations by Khalistani supporters in Canada, including celebrations of the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Such acts, he warned, signify the resurgence of dark forces advocating violence and hate.

Unfortunately, many Canadians are not aware that even today, the ideology responsible for this terrorist attack is still alive among few people in Canada. Recent celebration of the assassination of Hindu Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by Khalistan supporters, glorifying violence and hate, shows that the dark forces have been energized again and point to dreadful times ahead, he added.

READ MORE: Indian Consulate General in Vancouver to Organise Memorial Service For 1985 Kanishka Bombing Victims

The Canadian MPs remarks come amid preparations for a memorial service at Queens Park on June 23rd, organised by the Consulate General of India in Toronto. The event honours the victims of the Air India tragedy, reiterating Indias staunch stance against terrorism and its rejection of any glorification or justification of such acts.

This anniversary comes as relations between India and Canada strained last year when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested Indian involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has dismissed these allegations as baseless and asked Ottawa to furnish proof.
The external affairs ministry on Friday said that 98 Indians died during the Hajj pilgrimage this year. This year, 175000 Indian pilgrims visited Mecca for Hajj. The Hajj period is from May 9 to July 22. This year, till now, 98 deaths have been reported, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, during the weekly press briefing.

Six people died on the Day of Arafat and 4 were accident-related deaths. Last year, total deaths in the entire Hajj period were 187. Every year a large number of pilgrims from India attend Haj, and some of them unfortunately pass away during the Hajj period, he further added.

The deaths have been due to natural causes, chronic illnesses, and old age, Jaiswal said.

One list circulating online, accessed by the Associated Press suggested at least 550 people died during the five-day Hajj, citing a medic, who further added that the names listed appeared genuine.

That medic and another official told the news agency that they believed at least 600 bodies were at the Emergency Complex in Al-Muaisem neighbourhood in Mecca.

(I) saw a lot of people collapsing to the ground unconscious, Khalid Bashir Bazaz, an Indian pilgrim, was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

Deaths are not uncommon at the Hajj, which has seen at times over 2 million people travel to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has not commented on the death toll amid the heat during the pilgrimage.

Several countries have said some of their pilgrims died because of the heat that swept across the holy sites at Mecca, including Jordan and Tunisia.

Temperatures on Tuesday reached 47C in Mecca and the sacred sites in and around the city, according to the Saudi National Center for Meteorology. Some people also fainted while trying to perform the symbolic stoning of the devil.

A 2019 study by experts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that even if the world succeeds in mitigating the worst effects of climate change, the Hajj would be held in temperatures exceeding an extreme danger threshold from 2047 to 2052, and from 2079 to 2086.

Islam follows a lunar calendar, so the Hajj falls around 11 days earlier each year. By 2029, the Hajj will occur in April, and in the next several years after that it will fall in the winter, when temperatures are milder.
The Canadian government has banned Pakistan supported terrorists based on intelligence inputs. Sources told CNN-News18 that Parupkar Dullai alias Parry Dullai, Bhagat Singh Brar and Satinderpal Gill were put on the no-fly list by the Canadian government.

The federal court of Canada on Thursday also upheld the governments decision based on the confidential information provided by the safety minister. In its plea, the Canadian government said there is reasonable ground to believe that these individuals can commit a terrorist act. It also said that their inclusion in the list is justified and their court challenge has been dismissed.

Parry Dullai is said to be a close associate of NDP leader Jagmeet Singh. He runs a channel called Channel Punjabi from Surrey and Global TV from Chandigarh.

Dullai belongs to the Dasmesh Gurdwara in Surrey.

Meanwhile, Gill is said to have spent time in Pakistan. Brar is the son of Pakistan-based Khalistani separatist Lakhbir Singh Rode.

This is a stark reminder that Khalistan Terrorism remains a major threat to global security.

It has come days after Canada dignified Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Nijjar in Parliament. Canadas Parliament on Tuesday marked the one-year anniversary of the death of Nijjar by holding a moment of silence in the House of Commons.

Nijjar was gunned down in Canadas Surrey, outside a parking lot on June 18 last year. The Indian government had put him on a list of designated terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Government officials familiar with the developments had told CNN-News18 that this is not something new. This is not new and they openly support Khalistani groups. Drug money and (proceeds from) weapons smuggling is used for attacking India and radicalising Indian youth. Nijjar was a Babbar Khalsa Associate and involved in multiple terror activities in India, the officials had said.
The White House voiced frustration on Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus criticism of the United States, contesting his complaint that Washington was failing to provide military support amid the war against Hamas in Gaza.

The new tensions between the two allies emerged when Netanyahu claimed in a video posted on social media earlier this week that the US administration has been withholding weapons and ammunitions from his country in recent months.

Those comments were deeply disappointing and certainly vexing to us, given the amount of support that we have and will continue to provide, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told journalists. No other country is doing more to help Israel defend itself against the threat by Hamas and, quite frankly, other threats that theyre facing in the region, Kirby said.

No other pauses

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre earlier told reporters that we genuinely do not know what hes talking about. With the exception of one particular shipment of munitions, Jean-Pierre said there are no other pauses. None. She was referring to a shipment of 2,000 pound bombs that Washington has said is under review because of concerns about their use in densely populated areas.

But Netanyahu appeared to double down later on Thursday, saying in a statement that he is prepared to suffer personal attacks provided that Israel receives the ammunition from the US that it needs in the war for its existence. I am willing to absorb personal attacks if that is what it takes for Israel to get the arms and ammunition it needs in its war for survival, the office of Israeli PM said in a post on X.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Response to the White House:I am willing to absorb personal attacks if that is what it takes for Israel to get the arms and ammunition it needs in its war for survival.  Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) June 20, 2024

The spat is not the first between the head of the Israeli government and Bidens administration since the start of the Gaza war, which began with an unprecedented Hamas attack in October. Biden previously stated his strong opposition to a major Israeli operation in Rafah in southern Gaza, where more than a million civilians were located, and threatened to stop certain arms deliveries if his warning was not heeded.

The Gaza war is a particularly thorny issue for the 81-year-old Biden, who is seeking a second term in office this year. The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the ever-rising death toll has led to sharp criticism of the president from the progressive wing of his party  pressure Biden has had to balance with long-standing US policy of backing Israel.

The latest round of bloody conflict between Israel and Hamas was triggered by an unprecedented October 7 attack by Palestinian militants on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people. Hamas members also seized 251 hostages. Of these, 116 remain in Gaza, although the army says 41 are dead. Israels retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed at least 37,431 people, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory.

(With agency inputs)
External affairs minister, the diplomatic community and members of Turkiyes mourned the demise of seasoned Indian diplomat Virander Paul, who was Indias envoy to Turkiye.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar described Pauls demise as a great loss to the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in a post on X. Paul was known for his impactful professional contribution and died in New Delhi on Friday following prolonged illness.

Deeply grieved at the passing away of Virander Paul, our Ambassador in Turkiye. A great loss to the Indian Foreign Service. Have worked closely with him in his many postings. Always admired his commitment and service and value his many contributions. Deepest condolences to  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 21, 2024

Deeply grieved at the passing away of Virender Paul, our Ambassador in Turkiye. A great loss to the Indian Foreign Service. Have worked closely with him in his many postings. Always admired his commitment and service and value his many contributions. Deepest condolences to his family. Om Shanti, the external affairs minister said in a tweet.

A 1991-batch IFS officer, Paul was struggling with health issues for over one-and-a-half years and he breathed his last at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi this evening, one of his colleagues said, while speaking to news agency PTI.

Paul held a medical degree from AIIMS. Paul is survived by his wife Racheline and two daughters.

We are deeply saddened at the untimely demise of Ambassador Virander Paul, Indias envoy to Turkiye. A dedicated officer, he will always be remembered for his exceptional human qualities and impactful professional contribution, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a message posted on social media site X.

We are deeply saddened at the untimely demise of Ambassador Virander Paul, Indias envoy to Turkiye. A dedicated officer, he will always be remembered for his exceptional human qualities and impactful professional contribution. Our heartfelt condolences to his family. Team  Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) June 21, 2024

Our heartfelt condolences to his family. Team @MEAIndia stands with them in this difficult hour, he said on X.

Before his appointment as Indias ambassador to Turkiye in the second half of 2022, he served as Indias High Commissioner to Kenya and Ambassador to Somalia. Prior to these roles, he was an additional secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, focusing on multilateral engagement in Indias neighbourhood.

With heavy heart, I say my final good bye to the Indian Ambassador to Turkiye, Dr. Virander Kumar Paul who has died today after an illness. A loving and caring guardian of Indian community in Turkey and an ardent defender of India-Turkey friendship will be hugely missed. Rest in pic.twitter.com/3KafZguCNE Omair Anas (@omairanas) June 21, 2024

Academic Omair Anas of the Ankara Yldrm Beyazt University also in a tweet grieved the passing of the diplomat and highlighted his contribution to India and Turkiye relations.

With a heavy heart, I say my final goodbye to the Indian Ambassador to Turkiye, Dr. Virander Kumar Paul who has died today after an illness. A loving and caring guardian of the Indian community in Turkey and an ardent defender of India-Turkey friendship will be hugely missed. Rest in Peace, Excellency! Anas said in a message on X.

He also held the position of joint secretary at the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service, a premier institution for training Indian and foreign diplomats.

In his illustrious career, Paul also served as deputy high commissioner of India in London (2013-2016), Minister (Press) at the Indian Embassy in Washington (2010-2013), Director in the Prime Ministers Office during 2007-2010, and Counsellor (Political) at the Indian Embassy in Moscow from 2003-2007.

He also held diplomatic positions in the Indian missions in Almaty, Vladivostok, Rome and St. Petersburg. During his other previous stints at the Ministry of External Affairs Headquarters, he served in Europe East and Americas Divisions.
A Swiss court handed jail sentences to four members of Britains richest family on Friday, branding them selfish for exploiting Indian staff at their Geneva mansion.

The Hindujas were acquitted of human trafficking, but convicted on other charges in a stunning verdict for the family, whose fortune is estimated at 37 billion pounds ($47 billion) by the Sunday Times.

Prakash Hinduja and his wife Kamal Hinduja each got four years and six months, while their son Ajay and his wife Namrata received four-year terms, the presiding judge in Geneva ruled.

They were found guilty of a charge of usury for taking advantage of their vulnerable immigrant staff to pay them a pittance.

The employees inexperience was exploited. They had little education or none at all and had no knowledge of their rights, presiding Sabina Mascotto said in her judgement.

The defendants motives were selfish, she said, adding that the Hindujas were motivated by the desire for gain.

Lawyers for the members of the Swiss-Indian family  who were not present in court  said they would appeal the verdict.

The court acquitted them of the more serious charge of human trafficking, on the grounds that the workers had travelled to Switzerland willingly.

$450 salary

During the trial the family were accused of bringing servants from their native India and confiscating their passports once they got to Switzerland.

Prosecutor Yves Bertossa accused the Hindujas of spending more on their dog than on their domestic employees.

The Hindujas paid the household staff a salary between 220 and 400 francs ($250-450) a month, up to 90 percent less than the going rate, the court heard.

The four Hinduja defendants knew the weak position their employees were in and knew the law in Switzerland, Mascotto said.

The family denied the allegations, claiming the prosecutors wanted to do in the Hindujas.

The family had reached a confidential out-of-court settlement with the three employees who made the accusations against them.

Despite this, the prosecution decided to pursue the case due to the seriousness of the charges.

Following the verdict, Bertossa requested an immediate detention order for Ajay and Namrata Hinduja, claiming a flight risk.

The defence denied the risk on the grounds that Kamal Hinduja is hospitalised in Monaco and the three other family members were at her bedside.

Aged 78 and 75 respectively, both parents had been absent since the start of the trial for health reasons.

It was not immediately clear whether the four would be extradited from the principality to serve their sentences.

Not mistreated slaves

The defence argued that the three employees received ample benefits, were not kept in isolation and were free to leave the villa.

We are not dealing with mistreated slaves, Nicolas Jeandin told the court.

Indeed, the employees were grateful to the Hindujas for offering them a better life, his fellow lawyer Robert Assael argued.

Representing Ajay Hinduja, lawyer Yael Hayat had slammed the excessive indictment, arguing the trial should be a question of justice, not social justice.

Namrata Hindujas lawyer Romain Jordan had also pleaded for acquittal, claiming the prosecutors were aiming to make an example of the family.

He argued the prosecution had failed to mention extra payments made to staff on top of their cash salaries.

No employee was cheated out of his or her salary, Assael added.

Some staff even asked for raises, which they received.

With interests in oil and gas, banking and healthcare, the Hinduja Group is present in 38 countries and employs around 200,000 people.
American philanthropist Melinda French Gates has given Democratic incumbent Joe Biden her first-ever US presidential endorsement, saying, Women deserve a leader who cares about the issues they face. She cited Bidens support for reproductive rights among other issues.

Gates this year left the charitable foundation she co-founded with her former husband, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, with $12.5 billion for her own charity work. She said the contrast between Biden and former President Donald Trump, his Republican rival in the Nov. 5 election, couldnt be greater, and the stakes couldnt be higher.

Ive never endorsed a presidential candidate before. But this years election stands to be so enormously consequential for women and families that, this time, I cant stay quiet.Women deserve a leader who cares about the issues they face and is committed to protecting their  Melinda French Gates (@melindagates) June 20, 2024

Women deserve a leader who cares about the issues they face and is committed to protecting their safety, their health, their economic power, their reproductive rights, and their ability to freely and fully participate in a functioning democracy, she wrote on social media platform X on Thursday.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation donated about $1.8 million in the 2020 election, most of it to Democrats. In a CNN opinion piece on Thursday, Gates elaborated further, saying Trumps first term in office endangered the health of women, their safety and freedom. And he deliberately appointed Supreme Court justices who would overturn Roe v. Wade, which resulted in a decision with far-reaching and catastrophic consequences for women and families, her CNN piece added.

The court in 2022 overturned the 50-year-old ruling guaranteeing the right to an abortion and ushered in a string of restrictive state measures. Three justices appointed by Trump were in the 5-4 majority. While Trump has boasted about rolling back the rights of women, Biden understands that the future of our country depends on them. Thats why Biden has earned my vote. I urge anyone who cares about women and families to join me, she wrote.

Novembers election will be much tougher, with the most recent Reuters/Ipsos poll putting Bidens national support at 39% and Trump at 41%. Trump leads Biden in many battleground states, according to several pollsters. Biden, already the oldest U.S. president ever at 81, must convince voters that he is more fit for office than Trump, who is just three years his junior, while combating low approval ratings that are worse among younger voters.

(With agency inputs)
Prominent Indian-American lawmaker Ro Khanna took to social media on Friday to express his disappointment over the omission of his key amendment to the EAGLE Act in this years National Defense Authorization Act (NDA).

Khanna underlined the economic benefits of lifting per-country green card caps, stressing its potential to alleviate the decades-long backlog faced by immigrants, especially those from India, seeking permanent residency in the US. His amendment to include the EAGLE Act in this years US National Defense Authorization Act (NDA) faced opposition from the Republican supermajority on the committee, leaving him disappointed with the Houses decision not to advance the bill for a vote.

The EAGLE Act will benefit our economy by lifting the arbitrary per-country green card caps to bring down our decades-long backlog for immigrants. I am deeply disappointed that my amendment to include it in this years National Defense Authorization Act was not given a vote. Rep. Ro Khanna (@RepRoKhanna) June 20, 2024

The EAGLE Act will benefit our economy by lifting the arbitrary per-country green card caps to bring down our decades-long backlog for immigrants. I am deeply disappointed that my amendment to include it in this years National Defense Authorization Act was not given a vote, Khanna posted on X. Per-country green card caps cause unproductive backlogs and ignore the realities of our workforce. We must end H1B abuse by foreign outsourcing companies. This abuse decreases wages and harms workers.

A summit earlier this year at the US Capitol, hosted by the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora (FIIDS), highlighted the critical impact of the seven percent country quota on green card issuance. This quota has led to staggering wait times exceeding 20 years for many Indian immigrants, amplifying calls for legislative reform. The Biden administration, while supportive of the EAGLE Act, has not taken significant steps to help accelerate its passage through the US Congress.

The bill aims to eliminate the per-country limit on employment-based green cards and increase the limit on family-sponsored green cards from 7% to 15%, potentially easing the backlog that ensnares hundreds of thousands of immigrants, predominantly from India and China.

Khanna argues that the current systems per-country green card caps create unproductive backlogs that fail to align with the realities of the workforce. He urges an end to H-1B visa abuse by foreign outsourcing companies, which he believes depresses wages and harms American workers. As the debate intensifies on Capitol Hill, proponents of the EAGLE Act argue that reforming the immigration system is crucial not only for the economic growth of the United States but also for maintaining competitiveness in the global workforce.
People close to missing British teenager Jay Slater have urged the UK and Spanish police to call for reinforcements to aid the search after the 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer from Lancashire went missing on Monday morning in Spains Tenerife.

A report by the Guardian said that his friends have resorted to hunting for evidence and are speaking to potential witnesses themselves.

Tenerife police have launched a probe to locate the teenager who disappeared in Rural de Teno nature reserve. They have deployed drones and a helicopter but the Guardian report highlighted that the area where Jay Slater disappeared is vast and rugged, because of which the teenagers friends have called for special teams to be roped in to locate him.

Lucy, Slaters friend and who accompanied him on the holiday, was among those pressing UK police to assist in the search.

She reported Slater missing after receiving a call from him around 8:15 a.m. (local time) on the morning of his disappearance.

During the call, Slater mentioned he was lost, thirsty, and had only 1% battery left on his phone.

I just think they need to get as much help as they can out here. Theres no helicopters here now. Hes been missing for that long now, what are they actually doing?, Lucy was quoted as saying by the Guardian.

She told the newspaper that the search operation needed to be much more intensive while welcoming the support from local police. She said that there was nobody there to help find missing Jay.

Last Known Movements of Jay Slater

On the first day she reported Jay missing, Lucy returned to his last known location. She stayed there until dark but was eventually told to leave. Lucy noted that no one else was present at the site the entire day.

I was here literally until it was dark, and I was told I needed to come away. That full day not one person was here, Lucy was quoted as saying.

In their efforts to locate him, friends have identified the residence Slater returned to after meeting people at a music festival the night before he vanished. They traced the house through social media videos and gathered from villagers that the men Slater befriended had already departed back to the UK.

Slaters friends are concerned that these individuals may possess crucial information about his last movements but do not believe they were interviewed by the police before leaving the island.

They have extensively searched the dense undergrowth, uncovering bags, clothing and various discarded items likely left by tourists. The landscape is characterised by caves, rocks, cacti and banana plants.

They have gathered and preserved items like cigarette butts, in hope that it will help in the police probe.

On Thursday afternoon, police and search and rescue personnel were present in the vicinity where Slater was last seen, but there was no indication of a comprehensive search operation underway, the newspaper said citing Slaters friends.

Another family friend remarked, Even with 30,000 people here, its like searching for a needle in a haystack. She mentioned that they spent 12 hours on Wednesday combing through all the paths around Slaters last known whereabouts.

Lucy said that it was important that the matter was taken seriously, suggesting that UK police might possess specialised resources that could assist local authorities.

I wouldnt wish this on anybody. I just want my baby back. Please just anybody who can help  look for him. Its a massive area up there. Hes out there somewhere or somebody knows where he is. I wish I hadnt encouraged him to go to this. I should have said: Dont go to Tenerife, Slaters mother, Debbie Duncan, told UK-based broadcaster ITV.

Authorities Response to Jay Slaters Disappearance

A member of the emergency services at the national park site stated that search teams were still hopeful, with personnel positioned along all major paths in the vicinity. He appeared optimistic about the possibility of someone surviving under the current conditions, the newspaper said.

Spanish rescue teams were searching an area around the Masca Ravine in Tenerife islands remote national park since Thursday. The investigation showed the teenager, aged 19, was probably somewhere in the wild, forested area located above the islands shore, she said.

A rescue officer told Reuters a relative received a message from the teenager before he went missing saying he had suffered a leg injury.

A report by UK news media outlet The Independent said that he was captured on camera making his way through a crowded nightclub a day before his disappearance and the UK citizens who met him there and rented the property said he was seen walking alone in the Tenerife mountains.
The external affairs ministry said it did not receive any consular access request from Nikhil Gupta. Gupta, an Indian citizen, was recently extradited to the US from Czechia after being accused of being involved in a murder-for-hire plot against Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil.

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is a Khalistani separatist leader and calls himself a legal counsel for the Khalistani group Sikhs for Justice. He who lives in New York and is known to have called for violence against India in order to carve out a separate Khalistani nation for Sikhs.

The MEA, however, said that it is in touch with his family.

We are in touch with his family, Randhir Jaiswal, the MEA spokesperson said.

India has labeled Pannun a terrorist while distancing itself from the associated conspiracy. The government expressed concern late last year over the involvement of an Indian official in the plot and committed to a formal investigation into the issues highlighted by the United States.

Nikhil Gupta was arrested in Czechia last year at the request of the US government on charges of being involved in a plot to assassinate Pannun in New York. Pannun holds dual American and Canadian citizenship.

Gupta was produced before a federal court in New York on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty, according to his attorney, Jeffrey Chabrowe.

He made his first appearance in Manhattan federal court before Magistrate Judge James Cott on Monday afternoon for his arraignment and pleaded not guilty. Guptas attorney Jeffrey Chabrowe entered the not guilty plea on his behalf. Gupta is being held in a Brooklyn detention facility.

If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for each charge. The next court hearing in the case is on June 28. Court records show that a status conference has been set for June 28 before Judge Victor Marrero.
The Israeli military has announced the killing of a leading Hamas sniper who it says participated in the unprecedented attack on southern Israel in October last year. Ahmed Hassan Salame Alsauarka, who was a Nukhba forces commander, was eliminated in a precision strike in the area of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza.

ELIMINATED: A Leading Hamas Sniper and Nukhba Forces Commander who Participated in the Oct. 7 Massacre. IAF aircraft conducted a precise and targeted strike to eliminate the Hamas terrorist Ahmed Hassan Salame Alsauarka in the area of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said in a post on Thursday.

ELIMINATED: A Leading Hamas Sniper and Nukhba Forces Commander who Participated in the Oct. 7 MassacreIAF aircraft conducted a precise and targeted strike to eliminate the Hamas terrorist Ahmed Hassan Salame Alsauarka in the area of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza. Alsauarka was pic.twitter.com/OopAWl5HYl  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 20, 2024

Alsauarka was a squad commander in the Nukhba Forces who infiltrated into and carried out attacks on communities in southern Israel during the Oct. 7 Massacre. Alsauarka led and directed sniper activity in the area of Beit Hanoun and took part in Hamas attacks on IDF troops, the IDF added. Before the strike, several steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians during the operation, the IDF said.

As a result, no civilians were injured during the strike, it added. This Gaza strike comes as Israel and Hezbollah traded fresh cross-border fire, as fears of a regional conflict grew. Israel recently revealed it had approved plans for a Lebanon offensive and the militants vowed to blanket their foe in rockets.

Hezbollah said it fired dozens of rockets into northern Israel Thursday in retaliation for a deadly air strike in south Lebanon that Israel said killed one of the groups operatives. Hezbollah also claimed several other attacks on Israeli troops and positions over the course of the day.

The Israeli military said its jets had struck two weapons storage facilities and several other sites belonging to the group, and that it had fired artillery to remove threats in multiple areas in southern Lebanon. Just before midnight, the army said it had successfully intercepted a suspicious aerial target that crossed from Lebanon.

Today we targeted several Hezbollah terrorists, and yesterday Hezbollah released a video showcasing a capability that we knew aboutWe of course have infinitely greater capabilities, of which I think the enemy is only familiar with fewand will confront them at the right pic.twitter.com/9mDpuWSe7L Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 19, 2024

Hezbollah and Israeli forces have exchanged near-daily fire since Hamass October 7 attack on southern Israel triggered the Gaza war, and the bellicose talk has escalated along with the strikes. The October Hamas attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people. The militants also seized hostages, 116 of whom remain in Gaza although the army says 41 are dead. Israels retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed at least 37,431 people, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory.

(With agency inputs)
India on Friday reacted to Canadian Parliaments recent gesture commemorating murdered Khalistani separatist-terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The external affairs ministry said in its weekly press briefing that India opposes moves that give political space to extremism and advocate violence.

We naturally oppose any moves giving political space to extremism and advocacy of violence, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

The Canadian Parliament on Tuesday marked the one-year anniversary of the death of Khalistani separatist-terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar by holding a moment of silence in the House of Commons.

Government officials speaking to CNN-News18 said that such a gesture by the Canadian government is not new. This is not new and they openly support Khalistani groups. Drug money and (proceeds from) weapons smuggling is used for attacking India and radicalising Indian youth. Nijjar was a Babbar Khalsa Associate and involved in multiple terror activities in India, the officials said.

Jaiswal on Friday also said that India on Thursday lodged a strong protest with Canada over Khalistani extremists holding a so-called citizens court and burning an effigy of the Indian prime minister outside the Indian consulate in Vancouver.

A separate report by news agency PTI said that India issued a diplomatic note to the Canadian high commission conveying its serious objection to the latest actions by the Khalistani elements.

The report said that India communicated to the high commission its anguish over the space being given to the Khalistani separatists in Canada by the Justin Trudeau government.

Nijjars death and Canadas allegation that Indian officials were involved in the killing has strained ties between Ottawa and New Delhi.

Nijjar was gunned down in Canadas Surrey, outside a parking lot on June 18 last year. The Indian government had put him on a list of designated terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The relations between the two countries came under severe strain following Trudeaus allegations in September last year of a potential involvement of Indian agents in Nijjars killing.

New Delhi rejected Trudeaus charges as absurd.

India has been maintaining that the main issue between the two countries is that of Canada giving space to pro-Khalistan elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity.
Tajikistan is set to implement a ban on the hijab and other Islamic garments, following the approval of a controversial law by its parliament. The bill is likely to cause an uproar among the mostly Muslim population of the tightly controlled former Soviet republic, which borders Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.

The upper house, Majlisi Milli, passed the legislation on June 19, prohibiting childrens festivities during Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, according to US government-funded Radio Free Europe (RFE). The bill, initially passed by the lower chamber, Majlisi Namoyandagon, on May 8, aims to curb the wearing of what it terms alien garments.

Proper education and safety

The ban on childrens holidays is intended to ensure proper education and safety during religious observances, Radio Ozodi reported, citing a head of the Religion Committee. During the 18th session of the Parliament chaired by President Rustam Emomali, changes to Tajikistans laws concerning cultural practices, teacher roles in childrens upbringing, and parental duties were also endorsed.

Penalties for violating the new regulations include substantial fines. Individuals could face fines up to 7,920 somonis, while companies may be fined up to 39,500 somonis. Officials and religious leaders face even steeper fines, with penalties potentially reaching 54,000 and 57,600 somonis respectively.

The legislation has ignited debate within the countrys predominantly Muslim population, with officials linking such attire to Islamic extremism. According to Radio Free Europe, this decision led to the condemnation of the Union of Islamic Scholars and the declaration of jihad by some clerics in Afghanistan. Some religious figures, officials, university professors and bloggers in Tajikistan responded to these calls.

History

In 2017, Rahmon mandated a special commission to establish a suitable dress code for men and women after criticising women for wearing foreign black attire. His comments targeted the growing popularity of black Islamic dress in Tajikistan, despite previous denouncements dating back to 2015. This initiated a campaign against the hijab, with institutional leaders instructing employees to refrain from wearing it at work.

Tajikistan has a history of restricting the hijab, beginning with a Ministry of Education ban in 2007, initially targeting students and later expanding to encompass all public institutions. Despite claims of enforcement through special teams and occasional police actions, officials deny widespread crackdowns reported by some women.

The Central Asian country in recent years has promoted traditional clothing through campaigns advocating for national attire. Initiatives included widespread text messages encouraging the wearing of traditional Tajik outfits, culminating in the 2018 publication of a detailed guidebook on recommended attire.
Former US President Donald Trump has said he wants to grant green cards to foreign graduates from American colleges, in an apparent softening of his stance on immigration, ahead of the November election.

His remarks came in a podcast published Thursday days after President Joe Biden announced a citizenship pathway for immigrants married to US nationals. Trump made the remarks when asked if he would promise to help tech firms hire the brightest minds from countries like India.

What I want to do and what I will do is, you graduate from a college, I think you should get automatically as part of your diploma a green card to be able to stay in this country, Trump told the All-In podcast. A green card is the commonly used name for a permanent resident card in the United States and a step toward citizenship.

2016 Trump: I will end forever the use of the H-1B as a cheap labor program, and institute an absolute requirement to hire American workers first.2024 Trump: I promise to staple a Green Card to anyone who graduates from ANY college, even 2-yr community colleges. This isnt pic.twitter.com/6U8hRgghso  U.S. Tech Workers (@USTechWorkers) June 20, 2024

I do promise

The Republican candidates current comment contradicts his 2016 promise to end the use of H-1B visas, popular among Indian techies, for hiring cheap labour, pledging instead to prioritise American workers. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Tech firms depend on it to hire scores of employees each year from countries like India.

In the podcast, Trump said this should include anybody who graduates from a college, including those who complete two-year programs, known as junior colleges, and doctoral graduates. Asked initially on the podcast if he would promise to help import the best and the brightest around the world to America, Trump replied: I do promise.

He added: I know of stories where people graduated from a top college, or from a college, and they desperately want to stay here and they cant. They go back to India, they go back to China. They do the same basic company in those places and they become multi-billionaires employing thousands and thousands of people, Trump said.

He also said that US companies need smart people, adding they cant even make a deal with a company because they dont think theyre going to be able to stay in the country. That is going to end on day one, Trump added. Trumps 2017-2021 presidency, he ordered construction of a wall on the US-Mexico border and implemented a travel ban on people from mostly Muslim countries.

His comments came after Democrat opponent Biden on Tuesday relaxed visa rules for around half a million spouses of US nationals, making it easier for them to obtain citizenship. He also simplified the process for migrants who came to the United States illegally as children to get work visas if theyve graduated college and have a high-skilled job offer.

(With agency inputs)
The United States and China resumed semi-official nuclear arms talks in March for the first time in five years, with Beijings representatives telling U.S. counterparts that they would not resort to atomic threats over Taiwan, according to two American delegates who attended.

The Chinese representatives offered reassurances after their U.S. interlocutors raised concerns that China might use, or threaten to use, nuclear weapons if it faced defeat in a conflict over Taiwan. Beijing views the democratically governed island as its territory, a claim rejected by the government in Taipei.

They told the U.S. side that they were absolutely convinced that they are able to prevail in a conventional fight over Taiwan without using nuclear weapons, said scholar David Santoro, the U.S. organiser of the Track Two talks, the details of which are being reported by Reuters for the first time.

Participants in Track Two talks are generally former officials and academics who can speak with authority on their governments position, even if they are not directly involved with setting it. Government-to-government negotiations are known as Track One.

Washington was represented by about half a dozen delegates, including former officials and scholars at the two-day discussions, which took place in a Shanghai hotel conference room. Beijing sent a delegation of scholars and analysts, which included several former Peoples Liberation Army officers. A State Department spokesperson said in response to Reuters questions that Track Two talks could be beneficial. The department did not participate in the March meeting though it was aware of it, the spokesperson said.

Such discussions cannot replace formal negotiations that require participants to speak authoritatively on issues that are often highly compartmentalized within (Chinese) government circles, the spokesperson said. Members of the Chinese delegation and Beijings defence ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

The informal discussions between the nuclear-armed powers took place with the U.S. and China at odds over major economic and geopolitical issues, with leaders in Washington and Beijing accusing each other of dealing in bad faith. The two countries briefly resumed Track One talks over nuclear arms in November but those negotiations have since stalled, with a top U.S. official publicly expressing frustration at Chinas responsiveness.

The Pentagon, which estimates that Beijings nuclear arsenal increased by more than 20% between 2021 and 2023, said in October that China would also consider nuclear use to restore deterrence if a conventional military defeat in Taiwan threatened CCP rule.

China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control and has over the past four years stepped up military activity around the island. The Track Two talks are part of a two-decade nuclear weapons and posture dialogue that stalled after the Trump administration pulled funding in 2019.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, semi-official discussions resumed on broader security and energy issues, but only the Shanghai meeting dealt in detail with nuclear weapons and posture. Santoro, who runs the Hawaii-based Pacific Forum think-tank, described frustrations on both sides during the latest discussions but said the two delegations saw reason to continue talking. More discussions were being planned in 2025, he said.

Nuclear policy analyst William Alberque of the Henry Stimson Centre think-tank, who was not involved in the March discussions, said the Track Two negotiations were useful at a time of glacial U.S.-Chinese relations. Its important to continue talking with China with absolutely no expectations, he said, when nuclear arms are at issue.

NO FIRST-USE?

The U.S. Department of Defense estimated last year that Beijing has 500 operational nuclear warheads and will probably field more than 1,000 by 2030. That compares to 1,770 and 1,710 operational warheads deployed by the U.S. and Russia respectively. The Pentagon said that by 2030, much of Beijings weapons will likely be held at higher readiness levels.

Since 2020, China has also modernised its arsenal, starting production of its next-generation ballistic missile submarine, testing hypersonic glide vehicle warheads and conducting regular nuclear-armed sea patrols. Weapons on land, in the air and at sea give China the nuclear triad  a hallmark of a major nuclear power.

A key point the U.S. side wanted to discuss, according to Santoro, was whether China still stood by its no-first-use and minimal deterrence policies, which date from the creation of its first nuclear bomb in the early 1960s.

Minimal deterrence refers to having just enough atomic weapons to dissuade adversaries. China is also one of two nuclear powers  the other being India  to have pledged not to initiate a nuclear exchange. Chinese military analysts have speculated that the no-first-use policy is conditional  and that nuclear arms could be used against Taiwans allies  but it remains Beijings stated stance.

Santoro said the Chinese delegates told U.S. representatives that Beijing maintained these policies and that we are not interested in reaching nuclear parity with you, let alone superiority.'

Nothing has changed, business as usual, you guys are exaggerating, Santoro said in summarising Beijings position. His description of the discussions was corroborated by fellow U.S. delegate Lyle Morris, a security scholar at the Asia Society Policy Institute. A report on the discussions is being prepared for U.S. government but would not be made public, Santoro said.

RISK AND OPACITY

Top U.S. arms control official Bonnie Jenkins told Congress in May that China had not responded to nuclear-weapons risk reduction proposals that Washington raised during last years formal talks. China has yet to agree to further government-to-government meetings.

Bejings refusal to substantively engage in discussions over its nuclear build-up raises questions around its already ambiguous stated no-first-use policy and its nuclear doctrine more broadly, the State Department spokesperson told Reuters. Chinas Track Two delegation did not discuss specifics about Beijings modernisation effort, Santoro and Morris said.

Alberque of the Henry Stimson Centre said that China relied heavily on risk and opacity to mitigate U.S. nuclear superiority and there was no imperative for Beijing to have constructive discussions. Chinas expanded arsenal  which includes anti-ship cruise missiles, bombers, intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarines  exceeded the needs of a state with a minimal deterrence and no-first-use policy, Alberque said.

Chinese talking points revolved around the survivability of Beijings nuclear weapons if it suffered a first strike, said Morris. The U.S. delegates said the Chinese described their efforts as a deterrence-based modernisation programme to cope with developments such as improved U.S. missile defences, better surveillance capabilities, and strengthened alliances.

The U.S., Britain and Australia last year signed a deal to share nuclear submarine technology and develop a new class of boats, while Washington is now working with Seoul to coordinate responses to a potential atomic attack. Washingtons policy on nuclear weapons includes the possibility of using them if deterrence fails, though the Pentagon says it would only consider that in extreme circumstances. It did not provide specifics.

One Chinese delegate pointed to studies that said Chinese nuclear weapons were still vulnerable to U.S. strikes  their second-strike capability was not enough, said Morris.
Lars Fruergaard Jrgensen, the chief executive of Novo Nordisk, agreed in a phone call with Sen. Bernie Sanders to testify before a Senate committee in September. He already knows what Sanders will ask: why Ozempic and Wegovy cost "10 to 15 times" more in the US than in other countries. "This is absurd," Sanders told NBC News on Tuesday. "It is clear that Novo Nordisk is ripping off the American people." Sanders said the company asked that competitors appear at the same time, which he rejected. He wants the spotlight on the maker of the hot-selling weight-loss drugs.

"One at a time," the Vermont Independent said when asked about having Eli Lilly testify about its anti-obesity drug Zepbound and other products, per Axios. "Eli Lilly is also very big, but I think we focus on Novo Nordisk first and then we'll go to the others." The idea is to replicate the success he and the Biden administration had last year in pressuring the makers of insulin and asthma inhalers to hold monthly out-of-pocket costs to $35. Eli Lilly's CEO also promised not to raise the price of insulin at a hearing Sanders held.

The committee has cited the monthly going rate for Wegovy at about $1,300 a month in the US, $186 in Denmark, $137 in Germany, and $92 in the UKa difference made possible by the US patent system. Novo Nordisk said 80% of American patients with insurance are paying $25 or less per prescription of Ozempic or Wegovy. The company said it has invested billions of dollars in research and production capacity. Congress can't do much other than apply pressure, and a Johns Hopkins professor said shaming drugmakers can only do so much. "Changing the laws is absolutely the right answer," Gerard Anderson said. (More Ozempic stories.)
A system that around 15,000 car dealerships rely on was down for a second day Thursday after a cyberattack, and the chaos paralyzing dealerships could continue for days to come. CDK Global said Wednesday that it had temporarily shut down systems out of an "abundance of caution." Early Thursday, it said systems had been shut down again after an "additional cyber incident." Insiders tell CNN that dealers were told systems could be down for several more days.

Bloomberg reports that CDK's software, known as a dealer management system, or DMS, "underpins virtually every element of auto retailers' day-to-day business"and after decades of consolidation, dealerships only have a few DMS providers to choose from. Unable to access records including inventory, past deals, and other office operations, dealers are trying to find ways to keep operating. Alex Padron, sales manager at a Nissan dealership in Phoenix, tells Bloomberg that business is "almost at a standstill." He says the dealership is writing contracts on paper and using guesswork to determine creditworthiness.

Jeff Ramsey, an executive at Ourisman Auto Group in Maryland, tells CNN that the outage has come at a bad time. It's a busy season in the industry and he's worried that buyers will go to rivals that use different systems. "We're in the summer months," he says. "This is where we need systems functioning." CDK hasn't disclosed whether the cyberattack is linked to ransomware, PC Mag reports. (More car dealers stories.)
It's not big, it's not beautiful, and Mexico certainly won't be paying for it, but North Korea appears to be building a wall near its southern border. The BBC says high-resolution satellite images from a stretch of the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea show that sections of a wall have been built in several places. Land has also been cleared in the DMZ, which could be a violation of the 71-year-old truce between the Koreas. Experts say the activity is "unusual" and the walls, which appear to be up to 10 feet tall, differ from anti-tank barriers the North set up in the 1990s.

The construction appears to be happening amid a surge in North Korean activity in the DMZ, which is heavily mined and mostly wilderness, the AP reports. South Korean authorities say North Korean soldiers have been reinforcing roads, installing anti-tank barriers, and planting yet more mines. Mine explosions have killed and wounded North Korean soldiers, the South says, and warning shots have been fired multiple times, most recently on Thursday, after groups of soldiers briefly strayed across the demarcation line. Overgrown foliage may have obscured signs that mark the line, the AP notes.

The South believes the activity is largely intended to stop defectors crossing from the North. Analysts believe the construction could also be linked to the North's decision to stop even paying lip service to the prospect of reunification. Earlier this year, the North abolished agencies tasked with managing relations with the South. "North Korea doesn't really need more barriers to prevent a strike from the South but by erecting these border barriers, the North is signalling that it doesn't seek reunification," Ramon Pacheco Pardo, head of European and International Studies at Kings College London, tells the BBC. (The North also just signed a new pact with Russia.)
President Biden issued a disaster declaration for parts of southern New Mexico on Thursday. The move freed up funding and more resources as crews worked, under the threat of flooding and lightning, to battle a pair of deadly wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of people to flee, the AP reports. Residents of Ruidoso, a mountain village, fled the larger fire with little notice as it swept into neighborhoods on Monday. More areas were evacuated on Tuesday as the fire ballooned, consuming homes nestled among the the ponderosa pines that dominate the hillsides.

The flames advanced Thursday along the mountain headwaters of Eagle Creek and the Rio Ruidoso with 0% containment. Crews used heavy equipment to build fire lines while water and retardant dropped from the air. "The big concern right now is flooding," Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford told KWMW radio on Thursday. "We got less than two-tenths of an inch of rain yesterday but because of all the burn scar, there's nothing holding it up. We had flooding already over the bridges."

An estimated 1,400 structures have been destroyed or damaged, and Crawford estimated about half were homes. Whole portions of some communities were lost, he said. "These are things that are burnt to the foundations and all the trees around it," he said. "It's devastating."

The rain helped to keep the fire from spreading and high humidity levels and cooler temperatures were expected to help keep the flames in check again Thursday, said Brandon Glenn, with the incident management team that is assigned to the fires.

Hundreds of firefighters have been trying to prevent spot fires, while others are assessing roads and trying to get around to structures and contain pockets of unburned fuel that might flare up.

Authorities say a badly burned 60-year-old man who died was found near the popular Swiss Chalet Inn in Ruidoso. His family said he had arranged for a ride from friends but they were unable to get to him Monday since the roads were blocked. It appeared he was overcome after he tried to set out on foot. On Wednesday, officers discovered the skeletal remains of an unidentified second person in the driver's seat of a burned vehicle.

(More New Mexico stories.)
The Biden administration has banned software from Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky, saying it "poses undue and unacceptable risks to US national security and to the security and safety of US persons." The Commerce Department said the company "will generally no longer be able to, among other activities, sell its software within the United States or provide updates to software already in use," the BBC reports. Under the federal decision, Kaspersky won't be able to sell new software to American customers after July 20 or provide updates after September 29.

"When you think about national security, you may think about guns and tanks and missiles," Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said Thursday, per Wired. "But the truth is, increasingly, it's about technology, and it's about dual-use technology, and it's about data." She said Russia has shown it has the capacity and intent to use Russian companies like Kaspersky to "collect and weaponize the personal information of Americans and that is why we are compelled to take the action that we are taking today." The Kaspersky ban is the first action of its kind to use broad powers granted to the Commerce Department during the Trump administration.

The department said the risks it had found stem not from "whether Kaspersky's products are effective at identifying viruses and other malware, but whether they can be used strategically to cause harm to the United States," the AP reports. The company, which has long been under pressure from US regulators, denied that it is a security threat and said it is considering legal action, reports Reuters. In a statement, Kaspersky said it believes the US decision was based on "the present geopolitical climate and theoretical concerns." (More Kaspersky Labs stories.)
Two-thirds of the pro-Palestinian protesters arrested over the occupation of Columbia's Hamilton Hall on April 30 saw their charges dropped by New York prosecutors on Thursday. The move applies to 31 of the 46 students and staff who were arrested and hit with the misdemeanor charge of trespass in the third degree. The standout details:

Why: The Manhattan DA's office cited "prosecutorial discretion and lack of evidence" in connection with the move, saying there was "extremely limited" surveillance video because "certain defendants" immediately covered the cameras, per CNN. Those who did so have not been identified, and the video that does exist "fails to establish or prove" the 31 people damaged any university property.

The Manhattan DA's office cited "prosecutorial discretion and lack of evidence" in connection with the move, saying there was "extremely limited" surveillance video because "certain defendants" immediately covered the cameras, per CNN. Those who did so have not been identified, and the video that does exist "fails to establish or prove" the 31 people damaged any university property. Other consequences: "At the time of the charged conduct, the defendants were either staff employed by, or students enrolled in, Columbia University, and are now subject to student or staff disciplinary proceedings," the DA's office noted.
The World Health Organization has issued a global alert about counterfeit batches of Ozempic turning up in the US and abroad. Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, treats type 2 diabetes by helping control blood sugar levels, but it also makes people feel full with less food, making it a sought-after weight-loss medication for people without diabetes. That demand has outpaced supply and, in turn, fueled a market for counterfeit drugs, reports Reuters . The WHO said it received reports of fake Ozempic around the world beginning in 2022 and seized batches in the UK and Brazil in October and in the US in December. The injection pens had authentic Ozempic packaging but phony labels, per Quartz . See a comparison in the photos with this story.

The fake drugs may be ineffective and could pose "serious risks to health because of its subcutaneous injection administration that could be life-threatening," the WHO said. Some pens may not contain semaglutide but other drugs, including insulin, the organization warned. It added the drugs were "supplied in the regulated supply chain," raising questions about how they got to market. The drugs seized in the UK had come from legitimate suppliers in Austria and Germany, per the BBC. In a warning about fake drugs in the US last year, Ozempic maker Novo Nordisk described "an adverse reaction" to a counterfeit Ozempic pen containing insulin glargine, which had been purchased at a retail pharmacy.

The WHO advised people to source Ozempic only through reputable sources, like licensed physicians, rather than online and on social media. "Buying semaglutide from illegally trading online suppliers significantly increases the risk of getting a product which is either falsified or not licensed for use in the UK," said Dr. Alison Cave, chief safety officer at the UK government's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, per the BBC. Eli Lilly has also been warning about counterfeit versions of tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro, Zepbound, and other GLP-1 drugs, per the AP and Reuters. The company says it does not provide the drug to online retailers. (More Ozempic stories.)
South Korea is not taking North Korea and Russia's newly cemented partnership lightly. Shortly after Vladimir Putin stated that the deal provides for "mutual assistance in the event of aggression against one of the parties," Seoul on Thursday said it was "planning to reconsider the issue of providing weapons support to Ukraine," reports CBS News. It summoned the Russian ambassador on Friday. More:

Why the weapons statement is a big deal: South Korea has a longstanding policy in place that keeps it from selling weapons to active war zones, and despite entreaties from the US and Ukraine, it has thus far declined to sell the latter country weapons in its fight against Russia.

South Korea has a longstanding policy in place that keeps it from selling weapons to active war zones, and despite entreaties from the US and Ukraine, it has thus far declined to sell the latter country weapons in its fight against Russia. Context: As Voice of America explains, South Korea is a major weapons exporter (9th in the world) and is known for being a fast supplier of "reliable" weapons. Western countries maintain "that South Korean weapons could play a pivotal role in helping Kyiv fight off Russia's invasion."

As Voice of America explains, South Korea is a major weapons exporter (9th in the world) and is known for being a fast supplier of "reliable" weapons. Western countries maintain "that South Korean weapons could play a pivotal role in helping Kyiv fight off Russia's invasion." Putin's response: The Russian president didn't take kindly to the South's statement, saying Seoul would be making "a big mistake" if it chooses to supply Ukraine with weapons. Should it do so, Moscow "will... [make] decisions which are unlikely to please the current leadership of South Korea," Putin said Thursday, per the BBC. CNN reports that Putin added, "As far as I know, the Republic of Korea does not plan aggression against the DPRK [North Korea], which means there is no need to be afraid of our cooperation in this area."

The Russian president didn't take kindly to the South's statement, saying Seoul would be making "a big mistake" if it chooses to supply Ukraine with weapons. Should it do so, Moscow "will... [make] decisions which are unlikely to please the current leadership of South Korea," Putin said Thursday, per the BBC. CNN reports that Putin added, "As far as I know, the Republic of Korea does not plan aggression against the DPRK [North Korea], which means there is no need to be afraid of our cooperation in this area." But: Senior Russian official Dmitry Medvedev wasn't so restrained, writing in a Telegram post, "I wonder what the people of this country (South Korea) will say when they see the latest Russian weapons from their closest neighborsour partners from the DPRK?"
Six children who visited a Florida beach with their parents on Thursday left it as orphans. In a devastating case, Brian Warter and Erica Wishard of Pennsylvania drowned after getting caught in a rip current at Hutchinson Island's Stuart Beach. The parents and two teenagers were swimming when they were swept from shore by a rip current, the Martin County Sheriff's Office said in a statement, per Fox News . "The kids were able to break the current and attempted to help their parents, but it became too dangerous and they were forced to swim ashore," authorities said.

Warter, 51, and Wishard, 48, were retrieved by lifeguards, who performed CPR. "Those life-saving efforts continued in the ambulance and at the hospital where doctors gave it every last effort before declaring the couple deceased," the sheriff's office said. Authorities were called to the beach around 1:30pm, just two hours after the Martin County Fire Rescue issued a warning to beachgoers. "We suggest strong swimmers only because rip currents are expected," it said, per Fox. Red flags were flying at the beach, indicating high surf and strong currents.

The family from Downingtown, Pennsylvania, was on vacation in Florida, per CBS News. The sheriff's office noted the toll on the "six mostly teenage children." Chief Deputy John Budensiek said the kids not only "watched [their parents] drown," but "watched the resuscitation efforts" on the beach and at a hospital, "so they're extremely traumatized." A crisis intervention official "assisted the couple's children throughout the day and evening as they await the arrival of other family members into Florida," the sheriff's office said.

See tips on how to escape rip currents here. (More drowning stories.)
If you're low-key wary of flying lately, we can't say we blame you , and the latest news out of Oklahoma probably won't ease your concerns. The Federal Aviation Administration is looking into Southwest Flight 4069 out of Las Vegas, which dipped to an alarmingly low altitude just after midnight on Wednesday as it approached Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, per the AP .

"Southwest 4069, low-altitude alert. You good out there?" an air traffic controller can be heard asking in a recording by LiveATC.net, per CNN, which notes the pilots' response wasn't audible. At the time, the Boeing 737 was about 9 miles from its destination airport, cruising over Yukon, Oklahomajust 500 feet or so over a high school, according to transponder data cited by USA Today. The ATC team had been alerted to the jet's low altitude by an automated system.

After that alert, the plane made a brief ascent, then made its way to a safe landing in Oklahoma City, with no reported injuries. "Southwest is following its robust safety management system and is in contact with the [FAA] to understand and address any irregularities with the aircraft's approach to the airport," a Southwest rep said in a statement. The incident comes just two months after another Southwest flight went into a dive off the coast of Hawaii, falling 4,000 feet per minute until crew managed to right the plane. There were no injuries, and the jet landed safely in Honolulu. (More Southwest Airlines stories.)
An American tourist was killed by an elephant in the Zambian city of Livingstone this week in the second such attack in the country this year, officials said. The officials said Friday that 64-year-old Juliana Gle Tourneau was killed when an elephant that was part of a herd the tourists were watching attacked their vehicle, threw Tourneau out, and trampled her, the AP reports. She was part of a group that had stopped near the Maramba Cultural Bridge because of traffic caused by the elephants.
A dinosaur that researchers say is new to science has been named after the Norse god Loki not because of any mischievous tendencies, but because of its massive, blade-like horns. In a study published in the journal PeerJ , researchers say Lokiceratops rangiformis was one of many ancestors of Triceratops that lived in a small area of what is now western North America around 78 million years ago. The huge horns at the back of its frill ("the shield of bone at the back of the skull") and asymmetrical horns at the peak resemble caribou antlers, the Warner College of Natural Resources reports. The name translates to "Loki's horned face that looks like a caribou."

The species was identified from the remains of a single specimen found in a fossil-rich area of the Montana badlands. Study co-lead author Joseph Sertich, a paleontologist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, says that while some paleontologists argue that it could be a variant of another dinosaur, "the number of frill horns is dramatically different" from other species. He believes the extravagant display of horns may have developed as a way to attract mates. "We think that the horns on these dinosaurs were analogous to what birds are doing with displays," Sertich says. "They're using them either for mate selection or species recognition."

Lokiceratops was around 22 feet long and weighed up 11,000 pounds, researchers say. Michael Benton, a professor of vertebrate paleontology at the University of Bristol, tells NBC News that it appears to be a new species. It was found in the same layer of rock as four other species. Benton says "small-scale evolutionary explosions of five or six closely related species all living and feeding close together" have also been observed with other species.

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Co-lead author Mark Loewen, a paleontologist at the Natural History Museum of Utah, says the name was inspired by the Norse god's helmetand by the dinosaur's new home. The Lokiceratops skull, found by a commercial paleontologist on private land, was sold to the Museum of Evolution in Denmark. "They saved it by purchasing it, so now it's available in perpetuity for scientists to look at it," Sertich tells the New York Times. "We couldn't write a paper on a fossil sitting in a rich person's living room and being treated as art." (More dinosaurs stories.)
The Supreme Court on Friday upheld a federal gun-control law intended to protect victims of domestic violence, per the AP . In their first Second Amendment case since they expanded gun rights in 2022, the justices ruled in favor of a 1994 ban on firearms for people under restraining orders to stay away from their spouses or partners, per the AP . The justices, reversing a ruling from the federal appeals court in New Orleans, ruled that the Constitution allows authorities to bar people deemed dangerous from having guns, per the Washington Post . The decision was 8-1, with Clarence Thomas (author of the 2022 decision) the lone dissenter.

"An individual found by a court to pose a credible threat to the physical safety of another may be temporarily disarmed consistent with the Second Amendment," wrote Chief Justice John Roberts in the majority opinion. Friday's case stemmed directly from the Supreme Court's decision in June 2022, known as New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. In the new case, a Texas man, Zackey Rahimi, was accused of hitting his girlfriend during an argument in a parking lot and later threatening to shoot her.

Rahimi's case reached the Supreme Court after prosecutors appealed a ruling that threw out his conviction for possessing guns while subject to a restraining order. Rahimi was involved in five shootings over two months in and around Arlington, Texas. When police identified Rahimi as a suspect in the shootings and showed up at his home with a search warrant, he admitted having guns in the house and being subject to a domestic violence restraining order that prohibited gun possession.

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But even though Rahimi was hardly "a model citizen," wrote US Circuit Judge Cory Wilson in a lower-court ruling, the law at issue could not be justified by looking to history. That's the test Justice Clarence Thomas laid out in his opinion for the court in Bruen. (A related rift is emerging among conservatives on the court.)
A group of people who came to the aid of an apparent rape victim in Las Vegas ended up killing a man, according to police, who are seeking the public's help in identifying the individuals. Officers responding to a report of a stabbing around 3:30pm Tuesday found a man fatally injured in an alley in a residential neighborhood near the intersection of Charleston and Mojave, about seven miles northeast of the Las Vegas Strip, per USA Today. Police later said the victim, a Black male in his 50s, may have been sexually assaulting a woman in a nearby shed before he was attacked, per KVVU. "A group of citizens ran to assist when they heard a woman's screams coming from the shed," police said. "It is believed that the victim was stabbed during the intervention."
A Swiss criminal court on Friday sentenced four members of the wealthy Hinduja family to between four and 4 years in prison for exploiting their vulnerable domestic workers. The court at the same time threw out the more serious charges of human trafficking. The fourIndian-born tycoon Prakash Hinduja; his wife, Kamal Hinduja; their son Ajay Hinduja, and their daughter-in-law Namrata Hindujaand, per the New York Times were accused of trafficking their servants, mostly illiterate Indians. They were employed at the family's luxurious lakeside villa in Geneva, the AP reports. The four were not in court in Geneva, though a fifth defendantNajib Ziazi, the family's business managerwas in attendance. He received a suspended sentence of 18 months.

The lawyers representing the defendants said they would appeal. The court said the four were guilty of exploiting workers and providing unauthorized employment. It dismissed the trafficking charges on the grounds that the workers understood what they were getting into. The accusations included seizing workers' passports, paying them in rupeesinstead of Swiss francsbarring them from leaving the villa, and forcing them to work excruciatingly long hours for a pittance in Switzerland. Last week, it emerged in criminal court that the family had reached an undisclosed settlement with the plaintiffs. The family set up residence in Switzerland decades ago, and Prakash was already convicted in 2007 on similar, if lesser charges, though prosecutors say he persisted in employing people without proper paperwork anyway.

Swiss authorities have already seized diamonds, rubies, a platinum necklace, and other jewelry and assets from the family in anticipation that they could be used to pay legal fees and possible penalties, per the AP. Prosecutors said that at times the workersin jobs like cooks or household helpwere forced to work up to 18 hours a day with little or no vacation time and for pay equal to less than one-tenth the amount required under Swiss law. Along with three brothers, Prakash Hinduja is a leader of an industrial conglomerate. Forbes magazine puts the net worth of the Hinduja family at some $20 billion.

(More Switzerland stories.)
The World Health Organization on Thursday issued warnings on fake drugs claiming to contain the active ingredient found in Novo Nordisk's diabetes drug Ozempic and weight-loss treatment Wegovy.

Surging demand has outpaced supply for Ozempic, Eli Lilly's, Mounjaro and other GLP-1 drugs that promote weight loss, fueling a growing global market for counterfeit versions.

The WHO's alert addresses three falsified batches of semaglutide that were detected in Brazil and the UK in October 2023, and the United States in December 2023.

Semaglutide is not a WHO-recommended treatment for diabetes management due to its current high cost, but the agency said it was working on a rapid advice guideline on use of GLP-1 drugs for treatment of obesity and as part of a more comprehensive model of care.
Cary, United States, June 20th, 2024, CyberNewsWire

2024 is rapidly shaping up to be a defining year in generative AI. While 2023 saw its emergence as a potent new technology, business leaders are now grappling with how to best leverage its transformative power to grow efficiency, security, and revenue. With the near-universal integration of AI into global technology, the need for AI-ready cybersecurity teams is more critical than ever. INE Security, a leading global cybersecurity training and cybersecurity certification provider, predicts large language model (LLM) applications like chatbots and AI-drive virtual assistants will be at particular risk.

AI systems are invaluable, enabling us to process vast amounts of data with unmatched speed and accuracy, detect anomalies, predict threats, and respond to incidents in real-time. But these revolutionary technologies are also empowering attackers, leveling the playing field in unprecedented ways, said Lindsey Rinehart, COO and Head of AI Integration at INE Security. As automated attacks increase, our defense strategies must also be automated and intelligent. The accelerating arms race between cyber attackers and defenders underscores the vital need for ongoing training and development for cybersecurity teams.

According to the IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2024, cybercriminals mentioned AI and GPT in over 800,000 posts in illicit markets and dark web forums last year. Training and preparation for AI in infosec are no longer optional: organizations must deploy employee training for AI and cybersecurity to maintain effectiveness and stay ahead of attackers.

Strategies to Optimize Teams for AI and Cybersecurity

1. Incorporate Structured Team Training Programs

The first step in building an AI-ready cybersecurity team is to implement structured training programs that focus on both foundational cybersecurity principles and advanced AI applications. These programs should offer certifications and courses from recognized institutions and industry leaders to ensure they meet high standards. For example, courses offered by INE Security provide comprehensive training that covers both traditional cybersecurity skills and newer AI-based tools. The ideal training program will include:

Skills Gap Analysis : Conduct an analysis to identify where the teams capabilities may be an area of improvement, particularly concerning AI integration.

: Conduct an analysis to identify where the teams capabilities may be an area of improvement, particularly concerning AI integration. Tailored Curriculum Development : A training curriculum that addresses identified cybersecurity skills gaps, incorporating both core cybersecurity principles and advanced AI applications.

: A training curriculum that addresses identified cybersecurity skills gaps, incorporating both core cybersecurity principles and advanced AI applications. Blended Learning Approach: A mix of online courses, hands-on labs, and real-world scenario simulations to accommodate different learning styles and enhance practical application skills.

2. Promote a Culture of Learning

Building a culture that encourages ongoing learning and curiosity is equally important. Google, for instance, fosters a learning culture where employees are encouraged to spend 20% of their time on learning new skills or on side projects, many of which involve AI and cybersecurity innovations. This not only keeps their skills fresh but also helps in retaining talent and fostering a proactive approach to security challenges.

To effectively implement a culture of learning that supports the development of AI-ready cybersecurity teams, organizations can adopt several strategies:

Provide Access to Resources : Offer subscriptions to leading industry publications, access to specialized online courses, and entry to relevant conferences and seminars that focus on AI and cybersecurity.

: Offer subscriptions to leading industry publications, access to specialized online courses, and entry to relevant conferences and seminars that focus on AI and cybersecurity. Reward Continuous Learning : Establish a rewards system that recognizes and incentivizes team members who actively engage in learning new skills or who earn new certifications, particularly those that integrate AI technologies with cybersecurity practices.

: Establish a rewards system that recognizes and incentivizes team members who actively engage in learning new skills or who earn new certifications, particularly those that integrate AI technologies with cybersecurity practices. Create Innovation Labs: Set up dedicated spaces or times when employees can experiment with new technologies or develop new solutions independently of their regular tasks. This can help stimulate creative thinking and practical application of learned skills.

3. Leverage Simulation-Based Learning

Simulation-based learning tools like cyber ranges provide hands-on experience in dealing with real-world cybersecurity scenarios and help users learn how to use AI. Cyber ranges provide a simulated environment where professionals can safely engage with and respond to real-world cyber threats using AI tools, without the risk of impacting actual operations (this hands-on lab from INE Security is a great example). This practical exposure is crucial for understanding how AI can be integrated into cybersecurity practices to detect, analyze, and mitigate threats. By training in a cyber range, team members can develop and refine their skills in a controlled yet realistic setting, which improves their ability to effectively utilize AI in live environments. The hands-on experience also helps in bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, enhancing the teams overall readiness and responsiveness to emerging cyber threats.

To effectively leverage cyber ranges for building an AI-ready cybersecurity team, consider implementing the following strategies:

Regular Tabletop Exercise : Incorporate regular sessions within the cyber range into the teams training schedule. This ensures consistent practice and skill refinement in handling AI-driven security scenarios.

: Incorporate regular sessions within the cyber range into the teams training schedule. This ensures consistent practice and skill refinement in handling AI-driven security scenarios. Scenario Variety : Develop a variety of threat scenarios that reflect the latest AI-driven attack techniques and the most common threats specific to the organizations industry. This variety helps prepare the team for a wide range of potential real-world situations.

: Develop a variety of threat scenarios that reflect the latest AI-driven attack techniques and the most common threats specific to the organizations industry. This variety helps prepare the team for a wide range of potential real-world situations. Cross-Functional Exercises : Include team members from various functional areas in cyber range sessions to foster a comprehensive understanding of how AI impacts different aspects of cybersecurity across the organization.

: Include team members from various functional areas in cyber range sessions to foster a comprehensive understanding of how AI impacts different aspects of cybersecurity across the organization. Post-Exercise Reviews: Conduct debriefing sessions after each cyber range exercise to discuss what was learned and how it can be applied. This reinforces the lessons and integrates them into everyday practices.

4. Encouraging Participation in Hackathons and Competitions

Participation in hackathons and cybersecurity competitions can also play a crucial role in continuous learning. These events challenge participants to solve complex problems with innovative solutions, often under time constraints. They are excellent for learning new skills, testing existing ones, and keeping up with the latest cybersecurity and AI technologies.

To effectively implement a strategy that encourages participation in hackathons and competitions, organizations can adopt the following approaches:

Promote Awareness : Regularly inform team members about upcoming hackathons and competitions through internal newsletters, meetings, or dedicated communication channels. Highlight the benefits of participation, such as skill enhancement and potential recognition.

: Regularly inform team members about upcoming hackathons and competitions through internal newsletters, meetings, or dedicated communication channels. Highlight the benefits of participation, such as skill enhancement and potential recognition. Incentivize Participation : Offer incentives such as bonuses, extra vacation days, or public recognition within the organization for those who participate and especially for those who perform well in these events.

: Offer incentives such as bonuses, extra vacation days, or public recognition within the organization for those who participate and especially for those who perform well in these events. Post-Event Learning Sessions: After each event, hold a session where participants can share their experiences, learnings, and new techniques discovered during the competition. This helps disseminate new knowledge across the entire team, enriching the organizations skill base.

Conclusion

The integration of AI into cybersecurity is not just an enhancement of existing frameworks; it is a fundamental shift that requires a new kind of expertise. Continuous learning is critical for cybersecurity professionals to remain effective in their roles as defenders of digital assets. By embracing a culture of ongoing education and utilizing advanced training tools and techniques, cybersecurity teams can develop the resilience and adaptability needed to stay one step ahead of attackers in this fast-paced digital world.

As the landscape of cyber threats continues to evolve, so too must the capabilities of those tasked with protecting against them. An investment in continuous learning is an investment in the future security of our digital lives.

To learn more about INE Securitys cybersecurity training and certifications, click here.

About INE Security:

INE Security is the premier provider of online networking and cybersecurity training and certification. Harnessing the worlds most powerful hands-on lab platform, cutting-edge technology, global video distribution network, and world-class instructors, INE Security is the top training choice for Fortune 500 companies worldwide for cybersecurity training in business, and for IT professionals looking to advance their careers. INE Securitys suite of learning paths offers an incomparable depth of expertise across cybersecurity and is committed to delivering advanced technical training while also lowering the barriers worldwide for those looking to enter and excel in an IT career.

Contact

Kathryn Brown

INE Security

[email protected]


A 20-year-old Atlantic City man was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated assault charges in a 2022 shooting on the Atlantic City boardwalk, the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office announced Thursday.

Wesley Briscoe was accused by authorities of shooting a man in the head on the boardwalk on the night of July 8 into July 9, 2022. Investigators said surveillance footage and witness statements indicated Briscoe rode his bicycle to the boardwalk and shot the man.

Briscoe was identified by an Atlantic City Police Officer working a traffic detail on Sept. 14, 2022 at the intersection of Texas and Atlantic avenues, according to a statement from the Atlantic City Police Department. Police said the officer recognized Briscoe walking down Atlantic Avenue as wanted in connection with the July shooting and radioed for additional police assistance.

Briscoe was eventually taken into custody by three responding police officers around the first block of Missouri Avenue without incident, police said.

Briscoe admitted during his plea hearing that he hid his clothes after the incident to avoid detection, authorities said. He pleaded guilty to second-degree aggravated assault, pointing a firearm and hindering his own apprehension.

Briscoe must serve 85% of the sentence before being eligible for parole under the No Early Release Act.

An attorney for Briscoe did not immediately return a request for comment.

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Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X
A 68-year-old New Jersey man has admitted to receiving child porn from a pilot who filmed sex acts with children while in the Philippines.

Dennis Nerolich, of Burlington Township, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography in Newark federal court this week, the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a news release.

Nerolich possessed various images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of juveniles from March 2016 to May 2018, federal authorities said. Prosecutors said he received the images from Frank Maile, a pilot who pleaded guilty to federal sex crimes last year.

At the time of the exchange, Maile was either his roommate or landlord, officials said.

Maile pleaded guilty in Sept. 2023 to charges related to engaging in sexual conduct with juveniles outside of the U.S.

He was arrested by federal authorities in 2018. In a criminal complaint, law enforcement agents alleged Maile, who was 62 years old at the time of his arrest, traveled to the Philippines with the intention of having sex with the two underaged girls and filming it.

Investigators also said in the complaint that searches of his electronic devices uncovered text conversations that proved he was engaging in sexual acts with minors as far back as 2013.

Maile is scheduled to be sentenced next Thursday. Nerolichs sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 6.

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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
The Mount Olive school district settled an employees lawsuit for $300,000 earlier this year after she sued the district for allegedly wrongfully suspending her after a students family filed a high-profile lawsuit accusing school officials of mishandling a bullying case.

Megan Troup  a middle school student assistance counselor and anti-bullying specialist  settled her lawsuit against the Morris County school district in April, according to a copy of the settlement obtained by NJ Advance Media. She filed a lawsuit last year alleging school district created a hostile work environment after she was named in a students bullying lawsuit against the district in 2020.

The students family alleged Mount Olive school officials covered up classmates bullying of the girl after she was sexually assaulted in a park. The girls case was eventually settled for $750,000.

After the girls family filed the bullying lawsuit, Troup was wrongfully suspended by the district in March 2021, she alleged in her lawsuit. The suit did not say how long she was suspended.

Troup eventually returned to work, but is on a paid leave of absence through the end of the month, according to the settlement. In addition to receiving a $300,000 payment, Troup has agreed to work at an elementary school of the districts choosing after her leave ends.

This was a business decision and was funded by the boards insurance company, Mount Olive School Board President Lisa Narcise said in a statement about the settlement.

Christopher Hager, Troups attorney, declined to comment. Mount Olive Superintendent Sumit Bangia did not respond to a request for comment.

The former middle school student who accused the district of covering up bullying filed her lawsuit in August 2020. The district, the school board and other school officials were named as defendants along with Troup.

The girl and her family settled the lawsuit with the school district in October 2021. The girl will receive payments over several decades until shes 60 years old under the $750,000 structured deal, according to court records.

Troup filed her hostile workplace lawsuit in February 2023 against the district, the school board and other school officials. She has been employed as a student assistance counselor since 2008 and an anti-bullying specialist in the middle school since 2011, the lawsuit said.

Former Mount Olive Superintendent Robert Zywicki inappropriately caused Troup to be removed from handling harassment, intimidation and bullying cases, known as HIB complaints, in the district in order to artificially reduce the number of cases reported by Mount Olive, Troup alleged.

School officials also singled Troup out for greater scrutiny when it came to HIB numbers and directed her and other anti-bullying specialists to misrepresent the districts bullying numbers, she alleged.

When Plaintiff Troup objected and refused to participate in the inappropriate direction to misrepresent HIB statistics to the state Department of Education, she suffered retaliation in the forms of hostility and lowered job performance ratings, her lawsuit said.

Before Zywicki became superintendent in 2018, Troup had no history of job performance issues or discipline, her lawsuit said.

Zywicki declined to comment on the settlement.

In late April 2023, Zywicki resigned from his position as superintendent in the school district, citing a toxic environment created by the school board. His resignation came several months after the school board placed him on paid leave the previous fall for unspecified reasons.

Troup also alleged another school official physically intimidated and threatened her when she attempted to comply with state bullying laws, according to her lawsuit.

One incident included him angrily throwing an object in her direction during a meeting in his office about an HIB hostile school environment incident she was handling, the suit alleged.

Troup was routinely excluded from HIB-related issues, including the former students bullying case, because she conscientiously objected to the districts failure to comply with state bullying acts, the lawsuit said.

She denied she failed in her duties as an anti-bullying specialist in the case of the student who sued the district.

Instead, she was excluded from that matter, scapegoated and punished by the Mount Olive Defendants for their unlawful conduct, Troups lawsuit alleged.

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Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com.
A state judge has ruled that a Newark charter school can remain in a building the school district once owned that was sold in 2017 while the district was under state control.

Superior Court Judge Lisa Adubato issued an order dated June 6th dismissing a suit filed in 2020 by the Newark Board of Education after the state restored the district to local control in 2018, after a 23-year takeover. The suit sought to nullify the sale of the former Maple Avenue School building and oust its current occupant, the KIPP Seek Academy charter school. But the judge said no.

Plaintiffs claims affecting title to the Property have been dismissed, states Adubatos order, which was not announced by the district or the Newark Housing Authority, the defendant in the case.
A jury convicted a man accused of savagely beating a woman who let him stay at her Essex County apartment last year, authorities announced Thursday.

John P. Davis, 23, of East Orange, was found guilty Wednesday of two counts of aggravated assault, according to a statement from the Essex County Prosecutors Office.

The assault happened on April 10, 2023 after the woman raised an issue over a TV remote control, which led Davis to beat her, the office said. The woman suffered a broken eye socket and brain bleed.
His intellect and aggressive nature made former Jersey City school board President Sudhan Thomas one of the most prominent, vital figures in the city as the school district navigated a financial crisis created by deep cuts in state aid.

But its that same confidence and swagger that led to his downfall and eventually a two-month prison sentence.

Sudhan was very good at bringing together different sort of actors under one roof, said a former board member who asked not to be identified. He was relentless. He was bright. He had a lot of what couldve been an effective public servant.

I think very often he felt he was the smartest man in the room. And that was part of his downfall.

And Monday may have been the low point. The 48-year-old was sentenced to two months in prison after making a plea deal to federal embezzlement charges related to his time as executive director of the now-defunct Jersey City Employment and Training Program (JCETP).

Thomas is free at least until the feds find a prison for him. Thomas, who is divorced and has a son, asked to be imprisoned close to home. He will also have two years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $123,008 in restitution. The sentencing was first reported by Hudson County View.

As JCETPs executive director, Thomas stole more than than $45,000 from the agency in 2019 to pay debts from his successful 2016 school board campaign. He drew checks from the programs accounts that were made payable to others, but he kept the funds to pay off his debts and expenses.

Thomas told the court June 17 that he regrets his actions.

I not only regret my actions, which I can assure the court is not the person I was raised to be or set out to be, read the statement, which he shared with The Jersey Journal. But I am deeply ashamed and personally hurt by all the resources the Department of Justice had to expend on account of me. I love our country, and this is a disappointment I will take to my grave.

A senior district employee and former board member, who also asked not to be identified, told The Jersey Journal that Thomas, who served on the board from 2016 to 2020, could just as easily dazzle or frighten his colleagues.

Both acknowledged his aggressive behavior, but credited Thomas for pushing a lawsuit against the state related to underfunding the city schools and switching insurance premiums saving the district millions.

Some things he did were very profitable, the senior district employee said. He had a vision of what he wanted and he had no problem going after it  he was not bound by convention and I would say that is what really got him in trouble.

He was not appreciated by many (including fellow board members)  but he got them to sway his way by threats or convincing them.

Under his leadership, Thomas also was the driving force behind a $4 million shared service deal that transferred certain costs from the district to the city, including trash and other services. He also fought for New Jersey City University to renew its contract to continue operating the A. Harry Moore School, which educates children with multiple disabilities.

The former board member recalled that Thomas had a plan he could be relentless and getting others on board. Thomas had no shame calling someone 50 times to get what he wanted.

Despite the effusive praise for Thomas, no one was shocked by his criminal charges, the senior district employee said.

Thomas is still awaiting trial on state charges that while school board president and eyeing a city council run, he accepted $35,000 in bribes in exchange for giving a real estate attorney work with the school district.

The next hearing will occur on July 11 in Somerset County Superior Court in Somerville.

He was always kind of a take-charge guy, said Hudson County Board of Commissioners member Bill ODea, who supported Thomas in his 2016 school board race. His approach and style made him some enemies.

Thomas also knew how to play Hudson County politics.

When he first ran for the school board, Thomas got ODeas blessing by telling him that he already received the support of Mayor Steve Fulop and then-state Sen. Sandy Cunningham. ODea, whos running for mayor in 2025, found out years later used the same ruse, saying he had ODeas support, to win over Fulop and Cunningham.

After what many considered a stunning school board defeat, Thomas was appointed by Fulop in 2020 to replace former Gov. Jim McGreevey as the acting executive director of JCETP  a transition that included bombshell accusations that were never substantiated, that McGreevey moved millions in JCETP funds into his nonprofit New Jersey Reentry Corp., which provided many of the same services as JCETP.

His time at JCETP did not last long. Amid allegations of mismanagement and embezzlement, Thomas resigned from the position after six months. Under is brief tenure, multiple board members resigned.

But McGreevey shares no bad blood over his history with Thomas, who voted for him to be fired. He hopes Thomas is given house arrest in place of prison and offered him a place with New Jersey Reentry as he begins to rebuild his life.

Thomas, as have we all, has made mistakes, but he is a good father and has been extraordinarily attentive to his son, McGreevey, a current candidate for Jersey City mayor in 2025, said. (In finding a second chance) it is an examination of conscience. For me, its prayer of life on a consistent basis, humility, and a commitment to service.
The city of Hoboken is fighting back against gun violence in the wake of a fatal shooting in April.

The police department will host a gun buyback event Saturday at which residents can surrender up to three firearms, with no questions asked, and receive as much as $350 per weapon.

The announcement of the event was made in May, one month after former Hoboken High School two-sport star Damon Murray was shot dead outside a city public housing complex building.
A Bayonne developer is pulling off a $20 million flip on a piece of property near Route 78 by allowing the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) to take the land for the proposed controversial Turnpike expansion project.

The Alessi Organization, the current owner of the former Marist High School site on Kennedy Boulevard, would be paid $31.1 million for the land under the eminent domain proceedings initiated by the NJTA in April. The developer had sought more, but an attorney said the company is unlikely to contest the NJTAs figure.

Alessi bought the 9.5-acre property for $11.4 million in 2021, a year after the former Catholic school closed. The Bayonne school district and the city declined to purchase it.

The Turnpike (Authority) is determined to acquire the property for a public roadway project and the court has authorized the taking, Joseph Grather, an attorney for Alessi, told The Jersey Journal Thursday. My client will seek just compensation in the court proceedings.

The NJTA has eyed the former Marist site for the Turnpike expansion since at least April 2021, wanting to use it as a construction staging area and for a drainage pit. The eminent domain proceedings were first reported by Hudson County View.

The new development is the latest twist in the four-year saga surrounding the property and its potential role in the NJTAs controversial $10 billion Newark Bay Hudson County Extension proposal that would widen the roadway from Newark to the Holland Tunnel in Jersey City.

The expansion has met resistance from environmental advocates and local Hudson County officials who say it will bring more traffic congestion and air pollution to the area, and have called on state officials to instead steer the money for it into public transit.

Alessi demolished the school buildings and cleared the site after purchasing the land, all while paying $271,000 per year in taxes since then, according to an appraisal report commissioned by the NJTA that was posted in court filings.

The $31.1 million offer was based on a optimal use value. The report described the highest and best use of the property as a 684-unit, multi-family rental project consisting of three- to six-story buildings and associated parking structures.

Despite having knowledge of the NJTAs interest in the property, the city approved a redevelopment plan that wouldve allowed Alessi, a campaign donor to Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis, to build up to 14 stories of new housing, a six-story self-storage facility or office space there.

Alessi was considering developing a 1,074-unit residential development on the land consisting of four-to-14 story high-rise buildings and parking structures, as well as a 20,000 square-foot retail building, according to the appraisal report.

While Alessi had initially rejected the NJTAs $31.1 million offer for the land last December, it did not contest the eminent domain usage, with Grather saying its very difficult to successfully challenge a governmental agency when theyre exercising the power of eminent domain for a public use.

Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Jablonski allowed for the eminent domain proceedings to move forward in a May 24 court order, appointing three commissioners to examine and appraise the property and permitting the NJTA to enter the site and conduct studies and tests.

Davis did not comment on the eminent domain proceedings, but he reiterated his support for the Turnpike expansion. When asked whether he regrets not buying the property for a new school, he distanced himself from that idea, saying that it was the school boards decision to back out of it.

The NJTA did not respond to a request for comment on the eminent domain proceedings.
David McIntyre, of Fanwood, was one of eight people who splurged on a $5,000 ticket for a rare chance to sail on the famed Battleship New Jersey on Thursday.

He said his two-hour drive from Union County to Paulsboro  where the Navy warship was stationed before departing  was worth it for the once-in-a-lifetime experience.

As a Cub Master, McIntyre took local Cub Scouts on overnight trips to the Battleship New Jersey, and soon became a fan, regularly tuning into the museums updates, he said.

And then when this opportunity came up, I was sort of like well, when am I ever going to get to sail on a battleship, McIntyre said.

Over a dozen Battleship New Jersey museum volunteers, veterans and ticket holders, rode on the USS New Jersey during its two-hour ride to Camden.

The vessel returned to its home pier Thursday, after a long 12-week repair journey at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

31 1 / 31 The Battleship New Jersey returns from drydock

The Battleship New Jersey was dry docked at the Navy Yard from March to earlier this month to undergo a $10 million renovation. It was the first time it had left its dock in decades.

With repairs completed, the ship started the first leg of its return back to New Jersey on June 14 and made a stop in Paulsboro. It was towed to Paulsboro for deballasting, which involves removing water from the ships hull that was needed for dry docking.

Big J was then pulled down the Delaware River by tugboats on Thursday, approaching the Camden pier as hundreds of onlookers anticipated its arrival.

It returned with a fresh coat of red paint on its hull, which took around 5,000 gallons to complete, along with a new anti-corrosion system and replaced anodes to protect the ships metal structures from erosion.

For Marshall Spevak, CEO of the Battleship New Jersey Museum, the highlight of the repair project has been witnessing it come alive while underway.

Theres probably nothing better than being on the battleship while were underway, Spevak said. To me, thats the ace of the deck and thats been my most memorable experience.

While on the ship, guests took turns firing its 40mm saluting gun and explored the deck as it slowly traveled down the river at 5 mph.

Some shared stories about their years of volunteering on the battleship, while others recounted their experiences serving in the military during the years when the ship was in commission.

The people give the ship life, when you think of the thousands of people that have been on it, said Mike Haddock, who has been volunteering at the Battleship New Jersey museum for over four years.

Fifteen tickets, selling for $5,000 each, were available to ride aboard the battleship with Capt. Steven Halle as it arrived in Camden. And, hundreds of others bought tickets to cruise alongside the battleship on the Spirit of Philadelphia or its sister ship, Rendezvous.

We take a lot of pride in being named after the namesake of New Jersey, said Halle, the Captain of the PCU New Jersey, a Virginia-class attack submarine set to be commissioned in September.

Back in Camden, the festivities kicked off at 11 a.m. as attendees eagerly awaited the ships return, enjoying carnival games, food trucks and live music from the Bruce Springsteen tribute band, the B Street Band.

While the ship was in the dry dock, over 6,000 people from all over the world purchased tickets to tour underneath the ship while it was out of the water. In an opportunity that had never been offered before for an Iowa-Class ship, guides provided tours with a 360-degree view of the ship, showcasing its exposed hull and 18-foot tall propellers.

According to Navy regulations, decommissioned museum ships must undergo dry docking for maintenance every 20 years. This was the first time in decades that the USS New Jersey had been dry docked for maintenance.

Funding for the dry-docking project came from various sources, including $5 million from the state budget, a $750,000 grant from the New Jersey Historic Trust and a $3.25 million bond issued with backing from Camden County. The museum is covering the rest of the repair costs through private fundraisers, officials said.

The Battleship New Jersey is not only the most decorated but also the longest and fastest Navy warship in the 248-year history of the U.S. Navy, according to museum officials. Adorned with 19 battle stars, it holds the distinction of being among the last American battleships to serve during World War II, the Korean War and the Cold War.

The battleships return to Camden may have been the last time many of those who served aboard could see it come alive again. Crews served on the ship from 1942, when it was launched on the first anniversary of Pearl Harbor, to 1991, when it was last decommissioned for a fourth time.

In 2001, the vessel docked on the Camden waterfront and opened for public tours.

Its a bittersweet moment, said Spevak as he rode on the ship. But now were going home, were happy to get home...but its been an incredible journey a lot of us will cherish for a really long time.

The 52,000-ton Battleship USS New Jersey passes under the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, Jan. 31, 1948, enroute to Gravesend Bay to unload her ammunition and then back to the Brooklyn Navy yard for stripping. AP File Photo/Joe Caneva

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Nyah Marshall may be reached at Nmarshall@njadvancemedia.com.
The third week of the North 2 Shore Festival begins Monday with some of the best entertainers in the nation flocking to New Jersey. In addition, dozens of free concerts with local artists will be scattered throughout Newark this week.

This massive three-week undertaking by the New Jersey Performing Arts Center that began in Asbury Park and continued this week in Atlantic City, will close out in Newark with big-time national acts, including Kevin Hart, Matchbox Twenty, Jeezy and Gabriel Iglesias. But the strength of the festival is in the hundreds of other performances by artists from our own backyard.

Mosaic, New Jersey Advance Medias new website with a mission to celebrate the richness of the states diverse cultures, is showcasing all that North To Shore has to offer with wall-to-wall coverage. Weve written extensively about the flurry of musicians, dancers, comedians, and other festival artists, including stories about Grammy-winner Samara Joy and her return to her roots at NJPAC and about Frankie Vallis passion for performing despite his age.

And with so many acts to consider, each week well pick a few performances as Mosaics Pick of the Week. Typically, the events we select are fun, educational and free.

If youve missed some of the coverage, you can still find it on Mosaic. But here are some of the highlights:

Mosaic can also be found on Instagram at @MosaicNJcom, on Facebook at MosaicNJcom on Twitter (X) at @MosaicNJcom and on YouTube at @MosaicNJcom.
NEW YORK  Prosecutors showed jurors at U.S. Sen. Robert Menendezs trial on Thursday multiple instances when he researched the value of gold as he tried to help a New Jersey businessman who authorities say bribed him with gold and cash.

The evidence about the New Jersey Democrats online searches was prominently displayed to a New York jury as prosecutors traced the history of his text messages and internet queries as he allegedly tried to aid Fred Dabies, a prominent New Jersey real estate developer who is on trial with him.

The evidence is considered crucial in the governments effort to prove that Menendez and his wife received gold bars, cash and a luxury car from 2018 to 2022 from three New Jersey businessmen who benefited from favors Menendez allegedly delivered in return.
A driver accused of hitting a pedestrian in Lakewood and then driving off, surrendered himself to police Thursday, authorities said.

Officers from the Lakewood Township Police Department were called to Route 9 near First Street at 12:30 a.m. on June 16 and found the pedestrian, an unidentified man, suffering from serious injuries, according to a release from the Ocean County Prosecutors Office. He was rushed to Jersey Shore University Medical Center where he was in critical, but stable condition as of Thursday afternoon.

Police learned that a white four door sedan was traveling north on Route 9 when it hit the man who was trying to cross the highway in a marked crosswalk, the office said. The white sedan continued northbound on the highway and left the scene.

Multiple agencies investigated and determined the car was a 2021 Kia K5 that was allegedly being driven by Brian Huerta-Tochihuitl, 20, of Jackson, officials said.

Huerta-Tochihuitl turned himself in at Lakewood Township Police Headquarters and was charged with knowingly leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident which resulted in serious bodily injury to another person, investigators said.

He was taken to the Ocean County Jail where he was being held ahead of his first court appearance, the office said.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
Last week, we discussed the cosmic alignment of Trumps felony convictions and the continued demise of Floridas heat and disease-ravaged orange industry.

Well, wait until you hear about the fall of the humble banana. Better known for its delicious bread, Harry Belafontes Day-O song, and the preferred cellular device for goofy dads nationwide, its fallen in with some bad apples.

How bad, you ask? International terrorism, cold-blooded murder, ruthless political battles, and the systematic annihilation of our environment.

I expected that behavior from a pineapple but not a banana.

Earlier this week, a federal jury in Florida held the illustrious Chiquita banana company civilly liable for the murder of eight men by a now-defunct right-wing Colombian terrorist group. The company was ordered to pay the families combined damages of $38 million. It denied the accusations and, unironically, Im assuming, said it would appeal.

The plaintiffs lead attorney in the case told the court how the paramilitary group evicted and executed farmers and union reps to clear the way for the now Switzerland-based Chiquita to transform locally owned plantain farms into corporate banana goldmines.

Alongside corporate-funded killings, large-scale banana farms are also not great for humans and the environment. They often lead to mass deforestation in precious places, like the Amazon rainforest, and pesticide-poisoned waterways that harm wildlife and people. Thats before they are loaded onto boats and planes for delivery around the world.

And just when you thought the term banana republic couldnt be resurrected in a more literal sense, the ongoing judicial tug-of-war between the Trump and Biden camps has pulled it back into societys collective lexicon.

In the aftermath of Trumps felony convictions last month, the former President, GOP politicians and even Dr. Phil used the term, inferring the country was teetering on the edge of becoming an actual banana republicdefined as a politically and economically unstable nation dependent on the export of natural resources, exploitation of its working class, and consolidation of power by political and corporate elites.

Hard to tell if the U.S. qualifies. After all, it only grows 0.01% of the worlds bananas. However, it imports the most of any country.

Political experts and commentators are also using the banana republic to describe the Heritage Foundations 900-page ultra-conservative plan to radically overhaul the federal government should Trump win in November.

This week in The Meltdown, well peel back the layers of the foundations Project 2025 agenda and end with a short history lesson about Chiquita bananas.

Before you read on, please feel free to follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. And share this newsletter with your friends if you think theyll enjoy it.

Drizzle

A United Fruit Company official looks over some of the fruit bunches of bananas harvested since the strike to determine which are fit for market in Honduras on Sept. 3, 1954. Because of the strike, the trees have not been sprayed for over two months, and there are many bunches that are spotted with sigatoka (red rust) that discolors the skin but does not affect the fruit. Bunches showing evidence of having sigatoka are not shipped out because they do not look good when put on the market. (AP Photo)AP

Fortunately for me, Reckons editor-in-chief, Ryan Nave, has already looked at various parts of Project 2025, including plans to cancel so-called woke words while reshaping reproductive health legislation and overhauling the U.S. education system.

Like Trump did during his first term, Project 2025 advocates for dismantling environmental protections, which are apparently nothing more than irksome barriers to oil and gas profits. Dont forget, Trump asked oil executives for $1 billion in exchange for rolling back a lot of Bidens green agenda.

The plan calls for gutting key agencies and slashing funds for clean energy initiatives, including closing the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, and the Loan Programs Office. It also calls for significant reductions at the Environmental Protection Agency by firing new hires and eliminating the environmental justice department while reviving Trump-era policies and scrutinizing specific grant programs.

In response, a group of House Democrats have formed a task force to combat Project 2025. If were trying to react to it and understand it in real-time, its too late. ... We need to see it coming well in advance and prepare ourselves accordingly, Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman of California told the Associated Press of The Stop Project 2025 Task Force.

Compost Dump

FILE - Chiquita bananas are piled on display at the Heinen's grocery store in Bainbridge, Ohio in this Aug. 3, 2005 file photo. A federal jury in Florida found that Chiquita Brands must pay $38.3 million to 16 family members of people killed during Colombias long civil war by a violent right-wing paramilitary group funded by the company. The verdict Monday, June 10, 2024 by a jury in West Palm Beach marks the first time the company has been found liable in any of multiple similar lawsuits pending elsewhere in U.S. courts, lawyers for the plaintiffs said. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta, file)AP

I find myself often explaining to friends the lengths corporations will go to make money. The East India Company, for example, is known to be the original corporate raider. The long-defunct company is alleged to have killed up to 100 million Indians over 40 years by purposefully starving them.

Oil companies have long been accused of fueling global conflicts, but they have also been implicated in more sinister acts, such as rape, murder and torture in Africa.

But it takes a lot of work to dethrone the Chiquita banana, formerly the United Fruit Company.

They are why the term banana republic was coined in the first place. In the 1920s, the company asked the Colombian military to break up a worker strike. Between 1,000 to 3,000 people were killed in what is known as the banana massacre. It was also involved in a CIA-planned coup in Guatemala in the 1950s, which nearly resulted in it buying the whole country. The public only found out about that in 1997.

The company was fined for funding terrorism in 2007 and is now liable for murder. Pretty wild for a tropical fruit company based in Switzerland, which is almost as absurd as its Irish-owned rival, Fyffes.

See you next week

Over the last two weeks, weve talked about oranges, apples, bananas and lemonsalongside the ravages of climate change, the undermining of democracy, and even murder. Its all a bit sad as we continue pushing into what is already a very divisive and polarizing presidential election year.

I hate to channel everyones mom, but why cant we all just get along?

Anyway, Ill leave you with this sweet little quote from the great Kostas Gus Portokalos, the dad from My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

We all different, but in the end, we all fruit.

Thanks for reading The Meltdown. Please sign up, share, and be nice to people. Send environment and climate tips to: charress@reckonmedia.com

See you next week.
The brutal heat wave that has smothered most of New Jersey with soaring temperatures, high humidity and poor air quality is expected to continue through the middle of next week, though there could be a bit of relief after a harsh weekend, forecasters say.

Its possible that residents may have to wait until Thursday for high temperatures across the entire state to fall below 90 degrees  making for a 10-day heat wave, forecasters say. But this weekend could be the worst of it.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be sweltering in New Jersey  with temperatures well into the 90s and the heat index climbing above 100 degrees this weekend for most of the state.

While next week shouldnt be nearly as sweltering, forecasts show that highs will reach the low 90s in much of the state on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday as well.

The ongoing heat wave will continue into early next week.AccuWeather.com

Sunday evening and overnight were going to have a cold front swing through and that will shift our winds, said Ben Charles, a meteorologist with WeatherWorks, a private forecasting company based in Hackettstown. I think we do see less humid conditions to start next week. That will sort of give us a little bit of relief even thought were still going to have high temperatures around 90 degrees, itll feel not as oppressive.

Wednesday is expected to be the hottest weekday next week with temperatures in the low-to-mid 90s.

Itll probably be a little bit of a returning punch with the heat as we get heat index values back into the upper 90s, Charles said. It wont be as crazy as this weekend.

Theres a low risk for pop-up showers on Monday, but Tuesday and Wednesday should be dry, Charles said.

By Thursday temperatures should return to the 80s  about normal for late June.

Current weather radar

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Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Mostly sunny skies. High 63F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 47F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph.
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Franciscan Health Crown Point Hospital will offer Air Methods Ascend EMS course to ensure patients arrive safely.

The new hospital off Interstate 65 is offering the online clinical class to first responders who provide the initial treatment and get the patients there.

"We strive to provide our clinicians with the best available continuing education in order to provide our patients with the greatest care we can offer," Franciscan Health Crown Point Director of EMS Corrie Myers said.

"Ascend's online Critical Care Review Course is a great way to make sure our first responders are receiving the most up-to-date instruction so they can provide the best possible medical care when responding to a call."

Mishawaka-based Franciscan Alliance operates 12 hospitals in Indiana and Chicago's south suburbs. It employs more than 19,000 workers and is one of the largest Catholic health care systems in the Midwest.

Suburban Denver-based Air Methods, a leading air medical service that transports and treats more than 100,000 patients a year with its fleet of 450 helicopters and planes, offers online continuing education classes like Critical Care Review and EMS Review.

The courses are meant to help flight crew, critical care clinicians and emergency medical responders further their medical training and sharpen their skills to improve patient outcomes.

Clinicians can fulfill continuing education and licensure requirements at the classes, which are designed to be as realistic as possible so first responders can hone their lifesaving techniques. Students gets hands-on experience with real-world patient care scenarios via manikin simulations and virtual reality scenarios.

"We are excited to partner with Franciscan Health Crown Point and offer our online training programs to their critical care providers," Air Methods Senior Vice President of Clinical Services Dr. Stephanie Queen said. "Our online programs are designed to equip first responders with the latest skills and knowledge to help provide the best patient care during emergencies."
Ozinga and Culver's specialize in very different types of concrete.

Mokena-based Ozinga, which has Northwest Indiana operations in Gary, Crown Point, Schererville, Cedar Lake, Chesterton, Valparaiso, Portage, LaPorte and Wheatfield, makes concrete for roads, bridges, parking lots and other infrastructure.

Culver's, which operates Wisconsin-themed fast food restaurants around the Region, makes concrete mixer desserts out of frozen custard.

Ozinga and Culver's of Northwest Indiana Indiana are partnering for a "Concretes for a Cause" initiative to help victims of human trafficking.

Culver's restaurants in Crown Point, Hammond, Highland, Merrillville, Schererville, St. John and Cedar Lake will donate $1 for every concrete mixer sold on Saturdays in July to Sheltered91, a nonprofit that helps victims of human trafficking.

Ozinga will match each dollar raised. The money will help human trafficking survivors with services like housing, counseling and basic needs.

"We are committed to making a positive impact in the communities where we live and work," said Justin Ozinga, president of Ozinga. "Human trafficking is a pervasive issue, and we believe in supporting organizations like Sheltered91 that are on the front lines, providing critical aid and resources directly to survivors."

Culver's in Northwest Indiana are rolling out four special flavors inspired by Ozinga's red and white striped concrete trucks. It will offer Chocolate Strawberry Parfait, Chocolate Covered Strawberry, Double Strawberry and Red Raspberry concrete mixers for the promotion, which will start on July 6 and end on July 27.

"Were thrilled to partner with Ozinga on this opportunity to support the community and cause, said John Terpstra, owner of Culvers of NW Indiana. "This partnership is one small way we can help raise awareness and funds for Sheltered91, allowing them to continue their vital work in supporting victims and survivors of human trafficking."

For more information, visit ozinga.com/culvers.
Jerry Davich Metro columnist Follow Jerry Davich Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Sweat soaked through Frank Jenkins security guard cap and trickled down his face.

Thank God for this wind off the lake, he said Thursday morning.

Jenkins, who was born and raised in the Steel City, patrolled the elevated train station platform outside the Adam Benjamin, Jr. Metro Center in downtown Gary. Its located just north of City Hall, where South Shore commuter trains chug along every few minutes in both directions.

It gets hotter here in the afternoon, Jenkins said. But Im not stupid. I find a nice spot and catch the breeze.

It hasnt been easy catching a breeze this week in Northwest Indiana and throughout much of the country, which has been suffocated by extreme heat, humidity and record-high temperatures. Its been nearly 20 years since the Chicago metropolitan region experienced seven straight days of temps in the 90s.

Sure its summer, but I dont remember such hot weather that lasted so long in June, said Carmen Jones, who sold ice cold drinks out of a beat-up blue cooler near the Metro bus-train station. I figured Id find more customers here today than my usual spots. Its hotter than the sun out here.

Workers who have to earn a living under this current heat dome are taking similar precautions: Start their work day as early as possible; gulp down massive amounts of fluids; sneak inside for air-conditioner breaks; and escape their job at the end of the work day like a prisoner on the loose.

I just try and stay hydrated cause theres not much else you can do, said Cassandra Guydon, a school bus driver for Lake Ridge Schools.

Air conditioning is only a rumor on her bus, which is equipped with a small fan near the steering wheel.

Hot air is better than no air, I guess, she said.

Rob Mahoneys job is to provide cost estimates for outdoor fencing, forcing him into the Great Outdoors when it isnt so great for your health.

I have gotten away from my usual raspberry iced drinks and instead drink a liquid IV to start my day, then Gatorade and water all day, he said.

Pete Basala, 65, operates a landscaping business, mowing customers lawns every day this week.

I hate hot, humid weather. Every one of my medicine bottles says to stay out of sunlight, he said. I really like it in the upper 60s, jacket weather.

Jacket weather feels like a distant memory or a future dream, especially for mill workers who earn a well deserved paycheck in a blast furnace, generally considered the hottest spot in steel mills.

Thankfully, they provide us with coolers filled with ice, water and Shield-and-Sword hydration drinks on each cast floor, a Region steel worker told me. We also have industrial-size fans to keep air moving.

Jeremy Spurrier is the safety manager at Crown Eram, LLC, in Crown Point, a service and maintenance provider of power distribution systems.

Our guys work in the mills, at NIPSCO, and at other already hot places. Add in heat indexes of over 100 degrees and guys can drop very quickly. Before they even notice, they are getting sick, he said.

We ordered extra water, several boxes of liquid IV, and instructed our guys to take more frequent breaks in the air-conditioned vehicles. We also ordered all the guys cooling caps," he added.

Spurrier said protecting U.S. workers from extreme heat dangers falls under the general duty clause of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.

The courts have interpreted OSHA's general duty clause to mean that an employer has a legal obligation to provide a workplace free of conditions or activities that either the employer or industry recognizes as hazardous, the clause states. Or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees when there is a feasible method to abate the hazard. This includes heat-related hazards.

Factory workers may be covered by OSHA safety regulations but it doesnt entirely ease the concerns of their families.

My husband has been a master electrician for 40-plus years, Tammy Lynn Watt said. He has major heart issues and I worry about him in this heat every minute of the day.

Workers in other fields are also affected by this type of relentless heat wave.

Day after day, it wears on me, a postal carrier in the Glen Park section of Gary told me.

The dangerous temps are expected to peak on Friday and Saturday in most of the country, with heat index readings expected to reach 105 degrees in many locations, according to the National Weather Service.

On Wednesday, Armans restaurant in the Miller section of the city didnt open for business. Too hot, closed, a sign on the door stated. It reopened Thursday, when I visited. A customer waiting outside said, I dont know how they can work when its so darn hot in there. It must feel like an oven.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management extended its Air Quality Action advisory for Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton and Jasper counties, due to continuing high levels of ozone. This too shall pass, meteorologists say, but the summer season formally begins Friday.

The next several weeks will be brutal, Spurrier said.
Melinda French Gates formally endorsed President Biden on Thursday, the latest step into partisan politics by a woman who, for decades, resisted entering the fray.

Her candidate of choice was never really in question. Ms. French Gates, an outspoken advocate for women and girls around the globe, was critical of the Trump presidency. And she was dismayed by former President Donald J. Trumps appointment of Supreme Court justices who proved instrumental in overturning Roe v. Wade. But Ms. French Gates and her former husband, Bill Gates, Microsofts co-founder, had insisted on not formally endorsing political campaigns, saying that such statements could compromise their ability to do philanthropic work with politicians of both parties on matters like public health.

Ms. French Gates acknowledged that history on Thursday afternoon. Ive never endorsed a presidential candidate before. But this years election stands to be so enormously consequential for women and families that, this time, I cant stay quiet, she wrote on X. I will be voting for President Biden.

As recently as 2016, despite her friendship with Hillary Clinton, Ms. French Gates said that she and Mr. Gates never endorse a candidate. Eight years later, her position has changed. She has yet to donate to Mr. Bidens campaign, but she has made a number of six- and seven-figure donations to Democratic groups over the last few years. On Wednesday, for instance, Federal Election Commission disclosures revealed that she had put $500,000 into a super PAC affiliated with Emilys List, the liberal advocacy group that supports Democratic female candidates who champion abortion rights.
Michael R. Bloomberg, who is the former mayor of New York City and a Democratic megadonor, has donated nearly $20 million to support President Bidens re-election campaign, a Bloomberg representative said.

Mr. Bloomberg gave $19 million to Future Forward, the main Democratic super PAC supporting Mr. Biden, and $929,600 to the Biden Victory Fund, a joint fund-raising committee between Mr. Biden and the Democratic National Committee, said Howard Wolfson, the Education program lead at Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Mr. Bloombergs donation was first reported by The Washington Post.

I stood with Joe Biden in 2020, and I am proud to do so again, Mr. Bloomberg said in a statement.

Mr. Bloomberg, who spent $1 billion of his own money on his failed presidential campaign in 2020, ultimately backed Mr. Biden in the Democratic primary that year and was a significant financial supporter of his campaign. He spent tens of millions of dollars through his political action committee on television ads supporting Mr. Biden and vowed to spend heavily in Florida, which then-President Donald J. Trump ultimately won by about three percentage points.
Timothy Mellon, a reclusive heir to a Gilded Age fortune, donated $50 million to a super PAC supporting Donald J. Trump the day after the former president was convicted of 34 felonies, according to new federal filings, an enormous gift that is among the largest single disclosed contributions ever.

The donations impact on the 2024 race is expected to be felt almost immediately. Within days of the contribution, the pro-Trump super PAC, Make America Great Again Inc., said in a memo that it would begin reserving $100 million in advertising through Labor Day.

The group had only $34.5 million on hand at the end of April, and Mr. Mellons contribution accounted for much of the nearly $70 million that the super PAC raised in May. On Wednesday and Thursday, the super PAC began reserving $30 million in ads to air in Georgia and Pennsylvania around the Fourth of July holiday.

Mr. Mellon is now the first donor to give $100 million in disclosed federal contributions in this years election. He was already the single largest contributor to super PACs supporting both Mr. Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is running as an independent. Mr. Mellon has previously given $25 million to both.
Stanford released on Thursday dueling reports  one on antisemitism and the other on anti-Muslim bias  that revealed mirroring images of campus life in recent months that may be impossible to reconcile.

One report found that antisemitism has been pervasive at the university in both overt and subtle ways, while the other stated that the school had stifled free speech among pro-Palestinian students and faculty. They were emblematic of the rift between Jewish and Muslim groups on campus, and showed that any kind of accord between the two groups and the university were distant.

The reports are among the first outcomes of universities reckonings with their handling of the flurry of protests against Israels military campaign in Gaza, and pro-Israel counterprotests, over the past academic year.

As students across the nation marched on campus, set up encampments and, in some cases, got arrested, universities were met with the difficult challenge of balancing students right to free speech and campus safety. At Stanford, 13 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested a few weeks ago after barricading themselves in the presidents office.
Among the most valuable art treasures once held at Friedenstein Castle, a vast baroque palace in eastern Germany, was a series of five oil sketches depicting saints by Peter Paul Rubens that disappeared at the end of World War II.

The castle had long been the home of the dukes of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, a duchy that lost its powers, titles and much of its land after the 1918 revolution in Germany. The palace complex then became a public museum, filled with the art once owned by the ducal family and operated by an independent foundation.

But representatives of the ducal family returned to the castle in 1945 as American and Soviet forces closed in on the city of Gotha.

According to experts, truckloads of the most valuable art were removed by the family in the last weeks of the war, including three of the five Rubens oil sketches, which were later sold on the market.
Its official: Kevin Costner will not be returning to televisions hit neo-western Yellowstone for its final episodes or for any future Yellowstone offshoot, ending speculation about his involvement with one of TVs biggest hits in recent years.

In a video posted to social media on Thursday evening, Costner said that after a year-and-a-half working on his upcoming multi-film epic Horizon and thinking about Yellowstone, which he called a beloved series that I love that I know you love, he realized that he would not be able to continue. The second half of Season 5, the shows last, is set to debut on Nov. 10.

It was something that really changed me, Costner said about Yellowstone, which premiered on Paramount Network in 2018 and became an instant and durable standout. It was TVs highest-rated drama of the 2021-22 TV season, and its Season 4 finale was the most-watched scripted prime-time telecast in 2022, Variety reported.

I just wanted to let you know that I wont be returning, Costner, 69, continued, telling fans that he has loved the relationship they have been able to develop. Ill see you at the movies, he added.
Anthony J.F. OReilly, a charming, high-flying, Irish-born former chairman of the H.J. Heinz Company, who also owned newspapers, luxury brands and trophy homes in France and the Bahamas, only to lose nearly everything in his eighth decade, died on May 18 in Dublin. He was 88.

The Irish Times and other Irish newspapers, citing a family spokesman, reported that he died in a hospital. No cause was given.

From his earliest days, Mr. OReilly, who was known as Tony, displayed an embarrassment of gifts. He was an elite-level rugby player while still in his teens  the redheaded pinup boy of Irish rugby, as The Guardian put it. His talent for business was equally precocious.
Robert Winnett, the editor selected to run The Washington Post, will not take up that position, after reports raised questions about his ties to unethical news gathering practices in Britain.

Mr. Winnett will stay at The Daily Telegraph, where he is the deputy editor, according to emails sent on Friday to employees of the London-based newspaper and to staff members at The Post.

Im pleased to report that Rob Winnett has decided to stay with us, read a message to Telegraph employees from the newspapers top editor, Chris Evans. As you all know, hes a talented chap and their loss is our gain.

Will Lewis, the chief executive of The Post, confirmed the news in an email to employees.

It is with regret that I share with you that Robert Winnett has withdrawn from the position of editor at The Washington Post, Mr. Lewis wrote. Rob has my greatest respect and is an incredibly talented editor and journalist.
Former President Donald J. Trumps stake in his social media company is worth about half of what it was before his conviction on charges of falsifying business records to cover up a sex scandal during the 2016 presidential campaign

Mr. Trumps roughly 65 percent stake in Trump Media & Technology Group, the parent of Truth Social, was worth roughly $6 billion on May 30, the day a New York jury found him guilty on all 34 charges. On Friday, the value of his 115 million shares of Trump Media had dropped to about $3.2 billion.

By any measure, Mr. Trumps stake is still worth a tremendous amount of money. But the social media companys shares have been extremely volatile, as highlighted by the steep decline this month.

Trump Medias stock price traded as high as $66 after its merger with a public shell company in late March, and as low as $23 a few weeks later. The stock, after trading down most of the day Friday, closed at $27.66, up about 3 percent.
The government of Hawaii on Thursday settled a lawsuit with a group of young people who had sued the states Department of Transportation over its use of fossil fuels. It was the latest in a series of victories around the world in cases filed by young plaintiffs.

The case was brought in 2022 and organized by Our Childrens Trust, a nonprofit organization that is pursuing similar cases in other states and federal courts, and Earthjustice, an environmental law firm. Last year a group in Montana, also organized by Our Childrens Trust, won their case against that state with a similar argument to the one presented in Hawaii.

The Hawaii case alleged that, by depending on polluting fuels such as gasoline, the states Department of Transportation was violating Hawaiis Constitution, which guarantees the right to a clean and healthful environment.

The settlement, which was announced shortly before the case was to have gone to trial, requires the state to make a series of changes to reduce planet-warming emissions. It also recognizes the constitutional rights of young people in the state to a clean and healthy environment.
A lithe and seductively charming actor who worked consistently for more than six decades in Hollywood, often as a leading man, Donald Sutherland died on Thursday at 88. As a thinking mans sex symbol whose versatility made him equally persuasive in irreverent comedies and heart-rending dramas, Sutherland worked with major directors across multiple eras, including Robert Altman, Federico Fellini and Clint Eastwood and looked comfortable in both modern dress and period garb. His unusual height  he was 6-foot-4  and sonorous voice gave Sutherland an authoritative gait, but he was given more toward gentle-giant sensitivity than masculine swagger. Narrowing his great performances down to 15 films is no easy task  theres at least another 15 where these came from  but this selection of streamable titles is a testament to his immense talent and range.

1970

M*A*S*H

Rent it on Amazon, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Google Play and YouTube.

Kicking off a decade in which counterculture rebellion would seep into American studio movies  and a decade in which, not unrelatedly, Sutherland would become a big star  Robert Altmans irreverent comedy about a medical unit during the Korean War doubled as a stealth commentary on the then-ongoing quagmire in Vietnam. Sutherland and Elliott Gould embody the films coarse iconoclasm and soul as two skilled combat surgeons who fill the downtime between harrowing emergencies with pranks, sarcastic quips and a fair bit of womanizing, often at the expense of the head nurse (Sally Kellerman). A hit in theaters, M*A*S*H was a popular long-running TV comedy, but the film remains significantly pricklier.
Nathan Hare, a sociologist who helped lead a five-month strike by faculty members and students at what is now San Francisco State University, resulting in an agreement in 1969 to create the countrys first program in Black studies, with him as its director, died at a hospital in San Francisco on June 10. He was 91.

His death was confirmed by the poet and playwright Marvin X, a close friend of Dr. Hares.

A son of Oklahoma sharecroppers who was educated in the states segregated schools and later at the University of Chicago, Dr. Hare was a leading figure in bringing the ideas of Black power into academic circles, first at Howard University and then at San Francisco State College (now University), and later as a co-founder of The Black Scholar, a leading interdisciplinary journal.

He considered himself a Black nationalist, and in all three roles he clashed with both the establishment administrations and other factions on the political left, particularly Marxists.

Dr. Hare was forced out of his job at Howard in 1967 after a public fight with its president, who wanted to accept more white students. The next year, he arrived at San Francisco State, which already had courses in minority studies, and immediately began pushing for an interdisciplinary program dedicated to studying the Black experience.
On June 4, the Missouri Supreme Court set a September execution date for a man named Marcellus Williams. Theres a profound problem with this ruling, however. Williams is most likely innocent of the charges against him.

The story  like every story about capital punishment  begins with tragedy and evil. On Aug. 11, 1998, a 42-year-old former Saint Louis Post-Dispatch reporter named Felicia Anne Gayle was found stabbed to death in her home. The murder was brutal. Shed been stabbed 43 times; her husband found her with the knife still in her neck.

The crime generated a significant amount of local news coverage. Gayles husband was a radiologist, and the murder happened in a quiet gated community. Despite the media coverage and the intense interest in the case, the murder went unsolved for 15 months, until the police charged Williams with the crime.

At first glance, the charges seemed to make sense. Williams is not a sympathetic defendant. He has previous convictions for burglary and armed robbery, and his girlfriend, Laura Asaro, accused him of the crime, along with a jailhouse informant named Henry Cole.
Donald Trump went to Capitol Hill last week to visit with House Republicans. According to most reports of the meeting, he rambled.

People present told the nonprofit news outlet NOTUS that the former president treated his meeting as an opportunity to deliver a behind-closed-doors, stream-of-consciousness rant in which he tried to settle scores in the House G.O.P., trashed the city of Milwaukee and took a shot at Nancy Pelosis wacko daughter. It was like talking to your drunk uncle at the family reunion.

That same week, Trump met with a group of chief executives at the quarterly meeting of the Business Roundtable. Attendees, CNBC reports, were disappointed. Trump doesnt know what hes talking about, said one executive. Others said that Trump was remarkably meandering, could not keep a straight thought and was all over the map.

There is a good chance that by the end of the year, Trump will be president-elect of the United States. And yet with less than five months left before the election, he is no more prepared for a second term than he was for a first. He may even be less prepared: less capable of organizing his thoughts, less able to speak with any coherence and less willing to do or learn anything that might help him overcome his deficiencies.
To James Arthur Dolce, the possibility of crossing paths with Ashley Lee Tyrner was, as he put it, a one in a million situation. After all, they lived 3,000 miles apart.

In reality, however, the two were orbiting the same circles before they even met. They discovered that they had each been dining at the Mandarin Oriental, the luxury hotel in Manhattan, during a neighborhood-wide blackout on July 13, 2019.

It was three months later, in October, at an event hosted by angel investors at the rooftop restaurant of RH New York, a large building owned by Restoration Hardware, that they met for the first time.

Ms. Tyrner is the founder and chief executive of FarmboxRx, which works to eradicate Americas food deserts by shipping produce directly to members doors. At the time, she was in the process of developing her go-to-market strategy for the health care division of her company by partnering with private insurance companies and Medicaid and Medicare programs.
Californians are used to big political fights over ballot measures, but the fights dont usually end like this. On Thursday, the California Supreme Court unexpectedly cut short a gathering war over one of the most sweeping anti-tax proposals since the 1970s, before voters could even consider it.

The ballot measure, the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act, has been a flashpoint in Sacramento for months. It was scheduled to go before voters in November. If enacted, it would have made all kinds of taxes and fees in the state  including those imposed by local governments and agencies  much more difficult to raise.

The business and anti-tax groups that gathered more than a million signatures to qualify the initiative for the ballot promised that it would close loopholes and improve transparency. State officials sued, arguing that the measure would fundamentally and illegally revise the State Constitution and that it would gum up even changes in library fines.

Under Californias Constitution, state tax increases already must clear a higher bar than other kinds of legislation: They require approval by two-thirds majorities in each chamber of the Legislature. But many state fees that fund public services are not classified as taxes and can be approved administratively by state boards and agencies. And many local assessments need only a simple majority of local voters or of local boards and councils.
The crowd at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School in Lafayette, La., applauded Gov. Jeff Landry as he signed bill after bill this week on public education in the state, making it clear he believed God was guiding his hand.

One new law requires that transgender students be addressed by the pronouns for the gender on their birth certificates (God gives us our mark, he said). Another allows public schools to employ chaplains (a great step for expanding faith in public schools).

Then he signed into law a mandate that the Ten Commandments be hung in every public classroom, demonstrating a new willingness for Louisiana to go where other states have not. Last month, Louisiana also became the first state to classify abortion pills as dangerous controlled substances.

We dont quit, Mr. Landry, a Republican, said at the signing ceremony.

Taken together, the measures have signaled the ambition of the governor and the Republican-led Legislature to be at the forefront of a growing national movement to create and interpret laws according to a particular conservative Christian worldview. And Mr. Landry, a Catholic who has been vocal about his faiths influence in shaping his politics, wants to lead the charge.
When it comes to banning cellphones in schools, success could be determined by the details.

Do bans apply only to classrooms, or also to hallways, bathrooms and cafeterias, where students are much more likely to be absorbed in TikTok or text messages?

Do teachers have the freedom to override bans if phones are being used as part of a lesson? Should school districts purchase devices to lock or hide phones? What about distractions from other types of screens  laptops, tablets and smart watches? And what about some parents who like the idea of being able to reach their children 24/7?

Those were just some of the questions that faced Gov. Gavin Newsom of California after he announced that his state would be the latest  after Florida and Indiana  to pursue a school cellphone ban.

Teachers who have tried to restrict cellphone use on their own said limits can be difficult to enforce, if only because phones have become so embedded into daily life, perceived as necessary for practical and emotional reasons. Yet some districts with a comprehensive policy have had success, overcoming resistance and seeing a change in student behavior.
A Southwest Airlines plane descended prematurely on Wednesday over Oklahoma City, startling residents miles from the airport, before regaining altitude and then landing safely.

After beginning a descent from 39,000 feet, the Boeing 737-800, flight No. 4069 from Las Vegas to Oklahoma City, was still nine miles short of the airport when it reached an altitude of about 525 feet, according to a report by The Associated Press that cited Flightradar24 data. The plane then ascended again to about 3,000 feet before landing successfully at its planned destination, Will Rogers World Airport, at 12:16 a.m. local time.

An automated warning was triggered by the low altitude, and an air traffic controller alerted the pilots, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.

Southwest 4069, low altitude alert. You good out there? the controller can be heard saying in a recording from LiveATC.net provided to The Oklahoman newspaper.
Angeles Florez Peon was 17 when she braved mortar and artillery fire to bring food to her fellow Republican volunteers in the trenches of northern Spain during the Spanish Civil War.

At 18, she was a nurse tending to the wounded in the doomed effort to save Spain from a military takeover. Nationalist troops attacked the hospital where she worked, in coastal Asturias, and she was later arrested and sentenced to 15 years in a womens prison  marked forever, she said, by the memory of seeing fellow inmates being taken out at night and shot.

Ms. Florez Peon died on May 23 in a hospital in Gijon, Asturias. She was 105. The Spanish press, which first reported her death, called her the last remaining militiawoman of the Spanish Civil War.

Pedro Sanchez, Spains Socialist prime minister, paid tribute to her on social media, writing, 105 years of dignity, commitment and struggle for equality, liberty and social justice.
BERLIN  The giant Zeppelin ZR-3 probably will make its first big trial trip about July 5, it was announced at Friedrichshafen today. The ship will carry several American naval officers and will fly across Germany to Copenhagen and Stockholm, returning to Friedrichshafen by way of Berlin, but without landing here.

This trip will be followed by several others over Germany which, if satisfactory, will make possible the flight to the United States late in July or early in August, weather permitting. The route to America will be across Germany via Hamburg to Scotland and thence across the Atlantic to Lakehurst. The voyage is expected to require eighty hours.

 The New York Herald, European Edition, June 21, 1924
The Israeli military said on Friday that it had struck a missile launch site belonging to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group that had been embedded in a shelter for displaced people in a humanitarian zone of Khan Younis, in southern Gaza.

The claim could not be independently verified, but armed groups have used Gazans as human shields by keeping weapons and launching rockets from civilian areas. Local residents could not be immediately reached.

The military said on Friday that before the strike, various measures were taken in order to mitigate harm to uninvolved civilians.

Israel maintains it takes care to avoid killing civilians, even though they are dealing with Hamass tactic of operating in civilian centers. Gazan authorities dispute that claim, and the death toll in the enclave has spiraled. Health authorities say more than 37,000 people have been killed in Israeli military operation. They have not differentiated between combatants and civilians.

Dozens of Palestinians were killed in May after an Israeli airstrike hit a makeshift camp in southern Gaza. Israeli said that it had destroyed a rocket launcher used by Hamas in an attack in central Israel hours earlier, which was not near the camp. A few hours later, Israel struck again, dropping two 250-pound bombs on temporary structures in the camp, sending shrapnel in every direction and starting a fire.
An influential member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus coalition told settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank that the government is engaged in a stealthy effort to irreversibly change the way the territory is governed, to cement Israels control over it without being accused of formally annexing it.

In a taped recording of the speech, the official, Bezalel Smotrich, can be heard suggesting at a private event earlier this month that the goal was to prevent the West Bank from becoming part of a Palestinian state.

Im telling you, its mega-dramatic, Mr. Smotrich told the settlers. Such changes change a systems DNA.

While Mr. Smotrichs opposition to ceding control over the West Bank is no secret, the Israeli governments official position is that the West Banks status remains open to negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian leaders. Israels Supreme Court has ruled that Israels rule over the territory amounts to a temporary military occupation overseen by army generals, not a permanent civilian annexation administered by Israeli civil servants.
During the annual hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, one of the most important events on the Muslim calendar, at least 450 people died under a scorching sun as they prayed at sacred sites around the holy city of Mecca.

Amid maximum temperatures that ranged from 108 Fahrenheit to 120, according to preliminary data, and throngs of people, many passed out and needed medical care. The pilgrims, some who have saved their whole lives for the hajj, spend days walking and sleeping in tents during their journey to Mecca, the holiest city for Muslims. The hajj is one of Islams five pillars, and all Muslims who are physically and financially able are obliged to embark on the pilgrimage.

Indonesia has so far reported the most deaths, 199, and India has reported 98. The countries said at this point that they could not be sure that heat was the cause of all the deaths, though, relatives of the missing and dead and tour operators have said the heat was at least a contributing factor.

The number of dead is expected to rise as neither Saudi Arabia nor Egypt, where many pilgrims come from, have released death tolls for their citizens.
Tracking a Single Day at the National Domestic Violence Hotline They call from work, to avoid being overheard, or from home before someone returns. They reach out because they have decided to leave or need to ask a stranger if they should. 9:01 a.m. Im at my wits end. 2:14 p.m. He stalks me outside of work. 3:56 p.m. I just wanted to know that Im not crazy.

To listen to the National Domestic Violence Hotline is to witness how a confluence of stressors  high prices, a lack of affordable housing, easy access to firearms and drugs, the ubiquity of technology  can leave a person vulnerable to anothers cruelty and manipulation.

Spikes in calls often align with highly publicized events: natural disasters, recession, quarantine during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, a celebritys acknowledgment of being a survivor of domestic abuse.

But in recent years, staff at the hotline said more of the spikes could be traced in part to crucial court rulings, as people press for answers about the impact of the decisions or how they have factored into the violence they have experienced at home.

Already, the number of calls that mention forced unprotected sex or a partner sabotaging birth control  as by puncturing condoms or hiding pills  nearly doubled in the first year since the Supreme Court eliminated the constitutional right to an abortion, according to an analysis of calls and surveys done by the hotline. And calls mentioning firearms rose 40 percent after an appeals court in New Orleans last February struck down a federal law blocking people subject to a domestic violence protection order from owning a gun.

Staff members had been focused on the outcomes of two cases resting with the nations highest court, involving gun access and the availability of a commonly used abortion pill. On Friday, the Supreme Court reversed the appeals court ruling, saying that the government may prohibit people subject to restraining orders from having guns.

But even before the courts took up the gun case, the hotline, understaffed and underfunded, struggled to keep pace with an escalating number of calls over the years. The legal battles have underscored the pervasiveness of domestic violence and the strains on existing support for survivors.

Isadora Kosofsky for The New York Times

That makes me sad that we need lives to be in jeopardy for this to become a national conversation around domestic violence, because it shouldnt take a Supreme Court case, said Katie Ray-Jones, the chief executive of the hotline.

To capture a snapshot of the experiences of domestic violence survivors, The New York Times observed some of the calls and messages the hotline received in one day. The Times agreed to only disclose certain nonidentifying details and limited excerpts from the conversations to protect the safety of those who consented to speaking with a reporter present.

Over 24 hours, the hotline received 2,002 incoming calls and messages and answered 1,348. Transcripts of calls to 1-800-799-7233 and website chats, observed with the consent of the caller, have been condensed to ensure anonymity.

0 incoming calls and messages 9:01 AM Latina, 51, California Im at my wits end. I just need to get away. I need to find myself. Im scared. You have the power to make that decision. It can be very difficult to know if you want someone to get involved. Youre being very brave and strong by reaching out. 9:29 AM A father seeking help for his daughter in New York It just drove me crazy. She called me on a daily basis crying. Im starting to cry here. It was just hard for me to see what she was dealing with. He does have access to a firearm. His father has a handgun. I would encourage you to validate any feeling she has. 9:58 Woman in a relationship, 52 Is there a way to document physical abuse without involving the police I want to document it for a restraining order but if I call the police to file a report Im afraid they will stop by and my husband will hurt me when they leave. 10:09 AM Young Black woman, the South Maybe if I sit here and hold my baby, hell stop hitting me. He didnt. I still sometimes have dreams of that night  hearing the glass shatter and seeing stars Youre being very empathetic. We are shaped by others, oftentimes, and we are shaped by our experiences, but it is our responsibility to heal. 10:51 AM White woman, 30s, New England Im feeling really confused about it. I dont know if Im being abused. This is a judgment-free space. And we will never pressure you to make any decision. I feel like I am representing every woman who has ever hurt him when he sees me, but then I wonder if this is gaslighting, which I didnt think I would ever fall for. Is this gaslighting? Is this why I feel like I have no idea what is real and what isnt?

Congress approved creation of a national hotline dedicated to domestic violence in 1994, including it in the landmark Violence Against Women Act. Founded two years later in Texas, the hotline now receives as many as 3,000 calls and messages a day. Everyone is kept anonymous, with the only formal record describing basic demographic and circumstantial categories, often leaving other details unclear.

They are typically women, but their ages, ethnicities and locations vary, as do the circumstances of their relationships. In a single day, those contacting the hotline included a 51-year-old Latina in California; an Asian mother, 38; and a white woman asking how to quietly document her partners physical abuse.

Sometimes it is a question of finding housing during a nationwide shortage or seeking protection after leaving. Other times, it is about wrestling with the emotional contradictions of still having love for someone who makes you feel alone.

Working under pseudonyms remotely or at its headquarters in Austin, Texas, staff respondents spend as much as an hour at a time on calls and messages sent through a digital chat that arrive from across the country, at any time of day.

They pose sensitive but probing questions to uncover how a relationship has spiraled into deceit or danger, before connecting the survivor to support nearby. Many of the 158 staff respondents are women and survivors themselves.

Isadora Kosofsky for The New York Times

They cannot directly offer legal or medical advice, but give encouragement or recommendations.

On a recent morning, a young Black woman from the South called in, describing the relationship she had recently escaped: I still sometimes have dreams of that night  hearing the glass shatter and seeing stars.

Around the same time, a white woman wrote from New England, expressing uncertainty. Is this gaslighting? Is this why I feel like I have no idea what is real and what isnt?

0 incoming calls and messages 11:10 AM Woman, 30s, Michigan He harassed me. Does he have any tracking devices on your vehicle? If he does have access to the weapon, that can increase the lethality a lot. 1:19 PM Woman, 50s, Seattle I dont feel like myself anymore. You have to realize its not you. What youre feeling is very real. I got pushed out of the way. Things got thrown against the room to me. It just changed my whole reality, like, am I like that? But I know Im not. What youre feeling is very real. You dont have to stay there. Everything is replaceable except your life. 1:40 PM Woman, 40s, Alabama I dont trust him, but he seems to be so hurt when I bring up these trust stuff. I feel if I dont send pictures, he will just go to another person for them.

The rise in calls reflects an increased willingness to confront domestic violence, as survivors have publicly shared their experiences and lawmakers have moved to improve support.

It also reflects a deeper understanding of what abuse can be: monitoring someone through their devices, keeping a person financially dependent, twisting emotions to isolate someone from their loved ones.

Domestic violence is very complex, and I felt like at different stages in my life, the people around me kept trying to simplify it, said Jose Tobias, 29, who has worked at the hotline for nearly two years. A soft-spoken Mexican immigrant who once enrolled in Catholic seminary, he turned to the hotline in part to more directly counter what he sees as the weaponization of faith and other, more nebulous, forms of abuse.

Its never the same, so the solution is never the same, he added.

Getting deep into my faith  I saw a big overlap between abuse and spiritual abuse, said Jose Tobias, a hotline employee. Isadora Kosofsky for The New York Times

Conversations at the hotline take on a new urgency once a caller confirms an instance of strangulation or the presence of a weapon. Research shows that millions of women have been threatened with a gun by an intimate partner.

If he does have access to the weapon, that can increase the lethality a lot, Mr. Tobias told one woman, who was unsure whether her former partner had access to a gun.

To a tearful father, who recounted how his daughters abuser had access to a gun and already had physically assaulted her, he outlined the heightened risk: Weve seen this person weaponize his body. We could see him take it further.

Isadora Kosofsky for The New York Times

And while gun rights groups highlight the experiences of survivors who arm themselves as a means of self-defense and their constitutional right to own a firearm, many domestic violence groups say the presence of a gun exacerbates the psychological trauma of being threatened with one.

If the Supreme Court had upheld the ruling by the appeals court, it would have rolled back a federal law that makes it a felony to possess a gun while under a domestic violence order.

In the three states covered by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the increase in calls mentioning a firearm was even more significant after the lower court ruling, the hotline said: 47 percent in Texas, 59 percent in Mississippi and 63 percent in Louisiana. And given how difficult it can be to ensure that any person subject to an order no longer has access to a gun, domestic violence groups fear losing a crucial means of ensuring the safety of survivors.

One way or another, the survivors are going to be affected  its just about to what extent, Mr. Tobias said.

0 incoming calls and messages 2:14 PM Woman, 20s, California He stalks me outside of work. Do you carry a copy of your protection order wherever you go? He was punching me in the stomach when I was pregnant. 2:28 PM White woman, 40s, California I have left him. Im looking for housing that is not a shelter. Does he know where you are right now? Focus on your safety. It can feel overwhelming. 3:36 PM Asian mother, California Today he discussed with me and used bad words and told me get out. Now I dont have income. 3:56 PM Woman, North Carolina I left him today. I feel like Im losing myself because Im not that kind of person. It does more damage than the physical. Im so disappointed in myself. Find out who you are as an individual. Find out what your powers are. I just feel really lost and confused. Look at the strength you found to get out. Youre a survivor. The next step is up to you.

Staff members have also struggled with a swiftly moving landscape on abortion laws, as reports of forced acts like rape and unprotected sex have flooded their lines and as the prospect of further limits on abortion access and reproductive care looms.

In an analysis of nearly 3,500 responses to a survey conducted last fall, the hotline found that nearly a quarter of respondents were pressured into becoming pregnant, 20 percent were forcibly prevented from using birth control and nearly 10 percent faced threats of violence over seeking an abortion.

And even as the Supreme Court last week maintained access to a commonly used abortion pill, it did not weigh in on the merits of medication abortion or rule out the possibility of other challenges. On the day of the ruling, hotline employees said calls mentioning interference in reproductive health increased about 75 percent from what had been a daily average of about seven calls this month.

Thank goodness that I was able to have an abortion because my life  I would not be sitting here, said Hannah Tucker, 33, an employee with a shock of green hair and an array of colorful tattoos, adding: I was going to be guilted into staying with somebody I knew was going to be really dangerous for me.

The outcome of the two cases does not eliminate the financial and physical barriers that ensure a person stays in an abusive relationship. It will not change ingrained cultural and societal stigma about leaving, or the fact that certain communities are already more at risk.

And the hotline has only the resources to answer about 53 percent of its calls and messages. Ms. Jones and other staff estimated that it would take at least an additional $20 million a year to fully staff the hotline.

Hannah Tucker, who answers digital messages at the hotline, had an abortion after an abusive relationship. I cant fathom being attached to that person, she said. Josie Slawik, who began working to support domestic violence survivors after she arrived at an El Paso shelter, was there when the hotline took its first call in 1996. Isadora Kosofsky for The New York Times

Domestic violence does not discriminate, said Josie Slawik, 74. Domestic violence affects everybody  no matter what race you are, how much money you have, you dont have, it happens.

She still remembers what it felt like in 1978, as she fled, her rib broken and two young daughters in tow, to a shelter in El Paso. With a warm personality, bright red curls and gold eye shadow shimmering around her eyes, she was there when the hotline took its first call in 1996.

Like others, she said she still had the capacity to be moved by hope and by horror.

He was punching me in the stomach when I was pregnant, a woman told her by phone. She soon hung up, saying she needed to return to work.

Ms. Slawik paused, removing her headset.

Im going to take a reset  that was hard for me, Ms. Slawik said, her voice soft. This movement has come a long way, but we have a ways to go.
Robert Winnett

Robert Winnett has decided not to take the editor job at the Washington Post, opting to remain as the deputy editor at the Daily Telegraph Group in London.

DC Post publisher Will Lewis announced the hiring of Winnett and the exit of editor Sally Buzbee. He was to join the paper in November.

In a note to staffers, Lewis expressed regret that Winnett would not be joining the paper. Rob has my greatest respect and is an incredibly talented editor and journalist, he wrote.

Lewis and Winnett worked together at the Telegraph and Sunday Times.

A search for someone to fill the editor spot has begun. We will soon announce both the recruiting firm and process we will utilize to ensure a timely but thorough search for this important leadership role, wrote Lewis.

The Post announced on June 3 that Matt Murray, former editor-in-chief of the Wall Street Journal, succeeded Buzbee, 58, as executive editor, until the US presidential election.

Winnett's exit from the Post follows reports that he used deceptive tactics to gain information for his articles that ran the Times and Telegraph.
Virgil Scudder

There is only one good kind of crisis: the one avoided. Many crisis situations that make headlines and damage organizations could have been avoided or, at least, mitigated. The leadership of too many U.S. universities failed to get that message this spring and, caught off-guard, made critical mistakes.

As death and despair mounted in Gaza, it was obvious that Israels devastating response to the horrendous actions of Hamas in October, justified or not, would stir a backlash in the form of pro-Palestinian and cease fire demonstrations. Any crisis specialist could have predicted it. There was absolutely no reason for so many university presidents to be blindsided.

But they were. As a result, some of the largest and finest universities in this country suffered severe reputational damage. They paid a high price for their lack of foresight and preparation.

What exactly would that preparation entail?

More than anything else, an ear to ground. Listening sympathetically to complaints and concerns of faculty and students and showing respect for them and their views. Building trust and relationships through regular dialogue with student and faculty leaders.

A place for peaceful demonstrations should be designated in advance with clear guidelines for peaceful protest widely distributed. Uniformed law enforcement should not be called in unless trouble breaks out. Demonstrators want to be heard, not embattled.

But too many university leaders panicked. Handicapped by their lack of foresight and preparation, they overreacted in a variety of ways. We saw pictures and videos of protestors being beaten and dragged off by police in riot gear, elderly professors being zip-tied and hauled off to jail, violent physical confrontations on at least one campus as police stood idly by, and police snipers stationed on the roof of a student union building looking down on a peaceful demonstration at a large state university in the Midwest. These actions were inflammatory. The arrests of nearly 3,000 people nationwide further worsened the situation.

In my view, most of this could have been avoided with proper preparation and measured response. Most of the demonstrations were peaceful until the police moved in.

The damage to these institutions will be long-lasting including potential loss of faculty and students, donations, and reputation.

Here are key takeaways from these lapses in governance and leadership.

 Crises cant always be avoided but they can usually be foreseen and at least mitigated with proper foresight, preparation, and communication.

 Administrators need to do a better job of establishing ongoing relationships with student and faculty leaders, seeking and listening to their concerns before grievances turn into outbreaks.

 Overreaction invariably escalates the problem. Police coming to the scene in riot gear or uniformed officers bearing guns or batons can be more likely to cause violence than prevent it. Such intimidation increases anger and resentment.

 University leaders must head for the front lines, not hide in the ivory tower, as soon as a demonstration begins. They should go to the scene and hear the demonstrators out, then calmly explain the universitys positions and options along with a thank you for the input and agreement to hold future meetings with the demonstration leaders.

In sum, true leadership requires transparency, communication, and very often, courage. When these elements are lacking, the damage can be severe and long-lasting.

Hopefully, peace will return to Israel and Gaza before the fall semester begins. If it doesnt, well find out just how much these universities learned from their mistakes of the spring. The time to formulate, and start acting on, a game plan is now. Tomorrow may be too late.

***

Virgil Scudder is President of Virgil Scudder & Associates, LLC, located in Miami Beach, FL. He is a specialist in media training and crisis communications.
Its a Job Worth Doing is the theme of the Garda Reserves campaign which was launched by the Minister for Justice recently.

The Garda Reserve recruitment campaign is expanding this voluntary programme which has been operational for 18 years.

Since 2017, 80 Reserves have gone on to train as full-time Gardai.

An Garda Siochana is now inviting applications from those aged 18 to 60.

This recruitment drive follows a Government commitment to increase the strength of the Garda Reserve to 1,000 by 2026.

Garda Reserves are voluntary members of An Garda Siochana.

Reserves are placed in communities and work to assist An Garda Siochana with local patrols and crime reduction initiatives.

They also assist in policing major incidents and events, and provide operational support to Gardai on the basis of the Garda Reserves skills or local knowledge.

Through this campaign, members of the public are afforded the opportunity to develop hands-on policing experience, and to serve their communities by giving back to their own locality.

Among the ways Reserves do this is through community engagement activities, traffic management, attending major events, carrying out administrative duties, and providing general support to full-time Gardai.

While service in the Garda Reserve is voluntary and unpaid, subject to certain conditions an allowance is payable by the Commissioner to Garda Reserves in respect of expenses incurred in performing their duties. This had been 1,000 per 12-month period.

However, from June 1, 2024, this stipend was increased with the following now available to reserves in respect of hours completed:

 50 hours completed - 500 stipend

 100 hours completed - 1,000 stipend

 200 hours completed - 2,000 stipend

 200 hours or above - 3,000 stipend.

Anyone interested in volunteering to work in their local community is being encouraged to apply prior to 3pm July 4.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris pointed out that the Garda Reserve was introduced in 2006 to assist An Garda Siochana in increasing the visible uniform police presence in the community - helping to prevent crimes and to provide greater reassurance to the community. Since then our volunteers in policing have become an integral part of this organisation. They are credited with bringing a wide range of experience, skills and outlooks to An Garda Siochana, and we recognise their input as crucial to ensuring that Ireland has a police service that is trusted and valued by the Irish public. We are eager to encourage greater representation from minority communities in our Garda Reserves, and so I am hopeful that this recruitment campaign will result in communities being served by a diverse cohort of Garda Reserves into the future.

The Commissioner pointed out that for those considering a career in the Gardai the Garda Reserve offers a unique experience to get a flavour for what is required as a Garda. For some it is a driving factor in applying to become a Garda, and for others it is an opportunity to volunteer and make a real difference in their community. In recognition of the service provided I want to also welcome the recent increase in the stipend available to Garda Reserves. It is certainly a rewarding experience and I have no doubt for those applying you will find it is a job worth doing. The Garda Reserve is often a stepping stone towards becoming a Garda, and since our last campaign in 2017, over 80 Garda Reserves have gone on to train as full-time Gardai.

In recognition of this being utilised as a career path, the Gardai have created a Garda Reserve Stream, which enables Garda Reserves to apply to become Gardai if they meet certain criteria. Training will be delivered through a blended approach. It will require attendance at the Garda College, Templemore for some elements of this training in addition to online and experiential workplace learning at assigned training stations.

Those interested in applying to the Garda Reserves should visit www.publicjobs.ie The closing date for receipt of applications is 3pm 4 July 2024.

The current strength of the Garda Reserve is 341. 79 are women, 262 are men. 18 different nationalities are represented including people who are of Brazilian, Polish, Nigerian, Pakistani; Romanian; Chinese; Indian; Iranian; and Moroccan ethnicity. Backgrounds vary from carpenters and engineers to chartered accountants and insurance brokers to teachers and social care workers. Those eligible to apply include any Irish citizen aged from 18 to 60, including nationals of a European Member state; an EEA State or the Swiss Confederation; or those legally resident in the state for five years. Certain health and educational requirements also apply. Full details are available at publicjobs.ie or https://garda.ie/en/careers/

There are four general types of duties that a Reserve may be called to perform depending on the policing needs of their Division:

1) Community Policing where they may be assigned to community engagement activities; High visibility beat patrol (accompanied by full time member); Mobile patrol (accompanied by full time member) ; assist in the event of an accident, fire, major emergency; preservation of crime scene; static security post e.g. crime scene; road traffic duties and checkpoints (accompanied by full time member).

2) Station Duties, where a reserve is authorised to perform general station duties with the exception of the care and custody of prisoners; Public Office/ Front Counter duties; Communications room duty and the monitoring of CCTV feeds.

3) Court/Legal Actions, where a reserve can issue Fixed Charge notices where offences were detected; prosecuting offences detected; Issuing Fixed Payment Notices where required; serving summons; Giving evidence in court.

4) Events, where a reserve may take up duty at the outer cordon of a major event such as festival, concerts or sporting events (accompanied by a full time member); Directing traffic; Assisting the public.

A Garda Reserve will not be deployed on plain clothes duties of any kind; drive official vehicles; carry firearms in the course of their duty; patrol on mountain bikes.
A HIGHLIGHT of the museums cultural programme, the second Thomas MacDonagh Hedge School takes place from September 18th-22nd 2024 in the Thomas MacDonagh Museum in Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary. The theme for this years Hedge School programme is Revival and Rebellion: Politics and the Arts  Ireland in Review

Eleanor Hooker, programme curator says after the success of the inaugural Thomas MacDonagh Hedge School last year, it is a great honour to again curate the programme for 2024. We are thrilled that prestigious writers and scholars, which include Daniel Mulhall and Fergal Keane, have agreed to join us in Cloughjordan and we look forward to sharing the programme with you. The theme this year is inspired by MacDonaghs central role in the arts and politics of his time; evident in his work as contributor and editor of The Irish Review during its brief four year run.

The Thomas MacDonagh Hedge School is thrilled to welcome Daniel Mulhall as its keynote speaker in 2024. Mr Mulhall is a retired diplomat who has served as Irelands Ambassador in Kuala Lumpur, Berlin, London and Washington, and was a member of the Irish Governments delegation at the negotiations that produced the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. Since his retirement in 2022, he has been Global Distinguished Professor of Irish Studies at Glucksman Ireland House, New York University, Parnell Fellow at Magdalene College, Cambridge University, and a Fellow at the Institute of Politics, Harvard University. Throughout his diplomatic career, he lectured and published widely on Irish history and literature and, in 2022, he produced the bestselling and critically acclaimed Ulysses: A Readers Odyssey (New Island Books). He is a consultant with the global law firm DLA Piper and Honorary President of the Yeats Society, Sligo.

Ticketing  A limited number of Early Bird Tickets at 35 are available now from Eventbrite https://ThomasMacDonaghHedgeSchool2024.eventbrite.ie

Thomas MacDonagh Museum has received funding for the Hedge School as part of the Creative Ireland programme with support from Tipperary County Council.
MetaApply is all set to host a series of International Education Fair across four of its Experience Centres. Students interested in studying abroad are welcome to attend the free fair. The fair will be held on 29th June in Ahmedabad, 30th June in Pune, 6th July in Bengaluru, and 7th July in Hyderabad from 11 am onwards. The MetaApply International Education Fair is an event where students will meet representatives 
Costco allegedly failed to disclose price markups on products sold on its website and mobile app despite its promise to do so, according to a recent lawsuit seeking a class-action status.

The Washington state-based wholesale retailer sells some products on its website and app at higher prices than in warehouses due to shipping and handling costs. On its website, Costco says when an item is more expensive online, customers will see the message: Item may be available in your local warehouse for a lower, non-delivered price.
Nurses at six Providence Health hospitals who walked out for a three-day strike this week will continue to picket an extra two days, through Saturday.

The nurses who went on strike at Providence St. Vincent near Beaverton, Providence Newberg, Providence Willamette Falls in Oregon City, Providence Medford, Providence Hood River and Providence Milwaukie had announced plans to end the three-day work stoppage on Thursday evening.
A sex offender whose electronic ankle monitor died while on community supervision after convictions for raping a child picked up where he left off in Oregon and Washington, prosecutors said.

James Harrison Newcomer, 27, of Washington, is now accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl twice in Woodburn in April and two other girls in Washington state, ages 15 and 16, in February after meeting them on Snapchat before he was rearrested on June 7 outside a hotel in Kent, Washington, federal prosecutors allege in a federal complaint.

Newcomer appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michelle L. Peterson in Seattle on Thursday afternoon on a charge of traveling with intent to engage in sexual acts with a minor. He was appointed a lawyer and ordered to remain in custody pending trial. His defense lawyer Jesse Cantor didnt challenge Newcomers detention.

Newcomer had been convicted of two counts of third-degree rape of a child in Washington in the sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl between July 24 and July 27 in 2020. He served two years and a half in state prison and then was placed on community supervision with an electronic ankle monitor.

The monitor died on Jan. 19 and his Washington state community corrections supervisors lost connection with it.

Case managers with the Washington Department of Corrections are supposed to install and monitor the electronic hardware and review the device tracking information, reports and notifications each business day and document the review. The electronic monitors are commonly used to help keep tabs on sex offenders, according to the department.

People who are ordered to wear the monitors are required and instructed up front when the devices are installed, to keep the devices charged, according to Tobby Hatley, a spokesperson for the corrections department. That involves hooking the ankle monitor to a wall charger typically for two hours every 12 hours, according to Hatley.

Washington community corrections officers are also alerted to programmatic or potential device violations (i.e. low charge) and are expected to follow up with the supervised individual, Hatley said by email. Its unclear if that was done in this case. Once a connection to the electronic monitoring anklet is lost and the person under supervision cant be located, a warrant is issued for their arrest.

Washington officers went to Newcomers home to try to find him, but he wasnt there and a warrant was issued for his arrest, according to court records.

He is accused of connecting with the 14-year-old girl in Oregon using the profile halycOn on Snapchat.

He claimed he was 16 years old and went by Jack, according to the federal complaint.

Newcomer is accused of picking up the Woodburn girl from her home just before 4 a.m. on April 10, driving her to a Walmart parking lot and sexually assaulting her in his car. Two days later, the girl sneaked out of her house and Newcomer drove her to a Super 8 hotel in Woodburn and sexually assaulted her, according to the complaint.

Woodburn police and the Marion County District Attorneys Office assisted the FBI in the investigation.

Two months prior, Newcomer is accused of assaulting two girls in Washington state.

In the first Washington case, Newcomer is accused of picking up a 16-year-old girl from her North Bend home about 1 am. on Feb. 7, giving her methamphetamine, taking her to his Seattle apartment, sexually assaulting her and driving her back home about seven hours later, according to a federal complaint.

She told investigators that the man who went by halycOn on Snapchat had added her as a friend, picked her up and took her to his Seattle apartment and told her to claim to his roommate and his roommates girlfriend that she really was 18 years old. A review of the girls social messages and photos revealed Newcomer had sexually assaulted her, the complaint said.

In the second Washington case, Newcomer is accused of picking up another girl he met on Snapchat sometime overnight Feb. 21 after instructing the 15-year-old that she could disable the security alarm on her bedroom window at the familys Auburn home and advised her to wait until her parents went to sleep before sneaking out, the complaint said.

He also sent her messages, suggesting he would get her a fake ID to claim she was 18 years old and that would allow her to upload videos of their sex to online pornographic websites and charge viewers to watch, the complaint said.

In the Washington case that led to his rape conviction, Newcomer met the 15-year-old victim on Snapchat, claimed he was 17 years old and picked her up in his car less than 24 hours later .He drove from King County to Clallam County in Washington, picked her up near a bed and breakfast that she was visiting with family and drove her about five minutes away and sexually assaulted her in his car. He also gave her alcohol and marijuana before driving her to his parents King County home where he lived, snuck her into the home and sexually assaulted her repeatedly over several days before police found her there on July 27, 2020, according to court records.

Newcomer is originally from Black Diamond, Washington, had sex offender housing in Seattle and Burien but was not living at either location, federal officials said.

Investigators asked that anyone with further information on Newcomer contact the Seattle FBI Field Office at 206-622-0460.

-- 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.
After photographing and measuring the makeshift cinder block cell found at the Klamath Falls rental home of accused kidnapper Negasi Zuberi, FBI agents considered removing the structure as built to secure it as evidence.

FBI agent Travis Gluesenkamp said he and other agents immediately thought of the FBIs helicopter airlift of Unabomber Ted Kaczynskis isolated shack in the woods' in Montana. The helicopter deposited the shack at an Air Force base, and it then traveled on flatbed truck more than 1,000 miles to Sacramento for evidence storage.

Many FBI agents are familiar with what happened with Ted Kaczynskis shack, Gluesenkamp said Thursday in court.  And so my first thought was, OK, is this something I can feasibly take? And very quickly we realized that this is not something we can move.

Instead, FBI agents measured, photographed and videotaped the cell built in the homes garage and then allowed the property owners to dismantle it. It likely weighed thousands of pounds and couldnt be taken as it stood, he testified during a hearing on a series of motions before Zuberi goes on trial.

Zuberis defense lawyers urged U.S. District Judge Michael J. McShane to dismiss the federal indictment against Zuberi because the FBI and police allowed the cells destruction. Zuberi, 30, has pleaded not guilty to an indictment that charges him with two counts of kidnapping, two counts of being a felon in possession of guns and ammunition, two counts of being a felon with ammunition and one count each of transportation for criminal sexual activity. A trial is set for October. A separate charge of attempted escape from Jackson County Jail will be handled separately.

Defense lawyer Amy E. Potter argued the structure was a critical piece of evidence and now the defense has no way of examining or testing its durability and strength to determine whether it was built to imprison somebody or perhaps as a music sound studio.

Gluesenkamp testified that he used an oscillating saw to cut through drywall and insulation that was erected on a frame inside the cinderblock cell to determine if anyone was behind those walls. He found no one, he said. The FBI has the metal security door that was on the cell in its custody.

McShane denied the motion to dismiss. He found the government provided a wealth of discovery documenting the structure, including about 250 photos, 20 minutes of video footage from inside and outside, as well as multiple Home Depot receipts for much of the material used to build it.

He noted that the homeowner separately documented the five-hour sledgehammer demolition of the full cinderblock cell with photos.

Further, it would have been impractical and very difficult to have maintained and moved the structure from the private home, McShane said.

Theres enough known about the structures, construction and composition to allow the defense to assess the structures utility, McShane said. I think the government, law enforcement, did everything they could to capture what is needed to understand the structure, understand its composition, and if necessary, give the defense experts an opportunity to comment on the structure.

Although Potter said the defense lawyers dont know what was used to hold the cinder blocks together, McShane found theres nothing to prevent the defense from trying to recreate the structure.

Rebuild it in the middle of the courtroom, if youd like, and we can test how solid it is. But the fact is, it would be very easy to recreate the cinder block structure and test its worthiness, he said.

The judge also denied a defense motion to divide the case against Zuberi into separate trials. The defense had argued that one trial would be prejudicial to Zuberi.

Zuberi is accused of abducting a woman from Seattle in July 2023, driving her to Klamath Falls and sexually assaulting her during the drive, then imprisoning her in the makeshift cell before she managed to escape by repeatedly beating on a metal screen security door and ripping through it with her hands until they bled, according to FBI agent Gluesenkamp.

She crawled through a small horizontal slat in the door to escape, then grabbed a gun from the floorboard of a car parked in the garage, and ran out a garage access door into a front courtyard, he said. The woman climbed over an approximately five-foot fence to the driveway and ran into the street, screaming for help. A motorist stopped and called 911, the agent testified.

The woman allegedly kidnapped from Seattle and locked in the cinderblock cell in the Klamath Falls garage escaped by repeatedly beating on a metal screen security door and ripping through it with her hands until they bled, according to FBI agent Travis Gluesenkamp.U.S. Attorney's Office

Zuberi was subsequently charged with kidnapping another woman outside a local bar, holding her in a car in his garage for 12 hours and sexually assaulting her in May 2023.

By attempting to offer all this evidence in a single trial, the government is simply trying to paint Mr. Zuberi as an evil man who attacks women, Potter wrote to the court. This is not permitted by the rules of evidence.

McShane ruled theres no way to separate the two cases.

The two women shared similar observations of Zuberi, according to court records. Their allegations include that he threatened them with a black-and-yellow Taser stun gun, ordered them to place a sweatshirt backward over their heads so they couldnt see their surroundings and took their phones and encased them in aluminum foil to prevent anyone from tracking their locations.

McShane found that the two cases pointed to an ongoing scheme of Mr. Zuberi to plan and engage in a pattern of sexual abuse of women.

McShane also said a 2021 assault conviction against Zuberi could be entered as evidence in the case, since it occurred close in time to his latest alleged crimes and involved similar actions. Zuberi had solicited sex from a 16-year-old girl and then beat her in a remote area of Alameda County, California.

Thursdays hearing also revealed an alleged attempt by Alycia Westfall, the mother of Zuberis two sons, to obstruct police in the investigation, though she hasnt been charged with any crime.

When first contacted by Klamath Falls officers outside the home in the July case, she denied any connection to Zuberi.

She said she simply rented a room in the house, wasnt in a relationship with anyone who lived in the house and even falsely claimed she didnt know who the father of her two sons was, according to Klamath Falls Sgt Chris Zupan.

I never got a straight answer out of her about any of the questions I asked, Zupan testified.

Westfall was later found with Zuberi and their sons when Zuberi was arrested the next day in Reno, Nevada.

Zupan also dropped an interesting detail in his testimony: The rock-gravel front yard of the home Zuberi was renting and an approximately 5-foot fence along the front yard violated city code. The home is owned by Klamath Falls Mayor Carol Westfall and her husband Kevin Westfall.

McShane ordered Zuberi to be shackled during the hearing, with one hand free to allow him to take notes, after investigators said he had made threats on jail calls directed at his defense lawyer and indicated he might cause an explosion or outburst if things didnt go his way.

Potter, Zuberis defense lawyer, objected to the shackling, saying the comments on the jail phone were made out of frustration and dont represent any real threats.

But the judge left the shackles on.

-- 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 former Asante nurse charged with 44 counts of second-degree assault on accusations she allegedly harmed patients by swapping prescription pain medication IVs with non-sterile tap water has posted bail a little over one week after her arrest by Medford police.

Dani Marie Schofield, 36, was seen entering the lobby from a restricted area of the Jackson County Jail just after 10:40 a.m. Friday. Schofield was wearing dark sunglasses, a sweatsuit and slippers, carrying a plastic bag of personal belongings as she greeted two men who had been waiting for at least an hour prior to her appearance.

After embracing both for several long moments, Schofield was led out between the two men and quietly walked to a pickup truck parked along West 8th Street. Asked if she wanted to offer comment, Schofield and the two men only stared ahead, the younger of the two men rubbing her back as they walked away.

Jackson County Sheriffs Office spokesman Aaron Lewis confirmed Friday morning that a wire transfer for $400,000  10% of her $4 million bail  had been processed through the Jackson County Circuit Court.

Following Schofields release Friday morning, an update to circuit court records included a notice of representation, timestamped Thursday afternoon. Schofield is being represented in her criminal case by Kristen Winemiller and Lisa Maxfield of Pacific Northwest Law of Portland.

Schofields arrest last Thursday at a residence outside Eagle Point marked a major development in the high-profile drug-diversion case that began in December 2023. Asante officials reached out to the Medford Police Department after conducting its own internal investigation into a spike in central line infections at Rogue Regional Medical Center. Medford police handed the results of its investigation over to the DAs office in late April.

Last Friday, Schofield pleaded not guilty during her arraignment before Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Laura Cromwell.

During Schofields first court appearance, Cromwell set bail at $4 million and advised Schofield that, if she posted bail, her release would come with stipulations: She cannot consume intoxicants; have contact with surviving Asante victims, or Asante or its property except for emergency services; or provide care to anyone 65 or older, or who has a disability.

On Tuesday, family members of three alleged victims  former patients of Schofields who all died after developing life-threatening infections  contacted the Rogue Valley Times saying they had been notified by victim advocates for the Jackson County Circuit Court just after 3 p.m. that Schofield was expected to post bail and be released Tuesday evening.

Courts were closed on Wednesday for Juneteenth with Schofield still being held in solitary confinement, which she explained to Cromwell during her arraignment was for her safety from other inmates, and because Medford police had publicly identified her following her arrest. Finalization of the bond money took three days from Tuesdays wire transfer initialization.

Victims and attorneys representing alleged victims or families of victims expressed a range of emotions, from disappointment to anger, at being told that Schofield was being released.

Shawn Porter, of Phoenix, Arizona, learned in December that his 71-year-old mother, Klamath Falls resident Roberta Porter, had died a year earlier, in December 2022, after a hospital nurse swapped her pain medication with tap water.

Porter voiced frustration this week that Schofields charges were listed as assault, rather than murder or manslaughter, and that it took nearly a year for her to be arrested after she left Asante. In the months leading up to Schofields arrest, Porter checked the jails inmate list daily, he said.

Porter was notified by victim advocates for the circuit court just after 3 p.m. Tuesday that Schofield will be posting bail, Porter said. When he asked if Schofield would be required to wear an ankle monitor to prevent her from leaving the area, Porter was shocked to learn that electronic monitoring for Schofield was unlikely.

I understand the right to post bail, but its very disappointing. If shes not required to wear a monitoring device, thats unacceptable, Porter said Wednesday.

I do find it interesting that she had the gall to request a public defender yet had access to the funds to cough up $400,000 for bail.

David deVilleneuve, of Shlesinger & deVilleneuve, said his firm received several calls on Tuesday from clients who were also contacted by circuit court victim advocates and informed that Schofield would soon be released.

DeVilleneuve said his firm plans to file just under 30 civil cases related to the drug-diversion case. Some of deVilleneuves clients were listed as victims in Schofields indictment, some were not. Chief Deputy District Attorney Patrick Green, the lead prosecutor, said the charges listed in the indictment, which span July 2022 to July 2023  each connected to a different alleged victim and incident date  represent the charges that the evidence can support in a criminal proceeding.

On Tuesday evening, deVilleneuve watched for updates on Schofields status on the jail website. Some of his clients were in tears, he told the Times.

DeVilleneuve shared his clients frustrations with Schofields charges  that she is only accused of assault  and with the length of time the former nurse continued to work at the Medford hospital after a spike in infections became apparent.

On behalf of my clients, we demand justice and accountability. How could Asante let this go on for so long, affecting so many people? he said.

There are so many safeguards in place to keep this from happening. These safeguards were not being followed as is required by industry standards and by laws governing the administration of pain medications.

Additional background from June 13 by reporter Aimee Green, The Oregonian/OregonLive, on the case.
June in Oregon means strawberry season is in full swing. And Zuckercreme dessert and retail shop in Southeast Portlands Montavilla neighborhood takes the red berry very seriously.

The shop is home of Strawberry Museum, which means youll find strawberries around every corner, in various forms, from strawberry baked goods and five varieties of strawberry ice cream to strawberry earrings and hair clips.

Whatever you can think of, we probably have it strawberry, Zuckercreme owner Brittany Sigal said, while dressed in a strawberry costume. The shop is stocked with strawberry trinkets, local strawberry art, strawberry jewelry, upcycled strawberry clothing, vintage strawberry home decor, strawberry stickers, strawberry pantry items and more.

The walls are painted with strawberry murals and strawberry paper lanterns hang from the ceiling. There was even strawberry-themed music playing during a recent visit.

While this spot is all about the strawberry year-round, June is an extra special time of year for Zuckercreme.

This time of year is just what I like to call a strawberry explosion, Sigal said.

The shop hosts strawberry-themed pop-up events, like a strawberry felting class, strawberry portrait party and a strawberry moon celebration. It also carries an expanded strawberry dessert menu made using local berries. We tried the strawberry soft serve, a strawberry pop-tart, strawberry lemonade (mixed with edible glitter) and a strawberry cookie.

From jewelry to knickknacks to sweet treats, Zuckercreme celebrates all things Strawberry at their shop on SE 81st Ave in the Montavilla neighborhood. Ryan Fernandez/The Oregonian

From jewelry to knickknacks to sweet treats, Zuckercreme celebrates all things Strawberry at their shop on SE 81st Ave in the Montavilla neighborhood. Ryan Fernandez/The Oregonian

From jewelry to knickknacks to sweet treats, Zuckercreme celebrates all things Strawberry at their shop on SE 81st Ave in the Montavilla neighborhood. Ryan Fernandez/The Oregonian

Sigal started Zuckercreme during the Covid-19 pandemic when she was working out of a kitchen space. It was May, right around the corner from strawberry season. I just combined my love of themes and seasonal produce and cute stuff and invited my friends to come bake and share their treats and then it just kind of evolved, Sigal said.

Sigal is German and originally from Indiana. The name Zuckercreme is a nod to that heritage -- it means sugar cream in German, which is also Indianas state pie.

2024 marks the fourth Strawberry Museum and third year Zuckercreme has been in the Montavilla storefront.

From jewelry to knickknacks to sweet treats, Zuckercreme celebrates all things Strawberry at their shop on SE 81st Ave in the Montavilla neighborhood. Ryan Fernandez/The Oregonian

From jewelry to knickknacks to sweet treats, Zuckercreme celebrates all things Strawberry at their shop on SE 81st Ave in the Montavilla neighborhood. Ryan Fernandez/The Oregonian

June strawberry events at Zuckercreme:

June 20: Strawberry portrait party, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

June 21: Strawberry moon celebration, 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.

June 22: Beginners strawberry needle felting class, 10 a.m. - 12 pm.

June 23: Strawberry felting club, 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. (for people whove already taken one felting workshop)

June 29: Strawberry dinner, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

June 30: Strawberry shortcake brunch, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Check Zuckercremes events page for more details.

If you go:

414 SE 81st Ave, Portland; open Wed.-Thurs. 12 p.m.-5 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 12 p.m.-7 p.m. *Hours vary for special events.

Read more:

-- Teresa Mahoney
Herman the Sturgeon  a 10 foot-long white sturgeon beloved in the Columbia River Basin  is celebrating his birthday Saturday, and the public is invited to the party at Bonneville Fish Hatchery in Cascade Locks.

Herman, who weighs over 500 pounds, might be the states most famous fish. According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, only two species of sturgeon are found on the West Coast. Sturgeon evolved 100 million to 200 million years ago during the Jurassic Period of the Mesozoic Era, when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, and have changed very little since.

The birthday fishs actual age is subject to debate.

The ODFW traces the first mention of Herman to 1925, when the Roaring River Fish Hatchery transported the large white sturgeon to the Oregon State Fair. Herman remained a popular attraction for nearly 50 years at the fair, Oregon Wildlife Foundation spokesperson Mo Montgomery said.

By 1985, ODFW managers decided that keeping Herman at the fair was unhealthy for his large body. The Oregon Wildlife Foundation raised more than $350,000 to build a sturgeon facility at Bonneville Hatchery next to the Columbia River in Cascade Locks. The facility was dedicated in 1998.

But life did not get much easier for Herman, who survived stabbings, kidnappings, and wildfire evacuations at the hatchery. Well, Herman did not exactly survive all of them; several sturgeon have played the role of Herman over time, Montgomery said.

Herman has been an attraction at the Bonneville Fish Hatchery since 1998, drawing an average of 1 million visitors a year. At Hermans birthday party last year, guests brought cards and poems, and talked about their memories from the fair, Montgomery said.

Herman was a popular attraction at the state fair for almost 50 years.Courtesy of ODFW

White sturgeon in the Columbia River Basin are not officially endangered, their populations still face many challenges, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Hydropower dams have obstructed the fishs natural free-flowing river habitat. Climate change has created unfavorable and lethal environmental conditions in the Columbia River Basin, the agency added.

Hermans party begins at 10 a.m. Saturday. The event, advertised as all-ages, will include opportunities to learn more about sturgeon conservation, to enjoy birthday treats, to sign Hermans birthday card, and for guests 21 and up, to visit nearby Ferment Brewing Company and sample the High Five, Herman! IPA. The hatchery is also fundraising for repairs and improvements to the fish habitat.

The beloved fish will celebrate its 80-ish birthday on Saturday.Courtesy of Oregon Wildlife Foundation

Just dont call the event a 90th birthday party.

Herman reportedly turned 89 last year, but the sturgeon team at ODFW has since determined that Hermans age is inconclusive. The key question this year has been trying to figure out how old he really is, Montgomery said. The answer is that Herman is turning 80-ish.

He doesnt look a day over 85, she said.

 Riya Sharma covers Here is Oregon feature stories. Reach her at rsharma@oregonian.com or 503-294-5996.
Toc Soneoulay-Gillespie addressed a crowd of almost 100 people  some of them families, and many of them wearing World Refugee Day t-shirts  at the Portland waterfront on a sunny evening on Thursday.

As a refugee like many of you here, today is the day where we also give gratitude to all those who helped us get to where we are today, she told the crowd of people who had shown up to participate in Portlands World Refugee Day Walk.
It all started at a Dennys in San Jose in 1993.

Three engineers  Jensen Huang, Chris Malachowsky and Curtis Priem  gathered at the diner in what is now the heart of Silicon Valley to discuss building a computer chip that would make graphics for video games faster and more realistic. That conversation, and the ones that followed, led to the founding of Nvidia, the tech company that soared through the ranks of the stock market to briefly top Microsoft as the most valuable company in the S&P 500 this week.

The company is now worth over $3.2 trillion, with its dominance as a chipmaker cementing Nvidias place as the poster child of the artificial intelligence boom  a moment that Huang, Nvidias CEO, has dubbed the next industrial revolution.

On a conference call with analysts last month, Huang predicted that the companies using Nvidia chips would build a new type of data center called AI factories.

Huang added that training AI models is becoming a faster process as they learn to become multimodal  able to understand text, speech, images, video and 3-D data  and also to reason and plan.

People kind of talk about AI as if Jensen just kind of arrived like in the last 18 months, like 24 months ago all of a sudden figured this out, said Daniel Newman, CEO of The Futurum Group, a tech research firm. But if you actually go back in time and listen to Jensen talking about accelerated computing, hes been sharing his vision for more than a decade.

Huang spent his teen years in Oregon, attending Aloha High School, and then moved to Corvallis to study at Oregon State University. He met his wife Lori there and in 2022 they pledged $50 million toward building a $200 million supercomputing center at Oregon State.

Nvidias headquarters are in Silicon Valley. Its invention of the graphics processor unit, or GPU, in 1999 helped spark the growth of the PC gaming market and redefined computer graphics. Now Nvidias specialized chips are key components that help power different forms of artificial intelligence, including the latest generative AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and Googles Gemini.

Nvidias GPUs are a key factor in the companys success in artificial intelligence, Newman added.

They took an architecture that was used for a single thing, to maybe enhance gaming, and they figured out how to network these things, he said. The GPU became the most compelling architecture for AI, going from gaming, rendering graphics and stuff, to actually using it for data. ... They basically ended up creating a market that didnt exist, which was GPUs for AI, or GPUs for machine learning.

AI chips are designed to perform artificial intelligence tasks faster and more efficiently. While general-purpose chips like CPUs can also be used for simpler AI tasks, theyre becoming less and less useful as AI advances, a 2020 report from Georgetown Universitys Center for Security and Emerging Technology found.

That has posed a growing threat to Intel, formerly the worlds largest chipmaker, whose business remains concentrated in providing CPUs for PCs and data centers. Intel has acknowledged it is lagging in the artificial intelligence market and hopes that by opening its factories to make chips for others, possibly including Nvidia, it might yet benefit from the AI market.

Tech giants are snapping up Nvidia chips as they wade deeper into AI  a movement thats enabling cars to drive by themselves, and generating stories, art and music.

Jensen basically has made AI digestible and then Apple will make it consumable, Newman said.

The company carved out an early lead in the hardware and software needed to tailor its technology to AI applications, partly because Huang nudged it into what was still a nascent technology more than a decade ago.

Nvidia has been working on different portions of this problem for more than two decades now. They have a deep innovation engine that goes all the way back to the early 2000s, said Chirag Dekate, a VP analyst at Gartner, a tech research and consulting firm. What Nvidia did two decades ago is they both identified and they nurtured an adjacent market where they discovered that the same processors, same GPUs that they were using for graphics could be shaped to solve highly parallel tasks.

At the time, he said, AI was only in its infancy. But Nvidias understanding that GPUs would be central to the development of AI was the fundamental breakthrough that was needed, Dekate said.

Until then, we would have been, I would say, in the analytic Dark Ages, he said. The analytics were there, but we could never bring these AI elements to life.

Analysts estimate that Nvidias revenue for the fiscal year that ends in January 2025 will reach $119.9 billion  about double its revenue for fiscal 2024 and more than four times its receipts the year before that.

My hypothesis is the kind of exponential growth that were seeing with Nvidia today is potentially a pattern that were going to see replicated more frequently in the decades to come, he said. This is the Golden Age if you will...this is the best time to be an AI engineer.

-- Sarah Parvini, The Associated Press
Workers at one of Oregons biggest semiconductor manufacturers say theyre being shortchanged as their employer collects millions of dollars in state and federal subsidies.

About 70 employees of Analog Devices Inc. delivered a petition to the company Friday complaining about wages and working conditions at their factory near Beaverton. They say they might consider joining a union  a rarity in the chip industry  if the company doesnt address their concerns.
Kampala, Uganda (PANA) - Uganda is hosting the largest refugee population in Africa and has gained international recognition for its effective, development-focused refugee policies
Clearwater Paper to Invest $23 Million in New Tissue Converting Line at Shelby, North Carolina

June 21, 2024 - Clearwater Paper said that it will invest $23 million in a new, state-of-the-art facial tissue converting line at its Shelby, North Carolina consumer products facility. Clearwater Paper's Shelby Mill manufactures high-quality private branded bathroom tissue, paper towels, napkins, and facial tissue.

The 400-acre facility employs more than 600 people.

"Clearwater Paper selected Shelby for its newest facial tissue line due to its proximity to our customers, a growing local skilled workforce, and a history of excellent working relationships with the City of Shelby, Cleveland County and the State of North Carolina," said Clearwater Paper's senior vice president of consumer products, Michael Urlick. "Our investment in a new facial line will enable us to meet growing customer demand, further optimize our network and continue to deliver outstanding quality and service to our customers."

Clearwater Paper (NYSE: CLW) is a premier supplier of private brand tissue to major retailers, including grocery, club, mass merchants, and discount stores. In addition, the company produces paperboard used by quality-conscious printers and packaging converters, and offers services that include custom sheeting, slitting, and cutting.

SOURCE: Clearwater Paper Corporation
A female from York County, Pennsylvania, has been indicted of abandoning her 3-year-old kid in a hot car for at least 15 minutes last weekend.

Pennsylvania Mom Leaves 3-Year-Old Child in Hot Car

Samantha O'Brien, according to Hanover Borough Police Department, faces liabilities of imperiling the well-being of kids after the circumstances on Sunday on West Hanover Street.

Records signify that police answered to a home on West Hanover Street around 2 p.m. after getting reports of a child left neglected inside a car parked in a pathway. The caller notified law enforcement that the kid was unprotected from direct sunlight, with temperatures spanning between 80 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit that day.

Authorities declared that 33-year-old O'Brien left the kid neglected in the car for at least 15 minutes. Police discover O'Brien asleep on the bathroom floor inside the home. They noticed evidence of significant drunkness, including red eyes, impaired speech, and the odor of alcohol on her breath.

Court documents signified that police noticed O'Brien's behavior as not that of an interested parent, noticing that she did not ask about her kid until prompted by officers.

It remains ambiguous if the kid sustained any wounds. O'Brien was arrested into detention on Sunday and is currently jailed at York County Prison.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warns that a kid's body temperature can rise three to five times more swiftly than that of an adult while inside a hot vehicle.

If you ever notice a kid left unattended in a car, it is essential to call 911 instantly.

Read Also : 3-Month-Old Infant Dies in Hot Car Outside West Virginia Daycare

Mother Found Drunk, Asleep at Her Home Arrested for Child Neglect

A mom from Hanover is indicted of liabilities for reportedly leaving her 3-year-old child in a hot car while she was "heavily intoxicated" and found asleep in a bathroom.

Officers were sent at 2:04 p.m. to a home on the first block of W. Hanover Street following reports of a child left neglected and secured inside a car parked in a pathway.

The caller notified police that the kid was in direct sunlight, with temperatures between 80 and 90 degrees.

According to the charging documents, both the front driver's door and the rear driver's door were open, and the car was parked "along a public alley accessible to anyone passing by, posing a significant risk of death or serious injury to the child."

The kid was reportedly neglected in the car for at least 15 minutes. Officers entered the house after getting no answer and supposedly found O'Brien asleep on the bathroom floor.

Police recorded that O'Brien showed manifestations of heavy intoxication, including bloodshot eyes, slurred and slowed speech, confusion, breath smelling of alcohol, and unsteadiness. She allegedly admitted to drinking.

According to charging documents, police noted that "the defendant's demeanor was not consistent with a concerned parent," and she did not inquire about her child until officers mentioned it.

The child's father reportedly told police that O'Brien was supposed to be responsible for the toddler that day.
A Taekwondo family from Katy, Texas, saved a young woman from a terrifying assault on Tuesday.

The family, all black belts and operators of the Yong-in Taekwondo dojo, responded to desperate screams from a neighboring business, leading to the dramatic rescue and subduing of the suspect.

Taekwondo Family Rescues Woman From Assault

Around 4 p.m., the An family was preparing for their evening taekwondo classes when they were startled by unsettling sounds from a nearby store. Initially dismissing the noises as playful banter among employees, their attention was riveted by a final, piercing scream.

Simon An, an instructor with 16 years of taekwondo experience, along with his parents and siblings, rushed next door to investigate. To their horror, they discovered a man assaulting a young woman. Simon's father, Hong An, wasted no time in pulling the attacker off the victim and pinning him to the ground.

"It just happened so suddenly," Simon recounted. Simon added that it was all done in self-defense. The intruder was trying to run away from them and revealed that he was scratching, biting, and doing anything to get away.

A Family United in Defense

While Hong An restrained the suspect, Simon's sister, Hannah, escorted the distressed woman to safety.

Simon and his brother assisted in subduing the attacker until law enforcement arrived. The suspect struggled fiercely, but Hong An, a taekwondo grand master, managed to hold him down for ten minutes.

The Harris County Sheriff's Department praised the An family for their bravery and effective intervention. Sheriff Ed Gonzalez expressed his gratitude towards the Yong-in Taekwondo dojo.

Sheriff Gonzalez acknowledged their efforts on social media, stating, "By utilizing their training and discipline, they managed to stop the assault and hold him."

The suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed, has been charged with attempted sexual assault and unlawful detention.

The incident highlights the importance of community vigilance and the impact of martial arts training in real-life situations. The An family's swift and decisive actions not only prevented a crime but also demonstrated the strength of family unity and discipline.

The An family, which operates the Yong-in Taekwondo dojo, has long been an advocate for the benefits of martial arts training. Their studio in Katy, Texas, is known for instilling discipline, confidence, and self-defense skills in its students. The heroic actions of the An family underscore the real-world applications of their training.

Simon An reflected on the incident, emphasizing the value of their taekwondo background. "Taekwondo teaches you more than just fighting skills. It's about discipline, quick thinking, and helping others in need. This experience has shown us the true power of what we've learned and practiced for so many years."

Read Also: Los Angeles School District Votes to Ban Cell Phones in Schools To Boost Student Focus

Community Reactions

The local community has rallied around the An family, praising their courage and quick response. Many have expressed their gratitude on social media, highlighting the importance of such training and preparedness. The Yong-in Taekwondo dojo has seen a surge of interest from individuals eager to learn self-defense and martial arts.

"This incident has brought our community closer," Simon An said. "It's heartwarming to see the support and to know that we made a difference. We hope to inspire others to be vigilant and prepared to help those in need."

The Harris County Sheriff's Department continues to investigate the incident, ensuring that justice is served for the young woman and recognizing the An family's exemplary actions.

The Taekwondo family rescues woman from assault incident serves as a powerful reminder of the positive impact of martial arts training and the strength of community solidarity.

The An family continue to teach and inspire their students, knowing that the skills they impart can one day save lives, just as they did on that fateful day.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and Eli Lilly and Co. are advising the public about fake versions of famous weight-loss and diabetes medications.

Eli Lilly Files Lawsuit on Counterfeit Weight-Loss and Diabetes Medications

The WHO declared on Thursday that it has received numerous reports of fake semaglutide, the key component in Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Ozempic, being found worldwide since 2022.

On the same day, Lilly disclosed that it is charging six additional entities, including medical spas and wellness centers, for selling products implied to contain tirzepatide, the main ingredient in its familiar diabetes drug, Mounjaro.

In an open letter, Lilly expressed its "deep concern" over the increasing online sales and social media promotion of fake or compounded tirzepatide.

The Indianapolis-based company emphasized that it is the sole authorized distributor of Mounjaro and Zepbound and does not supply tirzepatide to compounding pharmacies, wellness centers, or online vendors.

Lilly warned that counterfeit versions of its medications, often advertised or sold online, are never safe for use. Novo Nordisk has released similar advisories concerning its drugs in the past.

The WHO suggested patients safeguard themselves by getting prescriptions from licensed doctors and buying medications from trusted sources. The agency also suggested refraining from drugs from unknown vendors.

Lilly stated that any products labeled as tirzepatide but not branded as Mounjaro or Zepbound are not manufactured by the company and lack FDA approval.

The demand for GLP-1 drugs, including Wegovy and Lilly's Zepbound and Mounjaro, has been exceeding supply. According to the FDA, some doses of Mounjaro and Zepbound are expected to be available in limited quantities through the second quarter.

WHO Warns Fake Drugs Could Be Harmful and Cause Health Complications

On Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) released cautions about imitation drugs claiming to contain the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk's diabetes drug Ozempic and weight-loss treatment Wegovy.

The high demand for Ozempic, Eli Lilly's Mounjaro, and other GLP-1 drugs that aid in weight loss has led to a rush in fake versions universally.

The WHO's warning emphasizes three falsified batches of semaglutide found in Brazil and the UK in October 2023, and in the United States in December 2023.

Although semaglutide is not recommended by WHO for diabetes management due to its high cost, the agency is developing guidelines for using GLP-1 drugs for obesity treatment within a comprehensive care model.

The WHO warned that counterfeit drugs could be harmful and may cause health complications if they lack necessary raw components, leading to unmanaged blood glucose levels or weight issues.

This warning, the first official notice following the verification of reports, suggested patients buy medications with prescriptions from licensed physicians and refrain from purchasing from unknown or unsubstantiated sources, especially online.

Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have taken legal action against several entities selling products falsely claiming to contain tirzepatide and semaglutide.

On Thursday, Eli Lilly announced lawsuits against six more entities, including medical spas and wellness centers, for selling products purportedly containing tirzepatide.
Chicago's mayor and police superintendent expressed deep outrage and urgency after the deadly firing of a 7-year-old boy in an act of gun assault.

Police Superintendent Expressed Strong Outrage Regarding Gun Violence

Superintendent Larry Snelling reported that the boy was struck by a shot while walking to visit a neighbor, with shots fired from a distance and no apparent target detected. Despite a quick medical response, the kid died of his wounds at the hospital.

Snelling denounced the senseless act, emphasizing the toll of gun violence on Chicago's youth, where this year alone, 127 kids have been casualties and 17 have died.

Mayor Brandon Johnson echoed these emotions, declaring the city's violence unacceptable and pledging to guarantee justice for the casualty.

The city has documented 961 firing circumstances and 227 killings this year, mirroring a slight decline in firings compared to the previous year.

7-Year-Old Boy Was Fatally Shot Outside His Home

Jaimani Amir Rivera, 7, was hit by a stray bullet as he stepped outside his home on the Near West Side to visit a neighbor on Tuesday afternoon.

Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling stated that Jaimani was on the sidewalk outside his building on West Jackson Boulevard around 3 p.m. when gunfire erupted from outside the apartment complex gates.

Officers responded to the location and discovered Jaimani on the ground with a gunshot injury to his chest. Despite their attempts to save him by applying pressure to the injury and hurrying him to Stroger Hospital, he was announced lifeless shortly after arrival, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Snelling highlighted that the firing did not appear to be targeted. Police are seeking the area and looking for any available video footage that could help in determining the gunner.

"We are committed to bringing justice to this case," Snelling stated. "A young life was taken before he had the chance to live it as he deserved."

Residents of the complex conveyed concern over increasing firings in the area, associating them with gang activity and conveying fear of being caught in the crossfire.

Ethiopia Jackson, a resident, expressed outrage, stating, "Whoever did the shooting, they took away somebody's child-a 7-year-old who had nothing to do with what's going on here."

Snelling acknowledged increased police patrols in the area but voiced frustration that repeat offenders often return to the streets after arrests for violent crimes.

Chicago Mayor Extended Condolences to Jaimani's Family

Mayor Brandon Johnson, addressing the press, condemned the use of what he described as an illegal weapon in the shooting, calling for community action to prevent further tragedies.

"This city must decide what kind of place we want to be," Johnson urged. "A place where children can play freely, or a city terrorized by illegal firearms."

He extended condolences to Jaimani's family and emphasized the urgent need for societal change to combat ongoing violence affecting Chicago's youth.

As of now, no suspects are in custody. So far this year, 172 juveniles have been casualties of gun violence in Chicago, according to Snelling.

The shooting occurred amidst a violent Father's Day weekend, where 72 people were wounded by gunfire. Just weeks earlier, 5-year-old Reign Ware was fatally shot nearby as she left a party with her father.

Sources indicated that an assault-style rifle may have been used in Jaimani's shooting, with 11 shell casings recovered from the scene.
The Minnesota government has proactively dispersed stimulus checks worth up to $1,300 as part of a tax refund initiative. Currently, they released checks that had not been claimed by beneficiaries and had expired.

$1,300 Stimulus Check: How To Claim?

Over the past year, about 128,000 checks were rereleased because they were not collected within the allocated time.

The Minnesota Department of Revenue verified that all checks were sent to the most recent addresses on file. Beneficiaries have a two-year window to cash these released checks.

The Department detailed on its website that nearly 2.1 million direct payment tax rebates, totaling almost one billion dollars, were processed following legislation passed in May 2023. These payments were based on 2021 income or property tax returns previously filed.

Payments were delivered through direct deposit and physical checks primarily from August to September of the current year. An additional 150,000 unclaimed checks were reissued in November and December, followed by another round in February and March for remaining uncashed checks.

Residents eligible for these checks must meet specific criteria: residency in Minnesota during part or all of 2021, filing relevant tax forms by December 31, 2022, and meeting income thresholds.

For those whose checks expired, there are steps to resolve the issue:

Update Information: Ensure the Department of Revenue has your current address.

Ensure the Department of Revenue has your current address. Contact the Department: If you haven't received or have questions about your check.

If you haven't received or have questions about your check. Await Reissuance: Reissued checks remain valid for two years.

Keeping personal information current is vital to avoid future issues with payments or communications from the department.

Despite challenges like expired checks, established procedures ensure recipients eventually receive their owed benefits. Keeping information updated helps maximize financial benefits without significant inconvenience.

$1,300 Stimulus Check Already Transmitted

A large number of Minnesotans had received one-time tax rebate payments authorized by the legislature during the last session, funded by the state's large budget surplus.

According to Revenue Commissioner Paul Marquart, 200,000 payments were electronically sent late at night on August 11, 2023.

Governor Walz approved strongly for these payments, often referred to particularly as "Walz checks," although this isn't their official name and the amounts are lower than originally hoped by the governor.

Recipients do not need to take any action to receive these payments, as they will be automatically deposited into bank accounts or sent by mail based on 2021 income tax returns.

The exception applies to individuals who have moved or changed bank accounts since filing their 2021 return and missed the July deadline to update their information with the state.

"If updated address or bank information was not provided, we will utilize the details from your 2021 Minnesota Income Tax Return or Property Tax Refund to send your payment," stated the state tax rebate web portal. "Failed direct deposit attempts will result in a check being mailed to the address on that return."

Here's What You Need to Know About $1300 Payments

Anyone who lived in Minnesota in 2021 and filed an income tax return or property tax refund is qualified, given they show the adjusted gross income limits from their 2021 tax return ($75,000 or less for single filers, $150,000 or less for married couples filing jointly).

Those surpassing the adjusted gross income limits claimed dependents and taxpayers who died before January 1, 2023.

No application or form is needed. Repayment will be automatically delivered based on 2021 income tax returns, including adjusted gross income, mailing address, and direct deposit details if given.

$260 for each taxpayer with adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less in 2021

$520 for married couples filing together with an adjusted gross income of $150,000 or less in 2021

$260 per dependent, up to three dependents, if the adjusted gross income requirements are met. This could mean the highest payment of $1,300 for married couples with three dependents.

Payments are processed and started to arrive in bank accounts.
+ Luthers Wonderful Commentary on the Magnificat (March 1521)

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Anti-Catholic Reformed Protestant polemicist James Swan, of Boors All infamy, wrote an article called, Luther: Mary [She is the] highest woman and the noblest gem in Christianity after Christ . . . She is nobility, wisdom, and holiness personified. (8-15-07). His words will be in blue; Martin Luthers in green.

Heres one of a number of quotes used as proof that Luther was devoted to Mary:

[She is the] highest woman and the noblest gem in Christianity after Christ . . . She is nobility, wisdom, and holiness personified. We can never honor her enough. Still honor and praise must be given to her in such a way as to injure neither Christ nor the Scriptures. (Sermon, Christmas, 1531).

This quote probably came into cyber space via an earlier form of this article by a defender of Rome.

He links to my article, Martin Luthers Devotion to Mary, which was published in The Coming Home Journal on January-March 1998, pages 12-13; originally written in 1994. An expanded version remains on my blog.

Swan ridiculously mocks the notion of Luther being devoted to Mary. I have no idea why. He clearly was, and he even used the very word, according to the English translation of his remarkable and edifying commentary, The Magnificat, in Luthers Works (vol. 21, 297-358; I have the complete hardcover set in my living room). Luther states at one point, From this we may learn how to show her the honor and devotion that are her due (p. 322; my emphases). Therefore, not only was he devoted to her, but he also thought that everyone should be. Note that devotion was the word used in the title of my old article that Swan savages. It affirms nothing more than what Luther himself stated.

This article says, Luther held to the idea and devotional practice of the veneration of Mary and expressed this on innumerable occasions with the most effusive language. The quote cited above (along with some others) is offered as proof.

Yes. Thats accurate and I will prove it all the more so in this article.

these defenders of Rome took this quote from a secondary source.

There is nothing whatsoever wrong with that, as long as the secondary source provides a primary source.

I think I know the secondary source this quote comes from. It is from William Coles article Was Luther a Devotee of Mary? (Marian Studies Volume XXI, 1970, p.131). If I were to take the time to go through the Internet archive service, I would probably find that the earliest occurrences of this quote in cyber space were the direct result of a particular Roman Catholic website. Cole states:

In a Christmas sermon of 1531, Luther speaks of Mary as the highest woman and the noblest gem in Christianity after Christ. He goes on to claim that she is nobility, wisdom and holiness personified. We can never honor her enough. Still honor and praise must be given to her in such a way as to injure neither Christ nor the Scriptures (WA 34, 2, 497 and 499).

WA there stands for Weimar Ausgabe: the most complete edition of Luthers works in German (127 volumes). Thats a primary source. Luther spoke these words.

Note, the quote as cited by Cole is actually two quotes from two different pages, separated by an entire page!

Yes; which is why I used ellipses (. . .): to show that there was text in-between. One web page devoted to Ellipses from the University of Arizona states that the omitted material can be a whole paragraph or more (my italics). Cole separated the two portions by writing, He goes on to claim . . . I simply used ellipses rather than quoting Coles interjection.

The question that needs to be asked is what exactly is Marian devotion? In other words, what does it mean for a Roman Catholic to be devoted to Mary, and what does it mean for Luther to be devoted to Mary?

Luther explains exactly what he means by it in his 61-page commentary on the Magnificat (which I will cite at length below), and that was my topic, that Swan is criticizing: Luthers view: not the Catholic one. He wrote that Mary was owed honor and devotion and reiterated over and over what this did and did not entail. I misrepresented nothing whatever in his thinking.

Roman Catholic apologists dont tell you. They leave you thinking both are the same.

Maybe some do that (and they would be partially wrong); I did not and do not. Swans article was directed (like many of his Luther arfticles0 towards me, and I simply didnt do what I was accused of doing. I made several statements indicating that Luthers view of honoring Mary was close to Catholic Marian piety but not identical to it. For example:

Luther did strongly condemn any devotional practices which implied that Mary was in any way equal to our Lord or that she took anything away from His sole sufficiency as our Savior. This is, and always has been, the official teaching of the Catholic Church.

Of course I should note that the Catholic Church does the same.

His major departure occurs with regard to the intercession and invocation of the saints, which he denied, . . . He . . . venerated Mary in a very touching fashion which, as far as it goes, is not at all contrary to Catholic piety.

And I cited a portion of Luthers commentary on the Magnificat, that made it clear what he was advocating; for example: Mary is nothing for the sake of herself, but for the sake of Christ . . . Mary does not wish that we come to her, but through her to God. See also the first thing  from Luther  that Swan cited from my article, at the top. It makes the same distinction.

Not being contrary to something is not the same as being identical. Luther goes on and on about honoring Mary (which he says that God did). Therefore, it follows biblically and logically that if God Himself greatly honored and exalted Mary (Lk 1:52), then who can forbid human beings from doing the same thing? After all we are to imitate God. St. Paul wrote, Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ (1 Cor 11:1) and you became imitators of us and of the Lord (1 Thess 1:6). And St. Peter noted, Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps (1 Pet 2:21).

Servant of God Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. (my mentor), who was one of the leading catechists in the world, defined Veneration of Saints in his Modern Catholic Dictionary in a way virtually identical to Luthers rationale for honoring Mary in this work of his:

Honor paid to the saints who, by their intercession and example and in their possession of God, minister to human sanctification, helping the faithful grow in Christian virtue. Venerating the saints does not detract from the glory given to God, since whatever good they possess is a gift from his bounty. They reflect the divine perfections, and their supernatural qualities result from the graces Christ merited for them by the Cross.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church uses the terminology of devotion and honor with regard to the Blessed Virgin Mary, just as Luther did (even in commenting on the same section of the Magnificat that Luther commented on at length):

971 All generations will call me blessed: . . . The Church rightly honors the Blessed Virgin with special devotion. From the most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honored with the title of Mother of God, to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs. . . . This very special devotion . . . differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this adoration. [my bolding and italics]

Heiko Oberman referred to the warm praise which Luther has for the Mother of God throughout his life (The Impact of the Reformation, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 1994, 242). Luther used the terminology of the immaculate Virgin Mary (Personal Prayer Book, Luthers Works [LW], Vol. 43, 26-27) and urged his readers to praise and thank God through Mary and the grace given her. Laud and love her simply as the one who, without merit, obtained such blessings from God, sheerly out of his mercy . . . (LW, 43, 39). He thought that the Hail Mary was not concerned with prayer but purely with giving praise and honor (LW, 43, 39), and again asserts her sinlessness:

In the first place, she is full of grace, proclaimed to be entirely without sin  something exceedingly great. For Gods grace fills her with everything good and makes her devoid of all evil. (LW, 43., 40)

He affirms Marys the Catholic doctrine of perpetual virginity, including in partu: she gave birth without labor, pain, and injury to herself, not as Eve and all other women (LW, 43, 40). Nor was this only early Luther, which was to change over time. He was still urging Christians to honor Mary in 1536: We do not want to take away from Mary any honor which is her due. . . . let the Blessed Virgin keep her place of honor. (Lectures on Genesis, Chapters 1-5, Feb. 1536, LW, Vol. 1, 192). And Luther taught in 1528 and 1535 that we should honor (i.e., venerate) the saints:

We rightly honor the saints when we recognize that they are held up before us as a mirror of the grace and mercy of God. For just as Peter, Paul, and other saints like us in body, blood, and infirmity, were made blessed by the grace of God through faith, so we are comforted by their example that God will look in mercy and grace on our infirmity, . . . Honoring the saints, also, consists in exercising ourselves and increasing in faith and good works in a manner similar to what we see and hear they have done. Thus the people are to be aroused to faith and good works by the example of the saints, as it is written in Heb. 13 [:7]: . . . (Instructions for the Visitors of Parish Pastors in Electoral Saxony, Jan. 1528; in LW, vol. 40) [H]e [Abraham] cannot be praised enough. . . let us extol and proclaim him with the highest praises, and let us fill heaven and earth with his name; . . . (Lectures on Galatians, 1535; in LW, vol. 26)

So, challenge the Roman apologists to define their terms. They need to be able to tell you what Marian devotion is.

The current topic is what Luther thought of Mary, and what he taught about how all of us should approach her. He carefully defined what he meant and I am passing it along.

They cannot be allowed to equivocate: Luther saying nice things about Mary does not equal Romes version of devotion.

There are many strong similarities and some differences (duh!).

I do not deny that Luther spoke favorably about Mary, but when Catholics say honor or devotion, they mean something quite different than Protestants.

In some respects there are differences, but in most, Luthers approach is very much like ours. Now I will go through Luthers commentary on the Magnificat and comment on it. The online version I am using came from an earlier English translation (probably the six-volume 1930 Philadelphia edition), so it has some minor differences from the Luthers Works version. But they are very similar. I will cite the page numbers from LW. I would say that Catholics agree with maybe 95-97% of what Luther writes in this extraordinary treatise. The main difference would be that Luther denies any merit at all in Mary. Catholics affirm merit and infused justification, because they are biblical doctrines. Fr. Hardon defined merit:

Divine reward for the practice of virtue. It is Catholic doctrine that by his good works a person in the state of grace really acquires a claim to supernatural reward from God. The reward given for good works is not won by reason of actions which precede grace, but grace, which is unmerited, precedes actions in order that they may be performed meritoriously (II Council of Orange [529 A.D.], Denzinger, 388) . . . Merit depends on the free ordinance of God to reward with everlasting happiness the good works performed by his grace. On account of the infinite distance between Creator and creature, a human being alone cannot make God his or her debtor, if God does not do so by his own free ordinance. That God has made such an ordinance is clear from his frequent promises, e.g., the Beatitudes and the prediction of the Last Judgment. (Pocket Catholic Dictionary, New York: Doubleday Image, 1980, 259)

St. Paul taught it:

1 Corinthians 3:8-9 (RSV) He who plants and he who waters are equal, and each shall receive his wages according to his labor. For we are Gods fellow workers; you are Gods field, Gods building. 1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God which is with me. (cf. 15:58; Gal 5:6, 6:7-9) Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (cf. Titus 3:5-8) 2 Timothy 2:15, 21 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. . . . [21] If any one purifies himself from what is ignoble, then he will be a vessel for noble use, consecrated and useful to the master of the house, ready for any good work.

So did Jesus:

Matthew 5:16, 20 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. . . . [20] For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 25:21 His master said to him, well done, good and faithful servant; . . . . . . Luke 18:28-30 And Peter said, Lo, we have left our homes and followed you. [29] And he said to them, Truly, I say to you, there is no man who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, [30] who will not receive manifold more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.

In the Last Supper Discourse, His last major teaching to His disciples (i.e., that we know of), Jesus highlights meritorious works. They had already given up everything to follow Him (Mt 19:27), so He didnt need to mention that. But He told them no less than six times (14:15, 21; 15:10, 12, 14, 17) to keep His commandments.

And St. Peter:

1 Peter 1:17 And if you invoke as Father him who judges each one impartially according to his deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile. 2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, brethren, be the more zealous to confirm your call and election, for if you do this you will never fall;

And St. John:

Revelation 20:12-13 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. [13] And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

See also: Final Judgment & Works (Not Faith): 50 Passages [2-10-08].

Luther thought in either/or terms; in false dichotomies. For him, if God gave Mary grace, then Mary can get no credit or merit at all throughout her whole life. God is everything; she is nothing. Catholics, on the other hand, think in scriptural both/and terms, like Paul did: we are Gods fellow workers; I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God: work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for God is at work in you. Luther seems to be unable to grasp this thinking of God rewarding us for utilizing and following His own gifts and grace. But its thoroughly biblical and Hebraic. Here is Luther expressing an absolutely classic example of the typically Protestant fallacious either/or concept:

But she does take it amiss that the vain chatterers preach and write so many things about her merits. They are set on proving their own skill, and fail to see how they spoil the Magnificat, make the Mother of God a liar, and diminish the grace of God. For, in proportion as we ascribe merit and worthiness to her, we lower the grace of God and diminish the truth of the Magnificat. . . . Hence all those who heap so great praise and honor upon her head are not far from making an idol of her, as though she were concerned that men should honor her and look to her for good things, when in truth she thrusts this from her, and would have us honor God in her and come through her to a good confidence in His grace. (LW, 21, 322)

Luther speculates that Mary might have said the following:

. . . No one should praise me or give me the glory for becoming the Mother of God, but God alone and His work are to be honored and praised in me. It is enough to congratulate me and call me blessed, because God used me and did His works in me. Behold, how completely she traces all to God, lays claim to no works, no honor, no fame. (LW, 21, 329)

Catholics do both. We absolutely concur with honoring God in her and through her and we also honor her obedience and sanctity and holiness. Catholics are the ones who have always said that when we give praise to Gods masterpieces, we are ultimately honoring Him. When we admire Michelangelos Pieta or Leonardo da Vincis Last Supper or Mona Lisa, we are honoring the artists. Its the same with saints. Mary being the Immaculate Mother of God is holier and more worthy of honor than all of them.

That said and clarified, virtually everything else I will cite from Luther in this magnificent treatise is perfectly compatible with the Catholic faith.

the wondrous pure spirit of Mary is worthy of the greater praise, because, having such overwhelming honors heaped upon her head, she does not suffer that to make her stumble, but . . . clings only to Gods goodness, . . . (Luthers Works, Vol. 21, 311) Now, we described above at length, how lowly was the estate of this tender Virgin, and how unexpectedly this honor came to her, that God should regard her in such abundant grace. Hence she does not glory in her worthiness nor yet in her unworthiness, but solely in the divine regard, which is so exceeding good and gracious that He deigned to look upon such a lowly maiden, and to look upon her in so glorious and honorable a fashion. They, therefore, do her an injustice who hold that she gloried, not indeed in her virginity, but in her humility. She gloried neither in the one nor in the other, but only in the gracious regard of God. (LW, 21, 314)

Yes, of course Mary, being the quintessence of humility, doesnt glory in anything that God does for her. But it doesnt follow that God doesnt give her glory. He not only gives it to her, but indeed, even to all of his saints: which is part and parcel of merit. Hence, St. Paul states that we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God (Rom 5:2), and we all, . . . are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another (2 Cor 3:18), and God . . . calls you into his own kingdom and glory (1 Thess 2:12), and To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thess 2:14).

St. Peter adds, the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you (1 Pet 4:14), and him who called us to his own glory (2 Pet 1:3). We dont glory and revel in any of that (Mary being our exemplar) it didnt originate with us  , but we accept Gods gifts and we are thankful and we act upon them. Luther writes accordingly:

Thus David says in Psalm 131:1, Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty. And Job 22:29, He that hath been humbled, shall be in glory: and he that shall bow down his eyes, he shall be saved. Hence honors always come unexpectedly upon them, and they are exalted all at unawares; for they have been simply content with their lowly station and never aspired to the heights. (LW, 21, 315) when honor and elevation come, they must take it unawares and find it immersed in thoughts of other things. Thus Luke tells us (Luke 1:29) that Mary was troubled at the angels saying and considered in her mind what manner of greeting this might be, since she had never expected anything like it. (LW, 21, 315)

***

Note that she does not say men shall speak all manner of good of her, praise her virtues, exalt her virginity or her humility, or sing of what she has done. But for this one thing alone, that God regarded her, will men call her blessed. That is to give all the glory to God as completely as it can be done. Therefore she points to Gods regard and says, For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. . . . Not she is praised thereby, but Gods grace toward her. . . . From this we may learn how to show her the honor and devotion that are her due. (LW, 21, 321-322) Whoever, therefore, would show her the proper honor must not regard her alone and by herself, but set her in the presence of God and far beneath Him, must there strip her of all honor, and regard her low estate, as she says; he should then marvel at the exceeding abundant grace of God Who regards, embraces, and blesses so poor and despised a mortal. . . . She does not want you to come to her, but through her to God. (LW, 21, 322-323)

This is where Luther goes a little off again. Mary indeed is praised, and this is biblical. Luther does a great deal of this himself, so hes a bit at cross-purposes with himself. If God honors her, and an angel hails her, and God shares His glory with her (as He does with all Christians) then by the same token we can and should praise and honor and hail her. An entire chapter of the New Testament (Hebrews 11) is about recognizing the righteousness of saints and honoring them.

St. Paul makes reference to glory and honor and peace for every one who does good (Rom 2:10) and commands us to outdo one another in showing honor (Rom 12:10; cf. Phil 2:29), and states, Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor (1 Tim 5:17). So Catholics highly venerate and honor the Blessed Virgin Mary, and it is all perfectly in line with the Bible and a fundamental, presuppositional understanding that God made Mary all that she was.

After all, were the ones who believe that God performed the extraordinary miracle at her conception of making her immaculate and sinless: before she possibly could have had anything to do with it at all. Nothing is more pure grace from God or sola gratia than Marys Immaculate Conception. And Luther even believed in this, with some relatively minor differences. Weve seen in this treatise how he believed that she was sinless.

the exceeding riches of God joined in her with her utter poverty, the divine honor with her low estate, the divine glory with her shame, the divine greatness with her smallness, the divine goodness with her lack of merit, the divine grace with her unworthiness. (LW, 21, 323)

As I already noted, we Catholics are the ones who believe that God, in a pure act of one-way, monergistic grace, made Mary perfect and immaculate at her conception, fit to be the Mother of God the Son and the Second or New Eve (who says yes to God instead of no), before she could assent to anything. So we, above all people, know that it is ultimately all God. We simply refuse to go to the unnecessary and unbiblical lengths of denying that Mary has any merit through her participation and good works and freely chosen holiness, initiated by Gods grace. Luther writes similarly:

her sole worthiness to become the Mother of God lay in her being fit and appointed for it; so that it might be pure grace and not a reward, that we might not take away from Gods grace, worship and honor by ascribing too great things to her. (LW, 21, 327; my emphasis)

Catholics are sometimes lambasted by Protestants for our notion of fittingness: which is quite biblical. Here is Luther expressing it, too. When Luther writes his main passage about Mary being the Mother of God (Theotokos), his thoughts are thoroughly, profoundly Catholic:

The great things [Lk 1:49] are nothing less than that she became the Mother of God, in which work so many and such great good things are bestowed on her as pass mans understanding. For on this there follows all honor, all blessedness, and her unique place in the whole of mankind, among which she has no equal, namely, that she had a child by the Father in heaven, and such a Child. She herself is unable to find a name for this work, it is too exceeding great; all she can do is break out in the fervent cry, are great things, impossible to describe or define. Hence men have crowded all her glory into a single word, calling her the Mother of God. No one can say anything greater of her or to her, though he had as many tongues as there are leaves on the trees, or grass in the fields, or stars in the sky, or sand by the sea. It needs to be pondered in the heart, what it means to be the Mother of God. (LW, 21, 326)

In the next paragraph Luther states that she was without sin (LW, 21, 327). Luther even calls Mary the Queen of Heaven!:

It is necessary also to keep within bounds and not make too much of calling her Queen of heaven, which is a true enough name and yet does not make her a goddess, who could grant gifts or render aid, as some suppose, that pray and flee to her rather than to God. She gives nothing, God gives all, . . . (LW, 21, 327-328)

Again, any adequately catechized, informed Catholic knows full well that Mary is not a goddess. She is Gods highest creature; His masterpiece. We also know that when we ask for her intercession, it is for the purpose of her going to God to ask for our prayer request, according to the strong biblical principle of, The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects (Jas 5:16).

If a Protestant objects that we mustnt make such requests (even of an intercessory nature) to anyone but God, then they have to explain why Jesus taught that it was proper to petition the dead Abraham (Luke 16). Best wishes in that endeavor! Ive debated that about ten times and have never seen an adequate counter-reply. And Ive defended from the Bible the idea that saints can hear millions of intercessory requests at once, etc.

Lo and behold, Luther also espouses invocation of Mary and other saints, too:

We ought to call upon her, that for her sake God may grant and do what we request. Thus also all other saints are to be invoked, so that the work may be every way Gods alone. (LW, 21, 329)

Later, he ceases to believe in this, but here in March 1521, three-and-a half years after his initial rebellion against the Catholic Church, he thinks it is perfectly proper.

St. Paul indeed says, in Romans 12:10, that we ought to strive to prefer one another in honor. But no one should accept the honor as accorded to him nor take it to himself, but should hallow it and ascribe it to God, to Whom it belongs, by performing all manner of good works, from which honor comes. For no one should lead a dishonorable life. But if he is to live honorably, there must needs be honor shown him. (LW, 21, 330)

Paul does both, not just the one thing, in writing, we are Gods fellow workers and I worked harder than any of them and work out your own salvation. The both/and outlook is the biblical one. Either/or thinking is corrupt Greek rationalism applied from the outside to the Bible, where it doesnt belong (in other words, eisegesis).

There we have it, folks. My statement, written in 1994 and published in 1998, remains as true as it ever was: Luther indeed was quite devoted to Our Lady, and retained most of the traditional Marian doctrines which were held then and now by the Catholic Church . . . it is apparent that Luther was extraordinarily devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. I also accurately wrote, thirty years ago:

Luthers Mariology is very close to that of the Catholic Church today, far more than it is to the theology of modern-day Lutheranism. To the extent that this fact is dealt with at all by Protestants, it is usually explained as a holdover from the early Luthers late medieval Augustinian Catholic views (everyone has their blind spots, etc.). But this will not do for those who are serious about consulting Luther in order to arrive at the true Reformation heritage and the roots of an authentic Protestantism.

*
The Groupe Nduom Bank has taken a bold stance against the Bank of Ghana (BoG), refuting claims of regulatory infringements that have been cited as grounds for the collapsed financial establishment.



In a rebuttal, Group Nduom dismissed the central banks depiction of alleged infractions related to purported unauthorized fund transfers to its overseas arm as fabrications.



Through an official statement, Group Nduom said the BoGs assertions surrounding the movement of $62 million to an American subsidiary were grossly inaccurate and devoid of substantiation.



Did GN Bank illegally transfer $62 million to a related company in the USA? No. The company involved, International Business Solutions (IBS), was started by Dr. Nduom in the 1980s. Its objects included business advisory services, the procurement of business equipment, the sale of computers and printers, etc. An IBS company was also established in Ghana.



Generators, computers, air conditioning equipment, vehicles, and raw materials for Groupe Nduom companies have been imported through IBS and paid for by the relevant companies. This has gone on legally with appropriate documentation since the 1980s.



The idea that over $60 million in foreign currency transactions can occur over a 10-year period with no documentation as implied by the Bank of Ghana in that release is extremely far-fetched.



According to the statement, GN Bank Management and IBS provided documentation to support their activities, adding, however, that nothing was heard from BoG after repeated requests until the allegation showed up in the GN Savings statement on August 16, 2019.



The Company also denied claims by the BoG that the GN Bank was used to mobilise funds for subsidiary companies of the Bank.



Was GN Banks object to mobilise deposits for affiliates? Not true. The truth that can be confirmed is that GN Banks affiliates were the Banks biggest depositors and today have the most funds locked up with the receiver. Also, GN Bank affiliates, as of August 16, 2019, had paid off loans they had taken from the Bank. They have pay-off letters to this effect.



The defunct Bank reiterated that its insolvency was occasioned by the governments indebtedness to contractors, indicating that If the government had paid the GH1.8 billion it owed the contractors, the defunct bank would have been in a better financial position, it stated.



Meanwhile, the bank strongly believes that its absence had created a huge vacuum in the financial inclusion efforts in the country, as current banks had failed in filling the gap.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









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

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Mr. Kwabena Apau Awua Anto, Head of the Ghana Revenue Authoritys (GRA) Excise Unit, has revealed that the GRA will soon rigorously enforce the Excise Duty law that requires manufacturers of excisable goods to issue a bond or security.



All manufacturers producing excisable goods are required to register under the Excise Duty law. This is the first point of compliance. The warehouse where you are keeping those excisable goods must also be registered and you should also provide bond or security.



The first two are rigorously being followed. It is the third part, which is the issuance of a bond or security that has been relaxed but discussions are ongoing to begin rigorously enforcing that too.



Speaking during the UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerces (UKGCC) and PwC Ghana webinar on Compliance for Businesses in Ghana under the Excise Duty Act 2024 (Act 878) & Excise Duty (Amendment) Act 2023 (Act 1093 and Act 1108), Mr. Anto explained that the law would now be rigorously enforced because bonds provide critical information on the quantity of excisable goods to be produced, the amount of excise duty to be collected, and the date by which excise duty will be paid.



A bond must therefore be issued to provide grounds for the Commissioner General of the GRA to retrieve taxes, should the manufacturer fail to pay according to the law. Manufacturers who fail to enter into bond or lodge security will pay twice the amount of duty in penalties.



Mr. Anto added that if manufacturers intend to increase their production, they ought to ensure their bonds reflect the change so the appropriate revenues can be collected.



What is Excise?



Excise is an indirect tax administered worldwide for different reasons. It is not a general consumption tax like Value Added Tax (VAT).



Excise is imposed on selected products either locally manufactured or imported. They are also imposed at different stages of the manufacturing process, either at the point of sale, distribution, point of importation, or point of manufacture.



Why Does Ghanas Government impose Excise Duties?



According to Mr. Anto, excise duties are imposed to discourage certain behaviours and reduce their consumption to curtail non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and others.



In the last amendment 1093, excise duty on sweetened beverages and fruit juices was introduced. It was aimed at making the product a bit expensive so consumption of these products can be reduced, their consumption of which cause health problems.



It is also used for the redistribution of wealth. You can impose excise duty on products patronised largely by the affluent to benefit society.



Excisable Products



Excisable goods, per Section 1 of the Excise Duty Act 2014, include alcoholic drinks (spirits) with excise duty rate of 50% of its ex-factory price; and wines with an excise duty rate of 45% of its ex-factory price.



Mr. Anto remarked that the current amendment of the Excise Duty Act introduced a hybrid excise duty rate on tobacco products. For every stick of cigarette, the excise duty rate of 28pesewas is applied, together with ad valorem rate of 50% of the ex-factory rate or if imported, the value applicable to it at the ports.



The excise duty rate for beers and malt drinks are affected by a sliding scale policy where manufacturers, depending on the quantity of local raw material used for the manufacture of beers and malt drinks, are granted concessionary duty rates.



Fruit juices, on the other hand, attract a standard excise duty rate of 20% whether locally manufactured or imported.



Other excisable products are pharmaceuticals and textiles (domestic/African prints) which are zero-rated, plastic and plastic products, and petroleum products.



Compliance with the Excise Duty Act



Mr. Anto remarked that registration is the beginning of the compliance process. Therefore, manufacturers of excisable goods who fail to register with the GRA pay the higher of twice the amount of duty or GHS500-1000, while manufacturing outside a warehouse attracts twice the amount of duty.



Other offences such as failure to submit a return attracts a fine of GHS500 in addition to GHS10 per day, while failure to pay tax on the due date attracts 15% of duty in addition to interest of 5% for each day of default.



Excises are not that popular. However, we have introduced measures to make sure that there is compliance, and to protect peoples brands so all of us should take interest in making sure we comply, Mr. Anto stated.



Excise Tax: Challenges and Solutions



Maxwell Ntiri, Senior Manager  Tax Line of Service at PwC Ghana and webinar moderator, noted that Ghanas excise tax regime is fraught with challenges. These, he said, include insufficient tax education, varying in positions of tax officials, and weak enforcement of excise tax laws.



He suggested an intensification of tax education, consistency in applying the provisions of the tax laws, and increased compliance enforcement, respectively, as solutions.



Mr. Anto also admitted that the registration process is quite a cumbersome one. He shared, however, that officers are on hand to guide clients through the process should they visit the GRA offices.



The Future of Tax in Ghana



For his part, Mr. Daniel Nuer, Head of the Tax Policy Unit, Ministry of Finance, remarked that Ghanaians should expect more excise tax regimes as the government reduces taxes and provides incentives for other sectors of the economy.



The general idea is to be able to use taxation to expand the economy and support growth.



He urged industry to share their concerns with the tax authorities so they can be considered when tax policies are being drafted. He also encouraged Ghanaians to see the implementation of taxes as a collective duty and not just as that of the revenue authoritys or the governments.



Imitation tax stamps and smuggling works against our jobs and our livelihoods so when you notice things like this, give us a call and we will follow up, he said.



Mr. Anto added if you find any product on the market without tax stamps, please notify the GRA office close to you.



He invited Ghanaians to download the GRA Tax Stamp Authenticator app from the Google Play store, to verify the authenticity of stamps affixed to products to help enhance compliance.



The panel also discussed a wide range of related topics such as credits and the conditions for refunds, the rationale behind the introduction of zero-rated excisable goods, the emissions levy, and the difference between VAT and Excise Duty exemptions.

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The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has called on the government to release, at least, fifty percent (50%) of the money needed to conduct the July 2024 Basic Education certificate Examination (BECE).



WAEC maintains that, the 2024 edition of BECE faces a possible postponement should the government fail to meet the examination half-way, as far as their financial demands is concerned.



The Head of Public Affairs of WAEC, Mr. John K. Kapi explained that, the BECE comprises of candidates from both the public and private schools.



Speaking in an exclusive interview on UTVs 'Mpu Ne Mpu' on Friday, June 21, 2024, Mr. Kapi noted that, students from the private schools have all had their registration fees paid in full whiles students from the public schools are waiting on the government to have their fees sorted out.



According to the Examination Council, a total of four hundred and forty-seven thousand, eight hundred and seventeen (447,817) candidates from the public schools are supposed to pay two hundred and fourteen Ghana cedis each (GHS 214). The government is supposed to pay the fees for the public school candidates since the introduction of the free basic education which saw the government absorbing all fees for students in public schools.



The government is expected to pay a total of ninety-five million, eight hundred and thirty-two thousand, eight hundred and thirty-eight Ghana cedis (GHS 95,832,838), but WAEC urges the government to pay 50% of the total cost in order to conduct the examinations.



If we receive the 50% part payment we can start the process. The 50% we are demanding will only sustain the process to the 15th of July because, the script markers ought to be paid for marking the exams script. We also need part of the money to run the examination process," he said.



Watch video below





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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has announced that Ghanaian travellers will no longer be required to pay fees for Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) when visiting Kenya.



This change recognizes the existing visa-free regime agreement between the two countries.



"The Republic of Kenya, in recognition of the existing visa-free regime agreement between the Republic of Kenya and the Republic of Ghana, has informed that Ghanaian travellers will now be issued an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) on a gratis basis upon application for travel to Kenya," the ministry stated in an official announcement.



Ghanaians planning to visit Kenya are required to submit their ETA applications through the official portal, www.etakenya.go.ke, for approval prior to their departure.



This streamlined process ensures that travellers can easily comply with entry requirements without incurring additional costs.



"The travelling public is hereby advised to take note of this new development accordingly," emphasized the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.









Source: ghanaweb.com









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All is set for the grand enstoolment of Nana Oduro Nemapau II, as New York Asantefuohene on Friday, July 5, 2024.



The event which will be held at the Inspirational Gospel Assembly 1211 Brook Avenue, Bronx, New York 10456 will take place from 6:00pm to 1:00am.



The important event will see dignitaries from the Manhyia Palace, Kumasi, Ghana, gracing the occasion amidst pomp and pageantry.



Rich Ashanti culture and quality Kente cloth are expected to be showcased at the colourful event.



After the enstoolment on Friday, a grand party will be organized on Saturday, July 6, 2024 [Eastwood Manor Caterers] 3371 Eastchester Road, Bronx, New York 10469. A Townhall meeting will also be held with the Delegation from Manhyia Palace



A Barbecue is planned for July 7 at Crotona Park Sourt  Bronx, New York 10456.



The programme put together by the Asantefuo Kuo Hene, Nana Oduro Nemapau II New York, North America which includes fund raising to support the development of Okomfo anokye teaching hospital among other important activities is scheduled within 3 days.



Swearing in oath of allegiance of chiefs and queens is to help steer the affairs of the Association - Asantefuo kuo New York. According to Nana Oduro Nemapau II, the association will unite not only the Ashanti's in New York but anyone from Ghana in New York who joins and support each other when there's the need.

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Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong has expressed his frustration, having to defend the involvement of his hotel in a public bid, when the country is grappling with weightier matters like the escalating prices of tomatoes and other food items on the market.



The minister has come under public scrutiny on allegations of conflict of interest over the involvement of his hotel, the Rock City Hotel in a public bid to acquire a 60% stake in four hotels owned by the state pensions provider, Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT),



A mammoth demonstration was staged by the Member of Parliament for North Tongu Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa to protest SSNITs insistence that it did nothing wrong tipping Rock City Hotel out of eight bidders, as the most preferred company which provided the best technical and financial muscle for the tender.



The protest which was joined by indigenes of La and organized labour took it out hard on the Nana Akufo Addo administration accusing it of allocating state property to politically exposed persons, cronies and party functionaries.



The MP further insisted that Rock City Hotel had made losses amounting to some 1.7 million cedis; questioning the capacity of the company to have won the bid to acquire majority stake in some SSNIT Hotels which were posting decent profits.



Responding to these allegations however, the agric minister who doubles as MP for Abetifi described the assertions as a baseless distraction coming at a time when his office is saddled with rising food prices.



The last thing I want to do is in the face of rising tomato prices, my voice is on the radio talking about hotels.



I stayed away from it but when the young man was now moving into the realms of lies, and more lies and more lies, hoping that Ghanaians will believe him, then we have to stop him in his tracks, he stated.



True to the ministers difficulties; tomato prices have shot through the roof with four going for as high as twenty cedis in some markets.



Rock City Losses



Challenging documents Okudzeto Ablakwa purported to have intercepted from the Ghana Revenue Authority as proof of Rock Citys losses, Dr. Bryan Acheampong insisted that managers of Rock City Hotel were yet to file its 2023 annual return with the GRA.



He indicated that auditors Deloitte & Touche had not yet concluded the audit of the companys accounts which he divulged would be filed before a June 30th deadline.



He described the North Tongu legislators over-concentration on interpreting the profits and losses of companies as ignorant insisting the prospects of businesses go beyond the mere face value of such accounts.



If the sponsors of Rock City decide that they will put their money behind Rock City to acquire other interests, what does it mean? When you go into that realm, you are exposing yourself as someone who has not done business before?



Conflict of Interest



Bryan Acheampong argued that he had stayed clear of any position of profit in his private establishments after becoming a Member of Parliament and refrained from lobbying for government offers.



He insisted that the claims of conflict of interest could not be grounded as the bid was filed in February 2022 at which time he was not a cabinet minister.



I make sure I stay away, I am not a manager, I dont occupy any office of profit, I know those lines and I walk them. I will not behave like that, he noted.



Meanwhile, organized labour has sent a clear message to government to halt the planned sale of 60% of SSNITs interests in the four hotels  Labadi Beach Hotel, La Palm Royal Beach Resort, Elmina Beach Resort and Ridge Royal Hotel.







Source: starrfm









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An American man who recently visited West Africa has said that people in the part of the world, are starting to live better lives than those in America, and he gave reasons.



The man, who is a real estate investment adviser, explained that it is better to be doing well in Africa than to be doing well in America.



He said those who are well-to-do in Africa enjoy a better quality of life and own things in their name.



On the other hand, those in America who seem to be doing well are drowning in debt and most of the things they own have not been fully paid for.



He said it felt like a culture shock when he returned to America after visiting Africa.



"If you're doing really well in your life, it is better to be doing really well in Africa than it is to be in America," he said. He said that rich people in Africa are a lot more relaxed, generous, and can take time off work for leisure.



However, the rich people in America can't because once they do, the bills pile up.



He said, "It shows kind of why I feel West Africa is the future because here people are putting up an appearance of being rich, well-to-do, but it's fueled by debt and it's fueled by them working two jobs.



"Your husband and wife are both working high-paying jobs, 50 hours a week each and doing all of that just to create this facade.



"Whereas in West Africa, once these guys have made it, they're living good lives, they're having that balance of life, and they're not killing themselves."



Watch the video below.

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As the search for a running mate for Dr. Bawumia intensifies, Taxi drivers at the Race Course in Kumasi have publicly endorsed the Chief of Staff as the ideal candidate for the position.



According to the drivers, the Chief of Staff, Hon Akosua Fremah Osei Opare has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and can work well with various stakeholders.



"We believe the Chief of Staff has the qualities needed to complement Dr. Bawumia's ticket," one of the drivers told Peacefmonline



They revealed that they have been impressed by the Chief of Staff's dedication to the country's development and their ability to connect with ordinary Ghanaians.



These drivers said they are enthralled with the support the race course market has been receiving from the office of the Chief of staff which according to them has facelifted the market in various ways.



They believed that Hon Akosua Fremah Osei Opares appointment as running mate would be a wise decision and would be unprecedented in the history of Ghana for a woman to become a Vice President.



The taxi drivers, who are mostly members of the NPP, believe that elevating the Chief of Staff to a higher office would be a significant step towards recognizing the contributions of women to the party's success.



They also argued that it would inspire more women to take up leadership roles in the party and in the country. The drivers have therefore called on the party's leadership to consider their appeal and give due recognition to the Chief of Staff's hard work and dedication.



The endorsement comes as various groups have come out and individuals continue to lobby for their preferred candidates to be chosen as Dr. Bawumia's running mate.



The race to find a running mate for Dr. Bawumia is expected to intensify in the coming days, with various individuals eyeing for the position.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Professor Jane Naana Opoku  Agyemang, the running mate for the flag bearer of the national Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has cautioned Ghanaian electorates to be weary of the New Patriotic Party and their mantra, it is possible, stating that the NPP has not been able to deliver on their numerous promises. .



Professor Opoku-Agyemang lamented over the hardships Ghanaians have been innocently plunged into coupled with the unfulfilled promises made by the NPP government.



She made this call during an engagement with female media professionals in Accra on Thursday, June 20, 2024.



According to her, the picketing by pensioner bondholders at the ministry of Finance demanding the release of their monies is a classic example of a failed governmental administration.



She added that, it is about time Ghanaians thoroughly scrutinises the NPPs promises and align them to the reality of their delivery when making electoral decisions.



She said, At a time of different haircuts, and at a time old people picketing at the ministry of financeat that time they also thought that none of this will happen, they didnt even imagine that it is possible. But that has been possible, so when you hear about it is possible, think about it. It is possible to picket at the Ministry of Finance, its possible to have a different style or haircut.



She posited that the NDC has innovative ideas that will propel Ghana to the better Ghana that is envisaged by all and sundry. She, however, strongly dismissed criticisms that the NDC lacks ideas and the vision to govern effectively if elected.



Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang stated, When we say it is a peoples manifesto, we mean it, I keep saying that you can just shut a couple of us in a room for a couple of weeks and we can draft one for you nicely. But for who are you doing the manifesto for? Does it include journalists? Yes, it includes journalists of many areas of focus.



But what about the women? What is worrying them that we have to know? And if you dont talk to them as a group, how will you know? Its not that you lack ideas, no, those are childish. Were a serious party. That is why were engaging all of you, he said.





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Ghanaian female rapper, Eno Barony, credited with a number of hit songs, has declared that she is not in the music business to showcase her rap skills to her male counterparts.



The African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA) 2020 Best Female Rapper, revealed this in an interview with Lord Sly on Guide Radios drive time program, Flight Time.



The rapper, whose goal is to use her music to influence constructive social change, is regarded as one of Ghanas rising stars at the moment.



I dont think I have to prove anything to males. My objective is self-improvement and personal growth. I push myself all the time to become a better artiste and to go beyond my past successes, she told Lord Sly.



She highlighted that her passion to encourage the next generation and share her life experiences is what drives her to create rap music.



The female rapper thinks that with the knowledge she has gained thus far in her career, along with her musical taste and stage presence, she will have a significant influence on the global music scene shortly.



My life is reflected in my songs. I put my whole being into each song, making it possible for listeners to identify with my challenges and journey, she said.



Eno talked about the difficulties she had in her early career, especially her fathers opposition to her desire to become a rapper.



She persisted in pursuing her love of music in spite of resistance and even physical abuse from her father.



Eno Barony, whose real name is Ruth Adjoa Amankwah Nyame Adom, announced her presence in the music scene in 2014 with the release of her single, Wats Ma Name.



Later on, she recorded further songs, working with Abrewa Nana on Megye Wo Boy in 2015.



In 2016, she recorded a single, Daawa with Shatta Wale and also worked with hiplife rapper Kwaw Kese on a song titled Gari.



Other collaborations also featured singles Touch the Body with Stonebwoy and King of Queens with Medikal.



In 2017, she released a song titled Juice Me, followed by another single with Ebony Reigns, titled Obiaa Ba Ny3.



In November 2020, she won the African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA) award for Best Best Female Rap Act in Africa.



She also won an award at the 2021 3Music Awards to become the first female artiste in Ghana to have won the Rapper of the Year award.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









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One Corner hit-maker, Justice Amoah popularly known as Patapaa, has disclosed that he is not emotionally traumatised by the negative turn of his marriage since he didnt propose love to his estranged German wife, Liha Miller.



The famous marriage which took place in 2021, was said to have broken down shortly after the wedding, with the couple separating for over two years.



Interestingly, Patapaa had been tight-lipped about his marriage challenges, deliberately turning down to answer questions about his supposed divorce during interviews.



But the state of his not so good marriage was perhaps brought to light by Liha, who disclosed in a recent interview that she had been in touch with Patapaas parents to finalise their marriage.



She also disclosed during the said interview that she wasnt in Ghana because of him.



But in a recent interview with Angel TV, the man from Swedru finally talked about his marriage crisis, admitting that they were in the process of dissolving the union.



However, he is not brokenhearted, as many expected, since he didnt propose to her but Liha made the first move when she asked a betweener to link them up in her house.



Patapaa disclosed that he is still wearing his wedding ring because of the respect he has for the judicial system since the marriage hasnt been legally dissolved.

Source: graphic.com.gh









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Want a say in the news? Email Claudia at todayinpa@pennlive.com to have your thoughts on the stories covered here or on PennLive heard.

You can listen to the latest episode of Today in Pa on any of your favorite apps including Alexa, Apple, Spotify, Stitcher and YouTube. Episodes are available every weekday on PennLive. Feel free to subscribe, follow or rate Today in Pa. as you see fit!

Today in Pa. Daily Podcast | June 21, 2024

Cops found a bestiality bus broken down in Adams County. A Pittsburgh-based company which offers at-home rape kits is currently embroiled in a battle with the state Attorney Generals office. SEPTA will crack down on quality-of-life issues. Plus, airport security confiscated several grenades the other day.

Those are the stories we cover in the latest episode of Today in Pa., a daily weekday podcast from PennLive.com and hosted by Claudia Dimuro. Today in Pa. is dedicated to sharing the most important and interesting stories pertaining to Pennsylvania that lets you know, indeed, whats happening today in Pa.

Todays episode refers to the following articles:

If you enjoy Today in Pa., consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or on Amazon. Reviews help others find the show and, besides, wed like to know what you think about the program, too.

As sponsored by Renewal by Anderson of Central PA.
A 1991 Lancaster County murder case has found new footing after human remains discovered in Clay Township were identified, the Lancaster County District Attorneys Office and Pennsylvania State Police announced.

Derek Michael Masons body was discovered in a wooded area along the Pennsylvania Turnpike in January 1992 but remained unidentified until December 2023. Mason, of Philadelphia, was known in the area as Hawkeye and Hawk and was last seen leaving his residence in West Philadelphia in October 1991. Mason was determined to be a victim of homicide.

To identify the body, Pennsylvania State Police and Lancaster County District Attorneys Office partnered to fund forensic genetic genealogy. Bone samples from the remains were sent to Texas for advanced DNA testing, and after completion, a state police analyst conducted genealogical research to identify possible family members.

After interviews with family members and additional DNA testing, the remains were confirmed to be Mason.

Anyone with information about Masons homicide should contact Trooper Brian McNally with the Lancaster state police at 717-290-1967. There is a $2,000 reward for any information that leads to an arrest.

According to LNP, Masons bones was found inside of a trash bag rolled up in an artificial grass rug with underwear and parts of a gray sweater. When the body was discovered, state police said the person was shot.
LEWISBURG  The Union County woman serving a life sentence for fatally poisoning her husband in 2018 after depleting his savings is appealing her conviction to the state Superior Court.

Myrle E. Miller, 79, formerly of Winfield, filed a notice of appeal Thursday in county court.

The notice did not state what issues are being raised but her attorney Alexander L. Silow said all aspects including sufficiency of the evidence will be reviewed.

Specially assigned Lehigh County Senior Judge Edward R. Reibman in May affirmed the conviction writing: The jurys verdict in all aspects is supported by the evidence and does not shock the courts sense of justice.

She was found guilty on charges of first-degree murder, insurance fraud, theft, forgery, perjury and dealing in proceeds from unlawful activity.

Reibman had sentenced her last July to life in prison without parole for killing John E. Nichols, 77, plus another 8 years, 8 months to 24 years, 6 months on related charges.

An autopsy determined the cause of Nichols April 14, 2018, death was an acute amount of Verapamil, a blood pressure medication prescribed for Miller.

The judge provided this summation of the evidence to support his affirmation of the verdict:

From at least October 2017 until Nichols death, Miller was the only person who signed for, picked up, managed and laid out his medications.

Miller picked up a 90-day supply of Verapamil on Feb. 1, 2018, and another 90-day supply two days before her husband died. She picked up other medications for Nichols two other times in the month he died.

In the months leading up to the death, Miller engaged in online exchanges with men for whom she professed love.

Nichols had three Prudential life insurance policies with his three children becoming the primary beneficiaries following the 2000 death of his first wife. He married Miller on Dec. 31, 2012.

On April 17, 2013, the primary beneficiary of one of the policies was switched to Miller. Less than a month later Prudential confirmed Nichols address had changed from their Millmont home to a post office box Miller procured.

On June 13, 2017, Prudential received a handwritten letter indicating Nichols wanted to change the beneficiary of the other two policies to Miller.

Prudential received a change of beneficiary form purportedly signed by Nichols on July 10, 2017. A handwriting expert testified someone other than Nichols had signed it.

At least 390 checks were drawn on Nichols bank account between January 2010 and March 2018 made payable to cash or third parties.

A forensic account said the handwriting expert questioned Nichols signature on checks totaling $395,546 of which $101,925 were made out to Miller, $209,040 to cash and the rest to third parties.

A friend of Millers admitted at her request he posed as Nichols when he called an insurance company to report he had cancer and needed money to travel to Colorado for treatment.

In November 2017 she induced another friend to pose as Nichols in a failed attempt to give Miller power of attorney to make financial and medical decisions.

The Union/Snyder County Area Agency on Aging investigator made an unannounced visit to the home on April 5, 2018.

He told her he had more than $220,000 in bank accounts and that Miller gets all the mail and pays the bills.

Statements obtained by the investigator showed Nichols bank accounts and a variable annuity were closed or nearly wiped out.

Three days before her husbands death Miller searched the internet for marriage laws in Pennsylvania, divorce lawyers and dividing assets in a divorce.

Hours before Nichols died Miller engaged in a series of suggestive and romantic messages with a man.

Miller called her daughter and then 911 at 10:53 p.m. on April 14, 2018, reporting her husband was unresponsive, not breathing and she thought he had suffered a heart attack.

She told a dispatcher she was not capable of performing CPR despite having worked as a certified nurses assistant.
Colleen Tomko is parent of an adult son with Intellectual Disability and Autism (ID/A). Colleen has been involved in disability advocacy for 35 years, ranging from local and state committees, boards, and initiatives, to providing testimony at a U.S. congressional hearing on special education funding. Her son was the first student with his level of needs to be fully included in their school district and to continue to work on his IEP goals on a college campus for his four transition yearsUser submitted photo
Extra Special Day for Christopher Vitch As He Wins Event #48: $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha

Tyler Foran Live Reporter Copy link

Christopher Vitch has won his third gold bracelet here at the 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Event #48: $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas as he topped the field of 2,212 entries.

It took three days for Vitch to take home the lions share of the $1,946,560 prize pool, earning $262,734 for his hard work as he denied runner-up Thomas Taylor his first gold bracelet.

2024 World Series of Poker Hub Bookmark this page! All you need to know about the 2024 WSOP is here. Click Here

Event #48: $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize 1 Christopher Vitch United States $262,734 2 Thomas Taylor Canada $175,179 3 David Prociak United States $126,853 4 Joe Firova United States $92,850 5 Jay Harwood United Kingdom $68,702 6 Ioannis Angelou Konstas Greece $51,396 7 Kharlin Sued United States $38,877 8 Christopher Frank Germany $29,740

Winner's Reaction

Although Vitch is better known for his skills in mixed-game varieties of poker, he has demonstrated his ability to compete in Pot-Limit Omaha as well. "I'm not as experienced in PLO, so I just relied on my instincts," he said.

Its a strange day, Vitch explained, with today holding extra significance to him marking two years since his mom passed. It feels kind of incredible, that it worked out that I won a random tournament on this day.

He put on an impressive showing as he started the day only slightly behind chip leader and two-time bracelet winner David Prociak. It didnt take long for him to pull away from the competition and never look back.

Final Day Action

Only eight players returned to Day 3, and it didnt take long for the action to heat up as it only took a few hands before Germanys high-roller Christopher Frank fell short-stacked as he ran into Prociak's boat. He only had two big blinds remaining and was eliminated by the eventual runner-up Taylor the next hand.

It was quickly becoming the Vitch show as he began amassing pot after pot. Despite being one of the two chip leaders alongside Prociak, he showed no hesitation in engaging head-to-head battles. This included a pivotal moment in Level 30 when he flopped a full house, against Prociak and took a significant portion of his chips.

Vitch was relentless throughout the entire day, engaging in as many pots as possible. His aggressive style lead to him eliminating both Ioannis Angelou Konstas (6th  51396), and Jay Harwood (5th $68,702).

As three-handed play began, Prociak and Taylor had similar stacks while Vitch remained the dominant favorite. Prociak began rebuilding his stack but was ultimately denied his third bracelet when his wrap couldnt overcome Taylors pocket kings. This set the stage for the final two players to enter heads-up play.

Canadian Taylor began heads-up play as a nearly three-to-one underdog, initiating a back-and-forth battle. Taylor seemed to be making a comeback after winning a few pots, but his run ended when he rivered a queen-high flush against Vitchs king-high flush.

Vitch is playing a full schedule this summer and says he is headed to celebrate by jumping straight into Event #53: $3,000 Nine Game Mix. Im excited that I have a win under my belt, but I have plenty more events to play.

That concludes the PokerNews live reporting from this event, but several other tournaments are currently taking place in which a WSOP gold bracelet is up for grabs.

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Christopher Vitch has won his third gold bracelet here at the 2024 World Series of Poker in Event #48: $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas as he topped the field of 2,212 entries.

It took three days for Vitch to take home the lions share of the $1,946,560 prize pool, earning $262,734 for his hard work as he denied runner-up Thomas Taylor his first gold bracelet.

Although Vitch is better known for his skills in mixed-game varieties of poker, he has demonstrated his ability to compete in Pot-Limit Omaha as well. "I'm not as experienced in PLO, so I just relied on my instincts," he said.

Its a strange day, Vitch explained, as two years ago on this day his mom passed. It feels kind of incredible, that it worked out that I won a random tournament on this day.

He put on an impressive showing as he started the day only slightly behind chip leader and two-time bracelet winner David Prociak. It didnt take long for him to pull away from the competition and never look back.

Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize 1 Christopher Vitch United States $262,734 2 Thomas Taylor Canada $175,179 3 David Prociak United States $126,853 4 Joe Firova United States $92,850 5 Jay Harwood United Kingdom $68,702 6 Ioannis Angelou Konstas Greece $51,396 7 Kharlin Sued United States $38,877 8 Christopher Frank Germany $29,740

Final Day Action

Only eight players returned for Day 3 and it didnt take long for the action to heat up as it only took a few hands before Germanys high-roller Christopher Frank fell short-stacked as he ran into Prociak's boat. He only had two big blinds remaining and was eliminated by the eventual runner-up Taylor the next hand.

It was quickly becoming the Vitch show as he began amassing pot after pot. Despite being one of the two chip leaders alongside Prociak, he showed no hesitation in engaging head-to-head battles. This included a pivotal moment in Level 30 when he flopped a full house against Prociak and took a significant portion of his chips.

Vitch was relentless throughout the entire day, engaging in as many pots as possible. His aggressive style lead to him eliminating both Ioannis Angelou Konstas (6th  51396), and Jay Harwood (5th $68,702).

David Prociak

As three-handed play began, Prociak and Taylor had similar stacks while Vitch remained the dominant favorite. Prociak began rebuilding his stack but was ultimately denied his third bracelet when his wrap couldnt overcome Taylors pocket kings. This set the stage for the final two players to enter heads-up play.

Thomas Taylor

Canadian poker professional Taylor began heads-up play as a nearly three-to-one underdog, initiating a back-and-forth battle. Taylor seemed to be making a comeback after winning a few pots, but his run ended when he rivered a queen-high flush against Vitchs king-high flush.

Chris Vitch

Vitch is playing a full schedule this summer and says he is headed to celebrate by jumping straight into Event #53: $3,000 Nine Game Mix. Im excited that I have a win under my belt, but I have plenty more events to play.

That concludes the PokerNews live reporting from this event, but several other tournaments are currently taking place in which a WSOP gold bracelet is up for grabs.
Day 3 of Event #49: $3,000 Freezeout No-Limit Holdem of the 2024 World Series of Poker at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas will start up at noon with 13 players left who are fighting for the $523,195 grand prize out of the large $3,342,840 prize pool.

All of the returning players except for one are aiming for their first bracelet, lead by Ben Hoy. He is having a remarkable run as his poker resume is not very full yet, with his largest cash prior to this being for just over $7,000 in an online event. This is a huge way for him to make his first big splash on the poker scene as he starts the day in pole position.

Top Ten Chip Counts

Rank Player Country Chips Big Blinds 1 Ben Hoy United States 7,300,000 61 2 Joseph Carden United States 6,300,000 53 3 Erlend Melsom Norway 4,980,000 42 4 Nikolay Yosifov Bulgaria 4,635,000 39 5 Uri Reichenstein Israel 4,480,000 37 6 David Stamm United States 4,300,000 36 7 Maxx Coleman United States 4,105,000 34 8 Ivan Ruban Russia 3,445,000 29 9 Clemen Deng United States 3,260,000 27 10 Morgan Petro United States 2,560,000 21

It is a diverse mix of players as there are seven countries in total represented by the final 13. Over half come from the USA while Norway,Bulgaria,Israel,Russia,Canada and Serbia all have one representative each.

Among the US contingent are Joseph Carden, who starts the day second in chips. Maxx Coleman, who is the only player among the 13 who has a bracelet win to his name and Morgan Petro, who won a WSOP Circuit Main Event this season.

The international contingent is led by Erlend Melsom of Norway as the third largest stack to start the day. Also among them is Uri Reichenstein who is looking to add his first bracelet to an illustrious career of $4.6 million in earnings. A victory today would send him above the $5 million mark.

Remaining Payouts

Place Prize Money 1 $523,195 2 $348,784 3 $249,005 4 $180,127 5 $132,053 6 $98,128 7 $73,925 8 $56,472 9 $43,751 10-11 $34,385 12-13 $27,418

Play begins at 12 noon and will be picked up for streaming by PokerGO at the final five or six. Live updates will be in real time until the stream begins and then will operate on the delay.

PokerNews will give you all of the Day 3 action, so keep it locked here to see who wins this prestigious title.
Vice President Kamala Harris reacted to the Supreme Court ruling that domestic abusers can be banned from owning guns by hammering Donald Trump.

Vice President Harris said:

This ruling leaves important domestic violence protections in place, but the fight to protect commonsense gun safety measures is not over. President Biden and I have passed the most significant gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years and our Administration has stopped nearly 30,000 firearms sales to convicted domestic abusers because we know preventing abusers from getting a gun saves lives. If Donald Trump returns to power, all of that progress would be at risk.

While President Biden and I stand up to the gun lobby, Donald Trump bows down. Trump has made clear he believes Americans should get over gun violence, and we cannot allow him to roll back commonsense protections or appoint the next generation of Supreme Court justices. I have worked my entire career to protect women and children from domestic violencefrom prosecuting abusers to supporting survivors. President Biden and I will never stop fighting for the rights of every American, including every survivor of domestic violence, to live free from the horror of gun violence. To continue that work, we must defeat Donald Trump in November.

This case is yet another reminder that some want to take our country back to a time when women were not treated as equal to men and were not allowed to voteand husbands could subject their wives to physical violence without it being considered a crime. Trump is a threat to our freedoms and our safety, and we must defeat him in November.

Trump consistently puts America last by bowing down to every sleazy special interest that will give him a dollar. The ex-president has already promised the NRA that he will allow them to do whatever they want. Trump has offered to sell US energy policy to the fossil fuel industry.

The Supreme Court made an obvious ruling today, but this is a court that thanks to Trump already broadened the Second Amendment, and put more American lives at risk.

Freedoms are on the ballot, which include the freedom not to get shot when you are at work, school, church, buying groceries, or trying to enjoy a night out.

The freedom to live your life safely is at risk if Trump returns to the White House.
Manhattan prosecutors have asked Judge Merchan to keep Trumps gag order in place due to his history of threatening and inflammatory statements that have led to threats against others.

The AP reported:

In court papers filed Friday, prosecutors with the Manhattan district attorneys office argued that portions of the gag order remained necessary given Trumps singular history of inflammatory and threatening public statements, as well as efforts by his supporters to identify jurors and threaten violence against him.

Since the verdict in this case, defendant has not exempted the jurors from his alarming rhetoric that he would have every right to seek retribution as president against the participants in this trial as a consequence of his conviction because sometimes revenge can be justified, the filing states.

Lisa Rubin of NBC News tweeted:

Note that the DA does not want the gag order to remain in place in its entirety. They agree with Trump that it is no longer needed with respect to trial witnesses. 3/ pic.twitter.com/HYw2rVVAv2  Lisa Rubin (@lawofruby) June 21, 2024

Trumps rhetoric is dangerous. With a gag order, Trump has inspired bomb threats against two people associated with the case. Prosecutors do agree with Trumps lawyers that the limitation on discussing witnesses can be lifted, but they made it clear in their filing that the rest of the order needs to stay in place as a matter of public safety.

Donald Trumps words put the lives of people associated with the case at risk, which is why the gag order should not be lifted.
COLUMBIA  In South Carolina, the site of the most Revolutionary War battles and the first state to secede from the Union during the Civil War, historical artifacts are plentiful.

The states history draws collectors looking for unique finds to add to their collection as well as history buffs intrigued in the stories that surround those items.

Many of them can be found in the state capital, researching, collecting and sharing what they find in the Facebook group, Columbia History pre 1945. Here, over 600 researchers, collectors and residents post old photographs, findings and information from a pre-WWII Columbia.

Art Gose, 32, an avid bottle collector, created the group in January 2020. He has a collection of nearly 200 glass bottles that once held liquor, manufactured in the state dispensary system during the prohibition period, and from Columbia pharmacies dating as far back as the 1840s.

I travel the state and dig around old houses, underneath crawl spaces, old barns, attics, you name it, Gose said.

Many of the bottles come from the South Carolina Dispensary era, during which all liquor in South Carolina was bottled and sold through a state-run monopoly. The bottles from this time, which lasted from roughly 1893 to 1907, are treasured by collectors.

My dad got me into (bottle collecting) in 07, Gose said. He passed away in 09, and I kind of went full force into promoting the hobby.

When members of the Facebook group post photographs, names or other information for which they need added historical context, Paul Armstrong is their go-to guy.

The 72-year-old Armstrong has become somewhat of an expert on the topic of Columbia history, running his own website where he researches and writes about the citys history.

A Columbia resident since 1965, he graduated from the University of South Carolina with a masters in management information systems, working at several different companies until he retired in 2018.
You could call this the "spiny, green, ping-pong ball plant" if you wanted, and why not? Read moreCan you correctly identify this week's mystery plant?
After 13 years at The Citadel, the last six years as Director of Athletics, Mike Capaccio announced his retirement as athletics director today. Capaccio has spent more than 40 years in college athletics as a player, coach, fundraiser and athletic director. A national search for a replacement Read moreThe Citadel AD retires
Armani Shoemaker, a 3-year-old girl from Columbia who loved bubbles, had a wide smile and wore beads in her hair, wandered into an unlocked 2016 Kia Forte on May 3. She became the first child in the U.S. to die in a hot car in 2024.

The nonprofit Kids and Car Safety hosted a press conference on June 20 in Washington, D.C., alongside grieving mothers and advocates to lament legislative failures in preventing child car deaths and highlight emergent technologies that could help reduce the frequency of these tragedies.

Between 1990 and 2023, there were 1,086 children across the country who died due to being trapped in a hot vehicle, according to Janette Fennell, president and CEO of Kids and Car Safety.

Today's Top Headlines Story continues below

"We have tried everything to get technology in vehicles to prevent children from dying," said Fennell.

Speakers at the press conference, backdropped by onesies clipped on a clothesline to signify each death, struck an urgent tone, calling on the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue hot car safety standards.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg didn't meet the November 2023 deadline of a rule in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) that would have required all new passenger vehicles over a certain weight to include an alarm system set off by unattended occupants.

Though Armani's was the first hot car death of the year, Joan Claybrook, the former head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under Jimmy Carter, said she is unlikely to be the last.

"Climate experts and media stories predict the summer of 2024 will be a repeat of the summer of 2023, which was the hottest on record for more than 2,000 years in the Northern Hemisphere," said Claybrook. "We expect the temperatures will top or climb  so will the death and injury toll of children left inside of hot cars."
Being sheriff may be about policework and running a jail. But the race to become the Charleston County Republican nominee has become more about scoring political points in the closing days.

Greg Kitchens, who worked in Charleston County Sheriffs Office in the 1990s but whose background is largely with the Marine Corps, tallied 45 percent of the votes cast in the June 11 primary.

In June 25's runoff he faces Carl Ritchie, a former Mount Pleasant police chief and current town council member, who took 42 percent. Just 600 votes separated them.

Today's Top Headlines Story continues below

That prompted Charlestons only runoff election, which has come with plenty of politically motivated digs.

A 1997 lawsuit accusing Kitchens of using excessive force while he was a deputy has raised questions, as has an arguably deceptive home mailer to voters that appears to show two images of Ritchie kneeling with a protester during the 2020 riots that caused extensive damage to Charlestons peninsula.

Heres everything you need to know ahead of the June 25 runoff.

Lawsuit allegations

Ritchie called for Kitchens to drop out of the race after local media reported about the lawsuit, which centers around one September night in 1995.

Kitchens was called to investigate a fight at a talent show. The eventual plaintiff, a Black man, was a passenger in a car with several other people who got out and fled on foot as Kitchens was pursuing them.

The suspect ran for about five feet before falling into bushes, according to the lawsuit. Kitchens instructed him to stay down, which he did, according to the legal complaint.
If you have a hummingbird feeder in your yard, youre probably enjoying watching the hummers sipping nectar to fuel up for their long migration south in the coming weeks. But did you know that nectar makes up only a small percentage of a hummingbirds diet? Up to 80% of it comes from insects Read moreCommentary: Protect insects, protect birds
Blue Moon declined to comment for this story.

Lankford hired an attorney in early 2024 and doesn't plan to give up his property so easily. In the 1940s, the building was a Ford dealership. It was left vacant for several years before Nautilus took over the spot.

"It's almost like they are trying to wear us down, but this guy is not going to wear down," Lankford told The Post and Courier. "I am not giving up now. I have been in business for 47 years and been paying property taxes and now they are saying forget you. Growth is good, I understand growth but it's like they are pushing us to the side."

Lankford said the last meeting he had with the city was in October 2022; the county met with his attorney in April. He doesn't anticipate a deal will be reached to move into the new mixed-use space.

He runs the business with his wife Marilyn and son Andrew. While other gyms in the city have come and gone, Nautilus has remained in part because of its location and the community it's built within the gym. They hold Bible studies every Wednesday morning and get involved in community fundraisers.

He has received no offer to purchase the property by the city or county, Lankford said. It was appraised in August 2022. They were told in January to move in three months and then in April given a deadline to move by July. Lankford doesn't plan to go anywhere.

Spartanburg City Manager Chris Story said June 20 he hoped a solution could be reached.

"I think we certainly hope we can work something out that is in their business interest," Story said. " There have been a number of meetings and there's been a good bit of communication but there are some uncertainties in any major project like that, but I believe we have been transparent as we can about our goals for the project and I think conversation directly with them will continue. Our communication and conversations are not done."

Story said final plans for the new city-county municipal building and mixed-use development have not been approved and no construction start date has been set.
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 / Accern, the leading natural language processing (NLP) company for developing industry solutions, is thrilled to announce the launch of its new dataset for the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election. This cutting-edge solution includes a user-friendly dashboard and real-time API feed, designed to provide unparalleled insights into presidential candidates, their campaigns, policy implications, polling data, and public appearances.The newly unveiled dataset is powered by Accern's robust NLP models and provides access to over 1 billion public news websites and blogs in real-time. This extensive coverage allows users to track and analyze sentiments surrounding the election effortlessly, and also to look back historically to identify trends.Kumesh Aroomoogan, Co-Founder and CEO of Accern, stated, "With the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election shaping up to be one of the most pivotal in recent history, our goal was to create a tool that empowers our clients to stay ahead of the curve. This dataset is not just about data collection; it's about transforming how our clients engage with real-time political events to make informed decisions." Features of the 2024 Election Dataset:Entity Tracking:Donald Trump and Joe BidenEvent Tracking:Presidential Election - Candidate ControversyPresidential Election - Campaign PolicyPresidential Election - Presidential PollsPresidential Election - Candidate Rallies & AppearancesControversies & Campaign Policies Discussions:War / Geopolitical RiskMacroeconomicsTaxesHealthcareEducationBudgetAnalytics:Sentiment Trends per CandidateStory Volume Trends per CandidateWord Clouds Highlighting Popular Events by CandidateGrouping Similar Articles into StoriesDashboards with Trillabit Accerns Lens:Average Candidate SentimentSources, Articles, and Signal VolumesSentiment Trends per CandidateVolume Trends per CandidateSignal details including article Title, Event, Sentiment, and URLEvent Sentiment Heatmap by CandidateTop Event Hits by Signal Volume over time by CandidateUse Cases of the 2024 Election Dataset:Internal AI Model Training: Companies can utilize this rich dataset to train proprietary AI models, enhancing their internal analytics and predictive capabilities.Investment Strategies for Hedge Funds: Hedge funds and other financial institutions can leverage real-time sentiment and trend analysis from the dataset to make agile trading and investment decisions.Media and Public Relations: Media organizations and PR firms can use the dashboard to keep a pulse on campaign narratives and public sentiment, tailoring their strategies to current events.Academic Research: Researchers and academics can access a wealth of data for studies on political communication, electoral influence, and more, fostering a deeper understanding of electoral dynamics.Accern's Presidential Election dataset is designed to be a comprehensive tool for anyone seeking to gain a competitive advantage during the election cycle. Whether it's for developing AI models, executing timely trades, or crafting informed narratives, this dataset serves as a critical resource for a diverse range of users.The dataset is available now and can be accessed through Accern's Lens Store via an API feed or a Dashboard, powered by Trillabit. For more information, visit Accern's website.Contact:Mitesh KapadiaChief Customer Officer, Accern mitesh.kapadia@accern.com About Accern:Accern is the leading NLP company empowering enterprises to develop industry-specific solutions. Offering a comprehensive NLP platform, models, data, and chat tailored for multiple industries, the company accelerates time-to-value for leading organizations across Financial Services, Government, and beyond. With a streamlined no-code workflow complemented by pre-built taxonomies, over 50,000 classification models, and access to billions of rows of public data, Accern is revolutionizing operational efficiency across the global workforce.Accern's remarkable achievements have earned it a notable position in Gartner's 2023 Hype Cycle for Data Science, Machine Learning, and Emerging Technologies in Banking, as well as recognition by Fast Company as one of the Next Big Things in Tech. Trusted by elite data teams from global leaders like Capgemini, UniCredit, Interactive Brokers, Mizuho Bank, and Standard Bank, Accern facilitates the building and deployment of NLP solutions at scale.Headquartered in New York, NY, Accern is honored to be recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 company. The company has raised $40M from esteemed institutional investors including Fusion Fund, Tribe Capital, Shasta Ventures, Allianz Strategic Ventures, Mighty Capital, and many others. For more information about Accern, please visitwww.accern.com About Trillabit:TrillaBit is an analytics and business intelligence (BI) software company founded in 2022 and headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The company provides a no-code, search-driven, low-cost analytics cloud platform tailored for B2B SaaS providers. TrillaBit's platform, Quick Intelligence, delivers fast, easy, and secure access to data, allowing product owners and business users to create dashboards and visualizations without developer assistance.The platform is designed to handle complex security scenarios, including multi-tenant environments, and supports a wide range of data sources. TrillaBit emphasizes data monetization through visualization, making data easily accessible and actionable for its users. The platform is scalable and affordable, designed to meet the needs of both small and large enterprises.Key features of TrillaBit include self-service BI, dynamic data discovery, and robust user and workspace management capabilities. The company was founded by experienced data architects and engineers, who aimed to address the shortcomings they encountered with existing data accessibility tools in large-scale enterprise environments. For more information about TrillaBit, please visit www.trillabit.com SOURCE: Accern
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Philadelphia jury finds that Honda's design of its 2014 Grom motorcycle fuel system was defective and awards $20.7 million to man whose body was 50% covered with burns when gas escaped and ignited during an accident.PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 / A jury in Philadelphia has awarded a $20.7 million verdict against Honda Motor Company for the design of the gas system of its 2014 "Grom" motorcycle, which was being ridden by a Philadelphia man when he struck a trash truck that pulled in front of him. The $20.7 million award is significantly higher than the $8 million pre-trial settlement demand made by the plaintiff.Anapol Weiss Wins $20.7 Million Verdict Against Honda Jamal Boyd, the plaintiff, sustained burns over 50 percent of his body when the gas cap of the motorcycle popped off during the accident. Gas covered Mr. Boyd, and he was ignited in fire seconds after impact with the truck.The jury found that the 2014 Honda Grom motorcycle Boyd was driving was unsafe and not crashworthy."Honda's design of the fuel system, which included a press-on cap, not a screw-on cap, was unsafe because it can come off in an accident, just like it did in Mr. Boyd's case," explained Anapol Weiss shareholder Larry Coben, who represented Boyd along with shareholder Kila Baldwin.Boyd suffered severe thermal burns, underwent twelve surgeries, and remains seriously scarred for life. He was in his early 20's when the accident occurred in 2020.The $20.7 million award included $2.7 million for non-economic damages and $18 million for pain and suffering, loss of pleasures in life, scarring/disfigurement, and loss of bodily function."This young man's life was heavily altered by the design of the Honda motorcycle he was riding," noted Coben. "Companies have a responsibility to sell products that are safe. This jury sent a very clear message that they must put safety as a priority." About Anapol WeissAnapol Weiss is an award-winning personal injury law firm headquartered in Philadelphia and serving clients all over the United States. Over the last 45 years, the firm has obtained hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of people injured by defective drugs and medical devices, medical malpractice, auto accidents, toxic materials, product defects, and other complex personal injury matters. https://www.anapolweiss.com Contact InformationMichelle FishburneDirector of PR and Media Strategymichelle@ esquiredigital.com 919-247-0384Kila BaldwinShareholderkbaldwin@ anapolweiss.com 215-608-9645SOURCE: Anapol WeissView the original press release on newswire.com
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articipation of 1,500 Domestic and International Startups and 250 Global Enterprises and Investors Delegates from 26 Countries Including Japan, Germany, United States, and France Gather in Seoul SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 / Korea International Trade Association (KITA), led by Chairman Jinsik Yoon, in collaboration with Korea Development Bank (KDB), chaired by Seokhoon Kang, successfully hosted 'NextRise 2024, Seoul' at Coex on June 13th-14th.NextRise 2024 Asia's Leading Startup Fair 'NextRise 2024'This year marked the sixth iteration of the exhibition, drawing an unprecedented number of participants from the global startup ecosystem, including companies, investors, and support organizations. The event featured over 1,500 startups from Korea and abroad, 250 global enterprises and investors from 26 countries, and various startup support agencies. Approximately 25,000 visitors attended the event over its two-day run.The 1:1 business meetups, the largest of their kind in Asia, facilitated over 3,600 meetings between 220 global enterprises and investors and 1,200 startups. KITA pre-matched the participating startups with global corporations and investors based on their technological capabilities and the demand fields of these global entities. As a result, participants were able to discuss substantial investment and business cooperation opportunities on site. Notably, participation from global corporations like LVMH, BMW, and SONY increased by approximately 60% compared to last year, raising expectations for expanded cooperation and overseas expansion for Korean startups.Alexa Rios, Head of Innovation at Maersk, who participated in the business meetup, remarked, "Meeting with Korean startups that possess innovative technologies and ideas has provided opportunities to strengthen Maersk's business strategy." Youngjoon Kim, CEO of drone solution startup Pablo Air, also stated, "This exhibition allowed us to discuss practical business cooperation with global companies that understand our technological potential." Various programs were also organized to strengthen cooperation with Japan, this year's guest country. The Japan Innovation Pavilion, operated by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and 10 Japanese startups, hosted IR demo days and forums. Additionally, KITA, in collaboration with the Japan Association of Corporate Executives, held the 'Korea-Japan Open Innovation Summit' to discuss ways to expand open innovation business cooperation between the startup ecosystems of Korea and Japan.The startup fair featured numerous side events, including conferences reflecting global startup trends such as AI and mobility. Keynote speaker Ilya Strebulaev, professor at Stanford University, emphasized, "With the easing of regulations on CVC establishment, the proportion of CVC in total venture capital investment in Korea has risen to 30%. Long-term investment management is needed to foster innovative investments." In the mobility session, participation from global companies like BMW, Renault, Volvo, and Hyundai Motors was accentuated, presenting visions for startup cooperation projects and investment strategies. In the AI session, the latest trends in AI technology and innovative application cases were shared, highlighting the future impact of AI across various industries.At the '2nd NextRise Awards' ceremony, held to support the growth and global expansion of promising startups, digital therapeutics developer WELT and AI image and video recognition technology company Deeping Source won the Top Innovator awards. Additionally, 25 companies from countries including Japan, Israel, Singapore, and Turkiye received innovation awards.KITA utilized this event as an opportunity to engage in discussions aimed at enhancing cooperation and strengthening relationships with global partners visiting Korea. KITA signed a memorandum of understanding with AsiaBerlin, a startup support organization in Berlin, and exchanged views on cooperation between NextRise and IFA with Lief Lindner, CEO of IFA. Furthermore, KITA held partner events with startup support organizations and companies from various countries, including France, the United States, and Taiwan, providing networking opportunities and supporting overseas expansion for Korean startups.Inho Lee, Vice Chairman of KITA, stated, "NextRise 2024, held at a record scale, serves as a gathering place for startups leading innovation and change, providing a platform for corporate exchanges and networking. KITA will continue to strengthen its role in expanding overseas opportunities for startup technologies and products, which are the new growth drivers of our trade." Contact InformationNextRise Preperation Committeenextrise@ kita.net +82 2 6205 3012SOURCE: Korea International Trade AssociationView the original press release on newswire.com
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CHARLOTTE, NC / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 / The second quarter of 2024 is about to end, and it's almost time for businesses to start gathering the required information to prepare their Form 941, which is due on July 31, 2024.Traditionally, preparing the 941 forms involves a lot of manual work and calculations. To simplify this, businesses can switch to automation. TaxBandits, the ever-reliable platform for businesses to meet tax compliance, offers an API that can be integrated with existing systems to automate the 941 filing process.Automating Form 941 with TaxBandits API for Q2 2024For this quarter, the IRS has made several changes to Form 941's business rules and schema to accommodate the changes related to COVID-specific fields on the form. To stay aligned with these changes,TaxBandits APIhas upgraded its system, ensuring compliance with the new regulations.The developer-friendly API of TaxBandits enables businesses and software providers to seamlessly automate 941 forms right from their portal or application. From form generation to e-signing, clients can streamline every aspect of the filing process with TaxBandits API integration. Here is how941 automationworks in the TaxBandits API.Form Generation - The clients will provide the required information using an API request and let TaxBandits generate Form 941 for them.Validations - TaxBandits will validate the generated form based on the IRS Business Rules to ensure they are in line with the IRS guidelines.E-Signing - Based on the type of filer they are, clients can authorize and sign their 941 returns using Form 8453-EMP, Form 8879-EMP, or RA PIN.E-filing with the IRS - Once the forms are reviewed and e-signed, TaxBandits will transmit the returns to the IRS.Tools and Resources to Develop with Confidence!TaxBandits API provides numerous tools and resources tailored to assist developers in making the best use of API. Here are some of them.Documentation - Comprising detailed instructions for each endpoint with sample requests/responses,TaxBandits API documentationoffers complete guidance to the developers.Sandbox - Clients have the option to simulate the e-filing process in a secure sandbox environment before moving their application to the production environment.SDK - TaxBandits API offers open SDK libraries in Java, Node JS, Dot Net & Python, aiding the developers in using the API.Advanced Security - As a SOC-2-certified company, TaxBandits ensures complete data protection by implementing standard security measures and protocols.Developer Support - Clients can always reach out to the dedicated team of support in case of any queries related to the API.Customized APIs for Businesses and PlatformsTo meet the unique needs of clients, TaxBandits offers two different types of APIs.API for Businesses - This API model allows clients to use API endpoints to automate the filings within their software/portal. The client's users will have no access to TaxBandits and all their filings will be managed within the client's application/portal.API for Platforms- This is a hybrid API model in which each client's users will have an individual account in TaxBandits. Their data will be transferred from the client's platform to TaxBandits UI where they can complete their filing process on their own.When asked about the solution that TaxBandits API provides for businesses, Agie Sundaram, the CEO and Co-founder of SPAN Enterprises (parent company of TaxBandits), responded by stating, "TaxBandits API offers a robust platform tailored to meet the needs of businesses. By seamlessly integrating with existing systems, our API empowers businesses to automate tax filing processes, ensuring compliance and efficiency. This solution not only simplifies operations but also fosters growth and scalability in a rapidly evolving market." Visitdeveloper.taxbandits.comtoday to learn more andcreate a sandbox account .About TaxBanditsThe 1099 and W-2 experts! TaxBandits is a SOC 2 Certified, IRS-authorized e-file provider of1099 ,W2 ,Form 1095-C ,Form 1095-B ,940 ,941 ,943 ,944 ,945 , andW-9 , serving businesses, service providers, and tax professionals of every shape and size.Payroll providers, affiliate software providers, and gig-related software providers, to name a few, can take advantage ofTaxBandits API . The integration allows them to add value for their clients and expand monetization efforts. TaxBandits API enables seamless preparation and e-filing of 1099, W-2, 941, 940, and ACA 1095 forms. Software providers can also use the developer-friendly1099 APIto request W-9s and use that information to enable seamless1099 automation .About SPAN EnterprisesBased in Rock Hill, South Carolina, SPAN Enterprises has been developing industry-leading software solutions for IRS e-filing and business management tools for over a decade.The SPAN Enterprises portfolio of products includes TaxBandits, Tax990, ACAwise, ExpressExtension, 123PayStubs, and TruckLogics.For any media inquiries, please reach out to Stephanie Glanville, Content Writer at stephanie@ spanenterprises.com SOURCE: TaxBandits
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 /AXCAP VENTURES INC. (CSE:AXCP) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has amended and updated its Investment Policy to provide for investments, directly or indirectly, in natural resource companies or projects. The Company and its Investment Committee have determined that it is in the best interests of the Company to participate in in the natural resource market, which represents a significant sector in the junior markets. The Company intends to make investments in resource companies and/or in natural resource projects directly. It is anticipated that the Company will advise and/or actively participate in the development of projects in which the Company has invested.In connection with the amendment to the Investment Policy, the Company has appointed Tyron Breytenbach as a director of the Company. Mr. Breytenbach is a former equity analyst at Cormark Securities and Stifel Canada where he interacted extensively with the international investment community. Prior to joining Aris Gold (now Aris Mining) in 2022, Mr. Breytenbach was a Senior Partner and Managing Director in the investment banking group at Canada's largest employee-owned dealer. Prior to entering capital markets, Mr.Breytenbach spent a decade in the mining industry as a geologist where he focused on orogenic and epithermal gold deposits and specialized in resource estimation. Mr. Breytenbach holds a BSc (Honours) Degree from Rand Afrikaans University in South Africa and is a designated P.Geo in Ontario.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORSFor further information, please contact the Company at (604) 687-7130About the CompanyThe Company is an investment company whose primary objective is to identify promising companies with excellent projects, innovative technologies or both, using management's extensive experience in deal sourcing and capital combination to maximize returns for the Company's shareholders. The Company will invest its funds with the aim of generating returns from capital appreciation and investment income. It intends to accomplish these goals through the identification of and investment in securities of private and publicly listed entities across a wide range of sectors and industry areas, including but not limited to the mineral exploration, technology, software development and biotechnology industries.Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" InformationThis news release contains certain forwardlooking information. Such information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by statements herein, and therefore these statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. All forwardlooking statements are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to it as well as other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forwardlooking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified by the Company in its public securities filings, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forwardlooking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.SOURCE: Axcap Ventures Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-21 15:05:16

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ADDISON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 / King Operating Corporation, led by Founder and CEO Jay Young, is excited to announce its two latest developments within the Permian Basin and the Eastern Shelf, opening new opportunities for investors.King Operating Corporation, an established developer in the oil and gas industry, has launched a new project in the Permian Basin Project. The recent acquisition of a three-well package is suggested to provide a potential cash flow exceeding $4.3MM to partners within the first year of production.The new Phantom Hill (Cholla) Project in the Eastern Shelf is poised to deliver significant returns, with projections indicating potential cash flow exceeding $10.6MM to partners within the first year of production.Excitingly, KOPII has also finalized an agreement with Dominance Energy, LLC to participate in drilling a ~7,500' Austin Chalk well in Fayette County, Texas. The Peitsch #1H well, with King's majority working interest, is anticipated to be in production by the end of August 2024, providing a significant steppingstone to King's goal of >3,000 boe/d per day.While the oil and gas sector has enjoyed favor in the eyes of institutional investors, King Operating Corporation hopes that smaller firms and retail investors will follow suit. "We hope to see more involvement from smaller players in our upcoming developments. Investing in oil and gas should be available to everyone." With a focus on leveraging its continued momentum and ensuring that the company continues to abide by best operational practices, King Operating Corporation is set to gain recognition and market share with its latest developments.For further details on these exciting opportunities and to explore partnership possibilities, please visit King Operating Corporation atkingoperating.com About King Operating Corporation:Founded in 1996, King Operating Corporation is an experienced independent oil and gas operating company with over 100 combined years of industry experience. Guided by Founder and CEO Jay Young, who wrote the Forbes book, " The Upside of Oil and Gas Investing, " the company develops and produces oil and gas fields across Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming. The company is committed to creating value for investors through opportunities for tax advantages, monthly passive income, and potential multiples on invested capital. To learn more, visitKing Operating Corporation .Name: Jay Young Company: King Operating Corporation Phone: 214-420-3000 Email:info@ kingoperating.comPress Contact: Whitefriar PRSOURCE: King Operating Corporation
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-21 18:15:34

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 /Signature Performance, Inc. has disclosed a data breach affecting the personal information of consumers. The breach impacted numerous individuals who entrusted their sensitive personal information to Signature.WHAT HAPPENED? In early February 2024, Signature detected that an unauthorized third party gained access to its IT network. On June 10, 2024, Signature began sending notice letters to individuals impacted by the data breach.WHAT INFORMATION WAS IMPACTED? The following types of sensitive personal information may have been exposed as a result of the data breach:Full name Date of birth Social Security number Health insurance information Medical information WHAT'S THIS ABOUT? Compensation may be available for Signature Performance clients who received notice that their personal information had been breached.WHY AM I ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION? Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers break into networks to steal your personal information to sell it on the dark web or commit identity theft, financial theft, or other frauds. The company may be liable for failing to secure your privacy.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED? If you received a data breach notification letter from Signature Performance, you are affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:ABOUT LEVI & KORSINSKYLevi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP Joseph E. Levi, Esq. 33 Whitehall Street, 17th Floor New York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500 Fax: (212) 363-7171 www.zlk.com CONTACT:Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-21 21:00:47

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Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating securities fraud claims on behalf of investors of Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. common stock (NYSE:LW) between July 25, 2023, and April 3, 2024.NEWTOWN, PA / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 / Edelson Lechtzin LLP, a leading class action law firm, is investigating securities fraud claims on behalf of investors of Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. ("Lamb Weston") common stock (NYSE:LW) between July 25, 2023, and April 3, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period").Investors who purchased Lamb Weston stock may move the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho to appoint them as lead plaintiff, no later thanAugust 12, 2024 . Please contact Edelson Lechtzin LLP to discuss your investment losses at 844-696-7492, or by e-mail atelechtzin@ edelson-law.com . A copy of the class action complaint can be viewedHERE .What is a Lead Plaintiff?The lead plaintiff is a court-appointed representative of a class of purchasers of securities in a class action under the federal securities fraud laws. The lead plaintiff's responsibilities include selecting the attorneys who will represent the class in the lawsuit, and if necessary, providing testimony at trial.Background on Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.Lamb Weston, based in Eagle, Idaho, distributes and markets frozen potato products globally.The Securities Fraud ClaimsOn July 25, 2023, Lamb Weston completed the design of a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software system, which was intended to connect important aspects of its business and operations to improve efficiency through increased automation. In November 2023, the company transitioned some of its previous systems to the new ERP system. Defendants claimed the Company had experienced only the "usual bumps" in the implementation of the ERP system and told investors that its guidance for fiscal 2024 accounted for the financial impact of the system's deployment.The statements made during the Class Period were false. The Defendants knew of significant problems in the new ERP system's functionality. Despite this, Lamb Weston proceeded with the implementation, affecting its business and operations. As a result, the company's statements lacked a reasonable factual basis, leading to artificially inflated stock prices.On April 4, 2024, Lamb Weston revealed that it faced major challenges while implementing its new ERP system. The problematic roll-out resulted in a $135 million loss in sales for the third quarter of fiscal year 2024, and the company had to lower its sales guidance for the full fiscal year by $330 million. On this news, the price of Lamb Weston stock declined by $19.59 per share or over 19%.For more information, please contact:Marc H. Edelson, Esq.Eric Lechtzin, Esq.EDELSON LECHTZIN LLP411 S. State Street, Suite N-300Newtown, PA 18940Phone: 844-696-7492 or 215-867-2399 ext. 1Email: medelson@ edelson-law.com Email: elechtzin@ edelson-law.com Web: www.edelson-law.com Edelson Lechtzin LLP is a leading class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania and California. In addition to cases involving securities and investment fraud, our lawyers focus on class and collective litigation in cases alleging violations of the federal antitrust laws, employee benefit plans under ERISA, wage theft and unpaid overtime, consumer fraud, and dangerous and defective drugs and medical devices.This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions. No class has been certified in this case, so you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. Your ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.SOURCE: Edelson Lechtzin LLP
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-21 16:05:11

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LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 / Gabriel Resources Ltd. (TSXV:GBU) ("Gabriel" or the "Company") announces the following corporate update:Mineral Tenure RightsIn March 2024, Rosia Montana Gold Corporation ("RMGC") submitted an application to the Romanian National Agency for Mineral Resources ("NAMR"). together with the requisite supporting documentation, requesting an extension of the term of the exploitation license for the Rosia Montana Project ("License") for an additional five years, as provided by Romanian law ("LicenseExtension Application"). On June 20,2024, RMGC was notified that the NAMR has rejected the License Extension Application. The Company and RMGC strongly disagree with the NAMR's decision and intends to vigorously pursue all legal avenues to reinstate its rights. The decision of the NAMR shows a flagrant disregard for the rule of law and established investment rights and, in the Company's view, is a politically motivated decision to deny RMGC's rights to develop the Rosia Montana Project arbitrarily, without due process, and without compensation. NAMR has sought to justify this decision by alleging, amongst other things, that the documentation submitted in support of the License Extension Application does not satisfy the legal requirements despite being entirely consistent with, and in greater detail than, the extension application filed in 2019 that was approved by the NAMR. The Company strongly believes that the justifications provided by NAMR are pretextual and is evaluating the decision with its professional advisers. The timing of this decision, coming three months following the conclusion of the Company's arbitration claim against Romania, is dubious. As noted above, Gabriel and RMGC will pursue all options to defend and reinstate its legal rights. RMGC also has consistently urged NAMR to issue the exploitation licenses for the two Bucium Projects in accordance with the applications made in 2007 ("Bucium Applications"). Throughout the ICSID arbitration claims filed against the Romanian State ("ICSID Arbitration"), the Romanian State consistently maintained a position, relied upon by the majority in the Arbitral Decision (defined below), that the Bucium Applications remain pending before the NAMR. There remains no response from NAMR in this regard. ICSID ArbitrationOn March 8, 2024, the presiding tribunal ("Tribunal") issued a final decision ("Arbitral Decision") dismissing, by a two to one majority, the ICSID Arbitration claims and awarded Romania approximately US$10 million to reimburse legal fees and expenses it had incurred ("Costs Order"). The Company strongly disagrees with the Tribunal majority's decision, which it believes is deeply flawed, at odds with the opinion of the dissenting arbitrator and is inconsistent with any objective assessment of the evidence presented. Accordingly, the Company intends to challenge the Arbitral Decision through the annulment process prescribed by the ICSID Convention. The annulment application ("Application") will be filed on or before July 7, 2024. An annulment is not an appeal of the merits of the Arbitral Decision, but a procedure which would, if successful, set aside such Arbitral Decision and extinguish the Costs Order. The annulment process could take 12-24 months to conclude post submission of the Application. Liquidity and Capital ResourcesOn April 26, 2024, Gabriel announced a fundraising of up to US$5.575 million (the "2024 Private Placement") and on May 17, 2024, the Company announced closing of an initial tranche of that fundraising with proceeds received of US$3.25 million. On May 29, 2024, the Company noted that that the remainder of the 2024 Private Placement was anticipated to close on or before July 3, 2024, or such later date as may be determined by the Company, subject to satisfaction or waiver by the relevant party of the conditions of closing and any applicable approvals (including that of the Exchange). Of the US$3.25 million received from the funding, US$1.5 million has been set aside for utilization in the annulment proceedings. Gabriel continues to manage its cash resources and its current and future financial obligations carefully. As at June 20, 2024, the Company held approximately $2.5 million of cash net of the amounts set aside described above. There is no assurance that the Company will be successful in closing the remainder of the 2024 Private Placement, in which case the Company believes that, excluding the Costs Order, it has sufficient cash to enable the Group to fund general working capital requirements together with the material estimated costs associated with the Company advancing the ICSID Arbitration through to August 2024 and it will seek alternative sources of additional financing.For information on this press release, please contact:Dragos TanasePresident & CEO dt@ gabrielresources.com Richard BrownChief Financial Officer richard.brown@gabrielresources.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.About GabrielGabriel is a Canadian resource company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company's principal business had been the exploration and development of the Rosia Montana gold and silver project in Romania. The Rosia Montana Project, one of the largest undeveloped gold deposits in Europe, is situated in the South Apuseni Mountains of Transylvania, Romania, an historic and prolific mining district that since pre-Roman times has been mined intermittently for over 2,000 years. The exploitation license for the Rosia Montana Project is held by Rosia Montana Gold Corporation S.A., a Romanian company in which Gabriel owns an 80.69% equity interest, with the 19.31% balance held by Minvest Rosia Montana S.A., a Romanian state-owned mining company.Upon obtaining the License in June 1999, the Group focused substantially all of their management and financial resources on the exploration, feasibility and subsequent development of the Rosia Montana Project. Despite the Company's fulfilment of its legal obligations and its development of the Rosia Montana Project as a high-quality, sustainable and environmentally-responsible mining project, using best available techniques, Romania has unlawfully blocked and prevented implementation of the Rosia Montana Project without due process and without compensation. Accordingly, the Company's current core focus is the ICSID Arbitration. For more information please visit the Company's website atwww.gab
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-21 19:00:10

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OSLO, NORWAY / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 / Halvard Global, a leading financial services company, is proud to celebrate its anniversary. Over the past years, Halvard Global has established itself as a trusted name in the financial sector, delivering innovative solutions and exceptional service to its clients worldwide.From its inception,Halvard Global swiftly accumulated its initial 12,000 customers, facilitating over 40,000 global trades monthly during that period. This foundational success set the stage for a trajectory of rapid growth, underpinned by an unwavering commitment to exceptional service.As our trading volumes surged past the $10 million per month milestone, we redirected our resources into enhancing our platform. This included the introduction of a 24-hour multilingual support team, underscoring our dedication to customer satisfaction. We continuously prioritized user-centric features, expanding the array of trading opportunities available to our clients.As part of its growth strategy, Halvard Global is thrilled to announce the opening of new markets. This expansion reflects the company's commitment to diversifying its portfolio and reaching new heights in the global financial landscape. By tapping into these emerging markets, Halvard Global aims to provide more opportunities for its clients and stakeholders, ensuring sustained growth and profitability.Last year, Halvard Global implemented cutting-edge algorithmic trading software, which has significantly enhanced its trading capabilities. This advanced technology has positioned the company for a record-breaking year in 2024. The algorithmic trading software enables Halvard Global to execute trades with increased speed, accuracy, and efficiency, setting a new benchmark in the industry. With these improvements, Halvard Global is poised to deliver exceptional performance and achieve unprecedented results in the coming year.In addition to technological advancements, Halvard Global is investing heavily in its infrastructure. This investment is coupled with a new onboarding program designed specifically for junior analysts. The program aims to attract and nurture young talent, providing them with the tools and knowledge necessary to excel in the financial sector. By fostering a culture of continuous learning and development, Halvard Global ensures that its team remains at the forefront of industry innovation."Celebrating our anniversary is a significant milestone for Halvard Global," said the CEO of Halvard Global. "Our success is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, as well as the trust and support of our clients. As we expand into new markets and embrace technological advancements, we remain committed to delivering unparalleled value and service. We are excited about the future and look forward to a record-breaking 2024."About Halvard GlobalHalvard Globalis a leading financial services company specializing in innovative trading solutions and investment strategies. Established in 2014, Halvard Global has grown to serve a diverse client base, offering a range of services designed to meet the evolving needs of the global financial market. With a focus on technology and talent development, Halvard Global continues to set new standards in the industry.Halvard Global's commitment to expanding trading opportunities and delivering dynamic, evolving services positions us to drive positive change in the industry and empower individuals globally to achieve their financial goals.For more information about Halvard Global and its services, please visit https://halvardglobal.com Media Contacts:Name: Ian Green Company: Halvard Global Website: https://halvardglobal.com/ Email:info@ halvardglobal.comAddress: Office Building Kerenlyst Alle 4, 0278, Oslo, NorwaySOURCE: Halvard Global
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-21 14:45:13

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SINGAPORE / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 / 2024 marks a year of breakthroughs for Bitcoin: BTC ETFs have received approvals from U.S. and Hong Kong regulators. Additionally, with the halving completed in May, Bitcoin is steadfastly moving toward grander goals. On the application side, we've seen ecosystem innovations introduced by Ordinals. Its increasing popularity has led to network congestion, bringing Bitcoin scalability back to the market's attention. Over the past few months, the market has seen a flourishing of Bitcoin Layer2 solutions and sidechains, with BTCFi regarded as a key sector with vast potential for growth.In the early stages of BTCFi's development, we noticed Core, a public chain that addresses Layer1 network security, speed, and decentralization issues with innovative solutions. Its Satoshi Plus consensus mechanism leverages the Bitcoin network's security to deliver efficient transaction processing speed (TPS) while maintaining sufficient decentralization (for details on the Core Chain, see https://docs.coredao.org/core-white-paper-v1.0.7) We believe that the Core Chain provides the best environment for developing BTCFi. As one of the Core Chain's earliest ecosystem partners, HTX has strategically invested in CoreX, a decentralized exchange (DEX) built on the blockchain. HTX views CoreX as the future gateway and liquidity hub of the CoreDAO ecosystem, which will offer a brand-new trading experience. This report walks through CoreX's design philosophy, features, and strengths. HTX believes that CoreX will become one of the most competitive DEXs in CoreDAO and, as a booster for the ecosystem, will act as the center of liquidity for CoreDAO users.Why Are We Optimistic About BTCFi?Bitcoin decentralized finance, or Bitcoin DeFi, or BTCFi, means introducing decentralized financial functions into the Bitcoin ecosystem. Bitcoin has long been the blockchain network with the most robust consensus and security. However, due to its lack of smart contract capabilities, Bitcoin cannot host decentralized applications (dApps) like Ethereum or other public chains and is mostly used for " HODLing." For Bitcoin holders, experiences like on-chain lending, decentralized trading, and futures trading have largely been missing.In early 2024, Ordinals and Runes explored new use cases for the Bitcoin ecosystem, demonstrating the market's interest in Bitcoin's general-purpose functionalities. However, we believe that Bitcoin's potential in DeFi is still waiting to be unlocked. Currently, the total value locked (TVL) in BTCFi is close to $1.2 billion, accounting for only 0.09% of Bitcoin's total market cap. By contrast, mainstream public chains with smart contract capabilities have much higher TVL-to-market cap ratios: 14% for Ethereum, 6% for Solana, and approximately 3% for Ton. Even at a 1% ratio, BTCFi has the potential for tenfold growth.Image 1: Comparison of TVL-to-Market Cap Ratios and Market Caps We believe BTCFi not only unleashes significant value for Bitcoin but also creates new income-generating opportunities for BTC holders. Through BTCFi, holders can do more than just "HODLing"; they can fully utilize their BTC by staking, lending, and market making, among other means. As BTCFi protocols evolve, they are expected to compete with, and even outperform, existing public chains, fostering a more diverse and robust DeFi ecosystem.The Rise of CoreDAOThere are many solutions for expanding Bitcoin's functionality. Core, a Bitcoin-powered, EVM-compatible Layer1 public chain, stands out as a trailblazing approach.Core ensures its security through a consensus mechanism called Satoshi Plus, which combines Delegated Proof of Work (DPoW), Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS), and non-custodial Bitcoin staking. First, DPoW leverages the security of Bitcoin's PoW, allowing miners to delegate their hash power to Core nodes while providing hash power to the Bitcoin network, thus ensuring consensus security for the Core Chain. Currently, 46% of Bitcoin nodes are delegated to the Core Chain, providing 259 EH/s of hash power. Additionally, Core's security is bolstered by the CORE tokens and Bitcoin delegated within its network, with nearly 125 million CORE and 3,000 BTC staked. This hybrid consensus model of POW and DPOS guarantees network security while enabling fast transaction processing.Core's design of non-custodial staking is another groundbreaking innovation. By eliminating the need to trust centralized custodians, Core allows BTC holders to participate in its consensus and earn staking rewards without losing control of their assets. This significantly lowers the barrier for BTC holders to engage in staking while enhancing Core's security. BTC holders do not need to bridge their assets cross-chain or convert them into wrapped assets like WBTC. This fully non-custodial mechanism can potentially attract massive BTC holders to participate in building the Core network's consensus.Looking toward CoreDAO's future, we believe that DeFi will be a key focus area for the Core ecosystem. Bitcoin users will be able to engage in lending, futures trading, and other protocols while retaining their BTC holdings. Innovations may include using Bitcoin as collateral for opening positions and using Bitcoin for liquidity rewards or staking liquidation. Additionally, on top of staking rewards, liquid staking mechanisms are poised to emerge.What Is CoreX?CoreX, the flagship DEX within the CoreDAO ecosystem, provides users with an outstanding trading environment through its simple yet smart design and comprehensive toolkits. By utilizing the Uni V3 infrastructure, CoreX addresses key challenges such as liquidity shortages and slippage. Additionally, it integrates AI technology to create a vibrant social trading hub.How Will CoreX Create New Trading Experiences?CoreX brings new trading experience to users through its optimized user experience, social features, and AI technology. It aims to lower the barriers for new users, enabling them to easily enter the DeFi space.CoreX significantly enhances the traditional DEX experience by offering a user-friendly trading environment. The platform provides advanced real-time charting tools that allow traders to track price fluctuations of selected tokens. It also integrates technical indicators and drawing tools for deeper analysis. These features are particularly helpful and user-friendly for traders who wish to share their insights on social media. Moreover, detailed information about each trade, including realized profits or losses, is displayed on the trading interface, making important data easy to understand and access. Looking ahead, CoreX plans to introduce customization options t
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-21 18:00:42

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TOKYO, JAPAN / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 /Kintetsu World Express, Inc. (Minato-ku, Tokyo; KWE) is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement with IAG Cargo, the cargo arm of International Airlines Group, to expand the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).Under the deal, the company will purchase 640,000 liters of SAF environmental attributes, reducing Scope 3 emissions in its supply chain. The SAF is ISCC (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification) certified and is produced from used cooking oil and food waste, reducing lifecycle emissions by over 90% compared to conventional jet fuel.Nobutoshi Torii, President and CEO of KWE, said, "When we see the natural disasters that have occurred around the world in recent times, we can't help but feel that we are finally approaching a global climate 'tipping point.' As a company in the transport sector, which accounts for around 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions, we must further accelerate more substantial industry-wide efforts to decarbonize. SAF is the most effective way to reduce emissions (Scope 3) from our core business of air freight transport. We are proud and delighted to be working with our long-standing business partner IAG Cargo to decarbonize the industry." Saleem Saeed, Sustainability Manager at IAG Cargo, said, "This marks our first SAF partnership in Asia, and we are delighted to support KWE to address Scope 3 emissions for their supply chain. We are committed to minimizing our environmental impact and contributing to the wider sustainability goals of the air cargo industry. This is a great example of how we can help our customers in their decarbonization efforts." KWE will continue to actively exploit these opportunities and make a tangible contribution to decarbonization.About IAG CargoIAG Cargo is the single business created following the merger of British Airways World Cargo and Iberia Cargo in April 2011. Following the integration of additional airlines into the business, including Aer Lingus, Vueling and LEVEL, IAG Cargo now covers a global network covering six continents. It has a combined workforce of more than 2,250 people. Its parent company, International Airlines group, is one of the world's largest airline groups with 582 aircraft at 31st December 2023.For further information on IAG Cargo, please visit the IAG Cargo YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/IAGCargo or alternatively, visit the IAG Cargo website at https://www.iagcargo.com Media EnquiriesFor media enquiries, please contact the IAG Cargo press office: Nadia.Bedra@iagcargo.com Contact InformationMike Trejo (310) 627-3129SOURCE: Kintetsu World ExpressView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-21 04:35:20

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NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / June 20, 2024 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until August 12, 2024to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LW), if they purchased the Company's shares between July 25, 2023 and April 3, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the District of Idaho.What You May DoIf you purchased shares of Lamb Weston and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-lw/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court byAugust 12, 2024 .About the LawsuitLamb Weston and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On April 4, 2024, the Company disclosed that it had experienced significant problems with its transition to a new Enterprise Resource Planning ("ERP") software system, which caused the Company to lose $135 million in sales during the third quarter of fiscal 2024 and necessitated a $330 million reduction to its sales guidance for the full fiscal year.On this news, the price of Lamb Weston's shares fell by $19.59 per share, or over 19%.The case is Cleveland Bakers and Teamsters Pension Fund v. Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc., No. 24-cv-282.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com CONTACT: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-21 05:15:26

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NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / June 20, 2024 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until June 24, 2024to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE:LNC), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's securities between November 4, 2020 and November 2, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of Lincoln National and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-lnc/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court byJune 24, 2024 .About the LawsuitLincoln National and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On November 2, 2022, post-market, the Company released its 3Q 2022 financial results, disclosing a net loss of $2.6 billion for the quarter, compared to a net income of $318 million for the third quarter of 2021 the previous year, due to "net unfavorable notable items of $2.0 billion, or $11.62 per share, related to the company's annual review of DAC and reserve assumptions," and that the Company "incurred a $634 million goodwill impairment to the life insurance business." On this news, the price of Lincoln's shares fell by $17.27, or 33.2%, to close at $34.83 per share on November 3, 2022, on unusually heavy trading volume.The case is Meade v. Lincoln National Corporation, et al., No. 24-cv-01704.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partner lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com 1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-21 14:00:48

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BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 /NOA Lithium Brines Inc. (TSX-V:NOAL) ("NOA" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that further to its press release dated August 28, 2023 regarding the property agreement ("Property Agreement") with CDN Maverick Capital Corp. ("CDN") for the acquisition of the Nevasca property ("Chascha Norte Claim"), the Company and CDN have agreed to amend a property payment of US $250,000 in cash and US $250,000 in common shares to US $50,000 in cash and US $450,000 in common shares at a price of $0.30 per common share, allowing CDN to increase its shareholdings in NOA. NOA has now made payment of this US $50,000 in cash and has issued 2,064,750 common shares at a deemed price of $0.30 per common share to CDN, as part of this third property payment of the Chascha Norte Claim, which is a fully permitted claim within NOA's 78,000 hectares Arizaro Project, located in the Salta Province. All other commercial terms of the Property Agreement remain unchanged.Gabriel Rubacha, Chief Executive Officer and Director of NOA, stated, "The amendment to our agreement with CDN demonstrates the upside potential of NOA, allowing CDN to increase its participation in NOA, considering that we have recently expanded our estimated resource to 3.8M tonnes LCE @ 535 mg/l average concentration in our Rio Grande Project, making it one of the largest undeveloped and unencumbered projects in the Lithium Triangle. Additionally, and as previously disclosed, we are continuing to evaluate options for possible partnerships for our Arizaro project, that will allow NOA to unlock additional value to our shareholders".About NOA Lithium Brines Inc.NOA is a lithium exploration and development company formed to acquire assets with significant resource potential. All NOA's projects are located in the heart of the prolific Lithium Triangle, in the mining-friendly province of Salta, Argentina, near a multitude of projects and operations owned by some of the largest players in the lithium industry. NOA has rapidly consolidated one of the largest lithium brine claim portfolios in this region that is not owned by a producing company, with key positions on three prospective salars, being Rio Grande, Arizaro, Salinas Grandes, and totalling over 140,000 hectares.On Behalf of the Board of Directors,Gabriel RubachaChief Executive Officer and DirectorFor Further Information On The CompanyWebsite: www.noalithium.com Email: info@ noalithium.com Telephone: +54-9-11-5060-4709Alternative Telephone: +1-403-571-8013Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsThis news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. All statements within this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements including, but not limited to NOA's future plans and objectives regarding its projects, which constitute forward looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties. Although NOA believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements include fluctuations in market prices, including metal prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. NOA does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable laws.Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SOURCE: NOA Lithium Brines Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-21 15:45:44

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Bryan Letteer joins Saluda Law, LLC. His practice will focus on Criminal Defense and Professional License Defense, with a selective civil practice. Letteer will practice out of the firm's Lexington, SC, officeLEXINGTON, SC / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 / Saluda Law, LLC is pleased to announce that Attorney Bryan Letteer has joined the firm. Letteer's practice will focus on criminal defense and professional license defense. His experience as an Attorney at the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, an Assistant Public Defender with significant trial experience, and a former Circuit Court law clerk will serve Saluda Law's clients well.Saluda Law Saluda Law, LLC Logo.Letteer attended James Madison University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration. He then attended the University of South Carolina and obtained his Juris Doctor. Letteer clerked for South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Paul Burch and then worked as an Assistant Public Defender in the Chesterfield County Public Defender's Office. Subsequently, he worked for the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR). He then entered private practice where he became well respected as a criminal defense and civil practitioner. Letteer comes to Saluda Law to expand the firm's criminal practice and to take the lead in the firm's expansion into professional license defense work.Letteer has extensive trial experience and tried multiple cases as an Assistant Public Defender, including murder cases. Most recently, he tried a four-day drug trafficking case in Greenwood County General Sessions Court. Letteer's trial experience will serve the firm's criminal defense clients well as he guides them through the defense of their cases.As a former LLR attorney, Letteer has the valuable perspective of knowing the agency from the inside when handling professional license defense cases. For doctors, nurses, realtors, contractors, and other professional license holders, Letteer's background will be invaluable as he works to protect their licenses after complaints have been filed. Saluda Law is looking forward to Letter's leadership in the expansion of this practice area.Letteer will be primarily based out of the Saluda Law's Lexington office located at 137 E. Butler Street, Office 1, Lexington, SC. The centralized location will allow Letteer to serve both the Columbia metropolitan area and Saluda Law's satellite offices in the tri-county area on an as-needed basis. Founded in 2017 by Attorney Judah VanSyckel, whose primary office is the Lexington office, Saluda Law focuses on whistleblower, criminal defense, and professional license defense matters. As to whistleblower matters, Saluda Law particularly focuses on False Claims Act lawsuits. You can contact Letteer by calling the main office number at 803-939-6927 or through the firm website at www.saludalaw.com Contact Information:Teresa PierceLegal Assistantteresa@ saludalaw.com 803-939-6927Amie DouglassLegal Assistantamie@ saludalaw.com 803-939-6927SOURCE: Saluda Law, LLCView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-21 09:40:26

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LISBON, PORTUGAL / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 / Seventh Brunch , a restaurant chain based in Portugal, has just been named thebest brunch in Lisbon by Tripadvisor. Additionally, the chain has received the prestigious Travellers' Choice Award, which highlights the top 10% of restaurants worldwide. Since its inception, Seventh Brunch's restaurants have consistently ranked highly on Tripadvisor in the cities where they are located.Seventh Brunch has stood out by offering a unique and high-quality gastronomic experience. With a varied and creative menu that combines brunch dishes with international influences, Seventh Brunch has won over customers' palates and the admiration of food critics. This recognition reaffirms its position as the best brunch in Lisbon.The recognition from Tripadvisor and the Travellers' Choice Award are a reflection of Seventh Brunch's commitment to providing an exceptional experience for its customers. With impeccable service and a cozy atmosphere, the chain's restaurants have become a must-visit destination for food lovers in Lisbon, solidifying its status as the best brunch in Lisbon.According to Seventh Brunch's founder,Eduardo Volpato , "It is an honor to be recognized by Tripadvisor as the best brunch in Lisbon and to receive the Travellers' Choice Award. This reflects the hard work of our entire team in offering the best brunch in Lisbon and an unforgettable experience for our customers. We are very proud and motivated to continue improving our services and menu to maintain this standard of excellence." With recognition from Tripadvisor and the Travellers' Choice Award, Seventh Brunch consolidates its position as the best brunch in Lisbon and reinforces its commitment to offering a unique and unforgettable experience for its customers.About Seventh BrunchSeventh Brunch is an innovative restaurant chain founded in Portugal by the Italian-Brazilian entrepreneur, writer, and philanthropist Eduardo Volpato. It stands out for offering a unique gastronomic experience. With a welcoming atmosphere that encourages rest and renewal, Seventh Brunch promotes values of inclusion and respect, warmly receiving all customers. At Seventh Brunch, you will find the concept of "Ubuntu," which means "I am because we are," reflecting our dedication to the community and collective well-being. Our motto, "Brunch with Love," reinforces our commitment to serving meals prepared with care and dedication, creating a truly unique and welcoming experience for everyone.Contact:Rute Granado+351913520624 press@ seventhbrunch.comhttps://www.seventhbrunch.com/ SOURCE: Seventh Brunch
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-21 22:50:41

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Global Cord Blood Corporation ("Global Cord" or the "Company") (OTC PINK:CORBF) and certain officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and docketed under 24-cv-03071, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Global Cord securities between June 4, 2019 and May 3, 2022, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.If you are a shareholder who purchased or otherwise acquired Global Cord securities during the Class Period, you have until June 21, 2024 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com . To discuss this action, contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com 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.[Click here for information about joining the class action]Global Cord, together with its subsidiaries, provides umbilical cord blood storage and ancillary services in the in the Beijing Municipality, Guangdong Province, and Zhejiang Province of the People's Republic of China ("PRC"). Originally known as "China Cord Blood Corporation," Global Cord became a public company in May 2007 and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") in November 2009. The Company has received but rejected multiple "going private" offers, or transactions in which a public company is converted into private ownership.From the Company's inception until January 2018, Global Cord's largest shareholder was Golden Meditech Holdings Limited ("Golden Meditech" or "GMHL"), a medical device and hospital management company incorporated in the Cayman Islands and based in the PRC. Founded in 2001 by Defendant Yuen Kam ("Kam"), Golden Meditech was publicly listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange until October 2020, when it was taken private by Kam.Golden Meditech's previous financial interest in Global Cord is just one of the significant connections that have existed between the two companies during the relevant time. Global Cord and Golden Meditech also maintained the same registered address in Hong Kong, even occupying the same building floor. Furthermore, Defendant Kam previously served as Global Cord's Chairperson until January 31, 2018. Global Cord's next Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Defendant Ting Zheng ("Zheng"), served as a non-executive member of Golden Meditech's Board of Directors from August 2012 to May 2019. Global Cord's Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"), Defendant Bing Chuen Chen ("Chen"), served (officially) as Golden Meditech's Corporate Finance Vice President from March 2005 until an unknown date after 2017. After that time, Defendant Chen continued to be secretly involved in managing Golden Meditech while he was serving as Global Cord's CFO. Similarly, Kam continued to exert control over Global Cord after he was no longer formally associated with the Company. After the Transaction (descried below) was announced, Chen held Kam out as a representative of Global Cord for a private meeting with the Company's largest shareholder. Even further highlighting the connections between Golden Meditech and Global Cord, Defendants Zheng and Kam are in a personal relationship and have two children.In September 2016, Golden Meditech, in combination with The University of Texas at MD Anderson Cancer Center, announced the founding of Cellenkos Inc. ("Cellenkos"), a biotechnology company based in Houston that focuses on umbilical cord blood-derived T-regulatory cellular therapies.On April 29, 2022, after the market closed, in a Form 6-K filed with the SEC, Global Cord announced that it had entered into a Material Definitive Agreement to acquire Cellenkos for over $1 billion, including $664 million in cash and 114 million Global Cord shares-roughly the same number of the Company's shares that were already outstanding (the "Transaction"). In a press release appended as an exhibit to the Form 6-K, the Company provided that it would acquire 100% of Cellenkos and the rights to develop and commercialize all of its existing and future products worldwide except those related to a certain existing collaboration. Further, the Company stated that, at the close of the Transaction, it planned to issue approximately 125 million new shares, valued at US$11 per share, and pay $664 million in cash as total consideration. The Transaction thus stood to dilute the Company's shareholders by half and deplete its sizable cash balance.On this news, Global Cord's stock price fell $0.98 per share, or 28.57%, from $3.43 at the close of trading on April 29, 2022, to close at $2.45 per share on May 2, 2022.The Transaction was rushed to completion in under three days from when Global Cord's Board was first notified of it, without the shareholder approval that would be expected-and was required-for such a momentous transaction. Further, it grossly overvalued Cellenkos, such as by assuming that all of its treatments would receive regulatory approval.Global Cord's Directors approved the Transaction to benefit themselves and other Company insiders and related parties. The court in the Cayman Islands has criticized the role of Global Cord's Directors and management in the Transaction, stating (among other observations) that "it is impossible at this stage to discern any easily comprehensible commercial rationale for the Company, especially being a listed company, consummating and implementing an arrangement which was so financially and strategically significant with such a breath-taking combination of speed and stealth, particularly in circumstances where the Company was (as at April 29, 2022) under minority' rather than majority shareholder control." One of Cellenkos's primary products is CK0802, an allogenic cell therapy product that is presently in a randomized, double blinded placebo controlled, multi-center trial for the treatment of COVID-19 induced acute respiratory distress syndrome . In October 2021, pursuant to a license agreement (the "License Agreement"), Cellenkos assigned the license of CK0802 to Defendant Go
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-21 14:01:21

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ATLANTA,GA / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 / The music world is about to be set ablaze with the release of "Run It," the highly anticipated new single from Sincerely Amirror, an Atlanta-based powerhouse signed to Akon's Konvict Kulture label. "Run It" will be available for streaming and download on June 21, 2024, providing a thrilling preview of her debut EP Reflxns, which will follow on June 28, 2024.Amirror 'Run It' Single CoverBorn in West Virginia, Amirror discovered her love for music at a young age, inspired by her family's rich culture of karaoke and soulful gatherings. Her journey began with talent shows and festivals, leading to an Artist Development program that honed her skills and set the stage for her future success.Amirror's life took a pivotal turn when she met global sensation Akon, who was captivated by her unique sound and undeniable talent. Signing her to his Konvict Kulture label, Akon opened doors to a new world of musical opportunities, including a transformative visit to Senegal that deeply influenced her artistic vision.Produced by Akon and co-produced by Spotless and Konvict Kulture's newest producer Nektunez, "Run It" showcases Amirror's dynamic fusion of Afro beats and Afro pop. Her music resonates with a deep connection to her roots and the influential artists she admires."Amirror's journey and dedication to her craft are truly inspiring," said Akon. "Her new single 'Run It' is a powerful introduction to the world of Reflxns and a testament to her unique talent and voice." "Run It" is more than just a single; it's a reflection of Amirror's life experiences and her evolution as an artist. Her fans, known as "Reflections," connect deeply with her music, finding pieces of themselves in her lyrics and beats."I've poured my heart and soul into 'Run It' and the entire Reflxns EP," said Amirror. "I want my fans to feel the energy, the passion, and the connection to our shared heritage in every track." With a career that has already seen international tours and collaborations with artists like Mase, Teni, and Rotimi, Amirror continues to break boundaries and redefine the music landscape. Her upcoming EP promises to be a deep, rhythmic exploration of Afro beats, offering both up-tempo and soulful tracks that speak to the heart.Don't miss the release of "Run It" on June 21, 2024.For more information and to download "Run It," visit https://vydia.lnk.to/AmirrorRunIt Contact InformationKatina FieldsPublicist - KFields PR Agencykatina@ kfieldspr.com (714) 865-5690SOURCE: Sincerely AmirrorView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-21 19:45:54

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Tech Leaders Seek Fair Legislation on Privacy Without Hampering InnovationWASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 / In a crucial meeting held in the nation's capital, representatives from prominent small tech companies convened to discuss the potential repercussions of the newly proposed App Privacy and Rights Act (APRA) bill. The bill, which aims to enhance user privacy and security, has sparked concerns among these small developers, who fear it may inadvertently restrict their creative and operational capabilities.From left to right: Dr. Tye Caldwell, Courtney Caldwell (ShearShare), Sam Kuebler (Legislative Director at U.S. House of Representatives for Congresswoman Salazar), Adri Ofman (FlipaClip), Maria Burns Ortiz (7 Generation Games)The gathering included influential figures such asAdri Ofman from FlipaClip,Maria Burns Ortiz of 7 Generation Games, Chudi Iregbulem from Beatmatch, Nico Aguilar of Speeko, and Courtney Caldwell alongside Dr. Tye Caldwell from ShearShare. These leaders represent a diverse spectrum of the tech industry, from animation software to educational games and beauty industry platforms.During their discussions with the offices of several key lawmakers, including Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (FL), Sen. Marco Rubio (FL), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (MN), Sen. Timothy Kennedy (NY), and Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN), the tech representatives emphasized the need for legislation that protects user privacy without compromising the functionality that users rely on. They argued that overly stringent regulations could stifle innovation and limit the ability of small companies to compete in the digital marketplace.Adri Ofman of FlipaCliparticulated the collective concern, stating, "We're here to ensure that the voices of small businesses and independent creators are heard. We support improving privacy, but it needs to be done the right way. This is our line of work, and we have the expertise to help." The APRA bill, as it stands, aims to set new benchmarks for user data protection in applications, addressing growing concerns about data misuse in the digital age. However, the representatives from the small tech companies advocate for revisions that would prevent potential negative impacts on app functionality and user experience.This meeting marks a significant moment for small tech enterprises seeking to influence policy in a way that supports both the industry's growth and consumer rights. The unity and resolve shown by these companies underscore the critical role they play in the broader tech ecosystem, highlighting the importance of ensuring their voices are heard in legislative processes.As the debate over the APRA bill continues, the tech community watches closely, hopeful that a balanced approach will prevail, enabling continued innovation while safeguarding user privacy.Media Contact:Rachel HarrisPulse Media info@ pulsemediapr.com SOURCE: FlipaClip
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-21 13:00:51

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 /Temas Resources Corp. ("Temas" or the "Company") (CSE:TMAS)(OTCQB:TMASF) is pleased to announce that all resolutions put forward at the Annual General Meeting (the "Meeting") of the Company's shareholders held June 19, 2024, as described in the Company's Information Circular dated May 3, 2024 (the "Circular") were approved.A summary of the results is set out below:Number of Directions: The number of directors is set at four (4) until the next annual general meeting of the Shareholders.Election of Directors: The nominees below were all elected as Directors until the next annual general meeting of the Shareholders. Detailed results of the vote are set out below:Votes For% ForS. Kyler Hardy5,130,57498.87%David Robinson5,187,47299.97%Veronique Laberge (1)4,988,25196.13%Tim Fernback5,187,47299.97%Veronique Laberge replaced Rory Kutluoglu as a director nominee as per the Company press release dated June 14, 2024.Auditor Appointment: The Shareholders approved the appointment of DeVisser Gray LLP as the auditors of the Company and further authorized the directors to fix the remuneration to be paid to DeVisser Gray LLP for the upcoming fiscal year.Tim Fernback, Temas President & CEO comments "We are very pleased with the results of the AGM showing a resounding support of the Company and its Directors. We have some exciting plans for the upcoming year and believe that the Company is now in the best position to execute on those plans. We are looking forward to improving the overall asset value at our La Blache and Lac Brule Titanium Dioxide mineral properties with additional exploration and development for the ultimate benefit of our Shareholders." About Temas ResourcesTemas Resources Corp. is focused on the advanced La Blache and Lac Brule Iron-Titanium-Vanadium projects in Quebec. The critical metals the Company is exploring for are key to our national mineral independence. Additionally, the Company invests in and works to apply its green mineral recovery technologies across its mining portfolio to reduce the environmental impact and carbon footprint of metal extraction through advanced processing and patented leaching technologies.All public filings for the Company can be found on the SEDAR+ website www.sedarplus.ca . For more information about the Company, please visit www.temasresources.com For further information or investor relations inquiries:Tim FernbackPresident and CEOtfernback@ shaw.ca orKIN Communications Inc.Tel: 604-684-6730 tmas@ kincommunications.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsNeither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information under the provisions of Canadian securities laws including statements about the Company's plans. Such statements are necessarily based upon a number of beliefs, assumptions, and opinions of management on the date the statements are made and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those anticipated or projected. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors should change, except as required by law.SOURCE: Temas Resources Corp.
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-21 23:16:54

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LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 / The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. ("Arbor" or "the Company") (NYSE:ABR) for violations of the securities laws.The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Arbor is the subject of a report issued by Viceroy Research November 17, 2023, titled, ""Arbor Realty Trust - Slumlord Millionaires." According to the report, "Arbor's high-risk multifamily bridge loans, which comprise substantially all of its asset book, are going bad fast The end is near." Viceroy Research then issued a follow up report on December 5, 2023, titled "Arbor - Jacksonville Case Study." In the second report, Viceroy Research claims that the Company's "entire loan book is distressed and underlying collateral is vastly overstated." Based on this news, shares of Arbor fell by more than 5% over the next two trading sessions.If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com , or by email at bschall@ schallfirm.com The class in this case has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.CONTACT:The Schall Law FirmBrian Schall, Esq.310-301-3335 info@ schallfirm.comwww.schallfirm.com SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-21 19:00:52

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BRUNSWICK, GA. / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 / Torras Properties, Inc. announced today that C. Eric Tiller, Jr., a member of the Torras Properties Board of Directors and a trusted advisor to the Torras family, passed away this week on Monday, June 17.Charles Eric Tiller, Jr. Mr. Tiller was a director of Torras Properties and the affiliated Torras companies for over 30 years. He worked closely with founder Robert M. Torras, Sr. from the time Mr. Torras established the first company, Torco, Inc. in 1968. He went on to support Mr. Torras and his family as a business advisor, director, accountant, and friend until his death.Mr. Tiller was a retired Managing Partner of the Moore Stephens Tiller LLC (MST) accounting firm. He joined the Brunswick, Georgia, office in 1961 and in 1965 transferred to Atlanta. In 1968, Eric was admitted to the partnership, and from 1985 to 1991 served as the firm's Managing Partner. Much of the success and stature that MST enjoys today is due to Eric's leadership during those years. Eric was born and raised in Brunswick, and attended the University of Georgia, where he earned a bachelor's degree in accounting in 1961. He was active in civic and professional organizations throughout his long career.Corporate Secretary and Torras family member Deborah Torras stated, "From the time I was a young child, Eric worked closely with my father and looked after all of us. He was far more than a director and family advisor, he was a dear friend and a pillar of strength and wisdom. His influence will be forever etched in our hearts and the choices we make." Torras Properties President and board member Daren Pietsch added, "Eric's dedication was unwavering and we will be forever grateful for the growth and excellence he helped us achieve. Eric's life was a shining example of service to others and being a wonderful friend in the process. We extend our deepest condolences to Eric's family."Contact InformationMichael Torrasmichael@ torrasproperties.com (912) 324-7415SOURCE: Torras Properties, Inc.View the original press release on newswire.com
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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 / TRU Precious Metals Corp. (TSXV:TRU)(OTCQB:TRUIF) ("TRU" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has relisted its common stock on the OTCQB Venture Market ("OTCQB") in the United States ("U.S."), under the existing U.S. stock symbol "TRUIF".The OTCQB is a U.S. trading platform operated by OTC Markets Group in New York, and is the premiere marketplace for early-stage and developing international companies. Participating companies must be current in their reporting and undergo an annual verification and management certification process. The OTCQB quality standards provide a strong baseline of transparency, as well as the technology and regulation to improve the information and trading experience for U.S.-based investors. Investors can find real-time quote and market information for TRU at https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/TRUIF/overview TRU Co-Founder and CEO Joel Freudman commented: "Relisting on the OTCQB, following a brief hiatus earlier this year for expense-management purposes, is an important business-building move for TRU to gain access to the deeper pool of capital in the United States. We know from recent business development efforts in the U.S. that investors there have increased interest in copper and gold as those commodities approach and break record-high prices. We intend to develop and leverage this heightened investor visibility as we advance exploration on our flagship gold-copper Golden Rose Project in southwestern Newfoundland this summer and beyond." The Company's common shares remain eligible for electronic clearing and settlement in the United States through The Depository Trust Company. TRU's common shares will also continue to trade in Canada on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "TRU".About TRU Precious Metals Corp.TRU (TSXV:TRU, OTCQB:TRUIF) is on a mission to build long-term shareholder value through prudent natural resource property development and transactions. TRU is exploring for gold and copper in the highly prospective Central Newfoundland Gold Belt on its 100%-owned Golden Rose Project, originally optioned from TSX-listed Altius Minerals. Golden Rose is a regional-scale 264.25 km2 land package, including 45 km of strike length along the deposit-bearing Cape Ray - Valentine Lake Shear Zone, directly between Calibre Mining's Valentine Gold Project and AuMEGA Metals' Cape Ray Gold Project. In addition, TRU has an option to acquire up to an aggregate 65% ownership interest in two claim packages covering 33.25 km2 including a 12 km strike length along the Shear Zone within Golden Rose. TRU is approximately 37%-owned by European strategic investor Ormonde Mining plc (AQSE:ORM).TRU is a portfolio company of Resurgent Capital Corp. ("Resurgent"), a merchant bank providing venture capital markets advisory services and proprietary financing. Resurgent works with promising public and pre-public micro-capitalization companies listing on Canadian stock exchanges. For more information on Resurgent and its portfolio companies, please visit Resurgent's website at https://www.resurgentcapital.ca/ and follow Resurgent on LinkedIn at https://ca.linkedin.com/company/resurgent-capital-corp For further information about TRU, please contact:Joel FreudmanCo-Founder & CEOTRU Precious Metals Corp.Phone: 1-855-760-2TRU (2878)Email: ir@ trupreciousmetals.com To connect with TRU via social media, below are links:X: https://x.com/MetalsTru YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruMetalsCorp LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tru-precious-metals-corp/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TRUMetals/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TRUMetals/ AcknowledgementTRU would like to thank the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador for financial support through the Junior Exploration Assistance Program and the Federal Government for its critical mineral assistance funding for the exploration activities at Golden Rose.Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including those relating to the expected benefits of the Company's OTCQB relisting, and the Company's exploration plans. These statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding U.S. capital markets believed by management to be reasonable in the circumstances, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including volatility in financial markets and economic conditions, no assurance of enhanced liquidity and/or market awareness of the Company in the U.S., and those other risks described in the Company's continuous disclosure documents. Actual results may differ materially from results contemplated by the forward-looking statements herein. Investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements herein except as required by applicable securities laws.Neither TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SOURCE: TRU Precious Metals Corp.
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized law firm, notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Globe Life Inc. ("Globe Life" or "the Company") (NYSE:GL) and certain of its officers.Class Definition:This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Globe Life securities between May 8, 2019 and April 10, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/GL Case Details:According to the Complaint, Globe Life is an insurance company headquartered in McKinney, Texas, that offers a wide range of insurance products, including life insurance, mortgage protections, and supplemental health insurance. Globe Life operates five wholly owned insurance subsidiaries. The largest, by both premiums collected and number of sales agents employed, is American Income Life Insurance Company ("AIL").Throughout the Class Period, according to the Complaint, Globe Life touted its consistent revenue growth, particularly from AIL, which accounted for 50% of the Company's profits in 2022 and 2023. During the Class Period, Globe Life reported consistent premium revenue growth at the Company, led by consistent premium revenue growth at AIL. The Company also represented that its employees adhered to a Code of Conduct that expressly prohibited various forms of misconduct, and which required that all Globe Life employees comply with relevant laws and regulations, purportedly ensuring that the Company would maintain a workplace free from violence, threatening behavior, and illegal drugs.The Complaint alleges that as a result of Defendants' misrepresentations, shares of Globe Life common stock traded at artificially inflated prices throughout the Class Period.The truth emerged on April 11, 2024, when, according to the Complaint, investment research firm Fuzzy Panda published a report alleging that Globe Life had engaged in wide-spread insurance fraud, while permitting a culture of unchecked sexual harassment. Specifically, the report alleged that several Globe Life subsidiaries were underwriting policies for dead and fictitious people, as well as adding policies to existing users' accounts without their consent. In addition, the investment research firm uncovered evidence that the subsidiaries maintained a hostile workplace where sexual harassment, drug use, and sexual assault went unchecked - conduct that violated the Company's Code of Conduct.As a result of these disclosures, according to the Complaint, the price of Globe Life common stock declined $55.76, 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.What's Next?A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/GL or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 332-239-2660. If you suffered a loss in Globe Life you have until July 1, 2024, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.There is No Cost to YouWe represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.Contact:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Nathan Miller 332-239-2660 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2024 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized law firm, notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Harbor Diversified, Inc. ("Harbor Diversified" or "the Company") (OTC:HRBR) and certain of its officers.Class Definition:This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Harbor Diversified securities between May 10, 2022 and March 29, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/HRBR Case Details:According to the Complaint, Harbor Diversified describes itself as "a non-operating holding company that is the parent of a consolidated group of subsidiaries, including AWAC Aviation, Inc. (AWAC'), which is the sole member of Air Wisconsin Airlines LLC (Air Wisconsin'), a regional air carrier. Harbor is also the direct parent of three other subsidiaries: (1) Lotus Aviation Leasing, LLC (Lotus'), which leases flight equipment to Air Wisconsin, (2) Air Wisconsin Funding LLC (AWF'), which provides flight equipment financing to Air Wisconsin, and (3) Harbor Therapeutics, Inc. (Therapeutics'), which is a non-operating entity with no material assets." The Complaint alleges that Harbor Diversified made materially false and/or misleading statements because the Company misrepresented and failed to disclose the following adverse facts pertaining to the Company's business, operations, and prospects, which were known to Defendants or recklessly disregarded by them. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that:(1) Harbor Diversified's financial statements from May 9, 2022 to the present were misstated due to improper revenue recognition;(2) Harbor Diversified lacked adequate internal controls; and(3) as a result, Harbor Diversified's statements about its business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all times.The truth began to emerge, according to the Complaint, on March 29, 2024, when Harbor Diversified filed with the SEC a current report on Form 8-K in which it announced that certain of its previously-issued financial statements would need to be restated as a result of improper revenue recognition. Further, Harbor Diversified disclosed a material weakness in its internal controls that has the company's management evaluating "appropriate remediation actions." On this news, according to the Complaint, the price of Harbor Diversified stock fell by $0.28 per share, or14.25% , to close at $1.73 on April 1, 2024.Therefore, the Complaint further alleges that as a result of Defendants' wrongful acts and omissions, and the precipitous decline in the market value of the Harbor Diversified's common shares, investors have suffered significant losses and damages.What's Next?A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/HRBR or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 332-239-2660. If you suffered a loss in Harbor Diversified you have until July 8, 2024, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.There is No Cost to YouWe represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.Contact:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Nathan Miller 332-239-2660 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
Political tensions have been high in Malawi since the death of former Vice President Saulos Chilima in an aircraft crash last Monday, 10 June  with conspiracy theories targeting President Lazarus Chakwera.

Mr Chakwera and his Malawi Congress Party (MCP) formed the Tonse Alliance with Mr Chilimas United Transformation Movement (UTM) and several smaller parties to contest and ultimately win the 2020 elections. The High Court ordered those polls after it ruled that incumbent President Peter Mutharikas victory in 2019 was rigged.

The charismatic Mr Chilima was an important, probably critical, part of that combined victory. But cracks soon began appearing in the alliance. In particular, relations soured between Messrs Chakwera and Chilima.

In November 2022, Mr Chilima was arrested over allegations that he had received $280,000 from British businessman Zuneth Sattar  a perennial suspect in corruption cases  for helping his firms secure Malawi Defence Force contracts. His supporters suspected the case was politically motivated. Then in May this year, the charges against him were dropped, allegedly on Mr Chakweras order.

The main source of tension was about who should run as the Tonse Alliances candidate in the 2025 presidential election. Last month, Mr Chakwera unilaterally announced he would seek re-election. Mr Chilima didnt publicly respond. But other UTM members accused Mr Chakwera of reneging on an agreement that Chakwera would run for president for the first five years and support Mr Chilima in running for the second five. There were suggestions, though, that Mr Chilima then decided he would run against Mr Chakwera.

One senior politician who requested anonymity said Mr Chilima had helped capture the youth vote for Mr Chakwera in 2020, but it then looked like Mr Chakwera and the MCP decided he had become dispensable, and dropped him.

These tensions fuelled the conspiracy theories about what caused the crash of the military aircraft that killed Mr Chilima and nine others. The UTM demanded a commission of inquiry  a good idea in principle, though no evidence of foul play has emerged. The aircraft was flying from the capital, Lilongwe, to the northern town of Mzuzu but was turned back before landing because of bad weather. It crashed soon after.

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Mr Chakwera was booed by some at Mr Chilimas funeral, and there have been incidents of stoning of vehicles. A Tonse Alliance member told ISS Today that the alliance suspected former President Mutharikas Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was taking advantage of the suspicions about Mr Chakwera and the tensions between the MCP and UTM to stir trouble.

Mr Chakweras choice of UTM Vice President Michael Usi to replace Mr Chilima as the countrys vice president seems to have created more new problems than it solved. Malawians were watching the decision closely to discern Mr Chakweras intentions.

On the face of it, it was a good decision. Some observers feared he might appoint a vice president from his own MCP party because of the tensions between him and Mr Chilima and their respective parties. But several commentators advised against that. For instance, Tonse Alliance spokesperson George Mnesa told Malawis The Daily Times that that was what the alliance expected. He said that would show respect for Mr Chilima and be supported by the other alliance members.

So appointing Mr Usi seemed to make sense. But many in the Tonse Alliance are upset by Mr Chakweras choice. One senior member told ISS Today that Mr Usi was widely regarded as having gone over to Chakweras side after he appointed him minister of natural resources and climate change.

Chakwera insisted that Usi, like other alliance members appointed to cabinet, swear allegiance to him rather than to their parties, the source said, adding that Mr Usi had virtually ignored his UTM duties ever since. The result was that Mr Usi had become alienated from his own party. This was apparent this week when his party colleagues shunned him at Chilimas funeral.

He should have appointed someone like Patricia Kaliati, the source said, referring to the feisty UTM Secretary-General, who figured prominently at Mr Chilimas funeral. But that always seemed unlikely as Mr Chakwera, who had appointed Ms Kaliati to his cabinet as part of the Tonse Alliance deal back in 2020, fired her in February 2023 as part of a larger reshuffle.

So Mr Usis appointment appears to have done nothing to revive the Tonse Alliance, which exists only on paper, as one of its members told ISS Today. That is largely because Mr Chakwera had not fully honoured his agreements to appoint alliance members to cabinet. The danger is that the UTM may go over to Mutharikas DPP. There have already been signs of that happening, they said.

Mr Usis swearing-in ceremony today was expected to give some clue as to whether or not the UTM would accept his appointment.

Mr Chakwera has proved a grave disappointment to many Malawians after the euphoria of his and Mr Chilimas 2020 victory and the overturning of Mr Mutharikas rigged victory. He now may be inadvertently setting the country up for a comeback by Mr Mutharika next year.

Peter Fabricius, Consultant, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Pretoria

(This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish).

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The Lagos State Government has announced an increase in the number of fatalities recorded from the Cholera disease rampaging the state.

According to the states Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, as of Friday, fatalities have risen from 21 to 24.

Mr Abayomi disclosed this on Friday in a post on his Instagram handle.

He noted that the situation report, as of 19 June, shows 35 confirmed infections out of 417 suspected cases recorded across 20 Local Government Areas (LGA) in the state.

He advised residents to ensure personal and environmental hygiene.

Lets adhere strictly to personal and environmental hygiene. Lets stay safe #ForAGreaterLagos, he noted.

This follows the announcement by the World Health Organisation (WHO) of a spike in cholera in several regions of the world, with about 195,000 cases and over 1,900 deaths reported in 24 countries since the start of 2024.

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Lagos outbreak

The rise in Cholera cases in Lagos was anticipated following the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, during which large gatherings occurred.

The infographics posted by the Lagos Health Commissioner show that cases were reported from Agege, Badagry, Ikeja, Mushin, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Epe, Ikorodu, Ojo, Alimosho, and Eti-Osa.

Others are Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Amuwo-Odofin, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos Island, Shomolu, Apapa, Ifako-Ijaiye, Lagos mainland, and Surulere.

Mr Abayomi recently disclosed that the identified cholera strain is highly aggressive and contagious, with significant potential spread and heightened by the rainy season.

Cholera is a highly contagious food and water-borne disease. It spreads through direct transmission by eating or drinking contaminated food or water and indirect transmission due to poor sanitation and lack of handwashing.

Symptoms of cholera include acute, painless, watery diarrhoea of sudden onset, with or without vomiting. It may be associated with nausea, profuse vomiting and fever.

Cholera prevention

NCDC noted in its latest advisory that cholera can be prevented by ensuring access to safe, potable drinking water, proper sanitation and waste disposal, and appropriate hygiene, including handwashing.

It noted that raw fruits and vegetables, food from street vendors, and raw or undercooked seafood should be avoided.

To reduce the risk of cholera, the NCDC advised the public to ensure that water is boiled and stored in a clean and covered container before drinking, practice good personal hand hygiene by washing your hands frequently with soap under clean running water.

Use alcohol-based hand sanitiser if soap and clean water are not available. Ensure that food is well cooked before consumption. Only consume raw food such as fruits and vegetables, after washing thoroughly with safe water.

It also advised against open defecation and indiscriminate refuse dumping. It urged residents to ensure proper waste disposal and frequent clearing of sewage.

If you or anyone you know experiences sudden watery diarrhoea, please do not self-medicate; visit a healthcare facility immediately, it noted.
The Kano State Government has directed the states Commissioner of Police to remove the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, from the Nasarawa mini palace.

The state government claimed that Thursdays judgement by a Federal High Court was in its favour, affirming the state governments decision to reinstate Emir Lamido Sanusi.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the court nullified the Kano Emirate Council (Amendment No. 2) Law, 2024, that scrapped four of the five emirate councils of the state last month and removed all the five emirs, including Aminu Ado-Bayero of Kano.

The judge, Abdullahi Liman, ruled that the appointment of Mr Sanusi as Kano emir was null and void because the government failed to obey the court order restraining it from taking further action on the new emirate council law.

The judge described Governor Yusufs speech during the presentation of the reappointment letter to Mr Sanusi as a road to anarchy, saying that if a court order cannot be respected despite evidence of service, then the government was heading to chaos.

He voided all the actions taken by the governor after the court order, including the signing of the new emirate law and subsequent appointment of Mr Sanusi as emir, and ordered all parties in the case to maintain the status quo.

But in a swift response, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Haruna Dederi, in a press conference, said the court ruling was in their favour and Mr Sanusi remains the emir.

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He said the government has already concluded arrangements for the general reconstruction and renovation of the property, including the demolition and reconstruction of the dilapidated wall fence of the Nasarawa palace with immediate effect.

Following this courts ruling, Kano State Government has directed the State Commissioner of Police to remove the deposed emir of the 8 metropolitan local governments from the government property where he is trespassing as the government has already concluded arrangements for the general reconstruction and renovation of the property including the demolishing and reconstruction of the dilapidated wall fence with immediate effect.

By the ruling of the court, it has unequivocally reaffirmed the validity of the law passed by Kano State House of Assembly and assented to by His Excellency the Executive Governor of Kano State on Thursday, 23rd May 2024 by 5:10 p.m.

This part of the judgement is very fundamental to the entire matter. Further implication of the ruling is that all actions done by the government before the emergence of the interim order of the honourable court, are equally validated.

This means that the abolishing of the five emirates created in 2019 is validated, and the deposition of the five emirs is also sustained by the Federal High Court. By implication, this means that Muhammadu Sanusi II remains the emir of Kano.

The judge also granted our application for the stay of proceedings until the Court of Appeal deals with the appeal before it on jurisdiction. Happily, the signing of the law and the reinstatement of His Highness, Emir Muhammad Sunusi II were done on 23rd May, 2024before the emergence of the Interim Order which was served on us on Monday 27th May, 2024, the state government claimed.

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A High Court in Otuocha, Anambra State, has sentenced a fake lawyer to 90 days imprisonment for impersonation.

Otuocha is a community in Anambra East Local Government Area of the state.

The convicted fake lawyer, Obinna Oraezue, was arrested in the courtroom on 13 June while representing a litigant in a land case.

Viral video clip

A video clip which showed Mr Oraezue being interrogated by the judge, Justice Okechukwu Onunkwo, went viral recently on social media.

In the clip, seen by PREMIUM TIMES, the fake lawyer was being questioned by Justice Onunkwo, who was surprised by his inability to present his case at the court properly.

No lawyer will do this, the judge said of Mr Oraezues conduct at the court.

The fake lawyer was dressed in a wig and gown.

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Officer, there is an imposter here. This man is not a lawyer, the judge said to an armed police operative at the court.

Remove your wig and gown. This man is not a lawyer. And I hereby order his arrest in my court, he declared.

The fake lawyer was consequently handcuffed and arrested by the police operative, who a plain-clothes police officer assisted.

Arraignment

Mr Oraezue was subsequently arraigned on Wednesday for contempt, Punch newspaper reported.

Upon interrogation by Justice Onunkwo, the fake lawyer confessed that he did not study law in the university but political science.

He stressed that he has a passion for legal practice, explaining that he had just spent about a month at M.T Olisaeke, a law firm that hired him.

Mr Oraezue claimed that he had not represented anyone in any Nigerian court in the past.

While pleading for forgiveness, the fake lawyer blamed economic hardship in Nigeria for his action, adding that he had worked as a contract staff at the Onitsha South Local Government Area of the state.

He appealed for leniency, saying he has five children and an unemployed wife to take care of.

Judgement

Delivering judgement, Justice Onunkwo held that the fake lawyer was guilty of impersonation and subsequently sentenced him to 90 days imprisonment with hard labour.

The judge said the sentence took effect from 13 June when the convict was arrested and argued that the sentence was mild because the court considered the convicts pleas.

He said the sentence would serve as a deterrent to others who may wish to indulge in such an ignoble act.

He recommended investigation and disciplinary actions against the law firm for hiring the impersonator as a junior lawyer without proper checks at the Onitsha branch of the Nigerian Bar Association.

Meanwhile, the convict, Mr Oraezue, was remanded at the Onitsha Correctional Centre in the state.

Reacting to the judgement, a legal practitioner, Uzochukwu Ozumba, said the court was lenient enough because the convict had shown remorse.

Mr Ozumba advised those who may wish to commit similar crimes to desist from it as the court might not be lenient again.

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The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested one suspect, Tijani Uzairu, in the killing of Chukwu Chukwudi, a mechanic in the Kugbo area of Abuja.

The Commands spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

The tragic incident, according to Ms Adeh, happened Thursday at about 4 p.m.

She said there was an argument between four individuals who were led by Messrs Uzairu and Chukwudi. She said In the course of the argument, one of them stabbed Chukwudi in the neck, which later led to his death.

Preliminary investigation revealed that an argument ensued between them and the mechanic upon which one Chukwu Chukwudi was stabbed on the neck with a dagger by one of the suspects, she said

In a quick response to the incident, the police operatives from Karu Division, arrived at the scene while Chukwudi was immediately rushed to the hospital for treatment.

Upon receipt of the complaint, police operatives from Karu Division mobilised to the scene where one Tijani Uzairu who accompanied the other suspects was arrested and the victim was rushed to the hospital where the doctor on duty confirmed him dead, Ms Adeh said.

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Read full statement below

PRESS STATEMENT

20/06/2024

KUGBO MECHANIC MURDER: FCT POLICE ARREST SUSPECT, COMMENCES INVESTIGATION INTO CHUKWU CHUKWUDIS DEATH.

Following a tragic incident at Kugbo Mechanic, Abuja, today being 20/06/2024 at about 04:00 PM, involving a mechanic and four others currently at large, including one Tijani Uzairu who brought in a vehicle for repairs.

Preliminary investigation revealed that an argument ensued between them and the mechanic upon which one CHUKWU CHUKWUDI was stabbed on the neck with a dagger by one of the suspects. Upon receipt of the complaint, police operatives from Karu Division mobilised to the scene where one Tijani Uzairu who accompanied the other suspects was arrested and the victim was rushed to the hospital where the doctor on duty confirmed him dead.

The Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Benneth C. Igweh, psc, mni has ordered that a discreet investigation be conducted into the matter, as

normalcy has since been restored. He also advices members of the public to shun all acts of violence, noting that the consequences are mostly dire and regrettable.

SP Josephine Adeh, Anipr.

Public Relations Officer,

For: The Commissioner of Police, FCT, Abuja.

10:39 p.m.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged political parties to adhere to the law in their campaigns for the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States.

This was contained in a statement issued by INECs National Commissioner and Chairman, the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, in Abuja on Friday.

Mr Olumekun said the advice became imperative following the publication of the final list of candidates for the governorship elections and as campaigns had begun.

Over the years, a recurring problem in Nigerias electioneering process has been the use of the power of incumbency to deny opposition parties and candidates access to public facilities for rallies and other campaign activities.

These include public buildings such as stadiums, open spaces in public places, total denial or restricted access to state-owned media (specifically radio and television stations);

The imposition of excessive levies and fees for outdoor and media advertising, and even the removal or vandalism of billboards and posters.

These actions often result in violent clashes among party supporters and a breach of public peace.

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For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission wishes to reiterate that Section 95 (2) of the Electoral Act 2022 prohibits the use of State apparatus to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate at any election, Mr Olumekun said.

He also advised the media to comply with the provisions of the law during the campaigns.

According to him, under Section 95 (3), (4) and (5), it is obligatory for public media houses to allot equal coverage and visibility to all parties and candidates.

Section 95 (6) provides sanctions against heads of public media organisations, their principal officers, and other officials for contravention, he said.

He said the publication containing the commissions guidelines for the conduct of political rallies, processions and campaigns had been uploaded to its website (www.inecnigeria.org).

He said the same document has also been uploaded to INEC social media platforms.

Consequently, the attention of all concerned is drawn to the provisions of the law and the guidelines for strict compliance, he said.

(NAN)

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The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has highlighted the need for the federal and state governments to agree with the N250,000 minimum wage benchmark being proposed by the nations organised labour.

It explained that considering the current economic realities, the federal governments proposed N62,000 minimum wage is insufficient to cover the basic expenses of many households.

It appealed to President Bola Tinubu and, by extension, the Nigeria Governors Forum to take the wage demand issue seriously and address it expeditiously.

NUJ President, Chris Isiguzo, made the appeal while speaking at the NUJ Quarterly National Executive Convention (NEC) in Ibadan on Friday.

Mr Isiguzo lamented that NUJ members working in government media houses were finding it difficult to put food on their table, hence the need for governments to effect the proposed N250,000 minimum wage proposed by the labour unions for workers.

He, however, appealed to the citizens to exercise more patience with the federal government for the implementation of the proposed minimum wage.

Mr Isiguzo also shed light on why journalists and governments were partners, stating that the constitution empowered journalists and indeed, the NUJ, to hold people in the corridor of powers accountable.

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He said that the constitution allowed the Union to take a stand on various national issues such as insecurity, economic downturn, infrastructure, health, education, and ecology, among others.

The point is that when we take a position on issues, we also communicate to the government, saying, Okay, look at our observations, and the government needs to do this and that, in cases where it has not done those things.

On his part, the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, who was represented by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, told the journalists that the state government was open to solution-based ideas from anyone to ensure transparency and sustain democracy.

He said that the Union NEC meeting is part of what state governments believe in, for constructive criticism.

We believe in Oyo State and will do whatever is necessary to make peoples lives easier. And journalists are there for us because they are grassroots people; they see where we cannot , so they tell us to do it, he added.

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The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has reiterated its move to deepen bilateral ties between Nigeria and China on grounds of mutual respect and shared developmental goals.

Mr Tuggar disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja by Alkasim Abdulkadir, the special assistant on media and communication to the minister.

The minister arrived in China on 19 June on an official working visit at the invitation of Wang Yi, his Chinese counterpart.

Mr Tuggar delivered a keynote address at the China-Nigeria Business Exchange jointly organised by the Nigerian Embassy and Yingke Law Firm to ease bilateral-trade, investment and strengthen Nigeria-China business matchmaking.

This event is a testament to our commitment to strengthening Nigeria-China relations.

By fostering direct business engagements, we are paving way for increased bilateral trade, investment opportunities and innovative collaborations that will benefit both nations.

Over 200 Chinese companies took part in the event, showing a strong interest in fostering economic collaboration between the two nations, Mr Tuggar said.

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The statement revealed that Mr Tuggar would attend high-level meetings, including the inaugural plenary of the Nigeria-China intergovernmental committee in Beijing and the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Dalian.

The minister is also expected to meet with ECOWAS Ambassadors and inaugurate the 4-D Cultural Diplomacy Programme of the Renewed Hope Agenda by President Bola Tinubu at the Embassy of Nigeria.

These, according to the statement, are expected to further solidify the strategic partnership between Nigeria and China.

The visit is aimed at deepening economic and trade collaboration, enhancing high-level exchanges and strengthening mutual support at multilateral fora.

Outcomes from the visit include advancing Nigerias development drive, boosting infrastructure development, improving healthcare and educational systems, stimulating job creation and economic opportunities.

Also, implementing bilateral agreements, increasing trade volume and diversification, attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), promoting entrepreneurship and strengthening industrial capabilities, and competitiveness, the statement said.

The event attracted notable Nigerian dignitaries and business leaders including the Managing Director/CEO of Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Aisha Rimi, and the Executive Vice-Chairman/CEO, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Khalil Halilu.

Others are the Commissioner for Innovation, Science, and Digital Economy, representing Governor Abiodun Oyebanji of Ekiti, Oluwaseun Fakuade, as well as key private sector leaders including Adegboyega Austen-Peters, Chairman, Dorman Long Engineering Ltd.

Others include the Founder/Artistic Director of Terra Academy for The Arts (TAFTA), Bolanle Austen-Peters; the CEO of Suburban Fiber Company, Bruce Ayonote; the Group CEO of Leadway Holdings, Tunde Hassan-Odukale; Managing Director/CEO, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Olusegun Alebiosu, and Jawad Mustapha of Renecon Energy Ltd.

(NAN)

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The Rivers State Caucus in the House of Representatives has disowned one of its members, Dumnamene Deekor, as its leader and spokesperson, saying he was never instructed to speak on behalf of the caucus.

Awaji-Inombek Abiante, leader of the caucus, in a statement in Abuja on Friday, dismissed a statement credited to the lawmaker.

Mr Deekor called for sanction from the coordinator of the G-60 Lawmakers, Ikenga Ugochinyere.

Mr Abiante said the caucuss leadership in the House had always been based on seniority.

He added that a second-term lawmaker could not lead the caucus when there are more senior lawmakers.

He explained that as a lawmaker, Mr Deekor knows that every member has the right to comment on any issue affecting any part of the country.

This, he said, was because they had sworn to defend the integrity of Nigeria.

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The Rivers caucus in the House of Representatives read with dismay, a statement purportedly issued by the member, representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency, Deekor.

The statement called for the discipline of the Coordinator of the G-60 Lawmakers in the Green Chamber, Ugochinyere, over his position on vexed issues in the polity.

We refused to collectively accede to Deekors self-serving stands as he has never been elected by the Rivers caucus to speak on our behalf, Mr Abiante said.

He said that Mr Deekor, being a second-term lawmaker, could not have arrogated to himself the caucus leader position amid third and fourth-term lawmakers.

Members of the caucus are reportedly divided over the supremacy battle between Mr Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, the FCT minister.

The genesis

On 2 June, Mr Ugochinyere, the member representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State, led about 50 members of the House on a solidarity visit to Mr Fubara in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Members of the delegation were drawn from the PDP, LP, NNPP, APGA and APC.

Many people linked the visit to Messrs Fubara and Wikes battle.

During its plenary on 6 June, the House resolved to refer Mr Ugochinyere to its Committee on Ethics for probe on the visit.

The resolution followed a point of privilege raised by Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau).

Mr Gagdi, citing Order Six Rule One, said his privilege as a lower chamber member had been breached due to the visit.

He stated that Mr Ugochinyere told the press about the visit, giving the impression that the lawmakers represented the House.

The probe has not been concluded.

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The police in Ebonyi State have arrested four persons over the killing of a Nigerian university student in the state.

The victim, Magnus Okeke, was an extra year student in the department of accountancy at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike.

Discovery of the body

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that the victims decomposing body was discovered weeks after he was declared missing.

He was said to have been abducted and then killed by suspected members of Ndufu-Alike, the universitys host community.

Elom Ubochi, the spokesperson of the university, said in a statement that the institution made unsuccessful efforts alongside security operatives to rescue the victim alive after he was abducted on 1 June.

Mr Ubochi said the victim was attacked outside the university premises allegedly by youths from Ohankwu village in the community.

Arrest

The police spokesperson in Ebonyi State, Joshua Ukandu, told PREMIUM TIMES on Friday that four persons have been arrested in connection with the death of the student.

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The (police) command is currently investigating to find out anything we can get regarding the killing, Mr Ukandu, a deputy superintendent of police, said.

The spokesperson said the suspects were currently helping police operatives in their investigation.

After our investigation, if they are culpable, of course, they will be charged to court, he said.

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The wife of a top Binance official, Tigran Gambaryan, on Thursday, called on the Nigerian authorities to stop prosecuting him and free him from detention.

Yuki Gambaryan also restated her earlier call on the United States government to intervene more forcefully to pressure the Nigerian government to release him.

Mr Gambaryan, held in a court-ordered detention in Abuja, is standing trial on money laundering charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the Nigerias capital city.

The court rejected Mr Gambaryans bail application last month. The court, describing him as flight risk, said he would likely jump escape if granted bail.

But his wife said in a statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES late Thursday that there is no basis for the Nigerias Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to continue prosecuting him.

Mrs Gambaryans contention came on the heels of the decision of the Nigerian tax administration agency, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), to drop tax evasion charges against her husband.

Since the FIRS charges were dropped last week and they agreed to serve those charges solely on Binance, I do not see why the EFCC cannot do the same, Mrs Gambaryan argued.

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The prosecution said at the 14 June hearing in the tax evasion case that it decided to drop Mr Gambaryan from the matter following Binances appointment of an agent in Nigeria, the company being the primary target.

Referencing the development, Mrs Gambaryan said it was time for the Nigerian authorities to do the right thing and let my innocent husband go.

Mrs Gambaryan reiterated her earlier call on the US government to intervene in the matter to secure the release of her husband, who she described as an innocent American citizen.

I am also once again calling on the US government to intervene more forcefully. Tigrans and my own tax dollars get sent to Nigeria in aid every year. Nigeria is supposed to be an ally. I refuse to believe that our State Department cannot do more to have an innocent American citizen released, the statement added.

Background

EFCC on 28 March, charged Mr Gambaryan alongside Binance and another of the companys top executives, Nadeem Anjarwalla, with money laundering.

The commission alleged that Mr Gambaryans colleague and co-defendant, Mr Anjarwalla, who escaped from lawful custody in Abuja in March, was on the run.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Anjarwalla, 38, escaped on 22 March from the Abuja guest house where he and his colleague were detained after guards on duty led him to a nearby mosque for prayers in the spirit of the ongoing Ramadan fast.

The Briton, who also has Kenyan citizenship, was believed to have flown out of Abuja using a Middle East airliner.

In a separate case instituted by the FIRS, the prosecution accused Binance and its executives of tax frauds. FIRS filed the case on 22 March.

However, the FIRS amended the charges on 14 June to drop the names of Mr Gambaryan and his colleague from the case, following Binances appointment of an agent in Nigeria.

The cryptocurrency company, which appointed Ayodele Omotilewa as the agent, is now the sole defendant in the case.

Hearing resumes in the case on 12 July.

Mr Gambaryan denied all the allegations levelled against him in the money laundering case and in the tax evasion matter that he has been freed from.

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The Ondo State High Court in Akure, the state capital, on Thursday, nullified the 33 Local Government Development Areas (LCDAs) created by the administration of the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

The judge, A.O Adebusuoye, described the LCDAs in his judgement as inchoate and unlawfully created.

The court held that it was illegal for a governor to sign a law outside the state.

The court added that the Local Government Creation Law 2023, signed by the late Mr Akeredolu in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, outside the state, was unconstitutional, illegal, null and void

The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that Mr Akeredolu, who was down with cancer, assented to the bill on 9 September 2023, creating 33 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) from the 18 constitutionally-recognised Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state.

The bill for the creation of the LCDAs was presented to the late governor by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Oladiji Olamide, during a ceremony at the governors residence in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Background

Mr Akeredolu was on medical leave when he signed the controversial bill in September last year.

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He went on his first medical leave to treat an undisclosed ailment in June 2023 and returned in September.

When he returned, the governors health was still being managed in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, where he intended to continue governing Ondo State, a situation that drew public outrage.

The governor did not transfer power to his then-deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

Mr Akeredolus critics accused him of holding on to power even when he was clearly incapacitated. It was during this time that he signed the controversial LCDA bill.

In December, he commenced another medical leave that was said to be a follow-up to his initial medical treatment. This time, he wrote the state assembly, formally transferring power to the Deputy Governor in acting capacity.

Controversial bill

The LCDAs creation bill was enmeshed in controversy when the governor signed it in September last year.

Some communities in the state had protested over the delineation of the 33 LCDAs, which were created out of the states existing 18 local government areas.

For example, the minority Ijaw ethnic group in Ese-Odo Local Government Area issued a 21-day ultimatum to the state government to reverse the ceding of their land to Irele and Ilaje local government areas in the new LCDAs.

A community in Akure South LGA, Isikan, also protested that the area was not given an LCDA. The various groups had expressed dissatisfaction at the public hearing on the bill for the creation of LCDAs held at the state House of Assembly in August. Leaders of the aggrieved communities had seen the governors return as an opportunity to reconsider their petitions, but the governor had immediately signed the new LCDAs into law from Ibadan.

(NAN)

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The Ondo State Government has outlined the steps it intends to take regarding Thursdays court judgement nullifying the creation of the 33 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.

The state government reacted to the judgement in a statement by its Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kayode Ajulo, in Akure, the state capital, on Friday.

The Ondo State Government created the LCDAs during the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolus administration, during which the current governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, served as the deputy governor.

However, a judge of the state High Court, A.O Adebusuoye, nullified them in his judgement on Thursday, describing them as inchoate and unlawfully created.

The court held that it was illegal for a governor to sign a law outside the state.

The court added that the Local Government Creation Law 2023, signed by the late Mr Akeredolu in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, outside the state, was unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.

Mr Akeredolu, who was down with cancer, assented to the bill on 9 September 2023, creating 33 LCDAs from the 18 constitutionally-recognised Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state.

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Steps to take

However, the Ondo State Government said on Friday that it had taken cognisance of the state High Courts judgement and requested a certified true copy.

After studying the judgement, Mr Ajulo said he would form a legal opinion and present it to the state government.

Subsequently, all necessary measures, in accordance with our laws, will be taken to safeguard the interests of our citizens, foster peaceful coexistence, and uphold the rule of law.

The Attorney General remains steadfast in his commitment to prioritising the well-being and welfare of our citizens, working tirelessly to ensure that justice and the law are served, the statement said.

(NAN)

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Actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo has lashed out at the Labour Party (LP) leadership in a new interview.

Mr Okonkwo defected to LP on 24 August 2022, one month after resigning from the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the partys Muslim-Muslim Ticket.

The 55-year-old, at the time, said he joined LP to promote good governance and a new Nigeria.

However, during an interview on Symfoni TV posted on YouTube on 14 June, Mr Okonkwo, who served as the partys presidential campaign spokesperson in the 2023 election, said the party has derailed from the new Nigeria path.

The award-winning actor also made some damning allegations against the partys acclaimed National Chairman, Julius Abure, and his executives.

His remarks come amidst a leadership crisis within the party, exacerbated by controversies surrounding the March National Convention in Anambra State, which INEC disowned.

He said: I am not aware that (Labour Party) held a national convention like I told you; thank God, youre a journalist. Youre an investigative journalist. They did not even allow journalists to enter when they were conducting the convention. Journalists who investigated to uncover the truth were not even allowed to do so when holding the election.

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That is a secret society. The party executive is now in charge of a secret society. They should be apprehended for explaining what they did there. Party politics is supposed to be open and transparent. Everyone should be able to witness it. The world should see what you are doing. Let them (Julius Abure and his cohorts) come out and tell me what they did at that convention if its not a secret society.

He called the partys leaders jokers and claimed that any members who joined Mr Abure were part of a secret society.

Julius Abure

Furthermore, he stated that Mr Abures tenure as LP National Chairman has ended, and if INEC recognises him, it indicates the commission accepted a bribe.

Section 82, subsection 5. Section 82 discusses conducting elections and the members of the political party voting. The Labour Party even mentioned delegates voting, which the constitution stipulates. However, instead of following this, you held a secret meeting and came up with a decision.

If you bring back Abure ten times, his people will suspend him ten times. When they suspended him the first time, we fought and took the matter to the court of appeal. Before we even concluded the appeal, his state suspended him. If you bring him back now, the local government will suspend him. The other time, the ward suspended him because this man lacks integrity, he noted.

He alleged that Mr Abure lacks support from his people due to his actions and inactions.

They said Peter Obi went for the convention, but he said that he didnt go there for endorsement, and Mr Aubrey people didnt even allow him to leave the place before even telling the world he (Peter Obi) had endorsed them, which means someone is lying. Two people saying contradictory statements about an issue that happened cant be proper at the same time. So I should believe Peter because when he was talking, he didnt say he came to endorse them. I didnt hear it, and that doesnt mean Im supporting him for going to the convention.

Because the body language of a leader matters. Its not right for him to attend the convention because they can say anything when he gets in there. After all, he was there. I would not have attended the convention if I were in his position. So, I do not support his (Peter Obi) attendance at the convention. That is to tell you Abure and his cohort have become pathological liars for saying Peter Obi endorsed them. What all these leaders need is divine deliverance; they cant change.

APC

The actor criticised his former party (APC), tagged them insensitive, and accused its leadership of depriving Nigeria of necessities. He stated he wouldnt join a party that isnt committed to the welfare of Nigerians.

I dont love going back to anything because change is constant. My own Labour Party is not impressing me. The party has allowed national greed to collapse about 100 times since it came into power in 2015, despite claiming it was a treasonable felony for national greed to collapse. When I joined the party in 2016, these issues were absent in Nigeria.

I did not leave my comfort zone as the first actor in the first Nollywood movie to enter the murky waters of politics, which is now being devoured. The landmines of betrayal, the landmines of blood-sucking kingdoms that manifest as politicians, the landmines of blackmail, corruption, and incompetencetrying to say you will fight all these things, he said.

He emphasised that he would only join political leaders with a vision for a new Nigeria.

I have better things to fall back on. If I say I can no longer move forward without betraying the principle of a new Nigeria, I will step back. I started fighting for a new Nigeria before 2020. I withdrew each time I wanted to contest and found it against my conscience. I have not run for any election, but I have aspired. I dont believe in joining corrupt leaders first to oppose them later.

So, after joining them to steal, you want to come out. Why do you think we dont have good opposition in this country? Because once they speak out, their records are exposed, and they face legal consequences. The government has the right to prosecute anyone who commits a crime. Many who want to fight corruption may think they must join corrupt leaders first to gain power, but you cannot outsmart the devil.

Mr Okonkwo, famous for his portrayal of Andy Okeke in Living in Bondage, has starred in several films, including The British Expert, Wives On Strike, The Revolution, and Amanda My Village Wife.

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The Kano State Police Commissioner, Usaini Gumel, has given reasons why the police cannot evict the deposed emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, as directed by Governor Abba Yusuf.

Governor Yusuf on Thursday directed the police to remove Mr Ado-Bayero from the Nassarawa mini palace following a federal high court ruling on the states emirate crisis.

But the police commissioner, in a telephone interview with The Punch on Friday, described the governors directive to remove Mr Ado-Bayero from the palace as jumping the gun.

The police will not evict the deposed Emir because the same government has filed a case at the State High Court on the eviction order, which would come up on Monday, 24th June 2024.

The government is jumping the gun because the same government has filed a case on the eviction order, which is coming up on the 24th of June, 2024. So, if we carry out the order, it is like we are pre-empting the court because we dont know what will happen at the court, the Newspaper quoted the police chief saying.

Meanwhile, PREMIUM TIMES observed that security has been beefed up around the Nassarawa mini palace as hundreds of Mr Ado-Bayeros supporters spent the night celebrating with multiple gunshots parades the court ruling which they considered to be in their favour.

All link routes to the mini palace were blocked by security personnel following a rumour of movement of bulldozers towards the palace.

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed frustration with the Nigerian government over unresolved issues, which it claimed had at different times in the past led to industrial actions.

The union accused President Bola Tinubu of ignoring issues affecting the nations university system.

Speaking at a press conference held at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, on Friday, the Lagos Zonal Coordinator, Adelaja Odukoya, outlined a number of unresolved issues and warned of potential escalation.

Renegotiated agreement

Following an Emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on 8 June, 2024, the union noted the governments failure to implement the re-negotiated 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement.

Mr Odukoya described the development as a criminal violation of the collective bargaining principle in the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, stressing that the renegotiation, concluded in 2021 after five years of negotiations, and aimed to rejuvenate the countrys universities.

With the deliberate refusal of the Federal Government to sign and implement the renegotiated agreement, our members have been stretched beyond their elastic limit of patience and our union urges the Tinubu-led Federal Government to without further delay, set in motion machinery for the immediate signing and implementation of the renegotiated agreement to avoid another round of industrial crises in our public universities.

Funding, proliferation of universities

For the umpteenth time, the union condemned the proliferation and mushrooming of state and federal universities without adequate funding.

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The union criticised the trend as a harmful and retrogressive move that exacerbates the already dire conditions in existing institutions.

ASUU described as disturbing the failure of the government at both federal and state levels to adequately fund existing universities due to inadequate subventions, non-release of monthly subventions, irregular-payment of staff salaries, decayed and dilapidated infrastructures, non-payment/release of check-off and other third party deductions, among others.

ASUU said despite the poor funding of existing institutions, the Visitors of federal and state universities have turned establishment of universities to constituency projects. This development is obviously harmful, retrogressive, and unacceptable. Our union hereby calls for the review and strengthening of the NUC laws to arrest the negative trends.

Withheld salaries

The union also decried the governments continued withholding of three and a half months salaries and arrears of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) from 2020.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the union decry the backlog payment of the EAA which was part of the allowances captured in the 2023 national budget of federal universities.

The union noted that the federal government has still paid the backlog of the Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) which it claimed was part of the allowances captured in the 2023 national budget for federal universities.

According to the union, the December 2020 MoA between the federal government and ASUU reaffirmed our understanding on mainstreaming of EAA into lecturers salaries while the next tranche of the allowances was to be paid in 2021.

The union added that the scheduled payment was not only aborted, adding that mainstreaming EAA as from 2022 has remained a mirage in federal and most state universities.

Mr Odukoya added that the outstanding three and half months salaries withheld during the preventable 2022 nationwide strike action remains unpaid to the members in the federal universities.

It is no longer news that the federal government is still holding on to three and half months salaries of our members in the face of the government intransigence which necessitated the last strike action on the one hand and the current excruciating economic challenges confronting the nation on the other, the union noted.

ASUU labelled this act as callous, unprogressive, destructive, anti-labour, and inhuman, and demanded immediate payment.

IPPIS

In December, the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, a professor, announced that the government has exempted universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education from the use of the Integrated Personnel Payment System (IPPIS) for the payment of salaries and allowances.

However, months after the declaration, ASUU said the government has yet to implement it as its members are still being paid through what they described as new IPPIS.

Government pronouncement on the exit of the universities from IPPIS, the deliberate refusal of corrupt government and ministry officials to migrate the university payroll system away from IPPIS is unfortunate, condemnable and a confirmation that Nigeria is becoming a lawless state. It confirms that certain beneficial elements within government and their collaborators are bent on continuing to defraud our members and the universities, ASUU said.

Threat

In a stern warning, ASUU called on President Tinubu to engage directly with the union to resolve these issues, emphasising that the current approach risks plunging the university system into further crises.

The union added that the President should make good his promise to the Nigerian nation that No child of school age would stay at home due to avoidable industrial unrest in our ivory towers.

This cannot be achieved with the unconscionable contempt, insensitivity, mute indifference, ruinous stances and renewed hopelessness which the government has imposed on the Nigerian University System, it said.

The union also criticised the governments student loan approach, arguing that it burdens students with debt and leads to widespread disenchantment among the youth.

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judges and lawyers should realise that disputes arising from chieftaincy and other local matters are within the exclusive jurisdiction of the High Court of each state of the Federation notwithstanding that the country is operating a distorted federal arrangement Courts in this country, without exception, have no power to prescribe jurisdiction for themselves. Neither do they have power to expand or reduce their area of jurisdiction.

In the last one week, the Federal High Court and the National Industrial Court have separately conferred jurisdiction on themselves to determine chieftaincy matters. Both decisions are highly erroneous as they cannot be justified under sections 251 and 254(C) of the Constitution. As will be demonstrated anon, both courts conveniently overruled the judgments of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal on the subject matter.

The intervention of the Federal High Court in the dispute arising from the deposition of Emir Ado Bayero and co, as well as the restoration of Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, is a brazen repudiation of the decision of the Supreme Court in the celebrated case of Tukur v Government of Gongola State (1987) 4 NWLR (117) 517, where it was held that, The question raised in this claim is not a fundamental right question. As in the first prayer, the right to be Emir is not guaranteed by the Fundamental Rights provisions of the Constitution and the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction whatever in the matter. The Court of Appeal was therefore not in error of law to hold that the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction to grant the two reliefs.

Before then the Supreme Court had made it categorically clear in the case of Olaniyi V. Aroyehum (1991) 5 NWLR (Pt. 194) 652 at 660 that the right to be a traditional ruler is not a fundamental right that can be enforced under the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution. Speaking for his judicial brethren, Karibi-White JSC stated that, I agree entirely with Mr. Otu for the 8th defendant/Respondent that first, plaintiff did not claim that any right of him under chapter III of the Constitution, 1960 was violated. He also did not seek any redress under the chapter. Secondly, chieftaincy is not a matter of Fundamental Rights and cannot be enforced under the provisions of section 31 of the Constitution. It cannot be seriously argued that there is a fundamental right to be a Chief. It is not a human right even though it is a privilege claimed by human beings in an organised society to bring order to their mutual relationship. It is not such right which the law can enforce by virtue merely of the claimant being a human being.

Since the apex court has said that the right to be an Emir is not a fundamental right under chapter four of the Constitution, the Federal High Court sitting in Kano ought to have declined jurisdiction to continue to entertain the dispute over the chieftaincy matter in Kano. In any case, the allegation of infringement of the fundamental rights of the Applicants is an ancillary claim to the substantive reliefs emanating from the deposition and reinstatement of the embattled emirs.

In FCMB Plc v Nyama (2014) LPELR-23973 AT 19-20, the Court of Appeal held that, Now it is settled that where an application is made under the Fundamental Right (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, a condition precedent to the exercise of the courts jurisdiction is that the enforcement of fundamental rights of the securing of enforcement thereof should be the main claim and not the accessory claim. Where the main or principal claim is not the enforcement of fundamental right, the jurisdiction of the court cannot be properly exercised under Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules.

The deposition of a traditional ruler cannot, by any stretch of imagination, be said to be connected with a dispute arising from the entitlement of an employee, worker, political office holder, judicial officer or any civil or public servant in any part of the federation and matters incidental thereto. The payment of stipend to a traditional ruler by a state government cannot turn him into an employee or a public officer.

In the same vein, the National Industrial Court held last week in the case of Jonathan Paragua Zamuna v The Governor of Kaduna State & Anor. (Suit No: NICN/KD/13/2023), that the deposition of the Claimant as a traditional ruler was illegal and ordered his immediate reinstatement. In justifying the jurisdiction of the Court to determine the case, the presiding Judge, Alkali J. held that, the payment of the monthly salary to Jonathan Zamuna upon his appointment as the chief of Piriga Chiefdom or as an officer in the public service of Kaduna State who received salaries from the coffer of the State Government of Kaduna State brings the termination of his appointment to the realm of the jurisdiction of the Court.

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I submit, with profound respect, that section 254(C)(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, has not conferred jurisdiction on the National Industrial Court to hear and determine chieftaincy matters. Section 254C (1) (k) of the Constitution provides that the National Industrial Court shall have jurisdiction in matters relating to or connected with dispute arising from payment or non-payment of salaries, wages, pensions, gratuities, allowances, benefits and any other entitlement of any employee, worker, political office holder, judicial officer or any civil or public servant in any part of the federation, and matters incidental thereto.

The deposition of a traditional ruler cannot, by any stretch of imagination, be said to be connected with a dispute arising from the entitlement of an employee, worker, political office holder, judicial officer or any civil or public servant in any part of the federation and matters incidental thereto. The payment of stipend to a traditional ruler by a state government cannot turn him into an employee or a public officer.

Indeed, the controversy over whether traditional rulers are public officers was laid to rest in the case of Chief John Eze v Okechukwu 2002] 14 SCM 105, where the Supreme Court held that, The definition of public officer in section 277(1) of the 1979 Constitution, which was then applicable, was very wide. Even so, it did not include the office of traditional rulersTherefore, even if the Appellant had been a traditional ruler, there is nothing that could be relied on to regard him as a public officer and accordingly, I hold that he was not entitled to the pre-action notice under the said section 11(2).

Since section 277 of the 1979 Constitution and section 318 of the 1999 Constitution are in pari materia, a traditional ruler cannot be said to be a public officer whose removal from office can be challenged at the National Industrial Court. In Efa v Efa (2018) 18 WRN, the Court of Appeal held that it is apparent that traditional offices do not fall into any of the categories of public service of a state. The Court further held that: These are not persons who can be held accountable to the high office and demands of a public service of a State and that they are persons versed in traditional matters and whose assignment is to guide the State or Local Government council on such related matters. In the case of Makaan VS. Hangem & Ors. (2018) 32 WRN 47, the Court of Appeal equally held that since traditional rulers are not public officers, the provision of Section 2(a) of the Public Officers Protection Law of Benue State, 2004 have no application in an action involving them.

The summary of the existing judicial authorities is that the Federal High Court lacks the jurisdictional competence to entertain any matter pertaining to the deposition of a traditional ruler, unless the complaint is limited to his banishment or detention. In Sanusi Lamido Sanusi v Attorney-General of Kano State & Ors (Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/357/2020), the Federal High Court declared illegal and unconstitutional the banishment of the Applicant to Nasarawa State by the Governor of Kano State.

It ought to be pointed out that the payment of salaries to traditional rulers from the funds of local governments has not conferred jurisdiction on the National Industrial Court. In Bauchi State House of Assembly v Honourable Rifkatu Samson Danna (2017) 49 WRN 82, the appellants contended that the suit challenging the purported suspension of the Respondent was wrongly instituted in the High Court of Bauchi State. As counsel to the Respondent, we submitted that by virtue of section 318 of the Constitution, our client was not a staff of the House of Assembly and therefore the National Industrial Court was not competent to determine the case. The Court of Appeal concurred with our submission when it held that, An elected member of a State House of Assembly is not in the public service of a State. The phrase means the service of the State and includes service as -(a) clerk or other staff of the House of Assembly.

However, a traditional ruler who was deposed by a state governor without fair hearing is not without a legal redress. But in challenging the deposition or removal from the throne, the appropriate court to seek redress is the state high court. In Chief Joseph Odetoye Oyeyemi v Commissioner For Local Govt., Kwara State & Ors. (1992)2 SCNJ 266, the appellant sued the defendant at the Kwara State High Court, where he challenged the withdrawal of his recognition as the Bale of Oro without affording him the right to make a representation. He won at the High Court and lost at the Court of Appeal.

In the further appeal to the Supreme Court, the judgment of the Court of Appeal was set aside, while that of the trial court was restored. It was held by the apex court that the withdrawal of the recognition of appellant was illegal on the ground that he was not accorded the right of a fair hearing enshrined in section 33 of the 1979 Constitution. Consequently, the court ordered his reinstatement and payment of his outstanding arrears of salaries and allowances by the Kwara State Government.

The summary of the existing judicial authorities is that the Federal High Court lacks the jurisdictional competence to entertain any matter pertaining to the deposition of a traditional ruler, unless the complaint is limited to his banishment or detention. In Sanusi Lamido Sanusi v Attorney-General of Kano State & Ors (Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/357/2020), the Federal High Court declared illegal and unconstitutional the banishment of the Applicant to Nasarawa State by the Governor of Kano State. The Court also ordered the immediate release of the Applicant from illegal custody and a reparation of N10 million.

In conclusion, judges and lawyers should realise that disputes arising from chieftaincy and other local matters are within the exclusive jurisdiction of the High Court of each state of the Federation notwithstanding that the country is operating a distorted federal arrangement. Therefore, having regards to the facts and circumstances of the controversial decisions of the Federal High Court and National Industrial Court on the status of traditional rulers in Kano State, it is pertinent to draw the attention of judges to the case of Tukur v Government of Gongola State (supra), where Otutu Obaseki JSC (of blessed memory) cautioned that Courts in this country, without exception, have no power to prescribe jurisdiction for themselves. Neither do they have power to expand or reduce their area of jurisdiction.

Femi Falana is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

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The larger question is that since Bola Iges promise to sort the problem 25 years ago, five successive presidents have promised to provide adequate power and failed woefully. Obasanjo and Buhari stand out as the greatest failures because they each had eight years as president and as Egypt has shown, thats more than enough time to solve the problem. The result, we can state categorically, is that Nigerian governments have lost the capacity to govern any sector of the economy and society.

Vladimir Lenin said it so many years ago about the pathway for placing Russia on the path to development: Communism is Soviet power plus the electrification of the whole country. Egypt read the memo, understood it and decided to act in the national interest. They raised their electricity production up by 30,000 MW in six years within the last decade. In that short time frame, Egypt achieved self-sufficiency in electricity, since June 2015, and now enjoys an electricity surplus of more than 25 per cent. It also spent far less than what we have spent for no tangible results. The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has just made the point that 300 manufacturers have closed shop in Nigeria since the hike in electricity tariff and the situation will only get worse.

Nigerian governments have been promising us the great leap forward in electricity generation and distribution since 1999 but have simply refused to achieve this. Instead, they write fiction. For his eight years in power, President Buharis APC administration could not deliver more than 4,000 megawatts of power to consumers and it left after establishing the new tradition of frequent total grid collapse. His predecessors were not better. Lets start from 2013 when the PDP government assured the nation that it would be producing 20,000 megawatts of electricity by December 2014. The then Minister of Power, Pastor Nebo assured us that we will have 10,000 megawatts produced daily by December 2013 en route to achieving the stated objective.

Going further back, we all remember that on 19th February 2008, the late President YarAdua had launched the Presidential Committee on the Accelerated Expansion of Power. He promised Nigeria that 18-months from that date, Nigeria would be producing at least 6,000 MW of power  i.e. by August 2009. Indeed, during the 2007 election campaigns, Obasanjos promise to Nigerians was that by December 2007, his National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) projects alone would be producing 6,000 megawatts. Later, President YarAdua explained that President Obasanjo forgot to give contracts for the gas to fire the plants, which he promised would be done by August 2009. As these promises claimed, we were on course to enjoying 20,000 megawatts of electricity by December 2010. Should we forget that the late Chief Bola Ige promised us in June 1999 that by 2001, there will be so much electricity produced in Nigeria that those with private generators will be sorry for themselves, as they will not need it and it will have no second-hand value, as no one else would need them. Yes, indeed, writing fiction as promise is an established tradition of government.

The original sin was the mode of privatisation of the Nigerian electricity sector. It was a much-anticipated reform exercise that created much hope for Nigerians. Launched in 2010, the exercise was intended to modernise the sector and cater to the countrys growing demand for electricity. However, over a decade later, the desired outcomes have not materialised and the electricity available on the national grid to light up homes and power the economy has stayed at an almost constant 4,500 megawatts (MW).

Returning to the current state of affairs, we all recall that in April, without warning, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) raised the electricity tariff for most urban households and industries by 300 per cent, on the basis of a big lie. According to the Vice Chairman of NERC, Musiliu Oseni, Band A electricity consumers regularly get 20-plus hours of electricity supply a day and should pay much more than other consumers who get much less. These privileged Nigerians do not spend much money on fuel for their generators, so they have all the extra money that accrues to them to pay their DisCos. The problem is that everybody in this country knows that this is a lie, another fiction, as no sector of society regularly gets a minimum of 20 hours of electricity a day. You cannot build a new policy on lies and such a huge price increase in the middle of the most severe cost of living crisis in Nigerian history was a death sentence for the economy. We can see that clearly now as industries, hospitals, universities and even government departments are unable to pay their bills and are closing down or adjusting to operating in darkness.

The original sin was the mode of privatisation of the Nigerian electricity sector. It was a much-anticipated reform exercise that created much hope for Nigerians. Launched in 2010, the exercise was intended to modernise the sector and cater to the countrys growing demand for electricity. However, over a decade later, the desired outcomes have not materialised and the electricity available on the national grid to light up homes and power the economy has stayed at an almost constant 4,500 megawatts (MW). One reason for this is the technical inefficiency of the grid, beginning with badly organised gas supplies, the inability of the transmission system to deploy adequate electricity, and the lack of investment by production and distribution companies.

Such inefficiencies in the sector are compounded by the legacy corruption that has led to the poor maintenance of the transmission network during state-ownership and to the presence of politically connected bidders in the privatisation process. The design of contracts and lack of regulatory oversight further deterred credible and technically competent investors during the bidding process. The politically connected nature of many of the acquisitions also mean that the government is reluctant to take any tough decision with regard to the sector. The conditions in which consumers lack supply and firms are unable to make profits have given rise to a host of interdependent corruption mechanisms. As the sector moves deeper into loss, the space for formal earnings becomes narrower, and the perverse incentives to be corrupt deepens. This has now pushed the sector into a state of low-level equilibrium, with significant restructuring needed in order to turn things around. The DisCos, for example, have refused to provide metres to most consumers, so that they can be charged what they have not been supplied.

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The power sector reform has been a total failure and for that reason Nigerians are reluctant to pay more for a supply that is erratic and fails repeatedly. It is clear that Nigerias power sector is unsustainable, which has repercussions for inclusive growth. The current crisis is a liquidity crisis as a result of deep structural distortions in the sector. The design of contracts, post-privatisation, led to adverse selection, with only politically connected bidders participating in the process, rather than technically competent ones.

A recent ACE-SOAS study of the Nigerian power sector reveals that the reality is that we Nigerian consumers spend more to purchase and maintain petrol and diesel generators than we do on electricity from the grid. The power sector reform has been a total failure and for that reason Nigerians are reluctant to pay more for a supply that is erratic and fails repeatedly. It is clear that Nigerias power sector is unsustainable, which has repercussions for inclusive growth. The current crisis is a liquidity crisis as a result of deep structural distortions in the sector. The design of contracts, post-privatisation, led to adverse selection, with only politically connected bidders participating in the process, rather than technically competent ones. These bidders used Nigerian banks for financing, which have ended up assuming much of the systemic risk. The financial health of the sector was based on tariffs and projections that could never be politically implemented. Projections for the performance of the sector were based on the generation and distribution companies (which are not publicly listed) reinvesting in the sector to build technical capacity. Instead, the companies started paying themselves. Dramatic increases in tariff lead to more corruption, rather than improvement in power supply. The companies have no intention of investing to improve supply. The entire reform has to be reviewed because the dual goals of increasing efficiency and investment have failed significantly.

The larger question is that since Bola Iges promise to sort the problem 25 years ago, five successive presidents have promised to provide adequate power and failed woefully. Obasanjo and Buhari stand out as the greatest failures because they each had eight years as president and as Egypt has shown, thats more than enough time to solve the problem. The result, we can state categorically, is that Nigerian governments have lost the capacity to govern any sector of the economy and society. Their greatest skill has been in corruption and, not surprisingly, that has been the only growth sector in the countrys Fourth Republic. That is why I can say that they have refused to power our development. We need our Lenin.

A professor of Political Science and development consultant/expert, Jibrin Ibrahim is a Senior Fellow of the Centre for Democracy and Development, and Chair of the Editorial Board of PREMIUM TIMES.

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The execution of the Ubeta Field Development Project by TotalEnergies Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) will create thousands of jobs in the country and catalyse the economy, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) said on Thursday.

The Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, stated this at the signing of the Final Investment Decision (FID) by the project promoters and their contractors, in Abuja.

The Ubeta Field Development Project is being developed under Oil Mining Licence (OML) 058, with an expectation to produce 300 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (mmscfd). Billed to commence production in 2027, the Ubeta Field facility, located about 80 kilometres northwest of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, would feed and secure gas supply to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Train-7 Project at Finima, Bonny Island, currently undergoing capacity expansion from 22 to 30 metric tonnes per annum (mtpa).

The Executive Secretary based his projection on the Nigerian Content Plan and other documents the NCDMB had signed off with the operator, TotalEnergies E&P, noting that the documents were designed to achieve substantial tonnages, manhours, and spend retained in-country.

The project will also enable capacity utilisation and substantial human capacity development (HCD), Research and Development as well as opportunities for banking, insurance, legal, and other services, he assured.

He stated that the approval of the final stages of the Nigerian Content Plan for this project was one of the first acts he performed on his assumption of duty in December 2023.

Among salient elements of the Nigerian Content Plan for Ubeta Field Development facility is the domiciliation of 100% of its project management manhours in Nigeria, same for Front End Engineering Design and Detailed Design, which will be domiciled 100% in Nigeria, with COREN-licensed engineering companies as preferred executors.

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In addition to these, the project will give first consideration to in-country manufacturers that have valid Nigerian Content Equipment Certificate from the Board, regarding material procurement, while fabrication and construction are also to be significantly handled by well-established fabrication yards in the country.

Mr Ogbe, represented by the General Manager, Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, Esueme Dan Kikile, Esq, reiterated that the NCDMB has effectively aligned its processes to shorten the oil industrys contracting cycle to six months or less to engender speedy development of new projects, contribute to increased oil production, and improve the national economy.

According to him, the Board provided timely approvals for all the requests and documents submitted by TotalEnergies E&P, in line with the Service Level Agreement (SLA) introduced by the Board in the oil and gas industry. The Board has also complied fully with the Presidential Directives aimed at ensuring cost competitiveness and meeting project schedules of oil and gas projects.

He equally assured that NCDMB will continue to serve as a business enabler for the oil and gas industry and beckoned on industry stakeholders to continue working together to achieve the objectives set for the industry by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

The Senior Vice President Africa, Total Energies E&P, Mike Sangster, in his remarks, expressed delight with the grounds covered on the Ubeta Project, noting that it fits perfectly with his companys strategy of developing low-cost and low-emission projects, and that it would boost the Nigerian economy through higher NLNG exports.

Noting that TotalEnergies has been very active in Nigerias oil and gas industry for several decades, he disclosed that Ubeta is the latest in a series of projects developed by TotalEnergies in Nigeria, most recently Ikike and Akpo West.

TotalEnergies E&P is the operator of OML 58 onshore licence, with a 40 per cent stake in the US$550 million Ubeta Field Development Project, while the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has 49 per cent equity.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Usman Mallam, a low cadre civil servant in the employ of the Gombe State Government, for allegedly obstructing a criminal investigation by tearing the commissions letters of investigative activities.

The arraignment took place on 11 June at the Federal High Court in Gombe, the Gombe State capital, North-east Nigeria, a press statement by the EFCC said Thursday.

Mr Mallam, a desk officer in the Office of the Secretary to the Gombe State Government (SSG), pleaded not guilty to the charge.

He denied the allegations when he appeared before the trial judge, T.G. Ringim, for arraignment.

The statement signed by the Head of Media and Publicity of the anti-graft agency, Dele Oyewale, said Mr Mallam was arraigned on one charge of wilful obstruction of investigation activities and destruction of EFCCs official document.

The prosecution alleged that the commission was investigating Mr Mallam over allegations of economic and financial crimes when he allegedly tore two official letters from the commission on 26 February.

The offence allegedly violated section 38 (1) and punishable under Section 38 (2) (a) and (b) of the EFCC Act.

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The statement gave the dates on the documents allegedly tampered with by Mr Mallam as 1 January 2024 and 21 February 2024.

But it did not provide more details about the documents.

It also did not provide any insights about the possible motive of the defendant.

It, however, disclosed that Mr Mallam denied the charges by pleading not guilty to the charge.

Bail

Following his plea, the prosecution counsel A.M. Labaran, urged the court to fix a date for trial.

In response, defence counsel, S.S. Usman, applied for bail for Mr Mallam, saying, My Lord, we request bail, supported by our application dated 11 July 2024.

The trial judge, Mr Ringim, granted Mr Mallam bail in the sum of N10 million awith one surety

The surety must be a director in a government establishment or a private company with a capital of at least N10 million.

Additionally, the registrar of the court is to verify the suretys identity.

Both the surety and the defendant must also submit two passport photographs to the court.

The trial judge ordered that the remand of Mr Mallam in the Gombe State Correctional Service pending when he would meet the bail conditions.

He then adjourned the case until 9 July for trial.

The lone charge against Mr Mallam reads, that you, Usman Mallam on or about 26th day of February 2024 at Gombe, Gombe State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court while the officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC were caring out an investigation activity involving an alleged economic and financial crime, did willfully obstruct the said investigation by tearing the EFCC formal letters of investigation activities dated 1 January 2024 and 21 February 2024, respectively and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 38 (1) and punishable under Section 38 (2) (a) and (b) of the Economic and financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act.

Similar case

A similar case that readily comes to mind involved a former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, who was charged with similar offences in January 2016.

The EFCC first charged Mr Metuh at the Federal High Court in Abuja with money laundering involving N400 million he allegedly took fraudulently from the Office of the National Security Adviser in November 2014 during the administration of then President Goofluck Jonathan.

Subsequently, the commission charged him at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja with two counts of destroying his statement which he made under caution to its operatives and investigators while in custody on 5 January 2016.

The trial was overseen by the then Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Ishaq Bello, now retired.

The court, at the end of the trial, adjourned for judgement. But we cannot immediately ascertained how it ended..

Mr Metuh was convicted and jailed in the mother case at the Federal High Court. But the judgement was overturned on appeal, with the Court of Appeal ordering a retrial.

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The Kano State government has cautioned the residents of the state on the use of rainwater for drinking and other domestic activities.

The states Commissioner for Health, Abubakar Yusuf, according to a statement by the ministrys spokesperson, Ibrahim Abdullahi, said the rainy season usually comes with cholera complications and urged residents to be cautious in using the water.

He said some states in Nigeria have reported cases of cholera ; thus, it is necessary to warn and remind the people that prevention is better than the cure.

Mr Yusuf, a medical doctor, said people must always examine what they take, most importantly vegetables, fruits and drinking water, to avoid taking contaminated food or water.

It is important for people to understand that the raining water at the beginning of the rainy season is unclean. If one must use it, it must be purified using water treatment substances, including boiling and filtering, before use. This will help greatly to safeguard people against the bondage of cholera, he admonished.

The commissioner also enjoined people to always wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly with clean water consumption because they are mostly purchased from the markets with little cleanliness.

He then assured the stance of the administration of Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf to continue giving all the needed attention to the care of the people of the state, as health is one of the aspects that the Governor accords maximum priorities.

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To this end, Dr Labaran urged people to report to the nearest health facility as soon as possible whenever they fall ill, praying for the safety of Kano state and its people against cholera and other illnesses, noting that We have to protect ourselves before we get Allahs protection, the official warned.

Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by an intestine infection with vibrio cholera. The disease is highly infectious and primarily spread through contaminated water and food.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced a resurgence of cholera cases across countries in Africa, East Asia, America, Europe, and the Eastern Mediterranean region.

Nigeria is not mentioned in the WHO bulletin, but it has reported a number of infections, especially within the period in review.

However, the country, very recently, has been experiencing a spike in the number of recorded cases.

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Nigeria has recorded 65 confirmed cases, with 30 deaths from 1 January to 11 June, across 96 local government areas in 30 states.

A total of 1,141 suspected cases has been recorded in 2024 from 10 states, including Lagos, where state authorities confirmed the outbreak.

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The police arraigned three men before a Chief Magistrates Court in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Friday, over alleged unlawful possession of explosives.

The defendants are Adamu Abdullahi, 46, Haruna Musa,57, and Sanni Garba, 26.

The defendants with unknown addresses are facing a charge of possession of explosives.

The prosecutor, Akinwale Oriyomi, a police inspector, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on 5 June in Ado Ekiti.

He alleged that the defendants had in their possession three cartridges of 32mm, detonating cord and firing cables.

Mr Oriyomi said that the offence contravened section 1(c) and punishable under Section 1(e) of the Explosive Act 1964 and Explosive Regulation 1967.

He urged the court to adjourn the case to enable him to study the file and assemble his witnesses.

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The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.

Defence lawyer, Ademola Richard, urged the court to grant the defendants bail, promising that they would not jump bail.

In his ruling, the chief magistrate, Olarewaju Owoleso, granted bail to each of the defendants in the sum of N500, 000 with one surety each.

He adjourned the case till 29 July for hearing.

(NAN)

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A Lagos State Chief Magistrates Court in Badagry on Friday convicted Beninois men  Sossou Marc, 34, and Wesu Abdulraman, 30  for assault.

The police also charged them with felony and breach of peace in the case.

N. A. Layeni, a chief magistrate, sentenced them to five years imprisonment each after they pleaded guilty to assault.

However, the chief magistrate gave the convicts an option of N500,000 fine each.

Separate case

The convicts also face three counts of theft in a separate case.

The magistrate adjourned the hearing in the pending case until 18 July for mention.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Edet Ekpe, an inspector, told the court that the convicts committed the offence at about 12.10 p.m. on 15 May in Pipeline Area, Imeke, Badagry.

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Mr Ekpe said they stole a bag containing N276,500 belonging to Chinyere Onwuka, the complainant.

They pushed the complainant from a motorcycle after stealing her bag, which contained N276,500. She sustained injuries all over her body.

The convicts conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace.

The convicts are trans-border robbers from the Republic of Benin. They came to Imeke on a motorcycle mainly to steal.

The complainant has a POS shop at Imeke, he said.

The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 411, 287, 297 and 168 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

(NAN)

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DULUTH, Ga., June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- AGCO Corporation (NYSE: AGCO), a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology, is preparing for its annual Tech Days in North America on June 26 and 27, 2024. The event will highlight AGCO's commitment to farmer-focused solutions for the mixed fleet. Those solutions are delivered through a distinguished brand portfolio, including Fendt, Massey Ferguson, Valtra and the newest leading precision ag brand, PTx.

AGCO North America Tech Day 2023 in Kentucky

"Managing a farm is complicated, managing the right machine and technology for the job shouldn't be," said Eric Hansotia, AGCO's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "AGCO is unique in offering differentiated equipment brands to serve all farmers' needs and the only company that can effectively retrofit almost any make or model of equipment with technology that will lead to higher yields with fewer inputs. This is how we have consistently put Farmers First for years."

AGCO Tech Days 2024 is a testament to the company's mixed fleet and retrofit-first mindset, demonstrating technology solutions to serve almost any brand a farmer operates. The Farm Office Station will emphasize the importance of managing mixed fleets, showcasing machines and technology, including the Fendt Rogator 900, the Massey Ferguson 5S equipped with PTx Trimble guidance and Precision Planting's Panorama. AGCO will also demonstrate its fully autonomous grain cart, baler and tillage equipment, as well as automated targeted spraying solutions and much more. The event will highlight the integration of AGCO and Trimble's next-generation ag technologies for farmers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), which include solutions for every season and crop and will underscore the potential of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in agriculture.

AGCO's PTx brand represents the full precision ag portfolio and is the company's latest investment in technology and innovation. It builds on AGCO's strong equipment and technology brands already established around the world that farmers and OEMs have come to rely on.

The premium Fendt brand exemplifies excellence and innovation and is expanding to serve farmers beyond Europe, with rapid growth in North and South America. Massey Ferguson has been serving farmers for more than 175 years and remains the global choice for straightforward, dependable and accessible ag equipment. Valtra equipment, steeped in Nordic heritage, is known for its hard-working, reliable, versatile and easy-to-use products serving global farmers with a strong presence in northern Europe and Latin America.

"Each brand's unique value proposition and strategic fit within industry segments reinforces AGCO's vision to be the trusted partner for industry-leading, smart farming solutions  a steadfast vision in the making since AGCO was founded just 34 years ago," said Hansotia. "We are taking our entire portfolio to farmers in a unique way. This includes offerings from equipment dealers, specialized and differentiated precision ag retrofit dealers, and PTx technology solutions that can come factory fit for OEMs and AGCO leading brands Fendt, Massey Ferguson and Valtra. Our offerings are further enhanced by FarmerCore, a new distribution model in North and South America taking the business from brick and mortar stores to the farm, which is where and how farmers want to be served."

Threaded throughout AGCO's entire portfolio are precision ag and clean technology solutions that help farmers more sustainably feed the world today and far into the future. Growing for the future is also the focus of AGCO Finance, AGCO's financing provider, as it works with dealers around the world to provide farmers tailored and flexible solutions.

AGCO will host an investor conference as part of Tech Days activities. The event will begin at 5:15 p.m. Mountain Time on June 26, 2024. Investors may listen to a live webcast of the presentation by accessing the "Events" section of the company's Investor Relations website at https://investors.agcocorp.com/events-and-presentations/upcoming-events. The webcast will also be archived immediately afterwards for 12 months.

About AGCO

AGCO (NYSE: AGCO) is a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology. AGCO delivers value to farmers and OEM customers through its differentiated brand portfolio including core brands like Fendt, GSI, Massey Ferguson, PTx and Valtra. AGCO's full line of equipment, smart farming solutions and services helps farmers sustainably feed our world. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, USA, AGCO had net sales of approximately $14.4 billion in 2023. For more information, visit www.agcocorp.com. For company news, information, and events, please follow us on X: @AGCOCorp. For financial news on X, please follow the hashtag #AGCOIR.

SOURCE AGCO Corporation
Opportunity for Partners and BOXABL dealers to Join the BOXABL Directory and Connect with Customers

LAS VEGAS, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BOXABL, a leading innovator in affordable and rapidly deployable housing solutions, is excited to announce the launch of its new dealer program for the highly anticipated BOXABL Casitas. This initiative provides businesses across the country with an opportunity to become approved dealers or partners and be featured in the BOXABL directory, facilitating connections with prospective customers looking for cost-effective, high-quality modular homes.

BOXABL Launches New Directory for Customers and Dealers to Connect

What is a BOXABL Dealer? BOXABL customers can now visit the BOXABL website to easily find and connect with a local dealer for ordering and installing a Casita. Dealers are already available and actively installing units. Visit boxabl.com/directory to find a dealer near you.

Key Highlights of the Program:

Become an Approved Partner : Businesses can now apply to be listed in the BOXABL directory, offering them visibility on the official BOXABL website. This is an excellent opportunity for companies looking to partner with BOXABL, an opportunity to connect with customers.

: Businesses can now apply to be listed in the BOXABL directory, offering them visibility on the official BOXABL website. This is an excellent opportunity for companies looking to partner with BOXABL, an opportunity to connect with customers. Focus on Select States : Shipments of BOXABL Casitas are available or will be available soon in Arizona , California , Texas , New Mexico , Nevada , Kansas , West Virginia , Vermont , Utah , and Oklahoma . Dealers in these states will be the first to be added to the directory, ensuring they can start serving customers as soon as the units are available.

: Shipments of BOXABL Casitas are available or will be available soon in , , , , , , , , , and . Dealers in these states will be the first to be added to the directory, ensuring they can start serving customers as soon as the units are available. Expansion Plans : Even if your state is not listed, BOXABL encourages businesses to sign up. The company will notify applicants as soon as their state is approved for Casita shipments, ensuring no one misses out on this exciting opportunity.

: Even if your state is not listed, BOXABL encourages businesses to sign up. The company will notify applicants as soon as their state is approved for Casita shipments, ensuring no one misses out on this exciting opportunity. Seamless Integration : Once your application is submitted and approved, your company will be integrated into the BOXABL directory on their website in the coming weeks. This streamlined process ensures a quick and efficient transition for new dealers.

: Once your application is submitted and approved, your company will be integrated into the BOXABL directory on their website in the coming weeks. This streamlined process ensures a quick and efficient transition for new dealers. Revenue Opportunity: Connect with BOXABL customers to generate profit by selling and installing Casitas.

Dealers are Invited to Sign Up

Interested businesses can learn more about the program and submit their application by visiting BOXABL.com/directory. BOXABL's team will carefully review all submissions, and accepted dealers will be notified and added to the directory shortly thereafter.

For more information, visit BOXABL.com/directory.

"We are thrilled to launch our new dealer program and provide businesses with the opportunity to become part of the BOXABL family," said Galiano Tiramani, Founder at BOXABL. "This program not only allows us to expand our reach but also provides dealers with valuable resources to help them succeed in the growing modular housing market."

About BOXABL:

BOXABL is a pioneer in the modular housing industry, known for its innovative and affordable solutions that make home ownership accessible to more people. Their flagship product, the BOXABL Casita, is a high-quality home that can be set up in just a few hours, providing a revolutionary option for those seeking an efficient and stylish housing solution.

SOURCE Boxabl
CarbonCapture will demonstrate a fully commissioned 12-reactor Leo Series module today at an unveiling event outside of Los Angeles. Guests include industry stakeholders across the entire carbon dioxide removal ecosystem, who will gather to celebrate the launch and hear industry leaders take the stage to discuss the impact it will have on the future of DAC. Speakers include:

Chris Neidl , Co-founder, The OpenAir Collective and Board Member, Direct Air Capture Coalition

, Co-founder, The OpenAir Collective and Board Member, Direct Air Capture Coalition Bill Gross , Chairman and Co-founder, CarbonCapture Inc.

, Chairman and Co-founder, CarbonCapture Inc. Brad Crabtree , Assistant Secretary, United States Department of Energy

, Assistant Secretary, United States Department of Energy Nick Ellis , Principal, Amazon Climate Pledge Fund

, Principal, Amazon Climate Pledge Fund Jan Mazurek , Ph.D., Senior Director, Aviation and Carbon Dioxide Removal, Climateworks

, Ph.D., Senior Director, Aviation and Carbon Dioxide Removal, Climateworks JT Larson, Wyoming State Representative

Steven Cliff , Ph.D., Executive Officer, California Air Resources Board

, Ph.D., Executive Officer, California Air Resources Board Chris Camacho , President and CEO, Greater Phoenix Economic Council

, President and CEO, Greater Phoenix Economic Council Neil Chatterjee , former Chairman of FERC and board member of CarbonCapture Inc.

, former Chairman of FERC and board member of CarbonCapture Inc. Adrian Corless , CEO, CarbonCapture Inc.

Adrian Corless, CEO of CarbonCapture Inc., stated, "The Leo Series represents a major achievement for CarbonCapture. We've now developed a manufacturable product, built a full commercial supply chain, and established a facility for mass productionthe combination of which allows us to introduce cost-saving improvements very quickly while also scaling up production. We're seeing robust demand for our modules from both our company-owned projects fueled by carbon removal credit sales and external project developers."

The Leo Series incorporates industry-leading, advanced structured sorbents that enable each module to capture over 500 tons of atmospheric carbon dioxide per year. Due to its open systems architecture, modules can be upgraded throughout their life with higher capacity sorbents as they are released, minimizing obsolescence risk and driving down costs over time.

"What CarbonCapture Inc. is doing with its modular approach to direct air capture, and efforts to ramp up production of the technology and bring down costs, underscores the indispensable role of the private sector in developing and deploying carbon management at a scale needed to achieve a clean energy and industrial future," said Brad Crabtree, the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy and Carbon Management. "Achieving our climate goals will require a domestic industrial renaissance, and CarbonCapture Inc. is a great example of the kind of homegrown, U.S.-based manufacturing that is central to President Biden's Investing in America agenda."

Designed for mass production

By developing and mass-producing modular DAC systems that can be strung together in large arrays, CarbonCapture aims to rapidly drive down the cost of atmospheric carbon removal. The solar industry provides a clear precedent for how economies of scale can lead to substantial cost reductions; over the past two decades, the cost of solar photovoltaic modules has plummeted by over 90% primarily due to advancements in high-volume manufacturing, increased production volumes, and enhanced efficiencies.

Nick Ellis, a Principal at Amazon's Climate Pledge Fund, commented, "As co-founders of The Climate Pledgewith a goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040Amazon's first priority is to implement decarbonization strategies through real business changes and innovations, including efficiency improvements, renewable energy, materials reductions, and other emission elimination strategies. We also invest in companies like CarbonCapture, who aim to accelerate the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. We look forward to continuing to work with CarbonCapture to navigate the challenges ahead of managing rapid growth, navigating complex supply chains, and adapting to a fast-changing landscapeall areas where Amazon can share our expertise."

By producing DAC modules at scale, CarbonCapture intends to leverage cost-savings such as bulk purchasing of raw materials, streamlined manufacturing processes, and the amortization of R&D costs over large numbers of units. This approach is expected to significantly reduce the per-unit cost of the company's DAC modules and make them more accessible for widespread deployment.

Made in the USA

Los Angeles-based CarbonCapture is at the forefront of a burgeoning multi-billion-dollar carbon management industry. U.S. companies are uniquely positioned to lead the world in ushering in an era of global carbon removal, leveraging deep technological prowess, strong government incentives, a highly skilled workforce, and geology well-suited for permanent carbon storage.

David Apps, VP of Manufacturing at CarbonCapture Inc., remarked, "Over the last 25 yearsfrom Tesla to ToyotaI've implemented flexible high-volume manufacturing processes that reduced costs while also accelerating the speed in which new innovations are brought to market. My goal is to bring the agile manufacturing techniques of the modern automotive industry to the direct air capture industry, demonstrating U.S. leadership in advanced manufacturing."

CarbonCapture's 83,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Mesa, Arizona, was chosen after an exhaustive nationwide search due to its central location, availability of clean energy, and workforce readiness. In addition to supplying DAC modules to third-party carbon removal developers around the world, the high-volume facility will have the production capacity needed to supply Project Bison, the company's megaton-scale carbon removal project in Wyoming, as well as the Southwest Regional Direct Air Capture Hub, both of which are supported by grants under the DOE's $3.5 billion Regional Direct Air Capture Hubs program.

About CarbonCapture Inc.

CarbonCapture develops and deploys direct air capture (DAC) machines that can be connected in large arrays to remove massive amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. With a patented modular open systems architecture, the company's DAC systems allow for mass production, plug-and-play upgrades, and unlimited scalability.

For more information, please visit carboncapture.com

Media contact: [email protected]

SOURCE CarbonCapture Inc.
The Challenge awards a total of $1.5 million to support local workforce programs and close the digital skills gap

KANSAS CITY, Mo., June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Comcast Corporation and the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) announced the winners of the Talent for Tomorrow: Digital Equity Challenge grant awards program at USCM's 92nd Annual Meeting in Kansas City. Each city has demonstrated leadership and a commitment to expand digital training programs to help close the skills gap.

In the small cities category, Kinston, NC; Michigan City, IN; White Plains, NY; and York, PA, will each receive $75,000 grants. In the medium-sized cities category, Cleveland, OH; Little Rock, AR; and Richmond, VA, will receive $150,000 grants for their submitted projects. The cities of Charlotte, NC; Los Angeles, CA; and Portland, OR, in the large cities category, will receive $250,000 grants.

"Mayors are investing in economic development that lifts people up instead of leaving them behind," said U.S. Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran. "The Talent for Tomorrow Challenge grants will allow the ten cities to grow these programs and build on their success. By providing digital access and skills training, we will be able to build a stronger, more diverse, more equitable and inclusive workforce across the country. The Conference is grateful to have a committed partner in Comcast, as we work to create economic opportunity and communities where Americans can thrive."

"America's mayors know well that closing the digital divide is intrinsically connected to the economic competitiveness of our cities and towns," said Dalila Wilson-Scott, Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer of Comcast Corporation & President of the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation. "The Talent for Tomorrow: Digital Equity Challenge will help ensure that more people, especially those most often left out of the digital economy, can take advantage of the opportunities that come with acquiring digital skills. Comcast is proud to deepen our partnership with the U.S. Conference of Mayors through this new initiative that will build on our shared commitment to digital equity by expanding workforce and job training programs for ten winning cities."

The Talent for Tomorrow: Digital Equity Challenge is a joint initiative of the USCM and Comcast's Project UP, and it supports the launch and expansion of local workforce programs designed to grow college and career readiness, close the digital skills gap, advance economic mobility, and lay the foundation for generational wealth in under-resourced communities. An independent panel of judges selected by USCM reviewed applications and selected winners. To learn more about the program, see here.

The following descriptions highlight each program and how the Talent for Tomorrow grants will be used:

2024 Digital Equity Grant Award Recipients

SMALL CITY WINNERS

Kinston , NCDigital Equity Corps: Administered by Kinston Teens, Inc. and the City of Kinston , the Digital Equity Corps program focuses on 16 to 24-year-olds from East Kinston , the most economically distressed census tract in the state of North Carolina . It also serves those from vulnerable populations such as older adults, individuals with disabilities, and those with limited digital literacy. The cornerstone of the Digital Equity Corps is the creation of a structured curriculum focused on digital literacy and skills development.



Administered by Kinston Teens, Inc. and the , the Digital Equity Corps program focuses on 16 to 24-year-olds from , the most economically distressed census tract in the state of . It also serves those from vulnerable populations such as older adults, individuals with disabilities, and those with limited digital literacy. The cornerstone of the Digital Equity Corps is the creation of a structured curriculum focused on digital literacy and skills development. Michigan City , INMichigan City Digital Revitalization Initiative : The Michigan City Area Schools (MCAS) Digital Revitalization Initiative is a transformative project aimed at reinvigorating Michigan City through coordinated planning and innovative community technology solutions. A central piece of the initiative is an inclusive Digital Placemaking platform. Created by MCAS and local partners, the platform integrates wireless communication technology with community strategies, enabling seamless connectivity for students, residents, and businesses.



: The Schools (MCAS) Digital Revitalization Initiative is a transformative project aimed at reinvigorating through coordinated planning and innovative community technology solutions. A central piece of the initiative is an inclusive Digital Placemaking platform. Created by MCAS and local partners, the platform integrates wireless communication technology with community strategies, enabling seamless connectivity for students, residents, and businesses. White Plains , NYProject Digital Jumpstart: Project Digital Jumpstart broadens Winchester College's Project Jumpstart programming, which aids disadvantaged high school students in their transition to college and careers through college-level courses, technology-focused coursework, and hands-on learning experiences to equip students with skills necessary for success in the digital workforce. Project Digital Jumpstart removes identified barriers to participation in the existing JumpStart program, especially for youth from historically disadvantaged communities.



Project Digital Jumpstart broadens Winchester College's Project Jumpstart programming, which aids disadvantaged high school students in their transition to college and careers through college-level courses, technology-focused coursework, and hands-on learning experiences to equip students with skills necessary for success in the digital workforce. Project Digital Jumpstart removes identified barriers to participation in the existing JumpStart program, especially for youth from historically disadvantaged communities. York , PADigital Equity for Justice-Impacted Residents: The City of York's Digital Equity for Justice-Impacted Residents plan expands on successful pre-existing digital literacy programming to focus on enhancing digital skills among justice-involved residents, and features collaboration between workforce, corrections, reentry providers, and human service organizations. The Digital Equity for Justice-Impacted Residents plan utilizes a three-tiered/step approach, with each tier focused on enhancing the digital skills and employability of justice-involved participants. Participants engage in all three tiers to explore career interests and gain necessary digital skills to succeed.

MEDIUM-SIZED CITY WINNERS

Cleveland , OHREC-N-TEC: The REC-N-TEC initiative aims to uplift residents by equipping them with vital workplace-related digital skills, leveraging the computer labs and their dedicated broadband networks to amplify current programming (e.g., esports, entrepreneurship for teens, STEAM/STEM), while also providing on-site Augmented Reality (AR), Mixed Reality (MR), and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies to enhance and expand the learning and skills training opportunities for residents, thereby fostering economic growth and enhancing livelihoods.



The REC-N-TEC initiative aims to uplift residents by equipping them with vital workplace-related digital skills, leveraging the computer labs and their dedicated broadband networks to amplify current programming (e.g., esports, entrepreneurship for teens, STEAM/STEM), while also providing on-site Augmented Reality (AR), Mixed Reality (MR), and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies to enhance and expand the learning and skills training opportunities for residents, thereby fostering economic growth and enhancing livelihoods. Little Rock , ARDigital Skills Growth Program: Technology Advancement for Digital Academic and Healthcare Careers (TADAH): This program provides underserved middle school students with core digital career activities, including health technology, healthcare, small business entrepreneurship in the digital sector, and enrichment activities from two specialized tracks: digital health tools and robotics. As their final projects, the digital health track students design a digital health app, software, or device tailored to address the needs of their school or community, and students in the robotics track build a robot optimized for competition.



This program provides underserved middle school students with core digital career activities, including health technology, healthcare, small business entrepreneurship in the digital sector, and enrichment activities from two specialized tracks: digital health tools and robotics. As their final projects, the digital health track students design a digital health app, software, or device tailored to address the needs of their school or community, and students in the robotics track build a robot optimized for competition. Richmond , VAStrategic Opportunities Leading to Valuable Experiences (SOLVE): The SOLVE program is designed to address the talent shortages in the fields of healthcare, construction, manufacturing, and information technology by preparing low-income, under-employed, and unemployed individuals to assume essential roles in the region's biggest sectors. The major component of this program is the emphasis on exposure to new career fields and bridging the skill gap through career assessment, virtual reality (VR), site visits, and training provider expos, particularly for low-income, under-employed, and unemployed individuals.

LARGE CITY WINNERS

Charlotte , NCUNTechCLT: The UNTechCLT is a free summer camp series that engages youth in under-resourced communities particularly between the ages of 12 and 17 around technology, career choices, and solving real world problems in their community. Participants learn hands-on digital skills and gain exposure to various career pathways, develop critical thinking and problem-solving abilities through design thinking methods, and practice safe and responsible technology use.



The UNTechCLT is a free summer camp series that engages youth in under-resourced communities particularly between the ages of 12 and 17 around technology, career choices, and solving real world problems in their community. Participants learn hands-on digital skills and gain exposure to various career pathways, develop critical thinking and problem-solving abilities through design thinking methods, and practice safe and responsible technology use. Los Angeles , CACareerConnect : The CareerConnect program aspires to foster a stronger, more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce by addressing the unique digital needs of the recently housed population. CareerConnect will offer a series of dynamic digital literacy 1-2 hour workshops at various interim housing sites. The program creates a collaborative learning environment through small group workshops, ensuring participants receive tailored guidance from the workshop Facilitator. The CareerConnect program introduces innovative skills training and employment preparation, focusing on equipping individuals with digital literacy skills and job-seeking techniques essential for success in today's digitally driven job market.



: The CareerConnect program aspires to foster a stronger, more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce by addressing the unique digital needs of the recently housed population. CareerConnect will offer a series of dynamic digital literacy 1-2 hour workshops at various interim housing sites. The program creates a collaborative learning environment through small group workshops, ensuring participants receive tailored guidance from the workshop Facilitator. The CareerConnect program introduces innovative skills training and employment preparation, focusing on equipping individuals with digital literacy skills and job-seeking techniques essential for success in today's digitally driven job market. Portland , ORDigital Equity Service Corps: The Digital Equity Service Corps (DESC) builds on ten years of learning from NTEN's Digital Inclusion Fellowship, which equips fellows with the tools to help build sustainable digital literacy programs in rural and urban communities across the United States . Through the DESC, five fellows are selected and trained in program design and management, accessibility, adult education learning methods, impact evaluation, coalition building, leadership skills, workforce development strategies, and more.

About the United States Conference of Mayors  The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are more than 1,400 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Follow our work on X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, and Medium.

About Comcast Corporation  Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company. From the connectivity and platforms we provide, to the content and experiences we create, our businesses reach hundreds of millions of customers, viewers, and guests worldwide. We deliver world-class broadband, wireless, and video through Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky; produce, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through brands including NBC, Telemundo, Universal, Peacock, and Sky; and bring incredible theme parks and attractions to life through Universal Destinations & Experiences. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.

SOURCE U.S. Conference of Mayors
CHICAGO, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dream Exchange, the first minority-controlled stock exchange, is thrilled to announce Georgette Rashid George, a business leader and philanthropist, has joined as an investor.

Mrs. George has an illustrious career marked by significant contributions to both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. Mrs. George is a principal in several business enterprises involved in retail, office, and hotel development projects, managing both administrative and financial operations. Her extensive experience includes a successful tenure at Hewlett-Packard, where she earned the President's Award for outstanding sales achievement.

In 2019, Mrs. George was honored at the West Virginia (WV) State University Annual Black & Gold Gala alongside C. Edward Gaunch, the Commerce Secretary. This distinguished event celebrated individuals who have made remarkable contributions to the state of West Virginia and beyond. Mrs. George's recognition at this esteemed gala underscores her commitment to excellence and her impactful work in the community.

"Investing in Dream Exchange is seizing an opportunity not currently available in the marketa chance to open doors for a wider range of individuals and companies, including those historically underserved. Dream Exchange embodies the intersection of business excellence and access, setting a new precedent for the future of those previously underserved by the investment community," said Georgette Rashid George.

"Dream Exchange is committed to leveling the playing field for small businesses, providing them with the tools and resources they need to thrive. With the backing of visionary leaders like Mrs. George, the future looks brighter than ever," said Joe Cecala, CEO of Dream Exchange. "Her investment and strategic vision will be instrumental in driving our mission to democratize our public capital markets forward."

"Mrs. George's involvement symbolizes a new era for our platform, where we can provide unprecedented opportunities for small businesses and investors alike. The trust and vision from our investor community emboldens us to push boundaries and redefine what's possible in the capital markets," said Dwain Kyles, Managing Member of DX Capital Partners, LLC.

About Dream Exchange

The Dream Exchange is preparing its application and operations to become the first minority-controlled company to operate a licensed stock exchange in the history of the United States. In addition, Dream Exchange is championing the creation of a new type of stock exchange called a venture exchange, which will list and trade the securities of smaller, early-stage companies. Dream Exchange's mission is to create equal access to a marketplace that instills ethics, humanity, and fairness into finance.

Visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn for more.

MEDIA CONTACT

Vanessa Jean-Louis

Vice President of Public Relations

1-773-914-1182

SOURCE Dream Exchange
MUNICH, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SOFAR, the global leading provider of PV & ESS solutions, has unveiled the brand-new residential ESS PowerAll and SOFAR Cloud monitoring system at Intersolar with an impressive display that has attracted many visitors to the booth.

SOFAR PowerAll  Ideal for Future Home Energy

The three-phase PowerAll embodies the company's commitment to simplicity, safety, flexibility and intelligence in energy solutions.

SOFAR Booth

With features like plug-and-play installation for reduced costs, built-in battery optimizer for automatic calibration, extended warehouse storage capabilities without recharging, and parallel redundancy to prevent single points of failure, it sets a new standard in reliability and efficiency.

Safety is also paramount in the design. Apart from electricity and cell separation, aerogel pads, explosion-proof valves to mitigate thermal runaway risks, there's comprehensive cell temperature monitoring for enhanced protection.

The flexibility of the system is unmatched, boasting a modular design for seamless power and capacity expansion, active equalization for easy integration of batteries with varying specifications, and an integrated auto-switch for uninterrupted backup power.

Furthermore, intelligence is at the core of the new PowerAll, with a multi-function EMS enabling AC EV charging energy management, fast monitoring with real-time data reading in just 100ms, and hassle-free maintenance for quick upgrades.

SOFAR Cloud  Energy Management in a Digital Way

The SOFAR Cloud provides an all-scenario O&M solution with real-time operational updates and a decade-long historical data storage for fault analysis. Offering automatic upgrades and batch task processing, it optimizes operations with lower costs, and delivers instant fault alerts with various solutions. Designed for user convenience, the system supports mobile monitoring of millions of devices, allowing remote control to minimize maintenance travel expenses. Its user-friendly interface, easy setup and adaptive interaction cater to global users, while the robust architecture ensures stability, security and quick issue resolution.

SOFAR PowerMagic  Maximize Your Commercial Values

As a marvel of engineering, the PowerMagic is endowed with an efficient liquid cooling system and intelligent temperature control, promising unsurpassed cooling capabilities and energy efficiency. The modular design allows for seamless expansion on both DC and AC sides, accommodating up to 6 units in parallel and boasting a maximum storage capacity of 8MWh. Its compatibility with larger cells and an anti-condensation design ensures longevity and lower LCOS, making it a game-changer in the market.

SOFAR PowerMaster  Optimal Utility PV Solutions

The PowerMaster is an industry-leading solution embodied with cutting-edge technologies. The 3+2 safety system ensures reliable and uninterrupted operation at all times. Notably, the air-liquid hybrid cooling system sets an industry standard by reducing heat dissipation loss by approximately 30%. Moreover, the modular design allows for flexible expansion, enabling a single chamber storage capacity of up to 3.93MWh for diverse capacity requirements.

Convinced by the proven capability to offer significant cost savings and ensure a stable power supply, industry partners PVSelected, EFFEKTA and Energynat signed MoUs with SOFAR, emphasizing the company's strength and influence in the European market and marking a crucial chapter of its journey towards global net-zero ambition.

Frank Yu, Executive Vice President of SOFAR, believes that the releasing of three-phase PowerAll and SOFAR Cloud represents another step towards global net-zero goals through an all-scenario solution portfolio and the integration of clean energy and digital technology. "It demonstrates our commitment to accelerating the penetration of affordable renewable energy. By leveraging our R&D capacity, we hope to continue innovating and bring forth solutions to power a sustainable future for all," he added.

About SOFAR

SOFAR is a global leading provider of all-scenario solar and storage solutions with a comprehensive portfolio, including PV inverters, hybrid inverters, BESS, utility ESS, microinverter system and SOFAR Monitor smart energy management system for residential, C&I and utility applications. By 2021, SOFAR entered the TOP5 Global Hybrid Inverter Brands, establishing a global R&D network with three R&D centers and two manufacturing bases. By 2022, SOFAR has shipped 18GW+ inverters to 100+ countries and regions worldwide. By 2023, SOFAR has built an extensive service network of over 20 branch offices worldwide with 500+ R&D staff.

Learn more: https://www.sofarsolar.com/

SOURCE SOFAR
Approval of the application for a conditional green card (Form I-526E) means that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has greenlighted an EB-5 investor's source of funds and the project's business plan. Thereafter, investors and their dependents receive conditional green cards, which grants them permanent residence status, affording unrestricted access to education and employment opportunities across the United States.

Brooklyn Basin fundraising was unique as approximately 45% of all investors reside in the United States on either H-1B work or F1 student visas. The EB-5 program's increased domestic popularity has been attributed to the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022's (RIA) enablement of concurrent filing of adjustment of status and employment authorization.

This procedure allows U.S.-based investors to remain in the country and obtain employment without sponsorship while waiting for their conditional green cards. H-1B and E-2 visa holders are using EB-5 concurrent filing to prevent children from aging out and losing status in the country.

Brooklyn Basin is a waterfront community in Oakland, CA, 25 minutes from downtown San Francisco. It consists of 2 multi-family developments on parcels G and H. The finished buildings combine to offer 750+ multi-family units and 48,000+ square feet of retail space. The Caspian building (parcel G) was completed in Q4 2023 and is fully operational. According to property manager Cushman & Wakefield, the current occupancy rate is 40%+.

In addition to the good news from Brooklyn Basin, investors in GGG's Appellation Sun Valley project have begun to receive Form I-526E approvals. The firm has also received project approvals for all of its EB-5 projects sponsored since the RIA: Brooklyn Basin Phase 2 , Appellation Sun Valley , and Anasu Resort .

GGG is a leading EB-5 regional center headquartered in San Francisco with a distinguished track record, including:

100% USCIS project approval rate

Raised over $750M in EB-5 capital

in EB-5 capital Repaid over $210M to 420+ investor families

Press Contact: Jane Baklashov [email protected]

SOURCE Golden Gate Global
CLEVELAND, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Evergreen Cooperative Laundry (ECL) is proud to announce the expansion of its facilities in Cleveland's Glenville neighborhood, signaling a significant milestone for the company and the local community. The expansion project includes the acquisition of eight vacant lots adjacent to the existing facility, in addition to the construction of a new 5,000 square foot building. This expansion aims to increase capacity, address parking needs, and foster job creation in the area.

ECL, a worker-owned company and a key member of the Evergreen Cooperatives network, has been serving the community since October 2009. Recognized as the first commercial-scale LEED Gold certified laundry in Northeast Ohio, ECL has continuously demonstrated its commitment to sustainability and community impact.

With the support of the City of Cleveland's Land Bank, ECL has acquired the necessary space to accommodate its growing operations. The expansion project will not only enhance the company's ability to serve its clients, including healthcare companies under linen supply contracts, but also create between 10-15 new jobs, with competitive starting wages and additional benefits.

"As a worker-owned cooperative, ECL is dedicated to creating quality jobs and empowering its employees," said John McMicken, CEO of Evergreen. "This expansion represents our continued commitment to fostering economic opportunity and building a stronger, more vibrant community."

The ceremonial ground-breaking for the expansion project will take place on June 27, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. at 540 E. 105th St., Cleveland, OH 44108. Members of the press, community leaders, and stakeholders are invited to attend and celebrate this exciting milestone.

About Evergreen Cooperative Laundry (ECL): ECL, part of the Evergreen Cooperatives network, is a worker-owned company that provides seven-day-a-week laundry services to regional healthcare institutions. Since its inception, ECL has been dedicated to creating sustainable jobs and fostering community development in Cleveland and beyond.

About The Evergreen Cooperatives: Launched in 2008 by several Cleveland-based institutions, Evergreen is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to creating quality jobs, vibrant communities, and thriving businesses through employee ownership. The Fund for Employee Ownership, an Evergreen initiative, supports local job preservation, wealth building for employee-owners, and business transitions.

For more information, visit www.evgoh.com.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Evergreen Cooperatives
NEW YORK, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global face cream market size is estimated to grow by USD 12.20 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of over 5.21% during the forecast period. Rising demand for natural and organic face creams is driving market growth, with a trend towards rising emphasis on product personalization and customization. However, growing concerns over safety of synthetic ingredients in face creams poses a challenge. Key market players include Amway Corp., Avon Products, Beiersdorf AG, A International Laboratories Corp. Ltd., Johnson and Johnson Services Inc., Kao Corp., Libby Laboratories Inc., LOreal SA, Lotus Herbals Pvt. Ltd., Lucas Meyer Cosmetics, Oriflame Cosmetics S.A., Procter and Gamble, Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc, Reviderm AG, Shiseido Co. Ltd., The Body Shop, The Estee Lauder Companies Inc., The Himalaya Drug Co., The Natures Co., Unilever PLC, and Verona Products Professional Sp. Z o.o..

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global face cream market 2024-2028

Get a detailed analysis on regions, market segments, customer landscape, and companies- View the snapshot of this report

Face Cream Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2018 - 2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 5.21% Market growth 2024-2028 USD 12204.2 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 4.85 Regional analysis APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution APAC at 51% Key countries China, US, Germany, Japan, and UK Key companies profiled Amway Corp., Avon Products, Beiersdorf AG, A International Laboratories Corp. Ltd., Johnson and Johnson Services Inc., Kao Corp., Libby Laboratories Inc., LOreal SA, Lotus Herbals Pvt. Ltd., Lucas Meyer Cosmetics, Oriflame Cosmetics S.A., Procter and Gamble, Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc, Reviderm AG, Shiseido Co. Ltd., The Body Shop, The Estee Lauder Companies Inc., The Himalaya Drug Co., The Natures Co., Unilever PLC, and Verona Products Professional Sp. Z o.o.

Market Driver

In the dynamic face cream market, personalization and customization have become key differentiators for vendors. Companies like CREMBAR offer handcrafted facial creams, allowing consumers to specify their product preferences through interactive tools. This customized approach is essential as the face cream industry grows, with vendors utilizing consumer feedback to create tailored solutions.

The facial skincare market is thriving, with a significant focus on face creams. Occasionally referred to as lotions or treatments, these products are in high demand due to their ability to provide various benefits. Some popular trends include anti-aging creams, which contain active ingredients to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Another trend is the use of natural and organic ingredients, as consumers seek out skincare solutions that are kind to the skin. Additionally, there is a growing interest in sun protective creams, as people recognize the importance of protecting their skin from harmful UV rays. Overall, the face cream market is a dynamic and competitive space, with companies continually innovating to meet the evolving needs of consumers.

Research report provides comprehensive data on impact of trend. For more details- Download a Sample Report

Market Challenges

The face cream market has faced challenges due to health concerns surrounding synthetic ingredients. These include benzoyl peroxide, triclosan, parabens, hydroquinone, sulfates, fragrances, resorcinol, synthetic colors, petroleum, methylisothiazolinone, silicones, mineral oils, and phthalates. The World Health Organization identifies mercury and glycol ether as hazardous, leading manufacturers to explore natural and organic alternatives. This shift increases research and development and production costs, potentially impacting market growth.

The face cream market experiences several challenges. Skin types and concerns vary, requiring diverse formulations. Producers must create products for oily, dry, sensitive, and combination skin types. Additionally, consumers seek natural and organic ingredients, such as aloe leaf extract, cucumber, and fruit extracts. Sustainability is also a concern, with many looking for eco-friendly and cruelty-free options. Furthermore, the market is competitive, with numerous brands offering similar products. Producers must differentiate themselves through unique selling propositions, such as advanced technology or innovative ingredients. Lastly, regulations and certifications add complexity, requiring adherence to strict standards.

For more insights on driver and challenges - Request a sample report!

Segment Overview

This face cream market report extensively covers market segmentation by

Product

1.1 Anti-aging cream

1.2 Skin whitening and sun protection cream

1.3 Moisturizer and anti-acne cream

Distribution Channel

2.1 Offline

2.2 Online

Geography

3.1 APAC

3.2 North America

3.3 Europe

3.4 South America

3.5 Middle East and Africa

1.1 Anti-aging cream- The anti-aging face cream market caters to consumers seeking to address common aging concerns, such as skin laxity, wrinkles, and eye puffiness and dark circles. With accelerated aging caused by lifestyle and environmental factors, demand for these products, particularly among baby boomers, is increasing. Major vendors like Johnson and Johnson, L'Oreal, and Unilever provide a selection of anti-aging creams for men and women, fueling market growth throughout the forecast period.

For more information on market segmentation with geographical analysis including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2017-2021) - Download a Sample Report

Research Analysis

The Face Cream Market caters to the specific skincare needs of women, offering a variety of specialized products. These include organic options for those seeking natural substances, as well as solutions for blemish removal and acne treatment. Anti-aging and skin whitening are popular concerns, with some creams incorporating natural ingredients like Sandalwood and Turmeric. Cruelty-free goods are increasingly in demand, as are products free from harmful chemical additives such as Phthalates, Sodium lauryl sulfate, and Parabens. Steroids and Corticosteroids are sometimes used for skin disorders, but their long-term effects are a cause for concern. Digital media plays a significant role in promoting and educating consumers about skin-related issues. Moisturizers are a staple in any face cream, ensuring the external looks are healthy and radiant.

Market Research Overview

The facial cream market encompasses a wide range of skincare products designed to nourish, protect, and enhance the appearance of the face. These creams can cater to various skin types and concerns, including dryness, aging, acne, and sensitivity. The market offers diverse options, such as organic, natural, and scientifically advanced formulations. Key ingredients often include antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and essential oils. Consumers seek facial creams for their hydrating, soothing, and rejuvenating properties. The market is driven by factors like increasing awareness of skincare, changing demographics, and consumer preferences for natural and eco-friendly products. The future of the facial cream market looks promising, with ongoing research and innovation in skincare technology.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

Product

Anti-aging Cream



Skin Whitening And Sun Protection Cream



Moisturizer And Anti-acne Cream

Distribution Channel

Offline



Online

Geography

APAC



North America



Europe



South America



Middle East And Africa



7 Customer Landscape

8 Geographic Landscape

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10 Company Landscape

11 Company Analysis

12 Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
WASHINGTON, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac; NYSE: AGM and AGM.A), the nation's secondary market provider that increases the accessibility of financing for American agriculture and rural infrastructure, today announced that it has been recognized by The Washington Post with a 2024 Top Workplaces award for the greater Washington area. This respected employer recognition program celebrates organizations that have built exceptional workplace cultures.

Top Workplaces award recipients are determined by the results of an anonymous, research-based employee survey conducted by an independent firm. The survey measures and benchmarks employee engagement and sentiment against other organizations regionally and across the United States, and the winners are among the country's best employers. This recognition marks Farmer Mac's 12th award issued by the Top Workplaces program, including two national awards and multiple accolades for cultural excellence.

"The Washington, D.C. region is home to some of the most innovative and impactful companies in America, and we are humbled to be honored as a leader among our peers," said Bradford T. Nordholm, Farmer Mac's President and CEO. "This recognition is especially meaningful because it springs from our employee's authentic feedback. We are filled with gratitude for our employees and their dedication to our mission as Farmer Mac seeks to help drive economic opportunity and prosperity by strengthening and connecting rural America."

"Developing and nurturing a supportive and inclusive culture is vital to a great workplace," said Kerry Willie, Farmer Mac's Chief Human Resources Officer. "We know we couldn't achieve our successes without our passionate and driven employees, and we are committed to fostering a culture that supports and rewards them for their tireless work. Farmer Mac is a place where everyone can be proud of their work and feel motivated to deliver exceptional results."

About Farmer Mac

Farmer Mac is driven by its mission to increase the accessibility of financing for American agriculture and rural infrastructure. As a secondary market for our nation's agricultural and rural infrastructure credit, we provide financial solutions to a broad spectrum of customers supporting rural America, including agricultural lenders, agribusinesses, and rural electric cooperatives. We are uniquely positioned to facilitate competitive access to financing that fuels growth, innovation, and prosperity in America's rural and agricultural communities. More information about Farmer Mac is available on our website at www.farmermac.com.

SOURCE Farmer Mac
ORLANDO, Fla., June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In May, Florida's housing market reported more new listings, increased for-sale inventory and higher median prices compared to a year ago, according to Florida Realtors' latest housing data.

"Florida's housing supply continued to improve in May, which should help offer more housing options and opportunities for buyers," said 2024 Florida Realtors President Gia Arvin, broker-owner with Matchmaker Realty in Gainesville. "More for-sale inventory, along with new listings, may ease the pressures buyers are feeling due to higher median prices, coupled with mortgage rates that remain just under 7%."

Last month, closed sales of existing single-family homes statewide totaled 26,252, down slightly (-0.5%) year-over-year, while existing condo-townhouse sales totaled 10,415, a drop of 8.6% compared to May 2023. Closed sales may occur from 30- to 90-plus days after sales contracts are written.

Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. Brad O'Connor noted that May's housing data appears to be "a continuation of the same trends we've seen in recent months."

"New listings of single-family home listings were up by 15.2% in May, which was the lowest year-over-year increase we've reported this year  outside of a less-than-8% increase in March," he said. "For townhouses and condos, new listings grew by 13.8% year-over-year in May  also the second-lowest increase reported for this property type category in 2024."

The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes in May was $426,581, up 1.6% over May 2023, according to data from Florida Realtors Research Department in partnership with local Realtor boards/associations. Last month's statewide median price for condo-townhouse units was $330,000, up 1.5% over the year-ago figure. The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less.

"While sales growth remains sluggish, with new listings still climbing compared to a year ago, inventory levels are still rising at the statewide level," said Dr. O'Connor. "Now, noted  we are seeing a decent amount of variation at the county level, and even within several counties, when we drill down to the zip code level. Some parts of the state, like most of South Florida, still have inventory levels below what was typical from, say, 2014 through 2019, leading up to the pandemic.

"Other areas of the state  particularly suburban and exurban areas on the fringes of other large metros like Tampa-St. Pete, Orlando and Jacksonville  are seeing inventory levels above pre-pandemic levels. Nothing quite like what occurred in 2008 or 2009, but still notable. These are the areas where we might expect price growth to be slowing down the most in the coming months."

On the supply side of the market, inventory (active listings) rose year-over-year: Single-family existing homes were at a 4.4-months' supply in May, while condo-townhouse inventory was at a 7.2-months' supply.

To see the full statewide housing activity reports, go to the Florida Realtors Newsroom and look under Latest Releases or download the May 2024 data report PDFs under Market Data.

Florida Realtors serves as the voice for real estate in Florida. It provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to 238,000 members in 51 boards/associations. Florida Realtors Newsroom website is available at http://floridarealtors.org/newsroom.

SOURCE Florida Realtors
RADNOR, Pa., June 21, 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
TKO Miller is a middle market M&A advisory firm in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

MILWAUKEE, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a blog post written by Tammie Miller, Managing Director, TKO Miller.

An interesting way to exit your business might be to sell it to an employee. Sometimes, there is an heir apparent. Other times, an employee expresses interest in buying the business. In most cases, the employee has plenty of knowledge about the business and desires to own it but is lacking one essential element  money.

There are a couple of ways to transact with an employee. One is a more traditional approach and the other will force you to think outside the box a little.

The Traditional Way to Sell to an Employee

The traditional way to sell to an employee involves coming to terms with a valuation of the business, creating a note, and then using the profits of the business to make payments. The note is generally secured by the stock or assets of the company (and perhaps a personal guarantee from the employee).

There are a couple of things you will want to note here:

You don't actually get any cash at the time of sale. Your friends that are selling to third-party buyers get big checks and buy boats, designer dogs, and summer homes, but you will be receiving your payment over time  usually five to seven years. Your employee/buyer can really mess things up and you might not get paid. The company may have performed well under your leadership, but if your employee/buyer can't keep things running smoothly, your payments are in jeopardy. The valuation of the company can be tricky when you are negotiating with an employee. Of course, you want to get full value for your business, but employees have a tendency to undervalue what the business would fetch if you ran a professional sale process. If you can't come to an agreement with the employee/buyer on value or terms and you decide to sell the company to a third party, you may have a disgruntled key employee on your hands. There is really nothing worse than explaining to a buyer how wonderful your management team is, only to have them pout and not play nicely during due diligence.

Think About a Management Buyout Using a Private Equity Partner

This option can go one of two ways.

Management Buyout  Employee/Buyer Picks the Financial Partner

You can allow your employee/buyer some time to find a private equity partner who will finance the purchase of the business for them. It goes something like this, "Mr. or Mrs. Employee, I will give you 60 days to find a financial partner so that, together, you can put together an offer to buy my business." Mr. or Mrs. employee/buyer finds one of the 6,000 very eager private equity firms in the US to engage and together they put an Indication of Interest in front of you to buy the business.

Here are the downsides to this approach:

The value or terms that they put together might not be what you want. See point #4 above. You are stuck with a disgruntled employee. Now you have a professional buyer in the mix (the PE group) and you don't have a lot of negotiating leverage. What happens when you can't agree on an escrow amount? Or other key terms in the purchase agreement? You don't really have another buyer to turn to, so you might be artificially inclined to accept terms that aren't in your best interest. The employee/buyer has picked a partner, but if that doesn't work out for you or they never make it through due diligence, they are stuck without a backer. [Note: this is more common than you might think. Private equity firms are interested in buying almost any businessuntil they are not]. You might want to try to sell the business yourself if things don't work out, but you don't know what your employee/buyer has put into the marketplace while he or she has been trying to attract a partner. You have lost control of the marketing of your own business.

Management Buyout  Seller Picks the Financial Partner

"Wait just a minute!" you say "This isn't an employee purchase at all. This is just me selling the business to private equity." Hang with me here and I will explain.

You can run a sale process for your business, target private equity buyers, and make it clear that the employee/buyer wants to be an owner post transaction.

It can be structured this way:

 run an investment banking sale process  targeting private equity buyers.

 create a "transaction bonus" for the employee/buyer  which he or she can use to purchase equity once the deal is complete. Private equity buyers will welcome this. A bonus doesn't need to be huge, just something to get the ball rolling for the employee/buyer.

 most private equity firms will put together option plans to incentive management teams post-transaction which will give the employee/buyer the opportunity to own more during the period of the private equity ownership.

The benefits of this approach are many

You will receive a market-based (and higher) purchase price for your business. It will probably be more than enough to cover the transaction bonus you are paying the employee/buyer. You will have negotiating leverage during the deal process because you will have other buyers if things get tense with the first one you go down the path with. Your employee/buyer will have the benefit of being aligned with whomever you choose to buy the business. Because you will have pre-screened them for their willingness to work together with your employee/buyer, they won't be stuck without a partner.

But there are also some challenges

You are limited to private equity buyers. If you run a competitive sale process, you can be fairly certain that you are receiving a full valuation. A process without strategic buyers though, can leave out some of the buyers that have the ability to pay the most. That being said, your investment banker can run a very good and competitive process only including private equity firms. Your employee/buyer might be unbackable. If your employee/buyer is an irresponsible goof, it is going to be difficult to find a private equity firm that will stand behind him or her. Worse yet, the buyer could back him or her during the process only to turn around and fire them later for being incapable of leading the firm. My guess is that you wouldn't have such a manager in your organization and if you did, that's probably not the person you would pick to sell the business to but be honest when evaluating your employee/buyer.

In summary, you can certainly sell your business to an employee. I encourage you to understand the risks before you go down that path and think of all the possible structures. There are plenty of examples of transactions we have been involved in where managers have successfully purchased the business in partnership with private equity. Consult with an investment banker if you think this might be the right path for you.

You will notice that I did not mention ESOPs  which are an entirely different animal. In an ESOP, you sell your business to many employees, not just an interested key manager. ESOPs have gotten a lot of publicity as of late, but aren't always a great answer for business owners that want the highest value for their business

Contact:

Katie Yde

(414) 375-2660

SOURCE TKO Miller
TSXV:ITR ; NYSE American: ITRG

www.integraresources.com

VANCOUVER, BC, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Integra Resources Corp. ("Integra" or the "Company") (TSXV: ITR) (NYSE American: ITRG) is pleased to report the voting results from its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held on June 21, 2024 (the "AGM"). A total of 41,654,580 common shares have been voted, representing 47.09% of the Company's outstanding shares. The matters voted as part of the AGM are described below.

Integra will be hosting a webinar on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at 10:00am PDT / 1:00pm EDT to provide a mid-year update on the Company's activities. The webinar will feature a presentation by Integra's President, CEO & Director, Jason Kosec, following by a live Q&A session. Participants can register using the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zRps5c0ESPGJME0u_nAmVw

AGM Voting Results

1. Number of Directors: Setting the number of directors at nine was approved.



For % Against % To Set the Number of Directors at Nine 99.89 % 0.11 %

2. Election of Directors: The following individuals were elected as directors for the ensuing year: George Salamis, Jason Kosec, Stephen de Jong, Timo Jauristo, Anna Ladd-Kruger, C.L. "Butch" Otter, Carolyn Clark Loder, Sara Heston, and Eric Tremblay. The following is a summary of the voting results for the Company's nine directors:

Nominees For % Withheld % George Salamis 99.88 % 0.12 % Jason Kosec 99.89 % 0.11 % Stephen de Jong 99.90 % 0.10 % Timo Jauristo 99.90 % 0.10 % Anna Ladd-Kruger 99.90 % 0.10 % C.L. "Butch" Otter 99.90 % 0.10 % Carolyn Clark Loder 99.90 % 0.10 % Sara Heston 99.90 % 0.10 % Eric Tremblay 99.90 % 0.10 %

3. Appointment of MNP LLP as Auditors of the Company: MNP LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, were appointed as auditors of the Company at a remuneration to be fixed by the directors.



For % Withheld % Appointment of MNP LLP as Auditors of the Company 99.99 % 0.01 %

4. Approval of the Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan: The Company's Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan (the "Amended Plan") was approved by disinterested shareholders.



For % Against % Approval of the Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan 99.78 % 0.22 %

The Amended Plan is a "rolling" plan, pursuant to which the aggregate number of common shares to be issued under the plan shall not exceed 10% of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares. The Amended Plan increases the number of restricted share units reserved for issuance to 4,000,000 and the number of deferred share units reserved for issuance to 3,000,000. Please see the Company's Management Information Circular dated May 2, 2024 for further information on the Company's Amended Plan.

Upcoming Investor Webinar

Integra will participate in a webinar hosted by Adelaide Capital at 10:00am PDT / 1:00pm EDT on Tuesday, June 25th. The webinar will feature a presentation from Integra's President, CEO & Director Jason Kosec, followed by a live Q&A session. Participants can register using the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zRps5c0ESPGJME0u_nAmVw

There will be a livestream of the webinar on Adelaide Capital's YouTube channel where a replay will be posted afterwards: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7Jpt_DWjF1qSCzfKlpLMWw

About Integra Resources

Integra is one of the largest precious metals exploration and development companies in the Great Basin of the Western USA. Integra is currently focused on advancing its two flagship oxide heap leach projects: the past producing DeLamar Project located in southwestern Idaho and the Nevada North Project, comprised of the Wildcat and Mountain View deposits, located in northwestern Nevada. The Company also holds a portfolio of highly prospective early-stage exploration projects in Idaho, Nevada, and Arizona. Integra's long-term vision is to become a leading USA focused mid-tier gold and silver producer.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jason Kosec

President, CEO and Director

Forward Looking and Other Cautionary Statements

Certain information set forth in this news release contains "forwardlooking statements" and "forwardlooking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and applicable United States securities laws (referred to herein as forwardlooking statements). Except for statements of historical fact, certain information contained herein constitutes forwardlooking statements which includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: the future financial or operating performance of the Company and the Company's mineral properties and project portfolio; magnitude or quality of mineral deposits; the anticipated advancement of the Company's mineral properties and project portfolios; the realization of the expected economics of mineral properties; future growth potential of mineral properties; and future development plans.

Forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of words such as "may", "will", "could", "would", "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "intend", "potential", "estimate", "budget", "scheduled", "plans", "planned", "forecasts", "goals" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of factors and assumptions made by management and considered reasonable at the time such information is provided. Assumptions and factors include: the Company's ability to complete its planned exploration programs; the absence of adverse conditions at mineral properties; no unforeseen operational delays; no material delays in obtaining necessary permits; the price of gold remaining at levels that render mineral properties economic; the Company's ability to continue raising necessary capital to finance operations; and the ability to realize on the mineral resource and reserve estimates. Forwardlooking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or result expressed or implied by such forwardlooking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: integration risks; general business, economic and competitive uncertainties; the actual results of current and future exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; meeting various expected cost estimates; benefits of certain technology usage; changes in project parameters and/or economic assessments as plans continue to be refined; future prices of metals; possible variations of mineral grade or recovery rates; the risk that actual costs may exceed estimated costs; geological, mining and exploration technical problems; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); title to properties; and management's ability to anticipate and manage the foregoing factors and risks. Although the Companies have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers are advised to study and consider risk factors disclosed in Integra's annual report on Form 20-F dated March 28, 2024 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

There can be no assurance that forwardlooking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forwardlooking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained herein are presented for the purposes of assisting investors in understanding the Company's plans, objectives and goals, and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forwardlooking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Integra Resources Corp.
Members Recognized for Extraordinary Accomplishments in Stability and Contingency Operations

WASHINGTON, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Stability Operations Association (ISOA) recently presented its annual Global Impact Awards for excellence in stability operations. Fourteen member companies received Global Impact Awards, which recognize extraordinary accomplishments in stability and contingency operations. Three individuals also received honorary and Lifetime Achievement Awards for their significant contributions. The Awards were presented at ISOA's annual Awards Gala on June 20 at The Watergate Hotel in Washington, DC.

"ISOA would like to congratulate this year's award winners for their remarkable achievements under demanding circumstances," said Howie Lind, president and executive director of ISOA. "This year's award winners  in fact, all of the nominees  reflect the commitment, expertise and compassion required to successfully complete impactful projects in challenging environments around the globe."

Seventeen Awards Presented at Awards Gala

An honorary award was presented to Oksana Markarova, Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States for her exemplary devotion to duty and fidelity in Ukraine's existential conflict. Before she became Ambassador in 2021, Mrs. Markarova served in Ukraine's Ministry of Finance as First deputy Minister and Government commissioner on investments and as a Minister of Finance.

Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to two individuals who have made significant contributions to the stability sector. Each of these award winners has worked to guarantee that their stability operations partners have received as much support as possible, ensuring that ISOA companies and non-profits can provide essential services to the U.S. Government and our allies abroad.

Leslie Schweitzer founded the Friends of the American University of Afghanistan (FAUAF) in 2008, a 501c3 that supports not for profit, private, co-educational, non-sectarian higher education in Afghanistan and is a member of the Board of Trustees of AUAF. She is the CEO of the Osage Group, an international consulting company focused on economic development in Third World countries.

of (FAUAF) in 2008, a 501c3 that supports not for profit, private, co-educational, non-sectarian higher education in and is a member of the Board of Trustees of AUAF. She is the CEO of the Osage Group, an international consulting company focused on economic development in Third World countries. Colonel Adam "AC" Coyn e serves as Chief, Contingency Contracting Policy, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Acquisition and Sustainment, Defense Contracting and Pricing (OUSD/DPC), Pentagon, Washington DC . COL Coyne is responsible for shaping DoD contracting policies and operational issues covering a workforce of 30,000 acquisition professionals in support of a $385 billion global portfolio of contingency, disaster relief, emergency procurement, and humanitarian and peacekeeping operations.

Fourteen Global Achievement Awards were presented to ISOA member companies for their extraordinary achievements in stability and contingency operations.

Six Vanguard Awards were presented to companies in recognition of overall outstanding achievement in stability, contingency, disaster or recovery operations. Examples of transparency, accountability, ethical conduct and respect for human rightshallmarks of ISOA member companieswere important factors in making the award selections. Vanguard Awards were presented to the following companies:

World Fuel

KBR

International SOS

URC

Aspen Medical

FGi Global Solutions

Three organizations received awards for their outstanding efforts in support of the people of Ukraine, including the Ukrainian military and government ministries, and the ongoing humanitarian crisis inside and outside of Ukraine. Ukraine Support Awards were presented to the following companies:

Dogus Construction and Trade Inc.

Landry & Kling Global Ship Solutions

JDI Integrations

Three organizations received awards for Innovation, developing new or more technologically advanced approaches to challenges in the stability industry, improving efficiency, effectiveness and overall program performance. Innovation Awards were presented to the following companies:

Amentum

Talia International, LLC

Continest

Two organizations received Women, Peace, and Security Awards for their outstanding commitment and performance in including women for conflict prevention, resolution, and post-conflict stabilization efforts in accordance with the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017. WPS Awards were presented to the following organizations:

SOC, a Day & Zimmermann Company

RMGS, Inc.

About ISOA:

ISOA is a global, nonprofit association whose mission is to serve as the primary point of strategic engagement for the government and private sector in support of stability operations worldwide, providing critical services in fragile environments in an accountable, transparent and ethical way. ISOA serves the implementing community, providing member services focused on contracting, partnerships, regulatory and legal developments, research initiatives and policy movement. For more information, visit stability-operations.org.

SOURCE International Stability Operations Association
Leading international society embarks on multi-year initiative to increase clinician awareness of factor XI/XIa inhibition

BANGKOK, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH), t he leading worldwide not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the understanding, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of conditions related to thrombosis and hemostasis, announces the official launch of new education titled " ISTH Emerging Therapies in ThrombosisFactor XI/XIa Inhibitors" . The organization is embarking on a comprehensive, globally relevant educational initiative to increase clinician awareness of factor XI (FXI) inhibition and how it might lead to the development of safer anticoagulation therapy.

In early 2023, the ISTH organized the multi-disciplinary, international Factor XI/XIa Educational Steering Committee, a group of world-renowned experts led by Jeff Weitz, MD, to survey a sample of the multi-disciplinary target audiences for this education.

By utilizing the results of the survey, with input from other educational sources, the committee designed a dynamic educational roadmap to guide the development of the factor XI/XIa multi-year initiative.

The ISTH will develop a centralized and branded learning center called the "Learning Hub" that will be integrated within the ISTH Academy, an online platform providing Society members with premier access to educational resources. It will be launched in conjunction with an in-person learning experience on-site at the ISTH Academy booth at the ISTH's 2024 Congress in Bangkok, Thailand, from June 22-26, 2024.

The in-person learning experience will focus on the topic The Promise of Factor XI/XIa Inhibitors: Anticoagulation Without the Risk of Bleeding. This 20-minute lecture will be recorded and broadcast in the ISTH Academy booth throughout the meeting and shared on the ISTH Academy after the Congress.

"Launching the factor XI/XIa educational roadmap in Bangkok is an exciting opportunity to kick off this global education initiative," said Weitz, the ISTH's recently elected Secretary General for 2024-2028 term. "Our leadership in the steering committee and feedback from the greater thrombosis and hemostasis community has allowed us to understand the current needs and create meaningful education in factor XI/XIa inhibition."

The offerings inside the Learning Hub on the ISTH Academy platform will include:

The results of the survey and a factor XI/XIa educational roadmap

A glossary of terms to aid learners in understanding current and evolving terminology related to FXI/XIa inhibition

Educational content developed by the ISTH and links to external resources

A research round-up, a collation of current trials and research for all FXI/XIa inhibitor indications under investigation

Subscription-style updates, allowing the ISTH to provide new research and educational activities that will be released throughout the year

ISTH Emerging Therapies in ThrombosisFactor XI/XIa Inhibitors is supported by educational grants from Bayer, Anthos, and BMS/J&J. For more information, visit this link.

About the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH)

Founded in 1969, the ISTH is the leading worldwide not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the understanding, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of conditions related to thrombosis and hemostasis. ISTH is an international medical-scientific professional membership organization with more than 7,500 clinicians, researchers, and educators working together to improve the lives of patients in more than 110 countries around the world. Among its highly regarded activities and initiatives are education and standardization programs, research activities, meetings and congresses, peer-reviewed publications, expert committees, and World Thrombosis Day on 13 October. Visit ISTH online at www.isth.org.

SOURCE International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis
State and Local Leaders Including Assemblymember Dr. Corey Jackson, California Senator Richard Roth, Moreno Valley Mayor Ulises Cabrera, and

Irvine Mayor Farrah Kahn anticipated to join "KICC-Off Celebration"

MORENO VALLEY, Calif., June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Karma Automotive, California's first and only ultra-luxury automaker, today welcomed local government and community leaders, educational partners and charitable organizations to its "KICC-Off Celebration" as its Karma Innovation & Customization Center (KICC) returns to operation. At KICC, Karma Automotive will manufacture its new portfolio of ultra-luxury electric and E-REV (Electric Range-Extended) vehicles, including the flagship Kaveya super-coupe and Gyesera four-seater. Production of the 3rd Generation Karma Revero sport sedan, the world's first luxury plug-in hybrid, is already underway.

"KICC is the beating heart of Karma Automotive, and the cars we build here and the people who build them embody the entrepreneurial vision, technical innovation, dedication to craftsmanship and sheer capability which is innate to California like no other place in the world," says Marques McCammon, President, Karma Automotive. "Today at KICC, Karma Automotive is proud to welcome community leaders from across Southern California who share our strong belief that California is singularly synonymous with game-changing innovation," McCammon continued.

Karma Automotive is committed to expanding EV manufacturing and infrastructure in Southern California, and supports Bill AB 2448, introduced by Assemblymember Corey A. Jackson, that will create Electric Vehicle Economic Opportunity Zones in Riverside County, where KICC is located. This bill will help incentivize EV-related businesses and initiatives, leading to job creation, improved air quality, and economic opportunity. The Bill has passed the California House of Representatives with zero "no" votes, and is currently being considered in the Senate.

KICC represents a total investment of more than $100 million and growing, and the overall investment in Southern California communities will exceed $600 million. Once fully operational, Karma Automotive expects KICC to employ over 250 people in well-paying jobs. The company has been collaborating with elected officials, local government agencies, and community organizations to ensure job opportunities benefit residents in the region.

KICC first came to life in 2015 and comprises a body shop, general assembly, paint shop, final process alignment, and dynamic test stations over a sprawling 556,000 square feet.

Production at KICC's Battery Assembly Facility has also begun, one of the only facilities of this type in the region, thereby enhancing supply chain efficiency and sustainability.

Karma Automotive is also expanding opportunities for community members and employees through onsite job training, workforce development programs, and partnerships with local trade schools and colleges, including Moreno Valley College, Riverside Community College District, and UCI.

About Karma Automotive

Karma Automotive is California's first and only ultra-luxury automaker, manufacturing electric and E-REV (Electric Range Extended) vehicles at its production facility in Moreno Valley, CA, with its executive and design headquarters in nearby Irvine, CA. The Karma portfolio embodies California's spirit of innovation and entrepreneurial boldness, reflected by the signature "Comet Line" which is the central hallmark of Karma's new design language. The 3rd Generation Karma Revero sport sedan, the world's first luxury plug-in hybrid, will be introduced in 4th Quarter 2024, offering luxury balanced with conscientiousness delivered without compromise. The Gyesera four-seater is anticipated in 2025, and in 2026, the Karma Kaveya super-coupe, with up to 1,000 horsepower and butterfly-doors, will arrive. Karma Automotive's dealer network spans North America, Europe, South America and the Middle East.

(www.karmaautomotive.com)

Media Contact:

Joe Richardson

(917) 716-6617

[email protected]

SOURCE Karma Automotive
KANSAS CITY, Mo., June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) honored Rex Archer, MD, MPH, Kansas City University (KCU) professor and director of population and public health, with their esteemed F. Douglas Scutchfield Leadership Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions toward strengthening public health infrastructure and improving the governmental public health system.

Dr. Rex Archer

Named in honor of F. Douglas Scutchfield, MD, one of PHAB's founders, the award is designed to honor individuals like Scutchfield who have made significant and lasting contributions to public health performance improvement, organizational excellence and exemplary service to PHAB.

Archer has a unique history with Dr. Scutchfield, whom he later referred to affectionately as "Scutch." Their relationship began 44 years ago when Archer, as a fourth-year medical student, attended a national meeting of the Association of Teachers of Preventative Medicine. He was there seeking mentorship and guidance about pursuing his residency in preventive medicine and public health, having followed Dr. Scutchfield's publications and career. Years later, in 2008, Archer and Scutchfield became founding members of the PHAB.

Archer led the Kansas City, Missouri, Health Department for 23 years before joining KCU. In that role, he was instrumental in guiding Kansas City through the COVID-19 pandemic. Under his leadership, Kansas City was the was the only health department in the nation to win the National Association of County and City Health Official's Local Health Department of the Year award more than once and one of only a few to have earned both national reaccreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board. During Archer's tenure, the city received a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Prize. Additionally, 740 peer local health departments ranked the Kansas City Health Department among the top five local health departments in the nation serving as a model for new public health programs, evidence-based practices and policies intended to improve community health.

At KCU, Archer collaborates within and across the University's academic programs to integrate public health education into the preclinical curriculum and create clinical clerkship experiences for medical students. He was instrumental in helping to create the vision for KCU's new Center for Population Health and Equity aimed at engaging communities in addressing the factors that impact healththe social and structural determinants that contribute to health inequities. The Center's focus will be on the communities served by KCU's two campuses located in Kansas City and Joplin, Missouri, where significant disparities persist and prevent respective underserved urban and rural populations from attaining their full health potential.

The PHAB presented the award to Archer during its annual meeting, held on KCU campus in honor of Archer as he stepped down from PHAB after 16 years of service.

"It is fitting that this award ceremony would be held here at KCU, in the Butterworth Center; the very room where the PHAB first drafted a public health code of ethics in 2000, when Dr. Archer was a key participant," said Marc B. Hahn, president and CEO of KCU.

"All these years later we are fortunate to have a leader of Dr. Archer's caliber on our Kansas City University team and we are pleased that he has received this much deserved recognition as he follows our mission of improving the well-being of the communities we serve."

The news of this honor carrying Dr. Scutchfield's name held profound meaning for Archer, given their decades-long professional relationship and personal friendship.

"When you get an award named after somebody who has been a mentor, a close friend and colleague, it holds significant meaning," said Archer. "There are many great minds in public health. I am humbled to receive this recognition."

About Kansas City University

Kansas City University, founded in 1916, is a fully accredited, private not-for-profit health sciences university with Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, Biosciences and a College of Dental Medicine. The College of Osteopathic Medicine is the fifth largest medical school in the U.S., the ninth most impactful medical school for primary care for the nation, the tenth most affordable of private medical colleges, and the leading producer of physicians for the State of Missouri. The College of Osteopathic Medicine has two sites strategically located on the University's campuses in Kansas City and Joplin, Missouri, to address the growing needs of both urban and rural populations. The University offers multiple graduate degrees; a doctor of osteopathic medicine; a doctor of psychology in clinical psychology; a master of arts in bioethics; a master of science in the biomedical sciences; a master of business administration in partnership with Rockhurst University; a new master of public health in partnership with the University of Nebraska Medical Center; and seated the first doctor of dental medicine students in 2023.

Contact:

Elizabeth Alex

Executive Director of University Relations

816.654.7032 (office)

816.304.9498 (cell)

[email protected]

SOURCE Kansas City University
WARRENTON, Va., June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Earlier this month, the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) filed petitions to block the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s attempts to protect Americans from drinking water with dangerous per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Originally introduced to the US market in the late 1940s, PFAS chemicals have now infiltrated everyday items such as bandages, cosmetics, and clothing. The science is clear that PFAS chemicals cause kidney and testicular cancers, reduced vaccine efficacy, and other concerning health effects. EPA's maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) were set to go into effect on June 24, 2024.

Scientist and former New Hampshire State House Representative Mindi Messmer spearheaded efforts starting in 2016 to safeguard drinking water from PFAS chemicals, remarked: "Sadly, this development is predictable. Chemical companies, which profit billions annually from PFAS chemicals, refuse to accept responsibility for the decades of poisoning they've inflicted on communities across the US and the globe. Meanwhile, industry actively concealed safety data from regulators, the scientific community, and the public, prolonging the risk of harm."

Bill Couzens, Founder of Less Cancer, emphasized, "We know that an important part of preventing cancer is preventing exposure to dangerous chemicals like PFAS. Every American, no matter where they live, should be able to turn on their kitchen tap and not have to worry whether their water is safe."

Less Cancer has supported and collaborated the many efforts in addressing the PFAS issue. The subject was early content and continues to be for the National Cancer Prevention Workshop, produced and founded by Less Cancer, National Cancer Prevention Day as well as the United States Congressional Bipartisan, Cancer Prevention Caucus.

MEDIA CONTACT: Colleen Robar, 313-207-5960, [email protected]

SOURCE Less Cancer
ST. LOUIS, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- MOHELA announced the awarding of critical funding for Missouri's student community through its Foundation, the Missouri Scholarship & Loan Foundation. MOHELA's Foundation awarded over $88,600 in funding to support more than 110 community events hosted by local colleges, universities, high schools, and nonprofit organizations across 70 Missouri counties through its Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Completion Mission-Mini Grants program.

MSLF Mission Mini Funding per Missouri County.

"We anticipated challenges with the rollout of the new FAFSA for 2024-2025, but no one predicted the extent of the delay and glitches students and families would face when trying to complete the form," said Melissa Findley, Executive Director of the Missouri Scholarship & Loan Foundation. "Our Mission-Mini Grants provide essential funding to ensure Missouri's student community is well-informed on the latest FAFSA changes, best positioning students to access critical financial aid assistance for their higher education journey and boosting our state's overall FAFSA completion rates."

The goal of the Foundation's FAFSA Completion Mission-Mini Grants program is to boost FAFSA completion rates in Missouri by supporting community events that provide educational resources and tools to help high school counselors, students and families better understand the application process and the overall importance of the FAFSA program for accessing critical financial aid from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA), which includes federal grants, scholarships, and loans. The FAFSA information is also used by schools and nonprofits to determine eligibility for non-federal grants, scholarships, and loans.

"Many students rely on FAFSA and the financial assistance it provides to pursue their higher education goals," said Scott Giles, CEO and Executive Director of MOHELA. "FAFSA completion is one of the most important steps students can take to pay for college, but the confusion surrounding the rollout of this year's new FAFSA program presented unprecedented challenges for families navigating the application process. This year's challenges make the Foundation's commitment to boosting FAFSA completion in our communities more valuable than ever."

The Foundation's Mission-Mini Grants, which totaled $91,693 for the 2023-2024 academic year, provided financial support for FAFSA events in 70 counties across Missouri, as shown in the map. The Foundation awarded an initial $50,000 in FAFSA completion grants by the end of February 2024 (indicated by green check marks). To support the rise in community demand for additional resources to address the ongoing challenges students faced with the rollout of the new program, the Foundation began awarding the second round of funding in March 2024 (indicated by blue check marks).

The delayed opening of the FAFSA application process and ongoing challenges with the rollout have affected students across the country. According to the National College Attainment Network's FAFSA Tracker, 39.8% of Missouri high school seniors had completed the 2024-2025 FAFSA as of May 31, 2024, which was below the national average of 43.3%. Compared to last year, Missouri has had a -13.2% change in FAFSA completion, compared to a -13.5% change nationally. Missouri is currently ranked 32nd nationally in FAFSA completions, emphasizing the importance of the work of MOHELA's Foundation to help increase the state's FAFSA completion rate.

The Missouri Scholarship & Loan Foundation was established by MOHELA in 2010 to enhance accessibility and affordability of higher education for Missouri families. In the last five years, the Foundation has assisted more than 8,500 students in the local community, distributing a total of $17.5 million in scholarships and grants, and $24.2 million in interest-free loans for Missouri students during the 2018-2023 academic years.

During the 2023-2024 academic year, MOHELA also contributed $6 million in total to Access Missouri, Missouri's A+ Program, and Bright Flight, which support student scholarships and grants.

Learn about the Missouri Scholarship & Loan Foundation and its programs at moslf.org. Learn more about MOHELA's contributions to Missouri here.

About MOHELA

MOHELA is a governmental non-profit organization with 40 years of experience and a track record of providing exceptional customer service to the borrowers it serves. MOHELA plays an essential role in the federal student loan ecosystem, providing support and assistance for around eight million federal borrowers on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA). The organization is frequently named a top servicer in FSA quarterly surveys due to its commitment to providing high-quality customer service to their borrowers.

In 2023, MOHELA was proud to assist more than six million federal borrowers in their return to repayment. MOHELA's customer service team facilitated over 3.1 million customer service calls and processed more than 2.36 million Income-Driven Repayment Plan applications and over 2.58 million payments to the federal government on behalf of borrowers throughout 2023.

During MOHELA's time as the interim Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) servicer (July 2022 through April 2024), MOHELA processed nearly $55 billion in PSLF forgiveness for nearly 737,000 borrowers at the direction of FSA - a record-high for the government-run program. In the five-year period prior to MOHELA becoming the interim PSLF servicer, only about 165,000 borrowers had received $10.5 billion in loan forgiveness.

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE MOHELA
Celebration included farmer's market and presentation of two local education funds

MINNEAPOLIS, June 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Last week, Minnesota-based National Grid Renewables hosted a community event celebrating two new solar projects located in Southern Minnesota  the 50 megawatt (MW) Louise Solar Project located in Mower County, and the Fillmore County Solar Project located in Fillmore County. The "Homegrown Minnesolar" event brought together community members, landowners, customers, partners, and local officials to celebrate and recognize the positive impact of these projects to the local communities and residents.

National Grid Renewables celebrates Minnesota solar projects with community event

"We're incredibly proud of our farmer-founded roots that began right here in Minnesota," said Blake Nixon, president of National Grid Renewables. "As a Minnesota-headquartered company, today is an exciting day. The Fillmore County and Louise Solar projects represent our deep commitment to boosting economic vitality in communities throughout rural America in the form of new investment driving economic growth, tax revenue, jobs, and charitable funding."

Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy has an agreement to purchase 80 megawatts of energy from the Fillmore County and Louise solar projects to deliver to its customers throughout the Upper Midwest.

"Solar energy  combined with the nation-leading amounts of wind power we're bringing onto our system, the retirement of our coal plants and the continued operation of our carbon-free nuclear fleet  supports our vision of providing 100% carbon-free electricity to our customers," said Ryan Long, president of Xcel EnergyMinnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. "At the same time, these solar installations will help us open up new subscriptions in our popular Renewable*Connect program, which allows participating customers to attribute more of their energy use to renewable sources and support the clean energy transition."

In partnership with Renewing the Countryside, the event featured a farmer's market, showcasing local farmers and vendors, including Squash Blossom Farm, Leafy Legacy Family Farm, Seven Songs Organic Farm, CannonBelles Cheese, Carlson Roasting, The Bee Shed, Simple Soaps for Simple Folks, Joe Mama BBQ Sauce, and Schmidt Farm. Products available at the market included a variety of jams, honey, chocolates, and other delicious items produced by local makers.

"Including a farmers market at the event was a great way to allow attendees to try and buy some of the area's best local foods," said Marlene Petersen, Community Outreach Ambassador at Renewing the Countryside, who helped organize the farmer market vendors. "It also supported nine local agribusinesses, all of whom help the regional economy flourish. We all appreciated being invited and had a lot of fun enjoying great food and making new connections."

Event attendees also had the opportunity to take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Louise Solar project, where guests were able to see and learn first-hand how a solar project is built. Both projects utilize First Solar Series 6+ Bifacial modules and are being constructed by Berry Construction.

Last week, National Grid Renewables also announced their pledge of $380,000 in total contributions to charitable funding through the Fillmore and Louise projects. The projected contributions will be divided between two education funds supporting the Southland and LeRoy-Ostrander school districts. Together, Fillmore and Louise will contribute more than $30 million in direct economic impact over the first 20 years of operation, including over $4 million in new tax revenue to be distributed to local townships and counties. An estimated 300 construction workers built the projects, and the projects will each employ 1-2 operations and maintenance team members.

In addition to the economic benefits provided by both Fillmore and Louise, there are many environmental benefits as well. Using the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator, the Fillmore and Louise projects are estimated to offset carbon dioxide emissions annually by a combined 2.4 million metric tons during the first 20 years of operations. This is equivalent to removing 568,400 cars off the road for one year. Additionally, the projects will also avoid a combined 4.4 billion gallons of water over the first 20 years of operations.

About National Grid Renewables

National Grid Renewables develops, owns and operates large-scale renewable energy assets across the United States, including solar, wind, and energy storage. As a farmer-friendly and community-focused business, National Grid Renewables repowers America's electricity grid by reigniting local economies and reinvesting in a sustainable, clean energy future. National Grid Renewables supports National Grid's vision of being at the heart of a clean, fair, and affordable energy future for all. To learn more about National Grid Renewables, visit www.nationalgridrenewables.com or follow the company on LinkedIn.

Contact: National Grid Renewables

[email protected]

Media Relations: 612.429.7050

SOURCE National Grid Renewables
TORONTO, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Indigenous business owners, entrepreneurs, advocates, allies, and financial service industry partners joined David Clarke, Head of Government Affairs, TMX Group, to celebrate National Indigenous History Month and to open the market.

June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada, an opportunity to learn about the unique cultures, traditions and experiences of First Nations, Inuit and Metis.

National Indigenous History Month Opens the Market Friday, June 21, 2024

CNW sponsored announcement. To learn more visit www.newswire.ca.

SOURCE Toronto Stock Exchange
The Black, Trans-led organization uplifts the New York LGBTQ+ community alongside partners TD Bank, SoBro, Montefiore Health Systems and more.

BRONX, N.Y., June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Destination Tomorrow , the national LGBTQ+ grassroots organization, and the center's "In Living Color" coalition will host its annual Da Bronx Pride Festival on Saturday, June 22, between 12:00 - 6:00 p.m. ET at Westchester Avenue between Brook Avenue and Bergen Avenue. This year's theme, "Unbought and Unbothered," underscores unity, individuality and solidarity while highlighting the diverse resources and programming offered by the organization.

This year's festival will be hosted by Dahlia Sin, seen on RuPaul's Drag Race, and social media sensation TheyHatedBoy-Edwin Reynoso. Open and free to the public, the event will offer an array of activities including games, food and a renowned parade. Attendees can also enjoy several performances by a lineup of LGBTQ+ icons, including Raydar Management Recording Artist Kanye The Love Child, dance music legends The Cover Girls, the winners of HBO Max's Legendary The House of Miyake-Mugler and more.

"We are excited to host this year's Da Bronx Pride Festival and welcome all New Yorkers to join us in celebrating Queer and Trans identities," said Sean Ebony Coleman, CEO and founder of Destination Tomorrow. "Amid a presidential election and a surge in legislation targeting our fundamental rights and freedoms, the festival stands as a vital sanctuary where LGBTQ+ individuals can find support and affirmation. It sends a powerful message to our broader community and policymakers that collective solidarity is imperative for safeguarding LGBTQ+ rights. As we strive for a fairer and more equitable society, LGBTQ+ folk, including our Transgender siblings, must be heard and represented in our nation's politics."

Amid heightened political challenges, Da Bronx Pride Festival aims to cultivate a safer space where all individuals can proudly express their identities. With 43 anti-Trans bills passed this year alone and uncertainty around the future of legislative rights for LGBTQ+ individuals, advocacy and genuine allyship are more important than ever. The event represents the organization's overall mission to enhance equitable access to resources and foster a sense of belonging for the LGBTQ+ community. It could not have been made possible without the help of sponsors TD BANK, SoBro, Lime, Montefiore Einstein, Amida Care, Callen Lorde, J.M. Szymanski, ViiV HealthCare, The Door, BronxNet and the YMCA. The center invites folks of all identities to come out to the Bronx to celebrate Pride and show solidarity during this pivotal election year.

Da Bronx Pride Festival is one of many events operated by Destination Tomorrow. For over a decade, the organization has supported over 80,000 community members through a range of educational, financial, housing, health and holistic programs. As the pioneering Black, Trans-led LGBTQ+ center in New York State, with locations in Atlanta and Washington D.C., the organization employs a trauma-informed, community-driven approach to advocate for Transgender and gender nonconforming individuals at grassroots and policy levels. Destination Tomorrow remains dedicated to tailoring its diverse programs to address the unique needs of this population, emphasizing economic, social and mental empowerment.

For media inquiries regarding Destination Tomorrow, please contact Cecilia at 970-237-0440 or [email protected].

About Sean Ebony Coleman and Destination Tomorrow

Sean Ebony Coleman is the founder and CEO of Destination Tomorrow, a national LGBTQ+ organization with centers located in the South Bronx, Atlanta and Washington D.C., serving the community through educational, financial, housing, health and personal support programs. The grassroots organization puts an emphasis on providing support to vulnerable members of the LGBTQ community that takes them off the path of requiring emergency care, focusing on economic, social and mental empowerment on a holistic level. As a nationally recognized leader in the Transgender community and the first African American of Transgender experience to operate an LGBTQ+ center in the state of New York, Sean plays a key role in advocating for policies that directly impact the lives of millions of LGBTQ individuals. Through Gilead Science's TRANScend Community Impact Fund, Sean is the only Black Trans grantmaker in the country, providing crucial funding to Transgender and Gender Nonconforming-led grassroots organizations nationally. Sean is also the founder and managing partner of Sean Ebony Coleman Consulting, where he has worked with companies including Unilever, Lululemon and Equinox on campaigns and DEI strategies to support the LGBTQ community.

Contact: Cecilia Apodaca

The TASC Group

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Destination Tomorrow
LUDWIGSBURG, Germany, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- At the 28th International Automobil-Elektronik Kongress (AEK) 2024, Dr. Angela Wang, Senior Vice President & Chief Investment Officer of Neusoft Corporation (Neusoft, SSE: 600718) and Chairman & President of Neusoft Europe, was invited to deliver a keynote speech on the topic of "Build New Ecosystem with China Market to Win in the Era of Software-Defined Vehicle", contributing a meaningful perspective from China to the discussions at the conference. She shared her insights on China's market trends and innovation dynamics, opportunities of global collaborations, and how Chinese technology partners support global automakers to innovate.

As a pinnacle gathering for automotive electronics professionals worldwide, the Automobil-Elektronik Kongress brings together over 600 industry experts, researchers, and innovators to discuss the latest advancements and future trends in automotive electronics.

In her speech, Dr. Angela Wang said, "Today, SDV is entering the deep water area, and we are facing unprecedented multi-dimensional challenges. Automakers are trying to build diverse collaboration and dynamic ecosystems with various technology partners. As an emerging player, China is attracting increasing global attention. Driven by Chinese consumers' strong enthusiasm and preferences for electric and intelligent features of cars, China not only became the largest consumer market for intelligent cars, but also serves as a new test base for technological innovation and experience, and such dynamics brought severe competition in the aspects of innovation, speed and cost. Chinese technology partners who survive in the competition have experienced large amount of meaningful trial and error, and have fast speed, flexible business models, deep capability reserves and hardworking teams. Looking into the future, despite the differences between regional markets, global collaboration must be a major trend. By integration of their different DNA and respective advantages, China technology partners can work together with global automakers to help them achieve swift time to market, innovation dynamics, SDV-ready talents, ecosystem resources, flexibility and resilience."

Neusoft is an industry-leading information technology, products and solutions company for global market. In the field of automotive, Neusoft is committed to be the software innovation partner for global automakers in the era of SDV. Neusoft has more than 30 years of R&D experience in automotive software, and established a global product R&D and delivery network centered in China, Germany, US, Japan and Malaysia, with 6,000+ automotive software engineers. Neusoft's automotive products have been applied to 220+ car models, across 100+ countries, for 50+ OEMs. In the future, Neusoft will continue to empower global automakers with continuous innovation, collaborate with stakeholders in the ecosystem, to promote the transformation of the auto industry, and bring more fantastic experiences for global consumers.

For more information about Neusoft, please visit www.neusoft.com.

SOURCE Neusoft Corporation
AMSTERDAM, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- New Amsterdam Invest N.V. (the "Company", or "New Amsterdam Invest", or "NAI"), listed on Euronext Amsterdam, announces that at its annual general meeting of shareholders, held today at Van der Valk Hotel Utrecht, the Netherlands ("AGM"), all resolutions were duly passed.

This means amongst others, that the proposed interim dividend payment has been approved; 99.90% of the NAI-shareholders voted in favor. The results of all other voting items are listed below.

Other resolutions passed at the AGM

The AGM adopted the following items including the votes cast.

As at the AGM, in total 5,315,355 votes could be validly cast. The total number of shares for which valid votes were cast at the AGM amounted to 1,965,966 being 37% of the issued and outstanding share capital of NAI.

In accordance with section 2:120 paragraph 5 of the Dutch Civil Code, the outcome of the voting on the proposals discussed at the AGM is as follows:



Agenda item For % Against % Abstain %















5 Adoption of annual

accounts NAI for FY 2023 1,945,966 99.49 0 0.00 10,000 0.51 6 Advisory vote on the

remuneration report of FY

2023 1,860,966 94.66 0 0.00 105,000 5.34 7 Discharge of each of the

members of the

Management Board i. Aren van Dam ii. Arie Johannes Maarten

van Dam iii. Cornelis Maartinus

Verkade iv. Elisha Sjemtov Evers





i. 1,953,966 ii.1,893,966 iii. 1,878,966

iv. 1,918,966 99.39 97.33 96.56 97.61 2,000 42,000 42,000 2,000 0.10 2.16 2.16 0.10 10,000 10,000 25,000 45,000 0.51 0.51 1.28 2.29 8 Discharge of each of the

members of the

Supervisory Board i. Jan Louis Burggraaf ii. Paulus Johannes

Steman iii. Elbert Dijkgraaf i. 1,918,966 ii. 1,928,966 iii. 1,938,966 98.61 98.12 98.63 2,000 2,000 2,000 0.10 0.10 0.10 25,000 35,000 25,000 1.28 1.78 1.27 9 Authorisation of the Board

of Directors to acquire fully

paid-up ordinary shares or

depositary receipt for

shares in NAI's own

capital. 1,930,966 98.22 0 0.00 35,000 1.78 10 Designation of the Board of

Directors as the body

authorized to issue

ordinary shares in the

capital of NAI 1,930,966 98.22 0 0.00 35,000 1.78 11 Designation of the Board of

Directors as the body

authorized to limit or

exclude the statutory pre-

emptive right upon the

issue of ordinary shares in

the capital of NAI 1,930,966 98.22 0 0.00 35,000 1.78 12 Re-appointment of BDO

Audit & Assurance B.V. as

external independent

auditor for the year ending

31 December 2024 1,965,966 100.0 0 0.00 0 0.00 14 Interim dividend payment

for the financial year 2024

(2.25% in June 2024 and 

subject to (possible) future

prior approval of the

Supervisory Board 

2.25% in December 2024) 1,963,966 99.90 2,000 0.10 0 0.00

Financial Calendar 2024

Approval interim dividend  0,225 per ordinary share: 21 June

Ex-dividend: 25 June

Record date: 26 June

Payment date: 28 June

Publication of unaudited Half Year Report 2024 NAI: 29 August

About New Amsterdam Invest

New Amsterdam Invest N.V. is a commercial real estate company listed at Euronext Amsterdam with operating companies in the United States and the United Kingdom.

The main objective of New Amsterdam Invest is running commercial activities including the owning, (re-)developing, acquiring, divesting, maintaining, letting out and/or otherwise operating commercial real estate, all in the broadest possible meaning.

All information about New Amsterdam Invest, including its principles and objectives can be found on the company website: www.newamsterdaminvest.com

Disclaimer

Elements of this press release contain or may contain information about New Amsterdam Invest N.V. within the meaning of Article 7(1) to (4) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

This press release may include statements, including NAI's financial and operational medium-term objectives that are, or may be deemed to be, ''forward-looking statements''. These forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms ''believes'', ''estimates'', ''plans'', ''projects'', ''anticipates'', ''expects'', ''intends'', ''may'', ''will'' or ''should'' or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, plans, objectives, goals, future events or intentions. Forward-looking statements may and often do differ materially from actual results. Any forward-looking statements reflect NAI's current view with respect to future events and are subject to risks relating to future events and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to NAI's business, results of operations, financial position, liquidity, prospects, growth or strategies. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made.
VANCOUVER, BC, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - OceanaGold Corporation (TSX: OGC) (OTCQX: OCANF) ("OceanaGold" or the "Company") is deeply saddened to report that a colleague has been fatally injured at its Didipio Mine in the Philippines. The employee was found unresponsive on the ground in the vicinity of the paste plant on June 21st local time and was unable to be revived at the onsite medical clinic. Next of kin and regulators have been notified and operations at the mine have been voluntarily suspended for approximately 24 hours to allow the workforce to be informed. An investigation is underway.

The Company is focused on supporting the family and colleagues of the employee during this difficult time.

SOURCE OceanaGold Corporation
5G O-RAN Delivers Unmatched Connectivity for Enhanced Maritime Networks

TAIPEI, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pegatron 5G, a Taiwan leader in system integration, discussed the challenges and development opportunities of 5G O-RAN at the Open RAN Summit. We also showcased the 5G O-RAN 's applications in smart factories, energy management, and education.

Pegatron 5G discussed the challenges and development opportunities of 5G O-RAN at the Open RAN Summit and showcased 5G O-RAN's applications in maritime scenarios. This marks Taiwan's first maritime 5G deployment experience.

Designed specifically for the maritime industry, Pegatron 5G unveiled its groundbreaking application of integrating low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite signals into a 5G network for cargo ships in Taiwan. Sponsored by the National Development Council, Pegatron 5G collaborated with Yang Ming Shipping to implement domestically produced 5G O-RAN using LEO satellite systems, showcasing the vast potential for maritime communications and technical applications.

Pegatron 5G's flexible, expandable communication equipment with stable, uninterrupted network service enhances resilience, especially in hard-to-reach areas, ushering in a new era of efficient and reliable maritime communications.

"Pegatron 5G has been focusing on developing communications technology," said Dr. James Shue, Senior Vice President & CTO of Pegatron Corporation. "With our expertise in R&D and experiences in integration of hardware and software, we have invested heavily in vertical applications of 5G communications in multiple fields, such as accident redundancy, smart factories, and maritime shipping. Pegatron 5G will continue to push Taiwan's 5G progress forward as a driving force, realize more reliable and efficient forward-looking communications technology, and help the government to build Taiwan into a smart-tech island."

Pegatron 5G Integrates LEO Satellites to Enhance Maritime Communications Resilience

Taiwan is a critical transportation hub strategically positioned in the global maritime economy. In recent years, increased demand has driven the growth of ocean shipping and the capacity of international commercial ports, heightening the demand for intelligent cargo ships. In 2021, the Pegatron 5G team launched the 5G O-RAN and corporate satellite communications project. For the first time in Taiwan, we successfully integrated mobile orbit satellite equipment with Pegatron 5G O-RAN base stations, advancing the development of the communications industry.

In the past, ships at sea struggled to communicate with the outside world or receive real-time information, making it difficult to establish communication in distressed situations. "Under the guidance of the National Development Council, the project collaborates with satellite service providers, system integrators, and various enterprise application sectors to integrate 5G O-RAN private networks and LEO satellite solutions," said CY Feng, General Manager of Business Group 6 Communication Products, Pegatron Corporation. "This integration significantly enhances existing communication conditions, accelerating the maritime industry's digital transformation. Aiming to continuously leverage advanced technologies and Pegatron's comprehensive supply chain resources in the future, we target to establish Taiwan's O-RAN private network ecosystem, create diverse communication application services, and boost global market competitiveness."

In this project, Pegatron 5G built a network using the O-RAN architecture and integrated satellite communications with low-latency network connections between satellites. This concept was verified on Yang Ming's ocean-going ships, significantly improving the maritime internet of vessels in three scenarios:

Remote Medical Assistance: During long voyages, limited medical resources and restricted telemedicine capabilities make real-time diagnosis challenging. However, with the enhanced transmission bandwidth provided by LEO satellite communication and Advantech's telemedicine suitcase, medical teams can access real-time instrument data and conduct video consultations. This exciting advancement enables remote guidance based on an accurate understanding of the on-site situation, revolutionizing medical assistance at sea.

During long voyages, limited medical resources and restricted telemedicine capabilities make real-time diagnosis challenging. However, with the enhanced transmission bandwidth provided by LEO satellite communication and Advantech's telemedicine suitcase, medical teams can access real-time instrument data and conduct video consultations. This exciting advancement enables remote guidance based on an accurate understanding of the on-site situation, revolutionizing medical assistance at sea. Real-Time Troubleshooting: Previously, mariners faced prolonged and delayed communication times when managing equipment issues by relying on text and images via email. By integrating mixed reality solutions and 5G private networks, mariners can report on-site conditions in real time through video, receiving immediate support and collaboration from onshore teams. The professional guidance significantly enhances troubleshooting efficiency and reduces potential occupational safety risks for crew members during maintenance.

Previously, mariners faced prolonged and delayed communication times when managing equipment issues by relying on text and images via email. By integrating mixed reality solutions and 5G private networks, mariners can report on-site conditions in real time through video, receiving immediate support and collaboration from onshore teams. The professional guidance significantly enhances troubleshooting efficiency and reduces potential occupational safety risks for crew members during maintenance. Signal Extension in Cargo Ships: Mariners can enhance network access and optimize the work environment during onboard operations by strategically deploying a distributed antenna system (DAS) to extend indoor wireless communication coverage.

Pegatron 5G is committed to strengthening and building upon its relationships with international companies, including telecommunications firms in Southeast Asia and system integrators in Japan. We will also continue to expand our presence in the Asia-Pacific region, leveraging our comprehensive technology and supply chain resources to promote diverse application scenarios, enhance local communication resilience, and boost global competitiveness.

Pegatron 5G Website: https://5g.pegatroncorp.com/

Pegatron Corporation Website: https://www.pegatroncorp.com/

SOURCE Pegatron 5G
Largest Employee-Owned Electrical Contractor Serves as On-Site Expert for IT and Telecommunications

SAN JOSE, Calif., June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosendin, the nation's largest employee-owned electrical contractor, celebrated the completion of the Harvey Milk Terminal 1 Center at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). The San Jose contractor was the Technology Systems Design-Builder and Systems Integrator on the multiphase $2.4B renovation, including designing and constructing a central concourse, pre- and post-security checkpoints, and ticketing and baggage handling system.

San Jose based Rosendin served as the Technology Systems Design-Builder and Systems Integrator for SFO's $2.4B renovation on the Harvey Milk Terminal. Rosendin is the nation's largest employee-owned electrical contractor, and started working on the airport project in 2016. Rosendin's teams designed and installed three dozen technology systems for operations and passenger use.

Rosendin's role included designing, constructing, integrating, and commissioning several key technology systems to modernize the terminal. These include passenger-focused systems such as high-speed Wi-Fi Internet access throughout the terminal, a Neutral Host Distributed Antenna System extending cellular services, and dynamic wayfinding systems with large video walls. On the operational side, Rosendin's technology teams helped expand SFO's LAN/WAN network across a sophisticated fiber optic and structured cable infrastructure, passenger processing systems, and a robust access control system with Biometrics and Emergency Responder Radio Communications.

"Rosendin started working on the airport renovation in 2016, and we are immensely proud of the project team members and their contributions to modernizing the aviation industry," said Paul Au, Rosendin's Aviation Division Manager. "Our team of skilled engineers, BIM modelers, electrical workers, and support teams designed and installed three dozen technology systems that will change how airports are designed."

Rosendin executives celebrated the project's completion with city dignitaries and airport officials at a June 17 ribbon cutting highlighting the new technology installations. The airport also held a private event on June 1 to thank workers for their dedication to a family celebration at the terminal. Rosendin participated in the classic car show portion of the event outside the terminal, showcasing the company's 1919 restored Ford Model T work truck. The classic vehicle reflects the year Moses Rosendin opened his electrical business in San Jose.

The Harvey Milk Terminal has already earned several awards, including Engineering News Record's Best Project award for airports in 2022. It is also the first airport to earn Platinum LEED Certification.

About Rosendin:

Rosendin, headquartered in San Jose, is employee-owned and one of the largest electrical contractors in the United States, employing over 7,000 people with an average revenue of $2.9 billion. Established in 1919, Rosendin remains proud of our more than 100 years of building quality electrical and communications installations and value for our clients but, most importantly, for building people within our company and our communities. Our customers lead some of the most complex construction projects in history and rely on us for our knowledge, ability to scale, and dedication to quality. At Rosendin, we work to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential by building a culture that is diverse, safe, welcoming, and inclusive. For more information, visit www.rosendin.com .

Media Contact:

Beth Pampaloni

Senior Director, Corporate Communications

Rosendin

650-867-9875

[email protected]

Laura Slawny

10 to 1 Public Relations

480-868-9423

[email protected]

SOURCE Rosendin
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The inaugural flights between Toronto (Canada) and Funchal (Madeira Island) and between Boston (USA) and Funchal marked the beginning of the 2024 summer operation to Madeira Island. In addition to the direct flights, there are more connections via Ponta Delgada and a direct weekly flight, already operating, between New York and Funchal.

Graca Silva, Director of Sales, Marketing and Communication at SATA Group said, "These two direct operations represent the conclusion of consistent work with our partners in the United States, Canada and the Madeira Archipelago, which have allowed us to expand the offer to this Archipelago with these direct flights, in addition to the New York operation and flights between the Azores to Madeira Island that Azores Airlines has ensured over the years".

The direct connection between Canada and the Madeira Archipelago operates on a weekly basis, with departures from Madeira Island on Fridays. In the opposite direction, flights depart Toronto on Saturdays. The direct flight between Boston and Funchal consists of a direct flight departing from Boston on Tuesdays and returning to Funchal on Wednesdays. There are also seven weekly connections from Boston Toronto via Ponta Delgada that passengers who want to travel from North America to Madeira Island and vice versa can take advantage of. Bookings are available through SATA Azores Airlines' channels (website, counters, and sales store) and travel agencies.

ABOUT SATA GROUP AIRLINES |

The SATA group of companies started in 1941 as Sociedade de Estudos Aereos Acorianos. It has more than eighty years of history. It has its roots in the Azores and is committed to tackling the isolation of the Azorean Archipelago. Currently, SATA Group airlines (SATA Air Acores and Azores Airlines) operate a network of regular routes (Regional, Domestic, and International) and play an important role in the development of the Autonomous Region of the Azores. Azores Airlines operates with an Airbus A320ceo, A320neo, Airbus A321neo, and A321LR fleet. SATA Air Acores operates with a Bombardier Q400 and Bombardier Q200 fleet. https://www.azoresairlines.pt/en.

SOURCE SATA Group
FREDERICK, Md., June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Service Coordination Inc. (SCI), a leading provider of case management services for more than 16,000 people of all ages with disabilities and medically complex needs, has been named one of The Washington Post's 2024 Top Workplaces.

This prestigious award is a testament to SCI's commitment to cultivating an inclusive workplace where people come first. The recognition is based on employee feedback gathered through an independent survey, measuring several aspects of workplace culture including alignment, engagement, and leadership. The results highlight SCI's inspiring dedication to creating a positive work environment while driving solutions and meaningful community impact.

President and CEO of Service Coordination Inc., John Dumas, expressed his pride and gratitude for team members, sharing, "We are deeply honored to accept this prestigious award. Our growth and success are rooted in building strong, collaborative relationships within our organization and with our external partners. These connections are our work's foundation, allowing us to navigate complex systems masterfully and make possibilities a reality for the people we support and their families."

Reflecting upon team members' dedication, "With a shared leadership approach, our incredible teams consistently go above and beyond to make a difference. We are proud to be recognized as a Washington Post Top Workplace and remain committed to fostering an environment where everyone can grow and succeed," said Dumas.

In addition, SCI was also awarded for excellence in all five Top Workplaces Culture Awards categories:

Purpose and Values

Work-Life Flexibility

Innovation

Leadership

Compensation and Benefits

SCI's growth continues, as a top nonprofit and leading Maryland employer for mission-driven professionals. Learn more about opportunities to join dedicated SCI teams, here.

About Service Coordination, Inc.

Service Coordination, Inc. (SCI) is a leading non-profit organization that provides award-winning case management services and advocacy for more than 16,000 individuals of all ages with disabilities, medically complex needs, and older adults across Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Northern Virginia. SCI helps people with support needs navigate complex systems by championing choice, fostering community, and nurturing connections that create pathways to resources that respect their dignity and rights. SCI also provides companion care and aging life care management services through Montcordia. Learn more online or by following SCI on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Media Contact:

Kandice Ferrell

VP, Marketing and Communications

Service Coordination Inc.

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Service Coordination
NEW YORK, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --

Monteverde & Associates PC (the "M&A Class Action Firm"), has recovered money for shareholders and is recognized as a Top 50 Firm in the 2018-2022 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. We are headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City and are investigating The Aaron's Company, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), relating to its proposed merger with IQVentures Holdings, LLC. Under the terms of the agreement, The Aaron's Company shareholders will receive $10.10 in cash for each share they own.

Click here for more information https://monteverdelaw.com/case/the-aarons-company-inc/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

Before you hire a law firm, you should talk to a lawyer and ask:

Do you file class actions and go to Court? When was the last time you recovered money for shareholders? What cases did you recover money in and how much?

About Monteverde & Associates PC

Our firm litigates and has recovered money for shareholdersand we do it from our offices in the Empire State Building. We are a national class action securities firm with a successful track record in trial and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.

No company, director or officer is above the law. If you own common stock in any of the above listed companies and have concerns or wish to obtain additional information free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.

Contact:

Juan Monteverde, Esq.

MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC

The Empire State Building

350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4740

New York, NY 10118

United States of America

[email protected]

Tel: (212) 971-1341

Attorney Advertising. (C) 2024 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC (www.monteverdelaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

SOURCE Monteverde & Associates PC
NEW YORK, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global shot peening machines market size is estimated to grow by USD 39.6 million from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of almost 1.96% during the forecast period. Need for superior-quality products is driving market growth, with a trend towards adoption of robotic peening machines in construction and maintenance activities. However, second-hand, refurbished machines gaining popularity poses a challenge. Key market players include AGTOS GmbH, C.M. Surface Treatment Spa, Empire Abrasive Equipment, Engineered Abrasives Inc., Guyson International Ltd., Innovative Peening Systems, Kushal Udhyog, Norican Group, Pangborn LLC, Peening Technologies Equipment Co., Progressive Surface Inc., Rosler Oberflachentechnik GmbH, Shockform Aeronautique Inc., SIAPRO doo, SINTOKOGIO LTD., SONATS, Superior Shot Preening and Coatings International, Surface Blasting Systems LLC, Surface International, and TOYO SEIKO Co. Ltd..

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global shot peening machines market 2024-2028

Get a detailed analysis on regions, market segments, customer landscape, and companies- View the snapshot of this report

Shot Peening Machines Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2018 - 2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 1.96% Market growth 2024-2028 USD 39.6 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 1.9 Regional analysis APAC, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution APAC at 47% Key countries China, US, India, Germany, and South Korea Key companies profiled AGTOS GmbH, C.M. Surface Treatment Spa, Empire Abrasive Equipment, Engineered Abrasives Inc., Guyson International Ltd., Innovative Peening Systems, Kushal Udhyog, Norican Group, Pangborn LLC, Peening Technologies Equipment Co., Progressive Surface Inc., Rosler Oberflachentechnik GmbH, Shockform Aeronautique Inc., SIAPRO doo, SINTOKOGIO LTD., SONATS, Superior Shot Preening and Coatings International, Surface Blasting Systems LLC, Surface International, and TOYO SEIKO Co. Ltd.

Market Driver

Robotic shot peening machines are a valuable investment in modern manufacturing and construction industries. These machines offer increased efficiency and precision, minimizing human intervention. Operators place the robot in the work area, allowing it to create a virtual map for peening operations. Despite high construction costs, these machines are expected to replace manual equipment, reducing construction time and mitigating hazards.

The shot peening machines market is experiencing significant growth due to increasing demand for components with improved surface finish and fatigue resistance. Corrosion resistant and lightweight materials are gaining popularity in various industries, leading to an increase in the usage of shot peening processes. The market is witnessing advancements in technology, with the integration of automation and computerized control systems. Precision and consistency are key factors driving the market, as these machines provide uniform peening and improve the overall performance of components. Additionally, the market is witnessing a trend towards larger capacity machines, as they offer increased productivity and cost savings. The future looks bright for shot peening machines, with continued innovation and demand expected in the coming years.

Research report provides comprehensive data on impact of trend. For more details- Download a Sample Report

Market Challenges

 The second-hand shot peening machines market is expanding due to the increased availability of used equipment from closed manufacturing industries in the US and Europe. Asian manufacturers, particularly in China, India, and Vietnam, are eager to purchase these refurbished machines at low prices. This trend poses a challenge for new equipment manufacturers, as demand for new machines may decrease due to the affordability of second-hand options. European manufacturers are increasingly looking to China as a destination for selling their used shot peening machines.

 The Shot Peening Machines market faces several challenges. These include the need for high precision and consistency in the shot peening process. The use of various materials and components in the machines requires adaptability and versatility. Additionally, ensuring the safety and maintenance of these machines is crucial. The process involves high pressure and abrasive media, which can cause wear and tear. Furthermore, the cost of these machines and the energy consumption during operation are significant factors. Lastly, ensuring the quality and uniformity of the shot peening process is essential to meet customer requirements.

For more insights on driver and challenges - Request a sample report!

Segment Overview

This shot peening machines market report extensively covers market segmentation by

Type

1.1 Manual

1.2 Automatic

End-user

2.1 Manufacturing

2.2 Construction

2.3 Energy

Geography

3.1 APAC

3.2 North America

3.3 Europe

3.4 Middle East and Africa

and 3.5 South America



1.1 Manual- The construction sector's expansion, driven by industrialization, urbanization, and infrastructure investment, fuels the demand for manual shot peening machines. Major producers focus on new product development and technological advancements through strategic alliances. The growing manufacturing and construction industries offer lucrative opportunities for shot peening machine manufacturers during the forecast period.

For more information on market segmentation with geographical analysis including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2017-2021) - Download a Sample Report

Research Analysis

The Shot Peening Machines Market encompasses the production and sale of equipment utilized in the cold working process of various materials, including metals and composites. These machines apply plastic deformation to round metallic components through the impact of spherical media, such as glass or ceramic particles. The resulting surface properties exhibit increased resistance to compressive stresses, enhancing the materials' mechanical properties and reducing noise in modern motorcycles and high-performance applications. Customization is a significant trend in this market, catering to motorcycle enthusiasts and various industries, including energy and construction. Automation and adherence to quality standards are crucial factors in the manufacturing process to mitigate corrosion and prevent stress corrosion cracking.

Market Research Overview

The Shot Peening Machines market refers to the industry that produces and supplies equipment used for the shot peening process. This process involves blasting the surface of materials with small metal shots to improve their mechanical properties, such as fatigue resistance and hardness. Shot peening machines come in various types, including rotary wheel machines, vibratory barrel machines, and pneumatic cabinets. These machines are used in numerous industries, including aerospace, automotive, and oil and gas, to enhance the performance and durability of components. The market for shot peening machines is driven by the increasing demand for high-performance materials and components in various sectors. Additionally, advancements in technology have led to the development of more efficient and cost-effective shot peening machines, further fueling market growth.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

Type

Manual



Automatic

End-user

Manufacturing



Construction



Energy

Geography

APAC



North America



Europe



Middle East And Africa



South America



7 Customer Landscape

8 Geographic Landscape

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10 Company Landscape

11 Company Analysis

12 Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
The global interactive technology provider is championing accessibility and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) with new research, and a newly launched Inclusive Classroom Bundle, both aimed at providing all students with opportunities to engage in learning.

DENVER, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- It is estimated that 15 to 20% of the world's population is neurodiverse, including individuals with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and dyscalculia. Traditional classroom settings often fail to accommodate the unique needs of neurodiverse students, contributing to significant gaps in academic achievement and social inclusion.

SMART Launches New Inclusion Solution and Global Research to Support Neurodiverse Learners

SMART is sponsoring research, in collaboration with the University of Melbourne, to learn from the lived experiences of students with autism and ADHD. The study, currently underway, seeks to demonstrate that technology that champions UDL principles, can help to eliminate barriers for neurodivergent students. The project engages neurodivergent learners to identify the tools that best support their academic and social needs, ensuring their voices are at the forefront of this initiative.

In an effort to foster inclusive learning environments, SMART Technologies is delighted to announce the launch of the Inclusive Classroom Bundle, a comprehensive solution designed to support all learners and their diverse needs. This innovative Edtech bundle will be showcased for the first time at ISTE 2024.

The Inclusive Classroom Bundle includes:

A SMART Board RX Series: The most advanced interactive display designed to enhance learning and engage students, options include multi-colored stylus, embedded experience to engage students and save teachers time, unique student device integration and security. With the Inclusive Classroom Bundle, customers also receive SMART Assure Warranty for 7 years.





The most advanced interactive display designed to enhance learning and engage students, options include multi-colored stylus, embedded experience to engage students and save teachers time, unique student device integration and security. With the Inclusive Classroom Bundle, customers also receive SMART Assure Warranty for 7 years. Customizable Tool Explorer Stamps: Versatile stamps can be tailored to imprint words, images, AAC symbols, and more onto the interactive display. The benefit of the stamps blends the digital and physical world to allow students to interact with content like never before for a more immersive and participative learning journey.





Versatile stamps can be tailored to imprint words, images, AAC symbols, and more onto the interactive display. The benefit of the stamps blends the digital and physical world to allow students to interact with content like never before for a more immersive and participative learning journey. Lumio Spark Plan Subscription: The engaging web-based tool that provides multimodal learning experiences, supporting various learning preferences and styles.





The engaging web-based tool that provides multimodal learning experiences, supporting various learning preferences and styles. Optional height adjustable stand: Delivers interactive learning to the student's level. SMART stands are fully UL-listed for robust standards for safety and stability you can rely on.

These tools collectively enable students to engage and participate in learning activities without relying solely on spoken or written language. With features from student pacing to instructional audio, the Inclusive Classroom Bundle offers diverse methods for students to interact with educational content.

SMART will showcase the Inclusive Classroom Bundle at ISTE 2024, inviting educators, administrators, and technology enthusiasts to experience firsthand how these tools can transform the learning environment. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the features of the RX Series Interactive Display, experiment with Tool Explorer stamps, and discover the capabilities of Lumio software.

The two lead researchers from the University of Melbourne, Dr. Matt Harrison and Jess Rowlings, are joining SMART at ISTE for an in-booth session on Monday, June 24th at 2:00 pm. The presenters will share early insights from the lived experiences of students with autism and ADHD and actionable insights into the types of classroom technology that helps all students succeed.

For more information on the Inclusive Classroom Bundle, visit www.smarttech.com .

About SMART Technologies

SMART Technologies is a pioneering force in the development of interactive technology solutions. Renowned for SMART Board interactive displays and comprehensive software offerings, the company is dedicated to creating engaging and collaborative learning and working environments, creating connections that matter for users globally since 1987. With a focus on quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, SMART Technologies continues to drive advancements in education and business technology worldwide.

To learn more, visit www.smarttech.com .

Media Contact

Olivia Gracey

[email protected]

SOURCE SMART Technologies
WASHINGTON, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Students from Louisiana, New Mexico, and Texas will have an opportunity to hear from a NASA astronaut aboard the International Space Station.

The 20-minute Earth-to-space call will stream live at 9:10 a.m. EDT, Wednesday, June 26, on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency's website. Learn how to stream NASA TV through a variety of platforms including social media.

(April 8, 2024) NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps uses a camera in the International Space Stations cupola to take photographs of the Moons shadow umbra as a total solar eclipse moves across Earths surface during Expedition 71. Credits: NASA/Matthew Dominick

NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps will answer prerecorded questions from students of the South Central Region of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. In preparation for the event, the students participated in an interactive learning experience about aviation and aerospace.

Media interested in covering the event must RSVP no later than 5 p.m., Monday, June 24, by contacting Brittany Francis at [email protected] or 713-757-2586.

For more than 23 years, astronauts have continuously lived and worked aboard the space station, testing technologies, performing science, and developing skills needed to explore farther from Earth. Astronauts aboard the orbiting laboratory communicate with NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston 24 hours a day through the SCaN (Space Communications and Navigation) Near Space Network.

Important research and technology investigations taking place aboard the International Space Station benefit people on Earth and lays the groundwork for other agency missions. As part of NASA's Artemis campaign, the agency will send astronauts to the Moon to prepare for future human exploration of Mars; inspiring Artemis Generation explorers and ensuring the United States will continue to lead in space exploration and discovery.

See videos and lesson plans highlighting space station research at:

https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation

SOURCE NASA
JERSEY CITY, N.J., June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- InsightAce Analytic Pvt. Ltd. announces the release of a market assessment report on the "Targeted Protein Degradation Market"- Distribution by Type of Degrader (SERD, PROTAC and Molecular Glue), Target Indication (Breast Cancer and Multiple Myeloma), Industry Trends, and Global Forecasts, 2024-2031 And Segment Revenue and Forecast To 2031."

The Targeted Protein Degradation Market is estimated to reach over USD 2.65 Bn by 2031, exhibiting a CAGR of 26.3% during the forecast period.

Targeted protein degradation (TPD) seeks to completely remove specific proteins from the cell, rather than merely inhibiting their activity. This approach can potentially provide more effective and sustained treatment outcomes for various diseases by thoroughly eliminating disease-causing proteins. By leveraging the cell's natural degradation pathways, TPD can address issues that traditional therapies cannot, such as drug resistance and incomplete inhibition. Consequently, this innovative strategy holds significant promise for advancing the treatment of conditions like cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and infectious diseases, offering new hope for patients with previously intractable conditions.

Targeted protein degradation (TPD) seeks to completely remove specific proteins from the cell, rather than merely inhibiting their activity. This approach can potentially provide more effective and sustained treatment outcomes for various diseases by thoroughly eliminating disease-causing proteins. By leveraging the cell's natural degradation pathways, TPD can address issues that traditional therapies cannot, such as drug resistance and incomplete inhibition. Improved techniques in drug delivery, high-throughput screening, and protein engineering are enhancing the efficacy and specificity of TPD therapies.

Download Free Sample and ToC of the Report: https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/request-sample/2530

List of Prominent Players in the Targeted Protein Degradation Market:

Arvinas

Bristol- Myers Squibb

C4 Therapeutics

Loxo Oncology

Olema Oncology

Radius Health

AstraZeneca

Roche

BeiGene

InnoCare Pharma

Kangpu Biopharmaceuticals

Kintor Pharmaceuticals

Medivir

Monte Rosa Therapeutics

Ranok Therapeutics

Sanofi

Zentalis Pharmaceuticals

Eisai Therapeutics

Targeted Protein Degradation Market Report Scope:

Report Attribute Specifications Market Size Value In 2023 USD 0.42 Bn Revenue Forecast In 2031 USD 2.65 Bn Growth Rate CAGR CAGR of 26.3% from 2024 to 2031 Quantitative Units Representation of revenue in US$ Bn and CAGR from 2024 to 2031 Historic Year 2019 to 2023 Forecast Year 2024-2031 Report Coverage The forecast of revenue, the position of the company, the competitive market structure, growth prospects, and trends Segments Covered By Distribution by Type of Degrader, Target Indication Regional Scope North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; Middle East & Africa Country Scope U.S.; Canada; U.K.; Germany; China; India; Japan; Brazil; Mexico; The UK; France; Italy; Spain; China; Japan; India; South Korea; Southeast Asia; South Korea; South East Asia

Order 180 Pages Full Report @ https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/buy-report/2530

Market Dynamics:

Drivers:

The promising potential of TPD to transform disease treatment is attracting significant interest and investment from venture capitalists and pharmaceutical companies. Positive outcomes from ongoing research and clinical trials are boosting confidence in TPD therapies, accelerating their development. Additionally, partnerships between pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, and academic institutions are fostering innovation and expanding the reach of TPD research and applications. The global increase in diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders is creating a demand for innovative therapies, making TPD a valuable approach.

Challenges:

Developing PROTACs and other TPD molecules is technically complex, requiring precise design to ensure efficacy and selectivity. Potential off-target effects and toxicity are significant concerns, necessitating thorough evaluation in preclinical and clinical trials. Additionally, high research and development costs, along with the need for extensive clinical trials, can be prohibitive for some companies.

Regional Trends:

There's a growing focus on personalized medicine in North America, with an emphasis on developing targeted therapies for specific patient populations. TPD aligns well with this trend, offering the potential for more precise and effective treatments. The region boasts a well-established and well-funded pharmaceutical industry with a strong track record of innovation in drug discovery. These companies have the resources and expertise to invest heavily in TPD research and development, propelling the market forward.

Curious about this latest version of the report? @ https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/enquiry-before-buying/2530

Recent Developments:

In April 2024 , Arvinas, Inc., announced that it has signed a strategic license agreement with Novartis for the global development and commercialization of ARV-766, Arvinas' second-generation PROTAC androgen receptor (AR) degrader for patients with prostate cancer. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a new class of drugs based on targeted protein degradation. An asset purchase agreement for the sale of Arvinas' preclinical AR-V7 program to Novartis is also a part of the transaction.

, Arvinas, Inc., announced that it has signed a strategic license agreement with Novartis for the global development and commercialization of ARV-766, Arvinas' second-generation PROTAC androgen receptor (AR) degrader for patients with prostate cancer. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a new class of drugs based on targeted protein degradation. An asset purchase agreement for the sale of Arvinas' preclinical AR-V7 program to Novartis is also a part of the transaction. In September 2023 , Bristol Myers Squibb is hosting a Research and Development (R&D) Day in New York to discuss the company's R&D capabilities and strategy and provide information about its strong pipeline that supports sustainable long-term growth. The company's leadership team will also showcase its improved R&D framework and unique research platforms, which are anticipated to provide exceptional productivity that produces top-notch early-stage candidates and noticeably shortens R&D timelines.

Segmentation of Targeted Protein Degradation Market.

By Type of Degrader

SERD

PROTAC

Molecular Glue

By Target Indication

Breast Cancer

Multiple Myeloma

By Region

North America-

The US

Canada

Mexico

Europe-

Germany

The UK

France

Italy

Spain

Rest of Europe

Asia-Pacific-

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Southeast Asia

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America-

Brazil

Argentina

Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa-

GCC Countries

South Africa

Rest of the Middle East and Africa

For More Customization @ https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/customisation/2530

Why should buy this report:

To receive a comprehensive analysis of the prospects for global Targeted Protein Degradation market

To receive industry overview and future trends of global Targeted Protein Degradation market

To analyze the Targeted Protein Degradation market drivers and challenges

To get information on the Targeted Protein Degradation market size value (US$ Mn) forecast till 2031

Major Investments, Mergers & Acquisition in global Targeted Protein Degradation industry

Other Related Reports Published by InsightAce Analytic:

SERD Therapeutics Market

Molecular Glue Degrader Market

Protein Design and Engineering Market

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About Us:

InsightAce Analytic is a market research and consulting firm that enables clients to make strategic decisions. Our qualitative and quantitative market intelligence solutions inform the need for market and competitive intelligence to expand businesses. We help clients gain competitive advantage by identifying untapped markets, exploring new and competing technologies, segmenting potential markets and repositioning products. Our expertise is in providing syndicated and custom market intelligence reports with an in-depth analysis with key market insights in a timely and cost-effective manner.

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SOURCE InsightAce Analytic Pvt. Ltd
Early Childhood Education Company Selected Based on Survey of Workplace Culture for Third Time

BETHESDA, Md., June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Teaching Strategies, the country's leading developer of early childhood curriculum, assessment, professional learning, and family engagement solutions, today announced it is one of The Washington Post's 2024 Top Workplaces in the Washington, D.C. area. This marks the third time the company has earned a spot on the annual list in recent years.

"Teaching Strategies is proud to again be recognized among the top workplaces in the Washington area," said Teaching Strategies CEO John Olsen. "Just as we strive to equip early childhood educators with resources and support for professional growth, we are committed to doing the same for our hardworking, dedicated employees. We aim to foster a collaborative and exciting work environment that promotes individualand in turn, company widesuccess."

The annual Top Workplaces list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage LLC. The confidential survey uniquely measures the employee experience and its component themes, including employees feeling respected and supported, enabled to grow, and empowered to execute, to name a few.

"Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies, especially because it comes authentically from their employees," said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. "That's something to be proud of. In today's market, leaders must ensure they're allowing employees to have a voice and be heard. That's paramount. Top Workplaces do this, and it pays dividends."

For more about The Washington Post's Top Workplaces and to see the full list of this year's honorees, click here .

ABOUT TEACHING STRATEGIES

Driven by research that shows a child's first eight years form a critical foundation for success in school and in life, Teaching Strategies has been an advocate for the early education community for 45 years. Today, Teaching Strategies connects teachers, children and families to inspired teaching and learning experiences, informative data, stronger family partnerships, and professional learning through the leading early learning platform. Its products, including the most widely-used curriculum and assessment solutions The Creative Curriculum and GOLD, are found in over 270,000 classrooms and more than 80 countries around the world and reach over 4 million children each year. To learn why thousands of early childhood programs and many states and countries choose to partner with Teaching Strategies to help ensure children's success in school and in life, visit www.teachingstrategies.com.

ABOUT ENERGAGE

Energage is a purpose-driven company that helps organizations turn employee feedback into useful business intelligence and credible employer recognition through Top Workplaces. Built on 18 years of culture research and the results from 27 million employees surveyed across more than 70,000 organizations, Energage delivers the most accurate competitive benchmark available. With access to a unique combination of patented analytic tools and expert guidance, Energage customers lead the competition with an engaged workforce and an opportunity to gain recognition for their people-first approach to culture. For more information or to nominate your organization, visit energage.com or topworkplaces.com.

SOURCE Teaching Strategies
"Revolutionizing Healthcare Horizons: Delving Deep into Advanced Drug Delivery Systems (ADDS) and Forecasting an Explosive $359.1 Billion Market Growth by 2028, BCC Research Study"

BOSTON, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Demand for effective solutions has never been so urgent to prevent global chronic diseases. An additional drug transport system (ADD) is an important breakthrough and promotion from cutting by innovation in material science. The report extensively explores additives and in-depth research on their technical complexity, various vehicles/operators, comprehensive applications, and key market development. It is a valuable resource that is not only suitable for establishing the unit but also for new immigrants who seek to browse this dynamic landscape. At the same time, the global ADDS market is experiencing unprecedented growth driven by pioneers in medical innovation. These industry leaders are not only reshaping the pharmaceutical landscape but are also fundamentally changing patient care around the world.

Here are the top 10 companies driving the Global Markets and Technologies for Advanced Drug Delivery Systems:

Abbott: Abbott is a multinational healthcare company that develops and manufactures medical devices, diagnostics, and pharmaceuticals. They play a significant role in the ADDS market by creating innovative drug delivery technologies.



AbbVie Inc.: AbbVie focuses on research and development in areas such as immunology, oncology, and neuroscience. Their contributions to drug delivery systems enhance patient outcomes and treatment efficacy.



BD (Becton, Dickinson, and Company): BD specializes in medical technology, including devices for drug delivery, diagnostics, and research. They play a crucial role in healthcare by providing tools for safe injections and diagnostics.



Boston Scientific Corp.: This company designs and manufactures medical devices, particularly in the fields of cardiology, endoscopy, and urology. Their innovations help improve patient outcomes.



Medtronic: A leader in medical technology, Medtronic develops devices for cardiac and vascular health, diabetes management, and neurological conditions. Their pacemakers, insulin pumps, and spinal implants are widely used.



Merck & Co. Inc.: Merck is a pharmaceutical giant, known for vaccines, cancer drugs, and antiviral medications. They contribute significantly to global health through research and development.



Novartis AG: Novartis focuses on pharmaceuticals, eye care, and generics. They are involved in groundbreaking research, including gene therapies and cancer treatments.



Pfizer Inc.: Pfizer is a major player in vaccines, oncology, and rare diseases. They've made headlines with their COVID-19 vaccine and continue to innovate in various therapeutic areas.



Sanofi: Sanofi is a multinational pharmaceutical company with a diverse portfolio, including vaccines, diabetes treatments, and rare disease therapies. They prioritize patient well-being and global health.



Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.: Teva is a leading generic drug manufacturer, providing affordable alternatives to brand-name medications. They contribute to accessible healthcare worldwide.

These companies are exemplars of excellence in research, development, and patient-centric solutions, positioning them as key players in shaping the future of healthcare. As the market expands, their contributions will continue to drive innovation and improve patient outcomes, setting high standards for the industry.

Click here for a to access a sample report on "Global Markets and Technologies for Advanced Drug Delivery Systems."

For further information or to make a purchase, please get in touch with [email protected].

About BCC Research

BCC Research provides objective, unbiased measurement and assessment of market opportunities with detailed market research reports. Our experienced industry analysts' goal is to help you make informed business decisions, free of noise and hype.

Contact Us

Corporate HQ: 50 Milk St. Ste 16, Boston, MA 02109, USA

Email: [email protected],

Phone: +1 781-489-7301

For media inquiries, email [email protected] or visit our media page for access to our market research library.

Data and analysis extracted from this press release must be accompanied by a statement identifying BCC Research LLC as the source and publisher.

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SOURCE BCC Research LLC
MUNICH, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- From June 19-21, EES Europe 2024 was held at the New International Expo Center in Munich, Germany. TOPBAND made a standout appearance at this industry-leading exhibition, showcasing its comprehensive energy storage solutions for scenarios such as commercial and industrial energy storage, residential energy storage, backup energy storage, and portable energy storage, which fully demonstrated TOPBAND's ability to integrate and use its comprehensive technology system of "Four Electrics and One Network" (Electric Control, Motor, Battery, Power and IoT Platform) to empower the new energy industry.

TOPBAND's core commitment "technology has value" was evident in its comprehensive suite of products and solutions. As an innovation leader in the new energy industry, TOPBAND provides customers with comprehensive services from components, end products to system solutions using its independent and controllable "1Cell 1Cloud 3S" (Cell, Cloud Platform, BMS, PCS, EMS) core technologies. In this exhibition, TOPBAND brought the new comprehensive energy storage solutions for commercial/individual, residential, factories, highway service areas, and other application scenarios, perfectly matching the diverse needs of customers in different energy storage application scenarios. The highlights of TOPBAND's showcase included: High voltage smart lithium battery BMS, Portable energy storage 3600W, T-Premium 12100, Residential energy storage RS-RH Series and Three phase hybrid inverter are highly welcomed and praised by on-site customers. In particular, TOPBAND unveiled its innovative high-voltage residential energy storage BMS solutions and balcony micro-energy storage systems, addressing current challenges in the European market.

TOPBAND's steadfast "partnership" philosophy constantly seeks cooperation and development with industry partners. During the exhibition, TOPBAND reached strategic cooperation with a new energy customer, taking a further key step in the layout of the European market. Previously, in June 2023, the Romanian factory of TOPBAND in Europe has achieved successful mass production. This enhances TOPBAND's agility in delivery capability, and is beneficial for TOPBAND to integrate its internal advantageous resources and external customer resources to achieve win-win results. Through the strategic cooperation in this exhibition, TOPBAND will further expand the European market and continue to strengthen the global layout strategy.

The comprehensive energy storage solutions brought by TOPBAND at this exhibition, significantly showcase its innovative achievements by deeply cultivating the new energy industry for many years, which can empower a variety of new energy storage scenarios. This reflects the unique advantages TOPBAND has gained through continuous technological breakthroughs. At the same time, TOPBAND is accelerating the pace of its globalization layout. At the same time, with the "customer-centric" belief, TOPBAND is actively building a global service system that can quickly respond to customer needs and achieve agile delivery.

Moving forward, TOPBAND will continue to uphold its core value of "Agility  Innovation  Partnership", driving further advancements in energy storage technology. By collaborating with global customers and industry partners, TOPBAND aims to actively contribute to the global carbon reduction process, creating a more intelligent and low-carbon future for all.

CONTACT:

TOPBAND Marketing Team

[email protected]

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Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2443664/TOPBAND_Logo.jpg
CHICAGO and HONG KONG, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Trading Technologies International, Inc. (TT), a global capital markets technology platform provider, announced that its TT platform won the award for Best Algo Trading Solution in the WatersTechnology Asia Awards 2024. The winners were announced yesterday at an awards ceremony and reception in Hong Kong.

This marks the firm's third award this year for excellence in its TT platform, which handled 2.2 billion transactions in 2023. TT won the award for Best Listed Derivatives Trading Solution both this month at the TradingTech Insight USA Awards 2024 and in March at the TradingTech Insight Europe Awards. Last year, Trading Technologies won the Waters Rankings Award for Best Algorithmic Trading Provider, and the TT platform was named Derivatives Trading System of the Year at both the FOW Asia Capital Markets Awards and the FOW International Awards.

TT's high-volume platform connects to more than 100 global exchanges, including approximately 20 exchanges and venues across multiple asset classes in the Asia-Pacific region. In April, the firm introduced TT Splicer, a new TT Premium Order Type execution algos that provides industry-first functionality for synthetic multi-leg spread trading and the ability to minimize slippage and optimize trade execution. With a comprehensive suite of advanced execution algorithms, algorithmic design and deployment tools, Autospreader and APIs, TT provides a broad range of automated trading capabilities in listed derivatives, equities, fixed income and foreign exchange (FX).

TT CEO Keith Todd said: "We've significantly enhanced our algo execution suite over the past year. We created the TT Quantitative Trading Solution (QTS) business line to leverage the expertise and technology of acquired businesses and address the complex needs of our growing client base, including in Asia. We are honored to earn this recognition for our algo trading solution  designed by and for traders  and hold ourselves to the highest standards in the sophistication and range of tools and quality of service."

Joe Signorelli, TT's EVP Managing Director, QTS, said: "We are thrilled to earn this recognition in the Asia-Pacific region for our unique algo offering, as we continue to build on our strong foundation and grow both in the range of sophisticated capabilities we offer and the number of asset classes we serve. Traders and institutions in the region are particularly excited about the breadth of our offering and the new functionality we've been introducing."

The new QTS business line draws from a team of experts in data science and analytics, trading, risk management, coding and development in multiple asset classes.

The WatersTechnology Asia Awards recognize excellence and innovation in the deployment and management of financial information and technology within Asia's capital markets community. WatersTechnology officials said that the awards this year were extremely competitive, with the largest number of entries in the history of its Asia awards program, representing a 20% increase compared to 2023.

About Trading Technologies

Trading Technologies ( www.tradingtechnologies.com ) is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) technology platform provider to the global capital markets industry. The company's award-winning TT platform connects to the world's major international exchanges and liquidity venues in listed derivatives alongside a growing number of asset classes, including fixed income, foreign exchange (FX) and cryptocurrencies. The TT platform delivers advanced tools for trade execution and order management, market data solutions, analytics, trade surveillance, risk management, clearing, post-trade allocation and infrastructure services to the world's leading sell-side institutions, buy-side firms and exchanges. The company's blue-chip client base includes the Tier 1 banks as well as brokers, money managers, hedge funds, proprietary traders, Commodity Trading Advisors (CTAs), commercial hedgers and risk managers. These firms rely on the TT ecosystem to manage their end-to-end trading operations. In addition, exchanges utilize TT's technology to deliver innovative solutions to their market participants. TT also strategically partners with technology companies to make their complementary offerings available to Trading Technologies' global client base through the TT ecosystem.

SOURCE Trading Technologies
RENO, Nev., June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- UroToday is excited to announce that E. David Crawford, MD, has joined UroToday as the Editor-in-Chief. Dr. Crawford is currently Professor of Urology and the Jack A. Vickers Director of Prostate Research at the University of California San Diego. He is also an emeritus distinguished endowed Professor of Surgery, Urology, and Radiation Oncology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colorado.

Pictured above: Dr. E. David Crawford

Dr. Crawford received his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati. His postgraduate training included an internship and residency in urology at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, followed by a genitourinary cancer fellowship at the University of California Medical Center in Los Angeles. An internationally recognized expert in benign prostate hypertrophy and urologic cancers, particularly prostate cancer, Dr. Crawford has authored or coauthored over 810 scientific articles, published seven textbooks, authored over 60 book chapters, and delivered more than 2,200 educational talks for patients and physicians.

In 1989, to raise public awareness about prostate health, Dr. Crawford founded the Prostate Conditions Education Council (PCEC). He is an active member of numerous national and international organizations, including the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), American Urological Association (AUA), the Royal Society of Medicine, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Dr. Crawford has served on the AUA Committee to Study Urologic Research Funding and the prostate cancer clinical trials subcommittee. He has also been a member of the board of governors and the scientific advisory board of the Southwest Oncology Group and chaired the Genitourinary Cancer Committee for 27 years.

"I have observed the phenomenal success of UroToday for the past two decades under the leadership of Gina Carithers and her team and I am fortunate to have this extraordinary opportunity to contribute."  Dave Crawford, MD

Dr. Crawford's contributions to the field have been widely recognized. He has won two 'Freddie Awards' for best medical videos, was named Healthcare Provider of the Year by the Denver Business Journal, and is among Men's Health Magazine's top 20 urologists for men. Expertscape ranks him in the top 0.02% of authors on prostate neoplasms from 2010-2024 for his impactful and high-quality scholarly work. He has also received the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year award from the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine (2018), the AUA Presidential Citation (2019), and was named Distinguished Member of the Year by the Western Section of the AUA (2024).

"Having Dr. Crawford join UroToday as Editor-in-Chief is an extraordinary milestone for us. His vast experience and pioneering contributions in the field of urology will immensely enhance our mission to provide unparalleled educational resources to the global medical community. We are thrilled to welcome him to our team and look forward to the innovative insights he will bring."  Gina Carithers, CEO of UroToday

With Dr. Crawford's appointment as Editor-in-Chief, UroToday stands to benefit immensely from his decades of experience and pioneering work in urologic oncology. This collaboration signifies a powerful union of knowledge and innovation in the GU oncology educational space, enhancing and delivering superior content for clinicians, researchers, and patients. By advancing the field through comprehensive research and expert insights, UroToday is poised to provide unparalleled educational resources and support to the medical community, ultimately improving patient care.

About UroToday:

UroToday is a leading global resource for urology news and education. UroToday reaches over 500,000 urologists and healthcare professionals worldwide and provides them with access to the latest news, research, and clinical practice guidelines. UroToday is also a leading provider of patient education, and its website is visited by over 1 million patients and caregivers each year.

Learn more about UroToday here: http://www.urotoday.com

SOURCE Digital Science Press
WASHINGTON, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 18, Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR), a professional society for female communicators in the greater capital area, named its 2024 class of Emerging Leaders Awards (ELAs). The seven winners were selected from a diverse and impressive slate of rising stars, ages 25-35, who have excelled in public relations and related fields, and given back to the industry by contributing their skills and talents to innovative initiatives and projects.

"We continue to celebrate the remarkable achievements of young women who represent the next era of communications," said Chelsea Echavarria, President of WWPR. "Congratulations to the finalists and the honorees who were selected from another record number of nominations. We look forward to following their careers and supporting them along the way."

The 2024 WWPR Emerging Leaders Awards Winners are:

Corporate: Michelle Byamugisha, Senior Manager, Communications, PwC

Michelle Byamugisha is a leader with global experience in public relations and stakeholder engagement across multiple sectors. Currently, Michelle is a senior manager on PwC's communications team, with a focus on people communications and public affairs. When she's not coordinating internal employee engagement campaigns to a 75,000+ strong workforce or managing owned/earned content strategies, Michelle is engaged in social inclusion efforts both inside and outside the office.

Prior to PwC, Michelle was on the social impact team at Weber Shandwick where she helped purpose-driven clients tell their stories through an audience-centric approach to thought leadership. In Weber's DC office, Michelle served as chairperson of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and was also recognized as the 2020 employee of the year.

Trade Association: Jen Bristol, Senior Director of Communications, Solar Energy Industries Association

Jen Bristol is a strategic communications expert who has dedicated her career to supporting the U.S. solar and storage industry.

Currently, Jen leads the communications team at the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), where she supervises a team of communications professionals and orchestrates public affairs campaigns and announcements designed to expand the U.S. solar market.

Prior to joining SEIA, Jen was the deputy communications lead at the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office, where she provided communications support and led the office's awardee engagement efforts, editorial calendar, web presence, and special communications projects and events.

Non-Profit: Valeria Sabate, Senior Media and Public Affairs Manager, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Valeria Sabate is the Sr. Media & Public Affairs Manager at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). She drives organization-wide media and public affairs engagement, elevating AAAS' leadership/policy positions and news at the nexus between science and society while protecting its reputation through risk assessment and crisis communications preparedness.

Valeria has many years of experience in media relations, public relations and crisis communications in health care, public health, publishing and science associations.

Before joining AAAS, Valeria was the Sr. Communications Specialist, Research & Innovation at the Children's National Hospital (CNH).

Small/Boutique Agency: Erin Berst, Vice President, CURA Strategies

Erin Berst serves as a vice president at CURA Strategies, where she develops and manages integrated communications campaigns for organizations that span the healthcare industry.

From helping patients address the emotional grief of cancer with new interventions to educating urologists on the latest precision medicine tools, Erin keeps the purpose of her work front and center: helping people live stronger, better, healthier lives. Although Erin is experienced across communications disciplines, she is particularly passionate about writing and has earned a reputation for being tenacious about securing media coverage for her clients.

Erin regularly provides strategic counsel and daily coordination for her clients and is known for her cheerfully persistent approach to project management. Recently, Erin led a collaborative effort to create Mobilize Recovery Day of Service, a campaign to help break down stigmas around recovery during National Recovery Month.

Mid-Size Agency: Jenny Wang, Senior Vice President, Susan Davis International

Jenny Wang is an agile and dynamic communications expert who has helped companies and organizations in the healthcare, technology, nonprofit and energy sectors gain greater recognition in the media, bolster thought leadership, navigate DE&I issues, and mitigate crises. With more than a decade of experience in strategic communications, she is a recognized leader in the PR industry (honored by PRWeek, PRNEWS, Ragan, and the Diversity Action Alliance).

Before joining SDI, Jenny was a Senior Vice President at CLYDE, where she worked with clients in the healthcare and DEI spaces, including leading and helping grow the firm's largest account (driving patient advocacy and health equity for a Fortune 150 pharma company).

Large/Global Agency: McKenzie Wax, Vice President, Weber Shandwick

Captivated by trends and driven by numbers, McKenzie seamlessly marries brand messages with the pulse of today's internet culture.

With over a decade of experience, McKenzie has driven social and influencer campaigns that make global brands pop in an oversaturated digital world. She's a wizard at cultivating engaged online communities and turning casual scrollers into die-hard brand enthusiasts.

At Weber Shandwick's Social Media, Emerging Platforms, and Influencer practice in Washington, DC, McKenzie guides a spectrum of clientsfrom Fortune 100 giants to fresh, emerging brandsthrough the maze of modern digital strategies. Her expertise spans paid and organic social media, employee advocacy, executive visibility, and integrated campaign planning, both for B2C and B2B.

Government: Jennifer Min, Director of Digital Media, U.S. Department of Defense

Jennifer Min currently serves as the Director of Digital Media for the Department of Defense, where she develops digital communication strategies for the DoD and coordinates messaging with the Armed Services and Combatant Commands. Previously, Jennifer served as the Special Assistant to the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs. In this role, she assists the Pentagon Press Secretary and Deputy Press Secretary in their efforts to advise the Secretary of Defense on public communications. Prior to joining the Biden-Harris Administration, Jennifer was press secretary for retired U.S. Representative Brenda L. Lawrence (MI-14).

The 2024 judges included:

Susan Apgood , 4media Group; WWPR Advisory Board Member

, 4media Group; WWPR Advisory Board Member Sukhi Sahni , Wells Fargo; WWPR Advisory Board Member

, Wells Fargo; WWPR Advisory Board Member Hillarie Turner , SpireCommunications; WWPR Advisory Board Member

, SpireCommunications; WWPR Advisory Board Member Elynsey Price , Marriott International; WWPR Past President

, Marriott International; WWPR Past President Zorie Valchev , AstraZeneca; WWPR Past President

, AstraZeneca; WWPR Past President Chelsea Echavarria , The Curley Company; WWPR President

, The Curley Company; WWPR President Colleen Gallagher , OnWrd & UpWrd; WWPR Vice-President

The ELA winners were announced at a special awards reception on The Wharf on June 18, 2024. Kirstin Garriss, award-winning journalist and Washington D.C. Correspondent for Cox Media Group gave the keynote. Attendees also supported WWPR's pro bono client, Running Start. The complete list of 2023 WWPR Emerging Leaders Awards finalists can be found here: Washington Women in Public Relations Announces 2024 Emerging Leaders Finalists (wwpr.org) .

Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR) is a member-based professional society cultivating and inspiring female communicators to reach their full potential in the DC market and beyond. The organization is committed to providing leadership opportunities, professional development, mentorship, and industry networking. Visit us at wwpr.org connect with us on LinkedIn and Facebook, and follow us on Twitter @WWPR and on Instagram @WWPRDC.

CONTACT:

Ranata Reeder and Charmaine Riley

WWPR Emerging Leaders Awards Co-Chairs

[email protected]

SOURCE Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR)
Actress & Producer Rachel Ann Mullins joins activist Misti Rucks as keynote speakers for Women's Day of Action on June 24, 2024

GAINESVILLE, Fla., June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Women's March is pleased to announce a historical event on the 2nd anniversary of overturning Roe v. Wade, taking place at City Hall in Gainesville, FL at 9am EST.

Rachel Ann Mullins is a leading voice in the #Metoo movement, an international actress and award winning filmmaker. She is responsible for directing & producing the documentary, Shame On You with Tiffany Haddish on gender based violence, in addition to hosting over 150 episodes of the No Filter Friday podcast on Public House Media.

Rachel Ann Mullins- Speaker Host Misti Rucks (L), organizer Farideh Deiri (R)

Mullins writes, "A substantial piece of my career has been dedicated to utilizing my voice to champion survivors of violence and suppression. I'm overjoyed that my voice is going to be apart of this historical Women's Day of Action event. This is my first time publicly sharing the story of the violence I experienced in Gainesville nearly a year ago."

She will join host Misti Rucks, Instructional Designer at University of Florida IFAS as keynotes at Gainesville City Hall.

Rucks explained, "I felt called to join the national day of action on June 24th after having a hysterectomy that saved my life. The process of finding a doctor who would not only listen to me, but provide treatment options was difficult. I was slowly bleeding to death for three years and I had doctors tell me that 'nothing was wrong with me', even though the test results showed that I was anemic with hemoglobin well below the average needed to be a healthy human. I felt like a zombie because I was so low on blood. After the doctor shopping and injustice I faced, I am left in anger at how women are treated, and wanted to tell my story to the community."

The mission of Women's March is to harness the political power of diverse women and their communities to create transformative social change. Women's March is a women-led movement providing intersectional education on a diverse range of issues and creating entry points for new grassroots activists & organizers to engage in their local communities through trainings, outreach programs and events. Women's March is committed to dismantling systems of oppression through nonviolent resistance and building inclusive structures guided by self-determination, dignity and respect.

To learn more about Women's Day of Action visit, https://www.womensmarch.com

For press inquiries please contact:

Stylosity

213.313.9556

[email protected]

SOURCE Rachel Ann Mullins
YIWU, China, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- "Fridge magnets are not just decorations; they are proof that I've been to this lovely place, embodying my cherished memories". This sentiment, echoed by many online users, reflects the recent surge in popularity of fridge magnets.

The fridge magnets on Yiwugo.com.

Yiwugo.com, the official website of the Yiwu Commodity Market, is the largest commodity wholesale market in the world. Recent data from Yiwugo indicates a steady rise in the search volume for the keyword "fridge magnets" from March 1 to June 1, 2024, with the number of related orders rising by 228% compared to the previous year. Transaction volumes are also 1.78 times higher than last year. In light of this trend, Yiwugo reached out to two leading fridge magnet manufacturers to understand the current market dynamics. One of the business owners proudly claimed, "My fridge magnets are sold everywhere by the sea".

Chen Lili, the owner of Lifei Crafts, has been a leading fridge magnet manufacturer for about 15 years. She explained that her company specializes in creating ocean-themed fridge magnets using natural shells and wood. They offer a wide range of designs, featuring holiday themes and seaside motifs, mostly developed in collaboration with clients and sold exclusively through targeted channels. "My fridge magnets are sold in every coastal area you can name," she confidently stated.

Taking Hawaii as an example, Lifei Crafts exports millions of natural shell-decorated fridge magnets there every month. Remarkably, all these designs are personally created by Chen Lili and her husband, who co-owns the company. They actively engage with the market by gathering feedback from clients, leading to the annual release of hundreds of new designs.

Chen Lili's trust in the Yiwugo platform is largely due to the fact that all of her Maldives clients came through inquiries on Yiwugo. Each client's annual purchase volume ranges from tens to hundreds of thousands of yuan.

In addition to offering a diverse range of products, Lifei Crafts ensures that their fridge magnets maintain vibrant colors by using the industry's best wooden drip-coating machines. They invest significantly in machine maintenance each year to uphold their quality standards. Last year, the company imported new acrylic machines from Japan and is currently developing a series of acrylic products. Chen Lili believes that, after some time for new product creation and market acceptance, their acrylic fridge magnets will become mainstream by next year.

Similarly, Zhenghao Crafts, with 17 years in the industry, focuses on producing and selling resin and wooden fridge magnets. They specialize in designs featuring international landscapes, architecture, famous artworks, and Chinese city landmarks, as well as food-themed fridge magnets.

The owner, Zhao Qun, mentioned that, the company released over 100 new products in June. This year, they have seen a significant increase in clients from the Philippines, with resin and hand-painted ocean-themed fridge magnets being particularly popular. Orders for fridge magnets depicting various locations in the Philippines often exceed 100,000 units per location.

Zhao Qun noted that since 2023, the fridge magnet industry has experienced a significant boom. Realistic plastic fridge magnets shaped like lobsters, crabs, and sea turtles have become very popular in coastal areas like Egypt, Barcelona, Philippines, and Mexico, with monthly exports exceeding 300,000 units. Domestically, last year also saw strong demand, with "Guo Chao" (Chinese fashion) fridge magnets becoming a hot item in the domestic market. Even as late as the 28th day of the last lunar month, with logistics almost halted, the company was still shipping products to cities like Beijing and Harbin, where winter tourism was at its peak.

Currently, the popularity of fridge magnets continues to grow. Both Lifei Crafts and Zhenghao Crafts are actively releasing new products, including acrylic magnets and designs themed around different cities. So, the next time you buy a fridge magnet during your travels, it might just come from one of these Yiwu-based manufacturers.

SOURCE Yiwugo.com
Beirut, June 21 : Three people were killed and two civilians injured in Israeli air strikes targeting several areas in southern Lebanon, Lebanese military sources told the media.

The sources, who spoke anonymously, said on Thursday that an Israeli warplane fired six air-to-surface missiles at the southeast village of Khiam, killing a Hezbollah member and wounding two civilians, Xinhua news agency reported.

In a separate incident, an Israeli drone fired four air-to-surface missiles at a car in the Tyre district of southwest Lebanon, killing a Hezbollah official, Abbas Ibrahim Hamza Hamada, who was a commander in the western region of the border area.

The sources added that an Israeli drone raided a civilian car in the village of Houmine in the Nabatieh district, killing its driver, Hadi Jumaa, whose father was reportedly close to Hezbollah.

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on October 8, 2023, following a barrage of rockets launched by Hezbollah toward Israel in solidarity with Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7.

Israel then retaliated by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon.
United Nations, June 21 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for global efforts to protect the 43.4 million refugees across the globe in a video message on World Refugee Day.

"From Sudan to Ukraine, from the Middle East to Myanmar to Congo and beyond, conflict, climate chaos and upheaval are forcing record numbers of people from their homes and fueling profound human suffering," Guterres said on Thursday.

According to the latest figures, a total of more than 120 million people around the world are forcibly displaced, including 43.5 million refugees, Xinhua news agency reported.

World Refugee Day, celebrated annually on June 20, is about honouring their strength and courage, and stepping up efforts to protect and support refugees on every step of their journey, the UN Chief added.

Refugees need global solidarity and the ability to rebuild their lives in dignity, said Guterres, adding "When given the opportunity, refugees make significant contributions to their host communities, but they need access to equal opportunities and jobs, housing, and healthcare".

Noting that young refugees need quality education to achieve their dreams, he said that host countries -- mostly low- or middle-income countries -- need the support and resources to fully include refugees in societies and economies.

"Let us pledge to reaffirm the world's collective responsibility in assisting and welcoming refugees, in upholding their human rights, including the right to seek asylum, in safeguarding the integrity of the refugee protection regime, and ultimately, in resolving conflicts so that those forced from their communities can return home," the UN Chief concluded.

World Refugee Day, an international day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe, was set for the first time on June 20, 2001, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.
Muzaffarnagar, June 21 : In a bizarre incident, a 20-year-old man in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar has alleged that he was operated for sex change without his consent at a local hospital, the police said.

However, the hospital has claimed that the man underwent the sex reassignment process of his own will.

The 20-year-old man claimed that one Om Prakash used to molest him.

On June 3, the man said Om Prakash took him to the hospital, where he was sedated and deceptively made to undergo an operation.

When he woke up the next morning, he found his genitals were cut off.

"When I woke up, Om Prakash told me that I am a woman now and that he would take me to Lucknow to marry me. He threatened to kill my father if I resisted," the man said, adding that the doctors and staff at the hospital were colluding with Om Prakash.

Based on a complaint by the man's father on June 16, the police have arrested Om Prakash.

However, members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union staged a protest outside the hospital, alleging there was laxity in the police investigation.

According to farmer leader Shyam Pal, the doctors at the hospital were involved in the illegal organ trade.

"I believe there is a very big racket going on here where they remove vital organs of the body and sell them at a higher price," he said.

Pal also demanded the government to direct the hospital to pay Rs 2 crore compensation to the man and his family.

Ramashish Singh, Circle Officer of Khatauli police station in Muzaffarnagar, said, "There was a case here in which a person was operated for sex change. His family members alleged that he was misled by another person and the operation was done. Whatever allegations have been made by them, have been taken into consideration. Further investigation is underway."

However, hospital authorities denied the man's claim that he was deceptively operated on.

According to Chief Medical Superintendent Kirti Goswami, the man had been coming to the hospital regularly for two months to meet Raza Farooqui, a plastic surgeon.

Goswami said that the man identified as a woman and wanted to undergo sex reassignment surgery.

The Chief Medical Superintendent said that Farooqui referred the man to two psychiatrists to assess his mental condition, which is a prerequisite before a sex-change operation as per law.

The man was operated on only after the two psychiatrists deemed him mentally fit.

"The man came here to get admitted on June 4 and his operation was conducted on June 6. All these procedures are legal and were conducted under the supervision of Farooqui," Goswami added.

Goswami also claimed that the authorities had a video of the man before his operation, in which he could be seen talking about undergoing an operation to change his gender.
Kiev, June 21 : Ukraine and the EU have amended and extended their agreement on freight transport liberalisation, which was due to expire on June 30, for another year, the Ukrainian government press service reported.

The updated deal includes provisions for prolonging the cancellation of special permits for haulers travelling between Ukraine and the EU, Xinhua news agency reported.

At the same time, the agreement created new mutual obligations between the parties regarding transport licenses and the labelling of trucks.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said the "transport visa-free regime" with the EU would contribute to Ukraine's integration into the European economic space and spur the country's economy.

"It will ensure positive dynamics of exports to the EU countries, which will make us more economically sustainable," Shmyhal added.

According to him, in the past 18 months, Ukraine's exports to the EU increased by 48 per cent backed by permit-free freight transport travel.

Ukraine and the EU signed the freight transport deal in June 2022.

At the end of last year, Polish carriers staged protests at several checkpoints on the Ukrainian border, demanding the return of the permit regime for Ukrainian haulers crossing into the EU.

The updated agreement includes a clause that a permit-free regime for Ukrainian carriers could be automatically extended until the end of 2025.
Ottawa, June 21 : Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has unveiled the federal government's policy to deliver the National School Food Program across the country.

With an investment of 1 billion Canadian dollars ($730 million) over five years, the programme will provide meals to up to 400,000 more kids every year, beyond those served by existing school food programmes, according to a news statement from the Prime Minister's website.

On average, the programme is expected to save participating families with two kids up to 800 Canadian dollars ($584) a year in grocery bills, the statement said as quoted by Xinhua news agency report.

The programme includes investments that will support school food programming for First Nations, Inuit, and Metis communities as well as Self-Governing and Modern Treaty partners, many of whom have some of the highest rates of food insecurity in Canada, the statement added.

According to Statistics Canada estimates, in 2022, 22.3 per cent of families and more than 2.1 million children under the age of 18 in Canada reported experiencing some level of food insecurity over the past 12 months.
Tehran, June 21 : Iranian Caretaker Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani has condemned the Canadian government's "provocative and irresponsible" decision to designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a "terrorist entity".

He made the remarks in a post on Thursday on social media platform X while reacting to an announcement on Wednesday by Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc that his country had decided to list the IRGC as a "terrorist group".

Bagheri Kani said Canada's act of blacklisting the IRGC, which is an integral part of Iran's official armed forces, was a "provocation" of the principles and rules of international law and threatened regional peace and stability, Xinhua news agency reported.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani on Thursday condemned the Canadian government's move as "unconventional and unwise," saying the decision was a "hostile action in contradiction with international law, regarding the sovereign equality and non-interference in the internal affairs of states".

Kanaani called it "an instance of aggression against Iran's national sovereignty".

In his remarks on Wednesday, LeBlanc vowed that Canada would use all the tools at its disposal "to combat the terrorist activity" of the IRGC while accusing the Iranian armed force of disregarding human rights both inside and outside of Iran.

Thousands of senior Iranian officials, including top IRGC members, are now banned from entering Canada, and those already inside the country may be investigated and removed, LeBlanc said.

As a consequence of the decision, Canadian financial institutions are required to immediately freeze the property of a blacklisted entity, and it is a criminal offence for anyone in Canada and Canadians abroad to knowingly deal with property owned or controlled by a terrorist group, according to a press statement issued by Public Safety Canada.
San Francisco, June 21 : A shooting during a Juneteenth celebration at Lake Merritt in Oakland, US state of California, left 15 people injured, the police said.

The crowds were peaceful until around 8:15 p.m. local time on Wednesday when an illegal sideshow involving vehicles and motorbikes occurred near Grand Avenue and Bellevue Avenue, Oakland Police Department said on Thursday in a press statement.

During the sideshow, someone walked onto the hood of a car, which led to the occupants getting out and assaulting that person. Then came the gunfire, Oakland Police Department Chief Floyd Mitchell said at a press conference on Thursday noon.

The Oakland Fire Department said it transported at least four gunshot victims to a local hospital.

Police also took some victims to nearby hospitals. Other victims were self-transported.
Washington, June 21 : The US government has expressed its anger at statements made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in which he asserted that Washington is withholding arms deliveries to Israel.

White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby on Thursday called Netanyahu's recent video message "perplexing to say the least," "deeply disappointing" and "vexing".

"This President put fighter aircraft up in the air in the middle of April to help shoot down several hundred drones and missiles, including ballistic missiles, that were fired from Iran proper at Israel," Kirby noted.

Kirby said "no other country was doing more" to help Israel in its fight against Hamas and that the White House had "no idea" what prompted Netanyahu to make the comments in a video released on Tuesday.

In it, Netanyahu said it was "inconceivable" that the US had been "withholding weapons and ammunitions to Israel," but did offer specifics.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who recently met with Netanyahu, has also pushed back.

Blinken said earlier that all arms shipments were moving as they "normally" would to Israel, apart from certain bombs that could be used in densely populated areas of Gaza. Those explosives have been paused pending a review.

Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden have been at loggerheads for months.

Biden and other high-ranking US government officials have made it unusually clear that they do not agree with Netanyahu's actions in the Gaza war.

Criticism has been levelled in particular at the high number of civilian casualties and the humanitarian hardship in the Gaza Strip.

--IANS/DPA

int/khz
Hanoi, June 21 : Russian President Vladimir Putin has said South Korea would be making a "big mistake" if it supplies arms to Ukraine.

"If that happens, then we will make corresponding decisions that will not please the current leadership of South Korea," Putin said on Thursday during a trip to Vietnam.

The South Korean government had earlier expressed concern over a new Russia-North Korea strategic partnership that includes a vow of mutual aid if either country is attacked.

Seoul said the security commitments violated UN sanctions imposed on Pyongyang.

It also suggested it could reconsider its long-standing policy of not supplying weapons to Kiev.

North Korea, ruled by President Kim Jong Un, is subject to far-reaching UN sanctions and import bans due to its nuclear weapons programme, including the trade in weapons and the transfer of military technologies to the country.

During a state visit to Pyongyang on Wednesday, Putin signed the partnership agreement with Kim.

At a press conference in Hanoi on Thursday, Putin called Seoul's concerns unfounded.

He said South Korea had nothing to fear as the pact would only apply if either Russia or North Korea was attacked by a third country.

"As far as I know, (South Korea) is not planning any aggression" against North Korea, he said.

This means that "there is no need to fear our cooperation".

Putin also said that he would not deploy any North Korean soldiers in Ukraine.

However, he threatened to deliver high-precision weapons to North Korea as a response to Western arms deliveries to Ukraine.

--IANS/DPA

int/khz
Jerusalem, June 21 : Thousands of Israelis turned out for fresh protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government in a renewed show of anger at the failure to agree on a ceasefire in Gaza and bring about the return of hostages.

According to Israeli media on Thursday, the largest rally took place in front of a private home of the Prime Minister in the city of Caesarea.

The demonstrators demanded new elections and the release of the hostages held in the Gaza Strip.

Hundreds also gathered in Jerusalem for a protest, according to reports.

These are the latest in months of protests as people accuse Netanyahu of bowing to the demands of the ultra-orthodox partners in his right-wing coalition and obstructing a deal to release the Israeli hostages held by Palestinian Islamist organisation Hamas.

Some Ministers oppose an agreement with Hamas as it would also provide for a ceasefire and the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.

Israel continues to seek to eliminate Hamas, which attacked sites in southern Israel on October 7, killing nearly 1,200 people and abducting about 250 more to Gaza.

Israel responded by pounding Gaza with airstrikes and launched a ground offensive into the sealed-off Palestinian territory at the end of October.

More than 37,300 people have been killed and more than 85,000 injured in the course of the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip, according to the Hamas-controlled health authority in Gaza.

Months of efforts have failed to bring about a breakthrough in indirect negotiations to persuade Israel to agree to a ceasefire and Hamas to release around 120 hostages.

--IANS/DPA

int/khz
Lucknow, June 21 : With the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath calling for an immediate ban on the use of pressure horns and hooters in government and private vehicles, the Uttar Pradesh Police has fined 20,000 vehicles during the weeklong drive so far, the police said.

As many as 2.75 lakh vehicles have been checked by the police across the state since the Chief Minister issued orders.

A senior police officer said that 3,900 vehicles were booked for using hooters and pressure horns in their vehicles. Others include the use of police colours and insignia of the Uttar Pradesh government.

Uttar Pradesh Police collected a fine of Rs 1.3 crore.

Director General of Police (DGP) Prashant Kumar said efforts were being made by the police and transport departments to enforce the statewide ban.

"Traffic police at district and state levels have devised a plan for effective implementation of the order," he added.

Additional Director General, Traffic Directorate, B.D. Paulson said a month-long drive against pressure horns has been started.

"District police chiefs and commissioners will ensure compliance of the order. The drive will also crack down on the use of tinted windows in vehicles," he added.

Lucknow Joint Commissioner Of Police, Law and Order, Upendra Agarwal, said as part of the drive sale of horns and hooters would also be banned.

"While checking 1,718 vehicles using blue lights and hooter sirens, 315 vehicles were asked to remove hooter sirens and pressure horns. They were also issued challans and a mitigation fee of Rs 44,500 was collected," said a traffic police officer.

Police colours and names of departments inscribed on 346 cars were removed during the inspection of 2,178 vehicles that were using police colours.

Additionally, while issuing challans, an immediate mitigation fee of Rs 65,500 was collected.

Likewise, plates and stickers with the Uttar Pradesh government and the Government of India (except contract vehicles) were removed from 244 vehicles and while issuing the challan, a fee of Rs 47,400 was collected.
Lucknow, June 21 : Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav has demanded a court-monitored probe to unmask those behind paper leaks even if it involves those who enjoy the patronage of people in government.

Lashing out at the Union government over the cancellation of the UGC-NET exam following an alleged paper leak, he said that the exam mafia was making a mockery of students' future.

"Such frequent paper leaks raise concerns if it were a part of a deeper conspiracy to destabilise India's human resource and cause law and order situation. A court-monitored probe was a must to unravel the truth," he added.

He also said, "In February, the police recruitment examination paper was leaked and thereafter that of the review officer and assistant review officer (RO/ARO). The agencies then made a mockery of the NEET. Now the UGC-NET exam has been cancelled after it was leaked."

He added that irregularities in the NEET exam will lead to a situation where honest and dedicated students will not be able to clear the exams on their merit and add to the shortage of qualified and efficient doctors.

Akhilesh said: "If undeserving individuals make it through using unfair means, ultimately it will reflect poorly on the quality of medical treatment in the days to come. The situation gets more concerning since the exam is held at the national level."

"Similarly, cancellation of the UGC-NET exam will cause delay in making available qualified teachers. Shortage of teachers will directly and indirectly impact the development of the country which in turn will prove detrimental to the nation," he added.
Seoul, June 21 : South Korea's Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun met with Germany's top economic policymaker in Seoul on Friday to discuss ways of enhancing bilateral relations on advanced industries, energy and broader economic ties, officials said.

Germany's Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, who doubles as federal minister for economic affairs and climate action, is in South Korea along with an economic delegation involving 13 companies, including Brainlab, Max Bogl Stiftung, Voss Holding, Haverkamp and Satorius, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

During the meeting, the two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation on standards and data sharing fields for digital transition and for the industrial use of artificial intelligence, reports Yonhap news agency.

They also vowed to strengthen cooperation on the future mobility and other advanced industries through joint research and development projects.

"It is crucial for like-minded people to work together amid rising global uncertainties," Ahn said. "South Korea and Germany have similar industry structures and will become key partners in efforts for boosting industry competitiveness and achieving net-zero goals."

Trade volume between the two nations reached an all-time high of $33.9 billion last year, government data showed.
Los Angeles, June 21 : After Canadian star Donald Sutherland passed away aged 88 after a long illness, a string of Hollywood personalities along with US President Joe Biden paid their tributes.

President Biden took to X to honour Sutherland, who he described as "a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and one-of-a-kind actor who inspired and entertained the world for decades."

Veteran star Helen Mirren, who starred with him in "The Leisure Seeker," shared a statement, where she said Donald Sutherland was one of the smartest actors she ever worked with.

Mirren added: "He had a wonderful enquiring brain and a great knowledge of a wide variety of subjects. He combined this great intelligence with a deep sensitivity, and with a seriousness about his profession as an actor."

"This all made him into the legend of film that he became. He was my colleague and became my friend. I will miss his presence in this world."

In the thriller "Klute," Sutherland starred as a romantic lead and titular character John Klute across Jane Fonda's Bree Daniels. Fonda called Sutherland a "brilliant actor and a complex man" in her tribute on Instagram, saying the pair loved working together on the film, reports variety.com.

Filmmaker, actor and 2017's "Baby Driver" director Edgar Wright posted his tribute to X, praising Sutherland's legacy in film and TV.

"RIP the great Donald Sutherland, a favourite actor and always fascinating screen presence. He starred in two of my very favourite and most influential films  'Don't Look Now' and the 1978 'Invasion Of The Bodysnatchers,'" Wright tweeted.

"But that is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of his legendary filmography; a funny, laconic, but also intense and dramatic presence in so many memorable movies, starting with his break-through in 'The Dirty Dozen', and then on an incredible run in the 70's, 80's and beyond with 'M*A*S*H', 'Kelly's Heroes', 'Little Murders', 'Klute', 'Don't Look Now', 'The Day Of The Locust', 'Ordinary People' and 'JFK', among many others," Wright said

"I even adore his very early appearances in 'Dr Terror's House Of Horrors' and 'The World Ten Times Over', as well as his very silly cameo in 'Kentucky Fried Movie'.

"I know many of you following me will feel the same way about this great screen legend's passing, so please list your favourite Donald Sutherland films," Wright added.

"So sorry to see you go Donald, but what a legacy you leave behind."

Director Ron Howard wrote: "I was blessed to direct him in #Backdraft. One of the most intelligent, interesting & engrossing film actors of all time. Incredible range, creative courage & dedication to serving the story & the audience with supreme excellence."

Actor Rob Lowe remembered Sutherland and said: "Today we lost one of our greatest actors, Donald Sutherland. It was my honour to work with him many years ago, and I will never forget his charisma and ability."

"If you want a master class in acting, watch him in "Ordinary People". My condolences to Kiefer."

"The Batman" Director Matt Reeves called Sutherland "one of the all-time greats" in his tribute on X.

Sutherland worked over 200 film and TV credits over 60 years starring in films like "Ordinary People" and "Don't Look Now." Sutherland landed his first big role in 1967's "The Dirty Dozen," which later earned him a spot as surgeon Capt. "Hawkeye" Pierce in "MASH."

His son Kiefer Sutherland called him "one of the most important actors in the history of film."
New Delhi, June 21 : The International Day of Yoga is being celebrated in several countries across the world, including Japan, New Zealand, Thailand, and Malaysia, which witnessed enthusiastic participation in events organised by the Indian missions.

These events underscored the global appeal of yoga and its benefits for a healthy lifestyle.

In Japan, despite the inclement weather, the Indian Embassy in Tokyo celebrated the 10th International Day of Yoga at Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple. The event saw overwhelming participation from a large number of people.

The embassy shared pictures on X saying, "Rain or shine Yoga in Japan: Celebrations of the 10th IDY by the Indian Embassy in Tokyo at Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple witnessed an overwhelming participation from Japanese leadership, diplomats, Yoga enthusiasts & friends of India in Japan."

In New Zealand, the Indian High Commission celebrated the day with Indian community members, Kiwi friends, and representatives of various yoga institutes.

The embassy posted, "10th International Day of Yoga 2024 was celebrated at the High Commission with Indian community members, Kiwi friends & representatives of various Yoga Institutes. Yoga has indeed become a global movement with a positive impact on many lives."

In Thailand, several universities and institutions hosted yoga events in collaboration with the Indian Embassy.

At Siam University, an event saw significant participation from students and faculty and was graced by Thailand President Pornchai Mongkhonvanit.

In Papua New Guinea, the High Commission of India organised a yoga event in Port Moresby, attended by diaspora members, PNGeans, and diplomats.

"Diaspora, PNGeans and Diplomats joined to practice yoga at an event organised by the High Commission of India in Port Moresby. NCD Governor Powes Parkop encouraged the community to make it a mass movement spreading the benefits of yoga to communities," the embassy shared in a post on X.

In Malaysia, a mega yoga celebration was held at the iconic Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, commemorating the yoga day. This event highlighted the widespread appreciation and adoption of yoga across diverse cultures and regions, further solidifying its role as a global movement for wellness and unity.
New Delhi, June 21 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led the Armed Forces in celebrating the 10th International Day of Yoga on Friday, and said Indian soldiers are like Yogis.

He performed various Yoga asanas and breathing exercises with soldiers at 1 Corps in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande along with 600 people, including senior officers, Agniveers, families and children attended the event.

The Defence Minister said that the day is a matter of pride for the nation as the world is acknowledging and adopting this great cultural heritage of India with zeal. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking Yoga to the world.

On this year's Yoga Day theme -- 'Yoga for Self and Society' -- Rajnath Singh said 'Yoga' and 'Dhyan' are ancient Indian practices which connect a person with oneself, family and society.

"Yoga and Dhyan are part of our culture, which has always been 'Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Santu Niramaya', that is, we pray for everyone's happiness and good health. We pray for the welfare of the world. This is the speciality of our civilization. We believe in collaboration rather than a clash of civilizations," he added.

Highlighting the benefits of this centuries-old practice, Rajnath Singh said that Yoga strengthens physical fitness, mental calmness and spiritual well-being. It helps in harnessing the aggressive capabilities which is important for the soldiers for the security of the country, he added.

Rajnath Singh said, "Every Indian soldier is, in a way, a Yogi. The world has been witness to the physical and mental fitness of our soldiers many times. Not only on the borders, their service to the nation during national calamities is a testament to their strong physical and mental health. The way they avoid unnecessary aggression in adverse circumstances and stand up aggressively to protect the integrity and sovereignty of the country, whenever needed, reinforces their identity of a Yogi."

He exhorted the soldiers to continue practising Yoga daily as it unites the body and mind while acting as a stepping stone to achieve spiritual consciousness.

The Defence Minister pointed out that despite the availability of various resources, which provide comfort, people are unhappy, and suffering from stress as well as psychological and physical pressures.

He said, "Today, people are suffering from loneliness as they get separated from their families. There are several family dispute cases pending in court. Social media is creating psychological pressure and self-doubt among youth, leading to anxiety and depression. The latest facilities are essential as they are part of economic development, but they are limiting physical activities and increasing problems like diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. These problems can be dealt with Yoga."

The Union Minister commended the soldiers of 1 Corps for displaying valour and dedication, whenever the country needed them. He recalled the crucial role played by the Corps in many operations, including 'Operation Riddle' of 1965, 'Operation Cactus Lily' of 1971, 'Operation Pawan' of 1987 and 'Operation Cactus' of 1988.

The Defence Minister emphasised that India is known as a country which never attacks another nation and is against expansionist imperial policies. He, however, maintained that India is fully capable of giving a strong response if its sovereignty is threatened in any way.

Minister of State (MoS), Defence, Sanjay Seth performed Yoga during a special session organised by the Indian Coast Guard at Dhanushkodi, the southernmost tip of Rameswaram island in Tamil Nadu.
Mumbai, June 21 : Quick delivery platform and Blinkit's rival Zepto on Friday said it had raised $665 million at a $3.6 billion valuation in a highly oversubscribed round -- just nine months after the company raised $235 million at a $1.4 billion valuation.

Avenir, Lightspeed and Avra (Anu Hariharan's new fund) joined the company's cap table as new investors, among others.

Existing investors Glade Brook, Nexus, and StepStone co-led the round with Goodwater and Lachy Groom doubling down as well, the company said in a statement.

"This dynamic of stores turning profitable faster and faster has enabled Zepto to grow rapidly while simultaneously achieving near EBITDA positivity at a company level," said Aadit Palicha, Zepto's Co-founder and CEO.

"We plan to continue operating with fiscal discipline as we scale from 350 stores to 700 stores by reinvesting the capital generated from mature stores back into the business," he added.

If the company is able to achieve this while continuing to delight customers, "I believe we will be ready to go public relatively soon."

In terms of business performance, Zepto's gross merchandise value (GMV) has multiplied year-on-year to a base of more than $1 billion, and 75 per cent of the company's stores are fully EBITDA positive (as of May).

With the new round of funding, "We plan to hire top talent across engineering, product, growth, finance, operations, and category management," said Kaivalya Vohra, Co-founder and CTO, Zepto.

Founded in 2021 by Stanford University dropouts, Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, Zepto became one of India's fastest-growing internet companies.

Headquartered in Mumbai, Zepto delivers over 10,000 products, ranging across categories in 10 minutes.

"The Zepto team embodies what is possible for the next generation of Indian founders, and Glade Brook could not be more excited to continue our partnership," said Paul Hudson, CIO of Glade Brook Capital Partners.
Jalna : , June 21 (IANS) A ministerial delegation called on the striking OBC leaders Prof Laxman Hake and Navnath Waghmare and discussed the community's quota concerns, at the Wadigodri village here on Friday.

The ministers included Girish Mahajan, Atul Save and Uday Samant, besides MLC Gopichand Padalkar, and they called up Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis from the hunger strike venue.

Both Shinde and Fadnavis reassured Prof Hake and Waghmare that "no injustice will be meted out to the OBCs' cause" while deciding on the quota for the Marathas, Mahajan told media persons later.

The CM-Dy CM also requested Prof Hake and Waghmare to send a delegation to Mumbai to resolve their issues to which the OBC leaders agreed.

Accordingly, at least four senior OBC leaders from different parties, plus around four senior representatives of Prof Hake and Waghmare shall meet Shinde-Fadnavis in Mumbai this evening to sort out the problems, informed Samant.

The OBC leaders have insisted that the state government must give a written assurance that the existing 29 per cent OBC quota will not be touched while accommodating any other community's quotas, plus other related demands.

On Thursday, Congress' Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) President Prakash Ambedkar met Prof Hake and Waghmare in Wadigodri and expressed full support for their cause.

Prof Hake and Waghmare have been sitting on an indefinite hunger strike since June 13 near a temple in Wadigodri village, and on the 8th day on Thursday, their health condition declined further, but they are adamant about continuing the agitation till the final decision.

Hake is a former Maharashtra State Backward Classes Commission member, while Waghmare is the Samata Parishad district president, and both have stopped taking food since June 13.

Wadettiwar has reminded the CM that while he makes assurances, his own Bharatiya Janata Party minister Mahajan has said that the issue of 'sage-soyare' (bloodline) will not survive in the court.

The Leader of the Opposition added that it was because of the faulty policies of the MahaYuti government that two major communities are now pitted against each other.

In February this year, a special session of the state legislature unanimously passed the Maharashtra State Reservation for Socially and Economically Backward Bill, 2024, paving the way for 10 per cent quotas to the Maratha community.

However, Maratha leader and Shivba Sanghatana chief Manoj Jarange-Patil have been demanding that the state should declare Marathas as 'Kunbis' and grant them a separate quota from the OBCs, plus give reservation to 'sage-soyare' (bloodline) that would widen the scope of reservation.
Bengaluru, June 21 : Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's celebration of International Yoga Day (IYD) in Kashmir will inspire a peace life for the citizens of J&K.

"The celebration of International Yoga Day by the Prime Minister in Kashmir will greatly inspire a peaceful and contented life for the citizens of J&K," the Union Minister told reporters on the sidelines of the IYD celebration in New Delhi.

He said that it is commendable that Prime Minister Modi celebrates Yoga Day every year in different states.

"The celebration of Yoga Day is encouraged by the Prime Minister. He has inspired citizens of 124 countries to practice Yoga and maintain good health. He is the main person who encouraged people worldwide to practice Yoga. We congratulate the Prime Minister," he said.

He said that the Prime Minister had also celebrated the eighth edition of IYD in Mysuru city where 15,000 people participated.

The Union Minister said that Yoga holds a special place in the country and everyone should adopt Yoga to correct imbalances in their lives.

--IANS

mka/dan
Guwahati, June 21 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said that due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiatives, Yoga has now reached every corner of the world.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi started the celebration of Yoga Day nine years ago and now several countries in the world are celebrating this day. People across the globe could understand the importance of Yoga towards the well-being of a human," he said.

CM Sarma said, "Yoga plays a vital role in the physical and mental well-being of a person"

He praised the parents who make their children understand the importance of practising Yoga. "I see the students practice Yoga and I feel it will give them immense strength in for their future," he added.

The Chief Minister celebrated the International Day of Yoga in Tezpur town along with the children.

Some of his cabinet colleagues and MLAs also participated with him in the celebrations.

Taking to his X handle, CM Sarma wrote, "Yoga for a Fit India, Yoga for All! Participated in the State celebrations of the 10th International Day of Yoga at Tezpur. #YogaDay is a celebration of Bharat's unique gift to the world to remain fit and healthy."
Jaipur, June 21 : Self-styled godman Asaram, who is serving a life sentence in a rape case, has been admitted to All India Institue of Medical Science (AIIMS) in Jodhpur after he complained of chest pain.

On Monday, Asaram complained of chest pain following which prison officials took him to the jail dispensary where he underwent an electrocardiogram test.

On Thursday, he was taken to AIIMS for a routine checkup where he tested anaemic. However, his other test reports were normal. He was sent to jail after the checkup.

Meanwhile, late Thursday night, Asaram was again taken to AIIMS as he complained of chest pain, where doctors got him admitted to the hospital.

Earlier, Asaram had sought permission from the Rajasthan High Court to get ayurvedic treatment in a private hospital in Jodhpur, which was granted.
Guwahati, June 21 : The Trishakti corps of the Indian Army celebrated on Friday the International Day of Yoga across its stations in North Bengal and Sikkim, including border areas located above 15,000 feet, officials said.

An Army official said, "As part of the International Yoga Day, Trishakti Corps conducted various Yoga activities in military stations across North Bengal and Sikkim, including the border areas. The activities were conducted throughout June and culminated on Friday."

In Sikkim, Yoga was performed at an altitude of over 15,000 feet near Gurudongmar Lake, ahead of Zero Point and near India-China border.

The events witness enthusiastic participation by serving soldiers and their families in military stations of the Corps.

In many places, locals were invited to practise Yoga with the troops and families.

The official said that Yoga is a vital practice for military personnel, who face physically and mentally demanding conditions while serving on the frontlines. It enhances their overall well-being by improving both physical and mental health, thereby boosting their resilience and performance in demanding environments.

"The Yoga sessions focussed on creating awareness about the benefits of Yoga and inculcating the habit of practising Yoga as a part of everyone's life," he added.
Panaji, June 21 : Taking note of fliers allegedly circulated on social media announcing a trance party in the famous Curlies nightclub, the Goa government has directed police to take action.

Though a famous tourist haunt, the Curlies restaurant has been in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.

It first hogged headlines during the investigation into the death of British teenager Scarlett Keeling in 2008, who had gone to the beachside nightclub shortly before the incident. She was found dead at Anjuna Beach later.

In 2022, Curlies was again in the news after the death of TikTok star and BJP leader Sonali Phogat.

Police said that methamphetamine drugs were allegedly given to Phogat, while she was partying in Curlies.

Speaking to IANS, Deputy Collector of Bardez, Uday Prabhudesai said that on Friday the notice would be served to the nightclub with regard to organising the trance party.

"Yesterday I had directed the police to take action if trance parties were held in Curlies. Today I will send a notice to the nightclub," Prabhudesai said.

"They have not taken any permission for the party. Hence, when I came to know about it I directed Anjuna Police to take action," he said.

However, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sandesh Chodankar, said that trance parties were not taking place in Anjuna.

"It was just on social media. It is all fake. So far we have not received any notice from the Deputy Collector," DSP Chodankar said.

In 2022, the authorities had demolished a large portion of Curlies after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) upheld the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) order to demolish the restaurant.
San Francisco, June 21 : The US is grappling with a new wave of gun violence in one week that has led to multiple fatalities and injuries.

The latest shooting happened during a Juneteenth celebration at Lake Merritt in Oakland, US state of California, and left 15 people injured, reports Xinhua news agency, citing police statements.

The crowds were peaceful on Wednesday night when an illegal sideshow involving vehicles and motorbikes occurred near Grand Avenue and Bellevue Avenue, Oakland Police Department said in a press release.

During the sideshow, someone walked onto the hood of a car, which led to the occupants getting out and assaulting that person. Then came the gunfire, Oakland Police Department Chief Floyd Mitchell said at a press conference on Thursday afternoon.

The Oakland Fire Department said it transported at least four gunshot victims to a local hospital.

On Wednesday evening, seven people were wounded in a shooting in North Philadelphia in the US state of Pennsylvania, local media reported.

The shooter or shooters departed the scene in a vehicle, which was captured by a nearby police camera. As investigators continue to delve into the case, no weapons have been found at the scene, and no arrests have been made thus far.

On Tuesday afternoon, a seven-year-old boy was killed in a "random shooting" on Chicago's Near West Side, Chicago police said.

The boy was shot while exiting a building in the Oakley Square Apartments complex. Residents who live in the apartment complex said they do not allow their children to play outside for fear of random gun violence, local media reported.

"It's a shame that I have to keep my child in prison in our home unless we're going somewhere," resident Rhonda Dyson was quoted as saying by CBS News.

The residents' fear of being shot has a reason. So far this year, Chicago police said 127 children and teens under the age of 18 have been shot, 17 of them fatally, local media reported.

Over 190 mass shootings have occurred in the US in 2024 so far, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more victims are shot or killed.

Experts said that mass shootings happening near election times often greatly influence the nation's views on guns.

"If there are any particularly horrendous shootings in the months to come, that has a way of pushing the issue back to the forefront of the agenda," Robert Spitzer, a gun policy expert, was quoted as saying by Stateline.

However, states continued to diverge on gun policy this year, with intense debate in the swing states that will decide the upcoming US presidential election.

According to a report released this month by the Pew Research Center, voters overall are divided over whether the increasing number of guns in the US is good or bad for society: 52 per cent say it is very or somewhat bad, while 22 per cent say it is good.

Perhaps no topic divides voters more deeply than the role that firearms have in American life, the report said.
Sydney, June 21 : Australian police revealed on Friday that a woman was charged after wielding a knife and was injured during a police shooting in Victoria.

According to a report from Victoria Police, the 51-year-old woman has been charged with two counts of threats to assault police, two counts of assaulting police, two counts of common law assault, and reckless conduct causing serious injury.

On Sunday, emergency services were called to Penders Park near Collins Street in Thornbury at about 2:50 p.m. local time following reports of a woman armed with a kitchen knife, reports Xinhua news agency.

The involved venue is located approximately 8 km north of Melbourne's central business district.

Despite officers' negotiations with the woman to drop the knife, she refused to do so, and pepper spray was deployed afterward.

"The woman then allegedly ran at officers while holding the knife before one shot was fired by police. She was conveyed to hospital in a stable condition to be treated for a gunshot wound to her thigh," said Victoria Police.

Local authorities have launched an investigation into the incident under the oversight of Professional Standards Command, which is standard protocol when a police firearm is discharged.
Kolkata, June 21 : Two persons, including a senior official of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL), were arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), on Friday, in connection with the coal smuggling case in West Bengal.

Sources said that one of the two persons is Naresh Chandra Saha, an ECL official in the rank of area general manager.

The other arrested person is Ashwini Kumar Yadav, a civil contractor by profession.

Sources said on receiving the interrogation notice from CBI, the two persons arrived at the central agencyas Nizam Palace in central Kolkata on Thursday evening and after a night-long interrogation the two were arrested.

Both were presented at a special court of CBI at Asansol in West Burdwan district on Friday afternoon only.

To recall, the CBI started its investigation into the coal smuggling case in 2020. Later the Enforcement Directorate (ED) also started a parallel investigation into the matter focusing on the money laundering aspect of the case.

The prime accused in the case, Anup Majhi a.k.a. Lala, was absconding for a long time.

On May 14 this year, he surrendered at the special court of CBI at Asansol and was granted conditional bail against a personal bond of Rs 10,000.

Meanwhile, another prime accused in the coal smuggling case, Vinay Mishra, has continued to remain absconding. As per the latest information available from central agencies, Mishra, a former youth Trinamool Congress leader, is hiding at Vanuatu Island and has also taken citizenship there.

The date for filing the final charge sheet in the matter at the special court has been fixed on July 3, following which the trial process will start.

Sources said that the arrest of these two individuals before that date is extremely significant in effectively carrying out the trial process.
Pune : , June 21 (IANS) The Bharti Vidyapeeth Police Station has arrested a man and woman for performing a potentially deadly stunt to click a reel atop a dilapidated temple building, an official said here on Friday.

They are identified as Mihir Gandhi, 27, and his friend Minakshi Salunkhe, 23, while a third person who was making the reel is absconding.

"After we got information about the video, we launched investigations and managed to trace them. They were summoned to the police station late last night and placed under arrest. We have charged them under IPC Section 336 and others," Senior Inspector of Bharti Vidyapeeth Police Station, Dashrath Patil told IANS.

However, since the offence is minor with a jail term of less than six months plus a fine or both, they will not be remanded to custody, added Patil.

Earlier this week, people of Pune were rattled to see the boy and girl, and the unidentified reel-maker performing a daring feat atop an abandoned temple roof.

Gandhi was seen lying at the edge of the temple roof and the girl Salunkhe, laughing away, gingerly got down, grabbed his hand and was seen dangling mid-air from a height equivalent to at least a 10-storied building.

The background showed the depth below the building, indicating that in case her grip slipped, she would have met with a gory end, as speeding vehicles ply on a road nearby.

The reel, which quickly went viral, elicited angry responses from the people who demanded stringent punishment for the duo for endangering their lives and setting a bad example for others, especially youngsters.

Patil said that the police are on the lookout for the third accomplice who was shooting the reel on his mobile and expressed hope that he would be caught soon.
New Delhi, June 21 : Bihar Congress on Friday staged a protest over irregularities in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), demanding a CBI investigation into the matter.

The demonstration, led by Legislative Council member Madan Mohan Jha, saw party members and supporters taking to the streets of Patna, voicing their concerns over paper leaks and corruption in several competitive exams.

Protesters raised slogans against the BJP government, calling for justice for affected students and stringent punishment for those involved in the malpractices.

Addressing the reporters, Mohan Jha alleged that the BJP was "playing with the future of the country."

He said, "We are organising nationwide protests against the irregularities uncovered in the NEET. Since the BJP came to power, corruption has been uncovered in every exam in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and many other states."

"We demand a CBI probe into the matter and stern action against the accused," said Mohan Jha, adding that youth across the country also demand the same.

Responding to allegations linking RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav to one of the accused, Mohan Jha dismissed them, stating, "Nothing is proved if someone names a person and claims a link. If I say it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will it be true?"

The Congress has been repeatedly lashing out at the BJP-led Union government over the NEET paper leak case.

On Wednesday, after the cancellation of UGC-NET a day after the exam was held, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hit out at the Centre and said that the BJP seems unable or unwilling to prevent paper leaks in India.

He also advocated for a comprehensive probe into the NEET-UG paper leak and urged for accountability against those responsible.

Earlier, facing flak from various quarters over the NEET paper leak episode, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan addressed a press conference on Thursday and announced the setting up of a high-level committee to probe the irregularities while asserting that none of the guilty would be spared.

About 24 lakh aspirants appeared for NEET on May 5 for admission to medical colleges. The results were announced on June 5 but were marred by allegations of paper leak and awarding of grace marks to over 1,500 candidates.
Swat, June 21 : In yet another horrifying incident of mob lynching, a local tourist in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province's Swat district was brutally lynched to death and his body burnt to ashes in the middle of the road over accusation of blasphemy.

The incident occurred in Madyan, a beautiful hill station in Swat, which gets flooded with tourists during the summer season.

The mob first brutally thrashed the alleged blasphemer, a tourist from Punjab province's Sialkot who was visiting Madyan and other areas around it.

Later, as the police authorities arrested the tourist and took him into custody, the mob took matters into their own hands, torching the Madyan police station, dragging the tourist's body outside and setting it on fire right in the middle of the road.

The incident occurred after some individuals announced in a market that a man had committed blasphemy.

The accused was apprehended by some people and handed over to police. But shortly afterward, announcements were made in the local mosques, calling on people to come out and punish the alleged blasphemer.

"Announcements were heard from mosques, calling on people to come out and reach the Madyan police station," said a local resident of Madyan.

"The mob asked police to hand over the suspect to them but it was refused. Protesters forced their way into the police station. Police tried to disperse the crowd and shot some rounds of fire, which injured about eight people but could not stop the mob," an eyewitness stated.

"People then set fire to the police station and a police vehicle, while the accused was burnt alive," confirmed Swat District Police Officer (DPO) Zahidullah.

While an investigation has been initiated to ascertain the facts of the incident, this is not the first time that such an incident has occurred in Pakistan.

Recently, a man from a minority community was killed in Punjab's Sargodha city on similar allegations. The tragic incident in Jaranwala where a Muslim mob torched dozens of Churches, houses and even graveyard of Christian minorities over alleged blasphemy accusations, still haunts and exposes the dangerous situation of religious polarisation that persists in Pakistan and is a ticking bomb ready to explode.

Last month, a mob protested and attacked multiple houses, broke windows, and set household belongings on fire in Punjabas Sargodha over allegations of Quran desecration. A week later, a Christian man, who was severely injured in the attack, died at a hospital in Rawalpindi.

Pakistan faces massive challenges in terms of curbing religious extremism. In a recent report released by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), religious minorities in Pakistan and the state of religious freedom in the country are fast deteriorating.
Bengaluru, June 21 : Karnataka Home Minister, G Parameshwara stated on Friday that arrested Kannada superstar Darshan would not be given any extra facilities in prison when he is sent to judicial custody.

Answering a related question from the media in Bengaluru, HM Parameshwara said there are general allegations about celebrity prisoners receiving special facilities in jail.

"Jail authorities will regulate it. We will instruct them to ensure that no materials are supplied to the prison while Darshan is in custody," he maintained.

Police have sought week-long custody of Darshan, but the court granted only two days in the case related to the murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy.

"If his investigation is completed within that time, he will be sent to judicial custody," he stated.

When asked about reports that CM Siddaramaiah had instructed ministers not to comment on or interfere in Darshan's case, he said, "As far as I know, no minister has interfered in the matter. The officers brief us, and there is no need for any interference. Neither the Chief Minister nor I have contacted anyone, and no one has approached us in this regard."

Replying to a question about the involvement of a BJP MLA's close relative in Renukaswamy's murder case, he said, "We are not handling the case based on political affiliations. Whoever is guilty, regardless of their party, will be treated as guilty. We will proceed with the investigation based on the crime committed, not on party affiliations."

Darshan and three others are in police custody until June 22.

The other 13 accused, including Darshan's partner Pavithra Gowda, have been sent to jail in the case.

Darshan, Pavithra Gowda, and 15 others were arrested on charges of murdering Renukaswamy, a resident of Chitradurga.

The probe 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 tortured to death.
Kolkata, June 21 : The Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Friday, approached the Calcutta High Court seeking permission to organise a sit-in demonstration in front of the DGP's office against the incidents of post-poll violence in the state.

The matter is likely to come up for hearing at the single-judge bench of Justice Amrita Sinha on June 25. Earlier, Adhikari had sought permission to hold the sit-in demonstration in front of Raj Bhavan in central Kolkata.

After being denied the police permission, he approached the bench of Justice Sinha. However, Justice Sinha advised him to choose an alternative venue to hold the same.

Finally, on Friday, he informed the court that he had decided to organise the sit-in demonstration in front of the office of the Director General of Police (DGP).

Adhikari had already clarified that his earlier decision to conduct the demonstration in front of the Raj Bhavan was not meant to target the Governor on the issue of post-poll violence. "Last year, the ruling Trinamool Congress had organised a five-day protest in front of Raj Bhavan on another issue. Police gave them the requisite permission despite Section 144 being imposed there year-round. So we expected the police to permit us also," the LoP said.

Already, Governor C.V. Ananda Bose, after meeting Suvendu Adhikari and some victims of post-poll violence had issued a strong statement on the matter and claimed that he will see it through the end to end this menace.
Bengaluru, June 21 : Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara on Friday said that the Congress central leadership has formed fact-finding committees for various states to review what went wrong in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.

"A fact-finding committee has been formed under the leadership of senior leader Madhusudan Mistry in Karnataka. Similar fact-finding committees are being set up in other states too to understand what went wrong for the party in the states," Karnataka Home Minister told media persons.

Congress only managed to win nine seats out of 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka in the recently held general elections despite having its government in the state while the alliance partners  BJP and JD (S)  won 19 seats.

Congress, which heavily banked on the guarantee schemes, had hoped to win between 15 and 20 Lok Sabha seats.

"We expected to win 15 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had also assured the party's central leadership of winning more than 15 seats," he said.

He said that the party's central leadership will positively take action, based on the report, against the leaders and workers who are responsible for the poll debacle.

"The central leadership will initiate appropriate action depending on whether the party is ruling in the particular state or in the opposition," Karnataka Home Minister Parameshwara.
Bengaluru, June 21 : Spiritual leader and founder of The Art of Living based in Bengaluru, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, led the International Yoga Day (IYD) Celebrations at the United Nations Office in Geneva on Friday.

The Yoga Day celebrations are spread over two days, on June 20 and 21, said an official release on Friday.

During the keynote address at the UN, the spiritual guru shared, "It's time for this ancient art of inner blossoming to be in the spotlight. Yoga has proved to be a boon for humankind. We have seen, that it helps heal illnesses, resolve problems, increase resilience, make the mind happy and sharpen the intellect. Yoga should be done along with pranayamas and meditation, without which Yoga Asanas remain just physical exercises."

Thousands of participants in Malaysia, Taiwan, Australia, Sweden, Iceland and New Zealand joined the Art of Living in this global celebration of Yoga. The Indian Embassy in Copenhagen, Tallinn and other European countries also joined the celebrations.

The Art of Living also led the celebrations along with the Ministry of Ayush at many locations across India. From the Sino-Bhutan borders of India to airports in Gujarat; from Nehru Park in Delhi to beaches in Chennai -- throughout the length and breadth of India, millions of Yoga enthusiasts, led by Art of Living's Sri Sri Yoga teachers, welcomed the dawn of 10th International Yoga Day celebrating this ancient gift of India to the world.
Hyderabad, June 21 : Union Minister for Coal and Mines, G Kishan Reddy, on Friday launched the 10th round of commercial coal mine auction, putting 60 mines for sale.

At an event held in Hyderabad, the minister launched the auction aimed at enhancing domestic coal production and ensuring energy security for India.

The mines put up for auction include both coking and non-coking coal mines.

They are situated in Bihar (3), Chhattisgarh (15), Jharkhand (6), Madhya Pradesh (15), Maharashtra (1), Odisha (16), Telangana (1), and West Bengal (3).

Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Satish Chandra Dubey, Deputy Chief Minister of Telangana, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Secretary, Ministry of Coal Amrit Lal Meena were present.

Speaking on the occasion, Kishan Reddy said this was another major step to enhance energy security, boosting economic growth and create numerous job opportunities.

The latest round is poised to foster transparency, competitiveness and sustainability within the coal sector.

The ministry has created a Single Window Clearance System (SWCS) portal to streamline obtaining clearances for coal mines and boost coal production through a single gateway, supporting progress and resilience in the sector.

"By opening up more blocks for transparent and competitive bidding, the government is unlocking India's vast coal reserves to drive economic growth and energy security," he said.

He said during the nine rounds conducted so far, 107 coal mines were successfully auctioned, bringing an investment of Rs.38,400 crore.

This will open direct and indirect employment opportunities for three lakh people.

Kishan Reddy said coal has an important role in making India a $5 trillion economy, the target set by the government.

"The vibrant and reform-oriented coal sector is the key to achieving the goals of Atmanirbhar Bharat in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to make India a global powerhouse," he said.

He recalled that the first round of auction was launched in 2022 and called it a historic step in India's coal mining industry.

"This historic step was rooted in the vision of enhancing domestic production of coal, making the country Atmanirbhar in coal sector and also address the country's growing energy needs," he said.

He mentioned that coal production in India was 997.23 million tonnes in 2023-24 while the target for 2024-25 is one billion tonnes. Production of 180.38 million tonnes has already been achieved.

The ministry is also expecting production of 175 million tonnes from captive commercial mines.

He said the ministry was taking several initiatives such as coal gasification. It has set a goal of 100 million tonnes of coal gasification by 2030.

Coking coal mission was launched to achieve the goal of production 140 million tonnes of coking coal in 2029-30.
New Delhi, June 21 : In a testament to the deep-rooted cultural ties between India and Nepal, over 5000 Yoga practitioners participated in the 10th International Day of Yoga (IDY) celebrations organised across 10 cities and municipalities by the Indian Embassy in Nepal and the Consulate General of India in Birgunj on Friday.

The IDY events were held in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Lamjung, Lumbini, Janakpur, Chitwan, Birgunj, Hetauda, Gaur and Pokhariya.

The event at Rangshala Stadium saw the attendance of Gandaki Province Chief Minister Surender Raj Pandey and Pokhara Metropolitan City Mayor Dhana Raj Acharya, who expressed his gratitude for the large-scale celebration and emphasised the importance of making it an annual event to further strengthen cultural ties between the two nations.

Naveen Srivastava, India's Ambassador to Nepal, also highlighted the benefits of Yoga for self and society and as an important cultural connection between India and Nepal.

Yoga events were also held at several iconic locations across Nepal on Thursday, including Sarangkot, Pumdikot Shiv Mandir and Shanti Stupa in Pokhara.

On Thursday, a large-scale Yoga event was held at Lumbini with more than 900 participants. Lumbini Chief Minister Jokh Bahadur Mahara and other provincial leaders also attended the event.

Earlier on June 19, more than 450 participants attended the Yoga event organised at the banks of Lake Phewa in Pokhara. Additionally, ayurvedic doctors led yoga sessions for students and faculty at Pokhara University, stressing Yoga's role as a bridge between human consciousness and nature.

A special event was also held at the Pashupatinath Temple featuring a lecture-cum-demonstration on the health benefits of Yoga and Ayurveda for the girls of Maiti Nepal, an organisation dedicated to preventing human trafficking.

Concluding the celebrations, the Indian Embassy will also organise a Yoga event at the scenic Lamjung district in association with the Madhya Nepal Municipality on June 22.
Thiruvananthapuram, June 21 : The five-day meeting of the CPI(M) committee, which reviewed the Lok Sabha election setback and other issues, seems to have focused particularly on the operational style of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The meeting concluded on Thursday here.

Despite state party secretary M.V. Govindan skirting the issue when questioned about whether Chief Minister Vijayan's tough demeanour contributed to the election loss, the decision to form a high-level party committee to monitor the CM indicates a significant move to restrain his authority. This precautionary step aims to prevent a situation similar to the party's severe losses in West Bengal and Tripura.

Coincidentally, soon after casting his vote in his hometown Kannur on April 26, CM Vijayan expressed confidence that the Left was poised for a historic victory. However, the CPI(M)-led Left ultimately secured only one seat, while the BJP opened its account and the Congress-led UDF won 18 seats.

Following these events, murmurs began among CPI leaders, with a section openly attributing the electoral setback to CM Vijayan's governing style. The RJD also joined in, calling for a comprehensive introspection. During the subsequent five-day CPI(M) meeting to discuss the debacle, CM Vijayan notably remained silent despite criticism from figures like two-time former Finance Minister Thomas Isaac and others who pointed directly at the CM and his leadership approach, particularly highlighting his handling of the situation in Pathanamthitta.

CM Vijayan's unexpected silence has raised eyebrows, given his reputation for quick temper and lack of diplomacy in public. State party secretary Govindan, who understands the CM well, dismissed suggestions of changing Vijayan's style, noting that the media often portrays him differently.

Meanwhile, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury announced that all issues would be addressed at the upcoming central committee meeting in Delhi starting on June 28.

At 79 years of age, CM Vijayan has been leading the government in Kerala since 2016, with his second term starting in 2021 amid controversies involving his daughter's IT firm under investigation and frequent family trips abroad.

Adding to his troubles, his longtime rival K. Sudhakaran secured a significant victory in Kannur, which has been particularly stinging for CM Vijayan.

All attention now turns to the Delhi meetings, where the party's state unit has approved the formation of a committee. It remains to be seen whether CM Vijayan will face constraints, with national leadership possibly intervening -- a potential first-time scenario for him.
Bhopal, June 21 : The Congress here staged a protest on Friday over alleged discrepancies in NEET and NET examinations and demanded justice for affected students.

The protest organised at the city's one of the busiest intersections, the Roshanpura Chowk, was led by state unit chief Jitu Patwari and former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh.

Digvijaya Singh demanded strict action against those involved in the alleged nexus of paper leaks.

He said, "Lakhs of children are affected due to irregularities and paper leaks of NEET exams and most of them are Hindus. RSS and Bajrang Dal should also come forward to raise this issue because it is an act of anti-nationalism."

Jitu Patwari said his party will continue to keep raising the issue of scams, irregularities and paper leaks until the government takes strict action.

"Madhya Pradesh witnessed the Vyapam scam under Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government and now the entire country is witnessing scam in the NEET exam," he added.

On Thursday, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said that paper leaks will continue in the country as long as the universities remain captured by the BJP.

A paper leak, he added, is an "anti-national activity" since it "hugely hurts the country's young people, who are the country's future".

The Union Education Ministry on Wednesday ordered the cancellation of UGC-NET following inputs of the exam's integrity being compromised.
Bhubaneswar, June 21 : Unidentified youths hurled ink at the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Sarat Pattanayak at his office here on Friday.

Pattanayak was engaged in a conversation with some party members inside his chamber at Congress Bhawan when the miscreants barged into the room and threw ink at him.

While speaking to media persons following the incident, Pattanayak expressed suspicion that the miscreants committed the act at the behest of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party or any other political party.

"Lakhs of students across India have encountered difficulties due to the NEET examination scam under BJP government. The central leadership has instructed us to hold protests at the headquarters or capitals of each state. As per the instructions, we along with some students were on our way to hold the protest when some miscreants threw the substance kept in a bottle. I don't know whether it was ink, motor oil or acid but I am feeling some pain in my eyes," said Pattanayak.

He said that Congress always believed in the ideology of non-violence of Mahatma Gandhi.

Pattanayak said that he had faced many ups and downs in his 40-year-long political career. Pattanayak asserted that he has been a fighter since his youth days and no one could suppress him.

"We will not tolerate those who are trying to weaken the Congress in the state," asserted Pattanayak.

"A complaint has been lodged in this regard and we have initiated an investigation into the matter. We have been examining the CCTV footage and will soon arrest the accused persons," said Sudhanshu Bhusan Jena, the inspector in-charge, Capital police station.

Meanwhile, the Congress leaders and workers on Friday held a peaceful protest against the NEET paper leak scam.

--IANS

gyan/dan
Lucknow, June 21 : Uttar Pradesh Congress workers staged a protest here on Friday, demanding the cancellation of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).

"The government has failed to hold a prestigious exam like the NEET in a fair manner. They have now cancelled the (UGC-) NET exam too," state Congress chief Ajay Rai told reporters.

"We want the government to punish those responsible for it and safeguard the future of our children," he said.

Congress workers held placards and raised slogans demanding the cancellation of the NEET.

As the protesters tried to move from the Congress headquarters to Mall Avenue Crossing here, they were stopped by police and some were even detained.

Several state units of the Congress held similar protests on Friday in light of the alleged irregularities in the NEET 2024.

On Wednesday, the University Grants Commission cancelled the UGC-NET -- a day after it was held, upon receiving certain inputs, which indicated that the "integrity of the examination may have been compromised".
Jammu, June 21 : Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Police said on Friday that three associates of terrorists involved in two attacks on security forces in Doda have been arrested.

Six soldiers of the Indian Army and two local policemen were injured on June 11 and 12 in terrorist firing on security forces in Chatergala and Kota Top areas of Doda District.

Police said that the three associates of the militants were arrested for providing food and logistic support to Pakistani terrorists who carried out the attacks in Doda.

They have been identified as Sajad, Safdar Ali and Mubassir, all residents of Draman Village in Gandoh area of Doda District.
Hyderabad, June 21 : Rich tributes were paid to Telangana ideologue K. Jayashankar on his death anniversary on Friday.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, state ministers and leaders of the ruling Congress and main opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) recalled the key role played by the former vice-chancellor of Kakatiya University in the Telangana movement.

Chief Minister Reddy and Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy garlanded the portrait of Jayashankar, fondly called as father of Telangana.

The Chief Minister said that Jayashankar lived all through his life for the cause of statehood for Telangana.

He said that the Telangana ideologue will remain alive in the minds and hearts of people forever.

CM Reddy said Jayashankar was a visionary, who foresaw the development of Telangana in all fields.

The Chief Minister recalled that Jayashankar's hometown Akkampeta was declared a revenue village soon after the Congress government assumed power in the state.

Leaders of the main opposition BRS also paid tributes to Jayashankar on his death anniversary.

BRS working president K. T. Rama Rao said Jayashankar was a great personality who dreamt of achieving statehood for Telangana for six decades and was an inspiration for three generations of Telangana activists.

Senior BRS leader and former minister T. Harish Rao garlanded the statue of Jayashankar at a government hospital in Patancheru in Sangareddy district.

BRS leaders Jagdish Reddy, Ponnala Lakshmaiah, Mahmood Ali and others paid tributes to Jayashankar at a programme held at BRS headquarters Telangana Bhavan.
Bhopal, June 21 : Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh said on Friday that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bajrang Dal should also come forward and join the protest against the alleged irregularities and paper leaks during the conduct of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and the National Eligibility Test (NET).

Addressing a gathering of party workers assembled here to protest against the alleged paper leaks, the veteran Congress leader also said that like the RSS workers, those agitating against the irregularities in NEET should also reach out to the people with their messages.

"RSS workers would never hit the streets to face lathi-charge by the police. Instead, they would go from door to door and meet the people," Singh said.

Speaking on the alleged discrepancies in the NEET and NET, Singh demanded justice for the affected students and strict action against those involved in the alleged nexus of paper leaks.

Terming the alleged irregularities in the examinations as "anti-national activities", Singh said the RSS and the Bajrang Dal should also come forward in the interest of the people.

"Lakhs of children have been affected due to the irregularities in NEET and NET and most of them are Hindus. The RSS and Bajrang Dal should also come forward to raise this issue because it is an anti-national act," he said.

Responding to the BJP-led Madhya Pradesh government's plan to incorporate the teachings of Lord Ram and Lord Krishna into school and college curriculums in the state, Singh said it would be a good step.

"Lord Ram and Lord Krishna are our ideals and children should be taught about their lives. At the same time, I feel that the ideals of other religions should also be included in our school syllabus," Singh said.
New Delhi, June 21 : The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday that 98 Indians died due to natural causes and accidents during this year's Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

Last weekend, over 175,000 pilgrims from India converged on sacred Mount Arafat outside Mecca to offer their prayers during the pilgrimage.

"Each year we have a large numbers of Indians visiting Haj for pilgrimage. This year, we have had around 1,75,000 Indians who have visited Haj. The core Haj period is from May 9 to July 22," said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during a weekly media briefing in New Delhi on Friday.

"So far, we have lost 98 of our citizens. These deaths have happened due to illness, natural causes, chronic illness and old age. On the day of Arafat, six Indians died and four Indians have died on account of accidents. Last year, 187 Indians died during Haj," he added.

It is believed that several hundred people from various countries have died due to the intense heat during this year's pilgrimage.

Amid unconfirmed reports of hundreds of Egyptians passing away during the Haj, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry stated on Thursday that it has deployed its consular teams in Mecca to visit hospitals and find missing citizens.

Similarly, Jordan's Foreign Ministry also said earlier this week that dozens of pilgrims from the country have lost their lives during this year's pilgrimage.

India had provided 24-hour support, including medical care through dispensaries, ambulances, healthcare on the go with doctors/paramedics providing requisite services on foot as per requirement, support for guiding pilgrims, tracing lost pilgrims, care for those with mobility issues, to its nationals undertaking the pilgrimage.

On June 18, the Indian Haj Mission said that it has provided necessary assistance to more than 100 pilgrims by reuniting them with their families during this year's pilgrimage.

The Ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia, Dr Suhel Ajaz Khan and the Consul General of India in Jeddah, Shahid Alam have also been visiting various camps to interact with the Indian Haj pilgrims and take their feedback on the services provided to them besides taking stock of their overall well-being.
Panaji, June 21 : International Yoga Day was celebrated across Goa on Friday, with Governor P. S. Sreedharan Pillai performing yoga in Raj Bhavan and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium.

The Governor performed various forms of yoga such as asanaas, pranayaam, mudras and dhyan which offer a comprehensive approach to physical and mental well-being, thus enhancing the overall quality of life.

CM Sawant emphasised the importance of various forms of yoga and said that everyone should practice it to gain good health.

He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his pivotal role in internationalising Yoga Day.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the idea to the United Nations General Assembly, leading to the UN's declaration of June 21 as International Day of Yoga, now celebrated in over 180 countries," he added.

Suggesting that just half an hour of practice each day can significantly enhance fitness and health, CM Sawant said that everyone should spare time for a good cause.

"Regular yoga can help manage conditions like hypertension and diabetes, and Pranayama and yoga can improve concentration," he said.
Ahmedabad, June 21 : The Adani Group is eyeing $100 billion of capex over the next decade with major outlays on energy transition projects and digital infrastructure for the next leg of growth, a Jefferies report said on Friday.

At an investors' meet, the Adani Group management outlined a strong FY24 operating performance -- a 27 per cent CAGR for five years -- and an improved leverage profile across businesses.

The Adani Portfolio achieved $10 billion EBITDA (including operating income) in FY24, growing over 40 per cent (year-on-year).

"More than 80 per cent of EBITDA came from infra-related businesses. Management also talked about high cash after tax (FFO) to EBITDA ratio for the businesses, with funds from operation (FFO) enough to envelop all debt maturities," the report mentioned.

According to the company, contracted EBITDA is 80 per cent of total group EBITDA and cash reserves stand at more than 20 per cent of borrowing, helping address the group's cash flow and system risk.

"The management does not see a refinancing risk at the group level, adding that effective capital management planning has been reflected in rate profile stability, with increasing duration, despite rate and forex volatility," the report said.

When it comes to digital infrastructure, the group has been able to establish multiple touchpoints with consumers across the country.

According to Jefferies, the Group expects a demographic dividend to show up, with the consumer base on Adani's core Infra platform already clocking 350 million users.

"The Group will look to capitalise on this in the medium term," it added.

For Adani Enterprises Ltd, the GH2 (Green Hydrogen) projects would be the group's most capex-heavy venture.

"The airports business should benefit from growth in traffic and non-aero trends. The company aims to bid for new airports under India's airport privatisation plan," said the report.

A copper project was recently commissioned and work on the coal-to-PVC project has begun.

"Management does not see net debt/EBITDA crossing 5 times during capex," said the report.

For Ambuja Cements, the company reiterated the timeline for 140 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) by FY28 is on track and the company continues to guide for Rs 1,500 EBITDA/T.

"The company is looking at reaching a cost of production of Rs 3,650/T by FY28 (Rs 500/T+ lower than current), which would be best in class globally. The company plans to consolidate all its cement companies under one head in the medium term, and is working to identify the best structure," said Jefferies.

For Adani Energy Solutions Ltd (AESL), the company aims to commission Rs 170 billion under-construction transmission assets by FY26E. The company indicated a Rs 1.1 trillion tariff-based competitive bidding pipeline in 12-15 months, where AESL has a 16 per cent market share.

Meanwhile, Adani Green had installed a capacity of 10.9 GW in March, with another 11 GW projects under execution. "The company guides for 6-8 GW per year of capacity addition in FY25E and FY26E. The management reiterated their stance of raising capacity to 50 GW by FY30, including the 5GW pumped Hydro project," the report mentioned.
(BHUPI SIR) ------ (ECONOMY PACKAGE) India to be one of world's fastest growing economies over next decade. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, June 21 : India has succeeded in reducing the size of its the informal economy to 23.7 per cent in 2022-23 compared to 25.9 per cent in 2015-16 which works out to a growth of Rs 26 lakh crore in absolute terms in the country's formal economy, according to an SBI Research report released on Friday.

The SBI Research report stated that the Indian economy is getting formalised at a faster pace than the growth in the labour force.

It cites EPFO figures to show that 65 lakh jobs were formalised since FY19 .

An increase in the formal sector results in both an increase in productivity that spurs economic growth and higher wages for workers leading to an increase in their standard of living.

The government's factsheet of Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises released this month states that on an average, a formal hired worker earned Rs 2.45 lakh per annum as compared to Rs 1.11 lakh earned by an informal hired worker.

The SBI report said that the government's e-Shram portal, which has registered 297 million unorganised workers, could further fast-track the formalisation process.

The portal is the first-ever national database of unorganised workers including migrant workers, construction workers, gig and platform workers. It facilitates extending benefits of social sector schemes to the workers in the unorganised sector.

The top five states account for 58 per cent of total registration, with Uttar Pradesh on the top (with more than 8 crore registrations), followed by Bihar and West Bengal.

The report also states: "Distribution of labour force (568 million) shows 45 per cent of labour force is still informal, with the usual suspects of agriculture (25.5 per cent) and services (13.9 per cent) accounting for close to 40 per cent of total workforce and 88 per cent of informal workforce," the SBI report stated.
New Delhi, June 21 : As many as 10 Indians recruited by the Russian Army for its conflict with Ukraine have been released and repatriated back to India, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) revealed on Friday.

The government on June 11 had said that two Indian nationals who had been recruited by the Russian Army had been killed in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

New Delhi had then strongly taken up the matter with the Russian Ambassador here and with Russian authorities in Moscow for early release and return of all Indian nationals who are with the Russian Army.

"We are engaged with the Russian authorities in New Delhi and Moscow so that persons who are serving in the Russian army can be released and repatriated to India as soon as possible," Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the External Affairs Ministry told the media in the national capital on Friday.

"About 20-25 people who want to be released have contacted us so far. Of those, 10 people have been released and repatriated back to India. We are also in touch with the family members of the two people who died recently. We are constantly engaged with the Russian Defence and Foreign Ministry so that their mortal remains can be brought back to India," added the MEA spokesperson.

Earlier, India had also demanded that there be a verified stop to any further recruitment of its nationals by the Russian Army.

"Such activities would not be in consonance with our partnership. We also urge Indian nationals to exercise caution while seeking employment opportunities in Russia," the MEA stated on June 11.
New Delhi, June 21 : Indian Naval Warships mission deployed across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and the Western Pacific Ocean conducted Yoga sessions at sea and in foreign ports to mark the International Day of Yoga (IDY) on Friday.

Indian Naval Ships Kolkata and Tabar at Djibouti; Sunayna at Port Louis, Mauritius; Tarkash at Salalah, Oman; Kamorta at Trincomalee, Sri Lanka; and Saryu at Belawan, Indonesia, conducted Yoga sessions in respective ports, spreading the spirit of Yoga across the oceans.

Naval personnel including defence civilians and their family members enthusiastically participated in especially conducted yoga programmes. Trainees of friendly foreign navies also participated in the Yoga Day activities with zeal.

Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, the Chief of the Naval Staff and Shashi Tripathi, President, Navy Welfare and Wellness Association, attended the Yoga Session at Chanakya Bagh, New Delhi.

The Navy in a statement on Friday said that daily Yoga sessions were conducted since June 11 at all naval stations as run-up to IDY. Yoga-related quizzes, poster-making and drawing competitions, and lectures by Yoga experts for adopting Yoga as a way of life were also organised at various naval units.

Special Yoga programmes for women and families of Naval personnel to adopt Yoga as a way of life were conducted by the Navy Welfare and Wellness Association at all major Naval Stations.

Over the period of last 10 days, Indian Naval personnel including defence civilians, and their families wholeheartedly participated in Yoga related activities imbibing the true spirit of the theme for this year's IDY - 'Yoga for Self and Society', the statement added.
New Delhi, June 21 : India on Friday slammed a recent documentary released by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), calling it full of "blatant untruths", "biased", and "reflecting unprofessional reporting".

The ABC documentary made sensational claims of Australia being unhappy with India's "spy operations" in the country that allegedly targeted Sikh separatists.

"It contains blatant untruths. It is biased and reflects unprofessional reporting. It appears to serve a particular agenda, to malign India. We obviously oppose any such attempts to condone, justify or even glorify terrorism," Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the External Affairs Ministry (MEA) told media in New Delhi on Friday.

"The very basis of this documentary is something that is questionable," he added.

Last year, during Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's state visit to India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed strong concern on the growing incidents of vandalism and violence by pro-Khalistani outfits that targeted the Indian community and temples in Australia.

Albanese had then assured Prime Minister Modi that his government has a "deep understanding" and appreciation of India's concern and will be taking all necessary measures to ensure that peace and harmony prevail in their society.
Kolkata, June 21 : Border Security Force (BSF) personnel of the South Bengal Frontier were forced to open fire on Bangladeshi cattle smugglers for the second day running along the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal in the wee hours of Friday.

The latest incident occurred in Malda district under the jurisdiction of JJ Pur Border Outpost. BSF officials have not ruled out the possibility of injury to any of the smugglers who took to their heels after hearing the shots.

"At around 2 a.m. on Friday, a jawan on duty spotted 3-4 Bangladeshis with four heads of cattle. When the jawan challenged them, the smugglers paid no heed and kept approaching the border. They also tried to attack the jawan with sharp-edged weapons and snatch his service rifle.

"The jawan was then forced to fire one round from his INSAS rifle, following which the smugglers fled, taking advantage of the darkness. Reinforcements reached the spot and found a head of cattle and two swords," said A.K. Arya, DIG and spokesperson, BSF, South Bengal Frontier.

In another incident on Friday, a BSF jawan was attacked by Bangladeshi cattle smugglers near the HC Pur Border Outpost, forcing him to open fire in self-defence.

Arya said a strong protest has been registered against such activities with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). A report has also been filed at the local police station.

"Every day, troops of the South Bengal Frontier face 3-4 such attacks. Our personnel display exemplary courage by showing restraint even at a risk to their lives. Several of our personnel have been seriously injured by the criminals.

"A jawan was also attacked at the Natna Border Outpost in Murshidabad during the day. He had to fire rounds from his Pump Action Gun (non-lethal) and use stun grenades to drive away the criminals," Arya said.
New Delhi, June 21 : External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday evening called on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi as she began her State Visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Hasina's arrival is the first incoming bilateral State Visit after the formation of the government in India following the Lok Sabha elections held recently.

"Delighted to call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh this evening. Her State visit to India underlines our close and abiding ties. Appreciate her guidance on the further development of our special partnership," EAM Jaishankar posted on X after meeting the Bangladesh PM.

During her visit, Prime Minister Hasina will hold bilateral consultations with PM Modi besides her scheduled meeting with President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.

Hasina was among the international leaders who attended the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Modi and the Union Council of Ministers held here on June 9.
New Delhi, June 21 : Union Minister of Agriculture Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday assured the states that the Centre is committed to procure 100 per cent of Tur, Urad and Masur produced by farmers at the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) to ensure crop diversification and achieve self-sufficiency in the production of pulses.

Chairing a virtual meeting with agriculture ministers of various states at Krishi Bhawan here, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the e-Samridhi portal has been launched through National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) and National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India Limited (NCCF) for registration of farmers and the government is committed to procure these pulses at MSP from farmers registered on the portal.

He urged the state governments to encourage more and more farmers to register on this portal so that they can avail the facility of assured procurement.

The minister also informed them about the new Model Pulses Village scheme which is being rolled out from the current Kharif season.

He requested the state governments to utilise the fallow lands which are available for pulses after the rice crop is harvested.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan also asked the state governments to take up inter-cropping of Tur in a vigorous manner.

He mentioned that the state governments should share their best practices with each other and interstate visits should be undertaken for this.

The Minister mentioned that the elected representatives such as MPs and MLAs should be actively involved in the Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs).

The Union Minister emphasised the need for crop diversification towards cash crops and the need to restore the fertility of the soil.

He stressed the requirement for timely and quality inputs to farmers, such as good quality seeds for increasing productivity, and assured maximum support regarding this.

The meeting was called as the government wants to prioritise the increase in production of pulses in the country with a view to reducing imports.

He informed the state ministers that the government of India has opened 150 Pulse Seed Hubs and Cluster Front Line Demonstrations (CFLDs) are being given by the ICAR for making seeds available in low productivity districts. He mentioned the need to develop climate-resilient varieties and short-duration varieties so that the effects of climate change could be countered.

The Union Minister requested the state governments to strengthen their seed delivery systems by strengthening the State Seed Corporations.

Agriculture Ministers of the major pulses producing states, namely Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Bihar, Telangana were present during the meeting.

The state governments appreciated the efforts being made by the Centre through the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) and assured of full cooperation.

They mentioned that since the monsoon has been predicted as above normal, the targets set by the Central government are very likely to be achieved.

The states recognised the need for increasing the distribution of high yielding varieties of seeds and also the need for increasing the area under pulses on an urgent basis.

The Union Minister assured all the support to states and invited all state agriculture ministers to Delhi to hold a detailed meeting to discuss the agriculture scenario and any issue collectively.

Union Ministers of State for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Ram Nath Thakur and Bhagirath Chaudhary, Agriculture Secretary Manoj Ahuja and Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Himanshu Pathak were also present in the meeting.
New Delhi, June 21 : India on Friday said that it has so far not received any request for providing Consular access to Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national accused by the US authorities of having involvement in a murder-for-hire plot against a Khalistani leader.

Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic at the request of the US and produced in a New York federal court earlier this week.

"We have so far not received any request for Consular access for Mr Gupta but his family has got in touch with us and we are in touch with the family members. We are looking at the matter as to what can be done on the request," said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Friday.

Appearing before Magistrate Judge James Cott on Monday, Gupta made the "not guilty" plea through his lawyer.

Assistant Federal Prosecutor Ashley Nichols told the court that Gupta is charged in the murder-for-hire plot.

Cott ordered him to be kept in custody till the next date of hearing on June 28, when a conference on the case is scheduled.
Mumbai, June 21 : Hours after Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole claimed that cracks have appeared on the swank new Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), also known as Atal Setu, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) clarified on Friday that the cracks are not on the actual bridge, but on the approach road from the Navi Mumbai side.

The cracks -- detected at three locations on Ramp 5 (towards Mumbai) -- are minor and located along the road surface near the edges, MMRDA said.

Scoffing rumours on social media that the cracks were on the main bridge itself, the MMRDA's operation and maintenance team inspected the site on Thursday and discovered the problem on the Ulwe side in Navi Mumbai, across Thane Creek.

The 21.8 km long six-lane bridge has a 16.5 km sea link connecting South Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.

The MMRDA said that the Package 4 contractor (Strabag Infrastructure & Safety Solutions GmbH and Strabag AG) has already initiated the repair works which shall be completed within 24 hours without causing any disruption to the traffic movement.

"It is important to note that these cracks are not due to any structural defects. They are minor longitudinal cracks in the asphalt pavement, which can be effectively repaired without impacting the life or performance of the pavement," the MMRDA said.

Commenting on the matter, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in a post on X: "There is no crack on Atal Setu, nor is there any danger to Atal Setu. This is the picture of the approach road. But one thing is clear - Congress has made a long-term plan to create a 'rift' with the help of lies... Only the people of the country will defeat this 'daraar' plan and the corrupt behaviour of the Congress..."

On learning about the problem, Nana Patole visited the Atal Setu on Friday and later accused the state government of corruption in the mega project.

Patole said that barely six months after the Atal Setu was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi (on January 12), cracks have appeared on it and a half-kilometre stretch of the road on the Navi Mumbai side has sunk by around one foot.

"The MahaYuti government has crossed all limits of corruption. The previous BJP government in Karnataka was a 40 per cent commission regime, but this government is 100 per cent commission-based," Patole told mediapersons.

He pointed out that the government spent over Rs 18,000 crore for the MTHL with loans, and "this is not development but sheer corruption, and the state government is filling its own pockets while playing with the lives of the people".

Patole said that since the project was thrown open by the Prime Minister, the government should have examined it properly before it was opened for vehicular traffic.

He also vowed that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will raise this and other aspects of corruption of the ruling MahaYuti regime in the upcoming Assembly session.
Hyderabad, June 21 : The Congress government in Telangana on Friday decided to waive loans of farmers to the tune of Rs 2 lakh by spending Rs 31,000 crore to implement its election promise.

The decision to waive the farm loans in one go was taken at the state Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.

The Chief Minister told media persons after the Cabinet meeting that a decision was taken to waive farm loans taken between December 12, 2018 and December 9, 2023.

He also declared that the loans would be waived in one go, unlike the previous government of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) which waived loans of up to Rs1 lakh in four instalments.

Revanth Reddy said while the previous BRS government, in its two terms between 2014 and 2023, waived loans of up to Rs 28,000 crore, the Congress government would spend Rs 31,000 crore. He recalled that the promise was made in the farmersa declaration unveiled by party leader Rahul Gandhi at Warangal on May 6, 2022. He said by implementing the promise, the government would send a clear message that agriculture is a festivity and not a loss-making profession.

Revath Reddy said while the previous government in 10 years did not fulfil promises made to farmers, the Congress government was implementing its promises in eight months.

The government also constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka to work out modalities for implementing Rythu Bharosa.

Under the scheme, the Congress had promised to enhance investment support to farmers to Rs 15,000 per acre annually from Rs 10,000 being given currently under the Rythu Bandhu scheme of the previous BRS government.

Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao, Congress election manifesto committee Chairman and Industry Minister D. Sridhar Babu, and Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy are the members of the Cabinet Sub-Committee.

Revanth Reddy said the Cabinet Sub-Committee will hold discussions with all stakeholders including farmer groups, agriculture workers and political parties to prepare a report. The Sub-Committee will submit the report to the government by July 15 and the same will be tabled during the coming Budget session of the Assembly for a thorough debate.

The government will prepare a policy to implement the scheme. He assured that every eligible farmer would get the benefits under Rythu Bharosa. The Chief Minister reiterated that the Congress government was committed to implementing all the welfare schemes promised by it. He alleged that opposition parties were running false propaganda to create apprehension among people.
New Delhi, June 21 : The Centre has issued an order imposing stock limits for pulses that can be stored by wholesalers, retailers, big chain retailers, millers, and importers to prevent hoarding and keep prices in check.

The order, which kicks in with immediate effect, prescribes stock limits for tur and chana, including kabuli chana, until September 30, 2024, for all states and Union Territories.

The action is part of a slew of measures taken by the government to keep prices of essential commodities under control. The stock limit is aimed at preventing unscrupulous elements from profiteering at the cost of consumers.

Stock limits applicable to each of the pulse individually will be 200 metric tonnes (MT) for wholesalers; 5 MT for retailers; 5 MT at each retail outlet and 200 MT at the depot for big chain retailers.

In the case of millers, the stock limit is the last 3 months of their production or 25 per cent of annual installed capacity, whichever is higher. Importers are barred from holding imported stock beyond 45 days from the date of Customs clearance, according to an official statement.

"The respective legal entities are to declare the stock position on the portal (https://fcainfoweb.nic.in/psp) of the Department of Consumer Affairs and in case the stocks held by them are higher than the prescribed limits, they shall bring the same to the prescribed stock limits by July 12, 2024," the order said.

The Department of Consumer Affairs has been closely monitoring the stock position of pulses through the stock disclosure portal.

The Department had, in the first week of April, communicated to the state governments to enforce mandatory stock disclosure by all stockholding entities, which was followed up with visits to major pulses-producing states and trading hubs across the country from the last week of April till May 10.

Separate meetings with traders, stockists, dealers, importers, millers, and big chain retailers were also held to encourage and sensitise them for truthful disclosure of stocks and maintaining the affordability of pulses for the consumers.

Sowing of Kharif pulses like tur and urad is expected to increase significantly this season due to high price realisation by farmers and above-normal monsoon rains predicted by the IMD.

Further, tur imported from East African countries is expected to arrive from August onward.

These factors are expected to help bring down the prices of Kharif pulses like tur and urad in the coming months.
New Delhi, June 21 : Kalpana Chaudhari, an erstwhile common resident of Maharashtra's Gondia district, is a popular name today and has rather emerged as an epitome of success.

Her fledgling business of lac bangles is making waves in her own and the neighbouring villages and also motivating fellow women villagers to follow in her footsteps.

Interestingly, her success story owes a lot to the women empowerment steps undertaken by the Adani Foundation via promotion of Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

Kalpana Chaudhari, a resident of Khairbodi village in Tiroda taluka, learnt the art of making lac bangles as part of the SHG facilitated by the Adani Foundation and then went to set up her own shop.

Today, she is running her own business of lac bangles and other cosmetic items, thus making herself financially independent and empowered. Her bangle business has given wings to her dreams and, today, she has become an inspiration for many other women who want to become independent like her.

Narrating her journey, she says that Adani Foundation inducted her into a project titled 'Sangini', where she learnt the art of making lac bangles and then, with their assistance and advice, opened her own shop.

Kalpana feels herself truly empowered today, as she not only runs her business but has also learnt other skills including operating computer and driving vehicles.

She says that her life has undergone sea-change over the years and expressed gratitude to the Adani Foundation for all the assistance, including the monetary aid for her childrenas education.

Interestingly, Kalpana Chaudhari is not the only woman in Maharashtra's Tiroda to have seen tremendous change of fortune in their lives. There are at least 45 other women, like Kalpana, who are a part of SHGs associated with lac bangle making units, facilitated by the Adani Foundation.
Kolkata, June 21 : The total financial involvement in the multi-crore ration distribution case in West Bengal ranges to the tune of Rs 10,000 crore, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has informed a special court of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) here on Friday.

An ED counsel said that of the Rs 10,000 crore, the central agency officials have tracked, Rs 1,000 crore was routed through the corporate entities and rice-mills owned by the arrested businessman in the case, Bakibur Rahaman.

Rahman, the first to be arrested by the ED official last year in the ration distribution case, was a confidant of former West Bengal minister Jyotipriya Mallick.

Regarding the remaining Rs 9,000 crore, the ED told the court that their officials are currently in the process of "joining the dots" regarding the other corporate entities or channels through which the funds were routed.

On Thursday, former minister Mallick had approached the Calcutta High Court with a bail petition.

However, the ED opposed the bail plea moved on medical grounds.

Meanwhile, the ED counsel sought some time from the single-judge bench of Justice Suvra Ghosh to present their arguments in the matter.

Justice Ghosh had approved the plea from ED counsel and given him four days of time to come prepared with the arguments on his side.

The matter will be heard again on June 25.
Sonipat : , June 21 (IANS) Veteran Congress leader and two-time Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda on Friday accused the BJP governments of playing with the future of the youth through paper leaks and recruitment scams.

He also said the Congress won the Lok Sabha election battle in the state and would win the upcoming Assembly polls too.

"Be it NEET or the UGC NET at the national level, or a series of recruitment scams in Haryana, BJP's misdeeds are being exposed," Hooda, who is also the Leader of the Opposition, said while addressing a gathering of party workers.

Party state President Chaudhary Udaibhan, newly-elected Sonipat MP Satpal Brahmachari, former Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Sharma, and former state president Dharampal Malik were also present at the event.

In his address, Hooda said the Congress is protesting against NEET and NET paper scams across the country.

"In Haryana, the Congress has been continuously raising this issue from the streets to the Assembly, but the BJP never learned a lesson from its actions. Therefore, the public taught BJP a lesson in the Lok Sabha elections," he said while thanking voters and workers for the victory of the Sonipat Congress candidate.

He said after "winning one front, now we have to prepare to win the next front. For this, it is necessary to increase public outreach further. Go to all communities and tell them about the failures of the current government".

"It is important to tell the public that Haryana was the number one state in the country in per capita income, per capita investment, employment, sportspersons, respect for elders and farmers, law and order, and prosperity during the Congress government before 2014. The BJP has made the state number one in unemployment, crime, corruption and drug addiction. That is why the public has made up its mind to bring the Congress government," he added.
Raigad : , June 21 (IANS) Four students of the Rizvi College in Mumbai's Bandra drowned while on a monsoon picnic at a waterfall adjacent to a dam in Maharashtra's Raigad district on Friday afternoon, police said.

The four students were part of a group of 37 other boys and girls from Mumbai who had gone to the picturesque Saibaba Dam with a waterfall, near the Pokharwadi village.

The victims were identified as Akash Mane, 20, Ranjit Banda, 18, Eklavya Singh, 18, and Ishant Yadav, 19.

The tragedy occurred when the group, including 17 girls, were returning after a monsoon trekking expedition to the nearby Sondai Fort and decided to take a dip in the dam waters, around 3 p.m.

As they entered the water, one of them started drowning and shouted for help, and when the other three jumped to save him, they also were pulled into the water. As per preliminary information by the police and local eyewitnesses, they apparently misjudged the depth of the waters and may have been stuck in the mud on the dam floor, leading to their drowning.

The other students informed the Khalapur police which rushed a team and with help from the villagers, the bodies of the victims were taken out and taken to a nearby health centre for an autopsy.

The stunned families of the victims also reached the spot and were being consoled by the other students as they awaited the completion of the police formalities before claiming the bodies.
New Delhi, June 21 : In a video clip that has now gone viral on social media, Canada's Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is seen struggling for answers when asked about the Canadian Parliament paying tribute to slain Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar even though the government led by Justin Trudeau put him on a 'no-fly' list and also had his bank accounts frozen long before his assassination.

The video, which shows Freeland taking questions at an event, generated quite a bit of interest on a day when India made it clear once again that it will continue to highlight and oppose the political space that has been given in Canada to separatism, extremism, and violence.

"We naturally oppose any moves of giving political space to extremism and those advocating violence," Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the External Affairs Ministry, told the media in New Delhi.

The MEA spokesperson was responding to a question on the Canadian Parliament observing silence on the first death anniversary of Sikh radical Nijjar, earlier this week.

In the viral video clip, Freeland, who has also earlier served as the Foreign Minister of Canada, was asked why the Trudeau government put Nijjar on a 'no-fly' list and even froze his bank accounts while he was alive.

"It was important to have a moment of silence to recognise that this was a murder of a Canadian in Canada and on Canadian soil. That is entirely unacceptable," Freeland said.

The clip then showed the Canadian minister continuing to praise Trudeau for taking a strong stance on the issue, without answering the queries raised on Nijjar.

"I was very proud of the Prime Minister and of the strong position he took after the murder. It was the right thing to do but not an easy thing. He (Trudeau) made it clear that for the Government of Canada, all Canadians are the same, all Canadians have the same rights, and murder on Canadian soil is just not allowed and the government of Canada will enforce our laws and protect all Canadians regardless of who is threatening us or what the consequences would be," Freeland said.

Pro-Khalistan elements continue to spread anti-India feelings through their extremist statements and activities in Canada even as the Indian government has repeatedly expressed its deep concern and strong protest at the disturbing actions being allowed to continue unchecked in the country.

Last month, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar slammed the Trudeau government for giving refuge to pro-Khalistani elements, asserting that further deterioration in bilateral ties would eventually result in a big loss for Canada.

"Freedom of speech cannot be freedom to advocate violence, freedom of speech cannot be freedom to support separatism and terrorism in a foreign country. It cannot be... A group of Khalistanis have been misusing Canada's freedom laws for years. But when the Canadian government has any political compulsions, they accommodate these people who are also their vote bank," Jaishankar said while speaking at a 'Vishwabandhu Bharat' interaction session in Nashik.

New Delhi has conveyed to Ottawa on several occasions that democratic countries that respect the rule of law should not allow intimidation by radical elements in the name of freedom of expression.

"Our relations have been spoiled today because of the activities of these people who are even threatening our Ambassador and various diplomats posted in the country. They threw smoke bombs inside the High Commission and, at one time, our diplomats were facing great difficulty in getting out of the building. People who supported terror activities against India have been given refuge in Canada. The government there should have a relook at the entire situation," Jaishankar said.
New Delhi, June 21 : Thousands of spirited Kashmir locals, motivated by the energising words of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, celebrated the 10th International Day of Yoga (IDY), on the rain-drenched ground of Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar on Friday.

Applauding the spirit of Kashmir residents, PM Modi said: "I saw scores of girls covering themselves with the Yoga mat, and they remained on the ground. This undaunted spirit of theirs and the love for Yoga is quite appreciable."

The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude for being present in Jammu & Kashmir, the land of Yog and Sadhna, and stated that "the atmosphere, energy, and experience from Yoga could be felt in Jammu & Kashmir today".

"Participation of 50-60,000 people of Jammu and Kashmir with Yoga today on this occasion is a remarkable feat in itself," he said.

Highlighting the theme for this year, "Yoga for Self and Society", PM Modi emphasised about the significant contribution of yoga in enhancing personal wellness and fostering social cohesion and conveyed his best wishes to all citizens and those practising Yoga worldwide.

After finishing his address, PM Modi went to meet the rain-drenched Yoga enthused Kashmiris.

He interacted with young boys and girls and cheered them up, taking selfies himself, chatting with them -- thus making their day.

Earlier on Friday morning, the event at SKICC began with a mixed mood of weather and human spirit.

Moments before the start of the programme, rain poured down on SKICC ground, trying to dampen the spirits of the Yoga enthusiasts of Srinagar.

However, the crowd declined to move away and stuck to its ground. The Yoga mats were used as head cover and the long green stretches of floor mats were used as mass-umbrellas.

In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of International Yoga Day, PM Modi highlighted that a remarkable 177 countries supported India's proposal in the UN.

He also mentioned notable achievements in previous International Day of Yoga events, such as 35,000 individuals practicing yoga on Kartavya Path (earlier known as Rajpath in Delhi) in 2015, and over 130 countries participating in the yoga event led by the Prime Minister at the UN Headquarters last year.

Additionally, he expressed his delight that more than 100 institutes in India and 10 major foreign institutes have been recognized by the Yoga Certification Board established by the Ministry of Ayush.

The celebration led by the Prime Minister was also attended by Lt Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha, Union Minister of State for Ayush (Independent Charge) and Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav, along with other dignitaries.

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister for selecting Jammu and Kashmir, particularly Srinagar, as the venue for the 10th International Yoga Day main event.

He mentioned that this event has brought a new perspective to the development journey of the Union Territory.

The Lt Governor also commended PM Modi's efforts in promoting Yoga on an international level, stating that Yoga embodies the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

He emphasised the significance of this year's theme, highlighting the importance of individuals protecting and supporting each other.

In his welcome address, Union Ayush Minister Prataprao Jadhav extended his congratulations to the citizens on International Yoga Day and expressed his delight in addressing the Yoga enthusiasts in Srinagar.

"The Yoga Yatra, initiated in 2015 under the leadership of the Prime Minister, has been progressing with ever-increasing enthusiasm without any interruptions," he said.

He said that the theme for this year, "Yoga for Self and Society", effectively showcases the transformative influence of Yoga.

Yoga serves as a unifying force across all segments of society, injecting vitality into the community.

Not only does Yoga contribute to our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, but it also fosters unity and welfare within society.

Various embassies and Indian missions around the world also celebrated IDY, highlighting the extensive reach of yoga.

The Ministry of Ayush in Delhi also collaborated with NDMC, ASI, and DDA to organise large-scale yoga events.

In order to engage a wider audience, the Ministry of Ayush also introduced various competitions and activities, such as the "Yoga with Family" Video Contest in partnership with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) on the MyGov and MyBharat platforms.

This contest aims to inspire families worldwide to demonstrate the joy of yoga and strengthen familial bonds.

Submissions for this contest must be made by June 30, 2024.
Yoga may help older women at risk for Alzheimer's: Study. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, June 21 : Regular practice of yoga offers numerous benefits for women in managing their health, such as it can help manage stress, anxiety, and mood swings more effectively, experts said on the International Day of Yoga (IDY) on Friday.

The International Day of Yoga is celebrated worldwide annually on June 21, following its adoption by the United Nations in 2014.

The initiative for "Yoga Day" was taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 2014 UN address.

According to experts, yoga promotes physical fitness by improving flexibility, strength, and balance, which are crucial for overall well-being.

"It also enhances cardiovascular health and supports weight management, which can be particularly beneficial for women at different stages of life. Beyond the physical benefits, yoga cultivates mental clarity and emotional stability through mindful breathing and meditation practices," Dr Jyoti Kapoor, Founder & Director, Manasthali Wellness, told IANS.

This year's theme of IDY was 'Yoga for Self and Society', emphasising yoga's vital role in fostering both individual well-being and societal harmony.

Emerging research showed that yoga can significantly benefit women dealing with neurological issues, the experts mentioned.

"Yoga encourages neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to reorganise itself, which can aid in recovery from neurological disorders and improve cognitive function. Yoga's physical postures and relaxation techniques can reduce chronic pain by improving flexibility, strength, and pain perception," said Dr Rajnish Kumar, Senior Director and Unit Head, Neurology, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Dwarka.

In addition, experts said that whether seeking relief from menstrual discomfort, managing conditions like PCOS or menopause symptoms, or simply striving for greater vitality, the regular practice of yoga provides a holistic approach to "women's health that nourishes both body and spirit".
New Delhi, June 21 : India's Ambassador to Turkey Virander Paul passed away on Friday.

Sources said that he died following a prolonged illness.

Sharing the news, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X: "We are deeply saddened at the untimely demise of Ambassador Virander Paul, India's envoy to Turkiye. A dedicated officer, he will always be remembered for his exceptional human qualities and impactful professional contribution. Our heartfelt condolences to his family..."

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also took to X to express his condolences. In a post, he said: "Deeply grieved at the passing away of Virander Paul, our Ambassador in Turkiye. A great loss to the Indian Foreign Service. Have worked closely with him in his many postings. Always admired his commitment and service and value his many contributions. Deepest condolences to his family. Om Shanti."

Paul, a 1991-batch IFS officer, before being appointed India's Ambassador to Turkey, had served as High Commissioner to Kenya, Ambassador to Somalia, and Permanent Representative of India to UNEP and UN-HABITAT.
Jaipur, June 21 : The Rajasthan Police on Friday arrested four persons from Haryana for smuggling the state animal camel in a pickup van, the police said.

The accused have been identified as Mohammad Shafiq (29), Mubin Khan (28), Mohammad Iqlas (27) and Rajudin Meo (22).

Superintendent of Police (SP), Ranjita Sharma, said a tip-off was received on Thursday that the camels were being loaded in a pickup van with a Haryana number.

Upon receiving information, the police team reached the spot, arrested four smugglers and freed three camels from the pickup van.

SP Sharma added that a case was registered under Section 6A(8) of the Rajasthan Camel (Prohibition of Slaughter and Regulation of Temporary Migration or Export) Act, 2015, and all four accused were arrested.

The accused were produced in the court and sent to police remand.

The freed camels were handed over to animal keeper Suresh Chandra Rebari to arrange for their fodder and water.
New Delhi, June 21 : India's pursuit of defence indigenisation and self-reliance is crucial for achieving strategic independence in the defence sector, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan said on Friday.

The CDS made the remarks addressing the maiden Armed Forces BEML Synergy Meet 2024 in the national capital. Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari along with senior officials from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard attended the event.

Underlining the objectives of Aatmnirbharta in defence, Gen Anil Chauhan said, "The concept of Atmanirbharta underscores our aim to attain autonomy in defence production and establish an ecosystem that positions India as a leading global defence exporter."

According to the Defence Ministry, the first-of-its-kind event was aimed at deepening understanding and delivering cutting-edge solutions to meet military needs in the near future and to further strengthen Aatmnirbharta in defence.

Gen. Anil Chauhan commended BEML for their efforts and endorsed the collaborative development of indigenous defence equipment. He emphasized the importance of joint integration to achieve synergy in line with the Government of India's agenda for military modernization.

The event served as a platform for open interactions, strengthening the relationships between BEML and the armed forces. These discussions were aimed at fostering mutual growth and ensuring that the defence sector can meet the evolving challenges and demands of modern military operations with equal collaboration from Defence PSU like BEML, officials said.

BEML CMD Shantanu Roy in his address reiterated the commitment of the defence PSU to enhancing the nation's indigenization efforts in army vehicles and solutions.

Roy said, "The synergy meet will provide valuable insights into the evolving needs of the Army, Navy and Air Force, and we stand ready with our research and execution capabilities to meet these requirements."
Imphal/Agartala/Kohima, June 21 : The Congress staged protests in several northeastern states on Friday over alleged irregularities in the NEET and UGC-NET, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and action against the guilty.

In Tripura, hundreds of Congress workers led by Congress Working Committee member Sudip Roy Barman and state President Asish Kumar Saha staged a protest in front of Congress Bhavan in the heart of the capital city and burnt an effigy of the Union Education Minister, holding him accountable for the "irregularities".

Addressing the gathering, Saha said that lakhs of students across the country are not only frustrated but they see a bleak future.

"Pradhan has admitted that there may be wrongdoings in the conduct of NEET. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has been campaigning for zero tolerance against corruption, is now silent," he said and demanded to conduct both the exams afresh.

Roy Barman said that in the last few years, the country has witnessed question paper leakage 70 times but none of those guilty or the conspirators have been brought to justice.

In Nagaland, Congress leaders and workers assembled in front of the Congress Bhavan in Kohima carrying placards and banners demanding that the Centre take action against the National Testing Agency (NTA) and those responsible for alleged irregularities in the NEET and UGC-NET examinations.

State Congress unit's Public Grievance Department Co-Chairman Meshenlo Kath said that the PM Modi government would not be able to fool the people of the country for a long time.

In Arunachal Pradesh, Congress leaders and workers led by state Youth Congress President Tarh Johny staged a protest outside the Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan in Itanagar demanding action against those responsible for the irregularities. He alleged that since the BJP-led NDA government came to power at the Centre, the country has been rocked by serious misdeeds in the academic sector. He said that the competitive examinations have been disrupted by technical glitches, misconduct and unfair means in certain test centres as is evident by arrests made in Bihar, Gujarat and Haryana, all BJP-ruled states.

In Manipur, state Congress President Keisham Meghachandra Singh led a similar protest against the irregularities in NEET and UGC-NET examinations at the party headquarters in Imphal.
Mumbai, June 21 : In a bid to woo the women voters in the upcoming elections to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Shiv Sena legislator Pratap Sarnaik has urged Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to launch "Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna" scheme on the lines of Madhya Pradesh government.

Sarnaik, in a letter to Shinde, suggested that the scheme should be started from August 15, or Ganesh festival.

The legislator said a monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,500 could be provided and the aid in phases could be increased to Rs 3,000.

The scheme would be applicable to women in the age group of 21 to 60 years.

Sarnaik said that the government could deposit Rs 1,500 to the eligible women's account through the DBT route.

The Shiv Sena legislator said the scheme would help women become financially secure to a considerable extent.

Sarnaik said that the state government in the last two years have taken a slew of decisions for the welfare and development of women, education, self employment, health and empowerment.

The Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna scheme will be a crucial step in making women financially self-sufficient, he said.
New Delhi/Aizawl, June 22 : Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Friday held meetings with Union Health, Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister J.P. Nadda, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and DoNER and Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia in the national capital to discuss various state-related issues, officials said.

Lalduhoma also met Parliamentary and Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles Pabitra Margherita, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla.

An official of the Chief Ministeras Office said that during the meetings with the Central ministers and officials, the Chief Minister discussed key issues on development and other important matters. Mizoramas sole MP-elect Richard Vanlalhmangaiha, who belongs to the ruling Zoram Peopleas Movement (ZPM), also accompanied the Chief Minister during the meetings.

The ZPM is neither a constituent of the BJP-led NDA nor the Congress-led INDIA bloc.
Mumbai, June 22 : Amid ongoing protests, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday made it clear that the OBC reservation will not be affected, and the government will not allow injustice to the OBC community.

He said that the state government is positive regarding the demands of the OBC community.

CM Shinde also said that the state government will soon set up a cabinet sub-committee for the coordination on the OBC community quota and discuss issues on the lines of a sub-committee established for the Maratha community reservation and related issues.

The Maharashtra Chief Minister's assurance came at a meeting with the delegation of OBC leaders comprising NCP ministers Chhagan Bhujbal and Dhananjay Munde, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Vijay Wadettiwar, BJP ministers Girish Mahajan and Atul Save, former minister Pankaja Munde, BJP legislator Gopichand Padalkar and former legislator Prakash Shendge.

The meeting, which was also attended by Deputy Maharashtra Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, took place at a time when OBC leaders Ganesh Hake and Nagnath Waghmare have started an indefinite fast, while a few OBC leaders have launched similar sit-in dharna at Pune, stating the OBC quota should not be disturbed while providing Kunbi certificates to the Maratha community.

Shinde also assured that Kunbi certificates will be linked to Aadhaar cards to avoid any forgery.

The government will take action against those who take and give false certificates.

Bhujbal after the meeting, told the reporters that the Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is in favour of the caste census.

He said that OBC leaders urged the state government not to take any decision in haste with regard to inclusion of the "sage soyare" term in the Maratha reservation notification.

The term "sage soyare" in Marathi means through birth relations and relations by marriage.

Bhujbal further added that the debate should take place during the upcoming monsoon session.
Raichur : , June 21 (IANS) Karnataka Medical Education and Skill Development Minister Sharan Prakash Patil on Friday termed the NEET-UG 2024 a massive 'scam' of the Central government, as he demanded a CBI probe into the matter.

About 24 lakh aspirants appeared for NEET on May 5 for admission to medical colleges. The results were announced before time on June 5 but were marred by allegations of paper leak and awarding of grace marks to over 1,500 candidates.

Addressing mediaperons here, Patil said, "The Tamil Nadu government has already expressed its position...We need to fight this legally."

"It's sad that the Centre is not taking the matter seriously even as students and parents continue to protest across the country. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is acting irresponsibly. The CBI should conduct a probe and the guilty must be punished," he added.

The minister also said that the Centre's reluctance to order a probe into the NEET fiasco despite protests across the country raises doubts in the minds of the people.

"Many state governments have demanded a CBI probe into the matter. We don't know if the Centre is trying to shield the culprits. The BJP government at the Centre is playing with the future of 24 lakh students," Patil said.

Expressing the state government's limitations in seeking exemption from NEET, Patil cited a Supreme Court order and the legal restrictions.

"We cannot outrightly reject NEET as per the law, it was enacted by the Central government and we have a Supreme Court order regarding conducting NEET," he said.
Ramallah, June 22 : The Palestinian presidency has welcomed Armenia's recognition of the State of Palestine, considering the decision an important step towards achieving peace and stability in the region, according to media reports.

The Palestinian presidency expressed its thanks to Armenia for the step that reflects the friendship between the two people and the two friendly countries, and Armenia's keenness to support the Palestinian people's rights to self-determination, the Palestinian official news agency WAFA said on Friday.

The statement called on the countries of the world, especially the European countries that have not yet recognised the State of Palestine, to do so based on legitimate international resolutions, Xinhua news agency reported.

On Friday, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said in a statement that it welcomes Armenia's decision, calling it an "additional and important" step on the path to establishing international recognition of the rights of Palestinian people.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday that Armenia officially recognised the State of Palestine.

The Caucasus country also stated its support for the two-state solution, stressing it is "the only way to ensure that Palestinians and Israelis can realise their legitimate aspirations".

Norway, Ireland, and Spain made a coordinated announcement on May 22, declaring their recognition of Palestine as a state effective as of May 28. Their decision was condemned by Israel.

So far, more than 140 countries have already recognised a Palestinian state, representing more than two-thirds of the United Nations' membership.
Gaza, June 22 : The civil defence service in Gaza has said that the Israeli forces bombed a facility belonging to the municipality of Gaza City and killed five municipal employees.

The Civil Defence Service said on Friday that rescue teams are still searching for missing persons under the rubble of the bombed facility, which is near Yarmouk Stadium in the city centre.

The Gaza Municipality condemned the Israeli army's attacks in a statement and called for an immediate investigation, Xinhua news agency reported.

The municipality stressed that the killed employees were pumping water for the citizens, who were "performing the duty of the nation and serving the citizens despite the limited capabilities and high risk".

It also warned of the collapse of municipal services due to the Israeli attacks on municipal employees, which could interrupt the basic services, such as water and sanitation, and put extra strain on Palestinians living in the besieged enclave.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli army about the incident.

Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on October 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and around 250 were taken hostage.
Washington, June 22 : US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned growing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea and reaffirmed the "vital" importance of the Seoul-Washington alliance during phone talks with his South Korean counterpart, his spokesperson said.

The call between Blinken and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul came on Friday after Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed a "comprehensive strategic partnership" treaty on their cooperation in defence and other areas during their summit in Pyongyang on Wednesday, Yonhap news agency reported.

"The Secretary condemned deepening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, including ongoing arms transfers that violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions, and reaffirmed the vital importance of the ironclad US-South Korea alliance in promoting peace, security, and prosperity around the world," Matthew Miller, the Spokesperson, said in a statement.

Blinken thanked Cho for Seoul's continued support for Ukraine while the two sides agreed to continue working together to address the "complex and evolving" security challenges posed by North Korea, as well as to support peace and stability in the South China Sea, according to Miller.

This week's summit between Putin and Kim has been a major source of concern for both Seoul and Washington due to its implications for regional and global security.
Washington/New York, June 22 : South Korea, the US and Japan have agreed on close security cooperation through "timely" consultation after Russia and North Korea signed a new security treaty during a summit in Pyongyang this week, Seoul's top diplomat said.

South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul made the remarks on Friday, commenting on his back-to-back phone calls with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, Yonhap news agency reported.

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed a "comprehensive strategic partnership" treaty that included an article calling for one side to provide military assistance to the other "without delay" in case of an armed invasion.

"In response to North Korea's threats, we agreed to strengthen the robust South Korea-US alliance and security cooperation among South Korea, the US and Japan, while closely working together to lead stern responses of the international community," Cho said in a meeting with reporters.

"I think that it is meaningful that we sent a strong message under close cooperation through timely consultation with the friendly countries of the US and Japan," he added.

Cho was in New York to attend an official UN Security Council (UNSC) meeting on cybersecurity that took place on Thursday.

Cho presided over the council meeting as South Korea holds this month's rotating UNSC presidency.

"As we have undertaken the UNSC presidency at this challenging juncture, we will make efforts to ensure that this role as the UNSC President will serve as an opportunity to expand the horizons of our diplomacy and enhance our standing as a global pivotal state," he said.

The government of President Yoon Suk Yeol has been pursuing the role of a "global pivotal state" to contribute more to tackling global issues in line with its growing national stature.
Levine Querido will launch Re-Lit, an imprint publishing reissues of out-of-print works by authors from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds, this fall.

Arthur A. Levine, publisher of Levine Querido, explained in a release that he had founded his company in 2019 with a mission to seek out and publish the brilliant work of authors and artists from communities that had been historically overlooked or underappreciated by the mainstream publishing community. Noting that previously, even when creators from marginalized communities did break through into publishing, they often faced problematic assumptions about how big a readership their work would reach, and how its value would be counted.

Due to the ignorance and preconceptions that hampered the marketing of books by BIPOC authors at that time, Levine added, Some of those books never reached the full audience they deserved. Many went out of print too quickly. Editors at Re-Lit, Levine said, will search for these buried treasures and do our very best to cast a new light that will allow them to sparkle once more.

Re-Lit plans one release each publishing season beginning with Liberation Literature: Collected Writings of Virginia Hamilton, which will include the pioneering childrens authors essays, speeches, and interviews originally published by Blue Sky in 2010 and edited by Hamilton's husband, Arnold Adoff, with Kacy Cook. The volume will feature a foreword by Laura Pegram, the founder and editor-in-chief of Kweli Journal, a publication that focuses on emerging BIPOC writers.

Hamilton, who died in 2002, wrote more than 40 books for young people. The first Black writer to win a Newbery Medalfor her 1975 novel, M.C. Higgins the GreatHamilton received many other prestigious awards, including the Newbery Honor and the Coretta Scott King, National Book, Boston Globe/Horn Book, Children's Literature Legacy, and Hans Christian Andersen awards. She was also the first children's book author to be awarded a MacArthur Genius Grant, in 1995. The American Library Association established the Coretta Scott KingVirginia Hamilton Award in 2010 in her honor, recognizing a significant and lasting contribution by an African American author, illustrator, or author-illustrator to children's literature.

Re-Lit will follow up the Hamilton book in spring 2025 with the reissue of Dream Boy by Jim Grimsley, which was originally published by Algonquin Books in 1995 and went on to win the ALAs Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Book Awardnow called the Stonewall Book Awardthat year. The new edition will feature a foreword by Justin Torres. In fall 2025, the imprint will publish a new collection of poems by the late Paula Gunn Allen, best known as the author of The Sacred Hoop: Recovering the Feminine in American Indian Traditions (1986), who was affiliated with the Laguna Pueblo tribe in New Mexico.
The comics adaptation of Neil Gaimans 2005 novel Anansi Boys kicks off on June 26, when Dark Horse Comics will publish the first issue of the comics adaptation by writer Marc Bernardin, artist Shawn Martinbrough, and colorist Chris Sotomayor. The adaptation of Gaimans story about Fat Charlie, the son of the trickster god Anansi, will be published first as an eight-issue series and then next year as a graphic novel. Gaimans novel is also being adapted into an Amazon Prime series that is set to launch on July 11.

Bernardin has a lengthy resume as a comics creator, journalist, screenwriter. The supervising producer on Star Trek: Picard, Bernardins graphic novel Messenger: The Legend of Muhammad Ali (First Second, August 2023), a collaboration with artist Ron Salas, was nominated for a 2024 Eisner Award. Nonetheless, for a writer to adapt the work of another writer, especially one of Gaimans stature, is a challenge. We talked with Bernardin about how he and his collaborators transformed the story into a new format.

How did you approach this project?

My perspective, when it comes to adaptation, is very Hippocratic: Do not leave this patient in a worse state than when you got there. I think Neil appreciated that. When he started reading the scripts, as they were coming through, he gave a couple of notes here and there: Are you sure you want to do this? Maybe this? Maybe this? And then, after a while, there were just no notes. It's like, You're doing what I would hope you would do, which is do the book. Add what you need to add, shift where you need to shift, caress and reform as you need to. But otherwise, I'm not reinventing the wheel.

Often only the artist is credited in a graphic novel adaptation. What part do you play as a writer?

I've read other prose to comics adaptations, and they start to feel thick, in that all of the descriptive stuff thats in prose tends to get ported over almost directly into print. Part of my job was to understand that these are two different mediums, and we can adapt this in ways that that both amplify the intent of the original work and don't burden newcomers by leaving them asking, What am I supposed to take away from this? This kind of feels like it's a hybrid, not one or the other?

The other thing is that this is a funny book, and comedy in comics requires timing, and timing requires a certain amount of engineering. It's playing with page turns, it's playing with panel iterations. Playing very specifically with those tools is a lot of where the adaptation work came in. It's distillation more than its invention. Its trying to get under the hood and figure out how it's working and why it's working the way it's working, and then transpose that new knowledge into comic book form.

How do you get the sense of the prose passages across to the reader without filling the page with text boxes?

I let the dialogue do a lot of that work, like when Fat Charlie could speak, when Papa Nancy could speak, letting the captions always be in somebody's perspective and not just the authorial voice.

How did you change the pacing of the novel to make it work as both single issue comics and, ultimately, a graphic novel?

My first lesson in adaptation came from William Goldmans Adventures in the Screen Trade. His chapter on adaptation goes something like, I read the book once, and then I put it down. Then I try to tell somebody the story of the book, and the things that I remember to tell them are the things that I think are important in that story.

So I was reading Anansi Boys looking at the moments we have to hit. Hey, you have a brother! Your father's dead. Those things needed to be big, and they needed to have their moments in the sun. And then it came like a little bit of condensation to get those things to land accordingly, a little bit of expansion to fill some space, a little bit of moving some of the classic Anansi stories around so that we know who that character is, that hes not just Charlies father but also the trickster god of myth.

What have you added or changed that wasnt in the original?

This was one of the few early Neil Gaiman notes. Fat Charlie goes back to Florida, and he meets this sort of coven of Florida women, the four ladies led by Mrs. Higgler. I know these women. Growing up in in New York, from a Caribbean family, I have met a lot of these women. However, my grandfather was from Trinidad, and Trinidad is 60% Black and 40% Indian, because it was a British colony. So I wanted to make one of these women Chinese, because there are Chinese Jamaicans, who came in the early 1900s and have lived there for generations, because Jamaica was a British colony and Hong Kong was a British colony.

Neil said, You realize all these women are Black? I said, Well, no, they're all Caribbean, but they can all be from different ethnic backgrounds, and I think it's actually kind of nice to show that there is a bit of diversity within that community. He said, Okay, but when we get hell for that, I'm telling them you did it. [laughs] I will take that blame. But I just I like to challenge those kinds of things when we canwhen they make sense for the story.

What was the hardest part of doing this adaptation?

Trying to hammer chronology onto prose that feels resistant to it. There are times when Neil would just be writing and he'd be spanning wide gulfs of time, because you can do that in proseyou can be anywhere at any moment in time that you want to be. But in comics, I wanted it to make sense, in a very grounded, concrete way.

I had to figure out ways to get across the emotional points that that Neil's prose gets across, but in 20 pages and in a way that still has some emotional heft and narrative flow to it. Those were the moments that were the hardest.

This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.
The 2024 ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition will bring together an impressive array of librarians and library leaders. The following is a day-by-day sampling of programs from the more than 175 sessions listed in the conferences education program. Most programs listed will take place at the San Diego Convention Center (SDCC) with room numbers included, except where noted. As always, please check the program guide online for any last minute changes or additions.



FRIDAY, JUNE 28

The conference will commence with a slate of meetings, preconference programming, and special events, including the opening ceremony for the Spectrum Leadership Institute and a reception for the Texas Library Association.

Among the preconference events this year is Diamond Moments of International Librarianship and Its Impact, which celebrates the 75th anniversary of the International Relations Round Table and will feature programs including RDA Around the World; Beyond the Books: Decoding the Application and Interview Process for Public, Academic, and Special Libraries; and Bilingual Storytime Academy. Also on Friday will be the sixth annual E-book Friday meeting, at which library leaders will present projects, discuss trends, and consider possible advocacy in the digital ecosystem.

SATURDAY, JUNE 29

8:3010 a.m.

S[ai]ge Advice: Claim the Center of the AI Conversation by Leveling Up AI Leaders

As artificial intelligence reshapes the way we work, this discussion will explore how librarians can ensure our AI future aligns with the core values and ethical standards of the library profession. (SDCC room 26 AB).

910 a.m.

Breaking Boundaries: Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence and ChatGPT to Transform Library Services

This panel will discuss and offer practical demonstrations on integrating AI into library services and overcoming the challenges of incorporating AI within institutions. (SDCC, room 30 AE).

Fostering Conversation and Connection Among Community Members with Contrasting Political Views

Are differing political views sowing division, tension, silence, or worse in your community? This panel will explore how a localized version of the One Small Step program from StoryCorps can foster conversation and connection. (SDCC, room 28 AC).

Library for All: Programming Ideas for Adults with Disabilities on a $0 Budget

Presenters from the Murrieta (Calif.) Public Library will share their ideas for providing programs and activities on a shoestring budget. (SDCC, room 32 AB).

Yalla, Habibi: Where are the Arab American Voices in Childrens Literature?

Arab American authors from several countries will explore the importance of authentic Arab representation in kid lit, identify harmful tropes and negative stereotypes, and provide examples of positive representation. (SDCC, room 4).

11 a.m.noon

Level Up Your Digital Equity Efforts with Federal Internet for All Funding

This year marks the beginning of a national grant program offering billions to support and expand the digital equity work libraries are already doing. A panel of experts will discuss how to seize this opportunity to create a digitally equitable future. (SDCC, room 9).

12 p.m.

Black Women in Leadership: Prevail or Perish

Nichelle M. Hayes, BCALA president, discusses the current challenging climate for Black women in library leadership roles in a program that will offer potential solutions, options, and resources. (Manchester Grand Hyatt, Mission Beach AC).

Lets Talk About Sex: Gender & Sexuality Education in Elementary School Using Age Congruent Literature

Talking about sex, sexuality, and gender with children can be a fraught topic these days as school boards and legislators seek to weigh in. This program is designed to help librarians thoughtfully choose titles as well as discuss their choices with administrators and community stakeholders. (SDCC, room 25 ABC).

Protecting the Right to Read in Challenging Times

This presentation and panel discussion will feature reps from the ALAs Office of Intellectual Freedom and the Intellectual Freedom Round Table, as well as Leila Green Little, a community member who fought against book bans with a lawsuit in Llano County, Tex. (SDCC, room 4).

Soft Censorship of LGBTQIA+ Content and Its Chilling Effect on the Childrens Book World

Book bans currently dominate the national literary narrative. Harder to track, though, is the soft censorship of LGBTQ childrens books and their creators. This program addresses the impact of such censorship on various aspects of the childrens book world, including school visits and sales. (SDCC, room 23 ABC).

Welcome Asylum Seekers, We Speak Your Language! QPLs Response to the Unprecedented Humanitarian Crisis

Since spring 2022, thousands of asylum seekers have been bused to New York City from the southern border. In this session, librarians from the Queens Public Library will discuss how they are rising to the occasion and serving this influx of patrons. (SDCC, room 24 AB).

2:303:30 p.m.

Books & Big Ideas: Sparking Equity Conversations from Kindergarten to Adulthood

This session will feature educators who are using picture books across age groups to teach language, support identity development, and develop relationships for students and their families in schools. (SDCC, room 8).

Combating Voter Suppression in Your Library

Members of the ALA Social Responsibilities Round Table will discuss ways for librarians and libraries to combat voter suppression in an age of rampant misinformation and disinformation. Topics include voter suppression toolkits, helping patrons spot misinformation, and promoting civic literacy through forums. (SDCC, room 29 D).

45 p.m.

Organizing for Librarians: Skills for Successful Advocacy

In a shifting political climate, many librarians have found themselves calling on a new set of skills: advocating to justify their professional values and calling on their communities for support in the face of book banning. This panel will feature library organizers discussing and teaching the tactics they use to advocate effectively. (SDCC, room 30 AE).

Reclaiming the Narrative: Policy Conversations That Center Community

Members of United for Libraries will explore how librarians can successfully engage with community members and decision-makers to build support for policies that uphold community aspirations and strengthen libraries. (SDCC, room 5A).

SUNDAY, JUNE 30

910 a.m.

iLead: Preparing Tomorrows Library Leaders with an EDI Lens

This program will highlight an IMLS-funded projects goal of providing learning opportunities that prepare and empower library workers to serve their communities diverse cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. (SDCC, room 28 DE)

Not by the E-book: Increased Access and Alternative Licensing

The last decade has seen a significant increase in demand for e-book collections, but with costs to purchase and repurchase content rising, libraries are struggling to maintain existing collections and add new titles. This session will explore ways to advocate for a fairer library e-book market. (SDCC, room 11 B)

Supporting Libraries and Library Workers Through Employee Resource Groups

Amid intellectual freedom challenges, social justice initiatives, and an increase in racialized violence against library workers, this program extends the current national conversations about library advocacy and support by centering support of frontline workers. (SDCC, room 5B)

11 a.m.noon

The Importance of Using Booktok and Bookstagram for Librarians, and How You Can Get Started!

In this session, librarians will learn the benefits of social media, including how books are promoted on these channelsincluding self-published booksand how they can use social media to promote diversity and inclusivity. (SDCC, room 30 A-E)

Let Us Help Advance the Field: Neurodivergent Librarian Voices Shaping Neuroinclusive Library Workplaces

Based on an IMLS-funded research project, Hala Annabi, an associate professor at the University of Washington Information School, and Christine M. Moeller, a PhD candidate at the school, will share their findings regarding the workplace experiences of neurodivergent librarians. (SDCC, room 28 AC)

Not Just One Thing: Intellectual Freedom and Information Literacy Through a Social Justice Lens

Can librarians teach patrons how to think about information resources without teaching them what to think? This session will explore how librarians can balance intellectual freedom while helping patrons develop better information literacy skills. (SDCC, room 4)

12 p.m.

Sing, Talk, Read: Engaging the Brain, Body, and Senses Through Nonfiction Picture Books

Research has shown that reading aloud is an important part of early childhood brain development, and that our youngest readers need ways to be engaged and active to get the most out of storytime. This panel will share ideas on guiding the development of young readers. (SDCC, room 30 AE)

Supporting Public Libraries in Ukraine: Challenges and Opportunities

The session will offer perspectives from librarians from the Cherkasy National University and the Kiev School of Information. (SDCC, room 3)

2:303:30 p.m.

The Battle for the First Amendment: Why You Cant Afford to Remain Neutral

Skip Dye of Penguin Random House and library advocate Dorcas Hand of Students Need Libraries are among the panelists in this conversation about attacks on freedom of speech. (SDCC, room 3)

Books Unbound: Libraries in the Age of AI

This workshop will explore how AI can be used to enhance book selection and library management and tips on how librarians and educators can leverage AI innovations. (SDCC, room 30 AE)

Whats Love Got to Do with It? Why Reading Romance Is Good for You!

This panel will survey the changing landscape of romance, including the rise of romancelandia, Booktok, and romantasy, and offer collection development tips for YA and adult romance and advice on how to run a successful romance book club. (SDCC, room 28 DE)

When Copyright And Contracts Collide: Advocacy to Advance Library and User Rights

Former ALA president Jim Neal will examine copyright limitations and exceptions that affect libraries and the communities they serve. The session will also offer insights into upcoming challenges related to licensing and terms of service. (SDCC, room 5 A).

MONDAY, JULY 1

910 a.m.

Its Not Okay. Its Not Normal: Sexual Harassment of Librarians and Implications for the Field

This panel will examine the findings of surveys of librarians assessing the prevalence of sexual harassment in libraries. (SDCC, room 11 B).

Pondering Primary Sources: Authenticity, Bias, and Controversy in Historical Research

This program will explore how to critically evaluate primary sources in an age of ChatGPT and GPTGO. (SDCC, room 25 AC).

Supercharge Your Fundraising with... Advocacy!

Experienced fundraisers and library advocates will discuss how to build a compelling funding campaign for everything from the creation of a speaker series to the construction of a state-of-the-art facility. (SDCC, room 11 A).

Top Tech Trends

A panel of experts will explore emerging technology trends and how they will impact libraries and library staff. (SDCC, room 28 AC).

10:3011:30 a.m.

Beyond the Audit: Embracing the Freedom to Read Through Curation and Promotion of Inclusive Collections

For this panel, the Oak Park (Ill.) Public Library will discuss how its philosophy of curation is tied to its library strategic plan and explore ways to promote library collections to the community. (SDCC, room 4).

Building Homeschooling Resources and Community Relationships at the Public Library

In a post-pandemic world, homeschooling is no longer a niche alternative. This presentation will showcase perspectives from three different libraries in California and New York currently offering homeschooling services. (SDCC, room 11 A).

Libraries Supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

This program will explore how libraries are contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including areas such as climate action, gender equality, planet preservation, health and well-being, zero hunger, no poverty, quality education, decent work and economic growth, and reduced inequalities. (SDCC, room 26 AB).

Our Diverse Characters Book Club: Discussing Divisive Concepts in Red States

This panel will illuminate how a group of academic librarians in Tennessee created a Diverse Characters Book Club, sharing ideas on how libraries can create their own DEI book clubs, as well as how to navigate divisive concepts laws in their states and how to continue DEI efforts amid rising censorship. (SDCC, room 25 AC).

12 p.m.

Empowering BIPOC Youth Through Library Services

This panel, supported by an IMLS research grant, will explore how libraries can foster empowerment, inclusivity, and positive identity development among BIPOC youth. (SDCC, room 23 AC).

Generative Artificial Intelligence, Libraries, and the People They Serve: A Guided Discussion

This session will explore how staff at libraries and their associated institutions have approached generative AI, what has motivated their use or thinking around it, and how it has impacted the services their libraries provide. (SDCC, room 28 DE).

Supporting Transgender Students: Practical Tips for Librarians, Educators and Allies

As public libraries and school libraries have become sites of protest but also centers of community around the topic of gender identity, this program will provide practical advice for building more inclusive spaces, policies, and curricula for transgender and nonbinary youth. (SDCC, room 32 AB).

Wake Up! Its 1984

This panel will explore the propagandistic practices and rhetorical traps utilized by extremist groups that have escalated domestic censorship attempts to previously undocumented levels. (SDCC, room 8).

12:30 p.m.

Illuminating the Legacy of Illustrious African American Librarians

This session will spotlight the distinctive role of African American librarians, including discussions about the work of librarians such as Charlemae Hill Rollins and Augusta Baker. (Marriott Marquis, Pacific Ballroom section 18).

2:303:30 p.m.

The Library Is Open to All: LGBTQIA+ Community Engagement at the San Diego Public Library!

In 2013, SDPL formed its LGBTQIA+ Library Services Committee to participate in the San Diego Pride festival. From there, SDPL has used its relationship with San Diego Pride to engage and serve San Diegos LGBTQ community more effectively. At this panel, library staff will share advice on how to master the art of LGBTQ-affirming inclusivity in libraries. (SDCC, room 23 AC).

45 p.m.

Collecting Chinese Jewish Stories for Your Library: A Panel of Voices from Two Cultures

This panel of authors and illustrators, moderated by ALA president-elect Ray Pun and Sally Stieglitz, communications and outreach coordinator with the Long Island Library Resources Council, will discuss Chinese and Jewish cultural interactions and intersecting cultures and identities through books. (SDCC, room 5 B.)

You Are Not Alone: Leveraging Community Advocates Against Book Bans

This panel will discuss how the ALAs Policy Corp is advocating for the freedom to read amid a relentless wave of book-challenges. (SDCC, room 23 AC).

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Members of the Independent Book Publishers Association are discussing the merits of forming their own distribution cooperatives, an idea that gained momentum during Publishing University 2024. Spurred by the abrupt closure of Small Press Distribution in March and motivated by barriers to discoverability and solvency, indies have begun taking matters into their own hands. During a webinar, The Mechanics of Distribution and Forming Publisher-Owned Distribution Cooperatives, organized by IBPA and Microcosm Publishing CEO Joe Biel, indie publishers talked about how they market their books, fulfill orders, and track inventory. IBPA called it one of the highest attended IBPA webinars everclearly a hot topic among independent publishers.

Biel opened the webinar with a crash course in distribution, echoing his 2018 book A Peoples Guide to Publishing and vlog on the topic. He touted Microcosms cooperatively owned business management platform, WorkingLit, which enables subscribers to handle data-driven tasks in-house. Microcosm is a self-contained publisher and distributor, with commissioned sales reps in 48 states and an Edelweiss account for posting catalogs.

Publishers that do their own distribution or form cooperatives can set their own priorities, Biel asserted, rather than rely on a one size fits all third-party company. He noted that SPD worked on a baseline fulfillment model, operating a warehouse and focusing on major accounts with Amazon and Ingram, while cutting out a lot of the discoverability for the indies it served.

In theory the books were available, but they werent necessarily putting their bookseller data into all stores, and SPD didnt have telesales or field reps, Biel said. When you own the means of production, you can pivot a lot faster than these more entrenched larger companies can.

Representatives from four innovative indie publishers took turns describing their approaches to distribution and ideas for the future. Ambika Sambasivan, who founded Yali Books in 2014, and Suhani Parikh, who founded Modern Marigold Books in 2019, brought their imprints together this year to form childrens publisher Sambasivan & Parikh. Their titles center South Asian diasporic identities and social-emotional learning in books for the school and school library market.

We saw a really good fit, Parikh said. Each imprint had its own identity, but they worked well together when we saw them side by side.

Intending to scale up, we started looking at margins, how much were giving to the distributor, how much it would actually cost us to warehouse and do it ourselves, Sambasivan said. We ran so many spreadsheets. Once you do that, you have a clear understanding of how much it takes to distribute your books.

They also considered the advantages and disadvantages of print-on-demand versus offset printing for a growing company with limited space. Sambasivan started Yali Books with POD titles, which come with a high product cost, while Parikh used offset printing for Modern Marigold books. We need to find a system that works more in our favor, Parikh said. As they work out printing and distribution, she added, building strong strategic partnerships with wholesalers is going to allow us to focus on the markets that are key to us and our catalog.

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Their comments resonated with fellow panelist Meia Geddes, founder of indie publisher Poetose, who would like to switch to offset but worries about distributors storage fees. Poetose is not a nonprofit, so I want it to have a sustainable business model, pay authors fairly, and be able to take risks on work that might not be as commercial, Geddes said.

Barter is another distribution strategy practiced by indie presses, explained Mark Fischer, cofounder with Brett Bloom of Temporary Services, established in 1998, and Half Letter Press, founded in 2008. Fischer and Bloom started by creating publications in conjunction with art exhibitions and giving that work away, then expanded to selling work at zine fests, art book fairs, and stores.

Participating in those events has helped us expand our community and meet other people with shared interests and values all over the world, who often become collaborators in some aspect of our distribution, Fischer said. Last year, about 60% of our sales were through our own web store.

Fischer said he and Bloom spend $2,5003,000 a year "buying the work of other publishers to resell through our web store. Sometimes they'll make a direct trade of books with a similar price. Otherwise, he said, "we pay for peoples work up frontits a lot easier on the accounting. The exchanges are a win for everyone: When people visit Half Letters web store to buy a book from another publisher, they discover other titles too.

Biel agreed that Microcosm has done the same. We would trade books with other publishers, he said, and because we did that, literally hundreds of stores began relationships with us because we were a place to order those titles. Thats a huge strategy when you're starting out.

Tamara Mayo, founder of Taevo Publishing, also distributes other publishers' titles, and her own, out of her office. (Following Microcosms example, she removed all Taevo titles from Amazon and sells exclusively through her website.) In response to Fischers bartering examples, she told the panel shed been feeling a little ashamed of this side hustle of selling other people's books that Taevo didnt publish. Now, she has decided, its OK to be a hype woman for other publishersespecially because she is serving Black-owned, independent bookstore startups that often succeed by spotlighting local and specialty niche authors.

Mayo said she joined IBPA to meet other traditional, Black-owned publishers like Taevo, then got excited about how distribution cooperatives might address a pain point every single one of us has been facing. Distributors serve a multitude of publishers with vastly different missions, she and the other panelists observed, and the time has come for indies to forge distribution alliances and operate as collectives in a crowded, noisy field.

Everywhere I go, I hear either good stories about distribution or absolute horror stories, Mayo said. Most of the horror stories end with someone saying, It was better for me just to do it on my own. 
Gustavo Petro, Colombias first leftist president, ascended to power with a clear and resounding campaign promise: to bring "total peace" to a nation marred by decades of conflict. Petros vision has involved engaging in peace talks with various armed groups, notably Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) dissidents and the National Liberation Army (ELN), which were tabled aside during the 2016 peace talks. Almost two years into his term, however, this vision appears increasingly elusive. Instead of moving closer to peace, Colombia finds itself in the throes of renewed violence, raising questions about the viability of Petros ambitious goals.

In recent weeks, a series of attacks by FARC dissidents have escalated tensions, particularly in Cauca, a region historically beset by violence. This surge in conflict highlights the fragile state of Colombias peace process. Despite efforts to engage these groups in dialogue, violence has erupted across traditional hotspots, including the Pacific region, border areas with Venezuela and Ecuador, and the Atlantic Coast.

One of the most distressing developments has been in Jamundi, a small town known for ecotourism. Here, FARC dissidents have executed multiple sophisticated bombings and drone attacks, targeting civilians and effectively paralyzing the town. There have been 17 attacks in Jamundi in the last two years alone. The towns picturesque landscapes now stand in stark contrast to the grim reality of violence and fear that pervades the community. Sadly, such is the reality of many other Colombian pueblitos now taken, once again, by violence from criminal armed groups.

The dissidents, whose numbers range from 2,000 to 5,000 according to government and independent estimates, have voiced their dissatisfaction with the peace process. They argue that the negotiations have failed to address their political, social, and economic demands, leaving them with no choice but to continue their armed struggle. Surrendering may mean facing a life of discrimination and limited opportunities, a reality of many demobilized fighters after the 2016 peace accords.

Criminal armed groups have sustained themselves through illicit activities such as extortion, kidnapping for ransom, and trafficking drugs, people, and weapons. These activities not only fund their operations but also perpetuate a cycle of violence and instability that hampers any attempts at lasting peace.

In response to these challenges, the Petro government has launched targeted operations against these groups. A notable focus has been on combating right-wing paramilitary forces on the Atlantic Coast. However, this approach has sparked criticism from various quarters. Critics on the left argue that these operations undermine the peace process by delegitimizing the governments commitment to negotiations. Conversely, right-wing factions contend that Petros strategies are too lenient on guerrilla groups, calling for a more hardline stance.

The renewed violence in Cauca and other regions is a significant test for President Petro. He faces immense pressure to adopt a definitive approach to the conflict. On one hand, he is committed to his philosophical belief in peace negotiations. On the other, he must confront the harsh reality of ongoing and zealous fighting by factions unwilling to lay down their arms.

The situation in Colombia remains precarious. President Petro's administration is at a critical juncture, where the ideal of "total peace" clashes with the persistent and brutal reality of armed conflict. As violence resurfaces in regions like Cauca, Petro's government must navigate the delicate balance between pursuing peace talks and taking decisive action against those who reject the process.

In this complex landscape, the path forward for Colombia is fraught with challenges. Petros ability to manage this delicate balance will not only define his presidency but also determine the future of a nation yearning for peace. As the Western Hemisphere faces waves of heightened criminal violence in Haiti, Ecuador, Mexico, and elsewhere, how President Petro handles the renewed conflict will serve as a model to replicate, or potentially, avoid.

Joseph Bouchard is a freelance journalist and analyst covering geopolitics in the Americas, with reporting experience in Bolivia, Colombia, and Brazil. His articles have appeared in The Diplomat, Mongabay, Le Devoir, La Razon, The National Interest, and Brazilian Report.
'China is struggling to get out of its property bubble.'

'Japan took 35 years to walk out of its equity bubble.'

'Bubbles can be difficult to forecast.'

IMAGE: The bull at the Bombay Stock Exchange. Photograph: Niharika Kulkarni/Reuters

The coalition setup won't impede the government's reforms agenda, which is driven by will and intent and not parliamentary majority, says Ridham Desai, chief equity strategist India, Morgan Stanley.

In an interview with Samie Modak/Business Standard on the sidelines of the Morgan Stanley India Investment Forum, Desai says commitment towards fiscal consolidation and a push for infrastructure, manufacturing, and deeptech will be the key aspects to watch out for in the Union Budget.

We saw a lot of volatility last fortnight. Will markets be stable now?

Investors were a bit nervous on the day of the results, as they thought that running a coalition government might prove to be a problem. But what you've seen in terms of evidence over the past few days is not an issue.

This is really a continuation of Modi 2.0. Also, the coalition setup does not really impede much of the economic agenda as it doesn't require a majority in Parliament.

This is more about the will and intent of the leadership of the country.

What to look for in the Union Budget?

We should look for a reiteration of the message in February that the government is heading for strong fiscal consolidation and we'll borrow less than last year.

We'll get a reaffirmation that that is going to be focus on select infrastructure sectors, like railways, where there's still more work to be done.

We will get some indications about the government's commitment to manufacturing. I also think the government will reiterate its commitment to deeptech.

Which themes will benefit from the government's push?

One is that you want to buy from private sector lenders. They're going to get strong mid-teen loan growth.

Two, the corporate sector will have space to start investing, which means that industrials will do well.

We expect the government to continue to push forward on improving India's share of global exports. So manufacturing will gain a share of the economy over the next five to 10 years.

A plethora of sectors have the focus of the government; it may be in the form of production-linked incentive scheme or goods and services tax rationalisation or faster approvals.

These are defence, electronics, food processing, even laboratory-grown diamonds and renewables.

Three, the government will continue to push social infrastructure, which includes getting the poor new homes, water, or toilets or health care facilities.

India's energy consumption is set to rise quite sharply over the next 10 years. We are going to see a shift in the source of this energy consumption.

Today, the bulk of it is fossil fuel; incrementally, it will be non-fossil; the entire renewable space, and I dare say, nuclear, will get a lot more attention.

Have valuations in some of these sectors -- defence, for instance -- gone overboard?

Yes, there will always be a few stocks that overreach. Then they'll correct, and then they'll give you a fresh opportunity.

We focus on the themes and then get down to stock selection.

On an aggregate market level, the India story is still priced at about halfway through this earnings cycle. Earnings could continue to compound at a rate of 20 per cent over the next four or five years.

Some stocks may be a bit ahead of their earnings outlook; others are lagging behind. So that timing call is best left to how portfolio managers look at it.

Have you set any Sensex targets?

We have a Sensex target of 82,000 for next June. In fact, the Sensex will deliver fewer returns than earnings growth.

Our equity strategists around the world are not very bullish on the equity asset class, and Indian markets don't operate in isolation. But my base case is that India continues to do well relative to the rest of the world.

The absolute number hinges on how the aggregate world markets do, which we are not so constructive on.

Which sectors are you underweight in?

We are typically underweight in global-facing sectors and defensives, as we think local cyclicals will do well.

What are some of the major global headwinds?

There are actually multiple headwinds, which are not just global.

One is, of course, that India does not have the same growth impulse from the world that China had when it was growing, as the world has aged since then and has a lot more debt.

The other conundrum for India is that China has a lot of excess capacity -- way beyond its domestic demand.

A lot of it will come into the global markets, and India will have to deal with that Chinese pricing pressure.

China's currency will also depreciate, so that will add to the pressure that Indian companies may face as they try to gain share in global exports.

Back home, we still have a lot of supply-side reforms to do. We have done a lot of work on physical and social infrastructure. But there's work to be done in the judiciary, bureaucracy, health care, education, and farming.

There may be skill shortages as India tries to grow its manufacturing sector. Some of these capacity shortfalls will have to be addressed before India can aspire to lift its potential growth rate.

If we are successful in doing that, my growth forecasts will turn out to be quite conservative.

India recently hit the $5 trillion market capitalisation (mcap) milestone. When do you think we will cross $10 trillion?

In our Blue Paper published in November 2022, we projected India's mcap to cross $10 trillion by 2031. However, at some point, you will get into a bubble because stocks don't trade in a linear fashion and markets tend to get ahead of themselves.

I just hope that we don't get a bubble too soon. China is struggling to get out of its property bubble. Japan took 35 years to walk out of its equity bubble. Bubbles can be difficult to forecast.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
Finally, some good news for the Indian startup ecosystem.

After four consecutive half-year periods of declining funding since 2022, the first half (H1) of 2024 has shown an upward trend compared to the second half (H2) of 2023.

According to the India Tech Semi-Annual Funding Report H1 2024 by Tracxn, Indian technology (tech) startups raised $4.1 billion in H1 2024, marking a 4 per cent increase from $3.96 billion in H2 2023.

However, this represents a 13 per cent decrease compared to the $4.8 billion raised in H1 2023.

India, which ranked as the fourth-highest-funded country globally in the tech startup landscape, slipped a position as China advanced in the pecking order in terms of raising higher funds.

China raised a total of $6.2 billion in H1 2024, becoming the third-highest funded country. In H1 2023, India had surpassed China to be the third-highest fundraising country globally.

Although China raised more funds, the total number of funding rounds for the period was 327, lower than Indias 540.

Additionally, the number of first-time-funded companies in India, at 168, was higher than Chinas 159.

The US continued to lead in overall funding volumes, followed by the UK.

Neha Singh, co-founder of Tracxn, commented, Despite four consecutive half-year periods of declining funding since H1 2022, we are now showing signs of stabilisation and an upward trend.

"Indias robust performance as the fourth-highest-funded country in the tech startup ecosystem is encouraging.

"From emerging developments in retail and enterprise applications to pioneering advancements in financial technology (fintech), Indian startups are transforming industries and driving economic growth.

The funding landscape across different stages showed varied trends: seed-stage funding increased to $455 million, up by 6.5 per cent from H2 2023 but down 17.3 per cent from H1 2023.

Early-stage startups maintained steady funding of $1.3 billion, consistent with H2 2023 but 28 per cent lower than H1 2023.

Late-stage funding rose to $2.4 billion, marking a 3.8 per cent increase from H2 2023, although it experienced a slight 1.3 per cent drop compared to H1 2023.

Despite these challenges, H1 2024 witnessed eight funding rounds surpassing $100 million, including Flipkarts $350 million Series J round led by Google, Apollo 24'7s $297 million private equity round, and Meeshos $275 million Series F round.

The leading sectors in terms of performance in H1 2024 were retail, enterprise applications, and fintech.

Funding in the retail sector increased by 32 per cent, reaching $1.63 billion in H1 2024 compared to $1.23 billion in H1 2023.

The enterprise application sector raised $933 million in H1 2024, a 10 per cent decrease from the $1.04 billion raised in H1 2023.

In the fintech space, funding dropped by 50 per cent, from $1.45 billion in H1 2023 to $726 million in H1 2024.

In H1 2024, three unicorns emerged, a notable increase from zero in H1 2023, along with 33 new additions to the soonicorn club.

The number of initial public offerings also rose to 17 in H1 2024, from six in H1 2023 and 12 in H2 2023.

Bengaluru led in total funds raised during this period, followed by Delhi and Mumbai.

The overall top investors in H1 2024 were Accel, Blume Ventures, and Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia Capital India & SEA).

In the seed stage, Venture Catalysts, Z Nation Lab, and WeFounderCircle were the top investors.

Peak XV Partners, Alpha Wave Global, and Saama Capital were the most active early-stage investors in H1 2024.

DST Global, Epiq Capital, and UC-RNT Fund led late-stage investments in H1 2024.
It is possible to be blind to this and pretend to carry on as if nothing has happened but that will not change the reality, asserts Aakar Patel.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi at the ruins of the ancient Nalanda University in Bihar, June 19, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

India's new government has a new Cabinet which is the old Cabinet.

The ministers for home, finance, foreign and defence will be the same.

These four are considered the most important by the government, which classifies them as comprising the committee on security.

And so once again it will be Amit A Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, S Jaishankar and Rajnath Singh.

Road and highways will again by managed by Nitin Gadkari, railways will be run again by Ashwini Vaishnaw, commerce and industry again by Piyush Goyal, law again by Arjun Ram Meghwal.

Even where portfolios have been shifted, ministers have been retained and readers will not be unfamiliar with names like Kiren Rijiju, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Giriraj Singh and so on.

Some famous names are gone, like Smriti Irani and Rajiv Chandrasekhar, at least for now, but this is because they lost in high-profile contests.

No reason has been given for moving around those ministers who have been retained but shifted, but presumably this has been done to accommodate allies like the Telugu Desam (civil aviation), Janata Dal-Secular (steel), Janata Dal United (micro, medium, small industries), LJP (food processing), Shiv Sena (ayurveda and Yoga).

Or done to bring in former BJP chief ministers like Shivraj Singh Chauhan of Madhya Pradesh (agriculture) and Manohar Lal of Haryana (housing).

Overall it resembles not so much a new cabinet as one that has undergone a minor reshuffle.

In the old days, when most newspapers reported news, this would have been reported 'below the fold' as it were, meaning not on the top half of the newspaper.

The question is why does 3.0 look like 2.0?

The obvious reason is that there is nothing to change because everything is going well.

Change is necessary only if there is a need to correct course, and because the BJP won the election, there is no such need.

But defeat, meaning sitting in the Opposition, would have meant no BJP Cabinet at all so perhaps it is unclear what the middle ground would be in such a line of thinking and what conditions would trigger change.

It is unlikely then that 'all is well' is the reason. What else could it be?

One possibility is that there is weak bench strength, that there are not enough talented individuals in the party to be given the important jobs and the prime minister is stuck with the small set he has.

This is not the likely reason because under this prime minister, the PMO functions as a mini Cabinet and intervenes on critical issues as the defence, finance and foreign ministries know.

There is a third possibility and that is the reluctance or inability to concede that something has in fact gone wrong.

The prime minister made a speech in the Lok Sabha on February 5 that has been uploaded on his YouTube channel.

As he concludes it, he says the following:

'Mr Speaker, normally I don't get into the issue of numbers. But I have observed the mindset of the nation. It will certainly take the NDA beyond 400, but it will also definitely (avashya) give the BJP 370 seats.'

At this point the treasury benches are thumped and the chant of 'Modi! Modi!' rises. The prime minister repeats: '370 seats for the BJP and beyond 400 for the NDA'. The thumping and chanting continues.

As we now know, this did not happen. The BJP did not get 370 and it did not even get 270.

For the first time in his career, the prime minister is leading a minority government.

Is this a defeat? If you look at the Opposition and its voters they are behaving as if they have won.

The fact that the new government is shaky and dependent on external support is not lost on them.

As Yogendra Yadav has said, the acceptability and prestige that was there in the last decade is gone.

The invincibility is gone and gone forever.

For this very reason many of the BJP's supporters and especially the prime minister's following remain despondent. Externally things have changed.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is again expressing itself on issues concerning the government's functioning after a decade of silence. The NDA partners are asserting themselves.

It is possible to be blind to this and pretend to carry on as if nothing has happened but that will not change the reality.

The voter has told the prime minister he is less popular than he was in 2019 and less popular in 2014.

The voter has also told him that it is okay with an NDA government but not a BJP one.

To pretend we are still in February is to lie to oneself.

There is no question that the performances of key ministries, including finance and perhaps even home, were the reason for the defeat.

Carrying on without change is to continue with the damage.

But who in the party can tell him that?

Not those who are returning to their positions surrounding him.

Not those who know they will be punished for speaking the truth.

For those who are opposed to the BJP, this being in denial is not a bad thing because nothing good will come of it as the coming months will show.

The world does not change itself to align with one's delusions.

Aakar Patel is a columnist and writer and you can read Aakar's earlier columns here.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
Rival governments in Tamil Nadu expend the most on social welfare schemes, especially targeting women and youth and children, but that money comes only by selling more liquor.

There is always the specious plea, which has been peddled very many times in the past, that without licensed liquor, drinkers would go after hooch and there could be more hooch tragedies and hooch deaths.

No one is convinced, but no one can dispute it either, comments N Sathiya Moorthy.

IMAGE: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin meets with a victim hospitalised at the Mundyambakkam Government Medical College after consuming spurious liquor in Villupuram, May 15, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

A noticeable aspect of this week's hooch tragedy at Karunapuram and neighbourhood villages in the hilly terrain of central north-west Kallakurichchi district is that no critic of Chief Minister M K Stalin's DMK government has demanded total prohibition.

Their demands and the government's response to the tragedy have followed the template model that is not unique to the southern state.

A sample: The state government suspended the district police superintendent and a few other police officers down the line and also transferred the district collector, when their presence on the spot might have helped in coordinating relief and response measures.

Then it ordered the transfer of the ADGP and SP, prohibition wing, without assigning them alternate posts.

Stalin has ordered a judicial probe, by retired high court Judge B Gokuldas, with the predictable three-month period for him to submit his report.

Any future extension for the probe under the Commissions of Inquiry Act will also depend on the mood of the media and the masses, the people's readiness to forget the tragedy early on, and move on to other spicy developments.

For their part, the political Opposition too has reacted on equally predictable lines.

Opposition AIADMK Leader of the Opposition and predecessor CM, Edappadi K Palaniswami, after visiting the affected families, has demanded Stalin's immediate resignation, taking up moral responsibility for the failure of the civil administration in general and the police force in particular.

IMAGE: Tamil Nadu Youth Welfare Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin pays his respects to victims of the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy in Kallakurichi, June 20, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Since the exit of the Congress regime as far as 1967, successive Dravidian chief ministers, starting with the late C N Annadurai, have retained the home portfolio.

Stalin, like his late father and chief minister M Karunanidhi, is no exception.

The state government has moved the mandatory criminal investigations into the incident from the local police to the Crime Branch-CID operating across the state.

The AIADMK Opposition has joined some individuals and has moved the Madras high court for ordering a CBI probe, claiming that the local police and CB-CID were manned by personnel from the same force under the same uniformed leadership, too.

Maintaining the same line but making it even more political, state BJP President K Annamalai has written to Union Home Minister Amit A Shah, demanding a CBI probe.

It is not that Annamalai, a former IPS officer, did not know that under the law, CBI probe into crimes unconnected with the Union government requires request from or consent of the state government concerned.

Alternatively, only the high court of the Supreme Court could order one.

Not the one to miss an opportunity when one presented itself, Annamalai has also called for a state-wide protest against the Stalin dispensation and focused on the hooch tragedy.

Any AIADMK announcement, or those by other non-INDIA/anti-INDIA political parties or combines, too will be on similar lines, for similar purposes.

Among the current crop in the Opposition just now, the PMK alone has been demanding total prohibition across the state, every now and again.

The party is taking on the ruling DMK in the Vikravandi by-election in neighbouring Viluppuram district for the BJP-NDA, and is sure to use the hooch tragedy in the adjoining district as a major campaign point.

So will actor-politician Seeman's NTK, with the mainline AIADMK Opposition having announced a by-poll boycott this time.

IMAGE: Udhayanidhi Stalin pays homage to victims of the spurious liquor tragedy in Tamil Nadu's Karunapuram locality in Kallakurichi. Photograph: ANI Photo

If the ruling party/combine thought that they could effectively use the revived budget session of the state assembly to snub the divided Opposition over the Lok Sabha poll drubbing of theirs, it is not to be.

The hooch tragedy is going to dominate the daily discourse in the House through the short session.

If at the end of it all, the divided Opposition had found common cause in the hooch tragedy to bring them closer way ahead of the state assembly polls due in 2026 summer, the DMK has only itself to blame.

Yet, it can breathe easy in the fact that no critic of the government has laid the blame for the tragedy at the doorstep of any specific DMK leader or minister, at least so far.

All that the AIADMK has said thus far is that their local MLA had repeatedly written to the government authorities, cautioning them of an impending calamity of the kind, but to no avail.

A section of the local media, not seen as friendly to the present day rulers, has also attributed the previous SP seeking voluntary retirement to alleged political pressure brought upon him while dealing with hooch-makers, distributors and sellers.

IMAGE: Udhayanidhi Stalin meets a victim of the hooch tragedy at the Kallakurichi Government Medical College and Hospital, June 20, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Non-political and apolitical critics of the government system as a whole and the DMK dispensation in particular have asked why Stalin did not visit the tragedy scene, as is customary, but despatched only his minister-son Udayanidhi, in the company of a few senior colleagues, to pay condolences to the dead and offer solace to the affected families.

Some cheeky social media posts lacking taste claimed that Stalin had used the tragedy to promote his son further in the political administration of the state.

But it is another criticism against the state government that matters the most.

Significantly, no political party or leader has spelt out those lines but social media posts have questioned the morality and propriety of the chief minister announcing Rs 10 lakh compensation to the families of every dead victim of hooch.

The question is being asked is how and why the government thought it fit to pay for the hooch dead from the tax and other revenue collections that go mostly from non-drinkers.

There is also a sociological anxiety that the continued act of the state government paying high compensation to hooch victims while depriving more needy victims of other social evils can have a deleterious effect on community-living.

Comparisons too will be made of governmental compensation for flood and cyclone victims, and those in fire tragedies, especially in match and cracker factories.

In extreme cases, there is the temptation to believe in the abuse and misuse of governmental grace and generosity.

IMAGE: M K Stalin chairs a review meeting at the Mundiambakkam Government Medical College Hospital over the death of people in the hooch tragedy in the state in Villupuram, June 15, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

It is in this midst that mild voices have begun to be heard about the need for total prohibition in the state.

It may or may not pick up momentum, and a lot of it may also depend on the Madras high court observations, at times obiter dicta that have no binding force on the government, especially.

Already, social media has begun addressing questions at social activists, political commentators and film actors who had posted views and demands critical of the previous AIADMK government on a host of issues -- but are supposedly stone-deaf and colour-blind to the incumbent regime.

It is also such voices that in particular have questioned the high compensation for hooch victims.

This societal double play is unquestionable, yes. But that applies to everyone, big and small, then as now.

The late journalist, satirist and moralistic political commentator, Cho S Ramaswamy, was once known to have been a director of a liquor-manufacturing company identified with the AIADMK under J Jayalalithaa.

He supposedly quit the post only after his association became public knowledge.

In the same vein, social media activists this time round have specifically begun questioning the so-called left-extreme social groups that launched long and relay-like protests across liquor shops across the state through the long run-up to the 2016 assembly elections when Jayalalithaa was chief minister.

These groups, mostly with women activists in the frontline, co-opted local women in their protests, which at times turned violent, especially if the local police acted in defence of the liquor shops all of which were/are owned by the state government, then as now.

During the state-wide protest, 60-year-old Sasi Perumal, a Gandhian and prohibition activist from Salem, died while carrying the message atop of a mobile tower in Kanyakumari district.

That did not deter either the protestors or the government, which however promised the Madras high court to cut down on the number of shops in a gradual manner.

This has not happened after a purportedly promising start.

IMAGE: BJP MPs demand compensation for families of Bihar hooch tragedy victims, December 23, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

It is against this background that every liquor tragedy, hooch or otherwise, in the state has triggered a host of public demands for total prohibition -- only to die a natural death until the next one.

The Kallakurichi tragedy is no different. The reasons are many but two of them need special mention and attention.

One, it was in present day Tamil Nadu, C Rajagopalachari as the short-serving premier of the Madras Presidency (1937 to 1939) in the pre-Independence British Raj, introduced prohibition on a trial basis in his native, undivided, Salem district, and also parts of present day Andhra Pradesh that were then part of the presidency.

It was the policy of the Indian National Congress to which he then belonged and also the personal wish of Gandhiji.

The situation changed only after the DMK came to power, especially under the post-Annadurai regime of Karunanidhi.

The government claimed that lifting of prohibition became necessary in the early 1970s as a short-term measure to shore up the state's revenues and also to check against hooch tragedies of the kind.

Between then and now, the alternating governments of the DMK and breakaway AIADMK have kept blaming the other for the easing the liquor/prohibition policy, and for hooch tragedies, depending on whoever was in power at the time.

This time round, it is the bane of the DMK and Stalin, so to say -- but none of them has found an alternative to 'liquor revenues' that have been mounting over the years and decades, and whose contributions to the state budgets too have been shooting up, year after year.

IMAGE: A liquor shop at Raniganj village in Barabanki district, Uttar Pradesh, May 28, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The second and more important reason for the common man's desire for a liquor-free environment is the embarrassingly unique record of Tamil Nadu being the only state where the government runs liquor stops -- and the government alone runs liquor shops and bars -- other than those licensed in star-hotels.

At least the AIADMK cannot escape the blame for Jayalalithaa as chief minister for 'nationalising' liquor procurement and sales through public sector TASMAC (the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation).

For the past two decades, all liquor shops in the state are owned by TASMAC and all serious and pun-intended writing on drinks and the drunk refer to liquor shops only as 'Tasmac', whether in Tamil or English.

Even while criticising Jaya for the nationalisation policy and the corruption it had led to -- like with sand-mining, also under her care -- successive DMK governments, including the present one, has done precious little to reverse or even alter the course.

The question of total prohibition does not arise, as all political parties have come to believe that there is no alternative to revenue building.

Ironically, rival state governments expend the most on social welfare schemes, especially targeting women and youth and children, but that money comes only by selling more liquor, especially to their own men-folk.

There is always the specious plea, which has been peddled very many times in the past, that without licensed liquor, drinkers would go after hooch and there could be more hooch tragedies and hooch deaths.

No one is convinced, but no one can dispute it either.

Today, the situation is such that actor-politician Vijay, who launched the Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam earlier this year, with the promise to contest all 234 assembly seats in the 2026 elections, too has not talked prohibition, after visiting the Kallakurichi tragedy victims.

Whether he will do it in the coming months, especially in his manifesto for the 2026 polls, too is a remote question.

This despite the fact that many of his fans and expected voters are young to middle-aged women, whose livelihood and lifestyle is what hooch tragedies and liquor-flows, legal or otherwise, end up hurting, and beyond redemption and recovery.

And thereby hangs a tale!

N Sathiya Moorthy, veteran journalist and author, is a Chennai-based policy analyst and political commentator.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
'If the Maha Vikas Aghadi thinks that they have won 30 (Lok Sabha) seats and that would translate to winning 180 assembly seats they would be living in a fool's paradise.'

IMAGE: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Narendra D Modi along with BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar, Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray at an election rally in Shivaji Park, Mumbai, May 17, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, the BJP, which contested 28 seats, could rustle up only nine wins, a sharp decline from the 23 MPs it got elected in the 2019 election.

The undivided Shiv Sena, the BJP's alliance partner in 2019, had won 18 seats in that election while the United Progressive Alliance comprising the undivided NCP (four seats) and Congress (one seat).

The fortunes flipped in the 2024 election as the Congress improved its tally to 14, the NCP (SP) won eight and the SS (UBT) won nine seats compared to nine for the BJP, seven for Shiv Sena and just one for the NCP.

"The majority of people across Maharashtra felt that the BJP -- Devendra Fadnavis in particular -- were responsible for the break up of the Shiv Sena and the NCP. The kind of brazen opportunism with which he (Fadnavis) ran the party led to the BJP's downfall in the state," former Congress Rajya Sabha MP and veteran journalist Kumar Ketkar -- an astute observer of Maharashtra politics for more than 50 years -- tells Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com.

How do you look at the Mahayuti's performance in the 2024 elections? Can one say that the Mahayuti comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP suffered a huge setback in the 2024 election?

Yes, the Mahayuti did suffer a huge setback. But in that the most significant and the biggest setback were suffered by the BJP (it could win only nine of the 28 seats it contested in the state).

Another significant result is Eknath Shinde performing better than expected and Ajit Pawar performing even poorer than his expectation.

In a very different sense, both Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde have surprised in this election in Maharashtra. But the BJP's single digit performance is a miserable performance.

I was personally not surprised because I had predicted that the BJP will not be able to cross single digits.

What were your reasons to feel before the elections that the BJP would not cross even single digit seats in the state?

The majority of the people across Maharashtra felt that the BJP -- Devendra Fadnavis in particular -- were responsible for the break up of the Shiv Sena and the NCP.

The kind of brazen opportunism with which he (Fadnavis) ran the party led to BJP's downfall in the state.

Even the governor was so brazen that he took orders from the likes of Fadnavis and the BJP. People were angry with the BJP than with the Mahayuti and because they were fed up with the BJP they defeated the Mahayuti.

The Mahayuti got lesser seats not because of any love (of voters in Maharashtra) for the Maha Vikas Aghadi [the alliance between the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP)]; the latter won because of the total discontent against the BJP and Fadnavis because of his brazen tactics of engineering splits in the Shiv Sena and the NCP.

In a couple of months Maharashtra will be going into a crucial assembly election. What's your prognosis for the assembly elections? How is the chessboard stacked against the two formations -- the Mahayuti as well as the Maha Vikas Aghadi?

IMAGE: Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and Congress leader Nana Patole at a media interaction ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, April 9, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

I will not say that the same kind of approach, the same kind of result or the same kind of mood will prevail in the forthcoming assembly elections.

If the Maha Vikas Aghadi thinks that they have won 30 (Lok Sabha) seats and that would translate to winning 180 assembly seats they would be living in a fool's paradise.

That will not happen because that is how assembly election and Lok Sabha elections are radically quite different in content and in politics.

I personally feel that the Maha Vikas Aghadi will have to afresh struggle very hard to retain whatever lead they have got in their favour in this (Lok Sabha) elections and the BJP also will have to work hard to overcome the hurdles.

As a result, both alliances are not going to perform according to their performances in the Lok Sabha. Both will have to work very hard.

I won't be surprised if Ajit recovers suddenly and Shinde does better and Uddhav also does better.

I'm challenging their (the MVA's) extrapolation (of 30 Lok Sabha seats translating into victory in 180 assembly seats).

In Maharashtra there have been assertions by leaders belonging to the NCP (SP) that 18 to 19 Ajit Pawar MLAs are planning to move back to the NCP (SP) and there are also murmurs that MLAs supporting Eknath Shinde too are planning to move back to SS-UBT.

How do you think this equation will play out as we move towards the assembly elections?

I don't think anybody from the Shinde camp will now check into the SS-UBT camp. Shinde's strike rate in this election has been very impressive. He won seven out of the 15 he contested.

Uddhav's strike rate is not better than that -- he won nine seats out of 21 he contested. Therefore, I do not think that there will be any special attraction for the Shinde Sena (MLAs) to join the Thackeray Sena.

But that is not the issue.

The issue is Thackeray has (won huge) sympathy and support across Maharashtra and that support is quite large even among the constituents who are not core supporters of that party.

Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena today has huge sympathy among the Dalits, Muslims and Christians unlike that of Shinde and Ajit Pawar. That does not mean that all this cosmopolitan support or sympathy for Uddhav Thackeray will automatically convert into votes.

But even if they are not converted into votes, the attraction for the Sena (UBT) is much more than that of Shinde Sena.

Uddhav has also acquired tremendous amount of respectability (among all sections of Maharashtra's electorate) than any other politician in Maharashtra today.

Therefore, I don't see any reason for any further splits in any of the two Senas or NCPs in Maharashtra.

The MLAs of Ajit's NCP know that Sharad Pawar for them is past and Ajit Pawar is their future. But that does not mean that the future will attract all the votes and therefore Ajit will become extremely strong. He will be definitely stronger than what he was in the Lok Sabha election.
Delhi Water Minister Atishi on Friday began her indefinite hunger strike in south Delhi's Bhogal to press on her demand for more water from Haryana.

IMAGE: Delhi Water Minister Atishi addresses a press conference on Delhi water crisis, in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal, along with Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, were present as Atishi began her fast.

Sunita Kejriwal read out a message from the chief minister, who is currently lodged in Tihar jail, in which he expressed hope that Atishi's 'tapasya' would be successful.

The chief minister said he was immensely pained by seeing on TV the plight of the people facing water shortage amid the ongoing intense heatwave, he said.

"It's our culture to provide water to the thirsty. Delhi gets water from neighbouring states. We hoped support of neighbouring states in such intense heat. But, Haryana reduced Delhi's water share.

"Although there are governments of different parties in the two states but is this time for politics over water," he said, referring to the Bharatiya Janata Party that is in power in Haryana.

Earlier, Atishi, accompanied by Sunita Kejriwal, Singh, Bharadwaj and other leaders paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat before heading to Bhogal.

There is such intense heat in Delhi and the water requirements of the people have increased. In such times, the people need more water, but there is a shortage. All the water in Delhi comes from its neighbouring states, Atishi said as she began her indefinite fast.

She said her appeal to the Haryana government and a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for help did not yield any result and Delhi was not getting adequate water.

"I am left with no choice now but to start an indefinite hunger strike as I am unable to watch the plight of the men, women and children of Delhi. This indefinite Jal Satyagrah will continue till Delhi people get water from Haryana," she said.

Delhi gets 1005 MGD water which is supplied to people in the city. For the last two weeks, Haryana is giving 513 MGD instead of 613 MGD water to Delhi.

More than 28 lakh people face shortage when Haryana stops 100 MGD of water, she said.

Haryana has further reduced the release of Delhi's share from 100 MGD to 120 MGD in the last two days, she claimed.

In the morning, the minister said she would begin her indefinite hunger strike in Bhogal as, despite all efforts, the Haryana government was not releasing the full share of Delhi's water.

'I will start 'Pani Satyagraha' from today... I will start an indefinite fast at Bhogal, Jangpura from 12 o'clock until the people of Delhi get their rightful share of water from Haryana," she said on X earlier in the day,' she said on X.

The minister has claimed that Haryana for the last two weeks was releasing 100 million gallons per day less water to Delhi against its share of 613 MGD, as a result, 28 lakh people in Delhi were affected.

Delhi is facing an unprecedented heatwave as a result the water demand has increased.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has challenged the order of Rouse Avenue court on granting bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a money laundering case related to the Delhi Excise policy.

IMAGE: Delhi CM and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal offers prayers at Hanuman Mandir of Connaught Place in New Delhi on June 2, 2024. Photograph: Sanjay Sharma/ANI Photo

ED has challenged the order dated June 20, 2024, passed by Special Judge (Vacation Judge), Rouse Avenue District Courts that granted bail to Kejriwal.

The trial court said in the bail order that ED has failed to give any direct evidence against the applicant (Kejriwal) in respect of the proceeds of crime.

The matter was mentioned before the vacation division bench today seeking an urgent hearing.

Additional Solicitor General S V Raju and Special counsel Zoheb Hossain appeared for ED and the matter is listed before the bench of Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain.

ED in its petition has said that the June 20 order granting regular bail to Kejriwal was passed without granting adequate opportunity of hearing to the ED and without considering that in light of the facts of the present case where all courts up to Supreme Court have given judicial imprimatur to the fact that the offence of money laundering has been committed and hence regular bail in light of the mandatory twin conditions under Section 45 of the PMLA could not have been granted.

It is also stated that Special Judge (Vacation Judge), contrary to the well settled legal position, refused to stay the impugned order for a short period to enable the ED to exercise its right to challenge the said order before the High Court and further copy of the impugned order was also not provided.

ED has also that in light of the above, the applicant is praying for urgent relief and if the present application is not listed, irreparable injury will be caused.

Vacation judge Nyay Bindu on Thursday granted bail to Arvind Kejriwal on furnishing bail bond of Rs one lakh.

The court had refused the request of ED to postpone the process of filing a bail bond for 48 hours.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) failed to furnish direct evidence linking Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to the proceeds of crime in the money laundering case against him, a Delhi court has said while ordering his release on bail.

IMAGE: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. Photograph: ANI Photo

The order passed on Thursday has, however, been stayed by the Delhi high court on an appeal by the ED.

The trial court order was made available to the media on Friday.

In the order granting relief to Kejriwal, Special Judge Niyay Bindu held that prima facie his guilt was yet to be established.

"It may be possible that some persons known to the applicant are having involvement in an offence....but ED has failed to give any direct evidence against the applicant in respect of the proceeds of crime," the judge said.

She also questioned the ED's silence on Kejriwal's assertion that he was arrested in the money laundering case related to the alleged excise scam without having been named in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) first information report (FIR) or the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) registered by the anti-money laundering agency.

ECIR is ED's version of an FIR.

"This is also noticeable that ED is silent about the facts as to how the proceeds of crime have been utilized in Assembly Elections in Goa by AAP as, admittedly, after about two years, the bigger portion of the alleged amount remains to be traced out," the judge said.

Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has been accused of receiving kickbacks of Rs 100 crore from the South Group, a cartel of politicians, businessmen and others to rig the Delhi liquor policy in favour of licencees. The money was allegedly used in the 2022 Goa assembly poll campaign.

The judge said the ED has failed to clarify as to how much time it required to trace the complete money trail.

"Meaning thereby that until and unless this exercise of tracing out the remaining amount gets completed by ED, accused is supposed to remain behind bars that too without proper evidence against him. This is also not an acceptable submission of ED," the judge said.

The maxim of law that every person must be presumed innocent until proven guilty seems to be not applicable in the given case in respect of the present accused, she said.

The judge quoted Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the US, to say, "It is better that 100 guilty persons should escape than an innocent person should suffer."

"This principle imposes a duty upon the court not only to prevent guilty individuals from escaping justice but also to ensure that no innocent should be punished. There have been thousands of cases where the accused underwent a long lasting trial and agony resulting from the same till the date they were acquitted by the court for being innocent.

"Unfortunately, the mental and physical agony of such person cannot be compensated in any manner whatsoever," she said.

If an accused undergoes the atrocities of the system till his innocence is discovered, he would never be able to conceive that justice has actually been done to him, she said.

The judge said there are certain undisputed facts, as specified on behalf of the applicant, that in the month of July 2022 the material now with the ED was already available with it but he was called only in August 2023 which shows the malafide on the part of the central agency.

"The probe agency has failed to answer this objection of the applicant," the judge said.

She also dismissed the ED's argument that 'investigation is an art and sometimes one accused is given lollypop of bail and pardon and induced with some assurance to make them tell the story behind the offence'.

"If it is so, then any person can be implicated and kept behind the bars by artistically procuring the material against him after artistically avoiding/ withdrawing exculpatory material from the record. This very scenario constrains the court to draw an inference against the investigating agency that it is not acting without bias," the judge said.

The judge noted that the Additional Solicitor General (ASG), appearing for the ED, talked about inducement to extract the truth against other accused involved in the matter.

"But the effect of this submission goes to the conception that the complete truth cannot be revealed through the persons who have resiled from their previous statements.

"Rather, the complete truth shall be established on the basis of the incriminating material, if available on record which the investigating agency is under an obligation to procure in a legal manner by following the procedural aspects as well," the judge said.

The judge said the allegations against Kejriwal surfaced during subsequent statements of certain co-accused. She said it is also an admitted fact that he has not been summoned by the court after his arrest and is 'lying in judicial custody at the instance of ED on the pretext of the investigation being still on'.

"On the prima facie basis, the guilt of the accused is yet to be established. In respect of the condition that he shall not involve in the offence after his release on bail, it is already undertaken so by the applicant in his application. Moreover, if bail is granted, the same shall be conditional which shall put the applicant under an obligation in this regard," the judge said.

She said it is also noticeable that in the cases under PMLA bail becomes an impossible task to obtain as on one pretext or the other the investigating agency gives its own reasons which puts the accused in a situation almost akin to a convict without any hope to be released from the gloomy atmosphere of jail.

The judge had on Thursday ordered Kejriwal's release on bail on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh. It, however, imposed certain conditions on the Aam Aadmi Party leader before granting him the relief, including that he will not try to hamper the investigation or influence the witnesses.

The judge had also directed Kejriwal to appear before the court whenever required and to cooperate with the investigation.

The ED had arrested Kejriwal on March 21, shortly after Delhi high court refused to grant him protection from arrest on his petition challenging summonses issued to him.

On May 10, the Supreme Court had granted interim bail to Kejriwal till June 1 to campaign in Lok Sabha elections, saying he will have to surrender and go back to jail on June 2. He is in jail ever since.
Activist Manoj Jarange on Friday accused the Maharashtra government of trying to create tension between the Maratha and Other Backward Class communities, vowing that he won't 'let it happen.'

IMAGE: Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil during his hunger strike demanding the implementation of the 'Sage Soyare' ordinance, in Jalna, Maharashtra, February 21, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The 41-year-old activist was speaking to the Marathi news channel ABP Maza after his discharge from a hospital in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

He said there are 8-9 people in the government who have "hatred" for the Maratha community and their names will reach the public domain at the right time.

The government is thrusting new leaders to the fore and moving others aside to create a rift between the Maratha and OBC communities, he said, stressing that those protesting over their demand for non-dilution of the OBC quota are not at fault.

OBC activists Laxman Hake and Navnath Waghmre have been fasting in the Jalna district since June 13 demanding that the government scrap the draft notification that recognises Kunbis as sage soyare (blood relatives) of Maratha community members. The agrarian Kunbi community enjoys OBC status in the state.

Jarange wants the implementation of the draft notification and Kunbi certificates for all Marathas, making them eligible for quota in government jobs and education.

The Maratha community will not allow tension to simmer among communities in villages, said Jarange.

With few months to go for the assembly elections in Maharashtra, the Maratha community will sink (politically) those trying to create bad blood between the two social groups, he warned.

Jarange had on Thursday alleged that the state government's stand that the inclusion of sage soyare term in the Maratha reservation notification will not stand legal scrutiny indicated that it was against such a provision.

Earlier, minister Girish Mahajan had said that Jarange was demanding reservation for sage soyare of Marathas who possess the Kunbi caste certificate, but it won't stand if challenged in the court.

They (government) are not being truthful. They only brought the Constitution and law experts (for reservation) and now say it won't stand, said Jarange on Friday.

Jarange said they are carrying out a survey in six phases and depending on its outcome they will decide whether to field candidates in the upcoming state polls. Assembly elections are due in Maharashtra in October.

He also said Maratha leaders from all political parties should attend rallies held by the community in their respective districts. If they don't show up, the Maratha community will fell' them (in elections), he added.

Hitting back, Hake, who is on a hunger strike since the past nine days seeking a written promise that OBC quota will not be diluted to accommodate the Maratha community, accused Jarange of double speak.

"He terms OBCs as brothers but then opposes us. He should stop targeting OBC leaders. I am ready to answer every question of the Maratha community logically," Hake told reporters.

He brushed aside the Maratha quota activist's warning that he would take part in the assembly polls, claiming "Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Indira Gandhi were defeated, so who is Jarange".

Asserting that someone is trying to spread poison among the 12 crore people of Maharashtra, Hake said the Maratha community must follow the policy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which was based on peace, brotherhood and taking everyone along.

"Who had urged people to defeat OBC leaders in such a way that the next five generations will keep away from polls," Hake asked in a swipe at Jarange.

"Now, Jarange is saying Dalits and Muslims must be taken along. They want Muslim-Dalit votes but don't want leaders like Imtiaz Jaleel, Prakash Ambedkar, Anandraj Ambedkar to win. If OBCs and VJNT unite, then Jarange will forget what politics is," Hake claimed.
The Gujarat high court on Friday lifted its stay to the release of Maharaj, debut film of Bollywood star Aamir Khan's son Junaid, observing that it did not target the Vaishnav Pushtimarg sect as alleged by its members.

IMAGE: A view of Aamir Khan's son Junaid's debut film 'Maharaj'. Photograph: Courtesy Netflix India/Instagram

The film has nothing objectionable or derogatory, the court said after watching it, and allowed its release on streaming platform Netflix.

Some members of the Pushtimarg sect had filed a petition against its release, claiming that the film hurt religious sentiments.

The film, produced by Yash Raj Films, is based on an 1862 libel case which was centred on a clash between a Vaishnavite religious leader and social reformer Karsandas Mulji.

Mulji, in an article published in a Gujarati weekly, had alleged that the godman had sexual relations with his female devotees, leading to the case for defamation which the social reformer won.

Justice Sangeeta Vishen of the Gujarat High Court, who had granted an interim stay to the film on June 13, a day before its scheduled release, watched the film on Thursday before passing the order.

Allowing the film's release on Friday, Justice Vishen refused to stay her order as requested by the Pushtimarg sect's lawyer Mihir Joshi, and said that YRF and Netflix "are at liberty to release the movie".

The judge, in her order, noted that the film has already been certified by Central Board of Film Certification.

"Having viewed the film, this court found nothing objectionable that would hurt religious feelings of petitioners or a sect. The core message of the film revolves around social evil and the fight against it by social reformer Karasandas Mulji, who was also from a Vaishnavite community," the judge said while reading out the order in the court.

The film ends with a note praising the Vaishnav community, and the devotional verse Govind Stotram is also recited in the film, she noted.

The book authored by Saurabh Shah on which the film is based was published way back in January 2013, Justice Vishen said, adding that it was based on a true story.

As to the petitioners' argument that the content of the film was "incendiary" and likely to incite hatred and violence against the Pushtimarg sect, the judge noted that when the book came out 11 years ago, no incident of violence was recorded.

"The apprehension that the movie is derogatory and runs down a religion is based on surmises. The freedom of expression as guaranteed by the Constitution can not be curtailed," said Justice Vishen.

"Maharaj is based on events which led to the libel case, and it is not targeted to hurt sentiments of Pushtimarg sect. The film has been certified by CBFC and an expert body after considering the relevant aspects," the court observed.

During the hearing, the petitioners' lawyer had argued that the British-era court which decided the 1862 case "castigated the Hindu religion" and made blasphemous comments against Lord Krishna as well as certain devotional songs and hymns.

The petitioners had approached the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, requesting it to take steps to stop the release, but there was no response, advocate Joshi said.

He also argued that Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, which gives the right to freedom of speech and expression, is not a "license to insult" and the law does not protect publishers (such as OTT platforms) only because their creation is based on true events.

Appearing for Netflix, senior lawyer Mukul Rohatgi argued that the petitioners' prayer to set aside the film's censorship certificate was misconceived, as such certification is not required for a release on OTT platform.

One of the petitioners, a "prominent businessman of Ahmedabad", did not take any steps against the book on which the film is based or material available on the internet, Rohatgi said.

The film is based on legal history which cannot be eradicated, he argued.

The YRF counsel told the court that the part of the libel case ruling to which the petitioners objected was not included in the screenplay.
Driver unions, which contradicted the Railway Board when it prima facie blamed the now-deceased goods train driver for the deadly collision with the Kanchanjunga Express, have claimed they have fresh documents to prove his innocence.

IMAGE: Rescue operation underway at the Kanchenjunga Express train accident site, in Darjeeling on June 17, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

They referred to authority letter T/369 (3B) issued to the goods train driver to cross the first two defective signals after the Ranipatra station premises with a 15 kmph speed restriction while the other authority letter -- T/A 912 -- did not mention any speed restriction.

Ten people, including the driver, lost their lives and 40 were injured in the accident near New Jalpaiguri on June 17. The employees' unions had said that squarely blaming the driver, who is not alive to defend himself, amounts to making him a scapegoat for the systematic shortcomings of the Railways.

Indian Railway Loco Runningmen Organisation's working president Sanjay Pandhi on Friday said, "T/A 912 was issued to all seven train drivers who passed Ranipatra station after 5.50 am to cross nine defective signals and it does not show any speed limit."

"However, T/369 (3B), which was issued separately to cross two signals immediately after leaving Ranipatra station premise (also called starter and advanced starter signals), imposes a speed limit of 15 kmph," he added.

Pandhi argued that the T/369 (3B) authority letter along with existing rules of driving during multiple signal failures prove that the goods train driver was right in crossing all defective signals at normal speed.

The Railway Board, in its initial response, said the goods' train driver overshot the signal which caused the accident. Later, it emerged that the automatic signalling system had failed since 5:50 am on that day due to which all automatic signals between Ranipatra and Chattar Hat turned defective.

The station master of Ranipatra, following the railway operation norms, issued the authority letter T/A 912 to all train drivers to pass through defective signals.

Railway Unions such as IRLRO and All India Railwaymen's Federation defended the deceased driver and said he had the authority letter to cross defective signals hence he was not at fault.

The Unions blamed the operating department of New Jalpaiguri for not ensuring that the section (route between Ranipatra and Chattar Hat) was clear before issuing T/A 912 to the goods train driver.

According to the Unions, when multiple signals in an automatic signalling system fail, safety norms dictate that the whole section should be converted into an absolute block system and only one train should be allowed at a time.

The Railway Board countered this argument, saying that even if the goods train driver was issued T/A 912, an authority to cross defective signals, he should have proceeded with a caution speed of 10 kmph with a one-minute stoppage at each red signal.

Five senior officials of a joint probe team held on June 18 that the goods train driver was guilty of violating signal aspects and speed restrictions. One official of the probe team gave a dissenting opinion and blamed the operating department of the New Jalpaiguri division.

Now, it has come to light that after the signalling failure at Ranipatra, authority letter T/369 (3B) was also issued to all drivers, asking them to pass two defective departure signals immediately after the station premises with a restrictive speed of 15 kmph.

A railway safety expert said, T/369 (3B) is issued to train drivers when two signals (called starter and advanced started) that come immediately after the station premises turn defective. T/A 912 is issued for all other signals after these two signals till the home signal (an entry signal) of the next station."

Pandhi said there were 11 signals between Ranipatra and Chattar Hat stations.

"If I put it in sequence, these 11 signals include Ranipatra station's starter, advanced starter and automatic signals AS-654, AS-652, AS-650, AS-648, AS-646, AS-644, AS-642, AS-640 and AS-638. After all these signals, the Home Signal of Chattar Hat station comes," Pandhi said.

"Now, if you see T/369 (3B), it tells the driver to pass the starter and advanced starter at 15 kmph speed and then T/A 912 tells the driver to pass the remaining nine signals without mentioning any speed limit. It is very much obvious that the driver will cross all these signals at normal speed," he added.

Shiv Gopal Mishra, the general secretary of AIRF, said, "The station master should have ensured that the section is clear of any train before issuing these two authority letters. Maintaining precaution in a defective signalling system is everyone's duty but the goods train driver should not be held responsible."

The matter is now being investigated by the Commissioner of Railway Safety.
Thousands of Yoga enthusiasts and practitioners assembled at the iconic Times Square in New York for day-long sessions of the ancient Indian practice on the eve of the commemoration of the International Day of Yoga.

The Consulate General of India in New York along with the Times Square Alliance hosted special yoga sessions at Times Square Thursday, the day of the summer solstice, as yoga enthusiasts geared to celebrate the International Day of Yoga, marked every year on June 21.

Amid heat advisories in place for the New York area, which experienced temperatures as high as 93 degree Fahrenheit (33.8 degree Celsius) during the day, people from all walks of life and nationalities arrived early morning and rolled out their yoga mats in the heart of the popular New York City destination.

Yoga instructor and Breath Meditation teacher Richa Dhekne, who has over two decades of experience as a volunteer and faculty member with the Art of Living Foundation, led the yoga and meditation session hosted by the Consulate General of India in New York.

Several other yoga teachers and experts led various meditation, exercises and breathing sessions throughout the day at Times Square, as thousands participated in the day-long activities.

"As you can see, we have yoga participants from several nationalities, and this is going to go on for the entire day today," Consul General of India in New York Binaya Srikanta Pradhan said.

Pradhan said they were expecting about 8,000-10,000 participants and added that the theme of the 2024 Yoga Day is 'Yoga for Self and Society'.

"I'm sure this is going to inspire everybody participating here today, and around other different parts of the United States," Pradhan said.

The Consulate said in a post on X 'celebrated the 10th International Day of Yoga at the iconic @TimesSquareNYC!'

'The day-long celebration of Solstice at @TimesSquareNYC featured seven yoga sessions, in which about 10,000 people from across nationalities participated, showcasing the widespread enthusiasm for yoga in the city,' it added.

Pradhan greeted the participants, highlighting the benefits of Yoga for both physical health and spiritual well-being, as well as its role in promoting harmony with nature, the Consulate said on X.

Officials and staff from the Indian Consulate as well as members of the diaspora joined the yoga session.

The Consulate, along with partner associations, held several yoga sessions in the lead-up to Yoga Day, including one at Bryant Park near the famous New York Public Library as well as a special yoga session for women at Central Park that was led by Swami Brahmanishthananda.
A sessions court in Pune on Friday granted bail to the father of the juvenile accused in one of the cases pertaining to the Porsche car crash in which two software professionals were killed in the city last month.

IMAGE: The Porsche car that kills two at Kalyani Nagar in Pune, May 19, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The court also granted bail to five other accused, including the owner and managers of two bars, who were arrested for allegedly serving liquor to the underage patrons.

On May 19, two IT professionals were killed in Kalyani Nagar here after their motorcycle was hit by a speeding Porsche car allegedly driven by the juvenile in an inebriated condition.

The case caused a national uproar after the Juvenile Justice Board member L N Danwade gave bail to the accused on very lenient terms, including writing a 300-word essay on road safety.

The police had registered three separate cases linked to the accident.

The primary case pertained to the accident itself, while the other case involved the two bar establishments -- Cosie and Blak Club, as well as and the juvenile's father, who allowed him to drive the car despite knowing he had no valid license and that he was allegedly addicted to liquor.

The case against the father and the bar owners and its staff was registered under sections 75 and 77 of Juvenile Justice Act and relevant sections of Motor Vehicle Act.

While section 77 of JJ Act deals with supplying a child with intoxicating liquor or drugs, which was applicable to the owner and managers of the two bar establishments, section 75 of JJ Act pertains to punishment for cruelty to child. It applies to the father.

As per the FIR, the juvenile's father, by giving him a car to drive, endangered his life.

Advocate Prashant Patil, who represented the juvenile's father, confirmed that the court on Friday evening granted bail to him.

The argument on his client's bail application took place 10 days ago, Patil said, adding he had told court section 75 of JJ Act is non cognisable and does not contain provision of arrest.

While granting bail to the juvenile's father, court directed that he will abide by all conditions imposed on him and also cooperate with the police, Patil said.

Adv S K Jain, who represented Pralhad Bhutda (owner of Cosie ), Sachin Katkar (manager of Cosie ) and Sandip Sangale, Nitesh Shevani and Jayesh Gavkar, all staffers at Blak Club Hotel, said the five had also been granted bail by the court.

Jain said he argued in court that since section 77 of JJ Act is non-cognizable and there is nothing to be probed against his clients, they should be granted bail.

The juvenile accused's father and mother are currently in judicial custody in the case pertaining to the alleged blood sample swamping of their son.

Among those arrested in this case are Dr Ajay Taware, the then HOD of Forensic Medicine department of Sassoon General Hospital, Dr Shrihari Halnor, the chief medical officer of the hospital and staffer Atul Ghatkamble.

Advocate Patil also said an application for bail for the juvenile's father and grandfather has been moved in the case pertaining to kidnapping and wrongful confinement of the driver. The argument will take place on June 25, he added.

The juvenile is in an observation home till June 25. After he was given bail, police approached the JJB for a review of the decision amid national outrage.

The JJB modified its order and sent the juvenile to an observation home.
The Supreme Court Friday refused to defer the NEET-UG counselling process, scheduled to kick off on July 6, saying it is not an "open and shut" exercise, even as the political pot kept boiling over the controversy-ridden exam with the opposition attacking the Centre over alleged paper leak and other irregularities.

IMAGE: Trinamool Congress workers burn an effigy during a protest over the NEET-UG and UGC-NET issue, at the Khanapara party office in Guwahati, Assam, June 21, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The National Testing Agency, under fire over the lapses in the conduct of NEET and UGC-NET, is gearing up to conduct on Sunday a retest for the medical entrance exam for 1,563 candidates who were earlier awarded grace marks to make up for the loss of time at six centres.

The Congress party, meanwhile, staged protests across the country over the alleged irregularities and demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who skipped the Delhi University's Yoga Day event where some students held a protest against the alleged irregularities.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra launched a scathing attack on the government, saying the issue has become a national problem under the Bharatiya Janata Party rule which has "ruined the future" of crores of youth.

The protests came a day after Pradhan ruled out any immediate action towards cancelling the NEET, saying the government cannot jeopardise careers of lakhs of students who cleared the exam rightfully because of isolated incidents of malpractices.

According to NTA officials, the re-exam for 1,563 candidates scheduled on Sunday would be conducted at seven centres.

"While all other examination centres have changed, one centre in Chandigarh, where only two candidates will appear, will remain the same. Besides, officials from the agency and Union education ministry will also be present at these centres. The step has been taken to ensure smooth conduct of the re-exam," a senior NTA official added.

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati demanded strict action against the main accused in the NEET-UG question paper leak.

In a post on X in Hindi, Mayawati said, "The government needs to take strict action against the main accused in the NEET (question) paper leak case due to which innocent students are suffering. And it is not right to do any politics under its guise."

Bihar deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha said a request will be made to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to recommend a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the suspected links of the arrested prime suspect in the NEET "paper leak" with officials associated with Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav.

Sinha had Thursday claimed that officials associated with Tejashwi Yadav were in constant touch with prime suspect -- Sikander Prasad Yadvendu -- in the NEET "paper leak".

Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghose on Friday said the spate of paper leaks has exposed the "governance deficit" of the Modi government, and asked why heads are not rolling after the irregularities in the conduct of exams have come to the fore.

The NEET-UG examination was held on May 5 across 4,750 centres and around 24 lakh candidates appeared in it.

The results were expected to be declared on June 14 but were announced on June 4, with the NTA saying the evaluation of the answer sheets got completed earlier.

As many as 67 students scored a perfect 720, unprecedented in the NTA's history, with six from a centre in Haryana's Faridabad figuring in the list, raising suspicions about irregularities. It has been alleged that grace marks contributed to 67 students sharing the top rank.

The NEET-UG examination is conducted by the National Testing Agency for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country.

The matter was heard by the Supreme Court on Friday and it refused to defer the counselling for the controversy-ridden NEET-UG 2024 examination scheduled to kick off on July 6, saying it is not an "open and shut" process.

The apex court issued notices to the National Testing Agency, the Centre and others on a petition seeking cancellation of the exam over alleged irregularities in holding it on May 5.

A vacation bench of Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti posted the matter for hearing on July 8 along with other pending pleas alleging irregularities in conduct of the examination.

The counsel appearing for the petitioners urged the bench that the counselling process may be paused for two days as the apex court is scheduled to hear all these pleas on July 8.

"I am not seeking any stay of counselling. I am only praying that the counselling which is scheduled to be held on July 6 may be paused for two days only. The reason being that the main matter is listed on July 8," the lawyer argued.

The bench observed, "We have been hearing the same statement. Don't think otherwise for interrupting you. Counselling does not mean open and shut. It is a process. That process commences on July 6."

When the bench asked about the duration of the first round of counselling, one of the lawyers appearing in the matter said it will last around a week.

While hearing separate pleas on the NEET (Undergraduate)-2024 examination, the apex court had on June 18 said even if there was "0.001 per cent negligence" on the part of anyone in the conduct of the examination, it should be thoroughly dealt with.
Hindu, Urdu, or something in between. That was the kernel of an argument between first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan over the translation of a presidential address from English to Hindi that was to be read by the then vice-president, Zakir Husain.

IMAGE: A file image of India's first PM Jawaharlal Nehru. Photograph: Keystone/Getty Images

Nehru thought that Bachchan's translation of the then president Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan's speech was too complex and the Hindi poet was adamant it was not, says the book Nehru's First Recruits by journalist Kallol Bhattacherjee. Both were unwilling to relent.

Recounting what had happened, the book says Nehru lost his cool with Bachchan, whom he had recruited as an officer on special duty for Hindi at the ministry of external affairs.

Bachchan, who authored the landmark Madhushala, joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1955 on a monthly salary of Rs 1,000, a good Rs 250 hike from his previous job as a producer in the All India Radio , according to the book.

The major part of his responsibility in the MEA included translating speeches of the president and the vice president -- the commonly used Hindi name 'Videsh Mantralaya' for 'external affairs ministry' was, in fact, coined by Bachchan.

The argument with Nehru happened when Bachchan translated the president's speech in English into Hindi, which in accordance with regular practice was to be delivered by the vice president.

"Do you realise who is to read this speech? Dr Zakir Husain and he won't even be able to pronounce some of the words you have used," the book quotes Nehru as saying.

"Panditji, language cannot be changed to suit the convenience of some individual's pronunciation; why don't you have the speech translated into Urdu?" Bachchan had replied.

The clash of egos between two men, held in high esteem in their respective domains of governance and literature, led to a full blown verbal spat and Nehru ran out of patience.

The book quotes in detail the conversation between the two luminaries.

"There is enough trouble in this country. Even if we get it translated into Urdu, we'd have to call it Hindi -- and what's the difference between the two, anyway?" Nehru said.

According to the book, Bachchan, in his endeavour, had forgotten the realities of India and was about to get the vice president of India into a difficult situation.

"The vice president stumbling over difficult Hindi words while reading a speech in the Parliament would not have gone down well before the media and the critics of the Nehru government."

"And Nehru was also right to some extent in his own way because the speech could not possibly have been translated into Urdu, as the Indian Constitution only allowed for the use of Hindi speeches in such sessions, and a Hindi speech with many Urdu words, therefore, would have to be called a speech in Hindi' and not an Urdu speech," the book explains.

Ultimately, Nehru regained his composure and convinced Bachchan to produce a text that Zakir Husain would not find difficult to read. And Bachchan duly obliged.

Husain, who held the office of vice president from 1962-67, under the presidency of Radhakrishnan, later succeeded him as the third president of India.

Nehru knew Bachchan, both hailing from Allahabad, way before he recruited him in the IFS, says the book.

In fact, he had helped Bachchan receive a scholarship after he got admission in Cambridge and Oxford in the early 1950s. Bachchan had faced a series of rejections from then education secretary Humayun Kabir and education minister Maulana Azad.

"Bachchan sought time from PM Nehru and met him in the Parliament. Nehru remembered Bachchan, the poet, and gave a patient hearing. On learning that he had failed in securing a scholarship, Nehru called his personal secretary in Parliament, BN Kaul, and asked him to arrange a scholarship of Rs 8,000 for Harivansh Rai Bachchan," informed the book.

Nehru's First Recruits, published by Harper Collins India, uses stories and experiences of India's earliest diplomats to present the foundational history of the country's diplomatic corps and the beginning of the country's engagement in global affairs.
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State Rep. Leslie Goldman, D, represents the Windham 3 towns of Rockingham, Westminster and Brookline. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.
The rumors began to circulate online after the successful launch of Chinas Change 6 unmanned space probe.

In the wake of the successful launch of Chinas Change 6 unmanned space probe on May 3, a new wave of rumors questioning the credibility of the U.S. Apollo manned lunar landings has swept Chinese social media.

Conspiracy theories about the Apollo moon missions have persisted since the late 1960s, and Chinese social media users in 2024 are the latest skeptics to spread them.

Below, AFCL debunks five of the most widespread rumors that have emerged since the launch of Change 6.

Did Change chief architect hint that the Apollo landing was staged?

Change 6 chief architect Pei Zhaoyu was invited to be a guest analyst onto a special program aired by Chinas state-run broadcaster CCTV on May 3, 2024.

At the one-hour and 40-minute mark of the program, Pei can be heard saying: [it] had not found the Apollo basin.

Apollos basin is a large crater near the southern pole on the far side of the moon that was discovered during the space age and later named in honor of the Apollo missions. Peis remark was later misinterpreted by Chinese online users as Pei challenging the veracity of the Apollo moon landings by stating that Change 6 had not found any trace of the original Apollo 11 spacecraft in the basin.

Chinese netizens misconstrued a statement from Change chief architect to mean that the U.S. lunar landing was staged. (Screenshot/Weibo)





But the claim is false. The original context of Peis statement makes clear that he is responding to a question about the position on the moons surface where Change 6 would land.

Furthermore, it was never intended that Change 6 would land in the Apollo basin. Pei states at around the 24-minute and five-second mark into the program that Change 6 would land near the Aitken basin on the the far side of the moons south pole, far away from the Apollo basin on the moons northern half.

Did U.S. astronauts admit that the landing was a hoax?

Online users on the Weibo social media platform said that the Apollo 11 landing had never happened, citing a remark by crew member Buzz Aldrin During an interview: Because we didnt go there.

Weibo netizens claim that a video shows astronaut Buzz Aldrin admitting the lunar landings never took place. In reality, Aldrin was saying that no missions to the moon have taken place since 1972. (Screenshot/Weibo)





But Aldrin was responding to questions about why no manned missions to the moon has occurred since 1972.

But a closer look at the interview shows that Aldrin was in fact saying that no manned mission had gone to the moon since 1972, not that the original Apollo missions had never visited the moon.

A similar claim was previously debunked by a fact-check organization Snopes.

Did a White House spokesperson say that the U.S. and China visited different moons?

A claim emerged in Chinese-language social media posts that White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre stated that the U.S. and China landed on two different moons. Those posts included a photo of her.

Netizens claimed that White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said the U.S. and China landed on two different moons. (Screenshots/ X and Tiktok)





But keyword searches found no credible reports to back the claim.

Reverse image searches of the photo shared in the posts show that it was in fact taken by Reuters at a White House press conference on November 18, 2022, has nothing to do with the claim.

Photos of Karine accompanying the claims were lifted from a 2022 press briefing. (Screenshots/ Reuters and X)





Did the U.S. send fake lunar rocks to the Netherlands?

Several users of the Douyin social media platform claimed that the U.S. sent fake lunar rocks to the Netherlands, and that this was evidence that the moon landing was staged.

Several netizens on Douyin suspicious of the moon landings claimed that the U.S. sent fake lunar rocks to Holland. (Screenshot / Douyin)

The claim is partly false. The U.S. did send some fake lunar rocks to the Netherlands, but it does not show that the lunar landing was staged.

In August 2009, reports surfaced that a lunar rock on display at the Dutch national museum in Amsterdam was, in fact, an ancient piece of petrified wood. These reports have since been confirmed as true.

The museum acquired the object in 1988, allegedly brought back by the crew of Apollo 11 following the first moon mission in 1969 and gifted to the Netherlands later that year.

While the American broadcaster NBC reported that the U.S. Embassy in the Netherlands was investigating the matter, no information on any follow-up investigations has been found.

Thousands of undisputed samples of lunar rocks were collected by the six Apollo manned missions, many of which were later sent as gifts and are now on display in various countries, including China.

Have all of NASAs records concerning the Apollo 11 mission been lost?

Some Weibo users claimed that all of NASAs official documentation about the Apollo 11 mission had been lost, inferring that the disappearance of the information was a sign that the lunar landing had been staged.

Netizens claimed that all official information about the lunar missions had been lost. (Screenshot / Weibo)

But this claim is false. NASAs official website contains both a general overview of the program as well as detailed information about the launch and subsequent activities of the lunar module.

In addition, for the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, NASA engineer Ben Feist collected images and audio from the Apollo 11 mission, and created a website so that the public could experience the moon landing process at that time.

This public information has been supplemented by images and audio collected by NASA engineer Ben Feist and uploaded on a separate website.

Translated by Shen Ke. Edited by Shen Ke and Taejun Kang.

Asia Fact Check Lab (AFCL) was established to counter disinformation in todays complex media environment. We publish fact-checks, media-watches and in-depth reports that aim to sharpen and deepen our readers understanding of current affairs and public issues. If you like our content, you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X.
Police say a prominent businessman killed 2 and wounded 2 others following a long-running neighbor dispute.

Srey Sina, right, in an image from the Facebook page of the Police Inspectorate of Angk Snuol District posted June 18, 2024.

The case of a prominent businessman accused of shooting a young couple during a dispute inside a Phnom Penh home has angered Cambodians on social media and prompted King Norodom Sihamoni to revoke the accused mans honorary title.

Srey Sina, 50, was arrested in neighboring Kandal province after he apparently fled the scene following Mondays shooting, which left Long Lysong, 27, and his fiancee Khin Kanchana, 26, dead and two others wounded, according to Phnom Penh police.

Srey Sina told police he shot the young couple with a handgun after Long Lysong used abusive language following an argument between neighbors over a parking space, the felling of a mango tree and a clothes line, the Khmer Times reported.

The long-running dispute was originally between Long Lysong and a woman who rents one of Srey Sinas houses, the newspaper said.

On Facebook, Cambodians urged Phnom Penh authorities to hold Srey Sina accountable, and expressed worries that he would use his influence and money to gain his release from jail.

Srey Sina appears in two images displayed on the Kampuchea Thmey Daily Telegram page June 17, 2024. (@kptnews via Telegram)





Srey Sina, a wealthy real estate investor, held the title of Oknha, which is bestowed on Cambodians involved in business who are committed to charity or generous with donations to the government.

But earlier this week, the Cambodian Oknha Association said in a statement that he wasnt a member of their association, even though he held the Oknha title. The group said it would request to have the title withdrawn to the honor and reputation of the Okhna title.

Prime Minister Hun Manet made a similar public plea, and on Friday, the king issued a decree stripping Srey Sina of the Oknha title.

Difficult to accept

The prime ministers brother, Minister of Civil Service Hun Many, said on Facebook that he was devastated to learn of the horrific incident. He called Long Lysong my brother and urged Cambodians to promote a culture of peace, tolerance and forgiveness.

We really don't want this to happen and condemn such barbaric abuse of human life, he said. I applaud and thank the law enforcement forces who worked hard to catch criminals accountable to the law.

Long Lysong died at the scene, Khin Kanchana died at a hospital and two other young men received minor injuries, according to the Khmer Times. Police have arrested two other people suspected of involvement in the case.

Hun Manet and his father, Senate President Hun Sen, have arranged for lawyers to represent the victims families in court, the Khmer Times reported.

We have lost everything and received nothing, Lysongs sister, Long Lyhor, told Kiripost. It is difficult to accept as it happened immediately. Its cruel that [the suspect] shot 12 bullets, resulting in two people dying and another two staff being injured.

Long Lysong and Khin Kanchana became engaged last November and planned to marry later this year, Kiripost reported.

One of the attorneys representing family members, Son Chumchuon, told Radio Free Asia that the incident has caused mental suffering and monetary losses. Long Lysong was the familys breadwinner, he said.

We have to assess the extent of the damages. We have to look at how much (their death) affects the future living conditions of their dependents, he said. Their parents have the right to seek compensation.

Translated by Sovannarith Keo. Edited by Matt Reed.
China on Friday warned that supporters of independence for Taiwan could be tried in absentia and sentenced to death for "splitting the country," in a move designed to step up pressure on the democratic island.

China's law enforcement agencies and courts should "severely punish Taiwan independence diehards for the crimes of splitting the country and inciting secession ... and resolutely defend national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity," a directive issued Friday by the Supreme People's Court and four other law enforcement agencies said.

While those agencies have no jurisdiction in Taiwan, the directive targets anyone working to further formal statehood for a Taiwanese republic, including holding a referendum, promoting the island's membership in international organizations, or colluding with foreign forces to promote independence.

Taiwan National Party Vice Chairman Yang Chih-yuan was detained in August 2022 under China's national security law as U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi left Taiwan following a trip that angered China, which launched several days of wargames around the island in response.

Yang was arrested by state security police in the southeastern coastal Chinese city of Wenzhou and accused of having founded the pro-independence Taiwan National Party, with the aim of "promoting Taiwan to join the United Nations as a sovereign and independent country."

Riskier to travel?

Analysts said Fridays move could now make it much riskier for Taiwanese to travel to China or to countries willing to engage in extradition or unofficial renditions at Beijings request.

While only Taiwan's leaders are likely to run afoul of the ruling on independence referendums, the directive warns that anyone who denies China's territorial claim on Taiwan in the media, or through education or cultural activities could also be targeted.

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, left, gestures while speaking with U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as she prepares to leave Taipei, Taiwan, Aug. 3, 2022. (Taiwan Ministry of Foreign





Anyone who openly organizes in favor of an independent Taiwan could also be targeted for "active participation in secessionist activities," the directive said.

The announcement comes after dozens of Taiwanese artists and actors publicly endorsed Beijing's territorial claim on the island by retweeting a Chinese state media post in support of eventual "unification."

That tweet was a response to the inauguration speech of Taiwan's elected President Lai Ching-te, who called on Beijing to stop threatening his island, and respect the will of its people, the majority of whom have no wish to be ruled by the Chinese Communist Party.

Lai, who was Beijing's least favored candidate in January's presidential elections, warned on Sunday that China is currently the biggest threat facing Taiwan, which has governed its own affairs as the 1911 Republic of China since the Kuomintang nationalists under Chiang Kai-shek fled to the island after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong's communists in 1949.

Anyone who takes part in a pro-independence organization or helps to finance its activities "shall be sentenced to life imprisonment or imprisonment of 10 years or above for the ringleaders or those who commit serious crimes," with harsher treatment for anyone "colluding with foreign powers."

Men read a Global Times report about military exercises near Taiwan by the Chinese People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theatre Command, at a newspaper stand in Beijing, China, August 5, 2022. (Tingshu Wang/Reuters)





"Those who cause particularly serious harm to the state and the people and whose circumstances are particularly heinous may be sentenced to death," the document said, adding that trials may be held in absentia if targets are overseas.

There is no retroactive cut-off point for the new regulations, meaning that defendants could potentially be prosecuted for words or deeds that happened before it took effect on Friday.

The document said that any pro-independence activists who "voluntarily abandon their stance" and make efforts to "mitigate or eliminate harmful consequences" could be treated leniently, or have charges against them dropped altogether.

Dont be intimidated

The Taiwan government's Mainland Affairs Council said the island's people have the freedom to do as they please within the framework of its legal system.

"Taiwan's 23 million citizens enjoy inalienable freedom, democracy and rights in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of China," the council said in a statement.

Taiwan politician Yang Chih-yuan, right, Nov. 30, 2019 in Taiwan. (Solomon203 via Wikimedia Commons)





"The authorities in Beijing have no jurisdiction over Taiwan at all, and the so-called laws and regulations of the Chinese Communist Party have no binding force on our people," it said. "The government calls on the people to rest assured and not be threatened or intimidated by the Chinese Communist Party."

The statement said the directive was an "extremely uncivilized and rude provocation that would seriously affect cross-straits exchanges."

Wu Chien-chung, an adjunct associate professor of politics at Taiwan's Soochow University, said the move was another example of Beijing's "long-arm" enforcement of its laws, far beyond China's borders.

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te visits soldiers and air force personnel in Hualien, Taiwan, May 28, 2024. (Ann Wang//Reuters)





The move will mean that it's now far riskier for Taiwanese to travel to China or countries allied to it. "The main risk will mean being particularly careful about traveling to China, or to places that have extradition agreements with China," he said.

He said the directive, which was jointly issued by the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the Ministry of State Security, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Justice, seeks to extend Chinese law enforcement to the whole world, as it could be applied to foreign nationals deemed to be supporters of independence for Taiwan.

Chen Wen-chia, director of the National and Regional Development Research Center at Taiwan's Kainan University, said the Chinese directive is a bid to influence Taiwanese politics from a distance.

Accompanied by ongoing Chinese military exercises around the island, it will increase tensions across the Taiwan Strait, Chen said, and could affect trade, investment and economic exchanges.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
Seoul said it would consider arming Ukraine in response to Russia and North Korea signing a mutual defense pact.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (not pictured) at the Government Office in Hanoi, Vietnam, June 20 2024.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned South Korea that sending weapons to Ukraine would be a very big mistake after South Korea said it would consider doing so in response to a pact between Russia and North Korea to come to each others aid if attacked.

U.S. ally South Korea announced on Thursday it would reconsider its stance on arms to Ukraine in response to North Korea and Russia signing a treaty the previous day that includes a mutual pledge to provide immediate military assistance if either is attacked.

As for the supply of lethal weapons to the combat zone in Ukraine, it would be a very big mistake. I hope it will not happen. If it does, then we too will then make the respective decisions, which South Koreas current leadership is unlikely to be pleased with, Putin told a press conference on Thursday during a visit to Vietnam, Russias Sputnik news agency reported.

South Koreas assistance to Ukraine has included first-aid kits, medicine, portable mine detectors and protective gear but it has not supplied weapons in line with a policy of not providing lethal aid to countries engaged in conflict.

During Putins first visit to North Korea in 24 years, he and leader Kim Jong Un, agreed to offer military assistance without delay if either is attacked under a new partnership treaty signed after their summit on Wednesday.

South Koreas National Security Adviser Chang Ho-jin condemned both countries on Thursday, saying that Seoul would have to think again about supplying arms.

We plan to reconsider the issue of arms support to Ukraine, Chang said in a press briefing at the presidential office.

He added that any cooperation that directly or indirectly aided North Koreas military enhancement was a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and would be subject to international scrutiny and sanctions.

The government expresses grave concern and condemns the signing of the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement between North Korea and Russia, which aims to strengthen mutual military and economic cooperation, Chang said.

John Kirby, the spokesperson for U.S. President Joe Biden's National Security Council, said the announcement by Russia and North Korea of their pact to come to each others help if attacked was no surprise but it boded poorly for the people of Ukraine and the Korean peninsula.

Our view is that this agreement is also a sign of Russia's desperation, Kirby added.

I mean, theyre reaching out to North Korea for missiles, and theyre getting drones from Iran. They dont have a lot of friends in the world.

North Korea has supplied Russia with large amounts of weapons for its war in Ukraine, in particular artillery rounds and ballistic missiles, the United States has said, though both Russia and North Korea deny that.

Edited by RFA Staff.
The body of Sayadaw Baddanta Munindabhivamsa, the patron of Win Neinmitayon Monastery, lies in his native monastery, June 21, 2024 in Bago, Myanmar.

Myanmars military junta announced Friday that it would investigate the shooting death of a senior Buddhist monk, just one day after junta-controlled media denied responsibility.

Sayadaw Bhaddanta Munindabhivamsa, the abbot of Win Neinmitayon Monastery in the Bago region, was shot dead Wednesday in his car as it left an airport in the central Mandalay region.

Television broadcaster MRTV announced initially that the abbots car was caught in a firefight between junta troops and guerillas from the rebel Peoples Defense Forces, a grassroots militia formed by citizens opposed to military rule.

But another monk who was in the car with him said the attack on the car was carried out by junta soldiers.

On Friday, the juntas chief minister for the Bago region visited the monks of the Win Neinmitayon Monastery and admitted that the military had published incorrect information.

The junta later announced that it would re-examine the incident and respond accordingly.

Related Story

Senior Myanmar monk shot dead by junta soldiers, colleague says

Dhammaduta Buddhist University and the Patriotic Myanmar Monks Union in Yangon released a statement Thursday expressing their condolences over the death of Sayadaw Bhaddanta Munindabhivamsa.

The Samgha Samagga, a monks association in Mandalay, also released a statement condemning the shooting, labeling the incident as terrorism.

At the time of his death, Sayadaw Bhaddanta Munindabhivamsa was 77 years old and had been a monk for 57 years. He also held many advanced Buddhist literature degrees.

Edited by Eugene Whong.
Boom in unregulated mining is fueled by demand from China and beyond for minerals used in electric vehicles.

Residents search for missing people after a landslide in Kachin states Pang War town on Aug. 7, 2023.

Rescuers recovered the bodies of 15 mine workers in northern Myanmar on Friday after a landslide at a rare earths mine, residents said, the latest deaths in an unregulated industry feeding surging demand for the minerals in China and beyond.

Thirty workers, most of them young men, were trapped in the Pang War mine in Kachin state when the collapse occurred at around midnight on Wednesday, a relative of one of the missing miners told Radio Free Asia.

Fifteen bodies have been found so far. Two women were among them, said the resident, who like other sources in this article declined to be identified for security reasons.

A Chinese national and 13 other workers were still missing on Thursday, residents told RFA.

The landslide was the second major disaster at the mine this month. A June 4 landslide killed more than 20 people, including three Chinese citizens.

There have been several other smaller landslides there since late May. Wednesdays slide overtook a living area and facility where the minerals are processed, a Pang War miner said.

Currently, it is the rainy season, he said. Over the past week, continuous rainfall has weakened the ground.

Another Pang War resident told RFA that landslides werent a common occurrence during previous rainy seasons.

However, due to the fragmentation caused by extensive digging, the mountains have weakened significantly and lost their stability, he said. Additionally, deforestation has exacerbated this situation.

Elements for electric vehicles

A surge in the illegal mining of rare earth metals in northern Myanmar is being driven by demand from neighboring China for terbium and dysprosium  elements that are used in the production of electric vehicles, environmental activists say.

Pang War is in an area under the control of junta forces but the mining and the pollution it generates are largely unregulated.

RFA called Kachin states junta spokesperson, Moe Min Thein, for information on the landslide but he did not immediately respond.

Environmentalists say companies from China, where mining has become increasingly regulated due to safety and environmental concerns, fund the mining and ship the ore across the nearby border for processing and sale into global supply chains.

Chinese nationals are increasingly seen working at the mines, residents say. RFA contacted Chinas embassy in Myanmar for comment but it did not reply by the time of publication.

The number of rare earth mines in resource-rich Kachin state grew by 40% between 2021 and 2023, the environmental group Global Witness said in a recent report. There are more than 300 mines in the states Special Region 1 of the township, it said.

There has also been an increase of fighting in the state between junta forces and the autonomy-seeking Kachin Independence Army, at times over access to resources and trade routes.

The fighting this year has displaced and killed civilians and comes as forces of the junta that seized power in a 2021 coup have faced setbacks in several parts of the country including Kachin state.

Environmental activists say all sides in Myanmars northernmost state seek profits from its resources, including from rare earths.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Kiana Duncan, Taejun Kang and Matt Reed.
The visit comes as a US congressional delegation meets with the Dalai Lama in northern India.

An exile Tibetan wearing a hollow head in the likeness of China's President Xi Jinping stands next to a blackboard pretending to teach Tibetan children during a street protest against China's human rights abuses, in Dharamsala, India, Sept. 9, 2023.

Chinese President Xi Jinping this week visited Tibetan-populated areas of western China, where he called for national unity, state media reported, asking Tibetans there to help promote religious, social and ethnic harmony and advance Chinas modernization.

Xi visited Golog Middle School  a boarding school for young Tibetans  and the Tibetan Buddhist Hongjue Temple in Xining, capital of Qinghai province, on Tuesday.

But Tibet watchers said his trip only reinforced Chinas efforts to Sinicize Tibetan identity, culture and language, and did nothing to help Tibetans.

Xis visit to a Tibetan school and monastery appeared to be a deceptive display aimed at misleading the world, given ongoing international concern over human rights in Tibet, said Sangay Kyap, a Tibetan rights analyst.

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Xi has visited Tibet three times since he became leader of the Chinese Communist Party, and the Beijing-appointed Panchen Lama has made multiple visits, said Dawa Tsering, director of the Tibetan Policy Institute in Dharamsala.

However, these visits consistently place Tibetans under intense scrutiny and severe restrictions, subjecting them to various forms of interrogation, he said. It does not help the Tibetans and is just a routine by these leaders.

Tibetans in Xinjing were alarmed when authorities abruptly closed all streets on June 17-19 and blocked off and cleared a parking lot the next day, said a Tibetan from Tibet, who like others in this report spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisals.

We only learned about Xi Jinpings visit to Xining city through the news, he said.

Authorities also told the Red Cross Hospital to keep its windows closed during Xis visit, and forbade food delivery orders in the city, another Tibetan from Tibet said.

US lawmakers visit Dalai Lama

Xis visit occurred as a delegation of U.S. lawmakers, critical of Chinas repression in Tibetan areas, visited the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India on Wednesday.

They told the exiled spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism that the recent passage of a new policy bill on Tibet was a significant step toward ensuring the self-determination of the Tibetan people.

Chinese President Xi Jinping waves while visiting a public square below Potala Palace in Lhasa in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 22, 2021. (Xie Huanchi/Xinhua via AP)

The lawmakers also pledged to resist Chinas interference in his succession and urged Beijing to engage in dialogue with him.

China, which annexed Tibet in 1951, says only Beijing can select the Dalai Lama, as stated in Chinese law, but Tibetans believe that their spiritual leaders are determined by reincarnation.

While in Xining, Xi inspected local efforts to enhance education for a strong Tibetan community, emphasizing patriotism.

Since 2020, the Chinese government has increased its control over language rights in Tibet by shutting down private Tibetan schools and forcing students to attend government-run boarding schools to culturally, religiously and linguistically assimilate them.

Golok Middle School, established in 2017 and financially supported by Shanghai city, operates as what some activists and U.S. lawmakers call colonial-style boarding schools, where Tibetan children are separated from their families and taught a Chinese-language curriculum.

Since September 2019, the school has enrolled students mainly from six counties in the provinces Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and currently has about 800 students.

Two Panchen Lamas

The Hongjue Temple, where Xi also stopped, has long been a vital channel for communication and engagement between Chinas central government and Tibetan Buddhist leaders.

It was the site of a December 1951 meeting between Xis father, Xi Zhongxun, then the Chinese Communist Partys deputy secretary of the Northwest Bureau, and the 10th Panchen Lama  whose spiritual authority is second to that of the Dalai Lama.



The elder Xi wanted the Panchen Lama at that time, Erdeni Chokyi Gyaltsen, to return to Tibet from Qinghai province as part of a treaty signed by Beijing and Tibet that year to establish him up as a rival to the Dalai Lama. He agreed to go.



A hollow head in the likeness of Chinese President Xi Jinping is seen next to an exile Tibetan during a street protest against China's human rights abuses, in Dharmsala, India, Feb. 3, 2022. (Ashwini Bhatia/AP)

In 1995, China appointed its own chosen Panchen Lama to replace a candidate selected as a young boy by the exiled Dalai Lama, and who vanished into Chinese custody together with his family and has not been heard from since.

The Chinese-appointed Panchen Lama, named Gyaltsen Norbu, also traveled to several Tibetan-populated areas in Qinghai province. Restrictions were pervasive during Norbus visit, according to three sources from Tibet.

In Rebgong and Malho counties, military vehicles were stationed on streets for security purposes. People were not permitted to move freely and were randomly interrogated, they said.

Police and plainclothes individuals checked identity cards when Norbu visited Lakha Monastery on June 18 to give a religious teaching, one Tibetan from Tibet told RFA.

When Norbu traveled to Sok county, the Chinese government organized a welcome party of lay people riding horses and carrying red flags.

A video of Norbus visit to Machu county was posted online and drew comments from the Chinese.

One read: Gyaltsen Norbu is a pro-national lama, and we should all support him. Another said, All dissidents who do not believe in Gyaltsen Norbu should be expelled from the country.

Additional reporting and translation by Tenzin Dickyi. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.
Manila is seeking to extend its continental shelf in the South China Sea.

An aerial view shows the BRP Sierra Madre on the contested Second Thomas Shoal, locally known as Ayungin, in the South China Sea, March 9, 2023.

Vietnam has asked that the Philippines discuss with it an extended continental shelf claim that Manila sent to the United Nations last week.

Philippine diplomats submitted a package of documents to the U.N. on June 14 to register the countrys entitlement to an extended continental shelf in the West Palawan region in the South China Sea.

According to the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS, the extended continental shelf is the stretch of seabed that extends to a maximum of 350 nautical miles (648 km) from the shore of a coastal state, which has exclusive rights to explore it or exploit its natural resources.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the Philippines is entitled to establish the outer limits of its continental shelf, and that the seabed and subsoil hold significant potential resources that will benefit our nation and our people for generations to come.

Continental shelf can extend beyond 200nm to a maximum of 350nm from the shore, or baseline. (The U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea)





The U.N. Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf said it would look at the submission in a session between January and March next year.

The submission could bring legal challenges from Vietnam and Malaysia as they see their extended continental shelves overlapping with that claimed by the Philippines.

A Vietnamese foreign ministrys spokesperson said on Thursday that while coastal states had the right to determine their outer continental shelf boundaries under UNCLOS, when submitting their claims they must respect the legal and legitimate rights and interests of other relevant coastal nations with opposite or adjacent coasts.

Vietnam stays ready to discuss with the Philippines to seek and achieve a solution that is mutually beneficial for both countries, spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang said.

Overlapping claims

Malaysia has yet to say anything publicly but will likely submit a diplomatic protest to the U.N., according to Malaysian sources.

China, which claims most of the South China Sea despite regional countries objections, has rejected the Philippine submission, saying it infringed upon Chinas sovereign rights and jurisdiction and violated international law. Beijing said the submission should not be recognized nor considered.

In 2009, when Vietnam and Malaysia made a joint submission on their extended continental shelves, both China and the Philippines protested. The submission may have led to a Vietnamese proposal to make another joint submission, this time with the Philippines.

At a meeting between President Ferdinand Marcos and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi on Jan. 30, the Philippine leader acknowledged Vietnams interest in pursuing a joint submission on the extended continental shelf, according to a Philippine statement.

Marcos was quoted as saying that the Philippines was willing to work with Vietnam for a joint submission at the appropriate time.

Questions remain over why Manila decided to make its submission unilaterally now, especially when it is facing an escalating confrontation with China in the South China Sea and seeking the support of the ASEAN regional grouping.

Edited by Taejun Kang.
Welcome to The Azadi Briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter that unpacks the key issues in Afghanistan. To subscribe, click here.

I'm Abubakar Siddique, senior correspondent at RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. Here's what I've been tracking and what I'm keeping an eye on in the days ahead.

The Key Issue

Human rights groups have documented a sharp rise in the number of Afghans executed in neighboring Iran.



At least 13 Afghans have received the death penalty in the Islamic republic so far this year, according to the Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR).



Another NGO -- the Norway-based group Hengaw, which closely tracks human rights violations in Iran -- put the number at 14.



Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the director of IHR, told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi that the number is double compared to the same period in 2023.



Amiry-Moghaddam said seven of the Afghans executed this year were convicted of murder. The rest, he said, received the death penalty over drug-related offenses.



Amiry-Moghaddam said many Afghans do not get fair trials. Thousands of Afghans are believed to be on death row in Iran.

Why It's Important: The spike in the executions comes amid a mass deportation drive targeting members of Iran's large community of Afghans.



An estimated 4.3 million Afghans currently live in Iran, according to the UN. More than 1 million have been deported in the past year.



Afghans suffer widespread abuse and discrimination in Iran, where they have often been blamed for insecurity and unemployment.



Activists have said the sharp rise in the executions of Afghans could be aimed at instilling fear in the community and discouraging other Afghans from fleeing to the Islamic republic.



An estimated 70 percent of the estimated 3.6 million Afghans who have fled their homeland after the Taliban seized power in 2021 moved to Iran.



Already one of the world's biggest executioners, Iran has intensified its use of the death penalty by carrying out at least 853 executions in 2023, a 48 percent rise from the previous year, Amnesty International said in a report released last month.

What's Next: Iranian authorities appear unlikely to significantly decrease their use of the death penalty, which rights groups say is aimed at creating fear in the population and tightening their grip on power.



As one of Iran's most marginalized and impoverished communities, Afghans are likely to continue to be the target of executions.

What To Keep An Eye On

A new World Health Organization (WHO) report says at least 25 people have died from cholera in Afghanistan so far this year.



The WHO says in 2024 there have been nearly 47,000 cases of the bacterial disease, which spreads through contaminated food and water.



Afghanistan is among the top five countries globally with the most cholera cases, alongside neighboring Pakistan, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and the Congo.



The WHO says diminishing stocks of cholera vaccines as well as population growth, natural disasters, and climate change have led to cholera outbreaks.

Why It's Important: Afghanistan's heath-care system, which was propped up by foreign aid for nearly two decades, has been in crisis since the Taliban takeover. The militants' seizure of power led international donors to immediately cut financial funding.



Hundreds of health facilities have been closed in the past three years, with no funds to pay the salaries of doctors and nurses. Hospitals that are still open suffer from severe shortages of medicine.



While some foreign aid organizations continue to operate in Afghanistan, many of them have been forced to curb their work as international funding diminishes.

That's all from me for now.

Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you have. You can always reach us at azadi.english@rferl.org

Until next time,

Abubakar Siddique

If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every Friday.
After the Taliban's de facto government cut ties with a number of diplomatic missions operated abroad by diplomats loyal to the ousted Afghan republic, the British and Norwegian authorities have opted to shut down Afghan embassies on their soil.

Both Oslo and London say their decisions in no way represent official recognition of the Taliban's rule in Afghanistan, which no country recognizes due to concerns over a woeful human rights record and other failures to live up to promises it made before seizing power in August 2021.

But experts say the embassy closures are likely to pave the way for more engagement with the Taliban, which controls all of Afghanistan's territory and has increased its hold on power.

Diplomats who served the former Afghan government were left in limbo when the Taliban took control, but remained open for business in some Western states and continued to assist Afghan citizens.

The window on their operations began to close when the Taliban announced in July that it was cutting ties with 14 such missions in Western countries and that it would not accept any consular documents they processed, a critical source of funding to keep them running.

Many of the consular services, such as verification of identity documents or police clearance, offered by the embassies do require a degree of cooperation from the country's government because diplomatic missions might not be able to access all government data.

This month, the British Foreign Office announced that it was shutting down the Afghan Embassy in London, explaining to RFE/RL on September 9 that the decision was made after the "dismissal of its staff by the Taliban."

Norway quickly followed suit, announcing that the Afghan Embassy in Oslo would be shut down on September 12.

Both the British and Norwegian governments have indicated that the move does not amount to a formal recognition of the Taliban's hard-line government. And the embassy buildings, which are Afghanistan's properties, will be eventually handed over to a "recognized" government of Afghanistan.

But Hameed Hakimi, an Afghanistan expert, says the decisions to shut the embassies can be taken as "reality setting in" that the Taliban is "unlikely to be replaced in the immediate future."

And for the Taliban, he says, it creates an opportunity to argue that its rule is being acknowledged, even without formal recognition.

"The Taliban can use this to their advantage in their pursuit of claiming legitimacy with the Afghans and internationally," said Hakimi, an associate fellow at London's Chatham House think tank.

More than a dozen countries, mostly Afghanistan's neighbors, already operate embassies in Kabul, and some have accredited Taliban diplomats. The Taliban government also partially controls diplomatic missions in some countries, and has established working relations with Afghan diplomatic missions in the Czech Republic, Spain, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, and the Afghan Consulate in Munich.

The missions operating in Western countries staffed by diplomats appointed by the previous government are the outlier.

Hakimi said that if all those missions are shut down, it "truly signifies the closure of the chapter of the Afghan Islamic Republic."

The Afghan Islamic Republic, as it was formally known, emerged soon after a U.S.-led military alliance toppled the Taliban government in November 2001 following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

Nearly two decades later, the internationally recognized Afghan republic collapsed as the Taliban seized power in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The Taliban, meanwhile, recreated its brutal emirate from the 1990s by imposing harsh bans and discriminatory laws that resulted in widespread human rights violations. Afghan women and girls are deprived of education and employment in most sectors and lack fundamental freedoms.

These Taliban policies have so far kept its government from being officially recognized. This absence of recognition has complicated engagement with the Taliban government on important issues, such as humanitarian aid, and made it difficult for the estimated 2 million Afghans living in Western countries to access consular services.

Graeme Smith, a senior Afghanistan analyst at the Brussels-based International Crisis Group, says Western governments might be acting on the UN special coordinator's recommendation to facilitate the processing of documentation for Afghans abroad.

In his report endorsed by the UN Security Council in December 2023, Feridun Sinirlioglu, the UN special coordinator for Afghanistan, called for better cooperation between the Taliban regime and the outside world to ensure that Afghans can obtain the paperwork they need to continue with their daily lives.

"Afghans have been suffering in limbo without clarity about where to go when they need identity papers or travel documents," Smith said, describing how Afghans who still do not have travel documents from another country suffer from the lack of consular services.

"The steps we are witnessing now may represent practical efforts by some governments" to remedy the situation, Smith said.

The challenge remains, he said, to ensure that efforts "aimed at pressuring the regime do not sabotage the lives and livelihoods of Afghans."

Many Western capitals are also grappling with the complex issue of what to do with Afghan asylum seekers whose applications were rejected.

Last month, Germany deported 28 Afghan men convicted of crimes in the country to Kabul, with Qatar playing an intermediary role in securing the Taliban's cooperation in accepting the returning Afghans.

Smith said that some countries "are discovering the usefulness" of having a consular presence "connected to the authorities in Kabul" if they need to arrange the return of Afghan migrants.

"But it's unclear if that motivated the recent closures," he said.

Both Britain and Norway have not said anything about whether they will allow the Taliban government to offer consular services in London and Oslo.

The fates of the Afghan Embassy in Berlin and consulate in Bonn are not clear, although the consulate in Munich is likely to remain open because it cooperates with the Taliban government on consular services.

In London, Afghanistan expert Hakimi said the closure could create an "opportunity for the Taliban to lobby with the Western countries" and allow its representatives to at least run counselor services.

These Afghan diplomatic missions can remain closed indefinitely, similar to what happened in the United States, where the Afghan Embassy and two consulates have been closed since March 2002. The Afghan Embassy in Canada offers remote consular services to Afghans living in the United States.

In Norway, Afghans have mixed feelings about their embassy's closure.

Sima Nouri, an Afghan woman living in Oslo, is worried over how her compatriots will now access consular services.

"There is a possibility that the process of forced deportation of Afghan refugees will begin," she told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. "This process, however, must be stopped."

Mina Rafiq, another Afghan woman in Norway, prefers shutting the embassy down to cooperating with the Taliban.

"This might work to the advantage of Afghan asylum seekers," she said, "because the Norwegian government will now have to give them necessary documents."
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.
Authorities in Kazakhstan say one of the two suspects wanted in connection with the attempted murder of a Kazakh journalist in Kyiv has turned himself in. The Kazakh Prosecutor-General's Office said Altai Zhaqanbaev was arrested in Kazakhstan after being put on an international wanted list for the shooting of Kazakh journalist and opposition activist Aidos Sadyqov in Kyiv on June 18. The arrest came a day after Ukrainian authorities released CCTV camera footage of Zhaqanbaev and a second suspect, Meiram Qarataev, who they said traveled to Ukraine via Poland.
I'm Steve Gutterman, the editor of RFE/RL's Russia/Ukraine/Belarus Desk.

Welcome to The Week In Russia, in which I dissect some of the key developments in the country and in its war against Ukraine, and some of the takeaways going forward.

Full of over-the-top pomp and propaganda, Russian President Vladimir Putin's trip to North Korea was a strange but predictable spectacle -- emblematic of his trajectory over a quarter-century in power, his focus on the war in Ukraine, and his pursuit of confrontation with the West.



Here are some of the key developments in Russia over the past week and some of the takeaways going forward.

'The Purpose Is To Frighten'

Throughout the full-scale war he launched against Ukraine in February 2022, Putin has used the threat posed by Russia's nuclear arsenal as a lever, seeking to decrease support for Kyiv by scaring the West and the rest of the world -- and all the while claiming, implausibly, that he is doing nothing of the kind.



Russia's nuclear saber-rattling has taken many different forms, from claims to have put its strategic deterrent on "special alert" to tactical nuclear arms drills, just to name two.



In each case, it has stopped well short of a threat of imminent use of a nuclear weapon -- after all, among other potential consequences, such a clear warning would deprive the Kremlin of the ability to continue turning to this tactic and to keep the West guessing about its intentions.



One of the most recent instances came on June 7, when Putin called Russia's nuclear doctrine a "living instrument" and told a high-profile gathering in St. Petersburg that changes -- which he suggested would lower Moscow's threshold for its use of the weapons -- could not be ruled out.



This week, Putin came up with a new way to use nuclear weapons in an attempt to frighten the West, this time with the help of North Korea. On his first visit to the reclusive country since 2000, his first year in office, Putin and Kim Jong Un signed a pact to provide "mutual assistance in the event of aggression."



The agreement, whose text was released on June 20, says that if one of the countries "is put in a state of war by an armed invasion," the other will "provide military and other assistance with all means in its possession without delay."



Some analysts saw it as a reincarnation of a Cold War-era pact that was concluded by Moscow and Pyongyang more than 60 years ago but was scrapped with the collapse of communism and the Soviet Union.



But despite that wording, just what the agreement might lead to was murky. As with many Russian laws, far more important than the text itself is how it's interpreted and applied -- and there's always room for maneuver.



Also uncertain was the practical meaning of Putin's statement that North Korea "has the right to take reasonable measures to strengthen its own defense capability, ensure national security, and protect sovereignty."



As an article in The New York Times pointed out, Putin "did not address whether those measures included further developing the North's nuclear weapons."



The lack of clarity, as with a great deal of Russia's saber-rattling, is anything but an accident, experts say.



"The main purpose of the document was to frighten and to demonstrate," East Asia analyst Aleksei Chigadayev told RFE/RL's Russian Service before the full text of the pact was released.

'Eerily Reminiscent Of Stalinism'

There was plenty of demonstration going on during Putin's trip to Pyongyang, a one-day visit marked by parades, concerts, and thunderous applause -- a grandiose show that historian Sergei Radchenko said was "so eerily reminiscent of Stalinism. The rhetoric, the adulation, the whole vibe."



"It's like [Putin] is trying Stalin's boots on, just to see how they fit," Radchenko wrote on X. "He'll like it. You can just see from the grin."



Be that as it may -- and probably is, judging by Putin's penchant for choreographed, cheering crowds at home and his self-portrayal as the savior of a country critics say he has set back decades and may send to its ruin -- the main motivation for the trip was clearly pragmatic, if that word fits Russia's efforts to acquire more weapons for its unprovoked war against Ukraine.



The Putin-Kim pact "is based on mutual transactional needs -- artillery for Russia and high-end military technology" for North Korea, The New York Times quoted Victor Cha, an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, as saying.

Shell Game

Russia "really needs" North Korean artillery shells, Cha wrote on X on June 20.



It's already gotten millions of them, according to Western governments and South Korea, but it wants more to fuel a war that, with Putin saying this month that peace talks could only begin if Ukraine cedes four regions that Russia occupies partially but claims in their entirety, among other preconditions, shows no sign of ending anytime soon.



"I just think it demonstrates desperation that a country like Russia needs to align itself with the DPRK to subjugate the people of Ukraine, and the fact that they have to go to a country like DPRK to obtain munitions demonstrates how isolated Russia is right now," Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder said.



Still, U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that Putin's comment on June 20 that Moscow may supply weapons to North Korea was "incredibly concerning," adding that depending on the type of weapons, it might "violate UN Security Council resolutions that Russia itself has supported."

'A New Low'

A particular worry is that Russia could provide technologies that "could help the North design a warhead that that could survive re-entry into the atmosphere and threaten its many adversaries, starting with the United States," The New York Times reported.



Whatever real-life ramifications the choreographed visit and carefully worded pact may have in the coming months and years, Putin's trip was a sign of the times, a reflection of the path he has treaded since coming to power almost 25 years ago -- and in the last 28 months in particular.



"The embrace of the North Korean dictator is the logical extension of Putin's course after he launched his all-out invasion of Ukraine," Eugene Rumer, director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, wrote in a June 20 article. "He staked his entire tenure on victory in Ukraine. When triumph proved elusive, he went all in, hell-bent on winning even if it meant destroying his country; severing the critical diplomatic, security, and trade ties with the West; and weaponizing everything at his disposal."



"The security pact with North Korea is a new low" for Putin, Rumer wrote. "But it should not come as a surprise."

That's it from me this week.



If you want to know more, catch up on my podcast The Week Ahead In Russia, out every Monday, here on our site or wherever you get your podcasts (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts).



Yours,



Steve Gutterman



P.S.: Consider forwarding this newsletter to colleagues who might find this of interest. Send feedback and tips to newsletters@rferl.org.
Submitted by Paul Townson

I would like to preface this text by saying that I am an English teacher and am in no way a qualified historian or archaeologist, however I do have an interest in history, specifically the Ribble Valley in Lancashire around 900AD when the Vikings were up to their shenanigans travelling along the Ribble Valley between Dublin and York. However, for the purposes of this article we must go back even further, to the Bronze age.

While doing my Viking research, I came across a curious description of two Bronze age logboats that were found in gravel in the River Ribble, when excavating Preston docks, Lancashire, in 1887. The Bronze age is not really my area of focus but I decided to read on, as it was about the Ribble, and I came across an interesting puzzle. Here is the text:

Transactions of the Manchester Geological Society, Volume 20, 1890

Both the canoes are like the Barton specimen: single-piece canoes hollowed out of a tree trunk and were found lying widely separated in beds of gravel 13ft to 14ft below the present surface level. Both canoes are much shorter than the Barton one, by about 5ft and 6ft respectively, and both are of the flat-bottomed type. The first one found and described by the Rev. Mr. Shortt has another noticeable feature: the stern, for which the root end of the tree has been used, is an open one and is closed by a stern board which fitted into a groove hollowed in the bottom and sides. This groove is placed 7in from the extreme end of the trunk, thus leaving the exterior part of the tree projecting, apparently uselessly, behind unless it served the purpose of steadying the boat. The motive for making these canoes with an open stern and then closing it with a moveable stern board, at some little distance from the extreme end, is not at all clear, nor the advantage to be gained thereby very intelligible, as the stern board must have been calked, probably by moss, bark, or other material, in order to make the boat watertight, and the fashioning of the grooves must have added largely to the labour, considering the implements that were probably used in the process.



Why was a movable stern board (also known as a Transom) incorporated into the design of some logboats, when scooping out the rear part of a logboat, similar to the front, would have been much simpler? This complicated design choice puzzled the Victorians, and its purpose remains undefined even today. Sean Mcgrail in his 1998 book: Ancient Boats in North-West Europe, casts doubt on the reason for logboat sternboards These different forms may reflect different degrees of heart rot in the parent log: on the other hand, they may be individual styles of boatbuilding. There is insufficient evidence to resolve this point at present.

Several explanations have been proposed: it increases the boats load capacity, it enhances its rigidity, it improves stability, stern boards are repairs, and maybe the most unlikely  the stern is closed by a separate stern board, making construction easier since slices of wood could be adzed out vigorously towards the stern.

Robert Van de Noort (2011) suggests that sternboards may have had a ritualistic element:

The question is raised as to whether the removal of the Dover boat transom pieceprobably its stem but possibly its stern was meant to indicate the removal of the fragment that symbolized the power of the boat, or of its master or crew.

The sternboard likely wasnt designed to be detached while the logboat was afloat, as removing it would cause the boat to fill with water. So, its purpose must be linked to its removal on dry land.

I think this suggests the sternboard served as a sort of key: without it, the logboat couldnt be used. This design would deter unauthorised use or theft, as any potential thief would need a stern board matching the unique shape of the logboat. Like quick-release seats on bicycles, they render the transport difficult to use without that key component.

I would imagine the lifespan of a logboat to be considerable as there are no joints or moving parts, except for the stern board. Over years the U-shaped groove and the stern board would become worn and need replacing and this is where the projecting part at the stern could be used.

(from the 1890 text) This groove is placed 7in from the extreme end of the trunk,  thus leaving the exterior part of the tree projecting, apparently uselessly, behind unless it served the purpose of steadying the boat.

A new U-shaped groove could be cut and a new stern board fitted into this projecting part as the old groove and board become worn and more difficult to caulk; in fact, 7 inches of the projection could be enough to cut a new groove for a sternboard a couple of times, indeed the Carpow logboat, 1260-910 BC does have two sternboard grooves.



Logboats featuring a sternboard set in a groove were used for over 5,500 years. We know this from a Neolithic logboat sternboard found in Stralsund-Mischwasserspeicher, dating to approximately 3574  44 B.C. Interestingly, the logboat was carbon dated to be between 3858 BC  63, making the sternboard roughly 250 years younger than the logboat.

This finding predates the Early Bronze Age logboat from Degersee, Southern Germany, dated to 1925-1880 BC, and the British Carpow logboat, both of which had sternboards. Incredibly, the tradition of using logboats with sternboards persisted in Scotland for navigating around the Crannogs (artificial islands) into the 17th century.

Manchester Geological Society, Volume 20, 1890

Similar remarks would apply to the Scotch crannoges, a few of which were in occupation so late as the early part of the 17th century, and some of the canoes found in connection with them, had the peculiar feature, previously described of the stern, closed by a vertical board sliding into grooves cut out of the solid wood.

Interestingly, the Degersee logboat (1925  1880 BC) was found with the sternboard in situ and with its caulking! When the transom board  which was only partly preserved  was removed from its slot it became clear that originally the whole interspace had been filled with moss and other plant remains. All plant material had been rammed into place and resembled flat cakes.

Dickson J.H. et al. (2013) Mosses used for Caulking the Early Bronze Age Logboat from Degersee, Southern Germany

I have not read of any instances where tar, resin, wax, or glue was used in the groove that holds the sternboard. One might expect to find the remains of such materials if the sternboard were intended to be a permanent part of the boat, especially considering that Birch tar, etc. were used during the Bronze Age. Caulking coated in birch tar would probably be more effective at keeping out water, but not very convenient if you had to do it every day.

Logboats that have a sternboard and had caulking in the sternboard groove:

Degersee (moss caulking)  5.31, Alder, 1925 BC

Carpow (moss caulking)  9.25m, Oak, 1000 BC

Brigg (moss caulking)  14.75m, Oak, 1260790 BC

Clifton 2 (moss caulking)  9.25m, Oak, 405 BC

Hasholme (moss caulking)  12.78m, Oak, 322 BC

Poole (hide/leather caulking)  10.08 m, Oak, 295 BC

Preston 1 (bark caulking)  Unknown date

Cahore 1 (moss caulking)  6.7m, Oak, Unknown date

None have evidence of tar, resin, wax, or glue being used with the caulking.

Imagine dedicating hundreds of hours crafting a logboat using only the simple tools available during the Bronze Age  Millet and McGrail offered an approximation of 7080 man days to produce the 12.78m Hasholme boat, while Goodburn (2010, 113) suggested that a team of 10 would have completed the main stages of forming the c. 11m Carpow boat in around 3 weeks, with a smaller team then doing the fine finishing. (Crevinish Logboat by Brian G. Scott)

Given the immense investment of time and labour, it naturally follows that one would want to have a safeguard for this valuable asset. I think this desire for security likely motivated the invention of the removable sternboard, a simple but effective anti-theft mechanism to protect the owners property.

If sternboards were a security device, how often would they be removed? At the end of every day would the fisherman/trader/ferryman pull the stern up on the river bank and remove the sternboard, take it home, and then the next day put it back, caulk it and carry on their trade? Or maybe they were just removed in winter when the boats were laid up for longer periods of time, or when visiting other more distant locations where the security situation was uncertain?

The prevalence of logboat theft during the Bronze Age may have been a more global concern than previously thought. Peter Bellwood, in his book Ancient Boats, Boat Timbers, and Locked Mortise-and-Tenon Joints from Bronze/Iron-Age Northern Vietnam, discusses and includes photographs of a Bronze Age Vietnamese logboat, the Viet Khe logboat from 810-390 BC, discovered in the Red River alluvial plain that has a sternboard remarkably similar to those found in Europe around the same time. This striking resemblance in design prompts a fascinating question: did separate cultures independently arrive at the same solution to protect against the theft of logboats, or could there have been a transfer of this specific knowledge between regions as distant as Ireland and Vietnam during the Bronze Age?

If this idea is correct, it raises all sorts of questions about Bronze age society. Whilst a lot of Bronze age logboats have stern boards, not all of them do. Did only logboats for a specific purpose have sternboards? Or does it mean that some areas of Britain and the rest of the world were rougher than others?

Feature image credit: Tom Parnell




High Court Reporters

The Court of Appeal has referred an aspect of a case where the Minister for Justice made a finding against a man who entered into an alleged marriage of convenience before he was granted Irish citizenship to the Courts of Justice of the European Union.

The CJEU will be asked to clarify if the Minister has the power to make a determination regarding a person who obtained certain EU rights by way of fraud.

The case centres around findings made by the Minister against the man, who was born outside of the EU.

After coming to Ireland on a student visa over a decade ago, he married an non-Irish EU national in 2010. After his marriage he was granted a residence card for five years in October 2010 and secured Irish citizenship in 2016.

His residence in the State since that date has been on the basis of his citizenship. In 2018, he and his EU wife divorced.

In 2019, a third-party non-EEA national made an application for residence on the basis that she was the mother of an Irish citizen child of whom the man was the biological father.

This led to an investigation over concerns about the man's 2010 marriage.

The Minister's concerns included the accelerated nature of the marital relationship, the lack of documentary evidence of a subsisting relationship prior to the marriage, and the nature of his relationship with the third party non-EEA national.

Other concerns were that his student visa was due to expire 16 days after his marriage to the EU national, that information from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection indicated limited economic activity on the part of the EU national wife in the State, and the man's failed to inform the Minister of any change of circumstances.

Ultimately, the Minister held that the man had entered a marriage of convenience and had submitted false or misleading information in respect of a residence card, which had since expired because, at the time of that determination, he was a naturalised Irish citizen.

The Minister found that he had relied on documentation and information that was false and misleading in order to obtain his residency and the marriage was entered into for the sole purposes of attempting to obtain a status he was not entitled to.

The Minister added that the marriage was never genuine, and any entitlement or status conferred under the Directive from your marriage to the Union citizen concerned are deemed withdrawn from the outset.

The man brought a High Court judicial review action claiming that various decisions of the Minister regarding his marriage were flawed and should be set aside.

He argued that the decisions were also in breach of his rights as an Irish and EU citizen.

Ruling against the man, the High Court found the Minister did have such a power to conduct an investigation into matters between 2010 and 2015 and dismissed his challenge.

The man appealed that decision to the Court of Appeal.

He argued the High Court erred in finding there was nothing in the 2015 European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations preventing the Minister from making the decisions challenged when a person becomes a citizen of a EU state.

It was also argued that the High Court erred by failing to find that the Minister's decisions were made outside of their powers and jurisdiction.

The appeal came before Ms Justice Una Ni Rafeartaigh, Ms Justice Ann Power and Mr Justice Charles Meenan.

Giving the CoA's ruling Ms Justice Ni Rafeartaigh said the main issue in the action centred around the Minister's entitlement to make a finding under the 2015 regulations against the man.

The CoA said that the precise character of the Ministers decision was not, and did not purport to be, a revocation or refusal of a right of residence."

It was a determination or a finding or a conclusion as to a past state of affairs and the past conduct of the appellant." the judge said.

The new decision hinted at a finding that may be used in the context of a re-assessment of his citizenship status.

The judge said the COA "was inclined towards" finding that the 2015 Regulations do not include a power to make a determination of the kind in issue in the present case.

Nor could it be implied from the regulations, the judge added.

It was essential that this matter of EU law, and the extent of Ministerial powers, be clarified by the CJEU in order to determine the case, the judge said.

The CoA seeks clarification on whether the 2004 EU Citizens Rights Directive, which provides for citizens of the EU and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of Member States applies to a person such as the man.

The case will return before the CoA later this month.
Fianna Fail councillor Paschal Fitzmaurice from Castlerea will become the new Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council, it has emerged.

In a joint statement issued this morning, the new coalition of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and three Independents, Tom Crosby, Laurence Fallon and Emer Kelly, officially confirmed that the grouping will propose Cllr Fitzmaurice as the new Cathaoirleach at the council's first meeting this afternoon, Friday.

The Fianna Fail councillor will be elected chairperson in the first year of the council's five-year term. His party colleague and Roscommon Town based businessman, Cllr Larry Brennan will be elected as Leas-Cathaoirleach.

Both Cllr Fitzmaurice and Cllr Brennan will have much to offer in leading the way forward for the year ahead, and as a coalition we look forward to working with them as they lead forward on the issues, said the statement.

As expected, the new coalition also officially confirmed that the new power sharing deal will comprise the five Fianna Fail councillors, the four Fine Gael councillors and three of the seven Independents, Crosby, Fallon and Kelly.

The ruling group will have a clear 12 to six majority in the council chamber, allowing it to strengthen its control in terms of implementing policy.

The inaugural meeting of the new council will be chaired by Cllr Fitzmaurice, and councillors will also consider appointments for a range of bodies, such as the Northern and Western Regional Assembly, the GRETB, Regional Health Forum West and TFI Local Link Longford Westmeath Roscommon.

In the statement, the grouping laid out a detailed programme for the next five years. It covers a wide ranges of issues, including roads funding; road safety; climate change and biodiversity emergency; healthcare; energy efficiency; rural transport links; tourism; supporting the farming community; rural housing; tackling rural isolation; childcare, and job creation.

Key to achieving our goals is ensuring that we have a well-balanced team to promote and help develop the county. Therefore, we have established a team to lead the council forward over the course of the next five years, to bring balance in the county and to ensure that no part of the county is left behind.

"A programme for local government has been agreed for the next five years that will endeavour to ensure that all our citizens get treated equally and fairly in the work which the Council undertakes and the services it provides," said the statement.

In the last council term, the previous pact was made up of six Fianna Fail councillors, two Fine Gael councillors and two Independents, Laurence Fallon and Tom Crosby.

Following the recent local elections, Fianna Fail councillors Paschal Fitzmaurice, John Keogh and Marty McDermott retained their seats. They are joined on the council by their party colleagues and newcomers, Larry Brennan and Sean Moylan.

Fine Gael doubled their seats in the elections to four. Outgoing councillors John Naughten and Liam Callaghan will be joined by former councillor Domnick Connolly and new face Gareth Scahill.

Apart from Fallon, Crosby and Kelly who make up the new grouping, four other Independents were also recently elected. They are outgoing councillors Valerie Byrne, Tony Ward and Tony Waldron, and newcomer Micheal Frain.

Outgoing Independent Ireland councillor Nigel Dineen and successful first-time candidate, Leah Cull of Sinn Fein are the two other councillors who will make up the 18 seat local authority.
Fianna Fail councillor Paschal Fitzmaurice said it was a great honour for him to be formally elected as the new Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council.

At the first meeting of the new council this afternoon, the Castlerea councillor was elected Cathaoirleach

and will now serve in the chair for the first year of the council's five-year term. He was proposed and seconded for the role by party colleague, Cllr Marty McDermott and Fine Gael newcomer, Cllr Gareth Scahill.

In a contest for the position, Independent councillors Tony Ward and Tony Waldron had proposed and seconded Councillor Nigel Dineen of Independent Ireland.

However, Cllr Fitzmaurice was elected as the new council chairperson by 12 votes to four, with Independent councillors Valerie Byrne and Micheal Frain abstaining.

In assuming the role, Cllr Fitzmaurice, a previous Cathaoirleach in 2019, assured fellow members he would be fair to each and every one of you during his term. He went on to congratulate all those who retained their council seats along with the six new councillors.

During his address, he believed there was a strong team in place on the council to deal with the many challenges facing the county.

The new Cathaoirleach paid tribute to many people, including the Chief Executive Shane Tiernan, council management and staff for their support. He specially mentioned his wife Ann and two children, Sean and Ella. Without Anns support, he said he would not be able to be a councillor.

New Fianna Fail councillor Larry Brennan was elected as council Leas-Chathaoirleach. He also won on a 12-4 vote with abstentions again from councillors Byrne and Frain.

Cllr Brennan was proposed by his party colleague, first time councillor Sean Moylan and seconded by Fine Gael councillor John Naughten,

In the contest for this position, Cllr Dineen had proposed Sinn Fein councillor Leah Cull for the role with Cllr Ward as seconder.

During his address, Cllr Brennan said he was proud and honoured to be elected as Leas-Chathaoirleach, and looked forward to working with the Chief Executive, council management and staff along with his fellow members.
The Department of Public Health, HSE West and North West, is encouraging the public to be aware of an increase of COVID-19 infections in the community.

Ongoing awareness of symptoms of COVID-19 and taking steps to prevent the spread in both the community and in healthcare settings remain important to protect those most vulnerable.

There is a new COVID-19 variant (JN.1) circulating in Ireland. This new variant in the community has resulted in an increase in outbreaks in nursing homes, hospitals and other healthcare settings putting vulnerable patients at risk of infection.

If you have any symptoms of COVID-19 and feel unwell, you should:

 Stay at home until 48 hours after your symptoms are mostly or fully gone

 Avoid contact with other people, especially people at higher risk from COVID-19

You do not need a COVID-19 test unless a GP or health professional tells you to. If you choose to do one, there is different advice to follow if you have a positive COVID-19 test.

Dr Aine McNamara, Area Director of Public Health, Department of Public Health HSE West and North West, said: We are reminding everyone of the importance of taking steps to prevent the spread of serious illness from COVID-19, particularly for those most vulnerable in our community. Avoid visiting those in healthcare settings such as hospitals and nursing homes if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19:

 Wash your hands properly and often

 Cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue or your sleeve

 Put used tissues into a bin and wash your hands

 Let fresh air into your home by opening windows, doors and air vents as much as possible

 Clean objects and surfaces that other people touch.
A Hero's Welcome: Ambika Groups MD Parveen Kumar Honored at Alberta's Legislative Assembly

Parveen Kumar's story is one of perseverance and vision.

Alberta: In a heartwarming and monumental event, Shri Parveen Kumar, Managing Director of Ambika Group, received a resounding welcome at the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The applause echoed through the hall, signifying recognition of his outstanding contributions to real estate and philanthropy. But who is Parveen Kumar, the MD of Ambika Group? Heres the illustrious journey of Shri Parveen Kumar, and the impact of the Ambika Group.

The Legislative Assembly of Alberta was abuzz with excitement as dignitaries and attendees expressed immense excitement about the presence of Shri Parveen Kumar. As an announcement was made about his presence, a wave of applause erupted, symbolizing respect and admiration for his achievements. The warmth of the welcome was a testament to his influence and the positive changes he has brought about through his work. Representing India on this prestigious platform, Parveen Kumar made the country proud.

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Parveen Kumar: A Journey of Excellence

Parveen Kumar's story is one of perseverance and vision. From a humble background, he has risen to become a leading figure in the real estate industry. His journey is marked by milestones that reflect his commitment to excellence and innovation. Under his leadership, the Ambika Group has flourished, setting new benchmarks in real estate development.

Ambika Group: Building Dreams and Expanding Globally

The Ambika Group, founded by Shri Parveen Kumar, is a name synonymous with quality and trust. The company has an impressive portfolio of residential and commercial projects across India and Canada. Each project is a testament to the group's dedication to superior design, strategic locations, and sustainable development. One of the core focus areas of Ambika Group is global expansion, showcasing its commitment to bringing Indian real estate excellence to the world stage.

In the surrounding areas of Chandigarh, the Ambika Group has transformed the skyline with its innovative projects. The expansion into Canada highlights the group's global vision and commitment to excellence.

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Philanthropy: Making a Difference

Beyond his business acumen, Shri Parveen Kumar is a philanthropist at heart. He has established several NGOs dedicated to uplifting the underprivileged and addressing pressing societal issues. His philanthropic efforts span education, healthcare, and community development, making a significant impact on countless lives.

Shri Parveen Kumar believes in giving back to society, and his NGOs reflect this philosophy. These organizations work tirelessly to provide educational opportunities for underprivileged children, improve healthcare facilities in rural areas, and support community development initiatives.

Recognition and Awards

The warm welcome at the Legislative Assembly of Alberta is just one of many recognitions that Shri Parveen Kumar has received. His contributions to real estate and philanthropy have earned him numerous awards and accolades. These honors are a testament to his dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment to making a difference.

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The Video: A Moment of Pride

The video of Parveen Kumar's welcome at the Legislative Assembly of Alberta has made netizens emotional, capturing the hearts of people worldwide. The footage shows a man who has achieved great heights, yet remains humble and grounded. The applause and admiration from the attendees highlight the respect and appreciation for his contributions, truly making him the role model of millions of Indians.

Conclusion

Parveen Kumar's warm welcome at the Legislative Assembly of Alberta is a significant milestone in his illustrious career. It is a recognition of his achievements in the real estate industry and his tireless efforts to make a positive impact on society. As the video of this moment continues to be shared across various platforms, it serves as an inspiration to many, showcasing the power of perseverance, vision, and compassion.

Parveen Kumar's journey is far from over. With the Ambika Group continuing to innovate and expand globally, and his philanthropic efforts touching more lives, his story is a beacon of hope and inspiration. The world watches with admiration as he continues to build dreams and transform lives, making India proud on the international stage.
A New European Parliament

About 370 million Europeans with the right to vote were called to the polls between June 6-9 to elect 720 MEPs

The European Parliament (Photo: Endzeiter / pixabay.com)

Corina Cristea, 21.06.2024, 10:50

About 370 million Europeans with the right to vote were called to the polls between June 6-9 to elect 720 MEPs, but only a little over half of these Europeans chose to exercise this right. The results showed that the centrist parties maintained a clear majority in the European Parliament. The European Peoples Party remains the largest group in the EP, with a significant increase compared to the previous elections; The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats ranked second, losing a few seats, and the Renew group remained in third place, although it lost seats too. The two groups on the extreme political right, the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) and the Identity and Democracy Group (ID), together obtained 14 mandates more than before, but even so, this number is not enough for them to count in the political kitchen of Parliament, analysts believe. The two groups occupy the fourth and fifth places in the EP and obtained results below the expectations forecast ahead of the elections. The Greens fell from position four to position six, and in seventh place is the Left group, which obtained fewer mandates than in the past. MEPs from unaffiliated or independent parties together have almost 100 mandates.

The bottom line is that, with more than 400 mandates obtained by the three main political forces, the balance of power seems to remain largely unchanged in the European Parliament. What has, however, unsettled the political establishment and generated strong reactions has been the significant progress made by the far right in countries such as France and Germany, where, analysts say, dissatisfaction with the way of handling the pandemic and the geopolitical tensions have contributed to this result. What message are voters sending to the European Commission? Is it an electoral sanction from some of the western countries?

Sorin Ionita, the president of Expert Forum is at the microphone with explanations: Many, many changes have occurred in Western societies in recent decades, from globalization, a lot of immigration, there has been a lot of talk about climate change, changes in technologies and the world is stressed, wants a bit of a break from this very, very fast pace of change, they want a bit of time to ingest and digest all this change, and they basically vote with some populist forces, of one kind or another, that tell them: Let it be the way it used to be, lets stop the change!, which obviously is not going to happen. I didnt see any major surprises compared to what the surveys said, and its very good that these right-wing extremists are divided into two big camps  some are pro-Kremlin, so to say, and others are pro-Western, pro-Atlantic. And here is the very big difference, for example, between Giorgia Meloni and the Poles, on the one hand, who will never play games with Russia, and the Germans from AfD, whose profile is rather worrying, maybe even Marine Le Pens party in France, although she has turned moderate herself.

Speaking in turn about the European extreme right, professor Stefan Popescu, a foreign policy analyst and commentator, believes that its rise will continue: This will happen because we are in a period of crises, successive crises, which have not been resolved. The economic crisis after the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic crisis caused by the war in Ukraine, the competition with China and the US, which leads to an erosion of the European economy, the migratory pressure, the security issues, the echoes of the war in the Near East, all these will do nothing but create an atmosphere of uncertainty, which will provide fertile ground for these movements.

Invited in Radio Romanias studios, political science professor Andrei Taranu spoke about the context of holding the elections, about the major issues that concern European citizens: Western Europe is very interested and has the problem related to the war in Ukraine and the problem of peace and everything related to a new armament policy of the EU, about the possibility of building a European army, while in Eastern Europe the economic problems are the most serious. The majority of Eastern European citizens are interested in a possible crisis at the EU level, from the Baltic states to Greece. The problem of those in the south of the continent  Greece, Italy, Spain, less Portugal, remains the migration coming from the north of Africa and the Near East, while the problems of those from the Scandinavian countries are rather related to climate change. The West has this problem related to a European reconstruction, a revision of the treaties, so that there should be a greater involvement of the Union, of the European bureaucracy in the existence and the lives of European citizens, while those in the East are rather wary of a greater political involvement of the EU, including on such issues as justice, human rights, and so on.

What should be the priorities of the new Commission? Again at the microphone is Professor Stefan Popescu: The priorities will be very important and, I would say, essential, more than ever, for the course of the EU. First of all, this Commission will still have to manage the war in Ukraine, the way in which the Union will continue to provide assistance to Ukraine, especially since we have this probability of a change on November 5th  it will be announced by the team at the White House, it will be on the 21st January. Then, the management of the post-conflict situation, because this war will not last another five years, even if it will continue next year.

Then, Stefan Popescu adds , there will be the expansion to the Western Balkans; in Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, we will see, it depends on several factors, but this expansion will require a substantial reform of the decision-making process at the European level. (LS)
June 21, 2024

A roundup of the latest local and international news

Newsflash

Daniel Bilt and Newsroom, 21.06.2024, 13:45

VISIT Romanian Foreign Minister, Luminita Odobescu, is continuing her working visit in the United States, where she held talks with Secretary of State, Antony Blinken. On Thursday she held talks with Michael Carpenter, Senior Director for Europe at US National Security Council. The two tackled a series of interest issues on the Romania-USA bilateral and security agenda such as the latest regional developments including in the context of the upcoming NATO summit in Washington. Odobescu and Carpenter underlined the consolidation of the support for Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and the other partner countries in the Black Sea region. The head of the diplomacy in Bucharest also met USAID Administrator, Samantha Power. The two mentioned the joint Romanian and US interest for the consolidation of the resilience of the partners in the Black Sea area with emphasis on the Republic of Moldova. The visit comes against the background of Romanias celebration of 20 years of NATO membership.

FITS The 31st edition of the International Theatre Festival, FITS, kicks off today in Sibiu, central Romania. For 10 days, the public will have to choose from the 830 events taking place during the festival such as theatre and circus performances, music, dance, exhibitions and lecture-shows, which are going to bring together over 5,000 artists from 82 countries. Actors and directors of world repute are expected to attend the festival in Sibiu, such as John Malkovich, Tim Robbins, Pippo delBono or Neil LaBute. Many of the international productions will be available online at a platform called the Digital Stage of the local Radu Stanca National Theatre, the main organizer of FITS 2024.

INVESTMENT Seven out of 10 investors have forecast an increase in Romanias attractiveness as an investment destination in the following three years, shows a survey conducted by the financial consultancy and audit company Ernst & Young. 46% of the CEOs interviewed believe that Romania remains a robust and resilient investment market in 2023 and have mentioned their intentions to consolidate or expand their operations in the near future. Bucharest continues to remain the main investment destination with a significant rate of 40%. Iasi, in north-eastern Romania, and Timisoara, in the west, each registered three investment projects while Cluj-Napoca, in the north-west and Brasov in the center each have two.

CSAT Romania will donate an air defence system Patriot to Ukraine, the countrys Higher Defence Council (CSAT) has decided, a communique of the presidential administration has announced. The CSAT has ruled that the donation will be made on the condition of continuing negotiations, mainly with the US strategic partner, with a view to obtaining a similar or equivalent system to meet the need of ensuring the protection of the countrys air space. According to the presidential administration, the decision has been based on a deep technical assessment by the authorities and all the measures have been taken to eliminate the risks of creating vulnerabilities for Romania.

(bill)
Foreign investors betting on Romania

Seven out of ten investors anticipate an increase in Romanias attractiveness as an investment destination in the next 3 years, according to a study carried out by Ernst & Young

Photo: pixabay.com

Sorin Iordan, 21.06.2024, 13:50

67% of investors in Romania anticipate an increase in the attractiveness of the country as an investment destination in the next 3 years, according to a study by the financial consulting and auditing company Ernst & Young. According to the document, between 2022 and 2023, the number of newly created jobs in Romania decreased by 8%, from 6,460 to 5,935.

By this indicator and in the general context of Central and Eastern Europe, in 2023 Hungary recorded better performances than Romania, but our country surpassed Greece and Bulgaria in terms of the number of foreign direct investment projects. At the same time, Romania ranks 5th in the ranking of the average number of jobs created per project, outranking stronger states, such as Poland.

The study also shows that 46% of the CEOs interviewed believe that last year Romania remained a robust and resilient market for investments and mentioned that they plan to consolidate or expand their operations here in the near future. Access to non-refundable financing is considered a decisive factor by 72% of investors. Sectors of interest to them include software and IT services, transport and logistics and electronic products, which dominate in attracting foreign direct investment. The integration of emerging technologies and access to a well-trained workforce are essential and strengthen Romanias position as an attractive destination for sustainable investments with significant long-term impact, the study states.

Bucharest continues to dominate as the main destination for foreign direct investment, with a substantial share of 40%. Iasi, in the northeast, and Timisoara, in the west, attracted three investment projects each, and Cluj-Napoca, in the northwest, and Brasov, in the center, two each. However, the investment model suggests a shift from the traditional focus on large economic centers towards a wider dispersion of projects in smaller cities.

The main investors remained unchanged. Germany maintained its leading position, with 16 projects, the same as in 2022, followed by Great Britain and the United States of America, each with 6. According to the research, investors believe that Romania distinguishes itself by its advantageous fiscal system, by the adoption of emerging technologies and the availability of skilled labor.

The research was carried out online, between February and March 2024, on a representative sample consisting of 100 decision-makers at the level of executive management and the board of directors. Half of the respondents are located in Romania, 40% in other European countries, 6% in the USA, and the rest in Japan, China, Israel and the United Arab Emirates. (MI)
Patriot system for Ukraine

The Supreme National Defense Council decided that Romania will donate a Patriot missile system to Ukraine.

Photo: presidency.ro

Daniela Budu, 21.06.2024, 11:00

Romania will donate a Patriot air defense system to Ukraine. The decision was made at the meeting of the Supreme National Defense Council (CSAT) that took place on Thursday in Bucharest. The CSAT members established that the donation of the Patriot system will be made on the condition of continuing negotiations, especially with the American strategic partner, in order to obtain a similar or equivalent system, which should meets the need to ensure the protection of the national airspace. In fact, the idea of donating such a system to neighboring Ukraine emerged last month, following the meeting of President Klaus Iohannis, at the White House, with President Joe Biden. Then, Klaus Iohannis said that Romania was asked to give up such a system. Now, after the CSAT announcement, the Presidential Administration emphasized, in a statement, that the decision was based on an in-depth technical evaluation by the authorities and that all measures were taken to eliminate the risk of creating vulnerabilities for Romania.

Thus, the National Defense Ministry presented within the Supreme National Defense Council a detailed analysis regarding the situation of the operationalization of the four Patriot systems that the country currently owns, the progress of the endowment program with the other three systems it ordered, as well as the impact generated by a possible transfer of a system, the press release writes. President Volodymyr Zelenski thanked Bucharest for the decision to donate Kyiv a Patriot missile system and said that he appreciated Romanias firm support for Ukraine. Todays decision strengthens security not only in Ukraine, but also in our entire region and Europe the Ukrainian president wrote in a social network post. In fact, Volodymyr Zelenskiy has requested at least seven batteries, but the countries that own them have not yet decided on handing them over.

Also on Thursday, when Romania made the decision to donate the system, the United States announced that it was temporarily suspending deliveries of Patriot anti-aircraft systems to other countries, and Ukraine will now have priority in receiving them. The White House evoked Kyivs persistent requests to receive more Patriot batteries to defend both its frontline troops and infrastructure from Russian attacks. Its also worth mentioning that Romanias objectives at the NATO summit in Washington, next month, were also approved within the Supreme National Defense Council in Bucharest. The continuous deterioration of the security situation in Romanias eastern neighborhood, as a result of the intensification of Russias military actions, was also analyzed.

At the CSAT meeting, Klaus Iohannis also announced that he had informed NATO allies, at the end of last week, about the withdrawal of his candidacy for the position of secretary general of the organization. The Romanian president asked the members of the Council to pronounce on the candidacy of the Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, and they expressed their support for the Dutch officials candidacy for that position within NATO. (LS)
South Korea's idea of providing military aid to Ukraine in its fight against Russia met with strong opposition from President Vladimir Putin.

At the end of his visit to Vietnam, Putin warned that South Korea would be making "a big mistake" if it supplies lethal weapons to Ukraine.

"As for the supply of lethal weapons to the combat zone in Ukraine, this would be a very big mistake. I hope that this will not happen. If this happens, then we will also make appropriate decisions, which are unlikely to please the current leadership of South Korea," Putin told reporters Thursday.

The Russian leader arrived in Vietnam after signing a defense pact with his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang.

South Korea summoned Russia's ambassador in protest on Friday.

South Korean Foreign Ministry said First Vice Minister Kim Hong-kyun urged Russia to "immediately halt military cooperation" with North Korea and abide by UN Security Council resolutions.

South Korea's strong ally the United States expressed serious concern over the defense pact that Russia and North Korea signed earlier this week.

When asked about the ramifications of the agreement at a teleconference Thursday, White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said it should be a concern to any country that cares about maintaining peace and stability, not just on the Korean Peninsula but in the Indo-Pacific.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

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Kia is working on launching a new SUV in India  It is likely to be a compact SUV which will be loaded with features

Demand for small and compact SUVs is on the rise globally. India is no exception. Some of Indias best-selling cars are small / compact SUVs. Kia is reportedly working on a new SUV for the Indian market, which has been spied on test. Based on these spy shots, we have created a new render of this upcoming Kia SUV, which is likely to be called Clavis.

Kia Clavis Rendered

When the first set of spy shots of Kia Clavis emerged on the internet, it looked like a version of Hyundai Exter, with Kias unique design attributes over it. But that is not the case. This new Kia SUV will be in a segment of its own.

Rushlanes render, penned down by Pratyush Rout, is based on previous spy shots and captures the essence of Clavis in a way Kia might have done it themselves. These renders are finished in the usual White, Grey and Black, but also in pop-out colours like Red, Blue and even Orange.

Inspired by the spy shots, our renders have a sophisticated Tiger Nose grill that neatly flows into the vertically stacked headlights. Even the day-time running lights are vertical and double up as turn indicators. Clamshell bonnet is notable too.

Lower grill of Kia Clavis has been spotted with a radar for ADAS features and our render reflects the same. It has to be noted that ADAS suites offered in sub 4m space by Hyundai, Kia and Mahindra are all camera-based, and this radar+camera-based system must emerge as a step up. Wheels have a triple-slotted geometric design that looks funky.

ORVMs have strong shape and also get cameras for 360-view and blind-spot assist and monitoring. Side profile is almost identical to that of the Hyundai Casper, but looks a tad longer. Roof rails, chunky body cladding, L-shaped rear tail lights and interesting door designs are notable.

What to expect?

On the inside, spy shots have revealed premium attributes like the twin horizontal 10.2-inch displays seen on Sonet, a panoramic sunroof, front and rear ventilated seats (yes, you read that right!), leatherette upholstery and rear AC vents among others. On the outside, Kia Clavis seems to get rear disc brakes, all-LED lighting, premium finishes and more.

Kia is likely to position Clavis as one of the most feature-loaded sub 4m SUVs India has ever seen. Powertrain options could include a 118 bhp 1.0L turbo petrol and a 114 bhp 1.5L diesel with manual / automatic options. There will also be an EV version of the same, that has been spied abroad. Launch of Kia Clavis SUV is likely to take place later this year or early next year.

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Also read  Kia Syros name trademarked
As per the new spy shots, Bajaj could be developing a new Pulsar line to carve out a much sportier version of its 125cc portfolio

Bajaj Auto has been working on a new 125cc Pulsar. There have been many test mule sighting instances in India and the new spy shots reveal more details about the bike. Looking at these test mules begs the question of which Pulsar subcategory it belongs to or if a new Pulsar line is under development.

New 125cc Bajaj Pulsar Spied

There is an increasing demand for feature-loaded 125cc motorcycles that fulfils fuel-efficiency demands but also offer a premium quotient. TVS is a step ahead in this regard and Hero has done a commendable job with their Xtreme 125R. However, Bajaj lacks the newness factor, something both rivals are offering.

Currently, 125cc Pulsars (Pulsar 125 and Pulsar NS 125) are the companys best-selling lineup and we might soon witness a third offering. Contrary to popular belief, this is less likely to be a N125 (N150 with a 125cc engine). Instead, Bajaj is likely to be spawning a whole new sub-brand or sub-lineup under its Pulsar umbrella.

Recent test mules spotted show motorcycles side profile and we can see that it gets unique attributes of its own, while still retaining Pulsar DNA. When compared to Pulsar P range, Pulsar N range and Pulsar NS range, this upcoming 125cc Pulsar looks quite unique and looks like a more modern 125cc Bajaj Pulsar.

Unique design compared to existing Pulsars

We compared it with Pulsar P design, Pulsar N design and Pulsar NS design to see just how unique it is. Sure, there are a few parts sharing with other Pulsars. For example, the new Pulsar gets same wheels as Pulsar P150 (R.I.P.) and braking hardware. So, no petal rotors. Even the fuel tank and tank shrouds look similar to Pulsar P150.

Rear tail lights and indicators along with rear tyre hugger look similar to Pulsar NS125. That said, there are many unique attributes with this new 125cc Bajaj Pulsar like flatter split seats, new tail section, new side body panels, new front mudguard, new RSU telescopic front forks with round reflector and beefy-looking suspension shrouds (covers) like a street fighter.

Exhaust setup looks almost identical to Pulsar N style bikes, but engine looks like it is gifted straight from Pulsar 125 (no prefix). Looking at the beefy suspension shrouds and single-piece handlebar, we reckon Bajaj is carving out a new street naked machine that will directly take on premium 125cc bikes.

A fitting answer to Raider 125 and Xtreme 125R, if you may. Thinking in this regard, this upcoming Pulsar might get a more modern digital instrument cluster that packs many modern features. Considering 125cc Pulsars are Bajajs best-sellers, it makes a lot of sense for the company to expand their 125cc portfolio to incorporate a much more modern and advanced bike. What could be the name, though? Pulsar NS125Z? Pulsar N125Z?

Also read  Bajaj CNG bike launch date revealed

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Canadian Jordy Kummer left home over a year ago because it was 'so easy' to get a visa for Australia. And she says it's all about confidence when going it alone.

Canadian woman Jordy Kummer, 24, has been travelling around Australia in a van on her own. Source: TikTok/jordy_kummer

A Canadian woman travelling Australia solo in a van has detailed the "eye-opening" adventure she's had so far, with one particular Aussie quirk leaving her second-guessing her choice of trip.

At first, the bugs and the spiders sneaking into her van at night is what shocked Jordy Kummer the most. But after more than a year travelling on the wide open road, she's become accustomed to the Aussie way of life, spiders and all.

"I have had my fair share of the huntsman spiders [in my van]. That was a wide, eye-opening experience. I had to use the wooden spoon to try to flip it out of a van," she laughed to Yahoo News Australia.

Last week, Kummer shared a video on social media showing her unexpected encounter with a "giant mozzie". Laying in her van bed, the "huge red thing" began buzzing beside her, naturally making her jump and scream. While social media users were quick to reassure her it was "just a mozzie", the traveller wasn't convinced, telling Yahoo "I've seen lots of mosquitoes I swear that was not a mosquito".

It's not unusual for travellers from the northern hemisphere to overhype the dangers of Australia's creepy crawlies. But despite the insects and "going weeks without a proper shower", the 24-year-old says she loves the van life and is a fan of the country's "laid back lifestyle"  a nice surprise for a woman travelling solo.

Kummer left her home in Ontario, Canada, in April 2023 intending to stay for a year before leaving to travel to Asia.

While it was always on her bucket list, it wasn't her first choice. "It was just so easy to get a visa," she said. And because of that, she landed Down Under and hasn't looked back since.

Cost-effective way to travel Australia: 'A lot cheaper'

With no expectations, the social media manager first set off in a car which she'd transformed into her home for the foreseeable future  saving loads on accommodation costs.

"That lasted about two months before it broke down on me, and that's when I bought my van, and I've been in a van ever since," she said, and while it's pokey, it's "absolutely" cheaper than a hotel or hostel  a nice win considering the cost of living in Australia.

The 24-year-old was at first shocked by how Aussies do some things, but now she's love it. Source: TikTok/jordy_kummer

"With the rates now at hostels, they are just getting it to be crazy expensive. A 10-dorm hostel can be just as expensive as a motel sometimes. So it can be a lot cheaper," she said.

While she "doesn't track what I spend in a day" she guessed it'd be anywhere between zero and $200 when she has to fill up the 2005 Kia Pregio with diesel, and enjoy a cafe meal.

Female traveller has 'never felt scared' being alone

Currently in Noosa, Kummer has travelled as far north as the Daintree in Queensland and has made her way along the coast down to Sydney, with plans of travel further to Melbourne once it's warmer. And despite growing attempts by councils to ban camping and overnight stays near beaches across the country, Kummer said she's never had a problem finding somewhere to pull up.

Another issue commonly faced by solo travellers is feeling unsafe, particularly as a woman, but the 24-year-old says, "I've never actually felt scared or second-guessing travelling alone".

Jordy started with a mattress in a car (left) before upgrading to a yellow van (right) where she's able to cook meals. Source: TikTok/jordy_kummer

"I do think it has a lot to do with confidence. You have to be safe and you can't be too gullible," she said. "But I've never felt more confident or more comfortable or more like myself when I have been travelling.

"You meet so many people as you go, and you're actually never alone. It's interesting. Ive never not felt safe, which I know can be controversial."

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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Have you always wondered what the Owasco Watershed Lake Association is all about? If so, you are invited to the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce Business After Five event hosted by OWLA at the Owasco Yacht club from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 26.

This is the third annual event where OWLA and the chamber of commerce team up to celebrate Owasco Lake. Join your fellow OWLA and chamber members for an evening of networking, fun, food and fellowship on the shore of Owasco Lake. This years event will feature music provided by Major Keys, hors d'oeuvres, wine donated by the OWLA Board of Directors, beer tastings offered by Owasco Lake Brewing Co. and mead tastings with the folks from Combgrown Mead. Bring your business card to be included in drawings for artwork, wine and lake-themed gifts.

Our Business After Five event is the perfect time to build relationships in an informal, relaxed setting and learn about OWLA as well as upcoming chamber news and events. OWLA members will give a brief overview of the work OWLA has accomplished and some of the plans OWLA has for the future. OWLA board members will be happy to talk one-on-one with you about what OWLA does and what we plan to do in the future. Everyone is welcome. OWLA members are free!

OWLA is a hands-on, boots dirty, take-action, nonprofit organization. Although we are not lake police," we do whatever we can to protect and restore our precious Owasco Lake. We educate and inform at every opportunity. From finding and suppressing the deadly hemlock woolly adelgid that will kill the hemlock forests if left unchecked to working with farmers to create runoff filtration buffers and helping to shore up streams and tributaries to reduce runoff, OWLA serves to protect the Owasco Lake watershed. Through science-based, cutting-edge technology, funding projects, fighting invasive species and tracking down excessive nutrients entering the lake, OWLA works for our lake.

Because OWLA is a citizen-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we are only as strong as our membership. A growing membership helps us raise our voice loud and clear, and OWLA board members will be on hand to help you join the cause. Membership dues start at only $5 for students, $25 for individuals and $50 for the entire family. If you live near the lake, recreate on the lake, depend on the lake for your drinking water and/or your business, or just love the views, you need to join OWLA!

Registration for the June 26 Business After Five at the Owasco Yacht Club is requested by calling the chamber at (315) 252-7291 or visiting cayugacountychamber.com. For more information regarding the event or information about OWLA, please contact Meg Vanek at meg_vanek@owla.org or me at carol_sutkus@owla.org.
It is one of the largest federal investments in the city of Auburn in decades, and it will support the modernization of the aging wastewater treatment plant.

Auburn has been awarded a $25 million grant, $41,491,103 in interest-free financing and $16,491,102 in market-rate financing from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the bipartisan infrastructure law. The state is providing a $9 million grant through the Water Infrastructure Improvement program.

The funding will cover the costs of the ongoing wastewater treatment plant upgrades. The project's price tag grew over the years and the city Council approved a resolution last year to increase the bond authorization from $36 million to $84 million.

The wastewater treatment plant was built in 1935 and last upgraded in the 1990s. The improvements will include replacing aging wastewater treatment infrastructure and better biosolids processing capabilities, according to city officials.

One goal of the project is to address how the city handles sludge, Auburn Mayor Jimmy Giannettino said. The sludge is a byproduct from treating wastewater that is usually transferred to landfills. But between the costs of transporting the materials and landfills near capacity, the city has developed a solution. It will dry the sludge, which can be reused.

Before the grants and loans were announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the city planned to borrow the money necessary to complete the project.

"The bipartisan infrastructure law is our New Deal," Giannettino said. "We haven't seen anything like this since the '40s and you're probably not going to see anything like it again. We need to maximize every dollar we can bring into this community."

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is one of Schumer's major legislative achievements as majority leader. Funding from the law has supported entities and projects in central New York, including Centro and Syracuse Hancock International Airport.

The award for Auburn will help protect central New York's waterways and take the burden off local taxpayers, Schumer said.

He continued, "With this federal investment, we are giving Cayuga County the federal support it needs to modernize its sewage infrastructure, all while creating a steady stream of jobs, jobs, jobs working to keep our environment clean. I championed the bipartisan infrastructure and jobs law because I knew it would help make long overdue investments in upstate New York, and deliver for places like Auburn, and now we are showing how we can turn the tide on long overdue projects like this with a surge in federal investment."

Hochul's office singled out the Auburn wastewater treatment plant improvements in a news release announcing more than $300 million for 20 projects in New York. The funding was approved by the state Environmental Facilities Corporation's board of directors.

Auburn is the only central New York municipality that was awarded funding.

"New York state is providing major financial assistance to ensure our communities can invest in their water infrastructure to protect our vital natural resources, while reducing costs and making these projects affordable for the ratepayers who rely on them for safe drinking water," Hochul said.
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Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On June 21, ZEEKR, the premium electric vehicle brand under Geely Holding, held the delivery ceremony for the 200,000th ZEEKR 001 at its 5G smart factory.

Photo credit: ZEEKR

The ZEEKR 001, the first model under the ZEEKR brand, is a mid-to-large pure electric vehicle that hit the market on April 15, 2021, with deliveries starting in October of the same year.

The significant vehicle is an All-New ZEEKR 001 (2024 ZEEKR 001) that went on sale on February 27. It features a front design similar to the ZEEKR 001 FR. The lower air intake has been widened, and the side air ducts are larger, giving the front a more aggressive look. The new two-tone alloy wheels have a unique and attractive design, with the largest wheel size being 22 inches. At the rear, the reflectors on both sides have been updated to a trapezoidal design similar to that of the ZEEKR 001 FR.

The car measures 4,977 mm in length, 1,999 mm in width, and 1,545 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,005 mm.

Photo credit: ZEEKR

Inside the vehicle, the All-New ZEEKR 001 features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 chip and the latest ZEEKR OS 6.0 system. It boasts a striking 15.05-inch 2.5K OLED central control screen and adds a 35.5-inch AR-HUD head-up display. Notably, the 2024 model also includes the satellite communication technology applied in the ZEEKR 001 FR, allowing for two-way satellite messaging and communication services.

Photo credit: ZEEKR

In terms of power performance, the rear-wheel-drive version of the All-New ZEEKR 001 has a maximum power output of 310 kW and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds. The all-wheel-drive version features a front motor with a maximum power of 270 kW and a rear motor with 310 kW, delivering a combined system power of 580 kW and a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 3.3 seconds.

CATL's Qilin battery pack; photo credit: ZEEKR

The 2024 ZEEKR 001 offers two battery options: a 100 kWh Qilin battery, which charges from 10% to 80% in just 15 minutes, and a 95 kWh Shenxing battery, which takes only 11.5 minutes for the same charge and adds 256 km of range with a 5-minute charge. Depending on the trim levels, the CLTC range options are 675 km, 705 km, and 750 km.
Gif: The Times and The Sunday Times YouTube

Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin are buddies, which certainly doesnt bode for international relations. Theyre apparently so close that Putin gave his North Korean counterpart a luxury Russian-made limoon Thursdaythe second such gift this year. The two celebrated the diplomatic gift-giving by taking the Aurus Senat for a drive.

If I hadnt seen it myself I would have thought it was created with AI or a skit. The footage, shown on Russian state TV, shows Putin and Kim having a jolly good time driving around what looks to be a park. The two switch places to let Kim drive before heading back to what could only be Kims palace, the Guardian reports.



Image: Aurus

So what exactly is this limo that Putin gave to Kim? Its a massive luxury car called an Aurus Senat. The Russian-made limo is the countrys take on a Rolls-Royce or Maybach-style luxury car. The Aurus brand was established in 2018 after Putin wanted a new luxury vehicle for his motorcade. In 2021, Aurus introduced the first model available for purchase by the public, the Senat.



Image: Aurus

The Senat is available in three lengths: the standard Senat, the Senat Long and Senat Limousine which is what Putin gifted Kim. Power comes from a 4.4-liter twin-turbo hybrid V8 with 590 horsepower developed by Porsche, according to Autoweek.



Image: Aurus

As far as looks go, it looks, well, like a Rolls which I think was the point. From the massive front grille to the wheels to the luxurious interior, it just looks exactly like something a dictator would use to roll over his citizens. Aurus also makes what looks to be a Cullinan clone called the Komendant.



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Whats wild about all this is that this is the second Senat Putin has gifted Kim in less than six months. In late February, Putin gave Kim his first Senat with the one in the video above obviously being the second. Meanwhile Kim reportedly gave Putin artwork including several busts the BBC reports and two Pungsan dog, a North Korean hunting breed, according to NDTV.

Im just trying to imagine riding along with these two brutal dictators, one currently waging a bloody invasion into a sovereign country, the other, continuing a brutal decades-long oppressive regime against his own people. It makes you wonder exactly who do you think was in charge of the radio?

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LA CROSSE, Wis.Dr. Joe Gow, the former chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and a current communications professor, today concluded day two of his disciplinary hearing that will decide whether his tenure will be revoked. Gow and his spouse, Dr. Carmen Wilson, were outed as adult content creators in December 2023. He was immediately fired as the school's chancellor despite announcing his intention to transition into a communications professorship.

Gow's professional future is at stake as the faculty committee conducting the hearing gave no indication as to how they will rule. General counsel representing the Universities of Wisconsin (UW) System and the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse presented findings of an internal investigation that provided evidence of Gow's alleged insubordination and professional misconduct.

"Dr. Gow just doesn't get it or is unable to acknowledge that his conduct has been harmful to this campus community and a distraction from its core mission," said university system attorney Wade Harrison in closing arguments. Gow's conduct, according to Harrison, includes the alleged use of university computers and information systems that violated the fair use policy against pornography. Throughout, Gow has maintained that his activities in adult content creationan endeavor he categorizes as a hobby for him and Wilsonwere protected by the First Amendment and have no bearing on any potential reputational harm to UW-La Crosse or the university system as a whole.

Gow said the administration's reaction to the revelation of his X-rated extracurriculars was "egregious." He argued, "They have led us in several unrelated directions, but ultimately they have taken us nowhere." Another element of the case presented by the general counsel for the UW System rests on concerns that Gow's continued presence on the UW La Crosse campus, if he is retained on tenure, would be a distraction that results in "reputational harm."

What is indisputable is that UW-La Crosse has not experienced substantive negative effects, Gow declared in disagreement. As weve heard, enrollment is stable, the budget remains balanced, and donations continue to flow in.

Gow called interim UW-La Crosse chancellor Betsy Morgan as a witness for his defense. He grilled Morgan on whether she engaged with him, regarding his obligation by UW policy to cooperate in a personnel misconduct investigation, in a way that satisfied the requirement for cooperation. Note that Morgan was a witness for the university system during day one of the hearing, when she testified to allegations of Gow's insubordination stemming from an apparent lack of cooperation with the investigation. System policy allows employees under investigation for misconduct to have a representative or other individual available during interviews with investigators. Gow said that he was unwilling to be interviewed in person without counsel present. Reportedly, Gow fielded the assistance of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), but the group has yet to assign a pro-bono lawyer.

In light of these circumstances, Gow asked Morgan if his offer to provide written responses while awaiting legal representation satisfied the requirement of cooperation. She said it did not and declined to speak further on certain matters. It is worth noting that UW representatives, during the first hearing day, told Gow that he has a right to due process in disciplinary hearings but no right to legal counsel. Rather, he has a right to an accompanying individual, as noted.

The faculty committee is expected to render a decision by tomorrow. If Gow's tenure is revoked, he will likely bring a legal challenge against the university system. FIRE posted a statement on Tuesday saying that Gow's First Amendment rights of free speech and academic freedom are at risk of being violated. AVN's coverage of the first hearing day is available here.

AVN has reported extensively on the case of Dr. Gow and Dr. Wilson since December 2023. Gow and Wilson have appeared in self-produced adult clips alongside top-rated adult talent such as Lauren Phillips, Sophie Marie and Nina Hartley. The couple also carved out a niche as vegan cooking influencers under the banner of "Sexy Happy Couple." Gow and Wilson also wrote books about marriage and ethical non-monogamy under pseudonyms.
Pennant International reported a successful return to operating profit in its final results on Friday, achieving a record gross profit margin.

The AIM-traded systems support and training solutions company reported group revenue of 15.5m, up from 13.7m in 2022, and a gross profit margin of 50%, up from 42% the prior year.

Its EBITA profit rose to 1.4m from 0.5m year-on-year, while it narrowed its loss before tax to 0.4m from the prior year's 1.4m.

Pennant also achieved an operating profit of 0.1m, swinging from the operating loss of 1m recorded in 2022.

Basic losses per share came in at 2.53p, slightly higher than the 2.45p loss per share in 2022.

The firm carried forward unrelieved tax losses of 6.8m, down from 7.1m in the previous year, and had group net assets of 9.8m at year-end, compared to 10.7m in 2022.

Net debt increased to 1.9m from 0.4m, reflecting investment in the IPS suite, and no final dividend was recommended.

Operationally, Pennant reported significant strides with a 1.4m investment in proprietary software products.

European revenue growth was strong, bolstered by the 9m Boeing Defence United Kingdom Apache upgrade programme, which remained on schedule and within budget, with final deliveries expected in September.

The acquisition of Track Access Productions in April last year expanded Pennant's rail offerings, contributing 0.16m in profit before tax within about nine months.

Additionally, the release of version two of GenS in May 2023 led to the first commercial sale in June 2023.

The company also entered a strategic partnership with Aquila Learning to integrate its ALaRMS system into Pennant's software suite, enhancing capabilities for shared customers.

Since the period ended, Pennant raised 1.36m to support working capital and investment in the IPS suite.

Ian Dighe was appointed chairman, succeeding Philip Cotton, while the company embarked on an investment phase to integrate its three IPS applications - GenS, Analyzer and R4i - into a comprehensive solution.

I'm pleased to report my first set of results as chairman of Pennant, highlighting significant group-wide progress with a return to operating profit and record gross margins, said chairman Ian Dighe.

We continue to invest in, and develop, our leading suite of services and solutions, helping our customers maximise their operational efficiency, whilst pursuing a group strategy that focuses on higher value, higher margin, recurring software and services revenues.

At 1128 BST, shares in Pennant International were up 6.21% at 25.49p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
Growth in the UK private sector unexpectedly slowed in June, a closely-watched survey showed on Friday, as uncertainty around the general election weighed on business.

According to flash data from S&P Global, the UK manufacturing output index hit a 26-month high, at 54.2, while the manufacturing PMI ticked up 0.2 points to an above-forecast 51.4.

However, in contrast the UK services PMI business activity index fell sharply, hitting a surprise seven-month low of 51.2 compared to 52.9 a month previously.

Respondents said that while higher customer demand had boosted activity levels, it had been partly offset by spending decisions being put on hold until after the election on 4 July.

As a result, the composite output index fell from 53.0 to 51.7, a seven-month low. Analysts had expected the index to be unchanged month-on-month.

The composite index is calculated by weighting together comparable manufacturing and services indices.

Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said: "Flash PMI data for June signal a slowing in the pace of economic growth, indicating that GDP is now growing at a sluggish quarterly rate of just over 0.1%.

"The slowdown in part reflects uncertainty around the business environment in the lead up to the general election, with many firms seeing a hiatus in decision making pending clarity on various policies."

Peter Arnold, UK chief economist at EY, said: "The PMIs can be volatile from month-to-month, so Junes balance should be treated with a degree of caution. Indeed, the second quarter average was the same as the first quarter.

"But the EY Item Club thinks quarter-on-quarter growth will probably be slightly softer in the second quarter, partly due to four days of strike action planned in the healthcare sector for the end of [June]."

Surveys were sent to panels of around 650 manufacturers and 650 service providers, with data collected between 12 and 19 June.
Shares in Britvic soared in early trading on Friday, after the soft drinks firm rejected a fresh approach from brewing giant Carlsberg Group .

The FTSE 250 company confirmed it had received an unsolicited proposal from Carlsberg at 1,250p per share, valuing it at around 3.1bn.

That was an improvement on the Danish firms first approach, made at the start of June, of 1,200p per share, and a premium of around 23%.

But in a brief statement on Friday, Britvic said that, after carefully considering the revised offer, it had been unanimously rejected.

The UK firm said it believed the proposed offer had "significantly" undervalued the business.

However, it did not rule out the possibility of a future deal, noting: "The board remains confident in the current and future prospects of Britvic. It recognises its fiduciary duties and will consider any further proposal on its merits."

As at 0830 BST, shares in Britvic had jumped 15% to 1,165p. Carlsberg was off 8%.

Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor, said: "While there is no guarantee that any takeover will happen, the news is the latest confirmation that there are many overseas companies running a slide rule over UK Plc.

"The resultant M&A activity is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it recognises that there are many well-run businesses who are trading at a discount to their true value and are therefore attractive bid targets.

"On the other hand, it reduces the number of listed companies, which is a real concern for policymakers and has yet to be addressed."

Founded in the 1930s, Britvics brands include Fruit Shoot, Robinsons and J20, among others. It also markets and sells PepsiCo brands in Great Britain and Ireland.
Trade union Unite announced on Friday that around 1,500 Tata workers based in Port Talbot and Llanwern would start an all-out indefinite strike, starting on 8 July.

The union said the action was a response to Tata's plans to cut 2,800 jobs and shut down its blast furnaces, marking the first strike by UK steel workers in more than 40 years.

It said industrial action had escalated after workers initiated a work-to-rule and overtime ban on 17 June 17.

Tatas workers are not just fighting for their jobs - they are fighting for the future of their communities and the future of steel in Wales, said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham.

Our members will not standby while this immensely wealthy conglomerate tries to throw Port Talbot and Llanwern on the scrapheap so it can boost its operations abroad.

They know South Wales is ideally placed to take advantage of the coming boom in green steel - if the right choices are made.

In response to the escalating situation, United noted that the Labour Party was urging Tata to delay its plans until after the general election.

Labour had pledged a 3bn investment in UK steel if elected, and prioritised emergency talks with Tata.

The strikes will go on until Tata halts its disastrous plans. Unite is backing Tatas workers to the hilt in their historic battle to save the Welsh steel industry and give it the bright future it deserves, Sharon Graham added.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
Matt Young

(photo: Katelynn Wyrick)

Marine Corps veteran Matt Young's first book, Eat the Apple, was a structurally inventive memoir about his time in the service. His novel, End of Active Service (available now from Bloomsbury; reviewed in this issue), centers on a young man who's left the Marines and returned home to Indiana, where he's haunted by memories of his squad and Iraq. Young has also published stories and essays in Time, Granta, Tin House, Catapult, and the Cincinnati Review, among others. He teaches composition, literature, and creative writing at Centralia College in Washington.

When did you know you wanted to write a novel? Was it conceived before or after your memoir?

Like a lot of creative writers, I thought fiction was the thing that I wanted to write, but I was terrible at it. I stopped writing it for a while, and I thought after I wrote my memoir that I would just keep writing nonfiction.

I was trying to write about parenthood. I'm adopted myself, and I was trying to write about my adoption and stuff like that. I finally wrote this creative nonfiction essay that was about taking my daughter home from the hospital. I have a little bit of that creative nonfiction essay from then in the novel now.

Then I started writing these really short fiction pieces that accompanied it. My daughter was the centerpiece, and I was kind of a vague character, but it wasn't really me. I wrote one fictional piece about cutting my daughter's face out of pictures and pasting them onto pictures of me when I was in the Marine Corps. It sustained the voice from the nonfiction, but it felt weird because I didn't know what to do with it. I hadn't really pictured myself writing a novel. But then I didn't really question it for too long because I liked what I was doing. It ended up snowballing into all these little tiny vignette pieces. And, eventually, I formed it into a more traditionally structured novel. But I didn't have a plan to write a novel, I wanted to write nonfiction, and then that just blew up.

The novel has two different storylines: Dean after getting out of the Marine Corps and Dean's time in the service. I'm just curious how you approach time. What was your relationship with it when you were writing the novel?

I was finishing my MFA and this was my thesis project. I was reading about fractured narratives and structures of time in literature. On the whole, it was looking at chronological time, segmented time, and circular time. I was thinking about how oftentimes in memoir, or a narrative, where the protagonist has undergone some kind of trauma, then often the narrative structure of time is presented in this fragmented way, because that's how our brains kind of process.

Dean's split between these two spaces, but also, in his day-to-day life, not everything holds consequence for him. There are moments that stick out, that are more significant and that are related, in some way, or paralleling things that have happened in the past. I was thinking about the idea that time is a flat circle, that everything is always happening, and that it's always going to be happening and repeating itself. Dean's experiencing that kind of time.

Dean presents as all tooth and nail and tough, but there are glimpses of tenderness. What comes to mind is when he says the first time he touched a gun was in the Marines. Growing up, he hadn't wanted to go hunting with a friend because he hadn't wanted to shoot a deer. Did the balance of tender moments and violence come organically?

I think it's pretty organic, because the character is essentially a black mirror of me in some way. I grew up in Indiana, I didn't want to go hunting with my friends. When I was a teen, I probably said, "Oh, that's so stupid. Why would you want to wake up at like four o'clock in the morning to sit in the woods for four hours or whatever?" But there's a part of me that thought, I don't want to do that. I don't want to kill an animal.

I think that balance comes from a lot of time in therapy and being able to get in touch with my vulnerability as a man again, and to think, Oh, yeah, I do have empathy. I do have this gentle side. That is also a part of being a man. It's something that Dean really struggles with, but he wants it. At least he recognizes that. Or that's how he feels he should be in the world. There are a lot of shoulds for Dean.

You showcase masculinity in many forms, including the toxic variety. I'm thinking about Rick versus Dean versus Court versus Ruiz. Was that deliberate or did it just come from the story?

They're all various men that I've encountered. There's not really an intent to kind of showcase all these potentially terrible men or something like that. But I think, in my experience, at least, those are kind of like the stereotypical stock characters that you seem to encounter in some way.

They're also varying models that Dean sees for himself. He doesn't really know who he is. He's essentially a blank slate. And he's trying to figure out what parts to add, and what parts to jettison and, I don't necessarily know that these other men in his life know who they are, either.

But Dean seems to think that they do. It was more about putting him in conversation with somebody who's going to maybe fulfill our expectations in some way, but also surprise us in some way.

One of the tricky things about writing about the military is how to translate jargon and acronyms for a broader audience. It seems pretty seamless in the story. But was that a struggle? How did you approach it?

In my first book, I didn't take that into account at all. I think some people are like, "I didn't really understand this part." I don't know if you really need to--that jargon is meant to evoke a feeling. But, yeah, there were parts that I rewrote. And I think there are some moments of avoidance. There are a couple of times where Dean says something out loud, or thinks a thought, or is narrating to the audience or something in a way that I wouldn't if I was telling the story. I wouldn't say that acronym out loud. I wouldn't spell it out for somebody at first, I'd wait for them to ask, or something like that. So it was like paying attention to those kinds of things because I didn't want people to get lost in it.

I do think that there's another space of confusion for people because that is just the way that he talks about his time in the Marines and the infantry. The experience is so steeped in jargon. I think part of it can be a mechanism to kind of throw people in the deep end and have them feel immersed in that space. But it's probably a balance. My editor was really helpful in that and having me dial it back this time around.

Did you look to any books or authors as guideposts while drafting the novel?

I have three novels that I was reading as I was thinking about the time structures I mentioned. Christopher Isherwood's A Single Man; Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko; and this really quiet book by Tove Jansson called The Summer Book. --Nina Semczuk
MINNEAPOLISCarnal Media announced four new releases this week from its Gaycest, Staghomme, MasonicBoys, and TwinkTop imprints.

The scenes are now streaming on CarnalPlus.com, its exclusive online streaming platform.

Gaycest released a new scene starring Legrand Wold, Serg Shepard, Adam Snow, and others. This is the latest update to the International Transfer storyline.

Also new on the recently relaunched Staghomme, Carnal exclusive Bastian Karim shines in "Favor" with Scott Carter in chapter six of Bastian Uncovered.

Even more Carnal exclusives come out to play in the latest BoyForSale update. The scene stars Dylan Tides alongside other performers for Carnal Meida's various imprints.

On ScoutBoys, Cole Blue stars in the scene "Pitch A Tent."

"Its another cant miss a week, weve had many of those lately," said Carnal Media CMO Alan Breslaw. "With four updates featuring nine exclusives, we truly have something for everyone this week. The Fathers Day update on Gaycest will certainly be nominated for many awards!"

For more information about Carnal Media and the Carnal Plus streaming network, visit CarnalPlus.com, and follow on X @RealCarnalPlus and @CarnalMedia.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman convened her fourth pre-Budget meeting on June 21, engaging with representatives from farmer associations and agriculture economists. The focus of the discussions centered on climate change initiatives and strategies to rejuvenate agricultural growth, currently stagnant at 1.4 percent of the GDP. Participants advocated for rationalizing GST rates on essential agricultural inputs, pointing out that pesticides are taxed at 18 percent while water pumps attract a 12 percent levy under the existing regime.

The meeting, attended by Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, Finance Secretary TV Somanathan, Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran, and senior officials from the Agriculture Ministry, highlighted key concerns and proposals ahead of the Union Budget 2024-25.

Previously, Sitharaman chaired a series of pre-Budget consultations, starting with leading economists on June 19, followed by experts from the financial and capital markets sector on June 20. The Indian Venture and Alternative Capital Association (IVCA) also contributed insights, urging for a conducive regulatory framework to bolster growth in the alternative asset industry.

Later engagements included a meeting with industry leaders and associations, where the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) recommended boosting the manufacturing sector, supporting consumption demand, and rationalizing tax slabs to alleviate burdens on middle-income groups.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated International Yoga Day in Srinagar on Friday, emphasizing the growth of a 'yoga economy' and its global impact. Addressing an event in the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, PM Modi highlighted how yoga promotes a sense of interconnected well-being and has become a catalyst for new economic opportunities in India.

International Yoga Day at the United Nations, and it was supported by 177 nations, setting a record. Since then, Yoga Day has been creating new milestones, he remarked. Reflecting on the journey of International Yoga Day, PM Modi noted that the United Nations declared June 21 as International Yoga Day in 2014 following his proposal. I extend greetings to people across India and the world who are practicing yoga today. International Yoga Day has completed a historic journey of 10 years. In 2014, I proposedat the United Nations, and it was supported by 177 nations, setting a record. Since then, Yoga Day has been creating new milestones, he remarked.

In his speech, delivered against the scenic backdrop of the 'land of sadhna' in Srinagar, PM Modi shared that yogas global expansion has not only fostered personal well-being but also boosted yoga-related tourism and employment in India. I have the privilege of being in Srinagar, a place rich in spiritual heritage, to celebrate Yoga Day. Here, we can feel the energy and strength derived from yoga. This ancient practice is increasingly recognized as a means to enhance health and happiness. I extend my wishes from Kashmir to everyone practicing yoga worldwide, he said.

PM Modi highlighted that the practice of yoga has grown significantly over the past decade, leading to a surge in what he described as the 'yoga economy'. He observed that regions renowned for their yoga traditions, such as Rishikesh, Kashi, and Kerala, have witnessed increased tourism from individuals seeking authentic yoga experiences in India. Today, a new wave of yoga tourism is visible. Tourists from around the world are visiting India to learn authentic yoga. This trend is creating numerous employment opportunities, particularly for the youth, PM Modi explained. He also noted that the rising global interest in yoga has spurred individuals to engage personal yoga trainers for their fitness needs, further boosting the sector.

The Prime Minister acknowledged the increasing curiosity and interest in yoga among global leaders and the general public. Wherever I travel and whoever I meet, they express a keen interest in yoga. Yoga is becoming an integral part of daily life for many people around the world, he observed.

PM Modi underscored the holistic benefits of yoga, advocating for its inclusion in daily routines to enhance physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. He shared a notable example of a 101-year-old French woman who received the Padma Shri this year for her lifelong dedication to promoting yoga, despite having never visited India. This recognition highlights the global influence of yoga. Today, prestigious universities and institutions worldwide are conducting research on yoga, and numerous research papers are being published, reflecting its widespread impact, he added.

Encouraging the masses to embrace yoga, PM Modi emphasized that the practice fosters strength, good health, and overall wellness. He urged people to adopt this ancient system as a vital component of their lives, ensuring that its benefits continue to spread and enrich lives globally.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Walmart is closing three more locations - two in the metro Atlanta area and another in Colorado, local news agencies have reported.

Fox5Atlanta reported last week that Walmart stores in both Dunwoody and Marietta, Georgia will close on July 12. A spokesperson told the station that the locations would close due to poor financial performance.

These closures come one month after the retail giant announced layoffs that would affect several hundred jobs at its campus offices around the country. As part of the change, most employees working in Walmarts offices in Atlanta will need to relocate to its primary offices in Bentonville, Arkansas; Hoboken, New Jersey; and the San Francisco Bay Area, Fox5 reported. The move will also affect most remote workers and personnel in its Dallas and Toronto offices.

A Walmart in Aurora, Colorado near the University of Colorado Anshutz Medical Campus, closed on June 7, The Denver Post reported, affecting approximately 140 employees. According to the Post, all employees will receive 90 days of pay during which they can apply for positions at other Walmart or Sams Club locations. After that time, they will be eligible for severance pay.

The closures are among a handful of other recent Walmart shutdowns, each store shuttered due to failure to meet financial expectations.

But those poorly performing locales are not preventing the retailer from expanding: Walmart previously announced plans to open or begin construction on 14 new locations this year. The brand has also announced plans to remodel 650 stores across 47 states during the next 12 months, rolling out the discount retailers Store of the Future concept, complete with improved layouts, expanded product selections and sustainability initiatives.

According to the companys website, Walmart has over 4,600 retail locations in the United States, including 3,560 supercenters, 360 discount stores, and some 700 neighborhood markets and small format stores. The retailer also operates about 600 Sams Club warehouses.
Update: According to an NYPD spokesman and a family member, Joby Joseph has been found. No further information was made available.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A 39-year-old Meiers Corners man has been missing since May, leaving family and friends concerned for his safety and well-being.

Joby Joseph, who works door security for several Lower East Side bars in Manhattan, has been missing for over a month, his brother, Joshua Joseph, told the Advance/SILive.com.

This is the first time this has happened for a such a long period of time, Joshua Joseph said. Its not unusual for him to be gone for maybe a couple of days, but nothing like this. We dont know anything.

A missing person report that was filed on June 8 states that the last time Joby Joseph was seen was on May 10 at around 10:30 a.m. in Manhattan, according to a spokesman for the NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Public information.

Joshua Joseph went on to say that his brother is very social, well-known, charismatic and able to make friends with anyone, which makes it more baffling as to why hes yet to contact family, friends and acquaintances.

Fliers have been posted both online and handed out throughout Downtown Manhattan.

While Joshua Joseph wonders whether his brothers mental status has possibly been altered, he said responses to the flier have been inconsistent. Several callers have claimed to have seen Joby Joseph in the vicinity of Tompkins Square Park and Avenue A as recently as late Monday night, claiming he appears to have lost weight and looks to be malnourished  nothing his brother is able to confirm.

According to the flier, Joby Joseph stands 6-feet, 1-inch tall, has dark brown hair and a full beard. It also says its possible hes somewhere in the East Village, Lower East Side or Alphabet City.

Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crimestoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on Twitter @NYPDTips.

All calls are strictly confidential.
HONOLULU (AP)  Kiinaniokalani Kahoohanohano longed for a deeper connection to her Native Hawaiian ancestors and culture as she prepared to give birth to her first child at home on the north shore of Maui in 2003.

But generations of colonialist suppression had eroded many Hawaiian traditions, and it was hard to find information on how the islands Indigenous people honored pregnancy or childbirth. Nor could she find a Native Hawaiian midwife.

That experience led Kahoohanohano  now a mother of five  to become a Native Hawaiian midwife herself, a role in which she spent years helping to deliver as many as three babies a month, receiving them in a traditional cloth made of woven bark and uttering sacred, tremorous chants as she welcomed them into the world.

Her quest to preserve tradition also led her into a downtown Honolulu courtroom this week, where she and others are seeking to block a state law that they say endangers their ability to continue serving pregnant women who hope for such customary Native Hawaiian births.

To be able to have our babies in the places and in the ways of our kupuna, our ancestors, is very vital, she testified. To me, the point of what we do is to be able to return birth home to these places.

Ki'inaniokalani Kaho'ohanohano poses on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Honolulu. She is a Native Hawaiian cultural practitioner who is among those suing over a Hawaii law they say penalizes anyone who provides advice, information, or care, during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum who does not have a specific state license. (AP Photo/Jennifer Sinco Kelleher)AP

Lawmakers enacted a midwife licensure law in 2019, finding that the improper practice of midwifery poses a significant risk of harm to the mother or newborn, and may result in death. Violations are punishable by up to a year in jail, plus thousands of dollars in criminal and civil fines.

The measure requires anyone who provides assessment, monitoring, and care during pregnancy, labor, childbirth and during the postpartum period to be licensed. The womens lawsuit says that would include a wide range of people, including midwives, doulas, lactation consultants, and even family and friends of the new mother.

Until last summer, the law provided an exception for birth attendants, which allowed Kahoohanohano to continue practicing Native Hawaiian birth customs. With that exception now expired, however, she and others face the licensing requirements  which, they say, include costly programs only available out of state or online that dont align with Hawaiian culture and beliefs.

In 2022, the average cost of an accredited midwifery program was $6,200 to $6,900 a year, according to court documents filed by the state.

Attorneys for the state argued in a court filing that the law undoubtedly serves a compelling interest in protecting pregnant persons from receiving ill-advice from untrained individuals.

State Deputy Attorney General Isaac Ickes told Judge Shirley Kawamura that the law doesnt outlaw Native Hawaiian midwifery or homebirths, but that requiring a license reduces the risks of harm or death.

The dispute is the latest in a long history of debate about how and whether Hawaii should regulate the practice of traditional healing arts that dates to well before the islands became the 50th state in 1959. Those arts were banished or severely restricted for much of the 20th century, but the Hawaiian Indigenous rights movement of the 1970s renewed interest in the customary ways.

Hawaii eventually adopted a system where councils versed in Native Hawaiian healing certify traditional practitioners, though those suing say their efforts to form such a council for midwifery have failed.

Practicing midwifery without a license, meanwhile, was banned until 1998  when, lawmakers say, they inadvertently decriminalized it when they altered the regulation of nurse-midwives, something the 2019 law sought to remedy.

Among the nine plaintiffs are women who seek traditional births and argue that the new licensing requirement violates their right of privacy and reproductive autonomy under Hawaiis Constitution. They are represented by the Center for Reproductive Rights and the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation.

For pregnant people whose own family may no longer hold the knowledge of the ceremonial and sacred aspects of birth, a midwife trained in Native Hawaiian traditional and customary birthing practices can be an invaluable, culturally informed health care provider, the lawsuit states.

When Kahoohanohano was unable to find a Native Hawaiian midwife to attend the birth of her first child, she turned instead to a Native American one, who was open to incorporating traditional Hawaiian aspects that Kahoohanohano gleaned from her elders.

She surrounded herself with Hawaiian cultural practitioners focusing on pule, or prayer, and lomilomi, a traditional massage with physical and spiritual elements. It all helped ease her three days of labor, she said. And then, two pushes and pau  done  the boy was born.

The births of her five children in various Maui communities, Kahoohanohano said, were her greatest teachers in herself becoming one of the very few midwives who know about Native Hawaiian birthing practices.

She is believed to be the first person in a century to give birth on her husbands ancestral lands in Kahakuloa, a remote west Maui valley of mostly Native Hawaiians, where her daughter was born in 2015. The community is at least 40 minutes along winding roads to the islands only hospital.

Kahoohanohano testified about helping low-risk pregnant women and identifying instances where she transferred someone to receive care at the hospital but said shes never experienced any emergency situations.

Among the other plaintiffs are midwives she has helped train and women she has aided through birth. Makalani Franco-Francis testified that she learned about customary birth practices from Kahoohanohano, including how to receive a newborn in kapa, or traditional cloth, and cultural protocols for a placenta, including taking it to the ocean or burying it to connect a newborn to its ancestral lands.

The law has halted her education, Franco-Francis said. She testified that shes not interested in resuming her midwifery education through out-of-state or online programs.

Its not in alignment with our cultural practices, and its also a financial obligation, she said.

The judge heard testimony through the week. Its not clear how soon a ruling might come.

___

By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER and GENE JOHNSON Associated Press. Johnson reported from Seattle.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday that the New York State Public Service Commission has approved a new framework for the state to achieve six gigawatts of energy storage by 2030  a move that will double New Yorks original energy storage goal, and likely add a multitude of new lithium-ion charged projects throughout New York City and state.

Expanding energy storage technology is a key component to building New Yorks clean energy future and reaching our climate goals, Hochul said. This new framework provides New York with the resources it needs to speed up our transition to a green economy, while ensuring the reliability and resilience of our grid.
In the face of a relentless opioid crisis that continues to devastate communities across New York, particularly Staten Island, our immediate action is required. The stark increase in overdose deaths, with over 150 Staten Islanders lost in 2023 alone, underscores an emergency that cannot wait.

As a life-long public health professional, I am calling on New York state to urgently update and amend its standing order to include all FDA-approved opioid antagonists, not just naloxone. This expansion is a necessary evolution in our fight against an epidemic that has claimed more than 830 lives in Staten Island since 2016.

The escalating potency of opioids, especially fentanyl, which is present in approximately 80% of overdose deaths in New York City in recent years, demands a response that matches its lethal efficiency. Fentanyl, 50-100 times more potent than morphine, has changed the landscape of drug overdose deaths, making it clear that naloxone alone is not enough. A recent study conducted for the FDA observed from a real-life overdose situation in San Francisco that even four doses of naloxone were inadequate without manual resuscitation efforts. The FDA has recognized this shift and approved additional opioid antagonists, like nalmefene, which offers a longer duration of action critical for combating the effects of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.
WASSERBILLIG, Luxembourgpjur, manufacturer of premium personal lubricants, has partnered with the German podcast "Geliebte auf Zeit" (Temporary Lovers) to communicate its brand message to a wider audience. Hosts Lenia and Luisa share their experiences as escorts in this podcast and their humor, openness, and curiosity to interview people from the sex industry, discuss sex stories, give sex hacks, and talk about all things sex.

"Geliebte auf Zeit" offers a unique platform to promote honest and insightful conversations about sex work and sexual experiences, pjur is proud to be part of this podcast culture to improve the quality of life and sex.

"Geliebte auf Zeit" broadcast regularly. Stay tuned YouTube.
Controversial radio star Kyle Sandilands has become the target of an advertising boycott by the activist group Mad F---ing Witches (MFW) as The Kyle & Jackie O Show launches in Melbourne ahead of the rest of the country.

However, MFWs claims they have convinced big-name advertisers, including Myer, AAMI, Bunnings, Samsung and Hamilton Island, to abandon the show have been denied by the companies, all of which confirmed they were unaware of the campaign.

Kyle Sandilands at home in Vaucluse. Credit: Nic Walker

A spokeswoman for parent company ARN said there was no record of advertisers pulling out over concerns regarding content. However, Sandilands said on air last week that listeners had been complaining. He did not respond to questions put by this masthead.

ARN network bosses are privately anxious about the MFW campaign and have pointed to the experiences of other broadcasters, such as Alan Jones, who was targeted in a highly publicised MFW campaign in 2019 over his remarks about former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern.
Experts have cast doubt on the central pillar of Peter Duttons nuclear pitch to voters, saying it would take decades to fill in coal mine voids and make contaminated power station sites safe, during which time fragile and valuable transmission lines would be left to deteriorate.

Operators at several of the seven sites identified by the Coalition for nuclear plants already have well-advanced plans to transform their sites into renewable energy hubs with grid-scale batteries, hydrogen and solar once the coal runs out.

Announcing a future Coalition government would build seven nuclear power stations on the sites of existing coal-fired power stations, Dutton said nuclear facilities could be built on the sites of retired coal power plants using existing transmission poles and wires.

Each of these locations offer important technical attributes needed for a zero-emissions nuclear plant, including cooling water capacity and transmission infrastructure, he said.
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Eating outRestaurant news Hot chips with Chinese food? The unexpected fast-food phenomenon sweeping Sydney Irish Chinese food might make Aussies a wee bit angry but it hasnt stopped them lining up for hours. (Plus: Colin Fassnidges pick of the bunch.) Bianca Hrovat June 21, 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

Cammy Millar and Sean Coughlan share Sheas Irish pub spice bag. Rhett Wyman Irish Chinese food, particularly its hero dish the spice bag, has become a breakout fast-food hit in Sydney after last years record-breaking influx of young Irish migrants. The fried, starchy and (mostly) beige-coloured cuisine originates from Chinese takeaway shops in Ireland, where fried rice and battered chicken meatballs are served alongside hot chips and curry sauce. Its definitely not an incredible culinary experience, or authentic Chinese food, but its something you crave when youre miles away from home, says social media influencer Riona Magee (@belfastfoodiegirl), who moved to Sydney from Belfast last November. The 4-in-1 is another classic Irish Chinese dish, featuring fried chicken balls, rice, chips and a side of curry sauce at Sheas in Clovelly. Rhett Wyman

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Demand for Irish Chinese food has soared since 2023, when more than 21,000 working holiday permits were granted to Irish residents aged under 35, the highest number in 16 years. Its most popular dish, the spice bag, has become the best-selling item at pubs such as The Taphouse in Darlinghurst and Sheas in Clovelly. In late March, Sydneys first dedicated Irish Chinese restaurant, Paddy Chans, opened in Kensington to two-hour-long queues. Magee was among those lining up, and her TikTok review went viral, amassing more than 200,000 views. Irish Chinese is absolutely firing at the minute, says Irish-born chef and My Kitchen Rules host Colin Fassnidge, who remembers it as the go-to for a greasy, comforting post-pub feed. In Sydney, Big Daves Chipper in Maroubra has become Fassnidges Irish takeaway of choice. The reason it does so well is nostalgia. We eat it and we smile because it reminds us of being back in Ireland.

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Fassnidge says a spice bag (also known as a spice box) typically consists of hot chips, fried chicken, chopped onions and capsicum shaken with mild spices and smothered in sweet brown curry sauce (usually McDonnells or Mayflower brands). Think of it as Irelands answer to the halal snack pack. Chef, author and TV presenter Colin Fassnidge says Irish Chinese takeaway shops remind him of his teenage years. Supplied Since first appearing in Dublin takeaway shops in the 2010s, the spice bag has become a national sensation, voted Irelands favourite takeaway dish in 2020 and the subject of a petition for the Irish government to declare a National Spice Bag Day. Scouring Sydney for the most authentic spice bag has become a trend among food influencers like Magee, and Sheas co-owner Patrick McTigue says the pressures on. Weve been tweaking our recipe for about a year to make it the best, he says. We make our own spice blend, we make our own sauce, and marinate our chicken breast in buttermilk for two hours before putting it into the fryer.

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The spice bag at Sheas in Clovelly. Rhett Wyman Magee says Australians not used to seeing hot chips with Chinese food get a wee bit angry in the comments section of her TikTok videos, but McTigue says his customer base has grown beyond the expat community. It sounds so s---, says Patrick Friesen, culinary director of hospitality group Applejack, who took some convincing to add it to the menu at The Taphouse, where Cantonese chef Sam Ng leads the kitchen. Ng, who recently moved to Australia from Hong Kong, says he had never seen a spice bag before that conversation with Friesen: Chips in a Chinese restaurant? For me, its unheard of. In researching the cuisines origins, Friesen and Ng learned that the first Irish Chinese restaurant opened in Belfast in 1962. But it took off when the first wave of migrants left Hong Kong for Ireland ahead of Chinese economic reform in 1979. Many came from rural areas and sought jobs in the hospitality industry.

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The Taphouse spice bag features marinated chicken, chips and house-made curry sauce. Supplied As in Australia, Chinese restaurateurs adapted their dishes to suit local tastes. Irish people werent used to Cantonese flavours, so the migrants began opening fish and chip shops, or serving chips in their Chinese restaurants, Ng says. I think Irish Chinese food evolved out of necessity and survival. Despite initial misgivings, Friesen and Ng introduced their version of a spice bag as a St Patricks Day special in March. Ng reimagined the dish as if it had migrated back to Hong Kong, with wok-fried vegetables, house-made curry sauce and marinated chicken, silky and blanched. Its remained on the menu since.

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Its surprisingly addictive and delicious  and people came out in droves, Friesen says. Its still the best-selling item every single day. Five must-try spice bags in Sydney The Taphouse, Darlinghurst

For an unconventional spice bag with silky marinated chicken and wok-fried vegies, $21

122 Flinders Street, Darlinghurst, taphousesydney.com.au

For an unconventional spice bag with silky marinated chicken and wok-fried vegies, $21 122 Flinders Street, Darlinghurst, taphousesydney.com.au Sheas, Clovelly

For a spice bag with buttermilk fried chicken, a pint of Guinness and a lively Irish crowd, $24.

211 Clovelly Road, Clovelly, sheas.com.au

For a spice bag with buttermilk fried chicken, a pint of Guinness and a lively Irish crowd, $24. 211 Clovelly Road, Clovelly, sheas.com.au Bondi Grand Hotel, Bondi Junction

For Riona Magees (@belfastfoodiegirl) pick of the most authentic spice bag in Sydney (so far), $24.

89 Ebley Street, Bondi Junction, thegrandbondijunction.com.au

For Riona Magees (@belfastfoodiegirl) pick of the most authentic spice bag in Sydney (so far), $24. 89 Ebley Street, Bondi Junction, thegrandbondijunction.com.au Paddy Chans, Kensington

For a spice box with your choice of sauce, and a full menu of Irish Chinese dishes to try, $27.50.

130 Anzac Parade, Kensington, instagram.com/paddy.chans

For a spice box with your choice of sauce, and a full menu of Irish Chinese dishes to try, $27.50. 130 Anzac Parade, Kensington, instagram.com/paddy.chans Big Daves Chipper, Maroubra

For an old-school spice bag from Colin Fassnidges pick of Irish takeaway food in Sydney, $28.

779 Anzac Parade, Maroubra, instagram.com/bigdaveschipper

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As a recently retired teacher, I was looking forward to a little me-time after a 42-year career, but I keep getting asked, What are you going to do today? Its not as if Im a complete hermit, but Ive just grown to dislike people and, more particularly, their offspring. What should I say?

P.S., Ferny Hills, QLD

Credit: Simon Letch

Wow, you must be exhausted. Forty-two years of dealing with brainless school bureaucrats and endless, unpaid paperwork and decrepit classroom equipment  like that old whiteboard that wont clean properly anymore so theres a permanent dick and balls lurking faintly behind bullet points for the Russian Revolution and the Cold War.

Forty-two years of bratty, disrespectful kids who youre no longer allowed to discipline. You cant yell at them or give them a little ruler-slap on the back of the legs or chuck a duster at their heads and enjoy that satisfying white puff of chalk dust when it makes contact  like a clay pigeon exploding in a skeet shoot.

Forty-two years of delusional, aggressive parents who cant understand why their perfect child got a FAIL on their last-minute solar system diorama  a bunch of Blu-Tack blobs stuck onto the end of wooden satay skewers from a kitchen bin, some of the skewers with bits of chicken still on them.
Christiane F. was a 1982 German film with an anti-drug message. Based on a true story, it depicted a West Berlin teenagers descent through the gateway of soft drugs into a harrowing fate of heroin addiction, prostitution and crime. Globally, Christiane F. was pushed by parents, schools and even churches to show what awaited kids who tried a joint or an LSD trip. Globally, the message backfired.

Illustration: Simon Letch Credit:

Adults thought Christiane F. would shock their kids into abstinence. Instead, with its David Bowie soundtrack and its pre-AIDS transgressive glamour, the film acted more like an advertisement. Girls began to dress like Christiane and to hang out at Berlin Zoo, where much of the story took place. Christiane Felscherinow, its author, became a minor celebrity who continued using drugs into midlife. Drug experts had warned that the film, if used as a kind of parental admonition, would have the contrary effect. They were right.

In the same decade, a different anti-drug campaign achieved comparative success. Governments backed moves to reduce cigarette smoking. Advertising was banned. Taxes multiplied the cost. Branded packaging was replaced by disgusting images of disease. Tobacco companies failed (not without a fight) to prevent education about passive smoking. Even accounting for the rise in vaping, daily tobacco use among Australians aged 14 and over has declined by 66 per cent in the past 30 years.

The scare campaign failed. The multi-pronged evidence-driven public health approach saved lives.
It is outrageous and unacceptable to hold any Israeli or Jewish Australian responsible for the hate promoted by Moshe Feiglin because we have as much sway over this unelected extremist as we do over any other far-right extremist in Australia. The Australian Jewish Association is a non-representative public affairs organisation with a punchy social media presence and political views to the right of more established Jewish community organisations. Australia Palestine Advocacy Network president Nasser Mashni said the association was promoting fascist ideologies and said Feiglin had no place in civil discourse. Australia Palestine Advocacy Network president Nasser Mashni. Credit: Eddie Jim It should alarm all Australians that the AJA, which has been linked to extremist Israeli settler movements, and has a history of promoting anti-Palestinian racism, should choose to actively amplify Feiglins dangerous and genocidal message, Mashni said.

The Jewish Council of Australia, a self-appointed expert panel of largely anti-Zionist Jewish intellectuals, accused the AJA in a submission to a Senate inquiry into right-wing extremism of being violently Islamophobic and supporting ethnic cleansing in Palestine. Its disgraceful that the AJA platforms figures like Feiglin, the councils executive officer, Sarah Schwartz, said. We should all be concerned that extremist views such as Feiglins are becoming more and more normalised within Israeli society and political discourse. Palestinians at the site of an Israeli strike on buildings in the Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza, this month. Credit: Bloomberg AJA president David Adler defended the decision to host Feiglin, who he said was previously a major player in Israeli politics and remained a frequent media commentator in Israel and through international outlets including the BBC. Feiglin also has strong family ties to Australia. Although born in Israel, his great-grandfather was a prominent fruit grower in the Victorian town of Shepparton, and his family lived here until the 1960s. During his time in the Knesset, Feiglin chaired the Australia-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group.

Loading AJA has hosted hundreds of speakers from across the political spectrum, Adler said. We never claim to share particular views, but we dont do censorship or cancel culture. Feiglin spoke from his West Bank home to an online audience of about 500 people on Wednesday in livestreams arranged by the AJA. When asked whether his comments would make life more difficult for Jewish people living in Australia, Feiglin was unapologetic. Two weeks ago, one of his grandsons, IDF sergeant Yair Levin, was killed serving in the southern Gaza town of Rafah when he and other Israeli soldiers entered a booby-trapped building. We are losing the war because we tie our hands to these rules, these European rules that did not help one Jew in Europe, he said.

My grandson was killed because he was sent into the building instead of destroying the building from air as we should have done, and with bulldozers. Destroying the building was the moral thing to do. Sending my grandson inside was immoral. He said antisemitism was rising not because of civilian deaths in Palestine, but due to Israels inability to win the war. The Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) in Dresden in 1967. The Allies bombed it in World War II and it was deliberately left in ruins until after Germanys reunification. Credit: AP They dont care if one Arab was killed or not, he told the AJA event. It is not about the Arabs, it is about the Jews. When the Jews are weak, it means there is no room for the Jews in the world. It is not about what you do or dont do to the Arabs  it is about are you winning or losing. Feiglins reference to the bombing of Dresden in 1945  an indiscriminate, British-led attack that caused an inferno in the German industrial city and killed an estimated 25,000 civilians  invokes one of the most contentious operations by allied forces in World War II.

Feiglin is part of broader Jewish nationalistic movement which supports the idea of a Greater Israel  expanding the national borders to include the boundaries of the promised land that God is fabled to have described to Abraham. Taken literally, this would expand Israel west to the Nile River and east to the Euphrates. In contemporary terms, it means abandoning the Oslo Accords and the establishment of a sovereign Palestine state and annexing occupied territories seized in 1967 during the Six Day War  Gaza, the West Bank and the Golan Heights. Feiglin and Benjamin Netanyahu in 2019. Feiglin was a member of Netanyahus Likud Party and served as deputy speaker of the Knesset before leaving parliament to form his own nationalist party. Credit: AP Although Feiglins policy proscriptions are extreme, his vision of post-war Gaza is consistent with what Israels hardline government ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich publicly advocate. National Security Minister Ben-Gvir this week posted a message on Telegram encouraging voluntary migration of Palestinians from Gaza and reiterating his commitment to West Bank Jewish settlements. Finance Minister Smotrich has also called for the return of Jewish settlements in Gaza. We will occupy the Gaza Strip, he said earlier this month.

Since the October 7 atrocities in which Hamas killed 1200 Israelis and took 251 hostages, and the subsequent war in Gaza, estimated to have killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, public opinion in Israel appears to have hardened on the question of Palestinian self-determination. A survey by Channel 12 news taken in November found that about one-third of Israelis supported a permanent IDF presence in Gaza and the return of Jewish settlements along the strip. The mood among Australian Jews shortly after the October 7 attacks was captured in a survey conducted by the Monash University Australian Centre of Jewish Civilisation, in partnership with the Sydney-based Jewish Community Appeal. The results, published last week, reflect an extraordinarily high level of distress in the community, with two-thirds of respondents agreeing that antisemitism was a big problem and nine out of 10 expressing an emotional attachment to Israel. The centres director, associate professor David Slucki, said while they represented a small number of right-wing Jews, the survey results suggested that October 7 had shifted Jewish community sentiment in Australia. After what happened in October, there was a heightened sense of fear among Jews in Australia about what that will mean for them, he said. That does shape political attitudes. Feiglin served as the Knesset deputy speaker between 2013 and 2015 as a member of Netanyahus Likud party before breaking away to form Zehut, the Hebrew word for identity. At previous elections, his party failed to secure the minimum 3.5 per cent of the vote required for representation.
LOS ANGELESElevated X has announced the addition of built-in support for BlueCheck.me for Age Verification Services (AVS) in its website management software.



Said Elevated X director of operations Heather Knox, "In remaining true to our nature as a leading provider of digital solutions for the adult industry for over 20 years, its important for us to give our clients multiple service provider choices, flexibility, and full control of their website security and compliance in how we help them adhere to state-specific age verification laws without blocking valuable traffic from any location."

All Elevated X clients can now implement and activate AVS directly from their website admin panel. With a click, they can select and instantly enable BlueCheck or VerifyMy. Those wanting to use another service provider can integrate any AVS service using a built-in API. Clients interested in a specific provider may contact Elevated X directly for evaluation and free integration support by the technical team.

Elevated X clients have the freedom to customize their AVS settings, either using a list of default locations or manually editing a list of states for which they want to require age verification, all managed via their Elevated X admin panel. Website operators can also choose to upload Safe For Work (SFW) images for non-age-verified visitors or let their Elevated X software automatically blur adult content for users in AVS-required states.

AVS fees typically range from $0.25 to $0.50, depending on the provider, and are only incurred for visitors in specified states who make a purchase. Elevated X does not charge or collect these fees; each client works directly with their chosen AVS provider. Elevated X software users who opt for BlueCheck will receive a special discounted rate and waived setup fees from the company.

For more information about integrating BlueCheck or any other AVS service, contact the Elevated X support team or visit Elevated X. Follow the company on X.

Note: The information provided in this press release is accurate as of the date of publication. Prices and other details are subject to change without notice.
The unforgettable footage of NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott running towards danger reminds us how the human spirit can lift us and give meaning to life even amid the death and horror of that April Saturday afternoon at Bondi Junction. Inspector Amy Scott, recipient of the Commissioners Valour Award Credit: Kate Geraghty As all around her unspooled, Scott displayed the heroism, goodwill and courage we all aspire to  but perhaps cannot, will not, or do not  and ended the chaos by restoring order. Her deeds are a potent illustration of how selfless emergency personnel so often save us in our hour of need. Scott was the first officer on the scene. She confronted the knife-wielding attacker alone before shooting him dead with a bullet to the chest when he lunged at her. She then performed CPR on him and some of his victims lying on the ground as she waited for backup. Joel Cauchi, 40, fatally stabbed six people  new mother and osteopath Ashlee Good, 38; bride-to-be Dawn Singleton, 25; artist Pikria Darchia, 55; architect Jade Young, 47; Chinese economics student Yixuan Cheng, 27; and Westfield security guard Faraz Tahir, 30. His murderous attack on Saturday afternoon shoppers helped vault violence against women into a front-order political issue.

Police that Saturday battled to save victims lives and fearlessly attempted to secure the area as confusion reigned. But in addition to police and paramedic responses, at Bondi Junction, ordinary people stepped up as the killer usurped lives. Other instances of heroism emerged that day, including bollard man Damien Guerot, a French citizen who was granted permanent residency after confronting Cauchi on the escalators, armed with a bollard. Pakistani security guard Muhammad Taha was also granted permanent residency after he was wounded trying to help his fatally wounded colleague, Tahir. Scott, who until now had not spoken publicly about her Bondi Junction experiences, was presented with the Commissioners Valour Award on Friday by NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb at a graduation ceremony at the Goulburn Police Academy, a rare commendation for officers who act bravely in life-threatening situations. Scott said she had remained silent because of the impact the killings had on first responders as they all continued to go through the healing process, and she preferred to keep things to herself for the moment. She did say she hoped the incident would not define her career: At the end of the day, it came down to my training: stop the killing, stop the crime. Premier Chris Minns said Scotts instinctive reaction represented the sort of courage and professionalism that should inspire the graduation class of young police who watched her receive the award. I can think of no finer example of dedication to this service as well as conspicuous valour, he said. Scotts achievement is indeed special. Police often get a bad press. Occasional headlines about death by Taser or police corrupt behaviour underscore the regrettable reality that members of the NSW Police serve the public within a paradox  a community that at times condemns them yet needs them in its most desperate hour. On television and film, police are mainly portrayed as officers upholding the law and restoring order in modern-day parables of good versus evil, but in real life, the police officer as hero is often missing.
Secret talks to reinvigorate the unpopular southern end of South Bank precinct have finally begun  but no one is saying where its long-term tenant will end up.

South Bank welcomes 14 million visitors each year, with just more than 4 million walking along the Brisbane River on the Clem Jones Promenade. It is one of the citys biggest tourist drawcards and event spaces.

But the southern end of the precinct has become a pedestrian rat run, with fences blocking people from the river around the Goodwill Bridge. The Queensland Maritime Museum  which predates Expo 88  is looking tired, and only 36,000 people pay the $18 entry fee each year.

The new South Bank Master Plan does not specifically mention a Queensland Maritime Museum, which has been gifted millions of dollars in maritime heritage assets. Credit: Tony Moore

The Queensland government recently assessed the museums collection and is involved in talks about its future. But it remains to be seen whether exhibits, or the museum headquarters, will be forced to move, as South Bank is reinvigorated and given better connections to Kangaroo Point and Woolloongabba.
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 Despite decades of petitions from elders and communities, Australian museums still hold the remains of at least 5700 traditional ancestors waiting to be repatriated back to Country. Thousands more are believed to be held in collections around the world. The figures were obtained by this masthead from seven separate museums across Australia, designated by law to care for ancestral remains before they can be identified and returned to appropriate burial grounds. The total figure is likely much higher, as details from one additional museum would not be released, with the governing body describing the number as sensitive data. Professor Henrietta Marrie, a Gimuy Walubara Yidinji elder who has been tirelessly campaigning for repatriation since the 1980s, said the relatively slow repatriation efforts to date were a cop out. Henrietta Marrie, shown meeting then-Prince Charles, was named a Queensland Great in 2018. Weve been fighting this fight for a hell of a long time, she said.

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It really is now up to the governments, after all, they are responsible for the stealing of these remains and taking them away in the first place. We cant rest until all our people whod been taken away are back. Lets bring them home to rest.

Grave robbing and body snatching of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the name of science was rife at the turn of the 20th century. Australian museums hoarded the human remains for research and exhibition until the 1970s.

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In some cases, staff like former Queensland Museum director Ronald Hamlyn-Harris delivered speeches on eugenics and other now disproven and archaic racial theories, using ancestral remains as a reference, like one speech titled The Primitive Australian, delivered in 1914. Collections within Australian museums have sometimes grown in recent years as overseas institutions make amends and private collections are brought forward by members of the public. On occasions, that process is not always handled with the best of care. Paper bags bearing the face of Truganini, the first Aboriginal person repatriated, were used in a protest at the Tasmanian parliament. Credit: Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre Last month, staff at the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC) were left horrified after the Coroners Office dropped off four bags of ancestral remains without warning to its reception. We are absolutely outraged and disgusted that the bodies of our dead are treated with such contempt, said TAC manager Nala Mansell. All we are asking for is that the remains of our dead be treated with some respect.

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It is as simple as the Coroner making a phone call to us. That incident prompted a quiet bag protest outside the Parliament of Tasmania. Museums Victoria transferred the management of close to 2000 ancestors in its care to the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council in 2018. Loading But the Council has declined to answer questions from this masthead about how many are still awaiting repatriation, saying the number was sensitive. The Queensland Museum Network was granted an extra $4.5 million to boost its repatriation efforts one year ago and has since returned three ancestors to Country. The relatively high numbers in the South Australian Museum have been attributed to the fact it collected thousands of remains from all over Australia between 1865 to the early 1900s before new heritage management laws came into effect.

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It has repatriated hundreds of ancestors back to communities, like returns made to Adelaides Kaurna community in December. Identifying and finding provenance for each individual bone can be painstakingly slow. Matt Poll, an Australian South Sea Islander man and manager of Indigenous Programs at the Australian National Maritime Museum, said while it does take time, it is a fundamental step towards reconciliation. Kaurna community members rebury their ancestors at Wangayarta in December 2023. Credit: Sia Duff The focus of the current conversation is doing it, doing it well and doing it right for Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander people as an act of reconciliation and almost an act of atonement for the very unethical practices of acquiring them in the first place, he said. Many Pacific Island Nations and first nations people around the world are looking to learn from the precedents of repatriation that Aboriginal and Torres strait Island people have created since the first repatriation in Australia took place in 1976. Matt Poll, Assistant Curator of the Indigenous Museum Collections and Repatriation Program. Ive definitely seen communities that were quite divided come together over the experience of having an ancestor brought back to community and reburied.

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The federal Coalition is splintering over support for wind and solar energy under its controversial plan to build seven nuclear power plants across the country, with leading Nationals calling for tougher rules on renewables to prepare the way for the big new power stations.

The dispute highlights a key challenge for Opposition Leader Peter Dutton after he unveiled his nuclear plan, with Liberals insisting they wanted more renewables while the Nationals said the country already had too many wind and solar farms.

Nationals leader David Littleproud (right) stepped up his campaign against big wind and solar projects this week. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

In a separate alert about the electricity grid, regulators escalated their warnings about gas shortages this winter and the impact on household heating as well as the gas-fired power stations that help sustain the grid when wind and solar farms cannot meet demand.

The shortage of gas from Bass Strait appears likely to increase prices this winter and heighten a broader debate about whether the country will have enough gas-fired electricity to make up for closures of coal-fired power stations over the next 15 years.
The senior NSW Police officer who confronted and fatally shot Westfield Bondi Junction stabber Joel Cauchi said her act of heroism that day came down to her training.

Speaking publicly for the first time, Inspector Amy Scott said she had mixed emotions about receiving the Commissioners Valour Award at a ceremony at Goulburn Police Academy on Friday due to the actions of her team on April 13, as you are only as strong as the people around you.

And that goes to my incredible family and friends after that, the other first responders both at the scene and at the hospitals, and the extraordinary acts of bravery we saw from everyday civilians, it was second to none, an emotional Scott said during a post-ceremony press conference.

Really [important] as well, are those victims, their family and friends who will be forever dealing with an unfathomable tragedy. So its really important for me to keep those people at the forefront of everything, and thats where they are for me, and theyre always on my mind.
The Albanese government is backing away from a once-urgent bill to jail foreigners who resist deportation when parliament resumes next week, as the Coalition challenges Labor to front up over the future of the controversial legislation.

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles deportation bill has been left off the draft schedule for the Senate next week after it was inexplicably removed from the parliamentary program more than a month ago, days after the government fended off a High Court challenge over the release of detainees.

Andrew Giles controversial deportation bill is on the backburner. Credit: Joe Armao

Coalition immigration spokesman Dan Tehan described the absence of the legislation from next weeks slate as more gross incompetence from Giles, whose performance has been criticised after being mired in controversies over the deportation of foreign criminals and the fallout from a legal ruling triggering the release of 160 immigration detainees.

He said at the time this was a matter of national urgency, yet that urgency has disappeared before our eyes. Andrew Giles needs to explain why this is all of a sudden not urgent, why has the importance of this issue disappeared? Tehan said.
As head of his chambers for 20 years, I can attest that Starmers integrity was beyond reproach. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak accused him in their first TV debate of acting for terrorists, which of course he did, arguing their points of law on appeal. Under the cab rank ethical rule, barristers are bound to take anyone who wants to hire them. Sunak was taken to task by The Times, which pointed out that I was a stickler for the rule and would not have allowed him to flout it by refusing to act for the demonised.

Sunak is a desperate man: even his ministers (most of whom are likely to lose their seats) are accepting defeat. But wait: he has one champion who has ridden to his rescue. None other than Tony Abbott, who writes in The Times that Britain, under Starmer, will have the worst government in its history (has he ever never heard of Liz Truss?) based on Starmers emissions obsession (that is, he wants to tackle climate change), his compassion for the poor (only Abbott could think that a bad thing) and that he might slink back into the EU. Since Brexit has been the source of so many British woes, most voters would welcome some slinking.

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In reality, 14 years of Conservative governance have left the country unimpressed and depressed. An obsession with appointing people like us to all public bodies has left the nation run by amateurs, incompetents and some who are visibly corrupt (for example, with the COVID contracts). Tory ministers, now jostling to succeed Sunak when he resigns after Starmaggedon next month, are all second rate while that genial racist Nigel Farage is doing his best to destroy the party by standing for its right-wing rival.

How will Starmers government begin to repair the damage? It will have much more respect for expertise and professionalism, and for a civil service free from political preferment. Starmer will continue to be cautious on foreign policy  he alienated many in his own party by supporting Joe Biden over Gaza, but he is likely to follow other European countries (and infuriate Israel) by accepting Palestinian statehood. And he will certainly not criticise the International Criminal Court prosecutor for seeking an arrest warrant against Israels Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. He might even agree to the return of the Parthenon marbles, in a deal offered by the Greek prime minister whom Sunak stupidly refused to meet.
Now the future of that avenue is uncertain, especially after the Israeli military launched an offensive against Hamas in Rafah and took over the crossing there, leading to its closure in May. No Palestinians have been allowed to pass through it since, and it is unclear when it will reopen. The New York Times spoke to a dozen people inside and outside Gaza who were either trying to leave the territory or to help family members or friends to do so. All but one spoke on the condition of anonymity over fears of retaliation by the Egyptian authorities toward them or their relatives or friends. Other pathways out of Gaza exist, but many of them require large payments, too. One route is to pay unofficial middlemen in the enclave or in Egypt, who demand $US8000 ($12,000) to $US15,000 per person in exchange for arranging their departure within days, according to four Palestinians who had either made the payments or had tried to. Palestinians connected to international organisations and governments, holders of foreign passports or visas, wounded people and some students enrolled in universities outside Gaza have been able to leave without paying large fees, but most of the more than 2 million people in the enclave do not fall into those categories.

Hala charges $US5000 to co-ordinate the exits of most people 16 and older and $US2500 for most who are below that age, according to seven people who have gone through this process or tried to do so. Loading Officials at Hala did not respond to questions sent by email. But Ibrahim al-Organi, whose firm, Organi Group, has listed Hala as one of its companies and who describes himself as a shareholder, disputed that the company charged those amounts. He said children travelled for free and adults paid $US2500. He said that amount was necessary because the service Hala provides is a VIP one and he said operating costs had skyrocketed during the war. Al-Organi, a tycoon with a history of helping the Egyptian government fight extremists in the Sinai Peninsula, maintains close connections to top Egyptian officials, according to three people who have tracked the relationship and who spoke on condition of anonymity to protect their work in the region. He denied he was benefiting unfairly from his connections. One man who lives in a tent on the beach in Deir al Balah, a city in central Gaza, said he felt as if he was dealing with war profiteers because he was being financially squeezed during the most vulnerable time of his life.

He felt he had no option but to register with Hala. The man, 48, has to raise money for his wife and seven children, some of whom have to pay the adult fare. That means he needs $US37,500, he said, but he has come up with only $US7330 on GoFundMe so far. Whats the alternative? There is none, he said. Offering a VIP service? Hala makes people go through a complicated bureaucratic process to register family members. The company requires a family member to visit its offices in Cairo and pay for the service in $US100 notes issued in or after 2013, according to Ghayyda and three other people with knowledge of Halas payment process. Al-Organi denied knowledge of the practice and said those who paid in $US100 notes had been scammed by illegal brokers. In February, when Ghayyda travelled to the Egyptian capital to register his parents, sister and nephew, he brought his 23-year-old son with him to avoid carrying more than $US10,000 by himself. By that time, he had raised around $US25,000.

The whole process was quite time-consuming, complex and uncertain, he said. In an interview at his office in Cairo, al-Organi spoke at length and in detail about Halas activities, though he said his role in the company was limited and that he was just one of many shareholders. Hala has long been listed on Organi Groups website as one of the conglomerates companies but the reference appeared to have been removed recently. Organi Group did not respond to a request for comment when asked why they had removed Hala from their website. Al-Organi described Hala as a tourism company, just like any company that exists at an airport, and he said it had been set up in 2017 to provide VIP services to Palestinian travellers who wanted an upgraded experience crossing through Rafah. I help them only when they want to get into the VIP hall, to have breakfast, to be driven to Cairo in a nice BMW, to have a rest stop, and then go on to their destination, he said. Our role is to provide the best service possible, thats it.

Multiple Palestinians who used Halas service during the war said they were not offered a VIP service: They were driven to Cairo in a minibus and were given basic food. Al-Organi said increased wartime demand for services such as the drive from Rafah to Cairo had forced the company to raise its prices. When asked about the accusations against Egypt cited in this story, the Egyptian government referred the Times to previous comments made by Egyptian officials, including Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. Shoukry in February told Sky News he did not condone Halas collecting $US5000 in fees and said Egypt would take measures to eliminate the fees. The Egyptian government did not respond to a request for comment on its relationship with Hala. Bittersweet reunions

In a statement in mid-May, GoFundMe said more than $US150 million had been contributed to fundraisers related to the war in Gaza and that about 19,000 campaigns had been created on its platform, including for evacuations, medical care and food. The contributors include friends, relatives and their social networks, but also strangers without direct connections to those promoting the fundraisers. In April, Ghayyda, the pediatrician, travelled to Egypt a second time, this time to reunite with his parents, sister and nephew, who had just made it out of Gaza in time for Eid al-Fitr. He was overwhelmed with joy, but he still felt an enormous burden: 28 close relatives remained trapped in Rafah and Gaza City, and his parents would need to start a new life in Cairo, at least until the war ended. (In May, he secured the release of four more family members.) Its bittersweet, he said. It meant the world to me to see my parents, sister and nephew. But I am still consumed by constant fears about my family thats still in Gaza. I wont be able to feel like I can breathe normally again until I know theyre safe.
Willemstad/The Hague:--- On June 21st, 2024, the Kingdom Council of Ministers agreed with the appointment of Mr. Marion Agunbero, MA, as a member of the Board of Financial Supervision of Aruba (CAft) on the recommendation of Aruba. Mr. Agunbero will succeed Ms. Hellen van der Wal, MA, PhD, as of August 1st, 2024.

Marion Agunbero has a broad financial background. From June 2013 to July 2024, he was a member of the Advisory Council of Aruba, and from November 2019 to May 2024, he was also the Director of the Aruba Tourism Sector Pension Fund Foundation (Stichting Pensioenfonds Tourism Sector Aruba). From 1986 to 2019, he was the Director of the Finance Directorate, among others, and he held several management positions at the Central Bank of Aruba and the Caribbean Mercantile Bank N.V. With his broad knowledge and experience, Marion Agunbero will surely be a great asset to the CAft. He obtained his bachelors degree in Business Administration and Public Administration from the University of the Netherlands Antilles and his masters degree in Public Administration from the Erasmus University in Rotterdam.

Chair Lidewijde Ongering: I would like to express my appreciation for the contributions given to the CAft by outgoing member Hellen van der Wal over the past years. I am pleased that Marion Agunbero is willing to take over her tasks. With him on board, the CAft will be joined by a financially experienced member. I very much look forward to our collaboration.

Marion Agunbero: I also very much look forward to start working with the CAft and to be able to contribute to making Arubas public finance more sustainable.
US bans Russia's Kaspersky antivirus software



Washington, June 20 (AFP) Jun 20, 2024



President Joe Biden's administration on Thursday banned Russia-based cybersecurity firm Kaspersky from providing its popular antivirus products in the United States over national security concerns, the US Commerce Department said.

"Kaspersky will generally no longer be able to, among other activities, sell its software within the United States or provide updates to software already in use," the agency said in a statement.

The announcement came after a lengthy investigation found Kaspersky's "continued operations in the United States presented a national security risk due to the Russian Government's offensive cyber capabilities and capacity to influence or direct Kaspersky's operations," it said.

US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said "Russia has shown time and again they have the capability and intent to exploit Russian companies, like Kaspersky Lab, to collect and weaponize sensitive US information."

Kaspersky, in a statement to AFP, said the Commerce Department "made its decision based on the present geopolitical climate and theoretical concerns," and vowed to "pursue all legally available options to preserve its current operations and relationships."

"Kaspersky does not engage in activities which threaten US national security and, in fact, has made significant contributions with its reporting and protection from a variety of threat actors that targeted US interests and allies," the company said.

The move is the first such action taken since an executive order issued under Donald Trump's presidency gave the Commerce Department the power to investigate whether certain companies pose a national security risk.

Raimondo said the Commerce Department's actions demonstrated to America's adversaries that it would not hesitate to act when "their technology poses a risk to the United States and its citizens."

While Kaspersky is headquartered in Moscow, it has offices in 31 countries around the world, servicing more than 400 million users and 270,000 corporate clients in more than 200 countries, the Commerce Department said.

As well as banning the sale of Kaspersky's antivirus software, the Commerce Department also added three entities linked to the firm to a list of companies deemed to be a national security concern, "for their cooperation with Russian military and intelligence authorities in support of the Russian government's cyber intelligence objectives."

The Commerce Department said it "strongly encouraged" users to switch to new vendors, although its decision does not ban them from using the software should they choose to do so.

Kaspersky is allowed to continue certain operations in the United States, including providing antivirus updates, until September 29 this year, "in order to minimize disruption to US consumers and businesses and to give them time to find suitable alternatives," it added.
Kremlin slams US ban on cybersecurity firm Kaspersky



Moscow, June 21 (AFP) Jun 21, 2024



The Kremlin on Friday criticised the US decision to ban Moscow's cybersecurity firm Kaspersky over security concerns as creating "unfair competition" from American companies.

The comments came a day after Washington banned the firm, saying it presented a "national security risk."

"Kaspersky Lab is a company which is very, very competitive on the international level," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

"This is a favourite method of unfair competition from the part of the United States. They resort to such tactics every time."

The US Commerce Department said Russia had used the company to "collect and weaponise sensitive US information."

Kaspersky has its headquarters in Moscow and has offices in 31 countries, servicing millions of users.

As well as banning the sale of Kaspersky's antivirus software, the US also added three entities linked to the firm to a list of companies deemed to pose national security concerns.
Apple delays rollout of AI features in Europe



Washington, June 21 (AFP) Jun 21, 2024



Apple on Friday said it would delay the rollout of its recently announced AI features in Europe because of "regulatory uncertainties" linked to the EU's new landmark legislation to curb the power of big tech.

Citing the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), a spokesperson for the iPhone-making juggernaut said "we do not believe that we will be able to roll out these features to our EU users this year."

Apple earlier this month unveiled "Apple Intelligence," its suite of AI features for its coveted devices as it looks to reassure users that it is not falling behind on the AI frenzy.

The announcement included a partnership with OpenAI that would make ChatGPT available to iPhone users on request.

Apple said the feature, as well as its iPhone Mirroring and SharePlay Screen Sharing enhancements, were put on hold over concern "that the interoperability requirements of the DMA could force us to compromise the integrity of our products in ways that risk user privacy and data security."

Apple Intelligence, which runs only on the company's in-house technology, will enable users to create their own emojis based on a description in everyday language, or to generate brief summaries of emails in the mailbox.

"We are committed to collaborating with the European Commission in an attempt to find a solution that would enable us to deliver these features to our EU customers without compromising their safety," the company added.

In an effort to instill fair competition in Europe, the DMA sets out a list of dos and don'ts for the specially designated internet gatekeepers that include Apple.

"The EU is an attractive market of 450 million potential users, and has always been open for business for any company that wants to provide services in the European internal market," an EU spokesperson said.

"Gatekeepers are welcome to offer their services in Europe, provided that they comply with our rules aimed at ensuring fair competition," the EU added.

The EU's competition supremo Margrethe Vestager on Tuesday warned that Apple was falling short in abiding by the DMA as the bloc carries out a probe over Apple's business practices.

"We have a number of Apple issues; I find them very serious. I was very surprised that we would have such suspicions of Apple being non-compliant," Vestager told CNBC.

Her comments came after the Financial Times reported that Apple was about to face charges in relation to the probe, citing people close to the probe.

The DMA empowers the European Commission to investigate, fine and impose structural remedies on non-compliant gatekeepers.

Penalties can reach up to 10 percent of global annual turnover, with repeat offenders facing up to 20 percent.
One dead in Tunisia military helicopter crash: ministry



Tunis, June 21 (AFP) Jun 21, 2024



A Tunisian military helicopter crashed Friday during exercises in Gafsa province, killing one crewman and injuring another, the defence ministry said.

"The accident occurred during a normal manoeuvre and the aircraft's descent," ministry spokesman Mohamed Zekri told AFP.

"The helicopter crew, which consisted of two personnel, was taken to the military hospital in Gafsa. One of them died and the other was in stable condition."

The ministry did not specify the type of helicopter involved.

The Tunisian military has lost several aircraft on training or reconnaissance missions in recent years.

In June 2023, four personnel died when a helicopter crashed off the country's northwest coast.

In October 2021, three were killed in another accident during a night exercise in the southern province of Gabes.
Croatia detains Czech over fatal blast



Zagreb, June 21 (AFP) Jun 21, 2024



A Czech man has been detained in Croatia after entering a restricted military zone and taking an explosive device that subsequently blew up, killing a child, Croatian police said on Friday.

The blast, which occurred on Wednesday near the central coastal city of Zadar, killed a nine-year-old Czech child and injured three Czech adults, all of whom were in the same car.

The 46-year-old suspect -- who was travelling in the car with family and friends, including the child -- entered a prohibited area of a military training ground with the boy and allowed the latter "to take an explosive device", police said.

"The suspect then personally placed (it) in his car," they continued.

When the car subsequently broke down on a nearby road, the child passenger took the explosive device out of the vehicle.

It detonated, killing him on the spot and injuring three others in the group.

Local media said the boy was the suspect's son.

Croatian police said the man "did not comply with the clearly displayed written warnings in both Croatian and English at a marked dangerous area of a military training ground".

They said they had charged him with committing a "serious criminal act" and "endangering life and property".

An investigation is underway, including forensic tests to establish the type of explosive device, they added.

Czech authorities have confirmed the accident and the arrest.

"I can confirm that a Czech citizen has been detained in relation with Wednesday's explosion in the Zadar district.

"Considering the fact that a child died in the incident, we will not provide any information," Czech foreign ministry spokesman Daniel Drake told AFP.

The Croatian defence ministry said it regretted the incident, which it said was the first of its kind in decades.

It urged the public to abide by warning signs near military facilities, especially areas that might contain "unexploded ordnance".

Nearly 800,000 Czech tourists visited Croatia last year, heading mostly to its stunning Adriatic coast.
US Supreme Court upholds ban on domestic abusers owning guns



Washington, June 21 (AFP) Jun 21, 2024



The US Supreme Court on Friday upheld a federal law prohibiting domestic abusers from possessing a firearm, the latest legal ruling in the country's fierce battle over gun rights.

It was the first gun case to come before the court -- where conservatives hold a 6-3 majority -- since a major decision issued in 2022 loosening gun restrictions.

"When an individual has been found by a court to pose a credible threat to the physical safety of another, that individual may be temporarily disarmed consistent with the second amendment," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the 8-1 opinion.

"Since the founding, the nation's firearm laws have included regulations to stop individuals who threaten physical harm to others from misusing firearms. As applied to the facts of this case, (the law) fits comfortably within this tradition."

Gun violence is common in the United States, where there are more firearms than people, and the Gun Violence Archive registered more than 40,000 deaths last year. Attempts to clamp down on gun rights are always met with stiff political resistance.

President Joe Biden welcomed the decision, pointing to his record on strengthening gun safety and ending gender-based violence, and he vowed to push for tougher restrictions.

"As a result of today's ruling, survivors of domestic violence and their families will still be able to count on critical protections, just as they have for the past three decades," he said in a statement.

Biden added that he was "firmly committed" to ending violence against women and would push Congress for action to "stop the epidemic of gun violence tearing our communities apart."

In the 2022 decision, the nation's highest court said it would authorize only "reasonable" exceptions to the second amendment right to bear arms and would rely on historical precedents when it comes to regulating firearms.

That ruling left lower courts struggling to determine whether gun restrictions before them are consistent with "the history and traditions" of firearms regulation in the United States in the late 18th to the 19th century.



- 'Second amendment right' -



An ultraconservative appeals court ruled in March that a federal law banning gun ownership by people with domestic violence restraining orders was unconstitutional, for lack of historical precedent.

"A woman who lives in a house with a domestic abuser is five times more likely to be murdered if he has access to a gun," Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar said in November last year as she made the case for upholding the federal law for the Biden administration.

In the case before the court, police recovered a handgun and a rifle during a search of the Texas home of Zackey Rahimi, who had been implicated in five shootings in two months and was subject to a protective order on behalf of a former girlfriend which prohibited him from owning weapons.

Rahimi's attorney argued that there was no historical precedent for depriving his client of firearms without there being an actual conviction for a crime.

Dissenting from the court's opinion, conservative justice Clarence Thomas said states already have criminal prosecution as a tool for disarming anyone who uses a firearm to threaten physical violence.

"Most states, including Texas, classify aggravated assault as a felony, punishable by up to 20 years' imprisonment... Thus, the question before us is not whether Rahimi and others like him can be disarmed consistent with the second amendment," Thomas wrote.

"Instead, the question is whether the government can strip the second amendment right of anyone subject to a protective order -- even if he has never been accused or convicted of a crime. It cannot."

Some 100 gun control activists, including the actress Julianne Moore, carrying signs reading "Disarm Domestic Abusers" staged a demonstration outside the Supreme Court as the justices heard about 90 minutes of oral arguments last year.
AU 'strongly supports' Somali plea to slow troop pull-out



Nairobi, June 21 (AFP) Jun 21, 2024



The African Union backed Somalia's request to slow the withdrawal of its troops fighting Islamist militants and called for a new international force to replace the AU peacekeeping mission.

Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda-affiliated group, has been waging a deadly insurgency against the fragile central government in Mogadishu for more than 17 years.

UN resolutions called for forces in the African Union peacekeeping mission, known as ATMIS, to be reduced to zero by December 31 with security handed over to the Somali army and police.

The third and penultimate phase was to see the departure of 4,000 soldiers out of a total 13,500 ATMIS troops by the end of June.

But, following a request from Somalia's government to see only 2,000 troops leave in June and the remaining 2,000 withdraw in September, the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) said in a statement Thursday that it "strongly supports... a phased approach" to the drawdown.

ATMIS, whose main direct financial contributor is the European Union, derives its mandate from the AU but must also be authorised by the UN Security Council.

Somalia's beleaguered federal government has joined hands with local clan militias to fight the Islamists in a campaign supported by US airstrikes.

But the offensive has suffered setbacks, with Al-Shabaab earlier this year claiming it had taken multiple locations in the centre of the country.

The AU called for "the establishment of a new African Union-led Mission for Somalia... for post-ATMIS security arrangements that should be UN-authorised".

It asked parties including the Somali govenment to come up with a plan for the new force by the end of next month, urging "clear benchmarks and timelines for the transition from ATMIS to the new mission as well as the duration of the new mission."

ATMIS comprises troops from Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.

Although driven out of the capital by AU forces in 2011, Al-Shabaab still has a strong presence in rural Somalia.

It has carried out repeated attacks against political, security and civilian targets, mostly in Somalia but also in neighbouring countries including Kenya.

Last week in southern Somalia, Al-Shabaab planted a roadside bomb that killed six soldiers including a senior military commander.




First things first, that opening scene wassomething. I dont like that I was able to call that this woman was going to do something bad the minute I saw her, but DAMN, I wasnt expecting that! This woman is Jade Waters and shes out for some sort of revenge. Shes targeting a specific group of deputies, luring them in by pretending to need help on the side of the road, and once theyre distracted - BAM she attacks. SIDEBAR: Id like to thank this episode for reinstating my fear of helping people pulled over on the side of the road in the middle of the night.





The episode then continues with where we left off previously, where Emily is baited to go to visit Brian Garrity (gotta love conspiracy theorists) where he sets her up to be arrested. I laughed at the arresting officers here because lets be serious: look at Emily and look at Brian - do we really think shes the one that attacked Brian? Absolutely not, but this made me wonder how deep this Gold Star case really goes.





Kingdom of the Blind - CRIMINAL MINDS: EVOLUTION. PICTURED: Liana Liberato as Jade Waters Photo Credit: Michael Yarish /Paramount+  2024. All Rights Reserved.





Later on we see Tyler show up to Penelopes place asking her to hack into the phone he cloned from Sebastian, a person he believes holds a key in possibly solving this Gold Star case. However, Penelope is hesitant and rightfully so. She tells Tyler to do the right thing; bring this to the team and deal with whatever consequences come his way.





Shout out to Rossi for picking Emily up, but, oh, hello subconscious Elias  I see youre still here. Why are you refusing to leave David alone? And David, what part of you is keeping him alive within your mind and why? Emily enters the car so we wont get those answers right now. The focus is back on Garrity and what his motives for setting Emily up could be.





Back at the office, the team tries to figure out what the link could be between Garrity and the Gold Star case. As much as theyd hate to admit this, its looking like this case could be part of this whole conspiracy theory concept and Brian Garrity was only a throw away piece for a larger picture. Tyler comes in (and does exactly what Penelope tells him to do - good job) to talk with Emily and David about what he knows about Sebastian and how there may be information on this phone about Gold Star. Penelope is then called in to do what she does best. There was a bit of resistance from Penelope at first, but Emily gets her to agree to break into the phone. Penelope, youre a real one!





Kingdom of the Blind - CRIMINAL MINDS: EVOLUTION. PICTURED: Ryan-James Hatanaka as Tyler Green and Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope Garcia Photo Credit: Michael Yarish /Paramount+  2024. All Rights Reserved.





Back at the prison, Sydney has agreed to meet with Elias, but on the condition that she speaks with him first before he gets to see his daughters. Elias, sir, youre on a new level of sociopathic  I say this because the way hes talking to Sydney its as if he believes that he would be out and able to live this normal life with his children. As she is updating him, she tells him their oldest, Holly, has been cutting herself and that triggers something in him. Is this Elias actually caring or did he just find another way to manipulate the BAU? Because he then says hes willing to let his family go, but on another condition: he has to be able to hold them. Elias, what is your endgame sir?!





seen in 1701 Gold Star). We see Jade in the car giving herself a second eye (evil eye, but not the sacred one) tattoo when she hears about her murders on the radio she smiles (sickening). Tattooing yourself with your kills maam? At this point youre a serial killer which means I have the same question for you that I had for Elias: what is your endgame?! Were back to Jades murders and as much as the team doesnt want to say this, it does appear to lead back to Gold Star. No, there were no gold star bullets found at the scenes, however, their badges were missing, the same as the murder of Isaac Sanchezs (). We see Jade in the car giving herself a second eye () tattoo when she hears about her murders on the radio she smiles (). Tattooing yourself with your kills maam? At this point youre a serial killer which means I have the same question for you that I had for Elias: what is your endgame?!





Back in the office, Penelope is struggling to crack the riddle code on Sebastians phone and reluctantly, she asks Tyler for help in solving the code. It worked  she gained access to the phone and now its time for a deep dive. At this point Im really hoping this helps the team get closer to closing this case, but in my heart I just know theyre about to open a can of worms.





Kingdom of the Blind - CRIMINAL MINDS: EVOLUTION. PICTURED: Kiele Sanchez as Sydney Voit Photo Credit: Michael Yarish / Paramount+  2024. All Rights Reserved.



At the sight of one of Jades murders, subconscious Elias is back. Its showing us, in my opinion, that no matter where David is or what case hes working on, until this Gold Star case is solved, Elias will always be on his mind. Its what makes the most sense to me, but lets see how that plays out.





Brian calling Emily asking her if shes alright was wild, but lets get into this conversation. He tells her that he had no choice but to blame her because they threatened his estranged wife (thats kind, she has a restraining order against him but he still cares). She wants to know who they are and Brian says he doesnt know who, but it involves a program called Gold Star and WHOA that conspiracy theory is looking more and more legitimate as we go on.





Were back at the prison and Elias is speaking with his daughters and hes trying to put on this father persona, and its working on Harlow, their youngest, but Holly sees right through it. So much so, she hands him a letter she wrote to him letting him know that she knows who he is and what hes done to some extent. In the letter she calls him a serial killer, murderer, (sweet baby Jesus) and when he tries to deny it she goes to show him she really is his daughter and tries to stab him (Elias, congratulations, youve passed on the murder gene). Now, after all of this, we see a different side to Elias. He seems to really care about whats happening with Holly, even going as far as saying she needs to be saved. Hes getting frustrated when Alvez tries to redirect him and the way hes saying shes in trouble, you have to intervene, stay with me here, its as if hes talking about himself more than Holly. Almost like a its too late for me, but its not too late for her. I could just be reaching, because this is Elias were talking about here, but come on, tell me you didnt sense that too.





Kingdom of the Blind - CRIMINAL MINDS: EVOLUTION. PICTURED: Zach Gilford as Elias Voit Photo Credit: Michael Yarish /Paramount+  2024. All Rights Reserved.



at this point still not knowing her identity) and found out that both deputies were doing private security at Stuart House, where Aiden Keller (seen in 1702 Contagion) was committed  ladies and gentlemen, the math is starting to math here; there is a connection to Gold Star but not in the way that we believed. Tara and David are still going through Jades murders () and found out that both deputies were doing private security at Stuart House, where Aiden Keller () was committed  ladies and gentlemen, the math is starting to math here; there is a connection to Gold Star but not in the way that we believed.





Jade looks to be ready to take down victim number three, but is caught. Held at gunpoint, I wondered how she planned on getting out of this one and OOP it turns out its her own father (I repeat, sickening).



On the flight back, subconscious Elias returns and asks the question were all wondering at this point, are these revenge killings related to Gold Star or just a wild goose chase? Both Tara and David learn of a kidnapping that happened in Salt Lake that relates to their case; the car involved belongs to Rick Waters, a retired deputy sheriff. Rick Waters has a daughter named Jade who also went to Stuart House  oh dear. They reach Salt Lake to the scene of Ricks car abandoned and his dead body lying right next to it (damn, Jade). This is where we learn that Jades father wasnt such a good man. It was a forced retirement and after his wife disappeared and Jade tried to report him for her murder, he had her sent to Stuart House. There are no records to make a connection which leads them to the realization they still need Elias help (no rest for your mind yet, David). On the flight back, subconscious Elias returns and asks the question were all wondering at this point, are these revenge killings related to Gold Star or just a wild goose chase? Both Tara and David learn of a kidnapping that happened in Salt Lake that relates to their case; the car involved belongs to Rick Waters, a retired deputy sheriff. Rick Waters has a daughter named Jade who also went to Stuart House  oh dear. They reach Salt Lake to the scene of Ricks car abandoned and his dead body lying right next to it (). This is where we learn that Jades father wasnt such a good man. It was a forced retirement and after his wife disappeared and Jade tried to report him for her murder, he had her sent to Stuart House. There are no records to make a connection which leads them to the realization they still need Elias help ().





Theres a scene where we see this person with a gold star bullet approaching Jade and (after I screamed) I thought she was a goner, but PLOT TWIST, its another player in the Gold Star game. His name is Damien and hes the one who attacked Issac Sanchez, and took his badge. How many players are there?





Kingdom of the Blind - CRIMINAL MINDS: EVOLUTION. PICTURED: Zach Gilford as Elias Voit Photo Credit: Michael Yarish /Paramount+  2024. All Rights Reserved.

Back at the office, the amazing Penelope is going through the phone looking for the payroll records to see who exactly was bankrolling these murders when she makes a discovery that (like I mentioned above) opens a can of worms. However, these worms do bring us closer to solving the case. We find out this strike team was set up to take out specific targets. Gold Star, however, had a different plan in mind and started taking out members of the strike team instead. Five members of the strike team and five targets, two of which theyve already uncovered: Aiden Keller and Jade Waters (gotta love trauma bonding) and although they havent identified him with a photo yet, Damien is penned as the leader and head of this Gold Star operation. This is who theyve been profiling the entire time and they need to find a way to talk to him again and oh dearto this point only one person has spoken to him: Elias Voit.





This man is never going to let this team breathe is he?





I want to hear from you - whatd you think of the episode, Kingdom of the Blind? Share your thoughts below or connect with me on X/Twitter and lets chat about it @chenfordhugs.

Valerie LaRoche Hello! I'm Val. I'm a writer, actress, photographer, and producer from New York. I enjoy going to the bookstore, the gym, and for walks in the park. If I'm not doing any of those things, I'm home studying film and television.

If you havent watched todays new episode of, you should take a pause here, watch the episode, and come back because this review will be covered in spoilers (: there's a short mention of self-harm in this review).
We welcome this, and now feel it is important to wait for the completion of that process before initiating any significant course of action. If and when we do take industrial action, that decision will be made by Community members, who represent the vast majority of workers impacted by Tatas damaging plans.
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So I think it merits consideration as to how do we ensure that theres plenty of structures in place for that regular dialogue between the British prime minister of the day and the Irish taoiseach of the day, and indeed the administrations are represented here because certainly I would value that and look forward to being in London in July where the UK Government will host the European Political Community meeting and hoping to have early engagement with the British prime minister.
Signed by relatives who have lost loved ones and victims who were injured and survived in more than 20 different terror attacks, including Manchester Arena, Fishmongers Hall, London Bridge, Westminster Bridge, Reading and Tunisia, the letter added: Public venues remain at heightened risk of attack, survivors languish on waiting lists for mental health support and seriously injured people are still waiting for compensation many years after life changing attacks made it impossible for them to work.
The Reform UK leader, who served as the partys honorary president between 2021 and June this year and has been listed as one of its directors on Companies House since 2019, added: These candidates were recruited before I said I was going to play an active role in the party and frankly, they were so desperate for people to stand that people stood and then we employed a big vetting company that didnt do the job.
The Tories have frequently attacked the Welsh Labour government over its extension of the franchise in Senedd elections to people aged 16 and over as well as its legislation on 20mph speed limit zones and its handling of the NHS.




This file photo shows European Union flags fluttering outside the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium on July 14, 2021. [Photo/Agencies]

Global Times-Is the European Union (EU) still a supporter of free trade? Or is it wielding the trade stick targeting China? The world is watching it with great concern. Since October 2023, the EU has continuously introduced trade and investment restrictive measures against China, which have amounted to 41 items so far. Within only nine days from May 16 to 24, the EU launched five new anti-dumping investigations against China, involving $1.71 billion. The frequency and density have reached record levels. In the investigation of the European Commission (EC), the EU has abused restrictive measures and flagrantly violated the WTO rules and standards, jeopardizing the principle of fair and free trade. It has also provoked widespread concern in the international community.

Who actually initiated the dispute? Let's take a look at the following facts. On September 13, 2023, in the State of the European Union speech, EC President Ursula von der Leyen, launched a "surprise attack" on China by publicly announcing that it would launch an anti-subsidy investigation into the imports of electric vehicles (EV) from China, without prior notification in accordance with WTO rules. Subsequently, the EU rapidly expanded the scope and intensity of trade investigations against China, tightened the introduction of various types of trade restrictive measures and launched the Foreign Subsidies Regulation and the International Procurement Instrument investigations against China. At a time when economic and trade relations between China and the EU should be developing positively, the EU has not only wielded the trade stick, but also attempted to blame China for instigating trade disputes. However, it is clear who the real instigator is.

As an innocent victim of this dispute, China did not choose to immediately retaliate reciprocally, but showed great restraint and goodwill and advocated resolving conflicts through dialogue and negotiation. So far, China has communicated with EU institutions and 16 member states, including Germany and France, more than 80 times through meetings, talks, calls and letters. Among them, Chinese leaders alone have communicated with leaders of EU institutions nine times, while China's Ministry of Commerce has conducted more than 60 ministerial-level working exchanges with EU institutions, member states and key enterprises. It's clear that in properly dealing with the trade differences between China and the EU, China has indeed shown sufficient sincerity and done in-depth work.

In the face of the EU's trade suppression, Chinese enterprises have also maintained restraint. Not only did they actively initiate communication, but they also did everything they could to proactively cooperate with the investigation. On the one hand, representatives from industry organizations, including the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers and the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products, have traveled to Europe many times after the launch of the investigation, met with major European car companies and EC investigating officials, participated in the hearings and actively carried out communication and lobbying work. On the other hand, China's EV enterprises still try their best to cooperate with the EU investigation even though they are well aware that it will bring negative impacts to the normal operation of their business. From January to March, SAIC Motor, Geely and BYD, as the target companies for the EU's anti-subsidy probe, have mobilized thousands of people to proactively cooperate with the 14 EC verification visits for investigation, which has taken several months and is full of sincerity.

However, China's sincerity and the cooperation of Chinese enterprises have not met with the EU's understanding and goodwill. Instead, it has prompted the EU to expand its restrictions on trade and investment with China, and recklessly escalate the situation and openly shirk responsibility. First, the types of EU trade and investment restrictions on China have been widening, and since October, the industries involved have spread from EV to steel products, construction materials, industrial raw materials and medical devices, among many other areas. Second, the money involved in the EU's investigations has also increased, reaching 28.4 billion dollars, the highest in history. Finally, the EU has also been playing the trick of "a thief crying 'stop thief!'" by repeatedly releasing false reports on the so-called significant distortions in China's economy, in an attempt to confuse the public and turn the unlawful trade investigations into so-called righteous actions.

China and the EU should be a constructive force to maintain the global free trade order, but the EU's blatant action of "going backward" has seriously interfered with the normal economic and trade activities of Chinese enterprises in Europe, undermined the environment of China-EU economic and trade cooperation and jeopardized the global free trade order. In the EU's anti-subsidy investigation against China's EVs, political motives have replaced fairness of trade and become the "compass" of the EU's actions. Under the guidance of political objectives, the whole investigation procedure is destined to be unfair and non-transparent, and there is even artificial manipulation and "customized" evidence. What's more, the EU has abused its investigative power to collect core technical, commercial and operational secrets from Chinese companies in areas such as battery formulations, production costs, sales channels, supply chain layout and financing information.

China's goodwill and sincerity should not be abused, and its restraint and cooperation do not mean that it should be tolerant and incompetent. China has no intention to fight a trade war with any economy, but in the face of the EU's repeated and escalating provocations, the country is compelled to safeguard its own rights and interests, correct the EU's wrongdoings and protect the legitimate interests of Chinese enterprises. China's attitude is, in fact, very clear: China-EU relations should be correctly positioned as partners, the mainstream theme should be cooperation and the prospects for development should be win-win. It is now the EU's turn to think carefully and make choices about the future of China-EU economic and trade relations.
The National Directorate of Cyber Security (DNSC) documented, between June 17 and 21, 2024, not fewer than 25 DDoS attacks against websites in Romania, launched by groups of cyber attackers affiliated with Russia, DNSC informs.

To avoid compromising users' devices and including them in a botnet that launches DDoS attacks, there are the following solutions: use an antivirus application; installing a firewall and configuring it so as to restrict traffic coming to or leaving the device; the implementation of good security practices in order to minimize the access of other people to the information on the device and the management of unwanted traffic.
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Catalin Predoiu, had a meeting with the British Ambassador in Bucharest, Giles Matthew Portman, on Friday, with the discussions between the two having focused on topics of interest to both sides, mainly the measures that must be taken for combating cross-border organized crime.

"The good practices identified as a result of bilateral police cooperation can be the basis of new cooperation initiatives, necessary to manage, in a coordinated manner, the new trends of the criminal phenomenon. Both sides pay special attention to the security component, being strongly engaged in the joint effort to identify effective solutions to combat the various scourges of transnational organized crime", the cited source shows.The minister of the Interior highlighted that border protection is a priority subject for Romania, the purpose of which is to strengthen and protect the space without internal border controls. "Measures taken to reduce illegal border crossings, to limit secondary movements and to make the return system more efficient have led to decreases on all levels of indicators regarding crimes related to illegal migration. In addition, new effective tools have been implemented to facilitate the process of identification of people", emphasizes Predoiu. In this context, the cited source informs, both Romania and Great Britain must be prepared to cooperate even more to identify solid solutions for the multiple challenges that the European Union and the UK must face.The British ambassador highlighted the importance given by the UK to issues related to combating the flow of cash from crimes. States must quickly identify solutions for countering reinvestment actions of the product resulting from criminal activities in the licit circuit. The Romanian official pointed out that this topic is of interest, as it is important to coagulate the efforts of all the relevant actors involved in order to make the activity of the competent institutions more efficient, the MAI press release informs.
PNL proposals, accepted by European Commission, with single tax quota to be maintained in 2025 (PNL's Ciuca)
A St. Louis man was found dead in a creek in San Antonio last week after being reported missing in Texas.

Jarvis McIntire, 26, was found dead by police in the 1200 block of Holbrook Road around 9:30 a.m. on June 14, according to the San Antonio Police Department.

Five days before McIntire was found, police said someone called 911 from that same block of Holbrook Road and said a person with a rifle was chasing him. Responding officers could not find the caller or any witnesses.

Detectives said they did not suspect foul play, and an initial autopsy found no apparent cause or manner of death.
OFALLON, Mo.  More than 100 people packed into a Francis Howell school board meeting room on Thursday to oppose proposed policies that critics claim would infringe on First Amendment rights.

Seven new policies are under consideration by the Francis Howell board, including one that would allow any district resident to challenge learning materials for appropriateness; one that would bar discussions of gender identity without parent approval; and another that would subject district employees to discipline if they help manage campaigns for school board candidates  and ban the common practice of campaigning at events held on district property.

Speakers at Thursday nights board meeting largely lambasted the policies and claimed they were proof of further politicization in the school district.

It has become increasingly clear that your political agendas influence our rights and education rather than our welfare, rising junior Harper Schneider told the board.

Before the meeting, about 40 people gathered outside the districts central office holding signs that urged board members not to advance the policies.

Theyre stepping on the rights of a multitude of people because they think their way is the right way, Angela Wheelehan, a seventh-grade teacher at Barnwell Middle School, said in an interview.

But board members say the proposals are in their early stages and are likely to change.

These are first reads, Randy Cook said in a phone interview with the Post-Dispatch on Wednesday.

Cook wrote most of the policies but was traveling and not present for Thursdays meeting.

I have no expectation that theyll pass in their current form, he said.

Thursday marked the latest example of cultural debates that have embroiled the district since the pandemic. The board, which holds a 5-2 majority of members elected by a conservative PAC, has voted to rescind an anti-racism resolution, edited Black studies courses to rid them of so-called social justice standards and considered a policy that would require transgender students to use bathrooms that match their gender assigned at birth.

Similar  and often identical  issues have popped up in other school districts nationwide as conservative-led PACs inject millions into school-board races, seeking to weaken what they see as a liberal tide of indoctrination in public schools. That includes Wentzville School District in St. Charles County, which earlier this year passed a transgender bathroom policy similar to the one that was considered by Francis Howell.

This isnt a culture war. Its a war against the Constitutional rights to read and learn, and have free speech in schools, said Erin Shelter, a volunteer for Francis Howells two newest board members, who won their races in April against candidates who ran on conservative platforms.

Appropriateness questioned

Of particular concern among teachers at Thursdays meeting was the policy that would allow any district resident or employee to challenge learning resources, including books. A complaint would jump-start a lengthy process involving an appointed nine-member board, and would immediately trigger the removal of the material in question until a decision is made on whether its appropriate.

What if I complain I dont like any of the books in the library? asked Carolie Owens, one of the boards two newly elected members. So immediately, nobody can read those books? That doesnt sound like America to me.

Another policy would require the board to approve all library purchases and bar explicit descriptions of sexual conduct, which critics argued was too broad.

Asked Wednesday what would be considered explicit, Cook said, Hopefully common sense would prevail there.

Cook said he assumes libraries in the district dont have explicit material but this goes to some of the concerns that our communities have had about our school libraries. Putting some of that in policy, whether or not somethings actually in there or not, I think it helps build some trust in the community to just put it in there in writing. That way, everyone understands what isnt allowed.

Parents who said their children identified as LGBTQ also criticized the board for the policy that would require district employees to notify parents if a student wanted to discuss gender.

What this does is create a hostile environment for LGBTQ+ students, Robert Fischer, spokesperson for statewide LGBTQ advocacy organization PROMO, said in an interview.

In response to the policies, PROMO bought space on digital billboards on Interstate 64 in St. Charles County that reads, St. Charles, BE LOUD! BE PROUD! The billboards will run through Saturday, Fischer said.

Only one speaker spoke in favor of the boards conservative majority: Adriana Kuhn, one of the candidates who lost in Aprils election.

Kuhn used much of her allotted three minutes to criticize Steven Blair, her former opponent who questioned the boards decision to scrap an educational video platform this month over claims it pushes social agendas.

Steven Blair campaigned on not having politics in Francis Howell, yet he is the first director Ive seen use our school board meeting as a platform for politics, Kuhn said to scoffs from the crowd.

Union pushback

Thursdays meeting was initially slated to include other issues.

On Wednesday, the board removed four proposals from the meeting agenda after Francis Howells teachers union, FHEA, filed a grievance against the board.

FHEA alleged the board violated an agreement that says board policy cannot be changed without prior notice and input from the union.

They want to avoid a lawsuit, FHEA President Anita Kuehner told the Post-Dispatch.

Board President Adam Bertrand wrote on Facebook Wednesday that the policies were pulled to allow FHEA negotiators to provide feedback prior to any formal action.

We respect our commitments, and importantly those with our bargaining units, Bertrand wrote.

Some of those proposals pulled from Thursdays agendas were the ones teachers described as the most egregious.

One that involved neutrality and balance in the classroom would have barred employees from publicly displaying posters and flags  with U.S. and Missouri flags as exceptions  related to politics or social policy issues. Teachers viewed it as a direct attempt to rid district buildings of Pride flags, but Bertrand said Tuesday it would be up to administrators to decide what displays would fall under the policys scope.

Another policy discussed sexual misconduct and grooming, but one bullet point in the policy drew particular concern from teachers. It said only guidance or counseling staff could encourage students to confide their personal or family problems and/or relationships.

Kuehner questioned if that meant students could no longer confide in teachers.

Theyre tying the hands of teachers who just want to support their students, Kuehner said.

Its unclear when the board will vote on the seven new policies, or if the four others will return after union input. Board members on Thursday briefly discussed when theyd read the proposals again but did not settle on a date.

Owens, one of the new board members, said Thursday was a real breakthrough as it seemed the whole board, which for the past two years has been staunchly divided, seemed open to discussion.

I think, before, people felt like they were opposing forces, Owens said in an interview. But if we can learn what we agree on, then were going to become more unified and can move the district forward.
The Supreme Court on Friday issued the kind of ruling that would once have been viewed as so obvious as to be unnecessary: Yes, the court said, judges have the constitutional authority to deny firearms to defendants who are under domestic-violence restraining orders.

The court was only able to reach this rational conclusion by ignoring its own originalist mantra and considering the question in the context of current (as opposed to colonial) America. That speaks volumes about the unworkability of originalism.

The case comes out of Texas but has special relevance in Missouri. In their determination in the past few years to eliminate almost every gun restriction in state law, Missouri legislators inadvertently stripped state judges of the ability to disarm dangerous domestic abusers, leaving only federal law to protect their victims.

Thats not enough, because another state law that claims (with constitutional improbability) to allow Missouri to ignore federal gun laws. Now that even this far-right-tilting Supreme Court has confirmed the constitutionality of disarming domestic abusers, any responsible legislators left in Jefferson City should work to restore this important safeguard in state law.

The courts ruling in U.S. v. Rahimi is an encouraging if isolated glimmer of sanity from the courts conservative majority on this issue.

Drug dealer Zackey Rahimi was put under a domestic-violence restraining order after he battered and dragged his girlfriend in a parking lot and fired a gun to ward off a bystander. He later called the woman and threatened to shoot her in the face if she reported the attack.

A judge put Rahimi under a domestic-violence order of protection to prevent him from threatening the woman. The restraining order included temporary suspension of his firearms license and a prohibition from possessing guns while the order was in place.

Rahimi subsequently violated that order with his involvement in several shootings and the police discovery at his home of multiple guns. Rahimi claimed the Second Amendment protected his right to possess the weapons and that the federal law allowing him to be disarmed under the order of protection was unconstitutional.

The conservative 5th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Rahimi. Thats the ruling the Supreme Court overturned Friday, upholding the federal law that gave the original judge the authority to disarm Rahimi.

Ironically enough, the appellate court ruling relied on the Supreme Courts own 2022 ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, which severely curtailed the power of states to impose rational gun restriction  and furthered the concept of originalism.

That conservative concoction of a standard (originalism) says the Constitution must be interpreted based on the historical understanding of issues addressed in the document at the time it was written.

If deciding issues today based on thinking from a time when slavery was legal and long before women could vote sounds unworkable  well, it is.

Sole dissenting Justice Clarence Thomas, ignoring as usual the real-life implications of his opinions, argued that not a single historical regulation justifies the statute disarming domestic abusers. Loathe as we are to say it, hes probably right. Which is a tidy illustration of why the originalism that Thomas and his fellow right-wing extremists have come to fetishize is such a terrible legal construct.

The special issues connected to domestic violence  the shame and secrecy surrounding it, the difficulty in prosecuting it, the tendency toward escalation  have been widely understood only in modern times. The concept of even a restraining order against a spousal abuser would likely have been unthinkable to the framers, let alone legally disarming that abuser.

By the courts own majority thinking, then, abused women should have to just take their chances with fully armed abusers. Because thats how it was when the Second Amendment was ratified in 1791.

Happily, the rest of the courts conservatives were willing to ditch their own originalist principles when faced with this particular example of their real-world impact.

Interpretation of gun rights is not trapped in amber, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority  situationally disavowing the very philosophy he and his fellow conservatives have used (and will presumably continue to use) to undermine gun safety, abortion rights, the separation of church and state and more.

Whatever internal inconsistency it took to get there, the court is right on this one. It should be clear today (even if it wasnt 233 years ago) that evidence enough to merit a domestic-violence restraining order is enough to merit disarming the defendant while that order is in place.

The remaining question is whether Missouri legislators can make that great leap out of the 18th century and close the domestic-abuse loophole they have created in state law.
SMNYC 2024: Streaming Learning Center's Jan Ozer Talks AI, Codecs, and Patent Pools

At Streaming Media NYC 2024, Tim Siglin, Founding Executive Director, Help Me Stream Research Foundation, and Contributing Editor, Streaming Media, interviews Jan Ozer, Owner, Streaming Learning Center. Ozer discusses how the Streaming Learning Center has expanded into a platform offering courses on streaming-related topics to help technical people in the industry become familiar with terms, technologies, best practices, and tools. He also talks about machine learning, the shift towards Neural Programming Units (NPUs), and the legal and financial implications of choosing a codec due to potential patent infringements.

What is the Streaming Learning Center?

Siglin asks Ozer to describe the Streaming Learning Center and what it does.

Ozer says that Streaming Learning Center is a blog he started around 13 years ago that contained articles about compression, codecs, and encoding. Then, about five years ago, it began to offer courses in streaming-related topics. It just helps technical people coming into the industry get familiar with all the terms and technologies and best practices and tools that they need to use to become conversant and effective in their roles, either on the user side or on the builder side, he says. So those are my two targets.

What is the impact of AI on codecs?

Siglin says, From a builder standpoint, obviously, quite a bit has changed in the last couple of years. For instance, machine learning, which some people call AI, has become more popular, at least from a buzzword standpoint. What's your take on that?

Ozer says that while machine learning and AI have exploded into the public consciousness since ChatGPT came out, companies that have been in the business for a while, such as Harmonic and Vizioner, have been writing about and using machine learning in their codecs since as early as 2016. So I think it has been a big part of codec development for a while, primarily in content adaptive technology, he says. So the ability to gauge a technology and estimate what bitrate would be necessary to encode it effectively and then [to] only use that bit rate.

Siglin asks, So how has it progressed from that 2016 timeframe to now?

Its hard for me to say, Ozer replies. The one thing I discovered is that it's impossible to separate the efficiency delivered by AI from the efficiency delivered by other techniques. So everybody's going to say machine learning, or AI, or generative in their spec sheets, but you're never going to be able to tell, is it 5%? Is it 10%? I spoke at a panel on NAB, and I told people to ignore when they see an encoder with AI. If you're evaluating it, evaluate it like any other encoder and gauge its overall effectiveness, not what contribution AI has overall.

Siglin says, We've got workflows that have machine learning, but are we seeing a similar scenario where new codecs will say, Look, we've got AI, therefore we're better, or is it strictly AI and the workflow?

The whole thing that stops codec deployment is the decode side, Ozer says. And there's a huge preference for hardware decode in mobile. There's a necessity for hardware decode in the living room, where all premium content is really targeted. So that's where all the money goes. And it's very challenging to change traditional codecs in a way that makes them incompatible with those decoders. There's a company called Deep Render, and they're building their codec to be decoded on NPUs (Neural Programming Units). And those have been shipping in edge devices since 2015 or 2016. It's interesting because those are general purpose devices, and you can use them for any machine learning, any type of AI on [the] unwinding that you need. It feels like the move is going to be toward them, as opposed to codec-specific silicon. It may be that VVC or even HEVC could be the last dedicated silicon decode-based codec, and we could be moving towards NPUs. A big part of the recent Apple announcement with the M4 chip was 18 TOPS or 36 TOPS NPU unit on the chip. And that can more than handle decode for any of the new codecs that are coming out that are AI-based.

The legal and financial implications of 2024 codec patent pools

Siglin asks, Where do we stand in the patent pool space at this point? On the encoding side especially.

We are at a huge inflection point, Ozer says. Avanti came out with Avanti video pool that is charging royalties based on content. So it's not encoder, it's not decoder, it's encoded bitstreams. There was a recent case in Germany, Broadcom versus Netflix, where the court found Netflix violated Broadcom's patents because they, not encoded, not decoded, but transmitted HEVC encoded Bitstreams within Germany, which is content. So it's content royalties. There's a suit in California where Nokia is suing Amazon for H.264 and H.265 bitstreams, not where they're encoded, not where they decode. And so we've got three or four sources of law that are going to say if you're encoding in a specific format, you're liable to the patent owners for some fee as yet undetermined. So, I think if you look at codec adoption in 2024, I could be the only person who cares about this. Everybody I speak to is either unaware of it or doesn't think it's going to be significant. But I really think before I adopted codecs in 2003, back then you needed to be a codec expert to choose a new one. And even in 2013, or 2018, or 2019, you needed to be a codec expert. Now you need to be a legal expert, a chief financial officer, because you've got to evaluate all these pools and all these lawsuits, and it helps if you know a little bit about encoding.

Siglin says, So to the extent that we've mastered encoding as an industry, what we've not mastered is the financial implications of how we choose to encode and the potential legal ramifications.

Exactly, Ozer says.

See more highlights and interviews from SMNYC.

Watch full sessions from SMNYC on-demand.

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Senior Airman Pablo Ruiz Esparza Barco, left, and Tech. Sgt. Ty Ward conduct an insochronal inspection on a C-130J Super Hercules engine at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on June 21, 2024. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan  A U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules looked like a massive mechanical patient on an operating table during an inspection Friday at this airlift hub in western Tokyo.

A metal platform surrounded the plane thats typically flown by 374th Airlift Wing commander Col. Andrew Roddan, who is due to hand over command next month after a two-year stint at Yokota.

Roddan commands the only U.S. tactical airlift wing in the Pacific. He has more than 4,100 hours flying C-130E and J models, from Iraq and Afghanistan to the Philippines and Central and South America, according to his Air Force biography.

Roddans Super Hercules was coincidentally in the hangar for a routine two-week inspection required of each aircraft every 540 days, Tech. Sgt. Neil Ortiz said during a tour of the plane. The platform allows maintainers to access the four turboprop engines and other parts of the plane with relative ease.

The platform is optional, but it creates a really good flow for maintenance, the dock chief with the 374th Maintenance Squadron said. You lose a lot of man hours by pushing stands around.

A C-130J Super Hercules airlifter of the 374th Airlift Wing is staged for an isochronal inspection at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on June 21, 2024. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)

During the inspection, maintainers opened engine cowlings, landing gear doors and the planes nose to inspect all manner of mechanical parts. They even pulled the seats out of the cockpit to give them a once-over.

The 14 planes at Yokota arrived there to replace older C-130H models in March 2017, but most were built in 2008. Roddans plane was built in 2014, Ortiz said.

Common issues that airmen find during inspections include propellors out of balance or incorrect gaps when landing gear doors close, he said.

It is like a wheel alignment for your car, he said of the process of correcting the issues.

A group of maintainers, including Staff Sgt. Samuel Gonzalez-Nunez, were checking out the aircrafts front landing gear door on Friday.

Airman Dalton Poole performs a maintenance inspection on a C-130J Super Hercules engine in Hangar 15 at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on June 21, 2024. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)

The landing gear and the flight controls, including the wing flaps, are the most interesting parts of the plane, according to Gonzalez-Nunez, who arrived at Yokota four months ago after serving as a crew chief at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

The C-130s, which first took flight in the 1950s, have long proven their safety, Ortiz said.

We flew them all over Africa, Europe and the Middle East, Ortiz said of his previous assignment as a C-130J crew chief at Ramstein.

The maintainers put a camera inside the planes Rolls Royce engines every 3,000 hours of flight time to check for defects, he said.

If we find a defect, we have to replace the engine, Ortiz said.

When the planes are 12 years old, they return to manufacturer Lockheed Martin in Warner Robbins, Ga., for a deeper inspection that involves removing the wings and tail. After the 12-year look inside, the planes return every six years for the same inspection, he said.
Air Force Brig. Gen. Mitchell Johnson has been selected to serve as the next adjutant general of the North Dakota National Guard and director of the N.D. Department of Emergency Services, effective Sept. 15, 2024. (U.S. Air Force)

(Tribune News Service)  Brig. Gen. Mitchell Johnson will be the next leader of North Dakotas National Guard, Gov. Doug Burgum announced on Thursday.

Johnson, who most recently served as commander of the Fargo-based 119th Wing of the states Air National Guard, will serve as the Guards next adjutant general as well as director of the Department of Emergency Services. Hes succeeding Maj. Gen. Alan Dohrmann and will begin the role on Sept. 15.

Johnson led the 119th Wing from March 2021 to this past January, overseeing around 1,200 personnel. He previously served as vice commander of the wing for more than two years, and has served in a variety of other command and flying roles in North Dakota, Florida, Oklahoma and Arkansas since 1998.

Hes an alumnus of Michigan Tech University and University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, and has graduated from Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, and the Air War College. Johnson has also logged more than 5,000 flight hours, including more than 1,000 in combat, and has served overseas in six deployments. He said in a statement that his selection for the role is a tremendous honor and he looks forward to serving the state.

Dohrmann, Johnsons predecessor, is bringing his four-decade military career to a close later this year. In April, he announced his intent to retire on Sept. 30. He was first appointed by then-Gov. Jack Dalrymple to lead the states National Guard in December 2015, then reappointed by Burgum in 2018. He helped lead the states response to protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline in 2016 and 2017, and supported the states Department of Health and Human Services and local public health agencies amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Burgum praised Johnson in the statement, saying that the states National Guard will continue to play an important role in national security under his leadership while also supporting North Dakota residents.

Johnson has demonstrated exceptional leadership during his 12 years of active duty in the Air Force and 15 years in the National Guard, and he will serve our state and its citizens incredibly well as the 22nd adjutant general in North Dakota history, the governor said.

The states National Guard has approximately 4,200 service members, and facilities in 13 communities.

(c)2024 The Bismarck Tribune (Bismarck, N.D.)

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Maj. Gen. Charles Lombardo, incoming 2nd Infantry Division commander, speaks during a change of command ceremony outside the 2nd Infantry Division Headquarters at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, on June 21, 2024. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  The new commander of the Armys only division that includes foreign troops said Friday he is honored to serve alongside one of the greatest armies and the U.S.s staunchest ally.

Maj. Gen. Charles Lombardo while taking charge of the 2nd Infantry Division in front of roughly 500 people at Robertson Field at Camp Humphreys said he felt he was truly hitting the jackpot.

It is apparent after only spending a little time in theater that our secret power and secret sauce is the combined nature and these incredible [South Korean] soldiers that are part of this division, Lombardo said outside the 2nd ID headquarters.

The former armor officer said he noticed three distinct characteristics in U.S. soldiers who served in Korea: enforcing high standards, a mastery in fundamentals and lethality.

Lombardo took command of the roughly 14,000-strong division from Maj. Gen. William Taylor, who held the position for 13 months.

From left , Maj. Gen. William Taylor, outgoing 2nd Infantry Division commander, Lt. Gen. Christopher LaNeve, 8th Army commander, and Maj. Gen. Charles Lombardo, incoming 2nd ID commander, at the division change of command at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, on June 21, 2024. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)

Lombardo was previously the director of training for the Headquarters of the Army and served as the deputy commanding general of training at the Combined Arms Center in Fort Leavenworth, Kan.

He graduated from Southwest Missouri State University and was commissioned in 1993, according to his Army biography.

Taylor begins his new position as U.S. Forces Koreas director of operations on July 1, USFK spokesman Thomas Duval said in an email Friday.

USFK, the command responsible for roughly 28,500 U.S. troops in South Korea, is headquartered at Camp Humphreys, the largest American military base overseas. The base is also home to the headquarters of U.N. Command, Combined Forces Command and Eighth Army.

Taylor described his time as 2nd IDs commander and his five years serving in South Korea so far as extremely important and special.

Just know that serving here in Korea as part of the greatest alliance is truly an amazing opportunity, Taylor said in a speech. We have a real mission that brings us all together with a common purpose for good.

The 2nd IDs arsenal includes a combat aviation brigade, a field artillery brigade and a yearly rotational force from the United States. The current rotational unit, the Texas-based 3rd Cavalry Regiment, arrived in South Korea in February.

The division includes about 1,000 South Korean draftees who undergo a highly competitive exam to become Korean Augmentation to the U.S. Army, or KATUSA, soldiers.

Thank you for sending us the best that your army has to offer, Taylor said to South Korean military officials in attendance. As they serve in the [South Korea-U.S.] combined division, they make us better each and every day.
Linda Read, public affairs director for U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria and co-host of the "Better in Bavaria" podcast, interviews U.S. Consul General Timothy Liston in Munich on April 9, 2024. (U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria)

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany  A U.S. Army garrison in Bavaria is aiming to reach listeners beyond the gates with a podcast that provides glimpses into the personalities of the people who serve.

Eight episodes of Better in Bavaria, which launched last year, are available for download from Apple and Spotify.

Defense Department podcasts tend to be too tailored to soldiers, (DOD) civilians and families, said Andreas Kreuzer, a German co-host of the podcast. Most of (our) topics are interesting for all people in Europe.

The first episode was titled Top 10 Things to Know about Dining in Germany and featured Franz Zeilmann, an Army community relations specialist.

Andreas Kreuzer, who co-hosts the "Better in Bavaria" podcast produced by U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria, interviews diplomat Timothy Liston at the U.S. Consulate in Munich on April 9, 2024. (U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria)

Other episodes have included garrison commander Col. Kevin Poole recounting how G.I. Joe inspired him to join the Army and Consul General Timothy Liston talking about surfing in Munich.

Garrison public affairs director Linda Read, who previously hosted a cable access cooking show in Hawaii, got the idea to start the podcast after being exposed to them at an Army conference last year, she said.

She enlisted Kreuzer to co-host with her, as well as Kayla Overton, Natalie Simmel and Ella Haendel to produce and edit audio.

The idea was to afford guests the leeway to take unscripted paths, unlike the regimented command information products found on the American Forces Network, Read said.

The next episode, due next month, will feature another community relations specialist, Susanne Bartsch, discussing tips for off-base shopping.

In the future, the garrison hopes to release episodes more regularly, include German officials and also offer accompanying video.

U.S. military commands have produced dozens of podcasts in recent years, according to the Defense Department visual information website. However, the overwhelming majority closely resemble the command information typically released by the services.

This is finding out about the leaders and those folks at the garrison who make things happen, Read said. Its educational, but we also hope its informative and entertaining.
Maj. Gen. Todd Wasmund, commanding general of U.S Army Southern European Task Force - Africa, wears the unit patch with the "Africa" bar on a visit to Bizerte, Tunisia, training sites on May 9, 2024, during the African Lion exercise. (Katherine Bustos Chaves/U.S. Army)

VICENZA, Italy  The U.S. Army Southern European Task Force  Africa has a new look for shoulder sleeves that makes a point of where its mission lies.

The word Africa is now displayed on a bar underneath the task forces symbolic lion patch.

It seems like a small thing, but it means a lot to us and our African partners, SETAF-AF spokesman Col. Michael Weisman said about the patch change, which took effect Friday across the command.

Col. Matthew E. Kopp, security cooperation director for U.S. Army Southern European Task Force - Africa, speaks with Brig. Gen. Jethrow Chipili of Zambia during the African Land Forces Summit in Livingstone, Zambia, April 22, 2024. Kopp is wearing SETAF-AF's new patch with the added "Africa" bar. (Elijah Dority/U.S. Air Force)

The patch has gone through many iterations since the commands founding in 1955, but this one is particularly meaningful, said Maj. Gen. Todd Wasmund, who leads the task force.

We say that we are the Army command that wakes up every day thinking about Africa, Wasmund said. Changing our shoulder sleeve reflects that focus and continues the legacy.

The command received Army authorization for the new bar on April 1 and members have been wearing it while in Africa, where its made a distinct impression.

Members of the Southern European Task Force - Africa, based in Vicenza, Italy, added an Africa bar to their shoulder sleeve insignia on June 21, 2024. (U.S. Army)

On a trip to Ghana last year, the then-army commander, Maj. Gen. Thomas Opong-Peprah, stopped mid-sentence during a briefing to say how much it meant to see us change our symbols to emphasize Africa and our partnership, Wasmund said in an email.

The SETAF-AF patch features the Lion of St. Mark against a red-white-and-blue shield, resting a paw on a book that says pax, Latin for peace, and holding a dagger that represents peace through strength.

The lion is the symbol of the Italian region of Veneto, where SETAF-AF is based.

The SETAF bar above the lion has reappeared over the years, most recently in 2008, when SETAF became U.S. Army Africa. In 2020, U.S. Army Europe and Africa consolidated, which led to the task forces current name.
The USS Alabama, anchored in Mobile Bay, on Thursday, June 20, 2024. The USS Alabama is the star attraction at Battleship Memorial Park. (Margaret Kates/TNS)

(Tribune News Service) The USS Alabama, which has long stood guard in the Mobile Bay, has a new deck.

What a great honor for Alabama to continue to host and maintain this hero of the Second World War, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said during the ribbon cutting Thursday. Alabamians are again united in pride as we unveil a major renovation to this beloved symbol of patriotism and Americas greatest generation.

On Thursday, state officials, including Ivey, unveiled a new, 22,000 square-foot teak deck on the ship, the premier attraction of Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile. The deck replaces the original teak deck, which had fallen into disrepair over the 80 years of the ships existence.

The new deck was made with teak imported from Myanmar, from the same forests as the wood from the original deck, Chris Dunning, construction manager at Youngblood-Barrett Construction & Engineering, which installed the new deck, said. It took around six months to ship the new teak to the United States. The planks for the new deck are one inch thick, compared to the original planks, which were 2-2.5 inches thick.

Teakdecking Systems in Florida helped design the new deck.

The new teak deck on the USS Alabama at Battleship Memorial Park on Thursday, June 20, 2024, in Mobile, Ala. The new deck is made from the same wood as the original and cost around $8.6 million. (Margaret Kates/TNS)

Importantly, the battleship never closed to the public throughout the nearly three-year long design and installation process. It was very important to the USS Alabama Battleship Commission, which oversees the park, that visitors still have access to the ship, which has received more than 20 million visitors since it opened in 1965.

The total cost for updating the deck was around $8.6 million, Battleship Commissioner Bill Tunnell said. That is a significant reduction from when replacing the deck was first considered in the 1990s, thanks to new design and construction technology, he said.

If you didnt know it wasnt original, youd never know it wasnt original, Tunnell said. Weve got one small portion thats still original, just so we can keep that little commemorative edge there.

Around 75% of the cost was funded by admissions and sales at the battleship park, including commemorative items made from the original wood from the deck. Around 60% of the wood from the original deck was able to be preserved and resold. More than $190,000 worth of reclaimed material has been sold already, Tunnell said.

The remaining 25% of the cost was funded by appropriations from Ivey, Alabama State Sen. Greg Albritton and other donors.

Construction first began on the ship in 1940. The USS Alabama was deployed in World War II to the north Atlantic in 1943 and later to the south Pacific. The Mighty A as its sometimes called, led American forces into Tokyo Bay on September 5, 1945.

The ship was set to be scrapped before a group of Alabama residents campaigned to have it memorialized at what was then envisioned as Veterans Memorial Park, according to the parks website.

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World War II veteran Evan Schmidt, left, visits the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., on May 24, 2024. (Facebook/Rocky Mountain Honor Flight)

(Tribune News Service)  There is a reason that men and women of the 1940s are considered The Greatest Generation. Drive, patriotism, and altruism are attributes associated with their generation  each of which Evan Schmidt or Royal personifies to a T.

Schmidt, a 100-year-old resident of Florence and World War II veteran, has not let the passage of time keep him down and, though he takes his time when settling or rising from a seat, his fighting spirit recently enabled him to attend an Honor Flight sponsored by Rocky Mountain Honor Flight in May.

Organized and accompanied by Fremont County Service Officer Marty Peek, the Honor Flight included an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., where several memorials and landmarks awaited Schmidt.

However, it wasnt his first all-expense paid trip to anywhere but Florence.

Like most able-bodied men in the early 1940s, Schmidt was drafted by the United States and entered the Army as part of its combat infantry in early 1943. He was pulled from his parents, siblings, and everything he knew when he was thrust into the armed conflict and served in the South Pacific area.

For three and a half years, he served in a variety of roles, including as a machine gunner on a Higgins Assault Boat, in the combat infantry, and traveled from Guadalcanal to Papua New Guinea and various other locations before landing in Korea after the end of the war.

Despite being thousands of miles away from his beloved family, he made countless memories with tenacious and patriotic men just like him. He vividly recalls scouting missions with his close pal Bobby Sanchez and remembers befriending an orphaned Korean child at the end of the war. It was a tumultuous time fraught with the worst and greatest of humanity for Schmidt, something he would remember for the coming decades.

Though his experiences during the war could fill a thick book, one of his greatest memories is seeing American soil for the first time in nearly four years.

[On the ship home] the captain said, Anybody wanting to see the United States, come out to the bow of the ship, and we went out and saw the lights of Portland, Oregon, Schmidt said. And, boy, everybody jumped up and we all hugged each other.

Because they were home.

Schmidt was just 24 years old when he returned from war to both a county and a country attempting to put the pieces of its collective heart back together. Florence and Eastern Fremont County had last a significant number of men to the conflict, something that Schmidt steadily learned the longer he was home.

I would ask how so and so was doing and someone would say, Oh, he died in the war, Schmidt said.

Not long after returning from the South Pacific, Schmidt met his future wife, B.J., at a Canon City yard sale. Apparently, kismet had been struck as the couple have been married 75 years, share four children and a gaggle of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

But the itch to honor those who never returned home never resided for Schmidt. Not after spending nearly 20 years with the Florence School District. Not after successfully fathering and grandfathering new generations of Americans.

However, the opportunity finally came in two, distinct forms.

During the May Honor Flight, Schmidt was one of only two WW II veterans to attend the festivities and, immediately, his status as a member of The Greatest Generation earned him the adoration of the masses.

A town crier announced each veteran when they de-boarded the plane after landing in Baltimore, Md., and Schmidt occupied a position of great honor throughout the trip.

Accompanied by police escorts and throbbing crowds, Schmidt visited many of the memorials in Washington D.C., including the Korean War Memorial, the Vietnam War Memorial and Wall, Arlington National Cemetery. However, it was the WWII Memorial that touched Schmidts heart the most.

It brought back a lot of memories...of the good men that I served with, he said. It was truly one of the greatest experiences of my whole life.

After 100 years, thats quite significant.

During his visit, Schmidt was thronged by crowds, was bought round after round of beer by admiring restaurant-goers (though he admits he only drank a little), and reveled in his celebrity status.

It was the attention of a 4-year-old girl that truly caught his attention, however.

[Her father] told me thank you for my service...and asked if his little girl could take a picture with me, Schmidt said with a twinkle in his eye. She came up to me and I kissed the back of her little hand.

The family left giddy with the one-of-a-kind souvenir.

After returning home from the Honor Flight, Schmidt was honored by the Fremont County Commissioners for his dedication to his nation during the June 11 meeting.

Royal, thank you...we appreciate you and we have a special love and admiration for our World War II veterans  my grandfather also served in the Pacific Theater so we really appreciate all that youve done, said Commissioner Kevin Grantham.

Weve all been to the banquets where theyre raising money to be able to send veterans on these flights so its just an amazing thing to be a part of that as well. Im glad to be just a little bit of a part of getting you there and Im so glad that you enjoyed it and Im glad youre here with us today, added Commissioner Dwayne McFall.

Schmidts efforts to honor his fallen brethren werent finished, however, as he also donated something special to the Florence City Council during their meeting on Monday.

In the summer of 2021, Schmidt, along with fellow WW II veteran Jack Sasser, approached the Florence Pioneer Museum about putting a plaque together of all the men from Eastern Fremont County that died during the war. Years and countless man hours later, they had a finished plaque with 37 names, military branches, and locations of death for those who had been lost to Fremont County.

Schmidt donated a photo of the plaque to the council for the express purpose of remembering their sacrifice.

Its priceless [to have this plaque] and to have Royal as a personal friend, said Councilmember Gayle MacKinnon.

Schmidts efforts are far from over as he plans to attend the June 29 military funeral of Army Air Forces Technician Fifth Grade Clifford Harley Strickland, who died in the Phillipines on 29 July, 1942 after being forced to partake in the Batan Death March. Though he didnt know Strickland personally, he knew members of his family and also served in the Phillipines  tying them together as brothers who never met in this life.

Its all about honoring that flag, he said while sitting in his Florence home on Wednesday, gesturing at the waving stars and stripes in his front yard.

The Greatest Generation has certainly earned the moniker and will be remembered because of individuals like Schmidt.

(c)2024 Daily Record, Canon City, Colo

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(Ken Schultz/Stars and Stripes)

Tay Ninh, South Vietnam, Oct. 4, 1971: A member of the Army ground crew at Tay Ninh loads rockets onto a Cobra helicopter during an effort to combat stepped-up communist activity near the Cambodian border.

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(iStock)

Its officially summertime, so people are packing up and heading out for a busy travel season. But the highways, bus stations and airports arent the only places that will see a lot of action this summer. With all those travelers on the go, and needing to go, public restrooms will be at maximum capacity.

Recently, I took a trip to Italy, requiring my 58-year-old bladder and me to frequent several airport bathrooms. It occurred to me that travel pottying has changed significantly over the years.

Growing up in the 70s, our station wagon simply pulled over to the side of the road for pit stops during long trips. And my husbands family kept a mayonnaise container known as the tinkle jar in their vehicle. If we did manage to find a gas station with a bathroom, my mother would spread half a roll of toilet paper on the seat before I was allowed to sit down.

But those improvised methods of yesteryear are no longer considered apropos  or sanitary, for that matter. Today, the transportation authorities have provided travelers with state-of-the-art public toilet facilities.

The problem is, the newly automated restrooms are so high-tech, they sometimes leave one longing for the simple practicality of a roadside patch of weeds.

During my recent visit to an airport restroom, I selected one of the many stalls, latched the door, straddled my humongous carry-on bag and grabbed for the paper seat cover dispenser.

The first three ripped in half, the fourth fell into the toilet and the fifth one disappeared when the toilet unexpectedly flushed.

Known as phantom flushes, the sensor-triggered water swoosh in public restrooms not only suck down the paper seat covers, they can scare the you-know-what out of you, which, by the way, would defeat the purpose of being in the toilet in the first place.

With a seat cover finally in place, I took my position.

Strangely, the otherwise noisy bathroom fell dead silent. I could see the feet of the occupants next to me, but couldve heard a pin drop. I prayed that someone would turn on the sink, while my bladder refused to release the 64 ounces of coffee Id consumed that morning.

Id experienced stage fright on other occasions, most notably in college, when perpetually clogged bar toilets caused long lines in the bathrooms. The one working toilet usually had no toilet paper, a broken door lock, and gaps in the stall that allowed everyone in line to stare through the cracks. Once it was my turn, I was paralyzed by stage fright.

Waiting in the airport stall for someone to make noise, I fidgeted, and  WHOOSH!  set off my own phantom flusher again. It scared the bejeezus out of me, but provided the break I needed. Relief!

The toilet paper was affixed to some type of conservation dispenser that stopped the roll at each half turn. The flimsy tissue ripped with the slightest resistance, forcing me to make several attempts  roll, stop, rip, roll, stop, rip, roll, stop, rip  until I had enough scraps to do the job.

Finally, I stood up to trigger the flusher, which up until now seemed able to react to a falling eyelash from three stalls down. However, nothing happened. I stood there, wondering if the sensor had a tiny camera inside that transmitted to a flushing control room. Had the person on duty gone to lunch? I swiveled my hips, bobbed my head, and waved my hands to no avail.

With only minutes to boarding, I gave up on flushing and left the stall. Halfway to the sinks I heard it  WHOOSH!

The bank of sinks had no knobs, controls or buttons. Here we go again, I thought, waving my hands in search of automated soap and water. I had a choice of hand dryers: a high-speed air blade that nearly blows your skin off, or the old-fashioned kind that emits a warm breeze that requires you to give up and wipe your hands on your pants.

Frustrated with newfangled automation, I chose the latter.

Coffee? the flight attendant asked after we took off.

Sure, I said, but do you happen to have an empty mayonnaise jar?

Read more at themeatandpotatoesoflife.com and in Lisas book, The Meat and Potatoes of Life: My True Lit Com. Email: meatandpotatoesoflife@gmail.com
Victor Manuel Rocha, 73, an ex-career U.S. diplomat, was sentenced on, April 12, 2024, in Miami federal court to 15 years in prison for being a covert agent for the Cuban government. (Raul Rubiera/Miami Herald/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  A federal judge called a hearing for Friday morning to decide whether a former American ambassador convicted of being a covert agent for Cuba should be required to pay any victims of his betrayal against the United States in a national security case that rocked both the U.S. intelligence and exile communities.

Federal prosecutors argue that the former career diplomat, Victor Manuel Rocha, who in April was sentenced to 15 years in prison and paid a $500,000 fine, is not required to pay restitution to anyone and that the only victim in his case is the U.S. government, according to a memo filed in Miami federal court with U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom.

The prosecutors note that Rocha pleaded guilty to acting as an unregistered foreign agent for Cuba, not to passing national security secrets to his Cuban handlers, and that the 73-year-old is cooperating with U.S. authorities from behind bars. Moreover, they say, no victims have come forward with evidence showing they were harmed by Rochas actions while he was interacting with the Cuban government for decades.

We respect the courts desire ... to ensure that any other potential victims of the defendants criminal conduct be afforded their rights under the law to receive restitution, wrote prosecutors Jonathan Stratton and John Shipley. It remains the case, however, that there are no other victims entitled to restitution.

The prosecutors said that one Cuban who wrote a letter to Judge Bloom  dissident Francisco Pastor Chaviano Gonzalez, who spent years in Cubas prison  was interviewed by FBI agents. But agents found no proof to his claim that Rocha was passing sensitive information to the Castro government that directly harmed the now-naturalized U.S. citizen. The prosecutors also said that anyone claiming to be a victim of Rochas crime could pursue legal action against him in state or federal court.

In February, the widow of Oswaldo Paya, a prominent Cuban opposition leader who is widely believed to have died in a car crash caused by Cuban state security officials, filed a civil lawsuit in Miami against Rocha, who was still covertly working as an agent for Cuba at the time of Payas death in 2012.

Rocha, who climbed the foreign service ladder to become the ambassador to Bolivia in 2000 during the George W. Bush administration, was arrested in December after the FBI launched a sting operation in late 2022. He was video-recorded telling an undercover FBI agent that he worked for the Cuban intelligence services for four decades, according to a criminal affidavit and indictment.

He told the FBI agent his last contact with Cuban intelligence was around 2017 during a secret trip to the island. Rocha was accused of conspiring as an agent for Cuba since 1981, when he started working for the State Department, three years after he naturalized as a U.S. citizen and had earned degrees from Yale, Harvard and Georgetown universities.

At Rochas sentencing hear in April, Judge Bloom called Rocha an enemy of the United States government during the hearing.

Your actions were a direct attack on our democracy and the safety of our citizens, she said. You turned your back on this country, a country that gave you everything.

Speaking before he was sentenced, Rocha apologized to the judge, the United States and his family for his actions.

During my formative years in college, I was heavily influenced by the radical politics of the day, he said. My deep commitment at that time to radical social change in the region led me to the eventual betrayal of my oath of loyalty to the United States during my two decades in the State Department.

Today, I no longer see the world through the radical eyes of my youth.

Rocha pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the U.S. government and acting as an illegal foreign agent in an agreement struck with the U.S. Attorneys Office in Miami. Those two offenses carry maximum sentences of five and 10 years, respectively. According to his plea agreement, he is cooperating with the U.S. government on investigations about Cuba, including a Justice Department assessment of the damage caused by his own covert work for the late Fidel Castros regime and his successors.

However, Judge Bloom, during the hearing, made clear she didnt think the initial agreement presented by the prosecutors was enough punishment for what she called Rochas betrayal of the United States.

She did not hide her displeasure with the governments plea deal, briefly suspending the hearing three times to get clarification on why prosecutors were not seeking forfeiture of Rochas properties, as the indictment initially suggested, as well as restitution for his victims.

After being charged in December, Rocha transferred the deeds on four luxury Brickell City Centre condos valued at more than $4 million that he bought with his wife, Karla Wittkop Rocha, exclusively to her. He also transferred his two bank accounts to his wife, prosecutors said Friday.

The judge said she was concerned about restitution to other victims of Rochas actions beyond the U.S. government, citing the four Cuban American men who died in the Brothers to the Rescue shootdown in 1996.

Bloom also questioned why the Justice Department was not proposing that Rocha be denaturalized as a U.S. citizen after he completed his prison sentence. Initially, the federal prosecutors told Bloom they were not going to request that Rocha, who was born in Colombia and naturalized in 1978, be stripped of his U.S. citizenship, which would mean he would be deported after serving his sentence if he were still alive.

But after the tense exchanges, the judge decided on a new hearing to consider restitution in the future and ordered prosecutors to include the possibility of stripping him of his citizenship in his plea agreement. Rocha and his defense lawyer, Jacqueline Arango, agreed with the judges demands.

Rocha was not formally accused of being a spy  a crime that would have required time-sensitive evidence, such as catching him exchanging damaging top-secret information with his Cuban handlers or other evidence of furtive communications. Instead, he was accused of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which requires those working under the control of a foreign government to notify the U.S. Attorney Generals office.

Nonetheless, top federal officials have characterized Rocha, who retired from the State Department in 2002 and later worked as an adviser to the commander of U.S. Southern Command and in the private sector, as one of the worst offenders in the annals of foreign spying on the U.S. government.

After his arrest in early December, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said Rochas covert work for Cuba was one of the highest-reaching and longest-lasting infiltrations of the United States government by a foreign agent.

El Nuevo Herald staff writer Nora Gamez Torres, who covers Cuba and U.S.-Latin American policy, contributed to this story.

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Betty Humphreys, widow of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Benjamin K. Humphreys, talks with Col. Michael J. Taliento Jr. while visiting Camp Humphreys in March 2007. (Bob McElroy/U.S. Army)

Betty Nance Humphreys, of Fayetteville, N.C., the widow of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Benjamin Humphreys, for whom the largest overseas U.S. military base is named, died June 10 at age 93.

It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the passing of Betty Nance Humphreys, a remarkable woman whose legacy is deeply intertwined with the very fabric of our garrison, U.S. Army Col. Ryan K. Workman, commander of U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, told Stars and Stripes by email Friday.

On her last visit to Camp Humphreys, South Korea, in March 2007, she planted a tree in memory of her late husband at the base of Beacon Hill at Memorial Park, according to a post Friday on the bases official Facebook page.

That tree stands as a living testament to their enduring love and commitment to our military family, Workman said.

A plaque marks the tree at Memorial Park planted by Betty Nance Humphreys in memory of her husband at Camp Humphreys, South Korea. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)

Benjamin Humphreys was assigned to the 6th Transportation Company (Light Helicopter) at what was then called Sub-post K-6. Humphreys died Oct. 13, 1961, when his H-21 Shawnee helicopter developed mechanical trouble and crashed into a rice paddy near Osan, killing him and the seven soldiers he was transporting, according to the Facebook post.

The Army renamed the airfield Camp Humphreys in 1962. Today the base dubbed the Armys Home in Korea is home to the U.S. Eighth Army, 2nd Infantry Division, U.S. Forces Korea, the Combined Command and the United Nations Command. The 2nd Aviation Combat Brigade is also stationed at Humphreys. The major headquarters relocated over several years from Yongsan Barracks in the heart of Seoul.

Camp Humphreys hosts a combined population of approximately 35,000 service members and Defense Department civilian employees, contractors and their families, and is expected to grow.

Betty Humphreys in November 2004 canceled a trip to Camp Humphreys due to an illness. She was scheduled to attend a ceremony honoring her husbands memory.

Mrs. Humphreys kindness, grace, and genuine care for our Soldiers and their families touched countless lives, Workman said. She understood the sacrifices made by our service members, having witnessed firsthand the courage and resilience required to serve a country far from home.

She left an indelible mark on our community, and her unwavering support for the U.S. military will forever be remembered, he said.

According to her obituary in the Fayetteville Observer: In her final days, she was joyful in knowing she would soon be reunited with the loved ones that she had missed for so long.

She donated her remains to Duke University School of Medicine, according to the obituary.

In addition to her husband, Benjamin Kent Humphreys, she is preceded in death by her mother, Gladys Newberry Nance and father Benjamin Franklin Nance.
Russias President Vladimir Putin and Vietnams President To Lam toast during a reception at the Hanoi Opera House in Hanoi on June 20, 2024. (Gavriil Grigorov/Sputnik/Pool/AFP via Getty Images/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  Russian President Vladimir Putins trip to Asia won him support to maintain his grinding war on Ukraine while alarming U.S. allies such as South Korea, which is now considering supplying Kyiv with weapons that could change the battlefield.

Putin returned to Russia after visits to North Korea and Vietnam that resulted in a military pact with Pyongyang that bound the two U.S. adversaries even closer and raised the risks of military action on the Korean Peninsula.

Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un agreed Wednesday to come to each others defense if one is attacked. While it remains to be seen what the lasting impact of the visit will be, in the short term it will likely push Japan and South Korea to bolster their relationship and their bonds with the U.S., which have already become stronger over the past year. It also left China on the sidelines, an unusual position for North Koreas biggest benefactor.

President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol are likely to meet next month for a summit where the U.S. is likely to reaffirm its commitment to extended deterrence, or the nuclear umbrella it provides for its Asian allies. Yet the message that Kims rule over North Korea would end if he tried to use nuclear weapons may be met with a new element of doubt.

If there is a contingency, the U.S. president will have to think not only about North Koreas nuclear weapons, but about Russias nuclear weapons, so we can foresee a situation where U.S. extended deterrence is weakened, said Tetsuo Kotani, professor of global studies at Meikai University. We cant assume everything is absolutely fine.

The U.S. and its allies have accused Kim of sending millions of rounds of artillery and scores of ballistic missiles to Putin for his war on Ukraine. The weapons gained in prominence as Kyivs supplies dwindled due to the U.S. Congress holding up new military aid. But with President Volodymyr Zelenskiys government now taking delivery of billions of dollars in fresh arms from its U.S. and European allies, the window for a Russian breakthrough is narrowing.

Kim hailed the deal as the most powerful treaty signed between the two countries, but Putin was more cautious in his wording. I would like to underline that this agreement is not something new, Putin said in Vietnam, adding the deal had the same wording as an agreement from the early 1960s.

Putin also downplayed any speculation North Korea could send troops to join the fight in Ukraine, saying no one asked about it and no one offered it.

Seoul responded to the deal by saying its considering whether to end its ban on sending lethal weapons to Ukraine. Japan is unlikely to follow suit, Kotani of Meikai University said, but the pact sparked a flurry of diplomatic activity.

Both countries and the U.S. denounced the deal as well as the arms transfers, which they say violate United Nations Security Council resolutions. Japanese and South Korean foreign ministers held a call to share their concerns over the pact, and both countries announced more Russia-related sanctions. The South Korean government summoned Russias ambassador to make a formal protest, while Japans Defense Minister reiterated that U.S. nuclear deterrence is indispensable.

Artillery Supplies

The Koreas have two of the worlds largest artillery forces, with thousands of large caliber guns pointed at each other. Their stockpiles of shells include North Korean ones that are inter-operable with Soviet-era artillery that Russia has deployed to the front-lines in its war. South Korean 155 millimeter caliber shells meanwhile are the standard used by the NATO countries supplying Ukraine.

South Korea has completed a review of the steps that would be taken for sending weapons to Ukraine with its 155 mm artillery shells likely at the top of the list, South Koreas Yonhap News reported, adding the stock is estimated at over 3 million shells. Seoul may be less worried about depleting its inventory after seeing North Korea drawing down theirs by sending to Russia what Seoul believes to be more than 4 million shells.

While South Koreas current policy prohibits sending lethal aid to nations at war, that hasnt stopped its arms makers from selling weapons to Ukraines European neighbors. Exports have surged since Russias full scale invasion of Ukraine, mostly to buyers seeking to replace Soviet-era weaponry with higher tech arms from the Asian country.

Despite the increased unease, the trip may not have changed the balance of power in the region, said Rachel Minyoung Lee, a senior fellow with the 38 North Program at the Stimson Center.

What we just saw are two internationally isolated countries formalizing cooperation across various areas, much of which has the potential to violate sanctions, for example North Korea-Russia cooperation on space and peaceful nuclear energy, Lee said.

China still looms large, and the U.S. alliances with South Korea and Japan and U.S.-South Korea-Japan security cooperation remain intact, said Lee who worked as an analyst for the CIAs Open Source Enterprise for almost two decades. North Korea has won itself an extra protection cover against its external threats, namely the U.S., South Korea, and perhaps even China, she added.

With assistance from Isabel Reynolds, Yoshiaki Nohara and Youkyung Lee.

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A tractor moves a Norwegian air force F-35 through a mountain hangar at Bardufoss Air Station in Norway in this undated photo. (Norwegian air force)

A $200 million upgrade is in store at an air station used by American troops in Norway, where a separate mountainside military hideout also is back in action 40 years after being shut down.

U.S. and Norwegian officials this week said the moves are part of an effort to support rapid troop deployments and larger air force formations in the High North, a region where countering Russia has become a top priority for NATO and U.S. European Command.

At the Rygge Air Station in southern Norway, EUCOMs European Deterrence Initiative, which is focused on improving military infrastructure that U.S. forces may need in a crisis, will fund the major overhaul.

The actions at Rygge and others like it are key to deterring aggression against NATO and ensuring readiness, Paul Audije, program manager for the Army Corps of Engineers in Europe, said in a statement Thursday.

Work at Rygge is slated to begin later this year. It involves security improvements, expanded munitions storage, a quick reaction alert facility to store fighter jets and shelter for hundreds of airmen should they need to be quickly dispatched to the air station.

Meanwhile, the Norwegian air force said Wednesday that it had returned to an abandoned mountain hangar at Bardufoss Air Station in the north, taking back facilities inside a hideout that had been deactivated for four decades.

U.S. and Norwegian military representatives discuss future projects during a site visit at Rygge Air Station in Norway on May 23, 2024. (Chris Gardner/U.S. Army)

The natural features of the site will help shield Norways advanced F-35 fighters in the event of an attack, the countrys air force said.

Brig. Gen. Tron Strand, head of Norways Joint Air Operations Center, said in a statement Wednesday that Russias war in Ukraine and a deteriorating security situation in Europe prompted the reopening of the mountain hangar.

Powerful stealth fighters are not enough. In a war situation, the planes are vulnerable on the ground, Strand said.

The mountain hangar also will be available to allied aircraft as part of an effort to expand the range of options for NATO forces operating in the country, Strand said.

First and foremost, this is about being prepared, and in the long term this may involve more national and allied activity here, Strand said.
Humanitarian aid reaches Gaza via the temporary floating pier on June 11, 2024. (Jordan KirkJohnson/U.S. Navy)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. military on Wednesday reattached a floating pier off the coast of Gaza for the second time, once again attempting to open a temporary sea route to move humanitarian aid into the enclave, the Pentagon said.

Overnight, the transfer of humanitarian assistance from Cyprus to Gaza resumed with more than 656 metric tons, or 1.4 million pounds, being delivered to the marshaling yard, Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the top Pentagon spokesman, told reporters Thursday.

The Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore, or JLOTS, pier is meant to provide another way to deliver needed aid into Gaza. Health officials have warned that millions of Gazans face extreme hunger as Israel continues its war against Hamas militants who launched a surprise assault in October from the enclave.

The pier became operational May 17, but the Pentagon announced less than two weeks later it would be removed for repairs after suffering damage from rough seas and bad weather.

The pier became operational again June 7. Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, told reporters at the time that the issue with the pier was solely from unanticipated weather.

A week later, CENTCOM announced the pier was being temporarily removed due to high seas.

Ryder also said, despite news reports of the pier operation ending early, an end date has not been established.

The Pentagon originally determined the pier would cost $320 million but defense officials have dropped the estimate to about $230 million. Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh had said lower-than-expected costs for contracted trucks, drivers and commercial vessels, and the United Kingdoms contribution of a vessel have lowered the U.S. price tag by about $90 million.

Roughly 1,000 American forces are involved in the operation of the pier.
Ali Qashaqish inspects the burning remains of a furniture fire sparked by shrapnel from an Israeli strike on Aitaroun, Lebanon. (Nabih Bulos/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  It was only 10 a.m., but it had already been a long day for the firefighters in these borderlands of southern Lebanon.

They had barely finished containing a 130-acre forest fire when a call came in at 2 a.m. about a house in flames. Both blazes were caused by bombs from Israeli warplanes.

Now there were three teams, all scrambling one recent Thursday morning to deal with fires from Israeli strikes across the 15 villages and towns under their mandate.

At this rate, well have to get the reserve teams, said Ali Qashaqish, 36, who heads field operations for the one of main fire stations in the southern district of Bint Jbeil.

Summer always means fire in Lebanons bucolic south  and regular work for fire crews here among the fields and orchards of olives, almonds, pines, cherries, cherimoyas and avocados.

But the fire season this year has been fueled not only by scorching temperatures but also by fighting between the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and Israel. The combination has laid waste to thousands of acres of farmland on both sides of the border, displaced about 160,000 people and wrought heavy economic damage.

Hezbollah fired the first shots Oct. 8  the day after the Hamas attack on southern Israel  in what it has described as a support campaign for Gaza. Since then, Hezbollah and Israel have traded strikes daily along the 62-mile-long border. The death toll in Lebanon has climbed to at least 473, mostly fighters but also 92 civilians, according to tallies to the groups statements and various monitoring groups. Israel says 17 of its soldiers have been killed, along with 10 civilians.

Armed by Iran, Hezbollah has escalated its campaign in recent weeks, attacking Israel an average of 10 times a day, according to observers. Last week it fired 200 rockets on the Galilee area after an Israeli drone strike took out one of its top-flight commanders.

Israel has launched roughly four times as many attacks as Hezbollah over the course of the conflict, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, a Wisconsin-based research group specializing in conflict data analysis. Last week, Israel made its deepest attack yet into Lebanon, striking 75 miles north of the border.

Smoke caused by an Israeli airstrike rises in Rachaya Al-Fakhar, Lebanon, on June 18, 2024. (Ali Hashisho/Xinhua via Zuma Press/TNS)

In Israel, about 7,400 acres have burned this year because of Hezbollah rockets, the government reported last week, while at least 60,000 Israelis remain displaced from the fighting with Hezbollah. Israeli news channels earlier this month showed smoke wreathing wide swaths of the Galilee and Golan Heights, prompting threats from Israeli leaders to obliterate Lebanon and turn the capital, Beirut, into another Gaza.

All Hezbollah strongholds should be burned, Israels national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, said in a video from the northern town of Kiryat Shmona after a Hezbollah barrage ignited fires in the area this month. They should be destroyed. War!

In Lebanon, the scale of the fire damage is harder to determine. The countrys National Council for Scientific Research reported in early May that 1,680 hectares have burned since Oct. 7, though some officials have put the damage as high as 6,000 hectares.

Many areas along the border have been deemed too dangerous for Lebanese authorities to visit to update their figures.

The war has displaced some 100,000 people in the south and forced farmers to leave their land untended, with leaves layered eight inches deep and crops crowded by neck-high thistles  all ready fuel for any conflagration.

Theres just so much more flammable material than in the past, said Jaafar Kawtharani, the civil defense station chief, which is part of the Hezbollah-affiliated Islamic Health Committee. Any spark can start a big fire.

An intense heat wave these past few weeks has made for a particularly combustible fire season, as temperatures brushed past 100 degrees and strong, dry winds supercharged spreading flames.

The fires have been exacerbated by the Israeli militarys widespread use of incendiary munitions, including fireballs lobbed by catapults and slingshots in a bid to deny Hezbollah fighters forest cover.

Israeli troops have also deployed white phosphorus, a substance that burns at high temperature and can be used to create smokescreens to obscure troop movements, but can cause respiratory damage and deadly burns. Its use near civilian areas is generally a violation of international humanitarian law.

Human Rights Watch reported this month that Israeli forces used white phosphorus munitions in at least 17 municipalities across south Lebanon since October, including over populated areas. Lebanese authorities have counted more than 159 white phosphorus attacks and at least 183 incendiary strikes since October.

In our sector, before June, we would see phosphorus or an incendiary shell burn once a week or so, said Samer Hardan, head of the governments firefighter station in the southeastern village of Rachaya Al-Foukhar. Now? Its every day, in multiple areas.

The Israeli army has said its use of white phosphorus complies with international law and that it does not use such shells for starting fires.

Normal ordnance was bad enough. As the firefighters chased calls, a trio of missiles slammed into the central thoroughfare of Aitaroun, a village less than two miles from the border and a staging ground for Hezbollah. The June 6 attack sent burning shrapnel flying 150 feet, sparking fires in an apartment building and three orchards.

Qashaqish, the field operations chief, trudged through the backyard of a collapsed house into an orchard where a colleague sprayed water on flames lingering on the trunk of an olive tree. He looked at his watch then at the sky, scanning for any sign of a drone.

The fire crews had arrived about an hour and a half earlier. Though the fire wasnt completely out, they would have to leave soon or risk being caught in an Israeli attack.

If I had time, I wouldnt leave a single blade of grass burning, he said. But this is all I can do now.

Smell that? Thats the oil in the olives burning.

Back in the pickup, he began rattling off the names of orchards ravaged by the hostilities, a note of sadness in his voice: On this mountain, weve already lost 12 acres of oak. Nearby, more than 200 acres of seasonal fruit trees, not to mention olives.

A burst of static from his walkie-talkie interrupted him as a dispatcher came on to report yet another attack on a village seven miles away.

Shell, incendiary or white phosphorus? Qashaqish asked. He gunned the engine and drove off before the answer came.

With well over two-thirds of people in southern Lebanon relying on agriculture and livestock farming, the losses of the last eight months have been devastating, said Mohammad Husseini, the head of the Farmers Union for the region.

A lot of farmers arent daring to go to their lands, he said. They cant harvest their crops, but they also cant prepare the land to plant again. Theyve effectively lost two seasons.

Livestock farmers, unable to take care of their animals, were forced to sell most of them for slaughter at cut prices, he added.

Those losses are having knock-on effects across the economy, said Mohammad Chamseddine, a policy specialist at the Beirut-based research firm Information International. He estimated the country was losing as much as $7 million a day. And with little prospect of the war ending soon, tourism is also hurting, he said.

Khaldoun Fanash, a farmer from Dheira, a border town of some 2,000 people that has become a regular target for Israeli forces, fled to the coastal city of Tyre after his house was hit with white phosphorus Oct. 16. It has subsequently been struck three times by artillery, and hes lost tens of thousands of dollars worth of avocado and cherimoya crops, not to mention 50 beehives.

Hezbollah, he said, is giving the displaced a monthly $200 subsidy for expenses along with $333 for rent. But rental prices in Tyre are now more than twice that.

A person used to working on the farm, making $1,000 a month, cant accept working in the city for $100, Fanash said.

Though Fanash remains supportive of Hezbollah, he acknowledged the toll of its extended solidarity campaign with Gaza.

This war has been going on for eight months, he said. Its not one or two weeks. And people say its only going to get bigger.

In Beirut, people have no problems. You can even see people partying here on the beaches in Tyre. Those of us living on the border, were the ones paying the price for this war.

That applies to the Israeli side as well. The north of the country supplies 40% of the countrys fruit, but agricultural organizations say some 500 growers have left since the start of the war. Tourism there is all but dead. The region is also a tech hub, and those industries have suffered too.

Many Israelis here fear a Hezbollah version of Hamas Oct. 7 attack.

Its not a question of if it will happen but when it will happen, Avichai Stern, the mayor of Kiryat Shmona, the largest town in Israels north, said in an interview last month with a philanthropy website.

He said only 3,000 of the towns 24,000 residents remain and that many who fled have said they will not return unless the threat from Hezbollah is eliminated.

We have to wipe them out, he said.

This week, the Jewish People Policy Institute released a poll of 800 Israelis that found roughly two-thirds wanted Hezbollah attacked with full force, and more than a third wanted it done as quickly as possible.

Hezbollah insists it is not seeking a wider war with Israel. But in a televised address Wednesday, the groups chief, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, threatened that no place in Israel would be safe from the groups arsenal if Israel escalated the war.

Hezbollah and Israel have faced off before, first in 1982, when Israel invaded southern Lebanon and attempted to install a friendly government  a plan that backfired so badly that many Israelis consider Lebanon their Vietnam. The ensuing 18-year occupation, with widespread allegations of torture and killings by Israel and its collaborators, spurred the ascent of Hezbollah.

The last major war between the two was in 2006, when Hezbollah abducted two Israeli soldiers and Israel retaliated by turning villages and towns to rubble.

After the war, the two sides had maintained an uneasy truce. Despite the occasional shelling or Israeli warplane overflight, families would come to the beach in Naqoura, the southernmost city on Lebanons coast, and swim in the shadow of a giant cutout figure depicting a slain Hezbollah commander.

In some parts of the south, you could drive so close to the border you could make out the license plate numbers on Israeli cars passing by.

But it may be harder to recover this time. With Lebanons economy in free-fallsince 2019, rebuilding will be more difficult. There are also fears about contamination of the soil with white phosphorus and what that could mean for farming.

Many here believe its part of a wider campaign aimed at creating a buffer zone with Israel.

Its clear in the official Israeli psyche that the security of northern Israel in their mind is premised on emptying southern Lebanon, said Nadim Houry, the executive director of the Arab Reform Initiative think tank.

For now, firefighters are racing to limit the damage as best they can. Hardan, the civil defense chief, drove to a spot by a chicken coop, where a column of smoke had reappeared in a an area where they had put out a fire. He dragged a fire hose through a soot-blanketed meadow, then sprayed water at the embers hidden under one of the trees.

Let both sides fight as much as they want and attack military sites, he said. But theres nothing here. Why hit this area with phosphorus or incendiary weapons?

This tree, its like my child. Even on the other side, when I saw the forests there burning, I was sad  thats the air we breathe.

2024 Los Angeles Times.

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The Bovard Administration Building, with Tommy Trojan out front, on the campus of the University of Southern California is seen on March 28, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

LOS ANGELES (Tribune News Service)  In the weeks after Hamas attacked Israel in October, a confrontation between a Jewish USC professor and a group of pro-Palestinian students went viral and triggered a storm of controversy on campus.

Economics professor John Strauss told students  who were calling for a ceasefire and commemorating Palestinians slain in the war  Hamas are murderers, adding, Thats all they are. Every one should be killed, and I hope they all are killed.

Video of Strauss remarks spread rapidly online and led to a petition calling for the professors termination. More than 10 students also filed complaints against Strauss, accusing him of engaging in discrimination, harassment and fostering an unsafe environment.

This week, that long-running inquiry came to an end.

USC administrators informed Strauss on Tuesday that the case against him was closed, the complaints by students would be dismissed and that he will face no formal discipline, according to the professor and his attorney.

Im relieved, Strauss said in a phone interview. As far as Im concerned, Ive been fully exonerated and theyre not doing anything to punish me, and its over.

His lawyer, Samantha Harris, said she was frustrated that it took seven months to reach an obvious conclusion that Strauss did not engage in harassment or discrimination.

Im nonetheless pleased that they reached the correct result, Harris said.

The Times presented USC with a summary of the findings about Strauss. USC did not dispute the findings, but also issued a statement saying they are unable to discuss any individual cases because of the confidential nature of personnel matters.

USC takes allegations of harassment and discrimination seriously, said the statement issued by USCs press office.

The episode was an early flash point in clashes between supporters of Israel and Palestinians that have roiled American universities over the Israel-Hamas war. The Strauss episode was eclipsed by more campus turmoil after the university canceled a Muslim students valedictorian speech, called in police to dismantle a pro-Palestinian encampment and canceled the main graduation ceremony.

To reach their conclusion that Strauss did not violate university policies, a USC investigator interviewed the students who lodged complaints, witnesses and Strauss himself, according to Strauss and his attorney. Strauss lawyer also said the investigator had video of the encounter  including the clips that had gone viral  and aerial footage from Trojan Cam, a live feed of the statue of Tommy Trojan on campus.

It was near that statue where students on Nov. 9 were staging a walkout calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and holding a memorial to Palestinian civilians killed in the conflict.

There were two discrete incidents in which Strauss was accused of wrongdoing that day.

The first occurred when about 200 students gathered in the center of campus for a Shut It Down for Palestine action. Some students chanted, From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. Nearby, students had unfurled four long rolls of paper  at least 18 inches wide  across the ground, with thousands of names of dead civilians listed.

Strauss, who was walking across campus to teach a class, said he heard calls to destroy Israel and became angry: I am Jewish and very pro-Israel, so I shouted, Israel forever. Hamas are murderers.

He was accused of intentionally stepping on the paper commemorating the dead Palestinians.

Students told The Times last year they felt threatened by an older professor in a position of power confronting them in this way and then desecrating the dead.

When the investigator pulled footage of this, however, it showed Strauss walking near the paper, but any contact was incidental, if it happened at all, Harris said, adding: A reasonable viewing of the video makes clear it was not deliberate, if in fact anything was stepped on.

The second incident occurred later that afternoon as Strauss was returning to his office after class. A student near the memorial yelled out, Professor Strauss, shame on you.

Strauss replied, No, shame on you, adding, You people are ignorant, really ignorant.

A student in a gray Lululemon hoodie and black pants is heard telling Strauss that the event was to pay respects to those killed. A classmate wearing a red kaffiyeh wrapped around his head rushed over and inserted himself between the professor and the students.

Strauss, holding a file of papers in one hand and a bottle of water in the other, then told the students: Hamas are murderers. Thats all they are. Every one should be killed, and I hope they all are killed.

I got that on video. Thank you! a student is heard saying on a recording.

There was no dispute that Strauss said the words, but he denied that this amounted to a threat to students, as Hamas is deemed a terrorist organization.

Summarizing the probes findings, Harris said USC determined it had insufficient evidence that he was deliberately targeting any student and his words  uttered in the span of less than a minute  didnt create a hostile environment.

This was an exchange of opinions in a public area of campus on an issue of public concern that rose nowhere near to the level of conduct that constitutes harassment which is severe, pervasive and persistent, said Harris, referencing the formal criteria for evaluating harassment.

Although Strauss wont face any sanction by the university, his lawyer said that the length of the probe has been its own form of punishment.

Living under a cloud for seven months is not nothing, and it has a chilling effect broadly speaking on facultys willingness to express themselves on matters of public concern, Harris said.

Strauss was allowed to return to campus in December and continued teaching in the spring semester. This fall, he also has a full course load.

I dont have any regrets about what I did or said at all, Strauss said. I think it was perfectly reasonable.

2024 Los Angeles Times.

Visit at latimes.com.

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Hialeah, Florida, city council member Angelica Pacheco faces healthcare fraud charges. She surrendered to the FBI on Thursday, June 20, 2024. (D.A. Varela/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  Hialeah Councilwoman Angelica Pacheco surrendered to the FBI on Thursday after being indicted on healthcare fraud charges accusing her of falsely billing private insurers millions of dollars for services at her addiction treatment center.

She is charged with exploiting her business, Florida Life Recovery and Rehabilitation LLC, to submit $19.1 million in bogus bills to multiple Florida insurance companies between July 2017 and August 2020, according to a grand jury indictment. That company, which stopped operating in 2022, was registered by her husband Daniel Pacheco. He has not been charged with her.

Pachecos husband declined to comment.

Separately, Angelica Pacheco is charged with defrauding the U.S. government for filing false business loan applications to cover payroll and other expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the indictment.

During the pandemic, four companies owned by the Pacheco family received more than $500,000 in combined federal Paycheck Protection Program and other pandemic loans. She has stated that these funds were used to pay employees and keep the businesses afloat.

Pacheco, 37, a certified nurse, and her husband now operate a primary care clinic and substance abuse rehabilitation facility called Pacheco Medical Center, located on East 49th Street in Hialeah.

The councilwoman made her first appearance on Thursday afternoon before Magistrate Judge Lauren F. Louis in Miami federal court.

The federal charges could lead to Pachecos removal from office. Gov. Ron DeSantis has previously suspended local elected officials charged with crimes. Under Hialeahs city charter, the City Council would have the right to appoint someone to fill the empty seat.

This is not the first time she has had legal problems. In 2004, at the age of 17, she was charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, one count of battery, and one count of criminal mischief in what police described as a domestic incident. She pleaded no contest to four of the charges and received six months of probation.

Pacheco said to the Miami Herald that her stepfather at the time had locked her mom inside the house and she had an altercation with him. She says her stepfather abused her and her mother for years.

In 2011, Pacheco was charged again, this time in Miami-Dade County, with one felony count of child abuse without harm. She said her son told a teacher that Pacheco had spanked him. When she refused to speak to the police officer, she said, the police arrested her. She pleaded not guilty and prosecutors dropped the charge.

During this same period, from 2002 to 2012, Pacheco received dozens of traffic citations in Miami-Dade and Broward counties for alleged infractions such as knowingly driving with a suspended license, driving without insurance and speeding.

The councilwoman was elected in November 2023 after running four times for a seat on the council.

Pacheco may have hinted at her imminent arrest in a cryptic social media post.

Twenty-four hours before her arrest, Pacheco posted a video on YouTube blaming the Hialeah government for any eventual repercussions she might face.

I want you to know that I blame the Hialeah administration for anything that happens to me, she said in the video. I have been threatened both legally and verbally. They are trying to find a way to get rid of me.

In the video, Pacheco used a clip from a council meeting of a comment Mayor Esteban Steve Bovo Jr. made about her in a heated debate regarding the citys position on marijuana use.

I understand that you only have four months as a council member, but perhaps the time to honor yourself will soon come to an end, Bovo said.

In a written statement sent from the mayors office to the Herald on Thursday, Bovo said that the federal charges against the councilwoman are not related nor linked to her capacity as an elected official for the city of Hialeah.

My administration has worked hard to raise the positive image of our city, Bovo said. This situation is not only disconcerting but also very sad for our community. This will not stop us from improving the quality of life of our residents and providing them with the best services.

Councilman Bryan Calvo, an ally of Pacheco, addressed the arrest with profound disappointment, according to a statement.

While I am not aware of Ms. Pachecos private sector activities, these are grave allegations, and I will call for the full weight of the law to be applied in this case if she is proven guilty, the councilman said.

In the months that I have worked with Ms. Pacheco, she has been a steadfast advocate for government transparency, community engagement, and lower taxes, in those aspects she has performed honorably, Calvo said.

2024 Miami Herald.

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A Fort Campbell, Ky., soldier faces multiple charges for conspiring with another person to take sexually explicit images and videos of children and other soldiers without their consent, according to Army court documents. (Samuel Shore/U.S. Army)

A Fort Campbell soldier has been charged for conspiring with another person to take sexually explicit images and videos of children and other soldiers without their consent while in Germany, according to Army court documents.

Pfc. Whitney Shepherd, 34, was arraigned May 29 and pleaded not guilty before judge Lt. Col. Daniel Mazzone at Fort Campbell, Ky., where the soldier is assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, according to court records. An online court docket did not list an attorney for Shepherd and base officials did not respond to a request for the information.

Shepherd faces three counts of conspiracy, one count of child sexual assault, seven counts of other forms of sexual assault and six counts related to child sexual abuse, according to a charge sheet. All the incidents occurred in Grafenwoehr, Germany, in late 2022 and early 2023.

Shepherd is accused of photographing two other female soldiers  a specialist and a private first class  in January and February 2023, as part of a conspiracy with another person, whose name is redacted from the charge sheet.

She also distributed those images, which the charge sheet stated were taken at a time when the women had a reasonable expectation of privacy.

For the charges involving a child or children, Shepherd is accused of conspiring with someone to produce child sexual abuse material by placing a video call to a child and recording the child in sexually explicit conduct, possessing an iPhone 12 with the material on it and distributing it to another private first class.

Shepherd also is accused of exposing herself on Dec. 26, 2022, to a child to sexually gratify another soldier, a private first class, according to the charge sheet.

Shepherd requested a jury trial, according to online court records. No future court dates were listed Friday for Shepherd.

It is rare for female soldiers to face a court-martial. In 2023, there were 11 women tried by court-martial and 520 men, according to the Army Report on Military Justice for Fiscal Year 2023.
Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump takes the stage to introduce a new line of signature shoes at Sneaker Con at the Philadelphia Convention Center on Feb. 17, 2024, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/TNS)

PHILADELPHIA (Tribune News Service)  Former President Donald Trump is making his Philadelphia campaign rally debut at Temple Universitys Liacouras Center Saturday night and he can expect Philadelphians of all political persuasions to be there to greet him.

Out in full force will be young Republicans from the Temple community who will be there to support their candidate of choice and his right to speak on campus, said Billy Walker, president of Temple University College Republicans, which officially endorsed Trump on June 14. Some members of the club will also be volunteering at the event.

They will be sharing the steamy summer night air with protesters who plan to make it known that they are unhappy to see the GOP presidential candidate appear at Temple, which overwhelmingly supported Biden in the last election and has long preferred Democratic candidates.

Philadelphia and Temple police will work together on security with city police taking the lead, given that it isnt a Temple sponsored event, said Jennifer Griffin, Temples vice president for public safety. We are no stranger to large events throughout the city, she said. There is a template already for how we handle this.

The citys civil affairs unit will be there to help with whatever protests or counter-protests may arise, she said. The university is mindful of First Amendment rights and there will be areas for people to gather, she said. With high temperatures forecast, a water station and medics also will be on hand to help, Griffin said.

Heres what to expect from any protests or demonstrations against Saturdays rally.

Philly is Biden Country

The Pennsylvania Democratic Party is hosting a protest on Saturday in conjunction with other local groups to and show support for President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Sen. Bob Casey, D.,Pa. Casey is running his reelection bid in November against McCormick.

The protest is expected to start at 5 p.m.  two hours before Trumps event is officially slated to begin. The demonstration will consist of marching, several speakers and protestors holding posters, said State Sen. Sharif Street, D., Philadelphia, who represents the district that includes Temple and chairs the state Democratic party.

Street expects the participation of activists from Philadelphia Young Democrats and organized labor unions as well as clergy and elected officials  a whole lot of folks, he said.

He added that individuals from other organizations, like Reclaim Philadelphia or Philly Democratic Socialists of America, will also be participating, though they have no official partnership with the rally.

I want people to know that theres support for [Biden], Street said. Hes strong and Philly is Biden country.

Biden received more than 603,000 votes in Philadelphia in 2020, surpassing Obamas more than 595,900. Though he did net fewer votes in Philadelphia than any Democrat since John Kerry in 2004.

Reserving tickets (and then not showing up)

Soon after news broke about Trumps visit to North Philly, Temple University Democrats came together to hatch a plan to make their protest against the former presidents arrival heard, despite so many students being physically away from campus for the summer.

The club is using its Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook pages as well as word of mouth to encourage members, family and friends to book two tickets to the rally, and then not follow through on the reservation, in hopes of producing many empty seats at the event.

We want to encourage young people and students to legally and peacefully use their voices to express their disdain for the former presidents visit, said Lourdes Cardamone, a rising junior and the president of Temple University Democrats.

Cardamone said its frustrating that Trump would choose to visit Temples campus despite the large number of students who are displeased with his candidacy.

Seventy-three percent of Temples eligible student voters cast a ballot in the 2020 election. A vast majority supported Biden in that election with Trump winning only 5% of the vote in the precincts within a half-mile radius of the universitys main campus.

Were going to give Trump the welcome he deserves, which is just an auditorium of empty seats, Cardamone said.

Pro-Biden Kiosks, Billboards, and More Billboards

The national Democratic party is launching new ads just in time for Trumps arrival at Temple in the form of billboards, pro-Biden kiosks touting Bidens policies for students, and a mobile billboard that will circle campus.

The billboard, located south on I-95 at the east side of Westmoreland, will display an ad about Trumps relationship with Black Americans. The mobile billboard will also explore Trumps relationship with Black Americans and mention North Philadelphia.

Donald Trump was a disaster for minority communities  particularly Black Americans. He says hes not racist, but his record says differently, said Abhi Rahman, a DNC spokesperson, noting unemployment rates and the racial wealth gap during Trumps presidency.

Rahman also emphasized the importance of reelecting Biden and Harris to maintain their student debt forgiveness policies.

President Biden is pro-education, full stop. When it comes to communities of color and students, the choice for President couldnt be clearer, Rahman said.

2024 The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC.

Visit at inquirer.com.

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The barrister said Bollard still enjoyed the support of his wife and some other family members

A businessman who admitted his offending made him feel dirty has been sentenced to 12 months in prison for possession of over 200 child sexual images.

Joseph Bollard (64), the owner of a contract cleaning company of Beechmount, Carnew, Co Wicklow pleaded guilty at a sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court to a single charge of possession of 230 images of child pornographic material at his home on December 9, 2021.

Sergeant James McDonagh told the court that gardai had been notified by the US-based National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children about a mobile phone having been used to access unlawful images.

Sgt McDonagh said the accuseds Alcatel mobile phone was seized after gardai had obtained a search warrant for his home.

The court heard 119 images of the most serious classification of images featuring children engaged in explicit sexual activity were discovered on the device.

Sgt McDonagh said another 111 Category 2 images featuring naked children were also found on the phone.

He told prosecution counsel, James Kelly BL, that Bollard was very open about accepting ownership of the mobile phone and its SIM card.

However, the witness said the accused made no admissions about accessing the material.

Sgt McDonagh said a forensic examination of the device had established that the images had been accessed via the social media platform, Kik.

The court heard that Bollard pleaded guilty after being charged with the offence.

Sgt McDonagh said the defendant had 10 previous convictions for which he had received custodial sentences.

He said he understood that Bollard had uploaded the material on Kik over three days in October 2021.

However, defence counsel, Colman Fitzgerald SC, said the accused had only ever downloaded images off the platform which Judge Terence OSullivan accepted.

Sgt Mc Donagh pointed out that Bollard had been on bail for some of those offences at the time that he had the images on his phone.

In reply to questions from the judge, he also confirmed that the accused had not paid for the photos and had not disseminated them further.

Mr Fitzgerald told the court that the realisation of what he had done had made his client felt dirty and he was also sorry for letting people down.

The barrister said Bollard still enjoyed the support of his wife and some other family members.

Judge OSullivan said the evidence suggested that the accused was operating as a lone wolf and voyeur.

The judge also acknowledged that Bollard was aware of just how badly he has behaved.

He observed that the accuseds offending involved the abuse of children, although he accepted the argument of defence counsel that it did not involve a huge number of images by the standard of some cases before the courts.

Its a form of addictive behaviour, the judge remarked.

He sentenced Bollard to 18 months in prison with the final six months suspended on condition that he engage with the Probation Service for treatment to address his offending behaviour on his release.

Judge OSullivan backdated the sentence to when Bollard was first placed in custody for the offence on May 22, 2024.

The judge also issued an order for the destruction of the images.

Counsel for the DPP, Mr Kelly, also stated the case should be notified to Wexford Circuit Court as the offence had been committed in breach of conditions of a separate matter.
Joseph Colhoun admitted wrecking the property at Killyclug in Letterkenny before reacting violently and attacking both Gardai and medical staff.

An out-of-control man who caused 18,500 of damage to a house while on a booze and drugs bender before attacking hospital staff and Gardai has been jailed for two and a half years.

Joseph Colhoun wrecked the rented Co Donegal home of his girlfriend while intoxicated on a cocktail of drink and drugs.

When the Garda Armed Support Unit eventually stormed the house, they found Colhoun in a 'comatose' state inside the property.

The 41-year-old appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court where he pleaded guilty to a number of charges relating mostly to a series of incidents on November 27, 2022.

He admitted wrecking the property at Killyclug in Letterkenny before reacting violently and attacking both Gardai and medical staff.

Garda Sergeant Maurice Doyle gave details of the incident which took place at the rented property of Colhoun's then girlfriend Nicole McEntaggart.

Gardai had responded to reports of a breach of a protection order but could not get into the property.

Upon looking through the windows, officers discovered a large amount of damage had been caused to the house.

As well as damaging the living room, carpets, bathroom, toilet, kitchen table and chair, bedrooms, bannisters, sanitary ware and wardrobes, there was extensive flooding and damage to wiring to a total value of 18,500.

When the Garda Armed Response Unit did gain entry, they found Colhoun comatose in the house at An Clarach, Killyclug in Letterkenny.

He was initially taken to Letterkenny Garda Station but then taken to Letterkenny University Hospital but became aggressive.

While in the ambulance at the hospital he attempted to kick a Garda and while in the hospital he spat at nursing staff and then headbutted another Garda.

Colhoun, who has 83 previous convictions for a range of incidents including hijacking a vehicle, numerous assaults, public order, obstruction, breaching barring orders, illegal fisheries charges and having offensive weapons, pleaded guilty to a range of charges.

He is charged with assault causing harm to Nicole McEntaggart at An Clarach, Killyclug, Letterkenny on November 27, 2022.

He is also charged with the coercive control of the same woman on an unknown date between January 1 and November 22, 2022 at the same address.

He is further charged with assault causing harm to Ms McEntaggart on June 27, 2022 and also on November 27, 2022.

At Letterkenny University Hospital on November 27, 2022, he was charged with assaulting Stephen McCabe under the Non Fatal Against the Persons Act.

He is also charged with the obstruction of Garda David Lee at Letterkenny University Hospital on November 27, 2022.

At the same location and same date he pleaded guilty to assaulting causing harm to Garda David Lee.

Colhoun is also charged with the obstruction of Garda Shane Wall at Letterkenny University Hospital while he is charged with assaulting nurse Veronica Dunleavy at Letterkenny University Hospital, both on November 27, 2022.

Another charge of breaching a barring order - which was imposed on November 16, 2022 - at An Clarach, Killyclug, Letterkenny on November 27, 2022, was also included.

Although Ms McEntaggart did not wish to give a victim impact statement, an earlier statement she gave to Gardai detailed how they had met on Facebook in January 2022.

Despite the relationship starting well, Colhoun turned to drink and drugs and that he would hit her but that she was afraid to leave him in case he killed her.

She said he constantly wanted to know where she was and that he would degrade her calling her fat and a whore and also called her a 'teletubby' as she was trying to lose weight at the time.

Barrister for Colhoun, Ms Kelda Doherty said her client was in a highly intoxicated state when armed Gardai arrived at the house and was actually comatose when they entered the house.

Garda Sergeant Doyle said he had known Colhoun for ten years, having been stationed at Lifford Garda Station.

He said that when sober, Colhoun was compliant and easy to deal with but that when he has drink and drugs on him that he was a "tinderbox."

When Ms Doherty asked Sergeant Doyle if he agreed there was a great deal of tragedy in her client's life, he replied "That's to put it lightly, yes."

The court was told that as well as the death of his mother, his brother had died in tragic circumstances and that his father had also taken his own life.

However, since going into custody in November, 2022, Colhoun had made real strides to overcome his addictions with a large number of counselling sessions as well as undertaking courses in first aid, restorative justice, overdose prevention and victim awareness.

Ms Doherty also noted that her client had entered a guilty plea very early on.

She also referred to a probation report on Colhoun which did acknowledge his remorse and does suggest he was in a very poor frame of mind and that it was reduced down to substance abuse at the time.

Passing sentence Judge John Aylmer addressed each of the charges placing the charge of criminal damage in the mid-range of such offences and one which merited a sentence of three years before mitigation.

He also allocated various other sentences for the other charges including the coercive control of Ms McEntaggart, the assaults on Gardai and nurse Veronica Dunleavy and also the breach of a protection order.

He also reduced these on a range of mitigating factors including an early guilty plea, Colhoun's serious efforts to rehabilitate himself including 17 sessions of addiction counselling and also the number of courses he has undertaken while in custody.

All these sentences were also reduced after Judge Aylmer took into account the mitigating factors in the case.

On the headline sentence on the criminal damage charge, he reduced the sentence to one of two and a half years allowing all the other sentences to run concurrently.

The sentence was backdated to when Colhoun went into custody in November 2022 with Judge Aylmer noting that he will be released in a matter of a couple of months.

Colhoun, who appeared by videolink from Castlerea Prison, told the court he plans to go straight into rehabilitation on his release saying arrangements are already being made for this.
Her claim which included loss of earnings and an amount for aids and appliances the court heard amounted to a total of 300,000 in special damages

A former Lidl worker who had sued the supermarket claiming she had injured her back at work has withdrawn her High Court claim for damages after a video was shown of her doing vigorous exercise at a gym.

The video, taken by private investigators for Lidl, showed Ewa Ledzinska this week running on the spot, swinging a kettlebell, lifting weights and stretching and doing "burpees" which includes squatting and jumping in a half hour exercise session.

Counsel for Lidl, Finbarr Fox Sc instructed by Wayne Finn of Holmes O'Malley and Sexton put it to Ms Ledzinska she was fit enough to be in the Army, and this was rigorous training.

Ms Ledzinska replied: For me, it is stretching and cardio.

The 42-year-old who lives in Kildare town had sued Lidl Ireland claiming she sustained a severe back injury and is in constant back pain as a result of her working conditions at the Newbridge Lidl branch.

She said it began in 2021 when she lifted a 25kg box as she prepared the special offers aisle.

Her claim which included loss of earnings and an amount for aids and appliances the court heard amounted to a total of 300,000 in special damages.

She has not worked since and said she is now on an invalidity pension. She said she has pain and problems moving and wakes up for two to three hours every night.

On the second day of the hearing, after the video of her in the gym was shown to the court, Mr Fox put it to Ms Ledzinska that she had said she was only able to do gentle pilates .

You didnt tell the judge about this. It's very, very far away from gentle pilates, counsel said.

He said she had portrayed herself as a woman who was struggling with a disability and who couldn't walk for more than 10 minutes and here she was doing intense vigorous training.

Ms Ledzinska replied: I have two legs; I have two arms and I am not in a wheelchair. I still have pain.

She agreed it was not gentle pilates and said she started to go to the gym last February but had a break in March because it was so sore for her before resuming gym work again.

Counsel suggested she had allegedly conned the Department of Social Protection and you should not be on an invalidity pension no more than the man in the moon.

Ms Ledzinska replied that to get her invalidity pension she had to send in her MRI scan results.

Counsel put it to her that she had deliberately sought to mislead the court on the level of her injury. Ms Ledzinska replied that she had two hands and two legs and she still has pain. She said she had strong legs her but not her back.

At this stage Mr Justice Micheal P OHiggins intervened and said he would adjourn for a short time as there were issues to be discussed between the parties. He advised Ms Ledzinska to listen to her legal advisors.

When the court resumed, Michael Byrne SC, for Ms Ledzinska, told the judge it had been a difficult case and that his client was now withdrawing her claim and her action could be dismissed.

She had also agreed that she would make a contribution to the legal costs of Lidl.

Ms Ledzinska was not in court for the withdrawal of her claim.
Gun emoji sent and family of alleged victim would be targeted with violence if payments werent made, court hears

A father of one extorted more than 23,000 from a former schoolmate after contacting him on Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, threatening to target him and his family with violence, it is alleged.

Daniel Byrne (25) is accused of demanding the money with menaces from the man who allegedly got messages including a reference to Mr Flashy, a gun emoji and a threat to burn your house.

It is alleged the man handed 15,000 over to Mr Byrne in person and transferred the rest to a Revolut account over eight days until his savings were gone. When he changed his number, Mr Byrne found him on LinkedIn and went to his workplace to demand more money, gardai said.

Judge Monika Leech refused bail and remanded Mr Byrne in custody, for DPP directions.

Detective Garda Damien Kildea said he arrested the accused at a rented apartment at Pike Inn, Camolin, Gorey, Co Wexford, and took him to Fitzgibbon Street garda station, Dublin, where he made no reply when charged.

Objecting to bail, the garda said the alleged victim made a complaint that he paid 23,500 to Mr Byrne under duress at various locations between April 2 and 10 this year. He said he was contacted via Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp by Mr Byrne who he personally knew, having attended the same secondary school in north Dublin.

The man alleged the accused made demands for money and was told if he failed to pay he and his family would be targeted with acts of violence.

He said he met the accused on four dates and handed a total of 15,000 over to him  2,000 at McDonalds, OConnell Street Upper, Dublin; 5,000 at another Dublin 1 location; 6,000 at Dundrum Shopping Centre and 2,000 at Mellowes Road, Finglas.

CCTV from McDonalds showed the accused meeting the complainant and leaving, putting something into his right jacket pocket, Dublin District Court heard.

After the in-person cash payments, the alleged victim said he transferred 8,500 over four days to a Revolut account which the prosecution said was linked to the accuseds phone number and in his name.

Screenshots of messages allegedly sent to the mans phone had threats including: Look, my boss said 10 grand or he wants to go to your family and cause trouble and get 100 grand.

Other messages stated, its Mr Flashy what do you think we are, thicks?, we were outside your house last night, and get eight grand or we will burn your house. One WhatsApp message had a gun emoji, the garda continued.

When the man ran out of funds, it was alleged, more demands for money were made and he changed his contact number.

The accused allegedly then accosted him at his workplace on June 10 this year.

Further threats were made against him and his familys well-being if he did not pay a sum of 5,000, Det Gda Kildea said.

It was alleged the accused produced a phone with a picture of the mans brothers Facebook profile. The alleged victims father was also allegedly contacted by someone who said his son owed an awful lot of money.

CCTV from a Dublin Bus allegedly showed the accused following the man on board.

Five mobile phones had been seized from Mr Byrnes apartment, including the number used to set up the Revolut account.

Applying for bail, defence barrister Luke OHiggins said no witnesses or CCTV evidence had been produced in court. It was possible that someone else could have used Mr Byrnes details to set up a Revolut account, he said.

The phones seized had not been examined yet and there was no evidence the alleged threatening messages had come from Mr Byrne. Det Gda Kildea agreed. Mr Byrnes brother could offer 1,000 for bail and the accused could stay with his uncle in Clongriffin.

Judge Leech said the accused was presumed innocent but the proposed evidence was compelling and there was an alleged clear money trail from the complainant to the accused. She refused bail and remanded the accused to Cloverhill District Court on June 26.
Clive Bass (31) had the phone to keep in touch with his family, his solicitor said.

A man serving a lengthy jail term after shots were fired at Dublins Red Cow has been given an extra month in prison for the unlawful possession of a mobile phone.

Clive Bass (31) had the phone to keep in touch with his family, his solicitor said.

Blanchardstown District Court heard Bass was caught with a phone while an inmate in Wheatfield Prison.

The accused, with an address at Shancastle Close in Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to the offence.

He had 42 previous convictions, but none for having a mobile phone in prison, the court heard.

In July 2022, Bass and a co-accused were each jailed for six years for their part in a shooting outside a nightclub at Dublins Red Cow.

At that time, the Circuit Court heard that four shots were fired from the back seat of a vehicle, following a disagreement between Basss co-accused and another group of club-goers on April 28, 2018.

Bass had difficulties with his mental health and depression and had problems with addictions, the court heard.

At Blanchardstown District Court, Garda Jack Walsh gave evidence that Bass was found in possession of a mobile phone in prison without permission from the governor on January 30, 2024.

Defence solicitor Daniel Cahalane said Bass was in the second year of a six-year sentence.

Mr Cahalane said the defendant had the phone to contact family members.

He asked Judge David McHugh to be lenient, saying Bass had dealt with the matter immediately, which had been helpful to the prosecution.

Bass had also been punished in the prison and lost privileges for 40 days, the court heard.
Alina Glont (42) conspired to take the driver theory exam on behalf of third parties over a near three-year period, it is alleged

THIS is the woman accused of posing as learner drivers to sit their theory tests and get pass certificates for them in a fraud plot.

Alina Glont (42) conspired to take the driver theory exam on behalf of third parties over a near three-year period, it is alleged.

Prosecutors were today given more time to prepare their case against her after a court heard gardai had taken more than 80 witness statements and there were 750 exhibits in the case.

Ms Glont, of Charlestown Place, Dublin 11 is charged with two counts of conspiracy within the state on dates between September 14, 2018 and June 29, 2021.

She is accused of conspiring to commit the offence of deception by unlawfully undertaking driver theory tests in the names of third parties to induce the issue of driver theory test pass certificates.

The accused is also charged with conspiracy to commit the offence of unlawfully using a computer, again by undergoing driver theory tests on behalf of third parties to obtain pass certificates.

Ms Glont has been granted bail since she first appeared in court on the charges on Tuesday.

Today, Detective Garda Barry Cormack sought more time for the preparation of a book of evidence, which is required before the accused can be sent for trial to a higher court.

He said it would take around eight weeks before the book is ready and said the investigation involved more than 80 statements and 750 exhibits.

Judge Monika Leech extended time for the preparation of the book and adjourned the case to September 9.

Ms Glont has not yet entered pleas to the charges which are under Section 71 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006.

She was arrested following a Garda National Economic Crime Bureau investigation into the alleged scheme.

On Tuesday, Det Gda Cormack said he arrested the accused at her home address and brought her to Blanchardstown garda station, where she made no response to the charges after caution.

The DPP directed trial on indictment.
The passengers disembarked and local authorities carried out a security search

Ibizas airport was paralyzed on Thursday due to a bomb threat on a Ryanair flight.

Ryanair confirmed the company was subject to a security threat on board a Boeing 737 that was on the runway on the Balearic island.

Passengers and crew of flight FR8335 were notified before departure to Milan Bergamo of the situation.

According to El Periodico de Ibiza, a passenger claimed to have explosives on board the plane.

Ibiza airport

In accordance with normal security procedures, passengers disembarked and local authorities carried out a routine security search before authorizing the aircraft to return to service, Ryanair stated.

According to the information provided, the flight took off after a brief but inevitable delay. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused as a result of this false security threat, the company statement read.

Spanish media report that the Ibiza airport was paralyzed due to the threat.

Ryanair flight

During the period, many flights were diverted to alternative airports, such as Palma de Mallorca, during the widespread disruption.

Airport controllers reported that the complete stoppage lasted more than an hour.

Ibiza

The situation was resolved and the airport slowly returned to normal, with controllers stating that significant delays are still expected in the process of recovering normal operations.

In the end, the bomb threat was described as being false.
Sunday World has learned the case has been dismissed following its withdrawal

The ex-boss of Northern Irelands fire service has withdrawn a tribunal case against his former employer.

Peter OReilly resigned as Chief Fire & Rescue Officer at the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) in 2022 after only six months in the job.

Following his resignation, Mr OReilly launched an employment tribunal case against NIFRS.

In documents related to the case, its basis was described as unfair dismissal and public interest disclosure.

However, the Sunday World has learned the case has been dismissed following its withdrawal.

It was reported at the time of his resignation that Mr OReilly was frustrated by the slow progress in his efforts to modernise NIFRS after taking on the chief role, which came with an annual salary of 128,000.

A tribunal case is often withdrawn because a settlement has been reached between the parties.

However, when contacted this week, both NIFRS and Mr OReilly declined to comment or provide any more details in relation to why his case is not proceeding.

Mr OReilly took on the job of Chief Fire & Rescue Officer in September 2021.

He had previously been Greater Manchesters chief fire officer but retired four months after the Manchester Arena bombing in May 2017 in which 22 people were killed at an Ariana Grande concert.

There was much criticism of the response of Manchesters fire department to the bombing.

An inquiry into the horrific attack heard firefighters were not sent to the scene until two hours after the bombing.

Giving evidence at the inquiry, Mr OReilly said he had let everyone down after the bombing and apologised to the bereaved families for his failings.

Taking on the job of Northern Irelands fire chief, the west Belfast man, who started his career with NIFRS in 1990 before joining the Manchester fire department in 2011, said: Having started my firefighting career with NIFRS, I am extremely proud to lead it going forward and work with over 1,800 exceptional operational and wider supporting team members as we continue to deliver our prevention and emergency response service to protect our community.

However, things did not go to plan and he announced in March 2022 he was resigning from the job.

It was with deep regret that on Thursday 10th March 2022 I offered my resignation to the Chair of the NIFRS Board, Mr OReilly said in a statement at the time.

The letter of resignation, outlining my reasons, was also sent to the Department of Health.

I remain hopeful that the concerns I have highlighted will be addressed and that the public of Northern Ireland will ultimately have a Fire and Rescue Service to be proud of.

I am convinced, having met most of you, that NIFRS has a committed complement of professional staff, staff that can help achieve what is needed to improve the service. But support is undoubtedly required.

In June 2022, just three months after Mr OReillys resignation, a report into NIFRS was commissioned by the Department of Health.

The inspection was led by HM Chief Inspector of the Scottish fire service, Robert Scott.

His report, which was published last year, stated that most staff commented on, what they perceived as, a lack of leadership across the organisation.

The report added that one recurring comment was that many in senior temporary positions have too much focus on themselves and the next promotion rather than on the organisational need and that staff at all levels recognise that a lack of formal and structured leadership and management training is contributing to this challenge.

Mr OReilly served for most of his career with NIFRS in Belfast as a firefighter, junior officer and district commander.

However, he also worked in Ballymena where he was assistant area commander and later northern area commander

Following Mr OReillys resignation, Aidan Jennings was appointed as the new Chief Fire & Rescue Officer for NIFRS in November 2023.

Mr Jennings, who has almost 30 years experience in the fire service, said he was proud to take on the role.

This is an exceptional organisation with exceptional people working tirelessly, day in day out, across our operational and support services to help keep people safe, he said.

As we embark on a new strategic journey, it is both a privilege and an honour to have the opportunity to lead this fantastic organisation.

I am committed to supporting our workforce and to providing the best possible Fire and Rescue Service for the people of Northern Ireland.
"If he's got himself mixed up with any trouble, just let him go

Drones, helicopters, dogs and search crews are scouring Tenerife for the FIFTH day in a row to find missing teenager Jay Slater.

In images obtained from Guardia Civil, search and rescue crews from the Special Mountain Intervention Rescue Group (GREIM) are seen looking through dry hedgerows and crawling under bushes and detritus.

Drones whizz up into the sky above the volcanic island as helicopters screech past overhead.

A team of dogs has been released to try pick up the young mans scent in the barren landscape.

Wild terrain search

19-year-old Jay disappeared in the Teno Rural Park on Monday morning.

Jay had been in Tenerife for a few days with two of his friends to attend the NRG festival.

The event is held at the Xanadu farm restaurant in Las Chafiras, San Miguel de Abona, and also included parties at the Papagayo nightclub in Las Americas and the Hard Rock Hotel in Playa Paraiso.

Jay ended up drinking beers with some other men at a rural cottage high in the mountains.

The party ended in a white washed cottage in the town of Masca in the municipality of Buenavista del Norte.

Round the clock hunt

When Jay realised it was time to return home at 7am and could not catch a bus, it appears he headed off into the mountains on a 10-hour trek to the coast by foot.

At 8.50am he phoned his pal Lucy Law to tell her he was parched, thirsty and had cut himself on a cactus.

He took a photo of his location and then his phone died. He has not been heard from since.

Jays mother, Debbie, who has has travelled to Tenerife, believes he may have been kidnapped.

Debbie, who works as a school finance officer, has been quoted as saying: "If anyone does have him, just let him go, he's not a bad person, maybe he's got in with some strangers who've befriended him.

"I'm not stupid, I've been to Tenerife before, I've worked abroad myself and I gave him warnings.

"If he's got himself mixed up with any trouble, just let him go. It's been three days, he's in the same clothes, she said, according to the Daily Mail.

"Jay is a brilliant person, everybody loves being in his company. He's bubbly and fun, he's such a lovely, beautiful boy. I just want my little baby home with me.

Spanish search crews

He was supposed to fly home from Tenerife today. I had the taxi booked and everything, and now who knows where he is. I just don't know what to think, I'm all over the place, and I'm trying to keep positive.

"Has somebody taken him? Is he panicked and lost in the mountains? I just don't know, that's why if anyone has any information, please just tell us.

"I can't bear to go up there," she added. I don't have the strength to do it. He could just be lying somewhere up there, and I don't want to be the one to find him."

Inside the chopper

She has received numerous messages, some claiming to know Jay's whereabouts and others demanding money.

Debbie has handed these over to the police but has not received any ransom demands.

"I've had loads of weird messages from people saying they know where he is. I've not had ransom demands. I've had messages saying 'Your lad owes me money,' and I've given them to the police."

Mountains and vegetation of Masca

As the search for Jay continues, Debbie must clear out the apartment he was staying in, as he was scheduled to fly home on Friday.

"The police have been in, but there's nothing to see. I've got his passport, and I just want him with me now, his mother said.

Barren mountains

Guardia Civil and search crews are planning to work overtime into the weekend to find the young, apprentice brick layer.

Daily temperatures on the island this week are around 25C.

Theres no talk at this stage of scaling down the efforts to find this missing man and certainly not of suspending it. The plan at the moment is to continue until he is found, a source told the media.

Officers obviously are prepared for the possibility they may find a body but at the moment everyone is focused on the idea he is still alive and they can help reunite him with his family and friends.

The general consensus among experts is people can survive for three days without water.

Wilderness guides often refer to the rule of 3, which says that a person can live for three minutes without oxygen, three days without water, and three weeks without food.

However, an Austrian man, Andreas Mihavecz, once went 18 days without food or water.
We have had enough of leery shysters, buffoons and tiresome w*****s

Rocker Bob Geldof has thrown his support behind a Tory cabinet minister who was forced to resign a previous role when he was famously accused of referring to police officers as f****** plebs.

The foreign aid activist has endorsed Andrew Mitchell, the deputy foreign secretary, who he described as a decent person, who could get things done.

Even though he admitted he had no bloody idea where the Conservative's Sutton Coldfield constituency was, Sir Bob said the party that Andrew Mitchell is a member of is not important to me.

What is important is that he's a decent person or else he wouldn't be a friend of mine, I guess, he declared in an expletive-riddled video.

The Live Aid legend said he wanted to big up Mitchel as he urged fans to back him for re-election.

Sir Bob's video

Mr Mitchell was secretary of state for international development but had to resign from the role in 2012 after insulting police officers who had asked him to enter Downing Street through a side gate.

In the infamous Plebgate affair, Mr Mitchell was accused of swearing at police officers and calling them "plebs" when they refused to open the main gate for him as he attempted to leave with his bicycle.

Mr Mitchell apologised, and although he denied calling police officers "plebs" he was later forced to resign from the post of Chief Whip amid intense media scrutiny.

The story returned to the headlines a few months later when CCTV footage threw into doubt the police version of events, which then led to a major investigation.

Mr Mitchell, who, with his wife Dr Sharon Bennett, are reportedly pals of Sir Bob and his wife, Jeanne Marine was referred to as a laugh in the video.

He had a fine human sympathy for those he was trying to help, whether that was in Sutton Coldfield or elsewhere in the world, Geldof declared.

Sir Bob added: What we so desperately need in our Parliament, whether again in opposition or in Government, is clever, committed, capable people. We have had enough of leery shysters, buffoons and tiresome w*****s.

We need people who can actually do things and then get it done. Mitchell knows how to do stuff and to get it done.

However, he added that it would be nice if Mr Mitchell would stop boring the a--- off me over dinner about the charms of Sutton Coldfield and its people.

I have no bloody idea where Sutton Coldfield is. It does tend to spoil the evening, Andrew. Give it a rest.

According to the Telegraph, Mr Mitchell deputises for Lord Cameron in the House of Commons, where the Foreign Secretary cannot answer questions because he is a peer.

In April, he accused peers of being patronising and bordering on racism in their demands for an independent monitoring committee to establish if Rwanda was safe for asylum seekers.
We love you so much and you were loved by so many

A former Rose of Tralee contestant found dead after being reported missing in New Zealand is being buried today.

Monica Reid (26) was last seen in Matipo Road, Te Atatu in West Auckland one week ago.

A notice on nzherald states: Reid, Monica Marguerite (Mon). Aged 26, died on Friday 14th June, 2024. Mon was a much loved daughter of Gabrielle and Nicholas Reid, and beloved fiancee of Shivneel Singh.

"Mon was a treasure and precious member of a large family, the youngest of eight children - an aunty, sister, daughter, and friend.

"Mon was an actress, playwright, producer, and a beautiful light in our lives. Her Funeral Service will be held at The Trusts Arena, Central Park Drive, Henderson, Auckland, 11.30am, Friday 21st June, 2024.

In a statement last Sunday, North Shore, Rodney and West Auckland Police confirmed her death.

"Her death is not being treated as suspicious and will be referred to the coroner. Police extend our sympathies to the womans family and loved ones, a spokesperson said.

Ms Reid was this years Auckland Rose and took part in the New Zealand competition last month to choose a representative to travel to Ireland for the International Rose of Tralee pageant in August.

However, she was not the overall winner, as 21-year-old Keely OGrady was crowned the New Zealand Rose last month.

Its understood that Ms Reid worked as a transport network organiser and was in the process of completing a master's degree in urban planning.

The Auckland Irish Club paid tribute to Ms Reid in a statement.

"Sending lots of love and condolences to the family of Monica Reid. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. May she rest in peace, they wrote.

Others have shared tributes to Ms Reid online, with one person writing: "Fly high you beautiful soul! We love you so much and you were loved by so many. Keep being an amazing human up above. RIP."

Another said: "This is devastating. Monica Reid was one of the kindest and most lovely people I've had the benefit of working with and calling my friend. I'm sending so much love to her family and friends, she will truly be very, very missed."
The former UFC star admitted the claims were not based on facts

There has been a humiliating climbdown from former UFC superstar Chael Sonnen this week after making false claims about Conor McGregor.

Sonnen has been forced to backtrack on his theory that the Dubliner is in rehab rather than genuinely injured, which was reportedly the reason for his withdrawal from the UFC 303 bout against Michael Chandler.

The embarrassing reversal comes days after the Irishmans representative in the US clarified that Sonnens wild claims were unfounded.

UFC CEO Dana White officially announced on June 13 that McGregor's long-awaited return to the Octagon on June 29 has been postponed due to an unspecified injury sustained during training camp.

Conor and Michael developed a grudge on reality TV show The Ultimate Fighter

McGregor himself also recently confirmed suffering an injury, though without providing details, noting it occurred shortly before the scheduled pre-fight press conference in Dublin, Ireland earlier this month, which was cancelled at the last minute.

However, amid widespread speculation within the MMA community, especially on X, regarding the cancellation of the McGregor vs. Chandler fight, Sonnen took it one step further and suggested on last weeks episode of ESPNs Good Guy / Bad Guy with Daniel Cormier that the former two-division champ pulled out from UFC 303 due to being in rehab.

Inevitably, the UFC veterans theory spread quickly and Karen Kessler, head representative of Team McGregor, was forced to come out fighting unequivocally refuting all claims of The Notorious being in rehab.

Now, Sonnen has ashamedly adjusted his stance saying: I do not know that Conor is in rehab, for one. For two, I would not begrudge or tease Conor in the least if he was in rehab.

I would be very proud of Conor, and I would imagine for somebody in his spot, to go into rehab is something you want to keep quiet. To do that in Ireland, I would imagine that he would have needed to humble himself greatly.

Clear; missing the point of his backtrack he then went on to reiterate: So, I dont know that hes in rehab.

McGregor has been sidelined from competition since suffering a leg break in the first round of his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 way back in July 2021.

It is hard to believe but the biggest name in UFC history has not won a fight since UFC 246 in January 2020, when he secured a 40-second knockout victory over journeyman Donald Cerrone.

McGregor hosted John Connors at The Black Forge earlier this week

This week, Dana White and Michael Chandler both reiterated that the highly-anticipated bout will eventually happen later in the year as soon as the UFC finds a date and location.

Meanwhile, Conor has been getting over his injury by partying in his Black Forge Inn.

Earlier this week he hosted a movie night to show the John Connors film The Black Guelph that was attended by his family and the cast of the movie.
Pope Francis apparently referred to gay men in the Vatican as frociaggine, an offensive Italian collective noun

Pope Francis waves to the faithful after reciting the Angelus noon prayer from his studio overlooking St Peter's Square in the Vatican. Photo: AP

Pope Francis said during a meeting that there was already too much "frociaggine", an Italian word which roughly translates to "faggotness", in some seminaries but has since apologised "to those who felt offended by the use of the term, reported by others.

In the latest instalment of the podcast Changing Times - The Allenwood Conversations, host Mary McAleese raised the issue of Pope Franciss use of language in a conversation with Mary Kennedy and star Noel.

Noel, who lost his sister in a car accident, grew up as a gay man in rural Donegal.

Mary asked the TV personality how he felt when he heard about the comment.

"Tell me how you felt. If you feel you can, tell me about how you felt in recent times to hear Pope Francis, in a so-called closed session and then repeat the word in a so-called closed session a few weeks later.

"Use a dreadful word, the word f**got, which is, you know, corner boy locker room vulgarity and pure, simple homophobic language. How did you feel? Mary asks.

Pope Francis waves to the faithful after reciting the Angelus noon prayer from his studio overlooking St Peter's Square in the Vatican. Photo: AP

Noel replied: It probably just kind of supports my own belief that we want to believe we've come so far, and there are those who believe we have, whereas, in fact, we haven't.

"And for me, the deep feeling when I read, first of all, and was almost prepared to give the benefit of the doubt to have it confirmed by a later statement that that sort of language seemed commonplace, I just felt hurt.

"I felt belittled, and I felt some of the, probably the sadness of my own growing up resurface, because that's what I grew up with.

"That was 60 years ago, for God's sake. The hypocrisy of it all, because sadly, or not sadly, sadly for the Pope, that he didn't realise, and they in some cases are probably hypocritical enough not to, you know, defend gay people, that his audience, a large number of them, were probably gay as well.

"I just think it's such a sadness that situation where a pope can think it's all right behind closed doors to refer to our community in such a nasty, vulgar, horrible way.

Mary described how the Pope would lose his job in another setting.

This is a man who purports to be the vicar of Christ. The truth of the matter is, if he was a CEO of any major organisation, or a Taoiseach, or a prime minister, head of a university, in any other sphere, using that language, they'd be gone.

"They'd be out the door, right? That would be the public clamour for the office itself, for the dignity of the office itself.

The podcast can be heard here .
Two men are before the courts on violence charges after search warrants in Rotorua which saw a firearm seized.

The arrests spring from an incident on Tuesday, June 18, when police were called to an address on Reeve Road, following reports of an assault.

Upon arrival at the address, a number of gang members aggressively approached Police, surrounding the Police vehicle to obstruct officers from returning to it, says Detective Sergeant Jonathon Brady.

The behaviour grew threatening, leading to an officer presenting a Taser, however, it was not discharged, says Jonathon.

"More gang members then came out of the house to confront Police, with one male threatening to retrieve a firearm.

"Police made the decision to leave the address for safety reasons, and as a result were unable to investigate the reported assault at the time.

"Police were simply trying to do their job, and the behaviour of these people is simply unacceptable."

In follow-up inquiries, police executed search warrants at three addresses in Rotorua on Thursday in relation to the events of June 18.

At the first address, a 21-year-old man was arrested and charged with disorderly behaviour, obstruction, unlawful assembly to disturb the peace, threatens to kill and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Jonathon says a firearm was located and seized.

A second male, aged 19, was located at a second address and arrested for disorderly behaviour, obstruction and unlawful assembly.

A slug gun was located and seized from a third address.

Jonathon says further inquiries are ongoing.

"Both arrested men are due to appear in the Rotorua District Court today.

"Rotorua Police will continue to investigate and follow up these types of incidents to hold offenders to account, and ensure our community remains safe."
Ekaterina Clark began her search for her birth mother knowing there could be a tragic reason behind her adoption.

But she was unprepared for what she discovered.

The Tauranga woman, known as Kat and born in Russia as Ekaterina Ivanova Popovskya, will appear on Friday in an episode of the documentary series Im Adopted.

The series is an independent project created, produced and edited by fellow adoptee Alex Gilbert, who runs a New Zealand and worldwide support network for adoptees.

The first season of the documentary series, released on YouTube last year, featured the stories of 12 different adopted people and was viewed by tens of thousands of people.

Kat tells the Bay of Plenty Times she has wanted to search for her birth mother for a while and approached Alex for help through his Im Adopted Facebook page.

He picked it up and started searching and found clues. It happened really quickly.

Kat Clark (left), pictured with Alex Gilbert. Photo / Alex Gilbert, I'm Adopted.

Alex contacted a Russian woman named Marina who lived in the same town as Kats birth mother and was willing to make inquiries.

It was discovered that Kats birth mother, whom she calls Valentina, lived in a boarding house for people with special needs. Marina passed the stringent security clearances and got a video of Valentina for Clark.

She speaks to me and she says, Im glad you found me, Katya. Shes very sweet.

But, Kat learned, Valentina is childlike and has been so her whole life.

She doesnt really understand a lot of things, like where New Zealand is. Marina ended up telling her we were from Australia because she couldnt comprehend New Zealand or where it is.

Marina said she [Valentina] looked at my photo for a long time and said that she remembers me. She remembers coming to the first orphanage or hospital where I was, she remembers holding me in her arms a few times. And then I was obviously shipped out to another orphanage where I was adopted out.

She looked at my photo for a long time and had tears in her eyes.

Kat was adopted by her New Zealand parents in the mid-1990s when she was almost four. She does not have strong recollections of her early years in Russia, only photos and videos from the orphanage.

But I think the body can remember stuff. Emotions. Emotional trauma. Things come up and Ill feel like Ive felt that before.

Before embarking on her mission to find her birth mother, Kat spoke to her supportive parents about the confronting things she could learn.

You know youll hear things that you wont want to hear. Mum and Dad were open with me, they had no idea where she was or anything.

So they were like, Look, we know the history of adopted children. Its a pretty rough upbringing where everyones got their own story - expect a really sh***y start to life. And I thought, Okay, yeah, I was obviously taken away from my birth mum for a reason.

But I wasnt prepared to hear where she is. No one was prepared for that.

A lot of adoptees have found their parents and maybe mum and dad were alcoholics, or lived in poverty so couldnt raise you. Theres all those stories - and then theres this one.

Tauranga's Ekaterina (Kat) Clark is being featured in a documentary about adoptees seeking their birth parents. Photo / Alex Gilbert, I'm Adopted.

Learning about her birth mother has taken its toll.

Kat says she has sought counselling because its brought up so much stuff.

Its almost like I was reborn again, like I discovered who I was all over again. A connection to where youre from, your whakapapa, is important and, yeah, I guess it messed me up a little bit, to be honest.

Theres a lot of talk about finding your parents, how its so exciting and stuff. But no one really talks about the negative side of it too, because it is. Its quite heartbreaking. Youre having to hear these things... Obviously, [Valentinas] situation is quite unique, where she is and how shes living. So Im having to deal with that as well. And unpack that a bit, too.

I was expecting to meet my mother, meet a mother. But, in a way, Ive met someone whos like a child, so having to deal with that is almost like a loss again.

Kat says she took part in the documentary to repay Alex for his help in finding her birth mother.

She hopes the documentary will attract donations to Alexs charity, which could help fund her trip to meet Valentina.

Alex, also a Russian adoptee, registered Im Adopted as a charity in 2015 as a support network to help connect adoptees. He created the documentary episodes in his own time with his own resources.

I think its great for adoptees to connect with each other like this, and thats why Ive created these stories. Ekaterina is the first story; the second is another Kiwi, a New Zealand adoptee. The series is a mix of all different adoptees from all areas, domestically and internationally.

Ekaterinas told a powerful story, and I know it will help so many adopted people in the community and around the world.

Alex met his Russian birth parents in 2013 and says he also discovered ties to Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

Im just about wanting people to learn about where they come from. Its a choice that they want to learn, of course, but having that support network there I think is so important.

Alex Gilbert, the creator, producer and editor of the documentary series I'm Adopted.

-Bay of Plenty Times.
A Waikato farming company has been convicted and fined $94,500 in the Hamilton District Court for unlawful discharges of dairy effluent into the environment in November 2022 and June 2023.

ANP Farms Limited was sentenced by District Court Judge Melinda Dickey this week on three charges under the Resource Management Act as a result of a prosecution taken by Waikato Regional Council.

In November 2022, council officers conducted an inspection at a farm owned by the defendant at Puketaha, on the outskirts of Hamilton.

They found a large volume of dairy effluent ponded in a paddock and issued the defendant with an abatement notice prohibiting further unlawful discharges.

Seven months later, council officers conducted a follow up inspection and found further large-scale ponding of effluent at the farm.

Animal effluent can be a great fertiliser when irrigated appropriately to land. However, large volumes of deep ponded effluent can pose a real risk of contaminating groundwater, says regional compliance manager Patrick Lynch.

It can have the same effect on water quality as piping effluent directly into a stream.

This region has had clear rules in place for the last 30 years prohibiting this kind of activity and it is disappointing that we still find instances of this, even after putting a farm formally on notice.

In sentencing, Judge Dickey described ANPs culpability as ranging from careless at the time of the first offence to highly careless at the time of the second offence given the time that had elapsed between offences.

Judge Dickey believed there was ample opportunity for ANP to address its issues between November 2022 and June the following year.
A group of 19 Indian migrant workers claim they are being made to work in what they describe as slave-like conditions up to 17 hours per day with no pay at Auckland restaurant chain Daaku Kebab.

The men claim they each paid between $26,000 and $60,000 for the work visas they feel have now trapped them.

They says they went to Sikh temples for help, and the temple communities were now supplying them with groceries. Daljit Singh, a spokesman for the Supreme Sikh Society says the workers were not in a good shape mentally.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment confirmed it had received complaints about alleged migrant exploitation at Daaku Kebab and the matter had been referred to its investigations team.

Daaku Kebab has five outlets across Auckland. One of its two directors, known by the single name Sourav, has denied the allegations as baseless.

The Daaku Kebab store on Great South Road in Papatoetoe. Photo / Jason Oxenham.

Khawaish Singh, 24, says he paid $26,000 for his visa and a job at Daaku Kebab, and claims that for the first two months he received no payments despite being made to work 17-hour days.

He and three other workers - Partab Singh, 26, Narender Singh, 33, and Harsh Singh, 27 - share a basement in Papatoetoe and say they survive on food and groceries they get from the Sikh temple.

Khawaish says he worked from 11am to 4am for two months under training and received no payment for his work. He was just given meals.

We are treated just like slaves and I didnt feel like I was being treated like a human being at all, says Khawaish, who first started work for the chain in July last year.

Migrants (from left) Khawaish Singh, Partap Singh, Harsh Singh and Narender Singh say they paid between $26,000 and $60,000 for visas and work at Daaku Kebab stores in Auckland. Photo / Jason Oxenham.

Khawaish says he started getting paid in September but did not know how much he received hourly because the company did not give him payslips.

Co-workers Partab, Narender and Harsh shared similar claims with the Herald, alleging they were being made to work long hours with little or no pay after paying tens of thousands of dollars for their visas.

Harsh claims he paid $60,000 for his visa because the company had promised he could be a shareholder.

When I asked about getting a proper salary so I can repay the money I borrowed, they threatened by saying the business will be sold and all the money that I paid will be gone, he claimed.

He feared that not repaying a loan for the money he borrowed to pay for his visa would put his family in danger.

One of the Daaku Kebab stores is on Great South Rd in Papatoetoe. Photo / Jason Oxenham.

Sourav denies all the allegations. These allegations are all denied, but under legal advice I am unable to comment further whilst an investigation is under way.

He says the problems arose from a personal matter concerning families back home in India.

They are unable to substantiate the amounts alleged and this is a baseless allegation, he says.

Some of these employees have refused to work, quarrelled with customers, and have committed acts of theft on business premises.

Sourav says he had faced pressure from the families of the men back in India to continue employing them.

He also says he had reached out to the workers to finalise their outstanding dues and minimum employment entitlements which they are entitled to.

They have not yet responded to my request, he says.

In an email dated June 17 and sighted by the Herald, Sourav says he would like to meet with the workers to resolve their employment dispute.

He says their payslips will be provided to them then.

In a previous email on June 12, Sourav says he was selling the business and gave the men two weeks to find another job or seek other options.

Business is much slower than I expected, to be honest I put all my personal savings into my business and even still cant afford my food expenses and my home loan . . . so I decided to sell my business, he wrote.

Supreme Sikh Council spokesman Daljit Singh. Photo / Dean Purcell.

Daljit Singh, a spokesman for the Supreme Sikh Society, says 19 workers linked to Daaku Kebab had sought help from Sikh temples in Papatoetoe and Takanini.

He claimed they had been scammed, and says it was his belief that they were paying for a pathway to residency and getting part of the business.

He says the temple had been supporting the group with groceries and supplies, and they came to the temples at least once a day for hot meals.

James Friend, Mbie acting national manager investigations, says the complaints were being referred to the ministrys investigations team.

We have received complaints which have been referred to our investigations team, Friend says.

To protect the integrity of our investigation, we will not be commenting on details of an ongoing investigation.

The four men who spoke to the Herald had been assessed to be eligible to apply for the Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa.

This is the latest among a string of alleged exploitation cases linked to Immigration New Zealands accredited employer work visa scheme, which followed an employer-led process to hire migrant workers.

As at June 3, Immigration had approved 120,472 AEWV applications, and 35,264 accredited employers that use the scheme to attain work visas for as many staff as they wanted.

There are currently 255 active investigations on 246 accredited employers under way and 366 have had their accreditation either revoked or suspended.

It remains unclear how many people have been exploited as a result of companies exploiting the scheme and migrants wanting to move to New Zealand.
Lego enthusiasts will get to flex their creativity this month at the first solo expo hosted by Bricks of Plenty.

BoPEx24 is being held at Mercury Baypark Stadium today and tomorrow, June 22-23, and feature exhibitors from around the North Island  including Welcome Bay 14-year-old Emilios Zandi.

The ACG Year 10 student is working to construct a one-metre-high windmill that actually generates electricity.

Lego is fun and quite addictive, says Emilios. Ive been working on this display piece for a few months and it will be the biggest project Ive ever built.

Bricks of Plenty Lego User Group president Jesse Ingham is impressed by Emilios technical skills.

He has a strong eye for detail and precision in all his builds and innovative approaches to the sometimes tricky engineering quandaries Lego can have, says Jesse. I always enjoy seeing what hes built and the various problem-solving techniques he uses.

Emilios will display alongside exhibitors from Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton as well as Hawkes Bay Lego Masters NZ finalist Jono Samson.

I love seeing the creativity shown in Lego, says Jesse. Everyone has a different take on how they imagine their Lego creations, and I love seeing them all together in one place.

Jesse says visitors to the expo will see huge Lego sculptures including a recreation of the city of Minas Tirith from Lord of the Rings and a 4m-long scale model of a World War II ship.

This is our first year holding a standalone show. Previously, our events have been in conjunction with local primary schools. Its going to be the biggest brick show in the Bay of Plenty this year and better than our last as we gain new members.

As well as Lego creations, there will be interactive displays and a Brickpit where the public can create their own Lego build and put it on display. There will also be new and second-hand Lego available for sale.

The event will raise money for the Tauranga Hospital childrens ward and Kidz Need Dadz, which helps BOP fathers to play an active part in their childrens lives.

BoPEx24 is at Mercury BayPark Stadium, 10am-5pm, on June 22-23 with a sensory hour on Sunday, June 23, from 9-10am. Entry $5 is per person, and under-threes gain free entry.
Eastern Bay of Plenty Police are asking for the publics help following a serious assault in Kawerau this afternoon, says area manager investigations, detective senior sergeant Paul Wilson.

"Police were called to the corner of Plunket and Islington Streets about 12.35pm after reports of an altercation having taken place.

"One person was found in critical condition and was transported to hospital.

"Four young people were taken into custody and are assisting with our enquiries.

"Police understand there were several other parties present at the time of the assault.

"We are asking anyone who has not yet spoken to Police to please come forward and speak with us so we can continue to build a picture of what has occurred.

"Anyone with information should call 105 and quote file number 240621/4014.

"Alternatively, please come to Kawerau Police Station and speak with one of our staff.

"You can also share information anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111."
A heavy rain watch has been issued for Bay of Plenty and Coromandel.

An active front is expected to move over the country during the weekend, bringing heavy rain to northern and western regions, says a MetService spokesperson.

Heavy rain watches are now in force for Northland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Mount Taranaki and northwest Tasman.

Bay of Plenty, west of Kawerau, and Coromandel can expect periods of heavy rain and possible thunderstorms between 3am and 6pm on Sunday, with heavy rain expected to ease in Coromandel early Sunday afternoon.

Areas east of Kawerau including Gisborne/Tairawhiti north of Ruatoria can expect the heavy rain and possible thunderstorms between 9am on Sunday and midnight on Monday.

Today and Saturday is looking mostly fine for the region, with a few showers developing in Tauranga Saturday night.
Jose Luis Piedra Seville Friday, 21 June 2024, 17:54 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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The aerospace sector in the Andalucia region is gaining momentum with a 16% growth in turnover in 2023 and a more than 10% increase in employment. This is according to data provided by the Andalucia Aerospace Cluster (a private business association) that brings together and represents companies and other organisations involved in the aerospace and defence sector. The numbers were presented at the meeting held last Wednesday at the Palacio de San Telmo in Seville with president of the Junta de Andalucia, Juanma Moreno.

President of the Andalucia Aerospace Cluster, Antonio Gomez-Guillamon, welcomed these growth figures and pointed out that "it is no coincidence that the sector is growing due to the work being done in all segments, whether civil, commercial, military, defence programmes, drones, space or future 'aerotaxis' [literally flying taxis, large drone-type, but piloted, planes]." He added that "all of them are growing" and some of them are "reaching boiling point".

Zoom Juanma Moreno chairing the meeting with representatives from the regional aerospace cluster. SUR

Moreno passed on his support to the businessmen and stressed that one of the Andalusian government's objectives is to make Andalucia "a European leader in the aerospace sector, a sector that places the region at the forefront of emerging technologies, demonstrating great potential and consolidating it as a business, technological and research ecosystem at the cutting edge with unique R&D centres, test platforms and aerospace infrastructure."

Moreno affirmed that the professional association, which brings together aerospace and defence companies, research centres and universities, has helped Andalucia establish itself on the international scene for aerospace, supporting companies in their participation in high added-value projects.

He also mentioned the growth capacity of this industry, which today has a turnover almost three times higher than 15 years ago, generates twice as many jobs as it did a decade ago and now leads the ranking of Andalusian goods and services exported. "In the first quarter of this year alone, it did 860 million euros in trade, 133% more than last year," he stated.

Moreno also said he valued the industry's capacity to be a driving force and predicted: "good economic prospects for the Andalusian region, which has the businesses, the environment and an unquestionable aeronautical tradition that we must continue to promote."

The Junta's head finally stated that his regional government has measures in place, which have been requested by the sector, aimed at promoting public-private collaboration, the training of professionals, R&D&I (research, development and investment) with the emphasis on investment.
The Junta regional government has singled out these places as much for their uniqueness as their natural beauty... 

A. Gonzalez Cadiz Friday, 21 June 2024, 17:02 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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The province of Cadiz hasmanynaturalsitesthatstandoutfortheir great beauty and for being so unique. Someoftheseplacesarealsorecognisedas Natural Monuments of Andalucia, a title granted by the regional government of Andalucia to those monuments that, due to their particular characteristics, deserve to be protected by the people.

In the case of Cadiz, the province has five places that have received this distinction. They are spaces that have been recognised for their beauty and have become an outstanding tourist attraction. Here are the five Natural Monuments of Andalucia that you can visit this summer 2024 in the province of Cadiz.

Rota corrals

Zoom Junta de Andalucia

The corrales de Rota are a network of fish corrals located on the beach of this town in the province of Cadiz. They are structures of Roman origin that were perfected in the Middle Ages. They consist of low stone walls built along the seashore, forming a kind of natural pool that fills up at high tide and holds the water and fish when the tide goes out.

It is a system that promotes sustainable fishing, as it allows fish to be caught without the need to use nets or boats, which tend to have a greater negative impact on nature. The technique used with the corrals is more efficient and environmentally friendly.

This unique part of Rota is nowadays a very important tourist attraction for the area. It allows visitors to discover a very important part of the cultural and natural heritage of the region.

Bolonia dune

Zoom La Voz de Cadiz

The Duna de Bolonia, located in the municipality of Tarifa, is an impressive sand dune more than 30 metres wide and some 200 metres long. It was formed by the action of the easterly winds that transport the sand from the beach inland, forming a spectacular natural structure.

This dune has become a major tourist attraction. It is a perfect place to enjoy incredible panoramic views of the Strait of Gibraltar and the Moroccan coast on clear days. It is also close to the ruins of Baelo Claudia, an ancient Roman city of great historical and heritage value. It is, therefore, a destination of great interest for nature lovers.

Tombolo de Trafalgar

Zoom Odyysea

The Tombolo de Trafalgar is located next to Los Canos de Meca, one of the best known urban areas in Cadiz province. It is a strip of sand that connects the islet of Trafalgar with the coast, creating a peninsula. It is a natural structure that was formed by the sedimentation of sand transported by sea currents and shaped by the waves.

This place also boasts one of the best-known constructions in the province, the Trafalgar lighthouse, built in 1860 on the ruins of an Arab watchtower. This lighthouse is both a beacon and an iconic landmark, offering panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding coastline. The Tombolo de Trafalgar is also home to some of the best unspoilt beaches in the province.

These are some of the reasons that make the Trafalgar Tombolo such an outstanding tourist attraction, ideal for nature and history lovers, as it offers a perfect combination of natural beauty and historical significance.

Punta de Boqueron

Zoom La Voz de Cadiz

The Punta del Boqueron is a spit of land that stretches between the Sancti Petri channel and the Atlantic Ocean. It is also located within the Natural Park of the Bay of Cadiz, a place that stands out for its great beauty and ecological value.

It is an area with shifting sand dunes, marshes and a rich biodiversity. It is a perfect place to enjoy nature. It also has some of the best beaches in the province, such as Camposoto and Plata de Castilla.

This place has limited access, thus providing a peaceful experience far removed from mass tourism. Its unspoilt beaches and natural surroundings make Punta del Boqueron the perfect place for those seeking tranquillity and a connection with nature in Cadiz.

Pena de Arcos

Zoom

The Pena de Arcos is an impressive rock formation located in Arcos de la Frontera, one of the best known white towns in the province. This limestone crag rises above the Guadalete River, creating a spectacular natural viewpoint from which it is possible to enjoy a view of the whole area and the old quarter of Arcos, with its characteristic whitewashed streets that fan out from the centre.

The castle of Arcos , a building of Muslim origin that was later renovated, and the Church of Santa Maria are also located on top of the Pena de Arcos. Another characteristic of the Pena de Arcos is that it has a wide variety of native flora and fauna, making it a popular place for hiking and nature lovers.
Raquel Merino Malaga Friday, 21 June 2024, 15:49 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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In just one month, the incidence of Covid in Spain has quadrupled. While the rise in infections is not resulting in a large number of hospital admissions, the fact is that positive cases are on the rise and sales of antigen tests in pharmacies have skyrocketed.

According to pharmacists, many people who purchase the tests do so as a precaution, mainly because they have allergy symptoms, which resemble those of Covid, and want to rule out the virus.

While symptoms of flu and Covid can be very similar, with an allergy episode the differences are more noticeable.

Symptoms of Covid versus allergies

Behind this new spike in Covid infections is BA.2.86, better known as 'pirola', a sub-variant of omicron, the lineage that has led to the most new infections since its emergence in December 2021.

Like other variants of omicron, the most common symptoms are: fever, muscle aches, tiredness, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, sneezing, headache, shortness of breath and, to a lesser extent, loss of smell.

Meanwhile, in the case of allergies, whether to pollen or other aeroallergens, such as dust mites, fungi from humidity and animal skin or hair, the most common symptoms are: allergic rhinitis (sneezing, runny nose, itching and stuffiness), allergic conjunctivitis (tearing, reddening of the conjunctiva and itchy eyes), while in some people, it can also lead to asthma, with a dry cough (especially at night ), wheezing, and difficulty breathing.

Therefore, unlike Covid, the most significant signs of allergy are itching in the eyes and nose, with sneezing and usually clear and very fluid mucus, and if it progresses to asthma, it presents with dry cough and wheezing. However, fever and muscle aches are not symptoms, while allergies will rarely cause headaches or a sore throat.

Health ministry advice

Spain's Ministry of Health has once again sought to raise public awareness of the precautions to be taken in view of the increase in the number of infections, especially to protect the most vulnerable people.

It recommends covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing; using tissues to contain respiratory droplets or secretions and, after use, disposing of them in the nearest rubbish bin; and washing hands regularly with soap and water or hydroalcoholic gel, especially after contact with respiratory secretions.

If infection is suspected, the Ministry of Health advises the use of a face mask and avoidance of social interaction.
Picasso museum revisits a New Yorker's trip to the Malaga of the 1960s: 'It changed my life' Joel Meyerowitz exhibits his photographs for the first time in the city where he ended up staying for six months

Joel Meyerowitz, in front of the huge, colourful portrait of the Gypsy family who took him in in the 1960s.

FRANCISCO GRINAN MALAGA. Friday, 21 June 2024, 12:00 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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The photographer has captured a whole country and a whole era in just one image. In the centre is a blind man seated in a bar listening to the radio while looking for the ray of sunshine he can feel but cannot see. Behind him, a goat climbs the stairs to the rhythm of a Gypsy's trumpet. On the right, a couple cross the scene on Vespas and, in the foreground on the left, some children play and jump around as if they had just come out of school.

This country of contrasts and street life is what Joel Meyerowitz found when he arrived in Malaga in the 1960s on his photographic trip to Europe from the USA. And here he stayed. He parked his car, rented a house and had dinner every night at the home of the Escalonas, a Gypsy family steeped in flamenco, who became the main subjects of many of his photos. These images, together with the rest of his portraits, are being exhibited for the first time in Malaga city. The exhibition Europe 1966-1967 opened on Friday 14 June at the Picasso museum.

Zoom Joel Meyerowitz, with his camera in hand, also photographed the reporters who attended his press conference. Marilu Baez

"I was introduced to the Escalonas the first night I arrived in Malaga and this encounter was so profound that it changed my life," explained 'Pepe', as his Malaga family called him. He was to meet some of them again at the official opening of the exhibition after not having seen each other since the 1980s, when he returned to Malaga city with his children.

"The mystery of Malaga that I experienced is no longer so visible to visitors. Now it's just tourists looking at more tourists"

"I'm excited because Ana is coming," said the photographer, pointing to the face of the daughter of this Gypsy family. Now 86, he talked of the scene as though it were yesterday. Firstly, the matriarch Remedios who cooked on charcoal to feed 19 mouths and "two foreigners" - himself and his wife, Vivian. Then Antonio, the patriarch, and Pedro, who would become famous for playing the guitar and was Tomatito's first teacher.

Zoom Black and white images captured in Malaga by the New York-born photographer. Marilu Baez

"The neighbours also appear in this photo, because their house was like a bar, people would hear flamenco and come in," said Meyerowitz, who also understood the pull of the Spanish music.

Although he could not understand the lyrics, he had no problem feeling the highs and lows, the joys and sorrows of the different styles. "Flamenco taught me stuff," said the photographer, who compared what he saw and experienced with the jazz and blues of his native New York.

"The Escalonas called themselves 'the blacks' and we were the 'payos' [non-gypsies], they were proud of the difference within Spanish culture itself," said the artist. He also confessed that the 26 de Febrero district in Malaga where his hosts lived was not very different from the Bronx where he grew up and lived.

"It was a European neighbourhood of poor and working class people; my neighbours were from Sicily, Ireland, Russia, Ukraine or German Jews who also lived on the streets," recalled Joel, which left him feeling that Malaga seemed both familiar and at the same time a new experience.

"The Escalonas' living conditions were tough, but they had a wonderful philosophy that consisted of tightening their belts and making do with what they had," explained the photographer who spent a year in Europe, six months of which were spent in Malaga.

Malaga at the MoMA

On his return to New York, the 28-year-old photographer held his first solo exhibition at the MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) with the results of that trip. Of the 25,000 photographs he took, he exhibited 40 images showing Europe from his car window, from Ireland to Turkey, passing through the UK, France, Germany and Spain. Naturally Malaga was not left out, with an image called 'Marmoles', although in reality the title of the photo draws on artistic licence because the shot from the car was taken in Avenida de la Rosaleda, not Calle Marmoles, with the camera pointing at a solitary pedestrian walking past the retaining wall of the river, behind which the unmistakable facade of the church of Fatima appears in the background.

Zoom Churches, ferias, houses and the Malaga neighbourhood of Martiricos captured Meyerowitz's attention in the 1960s. Marilu Baez

The artist's first solo exhibition of that same trip has now been reproduced in the Museo Picasso more than half a century later. The photos of Malaga serve as a centrepiece from which the rest of the exhibition's photographs are arranged by country as if it were a "labyrinth", said Miguel Lopez-Remiro, museum director, curator and the main promoter of this exhibition. In fact, this is the first exhibition to be set up by him as artistic director as the Maria Blanchard exhibition that is still running and the renovation of the permanent collection for 2024 had both been planned under his predecessor Jose Lebrero.

Zoom The exhibition also shows the effects of the Franco regime on the streets of Malaga. Marilu Baez

"This exhibition is a meta-journey, a journey in search of the identity of Europe that had its narrative epicentre in Malaga," said Lopez-Remiro, who was accompanied by the Junta's delegate for Culture, Gemma del Corral. In fact, it was the image of a steering wheel in a photo by Meyerowitz that caught the attention of the current artistic director of the Picasso museum, who rescued these images five years ago for an exhibition in Valencia and has now turned them into his first personal project for his new stage at the Palacio de Buenavista.

Zoom Miguel Lopez-Remiro, director of the Picasso Museum Malaga, next to the New York-born photographer. Marilu Baez

Street life

In total, some 200 photographs of that 30,000-kilometre journey can now be seen in Malaga, in which the city and the whole world that marked the artist play a special role. From the presence of repression in the streets, with 'the greys' (Franco's armed police, known for their grey uniform) and the Guardia Civil, to the carefree life of the people out shopping, the shopkeepers selling seafood or the children throwing stones in the street.

And the meeting of these two worlds, with some soldiers drinking a cold Malaga beer on the terrace of a bar, while a shoe-shine boy is busy polishing the boots of those in charge. Wonderful, natural images, which also show us a Malaga that has all but disappeared, going from black and white to colour. The colour switch is a symbolic metaphor of that Spain, but it was also the artist's personal determination to lend credence to colour photography, which was then rather looked down upon and seen as lacking in artistic legitimacy.

Almost 60 years later, Joel 'Pepe' Meyerowitz is back in Malaga with his camera around his neck. Taking pictures, among others, of the reporters who attended his press conference. However, the photographer does not hide the fact that the city he has visited once more is very different from the one he left, losing along the way a certain flavour and its own identity.

"It has become a very touristy city and the mystery of Malaga that I experienced is no longer so visible to visitors. Now it's tourists seeing more tourists," said the New Yorker. He did not hide his nostalgia for a time when "people looked each other in the eye, gestures were made and there was a kind of dance between people that flowed through the streets".

The mystery of that city and that time was such that Joel spent six months here and did not even know that Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga, which would be unthinkable today, especially as Picasso is technically his host. So now the photographer has passed the baton to a new generation that knows how to use mobiles to capture "with poetry" the city of today.

What he has made clear is that this return trip was necessary. "I am grateful to return to the place where I discovered myself more than 50 years ago. Coming back is like coming full circle, the journey from a 28-year-old boy to the man I am."
Javier Almellones Torre del Mar Friday, 21 June 2024, 16:28 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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Civil engineer Raul Gonzalez decided to leave his job in the construction business to turn his hand to producing energy bars. Now, in a small kitchen in Torre del Mar on the eastern stretch of the Costa del Sol, the entrepreneur produces Tree Natural Bars, which are made with healthy ingredients and without chemical additives or added sugar.

Pistachio, walnut, cashew and almond, dried fruit such as mango, banana and date and vegetable protein from peas and rice are the key ingredients that go into the bars.

As well as being made with natural ingredients, they are also vegan, suitable for coeliacs and people who are lactose intolerant. "Unlike many other energy bars, they do not contain whey protein and the ingredients are 100 per cent natural," explains Raul, who has been selling the bars since the end of 2023.

Since the official launch, Tree Natural Bars has produced five varieties with different flavours and ingredients, but which, according to the entrepreneur, have very similar nutritional and health properties, as they all contain, for example, the same amount of vegan protein (around 10 grams).

Of the five flavours, there is one that is clearly a nod to the Axarquia, the Delicious Mango, made with the (dried) fruit that is abundantly grown in the east of Malaga area. There's also the Crunchy Pistachio, Original Cacao, Magic Banana, made with dried banana and dates, cashew nuts and walnuts, and Coffee Moka, which has a combination of coffee and cocoa, as well as dates, cashew nuts and almonds.

The bars also have other ingredients added for flavour, including virgin coconut oil, cinnamon, natural vanilla and sea salt. The process is apparently simple. All the ingredients are mixed in the proportions that Raul has formulated after a lot of testing, and they are cut into individual bars and wrapped.

Where to buy them

Despite only selling these products for a short time, Tree Natural Bars already has 70 points of sale. Most of them are in Malaga province, but they are also sold in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Ibiza and they have even started to be exported to France and Sweden.

The doors to foreign markets were opened by Raul's visit to the last Alimentaria food and drinks fair in Barcelona as part of the Sabor a Malaga food brand.

"Right now we are mainly in gyms, health food shops and padel clubs, although we can also be found in petrol stations and even hotel mini-bars," says Raul. There is also a website through which the company sells the products all over the country.

The bars can be purchased individually at a recommended price of 2.40 euros or in boxes of 10 units (22.50 euros). These packs can be purchased in individual flavours or the Mix Bars, which include two bars of each type.

Zoom

The energy bars are not only aimed at sportspeople, but also for those who want an extra boost of energy without sacrificing taste or health. "They can be eaten by hikers, cyclists or people who need a snack between meals because of their work," says the young entrepreneur from Torre del Mar.

Tree Natural Bars were born four years ago when Raul began to visualise a change in his life. "In the summer of 2020 I thought about making biscuits or bars for myself, but with natural and tasty products," he explains.

At the time he was working as a civil engineer for a construction company. This meant that he had to move between the construction sites he was supervising with hardly any time to eat and that's when he started making his own bars. "I started by watching tutorials on the internet and then I kept making changes until I made the ones I liked the most," Raul explains.

Afterwards, he took them to the rowing club in Torre del Mar where his partner Ana is a member. "People liked them and I thought I could create my own business," he recalls.

Raul spent three years saving up enough money to invest in machinery and other expenses, to make what is now Tree Natural Bars a reality, a product with a taste of Malaga with a commitment to health and flavour.
Chus Heredia Friday, 21 June 2024, 14:24 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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There are two distinct desalination projects in the pipeline in Estepona. One is to treat seawater (with two intake modules), and the other is to desalinate brackish well water.

The seawater plants will be portable and housed in containers along the coast near the Castor stream. The brackish water desalination plant will be located in a warehouse next to the Padron river, where work on the land for the pipelines is already under way.

The plants are being manufactured under the supervision of Agbar, Aguas de Barcelona, in workshops in Almeria and the Canary Islands. SUR has obtained photos showing the assembly process. Thus, the desalination project for Estepona is entering its final phase before implementation, pending permits and future expansion.

The Mayor of Estepona, Jose Maria Garcia Urbano, announced a few months ago his determination to combat drought using municipal resources. External aid would be welcome, but the resolve was clear. The mayor had a project prepared by Hidralia, the water supply company, to install a portable containerised desalination plant to start treating seawater. Municipal land was identified near the mouth of the Castor river. Funding was allocated from the improvement charge on users' water bills, a concept renewed last December.

During this time, a second desalination project has been added to the agenda in Estepona, involving five boreholes to recover old wells in the Padron river. They hope to obtain around 2,900 cubic metres per day, totalling over one cubic hectometre per year.

Assembly progressing well

The assembly of the infrastructure is gathering pace, while awaiting the necessary environmental and health permits for the commissioning of the units. The intention is to start operations this summer. That will be easier in the case of the wells than in the case of seawater due to the authorisation requirements.

Work is already under way on the land for the desalination plant, next to the Padron wells, as can be seen in the photo below. Work on the land for the seawater plant, next to the mouth of the Castor, along the same coastline, has not yet started.

Zoom Work on the site for the installation of the desalination plant that will treat the Padron wells. SUR

2.8 hm3 in the first year

The two seawater plants will be solar powered and will each start with a possible flow of 4,000 cubic metres per day (8,000 cubic metres total). This translates to 1.4 cubic hectometres annually for each plant, amounting to 2.8 cubic hectometres from the Mediterranean Sea to meet Estepona's water needs. The town requires approximately nine hectometres cubed annually, thus these infrastructures provide significant reassurance.

These units, known as 'turnkey' desalination plants, are housed in containers similar to those used in port logistics. This design simplifies civil engineering requirements, reducing it to foundation fixation and connections to the network and other pipelines (for seawater intake, brine disposal, etc.). Civil construction is streamlined and timelines are shortened. Additionally, factory testing can be conducted, and the plants are modular, allowing Estepona to expand with new modules. Future expansions aim for a capacity of 25,000 to 30,000 cubic metres per day, equating to about 9 hectometres cubed annually.

Port containers

Each desalination plant consists of two 40-foot 'High Cube' sea containers, the most common in shipping cargo.

Zoom View of the inside of the membranes. SUR

They include a cartridge filtration stage with 8 FRP (fibreglass reinforced polyester) housings for high-flow cartridges, an RO (reverse osmosis) pressure vessel rack with 42 pressure tubes containing 7 membranes each (294 membranes total), and two high-pressure pumps. The plants also feature an energy recovery system and are fully automated for autonomous operation, startup and shutdown management, and real-time data acquisition and monitoring.

Cost of over 4 million euros

The approved budget for constructing these desalination plants, under local improvement charges as of December 18, 2023, amounts to 4,125,056.44 excluding VAT, plus necessary indirect works for their operational readiness this year.

Brackish wells

Regarding brackish wells, activation trials have concluded successfully, with some wells inactive since the 1990s. Research drilling confirmed "excellent results in both quantity and quality" from five wells authorised by the mining authority along the Padron riverbank. The water is sourced from the alluvial aquifer of the Padron river, which due to low rainfall tends to become saline, a common occurrence in Mediterranean environments.

The mayor sees 2025 as a key date for the definitive leap forward

"The town council is absolutely sensitive to the drought problem and we have been working on preventive measures to deal with this situation for some time. An example of this was the large water regulating reservoir that was built in the Las Mesas area. From there, guaranteeing the water supply in the municipality is a priority," the mayor of Estepona, Jose Maria Garcia Urbano, told this newspaper.

"The objective of all these actions is that in the year 2025 Estepona can be self-sufficient in water without using other sources of supply, with the savings that this would entail in these other resources," he stated while valuing the technical and economic effort of the municipality and Hidralia.

"Our willingness to collaborate with the other administrations is clear, because we understand that the fight against drought requires all of us to work hand in hand," he added.
Nuria Triguero Malaga Friday, 21 June 2024, 12:29 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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A company by the name of S.Lab, created by two Ukrainian refugees, has launched its first fully automated production line of ecological 'plastic' made from mushrooms and hemp in the town of Coin.

This is a first step in the company's mission to revolutionise the packaging industry with a natural substitute for polystyrene that is durable, reliable, fully biodegradable and waste-free. With this industrial innovation, they can produce 50,000 units of packaging per month. While that is still not enough for the volumes demanded by companies such as Samsung or L'Oreal, they intend to double the capacity again in a few months. Additionally, S.Lab is planning to replicate their fixed production line in 'mini-factories' that will be mounted in shipping containers and can be located on customers' own premises to save costs and reduce emissions.

The company was founded in 2021 in Kyiv, the city where its co-founders, Julia Bialetska and Eugene Tomilin, lived. The pair are not only business partners but are also married. When Russia invaded their country, they were forced to abandon the project of setting up a factory in Kyiv and flee for the safety of their children. After a few months of moving around Europe, they found refuge in Spain - not only for their family but also for their business. For the past year, they have been at the CADE Andalusian centre for business in Coin, where the regional government has provided them with three years of free accommodation. Today, they have 20 employees.

The company wants to roll out 'mini-factories' that will be located on customers' own premises

With the new automated production process, S.Lab has managed to minimise the need for continuous human intervention in operations. "The processes involved in packaging production are efficiently managed by patented technologies including robotic arms, forming robots, computer vision and an extensive network of sensors and indicators. This state-of-the-art automation ensures accuracy, consistency and efficiency throughout the manufacturing process, while reducing costs and minimising human error," said Bialetska, who is S.Lab's CEO.

S.Lab has developed its own production technology specifically designed for plant-based packaging. "Our production line can operate continuously, which increases productivity and throughput compared to manual production methods, and it is designed to optimise the use of resources, including raw materials, energy and water. Automation provides greater control over the production process, allowing real-time monitoring and analysis to optimise production efficiency and quality," added Tomilin, the CTO. The new production line is also "highly adaptable and scalable, allowing production capacity to be adjusted to meet growing demand". This scalability ensures adaptation to market fluctuations and the ability to offer packaging solutions to a variety of customers, from local companies to multinationals.

S.Lab's magic formula comes from two components: mycelium (a structure formed by fungi with a texture similar to branched threads) and hemp (or more specifically, the hemp stalk, which is discarded when harvested). When mixed together, the result is a 100% natural, highly resistant and reliable material, capable of competing with polystyrene in terms of durability, impermeability and thermal insulation, with one advantage: it is completely biodegradable. Once used, it can be thrown away with the rest of the rubbish and decomposes completely in just 30 days. In fact, it even acts as a fertiliser in soil.

Fungi

S.Lab 'grows' the fungi in its own laboratory and combines them with waste hemp (or other crops such as corn or wheat) that it acquires in different parts of Andalucia, including Coin. The resulting material is then moulded into the desired shape.

The company's patented material has applications in a variety of sectors: cosmetic cushioning, electronics packaging, decorative and fashion packaging, thermo-insulating food boxes, pharmaceuticals and many more. The founders of S.Lab believe that this is the perfect time for their project, given the growing concern in the consumer goods industry to eradicate plastic and achieve more sustainable packaging, in line with the growing social awareness of climate change.

"Spain offers a welcoming environment and abundant agricultural waste resources, making it an ideal location for our production plant," said Bialetska. "By sourcing local materials and investing in innovative technologies, we not only reduce our environmental impact, but also contribute to the local economy and support farmers in the region."
Nuria Triguero Malaga Friday, 21 June 2024, 13:58 | Updated 18:50h. Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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Their punctuality gives them away: they are 'guiris' - foreigners - or they have lived abroad enough years to lose that typical tendency locals have of arriving ten minutes late. All eight of them arrive a few minutes before the photo session in Malaga. They would pass for tourists, but they are residents in their own right.

We have brought together some of Malaga's latest technological experts who have recently made the city their home: high-level business people, investors and professionals who have swapped New York, San Francisco, Tallinn, London, Mumbai and Paris for the capital city of the Costa del Sol. They are part of a global movement (triggered by the pandemic and remote working) of people who are privileged enough to be able to choose where they live and work. They are VIP migrants who flee from the big capitals in search of cities that are smaller, but which still have vitality.

Malaga has emerged as a favourite destination for these professionals, as is reflected in numerous surveys.

The city's weak points in their eyes: the poor command of English and the insufficient connection with Marbella

The reasons that brought them to the city vary: some, such as Ivan Ordonez, are here to fulfill a professional mission: in his case, to launch the investment bank GP Bullhound's technological hub in Malaga. Others have come for personal reasons, such as the couple formed by Fernando Dominguez and Jenni Samuels, Juanjo Mostazo or Rajnish Kumar.

They continue doing their work just as they did where they used to live, but they now live in a city that, for their taste, is the perfect size and has a series of qualities (beach, climate, gastronomy, cosmopolitanism, strong airport, international schools) that have made it their chosen place in the world.

And for the third group, which includes Omar Pera and Stephanie Marchesseau, their professional and personal reasons are intertwined: they have the job they want in the place they want to live in.

Some of these new residents have a common profile: they are Spanish people who have lived abroad for many years and have decided it is time to return home. And they choose Malaga, despite not being from here, because they want to remain close to a stimulating technological ecosystem. The airport also weighs heavily: Fernando Dominguez says that in his case, the direct flight to New York tipped the balance.

Having children often triggers theose kinds of life changes. Many mention that the pandemic made them put quality of life and family above everything else. But the key to it all is the global change of mindset that has led many professionals to leave the office.

What is life like for this group of high-net-worth expats and returnees? The majority live in affluent neighbourhoods in the east of the city, such as La Malagueta or Pedregalejo.

They take their children to international schools, travel a lot and maintain a busy social life. Could we say that they live in a bubble? No more than locals from a higher socioeconomic strata.

These new residents usually arrive with curiosity and a desire to meet people. In fact, some have become important examples in the local tech and entrepreneurial community. It is true that for the newly arrived foreigners, the language barrier has its challenges; in fact, the locals' low level of English is something that shocks them a lot.

The truth is that almost all of these new residents are in their honeymoon phase with the city, so it is difficult for them to give a critical opinion. The language issue is one of the few negative points, although they are also surprised by the poor connection with Marbella. And there is one issue that generates mixed opinions: the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.

There are those who define it as "effervescent" (such as Omar Pera, Fernando Dominguez or Rajnish Kumar). But others, such as Cristobal Alonso, note a lack of startups and initiative.

Jenni Samuels Digital marketing expert "Many people are leaving the big cities"

Jenni Samuels is American and has her own fractional marketing company. She previously worked at Airbnb and Google and is in a couple with Fernando Dominguez. Both moved from San Francisco just over a year ago. "We were looking at New York, Barcelona, Madrid, Buenos Aires... In the end, Malaga won". She felt "from the first day that there is a growing energy for innovation". "Many tech people are swapping very big cities for places like Malaga."

Fernando Dominguez VP of Sandbox AQ "Malaga has that momentum where things happen"

Fernando Dominguez is vice president of Sandbox AQ, a Silicon Valley company that combines quantum technology and AI. After half a lifetime abroad, Dominguez decided to return to Spain. He chose Malaga because of its direct flights to New York and also because of its technology ecosystem. "Malaga has that momentum where things happen. The accumulation of talent is certainly going to give rise to new companies and projects."

Rajnish Kumar Co-founder of Ixigo "I did a study of cities in Spain to choose where to move to"

Ixigo is the Indian Booking.com: a leading travel app. In the wake of the pandemic, its co-founder realised he could work from anywhere in the world. Since his wife is Spanish, the destination was clear. But the city was yet to be determined. "I did a comparative study of all the cities in Spain. As I'm sensitive to the cold, I discarded the northern ones. Malaga stood out for its climate and airport. I was also interested in the entrepreneurial ecosystem."

Stephanie Marchesseau Global Head of R&D, Medida "The only thing I would change is to have a warmer sea"

Stephanie Marchesseau is global head of R&D at Medida, a company that specialises in digital marketing at Malaga Tech Park. When she accepted the position, just over two years ago, she was living in Madrid. "I worked remotely and came from time to time. I realised that I liked Malaga much better." She is in her honeymoon phase with the city: "I'm here to stay because Malaga has everything I can put on a list of priorities. The only thing I'd change is that it had a warmer sea".

Juanjo Mostazo Co-founder and tech investor of Homa and Bidmotion "Malaga reminds me of Barcelona ten years ago"

Originally from Cadiz, Mostazo was co-founder and tech director of startups Bidmotion and Homa. He has focused on the investment angle for several years and has become one of the most active business angels in Spain. He has lived in Barcelona, Paris, Berlin, Dresden... And for about a year, in Malaga, whose "effervescent" atmosphere reminds him of Barcelona ten years ago. Now, he needs new generations of startups to "reproduce".

Ivan Ordonez CTO of GP Bullhound "I've come to open the GP Bullhound technological hub"

Ivan Ordonez is from Ecuador, but he moved to the US for university, where he took two degrees: maths and computer science. After working there for a few years, he moved to London, where he lived for 17 years. Since the start, he has focused his career on the financial sector. In 2022 he was hired by investment bank GP Bullhound as head of technology. "Part of the plan was to open a technological hub in Malaga and I came to launch it. We opened last October."

Omar Pera VP of Freepik's AI innovation team "I fell in love with the city in three days"

Omar Pera has swapped New York for Malaga, and Meta for Freepik, the company that has taken the helm on AI-based innovation. "I came one Wednesday to visit and on Friday I was already signing for a flat," he says. "Did I fall in love? With the city itself, the climate, the people, the international atmosphere. And the technological ecosystem surprised me a lot. I come from New York and I wasn't expecting such a vibrant entrepreneurial community here in Malaga," he says.

Cristobal Alonso CEO of Startup Wise Guys "We've found fewer startups than we were expecting"

Cristobal Alonso is the co-founder and CEO of Startup Wise Guys, one of Europe's most active investment funds in seed stage companies. This company, originally Estonian, landed in Malaga in 2022, opening an acceleration programme at the Polo Digital. That was when Alonso himself moved. "We chose Malaga because it looked like something interesting was happening. But really we've found fewer startups than we thought. There's a lot of talent, but we need to nurture it."
Alfonso Torices Friday, 21 June 2024, 16:34 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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"A historic milestone" and "a success for the country", as declared by both the Ministry of Ecological Transition and NGO the WWF (World Wildlife Fund). As of Thursday 20 June 2024, the Iberian lynx has been officially removed from the list of animals at risk of extinction. The official announcement was made by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the world reference body that at the end of the last century sounded the international alarm for this big cat species, placing this wild feline on its Red List of Threatened Species - the worst category, a species on the brink of extinction.

The reason for coming off that list is that, in just 21 years, the Iberian peninsula's number one native, wild feline has gone from being on the brink of extinction, with 94 specimens holding out in their last places of refuge in Donana and the Sierra de Andujar mountains in Jaen, to the impressive number of 2,021 cubs and adults (counted last Christmas) spread over the green pastures, marshes and hills of Andalucia, Extremadura, Castile-La Mancha, Levante and southern Portugal.

In just two decades its population has multiplied by 21, with an average annual growth of 20% since 2019. This is the result of a successful scientific operation in which, unusually, everyone - institutions, wildlife experts and the general public - have not gone for personal glory, but pulled together to aim for the same goal, in particular the WWF, Andalucia's regional government and the European Union.

This animal, still threatened by roadkill and poaching, can be considered safe when it reaches 3,500 cats in a decade or so

Such success explains why the IUCN now classifies the lynx as a "vulnerable species", which means that in just over 20 years it has climbed two steps on the longed-for path to finally coming off the IUCN's Red List, something that WWF officials stress no other species has achieved so quickly until now.

The lynx can now see the light at the end of the tunnel, although the recovery work, according to the specialists themselves, will still need more than a decade of effective progress to bring the species fully out of danger. In fact, naturalists warn that other threats have yet to be minimised, such as roadkill, which last year cost the lives of 144 lynxes. Other threats include poaching and the near disappearance of the wild rabbit, their main source of food, in decline by 70%.

Despite the general caution, the data could not be more encouraging. They are beginning to converge with each of the objectives set by the experts to convert the lynx into a species with a 'favourable' conservation status by 2040. Its population is approaching at a good pace - 722 cubs were born in 2023 - the 3,000 to 3,500 specimens that would be needed to be able to breathe easy.

The second relevant fact is that the number of breeding females is now 406, some 80 more than a year earlier, which means an improvement of 25% in twelve months. Their fecundity rate is almost two births per lynx (1.77) and they are getting closer and closer to the 750 mothers that would protect future numbers.

A large and connected habitat

The habitats for these felines now cover fourteen different areas, spread over four autonomous regions and southern Portugal. This fact strongly supports the third objective of the recovery plan. We are very close to the sixteen stable and connected territories that the specialists believe are necessary to give a solid base to the future of the lynx.

The collective triumph lies not only in the recovery of the lynx population, but also in the fact that the free-roaming specimens are once again colonising other parts of their traditional habitat. Apart from the two aforementioned areas in Donana and Andujar where the lynx dug in back in 2001, lynx can now be seen in the wild on both sides of the Sierra Morena (in Andalucia and La Mancha), the Montes de Toledo, the Matachel valley in Extremadura and the Guadiana valley in Portugal. These areas have been joined by the Sierra Arana, Valdecanas-Ibores and Ortiga (Extremadura), the Tierras Altas de Lorca (Murcia) and the Campos de Hellin area (Albacete). There are other areas under study and being made ready due to the interest of several autonomous regions in joining this project.

Last Christmas there were 1,730 free lynxes on Spanish territory, 86% of the total, and 291 in Portugal. The two Spanish powerhouses for the lynx are Andalucia, with 755 felines (43.6%), and Castilla-La Mancha, with 715 specimens (41.3%). The remaining sites are in the two provinces of Extremadura, with 253 specimens, and Murcia, with seven.

2002 was the year in which all the alarm bells went off to take urgent action. At first with very modest objectives, but these gained in ambition over time. The Ministry of Ecological Transition, the Junta de Andalucia and the Portuguese government, WWF and the EU joined forces and resources, forgetting the usual political flag-waving and self-interest. They were later joined by the regional governments of Castilla-La Mancha and Extremadura.

They created four captive breeding centres and implemented a carefully studied and controlled strategy to ensure that the subsequent reintroduction of these young specimens into the wild would be a success. Since the release of juveniles from the centres in Huelva, Caceres, Jaen and Silva (Portugal) began in 2011, 372 specimens have been reintroduced into their natural habitat. In this patient endeavour, the experts and political leaders have also counted on the collaboration of several hundred landowners and hunting associations. The Spanish lynx rescue programme will forever be remembered as a world-class success in feline recovery.
Syracuse, N.Y.  An explosion that collapsed a Syracuse house and injured 13 people - including 3 children critically - this week was caused by an open natural gas line, fire officials said Friday.

The blast shortly after 4 p.m. Tuesday destroyed the home at 205 Carbon St., sending adults and children running from the home. Firefighters immediately noticed a heavy odor of natural gas, Syracuse Fire Chief Michael Monds said at a news conference in Friday.

Syracuse fire investigators inspecting the basement noticed that a gas line intended to feed a clothes dryer was not connected to an appliance, Monds said. That gas line had an open valve and was free-flowing natural gas at the time of the explosion.

Firefighters have not determined when or why the gas valve was turned on but said residents began smelling gas around 9 a.m., Syracuse Fire Investigator Joe Fenell said at the news conference. Investigators do not believe the incident was criminal in nature, he said.

Fenell said the landlord said there hadnt been a dryer hooked up to the gas line for years. The gas line was not capped, but only had a shutoff valve that was found in the open position, he said. The line should have been capped, officials said.

Once gas flowed into the basement it could have been ignited by any number of things, Fenell said. A light switch or the hot water heater, refrigerator or furnace which were all in the basement, Monds said. The official ignition course has not been determined, he said.

It doesnt appear the gas line had been left open for a long time, Fenell said.

After the initial blast, some neighbors rushed in to help victims escape from the rubble of the two-story home and started to treat them. When the first firefighters got to the home minutes later, they saw injured people everywhere and children crying. They had to rescue a child who was stuck inside a car under the collapsed home, Monds said Friday.

It was a very chaotic scene, the chief said.

It was also a dangerous scene because there were downed wires, natural gas and the collapsed, unstable building, Monds said.

The main part of the explosion was contained to the concrete basement, Fenell said, where it was ignited.

The blast caused the walls in the home collapse, broke water pipes, Fennel said. Concrete walls inside the basement were cracked, he said.

It was just kind of surreal, he said.

There were 13 people, a mix of adults and children, inside the home. The injured were members of two refugee families celebrating the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha.

Of the 13 people hurt, three - a baby and two young children - were reported in critical condition at Upstate University Hospital. In all, 12 were admitted to the hospital.

The injuries included second-degree burns and head injuries and crushed and body deformity injuries, Monds said Friday.

Related article: First firefighters at Syracuse house blast: Injured everywhere, kids yelling, it was mayhem

After the initial rescue, crews worked to shore up the remaining structure before firefighters went inside to search for any trapped people. They searched for around 45 minutes and found no one. At the same time, Syracuse police worked to confirm all occupants were out of the house, Monds said.

Search dogs that look for live survivors were driven in from Albany by the state Office of Fire Prevention and Control to comb through the rubble. A cadaver dog was brought in by the New York State Police.

It was a brutal 93 degrees as firefighters worked. They rotated in and out. They were handed bottles of water and Gatorade, as well as electrolyte freezer pops and cool towels. A Centro bus served as a cooling center for the firefighters.

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh began the news conference Friday by thanking all the first responders and officials who aided with the rescue efforts Tuesday.

As of Friday, five of the patients have been released, according to Darryl Geddes, a hospital spokesperson.

A 29-year-old woman, Yasmida Nur Muhammad, was released Thursday, he said. Her husband, Mohamad Alam Sayed Alam, 34, and three of their children  Ajidah Mohamad Alam, 5, Suhana Mohamad Alam, 2, and Rishma Mohamad Alam, 8 months  remain in the hospital, he said.

The others released were Mohammad Omar, 13, Farmina Begum, 12, Ennaiitu Rahman, 10, and Enamul Hassan, 8, he said. They were released to a family friend, according to Rosa Na, of the Burmese Muslim Community Center of Syracuse.

Their parents, Fuje Alam and Rajumah Begum, were last listed in stable condition, according to the hospital.

More coverage on Syracuse.com

Syracuse firefighters run a snake camera into the window to look around inside and upstairs bedroom and a home that exploded earlier today on Carbon Street in Syracuse, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com)N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com

Syracuse house collapse: 3 children in critically stable condition at hospital

Syracuse house destroyed: 11 people hurt, 2 seriously. No one is left in rubble

Families injured in house collapse were Burmese refugees, identities released

Firefighters rescued child trapped in car under wreckage of Syracuse house collapse

Staff writer Timia Cobb covers breaking news. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at tcobb@syracuse.com.

Staff writer Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at ahayes@syracuse.com.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Local organizations are setting up ways for the public to help members of two families injured in a natural gas explosion that destroyed a home in Syracuse this week.

The explosion injured 13 people and destroyed a home at 205 Carbon St. around 4 p.m. Tuesday. Of the people hurt, three  a baby and two young children  were reported in critical condition at Upstate University Hospital.

The explosion was caused by a natural gas line left open in the basement of the home, fire officials said Friday.

In all, 12 were admitted to the hospital. As of Friday, five of the patients have been released, according to Darryl Geddes, a hospital spokesperson.

Seven people lived in the home, while the rest were visiting, according to Common Councilor Chol Majok. The family living in the home were renting and moved to the United States five years ago, Majok said. The visitors, a family of six, had only been in the country for 12 days, he said.

The two families were refugees from Myanmar, also known as Burma.

How to help

Burmese Muslim Community Center of Syracuse. It has started a gofundme page Friday. Donations will go toward clothing, food and shelter for the family of Fuje Bin Mohammad Alam and Rajumah Begum Binti Dil Mohammad.

Household items, clothes and non-perishable food will also be accepted at the center on 120 Mary St.

The center is also hosting an in-person fundraiser Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. A donation box will be set out at the center. Clothes and other essentials will be accepted.

Additionally, The CNY Blessing Box, an affiliate of the New American Forum will be playing an active role in providing non-perishable food items. The organization is looking for the support of local groceries stores interested in augmenting the food donations the Blessing Box will be donating.

Catholic Charities of Onondaga County, a community service and human development agency. It was helping resettle the visiting family who was in the explosion, said Kacee Shuler, Catholic Charities director of donor engagement.

Catholic Charities, along with Blessing Box Refugee Food Pantry and New Americans Forums, will be accepting food donations on the behalf of both families. The public can drop off donations on from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 30 at CNY Uniform Plus at 664 Burnet Ave.

Meals for this week have been provided to both families, she said.

Catholic Charities is currently working with United Way of Central New York to create an Emergency Assistance Fund. Anyone willing to provide financial assistance to the family can donate online to the giving page once created early next week, she said.

We are heartened to see Syracuse rallying around these families in their time of need, Shuler said.

Staff writer Timia Cobb covers breaking news. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at tcobb@syracuse.com.

Staff writer Fernando Alba covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, question or comment? Reach him at falba@syracuse.com.
The Fly By Night Cookie Company and Miniature Museum was a staple for locals and visitors to Fair Haven Beach State Park on Lake Ontario every summer.

The sweet shop on Fancher Ave. was run out of a home that looked like a fairy cottage with its ivy covered porch and ornate wood carvings.

The former Fly by Night Cookie Company and Miniature Museum on Fancher Ave. in Fair Haven. One of the unique aspects of the cookie shop is its porch, hand crafted by former owner Bonnie Bridson's son John. Stephen D. Cannerelli | syracuse.comStephen D. Cannerelli | syracuse.com

Once customers walked in, they would often be greeted by owner and baker Bonnie Bridson, and find themselves surrounded by a confectionary wonderland with large glass jars and cases filled with a variety of cookies and treats.

The former Fly by Night Cookie Company and Miniature Museum on Fancher Ave. in Fair Haven. Mickie Zulauf of Rochester, who vacations in the area every summer, visited the cookie shop for over 20 years. Zulauf says the novelty of the Miniature Museum and the high quality of the cookies keep bringing her back. Zulauf chats with owner Bonnie Bridson. Stephen D. Cannerelli | syracuse.comStephen D. Cannerelli | syracuse.com

Your eyes would take in not only the rows of confections, but the charming collection of miniature houses, lit with fairy lights like a permanent Christmas village. Each time they walked in, customers would often notice some new tiny detail.

After selecting their sugary delights, customers often relaxed with a beverage, and listened to music or read books from the shelves on Bridsons porch, designed by her son John Bridson.

The Fly by Night Cookie Company and Miniature Museum on Fancher Ave. in Fair Haven made an amazing variety of homemade cookies and pastries for almost 40 years. Former Owner Bonnie Bridson enjoys coffee on her porch, a favorite spot for customers to have drink and relax. New owners of the home say the porch will stay. Stephen D. Cannerelli | syracuse.comStephen D. Cannerelli | syracuse.com

John is a renowned wood carver whose work can be seen around the Sterling Renaissance Festival, including the Warwick Inn and Bakery on the festival grounds.

Bridson baked for almost 40 years, serving customers from around the world. The Fly By Night Cookie Company was one stop on theFinger Lakes Sweet Treat Trail, was featured on Bike and Travel websites, and also a European guide book.

Her cookies ranged from plain to fancy to what she called outrageous, and gave them names like Bird Turd and PMS cookies.

The Fly by Night Cookie Company and Miniature Museum on Fancher Ave. in Fair Haven made an amazing variety of homemade cookies and pastries for almost 40 years. The owner has since passed and the home has new residents. Stephen D. Cannerelli | syracuse.comStephen D. Cannerelli | syracuse.com

Lifes short...eat cookies! was one of her favorite sayings.

The home also had a Booknook, which sold donated books to customers and Bridson used that money to help fund a local park in Fair Haven.

The Fly by Night Cookie Company and Miniature Museum on Fancher Ave. in Fair Haven made an amazing variety of homemade cookies and pastries for almost 40 years. A popular aspect of the cookie shop was its Booknook, a small building behind the shop. The donated books were sold to visitors with the money being used to fund a local park. Stephen D. Cannerelli | syracuse.comStephen D. Cannerelli | syracuse.com

In 2015, Bridson told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard that her busiest time of the year was Fourth of July weekend.

Unfortunately, getting a box of homemade cookies on the way home after a day at the beach is no longer an option since the passing of Bridson and the closing of The Fly By Night Cookie Company.

Janine Svitavsky of Port Byron helps her 12-year-old nephew Ben, who is visiting from New Jersey, select some cookies at The Fly by Night Cookie Company and Miniature Museum in 2015. The cookie shop is now closed due to its owner's passing and has new caretakers. Stephen D. Cannerelli | syracuse.comStephen D. Cannerelli | syracuse.com

The unique home, being a local landmark, was shared widely on social media in a recent real estate listing. Finding just the right residents for such a beloved home would be a task.

Enter new owners, Tim and Polly Alexander, who closed on the home on June 7.

The former Fly By Night Cookie Company and Miniature Museum in Fair Haven closed after almost 40 years due to owner Bonnie Bridson's passing. New owners Tim and Polly Alexander, both Central NY natives, have purchased the local landmark and plan to honor the "Cookie Lady's" memory by keeping the ornate wooden porch intact. Provided photo | nyup.comProvided photo | nyup.com

The couple has lived in Pennsylvania for 27 years, but are both Central New York natives. Tim graduated from Baldwinsville and Polly from Fabius-Pompey. They married in 1985, the same year the Fly By Night Cookie Company began.

Tim posted to Facebook a message to a Fair Haven community group, introducing himself and his wife. In his post he detailed how close this home is to some of their family, living just streets away, and are looking forward to spending retirement enjoying life in Cayuga County.

Though the couple never met Bridson or enjoyed some of her pastries, word traveled fast and the legend of the cookie lady, reached them quickly.

In his post, Tim answered the most common question and quite often the first one people have asked them since buying the home: The wood-carved porch will stay.

We recognize the Cookie Ladys home is something of a landmark in town. And we are somewhat overwhelmed by the idea that so many people still expect Bonnie to be selling cookies from her doorstep. The first question everyone seems to want answered is will we be removing those very artistic front porch columns? And our answer is an emphatic NO. In fact, we hope to make very small improvements to the house this summer and only make external improvements next year to enhance the look of these columns, he wrote.

The former Fly By Night Cookie Company and Miniature Museum in Fair Haven closed after almost 40 years due to owner Bonnie Bridson's passing. New owners Tim and Polly Alexander, both Central NY natives, have purchased the local landmark and plan to honor the "Cookie Lady's" memory by keeping the ornate wooden porch intact. Provided photo | nyup.comProvided photo | nyup.com

Tim was taken aback by how many local residents and fans of the Fly By Night Cookie Company have shared their memories of Bonnie, her cookies and her idyllic porch.

In Pennsylvania, the Alexanders host a house concert series, with finger food to share, brought by guests. They always bring a table full of Tims favorite cookie, his wifes famous chocolate chip cookies, complete with secret recipe.

They are unbelievable because she has a secret recipe and she does something at the very tail end of the process that shes not telling anybody about. People were more disappointed that we ran out of cookies than if an artist doesnt show up, he said. Better than Freihofers.

There may be a concert in their Fair Haven home somewhere in the future, but Tim said he plans to take things as they come and let it develop organically.

The Alexanders have been talking about what they would name their new home, their lakeside cottage, but they find themselves continually calling it the Cookie Ladys house.

Youve heard the expression You dont own a home, you just sort of rent it for a period of time? No more true than this one. Its going to be the Cookie Ladys House, Tim said.

Since they have taken ownership of the home, people are still stopping by the home to buy cookies, traveling through on their summer vacations.

Tim ended his social media post with an invitation:

If you see a Volvo station wagon in our driveway and were sitting on the porch, please say hello and tell us about your favorite Cookie Lady memory. We plan to honor her memory in this home in a small way all the while investing in some needed repairs that will make the home safer and more comfortable for our own purposes.

We cant promise you that well have any cookies for you  but rest assured if we decide to host a house concert in the new digs, cookies will be a big part of the event.

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The European Sojourn Part 2  A Day in Austrias Prettiest Village



Reaching Hallstatt from Vienna

I checked out of the hotel in Vienna at 5.30 AM and started walking towards the Wien Hauptbahnhof station. It was a cold and windy morning, and the warm layers were failing to keep the wind off me. I truly underestimated the temperature outside but the joy of taking the train to Hallstatt and finally experiencing the place with my own eyes was clearly winning! Another 10 minutes of walk later, I grabbed some croissant and coffee from Anker and boarded the OBB train for 6 AM. Typically you wont find a direct train from Vienna to Hallstatt. There are one interchange trains via Attnang-Puchheim which takes about 3.5 hours to reach Hallstatt. The high speed OBB trains would drop you at Attnang-Puchheim from where you will need to board a regional OBB train (less fancy, sans the WiFi and gizmos) to Hallstatt.





The train to Hallstatt

The train to Hallstatt

At 9.30 AM sharp, I got down at the cute little train station of Hallstatt. As I exited the station, I could already see the Hallstatt Lake, and a ferry waiting to take the passengers to the other side of the lake. However, call it my stupidity, I had to reach Obertraun first!





Hallstatt Train Station

Hallstatt Train Station

Obertraun is like the twin town of Hallstatt. Little did I know that a train station exists at Obertraun as well. When I found out, it was too late to cancel the train tickets. I figured; I will take some public transport after getting down at Hallstatt to reach Obertraun. Since the Hallstatt town is quite small, the railway tracks were laid on the other side of the town and one has to take a ferry to reach the main town. And thus, no public transport exists at the train station apart from the ferry. With no option left, I started walking the 2 km stretch. I wont deny, the views were extremely appealing, but the walk felt like forever, given I had to pull my trolley.





The way to Obertraun

The way to Obertraun

Pro-tip: If you are going on a day trip or chose your stay in the main town (which is super expensive btw), you can book your train tickets till Hallstatt. If you are staying the night(s) and booked your stay at Obertraun, do book your tickets till Obertraun!



Staying and Getting Around

40 minutes into the walk, I finally reached Hotel Haus Am See. In spite of putting in an early check-in request (which they agreed during booking), the person at the reception denied saying the rooms are not ready and recommended I should go visit the town.





Hotel Haus Am See

Hotel Haus Am See

I freshened up, walked round the property, got a view of the lake (yes! The lake is huge and is accessible from Obertraun too), I went ahead to catch a bus to Hallstatt. I paid 2.5 Euros and 30 minutes later, I was dropped at the Hallstatt bus stop. The quiet vistas of Obertraun were quickly replaced by chatters of hundreds of tourists from all corners of the globe. After a quick stroll aimlessly and catching on some lunch, I headed to the Salzwelten Funicular, which would later take me to the Hallstatt Skywalk and the salt mine. One can get a 40 Euros ticket to visit both these places along with the round-trip funicular ride.





Hallstatt Funicular Hallstatt Funicular

Theres a hiking trail too I heard, which one could take to reach the top of the hill. While the hike would certainly offer more breathtaking views and satisfaction, it would also be prudent to save some time and energy to explore the salt mine later. Nevertheless, I was quite excited to ride the funicular like a kid.



Hallstatt Skywalk

As I got off the funicular, I climbed few more stairs and after another 200 steps or so, I was finally at the Hallstatt Skywalk.





World Heritage View World Heritage View

Perched high above the charming village of Hallstatt, the Hallstatt Skywalk offers an exhilarating experience that caught me in awe. This breathtaking viewing platform, aptly named the "World Heritage View," extends over a sheer cliff, providing a stunning panoramic view that stretches across the tranquil Hallstatt Lake and the quaint, picturesque houses nestled along the shore. As I stepped onto the platform, the sensation of floating above the magnificent landscape was sinking in, and my DSLR went on a happy spree of capturing the breathtaking vistas around. The Skywalk is not just a vantage point but a gateway to the heart of Hallstatt's natural beauty, offering visitors a perspective that truly captures the essence of this enchanting village and its majestic alpine surroundings. Unfortunately, there was a crazy rush to click photos/selfies at the Skywalk, so after waiting for some more time to get lucky with an unobstructed view, I kind of gave up.





Boats of Hallstatt





Houses perched along the shore





More Boats!





Yours Truly



Boats of HallstattHouses perched along the shoreMore Boats!Yours Truly

Theres also a restaurant just before the skywalk. This place, also known as Rudolphs tower, holds significant historical and cultural importance in Hallstatt. Originally built in the late 13th century, it served as a fortification to protect the valuable salt mines from potential invaders. Named after Duke Rudolf I of Austria, who commissioned its construction, the tower provided strategic defence for the region's salt mining operations, which were crucial to Hallstatt's economy and development.



Hallstatt Salt Mine

Next up was the Hallstatt salt mine. I had heard great review about the salt mine during my research of Hallstatt and figured its a must do thing while in the town. I have never visited a salt mine in my life and was all in for this adventure. The entry to the salt mine is a 5 minutes walk from the skywalk.





Entry to the Salt Mine Entry to the Salt Mine

After getting my ticket validated, I proceeded to meet the guide for the day, Joseph. I must mention here that the salt mine tour cant be done without a guide and are typically done in batches. Joseph was an extremely funny young man, with a thorough knowledge of the salt mine, and part of my amazing experience at the mine was because of him. We were given the miners uniform, which we had to wear to save our dresses from being damaged. Perfectly dressed as miners, it was now time to enter the mine through the Christina tunnel and go back in history.





Ready to mine some salt! Ready to mine some salt!

The Hallstatt Salt Mine, known as Salzwelten, offers a captivating journey into the depths of history and geology. Dating back over 7,000 years, this ancient mine is the oldest in the world, providing a unique glimpse into the origins of salt mining. As you venture into the subterranean tunnels, it does feel like being transported through time, enabled by engaging narratives and immersive exhibits. The salt mine is also where a 3,000-year-old body of a miner was discovered in the salt, all perfectly preserved.





An underground theatre An underground theatre

As we proceeded through tunnels listening to the lucid narration of Joseph, it was time to go from one level to another  in a miners slide. Joseph instructed the group about how to slide perfectly. Though I felt a bit nervous initially at the thought of sliding, I took the plunge anyway and loved it. These slides were actually used by miners to go from one level to another. Talk about make work fun. However, if you are faint-hearted, you can safely take the stairs to go down a level. The second slide, going down to level 2 from level 1, was even more challenging and faster. The distance was about 64 metres and the slant felt almost like 45 degrees. If you feel fidgety about taking a photo during the slide, this one has got you covered! Theres a camera which takes automatic pictures of your slide and you can buy the same at the reception for 8 Euros. Although I took videos while sliding, I bought the picture anyway as a souvenir. The salt mine is also home to the oldest wooden staircase in Europe, preserved by the salt for millennia. Finally at the end of the tour, we were transported back to the daylight by a miners train. How cool is that! Given a choice, I would do the salt mine tour again, and I highly recommend this tour as it is an unmissable experience for any visitor.





The Miner's Slide The Miner's Slide

Hallstatt Town Square

A postcard perfect town  with a lakeside promenade, surrounded by the towering Alps mountains, cute wooden houses with flowers hanging from the windows, and an adorable town square. That pretty much sums up Hallstatt! With the salt mine tour done, I quickly grabbed a scoop of Mozart (yes you will literally find his name everywhere in Austria, even in ice-creams!) and started strolling towards the Hallstatt town square. I couldnt get enough of the houses, how beautiful they were, with their colourful walls, the wooden roofs and a rich palette of flowers hanging from every balcony. Oh, and all of them have a lake view too!





Colourful houses everywhere! Colourful houses everywhere!

In another 5 minutes, I reached a small and pretty town square, which probably is one of the prettiest in Europe (if not the prettiest). Also known as the Marktplatz, the town square is a vibrant testament to the village's rich history and enchanting charm. This picturesque town square, adorned with colourful 16th-century houses, creates a captivating scene that feels straight out of a fairytale. Each building is a piece of history, now home to quaint cafes, charming shops, and inviting eateries where you can savour local delights. The focal point of the Marktplatz is a beautifully ornate fountain, around which locals and visitors gather to soak in the lively atmosphere. Seasonal flowers, festive markets, and cultural events add to the square's ever-changing tapestry. On the other side of the town square is the Evangelique Church, which apart from being an integral part of Hallstatts history, is also a piece of the familiar Hallstatt picture, which I talked about at the beginning.





Hallstatt Town Square Hallstatt Town Square

Gosaumuhlstrasse View Point

As I left behind the town square, I started walking the incline on the Gosaumuhlstrasse. It seemed as if the street is diverging from the lake, and few bends later, I found myself at an elevation from the town, and there it was, the most searched and sought after view of Hallstatt. With the stunning views of Hallstatt Lake on one side and the majestic Dachstein Alps on the other, this view of Hallstatt is like that perfect postcard. The towering spire of the Evangelique church, the houses doting the shoreline, the cruises on the lake, everything about this view is magical and mesmerizing. I was glad that I could see this place for real and could tick it off my bucket list.





That Famous View





One of my favourite clicks

That Famous ViewOne of my favourite clicks

Parish Church of the Assumption of Mary & Charnel House

Every narrow alley in Hallstatt almost always leads to a spectacular view. One such alley took me to the Parish Church of the Assumption of Mary. The history of the place appeared interesting to me and I decided to visit the place. However, it was a hard time finding the way to the church. At the verge of giving up, I decided to try for one last time and started looking meticulously for any street sign leading to the church. Suddenly I stumbled upon a small street sign, and a five-minute hike rewarded me with one of the most breathtaking views of Hallstatt Lake from the terrace of the church. This beautiful Gothic church, dating back to the 12th century, is quite captivating with its intricate woodwork, stunning frescoes, and serene atmosphere and I guess this made me fall in love with small, traditional churches blessed with old world charm.





A beautiful view from the terrace





Remembrance

A beautiful view from the terraceRemembrance

The church is also home to the Charnel House, where about 1,200 skulls are painted with floral motifs as a sign of love, and the name and date of death of the deceased inscribed. This interesting tradition started in 1720 when the small town of Hallstatt ran out of cremation space and it was decided that the existing graves be opened 10-20 years after the burial to make space for the new. The skulls were then cleaned and bleached, painted with the floral motifs and placed in the Charnel House. The last skull placed in the Charnel House in 1995, on the personal wish of a lady who passed away in 1983. Her golden tooth is still visible in the skull. As on date, a personal testament needs to be made if someone wishes to be placed in the Charnel House.







The Charnel House





The tradition The Charnel HouseThe tradition

As the evening dawned, it was about time to leave this charming town behind and take the bus to Obertraun. After the days unforgettable adventure and thousands of steps later, my back and legs needed some deserving rest. The town of Obertraun sleeps very early so I caught on a quick dinner at 9 pm at the only pizzeria next to my hotel. The next morning, as I prepared to continue my next leg of the trip, I caught on some quiet time by the shore before heading to the train station. The excitement was even higher as Prague beckoned!





Catching on some tranquility



Video Link:

https://youtu.be/_Xgm_NLepuc Catching on some tranquility Leaving behind the art, history and culture of Vienna, it was time to fulfil one of those long-nurtured dreams. It had been many years when a particular and very familiar picture of Hallstatt triggered the wanderlust in me. Probably I dont have to tell you which picture that is, and if you search Hallstatt on Google, it is definitely going to come up in the results. (Dont worry, I have clicked the exact same picture, bear with me!)I checked out of the hotel in Vienna at 5.30 AM and started walking towards the Wien Hauptbahnhof station. It was a cold and windy morning, and the warm layers were failing to keep the wind off me. I truly underestimated the temperature outside but the joy of taking the train to Hallstatt and finally experiencing the place with my own eyes was clearly winning! Another 10 minutes of walk later, I grabbed some croissant and coffee from Anker and boarded the OBB train for 6 AM. Typically you wont find a direct train from Vienna to Hallstatt. There are one interchange trains via Attnang-Puchheim which takes about 3.5 hours to reach Hallstatt. The high speed OBB trains would drop you at Attnang-Puchheim from where you will need to board a regional OBB train (less fancy, sans the WiFi and gizmos) to Hallstatt.At 9.30 AM sharp, I got down at the cute little train station of Hallstatt. As I exited the station, I could already see the Hallstatt Lake, and a ferry waiting to take the passengers to the other side of the lake. However, call it my stupidity, I had to reach Obertraun first!Obertraun is like the twin town of Hallstatt. Little did I know that a train station exists at Obertraun as well. When I found out, it was too late to cancel the train tickets. I figured; I will take some public transport after getting down at Hallstatt to reach Obertraun. Since the Hallstatt town is quite small, the railway tracks were laid on the other side of the town and one has to take a ferry to reach the main town. And thus, no public transport exists at the train station apart from the ferry. With no option left, I started walking the 2 km stretch. I wont deny, the views were extremely appealing, but the walk felt like forever, given I had to pull my trolley.: If you are going on a day trip or chose your stay in the main town (which is super expensive btw), you can book your train tickets till Hallstatt. If you are staying the night(s) and booked your stay at Obertraun, do book your tickets till Obertraun!40 minutes into the walk, I finally reached Hotel Haus Am See. In spite of putting in an early check-in request (which they agreed during booking), the person at the reception denied saying the rooms are not ready and recommended I should go visit the town.I freshened up, walked round the property, got a view of the lake (yes! The lake is huge and is accessible from Obertraun too), I went ahead to catch a bus to Hallstatt. I paid 2.5 Euros and 30 minutes later, I was dropped at the Hallstatt bus stop. The quiet vistas of Obertraun were quickly replaced by chatters of hundreds of tourists from all corners of the globe. After a quick stroll aimlessly and catching on some lunch, I headed to the Salzwelten Funicular, which would later take me to the Hallstatt Skywalk and the salt mine. One can get a 40 Euros ticket to visit both these places along with the round-trip funicular ride.Theres a hiking trail too I heard, which one could take to reach the top of the hill. While the hike would certainly offer more breathtaking views and satisfaction, it would also be prudent to save some time and energy to explore the salt mine later. Nevertheless, I was quite excited to ride the funicular like a kid.As I got off the funicular, I climbed few more stairs and after another 200 steps or so, I was finally at the Hallstatt Skywalk.Perched high above the charming village of Hallstatt, the Hallstatt Skywalk offers an exhilarating experience that caught me in awe. This breathtaking viewing platform, aptly named the "World Heritage View," extends over a sheer cliff, providing a stunning panoramic view that stretches across the tranquil Hallstatt Lake and the quaint, picturesque houses nestled along the shore. As I stepped onto the platform, the sensation of floating above the magnificent landscape was sinking in, and my DSLR went on a happy spree of capturing the breathtaking vistas around. The Skywalk is not just a vantage point but a gateway to the heart of Hallstatt's natural beauty, offering visitors a perspective that truly captures the essence of this enchanting village and its majestic alpine surroundings. Unfortunately, there was a crazy rush to click photos/selfies at the Skywalk, so after waiting for some more time to get lucky with an unobstructed view, I kind of gave up.Theres also a restaurant just before the skywalk. This place, also known as Rudolphs tower, holds significant historical and cultural importance in Hallstatt. Originally built in the late 13th century, it served as a fortification to protect the valuable salt mines from potential invaders. Named after Duke Rudolf I of Austria, who commissioned its construction, the tower provided strategic defence for the region's salt mining operations, which were crucial to Hallstatt's economy and development.Next up was the Hallstatt salt mine. I had heard great review about the salt mine during my research of Hallstatt and figured its a must do thing while in the town. I have never visited a salt mine in my life and was all in for this adventure. The entry to the salt mine is a 5 minutes walk from the skywalk.After getting my ticket validated, I proceeded to meet the guide for the day, Joseph. I must mention here that the salt mine tour cant be done without a guide and are typically done in batches. Joseph was an extremely funny young man, with a thorough knowledge of the salt mine, and part of my amazing experience at the mine was because of him. We were given the miners uniform, which we had to wear to save our dresses from being damaged. Perfectly dressed as miners, it was now time to enter the mine through the Christina tunnel and go back in history.The Hallstatt Salt Mine, known as Salzwelten, offers a captivating journey into the depths of history and geology. Dating back over 7,000 years, this ancient mine is the oldest in the world, providing a unique glimpse into the origins of salt mining. As you venture into the subterranean tunnels, it does feel like being transported through time, enabled by engaging narratives and immersive exhibits. The salt mine is also where a 3,000-year-old body of a miner was discovered in the salt, all perfectly preserved.As we proceeded through tunnels listening to the lucid narration of Joseph, it was time to go from one level to another  in a miners slide. Joseph instructed the group about how to slide perfectly. Though I felt a bit nervous initially at the thought of sliding, I took the plunge anyway and loved it. These slides were actually used by miners to go from one level to another. Talk about make work fun. However, if you are faint-hearted, you can safely take the stairs to go down a level. The second slide, going down to level 2 from level 1, was even more challenging and faster. The distance was about 64 metres and the slant felt almost like 45 degrees. If you feel fidgety about taking a photo during the slide, this one has got you covered! Theres a camera which takes automatic pictures of your slide and you can buy the same at the reception for 8 Euros. Although I took videos while sliding, I bought the picture anyway as a souvenir. The salt mine is also home to the oldest wooden staircase in Europe, preserved by the salt for millennia. Finally at the end of the tour, we were transported back to the daylight by a miners train. How cool is that! Given a choice, I would do the salt mine tour again, and I highly recommend this tour as it is an unmissable experience for any visitor.A postcard perfect town  with a lakeside promenade, surrounded by the towering Alps mountains, cute wooden houses with flowers hanging from the windows, and an adorable town square. That pretty much sums up Hallstatt! With the salt mine tour done, I quickly grabbed a scoop of Mozart (yes you will literally find his name everywhere in Austria, even in ice-creams!) and started strolling towards the Hallstatt town square. I couldnt get enough of the houses, how beautiful they were, with their colourful walls, the wooden roofs and a rich palette of flowers hanging from every balcony. Oh, and all of them have a lake view too!In another 5 minutes, I reached a small and pretty town square, which probably is one of the prettiest in Europe (if not the prettiest). Also known as the Marktplatz, the town square is a vibrant testament to the village's rich history and enchanting charm. This picturesque town square, adorned with colourful 16th-century houses, creates a captivating scene that feels straight out of a fairytale. Each building is a piece of history, now home to quaint cafes, charming shops, and inviting eateries where you can savour local delights. The focal point of the Marktplatz is a beautifully ornate fountain, around which locals and visitors gather to soak in the lively atmosphere. Seasonal flowers, festive markets, and cultural events add to the square's ever-changing tapestry. On the other side of the town square is the Evangelique Church, which apart from being an integral part of Hallstatts history, is also a piece of the familiar Hallstatt picture, which I talked about at the beginning.As I left behind the town square, I started walking the incline on the Gosaumuhlstrasse. It seemed as if the street is diverging from the lake, and few bends later, I found myself at an elevation from the town, and there it was, the most searched and sought after view of Hallstatt. With the stunning views of Hallstatt Lake on one side and the majestic Dachstein Alps on the other, this view of Hallstatt is like that perfect postcard. The towering spire of the Evangelique church, the houses doting the shoreline, the cruises on the lake, everything about this view is magical and mesmerizing. I was glad that I could see this place for real and could tick it off my bucket list.Every narrow alley in Hallstatt almost always leads to a spectacular view. One such alley took me to the Parish Church of the Assumption of Mary. The history of the place appeared interesting to me and I decided to visit the place. However, it was a hard time finding the way to the church. At the verge of giving up, I decided to try for one last time and started looking meticulously for any street sign leading to the church. Suddenly I stumbled upon a small street sign, and a five-minute hike rewarded me with one of the most breathtaking views of Hallstatt Lake from the terrace of the church. This beautiful Gothic church, dating back to the 12th century, is quite captivating with its intricate woodwork, stunning frescoes, and serene atmosphere and I guess this made me fall in love with small, traditional churches blessed with old world charm.The church is also home to the Charnel House, where about 1,200 skulls are painted with floral motifs as a sign of love, and the name and date of death of the deceased inscribed. This interesting tradition started in 1720 when the small town of Hallstatt ran out of cremation space and it was decided that the existing graves be opened 10-20 years after the burial to make space for the new. The skulls were then cleaned and bleached, painted with the floral motifs and placed in the Charnel House. The last skull placed in the Charnel House in 1995, on the personal wish of a lady who passed away in 1983. Her golden tooth is still visible in the skull. As on date, a personal testament needs to be made if someone wishes to be placed in the Charnel House.As the evening dawned, it was about time to leave this charming town behind and take the bus to Obertraun. After the days unforgettable adventure and thousands of steps later, my back and legs needed some deserving rest. The town of Obertraun sleeps very early so I caught on a quick dinner at 9 pm at the only pizzeria next to my hotel. The next morning, as I prepared to continue my next leg of the trip, I caught on some quiet time by the shore before heading to the train station. The excitement was even higher as Prague beckoned! Attached Thumbnails




In a nutshell: The Biden administration has announced plans to prohibit the sale of Kaspersky Lab's antivirus software in the United States. This decision, unveiled on Thursday, comes from growing concerns about Russia's potential influence over the company and the security risks this could pose to American users.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo didn't mince words when explaining the rationale behind this step during a press briefing. "Russia has shown it has the capacity and the intent to exploit Russian companies like Kaspersky to collect and weaponize the personal information of Americans and that is why we are compelled to take the action that we are taking today."

The new restrictions are set to take effect on September 29, giving businesses a 100-day grace period to find alternative solutions. Meanwhile, any new business by Kaspersky on US soil will be blocked 30 days after the announcement of the restrictions. The Commerce Department is also planning to add three Kaspersky units to a trade restriction list, effectively cutting them off from US suppliers.

Kaspersky, for its part, isn't taking this lying down. The company fired back, suggesting that the US decision is more about "present geopolitical climate and theoretical concerns" rather than any concrete evidence of wrongdoing. They're vowing to pursue legal options to keep their US operations alive, maintaining that they're a privately managed company with no ties to the Russian government.

That said, the ban doesn't just cover new sales. It will also block software updates, resales, and even licensing of Kaspersky products. Products that integrate Kaspersky technology and are sold under a different name are also covered by the restrictions.

The move is part of a broader strategy by the Biden administration to mitigate potential cybersecurity threats from Russia. It's bringing into play a new authority that allows it to restrict transactions between US firms and tech companies from "foreign adversary" nations like Russia and China.

At the same time, the US has also apparently been running low on fresh sanctions to slap on Russia for its ongoing war in Ukraine, so the timing of this announcement is particularly interesting.

Kaspersky has been in hot water before. Back in 2017, the Department of Homeland Security gave the software the boot from federal networks, citing possible ties to Russian intelligence.

But the heat really turned up after Moscow's move against Kyiv in early 2022. Following the invasion, the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) issued a warning that Russian IT manufacturers can "carry out offensive operations," recommending that Kaspersky antivirus products be replaced with alternatives.

Not long after, the US FCC added AO Kaspersky Lab to a "national security threat" blacklist alongside Chinese telecom firms Huawei Technologies Co and ZTE Corp. Kaspersky was the first Russian company on the list.
Why it matters: Making cloud servers and data centers more efficient is a crucial step in the push to increase sustainability and reduce carbon emissions. However, one company has started drawing attention to what it calls "data wastage"  the retention of large amounts of data no one accesses  and the factors making it difficult to cut back.

Up to 70 or 80 percent of the data that some companies store goes unused, according to enterprise data infrastructure provider NetApp. The company has recently started bringing attention to the issue to help clients meet sustainability goals.

NetApp Chief Technology Evangelist Matt Watts recently told The Register that storage comprises 15 to 20 percent of data center power consumption. Furthermore, a national survey indicates that cloud usage of the UK's power grid could grow from 2.5 percent to six percent by the end of this decade.

NetApp provides data tools for clients like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google. Last April, it published a report on the difficulties of tackling data wastage. Watts initially reported that around 41 percent of stored data is never accessed, but he has since revised the number to as much as twice that in certain areas.

Most leading IT figures believe that cutting back on unwanted data could help reduce carbon emissions, but many companies lack the resources. Some don't have enough time or find differentiating between valuable and unwanted data too daunting.

Obviously, companies that handle clients' data also don't want to cause trouble by deleting information someone might need. Watts highlighted disagreement and confusion in some organizations about whether IT departments are the owners or simply the caretakers of the data they manage, which can present an additional roadblock.

NetApp's BlueXP classification tool, part of a service that gives client companies unified control over diverse data infrastructures, was a significant factor in revealing the scale of data wastage. It retrieved metadata from its data center clients, showing who owned their stored files and when customers last accessed their information.

The issue comes amid NetApp's controversial decision to remove BlueXP's support for services like Google Cloud, Amazon S3, and OneDrive. Watts said that NetApp intends to focus on its internal storage systems instead so the company could stand out.
The Biden administration will ban Kaspersky Lab's antivirus software in the US, according to a report.



Reuters published a news story on Thursday about the US government's move, citing a source, who obtained information from the tech firm's significant US clients, including critical infrastructure suppliers and state and local governments.



The source said that Kaspersky Lab's close links to the Russian government may allow it to steal sensitive data, implant malware, or withhold essential upgrades through its privileged access to computer systems. Two more sources say the new US constraint, which uses extensive powers established by the Trump administration, would put the Kaspersky on a trade restriction list.

The Impact of The Biden Admin's Ban on Kaspersky

This measure of the Biden administration may harm Kaspersky's reputation and global sales, though the details of the Kaspersky software sales ban remain undisclosed. The US Commerce Department, Kaspersky Lab, and Russian Embassy representatives declined to comment, per the report.



As its war in Ukraine continues, the US government is taking these steps to reduce the possibility of Russian cyberattacks on Kaspersky software and pressure Moscow. The Biden administration exercises a new authority to block or restrict transactions between US enterprises and "foreign adversaries," including Russia and China.



During his administration, former President Donald Trump attempted to prevent Americans from using TikTok and WeChat, but federal judges stopped him.



From September 29, Kaspersky software will be restricted from inbound sales, upgrades, resales, and licensing. Kaspersky will prohibit new US business for 30 days following the announcement to give firms time to discover alternatives.

Kaspersky Co-Founder Laments Over US Government's Sanctions

Last year, all government-issued mobile devices in Canada were forbidden from using Kaspersky's security software, PC Mag reported.

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat announced the decision after the Chief Information Officer (CIO) found that WeChat and Kaspersky represent an unacceptable danger to privacy and security. The CIO was concerned about these applications' data collection practices, which provide them access to the device's contents.



Kaspersky Lab, founded in Moscow in 1997, is a major antivirus software company that competes with McAfee and Symantec. High-profile cybersecurity researchers at the organization analyze hacking efforts by Russia, the US, and Israel and cybercriminal dangers to average users.

The company's co-founder, Eugene Kaspersky, has become the main target of some of the US officials' concerns. According to CNN, US politicians typically point to Kaspersky's KGB-sponsored university cryptography studies to link his company to the Russian government.

Kaspersky Lab has denied unethical government relationships, including with Russia, saying that Kaspersky's post-graduation software engineering job at the Russian Ministry of Defense was "the extent of his military experience."

Eugene Kaspersky laments that his firm fell victim to geopolitical tensions between the West and Russia, which have escalated since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Tesla's Optimus robot can do many things, including folding laundry and other household chores. Elon Musk knows that it's made to help humans in their daily tasks. Recently, he ambitiously claimed that the latest model of the machine can operate as a babysitter.

The tech billionaire envisions that this robot can drive Tesla's valuation to $25 trillion and predicts that over a thousand will be operational in Tesla factories by next year.

Optimus: Beyond Practicality to Companionship

Musk's statements extend beyond Optimus's industrial applications. He says these robots are practical assistants, companions, and even babysitters.

Trying to be useful lately! pic.twitter.com/TlPF9YB61W  Tesla Optimus (@Tesla_Optimus) May 5, 2024

Upgraded Tesla Optimus Version

According to Interesting Engineering, the newest generation of the Tesla Optimus, Gen 2, boasts significant upgrades over its predecessor.

The humanoid robot has 22 degrees of freedom, enabling it to perform a variety of nimble actions. Tesla has showcased these advancements in promotional videos reminiscent of Boston Dynamics' viral Atlas footage.

Balancing Musk's Optimism with Realism

Elon Musk is known for his grandiose predictions, which must often be taken with a grain of salt.

For instance, he famously claimed in 2021 that Tesla would achieve fully self-driving Level 5 autonomy by the end of the year. While such claims have not always materialized on schedule, many of Musk's overreaching predictions have come to fruition.

SpaceX, for example, has dramatically reduced the cost of space travel with its Falcon 9 rideshare program.

The Vision of a 'Friendly' Optimus Companion

Musk's vision for Optimus includes the potential integration of a large language model (LLM) like Chat-GPT, which would enable the robot to communicate with its owner.

During Tesla's 2024 annual shareholder meeting in Austin, Texas, Musk elaborated on his "companion" vision regarding the robot.

"It's, you know, your companion, it can be at your house, it can babysit your kids, it could be a teacher. It, you know, it can do factory stuff. Who doesn't want a C3PO? You know, but a C3PO plus R2D2 plus, you know, plus plus. It would be pretty awesome. I think everyone in the world is going to want one. Literally everyone," Musk said.

Musk is no stranger to controversy, often making headlines with his outspoken views. He has previously suggested that adults without children should lose their voting rights and has expressed concern about declining birth rates, labeling them "the biggest danger civilization faces."

These statements, while provocative, hint at a narrative connecting Musk's vision for Optimus with demographic trends.

If Tesla aims to introduce the first robot babysitter, a higher number of children could indeed help it reach the projected $25 trillion valuation.

Can Optimus Live Up to Hype?

While the realization of Musk's full vision for Optimus remains uncertain, the potential impact of these robots on both industry and daily life is undeniable.

As the automaker continues to innovate, the Gen 2 Optimus could revolutionize how we think about automation, companionship, and even childcare. Musk is determined to make the prospect of a versatile, AI-powered robot in every home a futuristic dream.

There's nothing wrong with establishing claims if the company is sure that it can do its job someday. After all, Musk should continue to improve the technology he developed in robotics.
China's artificial intelligence (AI) sector is experiencing a major surge, with the country now home to over 4,500 AI companies, according to official data (via Xinhua).

The data was revealed at the 2024 World Intelligence Expo in Tianjin by Shan Zhongde, vice minister of industry and information technology.

Chinese AI Industry's Rapid Expansion

According to Xinhua, China has established 421 national-level demonstration factories focused on intelligent manufacturing, along with over 10,000 provincial-level digital workshops and smart factories. These facilities are driving innovations in manufacturing, transportation, education, and healthcare.

Wu Zhaohui, the vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, mentioned that the innovations like brain-computer interfaces and humanoid robots will have practical impacts across various industries.

"AI technology can also inject transformative power into regional economic growth and reshape the landscape of global competition," Wu added.

In 2023, the China's core AI industry reached a value of over 578 billion yuan (approximately $81 billion), reflecting a 13.9% increase from the previous year. This growth is part of the government's AI Plus initiative, which aims to expand the digital economy and modernize manufacturing sectors.

China's AI Sector Marked by Intense Competition

The rapid expansion of China's AI sector has led to intense competition among AI companies, particularly in the development of large language models (LLMs). The Economist reports that China now boasts over 100 LLMs with more than a billion parameters, putting them on par with some of the world's leading models.

This competitive landscape has resulted in significant price wars among major players. Companies like High-Flyer, ByteDance, Alibaba, and Baidu have dramatically reduced prices for their AI models, some by as much as 97%.

Baidu, for instance, announced that its Ernie chatbots would be free of charge for all business users. This aggressive pricing strategy aims to attract more customers and gather more data for training algorithms, but it also risks reducing revenues needed for further development.

AI Sector Braces for International Sanctions

Despite these advancements, the China's AI sector faces challenges from international sanctions, particularly from the United States.

The Global Times reports that the US is pressuring Japan and the Netherlands to impose restrictions on China's semiconductor sector, specifically targeting high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips, which are crucial for AI hardware ecosystems.

The Chinese officials have criticized these moves, arguing that they aim to maintain the US technological hegemony and disrupt global industrial stability.

The future of China's AI sector appears promising, with projections indicating that the Chinese AI economy could have a value of around two trillion yuan in revenue in 2026.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.
T-Mobile reportedly confirms its systems were not compromised after a recent claim by a notorious hacker, IntelBroker, who said they were selling critical information and data from the telecommunications giant. T-Mobile is, however, investigating the matter.

IntelBroker stated that they were selling images, SQL files, certificates for t-mobile.com, silo programs, source code, and Terraform data in a recent post on a dark web forum.

They released pictures demonstrating admin-level access to a Confluence server and the developer Slack channels the organization runs, claiming that the intrusion occurred in June 2024.

An insider informed the publication that the screenshots were uploaded to the server of a third-party vendor and are outdated. The third party's name is known, but it will stay secret for now because other threat actors may target it.

IntelBroker Breaks Into Apple

IntelBroker remains a well-known hacker as it continues to compromise with companies from various industries. The threat actor also released several datasets purportedly from Apple, including the source code for several internal tools the iPhone manufacturer uses.

A dark web forum post by IntelBroker states that source codes for AppleMacroPlugin, AppleConnect-SSO, and Apple-HWE-Confluence-Advanced were exposed in June 2024 as a result of a data breach that occurred on Apple.com, most likely at their hands.

Although Apple-HWE-Confluence-Advanced and AppleMacroPlugin are less recognized, AppleConnect-SSO is an authentication method that permits staff members to access particular apps on the Apple network. The company's Directory Services database is integrated with the system, guaranteeing safe access to internal resources.

IntelBroker's Background

Notably, the same hacker is said to have recently successfully hacked a Meta contractor, which exposed the data of 200,000 Facebook Marketplace users on a hacking site.

The stolen database allegedly held many individually identifiable information (PII) pieces, including names, phone numbers, email addresses, Facebook IDs, and profile details.

The hacked information allegedly made public on February 11 includes 24,127 email addresses among the other exposed data.

According to the threat actor, someone used the Discord username "algoatson" to break into the networks of a Meta contractor in October 2023 and steal this section of the Facebook Marketplace database.

Sources emphasize how crucial it was that IntelBroker hid the identity of the allegedly targeted contractor. Facebook claims that not all contractor businesses are in charge of managing Facebook Marketplace data. Rather, they employ a combination of external partnerships and internal teams, contingent upon the specific data aspect.

Other hacks, such as the December 2023 disclosure of sensitive US Department of Defense material, are also attributed to IntelBroker. The General Electric security breach that led to the November 2023 auction of DARPA-related network access is one of the previous breaches that IntelBroker has exploited. The threat actor was also involved in a Grocery Service hack in February 2023, compromising 1.1 million accounts.
Prostate medicines may decrease Lewy body dementia risk, a recent study says.

Drugs terazosin, doxazosin, and alfuzosin relax the prostate and bladder muscles. Patients receiving these prostate-related urine medications were less likely to acquire Lewy body dementia, according to the research published on June 19, reported by US News & World Report.

University of Iowa assistant professor of internal medicine Jacob Simmering described the findings as "exciting news," considering that there are "no drugs to prevent or treat dementia with Lewy bodies" available as of now.

Simmering noted that an available drug can help prevent the condition, "it has the potential to reduce its effects greatly."

According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), more than 1 million Americans suffer from Lewy body dementia, a condition caused by alpha-synuclein proteins that form Lewy bodies, disrupting brain chemistry and affecting thinking, memory, movement, and causing visual hallucinations.

Further Studies Needed for Promising Dementia Treatment

These prostate therapies stimulate a brain cell energy-producing enzyme related to Parkinson's. Since Parkinson's and Lewy body dementia are similar, researchers studied if these drugs may help.

Approximately 126,000 men receiving one of the three prostate treatments were compared to approximately 517,000 men taking other prostate therapies that do not activate the enzyme. The results showed that males using one of the three treatments were 40% less likely to acquire Lewy body dementia, according to the report.

Simmering also noted that there is a need for further research "to follow people over time and determine a cause-and-effect relationship." Researchers expressed optimism that these treatments may guard against this disease, which will undoubtedly afflict more individuals as the population ages.

The research only involved men; therefore, the results may not apply to women. The NIA reports somewhat more men develop Lewy body dementia than women.

Lewy Body Dementia: A Complex Disease

According to National Geographic, the FDA authorized two novel Alzheimer's drugs aducanumab and lecanemab, the first to target brain plaques, a few years ago.

However, aducanumab's studies reveal inconsistent results, although lecanemab slows cognitive deterioration in MCI or mild Alzheimer's. Notably, both drugs can cause brain hemorrhage and are expensive infusions (lecanemab costs $26,500 a year). Moreover, they are not approved for other types of dementias.

According to the Azheimer's Association, Alzheimer's and other dementia patients' health and long-term care expenditures are expected to exceed $360 billion in 2024, not counting unpaid care. Medicare and Medicaid are estimated to cover $231 billion (64%), and out-of-pocket expenses are $91 billion.Experts predicted that in 2050, dementia patients will spend approximately $1 trillion on health, long-term, and hospice care.

Lewy body dementia is difficult to diagnose, per the NIA. Many people mistake early its symptoms for other neurological or psychological disorders as the condition can occur alone or alongside brain abnormalities.

Health experts say that Lewy body dementia is a progressive condition: its symptoms start slowly and gradually intensify. Some patients live two to 20 years after diagnosis, although the condition usually lasts five to eight years. Health, age, and symptom intensity all impact how quickly Lewy body dementia symptoms develop.
Instagram content from adult sex content creators is reportedly instantly being pushed to 13-year-olds after just 3 minutes of logging in and account creation. Meta rejected the test results as not indicative of youths' general experiences.

The Wall Street Journal conducted the experiment, in which participants were asked to use newly created test accounts with an age restriction of 13 to scroll through Instagram Reels.

A test account's feed will be dominated by sexualized content in less than 20 minutes if it choose to ignore other types of information and watch sexually suggestive stuff through to the end.

Similar procedures were followed in independent testing conducted by the Journal and Laura Edelson, a professor of computer science at Northeastern University. The studies, which lasted for seven months and ended in June, demonstrate that the social media platform has persisted in providing children with adult-oriented information.

According to the experimenters, in one instance, a brand-new 13-year-old test account that only watched women's videos recommended by Instagram started receiving videos regarding anal sex after just thirty minutes.

TikTok and Snap on Sexual Content

The sexualized content for younger users was not produced in similar experiments conducted on TikTok's and Snapchat's short-video offerings.

According to Edelson, who noted that the entire mature engagement on TikTok appears to have significantly less inappropriate material than the teen experience on Reels, all three platforms have disparities in what content will be suggested to teens.

The study's results refute statements made by Instagram's parent company, Meta Platforms, in January that it will start censoring sensitive content, such as images that could be sexually suggestive or graphic for users younger than 16.

Legislations on Social Media Algorithms

This report coincides with the introduction of bills in several states to control the content that children see on social media. According to recent reports, New York may soon prohibit social media corporations from deploying content algorithms on teenagers.

The state took a step to shield children from automated feeds, which it has long considered harmful. With or without parental consent, the legislators' draft agreement seeks to restrict social media algorithms. Due to their likelihood of addiction and the negative consequences for youth, social media platforms have recently come under scrutiny.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams revealed in February that his administration had brought legal action against Facebook and Instagram, two social media sites that are part of Meta Platforms, alleging they had contributed to the epidemic of adolescent mental health issues.

In January, the same state declared that social networking apps are a "hazard" to public health and an environmental "toxin," with a key reason being the mental health of youth. The mayor emphasized that his city is the first of its size in the country to take such action and issued a warning about the dangers of social media.

Adams said the city will now treat social media as other public health hazards, making sure digital firms take responsibility, just as the surgeon general treated tobacco and guns.
After a tumultuous 2023 for Binance, it is now facing another scrutiny from Indian regulators, where it has been slapped with a hefty penalty of $2.25 million. This was because of alleged violations in India's anti-money laundering regulations, now cracking down on Binance's operations after recently registering to the regulatory agency.

It is known that Binance's last scrutiny before this was with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and its case also centered on money laundering violations.

Binance Slapped With $2.25 Million Penalty in India

A new report from Reuters shared that Binance is yet again slapped with a massive penalty, with India's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) bringing forth the latest complaint against the crypto exchange platform. This centers on the company's operations in the country, which violated its regulations on anti-money laundering, following a penalty from Canada against Binance for a similar violation.

India and FIU require crypto exchange companies and virtual digital asset service providers to register with its regulators, complying with its rules and regulations for anti-money laundering.

However, Binance only registered with FIU in May and is looking to resume its operations in the country after India's regulating agency cracked down on these platforms.

Binance's Money Laundering Violations

It was not expounded what specific activities from Binance were subject to the anti-money laundering violations, but the company is now facing this new scrutiny from India. Binance is still facing a block in India for its violations, with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology imposing against online access to Binance.

Binance and the Scrutinies it Faced

The massive crackdown of the United States against Binance saw a significant turn for the company last year, as it faced the issue and its former CEO, Changpeng Zhao, who will now serve his time in prison. Instead of getting the recommended three years, Zhao only got four months, which is 1/12th of the recommendations, under his plea deal.

It is known that Binance initially faced fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy charges from the US Department of Justice, also facing sanctions from other regulators. This led to the country's largest settlements in a criminal case, with as much as $4.3 billion to be paid to the US government after the company accepted the plea deal.

Binance is now looking to rebuild its company and turn its back on the past. A new CEO is leading the company, projecting a significant operation in the future. However, it saw yet another scrutiny, this time from India and its regulator, who are now charging Binance a $2.25 million fine for its alleged money laundering violations.
CDK Global is still suffering from multiple cyberattacks, with a second breach reportedly making it unable to restore operations and thus shutting down car dealerships and auto retailers across the United States.

Following a cyberattack, CDK Global, a firm that supplies software to nationwide car dealerships to manage sales and other services, had to shut down most of its systems temporarily.

About 15,000 auto dealerships are prevented from making sales because of this. CDK's technologies are utilized by General Motors dealerships and Group 1 Automotive, an auto retailer with hundreds of dealerships nationwide. Another client of CDK's is Holman, which has dealerships in eight states in the US.

Later on Wednesday afternoon, CDK said that some of its systems had been restored after testing and consultation with outside specialists.

Nevertheless, CDK reported to sources on Thursday afternoon that another cyberattack had taken down its systems, this time on Wednesday. A representative at CDK, Lisa Finney, verified the second event and the subsequent shutdown of most of their systems.

CDK Customer Service Outage

A busy signal always appeared when someone called a CDK customer care hotline. However, according to the company's automated recording, dealerships may be impacted by the outage for days.

According to sources, the cyberattack on CDK Global started on Tuesday night and knocked out the 15,000 car dealerships it services.

As previously stated, CDK said that on Wednesday night, it was the target of another cyberattack. Who or what organization is now responsible for the cyberattack is currently unknown.

As per CBS, a few dealerships seemed to develop inventive ways to stay open amid the interruption. Employees at the dealership shared on Reddit on Wednesday about the downtime, stating that they were not completing any significant transactions, selling small components to clients, and doing repairs using spreadsheets and sticky notes.

Cyberattacks Against Automakers

Cyberattacks against the vital infrastructure of numerous large automakers are only getting worse. Nissan most recently acknowledged that a data breach at Nissan North America may have compromised vital data belonging to 53,000 present and past workers.

Nissan revealed that the evil party had gained access to its external virtual network, disrupted multiple business processes, and demanded a ransom. According to the company, none of its systems were encrypted during the hack.

The business evaluated the circumstances, took charge of the problem, and eliminated the threat in collaboration with independent cybersecurity specialists.

After further investigation, it was found that the hacker had accessed a small number of files on local and network devices, most of which contained information relevant to businesses.

On February 28, the company found specific personal data in the data, most of which concerned former and current NNA [Nissan] employees, including Social Security numbers.
The world premiere for a London movie dubbed 'The Last Screenwriter' with an artificial intelligence-written script has been canceled due to a swarm of overwhelmingly negative feedback before the feature's premiere. This is despite the movie being called by its director as a "contribution to the cause."

This Sunday was scheduled to feature the new play at the Prince Charles Cinema in London's West End, which usually hosts screenings of cult and art films. On social media, the theater did, however, indicate that the screening would not proceed.

The Prince Charles Cinema stated that the comments the theater got in the 24 hours following the film's promotion brought to light the serious concerns many of their patrons had about the employment of AI in place of a writer, which relates to a larger problem in the business. The Last Screenwriter is a Swiss film directed by Peter Luisi and starring Nicholas Pople.

It tells the story of a renowned screenwriter whose world is turned upside down when they come across a state-of-the-art AI scriptwriting system that matches their abilities and outperforms them in empathy and comprehension of human emotions. OpenAI's ChatGPT 4.0 is credited for writing the screenplay.

According to sources, Luisi stated that despite canceling the showing due to 200 objections, a private screening for the actors and crew will still occur in London. He continued by saying that he believed people were unaware of the initiative since, he assumed, all they heard was that it was the first movie to be written totally by artificial intelligence.

Read Also : ChatGPT Creativity Is Being Killed by Censorship When Used in Scriptwriting, Study Finds

Screenwriters Against AI

Several organizations are looking to develop policies against AI, as artists worldwide continue to be cautious about its consequences for cinema. On April 11, a global alliance of some of the largest screenwriting guilds was scheduled to press for a series of demands to assist in safeguarding authors against artificial intelligence.

Strong licensing procedures that ask authors' permission before using any of their work as AI training data are part of this. In addition, the resolution asks member groups to work toward ensuring that datasets of marketed LLMs or any other AI technology contain only property rights licensed for such usage by 2024.

Projected Policies Against AI Screenwriters

The five principles, it is said, prohibit the use of AI or huge language models to replace writers and that only writers are capable of creating literary works.

Along with ensuring that AI is not entitled to copyright or author rights, they also introduce reasonable fees when writers' creative work is included in LLMs or AI programs, clearly consent to the utilization of writers' intellectual property to train AI, and are transparent about the use of AI-generated material when providing writing services (such as editing or redlining).
NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has thoroughly explored the 3C 58 supernova remnant, focusing mainly on its neutron star, PSR J0205+6449. This neutron star, among others studied, provides insights into the densest objects known.

The research, conducted in collaboration with ESA's XMM-Newton, utilizes advanced imaging techniques to scrutinize the inner workings of neutron stars.

NASA's Chandra X-Ray Sees Dense, Weird Stars

The combined Chandra X-ray data, showcasing low-energy X-rays in red, medium-energy in green, and high-energy in blue, has been complemented by an optical image from the Digitized Sky Survey depicting stars within the field.

These observations highlight a rapidly spinning neutron star encircled by a torus of X-ray emissions and an extensive jet spanning light-years.

Astronomers in this study have analyzed extensive data sets from neutron stars to identify their equation of state, which is a fundamental description encompassing pressures and temperatures across various interior regions.

The presence of neutron stars within supernova remnants, including those in 3C 58, provides a unique opportunity for age estimation. The researchers utilized machine learning, a branch of artificial intelligence, to analyze the data against different equations of state.

Their findings indicate that many of these equations can be disregarded, particularly those lacking rapid cooling capability at higher masses.

In their study, astronomers leveraged specific neutron stars within supernova remnants, such as 3C 58. By estimating the ages of these remnants, they could determine the ages of the neutron stars formed during the explosions.

Notably, they observed that the neutron star in 3C 58 and two others exhibited markedly lower temperatures than the remainder of the neutron stars studied.

Read Also : NASA'S Hubble and Chandra Xray Revives a Dead Star Back to its Original Form Before its Violent Explosion

Accelerated Cooling

The team suggests that the enhanced mass of these neutron stars may contribute to their accelerated cooling relative to others. The presence of a greater number of particles in more massive neutron stars could trigger specific processes that hasten their cooling rate.

One plausible explanation for the rapid cooling is the occurrence of radioactive decay near the centers of these neutron stars. In this scenario, neutrinos, low-mass particles capable of easily traversing matter, could carry away a significant amount of energy and heat, leading to rapid cooling.

Alternatively, it is posited that exotic forms of matter within the cores of these neutron stars, which cool more rapidly, may also play a role in this phenomenon, according to NASA.
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope marked its 21st anniversary by releasing a breathtaking image. The image captures the beauty of a cosmic event that showcases the telescope's powerful capabilities.

Astronomers at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, selected an especially striking pair of interacting galaxies, known as Arp 273, to commemorate this milestone.

A Galactic Rose From the Past

This celestial portrait focuses on the larger spiral galaxy, UGC 1810. This galaxy's disk has been warped into a rose-like shape due to the gravitational pull of its smaller companion, UGC 1813, located just below it. The resulting image is both scientifically valuable and visually stunning.

This magnificent image is a composite created using Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3. Data for this image was collected on December 17, 2010, using three separate filters encompassing a wide range of wavelengths.

These filters include the spectrum's ultraviolet, blue, and red portions, allowing the final image to reveal a rich array of details and colors.

Arp 273 is located in the constellation Andromeda, approximately 300 million light-years away from Earth. The interaction between UGC 1810 and UGC 1813 provides astronomers with an exceptional opportunity to study the effects of gravitational forces on galactic structures.

The distorted shape of UGC 1810, resembling a rose, directly results from these tidal interactions. The Hubble Space Telescope, a collaboration between NASA and the European Space Agency, has been orbiting Earth since its launch on April 24, 1990.

Hubble has captured some of the most detailed images of the universe, contributing immensely to our understanding of the cosmos.

NASA's Hubble New Image After Switching to One-Gyro Mode

It is worth noting that Hubble is already 34 years old. NASA released this image to relive one of the most stunning images Hubble has taken at a time when it was celebrating an important milestone.

With over three decades in space, Hubble's journey was not smooth sailing. It recently faced several weeks of downtime after one of its gyroscopes, a component crucial for the telescope's stability and orientation, malfunctioned.

However, all is well now for Hubble after it resumed operations on June 14. It recently revealed images after shifting to an alternative operational mode with only one gyro.

The newly captured image features NGC 1546, a nearby galaxy in the Dorado constellation. Its positioning offers a unique view, revealing dust lanes illuminated from behind by its core.

NASA explained that these dust lanes absorb light, giving them a rusty-brown color, while the core emits a yellowish glow due to older stars. Bright blue areas indicate active star formation, visible through the dust.

Additionally, several distant galaxies are seen, including a spiral galaxy adjacent to NGC 1546. Learn more about this new image here.




Sony has officially announced that its longstanding Rewards program will conclude on December 31, 2024.

Launched in 2017, the Sony Rewards system, in conjunction with branded Sony and PlayStation credit cards, allowed members to accumulate points from purchases made through the company's online store. These points could be redeemed for various benefits such as game discounts, gift cards, and other items.

Earning Points with Sony Rewards

Similar to other loyalty programs, Sony Rewards awarded one point for every unit of supported currency spent, like one dollar equating to one point.

Members could also apply for a Sony-branded credit card to earn points from eligible transactions. However, in 2021, Sony restricted point accumulation to only those holding Sony or PlayStation credit cards.

This change was met with criticism from users and now, the console maker has decided to phase out the Rewards program entirely.

Final Redemption and Account Access

According to GameRant, Sony has updated its FAQ page on the official Sony Rewards website to confirm the termination of the Rewards program.

Members have until December 31, 2024, to redeem any remaining points and access their accounts.

After this date, all unredeemed points will expire. Additionally, users can submit bonus points and purchase credit request forms through the Sony Rewards app until July 21.

It is important to note that Sony Rewards is distinct from the PlayStation Stars loyalty program, which will continue to operate.

Ongoing Issues with PlayStation Stars

Despite the continuation of PlayStation Stars, the program has faced significant issues.

Since early June, coinciding with PlayStation's Days of Play promotional period, PlayStation Stars has been offline. This downtime has prevented users from earning new points or collectibles, frustrating many who made purchases during the promotion.

The PS5 manufacturer has acknowledged the problem and assured users that their points will not be lost. However, over two weeks later, the service remained inactive, causing continued dissatisfaction among members.

Shifting Focus to PlayStation Stars

The discontinuation of Sony Rewards may disappoint some loyal users, but it appears that Sony is shifting its focus entirely to PlayStation Stars as its primary loyalty program.

Given that Sony Rewards has seen little improvement in recent years, this strategic move might allow the company to streamline its loyalty offerings. However, with PlayStation Stars still offline, Sony faces mounting pressure to resolve the issues and restore the service, enabling members to enjoy the program's benefits and rewards.

Sony's decision to end its Rewards program marks the end of an era for many loyal users. With the program set to conclude later this year, members should take immediate action to redeem any remaining points.

Meanwhile, as Sony pivots to focus on PlayStation Stars, it must address the current service disruptions to maintain customer satisfaction and ensure a smooth transition for its loyalty program users.

Elsewhere, Xbox is touted to bring the "biggest booth yet" in Gamescom 2024 on August 21 to 25 in Cologne, Germany.
Huawei is nearing the milestone of one billion active consumer devices. The company's aggressive expansion comes amid facing US sanctions, directly challenging tech giant Apple, particularly in the critical Chinese market.

According to Bloomberg, Huawei now boasts around 900 million devices equipped with its in-house Harmony OS, a substantial increase from just a few months ago.

This growth is driven by the surge in sales of Huawei's premium smartphones, which climbed 72% in the first five months of 2024.

How Premium Phone Releases Boosted Huawei

Richard Yu, the consumer business Chairman of Huawei, attributed the success to the company's flagship Mate 60 Pro. This model features a 7-nanometer processor, a technological feat that US officials had previously believed to be beyond the reach of Chinese firms.

The Mate 60 Pro's success has been a key factor in Huawei's ability to more than quintuple its profit during the March quarter, capturing market share from both Apple and other Chinese competitors.

Looking ahead, Huawei plans to release a successor to the Mate 60 Pro, the Mate 70, by the end of the year. This new model is expected to run on HarmonyOS Next, which aims to fully sever ties with Google's Android.

Read Also : Huawei Pura 70 Series Launches with Strong Demand, Pro and Ultra Models Out of Stock

Huawei's HarmonyOS Reaches More Users

The company has integrated HarmonyOS into a variety of products, including watches and TVs. In the first quarter, Huawei shipped approximately 11 million wearables, surpassing Samsung, according to IDC.

Canalys data highlights that HarmonyOS has become the second-largest mobile operating system in China, with a market share of 17.95% in the first quarter of 2024, up from just 6.5% in 2022. This places it ahead of Apple's iOS, which holds about 14.8% of the market.

Bloomberg reports that the company is also exploring ways to monetize HarmonyOS more aggressively, such as taking a cut of in-app purchases. This move reflects Huawei's growing confidence in competing directly with the iPhone, though it is likely to exclude significant platforms like Tencent Holdings Ltd.'s WeChat.

On the AI front, Huawei is making notable progress with its Ascend GPU. Yu claimed these processors are 1.1 times more effective in training AI models compared to mainstream offerings.

Meanwhile, Huawei has officially entered the GenAI smartphone market with the launch of the Pura 70 series and its AI image eraser feature.

Huawei's Strong Grip on the Chinese Market

Counterpoint Research notes that China's smartphone sales grew 1.5% year-over-year and 4.6% quarter-over-quarter in Q1 2024, marking the second consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth.

Huawei stood out as the quarter's best performer, enjoying a 69.7% year-over-year growth, while Apple's sales dropped 19.1% year-over-year, largely due to Huawei's resurgence in the premium segment.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.
The U.S. Department of Commerce on Thursday announced a Final Determination that bans Moscow-based Kaspersky Labs U.S. subsidiary from directly or indirectly selling its security software in the United States or to U.S. persons, citing national security risk.

Citing the Russian governments offensive cyber capabilities and capacity to influence or direct Kasperskys operations that could not be addressed through mitigation measures short of a total prohibition

The U.S. Department of Commerce in a press release said, Kaspersky will generally no longer be able to, among other activities, sell its software within the United States or provide updates to software already in use.

The agency also added three entitiesAO Kaspersky Lab, OOO Kaspersky Group (Russia), and Kaspersky Labs Limited (United Kingdom)to the Entity List believed to be a national security concern for their cooperation with Russian military and intelligence authorities in support of the Russian Governments cyber intelligence objectives.

The U.S. Department of Commerce imposed the first of its kind ban on Kaspersky software, arguing that the companys Russian origins threaten U.S. national security and users privacy.

Starting July 20, the U.S. government will ban Kaspersky from selling its software products to individual customers and businesses. However, existing users who are using Kasperskys antivirus will be eligible to receive software and security updates until September 29 this year.

That means your software and services will degrade. Thats why I strongly recommend that you immediately find an alternative to Kaspersky, Raimpondo added.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has strongly encouraged Kaspersky users to quickly transition to new vendors within 100 days to limit exposure of their personal or other sensitive data to threat actors due to a potential lack of cybersecurity coverage.

However, individuals and businesses who choose to continue using existing Kaspersky products and services will not face legal penalties under the Final Determination.

Responding to the latest move from the U.S. government, Kaspersky said the Department of Commerces decision unfairly ignores the significant transparency measures that the company implemented to demonstrate its enduring commitment to integrity and trustworthiness.

Kaspersky is a multinational company with offices in 31 countries, servicing users in over 200 countries and territories. It provides cybersecurity and anti-virus products and services to over 400 million users and 270,000 corporate clients around the world.
Children electrocuted as Mexico storm kills four



Mexico City, June 20 (AFP) Jun 20, 2024



Four people died, including two children who were electrocuted while riding their bikes, as a tropical storm made landfall in Mexico, authorities said Thursday.

Tropical storm Alberto, the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, was downgraded to a tropical depression shortly after hitting eastern Mexico.

However torrential rains, lightning and hail remained a threat, according to a statement from Conagua, the national water agency.

Four people were killed in various incidents in the northeastern state of Nuevo Leon, according to civil protection services and President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

Lopez Obrador told journalists two children out riding their bicycles had been electrocuted on Wednesday in the town of Allende, while a teenager was swept away by a river in the state capital Monterrey.

A statement from civil protection services also attributed the death of an adult from electrocution, who was doing repairs at home, to the effects of the storm.

Another nine people were rescued from their homes in the town of Santa Catarina after a dam overflowed, said the statement.
US urges EU to delay anti-deforestation law



Brussels, Belgium, June 20 (AFP) Jun 20, 2024



The United States has called on the European Union to delay a ban on imports of products driving deforestation, saying it would harm American producers unable to comply, the European Commission said Thursday.

The EU law, set to take effect at the end of December, will bar a vast range of goods -- from coffee to cocoa, soy, timber, palm oil, cattle, printing paper and rubber -- if produced using land that was deforested after December 2020.

The US call adds to concerns voiced by Latin American, Asian and African countries, and from within the EU itself, about the administrative burden the new law places on farmers and the forestry sector.

The EU is the second-biggest market for consumption of the targeted products after China.

Firms importing the merchandise in question to the 27-nation EU will be responsible for tracking up their supply chains to prove goods did not originate from deforested zones, relying on geolocation and satellite data.

According to the Financial Times, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and Trade Representative Katherine Tai wrote to the European Commission in late May to request a delay.

They argued that the law, adopted in late 2022, posed "critical challenges" for US producers, and asked for implementation to be postponed "until these substantial challenges have been addressed."

"We can confirm the receipt of the letter and, as always, we will reply in due course," a commission spokesman told AFP.

"We are working actively in close collaboration with all stakeholders to prepare its entry into effect," he said.

"The Commission keeps the situation under constant review and is working hard to ensure that all the conditions are met for smooth implementation," the spokesman added.



- Implementation concerns -



When asked for comment Thursday on the letter, a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) spokesperson did not confirm the requested delay, but told AFP it "shares the European Union's commitment to combating deforestation and appreciates our continued dialogue."

The spokesperson added that the United States is "concerned" that the EU law "raises several issues related to how the regulation will be implemented and the impact it may have on US producers that engage in sustainable production practices."

The EU's environment commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius in March visited Paraguay, Bolivia and Ecuador to address criticisms of the new law.

The bloc has offered technical and financial help for importers to get their tracing systems up to the needed level, responding to complaints that the EU changes will be costly for smaller farms in particular.

The following month Sinkevicius also visited Ivory Coast, the world's leading cocoa producer, to address similar concerns there.

Within the EU itself, the agriculture ministers of around 20 member states -- led by Austria and Finland -- warned in April about the law creating new bureaucratic hurdles for the farm sector, at the risk of harming investment and distorting competition.

Under the law, exporting countries considered high-risk would have at least nine percent of products sent to the EU subjected to checks, with the proportion falling for lower-risk ones.

As it stands, for want of an agreed classification system, the EU will consider all countries as "standard risk" as of the end of December -- triggering checks on three percent of imports.

EU imports are responsible for 16 percent of global deforestation, according to WWF data.
Brazil's Pantanal wetlands see record fires even before dry season



Rio de Janeiro, June 21 (AFP) Jun 21, 2024



Brazil's Pantanal, one of the world's largest tropical wetlands, is seeing record fires in June, even before the arrival of the dry season, satellite data showed Friday.

The Brazilian Institute of Space Research (INPE) released data showing some 1,700 fires since the start of the month in a region teeming with one of the greatest concentrations of wildlife in South America.

This is more than four times the previous record for fires in June, set almost two decades ago.

"This resurgence of fires in the Pantanal even before the dry season (which usually begins in the second half of the year) is extremely worrying," Claudio Angelo, a member of the Climate Observatory collective, told AFP.

The worst year on record for the Pantanal, a region slightly bigger than England, was 2020, when 30 percent of the wetlands were affected by flames.

This year so far, is looking worse.

"Everything suggests that we are facing another extreme climate event, which makes us fear for the future of the biome in the coming months, when the drought reaches its peak," said Angelo.

The Pantanal, which extends into Bolivia and Paraguay, is home to millions of caimans, parrots, giant otters and the world's highest density of jaguars.

Environment Minister Marina Silva has sounded the alarm in recent weeks over the looming "severe" drought in several parts of the country, including the Pantanal and the Amazon rainforest.

Brazil has been battered by a series of extreme weather events, most recently once-in-a-century flooding in the state of Rio Grande do Sul that left more than 170 people dead.
Italy swelters in first summer heatwave



Rome, June 21 (AFP) Jun 21, 2024



Tourists and locals sweltered under Italy's first summer heatwave on Friday, with the installation in Rome of potted trees for shade providing little relief.

Temperatures were forecast to hit 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in parts of the country, according to the official air force weather service, while the health ministry issued red alerts for Rome and Palermo among other cities.

Weather website Il Meteo blamed an African anticyclone it dubbed "Minos", who in Greek mythology was the son of Zeus. After his death, Minos became a judge of the underworld.

In Rome, where the air force recorded a peak of 39C on Thursday afternoon, the city hall has installed potted palm trees at bus stops to provide some shade.

While the capital has many parks and is dotted with drinking water fountains in addition to the decorative ones, there are also many streets and piazzas with little to no cover from the sun.

The occasional palm was not enough to offset the sauna-like heat and during lunchtimes this week, many have spurned outside tables for the cool of air-conditioned restaurants.

"We'll go back to the hotel for a while to avoid the hottest hours," Anna Verna, an Italian tourist to Rome, told AFP on Friday while visiting an area near the famous Spanish Steps.

"Then we'll go out again... Rome is beautiful, so we want to enjoy it even in the heat."

Environmental campaign group Greenpeace took a thermal camera onto the streets of Rome and found temperatures above 50C at certain spots, including the Colosseum.

Last year, Rome recorded a record peak temperature of 42.9C on July 18, according to city hall.

"A record, unfortunately, that we risk breaking this summer," said Sabrina Alfonsi, lead councillor for the environment.

"Summer has already exploded, even though it is still June."

Human-caused climate change is heating up the planet at an alarming rate, sparking repeated intense heatwaves, the global scientific community agrees.
Greek authorities evacuate villages amid spate of wildfires



Athens, June 21 (AFP) Jun 21, 2024



Firefighters in Greece's Peloponnese peninsula on Friday battled large wildfires fanned by a third consecutive day of high winds, forcing authorities to evacuate several villages, the fire department said.

At least four major blazes were recorded in the southern peninsula in an area between 150 to 250 kilometres (93 to 155 miles) southwest of Athens.

Dozens of firefighters were battling to contain a blaze near a power station outside the Peloponnesian town of Magapoli, backed up by 12 vehicles, six water-bomber planes and two helicopters, according to the Greek news agency ANA.

"The conditions are extremely challenging," fire department spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis told reporters.

"The wind speeds have exceeded 95 kilometres per hour in some regions," Vathrakogiannis said, adding that this was making life difficult for planes dropping water on the fires.

In all, he said "45 fire outbreaks have been recorded across the country," the spokesman said.

The fire service had quickly contained a blaze that erupted near the seaside resort of Mavro Lithari close to the capital, he said, while urging civilians to take precautions.

Since Wednesday, Greek authorities have warned of a very high wildfire risk due to strong winds and high temperatures, which in some areas have reached 40 degrees Celsius (101 Fahrenheit).

Two villages and three private schools were evacuated near Koropi on Wednesday due to a fire that broke out 30 kilometres southeast of Athens.

Accustomed to searing summer heat, Greece has been preparing for a particularly difficult wildfire season for weeks.

After the warmest winter in its history, the Mediterranean nation experienced its earliest-ever heatwave last week, with the mercury topping 44 C (111 F) in some areas.

In 2023, Greece experienced an unprecedented two-week heatwave followed by devastating wildfires.

The flames consumed nearly 175,000 hectares (432,000 acres) of forest and farmland, according to the National Observatory of Athens.

Scientists warn that fossil fuel emissions caused by humans are worsening the duration, frequency and intensity of heatwaves around the world.

Rising temperatures are leading to extended wildfire seasons and increasing the area burnt by the blazes, according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Austrian group stages Google Maps climate change stunt



Vienna, June 21 (AFP) Jun 21, 2024



Austrian climate activists said Friday they had posted artificially altered photos of Alpine lakes and other Austrian landmarks on Google Maps to show the effects of climate change.

Last Generation Austria activists have uploaded dozens of photos of famous places altered using artificial intelligence, dating them 2070, they said.

They wanted to show how the places might look in 45 years given the effects of climate change.

AFP found the photos on Google Maps showing dried-up beds of Alpine lakes and towering glaciers with brown rocks showing through.

"We wanted to reach people... planning their vacation, looking at Google Maps... to see what the climate catastrophe will do to our beautiful home country," spokeswoman Marina Hagen-Canaval told AFP.

Contacted by AFP, Google could not immediately comment on the campaign or if they would remove the altered images.

Last Generation Austria stages regular actions to raise awareness of climate change, such as blocking streets.

By taking their protest online, they hoped to reach even more people, said Hagen-Canaval.

Human-caused climate change is heating up the planet at an alarming rate, sparking repeated intense heatwaves, the global scientific community agrees.

A report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) earlier this year warned of "catastrophic" consequences if Europe failed to take urgent action to adapt to risks posed by climate change.

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Greek wildfires claim first victim



Athens, June 21 (AFP) Jun 21, 2024



Greek firefighters on Friday battled wildfires fanned by three days of fierce winds that have left at least one person dead, authorities said.

A 55-year-old man collapsed and died while helping to fight one of four major blazes ravaging the southern Peloponnese peninsula where several villages have been evacuated, according to a fire service spokesman.

Dozens of firefighters battled to put out one blaze near a power station outside the town of Magapoli, with six water-bomber aeroplanes and two helicopters brought in to help, according to the Greek news agency ANA.

The other fires are in the Argolis, Messenia and Achaea regions of the Peloponnese at a time when the peninsular is starting to hit its peak tourist season.

"The conditions are extremely challenging," fire department spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis told reporters.

"The wind speeds have exceeded 95 kilometres (60 miles) per hour in some regions," said Vathrakogiannis, who highlighted how the winds were battering aeroplanes dropping water on the fires.

In all, he said, "45 fire outbreaks have been recorded across the country."

The man who died was a resident of the Peloponnese village of Myrtia. A fire service spokesman told AFP that according to witnesses he collapsed while fighting the flames around his village. Several homes have been destroyed or damaged by the wildfires.

The fire service contained one blaze near the seaside resort of Mavro Lithari close to Athens, Vathrakogiannis said, urging civilians to take precautions. Two other villages southeast of Athens were evacuated on Wednesday.

Greek authorities have warned of the growing wildfire risk due to strong winds and high temperatures, which in some areas have reached 40 degrees Celsius (101 Fahrenheit).

Accustomed to searing summer heat, Greece has for weeks been preparing for a particularly difficult wildfire season.

After the warmest winter in its history, the Mediterranean nation experienced its earliest-ever heatwave last week, with the mercury topping 44 C (111 F) in some areas.

Last year, a fierce two-week heatwave was followed by devastating wildfires in which 20 people died.

The flames consumed nearly 175,000 hectares (432,000 acres) of forest and farmland, according to the National Observatory of Athens.

Scientists warn that fossil fuel emissions caused by humans are worsening the length and intensity of heatwaves around the world.

Rising temperatures are leading to extended wildfire seasons and increasing the area burnt by the blazes, according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
For almost as long as film has existed, New Orleans has been a movie town.

Filmmakers love to shoot here, stars love to bask in the citys mystique and residents love to see their beloved Big Easy shining bright on the big screen.

But recently a question was posed to the Curious Louisiana staff: When, exactly, did this love affair start? And, more specifically, when did New Orleans get its first movie theater?

Its a bigger, more important question than some might realize, because when Vitascope Hall first opened its doors on Canal Street in summer 1896, it wasnt only New Orleans first permanent, for-profit movie house. It was also Americas.
Top executives from Australias three largest commercial media companies have warned of job cuts across newsrooms if Facebook and Instagrams parent Meta fails to renew the deals struck with publishers under the media bargaining code.

On Friday, a trio of executives from Nine, News Corp and Seven West Media slammed the toxic impact of social media on Australian democracy and society, pointing to the growing incidence of trolling, political interference, scams and blackmail.

Speaking at the Social Media and Australian Society inquiry in Canberra, the executives argued the federal government should impose further regulations on social media platforms, including the potential expulsion of Facebook from Australia if Meta failed to comply with local laws and values.

Ban them: Nines Mike Sneesby, News Corps Michael Miller and Seven West Medias Jeff Howard in Canberra on Friday. Credit: AAP

We cannot be scared to designate the platforms that refuse to recognise our sovereign laws, Nine chief executive Mike Sneesby said. He added that the consumption of news content on social media had never been greater, with views of Nine video content across Metas platforms now totalling about 5 billion a year.
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An unintended effect of two new elevated whale-watching platforms at North Head in Sydneys Manly has been the ability of visitors to speak whale, just like Dory in the hit film Finding Nemo.

Dr Shannon Foster, a Sydney Dharawal saltwater knowledge keeper, said wind, acoustics and Country had wrought magic on the popular tourist spot where Indigenous people had gathered for millennia to sing whales to safety.

CHROFI architects Steven Fighera and Luke Hannaford with Dharawal Eora knowledge keeper Dr Shannon Foster. The Yiningma and Burragula lookouts by CHROFI architects are nominated in the small projects category of the 2024 NSW Architecture Awards. Credit: Rhett Wyman

Foster encouraged members of the public to sing or talk in the middle of the small circle on the new south-facing lookout, named Burragula in a reference to the Indigenous words for sunset and the local bandicoots.

Whoo, she called, channelling Dory speaking whale. Theres this amazing effect. My voice right now is echoing back to me in the most beautiful way. Its creating these kinds of weird vibrations that go right through your whole body.

A whale near the new viewing platforms at North Head, Manly. Credit: Rhiannon Brownbill of Bangawarra

American tourist Sarah Leonard erupted in laughter and shock after experiencing the effect. You gotta hear it buddy, Leonard said to her son. Youll love it.
WAs opposition health spokeswoman Libby Mettam has claimed another death in a public hospital under what she has labelled as questionable circumstances was a further pointer to systemic failures within the states health system.

Her comments come after Suzan Al Hulow lost her baby at Joondalup Health Campus after she was allegedly left unattended for hours.

WA Liberal leader Libby Mettam has called on the state government to conduct their own inquiry. Credit: Jesinta Burton.

The same health campus has been under fire recently, after 21-month-old Sandipan Dhar died after staff allegedly refused to run blood tests despite his parents pleas.

Mettam said West Australians were losing faith in the health system and the government needed to do something.

How can we possibly be living in the wealthiest state in the nation, yet our health system is on its knees, she said.

Mettam called on the state government to conduct an inquiry into the latest death.

Sadly, today we are hearing yet again from grieving parents about what they believe was the preventable death of their child in one of our public hospitals, she said.

The Ministers response, to direct the hospital to meet with the parents, is simply not good enough.

These parents are already living their worst nightmare, they should not have to openly call out our public hospital system or Health Minister to get an honest and thorough investigation into their childs death.

Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said Ramsay Health Care had advised they had scheduled a second meeting with the family.

I think it is important we allow that meeting to occur as a first step, she said. I want the family to have the opportunity to put forward their concerns about their care.

I find it irresponsible and crass that the Opposition would seek to politicise their loss and call on them to let the family be heard.
One of the best attractions is Willie Creek Farm, a modern pearling operation close to the start of the road north. There are regular tours operated by the farm, and its hard to believe the electric blue of the water as you glide on a boat to view the live oysters suspended among the native flora. Travel around Dampier is best done in a 4WD. Theres also an oyster nursery to visit, and to gain lessons on how oysters are seeded and harvested, topped off with a selection of beautiful pearl jewellery to salivate over. You can stay here too, on a roomy three-level houseboat. Further north, along the red, red road, fringed with timeless bush and beach, theres Beagle Bay, a settlement of the Nyul Nyul people, with its beautiful Sacred Heart Church, known for its stunning shell altar of mother of pearl, cowrie, volute and olive snail shells. It was built by hand by local Aboriginal people and Pallottine monks whod operated a mission in the area in the late 1800s. This fabulous building, now heritage listed, has a three-storey square belltower that takes your breath away  especially as its so off-the-beaten track, and totally unexpected, near the Beagle Bay Creek with its tidal black soil, mangroves, vivid wildflowers, plentiful fish and crocodiles. Thats another favourite place to fish for giant barra, to bush bash or just to enjoy nature, with egrets, brolgas and bee-eaters, wallaroos, dingos, wild donkeys and frilled-neck lizards.

The National Heritage-listed coastal wilderness of Pender Bay, 25 kilometres further north along a 4WD-only track, is another stunning sight. There are millions of tiny blood-red crab shells scattered on the white sands fringing the turquoise ocean which, in the bright sunlight, glitter scarlet. Together with the striking rust cliffs that line the shore, the whole area has a rosy glow. The deserted beach is a haven for birdlife, fish, molluscs and humpback whales in season, when they begin their annual migration north from Antarctica. There are unpowered sites for camping, as well as safari tents and cabins. Not far away, is the tiny town of Lombadina on Thomas Bay, with a bush timber church, shell middens, footprints of Indigenous ancestors hundreds of years old and a craft shop, stacked with traditional arts all based on their saltwater heritage. Here, there is also a variety of tours by First Nations locals. A kayak tour, paddling through the crystal-clear water, and a snorkel, a fishing charter, a whale-watching cruise, or a mud crabbing tour, followed by a delicious feast of mud crab, are perfect ways to experience the vibe, while theres a lodge to stay in, cabins, single rooms and powered and unpowered campsites. Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm is on the tip of the Dampier Peninsula.

But probably the best-known draw of the whole area is another pearl farm, this time on the tip of the Dampier Peninsula, the iconic Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm. Owned by four generations of the same family since founded in 1946 by one of Australias true pearling pioneers, Dean Brown, it first opened its doors to visitors in 2009. Now, its a fascinating spot to explore with mangroves, tidal creeks, small sandy beaches, the horizontal waterfalls, the Buccaneer Archipelago, sea safaris and bush tracks, and a fabulous range of accommodation, with new eco safari tents in its Pearlers Village just winning a gold award in the unique accommodation category of the latest Qantas Australian Tourism Awards. A tour from Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm takes in Waterfall Reef. Theres also glamping on the secluded creeks and old pearling shacks and camping and caravan sites. An infinity pool is perfect to cool off in, while theres also a licensed restaurant, with meals made from local and native ingredients. Fourth-generation pearler and proud Bardi man Terry Hunter gives guided tours of his home and country, exploring the tidal flats and foraging for oysters. Finally, even further north at the tip of the peninsula, is Ardyaloon, or One Arm Point, a 400-strong Aboriginal community with an intriguing history. It had originally been established on Sunday Island off the coast in 1899  this lasted until 1960 when the Uniting Church Mission, which had taken it over, was closed.

Everyone was relocated to either Broome or Derby but, as saltwater people who traditionally fished and hunted, the locals couldnt adapt to town life and moved to Ardyaloon instead. Now, it has an amazing aquaculture centre and a lookout from where you can watch one of the biggest tides in the world wrap itself around the islands off the coast. First Nations culture has remained fabulously strong on the peninsula with several Indigenous tours for visitors. There are boat tours over to Sunday Island with Jawi woman Rosanna Angus, whose family lived there during the early mission days, and cultural tours by Bardi traditional owner Bundy, still living as previous generations did, and walks with Bardi-Jawi man Bolo Angus through his ancestral lands of mangroves, paperbark forests, salt plains and creeks, talking about hunting techniques, bush tucker, bush medicines and how to find fresh water. Getting away from it all? You could hardly go any further. THE DETAILS FLY

Qantas, Virgin Australia and Jetstar all fly regularly to Broome from various capital cities.
Local dealerships are conducting customer transactions the old-fashioned way, in the fallout from a cyberattack on a widely used software provider.

The company targeted by the attack, Illinois-based CDK Global, temporarily shut down most of its systems as a precaution. The effect has rippled to showrooms and service areas across the country, affecting about 15,000 auto dealerships that use CDKs services.

In many cases, dealership employees are handling sales and service transactions by hand, as a stopgap until CDKs automated systems are once again available to them.

Are (dealers) hindered? Absolutely, said Paul Stasiak, president of the Niagara Frontier Automobile Dealers Association. Are they crippled? Absolutely not.

Dealers say CDK has not provided a time frame for restoring service, so they are relying on old-fashioned methods in the interim.

It is a major hassle to try to operate without our computer systems working, but customers have been very understanding of delays that have been caused as we try to go back to the old-school ways of handwriting the documents needed to sell and service cars, said Frank Downing Jr., president of Towne Automotive Group. As always, we are trying to make the best out of a bad situation.

Almost every dealer in Buffalo uses CDK, so we are all working through this as best we can, Downing said.

The disruption is also affecting West Herr, one of the nations largest dealer groups.

We are extremely grateful to our employees for continuing to care for our customers during this interruption of normal operations and we are thankful that West Herr remains open and fully operational, West Herr said in a statement.

Stasiak said CDKs systems touch many facets of a dealerships business, from inventory and parts, to preparing service orders and checking for open recalls on vehicles.

Everything is done electronically, digitally, he said. When you dont have that access, dealers are now having to revert to the old pencil, paper, calculator.

Craig Schreiber, co-owner of Northtown Automotive, said Buffalo-area dealers are probably more prepared for business interruptions than dealers in many parts of the country.

Be it weather related or power outage, we have contingency plans in place that have allowed us to continue operations and have made this most recent CDK interruption just another hurdle which we have overcome, Schreiber said.

Northtown dealership employees are using handwritten forms to continue selling and servicing vehicles, he said.

For dealers, there will be more work to do once CDKs systems are fully restored, said Carl Emerling, owner of Emerling Ford in Springville.

We have to do a lot of things manually and then after they get back up and running, we will have to re-enter all of the data, Emerling said.

The disruption affects other everyday tasks, too. We cannot schedule our customers for service or collision and have to just wing it, which affects our customer satisfaction, Emerling said.

Brad Coon, chief operating officer for the Basil Family Dealerships, said: We have seen some minimal efficiency impacts from the CDK issue when compared to other local dealerships who are more tightly integrated with CDKs multiple platforms. It is business as usual and we are fully open for sales and service at all of our locations.

Cliff Steinhauer, director of information security and engagement at the National Cybersecurity Alliance, said the cyberattack on CDK serves as a reminder to dealers  and businesses in other industries  of the importance of cybersecurity preparations.

Its big trial by fire for all these dealerships to say, OK, now what do we do if we dont have this service, what do we tell our customers, how do we continue to conduct business?  Steinhauer said.

Incident planning can help businesses prepare for a situation like the cyberattack against CDK, before scrambling to respond in real time, he said.

Dealers should implement cybersecurity best practices, including use of strong passwords, training employees to spot phishing and other email scams and having backup processes in place, Steinhauer said. Phishing is one of the main avenues attackers use to breach a wide range of organizations.

Stasiak said the disruption involving CDK is beyond the dealers control.

I tell consumers, dont be afraid to go to the dealer, he said. But please, be patient. They cant write it up in two seconds and draw your service history like they did.
Bacardi awarded for Bombay Sapphire river protection

Spirits company Bacardi has been recognised by the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) for its initiative to protect the river that runs through its Bombay Sapphire distillery.

At the Hampshire distillery on the banks of the river Test, Bacardis river protection work has seen it plant wildflowers and create fish and eel passes, to allow for river life to move freely.

Bombay Sapphire distillery is also part of the Anglers Riverfly Monitoring Initiative, which monitors invertebrates in the river.

Margaret OGorman, WHC president, said: WHC is proud to honour the Bacardi-owned Bombay Sapphire site with the Wetlands and Water Bodies Award. This award not only recognises Bacardi for its achievements, but it also serves as an example of the actions taken by the private sector to support biodiversity around the world.

Rodolfo Nervi, VP, Safety, Quality & Sustainability, Bacardi, added: At Bacardi, protecting the environment and wildlife surrounding our production sites is not a choice, its a must. Were incredibly proud to win this award as we continue in our commitment to do the right thing by people and planet.

The WHF is an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) which aims to enable the private sector to protect nature and biodiversity on corporate land. It has more than 100 member businesses and operates in 19 countries.

21 June 2024 - Lucy Schofield

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NALANDA





NALANDA was not just any university in ancient India. It was for all practical, academic and spiritual purposes, it was also a symbol of Indias refined civilisational persona, and an indicator that India would always be at the global forefront -- on the strength of the knowledge society it built over thousands of years with much devotion and dedication. Nalanda might have been a symbol of the countrys innate spiritual strength once upon a time. But its revival now points to a great and bright future -- in the sense it would act as a reminder of the countrys basic commitment to the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam -- acting as a truly global institution. It is not without reason, therefore, that Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi termed the event of relaunch of the Nalanda University after 800+ years as the launch of a Golden Age for the country -- and for the world. Of course, Nalanda in ancient times was much more than a university per se. It was a signature of Indias quest for knowledge and its dissemination to everybody who wished to elevate himself or herself. During its long years of existence, Nalanda did display different influences in its overall system of education, all right. Yet, the core value of acquisition of knowledge in all its forms and ideological facets remained unaltered.

That was the reason why Nalanda University of the past became an institution of such an importance -- for India and for the world. A similar development is expected now as the Nalanda University has been revived. This is only a physical revival, so to say. But there is every reason to believe that this would act as a starting point of a new educational and spiritual journey of India into a very wonderful Golden Age. It is not difficult to imagine how that Golden Age would look like or be like. At least in India, there is no vagueness on this point. The India of today has a fairly detailed idea of the picture of Nalanda University say a hundred years hence. The Prime Ministers speech communicated this feeling in the most proper manner. The world knows how invaders of those times in the past destroyed Nalanda University and its iconic library -- whose books were on full-flame fire for over six months -- having been consigned to flames by the cruel invaders. The demonic men knew that Indias actual strength was in its knowledge core and base. Hence the destruction of the centre of knowledge -- with a rare yet characteristic sense of vengeance and cruelty.

In such cases, bygones cannot be said as bygones and so forgotten. Nalanda University in its new avatar is going to be a place of virtue, values and verve of a vibrant Indian society that would assume global leadership and show the path of refinement and spiritual upliftment to the rest of the world. The confidence Mr. Narendra Modi expressed in this regard will never be misplaced -- since the nation is committed to achieving that sublime goal. Of course, the task is never easy -- with multiple challenges confronting the new institution. If the people running the revived Nalanda International University remain as fiercely committed to avowed goal as their predecessors used to be, then a genuine revival of the spirit of Nalanda would be possible in the realm of practicality (and not remain restricted to a poetic domain). The institution will also have to be kept away from political influences and interference. It means the institutional leadership will have to be in the hands of persons who would accept no compromise whatsoever under any pretext. Will this ever be possible? -- is the question that needs to be asked and answered.
Admn will cooperate if private schools correct mistakes with good intentions





Staff Reporter

Collector Deepak Saxena while chairing an important meeting with the representatives of private schools at Collectorate on Wednesday evening, made it clear that if action against the arbitrariness and dictatorship of private schools has been initiated from Jabalpur, then efforts to rectify flaws in the system should also be made from Jabalpur itself. According to Collector Saxena, it will send a good message among public and the bad perception created among parents, children and society about private schools will be washed away. Collector Saxena said that the school directors will have to introspect on the environment created against private schools and will have to make efforts to rectify the same. If private school managements take such a decision and implement it, then a good message will be sent about Jabalpur in the entire State and even in the country.

The Collector clarified that the administration has no prejudice or ill-intentions against private schools. The district administration was given ample chance to correct the mistakes discovered during the investigation carried out on the parents complaints. The Collector made it clear that if the school management is ready to correct the mistakes with good intentions, then the administration will cooperate with them. The Collector also asked private school directors to follow the Act made regarding private school fees. He also assured to organise training for the school managements to overcome the difficulties being faced in uploading details about fee structure on the portal. Talking about the issue of fake ISBN numbers on textbooks, Collector Saxena said that it is not mandatory for private schools to implement ISBN number books in the curriculum.

Schools can also include books without ISBN numbers in the curriculum. But including books with fake or duplicate ISBN numbers in the curriculum will be considered a crime. He said that before including any book in the curriculum, the school administrators need to minutely observe its contents and features. Simultaneously, its price and availability should also be kept in mind. Details about the books to be sold in the next academic session should be posted on the notice board by September. The Collector asked the school directors to overcome the mentality of making good money by recovering arbitrary fees from parents. If children get good education in their institution then their reputation will automatically increase.
Balodabazar arson aftermath: Social media activitieson radar of Admn, Police





The Hitavada State Bureau

RAIPUR/BALODABAZAR,

To maintain peace and order in Balodabazar district, the district administration and police have ramped up their monitoring of social media activities. This initiative has already yielded significant results, with a district-level social media monitoring committee identifying 55 suspicious cases across platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and X (formerly Twitter). So far, the monitoring efforts have led to the identification of 49 suspicious cases in the Balodabazar sub-division, five in Kasdol, and one in Simga. These cases have been forwarded to the Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) through the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM). As a result of this vigilance, crimes have been registered against three individuals with the assistance of the cyber police and station in-charges. Additionally, action is being taken against four more individuals today.

The cyber cell is actively collaborating with major social media companies like Google, Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp to pinpoint and verify suspicious IDs. This cooperation is crucial for swiftly identifying and acting upon any inflammatory or illegal content that could disrupt social harmony. District Collector Deepak Soni has made a public appeal to the residents of Balodabazar, urging them to refrain from posting inflammatory content on social media. He emphasised that any post found to be inciting or disturbing social harmony will be met with strict legal action. In response to the growing influence of social media on law and order, a district-level social media monitoring committee has been formed.

This committee is tasked with overseeing social media activities related to the district and ensuring prompt action against negative content. The committee operates around the clock, scrutinising posts, comments, and other content for any signs of illegal or objectionable material. The committees daily operations include sending detailed reports of any suspicious activities to the concerned Sub-Divisional Magistrate and Sub-Divisional Police Officer. This system ensures that any potential threats to social harmony are addressed immediately, thereby maintaining peace and stability in the district.
Big success in anti-terror Ops, says Army on killing of two terrorists in J&K





SRINAGAR,

SECURITY forces said on Thursday that the killing of two terrorists in J&Ks Baramulla district was a big success in anti-terrorism operations. Two terrorists were killed on Wednesday in Haripora village of Baramullas Rafiabad area during an encounter. They were identified as Usman and Umar from whose possession a large quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered. Security forces said that Usman had been active in the Valley since 2020. Addressing a media conference in the Pohrupet area of Baramulla district, the Commander of 7 sector Rashtriya Rifles, Brigadier Deepak Kumar said, High operational momentum of security forces is bearing good results. For the last two days, there were continuous inputs about the presence of terrorists in Sopores Rafiabad area.

On June 19, specific information was generated by the J&K Police about the presence of terrorists in a house at Hadipora, Rafiabad, after which the Army, police and CRPF launched a joint operation. After zeroing in the house, two terrorists were eliminated in an encounter. The two slain terrorists were affiliated with the LeT outfit and have been identified as Usman and Umar. The killing of two terrorists is a big success for the security forces. Since the past few weeks, there is a high operational momentum which is bearing good results in the form of elimination of terrorists, Brigadier Deepak Kumar. The Army officer was accompanied by senior police and CRPF officers during the media briefing.
Israeli Occupation





By Bashir Abu-Manneh

The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory issued its first in-depth investigation into the events that took place on and since 7 October 2023. The report holds the Israeli occupation responsible for the ongoing catastrophic situation in Gaza. But it also alludes to the possibility that October 7 is a watershed moment for even harsher Israeli occupation unless international law is urgently implemented. While both Hamas and Israel are found to have committed war crimes (including sexual violence), Israel is also sanctioned for committing crimes against humanity of extermination, gender persecution targeting Palestinian men and boys, murder, forcible transfer, and torture and inhuman and cruel treatment. In clear and deliberate violation of international law, Israel intended to commit these crimes: to murder civilians en masse, inflict wide-scale civilian destruction, and collectively punish and dehumanize Palestinians in Gaza. Palestinians were murdered. They didnt die as collateral damage or as unintended victims of Israeli military operations, but as Israels deliberate targets. The immense numbers of civilian casualties in Gaza and widespread destruction of civilian objects and infrastructure were the inevitable result of a strategy undertaken with intent to cause maximum damage, disregarding the principles of distinction, proportionality and adequate precautions.

The intentional use of heavy weapons with large destructive capacity in densely populated areas constitutes an intentional and direct attack on the civilian population. Such widespread and systematic destruction of whole neighbourhoods in Gaza is consistent with the application of the Dahiya doctrine to Gaza, in which civilian infrastructure is deliberately destroyed as part of a strategy of collective punishment, reminiscent of Israels war on Lebanon in 2006. The commission does leave the question of genocide for the ongoing investigation of the International Court of Justice to adjudicate. But it nevertheless accuses Israel of holding the whole civilian population in Gaza hostage to achieve its declared political and military aims. If Israel has falsely and persistently accused Hamas of employing human shields since 2008, the UN has yet again found that, in practice, it is Israel that employs this illegal tactic. Indeed, when opponents of the West take hostages, officials and mainstream media dub them terrorists. By violently punishing Palestinian civilians to achieve its political aims, Israel employs a textbook case of terror.

As stated in the Oxford Open Letter on the Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza as early as October 20, 2023: to think that the atrocities perpetrated by Hamas justify the humanitarian crisis currently unfolding in Gaza is to indulge a central tenet of terrorism  that all citizens must pay for the misdeeds of their governments  as well as terrorisms central practice: collective punishment. As shown by investigative journalist Yuval Abraham, Israel does in fact use such terror tactics systematically in Gaza. In addition to retribution, Israel has also weaponized aid as part of its war on Gaza and employed starvation as a weapon of war. The commission identified an intention to instrumentalize and weaponize the provision of necessities, to hold the population of the Gaza Strip hostage to achieve political and military objectives, including the forced displacement of civilians from northern Gaza Strip and the release of Israeli hostages. While basic subsistence necessities are blocked by military siege, the high acute food insecurity is the compounded result of the destruction and prevention of local food production, including agriculture, fishing and baking.

Essential Palestinian human needs are callously violated and degraded by Israel, with the result that: As of March 2024, the situation is continuing to deteriorate; 1.1 million people face catastrophic levels of food insecurity. A policy of deliberate mass dehumanization of Palestinians is identified here. If this is not damning enough, the report accuses Israel not only of failing to protect its citizens on October 7, 2023, but, through its illegal occupation, for being ultimately responsible for the root cause of violence in Israel-Palestine. This explanatory context is crucial. Both the 7 October attack in Israel and Israels subsequent military operation in Gaza must be seen in context. These events were preceded by decades of violence, unlawful occupation and Israels denial of the Palestinians right to self-determination, manifested in continuous forced displacement, dispossession, exploitation of natural resources, blockade, settlement construction and expansion, and systematic discrimination and oppression of the Palestinian people.

Occupation as the root cause is invoked in the reports conclusion as well. It sits at the foundation of the sexual- and gender-based violence Israel intentionally uses against Palestinians to humiliate their community. This violence is intrinsically linked to the wider context of inequality and prolonged occupation, which have provided the conditions and the rationale for gender-based crimes, to further accentuate the subordination of the occupied people. What, then, is the solution to Israels retaliatory and persecutory acts? The end of the Israeli occupation. As the report states: These crimes must be addressed by tackling their root cause; through dismantling the historically oppressive structures and institutionalized system of discrimination against Palestinians, which are at the core of the occupation.
Monsoon heads north, covers parts of Odisha, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh





NEW DELHI,

SOUTHWEST Monsoon started northwards on Thursday after a 10-day lull, covering parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh and large tracts of Vidarbha, bringing relief to the parched regions that were reeling under hot weather conditions. India Meteorological Department (IMD) data showed the country has received 17 per cent deficient rainfall than normal this monsoon season -- 77 mm as against the normal of 92.8 mm between June 1 and 20. Southwest Monsoon has further advanced into some more parts of Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Northwest Bay of Bengal, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and some parts of Bihar, the weather office said.

The IMD said conditions were favourable for further advance of Southwest Monsoon into some more parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Gangetic and sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and east Uttar Pradesh during the next three to four days. After reaching the Indian mainland two days earlier than usual and swiftly covering many other states, the rain-bearing system made no significant progress between June 10 and 19, extending the wait for north India, which is reeling from a sweltering heat wave. Since June 1, northwest India has recorded 14.2 mm of rainfall (63 per cent less than normal), central India 58 mm (33 per cent less than normal), the south peninsula 117.6 mm (13 per cent excess than normal), and east and northeast India 188.5 mm (four per cent less than normal).

In an update to its forecast earlier this week, the IMD had said monsoon rains in the month of June would be below normal. The southwest monsoon advanced into parts of the Nicobar Islands on May 19. It subsequently covered most parts of the south and some parts of the central Bay of Bengal by May 26 along with Cyclone Remal. It simultaneously reached Kerala and northeastern states on May 30, two and six days earlier than normal, respectively.
Pradhan: Isolated incidents should not affect lakhs of students







NEW DELHI,

AMID demand by the Opposition to re-conduct the medical entrance exam NEET, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday said isolated incidents of malpractices should not affect lakhs of students who cleared the examination rightfully. He announced a high-level panel to look into the functioning of the testing agency NTA. Pradhan also appealed to the Opposition parties not to politicise the issue and said strict action would be taken against those found guilty, including officials from the National Testing Agency (NTA).

The high-level committee to review and improve the functioning of NTA would be notified soon, the Minister said.

About the cancellation of the UGC-NET examination for selection of junior research fellows, Assistant Professors and PhD scholars, Pradhan said the exam paper was leaked on Darknet. Let us have faith in our systems and no irregularities or malpractices will be tolerated by the Government, he said. Be it NTA or any top official or senior person in NTA, strict action will be taken against whoever is found guilty in the NEET case. No malpractices will be tolerated and the Government is committed to holding zero-error exams, he said.
SC notices to Centre, NTA on NEET-UG 24





NEW DELHI :

THE Supreme Court on Thursday sought responses from the Centre, the National Testing Agency (NTA) and others on a slew of petitions, including those seeking scrapping of the NEET-UG 2024 exam and a court-monitored probe, amid mounting outrage over alleged irregularities in conducting the all-India medical entrance test. The apex court also stayed further proceedings on similar pleas pending before different High Courts. The top court, however, made it clear that it will not stay the counselling process.

A vacation bench of Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti issued notices to the parties seeking their responses on four separate pleas filed by the NTA seeking transfer of some pending petitions, including those claiming paper leak, from High Courts to the apex court. As the bench issued notices on the NTAs petitions, the counsel appearing for the testing agency urged it to stay the related proceedings before different high courts. Issue notice returnable on July 8, the bench said, adding, In the meantime, further proceedings before the high courts shall remain stayed. It also dealt with several other petitions including the one filed by 20 aspirants who are seeking scrapping of the exam held on May 5. These 20 petitioners, represented by advocate Dheeraj Singh, have also sought a direction to the NTA and others to conduct the test afresh. The bench said all the pleas would be heard on July 8.

The bench, while refusing to stay the counselling exercise, said, All this has been argued from day one and they (some petitioners) have been wanting stay of counselling. We have denied that. Ultimately, if all of you succeed, everything will go. The examination goes and the counselling will also go, the court told the petitioners, one of whom sought deferment of the counselling until after July 8. When the bench asked the NTAs lawyer about the counselling, he said it will start on July 6 and continue for a few more days. The bench also issued notices to the Centre and the NTA seeking their responses on a plea by Sorting Hat Solutions Pvt Ltd, which operates a platform for education services under the name Unacademy, seeking constitution of an independent committee to scrutinise the alleged irregularities and discrepancies in the results of NEET-UG 2024.

The company, in its plea filed through advocate Sumeer Sodhi, has also sought a direction to the NTA to furnish statistical data to back the methodology used to ascertain the time-loss for candidates who were awarded compensatory marks. During the arguments, another counsel informed the bench that a person has been arrested in Bihar in connection with the probe into alleged irregularities. The lawyer said FIRs have been lodged in Bihar and Gujarat over alleged irregularities and police should be asked to submit status reports on their investigations in the two states.
Southwest Monsoon reaches Capital





Staff Reporter

RAIPUR,

SOUTHWEST Monsoon, the much awaited lifeline of industries and agri-based Chhattisgarh has finally re-activated after a weeklong break, advancing to Raipur and the Twin Cities of Bhilai and Durg on Thursday. After onset over Kerala, the monsoon paused for a week in its northward journey on arrival in the southern tip of the State, which created panic among the agrarian community. Finally, steady drizzles in many places across the State brought much needed respite from the hot and humid conditions, while the sowing of paddy crops will get a boost after a weeklong wait. In its forecast, the MeT Centre stated that Southwest Monsoon has further advanced into some more parts of Chhattisgarh after being stagnant at Sukma and Bijapur.

The Northern Limit of Monsoon passed through Durg (Chhattisgarh), Amravati, Gondia, Rampur (Kalahandi, Odisha). The Central part of Chhattisgarh which covers Raipur, and the Twin Cities of Durg and Bhilai has been receiving steady drizzles since evening. Meanwhile, the rainfall activity has intensified with Dornapal receiving highest of 60mm rainfall followed by Bhanpuri. Sukma and Patna recording 50mm, Kutru and Jagargunda  40mm, Bijapur, Gangalur, Lal Bahadur Nagar, Gobra Navapara and Darbha  30mm, Bastar, Orcha, Pandaria, Dhumka, Konta, Nawagarh, Gunderdehi, bakawand, Simga, gadiras, Chotedongar, Odgi, Khairagarh, Gandai, Kondagaon, Suhela, saja nd Devkar  20mm each, Chhaukhadan, Kurud, Bade Bacheli, Rajim, Kelhari, Kumarda, Jagdalpur, nagri, Gandai, Kawardha, Dongargarh, Salhewara, Bhakhara, Bhairamgarh and Magarlod recorded 10mm rainfall while below 10mm was received at many places across the State.

The MeT Centre has further said that conditions are favourable for further advancement of Southwest Monsoon into some more parts of the of the State. A cyclonic circulation lies over East Bihar and its neighbourhood. A second cyclonic circulation lies over East Central and adjoining Northeast Bay of Bengal. Under the influence of these two systems, light to moderate rainfall with isolated heavy rainfall along very likely at many places over the State on June 21. However, there will be no significant change in maximum temperature over South Chhattisgarh while drop in maximum is expected over Central and North Chhattisgarh. In the general forecast, medium to heavy rainfall is expected at many places over the State on June 21. The sky will be generally cloudy with chances of thunderstorm and rainfall activity in Raipur on Friday.
Tragedy in hills





BY N J RAVI CHANDER

The recent tragedy in Sahastra Tal in Uttarakhand has come as a bolt from the blue to the SBI fraternity in Bengaluru. Among the dead were Asha Sudhakar and Anita Rangappa, our colleagues, who perished during the 11-day mountaineering expedition. Both were avid mountaineers who had participated in several climbing expeditions in the Himalayas. Asha was also decorated with the Dasara Award in 1986 by the Government of Karnataka for her mountaineering feats. Fortunately, her husband, S Sudhakar, the joint secretary of the Karnataka Mountaineering Association (KMA), survived the trek. They were among a group of twenty-two skilled trekkers from Karnataka. Everything went as planned until June 3, when the trip took a disastrous turn. The nine fatalities also included computer science engineer Venkatesh Prasad and environmentalists and relief volunteers Sujata and Vinayak Mungarwadi. From the moment they crossed paths in college, Sujatha and Vinayak were made for each other. They shared the same birthday: October 3. The couple was inseparable in life, and their bond endured even in death. The group began trekking on May 30 from Sila village and covered Gairu, Kush Kalyan, Kyarki Bugyal, and Lambtal until June 2. On June 3, they started their trek from Lambtal to Saha-stra Tal peak and were supposed to return to Lambtal. On June 4, they were supposed to trek down from Lambtal to Kyarki Bugyal and eventually return to Bengaluru on June 8. Tragedy struck on the afternoon of June 3.

The trekkers reached the Sahastra Tal summit and were returning to the base camp when the weather worsened. What started with snow eventually turned into a blizzard, causing a whiteout. It lasted over four hours, and the trekkers couldnt identify those standing beside them. That evening, the biting cold escalated abruptly to an intolerable degree. Unable to find their way back, they decided to stay where they were until the storm blew over. Attempts to seek help proved futile because of the absence of network connectivity. As darkness descended, the situation deteriorated, making it more challenging to ensure survival. They took shelter under a giant boulder, but exhaustion, hypothermia, and insufficient oxygen took a toll. Four of them collapsed, and five others perished the next day. Devastated and depressed, the survivors sat for 36 hours with the lifeless bodies of their nine comrades. The harsh weather swept away the trekkers' raincoats, gloves, and jackets. Those who returned to the camp could not have a meal because of the freezing weather.

We understand the trekkers relied on the light from their mobile torch to maintain communication and provide mutual support throughout the night. They snacked on dried fruits from time to time to ease their hunger. Unfortunately, the frozen water bottles exacerbated the situation. The Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) received the first distress call at 7.30 pm on June 4, and they then alerted officials from Karnataka and Uttarakhand. The operations took off only by 5 am on Wednesday, June 5, and the rescue teams got most of the survivors to a safe area by afternoon. Karnataka's Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda deserves a pat on the back for his commendable supervision of the rescue efforts, successful retrieval of the bodies, and repatriation of the remains. Nature can sometimes be brutal and unforgiving. However, this tragic event shows the ephemeral and unpredictable nature of life. May their souls find everlasting tranquillity and bliss.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Controversial local business partners Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe, currently in China, are expected to return home today to confront two significant corruption scandals.Chimombe is embroiled in controversy surrounding the US$87 million Presidential Goats Scheme scam, where despite receiving US$40 million, they failed to deliver 632,001 goats. Additionally, they are implicated in the murky US$40 million Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) tender, which has sparked national outrage.The electoral tender involves their associate Wicknell Chivayo, a former convict, with whom they are now entangled in disputes over payments. High-ranking officials involved include Zec chair Priscilla Chigumba, Central Intelligence Organisation Director-General Isaac Moyo, and Chief Secretary to Cabinet Martin Rushwaya.
State celebrates International Yoga Day

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Imphal, Jun 21 (DIPR): Chief Minister N Biren Singh has reiterated India's statement at the recent United Nations Human Rights Council meeting whereby it termed increased influx of people from Myanmar and transnational crimes such as drug and human trafficking as an "area of grave concern".

He made the statement while attending the 10th edition of International Yoga Day under the theme "Yoga for self and society" as the chief guest at Khuman Lampak Indoor Stadium, Imphal today.

Stating that yoga is a gift to the world from India, the Chief Minister added that the United Nations gave approval to celebrate International Yoga Day on June 21 every year from 2015 after Prime Minister Narendra Modis speech at the United Nations General Assembly.

The Chief Minister also said that the Government will promote and spread awareness about the benefits of millets among the public.

Cabinet Ministers, MP (Rajya Sabha) Maharajah Leishemba Sanajaoba, MLAs, students and officials of YAS attended the function. Governor Uikey practiced yoga asanas with officers, staff and security personnel at Raj Bhavan this morning, according to a statement issued by the Governor's Secretariat.
AMBA protests

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IMPHAL, Jun 21 : The All Manipur Bar Association (AMBA) staged a sit-in protest in front of Cheirap Court complex at Uripok today and adopted three resolutions pertaining to the crisis in Manipur.

In the first resolution, AMBA decided to submit a five point charter of demands to the Central and the State Governments to safeguard the lives and properties of the people, resettle the internally displaced people (IDP), safeguard rule of law, stop shielding perpetrators and to not arrest the village volunteers.

AMBA, in its second resolution, decided to send its office bearers, executive members and members to Jiribam by taking security from the State Government.

The third resolution was to send the decisions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Governor Anusuiya Uikey and Chief Minister N Biren Singh.


Opinion / Columnist

On the eve of Cyril Ramaphosa's inauguration as South Africa's president for an uncertain second term he's unlikely to complete; a term certain to be remembered as the lowest moment for the ANC since 1994; the white-led opposition DA is poised to take control of the new coalition government - wrongly called a 'GNU' - after the DA effectively secured veto power in the 'Statement of Intent and Modalities' pact, a Faustian bargain it signed with the ANC, in which Africa's oldest liberation movement inexplicably traded everything to benefit Ramaphosa's standing with white monopoly capital.The DA's effective veto power in the decision matrix of South Africa's incoming coalition government is apparent under paragraphs 18 to 23 of the 'Statement of Intent and Modalities' pact.Paragraphs 18 to 23 of the pact are about how decisions will be taken or made in the or by the so-called GNU; and they provide as follows:"18. The GNU shall take decisions in accordance with the established practice of consensus. Where no consensus is possible, the principle of sufficient consensus shall apply.19. Sufficient consensus exists when;19.1 All parties have had the opportunity to express their views; 19.2 Despite reasonable attempts to resolve disagreements, and find common ground, there is no general consensus;19.3 Parties to the GNU representing 60% of seats in the National Assembly agree; and19.4 Any party that disagrees has been able to formally record their objections."In summary, the ANC/DA coalition government will "take decisions in accordance with the established practice of consensus", which basically means decisions will be made by general agreement or by unanimous consent.Where such consent or consensus is not achieved, decisions will be made in terms of what the ANC/DA Statement of Intent and Modalities describes as "the principle of sufficient consensus"; which, under paragraph 19.3, means a decision that does not have general consensus or unanimous consent will need or require the support or agreement of political parties in the coalition pact that represent 60% of seats in the National Assembly.'Sufficient consensus' is therefore political parties in the coalition pact that represent 60% of seats in the National Assembly. With the 'GNU" doors effectively closed for the MK and EFF, there is no way under the sun that the ANC can muster such 'sufficient consensus' without the DA.As such, by agreeing to the 60% figure as the threshold of sufficient consensus for taking or making decisions in the 'GNU' government, the ANC effectively handed the DA veto power. Ramaphosa's 'government' will not be able to make decisions without the agreement of the DA.Put differently, 'sufficient consensus' is the DA's veto power in the so-called GNU.This means that, effectively, the ANC has handed back power, essentially freedom, to the DA: a white-led minority political party, reminiscent of the white-led minority National Party in the apartheid years.What this means is that the ANC, the first liberation movement to be formed in Africa way back over a century ago in 1912 when Chairman Mao was a schoolboy; and the last on the Continent to reclaim freedom in 1994; has made history yet again as the first liberation movement in Africa to voluntarily hand back power or freedom back to the white minority on a silver platter.Finish and klaar.This is why so many across the progressive world in the global south are genuinely concerned about the unfolding situation in South Africa.It is breathtaking!
Calcutta High Court today in a ruling asked the state government to upload all requisite information on the teachers teaching in various schools in the state on the government website to make it public for the sake of the guardians, who have the rights to know, who are teaching their wards in the schools.

The guardians should know whether the teachers, engaged in schools, deserve tutoring their wards. Many are still doing jobs as teachers for four to five years without having an appointment letter. It should not be delayed further, observed Justice Biswajit Basu of Calcutta High Court today.

To this, government counsel told the court that it would take at least two months to collect all the requisite information.

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Justice Basu observed the state should do it on a war footing. The state should do the needful on teachers on the website at the earliest.
The NFR has announced that it will recommence operating two pairs of Garib Rath Express trains starting in July 2024. These trains will travel between Agartala-Kolkata and Guwahati-Kolkata on specific days from their starting points.

The Garib Rath Express, train number 12502, travelling from Agartala to Kolkata, will now operate every Wednesday starting from 3 July. The departure time from Agartala is 7.35 am and the arrival time in Kolkata is 2.30 pm the following day.

In a comparable manner, the Garib Rath Express Train no. 12501 (Kolkata-Agartala) will operate every Sunday starting from 7 July. It will leave Kolkata at 9.40 pm and arrive in Agartala at 5.15 am on Tuesday.

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The Garib Rath Express (Train No. 12518) traveling from Guwahati to Kolkata will operate every Saturday starting from 6 July. It will leave Guwahati at 9 pm and arrive in Kolkata at 2.30 pm the following day.

Likewise, the Garib Rath Express (Train No. 12517) running from Kolkata to Guwahati will operate every Thursday starting from 4 July. It will depart from Kolkata at 9.40 pm and reach Guwahati at 4.15 pm the next day.
The National Medical Commission (NMC), sole body regulating medical education system across the country, has directed medical colleges to include Gazetted holidays, local administrative holidays and details of other leave, tour, vacation etc in the Aadhaar Enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS) module launched in teaching hospitals.

The NMC has also threatened to take strong action against medical colleges if they are found not implementing the directive of the commission.

The commission was prompted to issue the directive after it came to note that the AEBAS data in respective medical colleges has been becoming inconsistent because the teaching hospitals were retrospective including the details of the Gazetted/Local holidays/leaves of the faculties.

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Implementation of biometric attendance system can be used as an effective and convenient digital solution to recording the attendance of faculties, senior residents, and tutors of medical colleges.

Therefore, NMC intends to implement the aadhaar enabled biometric attendance system (AEBAS) developed by the National Informatics Center (NIC) in all government and private medical colleges, a directive issued earlier in 2022 by the NMC Dr Sandhya Bullar had stated.

The commission had also issued guidelines again in October in 2022 saying, Faculty, Demonstrators, Tutors, and senior residents on leave or official duty must input such details into AEBAS using the add leave and add tour module respectively.

On 13 June, the NMC issued a public notice stating, Therefore, all Medical Colleges are requested to ensure that the data w.r.t Gazetted Holidays, Local Administrative Holidays etc be included in the AEBAS Module of the college in advance prior to the beginning of the calendar year/semester concerned.

Further, the Medical Colleges are also requested to include the details of the leave/tour/vacation etc.

The commission has already imposed monetary penalties of Rs 10 lakh on many medical colleges in West Bengal and other states for not following AEBAS module. It has also observed poor biometric attendance of doctors, inadequate infrastructure facilities required for a medical college etc during its latest assessments on the teaching hospital across the country.
With more and more members of the automobile industry becoming conscious about the environment, Uber, one of the online app cab aggregating giants in the city, decided to go green. Accelerating electrification for mobility in India, the aggregating company has launched on-demand electric vehicle (EV) rides named Uber Green in Kolkata today.

The online app cab giant has launched such environment-friendly vehicles in four cities, including Kolkata. The Uber Green is to be available for passengers requesting a green ride across the city, including rides to and from the Kolkata International Airport. For availing a ride, a commuter has to open the Uber app and enter the destination in the where to box. The Uber Green option is listed at the bottom. Commuters can select the option and avail the ride post confirmation. As informed by the company sources, the fare of the green fleet is to be comparatively higher than that of the Uber Go services.

Speaking during the launch of the green fleet, Snehasis Chakraborty, state transport minister, said, Enhancing the air quality in Kolkata is a shared duty we all must embrace. I commend Uber for introducing Uber Green in Kolkata, a significant step towards reducing carbon emissions in our city. This initiative resonates well with our ongoing efforts for a greener tomorrow and promotes a sustainable transportation system for a better future.

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The company is targeting to turn its fleet green globally by 2024.
The Ministry of Coal on Thursday announced that it has revised the framework of preparation of the Mining Plan, a pivotal step to regulate and advance Indias coal mining sector, and issued draft guidelines for consultation.

These guidelines serve as a strategic blueprint for coal mining companies, facilitating effective planning, execution, and monitoring of mining activities while upholding stringent environmental, social, and safety standards.

The primary objective is to optimise coal resource extraction through sustainable practices that minimise waste and enhance operational efficiency. This strategic approach includes advanced technological integration to streamline operations, thereby achieving environmental and economic sustainability, according to a Ministry statement.

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Safety and health measures constitute a cornerstone of the revised guidelines, ensuring the protection of mining personnel and local communities. Robust safety protocols and infrastructure are imperative to safeguard all stakeholders involved in coal mining operations.

The revised draft guidelines also focus on responsible mining practices that bolster the coal industry while prioritising ecosystem preservation.

This involves mandatory inclusion of restoration, remediation, and regeneration measures in mining plans to ensure sustainable natural resource management.

By minimising environmental impacts, addressing community concerns, and promoting continuous improvement in water quality monitoring, the guidelines aim to foster a more sustainable and ethical approach to coal mining.

Key reforms introduced in the revised draft Mining Plan & Mine Closure Guidelines include:

* Enhanced flexibility for minor modifications in Mining Plans, with major changes requiring approval from the Coal Controller Organisation (CCO).

* Preference for blast-free and continuous coal-cutting technologies in mining methods.

* Implementation of comprehensive Safety Management Plans as per Coal Mines Regulations, 2017, including mandatory safety audits.

* Integration of fly ash filling protocols into mining plans to address related environmental concerns.

* Requirement for drone surveys and processed outputs for comprehensive five-year compliance reports of Mining Plans.

* Inclusion of sand for stowing in mines within revised guidelines.

* Facilitation of mine amalgamation for safer and more efficient operations, including the use of decoaled voids for overburden dumping.

* Mandatory adoption of conveyor belts or railway transport for coal evacuation, promoting environmental sustainability.

* Requirement for mechanised loading to optimise coal movement from siding to end-users, enhancing operational efficiency and environmental protection.

* Mandatory preparation of Temporary and Final Mine Closure Plans for abandoned or discontinued mines post-2009.
Responding to CBI summons Tapas Saha, Trinamul Congress MLA from Tehatta in Nadia district, was present at the agencys office at Nizam Palace today. The MLA arrived at the CBI office around 11 am on Friday. In response to questions from the media, he said, I was summoned again. I will cooperate with the investigation. After this, he entered the CBI office with central security personnel. Tapas lawyer, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, stated that he was summoned for a voice sample test. Despite his illness, Tapas will continue to cooperate with the investigation, according to his lawyer. In the investigation of the recruitment corruption case, Tapas is accused of providing school jobs jobs in exchange for money. CBI has previously interrogated the MLA in the cash for school job case.

Consequently, in April 2023, the CBI conducted a special raid at Tapas residence in Tehatta. Twelve officials of the central investigative agency searched Tapas house, his assistants house, and even the pond area adjacent to the house. However, despite finding some documents from Tapas house after the nearly 15-hour raid, the CBI did not arrest him. Later, Tapas claimed that the CBI told him he was a victim of political conspiracy.

Amidst all this, Tapas was summoned to Kolkata by the CBI. He had appeared at Nizam Palace following the summons at that time as well. Previously, the states anti-corruption branch had arrested Prabir Koyal, known to be close to Tapas, on allegations of collecting money for providing jobs in schools and government offices. Dissatisfied with the state anti-corruption branchs investigation, a former Trinamul panchayat member approached the Calcutta High Court, demanding a CBI investigation. In the case filed by BJP lawyer Tarunjyoti Tiwari, the Calcutta High Court ordered a CBI investigation against Tapas. Initially, CBI was prompt in its actions, but the investigation lost momentum later. As soon as the Lok Sabha elections concluded, Tapas was summoned again.

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On International Yoga Day, celebrated globally on June 21, acclaimed actress Kubbra Sait took to social media to share her profound journey with yoga. Known for her vibrant and candid personality, Kubbra has made a name for herself in Indian cinema with standout performances in films and web series. Today, she revealed how yoga has been a cornerstone in her life, providing strength and balance through various challenges.

In a heartfelt post on Instagram, Kubbra Sait shared a series of pictures documenting her yoga journey, highlighting the physical and emotional transformations she has experienced.

Advertisement View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kubbra Sait (@kubbrasait)

She wrote:

Aye! Hey listen up Happy Hoomans!!!

Its #internationalyogaday and I wish you all a journey in the middle or the beginning of self-love, strength, center, kindness, gratitude and more because there is always more 

#Yoga has transformed me inside out. The only form of discipline I got going whether I was away shooting for #Foundation in Ireland or recovering from an elbow injury, that had me go urrrrghhhhhhhhh!!!

There are hours in the last few years when Ive trained at home, at the studio, on the beach, Ive had the opportunity to learn and absorb a lot of different little practices and tools from my teachers and guides to improve as I flowed along

Today I credit yoga most for giving me a physical sense of #Balance and    Dont forget to do your #pranayama

Stay strong and sane!

Yogis and Yoginis.



Kubbras post was accompanied by a series of inspiring photos showing her in various yoga poses, illustrating the dedication and effort she has invested in her practice. Her journey with yoga has not been without its struggles. She mentioned the discipline yoga instilled in her, helping her stay centered whether she was on set in Ireland or recovering from a painful elbow injury.

The actress emphasized that yoga has not only contributed to her physical strength but has also provided mental and emotional balance. Kubbras message was filled with positivity, encouraging her followers to embrace yoga and its numerous benefits, regardless of where they are on their own journeys.

Her Instagram post received a wave of support and admiration from fans and fellow actors alike, celebrating her resilience and dedication to personal growth. Kubbra Saits story is a testament to the transformative power of yoga, showcasing how it can foster strength, balance, and well-being in the face of lifes challenges.
Amir Khans son Junaid Khans debut film Maharaj has finally emerged from legal trouble following a recent court ruling. On Friday, June 21, the Gujarat High Court lifted the interim stay on the release of the Netflix film. The day before, on Thursday, June 20, the HC had extended the temporary stay for another day. The film was originally slated for release on June 14 but was stayed by the High Court just one day prior.

Maharaj by Junaid Khan is based on the 2013 book by Gujarati writer Saurabh Shah. It centers on the 1862 libel case involving Vaishnavite religious leader and journalist Karsandas Mulji. The film faced legal challenges from members of the Pushtimarg sect, who argued that Maharaj contained scandalous and defamatory language that could incite hatred and violence against the sect, violating the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

In her final verdict, Justice Sangeeta Vishen stated, This court arrives at the prima facie conclusion that the film, Maharaj, is based on events that led to the filing of the libel case and is not targeted at hurting the sentiments of the Pushtimarg community. The film had been certified by the Central Board for Film CertificationThe interim relief granted on June 13 has been vacated.

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The Gujarat HC judge reviewed the film on Thursday following the complaint. Lifting the injunction, the court ruled that the film doesnt contain any objectionable material that could impact the sect. Addressing concerns about potential communal tensions, the judge clarified, The book was published in 2013 based on the same libel case and no incident has been reported. Even the petitioners have not made any submission that the book has caused any communal disharmony.

Previously, on Thursday, the petitioners lawyer, Advocate Mihir Joshi, argued that Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to freedom of speech and expression, does not grant a license to insult, and that the law does not protect publishers merely because their creation is based on true events.

Advocate Joshi also mentioned that the petitioners had approached the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to request a prohibition on the films release, but received no response. In response to the plea, Justice Sangeeta Vishen had extended the stay on the films release for one more day, adjourning the hearing to Friday, June 21, afternoon.

Now that the film has been given the green light, Netflix and YRF can release the movie at any time. Alongside Junaid Khan, the film stars Jaideep Alhawat, Sharvari Wagh, and Shalini Pandey.
Priyanka Chopras former New York City restaurant, SONA, is preparing to shut its doors. The restaurants service will conclude with its final brunch on June 30. SONA is known for its sophisticated ambience and modern Indian cuisine. The restaurant was frequented by celebrities and soon gained prominence in the city.

On Instagram, the restaurant announced its final service, reflecting on a remarkable three-year journey in the service industry: After more than three remarkable years, Sona will be closing. We have immense gratitude for everyone who walked through our doors. Its been our greatest honor to serve you. SONAs final service will be brunch on Sunday, June 30.

In 2021, Priyanka co-founded the New York City restaurant with Maneesh Goyal. After two years, the Quantico star stepped away from the venture in August 2023, as confirmed by People Magazine. SONA was inaugurated with a special pooja attended by Priyanka and her husband, Nick Jonas.

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Elaborating on the actresss decision to step away from the partnership, her spokesperson revealed, Bringing Sona to life will invariably be a proud and significant moment in her career. Priyanka has always endeavored to bring Indian culture to the fore through storytelling, whether thats via engaging content for film and TV or a beautifully plated dish that embodies the haute cuisine of India. Stepping away from Sona allows her to broaden these ambitions on a more global scale, and shes excited about the possibilities that await.

SONA co-founder and Priyanka Chopras friend Maneesh K Goyal also commented, saying that working with the Dostana star was like a dream. Goyal further expressed gratitude for Priyankas partnership and support. While Priyanka will no longer serve as a creative partner at SONA, she will remain part of the SONA family, and the team is excited for their respective new chapters ahead.

On the acting front, Priyanka is currently shooting for her upcoming Hollywood film, The Bluff in Australia. In the upcoming film, the actress will star alongside Karl Urban. Additionally, she is preparing for the release of Heads of State.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived here this evening on a two-day state visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

She was received at the airport by senior officials of the Ministry of External Affairs and the Bangladesh High Commission.

This is the first bilateral state visit of a foreign leader to India after the formation of the new government, led by Mr Modi.

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This is a very important visit for us. Both sides have a lot of expectations. Both sides are committed to deepening these relations, according to MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

Sheikh Hasina will hold talks with PM Modi tomorrow, followed by the signing of some key agreements between the two countries. She will also call on President Droupadi Murmu and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is scheduled to call on the Bangladesh PM.

Sheikh Hasina was among the international leaders who attended the swearing-in ceremony of Mr Modi and his Union Council of Ministers on 9 une.
UMGC Officially Adopts InScribe's Student Community Platform

The University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC), an offshoot of the University System of Maryland that focuses on hybrid and virtual courses for adult and military students, is officially committing to a university-wide rollout of InScribe's student networking platform.

Previously, UMGC was only test driving InScribe, whose flagship "virtual community platform" acts as a knowledgebase, support dashboard, and private social network for students.

The InScribe pilot had been limited to UMGC's Program and Career Exploration (PACE) module, an entry-level course series aimed at teaching students basic interpersonal and professional skills. Though entry-level, PACE has 8,000 enrolled students from around the world.

Those who used the InScribe platform had a completion rate that was 24% higher than those who didn't use the platform, InScribe said in its announcement.

Given its positive impact on students during the pilot, UMGC has greenlit the global rollout of InScibe's platform, extending its access to all 90,000 students.

UMGC will also use InScribe to collect data on student performance and engagement. "The data UMGC receives from InScribe will also help inform institutional decisions to enhance student success," InScribe said. "Key metrics such as high-priority topics, popular questions and conversations, and patterns of student participation will allow UMGC to identify new ways to support students throughout their learning journey."

More information about InScribe's platform is available here.
The Supreme Court on Friday granted two weeks interim bail to activist Mahesh Raut, an accused in the 2018 Bhima-Koregaon case, to attend rituals related to the death of his grandmother.

A vacation bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice SVN Bhatti granted interim bail to Mahesh Raut from June 26 to July 10, with the directive that he must surrender before the National Investigation Agency at the end of the bail period. The bench specified that Mahesh Rauts release is subject to the terms and conditions to be determined by the special NIA court holding the trial.

Considering the facts and circumstances, and the period of incarceration already undergone, and the nature of the request made, we are inclined to grant interim bail of two weeks to the applicant (Raut), which may commence from 26 June and end on 10 July. The terms and conditions of the release will be stated by the NIA Special Court. The NIA can request the trial court to impose stringent conditions. The applicant shall surrender on July 10, the court stated in its order.

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Opposing the plea for interim bail, the advocate representing the NIA said that Mahesh Raut should approach the special court for such relief. The bench brushed his suggestion aside, asking which special court will entertain such a plea when the matter is pending before the top court on an appeal by the investigating agency against the Bombay High Court order granting bail to Mahesh Raut.

The top court, on an appeal by the NIA, in September 2023, had extended the stay granted by the Bombay High Court on the implementation of its own verdict granting bail to Mahesh Raut.

On June 14, 2024, the advocate appearing for Mahesh Raut told the vacation bench that Mahesh Raut has to go to Gadchiroli to attend the rituals relating to the death of his grandmother.

Posting the matter for Friday (June 21), the court had asked the advocate appearing for the NIA to take instruction.

The top court had stayed the release of Mahesh Raut after the NIA challenged the September 21, 2023, order of the Bombay High Court granting bail to Mahesh Raut, who was arrested in June 2018 and is currently lodged in judicial custody at Taloja prison.

The prosecution in the case has alleged that provocative and inflammatory speeches were made at the event that was backed by the banned terror outfit CPI(Maoist)), which later triggered violence in Koregaon Bhima village near Pune in 2018.
Celebrating the harmony of mind, body, and spirit, the 10th International Yoga Day was commemorated across the globe on Friday. The theme of this years Yoga Day  Yoga for Self and Society  reminds people of the significant role yoga plays in the life of an individual and that of the wider community.

Various events, mass yoga sessions, workshops, and seminars were organised worldwide to mark the occasion.

On the occasion, President Droupadi Murmu greeted the global community and noted that Yoga is Indias unique gift to humanity. In view of rising lifestyle-related problems, Yoga has become far more important today. Yoga is a way to physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Let us resolve to adopt yoga as an integral part of our day-to-day living.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the IYD in Srinagar. Addressing a gathering, he said todays spectacle of enthusiasm and commitment shown by the people of Jammu & Kashmir towards yoga would be immortalised in the minds of people.

PM Modi, who was adorning a Gamosa of Assam, said Yoga has gained global significance as a power for good with an increasing number of people across the world embracing it. The world is looking at yoga as a powerful agent of global good. Yoga helps us live in the present moment without the baggage of the past, he said.

He shared selfies with Yoga enthusiasts on the occasion.

The Day was also celebrated in the cold desert of Ladakh. Army troops and men from the paramilitary forces performed Yoga at the Siachen Glacier and at the Pangong Lake near the Line of Actual Control with China. Army personnel and dog squad performed yoga at the Line of Control (LoC) on the eve of the IYD in the Jammu district.

Union ministers, including S Jaishankar (External Affairs) and Nitin Gadkari (Road Transport & Highways), and chief ministers of various states shared glimpses of their yoga sessions organised to commemorate the event.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led the Armed Forces in celebrating the Day by performing various asanas and breathing exercises with soldiers at 1 Corps in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande and General Officer Commanding, 1 Corps Lt Gen Sanjay Mitra, along with 600 people, including senior officers, Agniveers, families, and children attended the event.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah practiced Yoga in Ahmedabad and greeted all the yoga lovers in the country and the world. He said, Yoga is Indias gift to humanity and the worldThe world has accepted YogaToday, more than 1 crore people practiced YogaPM Modi played a very big role in providing a big platform for YogaThe essence of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is characterised by Yoga

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath participated in a mass yoga session held at Raj Bhavan in Lucknow on Friday morning. Governor Anandiben Patel also took part in the session.

In Imphal, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said, Under the leadership of PM Modi, Yoga got recognised at the United NationsI appeal to practice Yoga daily.

In a message, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the International Day of Yoga recognises the ancient practices unmatched power to deliver healing, inner peace, and physical, spiritual, and mental well-being. With roots in India but now embraced worldwide by people of all faiths and cultures, yoga unites people with its values of balance, mindfulness, and peace with people and planet alike, he said.

The 10th IYD was celebrated at Times Square in New York. The day-long celebration of Yoga, also known as Solstice at Times Square, featured seven yoga sessions, in which about 10,000 people from across nationalities participated, showcasing the widespread enthusiasm for yoga in NewYork City and the US.

The Indian Embassy in the US organised a Yoga session in Washington ahead of IYD. In a post on X, the Indian Embassy shared, International Yoga Day 2024 celebrated by the Indian Embassy in the US at the picturesque and serene Wharf in Washington. Various community organisations participated enthusiastically in the Yoga and meditation session.

The High Commission of India in the United Kingdom also hosted a yoga event at Trafalgar Square in London that drew over 700 participants ahead of IYD.

In Delhi, Hwang II Yong, Director of the Korean Cultural Centre India, said: The International Day of Yoga celebrates yoga as Indias cultural contribution globally, which is now deeply rooted in Korean culture. On 21st June, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will host the Gwanghwamun Moonlight Yoga event at Gwanghwamun Square, and it will include cultural and artistic performances. Further, from June 25 to August 8, yoga classes will be held at the venue thrice a week and a maximum of 120 participants can enjoy the hour-long session.

Celebrations were held at the Indian Embassy in Kuwait. During the International Yoga Day event, a few minutes of silence was observed by all attendees in memory of precious lives lost in the tragic Mangaf fire incident recently, said the Indian Embassy, Kuwait.

The day was also celebrated at the High Commission of India in the Maldives. The event witnessed the participation of Maldivian & Indian Yoga enthusiasts.
India on Friday reacted sharply to Canadian Parliament observing two-minute silence on the death anniversary of Khalistan supporter leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, saying it is opposed to any moves giving political space to extremism and those advocating violence.

At a media briefing here, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also stated that India has lodged a strong protest with Canada over Khalistani extremists holding a so-called citizens court and burning an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi outside the Indian consulate in Vancouver.

The spokesperson said India has communicated to the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi its anguish over the space being given to the Khalistani separatists by the Justin Trudeau government.

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Indias reaction came days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Trudeau held a brief conversation on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Italys Apulia region. The interaction between them came against the backdrop of wrinkles in India-Canada ties.

The relations between the two countries came under severe strain following Mr Trudeaus allegations in September last year of a potential involvement of Indian agents in Nijjars killing.

New Delhi rejected Trudeaus charges as absurd. India has been maintaining that the main issue between the two countries is that of Canada giving space to pro-Khalistan elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals wife Sunita Kejriwal on Friday hit out at the Enforcement Directorate after the federal agency challenged the AAP supremos bail order in the High Court.

She said the way the probe agency was acting in the case was as if the chief minister was the most wanted terrorist in India.

Speaking in Delhis Bhogal where Atishi began her indefinite fast over demand for water from Haryana, she said, Dictatorship has increased so much in the country that ED does not want to give any exemption to anyone. ED is treating Arvind Kejriwal like the countrys most wanted terrorist. Kejriwals bail order was not even uploaded yet, and ED approached the High Court to get a stay imposed. But the decision of the High Court is yet to come and we hope that the High Court will do justice.

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She had also accompanied the water minister to Raj Ghat and paid homage to the father of the nation.

She also read out Delhi CMs message which he had sent from the prison regarding Atishis Satyagrah, sending her good wishes with a hope that her tapasya be successful and Delhis residents get water.

It was on Thursday night that a Delhi court passed an order granting bail to Delhi CM in the liquor policy case, rejecting EDs request for a stay on it.

However, the probe agency on Friday moved the Delhi High Court in this regard challenging the lower courts order.
Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra on Friday released a document titled, Medical Care Arrangements for Haj Pilgrimage. The document has been brought out jointly by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

Mr Mohammed Shahid Alam, Consulate General of India in Jeddah (who joined virtually), representatives of WHO, and other stakeholders were also present.

Haj represents the largest and most enduring annual mass gathering event globally. The responsibility for medical care arrangements lies with the Emergency Medical Relief Division and the International Health Division of the Directorate General of Health Services.

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On the occasion, Mr Chandra stated that this document lays the roadmap of the health services and how those services can be availed of by the pilgrims. Noting that this is only the second year since the healthcare responsibilities have been assigned to the Union Health Ministry, he stated that the experience has provided significant learnings for improving the healthcare services.

Around 1,20,000 pilgrims undertook the Haj pilgrimage this year from India, of which approximately 40,000 are elderly people above the age of 60. In view of the harsh weather conditions this year, the health challenges have necessitated round the clock services for the pilgrims. Last year, oral health and dental care services were added learning from the past experience. The Union Health Secretary also added that nearly 2 lakh OPDs have been conducted this year, along with visits by the medical teams to the pilgrims.

Mr Chandra stated that with the help of NIC a live portal has been developed that provides real time data and analysis on the pilgrims seeking medical care and the services being provided.

We are continuously monitoring and this will help us to improve our services significantly, such that we become the beacon of excellence to be emulated by other countries, he added.

The Union Health Secretary said that it is a matter of pride to be of assistance to our citizens wherever they might be. Be it for evacuating our students from Ukraine or assisting our people who got stuck in the fire incident in Kuwait, India has always been at the forefront in helping its citizens. He stated that India has even helped citizens from other countries, including European countries who sought its help during the crisis.
India on Friday reiterated its position on Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lamas position, underlining his revered status and the respect accorded to him by the Indian people.

I would like to reiterate Indias position on His Holiness Dalai Lama. He is a revered religious leader and is deeply respected by the people of India. His Holiness is accorded due courtesies and freedom to conduct his religious and spiritual activities, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a media briefing.

His remarks came close on the heels of the visit of a high-level United States Congressional delegation to India from June 16 to 20. Led by Michael McCaul, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the seven-member US delegation visited Dharamshala on June 18 and 19 and met the Dalai Lama.

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The delegations visit came ahead of the US Congress passing a bill urging Beijing to re-engage with the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan leaders to peacefully resolve their dispute over the status and governance of Tibet.

The Resolve Tibet Act urges Beijing to re-engage with Tibetan leaders for a peaceful resolution of their governance dispute with China.
On the 10th International Yoga Day, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath participated in a mass yoga practice held at Raj Bhavan in Lucknow on Friday morning. Governor Anandiben Patel also took part in the session.

During the event, CM Adityanath emphasised that yoga paves the way for the welfare of entire humanity, transcending the limitations of country, society, and time. By embracing yoga and connecting the entire human race, we show true respect for our ancestors and heritage, he said.

International Yoga Day has become a medium for all of us to express this respect towards this tradition of India, he added.

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The event commenced with the national anthem, followed by the presentation of the Raj Bhavan song. Chief Secretary Durga Shankar Mishra welcomed the Governor and the Chief Minister by presenting them with a Tulsi plant. On the occasion, a significant number of yoga practitioners and instructors participated in group yoga practice with great enthusiasm.

During the programme, the CM expressed that it was a great privilege to remember the countrys heritage and show respect towards Indian traditions on the occasion of Yoga Day. He highlighted, We owe this opportunity to our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose vision and initiatives have led nearly 200 countries worldwide to embrace International Yoga Day and align themselves with our rich Indian heritage, thus honouring and enriching our culture and traditions. There can be no greater tribute to our ancestors, traditions, and heritage than this.

CM Adityanath remarked that reflecting on the wise tradition of India reveals their profound foresight in connecting society, where they made an innovative attempt to integrate dharma with yoga in this way.

The CM emphasised that according to Indian wisdom, Sharir Madhyam Khalu Dharma Sadhanam, meaning all life activities are achievable through the body. A healthy body naturally leads to a healthy mind. Yoga offers diverse disciplines suitable for everyone, whether child, youth, middle-aged, or elderly, enabling all to maintain physical and mental well-being through practice.
In a major breakthrough, police have arrested three terror associates who guided the Pakistani terrorists in the recent attack at a joint operations camp in Doda district where six Army jawans and two cops were injured.

Police said on Friday that two terror associates, Mubasir and Sajjad, who provided food, shelter and logistics to the Pakistani terrorists in exchange of money, were arrested yesterday. The third one, identified as Safdar, was nabbed in an overnight operation at Gandoh.

The security forces are seeing this as a significant success in view of Pakistan based terror handlers trying to activate the over ground workers (OGWs) to help and guide the infiltrating terrorists.

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Their interrogation might lead to the arrest of other OGWs in the region.

These arrests in Doda have come within hours of detention of the OGW who guided Pakistani terrorists to the spot in the Reasi district where they targeted a bus in which nine pilgrims were killed and 41 injured.

Meanwhile, YB Khurania, Special Director General BSF (Western Command) Chandigarh, today visited the international border at Samba where he was briefed by the Sector Commander and Battalion Commandant about the operational preparedness of BSF along the border.

IG BSF (Jammu Frontier) DK Boora gave a detailed presentation to the SDG covering all the critical aspects of border security and domination along the International Border in Jammu.

During the visit, the SDG interacted with the Jawans and praised them for performing their duties with dedication and professionalism.
Renowned Yoga Guru Baba Ramdevs Patanjali Yogpeeth on Friday celebrated the 10th International Yoga Day at its Haridwar base in Uttarakhand.

The Yoga Day event at Patanjali Yogpeeth was held under the guidance of Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balakrishna with a theme  Yoga for self, society and the universe.

During the event, Swami Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna underscored yogas transformative impact on individuals and society.

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Baba Ramdev emphasised that Yoga is not just a physical exercise but a universal practice vital in the current era.

Yoga is a holistic approach that can address many of todays health issues, both physical and mental, he noted.

He said that Yoga has proved helpful in reversing several diseases, including those considered untreatable ones.

What the modern medical system and the governments of the world could not achieve, has been accomplished by a monk through Patanjali with Yoga rooted in Sanatan Dharma. Through Yoga and the Yoga-based integrated treatment system, diseases considered incurable, such as those affecting the liver, kidneys, lungs, and heart, can be reversed and eradicated from the root, Baba Ramdev said.

He said that a life integrated with yoga is the solution to the ideological, political, and economic struggles and challenges faced globally. Yoga brings about mental and ideological transformation, turning individuals into part of the solution rather than the problem.

Here today, hundreds of people are present as real-world evidence who have benefited from Yoga in overcoming incurable diseases such as cancer, liver cirrhosis, hepatitis, infertility, and heart blockages. In medical terminology, these are the brothers and sisters who have created world records and made the impossible possible. The results achieved through the practice of Yoga have now become proof of its efficacy, the Yoga Guru added.

Baba Ramdev also conducted practices including yogic jogging, Surya Namaskar, and breathing exercises such as Anulom-Vilom, Bhastrika, Bhramari, and Kapalbhati. Additionally, various asanas (yoga postures) like Bhujangasana, Vrikshasana, Tadasana, Mandukasana, Shalabhasana, Gomukhasana, Vajrasana, and meditation were also practiced.

Acharya Balkrishna described Yoga as Indias greatest gift to the world, stating, Yoga is the supreme remedy for all human and global ailments.

Yoga is a way of life and a method for life transformation. On this auspicious occasion of Yoga Day, we have seen this transformation as real-world evidence. When these patients can become healthy, it should inspire you to believe that if others can heal through Yoga, so can you. Thousands of brothers and sisters have proven through clinical trials that incurable diseases can be conquered with Yoga.

He noted that the number of patients worldwide is increasing daily, and yoga is the only solution.

Our scientific rishis, who follow the Sanatan Vedic tradition, have connected us with the practice of Yoga. Yoga is not a doctrine, sect, or religion. It is a universal, scientific, and beneficial discipline free from the constraints of caste, religion, and politics, Balakrishna said.

Highlighting the widespread benefits observed through regular Yoga practice, including improved mental health, environmental awareness, and a balanced lifestyle, Balakrishna emphasised the role of Swami Ramdev for awakening public consciousness by bringing the knowledge and tradition of yoga from the rishis to the masses in the modern era.

The programme saw participation from many individuals suffering from various incurable diseases such as blood cancer, ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, infertility, SLE, type 1 and 2 diabetes, pelvic cancer, kidney disease, MS, prostate cancer, heart blockages, obesity, ovarian cysts, and eye diseases.

People from around 200 nearby villages also participated in the Patanjali Yogpeeths Yoga Day programme and performed various asanas.

Therapists from Patanjali Wellness demonstrated various therapies, including Panchakarma, Shatkarmas, and naturopathy. Students from Patanjali Gurukulam and Acharyakulam showcased different yoga postures, Mallakhamb yoga, rope yoga, and Taekwondo.

The event was attended by Sadhvi Devpriya, the chief central in-charge of the Patanjali Mahila Yoga Committee, Brother Rakesh Bharat, Swami Parmarthdev, sister Anshul, head of the Communication Department sister Parul, Dr. Anurag Varshney, chief scientist of PRI, Brigadier T C Malhotra, chief general manager (trust), Mr Tarun Rajput, head of human resources, Prof. Anil Yadav, principal of Patanjali Ayurveda College, Dr Arun Pandey, deputy superintendent of Patanjali Ayurveda Hospital, Swami Bajrangdev, Swami Arshdev, Swami Eshdev, and all unit heads, officers of Patanjali Yogpeeth, and monks and Sashavis from Patanjali Sannyasashram.
Amid an ongoing row over the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate 2024 (NEET) and the National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET), Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi acted immediately and directed the minister concerned to safeguard the interest of students.

Talking to reporters here, Kumaraswamy said Modi acted immediately after the issue came to his notice.

In the first cabinet itself, he advised the concerned minister how tosafeguard the interest of the students. He has given direction, the Union Minister said.

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Meanwhile, Bihar Congress staged a protest over irregularities in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), demanding a CBI investigation into the matter.

The demonstration, led by Legislative Council member Madan Mohan Jha, saw party members and supporters taking to the streets of Patna, voicing their concerns over paper leaks and corruption in several competitive exams.

Protesters raised slogans against the BJP government, calling for justice for affected students and stringent punishment for those involved in the malpractices.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had asserted to further strengthen the National Testing Agency by reconsidering important things.

The Union Education Minister had also assured action against those responsible for the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the examinations.

Speaking to a news agency on Thursday, Pradhan said, In a democracy, everyone has their views. It is our job to listen to everyone. Our responsibility is to run a process-driven government, it is our responsibility to speak the truth and accept truth. Few students have doubts about the NTA (National Testing Agency) and we will have to accept this.

The government has decided to form a committee and experts will be part of that committee. All the important things will be reconsidered and the NTA will be strengthened further. Those who are responsible for it (discrepancies) will be held accountable, he said.

The Union Education Minister earlier announced the formation of a high-level committee to probe into the issues pertaining to the functioning of NTA.

We are committed to holding zero-error exams, and a high-level committee is being formed to improve NTA functioning, Pradhan said at a briefing earlier on Thursday.
In a significant development, the Union Government has granted permission to the Indian Embassy in Yemen to transfer the pre-negotiation funds through its bank account to its lawyer in Yemen for initiating discussions on the release of Keralite nurse Nimisha Priya, who was sentenced to death for the murder of Yemeni national Tala Abdo Mahdi in 2017.

According to the Save Nimisha Priya Action Council, the pre-negotiation amount is estimated as 40,000 US dollars (Rs 33.38 lakh) apart from the other expenses. After collecting the money, it will be transferred through the Ministry of External Affairs to the Indian Embassy in Sanaa.

The pre-negotiation discussions will be conducted by a Yemeni lawyer, who was appointed by the Indian Embassy and with the help of two Indian Embassy officers along with Nimisha Priyas mother Prema Kumari and Samuel Jerrome, a member of the Action Council.

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The Indian Embassy has informed the Action Council office bearers that they need to arrange the pre-negotiation money within one week.

Nimishas mother and Samuel Jerrome have been staying in Yemen for the last two months. We have to collect money for their expenses too, said Babu John, one of the Action Council members.

The amount of blood money can be decided only after the first round of pre-negotiation talks, Babu John said.

As the discussion happens with the knowledge and leadership of the Indian Embassy, they will inform us of the amount and other details after the discussion. However, the first step is to collect the money and initiate the first round of negotiation, he said.
Leading the 10th International Yoga Day celebrations in Srinagar on Friday morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that yoga has gained global significance as a power for good and an increasing number of people across the world are embracing it.

The world is looking at yoga as a powerful agent of global good. Yoga helps us live in the present moment without the baggage of the past, Modi said.

Heavy rainfall in the early morning disrupted the Modi led International Yoga Day events on the banks of the Dal Lake in Srinagar.

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Modi was supposed to lead the celebrations on the lawns of the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) on the banks of the Dal Lake, but the plan got upset due to rains. More than 7000 men, women and students were supposed to perform Yoga with the Prime Minister at 6.30 am.

There were predictions of heavy rain in the valley and it was challenging to hold outdoor yoga sessions. Modi was seen taking selfies with students after the yoga session.

The Prime Minister expressed gratitude for being present in Jammu & Kashmir, the land of Yog and Sadhna, on the occasion of International Day of Yoga. The atmosphere, energy and experience from yoga can be felt in Jammu & Kashmir today

All world leaders show a keen interest in yoga during their interactions with me. He asserted that yoga has become a part of daily life in every corner of the world. So far, 1.5 crore German citizens have become yoga practitioners, Modi said.

Touching upon the changing notions about yoga due to its expansion in the last 10 years, the Prime Minister talked about a new Yoga Economy. He mentioned the growing attraction for yoga tourism and peoples desire to visit India to learn authentic yoga.

He also mentioned yoga retreats, resorts, dedicated facilities for yoga at airports and hotels, yoga apparel and equipment, personal yoga trainers, and companies carrying out yoga and mindfulness wellness initiatives. All these are creating new avenues of employment for the youth, he added.

Yoga is scripting new pathways of positive change in the society, he said. The Prime Minister recalled inaugurating a Yoga Centre during his visit to Turkmenistan in 2015 and that yoga has become extremely popular in the country today. He further informed that State Medical Universities in Turkmenistan have included yoga therapy, Saudi Arabia has made it a part of their education system and Mongolian Yoga Foundation is running many yoga schools.

The Prime Minister lauded the enthusiasm of the people of Jammu & Kashmir, especially Srinagar, towards yoga and said that it provides a platform to boost the tourism of the Union Territory. He also praised the spirit of the people to come out and show their support despite the rainy weather conditions.

Association of 50,000 to 60,000 people with yoga programmes in Jammu & Kashmir is huge, he added. The Prime Minister thanked the people of Jammu & Kashmir for their support and participation and conveyed his best wishes to all Yoga enthusiasts from around the world.

Meanwhile, the Day was also celebrated in the cold desert UT of Ladakh. Army troops and men of the paramilitary forces exercised yoga at the Siachen Glacier and at the Pangong Lake near the Line of Actual Control with China.
Countries have finite resources and infinite concerns to support. This necessitates prioritizing those concerns with maximum impact, stakes, and moral imperatives. Socio-economic issues like employment, agrarian crisis, education, health etc., ought to draw maximum resources, but there are other issues like security, diplomacy etc., which too are critical, though the impact therein is usually enabling as opposed to being socio-economically accretive.

There are tensions of making choices as budgetary allocations are often tempered with partisan priorities. So no sovereign can practically guarantee resources to all those beseeching the same, especially for an emerging economy like India. The government makes choices. In democracies, citizens elect government, and the government is duty bound to protect a citizens constitutional rights, address legitimate concerns, and ensure safety, within and abroad. However, choices made by the State are often influenced by postures that the State seeks to project, even if the same comes at the collateral and regrettable cost of denying legitimate needs to some others, inadvertently. One such impulse amongst large-but-emerging economies is to flex their outreach capabilities beyond borders in terms of evacuation of citizens.

It makes for muscular optics of having arrived on the world stage besides generating invaluable electoral tailwind by displaying purported concern and capabilities. Countries like China and India have routinely demonstrated such Superpower instincts. But because of the finiteness of resources, these investments come with commensurate denial to some other, equally, or more deserving citizens, somewhere else. As this investment-denialism equation is not linear, it is not apparent. Therefore, instances of such cross-border investments must be carefully weighed with the lens of competitive legitimacy, in each case. The relationship between a citizen and the State is of a reciprocal nature mandating respect for each others compulsions and suggestions.

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A State that does not care about a citizens legitimate woes is unworthy of its trust, just as a citizen who is unheeding of the sovereigns directive (worse, if such citizens expect equal treatment vis-a-vis other citizens, who do abide by the States directives) is. In a Kennedyesque pun, unilaterally driven citizens ask what the state can do for them, but conversely remain unconcerned about the States own pleas. Recent years have seen India invest heavily in rescuing its citizens from Yemen, Ukraine, Qatar, Iran etc. Each time these missions succeeded, it added to the image of the nation. The government even invoked the same towards bolstering its electoral prospects e.g., the video of an ostensible girl student rescued from Ukraine.

Obviously, the narrative then extended to suggesting that India had got Russia and Ukraine to halt the war to do the needful, clearly massaging reality beyond reasonableness. Now, there could be varying degrees of legitimacy implicit in each of these evacuation cases that must be nuanced. In the latest case of negotiating with Iran to secure the release of Indian sailors aboard the seized commercial liner the narrative is genuinely compelling. These sailors are presumably from a disadvantageous economic background and that makes their misery especially pressing for the State to intervene. There is also an implicit innocence of these sailors, given the unrelated-to-them backdrop, besetting the issue.

As negotiations entail a friendly country like Iran, it makes it even more pertinent for Delhi to push hard given the high chance of success and presumably low investment involved. Then there was the case of securing eight Navy veterans sentenced by a Qatari court. Though they were working in a commercial organisation at their own discretion ~ the Indian State was naturally and rightly concerned at securing a reprieve, irrespective of the accusations. The fact that they were from the Defence Forces entailed an unsaid pressure to go the extra mile for veterans who had earlier put their own lives to risk, to defend the sovereign. Even a compromise to Indian security imperatives with the sentencing of these sailors couldnt be ruled out.

Again, like in the case of Iran, this case too entailed a friendly country with reasonable chances of success and presumably low investment involved. However, two cases of high investment entailed the evacuation of 4,640 Indians and 960 foreigners from Yemen under Operation Rahaat, and 25,000 Indians from Ukraine under Operation Ganga. While for the Government to step up and address the concern of beleaguered citizens abroad is a noble act and desirable ~ but in both instances, the Government had issued strong and multiple advisories to leave the countries respectively, which went unheeded by the Indians there. Certainly, there were economic concerns (with workers in Yemen) and career concerns (with students in Ukraine), but repeated requests and advisories by the Indian Government as it assessed the situation to be deteriorating, were knowingly ignored till the situation got out of hand.

In the Ukraine case, an unprecedented 76 dedicated flights to ferry Indians who hadnt left in time (as mandated by successive advisories), were committed. A large extent of the cost towards this mammoth rescue operation was arguably avoidable if the Indians therein had respected the covenant of trust with the State. But they were aided at a substantial cost in the same way as some other citizens are treated (or denied, for lack of sovereign resources) as those who do abide with the States advisories and urges, in their own ways.

Subsequent initiatives like Operation Ajay (facilitating Indians in Israel post-Hamas attack) was fundamentally different, as the situation imposed itself without warning. Therefore, it is important to differentiate and distinguish between various situations to ensure that only those who uphold the reciprocal covenant with the State are prioritised. It is unfair to deny some, just because they are not in the news or frontlines. Just one statistic says a lot ~ India has regressed to 111th out of 125 countries on the Global Hunger Index, therefore it is important to keep some things in perspective before committing national resources. Many sections of citizens are in desperate need of sovereign support, but as the national kitty is limited, care to filter each situation with the lens of competitive legitimacy is important.

(The writer is Lt Gen PVSM, AVSM (Retd), and former Lt Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Puducherry)
The signing of a mutual defence pact between Russia and North Korea during President Vladimir Putins just-concluded visit to Pyongyang marks a significant and potentially destabilising shift in the geopolitical landscape of Northeast Asia. This alliance, characterised by mutual military support and deepening technological cooperation, is a clear signal of Russias strategic pivot towards bolstering its presence in the region. While this may be seen as a response to increasing Western support for Ukraine, it also underscores the evolving dynamics of global alliances and the resurgence of Cold War-style posturing.

The significance of this pact cannot be overstated. For Russia, it represents a break from its post-Soviet approach to North Korea, indicating a willingness to engage more directly with Pyongyang. The shift comes at a time when Russia is under severe economic and political pressure from Western sanctions due to its conflict in Ukraine. By aligning more closely with North Korea, Russia is not only seeking new avenues for military and technological cooperation but also aiming to project its influence in Asia, counterbalancing Western powers. North Korea, on the other hand, gains a formidable ally in its struggle against international isolation and economic sanctions. The pact offers Pyongyang a lifeline of political and potentially economic support, reinforcing its defiant stance against the West.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Uns description of the relationship as an alliance with unconditional support for Russia highlights the strategic importance he places on this partnership. It provides North Korea with the backing of a major military power, which could embolden its policies and actions, particularly regarding its nuclear and missile programmes. The potential repercussions of this alliance are of concern for regional and global stability. The explicit mention of mutual defence and the possibility of military cooperation raise the spectre of heightened military tensions on the Korean Peninsula. South Korea, backed by the United States, is likely to view this development with alarm, prompting a re-evaluation of its security strategies. The pact could also complicate the already fragile balance of power in the region, drawing China into the equation as it reassesses its own stance towards North Korea.

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Moreover, the Wests fears about Russia potentially aiding North Koreas nuclear and missile programmes are not unfounded. Despite denials from both Moscow and Pyongyang, the prospect of such cooperation cannot be dismissed. Any enhancement of North Koreas military capabilities through Russian technology or expertise would pose a significant threat to global non-proliferation efforts and could trigger a new arms race in the region. This development also reflects the broader realignment of global alliances in response to shifting power dynamics. As the United States and its allies intensify their support for Ukraine, Russia is forging new partnerships to counterbalance this pressure. The alliance with North Korea is a stark reminder of the interconnectedness of global conflicts and the ways in which regional issues can have far-reaching implications.
Just a few weeks before this years Lok Sabha election, amidst the capitals vibrant pre-election fervor, a discussion session for my newly released book took place at the India International Centre. With esteemed panelists and a captivated audience in attendance, I shared an anecdote that captured everyones attention.

The story goes like this. Morarji Desai, who served as the fourth Prime Minister of India (from 1977 to 1979), led the government formed by the Janata Party. He was a fierce nationalist with strong anti-corruption leanings. Shortly after becoming Prime Minister, he gave an interview to a foreign correspondent. When asked how India would progress despite facing many challenges, particularly illiteracy, PM Desai responded that the people of India are not devoid of knowledge.

He explained that while they may be illiterate, they understand the facts of life better than literate people in Western countries and possess innate intelligence. Based on this story, I submitted that if the observation made by the late Desai, whose long and varied experience in public life stood him in good stead, were true, then why do we find dubious, unscrupulous, and corrupt politicians continuing to win elections 45 years later? People across society have been worried as this trend continues unabated, leading to the utter disappointment of many and impacting the quality of democracy. To this, Ambassador K.P. Fabian, who was chairing the session, mentioned that India is known for its selfcorrecting democracy. He emphasized that the countrys democracy cannot be easily imperiled, given Indias constitutional and civilizational Idea of India, which is predicated on inclusivity rather than exclusion. The mandate of the 2024 Parliamentary election, if taken as a report card for the worlds largest democracy, highlights the significance of Ambassador Fabians comment made several weeks ago. His observation has proven to be significant and striking, although only to some extent. Why do I say this? Let me explain from two perspectives.

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First, India, being an incredibly diverse nation with numerous regional variations, religions, and languages, has traversed a long and arduous road to democracy. Despite facing a host of challenges, the country has managed to uphold its democratic values, making the 2024 electoral outcome no less remarkable. However, the primary challenge remains the fragility of key democratic institutions, which are often undermined by a climate of shrewd politics. While the electoral process has been largely resilient and reflective of the peoples will, the continued success of dubious politicians underscores systemic issues that still need addressing.

This duality  of a robust electoral process on one hand and the persistent influence of corruption and political manipulation on the otherreveals both the strengths and weaknesses of Indias democracy. Incidentally, according to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, 1,643 out of 8,337 candidates (20 per cent) have declared criminal cases against themselves. Comparatively, in the 2019, 2014, and 2009 elections, the numbers were 1,500 out of 7,928 (19 per cent), 1,404 out of 8,205 (17 per cent), and 1,158 out of 7,810 (15 per cent), respectively.

Professor Ashutosh Varshney, Sol Goldman Professor of International Studies and Social Sciences, and Professor of Political Science at Brown University, USA, argues that since 1947, India has excelled as an electoral democracy but has faced greater challenges as a liberal democracy. Be that as it may, its undeniable that the countrys politics has grown uglier, nastier, and messier over time. However, despite these challenges, the electorate in this years parliamentary election has demonstrated how democracy can rebuke political elites, silently assert their rights, curb the concentration of power, and influence the future direction of the country.

Despite the pervasive impression created strategically through a large section of the media, facilitated by a high-pitched election campaign, heavily funded advertisements, and propaganda, the electorate demonstrated a self-correcting democracy by not succumbing to BJPs extensive and expensive campaign. However, despite Prime Minister Narendra Modis developmental measures potentially easing certain aspects of life, the 10-year National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government has notably failed to improve livelihoods for a substantial segment of society. Nevertheless, kudos to the people of this country for demonstrating the power of the countrys self-correcting democracy, turning what was predicted to be a landslide victory for the BJP into a narrow, underwhelming one. The second paradox specific to West Bengal revolves around its political evolution and the contrasting outcomes under different regimes.

Illustrating self-correcting democracy, the people of West Bengal brought in a Left Front government that ousted the Emergency-tainted Congress Party. However, during the 34 uninterrupted years of Left rule (19772011), healthcare and education deteriorated, corruption flourished, and political violence became endemic. Eventually, the electorate opted for a change, giving an opportunity to the Trinamul Congress (TMC). In this years parliamentary election, it appears that people largely opted for the TMC which registered a massive victory by winning 29 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats. This outcome occurred despite the scale of corruption in the TMC rule reaching unprecedented levels. Apparently, the TMCs pro-people policies, which mitigate the effects of scandals in the public mind, greatly contributed to the decisive mandate against the BJP, the main opposition.

Put differently, TMC misrule and grave state-specific issues had limited impact on constraining the scope of self-correcting democracy, primarily due to the absence of a credible alternative in the state. Finally, the 2024 parliamentary election has culminated in a remarkable electoral outcome for the opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) at the Centre, marking a pivotal moment for democracy. There is a renewed sense of optimism and an opportunity to reclaim a credible opposition space that was lost.

For the NDA government, led by Prime Minister Modi, embarking on a third term, this election presents the right opportunity to move away from the religionisation of politics, pursue the right initiatives, address the right set of challenges, and do so in the right manner. Let the course correction take place as silently as the voters exercised their franchise this time around, signaling the eternal truth: no wrong goes unpunished  where political pomp, authoritarianism, and aggressiveness offer no rescue.

(The writer is the author of Whispers of an ordinary journey and a former General Manager of the International Centre, Goa.)
The US will ban the sale of antivirus software made by Moscow-based cybersecurity company Kaspersky.

The companys operations in the US presented a national security risk due to the Russian governments offensive cyber capabilities and capacity to influence or direct Kasperskys operations, the US Department of Commerce said in a statement on Thursday.

Kaspersky will generally no longer be able to, among other activities, sell its software within the US or provide updates to software already in use.

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Private and professional users of Kasperskys widely installed antivirus software should find an alternative due to the risk, the Department added.

Russia has shown time and again they have the capability and intent to exploit Russian companies, like Kaspersky Lab, to collect and weaponise sensitive US information, and we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to safeguard US national security and the American people, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said.

The sale of Kaspersky software in the US will be banned from July 20.

The Russian multinational will be able to provide software updates to existing users until September 29.

Kasperskys software is designed to protect users against trojans, spyware and other cyber threats.

In the US, installation on government devices has been banned since 2017, and in Germany, the Federal Office for Information Security warns against using the software.

Kaspersky has denied its products pose a risk, stating it is a private global cybersecurity company with no ties to the Russian government.
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief K Sudhakaran on Friday said that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is akin to a demon guarding the skeleton of a party that has lost its soul.

Sudhakaran said here on Friday that those at the helm of the administration do not see the party, which was built up by innumerable workers by giving their blood and sweat, getting rotten.

The senior Congress leader said that if what happened to the CPI-M in Bengal and Tripura is not to be repeated in Kerala, a real correction process should be initiated and it should be started from Pinarayi Vijayan.

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Though district meetings of the CPI and CPI-M pointed out that the reason for LDFs stunning defeat in the Lok Sabha elections was the Chief Minister, CPI-M state secretary M V Govindan guarded the AKG Centre without taking those matters to the state committee meeting for discussion.

MV Govindan, who regards the Chief Minister as a burning sun, stooped to the level of a custodian guarding Pinarayi Vijayans money box, forgetting that he is the CPI-M state secretary, Sudhakaran said. He alleged that those who have accepted the share of the dividends of deals are not ready to make corrections and continue to support the Chief Minister despite the fact that the party has lost its vote banks in an alarming magnitude even in its citadels.

It was said that the cause of the partys debacle would be investigated, but as usual, the Centre and some organisations and groups were blamed, he said.

Sudhakaran said that the real reason behind the defeat was the Chief Ministers arrogance, corruption, pomp, foreign trips, disdain towards the people, etc. and the party secretary protected the Chief Minister without discussing these matters in the state committee.

The party turns a blind eye to the bomb-making and bomb blasts happening in its strongholds. Even women who oppose it are threatened. The CPI-M is unable to listen to the cries of people like Siddharth who allegedly died due to ragging by SFI workers at the Veterinary University campus in Wayanads Pookode, the senior Congress leader said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said South Korea would be making a big mistake if it supplies arms to Ukraine.

If that happens, then we will make corresponding decisions that will not please the current leadership of South Korea, Putin said on Thursday during a trip to Vietnam.

The South Korean government had earlier expressed concern over a new Russia-North Korea strategic partnership that includes a vow of mutual aid if either country is attacked.

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Seoul said the security commitments violated UN sanctions imposed on Pyongyang.

It also suggested it could reconsider its long-standing policy of not supplying weapons to Kiev.

North Korea, ruled by President Kim Jong Un, is subject to far-reaching UN sanctions and import bans due to its nuclear weapons programme, including the trade in weapons and the transfer of military technologies to the country.

During a state visit to Pyongyang on Wednesday, Putin signed the partnership agreement with Kim.

At a press conference in Hanoi on Thursday, Putin called Seouls concerns unfounded.

He said South Korea had nothing to fear as the pact would only apply if either Russia or North Korea was attacked by a third country.

As far as I know, (South Korea) is not planning any aggression against North Korea, he said.

This means that there is no need to fear our cooperation.

Putin also said that he would not deploy any North Korean soldiers in Ukraine.

However, he threatened to deliver high-precision weapons to North Korea as a response to Western arms deliveries to Ukraine.
Saint-Laurent, CA (H4T1V6)

Today

Partly cloudy skies in the morning will give way to cloudy skies during the afternoon. High 62F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Rain showers early with mostly cloudy conditions late. Low 48F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
A day after Nvidia dethroned Microsoft to become the most valuable company in the world, the company's shares declined more than three per cent on Thursday, making Microsoft the most valued company again.

Nvidia's stock price fell to $130.78 on Thursday, bringing down its market capitalisation to $3.22 trillion. Microsoft is valued at $3.3 trillion.

Nvidia, Microsoft, and Apple are the world's most valued companies, with a market cap of over $3 trillion. The three tech companies are in a horse race to claim the top spot in terms of market cap.

"We believe over the next year the race to $4 trillion market cap in tech will be front and centre between Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft," California-based investment firm Wedbush Securities had said in a note earlier this week.

This will be a tech market in which the strong will get stronger as AI technology helps Big Tech Stalwarts monetize their massive installed base across the enterprise (Microsoft, Oracle, Dell, Amazon, etc) and consumer landscape (Meta, Apple, Google) over the coming years, an analyst at the investment firm has been quoted as saying.

Nvidia's stock price has risen over 200 per cent in a year, thanks to the increased demand for chipswhich the analysts call "new gold or oil in the tech sector"to run generative AI models.

While Microsoft both spends and makes money in AI, Nvidia only makes money and lots of money and profits in AI. That's why you cannot spell Nvidia without AI," news agency Reuters quoted Jake Dollarhide, chief executive officer of Longbow Asset Management, as saying.
The Karnataka Police, on Thursday, told a Bengaluru court that popular Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa tried to obstruct the investigation into the Renukaswamy murder case, by misusing his fan base.

According to media reports, in its remand application, the police also said Darshan reached out to several people before and after the alleged crime to try to interfere with the probe. The claim by the police comes even as the state government and Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda reiterated that the police are not under any sort of pressure to favour the actor.

ALSO READ: Darshan kept contact with rowdies across Karnataka, hid them amidst fan club ranks: Police

The police also claimed that the actor's friend Pavithra Gowda had instigated and conspired with other accused in the case to murder Renukaswamy.

The court had extended the police custody of actor Darshan by two days, till June 22.

Renukaswamy, a fan of the actor, had sent obscene messages to Gowda, which enraged Darshan, allegedly leading to his murder.

Darshan's wife Vijayalakshmi breaks her silence

Meanwhile, the actor's wife Vijayalakshmi Darshan spoke up for the first time after the star's arrest. Vijayalakshmi sought an injunction against the media from publishing or unauthenticated information about the murder case.

At the outset, I express my heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased Sri. Renukaswamy. Alongside, The last few days have been full of anguish for Darshan, myself, my teenage son & all of Darshans friends, family & Fans, she wrote in an Instagram post.

READ MORE: Renukaswamy murder case: Karnataka police seize car used by Darshan gang to kidnap victim

With this order issued by the Honourable Court, I hope people will put to rest, some falsified information & untruths that were being spread across various media & social media platforms. I urge everyone to kindly publish only what is officially put out by the enforcement authorities," Vijayalakshmi wrote, and added that she has full faith in the legal system.
In the wake of the upcoming assembly elections, the Election Commission is preparing to roll out the updated voters' list in Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Maharashtra and Jharkhand. Witnessing a huge voter turnout in J&K for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the poll body has expressed confidence regarding more participation in the assembly elections.

The qualifying date for roll updation is on July 1, 2024.

The qualifying date helps the officials establish the number of voters on a given date in a state or in the country.

The term of the present legislative assemblies in the three states is going to end on November 3, November 26 and January 5, 2025, respectively. The assembly elections should be held before the completion of their terms.

The EC noted that the assembly elections in J&K are also to be conducted for constituting a new house after the delimitation of constituencies.

Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his J&K visit, said that the assembly elections would be held soon in J&K and plans are underway to restore statehood to the union territory in the near future.

"Witnessing the huge participation of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, the Commission has also directed for the updation of electoral rolls in the UT with July 1, 2024 as the qualifying date," the EC stated.

Earlier, the EC had said that it has decided to accept applications seeking allotment of "common symbols" for registered unrecognised parties in the UT.

But since no assembly is functional in Jammu and Kashmir, the EC has issued a press statement inviting applications for symbols.

The recognised national and state parties have their 'reserved symbols', however, the registered unrecognised parties will have to apply for symbols to field candidates. When free symbols are allocated to unrecognised parties, the remaining unclaimed symbols will be assigned by the returning officer to Independents "on the spot".

The assembly elections to be held in J&K will be the first since the August 2019 abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution and the bifurcation of J&K into two Union Territories.

Following a delimitation exercise, the number of assembly seats has gone up from 83 to 90, excluding those allocated to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

In December, the Supreme Court directed the poll panel to hold assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September 30.
Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal, who was granted bail by a Delhi' Rouse Avenue Court in a money laundering case stemming from the alleged excise scam, will walk out of Tihar jail on Friday. His lawyers will submit the bail bond before the court on Friday morning, after which Kejriwal will be released from Tihar jail.

The Delhi chief minister will be released on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh with conditions, including abstaining from hampering the investigation or influencing the witnesses. The judge also directed Kejriwal to appear before the court whenever required and to cooperate with the investigation.



According to the AAP legal team, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) had no proof against the partys leaders and alleged that the case was a conspiracy of the BJP. AAP Legal Cells state president Sanjeev Nasiar told ANI after Kejriwal's bail that the ED was working under someones pressure.



"Truth has won. This case was false, it was a conspiracy of the BJP party. This is a huge win for the AAP party for the country and all of us. The ED has no proof against any of our leaders and they are working under someones pressure. They wanted to finish the political career of Arvind Kejriwal but they failed in this," advocate Sanjeev Nasiar said.



The bail has come as a huge relief for the party as it will add impetus to AAP's stance that there is no case against the party or Kejriwal since Section 45 of the stringent Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) stipulates that bail can be granted only if the judge is prima facie satisfied that the accused has not committed the offence and that he is unlikely to commit any offence while on bail.



Meanwhile, reports hint that the ED will approach the Delhi High Court to challenge the bail order. This comes as the Rouse Avenue Court refused to entertain ED's request to postpone filing the bail bond for 48 hours, reported ANI.



According to the ED and the CBI, the South Group is a cartel of politicians, business people and others who lobbied for liquor licences for which they paid bribes to Delhi's ruling party.



On Wednesday, the ED argued that the fact that the offence of money laundering has been committed is beyond doubt because the court has taken cognisance and it has not been challenged. The ED told the court on Wednesday that when former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia was made an accused in the case, the AAP was not named as an accused.



"Kejriwal demanded a bribe. He asked for a bribe of Rs 100 crore. Kejriwal asked for funds for the AAP. Kejriwal demanded kickbacks from South Group. You can't say he is not guilty of an offence. If AAP commits a crime, then every person in charge of the party will be deemed to be guilty," the ED told Special Judge Niyay Bindu.



"Demand (for bribe) is established. The money has gone to Goa. It has gone to hawala dealers. We have recorded statements. A larger chunk of the amount was paid in cash is also established. The entire trail has been established," the ED asserted while opposing Kejriwal's bail petition.


The Dalai Lama's office has reacted to China's statement over the US delegation's visit by reiterating Tibet's "historical status as an independent country." The response from the Dalai Lama's Secretary of Bureau Dhundup Gyalpo Bawa came a day after China asked the spiritual leader to "thoroughly correct his political propositions" for talks to happen between Tibet and Beijing.

The group of U.S. lawmakers, who met the Dalai Lama in India on Wednesday, urged China to hold talks with Dalai Lama. The delegation also made strong remarks questioning China's policy towards Tibet.



Slamming Beijing's "propaganda machine" for manipulating the fact that China invaded Tibet and illegally occupied it in 1959, the secretary's post read: "The PRC invaded Tibet and illegally occupied it since 1959. The Chinese propaganda machine has been manipulating this fact, by mixing it up with the One China Policy, which has nothing to do with Tibet, to begin with, and deviously broadcasting that Tibet has always been part of China since ancient times. The recent US Resolve Tibet Act rejects this claim as inaccurate."



The Dalai Lama's office added that the existence of Tibet's currency before its invasion by the PRC underscored Tibet's historical status as an independent country. "The saying repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth does not apply here, just as substituting "Xizang" for "Tibet" does not change historical facts," the post added.

China had warily watched the delegation's visit and reacted to the US lawmakers's call to hold talks. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a media briefing on Thursday that the US needed to respect its sensitivity and importance to Tibet-related issues as Washington is set to pass a tough Tibet policy law.



Their visit came as US President Joe Biden was set to sign the Tibet policy bill adopted by both the US Senate and the House of Representatives. The bill, which awaits Biden's signature to make it into law, seeks to counter China's narrative about its control over Tibet and promote dialogue between the Chinese government and the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.



Lin added that the US needed to respect China's core interests in its comments on Xizang refrain from any forms with the Dalai group and stop sending out to the world wrong signals.



He also criticised the reported remarks by the Tibet government-in-exile that it is going to use the new Tibet legislation passed by the US Senate and Congress to try to force China to come to the negotiating table and urge other countries to put pressure on Beijing to hold talks with it.



"The so-called Tibet government-in-exile is an out-and-out separatist political group and an illegal organisation in total violation of China's constitution and laws. It is not recognised by any country," Lin said.



Meanwhile, the Dalai Lama has arrived in Delhi on Friday ahead of his US visit. The spiritual leader will visit the US for knee treatment on Saturday.


Delhi Water Minister Atishi began her indefinite hunger strike in south Delhi's Bhogal on Friday to get more water from Haryana, in the presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal and other AAP leaders.



Sunita Kejriwal read out a message from the chief minister, who is currently lodged in Tihar jail, in which he expressed hope that Atishi's 'tapasya' would be successful. The chief minister said he was immensely pained by seeing on TV the plight of the people facing water shortage amid the ongoing intense heatwave.

"It's our culture to provide water to the thirsty. Delhi gets water from neighbouring states. We hoped support of neighbouring states in such intense heat. But, Haryana reduced Delhi's water share, he said. "Although there are governments of different parties in the two states but is this time for politics over water," he said, referring to the BJP that is in power in Haryana.

Earlier, Atishi, accompanied by Sunita Kejriwal, AAP MP Saurabh Bharadwaj, Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj and other leaders paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat before heading to Bhogal.

In the morning, the minister said she would begin her indefinite hunger strike in Bhogal as, despite all efforts, the Haryana government was not releasing the full share of Delhi's water.

"I will start 'Pani Satyagraha' from today... I will start an indefinite fast at Bhogal, Jangpura from 12 'o' clock until the people of Delhi get their rightful share of water from Haryana," she said on X earlier in the day.

The minister has claimed that Haryana for the last two weeks was releasing 100 million gallons per day less water to Delhi against its share of 613 MGD, as a result, 28 lakh people in Delhi were affected. Delhi is facing an unprecedented heatwave as a result the water demand has increased.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal has expressed her disappointment at the Delhi High Court's decision to stay the AAP convenor's bail, stating that "dictatorship has crossed all limits".

Accusing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of behaving as if Kejriwal was a criminal, Sunita said the agency approached the High Court even before the Chief Minister's bail order was uploaded.



Speaking in south Delhi's Bhogal where Delhi Water Minister Atishi began an indefinite hunger strike to get more water from Haryana, Sunita said she hoped that the court would do justice.



#WATCH | Delhi Water Minister Atishi begins indefinite hunger strike for water crisis



Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal says, " Kejriwal says that 'when I see on tv, the way Delhi people are suffering due to water scarcity, it hurts me. I hope Atishi's 'tapasya' pic.twitter.com/faQepXdv5y  ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2024

She also conveyed her husband's message on the water crisis plaguing the national capital. "Kejriwal says that 'when I see on tv, the way Delhi people are suffering due to water scarcity, it hurts me. I hope Atishi's 'tapasya' will succeed and Delhi people get relief. I wish all the best to Atishi, may God protect her," Sunita added.



The Delhi High Court on Friday put on hold the trial court order granting bail to the chief minister till it hears the Enforcement Directorate's plea challenging the relief granted to him in the money laundering case linked to the alleged excise scam.



Meanwhile, the hearing has begun on the ED plea before a bench of Justices Sudhir Kumar Jain and Ravinder Dudeja.



Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the ED, called the trial court order perverse. He argued that the agency did not get a proper opportunity for argument before the trial court.



"As it passed the order, the trial court said the records were voluminous. The matter was decided without going through documents filed by both sides and without giving the probe agency an opportunity. How can the court say whether it was relevant or not without going through the documents," ASG Raju argued. The ED has also sought a stay in the trial court's order.



Thereafter, the court will hear arguments on behalf of Kejriwal's lawyers.


Parupkar Dullai alias Parry Dullai and Bhagat Singh Brar, who lost an appeal in the Canadian court to get off the countrys no-fly list, are not new names for the Indian security establishment who have dossiers on them for garnering political support for the creation of Khalistan and links in Pakistan to support the secessionist agenda.

While sources in the security establishment are viewing the development as a corroboration of New Delhis stand that Canada has been soft-pedalling on the Khalistan issue with threat actors finding a safe haven on its soil, concerns around some of them enjoying political patronage have once again gathered steam.

The union home ministry had put Dullai on its blacklist, which meant he could face visa restrictions or immediate deportation on arrival. The reasons being that Dullai often visited Pakistan and met Paranjit Singh Panjwar, chief of Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) in Lahore during a jatha visit to Pakistan in November 2015, said sources. Panjwar was killed in Lahore in May 2023.

Security agencies also found Dullais links with Pak-based International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) leader Lakhbir Singh Rode for allegedly funding terror acts in Punjab. Rode died of a heart attack in Pakistan in December 2023.

But the pro-Khalistan trans national lobby has been buzzing with actors like Dullai and Brar spending time mobilising the diaspora to support Khalistan not just within Canada but also in countries like the UK.

With Surrey as the base, secessionist activities were branched out to Vancouver and Abbotsford to collect donations. Besides, the pro-Khalistan propaganda has been actively supported by Dullai and his associates, said a security official, using media outlets to propagate secessionist ideology.

Brar, on the other hand, is the son of Lakhbir Singh Brar, also known as Lakhbir Singh Rode, the Pakistan-based Khalistani separatist and nephew of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale who led the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). He was also connected with the Khalistan Zindabad Force.

Known to be highly active in many Khalistani protests, sources said he frequently collaborates with Sikh youth groups, often speaking at anti-India protests.

Brar alias Baggu travelled to Pakistan and stayed there from March 30 to April 20, 2018, as per intelligence reports, and held meetings with ISI officials in Islamabad. Baggus links with deceased Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar are being cited by security officials to explain the transnational Khalistan networks running from Nijjar to ISI for plotting terror strikes in the country.

According to intelligence officials, another Canadian national hailing from Punjab, Gurjeet Singh Cheema was tasked to arrange arms and ammunition in India in 2015. Later, Cheema motivated two Punjab-based youths Mann Singh and Sher Singh alias Sarabjit Singh to carry out the terror attack. The duo was arrested on May 21, 2017, near the Indo-Pak border. Brars alleged support to radical elements in Punjab and moral support to some of the arrested accused in Dibrugarh jail is also under the scanner of security agencies who are on their toes to keep the trans-national Khalistan threat at bay.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar undertook a day-long visit to Sri Lanka on Thursday. He had meetings with the Sri Lankan leaders on wide-ranging issues from the power sector to maritime security.

In his first bilateral visit to Sri Lanka after the NDA government took charge in New Delhi, Jaishankar met Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and discussed the way forward for the bilateral cooperation - in power, energy, connectivity, port infrastructure, aviation, digital, health, food security, education and tourism sectors. He also commissioned the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre built with a USD 6 million grant from India. Jaishankar also handed over new homes built with Indian assistance.

In a post on social media platform X, Jaishankar stated, "Concluded a productive visit to Sri Lanka, my first in this new term. We will always be a reliable friend and a dependable partner for our Sri Lankan friends.

Jaishankars visit underscores the importance of Sri Lanka in Indias neighbourhood policy and SAGAR Vision, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). This was his first bilateral visit to any country after being sworn in as External Affairs Minister... His visit underscores India's primacy that we accord to Sri Lanka in a neighbourhood-first policy as also a Sagar vision policy, said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. Apart from meeting Ranil Wickremesinghe, Jaishankar also called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. He also met opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and had separate meetings with former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and others.

Interaction of EAM with the leadership of the Government of Sri Lanka provided an opportunity to review and accelerate progress in the multifaceted India-Sri Lanka partnership. One of the key focus areas of discussion was the Vision Document adopted by President Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during the former's visit to India in July 2023, MEAs press statement added.

Jaishankars meeting with Ranil assumes significance, especially in the backdrop of the latter participating in Narendra Modis swearing-in ceremony on June 9. India has been Sri Lankas major source of support after the Island nation slipped into a huge economic crisis and approached the IMF for loans.

Jaishankars visit comes in the wake of Sri Lanka's presidential election due in October this year.
Lawyer Michael Cohen has threatened legal action against Chippewa County Sheriff Travis Hakes after he says the law enforcement official improperly interfered in a sentencing hearing for his client.

In a letter filed Monday, Cohen alleges Hakes sent a "problematic and potentially unethical email" to Judge Steven Gibbs, in which Hakes reportedly threatens to impose a harsher sentence on a convicted man than what was negotiated as part of a plea agreement.

Cohen accuses Hakes of threatening to withhold Huber privileges from a man accused of sexually assaulting foster children in his care.

Huber privileges, also known as work release, allow incarcerated people to leave jail to work, care for their families, or attend school or treatment programs. It is up to a court to grant Huber privileges, and the jail will then verify employment and ensure all requirements are met. Jail staff determine the specifics of the work or personal release program.

The letter was filed in a case involving Glen Kirckof, who was accused of sexually assaulting four different children over more than two decades.

Cohen claims Hakes got personally and inappropriately involved in the case after a plea deal was reached and as the court prepares for a sentencing hearing July 31.

The Chippewa Herald reached out to the Eau Claire-based attorney for comment but did not receive a response.

Hakes said Friday he would provide the email he sent to the judge next week after The Chippewa Herald filed an open records request for the document. Hakes said he cannot release the email until the county's attorney reviews the request and approves it.

I will tell you and you can read the email when it can be released there's nothing in there that I said I was going to be more punitive. I have never been more punitive and I wouldn't be more punitive, Hakes said. It depends on how you interpret the message when you read it. But in my opinion and my intent was I was expressing concerns, not saying I would be more punitive.

Attorney's concerns

On June 17 Cohen filed a letter addressed to Chippewa County Judge Steven Gibbs about the Kirckof case. Kirckof was convicted of two counts of fourth-degree sexual assault and causing mental harm to a child after he entered the no-contest pleas in Chippewa County Court as part of a plea agreement.

Judge Steven Gibbs set a sentencing hearing for July 31. Kirckof remains free on bond.

In his letter, Cohen said he wished to remind the Court that there is a joint agreement for a stipulated sentence regarding Mr. Kirckofs cases.

The agreement reached by the parties contemplates a period of the incarceration in the Chippewa County Jail as a straight sentence, on one misdemeanor count of 4th degree sexual assault, for a period of eight months, Cohen writes. For the other charges, the recommendation is for a withheld sentence and supervision for three years, concurrent with each other, but consecutive to the jail time.

Cohen blames Hakes for delaying the hearing with shenanigans.

As the Court remembers, the reason that the cases did not move forward at the time of the last hearing was because of some shenanigans engaged in by the Chippewa County Sheriff, Mr. Hakes, late in the evening on the Friday before the Monday hearing, Cohen writes. As this Court is aware, that email correspondence to the Court was sent without notice to the District Attorneys Office, or to anyone, actually, prior to it being sent.

Cohen writes that he will not belabor what is believed to be problematic and potentially unethical conduct of Mr. Hakes.

However, I am sure that the Court is aware of the email, wherein Mr. Hakes without question, definitively advises the Court of the actions that it will take against Mr. Kirckof, regardless of the Sentence Orders of the Court, he says.

Cohen wrote that if Hakes carries out his threats, he will seek legal action and sanctions against the sheriff.

Cohen claims that Hakes is a family friend of some of the complaining witnesses family.

It is understood that Mr. Hakes socializes with this family. It is also our understanding that Mr. Hakes, prior to the time that he was the Sheriff for Chippewa County, personally involved himself with discussing Mr. Kirckofs matter, as a private citizen, with these people and, as a result, apparently has indicated to them that he will take it upon himself to impose whatever sanctions he mistakenly believes he has the right to pursue, Cohen writes.

Cohen also writes that Hakes is "not in charge of the rule of law."

Hakes' actions questioned

Hakes has had his behavior called into question repeatedly since taking office in January 2023. His tenure has been plagued by allegations of poor leadership and impropriety. He was investigated by the Chippewa County Board of Supervisors beginning in the spring of 2023 and ending this spring.

Attorney Jill Pedigo Hall released two reports as part of her investigation into Hakes as part of her work for von Briesen & Roper, a law firm hired by the county to investigate the sheriff.

The first report was released Sept. 7. The 87-page document showed the investigation into Hakes began with allegations of sexual harassment but expanded to include a host of other concerns about alleged misconduct and policy violations.

In February, Halls second supplemental report into Hakes was released. The report concluded that Hakes was repeatedly dishonest and misleading both on the job and in the course of being investigated.

Hakes has said repeatedly that hes found fault with the investigation, its conclusions, the evidence and the investigator.

In October, Hakes published his own counter-investigation into the allegations of misconduct levied against him. Hakes 37-page counter investigation claimed Halls report contains defects that include over a dozen provable false statements and suggestive, misleading, speculative or incomplete statements.

He also has expressed frustration with the cost of the investigation into him, which reached over $130,000.

The board said in February that it has no confidence in Hakes, would cut communications with the county's top law enforcement official and forwarded its investigation report to the district attorney for review. The board and its committees also agreed to only get information and reports regarding sheriffs department administrative and law enforcement matters from the departments chief deputy or chief deputys designee.

In a statement released by the board they wrote in February that Sheriff Hakes has demonstrated his negative impact on the fundamental operations of the Sheriffs Department, the District Attorneys Office and the Chippewa County Department of Administration. This impact has also created concerns for the safety of the general public.

Cohen writes that Hakes will disregard Court Orders, is as plain as day to anyone who reads the English language. With this in mind, I am notifying the Court that, in the event that Mr. Hakes does, in fact, attempt to pursue his stated intentions of how to treat Mr. Kirckof for any sentence imposed by the Court, a Writ of Mandamus will be filed, wherein sanctions will be pursued personally against Mr. Hakes for his personal violations of Mr. Kirckofs rights, pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes.
India on Friday slammed the Canadian parliament for observing 'one minute silence' in the memory of Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, killed in Surrey last year.

"We naturally oppose any moves giving political space to extremism and advocacy of violence," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

Canadian Parliament on Tuesday observed a minute of silence to commemorate the one-year death anniversary of Nijjar. "Following discussions among representatives of all parties in the House, I understand there is an agreement to observe a moment of silence commemorating Hardeep Singh Nijjar, assassinated in Surrey, British Columbia, one year ago today," Speaker Greg Fergus said during the House of Commons proceedings.

Earlier Trudeau had said that Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty."

Also Read | G7 summit: Committed to work together, says Canada PM Trudeau after meeting Modi

India-Canada relations became strained following PM Justin Trudeau's allegations in September accusing India of involvement in Nijjar's killing.

New Delhi had rejected Trudeau's charges as "absurd".

India on several occasions has voiced its concerns as Canada continues to give a political space for Khalistani extremism.

Meanwhile, amid the diplomatic tensions, Trudeau met PM Modi on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy. After his meeting with the PM, Trudeau said that he sees an "opportunity" for both nations to engage in more important discussions on serious issues including national security.

Nijjar, who was declared a terrorist by India, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in British Columbia on June 18 last year. The murder is being probed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
The Delhi High Court on Friday reserved orders on the Enforcement Directorates plea seeking a stay on Rouse Venue Courts order granting bail to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Kejriwal, who was all set to be released on Friday would now have to continue in Tihar prison.



After a day-long argument in the High Court challenging Kejriwals bail, the Court reserved orders on the stay application for two to three days. Till pronouncement, the operation of the impugned order shall remain stayed, Live Law reported. The Court issued notice to Kejriwal in the case.

The Delhi Rouse Venue Court granted bail for Kejriwal in the money laundering case registered in connection with alleged liquor policy scam on Thursday and the chief minister was all set to be released on Friday. ED approached the HC on Friday and demanded a stay on the order. ED said the order was perverse and all aspects were not considered while granting bail to the CM.

ED argued that the Delhi Court did not allow them time to argue the case and said the order was pronounced without considering evidence produced before the Court. End-to-end money trail has been given. We have traced out Rs 45 crore. In our reply we have shown that money was used in Goa elections, ED argued saying these factors were not considered while granting bail.

Our case is that Kejriwal is guilty of money laundering offence in two capacities. One in individual capacity where he personally demanded Rs 100 crore and was part of the policy. His role shows generation of proceeds of crime. Second, he is vicariously liable because AAP is guilty of an offence of money laundering. AAP used these funds in the election campaign of AAP candidates and events, ED argued.

In the bail order, Court observed, This is also noticeable that ED is silent about the facts as to how the proceeds of crime have been utilized in Assembly Elections in Goa by AAP as, admittedly, after about two years, the bigger portion of the alleged amount remains to be traced out," the judge said.

Vacation judge Niyay Bindu in the bail order observed ED was biased. The judge said the allegations against Kejriwal surfaced during subsequent statements of certain co-accused. She said it is also an admitted fact that he has not been summoned by the court after his arrest and is "lying in judicial custody at the instance of ED on the pretext of the investigation being still on."

-with inputs from agencies.
The Madras High Court on Friday grilled the DMK dispensation in Tamil Nadu for inaction in the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy. Talking tough on the action taken by the government and the negligence of the officers, the court came down heavily stating similar incidents that happened last year in Villupuram and Chengalpattu.

A Division Bench of Justices D. Krishnakumar and K. Kumaresh Babu while hearing the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by AIADMK advocate IS Inbadurai, seeking a CBI probe into the tragedy, asked tough questions to the state government. At least 49 people have died in Kallakurichi after consuming spurious liquor sold by the local bootleggers. The division bench ordered the government to file an action taken report and a counter affidavit by June 26.

Advocate General P.S. Raman who represented the state government informed the court that the investigation into the hooch deaths in Chengalpattu and Villupuram, which claimed 22 lives last year, was transferred to the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) and the culprits were booked under the Goondas Act. He also informed that disciplinary action was taken against the police personnel involved in the Villupuram and Chengalpattu cases. In the Kallakurichi tragedy, he said, the district magistrate, the additional director general of police and the SP in the Enforcement Bureau CID have been transferred and the district SP has been placed under suspension. The government had appointed a one-man commission under retired high court judge B. Gokuldas to investigate the Kallakurichi incident and recommend preventive measures, he informed the court.

Directing the government to file a detailed report, the division bench said that the incident cannot be taken lightly. All that we want to know is whether you have learnt a lesson, as there was an illicit arrack tragedy in 2023, referring to the incidents in Villupuram and Chengalpattu.
In a worrying sign, investigations by police have revealed that terrorists involved in multiple attacks recently in Jammus Reasi, Kathua, and Doda districts received help from locals.

The attacks included targeting a pilgrim bus in Reasi on June 9, followed by incidents in Kathua and Doda, resulting in nine deaths, including a CRPF jawan, and numerous injuries.

Security forces responded with extensive operations, detaining multiple individuals for questioning.

A significant breakthrough in the Reasi bus attack, which claimed nine lives including the driver and conductor and left 33 injured, came with the arrest of Hakam Din, a resident of Bandhrahi in Rajouri. Din facilitated the terrorists by acting as a guide and providing shelter.

According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Reasi, Mohita Sharma, Din guided the terrorists to the attack site and provided them refuge multiple times before the incident.

Following the Reasi attack, Kathua saw the deaths of two terrorists and injuries to a civilian, while in Doda, an attack on a checkpoint injured five soldiers and a policeman. These incidents prompted a high-level security meeting led by Home Minister Amit Shah, emphasising zero tolerance for terrorism and enhanced security measures in Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, and Reasi, especially in preparation for the Amarnath Yatra starting June 29 and upcoming assembly polls.

Police made progress in tracking the module responsible for guiding terrorists from the International Border in Hiranagar and Kathua sectors to Udhampur, Doda, Pir Panjal Range, and Kashmir.

Two residents of Bathal Chak in Hiranagar Tehsil, Kathua district, were detained for allegedly aiding terrorists, guiding them to a temporary shelter.

On June 11, two terrorists lost and sought water in Saida, Hiranagar, which aroused suspicion when villagers raised the alarm. During the subsequent encounter, a CRPF jawan was martyred, and a civilian was injured.

Two terrorists freshly infiltrated and surfaced in Saida Sukhal near Koota Morh, Hiranagar, late on June 11, said Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Jammu, Anand Jain. They panicked, firing randomly and injuring a passing villager. The Hiranagar incident was followed by an attack at Chattergalla on the Bhaderwah-Pathankot road, injuring five soldiers and a policeman the same evening.

On June 12, terrorists fired at the police in Bhallesa, Gandoh, injuring a constable.

Director General of Police (DGP) R.R. Swain, visiting Hiranagar on June 15, attributed the attacks to desperate attempts by handlers across the border to maintain their operations post setbacks in Kashmir.

The contractors (handlers) across the border send terrorists here to sustain their activities, Swain said.

On June 18, three individuals were detained in Doda for providing food to terrorists and not reporting their movements. Another suspect is still at large and police have launched a hunt to arrest him.

The spate of attacks in Jammu comes after the Lok Sabha polls which witnessed a huge turnout in Jammu and over 50 per cent turnout in Kashmir, the highest in the last four decades.

Security officials say the targeting of the pilgrims is particularly worrying given the Amarnath yatra that commences on June 29 and will conclude on August 19. After the yatra, the Election Commission is expected to announce the election schedule for Jammu and Kashmir, the first since 2015 that brought to power the PDP-BJP government.

Security experts opine that the terrorists are taking advantage of the mountains and forested terrain in Jammus Rajouri-Poonch bordering Reasi to carry out attacks to strike and flee.

The role of locals in aiding and guiding terrorists has caused an alarm. However, the security forces are ensuring that investigations are carried out in a manner that doesnt fuel anger among the locals and alienate them.
The Madras High Court on Friday came down heavily on Tamil Nadu government authorities and said their inaction led to such a tragic incident. The Court directed the state government to file a report on actions taken against illicit liquor for the past one year on June 26.



Hearing a plea by AIADMK, demanding a CBI probe in the issue, the Court observed the issue cannot be taken lightly and lack of action by the government, after a similar incident in 2023 led to the tragic Kallakuruchi incident. The Court said, This is not an issue like others. This is about the life of individuals that have been affected due to the inaction of officers. We want to know. You have to answer. You have to file a report, Live Law reported.

Referring to certain reports on YouTube news channels, the Court said there were reports alleging illicit liquor was easily available in Kalvarayan Hills and a few individuals were also named in the reports. Before this incident happened, there were also news reports saying how illicit arrack was easily made available. I also happened to see a YouTube interview where specific allegations were made and persons making these illicit liquor were named, the bench observed. You can't sweep these under the carpet. These are the allegations going around in the media, in newspapers and YouTube channels, it added.

The petitioners demanded a CBI probe in the case as the methanol used for making the spurious liquor was seized from Puducherry. The Court sought details of actions taken by the state government in connection with Kallakuruchi hooch tragedy and steps taken to prevent these incidents during the past one year. The bench also sought details of officers suspended, transferred anddetails of de-addiction centres.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the International Yoga Day celebrations at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre in Srinagar on Friday. Though the event was scheduled to be held on the lawns of the SKICC on the banks of the Dal Lake, it had to be shifted indoors due to incessant rain.

Marking the 10th International Yoga Day fete, the Prime Minister urged everyone to make yoga part of their daily lives. "Yoga helps us realise that our welfare is related to the welfare of the world around us. World looking at Yoga as a power for global good," Modi said.



#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads a Yoga session at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar on J&K, on International Day of Yoga. pic.twitter.com/9e5KveJWUl  ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2024 #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads a Yoga session at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar on J&K, on International Day of Yoga. pic.twitter.com/PClCj4aUHN  ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2024

"Yoga helps us live in the present moment without the baggage of the past," the prime minister said. "When we are peaceful within, we can also make a positive impact on the world...Yoga is making new ways of positive change in the society," he added.



Modi also highlighted the yoga economy thriving in the country. "Today, the world is seeing a new yoga economy going forward. In India, from Rishikesh and Kashi to Kerala, a new connection of Yoga tourism is being seen. Tourists from across the world are coming to India because they want to learn authentic yoga in India. People are even keeping personal Yoga trainers for their fitness. All of these have created new opportunities for the youth, new employment opportunities for youth," the Prime Minister said.


In another incident of mob violence in Pakistan, a group of people on Thursday torched a police station and lynched to death a man detained there over blasphemy charges. The incident happened in Khyber Pakhtunkhwas Swat district, where the police apprehended a man over the alleged desecration of the Quran.

This is the second incident in a month, the other being a mob torching the house of a Christian man alleging blasphemy. The man died later in hospital. Another incident happened in 2022 where a man was stoned to death by a mob over the alleged desecration of the Quran in a remote village.



According to Swat Police officials, though the police moved the suspect of the alleged desecration incident to the police station, a charged mob attacked the police station and took the suspect away. "People set fire to the police station and a mobile vehicle," a senior police official told Dawn, adding that the suspect was torched.



The video of the incident doing rounds on social media also showed a mob around a man set ablaze in the middle of the road. A huge number of people were seen outside a police station. The incident reportedly happened near Madyan, a famous tourist spot situated around 245 kilometres from the provincial capital of Peshawar.



Pakistan made blasphemy punishable by death in 1980 during the military dictatorship of General Muhammad Zia ul-Haq as part of a drive to Islamise the state. Though no one has ever been executed by the state, blasphemy convictions are common in Pakistan, including multiple incidents of mob violence.



Many resort to using Pakistans blasphemy law to carry out personal vendettas or prosecute members of minority religious communities.



Recently, Pakistan witnessed armed mobs launching a widespread attack on at least two churches in Punjab provinces Jaranwala town accusing two Christian residents of blasphemy. Videos doing rounds on social media showed hundreds armed with batons and sticks attacking the Salvation Army Church and the Saint Paul Catholic Church. While many houses were set ablaze, many others suffered heavy damage.



Authorities deployed Paramilitary Rangers to control the situation in the district in Punjab which saw over 100 people arrested.
In a historic win for the LGBTQ community in the South African country, a high court in Namibia declared the laws banning same-sex acts unconstitutional on Friday.

The high court declared the crimes of "sodomy" and "unnatural sexual offences" as "unconstitutional and invalid".

"We are not persuaded that in a democratic society such as ours...it is reasonably justifiable to make an activity criminal just because a segment, maybe a majority, of the citizenry consider it to be unacceptable," wrote the judge.

The high court was hearing the petition filed by Namibian activist Friedel Dausab. Terming the judgment as "historic", Dausab said that he no longer feels like a criminal on the run in his own country.

Hundreds of people, who fought for gay rights rejoiced with the courts decision. Finally we are not viewed as criminals, said an activist, who has been fighting for equal rights.

According to ILGA, an international organisation supporting LGBTQ rights, "Consensual same-sex activity is prohibited in more than half of 54 African countries."

"The victory also brings much-needed and renewed energy to other decriminalisation efforts across Africa," said Ta Braun, chief executive of the Human Dignity Trust was quoted by Reuters.

Namibia's laws date back to 1927, which the country inherited from the colonial era but maintained after it gained independence from South Africa in 1990.

The verdict comes against the backdrop of growing intolerance towards LGBTQ rights in southern Africa.

While a handful of African countries have legalised same-sex relationships, South Africa remains the sole African nation which allows gay marriage, legalised in 2006.

(With agencies inputs)
Republican Party's presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump has made a surprising shift from his usual anti-immigration stance, batting for green cards to all foreign students who graduate from US colleges.

In a podcast taped Wednesday with venture capitalists and tech investors called the "All-In", Trump was asked about his ideas for companies to be able to import the "best and brightest" minds. "What I want to do and what I will do is you graduate from a college, I think you should get automatically as part of your diploma a green card to be able to stay in this country. And that includes junior colleges too, anybody graduates from a college. You go there for two years or four years," the former president said.



The right-wing leader, who always maintained a highly nationalistic narrative and populist ideology, has vowed to restrict legal immigration if elected to a second four-year term. He had said that he would seek to end automatic citizenship for children born in the U.S. to immigrants living in the country illegally, an idea he flirted with as president. He had also pushed for "a merit-based immigration system that protects American labour and promotes American values."



However, the suggestion he made on Thursday ironically would result in a sweeping expansion of America's immigration system.



"I know of stories where people graduated from a top college, or from a college, and they desperately want to stay here and they cant. They go back to India, they go back to China. They do the same basic company in those places and they become multi-billionaires employing thousands and thousands of people," Trump said.



He also said that US companies need smart people, adding "They cant even make a deal with a company because they dont think theyre going to be able to stay in the country." "That is going to end on day one," Trump added.



"You need a pool of people to work for your company," Trump said. "And they have to be smart people. Not everybody can be less than smart. You need brilliant people."



Trump had previously said the H1-B program commonly used by companies to hire foreign workers temporarily was "very bad" and used by tech companies to get foreign workers for lower pay. "First of all, I think and I know the H-1B very well. And its something that I frankly use and I shouldnt be allowed to use it. We shouldnt have it," he said. "Second of all, I think its very important to say, well, Im a businessman and I have to do what I have to do."


BEIJING, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from People's Daily: In the Longbao National Nature Reserve, located in Yushu Tibetan autonomous prefecture of northwest China's Qinghai province, Caicai and his fellow wetland rangers rose early to begin their daily patrol.



"This is China's first breeding base for black-necked cranes. In the recent couple of days, many birds have migrated here, preparing to mate. We must make sure this place is well protected," Caicai said. His gaze softened with a special gentleness as he observed a few black-necked cranes gliding over the distance meadows through a pair of binoculars.



"In recent years, more and more wild animals have settled in our reserve as the ecology here continues to thrive. We are incredibly proud of this," Caicai told People's Daily.



In recent years, the Longbao National Nature Reserve has seen a steady increase in its wildlife population, thanks to the development of information-sharing platforms, partnerships with professional research monitoring teams, regular biodiversity monitoring surveys, educational activities on natural science, creation of volunteer lake patrol teams, among others.



In particular, the number of birds spotted in the reserve has been on the rise year by year. Today, the reserve is home to 144 bird species from 39 families and 19 orders. More than 1.3 percent of black-necked cranes in the world live in the reserve, and the number of bar-headed geese there accounts for over 9.4 percent of the world's total.



This is only a miniature of how Qinghai province treasures and protects the eco-environment.



Located at the junction of the Loess Plateau and the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, Qinghai province is hailed as China's "water tower," holding special significance in ecological conservation.



In recent years, Qinghai province has made notable strides in advancing ecological protection and high-quality development on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.



For instance, the water conservation capacity has continued to improve in the Sanjiangyuan region, which serves as the headwaters of China's three major rivers, namely the Yangtze, Yellow, and Lancang rivers.



The decrease in desertified and sandy areas in Qinghai has led to an expansion of grassland, with grass yields increasing year by year. The populations of wild animals and plants are also thriving.



The proportion of days with good air quality in the province exceeds 95 percent. All major rivers and lakes meet water quality standards for their designated uses. Remarkably, Qinghai now ranks first in China in terms of total wetland area.



A robust nature reserve system centered on national parks is taking shape rapidly across Qinghai province, fortifying an ever-stronger ecological security shield.



The impressive environmental achievements would not have been possible without science-based restoration efforts.



In 2023, Qinghai converted 97,000 hectares of desertified areas into green land, exceeding the annual target by 18 percent. Thanks to the collective efforts of province-wide voluntary tree planting initiatives, over 18 million new trees were planted, involving 3 million participants.



Moreover, Qinghai has further strengthened its support system for land greening by establishing an ecological and environmental monitoring network from sky to ground.



At the goji berry fields of Zongjia township, Dulan county, Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan autonomous prefecture, Qinghai province, major grower Ding Ling has been guiding local workers to take care of the goji seedlings during the past few days.



"The market has been very good in recent years. Thanks to Qinghai's exceptional ecological reputation, buyers speak highly of our goji berries. Our minimum income can reach 5,000 yuan ($690.95) per mu (about 0.67 hectares)," Ding told People's Daily.



In 2023, 27,600 hectares of goji berries were planted in Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan autonomous prefecture. A total of 91,300 tons of dried fruit were produced therefrom, accounting for nearly 20 percent of China's overall production. The production of dried fruit generated an output value of 3.32 billion yuan, representing 42.3 percent of the prefecture's total agricultural and pastoral output value. The total value of the entire industrial chain amounted to 12 billion yuan.



The booming goji berry industry in Qinghai is backed by flourishing eco-friendly approaches. Additionally, a number of key projects highlight the province's commitment to green development: the operation of the Maerdang Hydropower Station, the completion of the Yangqu dam, the construction of the world's largest liquid air energy storage demonstration project in Golmud city, the operation of the Lijiaxia Hydropower Station, among others.



Qinghai is consistently striving for green and sustainable development. By the end of last year, the province secured a leading position in China for its clean and new energy capacity and non-hydro renewable energy consumption, with the total installed clean energy capacity reaching 51.07 million kilowatts. Lithium-ion battery production in the province accounts for 10 percent of the country's total. Besides, the monitored area of organic grasslands has surpassed 150 million mu (about 10 million hectares).



Today, Qinghai's development is featured by its lucid waters and lush mountains, with the thriving ecosystem emerging as the most inclusive public good for the residents.



In 2023, 76 percent of Qinghai's fiscal expenditure went to livelihood projects. The growth in per capita disposable personal income of all residents outpaced the overall economic growth of the province. Farmers and herdsmen saw income growth surpassing China's national average, and the urban-rural income gap continued to narrow.



Across Qinghai province, from valleys to grasslands, from snow-capped highlands to desert towns, ecological conservation and livelihood improvement are mutually reinforcing.



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

PWR
New Delhi, Jun 21 (PTI) Google on Friday extended a pilot programme on online real money gaming for an indefinite period following which small gaming companies and startups accused the internet giant of engaging in arbitrary and anti-competitive practice.

The latest move marks yet another instance of face-off between BigTech and startups in the online and digital space.

In September 2022, Google launched a pilot programme for distributing DFS and Rummy apps to users in India with select apps from Dream11, Games24x7, etc, (that command high market share) with promise that the new policy will take effect after June 30, 2024.

The company has now decided to extend the pilot as it is finding it challenging to develop a framework for real money games in countries like India where there is no licence framework available to manage them.

When contacted, Google spokesperson said expanding support of real-money gaming apps in markets without a central licensing framework has proven more difficult than expected.

"We need additional time to get it right for our developer partners and the safety of our users. We're working hard to develop a thoughtful framework -- and in the meantime, in India, we are extending the grace period of the pilot programme so existing apps offering DFS and Rummy games can remain on Play and users can continue to enjoy them.

"We hope to have further updates in the coming months on a path forward, the spokesperson said.

Indian gaming industry body All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) said the Google Play Store conservatively holds over 90 per cent of the app distribution market and they exert tremendous control over the Indian mobile market.

"We are extremely disappointed by Google's arbitrary and anti-competitive decision. In this context, not having an inclusive policy and discriminating is a form of gatekeeping and market distortion. The disregard for Indian law, encouragement of anti-competitive practices, and limiting user choice by a private entity is alarming," AIGF CEO Roland Landers said in a statement.

AIGF said it was initially concerned about Google's decision to limit the pilot to certain games but believed that the same would eventually be expanded to include all skill-based Pay to Play games.

"Their (Google) decision grants them unchecked control to pick winners in the market, favouring large companies and preventing small and emerging startups from effectively competing in this sector," Landers said.

He contended that the situation underscores the imminent need for ex-ante competition regulation and the swift implementation of the Digital Competition Bill.

Google had been at loggerheads with several Indian startups and digital entities over its PlayStore policies.

Antitrust body Competition Commission of India had previously ordered Google not to mandatorily enforce an earlier system of charging 15-30 per cent. Google thereafter imposed a fee of 11-26 per cent on in-app payments.

Earlier this year, the company removed a large number of Indian apps from its Play Store like Bharat Matrimony, Naukri, Kuku FM, Shaadi, etc, for non-compliance with its in-app payment guidelines. It, however, restored the apps after the government's intervention.
Chennai, Jun 21 (PTI) The Annual Credit Plan for priority sector lending in Tamil Nadu released by Minister for Finance and Human Resources Management Thangam Thennarasu at the recent 178th State Level Bankers' Committee Meeting for the financial year 2024-25 is expected to be Rs 8,08,745 crore.

Public sector Indian Overseas Bank was the convenor of the 178th edition of the State Level Bankers' Committee meeting which was held under the chairmanship of Thennarasu, a press release said.



The Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) is the nodal agency that prepares the Annual Credit Plan for the core sectors namely Agriculture, Industries and Services for Tamil Nadu every year. This Annual Credit Plan helps the lending banks to chalk out deployment of funds for core sectors well in advance, according to the Tamil Nadu government portal.







Secretaries and heads of various government departments, senior officials from the Reserve Bank of India and NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) took part in the meeting.



Several key areas were discussed during the meeting which include agriculture, financial lending for micro, small and medium enterprises and educational and housing loans.





The discussions were presented by Indian Overseas Bank General Manager Mohan M, a press release from the bank said on Friday.







"A significant highlight of the meeting was the release of the Annual Credit Plan for the financial year 2024-25 by Minister for Finance and Human Resources Thangam Thennarasu. The Annual Credit Plan has set a target of Rs 8,08,745 crore under Priority Sector Lending for FY 2024-25.." the release said.







The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of all stakeholders to foster financial inclusion and economic growth in Tamil Nadu through concerted efforts.
Ahmedabad, June 21 (PTI) The Gujarat High Court on Friday lifted the interim stay to the release of "Maharaj", debut film of Bollywood star Aamir Khan's son Junaid, observing that there is nothing derogatory in the movie and it does not target the Pushtimarg sect as alleged.



The film is based on an 1862 libel case involving a Vaishnavite religious leader and social reformer Karsandas Mulji.



Some members of the Pushtimarg sect had filed a petition against its release on Netflix, claiming that it hurts religious sentiments.



Justice Sangeeta Vishen had on June 13 given an interim stay to the release of the movie on the OTT platform.



In her order on Friday, the judge noted that the movie has been certified by CBFC and it does not target the sect.
Peshawar, Jun 21 (PTI) Pakistani police on Friday registered an FIR against a mob that lynched a tourist in the picturesque town of Swat for allegedly desecrating the Quran.

Muhammad Ismail, a 40-year-old resident of Sialkot in Punjab province, was gunned down by the enraged mob which dragged him through the town and later hanged him in full public view in Madyan tehsil of Swat district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Thursday.

He was accused of having burnt the pages of Islam's holy book. Five police personnel and 11 locals were injured in the incident.

Police said they have filed a First Information Report against the mob.

According to police, Ismail's family has publicly disassociated themselves from him and his alleged actions. Ismail was staying alone at a hotel in Swat Valleys Madyan town since June 18.

Meanwhile, a video statement of the man's mother, obtained by the police, said that the family had distanced themselves from him. She stated that her son had lived in Malaysia for a significant part of his life.

"His father died 30 years ago. He was in Malaysia. When he came back, the family got him married. He kept fighting with us and then left one and a half years ago," she said in the video shared by the police.

In the video, she is also heard saying, "We are Ahle Sunnat. We are Muslim. We do no wrongdoing. We have nothing to do with him. What he did or not, his relationship with us ended."

The Swat police also obtained a copy of a complaint registered against Ismail in July 2022 at a Sialkot police station. The complaint filed by the mother alleged that her son assaulted her and his brother with an iron rod and a pistol butt. It also mentioned that he was a drug addict and had issued threats to family members.

The family also provided the police with a newspaper clipping containing an advertisement where the mother publicly disassociated herself from her son.

According to the police, the accused had divorced his wife. Items found in his hotel room were deemed blasphemous by the authorities.

Earlier, District Police Officer (DPO), Swat, Zahidullah said that initially the police had taken Ismail in custody and locked him up in the police station when the alleged desecration incident was reported. However, the incident was announced from mosques through loudspeakers in the market, prompting thousands of people to gather outside the police station.

Soon after, the angry mob demanded that the police hand over the suspect to them. On refusal, a fierce exchange of fire took place between the local people and the police. After that the mob torched the police station, forcing the cops on duty to flee for their lives.

"After that, the people entered the police station and shot and killed the suspect and dragged his body to the Madyan Ada, where they hanged him. The people also set the police station and police vehicles on fire, while the policemen on duty fled. Meanwhile, more police force was called to control the mob," the officer was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune newspaper.
*Consulate General of India in New York leads Yoga session at Times Square.



US says it supports direct discussions between India, Pakistan.



Donald Trump proposes green cards for foreign grads of US colleges, departing from anti-immigrant rhetoric



Hundreds join International Yoga Day celebrations in Tel Aviv.



Stories on political developments in Pakistan.



Stories on Mideast tensions.



Stories on Russia Ukraine war. *
Washington, Jun 21 (AP) The cybersecurity firm Kaspersky denied on Friday that it is a security threat after the US Commerce Department banned the use of its software in the United States.

The Moscow-based company  whose CEO Eugene Kaspersky is Russian  said in a statement that the Commerce Department's decision would not affect its ability to sell and promote its cyber security products and training in the US.

Kaspersky said the government had based its decision on the geopolitical climate and theoretical concerns rather than independently verifying if there was a risk.

The government says Kaspersky's Russian connections mean the company poses an undue or unacceptable risk to US national security or the safety and security.

The company conducts much of its business in Russia and, as a Russian citizen who lives in that country, Eugene Kaspersky himself is subject to Russian law, the Commerce Department said in a decision dated June 14 that was posted on the Federal Register.

The department said it had considered Kaspersky's objections to the initial findings of its investigation into whether its products or services posed a threat and found that the decision to ban its software was well supported.

Aside from the company's obligation to abide by Russian laws and decisions, its software can be exploited to identify sensitive US citizens' data and make it available to Russian government actors, the department said.

The risks to US national security addressed in this Final Determination stem not from whether Kaspersky's products are effective at identifying viruses and other malware, but whether they can be used strategically to cause harm to the United States, it said.

Kaspersky boasts one of the world's most popular consumer antivirus products and a research unit widely respected for routinely exposing elite hacking groups.

In 2019, The Associated Press found that an undercover operative had targeted several cybersecurity experts in an apparent effort to gather intelligence about critics of Kaspersky.

The company says it cannot deliberately obtain sensitive data on Americans and that its operations and employees in Russia can only access aggregate or statistical data not attributable to a specific person.

It said the main impact of the US government's decision would be to benefit cybercrime, while also diminishing the freedom of consumers and organisations to choose the cyber protection they want.

We look forward to what the future holds, and will continue to defend ourselves against actions that seek to unfairly harm our reputation and commercial interests, it said. (AP) RUP

RUP
Geneva, Jun 21 (AP) A Swiss criminal court on Friday sentenced four members of the wealthy Hinduja family with between four and 4 1/2 years in prison for exploiting their vulnerable domestic workers. The court at the same time threw out the more severe charges of human trafficking.

None of the four family members were in court in Geneva though a fifth defendant - the family's business manager - was on hand. He received an 18 months suspended sentence. (AP) SCY

SCY
Islamabad, Jun 21 (PTI) Pakistan's political parties and the military in a meeting with a senior official of China's ruling Communist Party on Friday expressed support for the USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and its implementation, amidst recurring terror attacks on Chinese personnel working on the infrastructure projects.

The cross-party meeting took place at the third meeting of the Pakistan-China Joint Consultative Mechanism (JCM) of Political Parties on the CPEC in Islamabad.

The meeting was co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC) and member of the Communist Party Central Committee Liu Jianchao, who is in Pakistan on a three-day visit.

Apart from the ruling coalition, leaders from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl and other parties were in attendance. They expressed unwavering commitment to further strengthen the bilateral relationship between Pakistan and China by thwarting all nefarious designs.

The CPEC, which connects Gwadar Port in Pakistan's Balochistan with China's Xinjiang province, is the flagship project of China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The BRI is seen as an attempt by China to further its influence abroad with infrastructure projects funded by Chinese investments across the world.

China has also invested billions in various power projects and road networks in Pakistan under the CPEC plan, but the implementation of various projects has slowed in recent months.

The recurring attacks on the Chinese personnel working on the CPEC projects by militant groups in Pakistan have become a major concern for China.

In March, five Chinese and one Pakistani nationals were killed in a terrorist attack on their vehicle of the Dasu Hydropower Project undertaken by a Chinese company in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Dar in his remarks said that the CPEC had played the role of a catalyst in Pakistans socio-economic development.

Not only has the CPEC helped alleviate chronic load-shedding issues, but development projects have also helped create mass employment opportunities in Pakistan, he said.

The foreign minister said that the two countries agreed on executing the second phase of CPEC, in addition to signing the modalities for third-party participation in the project, which is a vital pillar of the Pak-China economic and strategic partnership.

Dar said that the two countries were prioritising the agriculture, information technology, industry and mining and mineral sectors during the second phase of CPEC.

Liu said the agreements signed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharifs recent visit provided an opportunity for the two countries to upgrade their ties and both countries leaderships sent a clear message to the world that the China-Pakistan friendship is unbreakable.

He said party-to-party relations are an integral part of bilateral relations, adding that it was high time that Pakistans political parties contributed their wisdom to turn the blueprint into reality by understanding each others development philosophy.

He announced that the IDCPC would invite 300 Pakistani parliamentarians to China in three years besides providing scholarships and vocational training to Pakistani youth.

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said new corridors had been included in CPEC which were aligned with the 5 Es framework focusing on exports, equity, empowerment, environment and energy.

Established in 2019, the JCM of Political Parties on CPEC is a regular consultation mechanism between the Communist Party of China and the political parties of Pakistan.

Previous meetings were held on March 19, 2019, in Beijing and on August 20, 2020, virtually.

Earlier, Liu in a meeting with Dar said China accorded a special place to Pakistan in its foreign policy and desired to strengthen their all-weather strategic cooperative partnership. He expressed satisfaction at CPECs steady pace.

He reiterated Chinas keen desire to further enhance linkages between the Communist Party of China and Pakistans political parties.

Dar underscored that as the flagship project of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, the CPEC had led to a major transformation in energy security.

The two sides agreed to maintain the momentum of high-level engagements and to further enhance communication on important regional and global issues.

Separately, Liu also met Army Chief General Asim Munir at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. According to the army, they discussed matters of mutual interest, including regional peace and stability, and reviewed progress on the CPEC.

General Munir reaffirmed Pakistans unwavering commitment to the strategic partnership with China and pledged full support for CPECs successful implementation.

Liu highlighted that he was visiting Pakistan as a follow-up to the successful meetings between the leadership of the two countries in China earlier this month.

He emphasised the significance of the longstanding brotherly relations between the two nations and expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved on CPEC, reiterating Chinas commitment to its timely completion.

Liu also commended Pakistans efforts in maintaining regional peace and stability, acknowledging the support of the Pakistan Army in providing security to Chinese nationals and projects in the country.
Mumbai, Jun 21 (PTI) The 46th meeting of the Regional Contingency Committee (West) was held here to review various security measures and contingency plans for the offshore platforms located off the west coast of India, the Navy said on Friday.

The meeting was held on June 20 under the chairmanship of Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar, Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command and a number of agencies, including the Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, ONGC, Customs, police as well as other state and central agencies took part, it said.

The Indian Navy is the lead agency for all issues relating to maritime security, including coastal security and offshore security.

"The committee meets every six months to review the various security measures and contingency plans for the offshore platforms located off the west coast of India. It also coordinates the multi-agency responses to contingencies, both natural and man-made, on the offshore platforms," it said.

During the meeting, special emphasis was accorded to monsoon preparedness to enable swift and effective response in case of a natural calamity, it added.
Kolkata, Jun 21 (PTI) The West Bengal administration on Friday constituted a panel of senior officials to prevent the grabbing of government lands, an official said.

The move comes a day after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her displeasure over allegations of grabbing of government land.

The committee consists of state Finance Secretary Manoj Pant, senior IAS officer Prabhat Mishra, ADG (Law and order) Manoj Verma and Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, the official said.

"Instructions in this regard were given by the chief minister during an administrative meeting on Thursday. She was very upset over the issue," he said.

The state government plans to take strict action in this regard, he added.
Kolkata, Jun 21 (PTI) Students of 11 West Bengal government-run or -aided schools on Friday showcased their inventions to solve real-life problems like remembering to take medicines at a show aimed at overcoming the fear of mathematics and science.

The event was held following the states new education policy that calls for connecting with the industry, an official said.

Soubhik Mondal, one of the five members of a team from Kalikapur Ramkamal Vidyapith Higher Secondary School, showcased a smart medicine box which gives reminders for taking medicines at appointed hours.

We have used a Real Time Clock module which also has a box to store medicines. An LCD board shows the current time, date and medication reminders while a buzzer gives alerts. Push buttons are used to set time, Mondal said.

Capgemini, the global major in information technology services and consulting, in partnership with NGO Change Initiatives, organized the event Lets Code.

Our project aims at covering economically poor students who lack the opportunity to showcase what they are up to, Capgemini Technology Services India Ltd Vice-President Kumar Anurag Pratap told PTI.

The most promising ideas will be taken to an all-India platform, he said.

If you see the ideas showcased in the work of every school team, if you see the glint in the eyes of these children, you will realise the moment they will get opportunities similar to the chances of students of private schools, they will surprise you with the kind of tenacity, intelligence and innovative skill, Pratap said.

Officer-on-special duty, West Bengal education directorate, Shabina N Omar, said at the programme that the new state education policy envisaged curriculum credit framework, replacing the choice-based credit system, giving emphasis on employability and upskilling to make the students part of a global workforce in future.

The new policy called for connecting with the industry, Omar said adding she was speaking in the capacity of an educator associated with a Kolkata college but not as a senior higher education department official.

The entire ecosystem of education is evolving encouraging a child, from whatever background he or she comes from, to explore, introspect and realise, she said.

Pointing out that she was amazed at how the children were explaining their projects to her when she went around the show, Omar called for engaging them in learning which will not be confined to books.
Aizawl, Jun 21(PTI) Heroin worth Rs 1.68 crore has been seized in Mizoram's Champhai district, Assam Rifles said in a statement.

Acting on a tip-off, a joint operation was conducted by Assam Rifles and Mizoram Police and 240 gm of heroin was seized in Jail Veng area of Champhai on Thursday, it said.

Two persons hailing from Aizawl and Siaha were also arrested, it said.

The arrested persons and the seized contraband were handed over to the local police for further legal proceedings, the statement added.
Lucknow, Jun 21 (PTI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday that they do politics not only to form government but to also build the society and the country.

Addressing a meeting of intellectuals at the residence of senior lawyer L P Mishra in Niralanagar area of Lucknow, Singh, said, "You have given me the opportunity to serve from Lucknow constituency for the third time."

Thanking the people of Lucknow he expressed his gratitude to those who voted for him for victory in the Lok Sabha elections and expressed his respects also to those who did not vote.

"Because we do politics not only to form the government but to build the society and the country. I think that I have tried my best to do what is good for the society and what is right.

"Public should evaluate as to what extent I have succeeded in that. I will keep making full efforts for whatever will be required for Lucknow in the future as well," Singh said.

A statement issued by the Lucknow city unit of the BJP said Singh reached Hanuman Setu Temple directly from the airport and bowed before all the gods and goddesses and took their blessings. The priests performed the puja with chanting of mantras.

A big garland was offered to Lord Hanuman and 'jalabhishek' and worship was performed by pouring water on the Shivling.

UP Deputy Chief Minister Brijesh Pathak and other BJP leaders were present on this occasion, the statement said.

After Hanuman Setu Temple, the defence minister went to the residence of Mishra in Nirala Nagar and met the intellectuals present there. Former deputy chief minister of UP Dinesh Sharma also welcomed Singh at the Lucknow airport.

Coming out of the gate in the security fleet and seeing a large number of workers and common people present to welcome him in the airport premises, Singh got down from his vehicle and went near the workers and personally accepted garlands and bouquets from everyone and enquired about their well-being.

Encouraged by the shower of flowers on him by the workers, he also showered flowers on the workers. The huge group of people present there enthusiastically welcomed their leader with drums, flower showers, garlands and bouquets, the statement said.

Singh also visited the residence of Sandeep Singhal in Aliganj and met the family members and expressed condolences on the recent demise of his mother, the statement said.

In the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, Singh registered a win from Lucknow for the third consecutive time by a margin of over 1.35 lakh votes.
New Delhi, Jun 21 (PTI) Over a week after a devastating fire in Kuwait killed 50 people, the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said 17 injured Indians are still admitted in hospitals there and all are stable.

The Indian embassy is in touch with the local authorities, the patients and their kin to ensure their well-being, it said.

The massive fire had occurred at a seven-storey building in Kuwait's Mangaf city in the southern Ahmadi Governorate on June 12 and at least 45 Indians died in the tragedy. The building was home to 196 migrant workers, mostly Indians.

The NBTC Group, where the victims of the fire tragedy were employed, recently issued a statement, extending its deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims and injured.

In response to a query at a weekly media briefing here, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that on the part of the Kuwaiti government, the Emir has announced USD 15,000 as compensation for the families of the people who have died in the fire incident.

The company has announced payment of Rs 8 lakh to the next of kin of people who have died, he said.

"This fire tragedy happened on June 12 and 45 Indians died, their mortal remains were brought to India on June 14. There are still 17 Indians who are injured, they are in hospitals. But, they are all stable. The (Indian) Embassy is making daily rounds, the embassy is in touch with the local authorities, the hospital authorities and even the patients and their family members to ensure their well-being," Jaiswal said.

He said as far as compensation is concerned, the prime minister had announced on June 13 an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the families of people who had died and Rs 50,000 for the injured people.

In addition, different state governments have also announced their compensation for those who have died in this tragedy, the MEA spokesperson said.

In addition, the insurance money will also come from the insurance company, he said.

The company is also providing a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to all the injured and their medical expenses are being covered by the company. It will also undertake rehabilitation of those who are injured, Jaiswal said.

A C-130J IAF aircraft carrying 45 bodies landed at the Kochi international airport on June 14 morning. Thirty-one bodies were received at the airport by Central and state ministers, including Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The remaining 14 bodies were sent to Delhi in the same aircraft as a domestic flight from Kochi, and after being brought to Delhi were sent on to their forward journey.
(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)
Lucknow, Jun 21 (PTI) Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Friday demanded strict action against the main accused in the NEET-UG question paper leak.

In a post on X in Hindi, Mayawati said, "The government needs to take strict action against the main accused in the NEET (question) paper leak case due to which innocent students are suffering. And it is not right to do any politics under its guise."

The NEET-UG examination was held on May 5 across 4,750 centres and around 24 lakh candidates appeared for it. The results were expected to be declared on June 14 but were announced on June 4, saying the evaluation of the answer sheets got completed earlier.

As many as 67 students scored a perfect 720, unprecedented in the NTA's history, with six from a centre in Haryana's Faridabad figuring in the list, raising suspicions about irregularities. It has been alleged that grace marks contributed to 67 students sharing the top rank.

The NEET-UG examination is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country.
New Delhi, Jun 21 (PTI) The ED said on Friday that it seized Rs 19 lakh cash apart from a "large number" of property documents in the name of benami persons during raids on premises linked to BRS MLA Gudem Mahipal Reddy and his businessman brother Gudem Madhusudan Reddy in and around Hyderabad.

The raids were launched on Thursday at about ten locations as part of a money laundering investigation linked to alleged illegal mining.

The money laundering case stems from an FIR of the Telangana Police against a company Santhosh Sand and Granite Supply located in Patancheru, Hyderabad and promoted by Gudem Madhusudan Reddy.

The premises of G Madhusudan Reddy, G Mahipal Reddy, their company and others were searched, the central agency said in a statement.

The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party is headed by former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao.

Search operations led to the seizure of "unaccounted" cash of Rs 19 lakh along with large number of property documents in the names of unrelated persons who are suspected to be "benamis" of the accused persons, the Enforcement Directorate said.

Mobile phones "containing evidence related to cash dealings" were also seized, it said.

Some bank locker keys were recovered and examination of these lockers is expected to furnish more evidence, it said.

The accused firm, according to the ED, was found to have excavated and transported excess quantity of 11,98,743 CBM of building stone and road metal within the quarry lease permitted area and 10,11,672 CBM of material beyond the permitted area (on encroached government land measuring 4.37 hectares).

In this process, the agency alleged, the accused "illegally amassed" around Rs 300 crore by sale of illegally excavated material and also evaded royalty amount of Rs 39.08 crore due to the government.

"The sale proceeds of illegally excavated material were deliberately not reported in banking transactions and books of accounts and the transactions were suspected to have been carried out in cash.

"The proceeds of crime in the form of cash were laundered by the accused and were invested in real estate and other activities," the ED claimed.
New Delhi, Jun 21 (PTI) The NHRC has sent notices to the Bihar government and the state's police chief over a report that a number of women working in a private network company in Muzaffarpur district were given intoxicating pills and forced to have a physical relation by the operator of the firm.

Reportedly, the number of such victimised girls is stated to be more than one hundred, the National Human Rights Commission said in a statement.

The NHRC said it has taken "suo motu cognisance of a media report that a number of women working in a private network company in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district were given intoxicating pills, beaten, and forced to make physical relation by the operator of the company".

A large number of "criminal cases" are allegedly registered in various districts of Bihar against the company, but the police has "not taken any strict action" in this matter. The company has its branches at many places in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal, it said.

"According to the media report, carried on June 18, the girls are being physically and mentally exploited in more than 10 districts of Bihar including Muzaffarpur, Supaul, East Champaran, West Champaran, Saran, Siwan, Gopalganj," the statement said.

Reportedly, the operator of the networking company has allegedly a "history of involvement in criminal activities", it said. He takes girls to Nepal in the name of providing training, where they are "physically exploited and if they protest, they are mercilessly beaten up", it added.

The Commission has observed that the content of the news report, if true, raise a serious issue of human rights violation. Accordingly, it has issued notices to the chief secretary and the director general of police of Bihar, seeking a detailed report within one week.

The report sought from the state government is to include the number of criminal cases registered against the operator and the networking company, mentioned in the news report, the status of their investigation, and action taken by the police and civic authorities against the perpetrators, the statement said.

The Commission would also like to know about relief and rehabilitation as well as medical treatment and counselling services provided by the authorities to the victim girls as well as steps taken or proposed to be taken to ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future, it added.
Gondia (Maharashtra), June 21 (PTI) Police in Maharashtra's Gondia district has arrested seven persons from Gujarat for stealing a tanker carrying rice bran oil worth Rs 23.7 lakh, an official said on Friday.

The accused were part of an inter-state gang, said senior police inspector Purushottam Aherkar of Ravanwadi police station in the district.

Gurmeetsingh Masasingh Bhullar, owner of Parijaat Oil Mill, had lodged a complaint in January that a tanker carrying rice oil worth Rs 23,71,845 which he had sent to Morena in Madhya Pradesh in the last week of December did not reach the destination.

After painstaking probe, a team of Rawanvadi police nabbed seven persons from Gujarat for diverting the tanker and selling some of the oil to another mill, the official said.

The tanker and stolen rice bran oil worth Rs 20.9 lakh were seized from their possession, inspector Aherkar said, adding that the accused had duped some other traders using the same operandi. Further probe is on.
Kitron to Build New Production Facility Published: 21 June 2024 by Tyler Hanes by Tyler Hanes

ARENDAL, NORWAY  Kitron is planning a 7,500 sq. m. production facility here, with plans for completion during the first half of 2026.

"There is growth and a high level of activity at Kitron in Arendal, and we believe the activity will increase further in the years to come," said Heine stby, managing director of Kitron Norway. "We are simply outgrowing the current premises. Now we get the opportunity to help design the perfect building for our needs. This gives us the opportunity to grow further here in Arendal, where Kitron has its roots back to the 1960s. We are extremely happy about that."

Kitron's operations in the area are currently divided between a facility of 7,300 sq. m., in Kilsund, Norway, and 4,000 sq. m. of rented premises at Stoa. When the new facility is ready, the company will move its Stoa operations to the new site, while the plant in Kilsund will continue as before.
Both Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un say a new strategic partnership is a breakthrough, but what it means for their relationship is still uncertain.

The pact requires both countries to use all available means to provide immediate military assistance in the event of war, according to North Korean state media. While the agreement, inked Wednesday at a summit in Pyongyang, could represent the countries strongest deal signed after the Cold War, there are differing opinions on how strong the security commitment is.

Kim claimed that the deal elevated bilateral relations to the level of an alliance, while Putin was more understated and did not call it an alliance.

North Korean state media released the text of the agreement, which also includes broader cooperation in military, foreign policy and trade. Russia has not published its version of the text.

Relations between sprawling Russia and small, isolated North Korea  both of them nuclear powers  have warmed significantly in recent years amid Russias growing acrimony with the West over the invasion of Ukraine and suppression of all domestic opposition.

One of the first knock-on effects of the agreement came Thursday, when South Koreas government said it would reconsider its policy of limiting its support to Ukraine to non-lethal supplies. South Korea, a growing arms exporter, has provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine, but it has not directly provided weapons to Kyiv.

Heres a look at what is known about the new partnership  and what is still unclear.

What did Russia and North Korea promise?

Most of the debate over the partnership agreement revolves around the article that pledges mutual aid. According to North Korean state media, the section states that if one of the countries gets invaded and is pushed into a state of war, the other must deploy all means at its disposal without delay to provide military and other assistance.

But it also says that such actions must be in accordance with the laws of both countries and Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which recognizes a U.N. member states right to self-defense.

To some analysts, that sounds like a promise that either nation would intervene if the other comes under attack, renewing a pledge made under a 1961 treaty between North Korea and the Soviet Union. That deal was discarded after the collapse of the USSR, replaced in 2000 by one that offered weaker security assurances.

Cheong Seong Chang, an analyst at South Koreas Sejong Institute, said the agreement echoes the language of the 1961 treaty, as well as provisions of the U.S.-South Korea mutual defense treaty about activating channels to coordinate if either of faces the threat of invasion.

North Korea and Russia have completely restored their Cold War-era military alliance, Cheong said.

Other experts were more cautious, saying the section is carefully worded to avoid implying automatic interventions and strictly limits the circumstances in which either country would be obligated to step in. And the language of the agreement is much less important than what each nation is actually capable of and willing to do, Du Hyeogn Cha, an analyst at Seouls Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said.

While its rare for any defense treaty to spell out specifically that a country is required to automatically intervene to defend a partner under attack, the strength of the commitment can be signaled in other ways, such as how the U.S. stations thousands of troops in South Korea and closely coordinates with its ally over training and weapons systems, Cha said. But Russia, for instance, doesnt have a troop presence in North Korea and the countries have no established track record in joint military activities and coordination, aside from the Norths alleged munitions transfers to Russia.

The fact that the article invokes the countries domestic laws and the U.N. Charter could reflect that Russia tried to limit its defense obligation to very narrow conditions: when its clear North Korea did not instigate the aggression, the attack on the North is legally recognized in Russia as war, and Russias defense of the North is justified by the U.N., Cha said.

The agreement is a symbolic statement vowing the expansion of cooperation, but it leaves a lot of room for interpretation when we get into practice, Cha said. The biggest concern about the summit isnt whether (Russia) committed to an automatic military intervention or not, but the possible expansion of North Korean weapons transfers to Russia and the transfers of Russian military technologies to the North.

What kinds of military cooperation are possible?

Putin said he would not exclude the development of military-technical cooperation with the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea in accordance with the document signed today.

That statement in effect formalizes something Western countries claim is already happening.

The U.S. and other allies allege that Russia has received ballistic missiles and ammunition from North Korea as the Ukraine war depletes Moscows inventory, and that Russia has made technology transfers to Pyongyang that could enhance the threat posed by Kims nuclear weapons and missile program.

North Korean state media also said the agreement requires the countries to take steps to strengthen their joint defense capabilities, but didnt specify what those steps would be, or whether they would include combined military training.

The agreement also calls for the countries to actively cooperate in efforts to establish a just and multipolar new world order, the Norths Korean Central News Agency said, underscoring how the countries are aligning as they face separate, escalating confrontations with the United States and its allies.

Russia and North Korea will likely hold the specifics of this cooperation close to their chests, but the agreement is a way of letting the world  and particularly the United States and its allies know  that theyll be working together, said Ankit Panda, a senior analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Whats the economic aspect of the pact?

The partnership also calls for developing economic ties, an especially important issue for North Korea as it suffers under an array of international sanctions. North Korea needs food, industrial materials and other goods, and in turn can supply Russias war-depleted workforce with labor. Those workers could then convert wages in rubles to dollars or euros, potentially becoming a source of the hard currency North Korea desperately needs.

Such activities would violate U.N. sanctions. Hours before he arrived in North Korea, Putin had vowed in an op-ed that the countries would overcomes sanctions together. Russia is the subject of Western sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine.

Putin said the Russian-North Korean trade turnover has risen nine-fold over the past year, but admitted that the amount itself remains modest.

(AP)
Houston police have apprehended two migrants from Venezuela, Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, in connection with the brutal murder of a 12-year-old, Jocelyn Nungaray. The suspects allegedly lured Jocelyn from her home, strangled her, and dumped her body in a bayou.

According to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sources, Pena Ramos crossed the border illegally on May 28 and was released into the US after claiming fear for his life if returned to Venezuela. He was given a GPS tracker, which expired after 21 days, and was living with his cousin in Houston until his court appearance in July.

Surveillance footage identified the suspects following Jocelyn into a convenience store before her body was discovered in a swampy creek by a local resident. The two migrants were arrested at their apartment complex, where they lived as roommates.

This case follows a series of high-profile crimes involving migrants who entered the country illegally, including the assault of a 13-year-old girl in a Bronx park and the murder of a Maryland mother of five. The suspects in these cases had been previously ordered removed or deported but remained in the US.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
In a precise and targeted strike, the IDF and Israel Security Agency (ISA) eliminated a leading Hamas sniper and Nukhba Forces Commander, Ahmed Hassan Salame Alsauarka, in the Beit Hanoun area of northern Gaza. Alsauarka was a key figure in the October 7th Massacre, leading sniper attacks and infiltrating Israeli communities in southern Israel.

According to IDF and ISA intelligence, Alsauarka was a squad commander in the Nukhba Forces and played a significant role in Hamas attacks on IDF troops. Following an extensive search, IDF troops identified and eliminated him in the Beit Hanoun area.

To minimize civilian harm, the IDF took several precautions before the strike, resulting in no civilian casualties.

The operation is part of ongoing IDF activities in the central Gaza Strip, where a mortar shell launch post was recently struck by aerial and artillery forces. Additionally, two terrorists posing a threat to IDF troops were targeted with an Iron Sting precision missile.

In the Rafah area, IDF troops continue to conduct precise, intelligence-based operations, eliminating several terrorists in close-quarters encounters and conducting targeted raids to locate rocket launchers. The IDF remains committed to protecting Israeli communities and combating Hamas terrorism.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
A brutal robbery occurred on Thursday afternoon near the entrance to the Arab town of Qalqilya, leaving a 70-year-old man severely injured. The victim was driving his vehicle when robbers violently pulled him out and left him wounded on the side of the road, escaping in his car.

A passerby discovered the injured man and brought him to the Eliyahu Crossing, where medical teams provided urgent care. The man collapsed upon arrival and was treated by Magen David Adom (MDA) EMT Shai Cohen, who described the scene: We provided medical treatment, including resuscitation and electrical shocks from a defibrillator, and after his heart resumed beating, we evacuated him in a mobile ICU to the hospital in serious condition and intubated.

Security forces are currently searching for the attackers. IDF forces entered Qalqilya to search for suspects, which led to riots breaking out, with rioters throwing rocks at the forces. The forces responded with gunfire, and at least one rioter was hit.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Several months after Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara and the Supreme Court halted funding to yeshivos with bochurim eligible for the draft, the Chechnov Yeshivah in Jerusalem, one of the oldest yeshivos in Eretz Yisrael, has reached the brink of collapse, Kikar HShabbat reported on Thursday.

The parents of the bochurim in the yeshivah received a recorded message informing them that the yeshivah is on the brink of closure due to a lack of funds. Therefore, the yeshivah is launching a fundraising campaign with the goal of reaching a million dollars by the end of the week.

Among other things, the parents of the boys were told that any parent who did not contribute a sum of ten thousand shekels must sign a direct debit monthly payment for a considerable amount.

The yeshivah explained to the parents that donations from abroad began to significantly decrease during the COVID pandemic and the war between Russia and Ukraine exacerbated the situation. The Supreme Courts order to suspend state funds of NIS 70,000 a month was the final straw.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
An incredible new photo has emerged from an incident that occurred during the Hamas massacre in southern Israel on October 7. During the attack, a Sefer Torah was nearly seized by terrorists as they invaded the IDFs Pega outpost in Otaf, but was saved at the last minute by the bravery of IDF fighters.

According to reports, the terrorists had planned to transport the Sefer Torah to Gaza after overrunning the outpost. However, just as they were about to capture the Torah, IDF forces arrived on the scene, fighting with their last ounce of strength to eliminate the terrorists and protect the it.

Thanks to the bravery of the IDF fighters, the Sefer Torah was saved from falling into the wrong hands.

The Sefer Torah has since undergone professional restoration and received a new mantle describing its experience, and has been put back to use in an IDF base.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The IDF Spokespersons Unit announced on Friday morning the names of two IDF reserve soldiers who were killed in battle in the central Gaza Strip: Sergeant First Class (Res.) Omer Smadga HYD, 25, from Ganot Hadar, and Sergeant First Class (Res.) Saadia Yaakov Dery HYD, 27, from Tel Aviv.

Both soldiers were part of the 9203rd Battalion, 3rd Alexandroni Brigade.

In the same incident that claimed the lives of Smadga and Dery, three other reserve soldiers from the 3rd Alexandroni Brigade were severely wounded. They were evacuated to a hospital for medical treatment, and their families have been notified.

These deaths bring the total number of troops killed in the ground offensive against Hamas and operations on the Gaza border to 313.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez fought with neo-Nazi troll Nick Fuentes on X, a platform that has allowed him to post again despite his history of hate speech, making for a hilarious moment after he tried complimenting her for hating on Israel.

The exchange began when Ocasio-Cortez posted, An unspoken secret in Congress is that much of the reflexive, blind, unconditional vote support for nearly any Israeli gov action isnt from actual agreement. Its from fear. Reps are terrified of this. Of AIPAC. So they dont vote their conscience. They vote their fear.

Fuentes, who has denied the Holocaust and called for the execution of non-Christians, responded, AOC is more America First than 99% of Republicans.

Ocasio-Cortez replied, You are a white supremacist and I want nothing to do with you nor the world you imagine. I believe in a multiracial democracy, one of economic rights, civil liberties, and that affirms the working class and the rights of women and LGBTQ+ people.

She added, These are not small differences. They are irreconcilable. White supremacy is a scourge and must be disavowed in all places.

Fuentes, who leads the alt-right Groyper Army, has a history of trolling mainstream conservative events and promoting white supremacy. He recently dined with former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago and appeared on Alex Joness InfoWars with anti-Semitic rapper Kanye West.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Trades: Two suspects have been arrested in connection with an illegal cryptocurrency exchange

Two people have been arrested on suspicion of running an illegal exchange trading more than 1billion worth of cryptocurrency.

The suspects, aged 38 and 44, had their London offices searched by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while police seized several digital devices at two homes.

More than 1billion of unregistered crypto assets are believed to have been bought and sold through the business. Both suspects were released on bail.

The FCA has an important role to play in keeping dirty money out of the UK financial system, said executive director of enforcement and market oversight Therese Chambers.

The arrests come off the back of a wider crackdown on the industry following the dramatic collapse of exchange FTX and various other operators.

The FCA has been the anti-money laundering supervisor for crypto asset businesses in the UK since the start of 2020.

Latest figures show the regulator has received 347 applications to register of which just 47, or 14 per cent, have been accepted.

The FCA has consistently warned that investors should be prepared to lose all their money if they invest in crypto, arguing they are unregulated and high-risk.

In May the Chinese bitcoin queen Jian Wen was jailed for six years for a 3billion crypto fraud.

The former Chinese takeaway worker was found guilty of money laundering. She came to the polices attention when she tried to buy a 23.5million Hampstead mansion.
Sainsburys is offloading the bulk of its banking business to NatWest as supermarkets flee financial services.

The supermarket giant will pay the lender 125million to take 1.1billion of credit card balances, 1.4billion of unsecured personal loans and 2.6billion of customer deposits in savings accounts off its hands.

The deal comes as supermarkets reverse a push into financial services to focus on their main food businesses.

First acquisition: Paul Thwaite (pictured) was appointed NatWest chief exec in February to replace Dame Alison Rose

And it continues the trend of consolidation among lenders following Nationwides acquisition of Virgin Money and Coventry Building Societys tie-up with Co-op Bank.

The deal is NatWest chief executive Paul Thwaites first acquisition since taking over earlier this year.

He was appointed in February to replace Dame Alison Rose who had to resign last summer after a row over the debanking of Reform UK leader and Brexiteer Nigel Farage.

Thwaite said previously he was open to acquisitions that scaled up the business, with the Sainsburys deal boosting NatWests credit card business.

It comes after the Governments plan for a Tell Sid-style sale of part of its remaining stake in NatWest was put on hold due to the general election.

The Treasury bailed out the bank in the 2008 financial crisis and was at one point the lenders biggest shareholder with a holding of over 80 per cent. The deal with Sainsburys will add around 1m customer accounts to NatWests books.

Thwaite said: As well as a complementary customer base, the transaction is expected to add scale to our credit card and unsecured personal lending business within existing risk appetite.

Sainsburys announced plans to wind down its banking unit in January this year to focus on food.

It follows Barclays agreement to buy most of Tesco Banks assets in a 600million deal earlier this year. M&S Bank, meanwhile, closed all its branches and axed current accounts three years ago.

Sainsburys said it will return around 250million in excess capital to shareholders following the deal, which is expected to complete next year.

Deal: Sainsbury's will pay NatWest125m to take 1.1bn of credit card balances, 1.4bn of unsecured personal loans and 2.6bn of customer deposits in savings accounts off its hands

The supermarket said it will hold on to its cash machine, insurance and travel money businesses as well as Argos Financial Services. Sainsburys boss Simon Roberts said: There will be no immediate change for our bank customers as a result of this announcement.

'The news means we will focus all our time and resources going forward on growing our core retail business, delivering great quality and value, week in week out.

Russ Mould, investment director at broker AJ Bell, said removing any distractions elsewhere in the business could help to oil the wheels.

Supermarkets have experimented over the years with ways to expand beyond their core focus, offering products that grocery customers might also want, he said.

Some initiatives worked, others didnt, but we are now in an age where companies have a preference to focus on what they do best and retreat from the rest.

Will Howlett, financials analyst at wealth manager Quilter Cheviot, said: This move is indicative of the ongoing consolidation trend within the banking sector, which we have been anticipating.

While the scale may be small relative to NatWests existing operations, the long-term potential for cross-selling and deepening customer relationships could be significant.

Sainsburys shares rose 2.1 per cent, while NatWest gained 2.6 per cent.
Press Release

June 21, 2024 Tolentino welcomes the arrival of the USS Blue Ridge in Manila, cited dynamic alliance between PH, US Senate Majority Leader Francis 'Tol' Tolentino was the guest speaker during the welcome ceremonies for the port visit of the USS Blue Ridge at the Manila South Harbor on Thursday night, June 20. In his speech, Tolentino welcomed the US Navy officers and enlisted personnel aboard the USS Blue Ridge, the command ship of the United States' Seventh Fleet. US Navy Vice Admiral Fred Kacher, Captain Nicholas DeLeo, and US ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson joined Tolentino at the ceremonies. Officers and enlisted personnel of the Philippine Navy were also present. "I believe that this is a very timely and historic visit, not just a mere coincidence, because yesterday, we celebrated the birthday of the national hero of the Philippines, Dr. Jose Rizal," said the senator, who chairs the Senate Special Committee on Maritime and Admiralty Zones. He emphasized that the ideals that Rizal advocated, including justice, freedom, and cooperation, are also the same themes that have bound the dynamic relations between the Philippines and the United States for several decades. "Friends, I think that the days ahead would be days of rough seas, challenges, and dark seas. But in the end, as what Dr. Rizal had envisioned -- reason, resilience, freedom, and international order, as we call it today -- would prevail. Mabuhay po ang pagkakaisa ng Pilipinas at Estados Unidos!" he remarked, receiving applause from the crowd. Earlier on Tuesday, Tolentino called for the convening of the National Security Council (NSC) in order to advise the President on how to respond to China's aggression in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Among the issues that the NSC could resolve, he explained, is whether the violent attack undertaken by Chinese Coast Guard personnel on Filipino soldiers conducting humanitarian rotation and resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal on June 17 constituted an "armed attack" that could trigger the MDT. The principal author and sponsor of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act (Senate Bill No. 2492), the senator also recently provided financial aid to fishers' groups in three coastal towns in Zambales province, where he also led town hall meetings called, "Talakayang WPS" which were meant to facilitate dialogue between fisherfolk and government representatives.
Linn County leaders have reapproved a requirement that new large-scale industrial farms need to be at least 1 mile from nearby residents  but narrowed it to apply only to chicken operations.

On Thursday, June 20, Linn County commissioners revisited a decision they had made in December, amending it on a split vote to apply only to large industrial chicken farms. In December, the decision regulated all similarly sized animal operations rather than singling out chickens.

A Place to Sleep, episode 6: Brownsville Find out how a man arrested in the 1960s for being a drug addict shaped the law that requires Oregon cities to designate a place to sleep for homeless people.

They said they were moved to alter the December decision to match what they thought they were doing at the time.

Scio residents, who have raised concerns about proposals to situate "big chicken" operations in their neighborhoods, see the Thursday tweak as a victory but are wary of what the decision may mean for other large-scale industrial farm livestock.

How we got here

In December, Linn County was the first in Oregon to exercise an option in a new law, Senate Bill 85  passed and signed by the governor in August that gives more local oversight of large "confined animal feeding operations," or CAFOs.

While the state still is the permitting agency, local leaders can now require a buffer zone between the operations and neighbors. Linn County commissioners set that buffer zone at 1 mile.

For Scio neighbors, many who are farmers themselves, the action came after two years of fighting plans for three industrial-sized chicken farms in their neighborhood.

A ranch proposed in Jordan was expected to breed six flocks of 750,000 broiler chickens annually and produce 5,000 tons of manure a year. Another ranch, along Jefferson Scio Drive, was set to house 12 barns growing six flocks of 580,000 broiler chickens annually. It was projected to produce 4,500 tons of manure each year.

The group had originally come to the Board of Commissioners to convince the electeds to establish guardrails so that farms wouldnt be so close to neighbors. But that power resided with the state.

So, the group set out to change the law. And they did with Senate Bill 85.

Since then, two of the large farms have abandoned their plans while the third recently had its CAFO permit redrawn for reconsideration by the state.

Just six months after making their unanimous decision, however, commissioners reopened the record to allow more comments on the issue. The move came after commissioners said they didnt realize the change would affect other livestock besides chickens.

They were also subject to intense lobbying from agricultural concerns after the fact.

Earlier this week, Mid-Valley Media reported that nearly 200 responses were received on the issue. The majority of those who had written in opposition used a copy-paste template form supplied by a nonprofit agriculture group, though no group is registered as a nonprofit in Oregon.

The template included misinformation about the code change and many of those who sent it in did not include their addresses. When looking at the fax numbers, some came from out of state, as far as the East Coast, with many coming from the same fax number.

Of the 199 responses, 88 were in favor of maintaining the setback. The majority came from people with Scio addresses.

After viewing the comments, commissioners had a decision to make.

A decision

On Thursday, more than two dozen people, mostly Scio residents, attended the Board of Commissioners meeting to hear whether the setback approved in December would be maintained.

Commissioner Sherrie Sprenger shared that this was one of the most challenging issues she has had to face in her role as Linn County commissioner.

The whole nation is watching us, she said.

She lives in Scio and can throw a rock from the site that had a proposed industrial chicken farm, she said. Its not a conflict of interest as defined by the law, but the decision she and her colleagues were about to make impacts her personally, she said.

Sprenger had some concerns about existing farms' ability expand but was reassured that the rules would only apply to new large CAFOs, not to those already established.

Earlier in the process last year, setbacks of a half-mile and three-quarters of a mile were on the table, and she said Thursday she now would want to shrink it to -mile.

In preparation for Thursday, Commissioner Roger Nyquist toured a chicken facility that was obviously well run.

But every conversation with the folks who run it ended with, It isnt that bad, but I wouldnt want it right next to me, he said. And Nyquist kept going back to that.

With a 1-mile setback, Linn County can site 90 potential large CAFOs, he added.

Why wouldn't we take reasonable steps to attempt to minimize conflicts between land users in our rural parts of the county where that makes sense? Nyquist asked.

The vote

Commissioner Will Tucker said he felt foolish to pass an all-inclusive law when the discussion in December focused solely on chickens.

He wanted to be clear that the motion he made Thursday would apply to chickens only because that's the concern first brought to them and that's the issue commissioners researched, he said by phone after the meeting.

Even though the comments solicited this month included a few related to cows, the vast majority of people focused on chickens, he said.

Tucker added that a variance process is available for those looking for an exception to the rule.

Tucker made a motion to uphold the 1-mile setback for new large chicken CAFOs and should not be applied to other livestock operations. Nyquist seconded the motion.

Sprenger said that a 1-mile setback was a big statement to make, and while she wasnt a fan of having operations so close, she weighed the cost of food as part of the issue.

She felt that a variance process could be challenging for those trying to set up operations. A -mile setback doesnt expand available CAFO space by much, but it does provide more, she added.

In the end, she voted no.

Nyquist wasn't trying to set a precedent; he just was looking to make a decision that works for Linn County, he said later by phone. He also wanted to be clear that the rules only applied to large chicken CAFOs  the kind that churn out hundreds of thousands of birds a year  not to medium or small CAFOs.

According to the Oregon Department of Agriculture, there are 30 CAFOs in Linn County, mostly defined as small or large; nine are large.

When asked why he voted for chickens exclusively rather than all livestock, Nyquist said in his conversations with other livestock producers, he got the impression that economic conditions would be difficult to establish farms at that scale in Linn County, and the pressing matter at hand was for poultry.

Denver Pugh, president of Linn County Farm Bureau, was not on board with the decision the board made, he said after the meeting.

Pugh had contacted commissioners and met with them after their December decision to voice his discontent. On Thursday, he attended as an audience member.

He said he did not believe that the livestock should have been looked at separately. He added that a setback of 100 feet, such as the one in Maryland, would be favorable.

We see this as a victory, said Scio neighbor and farmer Kendra Kimbirauskas.We are grateful to Commissioner Tucker and Nyquist for putting tools in place to protect farms, homes and businesses.

We hope its not a missed opportunity to put tools in place to guard against unwanted impacts of other large industrial livestock operations," she said.

Related stories:
The top Democratic Party leader in the Sunflower State proclaims:

"We never discussed teams."

It's an excuse that isn't really politicos but adds nothing more than an ongoing snub against the people of Kansas City proper in one of the most cynical battles of money & power we've seen by both conservatives and progressives.

Here's more context and an opportunity push back in a place that isn't dominated by consultants and other "professional" online influencers . . .



Kansas attempt to poach the teams was seen by several Missouri lawmakers as a violation of a truce the two states reached five years ago to stop offering incentives to move businesses back and forth the state line in the Kansas City area.



But Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, didnt see it that way.



The border war was really focused on businesses like AMC Theatres, which went back and forth, back and forth, Kelly said. We never discussed teams.



For years, the two states engaged in an economic development border war, offering incentives to companies that jumped the state line, spending taxpayer funds while largely not creating any new jobs.



Todays vote regrettably restarts the Missouri-Kansas incentive border war, creating leverage for the teams, but injecting even greater uncertainty into the regional stadium conversation, Kansas City, Missouri Mayor Lucas said Tuesday.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Missouri lawmakers criticize Kansas attempt to poach Royals, Chiefs * Kansas Reflector Missouri lawmakers say they'd like the state to to keep the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals from moving to Kansas, which offered incentives

STAR bonds could benefit KCK, what about the rest of Kansas? Representative Henry Helgerson is concerned, due to the lack of information about how a potential new stadium would affect the economy.

With stadium uncertainty swirling for Chiefs and Royals, local fans share feelings KCTV5 went to locations in both Kansas and Missouri to ask Chiefs and Royals fans Wednesday if they would like to see the teams stay in Missouri or move to Kansas.

Developing . . .
Once again it seems that Kansas City's leader is the darling of the Democratic Party.

Sadly, that affection hasn't translated into much benefit for locals.

Still . . .

This week's conference offers another opportunity for Mayor Q to take center stage . . .



The United States Conference of Mayors is meeting to discuss some of the biggest issues facing their cities and learn solutions from one another.



One of the big topics of conversation is homelessness.



The city is taking the success of its winter warming centers and applying what worked to keep people cool in the summer.



That saves lives, but ultimately it's a Band-Aid on a deeper wound and KCMO Mayor Quinton Lucas knows that.



"We end up being the ones who have to address the issues," Lucas said.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Mayors address homelessness, other issues at United States Conference of Mayors meeting in Kansas City Mayors from across the country are in Kansas City, Missouri, for the United States Conference of Mayors. The meetings are where mayors get together to discuss issues facing their cities.

More glowing coverage from MSNBC:

Developing . . .
For those who don't know much about local history . . . It's hard to differentiate betwixt portly Missouri conservatives.

However . . .

There's one key distinction that should be important to KCMO voters . . .



The guy who ISN'T ASHCROFT isn't averse to keeping the Chiefs & Royals.

Check-it:



The new Emerson College Polling/The Hill/Missouri Nexstar poll shows a tight, two-person race for the Republican nomination for Missouri governor



A poll finds 23% of voters support Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, 20% support Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Missouri poll shows no clear front-runner in GOP governor race The Missouri NexStar and Hill/Emerson College poll reveals a tight race for the Republican nomination for Missouri governor, with Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft leading by a slight margin, and Pre...

Poll: What's the most important issue for Missouri? A new poll asks voters a range of questions, including what issues they believe are the most important facing Missouri in the upcoming election.

Developing . . .
This one hit our www.TonysKansasCity.com mailbox earlier in the month but lately we've noticed social media adverts that really drive the message home.

In Kansas City . . .

It seems that union support and "abortion rights" are a big part of the qualifications for elected officials.

So far the Pat Contreras campaign has been quiet whilst this politico is working hard at building name recognition . . .

Check-it:



Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes endorses State Representative Patty Lewis for State Senate



State Reprepresentative Patty Lewis (D-25) announced that Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes has voted to endorse her campaign for Missouri Senate District 7. With reproductive rights front of mind for voters across Kansas City and Missouri, PPGPVs support confirms that State Rep. Lewis is the best pro-choice candidate in the Democratic primary for SD7.



Patty Lewis has clearly demonstrated her commitment to sexual and reproductive health care and rights and to Planned Parenthoods mission, services, and the families Planned Parenthood serves, said Emily Wales, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes. We look forward to her work in an elected office so she can continue to defend against the attacks on reproductive health care AND support a commonsense focus on expanding access to preventive health care.



As a nurse, I believe that it is my duty to fight for reproductive freedom, State Rep. Lewis said. I thank Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes for their endorsement, and Im excited to continue working with them to expand access to reproductive health care both within SD7 and across the state of Missouri.



State Rep. Lewis has garnered support from a wide range of people and organizations since announcing her candidacy for the 7th Senate District, including Sen. Tracy McCreery (D-24), Rep. Emily Weber (D-24), City Councilman Wes Rogers, Missouri Nurses Association, AFT Local 691, Teamsters Locals 41 and 541, IAFF Local 42, Laborers Locals 264 and 663, IBEW Local 124, and the Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO. Lewis has represented Missouris 25th House District for four years, and is currently running to fill the vacancy in the 7th Senate District created by a gubernatorial appointment.

##########



Developing . . .
Apropos for #TBT . . . It seems that old school political rallies are making a comeback according to a star host who was recently booted from the biggest conservative platform in the nation.

Check-it . . .



Tucker Carlson says he is excited to travel and meet people across America, especially those whose voices may not be reflected by traditional media.



Carlsons website promises the coast-to-coast live tour will be interesting and fun as hell.



Carlson will be accompanied at his Kansas City show by journalist Megyn Kelly. Kelly was similarly ousted by legacy media but retains an impressive following, hosting her own podcast, The Megyn Kelly Show.



According to Carlson, a live show bypasses these companies roadblocks: Theres literally nothing Mark Zuckerberg can do to stop you when youre standing at a microphone with people in the stadium.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .


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Ukraines Ministry of Finance is calling on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to blacklist Russia at its upcoming plenary session on June 23.

Thats according to the ministrys press service, Ukrinform reports.

"Russias blatant violations have been on display for everyone to see. The Kremlin has been intensifying military and economic ties with North Korea and Iran, financing terrorist organisations inside and outside Russia, weakening anti-money laundering institutions and sponsoring rampant cyber-crime. FATF has one clear way to counter these violations and provide protection to the global financial system  by blacklisting Russia, Minister of Finance Sergii Marchenko said.

The ministry noted that as Russias military continues to fail on the battlefield, Russia becomes more belligerent, particularly by deepening economic and military ties with North Korea. Ballistic missiles and munitions procured from North Korea in exchange for oil  in violation of UN sanctions and FATF principles  continue to be used against Ukraines peaceful cities and civilians.

An illicit financial network Russia has created and cultivated underpins its malign activities in Ukraine and around the world. This week, Russia announced the formalisation of financial ties with North Korea by creating alternative mechanisms of trade and mutual settlements to jointly resist the international communitys efforts to restrict both countries destructive behavior, the ministry stressed.

It is noted that Russia has also intensified cooperation with Iran  a globally sanctioned and FATF-blacklisted state. The Kremlin has provided Tehran with a backdoor to access the international financial system by interlinking payment systems to bypass SWIFT sanctions and opening state VTB bank branches in Iran. Russia has also been heavily reliant on Iranian drones to maintain its illegal invasion.

As reported, the FATF is an intergovernmental organization established by the G7 to develop measures to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and the financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. In February 2023, the FATF took an unprecedented step by suspending Russia's membership.
The final round of negotiations between Ukraine and Poland on the signing of a bilateral security agreement has been held at the Office of the President of Ukraine.

That's according to a statement posted on the president's website, Ukrinform reports.

"On the instructions of the President of Ukraine and the Head of the Presidential Office, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Ihor Zhovkva held the final round of negotiations on signing a bilateral security agreement with Poland," the statement reads.

The Polish delegation was headed by Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Robert Kupiecki.

"Our negotiating teams have done a complex job, and now we are close to concluding a bilateral security agreement. Poland's role in helping Ukraine and bringing our victory closer cannot be overestimated. This will be a truly ambitious agreement, reflecting most of our achievements and shared plans for the future," Zhovkva said.

The parties noted the progress made and scheduled further actions aimed at finalizing the bilateral agreement and signing it in the near future.

Photos: Office of the President of Ukraine
Malaysian 5G wholesale operator Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) said on Thursday that four of five telco investors have met the deadline to complete their Share Subscription Agreements (SSAs), paving the way for the launch of a second 5G operator.

Maxis, Telekom Malaysia (TM), U Mobile, YTL and CelcomDigis Infranation signed SSAs in December 2023 to collectively take a 70% stake in DNB, with each taking a 14% stake. Since then, however, the telcos have been haggling over the conditions precedent that needed to be settled before the SSAs can take effect.

Earlier this month, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said all SSAs must be signed off by June 21, which is also a condition for participating in the governments planned second 5G network.

DNB said on Thursday that all conditions precedent under the SSA were successfully met on June 20 by Maxis, U Mobile, YTL and CelcomDigi. Maxis issued a statement earlier this month saying it was ready to sign its SSA. CelcomDigi and U Mobile issued similar statements yesterday.

TM still needs to acquire approval from shareholders in accordance with its governance requirements. DNB said TM has been given a long-stop date of August 21, 2024 to complete that process.

The Minister of Finance (MOF) owns the remaining 30% stake in DNB, as well as a Special Share for a designated period.

The finalisation of the SSAs enables the Malaysian government to officially proceed with the launch of a second 5G network, which has been on the table since May 2023. In their statements confirming that their DNB SSAs have been finalised, Maxis, U Mobile and CelcomDigi each said they were committed to play a role in the second network as well.

On June 2, representatives from the Ministry of Communications, the Ministry of Digital, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry met to discuss their respective roles and functions in implementing a dual 5G network model.

Earlier this week, according to the official Bernama news agency, Minister Fahmi confirmed that the government remains committed to implementing its dual 5G network policy, following a meeting with China's Minister of Industry and Information Technology, Jin Zhuanglong.

Fahmi also said he had discussed implementing the second 5G network with Jin, without giving details.
Chegg, an educational technology company renowned for providing students with homework assistance, recently announced a significant restructuring effort to address the mounting competition from artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

On Tuesday, the company revealed plans to cut nearly a quarter of its workforce, impacting 441 employees worldwide. This strategic move aims to streamline operations and pivot towards broader educational support services.

Addressing the Modern Student's Needs

In a letter to shareholders, Chegg's CEO Nathan Schultz emphasized the necessity for the company to evolve in response to the changing educational landscape. He highlighted the increasing demands on modern students and the rapid proliferation of generic AI tools as key drivers for this shift. Schultz stated, "Due to the increasing demands on the modern student, as well as the rapid proliferation of generic AI tools, the need to broaden beyond academic solutions is more important for us than ever before."

Chegg's new focus will extend beyond traditional academic support to encompass a more holistic approach to student success. This "360 degrees" support model includes financial literacy, early career learning, and community building. By integrating these elements, Chegg aims to provide a differentiated and defensible service that meets the comprehensive needs of students.

READ MORE : Researchers Use AI Tools Despite Data Security Concerns, Report Finds

Financial Challenges and Strategic Adjustments

Chegg's announcement follows a tumultuous period for the company. In 2022, it faced accusations of misleading investors about its financial growth during the pandemic, with some experts attributing the surge to increased student cheating in online courses. Additionally, in September 2021, textbook publishing giant Pearson accused Chegg of copyright infringement for providing answers to end-of-chapter questions from Pearson textbooks. Despite these challenges, Chegg is now focused on repositioning itself in the market.

As part of its strategic realignment, Chegg plans to concentrate on reaching students earlier in their academic journeys, targeting high school students and those in the early stages of college. The company also intends to expand its international presence, dedicating more resources to six unnamed countries over the next year. Schultz mentioned that these efforts, coupled with cost-saving measures such as the sale of two international offices, are expected to save the company approximately $45 million annually.

A Leaner, More Efficient Future

Chegg's workforce reduction is a critical component of its plan to become a "leaner, more efficient, uncomplicated, and quicker-moving company." Schultz envisions a future where Chegg becomes a flexible organization that can quickly adjust to changes in the educational landscape. This transformation is crucial as AI tools continue to advance, offering students a plethora of alternatives for academic assistance.

By focusing on broader student success initiatives, Chegg aims to carve out a unique niche in the education technology sector. The company's expanded services will address various aspects of student life, providing support that extends beyond mere academic help. This holistic approach is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary for long-term success in their academic and professional careers.

Chegg's decision to cut nearly a quarter of its workforce and shift its focus towards a more comprehensive support model reflects its commitment to adapting to the changing needs of students and the growing competition from AI tools. By becoming a more streamlined and efficient organization, Chegg hopes to remain a relevant and valuable resource for students worldwide. The company's strategic adjustments and renewed focus on holistic student support signal a promising direction for its future in the education technology industry.
Intelligent power and sensing technologies company onsemi has announced plans to establish a state-of-the-art, vertically integrated silicon carbide (SiC) manufacturing facility in the Czech Republic.

The site will produce the companys intelligent power semiconductors that, it says, are essential for improving the energy efficiency of applications in electric vehicles, renewable energy and AI data centres.

The company plans to expand SiC manufacturing with a multi-year brownfield investment of up to US$2 billion as part of the companys long-term capital expenditure target.

This investment would build on the companys current operations in the Czech Republic, which include silicon crystal growth, silicon and silicon carbide wafer manufacturing and a silicon wafer fab. Today, the site can produce more than three million wafers annually, including more than one billion power devices.

Pending all final regulatory and incentive approvals, this would be one of the largest private sector investments in the Czech Republics history.

With this investment, onsemi believes it can contribute to the strategic positioning of the region within the EUs semiconductor value chain.

Silicon carbide is a critical material for high-power, high-temperature applications, and is extremely difficult to produce. In fact onsemi says it is one of the only companies in the world with the ability to manufacture SiC-based semiconductors from crystal growth to advanced packaging solutions.

By expanding its production facilities in the Czech Republic, onsemi suggests it can more quickly provide supply assurance for customers. This integration would also enable onsemi to leverage its latest advancements in research and development to maximize manufacturing and production efficiency.

Hassane El-Khoury, president and CEO, onsemi adds: "Our brownfield investment would establish a Central European supply chain to better service our customers rapidly increasing demand for innovative technologies that improve the energy efficiency in their applications.

He adds: Through a close collaboration with the Czech government, the expansion would also enhance our production of intelligent power semiconductors that are essential to helping ensure the European Union is able to achieve its ambitions to significantly reduce carbon emissions and environmental impact.
In a move that has ignited a significant debate about the boundaries of free speech and civil disobedience, Louisiana has enacted a new law that excludes acts of civil disobedience from free speech protections on public college campuses. The legislation, driven by recent pro-Palestinian student protests and encampments, seeks to preserve the educational focus of these institutions while ensuring that disruptive and potentially unlawful activities do not impede their functioning.

Sponsored by Republican Senator Valarie Hodges, the law has been positioned as a means to safeguard education from activism that crosses into criminal behavior. However, it has also drawn criticism from those who view it as a threat to the fundamental right to free expression. This article delves into the provisions of the new law, the rationale behind it, and the concerns it raises among students, faculty, and civil rights advocates.

Introduction of the New Law

Louisiana recently implemented a contentious law that removes civil disobedience from the free speech protection umbrella on public college campuses. The legislation, reported by The Louisiana Illuminator, was introduced in response to a wave of pro-Palestinian student encampments that swept across campuses this year. Sponsored by Republican Senator Valarie Hodges, the law aims to balance the maintenance of free speech with the need to protect the educational function of colleges and universities.

Senator Hodges articulated her position clearly: "What we need on college campuses is education, not activists," she told The Illuminator. The law specifically excludes free speech protections for any acts that carry a criminal penalty, such as trespassing, which often accompanies encampments. During a May committee hearing, Hodges stressed that while the bill upholds free speech, it unequivocally prohibits criminal acts and support for terrorism on campuses.

The Law's Provisions and Justifications

The new law delineates a fine line between protected free speech and activities deemed criminal. By excluding acts that have criminal penalties from free speech protections, the law intends to deter actions that disrupt the primary educational mission of institutions. Trespassing, vandalism, and other such acts, often associated with large-scale protests and encampments, are now clearly outside the bounds of protected speech on Louisiana's public college campuses.

Senator Hodges argues that this approach does not infringe upon the First Amendment rights of students and faculty but instead safeguards the academic environment from activities that could undermine its stability and safety. "The goal is to ensure that our educational institutions remain places of learning and growth," Hodges said, "not breeding grounds for activities that could escalate into violence or support for terrorism."

Proponents of the law believe it is a necessary measure to maintain order and protect the educational integrity of colleges and universities. They argue that while free speech is a fundamental right, it should not be used as a shield for illegal activities. The law seeks to prevent disruptions that could impede the educational process by clearly outlining acceptable conduct boundaries.

Opposition and Concerns

Despite the intentions behind the law, it has faced significant opposition from students, faculty, and civil rights advocates. Critics argue that the law will have a chilling effect on free speech and dissent, essential components of the academic environment. They contend that the threat of criminal penalties for protest activities could deter students and faculty from engaging in important social and political discourse.

Pablo Zavala, a professor at Loyola University of New Orleans, voiced his concerns during the May hearing. Zavala argued against criminalizing free speech, asserting that disagreement with student protests doesn't justify lawmakers restricting their rights. Opponents fear that the law will disproportionately affect marginalized groups who rely on civil disobedience as a means to draw attention to their causes.

Moreover, there is concern that the law's broad language could be used to target specific movements or viewpoints. By categorizing certain protest activities as criminal, the law may give authorities leeway to suppress dissenting voices selectively. This potential for abuse underscores the importance of maintaining robust protections for free speech, even when it includes acts of civil disobedience.

The introduction of Louisiana's law, which removes civil disobedience from free speech protections on public college campuses, has triggered intense discussion. While supporters, like Senator Valarie Hodges, argue that it is a necessary step to protect the educational mission of institutions and maintain order, opponents fear it will suppress essential freedoms and stifle important discourse. As colleges and universities navigate the implications of this law, the balance between maintaining safety and preserving free speech will remain a contentious issue. The debate highlights the ongoing struggle to define the boundaries of free speech in an academic setting and the importance of ensuring that all voices, even those of dissent, are heard and respected.
In a unanimous decision, the California legislature recently passed a bill to prevent artificial intelligence (AI) bots from replacing community college faculty.

This short, two-page bill, which has now been sent to the desk of Governor Gavin Newsom, aims to ensure that the "instructor of record" for any community college course remains a human who meets the state's rigorous qualifications. This legislation, while addressing labor concerns, primarily seeks to safeguard the quality of education and the student experience.

Safeguarding Human Instruction

The bill, a product of the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges' governance committee, emerged from growing concerns about AI encroaching on areas traditionally occupied by humans. Wendy Brill-Wynkoop, the association's president, emphasized the potential long-term effects on students. She acknowledged the power of AI tools but stressed the importance of caution, given the nascent stage of AI technology. The bill aims to ensure that students continue to receive instruction from qualified human faculty, recognizing the unique value that human interaction brings to the educational process.

Brill-Wynkoop pointed out instances where AI tools are already being used in California to replace counselors and augment tutoring services. However, she argues that while these tools can be beneficial, they should not replace the essential role of human faculty. The bill reflects a proactive approach to addressing the potential future implications of AI in education, rather than an immediate response to widespread replacement of faculty by AI.

National and Institutional Perspectives

The concern about AI replacing human jobs is not unique to California. Faculty members across the United States have voiced similar apprehensions. For instance, at Boston University, faculty expressed alarm when the university's dean suggested using AI to manage course discussions and labs during a graduate student strike. This example underscores a broader anxiety within the academic community about the potential for AI to displace human educators.

The National Education Association is set to release guidance for faculty unions to use in bargaining discussions about AI replacements. This reflects a growing recognition of the need for clear policies and protections as AI technology continues to advance. Despite these concerns, there is no widespread movement towards similar legislation in other states.

Larry Galizio, president and CEO of the Community College League of California, characterized the bill as essentially confirming the existing state of affairs. He noted that while there are concerns about privacy and the broader implications of AI, the immediate focus should be on engaging in informed discussions about the role of AI in education. Similarly, Martha Parham from the American Association of Community Colleges indicated that while AI is a significant topic of discussion, there is no current push for legislation to replace faculty with AI bots.

Balancing Innovation and Preservation

The California bill represents a careful balancing act between embracing technological innovation and preserving the essential human elements of education. Brill-Wynkoop made it clear that the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges does not oppose AI. Rather, they seek to set limitations to prevent potential over-reliance on AI, especially in light of budget constraints that might make AI an attractive cost-saving measure.

AI has the potential to revolutionize various aspects of education, from administrative tasks to personalized learning experiences. However, it is crucial to distinguish between using AI as a supplement to enhance education and using it as a replacement for human faculty. The latter could undermine the quality of education and the personalized support that students receive from experienced educators.

As Governor Newsom considers the bill, its passage or veto will set a precedent for how states might approach the integration of AI in education. This decision will also influence ongoing debates about the role of technology in academia and the importance of maintaining human connections in educational settings. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that AI serves as a tool to support and enhance human instruction, rather than replace it.
Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Economic Affairs Division (EAD) on Friday signed an agreement worth $250 million policy based loan

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jun, 2024) Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Economic Affairs Division (EAD) on Friday signed an agreement worth $250 million policy based loan.

According to the ADB official X handle, the agreement aimed at assisting Pakistan drive sustainable investment in infrastructure and services through Public Private Partnership (PPP).

ADB Country Director for Pakistan Yong Ye and Secretary EAD Dr Kazim Niaz signed the agreement.

ADB Country Director for Pakistan Yong Ye and Secretary EAD Kazim Niaz today signed the agreement for $250 million policy-based loan to assist Pakistan drive sustainable investments in infrastructure and services through publicprivate partnerships (PPPs), ADB said.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Canadian High Commissioner Leslie Scanlon met Interior Minister and Narcotics Control Mohsin Naqvi on Friday

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jun, 2024) Canadian High Commissioner Leslie Scanlon met Interior Minister and Narcotics Control Mohsin Naqvi on Friday.

On her arrival at the Ministry of Interior, Mohsin Naqvi warmly welcomed the Canadian High Commissioner.

During the meeting, they discussed issues of mutual interest including bilateral relations of two countries while both sides also discussed issues of border security, immigration, illegal human trafficking and drug trafficking.

Mohsin Naqvi said Pakistan is making every possible effort to secure its border and making all out efforts to stop illegal movement and human trafficking adding that in this regard, all steps are being taken to increase the efficiency of the relevant institutions.

We are also innovating and improving the immigration system, he added.

The minister said that further improvements are being made in the electronic travel authorization system through which visa will be issued within 24 hours.

He told the Canadian High Commissioner that Pakistan can provide skilled manpower to Canada in various fields and Migration of skilled manpower to Canada will reduce cases of illegal human trafficking.

Mohsin Naqvi told the High Commissioner that all minorities living in Pakistan have equal rights under the Constitution of Pakistan and added that protection of the rights of minorities is the responsibility of the Government of Pakistan.

Pakistan is providing all possible facilities for the migration of Afghan refugees to Canada, he added.

The Canadian High Commissioner thanked the Interior minister for his cooperation in various fields.

High officials of the Canadian High Commission, Federal Interior Secretary Khurram Ali Agha and senior officials of the ministry were present in the meeting.
Armenia announced Friday it was recognising the State of Palestine, the latest country to do so during the war in Gaza, saying it was against "violence towards civilian populations"

Yerevan, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jun, 2024) Armenia announced Friday it was recognising the State of Palestine, the latest country to do so during the war in Gaza, saying it was against "violence towards civilian populations."

Shortly after the former Soviet republic announced the recognition, Israel's foreign ministry said it summoned Yerevan's ambassador for a "severe reprimand".

Yerevan noted it is "genuinely interested in establishing long-term peace and stability in the middle East."

"Confirming its commitment to international law, equality of nations, sovereignty and peaceful coexistence, the Republic of Armenia recognises the State of Palestine," Armenia added.
After nearly nine months of the Israeli war in Gaza, the besieged enclave's population has been almost entirely dispossessed of the means to ensure food security, shelter, health, and livelihood, a UN official told reporters Friday

UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jun, 2024) After nearly nine months of the Israeli war in Gaza, the besieged enclave's population has been almost entirely dispossessed of the means to ensure food security, shelter, health, and livelihood, a UN official told reporters Friday.

Gaza was a world of devastation and still in the grip of Israeli attacks, UN humanitarian officials just back from the enclave reported on Friday, as they described widespread destruction and stories of pregnant mothers forced to request preterm C-sections out of desperation and fear.

Women were asking me, When can we go back to our homes? Each displacement has brought more loss and fear," Maryse Guimond, UN Womens Special Representative for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, said by video-link to reporters in Geneva.

Ms Guimond, a veteran humanitarian worker, described seeing people crammed into makeshift shelters and lacking even the most basic essentials. At one school-turned-shelter run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), there were only 25 toilets for the 14,000 people seeking safety inside the compound and the 59,000 others camping outside, she noted.

Pointing to the enormous problems of access to Gazas last functioning hospitals today, Dr Rik Peeperkorn from the UN World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the enclaves health workers, obstetricians and doctors now treat far higher levels of low birthweight babies than before the war.

We see a lot of preterm babies and low birthweight babies and you see that often in times of conflicts, warbut we even had the stories where women were going when they had access to the hospital would ask for an early Caesarean to make sure that they deliver and deliver safely because they were completely unclear and they were scared about the access, if they would be able to access the hospital later, because of the volatile security situation and the constantly changing situation.

Beyond the risks of giving birth in Gaza today for mothers and their babies in a place where there is hardly any antenatal care, the WHO medic highlighted the amazing amount of trauma cases, amputees and patients with chronic health conditions who urgently need to be evacuated out of the enclave for treatment.

Since war erupted on October 7, roughly 4,800 patients have been evacuated out of medical necessity from Gaza, most to Egypt and elsewhere in the region.

But at least another 10,000 patients now needed specialist treatment outside the enclave, Dr Peeperkorn said  half of them related to the war and half of them related to what we call the chronic diseases: .

..cancer, cardiovascular diseases and other non-communicable diseases, including severe mental health cases.

Some 50 to 100 medical evacuations used to happen regularly from Gaza to hospitals in the West Bank before the war, the WHO official explained, as he appealed for the reopening of Rafah border crossing in the south of the enclave, or for nearby Kerem Shalom to be used instead.

The UN health agency also pushed back at Israeli Defence Force (IDF) claims that recently announced pauses in fighting have led to an improvement in the humanitarian situation.

And the reason is that this humanitarian pause was not reflected on the ground; there was not a single day where we could be able to say we are going to take advantage of this humanitarian pauseto bring from Kerem Shalom the supplies that are waiting for us, said Dr Thanos Gargavanis, WHO trauma surgeon and emergency officer.

The UN aid coordination office, OCHA, echoed those concerns and insisted on Israels responsibility under international humanitarian law as the occupying power to ensure that relief supplies including fuel reach those who most need it, including by addressing the complete destruction of law and order and reports of looting.

Of course, we welcome any initiative that aims at facilitated aid delivery and we did reach an understanding with COGAT on coordinated movements intended to facilitate safe movements of humanitarian aid, said spokesperson Jens Laerke, referring to the Israeli body overseeing deliveries.

In reality, as we hear from the ground, it has come to very little. Fighting in the area might have reduced as a result of those coordinated movements but it is not the only impediment for our colleagues to pick up aid in the area between Kerem Shalom and the Salah Al Din road.

Echoing those concerns, WHOs Dr Gargavanis said that the impact of the closure of the Rafah crossing, the increase in fighting and the continued forcible displacement of Gazans meant that what is achieved in Gaza is only a fraction of what we should be doing.

He added: I know that we are saying this repeatedly over and over again. However, everybody needs to understand that for every international (worker) that is now entering in the Gaza Strip, the process is long, risky, and it requires a huge amount of resources.

Right now, through Kerem Shalom, we have to lead ourselves, we have to drive the armoured vehicles ourselves to make sure that international community continues to go in and rotate out of the Gaza Strip. This is just one of the major issues that we're facing.
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Former U.S. Marine Gerry Brooks died alone at a nursing home in Maine, abandoned and all but forgotten. Then the funeral home posted a notice asking if anyone would serve as a pallbearer or simply attend his burial.

Within minutes, it was turning away volunteers to carry his casket.

A bagpiper came forward to play at the service. A pilot offered to perform a flyover. Military groups across the state pledged a proper sendoff.

Hundreds of people who knew nothing about the 86-year-old beyond his name showed up on a sweltering afternoon and gave Brooks a final salute with full military honors Thursday at the Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery in Augusta.

Patriot Guard Riders on motorcycles escorted his hearse on the 40-mile route from the funeral home in Belfast, Maine, to the cemetery. Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars paid tribute with a 21-gun salute. Volunteers held American flags next to the casket while a crane hoisted a huge flag above the cemetery entrance.

Some saluted while filing by. Others sang The Marines' Hymn.

"It's an honor for us to be able to do this," said Jim Roberts, commander of the VFW post in Belfast. "There's so much negativity in the world. This is something people can feel good about and rally around. It's just absolutely wonderful." He said Brooks' son, granddaughter and son-in-law came to the funeral but did not speak during the service.

'We will always be there'

The VFW is called a couple times a year about a deceased veteran with no family or with one that isn't willing to handle the funeral arrangements, said Roberts. But "we will always be there." Like other veterans helping out Thursday, he hadn't known Brooks.

So many groups volunteered to take part in paying tribute that there wasn't enough space to fit them into the 20-minute burial service, said Katie Riposta, the funeral director who put out the call for help last week.

"It renews your faith in humanity," she said.

More than 8 million of the U.S. veterans living are 65 or older, almost half the veteran population. They are overwhelmingly men. That's according to a U.S. Census Bureau report last year. As this generation dies, it said, their collective memory of wartime experiences "will pass into history."

A master of 'dad jokes'

Much about Brooks' life is unknown.

He was widowed and lived in Augusta. He died on May 18, less than a week after entering a nursing home, Riposta said. A cause of death was not released.

The funeral home and authorities reached his next of kin, but no one was willing to come forward or take responsibility for his body, she said.

"It sounds like he was a good person, but I know nothing about his life," Riposta said, noting that after Brooks' death, a woman contacted the funeral home to say he had once taken her in when she had no other place to go, with no details.

"It doesn't matter if he served one day or made the military his career," she said. "He still deserves to be respected and not alone."

The crowd on Thursday wasn't all strangers  and it turned out Brooks hadn't been one, either.

Victoria Abbott, executive director of the Bread of Life shelter in Augusta, said he had come every day to eat at their soup kitchen, always ready to crack "dad jokes" and make the staff smile. He had a favorite table.

"Your quintessential 80-year-old, dad jokes every day," Abbott said. "He was really great to have around. He was part of the soup kitchen family."

But most people there Thursday met him too late. The memorial book posted online by Direct Cremation of Maine, which helped to arrange the burial, had a few strangers' good wishes.

"Sir," one began, and ended with "Semper Fi."

The two others, a couple, thanked Brooks for his service. "We all deserve the love kindness and respect when we are called home. I hope that you lived a full beautiful life of Love, Kindness, Dreams and Hope," they wrote.

They added: "Thank you to all those who will make this gentleman's service a proper, well-deserved goodbye."

Linda Laweryson, who served in the Marines, said this was the second funeral in little over a year that she has attended for a veteran who died alone. Everyone deserves to die with dignity and be buried with dignity, she said.

Laweryson read a poem during the graveside service written by a combat Marine who reflects on the spot where Marines graduate from boot camp.

"I walked the old parade ground, but I was not alone," the poem reads. "I walked the old parade ground and knew that I was home."
Defense chiefs from 30 African countries will gather in Botswana next week for a two-day military conference to discuss the continent's security and stability challenges. The meeting, organized by the United States Africa Command, or AFRICOM, will be the first to be held in Africa since the inaugural conference in 2017

"The aim [is] to tackle the pressing security challenges on the African continent and to find ways to work together for a safer, more secure Africa," said Lt. Commander Bobby Dixon, a spokesman at AFRICOM. "From counterterrorism efforts to cyber threats and peacekeeping missions, this conference will cover it all. Experts and military leaders will share insights, strategies, and forge partnerships that will strengthen the collective defense capabilities for all of Africa. This is more than just a conference  it's a significant step towards a unified approach in safeguarding the African continent."

AFRICOM says the meeting will build on the success of previous conferences. Last year's meeting held in Rome, Italy, attracted the highest turnout, with 43 countries in attendance.

"It is evident that Africa faces a series of challenges," said Jakkie Cilliers, a political scientist at the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria. "It is not always clear that the model that the U.S. presents is appropriate for Africa. In recent years, we have seen a variety of coups in Africa, sometimes executed by African forces that have been trained in the U.S., the U.K. and France. And it is also evident that a number of U.N. peacekeeping missions, such as that in the DR Congo and Mali, are withdrawing from Africa.

"On the other hand, the role of Russia and the so-called Africa Group [pls check the audio; it is usually called the Africa Corps] is expanding. So, it's clear that Africa is facing a security challenge, and partners can and should do as much as possible to help."

Cilliers added that there is a need for the Gaborone conference to come up with effective solutions to the continent's security challenges.

"Are we seeing a new model developing where African governments are considering alternative security arrangements, mostly by other African countries?" he said. "And of course, the role of private companies is also increasing. These events occur at a time of significant shifts in the global balance of power, and Africa again is an area of competition. One hopes all these issues will be discussed at the upcoming conference in Gaborone, and that real solutions will come to the fore."

In March, following its Peace and Security Council meeting, the African Union expressed "deep concern" over the scourge of conflicts on the continent and their impact on socioeconomic development.
Amnesty International has called on authorities in Namibia to ensure the safety of the LGBTQ+ community as a court prepares to rule in a case challenging the laws that criminalize homosexual conduct.

In November 2020, the Law Reform Commission of Namibia recommended discarding laws related to sodomy as they relate to intimate same-sex practices between homosexual men.

However, the parliament of Namibia has been slow to repeal these laws, which prompted gay activist Friedel Dausab to sue the government on the ground that the sodomy law is not consistent with the Namibia constitution.

The High Court of Namibia will rule on this matter Friday.

"There were many pieces of laws that have been in the law books for many years, basically since before independence, many of which really did not make sense any longer and they are just not compatible with the modern times," said Etuna Joshua, the chairperson of the Law Reform and Development Commission of the Ministry of Justice.

Linda Baumann, an LGBTQ+ activist, said the community has taken extra security measures to ensure its safety during and after the proceedings on Friday.

Baumann said Namibia has seen an increase in violence against LGBTQ+ persons, which she says is directly linked to a Supreme Court ruling that said marriages between same-sex couples performed out of the country were valid.

She said that since that ruling, religious and faith-based groups have incited violence against the LGBTQ+ community.

"Amnesty [International] is not exaggerating," said Baumann. "What we are doing as a movement is to alert ourselves around the issue around safety and security because we have anti-groups. ... We've also seen murders of LGBT people in six months. Six people, six months."

A local daily newspaper recently published a report on a string of killings where LGBTQ+ people were the victims. However, some critics say Namibia has a high number of killings in general and the killings cannot be regarded as hate crimes.

Mercedez Von Cloete, a transgender activist who successfully sued the state for a transphobic assault at the hands of a police officer seven years ago, said the community is at risk of targeted violence if the sodomy law is repealed by the High Court.

"It was targeted violence as a result of not only political but also religious hate speech as well as mob organizing that has made LGBTQ people  especially in the last couple of months  feel unsafe.  And I applaud Amnesty International for the fact that they were able to at least raise an alarm."

Amnesty International human rights lawyer Mandipa Machacha told VOA that "while Namibia traditionally had tolerance towards LGBT persons compared to other countries [in Africa], there has always been a certain level of hostility, and the situation deteriorated significantly following the 2023 ruling which recognized same-sex unions."

She said Amnesty International fears Friday's ruling may drive homophobia against members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Regional security analysts are warning Nigerian authorities to take caution following a new report that armed militants operating in Africa's volatile Sahel region have a found their way into northwest Nigeria through the borders of the Republic of Benin.

Wednesday's security report, "Dangerous Liaisons" by the Dutch research think tank Clingendael Institute, is the latest indicator that militants are migrating from the Sahel to wealthier coastal nations in the region.

The 81-page report says extremists believed to be linked with al-Qaida in the last year have migrated from the Republic of Benin and settled in northern Nigeria, including around Kainji National Park.

If not addressed, the trend could escalate attacks in both countries already struggling with lethal violence from groups, the report indicates.

Security analyst Chidi Omeje said the discovery is no surprise.

"It's not surprising if such happens, because of course you know the nature of our very porous borders," said Omeje. "Those ones coming through the Sahel to me are purely for economic pondering, I'm not sure they're ideological based. [But] it's a dire situation, it's quite concerning, it's frightening."

The report also says the search for economic opportunity and high poverty levels contribute to the recruitment and expansion of various armed groups in the region.

Africa's Sahel  the vast expanse south of the Sahara Desert  is a global terrorist epicenter, according to the 2023 World Terrorism Index.

Experts say the wave of coups in the region in recent years has affected its security situation and response to regionally based militants.

In April, Nigeria hosted more than 400 delegates from across Africa at a summit on counterterrorism.

In an address at the summit, Nigerian National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu spoke about factors driving terrorism.

"Terrorism in Africa is driven by factors such as foreign terrorist fighters, organized crime, prolonged conflict, drug trafficking, illicit arms trade, high youth unemployment and inadequate policing," said Ribadu. "Effective strategies require comprehensive approaches that address these drivers, promote socioeconomic development, enhance governance, resolve conflict and strengthen regional and international corporation."

Security analyst Senator Iroegbu said local authorities need to secure their country's borders while planning for more robust regional action.

"There's a lot of volatility on the northern fringes of Nigeria," said Iroegbu. "The insecurity is a fertile ground for all these groups to easily crisscross the boundaries and establish themselves. These jihadist groups ... their target is also to move to the coastal side of Africa. It's now left for the security agents and Nigerian government, how they respond to this. In fact, a contingency plan should've been in place all along."

This week, Nigeria announced plans to acquire 50 military aircraft to combat terrorism especially in the country's northwest region.

But analysts warn that unless those plans are supported by schemes to alleviate poverty and reduce vulnerability of locals, the problem may persist.
Armenia said Friday it is officially recognizing a Palestinian state, the latest country to do so despite criticism from Israel.

"Confirming its commitment to international law and the principles of equality, sovereignty and peaceful coexistence of peoples, the Republic of Armenia recognizes the State of Palestine," Armenia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

In response, Israel's Foreign Ministry summoned the Armenian ambassador for a "harsh reprimand conversation," according to a ministry spokesperson.

In recognizing a Palestinian state, Armenia joins approximately three-quarters of the 193 United Nations member states that have already done so.

Armenia has previously joined U.N. General Assembly resolutions that have called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, and the Foreign Ministry said in its statement Friday that a two-state solution is the only way that peace can be reached.

The Palestinian Authority, which has limited rule in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, said in a statement it supported Armenia's recognition of a Palestinian state.

"This recognition contributes positively to preserving the two-state solution, which faces systematic challenges, and promotes security, peace and stability for all parties involved," it said.

Spain, Ireland and Norway recognized a Palestinian state last month, prompting Israel to pull its ambassadors from each country. Since then, Slovenia and the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda have followed suit.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
June 20th marked the start of the summer solstice, a moment that draws thousands of people from around the world to the ancient Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza, Mexico, to see a phenomenon that appears each year - a sun shadow of a serpent descending from top of the sites main period. What many visitors dont know is that much of the modern understanding of the ancient Mayans is rooted in the work of a Ukrainian-born academic from the Soviet era. Marcus Harton narrates this report from Olga Pavlova in Moscow. Camera: Ricardo Marquina Montanana and Luis Ramirez
The 12-month grace period for student loan borrowers ended on September 30. The "on-ramp" period helped borrowers who are struggling to make payments avoid the risk of defaulting and hurting their credit score.

"The end of the on-ramp period means the beginning of the potentially harsh consequences for student loan borrowers who are not able to make payments," said Persis Yu, Deputy Executive Director at the Student Borrower Protection Center.

Around 43 million Americans have student loan debt, amounting to $1.5 trillion. Around eight million of those borrowers had enrolled in the SAVE plan, the newest income-driven repayment plan that extended the eligibility for borrowers to have affordable monthly student loan payments. However, this plan is currently on hold due to legal challenges.

With the on-ramp period and a separate program known as Fresh Start ending and the SAVE plan on hold, student loan borrowers who are struggling to afford their monthly payments have fewer options, added Yu. Student loan borrowers who haven't been able to afford their monthly payments must consider their options to avoid going into default.

If you have student loans, here's what you need to know.

What was the on-ramp period?

The Education Department implemented this grace period to ease the borrower's transition to make payments after a three-year payment pause during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this year-long period, borrowers were encouraged to keep making payments since interest continued to accumulate.

"Normally, loans will default if you fall about nine months behind on making payments, but during this on-ramp period, missed payments would not move people towards defaulting and then being subject to forced collections. However, if you missed payments, you still be falling behind ultimately on repaying your loans," said Abby Shaforth, director of National Consumer Law Center's Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project.

Since this grace period has ended, student loan borrowers who don't make payments will go delinquent or, if their loans are not paid for nine months, go into default.

Borrowers who cannot afford to make payments can apply for deferment or forbearance, which pause payments, though interest continues to accrue.

What happens if I don't make my payments?

Borrowers who can't or don't pay risk delinquency and eventually default. That can badly hurt your credit rating and make you ineligible for additional aid and government benefits.

If a borrower missed one month's payment, they will start receiving email notifications, said Shaforth. Once the loan hasn't been paid for three months, loan servicers notify to the credit reporting agencies that the loan is delinquent, affecting your credit history. Once the borrower hasn't paid the loan for nine months, the loan goes into default.

If you're struggling to pay, advisers first encourage you to check if you qualify for an income-driven repayment plan, which determines your payments by looking at your expenses. You can see whether you qualify by visiting the Federal Student Aid website. If you've worked for a government agency or a non-profit organization, you could also be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which forgives student debt after 10 years.

What happens when a loan goes into default?

When you fall behind on a loan by 270 days  roughly nine months  the loan appears on your credit report as being in default.

Once a loan is in default, it goes into collections. This means the government can garnish wages (without a court order) to go towards paying back the loan, intercept tax refunds, and seize portions of Social Security checks and other benefit payments.

What if I can't pay?

If your budget doesn't allow you to resume payments, it's important to know how to navigate the possibility of default and delinquency on a student loan. Both can hurt your credit rating, which would make you ineligible for additional aid.

If you're in a short-term financial bind, you may qualify for deferment or forbearance  allowing you to temporarily suspend payment.

To determine whether deferment or forbearance are good options for you, you can contact your loan servicer. One thing to note: interest still accrues during deferment or forbearance. Both can also impact potential loan forgiveness options. Depending on the conditions of your deferment or forbearance, it may make sense to continue paying the interest during the payment suspension.

What is an income-driven repayment plan?

The U.S. Education Department offers several plans for repaying federal student loans. Under the standard plan, borrowers are charged a fixed monthly amount that ensures all their debt will be repaid after 10 years. But if borrowers have difficulty paying that amount, they can enroll in one of several plans that offer lower monthly payments based on income and family size. Those are known as income-driven repayment plans.

Income-driven options have been offered for years and generally cap monthly payments at 10% of a borrower's discretionary income. If a borrower's earnings are low enough, their bill is reduced to $0. And after 20 or 25 years, any remaining debt gets erased.

What is the latest with the SAVE program?

In August, the Supreme Court kept on hold the SAVE plan, the income-driven repayment plan that would have lowered payments for millions of borrowers, while lawsuits make their way through lower courts.

Eight million borrowers who had already enrolled in the SAVE plan don't have to pay their monthly student loan bills until the court case is resolved. Debt that already had been forgiven under the plan was unaffected.

The next court hearing about this case will be held on October 15.

What happened with the Fresh Start program?

The Fresh Start program, which gave benefits to borrowers who were delinquent prior to the pandemic payment pause, also closed on September 30. During this limited program, student loan borrowers who were in default prior to the pandemic were given the opportunity to remove their loans from default, allowing them to enroll in income-driven payment plans, or apply for deferment, among other benefits.
Tolentino: Manila visit of US Seventh Fleet ship shows 'strong PH-US alliance'

MANILA, Philippines - Senate Majority Leader Francis "Tol" Tolentino on Friday said that the visit of USS Blue Ridge (LLC), the flagship of the Seventh Fleet of the United States (US) Navy, shows the "strong alliance" between the United States and the Philippines amid the escalation of confrontations involving Filipino and Chinese forces deployed at the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Tolentino and US Ambassador MaryKay L. Carlson welcomed the USS Blue Ridge at the South Harbor in Manila on Thursday, as both underscored the importance of this visit in affirming the alliance between the two countries.

He said officials of the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard were also present to welcome the arrival of the USS Blue Ridge, a ship with the primary role of providing command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) support to the commander and staff of the United States' Seventh Fleet.

Tolentino also noted a significant number of Filipino-Americans who are members of the US Navy.

"We talked about what happened the previous days, and this visit shows strong relations between the United States and the Philippines," he stressed.

On June 17, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) claimed that Chinese ships had rammed boats of Filipino troops who were on a resupply mission to bring food to soldiers stationed at BRP Sierra Madre at the Ayungin Shoal.
PULLMAN  Whitman County residents are continuing to call awareness to plans for a proposed wind farm near Kamiak Butte.

Save the Palouse, a local nonprofit that opposes the Harvest Hills Wind Project, held an informational meeting at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratoriess Event Center on Wednesday evening. More than 100 attended, however numbers dwindled as the three-hour event continued into the night.

Several community members shared their thoughts on the project, like the harms and nuisances that can accompany a wind farm and the need for residents and officials to advocate for the Palouses agricultural land.

Rep. Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy, made an appearance at the meeting. She touched on the agony environmental policies pushed by the state have caused and consequences they have to farmland around Washington.

Plans for the wind farm caught the eyes of rural residents earlier this year when Steelhead Americas, an Oregon energy company, installed test towers on property east of Colfax.

The company wants to install 45 wind turbines on farmland west of Kamiak Butte and south of Washington State Route 272. It would lease private land for the wind farm, and has already begun inquiring with landowners in the area.

Steelhead Americas says theres plenty of benefits to wind power. According to its website, the $300-million project would generate 200 megawatts of clean energy, garner $40 million in tax revenue for Whitman County in its 30-year lifespan, and offer 250 construction and 30 long-term jobs.

However, many contend it would disturb agricultural land, create an eyesore around Kamiak Butte and pose long-term negative impacts to the region.

Dye said for a number of years serving in the legislature, its been agonizing to watch policies move with no way to stop the juggernaut of this movement.

She said pieces of legislation like Clean and Prosperous Washington and the Climate Commitment Act are moving with a tremendous amount of momentum, which spearheads projects like this.

People ask, well, what is it that you represent, Dye said. I tell my colleagues in the House and the Senate that (Washington) is the worlds largest solar farm.
Former U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other U.S. lawmakers met with the Dalai Lama at his home in Dharamshala, India, on June 19, advancing calls for the Tibetan peoples self-determination.

President Joe Biden intends to sign into law the Resolve Tibet Act that the U.S. House passed on June 12.

The bill calls for the dispute between China and Tibet to be resolved in accordance with international law.

China falsely maintains it peacefully liberated Tibet after invading it in 1950 then annexing it the following year.

Beijing condemned the congressional visit with the Dalai Lama and accused the United States of meddling in its internal affairs. China urged the U.S. to cease contact with Tibets spiritual leader. The Dalai Lama was the head of government and head of state but fled Tibet in 1959 after the failed Tibetan uprising that year.

The U.S. Resolve Tibet Act accuses China of suppressing the ability of the Tibetan people to preserve their religion, culture, language, history, way of life, and environment.

Chinas state-sponsored Global Times newspaper challenged that, referencing the United States atrocities committed against Native Americans, while denying abuses are being committed against Tibetans.

Tibetan culture and religious activities are protected and respected, Global Times wrote.

That is false.

The reports from United Nations experts, human rights organizations, and reliable news media back up the assessment that Beijing continues to erase Tibetan religion, culture, and language, made by U.S. Representative Jim McGovern, a Democrat from Massachusetts, who helped introduce the bill.

The International Tibet Network, a global coalition of Tibet-related nongovernmental organizations, described Tibet as Chinas laboratory for repression, where Beijing hones its policies of social control, mass surveillance, and cultural and religious suppression.

China uses a grid-style social management system that extensively expanded policing and surveillance, including within monasteries, after its introduction in 2011.

Chen Quanguo, who introduced the societal control system in Tibet while serving as Tibet's CCP party secretary, in 2016 became party secretary of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

There, Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minorities face mass internment, torture, religious repression, forced labor and state-backed sterilization.

Amnesty International says that Tibetan Buddhists, like other religious minorities in China, have been oppressed or imprisoned for practicing their religious beliefs.

In April 2023, U.N. experts said China subjected hundreds of thousands of Tibetans to labor transfer and vocational training programs, where they are reportedly prevented from using the Tibetan minority language and discouraged from expressing their religious identity, under the pretext of poverty elimination.

In February 2023, U.N. experts found that the Chinese authorities had placed 1 million Tibetan children in residential schools. The Chinese government policies aimed at assimilating Tibetan people culturally, religiously and linguistically involved separating the children from their parents.

The policies of forced assimilation exhibited at the schools and elsewhere in Tibet run contrary to the prohibition of discrimination and the rights to education, linguistic and cultural rights, freedom of religion or belief and other minority rights of the Tibetan people, the U.N. experts said.

In December 2022, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned Chinese officials in Tibet for arbitrary detention, extrajudicial killings, and physical abuse against Tibetans as part of Chinas efforts to severely restrict religious freedoms.

The Harvard International Review said that while "Tibetan Buddhists pose no immediate threat to the Chinese governments prerogatives in Tibet," Beijing views their religion as a substantial enough threat "to warrant continued anti-Buddhist activity."

China pushes Tibetans to denounce the Dalai Lama, who remains popular among Tibetans, to encourage loyalty to the state.

Chinese authorities subject Tibetans to arrest, torture and/or imprisonment for displaying images of the Dalai Lama, burning incense or praying for him.

Polygraph.info has compiled related abuses here.
China's top prosecutor urged law enforcement officials across the country on Friday to focus efforts on combating drug trafficking, capping a week in which Beijing and Washington announced a rare joint counternarcotics investigation.

The Supreme People's Procuratorate published "six typical cases," involving actions ranging from postal fraud to medical professionals selling illicit drugs on the side, and clarified the legal application standards to handle such cases.

The prosecutor said in a statement that the release was meant to show its "determination and attitude to intensify efforts to crack down on related crimes, while hoping that this batch of typical cases will serve as a warning to the society."

The United States and China held high-level counternarcotics talks on Thursday following a breakthrough in bilateral cooperation this week in which both sides went after a major drug-linked money laundering operation.

The United States, where fentanyl abuse has been a major cause of death, has pushed China for deeper law enforcement cooperation, including tackling illicit finance and further controls on the chemicals that can be used to make fentanyl.

These chemicals are often shipped to the U.S. and other destinations from China using mail packages that have unverifiable addresses or are mislabeled, experts say. The U.S. Postal Service has for years struggled with the problem.

One of the examples highlighted in the prosecutor's note on Friday involved a case of a Chinese buyer, surnamed Yan, purchasing date-rape drug triazolam from overseas and then selling it in China by mail using mislabeled packaging.

As a result, "the procuratorate issued a procuratorial suggestion to the postal administration department...urging the regulatory department to fulfill its main responsibility and perform its duties conscientiously."

The postal administration then "urged the company to make timely rectifications," the prosecutor said.

The note said "the procuratorate invited nearly 100 couriers and college students to attend the trial, focusing on the new characteristics and new forms of new drug cases to carry out anti-drug law publicity."

Postal fraud was briefly mentioned in the opening remarks by Rahul Gupta, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, who on Thursday held talks in Beijing with China's minister of public security, Wang Xiaohong.

Gupta said it was among the "areas where we're both being negatively impacted," listing it alongside illicit finance, "illegal drug trafficking and use, and the emergence of new and more dangerous drugs."
Georgians are preparing for elections this year amid fears in the West that the government is straying from the countrys ambition to join the European Union. The nation appears to be caught in a struggle to reconcile its turbulent past with its West-aligned future. Henry Ridgwell reports.
An attack in the eastern North Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo killed at least five people, including three women and a girl on June 19. The authorities blamed the M23 rebel group for the bombardment, Reuters reported.

Over 130 active armed groups, including M23, are fighting for control over the DRCs natural resources, mainly gold and diamonds.

The war in DRC continues to intensify, killing at least 1,533 civilians in 14 months between January 2023 and March 2024 and displacing about 7 million people, the United Nations reported.

The escalation of on-the-ground hostilities comes amid the spread of online propaganda and disinformation engaging millions on social media.

On X, user Rybar Force continually attacks the United States with false and misleading posts, including accusations of profiteering from the ongoing war in DRC at the expense of the Congolese people. Rybar Force is a name used by Russian military blogger Mikhail Zvinchuk.

Commenting on a Bloomberg analysis that outlined the U.S.s concerns with Russian, Chinese and Iranian growing influence in Africa, Zvinchuk wrote in an X post on June 14:

" for the Congolese leadership the fact of seizure of North Kivu mines in favor of the US by Rwandan proxy forces represented by the M23 group has long been no secret. In this way, the U.S. authorities keep an acceptable price for the resource, preventing the country from becoming a regional leader."

That is false.

First, lets verify Mikhail Zvinchuks credibility as an information source. Here are some facts:

Until 2019, Zvinchuk worked in the press service of the Russian Ministry of Defense. Before that, he served as a commander of a reconnaissance group in the Spetsnaz GRU  a special operations unit within the Russian military intelligence.

The EU and Ukraine sanctioned Zvinchuk in 2023 for distributing disinformation and pro-Kremlin propaganda and for "supporting actions that undermine and threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine" through his Telegram channel Rybar, which has over 1.2 million followers.

In December 2022, President Vladimir Putin appointed Zvinchuk to the Russian Presidential Council to coordinate the Russian Federation's mobilization efforts in support of Moscows war of aggression against Ukraine.

The Bell, an independent online Russian outlet, reported that between June 2020 and August 2021, Zvinchuk received funding for his Telegram channel from the late founder of PMC Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin. The U.S. identified and sanctioned Prigozhin for owning and funding the St. Petersburg-based Troll Factory, created to attack the U.S. with malicious disinformation and propaganda.

Second: The United States sanctioned M23 in January 2013 for committing widespread human rights abuses. The U.S. said M23 fighters have been engaged in prohibited practices such as deliberately targeting civilians, including children, and sexual violence.

The U.S. State Department condemned the Rwandan government for supporting M23 and called on it to immediately withdraw all Rwanda Defense Force personnel from the DRC and remove its surface-to-air missile systems in a February 17 statement.

The United States does not in any way support M23 and has repeatedly and publicly called for the government of Rwanda to end its support to this group, Ambassador Robert Wood, alternate U.S. representative for special political affairs in the U.N., told the U.N. Security Council briefing on the situation in the DRC this past February.

Third: Zvinchuks claim about the U.S. prolonging the war to control the mining and trade of the DRCs precious metals and minerals is equally false.

The U.S. does not allow the trade of minerals sourced from conflict areas by armed groups or rights abusers into its territories.

In 2010, the U.S. Congress passed conflict minerals legislation commonly known as Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act.

The law ensures that U.S. companies are not funding armed groups or human rights abuses.

The Dodd-Frank Act requires U.S. publicly listed companies to do "due diligence" on their supply chains of the minerals they import if they might originate from DRC to take steps to address any risks they find.

The companies are required to report their findings to the National Security Exchanges every year.

Due diligence must conform to the standards set by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which translates to the U.N. Guiding Principles of Business and Human Rights.

According to the U.S. Treasury Department, more than 90% of DRC gold is smuggled to regional states, including Uganda and Rwanda, where it is then often refined and exported to international markets, particularly the UAE.

On March 17, 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Alain Goetz of Belgium, whose company, the African Gold Refinery in Uganda, was involved in the illicit movement of gold valued at hundreds of millions of dollars per year from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame maintains the M23 rebels are fighting to defend the minority Tutsis of Rwandan origin who live in Congo.

M23 is made up primarily of ethnic Tutsis. Formerly part of the Congolese army, the group was named after the March 23, 2009, peace treaty with the DRC government.

In 2012, M23 took control of Goma in DRC's North Kivu province, which borders Rwanda, claiming the peace deal was poorly implemented. The DRC army and U.N. peacekeepers defeated M23, with its surviving combatants fleeing to Rwanda and Uganda.

M23 remained dormant for the next decade but reemerged in November 2021 and took control of most of eastern DRC.
Supporters of the U.S. military newspaper Stars and Stripes are using a public consultation period on the outlets regulations to try to roll back what they say are restrictive rules.

Funded in part by the Department of Defense but editorially independent by order of Congress, the Stripes has operated under the same Federal Register regulations since 1993.

But with updates to those rules open to public comment until Monday, journalists and media analysts are drawing attention to three longstanding articles they believe should be relaxed or scrapped entirely.

These include vague wording that doesnt explicitly authorize reporters to ask questions of Defense Department officials, as well as regulations that block the papers staff from filing Freedom of Information Act, FOIA, requests or from publishing classified information that was legally obtained.

With the opportunity for change, some staffers and experts are calling for the rules to be relaxed in favor of an environment that better supports press freedom. Doing so, they say, would benefit the American soldiers who rely on the Stripes for information they cant get from other news outlets.

The papers ombudsman, Jacqueline Smith, told VOA that the current regulations hinder the newspaper and threaten its independence. Others have pointed to the unique audience the paper serves.

Stars and Stripes is really the most powerful weapon our troops carry into battle. And the reason I believe that is because it is a terrific representation of the good old American value that you can speak truth to power, Kathy Kiely, chair in free press studies at the University of Missouri, told VOA.

But its a constant struggle to maintain that independence, she said. There have been people who have been trying to mess with this since the beginning of the paper.

The Stripes has existed in some form since 1861, and it has been published continuously since World War II. With staff in 18 locations around the world, it offers in-depth coverage to the U.S. military community.

Brian Brooks, who was editor of the European edition of Stripes in the late 1990s, emphasized that Congress mandated that the paper be a First Amendment publication.

So, any attempt to invoke rules that would restrict Stars and Stripes reporters, is, in my opinion, a direct affront to Congress, Brooks told VOA.

Some media rights advocates see the regulations as interference in the papers editorial independence.

The government should not use its unique leverage over Stars and Stripes to restrict the First Amendment rights of its journalists, Seth Stern, advocacy director at the Freedom of the Press Foundation, told VOA.

A Defense Department, or DoD, spokesperson told VOA that while the paper is editorially independent, its staff are DoD employees and so must adhere to applicable DoD policies and federal laws and regulations, such as those regarding legal and ethical standards of federal employees and unauthorized disclosure of classified information.

For Smith, the most concerning regulation is that Stripes reporters arent explicitly authorized to ask questions of Defense Department officials.

It gets to the very heart of reporting, and reporters ability to move around and ask questions unhindered, said Smith, who is based in Connecticut.

As the ombudsman, Smith acts as both a reader representative and a watchdog to ensure the newspapers First Amendment rights are respected. She cited examples of Stripes reporters who have been barred from covering events on bases without a military escort  which she said isnt required.

Stripes reporters are also not permitted to submit FOIA requests, under the claim that they are exempt because they are classified as federal employees.

Brooks, who is now a professor emeritus at the Missouri School of Journalism, described that regulation as tantamount to censorship.

Jennifer Svan, a reporter at the newspaper for about two decades, said that while government agencies on occasion have overlooked the FOIA prohibition, it more often makes reporting much harder.

Then were just relying on what the military is telling us about a particular issue, rather than seeing the documents that really paint the true picture of something that happened, Svan, who is based in Germany, said. Its definitely been a challenge the whole time that Ive been with Stars and Stripes.

The regulations imposed on the newspaper indicate a tension between whether the Defense Department wants to treat Stripes like the legitimate news organization its Congressionally ordered to be, according to Kiely.

That tension has been the subject of a prior court ruling with a U.S. district court in 2003 ruling in favor of the paper in a case involving reporters privilege. The judge in that case found that although the paper is under the Defense Departments purview, its staff  and the audience they serve  enjoy the full protection of the First Amendment.

While analysts say such regulations threaten the newspapers independence, the community affected the most is the soldiers and their families who read the newspaper.

The people this hurts are the members of Stars and Stripes audience, are the men and women who are working every day to protect us, Kiely said.

The public comment period concludes on June 24. After that, the Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense reviews the comments. The Stripes would have the opportunity to be involved in any proposed updates.
Muslims in India are feeling more secure about their future after last months national election in which Prime Minister Narendra Modis BJP failed to win an outright majority in parliament, forcing it to form a coalition with other parties.

Before the election, national media had reported deep concerns among Muslims that the Hindu nationalist ruling party would meet expectations for a landslide victory, leaving it free to pursue policies that would further marginalize the Muslim minority.

But with the BJP constrained by its election setback and the influence of its coalition partners, most believe those concerns are unlikely to be realized.

Right from the start of Modi's first term [in 2014], Muslims were targeted for an unprecedented degree of humiliation, disenfranchisement, and naked brutalization, by both state and non-state actors. BJP leaders openly described Muslims as traitors, infiltrators, threats to Hindus, and the like, Rohit Chopra, a professor at Santa Clara University in the U.S. state of California, told VOA.

However, after the BJP failed to win a majority in the just-concluded general election, many observers of Indian politics believe that the Hindu nationalist party will not be able to target Muslims through its policies and rhetoric as aggressively and openly as before. The expectation among Muslims is that the worst is hopefully over.

Since his rise to power in 2014, Modi has promoted a Hindu nationalist vision that has left the nations more than 204 million Muslims complaining of persecution and discrimination by the society and the state.

Over the past decade, in many BJP-ruled states, thousands of Muslim houses and shops were demolished by bulldozers after their owners allegedly committed minor crimes.

Bulldozer justice

Muslim community leaders and social activists pointed out that the authorities targeted only Muslim-owned structures, overlooking illegal buildings owned by non-Muslims. Several legal experts, including former judges, called the so-called bulldozer justice outright unlawful.

Hundreds of Muslims were lynched by right-wing Hindu vigilante groups over the past decade for allegedly transporting cows and carrying beef. Muslims complained that the members of the groups were viewed as foot soldiers of the BJP and rarely faced punishment, especially in BJP-ruled states.

Although rights groups complain that Muslims in India sometimes face discrimination and hate attacks because of their faith, Modi denies they exist under his government.

Our constitution and our government and we have proved democracy can deliver. When I say deliver, regardless of caste, creed, religion, gender  there is absolutely no space for any discrimination [under my government], Modi told reporters last year during a state visit to the White House.

In March, the Modi government enacted a divisive citizenship law that allowed followers of various religions  but not Islam -- to enter India from neighboring countries on a fast track to Indian citizenship. Critics and Muslims said the law discriminates against Muslims.

Until recently, senior BJP leaders also said the Modi government was in the process of implementing a National Register of Citizens or, NRC  a list of Indians who can prove their citizenship by providing documentation. Muslim leaders fear the NRC project is designed to designate many Indian Muslims as illegal foreigners.

For years, the Modi government said it would introduce a uniform civil code, a single law, replacing many customs and laws now followed by different religious groups. Muslim community leaders have long insisted that this would be used to marginalize and persecute Muslims.

During the recent election campaign, Modi and his party colleagues were accused of hate speech and peddling anti-Muslim tropes. Modi called Muslims infiltrators. He also identified the community as one having more children.

However, many of those Muslim fears have receded in the wake of the election.

BJP left reliant on coalition partners

Several of the BJPs new coalition partners are known as secular and enjoy good support from Muslims, who look to the parties to oppose any hardline policies perceived as anti-Muslim. Leaders of the Telugu Desam Party, one of the coalition partners, said that on controversial policies, the BJP will not take any decision unilaterally.

Delhi University professor Apoorvanand, who uses only a first name, told VOA that the election result has certainly brought some relief to Muslims.

The BJP had sought an anti-Muslim mandate. The speeches and comments of Modi and other BJP leaders were nothing but attempts to instigate Hindus against Muslims. Thankfully the election results showed that Modis election platform was rejected by a significant number of Hindus, he said.

Muslims hope that the bulldozer punishment that had become routine for them will become a thing of the past now. And, anti-Muslim laws would be more difficult to pass now. Judiciary will muster some courage and do justice to Muslims who have been attacked by the state organs with impunity.

Somdeep Sen, a professor of international development studies at Roskilde University in Denmark, said Indias Muslims have reasons to heave a sigh of relief.

We have seen an increasing mainstreaming of Islamophobia over the last decade. Even the usually stoic prime minister took on the mantle of publicly demonizing Indias Muslim population on its campaign trail. A bigger Modi victory would have given the ruling party an even greater political mandate to pursue Islamophobic policies, he told VOA.

However, Sen said that he does not believe that India is "entering an era of inclusive politics.

Along with their electoral successes, a key achievement of Hindutva forces has been a cultural shift that has normalized the mainstream demonization of Indias Muslims, he said.

With Modi at the helm, we cant expect a complete reversal of this cultural shift, even as the prime minister now has to contend with the needs and wants of coalition partners.
U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday issued a disaster declaration for the state of New Mexico, which is battling a pair of growing wildfires.

The South Fork Fire and the Salt Fire in Ruidoso have killed two people, destroyed about 500 homes and forced thousands to flee. The two fires have burned an estimated 9,308 hectares and as of Thursday, were 0% contained, officials said.

In seeking the aid, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said, "New Mexico has faced disaster before, but the scale of this emergency requires immediate federal intervention."

The declaration will make funds available to help with recovery efforts, including temporary housing, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property and other emergency work in Lincoln County and on lands belonging to the Mescalero Apache Tribe, The Associated Press reported.

The fast-moving fire swept into the mountain town of Ruidoso, about 260 kilometers south of Albuquerque, on Monday. The fire grew overnight, leading to more evacuations on Tuesday.

Nationwide, wildfires have scorched more than 8,660 square kilometers this year, according to the National Interagency Fire Center, the AP reported.

As of Thursday, nearly 20 wildfires were burning in California, Arizona, Colorado, Washington state and elsewhere are considered large and uncontained, according to AP.

The cause of the New Mexico fires is under investigation.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
For more than two years, Western countries have urged South Korea to directly arm Ukraine, insisting that South Korean weapons could play a pivotal role in helping Kyiv fight off Russia's invasion.

South Korea, a major arms producer, has resisted, concerned that directly arming Ukraine could prompt Russia to expand its military cooperation with North Korea, which seeks help on advanced weapons that target Seoul.

That calculation may be changing. This week, Russia and North Korea announced a mutual defense treaty. Russian President Vladimir Putin hinted the deal could facilitate the provision of more weapons to Pyongyang.

The formalization of North Korea-Russia ties surprised many observers, who had assumed Moscow was mainly pursuing short-term gains with Pyongyang. The move also enraged the government of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.

In a briefing Thursday, South Korean National Security Adviser Chang Ho-jin slammed the Russia-North Korea treaty as a violation of international law and said his government would reconsider its ban on sending lethal weapons to Ukraine.

It is not the first time that Yoon's conservative government has hinted at a change in its Ukraine policy but its latest threat may be more serious, if comments by South Korean officials are any indication.

According to the conservative Joongang Ilbo, a senior official in South Korea's presidential office said "we will consider whatever steps Russia would find most painful," while also noting Seoul is watching to see Russia's next moves.

Andrii Nikolaeinko, a former diplomat at Ukraine's embassy in Seoul and now a member of the Ukrainian parliament, told VOA that he believes such statements suggest Seoul is prepared to modify its policy.

"My contact and sources led me to believe that it's possible and is going to happen soon," Nikolaeinko said, without providing more details.

"It's not just only my personal opinion, but also the expectation of Ukrainian officials that this time South Korea will really change its policy on supplying ammunition to Ukraine, probably openly and directly," he added.

Though South Korea still faces a tricky situation and may proceed cautiously, some observers argue that Seoul's considerations might be changing in a fundamental way.

"Putin signing a comprehensive strategic partnership with Kim Jong Un suggests that South Korea's self-restraint in supporting Ukraine buys it little to nothing in Moscow," Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Seoul's Ewha University, said.

A Seoul-based European ambassador told VOA he is waiting to see how the situation will develop. But, the ambassador added, "Now it should be clear that one cannot expect that Russia is capable of playing any constructive role in providing peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula."

Major impact

It is not hard to see why Ukraine has pushed for more help from South Korea. It is the world's ninth-largest arms exporter and has a reputation for quickly supplying affordable and reliable weapons.

South Korea has so far only provided weapons to third parties, such as the United States and Poland, which themselves are directly arming Ukraine.

To defend their approach, South Korean officials often cite domestic laws that strictly regulate or prevent sending arms to war zones, although Yoon has suggested in the past that such barriers could be overcome.

In April of last year Yoon said South Korea could provide more than just humanitarian or financial support if Ukraine comes under a large-scale civilian attack. Since then, Yoon has not clarified what type of incident would meet those standards.

At least in theory, a South Korea decision to arm Ukraine could be a game-changer, more than making up for the munitions that Russia has allegedly received from North Korea, analysts say.

"South Korea's ability to produce weapons cannot be compared to that of North Korea," Cho Han-beom, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said.

"North Korea's weapons help Russia barely sustain the war, but South Korea's weapons could change the entire landscape of the conflict," he said.

Ankit Panda, a Washington-based defense analyst who follows the Koreas, agreed to an extent.

"That's assuming a large volume of deliveries. Hard to say at this stage what the magnitude of ROK deliveries might look like," Panda, a senior fellow at Washington's Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said.

Two and a half years into the war, Ukraine is searching for whatever help it can find. Russia controls roughly a fifth of Ukraine, according to independent estimates, and has been gaining ground, as Kyiv struggles to find munitions to push back a Russian offensive.

"Ukraine needs munitions as it can get them. South Korea has quite a few platforms that would be quite valuable for Kyiv," Panda said, "These capabilities likely won't be transformative  but will nevertheless offer real benefits."

How South Koreans feel

South Korea's domestic politics provide another possible barrier to becoming more involved in the Ukraine war.

Nearly 60% of South Koreans oppose arming Ukraine, according to a poll published in April 2023. There do not appear to be any more recent surveys on the matter, which has not been a subject of intense public debate.

Some left-leaning South Korean lawmakers say it would be foolish to upset the status quo, given there is no public evidence that Putin has yet provided Kim with advanced weapons.

Kim Joon-hyung, a member of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, said it would be "reckless" to intervene in a faraway war and become Russia's enemy.

If South Korea wants to change its weapons exports policy, it must first get permission from elected lawmakers, Kim told VOA in an interview.

Like some other South Korean foreign policy analysts, Kim questioned whether the Russia-North Korea treaty truly established an alliance, noting that Putin refrained from using that phrase in his public comments following the treaty signing.

In Kim's view, Yoon should take a more cautious response to the region.

"If you want peace, the president must abandon his false belief that you should prepare for warif you want peace, prepare for peace," he said.

Many South Korean analysts disagree, saying Yoon should draw an even harder line to deter Russia from arming the North.

"For example, if Russia transfers core military technology and weapons systems to North Korea, we [would] start providing precision strike weapons to Ukraine," Park Won-gon, a North Korea specialist at Ewha University, said.

"This treaty is a very serious problem," said Park. "There are plenty of examples historically, in terms of how we should handle Russia. We have no choice but to go strong."
Ukraine launches attack into Russia targeting oil and fuel depots and military installations. Benjamin Netanyahu in a political war of words with the Biden administration as tension on the border with Lebanon is on the rise. Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is playing an ever-increasing role in modern life and politics. South Korea says it might send weapons to Ukraine, but who is the message really for? And a look at US policy in Africa.
The European Union has approved starting membership talks with Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly address that the negotiations will begin next week.

Ukraine applied to become part of the European bloc shortly after the Russian invasion in 2022.

The EU's decision to go forward with talks and the lengthy process of vetting a new member sends a strong message to Russia that the bloc supports Ukraine in myriad ways, including financial.

The negotiating framework for Ukraine's neighbor, Moldova, has also been approved by the EU.

"It is important that every country, every society that truly professes European values and aspires to real European strength  that every such nation  be together with all the others in a united Europe," Zelenskyy said.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Friday that Russia is "ready" for security talks with the United States but specified that any talks must include the conflict in Ukraine, specifically the "direct involvement" of the U.S.

In his regular telephone briefing with reporters, Peskov said this kind of dialogue between the U.S. and Russia "is very much required" because "problems are piling up, and there are a lot of problems associated with the global security architecture."

Peskov's comments came in response to a question regarding the possibility of holding talks with the U.S. on nuclear risks apart from the Ukrainian conflict.

As to Peskov's comments regarding direct U.S. involvement in Ukraine, both the United States and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg have rejected the idea that providing arms to help Ukraine defend itself amounts to "direct involvement" in the conflict.

The comments come a day after the White House announced it would move Ukraine to the front of the line for deliveries of powerful air defense missiles, after a barrage of Russian missile and drone attacks damaged energy facilities throughout the country overnight Thursday.

National security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters at the White House Thursday that hundreds of newly made Patriot and NASAMS missiles  used for surface-to-air defense  will go to Ukraine ahead of other nations who have ordered them, citing Russia's attacks targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Meanwhile, during his visit to Asia, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday warned South Korea against sending arms to Ukraine.

Senior officials in South Korea said Thursday the pact signed this week between Russia and North Korea pledging to come to each other's defense in the event of war was "of great concern," and that Seoul would consider sending arms to Ukraine in response, a reversal of its policy not to send arms to countries actively engaged in conflict.

Putin responded Friday, saying South Korea had nothing to worry about regarding Russia's treaty with North Korea, but he added that Seoul's sending arms to Ukraine would be "a very big mistake."

"If it happens, then we will be making relevant decisions that are unlikely to please the current leadership of South Korea," Putin said.

Ukraine responded Friday to Russia's attacks with an attack of its own, targeting oil refineries, radar installations and intelligence centers in southern Russia and occupied Crimea.

The Ukrainian general staff reported Ukrainian forces attacked a fuel and chemical warehouse in Russia's Tambov region, as well as the "Enemska" oil depot in the Republic of Adygea.

Russia reports one person was killed in the attacks. It also claims to have "neutralized" 114 Ukrainian drones.

Ukraine's national power provider, Ukrenergo, said early Thursday that an overnight attack on a thermal plant caused serious damage and wounded three workers.

"Equipment at facilities in Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kyiv regions got damaged," the Ukrenergo statement added.

On Wednesday, Ukrenergo announced that hourly rolling blackouts would be implemented throughout the country. Russian drone and missile strikes have cut Ukraine's power-generating capabilities to half of what they were last year, President Zelenskyy said earlier this month.

Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
A second cargo ship has reportedly sunk in the Red Sea after being attacked by Houthis. On June 12 the Greek-owned M/V Tutor was targeted by a bomb-carrying drone boat and other projectiles. A crew member of the Tutor was killed, bringing to four the number of sailors who have died in such attacks. On June 13 the Houthis attacked the Ukrainian-owned M/V Verbena, severely wounding a mariner who had to be medically evacuated.

The U.S. Defense Department reports that since November 19th, there have been 190 attacks on commercial vehicles by the Houthis. Most have been thwarted by U.S. and international forces, but, tragically, not all.

The Yemen-based Iran-backed Houthis have escalated their drone and missile strikes on commercial shipping following Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7 and Israels subsequent military operation to root out Hamas in Gaza. With their assaults on commercial shipping, the Houthis claim to be acting on behalf of Palestinians; yet, as National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby noted, they are targeting and threatening the lives of third country nationals who have nothing to do with that conflict.

The Houthis killed an innocent crew member from the Philippines and critically wounded a Sri Lankan sailor who were guilty of no crimes, who were simply doing their jobs as professional mariners. They werent delivering arms to Israel. They werent taking sides in the Middle East. They were just manning their posts aboard ship, trying to earn a paycheck and keep global commerce moving, said Communications Advisor Kirby. This is pure terrorism. There is simply no other word for it.

Even the Yemini people have been victimized, said Communications Advisor Kirby, as the Houthis struck a ship that was bringing grain to their own ports.

These attacks also obstruct humanitarian aid to Sudan, where the needs are tremendous and the conditions desperate, and they impact commerce for every neighboring country in the Horn of Africa and the Middle East, said Communications Advisor Kirby.

As part of a U.S. government-wide effort to thwart attacks by the Houthis, the Treasury Department announced new sanction designations against individuals and entities that are involved in the Houthi weapons procurement network.

These Houthi attacks  are truly reckless, said Communications Advisor Kirby. They dont care a whit about Palestinians in Gaza  Its terrorism, as I said, pure and simple. And it has to stop.
The Netherlands is investing more than 420 million dollars to build Swedish-designed combat vehicles for Ukraine. The Dutch expect to deliver the tanks by 2026, according to Defense News, to add to those already proving effective on the front lines. Anna Kosstutschenko has the story. Cameras and edit: Pavel Suhodolskiy
A quarterly report on the situation in Afghanistan by the United Nations has documented a surge in attacks by armed groups fighting Taliban rule. It also noted persistent internal tensions among de facto Afghan leaders.

The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, or UNAMA, released the assessment Friday, noting that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently submitted it to the Security Council.

The report stated that the armed opposition did not pose a significant challenge to the Talibans hold on territorial control since they regained power in August 2021.

Two opposition groups conducted verified attacks during the reporting period: the Afghanistan Freedom Front [AFF] and the National Resistance Front [NRF], the document stated.

The U.N. said both groups focused on attacking Taliban security forces in the capital, Kabul.

The report stated that the NRF carried out 29 confirmed attacks in the past three months, with 20 in Kabul and the rest in the northern Afghan provinces of Takhar, Baghlan and Parwan. The AFF conducted 14 attacks, all of which took place in the national capital.

Both groups used hit-and-run tactics against de facto security forces, throwing grenades in 22 attacks and using improvised explosive devices in seven others, said the U.N. report.

It stated that an NRF-claimed attack on February 26 targeted the Taliban-run military zone of Kabul International Airport, firing three mortars on the installation but causing no confirmed damage or casualties.

A spokesman for the NRF disputed the U.N. assessment, saying it is deeply disappointing to see the world body downplaying the security and other crises in Afghanistan.



Notably, the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan has conducted over 160 successful operations in Kabul and various provinces this year, yet only 29 have been reported, Ali Maisam Nazary said on social media platform X. This lack of accurate reporting undermines the true situation on the ground and does a disservice to the people of Afghanistan, he wrote.

The U.N. findings come as the Talibans crackdown on media has made it extremely difficult for reporters to access authentic information and to verify insurgent claims.

Taliban officials have not yet commented on the U.N. report.

The Afghan rebel groups, NRF and AFF, are made up of political and military officials of the internationally backed government in Kabul that was ousted from power by the then-insurgent Taliban.

Taliban authorities also have played down the armed insurgency, claiming they have restored peace through war-torn Afghanistan with public support and they have established control over all 34 of the countrys provinces.

The male-only Taliban government is internationally isolated and condemned for its sweeping curbs on Afghan womens and girls access to education and employment.

No country has formally recognized the Taliban leadership, nor has any foreign government, including the United States, encouraged a war against the de facto Afghan rulers.

IS threat

The U.N. report also documented six attacks by an Afghan-based Islamic State affiliate, known as Islamic State-Khorasan, in the reporting period. The violence was mostly targeted at the Taliban, including a suicide bombing outside a bank in southern Kandahar city on March 21.

The Kandahar blast killed at least 25 Taliban security forces and wounded 45 others, along with five Afghan civilians, according to the U.N. report. Taliban officials had formally confirmed only three fatalities, saying the attack injured about a dozen people, though they did not identify the casualties.

U.S. military commanders and intelligence chiefs have described IS-Khorasan as the most potent threat to Taliban rule in Afghanistan and beyond. The Kabul government maintains that its sustained counterterrorism operations have significantly degraded IS-Khorasans presence in the country, along with its ability to launch attacks internally or externally.

Taliban rifts

The U.N. report released Friday also observed some divergent views within the Taliban over governance issues.

The de facto authorities maintained public unity and exerted authority over the entire national territory, although some internal tensions persisted within their structure. They continued their outreach with communities to bridge gaps and elicit their support while reducing the space for men and women to conduct civil and political activities, the quarterly assessment stated.

Taliban officials repeatedly have dismissed as Western propaganda allegations of internal rifts involving their reclusive supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, and Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani.

These are just rumors, not true, Suhail Shaheen, the head of the Talibans Qatar-based political office, said in a brief statement Thursday when asked for his comments on the reported divisions
A report by the United Nations secretary-general condemns the high number of executions carried out in Iran last year and the governments violent crackdown against women and girls for defying the countrys mandatory hijab law.

U.N. Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif, who on Thursday presented the report at the U.N. Human Rights Council, said, At least 834 individuals were executed in 2023, which represents a 43% increase from the previous year.

Especially troubling is the 84% increase in executions for drug-related offenses in 2023, the highest figure in nearly a decade, she said.

The nongovernmental organization Iran Human Rights puts the number of people reportedly executed for drug-related charges last year at 471. It says that executions are continuing to surge this year, with at least 243 people, including 10 women [who] have been executed in 2024, so far.

Al-Nashif told the council that minorities continue to be disproportionately affected by executions, with 20% of all executions in 2023 affecting the Baluch minority.

While noting an overall decline in the sentencing of children to death since 2024, the report deplores the execution of two child offenders in 2023 and urges the government to introduce an immediate moratorium on the death penalty, she said, adding that two men also were executed last year in relation to the September 2022 nationwide protests, bringing the total to nine.

Serious allegations of torture-tainted confessions and due process violations have permeated these cases, she observed.

Mahsa Amini

The September 2022 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in morality police custody for allegedly incorrectly wearing a hijab sparked nationwide protests.

While mass protests forcing women to wear a hijab have ended, the secretary-generals report notes that the governments determination to enforce and even strengthen its hijab law has not.

The report expresses continued concern in relation to a chastity and hijab bill, which seeks to reinforce mandatory public hijab requirements for women and girls and introduces severe penalties for noncompliance.

The report describes Iran as an extremely repressive regime, which rules its people through intimidation and coercion. It says civic and democratic space online and offline are severely restricted; access to information is tightly controlled by the government, including by blocking access to social media platforms, and journalists, writers and artists are targeted for exercising their freedom of opinion and expression.

The report finds Irans economic crisis has been exacerbated by unilateral coercive measures and government economic mismanagement, which have adversely affected living conditions and access to health, food and water.

Al-Nashif welcomed the governments directive instructing judges to align their decisions with the international human rights obligations of Iran. She also acknowledged some positive aspects of the summary findings of the special committee charged with investigating violations related to the 2022 protests.

While efforts toward accountability are welcome, concerns remain over the independence of the special committee and the lack of information on steps taken to prevent future violations and address long-standing human rights grievances, she said.

Fact-finding mission

The deputy high commissioner called on the government to fully cooperate with the fact-finding mission on Iran and the special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, both of which are mandated to investigate alleged human rights violations in Iran.

Ali Bahreini, the Iranian ambassador to the U.N. mission in Geneva, poured cold water on that suggestion. He said Iran was opposed to selecting mandates of the Human Rights Council that contain falsified and inauthentic reports and mechanisms based on malign political intentions.

Such prejudicial approaches have nothing to do with the promotion and protection of human rights and is detrimental to the credibility of the human rights values and its structures, he said, adding that genuine promotion of human rights can be obtained and secured by cooperation, not confrontation.

He rejected the secretary-generals criticism of Irans use of the death penalty and his call for a moratorium, noting that the abolition of the death penalty is not supported by any consensus.

Iran implements this punishment only for very serious crimes such as murder, major drug trafficking and terrorist crimes, which endanger the security of the community as a whole.

He concluded by saying that in next weeks presidential election, the voice of the people will prove once again that Iran rigorously promotes democracy.
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Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, U.S. humanitarian group Project HOPE has provided aid to Ukrainian health clinics and residents of the countrys front-line towns and villages. Yaroslava Movchan has the story, narrated by Anna Rice. Videographer: Dmytro Hlushko.
A key U.S. lawmaker warned Thursday that Russia is on the verge of ushering in the end of the Space Age with its new, nuclear anti-satellite weaponry.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner, an Ohio Republican, told an audience in Washington that allowing Russia to gain such an advantage would be catastrophic. He called on President Joe Biden to mount an aggressive response.

This crisis is the Cuban missile crisis in space, Turner said, comparing the moment to the 1962 confrontation between the U.S. and the former Soviet Union, which took both sides to the brink of nuclear conflict.

But in this case, Turner said, Russia could unilaterally impose high costs on the U.S. simply by detonating a nuclear anti-satellite weapon in orbit.

This threat would mean that our economic, international security and social systems come to a grinding halt, he said. This would be a catastrophic and devastating attack upon Western economic and democratic systems.

Turner, who accused Biden of sleepwalking into an irreversible day zero, called on the White House to immediately declassify all of its intelligence on the Russian program to make the world aware of the full extent of the threat.

The White House on Thursday rejected Turners accusations.

He's just wrong. He's just flat-out wrong, White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

We have absolutely taken this very seriously, Kirby said. We've been working this particular problem set from every possible angle, including through intense diplomacy with countries around the world and, obviously, through direct conversations with Russia.

Russia has repeatedly denied the U.S. accusations, including last month when Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov dismissed concerns as fake news.

"The Americans can say whatever they want, but our policy does not change, Ryabkov told the Interfax news agency, adding that Moscow, "always consistently opposed the deployment of strike weapons in low-Earth orbit.

Turner first raised concerns about the prospect of a Russian anti-satellite weapons program in February, when he issued a statement warning of "a serious national security threat and issued his initial call for the White House to declassify the relevant intelligence.

Biden responded by confirming that Russia was developing a space-based, anti-satellite weapons system but added there was no indication that Russia had decided to move ahead with the program and that there was no nuclear threat to anyone on Earth.

Concerns spiked last month when the U.S. accused Russia of using a May 16 space launch to deploy what the U.S. Defense Department described as an anti-satellite weapon capable of attacking other satellites in low-Earth orbit.

Russia deployed this new counterspace weapon into the same orbit as a U.S. government satellite, Major General Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, said at the time. So, you know, obviously that's something that we'll continue to monitor.
Zambia says it has called on two regional bodies  the African Union and Southern African Development Community  to mediate talks with neighboring Zimbabwe.

Zambian officials say the diplomatic fallout with neighboring Zimbabwe stems from remarks that Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa shared with Russian President Vladimir Putin on a recent visit to Russia. Namely the accusation that the U.S. has been militarizing Zambia to consolidate power in the region and isolate Zimbabwe.

In a televised speech in parliament Thursday, Zambia Foreign Minister Mulambo Haimbe rejected Mnangagwa's statement as an unwarranted attack on Zambia's sovereignty. He also said Lusaka, which has historically strong ties with its neighbor, wants to maintain cordial relations with it, the U.S. and Russia.

For example, in March this year, Zambia was one of the first countries, that called the United States of America, and the European Union to remove sanctions against Zimbabwe when the United States of America imposed new sanctions." Haimbesaid. "Regrettably, however, madam speaker, the sentiments expressed by his excellency President Mnangagwa do not appear to accord with the warm relations highlighted above."

Both the Southern African Development Community and Africa Union, to which both Zambia and Zimbabwe are members, could not be reached for comment Friday. Jenfan Muswere, Zimbabwes information minister, played down any deteriorating relations between Lusaka and Harare when reached for comment Friday by VOA.

We are a friend to all and an enemy to none. Zambia is our neighbor, and a geographical reality with a long history from the federal days, all the way to the contributions that we were together during the liberation struggle," Muswere said. "And at the same time that we are Siamese twins, I might be able to be aware of some of the questions that he (Haimbe) refers to. But we are a friend to all and an enemy to none.

Dr. Alexander Rusero  an international relations professor at Africa University in Zimbabwe  said Zambia is simply retaliating and expressing displeasure to President Mnangagwas comments.

But there is absolutely nothing wrong diplomatically with regards to what President Mnangagwa did," he said. "Zimbabwe has every reason to worry, against the realities of a Zambia that is being militarized. And every neighbor should be worried when such developments happen. And remember, Zimbabwe and United States of Americas relations, they are somehow still very frosty. So, whenever there are developments next door, Zimbabwe has to be worried. But with regards to the utterances President Mnangagwa made, its the public leak which maybe erroneous. But not the utterances themselves because it was a head of state expressing security concerns with regarding a neighbor being militarized by Zimbabwes adversary so to speak.

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has denied that his country is being militarized by the U.S. He says Zambias army has exchange programs with a number of countries including the U.S., and that that should not be mistaken for the U. S. setting up a base in Zambia.
By Philimon Bulawayo

MVUMA, Zimbabwe (Reuters) - China's nickel giant Tsingshan Holding Group has started production at its $1 billion steel plant in central Zimbabwe, a company official said on Thursday.

Tsingshan's Dinson Iron and Steel Company will produce 600,000 metric tons of carbon steel annually during the first phase of its operations, project director Wilfred Motsi told reporters during a tour of the plant.

"We have started to produce pig iron, which is a raw material used for the production of steel. By July, that's when we will start to produce the actual carbon steel," Motsi said.

He did not say how long the first phase would last.

Tsingshan, one of the world's leading nickel producers, has made significant investments in Zimbabwe in recent years. Apart from the steel plant, Tsingshan also has ferrochrome, coking coal and lithium mining businesses in the southern African country.

The company has also built a 50 megawatt thermal power plant at Dinson. The steel plant will generate additional power through gas produced by its furnace, to meet 20% of its electricity needs.

The company also plans to build a solar power plant to reduce the impact of Zimbabwe's electricity shortages on its operations.

(Reporting by Philimon Bulawayo, writing by Nelson Banya; editing by Barbara Lewis)
U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi is marking World Refugee Day in Sudan and South Sudan, where he has been traveling this week, highlighting the situation of millions of people displaced by war. VOA United Nations correspondent Margaret Besheer spoke to him from New York.
 The G7, a sort of executive bureau of the collective West, met from 13 to 15 June in Italy. It was expected to announce strong measures in favor of Ukraine and against Russia. But all its heads of state and government are in serious electoral difficulty, with the exception of Italys Giorgia Meloni. Since the G7 is not what it used to be, its decisions have been limited to a $50 billion loan to Kiev, with no indication of who will advance it

Germany, France and Italy are counting on the United States, especially since Hungary takes over the presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 July, and Budapest is opposed to this war. The EU expects to be paralyzed for the next six months. Ukraine therefore had only a few days to sign an agreement with the EU. Without waiting, Charles Fries, a senior French official at the EUs High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, drafted an agreement between Brussels and Kiev.

In its final declaration, the G7 stated: "We reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine, for as long as it takes. Together with our international partners, we are determined to continue to provide military, budgetary, humanitarian and financial resources to Ukraine and its people".

 As soon as the G7 was over, its members rushed to Switzerland for a summit on peace in Ukraine, to which Russia was not invited. But Vladimir Putin had made known Moscows peace proposal: recognition of the membership referendums of Crimea, Donbass and Novorossiya (without the Odessa oblast) and renouncing NATO membership in exchange for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

Ukraine and the United States had invited 160 states out of the 192 at the UN. Only 91 had agreed to participate. But only 75 agreed to sign the insipid final declaration.

Switzerland, which hosted the summit, has announced that a second meeting will be convened, but not in the West. It will be based on the Sino-Brazilian proposal and will include Russia.

The G7 members may rail against Russia and China, but the influence of Washington and London on the rest of the world has melted away like snow in the sun.

 It was in this ruined setting that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dissolved the war cabinet after the resignation of General Benny Gantz from the emergency government and while US special envoy Amos Hochstein was in Tel Aviv.

The IDF immediately announced that it was taking a tactical break every day between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.; a pause that can be used to deliver and distribute humanitarian aid.

Upon learning of the decision, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it "unacceptable." According to the Washington Post, the Pentagon is preparing to deliver 1,800 2000 pounds bombs and 1,700 500 pounds bombs.

Israels chief of staff General Herzi Halevi who has just presented his government with a plan to end the conflict in Gaza, took part in a secret meeting in Bahrain with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. These states are all officially, with the exception of Saudi Arabia, engaged in a process of normalization with Israel. Tel Aviv has a duty to inform its military allies, hence this meeting.

General Herzi Halevi informed his colleagues of a plan to attack Lebanon on 22 June, against the backdrop of unconfirmed revelations about the development of Irans nuclear military program.

That was all it took for reports of the secret meeting to spread throughout the Middle Eastern press.

Amos Hochstein rushed to Beirut to avoid the disaster. He is the U.S. Coordinator for International Energy Affairs. The Israeli-Lebanese question is therefore in principle not within his remit. But in addition to his U.S. citizenship, Hochstein was born in Israel, acquired Israeli citizenship and did his military service there, a profile as "neutral" as that of a summit on peace in Ukraine without Russia. He asked all his interlocutors to ask secretary general of Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah to pressure leader of Hamas in Gaza Yahya Sinwar to accept the Israeli peace plan. A vain approach.

During all these events, Hezbollah showed off some of its new weapons which are shifting the balance of power in the region.

 Two weeks ago, it released a https://arabic.cnn.com/middle-east/... filmed by one of its drones of the destruction of an element of the Iron Dome by a guided missile.

 Last week, it forced an Israeli plane that had entered Lebanese airspace to turn back. It now also has surface-to-air anti-aircraft missiles (cf. 1503).

 Finally, while Amos Hochstein was talking with Lebanese officials, it broadcast 9 minutes of videos, filmed by a squadron of drones, of the main Israeli military naval base and the port of Haifa.

In addition, it filmed the Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd factory known as RAFAEL, a Hebrew acronym for "Armaments Development Authority," which manufactures Iron Dome components and all kinds of anti-aircraft missiles.

In other words, if the IDF attacks Lebanon, Hezbollah will destroy the Iron Dome, i.e., Israeli anti-aircraft protection. Itll be able to rain down large numbers of rockets and missiles on his enemy. Hamas will also be able to resume firing rockets which, this time, will no longer be intercepted and will reach their targets. Ansar Allah has confirmed that it will simultaneously launch ballistic missiles at Israel, and Iraqi Shiite militias have also confirmed that they will join the war.

On June 18, commander of the IDFs Northern Military Region General Oded Basiuk approved and endorsed "operational plans for an offensive in Lebanon."

In a solemn speech on June 19, Hassan Nasrallah warned Israel and Cyprus. "Expect us by land, sea, and air (...) What awaits Israel in the Mediterranean will be on a massive scale," he said. Moreover: "The opening of Cypriot airports and bases to the Israeli enemy to target Lebanon would mean that the Cypriot government is a party to the war." However, Cyprus is a member of the European Union and the United Kingdom has two military bases there, whose planes and boats spy on Gaza.

Above all, he hinted at a possible transfer of sophisticated Russian weapons to his army: "We have only fought with part of our weapons so far, and we have acquired new weapons that we will not reveal yet; This will become obvious on the battlefield."

If Israel attacks Iran, Tehran will use its hypersonic missiles against Tel Aviv. It showed on April 14 that no one, not even Western armies, had the capacity to intercept them.

The announcement of the Israeli attack on Lebanon is probably only a way for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to put pressure on Washington. Israel is unlikely to commit suicide, even though Netanyahu is the son of Benzion Netanyahu, the private secretary of fascist Vladimir Jabotinsky. He probably hopes that the Biden administration will momentarily save Israel and accept that it resumes its ethnic cleansing of Palestine.

Whatever the next step, the West has already lost its aura and power over the rest of the world.

After five centuries of Western domination, the world is changing eras.
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Contents of N92

EDITORIAL

 1523 Western domination of the rest of the world is now over

AMERICAS

 1524 Canada condemns Russian interference in Moldova

 1525 The U.S. organized a disinformation campaign about Chinese vaccines

 1526 Washington signs security agreement with Kiev

 1527 According to Microsoft, Russian and Chinese secret services launch joint hacking campaigns

 1528 Congress investigates NewsGuard

 1529 U.S. industrialists support the Israeli war

 1530 The Anglo-Saxon secret services have been present in Gaza since the beginning of Operation Iron Sword

EUROPE

 1531 British political parties publish their programs

 1532 The Paris Commercial Court forces Eurosatory 2024 to host Israeli firms

 1533 Dick Schoof becomes the new Prime Minister of the Netherlands

 1534 Norway donates 8.7 million to UNRWA

 1536 Washington labels the Nordic Resistance Movement as a "terrorist organization"

 1537 Andrzej Duda calls for the decolonization of Russia, "the prison of the peoples"

 1538 EU member states want to restrict travel by Russian diplomats

 1539 Four EU members use Russian gas

 1540 Hungary takes over the six-month presidency of the European Council

 1541 A group of experts from the European Union drafts a plan for the generalized surveillance of "citizens"

 1542 Opposition to the European Commissions investigation into Chinas subsidies to its electric car manufacturers

 1543 Serbia relaunches the lithium mining project

 1544 Armenia withdraws from the CSTO

 1545 A Georgian party wants to re-establish diplomatic relations with Moscow

 1546 Military training of Ukrainian pupils and students

 1547 Gay demonstration in Kiev

 1548 NATOs Nazi networks

 1549 Vladimir Putin presents a peace plan with Ukraine

 1550 Reform of the Russian Ministry of Defense

AFRICA

 1551 Israel cuts off gas supplies to Egypt

 1552 At the G7, Tunisia denounces Israels crimes

 1553 No news of Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo

ASIA

 1554 Gali Baharav Miara questions Itamar Ben-Gvirs interventionism in police operations

 1555 A week of Israeli resistance to Benjamin Netanyahu

 1556 Yair Lapid condemns Haredim exemption from military service

 1557 1557 Yair Netanyahu denounces plans for opposition commission of inquiry into October 7 attack

 1558 A clarification on the Israeli Intelligence report announcing October 7

 1559 Palestinian opinion according to the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey research

 1560 The United Nations assesses the dangerousness of the US landing stage

 1561 Yoav Gallant opposes the French peace process with Lebanon

 1562 Lifting of one of the international arrest warrants against Riad Salame

 1563 Lebanon accepts the extradition of Abdel Karim Touil and reiterates its request for the release of Georges Ibrahim Abdallah

 1564 IDF uses trebuchets against southern Lebanon

 1565 The Muslim Brotherhood will participate in the Jordanian legislative elections

 1566 Controversy over the interpretation of the JCPOA

 1567 Strengthening of Russian-North Korean relations

 1568 Ukrainian-Japanese Cooperation Agreement

 1569 Japan considers sanctions against countries trading with Russia

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

 1570 According to SIPRI, China is developing its nuclear arsenal much faster than its rivals

INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

 1571 93 states support the ICC against Israel

 1572 WHO warns of the plight of malnourished children in Gaza

 1573 Volker Turk denounces the deterioration of human rights in Gaza

 1574 Ukraine Peace Summits Fiasco

 1575 The protection of democracy, according to the G7

 1576 NATO uses Chinese rejection of unilateral Atlantic coercive measures as a pretext
For over a decade now, terrorist activity and violence have been expanding in West Africa and the Sahel region, with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, the most seriously affected. According to the Institute for Economics and Peace, a global think-tank based in Australia, Burkina Faso is currently ranked first on the Global Terrorism Index. Indeed, it is the regional epicenter of terrorist activity, as insurgents hold more than half of Burkina Fasos territory and from there launch attacks against its southern neighbors Benin, Cote dIvoire, and Togo.

The United States remains gravely concerned about the increase of terrorism in West Africa and the Sahel, as well as democratic backsliding, said U.S. Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs at the UN, Robert Wood. We strongly support [The United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel] and its efforts to promote inclusive democratic processes in the region, which will also strengthen counterterrorism efforts.

The Sahel is the global epicenter of terrorism deaths, and this threat cannot be addressed without partnerships. These partnerships need to include civil society, in order to sustainably address the conditions conducive to terrorism and violent extremism, he said.

On a positive note, The [Economic Community of West African States and the African Union] have promoted the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in advancing peace and security in all areas and at all levels, said Ambassador Wood.

This is not simply about having women in the room. This is ensuring that women have a prominent seat at the table, and that their voices are heard. It has been shown that an effective way to incorporate such voices is through partnerships with local leaders.

On the other hand, The United States remains deeply concerned by the Wagner Groups human rights abuses and the threat its disinformation poses to civilians, said Ambassador Wood.

Wagners operations exacerbate popular grievances, fueling terrorist recruitment. The United States champions open and transparent information ecosystems, which build resiliency to disinformation and propaganda, supported under the U.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability.

The United States has contributed funding to several [United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism] programs including the CT Travel, Border Security, and Victims of Terrorism Programs, said Ambassador Wood. The United States is fully committed to working with members of the Security Council to reinvigorate collective efforts with our African partners.
Photo: Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon via YouTube

First things first: Last weekend, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Conan OBrien, and some other U.S. comedians went on a comedy field trip to the Vatican. Unfortunately, it didnt go down like that one State sketch. People were respectful and junk, and no one said that Italian F-slur. Fallon did share a bit he stopped himself from doing in front of Papa on The Tonight Show. I appreciate it, even if Francis would not have.

And second things second: Jimmy Kimmel released the list of his summer guest hosts. I love that Kimmel has work-life balance and lets other people try the late-night game every summer. This years class of honorary Jameses includes Martin Short, Anthony Anderson, Kathryn Hahn, Kumail Nanjiani, Lamorne Morris, Jeff Goldblum, RuPaul, Ryan Reynolds, and Hugh Jackman. Presumably, Reynolds and Jackman will host together ahead of their big movie? But thats in the days of future past. Were here to talk about the days of future present  and what was funny this week on late-night TV.

5. One Helluva Closer on The Daily Show

Most of this Indecision 2024 segment on The Daily Show was a sampling of all the alt-right weirdos running for office down-ballot across this mid nation of ours. Upsetting? Sure. But groundbreaking satire? No. These people are insane, have been insane, and will continue to be insane  especially if it gives them basic-cable airtime. But special correspondent Josh Johnsons closer in this episode nailed the issue  these new politicians are weird, but the old ones were awful too: The crazy politicians will be ranting about space lasers, and the serious politicians will be on the Epstein list. Rock the vote!

4. Fun With Algorithms on After Midnight

The siloing of the internet into extra-niche subgenres has been bad for politics, huge for misogyny, and fascinating from a sociological standpoint. My FYP looks nothing like your FYP, unless your FYP is also 80 percent Reddit AITA posts and Chinese head-spa ASMR. After Midnight is, in theory, about shit that goes viral, but nothing goes viral for everyone anymore. Thankfully, the writers have turned this bug into a feature with the Share and Tell game, where guests are asked to bring the most upsetting thing theyve come across on the internet. Each one is unique  like a snowflake!

3. Dakota Johnsons Wardrobe Malfunction on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Surprise, surprise: Dakota Johnson was chaotic on a late-night show. This time, it was her dress falling apart on Jimmy Kimmel Live! But things were already weird before that. First, apparently she and Kimmel are neighbors, and hes been warning her about trees she needs to have cut down. Jokes on Kimmel, because the dang tree fell on Dakotas house, not his. Second, she got to play a round of Kimmels game where you guess whos high. She played it weird, natch. To determine who is high, guests can ask any question. The Q Johnson chose? Who would win in a fight: Dakota Johnson or Dakota Fanning? Then she said the guy answered wrong. I love her.

2. Scollinss Heel Turn on Late Night

Its been a huge week for Late Night bad-boy Mike Scollins. Luke Wilson knows who he is, which is huge  and compared him to Gaddafi, which is  troubling. But then, during Tuesdays Surprise Inspection segment, one of his jokes made a woman shriek. I wont spoil it for you, but maybe Wilson was right.

1. Chappell Roan Is the Black Swan on The Tonight Show

And the white swan! She was both swans, guys. Roan got to spend some desk time with Fallon, and it was worth it. When Fallon said hed Googled her, Roan was quick with the line Did you not know who I was before? She then threatened to Google Fallon right back. Great stuff. Roan was charming and witty, and she click-clacked her nails in applause. She shouted out Sasha Colby. She demanded pop music be fun, and damn it, she is right! Its everything we want from TV in Pride month.
Every day you decide to log on to social media is another day you decide to return to the front lines of online battle, also known as discourse. Should childless adults watch Bluey? Can people be normal about Sydney Sweeney? Who is Mr. Beast? Pick a side or log off. Of all the commentators logging hours and upsetting people, no one does it with as much style and humor as the person behind the Socialist Sopranos Memes account, @gabagoolmarx.

John, who prefers not to include his last name, is a New Jersey native and self-identified Italian Guy, which he insists is not a bit. Hes been wading into Facebook and Twitter fights as Socialist Sopranos Memes for more than five years, armed with an encyclopedic knowledge of HBOs The Sopranos, left-wing views, a righteous frustration with political and social discourse, and the heart of a poster. He uses the most popular Sopranos memes  Tony realizing he hates A.J., Christopher explaining trending topics, Carmela throwing orange juice at Tony  to comment on our daily cultural oddities, political ineptitude, and governments lack of decency.

What makes an SSM post so satisfying is its blend of gallows humor and a distinct voice aimed at the perfect target. Every time Vice-President Kamala Harris puts her foot in her mouth or the right wing clutches their pearls is an opportunity for a wisecrack that hits as hard as an elbow to the face. Despite (or because of) how niche the overlap of The Sopranos, leftist politics, and shitposting is, SSM has gained nearly 100,000 followers and wandered into too many online fights to count, including one with media reporter Taylor Lorenz breathlessly covered by the New York Post. With The Sopranos back in the cultural conversation and a presidential election looming, @gabagoolmarx remains one of the most unique voices on the internet.

Whenever I do a meme about Israel I inevitably get comments about how Tony Soprano would 100% be a zionist. I always think this is silly. About as silly as imaging what Tony would be like if he was a socialist, perhaps even more so.



Anyway, totally unrelated, heres Tony pic.twitter.com/O48ndum8TK  socialist sopranos memes (@gabagoolmarx) March 8, 2024

Could The Sopranos get made today?

I guess it could. I just dont think networks are really putting out anything thats at that level of quality. So in that sense, it couldnt. Not because societys too woke or whatever  I dont buy that  but because networks arent really committed to delivering a level of quality that existed on television 20-some-odd years ago.

Is Tony Soprano alive?

Thats always been my opinion. I get a lot of shit about this. From people online, but from all my friends, too. They all think Im crazy. I think he was not shot and killed in that diner. I dont think thats the point of that final scene.

What is the point of that final scene?

Putting you into [Tony Sopranos] frame of mind. Thats all we really need. What do we get out of seeing him go on trial and go to jail? What do we get out of seeing him get shot in the head? We dont need that. I acknowledge the plausibility that he could be dead, but thats just not really the point of that.

Tell me about the origins of Socialist Sopranos Memes.

I started on Facebook. It was late in 2018. I was doing a Sopranos rewatch and I was making some memes that had nothing to do with The Sopranos. So Im rewatching the show and I said to one of my buddies, What if I kind of mix these two things together? That sounds crazy, right? Thats where it started.

Have you always had socialist views?

Back when I was a teenager, I was into political punk  Dead Kennedys, Choking Victim, Crass, stuff like that. Then I went to college. I probably shifted to the right a little bit. I was like, Maybe Im more of a libertarian? I had one of those silly little journeys. Then the whole Bernie thing happened in 2016. Like a lot of people, Bernie brought me back in  and then there were the disappointments with all that. After Bernie 2016, I joined a small socialist organization, and Im still a member today.

Whats more annoying: when people dont get a joke because they dont understand socialism or when someone gets upset because they clearly dont know The Sopranos that well?

Its definitely the people who dont understand The Sopranos. I put something out mocking the whole, Oh, they can never make this today in todays woke society. Im clearly making fun of the people who earnestly say that, and some guy says, Thats why we need Trump, and we need to make America great again. The whole premise of the show is the good old days werent actually all that good. The whole idea is you cant make it great again because it wasnt great to begin with.

I can understand why someone might not understand a social political economic philosophy, but if youre going to claim to be a huge fan of The Sopranos, have some kind of idea that it goes a little bit beyond the gangsters in New Jersey with guns. Its obviously deeper than that.

Its not unusual for you to upset people online. I find it very funny to see people argue with a screenshot of Michael Imperioli.

Maybe its good for them to have a faceless meme account to get mad at. There was a time in my life where I was the guy at the dinner table that would cause political arguments. Im an Italian guy from New Jersey with left-wing views, and not a lot of the people around me have those. How I view it now is, amongst my family and my friends, Im not that guy anymore, because I put my views out there for me. Since Im not going to argue with my family and my friends, Ill do it with strangers. I just throw it out there, and if strangers want to get upset about it, thats fine. Maybe its good for them too to not have a real person to get mad at.

If that outlet takes the form of a beloved HBO show, that helps make it less of a contentious form of expression.

I work late hours, odd hours, long hours. I need some kind of outlet. I could only rant so much to my wife about politics. Shell listen, and a lot of times she agrees, but its good to just let it out there. I didnt know it was going to even become that when I started with this. It was just a silly thing I was doing, showing my friends. At some point, it just became my release.

Has someone had criticism that you found to be valid or made you think deeper?

No, not really. Its more about whatevers going on in the world is probably what would change me in any way. I know its been going on for decades, but the last few months with Israel-Palestine, for example, seeing things  there was a time I didnt make memes about stuff like that.

Circling back to my whole thing about how I use the account to say the things that I am kind of done arguing with my family and friends about, that was a big one for years. Israel and Palestine was something very contentious with a bunch of people in my life.

Its funny that you have people yelling at you, Why do you hate Taylor Lorenz? Is that your biggest online fight?

Taylor Lorenz was probably the big one. That all stemmed from when I saw her saying something about how the striking Starbucks workers were not wearing masks on their picket line. Some of them were not wearing masks on the picket line outdoors on their picket line in early 2023. Theyre just baristas and whatnot, trying to get a better wage. Im a union worker for almost 11 years now. So, no, Im not going to tolerate that. Then I saw she gave crap to someone about going to a restaurant or something, meeting with friends and stuff, so I made a meme about her just like, You know what? Youre a big public figure and youre going around saying all this stuff. You can and should be able to handle criticism. I get criticized, my page gets criticized. I can handle that. She responded by saying I joined the right-wing harassment campaign. Yeah, that was the big one.

Good  socialist sopranos memes (@gabagoolmarx) March 19, 2024

I dont know if you knew this, but this is the most important election of our lifetime.

I hear that one every four years.

How are you feeling going into this election?

I mean, not great. Four years ago, Trump lost and we were sold that Biden was going to be the second coming of FDR. By 2020, I was so cynical, and you could see that by whatever I was posting back then. Four years later, thats just all compounded. I mean, sure, theres a lot of potential to come up with memes on the election. But were kind of rehashing, though, because its the same two guys that ran four years ago and theyre just older. More older Biden jokes. Trumps the harder one to make jokes about.

Why is that?

Im a socialist, so obviously, I dont like a billionaire business magnate. Thats obvious. So every time theres an election, I get the stuff about, You only go after Democrats. Im like, No one ever confuses me for a Republican. I get confused for a Democrat. Every time I make something mocking Democrats or Biden, that just reinforces that idea. I dont even know if Im going to vote. I dont like any of these guys. Dont even throw RFK at me, none of them. I live in New Jersey, what does it even matter here? [Laughs.]
Rome taxis make news headlines again for the wrong reasons.

Most people living or passing through Rome will be familiar with the difficulty in getting a taxi, particularly during the recent surge of tourists visiting the Italian capital.

Earlier this year the newspaper Corriere della Sera reported that in Rome a staggering 1.3 million telephone requests for taxis are unsuccessful every month.

Both the government and the city administration have taken steps to try and address the chronic shortage of taxis in the capital however they are met with resistance from the powerful taxi lobby.

Last August the rightwing coalition led by Giorgia Meloni approved new regulations, under the so-called Asset decree, to allow larger cities to increase the number of taxi licences by 20 per cent to meet rising demand.

Italy's antitrust regulator has repeatedly called for more taxis to be introduced in Rome and Milan, which have 7,692 taxis and 4,885 taxis respectively.

The last time the number of licenses was increased in Rome was in 2005 while in Milan it was 2003, according to Corriere della Sera.

In February the Italian tourism minister Daniela Santanche posted a video on social media of a lengthy queue at the taxi rank outside Termini train station in Rome, ironically describing the scene as "a nice business card for tourists arriving in the capital!!"

La coda per i taxi a Roma Termini: bel biglietto da visita per i turisti che arrivano nella Capitale!! pic.twitter.com/pjpgIaFGfA Daniela Santanche (@DSantanche) February 14, 2024

In March Milan published a tender for 450 new taxi licences while in April Rome's mayor Roberto Gualtieri announced that the city would have "1,000 new permanent taxi licences" before Jubilee Year 2025 when an influx of extra millions of pilgrims and tourists are expected to arrive in the capital.

Italy's taxi drivers held a strike and protest in Rome in May and called off another two-day strike planned in early June after the transport ministry agreed to discuss their opposition to sector deregulation and the granting of new taxi licenses.

The lack of taxis in the capital came to the fore again on Thursday when Rome-based Reuters correspondent Crispian Balmer wrote on X that he had given up after waiting 50 minutes for a taxi.

#Rome: Waited 50 minutes for a taxi. Nothing. No one. I have given up. @Roma doesnt deserve any tourists because it doesnt have the courage to solve this age-old problem. (Btw Romes taxi drivers claimed, on average, to make around 12,700 gross last year - 240 a week ) Crispian Balmer (@crispiandjb) June 20, 2024

"Rome doesnt deserve any tourists because it doesnt have the courage to solve this age-old problem", Balmer wrote, adding that Rome taxi drivers "claimed, on average, to make around 12,700 gross last year - 240 a week", accompanied by a laughing emoji.

The post was shared almost 1,000 times, prompting hundreds of replies, many of which were in agreement with the journalist.

Italian actress Nancy Brilli also complained of being unable to find a taxi in Rome to take her to a reception at the British embassy on Thursday evening, writing on Instragram that she only made it to the event after asking a friend to drive her there.
ANPI calls for CasaPound to be disbanded.

An anti-fascist demonstration is taking place in Rome on Thursday evening in protest over an assault on four students by members of the neo-fascist CasaPound movement.

The rally in Piazza Vittorio will be attended by representatives of the opposition centre-left Partito Democratico (PD) party, the CGIL trade union and Italy's partisan association ANPI which preserves the memory of the resistance movement against fascism.

Organisers of the demonstration say it is being held "in response to the fascist and cowardly attack" on the students who were returning home on Tuesday evening from a protest by opposition parties against the controversial Premierato constitutional reform bill and a new law giving Italian regions greater autonomy.

The students, members of left-wing student groups, were carrying flags and wearing t-shirts with references to the Spin Time Labs occupied space in Rome.

As they walked past a pub frequented by CasaPound on a side-street off Via Merulana, the students were set upon by four far-right militants in a politically motivated attack.

Un gruppo di neofascisti aggredisce alcuni studenti a #Roma colle oppio https://t.co/pYIt98PPMI pic.twitter.com/f32TUUtFej  Tg La7 (@TgLa7) June 20, 2024

One of the students filmed the assault on her phone, with the footage helping police to identify those responsible for the violence.

"In giving the students all our solidarity and support, we express strong concern for the climate that is being created in our country" - the rally's organisers said - "Organisations that refer to fascism and Nazism evidently now feel justified, tolerated and able to act with impunity."

In addition to condemning the attack, the Rome branch of ANPI called for "the eviction of the publicly owned building which for years now has become the fascist hideout of CasaPound and the dissolution of this organisation whose existence constitutes a danger to the safety of people."

Confirming her party's presence at the rally on Thursday, PD leader Elly Schlein said: "How much longer do we have to wait for [Interior] Minister Piantedosi to do his duty and take measures to dissolve the fascist movements? The violence is now daily, the alarm bells are ringing loudly, indifference is complicity."
Greenpeace says extreme heat is result of climate crisis.

Greenpeace activists with thermal cameras recorded surface temperatures above 50 degrees in 'heat islands' in Rome on Thursday amid the city's first heatwave of the summer.

The infrared devices detected the extreme temperatures around the Colosseum, St Peter's and Termini train station, where additional heat is generated by large crowds of tourists.

Greenpeace said the boiling temperatures are a "consequence of the climate crisis", driven by fossil fuel companies, and mean that "thousands of tourists, commuters and residents are subjected to extremely dangerous conditions for their health."

Prosegue allerta ondate di calore: domani, venerdi 21 giugno livello 3 (bollino rosso)



Le ondate di calore hanno effetti sulla salute ed e importante proteggersi. Info utili https://t.co/DZcVnD1LLl



Attiva h24 sala operativa Protezione Civile: 800854854. pic.twitter.com/6X5PFSJLBA  Roma (@Roma) June 20, 2024

The report by Greenpeace comes as Italy's health ministry raises its heat warning for Rome to a maximum red alert on Friday 21 June.

The bollino rosso alert - also in place on Friday for Ancona, Campobasso, Frosinone, Latina, Palermo, Perugia and Rieti - indicates emergency conditions with possible negative effects on not just the elderly, sick or very young, but also on healthy and active people.

Greenpeace's report coincided with a large fire in the southwest Magliana district of Rome, where rubbish burned near an illegal Roma camp, leaving the air heavy with the smell of burnt plastic.
Dining chat: A waiter gave our anniversary bubbly to the table next to us. What should we have done?
By David Young, PA

The future of the United Kingdom has never been in more peril due to the damage caused by post-Brexit trade barriers, the leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) party has warned.

At the launch of the TUV manifesto, Jim Allister heavily criticised his unionist rivals, the DUP, for failing to remove the so-called Irish Sea border that has created checks and restrictions on the movement of goods between Britain and Northern Ireland.

Mr Allister was joined at the event by Reform UK deputy leader Ben Habib and both men were keen to downplay the recent move by Reform leader Nigel Farage to personally endorse two DUP election candidates, despite his party having an official electoral alliance with the TUV in the North.

Reform UK deputy leader Ben Habib (on the bench, right) and TUV leader Jim Allister (on the bench centre) with parliamentary election candidates at the TUV manifesto launch at Dunsilly Hotel in Co Antrim. Photo: David Young/PA

The TUV leader dismissed the furore as a media story that he insisted was not preoccupying voters in his own North Antrim constituency, where he is running on a joint TUV-Reform UK platform, even though Mr Farage has personally backed the DUP candidate in that area, Ian Paisley.

Launching his partys Restore the Union manifesto at a hotel in Co Antrim, Mr Allister accused the DUP of misleading unionist voters in February by dropping its two-year blockade of Stormont devolution and endorsing a British government deal that claimed to have dramatically reduced the Brexit red tape on internal UK trade.

He said the Safeguarding the Union command paper had not changed one word of contentious UK/EU agreements that had created the Irish Sea barriers  namely the Northern Ireland Protocol, and its successor, the Windsor Framework.

Mr Allister branded the February deal the greatest contrivance of lies and deception ever attempted on the unionist people.

It changed not one word of the protocol, yet was brazenly sold as having demolished the Irish Sea border, having neutered EU law, restored our place within the United Kingdom, he said.

The TUV leader claimed the DUP has since flip-flopped and performed a screeching U-turn on its previous endorsement of the command paper.

In this election, trust is rightly the defining issue for many, he said.

Those who in February falsely claimed that the Irish Sea border was gone, that EU law was thwarted, that our place had been restored in the United Kingdom do not deserve your votes.

That is why I am delighted to be able to offer in this election the contrasting and unshakable unionism of TUV/Reform UK.

Its time to build back what has been lost. Its time to build back what has been squandered by those who previously were entrusted to deliver but those who failed miserably and left unionism in a much worse position than they found it.

TUV leader Jim Allister speaking at his partys manifesto launch. Photo: David Young/PA

The DUP stewardship of the union has not just been woeful, it has been damaging, and our union has never been in a more perilous state than it is today.

The challenge of building back is daunting. There is no doubt about that. But with truth on our side and with the help of men of principle, like Ben Habib, we will not falter. Thats our pledge to the people of Northern Ireland.

The TUV contends that the key to removing the NI Protocol/Windsor Framework is the introduction of a mutual recognition system whereby the EU and UK agree to check goods entering the others jurisdiction.

At the launch event, Mr Allister also dismissed the suggestion his party could contribute to a reduction in the overall number of unionist MPs returning to Westminster if the pro-union vote is significantly split and the DUP fails to retain one or more seats as a result.

He said his party was ensuring the pro-union vote could be maximised.

The TUV, which did not run in the 2019 Westminster election, formed an electoral alliance with Reform UK ahead of Julys poll and is standing in 14 constituencies in Northern Ireland.

While it will only be the TUV name on the ballot paper on July 4th, the parties are promoting a joint TUV/Reform UK message on the campaign trail.

However, that arrangement was thrown into doubt when Mr Farage declared his personal endorsement for DUP candidates Mr Paisley in North Antrim and Sammy Wilson in East Antrim.

Despite this, the TUV and Reform UK have insisted their electoral alliance remains in place.

Ben Habib (left) and Jim Allister during the TUV manifesto launch. Photo: David Young/PA

Both Mr Allister and Mr Habib were quizzed about the controversy as they fielded media questions at the Dunsilly Hotel on Friday morning.

It may be a media story about what politician endorses what politician, but the real endorsement is the endorsement of the people, said Mr Allister.

And that is where the sovereignty of the people lies. And they will make that choice.

And they will not be voting for Nigel Farage [in North Antrim], they will be voting either for me or for Ian Paisley, the candidate of a party that told them the Irish Sea border was gone, when it wasnt, and they then think people should trust them, when patently they shouldnt.

Mr Habib was asked whether Mr Farage regretted his decision.

I think regret is not an emotion that Nigel is familiar with, he replied.

Mr Habib went on to insist that his leaders endorsement of the two DUP candidates did not undermine the TUV/Reform UK partnership.

That doesnt in any way diminish or detract from the complete commitment that Reform UK has to the union of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and therefore to the only political party in Northern Ireland with which we could possibly be allied, he added.
Primary school teachers from County Waterford recently joined teaching colleagues from across the region for a Food Dudes Presentation Day held at the Brandon House Hotel, New Ross. The event was organised to celebrate the achievements of schools that have completed their four-year participation in the award-winning Food Dudes Programme.

Pictured are Elaine OGorman, Food Dudes Project Manager, right, with Lorraine Ryan, Ballyduff NS. Photo: Maxwells

The curriculum-linked programme includes a year of intervention, followed by three in-school Food Dudes Weeks, aimed at promoting health eating habits amongst primary schoolchildren.

The healthy eating programme encourages children to eat more fresh produce and is based on repeated tastings of fresh fruit and vegetables, rewards and positive role models.

The Food Dudes Presentation Days provide teachers with an opportunity to network and feel part of a community of change. Ideas about ways in which the Food Dudes programme can be integrated into the curriculum and daily routines are shared, and peer to peer support is encouraged.

Pictured are Elaine OGorman, Food Dudes Project Manager with Will Morgan, St Declan's BNS. Photo: Maxwells

A new and improved Food Dudes programme is currently being rolled out in schools and includes new varieties of fruits and vegetables, additional tasting days, new eco-friendly rewards, as well as new teaching and learning materials which include videos, recipes and a range of bilingual activities.

There are currently over 1,600 primary schools engaged in the four-year Food Dudes programme, creating a movement of life-long change embedding healthy eating within the school and wider community in a way that promotes healthy eating habits amongst children, helps to reduce obesity rates, and improve overall wellbeing.

Pictured are Elaine OGorman, Food Dudes Project Manager, right, with Lorna Lemon, Christ Church NS. Photo: Maxwells

Over the lifetime of Food Dudes, over 3,300 primary schools and more than one million pupils have taken part.

The Food Dudes Healthy Eating Programme is managed by Bord Bia in Ireland and is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with support from the European Union under the School Fruit and Vegetables Scheme.

The programme was first developed by the Food Activity Research Unit, School of Psychology at Bangor University, Wales.
The newly-elected representatives of Waterford City and County Council held a meeting today where Fianna Fail's Jason Murphy was announced as Waterford's newest Mayor.

Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr Murphy was proposed by Cllr Adam Wyse (FF) and seconded by Cllr Lola OSullivan (FG).

Sinn Fein's Cllr Jim Griffin received seven votes of support, while Independent Cllr David Daniels had four votes of support.

With the triumph of Independents at the local elections, Cllr Daniels expected that to reflect in his mayoral interest and he expressed disappointment that he didnt get more support from his fellow independent councillors.

The Deputy Mayor for the upcoming term has also been selected. Cllr Adam Wyse will take up the role.

More updates will follow, with the latest Waterford news to be found here.
Aldi Ireland has announced a new 125 million contract with supplier Dawn Meats. This is a significant contract, worth 25 million annually over the next five years.

Following this contract, Dawn Meats will recruit 15 new staff members and add six new lines to the Aldi range. Under the terms of the contract, Dawn Meats will increase their supply to Aldi by 35%.

Dawn Meats is one of the supermarkets longest-standing suppliers, having supplied the retailer since 2010. The Waterford-based supplier has seen incremental growth every year for the last 10 years supplying the supermarket chain.

The increased investment and new contract has provided Dawn Meats with the confidence to accelerate a 5 million expansion plan for their facility in Waterford.

Since arriving on the Irish market in 1999, Aldi has had a long-standing commitment to supporting Irish family-run suppliers.

Family-owned company, Dawn Meats, has been in operation for over 40 years.

Founded in 1980 in Waterford, it employs over 8,000 employees in 12 countries and has 11 sites across Ireland.

The company supplies major retailers, manufacturers and food service operators across the globe and contributes approximately 2 billion to rural economies in Ireland and the UK.

Welcoming the announcement, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD said: I welcome this announcement by Aldi of their continued commitment to Irish suppliers and their support for producers around the country.

"This 125 million announcement with Dawn Meats is an indication of the scale of Aldis commitment to the Irish beef sector and is an endorsement of the quality of beef produced by Irish farmers every day.

Niall Browne, Dawn Meats CEO, added: "We are delighted to continue our partnership with Aldi for this significant contract.

"For over 10 years now, we have been proud to be involved with Aldi Irelands success story providing an increasing range of consistent quality and sustainably sourced meat products.

"We look forward to continue developing, growing and innovating with ALDI, building on our long-standing successful relationship."
By Cate McCurry and Grainne Ni Aodha, PA

Taoiseach Simon Harris has praised a woman for coming forward and speaking out after she was assaulted by a serving soldier.

Cathal Crotty (22), with an address at Parkroe Heights, Ardnacrusha, Co Clare, received a suspended sentence for assaulting Natasha OBrien in Limerick in 2022.

Crotty beat Ms O'Brien unconscious in a random street attack, and boasted about it afterwards on social media. Crotty also wrongly told gardai who arrested him that Ms O'Brien had instigated the attack.

Asked about the case on Friday, Mr Harris said he wanted to create a very different society for young women.

I want to thank Natasha OBrien and praise her for coming forward, for standing up, for speaking out, Mr Harris said, speaking from the Isle of Man.

I think that is really important. I would encourage any victim or survivor of violence, of gender-based violence to always come forward.

Asked about the suspended sentence Crotty received, Mr Harris said: I find myself precluded from being allowed to comment on the sentence of a court despite perhaps having quite a lot that I would have liked being able to say, other than let me say this  the legal process may not be concluded because it is absolutely always open to the DPP to appeal a sentence and also to appeal the leniency of a sentence.

I need to be particularly careful in that context. But we are living in a country where there is still an epidemic of gender-based violence.

We need to call that and every single person in Irish society, and every single person, no matter what role youre in, has a role to play in relation to this.

I know as a Government, we remain absolutely determined to create a society where there is a zero-tolerance approach in relation to this.

We have a zero-tolerance approach in Ireland to sexual violence, to gender-based violence.

Its really important that every part of society plays its full role in getting us to that zero-tolerance place that we need to be, which we clearly arent there yet, lets be absolutely categoric about that.

There is still far too much violence against women in our country. I, as a Taoiseach, as a parent, as a father of a daughter, want to create a very different society for young women.

The Defence Forces said it had begun internal proceedings in relation to Crotty, which Mr Harris welcomed.

We should always expect people in our Defence Forces to be people of the highest standards, highest integrity and respect for the law, he said.

Earlier, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said that Ireland still had a long way to go in tackling violence against women.

Ms McEntee described the incident as a vicious and unprovoked attack and commended Ms OBrien for her bravery in coming forward.

Speaking in general, she said that she expected the sexual offences legislation she had been working on to be enacted before the Dail summer recess in three weeks time.

Helen McEntee also commended Natasha OBrien for her bravery in coming forward. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA

In the next few weeks, therell be new laws implemented to make sure that if somebody gives character references in cases, that they are willing to come forward and stand over those and to be cross-examined  in cases when it comes to domestic violence, sexual violence, violence against women, she told RTE radio.

This is not in the middle of a trial where obviously you have somebody defending themselves, but where somebody has been found guilty and there is a sentencing, if somebody is willing to stand up knowing that someone has been found guilty, they should be in a position that they can be cross-examined, and that they should be able to stand over what theyre saying  and I say that broadly.

She added: My job is to make sure that there was a maximum sentence there and over the last number of years, what I have seen consistently, where you have assaults that have taken place, sentences have not seemed strong enough.

Thats why Ive doubled the sentence from five years to 10 years, giving greater discretion to the judges who are hearing the cases.

When asked about the safety of women in Ireland in general, Ms McEntee said: I think we have a long way to go.

I think were in a much better space than we were.

Womens Aid last year saw more women than ever before seeking their help and I think we have to look at the positives of that.

I dont think that suddenly the number of women that are being assaulted and violently assaulted in their homes, or elsewhere, has increased that much in a year.

I think its that more women are coming forward, because were talking about it, because we now have a whole-of-government strategy that says everybody has a responsibility to deal with this issue, because were talking about changing behaviours more broadly, because were talking about engaging with young people at the earliest stage to say that this type of behaviour and action is not to be tolerated.

Its not that long ago that people said, well, thats a domestic thats in somebodys home, we dont have anything to do with that.

I think were much better than we were and were in a much better place than we were only a few years ago. But we have a long way to go.

This is an epidemic. I really believe that.

I think if what we saw what happened to Natasha was happening at the same rate as we know its happening in peoples homes, there wouldnt be a day that we werent talking about it. But because its behind closed doors, because its in peoples homes, theres still a reluctance to talk about it in the way that we should.

But I think we need to keep at it, she said.
When Peter Dutton went full throttle on the Coalitions plans to actually take the nuclear option on nuclear energy, it conjured up the satirical ABC comedy Utopia, a show based on a fictional government body, the Nation Building Authority, charged with building infrastructure projects.

The TV series showcases the lunacy of politically or electorally driven policy on building massive uncosted, economically irrational projects, which the boffins at the NBA are pressured to support as the press release has already been written and no number of objections can derail the governments objective.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has challenged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on nuclear energy. Credit: Rhett Wyman, Alex Ellinghausen, Getty Images

Duttons announcement of a plan to build seven nuclear power plants has quickly been branded crazy brave by the Canberra press gallery, reflecting how it might play out with voters at the next election.

Its a go-big-or-go-home piece of policy by the Coalition that ignores the countrys natural advantage: an abundance of sun, wind and land, and our drawback, which is a lack of technical expertise in building nuclear power stations.
One of Sevens most senior and prominent journalists, Robert Ovadia, has confirmed he has been sacked by the network.

Ovadia was reported to be on leave earlier this month while the company conducted an investigation into alleged inappropriate behaviour.

Senior Seven Network journalist Robert Ovadia.

Ovadia confirmed he had been sacked in a statement provided to this masthead on Friday morning.

Yes, Ive been sacked, and there will be more to say about that in the appropriate forum at the appropriate time, Ovadia said.
Since being found guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct and effectively banned from operating in Australia, colourful neurosurgeon Charlie Teo has been finding ways to keep busy.

From low-grade culture war troll to News Corp darling, sought-after international medical expert and wannabe celebrity magnet, Teo, who faced strict supervision conditions on his practising certificate over two disastrous operations, seems to be getting by OK without his scalpel.

Charlie Teo pictured with Traci Griffiths last year. Credit: Dean Sewell

Its also meant Teo is able to devote some time to his latest passion project  vegan activism. Over the weekend, the doctor was spotted among the ranks of activists who regularly show up at Sydneys Pitt Street Mall to confront shoppers with graphic images of the meat industrys barbarity. He also showed up at an Animal Justice Party protest calling for a ban on greyhound racing.

Now, CBD has no issue with veganism  but we did think it odd to see Teo, whos recently expressed admiration for carnivorous culture warriors like Joe Rogan and Jordan Peterson (he of the all-beef diet), become such an outspoken advocate for plant-based living.
WA Police have revealed a major joint investigation has led to them allegedly unearthing a $10 million illegal tobacco business with links to organised crime groups in the Middle East.

On Friday they released details of an investigation that involved Victoria Police, Australian Border Force and WAs Department of Health after they received information that a 29-year-old Victorian man moved to WA to establish an illicit tobacco network two years ago.

There have been a series of raids. Credit: Police Media

They say the mans criminal activity escalated in recent months, leading them to execute 50 search warrants at private residences, storage units, retail outlets including tobacco and convenience stores and gift shops in Regional WA and the Perth metropolitan area.

During three days of raids they say they found 5.1 million illicit cigarettes, $1.7 million in cash, 1.4 tonnes of loose illicit tobacco, 41,000 vapes and cars worth over $500,000 in total.
Western Australias opposition leader has denied bullying a fellow Nationals MP, who resigned from the party during a tearful address to parliament.

Member for the states southwest, Louise Kingston, accused Shane Love of relentless bullying and harassment during an address to the states Legislative Council on Thursday afternoon.

WA Nationals MP Louise Kingston. Credit: Facebook

Love says he doesnt know what he allegedly did to Kingston and that he had tried to contact her but received no response.

I think that this is the result of a difficult and bruising pre-selection process, he told ABC News on Friday.
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Tom Tuite

A judge has granted an EU-wide order to force controversial Luxembourg-based landlord Marc Godart to pay more than 13,000 in compensation to two former tenants in Dublin.

In February last year, Dublin District Court directed the businessman to comply with an earlier Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) ruling that Diana Jere and Andre Buchanan were entitled to 13,563 damages, which has not been paid.

The RTB had given its findings in December 2022 over their "unlawful eviction" from a rented property on Emmet Street, Dublin 1.

Mr Godart, who has significant property holdings in Ireland, was allegedly the landlord.

Liam Bell BL for Ms Jere and Mr Buchanan told Judge Marie Quirke at Dublin District Court on Friday that the former tenants were applying for a European Enforcement Order (EEO) against Mr Godart of Rue de Hesperange L-5830, Alzingen, Luxembourg.

It is a method of enforcing foreign judgments within the European Union without the need for intermediate proceedings, and it is applicable only to uncontested claims.

Mr Bell said that Mr Godart did not appear when the uncontested order was granted last year under section 124 of the Residential Tenancies Act. Judge Quirke also heard Godart has not appealed the order.

Mr Godart was not in court on Friday either.

Judge Quirke noted it was an ex parte application, and Mr Godart had already been served the court's order.

The applicants sought the enforcement mechanism based on an affidavit furnished to the judge.

The original order for 13,563 damages is also subject to further instalment proceedings within this jurisdiction in July in the same court.

Darragh Haugh BL, for Mr Godart, said he had not been instructed on the EEO application and asked that it be adjourned and both matters dealt with together.

However, Judge Quirke refused and held that Ms Jere and Mr Buchanan's legal team could proceed with the EEO request, which she granted.

Also listed before Judge Quirke on Friday was the case involving five ex-tenants versus Green Label Short Lets Limited, a property company directed by Mr Godart.

They are seeking an order to comply with an RTB ruling last August, which ordered the company to pay them damages.

Their barrister, Niall Quinn, said the sum totalled around 54,000 for the five individuals who had rented rooms at a property in Fairview, Dublin.

Mr Haugh for the company said that a response to the proceedings had been filed on Thursday and accepted that it was "late in the day".

Green Label Short Lets Ltd had been notified about the action almost three months ago.

Counsel submitted that the amounts sought by the applicants far exceed the RTB's jurisdiction, where awards are capped at 25,000.

It has been adjourned for a hearing on July 19th.

Earlier this week, in a prosecution before Dublin District Court, Green Label Short Lets avoided a criminal conviction over a former commercial building in Dublin that broke fire safety laws after it was repurposed for residential lettings.

The court heard that the Beaver Street property was converted but lacked a range of vital fire safety measures, including an alarm system and viable escape routes. Dublin City Council (DCC) prosecuted the firm, which pleaded guilty to an offence contrary to the Fire Services Act.

The case was struck out after it donated 500 to charity and paid 3,884 toward the council's legal costs.

In February, Mr Godart had another prosecution dropped for "egregious" breaches of planning laws with unauthorised Airbnb lettings in Dublin.

However, two firms he directs, including Green Label Short Lets Ltd, accepted responsibility; they were fined 7,500 and agreed to pay "substantial" legal costs.

DCC also brought those proceedings before Dublin District Court.

That case stemmed from complaints about unauthorised short-term lettings booked through the Airbnb website at three properties in Dublin 1: 11 Capel Street, Block G, The Foundry, Beaver St, and Unit 2A, The Forge, Railway Street.

Those offences were detected following inspections between June 4 and 6 last year, which revealed that some of the bedrooms were windowless and others in former shopfronts.

A council inspector found several tourists from Ireland, mainland Europe, and North America had used them for one to seven days.

By the time that hearing concluded, work had already taken place or was about to start to bring the short-term lettings in line with regulations.
The Minister for Justice has been urged to progress promised hate crime legislation after three gay men were allegedly chased and hunted by six men with knives this week.

The incident was brought to light by Fine Gael Senator Barry Ward, who told the Seanad on Wednesday that gay men were targeted in Dublin's Phoenix Park because of their sexuality.

They were chased down and ... hunted by six men with knives, Mr Ward said. He said the men got away but but God knows what would have happened if they had not.

Mr Ward asked what on earth is going on that this still happens in Ireland in 2024 when every right-thinking member of society recognised the normality of sexual relationships between people of the same gender or same sex?

In a joint statement on Thursday evening, LGBTQ+ community organisations expressed concern about the incident in Phoenix Park and urged Minister for Justice Helen McEntee to progress hate crime laws without delay.

"Two separate attacks were reported to LGBT Ireland and Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre, and their social care teams have reached out and are available to support those directly affected by these traumatic events. We urge the public to respect the privacy of the victims at this time," the statement said.

The organisations said the attacks were "shocking but not surprising".

"This incident underscores the urgent need for systemic change to protect vulnerable communities," the statement added. "The delay in Hate Crime legislation is inexcusable. It is time to reject contrived culture war attacks on the Bill and prioritise the safety and rights of all citizens and progress the legislation without delay."

Taoiseach Simon Harris promised earlier this year he would pass an amended version of proposed hate crime legislation before the next general election.

Politicians have been wrangling over the wording of the Bill, which aims to introduce laws that would see hate become an aggravating factor in certain offences.

Sinn Fein and some Government politicians, including Fine Gael TDs Charlie Flanagan and Michael Ring, have called for the hate speech draft laws to be scrapped entirely.

Sinn Feins TDs voted in favour of the Bill in the Dail last April.

Figures released last month showed that there has been a 12 per cent increase in the number of hate crimes and hate-related incidents reported to gardai.

The force said some 651 hate crimes and hate-related (non-crime) incidents were recorded in 2023, up from 582 in 2022.

These include 548 hate crimes and 103 hate-related incidents, up from 510 and 72 respectively in 2022.
The delegates at the ceremony repatriating remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at the ceremony, Major General Sivon Sayavong, Director of the Oudomxay provincial police department, emphasized the special solidarity between the two Parties and States of Vietnam and Laos, as well as the sacrifice by Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts to international missions.

He affirmed that the noble sacrifices of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts greatly contributed to the Lao struggle for national liberation, said the Vietnam News Agency.

Major General Sivon Sayavong expressed his thanks to the Vietnamese Government and people for their support to Laos during the past struggle as well as the present cause of national defence, construction and development, and believed that the two sides will continue to further foster the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties and States in the coming time.

According to Major General Nguyen Hong Thai, Head of the regions steering committee for the search, collection and identification of fallen soldiers remains (Steering Committee 515), a team of Vietnams Military Region 2 was established in June 1994 and tasked with searching and repatriating remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts in the six northern Lao localities of Oudomxay, Luang Namtha, Bokeo, Luang Prabang, Phongsaly and Xayaboury.

It has collected and brought home remains of 1,836 people, and handed them over to 25 Vietnamese cities and provinces, he said.

A memorial and burial service for the 12 martyrs is going to be held on June 19 at a cemetery of Dien Bien province./.
I will hit a few frayed nerves with this, including my own...

As summer's vibrant hues paint the countryside, an insidious rite afflicts our emerald isle  the antiquated and unforgiving Leaving Certificate examination. While nature matures with fragrant renewal, our tender adolescents wither under the crucible of antiquated academic trials. Observing their furrowed brows and haunted eyes, one cannot help but lament this archaic ritual to which we subject the blossoming youth.

The contrast with our American cousins is stark. Across the Atlantic, the culmination of secondary education is a celebration of emerging adulthood  graduation ceremonies, giddy proms, and the effervescent rites of passage. Assessments are staggered benignly, and the gravitational singularity of a single, sweeping ordeal is avoided. Here, we favour flagellation over festivity, ruthless examination over ceremonial acknowledgement of burgeoning maturity.

Conversing amongst peers of my generational ilk, the mere whisper of 'Leaving Cert' elicits a Pavlovian trigger - the resurgence of a recurring adolescent nightmare. For me, it is the perennial dream of purgatorial limbo outside the austere halls of St Muredach's College, awaiting the mathematical inquisition with escalating dread. I am unprepared, self-doubting, and suspended in existential purgatory.

To my surprise, I am not alone in carrying these nocturnal scars. My companions relate their own individualised night terrors  the paralysing blankness of the exam page, the frantic last-minute revision on the eve of judgement day. We are a fraternity united by residual psychic trauma, indelibly branded by this rite so pivotal yet so traumatic.

With bemused incredulity, we ask all willing to answer, 'Do you, too, suffer the Leaving Cert nightmare?' The responses are a resounding affirmative, a haunting chorus of generational anguish. We are staggered, yet grimly validated  this archaic system has rendered psychological scarring a cultural heirloom, passed down through generations like some Celtic myth.

What psychological sorcery is this that weaves the gossamer threads of the unconscious into this recurring tapestry of dread? Dreams, those inscrutable emanations from the depths of the psyche, have long fascinated and haunted humanity. From biblical soothsayers to modern analysts, the elusive language of the dream world has been probed and deconstructed endlessly.

To the ancient Greeks, dreams were portentous visitations from the gods to be heeded and divined. The Roman poet Ovid spoke of dreams passing through two gates  the horn gate, from whence issued truthful visions, and the ivory gate, birthplace of deceitful fantasies. For millennia, the dream has straddled the realm of the supernatural, the divine whisper amidst the capricious maelstrom of the unconscious mind.

The Leaving Cert monster has terrorised generations of Irish school-leavers - and it is high time we finally killed it off. Illustration: Conor McGuire

Freud's pioneering forays into the symbolic lexicon of dreams unveiled a realm where unconscious desires and primal urges seethed beneath the veneer of waking propriety. The residue of unresolved conflicts and repressed impulses is given arcane expression in this mercurial theatre of allegory and metaphor. To the master of psychoanalysis, our repetitious night visions were the keys to unlocking the labyrinthine complexities of the human psyche.

And what archetype could more aptly epitomise our collective unconscious than this brutal rite of passage we have elevated to a sacrament? The Leaving Certificate ordeal, looming with purgatorial dread before the examinee, is the materialisation of our culture's archetypal crucible - a trial of fire to be endured lest one be rendered a scorned and diminished spirit.

In our cloistered reverence for tradition, have we institutionalised a form of sanctioned, mass psychological abuse? As our youth dream of failure with cold sweats upon their brow, we must confront the wisdom of heaping such existential dread upon their nascent wings. There is wisdom in the American model of ushering the young into adulthood as a ceremonial juncture, not the harrowing gauntlet we have enshrined.

As meandering streams cut deep into the limestone, grooved by persistent erosion, these nocturnal torments speak to the deep cultural etchings of a system long overdue for re-evaluation. Our dreams, it seems, are haunted by the spectre of tradition - but at what cost to the psychological well-being of our progeny? As we linger in this dreamscape of adolescent angst, one cannot but wonder if it is finally time to awaken from this antique, vicious nightmare.

We have revered this retentive regurgitation for too long as a crucible of character, mistaking brutal recall for laudable proof of intelligence. Our children deserve rites of passage more akin to celebration than psychological battery. The American model can be our example, crafting new traditions that honour the transition to adulthood as a joyous dawning, not ritualised torment.

The adolescent psyche is a brooding vortex of insecurity and unchallenged potential. What cruelty have we wrought in harrowing their psyches with this punishing spectre year after year? It is time to let this nightmare dissipate within the academic mist and embrace the renaissance of a more enlightened paradigm for shepherding our youth across the threshold to actualised individuality. Their flowering into independence should be a celebration of infinite possibilities and hope, unsullied by the vestigial torments of pressurised examination we too readily inherited. The adolescents are our future - is this the dream we wish for them?

To continue shackling the winged psyche in such a traumatic tradition is akin to caging their spirits with the cold bars of educational antiquity. We stunt and repress the very qualities  the vibrant innocence, the soaring idealism, the fearless imagining  that adolescence should embolden and elevate. These fleeting years should be a fugue of awakening and transcendence, not the haunted purgatory our young minds so palpably dread.

Across Ireland, the baleful echoes of generations languish  our nocturnal torments awakening in and out of season, the adult concerns mingling with the residues of our recurring adolescent night terrors. It's time we awake from the miasma of our Leaving Cert dreamscape, rubbing the spectral dust from our eyes as the educators hopefully embrace a more enlightened dispensation.

It's time to cast off the archaic shackles and raise a new rite of passage to affirm our youth's boundless aspirations. Examinations can be rites of expression, not suppression  forums to celebrate the eclectic blossoming of each spirited individual. No more conforming them to the standardised, dreary, punishing and convenient Leaving Certificate rubric, but allowing their brilliance to blaze forth, unfettered by arbitrary templates of 'success' or 'failure'.

We can shatter the shackles of this nightmare, banishing the scandal of ritualised adolescent anguish that has trapped generations past. Our collective focus must pivot - no longer shaping the vibrant aspirations of our youth as harbingers of trepidation and dread but as hopeful paths toward a bright future.

It is time to unshackle their aspirations and sculpt a path forward untainted by the nightmares inherent in our stagnant educational paradigms. Our educational system teeters between enlightenment and the perpetuation of ritualised psychic trauma  it's time we fully embrace the former and encourage our youth to trailblaze unhindered by newly discovered anxiety and ritualised self-doubt.
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

Mainly clear and diminishing winds; areas of frost, and a view of the Northern Lights may be visible..

Tonight

Mainly clear and diminishing winds; areas of frost, and a view of the Northern Lights may be visible.
Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze stated that it is a double standard to criticize Georgia for deepening economic relations with China, given that "China is one of the main trade partners for both the European Union and the United States". He emphasized that such double standards are unacceptable.Kobakhidze expressed respect for the US ambassador and hoped she would positively contribute to Georgian-American relations. He pointed out that fair and just evaluations are essential for healthy relationships and noted that Georgia often faces unfair assessments. He claimed that Georgia's actions serve its national interests and that the country will continue on its current path despite these criticisms, as double standards and injustice are counterproductive to improving relations with partner countries."I think that there is an absolutely unfair attitude on the part of specific partner countries. In fact, everyone knows that China is one of the most important trade partners for the European Union and the United States of America. When we hear Georgia's criticism for deepening economic relations with China, it is a double standard, and for us such a double standard is absolutely unacceptable. An important and necessary condition for healthy relationships is justice, fair evaluations. Unfortunately, we often hear unfair assessments regarding the steps taken by our state. These steps serve the national interests of our country, and therefore, naturally, we will continue to act in the relevant direction in the future. Double standards and injustice are counterproductive for the improvement of relations between us and our partner countries," said Kobakhidze.On June 20, the parliament commenced the committee review of the "LGBT Propaganda" law at the Legal Issues Committee, along with a joint session involving four other committees: Human Rights Protection and Civil Integration, Education, Science and Youth Affairs, Sectoral Economy and Economic Policy, and Health Protection and Social Issues.During the joint session, all four committees unanimously agreed to endorse the submission of the legislative package for its first reading in the plenary session. The Legal Issues Committee also supported this decision.The opposition did not participate in the discussion at the joint session. Only Girchi deputy Vakhtang Megrelishvili attended, posed a question to speaker Rati Ionatamishvili, and left the hall after receiving the answer.
Rescuers work in a flood-affected area in Sishui Township of Pingyuan County, Meizhou City, south China's Guangdong Province, June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)

NANNING, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Heavy rainfall has pelted many areas in southern China since June 9, prompting local authorities to beef up flood control and rescue measures to reduce disaster damage.

The emergency management department of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in south China said on Thursday 48 rivers in Guangxi were running above flood alert levels. The region started on Wednesday to implement a Level-II emergency response, which is next to the highest in the four-tier emergency response system, to floods, with flooding having hit 64 counties in 11 cities in Guangxi.

The region's Lijiang River, a signature scenery in the popular tourist destination of Guilin City, saw its worst flooding since 1998 between last Thursday and Wednesday.

On Wednesday, the Liujiang River in Guangxi saw its first flood crest passing through the city of Liuzhou, as the water level exceeded the warning level by 3.78 meters.

The city's urban area suffered severe waterlogging. Urbanites were seen carrying goods out of building basements. A resident surnamed Zhang said he began to remove supplies from the underground floor on Tuesday evening because of his worry about flood water potentially gushing in.

While the flood was passing, the city authorities have opted to mobilize rescue efforts, including involvement of the city's maritime affairs department, the Red Cross and volunteer groups, which have responded to emergency deployment needs. Rescuers used boats in waterlogged areas, searching for trapped people and transferring them in batches.

On Tuesday evening, the city's power supplier owned by the China Southern Power Grid, took the initiative to cut off power supply to residential communities along the riverside for the safety of the people.

"Some residential buildings, shops and underground garages along the river embankment were flooded. However, many electrical appliances were not cut off when residents were evacuated. To ensure the safety of the people, we took the emergency measure to temporarily cut off the power supply," said Luo Xinzhu, a staff member of the Liuzhou branch of the company.

Statistics from the Guangxi regional emergency management department on Thursday showed that floods had affected 431,000 people in Guangxi, while 36,150 hectares of crop planting areas were inundated.

In Huangshan City of east China's Anhui Province, due to intense downpours, some 2,110 residents had been relocated as of 9 a.m. Thursday, according to the local flood control and drought relief headquarters.

Meanwhile, in the flood-ravaged province of Fujian in east China, heavy rainfall had affected 586,500 people in 40 counties in Fujian, where 37,000 hectares of crops were flooded. Seven rivers in the province were in flood.

Local authorities in Fujian have implemented an all-out rescue effort, including evacuating victims, repairing flooded roads, clearing silt and draining waterlogged areas.

In the rain-battered cities of Longyan, Nanping and Sanming in Fujian, local authorities made it safe and possible for more than 1 million students to take the senior high school entrance exam as scheduled on Wednesday.

Following a week of rainfall, challenges frequently emerged in this area, with roads collapsing, trees falling over, debris gathering, and geological disasters encountered. In the city of Longyan, teachers and volunteers escorted examinees on their walks along rural roads to exam venues.

South China's Guangdong Province has also suffered severe flooding this month. Persistent rainfall, which continues, has soaked mountainous areas. By Wednesday evening, there were still seven rivers exceeding the flood alert level in Guangdong. The provincial observatory forecast that the rain would likely see a reduction in most parts of Guangdong after Thursday.

Rescuers clear debris in a flood-affected area in Sishui Township of Pingyuan County, Meizhou City, south China's Guangdong Province, June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)

Rescuers clear a flood-damaged road connecting Wengui Village and Sishui Township of Pingyuan County, in Meizhou City, south China's Guangdong Province, June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 20, 2024 show residents waiting for evacuation at a flooded road in Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang)

Rescuers carrying rescue equipment enter a flood-affected area in Wuping County of Longyan City, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhou Yi)

Workers carry cable equipment in Wuping County of Longyan City, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhou Yi)

Rescuers help flood-affected residents transfer properties in Wuping County of Longyan City, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 20, 2024. (Xinhua)

Firefighters provide clean water for flood-affected residents in Wuping County of Longyan City, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 20, 2024. (Xinhua)

Epidemic prevention workers put up posters in Wuping County of Longyan City, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhou Yi)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 20, 2024 shows rescuers helping local residents evacuate from a flooded road in Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang)

Rescuers help local residents evacuate from a flooded road in Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 20, 2024 shows rescuers helping local residents evacuate from a flooded road in Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 20, 2024 shows the view of a flooded area in Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang)

A rescuer helps a child evacuate from a flood-affected area in Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang)

Editor: WRX
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
CAIRO, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said Thursday that 28 deaths were confirmed among the 50,752 officially registered Egyptian pilgrims during Hajj in Saudi Arabia's Mecca.

Madbouly said in a cabinet statement that he was tasked by the president to lead an interdepartmental crisis unit to "provide support and assistance to the families of the deceased and to study the reasons for what had happened and work to prevent its recurrence."

The unit will also probe into violations among companies that organized those unregistered pilgrims, he said, adding that since some Egyptian pilgrims were not registered in the official Hajj database, it was difficult for the Egyptian medical team in Mecca to follow their conditions and provide necessary services.

Egyptian consular work teams were currently confirming the identity and number of hospitalized Egyptian pilgrims, including those receiving treatment and the deceased, according to the cabinet's statement.

Meanwhile, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi highlighted "the need for immediate coordination with the Saudi authorities to facilitate receiving the bodies of the deceased and streamline the process in this regard," said the Egyptian presidency in a statement.

On Wednesday, Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said the ministry extended sincere condolences to the families of the deceased pilgrims, stressing its efforts around the clock until all Egyptian pilgrims return home safely.

Egyptian citizens who have lost contact with families in Mecca, Medina, or at holy pilgrimage sites are advised to contact the ministry or call the 24-hour emergency consular services in Jeddah.

Hajj, a key pillar of Islam, is annually performed in Mecca by pilgrims coming from all over the world. The number of pilgrims has exceeded 1.8 million this year, according to Saudi authorities.

The Hajj season coincided this year with a heatwave that led to hundreds of deaths among crowds of pilgrims. The temperatures in Mecca sometimes exceeded 51 degrees Celsius in recent days.

Editor: WXL
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a middle school in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 18, 2024. Xi inspected Qinghai Province on Tuesday. During the inspection, Xi visited a middle school and a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Xining, capital city of Qinghai. He learned about local efforts in advancing the education work through collaboration between the eastern and western regions and paired assistance, and in strengthening education on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation. Xi also learned about the efforts made by the Tibetan Buddhist circle in carrying forward the fine traditions of loving the country and the religion, and in promoting ethnic unity and progress. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

XINING, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, inspected northwest China's Qinghai Province on Tuesday.

During the inspection, Xi visited a middle school and a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Xining, capital city of Qinghai.

He learned about local efforts in advancing the education work through collaboration between the eastern and western regions and paired assistance, and in strengthening education on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.

Xi also learned about the efforts made by the Tibetan Buddhist circle in carrying forward the fine traditions of loving the country and the religion, and in promoting ethnic unity and progress.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a middle school in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 18, 2024. Xi inspected Qinghai Province on Tuesday.

During the inspection, Xi visited a middle school and a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Xining, capital city of Qinghai.

He learned about local efforts in advancing the education work through collaboration between the eastern and western regions and paired assistance, and in strengthening education on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.

Xi also learned about the efforts made by the Tibetan Buddhist circle in carrying forward the fine traditions of loving the country and the religion, and in promoting ethnic unity and progress. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a middle school in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 18, 2024. Xi inspected Qinghai Province on Tuesday.

During the inspection, Xi visited a middle school and a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Xining, capital city of Qinghai.

He learned about local efforts in advancing the education work through collaboration between the eastern and western regions and paired assistance, and in strengthening education on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.

Xi also learned about the efforts made by the Tibetan Buddhist circle in carrying forward the fine traditions of loving the country and the religion, and in promoting ethnic unity and progress. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a middle school in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 18, 2024. Xi inspected Qinghai Province on Tuesday.

During the inspection, Xi visited a middle school and a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Xining, capital city of Qinghai.

He learned about local efforts in advancing the education work through collaboration between the eastern and western regions and paired assistance, and in strengthening education on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.

Xi also learned about the efforts made by the Tibetan Buddhist circle in carrying forward the fine traditions of loving the country and the religion, and in promoting ethnic unity and progress. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a middle school in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 18, 2024. Xi inspected Qinghai Province on Tuesday.

During the inspection, Xi visited a middle school and a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Xining, capital city of Qinghai.

He learned about local efforts in advancing the education work through collaboration between the eastern and western regions and paired assistance, and in strengthening education on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.

Xi also learned about the efforts made by the Tibetan Buddhist circle in carrying forward the fine traditions of loving the country and the religion, and in promoting ethnic unity and progress. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a middle school in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 18, 2024. Xi inspected Qinghai Province on Tuesday.

During the inspection, Xi visited a middle school and a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Xining, capital city of Qinghai.

He learned about local efforts in advancing the education work through collaboration between the eastern and western regions and paired assistance, and in strengthening education on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.

Xi also learned about the efforts made by the Tibetan Buddhist circle in carrying forward the fine traditions of loving the country and the religion, and in promoting ethnic unity and progress. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a middle school in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 18, 2024. Xi inspected Qinghai Province on Tuesday.

During the inspection, Xi visited a middle school and a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Xining, capital city of Qinghai.

He learned about local efforts in advancing the education work through collaboration between the eastern and western regions and paired assistance, and in strengthening education on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.

Xi also learned about the efforts made by the Tibetan Buddhist circle in carrying forward the fine traditions of loving the country and the religion, and in promoting ethnic unity and progress. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a middle school in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 18, 2024. Xi inspected Qinghai Province on Tuesday.

During the inspection, Xi visited a middle school and a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Xining, capital city of Qinghai.

He learned about local efforts in advancing the education work through collaboration between the eastern and western regions and paired assistance, and in strengthening education on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.

Xi also learned about the efforts made by the Tibetan Buddhist circle in carrying forward the fine traditions of loving the country and the religion, and in promoting ethnic unity and progress. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a middle school in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 18, 2024. Xi inspected Qinghai Province on Tuesday.

During the inspection, Xi visited a middle school and a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Xining, capital city of Qinghai.

He learned about local efforts in advancing the education work through collaboration between the eastern and western regions and paired assistance, and in strengthening education on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.

Xi also learned about the efforts made by the Tibetan Buddhist circle in carrying forward the fine traditions of loving the country and the religion, and in promoting ethnic unity and progress. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a middle school in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 18, 2024. Xi inspected Qinghai Province on Tuesday.

During the inspection, Xi visited a middle school and a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Xining, capital city of Qinghai.

He learned about local efforts in advancing the education work through collaboration between the eastern and western regions and paired assistance, and in strengthening education on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.

Xi also learned about the efforts made by the Tibetan Buddhist circle in carrying forward the fine traditions of loving the country and the religion, and in promoting ethnic unity and progress. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a middle school in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 18, 2024. Xi inspected Qinghai Province on Tuesday.

During the inspection, Xi visited a middle school and a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Xining, capital city of Qinghai.

He learned about local efforts in advancing the education work through collaboration between the eastern and western regions and paired assistance, and in strengthening education on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.

Xi also learned about the efforts made by the Tibetan Buddhist circle in carrying forward the fine traditions of loving the country and the religion, and in promoting ethnic unity and progress. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a middle school in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 18, 2024. Xi inspected Qinghai Province on Tuesday.

During the inspection, Xi visited a middle school and a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Xining, capital city of Qinghai.

He learned about local efforts in advancing the education work through collaboration between the eastern and western regions and paired assistance, and in strengthening education on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.

Xi also learned about the efforts made by the Tibetan Buddhist circle in carrying forward the fine traditions of loving the country and the religion, and in promoting ethnic unity and progress. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a middle school in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 18, 2024. Xi inspected Qinghai Province on Tuesday.

During the inspection, Xi visited a middle school and a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Xining, capital city of Qinghai.

He learned about local efforts in advancing the education work through collaboration between the eastern and western regions and paired assistance, and in strengthening education on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.

Xi also learned about the efforts made by the Tibetan Buddhist circle in carrying forward the fine traditions of loving the country and the religion, and in promoting ethnic unity and progress. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a middle school in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 18, 2024. Xi inspected Qinghai Province on Tuesday.

During the inspection, Xi visited a middle school and a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Xining, capital city of Qinghai.

He learned about local efforts in advancing the education work through collaboration between the eastern and western regions and paired assistance, and in strengthening education on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.

Xi also learned about the efforts made by the Tibetan Buddhist circle in carrying forward the fine traditions of loving the country and the religion, and in promoting ethnic unity and progress. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 18, 2024. Xi inspected Qinghai Province on Tuesday.

During the inspection, Xi visited a middle school and a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Xining, capital city of Qinghai.

He learned about local efforts in advancing the education work through collaboration between the eastern and western regions and paired assistance, and in strengthening education on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.

Xi also learned about the efforts made by the Tibetan Buddhist circle in carrying forward the fine traditions of loving the country and the religion, and in promoting ethnic unity and progress. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 18, 2024. Xi inspected Qinghai Province on Tuesday.

During the inspection, Xi visited a middle school and a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Xining, capital city of Qinghai.

He learned about local efforts in advancing the education work through collaboration between the eastern and western regions and paired assistance, and in strengthening education on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.

Xi also learned about the efforts made by the Tibetan Buddhist circle in carrying forward the fine traditions of loving the country and the religion, and in promoting ethnic unity and progress. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 18, 2024. Xi inspected Qinghai Province on Tuesday.

During the inspection, Xi visited a middle school and a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Xining, capital city of Qinghai.

He learned about local efforts in advancing the education work through collaboration between the eastern and western regions and paired assistance, and in strengthening education on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.

Xi also learned about the efforts made by the Tibetan Buddhist circle in carrying forward the fine traditions of loving the country and the religion, and in promoting ethnic unity and progress. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 18, 2024. Xi inspected Qinghai Province on Tuesday.

During the inspection, Xi visited a middle school and a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Xining, capital city of Qinghai.

He learned about local efforts in advancing the education work through collaboration between the eastern and western regions and paired assistance, and in strengthening education on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.

Xi also learned about the efforts made by the Tibetan Buddhist circle in carrying forward the fine traditions of loving the country and the religion, and in promoting ethnic unity and progress. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Editor: WRX
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a residential community in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 19, 2024. Xi inspected northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Wednesday. Xi visited a residential community in the city of Yinchuan, the regional capital, to learn about how Party organizations at the primary level perform their duties. He also learned about the community's work in improving services for residents and facilitating exchanges and interactions among people of different ethnic groups. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

YINCHUAN, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, inspected northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Wednesday.

Xi visited a residential community in the city of Yinchuan, the regional capital, to learn about how Party organizations at the primary level perform their duties.

He also learned about the community's work in improving services for residents and facilitating exchanges and interactions among people of different ethnic groups.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a residential community in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 19, 2024. Xi inspected northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Wednesday. Xi visited a residential community in the city of Yinchuan, the regional capital, to learn about how Party organizations at the primary level perform their duties. He also learned about the community's work in improving services for residents and facilitating exchanges and interactions among people of different ethnic groups. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a residential community in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 19, 2024. Xi inspected northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Wednesday. Xi visited a residential community in the city of Yinchuan, the regional capital, to learn about how Party organizations at the primary level perform their duties. He also learned about the community's work in improving services for residents and facilitating exchanges and interactions among people of different ethnic groups. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a residential community in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 19, 2024. Xi inspected northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Wednesday. Xi visited a residential community in the city of Yinchuan, the regional capital, to learn about how Party organizations at the primary level perform their duties. He also learned about the community's work in improving services for residents and facilitating exchanges and interactions among people of different ethnic groups. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a residential community in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 19, 2024. Xi inspected northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Wednesday. Xi visited a residential community in the city of Yinchuan, the regional capital, to learn about how Party organizations at the primary level perform their duties. He also learned about the community's work in improving services for residents and facilitating exchanges and interactions among people of different ethnic groups. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a residential community in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 19, 2024. Xi inspected northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Wednesday. Xi visited a residential community in the city of Yinchuan, the regional capital, to learn about how Party organizations at the primary level perform their duties. He also learned about the community's work in improving services for residents and facilitating exchanges and interactions among people of different ethnic groups. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a residential community in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 19, 2024. Xi inspected northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Wednesday. Xi visited a residential community in the city of Yinchuan, the regional capital, to learn about how Party organizations at the primary level perform their duties. He also learned about the community's work in improving services for residents and facilitating exchanges and interactions among people of different ethnic groups. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a residential community in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 19, 2024. Xi inspected northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Wednesday. Xi visited a residential community in the city of Yinchuan, the regional capital, to learn about how Party organizations at the primary level perform their duties. He also learned about the community's work in improving services for residents and facilitating exchanges and interactions among people of different ethnic groups. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a residential community in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 19, 2024. Xi inspected northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Wednesday. Xi visited a residential community in the city of Yinchuan, the regional capital, to learn about how Party organizations at the primary level perform their duties. He also learned about the community's work in improving services for residents and facilitating exchanges and interactions among people of different ethnic groups. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a residential community in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 19, 2024. Xi inspected northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Wednesday. Xi visited a residential community in the city of Yinchuan, the regional capital, to learn about how Party organizations at the primary level perform their duties. He also learned about the community's work in improving services for residents and facilitating exchanges and interactions among people of different ethnic groups. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Editor: WRX
A visitor looks at exhibits at a photo exhibition on China-Malaysia relations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, June 19, 2024. The photo exhibition was held here Wednesday as part of celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

The exhibition was co-organized by Xinhua News Agency and Malaysia-China Friendship Association, and supported by the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei)

KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 (Xinhua) -- A photo exhibition on China-Malaysia relations was held here Wednesday as part of celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Themed "Hand in Hand for Win-Win Cooperation," the exhibition showcased a total of 100 photos that captured important moments of bilateral relations, including exchanges in politics, economy, culture and sports.

The exhibition was co-organized by Xinhua News Agency and Malaysia-China Friendship Association, and supported by the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia.

Dato' Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan, president of the Malaysia-China Friendship Association, said that the photo exhibition was an excellent initiative to celebrate bilateral ties.

"For the older generation, it can remind us of the journey of friendship that leaders and people of Malaysia and China have gone through to build this excellent relationship. And for the younger generation, it will help them understand what the two countries went through to build a good relationship which they are actually enjoying now," he said, adding that he is optimistic on deeper ties for the two sides going forward. 

People look at exhibits at a photo exhibition on China-Malaysia relations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, June 19, 2024. The photo exhibition was held here Wednesday as part of celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

The exhibition was co-organized by Xinhua News Agency and Malaysia-China Friendship Association, and supported by the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei)

A visitor takes photos of exhibits at a photo exhibition on China-Malaysia relations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, June 19, 2024. The photo exhibition was held here Wednesday as part of celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

The exhibition was co-organized by Xinhua News Agency and Malaysia-China Friendship Association, and supported by the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei)

Visitors browse a memorial album at a photo exhibition on China-Malaysia relations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, June 19, 2024. The photo exhibition was held here Wednesday as part of celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

The exhibition was co-organized by Xinhua News Agency and Malaysia-China Friendship Association, and supported by the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei)

Editor: JYZ
Tibetan antelopes are on migration in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 15, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Tibetan antelopes are on migration in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 13, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Tibetan antelopes are on migration in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 13, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Tibetan antelopes are on migration in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 14, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Tenzing Nima Qadhup)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 13, 2024 shows Tibetan antelopes on migration in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Tenzing Nima Qadhup)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 15, 2024 shows Tibetan antelopes on migration to their birth-giving ground in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

An aerial drone photo taken on May 9, 2024 shows Tibetan antelopes on migration to their birth-giving ground in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

Male Tibetan antelopes guard the femle ones during their migration to their birth-giving ground in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, May 8, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 15, 2024 shows Tibetan antelopes on migration to their birth-giving ground in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

Tibetan antelopes are on migration in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 13, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Male Tibetan antelopes guard the female ones during their migration to their birth-giving ground in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 13, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

Female Tibetan antelopes are on migration to their birth-giving ground in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 13, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 15, 2024 shows Tibetan antelopes on migration to their birth-giving ground in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

A Tibetan antelope is pictured in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 13, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Tibetan antelopes are on migration in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 13, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

A female Tibetan antelope is pictured in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 15, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 14, 2024 shows Tibetan antelopes on migration to their birth-giving ground in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Purbu Tsering)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 14, 2024 shows Tibetan antelopes on migration to their birth-giving ground in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Purbu Tsering)

Female Tibetan antelopes are on migration to their birth-giving ground in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 15, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

Tibetan antelopes gallop during their migration in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 13, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

A herd of Tibetan wild donkeys watches Tibetan antelopes migrating in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, May 8, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

Tibetan antelopes are on migration in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 13, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

Tibetan antelopes are on migration in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 13, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

Tibetan antelopes are on migration in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 14, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

Tibetan antelopes are on migration in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 13, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

Male Tibetan antelopes guard the femle ones during their migration to their birth-giving ground in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 12, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Tenzing Nima Qadhup)

Tibetan antelopes are on migration in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 13, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 15, 2024 shows Tibetan antelopes on migration to their birth-giving ground in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

Female Tibetan antelopes are on migration to their birth-giving ground in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 15, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Female Tibetan antelopes are on migration to their birth-giving ground in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 15, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 13, 2024 shows Tibetan antelopes on migration to their birth-giving ground in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

Tibetan antelopes are on migration in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, May 8, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

Tibetan antelopes are on migration in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 15, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Female Tibetan antelopes are on migration to their birth-giving ground in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 13, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

Tibetan antelopes are on migration in twilight in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 13, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

Female Tibetan antelopes are on migration to their birth-giving ground in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 15, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Tibetan antelopes are on migration at sunrise in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 15, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Tibetan antelopes are on migration to their birth-giving ground in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 14, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

Female Tibetan antelopes are on migration to their birth-giving ground in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 15, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

Male Tibetan antelopes guard the female ones during their migration to their birth-giving ground in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, May 8, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

Tibetan antelopes climb over the ridge during their migration in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, May 10, 2024.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 12, 2024 shows female Tibetan antelopes on migration to their birth-giving ground in Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.

Tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start their migration around May every year for birth-giving and would return with their calves in late July. Their natural enemies including wolves and bears are always there to ambush them.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

Editor: JYZ
The first Anhui Provincial Vocational School Students Creative Cake Baking Competition was held in Hefei on June 15, 2024, with 46 contestants from 7 vocational schools across the province competing on stage to showcase their learning achievements. Education and training institutions promote learning through competition to train more skilled craftsmen. (Yuan Bing/Guangming Picture)

The first Anhui Provincial Vocational School Students Creative Cake Baking Competition was held in Hefei on June 15, 2024, with 46 contestants from 7 vocational schools across the province competing on stage to showcase their learning achievements.Education and training institutions promote learning through competition to train more skilled craftsmen. (Yuan Bing/Guangming Picture)

The first Anhui Provincial Vocational School Students Creative Cake Baking Competition was held in Hefei on June 15, 2024, with 46 contestants from 7 vocational schools across the province competing on stage to showcase their learning achievements.Education and training institutions promote learning through competition to train more skilled craftsmen. (Yuan Bing/Guangming Picture)

Editor: ZAD
CHENGDU, June 20 (Xinhua)  Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin has stressed the need to consolidate economic recovery and boost employment through the government's supportive measures.

Shen made the remarks during a research trip focused on employment in east China's Zhejiang Province and Sichuan Province in the southwest.

Noting that China's employment situation has remained stable, Shen called for better implementation of government policies to further stabilize employment and encourage enterprises to create more jobs.

Work must be done to provide guidance for college graduates in job hunting and improve services for ex-servicemen, people lifted out of poverty and those in difficulty, she said.

Noting that the fundamental solution to stabilizing employment lies in development, Shen urged efforts to implement macro-policies and consolidate the economic recovery trend.

She said that it is also necessary to improve public employment services, strengthen vocational training, solve structural employment problems and strive to improve the quality of employment.

China's surveyed urban unemployment rate stood at 5 percent in May, unchanged compared to the previous month. The country aims to create over 12 million jobs in urban areas and keep the surveyed urban unemployment rate at about 5.5 percent this year.

(Source: Xinhua)

Editor: Wang Shasha
Click the photo and watch the video.

XINING, June 20 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed continued efforts to protect the ecology of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau during an inspection tour in Qinghai Province from Tuesday to Wednesday.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, also called on the province to promote high-quality development through deepening reform, expanding opening-up, and pursuing green development, ethnic unity and common prosperity.

The plateau, located in northwest China, boasts rich, diverse yet fragile ecosystems. It is home to the Sanjiangyuan area, dubbed as "the water tower of China," where the Yangtze River, Yellow River, and Lancang River originate.

Qinghai is a province with concentrated ethnic minority groups.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a middle school in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 18, 2024. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi]

On Tuesday afternoon, Xi went to a middle school in the provincial capital Xining. It is a boarding school funded and built with assistance from Shanghai and accommodates ethnic minority students from the pastoral areas in Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.

Xi visited the school's canteen, a dormitory building, and a classroom where he listened to the students telling how their hometown had changed and viewed the students' drawings.

Xi highlighted the notable achievements of the collaboration between the country's eastern and western regions as well as paired assistance, particularly in education.

This fully showcases the strength of the Party's leadership and the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, as well as the support for each other among members of the big family of the Chinese nation, Xi said.

Paired assistance plays a crucial role in China's development. The pairing of developed and underdeveloped regions is widespread across sectors including healthcare, education, and industries. Within this framework, capital, skilled workers, and other resources are directed from wealthier regions to those lagging behind to foster their development.

On the campus square, Xi was surrounded by the faculty and students. He expressed the hope that the students will study hard and strive for a bright future.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 18, 2024. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi]

Later, Xi visited the centuries-old Hongjue Temple. He said the temple had played an important role as a bridge in strengthening the bond between the central government and Tibetan Buddhism over generations.

"It is essential to protect this precious historical and cultural heritage, and renew efforts to foster a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation and promote ethnic unity and progress," Xi said.

He expressed the hope for the Tibetan Buddhist circle in the province to carry on the fine traditions of patriotism, help promote religious, social and ethnic harmony, and play an active role in advancing Chinese modernization.

On Wednesday morning, Xi listened to the report of the provincial committee of the CPC and the provincial government on their work.

Noting that Qinghai is tasked with the crucial mission of safeguarding ecological security, Xi said the province must keep in mind what to do and what not to do in developing its industries.

Qinghai should effectively tap into its resources and accelerate building itself into a world-class salt lake industrial base, a national clean energy hub, an international eco-tourism destination, and a supplier of green agricultural and livestock products, Xi said.

He asked the province to further overall reform, expand opening up, improve the business environment and contribute to building a Green Silk Road.

Xi emphasized that strengthening eco-environment protection is a primary task for Qinghai. He said the province must earnestly implement the law on ecological conservation on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and carry out major projects for preserving and restoring key ecosystems.

He said the priority is to safeguard "the water tower of China," protect biodiversity and enhance water conservation capacity.

Qinghai should establish exemplary nature reserves, typical of China and with global influence, through the construction of a nature reserve system with national parks as mainstays, he said.

Xi called for solid efforts to resolve pressing difficulties and problems that concern the people most, and make basic public services more balanced and accessible. "Rural revitalization should prioritize increasing income for farmers and herdsmen," he said.

Xi added that the Party's major principles and policies on work related to ethnic and religious affairs should be fully implemented, with a focus on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.

He underlined the importance of remaining committed to the principle that religions in China must be Chinese in orientation, and strengthening religious affairs administration in line with the law.

Video reporters: Yin Jiajie, Wang Yan, Zhang Long;

Video editors: Li Ziwei, Wei Yin, Li Qin, Meng Na

(Source: Xinhua)

Editor: Wang Shasha
Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, visits and researches the 30th Beijing International Book Fair in Beijing, capital of China, June 19, 2024. The book fair commenced at the China National Convention Center in Beijing on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

BEIJING, June 19 (Xinhua) -- The 30th Beijing International Book Fair commenced in Beijing on Wednesday, drawing a wider participation of foreign exhibitors compared to last year.

With an expanded exhibition area of 55,000 square meters this year, the five-day event has gathered around 1,600 exhibitors from 71 countries and regions, showcasing 220,000 Chinese and foreign publications to visitors, according to the organizers.

The fair has seen an increase of 150 overseas participants compared to the previous year, featuring 1,050 exhibitors from abroad, accounting for 66 percent of the total participants.

Compared to 2023, this year's event has welcomed 15 new participating countries, including Azerbaijan, Qatar, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Nigeria.

More than 20 countries, including France, Germany and Italy, are hosting national booths. Saudi Arabia is this year's Country of Honor.

Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, has visited and researched the book fair.

The Beijing International Book Fair, established in 1986, is one of the world's largest book fairs and serves as a major platform for copyright exchange, facilitating the trading of publications from China and abroad, including print books and multimedia works.

Editor: WRX
Cashless businesses in Wales are excluding people with learning disabilities from daily activities

This article is old - Published: Friday, Jun 21st, 2024

People with learning disabilities are being excluded from daily activities such as shopping by businesses who only accept card payments.

That is the finding of a new report from the Senedd Committee, which has been released today as part of Learning Disabilities Week (17-23 June).

The Committee is calling on the Welsh Government to guarantee that all organisations which receive public funding are required to accept cash payments and to ensure that people who want to use cash, can do so.

Excluding vulnerable people

Since the coronavirus pandemic there has been a rise in the number of businesses which are choosing to go cashless.

But this can have a knock-on effect where people with learning disabilities who dont have credit or debit cards are left unable to purchase items.

Janet Jones gave evidence to the Committee about supporting Steven McGee, who has a learning disability.

Steven is very sociable and likes to go to coffee shops and likes to pay with his own money, she said.

But weve gone into places before where hes ordered coffee only to be told its card only.

It takes that social aspect away from someone like Steven and makes him upset.

Fewer banks on the high street

The Committees report found that one of the main reasons that businesses move to cashless payments is that in many areas there are no high-street banks to deposit cash locally.

A UK Parliament inquiry found that the number of high-street banks in Wales has reduced by 40 per cent from 2012.

In Wrexham County Borough there has been a large decrease in the number of branches and cash points in local communities.

Mencap Cymrus petition on the Senedd website collected over 2,500 signatures, prompting the Committee to launch the inquiry to look at the issue in more detail.

Wayne Crocker, Director of Mencap Cymru, said: Mencap Cymru created this petition to the Senedd Petitions committee as we were concerned with the increasing exclusion of people with a learning disability because of their lack of access to digital forms of payment.

We were especially concerned that public bodies, which have a duty to act in a non-discriminatory way, such as Welsh Government and local government arent by accident discriminating by funding organisations to discriminate against people with a learning disability by refusing to take cash.

Mencap Cymrus members and people we support are telling us that it is becoming more and more difficult to access their local community venues such as shops, cafes, arts & leisure venues as they are not able to pay by card.

Whilst we recognise that many of the issues facing access to cash are not devolved, we welcome and support the recommendations of the Petitions Committee inquiry and urge the Welsh Government to work with disabled people and the organisations who support them to address the recommendations in the report and ensure that this insidious form of exclusion is reversed and people who are unable to access digital payment are not further excluded from Welsh society.

Unintended consequences

The Committee has also called for clearer signage in businesses that dont accept cash payments to reduce some of the embarrassing and upsetting experiences faced by people with learning disabilities when they have been told that they cannot pay with cash and must leave the premises.

On one occasion, the Committee heard that the police were called in response to an individual becoming distressed when they were not allowed to purchase a magazine using cash.

Jack Sargeant MS, Chair of the Petitions Committee, said: We have all noticed the shift to cashless transactions in recent years, but what is less obvious is the unintended consequences of this

.Its clear that refusing cash payments excludes people with learning disabilities from accessing services and buying goods.

We believe that the Welsh Government should ensure that, if an organisation receives public money, they should be able process cash payments from members of the public.

From speaking to businesses, the move towards cashless transactions has been driven by big banks closing branches, meaning many traders find it easier to not accept cash at all.

Im incredibly grateful to everyone who gave evidence to the Committee who spoke of upsetting experiences of being unable to pay with cash. This Committee gives people the opportunity to raise issues that are not discussed very often, so Id like to thank Mencap Cymru for bringing this matter to our attention.

The Welsh Government should also commission research to explore the challenges faced by people who do not use digital payments, according to the Committee.

In addition to people with learning disabilities, this should also include people who have no bank account or those who choose to only use cash to avoid falling into debt.

The Welsh Government is expected to formally respond to the Petition Committees report in early August.
Council not spending hard earned ratepayers cash on Ty Pawb consultants  but UK Government cash instead

This article is old - Published: Friday, Jun 21st, 2024

A Lead Councillor has incorrectly admonished Wrexham.com for publishing a story without full detail, however the council never published the information he thought was public in the first place.

At a media brief earlier this month Cllr Hugh Jones, Lead Member with responsibility for Ty Pawb, voiced his unhappiness and took issue with the Wrexham.com article Wrexham Council look to 40k consultants to help Future Proof loss making Ty Pawb that had been published that morning.

The article substantially quoted information from an obscure procurement notice in the public domain, that had not been referenced anywhere else.

The noticed outlines a desire to create options to tackle Ty Pawbs carbon footprint, as well as for the use of some of the parking spaces on its roof. It highlighted that part of the car park could be used for events such as film screenings, with a budget of up to 40,000 set aside to pay for the report.

At the media brief Cllr Jones explained how the project would see community gain, and contained a Whole raft of stuff that is really very positive. We were very pleased, and we announced that we got this grant, and I think you actually went with that story that we got the grant.

Then, it suddenly materialised is that we the council are spending this money in a period of financial difficulties. We were actually awarded this money in order for this project to be to take place. Therefore we need the appropriate degree of expertise in this field to enable us to produce the savings and solutions that we want in Ty Pawb both in terms of its energy consumption and in terms of its financial performance. The whole thing is grant aided.

So, to be honest, when I read the headline this morning, I thought, yeah, thats not fair because it gives the impression that were spending hard earned ratepayers cash, but actually, weve been successful in being awarded a grant, specifically for this project.

Wrexham.com noted that regardless of if it was Council or Shared Prosperity Fund cash, it was all taxpayers money at the end of the day.

Cllr Jones replied, This is not coming out of our cash strapped budget. Its coming out of to SPF money that has been awarded. We were over the moon that we got this money.

The 2.6 billion UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which succeeds the old EU structural funds, is a UK Government funded scheme.

Wrexham.com was unable to find the story we had apparently run with of Ty Pawb getting the grant for that project. There were no statements, articles or similar about it either on the Ty Pawb news page nor the councils news pages. There has been no public reference that we could locate aside from the Sell2Wales notice the article was about.

We asked Wrexham Council for pointers or a copy of what we had missed. Nothing appears to have been found.

Fifteen days later Cllr Hugh Jones said, The offer of the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund received by Ty Pawb was in response to the recent Whole Systems Audit carried out on the facility.

A tender to the value of 40k was subsequently placed on Sell2Wales which encompasses carbon reduction interventions across the building.

The work is to connect development of the rooftop spaces with wider changes to the building for carbon purposes, this is to safeguard the future of Ty Pawb as a sustainable cultural hub.

No further details of the project were released.

Wrexham.com has fed back to Wrexham Council that telling people what is going on proactively would be useful, saving us to have to write stories from procurement information eg. 40k on 300 new sensors, or about rising bollards in the city centre.
JINAN, June 20 (Xinhua) -- An international conference on the protection and repatriation of cultural relics removed from their countries of origin in colonial contexts was held on Thursday in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province.

The conference was held by China's National Cultural Heritage Administration and the provincial government of Shandong.

A total of 150 representatives from Chinese universities, research institutions and cultural institutions, as well as two international organizations and 27 countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Norway and Germany, attended the event.

The conference shone a spotlight on the preservation and repatriation of cultural objects that were taken from their countries of origin in colonial contexts or through unjust or immoral means, and explored solutions to repatriation issues related to cultural objects that are outside the scope of existing international treaties.

The conference saw the release of a proposal urging increased dialogue, communication, interaction and cooperation to formulate impartial, rational and sustainable plans to address relevant issues.

Delivering a report at the conference, Li Qun, vice minister of culture and tourism and director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, said that China has responded actively to international society's efforts in the areas of decolonialization and the morally motivated repatriation of cultural relics, and explored diversified solutions to address relevant disputes.

Li also urged international society to recognize fully and tackle the injustices of colonial plundering, and called on all countries of origin and countries of possession to undertake cooperative dialogue on the repatriation of cultural relics and diversified, long-term collaboration in such fields as information sharing, scientific research, and protection and restoration.

Editor: WRX
Another jobs massacre is looming at Fords headquarters in Cologne. In the last five years, four restructuring measures have already cost 7,000 jobs. On Tuesday morning, Works Council head Benjamin Gruschka announced the next job destruction programme at a plant meeting.

Works Council head Benjamin Gruschka (left) and Ford Germany boss Martin Sander, who resigned on June 6 [Photo by Ford]

Gruschka did not provide any figures, but all Ford workers immediately realised that several thousand jobs were at stake here. Ford currently has just under 13,000 employees in Cologne, less than 4,000 of whom work in production.

Works Council Chairman Gruschka named five points that management had communicated to him. The first is described as a reduction in bureaucracy, a synonym for the dismissal of lower and middle management employees.

Points two and three cover the areas of administration, marketing, sales and services, as well as product development. The reduction of 2,300 employees was announced only last year, particularly at the European and international development centre in Cologne-Merkenich. Around 1,700 of the original 3,600 employees there are to leave the company by 2026. Although none of the 1,700 have yet been forced to go, the next wave of redundancies is already rolling in.

Point four once again targets vehicle production. Although several thousand jobs have already been destroyed there with the 2019 cost-cutting programme, production of the new Explorer electric model only began a fortnight ago, six months late.

In management-speak, the impending job losses are being disguised as the more efficient organisation of industrial processes and the alignment of structures with Fords strategic priorities. But every worker knows what this means when, according to Ford, it includes the review of quantities, efficiency and personnel deployment in all production areas, as well as in production-related services and components.

Point five succinctly states that Ford Europe only wants to concentrate on its core business. Gruschka and Ford left open which areas are not part of the core business and will be outsourced. Over the past two years, workers, including many from production, have taken part in training and further education programmes at Fords expense in order to switch to other professions. It is unclear whethercontrary to the hopes of mostthey will now be encouraged to look for work elsewhere.

It is just as unclear exactly how many jobs will be lost. Management intends to announce concrete figures at the end of next week. No one from the senior management attended the plant meeting on Tuesday and there was no official statement. Gruschka only reported verbally.

Several developments indicate that the announcement of the figures next week will be followed by an earthquake.

Ford Germany boss Martin Sander, who was also responsible for vehicle electrification in Europe, announced on June 6, just two days after the resumption of production, that he was leaving Ford and moving back to the VW Group. On July 1, he will take up his post at VW headquarters in Wolfsburg as board member for Marketing, Sales and Distribution.

The reaction of Gruschka indicates that he and the management are expecting to confront huge resentment. He described the new redundancy plans as a declaration of war on the German workforce. But workers are used to such radical phrases from works council leaders. Gruschka, who is also chairman of Fords European Works Council, will also ensure that the job cuts go smoothly in the fifth round of redundancies.

After all, how have he and his works council colleagues reacted to the companys fighting words in recent years? They did what management demandedin Cologne and Saarlouis, as well in Valencia, Spain.

When 12,000 jobs were to be cut across Europe in 2019, 5,000 of them in Germany, the trade unions and works council representatives in each country backed their national management and offered to make cuts so that the redundancies would take place in another country. In this way, the company achieved exactly what it had wanted from the outset. In Germany alone, 5,400 jobs were destroyed, 4,000 in Cologne. In addition, the works council reps agreed on wage cuts and other concessions, supposedly to ensure the competitiveness of the respective production location.

The same procedure then took place in the internal bidding war between the Ford plants in Saarlouis in Saarland and Almussafes in Valencia. The head of the Saarlouis Works Council, Markus Thal, and Gruschka claimed afterwards that the German plant had lost the competition and would therefore be closed, while the Spanish plant would remain in operation.

That was a lie. In reality, the bidding war served as a mechanism to push through the long-planned closure of the Saarland plant. In Saarlouis, the IG Metall union and its Works Council reps under Thal are in the process of winding up the entire plant. From next year, only a maximum of 1,000 of the 7,000 employees will remain. Vehicle production will then be discontinued. Ford in Saarlouis will be history from 2032, when the factory gates will be closed after the shutdown work has been completed.

But the plant in Almussafes was by no means saved. What is now happening at the alleged winner of the bidding competition proves that the entire process was a set-up by the trade unions and works council reps in Germany and Spain.

Of the 9,300 employees who worked at the Spanish plant before the bidding war, only 3,200 are to remain after a third round of redundancies, which has now been planned. A further 1,600 jobs will be cut; 600 employees will have to go, while a further 1,000 are being strung along with a possible transitional solution or an option to return. They are supposed to return when the planned production of a new hybrid model starts in 2027, but this is mere speculation.

Here, too, there is a risk that the entire plant will be gradually closed. The Spanish UGT trade union (Union General de Trabajadores) and the works council it dominates are acting no differently to IG Metall in Germany.

Gruschka and his IG Metall Works Council reps are once again trying to sow confusion among the workforce in order to prevent industrial action against the cutbacks. Gruschka said that it was incomprehensible that the workforce was once again being made so insecure: Instead of concentrating on the most important job, namely [producing] the first and soon the second electric car in Cologne, and finally focussing all efforts on this, the workforce is once again being demotivated. This is a sideshow and incomprehensible!

This statement contains as many untruths as it does words. Because as far as Ford is concerned, the most important job is not building the first and second electric models in Cologne and motivating the workforce, but increasing returns for the owners and shareholders. Job cuts serve this purpose. Workers livelihoods are being sacrificed for the profits of the shareholders. Downsizing is not a sideshow, but the main event.

Just as the German government subordinates all social interests to its pro-war policy, slashing social spending across the board, shareholders, management, trade union bureaucrats and works council reps subordinate everything to maximising profits. The victims are the workers, who create all the social wealth that the super-rich are able to grab for themselves.

Gruschka announced on Tuesday: We will fight, and we can fight. When an IG Metall official or works council rep announces a fight, workers should take heed. This is inevitably followed by job cuts, wage reductions or even plant closures. Gruschka will organise some hollow protests, as he did last year, to dissipate the anger of Ford workers, while at the same time working out a joint approach to job cuts with management behind the backs of the workforce.

The attacks on jobs and wages at Ford in Cologne can only be fended off if workers do not allow themselves to be divided and unite with their colleagues in Saarlouis, Spain, Romania, Turkey, the UK and above all in the US.

The trade unions and their local works council reps are thwarting this and pushing through the cutbacks on behalf of their masters in the upper echelons of the company against the workforce. Ford workers must therefore organise themselves independently in rank-and-file action committees. In Saarlouis, Ford workers have begun this process. Such action committees must also be set up in Cologne and at other Ford sites.

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In a blatant attack on the democratic rights of parents, educators and students, New York City School Chancellor David Banks last week removed parent Tajh Sutton from the presidency of Community Education Council for District 14 (CEC 14) in Brooklyns Williamsburg and Greenpoint neighborhoods for her opposition to Israels genocide in Gaza.

David Banks, chancellor of New York Public schools, May 8, 2024, on Capitol Hill in Washington. [AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin]

Community Education Councils are elected boards of parents in each of New York City Public Schools 32 districts. They are tasked with advocacy for parents and students and perform certain functions such as, according to the school department, reviewing and evaluating their districts educational programs, approving zoning lines, and holding public hearings on certain matters. Most members of the CECs are elected while some are appointed by Borough Presidents.

Since the state granted the citys mayor dictatorial control of the citys public schools in 2002an act to facilitate school closings and budget cuts, and privatization under the then billionaire mayor Michael Bloombergtaking power away from district school boards, the CECs are some of the only remaining democratic institutions in the citys schools.

Banks removed Sutton under the Department of Educations (DOE) D-210 regulations that govern CEC members code of conduct. At issue was her advocacy of a ceasefire in Gaza and support for the Palestinian people. In his letter to Sutton obtained by Chalkbeat, Banks claimed that she had justifiably been perceived by many community members as anti-Israel and antisemitic.

Chalkbeat noted: Banks also accuses Sutton of improperly seeking to influence hiring decisions by protesting the dismissal of a paraprofessional allegedly fired from his school over his conduct at pro-Palestinian protests and social media posts.

Tajh Sutton [Photo: Teens Take Charge]

The educator referenced was an object of harassment by Zionist parents, including one who had worked for the Israel Defense Forcess top brass, because he wore a keffiyeh, the traditional Palestinian scarf, to work. He was suspended twice for his social media posts in opposition to the genocide in Gaza, and finally fired after he was arrested for protesting the police crackdown on protesting college students.

Sutton was also removed because she had held meetings of CEC 14 virtually, a means which she and other leaders used to avoid harassment by Zionist and far-right parents, particularly in the aftermath of the resolution CEC 14 issued in November calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, when Sutton had been threatened with human feces left in her mailbox.

Sutton told the New York Times, Theyre setting a dangerous precedent for how parents are able to show up and advocate for their communities  It shouldnt be a removable offense to say that Palestinians deserve to live.

The charges by Banks are absurd and a slander on the thousands of educators, students and parents who are horrified by Israels actions in Gaza and the West Bank, and by the close collaboration of the Biden administration in committing them. Bankss action was a further message, especially to educators, to keep their mouths shut when it comes to war and genocide.

Since October 7, Banks has sought to suppress the rights of parents, educators and students. In November he threatened educators in particular: When speech and actioneven on ones personal timeundermines the mission or core functions of NYCPS, we will review and take appropriate action on a case-by-case basis.

The actions of Banks are part and parcel of right-wing Democratic mayor Eric Adamss brutal attack on scores of campus protests in the city with the use of heavily armed anti-terrorism police.

These moves have been carried out in concert at the highest levels of the state in a bipartisan effort to suppress free speech on Palestine and anti-war positions.

Last month Banks testified at a congressional hearing on antisemitism, bragging: We have removed, disciplined or are in the process of disciplining at least a dozen staff and school leaders, including removing a principal in the middle of a school year. We have suspended at least 30 students, we have involved the NYPD

Bankss and Adamss actions have broadly been opposed by educators. Thousands of them have protested the genocide at city-wide demonstrations. NYC Educators for Palestine (NYCEP) has held actions demanding that the of United Federation of Teachers (UFT) call for a ceasefire and protested the open support given to the Zionist state by Randi Weingarten, the president of the UFTs parent organization, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). The AFT has been working overtime to ensure the re-election of Genocide Joe Biden in November.

Most recently NYCEP has held protests demanding that the Teachers Retirement System of the City of New York divest from all Israeli securities, according to the groups Twitter/X feed. On May 31, high-school students held a large rally at Tweed Courthouse, the headquarters of the DOE, in Manhattan to demand an end to the genocide in Gaza.

Banks has also suspended a member of CEC 2 in Manhattan, the fascist-minded parent Maud Maron, who was highly unpopular with parents for her support of Moms for Liberty and her vocal opposition to transgender youth. No educator should take Banks ploy at evenhandedness seriously. It is widely understood that Maron is a provocateur whose work against educators and students will continue. In fact, the policies of the far-right and Democratic Party are growing closer together, particularly in support of the Gaza genocide and preparations for war with Russia and China.

Maron is one of the plaintiffs in a federal suit against the DOE and Sutton herself that alleges that Sutton and other leaders of CEC 14 have violated the first amendment rights of Zionist and other far-right parents.

Particularly objectionable to Maron and her cohorts is the toolkit that CEC 14 distributed for the demonstration in November which contained suggestions for chants. According to the suit, The toolkit advised demonstrators to practice these CHANTS and use them for your walkout, linking to various suggested chants including We dont want Zionists here, Zionism has got to go, Resistance is justified when people are occupied, From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.

And indeed, the fascist wing of the Republican party, embodied by Maron, is giving the lead to Bankss reactionary actions. The lawsuit puts forward essentially the same arguments which he used to remove Sutton.

The move to censor Sutton has been broadly denounced by educators and education advocacy organizations. The Alliance for Quality Education (AQE) issued a statement that read in part: AQE stands firmly with Tajh Sutton acknowledging her tireless efforts to create an inclusive and just public education system, centered in our collective and global humanity.

The Central Education Consortium said, This action, taken by this chancellor, has taken mayoral control of NYCs public schools to a new low. It is bad enough that this system has been dictatorial for the last two decades- this action has truly pushed the system even further away from any semblance of a democratic school system.

A teacher on Twitter/X commented Fucked up to remove someone who did nothing wrong (Tajh Sutton) just to try to seem fair and balanced in the eyes of hatemongers angry about Maud Marons (long overdue) removal.

The actions of Adams and Banks have a broad and dangerous significance. They are a part of the suppression of student protests internationally by a ruling capitalist elite which is hell-bent on creating a political climate in which it can expand war and genocide not only in the Middle East but in Europe and East Asia.

While Sutton can be reinstated by the DOE main governing body, Panel for Education Policy, the committee itself is dominated by appointees of the pro-genocide Democratic governor Kathy Hochul and mayor Adams.

Educators must take the lead in defending Sutton and CEC 14, as well as their brothers and sisters who have been threatened, silenced, fired and maligned by the Adams administration. There is enormous power in the tens of thousands whose students are being groomed for war against Iran, Russia and China and told to tolerate the war of extermination in Palestine.

The UFT, predictably, has made no statement in defense of Sutton. The executives who run the unions are the main impediment against the mobilization of paraprofessionals, teachers, school staff and other education workers for democratic rights and against war and genocide. Educators must now strike out on the path of action in defense of democratic rights independent from the capitalist parties and the union. The WSWS urges all educators who want to take up this fight to contact the Educators Rank-and-File Committee to organize independent action.
Ford Spain has announced a new Redundancy Scheme (ERE) at its Almussafes plant in Valencia to cut 1,622 jobs, a third of the workforce.

Ford plant in Valencia, Spain [Photo: Ford Motor Company]

In five years, Ford has collaborated with the social-democratic General Union of Workers (UGT) to carry out four redundancy schemes at Almussafes. It has cut over 5,000 jobs, from 8,300 to approximately 3,200, if the latest cuts are implemented.

These are the consequences of the bidding war initiated by Ford management in 2021 between the Almussafes plant and the Saarlouis plant in Germany to determine which would produce new electric cars and continue operations beyond 2025. The IG Metall and UGT bureaucracies both pressed workers to accept cuts to jobs, wages and working conditions, supposedly to save jobs.

From the beginning, the World Socialist Web Site and the Ford Action Committee of rank-and-file workers in Saarlouis explained that the bureaucracies intended for this fratricidal competition to end in plant closures and mass job losses. German and Spanish union officials pitted Saarlouis and Almussafes workers against each other. The WSWS noted in December 2021: The concessions extorted in this way are then supposedly intended to secure the site. But so far, such concessions have only paved the road to plant closures.

The UGT bureaucracy responded to the WSWS call to fight back independently from the union bureaucracy with a video on January 24, 2022. It stated: During this last season you will have heard a lot of news about the situation and future of our factory, opinions and doubts about our ability to negotiate good agreements, and also criticism, and some out of touch with reality [in reference to the WSWS].

The greatest promoters of fake news were in fact the UGT and IG Metall, which promised to preserve jobs, but worked with management to close plants, whilst enforcing salary cuts and precarious contracts.

In February, the final closure of the Saarlouis plant was confirmed, leaving only 1,000 workers of the original 7,000 by the end of 2025. Additionally, 1,500 jobs in supporting industries will be lost. Last week, Ford Germany announced a new cut; several thousand jobs are at stake, primarily in the administration, marketing, sales, services and development center located in Cologne-Merkenich.

Having worked closely with IG Metall to cut jobs, Ford, which earned $10.4 billion in 2023, is now proceeding with mass layoffs in the Almussafes plant in Valencia, despite it winning the bidding competition. The plants very future is uncertain.

The company also reneged on its promise to develop an electric vehicle by 2027. Ford now says that only a hybrid model will be developed from that year onwards. Upon hearing this news, just a month ago, UGT stated that despite the challenges we still have to overcome, and considering the uncertainty weve faced in recent months, which became truly worrying, today we can say we bring very good news. This good news translated into the announcement of 1,622 layoffs.

Fords sub-contractors, however, have raised the alarm that even this contract may not happen. Several of them have pointed out that by now, Ford should have sent them Requests for Quotation (RFQ) for the production of parts and machinery needed for the new hybrid vehicle.

One supplier told Economia Digital, If anything were to happen, we should know, and theres nothing. Another said: People are scared. ... All we know is that were in for a tough time.

Fords latest redundancy scheme again exposes the UGTs fraudulent promise that working with management to cut salaries would preserve jobs. UGT is now accepting job losses without even a token protest or a strike. In a June 15 meeting, their only proposal was to carry out job cuts with the same conditions as the previous ones, via early retirement and voluntary redundancies.

UGT claims that improving severance pay or obtaining early retirement will solve workers problems are lies. What is being proposed is a devastating assault on the industrial and social fabric of Valencia province.

But UGT Ford spokesman Carlos Faubel is proposing social peace. Last week he said that from now on, the UGT has a different scenario, in negotiations and in the possibilities of solving this in a positive way for everyone. He added, we are convinced the company will have no problem in showing its availability and the role it plays, so all this comes to fruition and we maintain social peace, and the vehicle planned for 2027 is a success.

Ford responded in a predictable fashion. In this charade, which workers in Ford and other industries have seen over and over again, management said it had replied to UGTs request to re-hire 1,000 of those laid off, in 2027, when the production of the new vehicle might begin. Workers cannot trust Ford, which has reneged on all its promises.

Fords redundancy plan reveals critical lessons to be assimilated by workers in Ford Valencia and elsewhere.

First, the entire union apparatus, both in Spain and Germany, tried to divide workers along national lines, suppress the class struggle and imposing managements diktat. Ford Valencia and UGT acted in Almussafes just as IG Metall and Ford Germany acted in Saarlouis. They facilitated layoffs by deceiving workers to block strikes and keep production running until the plant closure, which has happened in Saarlouis and increasingly threatens in Almussafes.

There is no nationalist perspective to win such struggles. Automakers, operating on every continent of the globe, take decisions on a global scale, depending on sales, access to raw materials, shifts in regulatory costs, and public subsidies. Meanwhile the unions tie workers to a national framework, then pit workers in one country against another to offer the most competitive conditions for the automakers.

Mass struggles have erupted across the auto industry in Europe and North America over the past two years, but the unions worked together to keep contract struggles divided along national lines, undermining workers power.

Second, the Spanish bourgeoisie relies on pseudo-left parties like Sumar to subordinate workers to a nationalist, pro-war perspective.

Deputy Prime Minister and Labor Minister Yolanda Diaz, who recently resigned as Sumars leader after its debacle in the European elections, issued a brief statement: We are witnessing today an ERE [Redundancy Plan] at Ford, affecting over a thousand workers, by a company that has significant profits. However, she quickly washed her hands of the situation, cynically claiming this is not within the competency of the Ministry of Labor.

Diaz bears direct political responsibility for what is happening. In 2020, she was appointed Labor Minister. Her flagship measure was a labor reform continuing the most reactionary elements of the one approved in 2012 by the right-wing Popular Party. This reform allows companies like Ford to impose layoffs through EREs without incurring losses or requiring authorization from the Labor Ministry.

Spains PSOE-Sumar government has also aggressively lobbied to join the US-led trade war against Chinese exports of electrical vehicles (EVs). These tariffs could go as high as 48 percent. It exposes Sumars support for the US-EU policy aiming to strangle and subjugate China, if necessary through war.

Workers at Ford Almussafes cannot tie their future to pseudo-lefts like Diaz or the UGT bureaucracy. Time is running out to prevent the closure of the Almussafes plant, as happened in Saarlouis.

To prevent this, workers must organize across national borders, independently and against their works councils, forming rank-and-file committees democratically controlled by the workers themselves. The World Socialist Web Site urges workers in Valencia to oppose the UGTs treachery and build the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) to organize the fightback against Ford.
Shortly after the inauguration of his fifth term as President in late April, Vladimir Putin has initiated a far-reaching purge of the military leadership.

Vladimir Putin [AP Photo/Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP]

The purge began with the arrest of Russian Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov on April 24. He was accused of taking a bribe of more than 1 billion rubles (about $11 million). Then, on May 14, at Putins suggestion, Sergei Shoigu (Minister of Defense since 2012) was not included in the new government. Instead, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development Andrei Belousov, who has no background in the military, was appointed as the new Minister of Defense.

The explanations given for the appointment of Belousov, a well-known economist, to the leadership of the Ministry of Defense, have largely centered on Russias need to reduce military spending and transition to a full-fledged war economy. However, while this may be part of the explanation, it hardly accounts for the systematic replacement of the military leadership with civilian personnel close to the president.

Thus, on May 20, Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Sadovenko was removed from his post by a decree from Putin. Oleg Savelyev, a former auditor of the Audit Chamber and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, became the new Deputy Defense Minister. On Monday June 17, Putin dismissed three additional deputy ministers of defense and appointed three civilian officials instead. Like Belousov, none of them have a background in the Russian army. The Kremlin justified their appointment with the fight against corruption in the military.

Other leading figures of the military command were removed as well, with many of them arrested and detained on bribery charges. This included Yury Kuznetsov, head of the Defense Ministrys main personnel department, and Vladimir Verteletsky, head of the Defense Order Support Department. The former commander of the 58th Army of the Southern Military District, Ivan Popov, was detained and accused of embezzling a large sum of money from metal structures intended for the construction of defense facilities in Zaporizhzhya region in 2023. Last year, Popov vocally criticized the lack of military supplies on the front in Ukraine, and publicly spoke about the mass death of Russian soldiers on the front.

Sukhrab Akhmedov, the commander of Russias largest army unit (the 20th Army), was also removed from his post. The arrest of Vadim Shamarin, deputy to the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Valery Gerasimov, has prompted speculation that Gerasimov himself might soon also be dismissed.

These dismissals might just be the beginning. According to information relayed by an unnamed Russian government official to The Moscow Times, by the end of the year, dozens, maybe even hundreds, of people of various ranks will be arrested in all units of the Defense Ministry.

Already, the purge has begun to extend to high-ranking regional officials. The Deputy Governor of Tyumen Oblast, Vyacheslav Vakhrin, was arrested on June 9; leading regional officials of the Republic of Karelia, Oryol Oblast and the Krasnodar Krai have also been arrested, based on fraud and bribery charges.

The Kremlins claim that this purge is bound up with a fight against corruption lacks any credibility. Corruption is the modus vivendi of the entire Russian oligarchy and capitalist state apparatus, which emerged out of the Stalinist destruction of the Soviet Union and the plunder of state assets. The charge of corruption is routinely levelled by one faction of the oligarchy against another to cover up the real content of their infighting.

Historically, conflicts between political and military authorities on the eve of major wars or in the context of wars have always had great political significance.

The current purge in Russia inevitably evokes the memory of Stalin's notorious massacre of the Red Army leadership in 1937, during the Great Terror, in which generations of socialists were murdered. The Red Army, which had been founded by Leon Trotsky, was a particular target of Stalins counterrevolutionary genocide. But there was also a geopolitical component to the purge: The mass murder of the generals took place in the context of Stalins preparations for a rapprochement with Hitler, which was sealed in the Hitler-Stalin Pact of August 1939. It decapitated and demobilized the Red Army on the eve of the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union just two years later, in June 1941.

There are, of course, fundamental differences between the nature of the Soviet Union and contemporary Russia. The USSR originated in the socialist 1917 revolution and remained a workers state, despite its severe degeneration under Stalinism. The terror against the Red Army by Stalin was part of a political counter-revolution against the traditions and cadre of the revolution. Todays capitalist Russia and the Putin regime emerged out of that counterrevolution, which culminated in the destruction of the USSR in 1991. But precisely for that reason, the Putin regime has inherited definite methods and features of Stalinist policies.

Moreover, as was the case with the 1937 purge, the current purge is taking place in the context of the aggression of imperialism, which is intensifying tensions within the ruling stratum. In fact, a central component of the imperialist war against Russia has been the fostering of conflicts within the oligarchy and state apparatus, substantial sections of which have a pro-NATO orientation.

The purge occurs less than a year after billionaire-turned-mercenary leader Evgeny Prigozhin launched a coup attempt against the military leadership with an appeal to NATO. At the time, the coup attempt enjoyed significant support in sections of the military. It was followed by what amounted to only a minor purge within its ranks. The dismissal of Sergei Shoigu, in particular, had been one of the main demands of of Prigozhins coup attempt. Shoigu has been closely associated with Russias military strategy since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and was long considered one of the figures closest to Putin.

As a result of the purge, the position of the military within the state apparatus and the determination of the strategy in the war in Ukraine has been severely weakened. The top positions of the Russian Defense Ministry are now in the hands of economists with no background in the army. At the same time, in another parallel to 1937, the position of the secret service, the FSBthe direct successor of the Soviet NKVD which carried out the Great Terrorhas been vastly strengthened. It is the FSB that is leading the investigation into corruption at the highest levels of the military. Capt John Foreman, the UKs former defence attache to Moscow told the Guardian, The FSB finally got their teeth in the defence ministry and general staff. Shoigu kept the FSB largely away from the ministry throughout his tenure.

The purge occurs as the danger of a direct confrontation between NATO and Russian troops in Ukraine and a nuclear exchange is greater than ever before. After serious military setbacks by NATOs proxy forces in Ukraine, which have claimed half a million or more lives, the Biden administration has now openly embraced the firing of US and NATO missiles far into Russian territory, risking, even more recklessly than before, a nuclear confrontation. And earlier, US Army Gen. Charles K. Brown Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that sending NATO trainers to Ukraine is inevitable, which effectively means that sending NATO troops is inevitable.

The Kremlins response has been a combination of nuclear saber rattling and military escalation, on the one hand, and renewed attempts to broker a deal with the imperialist powers, on the other. In May, Russia conducted military exercises for the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons and launched an offensive in the Kharkov (Kharkiv) region, simultaneously advancing along the entire front line. However, the offensive in the Kharkov region has remained relatively limited and does not require a second wave of mobilization, which the Kremlin has been eager to avoid, for fear of triggering an open eruption of social discontent.

Shortly after the beginning of the offensive, media outlets have reported that the Russian government has made new advances to US and European imperialism. On June 14, Putin openly made a peace proposal to Ukraine and NATO, reiterating his earlier demands for the demilitarization of Ukraine, and the recognition of Crimea and Donbas as parts of Russia. Predictably, the Ukrainian authorities and NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg rejected the proposal. The strategic goals of NATO imperialism in the war go far beyond the Ukraine and even Russia itself: From the standpoint of the imperialist powers, the complete subjugation of Russia and its raw material resources is a necessary component of the preparations for an all-out war with China.

The zig-zags by Moscow and the intense conflicts within the ruling class flow from the historical, social and political position of the Putin regime. Having emerged as a Bonapartist regime out of the restoration of capitalism, and overseeing extreme levels of social inequality, the Putin regime is desperately seeking to balance between different factions within the oligarchy, between the oligarchy and imperialism as well as between the oligarchy and the working class.

The main axis of the Kremlins war strategy has been to use limited military pressure to force the imperialist powers to the negotiating table. But the relentless escalation by NATO has undermined this strategy and fueled the infighting within the ruling class. No doubt, a major reason for the purge is that Putin is seeking to preempt a challenge from within the military to his political rule and conduct of the war. But much suggests that, far from consolidating the position of Putin, the purge will only further aggravate tensions within the ruling elites.

At the same time, discontent is growing within the working class, which is made to bear the brunt of the war. Already now, a growing proportion of the Russian population favor peace negotiations. According to estimates by the Levada Center, a think tank aligned with the NATO-backed opposition in the oligarchy, more than 51 percent of the population favor peace negotiations. A particularly large age group in favor of peace talks are young people aged 18-24. Among them, the think tank estimates that only 26 percent are in favor of continuing the war, compared to 61 percent who favor peace.

However, so far, this position does not go beyond the hope for peaceful coexistence of capitalist states with antagonistic interests. This is impossible under capitalism. The imperialist powers are engaged in a new redivision of the world, adopting genocide and mass murder as state policy and risking nuclear war. The Putin regime, for its part, defends the assets of the oligarchy that emerged out of the Stalinist restoration of capitalism in the Soviet Union. Whatever the intense factional infighting, ultimately, the Russian oilgarchy as a whole sees its principal enemy not in imperialism, but in the working class.

The Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists, working in alliance with the International Committee of the Fourth International, insists that workers cannot place their hopes behind a peaceful self-regulation of capitalism or any section of the ruling class. There is only one way to prevent the imperialist carve-up of Russia and the entire former Soviet Union, and end the barbarism of the capitalist world: The working class must intervene independently in the situation and put an end to the war through the struggle for socialist revolution.
Are you being affected by the high temperatures at your workplace? We want to hear from you. Fill out the form at the bottom of this article to tell us what conditions are like. All submissions will remain anonymous.

Electricians with IBEW Local 11 pull out an old copper cable line under excessive heat from the old Cesar Chavez Avenue Viaduct in Los Angeles, Thursday, July 13, 2023. [AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes]

With more than 100 million Americans currently affected by high temperatures, working conditions are becoming dangerous across the country.

Heat-related illnesses and deaths are becoming increasingly common in the US, especially amid rising temperatures due to global warming. In 2022, 51 people died due to workplace exposure to extreme temperatures, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The government also counted 33,890 work-related heat injuries and illnesses involving days away from work between 2011 and 2020.

Factories typically have no air conditioning, meaning temperatures can often surge past 100 F (37 C). One auto parts worker at the Dana factory in Pottstown, Pennsylvania sent a picture to the WSWS of a thermometer in his plant reading 112 degrees.

Temperature reading of 112 F (44 C) at the Dana auto parts plant in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, on June 19, 2024.

In Detroit, Michigan, the heat wave was compounded by mass power outages due to rain storms. Approximately 36,000 people were without electricity, and therefore air conditioning in most cases, on a day when the heat index reached as high as 95 degrees.

A worker at Fords Rouge complex near Detroit said, The plant is hot as hell. The day shift on the final line were sent home early, at 3pm.

It was not clear why management cut production an hour early, he said, adding:

I doubt the United Auto Workers had anything to do with it. They havent said a word about the heat. There are fans around, but we have to get our own water.

In the months since last years sellout contract, there have been multiple injuries and deaths at the sprawling industrial complex, where workers have been subjected to a regime of forced overtime and speedup. This includes Tywaun Long, a 46-year-old worker who died of a heart attack on the assembly line in April.

One Ford Chicago Assembly Plant (CAP) worker said that his coworker was taken out on a stretcher Saturday due to the heat.

He added:

We got up to 100 a couple days. They took one out on a stretcher on Saturday. They are not passing out water or anything.

Another CAP worker said:

Its hot, sweaty and uncomfortable! Im tired of that every year. 100 degrees it feels like. And Ford is comfortable with their employees working in these conditions.

A Stellantis worker at the companys Detroit Assembly Complex said:

We have been told we cant have plug-in fans, just as the heat has reached over 90 degrees! That is unfair and unacceptable! And why doesnt the job provide huge fans on the ceilings or something!? Not everyone can afford one of their own.

A General Motors worker in Flint, Michigan, said:

Its honestly hard to breathe. This is intolerable. I am lucky enough to have an air conditioner nearby, but my shirt is soaked in sweat still. Everyone looks miserable and its hard to move around because its muggy and so hot.

One woman posted on Facebook, How many people have to pass out before they close the shop?

At the Mack Trucks plant in Macungie, Pennsylvania, management is running the plant at full tilt after several recent down days due to parts shortages. One worker told the WSWS:

They are running full tilt in the worst heat. It wouldnt surprise me if the company is intentionally stressing workers in order to drive higher paid workers at risk into injury or worse. And the UAW is complicit in all of this.

Another Mack Trucks worker said:

You'd think they'd have a little mercy. They don't. They could care less about us. I don't think the line has been down all night. All they care about is making money off of us.

His co-worker added:

The plant has been 90 degrees or hotter every day this week that we've been in. It's partially this hot because they have this plant painted dark grey to look modern. It just makes it hotter in here. There was an injury on day shift, they have something up on the TV about it being a slip and fall. Everyone is exhausted, that's why there's injuries.

Delivery and logistics workers are also being heavily affected. This includes workers at UPS, where both warehouses and delivery vehicles have no air conditioning. A sellout contract pushed through last year by the Teamsters claimed to guarantee air conditioning for drivers, but this only applies to new vehicles. Given that older vehicles can remain in service for decades, this means the vast majority of drivers will go without air conditioning for years to come.

A UPS warehouse worker from Southern California sent a photo from inside his facility. He wrote:

The conveyor belt is full of junk. The facility is covered in a thick layer of dust. Obviously, the air quality is poor. Stuffing 600-900 packages in these trailers is back-breaking work.

Heavy boxes stuffed into the back of a UPS truck docked at a warehouse in Southern California

They havent changed out the water filters in like two years. Asking them for water is like theyre doing you the greatest favor, and they bring only one bottle if they have it. Most of the time they say they dont have it. But I have seen literally pallets of water in the front offices, and they choose not to give us any.

A gig worker for Uber Eats and Instacart in eastern Washington said:

I have to do deliveries for the next three days using my own vehicle. I cant run the air conditioning because it uses up a lot of gas, and I cant afford enough gas if I run the A/C. I dont have A/C where I live either. Im over 60 years old.

Stacy, an Amazon worker in Detroit, told the WSWS:

Its been over 90 degrees inside the warehouse. Everybody is complaining how hot it is, and there are no fans. The fans used to be connected to the plastic wrap they stuff the boxes with. In order to save money, they are using paper now, so they took away the fans. The only air conditioning is in the break rooms. We are ready to call [the Occupational Safety and Health Administration] to see if its legal for them to keep us from taking time off even when you are sick. If you dont have any UPT [unpaid time off] and you go to the hospital, you can lose your job.

Postal workers are also heavily affected by high temperatures. Thursday marked the one-year anniversary of the death of letter carrier Eugene Gates in Dallas, Texas. Gates, who was 66 years old, collapsed on a day when the heat index in the city reached 113 F (45 C). Gates had recently been written up for the first time in his nearly four-decade career with the US Postal Service, a result of the invasive new TIAREAP monitoring system.

A Detroit letter carrier said, I almost melted to death. Its hot. When the rain came, it cooled off a little, but the mail got wet and my bag got heavier to carry. Commenting on the bipartisan plans to cut more jobs at USPS, she said, I dont know how long a future we have. We need to have money for the things we need here, not for war.
On June 10, almost immediately following the end of classes at Chicago Public Schools (CPS), Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a former teacher and Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) staff member, moved forward with the eviction of migrants from city-run shelters. The evictions by the Johnson administration are part of a general attack on immigrants by the Democratic Party as it turns to the right in search of an alliance with Republicans on war in the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

Children outside of a migrant shelter Wednesday, March 13, 2024, in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago [AP Photo/Erin Hooley]

The city reports around 970 migrants have already been evicted from shelters. More than 120 members of families were to be evicted by June 18, with another 4,500 who had previously received exemptions to face eviction in the coming weeks, according to WTTW.

Once evicted, migrants are able to return to a downtown landing zone, where they may reapply for a spot in the shelter, provided there is space available. Of those already evicted, 554 have applied to be readmitted to the shelter system, with 536 ultimately reentering.

Asylum-seeking migrant families with children in school had been exempted from the 60-day shelter limit Johnson imposed last November. Evictions of single men and women from city shelters began in mid-March. Though the Johnson administration had initially planned to evict families during the school year, advocates for immigrants and the homeless pleaded with Johnson to wait until the end of the school year in order to give the children some stability in their schooling. The mayor no doubt conceded this demand primarily to avoid protests, including any independent action taken by teachers to defend migrant students and families.

Alyssa Phillips, an attorney for the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, spoke to the Chicago Tribune, Going through this eviction process is stressful and very challenging for them.

The treatment of migrant families and especially the evictions are widely opposed by Chicago Public Schools teachers, who have complained that the CTU silences their criticisms on social media channels. One CPS teacher wrote on Instagram:

Can we talk about CTU...? They not only refused to oppose the evictions but also muted me on our members only page when I posted once a day with new info to try and educate teachers by dosing info in small parts from the history leading to this moment, to US policy, to the current conditions and government imposed barriers for peoples independence, to spending priorities, to NYCs union opposition of the same policy, and more. ... They also refused to ask a commenter to edit her wildly anti-Latino post or even remove the word illegals she used as a descriptor for a whole people. Its bad.

Conditions in the citys 17 migrant shelters are appalling. There are more than 6,500 migrants remaining in the hastily constructed and unsanitary shelter system, according to the Tribune. Many are overcrowded, and the conditions have led to large number of illnesses and even deaths, including a five-year-old boy who died on December 17 at a shelter in Pilsen. More recently, there was a measles outbreak at the same facility which required the dispatch of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials to keep it under control.

The Johnson administration has attempted to keep conditions in the shelters as unpleasant as possible with the goal of convincing migrants that they are unwelcome in Chicago. More than 43,000 migrants40,000 from Venezuela alonehave arrived in Chicago since 2022, primarily bussed from Texas by fascistic Governor Greg Abbott.

Last week at a press conference, Johnson expressed his hope that migrants would move on to some other city, saying, If there are beds that are available, theyll stay where they are, but the ultimate goal is resettlement. These are temporary shelters. The standard and the expectation is that people can actually live sustainable, fruitful lives in Chicago or anywhere else in America and so choose.

Most of the migrants are not currently eligible to work in the United States. Lacking the funds or connections to either find new places to live or leave the city, many are simply joining the ranks of the homeless. A yearly point-in-time count of homeless Chicagoans conducted in January found that 18,000 people were experiencing homelessness, three times more than the previous year.

Additionally, a CPS count of students in temporary living situations found a record 23,470 such students in May, 46 percent more than in 2023. Though CPS is supposed to support transportation for these students so they are able to stay at their schools, this can be impossible given the conditions migrant families confront. One family interviewed by CBS Chicago reported being moved into a shelter a one-and-a-half hour commute away from their old one in the Pilsen neighborhood.

Democratic Alderman Andre Vasquez, chair of the City Councils Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights, feigned confusion about Johnson and the Democratic Partys aims, saying, When we have a mayor who talks about investing in people while actually evicting people, it just doesnt add up. The part that to me is puzzling is the governor, the mayor, and the Cook County Board president had an agreement on 15,000 beds throughout the end of the yearor at least even until the DNC.

According to Vasquez then, Johnson, with the backing of Cook County Board President and Democratic Party Chair Toni Preckwinkle and billionaire Gov. J.B. Pritzker, is evicting asylum seekers and intensifying the homelessness problem among an especially vulnerable population, despite having committed to maintaining nearly 9,000 more shelter spaces than are currently being occupied.

The city councils Latino Caucus, of which Vasquez is vice-chair, issued a letter calling on the mayor to end the 60-day eviction policy, noting reports of new arrivals sheltering in parks and on the streets.

The evictions take place as the Johnson administration has deepened its orientation to the growth of far-right, anti-immigrant and chauvinist sentiments among black business owners and the upper middle class. One week after the beginning of migrant family evictions, Johnson announced the creation of a task force on reparations for Black Chicagoans. The task force promises to examine all policies that have harmed Black Chicagoans from the slavery era to present day and make a series of recommendations that will serve as appropriate remedies.

At a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony, Johnson framed all recent political history as a result of anti-black racism saying:

The legacy of slavery, the aftermath, still echoes today. We saw it when previous administrations sold off public assets. We saw the harm when previous administrations closed black schools, and they shut down public housing, when they raided the pensions. These anti-black, anti-business endeavors ... have caused tremendous harm and pain.

Johnson claimed that reparations would unlock the doors of prosperity to fully flow through the neighborhoods that have been disinvested in for decades.

He concluded his speech, God bless the blackest city in the world. This is not simply the product of political and geographical ignorance but expresses the outlook of a privileged social layer that has embraced racial division and conflict. The WSWS has previously written on the Johnsons black nationalist politics, as well as the anti-immigrant and chauvinist views expressed by city council leaders, including Democratic Socialists of America Ald. Jeanette Taylor and Ald. Jason Ervin.

Openly chauvinist views were expressed by Alderman Emma Mitts, who opposed resources for migrants during a city council debate in April, saying, I dont see the black folks getting that kind of help. She continued, English is supposed to be the American language. But, no, not now. Because you [wont] get a job if you dont speak bilingual. Youre not qualified.

An article in the TriiBE publication highlighted the Johnson administrations claim to be the blackest in the citys history. Johnson boasts that his cabinet is 44 percent black, while African Americans comprise 29 percent of the citys population. He celebrates these appointments to one of the most corrupt municipal bodies in the US, having achieved nothing of note for the hundreds of thousands of working class families in the city while attacking the most vulnerablehomeless migrant families. This clearly expresses that, for the grasping upper middle class, reparations means the redistribution of power and positions at the top, among a privileged layer, who will dutifully carry out the vicious class policies of the citys wealthy.

Leading the reparations task force will be newly appointed Chief Equity Officer Carla Kupe, an attorney and Diversity-Equity-Inclusion consultant. Kupe will have a $500,000 budget for this effort, which will no doubt be paid out to other connected experts and political allies. According to reported figures, a racial reparations program in north suburban Evanston appears to have resulted in housing payments or direct disbursements of $25,000, totaling around $3 million, to at most 120 people.

Those who oppose attacks on immigrants must draw the lesson that any fight for the rights of migrants and asylum seekers must break completely with the Democratic Party and its pseudoleft DSA faction. The struggle for the rights of migrants is the struggle for the rights of the working class as a whole, demonstrated so foully in the negative in the experience of the Johnson administration and the promotion of race-based nationalism in the service of the interests of the capitalist class, both large and small.
Frances neo-fascist National Rally (Rassemblement National-RN) is aligning itself with NATOs war escalation against nuclear-armed Russia. It is abandoning its ambiguous tactical criticisms of Macrons military policies and its campaign promise to withdraw France from NATO.

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]

After coming first in the European elections, RN leads in upcoming snap legislative elections President Emmanuel Macron scheduled for June 30 and July 7 after dissolving the National Assembly. Macrons Renaissance party faced a humiliating defeat in the European elections. Should it form a government, the RN will recklessly wage war while carrying out savage assaults against the working class at home.

On Wednesday, RN President Jordan Bardella made clear that his party would not jeopardize NATOs well-advanced preparation of direct military intervention against Russia. At the Eurosatory defence exhibition in Villepinte, a suburb of Paris, Bardella said he has no intention of calling into question Frances international defence commitments if he comes to power. There is a question of credibility vis-a-vis our European partners and our NATO allies, said Bardella.

Backing NATOs arming of Ukraines far-right puppet regime against Russia, Bardella said he would like Ukraine to have all the ammunition and equipment [it] needs to hold the line. He stressed the extremely serious international context, with the war in Ukraine on Europes doorstep.

He echoed NATOs earlier promises, since broken, not to let Ukraine use weapons it provided against Russian targets, as that could lead to direct war with Russia. In June 2022, Macron declared, We will not go to war with Russia; therefore, it was agreed not to supply certain weaponsin particular, attack aircraft or tanks.

Bardella claimed his red line will not change, as he opposes sending equipment that could have escalating consequences in Eastern Europe. He added, I do not intend to deliver, in particular, long-range missiles or weapons that could enable Ukraine to strike Russian territory.

These are simply political lies. The NATO powers have violated every promise, crossed every red line they drew, just as Bardella now is abandoning his rhetoric against war and NATO. Indeed, Macron and NATO are planning to deploy troops in Ukraine after recently authorising the far-right Ukrainian regime to use US-NATO long-range missiles against Russian targets.

Bardella also pledged to massively accelerate Macrons war economy measures, which divert money from social spending to build a massive war machine. This took the most blatant form of Macrons pension cuts last year, which he imposed with the assistance of the union bureaucracies to divert money from pensions to military spending.

Bardella said, the war economy that has been implemented by Emmanuel Macron has been very light for two years now. I intend to continue this effort to rearm the country, both in our defence capabilities, in the increase in the armys budget, in the budgetary efforts that have been made in recent years and that we have supported.

These remarks must be taken as a warning that an RN government would be a violently reactionary fascistic regime mounting massive social attacks on the working class. While implementing ruthless police state attacks against immigrants and social protests, it would intensify wars against Russia and Frances former African colonies.

RN is aligning with Macrons war as NATO prepares direct military intervention against Russia in response to the NATO-backed Ukrainian regimes military collapse. It is ever clearer that Macron dissolved the National Assembly and called new elections to carry out a far-right restructuring of the entire capitalist political establishment, from the RN to the pseudo-left parties coalescing in the New Popular Front (NPF). All of these forces are being groomed to participate in US-NATO wars targeting Russia, Iran and ultimately China.

Macrons decision comes after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called snap elections for July 4. New governments will be formed ahead of the upcoming July 9-11 NATO summit in Washington, which will discuss plans to escalate the war against Russia.

The RN is, however, falling into line with NATO, abandoning its earlier nationalist rhetoric calling for a more independent French foreign policy and withdrawal from NATOs military command. During the 2022 presidential election campaign, RN leader Marine Le Pen pledged to leave the integrated command of NATO to preserve Frances independence.

But with two weeks to go before the snap legislative elections, and with a growing possibility that it might form a government, the RN is busily reassuring the French capitalist class that it will aggressively wage a NATO war with Russia.

Speaking in Paris to Politico and the Europa Nova think tank, Bardella said he opposes leaving NATOs integrated command while the war in Ukraine is still going on. He said, You dont change treaties in a time of war. Asked about Le Pens April 2022 remarks, two months after the Russia-Ukraine war began, Bardella retorted that they did not not take the war into account.

Bardellas pro-war remarks reveal the reactionary and false character of earlier attempts by the New Popular Front to attack the RN as a pro-Russian party. The RN was, of course, capable of flirting with the reactionary post-Soviet capitalist regime led by President Vladimir Putin to present itself as less militaristic than Macron. However, it remained fundamentally a political instrument of French imperialism and its policy of wars of plunder abroad and class war at home.

In the now-emerging world war, the RN is building on the tradition of its forebears in the Nazi-collaborationist Vichy regime during World War II. Indeed, Vichy sent French volunteers to join the Waffen-SS Charlemagne division to wage the Nazis war of extermination against the Soviet Union. They fought alongside the Ukrainian Nazi-collaborationist forces led by Stepan Bandera who are now worshipped by officials of the NATO-led puppet regime in Kiev.

The RNs sudden rallying to NATOs war with Russia again exposes how its growth has depended critically on the political bankruptcy of the forces the capitalist media present as the left. A key RN voting base is workers in former industrial regions of northern and eastern France deindustrialized by successive Socialist Party (PS) governments. The PS is now at the center of the New Popular Front alliance cobbled together by Jean-Luc Melenchons France Unbowed (LFI).

The New Popular Front will not attack the RN for its fascistic calls for war with Russia because it also aggressively supports NATOs war on Russia. Its election programme calls for delivery of appropriate weapons and the sending of peacekeepers to Ukraine to defeat the war of aggression of Vladimir Putin.

An international, socialist anti-war movement must be built in the working class. Workers and youth can fight the NATO war escalation against Russia and the resulting social attacks, however, only by opposing both the RN and the NPF. This requires building support in the working class internationally for the socialist revolutionary perspective advanced by the International Committee of the Fourth International and its French section, the Parti de legalite socialiste.
Last week, the House of Representatives voted to make enrollment in the US Selective Service database automatic, prompting a flood of worried statements by young people and parents on social media about the reimposition of the draft.

While all American men are required by law to sign up for the Selective Service, the bill passed by the House would make the process automatic. It would still need to pass the Senate to become law.

US Marine recruits on Parris Island, S.C.[Credit: US Navy]

The move comes against the backdrop of the war between Russia and NATO in Ukraine, the largest war in Europe since World War II, statements by US officials that American troops will be deployed to Ukraine, and US allies expanding or reintroducing the draft.

In this context, the bill, while publicly framed as a mere bookkeeping measure, was seen by significant sections of the population as preparatory toward an introduction of the draft.

In posts on TikTok and Instagram, young people and parents expressed their fears of being drafted into the military and their opposition to war.

Yall aint taking me, said one woman in a video on TikTok that was liked over 26,000 times.

Theyve been able to get away with a whole lot of stuff. There hasnt been a whole lot of uprising. But we are not going to let our young men fight a war that we dont agree with and that we dont want.

In a 2023 video that went viral last week following the House vote announcement, one young TikTok user asked, What has my country ever done for me besides make it impossible to buy a house and give me any sort of student loan relief or affordable healthcare?

The outpouring of concern, opposition and ridicule prompted local news coverage. In an article entitled How do Metro Detroiters feel about the possible Selective Service mandate?, local news station WXYZ encountered near-universal concern and opposition to the move.

When asked, Are you scared? about a potential reintroduction of the draft, Southfield resident Brandon Richards replied:

Very, very. Especially with everything going on in the world right now and the stuff thats happening. I dont think its fair that my son would have to go and fight for his country.

The response from the US national media, however, was to dismiss public concern over the expansion of the draft as the result of misinformation.

An article in Rolling Stone was headlined, Gen Z Fears a Military Draft Because of TikTok Misinformation. It stated:

TikTok is awash in warnings that young men in the US could soon be drafted into military service and panicked reactions to that prospectbut all of it is predicated on a misinterpretation of a bill currently making its way through Congress.

No, young people do not fear and oppose a military draft because of misinformation. They fear and oppose a military draft because they have eyes to see and ears to hear.

The war in Ukraine between Russia and NATO has already led to the deaths of over half a million people. Videos have circulated widely of Ukrainian conscription officers prowling the streets of Kiev and other cities and pulling young people off of public transit and out of workplaces.

Against the backdrop of this escalating war, US President Joe Bidens State of the Union address was a warmongering rant, in which the president declared, In January 1941, Franklin Roosevelt came to this chamber to speak to the nation. ... War was raging in Europe. Biden made a parallel to the present, declaring, My purpose tonight is to wake up the Congress and alert the American people.

Last month, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Charles Q. Brown told the New York Times that the NATO military alliance will eventually send significant numbers of active-duty NATO troops to Ukraine, which the newspaper said meant the deployment was inevitable.

French President Emmanuel Macron, meanwhile, has announced that he is working to form a coalition of countries to send troops to Ukraine.

Commenting on an article by the Times reporting the changes to the Selective Service, WSWS International Editorial Board Chairman David North said on X:

This @nytimes article on reinstating the draft is an example of the way public opinion is prepared for major changes in military policy. By the time it is reported that a policy is being debated, one can reasonably assume that it is well on its way to being implemented.

This year, Latvia, a NATO member, reintroduced conscription, forcing all young people between the ages of 18 and 27 to enter the armed services for 11 months.

Meanwhile, Denmark, another NATO member, has announced that it will expand the draft to include women starting in 2026.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pledged to reintroduce conscription if he wins the July 4 national election. Under his plan, at least 30,000 18-year-olds would be drafted into the military each year. He declared the move would create a shared sense of purpose among our young people and a renewed sense of pride in our country.

Last month, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said, Im convinced that Germany needs some kind of military conscription. He stated that the countrys decision to end the draft was a mistake, adding, times have changed.

The German military said the same month that it is actively considering the return of conscription. The ministry is currently clarifying whether general compulsory service or military service makes sense, it stated.

In March, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated:

[W]ar is no longer a concept from the past. It is real, and it started over two years ago. The most worrying thing at the moment is that literally any scenario is possible. ... I know it sounds devastating, especially for the younger generation, but we have to get used to the fact that a new era has begun: the pre-war era.
On Wednesday, French media outlets reported that President Emmanuel Macron may invoke Article 16 of the constitution to suspend parliament and assume emergency powers. This starkly exposes critical issues posed to workers by the Ukraine war and snap elections in Britain and France: The threat of authoritarian rule does not come only from far-right forces like Frances National Rally (RN). The entire capitalist establishment, desperate to escalate war with Russia and class war at home, is debating a turn to dictatorship.

French Communist Party (PCF) National Secretary and Member of Parliament Fabien Roussel shakes hands with France's President Emmanuel Macron after talks at the presidential Elysee Palace, in Paris, Monday, June 21, 2022. [AP Photo/Ludovic Marin]

Workers cannot fight these threats if they are subordinated to the social-democratic and pseudo-left forces such as the New Popular Front in France, which supports war with Russia. Macrons threat to suspend parliament exposes the New Popular Fronts pledge to fight Macron and the RN at the ballot box by winning a parliamentary majority and forming a new capitalist government as empty and bankrupt.

Article 16 of Frances constitution, if invoked by the president, grants him indefinite emergency powers to suspend parliament and rule unchecked. This article states:

If the institutions of the Republic, the Nations independence, its territorial integrity or the respect of its international engagements are gravely threatened, and the normal functioning of constitutional authorities is interrupted, the President of the Republic takes the measures demanded by these circumstances, officially consulting the prime minister, the speakers of houses of parliament and the Constitutional Council. He informs the Nation in a message.

No reason has been given publicly for why Macron might invoke this article. Europe1 radio says he fears excesses in protests after the July 7 election, while the far-right CNews channel says it could be necessary if no party obtains a [parliamentary] majority after the elections. Whatever the justification, invoking Article 16 would be an unconstitutional bid by Macron to become dictator by the divine right of the banks.

The decisive issue in Macrons snap elections, like UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks calling of July 4 snap elections in Britain, is NATOs war against Russia. These elections aim to carry out a far-right restructuring of official politics before the July 9 NATO summit in Washington, which will approve a massive escalation of the war.

The ruling classes of the NATO powers know that there is overwhelming popular opposition to their conspiracies, above all in the working class. A June 9 Eurasia Group poll found 94 percent of Americans and 88 percent of West Europeans want NATO to negotiate peace with Russia in Ukraine.

But NATO is determined to proceed with its stated war plans for a strategic defeat of Russia as part of a broader strategy of world conquest. NATO planners aim to force regime-change in Moscow, loot Russias oil and strategic minerals, force Russia to withdraw military support from Syria and other countries targeted by NATO and ultimately use Russia as a base for a neo-colonial war on China. Macrons plotting of dictatorship is a warning: The capitalist class does not intend to let democracy or the workers stand in the way of its global war agenda.

Workers cannot stop the war by voting for the New Popular Front, the alliance of the big-business Socialist Party (PS), the Stalinist French Communist Party (PCF) and the Greens called by officials of Jean-Luc Melenchons France Unbowed (LFI) party. The New Popular Front is a full participant in the right-wing reorganization of the political establishment the ruling class is trying to carry out via the snap elections.

The New Popular Front is not the Popular Front of 1934-1938 that brought together mass workers parties--the social-democratic French Section of the Workers international (SFIO) and the Stalinist Communist Party (PC)--with the bourgeois liberal Radical Party.

Trotsky warned against the counterrevolutionary role of this alliance, which tied the workers to bourgeois liberalism. It subordinated the masses of workers in the SFIO and PC to corrupt cliques in the Radical Party, led by figures like Edouard Herriot and Edouard Daladier. After selling out the 1936 French general strike and blocking a struggle for state power and socialism by the workers, the Popular Front collapsed and paved the way for the French ruling elites 1940 collaboration with Nazism.

Trotskyists could, however, for a time enter into the SFIO, and despite the SFIO leaderships bitter hostility work among the SFIO rank-and-file. Indeed, the workers parties in the Popular Front carried out policies unthinkable for todays New Popular Front. They formed the Always Ready to Serve (TPPS) workers militia to fight attacks on the labor movement by fascist groups like the Cagoule, and proposed major social reforms, including the eight-hour day and paid holidays.

The New Popular Front brings together the PS, a longtime bourgeois party of French imperialism since its foundation in 1971, with parties of the affluent middle class. These include the PCF bureaucracy, which has lost its working class base over the decades since the Stalinist dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, and the populist LFI party. It does not propose any significant social reforms and aggressively signals support for NATOs war with Russia.

Its election program calls for delivery of appropriate weapons and the sending of peacekeepers to Ukraine to defeat the war of aggression of [Russian President] Vladimir Putin.

As Melenchon declares his desire to throw our differences into the river and reconcile with the pro-austerity PS, New Popular Front officials are calling for a massive increase in military spending, which could only be funded by deep attacks on wages and social programs. Asked about his policy towards Russia, LFI official Francois Ruffin, who launched the first appeal to form the New Popular Front, said:

Let it start, very simply, by building our war industry. Europe must regain its sovereignty in arms, cannon, warplanes, the full gamut of weapons, materials and technology, it should no longer depend on the Americans. And it must give itself the means to do so.  For the war effort, we must watch carefully over the unity of the nation.

Ruffins call to enforce national unity to divert resources to the war machine is thoroughly reactionary. It also reveals why LFI backed the union bureaucracies sell-out of explosive protests and mass strikes against Macrons pension cuts last year. These cuts took tens of billions of euros from retirees to finance Macrons record military budget increase, a policy Ruffin supports.

The union bureaucracies supporting the New Popular Front pose no obstacle to a shift far to the right in official politics. When worried BFM-TV journalists asked whether a general strike would erupt if the RN took power on July 7, General Confederation of Labor (CGT) Secretary Sophie Binet reassured them:

The CGT, in all its 130-year history, has never called a general strike.  I cannot tell you what we would do on July 8. We would get together and take the most collective decision possible.

NATO escalation against Russia will provoke explosive opposition. But these events are an urgent warning: A movement against war and dictatorship can only be built from below, mobilizing rank-and-file workers independently of and against the bureaucracies.

Amid a mortal crisis of world capitalism, what is above all required is the building of the Parti de legalite socialiste (PES), the French section of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), as the Trotskyist opposition to the New Popular Front. Just as there can be no socialism without democracy, there will be no democracy without a struggle of workers in France and internationally for socialism.
The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) achieved its best-ever result in the elections to the student parliament at Berlins Humboldt University (HU). The IYSSE will enter the student parliament for the 10th time in a row with five deputies.

The IYSSE received 211 votes and thus achieved 7.7 percent of the vote. This amounts to a more than quadrupling of its vote compared to the last elections and a more than doubling of its proportional share, due to a sharp increase in voter turnout. In 2023, the IYSSE received 47 votes (2.7 percent). The IYSSEs vote increase was the largest among all lists that stood for election.

The IYSSE received 13 percent of the vote at Campus Nord, where many medical and biology students study. In the small, decentralized polling station of the Institute of Islamic Theology, the IYSSE received every vote cast.

The IYSSE is thus the fifth-strongest group in parliament, winning more votes than the student organisation of the Christian Democratic Union (RCDS, 5.2 percent) and the student organisation of the Free Democrats, one of the three parties in the federal coalition government, (LHG, 6.4 percent). The Jusos, the youth group of the Social Democrats, received 10.3 percent, while Grunboldt (Greens) took 13.7 percent. The largest group is the non-partisan and programmatically amorphous Left List with 32.2 percent. Die Linke.SDS, the student association of the collapsing Left Party, did not stand for election.

The increase in votes for the IYSSE was attained in the face of repression on the part of university management. They initially banned the IYSSEs election events and then only approved them with severe restrictions. In addition, the IYSSEs posters were torn down by university employees and right-wing groups. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Verfassungsschutz, Germanys main domestic spy agency) included the IYSSE in its report shortly before the election. In the reactionary tradition of Germanys anti-socialist laws, it denounced the IYSSE as a left-wing extremist and anti-constitutional organisation.

IYSSE rally against the genocide in Gaza on December 13, 2023 at Humboldt University in Berlin

The political significance of the IYSSEs strong election result extends beyond the Humboldt University campus. At HU, the extremely acute situation in Germany and internationally finds concentrated expression. While the ruling class is risking nuclear war in the war against Russia, returning to the methods of genocide in Gaza and militarising society to achieve its geostrategic interests, it is employing repressive measures against anyone who opposes imperialist militarism.

Left-wing cultural centers are closed when they criticize the genocide in Gaza, students are attacked when they protest against the war, and professors who speak out against police violence are threatened with the cancellation of research funds. The government is implementing its war policy with unrestrained brutality and establishing a police state.

At Humboldt University, this is finding particularly sharp expression. In April, a peaceful and legal demonstration in front of the HU main building was assaulted by the police in close cooperation with university management. When the students occupied the Institute of Social Sciences in May, the police beat them unconscious, mistreated a journalist, and arrested a lawyer who was on-site in a professional capacity. Investigations were even opened against members of the student council (RefRat), although they had come to the occupied institute as mediators, together with the university president.

As a result, events on the topics of genocide, antisemitism and war were only allowed to take place under the strictest conditions. For example, at the IYSSE election events, every participant was checked and searched by security guards. Anyone who could not present a student ID card was rejected at the entrance. Even a district representative of the Left Party, Rudiger Deissler, was not admitted to the event despite providing appropriate evidence. Other critical student groups were also affected by the procedure.

The election result at HU shows that this policy confronts broad opposition and that many students are not intimidated. Taken together, the student organisations of all parties represented in the Bundestag received only 35.6 percent of the votes. Almost all other lists had sharply criticized the deploying of the police against students during the election campaign.

The enormous opposition finds its most conscious expression in the vote for the IYSSE. It was the only election list to condemn the genocide in Gaza and the war against Russia. The IYSSE election statement declared:

We students cannot win alone. The only social force capable of ending the genocide and defending democratic rights is the international working class, the great majority that creates all the wealth of society. As the youth organisation of the Fourth International, we stand for the unification of workers across all national, religious, and ethnic boundaries in the struggle against capitalism and war. The brutal violence against opponents of war shows that it is pointless to appeal to the government. A world war can only be prevented if capitalism is overthrown and replaced by a socialist society in which the needs of working people come before the interests of profit.

The IYSSE already put forward this perspective at a rally in front of the HU main building last December, which was organized in cooperation with other student groups and to which 300 students came. Shortly thereafter, the IYSSE invited the editor-in-chief of the World Socialist Web Site, David North, to HU who delivered a lecture placing the genocide in Gaza in its historical context and confronted the nationalist ideology of Zionism with the perspective of international socialism. The lecture was viewed over 10,000 times on YouTube and also published in German in the volume Die Logik des Zionismus (The Logic of Zionism) by Mehring Verlag.

Shortly before the election, the IYSSE organised two events at the Universitys main lecture theatre. In the first, titled How to continue the fight against genocide and police violence, the IYSSE showed that the genocide in Gaza and the NATO war against Russia represent two fronts of a global conflict for the redivision of the world. As in the 20th century, capitalism is leading to world war again. A movement against genocide must therefore be a movement against capitalism and cannot rely on any capitalist regime, but only on the international working class.

At the second event, the IYSSE discussed the ideological dimensions of this question. Under the title, The false accusation of antisemitism and the trivialisation of Nazi crimes at HU, they showed how HU has been systematically converted into a centre of German militarism. Professors have downplayed the crimes of German imperialism in order to prepare new crimes, and the university has always become a stage for the worst war propaganda. IYSSE lead candidate Gregor Kahl condemned in a video the glorification of the war dead as heroes displayed in an exhibition in the foyer of the university.

IYSSE candidate Gregor Kahl

The IYSSE made clear that the current campaign against alleged antisemitism is part of a falsification of history to benefit German imperialism. The Holocaust is torn from its concrete historical context of the Nazis anti-communism and the war of annihilation of German imperialism. This exonerates German imperialism and instead creates a racist myth that serves to justify another genocide. The real conclusion from the Holocaust is to never allow war, fascism and genocide to happen again.

The IYSSEs clear political perspective and its relentless struggle against right-wing and militarist ideology at HU have found a strong resonance among the student body. Just as the repression and propaganda at HU is an expression of a general tendency, the election result of the IYSSE also expresses the potential for young people around the world to be won over to a socialist movement against war and its root, capitalism. The IYSSE will make this election the starting point to intensify its work at HU and to expand it throughout Germany and internationally.
After Fijis parliamentarians voted last month to give themselves huge pay rises, the main opposition FijiFirst, the largest party in parliament, is facing collapse. This follows the resignation of party founder and former Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama and ex-Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka in Sydney during an official visit to Australia, Oct. 16, 2023. [AP Photo/Rick Rycroft]

An overwhelming majority of MPs voted to accept a recommendation from the Special Committee on Emoluments for pay rises of 138 percent, as well as sharp increases for the prime minister (22 percent) and the president (42 percent). Fiji Village reported that 40 MPs voted for the increases17 from FijiFirstwhile seven were against and five abstained.

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, who heads a three-party coalition government, played down widespread criticism of the outrageous increases, telling Fiji Village that MPs dealt with affairs of the state, and they were currently paid like a pretty junior military officer.

An ordinary MPs salary rises from $FJ50,000 ($US22,104) to $FJ100,000 ($US44,209), the presidents salary from $FJ130,000 ($US57,450, non-taxable) to $FJ185,000 ($US81,766) and the prime ministers salary from $FJ263,000 ($US116,235) to $FJ320,000 ($US141,420). Large increases were approved for cabinet ministers, assistant ministers, the Speaker and the opposition leader.

The emoluments committee, made up of MPs from both sides of the House, also recommended the reinstatement of tax and duty-free vehicle purchases for cabinet ministers, increases in overseas travel allowances for the president and prime minister, an official residency for the Speaker and the opposition leader, plus medical and life insurance benefits for all MPs. All were approved.

Bainimaramastill leading FijiFirst while serving a one-year jail sentence for corruptionand acting secretary-general Fiayaz Koya responded by sacking all the partys MPs who voted for the increase. They informed the Speaker the MPs had been expelled for not following a party directive to vote against or abstain. The vacant seats were to be filled by remaining FijiFirst candidates.

One of those sacked was FijiFirsts parliamentary leader Inia Seruiratu, who declared that MPs had wants and needs and church commitments to justify the salary hike. Senior MP Jone Usamate said: We are disputing the legality of the termination letter and as far as we are concerned we are still Members of Parliament.

The largest salary and benefits boost ever for MPs received widespread criticism, including on social media. The Dialogue Fiji organisation described them as out of touch with the economic realities faced by the majority of Fijians and their sentiment. Director Nilesh Lal said they were utterly insensitive and inappropriate while ordinary people were subjected to austerity measures and fiscal consolidation policies.

The Registrar of Political Parties, Ana Mataiciwa, warned that FijiFirst must amend its constitution by June 28 or risk deregistration. She told local media the partys constitution does not have guidelines on how internal party disputes are resolved, which breaches the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act.

Seeking to distance themselves, on June 7 Bainimarama and Sayed-Khaiyum suddenly announced their own resignations, along with most of FijiFirsts senior officials. These included president Ratu Joji Satalaka, vice presidents Selai Adimaitoga and Ravindran Nair, acting general secretary Faiyaz Koya, treasurer Hem Chand and founding member Salesh Kumar.

The grubby affair further exposes the vast gulf that separates Fijis venal and corrupt ruling elite from the mass of ordinary people. Both current and former prime ministers are ex-military strong men, responsible for carrying out coupsRabuka twice in 1987 and Bainimarama in 2006. Bainimarama established FijiFirst in 2014 to give himself a democratic facade for fraudulent elections that year and remained in power until defeated by Rabukas coalition in 2022.

Successive administrations have been anti-democratic and anti-working class, imposing harsh austerity measures while intimidating opposition parties with repressive media restrictions and violence by the police and military. Sedition provisions in Bainimaramas Crimes Act and Public Order Act have repeatedly been used to target journalists and government critics.

Assemblies, protests and strikes have been routinely banned. In March 2019 a stoppage by 33 air traffic controllers at Fiji Airports was declared unlawful. Afterwards the government banned two May Day protests and arrested over 30 workers and trade union officials for breaches of public order. They included protesting workers who had been sacked and locked out by the Fiji Water Authority.

Bainimaramas imprisonment is bound up with tactical disagreements within the ruling elite, which confronts a worsening economic and social crisis. The former PM was convicted in May for sidelining an investigation into graft at the University of South Pacific to protect pro-chancellor Winston Thompson, a former Fijian ambassador to the United States with close links to FijiFirst and the regime.

Amid an escalating cost-of-living crisis, thirty percent of the population lives below the poverty line. The COVID pandemic sharply exacerbated the social disaster: unemployment, around 6 percent before COVID, increased to 35 percent. The tourism industry, Fijis main foreign exchange earner, temporarily collapsed, sidelining 100,000 jobs. Half the countrys 880,000 population experienced extreme financial hardship and food shortages.

The tragedy is escalating amid a burgeoning methamphetamine epidemic. TVNZ Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver has reported that Fiji is awash with meth, and the drugs trade threatens the country with a major societal breakdown.

Earlier this year nearly 5 tonnes of meth, worth $FJ1.6 billion, was found in two houses in Nadi. The size of the seizure would be enough to feed the Australian and New Zealand markets, where much of it goes, for a whole year.

With no drug rehabilitation program, the Womens Crisis Centre is on the front line of the desperate social problem. Director Ilisapeci Veibuli said that with people living in extended families its happening in the villages, its happening in the schools. Even children are using it. Village structures are falling apart and children are being used as mules.

Dreaver reported that over 300 street kids in the capital, Suva are fighting for their future amid the squalor. The epidemic is also sparking an alarming surge in HIV and AIDS due to sharing of needles.

There is corruption among the police. More than a tonne of the Nadi meth seizure is currently missing. Dealers boast about having our guys in the police force who are bribed to interfere with evidence and lessen charges. Investigations are ongoing into former police commissioner, Sitiveni Qiliho who was jailed along with Bainimarama for abuse of office.

The ruling elite, meanwhile, is cementing itself as a collaborator in the US-led wars in the Middle East and Europe and mounting confrontation with China.

As the second largest island country in the Pacific behind Papua New Guinea, Fiji is of vital strategic importance. While chairing the Pacific Islands Forum in 2021-22, Bainimarama operated as an ally of US imperialism, supporting the NATO confrontation with Russia in Ukraine and signing military agreements with Australia and New Zealand.

The pro-war agenda is being advanced by the current regime. Last October Fiji joined other Pacific Island states to vote against a UN resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. In February this year, an attorney representing Palestine at the International Court of Justice revealed that Fiji and the United States were the only two countries to side with Israel at an ICJ hearing at the time.

Most recently Fijis President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky at last weekends fraudulent Summit for Peace in Ukraine, held in Switzerland. Katonivere noted Fiji had voted in support of UN resolutions calling for the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops and highlighted that Fiji had cooperated with the US to seize a Russian super yacht linked to a sanctioned oligarch.
In recent days the reactionary, trumped-up furor within the Canadian political establishment over allegations of Chinese interference in Canadian politics has reached fever pitch.

The opposition leaders and much of the corporate media are demanding that the traitorous MPs Canadas intelligence agencies are said to have identified be publicly named, expelled from their respective parties, and criminally prosecuted.

Moreover, in true McCarthyite style, the failure of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Public Security Minister Dominic LeBlanc to name names is being invoked as proof that Canadas Liberal government is recklessly naive about the threat to Canadian democracy, if not itself colluding with the enemy.

Trudeau and LeBlanc have argued that the intelligence cited in a report from the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP)a heavily redacted version of which was released to the public June 3has not been verified. They have also cited the spy agencies own warnings that were the intelligence that led them to assert some parliamentarians are semi-witting or witting participants in foreign states efforts to interfere in our politics made public, it would compromise their surveillance methods and jeopardize national security.

But none of this has calmed the lynch-mob atmosphere. On Thursday, the Globe and Mail, which for well over a year has served as a conduit for intelligence agency leaks alleging the government has been remiss in countering Chinese interference, published an editorial that demanded Trudeau blow away the smokescreen his government has created and name names in Parliament. The prime minister, the Globe insisted, has the unique power to make classified information public, and he should use it now to name names in Parliament. Let those facing allegations defend themselves there.

On June 13, Jagmeet Singh, the head of the trade union-sponsored New Democratic Party (NDP), gave a semi-hysterical, quivering-voice press conference, after he read the full, un-redacted version of the report that NSICOP drafted on the basis of the intelligence provided it by Canadas spy agencies. I am not relieved after reading this report, said Singh. I am more concerned.

The NDP leader claimed a number of MPs have knowingly provided help to foreign governments, some to the detriment of Canada, and Canadians.

What theyre doing, Singh asserted, is unethical. It is in some cases against the law. They are indeed traitors to the country.

Singhs remarks were, at least in part, a direct retort to Elizabeth May, the long-time leader of the tiny Green Party. The day before, May had effectively said the opposite, after reading the same un-redacted report from the NSICOPa specially vetted committee of MPs and Senators that works with and scrutinizes the actions of the national security and intelligence agencies, and reports to the government on how their operations can be made more effective while remaining lawful.

Cover page of the NSICOP report on foreign interference [Photo: Government of Canada]

Declaring herself relieved, May said she had seen no evidence in the nearly 100-page report of anything that could be considered disloyalty to Canada. A group of MPs, numbering fewer than a handful, may have been compromised by foreign influence, yet none, she insisted, could be described as setting out to knowingly betray Canada in favour of a foreign government.

But Singh, Pierre Poilievre (the far-right leader of the Conservative official opposition), and a clamorous chorus of media commentators are having none of it. One week on, Canadians continue to be barraged with lurid, unsubstantiated claims of traitorous MPs colluding with China and whose public naming is proclaimed vital to Canadas national security.

Spurious intelligence and an ever-widening definition of what constitutes foreign interference

The reality is the allegations outlined in NSICOPs Special Report on Foreign Interference in Canadas Democratic Processes and Institutions are a mess of pottage.

Not only is the report based entirely on the say so of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSE), Canadas two premier spy agencies. Central to its conclusions is an ever-evolving definition of what constitutes foreign interferenceone that has rapidly been expanded to include much of what has hitherto been considered normal diplomatic efforts at persuasion and the deployment of soft power.

The NSICOP report could be better called According to CSIS, as it is based entirely on "secret" intelligence to which it refers only obliquely. Its footnotes (see above) refer to non-falsifiable secret intelligence. [Photo: Government of Canada]

NSICOP and the government have urged the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to investigate any claims of illegal activities contained in the report. But its authors and current and former CSIS officials concede there is little to no chance any criminal charges will be laid, let alone convictions secured. While they offer several reasons for this, a pivotal one, from which they have sought to deflect attention, is that much of the intelligence supplied by CSIS and the CSE on which the claims of disloyal and traitorous MPs are based does not reach the level of evidence. That is to say, it is based on rumour, innuendo, conjecture, and attributing the most malign interpretation to facts, and would, therefore, not withstand legal scrutiny.

The intelligence agencies have also claimed that much of the so-called intelligence could not be presented in court because to do so would endanger their sources and methods and upset their colleagues in the US-led Five Eyes global spy network.

Like everything else in the China interference imbroglio, the media have scrupulously avoided interrogating these claims and what precisely it is that the intelligence agencies are seeking to hide.

Among these clearly are that they are routinely spying on elected officials and politicians, whether on their own or in cahoots with their Five Eyes partners. Canadas principal signals intelligence agency, the CSE, is legally barred from spying on Canadians in most instances. However revelations by Edward Snowden, among others, have shown that the Five Eyes partners get round such prohibitions by spying in each others country and sharing intelligence.

Manipulating public opinion and pushing official politics sharply to the right

Workers must beware. For close to a year-and-a-half now, Canadas national political establishment has been embroiled in a furorinitiated and whipped up by a campaign of illegal leaks by unknown CSIS operativesover supposed Chinese interference in Canadian politics, including in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.

From the outset, this campaign has served as a means to manipulate Canadian public opinion and push official politics and government policy sharply further right.

It has been aimed at poisoning popular attitudes toward China, so as to legitimize and provide justification for Canadas ever-more complete integration into Washingtons all-sided diplomatic, economic, and military-strategic offensive against China, and more generally massive increases in military spending.

The claims of foreign and especially Chinese interference are also being used as the pretext for a massive assault on democratic rights. Last week, little more than a month after its tabling in parliament, the House of Commons unanimously adopted Bill C-70, An Act respecting countering foreign interference.

The bill, which the Senate has similarly agreed to stampede into law, will create a new vaguely-defined category of foreign interference crimes. It will make illegal political activity carried out at the direction of a foreign entity, including, except within strictly defined limits, lobbying government officials. So sweeping and catch-all are these provisions, that even the countrys fifteen major research universities have expressed fear that they will be caught in its ambit.

But there is more, much more. The furor over foreign interference is also being used to rush through legislation that dramatically increases CSISs powers, including to access information about on-line users and sift through internet data without, or at most scant, judicial scrutiny. It also expands the legal definition of the crime of sabotage to include interference with public infrastructure or infrastructure building projects. Civil liberties groups have warned this change will provide the state with the means to impose draconian penalties on those protesting pipeline projects or engaging in illegal political strikes.

A third aim of the ruling class hullabaloo over foreign interference, which has been brought into sharper focus in recent weeks with the demands for the naming of the supposed traitors in parliament, is giving the security-intelligence agencies a much enhanced role in public political life, including in vetting the loyalty of the political elite.

The media, led by the Globe and Mailthe property not incidentally of Canadas richest billionaire family, the Thomsonshas treated the information provided by the intelligence agencies, whether via illegal leaks or through official channels, as if it were the gospel truth. No matter that CSIS has been called out on multiple occasions for lying to the courts charged with overseeing its activities.

As for the politicians, so eager have they been to dance to the intelligence agencies tune, that the latter have been able to give themselves democratic airs, the better to press forward with preparing the Canadian capitalist state for global war and suppressing mounting working class opposition. Thus Richard Fadden, a former CSIS Director and National Security Adviser to the prime minister and among the most strident voices within the national security establishment in warning of Chinese efforts to infiltrate Canadian politics at all levels, has come out in opposition to the McCarthyite campaign to name the traitors in parliament. Said Fadden, I dont believe that a persons career and life should be ruined on the basis of some piece of intelligence.

Oppose the Canada-US alliance of war and reaction

Three further interrelated points need be made.

First, the corporate media and political establishment, including the Trudeau Liberal government, have constructed a reactionary false narrative in which Canadian imperialism is depicted as the innocent victim of larger hostile powers. This has found graphic depiction in the multiple cartoons showing an amiable beaver menaced by a Chinese dragon, sometimes accompanied by a Russian bear.

The reality is that Canadian imperialism is tied at the hip to Washington, as US imperialism wages global war. The corporate media and the opposition parties have roundly denounced the Trudeau government for ignoring and dilly-dallying in the face of Chinese interference. The reality is that under its leadership, and with the full support of the union-sponsored NDP, which has pledged to keep the minority Liberal government in office until June 2025, Canadian imperialism is intimately involved in all the major fronts in what is a US-initiated global war to reassert western imperialist hegemony and re-divide the worlds resourcesagainst Russia and China, and in the Middle East.

As for foreign interference, Canada and its US ally devote vast resources to spying on and interfering in the political life of every country of the world and on a daily basis. This includes everything from talent spotting and grooming rising political leaders and funding networks of NGOs and purportedly independent trade unions, to organizing splits within political parties and creating opposition alliances and, when necessary, orchestrating scandals, coups, and other intrigues.

Second, the furor over foreign interference has indeed demonstrated that outside forces are intervening in and seeking to manipulate Canadian public opinion and political life. Only those directing that interference are to be found in the headquarters of the intelligence agencies in Ottawa, Washington and other Five Eye capitals.

Third, this points to the fact that Canadian democracy is on its last legs, but not because Canadians have access to what are claimed to be Chinese and Russian-orchestrated social media campaigns. No, the real threat to the democratic rights of Canadian working people arises from the crisis of world and Canadian capitalism. Impelled to defend their predatory interests through aggression and war abroad and ever intensifying worker-exploitation at home, the Canadian ruling class, like its imperialist counterparts, is increasingly turning toward authoritarian methods of rule, building up the repressive apparatus of the state and cultivating far-right forces.

A powerful faction of the ruling class, many of whose political and media representatives are to be found in the front ranks of those demanding the naming of the traitorous parliamentarians, are eager to see Trudeau replaced forthwith by Pierre Poilievre, the strident supporter of the fascistic Freedom Convoy, and his Conservatives. Like the Trump-led Republicans and the British Conservatives, the Canadian ruling class traditional right-wing party of government is morphing into a far-right political formation.

To oppose war and defend their social and democratic rights, workers must resolutely oppose the trumped-up furor over Chinese interference; repudiate the reactionary union-NDP-Liberal alliance, which for decades has been used to smother working class opposition and impose the class war agenda of big business; and make the struggle for workers power and socialist internationalism the axis of the class struggle.
A banner at the picket line at University of California Santa Cruz, May 20, 2024

It has been two weeks since the strike by tens of thousands of academic workers at the University of California was shut down by a court injunction, dutifully obeyed by the United Auto Workers bureaucracy. Grad students, teaching assistants, researchers and other academic workers began their strike on May 20 to oppose the US-backed genocide in Gaza and police crackdown on campus protests across the country.

The strike was a major strategic experience. It was not initiated by the UAW bureaucracy but by rank-and-file academic workers who were striving to connect the fight against the economic insecurity confronting an entire generation of young workers with the struggle against imperialist war.

The United Auto Workers under union president Shawn Fain repeatedly delayed calling the strike, despite the overwhelming vote for such action after academic workers and students at UCLA were attacked by Zionist thugs and police. When the union finally called the strike, the union apparatus limited it to only 2,000 workers and at only one of the UC systems 10 campuses.

The UAW was only forced to expand the walkout to six of the 10 campuses and 30,000 out of the 48,000 UC workers because of the threats by rank-and-file workers that they would conduct wildcat strikes in defiance of the UAW apparatus.

The terror in the ruling class that it could spread, accounts for the ruthless pseudo-legal measures used to end the strike. The UC administrations argument that the strike was illegal because of its political aims amounts to a declaration that the working class must be politically disfranchised under the domination of the two pro-war parties. Meanwhile, police continued to attack protest encampments across the country, including UC Santa Cruz and at Wayne State University.

The significance of the strike, and the police-state measures used to end it, are that they anticipate an even broader and more explosive confrontation between the working class, which is being forced to pay for the cost of war, and American and world imperialism.

After months of global demonstrations against the genocide that the Zionist regime and capitalist governments around the world ignored, the UC strike signaled in embryonic form the entry of the working class into the struggle against war.

The genocide in Gaza is only one front in an expanding Third World War. The United States and the European powers are trying to offset their decline through reconquering former colonies and destroying their strategic rivals, especially Russia and China.

As the strike itself took place, the Biden administration began arming its Ukrainian proxy forces with weapons capable of striking Russian cities, raising the danger of nuclear war. The White House also slapped unprecedented tariffs on Chinese exports, as part of preparations for a war with China. Meanwhile, the genocide has continued with the full support of the United States, which continues to provide weapons to the Israeli military.

The attack on free speech has expanded globally. Police have attacked anti-genocide protests across Europe, including at Humboldt University in Berlin, only a short distance away from where the Nazis burned books in the 1930s. The German secret police have also designated the International Youth and Students for Social Equality as a left-wing extremist group as the IYSSE made major gains in the student parliament elections at Humboldt.

NATOs client regime in Ukraine has also arrested anti-war socialist Bogdan Syrotiuk for his association with the World Socialist Web Site, and banned the WSWS on the absurd and false grounds that it is a pro-Russian propaganda outlet.

The whole of society is being placed on a war footing. Campuses are being converted from centers of scholarship and debate into propaganda centers controlled by the military-intelligence apparatus and Wall Street. The University of California system, which has more than $30 billion invested in the American war machine and in Zionism, is a central pillar of this transformation.

The UAW bureaucracy attempted to divert the attention of strikers into demands for divestment by individual universities. They promoted the lie that academic workers could settle accounts with imperialism through collective bargaining and bilateral talks with campus administrators. To be blunt, this is akin to arguing that the Holocaust could have been stopped by negotiations with German universities to divest from the Nazi regime.

The UAW apparatus has promoted divestment and appeals to the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) precisely because it does not threaten either imperialism or the Democratic Party. In reality, workers are in a fight against the capitalist state. The repeated attacks on UC students have been coordinated by the entire Democratic Party, including the UC Board of Regents, Governor Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass as well as US President Genocide Joe Biden.

The Biden administration has overseen a nationwide and bipartisan campaign to smash campus protests, which have led to the arrests of more than 3,000 people, the vast majority students and academic workers.

Both Democrats and Republicans have promoted the big lie that the anti-genocide demonstrations are antisemitic even though large numbers of protesters are Jewish youth who oppose the crimes of the Zionist regime. They have threatened universities with a cut-off of federal funding if they are not sufficiently aggressive against protesters, and have called for sanctions and the deportation of foreign students for taking part in the protests.

Aiding the Democrats have been the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the Party of Socialism & Liberation and other middle class pseudo-left organizations. These groups sought deliberately to downplay the role of the Biden administration, the Democratic Party and the UAW bureaucracywhich is largely controlled by the pseudo-left through the ruling Unite All Workers for Democracy faction.

The role of the union bureaucracy is to try to strangle the class struggle in order to prepare the home front for war. While it pretended to be organizing a fight against the genocide, its real policies were on display at the start of the year when it endorsed Genocide Joes re-election and threw anti-genocide protesters out of the hall where Biden gave his acceptance speech.

President Joe Biden stands with Shawn Fain, president of the United Auto Workers, at the United Auto Workers' political convention, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, in Washington. [AP Photo/Alex Brandon]

The UAWs efforts at sabotaging the strike were a key element in the governments response. There can be little doubt that top UAW officials were in contact with the White House every step of the way during the strike.

The Biden administration is pursuing a policy of corporatism, that is, the drawing together of the state with the major corporations and the union bureaucracy in the name of prosecuting the national interest. As part of this, the White House has worked with the bureaucracy to sell out or block one strike after another in key industries, including oil and gas, the docks, at UPS and logistics and, infamously, the railroads, where Biden and Congress pre-emptively banned a national strike .

The UAW modeled the strike at UC after the so-called standup strike in the auto industry last year. This was a limited, toothless strike which paved the way for mass layoffs, which the union deliberately concealed from workers. When it called off that strike, the union celebrated with a rally where Biden appeared, opposite thousands of anti-genocide protesters.

Fearing that the militant strike could inspire similar actions on campuses and factories across the country, the UAW bureaucracy also imposed an information blackout about the UC struggle. The only way rank-and-file autoworkers in Detroit and other industrial cities learned about the UC strike was through the activities of the World Socialist Web Site and its Autoworker Newsletter. But once the information blackout was pierced, the strike began generated significant support among autoworkers.

This is why the UAW immediately capitulated to the court injunction, declaring that nothing could be done against the decisions of the capitalist courts. They welcomed the injunction as an excuse to shut it down.

But every historic victory of the working class has taken place in opposition to the government by injunction and attempts to illegalize the class struggle. Meanwhile, the hysterical response to proceedings in the International Criminal Court against leading Israeli politicians shows the ruling class refuses to accept any legal restraint to its own activities.

The corporatist alliance between the White House and the bureaucracy only grew during the strike. UAW President Fain has been appointed to the White House Export Council alongside corporate CEOs, where he is helping organize trade war against China.

But this strategy is being threatened by the enormous hatred for the bureaucracy by the rank-and-file after repeated sellouts. This has produced a crisis within the bureaucracy itself, in the form of mutual recriminations between Fain and other top officials and the sudden refusal to continue cooperating with a court-appointed monitor installed after a massive corruption scandal which had sent more than a dozen top officials to prison.

The chief lesson of the University of California strike is that the working class must become the basic force against war. This requires a fight against the pro-capitalist, pro-war political system and the trade union bureaucracy which defends it. To organize this struggle means the development of new structures, rank-and-file committees, which unite workers across different industries in a common fight against management, pro-corporate politicians and the saboteurs in the union bureaucracy.

Throughout the strike, the World Socialist Web Site and the Socialist Equality Party campaigned to broaden the strike into a movement of the entire working class. The WSWS addressed online meetings with hundreds of attendees from industries across the world, and sought to give voice through its coverage to the deep opposition of rank-and-file academic workers to the war and to the union bureaucracys conduct of the strike.

When the UC administration went to court to ban the strike, the WSWS warned that this was an attack on the democratic rights of the entire working class and urged workers to take action in defense of the students.

As the WSWS has explained, by virtue of its class interests and strategic role as the producer of societys wealth, the global working class is uniquely positioned, if organized and armed with a correct political perspective, to halt the production and distribution of military equipment and put an end to imperialism and war.

But the importance of the working class for the fight against war is not just that it would increase the power of the movement by giving it the ability to shut down production. Rather, the struggle of the working class against capitalism is at the very center of the fight against war because war itself is a product of the crisis and breakdown of capitalism. This means the only viable strategy against the war is one based on a struggle to end capitalism and for the socialist reconstruction of society.
On Monday, US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy launched a campaign calling for a health warning label requirement to be imposed on social media platforms by Congress.

Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy [AP Photo/Susan Walsh]

In an op-ed in the New York Times, Murthy wrote that the mental health crisis among young people is an emergency, that requires a warning label that must state, social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents.

The governments top public health official went on to say that the Surgeon Generals warning, like that which appears on tobacco products, would regularly remind parents and adolescents that social media has not been proved safe.

As with every campaign pursued by the political establishment aimed at imposing government control over social media content, Murthy refers to online harassment, abuse and exploitation and ... exposure to extreme violence and sexual content that too often appears in algorithm-driven feeds, as justification for an attack on basic democratic rights.

He also demanded that Congress pass legislation that would prevent platforms from collecting sensitive data from children and should restrict the use of features like push notifications, autoplay and infinite scroll, which prey on developing brains and contribute to excessive use.

The social media crackdown proposed by Murthy is based on a 25-page advisory he published in May 2023 which is not derived from independent research conducted by the US Public Health Service. Rather, he makes his case for action on an urgent public health issue based upon a substantial review of the available evidence, primarily found via electronic searches of research articles published in English and resources suggested by a wide range of subject matter experts.

While the Surgeon General makes references to anxiety, depression, sleep deprivation, loneliness, peer pressure, bullying, low self-esteem and suicideall very real problems for young people and their familieshe says nothing about the economic and social reality that millions of youth face. In this way, the Surgeon Generals campaign creates a red herring of social media and amounts to a coverup of the massive social crisis facing Americas youth that is rooted in capitalism and the immense levels of social inequality that it produces.

The right-wing and undemocratic character of Murthys initiative is exposed by the fact that excluded from his review is any reference to the fundamental causes of the mental health crisis among youth such as poverty, hunger and malnutrition, government cuts to public education and programs for children and adolescents.

That young people face a future of dead-end, part-time and minimum wage jobs, as well as the prospect of being killed by gun violence or as soldiers in imperialist wars, does not rate a mention in the US governments assessment of the causes of the mental health crisis.

In all the material produced by the government and the corporate media on this subjectincluding references to unsupervised, developmentally inappropriate, and potentially harmful use of social media by childrenthere are very few if any references to the conditions of young people where their parents or caregivers are working constantly to make ends meet, or that many children are themselves forced to work to help the family finances.

The day after Murthy launched his campaign, Democratic Party governor of California Gavin Newsom issued a call for the statewide banning of smartphones in public schools. Newsom is being mentioned as a potential replacement for Joe Biden as the Democratic Party candidate for the 2024 presidential election less than five months from now.

Citing the Surgeon Generals call for social media warning labels, Newsom said, I look forward to working with the legislature to restrict the use of smartphones during the school day, adding, When children and teens are in school, they should be focused on their studiesnot their screens.

Newsom is embracing the same policy as fascist Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who was the first governor to sign a statewide classroom smartphone ban in the US. He is echoing the call by Utah Republican Governor Spencer Cox to remove smartphones from the classroom to help our teachers teach and our students learn. Indiana Republican Governor Eric Holcomb also signed a bill prohibiting students from using cell phones during class in April.

The Washington Post reported on Wednesday, More than a dozen states have passed laws seeking to curb childrens use of social media, efforts that have been challenged by the tech industry and remain the subject of ongoing legal battles. In 2022, Newsom signed a bill that established strict safeguards on data collection of underage online users; the law was temporarily blocked by a court.

The bipartisan campaign to restrict access to mobile devices and social media content among young people is connected to the hysterical effort in Washington D.C. to ban or force the sale of the massively popular Chinese-owned TikTok platform. The law passed against TikTok escalates censorship against left-wing and oppositional viewpoints online and stokes up anti-China sentiment in support of trade war and in preparation for military conflict with Beijing.

Passed by both houses of Congress with huge bipartisan majorities and signed by President Biden, the TikTok ban targets the democratic rights of young people. Of the 170 million US users of TikTok, the largest segment (25 percent or 42 million) is of young people ages 10-19, and nearly half are under the age of 30.

Behind the moves against social media and smartphones is a fear that the information being accessed every day by tens of millions of youthsuch as videos exposing the war crimes and genocide being carried out in Gaza by Israel with the full backing of the USis fueling and will intensify the growing anger and protests among students and workers against imperialism and the entire capitalist system.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held a summit Wednesday in Pyongyang. Driven together by the pressure and aggression of US imperialism and its NATO allies, the two pledged to step up military cooperation. The danger of the US-instigated war in Ukraine growing into open armed conflict in the Indo-Pacific region is therefore growing sharply.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un in Kim Il Sung Square, Pyongyang, North Korea, June 19, 2024 [AP Photo]

Putin, in his first visit to North Korea since 2000, led a high-level delegation that included Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Defense Minister Andrey Belousov. They held discussions with Kim and other senior North Korean officials including Prime Minister Kim Tok Hun and Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui. Kim previously met Putin last September at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, a spaceport in Amur Oblast in the Russian Far East.

At Wednesdays meeting, the two sides agreed to sign a comprehensive strategic partnership that Kim hailed as a very robust treaty. According to Putin, the deal provides for mutual assistance in the event of aggression against one of the parties.

The treaty reads, If one of the two sides is placed under war situations due to an armed invasion from an individual country or several nations, the other side provides military and other assistance without delay by mobilizing all means in its possession in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter and the laws of the DPRK (North Korea) and the Russian Federation. Article 51 deals with self-defense if attacked.

The two also discussed future military technology cooperation, which is likely to include Moscows assistance in the development of Pyongyangs missile and rocket programs. They also noted that trade between the two had grown ninefold in 2023 and by an additional 54 percent in the first five months of this year. Putin added, Our countries are sincerely interested in further active development of cooperation, which is conducted both through the leadership of economic departments, parliaments, law enforcement, security and foreign policy structures, as well as between public organizations and citizens.

The partnership replaces previous agreements between Moscow and Pyongyang including the 1961 treaty of mutual assistance, which ended after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and the 2000 agreement on bilateral ties, which focused more on economic rather than military cooperation. Russias TASS news agency wrote that, according to Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, The new document is needed because of profound changes in the geopolitical situation in the region and worldwide and in bilateral ties between Russia and North Korea.

In fact, the treaty is a result of Washington and NATOs plans for direct military intervention against Russia in the Ukraine war, instigated by Washington in 2022 as a means of trapping Moscow in a conflict and bleeding the Russian military white in the hopes it would lead regime change and ultimately the subjugation of the country to US imperialism.

Putin and Kim discussed NATO countries provision of long-range missiles to Ukraine and Washingtons green light for the Volodymyr Zelensky regime in Kiev to use the weapons to strike Russian territory, which could result in nuclear war. Referencing these threats, Putin stated, This is not just talk, it is already happening, and all this is a gross violation of the restrictions accepted by Western countries within the framework of various international commitments.

A NATO attack on Russia therefore could make North Korea a direct participant in the war that would potentially engulf the Korean Peninsula, and raise the issue of Chinese involvement.

None of this will give Washington pause as it not only leads the expansion of the war in Eastern Europe, but threatens open conflict in the Indo-Pacific to further isolate Russia and eliminate other barriers to its global hegemony including North Korea and ultimately China. The strategists of American imperialism have repeatedly depicted their confrontation with Russia as a stepping stone to conflict with China, which they view as the chief threat to US capitalisms global dominance.

Less than a month ago, Zelensky made an unannounced appearance at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore to berate China for refusing to line up behind the war against Russia and providing propaganda to justify the system of overlapping military alliances that Washington has constructed directed at Beijing. This demonstrates that the conflicts with Russia and China are increasingly linked.

The US has been attempting to goad Beijing into a war over Taiwan in the same manner it provoked Russia into the war in Ukraine, by upending the One China policy, which effectively acknowledges that the island is a part of China. Washington has de facto recognized this since 1979 when it established formal diplomatic relations with Beijing and cut them off with Taipei.

Washingtons alliances include AUKUS (Australia, the United Kingdom, and the US) and the growing trilateral bond between the US, Japan, and South Korea, which the three sides are moving to formalize following talks between US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his South Korean and Japanese counterparts at Shangri-La. Both Seoul and Tokyo are actively working to join Tier II of the anti-China AUKUS alliance, dealing with military technology cooperation.

Moscow and Pyongyangs latest agreement provides Washington with an excuse to further strengthen its alliance with Seoul and Tokyo, which now includes a new, large-scale trilateral military exercise, Freedom Edge, likely to take place this month.

Highlighting the spread of war to the Indo-Pacific, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said shortly before the Russia-North Korea summit, Well continue to do everything we can to cut off the support (to Russia) that countries, like Iran and North Korea, are providing. Blinken delivered this veiled threat at a press conference after meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Washington.

Echoing Blinken, Stoltenberg stated, What happens in Europe matters for Asia. What happens in Asia matters for us. And this is clearly demonstrated in Ukraine, where Iran, North Korea, and China are propping up, fueling Russias war aggression against Ukraine.

These comments are dripping with hypocrisy. The US and NATO have relied on countries like South Korea and Japan to provide huge amounts of weaponry to prop up Kiev. A report at the end of last year revealed that Seoul is a major supplier of 155mm shells to Ukraine, all while falsely maintaining the public position that it only provides non-lethal aid. Tokyo, in violation of its constitution, is shipping Patriot missiles to the US to be sent on to Ukraine.

However, neither Putin nor the Stalinist Kim Jong Un regime, which has nothing to do with socialism or communism, is leading any sort of struggle against US imperialism.

Putins reactionary invasion of Ukraine was carried out in the hopes of bringing Washington to the bargaining table to win concessions from US imperialism and create conditions more conducive for the Russian bourgeoisie. The Kim regime has long sought to turn the North Korean working class into an ultra-cheap labor platform for big business globally.

The two leaders, however, attempted to dress up their cooperation as some sort of struggle against imperialism, hailing the supposed friendship between the two nations and making references to their common history. This included the Red Armys role in ending Japanese colonialism in Korea in 1945 as well as the Soviet Unions participation in the Korean War.

These events were mass struggles against colonialism and imperialism. The attempt to appropriate them by Putin and Kim involves a falsification of history.

While the Red Army defeated Japans Kwantung Army in Manchuria and began liberating Korean cities in August 1945, Stalin and the bureaucracy in Moscow quickly accepted Washingtons demands to divide Korea to give the US a foothold on the Asian continent. In the years following, Stalin effectively withdrew support for Koreas anti-colonial struggle against the US, only providing aid during the Korean war when the breadth of American imperialist ferocity and barbarism became a threat to the Soviet bureaucracys national interests.

The regimes in Moscow and Pyongyang, moreover, have nothing to do with the heroic struggles of an earlier period. Putin heads a regime spawned by the Stalinist bureaucracys liquidation of the Soviet Union and the plundering of its assets by a rapacious oligarchy, while Kim heads a dynastic autocracy desperate for foreign capitalist investment.

They are driven by nationalist concerns that have nothing to do with the interests of the working class in either country or internationally. Given the opportunity, either one would cut a deal with US imperialism at the expense of the other and further contribute to regional and global destabilization and the expansion of war.
Amazon Prime has restored the original artwork of the poster for the Stanley Kubrick film Full Metal Jacket, after a protest voiced by the 1987 films lead actor, Matthew Modine.

The artwork appears on the web page advertising sale or rental of the film, which is not currently available for live streaming. The original poster shows only the combat helmet worn by Modines character, with the words Born to Kill handwritten on it, next to a peace sign.

As explained by Modines character in the film, known only as Joker, when he is challenged by a commanding officer, the conflicting sentiments for peace and gung-ho violence symbolize the duality of man. The Jungian thing.

In the Amazon Prime version, the words Born to Kill have been deleted, although not the peace sign.

Modine called out the apparent political censorship in a tweet on X/Twitter viewed by a wide audience, and displaying both versions of the helmet.

Who decided to remove BORN TO KILL? he asked. Not only did they alter a piece of iconic art by Philip Castle, but they completely misunderstood the point of it being there. Pvt. Joker wears the helmet with BORN TO KILL and the peace button as a statement about the duality of man.

Amazon Prime did not respond officially, although there were some media accounts derived from corporate insiders claiming that there was no political decision to suppress the words, only a graphical requirement that there be no text when the image was used in online advertising.

This is a not very convincing non-denial, particularly when it proved absolutely possible to restore the words to the image within hours of Modines protest becoming widely reported.

Full Metal Jacket is not a great film, and certainly does not compare to Kubricks most remarkable attacks on war, as in Dr. Strangelove and Paths of Glory. But it has its strong and disturbing moments.

In the scene referred to above, a colonel confronts Private Joker (Modine):

Colonel: You write born to kill on your helmet and you wear a peace button. Whats that supposed to be, some kind of sick joke?

Joker: No, Sir.

Colonel: What is it supposed to mean?

Joker: The duality of man. The Jungian thing, sir.

Colonel: Whose side are you on, son?

Joker: Our side, sir.

Colonel : Dont you love your country?

Joker: Yes, sir.

Colonel: Then how about getting with the program? Why dont you jump on the team and come on in for the big win?

Joker: Yes, sir.

Colonel: Son, all Ive ever asked of my marines is that they obey my orders as they would the word of God. We are here to help the Vietnamese, because inside every gook there is an American trying to get out. Its a hardball world, son. Weve gotta keep our heads until this peace craze blows over.

Joker: Aye-aye, sir.

The film falls into two halves, unequal in intensity and length, and with little connection except that some of the same soldiers appear, first as raw recruits in boot camp, then in battle during the hellish fighting in the ruins of Hue. This was the bloodiest battle during the 1968 Tet Offensive, one of the few times that the Marines and the Vietnamese liberation fighters confronted each other in an urban environment, rather than in jungle or mountains.

The boot camp sequence is compelling in its depiction of how everyday young men are molded into brutal killers, with the indispensable, caustic presence of Lee Ermey, a retired drill sergeant who began as a technical advisor to Kubrick, but was eventually cast as drill sergeant Hartman in the film itself.

As the review published in the Bulletin, US forerunner of the World Socialist Web Site, described it:

There are several memorable scenes: in one, the sergeant reminds the raw recruits that the Marines produced marksmen like Charles Whitman, the Texas tower murderer, and Lee Harvey Oswald. These individuals showed what one Marine and his rifle can do, Hartman says. At another point, he tells them, God has a hard-on for the Marines, because by killing we send him so many fresh souls.

The latter half of the film shifts to Vietnam, where Joker is assigned as a correspondent for Stars and Stripes, the military newspaper, and attached to a unit storming the city of Hue. The Bulletin review noted:

Again, some of the images created here by Kubrick are memorable, and will stay with the viewer long after seeing the film. As the helicopter takes the journalist to the front, the gunner casually machineguns peasants working in the field below. He boasts that he has killed over 200 people. Anyone who runs is VC, he declares, grinning, and anyone who stands still is a very disciplined VC. Hue itself [is] a shattered ruin, more terrifying than any horror film. Death lurks everywherebehind a pile of rubble, behind a doorway, under each cautious footstep, even in a childs doll.

But the films limitations are similar to those of a whole series of Vietnam War films produced during the 1980s, including Platoon and Apocalypse Now. None of these films went beyond the questions posed by the struggle for individual survival in a war depicted as brutal and hellish. The filmmakers, despite their intentions of criticizing a reactionary and unpopular war, were incapable of carrying out an analysis informed by a political or historical understanding of the long struggle of the Vietnamese people against French colonialism, and Japanese, British and ultimately American imperialism.

As the Bulletin review noted:

War is hell can be the basis of petty bourgeois pacifism, or individual cowardice, but not a class-conscious approach to the question of war. There are wars which are worth fighting and dying in, for all their horrors, and wars which the working class must resolutely oppose. It depends entirely on the nature of the states and classes which are fighting the war.

As American imperialism escalates its involvement in a series of military conflicts, from the US-NATO proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, to war against Iran and its allies in the Middle East, focused now on the Israeli genocide in Gaza, and the urgent preparations for war against China in the Indo-Pacific region, it is imperative for the US ruling class to block access for its population to any critical approach to imperialist militarism.

That is the context for evaluating the significance of the attempt by Amazon Primeowned by Jeff Bezos, the worlds richest, or second richest, capitalistto tone down the antiwar message in the promotion of Full Metal Jacket.
Premier of the State Council Li Qiang will attend the 15th Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Dalian on June 25. Premier Li Qiang will deliver a special address at the meeting, meet with Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab and foreign guests, and have a conversation with representatives of the foreign business community.

President of Poland Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh will attend the meeting. Over 1,600 representatives from the political, business, academic and media communities of close to 80 countries and regions will also take part in the meeting.

CCTV: We noted the celebration event marking the 60th anniversary of the Group of 77 was held in Vienna yesterday. The Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna participated in the event. Whats your comment on the cooperation between China and the Group of 77?

Lin Jian: The Group of 77 (G77) is an important force in upholding the common interest of developing countries and improving the global governance system, and also a cornerstone in defending multilateralism. It plays an irreplaceable role in international affairs.

China is the closest cooperation partner of the G77. We greatly value the Group of 77 and China (G77+China) cooperation mechanism and always firmly stand with G77 in safeguarding international fairness and justice, and in defending and expanding the common interest of developing countries and countries around the world. Since last year, several important international conferences, such as the Havana Summit of the Group of 77 and China, and the Third South Summit, were successfully held, where China and the vast developing countries sent a strong message of enhancing solidarity and cooperation and reaffirmed our commitment to increasing the representation and voice of developing countries in global governance.

As the largest developing country, a partner of the Non-Aligned Movement and a member of the Global South, China will always work with fellow developing countries to share weal and woe like passengers in the same boat. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. China looks forward to working with fellow developing countries to carry forward and champion these widely-recognized basic norms in international relations and basic principles in international law under the new circumstances, actively advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization for common development and rejuvenation as well as a community with a shared future for mankind.

Global Times: The Financial Times reported that according to six people familiar with the operation, the Philippine military had conducted missions to reinforce the Sierra Madre and secretly reinforced the dilapidated warship on Renai Jiao to prolong its service life. What is Chinas comment?

Lin Jian: The report adds to the proof that the Philippines lied about its mission which the Philippines says is for supplying living necessities to the military vessel grounded at Renai Jiao. As China has pointed out multiple times, the Philippines has been sending construction materials, and even weapons and ammunition, to the illegally grounded military vessel in order to repair and reinforce it on a large scale so that it can permanently occupy Renai Jiao. The Philippines moves seriously violate Chinas sovereignty. China absolutely rejects them and will resolutely respond in accordance with laws and regulations.

I would like to stress again that what led to the current situation at Renai Jiao is very clearthe root cause is that the Philippines breached its commitments, refused to tow away the warship illegally grounded at Renai Jiao for 25 years and kept sending it construction materials to reinforce the warship. This warship stands as solid evidence of the Philippines persistent provocations and infringement against China in the South China Sea over the decades, its bad faith and breach of the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and its damage to the eco-environment in the South China Sea. We urge the Philippines to stop making provocations and infringing on Chinas sovereignty at once, and return to the right track of properly managing disputes through dialogue and consultation as soon as possible. China is firmly determined to defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

Reuters: Japans foreign ministry announced today that it has imposed trade restrictions on China-based companies as part of the fresh round of sanctions against individuals and groups supporting Russias war on Ukraine. Would the Ministry like to comment on this matter?

Lin Jian: We noted the reports. China firmly opposes unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law. It is Chinas lawful right to carry out normal trade and economic cooperation with Russia on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. Such cooperation shall not be disrupted or undermined by other parties.

Japan, in disregard of Chinas just position, followed certain countrys suit by imposing illicit unilateral sanctions. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this. We will take all measures necessary to firmly safeguard our legitimate and lawful rights and interests.

Bloomberg: Weve seen reports that the US and China held informal nuclear talks in March. Apparently, Chinese representatives told their US counterparts at the meetings that they wouldnt resort to atomic threats over Taiwan. Can you confirm that these talks happened? We are curious were they Track II talks? And do you have any other details?

Lin Jian: I will not comment on China-US Track II talks.
Kim Jones's new collection presented less tailoring and glossy eveningwear, with stitching and macrame effects forming the decoration instead - ANDRE PAIN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

In one camp, you have K-pop stars being greeted by screaming fans and Robert Pattinson lit up in a blaze of flashbulbs, as the spectacle of a Dior show causes an unassuming area near the Jardin du Luxembourg to grind to a halt. In the other, the kind of lovely, artfully crafty knits and charming motifs you might see at your artistic uncles ramshackle cottage on the coast. I know which side I prefer.

Kim Jones, in his new collection for Dior Men, looked to all things crafted, albeit luxed-up and dusted in Diors couture expertise. This is, after all, the most storied couture house in LVMHs firmament, rather than your average Suffolk craft fair.

The designer  a zealous collector himself who collaborates with his favourite artists on his Dior collections  this time called upon Hylton Nel, an 84-year-old South African ceramicist for the collection. The catwalk was strewn with gigantic, whimsical feline forms created by Nel.

Hes been a friend of mine for 12 years, and recently I visited his place  a six-hour drive from Cape Town  to see his ceramics, says Jones. I love bringing friends into the fold of Dior and after doing some very conceptual collections, it felt right to do something crafty and personal.

Kim Jones, in his new collection for Dior Men, looked to all things crafted - Stephane Cardinale/Corbis Entertainment

Kim Jones collaborated with Hylton Nel for inspiration in the new collection for Dior Men - ANDRE PAIN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The natural palette of sand, sage, rust and dusty pink nodded to the vast expanse of sky at Nel's South African ranch - ANDRE PAIN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

That applied to the intarsia knits with abstract animal motifs stitched across them, as well as the buckets jangling with ceramic beads and raw edges on tops and jackets. There was less tailoring and glossy eveningwear than usual, with stitching and macrame effects forming the decoration instead (although, this being Dior, he couldnt resist a fair amount of crystal embroidery).

The natural palette of sand, sage, rust and dusty pink nodded to the vast expanse of sky at Nels South African ranch. Its so enormous, and always changing. I wanted to get the feeling of that sky at different times of day, he says. That setting is a personal one for Jones, a Londoner who grew up in Africa, and he regards it as his spiritual home. There was also a respectful nod to the motifs of Monsieur Dior in the sunflower prints, lest we forget who the real star of the show is in all the celebrity mayhem.

That crafty element was also seen in the ceramic collars  designed for the theatre of the show no doubt, rather than practical enough to make it into shops  while the duster coats and chore jackets called to mind the kind of pieces you might find in an artists studio. Call it the coastal grandad trend emerging again  all rustic jackets and chunky knits  but on a Cote dAzur budget.

Of course, the average consumer doesnt need  or want  a luxury take on homespun clothes at stratospheric prices. But if it causes the Saudi princes and Silicon Valley tech bros who wear these clothes to register the handcrafted element, then thats a job well done for Jones.

The 'coastal grandad' trend is emerging again featuring rustic jackets and chunky knits - ANDRE PAIN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

There was also a respectful nod to the motifs of Monsieur Dior in the sunflower prints - ANDRE PAIN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

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SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA: In this image released on June 5, Kristin Cavallari attends the 2022 MTV Movie & TV Awards: UNSCRIPTED at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California and broadcast on June 5, 2022. (Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for MTV)

Kristin Cavallari is getting candid about the cosmetic procedures she's had  and experts say more celebrities should follow her example.

During Tuesday's episode of her podcast "Let's be Honest with Kristin Cavallari," the "Very Cavallari" star, 37, spoke with Dr. Jacob Unger, founder of Nashville Plastic Surgery Institute, about cosmetic procedures. During their conversation, Cavallari quipped that she "had my boobs done twice."

On Instagram, someone commented on a clip of Cavallari making this statement, writing, "I thought she just got a breast lift?" Cavallari then responded to the commenter to clarify.

"I did both after breast feeding," Cavallari wote. "Everyone acting like I lied about it when I never got asked specifically about implants themselves. I said in an interview YEARS ago that I had a lift (which, to me, felt like I was revealing more than I actually needed to) but I never once denied implants, ever."

Mental health experts previously told USA TODAY that transparency around celebrities' cosmetic procedures is crucial. By speaking out and being honest about the changes they've made to their bodies, celebrities like Cavallari can help curb unrealistic beauty expectations and give fans a more healthy view of body image.

Why celebrities should be transparent about cosmetic procedures

More celebrities are talking about their cosmetic procedures, which experts say can benefit fans who often look to famous people as they analyze their own self-images. According to a 2014 study, those who "worship" celebrities may "harbor concerns about body image, be more prone to cosmetic surgery" and were more likely to struggle with their mental health.

Other big names who have opened up about their choices include Megan Fox, who revealed on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast in March that she got her breasts done when she was 21 or 22 and then had them redone after breastfeeding her kids. She also said she had a procedure on her nose in her early 20s.

Kaley Cuoco has also been lauded for openly discussing her cosmetic surgeries, and Dolly Parton famously said "if something is bagging, sagging or dragging, I'll tuck it, suck it or pluck it." Courteney Cox admitted to "looking really strange with injections and doing stuff to my face that I would never do now," and, in October, Sia revealed she got a face lift and then in December said she underwent liposuction. In a 2022 American Society of Plastic Surgeons article, Amy Schumer received praise for opening up about her liposuction after she had surgery to treat endometriosis.

More: Megan Fox set the record straight on her cosmetic surgeries. More stars should do the same

Experts agree plastic surgery and other cosmetic procedures are nothing to be ashamed of and transparency from celebrities is critical to dismantling unhealthy beauty norms. Embracing such vulnerability reminds people, particularly young girls, they werent supposed to be born with the fuller lips or chiseled jaws they see in media.

When celebrities conceal they had work done, they risk deceiving people into thinking certain aesthetic features are obtainable naturally.

"Many celebrities look good naturally, but many also have work done. And when they're not honest about it, I think they're being unethical because they're in the spotlight, Dr. Daniel Barrett, a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, previously told USA TODAY  unlike average people who can benefit from and take advantage of keeping their body alterations private.

They have a moral obligation to be transparent about anything they've had done that helps them achieve a certain look," Barrett added.

More: Kristin Cavallari cut her 'narcissist' dad out of her life. Should you?

Deceiving the public about plastic surgery can cause problems

Concealing cosmetic procedures can have detrimental and long-lasting consequences on people's mental and physical health, experts added. The pressure to be perfect can also contribute to disordered eating.

"The psychological pressure to meet societal beauty standards can be difficult to manage, especially because it can leave you feeling like you're never good enough," Naomi Torres-Mackie, a clinical psychologist and head of research at the Mental Health Coalition, previously told USA TODAY.

Torres-Mackie called these beauty comparisons "a rigged race that's unwinnable, adding its still the norm to hide all imperfections at any cost despite the push for body positivity. She also said admitting to cosmetic work "takes a certain level of vulnerability."

Young people are documenting, recording their plastic surgery on TikTok. Heres why thats a bad thing.

"It's a brave thing to do that could potentially help others," she added.

Instead of shaming others, or ourselves, for what we look like, we should prioritize shifting the conversation around beauty and body image, Elizabeth Daniels, associate professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, previously told USA TODAY: "We should be encouraged to celebrate the differences and think about beauty more broadly. There is no one way to be beautiful."

Contributing: Katie Camero, Morgan Hines and Jenna Ryu

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kristin Cavallari reveals past plastic surgeries. Her honesty matters
What Was Marriage Like Between Keith and Sherri Papini After Kidnapping Hoax? 'You're Not Going to Win Against Her' (Exclusive)

"Every day something revolving [around] what we dubbed 'the 22 days' would come up," Keith Papini says

Courtesy Keith Papini Sherri and Keith Papini

For years, Keith Papini believed that his wife Sherri Papini, the mother of his two children, was abducted and held hostage for 22 days  until finally, she admitted to a court that she made the entire story up.

On Nov. 2, 2016, Sherri disappeared while on a jog near her Redding, Calif., home. But miraculously, after more than three weeks away from her young children and family  which sparked a nationwide search  Sherri, then 34, turned up on a highway near Sacramento more than 150 miles from where she disappeared.

She looked malnourished and badly beaten. When Keith received the news that she was found alive, he rushed to a Woodland, Calif., hospital to see her. He went into Sherris hospital room and pulled back the curtain to see his wife for the first time since she'd vanished.



Related: Keith Papini Says Ex-Wife Sherri Lied to Him About Her Faked Kidnapping and Torture for 6 Years: 'I'll Never Know the Truth' (Exclusive)

As soon as I saw her face, the way she looked up at me in that moment, I just felt, this is fake, this is not real, says Keith in this week's issue of PEOPLE. (Keith also speaks about his ordeal in Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini, a new three-part documentary series now streaming on Hulu.)

For more on the how Sherri Papini's hoax kidnapping, subscribe now to PEOPLE, or pick up this week's issue, on newsstands today.

But as quickly as the feeling surfaced, it faded. When he hugged her in the hospital bed, he felt scabs on her back and saw bruises all over her body. There's no way somebody could do this to themselves, he says he thought to himself. Then I felt guilty that I even thought that she could do this, Keith says.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Despite his initial gut feeling, Keith stood by his wife for years and believed that she'd been taken against her will. He spoke often with law enforcement and encouraged his wife to tell him everything she remembered about where she was held in order to aid the investigation.

"I was constantly trying to solve the case," Keith says. "I always was reaching out to the FBI. Every time she would tell me something, I was writing it down or trying to find a picture of it, and I would give that to the FBI."

Chloe Aftel Keith Papini

Despite his efforts, the case was seemingly going cold, with no leads on the suspects who Sherri said abducted and tortured her. And while Keith was trying to support his wife's recovery from the trauma she claimed she endured, Sherri herself was inflicting constant trauma on Keith and their two small children, Keith says.



"Every day something revolving [around] what we dubbed, 'the 22 days' would come up, whether that be loud sounds at night where I have to go outside to make sure someone's not coming in to kill us. I mean, she led us to believe that we were being ... Essentially that we were going to be attacked at some point," Keith says, adding that they also had to upgrade their security system due to Sherri's purported fears.



Related: Kidnapping Hoaxer Sherri Papini Said She's Writing 2 Books: 'Mommy Is an Author Now'

During the investigation into her disappearance, investigators began poking holes in her claims and eventually learned Sherri lied about the entire kidnapping. Investigators discovered that during the 22 days she was missing, she was willingly at the Costa Mesa, Calif., home of her ex-boyfriend.

Sherri was arrested in March 2022 in connection with the hoax.

Rich Pedroncelli/AP Sherri Papini walks to the federal courthouse accompanied by her attorney, Willian Portanova on April 13, 2022 in Sacramento, CA..

On April 18, 2022  nearly six years after her disappearance  Sherri pleaded guilty to one felony charge each of making false statements to federal agents and mail fraud. (She was sentenced to 18 months in prison and was released early in 2023.)

Related: Where Is Sherri Papini Now? What to Know About Her Life After 2016 Kidnapping Hoax

Days after her guilty plea, Keith filed for divorce and eventually cut off contact with Sherri, who he said continued to try and manipulate him even after the divorce.

It was such a weight off my shoulders because I was constantly trying to play this game with her, but you're not going to win against her. She's too good," Keith says. "And ever since [cutting off contact with Sherri] it's been a lot easier, because now I just get to focus on the kids.

Keith now has sole custody of their two children, and Sherri sees them once a month during supervised visits.

Keith Papini tells his story in Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini, a new three-part documentary series now streaming on Hulu.

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Read the original article on People.
Its Miami: Rapper Travis Scott just dropped new merch after his latest arrest

That was quick.

Travis Scott didnt miss an opportunity to make some merch money on Thursday.

Hours after his arrest early Thursday at the Miami Beach Marina on trespassing and disorderly intoxication charges, the Sicko Mode singer dropped a limited edition shirt with his mug shot.

The tee, called Free the Rage No. 2, carries the phrase, Its Miami.

Travis Scotts Free the Rage No. 2 T shirt

Thats what the arrest affidavit says the artist uttered while in custody after admitting he had been drinking alcohol.

Not all the money the Houston native makes from this premium heavyweight cotton shirt will line his lawyers pockets. $5 of sales go to Scotts Cactus Jack Foundation, empowering and enriching the lives of youths.

Fans may recall the artists Free the Rage No. 1 shirt was sold back in May 2017 when the 33 year old was arrested on suspicion of inciting a riot in Rogers, Arkansas. Scott pleaded guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct, and paid a $7,465.31 fine.

Back then, the top sold for $45; folks are currently hawking them on eBay for around $100 so this new merch may be a decent investment.
Social media is both untrustworthy and corrosive, and while those facts may be obvious to anyone who spends time on X or Instagram, theyre nonetheless verified in stark fashion by TikTok Star Murders. Premiering on Peacock on June 25, this feature-length documentary details the ugly case of Ali Abulaban and his wife Ana, whose online image as a happy and fun-loving couple proved to be a terrible lie. An up-close-and-personal tragedy of fame, ego, and domestic abuse thats energized by copious recordings made by its homicidal subject, its a 21st-century cautionary tale about the desire for fame and the platforms which make that dream seem so easily attainable.

Raised in a strict Muslim household, Ali joined the United States Air Force and wound up stationed in Okinawa, Japan, where he met Ana. The two quickly hit it off, but their relationship was temporarily thwarted when Ali was unceremoniously discharged for getting into a brawl. Back living with his family in Bristow, Virginia, in 2015, Ali learned that Anawho had relocated with her clan to her native Philippineswas pregnant with their child. By January 2017, Ali had secured Ana a visa to join him in Virginia, where they moved into a house and began a life that blossomed thanks to Alis growing online fanbase.

Having aspired to be an actor, Ali started making short-form content for YouTube, Instagram, and ultimately TikTok, where he amassed a sizable following with comedy-sketch videos featuring spot-on impressions. His favorite (and most notable) character was Scarfaces Tony Montana, and as clinical and forensic psychologist Dr. Joni Johnston points out in TikTok Star Murders, the fact that he adored such a violent icon was a hint about his own true nature. Peacocks documentary presents many of these viral clips, and though few of them are funny or original, they do illustrate his enthusiasm for the bite-size form, as well as his modest talent for mimicking A-listers like Al Pacino, Nicolas Cage, and Keanu Reeves.

When not aping big-screen legends, Ali produced myriad videos about the video game Skyrim, and those eventually helped him find his footing in the overcrowded TikTok field. Often assisting his cause was Ana, who served as his camerawoman when not appearing alongside her now-husband in goofy bits that highlighted their charisma and attractiveness. A particular video of the two dancing around their home titled When your relationship is drama free demonstrates how the two crafted a virtual persona as a picture-perfect pair. Driven by Alis ambition and creativity, their campaign worked, and individual posts were soon racking up over 2 million views, with Ali proclaiming himself a bona fide internet celebrity.

TikTok Star Murders boasts commentary from journalist Andrea Marks as well as Anas friends Rachel and Julia, both of whom provide first-hand accounts of Ali and Anas turbulent romance. After some time living near Alis family in Virginia, Ana convinced her spouse to transfer to San Diego so she could be closer to her BFFs and he could fully pursue his Hollywood aspirations. Once ensconced in a swanky high-rise, Alis fortunes continued to improve, as did Anas online profileand it was the latter which, its implied, was one of many issues that complicated their seemingly fairytale life.

How a TikTok Dance Cult Exploited and Abused Its Brainwashed Members

Ali, everyone agrees, was as jealous as they come, and he worked hard to isolate Ana whenever possible, thereby further alienating her from him. His paranoia about his wifes fidelity was exacerbated by his growing cocaine habitan addiction which was so rampant that hes seen brazenly snorting blow on livestream videos replayed by TikTok Star Murders. All of this increasingly wore on Ana, who felt stifled and dominated by her possessive husband, and her ensuing detachment merely inflamed his mania. Though it wouldnt become public knowledge (even to Julia and Rachel) until later, Ali was physically abusive behind closed doors. Crazier yet, he had no qualms about documenting his virulently hostile diatribes against his wife, during which he cursed her and accused her of cheating on himspecifically, with a friend named Ray about whom Ali had long been suspicious.

Peacocks documentary recounts Ali and Anas disintegrating unionand the nightmare it producedin something approximating real time, courtesy of countless videos and audio recordings of their fights, including one in which Ali pleads his case (and soft-peddles his behavior) to cops whove been called to their apartment. Frequently shooting himself in close-up, Ali is a man whose big, charming smile and outgoing performances appear, from the get-go, to mask an angry, hungry spirit. Thus, his subsequent no-holds-barred tirades come across as unsurprising. Moreover, his eagerness to preserve them for posterity exemplifies the extremity of his social-media obsession, which was so severe that even in the wake of his crimes, he makes clear in a prison-recorded monologue that his biggest concern is disappointing his followers.

On Oct. 21, 2021, everything came to a head when Ali broke into the couples apartment (where Ana was staying), trashed the place, and installed a listening device on an iPad. Upon hearing her speaking to Ray later that day, an enraged Ali snapped and drove over to the residence, where he shot both Ana and Ray dead with a 9mm handgun. In May 2024, he was convicted of first-degree murder, albeit not without a fight; in court footage, Ali vehemently yells at the judge and argues that he was pushed to commit homicide by Anas infidelity. He makes similar claims in a jailhouse interview with journalist Kelsey Christensen, all while simultaneously blaming social media for ruining him, stating, It messed with my brain! It made me violent, it made me like aggressive.

TikTok Star Murders only cursorily touches upon the ingrained gender-related cultural ideas in Ali and Anas heads, to its detriment; a fuller examination of their (respective) Muslim and Filipino upbringings would have lent the proceedings greater context and depth. Still, it offers a startling glimpse at the way in which celebrity (and the intense yearning for it) messes with peoples heads, not to mention the terrible dangers of domestic violence.

Trad-Wife TikToker Who Dropped N-Word Digs Herself Even Deeper

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Chinese drama Friday, Funfair, directed by Zeng Zi, was named best film of the 26th Shanghai International Film Festivals Asian New Talent section, which honors distinguished works by emerging filmmakers from across the Asia-Pacific region.

The film is in tune with a recent trend in Chinese cinema of tackling the pressures and hardships women face in society. Zengs first feature, Friday, Funfair follows a female protagonist (Ying Ze) who is overwhelmed by her lifes daily grind  her husband left her, her mother seems to have aged suddenly and her daughter is facing imminent surgery, among other challenges. But Friday is her daughters birthday  and everything comes to a head at an amusement park where they go to celebrate.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

The Asian New Talent sections only double award winner this year was the black-and-white Indian social drama In the Name of the Fire. The films self-taught director, Abhilash Sharma, won the best director prize, while his star, Satya Ranjan, took best actor honors. Set in the rural east Indian state of Bihar, where the director and his cast are from, the film focuses on a struggling family and explores how their caste and religion weigh heavily on their daily existence. The film is told in the regions ancient Magahi language.

Friday Funfair wins best film at the 2024 Shanghai International Film Festival.

We have no professional film industry or distribution system for films told in this language, so as an independent filmmaker, this award means a lot, said Sharma. It provides us with a kind of window and the possibility that we can find distribution and the film can be more widely seen by audiences.

Shanghais Asian New Talent prize for best actress went to another Indian emerging talent, Jayashri, star of Bird of a Different Feather. Directed by 22-year-old filmmaker Manohara K, the movie is based on the autobiography of Sonia S and tells the coming-of-age story of a 12-year-old girl with albinism.

I just hope that this story gives hope and inspiration to people who struggle with any kind of adversity, because there is always hope and there is always light at the end of the tunnel, said Sonia S, who also wrote the films screenplay. Spreading that inspiration is the main theme of the film.

Shanghais main competition jury, headed by Vietnamese-French director Tran Anh Hung, will hand out the festivals top-prize Golden Goblet Awards on Saturday.

The full list of Shanghais 2024 Asian New Talents winners is below.

Best Film

Friday, Funfair, directed by Zeng Zi (China)

Best Director

Abhilash Sharma for In the Name of Fire (India)

Best Actor

Satya Ranjan for In the Name of Fire (India)

Best Actress

Jayashri for Bird of a Different Feather (India)

Best Screenplay

Zhang Xuyu for Fishbone (China)

Best Cinematography

Huang Shaohui for Habitat (China)

Best of The Hollywood Reporter
There was a big John Denver look- and sound-alike contest in  where else  Colorado.

Cue Rocky Mountain High for background music.

Hundreds signed up and competed. What was surprising was the third-place finisher. Are you ready?

John Denver himself.

He had cut his Dutch boy hairdo. He wore contacts instead of his granny glasses that surely would have given him away. His beat up cowboy hat was gone. But he did nothing to change the silky smooth tenor voice that was his trademark when he sang.

But, still  THIRD?

He did none of the things I just mentioned to fool anyone. Time and age changed his fashion sense and appearance. He didnt try to look like the John Denver everyone knew from the pictures of yesteryear.

When you try to look like Jesus, how well do you resemble him?

Luke 6:40 reads: A disciple (follower) when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. We could cop the plea: Ill never be fully trained! But how close do you come?

John Denver only came close enough to bring home the bronze. What medal, if any, would you win in the Luke 6:40 contest?

All men will know you are my disciples if you love one another. (John 13:35)

Rick Sams is pastor emeritus of Alliance Friends Church.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Do you resemble Jesus in your faith?
Mike Thomas

With the beautiful summer weather finally here, it seems there is a car show or cruise-in every night of the week. We hope to use the appeal of classic cars to help raise money for two area charities, and we invite you to participate.

On June 27, the Building Industry Association of Stark & East Central Ohio will play host to a Cruise-In at the Jackson Amphitheater, 7454 Community Parkway in Jackson Township. The event, which will run 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., will feature many generations and varieties of automobiles. Well also have food trucks, great music from DJ Jim Kelly, awards and door prizes.

Come out to survey the classic and custom cars from your high school days and talk to the owners about the pleasure of owning one of these rides. Be sure to vote for your favorite car  there are six categories.

Better yet ... do you have a car youd like to show? Please bring it out and join us. There is a $10 entry fee, and all proceeds will go to the Aultman Foundation and the BIA Foundation.

We have some fabulous items for bid during the auction  more gifts and prizes are arriving each day, so your chances of having fun, seeing great cars and winning some prizes or money look pretty good if you attend!

Make your summer a bit more memorable and enjoyable by joining us on June 27 at the Cruise-In for Charity at Jackson Amphitheater.

RSVP to the BIA at 330-494-5700 or info@biastark.org.

Mike Thomas is 2024 president of the Building Industry Association of Stark & East Central Ohio.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Cruise-In for Charity in Jackson Twp. features cars, auction
To make sense of change and displacement in East Austin, artist Juan Christian J.C. King turned to sound.

The Colombian American sculptor and self-described "public sound" artist built a cart somewhat reminiscent of a pico, a mobile music machine of stacked speakers that brings cumbias to neighborhood corners in Colombia.

But Kings machine produced more somber and fleeting sounds, those often confined to the memories of long-standing East Austinites who remember previous versions of their neighborhoods. King, who grew up off East Cesar Chavez Street, interviewed 60 such residents (some displaced, some still in place) to make sense of what sounds the neighborhood had lost and what sounds he could reintroduce.

On Thursday evening, as the longest day of the year came to an end, Kings music cart was front and center in the artists East Austin Ghost Procession. The music machine produced a sound reminiscent of chimes, scattered with noises of children playing, parrot chatter (from the somewhat infamous monk parakeets) and cricket chirps. The three dozen or so participants carried screen-printed lanterns with images of other memories, like bungalow homes, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, barbecue gatherings and people speaking Spanish.

The intention from a broad scope was taking a memory and taking it through the streets that created it," King said. Like a ghost, he added, that for a moment revives what is gone.

Artist and organizer J.C. King leads the East Austin Ghost Procession down East Cesar Chavez Street while marching Thursday from Pan American Neighborhood Park to Rainey Street with lanterns and an interactive instrument to honor the people and communities displaced from East Austin

The procession began at the Pan American Neighborhood Park, where children and adults alike interacted with a miniature 3D-printed representation of East Austin atop the music cart. King had painted some of the buildings black to represent demolition and kept large empty spaces to reference the large tracts razed for redevelopment. Each building, when pressed on, added a different sound to the music, evoking squeals and chuckles.

Many of the participants were an artistic crowd. The number of leg tattoos appeared to far outnumber the number of participants over the age of 50.

Many attendants, like Khattie KhattieQ Quinones, 46, said they attended for the sake of visibility. Though not originally from East Austin, she has lived in Austin for three decades, and said she thought the process was a way of communicating  were still here: Hispanics, artists, Black people.

As she walked down Chicon Street toward East Cesar Chavez carrying her lantern, Quinones reflected on what she hoped the community members observing the procession would understand from it.

A peaceful quality, a sense of community, she said. I hope theyre moved by the sounds, that they wonder what were doing.

The sky grew dark by the time the procession arrived on East Cesar Chavez. The lanterns began to glow. Behind the procession, a few westbound cars honked.

Nathan Cook and Kate Csillagi march with the East Austin Ghost Procession down Comal Street. The event was timed to the summer solstice.

A group of mourners in matching shirts watched from outside Mission Funeral Home, and across the street a few restaurantgoers leaned against the facade of an upscale Korean eatery.

Three blocks later, on Comal Street, neighborhood resident Silvia Alvarado watched the procession with her mouth agape.

Its something about languages, she said, in reference to one of the designs on the lanterns.

When informed by the American-Statesman of the processions intent, Alvarado said she wouldnt have realized that.

Thats not what I got from that, said Alvarado, who has lived on Rainey Street and in central East Austin since she was born in 1962. She began to talk about how few neighbors remained and how high her property taxes were.

The procession quickly passed by.

The East Austin Ghost Procession carries lanterns with images representing neighborhood memories as it heads toward Rainey Street.

The artists fascination processing change

King grew up around East Cesar Chavez in the 1980s and 90s. As a teen, he reveled in the neighborhoods hardcore music scene. East Austin is where he first performed as a musician, where he developed a fascination with "sound in public places."

But King hasnt lived in East Austin since 2018, the year after he moved back to Austin after living in New York for a few years. Rent was too high. So too was the price of a house.

Besides, the neighborhood now is not the neighborhood he called home. King can recall the changes that most struck him: the closing of the El Milagro tortilla factory on East Seventh, the paving of the rocky segments of East Fifth.

The city I grew up in, it feels like its buried underneath this one, he said.

Reflecting on this made King want to know what others remembered, what elements of East Austin others missed and what elements they thought had withstood its transformation.

J.C. King embraces a friend as they walk in Thursday's procession.

The recurring details are what made it into his art installation. In evoking the past, King said he hoped to bring together people who have been dispersed.

Things are going to change and theres nothing we can do about this, but my hope  is that through our efforts we can maintain our networks and still function as a community, King said.

How to remember?

Procession attendee Joel Cortez, 47, said the art made him wonder what the best way was to recall old East Austin.

Cortez, a state worker and musician who collaborates with King, was there in part to eulogize the East Side he had known. He had moved there from Houston as a 15-year-old in 1996 and become a punk. He had stayed in the neighborhood to start a family in the early 2000s, a couple of blocks from the processions route on Comal.

He had lived there as long as he could. But after he was evicted in 2010, Cortez said he has looked elsewhere in the city for a lower cost of living.

Cortez said he participated in the procession because he thought it was important for Austin to reflect more on its past.

Austin has historically not been a sentimental place, Cortez said, pointing to the citys quick change and embrace of the new.

Maybe, he wondered, that could change.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Experimental art procession highlights displacement in East Austin
A central Illinois staple and beloved sandwich is being forever memorialized where Texas toast first met buttery cheese-sauce.

Visit Springfield, a tourism division of the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau, unveiled a plaque to commemorate the birth of the Horseshoe sandwich at the historic Leland Building at the corner of Sixth Street and Capitol Avenue in Springfield. The location is where the original Springfield Horseshoe Sandwich was created.

Visiting Springfield marketing manager Amy Beadle said the idea for the plaque came from tourists asking if the Leland Hotel was still serving horseshoes.

A plaque commemorating the Horseshoe sandwich was unveiled on the Leland building on Thursday, June 20, 2024, in Springfield.

I got to thinking; knowing this is the Leland building, and no its not a hotel and no you cant eat there, Beadle said. What can we do to promote another experience for people who are interested in the horseshoethat prompted the idea that we need a marker.

In partnership with the Illinois Commerce Commission, the agency that currently occupies the historic building, the plaque on the east side of the building states the date the first horseshoe was created and the history behind the cultural dish.

The building just has so much history and its so important to bring people downtown, Jonathan Feipel, executive director of the Illinois Commerce Commission, said. This is great to be able to support the local restaurants.

More: Springfield restaurant closing after less than one year being open

What is a Horseshoe?

The classic Horseshoe, an open-faced sandwich unique to central Illinois, is a holy pairing of Texas toast layered with seasoned meat, French fries and cheese sauce.

Almost every diner has a variation of the sandwich: from beef patties to pulled pork and fried chicken; just about anything can go into the sandwich as long as its topped by carbs and sauce.

The reason sauce or meat isnt defined is because different restaurants, like Scoop Du Jour at 95 Plummer Blvd. in Chatham, have taken their own spin on the shoe creating an ice-cream variation with chocolate sauce.

What is the history of the Horseshoe?

The Signature Horseshoe Sandwich was created in 1928 at the Old Leland Hotel by Joe Schweska. The idea came about with the help of Elizabeth, Schweska's wife, after he came home saying he was in need of a new lunch item for the Leland Hotel Restaurant, according to Visit Springfield.

The name "horseshoe" was derived from the shape of the cut of ham used in the original sandwich. The French fries represent the nails of the shoe, and the sizzle platter represents the hot anvil.

Its really special to see this tribute to my grandparents creating the recipe, Jan Militello, the granddaughter of Schweska said surrounded by cousins and other family of the culinarian. Its amazing to see how it has become such an icon of Springfield.

A plaque commemorating the Horseshoe sandwich was unveiled on the Leland building on Thursday, June 20, 2024, in Springfield.

How does Springfield celebrate the Horseshoe in other ways?

The gold and onyx plaque joins Springfields other recent dive into the world of culinary tourism, the Horseshoe Trail.

The trail, which launched in January of this year is a scavenger hunt for deep fried cheesy sandwiches available to anyone with a phone; using an app Springfieldians can download a "travel pass," much like a punch card.

Since the tourism event launch, around 1,300 passes have been distributed for people from 20 states.

Weve had close to 1,000 check-ins at the area restaurants that are participating, Beadle said.

The pass lasts until Dec. 31, 2025, so tourists and locals have limited time to finish the over two-dozen circuit of participating restaurants.

Claire Grant writes about business, growth and development and other news topics for the State Journal-Register. She can be reached at CLGrant@gannett.com; and on X (Formerly known as Twitter): @Claire_Granted

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Plaque commemorating Horseshoe sandwich unveiled in downtown Springfield
Krispy Kreme giving away free doughnuts on July 4 to customers in red, white and blue

Krispy Kreme is celebrating America's birthday with a new collection of doughnuts decorated with red, white and blue toppings  and of course, a free doughnut deal.

The company's Star Spangled Sweetness Collection features three "patriotic" doughnuts in a custom red, white and blue box and is available beginning June 21 for a limited time at participating shops.

The three flavors in the collection feature two all-new flavors and a returning fan-favorite, Krispy Kreme said in a news release. They include:

Firework Cookies & Kreme (New): An unglazed doughnut filled with Cookies & Kreme, hand-dipped in red icing and decorated with a blue icing swirl and rocket candy piece.

Cotton Candy Sparkler Doughnut (New): An Original Glazed doughnut hand-dipped in blue icing and cotton candy sugar and decorated with white and red buttercreme dollops.

Freedom Flag Doughnut: An Original Glazed doughnut hand-dipped in white icing and decorated with patriotic red icing stripes and blue and gold sprinkles.

Krispy Kreme announced Friday a new collection of red, white and blue doughnuts in honor of the 4th of July holiday.

In addition to dozens being available at Krispy Kreme shops, customers can also get the new collection in a specialty 6-count box delivered fresh daily to select retailers. Customers can visit the Krispy Kreme website to find a shop or grocery store location near you.

'Friends'-themed doughnuts: Krispy Kreme releases 'Friends'-themed doughnuts, but some American fans aren't happy

Krispy Kreme giving away free doughnuts on July 4

Another sweet deal for Krispy Kreme fans: Customers who wear red, white and blue to participating Krispy Kreme shops on July 4 can get a free Original Glazed doughnut, the company said in the news release.

Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Krispy Kreme giving away free doughnuts on 4th of July
Ky. teachers go TikTok viral with lunch bunch videos, sharing glimpses of who we are

Nicki Caudill and her close friends and fellow staff members at Johnson Central High School have eaten lunch together for years in teacher Amiee Webbs room, talking about their families, their lives  and what they are eating.

The teachers in Paintsville, in eastern Kentucky, were having such a good time that one day in 2023, Caudill said, she got the idea to video them sharing what they were having for lunch and put it on TiKTok.

She changed the name of her personal TikTok account to JCHS Lunch Bunch.

We talk about our lunch, we talk about our family, we laugh at each other, we make fun of ... what we eat. We just got people interested in us. It just took off from there. Its wild, Caudill told the Herald-Leader on Friday.

We thought she was crazy when she did it but we had fun with it, Webb said. A couple of weeks later, we had positive feedback, so we just rolled with it.

Their TikTok account had at least 28,400 followers as of this week and drew attention from The Washington Post.

The concept is simple: Each video features a short clip of each staff member describing what they brought for lunch that day.

A few of their videos have gotten more than half a million views.

The staff show off a variety of tastes in lunchtime cuisine, from Taco Bell burritos to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, leftover homemade tomato soup from dinner the night before to a school lunch tray laden with fried chicken and mashed potatoes.

Along the way, the staff share laughs and offer tidbits about whats going on in their lives  one is out sick with a stomach bug, another tried to order a $5 sandwich from Subway, only to end up voiding the deal by adding bacon and paying $15.98 for a sub and chips.

They clearly like to have fun with their audience.

In a March 14 video, they teased, We have a big announcement. One of us is pregnant, and we want you to guess. Before sharing their lunches that day, seven staffers lined up and introduced themselves so viewers could share their guesses in the comments about who the mom-to-be was.

Sometimes, they answer questions from viewers in subsequent videos, sharing a recipe for spaghetti squash casserole in one and in another showing details of popcorn seasonings one staff member uses to add flavor to apple slices.

All these, if you use a quarter teaspoon or less, are zero points on Weight Watchers, and they make apples absolutely delicious, the off-camera videographer says.

When viewers wanted to know how they manage to get lunch from restaurants during the short lunch breaks allotted to schools, they made a video showing an aerial map of the school with all the eateries nearby.

Caudill posts on TikTok Monday through Friday during the school year and Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the summer, with teachers in the group sending Caudill videos to post. Fans told them they couldnt go all summer without the videos, Caudill said.

A video might contain good-natured teasing about tuna fish that looks soupy or weird eaters, teachers who wont put sauces on their foods, she said.

Weight Watchers has sent the group lunches and given them merchandise. Other food companies sent shakes and salads. State education officials and a TV meteorologist have stopped in for lunch.

Webb said between 10 and 14 teachers show up every day.

We always have just been friends and I think that shows, said Webb. A lot of us do things together outside of class.

She said the group is pretty open on the videos. They share health journeys, kids and vacations.

We try to share little glimpses of who we are, she said.
CAMBRIDGE  Tucked away in the Dewey Avenue shopping center is Garrett's Studio Hair Salon. While the name currently remains the same, the space and the people it serves are getting revamped by new owner, Malakai Ellis.

Ellis worked with Cindy Voorhies at the Small Business Development Center and Bill Arnett with the Community Improvement Corporation to secure the grant money to purchase the salon and develop his business plan for the re-branding.

Ellis spent the better part of six months planning the salon and focusing on what needs in the community could be better met. Garrett's, which will eventually be renamed Malakai's Mirror, will be focused on serving all minority groups in the area but will welcome anyone.

"The one thing I've learned in my six years is that salons are not set up to cater to anybody outside of the norm. That's basically my whole reason behind purchasing this place. To offer something the community doesn't already have," Ellis said.

Malakai Ellis, owner of Malakai's Mirror, formerly Garrett's, works on a rainbow-colored hair design for a client.

Offering a safe space

Ellis, a Zanesville native who moved around a good bit growing up, has been working in Guernsey County for six years."I'm really excited to offer a safe space. I don't like using that term because I don't feel like it should be necessary," he said. "I'm also a little bit nervous because I'm getting ready to out myself as a trans man to the entire community, which is nerve-wracking because that makes me easy to target. However, I feel like somebody has to do it. Somebody has to be the one to put their self on the line that way everybody else can be included. There's a lot of us here, but people don't know it."

He hasn't received any negative feedback, but what he continually has heard was "Good for you!" While he doesn't want the salon to be labeled as special, sometimes there's no getting around it. "I understand why people are giving me that as feedback, but you know. I feel like getting myself mentally prepared has been the most difficult. I'm just hoping that outing myself to the community gives me a positive response for the people that need it."

Bowls of hair color are ready to be applied to a client's hair at Malakai's Mirror. The salon has seen an uptick of rainbow hairstyles to help celebrate Pride month.

The first person to be hired under Ellis is a trans barber from Senecaville, Maxximus Milligan. "This is what I've wanted to be a part of since I started barber school 10 years ago. I think this is something we've needed here for a long time. I think we have a huge group of people here that are going to take advantage of it," Milligan said.

Milligan attended Prince's Barber Academy in Zanesville. He had previously attended barber school in Canal Winchester, but was unable to finish due to time constraints and having a family. He accumulated more than 1,100 hours of training but had to wipe the slate clean when he returned to school. He has now acquired 2,800 of education and passed his boards on Jan. 30.

During Milligan's transition, he recalls times when he was early in his experience and was denied barber services because he was a female. He wants to allow other people going through similar experiences to get the treatments they desire. "This is huge. It's a roller coaster ride. It's a little scary outing yourself with kids, but also, I can't sit there and tell my kids be yourself, if I'm not doing that," Milligan added.

The salon comes equipped with a shampoo bowl at every station, something that Ellis wants to highlight. He has a current client who has cerebral palsy, and not switching chairs and accommodating the wheelchair is huge. The venue also offers van-accessible and handicapped parking.

He plans to get in touch with local rehabilitation centers and offer free haircuts for people looking to re-enter the workforce, or for those going through drug and alcohol-related treatments. "One of the best things you can do for them is make them feel good about themselves."

Malakai's Mirror will be attending the Zanesville Pride event on June 29 at Zane's Landing Park. It will be the first Pride event Ellis has ever attended.

Other plans for the salon include taking $2 from every service on Fridays and donating it to local charities and LGBTQIA organizations with a new organization being chosen each month. A Southeastern Ohio LGBTQ+ organization will be one of the first groups to receive donations, which Ellis will be accepting at the Zanesville Pride event on June 29. "They spend a lot of their time and money on educating the community," he added. The Zanesville event will be the first Pride event Ellis has ever attended.

Kathyryne Hines shows off her rainbow strip of hair done by Malakai's Mirror salon owner and boyfriend, Malakai Ellis.

Ellis reflects on his past experiences and the traumas he has personally dealt with being a young trans man in a very rural area. "I seriously thought that if I could be the perfect follower of Christ that He would fix me. It took (a lot) to realize that there is nothing wrong with me and slowly over time I started to accept myself for the way I was. I'm still working on loving myself as I am, but I want to help other people love themselves," he said.

Refreshing the salon

The salon transformation will hearken back to the 1950s. Ellis wants to have the black and white checkerboard floor and shadow boxes on the walls showcasing the venue's history. The original owners' shears are hung, a reminder that the salon, being 86 years old, is a part of Guernsey County history. The family of Garrett has been assisting Ellis in finding photos of him to feature in the salon. Ellis plans on tackling the remodel and demo work himself, with the help of his girlfriend, Kathyryne Hines, her family and Milligans' family as well.

The salon will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday with Mondays and Tuesdays being appointments only. Walk-ins are welcome any other time. Ellis noted the salon is always going to be an open space for those who just wish to connect with the community. Offerings will include haircuts and hair designs, hair tinselling, extensions by appointment, straight razors and face steaming services. Pricing will be listed on the salon's Facebook page.

"Sometimes when someone leaves the chair, that might have been their last day but because you were kind to them and you chose to see them for who they were, that could have made all the difference," Ellis said. "A lot of the hate comes from fear, and the fear comes from not understanding and a lack of education. So essentially, that's the goal."

To make an appointment or to learn more about the salon, call 740-439-1068. Malakai's Mirror (Garrett's) is located at 224 Dewey Ave. in Cambridge. For more information, statistics and resources dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community visit The Trevor Project's website or the National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center webpage.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Malakai Ellis' new salon aims to serve all, including LGBTQ+ community
People are traveling across the world to try the viral millennial Willy Wonka chocolate bar

Chocoholics are making waves online after traveling across the world to get their paws on the Can't Get Khanafed Of It.

This confection is raising the bar.

Thought going all the way to the store for candy was extreme? Chocoholics are traveling across the world to get their paws on a special bar thats only available in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

This is worth every bit of the hype and is still getting, gushed one satisfied candy lover on X. Not denying that its pricey, but we have paid more for mass-produced chocolate.

Aptly named the Cant Get Khanafed Of It, this $20 sweet treat entails a milk chocolate bar filled with crispy khanafeh (a traditional Middle Eastern pastry), pistachio cream and tahini spread.

For me, its really important (to maintain) the quality and the ingredients of our products, Sarah Hamouda. instagram/fixdessertchocolatie

The confection is produced by Dubai-based company Fix Dessert Chocolatier, which specializes in tea, filo pastry and other Middle Eastern-inflected chocolate bars like the cocoa version of Bernie Botts Every Flavor Beans.

We take a lot of time and effort, and put a lot of love into our bars, Fix Founder Sarah Hamouda, 38, told CNN while describing these high-octane holy grails.

The so-called millennial Willy Wonka started the candy company in 2021 as a side hustle, reportedly inspired by the cocoa cravings she experienced during pregnancy, hence the name (which stands for freaking incredible experience).

However, many products nowadays, it gained worldwide traction due to TikTok. A now-viral ASMR video showing foodfluencer Maria Vehera eating a Cant Get Khanafed Of It bar in her car currently boasts over 60 million views.

WOW, JUST WOW!!! Cant explain how good these are! Maria Vehera When a chocolate, a dessert and a piece of art meet this is what you get! tiktok/@mariavehera257

WOW, JUST WOW!!! Cant explain how good these are! she gushed in the caption. When a chocolate, a dessert and a piece of art meet this is what you get!

Hamouda claimed that this internet fame caused Fixs daily orders to go from single digits to 500 with CGKOI becoming her bestseller, the Daily Mail reported.

Alas, this molten monster is only available in Dubai via Chatfood or Deliveroo, but that hasnt stopped international cocoa heads from going to great lengths to get their hands on one.

Fix only offers its wares in Dubai. tiktok/@mariavehera257

Whoever is traveling back from Dubai to London could you get me a fix dessert chocolatier chocolate bar cause Im dying to try it, pleaded one fan on X.

Another wrote, Why do they only deliver in Dubai I will literally fly there just to try these chocolates.

Its insane whats been happening, exclaimed Hamouda, whos reportedly gotten messages and video responses from people from Canada to Argentina praising her creation.

Indeed, it appears that the flavor was worth the pilgrimage for many. The Fix Dessert Chocolatier chocolate has arrived. I do hope my cousin appreciates it, fawned one fan. The thick and robust bars evoke memories of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, a cherished childhood book, with the original film holding a high place of importance in my life. Love it.

The taste is a credit to the meticulousness and care with which these chocolate bars are created. All the sweets are handmade  including the colorful designs  and each is packed and filled using a signature mold.

For me, its really important (to maintain) the quality and the ingredients of our products, said Hamouda.

Unfortunately, this intensive process mitigates the number that Fix can churn out. Despite capping sales of the 200-gram bars at 500 orders per day, they often sell out within minutes.

Fortunately, some TikTokkers have managed to circumvent the scarcity by MacGyvering their own Cant Get Khanafed Of It at home.

Fortunately, even off-brand imitations proved sumptuous, per TikTok foodie Suzy Hendrix, who cobbled one of these bars together using ingredients sourced from her neighborhood Middle Eastern Supermarket.

I cant take it anymore, Ive been watching people enjoy this viral pistachio chocolate bar, only sold in Dubai. I had to try and make it, she gushed in a video with nearly 20 million views. And it was everything I dreamt it would be.
Recently, my wonderful wife, Laureen, and I were visiting Las Vegas when a guest at the Venetian asked me if we had stopped along Interstate 15 to check out the Seven Magic Mountains.

They are a work of art, the man dressed in puffy sleeves and tights told me. We stop there every time we come to Las Vegas.

John posing by one of the seven boulder art works by Ugo Rondinone, as seen on March 28, 2024. Travelers have ample opportunity for wonderful photo shoots around the entire field of beautiful pieces of art.

Magic mushrooms, I remembered. It is a great time to sit back and contemplate the events of the world while studying ones navel. But magic mountains?

Dude, a long haired-hippie-dude may have said. These shrooms are like opening up the universe to me, dude.

If I had been there, I might have replied, Dude, you look like a walrus but with a tighter mustache.

Of course, the above is just for giggles. I have never delved into the world of drugs. However, there was a time when I possibly ingested something innocently and two days later rounded up at Machu Picchu in Peru, where a Shaman had tattooed a map of the lost Incan treasure on my hairy back.

Its a map, I confessed to Laureen.

A combination of the natural backdrop of the desert mountains combined with Ugo Rondinone's Seven Magic Mountains gives the visitor a sense of awe, as seen on March 28, 2024.

They are freckles, she stated with a roll of the eyes that could be felt in Cuzco,

Why did I keep getting emails from the History Channel from Lost Treasure Hunters?

So, on the way out of Sin City, we decided to pull off Interstate 15 and investigate all the commotions of these Seven Magic Mountains.

Should have stopped by a CBD store for this experience, I told Laureen.

Put the car in park.

The free parking lot was entire. I had to wait until a family decided they had had enough of the Seven Magic Mushrooms - oops, the Seven Magic Mountains -- before a spot was available,

The father looked at his wife, who was jockeying the horde of kids into the minivan, I swear I saw Captain Kirk standing by one of the tall rock sculptures. He spoke to me.

With the last child's seatbelt fastened, the wife calmly took the vehicle's keys and instructed her husband that intergalactic travel would be prohibited that day.

Running parallel with Interstate 15, approximately a dozen miles south of Las Vegas, this is a sight to behold. Huge multi-colored boulders stacked on each other towering over the flat desert landscape.

It's not just the juxtaposition of these structures that makes a traveler ponder how this could be created; the gorgeously vivid colors painted on each boulder are an artistic palette.

So many folks were wandering around the boulder works of art that I lost count.

There were Hindus, Taosists, Shintos, Christians, Islamists, and those with tin foil wrapped around their skulls.

As a travel writer, I asked each person where they were from. I suddenly stopped when a man said he had just been released from San Quentin.

The teardrop tats beneath my eyes, he said, Nothing to concern yourself with.

It was a place for all, and all were welcome.

Tourists can enjoy a stroll through one of the largest land based art installations at Seven Magic Mountains, as seen on March 28, 2024. A wonderful opportunity to wonder at the genius of Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone.

The creator of this field of creativity was a Swiss artist named Ugo Rondinone. His dream was to explore, a creative expression of human presence in the desert. Seven Magic Mountains punctuates the Mojave with a poetic burst of form and color.

In the middle of nowhere, Ugo decided to stack boulders over 30 feet tall to allow travelers en route along Interstate 15 to share his vision in the Nevada desert.

It should be noted that the work was funded and sponsored by the Nevada Museum of Art, along with other non-profit groups who were very excited to be part of the largest land-based art installation in the United States in the last 40 years.

I had no idea what a land-based art installation was until I asked Mr. Google. But it is really cool to experience it up close and personal.

When the art project began in December 2015, the process was not easy. Huge boulders were brought to the location and then carefully cut into smaller boulders to Rondinones exact specifications.

According to the artist, once the large boulders were cut into the correct size, holes were cut through to allow each boulder to sit atop another by using metal rods and bolts to ensure they would not topple over on visitors.

Nothing worse than having a 40,000-pound neon pink boulder falling on a guy taking a selfie at the bottom of a column of boulders,

Well, that little incident wont be staying in Vegas, a tourist may note after watching a six-foot male squashed into the desert floor.

To complete Rondinone's dream, an entire army of engineers, metal workers, boulder cutters, crane operators, and other construction experts was needed.

The motto of how it was all put together was simple - One boulder at a time. And with 33 boulders, one weighing nearly 56,000 pounds, that was a lot of combined effort and talent.

What stands out, besides the feeling a person may have looking at a modern-day Stonehenge painted in various colors of Day-Glo paint, is the precarious-appearing boulders stacked on top of each other. They seem to be defying gravity for the onlooker.

Being situated near Jean Dry Lake, within the Ivanpah Valley, winds howl through the flatness of the desert like folks running through the front doors of Walmart on a Black Friday sale.

Watch out, Ethel, a husband may say to his wife. The winds are blowing nigh-on three hundred miles per hour. And dont forget that they have big screens for a buck today.

The amount of engineering genius it took to ensure those boulders dont fall over in extreme desert conditions is fantastic.

With the backdrop of the Sheep Mountains, the Seven Magic Mountains offer both amateur and professional photographers the perfect opportunity to get out and about for that perfect frame.

Per the Seven Magic Mountains website, the installation creates a dialogue between the natural and the artificial, the rural and the urban. The natural form of the rocks contrasts with their artificial paint, symbolizing the intersection of human culture with the natural world,

That was cranium-deep.

When asked, Rondinone stated, I just had some time on my hands and a bunch of boulders in the front yard, and I thought - why not?

He did not say that.

Situated on Bureau of Land Management land, the artist was allowed just two years to display the brightly painted seven stacked columns of boulders, but after it was completed in 2016, the response was so positive that the BLM allowed another couple of years to pass, Now, after having nearly 1,000 visitors per day touring the land-based art installation, that has been extended through 2027.

As Laureen and I wandered around the luminescent boulder creations, we suspected this timeline might also be extendedll. It is free to park, enter, and experience the wonders of the desert, suddenly alive with tall, beautifully sculptured art pieces.

I took a photo of Laureen near a vivid purple boulder. Laureen took a picture of me standing by a bright blue boulder. Laureen was asked to take photos of strangers as they posed with their families in front of various colored boulders.

Could this be a troll looking out across the desert, as seen on March 28, 2024. Visitors can let go of their imaginations and truly enjoy the uniqueness of Seven Magic Mountains outside of Las Vegas.

I offered, but with a smile, the strangers declined and handed their phones and cameras to Laureen. I wasnt upset by the slight since I did not want to take their dumb photos in the first place.

With hundreds of people walking about the exhibit, it was refreshing to see all the smiles, wonder in voices, and joy people felt just being in the center of this magical art destination.

As I mentioned, every color, every nationality, and every creed was on display, and the folks were visiting and enjoying one mans vision to bring us all together at the Seven Magic Mountains.

We talked to each other, pointed things out to each other, and smiled goodbye when we left. It was an enriching experience, and perhaps it should be duplicated worldwide.

That would be nice.

John can be contacted at beyersbyways@gmail.com.

Information

https://sevenmagicmountains.com

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Seven Magic Mountains, a colorful escape
The summer solstice, occurring this year on June 21, marks the longest day of the year and the official start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.



As the sun reaches its highest point in the sky, people around the world partake in various traditions and festivities to honor this astronomical event. However, for Native Americans, the summer solstice holds deeper significance that transcends contemporary customs.

The summer solstice is a result of the Earths axial tilt, which causes the Northern Hemisphere to receive the most direct sunlight. This results in the longest day and shortest night of the year.

The exact time of the solstice varies slightly each year due to the Earths elliptical orbit, but it typically falls between June 20 and June 22. This year, the solstice occurs on June 21, when the sun will reach its zenith at noon, creating the longest stretch of daylight.

In modern times, the summer solstice is celebrated with various activities. Many people flock to beaches, enjoy picnics, and partake in outdoor activities to soak up the extended daylight. Festivals, music events, and solstice yoga sessions are also popular ways to commemorate the occasion.

For Native Americans, the summer solstice is much more than just a day to enjoy the outdoors. It is a time of renewal, reflection, and spiritual significance. For centuries, indigenous peoples across North America have celebrated the solstice with ceremonies and prayer, viewing it as a sacred event that marks the beginning of a new cycle.

Among numerous Indigenous communities that celebrate the summer solstice, each has its distinct customs. For example, the Sioux hold a Sun Dance, a ceremonial ecent that includes dancing, singing, and drumming to honor the sun and seek spiritual renewal.

The Zuni people of the Southwest perform the Shalako ceremony, a series of dances and rituals that celebrate the arrival of summer solstice and the renewal of life.

In the Pacific Northwest, the Coast Salish tribes host gatherings that feature canoe journeys, where tribal members paddle long distances to meet with other communities. These journeys symbolize unity, strength, and the enduring connection to the waterways that sustain their way of life.

The summer solstice is a powerful reminder of the cycles of nature and the importance of living in harmony with the Earth. For Native Americans, it is a time to reflect on ancestral heritage, renew spiritual practices, and celebrate the interconnectedness of all life.

As we embrace the longest day of the year, let us also honor and learn from Indigenous cultural practices, appreciating the deep connections they foster between people and the natural world.

Here is a list of some notable summer solstice events around Indian Country:

Have a safe summer from Native News Online!

About the Author: "Kaili Berg (Aleut) is a member of the Alutiiq\/Sugpiaq Nation, and a shareholder of Koniag, Inc. She is a staff reporter for Native News Online and Tribal Business News. Berg, who is based in Wisconsin, previously reported for the Ho-Chunk Nation newspaper, Hocak Worak. She went to school originally for nursing, but changed her major after finding her passion in communications at Western Technical College in Lacrosse, Wisconsin. "

Contact: kberg@indiancountrymedia.com
Albania might not be the first country that springs to mind for fashion, but American designer Nicole Miller is a quick convert.

Reached in the countrys capital city of Tirana Friday morning, the designer spoke enthusiastically about the emerging talents who had competed in the 2024 Muza Competition Thursday night. The New York-based creative served as a judge in the event that featured 10 Albanian designers, whose creations had to be based on something traditional in their heritage. These finalists had to have a business to some degree.

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Having spent part of Thursday perusing tablecloths, felting and qeleshes  brimless white skull caps  at a local bazaar with a local guide, Miller said she could see where the competitors got some of their inspiration. It was interesting because some of them drew upon their heritage and made it modern, new and forward, and others made it look like ethnic clothing. Everyone did something different, she said.

How did she wind up there? One of Millers former runway models, the Albanian-born Emina Cunmulaj Nazarian, helped organize the event. After living in the U.S. for several years, she decided to move back and became very involved with the community, championing design and pushing Albania forward. Its quite remarkable how involved shes gotten, Miller said. Shes in Montenegro for the summer with her kids.

Designed to raise awareness internationally for young creatives, the event was open to people between the ages of 18 and 35. The Muza Competitions first prize was awarded to Eljesa Salla, whose runway styles borrowed from more traditional felting techniques. It was cool how they were taking the traditional and making it modern. Eljesas collection was quite edgy, Miller said.

Second place went to Alejna Quipi, whose designs were inspired in part by Albanian woven rugs. Third place went to Kejsi Ceko, whose elegant work encompassed black-and-white combinations and appliques, drew from handwoven shawls and textiles, Miller said. For first place, Salla earned 20,000 euros, Quipi won 10,000 euros and Ceko took home 5,000 euros. I must say the show was so professional, Miller said.

A gown from Alejna Quipi.

Still relatively nascent, the luxury fashion market in Albania is expected to generate a revenue of nearly $64.5 million this year and its projected compounded annual growth rate is 3.88 percent for the next four years. However, Albanias luxury fashion market has created a surge in demand for traditional Albanian textiles and craftsmanship, due to local designers like the Muzo finalists, who are playing up their rich cultural heritage through contemporary designs.

Nazarian is keen to have a full-fledged fashion week in Albania, according to Miller, who has met several up-and-coming designers. The Albanian-born Valdrin Sahiti has suited up such celebrities as Beyonce in the past, including once last summer with a cleavage-baring dress that featured two giant silver seashells.

Miller has also gotten a primer in regional history, having learned such things as the preponderance of Kosovo Albanians, whose primary language is Albanian. More than anything, Miller would like people to know that Albania is a beautiful country with amazing food. The country has gone through a lot of hardship, as a lot of countries have. But its unbelievable what they have gone through, Miller said.

Albania, the last country in the Balkans to gain independence from the Ottoman Empire, experienced the fall of Communism in 1991 but democracy has had some challenges.

Miller has also been impressed by how industrious Albanian women are including the degree to which they work in Albanias government. Overall, the female employment rate in Albania is 58.3 percent, which is significantly more than the 2022 world average for women in the workforce of nearly 34.5 percent.

Its been a fascinating trip. Ive gotten a lot of culture and I love shopping in the markets. The people are great, Miller said. I have to say the show was very professional. It was in this incredible building called the Pyramid [of Tirana, which was originally built as a museum dedicated to the communist dictator Enver Hoxha and is now a cultural hub].

Miller added, There are hardly any buildings that are higher than 10 stories. Its a very low city, but tall buildings are sprouting up too.

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Nicki Caudill and her close friends and fellow staff members at Johnson Central High School have eaten lunch together for years in teacher Amiee Webbs room, talking about their families, their lives  and what they are eating.

The teachers in eastern Kentucky were having such a good time that one day in 2023, Caudill said, she got the idea to video them sharing what they were having for lunch and put it on TiKTok.

She changed the name of her personal TikTok account to JCHS Lunch Bunch.

We talk about our lunch, we talk about our family, we laugh at each other, we make fun of ... what we eat. We just got people interested in us. It just took off from there. Its wild, Caudill told the Herald-Leader on Friday.

We thought she was crazy when she did it but we had fun with it, Webb said. A couple of weeks later, we had positive feedback, so we just rolled with it.

Their TikTok account had at least 28,400 followers as of this week and drew attention from The Washington Post.

The concept is simple: Each video features a short clip of each staff member describing what they brought for lunch that day.

A few of their videos have gotten more than half a million views.

The staff show off a variety of tastes in lunchtime cuisine, from Taco Bell burritos to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, leftover homemade tomato soup from dinner the night before to a school lunch tray laden with fried chicken and mashed potatoes.

Along the way, the staff share laughs and offer tidbits about whats going on in their lives  one is out sick with a stomach bug, another tried to order a $5 sandwich from Subway, only to end up voiding the deal by adding bacon and paying $15.98 for a sub and chips.

They clearly like to have fun with their audience.

In a March 14 video, they teased, We have a big announcement. One of us is pregnant, and we want you to guess. Before sharing their lunches that day, seven staffers lined up and introduced themselves so viewers could share their guesses in the comments about who the mom-to-be was.

Sometimes, they answer questions from viewers in subsequent videos, sharing a recipe for spaghetti squash casserole in one and in another showing details of popcorn seasonings one staff member uses to add flavor to apple slices.

All these, if you use a quarter teaspoon or less, are zero points on Weight Watchers, and they make apples absolutely delicious, the off-camera videographer says.

When viewers wanted to know how they manage to get lunch from restaurants during the short lunch breaks allotted to schools, they made a video showing an aerial map of the school with all the eateries nearby.

Caudill posts on TikTok Monday through Friday during the school year and Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the summer, with teachers in the group sending Caudill videos to post. Fans told them they couldnt go all summer without the videos, Caudill said.

A video might contain good-natured teasing about tuna fish that looks soupy or weird eaters, teachers who wont put sauces on their foods, she said.

Weight Watchers has sent the group lunches and given them merchandise. Other food companies sent shakes and salads. State education officials and a TV meteorologist have stopped in for lunch.

Webb said between 10 and 14 teachers show up every day.

We always have just been friends and I think that shows, said Webb. A lot of us do things together outside of class.

She said the group is pretty open on the videos. They share health journeys, kids and vacations.

We try to share little glimpses of who we are, she said.
Wayne County 4-H Fair starts this weekend, and here's a schedule

RICHMOND, Ind.  The Wayne County 4-H Fair begins at the fairgrounds Saturday with opening day, and for the first time, Poor Jacks Amusements' rides will be open starting Saturday instead of Monday.

Fair President Sandy House also said the fair was able to keep last year's prices, with free general parking available until 1 p.m. on Saturdays, 4 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. on Saturday.

Parking at the main gate will cost $5 per vehicle or a walk-in fee of $2 per person, though attendees can buy a weeklong pass for $15.

Gate admission for events at the track will be $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6 to 12 and free for ages 5 and under. Trackside parking (pit pass) will be $15.

New entertainment to the fair this year includes Christian singer and songwriter Rhonda Funk and country singer Alex Miller, who has opened shows for Brooks & Dunn and Josh Turner, among others.

Back from last year, House said, are a free fishing tank that anybody can come and fish, as well as the return of track events like the seven-event rodeo and drag racing.

Addressing concerns about the high temperatures, House said the First Bank Kuhlman Center, which will be the home of the 4-H and Open Class exhibits all week, will have air conditioning. She added the fairgrounds have a lot of shaded trees and over 35 vendors to provide refreshments such as ice cream and lemonade.

Weeklong events

June 22-27: 4-H & Open Class exhibits open from noon to 8 p.m. at First Bank Kuhlman Center

June 22-29: Poor Jacks Amusements open all week (times and prices vary by day)

June 22-26, 28-29: The One Man Band, Marc Dobson & BOT the Robot roaming the fairgrounds in the evenings

Friday, June 21

6 p.m. - Color Guard Grand Entry and Mini (K-2) Horse & Pony Show at Horse Arena

Saturday, June 22 (opening night)

Horses and riders compete Monday, June 24, 2019, during the Wayne County 4-H Fair.

9 a.m. - Color Guard Grand Entry and 4-H Horse & Pony Western Show at Horse Arena

2 p.m. - 4-H Tractor Operator's Contest at north end of the fairgrounds

4 p.m. - 4-H Pet Show & Cat Show at First Bank Richmond Expo Center

4 p.m. - Meet the queen and her court at Free Stage

6 p.m. - Open Sheep Show at Show Arena, check-in from 2 to 4 p.m.

6 to 11 p.m. - Poor Jack Amusements open (weather permitting), arm bands are $25

7 p.m. - Dirt Drag Racing at Track

7:30 p.m. - Music: Rhonda Funk at Free Stage

9 p.m. - Free Outdoor Big Screen Movie Night ("DC League of Super Pets") at First Bank Kuhlman parking lot

TBA - Steven's Puppets at First Bank Tent

Sunday, June 23 (Bluegrass & Gospel Event)

9 a.m. - 4-H Dog Show & Mini 4-H Dog Show at First Bank Richmond Expo Center

9 a.m. - Color Guard Grand Entry and 4-H Horse & Pony English Show at Horse Arena

10 a.m. - Open Swine Show, check-in on Showman App at Show Arena

Noon - Registration open for Little Miss & Mister (ages 6 months to 6 years) at Free Stage

1 p.m. - Little Miss & Mister Contest at Free Stage

2 to 4 p.m. - Free ice cream social at First Bank Tent

3 to 7 p.m. - Music: Born Again, Silvertowne, Cutter & Cash and the Kentucky Grass, The Tim Shelton Syndicate at Free Stage

3 to 9 p.m. - Poor Jack Amusements open (weather permitting), arm bands are $25

3:30 to 4 p.m. - Registration open for Frog Jumping Contest, Jump-Off at First Bank Tent

5 to 9 p.m. - Free health screenings by Richmond Seventh-Day Adventist Church at First Bank Tent

7 p.m. - Billy Bales Memorial Horse Pull

Monday, June 24

The 4-H Swine Show is one of many 4-H shows to occur on Monday.

8 a.m. - 4-H Rabbit Show at First Bank Richmond Expo Center

9 a.m. - 4-H Horse & Pony Dressage/Jumping Show at Horse Arena

3 p.m. - 4-H Poultry Show at First Bank Richmond Expo Center

4 p.m. - 4-H Swine Show (Showmanship, Minis, Gilt, Barrows and Grand Drive Livestock) at Show Arena

5 to 7 p.m. - Kicks 96 Live Broadcast, Location TBA

5 to 8 p.m. - Free entry Car Show at First Bank Kuhlman Center parking lot (west gate only open to show cars after 4 p.m.)

5:30 p.m. - 4-H Special Skills & Pony Show

5:45 p.m. - Dixon Dancers at Free Stage

6 p.m. - Antique Tractor Parade at Antique Tractor Area

7 p.m. - Truck & Tractor Pull at Track

7:30 p.m. - Music: Cook & Belle at Free Stage

6 to 11 p.m. - Poor Jack Amusements open (weather permitting), arm bands are $25

Tuesday, June 25 (Emergency Public Service Day)

Goats eat in their enclosures at the Wayne County 4-H Fair.

All EMT, firefighters and law officials will be able to park for free on Tuesday. Identification will be required.

10 a.m. - 4-H Myotonic, Pygmy and Meat Goat Show (Minis followed by Showmanship) at First Bank Richmond Expo Center

4 to 8:30 p.m. - Blood drive at First Bank Kuhlman Center

5 p.m. - Sheriff's department and emergency vehicles, police department, fire departments and DNR Touch a Truck & Extrication Demonstration at First Bank Kuhlman Center parking lot

5:30 p.m. - 4-H Horse & Pony Show at Horse Arena

5:30 and 7 p.m. - Silly Safari Animal Show at Free Stage

6 p.m. - 4-H Sheep Show (Minis, Showmanship, Ewe, Market Lambs, Grand Drive), followed by Battle of Barns

6 p.m. - Antique Tractor Parade at Antique Tractor Area

6 p.m. - Free Kiddie Tractor Pull at FFA Fun Barn

6 to 11 p.m. - Poor Jack Amusements open (weather permitting), arm bands are $25

7 p.m. - Hoosier State Tractor Pull at Track

Wednesday, June 26 (Senior Citizen Day)

Seniors 55 and older will be able to park for free Wednesday.

9 a.m. - 4-H Dairy Goat Show at First Bank Richmond Expo Center

9 a.m. and 1 p.m. - J.U.K.O. Campers Visit the Fair

11 a.m. - 4-H Dairy Beef Show at Show Arena

2 p.m. - 4-H Beef Heifer, Showmanship and Minis Show at Show Arena

5:30 p.m. - Color Guard Grand Entry and 4-H Horse & Pony Versatility Show at Horse Arena

6 p.m. - 4-H Beef Steer Show at Show Arena

6 p.m. - Antique Tractor Parade with games to follow at Antique Tractor Area

6 p.m. - Kicks 96 Idol Semi-Finals, karaoke to follow at Free Stage

6 to 11 p.m. - Poor Jack Amusements open (weather permitting), arm bands are $25

6:30 p.m. - Fashion Revue on First Bank Kuhlman Building Stage

7 p.m. - 3 Bar J Seven Event Rodeo at Track

TBA - Steven's Puppets at First Bank Tent

Thursday, June 27 (Thrifty Thursday and Kids Day)

Thursday is Kids Day at the fair, with a special deal on wristbands from 1 to 5 p.m.

Thursday, food specials will be all day at select vendors that attendees can either pick up a map for in the fair office or by checking Facebook. Wrist bands for Poor Jack Amusements' rides will be $15 from 1 to 5 p.m.

9 a.m. - 4-H Dairy Show at Show Arena

11 a.m. to 8 p.m. - "ISFA 1" promotional vehicle with music and bubbles at Vendor Area

2 p.m. - 4-H Horse & Pony Fun & Games Show at Horse Arena

5 to 7 p.m. - Wayne County Farm Bureau Gazebo Dedication honoring late Ron Hoover (free member parking with card)

5:30 and 7 p.m. - Silly Safari Animal Show at Free Stage

6 p.m. - Supreme Showman (opening ceremony at Horse Arena, completed at Livestock Show Arena)

6 p.m. - Antique Tractor Parade, games and ham and bean supper at Antique Tractor Area

6 p.m. - Free Kiddie Tractor Pull at FFA Fun Barn

6 to 11 p.m. - Poor Jack Amusements open (weather permitting), arm bands are $25

7 p.m. - Dirt Drag Racing at Track

Friday, June 28 (Livestock Sale Day)

11 a.m. - 4-H Livestock Auction at Livestock Show Arena

5:30 p.m. - 4-H Graduation & Awards Program at First Bank Richmond Expo Building

6 to 11 p.m. - Poor Jack Amusements open (weather permitting), arm bands are $25

7 p.m. - Mud Bog at the track

7:30 p.m. - Music: Alex Miller at Free Stage

Dark - Fireworks sponsored by First Bank

Saturday, June 29 (Last Day)

The 4-H events conclude Saturday with the Open Dairy Show at the Show Arena.

9 a.m. - Open Dairy Show at Show Arena

5 p.m. - Kicks 96 Idol Challenge Finals, karaoke to follow at Free Stage

6 to 11 p.m. - Poor Jack Amusements open (weather permitting), arm bands are $25

7 p.m. - Demolition Derby at Track Side

For events that require tickets, they can be bought in person or online at the Wayne County 4-H Fair Website.

A full list of flyers and forms for the events can also be found on the website, as well as this year's food vendors.

Evan Weaver is a news and sports reporter at The Palladium-Item. Contact him on X (@evan_weaver7) or email at eweaver@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: Wayne County 4-H Fair begins Saturday; here's a complete schedule of events
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  One person died early Friday in a collision at Famoso-Porterville Highway and Cecil Avenue that occurred when a Toyota turned directly in the path of another vehicle, according to California Highway Patrol.

The driver of the Toyota, a 20-year-old Richgrove man, died at the scene, officers said. The Delano woman who drove the other vehicle suffered moderate injuries and was taken to a hospital.

The crash was reported at 3:05 a.m. Officers said alcohol may be a possible factor.

Officers said the Toyota was traveling east on Cecil Avenue as the other vehicle headed south on the highway. A stop sign controls eastbound and westbound traffic at the intersection.

For unknown reasons, the driver of the Toyota made a northbound turn onto Famoso-Porterville Highway, directly in the path of the Honda, according to a CHP release.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.
One person is dead and another is injured after a raging three-alarm fire tore through a home in Rockland early Friday morning, officials said.

Crews responding to a report of a blaze at 7 Vernon Street just after 3:30 a.m. observed smoke and heavy fire in the rear of the two-story, single-family home, according to Rockland Fire Chief Scott Duffey, Rockland Police Chief Nicholas P. Zeoli, State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine, and Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz.

One resident was able to escape after hearing smoke alarms but a second resident was found unresponsive inside after firefighters gained entry to the home.

The victim, whose name hasnt been released, was rushed to a local hospital where they were pronounced dead.

On behalf of the Rockland Fire Department, I want to express our heartfelt condolences to the family that lost a loved one this morning, said Chief Duffey. This is a tragic time for them and our community.

Firefighters from Abington, Whitman, Hanover, Hanson, Norwell, Hingham, Brockton, Weymouth, and Randolph assisted Rockland crews at the scene, knocking down the blaze after about an hour.

Massachusetts State Police fire investigators assigned to the State Fire Marshals office and troopers assigned to the Plymouth District Attorneys Office are assisting Rockland officials with an investigation into the cause of the blaze.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
A $10,000 reward for the tip leading to the capture of the depraved rapist who assaulted a 13-year-old girl in a Queens park remains unclaimed  despite locals banning together to help nab the suspect, sources told The Post.

No tipster had come forward to claim the prize as of Thursday, nearly two days after police  with help from good Samaritans  busted Ecuadorian migrant Christian Geovanny Inga-Landi, 25, in the heinous rape in Kissena Park, sources said.

The arrest came after a five-day manhunt informed by a torrent of tips from the local Queens community, from surveillance video provided by neighbors and shopkeepers to a 911 call from a woman  Angela Sauretti  who spotted Inga-Landi outside a bodega, police and witnesses said.

One good Samaritan, Jeffrey Flores, told The Post he waited outside a 108th Street deli near the park all day because he knew the suspect frequented it  and then tied up Inga-Landi after a crowd beat up on him.

Angela Sauretti called 911 when she spotted rape suspect Christian Geovanny Inga-Landi. Stephen Yang

Were New Yorkers and we stick together, said Joseph Kenny, the NYPDs chief of detectives, on Fox News. When we somethings wrong, we band together and make things right.

The reward was offered a day after the June 13 attack, in which police said an animal forced the victim and a boy, both 13, into a secluded wooded area in Kissena, Park at knifepoint, tied them up and raped the girl.

Sources told The Post that $3,500 of the reward came from the Crime Stoppers Program, with the remaining sum coming from the New York City Police Foundation.

Jeffrey Flores waited all day outside a bodega in hopes of spotting who believed was the rapist in the Kissena Park attack. Stephen Yang

A $10,000 reward was offered a day after the attack in Kissena Park. Brigitte Stelzer

Police arrested Christian Geovanny Inga-Landi this week. Stephen Yang

If and when a tipster comes forward to claim the reward, a police foundation committee will review the claim and divvy out the prize accordingly, sources said.

The reward, if paid, will be given out in a $3,500 chunk for a suspects indictment and an additional $6,500 piece upon conviction.
15-year-old found dead after drowning in Genesee River

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A 15-year-old male was found deceased Friday after he drowned while swimming in the Genesee River near the Town of Caneadea, New York State Police announced.

Troopers responded around 8 p.m. Thursday to the Genesee River near State Route 19 and Oramel Hill Road, where an investigation determined two youths were swimming in the Genesee River when one of them was swept away by the current and did not resurface, according to NYSP.

Search and rescue efforts began and the teen was eventually located deceased around 11:30 a.m. Friday, police said. The victims name will not be released until his family is notified.

An investigation into the drowning remains ongoing.

Belfast Central Schools in Allegany County posted on its Facebook page that the 15-year-old was one of its students and that the district will provide support for its community throughout Friday.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the student. BCS will have counselors available in the building to meet with and support our students and community throughout the day as needed, Belfast Schools said in the post.

Latest Local News

Adam Gorski is a Buffalo native who joined the News 4 team in 2022. You can find more of his work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
BASS LAKE, Wis. (WFRV)  A 19-year-old Wisconsin man is dead, and three others were sent to the hospital after a rollover crash that ejected three occupants from the vehicle early Friday morning.

According to a release, shortly after 3:15 a.m., the Sawyer County Sheriffs Office received a report of a single-vehicle rollover crash with multiple injuries.

Teenager sentenced for 2023 shooting at Appletons Erb Park

The crash was located on Highline Road, south of the intersection of Williams Road, in Bass Lake.

A preliminary investigation revealed that 20-year-old Dabid Flores from Hayward was driving a vehicle north on Highline Road at a high rate of speed when he lost control. The vehicle overturned multiple times before coming to a rest in the east ditch of the northbound lane.

Three passengers in Flores vehicle, 19-year-old Reese Frederick of Hayward, a 17-year-old girl, and a 16-year-old girl, also from Hayward, were ejected from the car.

The Sawyer County Sheriffs Office says that Frederick died at the scene of the crash, while the two teenage girls were sent to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Flores received minor injuries and was treated and released from a nearby hospital. He is currently being held in the Sawyer County Jail for second-degree recklessly endangering safety.

Menasha Police looking for missing 22-year-old who has difficulty communicating

Deputies say that speed and alcohol are believed to be a factor in the deadly rollover crash.

Authorities continue to investigate the crash; no additional details have been provided.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
Update: 2 girls hurt when dad is suspected of driving drunk and hits a semi in Kennewick

Two young children were hospitalized Thursday night when a suspected drunk driver crashed into a semi truck just south of the blue bridge in Kennewick.

Jesse Moctezuma Chino of Pasco was headed north on Highway 395 shortly before 9:15 p.m. in a Honda Accord when he slammed into the truck hauling a Target trailer, according to the Washington State Patrol. The car was merging from Highway 240.

A picture taken by a witness shows the Accord wedged sideways under the trailer.

The witness told the Tri-City Herald that Moctezuma Chino, 25, appeared highly intoxicated and that beer bottles were everywhere in the car.

The girls, ages 4 and 6, are Moctezuma Chinos daughters and lived in Kennewick. They were wearing seat belts but were injured and taken to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland. Their conditions were not available Friday.

Neither Moctezuma Chino nor the semi driver, Nolan G. Williams, 38, were hurt.

Troopers booked Moctezuma Chino into jail on suspicion of vehicular assault.

In court on Friday, Judge David Petersen set bail at $500,000 based on the allegations in the court documents. It was more than double what prosecutors asked for.

If released, he will be required to have an ignition interlock placed on his car and submit to alcohol monitoring.

The judge also issued two domestic violence protection orders for the girls.

Highway 12 crash

WSP troopers also responded to another serious crash on Highway 12 about four miles west of Touchet a few hours later.

Jakelyn Villalpando, 32, of Walla Walla, was headed east on the highway about 12:15 a.m. Friday when she lost control of her Nissan Rogue. The car flipped and landed on the right shoulder, the WSP said in a release.

Investigators are not sure why she lost control.

Villalpando, who was not wearing a seat belt, was flown to Kadlec Regional Medical Center.

Her condition was not immediately available Friday.
AURORA, Colo. (KDVR)  Two young boys, just 11 and 15 years old, were shot at an Aurora apartment complex on Wednesday.

Now, two teenagers, 14 and 15-year-old boys, have been arrested. Police said the two were taken into custody on unrelated charges.

The 14-year-old was arrested on three outstanding warrants for assault and criminal mischief.

The 15-year-old had a gun and was arrested for possession of a dangerous weapon and obstructing a peace officer.

Coloradans can get a free gun safe at educational event in July

Police said in a press release that the gun he had was illegally modified, equipped with an auto switch that converts a semi-automatic handgun into a fully automatic handgun.

Police said they do not know if that gun was used in the shooting, but detectives have identified everyone who was involved and there are no outstanding suspects.

They will be working with the District Attorneys Office to determine appropriate charges for others who have not yet been arrested, police said in a press release.

Kiana Wilford answers calls at the Struggle of Love Foundation, an Aurora non-profit working to curb teen gun violence.

She still has lingering questions after the latest shooting involving young people.

Why, how? They are babies, literally babies, said Wilford. The first thing we want to do is to make sure the family is okay. And I know its really hard, especially as a mother, 11 to 12-year-old child getting shot, I mean thats a lot.

Wilford said the non-profit is getting calls like this more and more these days.

On our violence interruption team we deal with it on a daily, she said.

Its a growing problem. Aurora police told FOX31 in 2020 that there were a total of 19 juvenile shootings.

In 2021 there were 43, with three being fatal. In 2022 a total of 46, with three being deadly. Last year, there were 53 juvenile shootings that killed five people.

Colorado children committing fewer, more violent crimes: report

Aurora police believe that the victims knew the suspects.

The mother of the boys who did not want to appear on camera told FOX31 she heard 30 gunshots.

A neighbor shared a photo showing a sliding glass door that had been shattered by one of the bullets.

What can we do to stop this? The parents have to be open to let us in to help them and help their kids, because it starts at home, Wilford said.

The family of the victims told FOX31 the boys are doing okay physically, but mentally is another story. They say both are alive and thats what matters the most right now.

Meanwhile, investigators are still working to determine exactly how the teens were involved relating to this shooting.

Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867 (STOP).

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
2 Young Women Camping in Shenandoah National Park Were Murdered in 1996. Now, the FBI Knows Who Killed Them

Nearly 30 years after the bodies of Julie Williams, 24, and Laura Lollie Winans, 24, were found bound and gagged at their campsite with their throats slit, the FBI has tracked their killer

Federal Bureau of Investigation Walter Jackson; Laura Winans and Julianne Williams

What started out as a long-awaited camping trip in Virginias Shenandoah National Park turned to horror when two women were brutally murdered on May 24, 1996.

A week later, on June 1, 1996, after an extensive search, the bodies of Julie Williams, 24, and Laura Lollie Winans, 24, were found bound and gagged with their throats slit at their campsite near the Skyland Resort just off the Appalachian Trail.

Now, after nearly 30 years, the FBI announced that it had found the man responsible for killing the young women  Walter Leo Jackson, a convicted serial rapist, the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Richmond Field Office and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Virginia announced in a release.

After 28 years, we are now able to say who committed the brutal murders of Lollie Winans and Julie Williams in Shenandoah National Park, United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said in the release. I want to again extend my condolences to the Winans and Williams families and hope todays announcement provides some small measure of solace.

Winans and Williams loved spending time outdoors and were excited about their trip, according to Appalachian Trail Histories.

The two left for their camping trip to Shenandoah National Park on May 19, 1996, and were planning on returning by May 28, 1996. When they failed to return home as planned, their family members called the National Park Service, which sent rangers to scour the park for the women, locating their brutalized bodies at their campsite.

For years, the case went cold. But in 2021, a new FBI Richmond investigative team was assigned to review the case.

Related: Ariz. Couple Was Killed on Camping Trip in 2003, as Cops Announce Reward for Info Leading to Arrest



They retested evidence from the crime scene and submitted those items to an accredited private lab, according to the release.

Recently, the private lab successfully pulled DNA from several items of evidence and, with assistance from the Virginia State Police, the profile was submitted to the FBIs Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). There was a positive match to Walter Leo Jackson Senior (born November 2, 1947). Jackson was a convicted serial rapist, originally from the Cleveland, Ohio area.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Jackson died in prison in March 2018 in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.

He had a lengthy criminal history, including kidnapping, rapes and assaults, according to the release.

A residential painter by trade, Jackson was known to visit Shenandoah National Park.

The FBI will continue to work with law enforcement partners to determine if Jackson is responsible for other unsolved crimes. Anyone with information on Jackson should call 1-800-CALL FBI or submit online at tips.fbi.gov.



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Read the original article on People.
When is the 2024 presidential debate? How to watch Biden-Trump CNN debate

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are set to face off in the first presidential debate of 2024 this week.

Hosted by CNN, the debate will be 90 minutes and introduce some new rules to the format. Both candidates have accepted the networks invitation and agreed to accept the rules and format of the debate, according to CNN.

Here's when and where to watch the upcoming presidential debate:

When is the presidential debate? What time is the presidential debate?

Combination picture showing U.S. President Joe Biden in Las Vegas, Nevada, on March 19, 2024, and former U.S. President Donald Trump in Atkinson, New Hampshire, on January 16, 2024.

The first presidential debate will take place Thursday, June 27 at 9 p.m. ET at CNN's Atlanta studios.

What channel is the first debate between Trump and Biden on?

CNN will host the first election debate between the two candidates in its Atlanta studio. It will air live on CNN, CNN International, CNN en Espanol, and CNN Max.

On Thursday, Fox News announced it would present extensive live coverage of the CNN presidential debate across all its platforms, including the FOX News Democracy 2024: CNN Presidential Debate from 9-11 pm/Eastern Daylight Time.

ABC News also announced it would be showing Battle for the White House and ABC News Presentation of the CNN Presidential Debate on ABC New Live and streamed on Hulu on Thursday from 7 pm-12 am.

How can I watch the presidential debate if I don't have cable?

For those without a cable subscription, the debate will be streaming on CNN.com.

Who will moderate June's presidential debate with Biden and Trump?

Moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash speak to the audience before the start of the Republican candidates' presidential debate hosted by CNN at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa on January 10, 2024.

The debate will be moderated by CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, according to a statement from CNNs press room.

Are there any rules to CNN's presidential debate?

According to the network, the new rules for the 90-minute debate will include no studio audience, no interaction from campaign staff, no use of notes and no interrupting.

Microphones will also be muted except for that candidate's allotted time to speak. The moderators will use all tools at their disposal to enforce timing and ensure a civilized discussion, according to the network.

In a first, both campaigns have agreed to the new rules.

Who is eligible to participate in the debates?

To qualify for participation, CNN writes that presidential candidates must meet the following criteria:

"Fulfill the requirements outlined in Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution

"File a Statement of Candidacy with the Federal Election Commission

"A candidate's name must appear on a sufficient number of state ballots to reach the 270 electoral vote threshold to win the presidency prior to the eligibility deadline

"Agree to accept the rules and format of the debate

"Receive at least 15% in four separate national polls of registered or likely voters that meet CNN's standards for reporting."

What about Robert F. Kennedy? Did he qualify?

Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. failed to qualify for the presidential debate. According to USA TODAY, he did not meet the criteria after he received at least 15% in three qualifying polls and was on the ballot in six states, making him eligible for only 89 electoral college votes.

Florida first lady: Has there ever been a first lady from Florida? Cheryl Hines of Curb Your Enthusiasm could be

The deadline to qualify for the debate was 12 a.m. EDT Thursday

When is the second presidential debate?

The second debate is scheduled for Sept. 10 and will be hosted by ABC. As of June 2024, the details about the location and moderators for the ABC-hosted debate have yet to be announced.

Florida's Primary Elections are on August 20. There are several key dates to know, and they're coming up fast.

July 6: This is the deadline for stateside and overseas military, and out-of-country civilians, to request a vote-by-mail ballot.

July 11-18: Deadline for county clerks to mail out domestic ballots.

July 22 : This is the last day to register to vote, or for voters to change their party before voting in the primary election. You must choose a party to be permitted to vote in that party's primary election.

Aug. 8: Final deadline for vote-by-mail requests.

Aug. 10-17: Early voting opens statewide. Optional earlier dates may be offered on a county-by-county basis.

Aug. 20: Primary Election Day. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in whatever time zone you live in. Any voters still in line at 7 p.m. will be permitted to cast a ballot however long it takes.

When is the General Election in November?

The General Election is on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Contributing: Kinsey Crowley and Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY and C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY Network-Florida

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Presidential debate 2024: Date, time, new rules, how to watch, stream
Father of 3 left paralyzed after being struck by gunfire in Los Angeles

Officials with the Los Angeles Police Department on Thursday announced a $25,000 reward for information leading to the identification and arrest of a suspect or suspects involved in a shooting that left an innocent father of three paralyzed from the waist down earlier this year.

The violence unfolded at a swap meet in the 700 block of South Alvarado Street in L.A.s Westlake neighborhood on April 16, police said.

Authorities say the suspects vehicle, a silver four-door Toyota Camry with two distinct dents on its passenger side, had parked alongside the victims vehicle with his three underage children inside.

At some point the father, who has not been identified, noticed an argument between two females near his vehicle.

Worried about his childrens safety, he walked back to his car. As he stood between his vehicle and the Camry, the back window of the suspects vehicle came down and the victim saw a gun pointed directly at him.

A silver four-door Toyota Camry with two distinct dents thats considered a suspect vehicle in the April 16, 2024 shooting in Westlake. (LAPD)

A silver four-door Toyota Camry with two distinct dents thats considered a suspect vehicle in the April 16, 2024 shooting in Westlake. (LAPD)

Two people described by L.A. police as persons of interest in the April 16, 2024, Westlake shooting. (LAPD)

Two people described by L.A. police as persons of interest in the April 16, 2024, Westlake shooting. (LAPD)

Two people described by L.A. police as persons of interest in the April 16, 2024, Westlake shooting. (LAPD)

The 700 block of South Alvarado Street where the April 16, 2024 shooting occurred. (KTLA)

Afraid that his children could possibly be caught in the crossfire, he retreats back toward the sidewalk, LAPD said at a Thursday press conference. As hes walking toward the sidewalk, he hears the gunshot, feels the burning sensation and collapses on the sidewalk.

As the shooting suspects fled the area in the Camry, the victims wife and other witnesses called 911.

Police are also searching for a man and a woman, described only as persons of interest, that they believe could shed light on the tragic shooting.

The victim was unable to see who shot [him]. He just saw the handgun, police said. We dont know if they were involved or if they were witnesses, but we know for a fact that they were in the immediate area where the shooting happened.

VIDEO: Family in Southern California shaken after burglary crew ransacks home

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to contact the Los Angeles Police Officer Marroquin at 213-484-3670.

Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at www.lacrimestoppers.org.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Arkansas State Police say the suspect is now in custody and that there are no "active threats to the community"

Colin Murphey/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette via AP Law enforcement officers work the scene of a shooting at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce, Ark., Friday, June 21, 2024.

A shooting at an Arkansas grocery store left three people dead and injured several others, including two responding police officers, on Friday, June 21.

A news release from the Arkansas State Police (ASP) said authorities responded to a shooting at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce, Ark., just south of Little Rock.

The shooter, who was shot by an officer and suffered non-life-threatening injuries, is now in custody, Mike Hagar, Secretary of Public Safety and Director of ASP, said during a news briefing shortly after the shooting.

"This situation is secure and contained," Hagar said, adding, "There are no active threats to the community."

Colin Murphey/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette via AP Law enforcement officers work the scene of a shooting at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce, Ark., Friday, June 21, 2024.

Related: Remy Mas Son, 23, Charged with Murder in New York City Shooting: Police

After being alerted to shots fired at the grocery store, officers "responded immediately in the exchange of gunfire with a lone suspect," Hagar said.

Eleven "innocent civilians" had been shot, and three have died, Hagar said. He added that two officers were injured during an "exchange of gunfire." The officers' and suspect's injuries are not life-threatening, said Hagar. The civilians' injuries range from non-life-threatening to "severely critical," he added.

The investigation is ongoing and being led by the Arkansas State Police. On Friday evening, authorities identified the suspect as Travis Eugene Posey, 44, of New Edinburg, a community 10 miles southeast of Fordyce, per a news release.

According to local news outlset KATV, Fordyce City Counselor Roderick Rogers called 911.

"This is a very devastating day for us," Rogers told KATV. "Never in a million years would we think something like this would happen. It's a lot of families involved that's affected, so just continue to pray for them."

Sisters Amiya and Ashia Doherty, also witnessed the shooting, told KATV, "I was really scared like I will never think that will happen in Fordyce. That's real scary and I pray for the man to you know because something has triggered him but yeah, I'm just glad I'm okay and my family okay, but I do want to pray for the ones who got hurt."

Ainsley Platt/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette via AP Police vehicles remain on the scene of a shooting at the Mad Butcher grocery store, Friday, June 21, 2024, Frodyce, Ark.

Related: California Judge Accused of Shooting Wife to Stand Trial for Murder

Another witness, David Rodriguez, who filmed the scene, told local outlet 5NewsOnline that he thought he heard fireworks. When he saw people running from the grocery store, he started recording with his phone.

"The police started to show up," Rodriguez told the outlet. "Then there was massive gunfire and ambulances pulling up... the bullets were just flying."

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Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders reacted to the shooting on X (formerly Twitter) and wrote,

"I have been briefed on the tragic shooting in Fordyce, and Im in constant contact with State Police at the scene," Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders wrote in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).

"I am thankful to law enforcement and first responders for their quick and heroic action to save lives," she continued. "My prayers are with the victims and all those impacted by this horrific incident."

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Read the original article on People.
3 injured after gunmen open fire on building hosting funeral reception in Chicago suburbs: Officials

Three people were injured after multiple gunmen in a vehicle opened fire on a community center that was hosting a funeral reception in the Chicago suburbs, officials said.

The shooting occurred around 3:30 p.m. local time Friday in the city of Blue Island, Illinois, located about 16 miles south of the Chicago Loop. The Salvation Army community center was being rented for a repast funeral service at the time, according to Blue Island City Administrator Tom Wogan.

PHOTO: Authorities respond to a shooting at a community center in Blue Island, Illinois, June 21, 2024. (ABC News/WLS)

"The vehicle containing multiple gunmen opened fire on the front of the building," Wogan said during a press briefing Friday evening.

MORE: 3 killed, 10 hurt in mass shooting at grocery store in Arkansas

A person with a concealed carry permit who was attending the service came out of the building and returned fire, Wogan said, describing the scene as "very chaotic."

The three victims were inside the building when the shooting began, according to Wogan. They were brought to local hospitals, one with potentially life-threatening injuries and two with minor injuries, he said.

PHOTO: Authorities respond to a shooting at a community center in Blue Island, Illinois, June 21, 2024. (ABC News/WLS)

One person has been taken into custody for questioning in connection with the shooting, the Blue Island Police Department said Friday night.

Police said they are working to identify the suspect vehicle and "remaining offenders."

It is unclear if this was a "retaliatory incident," Wogan said.

Several law enforcement agencies, including state police and the FBI, are assisting, the Blue Island Police Department said.

3 injured after gunmen open fire on building hosting funeral reception in Chicago suburbs: Officials originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
3 people arrested in Germany for allegedly spying on person from Ukraine

Three men were arrested in Germany on suspicion of cooperating with a foreign secret service, the German Federal Prosecutor's Office reported on June 21.

"The three accused were traveling in Germany on behalf of a foreign secret service to collect information on a person from Ukraine who was staying here," the statement said, adding that they "scouted out a cafe in Frankfurt am Main where the target person was supposed to be."

Men from Ukraine, Armenia, and Russia were arrested by Hesse state police in Frankfurt am Main on June 19.

No further information was provided.

This development occurs amid a rise in sabotage activities in Europe, seemingly aimed at disrupting Western support for Ukraine and allegedly orchestrated by Russia or Russian-linked individuals.

A Russian woman was arrested in Denmark just over a week prior and charged with helping a foreign intelligence service operate in the country, the Danish national broadcaster DR reported on June 11.

The New York Times (NYT) reported on May 26 that U.S. and allied intelligence officials have noted a growing number of low-level sabotage operations in Europe that seem to be part of Russia's effort to undermine assistance for Ukraine.

Read also: Russian arrested in Denmark for helping foreign secret service, DR reports

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
For many, the words summer school likely conjure images of unhappy students, sitting at their desks and longing to be anywhere else.

But thats not the case at Fayetteville State University.

For the fourth-straight year, the university is providing universal, free summer school, an initiative that covers the cost of up to two courses  or seven credit hours  per undergraduate student, plus one course  up to three credit hours  for select graduate students. The program also covers the cost of on-campus housing and meals for select students.

And for the second year in a row, a record number of students are taking the university up on its offer. More than 4,400 students are enrolled in classes this summer term, accounting for roughly two-thirds of all students at the university.

The program, which began by using federal COVID-19 relief funds, is becoming central to the historically Black universitys brand.

We like to say that were no longer a two-semester university. We are a three-semester university, Chancellor Darrell Allison told The News & Observer in an interview Wednesday. Its not just fall, spring. Its fall, spring and summer.

But the program is more than the basis for a catchphrase or a marketing tool. Its also directly impacting the universitys retention rates and helping more students graduate  and do so on-time, in four years, Allison said.

A new $750,000 donation to the university, given by an anonymous donor and announced Wednesday, will ensure summer school remains free to students for least three more years. But Allison plans for the initiative to go on much longer, saying that he and the university will continue to seek out both private donations and state funds to support the program.

This is the way, the path forward, here, Allison said. Were not just saying that, but our students are saying it and reflecting that through their actions.

Fayetteville State University Chancellor Darrell Allison speaks at an event announcing historic summer school enrollment and a $750,000 donation to support the initiative, Wednesday, June 19, 2024.

How summer school helps retain students

Sitting in his office Wednesday, Allison recalled sitting in the same spot about three years ago, in April 2021, as he began his time as the 12th chancellor of Fayetteville State. The universitys interim provost had provided him with a spreadsheet showing the number of students at the university who were not making adequate progress in their studies to graduate on-time.

Generally, undergraduate degrees require students to successfully complete 120 credit hours. That means, to graduate in four years, students should complete 30 credit hours in their first academic year. By the end of a students sophomore year, they should have completed at least a total of 60 hours, and by the end of their junior year, they should have completed a total of 90 hours.

The spreadsheet Allison viewed in 2021 showed  in ballpark figures, he recalled Wednesday  that more than 200 first-year students had not achieved the 30-credit hour threshold. The trend didnt improve for upperclassmen; the number of students who had not completed the additional 30 hours each year roughly doubled for each grade level, he said.

The university was retaining about 63% of students year-to-year, Allison said, and its graduation rate ranked last in the UNC System.

It was jaw-dropping, Allison said Wednesday.

With just about a month before the academic year ended, Allison and leaders on his team worked to create a potential solution. Using pandemic relief funds, the university offered its first iteration of free summer school.

More than 3,600 students  over half of all students enrolled at the university at the time  participated in the first summer. Summer school enrollment remained roughly the same in 2022, but saw a significant increase of 17% last summer. And even more students are enrolled this summer.

The universitys retention rate rose to almost 78% last year, Allison said  about equal to the national average. And university leaders anticipate the rate will be more than 80% come the fall semester.

We really are seeing a culture change here, Allison said.

Using summer school to catch up or graduate early

The summer school programs draw is twofold, Allison noted.

While the university would like students to take 15 credit hours per semester to reach the 30-hour milestone each year, Allison noted that isnt always possible for students who may have additional responsibilities, such as work, outside of school. About half of the universitys students are nontraditional, adult learners who did not enter college immediately after high school.

If a student instead takes 12 hours in a semester  the minimum amount generally needed to be considered a full-time student and receive financial aid  allowing them to take additional courses in the summer keeps them on-track to reach the 30-hour threshold.

Conversely, students who are able to complete 15 hours each semester can choose to participate in summer school to complete additional hours and graduate in less than four years.

Its one thing to keep students on track. But we have a fair number of students that are actually ahead of schedule, that they will be getting their four-year degree in less than four years, Allison said. Thats more money in their pocket that they dont have to spend.

Allison said that the universitys provost and academic affairs staff work each summer to tailor the classes offered in summer school to the students who are enrolled, ensuring the offerings are relevant to their studies and majors.

Each year has its own unique case because we also are taking inventory of the classes necessary for that student to advance, Allison said.

Deborah Cathcart, a sophomore at Fayetteville State University, speaks at an event announcing historic summer school enrollment and a $750,000 donation to support the initiative, Wednesday, June 19, 2024.

Deborah Cathcart, a sophomore at the university majoring in criminal justice, spoke at a campus event Wednesday announcing the new $750,000 donation for the program. She said summer school has profoundly influenced her academic progress at the university and put her on a smoother path to timely graduation.

By allowing me to take courses during the summer, I have managed to alleviate the heavy load of my regular semesters, Cathcart said. This has not only enabled me to focus better on each subject, but it has also given me the chance to delve deeper into the course material without the typical academic-year pressures.

Financial benefits of summer school

Of course, another major draw of the summer-school program is that its offered free-of-charge.

As a school that draws the majority of its students from the states most economically distressed counties, as defined by the North Carolina Department of Commerces tier-ranking system, the university has made concerted efforts in recent years to make the cost of attendance as affordable as possible. The university is one of four colleges in the UNC System that offer significantly reduced tuition for students through the NC Promise Tuition Plan. In-state students pay $1,000 per year for tuition, while out-of-state students pay $5,000 per year. Members of the military can also receive assistance with tuition.

In addition to receiving free tuition in the summer, select students can also receive free on-campus housing and meals. Thats key, Allison said, given that financial needs are often a top reason students  specifically at Fayetteville State and in higher education more broadly  drop out.

From a financial perspective, the benefits of summer school has been amazing, Cathcart said. As a student, managing expenses is always a challenge.

The university is able to offer the program at no cost to students through a mix of private funds, such as the donation announced Wednesday, and public money from the state. The funds also help support faculty pay during the summer, Allison said. Including Wednesdays gift, the university has received a total of $3.1 million in private donations to support the program.

Fayetteville State was one of eight schools in the UNC System to receive funds in the state budget last year to support completion assistance grants, which allows the universities to provide students at-risk of dropping out with grants to help them address financial shortfalls that are likely to impact their progress to graduation. The program was funded with $2 million in one-time funds for both the current and upcoming fiscal years, meaning each school received $250,000.

The UNC System requested an additional $8.5 million in recurring funds for the program for the upcoming fiscal year.

Allison said additional state funding for the completion grants would fold in very nicely at Fayetteville State, but the university wont rest on our laurels.

Im committed as a leader here  and were good for the next few years here  to continue to make sure that we have the resources we need in order for us to sustain this program, Allison said. It has really been a lifeline for many of these students, and the way forward for this institution.
At least 3 shot during repass service at Salvation Army center in Chicago suburbs

BLUE ISLAND, Ill. (CBS) -- At least three people were shot when gunmen opened fired during a service at a Salvation Army community center in Blue Island, Illinois, Friday afternoon, a suburb of Chicago.

Blue Island police said a repass, or repast, service was under way Friday afternoon at the Salvation Army Cross Generations Worship & Community Center, at 2900 W. 127th St.

The service was Princess Jamya Bell, 19, who was shot and killed as an unintended target in Chicago on June 3. An 18-year-old acquaintance of Bell's was also killed in the shooting.

The worship and community center was filled with Bell's friends, family, and loved ones at the time.

Around 3:30 p.m. local time, a vehicle pulled up, and multiple gunmen opened fire in the direction of the building, police said. One person at the service who had a concealed carry permit returned fire, police said.

"Mayhem, you know, just broke out," said Bell's grandmother, Kenneth Allison.

It was not yet known late Friday whether the shooting was retaliatory in nature. But Bell's grandfather believes it was.

"There's a lot of young people, and they're upset because my granddaughter  you know, they loved her, and then of course, some of her friends are wanting revenge," said Allison. "So I guess this is all retaliation."

First responders took two people who were shot to area hospitals with minor wounds, and a third with critical injuries.

These victims were brought to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where public safety staffers were seen at the emergency entrance.

About six or seven family members of one victim were also in the Advocate Christ parking lot, consoling and speaking with each other. They were not ready to speak to reporters.

One more person self-tranpsorted to Roseland Community Hospital with a gunshot wound, though police have not firmly identified this person as a victim.

"If this is indeed a retaliatory incidentwe do not know for sure yet, but obviously, this area has seen so many of these," said Blue Island City Administrator Tom Wogan, "and it's always tragic, and it's always sad, and to see that sadness doubled on top of itself is terrible."

In the parking lot of the Salvation Army center  on Minnesota Avenue, just off Francisco Avenue  a cluster of evidence markers were seen on the pavement following the shooting, along with shattered glass in the entryway.

Glenn Holt said he rushed to pick up his son from a nearby daycare.

"The daycare did a good job putting the kids on lockdown and things like that, making sure all the children were safe," Holt said.

A woman who works at the daycare told CBS Chicago she heard as many as 10 gunshots and saw two men running down an alley, trying to hide. The daycare employee said she also heard there was a car full of bullet holes on the street.

Meanwhile, a nearby car dealership, Napleton Lincoln, was locked down after the shooting. A representative of the dealership said rounds came through but did not hit anything.

Later, as police frantically searched for shooters, officers could be seen running toward a potential suspect. Moments after that, a man was put in handcuffs.

"We are deeply saddened that a shooting has occurred at The Salvation Army Blue Island, IL Worship & Community Center and during a repass for a young woman who was shot and killed earlier in the week. Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by this act of violence, especially those injured Friday afternoon. We pray for their full recovery and for the healing of the Blue Island community. We also pray for the Blue Island Police Department as they continue their investigation," the Salvation Army said in a statement.

There was no word Friday night on when charges might be expected.

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3 Tacoma bars closed in recent weeks. At least one will resurface soon with new owners

In a wave of late-spring changes, the future of two neighborhood bars in Tacoma is up for grabs, while a third has new owners.

THE CAMP BAR

Patrick Haight and Nuri Aydinel have sold The Camp Bar, their outdoor-themed haunt near downtown. Opened in 2017, the modern dive was known in part for smores at the table and lively karaoke nights.

Two brothers, Mike and Matt Murray, and their friend, Dean Smith-Richard, have taken the reins. The bar is currently closed as they put their mark on the space, though they plan to retain the overall theme.

Camp Bar isnt going away. Its just paused and will begin as it should, wrote Haight and Aydinel on May 31.

In a message, Haight said they wanted to improve their work-life balance, which became even more tenuous since 2022, when they opened Camp West, a similarly themed bar and restaurant in the longtime home of West 5 in Seattle. Aydinel is also a co-founder of Kizuki Ramen and Izakaya, which operates more than a dozen locations in several states including one at Tacoma Mall.

Working in Tacoma was really a positive experience for me, said Haight, a veteran of the local hospitality industry. The locals were hesitant about a boy coming from his Seattle roots, but eventually I was accepted and had a great loyal following.

He noted the many parties and fundraisers hosted at the bar over the years, as well as the challenge of operating in an area that was absent of a distinct personality.

Now there is a movement with all the development in our area to call it Midtown which I hope catches on in the coming years, he added in reference to several new apartment buildings.

Stay tuned for more details on what the Murrays and Smith-Richard have planned for 1310 Tacoma Avenue South.

EDISON CITY

While the north side has great beer bars like The Parkway and Peaks and Pints, Edison City was a rare haven for Tacomas freshest draft south of Interstate 5. The only beer bar and bottle shop in South Tacoma closed after service last Saturday, June 15.

Owners Michael Gruber and Sausha Lynn announced the decision on Instagram last month, alluding that the property had been sold and the new landlords lease offer was not something we could, in good conscience and leveled thinking, enter into.

Gruber operated a local draft-cleaning business before buying Edison City Alehouse, its original name, in 2022 from founders Andrew Babcock and Robert Bessey. It opened in 2015 at 5602 South Lawrence Street, a few blocks east of the South Tacoma Way neighborhood around 56th Street that looks much different today than it did almost a decade ago.

Edison City was a rare haven in South Tacoma for clean taps and well-stocked coolers of cans and specialty bottles. It closed June 15.

We love Edison and had no plans nor a desire to not be here, Gruber and Lynn wrote May 24. This was a passion project from the start and we have enjoyed all the toil and all the creativity. We are proud of the progress we have made over the last years.

In recent months, they had expanded the bar top to offer more seating, added liquor and cocktails, and welcomed a resident restaurant in Sandwich Starr.

In the last two weeks, regulars returned to clear out the discounted coolers. On Saturday, they gathered one last time for the last of the kegs  high-alcohol, barrel-aged treats among them  and limited-edition bottles. Whats next for the space is as yet unannounced, but state business records for this address show a recent filing for ECA Hospitality, connected to Amenpreet Khela and Ishwinder Singh of SeaTac.

THE BLUE ROSE

The Blue Rose replaced Stink/El Tufo last summer at 628 St. Helens Ave. Owner Danny Puskarcik had bought the combination wine bar and sandwich shop from Jenny Smith and Steve Ramsay, who had managed it since 2018. It closed in late April.

Puskarcik had revamped the aesthetic, bringing in Moroccan-style pendant lighting, deepening the walls with a teal tint and highlighting local artists. While the focus on sandwiches remained, he hoped to turn it into more of an everyday neighborhood bar with wine, cocktails, beer and later hours.

Danny Puskarcik closed The Blue Rose in late April. The future of 628 St. Helens Ave. remains unknown since a deal for a new business to take over fell through.

He first shared the closing announcement on Instagram. I wanted more than anything to create a space that I would love to go to. A place that reflects who I am. I feel that was done, and Im really proud of what the team here and I built, he wrote. It was particularly challenging, he added, because he did not have a business partner and has two young kids.

Im heartbroken to close the doors of The Blue Rose, but I must do whats best for my family and my own mental health and well-being.

In a message, he said a sale was in the works and he hoped to have more to share after the deal closed. Unfortunately it fell through, so the future of this space remains up in the air.

The space has two distinct rooms, each with its own entrance: one was a 21-and-up bar while the other was all ages with a deli-style kitchen. It does not have a hood, which limits the breadth of food that can be prepared without major upgrades. The two units are also interconnected with others on either side of this 1920s-era brick building.
38-Year-Old Man Hospitalized After Being Struck by Roller Coaster in Ohio: 'We Hit Something'

The incident happened at the Kings Island amusement park at around 8 p.m. local time on Wednesday, June 19

Getty Stock image of Banshee roller coaster at Kings Island

An Ohio man is in the hospital after he ventured into a restricted area of an amusement park and was hit by a roller coaster.

The 38-year-old man, who has not been identified, entered a restricted, fenced area near the Banshee roller coaster at Kings Island amusement park located in Mason, Ohio, at around 8 p.m. local time on Wednesday, June 19, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer, WLWT and WCPO.

Once inside, it was believed that he had been struck" by the 4,124 foot long inverted roller coaster, which can reach speeds of 68 mph, according to the Kings Island website.

The Mason Police Department told WLWT that the man was taken to the University of Cincinnati West Chester in critical condition before being flown out to UC Medical Center to receive care. A first responder shared in a radio call obtained by the outlet that the man reportedly had massive head trauma" as a result of being hit by the ride.

Liz Dufour/The Enquirer via Imagn Content Services Kings Island amusement park advertisement

Related: 28 People Trapped Upside Down on Amusement Park Ride AtmosFEAR Rescued by Fire Department in Oregon

Police said that the man entered the restricted zone in order to find his keys, which he had dropped while he had been riding the Banshee roller coaster.

Kings Island said, per WCPO, that the roller coaster will remain closed as the park and local officials investigate what happened.

Kings Island and the Mason Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment on the incident.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

A witness told WCPO that the 38-year-old man had informed workers on the Banshee roller coaster that he needed to enter the area to retrieve something, but staff had informed him that they couldnt do anything until the ride closed.

The witness said the man wandered around near the ride for some time before entering a restricted gate. They noted that the man had been dressed similarly to Kings Island employees, which led bystanders to believe he worked at the park.

Related: Teen 'Thought We Were Going to Die' While Stuck Upside Down for 20 Minutes on Amusement Ride

An employee told WKRC that people on the ride believed that they had hit an animal at the time.

They said, We hit something! And we were like, What did you hit? They said, We think its an animal Maybe a deer or something,  he recalled.

The employee also said that people on the ride sustained injuries as well, adding that some riders had a bunch of cuts and scrapes on their legs and one person had blood on his face.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture's Division of Amusement Ride Safety & Fairs (ODA) was contacted about the incident and conducted a full re-inspection for the ride on Thursday, June 20, in order to ensure it was operating within Ohio's laws and rules, according to a WCPO report.

The ODA said it did not have a timeline for when its investigation would be completed, per the outlet.



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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Time is winding down to vote for Middle Tennessee products that made in the top 16 of the Coolest Thing Made in Tennessee contest.

According to a release, this is the Tennessee Manufacturers Associations first-ever contest where residents determine whats the coolest thing made in Tennessee.

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Products named among the finalist include eclipse glasses, nail polishes, whiskey, candy, and much more.

These diverse products are just a few examples showcasing how Tennessees business community is helping our state, region and country turn towards the future, Bradley Jackson, President & CEO of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry/Tennessee Manufacturers Association, said. Wed encourage all Tennesseans to vote for and highlight some of their favorite products made right here in Tennessee.

Four products made in the Middle Tennessee area made the list:

Nissan Rogue made in Rutherford County

Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey made in Moore County

Ideal Tridons worm gear clamp made in Rutherford County

Hitman Smoked Products gourmet flavored bacon made in Wayne County

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Voting for the second round began on Tuesday, June 18 and ends on Monday, June 24. To vote for your favorite product, click here.

The winner of the on the Coolest Thing Made in Tennessee contest will be announced at a luncheon on July 25 at the Commons at PIE Innovation Center in Cleveland.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Four area military veterans were recognized for their heroism Thursday night at the eighth annual Ford Oval of Honor.

>> Taekwondo instructors fight off sexual assault suspect to rescue woman

Staff Sgt. Amos Benjamin, USMC (Ret.), was keynote speaker for the event at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force presented by Reynolds and Reynolds.

Benjamin, who experienced multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, followed in the footsteps of his older brother and grandfather who were also Marines. Benjamin was medically discharged from the Marine Corps in 2013 for traumatic brain injury from multiple IED blasts in Afghanistan that caused extensive brain damage, which required him to learn how to speak again.

We are pleased to highlight for the eighth straight year Dayton Area Veterans with the Ford Oval of Honor recognition, said Jim Bob White, Dayton Ford Dealer Advertising Fund director. This is the perfect occasion and location to recognize and honor those who have served our country so heroically. We are thrilled to have as our presenting sponsor Reynolds and Reynolds for the fourth straight year.

The 2024 honorees include:

* Gunners Mate 3rd Class, D. Ralph Young: U.S. Navy. (Pacific Theater). He served on the USS J. Franklin Bell and was part of the Invasion of Tinian as well as the Battles of Saipan, Leyte, and Okinawa. He is the author of Forgotten Warriors I and II and a member of the University of Kentucky College of Engineering Hall of Fame

* Staff Sgt. Arthur L. Kemp: Army Air Corps. B-17 Tail Gunner (European Theater). He was a member of the 351st Bomb Group 508th Squadron, participated in 16 bombing missions from June 6, 1944 to Aug. 11, 1944. Accolades include the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross. Kemp celebrated 100th birthday Feb. 9

* Cpl. James D. Williams: Marine Corps (posthumous recognition). He served in the Pacific Theater and was an Iwo Jima Purple Heart recipient. Williams died May 2, 2024.

* Staff Sgt. Michael L. DeHart: He earned the Army Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star w/V-device, Bronze Star for Meritorious Service, Air Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, and Purple Heart. In 2009, he was inducted into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame and in 2015, the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.

Each recipient of recipients survivors received a Ford Oval of Honor cherry shadowbox as part of their recognition.

This was the 55th Ford Oval of Honor event conducted regionally since the first one held on the 10th Anniversary of 9/11 in 2011 in Cincinnati.

Honoree recipients now total nearly 300 and have included a Doolittle Raider, a Defender of Pearl Harbor, six D-Day Invaders of Normandy, four Tuskegee Airmen, numerous Hanoi Hilton Vietnam POWs and eight individuals who have already received our nations highest recognition -- the Congressional Medal of Honor.








Sacramento sheriffs deputies discovered nearly 8,000 pounds of illegal fireworks Thursday after executing a search warrant based on a tip in south Sacramento.

In addition to the illegal pyrotechnics found inside the Vineyard home, deputies seized five firearms and $20,000 that deputies said may have been connected to the sales of the fireworks.

According to the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office, deputies executed a search warrant at a home on the 6300 block of Emory Court, a cul-de-sac near Gerber and Waterman roads. The Sheriffs Offices special enforcement detail acted on a tip deputies and Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District officials received, they said. The anonymous tip by concerned citizens said that a resident of the home was selling illegal fireworks after finding an advertisement posted on social media.

After obtaining the warrant, SED deputies descended on the home and found the cache of out-of-state and foreign fireworks with names such as Burning for You, Wings of Fire and beer bottles of gun powder and other explosives labeled Storm Chaser, Big Bang Beery and Willow Torpedo. A photo shared by deputies and Metro Fire showed one truck filled with contraband, including pyrotechnics manufactured in China.

In addition to the fireworks, weapons and cash believed to be the sales of illegal fireworks, deputies identified and arrested a 36-year-old man in connection with the raid. The man was booked and released from the Sacramento County Main Jail, according to jail records. Deputies said the suspect was expected to be arraigned Monday.

Sacramento County Sheriffs Central Division Problem-Oriented-Policing (POP) Deputies and Investigators from the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District (@metrofirepio ) received an anonymous web-tip provided by concerned citizens within Sacramento County about an online pic.twitter.com/xV6eHr7vj4  Sacramento Sheriff (@sacsheriff) June 21, 2024

Throughout California, legal fireworks are called Safe and Sane fireworks and they are identified with the State Fire Marshalls seal, according to Metro Fire. Any firework that blasts into the air or explodes is considered illegal.

In Sacramento County, safe and sane fireworks can only be used and sold from noon June 28 to midnight July 4.

Other counties

Other counties may have other rules regarding fireworks, so be sure to check your local guidelines.

For example:

Report illegal fireworks

If you think someone in your neighborhood is using illegal fireworks, you can call or reach out to local enforcement:
5 things to know about abortion in Arizona 2 years after the Dobbs decision

Arizona was instantly thrown into chaos two years ago when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned its landmark 1973 Roe vs. Wade ruling, and the tumult continues now, a top federal health official said during a stop in Phoenix Thursday.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra visited the headquarters of Planned Parenthood Arizona in the state's capital city four days before the two-year anniversary of the landmark Dobbs vs. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision on abortion access. The visit was part of a national tour to underscore what Becerra said is the Biden administration's commitment to reproductive freedom.

"We want people to know that in America, President (Joe) Biden believes you should have the right to have peace of mind. But you can't have peace of mind unless you have rights," Becerra told reporters and abortion rights advocates at the event.

"President Biden wants you to have the rights to access the health care you need, whatever that health care is, including reproductive rights, including abortion rights, so we're going to continue to fight."

In the Dobbs decision, the justices ruled that, for the first time in nearly 50 years, states could set their own abortion laws without any federal standard protecting abortion access.

In Arizona, the Dobbs decision ignited confusion, a court battle and intermittent stops in abortion care. Abortion providers throughout the state, including Planned Parenthood Arizona, lost staff members and had trouble hiring new ones.

As a result, patients in the state frequently ask medical providers and abortion clinics about the current status of the law, said Dr. Jill Gibson, chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood Arizona, who spoke alongside Becerra.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra was in Phoenix on June 20, 2024 to talk about abortion rights. Looking on are Dr. Jill Gibson (far left), chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood Arizona and Arizona abortion rights advocate Joanna Sweatt

"Because of the hostile, dehumanizing and undignified way that our courts have rolled back abortion rates, I am constantly supporting concerned, hesitant patients who come in for an abortion and are unsure of the laws," Gibson said.

"They ask if they will be criminalized for receiving or even seeking abortion services. My staff often feels similarly concerned about risks involved in providing abortion care."

Becerra says he's guiding the public to a federal government site about reproductive rights for more information: https://reproductiverights.gov/.

"We wanted people to understand their rights, know what services they had accessible to them, and so we stood that up," Becerra said. "It's really important to try to get people the correct information because there's so much disinformation."

Here are five things to know about the law on abortions in Arizona:

Abortion remains legal in Arizona

Cathi Herrod, a lawyer who is president of the conservative Center for Arizona Policy, disputes the descriptions of post-Dobbs confusion.

"There is nothing confusing about the abortion law in Arizona. Abortion is legal up to 15-weeks and beyond that for medical emergencies," Herrod said. "The abortion industry is stirring up chaos in an effort to pass extreme abortion policies. They are playing on the fears of women and that is cruel."

Current state law says abortion is legal in Arizona up to 15 weeks gestation, with no exceptions for rape or incest.

At any point in the pregnancy, including after 15 weeks, abortion is legal if a doctor determines that there is a medical emergency. Medical emergency is defined by state law to mean a situation where immediate abortion care is necessary to avoid the patients death, or when delaying abortion care will create a serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes' office says.

Dr. Jill Gibson, chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood Arizona (left) speaks with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and Arizona abortion rights advocate Joanna Sweatt in Phoenix on June 20, 2024.

Arizona law also makes it illegal for doctors to perform abortions for certain impermissible reasons. For example, if the abortion is sought because of the sex or race or the fetus.

Both surgical and medication abortions are legal in the state. Medication abortions, sometimes referred to as abortion pills, are two-drug combination recommended for use up to 10 weeks of pregnancy.

A 19th century near-total abortion ban likely won't take effect this year

Ever since a near-total abortion ban that called for imprisoning doctors who perform abortions was upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court April 9 and attracted national headlines there has been speculation about when the law would take effect.

The Arizona Legislature repealed the ban when it passed House Bill 2677, which Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs subsequently signed into law. Since new laws don't typically take effect until 91 days after the end of the legislative session, the question of whether the near-total ban would take effect was unclear. The most recent session ended Saturday, which means the repeal will take effect Sept. 14, Mayes' office confirmed this week.

Mayes, a Democrat, previously has said that enforcement of the 1864 ban would be stayed by court orders until at least Sept. 27.

"Because the repeal will be effective before Sept. 27, that means the territorial ban will not take effect in Arizona, so long as current court orders remain in place," Mayes spokesperson Richie Taylor wrote Monday in an email.

Abortion rights advocates say Arizona's 15-week law is too restrictive

"So many of our patients are victims of sexual violence and the very nature of that assault may make it impossible for them to access abortion before the state's 15-week legal cut off," Gibson said. "The fact that we as physicians are unable to provide them care is simply outrageous."

Prior to September 2022, abortions in the state had been legal up until fetal viability, the point at which a fetus would have a significant chance of surviving outside the womb absent extraordinary measures. Fetal viability is typically at about 23 weeks or 24 weeks of gestation.

Voters may be asked to enshrine right to an abortion in state Constitution

A proposed constitutional amendment, called the Arizona Abortion Access Act, is expected to appear on the November general election ballot. It would create a "fundamental right" to obtain an abortion anytime before viability.

After viability, the act prevents the state from enacting, adopting or enforcing any law that denies, restricts or interferes with an abortion that "in the good faith judgment of a treating health care professional, is necessary to protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant individual,"

Anti-abortion advocates are working against the ballot initiative

The campaign against the proposed ballot initiative, called It Goes Too Far says the way the initiative is written lacks safeguards and is overly broad and vague.

Reach health care reporter Stephanie Innes at Stephanie.Innes@gannett.com or at 602-444-8369. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @stephanieinnes.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Five things to know about the legality of abortion in Arizona
NEW CITY - An investigation into Rockland's unlicensed smoke shops has netted four arrests and the seizure of $400,000 and 170 pounds of cannabis, authorities said Friday.

Authorities arrested the owner of five shops across Rockland and three of his employees on felony counts of criminal tax fraud.

Authorities raided various shops under the name Zava in Clarkstown, Orangetown, and Suffern, the Rockland District Attorney's Office said Friday. The year-long investigation was done jointly with U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations, several New York state agencies, and local police.

One of Rockland's unlicensed smoke shops raided for allegedly selling cannabis without a license.

The investigation marked the first major takedowns of unlicensed marijuana dispensaries in the Hudson Valley region, said Ivan J. Arvelo, the special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New York.

Todays charges highlight the increased prevalence of illegal, unregulated smoke shops being opened throughout our state," he said.

Investigation started because of reported sales to minors

The investigation started in 2023 with reports of stores selling cannabis to minors, Rockland District Attorney Thomas Walsh said in a news release.

Dierdre Smith stands between First Assistant District Attorney Patrick Frawley, left, and Rockland District Attorney Thomas Walsh after being sworn in as chief of detectives on March 1, 2024

Investigators executed seven court-approved search warrants, hitting two smoke shops in Clarkstown, two in Orangetown, and one in Suffern, Walsh said. The investigation uncovered tax irregularities at the smoke shops, which were not licensed to sell cannabis by the state, he said.

"Make no mistake: while the use of marijuana has been legalized in New York, businesses must adhere to tax restrictions and requirements  a fact these four defendants allegedly blatantly ignored," Arvelo said.

Arrested were:

Ibrahim Alfalahi, 36, of Nanuet, on a count of third-degree criminal tax fraud and five counts of second-degree criminal tax fraud. He is listed by prosecutors as the owner of the stores.

Abdo Alquhshi, 44, of Nyack, on third-degree criminal tax fraud.

Sadek Alfalahi, 29, of Nanuet, on third-degree criminal tax fraud.

Fateh Ahmed Alhajjaji, 36, of Nanuet, on third-degree criminal tax fraud.

One of the unlicensed smoke shops raided by Rockland, federal and state authorities as part of an investigation into the illegal sale of cannabis

Authorities also filed charges against the business, which could lead to fines in any disposition:

Zava Lafayette Convenience Corp., 28 Lafayette Ave., Suffern, on second-degree criminal tax fraud.

Zava Candy Inc., 214 Smith Road, Nanuet, on second-degree criminal tax fraud.

Zava Flow Inc., 38-40 N. Middletown Road, Nanuet, has been charged with one count of criminal tax fraud in the second degree (C Felony).

Zava Central Convenience Corp., 46 E. Central Ave., Pearl River, on second-degree criminal tax fraud,

Zava Smoke, Inc., aka Zava Convenient Store Inc., Pearl River, on second-degree criminal tax fraud,

State fighting growth in illegal cannabis sales

New York legislators and then Gov. Andrew Cuomo legalized recreational cannabis use in 2021 for people older than 21. The drug had been decriminalized and approved for medical use.

The law allows New Yorkers to possess up to three ounces of cannabis for recreational use. People with certain marijuana-related convictions will have their records expunged. Stores selling the drug need to be licensed by the state.

Legalization was expected to create a billion-dollar industry and fill state coffers with tax dollars. But the state's slow licensing of dispensaries has led to the proliferation of unlicensed sellers.

The state has begun cracking down on those sellers.

Gov. Kathy Hochul reported in May that since an enforcement task force was launched, the state had shut down 114 stores and seized over $29 million worth of illegal products. New York City Mayor Eric Adams said the city had closed close to 400 smoke shops and seized $13.3 million in illegal products.

In the Rockland investigation, prosecutors worked with Homeland Security Investigations, the state Department of Taxation and Finance, the state Office of Cannabis Management, New York State Police, plus Clarkstown, Orangetown and Suffern police.

"I commend the Tax Departments Criminal Investigations Division for their work with the Rockland County District Attorneys Office and the other agencies involved in shutting down these illegal smoke shops," state Department of Taxation and Finance Acting Commissioner Amanda Hiller said. "Well continue to work with all our partners in law enforcement to uncover tax evasion and ensure that businesses are adhering to the law."

Walsh said Executive Assistant District Attorney Michael Dugandzic and Assistant District Attorney Katherine Crispi are prosecuting the case.

Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@lohud.com Twitter: @lohudlegal

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This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Rockland NY unlicensed cannabis shops busted; 170 lbs., $400K seized
64 combat clashes take place on frontline since beginning of day  Ukaine's General Staff

Over the past day, Russian troops have already carried out more than 60 attacks on the contact line, most of them on the Pokrovsk front.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 13:00 on 21 June

Quote: "For now, the total number of enemy attacks on the frontline has reached 64. The enemy continues to be most active on the Pokrovsk front."

Details: On the Kharkiv front, the Russians launched guided aerial bombs from Belgorod (Russia) on Lyptsi, Zelene and Neskuchne.

On the Kupiansk front, the total number of Russian attacks amounted to eight, two of which are still ongoing in the vicinity of Synkivka.

On the Lyman front, fighting continues near Serebrianka forest and Nevske. So far, the Russian forces have tried to advance in this area four times since the beginning of the day.

Fighting continues near Verkhnokamianske on the Siversk front. This is the eighth attempt to attack on this front, and the previous ones were repelled.

The Russian troops are also active on the Kramatorsk front, namely in the vicinity of Kalynivka and Chasiv Yar. In total, the Russians have attempted to advance on this front eight times. Three combat clashes are still ongoing.

Currently, the largest number of Russian attacks is on the Pokrovsk front. Vozdvyzhenka, Novooleksandrivka, Sokil and Novopokrovske are the areas where Russian attacks are currently being repelled. Overall, the number of Russian attempts to improve their positions on this front has reached 25.

On the Kurakhove front, the Russians are not conducting any active assault operations at the moment. Attacks near Kostiantynivka and Paraskoviivka were repelled.

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A seven-year-old is dead after a motel shooting in Ohio early Friday morning.

>>Ohio rated as one of the worst states in the US, study says

Stark County Sheriffs deputies were dispatched around 1 a.m. to the Knights Inn Motel in Plain Township on initial reports of a shooting, according to CBS affiliate WOIO.

Deputies told Cleveland media outlets they found the child with gunshot wounds.

Medics transported the seven-year-old to the hospital where he died, Cleveland TV station WEWS reported.

The shooting remains under investigation.

We will update this story.
Seven Ukrainian children have been successfully returned from Russian-occupied areas of Kherson Oblast, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on June 21.

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.

According to Prokudin, three boys and four girls aged between 4 months old and 13 years old were returned.

"They have overcome a long and difficult path. The main thing is that now the children are safe, they are getting all the necessary help," Prokudin added.

Prokudin thanked the NGO Save Ukraine for its help in facilitating the children's return.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Kyiv to get priority on air defense missiles from US, new Patriot from Romania

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
$80 million worth of street projects, $7.5 million budget: Which Abilene roads will be worked on in 2025?

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  A list of $80 million worth of street projects that need to be completed in the City of Abilene was presented to the board responsible for selecting projects for 2025. The board only has $7.5 million to work with. During the meeting, one neighborhood showed up to discuss the poor condition of their streets.

TxDOT: Buffalo Gap Road construction project scheduled to be completed fall 2024, could be pushed back again

The Streets Maintenance Advisory Board members reviewed a list of the most crucial work needed in Abilene neighborhoods, as well as less intensive work. The Lytle Estates Neighborhood is on the list of full-depth rehabilitation work, which is the most intense rehabilitation and will cost more than two million dollars. Residents in the neighborhood told the board they cant even push strollers on their streets, where they have to walk without sidewalks because of all the rocks and potholes.

Just on Sunday, we had a lady walking her dog, stepped in a pothole, scraped her leg, twisted her ankle, resident Charles Rice said to the board.

Inflation hits City of Abilene: Major cuts to budgets, programs coming soon

The board selected the Lytle Estates area for rehabilitation and chose another neighborhood, the C.W. Gill Park area, between South 11th and South 14th and South Willis and Barrow. Additionally, two linear projects were selected: Rebecca Lane and South 14th between Willis and Sales.

Here are the estimated costs for each project:

Lytle Estates area  $2,040,000

C.W. Gill Park area  $1,315,000

Rebecca Lane  $2,050,000

South 14th Street  $2,685,000

North 18th Street between Willis and Mockingbird was chosen as an alternate if money is left over.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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The Putnam Museum and Science Center is opening a new exhibit on railroads

Saturday, June 22.

Chugging through Oct. 13, 2024, All Aboard: Our Quad City Locomotive Legacy arrives right on time for J.B. Pritzkers recently announced Illinois transportation plan, which includes $225 million to re-establish passenger train service between Moline and Chicago. The exhibit brings an expansive look into railways while centering the conversation around our unique history.

The new railroads exhibit at the Putnam (1717 W. 12th St., Davenport) opens on Saturday, June 22, and runs through Oct. 13, 2024.

The exhibit tells the story of the important impacts that railroads have had on QC culture and stability, Chris Kastell, the Putnams curator of history and anthropology, said in a Friday release. From inviting immigration to building the first U.S. railroad bridge across the Mississippi River, railroads have brought diversity and vitality to our area.

On display are Buddy L trains, Rock Island Lines objects, a depot set with historic clothing, and a multitude of artifacts. In partnership with the Heartland Model Railway Club, there is a large model train display featuring many regional names, like Davenport, Rock Island, Barstow, and Burlington. Stories from local rail workers will be accessible.

Model trains in the Putnam Museums new exhibit on QC locomotive history.

In addition to the curatorial staffs panels, there are loaned panels titled Wheels of War & Move Over Sir! Women Working on the Railroad, produced by the Union Pacific Railroad Museum. Interactives include railroad bridge building, a hand cart station, and a Hobo Code guessing game.

All Aboard brings forth our rich rail legacy while focusing on workers and looking to the future of trains, said Kelly Lao, the Putnams vice president of museum experiences. We are excited to see the railroad industry developments in our region as we celebrate its past.

Additionally, the documentary Train Time will be playing in the Giant Screen Theater for the duration of All Aboard, alongside the Putnams usual movie roster. The film follows a BNSF engine across sweeping American landscapes while touching on all aspects of rail careers, including engineers, conductors, logistic specialists, and service workers.

An image from the 43-minute documentary Train Time (2022), which will be shown at the Putnam Giant Screen Theater.

The long-planned QC passenger rail route, between Chicago and Moline, was initially slated to begin service in 2014. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin secured $177 million in federal funding back in 2010, and Gov. Pritzker committed an additional $225 million in state funding in 2019.

Of the $1.1-billion Illinois rail plan (under Rebuild Illinois), $225 million is to re-establish passenger rail service between Chicago and the Quad Cities, with a new intermediate stop in Geneseo. Other stations served will include The Q in Moline, Princeton, Mendota, Plano, Naperville, LaGrange, and Chicagos Union Station.

All Aboard: Our Quad City Locomotive Legacy at the Putnam was made possible through generous donations from the Regional Development Authority, Arconic, and Iowa Economic Development.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
University of Texas police arrest a protester April 29. The ACLU of Texas has sent a letter to UT President Jay Hartzell expressing fears that the university may be squelching the First Amendment rights of its students.

The ACLU of Texas has sent a letter to University of Texas President Jay Hartzell expressing its fear that the university may be squelching the First Amendment rights of its students and chilling protected expression by investigating the conduct of some students who were arrested at pro-Palestinian protests April 24 and 29 on campus.

UT first initiated disciplinary proceedings June 7 for alleged rule violations by some student protesters, the American-Statesman previously reported. The letters included copies of arrest affidavits, pictures from the protests and Instagram posts about the demonstrations.

As part of the university's letter, students were asked to prepare a written statement in response to 12 questions about their conduct that the American Civil Liberties Union said presupposes that students receiving these notices violated University policy and ignores that the First Amendment protects peaceful protest.

More: UT Austin initiates discipline for student protesters, places hold on transcripts

The ACLU also pointed to its concern about UT citing the probable cause affidavits as evidence, alleging that it violates students' due process, as charges against all the protesters who were arrested April 24 were dismissed, and individuals cannot be held responsible for the actions of a group simply because they participated in free speech activity. It alleges that students are being punished indiscriminately for their involvement in the protests instead of any individual violations.

UT spokesperson Mike Rosen said in a June 14 email in regard to a second round of disciplinary notices the university issued that students were not being disciplined for protesting, but for violating university rules.

"UT Austin supports the rights of all members of our community to demonstrate and express their views while on our campus as long as they comply with our Institutional Rules," he wrote.

Savannah Kumar, staff attorney at the ACLU of Texas, said the organization sent UT the letter out of fear that the universitys investigations would violate the protesters' rights and chill free speech.

When participating in protest is placed under such scrutiny and when students are put through these investigations, it suffocates the breathing room for our constitutional rights and can also erode the core tenets of the university too, Kumar said. That's why we were concerned about what we're seeing."

More: Can Texas public universities remove protesters from campus? First Amendment experts explain

Students reject accusations of rule violations

Police arrested a total of 136 people at the two protests, including 60 students. Many have criticized the police response as excessive and escalatory, but Hartzell, Gov. Greg Abbott and UT System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife praised the significant police action as necessary and effective in keeping the campus safe.

The UT protests were held in solidarity with other demonstrations across the nation that called on universities to divest from weapons manufacturers contributing to Israels war against Hamas, which has reportedly resulted in more than 34,000 deaths in Gaza. Israel began bombarding Gaza after Hamas, the region's militant governing body, attacked the Jewish state on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people.

More: What happened at pro-Palestinian protest at UT-Austin? Here's the timeline of events

The ACLUs letter follows a collective letter that UT students sent to the Office of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity in response to the disciplinary notices, which alleged that students failed to comply with university rules and engaged in disruptive conduct. The students in their nine-page letter deny the university's accusations and express fear that the process will be biased against them.

We object to the accusation that our engagement in protected free speech activity is disruptive to the universitys function, the students' letter said. Indeed, we resolutely affirm the opposite: by exercising our basic rights to speech and peaceable assembly, we were, in fact, directly carrying out a daily function of the University.

More: Seventy-nine pro-Palestine protesters arrested during encampment UT-Austin

The collective letter cites past statements from the university and Hartzell supporting free speech, and it asks for all students to receive a no findings letter instead of an administrative disposition.

We ask that you consider this and treat us with the compassion and understanding we deserve as students, Longhorns, and members of a democratic society, the students letter said.

Sam Law, a UT graduate student who was arrested April 29 and received a disciplinary letter, said 23 students are planning to submit the letter to the university. He said people are also submitting character references and letters of support.

The university hasnt told us what the possible disciplinary consequences are, but a lot of us are deeply afraid that it could be suspensions or expulsions, Law said, adding that thats why many people decided to respond despite legal concerns with addressing allegations. That is a much more severe consequence than a legal consequence.

The students also mention concern over the process bypassing a typically scheduled in-person meeting in favor of written statements, which they worry will further reduce their right to due process. Rosen said previously in his June 14 email that the process ensures all students have due process.

Two teaching assistants who were removed from their position last fall for sending a pro-Palestinian message to their class did not have the opportunity for an in-person hearing because of a last-minute policy change by Hartzell to make the process more efficient. Their grievances for their job reassignments were eventually denied.

More: Why UT president dismissed TAs grievances over work reassignments after pro-Palestinian note

'We enforce our institutional rules'

Rosen said the university cannot comment on individual cases, but on June 14 an undisclosed number of disciplinary notices were sent out to student protesters for alleged rules violations.

The University has made clear that we enforce our institutional rules, and the conduct notices sent to students who violated our rules during protests on April 24 and 29 reflect that commitment, the universitys statement said.

Kumar, however, said the university's rules still need to leave breathing space for the Constitution.

The university can't just be invoking these rules and saying that if students broke these rules that's enough to punish them if that application of those rules is squelching the right to engage in free speech activities, which is not something that students leave behind just because they decide to enroll, Kumar said.

More: Pro-Palestinian protests have happened at UT before. How are the new ones different?

Rosen did not respond to the Statesmans specific questions about UT's response to the ACLU's and students' letters.

Law said protesters believe they are not guilty of the universitys accusations and are grateful for the ACLUs support.

I hope that the university takes it seriously and lives up to the principles that it purports to defend, Law said.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: ACLU Texas, students raise concerns about investigation of protesters
Congresswomen Valerie Foushee (left) and Deborah Ross (center) are joined by Gov. Roy Cooper at a Raleigh event to highlight the harms of the Dobbs decision. (Photo: Ahmed Jallow)

Monday marks the second anniversary of the Supreme Courts Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision, which overturned the decades-long precedent of Roe v. Wade. The Biden campaign is organizing dozens of events across the country surrounding the anniversary as the campaign seeks to make protecting access to abortion care a key issue in the upcoming general election.

Democrats are hoping that linking former President Donald Trump to the Dobbs decision will galvanize voter turnout this November.

On Friday in Raleigh, Gov. Roy Cooper, U.S. Representatives Deborah Ross (NC-02) and Valerie Foushee (NC-04) criticized the former president as the primary architect behind the Dobbs ruling.

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, has taken credit for appointing three of the U.S. Supreme Court justices who ultimately ruled in the majority on the Dobbs decision. We broke Roe v. Wade. And we did something that nobody thought was possible: we gave it back to the states. And the states are working very brilliantly  in some cases conservative, in some cases not conservative  but theyre working and its working the way its supposed to, Trump said at a press conference earlier this year.

When it actually happened, Trump rallied around that he was personally responsible for this decision, Cooper said during his speech. He said that it was his honor to kill Roe v Wade.

By overturning Roe v. Wade, Donald Trump unleashed extreme abortion bans across the country that are putting womens lives at risk and threatening doctors with jail, Cooper said.

Fourteen Republican-controlled states have banned abortion at all stages of pregnancy, with some exceptions, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive health research and policy organization. In three other states, its barred after six weeks, before many know they are pregnant.

Last month marked the one-year anniversary of the passage of Senate Bill 20, legislation that banned abortions in North Carolina after 12 weeks.

This election is going to be a critical turning point in the fight for reproductive freedom, because Trump and his Republican allies have made it clear theyll stop at nothing to rip away our ability to make decisions for our own health care, our bodies, and our futures. said Ross.

Democrats have a strong reason to make abortion access a key campaign issue for the upcoming election.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Democrats have highlighted the issue of reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy to outperform expectations in off-year and special elections. Repeated polls have shown the most Americans do not favor strict limits on abortion access.



Donald Trump sees overturning Roe as something to brag about, but we see it for what it really is  an attack on a fundamental human right to make your own decisions about your body, said Foushee. The choice this November is simple.

The issue of womens health and reproductive choice will take center stage next Thursday when President Biden and Trump meet in their first televised presidential debate of the 2024 campaign.

The post Ahead of Dobbs anniversary, Democrats highlight the personal freedoms NC women have lost appeared first on NC Newsline.
Even Trump-appointed U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon apparently has her doubts about Trumps attorneys argument against federal prosecutor Jack Smiths legitimacy as special counsel.

Emil Bove, who is representing the former president in his stolen documents case, argued in court on Friday that Smiths appointment as special counsel was unconstitutional. Bove went on to say that Merrick Garlands ability to appoint Smith was comparable to the power of a shadow government.

Cannon, who has repeatedly refused to pass the case to another judge and has been accused of delaying the trial every step of the way, didnt buy the Trump teams line.

That sounds very ominous, a shadow government. But what does that mean? Cannon questioned Bove, according to CNN.

Bove obfuscated Cannons question, reiterating that Smiths appointment was unconstitutional. He also implied that Smith was rogue and failing to report to Garland on his probe.

Prosecutor James Pearce told the court during his opening arguments that Smith could be dropped at this very moment, qualifying that Garland has yet to review Smiths decisions, according to CNN. Pearce added that there has been oversight over the probe but did not provide details on that oversight.

Cannon is reportedly allowing for hours of arguments around the constitutionality of the special counsel, as well as non-party arguments from groups like Citizens United, according to CNN.

Arguments will resume on Monday over the prosecutions request for a gag-order on the former president, who has been quite vocal on Truth Social about the trial.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Starting today in her Florida courtroom, Judge Aileen Cannon, whom Trump appointed to the bench during his waning months in office, is hearing arguments about whether Jack Smiths appointment as special counsel is constitutional. Its staggering that this is even happening, for a couple reasons.



First, Donald Trumps legal team is arguing that Attorney General Merrick Garland had no legal authority to hire Smith. This is absurd. Attorneys generaland, sometimes, presidents and the D.C. Circuit Courthave been appointing special counsels since Ulysses Grant tabbed John Henderson to probe the Whiskey Ring. Since the 1970s, The New York Times reports, the courts have routinely rejected such challenges. The Supreme Court upheld the appointmentby Robert Bork, no lessof Leon Jaworski as special prosecutor for Watergate. Other similar challenges have been tossed.

Second, when courts have considered these petitions, theyve usually done so on the basis of written arguments. To schedule a hearing that will extend over two days is  is what, exactly? A show of fealty to Dear Leader, probably. In addition, Cannon is allowing three lawyers who have filed amicus briefs to make 30-minute oral presentations. As one law professor told the Times: The fact that Judge Cannon granted the amici request for oral argument seems to suggest that she is seriously considering the constitutional argument against the appointment of the special counsel.

So, yes. Cannon is entirely capable of ruling that Smiths appointment was unconstitutional. Lord knows, she has shocked us before. After the FBI Mar-a-Lago raid, she barred prosecutors from using any of the evidence collected there pending a review by a special master. Earlier this year, she issued an order asking both legal teams to submit preliminary jury instructions. The order seemed to embrace a key tenet of the Trump legal defense. Theres a lot more.

Next Monday or Tuesday, the arguments about Smiths appointment will wrap up, and sometime thereafter, Cannon will render her decision. Can you imagine this relatively minor judge, one of 29 federal judges for the Southern District of Florida, who sits in the great metropolis of Fort Pierce, can hold the fate of the republic in her hands like this?

Well, she does.

And rememberif she decides that Smiths appointment was unconstitutional, that deep-sixes not just the classified documents case over which shes presiding but the even more important (in my view) January 6 insurrection case thats supposed to be heard in Washington, pending the Supreme Courts decision on presidential immunity. (The Justice Department would presumably appeal an adverse determination, so the Smith appointment matter may also end up at the Supreme Court one of these days.)

Its just mind-boggling to think about this. Its just never been more obvious that a judge is doing the bidding of the president who appointed her. Its worth taking a look, by the way, at her confirmation vote before the Senate. It happened on November 12, 2020, five days after Joe Biden was finally declared the winner of the election. She was confirmed 5621, with 12 Democrats joining the Republicans to elevate her. And 23 Democrats, including Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, didnt even vote.

So thats the indifferent way she got to the bench in the first place. And now, she has the power to let a man who stole national security secrets and spent months ignoring polite requests from the FBI to come down to Palm Beach to see what he had, and who egged on a violent mob to break into the Capitol building and try to hang his own vice president get away with it all.

And of course theres the Supreme Court too. Remember the high courts timeline. The court announced that it would take up the immunity case on February 28. It heard the arguments almost exactly two months later, on April 25. And now here we are, creeping up on two months after that. And still no decision.

Why is all this being slow-walked? Its obvious enough. Theyre trying to help reelect Trump and hasten the arrival of the Christian nationalist post-democratic order. Federal judges and Supreme Court justices can read newspapers and polls. Theyve seen the polls showing Trumps felony conviction in the Stormy Daniels case is hurting him, especially with independents, and they have no doubt seen this new crop of polls showing Biden creeping into the leadThursday, for the first time this year, Biden edged ahead of Trump on the FiveThirtyEight poll tracker. Its 0.1 percent, but its a lead.

So this is what were going to see over these next months. The Trump campaign will be getting a push from corrupt right-wing judges, a right-wing propaganda network (actually, two, three, four, or five of them, depending on how you count), and a bunch of CEOs who want their next tax cut more than they value the continuing survival of the worlds oldest democracy. And Aileen Cannon is the most potent symbol of the whole corrupt network: She cares nothing about the law and the countrys best traditions, and there is no way for any of us to do anything about it.

Well, theres one thing: Vote, in huge numbers. Were still enough of a democracy that that matters.
Is air conditioning enough? Why extreme heat can still put you at risk

"The heat is coming for everybody," Andrew Dessler, a professor of atmospheric sciences at Texas A&M University, said as one of the season's earliest-onset heat waves scorches the United States.

As officials heed heat wave warnings across the country, forecasting what could become another hottest year on record, air conditioning units whirr and utility bills rise.

PHOTO: Outdoor thermometer in the sun during heatwave. (STOCK IMAGE/Getty Images)

This week, dangerously high temperatures hit 14 states across the Midwest and Northeast, with New York City expecting a record-breaking, five-day heat wave with temperatures above 90 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

MORE: Heat wave maps: How long the dangerous temperatures will last

While air conditioning can certainly mitigate the dangers of extreme heat, experts say the threat of heat-related illnesses and death is present if you're unable, even with AC, to maintain a cool enough room temperature to regulate your body's temperature.

PHOTO: Air Conditioning Window Unit (STOCK IMAGE/Getty Images)

"Many people who die of extreme heat die inside their homes," Jaime Madrigano, a public health researcher with Johns Hopkins University, told ABC News. "Many of those people are not adequately running air conditioning when they succumb to heat-related deaths."

In 2023, extreme heat was linked to over 11,000 deaths and approximately 120,000 emergency room visits in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

MORE: As sweltering heat approaches, experts share hot car safety tips

Madrigano is continuing a study that began last summer in New Orleans, Louisiana, funded by the National Institutes of Health, that recruits participants to take temperature and humidity measurements inside their home, to see what daily heat levels they're experiencing during the summer.

The researchers then use that data to analyze how those temperatures change throughout the day, as well as what health impacts related to sleep, mood and physical discomfort the participants are experiencing.

PHOTO: Harsh Morning Sun, power cables and haze (STOCK IMAGES/Getty Images)

"Very blunt preliminary data can see that even with air conditioning, many people are not able to maintain what is a comfortable temperature in their home environment," Madrigano said, adding a fourth of the participants recorded inside temperatures well over 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Some barriers to adequate air conditioning include poorly functioning units and financial constraints that make it difficult to pay utility bills, according to Madrigano.

New Orleans broke heat records in 2023, with over 10 excessive heat alerts issued by the National Weather Service (NWS). The unrelenting summer saw triple-digit temperatures, with humidity that made the climate feel like it was over 115 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the government agency.

"It's really important to recognize heat as a hazard," Dr. Leah Schinasi, an environmental and occupational epidemiologist at Drexel University, told ABC News.

PHOTO: In this July 14, 2023, file photo, instructions are seen displayed on a door at the entrance of the First Congregational United Church of Christ cooling center, in Phoenix, Arizona. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images, FILE)

Schinasi's work focuses on understanding the population health impacts of high ambient temperatures. She is currently leading a study analyzing the effect of indoor temperatures on mortality outcomes in older adults.

Heat-related illnesses, including heat exhaustion and heatstroke, occur when a person's body temperature rises faster than the body can cool itself, and can damage the brain and other vital organs, according to the CDC. Early symptoms can include dizziness, headaches, nausea, weakness and fatigue, according to the agency.

The public health agency further notes that older adults, the very young, and people with chronic diseases and mental illnesses are at the highest risk of heat illnesses. However, prolonged exposure to extreme heat, as well as strenuous activity in extreme temperatures, can be detrimental to anyone.

While there is no national standard regarding at what temperature an AC unit needs to be set to ensure safety during a heat wave, the air conditioner manufacturer Carrier Global recommends setting your air conditioner at 72 degrees Fahrenheit, which they say is "generally considered a comfortable indoor temperature for many people," and "strikes a good balance between comfort and energy efficiency."

When it comes to getting a good night's sleep during the summer's heat, the Cleveland Clinic recommends a cooler thermostat setting, between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit.

MORE: Heat stroke vs. heat exhaustion: Extreme heat safety tips

"As we know, many lower-income households do not have adequate access to air conditioning," Schinasi said. "Even if they do have access, they're often unable to afford to use it as much as needed because of the enhanced energy costs that come with using air conditioning," Shinasi added, echoing Madrigano.

PHOTO: In this July 20, 2023, file photo, firefighters from Phoenix Fire Engine 18 administer fluids to a resident having trouble breathing during a heat wave in Phoenix, Arizona. (Bloomberg via Getty Images, FILE)

In May 2022, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released results from the 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey, which found that 88% of American households use some method of air conditioning, whether it's central air or individual AC units. The survey also found that apartments were the housing type least likely to use AC equipment.

The financial burden of running air conditioning, however, is not considered in these figures, according to Madrigano. "Just because someone has air conditioning doesn't mean they're always running it, because they might be constrained due to really exorbitant utility bills or other financial constraints," she said.

The average monthly residential power bill in the U.S. is projected to rise to $173 in June, July and August, which marks a 3% increase from summer 2023, according to the EIA.

"There are two worlds you can live in. You can live in a world where we subsidize air conditioning for poor people, or we're simply going to normalize people suffering and high temperatures," Dessler told ABC News, also noting that historically hot cities that are only getting hotter points to a global reality.

"When you look at Phoenix, Arizona, you see a future that the rest of the country is going to have to deal with," Dessler said.

MORE: 2023 is officially the hottest year on record as global temperatures close in on warming limit: Copernicus report

In July 2023, Phoenix endured a record-breaking streak of over a month with highs at or above 110 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the NWS.

"Phoenix is a living laboratory for environmental heat research," Ariane Middel, a professor in Arizona State University's Urban Climate Research Center, told ABC News. "The hot temperatures we frequently experience in summers in the Southwest will be matched by heat waves in other regions that are not used to the heat, historically."

PHOTO: In this July 25, 2023, file photo, a sign reading 'Today's High: 115' is posted in South Mountain Park amid the city's worst heat wave on record, in Phoenix, Arizona. (Mario Tama/Getty Images, FILE)

One of Middels biggest concerns surrounding extreme heat is that lawmakers and citizens alike are not taking the threat seriously enough, as they might other climate-related perils.

"Heat is a silent killer. It's the deadliest weather-related killer in the U.S., but it doesn't leave a visible trace of destruction like a hurricane or tornado," Middel further noted, adding, "All heat-related deaths are preventable in theory, but it becomes more difficult in practice."

Is air conditioning enough? Why extreme heat can still put you at risk originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
ANCHORAGE, Alaska  An Air Force colonel who is the director of operations for the Alaskan Command is one of the two men missing after a small airplane crashed into a remote lake, officials said Thursday.

Alaska Wildlife Troopers and the Alaskan Command identified the men as Col. Mark Tyson Sletten, 46, of Anchorage, and Paul Kondrat, 41, of Utah.

They were aboard a small airplane on an instructional flight that crashed into Crescent Lake near Moose Pass on Alaskas Kenai Peninsula on Tuesday.

The Alaskan Command, located at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, conducts homeland defense missions, civil support and security. It is part of the U.S. Northern Command.

A team from the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center that includes volunteers from the Alaska Dive, Search, Rescue and Recovery Team were searching at the lake Thursday, troopers spokesperson Austin McDaniel said in an email. He said the team was using sonar, remotely operated vehicles and trained divers to search areas of interest previously identified in the lake, which is more 200 feet deep in some areas.

Two hikers had notified troopers that they saw a plane crash at Crescent Lake near Moose Pass on Tuesday afternoon.

An Alaska Department of Public Safety helicopter and U.S. Fish and Wildlife float plane went to the area and found debris on the lake but no signs of survivors in the water or on shore.

Moose Pass is about 100 miles south of Anchorage.
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor used her dissent in a case that struck at non-citizen and citizen marriage rights to issue a stark warning on the future of gay marriage rights.

The 6-3 ruling penned by Trump appointee Amy Coney Barrett in Department of State v. Munoz held that a citizen has no fundamental liberty interest in her noncitizen spouse being admitted to the country, denying a couples plea after a U.S. citizens husband was denied a visa.

Opening her dissent with the central holding of the landmark 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges, that the right to marry is fundamental as a matter of history and tradition, the justice laid into her conservative colleagues destruction of the right to marry for Munoz.

Despite the majoritys assurance two terms ago that its eradication of the right to abortion does not undermine . . . in any way other entrenched substantive due process rights such as the right to marry,... the Court fails at the first pass, Sotomayor wrote in the dissent, joined by liberal justices Elana Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson.

As legal journalist Mark Joseph Stern noted in an X post, Sotomayor delivered a very ominous opinion.

Her dissent is littered with alarm bells about Obergefell, Stern said. I think Justice Sotomayor is clearly correct that the Supreme Court's gratuitous attack on the constitutional rights of married couples in Munozespecially same-sex couplessuggests that the conservative justices hate Obergefell and may roll it back.

Sotomayor previously opened up on the reality of life on an increasingly radical court, expressing the feeling of hopelessness amid the Courts round of controversial decisions.

There are days that Ive come to my office after an announcement of a case and closed my door and cried, Sotomayor told a crowd at Harvard Law School last month, per the New York Times. There have been those days. And there likely will be more.

Sotomayor, 69, has had to dodge calls from progressives who say she should resign from the court ahead of the November election and allow President Joe Biden to install a younger replacement.

Biden, who said in a fundraiser last week that the next president is likely to have two new Supreme Court nominees, has yet to call for her to do so.
GULF SHORES, Ala. (WKRG)  Now helping guard Alabamas beaches full-time is a state trooper helicopter.

Not only is it keeping an eye on trouble spots in the gulf, but when needed dropping rescue swimmers where they are needed most.

This tomato found in an Alabama backyard sparked debate  What do you see?

We started this about three years ago, Gulf Shores Fire Chief Mark Sealy said. This is just an increase in those efforts that we have already seen.

In minutes, the ALEA helicopter can travel from the Flora Bama to Fort Morgan. Getting rescue swimmers in the water quickly will save lives.

What we are going to see is more patrols, said state Sen. Chris Elliott (R-District 32), who helped secure the $400,000 in state funding that will translate into 70 to 100 chopper trips along the coast each year.

Contractor mishap causes 8,000 gallons of sewage to overflow in Fairhope

That allows us not only to respond quickly but to be in the air already, Elliott continued.

From the air, there is a different perspective of the big waves and dangerous currents in the gulf and why the waters are closed to swimmers.

Its kind of like going to an amusement park and the roller coaster is closed, Sealy said. I understand the disappointment. This is a completely different animal than that. This gulf is relentless.

Having that eye in the sky and a rescue swimmer on board can make all the difference the next time someone yells for help.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A New Mexico judge on Friday denied Alec Baldwins second attempt to throw out his manslaughter indictment, finding that it should be up to a jury to decide if his recklessness led to the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Baldwin is due to face a trial in Santa Fe beginning on July 9. He is accused of negligently pointing a Colt .45 at Hutchins and pulling the trigger during filming of the Western film Rust.

More from Variety

Baldwins lawyer, John Bash, argued Friday that the unique circumstances of the case do not rise to the level of negligence required for an involuntary manslaughter charge.

Baldwin and others have said that they were told that his gun was cold. Bash argued that the state has conceded that everyone on set believed that the gun was loaded with dummy rounds.

Therefore, Bash argued, Baldwin was unaware of the danger posed by the gun, which in fact contained a live round.

What they have alleged here is not a crime, Bash argued. If he didnt know of the substantial risk that it had live ammunition in it, he cant be guilty.

Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer rejected that logic, however, finding that its an open question whether Baldwin had enough information to suspect that the gun was loaded.

There does exist disputed facts before the court that are not capable of dismissal as a matter of law. The disputed facts are properly before the jury, Marlowe Sommer said. Involuntary manslaughter talks about the defendant should have known of the danger, and I think thats really at the core.

Kari Morrissey, the lead prosecutor, argued that Baldwin did not take the opportunity to check the gun himself, even while other two actors were seen dry firing their guns into the ground to make sure they were clear.

She also argued that Baldwin must have known that the armorer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, was inexperienced and incompetent and was not adequately checking firearms.

His experience in the film industry is absolutely circumstantial evidence that he knew that when she was doing these safety checks, that she wasnt following the rules, Morrissey said.

The New Mexico Supreme Court has held that a defendant must have known of a substantial and unjustifiable risk of his actions in order to be guilty of involuntary manslaughter.

The standard New Mexico jury instructions, however, state only that the defendant should have known of the danger. The instructions also require that the defendant acted with a willful disregard of the safety of others.

Baldwins lawyers and prosecutors are set to argue another motion for dismissal on Friday afternoon. The defense has sought to throw out the case on the grounds that the state destroyed the gun during testing, depriving the defense of a full opportunity to examine it before trial.

Alternatively, the defense has asked the judge to preclude the prosecution from arguing that Baldwin pulled the trigger.

The judge denied an earlier motion to dismiss due to improprieties in the grand jury process.

The defense filed a fourth motion to dismiss this week due to the prosecutors alleged failures to turn over evidence to the defense in a timely fashion.

Also on Friday, the judge denied the prosecutors request to immunize Gutierrez Reed for her testimony at the Baldwin trial. Gutierrez Reed has earlier said that Baldwin was not paying attention during firearms training.

She was convicted in March of involuntary manslaughter, and her case is on appeal while she serves an 18-month sentence.

Morrissey sought the immunity in order to prevent her from invoking her Fifth Amendment right not to answer questions. The judge denied the request, saying that it appeared that Gutierrez Reed was not going to cooperate regardless.

Without immunity, Gutierrez Reed may still be called to the stand, but would likely assert her right against self-incrimination in response to most questions. Alternatively, she could be declared unavailable, which would allow her previous statements to be introduced without violating the hearsay rule.

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ARLINGTON, Va. (DC News Now)  The Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) said an 18-year-old man from Alexandria was arrested for a shooting that happened on N. Courthouse Rd. last month.

ACPD said the shooting happened on May 19 in the 1200 block of N. Courthouse Rd. around 2 a.m. Officers had responded to multiple reports of gunshots being heard in the area.

While investigating, they found out that two groups of people got into an argument at a hotel parking lot and someone took out a gun and started shooting, hitting one person and two parked cars.

Officers injured after person stole police car, crashed near Fair Oaks Shopping Center, police say

ACPD said, with the help of the Alexandria Police Department, A-Jay Jones was taken into custody on June 19.

He was charged with aggravated malicious wounding and use of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

He was being held at the Arlington County Detention Facility without bond.

The investigation into the shooting and the other people who were involved was still ongoing.

Anyone with information was asked to call (703) 228-4180 or email ACPDTipline@arlingtonva.us.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Vowing to use "every legal avenue available," in his fight to be on Collier County's primary ballot, MAGA grocer Alfie Oakes promises he won't back down.

Collier Supervisor of Elections Melissa Blazier says she won't either.

"My job as a constitutional officer is to uphold Florida laws and that's what I have to do," she told the Naples Daily News.

Alfie Oakes standing in front of Seed to Table of Aug. 23, 2022 pointing towards a poster of candidates he endorsed.

Oakes, a farmer, store owner and conservative influencer, says he properly filed the paperwork to qualify to keep his seat as the GOP committeeman, who serves as a liaison between the county and state parties. The deadline was noon Friday. Two others did qualify to be on the ballot: Frank Schwerin and Douglas Rankin, who had served in the position from 2008 until 2020, when Oakes unseated him.

In dueling statements, the two disagree about what happened when and who said what to whom.

Letters to the editor: Alfie Oakes at fault for missing filing deadline, now he's grandstanding

Oakes: 'A flat-out lie (and) a desperate attempt'

Oakes said Blazier's claim he filed wrong is "a flat-out lie (and) a desperate attempt from Melissa Blazier to remove me from the ballot in order to guarantee victory for one of her campaign's mega-donors. It is downright despicable." When he handed in his notarized candidate oath and qualifying paperwork, he wrote, "these documents were accepted by Collier SOE staff, and confirmation of my successful qualification was given to multiple people on my team.

"Then, approximately 10 minutes before the 12 p.m. filing deadline, I received a call from the SOE alleging that my qualifying documents did not meet proper standards. Despite this being blatantly untrue, I immediately hurried to the SOE office to sign the additional documents that they requested. All documents were accepted and processed by the SOE at 12:04 p.m."

And finally time-stamped four minutes after that, Blazier told the Daily News: "It comes down to this: Alfie didn't file the correct paperwork initially," Blazier said. "He had someone else file his paperwork the first time (which) I believe is time-stamped at 11:03. So we're talking 57 minutes before the end of candidate qualifying. And I'm sure it's true for all SOE offices across the state, but we all have a flurry of activity on the last day."

Republican Blazier, a more than 18-year veteran of the office, is running for reelection as well; her opponents are write-in candidate Edward Joseph Gubala, with no party affiliation listed, and Republicans Tim Guerrette and Dave Schaffel, who Oakes is backing because he's "a cybersecurity expert and could be the best elections supervisor in the country, Oakes told Florida Politics.

The Oakes camp says Dave Carpenter, the elections office's qualifying officer, assured them everything was in order. "The man said he was 'good to go,' " county Republican Executive Committee Chair John Meo told the Naples Daily News. "I'm in the investment business. If I tell a client that's depending on something, 'Yep, I've got your paperwork; it's good to go,' and the client finds out it's not, that's on me," Meo said. "If it happened to a Democrat, I would say the exact same thing."

Could Carpenter have made a mistake? Absolutely not, Blazier says. "Dave has been in this office for 29 years on Friday and all he does is candidate qualifying."

Melissa Blazier, supervisor of elections in Collier County

Maybe Blazier could just let this slide? "I can't," she said. "Florida Statute 99.061 is very clear. It's not something I have any leeway in. "

In his statement, Oakes says what he did "more than met the standard laid out by the Florida Secretary of State as well as the Republican party of Florida. Melissa Blazier is legally using her petition to circumvent the election process in favor of her campaign, mega-donor, my opponent, Doug Rankin," his statement continues. "Make no mistake, this is election interference at the highest level in Collier County (and) I intend to utilize every legal avenue available to stop this fraud and allow the voters' voices to be heard in August."

It wouldn't be the first time Oakes has taken a public official  or officials  to court. Last year, he sued the Collier County School Board over its superintendent search, claiming the board and its search firm violated Florida's Sunshine Law. A judge eventually denied his motion.

Blazier: Oakes 'Irresponsibly is blaming this office for his shortcomings'

In her statement, Blazier calls Oakes' account "unfounded and without merit." In it, she points out that though prequalifying began May 27, "Mr. Oakes chose to wait until after 11 a.m. on the last day of qualifying (the busiest time in this office during the qualifying period) to have a third party deliver his qualifying documents. No one in the Supervisor of Elections office confirmed to Mr. Oakes or any member of his team that he had successfully qualified as a candidate for State Committeeman at that time. Handing paperwork over to a staff member is not tantamount to being qualified.

"Immediately upon discovering multiple errors with his submitted qualification documents, my staff and I made several attempts to contact Mr. Oakes and his team beginning at 11:36 a.m., as documented in our call records. The calls were neither answered or returned until 11:51 a.m. when Mr. Oakes finally returned my call. Mr. Oakes then arrived to our office at 12:04 p.m., after the qualifying deadline, to submit the correct qualifying forms which were timestamped upon completion at 12:08 p.m."

No election for Alfie, supervisor says Oakes improperly files campaign paperwork; can't run for office

As for Oakes' accusations of malfeasance: "Mr. Oakes, now irresponsibly, is blaming this office for his shortcomings and the shortcomings of his team in getting himself qualified in a proper and timely fashion. Mr. Oakes knew precisely what needed to be done and the timeframe to do it in, as exemplified by his timely and proper filing for this same position in 2020. The law and requirements have not changed since then."

Bottom line, she writes: "All decisions are objective. The role of this office in reviewing candidate qualifying documents is dictated by the law. Our role is ministerial. It is either right or wrong, timely or untimely ... Do not be fooled into believing that party rules take precedent over state statutes and state administrative rules. There is no fraud. There is no racketeering. All the actions taken by this office in this matter, and all matters, are justifiable and done in accordance with the law (and) Mr. Oakes is ultimately responsible for his failure to properly qualify for placement of his name on the ballot."

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Alfie Oakes accuses Collier election office of fraud, interference
A pet alligator, nicknamed Alice by locals on the internet, was found last week in Lubbock.

As these things happen, that sent social media into a frenzy, with people concerned about the animal's safety and future - and wondering why there was an alligator in Lubbock.

Lubbock Animal Service Director Steve Greene said LAS received a citizen tip on Monday about an exotic animal on someone's property. LAS went to investigate where they found the alligator and confiscated it due to city ordinances on exotic pet ownership.

Taking to Facebook, LAS took the opportunity to remind citizens of responsible pet ownership and posted a photo of the tiny alligator. However, Lubbockites took to the post and began using #FreeAlice to show their concern for the animal.

The original post from LAS has more than 200 comments, with many asking what could happen to Alice the Alligator.

How is Lubbock Animal Services taking care of Alice the Alligator?

Greene said he wants to assure people that the alligator is being cared for.

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"It's getting the proper care and being seen by our vet," Greene said. "We have a vet, a local vet, that is really experienced and dealt with a lot of aquatic reptiles. He's going to come look at it."

After LAS took Alice into their care, Greene said the staff made a temporary enclosure that evening.

"The next morning, my vet came in to do medical rounds, and she gave it a full assessment check, we implemented a microchip and we got it into a better environment to kind of hang out in," Greene said.

Lubbock Animal Services confiscated a pet alligator within the city limits on Monday.

Since it is an owned animal, Greene said the city ordinance gives the owner 10 days to reclaim the alligator and show proof that they are relocating the animal outside of the city limits.

If the owner does not meet the necessary requirements in the allocated time frame, Greene said the animal would be given to an alligator sanctuary.

From African Spitting Cobras to alligators, Lubbock Animal Services has confiscated exotic animals in the past

Greene said LAS has taken several exotic animals into its care over the past few years.

"We've had at least twice that I can recall the last five years, where we had to confiscate rattlesnakes," Greene said. "We also had a African spitting cobra that was found in the dumpster in really bad shape, and we nursed it back to health."

Green said the last time LAS had to take an alligator into their possession was in 2019.

Which exotic animals aren't allowed within Lubbock city limits?

Greene said Chapter 4: Animals of the Lubbock City Ordinances explains what animals are and aren't allowed within city limits.

About 30 mammals are specifically named within the ordinance, from ocelots to gorillas. However, there are caveats for any species illegal to own under federal or state law and any animal listed as high-risk in the Texas Rabies Control Act.

Emus, ostriches, rheas and any other birds considered illegal to own under federal or state law can not be kept as pets within the city limits. Lubbock also prohibits the ownership of venomous reptiles, crocodiles, or alligators.

Greene said it's important for individuals to do research on what it takes to own certain animals. He also encouraged individuals to contact LAS at lubbockanimalservices@mylubbock.us or 806-775-2057 if they have doubts about whether owning a certain animal is allowed.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock Animal Service finds pet alligator, responds to criticism
Donald Trump is still awaiting sentencing after being convicted in his hush-money trial, but he thinks that means his gag order should be lifted. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg vehemently disagreed Friday.



In an emphatic brief, Bragg took Trump and his legal team to task, pointing out bomb threats made to two people involved in the case, as well as an avalanche of other threats to the district attorney and his employees. The New York Daily News reported Thursday that the D.A.s office has received more than 100 threatening emails, including several with racial slurs.

Bragg also called out Trump for lying, saying that his motion to drop the gag order includes a number of categorically false assertions.

For example, defendant claims that the District Attorney is acting in concert with defendants electoral opponent and an unspecified cast of associates in an effort to restrict defendants speech at an upcoming presidential debate, the brief stated. Defendant offers no factual basis for this assertion, and there is none: this claim is a lie. Bragg has thrown Trump a bone, though: He asked that the restriction on criticizing witnesses be lifted.



Trumps gag order in his hush-money trial came after he repeatedly attacked not only prosecutors but witnesses, Judge Juan Merchan, and the judges daughter. He repeatedly violated the order, racking up fines totaling $10,000 and a warning from Merchan that hed go to jail upon further infractions. Trump still criticized prosecutors after the warning, and even got some of his political supporters to make attacks on his behalf.



Why does Trump think he needs to attack prosecutors, jurors, and judges to mount a presidential campaign? It could be paranoia, fed by ongoing cognitive decline.


3 kids 'found safe' after they never returned home from Colorado park, police say

Three Colorado children have been found safe after being missing for over a day when they didn't return home from the park, officials said.

Enfinity Rodriguez,13; Craig Rodriguez, 10; and Damian Rodriguez, 7, are siblings who went missing around 1 p.m. on Thursday while at Terrace Park in Arvada, Colorado, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said in an X post.

Friday morning, a couple of hours after the CBI issued an endangered missing alert, the children's grandfather brought them to a Denver Police Department station, Arvada police said in a Facebook post.

"Arvada PD detectives responded promptly, returning them to Arvada where they will soon reunite with a guardian," according to the department. "We deeply appreciate the overwhelming community support and offers of assistance, and we are grateful for the safe return of the children."

An Arvada police officer is pictured with a child in the background.

Police say the siblings 'may have wandered off'

The siblings were "not familiar with Arvada and may have wandered off," Arvada Police said in a Facebook post on Thursday. Officers continued to search the area Thursday and Friday morning, according to police.

Arvada police detectives are continuing their investigation into the children's disappearance although they've been found.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 3 kids found after going missing from Terrace Park in Arvada, CO
This article was adapted from The Politics of Fear: The Peculiar Persistence of American Paranoia. It appears at TPM by arrangement with Vintage Books, an imprint of The Knopf Doubleday Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

If Americas paranoid style is homegrown and unique, conspiracy theory is universal. By the early 1920s, The Protocols of the Elders of Zion  the Beethovens Ninth of conspiracy theory  had been translated into German, Polish, French, Italian, and English. Its first Arab translation appeared in 1925, and it was published in Portuguese and Spanish in 1930. Even after some of its German readers acted on its lessons and exterminated millions of Jewish men, women, and children, it continues to be read and studied around the world. It is explicitly cited in Hamass charter and was the basis of TV miniseries in Egypt and Syria and several documentaries in Iran. But, as deplorable as it is that the Protocols would have the propagandistic currency that it does in the Middle East, its not surprising, as the Arab-Israeli conflict has been inescapable for the past three-quarters of a century and more. Its also understandable that conspiracy theories would be as rife as they are in countries that really are groaning under nonmetaphorical tyrannies, or that did in the not-so-distant past.

But the gap between reality and the stresses that give rise to paranoid fantasies is much larger in the United States than in much of the Muslim world today. For all of Americas longstanding racial, ethnic, and religious enmities, most of its citizens  including many who claim to have been dispossessed  enjoy a relatively high standard of living, and its laws still protect the press from censorship. Unless you are poor, undocumented, incarcerated, or Black, the hand of the government lies much lighter on U.S. citizens than it does on those of many other countries.

So why here? Exactly what are Americas many conspiracy theorists so afraid of?

I covered a conference of Richard Spencers alt-right National Policy Institute in 2011. The last speaker I heard was the well-known white nationalist Sam Dickson, David Dukes lawyer and a former candidate for lieutenant governor of Georgia, who described his lifes journey from youthful Goldwater activist to a true believer in the ethno-state. His words, spoken in a courtly southern drawl, left an indelible impression on me.

Movement conservatives, the Tea Party, all of them miss the point, he said. While they talk about taking America back, they forget that the Constitution was poisoned at its inception by the infection of the French Enlightenment. White people havent controlled Americas government for 150 years, he alleged. In fact, the constitutional republic is the white races greatest enemy. Our government hates us, degrades us, and seeks to destroy us, he said. We cannot save America. We need to let go and think of something new. America is the God that failed.

Dicksons frankness, of course, is not the norm among conservatives, even if some of his sentiments are more widely shared than most care to acknowledge. Repressed desires, like the forbidden hope that America will end its experiment with democratic republicanism and replace it with an authoritarian Christian regime like Hungarys, give rise to the same kinds of painful dissonances that irrational beliefs do. One way to manage the discomfort is to project those beliefs onto your enemies: Obama despises America. Biden is a tyrant. Democrats want Republicans dead and they have already started the killings.

As wrong as they are about everything else, the conspiracy theorists seem to be right about one thing. A great many of Americas problems share a hidden factor. The conspiracy theorists may not identify it correctly  it isnt Jewish chicanery, satanically inspired homosexuals, or space aliens. Nor is it critical race theory or drag queens. It is racism and bigotry, whether acknowledged or unacknowledged, de jure or de facto, an active principle or a lingering vestige of a willfully misunderstood past.

The conspiracy theorists are right about something else as well: things are not always what our parents and teachers and pastors taught us to believe they are. America has often failed to live up to its exceptionalist ideals. Thats not to say that America is exceptionally wicked. As nation-states go, the United States is better than many, and its founders ideals are mostly admirable, even if they and we have often failed to live up to them.

But like they do in most places, Americas financial, political, and social elites really do keep a tight grip on the reins of power  thats why theyre called elites  and they work hard to protect their interests. Despite what they tell us, whats good for them is not always whats good for everyone else. While its true that capitalism has raised living standards across the board, from a child mill workers perspective 150 years ago or a part-time minimum-wage workers today, owners continue to enjoy all kinds of unfair advantages. Does the capitalist class routinely hold secret ceremonies in which they ritually rape and murder children? Of course not. Most of their energies go into union busting and political lobbying to keep their taxes low and regulations at a minimum. The owner class constantly tests the limits of what they can get away with, and they get away with a lot.

Our great national myth  that America is a crucible of equality, tolerance, and boundless entrepreneurial opportunity  has never been our national reality. Critical race theory doesnt explain everything (no one theory could), but it surfaces a painful and undeniable truth: that our liberal humanist traditions were not only erected on a rickety scaffolding of race supremacism, religious bigotry, land theft, involuntary servitude, and toxic masculinity, but were compromised by them from the very beginning, as surely as Sam Dickson said they were by the egalitarian values of the French Enlightenment.

Which isnt to say that things havent improved  I personally believe that what Dickson diagnosed as an infectious agent was the antibody for toxins like himself, and I suspect that he knows that too. I further suspect that what has driven so many white American Protestants (Dickson also spoke about his pride in his Huguenot roots) into right-wing extremism is the realization that the implicit promise of white, Protestant, male hegemony no longer holds. Thats to our credit.

Some of the American dream is real, of course. As a second-generation Jew, Im a beneficiary of it, as are the descendants of many of the other immigrant groups that came here voluntarily. Many Americans  including Black ones  really have pulled themselves up by their bootstraps, and for all of its many failures in practice, our system leans toward more rather than less liberty and opportunity. But Americas past, like most countries, is not just marred by but defined by force and violence and fear and hate; worse still, as William Faulkner put it in Requiem for a Nun (a novel whose plot turned on the legacies of race and rape), its not even past.

Among the fiercest of Americas old hatreds, I would argue, is the hatred of Catholics. The first colonists brought it with them from England.

A recent archaeological find sheds new light on this. In 2013, the remains of four men were discovered at the site of a chapel in Jamestown. One of them, Captain Gabriel Archer, had been buried with a silver box that a CT scan showed contained bone fragments and a lead ampulla. It was almost certainly a Catholic reliquary, and it was, in the words of The Atlantics Adrienne LaFrance, a bombshell, potential proof of an underground community of Catholics. They would have had to have been secret because Catholic worship had been banned in England since 1559, when Queen Elizabeth issued the Act of Uniformity.

The English Protestants who colonized the New World feared hunger, illness, and childbirth, which killed one out of eight expectant mothers and a third of their children who were born alive by their fifth birthdays. They feared the raw wilderness and its indigenous inhabitants, who they knew were servants of the Devil, and the witches and other minions of Satan that dwelled among them, disguised as their wives, children, neighbors, servants, and enslaved people. They feared their own sinful natures and Antinomianism or Free Grace Protestantism, the radical doctrine that once they were saved, Christians were no longer bound by the moral law, a philosophy, they believed, that could not but lead to licentiousness and attacks on property and the political order. Most of all, they feared Catholicism, which they had been at war with since the time of Henry VIII. The Catholic French had forged alliances with native tribes in the north and west. The Catholic Spaniards controlled the south. The threat of internal subversion was real as well; the Gunpowder Plot conspirators had been executed less than a year before the Jamestown settlers departed England.

Many of those Puritans descendants still see the world much as their ancestors did, though their great enemy is no longer godless papists and savages but depraved liberalism, or at the conspiracy theorist extreme, some differently titled ism that in practice looks and sounds an awful lot like Catholicism. Illuminism perhaps, or cultural Marxism. Or Zionism, the philosophy, they believe, of an ancient, fabulously wealthy elite whose power transcends national boundaries and whose leaders invisibly bend the world to their wills using the power of propaganda and finance. The Davidic superstate of the Protocols is a fantasy, but the Vatican was and is very real. (You know, I am not antisemitic, and I am not anti-Black; thats a complete misunderstanding of what I am, Tucker Carlson recently, reportedly, said. I am anti-Catholic.)

Practicing Catholics were explicitly banned from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. Roger Williams founded Rhode Island as a refuge for religious dissenters in 1636, but virtually no Catholics lived there to enjoy the privilege of freedom of worship at the time. Pennsylvania and Delaware also tolerated Catholics, but few lived in either colony until much later. Virginia expelled priests from its territory in 1641. Georgia offered freedom of worship to all except papists. New York banned Catholicism in 1688; New Jersey passed its first formal anti-Catholic law in 1691; in 1701, it granted liberty of conscience to all except papists. South Carolina enacted similar legislation in 1697 but dropped its religious test in 1790; Catholics were not allowed to hold public office in Massachusetts until 1833, in North Carolina until 1835, and in New Jersey until 1844. Marylands chief sponsor, Lord Baltimore, had envisioned the colony as a refuge for Catholics like himself, but it didnt go as planned. Though the Maryland Toleration Act, which became law in 1649, granted the right of free worship for any professing to believe in Jesus Christ, it was overturned in the early 1650s when Puritans briefly seized control of its government. It was restored a few years later, only to be overturned again in 1692, when Catholicism was formally banned in the colony.

As Robert Emmett Curran wrote in his book Papist Devils: Catholics in British America, 15741783, anti-Catholicism was an effective unifying force, both in England and in British America, in defining a society by an other that contradicted all that that society stood for and whose very survival the other, by its very presence, threatened.

A number of anti-Catholic secret societies arose during the high tide of Irish Catholic immigration. The American Brotherhood (which quickly changed its name to the Order of United Americans) was founded in New York City in 1844 with a mission to release our country from the thralldom of foreign domination. The Order of United American Mechanics began in Philadelphia a year later, and in 1850, the Order of the Star Spangled Banner was founded in New York with the explicit goal of driving Catholic immigrants from public office and organizing boycotts against their businesses. The New York Tribunes Horace Greeley dubbed the groups Know Nothings because of their oaths of secrecy, but also because of their ignorant narrowmindedness. The name caught on, and like so many other pejoratives, was adopted as an honorific by their members.

While the Know Nothings opposed so-called papism on moral grounds, they were pragmatic in practice; their chief aims were to reverse the downward pressure on wages caused by immigration and the rising corruption of the Catholic-dominated urban political machines. The owner class was more ambivalent. While they were happy to replace American workers with hungry immigrants who would work harder for less, they worried about the revolutionary spirit of 1848 sweeping Italy, Germany, and Ireland, among other countries, which some of those immigrants carried with them from abroad.

By 1855, the Know Nothings had coalesced into a full-blown political party, the American Party, which filled some of the void left by the collapse of the Whigs. As a nation, the former Whig Abraham Lincoln wrote to his friend Joshua Speed at the time, we began by declaring that all men are created equal. When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and catholics.  Nonetheless, eight governors, more than one hundred U.S. congressmen, and the mayors of three major cities had been elected on American Party tickets by the end of the decade.

Wood engraving of a torchlight meeting of the Know Nothings at New York City Hall, 1855. (Photo by Library of Congress/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)

Compared to the monstrous injustice of slavery, the decades of sectional strife it caused, and the cataclysmic disasters of secession, the war, Reconstruction, and the Jim Crow era that followed, the clamor over Catholic immigration was little more than background noise. That said, as John Higham, author of the seminal study Strangers in the Land: Patterns of American Nativism, 18601925, put it, the American Party provided a rare opportunity for the fraying republic to come together around a different shared hatred during the decade of Bleeding Kansas.

That hatred has had a lasting impact on American conspiracy culture. Picture this classic conspiracy theorist tableau: in a dungeon beneath a gloomy mansion, a group of immensely rich and powerful men, draped in silk robes, utter incantations in a strange tongue while sipping libations of human blood. Clouds of incense hang in the air.

Whether those celebrants are believed to be Elders of Zion, Illuminated Masons, billionaire apparatchiks of the New World Order, the elites of the QAnon believers imagination, or all of them working together, the images ur-source is Roman Catholic priests celebrating the Mass, as refracted through the distorting lenses of biblical End Times prophecies, the geopolitics of the Reformation, middle-class Americans resentments of the opaque and sometimes questionable practices of bankers and financiers, and, ironically, Catholicisms own long-standing fears of Illuminism and Freemasonry.

For the Puritans, Catholics were the Romans, the ancient enemy the early Christians defined themselves in opposition to (along with the pharisaical Jews). For the Catholics, the enemy was not just the Jews who rejected Christ, but heterodox Christians who denied that the Catholic Church is the body of Christ, and the forces of Marxism, scientism, nihilism, atheism, secularism, and all of the other isms that have been eating away at the one true churchs authority and power.

Of course, real Jews and Masons, as opposed to the Jews and Masons of the conspiracy theorist imagination, dont practice magic or worship Satan; most Jews dont believe in the literal Devil, and while many Masons are Christians, few are superstitious. Neither drinks blood  figurative, real, or transubstantiated  in their ceremonials. But conspiracy theorists nonetheless imagine that their enemies celebrate Black Masses, because they think in Manichaean binaries  good versus evil, Christian versus Jew, Protestant versus Catholic, American versus non-American, civilization versus barbarism  and perhaps because they guiltily project the aspects of themselves that they are ashamed of onto their enemies. The Christian blood that Jews were accused of mixing into their Passover matzos, the adrenochrome that QAnon believers say the elites extract from children, is the Eucharist defiled.

Protestant conspiracy theorists look at their enemies and see Catholics. So do Catholic conspiracy theorists, at least when they are looking at the Masons, another group that captured Americans imaginations and attracted their hatred, animating todays conspiracy theories. And its no wonder, because so many of the Masons secret rituals evoke their societys fanciful connections with medieval Catholicism.

Beyond the Masons specific references to the Knights Templar and Jacques de Molay, the Templars last grand master (he was burned at the stake in 1314), the Gothic cosplay that figures in so many of their rituals is also characteristic of a lot of the Romantic art, architecture, landscape design, and literature of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The Ku Klux Klan, which recruited many of its members from Masonic lodges, also adapted Catholic rituals and robes. The capirote, the pointed hood that Spanish and Italian penitents have worn since the Inquisition, was the likely source for the headpieces the Klan riders wore in D. W. Griffiths Birth of a Nation, and that the revived KKK then adopted (the regalia of Reconstruction-era Klansmen was less formalized).

Unlike the Klan, the Freemasons were never organized around exclusion and hatred; their ideal was and is enlightenment. According to their founding myth, Hiram Abiff, the chief architect of the Temple of Solomon, was martyred when he refused to reveal the stonecutters guilds occult secrets. In truth, Freemasonry is only a few centuries old, and like the American Constitution, is very much a product of the Enlightenment. The first Masonic Grand Lodge was founded in England in 1717; the first American lodge opened in Philadelphia in 1731 with Benjamin Franklin as a charter member. There are numerous varieties of Masonry (the York Rite, the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, the Knights Templar, the Order of the Eastern Star, Royal Arch Masonry, and more). Some, like the Knights Templar, are explicitly Christian, but the ethos that most subscribe to is best described as humanistic deism. And if the Masons have a consistent class identity, it is bourgeois.

Its not surprising that George Washington and Benjamin Franklin were Masons. Both were non-churchgoing men of affairs, devout republicans who were good with money and conversant with science (especially Franklin, though Washington studied and applied the agronomy of his day, experimenting widely with new techniques in planting, plowing, manuring, and crop rotation). Other prominent American Masons of the period were Paul Revere, John Marshall, John Hancock, and James Monroe. Among Europes well-known eighteenth-century Masons were the Marquis de Lafayette (an aristocrat to be sure, but something of a class traitor), and Goethe, Mozart, and Voltaire. In South and Central America, Simon Bolivar, El Libertador, was a Mason. There have been very conservative and racist Masons too. Albert Pike, for example, was a leader and major theorist of the Scottish Rite, one of the most speculative and esoteric varieties of Freemasonry; he was also a Confederate general, an avowed white supremacist, and active in the early KKK. But most were progressive-minded representatives of the rising Protestant middle class.

Esoteric Masons engagement with arcana like Greco-Egyptian hermeticism, Gnosticism, Kabbalah, the Koran, and alchemy came from the same place as their interest in science  a wide-ranging curiosity unfettered by religious dogma, and the confidence that human beings are inherently perfectible, that anyone can work and study their way toward wisdom, happiness, and spiritual integration as they ascend through the degrees of the Craft. This is a very different view of the human condition than Catholicisms or Calvinisms, which maintain that mankind is inherently depraved and cannot earn grace, but only be granted it by Christ, either directly or via the churchs intercession. That is why the pope condemned Masonry in 1738, a ban that was reaffirmed as recently as 1983 by Cardinal Ratzinger when he was prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, formerly known as the Roman Inquisition (in 2005, he would become Pope Benedict XVI).

Freemasonry came under fire in the United States in the 1820s, after William Morgan, a former brewery owner and veteran of the War of 1812, disappeared after hed written an expose of Masonry and sold it to a publisher. If the Masons murdered him to protect their secrets, as was widely supposed, their plan backfired spectacularly. Morgans book was published posthumously as The Mysteries of Freemasonry, Containing All the Degrees of the Order Conferred in a Masters Lodge. The controversy surrounding the disappearance snowballed into a full-blown national political movement with the formation of the Anti-Masonic Party, whose bete noire was Andrew Jackson, the former grand master of Tennessee.

Jackson is remembered today as a populist and an avowed enemy of the permanent Washington establishment. Donald Trump declared himself a Jacksonian during his first presidential campaign in 2016; after he was elected, he hung Jacksons portrait in the Oval Office and visited his grave. But in Jacksons own day, his enemies castigated him as an elitist and would-be despot. Some of that animus was likely personal. John Quincy Adams had eked out a win against Jackson in 1824, but lost the presidency to him in 1828 after an especially vicious campaign. Though Adams enjoyed a long and consequential ex-presidency as a lawyer, abolitionist, and member of Congress, he devoted a surprising amount of his energies in the 1830s to anti-Masonry, even writing a book, Letters on Freemasonry, in which he attacked the Masons as a conspiracy of the few against the equal rights of the many and a seed of evil, which can never produce any good. Freemasons take oaths binding them to their order instead of to the republic, Adams said  so how patriotic could they be?

His book exhaustively cataloged the ghoulish tortures that Masons supposedly visited on disloyal members like Morgan, lovingly detailing the cuttings of throats, tearing out of hearts, and smiting off the skull to serve as a cup for the fifth libation that were the penalties for disloyalty. And he called explicit attention to Masonrys resemblance to Catholicism, which was also accused of torturing its apostates and putting loyalty to the pope before loyalty to the nation (much as Jews are accused of doing with Israel today).

If I seem to be downplaying the potency of anti-Black racism and anti-Semitism, Im not. Remember, my topic is not prejudice per se, but paranoid conspiracy theorism. For much of American history, racism has been openly acknowledged and supported by the force of law. As such, Blacks themselves werent so much the objects of conspiracy theorist thinking as their non-Black allies in the Abolition and the civil rights movements were.

As for anti-Semitism, once The Protocols of the Elders of Zion began to be widely translated after the turn of the 20th century, conspiracy theorists of every stripe off-loaded the wicked attributes of Catholics, Masons, Illuminists, anarchists, robber barons, bankers, and revolutionaries onto Jews. Judaism was said to have co-opted the Masons, just as it had labor unions and other progressive movements, to undermine the power of the state. Gentile masonry blindly serves as a screen for us and our objects, says Protocol 4. Until we come into our kingdom , Protocol 15 adds, we shall create and multiply free masonic lodges in all the countries of the world, absorb into them all who may become or who are prominent in public activity, for these lodges we shall find our principal intelligence office and means of influence.

The Holocaust was the culmination of 2,000 years of successionist theology, the belief that Christianity completed and nullified both the Judaic law and Judaism itself, and of a century of political and social resentment as Jews throughout western Europe were finally made citizens of their countries.

But Jews were relative latecomers to the global conspiracy theories that formed the basis of Nazism, and that they still feature in so largely today. The person who gave American anti-Semitism its biggest platform ever was the industrialist Henry Ford. There is a race, a part of humanity, he wrote of the Jews in The Dearborn Independent, the newspaper he purchased in 1918 and mostly used to promote The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, which has never yet been received as a welcome part, and which has succeeded in raising itself to a power that the proudest Gentile race has never claimed, not even Rome in the days of her proudest power.

Though the Jews were still nationless, Ford and his White Russian ghostwriters cast them as the worlds most rapacious imperialists. Though most of the Jews who had begun pouring into America from eastern Europe toward the end of the nineteenth century were penniless, they were presumed to be fabulously wealthy. The Protocols do not regard the dispersal of the Jews abroad upon the face of the earth as a calamity, but as a providential arrangement by which the World Plan can be the more certainly executed, Ford wrote. The Diaspora was a punishment the Jews not only deserved but had freely chosen; as such, they should not be pitied but despised and feared. Fords anti-Semitism was monstrous, but you can at least understand where it came from. He had heard it proclaimed from the pulpit by Protestant ministers as a child, and he read it in the tracts of the agrarian populists.

Ford had a sentimental attachment to the rural America that formed him, which caused him no end of cognitive dissonance, because if he couldnt find someone else to blame for its decline, he might have had to take a critical look at himself. Economists still use the term Fordism to describe the standardized, mass-production consumer economy that transformed small-town America into a patchwork of look-alike cities and suburbs. Mass-produced automobiles literally and figuratively released rural people from their ties to the land. Underemployed farm laborers moved to Detroit to work in Fords factories, and the cars Americans bought on credit not only made them mobile but provided young people and adulterous marrieds with trysting places.

Henry Ford driving in his first automobile, the Quadracycle, on Grand Boulevard in Detroit, Michigan. (Getty Images)

Fords anti-Semitism exonerated him not just for the ruination of the wholesome way of life that he remembered, but the ruthlessness of the capitalism that he practiced. That which we call capitalism, he explained in The International Jew, is an illusion, because the manufacturer, the manager of work, the provider of tools and jobs  we refer to him as the capitalist himself must go to capitalists for the money with which to finance his plans. The common enemy of both labor and capital, he wrote, is super-capitalism, a super-government which is allied to no government, which is free from them all, and yet which has its hand in them all. To save America, to save the world, those super-capitalists must be crushed. If the Jew is in control, Ford asked, how did it happen? This is a free country. The Jew comprises only about three per cent of the population. Is it because of his superior ability, or is it because of the inferiority and dont-care attitude of the Gentiles? Unless the Jews are super-men, Ford concluded, the Gentiles will have themselves to blame for what has transpired. Where is the modern Haman who will do what must be done? he might as well have asked.

Even after spending years parsing the paranoid style, the genocidal implications of Fords logic stuns me  as does the fact that he continues to be held up to schoolchildren as a model American entrepreneur. It really is no wonder that Germanys rising fascists looked on Ford as the leader of the growing Fascisti movement in America, as a reporter from the Chicago Tribune put it in 1923. We admire particularly his anti-Jewish policy which is the Bavarian Fascisti platform. We have just had his anti-Jewish articles translated and published, Hitler told him. The book is being circulated to millions throughout Germany. The article goes on to note that Fords picture occupies the place of honor in Herr Hittlers [sic] sanctum.

If you are seeking the origins of the American Paranoid, there are many places to look. For Protestants in the colonial era, the great historical adversary was Satan, as embodied in the Catholic Church. The dread this transnational superstate inspired was virtually hardwired into their psyches, like the fear of snakes. At the same time, I suspect, they felt an unconscious, largely unacknowledged nostalgia for its certainties. The lineaments of that primal hatred live on in contemporary conspiracy theorists fever dreams about the all-powerful Illuminati, the Elders of Zion, and the hidden leaders of the Deep State, who feed themselves with childrens blood and injections of adrenochrome and interfere with the sovereignty of nations.

Both Catholic and Protestant doctrine demand that its believers repudiate Freemasonrys values, but few Americans do, because our political institutions grew out of the same soil that Freemasonry did, which is the practical, empiricist, tolerant, and secular ethos of the Enlightenment that Sam Dickson believes poisoned the American experiment at its birth.

Religious tolerance, if not indifferentism, is what underlies Madisons and Jeffersons wall of separation between church and state. It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no god, Jefferson famously wrote. But despite the mountains of evidence that show that religious pluralism encourages rather than harms religious belief (56 percent of Americans say they believe in God as described in the Bible, as opposed to just 27 percent of western Europeans), an influential minority of religious Americans would just as soon tear it down. Many have their doubts about democratic republicanism as well. The only sure guarantor of their freedom, they say, is power  specifically, the ability to wield power against religions, ideas, and people they dont like.

Adapted from The Politics of Fear, copyright  2024 by Arthur Goldwag. Published by arrangement with Vintage Books, an imprint of The Knopf Doubleday Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.
American Airlines announced that they had taken action following a lawsuit against the airline in May over alleged racial discrimination

Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty American Airlines

American Airlines has suspended multiple employees following a lawsuit against the airline alleging racial discrimination.

The lawsuit was filed in May by three passengers who were among eight Black men that were removed from a flight in January. The men were all strangers and were not seated near one another, they say.

"We are holding those involved accountable, including removing team members from service," the airline said in a statement to the BBC and AP News.

CEO Robert Isom condemned the January incident in a letter to employees on Tuesday, June 18, adding that they would be taking steps to prevent discrimination.

"I am incredibly disappointed by what happened on that flight and the breakdown of our procedures," Isom wrote. "We fell short of our commitments and failed our customers in this incident."

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

CBS Mornings Alvin Jackson, Emmanuel Jean Joseph and Xavier Veal

Related: Black Flight Attendant Unknowingly Has Moving Discussion About Race With White Airline CEO

The CEO announced the company would be having an advisory group to focus on improving Black passengers experiences and encourage the reporting of discrimination incidents.

American Airlines will provide employee training, create a long-term diversity plan and review operational manuals.

"Be assured that we are steadfast in our commitment to working with the NAACP and other civil rights organizations to learn from this incident, listen to and rebuild trust with you, our team members, and our Black customers, and to delivering the best possible experience with American," the letter read.

On January 5, eight Black men were ordered off an American Airlines plane because of a complaint about body odor," the suit states.

Related: Eric Andre Says He Was Racially Profiled, Searched by Police at Atlanta Airport: 'This Is Racism'

In court documents obtained by PEOPLE, three of those men  plaintiffs Alvin Jackson, Emmanuel Jean Joseph, and Xavier Veal  claimed American Airlines engaged in blatant and egregious race discrimination.

In fact, it appeared to Plaintiffs that American had ordered all of the Black male passengers on Flight 832 off the plane, the complaint read.

We take all claims of discrimination very seriously and want our customers to have a positive experience when they choose to fly with us, American Airlines told PEOPLE at the time.Our teams are currently investigating the matter, as the claims do not reflect our core values or our purpose of caring for people.

The lawsuit also accused the airline of having a documented history of frequently subjecting Black passengers (and other passengers of color) to differential treatment and bigotry, referencing a 2017 NAACP travel advisory against the airline, which was lifted in 2018.



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American arrested in Turks and Caicos over ammo in bag is sentenced

A third American who was arrested in the Turks and Caicos Islands in recent months for possessing ammunition was given a suspended sentence of 13 weeks in prison and a $2,000 fine Friday, his spokesperson said on social media.

Ryan Watson of Oklahoma had pleaded guilty and faced a potential prison sentence over four rounds of ammunition that were found in his carry-on bag when he and his wife visited the British territory earlier this year.

Watson has been out on bail for weeks as his case moved through the islands' legal system, but he wasn't allowed to return to his wife, Valerie Watson, and their two children in the U.S. until his case was resolved.

Watson immediately flew back to the U.S., arriving at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City late Friday night, where he was met by a large group of family and friends, along with Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and Sen. James Lankford.

"It was a huge weight that was lifted," a relieved Watson told reporters upon his arrival. "We've still got to get Sharitta home, she's my adopted sister now...I won't be able to rest completely until she's home," he said of Sharitta Grier, a Florida woman whose case on similar charges is still pending on the islands.

"I'm just glad cooler heads prevailed, and they realized these mistakes happen, and the punishment does not fit the crime," Stitt said.

According to spokesperson Jonathan Franks, the judge found that the case had exceptional circumstances and that the lengthy sentence would be arbitrary.

"We will make payment shortly, depart TCI and anticipate being home in OKC tonight," Franks tweeted Friday prior to Watson's departure from Turks and Caicos.

The Watsons also spoke to reporters immediately after the sentencing hearing.

"I'm feeling great," Ryan Watson said prior to his departure from the islands. But he acknowledged, "It was nerve-wracking ... knowing that the prosecution was pursuing a 12-year sentence and that they didn't think there was exceptional circumstances. But I feel extremely blessed that the judge took a holistic approach, and I'm going to pay this fine and go home and see those kids."

"We just feel so blessed that Oklahoma has stepped up in the way that they have and surrounded us, and the entire United States," he added. "...There's been so many people that have been a blessing to us."

Valerie Watson described it as "the biggest feeling of relief  that moment I've been waiting for for a really long time."

Ryan Watson after his sentencing hearing in Turks and Caicos on June 21, 2024.

Watson was arrested on April 12 when four rounds of hunting ammunition were found in his carry-on luggage as the couple were trying to head home from a vacation. Valerie Watson was allowed to return to the U.S. and didn't face any charges.

Ryan Watson told CBS News in April that he regretted the ordeal and didn't intend to break any of the islands' laws.

"There was zero intent behind this and this was 100% a mistake and an accident," he said.

Two other Americans who were arrested under similar circumstances were sentenced last month. Bryan Hagerich of Pennsylvania received a suspended sentence and a $6,700 fine for possessing 20 rifle rounds that were found in his checked bag on a family vacation. Tyler Wenrich of Virginia was sentenced to time served and a $9,000 fine over two 9 mm rounds that were found in his backpack as he was trying to board a cruise ship. Both men have returned to the U.S.

Hagerich and Wenrich faced potential mandatory minimum sentences of 12 years in prison, but the courts found that there were exceptional circumstances in their cases, which resulted in lighter punishments for the Americans.

Amid calls from members of the U.S. Congress to show leniency to the Americans, island lawmakers have reconsidered the mandatory minimum sentence for firearms offenses. According to local news outlet The Sun, the House of Assembly voted on June 14 to approve an amendment allowing judges more discretion in sentencing when they find there are exceptional circumstances.

Grier was arrested in May after two bullets were allegedly found in her carry-on bag when she was going home from a surprise Mother's Day vacation.

A fifth American, Michael Lee Evans of Texas, was allowed to return to the U.S. for medical reasons while he is out on bail.

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An EF1 tornado Tuesday, April 2, 2024, damaged several homes in the Boulder Creek subdivision in Jeffersonville, Ind. The National Weather Service said five tornadoes hit the region; the one in Jeffersonville had winds of 100 mph. April 3, 2024

The American Bar Association is offering free legal help to Kentucky storm survivors impacted by a series of tornadoes and straight-line winds on April 2.

According to a news release from the Bar Association, those in Boyd, Carter, Fayette, Greenup, Henry, Jefferson, Jessamine, Mason, Oldham, Union and Whitley counties impacted by the April storms who can't afford an attorney can get a variety of free legal services through the Disaster Legal Services program.

Kentucky Storms Is a tornado watch or warning worse? Differences between EF-1, EF-2 tornadoes

Legal support can range from discussing FEMA and SBA benefits to redoing wills or other important documents lost in the incident to evaluating home repair contracts or property insurance claims. Those in need of support can call 859-993-0300 from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Survivors of the KY April 2 storms are now eligible to apply for a low-interest SBA loan when they apply for FEMA assistance.



For more information: https://t.co/O0ntOaxzi9 pic.twitter.com/zfZFg2w7L4  FEMA Region 4 (@femaregion4) June 14, 2024

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: American Bar Association offers free legal help to Kentucky storm survivors
This American was fined $500 per bullet he accidentally took on Turks and Caicos vacation

One of several Americans recently charged with having ammunition in Turks and Caicos is expected to go home after a court issued a suspended sentence and fined him $2,000.

Ryan Tyler Watson of Oklahoma pleaded guilty last month to possessing four rounds of ammunition, a spokesperson for the government of Turks and Caicos said. He had been released on bail and ordered to stay on the islands while awaiting this sentence.

On Friday, Watson received a 13-week suspended sentence and a $2,000 fine  $500 per bullet, a spokesperson for the Turks and Caicos Islands Supreme Court told CNN on Friday.

Watson will not need to serve the 13-week sentence as long as he doesnt commit any crimes and keeps the peace in the TCI within 9 months, the court spokesperson said. Watson is now allowed to leave  as hes now cleared with the justice in the TCI.

Watson is expected to return to Oklahoma City by Friday night, according to Jonathan Franks, a spokesperson for Bring Our Families Home.

We will make payment shortly, depart TCI and anticipate being home in OKC tonight, Franks posted on X from the courthouse.

Watson was visiting Turks and Caicos with his wife in April to celebrate several friends 40th birthdays. But bringing firearms or ammunition into Turks and Caicos without prior permission from police is strictly forbidden.

The British Overseas Territory doesnt manufacture guns or ammunition, yet the number of firearms making their way to the islands has increased, Turks and Caicos Premier C. Washington Misick said in May. By contrast, the United States has more guns than people.

In the Turks and Caicos Islands, the law stands firm and applies to everyone equally, without exception, Misick said in a statement last month.

Turks and Caicos recently revised part of its firearms law after a bipartisan group of US Congress members traveled to the islands southeast of the Bahamas and asked officials to drop charges against five Americans whom they said inadvertently had ammunition in their luggage.

The new amendment clarifies when sentencing for firearms-related offenses, courts have the discretion to impose either a fine, a custodial sentence, or a mixture of both in exceptional circumstances.

Previously, the law required courts to impose both a fine and a prison sentence of 12 years  though it allowed reduced sentences under exceptional circumstances.

Watson is the first of those five Americans to be sentenced under the amended firearms law, which went into effect Wednesday.

Whats happened to the other Americans

At least four other Americans have recently been arrested in Turks and Caicos on charges of having ammunition.

Bryan Hagerich is back in the United States after receiving a suspended 52-week sentence and a $6,700 fine. Hagerich was allowed to leave the territory and return to the US after he paid the fine, his attorney Oliver Smith said.

Tyler Wenrich pleaded guilty and was sentenced to time served and issued a $9,000 fine, according to court records.

Michael Lee Evans pleaded guilty to possession of seven 9 mm rounds of ammunition, and was scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday  though it is unclear based on court records if the sentencing happened. CNN has reached out to his attorney for more information.

And Sharitta Shinese Grier is expected to plead guilty in court next Tuesday, her attorney Sheena C. Mairto told CNN.

The Florida mother said she had no idea two rounds of ammunition were at the bottom of her luggage when she traveled to Turks and Caicos, according to CNN affiliate WFTV.

Grier was released on bail but cant leave the islands until her case ends, the affiliate reported. She was also ordered to report to a police station weekly.

CNNs Michael Rios, Michelle Watson, Alisha Ebrahimji and Sahar Akbarzai contributed to this report.

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JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Regular puffs of smoke from missile intercepts over northern Israel and fires from air strikes in southern Lebanon are outward signs of a fear that the Gaza war may be expanding into a wider conflict, which analysts say poses risks for both sides.

The stark threats on Wednesday from Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the head of Hezbollah, that nowhere in Israel would be safe in the event of a war, and that even Cyprus and other parts of the Mediterranean would be in danger was the latest salvo in a rhetorical barrage from both sides.

Hezbollah has been firing rockets at Israel in solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas since the Gaza war erupted in October, forcing tens of thousands to flee homes in Israel, where political pressure is building for tougher action.

Tens of thousands of Lebanese have also fled their homes following Israeli strikes in south Lebanon.

Concerned at the risk of a slide into a war that could spread across the region, U.S. President Joe Biden sent his special envoy Amos Hochstein to embark on a new round of diplomacy this week and Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Israeli officials to avoid further escalation.

On Thursday, Israeli jets hit targets in southern Lebanon and killed a Hezbollah fighter it identified as a commander of the group's operations in the Jouaiyya area. Hezbollah acknowledged his killing but did not identify him as a commander. After a brief pause over the Eid holiday, Hezbollah fired dozens of missiles into Israel.

"None of the options is good but the big question is, how much can Israel suffer under this attack?" said Orna Mizrahi, a former official in Israel's National Security Council. "I think most of the government don't really want to get into a war, but it's possible that we are getting there."

In Lebanon, Nasrallah's comments left many bracing for a wider war. But some diplomats and analysts said his threats were an attempt to match the escalating rhetoric from Israel.

"To me, now this is part of a deterrent strategy," said Hubert Faustmann, political analyst and professor of history and international relations at the University of Nicosia.

"There is a high danger of Israel escalating the confrontation with Hezbollah and an all-out, full-scale war, which I don't think Hezbollah wants," Faustmann added, saying Hezbollah was demonstrating what it "could do" if that were to happen.

Hezbollah has indicated it is not seeking a wider conflict, even as it has steadily drawn on more potent weaponry.

While Israel has the most powerful army in the Middle East, Hezbollah has thousands of fighters, many with experience in the Syrian civil war, and an arsenal of tens of thousands of missiles capable of hitting cities all over Israel.

It also has a large fleet of drones, one of which appears to have carried out an extended flight over the port city of Haifa this week, underlining the potential threat to key economic infrastructure including power systems.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Israel would "turn Beirut into Gaza" in the event of a war. But a wider escalation could also overwhelm Israel's famed Iron dome missile defence system that has so far intercepted most of the hundreds of missiles fired by Hezbollah.

"My sense is that Hezbollah feels it has some leverage over the Israelis, because an escalating war - as much damage as it might do in Lebanon and Syria - would create terror in Israel," said Seth G. Jones, an analyst at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. "It would be a tall order for Israeli air defences to confront the widespread rocket arsenal coming from the north. It would be a huge problem."

OPERATIONAL ORDERS

For weeks, Israeli commanders have been holding training exercises and assessments in preparation for what the military called "a reality where we will have to fight on a different scale in the north."

Fighting in Gaza, the main theatre of war since the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, has continued, and Israeli officials have assessed that the end of the main phase of fighting is weeks away.

Many units need rest and refitting after intense combat in Gaza, but this week, the army's northern command said it had approved operational plans for an offensive in Lebanon.

Energy Minister Eli Cohen said on Thursday the military was working with energy authorities to ensure that Israel's strategic electricity infrastructure was protected and said that Israel would retaliate strongly to any strike against it.

Lebanon's power infrastructure is already crippled, a result of decades of poor government and conflicts, including with Israel.

Israel has had a bruising experience in Lebanon in the past. After its forces invaded in 1982, they were stuck holding a buffer zone for nearly two decades after a war which saw the birth of Hezbollah. A second war in 2006, started after Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers, left the Iranian-backed movement in place miles beyond the U.N.-agreed ceasefire line on the Litani river and steadily strengthening.

But the political pressure on Netanyahu has swelled as summer begins, with no indication of when life will return to normal more than eight months after the beginning of the conflict.

Dozens of Israeli towns are deserted, with around 60,000 people evacuated to temporary accommodation, leaving empty streets with the occasional building scarred by rocket fire. Some 90,000 have also fled from southern Lebanon.

Sarit Zehavi, a former Israeli military intelligence official who runs a think tank that specialises on Israel's northern border said that after the trauma for Israel of Oct. 7, few of those who have left their homes would be ready to return while Hezbollah remained entrenched over the border.

"For 17 years, we did nothing against the threat and now dealing with it will cost a very high price."

(Additional reporting by Tom Perry and Maya Gebeily in Beirut and Michele Kambas in Nicosia; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
(BCN)  San Franciscos Joint Zoo Committee meeting planned to discuss business as usual on Thursday but animal activists concerned about the San Francisco Zoos alleged safety hazards for its animals and employees put pressure on the committee to make changes.

Conditions are so bad that zookeepers are willing to risk their careers to raise awareness on the zoos condition, said Justin Barker, founder of SF Zoo Watch, an organization that aims to bring the zoos alleged negligence of animals and workers to light.

We have major issues at the San Francisco Zoo that must be addressed. Its urgent because its not just an animal welfare concern, its a safety concern for staff and the public, Barker said.

Activists who have spoken out said that many facilities and enclosures at the zoo are crumbling and require renovation. This outdated infrastructure poses risks for animals and staff, said Fleur Dawes, communications director for In Defense of Animals, an animal rescue and protection organization.

Following a San Francisco Chronicle publishing of an article containing troubling allegations involving the zoo, an independent investigation was launched five weeks ago and is still underway, said Corey Hallman, a representative of the zoos 95-member labor union, Teamsters Local Union 856.

The Joint Zoo Committee maintained that the zoos accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is an esteemed indication of its commitment to ensuring proper care of animals and upkeep of its facilities. Zoos can receive AZA accreditation after thorough evaluation by experts in the field who determine that the zoos operations meet established standards.

The Joint Zoo Committee consists of three members of the San Francisco Zoological Societys board of directors and three members of the citys Recreation and Park Commission who meet to discuss and hear public comment regarding major policies affecting the zoo.

The last time the committee met was two months ago, the day after the Chronicle article came out, said Larry Mazzola, a member of the citys Recreation and Park Commission.

The zoological society has hired a lawyer and its an ongoing investigation into the issues the employees have raised, Mazzola said.

Tanya Peterson, the zoos CEO and executive director, planned to be present at Thursdays meeting. However, she did not show up because her lawyers advised her not to come until the investigation is done, Mazzola said.

These allegations bother me, Mazzola said. At some point we will get to the bottom of this.

The rise in outspoken uncertainty about the zoos ability to provide sufficient care and a safe environment for its animals and zookeepers was also sparked by Mayor London Breeds plan to host two giant pandas from China at the zoo. A petition to stop the mayors panda project has over 11,000 signatures.

Some members of animal welfare organizations believe that major change is needed at the top of San Francisco government if they would like to see any difference made at the zoo.

I think that the best hope for stopping not only the panda plan but also creating real change at the San Francisco Zoo is Aaron Peskin, Barker said. For years hes had strong opinions about the citys contract with the zoo.

The effort to bring pandas to the zoo has been spearheaded by Breed. But not everyone on the Board of Supervisors has expressed strong interest in her plan during board meetings.

Peskin was one of two supervisors who voted no to Breeds request to seek funding for her panda project using private donations during the boards meeting on June 11. Peskin is running against Breed for mayor ahead of Novembers election.

Animal advocates want to see the zoo make significant changes before they bring in more animals, let alone panda,s which require exceptional care due to their hypersensitivity, Dawes said.

My mother used to say, You cant have anymore guests over until you clean up the mess,' said Oscar Allen, a representative of animal advocacy group Direct Action Everywhere.

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The Scene

In four days, Democratic voters will settle the most expensive House primary in American history, capping off a long season of brutal fights over Israel. Most of the money  $14.5 million and counting  has flowed from the pro-Israel group AIPAC, which has spent across the country against Democratic critics of the war in Gaza.

The group has spent less than $400,000 against Republicans, all of it targeting Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, a longtime opponent of foreign aid. The reason theyre mad at me, Massie told Semafor, is that Mike Johnson keeps bringing votes on Israel to the floor to try to catch the Democrats in what I call sticky traps. His own votes stood out, he said, because no other Republican was applying the partys Trump-era skepticism of foreign entanglements and spending to Israel.

Nine months after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, support for the war has been slipping. But calls for ceasefires and conditions on US aid have been concentrated among Democrats. Republicans, and the most powerful conservative groups, have largely spoken with one voice while shoving a relatively small minority of dissenting voices to the side with little incident.

The vast majority of Republicans are resolutely pro-Israel, said Turning Point Action founder Charlie Kirk, in an interview at the groups peoples convention in Detroit last week.

Nick Fuentes, an antisemitic influencer, was turned away from the conference, dubbing it Israel-occupied territory. Kirk had already been confronted by young anti-Israel activists on the right for years, and surmised that they were getting no traction in his party.

The only objections you might hear on the right is about the amount of money being spent, or whether there should be strings attached, Kirk said. You do not hear anywhere in the conservative base that we should not support Israel in their war against Hamas. We will disagree on how that support should look, but not on who is in the right.

Republican presidents were tougher on Israel in the past; even George W. Bushs administration clashed with its leaders at times over its push for a two-state solution. But since 9/11 and the Second Intifada, the conservative consensus has consistently moved in one direction  toward strong, full-throated support for Israel as its standard position.

One Israel critic who did make it into the conference, wearing a T-shirt that read from the river to the sea, Palestine shall be free, kept stopping to have conversations with conservative activists about how this was the true America First position. Every time I saw him, he was outnumbered, firmly being told that Palestinians had no right to the land God granted to the Jews.

Commentators on the right with more critical views, like Massies, have found little pick-up in the broader movement. The post-Fox Tucker Carlson has accused some Israel-focused conservatives of being focused on a conflict in a foreign country as their own country becomes dangerously unstable. That has not become the popular view on the right.

Israel is like abortion for the left: A unifying issue that has major fundraising potential for the right while also simultaneously splitting opponents, said Saagar Enjeti, the right-leaning co-host of the Breaking Points podcast, who got blowback for the comments Carlson made in their interview. Even those who may not agree with Israel 100% stay silent because watching opponents tear each other apart is more politically advantageous.

Donald Trump, who has immense power to shape the Republican conversation, has largely stayed out of this one. He criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for being taken by surprise on Oct. 7, but never detailed what hed do now. On an episode of the All-In podcast this week, when asked about the right path to end the war, Trump said it would have never happened on his watch, insisting that his pressure on Iran would have starved Hamas of resources.

Davids view

On paper, theres room for Israel critics to make inroads with the Republican Party. Twenty years ago, neocon was a slur used by liberals with dark connotations that Republicans defended their party against; in the Trump GOP, its a name for the war hawks who MAGA kicked out of the party. Some of Trumps more populist supporters like to argue that hell keep the US at arms length from foreign conflicts.

The party also includes plenty of rank-and-file voters who want to stop funding Israels war  one in three Republicans, according to a Fox News poll this week. Its a fair subject for the newer media (podcasts, Twitter, TikTok) that are popular with the younger, skeptical, anti-politics members of the Trump coalition who are more receptive to anti-war pitches that sometimes overlap with the anti-Biden left.

But the movement has gotten no serious traction inside the GOP. One reason: Good, old-fashioned negative polarization. The Israel question divides Democrats, not Republicans, and the sort of pro-Israel resolutions regularly passed by the GOP House  like defining antisemitism as anti-Zionism  have become renewable sources of left/liberal infighting.

There hasnt been perfect unity: Some Republicans opposed a bill to expand the definition of antisemitism on campus, arguing it was too broadly worded; some conservatives also waged an unsuccessful fight to offset Israel aid with domestic cuts elsewhere. But none of these debates have really cut to the question of whether Israels war is just, whether the US should play hardball to end it, or the status of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. When Netanyahu comes to Washington next month, hes expected to receive an extremely warm welcome from Republican members  and protests and snubs from many Democrats.

The anti-war movement is overwhelmingly organized by left-wing activists that Republicans already dislike, especially on campus. Trumps spoken in far more detail about the protests (raging lunatics and Hamas sympathizers) than he has about an end to the war; Kirk said that the situation on campus was a volcano waiting to erupt, exposing all of the beliefs about settler colonialism that he already knew about, and voters would be repulsed by.

Israel is our ally, she needs to be defended, Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford told activists at the Faith & Freedom Coalitions annual conference in D.C., on Friday. It needed to be defended, in particular, from activists [who] scream from the river to the sea and call for the annihilation of the Jewish people.

That disgust has strengthened the already-robust Republican support for Israel, which has long united both religious conservatives and national security hawks. The anti-Jewish activists who tried to talk their way into Kirks convention were immediately booted; no one inside the event could hear Fuentes as he accused Miriam Adelson, a major Trump donor, of buying off the GOP and making it put Israel first.

Candace Owens and Alex Jones, who have both criticized Israel on their usual media platforms, said nothing about it at the conference. In March, Owens left a prominent perch at The Daily Wire amid an ugly public fight with co-founder Ben Shapiro over Israel. Shapiro had earlier called Owens commentary, which had veered into remarks that were widely condemned as antisemitic while discussing Israel, disgraceful.

The Owens affair points to a related issue: To the extent theres been a debate over Israel within the right, it overlaps significantly with a separate internal fight over whether to purge fringe activists who have expressed antisemitic or white nationalist views. A study of voter opinion by political scientist Michael Tesler found opposition to Israel aid within the GOP was heavily concentrated among voters who also view Jewish people unfavorably. This isnt to say opposition to Israel policy on the right is inherently antisemitic or confined to antisemites, but people who buck the overwhelming default position among conservative activists tend to have a strong reason for disagreeing.

The View From THE REPUBLICAN JEWISH COALITION

A few years ago, any candidate  Republican or Democrat  could get on stage and say, I stand with Israel, and it was an automatic applause line, said Sam Markstein, Republican Jewish Coalition national political director. These days, if you did that as a Democrat, youd be booed. Markstein predicted that his party wouldnt budge: Republicans know Israel must be given the time, space, and support it needs to win this war of good versus evil  Democrats, unfortunately, have totally lost the plot.

Notable

In the Forward, Jacob Kornbluh sketches out the questions that CNNs moderators should ask the candidates about Israel, like What measures would a Trump administration undertake to bring this war to an end?

In the Washington Free Beacon, Adam Kredo reports on Republican efforts to speed up military aid to Israel: Youre playing politics with the nations honor and our allys security, Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton wrote in a letter to the administration.
Antiquities returning to Mexico include Mayan vase sold for $4 in US store

Mexico to welcome home antiquities found in US, including Maya vase found in thrift store

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The Mexican government will welcome back 20 cultural artifacts that date to the country's storied ancient past, all found in the United States including a Mayan vase over 1,000 years old and purchased for about $4 at a Washington area thrift shop.

Mexico's antiquities institute INAH announced the repatriation, which also include centuries-old plates, bowls as well as sculpted figures belonging to the Aztec, Totonac and Teotihuacan cultures, in a statement on Thursday.

The artifacts are set to be returned to Mexico over the next few days.

The reddish-white Mayan vase has stoked particular interest.

According to a Washington D.C. television news report on Monday, local resident Anna Lee Dozier bought the Mayan vase for $3.99 from a clearance rack at a nearby thrift store about five years ago.

Likely made during the Maya civilization's classical zenith between 200-800 A.D., according to INAH, the well-preserved vase is a colorful polychrome vessel painted with ornate glyphs and depicting seated figures in profile gesturing with their hands.

Major Mayan cities grew in prominence beginning some 3,000 years ago across a large swathe of present-day southern Mexico and several Central American nations, during a time of major human achievements in math, astronomy and art.

Earlier this year, following a trip to Mexico City, Dozier notified Mexico's U.S. embassy that she might have a real artifact, instead of the rustic replica she initially thought she had purchased.

Dozier later turned over the vase to Mexican officials in Washington, telling the local television station she believed the historical piece should return to its country of origin.

She also expressed relief that the ancient artifact was no longer at risk at her home from her two young boys.

"I was petrified that after two thousand years I would be the one to wreck it!"

(Reporting by David Alire Garcia; Editing by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez and Christian Schmollinger)
The Wichita school board likely wont decide whether to take a bond issue proposal to the voters until August, Superintendent Kelly Bielefeld said Thursday.

At a facilities master plan workshop, the boards three conservative members expressed misgivings about consultants $450 million bond issue recommendation, saying theyre not ready to commit to asking voters to support that or any major construction plan.

Getting a bond issue question on the ballot would require the approval of a majority of the school boards seven members.

I think the plan is great. I just dont think its affordable right now, Kathy Bond said of the recommendation, which calls for the district to completely rebuild eight schools, construct two new buildings and reduce its overall footprint by 11 buildings through consolidation of programs over the next five years.

I think the timing is off, Bond said. I think if we can begin to do some of this plan without asking the community for a bond right now  because you say, Well, its not going to raise taxes. Actually it will. Youre actually asking the community to extend the 2008 bond issue right now.

The elevated mill levy rate associated with the 2008 bond issue is set to expire in 2029. That same rate would be renewed, likely for another 20 years, if voters supported a so-called zero tax increase bond issue. $450 million is the most the district could collect without raising the existing mill levy.

Without the new bond issue, tax rates would drop after 2029.

While I like the plan, I do wonder if theres ways to scale it back to meet the taxpayers needs and be fiscally responsible in that, Vice President Diane Albert said.

Luke Newman, the school districts director of facilities, said without a bond issue, the districts $1.2 billion in deferred maintenance needs will balloon to an estimated $3.59 billion by 2033.

No part of this plan is possible without a bond. We just dont have the capital money to do any part of it, Newman told board members. All of our capital goes to addressing deferred maintenance needs like the structural issues and things that were dealing with currently.

He said whether or not a bond issue is passed, the district will have to consolidate schools in the coming years to offset declining enrollment and phase out buildings that arent worth maintaining.

Julie Hedrick, who served as district facilities director before being elected to the school board, said the state funding model is not designed to support building upkeep.

Our Kansas school finance formula is not set up to keep up or tackle our deferred maintenance issues. No matter how efficient we are, no matter how budget-conscious we are, there is not the funding available to Kansas schools to keep up with all of the maintenance and school improvement needs, Hedrick said.

Alternate funding source?

Bond asked if rather than taking a bond issue to voters, district staff could instead focus on applying for grants to pay for capital projects. Bielefeld said staff routinely apply for grants but that funding $450 million of infrastructure upgrades that way would be impossible.

I think if the community sees us trying to find resources elsewhere first before coming to them, they might be inclined to vote for it, Bond said.

She suggested that USD 259 could refrain from pushing a bond issue by asking everyone in Wichita to give money voluntarily.

If 300,000 people gave $5, that would get it over, and we wouldnt even need to ask for a bond issue, Bond said.

Well no, 300,000 times five isnt $450 million, Bielefeld responded.

If all 396,192 Wichita residents contributed $5, that would amount to just under $2 million.

But we can get there somehow, Bond said. If somebody could give like a one-time donation of  Im just kicking things out so it doesnt have to go to a bond issue. Im just thinking outside of the box. Ill think of anything to prevent a bond, even if its silly.

Community survey

Hedrick said she doesnt see a viable path forward without a bond issue.

The needs are sizable. The monies are limited, Hedrick said. We are at a point right now that the board could approve taking a bond to the voters and not have to increase the mill levy.

I think weve heard that maybe we might want to do some minor tweaks, but some sort of plan in order to find the efficiencies we need to provide the learning environments that we want to provide for our students.

Hazel Stabler, who was elected on a conservative ticket with Bond and Albert in 2021, said the board should take its time evaluating the facilities master plan recommendations before seeking funding.

It took our consultants, I think it was eight months to prepare this recommendation for us. And I hope as a board that we dont rush our decision to vote to accept this, Stabler said. I think that we need some time to be able to really evaluate how we can actually tweak this.

Consultants with Woolpert will present the results of a community survey seeking input on the facilities master plan at next Thursdays board meeting, which is scheduled for noon at the Alvin E. Morris Administrative Center on south Edgemoor.

Bielefeld said over the summer, board members will determine how they want to proceed with the facilities recommendation and potential bond proposal.

If we do want something smaller, the real decision is what does that mean? What comes out? So thats what July would be is priorities, Bielefeld said.

August is probably our goal for an actual vote.

The deadline to get a question on the November ballot in Sedgwick County is Sept. 2. Hedrick said shes not worried about whether or not the board can settle on a proposal before then.

Im not in a hurry. I do want to respect the concerns of all my fellow board members.

Is zero tax increase possible with proposed Wichita school bond issue? Heres what we know

Heres how a possible $450 million bond issue could reshape Wichita school district
FILE - Mark Moorman bids on cattle during an auction in Brush, Colo., on Jan. 11, 2024. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., left her competitive 3rd District race to compete instead in the safer Republican 4th District, which encompasses Brush, for the Tuesday, June 25, state primary. Since her election in 2020, Boebert has become a polarizing figure for her combative style and penchant for controversy, but likely improved her chances at reelection with the move to a district that former President Donald Trump carried twice. (AP Photo/Thomas Peipert, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  Colorados congressional delegation faces a reshuffling in Tuesdays state primaries after a retirement, a resignation and a relocation have ensured that at least a third of the states population will have new representation in Washington next year.

Tuesdays primaries will also lay the groundwork for a general election in which two competitive Colorado districts could help determine control of the narrowly divided U.S. House in November.

In the 3rd Congressional District, two-term Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert faced a tough rematch with Democrat Adam Frisch, who came within 546 votes of toppling the congresswoman in 2022. However, when fellow Republican Ken Buck decided in 2023 not to seek a sixth term in the neighboring 4th Congressional District, Boebert opted instead to head east and run for Bucks open seat, where Republicans enjoy a bigger electoral advantage.

She now faces a crowded Republican primary field that includes state Reps. Mike Lynch and Richard Holtorf, conservative activist and talk radio host Deborah Flora, Logan County Commissioner and former state Senate President Pro Tempore Jerry Sonnenberg and banking executive Peter Yu. Running for the Democratic nomination are speechwriter Trisha Calvarese, Marine Corps veteran Ike McCorkle and engineer John Padora.

Buck resigned from his seat in March, triggering a special general election to serve out the remaining six months of his term. The race appears on the ballot alongside the regularly scheduled primaries for the full term.

Several of the candidates vying for the full-term seat also sought the Republican nomination to fill Bucks vacancy, but a state Republican Party committee nominated former Parker Mayor Greg Lopez, who is not running for a full term. He will face Democrat Calvarese and two third-party candidates.

Since her election in 2020, Boebert has become a polarizing figure for her combative style and penchant for controversy. The past year has been particularly chaotic for Boeberts personal life, with a messy divorce, the arrest of her son in a series of break-ins and thefts, a health scare requiring surgery for a blood clot and her highly publicized ejection from a Denver theater for causing a disturbance.

Despite the controversies, Boebert likely improved her chances at reelection with the move to a district that former President Donald Trump carried twice with almost 60% of the vote. She leads the field in fundraising and has the backing of Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson and the state party.

Back in Boeberts former district, Frisch is unopposed for the Democratic nomination. He will face the winner of a crowded Republican primary field, which includes former state Rep. Ron Hanks, the state partys preferred candidate. Although Frisch came close to beating Boebert in 2022, the district still leans Republican. Voters there gave Trump 53% of the vote in 2016 and 2020.

Colorados most competitive U.S. House race this fall will likely be in the 8th Congressional District, where first-term U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo is unopposed in the Democratic primary. Her Republican opponent will be either state Rep. Gabe Evans or former state Rep. Janak Joshi. Evans is an Army veteran and former police officer, while Joshi is a retired physician and has the state partys endorsement.

Caraveo won her seat in 2022 with just 48% of the vote in this new district near Denver, Boulder and Fort Collins. Trump received 46% of the vote in the area in the last two presidential elections, enough to outperform Hillary Clinton in 2016 but about 4 percentage points shy of Joe Biden in 2020.

In the 5th Congressional District, Republican U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborns upcoming retirement after nine terms has created an opening for this Republican-friendly seat anchored by Colorado Springs. Political consultant and talk radio host Jeff Crank and state party chairman Dave Williams are running for the Republican nomination. Williams has Trumps endorsement as well as that of the state party he runs.

Some Republicans including Crank have criticized Williams for using the state party apparatus to promote his own congressional aspirations. The Democratic nominee will be either River Gassen or Joe Reagan. Trump received 53% of the Districts vote in 2020 and 56% in 2016. Lamborn received 56% in his 2022 reelection.

Farther down the ballot are contested primaries for state Senate and state House. About half of the states 35 state Senate seats and all 65 state House seats are up for election this year. Democrats enjoy about a 2-to-1 majority in both chambers.

Heres a look at what to expect on Tuesday:

PRIMARY DAY

The Colorado state primary will be held Tuesday. Polls close at 9 p.m. ET.

WHATS ON THE BALLOT

The Associated Press will provide vote results and declare winners in 35 contests, including six contested primaries for the U.S. House, seven for the state Senate, 18 for the state House, two state boards of education, one for the University of Colorado Board of Regents and one special general election for the 4th Congressional District.

WHO GETS TO VOTE

Registered party members may vote only in their own partys primary. In other words, Democrats cant vote in the Republican primary or vice versa. Independent or unaffiliated voters may participate in any partys primary.

DECISION NOTES

By running for a different seat, Boebert exchanged Colorados sprawling westernmost district for its sprawling easternmost district. In the 3rd District, the most influential counties in elections are Republican-friendly Mesa to the west, which includes Grand Junction, and Democratic-friendly Pueblo to the east. The candidate who carries both counties, as Boebert did in the 2020 primary when she unseated incumbent GOP Rep. Scott Tipton, would be difficult to defeat.

In Boeberts new 4th District, the key county to win is Douglas, nestled between Denver and Colorado Springs. Douglas has by far the largest population in the district, casting more than half of the votes in Bucks 2022 reelection. A candidate trailing in Douglas would need overwhelming margins in the rest of the District to eke out a win. Douglas votes less Republican than the rest of the District, giving Trump about 52% of its vote in 2020, compared to about 60% to nearly 90% in other counties.

The AP does not make projections and will declare a winner only when its determined there is no scenario that would allow the trailing candidates to close the gap. If a race has not been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear that it has not yet declared a winner and explain why.

Colorado allows for automatic recounts in races where the vote margin is 0.5% or less of the leaders vote total. The AP may declare a winner in a race that is eligible for a recount if it can determine the lead is too large for a recount or legal challenge to change the outcome.

WHAT DO TURNOUT AND ADVANCE VOTE LOOK LIKE?

As of June 1, there were nearly 4.5 million registered voters in Colorado. Of those, 26% were Democrats, 23% were Republicans and about half were unaffiliated or independent.

In the 2022 primaries, turnout was 12% of registered voters in the Democratic primaries and 15% in the Republican primaries. Colorado conducts its elections predominantly by mail.

As of Tuesday, a total of 449,721 ballots had already been cast, about 42% in the Democratic primary and 41% in the Republican primary. A total of 75,516 votes have already been cast in the 4th Congressional District special election.

HOW LONG DOES VOTE COUNTING USUALLY TAKE?

In the 2022 primaries, the AP first reported results at 9:04 p.m. ET, or four minutes after polls closed. The election night tabulation ended at 4:05 a.m. ET with about 90% of total votes counted.

ARE WE THERE YET?

As of Tuesday, there will be 133 days until the November general election.
The South Carolina flag flies outside city hall in North Charleston, S.C., Aug. 12, 2011. The state will hold runoff elections on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, to decide a handful of races where no candidate received a vote majority in the primary held just two weeks earlier. (AP Photo/Bruce Smith, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  South Carolina will hold runoff elections on Tuesday to decide a handful of races in which no candidate received a majority of the vote in the primary held just two weeks earlier.

In the 3rd Congressional District, a candidate backed by former President Donald Trump faces off against the preferred candidate of Republican Gov. Henry McMaster in a contest that will likely determine who will succeed retiring GOP U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan.

Voters in the June 11 primary winnowed the crowded Republican field down to pastor Mark Burns and nurse practitioner Sheri Biggs. Burns, an Army veteran, has Trumps endorsement and was the top vote-getter in the primary, with about 33% of the vote. Biggs is an officer with the Mississippi Air National Guard and placed second in the primary with about 29%.

Biggs has McMasters backing while also prominently featuring photos of herself with Trump on her campaign website. Biggs has far outraised Burns in individual campaign contributions for the cycle, but Burns had almost triple the campaign cash Biggs had available heading into the primary, thanks to $750,000 in loans the candidate secured from a Missouri-based bank. Burns also reports carrying an additional $100,000 in loans from a previous congressional run.

The winner will face Democratic nominee Byron Best, the manager of a paint store in Greenwood. Both Burns and Biggs would be heavily favored in November in the safe Republican district. Trump won the area with 68% of the vote in 2020 and 67% in 2016. Duncan ran unopposed in 2022.

Also on Tuesdays ballot are eight state Senate and four state House runoffs. All 170 state legislative seats are up for election in November. Republicans enjoy lopsided majorities in both chambers.

Heres a look at what to expect on Tuesday:

PRIMARY RUNOFF ELECTION DAY

South Carolinas primary runoff election will be held Tuesday. Polls close at 7 p.m. ET.

WHATS ON THE BALLOT

The Associated Press will provide vote results and declare winners in 13 runoff elections, including one U.S. House, eight state Senate and four state House contests.

WHO GETS TO VOTE

Registered voters may participate in a partisan primary runoff election if they voted in the same partys primary on June 11 or if they did not vote in the primary. In other words, Republican primary voters cant vote in a Democratic runoff or vice versa.

DECISION NOTES

The 3rd Congressional District covers part or all of 11 counties, of which Anderson and Pickens tend to contribute the most votes. Trump carried both counties in the presidential primary with 69% and 68% of the vote, respectively. In the competitive 2018 Republican primary for governor, McMaster narrowly lost to Pickens but won a plurality of the vote in Anderson. He also won five of the counties in the southern half of the district by double-digit margins.

The AP does not make projections and will declare a winner only when its determined there is no scenario that would allow the trailing candidates to close the gap. If a race has not been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear that it has not yet declared a winner and explain why.

In South Carolina, recounts are automatic if the margin between the winning and losing candidates is not more than 1% of the total vote. The AP may declare a winner in a race that is eligible for a recount if it can determine the lead is too large for a recount or legal challenge to change the outcome.

WHAT DO TURNOUT AND ADVANCE VOTE LOOK LIKE?

As of June 5, there were about 3.3 million registered voters in South Carolina. The state does not register voters by party.

In the June 11 primary, turnout was 14% of registered voters. About 32% of votes were cast before primary day, according to data from the South Carolina Election Commission.

State data also showed that, as of Friday, about 16,000 ballots had been cast before Tuesday's runoff, almost all of them through in-person early voting. Of the nearly 500 votes cast by mail, about 54% were in Democratic contests and 46% in Republican contests. The state has not provided a breakdown of in-person early voting by party.

HOW LONG DOES VOTE-COUNTING USUALLY TAKE?

In the June 11 primary, the AP first reported results at 7:18 p.m. ET, or 18 minutes after polls closed. The election night tabulation ended at 10:53 p.m. ET with 99.9% of total votes counted.

ARE WE THERE YET?

As of Tuesday, there will be 133 days until the November general election.

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Follow the AP's coverage of the 2024 election at https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024.
U.S. Rep. John Curtis, left, reacts to a statement made from Trent Staggs, right, during the Utah Senate primary debate for Republican contenders battling to win the seat of retiring U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney, Monday, June 10, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, Pool)

WASHINGTON (AP)  Anti-Trump Republicans lost their standard-bearer in the Senate when Sen. Mitt Romney announced he wouldnt seek a second term. On Tuesday, Utah voters will decide whether a similar brand of politics can still succeed in Republican primaries.

Even before Romney announced he wouldnt run again, former state House Speaker Brad Wilson had already formed an exploratory committee and Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs joined the primary. Both highlighted their support for former President Donald Trump. U.S. Rep. John Curtis has also entered the race and is widely seen as the candidate best positioned to win the crowded primary.

Primary voters in Utah will also choose candidates for governor, the U.S. House and state legislature.

Curtis leads in most of the public polling for the Senate race, but Staggs has the backing of Trump and the state Republican Party, after winning the most votes at the state convention. Wilson has a financial advantage, having loaned his campaign $3 million. Jason Walton, who's pitching himself as a businessman in the style of Trump, is also running.

Curtis has reiterated that he would vote for the Republican former president, but his primary opponents have criticized him for a lukewarm embrace of Trump. But while vying for Trumps support is key in red districts and states, Utah is different. The most conservative candidates, while embraced by the state party, are often snubbed by voters.

Winning a Utah nominating convention means that a candidates name will appear on the primary ballot, but candidates can also submit signatures to appear on the ballot. While the nominating convention traditionally rewards the most loyal members of the party, it doesnt have a strong record of selecting the eventual nominee. In 2018, Romney lost the state convention to state Sen. Mike Kennedy. In the primary, however, Romney defeated Kennedy by more than 40 percentage points.

Gov. Spencer Cox, who is running for another term, was booed at this years nominating convention. The state party endorsed Phil Lyman, who has supported Trumps false claims of election fraud in his 2020 presidential election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. However, while Cox may have been considered too moderate for the state delegates, he is still favored to win the primary on Tuesday.

An exception to that rule was Rep. Celeste Maloy, who won the primary for a special election last year after placing first at the nominating convention. That victory, which was an upset, turned the little-known congressional staffer into the front-runner for the nomination. In November, she was sworn into the House.

However, in her race for a full term this year, Maloy lost the nominating convention to Colby Jenkins, who has the backing of Sen. Mike Lee. Still, Maloy has a major fundraising advantage and an endorsement from Trump.

Trump has not endorsed a candidate in Curtis open seat in the 3rd Congressional District. Kennedy, who lost to Romney in 2018, won the state partys endorsement at the April convention. He faces state Auditor John Dougall, Roosevelt Mayor JR Bird, trampoline park empire owner Case Lawrence, and attorney Stewart Peay, who is backed by his wifes uncle, Romney.

Heres a look at what to expect on Tuesday:

PRIMARY DAY

The primary will be held on Tuesday. Polls close at 8 p.m. local time, or 10 p.m. ET.

WHATS ON THE BALLOT

The Associated Press will provide coverage for 34 elections, including primaries for governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, state attorney general, state auditor, state Senate, state House, and state Board of Education.

WHO GETS TO VOTE

In Utah, political parties choose what kind of primary to hold. For Tuesdays state primaries, the Democratic primary is open to all voters, while the Republican primary is open only to registered Republican voters.

DECISION NOTES

The 3rd Congressional District covers the eastern part of the state, stretching from Park Citys winter resorts, south to Provo and southeast to Moab. Kennedy represents a district in the state Senate thats based in Alpine, between Salt Lake City and Provo. Bird is running as the candidate who represents rural voters. He is mayor of Roosevelt, a town in Duchesne County in northeast Utah. Wilsons former state legislative district was in Davis County, northwest of Salt Lake City.

The AP does not make projections and will declare a winner only when its determined there is no scenario that would allow the trailing candidates to close the gap. If a race has not been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear that it has not yet declared a winner and explain why.

There is no automatic recount provision in Utah, though the state will pay for a candidate-requested recount if the margin between the top two candidates is 0.25 percentage points or less.

The AP may declare a winner in a race that is eligible for a recount if it can determine the lead is too large for a recount or legal challenge to change the outcome.

WHAT DO TURNOUT AND ADVANCE VOTE LOOK LIKE?

As of June 13, there were 1,969,880 registered voters in Utah. Of those, 14% were Democrats and 50% were Republicans.

In the 2022 U.S. Senate race, turnout was 22% of about 1.9 million registered voters in the Republican primary. In the 3rd Congressional District, turnout was 29% of roughly 113,000 voters in the 2022 Republican primary.

Utah conducts its elections entirely through mail ballots.

As of June 20, a total of 180,599 voters had cast ballots before Election Day, about 12% in the Democratic primary and 87% in the Republican primary.

HOW LONG DOES VOTE-COUNTING USUALLY TAKE?

In the 2022 Republican Senate primary election, the AP first reported results at 10:03 p.m. ET, or three minutes after polls closed. The election night tabulation ended at 1:46 a.m. ET with about 83% of total votes counted.

ARE WE THERE YET?

As of Tuesday, there will be 133 days until the November general election.

___

Associated Press writer Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City contributed to this report.

___

Follow the APs coverage of the 2024 election at https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024.
FILE - Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., is at a campaign stop in White Plains, New York, on June 11, 2024. The war between Israel and Hamas is roiling a primary election between two Democrats in New York, testing the party's position on the conflict and the larger split between its progressive and centrist wings. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  Tensions within the Democratic Party about President Joe Bidens handling of the Israel-Hamas war are playing out in a key New York primary race on Tuesday.

Rep. Jamaal Bowman faces Westchester County Executive George Latimer in Tuesday's highly contentious Democratic primary in New Yorks 16th Congressional District. This is a safe Democratic district, but it encapsulates the fissures that have emerged within the party.

The race headlines a ballot that includes six primaries for the U.S. House, plus races for state Senate, state Assembly and county district attorney.

The ugly primary in the 16th District has exposed the partys deep divide over U.S. policy on Israel, with current and former members of the New York congressional delegation sniping at each other and both candidates here seeking to paint the other as out of touch with and unfit for the district.

Bowman, allied with the progressive group of representatives known as the squad, represents the lefts opposition to Israels conduct during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and to the Biden administrations support for Israel. Latimer is running on a more centrist, establishment position: His platform affirms Israels rights of existence, stability, self-defense, and peace.

The race has already seen eyebrow-raising spending in New York Citys expensive media market. The two candidates have spent $3.2 million apiece in the race, according to campaign finance filings. Outside spending has injected an additional $14.4 million into the district, with the United Democracy Project -- the super PAC associated with the pro-Israel American Israel Public Affairs Committee -- leading these groups with $11.5 million in support of Latimer.

Bowman has been endorsed by his fellow members of the squad and Democratic House leadership. Latimer has been endorsed by former Democratic presidential nominee and Westchester resident Hillary Clinton (though she lives in Chappaqua, which falls in the 17th District), local mayors and council members, and multiple Westchester County legislators.

The winner of the Democratic primary of the 16th congressional district is favored to win the seat in November.

In the 1st Congressional District, Democrats Nancy Goroff and John Avlon are competing for the nomination to face Republican Rep. Nick LaLota, who represents a district that Biden narrowly carried in 2020. Goroff previously led the chemistry department and taught at Stony Brook University. In 2020, Goroff was the Democratic nominee and lost to Republican Lee Zeldin.

Avlon is a former CNN anchor who helped create No Labels, a centrist political group. Goroff boosted her fundraising advantage with a $1.2 million personal loan to her campaign. As of their latest filings, Goroff's campaign had spent $1.7 million on the race while Avlon's campaign had spent $1.2 million. However, a PAC backing Avlon is spending $1.4 million on the race, according to data from AdImpact.

In the 22nd Congressional District, based in Syracuse, Democratic voters will choose between Air Force Veteran Sarah Klee Hood and former public school teacher John Mannion. Klee Hood leads in fundraising and has backing from VoteVets, a progressive group that supports veterans running for office. Mannion represents part of the district  stretching from Syracuse suburbs to Lake Ontario  in the state Senate.

Several Democratic House incumbents are facing under-funded primary challengers in races that are not expected to be competitive. Rep. Claudia Tenney is the only House Republican facing a challenge in Tuesdays primary, though her challenger, Mike Fratto, trails in fundraising, too.

Albany County District Attorney David Soares faces a rematch of his 2012 race against attorney Lee Kindlon. Soares is running on a tough-on-crime message, while Kindlon, an attorney, accuses the incumbent of financial scandals. Kindlon is spending roughly $9,300 on advertising in the primary, according to data from AdImpact, while Soares is spending $4,000. Soares first won the Albany County District Attorney seat in 2004, and won his last primary election in 2020 with 56%, or 18,674 votes.

Heres a look at what to expect on Tuesday:

PRIMARY DAY

The primary will be held on Tuesday. Polls close at 9 p.m. ET.

WHATS ON THE BALLOT

The Associated Press will provide coverage for 46 contested races, including U.S. House, state legislature, and county district attorney.

WHO GETS TO VOTE

New York has a closed primary system, which means that only voters registered with a political party may participate in that partys primary.

DECISION NOTES

The 16th District includes parts of two counties: northern reaches in Bronx County and southern Westchester County. After redistricting, around 90% of the districts residents live in Westchester.

These district lines work in favor of Latimer, who has spent more than three decades in state and local government in Westchester. Bowman, who has represented this district since 2021, was elected from a version of this district that included a much larger piece of the Bronx.

Latimer and Bowman have tried to pitch themselves to two different pieces of the Democratic Party base. Bowman has emphasized his support among working-class people of color, who tend to live in denser parts of the district closer to New York City, such as the Bronx, Yonkers (where his campaign is headquartered), Port Chester and Mount Vernon. Latimer, who hails from Rye, has sought to forge connections among suburban voters and the districts Jewish electorate.

One of the key factors in the primary will be turnout in the Bronx and Yonkers, where Bowman is likely to perform better than in Westchester. One area to look at is Co-Op City, which has more than 47,000 residents and is the largest housing cooperative in the United States.

Latimers path to victory runs along the New Haven and Harlem Metro-North train lines, which pass through wealthy suburbs like Pelham Manor, Scarsdale, Larchmont and Rye, among others.

New York is not particularly fast at counting its votes. Additionally, mail ballots can arrive up to a week after election day, provided they are postmarked by election day. Late-arriving ballots could delay a race in a close contest.

The AP does not make projections and will declare a winner only when its determined there is no scenario that would allow the trailing candidates to close the gap. If a race has not been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear that it has not yet declared a winner and explain why.

In New York, recounts are automatic if the margin between the winning and losing candidates is within 20 votes or not more than 0.5% of the total vote. The AP may declare a winner in a race that is eligible for a recount if it can determine the lead is too large for a recount or legal challenge to change the outcome.

WHAT DO TURNOUT AND ADVANCE VOTE LOOK LIKE?

As of Feb. 27, there were 13,108,347 registered voters in New York. Of those, 49% were Democrats and 22% were Republicans.

In the 2022 race for governor, turnout was 7% of registered voters in the Democratic primary and 3% in the Republican primary. About 20% of votes in that election were cast before Election Day.

As of June 18, a total of 44,204 ballots had been cast.

HOW LONG DOES VOTE-COUNTING USUALLY TAKE?

In the 2022 Republican primary election, the AP first reported results at 9: 04 p.m. ET, or four minutes after polls closed. The election night tabulation ended at 2:51 a.m. ET with about 96% of total votes counted.
A federal appeals court has denied a last-minute bid by Steve Bannon, a longtime Donald Trump adviser and prominent conservative podcaster, to stave off a four-month jail sentence for defying a subpoena from the Jan. 6 select committee three years ago.

A three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 Thursday night that Bannons bid to remain out of prison while he appeals his contempt of Congress conviction to the Supreme Court lacked merit since the justices are unlikely to take his argument seriously.

Judges Patricia Millett, an Obama appointee, and Bradley Garcia, a Biden appointee, ruled that Bannon had no basis to believe that the high court would take up his case given longstanding precedents that the justices have relied on in similar cases.

However, Judge Justin Walker, a Trump appointee, broke from his colleagues, suggesting that Bannons argument might draw interest from the justices.

Bannon should not go to prison before the Supreme Court considers his forthcoming petition, Walker wrote in a two-page dissent.

Bannon is now expected to turn to the Supreme Court to make a last-ditch attempt to forestall his prison sentence.

The Jan. 6 committee subpoenaed Bannon in October 2021, seeking details about his interactions with Trump in the weeks before a mob stormed the Capitol seeking to block the transfer of power from Trump to Joe Biden. Bannon had publicly discussed strategizing ways for members of Congress to challenge the 2020 election results, and the committee obtained evidence about Bannons numerous phone calls with Trump in the days and weeks before the Jan. 6 attack.

Bannons blanket refusal to respond to the subpoena prompted the committee  and ultimately the House  to hold him in contempt. The Justice Department indicted him several weeks later, and in July 2022 a jury convicted Bannon on two misdemeanor counts. Bannon, however, has remained free for the last two years while he appealed his conviction, a decision made by his trial judge Carl Nichols, who agreed that Bannon might have a legitimate argument to challenge his prosecution.



At issue is the wording of the 19th-century contempt of Congress law that a jury convicted Bannon for violating, which requires that violators willfully refuse to cooperate with Congress.

Bannon has claimed his decision to defy the Jan. 6 committee was the result of advice from a lawyer who told him he was not obligated to comply. Relying on his lawyers advice, Bannons team argued, means his decision was not willful. But the federal appeals court in D.C. has long held that willfulness simply means making a deliberate decision not to cooperate, no matter the reason.

As a result, Nichols  a Trump appointee  rejected Bannons attempt to scuttle the case. At Bannons October 2022 sentencing, Nichols also agreed to allow him to remain free during his appeal, noting that higher courts might see merit in his arguments.

But Nichols reversed course earlier this month after a unanimous panel of the D.C. Circuit resoundingly rejected Bannons appeal. Citing the forcefulness of the new ruling, as well as a similar ruling in a related contempt of Congress case, Nichols revoked Bannons release and ordered him to report to prison by July 1.

Another former Trump adviser, Peter Navarro, was also convicted of contempt for defying the Jan. 6 committee and received a four-month jail sentence. His lawyers went all the way to the Supreme Court to try to put off the sentence until after his appeals were complete, but the requests were rejected by Chief Justice John Roberts and, later, by Justice Clarence Thomas.

Navarro reported to a Miami federal prison in March and is due to be released next month.
Sample laboratory equipment is displayed for Vice President Joe Biden during a tour of the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine and Abramson Cancer Center in Philadelphia

By Brendan Pierson

(Reuters) -A U.S. appeals court on Friday refused to block a federal mandate requiring health insurers to cover preventive care services like cancer screenings and HIV-preventing medication at no extra cost to patients, but ruled against the government on a key legal issue that leaves the mandate's future in doubt.

A unanimous panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with a group of Christian businesses suing to challenge the mandate that claimed that the way services were chosen for coverage violates the U.S. Constitution.

However, the panel found that U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor in Fort Worth, Texas had gone too far by blocking the mandate nationwide in March 2023, and instead blocked its enforcement only against the businesses that brought the lawsuit. O'Connor's ruling had been on hold while the appeals court considered the case.

Major U.S. medical groups have said that eliminating the preventive care mandate would put patients at risk and increase healthcare costs.

The panel also ordered O'Connor to reconsider his decision to uphold mandatory coverage of certain vaccines and childhood screening services, which the businesses had also challenged. The panel said O'Connor had not considered some relevant legal issues, though it did not weigh in on how he should decide.

While the 5th Circuit's ruling allows the government to continue enforcing the mandate, it could provide support for other employers or insurers wishing to challenge it.

The plaintiffs were represented by conservative group America First Legal. Gene Hamilton, the group's executive director, in a statement called Friday's decision "a victory for the Constitution, the rule of law, and every American who does not want unelected bureaucrats making decisions about their healthcare coverage."

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In their 2020 lawsuit, the businesses objected to covering pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV on religious grounds, but also argued that the entire mandate violated the U.S. Constitution by having an HHS-appointed task force choose what treatments must be covered. A task force with that much power must be appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, they said.

Both O'Connor and the 5th Circuit agreed with that argument, and the 5th Circuit rejected the government's claim that HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra could fix the problem retroactively by "ratifying" the task force's decisions.

Two members of the panel, Circuit Judges Don Willett and Cory Wilson, were appointed by Republican former President Donald Trump. The third, Circuit Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez, was appointed by President Joe Biden, a Democrat.

The preventive care mandate is part of the 2010 Affordable Care Act, often called Obamacare because it was championed by then-President Barack Obama. O'Connor drew widespread attention in 2019 by ruling that the entire act was unconstitutional, which was later overturned.

His ruling on the preventive care mandate did not apply to preventive services the task force recommended before the ACA was enacted, including breast cancer screening.

(Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Cynthia Osterman)
A federal appeals court Thursday night rejected Steve Bannons bid to delay the July 1 start of his criminal contempt-of-Congress prison sentence.

Following the ruling from the US DC Circuit Court of Appeals, it is likely the former adviser to former President Donald Trump will seek the intervention of the Supreme Court.

The panel voted 2-1, with Judge Cornelia Pillard, a Barack Obama nominee, and Judge Bradley Garcia, a Joe Biden nominee, in the majority. The majority opinion, however, was unsigned.

Judge Justin Walker, a Trump appointee, dissented from the panels Thursday night decision, writing that the precedent Bannon is contesting is a close question and that Bannon should be allowed to stay out of prison while he appeals it to the Supreme Court.

CNN has reached out to Bannon for comment.

A jury found Bannon guilty of contempt nearly two years ago for not complying with a House January 6 Committee subpoena for his testimony, but his trial judge initially paused his four-month prison sentence for his appeal to play out.

Earlier this month, however, US District Judge Carl Nichols lifted that hold on Bannons sentence at the request of the Justice Department, which pointed to a recent decision by the DC Circuit that upheld his conviction.

In recent days, Bannon has amped his rhetoric against the Justice Department, telling a conservative gathering in Detroit this month that they would purge the department and take apart the FBI if Trump won the election.

Absent a Supreme Court intervention, Bannon is slated to serve his sentence at a low-security prison camp in Danbury, Connecticut, CNN previously reported. Because he is facing New York state criminal charges for his involvement in an the allegedly fraudulent Build the Wall fundraising scheme, he will not be sent to the minimal-security prison camps known as a Club Fed.

Bannons attorneys had argued that he should be allowed to stay out of prison as he continued to appeal the conviction, pointing to his ability to have the full DC Circuit review the case and then, if need be, a potential Supreme Court appeal.

At a June 6 hearing, Nichols said that he had initially let Bannon delay his sentence because he believed there was a substantial legal question about a DC Circuit precedent that limited the defenses Bannon could put forward at his trial. But, because of the way that the DC Circuit panel went on to embrace that precedent when it upheld Bannons conviction, Nichols said did not believe that the original basis for my stay exists any longer.

Nichols, a Trump appointee, gave Bannon a short window to obtain the emergency intervention of a higher court.

Bannon, who hosts a podcast thats popular among conservatives, told the appeals court in filings last week that the Biden administration was trying to silence his criticisms of its policies ahead of the election.

The government seeks to imprison Mr. Bannon for the four-month period leading up to the November election, when millions of Americans look to him for information on important campaign issues, his attorneys said in the filings.

His lawyers also claimed that being forced to serve his prison sentence now would also effectively bar Mr. Bannon from serving as a meaningful advisor in the ongoing national campaign.

Prosecutors countered that Bannons role in political discourse is simply not a relevant factor under the federal statute dictating when a defendants appeal can delay his sentence.

Bannon also cannot reconcile his claim for special treatment with the bedrock principle of equal justice under the law, prosecutors told the appeals court in a filing.

This story has been updated with additional details.

CNNs Sara Murray and Dan Berman contributed to this report.

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Argentina's Milei visit to Spain irritates some, pleases others

Javier Milei, President of Argentina, arrives at the G7 summit. Michael Kappeler/dpa

Argentinian President Javier Milei arrived in Madrid on Friday afternoon, beginning a European tour that will also include a visit to Germany over the weekend.

However, the ultra-liberal Milei has been snubbed by Spain's left-wing government and King Felipe VI - no meetings with him are scheduled on this first leg of the journey.

At a European election campaign event organized by Spain's right-wing populist party Vox in May, Milei sharply attacked Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and called his wife, Begona Gomez, "corrupt."

Spain's foreign minister in turn accused Milei - who describes himself as an "anarcho-capitalist" - of a "frontal attack on our democracy, on our institutions and Spain."

Milei rejected a request to publicly apologize and has continued his verbal attacks ever since.

Milei was celebrated like a rock star in Madrid in May. He thrilled the more than 10,000 participants at the meeting with statements such as: socialism leads "to slavery or death" or social justice is "always unjust."

Numerous high-ranking politicians from abroad also attended, including France's Marine Le Pen, Portugal's Andre Ventura and Israel's Minister for Social Equality, Amichai Chikli.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni joined via video conference and Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban sent a message.

During his current visit, Milei plans to meet the conservative president of the autonomous Community of Madrid, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, who is expected to present him with a medal.

The central government accused Ayuso of wanting to "provoke" Sanchez. Milei is also to receive a prize from a liberal foundation.

The Argentinian is expected to be in Hamburg on Saturday and will meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Sunday. The last stop on his European tour is the Czech Republic.
An Arizona judge has temporarily blocked Governor Katie Hobbs (D-AZ) from accessing the states share of a national opioid settlement to fill a budget gap, at the request of the states Democratic attorney general.

Movement of a $115 million sum, part of Arizonas $1.14 billion portion of the settlement funds from pharmaceutical companies that exacerbated an opioid crisis across the United States, was halted by a Maricopa County judge on Thursday evening as Attorney General Kris Mayes accuses the governor of pilfering it to close a budget shortcoming.

Part of the money, which the attorney generals office says must be used for one of 12 opioid crisis-related purposes per the states agreement, was earmarked by the states recent budget for the Department of Corrections, a move that Mayes called unlawful.

Though I repeatedly warned them this is an unlawful use of these funds, they proceeded with moving forward anyway, Mayes wrote in a statement on the budget. This is an egregious grab. I will do everything in my power to protect these opioid settlement funds for all Arizonans.

Mayes noted that the shortfall was the result of cuts and spending increases from GOP policies, including a school voucher program, which Save Our Schools Arizona Director Beth Lewis said made up much of the deficit.

The ESA voucher program has shown in a nonpartisan report last week that its driving half of the budget deficit. So, you know, anything thats driving hundreds of millions of dollars of deficit should clearly be the first thing on the table to be reined in, Lewis told local newspaper AZ Family.

Mayes momentary victory in court sets up a June 27 hearing on the matter, as she vows to fight the governors attempts to the furthest extent she can.

Unless this Court acts today, $75 million intended to help Arizona citizens recover and rehab from opioid addiction will instead be used to plug a routine budget hole, Mayes wrote in an emergency motion Thursday afternoon. In two weeks, another $40 million will similarly disappear, a total of $115 million diverted from opioid treatment to routine government expenses.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Arkansas City hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday at Lovie Watson Park.

The ribbon cutting was hosted by the Arkansas City Chamber of Commerce and marked the culmination of extensive efforts by Arkansas Citys Parks Department to renovate the park.

The renovations were made possible through a grant that was secured in Nov. 2023 from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Health Pathways program.

Mother pleads guilty in crash that killed 4-year-old daughter, injured 2-year-old son

The grant funding helped install new equipment and establish a tobacco-free policy within the facility.

The Pathways initiative, known as Pathways to a Healthy Kansas, is the largest community grant initiative funded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas. It combines community-wide, evidence-based solutions and practices to help Kansas communities improve active living, healthy eating, and tobacco prevention.

The initiative provides community coalitions the tools and resources to engage their communities and remove barriers to healthy living.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Following a deadly shooting at a Fordyce grocery store, several officials have issued statements offering their condolences to the victims.

The incident happened Friday afternoon when several law enforcement agencies were called to a shooting near the Mad Butcher grocery store.

I have been briefed on the tragic shooting in Fordyce, and Im in constant contact with State Police at the scene. I am thankful to law enforcement and first responders for their quick and heroic action to save lives. My prayers are with the victims and all those impacted by this, Gov. Sanders stated on X, the platform previously known as Twitter.

LIVE UPDATES: Multiple agencies respond to Fordyce Mad Butcher grocery store after reports of shooting

Attorney General Tim Griffin also issued a statement on X expressing his condolences to this involved.

I am following the developments and information coming out of Fordyce after a gunman senselessly opened fire outside a grocery store earlier today. My thoughts and prayers are with the wounded, including the law enforcement officer who was shot, as well as the families of the two people who were killed, Griffin said.

Sen. Tom Cotton asked for prayers for the victims.

Please join me in prayer for the victims of the shooting in Fordyce and gratitude for the skill and courage of the law-enforcement officers and first responders, Cotton stated.

Sen. John Boozman also reacted to the shooting, stating he is heartbroken by the violence.

Im heartbroken by the horrific violence in Fordyce and grateful for the courage and bravery of law enforcement officers and first responders. Cathy and I are praying for the victims of this senseless act, Boozman stated.

Rep. Bruce Westerman posted a statement on X expressing gratitude for the response from law enforcement and first responders.

Im grateful for the quick response by law enforcement and first responders on the scene in Fordyce this afternoon. My office is in contact with local officials and I will continue to monitor the situation as details emerge. My prayers are with the victims and their families, and the entire Fordyce community, Westerman posted.

Rep. Steve Womack posted on X about being heartbroken to hear about the shooting.

Heartbroken to hear of the shooting in Fordyce today. Im thankful for our heroic law enforcement and first responders who acted quickly to save lives. My prayers are with the victims and their families, Womack stated.

Rep. French Hill also expressed gratitude for the first responders and law enforcement that jumped into action.

I am grateful to our brave law enforcement officers and first responders for their swift action to save lives today. My prayers are with the victims, their families, and the Fordyce community during this heartbreaking time, Hill posted.

In a post on X, Lieutenant Governor Leslie Rutledge offered her condolences to the familys of the deadly shooting.

Devastating news coming out of Fordyce today. My sincerest prayers are with all of the victims and their families, our first responders, especially the injured law enforcement officers, and the entire Dallas County community affected by this needlessly tragic act of violence.  Rutledge stated.

According to an update from Arkansas State Police, 11 people were shot, three died. ASP officials also said that two officers were shot.

Police said that the suspect was injured and has been taken into custody.

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ARLINGTON, Va. (DC News Now)  Arlington County police said its homicide and robbery units were investigating a shooting that took place on Wednesday.

It happened around 2 p.m. on 33rd Street S and Richmond Highway.

Arlington police arrest laundry coin burglar

So far, the Arlington County Police Department said it believes that a male victim was headed southbound in the 2600 block of Richmond Highway. A male suspect then drove up next to the victims car, took out a gun and started shooting at the victim.

The suspect drove northbound on Richmond Highway to get away.

Police could not find the suspect, who was described as a thin male driving a blue sedan.

The victim reported minor property damage but was not hurt. The victim said right before the shooting happened, he and the suspect got involved in a crash near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Anyone with information was asked to call (703) 228-4180 or email ACPDTipline@arlingtonva.us.

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(FOX40.COM)  The Sacramento Police Department said it arrested a man near the Sacramento Zoo on Friday who was reportedly armed with a gun.

Police said around 1 p.m. on Friday that its officers were at the scene working on negotiations with the armed man near Land Park Drive and 17th Avenue.

Armed standoff in Orangevale ends with mans surrender

Around 1:45 p.m., police said they were still at the scene working to negotiate a peaceful surrender of the suspect.

Just before 2:15 p.m., police said they managed to take the suspect into custody safely after deploying a few PepperBall rounds.

Police added that they learned the man did not have a gun, but was uncooperative with police and pepper sprayed before being taken into custody.

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Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia, speaks during a press conference in Berlin. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Armenia is the latest country that has recognized an independent Palestinian state, according to a statement released by the Foreign Ministry in Yerevan on Friday.

"The catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and the ongoing military conflict are among the primary issues on the international political agenda that require settlement," the ministry said.

Armenia had always regarded a two-state solution as the best way out of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, it noted about its recognition.

"We are convinced that this is the only way to ensure that both Palestinians and Israelis can fulfil their legitimate aspirations," it said.

Israel reacted with indignation and, according to the ministry, summoned the Armenian ambassador to deliver a sharp rebuke.

In recent weeks, Norway, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia have recognized a Palestinian state to exert pressure for a resolution to the decades-old conflict.

However, there is currently no visible practical path to a two-state solution.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vehemently rejected a two-state solution, as does the militant Palestinian organization Hamas.
Arrest warrants issued for 2 men allegedly involved in pro-Palestinian protest outside Pitt

Arrest warrants have been issued for two men who police say took part in the pro-Palestinian protest earlier this month at the University of Pittsburgh.

PHOTOS: Protesters gather at the University of Pittsburgh

Muhammad Ali, 21, and Cory Roma, 24, are accused of clashing with police during the protest on June 2.

Ali is charged with aggravated assault, disorderly conduct and obstructing law enforcement. Roma is charged with rioting, disorderly conduct and trespassing.

About 24 hours after the encampment had been set up, protesters cleared out after speaking with city officials.

Protesters called for the university to sever any ties with Israel or companies promoting the Israel-Hamas War.

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  A Travis County Assistant District Attorney facing criminal charges has resigned from his position after nearly 20 years with the DAs office. His attorney, Charlie Baird, says the resignation is partly due to concerns that possible termination would impact his much-needed health benefits.

Joseph Fredericks resignation came shortly after he was arrested and charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon on June 8, Baird said. Frederick is accused of pointing a firearm at his roommate and stating Ill shoot you, according to court records.

RELATED: Travis County assistant district attorney arrested, charged with aggravated assault

Mr. Fredericks decision to resign from the DAs office was, in part, due to his concern over retaining the retirement/pension/benefits he accrued over his many years of service in the DAs Office. He also took into consideration his healthcare needs going forward, including medical insurance, Baird said.

Additionally, Baird explained Frederick considered the time and resources the DAs office was going to have to use to investigate and address the circumstances surrounding his recent arrest had he remained employed.

Mr. Frederick did not want to impose that burden on the office he loved and had served for many years. Therefore, he resigned his position, Baird stated.

We asked Travis County about its employee policy related to terminations versus resignations and the impact each has on maintaining accrued benefits and health insurance and will update this story once we receive a response.

After Fredericks arrest, multiple sources including Baird informed KXAN Frederick has been battling Parkinsons Disease, a brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness and difficulty with balance and coordination, according to the National Institutes for Health.

There can be no doubt that decisions made by a person suffering from Parkinsons disease are impacted by that affliction, Baird said about Fredericks decision to resign. He told KXAN Frederick does not believe Parkinsons had an impact on his performance as an ADA.

Parkinsons disease has affected Mr. Frederick physically, but it has not impacted his mental acuity, Baird said.

Work as an assistant district attorney

KXAN combed through court filings involving the one capital murder case Frederick was assigned to and found one record where his health was referenced.

Court records containing email communications from last November show Frederick requesting a hearing to be reset because of his medical situation.

I will not be in court this morning because I have an appointment with my neurologist for my deep brain stimulator that not working properly, records show he wrote in an email, referring to a device that the National Institutes of Health says helps with movement-related symptoms of Parkinsons.

Fredericks email noted that the capital murder charge was still unindicted and anticipated the case would go before a grand jury in December as detectives were still gathering evidence.

The case was never presented to a grand jury and the capital murder charges were ultimately rejected by the DAs office earlier this year, according to court records.

KXAN reviewed Travis County District Clerk records of all cases assigned to Frederick since 2019, when he was first listed as the retained attorney on cases, and found 32 felony cases. All were either dismissed or rejected and closed with No Charges Filed, according to court filings from the Travis County District Clerk.

These cases consisted of three separate murder charges, aggravated assaults and numerous narcotic-related offenses, court records show.

KXAN asked Baird about Fredericks caseload compared to other ADAs, who said he did not feel Frederick was specifically assigned fewer cases but felt the volume of cases could be associated with the type of cases he prosecuted.

KXAN found several other ADAs also listed as the retained state prosecutor on felony cases during the same time frame.

Those in the trial and grand jury division were assigned to well over 100 felony cases, with the majority rejected and closed as No Charges Filed.

Records show another ADA in the same division as Frederick had a comparable caseload of 37, nearly half of which resulted in an indictment or a conviction.

In February of this year, Frederick was listed as one of two attorneys assigned to the homicide and major crimes division, according to the DAs Attorney Assignments records. As of June 1. assignment records no longer show a homicide and major crimes division and list both Frederick and the ADA who also worked major crimes as pre-indictment attorneys.

KXAN reached out to the DAs office and requested details regarding Fredericks role as an ADA prior to his resignation as well as a comment on Fredericks caseload and whether Parkinsons affected Fredericks work.

The DAs office acknowledged KXANs requests but has not provided responses to the requested information. KXAN will update this story once a response is provided.

Whats next in the case

Frederick was released on a $10,000 bond the same day as his arrest, according to court records. Two days later, the DAs office filed a motion to recuse itself on the grounds that the alleged offense occurred when Frederick was employed as an ADA during regular business hours, according to the motion.

On Monday, Caldwell County District Attorney Fred Weber was assigned as the prosecutor on the case, which will take place in the 460th District Court of Travis County.

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Less than 18 months after being named to the post, Connie Staudinger has resigned as chief executive officer of the Athens Housing Authority.

Staudinger began work in February 2023 after being appointed by the six-member AHA board of commissioners. Staudinger had replaced former CEO Rick Parker, who retired last year after 34 years as head of the AHA.

For the immediate future, the AHA will be led by Sheila Crisp, the authoritys chief financial officer and now interim CEO, as the AHA commissioners conduct a nationwide search for Staudingers replacement.

Connie Staudinger

Staudingers resignation was accepted at a called Wednesday meeting of the AHA board. She was working under a three-year contract and will be paid for the balance of that agreement, under which she was earning $190,000 annually, according to AHA board Chairman Valdon Daniel.

Attempts to reach Staudinger on Thursday and Friday for comment on her resignation were unsuccessful.

Daniel described the situation around Staudingers resignation as amicable, but he did say that it came amid organizational differences.

Shes talented, Daniel said of Staudinger before adding that it was better for everyone to part ways.

Daniel on Friday praised Staudinger for her work on the ongoing North Downtown Athens Redevelopment Project, involving the former Bethel Midtown Village and College & Hoyt public housing communities.

More: 'Are we willing to accept our neighbors?' AHA's Rick Parker discusses legacy

The ambitious project is slated to replace the existing 183 deeply affordable units at Bethel Midtown Village, to integrate new market-rate housing with affordable housing, to create new greenspace, and to improve connectivity to downtown Athens, nearby neighborhoods, and transit and other service options.

According to Daniel, there is no timetable for getting a replacement for Staudinger at the helm of the AHA. Were going to try to be patient, and work our way through it, he said.

AHA Commissioner Charlie Maddox said Thursday that Staudinger apparently came to the conclusion that her management style did not mesh with the management style that we were looking for at the Athens Housing Authority.

Also, according to Maddox, there was some mutual frustration in advance of Staudingers resignation. There were just some things that were not coming together as she wanted to, and as we wanted to, Maddox said.

Notwithstanding Daniels praise of Staudingers work on the North Downtown Redevelopment Project, Maddox said the work appeared to be taking an inordinate time.

Immediately prior to coming to Athens, Staudinger worked for six months as director of housing solutions with the United Way in Charlotte, N.C., according to her LinkedIn profile. Before that, she spent four years as executive vice president of real estate development for Horizon Development Properties in Charlotte.

Before her time in Charlotte, Staudinger worked for eight years as the chief operating officer for Virginia Housing Development LLC, a subsidiary of the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

The AHA manages 15 public housing communities, 14 across Athens-Clarke County and one in Comer. The authority is funded with federal dollars and tenants rent payments. Each year, it makes a payment in lieu of taxes to the Athens-Clarke County government.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Athens Housing Authority director resigns over
Athens State University breaks ground on new alumni house to serve as welcome center

ATHENS, Ala. (WHNT)  Athens State University held a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the construction of a new building.

According to Athens State, the new Nazaretian Alumni House & Welcome Center will have historical artifacts, conference areas, administrative offices, and will house the Universitys Office of Alumni Affairs and serve as a welcome center for alumni and campus visitors.

Huntsville barber in need of heart transplant given one year to live

The Alumni House will be named after Dr. Angeline (Angie) Nazaretian, who worked at Athens State for 42 years. She first worked as a chair of the Physical Education Department beginning in 1958, and later as Director of Alumni Affairs, retiring in 2000.

A press release written by Athens State said when Dr. Nazaretian wasnt working, she spent her time ensuring that newcomers felt right at home through her flower bouquets and handwritten notes.

Dr. Nazaretian passed away on March 17, 2019.

We are going to build this welcome center to help carry on the work that Dr. Nazaretian did, said Dr. Catherine Wehlburg, President of Athens State University. This facility will support our students and serve as a space to welcome our alumni back to campus where they know that they are part of our past, certainly, but they are also very much a part of our future.

Huntsville to undergo zoning and site analysis for new developments

The site of the new welcome center is where Dr. Nazertians house was. Athens State says the house was built for Fortunatus S. Wood around 1902 and was used for a variety of purposes until finally being sold to Dr. Nazertian.

Due to the cost of renovating the house being similar to the cost of building a new facility, the university decided to demolish the original building. The new facility will be a replica of the original and will cost over $1 million to complete.

Construction is planned to be completed in June 2025.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Austin Mayor Kirk Watson is in Kansas City this week for the 92nd U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting, serving as the vice chair of the Standing Committee on Transportation.

At the meeting, Watson said cities should be more focused on localism when investing in the transportation system in the United States. KXAN Traffic Anchor Erica Brennes spoke with Watson to learn more about what this meeting means for Austin.

Q&A with Mayor Kirk Watson

This Q&A has been edited for clarity.

Brennes: Overall, how is the meeting going so far?

Watson: One of the things I really like about it is that I always learn so much about different things that I can bring back to Austin. Also, being in the leadership position that I am with the Standing Committee on Transportation, it allows me to interact with federal officials, where we can talk about the kinds of things that we need, and the help that we need from the federal government so that we can do better for our constituents back home.

Brennes: You mentioned that you spoke at the meeting about being more focused on localism when it comes to investing in our nations transportation. Can you elaborate on that?

Watson: One of the interesting things about the pandemic was that it changed a lot of our transportation habits. For example, with the Amazon trucks and other delivery trucks that are on our local roads, its our local roads that are taking the brunt of a whole lot of the transportation. One of the things that were advocating for and weve been advocating for in transportation and in other areas as well, is that the federal government particularly as it reauthorizes some of these laws, that what it will do is it will focus on what were calling localism. That we put that money directly with the local government so that well be able to make those immediate or more immediate decisions about how to help our constituents and have a greater impact in that regard.

Brennes: Talk to me a little bit about the projects going on right now, or big future upcoming transportation projects in the Austin area that are relying on federal funding.

Watson: Austin has about $25 billion worth of infrastructure projects that are in play everything from our airport, to the light rail system Project Connect to Interstate 35 itself and then beyond that. So its very important to the relationship that we have with the federal government. This government has been the best Ive seen in my time and local office. Its been the best Ive seen in dealing with local government, but we have some bills that are going to be reauthorized. And so if we can make improvements there, they will make it even easier going forward.

Brennes: I know across the entire country, there are huge transportation needs. Austin is not alone. What do you hope to bring back home after this meeting to the Austin area?

Watson: Ill give you one example. I had a great meeting with officials from Amtrak. As a result of legislation thats been passed in the past couple of years, Amtrak has received more money than it has received in the whole history of Amtrak since the 1970s. And a big chunk of that money is going to those places that they can upgrade Amtrak to get more intercity passenger rail. So I met with the folks from Amtrak yesterday to talk about what are next steps that we can take to make sure that the Dallas-Fort Worth to San Antonio corridor is in play. Because if we could get intercity passenger rail between Austin and San Antonio think about the difference that would make in the quality of life of people that live on that corridor.

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  The Austin Police Department said it was investigating after a body was found near the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center on Thursday.

Around 3:34 p.m., Austin-Travis County EMS and the Austin Fire Department responded to 4801 La Crosse Ave. after a 911 caller said a person was down along a fence line, ATCEMS medics said on social media.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Around 4 p.m., medics said hasty teams found the person and pronounced them dead on the scene.

Then, around 4:41 p.m., APD said it was investigating, and the scene was still active. No other details were released Thursday.

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By Kirsty Needham

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Friday that his country wants to restart annual dialogue with China's chief of defence to reduce misunderstandings between the militaries, with the matter raised with China's Premier Li Qiang this week.

Albanese said on Monday after meeting Li in Canberra that the two countries would take steps to improve military communication to avoid incidents, without giving detail.

Marles said in a radio interview on Friday that Australia wants to resume annual meetings between the two nations' chiefs of defence and defence department secretaries. Although some defence dialogue has restarted after years of frozen ties, it wasn't at the level it was 10 years ago, when the defence chiefs regularly met, he said.

"It doesn't resolve the fundamental issues that we might have between us, but what it does do is deepen the understanding that we have between us about what our behaviours are in certain circumstances," he said in an ABC radio interview, adding this could "avoid unnecessary escalations".

In an incident last month, a Chinese air force jet dropped flares near an Australian defence helicopter in international airspace over the Yellow Sea, which Australia called a dangerous encounter. China said it was a warning not to approach China's airspace.

In November, Australia said a Chinese naval vessel injured some of its divers in Japanese waters using sonar.

Liu Jianchao, head of the international department of the Chinese Communist Party, said during a visit to Australia in November the Australian navy's movements in the South China Sea and East China Sea appeared to be an effort to contain China, which Australia rejected.

Two-thirds of Australian trade passes through the South China Sea, and Australia has joined exercises with the Philippines, U.S. and Japan in the region.

Marles said an annual meeting between defence chiefs would also allow communication when issues arise, and flow down to military staff so they know what to expect from counterpart behaviour.

Australia wanted faster progress on the matter, he added.

"The meeting that we had with Premier Li earlier in the week has been really important in advancing that," he said.

(Reporting by Kirsty Needham. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  Bakersfield police officers will be checking drivers for signs of drug or alcohol intoxication during a checkpoint Saturday evening, the department said.

The Bakersfield Police Department said officers will conduct a checkpoint June 22 between 6:30 p.m. and 2 a.m. at an undisclosed location within city limits.

Chase ending in Stellas Sandtrap crash began over tinted windows: report

Officers will check drivers for signs of possible drug or alcohol use and impairment and will also be checking for proper licensing and vehicle registration.

Police said well-publicized, regularly conducted DUI checkpoints and patrols can reduce the number of DUI-related crashes by up to 20%. DUI convictions can result in jail time, fines, fees and other expenses that can exceed $10,000.

Anyone who suspects seeing an intoxicated driver is asked to immediately call 911.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.
A police officer gestures towards cars as she tries to control traffic during a power outage in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Friday, June 21, 2024.(AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

PODGORICA, Montenegro (AP)  A major hourslong power outage hit much of the Balkans on Friday as the southern European region sweltered in an early heat wave that sent temperatures soaring to more than 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

Montenegrin authorities said that an outage that lasted for several hours in the country's power distribution system left almost the entire nation without electricity, while similar problems were reported in the coastal part of Croatia, and in Bosnia and Albania.

Nada Pavicevic, a spokeswoman for Montenegro's state power distribution company, described the outage as a disturbance of regional proportion, and said authorities were still working to determine what happened.

The exact cause of the outage was not immediately clear as the regional power grid has been overloaded for days because of overconsumption and the use of air-conditioning in high temperatures.

Bosnias state power company said the outage there was caused by problems in a regional distribution line, while Albanias state power company said the extreme heat caused the problem.

Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Albania share the Adriatic Sea coastline and the power grids in the region remain interconnected, decades after the Balkan wars in the 1990s.

The whole electric grid system of continental Europe is connected together, and that sometimes has its benefits but also has its flaws," said Danko Blazevic, the head of Croatia's electric grid networks.

The advantage is that you can import and export and sell power, but then the flaw is that when there is a failure, its basically passed from one system to another, he added.

In the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, the outage also caused traffic jams, with trams stopping and traffic lights not operating. Similar gridlock was reported in the Croatian port city of Split.

In Croatia's resort of Dubrovnik, thousands of tourists were left stranded in the midafternoon, with restaurants, pubs, supermarkets, ice cream parlors and others shutting their doors during the outage. Soccer fans milled around some of the pubs with darkened television screens, unable to watch the games played at the European Championship soccer tournament in Germany.

The collapse, which started just after noon on Friday, came as authorities throughout the region warned citizens to be cautious, drink water and avoid sunshine because of extremely high temperatures.

Dont stay in the sun between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., warned Serbias Public Health Institute in its instructions to citizens. If you must go out, please take a bottle of water along.

Meteorologists say the heat in the region this week came from Africa, carrying sand particles that created a cloud-like layer, dimming the skyline.

The sweltering heat was the worst in big cities, where concrete sizzled even in the evening, and where nights offered no real respite as temperatures remained above 20 C (68 F).

While hot summers are normal in the Balkans, temperatures typically do not reach such heights in mid-June, prompting weather alerts and warnings.

Earlier this week, authorities in North Macedonia imposed emergency measures through Sunday, after which the heat is expected to relent. On Friday, authorities in Romania imposed weight limits for vehicles traveling on national roads in some counties to prevent degradation to road surfaces.

Belgrade resident Milos Jeftovic said he is following the instructions and taking every opportunity to stay near the Serbian capital's two rivers, the Danube and the Sava. Authorities, he said, should have reduced working hours and parked water tankers in the city streets.

Personally, I don't have a problem ... but this is not OK, temperatures are above acceptable (levels), Jeftovic said.

Weather warnings were also issued in neighboring Croatia, a tourism hot spot, where the heat wave is set to peak on Friday before an expected change of weather over the weekend that could trigger storms.

Montenegrin state television RTCG said that though the residents in the country's capital of Podgorica are used to very high temperatures, some complained the heat started too early in the year. One man told the broadcaster: I really don't know what we are going to do.

Experts say that extreme weather conditions are also triggered by climate change.
Barcelona is introducing a blanket ban on Airbnbs in a desperate bid to stop rents spiralling and lure more young people back into the city.

Mayor Jaume Collboni said by 2029 there will be no tourist apartments in Barcelona, and that the municipal government will do this by not issuing new licences and not renewing existing ones.

The Spanish politician hopes to bring over 10,000 short-term lets back onto the residential market to stop young people being forced out of the city by unaffordable rents.

Rental prices in the Catalan capital have risen by 68pc over the last decade according to council data, while the cost of buying a house has risen far more slowly at 38pc.

The mayor will have to get legislation through the Generalitat of Catalonia  Catalan government  later this year. If he does, he plans not to renew licences for short-term lets from November 2028.

Mr Collboni said rents in Barcelona were skyrocketing, and that young people studying  as well as those on average salaries  are having to leave the city because they cannot afford housing.

On Friday he said: We need housing supply to grow so that people do not have to move out of the city and so that housing prices do not rise and start to fall.

Barcelona has been rocked in recent months by demonstrations against overtourism - AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti

Over 12 million tourists visited Barcelona last year, according to its tourism board. While 6.9pc less people visited in 2023 compared to four years ago, tourist spend has risen by 15pc over the same period.

A licensing system was introduced for Airbnbs in Barcelona back in 2011, and in 2015 former Mayor Ada Colau  known for his anti-Airbnb stance  prevented property owners from letting out single rooms.

This year, the city also raised its tourism tax to 3.25 (2.75) per night  marking the second time it has climbed in just four years.

Damia Calvet, a councillor from the separatist party Together for Catalonia, called Mr Collbonis new plans improvised, ideological and not based on legality or the regulation of the rents themselves.

Maria Harris, of industry body, The Open Property Data Association, said the Mayors decision comes down to politics.

She added: A lot of younger people are being forced to leave the city. Lots of lower income families cant find rental accommodation. He [Mr Collboni] thinks the answer is to reduce the amount of homes for tourism.

The Mayor has also introduced a new rule, forcing developers to pay nearly a third of the value of a new project in cash to the municipal government if they do not comply with the requirement to build 30pc affordable housing.

This money will then be redirected to other plots or neighbourhoods where affordable homes are being built.

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Baton Rouge man accused of shoplifting from gas station and choking woman on the MS Coast

Authorities arrested a Baton Rouge man accused of choking a woman in his car, then shoplifting from a gas station on U.S. 90, Waveland Police said.

Manch Stanley Cadwallader III, 31, faces charges of shoplifting and aggravated domestic violence.

Police responded about 10:43 p.m. Thursday to the Clarks Exxon on Highway 90 in response to a shoplifting, a news release said.

Police found Cadwallader in a white Jeep attempting to flee the scene, according to the release.

Officers stopped Cadwallader, who they said was sweating profusely. He could not answer officers questions, police said. They also detained a woman at the scene.

Police said the woman was visibly upset and did not speak to officers in Cadwalladers presence.

But once alone, according to police, the woman told officers that Cadwallader choked her, entered the store, then returned to find the woman awake and told her to drive but grew angry and choked her again.

Police said the woman had marks on her neck and her ear was bleeding from a missing earring. Authorities also said the woman had signs of bruising. She was transported to a hospital.

Cadwallader was transported to the Hancock County jail.
A Bay Area county gave low-income moms $1,000 a month. 2 years later, more families had stable housing and new jobs.

A basic income pilot in Marin County is helping moms secure housing, buy food, and pay off debt.

The pilot gave $1,000 a month to 125 low-income mothers of color.

A growing number of GBI pilots are targeting parents, aimed at reducing childhood poverty.

Basic income allowed Claudia Muralles to finish her undergraduate degree.

A resident of Marin County, California  located just north of San Francisco Bay  Muralles said she often struggled to afford basic necessities for herself and her young children. She had to decide which bills to pay and which to delay for the following month: car payments, gas, or utilities. For meals, she could rarely afford meat with her rice and beans.

That changed two years ago when Muralles began receiving $1,000 a month through MOMentum, a guaranteed basic income pilot serving low-income moms of color administered by UpTogether, a national nonprofit that has sponsored a series of GBI programs.

For Muralles' family, basic income meant being able to pay bills and becoming more financially secure. With her new college degree, she feels "unstoppable" and optimistic about her future career.

"To me, the empowerment that came through the funds had no price," Muralles told UpTogether. "That sense of control over my money and sense I could do other things is priceless."

First launched in 2021, the program selected 125 mothers with children under 18 to receive no-strings-attached cash for two years. Participants like Muralles had an average annual income of $29,000  which is nearly equivalent to the federal poverty line for a family of four. A third-year extension provided families an additional $7,500, with the last payment in June.

After two years of receiving funds through MOMentum, participants' housing stability improved by 15 percentage points, meaning those families were able to secure fixed and safe living conditions. Almost a quarter moved into new housing during the program. Over three-quarters of participants said their debt was more manageable, had enough food for their family, and spent more time with their children. Meanwhile, two-thirds of participants worked either the same or more hours.

The pilot was a $3 million initiative by the Marin Community Foundation and UpTogether. Like other basic income pilots, participants could spend the money wherever they needed it most, though this program specifically focused on low-income mothers.

Marin County is one of the wealthiest counties in the US  the median family of four brings in about $186,600, according to Marin Housing. It is also one of the nation's most racially disparate areas, per the local nonprofit Community Action Marin.

With basic income, families had more housing and food security

UpTogether reported that basic income positively impacted participants' financial stability, well-being, and food and housing security.

Of the 125 participants, 24 moved into new housing situations, most in safer neighborhoods or with better amenities. The percentage of participants with housing stability rose from 45% to 60%, while the participants reported an 8% decline in homelessness.

The average home value in Marin County, per Zillow, is slightly over $1.5 million, while RentHop estimates the average one-bedroom apartment to rent is over $2,600 a month.

The report found participants used funds to pay down debt and save for the future, such as attending college  nearly half reported being enrolled in an education or training program since the program's start. They also reported less stress regarding unexpected expenses.

Since starting the program, a third of the participants have begun a new job, while 58% have maintained their work hours. Over two-thirds said the program led them to pursue different employment opportunities.

Participants also reported improved health outcomes, partly due to decreased financial stress. More than three-quarters of moms said they worried less about sufficiently feeding their family, and were able to buy more nutritious food items.

Participants were also more equipped to purchase things their kids wanted but weren't essential. About 70% of participants spent more time with their families.

Most participants didn't lose access to government benefits, though the increased income may have contributed to some families losing specific benefits like like CalFresh, a state-level food assistance program that helps low-income residents purchase groceries.

More basic income programs are aimed at parents

Marin County's pilot isn't the only basic program to focus on low-income mothers.

It costs an average of $26,000 a year to raise one child in America. And, per United Way, infants and children living in poverty are also more likely to experience homelessness, food insecurity, and low-educational attainment later in life.

In Flint, Michigan, the Rx Kids program is offering about 1,200 pregnant mothers a $1,500 lump sum and then $500 monthly for their baby's first year. A basic income program in New Mexico also gave $500 a month to mixed-citizenship status immigrant families with children.

Some federal safety nets are also aimed at low-income parents. Women, Infants and Children (WIC), the Child Tax Credit, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) are programs that provide financial assistance or tax breaks to caregivers of young children. Flint even used TANF dollars to fund Rx Kids.

Local leaders and economic security experts are increasingly turning toward GBI as a poverty solution. Compared to federal safety nets like SNAP, Medicaid, or rental vouchers, basic income allows families more flexible spending.

UpTogether CEO Jesus Gerena said in a press release that Marin County chose the basic income model because participants "need cash, not another program."

"The powerful results show that investing in moms and their children has big returns," Gerena said, "Mothers know best and can be trusted to make the decisions that are best for their families."

Have you benefited from a guaranteed basic income program? Are you willing to share how you spent the money? Reach out to these reporters at allisonkelly@businessinsider.com and nsheidlower@businessinsider.com

Read the original article on Business Insider
The BBC admitted the original article may have given the impression that Yunis did not have any prior severe health conditions - BASHAR TALEB/AFP

The BBC has been accused of anti-Israel bias after a report about the water crisis in Gaza wrongly claimed a boy with cerebral palsy was normal and in excellent health before the war.

The online article portrayed the acutely ill nine-year-old as only suffering from malnutrition and dehydration, making no mention of his life-long condition.

The story was pulled from the website on Friday and rewritten before being republished with a note explaining how the original article had not been clear.

The first version of the article, seen by The Telegraph, began by describing Yunis as stretched out, semi-unconscious in hospital his twisted frame being hard to look at.

Speaking from the boys hospital bedside in Khan Younis, Gaza, his mother, Ghanima Jumaa is quoted as saying: My son was in excellent health before, he was normal.

But when he developed this malnutrition and dehydration, he became as you see him now.

The second version removed any suggestion he was in excellent health before the war and made clear that he also had cerebral palsy, explaining that the condition had been dramatically worsened owing to the eight months of war.

A note at the bottom of the new report explained how the original article may have wrongly given the impression that Yunis did not have any prior severe health conditions.

Unaware of condition

It added that the BBC was unaware of his condition when the story was first published.

A picture of Yunis Jamaa with a caption describing him as suffering from dehydration and malnutrition used in the original article was not included in the revised version.

Danny Cohen, the former director of BBC Television, said the original article was another example of misreporting over the conflict which suggested the BBC has an anti-Israel agenda.

This is yet another egregious example of the BBCs misreporting of the Israel-Gaza conflict, Mr Cohen said. Many in the Jewish community will inevitably ask why this keeps happening and why the BBCs ongoing errors all point in the same anti-Israel direction.

The corporation was contacted after CBC News published a similar story highlighting the plight of malnourished children in Gaza caused by the failure to get humanitarian aid into the city.

While that report included pictures of Yunis and quotes from his mother, it made clear the child had cerebral palsy and was meant to have been transferred to Turkey to treat his malnutrition but the border crossing to Egypt had closed, leaving him stuck in Gaza.

The note at the bottom of the revised BBC article says: Amended: This story originally reported on the health of Yunis Jumaa while including quotes which could be taken by readers to suggest that he has no pre-existing health conditions.

The article has been updated to reflect that Yunis has cerebral palsy, which the BBC was unaware of at the time of publication, and to explain that children with pre-existing conditions are especially hard hit by malnutrition and contaminated water.

Previous health condition

A BBC spokeswoman said: When we received new information about the previous health condition of the boy we updated the article accordingly and transparently.

The article was filed from Jerusalem by the BBC correspondent Jon Donnison. Mr Donnison was accused of having an anti-Israel bias in October after he said during a live broadcast that it was hard to see any other conclusion other than Israel military being behind a devastating blast at a hospital in Gaza.

Jonathan Munro, the deputy chief executive of BBC News, subsequently admitted that the broadcasters language wasnt quite right during live reporting.

Mr Munro, who is the director of journalism at the corporation, said: [Jon Donnison] was wrong to speculate about the cause of the explosion of the hospital.

At no stage did he actually say it was caused by the Israelis ... but nonetheless, when the impression is left that weve speculated, [it] is important to correct that which weve done.

Israel insisted it was not behind that explosion shortly before Joe Biden, the US president, concluded that the missile had most probably been fired from within Gaza and was not connected to the Israeli Defence Force (IDF).

After the report, Deborah Turness, chief executive BBC News and Current Affairs, said: We posted a correction after we wrongly speculated about the likely cause of the Al-Ahli hospital explosion, as we also did when we misleadingly described pro-Palestinian demonstrations as demonstrations during which people voiced their backing for Hamas.

She added: In the moments after the Al-Ahli hospital explosion  contrary to many reports  the BBC did not claim that the Israelis were responsible for the attack. We, along with many other reputable media organisations, reported initial claims by Palestinian officials and eye-witnesses at the hospital that this was an Israeli air strike, with hundreds feared dead.

We attributed the claim to those making it. We quickly sought a response from the IDF. As soon as the Israeli authorities countered those claims, we prominently and consistently reported their position.

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.
BBC Sport presenter Emma Jones has announced she is taking a break from work as she prioritises her health.

The presenter took to social media to share the news, in which she said that she had spent more time in hospital than in her own home.

My health hasnt been in a great place for quite some time now and Ive spent more time in hospital than my own home, wrote Jones on X/Twitter. Im taking time away from work/life to focus on getting back to full strength. Ill be back soon.

Getty Images

Related: Suits to air on BBC for very first time

Jones received messages of support in the comment section, with one follower replying: Get well soon EJ, health is the most important thing. Wishing you a speedy recovery so we can enjoy your punditry again.

Another follower also shared details of their own personal health journey as they offered Jones support, writing:  @eljonesuk I am having chemo right now so I know what its like not to be well or feel well. take as much time as you need Emma, your career will be awaiting your return xxx sending prayers and lots of love.

Health before career. Right decision in the long run. Speedy recovery, wrote a third follower, with another adding: Sorry to hear you've been having a hard time if it, wishing you a speedy recovery, take care.

My health hasnt been in a great place for quite some time now and Ive spent more time in hospital than my own home. Im taking time away from work/life to focus on getting back to full strength. Ill be back soon   Emma Louise Jones (@eljonesuk) June 19, 2024

Related: BBC apologises for "inappropriate comment" after D-Day broadcast removed from iPlayer

Take as long as it takes Emma. Everything will be there when you get back and are ready. Health is way more important :) wrote a fifth user, with another adding: Hope youre ok Emma and back to full fitness soon.

Jones joined the BBC in 2021, with her roles including a presenting stint on MOTDX as well as several live sporting events for the broadcaster.

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The Belarusian Ministry of Defence has said that on 21 June it began an unannounced inspection of its troops, including missile, air force and air defence forces, in the regions bordering Ukraine and Poland.

Source: Ministry of Defence of Belarus on Telegram

Quote: "An unannounced inspection of the readiness of formations and military units of the armed forces to fulfil their assigned tasks has begun. Military units and subdivisions of operational commands, special operations forces, missile and artillery forces, air force and air defence forces are involved in the inspection."

Details: The first stage reportedly aims to work out the issues of operational occupation of the designated areas, their preparation in terms of engineering, organisation of security and defence, and taking up combat duty.

After that, military units and subdivisions will have to perform combat training tasks.

"The inspection will involve training grounds and areas in Brest and Gomel oblasts. During this period, there may be movement of military equipment on public roads," the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

Gomel Oblast borders Ukraine, while Brest Oblast borders Ukraine and Poland.

Screenshot: google.maps

Background:

On 11 June, Russia launched the second stage of exercises for its non-strategic nuclear forces. Belarus also joined the exercise.

On 20 June, the State Border Committee of Belarus announced that it had detected an increase in the number of Ukrainian troops on the Belarusian-Ukrainian border; Ukrainian border guards stressed that the defence forces were defending their sovereign territory from the aggressor and that there were no provocations.

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When she went away to San Francisco for college, Jazmin Guzman was told she would experience culture shock in the big city.

Culture shock actually struck her when she returned home to Madera and began to understand that she identifies as a lesbian woman.

Guzmans work for Maderas LGBTQ+ community has played out alongside her own coming out story. She grew up in a traditional Latino household, and not everyone in her family is understanding of her identity.

The hardest part for me coming out was feeling like I was betraying my family, she said.

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Guzman, 27, has worked for the Madera Coalition for Community Justice, a local nonprofit known for providing aid to low income families, since last fall. Much of her work has focused on building a supportive space for LGBTQ+ people in a part of the San Joaquin Valley where they have had to travel elsewhere to seek resources in the past. The coalition has already established an LGBTQ+ support group in Madera and recently received a proclamation from the City Council in honor of Pride month.

On Saturday, June 22, the coalition will hold the citys first-ever Pride event at the community garden on 611 E. 4th St. from 5-8 p.m. There will be food trucks, art vendors and information about LGBTQ+ resources, as well as drag performances.

We want the community to be able to come out and see for themselves who we are, she said. That might change a lot of mindsets  being able to go somewhere where it feels really inclusive and really loving.

The coalitions work has not been without obstacles. The LGBTQ+ community faced significant push-back when it attempted to have the Pride flag raised at City Hall last year. The city ultimately decided it needed to pass an ordinance to fly the Pride flag at City Hall, but has not yet done so.

The Madera Coalition for Community Justice offers resources for LGBTQ+ people. The center is located at 219 S. D St. in Madera.

We just dont have the votes for it, Madera Mayor Santos Garcia told The Fresno Bee on Thursday. Im still optimistic that we will be able to raise the flag at some point in Madera at City Hall, but its going to take some more education in the community and for my colleagues on the (city) council.

Some members of the coalitions LGBTQ+ support group said the accomplishments they have made despite the obstacles are signs that the community has made a lot of progress.

Its about time, said Brenda Barriga, a member of the support group. Madera needed that change.

Maderas first-ever Pride event is happening Saturday, June 22, 2024.

A space between Fresno and Merced

Barriga, 35, said growing up LGBTQ+ in the 90s was difficult in Madera, and it was not always safe to come out. They treated you like you had a disease, she said.

When people feel alone and trapped, they get suicidal, they go through problems, they turn to drugs, alcohol, whatever it may be, Barriga said. I was one of those because I felt alone.

August, a 19-year-old transgender Maderan who is not out to all of his family, said he also experienced the stigma. He began questioning his identity in middle school, when he became aware that he was not straight nor cisgender, a term that refers to people who identify with the gender they were assigned at birth.

I was bullied in school, August said. I was treated sort of like an animal. Thats not the best way to be treated, especially when youre trying to figure out your own identity.

Barriga and August have been able to find support through the Madera Coalition. But barriers to resource access remain a big issue for LGBTQ+ people in the more rural parts of the San Joaquin Valley, said Misty Gattie-Blanco, the Fresno Economic Opportunities Commissions director of Sanctuary and Support Services.

Brenda Barriga, 35, left, and Jazmin Guzman, right, pose outside of the Madera Coalition for Community Justice center Tuesday, June 18, 2024. The center now offers an LGBTQ+ support group.

Gattie-Blanco said the Fresno EOC opened the citys LGBTQ+ Resource Center in 2019 after noticing the need for a physical space  something a lot of the support groups outside of the city do not have. The resource center offers case management and vetted resources, including for transgender medical needs, and also provides transportation to clients when they need it. It has even sent staff as far as Mendota to help people in need.

About 25% of the several hundred people the Fresno EOC serves each year come from outside the city, Gattie-Blanco said, and several of them are from Madera. The creation of the Madera Coalitions support group makes it the first physical space for the LGBTQ+ community between Fresno and Merced.

The Madera support group, which has only been around for a few months, does not offer a comprehensive list of services at this point. As it grows, Guzman said, it could split into groups that serve different age groups and also begin to educate the wider community.

Theyre making history and they are impacting lives, Barriga said about the coalition. I feel like I belong somewhere. I finally feel like I have people that I could relate to, people that are just like me and that understand the same struggle.

Mia Aguilar, Madera Community College student body president, holds the LGBTQ+ Pride flag during a ceremony on campus Monday, June 3, 2024.

Were here, were not going anywhere

Working for the Madera Coalition and establishing the LGBTQ+ support group in Madera has also helped Guzman. Her workplace is an accepting space, but she said things have been difficult at home.

Its that typical story of, my parents came here, they worked really hard for me to have this ideal life that they wanted me to have, Guzman said, and, in a way, youre not fulfilling that goal for them, at least in their mind.

She said she has had to handle the situation with a mixture of grace and assertiveness: standing up for who she is, but also being patient and understanding that some of her family members hold deeply-rooted religious beliefs.

State Center Community College District Trustee Destiny Rodriguez, left, and Mia Aguilar, Madera Community College student body president, right, raise the Pride flag on campus Monday, June 3, 2024.

It is hard in the mexicano culture, the Latino culture, because, no matter what, some people are still going to have those views, Barriga said, Thats why were here to make a difference. Were here, were not going anywhere.

Marco, a gay man who works in education in Madera and chose to only be identified by his first name, said he has also seen the progress the community has made. He also thinks the LGBTQ+ community needs to be better integrated into the wider community.

To have a community be accepting of accepting of us, they also need us see us, he said. It cant just be at events and in areas where were expected to be.

Noe Hernandez, who is in charge of the Madera Coalitions food distributions, said he takes members of the LGBTQ+ support group out with him to drop-offs for that reason: It makes them visible as they provide a community service.

If were helping out in the community, if were showing that were a part of the community, you cant tell us were not here, Guzman said. You cant tell us we shouldnt be represented.

The LGBTQ+ Pride flag flies at Madera Community College on Monday, June 3, 2024.
(KRON)  A Santa Clara restaurant that has been in business since 1972 is set to close its doors. Fiorillo Restaurant has announced the establishments last day of operation will be Saturday.

The Italian restaurant posted on its website, Friends, Yes its true! After 52 incredible years in business, the Fiorillo family has decided to close our doors. Our last day in business will be Saturday, June 22, 2024. Over the years many of you have become like family we thank you for your kindness and support all these years. Hopefully, we will see you on or before June 22. Thank you again.

FBI agents raid property owned by Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao

The eatery is known for its East Coast Italian American cooking style using family recipes. According to the restaurant, in 52 years of serving the Santa Clara community, its philosophy was top-notch ingredients produce the best food.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
Workers aboard a small boat check lines of seaweed and mussels crops at Kriegers Flak offshore wind farm, about 15 kilometers off the Danish coast, Baltic Sea, Denmark, Tuesday June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/James Brooks)

KRIEGERS FLAK OFFSHORE WIND FARM, Denmark (AP)  In a small boat bobbing in the waves between towering offshore wind turbines, researchers in Europes Baltic Sea reach into the frigid water and remove long lines stretched between the pylons onto which mussels and seaweed are growing.

Its part of efforts to explore multiple uses for remote wind parks far out at sea, such as fresh seafood production.

Run by the Swedish state-owned power firm Vattenfall and Denmarks Aarhus University, the four-year project started in 2023 off the Danish east coast at Scandinavias largest wind farm, Kriegers Flak. With its first harvest just 18 months later, it's already showing signs of early success.

Theres an increasing competition for space on land and in the sea," said Aarhus University senior scientist Annette Bruhn, who leads the project. We can, in one area, produce both fossil-free energy and food for a growing population.

With a capacity of over 600 megawatts, Kriegers Flak can power up to 600,000 households. Its 72 turbines deliver clean energy to nearby Denmark and Germany to the south.

But researchers saw other potential within the parks 132 square-kilometer (51 square-mile) area.

The water between its spinning blades has been transformed into an experimental underwater seafood farm.

Four hundred-meter (328-foot) lines spread between the turbines grow seaweed and mussel crops. The seaweed was recently harvested for the first time.

Seaweed and mussels are low trophic aquaculture crops, which means that they can be produced without the use of fertilizers. They take up nutrients from the sea and produce healthy foods, Bruhn said.

Recent Aarhus University modeling suggests tons of fresh seafood could be produced annually by utilizing just a tenth of Denmarks wind park area. Researchers say the benefits could go well beyond food production  mussel and seaweed crops could help improve water quality and capture carbon.

These are non-fed crops that live from what they take up from the sea, they capture emissions instead of having emissions," Bruhn said.

Researchers say now is the time to develop guidelines to encourage companies to plan for multiple uses of the ocean as European nations massively ramp up production of clean energy from wind turbines in the North Sea.

In 1991, Denmark became the first country in the world to install a commercial offshore wind park. More than 30 years later, nearly half of the Danish electricity production derives from wind turbines.

Driven to meet climate targets and reduce energy dependence on Russia, nine European countries, including Denmark, last year announced plans to quadruple current production to 120 gigawatts by the end of the decade, and move to 300 gigawatts by 2050.

Vattenfall bioscience expert Tim Wilms said theres huge potential."

We have so much untapped area within our turbines that is not being used, he said.

In some areas, it makes a lot of sense to combine with sustainable food" while in other areas "we might look into offshore solar.

A growing body of research shows that offshore wind farms can have both positive and negative impacts on local ecosystems.

Offshore projects have been criticized for damage caused to the sea floor during construction, noise pollution and now debunked claims they caused whale deaths.

Meanwhile, the large boulders laid at the base of the turbines to prevent erosion can also act as artificial reefs attracting more marine life and protect from large-scale fishing operations.

Wilms said underwater surveys of older wind farms revealed structures completely transformed, overgrown with different species.

Liselotte Hohwy Stokholm, CEO of Danish think tank Ocean Institute, said more knowledge about multi-use developments was needed to understand how to combine human activities so that great areas of the ocean could become strictly protected areas.

Currently, efforts are on a limited scale, but researchers hope to soon take their knowledge to the extreme conditions of the North Sea, eventually upscaling to commercial food production.

Its very vital that we do it now because theres so many questions we still need to have answered before we can do this in the right way, said Bruhn.

____

Follow APs climate coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomes Hesse state premier Boris Rhein at the German state premiers Conference. The focus will be on migration policy. Hannes P. Albert/dpa

The German government will continue to weigh options for outsourcing asylum procedures to countries outside the European Union and present concrete results by December, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Thursday evening.

His comments came after a meeting with the leaders of Germany's 16 federal states at which migration and asylum policy were the dominant topic.

Calls have been mounting in recent months from the municipalities and federal states, who are responsible for housing and care applicants, to increase funding and reduce the number of arrivals in order to relieve the country's overburdened asylum system.

In a migration position paper agreed ahead of the meeting with Scholz, the 16 state leaders jointly called on the German government to "develop concrete models for the implementation of asylum procedures in transit and third countries and, in particular, to address the necessary changes in EU regulation and national asylum law."

Following the meeting, Scholz said that "it has been firmly agreed that we will continue the process and continue to report on these issues."

Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD) nevertheless expressed scepticism that outsourcing migration to third countries could reduce irregular immigration to any great extent. "I don't believe that this will be a solution to our structural problems," said Lower Saxony's state premier Stephan Weil.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, also of the SPD, had previously expressed a similar view. Third-country deals could be a "building block", but would not fundamentally change the migration situation in Germany, she said.

Italy, UK models not feasible for Germany, Scholz says

Efforts such as Italy's deal to send some asylum-seeking migrants to Albania were out of the question for Germany in view of its different geographical location, Scholz also said.

The same was true for the United Kingdom's model to fly refugees to Rwanda, he said. Both models concern 3,000 and 6,000 people respectively, Scholz said, adding that Germany was facing an entirely different scale.

The conservative opposition CDU/CSU bloc was nevertheless satisfied with the outcome of Thursday's talks.

"We are not going to stop at expert reports, which I very much welcome," Hesse's state premier Boris Rhein from the CDU said.

Politicians from the CDU/CSU in particular have been pushing for a third-country deal, modelled on Italy's draft agreement with Albania to house and process asylum-seeking migrants.

Although this cannot be transferred one-to-one to Germany, it could serve as a model for the EU to follow, they said, noting a country would have to be found that is willing to co-operate.

Berlin to keep pushing for deportations to Syria, Afghanistan

Another major topic of discussion has been possibly resuming deportations of Afghans and Syrians from Germany who have been convicted of serious criminal offences or are suspected of being radical Islamists.

Germany halted deportations to Afghanistan after the Taliban, a radical Islamist group, seized power over the country in August 2021.

But resuming deportations to Afghanistan and war-torn Syria has been a hot-button issue in Germany, particularly in the wake of the slaying of a policeman by a knife-wielding Afghan migrant during an attack in the German city of Mannheim in May.

Scholz came out in favour of resuming deportations to both countries and he reaffirmed his stance following Thursday's meeting.

His government would press ahead with the deportation of serious criminals and "dangerous individuals" to Afghanistan and Syria, he said.

He noted that Interior Minister Faeser had already started talks on the issue which were "on the right track."

Clarity on deportations to Syria, Afghanistan 'soon'

Faeser on Thursday expressed confidence that the country will soon find ways to deport immigrants convicted of serious crimes or deemed Islamist threats to Afghanistan and Syria.

"We are in concrete negotiations on this and are confident that we will be able to achieve this for this group," Faeser told a separate meeting with the state interior ministers from Germany's 16 federal states just outside Berlin.

There are only a small number of such people, Faeser stressed. She said the German government is examining the extent to which repatriation via neighbouring countries would be possible in the case of Afghan nationals, citing Uzbekistan as a country that had been previously discussed.

However, Faeser did not want to publicly name any countries with which talks are ongoing out of fears of "jeopardizing the concrete negotiations we are currently conducting."

Not everyone is on board

The state premiers of Thuringia and Bremen, from the far-left Die Linke party and the SPD respectively, expressed frustration with Thursday's agreements in a protocol declaration.

They questioned whether outsourcing asylum procedures to third countries fulfils the requirements of the rule of law and humanity.

Michael Stubgen, the interior minister in the eastern state of Brandenburg, also expressed scepticism about third-country schemes. The conservative politician said the UK's costly experience with Rwanda has not been encouraging.

"This is a possible project that will be very complicated, which will also not be easy to arrange legally," said Stubgen. "But I am happy to be convinced that it should be tried."

State premier of Bavaria Markus Soeder arrives at the German state premiers Conference. The focus will be on migration policy. Hannes P. Albert/dpa

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomes Rhineland-Palatinate, state premier Malu Dreye at the German state premiers Conference. The focus will be on migration policy. Hannes P. Albert/dpa

Hesse state premier Boris Rhein attends the German state premiers Conference. The focus will be on migration policy. Hannes P. Albert/dpa

Saarland state premier Anke Rehlinger speaks to the media ahead of German state premiers Conference. The focus will be on migration policy. Hannes P. Albert/dpa

President of the Senate and Mayor of Bremen Andreas Bovenschulte arrives to the German state premiers Conference. The focus will be on migration policy. Hannes P. Albert/dpa
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Two men were caught on camera burglarizing a home in Bethel Grove last week.

Memphis Police responded to a home on Kimball Avenue near Boyle Avenue at 2:30 a.m. Friday, June 14.

Gun stolen in Oak Court Mall vehicle burglaries

According to police, two suspects broke into the home and made off with a PlayStation 5, an Apple laptop, money, jewelry, shoes, and clothes.

The burglary was caught on the homes security. Footage released by Memphis Police shows the suspects walking through the home with flashlights. One of the suspects is seen wearing a mask over his face.

No arrests have been made at this time. Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at (901) 528-CASH.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Bezos Earth Fund spends $30 million on facility to research proteins of the future: 'To feed a growing world population in an economically and environmentally sustainable way'

The Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein will be a biomanufacturing hub to create sustainable protein alternatives that are healthy and affordable.

The Bezos Earth Fund is giving North Carolina State University $30 million to create the center. This funding is part of Earth Fund's larger commitment of $100 million to build centers to expand consumers' choice of sustainable alternative proteins, Vegconomist reported.

The Earth Fund was started by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. According to the foundation's website, "The Earth Fund was created by a commitment of $10 billion from Jeff Bezos in 2020 to be disbursed as grants to address climate and nature within the current decade."

North Carolina State will collaborate with academic partners such as North Carolina A&T State University, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Duke University, and Forsyth Tech Community College. Over 20 industry partners will be involved in the center, facilitating technology transfer, student internships, and mentorship programs.

Believer Meats is one of the partners. The company recently opened a commercial-scale facility and is expected to produce 26 million pounds of cultivated meat yearly. It also is expected to create 100 jobs.

The center is also expected to foster job creation because of the biomanufacturing firms it will attract to North Carolina.

Chancellor Randy Woodson of North Carolina State said, "We're thankful for the support from the Bezos Earth Fund that will help drive economic and workforce development in this critical area of sustainable protein production to feed a growing world population in an economically and environmentally sustainable way."

According to Our World Data, food production makes up one-quarter of the world's pollution. Livestock outnumber wild mammals 15-to-1. In addition, the agriculture industry requires large amounts of water, and 70% of freshwater withdrawals go to the industry.

Switching to sustainable proteins could reduce the impact on the Earth. A study published in the Nature Communications journal showed that replacing meat products with sustainable alternatives could reduce 2020 pollution levels from this industry by a third by 2050.

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Other research is also happening around sustainable protein alternatives. For instance, Friedrich-Schiller-Universitat Jena, the University of Bristol, University College London, and the University of Copenhagen have found that blue-green algae could give these alternatives a more meat-like texture.

The blue-green algae is similar to meat because it also contains fatty acids and protein, and the protein resembles meat fibers.

Reducing agriculture pollution can boost the health of communities that live by farms because improving the air quality can benefit heart and lung health.

You can also help reduce pollution in the agriculture industry by buying from brands that offer eco-friendly products and initiatives. Supporting eco-friendly businesses will incentivize companies to treat the planet better.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
The Justice Department under Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday announced indictments charging two leaders of the infamous La Nueva Familia Michoacana Mexican drug cartel. File Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI

June 20 (UPI) -- A Mexican drug cartel smuggling fentanyl and its precursor chemicals as well as migrants into the United States was hit with indictments and sanctions on Thursday, as the Biden administration targets supply chains of the narcotic fueling the nation's opioid epidemic.

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid between 50 and 100 times stronger than morphine, and its analogues contribute to nearly 70% of overdose deaths in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Biden administration has launched a whole-of-government effort to dismantle channels cartels use to get it and its precursor chemicals stateside.

La Nueva Familia Michoacana, one of Mexico's most notorious drug cartels, is involved in not only smuggling fentanyl into the United States but also cocaine and methamphetamine.

U.S. Officials said the cartel produces fentanyl throughout Mexico and sends it through Nuevo Laredo and Tamaulipas/Reynosa into southern Texas via buses.

It has also been accused forcing migrants to carry the drugs over the border under threat of their families lives.

On Thursday, the Treasury sanctioned eight of its leaders and the Justice Department announced indictments against two of them.

"These actions demonstrate that in addition to holding cartel leaders accountable for their crimes, we are working together with our partners at the Treasury Department to hit the cartels' criminal operations where it hurts the most -- their profits," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

"We will continue to mobilize a whole-of-government effort to disrupt the cartels profiting from the drug trafficking and human smuggling that devastate communities and endanger our national security."

Rodolfo Maldonado Bustos, 59, is described by the Treasury as a "powerful and trusted member" of the cartel who is next in-line to Johnny Hurtado Olascoaga and Jose Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga, its leaders who were previously designated by the U.S. government in 2022.

He along with Euclides Camacho-Goicochea, 51, have been charged in a federal indictment announced Thursday with heroin conspiracy offenses.

The charges stem from an investigation launched by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Review Service in 2016, with the grand jury returning the indictments the next year, but they were only unsealed recently.

According to the court documents, Maldonado-Bustos, who also goes by the name Don Jose, was involved in the production of heroin, from directing the the harvesting of gum from opium fields, to procure chemicals needed to turn the gum into heroin and then supply Camacho-Goicochea and others with the drug to take it into the United States.

The proceeds were then sent back to Mexico, with agents in early 2017 seizing some $580,000 from vehicles in the Atlanta, Ga., area that had a final destination of Mexico.

According to the Treasury, Camacho-Goicochea, who also goes by the name El Quilles, has moved "a significant amount of drugs, particularly methamphetamine, to Houston, Texas, and Atlanta, Georgia, among other areas."

Along with Maldonado-Bustos and Camacho-Goicochea, the Treasury sanctioned cartel members Josue Ramirez Carrera, 44, Josue Lopez Hernandez, 47, David Duran Alvarez, 40, Uriel Tabares Martinez, 45, Kevin Arzate Gomez, 31, and Lucio Ochoa Lagunes, 48.

"Treasury has unique capabilities and expertise to target the financial flows of these cartels who are poisoning our communities, and going after them is a top priority for me and the department," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement.

Accompanying the sanctions, the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network released a Supplemental Advisory highlighting ways banks can guard against activity connected to illicit fentanyl.

"President Biden and I are committed to using every tool we have to target illicit fentanyl and its precursor chemicals so we can disrupt these deadly supply chains," Yellen added.

The sanctions, which were imposed with close coordination with Mexico, come after Yellen visited the United States' southern neighbor in December to boost collaboration on trade and the fight against drugs.

According to a report published last month from the CDC, 2023 saw the first decrease in overdose deaths since 2018.

In 2023, there were about 107,540 overdoes deaths, which is a drop of 3% from the 111,030 deaths in 2022, it said, adding overdose deaths involving opioids also decreased from 84,180 in 2022 to 81,80 in 2023.
The Biden administration is issuing a total ban on the use of Kaspersky Labs software over its ties to Russia.

The companys software has been a concern of the U.S. government since at least 2017 because of the Russian governments alleged influence over the software. The Russian government has total access to Kaspersky systems and access to all its customers data, ABC News reported.

Russia has shown it has the capacity  and even more than that, the intent  to exploit Russian companies like Kaspersky to collect and weaponize the personal information of Americans, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said Thursday, according to ABC News.

Raimondo said that while the company had been a concern for a long time, the Bureau of Industry and Security at the Commerce Department was able to ban Kaspersky under its new authority.

The department ultimately decided that given the Russian governments continued offensive cyber capabilities and capacity to influence Kasperskys operations, that we had to take the significant measure of a full prohibition if were going to protect Americans and their personal data, Raimondo said.

After July 20, Kaspersky will not be able to enter new agreements in the U.S. under the ban. Existing customers will have access to the software until Sept. 29, but services will degrade after that, ABC News reported.

Raimondo urged Americans and U.S. businesses to immediately stop using the software but said those who continue to use existing Kaspersky products will not be breaking the law. Users wont be able to update products as of Sept. 20.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement reported by ABC News that the actions are vital to national security and will protect Americans personal information and privacy. He vowed to continue working with various departments and officials to protect our nations most vital systems and assets.

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Biden just erased my student loan debt. If its a campaign ploy, Im all for it | Opinion

The check was mysterious and unexpected; the best kind, really. It arrived in a small, nondescript envelope. Through the cellophane  or whatever those little windows are made of  my full name appeared, printed on very official-looking paper, suggesting it was either a legitimate payout or a meticulously crafted attempt to sell term life insurance.

The good news, at least from where Im standing  which will become clear in a moment if it hasnt already?

It wasnt a fake. There was a real check for $40 inside; not a princely sum, mind you, but better than nothing.

Best of all?

A no-frills statement was attached, revealing a sender: The U.S. Department of Education.

In the simplest terms, it was a refund for the four months of student loan payments Id made since enrolling in President Joe Bidens Saving On a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan.

Indirectly, it also served as a winking nod from Uncle Joe after the U.S. Supreme Court Dikembe Mutombod his first attempt at student loan relief, subtly imploring me to go online and pull up my account, just to see where things stand which is precisely what I did.

Two decades ago, I borrowed roughly $10,000 attending The Evergreen State College. Earlier this year, having made payments under the terms offered by various lenders and consolidators since graduation, I still owed more than the day I received my bachelors degree  thanks to the interest accrued.

Today, my outstanding balance is $0.

Biden did it, in other words. He made my student loan debt disappear without celebration or fanfare beyond a few vague emails and a surprise $40 kickback  almost like it was orchestrated in the shadows, something better left unspoken for fear of jinxing it.

Critics of the Presidents efforts to forgive millions in student loan debt will call it a blatant abuse of power and a desperate campaign ploy designed to buy votes ahead of Novembers election. At least 18 Republican-led states are now attempting to thwart the Biden administrations SAVE plan in federal court.

To suggest that political realities havent factored into the Biden Administrations decisions and timing would be daft.

Still, Im not complaining or apologizing  and neither should anyone whos been tossed a surprise student loan lifeline.

As things stand, Bidens complicated legacy now includes providing tangible debt relief to a select but significant number of Americans.

Its historic, unprecedented and continues to be extremely divisive.

For a generation of college students exploited by the commodification of higher education and an unchecked system, meanwhile, it has the potential to be monumental, unshackling hard-working Americans from a senseless weight thats done nothing but hold them back.

As far as (alleged) campaign gimmicks go, thats not bad.

SAVE plan debt cancellations

In 2020, delivering meaningful financial relief for millions of borrowers  in the form of student loan cancellation for some  was a Biden campaign promise.

Whether it helps the incumbent president come Novembers general election, now that hes waist-deep in the political muck trying to make good on his pledge, is another matter entirely.

With more than 40 million borrowers owing a total of $1.77 trillion in loans, according to the Federal Reserve, recent polls suggest the toll of student loan debt will be a significant factor for voters this year. Its also an issue that continues to sharply divide the electorate.

When it comes to Bidens approach to the issue?

Well, you have to give the old dog credit for perseverance and creativity.

When a Supreme Court jam-packed with conservative justices invalidated Bidens big-splash play to erase or reduce student loan debt for an estimated 43 million borrowers last year, he didnt sulk or make excuses; he went full Dark Brandon.

Almost immediately, Biden pivoted, turning his attention to arcane authorities provided under the Higher Education Act, including the secretary of educations power to waive student loan debt in certain cases.

Simultaneously, Biden unveiled his administrations contentious SAVE plan, which immediately cut student loan repayments to $0 for millions of qualifying borrowers.

Earlier this year  despite the ongoing legal challenges it faces  students enrolled in the SAVE plan who originally borrowed less than $12,000 and had been paying on them for at least 10 years began to have their debts canceled. Thats the lucky category I apparently fell into. The order, originally scheduled to kick into gear next month, was fast-tracked to act as quickly as possible to give more borrowers breathing room, according to the president.

In April, Biden announced his most ambitious post-Supreme Court rejection plan yet  this one promising some form of debt relief for more than 30 million Americans, provided it survives the lawsuits it seems destined to incite

Biden laid it all out on the campaign trail, during a stop in Wisconsin, including his vision for canceling up to $20,000 in interest for student loan recipients who now owe more than they originally borrowed.

During a visit to the same state earlier this week, Trump described Bidens approach to student loan debt relief as a vile publicity stunt. In his typical deranged and incoherent way, the former president equated loan cancellation to illegal amnesty for immigrants and later blamed it for a ballooning federal budget deficit (as if the corporate tax breaks he championed dont factor in).

Heres whats certain: With less than five months until presidential votes are cast, dont expect the screeching sound bites or hyperbole to cease any time soon.

The nations student loan crisis wont magically vanish overnight  even if my loans did. Until theres a real solution, the debt suffocating borrowers whose only real mistake was trying to make something of their lives by attending college in a broken system will continue to hang over us all.

Late last month, the Biden Administration reported that 4.75 million people had received some form of debt cancellation to date, to the tune of $167 billion.

If were lucky  and the country, however frothing and divided it may be, comes to its senses and denies Trump another term in the White House  itll be only the start for Uncle Joe.
A major new development could dramatically reduce undocumented immigration to the United States, which has become a top issue in the campaign for the November elections despite a recent drop in illegal border crossings.

Heres the novelty: Panamas President elect Jose Raul Mulino, who takes office July 1, is proposing a deal with the Biden administration to shut down the Darien jungle corridor on his countrys border with Colombia - one of the main corridors for undocumented immigrants to the United States.

Last year, more than 500,000 migrants from Venezuela, Cuba, and other countries crossed the Darien jungle on their way to Mexico and the U.S. border.

Mulino told me in an extended interview that he intends to change his countrys outgoing governments hands-off policy toward undocumented migrants and start to detain them and repatriate them back to the countries where they are coming from.

Im very motivated, very decided to cooperate with the Biden Administration from our country to find a solution to this problem that is taking place in the United States, Mulino told me.

He added that he wants to start daily repatriation flights to send undocumented migrants from Panama to their countries of origin.

The United States should pay the cost of this operation because it is a U.S. problem, Mulino told me. Today, the U.S. border isnt in Texas; its in the Darien in Panama.

Mulino said he has already discussed the idea of starting daily U.S.-paid repatriation with U.S. diplomats, and hopes to explore it in greater detail with Bidens envoy to his inauguration ceremony. Although it hasnt been confirmed yet, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is likely to lead the U.S. delegation, he added.

Mulino conceded that it would be difficult and too expensive to fly them all back to neighboring countries, but he said that the repatriation flights would discourage most potential migrants from embarking on the dangerous journey through the jungle.

After we send the fourth, fifth or sixth repatriation flight to Colombia or Venezuela, people are going to think it twice before risking their lives crossing the jungle, Mulino told me.

Asked how much money he will ask the United States to help pay for the repatriation flights, Mulino said its something to be discussed in the upcoming bilateral talks. But its going to cost a lot of money, he added.

Some diplomats and immigration experts note that, with one repatriation flight a day, Panama would only be able to send back about 10 percent of the estimated 1,200 undocumented migrants who are crossing the Darien jungle every day. That would hardly make a difference in the overall number of undocumented migrants, they argue.

But supporters of Mulinos plan say Panama could send more than one repatriation flight a day, and get U.S. intelligence and perhaps even law enforcement advisers to stem the flow of refugees.

John Feeley, a former U.S. ambassador to Panama, argues that the U.S. government is already paying for deportation flights from the United States and that it could find the funds to pay for such flights out of Panama in a matter of weeks.

The United States should pay for the flights, Feeley told me. The Department of Homeland Security already has a significant budget for repatriating undocumented aliens out of the U.S. If there is sufficient will, they will figure out relatively quickly how to include flights originating in Panama.

There may be several reasons why Mulino is pushing for the idea of starting a repatriation airlift out of Panama.

As a former security minister, he is very aware that the Darien jungle has become a hotspot for people smugglers, drug cartels and organized crime. In addition, the jungle crossings are creating human rights problems for Panama. Many migrants die victims of diseases, or at the hands of criminal groups.

In addition, Mulino may want to solidify Panamas status as a top U.S. ally, in sharp contrast with Nicaragua, Honduras or other Central American governments that are either anti-American, or have tense relations with the United States.

Mulino may also want to become a visible leader in regional affairs, in part to assert his own political profile separate from that of former Panamanian president Ricardo Martinelli. Mulino won the elections thanks to the support of Martinelli, who was convicted for money laundering and is holed up at the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama.

The Biden administration would be smart to strike a deal with Mulino and pay for the migrants deportation flights out of Panama. It would help Biden to control the migration flow better, and to expose Republican hopeful Donald Trumps false claims that there is an alleged invasion of migrants.

According to U.S. border patrol data, the flow of migrants through the U.S. border has fallen by 40% during the first four months of this year compared with the previous four months. A deal with Panama to reduce the Darien jungle crossings would lower the migration numbers even more and save many lives along the way.

Dont miss the Oppenheimer Presenta TV show on Sundays at 9 pm E.T. on CNN en Espanol. Blog: andresoppenheimer.com
Biden overtakes Trump in polling average for first time this year

Joe Biden has now taken a small lead over his rival - Timothy Clary/Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty

Joe Biden has overtaken Donald Trump in polling averages for the US presidential race for the first time this year.

Mr Biden now has a small but significant lead over his Republican rival, whose numbers have gradually eroded since he was convicted in his hush money case last month.

Three weeks ago, the US president trailed Trump by 1.7 per cent nationally, according to the 538 polling aggregator.

Mr Biden has now pushed ahead with a 0.1 lead after the polls steadily narrowed since Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records on May 30.

Although Trump retains his lead in the elections battleground states, all of them show a swing towards Mr Biden, Axios reports.

However, in a further reversal from the early months of the race, Trump has now raised more money than his rival, after his conviction spurred donations to his campaign.

In the seven battleground states, polling shows a swing of at least 1.1 per cent towards Mr Biden since Trump was convicted at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York.

The Democrat appears to be heading for victory in two of the states: Michigan and Wisconsin, where he has a 0.5 per cent lead in both.

In Michigan, polling averages show that Trump had a 1.1 per cent lead on May 30, which was cut in half the day after his conviction and gradually evaporated over the following weeks.

Swing state polling, as it stands, suggests the Republican would claim more than 270 electoral college votes and win the election.

However, it gives Mr Biden, who now brands his rival a convicted felon, some much-needed momentum less than five months away from polling day.

The polls suggest that Trump had huge momentum in the spring that has been blunted, Mark Penn, a former pollster to Bill Clinton and Tony Blair, told The Telegraph. But Trump continues to have an edge in swing states.

However, he cautioned against reading too much into the data, given the margin of error and developments in the race over the coming months.

Is Trump four points ahead or two points behind? Polls at this point are not that finely accurate, nor is the electorate set, Mr Penn said.

And there are scaled events about to occur, such as 50 million people watching a [presidential] debate, which are big enough to affect the polls.

Joe Biden, here with First Lady Jill Biden, might now have the momentum with the election less than five months away - Shawn Thew/UPI/Shutterstock

Recent filings to the Federal Election Commission show Trump has assembled an imposing war chest to fight the rest of the presidential campaign in the crucial final months.

He has lagged well behind Mr Biden and critics have lambasted his team for failing to pivot from the battles of the Republican primary onto an election footing.

However, filings for the end of May show the Trump campaign had $116.6 million in the bank, compared to $91.6 million for Mr Biden.

On May 30  the day Trump was convicted in New York  and May 31, the Republicans campaign said it received at least six times as many daily donations compared to a typical day.

Trump in Detroit: since his conviction on May 30, the Republican has attracted millions in campaign funds - Bill Pugliano/Getty

Timothy Mellon, a reclusive GOP donor, handed $50 million to Make America Great Again Inc., a pro-Trump Super PAC, a day after the trial concluded. It is one of the largest single donations ever disclosed in US political history.

However, Mr Biden outspent his rival almost four-to-one, investing heavily in political advertising and funding his campaigns more developed infrastructure.

Jim Merrill, a Republican strategist, said that Trumps fundraising muscle and swing state polling put him in a stronger position at this stage of the race, but added that the situation could change rapidly.

The Biden campaign is clearly prepared to make this a referendum on Trump to try and drive [Nikki] Haley voters, moderates and independents away from him, as well as distract from the reality that Bidens approval numbers are historically low, he said.

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(Bloomberg) -- President Joe Bidens campaign raised $85 million in May, falling short of the total raised by Republican rival Donald Trump for a second straight month, a troubling development for the incumbent before their November rematch.

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While the presidents May total tops the $51 million that he and the Democratic Party raised in April, Trump, in the past two months, has likely cut deeply into Bidens once sizable fundraising advantage, with the president and his party having roughly $100 million more cash on hand than his rival at the end of March.

Trump raised $76 million in April to top Biden in monthly contributions for the first time and the presumptive Republican nominees campaign saw a surge of $141 million in May  a fundraising boom that came amid his historic conviction on charges of falsifying business records to conceal hush-money payments to an adult film star.

The Biden campaign sought to highlight his cash on hand, pointing out that even after launching a $50 million ad buy targeting swing-state voters and opening more than 200 offices with more than 1,000 staffers, the campaign still had $212 million in the bank  a record for a Democratic candidate at this point in the election cycle.

Trump didnt say how much he had in the bank, but his campaign and the RNC reported having $171 million cash on hand. That total doesnt include all committees supporting him. That drops the Biden campaigns financial edge to $41 million at the end of May from $100 million at the end of the first quarter.

Earlier: Trump Rakes in $141 Million in May, Aided by Guilty Verdict

Bidens operation had its second strongest month for grassroots fundraising, the campaign said in a statement on Thursday night. It grew its active email lists, used in part to solicit donations from small-dollar donors, by 3 million more subscribers in May. Since launching, the campaign has 2 million donors whove collectively given nearly 5.6 million contributions.

The jury verdict in Manhattan, which made Trump the first former American president to be found guilty of a felony, saw Republicans rally behind their standard-bearer. He raised $52.8 million alone in the 24 hours after the jurys decision. Trump has also been ramping up his appeal to big-dollar GOP donors and business leaders, holding big-ticket fundraisers throughout May.

The president has previously mocked Trump as broke Don and repeatedly joked about his predecessors campaign being crushed by debt as the presumptive Republican nominee dealt with mounting legal fees that drained his coffers.

But the Biden campaign is now seizing on Trumps fundraising gains, sending emails and text messages to highlight his post-conviction cash infusion. Biden has escalated his fundraising, including with events in Los Angeles and just outside Washington that saw him enlist the aid of former Democratic presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.

Last Saturday night, Biden took part in a high-powered Hollywood fundraiser with Obama and celebrities including George Clooney, Julia Roberts and late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel that the campaign said brought in more than $30 million. On Tuesday, Biden was joined at a Virginia fundraiser by Clinton and his wife, former secretary of State and onetime Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, for an event that raised $8 million.

Campaigns and party committees faced a Thursday deadline to file reports on their May fundraising and spending with the Federal Election Commission. Trump voluntarily released his numbers earlier this month. But the self-reported totals dont paint a full picture of the money race. The amounts do not include donations to joint fundraising committees which have a separate deadline, July 15, to file their disclosures to the FEC.

Biden, who did not face a serious primary threat, was able to stockpile cash earlier in the race, unlike Trump who was forced to contest an expensive primary campaign. The presidents team has hired staff across seven states seen as likely to determine the outcome of Novembers presidential election, as well as other states such as Virgina and Florida.

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(Bloomberg) -- President Joe Biden is trumpeting his efforts to resettle more than 100,000 refugees to the US  the highest total in three decades  after coming under fire from allies and immigration groups for his recent crackdown on asylum claims on the border.

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The milestone, announced Thursday to coincide with World Refugee Day, may help restore Bidens standing with progressive and Latino lawmakers who earlier this month expressed alarm after he used executive authorities also invoked by former President Donald Trump to curtail undocumented migration.

Trump, who is again seeking the presidency this November, dramatically limited refugee resettlements during his time in office, citing security concerns and warning voters of a flood of refugees.

But Biden aides believe the process, which legally resettles those facing persecution, has widespread political support. Refugees undergo extensive security screenings, and Biden has expanded entries from countries like Ukraine that garner political sympathy with US voters.

The top source countries for refugees over the past year were the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Syria and Venezuela, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity.

On this day, we reaffirm our solidarity with refugees, Biden said in a written statement.

The refugee announcement wasnt Bidens only attempt to win back immigration activists this week. On Tuesday, the president announced a separate step to fast-track green cards for eligible spouses of US citizens.

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Negotiations on Ukraine and Moldova joining the European Union will begin on Tuesday, June 25, the Belgian government announced on Friday.

"This is a big day for Ukraine, Moldova, and the European Union," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on X.

Belgium, which is acting on behalf of EU member states until the end of this month, said on X that ministers had approved the negotiating plans for talks with the two countries, allowing the negotiations to begin next week.

"Becoming an EU member is our path to peace, prosperity, and a better life for all citizens," said Moldovan President Maia Sandu on X, who added that the first round of talks will be held in Luxembourg.

Ukraine and Moldova applied for EU membership after Russia's full-scale invasion of the former in February 2022. Moldova, like its larger neighbour Ukraine, has a breakaway region called Transnistria that aligns itself with Russia.

But the start of talks does not mean the two countries will be joining the EU any time soon: every step of the process requires unanimous agreement among current member states, and several other countries have been waiting far longer.

"Ukraine's path to today has not been easy, involving a revolution and a war. But, thanks to the Ukrainian people's bravery, we have not let anyone or anything derail our historic trajectory," Kuleba said.

"Ukraine has also set a record by moving from the EU membership bid to the start of negotiations in just over two years, faster than any other candidate in history."

He said this was achieved with "no discounts."

"Ukraine diligently met all of the requirements and implemented critical reforms to enable this historic day. We accomplished this despite fighting a total war for our survival," he said.

EU leaders formally recognized Ukraine and Moldova as candidates for membership one year ago, in June 2023.

They granted candidate status to Georgia in December 2023, at the same time as agreeing to open talks with Ukraine and Moldova.

The other official candidates are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey.

The last country to be admitted to the EU was Croatia, which joined in 2013. Romania and Bulgaria joined in 2007 and 10 countries joined in 2004.
MORRLITON, Ark.  Morrilton residents said they breathed a sigh of relief after a manhunt in the area for an armed fugitive accused in multiple killings came to an end.

Authorities captured 50-year-old Stacy Lee Drake, who is accused of multiple killings and carjackings in Oklahoma and Alabama, Thursday morning, nearly three days after investigators found his stolen vehicle outside a Morrilton motel.

LIVE UPDATES: Search for armed suspect in Oklahoma killings ends, suspect in police custody

That three day window saw teams from the Morrilton Police Department, Conway County Sheriffs Office, Arkansas State Police and U.S. Marshals scouring the area looking for the fugitive, as law enforcement and locals asked the same question  where was Drake?

Joellen Stapp, who lives in Morrilton and drove by the scene Thursday afternoon, said she is glad the search is over.

Im just glad that they caught him, Stapp said. My daughter gets off late and then my granddaughter goes to school right here. Im just shocked (where he was found). Its over here by the school. Im just glad they werent in school.

Murder charges filed against Alabama man for double homicide in Sequoyah County

Jennifer Evans, the assistant manager of Fireworks TNT Morrilton down the street from where Drake was captured, said the past few days have been scary.

We didnt put up all of the (fireworks) signs that would block the view, Evans recalled. I had heard the sirens going and the choppers heading that way, and I figured that they had him. It was a big sigh of relief.

Arkansas family member of victim killed in Oklahoma reacts to manhunt for suspect

As for Jesse George, he said on Wednesday he was afraid to step outside his house after speaking with police.

They knocked on doors and let us know that he was in the neighborhood, George said.

He said he stayed up all night until he saw the police presence Thursday morning in the woods behind his neighborhood.

I came out this morning and I saw the helicopters flying over, George said. It was very disturbing to me that he was so close to my house.

Many people said they were thankful that the police were able to capture Drake and hope they can go back to a sense of normal.

Alabama man wanted in connection with multiple killings seen in Morrilton, police search underway

Drake was taken into custody without incident Thursday morning. The Arkansas National Guard and the Arkansas Division of Community Correction also assisted in the search.

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In 2022, Earl Fowlkes, a Black gay activist, denounced tobacco companies for marketing e-cigarettes to his community as the latest way to hook people on nicotine.

A year later he declared that vaping saves Black and LGBTQ+ lives.

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Fowlkess promotion of looser e-cigarette regulations, which came as he developed a relationship with an industry trade group, illustrates how the tobacco industry has expanded alliances with activists representing Black, LGBTQ+ and other disenfranchised groups to defend products public health experts say are harmful. Anti-tobacco activists say these partnerships help companies gain credibility among regulators and lawmakers as vaping groups lobby the Food and Drug Administration to approve more e-cigarette products and tobacco firms fight a Biden administration plan to ban menthol cigarettes.

Fowlkes said he did not directly receive any industry money but he said a private donor whose identity he would not disclose paid for a report released by his D.C.-based organization, the Center for Black Equity, that lobbyists widely cited to support e-cigarettes.

As the tobacco industry faces increasing federal scrutiny, some of the industrys biggest names are supporting causes important to civil rights activists. Juul, a major e-cigarette manufacturer, courted the Rev. Al Sharpton and his activist group, the National Action Network, with a multimillion-dollar smoking cessation partnership, according to court documents.

Reynolds American, which makes Newport, the nations top-selling menthol brand, donated to the National Action Network and to scholarships run by civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, and has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to organizations representing Black law enforcement officials and Black newspapers, according to the recipients. Representatives of those groups went on to meet with Biden administration officials to oppose the menthol ban. Sharpton and Crump have previously said the donations did not influence their position; neither responded to requests for comment.

Opponents of a ban said it would discriminate against Black smokers, 81 percent of whom smoke menthol cigarettes, according to a federal survey. They have invoked the specter of police violence, arguing that law enforcement would target Black people who turn to an illicit market for menthol cigarettes.

Tobacco companies have long funded Black organizations to gain political power and customers, said Valerie Yerger, a founder of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council. Billions of dollars are at stake, with menthol cigarettes making up a third of the more than $65 billion in annual cigarette sales. The vaping industry, with at least $2.76 billion in e-cigarettes sales in 2021, is trying to expand its market by selling itself as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes.

The industry is picking up their activities using a playbook they had created decades ago, said Yerger, a health policy professor at the University of California at San Francisco, who wrote a paper 20 years ago detailing how the tobacco industry partnered with Black organizations. We will always have individuals within these communities who will take money and find a way to justify their relationships with this industry.

Fowlkes, who plans to step down as president and chief executive of the Center for Black Equity in July, said neither he nor his group has directly received industry money. A longtime smoking critic, Fowlkes said he still supports banning menthol cigarettes even as he has softened his stance on vaping as a way to help people stop smoking carcinogenic cigarettes.

I have a right to change my mind as Ive done over the course of my 30 years of doing this work, said Fowlkes, citing his evolution from skepticism to support of needle exchanges to prevent HIV. I just believe that we should have more tools in our toolbox to combat cancer.

The activist groups that did receive money from the industry have said that it did not influence their opposition to banning menthol cigarettes.

The National Action Network said it followed the lead of the mother of Eric Garner, who police killed in 2014 after approaching him for illegally selling loose menthol cigarettes. There was a real concern that a ban on just menthol cigarettes, which had been sold in stores for generations and targeted to Black communities, would lead to law enforcement issues, Ebonie C. Riley, a National Action Network executive, said in a statement.

Gwen Carr, Garners mother, said Reynolds made a small donation to the foundation she set up in her sons memory. She said the money had no impact on her opposition to a menthol ban, which she worried would spur more police harassment of Black Americans.

Advocates for the menthol ban say its especially galling to co-opt Black Lives Matter messaging to defend cigarette companies because far more Black Americans die of smoking-related illnesses than at the hands of police. Menthol flavors make cigarettes easier to smoke because of the cool, minty taste and can be more addictive by enhancing the effects of nicotine on the brain, experts say. One study estimated 157,000 Black Americans died prematurely between 1980 and 2018 because of menthol cigarette use.

The Biden administration has repeatedly delayed its plans to ban menthol cigarettes after Black opponents of the ban warned such a move could alienate the presidents Black supporters ahead of the election, according to administration officials. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has said officials need more time to consider the feedback from civil rights and criminal justice activists. Proponents of the ban condemned the delays.

Were talking about a product that, when used as intended, will kill up to half of all consumers prematurely, said Mitch Zeller, the FDAs top tobacco regulator until his retirement in 2022. How that has gotten bollixed up into being a political issue and framed as social justice to me is beyond ironic, given the disproportionate toll that menthol takes on Black Americans.

- - -

Reynolds, Juul court Black organizations

In Detroit, the Rev. Horace Sheffield told The Washington Post he had turned down offers of up to $250,000 from Reynolds representatives to oppose a menthol ban. His mother smoked even as emphysema ravaged her lungs and died at the age of 43, when he was a teenager.

The folks who offer the money want to prostitute us against whats in the best interests of our own people without any regard for how that impinges on our own integrity, Sheffield said.

Sheffield said that a Black activist he mentored told him he had received significant money from the industry and that Sheffield could receive even more because of his stature and the impact of switching sides. Sheffield had called for a ban in an opinion piece for the Detroit Free Press in 2022. Sheffield had previously provided text messages of the Reynolds outreach to the Michigan-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism, a nonprofit news outlet.

Reynolds did not address Sheffields allegations, but defended its overall practice of donating to Black-led organizations.

Like many other companies, Reynolds supports organizations that offer perspectives on issues that are important to our consumers, Luis Pinto, a Reynolds spokesman, wrote in an email to The Post. Reynolds does not make financial contributions conditional upon organizations maintaining a particular position.

Juul also steered millions of dollars to Black institutions and civil rights groups, according to internal documents released this year through a settlement in a lawsuit filed by the state of North Carolina alleging the company misrepresented the danger of nicotine, derived from tobacco, to attract young customers. The documents, some of which were first reported by STAT News, showed how Juul saw political and financial advantages in cultivating these relationships.

In a 2019 memo, Juuls senior director of strategic partnerships wrote, Without a politically broad array of voices validating the companys brand, creating a positive echo chamber, with regulators and policymakers, the company could be irreparably harmed.

Juul partnered with the National Action Network in 2018 to run a tobacco cessation campaign, according to the documents. A $7 million budget proposed by the National Action Network to mobilize clergy and youths in nine states included $500,000 for advertising with African American media outlets and another $500,000 to collect data from the Black community for research purposes. The emails show Juuls then-chief executive Kevin Burns authorizing an initial $500,000 payment to the civil rights organization for a pilot program in Detroit. Riley of the National Action Network said the organization ultimately decided to stop working with Juul because we determined from a review of their data that it was not as safe an alternative as billed.

Stefanie Miller, Juuls vice president for external affairs, said the company cultivated relationships with groups serving marginalized communities to end higher rates of smoking traditional cigarettes. She noted that some of the organizations initiated contact for partnerships and funding.

We believe its not only appropriate but necessary to engage with organizations who represent these underserved communities, Miller said in an interview. Not for us to tell them how best to meet their needs, but to collaborate with them and work with them on figuring out ways to minimize this health inequity.

Public health experts say longtime smokers may benefit by switching completely to vaping, while cautioning that e-cigarettes still pose risks through nicotine addiction and harmful chemicals in the vapor. The effects of long-term use are still being studied.

In 2019, Juul donated $7.5 million to Meharry Medical College, a historically Black school in Tennessee, to fund research on public health issues affecting African Americans. School officials say they had autonomy in how to use the money. A Juul internal memo describing the business rationale for the donation said the schools reputation is unparalleled among communities of color and low-income communities and the impact of their research helps to inform the policy recommendations made by national organizations like the NAACP, National Urban League, the Congressional Black Caucus and other key stakeholders.

Juul also forged a deal with a coalition of Black and Hispanic media that provided the company an opportunity to shape news articles promoting its products in up to 600 regional and local publications. Ron Burke, a sales representative for the National Newspaper Publishers Association, a network of Black newspapers, wrote to Burns and other Juul executives offering to provide editorial support, including an article reviewed by the company before publication, as a great way to maximize your messaging, according to an August 2018 email.

Several weeks later, Anita Grace, a business development executive for the National Association of Hispanic Publications, emailed a Juul executive to request content, press releases, articles etc. to arm their journalists.

An article promoting Juul, written by a senior news reporter, ran in English and Spanish on the associations platforms in August 2018 after company officials received drafts and offered edits. It is against journalism ethics to allow story subjects to edit drafts of news stories and for media organizations to receive payment for coverage, according to the Society of Professional Journalists. Miller declined to answer questions about Juuls dealings with the newspapers because, she said, the company officials involved have left Juul.

Burke told The Post the arrangement with Juul was a typical advertising relationship, and it was an oversight that the article wasnt labeled as sponsored content, a form of advertising.

Grace said sponsored content would have been labeled as such. The Spanish-language version of the article is no longer online, but social media posts promoting it and an archived image of how the article appeared on the homepage did not include such disclosures.

Juul also tried to woo the NAACP, according to a 2018 email from Juul executive Deryck Spooner recapping a dinner with top NAACP officials, including President Derrick Johnson, during the Congressional Black Caucuss annual policy conference.

Johnson told The Post that his organization later rebuffed Juul after concluding the companys argument that vaping would end addiction to cigarettes was shaky.

It was no different than Big Tobacco, Johnson said. It was targeting our communities with flavors so that individuals would become addicted.

- - -

Vaping industry finds Black, gay ally

The news release from the Center for Black Equity calling on the FDA to approve a full range of nicotine e-cigarettes bewildered antismoking activists who once worked with Fowlkes.

Since Fowlkes founded the nonprofit in 1999 to support Black gay pride celebrations around the world, the center also developed a reputation as an advocate for public health, promoting coronavirus and mpox vaccination in disenfranchised communities. He even served as an adviser to the National African American Tobacco Prevention Network.

For years, tobacco companies offered Fowlkes five- and six-figure checks to sponsor Pride events, he said. He always turned them down, accusing companies of masquerading as allies in order to addict us to their harmful products and grow their customer base, Fowlkes wrote in an opinion piece for the Advocate magazine in August 2022 that also condemned e-cigarettes.

But now Fowlkes was publicizing the findings of a new report commissioned by his organization: Switching from smoking to vaping saves lives and health-care costs, it concluded in October 2023. The report was written by an economic advisory firm.

Fowlkes said he had begun to warm to the idea of vaping when he watched a television program about how longtime smokers were able to quit by switching to e-cigarettes.

Soon, the Center for Black Equity would be cited in a flurry of opinion pieces urging looser vaping regulations. Its report was mentioned in op-eds by former representative Ed Towns (D-N.Y.), a Black congressman turned lobbyist; Kellyanne Conway, a former top Trump aide who has conducted polling for vaping interests; and Rob Beamon, a Black former Olympic long-jumper who said Towns got him involved.

Fowlkes told The Post that Campbell Spencer, a consultant for the Vapor Technology Association, had helped him raise roughly $30,000 to commission the report on the major benefits and moderate risks of vaping. Hours after The Post contacted Spencer for comment, Fowlkes said he was mistaken about the consultants involvement in raising financing for the report. He said the money came from a private donor who he would not name. Fowlkes did not respond to further questions about the inconsistencies of his account.

Spencer and the Vapor Technology Association each said they did not play a role in the reports funding.

The Vapor Technology Association made the Center for Black Equity a fixture in its campaign to pressure the FDA to loosen restrictions. The industry group ran ads on X and Politicos Playbook newsletter, widely read in official Washington circles, promoting an op-ed by Fowlkes that argued wide approval of e-cigarettes would reduce cancer among Black and LGBTQ+ Americans. It cited the Center for Black Equity report in commercials describing e-cigarettes as beneficial for public health equity given higher smoking and death rates in Black and LGBTQ+ communities.

Fowlkes said the Vapor Technology Association offered what he described as in-kind support, which consisted of promoting his report online and to other policy advocates.

They have access to people that I dont have access to, Fowlkes said. I had to find a way of getting some traction.

Spencer told The Post that the vaping association reached out to LGBTQ+ groups because it wants to save lives.

Its about starting a dialogue with these groups around the importance and effectiveness of tobacco harm-reduction that absolutely must include noncombustible nicotine alternatives, she said in an email.

Fowlkes, who also leads the LGBTQ caucus of the Democratic National Committee, signed a letter organized by the vaping association urging the FDA to soften its approach to e-cigarettes - a fact the industry used to try to gain credibility in its attempt to get other LGBTQ+ groups to sign on.

Spencer touted Fowlkes support and included him on an email to Scout, the executive director of the National LGBT Cancer Network, which promotes tobacco cessation.

Scout, who legally goes by one name, said he was taken aback that his longtime colleague in activism had teamed up with an industry group to promote a product he once criticized.

They do such a great job of dividing underserved populations and turning us against ourselves and hiding their influence, Scout said.

He declined to sign.

- - -

Dan Diamond contributed to this report.

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A billboard by I-135 and 17th that says Warning Racial Profiling Zone aims to help increase the reporting of police racial profiling in Wichita.

The number of racial profiling complaints reported by the Wichita Police Department to the Kansas Attorney Generals Office each year dropped off dramatically in the latest period. There were 10 complaints reported by Wichita police in the year ending June 30, 2021, 11 the next year and then one in the year that ended June 30, 2023.

Of those, 18 were unfounded, two were still being investigated and one doesnt list a conclusion.

In the year that ended in mid-2023, an additional four complaints were reported directly to the Kansas Attorney Generals Office. Three were determined to be outside the authority of racial or other bias-based policing. One simply said no reply had been received.

Faith Martin, vice chair of the Racial Profiling Advisory Board that paid $1,000 for the billboard, says the numbers reported are low based on what they hear from others in the community.

What were hearing is the same kind of mistrust thats in the community regarding policing in general affects people wanting to make a complaint, Martin said. When we have so many complaints that come back as unfounded, and Im not saying they werent unfounded  either it is being underreported or the investigations when they are reported maybe arent thorough  I think (the billboard) was just a call for us to get more data.

In an email, Wichita police spokesperson Andrew Ford said the Wichita Police Department takes racial profiling very seriously and will strive to address any concerns raised by our citizens

(WPD) is committed to ensuring fair and impartial policing practices within our community, Ford said. Chief (Joe) Sullivan is dedicated to fostering a culture within the department where the use of discretion and education are at the forefront of our engagement strategy. The department has been proactive in developing and implementing policies limiting pretext stops to ensure officers focus on safety concerns.

He mentioned programs the department has done for years, including Lights On, which allows officers to give drivers a voucher to get their lights fixed, and Second Chance Thursday, which helps people with city warrants to set up a new court date.

This combination of departmental culture, legislative action, training, transparency, community programs, and oversight illustrates a comprehensive and committed approach to eliminating racial profiling, he said. We are dedicated to fostering a relationship with the community we serve that prioritizes fairness, safety, and mutual respect.

The police department has denied its Citizen Review Boards request for racial profiling data.

The billboard says share your story and directs people to its website, racialprofilingwichitaks.com, where you can contact them or make a complaint.

The advisory board can also help walk you through making a complaint if you feel youve been profiled.

Since the billboard went up May 24, Martin said, theyve heard from people about others reportedly being racially profiled. The digital ad will be removed by the end of June.
Billboard comparing Trump to Castro coming down  to be featured on the side of a truck

A billboard that compared former President Donald Trump to the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro is coming down near the Palmetto Expressway.

Now, itll be rolling down the road alongside South Florida drivers instead.

The billboard, which went up on Monday, drew backlash from some members of Miamis Cuban community for likening Trump to a dictator. Critics said the parallel was historically inaccurate and an affront to exiles.

Claude Taylor  the founder of Mad Dog PAC, the political-action committee behind the original billboard  told the Miami Herald the Castro message will be taken down and replaced on Saturday with a new image showing Trump in an orange jumpsuit, a judges gavel swinging down opposite to him, with the words Convicted Felon towering above the scene.

The Castro-Trump billboard will be replaced in South Florida by one identical to this one displayed in Las Vegas, Nevada.

READ MORE: No to dictators, no to Trump: Billboard on Palmetto draws outrage, agreement in Miami

A jury in New York found Trump guilty last month of 34 felony charges related to hush-money payments to a porn star with whom he allegedly had an affair. The former president claims hes the victim of a political witch hunt, while his critics have seized on the convictions to argue hes unfit to hold the office that he is trying to regain this year.

The advertisement likening Trump to Castro, meanwhile, will be featured on the side of a box truck that will drive around the Miami area through the weekend, Taylor said. That same truck will then head to Atlanta ahead of the first presidential debate between Trump and President Joe Biden on Thursday, June 27, Taylor said.

The Castro billboard is coming down, and the convicted-felon billboard is going up, Taylor said. And Ive got a new billboard truck with the same message hitting Miami. Itll be on the streets tomorrow.

U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, a Republican from Miami, said in a written statement she had been in touch with Lamar Advertising, the company that owns the billboard space, and that its vice president and general manager for South Florida had notified her they would be removing it promptly.

The truth forces them to adopt this measure. I am glad that they are doing the right thing and showing solidarity with the pain and suffering of the Cuban community in exile, said Salazar, who is Cuban American.

Not on my Loteria card

Not all Hispanic Republicans were angry about the billboard.

Cubans shutting down the freeway in protest over billboards comparing Trump to Castro wasnt on my Loteria card but Im here for all of it! Mike Madrid, a GOP political consultant and co-founder of the anti-Trump group The Lincoln Project, posted on X.

Meanwhile, some Democrats and detractors of the presumptive Republican nominee praised the ad, saying there is a resemblance between Trump and the late Cuban dictator, who brought communism to Cuba in the late 1950s.

The same bad faith MAGA Cubans losing their minds over this accurate billboard message  citing the offense of comparing Fidel to Trump  are the same MAGA hypocrites who were dead silent when MAGA @marcorubio absurdly compared our U.S. justice system to Castros regime show trials, Miami Democratic pollster Fernand Amandi said on X.

He was referring to comments that Rubio, a U.S. senator from Florida, made on Fox News comparing Trumps criminal case to trials of former officials of the government of former Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. Many of them were then executed by the Castro regime.

The billboard is the latest example of how the politics and histories of Miamis immigrants are a key part of domestic politics in South Florida. Local and national politicians appealing to Miamis communities often use words, images and comparisons that are familiar to them. That includes Democrats calling Trump a caudillo  a stereotypical Latin American strongman  or Republicans accusing Biden for being socialist in the style of left-wing Latin American leaders.

On Friday afternoon, Salazar informed her constituents via social media that the advertising company had told her the Castro billboard would be removed at midnight that day.
These bills would ban all Ohio voting machines  and make our elections less safe | Opinion

Ohio has one of the lowest rates of voter fraud in the country. But you might not know that if you listened to Republicans at the Statehouse who are ready to spend hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to "solve" a problem that doesn't exist. And even worse, their supposed fix could make this November's election needlessly burdensome by banning all voting machines and forcing ballots to be counted by hand.

That's the chaos that could ensue if lawmakers pass House Bill 472 and Senate Bill 274, which propose a host of changes to Ohio's voter ID and election cybersecurity laws.

Voter fraud and the need to fix our "rigged" election system have been prevailing GOP talking points since Donald Trump lost the 2020 presidential election, despite the fact no credible evidence of widespread fraud has ever been proven. In fact, a record-setting six million votes were cast in Ohio for the 2020 presidential election and only 27 were found to be fraudulent. In case you're having trouble with the math, that's 0.0005% of the statewide vote.

When I see that incredibly low number, I think about how hard it is to cheat in Ohio and the exceptionalism of our elections system  one secured by repeated logic and accuracy testing, rigorous employee training, auditing and federal and state certifications. When Republican lawmakers see that same number, they think of an existential crisis that demands millions of your hard-earned tax dollars to avoid.

The Hamilton County Board of Elections audits three election results from the 2021 election. The audit is run by a bipartisan group, hand checking ballots selected at the roll of dice. Secretary of State Frank LaRose holds a press conference to instill confidence in the Ohio election accuracy and process.

Ohio isn't Belarus, Russia, Myanmar or Somalia, where ballot box manipulation and voter intimidation are rampant. The state GOP needs to stop acting like we are.

Republicans beholden to Trump have been spreading this narrative about election insecurity for the past four years. This fearmongering has resulted in only 22% of Republicans having high confidence that votes in the upcoming presidential election will be counted accurately, according to a recent Associated Press-NORC for Public Affairs Research poll. This has allowed Republicans to pass policies like HB 458  one of the most restrictive voter ID laws in the country that sound helpful, but in actuality do nothing and are costly to taxpayers. Decade-long studies have shown that voter ID laws have no affect on voter fraud.

This year, Ohio Republicans are once again trying to sell election security bills that aren't merely ineffective at deterring fraud, they might actually be detrimental to security measures already in place.

SB 274 would make Ohio elections less secure

Sen. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, a sponsor of SB 274, said in a press release the new cybersecurity regulations contained in the bill are designed to stop "bad actors" (who she didn't define) from interfering in U.S. elections. The only problem? These regulations fundamentally misunderstand how cybersecurity actually works.

Take, for instance, the bills requirement for all voting machines to have blockchain ledgers. If a "blockchain ledger" sounds like jargon to you, thats because it is.

"There is no blockchain voting system on the market today, and the systems that we do already have do the things that the folks who are concerned about this want the blockchain to do," Hamilton County Board of Elections Deputy Director Alex Linzer said.

The bill also would require any Ohio voting machine to be VVSG 2.0 compliant, a standard set at the federal level for the next generation of voting machines.

"There are no voting machines in this country that comply with this standard," Linzer said. "If this bill were passed, every voting machine in the state of Ohio would be decertified."

That means Ohio's 88 counties would have to abandon $114 million worth of voting machines  ones that have never been breached by a cyberattack and have been used in dozens of safe, secure elections. It would also mean these counties would have no choice but to hand count over six million votes, three times each, without a single computer to back up the count.

That doesn't sound secure to me. It sounds like a recipe for disaster.

Bad actors manipulate the voter, not the vote

Since it's clear the bill's authors don't understand how cybersecurity works, I thought I'd talk to some experts in the field. Dr. Richard Harknett, director of University of Cincinnati's School of Public Affairs and Co-Director of the Ohio Cyber Range Institute, said while hackers could hypothetically influence an election by manipulating a vote count, it's "really, really hard to do," and there is no evidence this has happened in the U.S.

Because all 88 Ohio counties use different voter registration, voting machine, and electronic poll vendors, our state has a decentralized voting system of offline voting machines designed to keep hackers from breaching a voting machine.

"There are foreign actors that don't particularly like our form of democracy, and they don't really care who necessarily wins or loses, but they want to break down our ability to function as a society," Harknett said.

Instead of manipulating the vote, foreign actors opt for the easier route: manipulating the voter.

"If you're an adversary, and your strategy is to create more division and undermine trust, you don't actually have to affect the vote  you just have to appear that you affected the vote," he said.

Through divisiveness campaigns, foreign actors use bots on different internet platforms to repeat polarizing rhetoric designed to undermine Americans confidence in the electoral system. So when Ohio Republicans like Jim Jordan and Bob Gibbs propagate myths and unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud, they are furthering the destructive work of the "bad actors" they claim to want to stop.

And there's more. The bills requirements to publicize information about Ohio voting machines  including contracts, software information, and livestreams of vote receptacles  could help malicious actors gain intelligence.

"If we do good cybersecurity practices and then make that information public, we're doing our adversaries' homework for them," Harknett said.

No one is suggesting we shouldn't remain vigilant about our election security or that voter fraud doesn't exist. But spending hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars for a problem that only affects 0.0005% of the vote is a blatant waste of money. Especially when there are so many other areas  such as affordable housing and education  where our state government could be spending those dollars to improve people's lives.

The County Commissioners of Ohio and the Ohio Association of Elected Officials, both bipartisan organizations, think the bills are a bad idea. I do, too.

The real election security threat isn't at the ballot box; it's on the internet and in the Statehouse, where both foreign adversaries and Ohio Republicans are sowing seeds of untruth and mistrust in our elections system.

(Editor's note: Cybersecurity analysis from Dr. Harknett is for informational purposes only and is not endorsement or opposition of any pending legislation.)

Meredith Perkins is an intern on the Opinion team at the Enquirer and currently attends Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, studying English and diplomacy. She is a native of Independence, Ky.

Meredith Perkins, newsroom intern on the editorial page team, pictured, Monday, June 3, 2024, at The Cincinnati Enquirer newsroom in Downtown Cincinnati.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio voter ID, election bills create more problems than they solve
GOP Rep. Bob Good of Virginia is promising calls for a full recount in the closely watched 5th Congressional District primary election against state Sen. John McGuire.

Were going to have a full recount. We are going to have a full investigation, its going to stretch out for a couple of weeks, Good, who also raised questions about the integrity of the election, said Thursday on Steve Bannons War Room podcast.

The comments mark Goods first on-camera remarks since Tuesdays primary, when he left his election night watch party without addressing the media, instead saying in a post on X that the race is too close to call.

Good is narrowly trailing McGuire as of Friday morning. Good can request a recount if the margin remains within 1 percentage point.

CNN has not yet made a projection in the race.

Weve got lawyers at the ready. Thankfully, a tremendous number of lawyers at our disposal, Good, who previously denied the 2020 election results, told Bannon.

Its the swamp versus the Freedom Caucus, Good later added. Are we going to allow this seat to be bought by the (former House Speaker Kevin) McCarthy revenge tour? We are going to make sure that every  to the best of our ability  every legal and legitimate vote is counted.

McGuire has the backing of both McCarthy and former President Donald Trump.

McGuire wrote on social media Wednesday, There are still a few votes left to count, but its clear that all paths end with a victory.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
SUPERIOR, Wis. (WFRV)  The body of a missing man from Duluth was found in a river in northern Wisconsin after he was last seen fleeing from a traffic stop nine days prior.

According to the Douglas County Sheriffs Office, the body of a missing man from Minnesota was found in the Pokegema River on June 17. The man, identified as 43-year-old Ryan Lahti, was reported missing around June 14 to the Duluth Police Department by family members.

Authorities say that Lahti was last seen fleeing into the woods from a traffic stop done by Douglas County Sheriffs Deputies on June 8 around 8 p.m. An extensive search was done at the time of the incident, but Lahti was not found.

Headquarters of Wisconsin ice cream manufacturing company vandalized, one suspect arrested

On June 17, his body was reportedly found partially submerged in the Pokegema River around 4:50 p.m.

Multiple agencies are assisting in the investigation and a cause of death is pending the results of an autopsy.

No additional information was provided.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
Boeing 737 inexplicably flies 500 feet over neighborhood: Thought it was gonna hit my house

A Southwest Airlines passenger jet flew worrying close to an Oklahoma City suburb early Wednesday morning, triggering an altitude alert.

According to data from Flightradar24, the plane descended to about 525 feet above the ground as it passed over Oklahoma City suburbs on the way to Will Rogers World Airport. The Boeing 737-800, which had taken off from Las Vegas, was flying over Yukon at the time, roughly nine miles away from the airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration said an air traffic controller notified the Southwest pilots of the altitude alert after an automated warning sounded around 12:05 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Southwest 4069, low altitude alert. You good out there? the air traffic controller asked just after midnight Wednesday, according to an audio archive of transmissions provided by LiveATC.net.

Yeah, were going around, 4069, one of the pilots responded. The air traffic controller then told him to maintain 3000 feet.

An altitude alert is issued when an aircraft is at an altitude which, in the controllers judgment, places the aircraft in unsafe proximity to terrain, obstructions, or other aircraft.

It woke me up and I thought it was gonna hit my house, one person commented. (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

According to reports, the plane had been cleared to land on a visual approach from the northwest but was still nine miles from the airport.

The aircraft quickly regained altitude and circled for a safe landing at another runway just after midnight.

An investigation has now been launched into the incident, which sparked discussion on social media.

It woke me up and I thought it was gonna hit my house, one person commented.

On Thursday, Southwest Airlines said it was in contact with the FAA.

Southwest is following its robust Safety Management System and is in contact with the Federal Aviation Administration to understand and address any irregularities with the aircrafts approach to the airport. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees, a Southwest spokesperson said.
Boeing launched the Starliner on June 6 despite a host of issues a decision it may come to regret - REUTERS/Joe Skipper

Boeings Starliner was sitting on Cape Canaverals launchpad in Florida when a small but crucial issue with the spacecrafts 191ft booster rocket brought the countdown to a halt.

The US aerospace giant had been hired by Nasa to ferry two astronauts  Sunita Williams and Barry Butch Wilmore  to the International Space Station (ISS) under a contract worth $4.2bn (3.3bn).

But on May 6, engineers found that a valve used to regulate the rockets flow of oxidizer  which is mixed with fuel in a combustion chamber to create thrust  was creating an audible buzzing sound, forcing them abort the mission.

This first sticky valve has been followed by a cascade of further issues. Yet on June 5, Nasa and Boeing pushed ahead with the launch anyway.

Now, with the malfunctioning Starliner and its passengers stranded in orbit for two weeks longer than planned, it is a decision they may regret.

Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita Williams are stuck in orbit for two weeks longer than planned - Cristobal Herrera-Ulashkevich/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The company is in a deep crisis. The optics of it are terrible, says Rob Adlard, the chief executive of British space launch company Gravitilab. Space is super hard, but it does contrast with SpaceXs successes.

The Starliner problems are a fresh blow to Boeing, which has been battling a reputational crisis since a major safety failure on one of its 737 Max 9 passenger planes in January.

At 16,000ft, about nine minutes into an Alaska Airlines flight that took off from Portland, Oregon, pilots were forced to turn around and make an emergency landing after a door plug blew out  depressurising the cabin and leaving a hole in the side of the aircraft.

In the wake of the incident, Boeing has faced tough scrutiny from regulators and calls from customers to overall its approach to safety.

The seemingly small valve issue found on May 6, which affected the Starliners Atlas V booster rocket (built in a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin), is typical of the minuscule problems that can play havoc with complex rocket launches.

Boeing has been battling a reputational crisis since a door blew out mid-flight on one of its planes in January - National Transportation Safety Board via AP

On spacecraft, these valves control the flow of important gases such as helium as well as oxygen and other propellants. Boeing was previously forced to fix corroded valves in the Starliner which were found in 2021 after 13 failed on the launch pad.

Starliner, which was originally commissioned for a crewed mission in 2017, has been plagued with issues that have cost Boeing more than $1bn, from software glitches to parachute problems.

The setbacks mean Boeing has fallen behind Elon Musks rocket company, SpaceX, which has also partnered with Nasa to ferry astronauts into space. SpaceXs Dragon spacecraft has been carrying out regular trips to the ISS since 2020.

After Mays discovery of Atlas Vs faulty rocket valve, more problems followed. As engineers tackled the problem, they realised Starliner was suffering from a helium leak.

The gas is used as a pressurant to push propellant into the thrusters, meaning a leak can cause them to fail. Worryingly, during the resulting testing, the leak  which was traced to a bad seal  appeared to get worse, Steve Stitch, Nasas crew programme manager, said at the time.

Fixing the leak would have required separating Starliner from the Atlas rocket, causing longer delays, and Nasa and Boeing decided it was possible to proceed safely anyway. Boeings Starliner manager, Mark Nappi, even said the delay had a silver lining because the company had discovered the helium issue ahead of the mission.

Boeing's setbacks have allowed Elon Musk's rocket company, SpaceX, to race ahead - SpaceX via AP

Starliner eventually launched at 10.52am on June 5. But mid-flight, with its crew sleeping, more helium leaks were detected and five of the spacecrafts 28 thrusters failed as it approached the ISS. Wilmore and Sunita were forced to undertake manual manoeuvres in space in a docking sequence that took an hour longer than planned.

A further valve issue was also uncovered, with one valve in the reaction control system, which helps steer the spacecraft, failing to shut properly. Starliner is now relying on a backup B valve instead.

Now, Nasa and Boeing have the complicated task of double-checking Starliners systems and troubleshooting as many of the in-orbit issues as possible to ensure a safe return home.

In a news conference on June 18, Stitch said one thruster, B1A3, only fired at 11pc of its expected power during a hot fire test, and will remain switched off for the remainder of the mission. He said the helium leaks and the thruster problems seem to be related.

Starliner had been scheduled to return on June 14, but now will not undock until June 26.

On the ground at the Marshall Space Flight Centre, experts are also testing copies of Starliners helium seals by purposely damaging a seal, cutting a seal, looking at leak rates to assess the impact, Stitch said.

Boeing and Nasa are confident the craft can return, but they are being kept in orbit to conduct more tests on why the problems keep occurring. Stitch said the team wanted to make sure were really ready to come home. Nappi, of Boeing, told journalists on Tuesday: We have a good, safe spacecraft.

Adlard, of Gravitilab, said the issues sounded fixable, adding that some problems may have emerged as components perform differently in the absence of gravity.

Chris Welch, a consultant and former professor of space engineering at the International Space University in Strasbourg, said: All these components are like links in a chain that all have to work in synchrony.

Valves in particular are very little, fiddly things that have to operate very precisely, under a wide temperature range and under challenging conditions.

You can simulate them as much as youd like, but you can never really be sure how they are going to work until you actually put them out in the field.

Should Starliner experience further delays, the ISS has months worth of food supplies, while the craft can remain docked for up to 45 days.

While helium has been gradually leaking out of the craft, it still has enough for 70 hours of flight  and it only needs seven to make it home.

Nasa, at least, insists its astronauts have confidence in Boeings craft, with hopes that its next flight can go ahead early 2025. You can tell every time they get in the vehicle, said Stitch on a call with reporters, they love Starliner.

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Matthew Perry, 54, passed away last year from acute effects of the drug Ketamine, according to the autopsy report.

As many fans know, the "Friends" actor had a history of alcohol and drug abuse but had reportedly been clean for 19 months. Perry had been open about his addiction struggles, something that he battled throughout filming the hit television show. He publicly described his severe addiction to alcohol and Opioids, specifically Vicodin, as he was prescribed the drug to help treat pain after a 1997 jet skiing accident.

Following Matthew Perry's tragic death, police have opened an investigation linked to another celebrity who went to rehab with the "Friends" actor.

One Celebrity Was Questioned 'Multiple Times' By Cops

MEGA

The LAPD launched a criminal investigation in May, working with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, into the circumstances surrounding the "Friends" star's death on October 28, 2023, after he was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home.

They have basically been on the hunt for Matthews killer, an insider exclusively told In Touch earlier this week, adding that a woman was brought in for questioning. Shes a celebrity in her own right, and they met in rehab. They formed an unexpected friendship.

As The Blast reported, Matthew Perry's autopsy revealed the actor passed away from acute effects of the drug Ketamine," a drug that he was using as part of therapy to combat depression.

Although Perry was undergoing Ketamine therapy, the autopsy report noted that the Ketamine found in his system could not have come from his treatment, as the drug's half-life is only a few hours, and his last known session was over a week prior to his death.

Investigators, therefore, suspect that Perry obtained the fatal dose from another source  which led them to the woman in question.

Cops Obtain Search Warrant

MEGA

When law enforcement arrived at the sober living home with a search warrant, the unnamed celebrity was out exercising. However, when she returned, she was in total shock and had no idea what the search warrant was about."

The woman, who is widely recognized for her marriage to an A-list celebrity, claims she was not involved in his death and has since hired lawyers.

Its tough to say or know exactly what her role is [in Perry's death], but shes adamant she had nothing to do with that, the insider told the outlet. Shes hired lawyers and has had multiple meetings with law enforcement since they arrived at her sober living house with a search warrant. Shes being tight-lipped about the situation. But the investigators must have known something to get a warrant and turn up like that.

LAPD Searches The Celebrity's Sober Home

MEGA

She was completely "cooperative" with the police, and she was not handcuffed or arrested.

She wasnt expecting what happened to happen, the insider told In Touch. The officers searched her room, and she surrendered everything. She was completely cooperative.

At this time, it is not clear what the LAPD was looking for, "but the inquiry was tied to the investigation into how Matthew acquired the drugs that killed him," according to the insider.

In Touch knows the celebrity's identity but has not disclosed her name due to sensitivities in the ongoing investigation.

Matthew Perry Has Gone To Rehab 15 Times

MEGA

Matthew Perry's struggle with addiction to alcohol and drugs led to the loss of millions of dollars and months in rehab, but ultimately, he regained control of his life and started helping other addicts as well.

He entered rehab for the first time in 1997, undergoing a 28-day program at the Hazelden Betty Ford facility in Minnesota.

Unfortunately, that still wasnt enough to get me to quit drinking, he said, per PEOPLE Magazine. Leaving the hospital, he crashed his Porsche into a house, which he says was his low point. Though alcohol or drugs werent in his system that day, it showed him how much his life spiraled out of control.

Matthew Perry Tried To Get Sober

MEGA

On February 23, 2001, he said something changed. I cant describe it, because bigger things were taking place that I cant put into words, he said.

I didnt get sober because I felt like it, he told The New York Times. I got sober because I was worried I was going to die the next day.
No, Corbyn would not have been a better prime minister than Johnson.

Boris Johnson is not Rishi Sunaks biggest fan. But the calculated rudeness of not cutting short his summer holidays to post a leaflet or two for the man he blames for booting him out of Number 10 pales into insignificance compared to the psychodrama surrounding Jeremy Corbyn and Keir Starmer. After serving in his shadow cabinet, branding the Absolute Boy his bosom pal, and pledging fealty to his agenda whilst running for the Labour leadership, Starmer has spent the last four years trying to make his predecessor an unperson in true Stalinist fashion. If Corbyns independent run in Islington North is successful, one can imagine Starmers face turning puce if he is picked to speak at PMQs.

As such, Starmer telling last nights Question Time audience that Corbyn would have been a better Prime Minister than Johnson leaves a poor taste in the mouth. He said he only stuck with his predecessor as he was sure hed lose. Now we know the real reason  blind hatred of Johnson. Being a moralistic prig by nature  a ticket inspector cloaked in legalese  one can see why Starmer might not be Johnsons biggest fan. He has the perpetual disdain of a class nerd continually overshadowed by a more glamorous classmate.

Of course, for all his campaigning talents, Johnson was incapable of running Number 10. But he has also never found himself by the grave of dead terrorists, called for armies to be abolished, or suggested that Russia be handed the evidence from the Salisbury poisonings. Johnson may have scunnered the Tories. But they were not investigated by the EHRC over anti-Semitism. In 2019, voters had to choose between a man whod been a great Mayor of London, and a man who was plainly unfit for office.

Even if Johnson let his voters down, he still deserves our thanks for keeping Corbyn out of Number 10  and Starmer should hang his head in shame for trying to get him there.

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Boy who attacked sleeping children at private school Blundells with hammer guilty of attempted murder

A boy has been found guilty of attempted murder after attacking two sleeping students and a teacher with hammers in a devastating rampage in the middle of the night at a private school.

The 16-year-old was wearing just his boxer shorts when he bludgeoned the two boys and a housemaster at Blundells School in Tiverton in Devon.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had claimed he was sleepwalking during the horrific incident on 9 June last year, and that he kept the weapons in his room in fear of a zombie apocalypse.

After a trial lasting more than a month at Exeter Crown Court, a jury found the boy, now aged 17, guilty of three charges of attempted muder on Friday.

Mr James Dawes KC, prosecuting, had told the court how the boy had climbed up to where his victims were sleeping in cabin-style beds before smashing a hammer on their heads, arms and backs.

These blows smashed their skulls, said Mr Dawes.

After being awoken by the noise, housemaster Henry Roffe-Silvester went into the bedroom before he was also struck over the head with a hammer.

Mr Roffe-Silvester retreated down the corridor with the defendant attacking him again and again with the hammer around his face and head, Mr Dawes said.

A paramedic responding to the attack described the bedroom as a scene from a horror film.

A colleague added: I have served in Iraq and had never seen such a scene of carnage, with blood over the desks, over the walls and the beds.

Both the boys attacked suffered skull fractures and are living with the long-term consequences of the attack, said Mr Dawes, but added they had no memory of the incident.

The defendant, who gave no comment to questions in police interviews, told the jury he had not been conscious at the time of the attack.

Giving evidence to the jury, he said he remembered going to sleep before the attack, then seeing the dormitory covered in blood.

I didnt remember doing anything so the only rational thing I was thinking was that I was sleepwalking, he said.

Expert Dr Mark Pressman also described the attack on Mr Roffe-Silvester as a textbook example of sleepwalking violence and said there were no features in the case inconsistent with sleepwalking.

And relatives of the defendant also told the court about a history of sleepwalking in their family.

However, the jury members, who heard how the boy had been using his iPad in the moment before the assaults, reached their verdict after 40 hours of deliberation.

Concluding the opening of the crowns case, Mr Dawes said a police investigation had uncovered an obsession the defendant had with hammers and one of the boys.

It may not be palatable, and it may not be particularly logical, but it appears to be an obsession which he carried out, he said.

Parents pay up to 46,000 annual fees for full boarding students at Blundells School, which was opened in 1604.

Among its past pupils is Sir Christopher Ondaatje who made his fortune in a business in Canada before returning to live in the UK. He is the brother of Michael Ondaatje who wrote The English Patient.

The schools alumni also includes R.D. Blackmore, who wrote the romance novel Lorna Doone in 1869, and physiologist Archibald V. Hill, who helped rescue thousands of academics from Nazi-dominated Europe.

On Friday, trial judge Mrs Justice Cutts said she would adjourn sentencing for the preparation of pre-sentence reports, including a psychiatric report, and would pass sentence on 18 October.

Detective Inspector Dave Egan, of Devon and Cornwall Police, welcomed the jurys verdict while thanking paramedics who responded to the incident, providing life-saving assistance to those injured.

He added: The assaults were both brutal and savage and I believe that his intent was to kill.

Our detectives worked tirelessly to prove that the offender had indeed been fully conscious when committing this horrendous attack  which had been pre-planned.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (WKRN)  Brentwood Assistant Police Chief Jim Colvin is receiving a major promotion next year. On March 1, 2025, he will become the citys fifth chief of police.

This is an incredibly important position, and we have been very intentional in our succession planning within the police department, Brentwood City Manager Kirk Bednar said. I have complete faith that Jim Colvin is the right person to lead the Brentwood Police Department for years to come. Jim is known for his professionalism, his integrity, and probably most importantly his compassion. The residents should take comfort that weve found another great leader for that department.

According to officials, Colvin joined the Brentwood Police Department (BPD) in December 2004, serving as a patrol sergeant, a detective, a patrol lieutenant, and a captain over the citys Patrol Division over the last 20 years. Then, in 2022, he was named assistant chief of police.

Robbery suspect hit by vehicle after jumping over I-65 divider during police chase

Throughout his career, Colvin has worked to make a positive impact on the Brentwood community and the people he encounters, the city said in a press release on Friday, June 21. In fact, Brentwood produced a video recently that included a profile of Colvin, describing a friendship he developed with a young man he previously arrested.

Even though Colvin grew up in Chicago, his family later moved to Memphis, where he graduated from Bolton High School before he earned a bachelors degree in criminal justice at the University of Tennessee, Martin. After joining BPD, officials said he received his masters degree in emergency management from Jacksonville State University.

Colvin is set to attend the elite FBI National Academy, Session 291, in July at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia, where he will join some of the best law enforcement officers from around the world for the 10-week program. He is only the third person from BPD to attend the academy.

Murfreesboro Police Department offers pay increase for new and existing officers

I am grateful for the support of Chief Hickey, Kirk Bednar, and our City Commissioners, Colvin said. Im extremely proud of the men and women of the BPD and the investment they make in our community. Our officers, dispatchers, and professional staff are dedicated public servants of the highest quality. I am honored to represent the department in the Chiefs position and look forward to continuing to serve the citizens of Brentwood.

Colvin and his wife, Angie, have three children: Sarah, Finley, and Cooper.

According to officials, BPD was established in 1971, but the first chief, Howard Buttrey, served until his retirement in 2000. He was succeeded by Ricky Watson, who retired in January 2012. Jeff Hughes  now the sheriff of Williamson County  was Brentwoods police chief until he retired in 2022. Earlier this month, BPD Chief Richard Hickey announced plans to retire in February 2025.

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Brooklyn ride-share driver shot in head during clash with two men

A 52-year-old ride-share driver was shot in the head during a violent clash with two men on a Brooklyn street, police said Friday.

Cops responding to a report of an assault in progress around 10 p.m. Thursday found the victim shot in the head and leg inside his Mercedes van outside an apartment building on Lincoln Place near Underhill Ave. in Prospect Heights, cops said.

EMS rushed the victim to New York Presbyterian-Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where he remained in critical condition Friday.

Two men in black hoodies were seen running away from the scene and a firearm was found inside the car, police sources said. No arrests have been made.

It was not immediately clear if the victim was being robbed by the two men when he was shot. A motive was not immediately disclosed.

Cops were scouring the area looking for surveillance footage that could help them identify the two suspects.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  There is still tension between Buffalo officials and the current property owner following the Tuesday night fire that ripped through several buildings in the Cobblestone district.

The big question now is, whats next for the charred buildings?

The Buffalo Preservation Board held a meeting on Thursday. Although the fire was not on the meetings agenda, board members did speak out about what can be expected for the future of these historic structures.

Gwen Howard, chair of the city of Buffalo Preservation Board started the meeting by thanking the Buffalo Fire Department for its cautious yet successful effort in putting the fire out.

They could have gone in and just started to bash away, but they didnt, Howard said. They were cautious about what they did. They protected the historic structure. They understood its importance and they did a great job putting out the fire while still preserving what could remain so that the work can continue there.

Weve been fighting to save this building for 15 years: Buffalo preservationist speaks out on Cobblestone District fire

Following the fire, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown announced the city will not be pursuing an emergency demolition. Howard says this is a decision she strongly agrees with for several reasons, one being the local economy.

There is a significant economic benefit in our community from the historic structures that we have, Howard said. That comes from people coming to visit the community and spend money here as visitors. That comes from movies coming here and filming. Theres been significant investment in our movie industry.

In terms of what the process to re-stabilize these buildings would look like, Howard explained it would take about a year. She said it wont start until the city has a resolution of the eminent domain case with the current property owner, Darryl Carr.

Carr says he had to attempt to get the property taken down. He described it as contaminated and said anyone would be able to vouch for that.

Howard said the city is likely not going to get into new development at 110-118 South Park Ave. She says its likely it will be made available to another developer.

There have been several buildings that were burnt out and were later rebuilt. Some of those include the Market Arcade building, the Webb building on Pearl St., and the Whites Livery Stable on Jersey St.

All of those were vacant, and once stabilized they were able to stand for quite some time while project planning occurred, Howard said.

Howard also spoke about whats next after the fire at The Old Pink on Monday. Since Allentown is also a historic district, she says the Buffalo Preservation Board has a say in what might go into the lot now that the bar and restaurant has been demolished.

Any new construction that would be put in where the Old Pink Flamingo was would still come through the preservation board, Howard said. There are standards on new construction. That doesnt mean that every building is a replica of a historic building, but it does mean that it has the appropriate scale, size, level of detail, organization, rhythm and geometry that would fit in with that historic district.

Latest Local News

Trina Catterson joined the News 4 team in 2024. She previously worked at WETM-TV in Elmira, a sister station of WIVB. See more of her work here.

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Brendan McQuaid, president of the New Hampshire Press Association and president and publisher of the New Hampshire Union Leader, kicks off the annual Excellence in Journalism Contest Awards Banquet in Manchester on Thursday night. (Dana Wormald | New Hampshire Bulletin)

The New Hampshire Bulletin took home 11 awards at the New Hampshire Press Associations annual Excellence in Journalism banquet on Thursday night. The honors for 2023 were presented at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at St. Anselm College in Manchester.

Ethan DeWitt and Hadley Barndollar each won a pair of first-place awards. DeWitt was first in the Feature Writing category for his piece on legislation to ban gender-affirming surgeries for minors. He also took the top honor in the Spot News category, for his coverage of a groundbreaking school funding court order.

Barndollar, who is now the statewide enterprise reporter for MassLive, won first place in Environmental Reporting, for her piece on New Hampshires lingering problem with the harmful chemicals known as PCBs. She also won in the Government Reporting category, for a story about homeowners being taxed on the remediation of another class of forever chemicals known as PFAS.

The Bulletin also won several second- and third-place awards, including for Journalist of the Year, with senior reporter Annmarie Timmins finishing second and DeWitt third. First place went to Michaela Towfighi of the Concord Monitor. Timmins also finished second in Political Reporting for her story about the future of the New Hampshire primary. She received a third-place award in Health Reporting for her story on the challenges for those seeking to live independently rather than in a nursing home.

DeWitt and Barndollar shared a second-place Business Reporting award for a look at how economic justice has faded in the cannabis legalization debate, and Barndollar also took second for Investigative Story or Series, for her reporting on Manchesters efforts to prevent overdoses.

The Bulletin won third place for General Excellence.
Bump stocks back on shelves as ban falls in Senate

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Bump stocks are back in stock at gun stores, after the Supreme Court overturned a ban on them.

Firearm technology that essentially convert semiautomatic weapons into nearly fully automatic weapons and machine guns, said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.).

Kaine co-sponsored legislation to ban bump stocks.

Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) who introduced the bill calls this a common sense approach.

As someone who has owned and used firearms for most of my life, for hunting, for sport, for self-defense, I know for a fact that bump stocks serve no legitimate purpose, Heinrich said.

The Trump administration put the ban in place after a mass shooting in Las Vegas, killed 60 people and injured hundreds more.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) says the bump stock made it easier and this should never be repeated.

That gunman was able to fire around 90 shots every 10 seconds, Murphy said.

The Senate tried to pass a bump stock ban through unanimous consent earlier in the week, but Republicans blocked it.

Does anyone seriously believe this lawless Biden administration would interpret this law in a way that respects law abiding gun owners? Not, Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) said. He thinks the bill isnt about banning bump stocks.

This bill is about banning as many firearm accessories as possible, giving the ATF broad authority to ban most semiotic firearms, he said.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) says shes a defender of the Second Amendment and I am probably not going to get on any bill as this moves forward so I can, weigh the pros and cons.

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Businesses closed into next week after fire on East Adams Street in Springfield

Less than 24 hours after a fire destroyed a building in the 400 block of East Adams Street in downtown Springfield, Mayor Misty Buscher met with business owners and assembled media to give an update on what's next.

Buscher was joined by Fire Chief Ed Canny; Police Chief Ken Scarlette; Communications Director Haley Wilson; Office of Planning and Economic Development Director Val Yazell; Director of Public Works Dave Fuchs; Downtown Springfield Inc. Director Carlos Ortega and representatives of OShea Builders and Hanson Professional Services.

Mayor Misty Buscher speaks during a press conference in front of the fire damaged building in the 400 block of East Adams Street on June 20, 2024, in Springfield.

Block of Adams Street to remain closed

According to Canny, the structural safety of the building was still treacherous, so the 400 block of East Adams will remain closed indefinitely until remains of the building are demolished.

Final demolition for the building, which was split on the first floor but open on the upper floors, was set for Tuesday.

Two buildings east of the burned building seem more likely to be salvageable according to Michael OShea, president of OShea Builders.

Fuchs said the front of the building was so unstable that it was taken down late Wednesday night.

The face and guts of the building are gone, save for certain walls keeping the burnt interior inside the frame for city-worker safety.

Fire Chief Ed Canny talks about a fire in the 400 block of East Adams Street during a press on conference on June 20, 2024, in Springfield.

The fire which brought over 70 firefighters to the scene. The cause, Canny said, was still undetermined.

A firefighter who was injured by a falling piece of ceiling was recovering and has been discharged from Springfield Memorial Hospital according to Canny.

Business closures until demolition ends

All businesses  save for Buzz Bomb Brewing Co which has a separate side entrance  will be closed for the following week at least for the buildings demolition.

Downtown family of businesses

The building at 413 Adams housed The Cat's Pyjamas on the bottom floor. Elf Shelf Books & Music was moving into the second, while the "Pillsburied" exhibit was on the third floor.

All floors collapsed in on themselves due to the fire, which also destroyed 415 East Adams.

Electric Quill owner Steve Limon, which only opened his tattoo parlor on May 11, suffered loss of equipment totaling around $12,000.

Engineer Michael O'Shea of O'Shea Builders in Springfield, front, talks with others Thursday, June 20, 2024 about how to take down the burned building on E Adams Street safely without damaging the adjacent buildings on each side.

The 400 block of East Adams is also known as the "Adams Family" by local businesses, so downtown businesses like Ad Astra Wine Bar are already setting up ways for community members to donate to the affected businesses.

A meeting has been set on Monday to discuss fundraising opportunities between businesses looking to help.

More: 'A sad day for downtown Springfield': Building damaged by fire will come down

Youre talking to the heart and soul of these entrepreneurs to build up on Adams Street, Yazell said. They have joined up together in a way that Ive not really experienced with very many locations.

Donations to help displaced

A fund set up at the Illinois National Bank by former DSI director Lisa Clemmons Stott for direct donations to help the displaced residents and business owners.

Donations to the Benefit for Businesses Affected by Adams Family Fire will be accepted at any INB location.

Old Capitol Farmers Market goes on

Ortega said the Old Capitol Farmers Market will go on this Saturday and coming weeks and will stay on Adams Street, but will be moving closer to the intersection of Second Street.

I think we can grow from this tragedy, Ortega said. You can see how the community has come together today to actually encourage all the resources that the city has and the mayors support I think we can be a stronger downtown because of this.

Twelve people displaced

Twelve people living in apartments above buildings 411, 417 and 421 East Adams were displaced.

OPED is working with them to find new accommodations.

Claire Grant writes about business, growth and development and other news topics for the State Journal-Register. She can be reached at CLGrant@gannett.com; and on X (Formerly known as Twitter): @Claire_Granted

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: East Adams fire closes nearby businesses into next week
For two years, a Greater Cincinnati school has offered its students internships at a local jail, paving the way for a possible career as correctional officers.

The future of the program is now uncertain, after one student was charged with smuggling drugs into the jail and admitted to having a sexual relationship with an inmate. One of the inmates she was reportedly involved with is a convicted murderer.

The teenager, who was enrolled in the Butler Tech Criminal Justice Program, was charged March 1 with two felonies and one misdemeanor for bringing marijuana, ecstasy and a cell phone into Butler County Jail while working there as an intern, court records show. She was also charged with a misdemeanor for obstructing official business.

The student was 17 years old when she was charged and turned 18 this month. The Enquirer is not naming her because she is being tried in juvenile court.

What happened at the Butler County Jail?

According to an incident report from the sheriff's office, the student confessed to sheriff's deputies to bringing the drugs and cell phone into the jail and to having a relationship that violated jail policies with two inmates, Willie Attaway, 32, and Larkin McGowan, 33.

The student also told deputies she had two sexual encounters with one of the inmates, Butler County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Anthony Dwyer said.

At a hearing Thursday, Judge Daniel Phillips ruled that her confession can be used in court. The case is now set for trial, and her next scheduled hearing is July 15.

A teenager was charged with bringing drugs and other contraband into Butler County Jail while working there was an intern in March.

Teenager interned at jail through Butler Tech

Butler Tech offers adult education and career-specific programs for juniors and seniors in high school, with campuses in Monroe and Liberty Township.

The Butler Tech Criminal Justice Program works with the sheriff's offices in Butler and Warren counties and has worked with Butler County for two years, AJ Huff, the school's public relations coordinator, said in an email. Not all students work in local jails. Work opportunities depend on the student's interests, grades and attendance.

Butler Tech's Huff would not comment on the student or situation, citing Ohio law and the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

Jail interns learn from staff and oversee prisoner intake, pat downs and more, Dwyer said. The goal of the program is to prepare students for corrections employment, should they want to apply for a job at the jail when they're 18.

Before starting, interns sign documents agreeing to certain rules, such as keeping nonpublic information about inmates confidential, and not having relationships or sex with inmates. Interns wear a uniform similar to the jail's correctional officers, Dwyer said.

Butler County Jail Association Policy by vmoorwood on Scribd

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Intern admitted to sexual encounter with inmate

The student confessed to deputies that she had two brief sexual encounters with an inmate.

Dwyer said she was not left alone in the jail's two-story housing pods; a guard was in the building. However, the student said in her confession that she went inside the inmate's cell while the guard was walking away from the cell, Dwyer said. The chief deputy also said it was his understanding that another inmate was keeping watch for the guard during the encounter. The teenager said this situation happened twice.

Housing pods are two stories and there is always a guard present, Deputy Chief Anthony Dwyer said. Inmates wear different colored uniforms to designate the level of security.

Dwyer said an unnamed "informant" told deputies a "CO (correctional officer) had been compromised." They learned Attaway and McGowan were involved and, because of estimated time frames, believed the teenager was the "compromised" staffer.

The deputies searched her phone and found she had been having conversations with the inmates, which was against protocol. They interviewed her that same day and she confessed, court records show.

Butler Tech said the two internships at the jail were suspended in March.

Attaway and McGowan were both written up for a jail rule violation. Attaway, who pleaded guilty in 2023 to murdering a Madeira convenience store owner in a spree of store robberies, is still in custody at Butler County Jail on a hold for U.S. Marshals in Cincinnati. McGowan was at the jail on a hold for U.S. Marshals in Columbus but was released March 4.

Copies of letters from Attaway and McGowan to the intern were obtained by "Louder with Crowder," a self-described conservative online show. One letter offered her $1,500 for a cellphone, and in others, the inmates sexually propositioned the student. Dwyer said the sheriff's office has the letters in their possession.

Jail employees who have sexual relationships with an inmate can be charged with sexual battery, as is described in the Association Policy that interns and other staff members sign. The student was not charged with sexual battery since she was an intern and not an employee, Dwyer said.

Lawyer tried to get student's confession suppressed

The student's lawyer tried to get her confession thrown out. In a motion to suppress her statement, attorney D. Joseph Auciello, Jr. argued the teen was coerced into confessing to bringing contraband into the jail after being interviewed for four and a half hours without a parent or guardian present.

The Enquirer emailed and called Auciello but has not heard back. The judge ruled Thursday the teen's confession could be used in court.

Who supervises interns at the jail?

Huff did not provide an answer about whether students are constantly supervised while at the jail. She said the sheriff's office could better provide details about the jail's supervision structure.

Dwyer said an officer is always in the same general area as the interns because there is always an officer in the jail's housing and booking areas. However, in other areas, interns could come into contact with inmates who are allowed to move around openly, such as trustees.

There is no Butler Tech instructor or guard specifically tasked with constantly supervising the interns.

"You cannot completely shield correctional officers or other civilian staff to what occurs in a jail, which could be violence and other things," Dwyer said.

Interns are taught during orientation to report inmates who ask them to break rules or speak to them in a way that is not allowed, Dwyer said.

Such reports aren't uncommon. Attaway was written up for "saying vulgar words" to an officer March 12, less than two weeks after the student was charged, disciplinary logs show.

Students are told the realities of working with inmates at the jail. Communication with their parents is handled through the school. Before an internship can start, students, parents, employers and teachers sign Butler Tech's Work Based Learning Agreement, which outlines each person's responsibilities.

According to the agreement, the employer is responsible for:

Directing the student to complete job tasks.

Routinely evaluating the student's performance.

Providing regular feedback.

Observing and upholding all state and federal employment and compensation laws.

The instructor is supposed to:

Routinely observe and evaluate the students on-the-job performance.

Provide regular guidance and feedback to the student regarding challenges and opportunities.

Determine the student's final grade.

Assist the student in identifying and coordinating supplemental educational activities.

Butler Tech Work Based Learning Agreement by vmoorwood on Scribd

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Sheriff's office denies cover-up

In a "Louder with Crowder" episode shared on social media Wednesday, host Steven Crowder accused the Butler County Sheriff's Office of covering up the student's relationship with inmates in order not to jeopardize a multi-million-dollar contract the sheriff's office has with U.S. Marshals. Dwyer called the allegation "just false."

"There was no intent to cover anything up," he said. "She was publicly charged in court."

Butler Tech program's future is unclear

Dwyer said this was the only issue he'd seen in the program's two years with Butler County.

Huff did not say whether the internship would be discontinued, only that fall internships have not yet been established.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio jail intern accused of smuggling drugs, sex with inmate
Fresnos battle against domestic violence faced unprecedented funding challenges. But on Thursday, the Fresno City Council took decisive action by advancing a budget motion to allocate $300,000 to address funding shortfalls in domestic violence emergency response and safe housing programs. This decision was critical for maintaining life-saving services that the community desperately needed.

Recent federal cuts to crime victim services resulted in a 30% reduction in funding for programs across California, creating a $200 million shortfall. This reduction severely impacted services that provided essential support to survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking and vulnerable youth. The gravity of this situation could not be overstated. Without adequate funding, these programs  our communitys safety net  were at risk.

Opinion

Here in Fresno, the Marjaree Mason Center stands as a crucial resource, providing 24/7 crisis support and emergency shelter. However, funding for these vital services was already stretched thin, often relying on the generosity of the communitys philanthropic contributions. This reliance on charitable donations was not sustainable. It was necessary to ensure that crime victim services had secure financial backing to continue their essential work.

The impact of funding cuts was particularly severe for smaller programs, historically underserved communities and rural areas. Survivors faced reduced access to safe housing, longer wait times for counseling and diminished emergency support during their most vulnerable moments. This is unacceptable. Fresno has the highest per capita calls to law enforcement for domestic violence among Californias 10 most populated counties. Our community needs and deserves robust support systems for survivors to heal and rebuild their lives.

The City of Fresno had seen a troubling rise in domestic violence cases since the onset of the COVID pandemic, straining local resources and highlighting the urgent need for consistent funding. With domestic violence rates surging, organizations like the Marjaree Mason Center had been inundated with requests for assistance, from emergency shelter to legal support and counseling services.

The budget investment made was a necessary step to bridge the gap left by federal cuts, ensuring that local domestic violence survivor services could continue to operate at full capacity. While advocating for a permanent solution at the state and federal levels, it is our immediate responsibility to protect the most vulnerable members of the community.

We are grateful for the unanimous support of our fellow council colleagues, the mayor and the community for this crucial budget allocation. This unified action will send a powerful message that the City of Fresno is committed to ensuring domestic violence survivors receive the support they need to recover and thrive. By stepping up to address this funding gap, we reaffirm our dedication to protecting and uplifting the community.

Fresno continues to lead the way in showing that we will not abandon those who need us. Now is the time to secure a safer, more supportive future for everyone in our city.

Annalisa Perea is president and Mike Karbassi is vice president of the Fresno City Council.
More than a century has passed since members of the Shasta Indian Nation saw the last piece of their ancestral home  a landscape along the Klamath River where villages once stood  flooded by a massive hydroelectric project.

Now more than 2,800 acres of land that encompassed the settlement, known as Kikaceki, will be returned to the tribe. The reclamation is part of the largest river restoration effort in U.S. history, the removal of four dams and reservoirs that had cut off the tribe from the spiritual center of their world.

"For so long we have felt a great loss, a loss of our family, our ancestors, for the loss of our villages and ceremony sites, said Janice Crowe, chair of the Shasta Indian Nation. Now we can return home, return to culture, return to ceremony, and begin to weave a new story for the next generation of Shasta, who will get to call our ancestral lands home once again."

Recently, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the state's support for the return to mark the five-year anniversary of his apology to Indigenous Californians for the theft, violence, forced assimilation and emotional trauma they were subjected to  and his promise to make amends in part through land reclamation.

This reach along the sacred waterway, with its oak and redwood forests and rocky outcroppings, was where the Shasta had harvested elderberries and currants, hunted for deer and used wild pumpkin root to lure salmon into their nets. It had also been the setting for tribal ceremonies.

Until recently, most of the site lay submerged under the Copco and Iron Gate reservoirs.

With the decommissioning of the dams and draining of the reservoirs, miles of river valley are visible once more, and the return of free-flowing water has fueled hopes of reviving the salmon runs that had sustained the valley's tribes since time immemorial. The Klamath River Renewal Corp. will transfer the 2,800 acres once work is completed, which could come as soon as the end of the year.

The reappearance of the stolen land resurfaces a haunting chapter in the Shasta people's history, said Sami Jo Difuntorum, the tribe's lead cultural preservation officer. She has guided tours of the area for years.

Read more: As dismantling of largest dam begins on Klamath River, activists see 'new beginning'

The Gold Rush of the mid- to late 1800s brought miners to the area who killed Indigenous people and sexually attacked tribal women. The violence and land theft were horrific enough, but they led to another atrocity, Difuntorum said  the displacement of people who believe the land to be an extension of themselves.

"Some say it's woven into our DNA," Difuntorum said of this profound attachment to the natural world. "It sure feels that way to me when I'm up there."

Then in 1911, what remained of the Shasta's territory was seized through eminent domain  the process that governments and special districts use to buy private property against the owner's will  in order to build Copco No. 1 Dam, a segment of the Lower Klamath Project now being dismantled.

"People didn't want to sell; people didn't want to leave," said Difuntorum, 65.

Read more: California has a history of racist land seizures. Will reparations bills bring justice?

She thinks about the plight of Shasta women such as the family of her great-great-grandmother, known to everyone as Kitty Grasshopper. Grasshopper's daughters married local white landowners after the dams were built, Difuntorum said.

Difuntorum recalls stories passed down by elders about the pressure women faced to adopt the ways of the dominant white culture and suppress their tribal identity.

She struggles to put into words how strange it feels for tribal members to carry on for so long, knowing the one place where they feel the most at home has rested in someone else's hands, and at the bottom of man-made lakes.

"When you think about the health and well-being of Indian people, it's mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, all of those things," she said. "Whenever we're up there doing tours, I don't think I've ever made it through one without  I won't say I melted down  but crying ... It feels like this generational wound."

The lands that will go back to the Shasta Indian Nation include not only the Copco Reservoir footprint around what was known as Ward's Canyon Ranch but the old Copco No. 2 powerhouse, which still stands. Plans are to convert the powerhouse into an interpretive learning center where visitors can learn about the tribe and the story of the river, Difuntorum said.

The tribe will also work to restore native vegetation to the land, especially plants the tribe has traditionally grown for food, basketry, medicine and ceremonies. Some of the harvests, as well as preserved deer and salmon meat, will be shared with tribal members through a food sovereignty program.

Difuntorum also looks forward to the creation of a six-mile heritage trail and the revival of the First Salmon Ceremony, the annual springtime event marking the start of salmon fishing season, a ritual the tribe hasn't been able to perform since before the dams were built.

"How do you restore people to their sense of place?" Difuntorum asks.

Read more: A California tribe was twice robbed of its land. A 77-acre purchase brings hope

She believes the state's effort to return land to the Shasta Indian Nation, a band of the Shasta people that is not recognized as a sovereign entity by the federal government, represents one answer to this question. She sees the partnership as a model for how governments work with tribes to atone for wrongs that broke apart civilizations and caused heartache to flow down through generations.

The Newsom administration's support follows similar moves to help other tribes either reclaim land or enter into co-management agreements. The state's Tribal Nature-Based Solutions grant program has awarded $107.7 million to fund 34 projects and support the return of nearly 50,000 acres of land to California tribes  including the Hoopa Valley Tribe's acquisition of 10,395 acres of forest property and the Tule River Tribe's acquisition of 14,672 acres for environmental and species conservation.

The Yurok Tribe recently entered into a novel arrangement with Save the Redwoods, California State Parks and the National Park Service to co-steward O Rew, a culturally important, 125-acre property that was transferred back to them.

"You hear a lot of talk about reparations and what does justice look like  I don't even know if I can wrap my head around what justice would be to me as a Native woman," Difuntorum said of her tribe's land reclamation.

"Returning the land so that our people can return home to the place that we come from  that is just so important," she said. "But should it be more than that? I don't know the answer to that, but I think this is a good start."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
California jobs picture brightens in May; unemployment drops for first time in many months

A poster explains how to file for unemployment insurance benefits at the JobTrain employment office in Menlo Park in November 2023. (Paul Sakuma / Associated Press)

In a surprisingly strong economic report, California employers stepped up their hiring in May and the statewide unemployment rate dropped for the first time since the summer of 2022, the government reported Friday.

Employers in the state added 43,700 jobs last month across a broad spectrum of industries, breaking from the recent pattern of lagging behind the nation in job creation. In April, the California economy produced only 4,100 jobs.

The state Employment Development Department noted that the May increase in payrolls accounted for 16.1% of the countrys overall gains of 272,000 jobs, exceeding Californias 11% share of employment nationally.

However, manufacturing in California continued to shed jobs, as did the high-paying information sector, which includes the struggling motion picture industry.

Last month Californias unemployment rate edged down to 5.2%, from 5.3% in April, even as the U.S. jobless figure went up a notch in May to 4%. Until last month, the state's unemployment rate had been gradually rising since reaching a low of 3.8% in August 2022.

In April, California had the highest unemployment rate in the nation, reflecting weakness in some of the states leading sectors, including technology, information and professional services.

The improvement in May, though just one month, was a welcome relief to officials after the states recent subpar performance and amid signs that the national economy is slowing down. Consumer spending is softening and job openings in California and other states have been shrinking in recent months.

Californias job gains last month continued a pattern of solid growth in health services and at government offices. Leisure and hospitality businesses also added to their payrolls, despite the pressure of higher minimum wages, especially at fast-food restaurants.

Significantly, several sectors that had been weak  professional services, trade and transportation, and financial services  also saw job growth last month.

Before state government celebrates too widely, it is worth noting a few of the job dynamics not in the states press release, said Michael Bernick, former director of the state EDD.

He noted that California has an outsized number of unemployment claims  almost double the state's share of the U.S. labor force population. And a large portion of the job gains last month were in industries that offer lower wages and fewer hours.

What's more, job gains are still coming disproportionately from publicly funded sectors such as healthcare and social assistance as well as government agencies, Bernick said. He and other analysts worry that Californias large budget deficit will spill over to the broader economy in the coming months.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Jeffrey Ferguson's attorney, T. Edward Welbourn, tells PEOPLE that "Judge Ferguson maintains his innocence and looks forward to the truth coming out"

AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson during a court hearing on Aug. 15, 2023

Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson will stand trial for allegedly murdering his wife, Sheryl Ferguson.

According to the Associated Press, the decision was made after a preliminary hearing before Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Eleanor J. Hunter on Thursday, June 20. Hunter determined there was sufficient evidence for the case to proceed.

Ferguson was previously charged with one felony count of murder, one count of felony enhancement of personal use of a firearm, and one count of felony enhancement of discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury and death after police discovered his 65-year-old wife dead at their home on Aug. 3, 2023, per a press release.

Sheryl Ferguson Facebook Sheryl Ferguson

Related: California Judge Allegedly Texts Staff: 'I Just Shot My Wife. I Won't Be in Tomorrow,' Prosecutors Say

According to court records previously reviewed by PEOPLE, on the night of Sheryl's death, the two had an alcohol-fueled argument that began at a restaurant and continued for more than an hour when the couple returned home from dinner.

After allegedly pointing his fingers in a manner mimicking a firearm," Sheryl allegedly said, "Why dont you point a real gun at me."

Per court records, he then took out a loaded .40-caliber pistol from his ankle holster and shot her at close range through the center chest." The alleged incident was witnessed by their adult son, who called 911 shortly after 8 p.m.

Anaheim Police Department via AP Jeffrey Ferguson booking photo

Related: Keith Papini Says Ex-Wife Sherri Lied to Him About Her Faked Kidnapping and Torture for 6 Years: 'I'll Never Know the Truth' (Exclusive)

According to The Los Angeles Times, at Thursday's hearing, Officer Joshua Juntilla of the Anaheim Police Department testified that while officers tried to revive Sheryl, Ferguson "let off a string of expletives" before saying, "What did I do? My son will hate me forever. Can you have my son come over here and punch me in the face? I deserve it. I got everything I got coming."

In a statement to PEOPLE, Ferguson's attorney, T. Edward Welbourn, told PEOPLE that "this was a terribly tragic event for the whole Ferguson family, including Judge Ferguson."

"Sheryl is and was the love of his life and he would never do anything intentional to hurt her or cause her harm. What happened that evening was an unfortunate accident, not a murder. Judge Ferguson maintains his innocence and looks forward to the truth coming out," the statement continued.

Getty Stock image of a court gavel

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Jeffrey is currently out on a $1 million bond, and scheduled to be arranged on July 5, per the Associated Press.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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Read the original article on People.
Californias scaled-up efforts to combat retail crime are paying off, with law enforcement upping its recovery of stolen goods by a whopping 525 percent over the past five months alone.

Newly released data from Governor Gavin Newsoms office revealed that California Highway Patrol (CHP), the states leading agency on organized retail crime, has made 636 arrests and recovered 216,754 stolen goods valued at nearly $5.7 million since January. Compared with the same period last year, arrests have jumped 167 percent.

More from Sourcing Journal

Since the beginning of the year, Californias Organized Retail Crime Task Force (ORCTF), made up of a network of state and local law enforcement groups, has helped recover a volume of stolen goods equal to more than half of what was reclaimed from thieves and organized retail crime crews throughout all of 2023. Since the task force was established five years ago, CHP has recovered 827,000 stolen goods valued at $43.8 million as a result of 2,600 investigations.

Through increased enforcement efforts and strategic partnerships, our dedicated investigators continue to achieve remarkable success in combating organized retail crime in California, CHP commissioner Sean Duryee said in a statement this week. The significant increase in arrests and recovery of stolen merchandise underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting our communities and supporting businesses.

The state has dedicated $1.1 billion to combatting the surge in retail crime since 2019. The funding has gone toward hiring more law enforcement and implementing measures to improve public safety, including the largest ever investment in fighting organized retail crime in the states history. Last September, as a part of Californias Real Public Safety Plan, Newsom awarded more than $267 million to 55 local law enforcement agencies to combat the crime wave.

The bump in funding has led to an annual 310-percent increase in proactive operations targeting organized retail crime, as well as special operations across the Golden State to promote public safety in cities like San Francisco, Oakland and Bakersfield that have been heavily impacted by flash mobs, smash-and-grabs and run-of-the-mill shoplifting.

Amid the states crackdown on bad actors, a community-led coalition of business owners and California constituents is pushing for a reform of Prop. 47, the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act, which set the felony threshold for property crimes like shoplifting at $950. The advocacy group, known as Californians for Safer Communities, introduced a petition dubbed the Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act, which would reverse Prop. 47. The measure will likely head to the polls in November in the form of a ballot initiative.

On the other side of the issue, liberal lawmakersalong with Governor Newsomare fighting to preserve Prop. 47 as a means of combatting prison overcrowding. The California Retail Theft Reduction Act, introduced by State Assembly Democratic Caucus chair Rick Chavez Zbur in February, was unanimously passed by the Assembly in May with State Senate approval pending.
(FOX40.COM)  A California man who was recently caught stealing thousands of pieces of mail from mailboxes throughout Northern California, including checks totaling nearly a quarter of a million dollars, pled guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft on Thursday, according to the Department of Justice.

The DOJ said Cameron Pope, 30 of Tracy, and others stole from cluster mailboxes throughout Placer and Sacramento counties to steal sensitive information from people. Pope and his co-conspirators would then digitally alter checks and forge account holder signatures to deposit checks into their own bank accounts.

Northern California police arrest 7 for stealing mail from mailboxes throughout Sacramento area

The DOJ added that the value of all the stolen checks and stolen mail was worth more than $200,000.

It continued, This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the police departments of Citrus Heights, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, Roseville, and Tracy. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Delaney is prosecuting the case.

Pope is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 19, 2024, and faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine for bank fraud, and a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft.

The arrest comes nearly a month after the Department of Justice also sentenced two men from Sacramento to around five years in jail for committing nearly $250,000 worth of check fraud.

Burglary suspects found with stolen mail, mailbox keys after reversing into police car

The United States Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of California recently announced the sentencing of two men from Sacramento who were found responsible for nearly $250,000 worth of check fraud.

In that instance, the DOJ learned that the two men worked together to steal postal locks, create keys, and steal mail to obtain checks.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
He came to Detroit on the Andrea Doria, and later created Hart Plaza sculpture | Letters

Arrived in New York on June 1954 on the ship Andrea Doria from Italy with my mother and twin sister to join my father in Detroit.

As new immigrants, the same day we took the train to Detroit, and arrived at Michigan Central Station at night. The site was memorable walking through, and it felt like Detroit will be beautiful everywhere.

I became an artist, and I created the labor monument in Hart Plaza and various public sculptures in the state.

I guess I will be part of a long tradition of Italians who made Detroit beautiful by their talents, like Corrado Parducci, Carlo Romanelli, Augusto Rivalta, Giacomo Manzu and Harry Bertoia. Had a good life as a member of the art community in Detroit, even though I still miss my homeland of Italy.

Sergio De Giusti

Redford Township

Sergio De Giusti with a slab from the base of "Transcending," the labor monument in Detroit's Hart Plaza, which he designed. The monument was dedicated in 2003. De Giusti came to America with his family in 1954, arriving in Detroit at the Michigan Central Station.

It can be hard to celebrate Detroit's wins, even when they're glowing, behemoth triumphs

My Greek parents got engaged at the train station

In 1946, two people from Greek immigrant families became engaged at the Michigan Central Station.

My parents, Tom and Goldie Spiropoulos Heos, had fond memories of their engagement there. My mother grew up in Greektown, and was a Detroiter through and through.

How she would have loved and celebrated seeing the train station restored to its glory.

Pamela Heos

Petoskey

View of Michigan Central Station with trains in foreground, pictured on Dec. 21, 1925.

Childhood memories of Detroit explain emotion of Michigan Central Station opening

Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters, and we may publish it online or in print.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroits Michigan Central carries rich history of immigrants
Voters shortly after 6 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022, visited the mobile polling location at the Emily Griffith Technical College in downtown Denver. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline)

There is a huge gap in Colorado between campaign rhetoric on political issues and what voters in the state say they want candidates to talk about: democracy and good government.

Many voters worry that democracy is vanishing and public institutions are threatened. Candidates rarely touch on this topic in their pitch to voters. But they should.

Colorados primary elections are Tuesday, when voters will determine which candidates go on to represent their party on the ballot in the November general election. If the victors next week want to address a top concern of constituents throughout the state, they will add to their stump speech an explanation of how they would reinforce democracy and improve the health of government functions.

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Colorado Newsline and more than 30 other news organizations in the state have undertaken an unprecedented effort this year to gauge whats most important to voters. The project, called Voter Voices 2024, centers on a survey we distributed across the state, and respondents told us what candidates should focus on as they compete for votes. Voters had the opportunity to respond in their own words, and they also selected from a list the three issues that are most important to them. (The survey will be open throughout the 2024 election season. Click here to fill it out.)

The results were striking. Among those who identified themselves as liberal or moderate, most, by far, said democracy and good government were their top issues. Other major concerns included the economy/cost of living, immigration, the environment, abortion and health care.

Conservatives generally put democracy and good government in third place  ahead of 10 other issues on the list.

Part of the goal of the project was to enable journalists to challenge candidates when their rhetoric doesnt match the priorities of the people they mean to represent.

One respondent to the Newsline survey said they want candidates to talk about how they will protect the federal and state constitutions from wannabe dictators. Another hopes candidates will describe their understanding of the relationships between our American Democracy, our national economy and our international partnerships. One said simply: Democracy and our way of life is on the ballot.

Many respondents complained about a related matter: the vitriolic tone of contemporary politics and the erosion of bipartisanship. Newsline reporter Sara Wilson recently conducted Q&As with primary candidates for statehouse seats. In one question, she mentioned that voters told us theyre concerned about democracy and good government, and she asked, Do you find any common ground with members of the opposite party, and how important is bipartisanship in your political philosophy?

Almost every candidate was quick to answer that they value working across the aisle to get things done. But some candidates, both Democrats and Republicans, said there are limits to their willingness to work with the other side. And some do not seem to be interested in bipartisanship at all.

I do not find a lot of common ground with Democrats, Terri Goon, a Republican running in House District 11, said, while Tim Hernandez, an incumbent Democrat whos running in House District 4, said, Good governance is contextual, and in our current context, it means that rather than asking if we should work with a super-minority on the other side of the aisle we should be asking why we are not passing bills that supermajorities of our Democratic constituents are asking us to.

And when Wilson asked candidates to name their top three priorities, exactly one  Rep. Elisabeth Epps, a Democrat running for reelection in House District 8  specifically included good governance, citing such values as transparency and compliance with open meetings law. Its her No. 1 priority, she said.

Neglect of an issue that voters told us is important is apparent elsewhere, on campaign websites, during debates and across other avenues of candidate communication. We might not have recognized this disparity without the Voter Voices project. But now we do.

Part of the goal of the project was to enable journalists to challenge candidates when their rhetoric doesnt match the priorities of the people they mean to represent. As winners emerge after the polls close Tuesday and general election candidates begin retooling their campaigns for the months ahead, they should consider their response to the question, What will you do to protect democracy and ensure the health of government?

Well be asking.

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What are carbon offsets  and should you consider buying them?

No matter how responsibly we try to live, it's impossible not to create pollution in some way. How we eat, how we power our homes, and how we get around create some amount of pollution.

But just because our food was shipped from hundreds of miles away or our car runs on gas doesn't mean we can't decrease our personal pollution footprints. Some companies and individuals are turning to carbon offsets to do their part.

What are carbon offsets?

Carbon offsets are certificates that represent activities that have reduced harmful carbon pollution from the atmosphere.

These buyable and tradeable certificates are associated with projects that either (1) Keep pollution from being put into the air; (2) Remove planet-overheating gas directly from the atmosphere; or (3) Produce clean energy, thereby lowering the use of dirty fuels that pollute the air.

Some carbon offsetting projects protect forests, plant trees, restore mangroves, or even fund clean energy projects.

Why are carbon offsets important?

Carbon offsets can reduce the gases that overheat our planet and fuel extreme weather events. There's no doubt that limiting the amount of pollution in the air is a good thing.

Despite their potential, carbon offset programs have received an enormous amount of criticism in recent years. A recent analysis by the Guardian and Corporate Accountability found that many of the largest offset projects failed to reduce pollution levels from the atmosphere, while others lacked the transparency to definitively prove their efficacy.

On the other end of the spectrum, Wren, a company that sells offsets, has acknowledged the need for greater transparency. The company is making strides in the industry by providing regular updates and reports on projects and project verification by third parties.

Wren also helps users find other ways to lower their environmental impact, acknowledging that offsets can't be the entire solution.

Dirty energy giants, like ExxonMobil and Shell, have routinely been ensnared in scandals that show their carbon offsetting investments weren't helpful for cooling down the planet.

Luckily, to address the issues in the carbon offset industry, the Biden administration recently rolled out government guidelines to protect against greenwashing and faulty projects.

John Podesta, a senior climate advisor to President Biden, told the New York Times, "We need to mobilize enormous amounts of private capital  [offsets] can support clean energy deployment in developing countries that can benefit most from new investment."

How carbon offsets help with our planet's overheating

The current market for carbon offsets worldwide is enormous. Last year, individuals and corporations voluntarily spent $1.7 billion on carbon offsets to reduce their environmental impact. When done right, the potential of the offsetting industry is much larger.

Nat Keohane, who runs the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, explained to the New York Times that "there are credible estimates that the voluntary carbon market could grow to 10 or 20 times what it is today, and then you'd be talking about real money to tackle climate change."

Despite the sectors' many challenges, we need to consider myriad ways to keep our planet from overheating. This includes carbon offsets, many of which are voluntarily purchased by individuals and corporations.

Buying carbon offsets can help connect you to projects fighting the planet's overheating. It can also empower you to take more steps to protect the environment.

Giving money to projects that aim to lower pollution is a great step, but we must prioritize limiting our use and burning of dirty fuels to stop the Earth's overheating.

There are many ways individuals can make a difference too. For one thing, you can advocate for change at work, perhaps by encouraging your company to work with a reputable carbon offset program.

Beyond that, signing up for community solar is a great way to incorporate clean energy into your life if you can't afford rooftop panels. Making your next car an EV can also help to decrease your pollution footprint while keeping our air freer of pollution.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
Sen. Bob Casey speaks at an event announcing ARPA funds for members of the Bakery and Confectionery Union June 21, 2024 (Capital-Star photo by Ian Karbal)

HERSHEY  Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) joined members of the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco workers and Grain Millers International Union in Hershey on Friday to celebrate American Rescue Plan funds finally being distributed to shore up their pensions.

While his appearance was a victory lap for a piece of legislation he helped cross the finish line, it was also an opportunity to remind voters during an election season of a key Democratic win, and to draw contrast with Republicans.

Usually what Republicans do is, when theres an opportunity, they vote for big companies and the very rich, Casey said at the 464 union hall. We want to provide an opportunity for us to keep our promise to those who work so hard for those pensions.

The funding came from a provision of the 2021 American Rescue Plan that Casey and Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown championed in particular. Ultimately, around $34 billion will go to union pension funds facing shortfalls across the country.

The funds Casey announced were distributed to the Bakery and Confectionery Union and will reach around 103,000 workers and retirees across the country. Roughly 6,700 are Pennsylvanians. The distribution also marked roughly the one millionth workers pension aided by the federal funds.

The American Rescue Plan Act, as Casey was keen to point out, was passed without a single Republican vote.

The $1.9 trillion stimulus bill, which was passed while much of the country remained in lockdown during the COVID pandemic, drew strong Republican opposition at the time.

Former Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), who retired from the Senate in 2023, called the many-faceted stimulus package a colossal waste and economically harmful

The pension provision, in particular, drew the scrutiny of certain Republicans, who saw it as a bailout for unions whose funds had been running dry long before the pandemic.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa.), who had made previous failed efforts to address the pension crisis in 2021 called the American Rescue Plans pension provision a blank check, with no measures to hold mismanaged plans accountable.

But for Casey and the union workers who joined him, the bill was a success. The money received by the Bakery and Confectionery workers union is intended guarantee their workers pensions until 2051. Previously, they had faced a shortfall of 45% by 2031, according to White House American Rescue Plan coordinator Gene Sperling.

Every worker in Pennsylvania should be voting for Biden and Casey, said Anthony Shelton, president of the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco workers and Grain Millers International Union.

Casey believes that in order to win the election, it takes reminders like Fridays of the ways Democratic policies have helped voters.

Unless we tell people what is happening when legislation is passed, people arent going to know what happened, Casey told reporters after the event. I want to do as many of these events as we can to celebrate and lift up that this is a win for workers.

The post Casey touts Democratic victory with announcement of federal funds for Pennsylvania union workers appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
The massive earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria in February 2023 produced catastrophic damage and loss of life  killing more than 55,000 thousand people and leveling huge swaths of cities.

Perhaps most devastating of all was the knowledge that the destruction didnt need to be so extreme. Poor construction caused many buildings to implode, collapsing into clouds of dust. Inadequate rescue efforts left many who survived the initial quake and aftershocks to perish in the rubble.

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The new documentary Death Without Mercy, directed by Oscar-nominated Syrian filmmaker Waad Al-Kateab, captures what happened when tranquility was shattered at 4:17 a.m. local time on February 6, and the extraordinary scenes of destruction and suffering that followed in the hours and days afterwards. The film, from MTV Documentary Films, just premiered at Sheffield DocFest.

Death Without Mercy

At the beginning, we couldnt really understand this scale of death, says Al-Kateab. In that time there was nothing we could do, but really try to do something with documenting.

Al-Kateab heard the news in London, where she has been living for several years with her husband, Dr. Hamza Al-Kateab, and their two daughters. They were forced to flee Syria during the civil war, a story told in the 2019 documentary For Sama (directed by Al-Kateab and Edward Watts). She and her family visited her parents and her sister in Southern Turkey about a month before the disaster; millions of Syrians had taken refuge there as the war in their country destroyed city after city. But on February 6 more tragedy awaited.

A makeshift graveyard for victims of the Turkey-Syria earthquake

Its awful wherever [an earthquake] happens and no one ever should go through this, Al-Kateab says. But to be happening in that specific area and to have the destruction and the death in Turkey, even more than Syria  all of these people who have been through everything. They just found safety [in Turkey] or they were still next to the borders because they want to go back and they had just started a new life, very simple It doesnt make sense in any way. Why and how.

After the earthquake, Al-Kateab was able to establish contact with friends Fadi al-Halabi  main cinematographer of Oscar-winning short documentary The White Helmets  and Fuad, who had been away from their families in Southern Turkey when the quake struck.

Fuad (right), his wife Safa, and their young son, who survived the earthquake; their other young son did not.

I called Fuad directly, I called Fadi directly. I know their families in this area, Al-Kateab notes. At that time, I was watching what Fuad was filming on his phone on Instagram I know Hassan [Kattan], who is my producer on this film as well. He was there with him. Every time I was calling them, I was like, please film, please document. I know youre not in this mood now, but [it will be important].

Death Without Mercy includes their footage, other first-hand video shot by survivors, CCTV video of the quake and aftershocks, and drone footage showing the immensity of the damage. Al-Kateab and her husband Hamza, who worked as a physician in a hospital in Aleppo, had seen their city reduced to ruins by the forces of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, yet the earthquake produced imagery that was somehow harder to absorb.

Director Al-Kateab

Ive been through all this shelling and bombing, but the scene there was unbelievable, she notes. In one moment, we saw how the city [Antakya, Turkey] turned into something like five years of war in Aleppo. It was just so shocking.

Rescuers tried as best they could to pull debris off survivors. A few were plucked to safety. Others trapped in collapsed buildings could be heard pleading for help, but they were doomed by an uncoordinated government response and a lack of heavy equipment to move piles of concrete slabs.

The UN did not react well, the Turkish government did not react well, Al-Kateab says. People with [missing] loved ones, they were not treated with dignity. It was just awful.

A luxury high rise in Antakya, Turkey that fell flat on its back in the earthquake.

One luxury high rise fell on its back, killing hundreds of people. It did not take long to realize that many buildings that collapsed had been improperly constructed. In the film, survivors examine clay soil atop which some structures had been erected; the buildings were not attached to bedrock and the quake of 7.8 magnitude (and an aftershock of nearly the same power) shook them apart in seconds.

Investigations would show that widespread zoning violations had occurred; for example, 10 additional stories added to a building permitted to go no higher than two or three.

Its been a systematic kind of failure and corruption over the years, which also we tried to shed light on in the film, Al-Kateab says. Its not like a mistake  a full system of corruption and irresponsibility.

Death Without Mercy shows a TV ad that aired in Turkey sometime before the quake that cheerfully told people they could get an amnesty for their improperly built or zoned structures if they came forward. In the ad the government is calling for contractors and people to go register their wrong building codes and pay a fine without really correcting them, Al-Kateab explains. If they come and register, its okay.

A man holds loose clay soil on which a building had been constructed.

Can there ever be full accountability for such a staggering loss of life? What would accountability look like?

Theres a lawyer in the film who says something about they can rebuild and they can give people compensation for this But will this bring the people back? Will this make the pain that everyone went through disappear? Al-Kateab asks. I dont think theres anything really that will equal justice. That doesnt mean we should not keep fighting and trying to bring these people [to] accountability But even for Fuad and Fadi  Fadi lost all his family, 13 members of his family. What on earth could happen for him to feel okay? Theres no way. But at least we can maybe reduce a little bit of this pain if he knows that the people who are responsible for this, they are under accountability  and not just the builders or the people who really worked on [construction]. Its the whole system, its the whole government. Everyone is responsible.

By and large, people in the West paid little attention to the quake. Death Without Mercy, which will begin streaming on Paramount+ later this year, brings home the reality of what happened for viewers who either never realized or simply forgot.

Death Without Mercy

The world moved on, Al-Kateab says, adding that those affected by the disaster cannot forget, even if they might hope to. Even me, I didnt lose anyone in the earthquake, but I know these people, they mean a lot to me, and they could be my parents who were there or my sister. So we dont want to move on. We want people to come and sit down and relive this and understand this and try to do something for the rest of these people.

A there is the strong possibility that another disaster could happen. The conversation of the earthquake in Turkey, specifically, its not finished, Al-Kateab insists. Theyre talking about [the potential for] a much bigger one in Istanbul, where Fuad lives now, for example, because he cant go be back to Antakya. So, its not something that happened and we have to move on and find our new life. This could happen again. There could be another disaster around the world. It is our responsibility whether we like it or not. We all have to do something about this.

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TYE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  Traffic in Tye was diverted for hours Wednesday afternoon following an alarming collision between a train and semi-truck trailer around 2:00 p.m. Tye Chief of Police Christopher Selander spoke with KTAB/KRBC about his departments response to the incident, which thankfully resulted in no injuries or death.

Semi-truck in Tye moments after Collision

At about 2:30-ish in the afternoon. The call came out that a state trooper had reported the train crash. I was the first to respond to the scene It could have been very fatal for the driver of the truck. Obviously when the train went through, it separated the cab from the trailer, Chief Selander detailed.

WATCH: Train & 18-wheeler crash in Tye

Selander described arriving on scene to find the trucks trailer wrapped around the front of the train engine, also finding large amounts of hot-mix asphalt, which the trailer was carrying, scattered and pooled around the tracks.

Tye Collision during clean-up

Chief Selander said several other truck drivers attempted to remove the trailer by attaching chains to their vehicles cabs, though those attempts were unsuccessful. He also mentioned that the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) trooper on scene did attempt to contact the Union Pacific railroad operator to inform of the incident, but the incoming train was too close to halt.

The other trucks were trying to help him get off the tracks. Their chains snapped, and about that time is when the railroad crossing signs came down and he was already out of the vehicle [The train] Was obviously going pretty fast and so it collided with the truck. There just wasnt enough time, described Chief Selander.

The semi-truck became stranded after attempting to take a detour down Morgan Street to cross the tracks. Selander said his investigation revealed that the driver of that truck had been waiting for about 30 minutes at the County Road 707 crossing where a westbound train had stopped to make way for the incoming east bound train.

From our understanding from the investigation, [the driver] claims that somebody waved him to go down to Morgan Street, Chief Selander reasoned. However, weve reviewed video from the DPS video camera and we did not see anyone in the area that would have been waving anyone to go on. The driver went there and his vehicle high centered on the tracks because that is a no truck area to be driven on and its kind of low.

While Tye PD said the driver should have used better judgement before attempting to pass the high crossing, no charges or citations will be pressed against him. Chief Selander explained that due to the absence of a sign informing truckers not to use the crossing, its an honest mistake.

Small divots from the underside of the semi were left on the concrete portion of the crossing, which the chief said would have to be fixed, but it is safe for travel and has been reopened to the public.

Semi-truck stuck on railroad in Abilene at North 1st-Victoria St intersection

A similar situation nearly took place on Abilene roads Thursday afternoon when a semi-truck carrying vehicles bottomed out along the railroad crossing at North 1st and Victoria streets. Abilene police and a Union Pacific Railway worker were able to help that driver vacate the tracks, ahead of a train coming through the area just 30 minutes later.

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Cause of Death Revealed for Jocelyn Nungaray, 12-Year-Old Texas Girl Found Slain in Creek

Two men have been charged with capital murder in connection with the death of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray

GoFundMe Jocelyn Nungaray

Authorities have released the cause of death of Jocelyn Nungaray, the 12-year-old girl whose body was found in a Houston creek on Monday, June 17.

The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences determined Jocelyn died from strangulation, Houston police said in a press release shared on June 21.

Two suspects, identified by Houston police Lt. Stephen Hope as Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, have been charged with capital murder in connection with Jocelyns death, PEOPLE previously reported.

It's unclear if the suspects, who were arrested on Thursday, June 20, have entered pleas or retained attorneys to speak on their behalf.

Related: 2 Men Accused of Murdering Texas Girl, 12, Found in Creek, as Police Detail Her Final Moments

Police said at the time they believed Jocelyn had snuck out of her home at 10 p.m. the night before she was found dead in a shallow part of the creek and suspected foul play was involved in her death. Police also said the area where her body was found was within walking distance from her house.



houston police department Franklin Jose Pena Ramos and Johan Jose Rangel Martinez houston police department

According to KRIV, Jocelyn's body was found early Monday by a woman on her daily morning commute.

"Horrifying, it was scary," Billie Jean Jackson told the news station. "Being from a small town and then nothing like this ever happens. Finding that, it scared me as a mother and grandmother."

Related: Woman Who Found Missing 12-Year-Old Girls Body in Creek Recalls the Discovery: How Could Somebody Do This?

Police previously said they were looking to speak with two unidentified males that were considered persons of interest. Lt. Hope later confirmed during a press conference on Thursday, June 20, that the suspects currently in custody are the same men.

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According to Hope, the suspects were spotted on surveillance cameras talking to Jocelyn after visiting a local restaurant on Sunday, June 16. Soon after, all three walked together to a convenience store and then went to a bridge, where investigators believe Jocelyn was murdered.

The relationship between the suspects and victim is still under investigation.

A GoFundMe created to help with Jocelyn's funeral expenses states, "Her family was not prepared for such a loss and needed help to give her daughter the memorial she deserves, to honor her memory and to say our last goodbyes."



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Car dealers across the U.S. are floundering after cyberattacks this week on CDK Global, a maker of software used to operate their businesses, made it all but impossible to sell vehicles.

Tom Maoli, who owns Celebrity Motor Car Company, which operates five luxury car dealerships across New York and New Jersey, told CBS MoneyWatch his business is "completely shut down."

"We cannot process paperwork. Everything is frozen, everything is tied up  we cannot move money back and forth to pay off cars, to finance our customers' transactions," he said.

Such disruptions are particularly damaging to sales-driven businesses like auto dealerships, where car shoppers who are primed to lay down their cash on a vehicle may walk away when faced with frustrating delays. Maioli said that while he's trying to keep customers engaged, he has no sense of when his sales systems will be fully functional again, leaving the business in limbo.

The company's dealer management system, which is used by some 15,000 dealerships, remained unavailable Thursday and Friday, causing headaches for dealers and would-be car buyers.

For one family in New Jersey, the outage meant they couldn't drive away with their new Audi Q5. Daniel Lanni told Bloomberg his family was expecting the vehicle to be delivered on June 19, but that it now remains unclear when they'll take possession.

"The kids were really excited," Lanni, a 41-year-old commercial real estate broker, told Bloomberg. "They're upset and now they're just regularly asking about it."

On Wednesday, CDK Global took down its services as a precaution, effectively bringing sales to a halt for its customers. A second cyberattack this week has compounded the problem.

CDK has indicated that the outage could last several days and has not publicly announced when it expects its services to be fully restored. The financial repercussions of the tech failure are expected to be substantial given that CDK powers sales for roughly half of the car dealerships in the U.S.

"Royal pain in the rear"

Geoff Pohanka, chairman of Pohanka Automotive Group, told CBS MoneyWatch that 20 of the company's dealerships rely on CDK's dealer management system, or DMS, to operate.

"We are very dependent upon the DMS, and it affects all parts of our business," he said. "It generates all of our forms. If you come in, we enter you in the system, it builds a file in terms of paperwork and finance papers, and right now none of that is functioning."

Pohanka, who said the dealership still has phone and internet service, said the business is doing its best to keep sales rolling. "We may not be able to have all the documents signed and will need to bring the customer back in to complete them, but we still can function," he said, while conceding that "everything takes longer [and] is more complicated."

The DMS outage also affects the company's service and parts department. Typically, the dealership uses CDK software to generate electronic contracts and print out work orders. Now, they're operating manually, which is slower.

"We will certainly lose business because it takes longer to complete transactions, and some things will fall through the cracks. There will be losses," Pohanka said. "It's debilitating, and the longer it goes on the harder it will be for dealers. I know we will lose revenue. It really is a royal pain in the rear."

Sport Honda, a Honda dealer and CDK customer in Silver Spring, Md., is also scrambling to continue serving customers.

"It's a difficult task, but there was paper before there were computers so we have to go about it that way," a dealership manager told CBS MoneyWatch. "You can move around the computer software and go back and do things like you did back in the day."

Employees at other dealerships took to social media forums to say they were tracking orders on "sticky notes" or using Excel spreadsheets to log transactions.

For CDK, the fallout may not only be technological. Maioli, the car dealership owner, said he's retained legal counsel and is mulling a class-action lawsuit against the company.

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LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  Mid-Michigan residents know Lansing as a globally diverse community, and adult newcomers from other parts of the world are an important part of that.

This Friday evening at 6:30, at least six adult immigrants and refugees will celebrate their high school graduation, marking 100 graduates since the 2010 start of The Global Institute of Lansing.

They are from many countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Honduras, Iraq, Laos and Myanmar. GIL believes newcomers are invaluable members of the community and, as such, deserve an accessible, quality education, said GIL organizers.

The Global Institute of Lansing is a nonprofit that works to help adult refugees and immigrants with getting a high school diploma after theyve settled in greater Lansing.

The GIL Class of 2024 Graduation Ceremony is free to attend, and people are invited for the free dessert reception afterward.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

GIL aims to provide adult newcomers settled in the Greater Lansing area educational assistance and the means to attain a high school diploma in an atmosphere of peace, respect, encouragement and inspiration.

The 2024 Graduation Ceremony and Reception starts at 6:30 at First Presbyterian Church, 510 West Ottawa Street in Lansing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
EXCLUSIVE: Dial Tone Films, the production company of director-producer Celia Aniskovich, is joining forces with The New Yorker Studios on a documentary series that will explore the still-unraveling events surrounding the death of teenager Preston Lord near the wealthy community of Gilbert, Arizona in October 2023.

Lords death, the result of an attack by a group of teenagers after a party, captured the attention of the surrounding region and is now the subject of a story from Rachel Monroe in this weeks issue of The New Yorker, which was published just this morning. In the piece, Monroe, a contributing writer for the magazine, investigates the fallout after a group of mostly white, upper-middle-class teenagers, who call themselves The Gilbert Goons, were implicated in the crime. Monroe speaks with parents and teenagers from the community, who say that Lords death was not an aberration but the culmination of an alarming trend: a group of largely unsupervised teenagers had been wreaking havoc in the areas for more than a year, with few consequences.

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This spring, following extensive public pressure, local law enforcement officially named the Goons a criminal hybrid street gang and released an 1100-page police report related to the attack on Lord. Now, seven young men who the police claim to be affiliated with the Goons are awaiting trial on first-degree murder charges. The case has become a lightning rod for questions, speculation, and allegations, and Dial Tone and The New Yorker Studios are embedding within the community in order to deliver a fair, nuanced, and truthful account of what really happened.

Said Aniskovich in a statement on the project, I have spent my entire career telling complicated, nuanced, and high-profile stories. This case will be a major national and international news story before all is said and done. If were going to tell this story, we at Dial Tone feel its important to work alongside the community and the families involved to ensure that they can share their stories, in their own words. Weve been there since day one and well be there till we get it right.

Filming has already commenced and will continue through the trial, which is expected to commence in July 2025. Aniskovich will direct and produce for Dial Tone. Helen Estabrook and Sarah Amos will produce for New Yorker Studios, with Monroe to serve as an exec producer.

Stated producer Monroe, Im thrilled to be partnering with Dial Tone on this project. The tragic death of Preston Lord raises important questions about teen violence and community responsibility, and Celia Aniskovich and the team at The New Yorker Studios have the skill and insight to tell it with the care and nuance that it deserves.

Launched in 2019, Dial Tones recent projects include Call Me Miss Cleo (Max), Fruitcake Fraud (discovery+), What Happened at Fells Acres? (discovery+) and Taking Back the Groove, to name just a few. Among the companys other upcoming projects is The Merchants of Joy, another film directed and produced by Aniskovich which looks at the high-stakes world of Christmas tree vendors operating in New York City. In addition to Dial Tone, that project hails from Boat Rocker and Epic Magazine.

The film and television arm of The New Yorker, The New Yorker Studios brings the magazines world-class storytelling to the screen. Over the years, its work has received numerous honors, including fifteen Oscar nominations, an Emmy Award, a Peabody Award, and multiple Edward R. Murrow Awards.

Aniskovich and Monroe are both repped by UTA. Monroe is also with PJ Mark at Janklow & Nesbit Associates.

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Central Texas woman says her moms cancer test is delayed due to Ascension cyberattack

AUSTIN (KXAN)  Its been almost a week since Ascension said all of its electronic health record systems were up and running after a ransomware attack took it offline.

Still, some said theyre dealing with impacts from the cyberattack.

Angela Pereira said it is preventing her mother from getting a test to help determine if her cancer spread.

That is a problem when youre delaying medical care for someone, Pereira said. Especially, you know, youve got a 70 year old woman waiting for care.

Two month delay

Pereira said shed do anything for her mother.

My mom I would protect with my life. Angela Pereira

So when her moms health took a turn, Pereira wanted an explanation.

Angela Pereira said she is trying to find out if her mothers cancer spread to her blood. (Photo: Angela Pereira)

Angela Pereira said shell stop at nothing to get answers for her mom. (Photo: Angela Pereira)

Couple of weeks ago, we had an incident where I called to check on her on a Sunday and something was very off, Pereira said. She wasnt able to put words together and make sentences. She wasnt making any sense.

Doctors said it was Hypercalcemia, which means there is too much calcium in the blood. With Pereiras mothers cancer history, she wanted to figure out if cancer moved into her blood.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Ascension electronic health records restored after ransomware attack

But in order to do that, shes already had the blood drawn, and the doctors office needed to get a piece of the tissue from the original tumor that was removed, Pereira said.

But getting an answer is proving more difficult than anticipated.

Unfortunately, Seton has told the doctors office that it could be a two month delay in getting that, Pereira said.

Whats the hold up?

Pereira said they blamed the delay on providing the tumor sample on the cyberattack back in May.

As of mid-June, Ascension said it restored electronic health record access across its network. So Pereira wonders what the hold up is for her mothers case.

Peoples lives are at risk. Ascension ransomware attack going on nearly 3 weeks

If youre supposedly back online, then why do we have a problem getting the tumor piece that we need in order to do this test? Pereira said.

KXAN reached out to Ascension for a response to this situation.

Caring for our patients has remained our highest priority throughout this event. Our workforce is well trained in providing patient care with established downtime procedures, and the compassion and resilience our care teams have displayed throughout this event is emblematic of Ascensions mission to improve the health of the individuals and communities we serve.



Ascension now has more than 95% of our vendors reconnected or in the process of reconnecting, and core EHR systems are fully restored across all markets. We have provided third-party documentation about the security of our network to assist our vendors in feeling confident in reconnecting. Ascension Spokesperson

Ultimately, Pereira still has questions about what they do from here. She promises not to stop until she gets those answers for her mom.

Ill do anything to make sure shes taken care of, Pereira said.

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James Martin, an engineer with more than 30 years of experience in higher education, will be the 13th chancellor of North Carolina A&T State University  a job in which he will lead the countrys largest historically Black university.

Martin will join A&T from his current role as vice chancellor for STEM research and innovation at the University of Pittsburgh, where he was previously dean of the universitys engineering school. With a research background in risk engineering and earthquake science, he began his career as a professor at Virginia Tech before becoming an engineering department chair at Clemson University.

He will begin his new role Aug. 15.

The UNC System Board of Governors named Martin for the role in a special meeting Friday, approving system President Peter Hans nomination. The search process to find the universitys next leader began last fall, after Chancellor Harold Martin  the longest-serving current chancellor in the 17-campus UNC System  announced he would retire at the end of the academic year.

James Martin will take the helm from Harold Martin  no relation  at a time of consistent, record growth for A&T. The Greensboro university is one of the fastest-growing in the country, and for 10 consecutive years has been the nations largest HBCU by enrollment. Its enrollment in each of the past three academic years, including a total enrollment last fall of more than 13,800 students, has made it the largest-ever HBCU.

Im grateful to say that we are not here to mark the end of the Martin era, but a renewal, Hans said Friday. As we look ahead to this universitys continued growth and rising prospects, we have the honor of welcoming a leader with a sharp sense of how to build on the successes of the last 15 years.

Under Harold Martins leadership, the university propelled its research portfolio and economic impacts, becoming the nations top producer of African American graduates in engineering, liberal arts, agricultural science and journalism, according to a university biography.

James Martin will likely lead the university into a new era as it aims to become an R1 doctoral university  or one with very high research activity, according to the Carnegie Classification system. He said in a news release he was excited to lead a university that is a recognized national leader in harnessing technology and access to learning to unlock human potential.

Our students, faculty, staff and alumni are on an incredible ascent, having accomplished so much in recent years, he said. I look forward to joining them on that journey and ensuring that we continue to build on A&Ts exceptional momentum as we set ambitious new sights for the months and years ahead.

A graduate of the Citadel and Virginia Tech with degrees in civil engineering, James Martin did not attend an HBCU, nor has he worked at or led one. But Hans on Friday highlighted a slew of other qualities Martin holds, predicting that his past leadership experiences and research would serve him well in the role.

The new chancellor recognizes all of those challenges facing higher education today, Hans said, and he isnt deterred by any of them.

Its reassuring, in fact, to be nominating someone with the confidence and expertise in the field of risk management, because chancellors dont just lay the groundwork for success and achievement, Hans said, they also work hard to manage and mitigate the many challenges that come with running a small city.

A UNC System news release did not disclose how many candidates applied for the A&T chancellorship, but stated that the national search drew a highly competitive field.

It was gratifying to see a certain standard of quality in leadership throughout the field, search committee chair Hilda Pinnix-Ragland, former chair of the A&T Board of Trustees, said in the release. From the beginning, Dr. Martin emerged as a leading candidate in his background, preparation and the vision he articulated for A&T. He will be an outstanding leader for our university.

Three chancellorships in the UNC System remain open following Thursdays election of Martin. A search at UNC-Chapel Hill is ongoing, while searches at Appalachian State University and Elizabeth City State University are expected to begin in the coming months.
NEW YORK -- Charges were dropped Thursday against most of the Columbia University students and staff who were arrested inside Hamilton Hall during pro-Palestinian demonstrations back in April.

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office announced that of the 46 people charged with trespassing, 31 cases were dismissed due to a lack of evidence. The DA's office said surveillance cameras inside the building had been covered and that no police officers were injured during the arrests.

Prosecutors told 14 others that their cases would be dropped if they avoid getting arrested in the next six months, but they rejected that offer, the DA's office said. Of those 14, only two are students, prosecutors said.

A fifteenth defendant whose trespassing charge was not dropped is also facing unrelated charges of burning a flag during a Columbia protest and breaking an NYPD camera while detained in a holding cell, the DA's office said.

A group of Columbia students spoke outside Manhattan criminal court Thursday to address the dropped charges.

"The state has attempted once again to divide us, dismissing some of our cases and offering others deals in accordance with their outside agitator narrative," one student said. "As ever, we categorically reject this division as one drawn along arbitrary, classist lines meant to preserve the sanctity of Columbia University, not an institution in the city of New York, but always above and apart from it."

The students and staff who are no longer facing criminal charges still have to deal with ongoing school disciplinary proceedings, prosecutors said.

The DA's office said, however, that it is continuing to pursue cases involving assaults against police officers.

The arrests ended two weeks of demonstrations at Columbia University, as students called on the school to divest from companies doing business with Israel. Protesters had set up an encampment on the school's main lawn, and some forced their way inside Hamilton Hall after discussions with school officials broke down.

Columbia University President Dr. Minouche Shafik then requested the NYPD's help to clear the hall.

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CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A Charlotte man accused of sneaking into a bedroom window of a woman he knew and then attacking her received a lengthy sentence this week, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of North Carolina announced Friday.

Charlotte resident Bryan Ledbetter, 48, will serve eight years after pleading guilty in March of 2023 to charges of gun possession as a felon.

Court records stated that in September of 2022, Ledbetter snuck into the home of a woman he knew through a bedroom window. The victim was attacked while trying to escape and Ledbetter fired his gun into the air during the attack, court records stated. He then dragged the victim outside and held a gun to her head before surrendering to police, records stated.

Ledbetter had previous convictions that included an assault on a female.

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LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  The discovery of three young children living in filthy conditions at a Lancaster County motel has led to charges being filed against their parents, police said.

The rooms that Cheyenne Lawson, 27, and Trenton Turner, 30, both of Manheim, were living in, along with their young children, were cockroach-infested and filled with trash, according to the charges filed Tuesday by Manheim Borough Police.

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There were also two cats and a dog staying in the one room, which police said had a very strong smell of being unclean, according to a criminal complaint.

The three were all under the age of six and were filthy and smelled as if they had not been bathed in a while, police said.

A county Children and Youth worker alerted police about the horrible living conditions at the Penn Woods Inn, located at 2931 Lebanon Road, after 11 a.m. on March 6.

Police: South Carolina man left sleeping daughter in locked vehicle, faces charges in Cumberland County

Trash bags and childrens toys filled the motel room, police said, so much so that there was no room to walk around the clutter. One of the trash bags was overflowing with soiled diapers and rotten food, police said.

The bathroom was also filled with food and drink containers to the point that the clutter was blocking the sink. A bed was also covered with used food containers, clothes, and boxes, police said.

The CYS worker reported that the room was infested with cockroaches, according to the complaint. One child possibly had a bug, possibly a cockroach, in their hair, police noted.

One of the boys had bruising on his eye, and all over his back, while the other was wearing a diaper that needed changed and had dried mucus all over his face, police said. The girls face was covered in dirt and her hair was mattered and knotted, police said.

The children were taken back to the police station where they played in the training room that had to be aired out after the children were gone because the smell was so strong, the criminal complaint said.

The duo faces a felony charge of endangering the welfare of children.

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Both Lawson and Turner are out on unsecured bail set at $1,000 and are awaiting a preliminary hearing scheduled for Aug. 8.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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BEIJING (Reuters) -China and Australia will provide each other's citizens with multiple-entry visas of up to five years for tourism and business from Friday, the Chinese foreign ministry said, in another sign of improving ties between the two countries.

The visa arrangement followed a milestone trip by China's Premier Li Qiang to Australia earlier this week that marked a stabilisation in bilateral relations after a period of frosty ties.

Previously, Chinese citizens could apply for visas of up to one year to visit Australia, or up to 10 years for frequent travellers.

Within an hour following the announcement, searches for flight tickets, hotels and other items for Australia surged more than 200% on Chinese travel site Tongcheng Travel, state-backed media The Paper reported.

Since last year, China has been easing entry requirements for visitors from some countries to facilitate travel for business and pleasure, following three years of harsh COVID-19 restrictions that had largely shut its international borders.

During Li's trip to Australia, he said China would also include Australia in its visa waiver scheme, allowing Australians to visit the country for up to 15 days without a visa.

(Reporting by Ella Cao, Ethan Wang and Ryan Woo, Editing by William Maclean)
A Taiwanese sailor aboard a Taiwan Navy vessel looks towards a Chinese warship while navigating on waters off Taiwan's western coast

BEIJING (Reuters) -China on Friday threatened to impose the death penalty in extreme cases for "diehard" Taiwan independence separatists, a ratcheting up of pressure even though Chinese courts have no jurisdiction on the democratically governed island.

China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, has made no secret of its dislike of President Lai Ching-te who took office last month, saying he is a "separatist", and staged war games shortly after his inauguration.

Taiwan has complained of a pattern of ramped up Chinese pressure since Lai won the election in January, including ongoing military actions, trade sanctions and coast guard patrols around Taiwan-controlled islands next to China.

The new guidelines say China's courts, prosecutors, public and state security bodies should "severely punish Taiwan independence diehards for splitting the country and inciting secession crimes in accordance with the law, and resolutely defend national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity", according to China's state-run Xinhua news agency.

The guidelines are being issued in accordance with laws already on the books, including the 2005 anti-succession law, Xinhua said.

That law gives China the legal basis for military action against Taiwan if it secedes or seems about to.

Sun Pingan official from China's Ministry of Public Security, told reporters in Beijing the maximum penalty for the "crime of secession" was the death penalty.

"The sharp sword of legal action will always hang high," she said.

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council on Friday slammed Beijing's move, urging its people not to be threatened by China.

"The Beijing authorities have absolutely no jurisdiction over Taiwan, and the Chinese communists' so-called laws and norms have no binding force on our people. The government appeals to our country's people to feel at ease and not to be threatened or intimidated by the Chinese Communist Party," it said in a statement.

The guidelines detail what is considered a crime worthy of punishment, including promoting Taiwan's entry to international organisations where statehood is a condition, having "external official exchanges" and "suppressing" parties, groups and people that promote "reunification".

The guidelines add a further clause to what could be considered a crime - "other acts that seek to separate Taiwan from China" - meaning the rules can be broadly interpreted.

Lai has repeatedly offered to hold talks with China but has been rebuffed. He says only Taiwan's people can decide their future.

China has taken legal measures against Taiwanese officials before, including imposing sanctions on Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan's former de facto ambassador to the United States and now the island's vice president.

Such punishments have little practical effect as Chinese courts do not have jurisdiction in Taiwan, whose government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims.

Senior Taiwanese officials, including its president, also do not visit China.

(Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Writing and additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by Christopher Cushing, Miral Fahmy and Sharon Singleton)
FILE - A man walks past a Lockheed Martin logo as he walks through a section of the company's chalet bridging a road at Farnborough International Airshow in Farnborough, southern England, July 19, 2006. China says it has banned a number of business units of American aviation maker Lockheed Martin and three of its executives over arms deals with Taiwan, the self-ruling island it claims as its own territory. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)

BEIJING (AP)  China said Friday it has banned a number of business units of American aviation manufacturer Lockheed Martin Corp. and three of its executives over arms deals the company has signed with Taiwan, the self-ruling island it claims as its own territory.

The statement from Chinas Foreign Ministry said the companys cooperation with Taiwan had violated the countrys sovereignty, standard terminology in its discussions of any outside dealings that support the island's government.

The effects of the sanctions appeared largely symbolic since military cooperation between the U.S. and China has been suspended since the Peoples Liberation Armys crackdown on student-led pro-democracy protests in Beijing and other cities in 1989.

Named under the sanctions were Lockheed Martin Missile System Integration Lab, Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories and Lockheed Martin Ventures. Top executives James Donald Taiclet, Frank Andrew St. John and Jesus Malave were listed as banned from traveling to China.

China has been steadily growing its domestic aircraft industry, producing parts, planes and services for Airbus and producing its own commercial jets. Foreign technology has played a large part in that process, but Chinese companies have increasingly developed the means to replace their overseas suppliers.

Taiwan relies heavily on U.S. suppliers for arms, even as it works to boost its own defense industries and increase mandatory military service for men from four months to one year. That comes against the backdrop of China's rising threat to encircle or invade Taiwan to achieve what it calls a historical mission to annex the island. Taiwan was formerly a Japanese colony and separated from mainland China amid civil war in 1949.
If China attacks: How people in Taiwan are preparing for the worst

A woman ties a bandage around the arm of another participant during a civil defense course at the Kuma Academy. Johannes Neudecker/dpa

In an office building on a nondescript side street in Taipei, an emergency is on the agenda for this summer's day.

Outside, the Taiwanese capital is bustling with street vendors and food stalls. Inside, the focus is on warfare, propaganda and first aid. Forty mostly young people are gathered at the Kuma Academy on a Saturday  the majority of them women.

"The main reason I participated is to learn about the current state of Taiwan's defence," says 27-year-old Su.

The democratic island nation, with over 23 million inhabitants, is separated from China by the Taiwan Strait, which is around 130 kilometres wide at its narrowest point.

Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory and seeks to bring the island under its control, despite Taiwan having an independently elected government, decades in place.

But China points to World War II, after which Taiwan was awarded to the Republic of China. However, a civil war broke out between the communists and the supporters of the Chinese Nationalist Party, or Kuomintang (KMT).

When the nationalists lost, they fled to Taiwan and continued to rule there as the Republic of China.

That same year, 1949, revolutionary leader Mao Zedong proclaimed the People's Republic of China in Beijing. Ever since, Beijing has repeatedly threatened to "reunite" Taiwan with the mainland, including through military means if peaceful efforts fail.

Training for war awareness

"The academy is more about creating awareness of a possible war," says co-founder Shen Po-yang, also known as Puma Shen. People should be prepared in case China begins its invasion of Taiwan and should not fall into panic, he says.

In his view, the optimal period for an attack from Beijing's perspective could be between 2025 and 2027, or when more than half of the Taiwanese population might surrender.

But if enough people gain knowledge from the academy's courses, they could protect themselves and others, says Shen, a member of the defence committee of the parliament for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Some 40,000 ordinary people have completed the training since October 2022, the academy says. Participants range in age from teenagers to army veterans, with almost two thirds of them being women.

Women like Su tend to be more interested in the course because men in Taiwan have already served in the army through compulsory military service, so are familiar with the subject, Su says.

Academy spokesperson Aaron Huang also points out that men are more often employed in public services, such as firefighting or disaster relief after earthquakes, so have gathered relevant experience.

The first lesson: invasion

The "Training for Civil Defence" programme begins with grey zone tactics, which are already known to the people of Taiwan. They experience them almost daily when fighter jets of the Chinese People's Liberation Army cross the unofficial median line in the Taiwan Strait and enter Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ)  not to be confused with airspace.

The lecturer also walks people through what an invasion might look like. Again, locals had a foretaste of this in May, when the Chinese navy, air force, and army rehearsed a blockade around Taiwan and smaller islands close to China.

China could seek to cut off escape routes from Taiwan and block external aid to the island. The leadership ordered the exercise as punishment after Taiwan's new president, Lai Ching-te, took office and, from Beijing's perspective, clearly stated his intentions for independence in a speech.

Beijing sees Lai and his independence-leaning DPP as separatists, despite Taipei having never officially declared independence. The stance has led to many countries into major diplomatic disputes with Beijing.

Only a few states officially recognize Taiwan. Even the United States, Taiwan's closest ally, is not among them, though Washington has promised support in the event that Taiwan must defend itself.

Lai himself recently pointed to the methods China uses to compel Taiwan into submission. "However, we will not yield. The people of Taiwan will defend our sovereignty and maintain our way of life under democratic constitutional governance," he said.

Advice and war videos

At the academy, a lecturer discusses propaganda and online influence, particularly through social media. Even before the January elections, Taiwanese politicians accused China of using such tactics to shape public opinion. Ariel You, in her late twenties, values this advice as it helps her be more discerning about information online, she says.

Shen also emphasizes the need to enhance cybersecurity as China's hackers are highly skilled, he says. Domestically, the lawmaker underscores the importance of implementing regulations to oversee social media platforms like TikTok and to monitor Chinese financial transactions. He also highlights the need for legal authorization to address grey zone tactics as required.

Despite such serious topics, the mood in the seminar room is cheerful. "I learned bandaging techniques when I was little, but then I forgot about them," says You, particularly eager for the first aid segment. "If there is a war, what can we young people contribute to society?"

However, just before the hands-on practice begins, the paramedics bring the reality of war much closer to the participants through a video.

The footage shows a Ukrainian soldier who loses a leg when a mine explodes. He hurriedly applies his own tourniquet to stop the bleeding.

Some of the participants in the room gasp or cover their faces with the paper course materials to avoid seeing the gruesome scene.

Later, the participants practice applying tourniquets correctly, bandaging wounds, and carrying people who are hurt.

Su says she feels slightly reassured.

"I think with knowledge about these things, its easier to understand that it won't be so easy for China if they come to Taiwan and try to attack us."

A woman attaches a tourniquet to her arm during an exercise during a civil defense course at Kuma Academy. Johannes Neudecker/dpa

A man attaches a tourniquet to his thigh during an exercise during a civil defense course at Kuma Academy. Johannes Neudecker/dpa

Men and women take part in a civil defense course at Kuma Academy. Johannes Neudecker/dpa
China's ax-wielding clash at sea with the Philippines is a way to 'exhaust' it into accepting territory claims, expert says

China's escalations in the South China Sea aim to "exhaust" other countries, an expert told BI.

On Monday, Chinese coast guards harassed Filipino boats, part of a string of recent provocations.

It's Beijing's way of pushing but coming just "short of actual conflict," Sari Arho Havren said.

China's latest maritime provocation  which saw weapons including an ax being wielded at Filipino sailors earlier this week  is part of attempts to "exhaust" neighboring countries into accepting its claims over contested waters, an expert told Business Insider.

The incident on Monday is the latest "gray-zone" skirmish in the South China Sea, where China has increasingly used nonlethal but highly provocative measures to harass other countries there.

China has claimed sovereignty over the South China Sea for decades, a claim that was roundly rejected in the Hague in 2016.

On Saturday, it enacted a law allowing its Coast Guard to seize foreign ships suspected of trespassing, CNN reported.

"China wants to change the status quo by force  exhaust the countries to give in to their claims," Sari Arho Havren, an associate fellow specializing in China's foreign relations at the Royal United Services Institute, told BI.

She said that the latest move by China also fuels the Philippines' fear of provoking a war if it responds.

CCG personnel violently attached ropes to tow the AFP's RHIB while threatening to injure an AFP soldier w/ a pickaxe. They also employed blaring sirens to create chaos, disrupt communication, and divert the attention of AFP troops, exacerbating the hostile & dangerous situation. pic.twitter.com/a8cPaGGH8j  Armed Forces of the Philippines (@TeamAFP) June 19, 2024

On Wednesday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines released images and video from Monday's alarming maritime clash, in which the China Coast Guard was accused of having "illegally boarded" and "looted" Filipino boats.

One Chinese coast guard can be seen waving an ax in the footage, while others threatened Filipino sailors with "bladed and pointed weapons" as sirens blared, the AFP claimed.

Further images show smashed equipment and slashes to the rubber boats.

Both the Philippines and its allies  including the US  have condemned the incident, which took place in the Ayungin Shoal, a contested atoll in the South China Sea some 120 miles from the Filipino Palawan Island.

A handout image shared by the Armed Forces of the Philippines shows a hand holding broken equipment, in front of a smashed-up control panel on a Filipino boat, the result of a skirmish by the Chinese Coast Guard on June 17, 2024. Armed Forces of the Philippines

China described its actions as "professional, restrained, justified and lawful."

It comes after several other aggressive acts from Beijing in the South China Sea in recent months, involving lasers, water cannons, maritime militias, and even the alleged poisoning of fishing waters.

They have provoked international condemnation, but have been considered below the threshold of an act of war.

A screen grab from a video provided by the Philippine Coast Guard showing Chinese vessels shooting water cannons at a ship in the South China Sea, on April 30, 2024. Philippine Coast Guard

Until Monday, China had never forcibly boarded another country's ship, Collin Koh, a research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, told CNN.

The fact it happened this time is significant, he said, because although they were just small rubber boats, they're still part of the Philippines' navy  and therefore seen as sovereign space.

"That is very dangerous, because, if anything, that could even be construed as an act of war," he said.

Havren told BI that it was a very serious escalation, but hesitated to call it an act of war.

This style of aggression limits the action to just "short of actual conflict," she said  allowing China to probe the limits of provocation without crossing the line.

She said that China has become "increasingly assertive and confrontational" in the waters around Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines since Xi Jinping came to power in 2013.

This is partly prompted by Chinese irritation at increased US involvement in the region, she said.

Several cooperation agreements have been signed between the Biden administration and the Indo-Pacific, building on other long-standing agreements.

Xi Jinping and Joe Biden. Getty Images

Beijing is "obsessed by the rivalry with the US," concerned that the White House is bent on limiting China's rise to power, Havren said.

"There is a clear appetite for expansion and to push the US away from the region," she said.

This is a challenge for the US, which is already wrapped up in conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, and is trying to calm down China's escalations around Taiwan.

"The more the US focus is stretched, the easier it is for China," Havren said.

Xi has accused the US of trying to trick China into invading Taiwan, the Financial Times reported earlier this month.

Xi's reported comments essentially set the stage for a convenient blame game if a conflict is eventually triggered.

"I think this kind of applies to the situation with the Philippines as well," Havren said.

"China does feel the pressure" from having US-backed hostile nations surrounding it, she said.

Havren added that this will only accelerate the division between the US and China  and that countries may have to think about whose side they're on.

"The countries in the Pacific have been fairly reluctant to take sides," she told BI, "but this kind of aggression from China's side definitely puts more pressure on them to think about how to balance China's behavior."

Read the original article on Business Insider
FILE PHOTO: Dr. Rahul Gupta, head of the White House's Office of National Drug Control Policy meets with the Chinese Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong, in Beijing

By Antoni Slodkowski

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's top prosecutor urged law enforcement officials across the country on Friday to focus efforts on combating drug trafficking, capping a week in which Beijing and Washington announced a rare joint counternarcotics investigation.

The Supreme People's Procuratorate published "six typical cases," involving actions ranging from postal fraud to medical professionals selling illicit drugs on the side, and clarified the legal application standards to handle such cases.

The prosecutor said in a statement that the release was meant to show its "determination and attitude to intensify efforts to crack down on related crimes, while hoping that this batch of typical cases will serve as a warning to the society."

The United States and China held high-level counternarcotics talks on Thursday following a breakthrough in bilateral cooperation this week in which both sides went after a major drug-linked money laundering operation.

The United States, where fentanyl abuse has been a major cause of death, has pushed China for deeper law enforcement cooperation, including tackling illicit finance and further controls on the chemicals that can be used to make fentanyl.

These chemicals are often shipped to the U.S. and other destinations from China using mail packages that have unverifiable addresses or are mislabeled, experts say. The U.S. Postal Service has for years struggled with the problem.

One of the examples highlighted in the prosecutor's note on Friday involved a case of a Chinese buyer, surnamed Yan, purchasing date-rape drug triazolam from overseas and then selling it in China by mail using mislabeled packaging.

As a result, "the procuratorate issued a procuratorial suggestion to the postal administration department...urging the regulatory department to fulfill its main responsibility and perform its duties conscientiously."

The postal administration then "urged the company to make timely rectifications," the prosecutor said.

The note said "the procuratorate invited nearly 100 couriers and college students to attend the trial, focusing on the new characteristics and new forms of new drug cases to carry out anti-drug law publicity."

Postal fraud was briefly mentioned in the opening remarks by Rahul Gupta, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, who on Thursday held talks in Beijing with China's minister of public security, Wang Xiaohong.

Gupta said it was among the "areas where we're both being negatively impacted," listing it alongside illicit finance, "illegal drug trafficking and use, and the emergence of new and more dangerous drugs."

(Reporting by Antoni Slodkowski; additional reporting by Beijing newsroom, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
Chris Parosa joins the City Club to talk about his race for Lane County aistrict attorney in a meeting on April 26. Parosa won that race and has been picked by Gov. Tina Kotek to step into the role early following the announced retirement of outgoing DA Patty Perlow.

Gov. Tina Kotek announced Friday she is appointing Christopher Parosa as district attorney of Lane County, effective June 28.

According to Kotek, Parosa will fill a vacancy created by the upcoming retirement of longtime DA Patty Perlow.

"I did indeed decide to retire early," Perlow said. "Chris received an overwhelming majority of the vote, so the community is ready for him to take over and the office is in a great position for the transition."

In December, Perlow told The Register-Guard she initially planned to retire from office in 2025 after 34 years of working in Eugene.

"I've been in this building since August of 1989," Perlow said. "It's time."

The district attorney is the county's lead prosecutor, responsible for leading a team of deputy district attorneys to prosecute people suspected of crimes, direct investigations and recommend sentences.

Following Oregon's primary election in May, certified election results released Monday showed Parosa won more than 66% of the 78,659 votes cast in the Lane County district attorney race, beating his opponent, James Cleavenger, who received nearly 33%.

Parosa currently works as Perlow's chief deputy. In the lead-up to the primary election, he said fellow prosecutors in Lane County asked him to run for the top role.

"With the public announcement of District Attorney Perlow's retirement, the prosecutors of Lane County asked me to run to become the next District Attorney of Lane County based on my nearly 20 years of experience, strong relationship with community partners, temperament and desire to enact reasonable criminal justice reform measures," Parosa said.

Haleigh Kochanski is a breaking news and public safety reporter for The Register-Guard. You may reach her at HKochanski@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Christopher Parosa appointed as Lane County district attorney
Authorities said Friday that a 21-year-old Hickory man was arrested in a deadly hit-and-run, and a local church helped track them down. State highway patrol officials had been questioning Zachary Joseph Deal before they announced his arrest.

The North Carolina Highway Patrol says 23-year-old Jacob Michael Bentley was killed in a crash Thursday on Business 321 near Summerow Road. Troopers said a Ford Taurus was going north, crossed over the center line and hit Bentleys vehicle.

Highway patrol showed Channel 9s Dave Faherty the broken pieces of the left front headlight assembly that led them to identify the suspect car as a Ford Taurus.

Faherty learned that a nearby Methodist church had surveillance cameras that captured a portion of the wreck.

After about a 10-15 second pause after the collision, you can actually see the Taurus go south and go right past the collision itself, Chris Casey with the NC Highway Patrol told Faherty. Unfortunately he did not stop, and continued to go south.

ALSO READ >> Innocent girl: Victims family wants justice after 18-year-old killed in hit-and-run

Debbie Richard attends McKendree Methodist Church, where her husband is the pastor. She was walking at the time of the accident and says she witnessed the crash.

I usually walk every night, she told Faherty.

She and her husband began praying for the 23-year-old who later died at the hospital.

Richard said she wishes the other driver had stopped.

It really makes you mad, makes you angry to think that someone wouldnt have a conscience like that, could leave the scene, Richard said.

IN OTHER NEWS: Man on electric scooter killed in hit-and-run crash, CMPD says

Troopers did say Bentley wasnt wearing his seat belt.

Deal was charged with felony hit and run, failure to report an accident, and failure to render medical assistance. He is being held at the Lincoln County Detention Center under a $10,000 secured bond.

(WATCH: 1 dead, several hurt in crash involving overturned tanker on I-485)
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Christian Reformed churches that are LGBTQ-affirming must repent or leave, the denomination has decided.

Delegates and church leaders met throughout the week at Calvin University in Grand Rapids for this years Christian Reformed Church in North America Synod, the denominations annual assembly. As it did for the past two years, this years Synod largely focused on the role of LGBTQ+ community members in the denomination.

In 2022, Synod voted to uphold its position that same-sex relationships are sinful, but having attractions to the same sex is not in itself sinful. The denomination voted to make its stance a confessional issue, or a core belief. This meant office-bearers  including pastors, deacons and elders  and CRC school faculty must share the belief that LGBTQ+ relationships are sinful, and cannot be in same-sex relationships themselves.

Still, some churches remained LGBTQ+ affirming, and office-bearers could file a notice (referred to as a confessional-difficulty gravamen) stating they disagreed with the churchs stance.

Sherman Street CRC on June 20, 2024.

Under God, Divisible: Political conflict deepens rift among Christians

The CRC Synod this year voted to call affirming churches into a process of discipline. Those churches must publicly repent and withdraw their affirming statements, or they must disaffiliate from the denomination. If the churches do neither, they will be removed from fellowship with the denomination.

This years synod just concluded, Zachary King, general secretary of the CRCNA, said in a statement to News 8 Thursday. The agenda included several items related to discipline and clarity around issues of human sexuality. Over the past several years, synod has worked hard to articulate our understanding of what the Bible says about sexuality and how this relates to our confessions as a church. Now that that has been clearly defined, this years synod focused on clarifying procedures for congregations and office bearers who may wrestle with this understanding; with a commitment to help guide them in their understanding, or create pathways for them to disaffiliate if their convictions are already settled.

We know that these decisions are lamented by some of our members even as they are commended by others. We hurt because part of our body is hurting, and we pray that the clarity that has been established will help us move forward.

He noted that synod made other big decisions throughout the week.

We adopted a Global Vision report that pointed us toward an exciting future of relationships with Reformed congregations around the world, heard wonderful testimonies from our current Korean and Hispanic congregations, approved 25 new candidates for ministry, and celebrated plans to plant 33 new churches in the coming year, the statement says. We are grateful for what God is doing despite our human struggles and divisions.

CRC doubles down on forbidding deacon in same-sex marriage at GR church

Synod delegate Trish Borgdorff told News 8 there are 28 affirming churches in the denomination, including Eastern Avenue CRC in Grand Rapids, where she is an elder.

She expects many of those churches will make the decision to disaffiliate.

(Eastern Avenue CRC) became affirming in 2022, she said. It was the result of a 10-year conversation. And so for us, it was a process of responding to a call of God.  To repent from a call of God is  puts us in a very difficult situation. And so I believe that we are at a point that it is really our only option.

Disaffiliation will be a painful process, Borgdorff, who grew up in the CRC church and whose dad served in the denominations executive leadership for more than 25 years, said.

I felt a deep cord of sorrow through the week because of what the denomination has been in my life, and the ache of what wont be anymore, the good people who share the incredible sense of who God is and Gods grace and Gods goodness, she said. Thats hard to recognize that were walking away from that  or being sent out, Im not sure. There isnt room for us anymore in the denomination I love.

Thursday morning, she read a farewell to Synod, on behalf of herself and the churches that will disaffiliate.

What grieved my heart the most was that we were separating over conflict, she told News 8 while recounting her farewell. In a broken world where we so long for peace, that even under what we know to be Gods call on our lives, we couldnt find it with each other. And so it was a call to all of us to acknowledge that the problem we are facing, we all contributed to. Its not any one person, not any one side.

Sherman Street CRC on June 20, 2024.

Sherman Street CRC, another affirming church that will likely leave the denomination, held an information session Thursday evening, followed by a lament service.

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Its the third year the church has hosted a lament service following Synod, Pastor Jennifer Holmes Curran and Pastor Tony Holmes Curran told News 8.

Several people from Sherman Street CRC and other churches gathered in-person or over Zoom to pray, sing songs and share what they were feeling. Some cried, others shared memories of growing up in the CRC church and one person read a poem.

Sherman Street CRC was founded in 1907, and has been part of the denomination throughout its history, the pastors shared.

Sherman Street CRC on June 20, 2024.

Sherman Street CRC on June 20, 2024.

We made a decision to be an affirming church two years ago, knowing that this might be the consequence, really hoping that it wouldnt, Pastor Jennifer Holmes Curran said. Its heartbreaking that this is how it has turned out, particularly for people in our congregation who have been in the CRC their entire lives. Its going to be a real grief, but we also kind of knew that this might happen and this might be the cost of following Jesus in this way.

Her husband said ultimately, God is love is the message their church strives to embody.

The two said while they dont want to leave the CRC, they still want nothing but good things for the Christian Reformed Church, a sentiment Borgdorff echoed.

We see things differently, she said. But God is good and God is gracious, and we are all serving the same God. And so as we go about it differently, may we go about it in a way that will further his kingdom, and may one day, when we dwell in the house of the Lord forever together, may we find a way to be in awe of how unity has been achieved.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Nurses and supporters at Providence St. Vincent in southwest Portland picket outside the hospital on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. More than 3,000 nurses at six Providence hospitals in Oregon started a three-day strike on Tuesday. (Courtesy of Oregon Nurses Association)

Nurses and supporters at Providence St. Vincent in southwest Portland picket outside the hospital on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. More than 3,000 nurses at six Providence hospitals in Oregon started a three-day strike on Tuesday. (Courtesy of Oregon Nurses Association)

Nurses plan to continue picketing six Providence hospitals in Oregon after their three-day strike ends early Friday, accusing the hospital of unlawfully keeping nurses from promptly returning to work.

The planned extension of picketing marks another turn in a bitter labor dispute and the largest nurse strike in Oregon history. More than 3,000 nurses at six Providence hospitals went on strike Tuesday. The nurses union launched the strike after the six hospitals, stretching from Medford to the Portland area, failed to reach contract agreements with nurses, who are represented by the Oregon Nurses Association.

In a Thursday statement, the Oregon Nurses Association said the union, in its 10-day strike notice to Providence, told managers the nurses would return to work at 6 a.m. Friday. According to the National Labor Relations Board, workers are allowed to engage in a protected strike and must be allowed to return to work when the strike is over.

But Providence announced the hospitals would only welcome nurses back starting Sunday.

Union leaders knew there would be a five-day replacement period, said Gary Walker, a Providence spokesman.

The company hired temporary nurses on five-day contracts. Walker said if the hospitals need any staff nurses to return on Friday or Saturday, they would contact them.

If we need any striking nurses to come in before Sunday morning to meet patient needs, Providence will contact them, Walker wrote. If they are not contacted, they are not on the schedule and do not need to report to work.

The nurses plan to continue the protest early Friday.

Given Providences refusal to reinstate the nurses, ONA will picket until nurses are back on their regular schedule, the union said in a statement. Providences selective and delayed return of some employees constitutes an unlawful partial lockout.

The union filed a federal labor complaint over the situation on Thursday, saying nurses have a right to return and that selectively offering employment to some nurses while denying it to staff employees was unlawful under the National Labor Relations Board and federal court precedent.

The employer has to immediately reinstate them by law, the union said. Providence is refusing to do that, and that is illegal. Providence does NOT get to have it both ways. We are going to continue to picket.

Union officials said they will defend the nurses in the event any are disciplined. Walker warned the nurses against staging a scene at the hospitals, saying it was prioritizing patient care. He also shared a text from the nurses union sent out to members on June 7:

It says: Our RN bargaining team declared a 3 day strike starting 6/18 @ 6 am with the goal of creating the most cost for Providence  we know that scab contracts last 5 days. RNs will return to work 6/21 at 6am, if Prov chooses to lock us out for 2 days in order to save money, we will shame them in the press.

Walker accused the union of trying to manipulate public opinion: Theyre playing the media, and putting our nurses in the middle, he said in a statement.

The union and nurses also have accused Providence Health & Services of not following a new state staffing law that requires the company and nurses to agree upon nurse-to-patient ratios, a charge that Providence officials strongly deny. The nurses union also has said the strike came because of a lack of progress to provide adequate wages and affordable health insurance plans.

The six hospitals are: Providence St. Vincent in southwest Portland, Providence Newberg, Providence Willamette Falls in Oregon City, Providence Medford, Providence Hood River and Providence Milwaukie. Nurses at Providence Portland Medical Center in northeast Portland did not join the strike notice because its contract was approved last year.

UPDATED on Friday, June 21, 2024 with confirmation of that the Oregon Nurses Association filed an official complaint with the National Labor Relations Board against Providence.

The post Citing unlawful lockout, Oregon nurses will continue to picket Providence hospitals appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle.
City Court judicial races often don't generate a ton of interest, but then you don't often have a former mayor on the ballot who resigned the office as part of a plea deal to a misdemeanor crime.

This year, former Mayor Lovely Warren, who resigned the post in late 2021, is squaring off in the Democratic primary Tuesday against local lawyer Michael Geraci, who is the candidate designated by the Democratic Party.

Geraci, 38, is treating the race as he would regardless of the opposition. He is stressing his experience in both the criminal defense field and the civil litigation arena, where he has worked in labor and tenant representation as well as other areas of civil law. He also worked as an intern in the Monroe County District Attorney's Office.

His experience, Geraci said, aligns with the work in city court, which can range from lower-level crimes to eviction cases.

"They're all areas where I have experience doing that type of work," Geraci said.

It is city court, he said, where he thinks judges can have a true impact, partly because of the ample use of diversion courts to try to bring a stability to the lives of defendants.

Warren, 46, did not respond to requests via phone and email and through her website for comment. Warren, who has a podcast with City Councilman Willie Lightfoot on WDKX, also did not respond to requests from some other local media for in-depth interviews about her candidacy.

She also did not participate in an evaluation from the Greater Rochester Association for Women Attorneys, and was "not recommended" because of that refusal. Geraci received a "well qualified" rating, the association's second highest rating.

In social media and statements Warren has said that the majority of defendants in city court are people of color and she understands the impact the system has on families and children. She has acknowledged making mistakes, apparently speaking of her crime, which, through a plea deal to a misdemeanor, allowed her to keep her law license and seek the judgeship.

"I have made my share of mistakes and as part of that there are many things that I regret but all of that has made me a better person, better mom and able to relate to victims and make sure the scales of justice balances for all," she said in a Facebook post this year.

Because there was a criminal conviction, Warren would likely have had to answer to the region's legal grievance committee, which can pursue serious sanctions like suspension or loss of law licenses.

However, only the severe punishments become public. The committee can send out private letters of admonition that warn about more serious ramifications if there is subsequent misconduct or law-breaking.

Michael Geraci

Michael Geraci

Geraci previously ran unsuccessfully for Rochester City Council. His father, Frank Geraci Jr., is now a federal judge who previously served as a county and city court judge as well as a prosecutor and defense lawyer. In his downtown office, Michael Geraci displays a sticker urging a vote for Geraci for Rochester City Court, a remnant from his father's successful bid in 1991 for the judgeship.

His parents, Michael Geraci said, encouraged his children to follow their own paths.

A 2004 graduate of McQuaid Jesuit High School, Geraci at first considered a career in economics and business before deciding to attend law school. He graduated from University of Dayton School of Law in 2011 and, after the internship in the DA's office, joined the firm of what is now Trevett Cristo, which had a stable of both well-known criminal defense and labor representation lawyers.

Geraci opened his own practice in 2018 and has represented defendants in city court as well as with felony cases in Monroe County Court. Along with Michael Schiano, he defended Kelvin Vickers Jr., who was convicted of the murder of Rochester Police Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz and the wounding of Officer Sino Seng.

Geraci said he has since been approached by police and others in law enforcement who said they were not upset with his defense of Vickers, but instead recognized the legal and constitutional justification for a solid defense for all.

As a volunteer, Geraci has worked and mentored within the Teen Court, which brings teenagers together in a courtroom when accused of low-level offenses. Teenagers adjudicate cases in the program, which is overseen by the Center for Youth, and the recidivism rate is a fraction of adult courts.

"It's a great example of diversion for first-time nonviolent offenders," Geraci said.

Diversion programs help "slow the system down" for defendants and "show the person 'we care about you,' " he said.

Lovely Warren

Lovely Warren, when mayor in 2021.

Warren, like Geraci, has her roots in Rochester. A graduate of Wilson Magnet High School, she chose law as a career, securing a law degree from Albany Law School.

Warren has clerked in city court, but entered the political field as a chief of staff to the late Assemblyman David Gantt, who was a power broker in local Democratic circles.

Her work with Gantt and in city neighborhoods led her to a successful Rochester City Council run in 2007  she later served as president of the council  and her mayoral win in 2013. She was the first woman to serve as mayor and the second Black person to be the city's mayor.

Through her years as mayor, there were successes with development and neighborhood revitalization, and she built upon a solid core of supporters from both her council work and her years with Gantt. But in 2021 a series of events derailed her political career, at least for then.

One was the death of city man Daniel Prude, who died about a week after being restrained by police. Asphyxiation from that restraint was a cause of death, the medical examiner's office determined.

The public did not learn of the death until months later, sparking protests and investigations. One internal investigation determined that Warren and others in her administration purposefully hid the facts of the case from the public.

Also that year, she became embroiled in the drug-dealing crimes of her husband, Timothy Granison. Warren said the two were estranged but were sharing a house with their young daughter.

Police raided their home in August 2021 and her husband was arrested. No drugs were found in the home and there has not been evidence that he did sell drugs from the house nor that Warren was involved. He later pleaded guilty to federal drug crimes and, records show, was released from prison this month.

When Granison was arrested, Warren was already under investigation for exceeding campaign limits in her 2017 mayoral campaign. Warren was also criminally charged with Granison; she was accused of illegally possessing a firearm in the house and of endangering her daughter.

In October 2021 she resolved all of the criminal charges with a plea to the misdemeanor campaign finance crime. She agreed to resign as part of the plea deal.

The misdemeanor plea kept her law license intact.

Earlier this year Geraci attempted to have Warren removed from the ballot after her name showed up on petitions for the judgeship and a Democratic committee post. As a judicial candidate, she could not also seek a committee position.

A judge allowed her to stay on the ballot, determining that evidence showed others had put her name on committee petitions without her knowledge.

Geraci said his campaign pursued the litigation because it was important that lawyers and judicial candidates adhere to the law.

Rochester City Court judges serve 10-year terms. The city is largely Democratic and all city court judges are now Democrats.

(Gary Craig is a veteran Democrat and Chronicle reporter who has covered judicial races for the past 20 years.)

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Lovely Warren and Michael Geraci compete for Rochester City Court seat
Today marks the beginning of what could be a lengthy criminal trial for Christopher CJ Alexander, who has been charged with allegedly poaching the states would-be No. 1 whitetail deer. With a gross score over 200 inches, the buck was also in the running for the third-largest all-time typical whitetail in the Boone and Crockett book before it was confiscated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in December. At an arraignment hearing in Clinton County today, Alexander entered a not guilty plea to the 23 criminal charges leveled against him, including jacklighting, tampering with evidence, grand theft, and hunting without permission. Alexander was accompanied by his defense attorney J.R. Bernans, who did not respond to a request for comment. A Big Buck Story Investigated The saga began on Nov. 9 when Alexander shot a massive buck in Clinton County, and he shared his story with Outdoor Life in early December. Alexander said he shot the buck on his sisters 9-acre property (though he originally claimed the property was 30 acres) with a crossbow borrowed from his friend Cory Haunert. He explained that he and Haunert went back to his sisters property the following day to recover the buck. Within weeks of when that OL story ran, however, rumors began to swirl online that Alexander had killed the buck on a different piece of private property in Clinton County where he did not have permission to hunt. And on Dec. 26, officials with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources launched a formal poaching investigation. They began by seizing the bucks antlers from CJs apartment, along with other items that they believed were used in taking the deer. The states investigation continued over the next four to five months, as many wondered what would become of the Alexander Buck and debated whether the DNRs allegations were valid. Alexander maintained his innocence during this time, often publicly by commenting on social media posts. Hes continued to do so in recent months on OLs Instagram page, even responding back to commenters. .embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Alexander also participated in interviews, where he continued to claim that he killed the buck legally on his sisters property, and that he was being wrongly accused by the state. Appearing on the Hunters Advantage podcast in January, he offered a detailed account of the hunt and the DNRs subsequent investigation, which he claimed was inadequate. He contended that the states case was tenuously reliant on DNA that was found on two knives discovered at the site of the alleged poaching. On the podcast, Alexander also discussed allegations over the deer being poached from Clinton County prosecuting attorney Andrew McCoys land and where that property is located in relation to Alexanders sisters property. Everyone one is saying its the D.A., which the [county prosecuting attorney] is Andrew McCoy. The guys property that they claim I shot this deer on is William McCoys, thats his brother, Alexander said. But everyone is saying its 20, 25 miles and its not. Its literally half that. Its 10.33 [miles] if you drop a pin on it and take it to my sisters [property]. This 9-acre property in Clinton County was listed in court documents as the location where Alexander claimed the buck was killed. Outdoor Life Indictment by Grand Jury Up until early May, many hunters had come to Alexanders defense, claiming overreach by the DNR. Public opinion shifted, however, when a Clinton County grand jury handed down a hefty, 22-page criminal indictment against Alexander on May 10. Ohio attorney general Dave Yost announced the indictment, which included 23 criminal charges against Alexander, along with additional charges for Haunert and Alexanders sister for their roles in the cover-up scheme that investigators allege took place after the buck was killed. Wildlife officers discovered through warranted searches of cell phone data that Christopher Alexander had illegally hunted the trophy buck on private property about 10 miles from his sisters land, and later learned that the written permission from his sister he had presented to wildlife officers had been falsified  after the deer was killed  to mislead authorities, the attorney generals office wrote in a press release. Evidence revealed Christopher Alexander staged the deer taking at his sisters property with the help of Corey P. Haunert and his brother, Zachary R. Haunert, to conceal the poaching. Read Next: Suspected Poacher Arrested After Famous Hollywood Buck Turns Up Dead on Facebook A closer look at the indictment also reveals that Alexander has been accused by the state of poaching not one, but two bucks on a roughly 50-acre piece of private property in Clinton County where he did not have permission to hunt. The first buck had a gross score of 150 inches, and investigators allege that Alexander killed that buck on the property without a license on Jan. 7 2023. The state alleges that Alexander then returned to the same piece of private property to hunt without a license or permission between Oct. 21 and early November, and that he killed the 200-plus-inch Alexander Buck there on Nov. 9. The state alleges that Alexander then recovered the trophy buck and brought it to his sisters property on Nov. 10, where he and Haunert tampered with evidence (a third-degree felony) by staging the taking of the deer and photographing the buck. Alexander also faces four felony charges of theft by deception for allegedly selling the rack to an antler buyer for $10,000; selling his version of the story to a deer-hunting magazine (not Outdoor Life) for $2,0000; and signing a promotional deal worth $8,000 to use pictures of him and the buck to promote the companys products. Whats Next? An arraignment is considered the official start of a criminal trial, where the accused is informed of the charges against them and is often asked to enter a plea. Alexander and his attorney entered a not guilty plea to all 23 of the charges, according to the clerk of courts in Clinton County. The clerk says Alexander is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on July 19, but that its unknown at this point if he will be tried before a jury. Alexander could face incarceration if convicted. A third-degree felony typically carries a jail sentence of nine months to three years in prison, according to an Ohio attorneys website, along with fines of up to $10,000. Alexander is also involved in a separate civil case that was filed by the state of Ohio to seek restitution for the two bucks he allegedly poached. That case is being heard in Clinton County Municipal Court, with the next court date scheduled for August 5. In a letter sent to Alexander by the DNR on the same day he was indicted, the agency puts the value of the 150-inch buck at $4,625, and the value of the Alexander Buck at $35,071.73. The case is in the hands of the court, ODNR spokesperson Karina Cheung tells Outdoor Life in an emailed statement.

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The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday upheld a federal law prohibiting domestic abusers under restraining orders from carrying firearms, with one lone dissenter: Justice Clarence Thomas.

In his dissenting opinion in United States v. Rahimi, Thomas sided with gun rights advocates who opposed the rule, arguing that the other Supreme Court justices had somehow misunderstood a three-year-old opinion hed written about gun regulation. In this case, however, Thomas only has himself to blame.

In 2021, Thomas wrote the majority opinion in the case New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, a decision that kneecapped New Yorks ban on publicly carrying firearms, by establishing a confusing new rule for determining whether gun laws violate the Second Amendment. Spoiler alert: Under the new rule, a lot of gun regulations would, which is precisely how Rahimi came to the Supreme Court in the first place.

According to Thomass opinion, regulation on a firearm must be consistent with the Nations historical tradition of firearm regulation, an impossibly vague guideline that has sparked chaos in the lower courts. But it was par for the course for the staunch originalist, who consistently leans on eighteenth-century doctrine.

While the majority opinions found that the law barring domestic abusers from possessing firearms was consistent with this test, Thomas was obviously not convinced.

The Court and Government do not point to a single historical law revoking a citizens Second Amendment right based on possible interpersonal violence, Thomas wrote. Yet, in the interest of ensuring the Government can regulate one subset of society, todays decision puts at risk the Second Amendment rights of many more.

Thomas regularly points to historical tradition when trying to strip away peoples rights: He cited this reason when overturning the nationwide right to abortion and hinted he might do the same for same-sex marriage. And now, apparently, it also applies to safety in a persons own relationship.

Thomas argued that criminal prosecution is a good enough means of keeping guns out of the hands of those who would do harm, insisting that the government could not strip the Second Amendment right of anyone subject to a protective ordereven if he has never been accused or convicted of a crime.

Unfortunately for Thomas, his opinion in Bruen invites courts to look for historical analogues to rules befitting modern American societybut doesnt determine in what way that analogue needs to be similar.

In the majority opinion, Chief Supreme Court Justice Roberts found that the law did satisfy Bruens requirement. Our tradition of firearm regulation allows the government to disarm individuals who present a credible threat to the physical safety of others, Roberts wrote.

As a result of Fridays decision in Rahimi, many lower courts may see challenges to their rulings under Bruen, as they are forced to reconsider the application of Thomass originalist rule.
Clay County woman says she was choked by husband before fatally shooting him: Police

A Clay County woman accused of killing her husband Tuesday told police detectives that her husband had choked her before she shot him, according to court documents.

Melissa Hoffner-Allen, 48, is charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of her husband, 50-year-old Ricky Allen. She pleaded not guilty to the charges Thursday.

Allen and Hoffner-Allen had celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary in November, according to social media posts.

Personnel from the Clay County Sheriffs Office responded to the 16200 block of Kountry Ridge Drive, north of Kearney, Missouri, around 10 p.m. Tuesday, according to the sheriffs office.

Hoffner-Allen told to police detectives that she shot her husband in the chest with a semiautomatic firearm, according to court documents. She was the 911 caller who alerted police about the shooting.

Allen was pronounced dead at the scene, and Hoffner-Allen was taken into custody, according to the sheriffs office.

Hoffner-Allen told detectives that Allen was mad at her Tuesday night and had assaulted and choked her, according to court documents. She told detectives that she got away and retrieved the gun, which Allen had bought her, from upstairs.

She said Allen goaded her to shoot him, according to court documents.

Shell casings were found on the staircase in the home the couple shared, according to court documents. Several more guns were also found inside the home.

Hoffner-Allen had visible bruises on her arms when she was arrested, according to court documents. She was charged Tuesday and is being held in the Clay County Detention Center on a $250,000 bond.

Allen worked as a union pipefitter, according to social media posts. He is survived by his children Dylan, Autumn and Bekah, as well as four grandchildren.

Bekah Allen, a recent graduate of Kearney High School, described her father as a legend within the community.

He never failed to make people feel accepted and loved, Bekah Allen wrote on Facebook. He was the most loyal friend and was always willing to help someone in need.

Hoffner-Allen is scheduled to appear in Clay County court at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 15. She could face between 10 and 30 years in prison, according to court documents.
(NEXSTAR)  Climate activists belonging to a group known as Just Stop Oil sprayed paint on private jets at Stansted Airport in England on Thursday morning, with the group hinting that the airport was targeted because its where Taylor Swifts jet is parked.

A representative for the airport could not say whether the activists vandalized any jets belonging to Swift, nor whether Swift had used the airport ahead of her London concerts this weekend. The Associated Press, however, reported that neither of the planes targeted in Thursdays demonstration belonged to the pop star, citing local police.

Taylor Swifts new album takes tortured turn: What secrets do the lyrics reveal?

In video shared to social media by Just Stop Oil, an activist can be seen using a cordless saw to cut through what appeared to be a fence surrounding the airfield. This person then uses a fire extinguisher to spray paint on two jets sitting on the tarmac.

At the end of the video, the activist and another woman, both wearing T-shirts reading Just Stop Oil, embrace each other in front of the vandalized jets.

Jennifer and Cole cut the fence into the private airfield at Stansted where Taylor Swifts jet is parked, demanding an emergency treaty to end fossil fuels by 2030, the videos Instagram caption reads.

The two women, ages 22 and 28, were later arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and interference with the use or operation of national infrastructure, Essex Police said in a news release.

The police also said Taylor Swifts plane was not at Stansted at the time, despite Taylor being in London for three concerts this weekend, the Associated Press learned. A representative for the Essex Police did not immediately respond to Nexstars request for additional comment.

Almost immediately after we were made aware of this incident, which took place away from the main passenger terminal, we were on the scene, Essex Police wrote in the release.

The department later added, We are not anti-protest but we will always take action where criminal acts take place.

Operations on the runway at Stansted were briefly halted after police were called, but no flights were disrupted, a representative for Stansted confirmed to Nexstar.

Stonehenge not damaged by protest paint

A representative for Just Stop Oil was not immediately available for comment.

Thursdays incident came one day after climate activists  also wearing Just Stop Oil shirts  were arrested after spraying paint on Stonehenge, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Wiltshire, England. Just Stop Oil later said the paint was made from cornstarch, and would not cause lasting damage.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Timothy Styczynski, Head Roaster, UC Davis Coffee Center shows UC Davis Graduating Student Kiara DeGroen, an industrial coffee bean roaster at the Coffee Center at UC Davis in Davis, Calif. on Monday, June 17, 2024. The center which opened last month, is believed to be the first coffee-only research facility opened on any college campus in the U.S. (AP Photo/Haven Daley)

DAVIS, Calif. (AP)  A college in Northern California is now home to a center devoted to educating students and closely studying one of the most consumed beverages in the world known for powering people through their day  coffee.

The University of California, Davis, launched its Coffee Center in May with research focused on providing support for farmers, examining the sustainability of coffee and evaluating food safety issues, among other topics. The launch comes about a decade after the university offered its first course on the science of coffee.

At the center in Davis, which is about 14 miles (22 kilometers) west of Sacramento, Director Bill Ristenpart said historically there has been much more of an emphasis on researching a beverage like wine, and less so on studying coffee.

We're trying to elevate coffee and make it a topic of academic research and an academic talent pipeline to help support the industry and help support what's arguably the world's most important beverage, said Ristenpart, a professor of chemical engineering.

Most people in the United States buy coffee that's imported from places including Brazil, Colombia and Vietnam, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture; however California is one of the few places in the country that grows coffee. The U.S. is the second-largest importer of coffee in the world behind the European Union, the agency says.

UC Davis also has programs focused on researching winemaking and the brewing industries. The 7,000-square-foot (650-square-meter) Coffee Center facility is the first academic building in the nation devoted to coffee research and education, Ristenpart said. It is located in the UC Davis Arboretum near the campus' Robert Mondavi Institute of Wine and Food Science.

Laudia Anokye-Bempah, a graduate student in biological systems engineering, said she wants to research coffee in part to be able to control how your roasted beans are going to come out to the roaster.

We can control things like its acidity level, Anokye-Bempah said.

There are other U.S. colleges, including Texas A&M University and Vanderbilt University, that have delved into the study of coffee. But the UC Davis Coffee Center stands out in part because it is focused on many aspects of coffee research including agriculture and chemistry, said Edward Fischer, a professor of anthropology and director of the Institute for Coffee Studies at Vanderbilt.

Coffee is such a complex compound, Fischer said. It's really important to bring together all of these different aspects, and that's what Davis is doing.

Students often come out of Fischer's coffee class viewing the world differently than it is typically discussed in an academic setting, he said.

In the Western academic tradition, we divide the world up into all these silos, right  biology and anthropology, economics and all that kind of stuff, he said. Coffee is a way of showing how all of those boundaries that we draw in the world are really arbitrary.

Camilla Yuan, a UC Davis alum and director of coffee and roasting at Camellia Coffee Roasters, a coffee shop in Sacramento, visited the Coffee Center in Davis last week, she said.

Having a center and having resources for folks who are interested in specialty coffee or just coffee world in general, I think is super fascinating and cool, Yuan said. I'm glad that something like this is happening.

___

Austin is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Austin on the social platform X: @sophieadanna
A Colerain High School student appeared in court Friday. He will spend at least six months in a juvenile state prison for assaulting his teacher in January.

A Colerain High School student will spend at least the next six months in a juvenile prison for assaulting his special education teacher.

On Friday, Judge Stacey DeGraffenreid sided with prosecutors over the recommendations of both the defense and the probation office when she decided to send the teen to a Department of Youth Services prison.

Read: Special report: Ohio's juvenile detention system struggles with violence, neglect

The attack

Sheri Wooldridge said in court Friday there is a hole in her memory. She recalls the teen coming toward her after she reminded him not to mess with another student, and the next thing she remembers is waking up in the hospital days later.

However, the teen stuck her multiple times in the head, according to prosecutors.

Police said she suffered a severe brain injury as a result of the attack and another student was injured in the melee.

The teen's lawyer, Clyde Bennett II, said his client had unknowingly consumed drugs just before the attack and that the drugs prompted a change in his behavior. Someone had given the boy a vape, Bennett said. Prosecutors said the teen's blood was tested and only showed trace amounts of THC and marijuana.

Wooldridge said she spent weeks at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and over 40 days at a rehabilitation center relearning to walk and talk. Even after that, she could not be on her own and moved in with her sister.

It wasn't until May that she got to go home and her driving privileges were only granted a few weeks ago.

Wooldridge was approaching retirement after teaching for nearly 30 years. She's still unsure if she'll be able to return to work. Colerain has already hired a replacement with her blessing because she said the kids deserve to have someone there.

"He's changed my life forever," Wooldridge said in court, holding back tears. "Nobody made him vape that day."

She said the teen resented being placed in her special education class, resisted all of her efforts to get through to him and frequently came to class late. She said his mother even warned her not to make him mad.

She asked the court to send the teen to the juvenile prison.

"I feel sorry for society in the future because I don't think this will be the last time he's in court," Wooldridge said.

A Colerain High School student is scheduled to appear in court Friday for sentencing after admitting that he assaulted his teacher, an attack that caused a severe brain injury.

Prison versus probation

The recommendation from the probation office was to place the teen on probation and send him to Buckeye Ranch, a residential facility in Whitehall, Ohio. The teen's lawyer, Clyde Bennett, agreed.

They pointed to the teen's lack of any prior criminal activity. Bennett said the law requires juveniles to be given a chance in the least restrictive environments.

Assistant Prosecutor Linda Scott argued for a stiffer sentence, saying she was "appalled" by the recommendation.

During an examination by a doctor, the teen showed no remorse for the attack and laughed when he was told about her injuries, Scott said.

In April, the 15-year-old admitted to felony assault as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors to keep his case in juvenile court versus taking it to adult court.

Scott said Buckeye Ranch was not a "lockdown" facility and was not prepared to deal with someone as violent as this teen. While being held at the Hamilton County Youth Center awaiting trial, the teen was involved in more violent incidents, Scott said.

Probation officials said the facility is surrounded by barbed wire and is "staff secured," meaning there is a high ratio of staff to youth. Scott argued he could walk away any time he wanted.

At least six months at juvenile prison

DeGraffenreid said the attack was "senseless on its face." She said due to the teen's lack of remorse and aggressiveness, a Department of Youth Services prison would better serve him.

Many of the same mental health and counseling services available at Buckeye Ranch are also available at the prison's facilities, she said.

He was sentenced to at least 12 months at the prison, but received credit for about half that for time he has already spent in the Hamilton County Youth Center.

However, the sentence is indefinite. If he continues to get in trouble in the prison, he can be kept there until his 21st birthday.

Despite the decision, Bennett said his client was treated fairly.

"My hope is that when he is released from DYS, he can put this matter behind him and go on to do great things," Bennett said.

The teen responded to the judge's questions Friday, but did not apologize to Wooldridge, who was sitting next to him.

After the hearing was over and the teen was taken out the courtroom, his parents and family slowly approached her and her daughter and her friends.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry," they repeated.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Colerain student sent to state juvenile lockup for attack on teacher
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  Earlier this week, the U.S. Senate passed a bill that will keep funding in place for two federal programs that assist fire departments across the country  including here in Columbus and throughout Georgia.

The bill is now headed to President Joe Bidens desk for his signature before it becomes law.

These grants assists small volunteer departments and large ones like Columbus Fire and Emergency Medical Services.

This funding is administered through two funds  one for personnel and one for equipment.

This legislation will provide about $95 million a year to assist fire departments in purchasing or caring for the equipment needed to fight blazes.

It can also be used to hire and retain firefighters as well as to help train them.

And this is about ensuring that if, God forbid, a family wakes up and smell smoke needs to dial 911, that fire departments across Georgia have the personnel and the equipment necessary to save lives, said Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Georgia.

Columbus Fire and EMS Chief Sal Scarpa said this is an important funding stream for local fire departments.

This grant opportunity is significant because it affords organizations like us the opportunity to apply for grants on a competitive basis for resources that we cant get through our budget, he said. As you know, budgets are limited all the time and there are a lot of needs across the city. We submit all of the things that we need and ask for But obviously council can not always give us everything we ask for. So, when there are gaps we look for funding opportunities outside the city. This grant process gives us access to fill those gaps.

This was a bipartisan effort in Washington.

I know it seems like all that happens in Washington is fighting between the political parties, Ossoff said. But I saw an opportunity a year ago for us to unite Republicans and Democrats to support fire departments in Georgia and across the country. Its taken a lot of effort, but weve passed this through the House and the Senate, and its on the way to the president for a signature.

And it is being well received by the agencies that will benefit from it.

I think everybody believes in fire safety, everybody believes in public safety, that doesnt matter what your political affiliation is and the fact that the Congress was able to pass legislation that is bipartisan in nature that supports that notion, Scarpa said. Regardless of their other differences, they support public safety.

This funding was scheduled to run out but the political powers worked to keep in in place.

I started beating the drum on this last year on the need for Democrats and Republicans in Congress to come together and pass this fire safety bill, Ossoff said. And whether its Chief Scarpa in Columbus or any of the fire chiefs in full time or volunteer departments across Georgia, there is an urgent need for protective equipment. Theres an urgent need for firefighting equipment.

For the Columbus Fire and EMS is means equipment. Over the last couple of years, Columbus Fire and EMS have been able to purchase special washers and dryers for their turnout equipment. Last year, it was $350,000 in weight training equipment for the fire houses.

This year, weve applied for a grant to provide some turnout gear  so protective gear that our firefighters were on a daily basis, Scarpa said. In addition, weve asked for some self-contained breathing apparatus, which is the breathing tanks  you see them in the fires  through this grant opportunity.

Since 2020, Columbus Fire and EMS has received over $565 Thousand dollars from this program.

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TechCrunch

Tesla is gearing up to reveal its Robotaxi this Thursday, and everyone wants to know what it will look like, whether Tesla will unveil a commercialization strategy, and what outrageous timelines Elon Musk might announce to bump Teslas stock. Musk had originally planned to reveal the Robotaxi  which he has also referred to as a Cybercab  on August 8. While Musk initially accused Reuters of lying, over the next couple of weeks, Tesla indeed laid off 10% of staff to usher in a next phase of growth, and Musk said Tesla would be going balls to the wall for autonomy.
Community outraged after suffering repeated indignities at hands of oil company: 'We did not get the action that was needed'

Wells abandoned by the oil and gas industry are posing a particular threat in a Los Angeles neighborhood, and residents are fighting an uphill battle to fix the longstanding problem.

What's happening?

In Wilmington, crude oil developer Warren Resources has 220 wells on one block, including 50 that are no longer in use, Inside Climate News reported. The site is near homes, businesses, parks, and a daycare facility.

In January, one of the wells spewed 5,000 gallons of a toxic mix of crude oil and produced water into the air and onto the street, cars, and a coffee shop, as ICN detailed. Less than two weeks later, 40 gallons of oil oozed out of the ground from a Chevron pipeline that had been decommissioned at least 25 years prior.

"It was ridiculous," resident and Communities for a Better Environment organizer Ashley Hernandez said. "I just know that what happened in Wilmington, had it happened in Palos Verdes, had it happened in Beverly Hills, some immediate action would have taken place. But in Wilmington, where we have brown, Indigenous, Black folk, Asian folk living here, we did not get the action that was needed."

Another community activist, Luis Martinez, an organizer with Fossil Free California, cited the multiplying effects of the industry's dirty energy undertaking.

"We're dealing with poor air quality conditions from the fossil fuel industry itself, and then we're dealing with all the environmental impacts of worsening climate change conditions that the fossil fuel industry has facilitated in the first place," he said.

Why are leaking wells important?

People in Wilmington, a mostly low-income Latino area, suffer cancer, heart disease, asthma, and other health issues at higher rates than normal. They cough so much that doctors call it "the Wilmington cough," ICN reported.

But there are 2.7 million Californians who live within 3,200 feet of a well, the outlet noted, most of whom are people of color.

It can cost nearly $1 million to plug a well in the Los Angeles area, and leaking wells in California increased by 32% from 2018 to 2021. With 60,000 active wells, the state faces "a looming crisis," according to ICN.

It's made worse by the industry's shirking responsibility by dumping its old wells on small companies that can't plug them or clean them up. Sometimes, companies paid just $150 to abandon a well rather than plug it, so taxpayers are looking at $20 billion in cleanup costs.

"There are tools we can be using to protect communities in the city of Los Angeles that we're not using equally across the city," Redeemer Community Partnership founder and president Richard Parks said.

What's being done about leaking wells?

In 2022, the Los Angeles City Council voted to divest from the industry, banning new wells and phasing out extraction by 2042.

That same year, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1137, which banned drilling new wells within 3,200 feet of homes, schools, elder care facilities, and other "sensitive receptors." In response, the industry has filed two lawsuits and spent more than $30 million to try to overturn it, ICN reported.

Lawmakers are working on a couple of other options. Assembly Bill 1866 would eliminate the fee option, force well operators to develop plans to manage and plug their idle wells, and increase the percentage of wells they must plug, with wells close to homes, schools, and hospitals getting top priority. AB 2716 would fine oil companies $10,000 every day for operating a low-production well within that buffer zone until the well is plugged.

"We're not going to win until every single one of these sites is shut down," Hernandez said. "And we ensure that environmental racism isn't going to be another shared experience with the generations to come."

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Muslim pilgrims head to perform the stoning of the devil, known as "Ramy Al Jamarat", a symbolic ritual held during the Hajj pilgrimage. Muslims from all over the world gather in Mecca for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam that must be carried out by all adult Muslims at least once in their lifetime. It takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar. -/Saudi Press Agency/dpa

The confirmed death toll among Muslim pilgrims hit by soaring temperatures during the annual Hajj in Saudi Arabia continued to rise on Friday.

Jordan's Foreign Ministry said that 75 Jordanian pilgrims had died due to heatstroke, while Tunisia's Religious Affairs Ministry put the North African country's toll at 49.

Hundreds of Egyptians have reportedly died, according to unconfirmed reports, however Cairo has not released any official toll.

Egypt said it sent consular teams to collect information on Egyptians at hospitals in Mecca and the nearby holy sites.

Earlier in the week, Iran said 11 of its citizens were among the dead and Senegal confirmed three had died.

The temperature in Mecca and other nearby holy sites hovered around 50 degrees Celsius through Tuesday's final pilgrimage day.

Arab governments said that most of the pilgrims who died were not registered with the concerned authorities and have travelled on tourist visas, which made it harder to find them.

Some 1.8 million pilgrims took part in this year's Hajj. The pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam.

Muslim pilgrims circumambulate the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand mosque in the holy city of Mecca, during the Hajj pilgrimage. Muslims from all over the world gather in Mecca for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam that must be carried out by all adult Muslims at least once in their lifetime. It takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar. -/Saudi Press Agency/dpa
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 20. The Agrarian Insurance Fund of Azerbaijan plans to increase the share of insured agricultural areas in Azerbaijan from the current 25 percent to 31 percent, the Chairman of the Board of the Agrarian Insurance Fund Fuad Sadigov said, Trend reports.

He made the remark during the panel discussion "Impact of climate change on the insurance industry" within the framework of the Azerbaijan International Insurance Forum-2024 (AIIF-2024).

"Over the past three years, agricultural insurance in the country has been developing dynamically. Agricultural insurance covers various risks, such as storms, hurricanes, and droughts, and plays an important role in ensuring food security. We are planning to ensure that additional agricultural areas are vulnerable to the effects of climate change. These initiatives are aimed at providing comprehensive protection for farmers and reducing the negative impact of risks such as drought," he emphasized.

To note, in the near future, Azerbaijan plans to expand the coverage of agricultural insurance and introduce more innovative insurance products to minimize the impact of climate change on the agricultural sector.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew takes questions from Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., before the House Energy and Commerce Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on March 23, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

TikTok and its parent company argued Thursday in a federal court in the District of Columbia that the recently enacted law forcing a nationwide ban or sale of the popular platform violates the First Amendment.

TikTok Inc., which operates the video-sharing service in the United States, and its parent company, ByteDance Ltd., which was founded by a Chinese national, filed a brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit calling the law President Joe Biden signed in April an unprecedented restriction on the constitutional right to free speech.

Never before has Congress expressly singled out and shut down a specific speech forum, the brief reads. Never before has Congress silenced so much speech in a single act. 

Upholding such an extraordinary speech restriction would require the court to undertake exacting scrutiny of Congress action, but Congress provided only a hypothetical national security argument to advance the bill, the companies said.

Congress gave this Court almost nothing to review, the brief continues. Congress enacted no findings, so there is no way to know why majorities of the House and Senate decided to ban TikTok.

Many individual lawmakers who supported the law raised national security concerns, saying ByteDances relationship with the Chinese government meant the countrys Communist Party leaders could demand access to TikTok users private data.

They also said the platform, which the company says has 170 million users in the U.S., could be used to spread propaganda.

But under U.S. Supreme Court precedent, labeling speech as foreign propaganda does not allow the government to overlook First Amendment protections, TikTok said in its brief.

Speculation about how the app might or could be used, rather than any concrete examples of misconduct, do not clear the high bar required to restrict speech, the companies added.

A claim of national security does not override the Constitution, the companies wrote Thursday.

A spokesperson for the Justice Department, which is defending the law, highlighted the intelligence communitys national security concerns with TikTok and said the law was consistent with the First Amendment.

This legislation addresses critical national security concerns in a manner that is consistent with the First Amendment and other constitutional limitations, the spokesperson wrote in a statement to States Newsroom. We look forward to defending the legislation in court.

Alongside others in our intelligence community and in Congress, the Justice Department has consistently warned about the threat of autocratic nations that can weaponize technology  such as the apps and software that run on our phones  to use against us. This threat is compounded when those autocratic nations require companies under their control to turn over sensitive data to the government in secret.

Response to lawmakers

The brief said Congress had not included any official findings of harm from TikTok, but several individual members raised specific concerns about the kind of speech found on the platform.

The companies said Thursday those specific complaints bolstered the argument that TikTok is being denied free speech protections.

The brief cited several lawmaker statements:

U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney, a Utah Republican, U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, an Illinois Democrat who is ranking member on the House Select Committee on China, and former Rep. Mike Gallagher, a Wisconsin Republican who chaired the panel, said the platforms algorithm fed an overwhelming share of pro-Palestinian content over videos that favor Israel.

Sen. Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, said the platform exposes children to harmful content.

Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, said the law would make TikTok safer for our children and national security.

Nebraska Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts noted the popularity of the hashtag #StandwithKashmir, which protests a policy of India, a geopolitical rival of China.

Legislators perception of the content reflected on TikTok was misinformed, the companies said. But well-founded or not, governmental policing of content differences is antithetical to the First Amendment.

Oral arguments in September

Both chambers of Congress passed the law with bipartisan votes as part of a package that included aid to Israel and Ukraine. Biden signed the measure April 24.

TikTok pledged to sue and filed its legal challenge last month.

Spokespeople for the Justice Department, which is led by the named defendant in the case, Attorney General Merrick Garland, did not immediately respond to a request for comment

Tuesdays brief expands on the companys arguments. The governments response is due July 26 and oral arguments are scheduled for Sept. 16.

Divestment unworkable, TikTok says

TikTok and ByteDance said Thursday the provision in the bill to avoid a ban by divesting the service to a company without ties to China is unworkable, especially within the nine-month timeline required by the law.

Such a move would be technically complex, requiring years of engineering work, the companies said. It would also isolate the U.S. user base from the rest of the world, limiting revenue from advertisements.

And even if it were feasible from a technical or business standpoint, selling the platform would likely be rejected by the Chinese government, which has the authority to block exportation of technology developed in the country, the companies said.

The post Congress silenced free speech in TikTok law, platform tells federal court appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
At a rally in scorching Las Vegas on June 9, Donald Trump pointed out one of his followers in the crowd  a particularly fervent Trump fan nicknamed Front-Row Joe whod attended over 200 such events. It would be suicide before Biden, right? Trump asked him.

The remark instantly evoked one of the most shocking and tragic instances of cult mind-control  that of Reverend Jim Jones, a preacher who on Nov. 18, 1978, coerced 909 members of his Peoples Temple compound in Guyana to take fatal doses of cyanide-tainted Flavor Aid, killing them all. Its now believed many did so against their will and at gunpoint.

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Not 24 hours earlier, Jones had dispatched gunmen to an airstrip to assassinate U.S. Rep Leo Ryan, from whose San Francisco district most Temple members had come. Ryan flew there on a mission to investigate reports of coercion and sex abuse at Jonestown. Five people were murdered on the runway that day, including Ryan and San Francisco Examiner photographer Greg Robinson. Ryans then 28-year-old aide, Jackie Speier, was very nearly a casualty, having been shot five times. Miraculously, she survived.

Speier went on to become a member of the California Senate and in 2008 won a special election, making her a Democratic congresswoman for the states 14th District, serving much of the same territory as Ryan. She left office in January 2023, having served long enough to experience firsthand the terror of the Jan. 6 attack, during which she once again feared for her life  this time in the Capitol.

The Jonestown tragedy has been meticulously re-created in a new National Geographic documentary Cult Massacre: One Day in Jonestown, currently streaming on Hulu. The series provides the most complete and immersive document of the horrific events of November 1978. Its a gripping, minute-by-minute account weaving together existing news footage with a trove of newly unearthed film taken by former Temple members. It also features new interviews from eye-witnesses, including Speier.

Rep. Speier, now 74, spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about her terrifying and remarkable journey, her thoughts on cults and Scientology, and the looming possibility  to her, potentially disastrous  of Trump winning another four years in office. But losing, too, could prove costly.

Hello, Congresswoman. I was very profoundly horrified and moved by the documentary. I had never seen that much footage from the Jonestown tragedy. Have you seen it? It must be incredibly hard to watch something like that.

I have watched two-thirds of it, and I would concur with you. I saw footage in this series that Ive never seen before, and it placed the viewer right there. It was almost a diary of what happened, and it was just a compelling exhibition of what was truly a bizarre, tragic conflict of ego and mind control and trauma.

It never hit me until now just how implicated you were, to the point where you thought you were going to die. You were shot many multiple times and bleeding out on a runway.

Theres a resignation that happens when you think youre going to die, and you just wait. I said the Act of Contrition, as I was raised a good Catholic girl, and really was waiting for the lights to go out. And then when they didnt, theres this sense that, Well, then I am going to live. And so I just presumed I was going to live. But the truth of the matter was 22 hours without medical attention, my legs totally blown up, my arms blown up. And when they finally airlifted me onto the medevac plane, one of the reporters later told me that he heard the medic say, She had another three minutes. And there were two times I was so unstable where they were going to put the plane down, I think in Puerto Rico then in New Orleans. They didnt think I was stable enough.

I cant imagine how an event like that would alter the course of your life. We get a glimpse in the documentary of the good part, where you are sworn in to Congress, taking over for Leo Ryans district. But everything that led to that must have been incredibly psychologically damaging to you.

So, actually, it was. Theres survivors guilt that you deal with. Theres then this sense that youve been given a second chance at life. Most people never get that. So what are you going to do with the time that youve been given? In most respects, I looked at it as an incredible gift that I was given a second chance to live life. I shouldnt have survived. I really shouldnt have. I mean, my whole leg is blown up except for the femoral artery. And the femoral artery, had it been severed, I wouldve bled it out in 90 seconds.

So I was meant to live. And I promised myself that if I did that, I would truly dedicate my life to public service. And so Ive done that. Its been incredibly fulfilling. Ive loved the work and I feel blessed. The strange part of all this is that the focus in terms of my life has always been around Jonestown. But 14 years after Jonestown, my husband was killed in an automobile accident when I was pregnant with our second child. And that was such a double whammy that thats when I almost lost it. Thats when I thought, I dont know that I can go on. So it speaks to the ability we have internally that we dont think we have, of being able to persevere and survive and live to talk about it.

Beyond the macabre nature of it and the oddity of it, what do you think we can attribute to the enduring resonance of Jonestown? What is there to learn from the tragedy of the Peoples Temple?

Its really quite a bit. First of all, cult leaders have a pattern. Theyre charismatic, theyre paranoid, theyre megalomaniac. And over a course of time, they have so much control over their membership through physical, mental, emotional and sexual abuse that the congregation becomes unable to think independently. Now, while this is all going on, theres typically all this illegal activity going on, too. If people are able to defect, they normally call it out.

And yet, over and over again with the Peoples Temple, nothing was done about it. So Jim Jones ingratiated himself with the electeds in San Francisco  mayor, supervisors, state legislators  and he had a very appealing power, which was he had 2,500 or so members of his congregation that could be put onto the streets to walk precincts for these people. And in fact, they did when Mayor George Moscone was being recalled at one point.

So Jones gains a lot of political currency, and when the alarms go off, people looked the other way. And thats what the local elected elite of San Francisco did. They looked the other way. Now, Congressman Ryan was in the district right outside of San Francisco and had constituents whose young-adult children had disavowed their families and had turned over their whole lives to the Temple and then had moved to Jonestown with Jim Jones. Thats what we should learn.

Secondly, the State Department failed miserably. They had actually had a defector who sought shelter at the embassy in Georgetown, [Guyana,] and went line by line with what was going on in Jonestown. They assisted her in getting out of the country but did nothing to protect the other American citizens that were living there. I remember watching a slideshow at that time at the embassy where they were showing us the facility, and theres a picture of Jim Jones with the deputy chief of the embassy arm-in-arm. And Im thinking to myself, What potential defector is going to come to the U.S. Embassy for assistance when it appears that theyre in cahoots with Jim Jones?

Basically, the federal government fails, the local government fails and cults generally use the First Amendment to protect them as religious groups. But no religion is above the law and no religion that engages in criminal conduct is protected. But we have allowed that to happen because we dont want to trample on First Amendment.

Which makes me think of Scientology, which calls itself a religion, but other people call it a cult, and seems to be protected by the judicial system, from the local police level to the national level. What are your thoughts on that?

Much like many of our adversaries, they abuse our democracy. And by abuse, I mean not only get away with the potential criminal conduct, but they evade taxes because they arent a church, but theyre able to not pay taxes because theyve pronounced that theyre a church.

The way you describe a cult leader, I cant help but think about Donald Trumps own personality and his rhetoric and habits. People do frequently refer to MAGA as a cult.

I said he was a cult leader three years ago. He has all the aspects of a cult leader and as for his followers, I was watching a video this morning where someone at a Trump rally said, He could kill someone at the White House, and I would still support him. Thats the kind of absolute control that a cult leader somehow mesmerizes followers to follow. He has all of the trappings. Hes charismatic. Some would argue hes megalomaniac. Hes paranoid. And all of that makes for a toxic soup that we may be forced to deal with once again.

With the election coming up, you have a very unique insight into the worst case scenarios of this kind of situation. Im wondering what youre feeling.

I am completely disturbed by the potential of another four years of Donald Trump. I served in Congress during his tenure and thank God we had control of the House during most of that time. I was in the House gallery when January 6 took place. Im lying on the floor in the gallery and theres a gunshot that rings out in the Speakers lobby. And I thought, Oh my God, I survived the jungles of Guyana and Im going to die in this tabernacle of democracy. I mean, thats how close I thought we were. And it could have been much worse in terms of bloodshed had more guns been brought into the Capitol.

I hope you have a nice, relaxing summer.

I have a friend who came up with a word: LISDIN. Life is short. Do it now. So thats my recommendation to you.

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A critically ill Connecticut woman has been treated for the same life-threatening, flesh-eating infection that is plaguing Japan.

The American patient was admitted to her local hospital after experiencing symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath, elevated heart rate and low blood pressure.

Subsequent medical scans showed fluid buildup in the patients lungs as well as respiratory and kidney failure.

Doctors maintain the womans illness is the result of Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS), a lethal bacterial infection that has claimed the lives of 77 people in Japan this year alone.

STSS is stateside and causing concern among health care professionals. puhhha  stock.adobe.com

Scans revealed the Connecticut patient has fluid in her lungs. lashkhidzetim  stock.adobe.com

After three days in intensive care, the woman stopped urinating, and one of her toes turned black, a symptom of necrosis.

The case report was published in the journal Cureus.

Doctors believe the patient, who is asthmatic, contracted STSS by breathing in infected air droplets. Prior to her hospitalization, several of the patients family members had been diagnosed with strep throat. The common illness, defined by throat pain and discomfort when swallowing, is caused by the bacteria group A Streptococcus (group A strep).

Most group A strep infections cause mild illnesses like strep throat. However, when that bacteria spreads to the blood and deep tissue, it can trigger the development of STSS, which kills 30% of patients who are affected.

STSS can cause necrosis and in some instances, requires amputation. Shutterstock / DrCHAMPGO

STSS often results from bacteria being exposed to an open wound, which allows the bacteria to access deeper tissue. STSS begins with common flu-like symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, fever, chills and muscle aches. As it progresses, it can cause blood pressure to drop and heart rate to accelerate, provoking organ failure.

As in the case of the Connecticut patient, STSS attacks healthy tissue, eroding flesh, which, in some instances, calls for amputation.

The Connecticut patient has completed a course of antibiotics and inpatient rehab, though doctors note she may still require amputation of the affected toe.

When the bacteria that cause strep throat affects deeper tissue, the results can be deadly. Pormezz  stock.adobe.com

Cases of STSS have spiked in Japan; 1,000 people have been infected this year alone, and 77 have died. Experts believe the surge results from immunity debt, the weakening of the immune from lack of exposure to a diverse group of pathogens.

We can boost immunity if we are constantly exposed to bacteria. But that mechanism was absent during the coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Ken Kikuchi of Tokyo Womens Medical University explained. So, more people are now susceptible to infection, which may be one reason for the sharp rise in cases.

Despite the string of cases in Japan, experts maintain that influenza and COVID-19 infections are much higher.

Experts blame rising rates of STSS on immunity debt. nyul  stock.adobe.com

As Bloomberg reported, Japans health ministry has assured tourists planning to visit the country that there is no need to cancel or amend their travel plans.

Regarding STSS and the US, experts stress that a surge or spread is unlikely. However, they urge patients to be vigilant about caring for open wounds and to seek medical attention if they experience any of the symptoms associated with STSS.
A conservative billionaire gave a staggering $50 million to a pro-Donald Trump super PAC last month, a day after the former president was convicted on all counts in his Manhattan hush money trial, according to new campaign finance filings.

Timothy Mellon, an heir of the Mellon banking family, made the mammoth donation to Make America Great Again Inc., which recently said it would spend $100 million in the coming months on a nationwide advertising blitz. The New York Times, the first to report the donation, reported that the super PAC has already reserved about $30 million in ads in Georgia and Pennsylvania  key swing states in the next election  to run around the Fourth of July holiday.

Filings with the Federal Election Commission show the gift accounted for more than two-thirds of the money MAGA Inc. brought in in May, and the Times noted it could be among the largest single contributions to a political campaign ever.

Mellon, who lives in Wyoming, has become a key Republican donor in recent years, writing eight-figure checks beginning in 2018 after largely being unknown in fundraising circles. Still, many of those who have benefited from his money have not met him, and Reuters described him as an unusual figure who is almost never in the spotlight.

A billboard in Michigan paid for by the Democratic National Committee in February highlighted Mellon's support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s super PAC. Emily Elconin/Getty Images for the Democratic National Committee

Hes already given $100 million in this election cycle alone after donating $25 million to super PACs supporting both Trump and independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Its unclear if the latest burst of funding signals that his support of Kennedy is over.

The run-up to this years election is sure to be rife with supersized donations. Outside groups have pledged to spend more than $1 billion in support of President Joe Biden, and mega-donors have lined up behind his reelection campaign.

Biden and Trump are scheduled to face off in their first debate of the campaign next Thursday in Atlanta.

Kennedys campaign raised just $2.6 million in May and had just $6.4 million in the bank at the end of the month, according to FEC filings. His bid has largely relied on the wealth of his running mate, Nicole Shanahan, who contributed $8 million of her own money in April.

The super PAC supporting Kennedy brought in only $280,000 last month.

Related...
Trump campaign reports having more cash than Biden's campaign

Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Trump holds a campaign event, in Racine

By Jason Lange

(Reuters) -For the first time, Donald Trump's presidential campaign reported having more cash in its main account than President Joe Biden's re-election campaign had in its account, financial disclosures showed on Thursday, as both sides built their war chests ahead of the Nov. 5 election.

Trump's campaign had about $116 million in the bank at the end of May, more than double what it had a month earlier, while Biden's campaign told the Federal Election Commission it had about $91 million in the bank, just above what it had at the end of April.

The full financial picture for the two camps isn't clear because while both campaigns had a Thursday deadline to report their finances to the federal regulator, several of their associated fundraising committees won't report on recent activity until July.

Biden's campaign and his party had earlier released unofficial figures touting $212 million in cash holdings, but did not detail which committees held that money.

The figures disclosed to the Federal Election Commission appear to represent a dramatic financial turnaround for the Trump campaign, which had lagged behind Biden earlier in the year. The two candidates are neck-and-neck in national public opinion polls, while Trump leads in several battleground states.

The Republican Party, which is raising money together with Trump to support his bid, also reported a jump in its cash holdings, to $54 million from $38 million.

The Democratic Party reported having about $65 million in the bank, up from $62 million in April.

Trump's fundraising has surged in recent months, including during the weeks leading up to his May 30 conviction on charges he falsified business records to cover up a hush money payment to a porn star.

Both camps are also ramping up fundraising from billionaires who are allowed to give unlimited sums to groups allied to the campaigns known as super PACs.

A separate filing on Thursday showed conservative billionaire Timothy Mellon, an heir of the Pittsburgh-based Mellon banking family, gave $50 million last month to a pro-Trump super PAC known as MAGA Inc.

MAGA Inc has been ramping up outlays on television ads supporting Trump's bid, with the torrent of spending helping pro-Trump allies outspend Biden's allies in recent weeks.

MAGA Inc disclosed in a filing to the Federal Election Commission that it took in more than $68 million from donors last month, with most of the money coming from Mellon and another $10 million from billionaires Liz and Dick Uihlein, who founded the Uline shipping and packaging company from their basement in 1980.

Mellon, who lives in Wyoming and is rarely photographed, is an amateur pilot who has invested in and led transport-related companies. Forbes estimates that the Mellon family is worth some $14.1 billion.

The billionaire Winklevoss twins, founders of cryptocurrency company Gemini, said they had donated $1 million in bitcoin to support Trump, but did not specify where the donations were sent.

On Biden's side, billionaire Mike Bloomberg gave $19 million to FF Pac, a super PAC backing the president's re-election effort, a separate filing with the Federal Election Commission showed.

(Reporting by Jason Lange in Tequisquiapan, Mexico; editing by Diane Craft and Sonali Paul and Miral Fahmy)
A conservative public school board president in Temecula whose promotion of policies on race and gender thrust the district into the national battle over critical race theory in the classroom and the rights of LGBTQ+ students narrowly lost a recall vote, officials announced Thursday.

Joseph Komrosky, a Mt. San Antonio College philosophy professor, was elected to the board of the 28,000-student Temecula Valley Unified School District about 19 months ago. As part of a three-member conservative majority, he steered the district as it joined a national wave of school boards jumping head-first into the culture wars.

The district was sued after banning the teaching of critical race theory and requiring that parents be notified if their children identified as a gender that did not match the one assigned to them at birth. The litigation is ongoing. Under Komrosky, the district banned non-U.S. and non-California flags, a move seen as targeting LGBTQ+ Pride flag displays. At a school board meeting last year, he also stirred controversy when he described gay civil rights pioneer and San Francisco County Supervisor Harvey Milk as a "pedophile."

Read more: Conservative Temecula school board president trails narrowly in ongoing recall vote tally

The final results in the recall election found voters narrowly opposed Komrosky, who represented the eastern and central portions of the district, staying in office.

Of 9,722 ballots tallied since June 4, those in favor of recall totaled 4,963. There were 4,751 opposed to the recall.

Fewer than half of the 21,578 registered voters  45.1%  voted.

The recall ends a 2-2 stalemate on the board since a Komrosky ally, Danny Gonzalez, resigned in December to move out of state. The board will not have its full five members until the election in November.

In a Thursday email to The Times, Komrosky, who in his X bio calls himself a "God-fearing patriot," said he leaned toward running for a seat once more.

"Given the narrow margin, I will likely run again in the November 2024 general election," Komrosky said.

"If not, it has been an honor to serve the Temecula community, and I am proud to have fulfilled all of my campaign promises as an elected official. My commitment to protecting the innocence of our children remains unwavering," he said.

The message echoed one Komrosky gave at the end of the last school board meeting on June 11. During that meeting, however, he seemed more adamant about running again. "I want to thank my community for allowing me to represent your voices, and I look forward to serving my community again, beginning in November," he said.

Read more: Transgender rights vs. parent rights. California goes to court to settle school divide

Thursday's announced result was celebrated and lamented.

"We did it! We did it!" said Monica La Combe, a district resident for 21 years whose children graduated from high school in Temecula Valley. A son graduated this year, and another child, who is nonbinary, graduated in 2022.

"What this board came in and did was was crazy. They just came in and made everybody scared and made our community look really, really bad with respect to who we are and how our children are educated," La Combe said. "This recall election was important in order to get our district back on the trajectory of progress that we were headed toward.

"We have conservatives and liberals," she added, speaking of the community, "but what they were doing was just really extreme."

Jason Craig, a parent of two boys who attend elementary school in the district, expressed disappointment in Thursday's election result.

"Conservative parents don't want our children to be taught as social justice warriors. The school district isn't the place for that," said Craig, who had volunteered for Komrosky's campaign and previously narrowly lost in his own run for the board.

Craig said he supported Komrosky's policies as "preemptive" ways to keep what he saw as growing social ills making their way into classrooms, including critical race theory, an academic legal framework relating to institutional racism taught at some colleges and universities.

"We don't want racism in schools to be the center focus of everyone's identity and how we should proceed with teaching history," he said.

The Temecula district is one of several Southern California school districts where LGBTQ+ identity and history have become major points of controversy.

The Chino Valley Unified School District is also being sued for a parental notification policy similar to the one passed in the Temecula district. California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta took the Chino district to court, and a group of parents, students, individual teachers and the teachers union sued Temecula Valley Unified.

In the Chino Valley case, the judge in a preliminary ruling found the notification requirement to be illegal. The district's school board subsequently approved a revised policy with the hope that it will pass legal muster while having the same effect as the original version.

Meanwhile, a different judge upheld the Temecula parental notification policy. That decision is being appealed.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Construction begins on ACE rail branch to Stanislaus County, Merced. When will it arrive?

History was just made beside a railroad track in Lathrop, where the Altamont Corridor Express is expanding southward.

The first construction is taking place after seven years of planning on the complex project. The initial task does not involve laying track, but rather building a concrete culvert for a canal that ACE will cross.

A culvert might not seem all that dramatic as public works go, but it nonetheless prompted a ceremonial ground-breaking Tuesday. The contractor, Shimmick Corp. of Irvine, actually began the $6.9 million job in early May.

The 384-foot-long culvert is the first step in delivering the infrastructure necessary to connect Stanislaus and Merced counties directly to the Tri-Valley and San Jose, Tracy Mayor Nancy Young said. She chairs the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission, which oversees ACE.

The system has run since 1998 between Stockton and San Jose, with four weekday round trips timed for commuters to Bay Area jobs. It stops along the way at the Lathrop/Manteca border and in Tracy, Livermore, Pleasanton, Fremont and Santa Clara. The Tri-Valley region mentioned by the mayor lies west of Altamont Pass.

Construction of a concrete box culvert will be installed along rail tracks in Lathrop to allow for a new rail connection for the Stanislaus County lines of the Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) train. Photographed in Lathrop, Calif., Tuesday, June 18, 2024.

Fuel tax on drivers funds rail

ACE got its first expansion funding in 2017, when $400 million was allotted from a state fuel tax on drivers. The planners aimed for stations by 2023 in the downtowns of Manteca, Ripon, Modesto and Ceres. The branch would reach Turlock, Livingston and Merced by 2027 under that timeline.

The project has been slowed in part because ACE is using a busy Union Pacific Railroad freight corridor. That company must sign off on every design segment, including second tracks where needed to avoid conflict with passenger trains. ACE also has had more trouble than expected with gas and other utility lines in the corridor.

The current schedule calls for stations in Manteca, Modesto and Ceres by late 2026. Ripon would get an infill stop the next year, and Turlock would see trains in 2029. Livingston and Merced would follow sometime between 2030 and 2033.

Modesto already has had construction related to ACE: the remodeling of the 1915 depot building on Ninth Street. But this work did not take place within the UP corridor, where a passenger platform and second track still must be built.

A coffer dam will divert water for the construction of a concrete box culvert to be installed along rail tracks in Lathrop to allow for a new rail connection for the Stanislaus County lines of the Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) train. Photographed in Lathrop, Calif., Tuesday, June 18, 2024.

ACE also is expanding to Sacramento

ACE has separate funding for a branch to Sacramento on roughly the same timeline. It will have stations west of Lodi, in northwest Elk Grove and at four locations in Sacramento.

The northern stations also will serve an expansion of the Amtrak San Joaquins line. It now has five daily round trips between Bakersfield and Oakland and a sixth branching to Sacramento. The capital will reach a total of 12 trains on ACE and Amtrak, part of $1.8 billion in total funding for the two systems.

ACE and Amtrak would both feed passengers to the high-speed rail line between Merced and Bakersfield. It is under construction on much of this stretch but needs several billion dollars more for completion.

Stanislaus County Supervisor Vito Chiesa is on the Amtrak board and also has promoted the ACE expansion.

This opens up all of Northern California for Stanislaus County residents to ride rail just about anywhere, he said at the culvert ground-breaking.

ACE and Amtrak will have a total of 18 daily trains to Merced within a decade, some from the Bay Area. That will mean almost hourly service, Chiesa said.

Stanislaus County Supervisor Vito Chiesa, left, and Tracy Mayor Nancy Young pose for a picture during a ceremonial ground-breaking for culvert installation project for the ACE train in Lathrop, Calif., Tuesday, June 18, 2024.

About 100,000 commuters drive Altamont Pass

ACE aims to draw many of the 100,000 or so commuters who now drive to Bay Area jobs from the Northern San Joaquin Valley. Amtrak has mainly leisure travelers, but they, too, could have a cheap and climate-friendly option.

The culvert is for a canal is owned by the South San Joaquin Irrigation District. It carries water draining from farmland, as well as storm runoff in part of Manteca.

The culvert is close to the generally east-west track that now carries ACE trains. The expansion will be on a north-south freight corridor about a quarter-mile away. It will require a connector track to be installed under a separate contract next year.

The connection will allow an ACE train from Ceres to turn toward San Jose upon the 2026 launch. Future round trips will use a new station in north Lathrop, where riders on both branches can transfer.

The north Lathrop station also could be shared by the proposed Valley Link system, connecting in Dublin with Bay Area Rapid Transit. The planners are still assembling the funding.

A coffer dam will divert water for the construction of a concrete box culvert being built along rail tracks in Lathrop to allow for a new rail connection for the Stanislaus County lines of the Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) train. Photographed in Lathrop, Calif., Tuesday, June 18, 2024.

A coffer dam will divert water for the construction of a concrete box culvert being built along rail tracks in Lathrop to allow for a new rail connection for the Stanislaus County lines of the Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) train. Photographed in Lathrop, Calif., Tuesday, June 18, 2024.
OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV)  Three months after breaking ground, the construction at Froedtert ThedaCare Health, Inc.s Oshkosh health campus has utilized a variety of structural elements en route to being a premier care facility in northeast Wisconsin.

According to a release, the site was vacant for decades because of the soil conditions. But, teams worked with the Department of Natural Resources to learn about the site.

Kaukauna officials unveil new park featuring accessible playground equipment

Jennifer Nikolai, the vice president of new Community Hospitals in Fond du Lac and Oshkosh said, Despite some of the challenges the area presented, Froedtert ThedaCare Health, Inc. is committed to creating convenient access to care.

Before the construction started, partners worked with a geotechnical engineer to determine the best foundational system.

The foundation included nearly 900 steel pipes that were filled with concrete after being driven into the soil. This process spanned about two months, according to the release.

Healthcare experts invest $50 million into Wisconsin healthcare needs

Expected to be complete in 2025, the approximately 85,000 square-foot campus is estimated to have an $84 million investment with emergency care, inpatient beds and 24/7 coverage, and could create approximately 60 new jobs.

The hospital will also be open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
(QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A controversial mask bill that also tried to slip in some changes to how North Carolina campaign finances could be used was vetoed Friday by Governor Roy Cooper.

This legislation creates a gaping loophole for secret, unlimited campaign money in the middle of an election year, Gov. Cooper said in a released statement on Friday. While voters are kept in the dark, this scheme allows anonymous out-of-state billionaires to flood North Carolina with campaign contributions to rescue extreme right-wing candidates that Republicans now fear will lose. The legislation also removes protections and threatens criminal charges for people who want to protect their health by wearing a mask.

It started as a bill limiting the use of masks during protests until lawmakers added a revision concerning campaign finances.

I think it definitely obscures the transparency because it allows what people refer to as dark money to come in, unlimited contributions without donor disclosure, political science professor at Davidson College Dr. Susan Roberts told Queen City News. I think this is a matter of context.

PREVIOUS: Mask, campaign finance bill heads to NC Governors desk

She says its not the first time legislators have tucked away unrelated items in a piece of legislation.

In 2013, the North Carolina House passed a controversial bill 74-41 about two unrelated goals: it restricts access to abortion and increases safety for motorcyclists.

Campaign finance law is never really neutral. And thats one of the things thats in this piece of legislation. Sometimes it depends on the context. And here the Republicans can do that. Whether or not this is something that benefits someone in the governors race is yet to be seen, Dr. Roberts said.

The latest campaign finance records show Attorney General Josh Stein had raised $19.1 million as of February, with $12.7 million left to spend.

Lt. Governor Mark Robinson was millions of dollars behind with only $10.7 million raised in that same period, with $4.5 million left to spend.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 20. The official visit of the First Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan  Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev to Serbia continues, Trend reports.

A delegation led by Colonel General Karim Valiyev visited the Yugoimport SDPR company.

After getting acquainted with the company's products, the Chief of the General Staff arrived at the combat systems factory.

The Azerbaijani delegation was provided with detailed information about the factorys main activities.

Then the Rastko Nemanjic Barracks and the special operations brigade were visited.

Samples of weapons and equipment were presented here to the Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army.

In the end, Colonel General Karim Valiyev watched the combat training activities.
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who had invoked her Fifth Amendment privilege in a pre-trial interview, objected to testifying while she appeals her conviction

Jim Weber - Pool/Getty; John Lamparski/Getty Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and Alec Baldwin

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the Rust armorer serving an 18-month sentence for involuntary manslaughter due to her role in the accidental on-set shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in New Mexico in 2021, will not be forced to testify at Alec Baldwins July trial, the judge in the case ruled on Friday, June 21.

It's pretty clear that she does not intend to cooperate, said Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer after hearing arguments for and against compelling her to testify.

In a May pre-trial interview, Gutierrez-Reed asserted her Fifth Amendment privilege and refused to answer prosecutors' questions about the Baldwin case. Because of that, prosecutors filed a motion asking the court to force her to testify and grant her use immunity, meaning that whatever she said in her testimony could not be used against her in her pending appeal.

Lawyers for Baldwin as well as attorneys for Gutierrez-Reed objected to the prosecutions motion to give her use immunity.

"Does Ms. Gutierrez, to your knowledge, have any intent to answer the questions if given immunity?" Sommer asked Gutierrez-Reed's attorney, Jason Bowles, during the hearing.

"Your honor, she does not want to be cooperative in this case," he replied, adding, "She does not want to answer the questions."

Reacting to the ruling, Bowles tells PEOPLE he is not sure whether the prosecution will still call her as a witness, but if they do, "Ms. Gutierrez-Reed will invoke her Fifth Amendment privilege as we have long said and as is her right."

Eddie Moore-Pool/Getty Hannah Gutierrez Reed with her attorney Jason Bowles and paralegal Carmella Sisneros on April 15

Morrissey floated the idea of still calling her as a witness, and if she refuses to answer questions, "we will be asking additional jail time."

But in her ruling, Sommer said she would not want to conduct a "trial within a trial."

Gutierrez-Reed, who accidentally put live ammunition into the prop gun Baldwin, 66, was holding when it discharged killing Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in March. She is also headed to trial in August on a separate felony charge for bringing a firearm into a bar.

Baldwin, also facing an 18-month sentence if convicted, has insisted he never pulled the trigger and did not know the gun mistakenly contained live ammunition.

In their May motion asking the court to force Gutierrez-Reed to testify, prosecutors argued that if she wasnt granted use immunity, Baldwin would then likely attempt to have her previous statements admitted at trial.

Related: Everything to Know About the Rust Shooting Case and Alec Baldwin's Upcoming Trial

Those previous statements include clips of Gutierrez-Reeds prior police interviews. In her interviews she's very clear saying she should have checked [the gun] better, legal expert Emily D. Baker, a former deputy L.A. district attorney not involved in the case previously explained to PEOPLE. Those types of statements where she's accepting responsibility are beneficial to Baldwin.

Monica Schipper/Getty Alec Baldwin and wife Hilaria Baldwin in 2021

And even though Gutierrez-Reed also said unflattering things about Baldwin in her police interviews, including how he was allegedly not paying attention in his weapons training, according to Baker, Baldwins team likely wouldnt show those clips.

The prosecution would not be able to play those clips for the jury, either, because  it's hearsay, according to Baker. The defense can't cross examine, and it's being used against the defendant, not by the defendant.

Baldwin's trial is set to begin July 9.



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RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  Gov. Roy Cooper (D) on Friday vetoed a bill that would change the law on wearing masks in North Carolina and campaign finance, as Republicans vowed to override him as soon as next week.

The legislature passed the bill earlier this month, calling for stiffer penalties for protestors who wear masks while committing other crimes and for blocking streets.

After facing criticism for seeking to end entirely the ability to wear a mask for health and safety, Republicans included a provision that allows people to wear medical or surgical-grade masks to prevent the spread of contagious diseases.

Officials at the state Dept. of Health and Human Services urged lawmakers to leave the existing law on mask usage in place.

Gov. Cooper focused his criticism of the bill on the mask regulations and the campaign finance portion.

These dramatic, horrible changes to our campaign finance laws in the middle of an election are wrong on many levels, he told reporters Friday, adding he thinks the bill is meant to rescue extreme right-wing candidates that Republicans now fear will lose.

Senate Democrats walked off the floor and refused to participate in a vote on the bill after discovering Republicans had included a new provision related to campaign finance that could allow more dark money to come into state elections through political committees sending money to the state parties.

Sen. Berger said the measure is meant to level the playing field following a North Carolina State Board of Elections opinion in 2020 that he said advantaged the Democratic Governors Association.

Republicans, who have a supermajority in the legislature, vowed to override Coopers veto.

The House will swiftly override Governor Coopers veto of this legislation that prevents violent protestors from masking their identity and updates campaign finance law to even the playing field for both political parties, House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) posted on X on Friday.

The bill first emerged amid the pro-Palestinian protests that occurred on college campuses, including at UNC-Chapel Hill.

While the legislation now includes language allowing the use of medical and surgical-grade masks, critics say it still opens people up to criminal charges.

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Authorities in Lansing, Michigan, are seeking felony-level sexual assault and weapons charges against Republican State House Rep. Neil Friske, according to records obtained by The Detroit Free Press.

The 62-year-old lawmaker was arrested in the wee hours of Thursday morning after he allegedly chased an adult dancer after a disagreement while in possession of a firearm. Ingham County Prosecutor John Dewanes office told the Free Press that law enforcement responded to reports of an armed male as well as possible shots that were fired. Law enforcement learned of a possible sexual assault of an adult female in their response.

In a statement released on Facebook, Friskes campaign wrote that Rep Friske is always exercising his 2nd Amendment right. We do not have any details, besides what the media sourced, oddly before anyone of us knew anything.

The campaign also suggested that the arrest was highly suspect considering that it took place right before absentee ballots are released, and a day after an unknown phone number conducted polling on the 107 race between Rep. Friske and our opponent with deep-state ties.

Frisk, widely considered one of the most right-wing members of Michigans legislature, is also an ardent supporter of former President Donald Trump. In response to Trumps indictment on charges of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels  for which he was convicted last month  Frisk wrote that its completely unsettling to think we may have to witness a former president, who is currently running in the next election, perp walked on live television, and treated like a political prisoner.

After Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel leveled indictments against 16 individuals allegedly involved in a fake electors scheme to overturn the 2020 election on behalf of Donald Trump, Frisk decried the charges as a political purge and a USSR-style persecution.

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This article was originally published in Iowa Capital Dispatch.

Each of the Cornell College instructors injured in a stabbing during their teaching trip to Jilin City, China are back with family or moving forward from the incident, the college said in a statement Tuesday.

Cornell College President Jonathan Brand said in the update to campus that all four of the instructors have either been reunited with family members or are continuing with their summer travel plans after being injured in a serious incident in a public park in the city last week.

People and organizations both in the U.S. and China aided in getting the instructors the care they needed, Brand said. He said he has been reminded through this time about how the extended Cornell College community cares for each other.

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We appreciate the support from our colleagues at Beihua University, and we have thanked our state and federal legislators as well as the Department of State for their efforts to assist our instructors and their families, Brand said in the statement.

The instructors were teaching at Beihua University as part of a partnership with Cornell College. The June 10 incident occurred while the instructors were visiting a park near the university, accompanied by a colleague from Beihua. A man bumped into one of them, according to Jilin City police. The suspect, who police apprehended and identified as a 55-year-old with the surname Ciu, then allegedly stabbed that individual and the three other instructors.

One of the instructors involved in the incident was David Zabner, state Rep. Adam Zabners brother. A Ph.D. candidate at Tufts University, David Zabner was in Jilin City as part of the partnership between Beihua University and Cornell College when he was wounded in the arm during the incident. The names of the other instructors have not been released.

According to Adam Zabners social media, his brother returned to Iowa late last week. The representative said in a statement that the U.S. State Department and U.S. Consulate in Shenyang were helpful during David Zabners treatment and in efforts to bring him home, as well as the offices of Vice President Kamala Harris, Sen. Chuck Grassley and U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks.

Cornell College has partnered with Beihua University since 2018 to bring instructors from Mount Vernon to Jilin City to teach at the university for two-week periods.

Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com. Follow Iowa Capital Dispatch on Facebook and X.
LAWRENCE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT)  The Lawrence County Coroner identified remains found in February as those of a man missing since 2017.

Lawrence County Coroner Scott Norwood told News 19 that the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences had matched the remains with the DNA of Steven Patrick White, who was last seen in 2017.

Madison County Coroner identifies man killed in motorcycle wreck

The Lawrence County Sheriffs Office (LCSO) originally said the skeletal remains were found 11000 block of Highway 101 in the Hatton community in February.

LCSO said White was reported missing in 2017 and was last seen at his home on Hwy 101 in Town Creek on Friday, October 27, 2017. An eyewitness said they saw him leaving his home around 4 p.m.

The sheriffs office later searched the area in June of 2018 but never found White.

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Could Cubans abroad lose their homes on the island? Heres what a new proposed law says

A recently proposed overhaul of immigration laws in Cuba falls short of eliminating the restrictions of rights for Cubans living abroad, and it includes new provisions that might jeopardize property rights for some people, although much remains unclear because of the documents lack of details.

Contrary to early media reports, the draft of a new immigration law published this week by Cubas National Assembly maintains distinctions between people living permanently on the island and those living abroad. It divides the latter into three categories: resident abroad  those who live in other countries and dont have effective residence in Cuba; emigres who have left, and those with newly created business or investor status.

The proposal clarifies that only Cubans classified by migration authorities as permanent residents on the island will have full citizenship rights and enjoy the guaranteed rights established by the Constitution... and other regulatory provisions. No similar statements exist in the text for Cubans living abroad in any of the three categories described.

The draft of the new law eliminates the much-derided two-year maximum period for Cubans to be abroad before they were considered emigres and stripped of their residency, other property and political rights. Under this rule, those living abroad but returning to the island at least once within that period could keep their residency status and properties but may not vote.

That two-year provision had been suspended since 2020. But it was substituted in the proposal with the much more stringent notion of effective residence, which would require spending most of the time in a calendar year in the country or a combination of time and material evidence demonstrating ties in the country.

Under such rules, those classified as resident abroad  a large portion of recent migrants  will not be able to maintain their residency on the island as before, leaving open the question of property rights. Currently, only Cubans with permanent residence can own homes or private businesses.

The proposal does not mention property rights. Unless specifically authorized in the companion regulations that have not been published or in future housing regulations, the new provision raises the possibility that Cubans living abroad may not be able to keep their homes on the island for much longer if permanent residence onm the island continues to be a requirement for home ownership.

The draft legislation also does not eliminate the emigre status, stating that Cubans declared as such before the law is enacted would maintain that status unless they apply to change it to resident abroad under procedures not described in the text. The document does not describe the benefits of such a change in status.

In a state television show Thursday, a senior Ministry of Interior official commenting on the proposal dodged questions about property rights.

The issue of economic rights, which is something that is also asked a lot, well, the law does not have any direct relationship with the exercise of those rights, said the ministrys chief legal advisor, Lieut. Col. Raylan Hernandez Concepcion, when asked by the host if, with the new law, Cubans would no longer lose their rights here.

He said the immigration proposal does not apply any formula that goes against the exercise of those rights and that other laws should define them.

The Ministry of Interiors head of the immigration section, Col. Roberto Aguilera Puig, made clear that the intention behind the new law is to tighten controls over who can obtain permanent residence on the island.

He said the effective residence requirement would allow the ministry to know more accurately who resides in the country. Another benefit, he said, is that it would shut down two legal pathways that previously allowed Cuban migrants to maintain their permanent residence on the island while still residing and spending much of their time abroad: a special permit to live abroad, known as a PRE, and a process known as repatriation.

The effective residence measure, he said, would solve the legal contradiction of considering that Cuban citizens who hold the status of residents abroad maintain their domicile in Cuba.

The officials said they expected the proposal to be voted on by the National Assembly in July.

Except those already declared as emigres, Cubans living abroad will have 180 days to decide whether to return to the country and submit to the new regulations on effective residence or be considered residents abroad, Hernandez Concepcion said.

Several media reports focused on the elimination of the 24-month maximum for a Cuban to live abroad before losing their rights, and concluded that the immigration proposal would allow Cubans abroad to keep their properties on the island.

But some experts warn that without all the details, it remains unclear if that would be true.

The fact of having eliminated the 24-month term does not mean that the immigration policy of the Cuban regime has changed, said Eloy Viera Canive, a Cuban lawyer and collaborator of Cuban news outlet El Toque.

Nothing has changed in the Cuban regimes logic of limiting the rights of emigrants or people who decide to leave Cuba, he said. We have to wait for future regulations or modifications of other regulations to understand the extent of the limitations.
Editors note: This is the fourth in a five-story series that will examine the slow progress being made on reducing harmful agricultural runoff from the Mississippi River basin, which causes a low-oxygen dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico that threatens wildlife and fisheries.

As environmental groups and policy analysts in the Mississippi River basin seek solutions to shrink a massive dead zone that forms off the coast of Louisiana each year, they have looked to a regional clean-up program in the Chesapeake Bay as a model.

A key component of that effort, known as the Chesapeake Bay Program, is regulation.

For nearly 15 years, its included a legally enforceable, multi-state pollution quota  one of a select few in the nation. This total maximum daily load aims to reduce the amount of nutrients, like phosphorus and nitrogen, that run off into the Bays waters.

Too much of chemicals that derive from these elements, commonly used to grow crops and fertilize lawns, can cause algae blooms and die-offs that rob waters of oxygen and suffocate aquatic life.

But the Bay programs scientific advisors recently noted the strategy is imperfect.

After two missed deadlines to reduce nutrient runoff, and a third looming, Mid-Atlantic state and federal officials are reevaluating their options.

An algal bloom is seen near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel in Virginia in August 2021.

A unique legal agreement

In 1983, the Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia governors along with the mayor of Washington and administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency signed the Chesapeake Bay Agreement, a pledge to reduce the pollutants and sediment entering the Bay that contribute to the loss of organisms like seagrasses, shellfish and waterfowl.

The tapering of nitrogen and phosphorus remained the focus of subsequent agreements, but the jurisdictions did not meet their goals voluntarily, so in 2010 the EPA created the countrys most expansive pollution quota. It applied to six states  Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia  and the District of Columbia.

The quotas creation and enforcement took political arm-twisting, including an act of Congress, a presidential executive order and multiple lawsuits. It requires nutrient plans from each jurisdiction and reasonable assurances each will take steps to control pollution from nonpoint sources like farm fields and parking lots.

If states fail to meet their obligations by set deadlines, the EPA can implement stricter limits, force unregulated polluters to get permits, and redirect or condition grant money.

Signatories believed they would achieve the programs primary goal  improving habitat for the Bays aquatic life  if they capped nitrogen and phosphorus entering the Chesapeake each year at 214.9 million and 13.3 million pounds, respectively, and sediment at 18,587 million pounds per year.

Instead, scientific modeling estimated that 258 million pounds of nitrogen and 15 million pounds of phosphorus entered the Bay in 2021, a reduction from previous years thanks to upgrades to wastewater treatment plants and lower airborne emissions, but still off the mark. The program did hit its sediment target.

The Bay programs advisors say those declines represent achievements. Without the nitrogen and phosphorus reductions, things could be a lot worse as the regions waters warm, urban population grows and agriculture expands. The Bays 1-cubic-mile dead zone also might be even larger.

Nonetheless, the sluggish progress remains an inconvenient truth. Officials have concluded they will not meet a 2025 deadline to stem the flow of nutrients after failing to achieve benchmarks set for 2000 and 2010.

At the rate were going, its going to take about 150 years, said Denice Wardrop, a Bay program science advisor who directs the Chesapeake Research Consortium. We better learn how to do it better.

The program offers lessons for the Mississippi River basin too.

Farm fields south of Rock Hall, Maryland, are seen in May 2024 along Grays Inn Creek.

Something is better than nothing

Efforts in the Mississippi River, where environmental regulations are comparatively lax, to reduce annual injections of waterborne nutrients into the Gulf of Mexico largely have failed. This summers hypoxic zone is forecast to span 5,827 square miles, 5% larger than average.

Scientists expect climate change to worsen conditions by warming the Gulfs waters, which would cause it to retain even less dissolved oxygen, and increasing rain, causing more runoff.

The way that we operate right now is very much a state-by-state, choose-your-own-adventure model, said Maisah Khan, former policy director at the Mississippi River Network.

Several groups say the federal government needs to lead and coordinate state restoration efforts, as it does in the Chesapeake Bay.

A Mississippi River-wide nutrient quota could streamline and prioritize runoff control projects and allocate federal dollars where they are needed most. Numerous academics and the National Research Council Water Science and Technology Board of the National Academies also embrace the concept.

Without that, said Alicia Vasto, water program director with the Iowa Environmental Council, I think were kind of rudderless.

So why doesnt a Mississippi River quota already exist?

For one, the scale of the problem, said professor emeritus David Dzombak of Carnegie Mellon University, who chaired the National Academies committee that recommended policies to improve the rivers water quality.

Given the challenges that come with coordinating nutrient quotas in the 64,000-square-mile Bay watershed, doing so across 1.2 million square miles in the Mississippi River basin  which comprises 41% of the continental United States  seems unimaginable.

Another factor: political will.

Basin states must cooperate with their neighbors to enforce a quota, but their interests vary significantly. Far upstream, a Louisiana shrimp trawlers livelihood is all but haze in the distance. Meanwhile, few states are hungry for more federal oversight, and the EPA is likewise reluctant to brandish a stick.

The agency said it prefers helping states develop their own lists of impaired waters and clean-up plans, rather than doing so itself for an entire region all at once.

Thats exactly what environmental groups say isnt working.

Runoff creates a visible line in the Appomattox River, a major tributary of the James River, which flows into southern Chesapeake Bay in Virginia.

A better quota

Yet Bay scientists admit their regional nutrient quota isnt a panacea.

Its a two-edged sword, Wardrop said. While it had some wonderful benefits in initiating action, of building an accountability system, it had some consequences where you got painted into a corner.

Regulators fixated on tabulating the total pounds of sediment, nitrogen and phosphorus that drain into the Bays deep channel (where the hypoxic zone forms each year), she said, instead of considering other ways to improve conditions for its plants and animals.

For instance, restoring wetlands and protecting shorelines could enhance shallow-water habitat for fish and mollusks, even if the Bay program hasnt completely reduced nutrient runoff.

Yes, phosphorus and nitrogen are important, but its not a fix-all, said Zach Taylor, freshwater mussel hatchery manager at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. There are still other considerations for improving the water quality, but I do think that its a good place to start.

Because the Bays shallows respond more quickly to falling nutrient levels, scientists say, the program should prioritize those regions for habitat improvement, which could help rally public enthusiasm.

The same holds true for the Mississippi River basin. Improving water quality in upper basin states helps that region and the Gulf, said Doug Myers, Maryland senior scientist with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

You certainly dont want your whole Mississippi River project tied to meeting dissolved oxygen criteria in the Gulf of Mexico, he said. Its the people who live in those inland states that are gonna have to see the benefits for themselves and get excited about it for the benefit of their communities.

A concentrated animal feeding operation, or CAFO, is seen northeast of Massey, Maryland, in May 2024.

The elephant in the room

As industry and sewage facilities cut their discharge, agricultural runoff now ranks as the largest remaining contributor to the Bays water pollution  about half of all nitrogen and a quarter of phosphorus.

The situation is more pronounced in the Mississippi River basin, where an estimated 60% to 80% of the nitrogen entering the Gulf originates at farms and livestock operations.

Bay scientists say a nutrient imbalance impedes improvement more than anything else.

As farms multiply and expand, agricultural producers import more nutrient-rich fertilizer and animal feed. Hungry livestock convert feed into manure, which farmers apply to fields along with synthetic fertilizer. But crops dont absorb all the nutrients. Excess nitrogen and phosphorus build up in soil, resulting in harmful runoff.

The source of the Bay programs authority, the Clean Water Act, cant place pollution limits on field runoff. Instead, state and federal agencies offer grants and incentives to encourage producers to adopt better practices like planting cover crops or ceasing to till fields before planting.

But Bay researchers say agencies promote these practices without considering their effectiveness or placement.

The cheapest interventions, such as cover crops, offer farmers private benefits like improved soil health. But they are the least efficient at removing nutrients from the ground compared to other remedies like denitrifying bioreactors, a structure that reduces nitrogen in field runoff.

That leaves taxpayers with the fewest pounds of nutrients removed per public dollar spent.

The scientists say the program could stop tallying the number of nutrient-cutting practices installed on farms and instead incentivize success. For example, regulators could measure the nitrogen coming off fields and pay farmers when they fall under a set limit.

Weve maybe got to change our incentivizing systems for how we ask farmers to do things, Wardrop said.

This story is part of the series Farm to Trouble from the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk, an independent reporting collaborative.
Couple dies after getting caught in rip current while on Florida vacation with their 6 kids, deputies say

Couple dies after getting caught in rip current while on Florida vacation with their 6 kids, deputies say

MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA)  A day at the beach turned to tragedy for a Pennsylvania family vacationing in Florida.

The Martin County Sheriffs Office said 51-year-old Brian Warter, 48-year-old Erica Wishard and their six children started their vacation with a day at Stuart Beach Thursday.

While in the water, the couple and two of their teenage children got swept out by a rip current. Deputies said the kids were able to break the current. They tried to help their parents, however, conditions became too dangerous and they were forced to swim ashore.

Martin County Ocean Rescue teams located the couple and began CPR on shore. The couple was taken to a hospital, where they were pronounced deceased.

One of the children of the deceased was trying to yell to them instructions of how to swim parallel to the shore,  but they were in panic mode and unfortunately went under, Martin County Sheriffs Office Chief Deputy John Budensiek told WPTV. A lot of people are locals, they understand rip tides. They know what to do, what not to do. They know where to get in the ocean and where not to. We get these vacationers that come in and unfortunately this ends poorly for them. Theres no way to get the message out to all of them.

The sheriffs office said a Martin County Sheriffs Crisis Intervention Team deputy assisted the couples children throughout the day and evening as they awaited the arrival of other family members in Florida.

No other details were immediately available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Covid fines amnesty backed by Lord Blunkett after politicians escaped convictions but public did not

David Blunkett calls for those fined for Covid breaches to have their money returned - Lorne Campbell / Guzelian

A Covid fines amnesty has been backed by Lord Blunkett on the grounds of equity after politicians escaped criminal convictions for breaking pandemic rules but members of the public did not.

The former home secretary is the first Labour politician to back calls to wipe the slate clean for up to 29,000 people who were given criminal convictions for breaching Covid rules.

Unlike politicians such as Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak who simply paid their fixed penalties, they were prosecuted in the courts as criminals because they either contested the fine or failed to pay it.

Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak at a gathering during Covid restrictions in the Cabinet Room in 10 Downing Street - Sue Gray Report/Cabinet Office/PA

We should align what happened with the penalty notices with those going through the magistrates court, said Lord Blunkett, who served as home secretary under Sir Tony Blair from 2001 to 2004. They should be treated the same.

I cannot see any justification for people who were clearly nailed for breaching the rules in the highest levels of government not getting a criminal conviction but people who were foolish and within their own communities being penalised more.

I would support the wiping of the slate clean purely on equity grounds because there was huge confusion throughout the pandemic about what was or was not a criminal or civil offence and whether it was criminal.

Fixed penalty

In June 2020, Mr Sunak and Mr Johnson each received a fixed penalty notice for attending a birthday party for the then prime minister in the Cabinet room. Both paid their fines and as a result did not receive criminal convictions.

Covid criminal convictions could hamper peoples job prospects as police can pass on the details to potential employers if they are deemed relevant for criminal background checks for sensitive jobs such as teaching, social work and policing where applicants deal with vulnerable people or children.

They are also required to declare Covid convictions when applying for visas to visit countries such as the United States and Canada, both of which reserve the right to permanently ban anyone who fails to reveal a conviction.

Lord Blunketts calls for an amnesty come after interventions from three former Cabinet ministers  Sir Robert Buckland, Sir David Davis and Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg  as well as former supreme court judge Lord Sumption and the Governments former Covid testing tsar Sir John Bell.

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg is one of three former Cabinet ministers to call for an amnesty - Victoria Jones/PA

Charities have also called for an amnesty.

Lord Blunkett said that there did need to be a distinction between someone who had gone out of their way to infect others or had a clear intent to harm others against those who acted in a foolish way or failed to completely understand the rules.

For those in the latter category, he said that there was a further injustice in that there was a geographical lottery about the way penalties were handed.

He noted wide variations in the approaches between forces in different parts of the country with some taking a more pragmatic approach where they focused on people who had caused serious damage.

Court-issued sanctions

Ministry of Justice data analysed by The Telegraph showed that the 29,000 fines of up to 10,000 issued by magistrates totalled 26 million, which was higher than for any other type of crime since the start of the pandemic other than motoring offences and TV licence evasion.

Of these, almost half of the fines (12.4 million) were raised in just five forces: the Metropolitan Police, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire and South Wales.

People in their 30s accounted for the largest amount of fines at 6.9 million, although young adults aged 20 or below paid out 3.3 million.

The court-issued sanctions come on top of at least 8.2 million that people paid after being handed fixed penalty notices by police, an alternative to prosecution.

Among those landed with convictions was an 18-year-old student who attended a party during a lockdown, a 35-year-old man who hosted family members on New Years Eve and a 72-year-old woman who travelled back from Kenya without evidence of a negative Covid test.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 20. The supply of artillery systems and other lethal and offensive weapons by France to Armenia, despite warnings from the Azerbaijani side, once again proves France's provocative activities in the South Caucasus region, Azerbaijani political analyst Azer Garayev told Trend.

According to him, recent media reports have indicated that a contract for the purchase and sale of Caesar self-propelled artillery systems has been signed between France and Armenia.

"Despite the French Ministry of Defense's statement last October that the military equipment supplied to Armenia is of a defensive nature, the arming of Armenia with lethal weapons under the current military deal is another display of the French leadership's hypocrisy.

Macron's regime, which conducts policies of militarization and geopolitical intrigue in the South Caucasus region, hinders the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the establishment of lasting peace in the region.

Due to this destructive and biased policy, the current leadership of France cannot forgive Azerbaijan for its exclusion from the normalization process and regional developments, and therefore it continues this policy," he pointed out.

Garayev emphasized that Armenia is a state that has committed military aggression and occupation against Azerbaijan.

He also mentioned that rearming Armenia, a country with a history of bloody military aggression, with the help of France, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, and supporting the Armenian leadership's policy of revanchism, leads to a new war and is tantamount to political irresponsibility.

"Historically, as a colonial empire, France has had extensive experience in creating hotspots of war and conflict in various parts of the world. The processes occurring in New Caledonia and other overseas colonial territoriesthe exploitation of indigenous peoples, the plundering of their natural resources, the alteration of the demographic composition of these territories due to racist policies, and the suppression of protests through bloodshed and armed forceare indicative of Macron's regime's nature.

Instead of addressing such radical problems and putting an end to neocolonialism, which is a remnant of a disgraceful colonial legacy, France conducts a dirty propaganda and disinformation campaign against Azerbaijan," he added.

To note, on June 18, the sale of the Caesar artillery system to Armenia was inked by French Defense Minister Sebastian Lecornu and his Armenian colleague Suren Papikyan. This concerns the procurement of 109 next-generation Caesar self-propelled artillery units.

Caesar artillery systems are produced by the French defense industrial company Nexter.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Cranston police release footage of officer shooting at shoplifting suspects. What it shows.

A video released Friday morning by Cranston Police Chief Col. Michael J. Winquist shows footage recorded by an officer's body camera as she engaged with two suspected shoplifters before she fired a shot at their fleeing Kia sedan.

Saying that an investigation into the officer-involved shooting is "substantially complete," Winquist identified the officer as Kayleigh Cooper, a member of the force for three years, and released the video.

Both occupants of the car have been charged with assault on a police officer and they face other charges.

The driver, a 24-year-old South Boston man, and the passenger, a 24-year-old Lynn woman, were captured by U.S. Marshals, Massachusetts State Police and Boston Police on Tuesday.

What does the video show?

Police have released the video but they have not provided a blow-by-blow explanation as to what happened.

The exchange took place at a red light on Reservoir Avenue, just south of the on-ramp to Route 10, shortly after 5:20 p.m. on Sunday.

An employee at Cranston's Garden City Shopping Center notified police about a case of shoplifting.

Soon after, Cooper spotted the two suspected shoplifters at the intersection on Reservoir near Route 10. They were in a Kia and stopped in traffic at the light.

Cranston Police Officer Kayleigh Cooper is shown in this body-worn camera footage drawing her firearm as shoplifting suspects appear to try and flee a traffic stop. Cooper fired a single shot at the fleeing suspects.

The video shows Cooper approaching the vehicle on foot. Twice she tells the driver to shut off the car.

Then, she opens the driver's door and orders him to get out.

The face to face exchange takes place as the car rolls forward with the driver's side door open.

"What are you doing?" asks the driver. "What is this about?"

Cooper tells him it's about shoplifting. She orders him out of the car four times.

During the exchange, the woman in the passenger seat, who is looking at the intersection ahead, says, "Drive" three times.

The man had an alarmed expression on his face in the moments before Cooper's 9mm Glock handgun appears in the frame. One hand moves back to the steering wheel.

"Ma'am, get away from my car," he yells.

Cooper yells something that sounds like "you can't run me over." The words "run me over" are clear.

The footage also shows the vehicle moving toward the intersection. The Glock reappears in the frame to the right. A single shot can be heard.

Also, a bright white line appears on the side of the car as it turns just after the shot. It's not clear if it's damage from a bullet, or prior damage that becomes more visible as the car turns and the sun hits it or just a reflection.

State police have said the officer fired a shot after the fleeing car drove over her foot.

The driver turned onto Route 10 North and evaded capture until Tuesday. Both suspects were arrested on Tuesday at JFK/UMass station in Boston.

Reasonable force?

Based on the video alone, it appears the officer was not in personal danger at the time she took the shot and as the car drove away.

But such observations, which hinge on matters of proximity and timing, can be misleading and investigators consider a full range of evidence as they evaluate the officer's actions.

Winquist said he cannot comment on such specifics. An investigation by the state police and the office of Attorney General Peter F. Neronha, which will delve into whether the officer's use of force was reasonable, continues.

"I trust in the process that's in place," he said.

Winquist said he cautions viewers from judging Cooper's actions based on the video alone.

"We must keep in mind that use-of-force incidents like this happen very quickly," he said.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Police body cam footage of Cranston officer firing at suspects released
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Another Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) employee has come forward with a complaint against the department. They went to the Community Review Board (CRB) thats supposed to oversee police, allegedly out of fear of retaliation if they went to law enforcement. Now, a Metro attorney suggests the way the board is handling that complaint is against the law.

You can give it to the investigator, but you are also required by law to forward it to OPA, said Nicki Eke, an attorney with Metros legal department.

Not going to do it, said Jill Fitcheard, executive director with the CRB.

There were some tense moments at this weeks CRB meeting. Metros legal department instructed the board members they are required by law to turn over the new allegations from an MNPD employee to the police departments Office of Professional Accountability (OPA). However, Fitcheard essentially refused.

Complaint: Police leadership worked with lawmakers on bill to strip Community Oversight Boards power

Has that complaint been forwarded to the MNPD or OPA yet? Eke asked.

No, Fitcheard answered..

Okay, you are required to do that, Eke replied.

Yeah, Im going to refuse to do that, and what I am going to do is tell you that Im refusing that because the person that came forward made it very clear that if that information was given back to the police department or to OPA, that it would disappear, Fitcheard explained.

You cannot withhold a complaint and decide what you want to do with it as executive director. You can forward it to the investigator, but you are also required to provide it to the OPA, Eke said.

Police oversight board calls for DOJ investigation, MNPD staff to be placed on administrative leave

Mayor Freddie OConnell appointed an independent investigator to look into MNPD after a 61-page whistleblower complaint was filed last month. A former Nashville lieutenant claimed police leadership helped shape a law that took away much of the oversight boards power, and gave special treatment to higher-ups when they were accused of wrongdoing.

Weeks after that complaint went public, police suggested the whistleblower leaked some of the Covenant School shooters writings.

There is no word on the nature of the allegations in the new complaint against the MNPD, but News 2 did learn they are from a current employee of the police department.

They fear harassment, intimidation, and retaliation, said CRB Chair Alisha Haddock.

Some CRB members agreed to not send the complaint to police and only send it to the newly-appointed investigator outside Metro.

Metro officer suggests department whistleblower leaked Covenant writings

I think, in this case, the board is on reasonable grounds not to forward it to OPA because we have now an independent investigator, said Joe B. Brown, a retired judge and member of the CRB.

The mayor appointed former U.S. Attorney Ed Stanton to lead the independent investigation into the complaint against MNPD.

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TAYLORVILLE, Ill. (WCIA)  Christian County Crime Stoppers are looking for tips regarding a cat who was shot in the neck in Taylorville.

It happened on Sunday near East Oak and North Snodgrass Streets. Crime Stoppers said the cat seemed okay when it was seen in the morning, but by the afternoon, a .22 caliber bullet wound was found in its neck. However, no gunfire was reported.

Crime Stoppers said the cat is expected to recover.

Illinois Raptor Center in urgent need of donations

Meanwhile, theyre asking that anyone with more information on the incident reach out to them by calling 217-824-9100, texting 274637, or submitting online through christiancountycrimestoppers.org. Crime Stoppers tipsters are always completely anonymous and may receive cash rewards up to $1,000 for details that lead to an arrest.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
A cruise ship rescued 68 people adrift on a fishing boat off the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, the cruise operator, Oceania Cruises, said Thursday.

The ship, the Insignia, was near the end of a 180-day trip around the world when it received a distress call about the boat.

"We can confirm that Insignia rescued 68 people from a vessel in distress between Cape Verde and Tenerife and [brought] them onboard for medical assistance and provided food, drinks, clothing and a safe place to rest," Oceania Cruises said in a statement to CBS News. "We have coordinated next steps with authorities in Tenerife, and they will be taking over the care of the rescued people."

A photograph taken by a passenger of the cruise ship Insignia shows a boat packed with migrants that was adrift off the Canary Islands. The cruise operator said June 20, 2024, the Insignia rescued 68 people from the boat. / Credit: Henry Tom

Henry Tom, a cruise ship passenger from Vancouver, Canada, told CBS News that it took a couple of hours to rescue the people on the fishing boat and that about five people on the boat were dead.

The Associated Press reported the crew was able to recover three of the five bodies on the small boat, known as pirogue, but were unable to recover the remaining two because of bad weather. The news agency said an oil tanker first spotted the drifting boat south of the island of Tenerife. Authorities diverted the Insignia cruise ship to rescue the migrants.

Migrants were rescued by a cruise ship off the Canary Islands, cruise operator Oceania Cruises said on June 20, 2024. / Credit: Henry Tom

The migrants were from Africa, Henry Tom, the passenger, said. "We believe they were from Senegal. Not 100% sure," he said. He said they were placed in the Insignia Lounge, where the ship hosts live performances, and that passengers were donating shoes and clothing for the migrants, whom he said had been at sea between 20 and 30 days.

Spain recorded 55,618 migrants arrived by sea  most of them to the Canary Islands  last year, almost double the number from 2022. More than 23,000 have landed so far this year, according to the Interior Ministry.

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A high-flying cryptocurrency investor assaulted a woman at a New York City gourmet store for not exiting the premises as quickly as he would have liked, swore at her, then broke her shoulder in a second attack after she swore back at him, according to a civil lawsuit filed Friday in New York State Supreme Court.

On June 21, 2023, Peggy McGuinness was on the checkout line at Fairway Market in the Kips Bay section of Manhattan when, the suit says, she initially encountered a man she now knows to be defendant, Shane Rodgers.

Rodgers, the lawsuit reveals, is also facing criminal charges over the incident. He was served papers at home and at his Fifth Avenue office, which is identified in court filings as crypto payments processing platform PDX Global. A former investment banker, Rodgers in 2022 told The New York Times that he chose to park all of PDX Globals assets in crypto rather than hard currency.

The Australian-born Rodgers does not have an attorney listed in court records and was unable to be reached on Friday. PDX representatives did not respond to a request for comment sent to the companys general email address.

McGuinness, whose left hand was in a cast at the time, paid for her items at Fairway and headed for the door, the suit goes on. As she continued making her way out, McGuinness felt a shopping cart hit her forcefully on her back, the lawsuit states. Startled, she turned around to see Rodgers right behind her, pushing that shopping cart, the suit claims.

McGuinness explained [to Rodgers] that she was moving slowly due to a cast on her left hand, the lawsuit continues, adding that Rodgers then cursed at plaintiff; plaintiff responded by cursing back.

McGuinness then left the store, and began walking north on Second Avenue, according to the suit. About a block-and-a-half later, she was suddenly and violently knocked from behind to the ground by Rodgers, the suit contends, stating that the blow and subsequent impact with the sidewalk caused McGuinness a comminuted, displaced right humeral neck fracture with extension to the greater tuberosity, which often requires surgery.

McGuinness also sustained physical and psychological injuries, including severe emotional distress; humiliation; fright; anger: depression and anxiety; a severe shock to her nervous system; and has been caused to suffer severe physical pain, [and] mental anguish, according to the suit. It says that some or all of these injuries are of a permanent and lasting nature, that McGuinness has been forced to abstain from the duties of her vocation, and has had to lay out considerable sums of money to cover her medical bills.

The aforesaid occurrence was caused by the willful, wanton, reckless and grossly negligent conduct of defendant, the lawsuit states. It goes on to say that Rodgers was criminally charged on July 10, 2023, a little less than three weeks after the alleged attack, and is facing two counts of third-degree assault, a misdemeanor; one count of third-degree attempted assault, also a misdemeanor; and one count of second-degree harassment, a violation.

As of Friday, the criminal case remains pending, according to McGuinness lawsuit. She is asking a judge to award her punitive and exemplary damages, to be determined in court, for assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

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University of Colorado Regent Ilana Spiegel speaks during a regents' meeting on June 20, 2024, about a protest that was organized at her home earlier in the week. (Screenshot)

The elected officials who oversee the University of Colorado system adopted a resolution that called out what it termed antisemitic and racist speech and condemned a student group that organized pro-Palestinian protests at the homes of two of the officials, one of whom is Jewish.

The CU Board of Regents passed the resolution 9-0 during a meeting Thursday.

The resolution, introduced by Regent Ken Montera, was drafted in response to a protest that occurred at the home in Superior of Chair Callie Rennison on June 1 and another at the home in Arapahoe County of Regent Ilana Spiegel on Sunday.

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Both protests were organized by Students for a Democratic Society-Denver. The group has demanded divestment from Israel, which it accuses of genocide, and has organized other pro-Palestianian activities, such as an encampment at the Auraria campus in Denver, since the beginning last year of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

While the right to free speech guarantees any speakers right to express even the most hateful, divisive, racist speech, it does not protect the speaker from judgment by the public for expressing such speech, the resolution says, adding that during the protests at the homes of regents, SDS repeatedly called for Intifada. Calls for Intifada are calls for violence and murder against the Jewish people, are antisemitic, and are racist in nature.

In comments during the meeting, Spiegel said, Targeting me and my family, American Jews and descendants of Holocaust survivors, at my personal home was and is blatant and brazen and dangerous antisemitism, which we cannot tolerate.

She added that the Jewish people are not a monolith and have varied political views, including about the state of Israel.

I hope that we can all agree that the amount of suffering happening in our world right now is unbearable, she said. It should go without saying that I believe the loss of one innocent life is too much. That includes Israelis and Palestinians, Jews and Muslims, Christians, Arabs and atheists. Every single human being.

In response to a request for a comment from an SDS-Denver leader, the organization emailed unattributed remarks to Newsline.

SDS is disgusted at the CU Board of Regents resolution and condemnation of SDS, the organization said. According to the CU Board Authorization, the board is charged constitutionally with the general supervision of the university and the exclusive control and direction of all funds of and appropriations to the university. It is because of this position of power that we have targeted the Regents for protest.

The email disputed the charge that intifada is a call for violence against Jewish people.

Intifada is an Arabic word that roughly translates to shaking off. This term is commonly used to describe the Palestinian resistance against the Israeli occupation for the past 76 years, it said. We do not support the murder and displacement of any people; the same cannot be said of our Regents.

In an interview with Newsline after the resolution vote, Rennison said she and her husband were at home during the protest in her neighborhood. She called the experience very surreal. She said protesters voiced hateful, horrible chants, including globalize the intifada, from the river to the sea, asking how many babies I had killed that day.

My great fear is that many people in my community felt terrorized and afraid. Some took their children and left, she said, adding that she personally felt physically threatened.

Many neighbors formed a counterprotest and protected her property, she said.

At any moment it definitely felt like it could turn and get really ugly and that people were going to get hurt, Rennison said.

Members of Hamas, which the U.S. has designated a terrorist organization, attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages. Israeli forces responded with airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza, where more than 37,000 Palestinians reportedly have been killed and others have suffered displacement, malnutrition and other humanitarian crises.

The slogan from the river to the sea is used by some opponents of Israel to call for its violent destruction, but for others its a call to end oppression in Palestinian territories.

I think in this context, From the river to the sea is clearly meant as calling for bad things to happen to Jewish individuals, Rennison said. I know in other contexts that it might have other meanings, but in this context, when theyre marching around in front of my house with my face on giant wanted signs, saying that Im responsible for genocide and other things, then this context, it is clearly a hostile statement to make to the Jewish people.

Khalid Hamu, an SDS organizer, told CBS News during the protest at Spiegels home, SDS has nothing but love for the Jewish community. You know, we always like to chant, Judaism yes. Zionism no.'

A coalition of organizations that fight antisemitism released a statement Thursday supporting the CU resolution.

This has gone way beyond a conversation about the First Amendment, Stefanie Clark, co-founder of coalition member Stop Antisemitism Colorado, said in a statement. There is a time and a place for protest, and to bring this level of vitriol and intimidation to the home of elected officials and their families clearly crosses the line.

Other coalition members include JEWISHcolorado, ADL Mountain States, StandWithUs, Israeli American Council, and American Jewish Committee.

Editors note: This story was updated at 8:34 p.m., June 20, 2024, to include statements from Chair Callie Rennison and a coalition of groups that fight antisemitism.

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A proposed Cuban law would grant permanent residence to foreigners ready to invest in state or private enterprises and special immigration status to Cubans living in the United States and other countries with businesses on the island, a move suggesting the government might be getting ready to open its emerging private sector to foreign investment.

At the same time, the draft of the law, published this week by the National Assembly, would allow authorities to continue using travel bans to punish critics on the island and abroad.

Current laws generally prohibit Cubans living abroad and foreign investors from legally owning or investing in the small- and medium-sized private enterprises that have mushroomed nationwide since they were authorized in 2021. However, many Cubans abroad have done so anyway through informal channels, using relatives and friends. The current laws must also be modified to implement the changes teased in the immigration proposal.

The extent of the immigration benefits for investors is unclear because the draft text leaves key details to be regulated later by the government. The proposal is expected to be voted on by the National Assembly in July.

The draft document offers permanent residence to foreigners who prove they have assets to use for the purposes of undertaking businesses or making investments in projects or priorities for the countrys development or that may be linked to state or private economic sectors.

It also proposes creating a new business or investor migration status for Cubans who live permanently abroad but participate in the Cuban economic model according to ... the law. The text, however, does not describe the rights associated with such a status nor how to acquire it.

The new status seems designed to offer a privilege, an incentive to Cubans living abroad and who want to invest in Cuba, said Eloy Viera Canive, a Cuban lawyer who contributes to the Cuban news outlet El Toque. This is also flirting with the Biden administrations decision to allow investments in [Cubas] private sector.

In a first, Cubas private business owners will be able to use U.S. banks, Treasury says

The decades-old U.S. economic embargo on Cuba is still in place, but the Biden administration has recently eased some restrictions to help the private sector. It has also issued at least two licenses to authorize Americans to invest in a private enterprise in Cuba  to John Kavulich, the head of the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council, and to former Miami Congressman Joe Garcia.

Despite the islands growing economic problems, about three years have passed since the authorization of private enterprises on the island and the Cuban government has yet to allow foreign investment in the private sector.

But experts note that the proposal, already green-lit by the countrys Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Interior, has done little to address much of what many Cuban Americans have been advocating for.

It has quickly received criticism from human-rights activists because it will give Cuban authorities ample leeway to continue banning Cubans from entering or leaving the country due to their political opinions, citing national security and public order. The proposal also maintains travel restrictions on doctors and other professionals in Cuba, citing the need to protect the workforce.

Cuban authorities would also deny entry to foreign visitors who have promoted or been involved in hostile actions against the political, economic and social foundations of the Cuban state. The text also does not say how authorities define promoted or hostile actions, but the countrys laws punish people for publishing criticism of the government on social media.

There was an expectation that the Cuban government would allow Cubans with citizenship in the U.S. and elsewhere to enter the country with non-Cuban passports. (Current law mandates Cubans born on the island to use Cuban passports to enter the country even if they are citizens of another country.) That would allow Cuban Americans to be considered U.S. citizens while on the island and receive services from the U.S Embassy in Havana.

However, the proposal contemplates that possibility only if a Cuban national legally renounces his or her citizenship under procedures that will be included in a future citizenship law that has not been published.

Could Cubans abroad lose their homes on the island? Heres what a new proposed law says

A senior Interior Ministry said Thursday on state television that Cubans who live abroad and want to visit the island must do so with their Cuban passports and must abide by Cuban laws while in the country.

The ministrys chief legal advisor, Lt. Col. Raylan Hernandez Concepcion, said the countrys 2019 Constitution establishes that the islands nationals maintain their Cuban citizenship even when they become citizens of other countries.

It follows that while Cubans are in the national territory, they must act as Cuban citizens, they cannot exercise another citizenship, he said. From the moment a Cuban enters the country, he must identify himself with the Cuban passport, not with a passport from another country.
A couple from North Carolina recently experienced a terrifying incident after their 2-year-old daughter nearly drowned in the pool at the back of their house.

In a surveillance video released Tuesday by Gastonia Police Department on X, formally known as Twitter, Mila can be seen lifeless lying by the side of the pool while her dad and their family friend frantically tried to save her by performing CPR on the toddler over the Memorial weekend.

Amazing pool rescue and CPR. A Gaston County father saves daughter on Memorial Day. The Gastonia Police Department wants all families, everywhere, to be cautious at pools, lakes, and beaches. Know CPR, use life vests, and have a plan. #GastoniaNC @redcross_NC @Redcross pic.twitter.com/OgIPl6I1xg  Gastonia Police (@GPDNC) June 20, 2024

Speaking to ABC News in an interview on Thursday, Matthew Shortridge said he was watching the kids in the pool with other adults nearby and looked away for a moment when suddenly he heard the "blood-curdling screams" from his other daughter.

"My daughter [Mila] got up and went on the porch to my wife, and my wife took her arm floaties off, but my wife had to go to the restroom and one of our friends took her life vest off. I had turned my head, just for a little while ... and Mila walk[ed] back down into the pool without her floaty or life vest on. And that's when my [other] daughter saw her floating with her head in the water And my daughter screams out, 'Mila,' you know, really loud."

PHOTO: Matthew Shortridge and a family friend saved his 2-year-old daughter Mila from drowning in the pool at the back of their house in North Carolina. (Matthew Shortridge)

When Mila was removed from the pool, Shortridge said Mila looked "blue gray," she was "not breathing," she was "limp," and "lifeless."

Shortridge said he and their family friend, who is a nurse, immediately jumped into action to revive the toddler while another relative made an emergency call to 911.

July has the highest number of drowning deaths. Here's how to prevent them

After two and half minutes of performing the CPR, Shortridge said Mila finally let out some air and started breathing.

"And so then at that moment, I started to feel a lot more hopeful, but I was still worried about her neurological condition," Mila's mom, Amy Shortridge, told ABC News. "So when my husband, we were kind of all walking around the pool trying to assess how she was at that point, I kept asking him, how's she doing? How's she doing? And that's when we had both heard her say, 'Daddy.' And at that moment when she recognized him, I knew that she was healed and she was well."

Mila was eventually transported to a hospital when paramedics arrived at the house and she has since recovered, her family said.

PHOTO: Matthew Shortridge and a family friend saved his 2-year-old daughter Mila from drowning in the pool at the back of their house in North Carolina. (Matthew Shortridge)

After encountering the near tragic moment, Matthew and Amy are sharing their story to highlight the importance of having life-saving knowledge in the case of emergencies.

"The most important thing is to make sure you know what to do in a situation, to fix the situation," Matthew explained. "And, you're okay and to make sure you know what to do to save a life, to have those skills. If you have a pool, even if you don't and you're a parent, it's important to take those CPR classes so that you know what to do in case of an emergency."

"And it's also important to stay calm and clear and not to panic," he added.

Drowning is the leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 4 in the United States, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which released data this month showing that drownings are on the rise among kids under the age of 15.

Therefore, it is critical to have multiple layers of protection for children around water to ensure their safety.

Dr. Sarah Denny, a professor of pediatrics at The Ohio State University and lead author of the American Academy of Pediatrics' "Prevention of Drowning Technical Report," shared her seven tips with ABC News. Scroll down to learn more.

1. Model safe behavior. Parents should wear personal flotation devices alongside kids. "When we're thinking about any sort of injury prevention mechanism -- like wearing a seatbelt, wearing a bike helmet, wearing a life jacket -- we know that kids are much more likely to use those things if they are seeing their parents use them as well," Denny said.

2. Avoid using water toys as safety equipment. Toys like water wings, inflatables and noodles are meant for recreation, and "have no safety components or traits about them," according to Denny.

3. Stay vigilant and nearby kids in or around water. Wearing a life jacket or having a lifeguard on duty does not replace the need for "constant, capable supervision," according to Denny, who recommends adults stay within arm's reach whenever children are in and around water.

4. Make sure your pool is fenced in. A fence around a pool is the most effective, proven way to prevent drowning of young children, according to the AAP. The fence needs to be at least four-feet high, non-climbable, have a self-closing and self-latching gate, and surround the entire pool, separating it from the house.

5. Enroll your child and yourself in swim lessons. Swimming is "an important life skill," said Denny, adding that everyone needs to know what to do if they ever fall into water over their head.

6. Learn CPR. In the event of a drowning, the American Heart Association emphasizes the need for "immediate, high-quality bystander CPR," which improves survival. Denny said that fast and effective CPR also has a, "strong impact on long-term outcomes after a drowning incident."

7. Encourage kids to wear bright colors around water. Wearing a bright color -- like orange, red, pink, or yellow -- for both swimwear and life jackets could improve a child's visibility in the water. According to Denny, while not rigorously studied, this simple strategy may help rescuers more easily identify someone in the water.

Michelle March, MD, MPH, MEd is a general pediatrics research fellow at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and a member of the ABC News Medical Unit. She contributed to this report.

Dad speaks out after saving 2-year-old daughter from drowning originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
(BCN)  Crews contained a house fire that displaced some residents in Daly City on Thursday, the North County Fire Authority said.

According to the fire authority, they responded to a report of a burning structure at 534 Verducci Drive at 12:45 p.m. Upon arrival, they found a two-story house in flames.

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Residents had already evacuated before the arrival of the crews, who were able to contain the fire before it spread to adjacent properties, according to the fire officials.

A resident reportedly suffered a minor smoke inhalation and was treated at the scene. A firefighter also had a minor injury, was transported to hospital, and has since been released. The cause of the blaze is still being investigated. The affected residents will be provided accommodations by the American Red Cross for the time being, fire officials said.

Copyright  2024 Bay City News, Inc.

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Theyre both lawyers from metro Charlotte who serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.

But a Friday debate showed that Republican Dan Bishop and Democrat Jeff Jackson have little else in common as they seek to win over voters in the Nov. 5 election.

The two candidates for North Carolina attorney general argued in a room full of attorneys at the Charlotte Convention Center. The debate was hosted by the North Carolina Bar Association and moderated by Spectrum News Tim Boyum.

At issue: drugs, juvenile crime, a recent mass shooting in east Charlotte  and each other. Like North Carolinas gubernatorial race, the race for attorney general is shaping up to be about ideology as much as local issues.

My top priority is securing law and order in North Carolina, Bishop said. Period.

He spent much of the hour deriding Jackson, Attorney General Josh Stein, Gov. Roy Cooper and other Democrats.

Jackson had some criticism of his own. Bishop is the classic political extremist, he said.

Fentanyl crisis

The two had different answers to fighting the fentanyl crisis.

Opioid addiction has landed local teenagers in rehab, The Charlotte Observer reported last year. Its killing people across the state and the country with doses as small as a pencils tip.

Jackson said North Carolina needs to do a better job of finding and breaking up distribution networks that push drugs in the state.

A recently passed anti-money laundering law will help that mission, he said. He voiced support for medication assisted treatment, in which drugs and behavioral therapy are used to treat people suffering from substance use disorder and withdrawals. And if elected, he would ask the General Assembly to fund a fentanyl control unit, he said.

Jeff Jackson debates Dan Bishop in the Attorney General race at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C., on Friday, June 21, 2024.

A large percentage of people in our state who are ODing are teenagers, Jackson said. Lots of them dont even know that theyre taking fentanyl, but fentanyl now is laced with everything. We need to send a clear message to young people that there is no such thing as safe experimentation with drugs.

No law will stop fentanyl from coming into North Carolina, though, Bishop said.

The problem, if you ask a law enforcement officer or DA in North Carolina, is an unsecured border where fentanyl pours over the border, he said.

Judges might share blame in east Charlotte shooting, Bishop says

The April 29 shooting in east Charlotte that killed four law enforcement officers also came up when Boyum, the moderator, asked Jackson and Bishop whether its time to look at training and equipment that police use.

Yes, I think were going to end up doing that, Jackson said, referencing an ongoing investigation into what happened on April 29.

If elected attorney general, he would push forward recommendations from that review, he said.

This terrible tragedy should serve as a huge reminder to all of us that law enforcement is necessary, that they put their lives on the line and that sometimes they dont come home through no fault of their own, he said.

But thats not enough, Bishop said.

Words are not sufficient, he said. Acts are what matters.

He referenced his voting record before throwing out some criticism of judges in Charlotte and across the state. Its time to revisit bail, bond and pretrial release practices, he said.

We have judges in the Mecklenburg County District Court  all over North Carolina  devoted to weakening bond practices across North Carolina, Bishop said. Those officers are dead. Probably some mistakes on the part  well see, not gonna prejudge that  but because of the policies that are letting dangerous criminals out on the street.

Terry Clark Hughes Jr., who shot eight officers in Charlotte April 29 before they killed him, pleaded guilty in 2010 in Person County to a charge of breaking and entering and served about five months behind bars.

In 2021, he was charged with felonious possession of a firearm and possession of marijuana, but didnt show up to court. And then in January, he sped off when a deputy in Lincoln County tried to pull him over. So a federal U.S. Marshals task force that included state and local officers tried to arrest him.

Some changes have been made to North Carolinas bond system recently. With the General Assemblys passage of the Pretrial Integrity Act last year, some defendants facing more serious charges have their bonds set by elected judges, not magistrates now.

Juvenile crime and courts

Juvenile crime remains a concern, especially in Charlotte, where Police Chief Johnny Jennings has said his officers are often forced to play catch and release.

Last week, Cooper vetoed a bill that would have required more teenagers facing criminal charges to be tried initially as adults. Charlottes police chief called the veto a disappointing development.

The General Assemblys Republican supermajority could override Coopers veto, and Bishop said he expects that they will.

That bill should have been signed by the governor, he added, pointing out a New Years Eve shooting at uptowns Romare Bearden Park and a rise in young people committing crimes, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg police.

Dan Bishop debates Jeff Jackson in the Attorney General race at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte on Friday, June 21, 2024.

Thats got to stop, and law and order is the key, Bishop said.

Jackson said that judges need to be able to see a criminal record before juveniles appear in court.

Right now, that is not happening, he said.

If we have a clear repeat offender, someone who is a threat to public safety, then the judge needs to be authorized to keep that person in secure custody, he said.

Its not helping a teenager to release them when theyll likely be involved in another crime, he added.

Culture war

Like the race for North Carolinas next governor and the presidential race, the culture war was a returning theme in Fridays debate, with Jackson saying he is one of Congress most bipartisan members and Bishop one of its least.

We get a few extremists (in Congress), we can handle it, he said. If we get an extremist in the role of attorney general, that would be a radical departure from anything we have seen in this state before.

On multiple occasions Jackson invoked a 2022 social media post in which Bishop said that Republicans must smash the FBI into a million pieces.

Bishop warned that Jackson might use the attorney generals office to further his own political agenda, and said that current Democratic Attorney General Stein and his predecessor, Cooper, did as much when they disagreed with the General Assembly on policy.

He compared them to Letitia James, New Yorks attorney general who has successfully sued former President Donald Trump.

That is the very end of law in this nation if that is permitted to continue, Bishop said. That is wrong.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. It is long overdue to officially terminate the non-functional OSCE Minsk Groups activities and all associated institutions to officially close the chapter on the conflict, which is a relic of the past, said President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, as he spoke on the phone with U. S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Trend reports.

President Ilham Aliyev touched upon the long-standing successful cooperation between the two countries in the energy sector. He hailed the fruitful collaboration between the delegations of both countries in the fight against climate change and the preparations for COP29, and thanked the United States for their intention to support the successful hosting of COP29. The head of state emphasized Azerbaijan's value for relations with the USA and supported further strengthening and elevating the bilateral ties to a qualitatively new level.

During the phone conversation, they expressed satisfaction with the high-level exchange of letters between our countries, reciprocal visits of delegations, and shared their views on important issues such as human rights, democracy, and respect for the rule of internal laws in countries.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  This week Louisiana became the first state in the country to require schools to display the Ten Commandments in their classrooms, which struck a nerve with one prominent Republican in Texas.

On his personal X account, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick posted a screenshot Thursday of a headline noting this milestone for Texas neighbor, and he expressed his disappointment in a similar proposal failing to become law here in the state.

Texas WOULD have been and SHOULD have been the first state in the nation to put the 10 Commandments back in our schools, Patrick wrote on X.

The Texas Senate approved Senate Bill 1515 along a party-line vote on April 20 last year during the regular legislative session. The legislation, which was introduced by Texas Sen. Phil King of Weatherford, would have made public K-12 schools put up a durable poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments in a conspicuous place in each classroom. The bill required the display to be at least 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall, and the text would have to be in a size and typeface that is legible to a person with average vision from anywhere in the classroom.

Members of the public education committee in the Texas House of Representatives advanced the legislation at a May 16, 2023, hearing. However, the full House never took up SB 1515 last year, so the proposal did not advance any further.

In his X posts Thursday, Patrick used that to once again excoriate Speaker Dade Phelan, who won a primary runoff last month against a challenger backed by the lieutenant governor and former President Donald Trump.

Every Texas Republican House member would have voted for it. But, SPEAKER Dade Phelan killed the bill by letting it languish in committee for a month assuring it would never have time for a vote on the floor, Patrick wrote. This was inexcusable and unacceptable. Putting the Ten Commandments back into our schools was obviously not a priority for Dade Phelan.

Patrick also said this legislation is needed to remind students all across Texas of the importance of a fundamental foundation of American and Texas law: the Ten Commandments. He ended his X post with this promise: I will pass the 10 Commandments Bill again out of the Senate next session.

State Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, said Friday reviving this legislation next session will meet opposition once again from him, arguing it goes against his Christian faith.

In our tradition, Jesus taught us that the most important thing is loving thy neighbor  more important than the Ten Commandments, more important than the law, more important than religion itself, Talarico said. And so Im concerned, as a Christian, that bills like this that are exclusionary, that are arrogant, that are idolatrous are not just a threat to the Constitution, but theyre also a threat to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Texas does have a red granite monument listing the Ten Commandments displayed on the Capitol grounds in Austin. According to the Texas State Preservation Board, this was erected in 1961 by the Fraternal Order of Eagles of Texas.

Louisianas law, which Republican Gov. Jeff Landry signed earlier this week, differs slightly from the proposal debated last year in Texas. For one the size of the displays in Louisiana must be 11 inches by 14 inches. It also applies to more than just K-12 classrooms in public schools. State-funded universities and colleges in the Pelican State must also display a poster-sized copy of the Ten Commandments in large, easily readable font next year.

Civil liberties groups are already planning to file lawsuits to block the law from taking effect in Louisiana, arguing its unconstitutional. However, Gov. Landry along with the states Republican attorney general said they would look forward to defending the law in court.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
As a 574-foot, Korean-flagged car carrier glided through the Chesapeake Bay at 7 mph on a recent afternoon, a welcoming committee came in the form of two Baltimore-based tugboats. The tugs matched the ships speed, one latching itself to the freighters port side and the other coming up to the stern.

With only 4 inches separating the 98-foot Vicki McAllister from the massive ship it tailgated, a local deckhand on the tugboat and the freighters crew wordlessly connected the two vessels  vastly different in size, function and origin  with a thick towing line.

The boat and the ship now were intertwined for the next 90 minutes as the ship headed for the Port of Baltimores Dundalk Marine Terminal. The tugboat served as an insurance policy while the ship glided past the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, then helped it nimbly slide into a berth.

The Vicki, one of only six harbor-assist tugs stationed in Baltimore, regularly guides ships, some as small as 300 feet long, others up to 1,200 feet, in and out of port. Its a dexterous dance; the tugboats maneuver inches from the vessels, tying a line to a bitt  a post on the ships exterior  then detaching, relocating and attaching to a different area, all while the ships loaded with cars, containers or other goods stay in motion.

The wee-but-mighty tugboats are often unheralded. But theyve received more attention since March 26, when the container ship Dali lost power, hit a Key Bridge support pier and knocked the structure down. The collapse killed six men working on the span and blocked the channel, stunting port commerce for months.

Before the collision, two tugboats helped the Dali out of its berth. But, in accordance with state regulations, the tugs werent required to assist the vessel under the bridge.

After the fact, some observers argued that if the tugs had escorted the vessel further, they could have prevented the disaster. Others were less certain. Could the tugboats have kept the 100,000-ton Dali from destroying the bridge?

I dont want to speculate and get ahead of the NTSB, said Brian Vahey, vice president of the Atlantic region for the American Waterways Operators  an advocate for the tugboat industry.

The National Transportation Safety Board is studying what, precisely, caused the Key Bridge disaster, and will issue recommendations to prevent such incidents in the future in its final report.

Since the calamity, tugboats  five of them  towed the damaged Dali out of the wreckage site and back to port and have escorted more than 100 deep-draft vessels through the debris-littered channel. Tugboats will again guide the Dali when it transits in the coming days to Norfolk, Virginia, for further repairs.

Business slowed at the Port of Baltimore, but the tide has started to turn in recent weeks, and activity is expected to steadily increase following the June 10 reopening of the full 700-foot wide, 50-feet deep shipping channel. Previously, more than 200 deep-draft vessels called on Baltimore each month and authorities hope commerce will return this year to that level.

Each of those massive vessels will need help parking. And the six tugboats are ready to assist.

A contact sport

Some species of ant can lift more than 50 times their body weight, and tugboats are cut from even stronger cloth. The Vicki weighs about 450 tons, but it can pull a ship that weighs more than 100,000 tons (200 times bigger), like the 984-foot Juno Horizon, which it assisted earlier this month.

Part of its hauling powers lie in the size of its 4,650-horsepower engines. More than 70% of the Vickis space is devoted to the engine room, Capt. Austen Parish estimated, with the remainder allotted to fuel tanks, navigation and living areas (tugboat captains live aboard for two weeks at a time, then take two weeks off).

The tugboats exterior is lined with tires  some full, some cut into smaller pieces  to provide cushioning when escorting turns into bumping.

Its a contact sport, explained Mike Reagoso, vice president of Mid-Atlantic Operations for McAllister Towing, which operates tugs up and down the East Coast.

Occasionally, a ship coming into Baltimore needs the assistance of just one tugboat. Oftentimes, its two, and sometimes, especially for ultra-large containerships or when the weather is challenging, three or more tugboats will help.

Three of the local tugs are owned by McAllister and three others by Moran Towing. Both work closely with the Association of Maryland Pilots because it is a licensed harbor pilot, a local expert, who ultimately steers a ship into Baltimore, directing tugboat captains through the process. Cargo ship owners pay the pilotage and tugboat fees, which vary but generally cost several thousand dollars per trip.

Sometimes a pilot will direct a tug toward the stern, then to the starboard side, and then elsewhere. When a pilot offers instructions over VHF radio during a transit, the tugboat captain repeats them back for clarity.

Its a joint judgment call, Parish said. I need to feel safe coming into that position. On the flip side, he needs us where he needs us.

Parish, 29, grew up on the water in Kent County, Maryland, on the Eastern Shore, trained as a mariner at Texas A&M University and sailed deep-sea vessels before becoming a tugboat captain.

I really enjoy the challenge of maneuvering in tight spaces and the tugs offer a taste of that, he said.

On June 7, Parish captained the Vicki McAllister past the Key Bridge wreckage. As the tugboat sailed by, steam poured out of the Dale Pyatt, the largest clamshell dredge in the Western Hemisphere, while the Chesapeake 1000, the largest floating crane on the East Coast, slowly picked up another piece of debris.

The tugboat then sailed by Fort Carroll  an artificial island designed in the 19th century by Robert E. Lee of the Army Corps of Engineers, now abandoned and radiating a stench of bird guano  and then a day-cruise ship. Parish blew the tugboats horn, to the delight of waving passengers.

People love tugs, Parish said.

Push to park

A blue-and-white speck  the Morning Menad car carrier  then appeared on the horizon and, 3 miles south of the Key Bridge site, four vessels met in the quiet waters: the massive freighter full of cars, a small boat delivering a Maryland pilot, and two tugboats, ready to provide guidance.

As the Ro-Ro freighter (its cargo of vehicles can roll on and roll off) continued sailing towards Baltimore, pilot Mark Baummer boarded. He directed the Vicki to the Morning Menads stern, where Parish deftly lined the boat up just a few inches behind the ship, each vessel traveling 6.5 knots (just over 7 mph).

Crew members on the car carrier lowered a messenger line  a thin cord  to deckhand Kramer Whitelaw, who tied the tugboats large rope to it. Members of the freighter crew, all wearing hard hats and one with a cigarette in his mouth, retrieved the rope and fastened it to their vessel.

Whitelaw, of Sparrows Point, Maryland, said that he ordinarily communicates with the crew  who are from various countries and rarely speak English  with hand signals. Both Parish and Whitelaw say they try to be good ambassadors of the area; in some cases, theyre the first humans, aside from one another, that a crew has seen in over a month.

Once fastened together, tugboats can help the big ship in the event something goes amiss due to mechanical, human or weather issues.

If something does go crazy, hopefully, we can be part of the solution, Reagoso said.

But on this day  a calm one  the Vicki and its towing partner, the Bridget McAllister, simply sailed alongside the vessel until it was ready to park. At that point, the pilot directed one tug to pull on the ship and the other, more aft, tug to push, spinning the ship around.

It was a fairly simple parking job, but each one is a little different.

You can drive your car into a parking lot and some, you just pull straight in, and the other ones you gotta parallel park with 37 turns in the middle, Parish said.

Port safety

Tugboats are an essential piece of the port ecosystem  especially with a renewed national focus on infrastructure protection. They can provide a nonstructural option to prevent the type of calamity seen at the Key Bridge.

The Maryland bridge that sees the most oceangoing vessels pass underneath is the Bay Bridge near Annapolis, but the state does not require tugboats to assist ships there.

The state has considered changing that policy since the Key Bridge collapse, Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said, but given the speed (roughly 15 knots) that ships travel at that point in their voyage, more substantial tugboats would be required, he said.

You need a different type of tug for that, Wiedefeld said in a June 12 interview at the Port of Baltimore. Theres things that youd have to invest in to have them.

The state is reviewing realistic short-term and long-term options, Wiedefeld said, to protect the bridge.

Back on the Vicki, with the Morning Menad parked and the mission complete, Whitelaw detached the tugboat from the freighter and Parish backed it away. He drives the ship using controls in each hand, while managing a winch  the mechanism that reels in the towing rope  with his right foot. Its not dissimilar from playing the piano or the drums.

Im not a musician, but I always wanted to be, Parish said. This is about as close as I can get.

Parish guided the Vicki back to port, but it didnt stay there for long. There was another big ship on its way to Baltimore  and it needed help parking.
DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA)  Danville firefighters battled both fire and the weather on Thursday while responding to a home that caught fire.

The fire happened in the area of North Griffin and East Williams Streets at 11:13 a.m. Officials with the Danville Fire Department said that when firefighters arrived, they found smoke coming from the rear of the structure. Everyone was already out of the home.

Springfield business closed after attic fire

The design of the home and the intense heat made it a challenge for the firefighters on the scene, officials said. One of them was taken to the hospital with heat exhaustion; they were treated and released.

Firefighters were on the scene for over six-and-a-half hours, finally leaving at 6 p.m. Investigators with the Danville Fire Department and the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal determined that the fire, which caused $20,000 in damage, was the result of one of the homes mechanical systems malfunctioning.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
Daufuskie Ferry fixes stalled. Heres what Beaufort County representatives have to say

After nearly six months of vocal resident and business complaints  and a state legal advocacy groups criticism  over the ferry between Hilton Head and Daufuskie islands, more than half of Beaufort County council members wouldnt comment on the future of the ferry contract. Those who did comment pointed toward members of the administration, county council and the ferry contractor working behind closed doors in executive sessions to resolve the issues raised by Daufuskie residents and business owners.

Daufuskie residents have called for the boats they were promised in Lowcountry Ferrys proposal, which are different from the boat Lowcountry Ferry is currently using. Riders say they havent seen many results from the private executive session conversations. Additionally, there arent public records to show Beaufort County notified Lowcountry Ferry that its violating the contract, according to a public records request by The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette.

Businesses continue to see lower traffic than in past years and those with disabilities experience much of the same ongoing accessibility issues, according to Daufuskie Island council member Kade Yarborough. The Daufuskie Island council doesnt have legislative power but advocates for the island.

The ferry has been very stagnant for the most part, Yarborough said, mentioning that Beaufort County council members have been more communicative with the Daufuskie Island council in the past two months compared to when Beaufort County originally changed the contractor.

After seven years of Beaufort County contracting Haig Point Community Association to run the service, it switched the contractor to Lowcountry Ferry in January. Haig Point wanted the county to pay $1.02 million annually for the contract, up from the past years $375,000 and Lowcountry Ferrys $365,000 proposal. Since then, the ferry has been on Beaufort County Councils executive session agendas two times: April 8 and May 28. Its set to make a third appearance in executive session at the next council meeting on Monday night.

Polling the council on their perspectives on the ferry

Of the 11 county council members, two declined to comment and four didnt respond to multiple phone calls and texts. Members who didnt respond to comment included chairman Joe Passiment and Daufuskie Island representative Mark Lawson.

Beaufort County has had two virtual meetings with the Daufuskie Island council in the past two months in an attempt to problem solve, according to Yarborough. He said that Daufuskie Island council has also had meetings with Neil Turner, Lowcountry Ferrys owner.

He seems to be very, I wouldnt say vague, but ambiguous about his answers, Yarborough said of Turner. He said hell look into (problems) or hell have to check with the county and see what he can do.

Here are the council members their responses to The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette:

Mark Lawson

Lawson represents District 9, which includes Daufuskie Island. He didnt respond to a call and text for comment made on June 17. When the newspapers called for comment again on June 20 Lawson didnt answer and his mailbox was full.

Yarborough said that Lawson has been more responsive than previously when he wouldnt answer calls or email.

Joe Passiment

When chairman Passiment was called by a reporter on June 17 and June 20 he responded with a text that he was in a meeting but did not respond to further requests for comment.

When reached previously, he has deferred to the administration about ferry-related topics.

Passiment represents District 5, which includes parts of Okatie, Sun City and some areas along Robert Smalls Parkway.

Larry McElynn

When vice chairman McElynn was reached by phone June 20 and asked by a reporter for comment McElynn said that he does not take polls or interviews.

McElynn represents District 10, which includes parts of Hilton Head Island.

Logan Cunningham

Cunningham said that the service Lowcountry Ferry is providing is not necessarily a service that we were promised originally. He said that the county should explore canceling ferry funding.

Every option should be explored, he said. Including, the Daufuskie Island having their own type of ferry service.

I do not believe we should be in the rental business or the ferry service, to be honest, he said.

Cunningham represents District 7, which includes portions of western Bluffton.

Alice Howard

Howard deflected to county administrations expertise, explaining that she has no way of knowing how to judge how (the contractor is) performing compared to what the requirements of the contract are.

When asked about Disability Rights South Carolinas letter to the county council saying the service is discriminatory and prevents people with disabilities from using it, Howard said she didnt know who the group was.

Im not aware of that, she said. I didnt read that.

Howards county email was copied on the state legal advocacy groups letter, sent in March.

Howard represents District 4, which mostly encompasses the parts of the City of Beaufort and Town of Port Royal.

Paula Brown

Brown suggested that the contract might be difficult to get out of. However, she didnt say whether she believes the contract should be terminated.

Theres no reason in the world why we cant get out of a contract, said Brown. That contract was written to protect the vendor and not the county.

Brown represents District 8, which is parts of eastern Bluffton and a small portion of Hilton Head Island.

York Glover

When asked if the county has moved to terminate the ferry contract, Glover said no.

He said that the county is making sure that they are adhering to safety precautions and reviewing the service agreement with the company to make sure that they are adhering to everything that was outlined.

Glover represents District 3, which mostly encompasses St. Helena Island.

Thomas Reitz

Reitz told a reporter he was interested in speaking about the ferry but was not available to talk before this storys deadline.

Reitz represents District 11, the south end of Hilton Head Island and communities up the east coast of the island including Shipyard, Palmetto Dunes and Folly Field.

Anna Maria (Tab) Tabernik

When reached by phone on June 17, Tabernik declined to comment on the record about the ferry service.

She represents District 6, which includes parts of Sun City and the New Riverside area.

Gerald Dawson

Dawson didnt respond to calls and messages June 17 and June 20.

Dawson represents District 1, which encompasses Sheldon and the northern areas of the county.

David Bartholomew

Bartholomew declined to comment on the ferry service when reached by phone June 20.

Bartholomew represents District 2, which includes Ladys Island, a small portion of the City of Beaufort and the Marine Corp Air Station Beaufort.
DC prepares for first Heat Emergency activation of 2024 season

DC prepares for first Heat Emergency activation of 2024 season

WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The District of Columbias government is gearing up for its first Heat Emergency activation of the 2024 season.

With extreme heat forecasted to continue into next week, D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEMA) is taking proactive measures to ensure residents safety.

Acting Director Clint Osborn of HSEMA spoke about the importance of utilizing District resources to cope with the impending heatwave.

DC Mayor extends the Districts Heat Emergency into next week

Residents can access information on cooling center locations and transportation services through the Districts website and HSEMAs social media channels.

Additionally, Osborn shared general heat safety and preparedness tips, urging residents to stay hydrated, avoid strenuous activities during peak heat hours and check on vulnerable neighbors and family members.

As temperatures rise, the D.C. government said it is dedicated to ensuring that all residents have the necessary resources to beat the heat and stay safe.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Bodies of people who died after consuming toxic liquor are cremated in Kallakurichi

Bodies of people who died after consuming toxic liquor are cremated in Kallakurichi

By Praveen Paramasivam

(Reuters) - The death toll from the latest case of tainted liquor in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu has climbed to 47, with over 100 people still in hospital, a government official said on Friday.

Since Wednesday more than 150 people, suffering from vomiting, stomach aches and diarrhoea, have needed treatment after drinking methanol-mixed liquor made in the Kallakurichi district, about 250 km (150 miles) from the state capital Chennai.

On Friday morning, 118 people were still being treated in hospitals in the district and nearby areas, the government official said.

On Thursday, a government spokesperson said at least 36 people had died.

Police arrested four people over illicit liquor sales and seized 200 litres of the alcoholic drink, the state government said on Thursday, adding that it had taken disciplinary action against 10 officials for failure to prevent it.

Deaths from illegally produced alcohol, known locally as "hooch" or "country liquor", are a regular occurrence in India, where many cannot afford branded spirits, even as the public and activists call for a crackdown on the sellers.

The Tamil Nadu government said it was taking steps to identify people involved in the production of methanol - a toxic chemical normally used for industrial purposes.

Videos from ANI, in which Reuters has a minority stake, and local media showed state ministers and opposition leaders making a beeline to the district to meet the victims.

There was mass cremation of the deceased and families carried out last rites only a few metres (yards) apart, videos showed, reminiscent of images from India during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

More than a dozen people died last year in a similar incident in a nearby district of Tamil Nadu.

(Reporting by Praveen Paramasivam; editing by Sudipto Ganguly and Kim Coghill)
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Congress needs to pass the latest edition of the countrys sweeping agriculture law this year.

However, a debate over funding for nutrition programs, including SNAP, is trapping the farm bill in limbo.

If you dont take care of the farmers, it just doesnt work, said U.S. Sen. John Boozman, (R-Ark.), the top Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee.

Boozman warns its growing harder for farmers across the U.S. to make a living.

The things that help them manage their risk simply arent working, he said.

Thats why Boozman wants to include better safety nets, the programs that provide risk protection and income support to farmers, in the bill.

Borrow the money that they need to keep going and continue to give us the cheapest, safest food supply of anybody in the world, Boozman said. We take that for granted.

Senate Democrats argue much of the proposed $1.5 trillion bill focuses on the wrong things.

It invests hundreds more millions of dollars in commodities where theres nothing for fruits and vegetables. Nothing, said U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, (D-N.Y.). Its pretty terrible.

Gillibrand also worries about potential GOP funding cuts to nutrition programs for low-income Americans.

They want to cut SNAP benefits by $30 billion, she said. So, you can just imagine how many people would go hungry with that kind of cut.

However, Boozman doesnt see the proposal as a cut, noting SNAP funding has increased 85% since the last farm bill in 2018.

There is a limit to the amount of money that we can push into that program, he said.

An extension of the 2018 Farm Bill expires at the end of September. Lawmakers may first have to pass another one before agreeing on a full 2024 farm bill.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
By Mehnaz Yasmin

(Reuters) - A potential debt ceiling standoff in the United States next year could be one of the worst since the 2011 crisis, which may trigger another sovereign credit rating downgrade, said Gennadiy Goldberg, the head of U.S. rates strategy at TD Securities.

Congress has suspended the debt ceiling until Jan. 1, 2025, even as worries over rising U.S. debt were fueled earlier this week when the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) forecast a jump in the deficit to $1.915 trillion for fiscal 2024 and $1.938 trillion for 2025.

"I certainly worry about debt sustainability. The path of U.S. deficits is highly unsustainable," Gennadiy Goldberg told the Reuters Global Markets Forum (GMF).

"We'll get the first whiff of politicians starting to come under a bit of pressure when the U.S. credit rating is downgraded again ... possibly as soon as next year."

S&P downgraded its U.S. credit rating for the first time in history during the 2011 debt ceiling crisis, which prompted the passage of the Budget Control Act of 2011 to cut spending and identify deficit reduction measures.

Goldberg said there was a risk that S&P will downgrade its U.S. sovereign rating by another notch, this time from AA+ to AA.

Last year, Fitch downgraded its U.S. long-term credit ratings, and Moody's lowered its outlook to 'negative' from 'stable' signaling an increased risk of a downgrade.

The 5-year credit default swaps (CDS) on U.S. sovereign debt indicate some worry, Goldberg said, as spreads have not receded to the levels they were at the past few years.

The convexity-adjusted spread on the 5-year CDS, one of the most-traded contracts during crises, is at around 40 basis points this month, almost double the past five-year average, data from HIS Markit showed.

Still, some market participants see a limited impact from a sovereign rating downgrade due to lack of suitable alternatives to high-quality liquid assets such as U.S. Treasury securities.

"Curiously, the term premium in the U.S. hasn't materially increased in recent months, suggesting the demand for U.S. debt remains quite strong," Goldberg said.

"The big question is whether that demand will persist, and who will buy the bonds once that demand cools."

(Join GMF, a chat room hosted on LSEG Messenger, for live interviews: )

(Reporting by Mehnaz Yasmin in Bengaluru; Editing by Divya Chowdhury and Kim Coghill)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. Azerbaijani parliament will appeal to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on holding an early parliamentary election, said Chair of Parliament Sahiba Gafarova, Trend reports.

Gafarova noted that the agenda of todays meeting of the parliament included the issue of appealing to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan to call early election to the Parliament of Azerbaijan.

The Parliament Chair, Sahiba Gafarova, said that the New Azerbaijan Party members proposed appealing to the President of Azerbaijan regarding the holding of an early election.

Then MP Hikmet Babaoglu, representing the New Azerbaijan Party, voiced the partys appeal.
There are words we know, and there are words we argue about, working our way to a shared meaning. And then there is that unique category of terms that, once they appear, stubbornly refuse to succumb to any mutual understanding no matter how belabored the discussion. Such is the boggy terrain known as American liberalism. At best it carries meaning through its modifiersbut then, there are just way too many of those. Lockean? Rawlsian? Jeffersonian? Social? New Deal? Libertarian? Pragmatic? Great Society? Keynesian? Feminist? Muscular? Patriotic? Neo? The mind reels.

Hardly a snapping pennant of faith, American liberalism is one hot American mess.

American liberals would like to see U.S. history bursting forth from its Jeffersonian roots, launched on a steady march from monarchy to democracy, from slavery to freedom, from rapacious Gilded Age capitalism to robust regulatory state. Instead, confusion reigns. By the time I get to the 1980s in my history classes, for instance, it takes me a 45-minute slog of a lecture just to explain the etymology of neoliberalism. The root of the term is a nineteenth-century Manchester-style economic liberalism deployed to overturn a twentieth-century New Deal and Great Society liberalism. That nineteenth-century version was a very selective implementation of a more abstract liberal ideaone that highlighted free trade (a total myth in the U.S. case) while often ignoring the liberties of free citizens, the rights of workers, or the process of democratic government. When I suggest to my students that the individualism of their generations identity-based liberalism could be said to feed the hypercapitalism of neoliberalism, their heads are spinning.

Given that the term lacks depth, coherence, and precision, let alone a fighting creed, allow me to introduce a multipart political puzzle. First, nobody can truly agree on what the term means, partially because it has rarely existed in the first place in the United States. American liberalism, therefore, has proved to be as much of a nostalgia trap as a forward-thinking enlightenment project. And, when liberalism did work in a politically progressive way, it tended to do so best when it transcended its own logic, ironically achieving liberal ends through illiberal means.

So, while the question today might be, How to make America liberal again? the problem is that it never really was. Thats not the right fight. By the time this is over, I hope to draw your attention more narrowly to one part of the liberal idea that is most important and most contested: democracy.





We begin with the nostalgia trap. The best proof of the fact that we dont know what we are even talking about is the belief that some classical version once defined American history. What must be regarded as, at best, the most blinkered and, at worst, most pernicious interpretation of American history is Louis Hartzs staggeringly influential The Liberal Tradition in America (1955). Hartz argues that Americans enjoyed the absence of a class-structured feudal past, which also meant little tradition of militant revolution or reaction. Americans were born free, capitalist, and committed to the liberal ideal. Hartzs flat, conflictless version of history was always in conversation with European socialism more than the American historical record. It stands as a document of its postwar moment, when the United States needed to make sense of itself as hegemon of the free world.

The persistence of the Hartzian idea, even if only fumes remain, has prevented us from understanding the frequent failure of our own political systems. This makes liberalism more of a longing for that which never existed than it is a useful guide for democratic values.

Yet the persistence of the Hartzian idea, even if only fumes remain, has prevented us from understanding the frequent failure of our own political systems. This holds especially true for the question of democracy, because the Founding Fathers had a tortured, suspicious relationship to the people, which we have yet to overcome. This makes liberalism more of a longing for that which never existed than it is a useful guide for democratic values.

Thankfully, this year, Steven Hahn finally wielded his hefty historians hammer, sinking nails in the coffin of liberalism by separating Hartz from fact in his perfectly titled book, Illiberal America: A History. Hahn writes not of the countrys recent departure from long-established and entrenched norms, but instead how our present-day reckoning with the rise of a militant and illiberal set of movements has lengthy and constantly ramifying roots. He also shows how the mythology of liberalism has been sustained less by its proponents than by its anxious critics. The right attacks it, while the left defends some kind of imaginary norm to fight off the new assault on great (mythical) American values.

Individual freedom is often seen as the core of liberalism (root: liber, free), that most cherished of American values. Yet the practice of freedom hardly holds up to any litmus test of American liberalism. In my recent book, Freedoms Dominion: A Saga of White Resistance to Federal Power (2022), I found a near two-century history of the practice of Jeffersonian-Jacksonian freedom wielded by white elites to dominate the land, labor, and political power of other people. Freedom for white Americans meant the freedom to control, exploit, subjugate, deny, and even murder. When, for instance, the federal government intervened militarily to back the political rights of formerly enslaved people, elite Alabamians fought the feds with a twisted but enduring version of the liberal ideal. Whites saw federal intervention as a flagrant and dangerous invasion of the ancient conservative principles of personal liberty and free government.

Annelien de Dijns Freedom: An Unruly History (2020) has a similar finding. As democracy broke out across the North Atlantic, the liberal idea of freedom was mobilized to control the unruly democratic expressions of the people. Freedom, she shows, was not deployed as a source of liberation but as a formidable reaction against democracy. In his book Bind Us Apart (2016), Nicholas Guyatt further problematizes Enlightenment liberal values by showing how the founding generations invented, and were committed to, the logic of separate but equal. There never was a place for a multiracial, multicultural (liberal) republic. Men may have been created equal, as some claimed, but theyd have to go be equal somewhere elsefor American Indians it was out West, for slaves it was back to Africa.

A contemporary liberal view looks to foundational moments of expanding access to democracy and economic prosperitysignposts of the American reform tradition. Eras like Reconstruction, the New Deal, and the civil rights era may have been partially inspired by liberalism, but their most salient victories were fostered by forceful departures from it. This is the mobilization of illiberal means for liberal ends.

Consider Reconstruction. Eric Foner aptly calls it The Second Founding, but we ought never forget that it was a product of military subjugation followed by what former Confederate states regarded as the forced ratification of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments. Given the rather unliberal, albeit overdue, military means of statecraft, the old Confederacy cried foul on the forced ratification necessary for them to rejoin the Union as federal bayonets ruled their land. Even the Thirteenth Amendment, abolishing slavery, barely met the two-thirds majority to pass, and that was without the Southern delegations voting (suggesting it would have had a hard time in any other circumstances besides those born of military subjugation).

Not so ironically, the party that grew in opposition to the Radical Republican agenda was called, of course, the Liberal Republicans, who fetishized civil service reforms and proper procedures while whites seized power in the South. Then, in the tradition of what Richard Hofstadter called a democracy in cupidity rather than a democracy of fraternity, the Fourteenth Amendment, guaranteeing equal protection under the law, became a tool for supporting corporate personhood while Black people sought their rights in the streets.

When the New Deal came along during nations second great moment of peril and reform, Roosevelts Brain Trust also abandoned the core values of liberalism by creating the corporatist National Recovery Administration. Here FDR saved liberal capitalism by suspending its rules, selecting to call his project liberal because the individual rights inflection of the word provided useful cover for the NRAs collective tendencies. While the NRA was found both unworkable in real life and unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, it nonetheless opened the way for the great and semi-enduring breakthroughs in controlling and managing capitalism: Social Security, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the National Labor Relations Act (upheld after FDRs threat to pack the court and the autoworkers rather illiberal seizing of General Motors). Ive called the era The Great Exception because it was based on the muting of the American love affair with the ideology of individualism and the bolstering of organized class powerat least for a few decades.

When it comes to the modern civil rights era, it is worth mentioning that the brave actions of the Little Rock Nine integrated Little Rock High School, but it also took the illiberal means of Eisenhowers executive order and a show of force by the 101st Airborne Division to make sure the job got done. This is an age in which liberal stalwart Hubert Humphrey, segregationist Senator Richard Russell, and master manipulator Lyndon Johnsonand perhaps even Eisenhower himselfwere all liberals. How can that be?

I suspend my caustic take on liberalism when it comes to the momentous achievements of the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts of 1964 and 1965. They may have been the most liberal pieces of legislation ever passed in the United States. For the first time in American history, the United States legally declared itself to be a democracy and did so by parliamentary (not military) means. That makes the United States a very young republic indeed. Yet those great historical breakthroughs, the liberal hour, now seem fleeting, tactical, and so propulsive of anti-liberal reaction that they generated what can only parallel the post-Reconstruction era of white redemption from the grip of federal power (known in the 1960s and beyond by the more populist term backlash).





This delivers us to the missing piece of the liberal story. As the historian James Kloppenberg noted in a 2001 retrospective essay on Hartzs The Liberal Tradition, we need to stop debating liberalism and turn our attention toward democracy. In this time of political crisis, the path forward should be focusing on the single definable dimension of liberalism, democracy, and promoting a robust expansion of the franchise, through very active federal intervention, ideally a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to vote for all citizensfull stopand some system of equal representation of that vote (say, getting rid of the Electoral College, gerrymandering, and other tricks of the trade).

Our current political system is based on who gets to vote and which states votes matter, not what the policies or ideas could or should be. That is a failure. The clarion call of Democracy Now! is a lot more attractive than Vague Culturally Relative and Historically Defined Liberalism at Some Point if Its Convenient and Procedurally Correct!

Authoritarian conservatives now own nearly every political valueliberal (as a pejorative), freedom (a scary version), patriotism (the white nationalist variety). But confront them with the one concept that remains up for grabs, democracy, and they buckle. Its the key dividing line. The real American history is a contest over whether this will be a democracyculturally, institutionally, and participatorilyor will be something else: authoritarian, oligarchical, white nationalist, fascist, segregationist, elitist, or some other.

The question of democracy was there at the founding. And, sure, it is part of liberalism. But it is the part that is clear and makes sense. It was there at Reconstruction, the New Deal, and the Great Society. As Louis Menand paraphrases the essence of Lincolns Gettysburg address: democracy is an experiment the goal of which is to keep the experiment going. The purpose of democracy is to enable people to live democratically. Thats it.

The confusion inherent in liberalism risks drowning its most urgently needed value: democracy. Clearly, if youre not some kind of liberal at this moment in history, you are not helping. Thats fine, but lets define our aims more precisely, with a vision that is more energizing, more inclusive, and yet still identifiable within some kind of American tradition. A system of a federally enforced and equally weighted right to vote for all citizens would be the best and most unifying place to begin. Despite everything, if the system is run right and aggressively so, the people can be trusted. Lets gamble not on the chimera of liberalism but on pursuing the unfinished vision of an American democracy.
DELAWARE, Ohio (WCMH)  A Delaware building that previously housed the countys engineering office could soon be demolished to make way for an affordable housing complex.

Columbus-based developer Homeport reintroduced plans this month to transform the site at 50 Channing St. into a residential complex with 44 rental properties and eight single-family homes without income restrictions. The 5.7-acre parcel has been sitting vacant since the Delaware engineering office moved in 2023 to the countys new Byxbe Campus, also home to the areas planning and development departments.

See five historic Columbus buildings added to endangered sites list

Homeports new proposal calls for the empty engineering building to be bulldozed, rather than repurpose the structure as was planned in the developers original proposal submitted in 2020. The developer noted it is now opting for new construction after determining its not practical to redevelop the existing building.

Homeports new proposal calls for the empty engineering building at 50 Channing St. to be bulldozed. (Delaware County Auditors Office)

Staff is extremely supportive of this plan, as we were in 2020, said Anna Kelsey, the countys planning and zoning administrator, during a June 5 planning commission meeting. It provides much-needed housing for the city of Delaware for folks of mixed incomes. A mixed-residential development which has a variety of housing types is an extremely sustainable form of development.

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Twenty-four apartments will be built in one, three-story building, while 20 two-story townhomes will be constructed across three buildings. The proposal also outlines that each of the right single-family homes will have their own driveway and yard, and there will be 88 parking spaces for rental tenants. A 20-foot green space will be maintained on the southeast corner of the site to serve as a buffer to the existing neighborhood to the east.

The 5.7-acre parcel has been sitting vacant since the Delaware engineering office moved in 2023 to the countys new Byxbe Campus. (Courtesy Photo/Delaware Planning Commission)

Kelsey Fox, the director of housing and community solutions for United Way of Delaware County, spoke in support of Homeports proposal during the June 5 meeting and said the city is in need of additional affordable housing.

We know that we have over 14,500 households in Delaware that are cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on their housing needs, Fox said. Having additional options and resources is critical to the ability for workers and families that are already here in the community to be able to stay.

Homeport will return to the planning commission for additional review before the proposal moves on to city council for a vote.

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T&R Properties 60-acre complex comes as several other developments take shape in Delaware. The commission approved in May a proposal to construct the last three of six phases making up Winterbrooke Place, a sprawling subdivision built by M/I Homes, Rockford Homes and Arlington Builders. Plans call for the developments final three phases to include 84 lots, increasing the subdivisions total footprint to about 260 homes.

Maronda Homes is building 655 homes as part of a residential and commercial development named Donovan Farms on a 114-acre site next to Boulder Park, east of South Section Line Road and west of Houk Road. Fincon Bowtown is developing 132 for-sale townhomes across a 16.8-acre site home to city-owned farmland, located north of Bowtown Road and west of the Village Gate Apartments complex.

Romanelli and Hughes is constructing 97 single-family homes to continue building out the 473-acre Terra Alta development north of Braumiller Road and west of Berlin Station Road. The plan calls for 43 homes to be built on 27.2 acres and 54 homes on 21.2 acres.

Further, Addison Rutherford is moving forward with plans to expand its central Ohio footprint by building more than 72 single-family homes across 22 vacant acres. The developer is one of several development companies owned by Jason Friedman  a prolific real estate developer also constructing Delawares sprawling 273-acre Addison Farms development.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
New Delhi in touch with family of Indian suspect in Sikh murder plot in US

FILE PHOTO: Indian suspect in plot to kill Sikh separatist to appear in NY court

By Krishn Kaushik

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - New Delhi is in touch with the family of an Indian man who is accused of plotting with an Indian government official to kill a Sikh separatist in the United States, the foreign ministry said on Friday in reaction to a Reuters report.

Nikhil Gupta, extradited to the United States this month after his arrest in Prague last year, has been accused by U.S. federal prosecutors of unsuccessfully plotting with an Indian official to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a U.S. citizen.

Gupta, 52, pleaded not guilty on Monday to murder-for-hire conspiracy charges in a court in Manhattan and a source close to his family told Reuters on Thursday that it wanted New Delhi's help to "get justice".

"We have so far not received any request for consular access from Gupta, but his family has got in touch with us," Indian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters. "We are in touch with the family members and we are looking at the matter as to what can be done on their request."

The U.S. government has said it thwarted the alleged plot to kill Pannun and warned India about concerns of its involvement.

India has designated Pannun an "individual terrorist" but has dissociated itself from the plot, saying it goes against government policy. Pannun advocates for a sovereign Sikh state in northern India.

The source, who declined to be named given the sensitive nature of a case that has diplomatic implications, had said Gupta's family has not been able to establish direct contact with him since his extradition.

"Regardless of the allegations raised against him, he is an Indian citizen and a patriot who deserves the rights and protections granted by the government to its citizens."

The source said the family believed Gupta "is a victim in this series of events" but that "he will get justice".

(Reporting by Krishn Kaushik and Shivam Patel; Editing by Alex Richardson)
The battle over Lexingtons Cassidy Elementary Schools council cutting art instruction is continuing as Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman has denied an appeal, but a reworked version was filed Wednesday.

Robert Mattheu, a Louisville social media commentator on education who filed the appeal in the Lexington situation, contended the Cassidy school council violated the Kentucky Open Meetings Act by conducting two anonymous votes in deciding to cut the art instruction.

I think every person in the state should be aware of open meetings and open records policies and when things like this happen they should demand transparency, Mattheu said.

The issue has been brewing since February when the Cassidy school decision-making council cut art courses.

It was not limited to that school. Morton Middle, next door to Cassidy, cut chorus classes, and people associated with other schools said they had seen cuts in various areas.

Community members, including artists and musicians, responded by donating time, talent and money to try to help.

Theres debate over whether Fayette County Public Schools have made budget decisions leading to the problem or whether arts education in the school district has been or will be impacted by budget cuts.

In May, the Fayette school board approved a $801.8 million budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The school board will be asked to approve the working budget in September.

At a public forum in May, a parent on a district budget committee said she couldnt get some basic answers about spending and wondered why instructional services were being cut in a well-funded district

.A school staff member at the forum said her school was underfunded, and kids arent getting what they need.

District spokesperson Dia Davidson-Smith has said the district has not cut its budget. She said student enrollment numbers and projections directly impact the staffing allocation made for each school.

If the student enrollment number goes up, the staffing allocation also goes up. If that student enrollment number goes down, so does the staffing allocations, she has said. School decision-making councils make decisions about staffing allocations.

Cassidy in 2022-2023 received the highest rating possible in the states latest accountability system, and 29.5 percent of students are economically disadvantaged.

Across the district, 57.1% of 40,494 public school students are categorized as economically disadvantaged.

Statewide, that figure jumps to 60.2% of Kentuckys 634,424 public school students.

In May, the Fayette County school board upheld the Cassidy council decision. An appeal to Colemans office from Mattheu followed the school boards decision.

Mattheu told the Herald-Leader Wednesday he filed the appeal for two reasons.

One, my daughter is an artist, so a school losing an art program is upsetting to me, he said.

Two, its clear from the (council) notes on that day that they were not following laws regarding open meetings that require them to openly discuss and vote on items that are before them. I filed the appeal to try to get them to re-vote or at least go on record with the vote results previously, he said.

I dont think the (school council) was intentionally violating the law, but rather was probably unaware they were in violation of it,

On June 10, Coleman announced his denial of Mattheus appeal. The AGs Office said it lacked jurisdiction to consider a complaint alleging the Cassidy Elementary School-Based Decision-Making Council violated the Open Meetings Act because the complaint was not first submitted to the presiding officer of the public agency accused of violating the act.

The denial said the Fayette County Public Schools superintendent was not the presiding officer of the councils Feb. 26 and March 25 meetings at which the Council allegedly took anonymous votes, the denial said. Rather, the presiding officer was the Cassidy Elementary School principal.

Mattheu said he filed the same appeal again Wednesday with the Cassidy principal.

Mattheu, who formerly wrote a blog on public education issues and now comments on Kentucky political and education issues at louschoolbeat on X (formerly Twitter), said hes upset by the attorney generals decision.

There is no guidance available as to who the presiding officer of the school council was, he said, and his original appeal asked that the superintendent direct it to the appropriate party.

Instead, he said the superintendents office handled it.

Mattheu said in a similar previous case, the AG ruled the public official to whom it was directed had the responsibility of either forwarding it to the proper official or informing the complaining party as to whom it should have been sent.

FCPS did neither, he said.
Westchester Square in Des Moines. A woman who was a tenant there has filed a class-action lawsuit against property manager Elevate.

A Des Moines woman has filed a class-action lawsuit against Elevate Property Management, accusing it of charging fees that are illegal under state code and retaining security deposits in bad faith.

Brandi DeGregory, 31, who signed a lease with the company in 2022, is the lead plaintiff in the suit on behalf of current and former tenants. She alleges Elevate knowingly drafts rental agreements it knows are illegal under the state's landlord-tenant law, Iowa Code 562A.

DeGregory said in an interview with the Register she and her boyfriend had problems with the company almost immediately after they were shown an apartment to rent at Westchester Square Apartments, 5528 Meredith Drive. That apartment was in good condition, but when they moved in, she said, they were given a different one that had lots of problems.

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"It was dirty, the stove didn't work, there were leaks in the ceiling and it had a ton of mold," she said.

DeGregory said she complained to the city about the leaky ceiling and the mold. She said an Elevate employee told the couple they would get credit for a month's rent because of all the problems in the unit, but they failed to receive it after the employee was fired. She said she and her boyfriend didn't have the money to pay that month's rent, so they were charged a $100-a-month late fee.

When Elevate moved to evict them, it charged them attorneys' fees, she said.

Company officials at Elevate's headquarters in Wayzata, Minnesota, did not respond to messages seeking comment.

One of DeGregory's attorneys, Nathan Vos of West Des Moines, said it will take months for a judge to certify the case as a class action. He estimates as many as 1,000 tenants could be in that class.

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Elevate manages properties in Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. Its Des Moines properties include The 31st Street Apartments at 500 31st St., Ingersoll Towers at 3662 Ingersoll Ave., and the 4220 Grand Apartments.

Among other things, the lawsuit alleges, the company charges illegal $100 late fees, that unless the back rent is cleared those fees continue to accrue even if rent in subsequent months is paid on time, that the companys rental agreements make tenants agree in advance to pay $25 fees if the company takes legal action on back rent, and that the lease requires tenants to cover attorneys fees and eviction costs.

Elevate has been the subject of numerous customer complaints and poor online reviews from employees who complain of high turnover, low wages and poor organization. It has a D- rating with the Better Business Bureau, which has declined to accredited it.

Brad Pleimann, a former investment banker and managing director and head of equity trading at Piper Jaffray Inc., is president of Elevate.

Lee Rood is an investigative reporter and editor who created the Reader's Watchdog column in 2012 to find answers and accountability for readers on a range of topics.

Lee Rood's Reader's Watchdog column helps Iowans get answers and accountability from public officials, the justice system, businesses and nonprofits. Reach her at lrood@registermedia.com, at 515-284-8549, on Twitter at @leerood or on Facebook at Facebook.com/readerswatchdog.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Class-action lawsuit claims illegal fees charged to Des Moines tenants
DeSantis pushed for protesters arrests without probable cause, ex-official says in lawsuit

DeSantis pushed for protesters arrests without probable cause, ex-official says in lawsuit

Video above from April 2, 2024: Migrants flown to Marthas Vineyard by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis can sue charter flight company

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A former Florida Department of Law Enforcement chief was forced to retire after he refused to comply with unlawful orders from Gov. Ron DeSantis to arrest demonstrators without probable cause and illegally obtain photographs of migrants, according to a lawsuit filed on Thursday.

Shane Desguin filed the lawsuit against DeSantis and the FDLE, claiming that he was retaliated against for whistleblower activities. Desguin was with the department from 2005 until his wrongful termination on Nov. 17, 2023, according to the suit.

Desguin claims he was forced to retire or be fired.

His termination was imminent and no reasonable person would have remained employed with Defendant under these circumstances, the suit states.

An FDLE spokesperson said they have not yet received the lawsuit, but the agency does not comment on pending litigation. The governors office has not yet responded to a request for comment.

Clearwater officer accused of lying to doctors to get workers compensation

Desguin, along with DeSantiss public safety and immigration czar, Larry Keefe, were made aware of charter flights arriving in Jacksonville that they believed were transporting migrants into Florida, according to the lawsuit.

Keefe, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, told Desguin that DeSantis wanted information about the migrants, including photographs, criminal records and their destinations.

Keefe told the FDLE to procure photographs, biometric data, and any other pertinent information by engaging with migrants at the airport, according to the lawsuit.

Desguin told Keefe multiple times that FDLE couldnt conduct name checks, take photos or compile intelligence files without criminal predicate or reasonable suspicion, as those actions would be unlawful.

Keefe became weary of Desguins constant emphasis on reasonable suspicion and criminal predicate, telling him that there would be adverse consequences if he didnt comply, according to the lawsuit.

During discussions about DeSantiss desire to transport migrants to other states, Desguin raised objections about potential false imprisonment or kidnapping, according to the lawsuit.

In September 2023, neo-Nazi demonstrators were in Orlando. At the time, DeSantis was running for president, and he wanted to see someone arrested, the lawsuit states.

Desguin told DeSantiss Chief of Staff, Alex Kelly, that the FDLE could not just arrest a person who is expressing their First Amendment rights.

Florida had hundreds of shooting deaths since April 30, Rep. Castor says

I dont think you understand, Kelly replied, according to the lawsuit. If you look hard enough, you can find a way. The Governor wants someone arrested today. He will stand by you in any arrest.

Desguin insisted that without probable cause, an arrest would be unconstitutional and illegal.

Numerous objections were voiced by FDLE employees, including [Desguin], asserting that they could not simply arrest someone solely because [DeSantis] desired it, the lawsuit reads.

A month later, Desguin was involved in a meeting over public records surrounding DeSantis travel records.

Desguin and Janine Robinson, an FDLE attorney, believed that not releasing the travel records was a violation of public records law. Robinsons promotion, which was recommended by Desguin and had been authorized, was denied days later.

The Washington Post sued DeSantis over withholding the release of the travel records, claiming the law shielding the release of the records is unconstitutional. Desguin and another FDLE employee filed sworn statements in that lawsuit.

Desguin had been the subject of an investigation surrounding workplace misconduct, which was completed in May.

As evidenced by the findings of this investigation (which included testimonies of dozens of employees), Shane Desguin and Patricia Carpenter created workplace chaos, endangered the safety of other employees, and acted dishonestly and unprofessionally, the FDLE said in a statement to WFLA.com. This included sexual harassment, workplace discrimination, and brandishing a firearm inside an office.

We are glad that our association with these bad actors has ended, the statement read.

However, the lawsuit notes that the investigation wasnt initiated until days after Desguins retirement, which was classified as not involving misconduct.

It is highly suspicious that this complaint was filed AFTER [Desguins] termination on the heels of the [Patricia] Carpenter complaint and AFTER [Desguin] had been cleared of any wrongdoing when he was forced to retire, the lawsuit reads.

The findings of the report were given to a prosecutor, who declined to file charges.

Defendants have done everything possible to try to ruin [Desguin] and Carpenter since their separations, presumably because DeSantis is embarrassed by the allegations, after [Desguin] just tried to do the right thing, the lawsuit reads.

Our FDLE members embody our fundamental values of Service, Integrity, Respect, and Quality, the FDLE said. Shane Desguin and Patricia Carpenter do not.

Attorney Marie Mattox, who is representing Desguin, sent WFLA.com the following statement:

Mr. Desguin was persona non grata after he reported the illegal actions by DeSantis and was fired as a result. If you look at the timeline, it is clear that both FDLE and DeSantis doubled down on him after he left to smear his good name. They really have no choice but to try to cast doubt on his character because they cannot defend the charges that he made on the merits. So what do they do? They point the finger at him AFTER he was cleared of wrongdoing. Let them explain that. Also let them explain how the bogus, after the fact charges against him were made two days after Patricia Carpenter, also a whistleblower of many of the same things that Desguin reported, sent an email disclosing the illegal withholding of DeSantiss travel records based on information from Desguin. She was fired three days after her whistleblower complaint with no reason given for her termination. The fact that Desguin was cleared of wrongdoing on November 17, 2023 is golden and shows that the concoction of mistruths and half-truths are just that  to cover up what DeSantis did wrong.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
St. Petersburg-based state Sen. Darryl Robson (second from left) with some of the Dozier School for Boys victims in Tallahassee after the bill signing on June 21, 2024 (photo credit: Darryl Rouson)

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

Gov. Ron DeSantis has approved a measure that will finally provide reparations for hundreds of men who as children were beaten and raped for decades while in the custody of the state.

The law (HB 21) signed by the governor on Friday morning will divide $20 million in compensation between those who attended the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in North Florida between 1940 and 1975, as well as the Okeechobee School, another state-based institution known for its abusive nature.

According to a bill analysis, there were reports of children being chained to walls in irons, brutal whippings, and peonage at Dozier as early as 1901. In the first 13 years of operation, six state-led investigations took place. After former Dozier School students began to publish accounts of the abuse, their complaints gained traction.

Ultimately, then-Gov. Charlie Crist in 2008 directed the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate the Dozier School and the deaths alleged there.

Meanwhile, the school was closed following a federal investigation in 2011 and lawmakers gave a formal apology to the survivors in 2017.

Over those years, some of the still-living victims of rape and physical beatings by officers repeatedly made their way to Tallahassee to tell state lawmakers about the horrors suffered at those state-run institutions. Theyve been dubbed the White House Boys for the building on the Dozier campus in Marianna where boys were  among other abuse  beaten with a leather strap attached to a wooden handle.

Retired Army Ranger Capt. Bryant Middleton was one of those victims who made the trek to Tallahassee for years. Earlier this year, he told a state Senate committee not to think of him as the man in his late 70s, but as a young boy decades ago, when he and other boys endured abuse at the Dozier School.

I would ask you: If it were your child that came home from school, your child said to you, They took me to a room and beat me with a paddle. Your daughter comes home and says, They took me into a room and they did something to me that made me uncomfortable. Thats what we endured, he said.

We were children

We were children. Dont look at me as an adult. Think of me as a young child being beaten and molested and tormented, day in and day out. Thats what the school was really about. The beatings? We got over those. Those children that were raped at the age 6 and 7 and 8  I dont think they over got over that.

Somewhat surprisingly, the governors office invited no news reporters or cameras to the bill signing, although about 15 of the men who have regularly visited the Legislature to lobby for the measure were there, along with the legislators who sponsored the measure  St. Petersburg state Sen. Darryl Rouson, a Democrat, and House Republicans Michelle Salzman from the Panhandle area and Kiyan Michael from Jacksonville.

It came down to a crunch, you know, the final tranche of bills, and I know he has a very busy schedule, Rouson said. The important thing was to get it signed, and thats what happened.

The bill is set to go into effect on July 1. Applications for individuals eligible for compensation will go to the state Department of Legal Affairs, which will review and approve or deny applications.

Applications accepted through years end

The law says that only those who were confined to the Dozier School for Boys or the Okeechobee School between 1940 and 1975 are eligible; personal representatives or estates of those who attended the school but have died may not file an application for or receive compensation the law says. Applications will be accepted until Dec. 31 of this year.

Although it has been frequently mentioned that there are approximately 400 living survivors of the two institutions who are eligible to be compensated, one of the survivors, 80-year-old Tampa resident Gene Luker, told the Phoenix after the measure passed in the Florida Senate in March that he believes that far fewer than that are still alive.

I dont believe that, he said at the time of the higher number. I think if theres around 100-150 from that time limit  although he joked that more might come out of the woodwork now that it looks more possible than ever that the living victims will receive financial compensation.

After the measure passed out of a Senate committee in March, Broward County Democratic Sen. Rosalind Osgood approached one of the men who testified for the legislation.

Im deeply sorry for what happened to you, Osgood said. I know that no amount of money or no words can take away your pain, but I do want to tell you this morning that I love you. I love you. And I pray in the days to come that you will have at least a sense of peace and knowing that we care, and that we are doing the best we can to acknowledge that.

Rouson has been pushing for the living victims at Dozier to be compensated for years. He said on Friday that he was elated after the governor signed the bill.

Its a poignant moment, he said. You cant do anything about the 55 unmarked graves  individuals who we may never know. But we can do something about those still living, and who witnessed the trauma of beatings, disappearances, and injuries, both psychological and physical. Its significant for them, and thats why they showed up today.

The post DeSantis signs bill that will provide $20 million in compensation to Dozier School for Boys victims appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
Roy Conerly says the Legislatures decision was his birthday present.

For 15 years, Conerly traveled to Tallahassee for each legislative session to talk about physical and sexual abuse he and other survivors of the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys experienced at the now-shuttered state-run institution in northwest Florida, and to ask the state to acknowledge how children had to suffer because of their failure.

This year in March, on his 78th birthday, the Florida Senate passed a bill that would provide $20 million to compensate victims of the Dozier School and another state reform school in Okeechobee County. Conerly said the pain he faced as a 15-year-old finally felt acknowledged.

Its the best present, Conerly said. When I did wrong, I had to pay a price. The state did wrong, and they have to pay a price. Its only fair.

On Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill into law in a private ceremony with some lawmakers and some of the longtime advocates, according to Sen. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, making it official for Conerly and the others who have long traveled to the state Capitol hoping for state politicians to do right by them.

When Conerly came to Tallahassee, he often wore a black button-down shirt, emblazoned with WHB on the back. It stands for White House Boys, a moniker Conerly and other men gave themselves, named after the building on Doziers campus where boys endured brutal beatings.

Its unclear how much each surviving victim of the Dozier School will get. The money will be split evenly among the men who qualify. Estimates of how many men are still alive vary from 300 to 500 to upwards of 1,000.

Many of the men who were sent to the Dozier school in the 1940s, 50s, or 60s as children have since died.

Bryant Middleton, one of the men who has for more than a decade traveled up to Tallahassee to speak about his and others experience at Dozier, was present at the governors private signing. Middleton said he was elated about the bill being signed, but said he was troubled at not knowing whether the men would get only a pittance by the end of it.

Weve got men that are literally living in their cars and under bridges, Middleton said.

The bill DeSantis signed creates a program in the Department of Legal Affairs to review funds for victims. The funding would also apply to children who attended the Okeechobee School, which the state created because of overflow at Dozier.

Victims will have to submit reasonable proof they attended school between 1940 and 1975 and that they were a victim of mental, physical or sexual abuse, which can be proved by a notarized statement from the applicant attesting to abuse.

By taking money from the state fund, the victims are not entitled to any other compensation related to what they faced at the school. Applications are due by December 31, 2024.

Babbs Cooper attended hearings on the bill this year in honor of her husband, Jerry Cooper, who died in 2022. He was once the president of the White House Boys organization, which lobbied then-Gov. Charlie Crist to look into their allegations of abuse in 2009.

Babbs Cooper said though her husband couldnt be there to see the fruits of his labor, the other men have become like family to her. She prayed for a day like today for 16 years. But on Friday, she said it was hard to see it happen without her husband.

He fought the hard fight for 12 years, she said. They ran a hard, hard, hard million miles.

Babbs Cooper said the grief men like her husband endured trickles down to their families as well. Family members of deceased Dozier victims are not eligible for the state compensation under the bill.

Cooper said the bill signing may bring closure to some, but she said there will never be closure for many. While she was grateful for the bill being signed, she said she felt the state could have given more money to the men.

Some of the surviving men agree that the states money cant make up for the pain they endured. But for many, it felt like more of an acknowledgement of their struggle than the Legislatures formal apology in 2017 session.

The people that caused this also were the people that decided how much our pain was worth, said Ralph Freeman, one of the surviving men. And thats bittersweet.

In the sessions after that 2017 formal apology, Rouson filed bills year after year seeking to create a certified victim compensation program, but the effort always stalled out.

This year, the timing was right, Rouson said.

This compensation fund does not compensate for what actually happened, but its all we have in our system of justice to bring closure, Rouson said.

At committee hearings on the bill held throughout the winter, the men were there. They testified about being beaten with a thick leather strap, about being sexually assaulted by staff at night, about their lasting depression and nightmares.

They talked about all the boys who didnt get to become old men like they did. Archeologists have unearthed dozens of unmarked graves on the schools campus.

After lawmakers cast their final vote, officially sending the bill to DeSantis, some men draped their arms around each other. Some sang. Some proudly pointed to news cameras.

Dozier lost, they said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. The United States would spare no effort in delivering a successful COP29 to be hosted by Azerbaijan, said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, as he spoke on the phone with President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports.

During the telephone conversation, Antony Blinken hailed the progress made in advancing the peace agenda between Armenia and Azerbaijan, emphasizing that the United States is determined to continue supporting the normalization of relations between the two countries. He invited the parties to sign the peace agreement shortly. Noting the importance the United States attaches to its bilateral relations with Azerbaijan, the Secretary of State underlined the constructive cooperation between the two countries in achieving common goals in climate change and energy sector. Antony Blinken said that his country supports renewed and stronger bilateral relations with Azerbaijan.
He deserves to pay: Sister still calling for justice after brother killed in hit and run

He deserves to pay: Sister still calling for justice after brother killed in hit and run

CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA)  The family of a local musician said they are still fighting for justice three years after he was killed in a hit-and-run.

Tyler DeRemo was killed in June of 2021 while riding his skateboard along Gulf to Bay Boulevard.

His sister, Krisstina Haynes, said the longer that time goes on, the more it hurts that her brother has not gotten justice.

Nobody deserves what happened to Tyler, nobody deserves it, Haynes said.

She said while traveling to Florida from Ohio, her life was turned upside down when she learned about Tylers death.

My other aunt and grandmother sat my husband and I down to tell me that Tyler was hit and killed on Gulf to Bay, and I was just driving that road to get to her house, she said.

Haynes described her brother as someone who followed his dream to become a music artist and encouraged others to pursue their dreams.

I have to rely on memories or people telling me stories and pictures, or YouTube videos of him singing, Haynes said.

Growing up, Haynes said she and Tyler lost both of their parents to overdoses. They lost their mother when they were children and their father in 2017.

When you lose both parents to the same thing, we had each other and that was it, and now I dont even have him, she said.

Clearwater Police said this is one of three active hit-and-run cases involving death.

The Tyler DeRemo case is a very frustrating case since we were so close to catching the suspect, Sergio Mendoza-Mesquite, before he fled to Mexico where he is being hidden by family members, said Sgt. Dan Negersmith, CPDs Traffic Team Sergeant. We have several leads, but none have developed into an arrest yet. We encourage Sergio Mendoza-Mesquite to turn himself in and also encourage the family and friends to provide information on Sergios whereabouts.

Haynes said she feels like her brothers death is haunting Mendoza-Mesquite. She hopes his family will turn him in since it has been three years.

I think they need to do the right thing and I think that they need to turn him in, and they need to see that he deserves to pay for what he did to my brother, she said.

No matter how many years go by, Haynes said she will never stop fighting for her brother.

She has created several social media pages and accounts to continue to raise awareness and keep his memory alive.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Steve Bannon desperately wants to stay out of prisonand now hes making a last-ditch effort to the Supreme Court.

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday night denied Bannons latest request to delay his prison sentence, which is set to begin July 1. Now the former Trump aide and MAGA king is appealing to the Supreme Court to save him.

Barring a Supreme Court intervention, Bannon will head to prison for four months for defying a subpoena from the House January 6 committee investigating the Capitol riot in 2021. The Justice Department took the matter to federal court, leading to Bannons 2022 trial and conviction. The former Breitbart editor and Trump adviser fought tooth and nail, from trying to turn the trial into a circus to attempting to delay his prison sentence with last-ditch appeals, including this latest effort.



In the likely event that Bannon goes to prison, it wont be to a minimum-security prison camp, thanks to the fact that hes also facing charges in New York over a border wall fraud case. Instead, hed serve time at a low-security prison, possibly Rikers Island. Hes expected to stand trial for the fraud case in September, a second attempt at holding him accountable after Trump pardoned his federal charges.

None of this appears to have humbled Bannon. He has attempted to interfere in Brazils politics, in addition to the upcoming election in this country, and his radio show continues to serve as a haven for far-right Republicans to rant about whatever they want. He also told a crowd at the Turning Point Action convention last Saturday about all of the people in the Justice Department that Trump will go after if hes reelected, saying without a trace of irony that were gonna use the Constitution and the rule of law to go after you and hold you accountable.

If Bannon is expecting the Supreme Court to use the Constitution to help him avoid accountability, he may be out of luck. Peter Navarro, the former director of the White House National Trade Council, was convicted of similar charges and tried the same thing, only to be rebuffed.
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  One person has died and another person has been airlifted to the hospital following a major wreck involving multiple tractor-trailers on I-485 in northeast Charlotte Friday morning. Rush hour traffic was brought to a halt in the area.

The deadly crash occurred around 7:30 a.m. on I-485 by the Benfield Road and Mallard Creek Road exit. Charlotte Fire said both lanes on the inner and outer loops were blocked.

 Track issues along your commute with the QCN Traffic Interactive Map

Two tractor-trailers and at least three cars could be seen with damage at the scene. The exact circumstances surrounding the wreck have not yet been released.

Charlotte Fire, Medic, a mass casualty bus, and NC State Highway Patrol were among the departments that responded to the crash scene Friday morning.

Four others involved in the multi-vehicle wreck were evaluated at the scene and refused transport to the hospital, according to Medic.

According to NCDOT, I-485 Outer Loop near Mallard Creek Road remains shut down Friday afternoon as maintenance crews clean up the area following the wreck.

Photo: NCDOT I-485 Outer MM 24.6

The interstate is expected to remain closed until at least 2:30 p.m. Friday.

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.
Did you hear about the bear in Tumwater? Heres what happened

A black bear sighted on Tuesday in the Tumwater area has safely returned to a less popular area.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife received a report on Tuesday of a bear running across a runway near the Olympia Regional Airport before going to a wooded area, Becky Elder, WDFW Police communications manager, told The Olympian.

Later that day, WDFW received another report of a bear sighting near the Tumwater Police Department about half a mile away.

The report came from the police.

Tumwater Police Lt. Jennifer Kolb told The Olympian that the bear had run past one officer and climbed a tree right in front of the department,

It had gone up fairly high, Elder said.

WDFW staff and officers responded to the report and determined that the bear had not habituated to the Tumwater area, Elder said, so it was not a concern for public safety. WDFW decided to allow the bear to come down from the tree on its own.

By Tuesday evening, it did. Elder said WDFW pushed the bear toward a green belt, where wildlife officers believe it returned to a forested area away from humans.

WDFW did not take further action and has not received reports of the bear since.

In the long run, it looks as though the bear just made a wrong turn, ended up in an area where it shouldnt have continued on, Elder said. And then we more or less assisted with getting it going in the right direction.

Bears like this one tend to go up green belts, foraging and looking for natural resources, Elder said. Along the way, they may end up in a more developed area and get turned around.

By staying in neighborhoods and relying on human food sources like trash or pet food, bears habituate to those developed areas.

Once they kind of learn that people equals food, its very difficult to change that mindset, Elder said. In this instance, this bear wasnt digging around at things, and so it wasnt considered habituated in any way.

WDFW recommends following these tips to keep from attracting bears:

Never intentionally feed bears or other backyard wildlife.

Always keep garbage cans in a garage or a sturdy building until collection day.

Take down seed, suet, and hummingbird feeders until late fall.

Clean up fallen fruit or other possible attractants around your home.

Remove pet food from wildlife-accessible areas and feed your pets inside.

Thoroughly clean barbecue grills after each use and store them in a secure building.

Cage and electric fence your domestic fowl and livestock pens.

Avoid storing food in your car.

If you see a bear on your property, clap your hands loudly and make your presence known.

To report other non-emergency predatory wildlife incidents like this one to WDFW, call 877-933-9847, text tip to 847411 or submit a report online.
A Minnesota woman received a box filled with baby reveal balloons from Amazon. A family in Illinois had dozens of boxes from Temu delivered to their doorstep, including military hats and cameras. A Massachusetts couple noticed Amazon boxes coming to their home containing a phone-charging hand warmer, a humidifier, a flashlight and a Bluetooth speaker.

And like so many others around the U.S. who have gotten a surprise shipment of seemingly random goods, those customers had not ordered the items.

Consumer protection experts say an unwanted e-commerce order can indicate a so-called brushing scam  a technique some unscrupulous online retailers use to generate fake reviews for their products. The offender is typically a third-party seller on a major e-commerce platform looking to achieve verified merchant status, which enables the seller to write products reviews on someone else's behalf.

The scams often involve a foreign company obtaining someone's address that they found online and then delivering products to their home, according to the Better Business Bureau. Josh Planos, a spokesman for the BBB, advises consumers who receive unsolicited products to document the incidents and contact retailers directly to get deliveries stopped.

"They intend to make it appear that you wrote a glowing online review of their merchandise and that you are a verified buyer of that merchandise," the BBB stated in an alert. "They then post a fake, positive review to improve their products' ratings, which means more sales. The payoff is highly profitable from their perspective."

Temu said customers can receive unsolicited packages for several reasons, such as the shipper having the wrong address or intending to send the a package to a previous resident at that residence. Anyone who receives a package they didn't order should contact Temu, the company told CBS MoneyWatch, so that staff can launch an investigation into why it happened.

"In the case of brushing, Temu strictly prohibits this practice and will take action against violators," the company said in an emailed statement to CBS MoneyWatch on Monday.

Brushing scams have been popping up nationwide for at least the past decade, with cases reported in California, Colorado and Texas. The Federal Trade Commission alerted Americans about brushing scams in 2021, urging consumers to watch websites for fake reviews under their name and to report such instances right away.

If you received an unsolicited package from Amazon, Temu or any other retailer, here are steps the BBB recommends to protect your personal information.

Notify the retailer and ask them to investigate any fraudulent purchases Try to contact the sender and ask them to remove any phony reviews written in your nameCheck your online ecommerce accounts for recent ordersConsider having future packages sent to another locationChange your online account passwordsMonitor your credit reports and credit card statements

John Dickerson: What's the point of a Biden-Trump debate?

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When Social Security mistakenly overpays benefits, you might get a bill | 60 Minutes
Did you see the giant IUD balloon in Tampa? This is whos behind it.

TAMPA  A giant inflatable IUD took center stage among the trees this morning at Lykes Gaslight Square Park.

The advocacy group Americans for Contraception erected the 20-foot-tall contraceptive device as part of their IUD Express campaign tour. The lilac behemoth of a balloon symbolizes the groups fight for legislation that would protect contraception.

Florida lawmakers such as Rep. Kathy Castor and State Rep. Lindsay Cross, along with reproductive rights advocates, gathered in the park to address what the group calls an escalating threat from Republican lawmakers and their extremist allies.

Before the news conference started, women hugged the inflatable, trying to wrap their arms around its bulky base. One was accessorized for the occasion with vagina earrings. Electric air pumps ferociously hummed to keep the two-story structure upright.

Seven speakers stood in front of about a dozen men and women holding signs that read Contraception is health care and Americans for contraception. The T-shaped contraceptive device, normally inserted into a womans uterus, served as a backdrop. An AdventHealth Mobile Mammography truck was parked on the street behind the balloon, a pink breast cancer ribbon peeking out the side of the IUD.

The campaign comes after Senate Republicans, including Floridas Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, blocked an act on June 5 that would have codified a national right to access contraception. With a 51-39 vote, the Right to Contraception Act fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance the bill. Republicans said they considered the legislation unnecessary since Supreme Court precedent already protects birth control. Floridas Right to Contraception Act, a similar bill, died at the state level in March.

Thats exactly what (Republicans) said about abortion, said Americans for Contraception board member Laura Packard, referring to the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022. So, the Supreme Court could take your rights and freedoms away with a court decision at any day.

On the day of the Senate vote, the inflatable contraceptive device loomed outside the U.S. Capitol. It accompanied the group to Miami and Orlando earlier this week and has also appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

We have a giant IUD because this is a massive problem, said Packard.

Hillsborough County Commissioner Pat Kemp said Scott was gaslighting voters, riffing on the Tampa parks name. Hes using those millions (of dollars) to gaslight and run ads now, saying he actually supported IVF when he voted against it, said Kemp, alluding to a social media advertisement he posted on June 14.

Speakers at the news conference encouraged Floridians to vote yes on Amendment 4, which would protect abortion in the Sunshine State for up to about 24 weeks after gestation. Voters will have the ability to restore reproductive freedom, said Kemp, standing in front of the IUD balloon, what she called our statue of reproductive liberty.
The Fort Worth Independent School District is among 18 districts in Texas adding electric school buses to its bus fleet through federal grant money. Fifteen buses will be purchased for $6.2 million.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency first announced Fort Worth ISD as a recipient of the grant in January, and federal officials officially presented the grant to school leaders on Thursday while celebrating the environmental, financial and health benefits behind the new vehicles. The Clean Bus Program funds electric buses and propane and compressed natural gas (or CNG) buses, which are cleaner alternatives to diesel buses.

Air pollution from older diesel engines is linked to asthma and other conditions that harm students health and can cause them to miss school. Phasing out these older diesel engines, which disproportionately affect communities of color and Tribal communities, ensures cleaner air for students, bus drivers, school staff working near bus loading areas, and the communities through which the buses drive each day, according to the EPA.

Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Angelica Ramsey said the buses will provide a cleaner, quieter and more efficient mode of transportation for students that will improve their daily commutes to school, according to a news release.

By integrating electric buses into our fleet, we are not only reducing our carbon footprint but also directly benefiting our students health and well-being. We look forward to seeing the environmental and cost-saving benefits that Fort Worth ISD will experience with these electric-powered school buses, Ramsey said.

The EPA prioritized the funding for districts with more than 20% of students in poverty and districts located in underserved communities, in addition to rural and Tribal school districts. The Clean School Bus Program has provided almost $3 billion for 8,500 school buses for more than 1,000 schools across the country.

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Austin ISD and San Antonio ISD were among other Texas districts to receive funding.

U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, a Democrat representing parts of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, said he was proud to have voted for the legislation, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, that made the program possible and made zero-emissions electric buses accessible to Texas communities.

EPA Region 6 Administrator Earthea Nance called the program and Fort Worth ISDs grant award a tremendous investment in environmental justice, noting how communities of color are disproportionately exposed to pollution.

Thanks to President Bidens historic investments in America, fewer children will face asthma risks linked to air pollution as EPA continues to work every single day to create cleaner and healthier communities, Nance said in the release.

Fort Worth ISD adds the clean buses to its fleet after purchasing 40 other new school buses for $6.6 million to replace its aging vehicles. Almost 36% of the districts fleet consists of buses more than 10 years old. When the school board finalized this purchase in March, it held off on financing a new barn after officials stated as early as 2020 that the existing facility is outdated.

There are 413 buses transporting more than 14,000 students a day across 200 square miles in Fort Worth ISD.
Almost 30 years after the brutal killings of two women in Virginias Shenandoah National Park, the FBI says it now knows who was responsible.

DNA evidence and a methodical case review helped identify a suspect in the killings, the FBIs Richmond Field Office said in a news release Thursday.

Laura Lollie Winans, 26, and Julianne Julie Williams, 24, were killed at their campsite near the Skyland Resort on May 24, 1996, according to the release. Family members called the National Park Service when the women did not return home.

Their bodies were found about a week later after an extensive search by National Park Service rangers.

After all these years, DNA evidence positively matched Walter Leo Jackson Sr., a convicted serial rapist from Cleveland, Ohio, the news release said.

Even though we had this DNA match, we took additional steps and compared evidence from Lollie and Julies murders directly to a buccal swab containing Jacksons DNA. Those results confirmed we had the right man and finally could tell the victims families we know who is responsible for this heinous crime, FBI Richmond Special Agent in Charge Stanley Meador said in the news release.

The case picked up momentum in 2021 when a new FBI Richmond investigative team conducted a methodical review of the case, taking another look at hundreds of leads and interviews, according to the release. Evidence from the crime scene was sent to a private lab, which successfully pulled DNA from some of the items.

Jackson, the man whose DNA matched, had a criminal history including kidnapping, rapes, and assaults, the release said.

He died in prison in March 2018 in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, authorities said. Jackson was a residential painter and an avid hiker who was known to visit Shenandoah National Park.

The FBI's Richmond Field Office identified a suspect through DNA that was connected to the murders of Laura Lollie Winans and Julianne Julie Williams in 1996. - FBI/WWBT

But decades ago, in 2002, a different man was at the center of the case. A federal grand jury in April 2002 indicted Darryl David Rice, a Maryland man incarcerated for other crimes, on charges of capital murder and a hate crime in their slayings.

At that point, it was nearly six years after the womens bodies were found with their throats slashed.

Rice, who appears to still be alive, was released from prison in 2011 after some probation violations, according to public and court records.

However, the US Attorneys office made it clear in a public filing 22 years ago that the forensic evidence did not implicate Rice and the DNA materials located on crime scene evidence excluded him, US Attorney for the Western District of Virginia Christopher Kavanaugh said Thursday at the news conference.

It was in a retesting of the crime scene evidence that developed a profile that was uploaded into the national database that led us to Walter Leo Jackson Sr., ultimately resulting in a finding that there was a one out of 2.6 trillion chance that had originated from someone other than Walter Leo Jackson, Sr., Kavanaugh said. I prosecuted many homicides and cold cases and I have never witnessed statistics that high.

Winans and Williams were members of the LGBTQIA+ community, Kavanaugh said, and although their murders were originally believed to be hate crimes, he has found no evidence of that. The case was eventually dismissed due to the lack of forensic evidence.

Make no mistake, this crime was brutal. This crime was definitionally hateful, Kavanaugh said. Nevertheless, we do not have any evidence that the victims were selected for or that Jackson had any knowledge of or was otherwise motivated by their membership in a protected class. And if the evidence showed otherwise, I would say it, he said.

Kavanaugh was confident in the strength of the evidence and if the suspect were alive, hed act on the new information, he said.

The families of the victims were not at the news conference.

I want to again extend my condolences to the Winans and Williams families and hope todays announcement provides some small measure of solace, Kavanaugh said in a news release.

CNNs Braden Walker and Julie In contributed to this report.

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Influencers will have a chance to be a bit more influential when the Democratic National Convention (DNC) comes to Chicago this August. Convention organizers have agreed to credential social media personalities the same as traditional media in an effort to hit newer  and younger  audiences ahead of the November election.

Influencers who qualify will get the same level of access and information as traditional media outlets. The DNCs creators registration page notes that Americans continue to consume information and content in new and changing ways. The credentials for those who are selected will give those content creators access to secluded areas during the four-day convention. The DNC says it will also help credentialed creators with any logistical assistance to help their coverage.

The DNC, White House and Biden campaign didnt respond to The Hills inquiries for more information on their goals. Former President Trumps team also declined to respond.

The Biden administration has notably embraced online influencers  content creators with sometimes massive followings on platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube  and hosted regular meetings and updates at the White House.

Axios reported last year that Bidens team planned to lean on hundreds of social media influencers who would tout Bidens record  and soon may have their own briefing room at the White House.

Bidens campaign joined TikTok earlier this year and has vowed to remain on the platform despite pushback.

When the stakes are this high in the election, we are going to use every tool we have to reach young voters where they are, a Biden campaign official at the time told The Hill.

TikTok reaches more than 100 million regular users in the United States daily.

But Bidens concerns about the viral video sharing app, which has ties to Chinas Communist government through its parent company, ByteDance, have soured some younger people to his efforts. TikTok is fighting a federal ban in court, arguing that it violates the First Amendment. Lawmakers, including Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican who is seen as a potential GOP rising star, have been key to the fight to pass a ban if the Chinese company doesnt sell off its investments into the app.

TikTok has become a haven for antisemitic content, a haven for propaganda, for genocide, Hawley said on the Senate floor last year. As virulent and offensive as this content is, that is not a reason to ban them. The real reason to ban TikTok is that it is a spy app for the Chinese Communist Government.

Trumps campaign joined TikTok in June.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged Azerbaijan and Armenia to promptly sign a peace agreement, as he spoke on the phone with President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports.

During the telephone conversation, Antony Blinken hailed the progress made in advancing the peace agenda between Armenia and Azerbaijan, emphasizing that the United States is determined to continue supporting the normalization of relations between the two countries. He invited the parties to sign the peace agreement shortly. Noting the importance the United States attaches to its bilateral relations with Azerbaijan, the Secretary of State underlined the constructive cooperation between the two countries in achieving common goals in climate change and energy sector. Antony Blinken said that his country supports renewed and stronger bilateral relations with Azerbaijan. He also added that the United States would spare no effort in delivering a successful COP29 to be hosted by Azerbaijan.
(KRON)  A doctor who intentionally drove his entire family over a cliff at Devils Slide will not stand trial. All criminal charges filed against Dharmesh Patel were indefinitely suspended on Thursday.

Judge Susan Jakubowski ruled that the father of two is suitable for mental health diversion. Patel will soon walk free out of a San Mateo County jail and begin a court-ordered mental health treatment program administered by a Bay Area hospital.

Patel, his wife, and their young children miraculously survived the January 2, 2023 crash off Highway 1 between Pacifica and Half Moon Bay. Prosecutors said the family was on a holiday road trip to the Bay Area when Patel drove their Tesla over a 300-foot cliff and crashed onto a rocky beach below. Rescue crews used a helicopter to reach the four family members and airlift them to hospitals.

(Image courtesy SMCSO)

Patel told California Highway Patrol officers and trauma center doctors that the harrowing crash was an accident. He later admitted it was intentional, prosecutors said. The doctor was charged with three counts of attempted murder.

Judge Jakubowski made her ruling following a three-day hearing in Mental Health Diversion Court. Prosecutors made a very strenuous objection, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe told KRON4.

Dharmesh Patel is seen in a January 2023 mugshot provided by the San Mateo County Sheriffs Office.

At the hearing, Deputy District Attorney Dominique Davis said Patel has schizoaffective disorder, that he should stand trial because he tried to kill his family, and he will pose a danger to the public out of custody.

Davis said in the weeks leading up to the crash, (Patel) was hearing footsteps at night. He feared his children would be sold into sex slavery. He carried a knife around for three days. None of this was based on reality  and the defendant felt compelled to act. He drove his entire family over a cliff. Its a very high and deathly drop. What is most frightening is, no one saw this coming.

(Aerial image of the crash scene courtesy California Highway Patrol)

Patels wife testified that she does not want her husband prosecuted. The wife said her children miss their father and they want him to return home. In San Mateo County domestic violence cases, between 75-80 percent of victims gradually dont want it to go forward, Wagstaffe said.

Defense attorney Joshua Bentley argued, Not everyone who commits a crime is a criminal. Bentley told the judge that Patel suffered a mental health crisis on the day of the crash, and he suffers from major depressive disorder.

The judge ultimately sided with Bentley and agreed that the proper diagnosis for Patels mental illness was major depressive disorder. Weighing all factors, the court determined the defendant was suitable and granted the defense request for mental health diversion. Judge Jakubowski also ruled that the defendant will remain in the county jail for several weeks for what was called a bridging period before release in the community, the District Attorneys Office wrote.

Once the doctor is released from jail, Patel will be ordered to wear a GPS monitor, reside at his parents home in Belmont, test twice weekly to show medication compliance, abstain from alcohol and drugs, and surrender his drivers license and passport.

Patel will return to court on July 1.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
How does heat kill? It confuses your brain. It shuts down your organs. It overworks your heart.

FILE - A man pours cold water onto his head to cool off on a sweltering hot day in the Mediterranean Sea in Beirut, Lebanon, July 16, 2023. As temperatures and humidity soar outside, what's happening inside the human body can become a life-or-death battle decided by just a few degrees. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)

As temperatures and humidity soar outside, what's happening inside the human body can become a life-or-death battle decided by just a few degrees.

The critical danger point outdoors for illness and death from relentless heat is several degrees lower than experts once thought, say researchers who put people in hot boxes to see what happens to them.

With much of the United States, Mexico, India and the Middle East suffering through blistering heat waves, worsened by human-caused climate change, several doctors, physiologists and other experts explained to The Associated Press what happens to the human body in such heat.

Key body temperature

The body's resting core temperature is typically about 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius).

That's only 7 degrees (4 Celsius) away from catastrophe in the form of heatstroke, said Ollie Jay, a professor of heat and health at the University of Sydney in Australia, where he runs the thermoergonomics laboratory.

Dr. Neil Gandhi, emergency medicine director at Houston Methodist Hospital, said during heat waves anyone who comes in with a fever of 102 or higher and no clear source of infection will be looked at for heat exhaustion or the more severe heatstroke.

We routinely will see core temperatures greater than 104, 105 degrees during some of the heat episodes, Gandhi said. Another degree or three and such a patient is at high risk of death, he said.

How heat kills

Heat kills in three main ways, Jay said. The usual first suspect is heatstroke  critical increases in body temperature that cause organs to fail.

When inner body temperature gets too hot, the body redirects blood flow toward the skin to cool down, Jay said. But that diverts blood and oxygen away from the stomach and intestines, and can allow toxins normally confined to the gut area to leak into circulation.

That sets off a cascade of effects," Jay said. Clotting around the body and multiple organ failure and, ultimately, death.

But the bigger killer in heat is the strain on the heart, especially for people who have cardiovascular disease, Jay said.

It again starts with blood rushing to the skin to help shed core heat. That causes blood pressure to drop. The heart responds by trying to pump more blood to keep you from passing out.

You're asking the heart to do a lot more work than it usually has to do, Jay said. For someone with a heart condition it's like running for a bus with dodgy (hamstring). Something's going to give."

The third main way is dangerous dehydration. As people sweat, they lose liquids to a point that can severely stress kidneys, Jay said.

Many people may not realize their danger, Houston's Gandhi said.

Dehydration can progress into shock, causing organs to shut down from lack of blood, oxygen and nutrients, leading to seizures and death, said Dr. Renee Salas, a Harvard University professor of public health and an emergency room physician at Massachusetts General Hospital.

"Dehydration can be very dangerous and even deadly for everyone if it gets bad enough  but it is especially dangerous for those with medical conditions and on certain medications," Salas said.

Dehydration also reduces blood flow and magnifies cardiac problems, Jay said.

Attacking the brain

Heat also affects the brain. It can cause a person to have confusion, or trouble thinking, several doctors said.

One of the first symptoms you're getting into trouble with the heat is if you get confused," said University of Washington public health and climate professor Kris Ebi. That's little help as a symptom because the person suffering from the heat is unlikely to recognize it, she said. And it becomes a bigger problem as people age.

One of the classic definitions of heat stroke is a core body temperature of 104 degrees coupled with cognitive dysfunction, said Pennsylvania State University physiology professor W. Larry Kenney.

Humidity matters

Some scientists use a complicated outside temperature measurement called wet bulb globe temperature, which takes into account humidity, solar radiation and wind. In the past, it was thought that a wet-bulb reading of 95 Fahrenheit (35 Celsius) was the point when the body started having trouble, said Kenney, who also runs a hot box lab and has done nearly 600 tests with volunteers.

His tests show the wet-bulb danger point is closer to 87 (30.5 Celsius). That's a figure that has started to appear in the Middle East, he said.

And thats just for young healthy people. For older people, the danger point is a wet bulb temperature of 82 (28 degrees Celsius), he said.

Humid heat waves kill a lot more people than dry heat waves, Kenney said.

When Kenney tested young and old people in dry heat, young volunteers could function until 125.6 degrees (52 degrees Celsius), while the elderly had to stop at 109.4 (43 degrees Celsius). With high or moderate humidity, the people could not function at nearly as high a temperature, he said.

Humidity impacts the ability of sweat to evaporate, Jay said.

Rushing to make patients cool

Heatstroke is an emergency, and medical workers try to cool a victim down within 30 minutes, Salas said.

The best way: Cold water immersion. Basically, "you drop them in a water bucket, Salas said.

But those aren't always around. So emergency rooms pump patients with cool fluids intravenously, spray them with misters, put ice packs in armpits and groins and place them on a chilling mat with cold water running inside it.

Sometimes it doesn't work.

We call it the silent killer because it's not this kind of visually dramatic event, Jay said. It's insidious. It's hidden."

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This story has corrected to humidity, rather than temperature in a mention of how people's function is affected by humidity.

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Read more of APs climate coverage at http://www.apnews.com/climate-and-environment

___

Follow Seth Borenstein on X at @borenbears

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The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A Sebring woman was arrested June 12 for her alleged role in a human smuggling operation that resulted in the deaths of 16 migrants, many of them children, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Yaqulelin Dominguez-Nieves, 25, allegedly facilitated the operation on Nov. 16, 2022, which resulted in the deaths when the boat they were on sank 30 miles off the coast of Cuba, prosecutors said. A survivor said the boat was overloaded and didnt have a single life vest on board.

Four of the people who died were found at sea and determined to have died by drowning.

Human smuggling ventures put peoples lives at risk for the sake of profit, U.S. Attorney Markeny Lapointe said in a statement. Human smugglers prey on the migrants hopes for a better life. Tragically, the smugglers exploits pose a grave danger to migrants. The U.S. Attorneys Office will continue to work with our partners to prosecute those who carry out illicit human smuggling operations to protect vulnerable migrants and save lives.

Dominguez-Nieves allegedly encouraged the migrants to enter the U.S. despite knowing that its against the law for the purpose of commercial advantage and private financial gain, prosecutors said.

If convicted, Dominguez-Nieves faces up to life in prison or death.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
What happens when a domestic abuser has access to a firearm? Ask the family members of Diane Psaros, or Cassandra Jones, or baby Miranda Salley, all of whom were shot and killed by domestic abusers.

Today, in U.S. v. Rahimi, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a federal law prohibiting the possession of firearms by anyone subject to domestic-violence restraining orders. The court ruled 8-1 that the law should be upheld.

The Second Amendment permits more than just those regulations identical to ones that could be found in 1791, Chief Justice John Roberts writes in the majority opinion. Holding otherwise would be as mistaken as applying the protections of the right only to muskets and sabers. He adds later that the law must comport with the principles underlying the Second Amendment, but says it need not be a dead ringer or a historical twin.

Several of the justices wrote or joined concurrences.

Thomas, the lone dissenter, does not agree with Roberts interpretation. Not a single historical regulation justifies the statute at issue, he writes in his dissent, taking a hard line on originalism. Thomas notably wrote the Supreme Courts 2022 decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, whichinvalidated many gun control laws.

Attorney and domestic violence advocate Kim Sport is relieved the federal law was upheld. The Supreme Court made the correct decision, she says. Sport adds that its crucial to keep in mind that the point at which a survivor asks for a protective order, they are often at one of the most vulnerable points in their relationship.

Its the point where a victim is finally making a stand, says Sport, a Republican who fought for stricter gun regulations for domestic abusers in Louisiana. It takes on average at least seven attempts for a victim to take action against their abuser. That separation  its the first time an abuser is losing control over his or her victim and it enrages them. It is absolutely the worst and most dangerous time.

Waiting until the abuser has a conviction before taking their gun away will often mean waiting until its too late, Janet Carter tells Rolling Stone. Carter is a former Supreme Court clerk who currently works at Everytown Law, a gun safety team of litigators. Its just common sense, domestic abusers should not have access to guns. And the Constitution just absolutely does not require that result because of the centuries-long tradition of prohibiting dangerous individuals from accessing weapons.

The Rahimi decision focuses on a Texas man named Zackey Rahimi, whose case challenged the constitutionality of a federal law that bans individuals who are subject to domestic abuse protective orders from owning firearms. The question presented to the court is whether 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(8), which prohibits the possession of firearms by persons subject to domestic violence restraining orders, violates the Second Amendment on its face.

According to court records, in December 2019, Rahimi physically assaulted his then-girlfriend in a parking lot and shot at a bystander who witnessed the assault. In February 2020 his ex was granted a two-year protective order against him, which suspended his handgun license and prohibited him from possessing firearms. He was later arrested for violating the protective order, and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon when threatening another woman with a gun. He then participated in a series of five shootings, which eventually led to a federal indictment for possessing guns while under a restraining order.

After the Supreme Courts 2022 Bruen decision established a new test for gun laws, a conservative appeals court reheard the case. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Rahimi, while hardly a model citizen, is entitled to the Second Amendments guarantees. The Fifth Circuit ruled the gun restriction against Rahimi should not stand, because, according to the majority opinion, they said there was no tradition of such gun bans in U.S. history.

The Biden administration asked the Supreme Court to weigh in. Governments have long disarmed individuals who pose a threat to the safety of others, and Section 922(g)(8) falls comfortably within that tradition, argued U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar in a brief.

Domestic abuse survivors, advocates and victims families have expressed gratitude and relief at the Supreme Courts ruling. For the families of victims killed by domestic violence, they want people to understand that this is genuinely a matter of life or death. And many of them have become advocates, fighting for laws that protect future victims so that more families dont have to join them in their grief.

Its too easy for abusers to get weapons, says Alexi Slater, whose cousin Diane Psaros, 42, was shot and killed, along with her fiance, by her estranged husband this past December in Oregon. Psaros mother Cathie Psaros said that if her daughter had been granted the protective order shed requested against her abusive husband, she might still be alive today.

It would have been a lot harder for [her ex] to get a hold of an AR-15 with a restraining order against him, Cathie tells Rolling Stone in a phone interview. Taking the guns away, it gives [abusers] maybe a chance to cool off before they do something stupid.

Diane Psaros is remembered as a happy, gentle, but fiercely brave mother and former public school teacher who had a gift for supporting students. Her memorial service was so crowded that people had to watch her funeral service on monitors from elsewhere in the building.

In 2022, Diane was turned down after requesting a protective order detailing instances of alleged prior abuse including sexual assault, threats of homicide and suicide, and drug use. She specified an instance where she entered into a walk-in closet where her estranged husband was sitting inside with a gun and threatened her repeatedly.

A year and a half later, her ex murdered Diane, her fiance Brian Rolen, and her sons dog. Her ex drove toward his mother-in-laws house, where her teenage son Sean was staying, and ended up dying by suicide after a standoff with police.

The presence of a gun in a domestic abuse situation makes it five times more likely that a woman will be killed. During the oral arguments in Rahimi, Prelogar referenced data that domestic violence calls are the most dangerous type of call for a police officer to respond to in the U.S.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts asked Rahimis federal public defender, Matthew Wright, You dont have any doubt that your clients a dangerous person, do you?

Wright later argued that historically, Society understood violence, understood dangerous people [] But they rejected at every point the type of dangerousness disarmament principle that the government is advocating.

In an amicus brief urging the court to side with Rahimi, the National Rifle Association wrote Civil protective order deprivations are inconsistent with the history and tradition of firearms regulations. The NRA argued that a protective order should not be enough to take away someones guns. Traditionally, people needed to be convicted before they could lose their Second Amendment rights.

Domestic abuse survivor Kris Barney vehemently disagrees with the NRAs stance. Regardless of a conviction or not, I dont think that domestic abusers who have been arrested for domestic abuse or have a restraining order against them, deserve to have any gun rights whatsoever.

Barneys ex-husband killed their three-year-old daughter Miranda Salley, as well as his most recent ex-girlfriend at the time, in January 1999 in Louisiana. Police shot him to death on the scene when he refused to put down his gun. Barney says she had fought for years against him having joint custody of their daughter, but that despite his stalking conviction and Barneys testimony that hed threatened to kill her and their baby, she was denied. There was never any evidence of physical violence, so no one believed I was being abused, said Barney. She says both she and Miranda had protective orders against her ex, who was accused of emotional and verbal abuse.

Here I am, 25 years later, still fighting for victims, says Barney. Im not going to be silent. Giving abusers rights to guns if they have a restraining order, is just saying, Here go ahead and kill them. Because were not going to do anything about it. How many women and children and men have to die before people take gun violence seriously?

Barney says that the Supreme Court reaffirming that domestic abusers can be dispossessed of their firearms helps survivors in their fight to find safety and is a big step in protecting vulnerable individuals from violent partners and parents.

Jania Blount, Jaylan Blount, and Akila Jenkins are three sisters whose mother Cassandra Jones was shot to death by her ex-boyfriend in June 2022 in New Orleans. The video of her murder went viral on social media, and the images of their mother crying out for help still haunt her daughters to this day. The inability to sleep at night because of this horrifying memory is deeply traumatizing and heartbreaking, Jones daughter said in a statement to Rolling Stone.

Jones had filed a temporary restraining order the month before she was killed, but because her ex didnt show up to court for the protective order hearing, the TRO expired. (TROs have no effect on firearm ownership.) Jones daughters, like many of the victims family members who spoke with Rolling Stone, are turning their grief into activism for stricter gun laws to protect those suffering from domestic abuse. With the Rahimi decision, the hope is that this will help support their advocacy.

Revoking gun rights from abusers could significantly reduce the risk of such tragedies occurring, Jones daughters say. We are without our mother due to domestic abuse and gun violence. No one should have to endure such pain and loss.

If you or someone you know is being abused, you can seek anonymous, confidential help at the National Domestic Violence hotline: 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE).

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Dont count liberalism out in 2024. I know its a Rodney Dangerfield political philosophymeek and mild, self-deprecating, it gets no respectbut battle-hardened post-Trump liberals have proved tough as nails and ready to fight all necessary battles for freedom and democracy in these days of resurgent authoritarianism.

To be sure, American liberals exist for the most part implicitlyin our work, our arguments, and our values, and not so much in terms of explicit, much less exclusive, political self-identification. The Democrats fighting to stop Trumpism have to cover a lot more ground than just the theories of John Stuart Mill. We are indeed emphatically liberals because we defend individual liberty, but we are equally progressives because we champion progress for everyone; and these days, we are the closest thing America has to conservatives, too, because we want to conserve the land, the air, the water, the climate system, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, the National Labor Relations Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, public integrity, judicial independenceeverything in society and nature that the party of nihilists and authoritarians wants to destroy.

Ive traveled to 19 states in this campaign, and I find old-fashioned Enlightenment liberalism alive and well at ground level in the surging party of democracy. The abortion issue catalyzing activism everywhere has become a fight not just for womens access to health care but an organizing juggernaut for the rights of women and men to make their own life decisions free from the designs of the misogynist theocrats, billionaire plutocrats, and plundering kleptocrats who make up the sinister autocratic cult of Trump.

Local activists, ACLU lawyers, and teachers are defending books and libraries against book-banners and government censors with gusto. Liberal feminists are defending birth control and IVF against nasty puritan scolds in state capitols. A surging movement of secular citizens is defending the separation of church and state against cultists and the local bosses of right-wing megachurches. And everyone from the League of Women Voters to the NAACP is fighting for our voting rights against the mutating tactics of voter suppression, the endless cycles of gerrymandering and the straight-up disenfranchisement of millions of people, including former prisoners in at least eight states, 3.3 million Americans in Puerto Rico, and around 689,000 Americans living in Washington, D.C.

Meantime, online progressive liberals with an attitude are zealously fighting for free expression and reason in the cyber-trenches against high-tech fundamentalism, racism, antisemitism, fanaticism, fascism, and tribalism, as well as the disinformation and propaganda interjections of foreign state actors like Vladimir Putin.

Ordinarily a live-and-let-live philosophy, liberalism fights hard when its up against the ropes. And here we arein the fight of our lives ever since Florida Man came down the escalator to run a new nationwide grift. The good news is that the postDonald Trump networks of liberals and progressives are ready for battle, strategically focused, and plentiful in the land. We are committed unswervingly to defend both the negative liberties of early liberals like John Locke and the pragmatic changes in society, law, and government that have dramatically expanded our freedom over the last two centuries, the structural social changes and positive rights that people in the civilizing movements of the last century fought and died for.





What has become clear in this troubled century is the essential and necessary relationship between liberalism and strong democracy. In 1861, President Lincoln observed this link when he made a private note about the relationship between constitutional democracy in practice and the liberal and egalitarian ideals that Thomas Jefferson had inscribed in the Declaration of Independence. Lincoln said that constitutional democracy is like the beautiful silver frame upon which rests the apple of gold of freedom promised in the Declaration. In other words, there must be a democratic structure or frame in place to center and keep safe the freedoms of the people.

But even a democratic structure is no guarantee of freedom. For, as we have seen throughout American history, the procedural forms of democracy, including elections and the separation of powers, can co-exist with massive deprivations of liberty, including the institutions of slavery, Jim Crow apartheid, the subordination and disenfranchisement of women.

A state engaged in institutionalized assault on social freedom will produce only a cheap, counterfeit, and cosmetic form of democracy that becomes psychologically and politically unsustainable for the population. This is why the struggle for freedom against oppression, like Jim Crow segregation, almost always doubles as a struggle for voting rights, responsive democracy, and popular control over government.

Theres an old saying, commonly attributed to John Dewey, that the only cure to the ills of democracy is more democracy, and what we are suffering from today is not democracy but all the structural impediments to it, like gerrymandering, voter suppression, right-wing judicial activism, the filibuster, and the antiquated, anti-democratic, and manipulable Electoral College system. The system of anti-democracy, the GOPs bulging bag of tricks, thwarts our democracy and our freedom at the same time.

The struggle for democracy has always been a freedom struggle. When Bob Moses and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee went farm-to-farm and door-to-door in Jim Crow Mississippi in the early 1960s, registering voters in the face of every form of brutal violence and intimidation, they coined the expression one man, one vote, which became not only the aspirational statement of moral and political equality at the heart of the civil rights movements beloved community, but the radical equation that transformed the Supreme Courts equal protection jurisprudence in the Warren courtand which, of course, has grown to become one person, one vote, as Moses said it would. This belief in the freedom and equality of every man and, eventually, every woman remains the commanding impulse of progressive liberalism in America: the determination that every person, every voice, must count and count equally, which is why the next great wave of liberal democracy will insist on ranked-choice voting and other forms of proportional representation to replace winner-take-all elections and empower the whole electorate.

Liberals know in our bones today that there will be no freedom without democracy because the autocrats in Moscow, the kleptocrats in Mar-a-Lago, and the theocrats in MAGA-world will never willingly grant people, especially women, our basic liberties and freedoms.

Liberals know in our bones today that there will be no freedom without democracy because the autocrats in Moscow, the kleptocrats in Mar-a-Lago, and the theocrats in MAGA-world will never willingly grant people, especially women, our basic liberties and freedoms. Also, the technologies of domination and surveillance are becoming more totalitarian all the time, and we must take urgent care that artificial intelligence does not usher in artificial democracy. The autocratic parties and states will use every technology available to be all-powerful and all-seeing over the people to subdue and control restless majorities.

But the converse is equally true: There will be no real democracy without freedom. Authoritarian despots like Putin and Viktor Orban, who start by shutting down newspapers and closing LGBTQ nightclubs, inevitably turn to harassing and jailing opposition leaders and using the state to crush political competition. Tyrants depend not just on scapegoating of specific minorities but on suppression of voting rights and democratic participation for the whole populace and the fail-safe manipulation and break-glass stealing of popular elections when all else fails.





The times now call upon us, the liberal enemies of fascism, to defend freedom and democracy together. Fraternal twins, liberalism and modern democracy were born together in the Enlightenment and have won all their major battles for humanity together. They have weathered the opposition of British monarchy, feudalism, and theocracy; slavery, Jim Crow segregation, and political white supremacy; and corporate oligarchy, economic monopoly, and tyrannical class power. They now stand shoulder to shoulder again and face all the dictators and despots of the world.

Liberalism must pull democracy back from the clutches of authoritarian populists. The enemies of freedom gather happily under the banner of Orbans illiberal democracy, which means elections without freedoms, mob control of government without minority rights, and authoritarian culture war against dissent and difference.

Because of its essential modestyit does not purport to have the keys to the iron laws of historyand its long-distance focus on simple human freedom, liberal democracy has never been a showy political ideology. But today progressive liberalism is a resilient fighting creed that has given us in America everything from massive infrastructure investment to muscular defense of the people of Ukraine to insistence upon human rights and civil liberties against all the despots and terrorists of the world.

We have our work cut out for us with the Florida Mans scapegoating and immigrant-bashing, the undeniable lure for many Trump voters of political violence, and the dizzying effects of election denialism. The democracy and freedom project in 2024 requires not just fundraising, which seems to be the main default activity of our political campaigns these days, but organizing. And that means we have to go to every neighborhood in America and bounce a ball, as Bob Moses recommended in Radical Equations. When you bounce a ball outside, the little kids will come to play, and then their big brothers and sisters will come along to meet you, and pretty soon the whole family arrives to talk and have dinner. Thats the imperative this year: Take time to bounce a ball. Meet some new people. Lets use our time to organize America.
Then-President Donald Trump stunned then-Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello in 2017 with a boast about how America wouldnt hang around if it came to launching nuclear weapons at an adversary, Rossello recalls in his new memoir.

In The Reformers Dilemma, Rossello remembers Trump telling him during a helicopter trip over areas of the island that had been hit by the monster Hurricane Maria that nature has a way of coming back, until it doesnt.

The now-presumptive GOP presidential nominee brought up the unknowns of the aftermath of nuclear warfare and said what Rossello described as the one thing that made me more concerned than anything else in the entire visit, per excerpts obtained by The Hill.

Trump said that if nuclear war happens, we wont be second in line pressing the button, Rossello reportedly wrote in the book due out Tuesday.

This statement floored me, Rossello wrote, according to The Hill. I could not believe what I was hearing. It was surreal. Was he really talking about total annihilation as we flew over the ravaged sights of the island?

Donald Trump and Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello during the then-president's visit to the island following Hurricane Maria in 2017. AFP Contributor via Getty Images

In Rossellos book, the former governor also addressed Trumps tossing of paper towels to a crowd during the same trip.

The image plastered in history was one that demonstrates disdain and repulsion for the people, he said, per The Hill. Was it dumb and incredibly thoughtless? Yes. The president should have known better. But that does not detract from the true story: The media narrative got carried away, which is happening more often than not in our political culture.

Following his visit, Trump repeatedly attacked the island on social media.

Trump threw paper towels into a crowd during his 2017 visit to Puerto Rico. AFP Contributor via Getty Images

Trump ramped up spending on Americas nuclear arsenal during his administration and frequently warned of deploying nukes, such as with his Little Rocket Man taunts of his now-ally Kim Jong Un, the despotic leader of North Korea.

Washington Post reporters Robert Costa and Bob Woodward wrote in their 2021 book Peril that Mark Milley, the then-chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was compelled to assure then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) after the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection that the nuclear triggers are secure and that the president alone can order the use of nuclear weapons but doesnt make the decision alone because they actually have to be launched by multiple people.

Rossello resigned from his role of governing the U.S. territory in 2019 following mass protests amid allegations of corruption and the fallout from the Chatgate scandal.

Related...
Donations hint at likely two-way showdown on abortion this fall

Protests erupted last year in the State Capitol Rotunda during debate over the Let Them Grow Act and the Preborn Child Protection Act. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

OMAHA  Nebraskas three-way fight over abortion access has gathered more than $4 million in donations, hinting which measures will likely reach the fall ballot.

The two abortion-related ballot initiatives seeking signatures the longest reported raising more than $2 million apiece, Protect Our Rights and Protect Women and Children.

A third, Choose Life Now, announced later, in May, and reported raising $3,900. All three groups have until July 3 to collect 123,000 valid signatures from 10% of registered voters.

Protect Our Rights

The petition from Protect Our Rights aims to enshrine abortion rights in the Nebraska constitution until the age of fetal viability, which is typically between 22-24 weeks gestation.

Its backers say it would keep the decision about the future of a pregnancy between a woman and her doctor. They argue the others risk criminalizing reproductive care.

Critics of the petition say it could put too much power into the hands of medical providers of individual patients, who would then be able to decide the viability of a pregnancy.

The abortion-rights group reported raising $2.3 million by the end of May, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission.

It listed having about $450,000 in cash on hand.

Among the pushs supporters were Planned Parenthood, Nebraska Appleseed Action, Womens Fund of Omaha, former Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle, and University of Nebraska Regent Barbara Weitz.

Protect Women and Children

The petition from Protect Women and Children seeks to limit how long into a pregnancy abortion is legal, capping it at no more than 12 to 14 weeks gestational age. It allows stricter bans to be passed.

Its backers highlight its exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother. Critics of the petition say its protections are legally vague and would be difficult to access.

The abortion-restrictionist group raised slightly more than $2 million. Much of it came from U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., and the extended family of Sandhills Publishings Tom Peed.

Ricketts tweeted about hosting signature-gathering events for the petition Thursday in Lincoln, Plattsmouth and Omaha. The group listed having more than $1 million in cash on hand.

Choose Life Now

Choose Life Now is trying to outlaw all abortions by granting personhood or the legal status of a child to every fetus at all stages of development.

Its backers say they want to protect all developing children in the womb. They argue that their faith dictates no exceptions, although they say existing law would protect a mothers life.

Critics of the petition say it could spur criminal prosecutions of women who pursue abortions or miscarry and that it could lead to child support payments for fetuses.

Its largest donations came from petition sponsor Rose Kohl, $1,500, and from Robert W. Smith of Omaha, $2,000 and Ronald Carrow of Omaha, $500, campaign reports show.

It listed having $2,500 in cash on hand.

The post Donations hint at likely two-way showdown on abortion this fall appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Dothan mom charged in toddlers death after crash

DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN)  A Dothan woman is facing charges after a Houston County grand jury indictment claims she did not put her toddler in a seatbelt before a semi-truck crashed into her vehicle, causing his death.

Daeisha McGowan was indicted on one count of criminally negligent homicide on Thursday, June 13.

The indictment claims 31-year-old McGowan did not put her three-year-old son, Tristan McGowan, in a seatbelt or restraint, causing him to be ejected from their pickup during a crash on November 29, 2023.

McGowans Dodge pickup was hit by a 2007 Freightliner while exiting the parking lot in the 2300 block of Ross Clark Circle.

RELATED: 3-year-old dies after semi-truck crash

Dothan Police said Tristan was ejected from the truck and transported to Southeast Health before being life-flighted to Childrens of Alabama in Birmingham in critical condition. He died from his injuries on Saturday, December 2.

After McGowans indictment, she was arrested and booked into the Houston County Jail on a $6,000 bond. She was released shortly after being booked.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 20. The reasons for holding an early parliamentary election in Azerbaijan have been revealed, Trend reports.

Speaking at today's session of the Azerbaijani parliament, the parliament chair, Sahiba Gafarova, pointed out that the timing of global events and parliamentary election of socio-political significance in Azerbaijan coincides with November.

According to her, it's evident that during the period of the COP29 conference and other events, it's advisable for the country's parliament to be fully operational.

"The full formation of the new convocation of the parliament will create conditions for the uninterrupted implementation of legislative activities. It's also inevitable that certain restrictions will be introduced in our country due to the upcoming events. Another main task of the state is to ensure the unhindered organization of full voter participation in the election.

Taking all this into account, the New Azerbaijan Party members approached me. They proposed to appeal to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan regarding the holding of an early election," she added.

To note, the previous parliamentary election in Azerbaijan was held on February 9, 2020.

This November, Azerbaijan will host COP29. This decision was made at the COP28 plenary meeting held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Baku will become the center of the world and will receive about 7080,000 foreign guests.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system. The COPthe Conference of the Partiesis the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. There are 198 countries that are parties to the Convention. Unless the parties agree otherwise, the COP is held annually. The first COP event took place in March 1995 in Berlin, and its secretariat is located in Bonn.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
DENVER (KDVR)  A Douglas County High School teacher is facing a sexual assault charge and the Douglas County Sheriffs Office is looking for more victims.

On Thursday, the sheriffs office said James Thomure, 55, was arrested and hes being accused of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust.

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The sheriffs office said Thomure was being held on a $20,000 bond.

Because this is an active investigation, the sheriffs office isnt releasing any more information at this time.

Booking photo of James Thomure, arrested on charge of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust.

According to a letter from Tony Kappas, Principal of Douglas County High School, Thomore has worked for the district since 1999 and is on administrative leave during the investigation.

I know it is concerning to receive news of this nature. Please know the safety and well-being of every student is of primary importance to Douglas County High School and the Douglas County School District, the letter states.

Detectives are asking anyone with information or anyone who believes they or someone they know might also be a victim of Thomure to contact Detective Sara Clay at sclay@dcsheriff.net.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
A crash knocked down power lines on Kilborne Drive Friday afternoon, blocking a section of the road in east Charlotte.

According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Kilborne is closed between Markham Court and Wicklow Place. The closure is expected to be in place for several hours through Friday evening.

MEDIC says one person was hurt in a crash in that area. The victim was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

Keep an eye on Channel 9s live traffic map for updated detours and alternate routes.

According to Duke Energys outage map, about a thousand households were without power because of the incident.

(VIDEO: 1 dead, several hurt in crash involving overturned tanker on I-485)
The post Download Festival Plagued by Mud and Hundreds of Cases of Food Poisoning appeared first on Consequence.

The UKs massive Download Festival experienced a few bumps in the road this past weekend. Not only was it plagued by some rainy weather, which left the grounds super muddy, an apparent food poisoning epidemic sickened hundreds of fans.

Download Festival took place June 13th-15th at Donington Park, with Queens of the Stone Age, Fall Out Boy, Avenged Sevenfold, Pantera, Limp Bizkit, The Offspring, and more among the dozens of bands on the three-day lineup.

The site Food Poisoning News reports that as many as 500 people were infected with symptoms of nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and fever, with some festivalgoers using buckets as makeshift toilets.

The outbreak wasnt just limited to the fans, as Sean Smith, the frontman of the band The Raiders, reported via X/Twitter, Got food poisoning. Been sick ALL night.  Ive got to go to hospital to be put on an IV apparently.

According to Leicester Mercury, two food venders at the festival were shut down due to health violations. The BBC spoke with a health official, who said an investigation is underway.

We worked with the event organizer to investigate two food vendors, both of which were closed by the event organizer over the course of the weekend, stated health officer Paul Sanders. We are aware of reports of people feeling unwell and will continue to investigate. Anyone continuing to feel unwell following the Download Festival should contact their GP in the first instance.

A spokesperson for promoter Live Nation remarked, Two vendors were closed and removed from the site as they failed to meet the standards of Environment Health and the local authority. Download Festival operates a robust 24-hour welfare operation including staff and welfare tents to support unwell customers throughout the site.

As mentioned, the festival also experienced a good amount of pouring rain, turning the grounds into a sea of mud. Video footage shared by Pantera and others can be seen below.

We had a great time today at Download! Heres a glimpse of our performance. Hope you guys had fun in the mud  : @metaldavemedia #pantera #downloadfestival #castledonington pic.twitter.com/UBZrqluOcP  Pantera (@Pantera) June 15, 2024

Download Festival Plagued by Mud and Hundreds of Cases of Food Poisoning

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Dr. Anthony Fauci sat down with the co-hosts of "The View" to discuss advising Former President Donald Trump during the pandemic's peak, serving under seven presidents as NIAID director and the Latin phrase that has guided his work.

Fauci was the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases from 1984 to 2022. During the pandemic, he was a key White House Coronavirus Task Force member and initially had a good working relationship with Trump.

However, the dynamics of their relationship shifted when Trump began say things that were "not true," according to Fauci. Fauci, driven by what he said is a strong sense of personal and professional integrity, found himself at odds with the former president, a situation he says was not easy for him to navigate.

As Fauci attempted to implement policies recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, he claimed that Trump and his supporters opposed him.

VIDEO: Dr. Fauci on COVID efforts: 'If trying to save people's lives is a crime, I'm guilty' (ABCNews.com)

ABC News sat down with Fauci to talk about his deteriorating working relationship with Donald Trump during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABC NEWS: So before we start, people are so glad to see you. They are so glad to see you.

FAUCI: Thank you.

ABC NEWS: So thank you for coming on the show and for everything. Everything you've done from the very beginning. It's extraordinary. And you're no worse for the wear. You look good.

FAUCI: Thank you.

ABC NEWS: You say empathy has always guided you as a physician and a public servant, but there's also a Latin phrase that has consistently come up for you and I'd love you to share it and tell everybody what it means.

FAUCI: Well, when I was getting my education in high school, Latin and Greek was an important part of our classical training. It was actually at Regis High School, a few blocks from here, a Jesuit school. And one of the things that they mentioned to us when things got down and you felt the world was caving in on you was Illegitimi non carborundum, which means 'Don't let the bastards wear you down.' Boy did that hold true.

ABC NEWS: You know, you look, you are probably one of the classiest people I've ever watched move around in Washington, D.C.

FAUCI: Thank you

ABC NEWS: So and -- you know, I just want to raise my dreads to you. But I don't want to take up too much time, Alyssa.

ABC NEWS: Well, Dr. Fauci, it's so good to see you. Before retiring from government in 2022, you served under seven presidents and bipartisan administrations. Fighting diseases like AIDS, Ebola, and, of course, COVID-19, where you and I got to know each other. You had addressed so many of these ailments before and never faced the backlash that you did from part of the country when you were working on COVID. Did you see that coming? We watched it in real time.

FAUCI: No, it was really unexpected. Because, as Alyssa said, I served and advised seven presidents, Democrat and Republican, both sides of the aisle. There are always disagreements, of course. But that's why we have a great country because you have people with different ideological views.

But the disagreements were always associated with civility, with respect for each other and respect for institutions in the government. So you could have a disagreement, but at the end you try and compromise. What happened with COVID, as I think was represented by the hearing a few weeks ago, was just pure ad hominem and vitriol. And that really took me by surprise. I thought there would be the give and take and respect each other's disagreements.

That's the thing that worries me not only about what I have to face, but also about the direction of the country and the social order of the democracy. It's very threatening I think.

ABC NEWS: It's in jeopardy. It's in jeopardy, I think. So you dedicate a chapter of your book to your dealings with Trump, the chapter is called "He loves me, he loves me not" and you describe some angry ranting expletive-filled phone calls. He would berate you and flatter you in the same breath. I'm wondering: you said you worked with seven other presidents. Did any one of them ever speak to you the way he does or did?

FAUCI: No, of course not. Not even close. What I meant by loves me, loves me not. Early on in the beginning -- he is an engaging character and we had a certain rapport with each other. I was trying to figure out what it was. I think it was two guys from New York City. He was from Queens, I was from the Bronx and we kind of had that New York -- he calls it swagger -- with each other, that was fine.

And all that was really good in the beginning. Until you know, he wished and hoped that the outbreak would disappear because it clearly was getting in the way of both the economy and then, as a result of that, into the election cycle. So he started to say things that actually were not true. And I just felt that I had a responsibility for my own personal and professional integrity, but also my responsibility to you, the American public, so had to contradict him.

It was very difficult for me to do that. Once I did that, then things got really dicey. Because I don't think he went away from the fact that we did have a good relationship, but he was really very upset about the fact I had to get up and say, no, it's not going to disappear like magic and no, hydroxychloroquine doesn't work no matter what Laura Ingram is telling you. I mean that's the problem.

ABC NEWS: He doesn't like when people disagree with him. That's why cohorts in the Republican Party are kowtowing to him because they know it displeases him.

ABC NEWS: Well, speaking of hydroxychloroquine, countless of Americans lost loved ones to COVID. My husband lost both of his parents, two doctors, within three days of each other from the pandemic.

We remember those pandemic briefings. I remember the injection of bleach, perhaps. The hydroxychloroquine. Dangerous recommendations. You were particularly disturbed, I read, by his refusal to wear a mask.

What was this time like for you having to contradict the president of the United States? And what should everyone know about how he handled the crisis? Because I blame him for my in-laws' death.

FAUCI: Well, the people who became very angry with me, people on his staff like Peter Navarro and Mark Meadows, and others thought that I was doing that because I had some sort of antipathy to the president and I did not. It was very painful for me. I have a great deal of respect for the presidency of the United States of America. I served seven presidents; it wasn't like 'wow, isn't this cool I'm contradicting the president.' It was very very painful, but I had to do it.

With regard to the masks, the thing that was a problem, is that when the CDC came out and made the recommendations -- indoors we should be wearing masks. That was at a time when the infections were going like that. And what he got up and said it's recommendation but I'm not going to do it; I choose not to do it. I consider that a missed opportunity to use the bully pulpit of the presidency to get people to do things that was for their own safety.

He has millions and millions of followers who are very loyal to him. All he had to do is say the CDC is recommending masks; we know it's going to save lives, do it. He missed an opportunity.

ABC NEWS: I remember telling him he looked cool in the masks because I thought that might be like, 'Fine. I'll wear it.' Didn't work.

FAUCI: Nice try, Alyssa.

Dr. Anthony Fauci talks about the challenges of advising former President Trump on COVID originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  The U.S. military has not activated a draft in more than 50 years, but Congress is currently debating whether to change the process.

The proposals would expand the draft to women for the first time and automatically register those eligible for conscription.

I think well take that out, said Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, who is leading the charge against the idea. I dont think the draft will be reimplemented any time soon.

Senate Democrats added the proposed requirement for women to the annual defense spending bill, arguing it is in the best interest of national security to include all able-bodied citizens ages 18 to 25 in the draft.

However, the proposal is not gaining traction among Republicans.

It is outrageous, said Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.).

I would be very much opposed to that, said Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.).

Boozman said the proposed requirement is unnecessary.

Weve got a lot of men and women that are willing to serve and so right now, thats working fine, he said.

The Pentagon has warned Congress it is facing recruitment challenges as conflicts around the world escalate.

We live in a very dangerous world, but were not in a sense of national emergency, Boozman said.

Defending the idea, Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, told The Hill, If we go to a draft, were in a serious, serious situation.

A separate proposal in the spending bill would make registering for the draft automatic. Most states already do this for eligible men when they get a drivers license or apply for college.

We can recruit good young men and women in the military without a draft, Wicker said.

Wicker argues Congress should instead focus on pay raises and better recruiters for the military.

None of the proposals would activate the draft. The president would ultimately have to do that, which last happened in 1973 at the end of the Vietnam War.

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A man accused of blowing through a stop sign at high speed Tuesday at an intersection south of Tacoma and causing a three-vehicle wreck that left a 44-year-old man dead is being held in jail on $75,000 bail.

Minh Trung Van Phan, 48, was charged Thursday in Pierce County Superior Court with vehicular homicide in the collision at 99th Street East and A Street South in Parkland.

A plea of not guilty was entered on Phans behalf at arraignment Thursday afternoon. Commissioner Barbara McInvaille set bail. According to court records, Phan has prior DUI convictions from 2001 in Pierce County and 2008 in Puyallup. Alcohol and drugs were not considered factors in the Tuesday wreck.

Phan was driving north on A Street in a Chevrolet Silverado when he allegedly went through the stop sign at 99th Street East without stopping and hit a tow truck traveling east through the intersection. According to the probable cause document, the impact spun the tow truck and pushed it into a Toyota Scion going the opposite direction on 99th.

The Scions front bumper was overridden, according to court records, and its hood was pushed into the windshield with at least six inches of intrusion into the cabin.

A Pierce County Sheriffs Department deputy was dispatched to the incident at about 9 a.m. Upon arrival, the Scion was facing north in the westbound lanes of 99th Street. Its driver, a 44-year-old Tacoma man identified in court records as Terry Charles, appeared to be going in and out of consciousness while emergency personnel worked to extricate him from the car.

Charles was transported to a hospital and pronounced dead, records state. Deputies said Phan and the tow truck driver were taken to a hospital with serious injuries.

Phan spoke to a deputy at the scene and allegedly said he didnt see the stop sign and hit the tow truck on its passenger side. Records state he told the deputy he was driving about 35 mph in a 25 mph zone.

The tow truck driver estimated that Phan was traveling at 60 mph before the collision, according to the probable cause document. According to previous reporting from The News Tribune, witnesses told deputies that Phans vehicle also went into oncoming lanes to get around a garbage truck picking up cans on the side of A Street before the collision.
Flying cameras and remote sensors through the air, drones provide a birds-eye perspective of events difficult to detect at ground level. In addition to their military applications, drones are used to meet civilian needs such as traffic surveillance, power-line inspection, aerial home inspections and post-disaster search-and-rescue operations.

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and elsewhere are increasingly using sensor-laden drones - they call them uncrewed aerial systems, or UASs  in scientific investigations of events on Earth, including wildfires, oil-and gas fracking and electric utility operations.

A drone used for Oak Ridge National Labortory research.

Drones: Making Sense of the World Below is the title of the next Dick Smyser Community Lecture sponsored by Friends of ORNL. Dick Smyser was a long-time editor of The Oak Ridger and a FORNL member who helped launch the community lecture series.

The lecture, which will be given by a distinguished scientist at ORNL and three co-presenters he has advised during their doctoral research, will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 27, at 7:00 p.m. in the City Room (A-111) of the Coffey-McNally Building on the Oak Ridge campus of Roane State Community College.

Hors doeuvres and non-alcoholic beverages will be served starting at 6:15 p.m. Drive into parking lot B at 701 Briarcliff Ave. and enter the Coffey-McNally Building. The City Room is just off the lobby where the refreshments will be served.

The speakers

The speaker will be Peter Fuhr, a distinguished scientist at ORNL who serves as both the group leader of ORNLs Grid Communications and Security Group and the technical director of the Unmanned Aerial Systems Research Center. His research activities have ranged from on-orbit satellites and assessment of appropriate techniques for rural broadband communications to mobile sensors, systems for use in wildfire situations and sensors and techniques for currency verification and security.

Peter Fuhr

Fuhrs pioneering research in fiber-optic sensors earned him a Presidential Award for Excellence in Research. He has authored and delivered hundreds of technical journal and conference publications/presentations. He is a life senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and a fellow of the International Society for Automation.

He holds bachelors degrees in physics and mathematics from Beloit College and M.S.E. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from Johns Hopkins University.

The first co-presenter will be Erica Grant, who has a B.S. degree in physics from Virginia Tech and a Ph.D. in quantum sciences and engineering science from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville (UTK).

Erica Grant

As founder and CEO of Quantum Lock Technologies, she is developing quantum security technology and software for door/key management, initially for hotels and manufacturing facilities. She holds multiple patents and has raised over $1 million in funding for her startup.

The other two co-presenters are doctoral candidates under the guidance of Fuhr.

Elizabeth Piersall, ORNL research scientist, has a B.S. degree in physics from Virginia Tech, and is a Ph.D. candidate in UTKs Data Science and Engineering Program at the Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education.

Elizabeth Piersall

She has conducted research related to analysis of signals indicating power system grid distortions, detection of asbestos during wildfire operations, candidate technologies for rural broadband deployment, future electric grid communications and analysis of cicada brood X sounds (by recently surfaced male cicadas that sing to attract mates). Her dissertation research delves into the applicability of a custom UAS-based, multi-wavelength video sensor for grid applications.

Emma Foley is also a Ph.D. candidate in the Data Science and Engineering Program at the Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education at UTK. She holds a B.S. degree in civil engineering from the University of Notre Dame and B.S. and M.S. degrees from Saint Marys College in mathematics and data science respectively.

Emma Foley

She is investigating the use of novel engineering mathematics in the analysis of power grid data. Specifically, she is examining Warped Gaussian Processes for their application in interpretable analysis of power grid data that is collected via remote sensing from drones.

This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Find out how drones help Oak Ridge lab researchers
Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Drones attacked the Yeysk military airfield in Russia's Krasnodar Krai in the early hours of June 21, the Russian Telegram news channel Astra claimed.

Residents reported that a fire broke out due to the attack. Local authorities have not commented on the details of the attack.

The Krasnodar Krai Operations Center officially reported that several districts in the region, including Yeysk, had come under a massive attack overnight. The other targeted areas are the Severskaya and Temryuk districts.

Ukrainian forces previously attacked the Yeysk airfield on April 5 in a joint operation between Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) and the Armed Forces. HUR said the drone strike destroyed seven Russian military aircraft.

Ukrainian troops have intensified strikes against military and industrial targets in Russia in recent weeks. Ukraine has used domestically produced long-range drones to successfully attack oil refineriesand weapons facilities, prompting Russia to announce increased air defense efforts in these areas.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Kyiv to get priority on air defense missiles from US, new Patriot from Romania

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PATERSON  On a summer afternoon with temperatures in the 90s, a young man on a bicycle wearing a face mask, hooded sweatshirt, and sweatpants confronted a mail carrier last July in Patersons 2nd Ward.

After getting off the bike, the masked man pulled out a gun, pointed it at the postal worker, and threatened to shoot if the victim did not hand over a key that would open all mailboxes in the area, according to the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Despite the threats, the mail carrier refused to surrender the key, so the young man wearing the mask got back on the bicycle and pedaled away on Liberty Street, authorities said.

Story continues below photo gallery

The attempted robbery was recorded by nearby surveillance cameras and federal officials said the suspect was a member of a drug-dealing street gang that operates on North Main Street in Patersons 1st Ward.

The criminal complaint about the mail carrier was one of two made public on Thursday by the United States Attorneys Office in Newark, as it announced charges against four alleged Paterson street gang members.

The complaints contained rarely revealed allegations about gang activities in Paterson, including the assertion that the 2016 killing of a truce-seeking gang member precipitated a violent, longstanding feud between two groups that operate blocks apart, separated mainly by the citys best elementary school.

100k and Blockboyz engulfed in bloody battle

The young man who allegedly tried to rob the mail carrier was a member of 100k, which operates on the five blocks of notorious North Main Street between Haledon and Clinton avenues, federal authorities said.

Officials said 100k took its name from one of the nicknames of Kasiem McCaskill, who was shot and killed two days short of his 23rd birthday in 2016, months after winning a community groups Paterson Cares award for his efforts to create a truce among the citys gangs the year before.

Officials said the Paterson gang 100k took its name from one of the nicknames of Kasiem McCaskill, seen here at right in 2015, who was shot and killed two days short of his 23rd birthday in 2016, months after winning a community groups Paterson Cares award for his efforts to create a truce among the citys gangs.

McCaskills death caused a split within the gang that had been known as the Brick Squad, which splintered into 100k on North Main and the Blockboyz at the nearby Riverside Towers on Presidential Boulevard, the federal complaint said. Those groups have been engulfed in a bloody battle ever since each gangs founding, the complaint said.

Federal authorities said 100k also has had a violent feud with two 4th Ward gangs  the 230 Boys from the corner of Rosa Parks Boulevard and Godwin Avenue and Up Top, which operates on 12th Avenue. Both the 230 Boys and Up Top have been the targets of previous federal gang crackdowns in Paterson.

But the complaint said 100k has an alliance with a third 4th Ward gang, known as So Icey, from 10th Avenue, which was the targeted of a New Jersey Attorney General gang operation more than five years ago.

Conspiracy to sell fentanyl, heroin, cocaine through social media

The federal charges against four alleged gang members detailed their suspected conspiracy to sell fentanyl, heroin and cocaine  including their use of social media to conduct business, and their business practices, such as switching phones to elude police detection, the use of coded language, and meeting drug buyers outside 100k turf.

Sometimes, one gang member would arrange a sale, and another would complete the transaction, with lookouts deployed to make sure police werent around, the complaint said.

The drug dealing crimes allegedly took place from August of 2023 through March of 2024, the complaint said. The allegations about the attempted gunpoint robbery of the mail carrier said police were able to track the suspects escape in video recordings from cameras on houses, businesses, and the street.

About six minutes after leaving Liberty Street, the suspect shed his mask, revealing his face, authorities said. Next, he removed his hoodie as he pedalled down Matlock Street, then dropped the bike on Clinton Street, and walked in between two houses, the complaint said.

The suspect emerged from the ally wearing bright orange shorts, instead of the sweatpants, authorities said. He ended up at a corner known as 100k turf, the complaint said.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Drug charges reveal details of Paterson NJ gang activity
Pro-Lifers Celebrate the Anniversary of Roe v. Wade's Final Demise

Operation Rescue Reiterates Full Endorsement of Donald J. Trump for President of the United States



NEWS PROVIDED BY

Operation Rescue

June 21, 2024



WASHINGTON, June 21, 2024 /Standard Newswire/ -- Monday is the two-year anniversary of the fall of Roe v. Wade  the infamous U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) decision responsible for killing tens of millions of innocent babies over nearly 50 years. It is to President Donald J. Trump's credit that Roe v. Wade met its climatic end  its foul remains finally tumbling into a heap of ashes on June 24, 2022.



"Operation Rescue and pro-lifers all over the country are now celebrating this marvelous accomplishment," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman.



Compassionate, pro-life Americans waged incredibly fierce battles for decades to accomplish this feat, with resounding promises from countless politicians along the way. However, the national assault on innocent preborn children continued, fueled by the overshadowing SCOTUS case that perpetually nullified state pro-life laws.



"In stark contrast to so-called pro-life politicians that came before and after Trump, he kept the promises he made while on the campaign trail," added Newman. "He did exactly what he said he would do and actually accomplished more than promised. As a result, abortion is now in the hands of each individual state  exactly where it should be."



On the other hand, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are unmistakably extreme in their rabidly pro-abortion position. Their desire to kill as many babies as possible has been demonstrated repeatedly through their words and policies. This horrific priority was made clear when Harris ended her national tour in April with a giant exclamation mark at a Minnesota Planned Parenthood.



Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also exhibited his extreme position on abortion in an interview with Sage Steele released on May 9. He identified himself as "one of the leading people in this country for medical freedom and bodily autonomy."



Kennedy was asked, "Should there be a limit or are you saying all the way up to full term, a woman has a right to have an abortion?" When Steele asked for clarity concerning his opinion about the state's involvement in abortion policy, he responded by saying the government should not be involved, rather the decision should be left up to the woman and her doctor, "even if it's full term."



This egregious pro-death stance is rejected by 90 percent of American voters.



After a backlash from that interview, Kennedy attempted to reposition himself by posting on X, "Abortion has been a notoriously divisive issue in America, but actually I see an emerging consensus  abortion should be legal up until a certain number of weeks, and restricted thereafter."



Operation Rescue reiterates its full endorsement of Donald J. Trump for President of the United States.



Not only did his nomination of three pro-life SCOTUS justices result in the overturn of Roe v. Wade, he is also the only president in U.S. history to take money away from Planned Parenthood.



"I've said this before, and I'll say it again," said Newman, "in November, we have two choices. We can choose more tyranny and radical abortion policies, or we can seize the opportunity to save our Constitutional Republic.



"There is only one hopeful path in this election, and it is through Donald J. Trump!"



Click HERE to view in on the Operation Rescue website.



Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the U.S. Our goal is to expose abortion abuses, demand enforcement, save innocent lives, and build an Abortion-Free America.



Click here to support Operation Rescue.



SOURCE Operation Rescue



CONTACT: Troy Newman, President, 316-683-6790 ext. 111;

Anne Reed, Senior Policy Advisor, 316-683-6790


BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. The fifth meeting of the Russian-Azerbaijani Expert Council is underway in Baku, Trend reports.

The Head of the Board of Azerbaijan's Center for Analysis of International Relations Farid Shafiyev said during the opening of the session that this negotiation platform was established in 2021 and has held meetings both in Moscow and Baku.

"Our cooperation with Russia is not only bilateral. Today's event theme - cooperation within multilateral projects and initiatives - is not accidental. We will address issues of regional security as well as a number of logistical and transport issues," Shafiyev also said.

He pointed out that the event has gathered leading experts from both countries, and it makes sense to more frequently provide their expert assessments on various events through the media.

Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration, Hikmet Hajiyev, said that the current relations between Azerbaijan and Russia are at the top level, as evidenced by the Declaration on Allied Cooperation signed in February 2022.

"Common culture, history, and mutual respect have contributed to their development," he pointed out.

According to Hajiyev, in addition to bilateral relations in all spheres of life, interregional cooperation is also expanding.

"Azerbaijan maintains relations with more than 70 subjects of Russia and operates more than 10 agreements on trade, economic, scientific-technical, and cultural ties between Russian regions and Azerbaijani partners," the official emphasized.

He mentioned a strong demand for transport arteries around the world.

"Azerbaijan is involved in various Eurasian transport initiatives. Work is underway to expand the North-South International Transport Corridor (ITC). Azerbaijan continues to actively invest in the development of this logistics structure, expanding the capacity of the Azerbaijani part of the corridor. Undoubtedly, this will benefit not only Azerbaijan and Russia but the entire region," Hajiyev also said.

Ambassador-at-Large of Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry, Elshad Iskandarov, said that Azerbaijani-Russian relations showcase positive dynamics.

He mentioned that one of the vectors of joint regional efforts between both states is the common approach to ensuring regional political and economic cooperation and limiting attempts at destructive external interference.

"Transparently, Azerbaijan and Russia both opt for sovereignty when it comes to decision-making," emphasized Iskandarov.

According to him, hosting the Baku event is a prime example of putting actions behind words to bolster Russian-Azerbaijani relations.

"When the idea of creating an expert council was first brought to the table three years ago, we were confident that this initiative would yield practical results. It is gratifying to see that in a short period, the platform is already holding its fifth meeting of our experts," added the diplomat.

The head of the Presidential Department for Interregional and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, Igor Maslov, said that creating the Russian-Azerbaijani expert council was a right decision, and it has expanded its focus from bilateral to regional and global challenges.

"Constant change brings with it fresh possibilities and dangers; the future of nations, regions, and the entire planet hinges on our ability to objectively assess trends and make sound decisions," Maslov emphasized.

According to him, after the collapse of the bipolar world system, attempts to square peg round-hole international security institutions and the international security system to the new conditions were largely unsuccessful.

Particularly, as Maslov noted, the NATO bloc once tried to become a peace bloc, but "then there was Yugoslavia and other conflicts.

"Now we see that the level of conflict between different countries, cultures, and peoples is so high that we should hardly expect a return to the old times. This is not only since there is the good or bad will of some political leaders; these are objective processes," he noted.

Will be updated
Duo of leading bipartisan US senators introduce law to declare Russia state sponsor of terror

U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal introduced a bill on June 20 to officially declare Russia a state sponsor of terror.

Graham, a Republican, and Blumenthal, a Democrat, cited the recent security agreement that Russian President Vladimir Putin signed with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a signal of the long overdue need to make the declaration formal.

Displaying a picture of Putin and Kim standing together in Pyongyang, Blumenthal characterized them as "two of the most autocratic, atrocity-committing leaders in the world."

Graham previously led the charge to get the Senate to declare Russia a state sponsor of terror in 2023. While the move was successful, it was a non-binding resolution, and only called Secretary of State Antony Blinken to personally use the term.

The new bill would require the State Department to label Russia as a state sponsor of terror, which would entail additional sanctions and other restrictions on the country. If the measure is successful, Russia would join four other countries already on the listSyria, Iran, Cuba, and North Korea.

"We're not trying to be provocative by labeling Putin a state sponsor of terrorism," said Graham.

"After the defense agreement between North Korea and Russia, it is time for us to push back. Here's a general rule: Anybody that does a defense agreement with North Korea should be a state sponsor."

The European Parliament, Poland, Slovakia, and other countries have previously labeled Russia as a state sponsor of terror.

Read also: Rather desperate  5 key takeaways from Putins North Korea visit

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EUSTACE, Texas (KETK)  Eustace ISD welcomed the newest member of their police department, K9 Pata, on Thursday.

Marshall City Council approves Airport Park improvements

Pata is a narcotics detection dog that the school district said will bring several benefits to the community.

According to a release, Pata will increase and enhance security by detecting illegal substances on school grounds throughout the school year.

We believe Pata will be a valuable addition to the Eustace ISD community. We look forward to introducing her in August and utilizing her skills to create a safer learning environment for everyone, a release 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 KETK.com | FOX51.com.
Ive only been the editor in Columbus for a few months, but Ive quickly seen just what great work the journalists on the Ledger-Enquirers team are doing.

Im thrilled to tell our readers that the Georgia Press Association has seen it too: Three Ledger-Enquirer reporters took home honors at the organizations awards ceremony earlier this month.

Our breaking news reporter, Kelby Hutchison, won the Emerging Young Journalist Award. The award is given to a top reporter each year who is under 30 and has fewer than five years of experience professionally.

Kelby also placed third in our newspaper division for breaking news coverage.

The amount of important journalism Kelby is doing has only increased since the window for this award closed. This year, he has given readers crucial information through good reporting on a murder-suicide at Columbus State University and has helped readers know more about the beloved Columbus prosecutor, Stacey Jackson, who died in May.

Kelby wasnt the only one on our staff awarded for good work. Mark Rice, a longtime Ledger-Enquirer reporter who has covered just about every topic you can imagine, placed second in our division for feature writing.

Business and engagement reporter Brittany McGee also received honors, placing third for business writing.

You can read the work of all three reporters on our website at ledger-enquirer.com.

Im really proud of what Kelby, Mark and Brittany do for our readers every day. I hope youre seeing their work on a regular basis. If you arent already subscribing, I hope youll consider doing so to get more access to the local coverage they provide.
Youth soccer teams practice at a park in the Wilmington neighborhood of Los Angeles in the shadow of an oil refinery. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

For the record:

7:11 a.m. June 21, 2024: A previous version of this editorial said the fossil fuel divestment bill cleared the state Senate last month. It cleared it last year.



In a state whose leaders speak with urgency about fighting climate change, its shameful and hypocritical that CalPERS and CalSTRS have billions of dollars in public employees retirement money invested in planet-wrecking fossil fuel companies including Exxon Mobil, Chevron and Shell.

Lawmakers were considering changing that by forcing the nations two largest public pension funds to divest their holdings in big oil, gas and coal companies by 2031. Legislation to do so cleared the state Senate last year. But days before a key hearing in the Committee on Public Employment and Retirement this week, its chair, Tina McKinnor (D- Inglewood), presented the author with a lengthy list of non-negotiable amendments.

Read more: Letters to the Editor: I'm on a state pension, and I want California to ditch its fossil fuel investments

The demands in the 39-page analysis read like a wish list written by the bill's opponents, including the oil industry and the pension fund boards. Rather than accept the changes, bill author Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) pulled the measure and says she will try again in the future. It was an understandable move.

The amendments would slash the number of companies and types of investments the pension boards would have to shed. They would push back the deadline to divest to 2045, delay transparency reporting requirements by 20 years and allow the funds to keep making new fossil fuel investments until then.

Theyd let them keep fossil fuel investments even beyond 2045, the year California has pledged to reach net-zero carbon emissions, if the pension boards determine the companies have made measurable progress transitioning from oil and gas. And most bizarrely, the amendments would remove the term fossil fuel company from the legislation, which the committees analysis described as a socio-environmental construct that, historically, is used to vilify oil companies and their products, and replace it with energy company instead.

Read more: Editorial: Climate change is making more California homes dangerously hot. It's time state laws caught up

McKinnor, who blocked the same legislation last year, said in an interview Thursday that she did not meet or negotiate with oil companies about the bill. She said her amendments were intended to be a compromise to benefit public employees and their retirement money, developed after she met with representatives of some of the states largest public employee unions that have remained neutral on the bill.

McKinnor wasn't really offering a compromise, but a poison pill so unreasonable and riddled with loopholes, carve outs and delays it would be inaccurate to call it fossil fuel divestment.

That shouldnt deter divestment supporters, including educators, state workers and youth activists and environmentalists who held a rally Wednesday and vowed not to back down from the fight.

Read more: Editorial: CalPERS must ditch fossil fuel investments. Its new 'sustainable' plan doesn't do that

They have solid financial arguments on their side, including the experience of other big institutional investors such as New York Citys public pension funds and the University of California that have already concluded that fossil fuel investments are too volatile and that their portfolios will do as well or better without them.

California leaders must show they are more than just talk when it comes to climate change and start to ditch dirty, dangerous fossil fuel investments. It's a smart move not only because these holdings are financially risky in a world thats shifting to renewable energy, but on moral grounds. It's wrong to use the retirement money of teachers, firefighters and state workers to support a deceitful industry that profits off environmental destruction and human suffering. It's why CalPERS divested from tobacco producers, gun manufacturers and thermal coal companies years ago.

If committee leadership wont give real fossil fuel divestment legislation a fair shake in the future, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) should step in and make sure a proposal advances to a floor vote.

California cant be a climate leader if it continues to prop up harmful and reckless fossil fuel companies whose pollution threatens to consign future generations to an unlivable planet. To end their stranglehold on the public, we have to let them go.

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Gary and Mary Weaver were both allegedly stabbed by suspect James Thompson Jr. during their vacation to Nebraska

Hall County Department of Corrections Suspect James Thompson Jr.

An elderly man was killed and his wife is in critical condition after they were victims in an attempted robbery on the morning of Wednesday, June 19, at a Nebraska highway rest stop, per a press release from Hall County Sheriffs Office.

Gary, 72, and Mary Weaver, 71, were both stabbed by the suspect, alleged to be James Thompson Jr., 22, around 7 a.m. on Wednesday at an Interstate 80 rest area. Thompson reportedly told the couple, Give me the Jeep keys, per a witness statement in the affidavit obtained by KSNB. The witness also alleges that Thompson went into the RV and then assaulted Mary outside the vehicle.

Additionally, per the affidavit, there was a dashcam video from a semi-trailer nearby that documents the suspect going inside the RV and making a stabbing motion. Then, the suspect went outside the vehicle and was seen stabbing Mary in the side of her head, according to the affidavit, per KSNB.

Related: Beloved Grandmother Fatally Stabbed in Attack on Los Angeles Metro Train

The couple both suffered knife wounds and were found bleeding by Hall County Sheriffs Office deputies.

They were then taken via ambulance to Grand Island Hospital. Gary was pronounced dead upon arrival. Authorities reported on Wednesday that Mary remains in critical condition with life-threatening injuries. An autopsy for Gary has been ordered.

The couple were traveling across Nebraska in their mobile home. They are originally from Eureka, Mo.

Getty Images Stock image of crime scene barricade covering.

Before authorities arrived at the scene, the lone suspect, fled by vehicle, per the press release. However, officers were able to get a description of the suspect, according to an affidavit, per KSNB.

The suspect was chased by the Nebraska State Patrol before he drove his vehicle into the Platte River. The state troopers then used a police dog to locate Thompson, who was arrested 30 minutes later, per the Associated Press.

Once located, Thompson was taken into custody at Hall County jail. He faces numerous charges, including felony murder, attempted murder, first-degree assault, robbery, two counts of use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony, attempted theft by unlawful taking, fleeing in a vehicle to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, stop sign violation and failure to signal.

On Thursday, June 20, Judge Art Wetzel ordered Thompson to be held without bond. He has a probable cause hearing scheduled for July 9. An investigation is underway.

Related: 'He Was the Best Father': Family Remembers Veteran, 81, Killed Working Security at His Retirement Community

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

A representative for Hall County Sheriffs Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for more information on Thursday.

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Read the original article on People.
New elementary school to be built in Steel Valley School District

A new elementary school will be built in the Steel Valley School District that will bring all the districts elementary students together on the same campus as the middle and high school.

The school board of directors approved the motion to award the general construction contract to Pittsburgh-based Rycon Construction during a meeting on Thursday.

Construction is expected to be completed in August 2026 in time for the 2026-27 school year.

The district shared renderings of the new school on social media. The new elementary school will be built on the site of the districts current administration offices, located in the former Franklin Primary at 220 E. Oliver Road in Munhall.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. The Azerbaijani parliament has appealed to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the holding of an early parliamentary election, Trend reports.

The agenda of today's session of the parliament included the issue of appealing to the President of Azerbaijan to call for the country's early parliamentary election.

The Parliament Chair, Sahiba Gafarova, said that the New Azerbaijan Party members proposed appealing to the President of Azerbaijan regarding the holding of an early election.

During the discussions, the MPs deemed it appropriate to hold an early parliamentary election, noting that important international events will be held in Azerbaijan.

After the discussions, the appeal was put to a vote and adopted.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
The pharmaceutical giant behind the popular weight loss injectables Zepbound and Mounjaro is  ironically, perhaps  calling people out for using them to lose weight.

In an open letter, drugmaker Eli Lilly declared that it "stands against the use of its medicines for cosmetic weight loss"  even as people using the Ozempic competitors for that very purpose have made the company billions of dollars over the past few years.

Both Mounjaro and Zepbound, which use the hormone-mimicking drug tirzepatide as their active ingredient, are classified as weight loss medications for people with diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood sugar. Much like Ozempic, however, these drugs are often prescribed and taken off-label for weight loss even for those who don't have those conditions.

While doctors rush to prescribe their overweight patients these subcutaneously-injected drugs that can both suppress appetite and cause stomach issues, the company raking in the dough from those prescriptions is calling foul.

As Lilly notes in its warning letter, Mounjaro and Zepbound should only be used as per FDA approval  meaning exclusively for people who are both overweight and have another weight-related condition, like diabetes.

The Indianapolis-based company added that because tirzepatide has not been tested on people who have gastrointestinal disorders such as pancreatitis and gastroparesis, people who have those conditions should avoid the drug.

Though it didn't mention it by name, the specter of Denmark's Novo Nordisk, which makes the diabetes injection Ozempic and its weight loss sister drug Wegovy, hangs heavy over Lilly letter. The pharma firm cautioned that tirzepatide should not be taken by anyone under 18 and will never be advertised on social media  two issues that have become salient for Nordisk as unapproved ads for its products run online and as more and more children are being prescribed Ozempic and Wegovy.

The rival firms' interests dovetail towards the end of the open letter, where Lilly issued a stark warning about buying and using compounded tirzepatide from online pharmacies that are not regulated by the FDA. Nordisk, notably, has also had to deal with the same issue regarding compounded semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy.

"Be aware that when you purchase products that are not FDA-approved medicines or obtain medicines from an unverified source or without a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider, you may be purchasing fake, counterfeit, or otherwise unsafe products," the letter cautioned.

It's an intriguing positioning for the pharma giant. Entire fields of treatment  think botox, or lip filler, or Brazilian butt lifts  have essentially no purpose except to address patients' cosmetic concerns about their bodies. Will drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide chart a different course, with their makers positioning them as strictly medical? For now, that certainly feels like Lilly's strategy.

More on weight loss warnings: Scary Counterfeit Ozempic Contains the Wrong Drug
Two years ago, Justice Clarence Thomas led an originalist revolution of sorts to expand the Second Amendment. The 63 decision that he authored in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen set up a narrow history-and-tradition test that invalidated any gun restriction without a historical analogue.

The Supreme Court reversed course on Friday. In an 81 decision in United States v. Rahimi, the justices upheld a federal law that temporarily disarms gun owners who are under domestic violence protection orders. This time, Thomas was the sole dissenter in the case. All five of his conservative colleagues in the Bruen majority flipped sides.

Our tradition of firearm regulation allows the government to disarm individuals who present a credible threat to the physical safety of others, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court. His 18-page ruling clarified the Bruen test to explain that while courts must still look to founding-era laws for analogues, they need not find a historical twin to uphold a modern gun restriction.

Thomas was left to protest the narrowing of his landmark ruling by himself. After [Bruen], this Courts directive was clear: A firearm regulation that falls within the Second Amendments plain text is unconstitutional unless it is consistent with the Nations historical tradition of firearm regulation, he wrote. Not a single historical regulation justifies the statute at issue. Therefore, I respectfully dissent.

The ruling has major consequences for gun rights and the Second Amendment. First and foremost, the court shut down the possibility that it would make guns easier to obtain for domestic abusers. Loosening Bruens history-and-tradition test also ensures that lower courts will likely find it easier to uphold other restrictions that are currently under scrutiny. Fridays decision will not restore the pre-Bruen legal landscape, but it is a substantial push in that direction.

Rahimi may also be a watershed moment for the courts internal dynamics. Periods of Supreme Court history are typically described by the term of the chief justice; we have all lived in the Roberts court era since 2005. For the last few years, the six-justice conservative supermajority led some to describe it as the Thomas court, reflecting his influence as the dean of the courts conservative wing. With the other justices thoroughly repudiating his hard-line approach to originalism, that brief era may have drawn to a close.

Some Second Amendment cases are about responsible gun owners. Zackey Rahimi is not among them. The defendant in this case has a long track record of misusing guns in public in dangerous ways. Texas police have identified him as the participant in multiple public shooting incidents, including one where he fired at a truck that cut him off in traffic and another where he fired his gun in the air after his friends credit card was declined at a fast-food restaurant.

In perhaps the most disturbing incident, Rahimi got lunch with his girlfriend in a parking lot in 2019 and began arguing with her. When he grew angry and she exited the car to leave, he physically dragged her back to the car and shoved her in, striking her head against the dashboard. The incident occurred in broad daylight and in full view of the public.

When he realized that a bystander was watching the altercation, Rahimi paused to retrieve a gun from under the passenger seat, Roberts wrote, summarizing the evidence from lower court proceedings. [His girlfriend] took advantage of the opportunity to escape. Rahimi fired as she fled, although it is unclear whether he was aiming at [her] or the witness. Rahimi later called [her] and warned that he would shoot her if she reported the incident.

Shortly thereafter, Rahimis girlfriend applied for a restraining order against him. The court granted the order after finding that he was likely to commit domestic violence again and that he posed a threat to others. Rahimi soon violated it by stalking her, and when police arrested him for the other gun-related incidents, they found a copy of the order alongside guns and ammunition in his home. Federal prosecutors charged him under a provision known as Section 922(g)(8), which forbids possession of a firearm while subject to a domestic violence restraining order.

A few weeks later, the Supreme Court handed down its ruling in Bruen. The case challenged New Yorks concealed-carry permit regime and gave the court an opportunity to lay out a test for lower courts to use when weighing the constitutionality of gun restrictions. Thomas, writing for the conservative supermajority, rejected the balancing tests that most courts had used and instead embraced a maximalist test rooted in originalist principles.

When the Second Amendments plain text covers an individuals conduct, the Constitution presumptively protects that conduct, he wrote. The government must then justify its regulation by demonstrating that it is consistent with the nations historical tradition of firearm regulation. Only then may a court conclude that the individuals conduct falls outside the Second Amendments unqualified command.

Gun restrictions could survive, Thomas explained, only if the government could identify a historical analogue for them from the founding era. This raised more questions than it answered. What counts as a historical analogue? How similar does a founding-era law need to be? How does one determine what falls within the nations historical tradition of regulating guns? How specific or generalized should judges be when weighing these questions?

Lower courts have struggled mightily to find answers to those questions consistently or coherently. Some federal courts ruled that Bruen had invalidated laws that forbade gun ownership by people with felony convictions and people who used controlled substances because no similar measures existed in the founding era. The historical analogue search took strange turns. In one case, a federal judge in New Jersey struck down a state law that banned guns in casinos because even though casinos did not exist in the early republic, a French colonial governor operated one in the 1750s in New Orleans, and he did not appear to ban firearms inside it.

Rahimi challenged his conviction under Bruen; the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in his favor last spring. The three-judge panel took a narrow approach to using the history-and-tradition test, concluding that there were no founding-era laws where state legislatures had disarmed anyone accused of domestic violence. The reason is obvious: While domestic violence itself is not new, American law did not generally recognize the concept until the twentieth century. Women in the early American republic typically could not serve as or elect members of the state legislatures that wrote the historical analogues.

Roberts, writing for the court on Friday, squared the circle by looking to roughly similar measures that disarmed dangerous persons. He cited the existence of surety laws, a colonial-era system that obligated someone to avoid committing future acts of violence by posting a bond that would be forfeited if they did so. Roberts noted that legal scholars had found instances where these laws were applied by women against their husbands. He also pointed to going armed laws, which generally forbade people from bearing arms to terrify others.

Taken together, the surety and going armed laws confirm what common sense suggests: When an individual poses a clear threat of physical violence to another, the threatening individual may be disarmed, he wrote. Section 922(g)(8) is by no means identical to these founding era regimes, but it does not need to be.

Thomas, writing in dissent, found those historical analogues to be unconvincing. He instead focused on the harm to Rahimi by unfairly depriving him of his individual right to bear arms. He noted that the law in question would disarm people without trial, which he opposed. This case is not about whether States can disarm people who threaten others, he wrote. States have a ready mechanism for disarming anyone who uses a firearm to threaten physical violence: criminal prosecution.

But the rest of the court was unpersuaded. Five justices wrote concurring opinions to flesh out their views on Fridays ruling, on Bruen, and on originalism itself. For Justice Neil Gorsuch, the case was easily resolved because it was a facial challenge to the disarmament provision, meaning that the court had to decide it was unconstitutional in all potential casesa high bar to clear. He left the door open to future challenges on specific applications of it.

At the same time, he found it necessary to defend originalism from its critics. Come to this Court with arguments from text and history, and we are bound to reason through them as best we can. (As we have today.) Gorsuch wrote. Allow judges to reign unbounded by those materials, or permit them to extrapolate their own broad new principles from those sources, and no one can have any idea how they might rule. (Except the judges themselves.)

So did Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who implicitly acknowledged the problems that Bruen had wrought. At the same time, he also insisted that it was preferable to the balancing tests used in other areas of constitutional law, which he compared to legislating from the bench. Deciding constitutional cases in a still-developing area of this Courts jurisprudence can sometimes be difficult, he wrote. But that is not a permission slip for a judge to let constitutional analysis morph into policy preferences under the guise of a balancing test that churns out the judges own policy beliefs.

The most interesting concurring opinion came, as expected, from Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Last week, in a First Amendment case involving trademarks, the courts second-newest justice publicly took issue with the originalist approach used by Thomas in that case. While Thomas had searched for historical analogues in trademark law to resolve it, Barrett disagreed with the inquiry itself.

Relying exclusively on history and tradition may seem like a way of avoiding judge-made tests, she wrote in a concurring opinion. But a rule rendering tradition dispositive is itself a judge-made test. And I do not see a good reason to resolve this case using that approach rather than by adopting a generally applicable principle.

That cautious stance may have broader implications for how Barrett handles future constitutional questions. In the short term, most observers took that concurring opinion as a sign that she might broaden Bruens history-and-tradition test. As expected, she used her concurring opinion on Friday to explain why it was inappropriate to be too specific when searching for historical analogues to modern gun laws.

Imposing a test that demands overly specific analogues has serious problems, she wrote. To name two: It forces 21st-century regulations to follow late-18th-century policy choices, giving us a law trapped in amber. And it assumes that founding-era legislatures maximally exercised their power to regulate, thereby adopting a use it or lose it view of legislative authority. Such assumptions are flawed, and originalism does not require them.

Barrett criticized what she saw as a fly-by-night approach to originalism, where random bits of historical evidence are transmuted into evidence of historical tradition. As I have explained elsewhere, evidence of tradition unmoored from original meaning is not binding law, she wrote, citing her opinion in the trademark case last week. And scattered cases or regulations pulled from history may have little bearing on the meaning of the text.

Some of this criticism is undoubtedly aimed at the lower courts, which have taken a wide range of approaches to the Bruen test. She specifically pointed out the flawed approach used by the Fifth Circuit, which she described as demanding overly specific analogues to existing gun regulations. Barrett did not repudiate Bruen and cast Rahimi as a natural successor. But to clarify Bruen is also to change it. Analogical reasoning under Bruen demands a wider lens: Historical regulations reveal a principle, not a mold, she explained.

The courts three liberal justices took two different approaches in their own writings. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who joined the court after Bruen was decided, emphasized that the problem was Bruen itself. She noted the instability that it had produced in the lower courts stood in sharp contrast to the post-Heller, pre-Bruen era, where most of the courts had coalesced around a workable balancing test.

Jackson concluded that the Rahimi decision inches that ball forward toward something more reliable. But it is becoming increasingly obvious that there are miles to go, she concluded. Meanwhile, the rule of law suffers. That idealkey to our democracythrives on legal standards that foster stability, facilitate consistency, and promote predictability. So far, Bruens history-focused test ticks none of those boxes.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who wrote a concurring opinion joined by Justice Elena Kagan, could have also pointed out that she and the courts other liberals predicted this problem three years ago. Instead, she played along with the other five conservatives narrative that Rahimi was simply clarifying Bruen, which emphasized Thomass own isolation from the rest of the court.

If the dissents interpretation of Bruen were the law, then Bruen really would be the one-way ratchet that I and the other dissenters in that case feared, disqualifying virtually any representative historical analogue and making it nearly impossible to sustain common-sense regulations necessary to our nations safety and security. Sotomayor wrote, quoting from now-former Justice Stephen Breyers dissent in Bruen. Thankfully, the court rejects that rigid approach to the historical inquiry.

Thomass isolation in Rahimi does not imperil the courts conservative majority. Nor does it mean that Thomas wont write important decisions going forwardindeed, he already released significant majority opinions on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and on federal trademark law this term. More decisions may come in the next week as this term draws to a close.

The real question now is whether Bruen was a high-water mark for Thomass influence on the court. It is often claimed that the two chief justices with whom he has served, Roberts and William Rehnquist, were reluctant to assign major opinions to Thomas because of his idiosyncratic legal views, which made it more difficult to form workable majorities in 54 cases. Bruen was a sharp reversal of this trend and a major chance for him to write a landmark decision. If there is one subtext to todays Rahimi opinions, its that he blew it.
ENTERPRISE, Ala. (WDHN)  Enterprise citizens are cautioned by the Enterprise Fire Department not only on citizen-shot firework dangers, but also that they are not permitted within city limits.

Most injuries come from firecrackers and sparklers, and children between the ages of 10 and 14 have the highest rate of injury, Fire Chief Christopher Davis said, Water boils at 212 degrees Sparklers burn at 1200 degrees.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commissions annual report, more than 10,000 people were treated for fireworks injuries in 2022.

Really, the only way to stay safe is to leave the fireworks shows to the professionals.

The City of Enterprises ordinance prohibiting fireworks in the city limits has been in effect since 1999, and includes, discharge, firing or use of firecrackers, rockets, torpedoes, roman candles or other fireworks prohibited within the city limits of Enterprise, Alabama.

It is also illegal to sell fireworks in Enterprise.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
In this photo provided by Pam Bonner, smoke rises from fires in Ruidoso, N.M., Monday, June 17, 2024. Thousands of southern New Mexico residents fled the mountainous village as a wind-whipped wildfire tore through homes and other buildings. (Pam Bonner via AP)

Belinda Bukovitz was jolted into action by the sound of police outside her home shouting through a loudspeaker: Go now, go now, go now! Realizing this was not like other wildfires that had threatened her mountain village before, she, her husband, son and two cats bundled into three separate cars and fled.

The smoke was at the end of the street when they tore out of the driveway. Panic set in as the usually sleepy two-lane streets of Ruidoso became gridlocked, with cars inching along bumper to bumper, sometimes taking as long as an hour to go a single mile. As they crept forward, smoke from one fire was ahead and smoke from another behind. Bukovitz had no idea where the flames were.

It was absolute sheer terror, like I thought we were going to die, she said, voice cracking. I remember at one point thinking, the rivers over to my right, and I thought my son was about probably five cars behind me. I thought I will get out and go get him, and I will just get in that water. I dont know if that would help, but that was my plan because I just I didnt know how fast it was coming.

The South Fork and Salt fires that raged in south-central New Mexico this week prompted thousands of people like Bukovitz to flee for their lives and destroyed or damaged an estimated 1,400 structures  about half of them homes, according to Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford.

Officials were still taking stock on Friday as firefighters took advantage of rain and cool temperatures to keep the blazes from growing, but large swaths of some neighborhoods were lost. At least two people died.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham were to tour the disaster area Saturday. A federal disaster declaration has cleared the way for more resources to help start recovery as crews continue to corral the flames.

Some residents smelled smoke when they woke up Monday and poured their first cup of coffee. They didnt think much of it, assuming the source had to be far off. Some went to work, others walked their dogs.

A few miles away, an elite team of firefighters dubbed the Smokey Bear Hot Shots were on the scene, and a large air tanker and helicopter were ordered to drop water and slurry on flames, which at the time covered just a few acres. But as fire behavior experts would later explain, there was nothing that was going to slow this down  it had been too hot and too dry in the months leading up to this day.

Within a few short hours, the majestic views of Sierra Blanca Peak were blotted out as huge plumes of smoke rose from the forested hills. The sun disappeared, the sky turned orange and flames became visible from vantage points around Ruidoso.

Authorities ordered the first residents in the canyons on the outskirts to leave around midday. Others began packing their belongings as conditions worsened.

Then, around dinnertime, the order came via social media for the entire village of about 8,000, plus the many tourists who visit in summer, to head out: Immediate mandatory Go evacuation for the village of Ruidoso  Go now!!

Pam Bonner was among those to leave early in the day, only to find herself in a line of vehicles that stretched for about a mile. She could see other cars stacking up behind as the glowing horizon became more intense.

This was unlike anything. The sky was black and orange, and the clouds were like mushroom clouds, she said. It was just like a horror movie. It really was.

With flames and smoke forcing road closures, there were limited options for getting out. Power had been turned off as a precaution, and communication became a challenge as cell service dropped out. Vehicles were funneled toward evacuation shelters in Roswell, Alamogordo and elsewhere.

Patrick Pearson, who recently had surgery after breaking his leg, was waiting at the Swiss Chalet Inn for a friend to pick him up. Others fleeing their homes asked if he needed a ride, but he thought his friend would arrive and remained  unaware that she had been stopped at numerous roadblocks and was unable to call to let him know. At a final checkpoint, the friend asked people to go get Pearson, but the smoke was too thick by then.

Authorities found Pearson's body Tuesday in the inns parking lot, where his family believes he collapsed after being overcome by smoke. Some of his belongings were at the front entrance. Just a day earlier, Pearsons children had wished him a happy Father's Day and told him they loved him, his daughter Hilary Mallak said.

A talented musician and good cook, the 60-year-old Pearson loved Ruidoso and loved making people happy, Mallak said.

Really whats so heartbreaking about it is knowing, thinking that your family member burned to death alone, she said. But luckily I think he was already gone with just the smoke. So it was quick.

Authorities also found the unidentified skeletal remains of one other person inside a charred car.

The wildfires were fueled by the exceedingly dry and hot conditions that have been present in much of the Southwest in recent months, and exacerbated by strong winds that whipped the flames out of control and into Ruidoso.

Tom Bird, a forecaster with the National Weather Service who was assigned to the fire, said this area of New Mexico has received between a quarter and half the average precipitation it usually gets and this marks the peak of fire season in the Sacramento Mountains.

You can see with great frequency there's a lot of hot, dry, windy days leading up to right here, this really high peak, he said, pointing to a chart showing unfavorable conditions on the day the fires started.

In fact, it was the worst that weve seen over the last month, Bird said.

Nationwide, the total square mileage of terrain that has been burned so far this year is much greater than the 10-year average, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. There are more than two dozen large fires currently burning in 10 states, from Alaska to Florida.

In Ruidoso, it could take until next week before authorities begin letting people return home. Thats because some firefighting crews have been working their way through neighborhoods to address any pockets of unburned fuel that might flare up.

Mary Ann Russ is taking it one day at a time, creating a small list each day of things she needs to get done now that she and her husband lost their home of 24 years.

They were out of town the day the fires broke out. Her father-in-law evacuated with the help of neighbors, but all their belongings are gone. Prescription medications. Clothing. Russ' car. The flag from her mothers military funeral. Her fathers Army keepsakes. Her sons baby pictures.

You know, Ill just never have them back, thats all, she said. And its heavy, man. Its heavy.

For now Russ and her neighbors are staying in Roswell, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) away. Until they can return, they will be sharing dinners and leaning on each other.

We just got to keep putting one foot in front of the other, she said.
Ethylene oxide emissions from 2 plants could have raised cancer risks for Lake County neighbors, report shows

People living near two Lake County industries could face significantly greater risks of developing certain cancers, according to a new federal study based on monitoring of ethylene oxide pollution in surrounding neighborhoods.

Emissions of the highly toxic gas from Vantage Specialty Chemicals in Gurnee were responsible for long-term cancer risks up to 20 times higher than federal guidelines, the report found.

Three miles away, in the southwest corner of Waukegan, the risks posed by Medline Industries pollution were up to 10 times greater than 1 cancer case among 10,000 people exposed  the highest rate federal officials consider acceptable.

The study, released Friday by an arm of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is a snapshot of potential dangers.

Air quality testing near Vantage and Medline during 2019 and 2020 detected spikes of ethylene oxide, also known as EtO, when the wind blew away from the facilities toward homes and apartments. Both companies reported emitting substantially larger quantities of the gas in previous years, suggesting the risks to long-time residents could be even higher than the study estimated.

Its unfortunate we will never know much EtO weve been exposed to, said Celeste Flores, a Gurnee resident who grew up in the area and now lives a mile from Medline and about 2 miles from Vantage.

Changes in state law and permitting, prompted in part by Chicago Tribune reporting, required both companies to begin dramatically reducing EtO emissions in 2019.

Medlines emissions are limited to 150 pounds a year, down from 3,058 pounds in 2014 and 8,638 pounds in 1999. Vantage, which emitted 6,421 pounds of EtO in 2014, is now limited to 110 pounds a year.

More recent monitoring in areas near Medline show EtO concentrations in the air are declining but there are still lingering cancer risks for close neighbors, the study found. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry said it could not determine the current risk for people living near Vantage because monitoring near the plant ended in May 2020. More testing is recommended.

Vantage did not respond to a request for comment. A Medline spokeswoman declined to comment until the companys executives review the findings.

Four years in the making, the federal study is the latest documentation of health hazards that chemical manufacturers and sterilization companies have spent decades attempting to downplay, if not outright deny exist.

The first study detailing how EtO causes genetic mutations was published in 1948. During the 1970s, animal studies confirmed its powerful ability to scramble DNA could trigger cancers.

After two rounds of independent peer review, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency declared in 2016 there is essentially no safe level of exposure to the toxic gas.

EPA researchers relied in part on a study of more than 18,000 workers at sterilization plants similar to the one operated by Medline in Waukegan. The worker study linked ethylene oxide exposure to breast cancer, leukemia and lymphomas.

In their conclusions about the latest research, federal officials cautioned it is impossible to connect inhaling EtO to individual cancers in Lake County given the normal risks everyone faces. But the chemical is so potent it could take as little as a year of exposure to industrial emissions to increase long-term cancer risks, the study concluded.

About 7,000 people live within a mile of Vantage. Another 6,000 live that close to Medline.

Anyone concerned about health damages should consult their physician, said the ATSDR, which has published an online briefing to help guide diagnosis and treatment. The agency will host a public forum from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep, 3106 Belvidere Road, Waukegan.

Federal health officials said limited and intermittent air quality testing in 2019 and 2020 prevented them from determining if EtO emissions from Vantage and Medline posed health risks farther away from the facilities.

By contrast, EPA officials said in 2019 that ethylene oxide pollution from the now-closed Sterigenics sterilization plant in west suburban Willowbrook increased the risk of developing cancer for people living as far as 25 miles away.

The findings prompted neighbors and elected officials to demand that Sterigenics leave town, which it eventually did.

A different type of intervention prevented other communities from getting the same treatment.

On multiple occasions, the EPAs inspector general reported in 2021, former President Donald Trumps appointees in Washington ordered the agencys Chicago office to dramatically scale back efforts to understand the dangers of ethylene oxide in the Midwest, including in Gurnee and Waukegan.

Flores and other Lake County activists couldnt help but notice other differences between the two situations.

Neighbors of the shuttered Willowbrook plant are predominantly white and upper-middle class, while neighborhoods near the Gurnee and Waukegan facilities include larger numbers of Latino and Black residents with lower median incomes.

Im glad this study is finally out so we can help educate the community, Flores said. But it shouldnt have taken this long.
The EU Council on June 21 approved the accession negotiations framework with Ukraine and Moldova and confirmed that the talks would begin on June 25.

The announcement follows an agreement by EU ambassadors last week. Officials in Kyiv and Brussels were pushing for the June starting date before Hungary takes over from Belgium as the EU chair the following month.

The negotiations will be held in Luxembourg.

Ukraine received EU membership candidate status in June 2022. The European Commission recommended launching accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova in November 2023, and the European Council agreed on it a month later.

The commission then presented the negotiations framework and said the two countries are ready to begin the talks by the end of June.

Despite the agreement, Ukraine's entry into the EU most likely remains years away. Katarina Mathernova, the EU ambassador to Ukraine, said last month that Kyiv could join the bloc in 2030.

Read also: EU Ambassador to Ukraine: Ukraine could join EU in 2030

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The Council of the European Union approved on Friday the negotiation framework for Ukraine and Moldova, and the EU is officially starting preparations for intergovernmental conferences with these states on 25 June, which will launch accession talks.

Source: Interfax-Ukraine with reference to a senior diplomat of Belgium, which holds the EU presidency

Details: The decision was made during the Economic and Financial Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg.

"We have just adopted a framework for negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. So we can officially start preparing for the intergovernmental conferences on Tuesday, 25 June," he said.

Background:

The permanent representatives of the EU member states approved the framework for accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on 14 June.

The decision of the EU ambassadors means that an intergovernmental conference will be held on 25 June to officially launch negotiations on Ukraines 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". But after assurances that its demands would be included in the negotiating framework, it lifted its veto.

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Germany's President Frank-Walter Steinmeier speaks at the closing event of the "Madeleine Albright Promotion 2023/2024" at the College of Europe (Campus Bruges). Jonas Roosens/Belga/dpa

The next generation of EU officials must defend freedom and democracy, the ideals of the European Union, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in a speech on Friday.

"There has never been a tougher time to fight for Europe but I'm sure there has never been a more important time to fight for Europe," Steinmeier said.

The German president was speaking in Bruges, Belgium, to a graduating class from the College of Europe, an elite institution that trains the next generation of officials to staff the EU institutions.

In his speech, Steinmeier urged the graduating class to be optimistic, a rare commodity he acknowledged especially "in a Europe where crisis mode" seems to be the new normal.

Encouraging the graduate class to be hopeful, Steinmeier recalled the challenges his generation faced with the end of communism in Germany and Europe and the fall of the Berlin wall.

"Yes it is truly a tough time to enter into public service. Every generation feels the call of history. Every generation faces challenges that define it," Steinmeier said.

"But with one look at the world around us, I think it's fair to say, more is asked of your generation than many generations before," he said, and highlighted the challenges of climate change and war in Ukraine and in the Middle East.

The German president noted a rise in division and extreme rhetoric in European politics after the success of the far right in the European parliament elections.

Steinmeier called on the graduates to protect democracy and the EU from extremism so that young Europeans are not killed again "for the sake of nationalism and hatred."
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. The rescheduling of the parliamentary election in Azerbaijan will allow for the successful resolution of all issues related to organizing COP29 and will create conditions for the parliament to operate fully during such a high-level event, Azerbaijani MP Soltan Mammadov said during today's session of the parliament, Trend reports.

According to him, Azerbaijan is currently experiencing one of the most monumental periods in its history.

"The victory in the 2020 Second Karabakh War and the results of local anti-terror measures conducted in Karabakh by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces in 2023 have opened a new chapter in our nation's history. The growing power and authority of our state on the international stage have led to even greater trust in us.

"The decision made in December of last year to host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Azerbaijan is another testament to the high level of trust the international community has in Azerbaijan. In November of this year, alongside COP29, our country will also host such important international events as the 19th session of the Conference of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol and the 6th session of the Conference of the Parties to the Paris Agreement. The preparation for these prestigious events, which will discuss global issues, requires a lot of time and effort," he said.

He also mentioned that the organization of a Parliamentary Conference is planned within the framework of COP29.

"A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Azerbaijani parliament and the Inter-Parliamentary Union on this matter. The Parliamentary Conference is one of the key events of COP29, and to prepare for it, working groups of deputies should be formed in the Azerbaijani parliament.

Moreover, the preparation of the final document of the Parliamentary Conference is a lengthy and complex process. Therefore, forming a new composition of the Azerbaijani parliament before the start of COP29 is of great importance.

According to Part II of Article 98.1 of the Constitution of Azerbaijan, the next election to the parliament should be held in November 2024. The parliamentary election is one of the most important events in the socio-political life of the country, and the preparation for such an important event requires a serious approach, intensive work, and time.

Therefore, the simultaneous conduct of two large-scale and important processes may have a certain impact on the effective functioning of state bodies and on the normal life of society. Considering all this, we should support the initiative to change the election date," the MP explained.

Mammadov emphasized that in the event of an extraordinary election to the Azerbaijani parliament, for the first time since independence, MPs representing Karabakh and Zangazur will be elected through voting in these territories.

"This will be another important political event in the history of Azerbaijan after the presidential election, first held in 2024 across the entire country.

"Members of the Azerbaijani parliament have always prioritized state interests. This is evidenced by the parliament's activities over the past five years and the high level of activity demonstrated by deputies in defending our country's national interests. Therefore, I believe that my esteemed colleagues will support the initiative of the deputies representing the New Azerbaijan Party regarding the appointment of an extraordinary election to the Azerbaijani parliament," he added.

To note, the previous parliamentary election in Azerbaijan was held on February 9, 2020.

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Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Friday praised the European Union decision to start talks on Ukrainian and Moldovan membership on Tuesday.

"This is a big day for Ukraine, Moldova, and the European Union. All 27 EU member states have approved negotiating frameworks, and practical EU accession talks are scheduled to begin next week," Kuleba said on X.

"Ukraine's path to today has not been easy, involving a revolution and a war. But, thanks to the Ukrainian people's bravery, we have not let anyone or anything derail our historic trajectory," he said.

"Ukraine has also set a record by moving from the EU membership bid to the start of negotiations in just over two years, faster than any other candidate in history."

He said this was achieved with "no discounts."

"Ukraine diligently met all of the requirements and implemented critical reforms to enable this historic day. We accomplished this despite fighting a total war for our survival," he said.
EU to start transfer of profits from frozen Russian assets 'before summer break,' EU official says

Ukraine will receive the first payment of 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) from the profits of Russian assets frozen in the EU "before the summer break," EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said on June 21.

While Dombrovskis did not specify when exactly Ukraine would receive the funds, EU institutions typically take a summer recess from the end of July until the beginning of September.

EU ambassadors agreed on May 8 on a plan to use windfall profits of immobilized Russian assets to fund Ukraine's reconstruction and defense needs. Kyiv is expected to receive roughly 3 billion euros ($3.2 billion) every year, according to earlier discussions.

"We estimate that our measures would make up to 3 billion euros ($3.2 billion) available this year, and we expect to make a first payment of 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) before the summer break," Dombrovskis said.

Dombrovskis said he also welcomed the deal made at the G7 to provide $50 billion of loans for Ukraine using revenues from frozen Russian sovereign assets.

Ukraine's Western partners and other allies froze around $300 billion in Russian assets at the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. Roughly two-thirds are held in the Belgium-based financial services company Euroclear.

While some G7 members, like the U.S., proposed seizing Russian assets outright, the EU has been more hesitant, fearing legal and fiscal pitfalls of confiscation. Instead, Brussels seeks to use windfall profits generated by the frozen assets and funnel them to Kyiv.

The costs of Ukraine's reconstruction also continue to rise, amounting to $486 billion over a 10-year period, according to the World Bank's report from February.

Read also: EU Council confirms accession talks with Ukraine, Moldova to start on June 25

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Under the hopeless leadership of Ursula von der Leyen, the EU has little chance of winning the very battle it started - Nadja Wohlleben/Reuters

It has begun. While Europe has been obsessing over elections in France and Britain, and officials in Brussels are haggling in back rooms over who gets the top jobs in the EU, something far more important has been happening. A full-scale trade war has started with China.

After the EU declared its intention to slap punitive tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in a desperate bid to save its auto industry, China has predictably hit back by laying the groundwork for tariffs on pork.

We are at the start of what looks likely to prove a bitter confrontation between the two blocs. And the problem is clear: Europe is most likely going to lose. It is too divided, has no clear strategy, and its enfeebled economy no longer has the strength for a fight. The West needs to stand up to China, but Europe, including the UK, may no longer be strong enough to do that by itself.

The EUs decision to slap punitive tariffs of up to 38pc on Chinese electric vehicles imported into the bloc was perfectly understandable. The blocs giant auto industry still accounts for 6pc of employment across its economy, and exports 158bn (134bn) worth of cars.

We can debate whether the Chinese cars are subsidised by the state, or whether its new breed of hyper-efficient manufacturers have simply mastered the technology better than anyone else (my guess is that the answer lies somewhere between the two), but one point is clear: in the absence of government action, cheap, well-made Chinese battery-powered cars looked set to destroy the European manufacturers. Hence the tariffs.

The problem, however, was obvious from the off: China was always going to retaliate. This week, it started an anti-dumping probe on pork imports from the EU, a prelude to full tariffs. It may sound like a fairly marginal product, but Europe sells roughly 3bn worth of the meat into China annually, with Spain, Holland, Denmark and France particularly exposed. It seems likely that we will see levies on every pound making its way to China by the end of this year.

At the same time, Beijing has hinted that it could raise tariffs on large engine petrol vehicles, a tactic designed to punish EU manufacturers. It wont stop there either, with Chinas Commerce Ministry warning on Friday that the EU risked triggering a trade war.

We should not be surprised if there are soon levies on Airbus planes  especially as China has now started manufacturing its own passenger jets  on pharmaceuticals and on machine tools and chemicals. The list will be a long one. It may be a while before every handbag sold by an LVMH brand has an extra 50pc added by tariffs to its price, but just about every other major European product will eventually be targeted  and British companies could well be collateral damage as things escalate.

Over the next year, we can expect to see escalating rounds of tariffs and counter-tariffs on both sides. But for all the bluster, the harsh reality is that the EU, especially under the hopeless leadership of Ursula von der Leyen, is on course to lose. It faces three big problems.

First, it is internally divided. Just take a look at the way the German finance minister Robert Habeck was on his way to Beijing this weekend to open separate trade talks with his Chinese counterparts. The German auto industry is already putting huge pressure on the EU to relax the rules on auto imports to preserve their sales in China, one of its key markets.

The Spanish government might follow on behalf of its pork farmers. And any hint of tariffs on Airbus, which is dominant in China, will have whoever emerges as prime minister of France in the next few weeks pleading for a special deal.

China will weaken Europes resolve

Britain, meanwhile, is unlikely to align itself with the EU if the 233m of Scotch whisky that China imports is under threat. It would be almost comically easy for China to play different European nations off against each other, create splits and weaken the Continents resolve.

This problem is heightened by the point that Europe has no clear strategy. The United States has been engaged in a trade war with China since 2018, but with a difference: the Americans have a clear-eyed strategy for building up their own industries and boosting manufacturing capacity, allowing for the substitution of imports with domestically produced goods. True, we have yet to see how well the strategy will work out, but at least theres a direction of travel.

In Europe, on the other hand, we see punishment for Chinese manufacturers but no coherent sense of how to compete across key industries. Then again, even if there were a plan that seemed workable, whether the bloc would have the strength to go through with it is another question entirely.

Frankly, after decades of over-regulation and massive welfare spending, coupled with the energy shock resulting from the Ukraine war, Europe appears to be simply too weak economically to take any real pain. In a trade war, sacrifices have to be made to obtain long-term gains. But none of the major European economies appears to be in any position to sacrifice much of anything. Instead, theyre stuck in a doom loop of rising taxes, debt and stagnation.

Taking a robust stand against Chinas growing economy might be the right thing to do. Its economy is taking some bumps, but still expanding at a decent clip. And with its automobile sector coming into its own, we are now seeing the start of Chinas push into consumer industries that the European and American giants thought they had a lock on forever  posing a real threat to the economic dominance of the Western powers, and one to which we will have to figure out a way of responding.

Yet right now, today, it looks as if Europe has started a fight it will lose.

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The hydrogen sign can be seen attached to a pipe in a distribution center. Bernd Weibrod/dpa

The European Commission has given Germany permission to invest around 3 billion in its hydrogen infrastructure to build long-distance pipelines.

The commission on Friday said that the positive effects of the government subsidies would be greater than the potential damage that could be caused by distortions of competition.

Germany and other countries are investing in hydrogen as a potentially climate-friendly fuel for use in industry and transport.

The European Union generally has strict rules about state support for companies through direct subsidies or tax benefits.

The rules are aimed at ensuring companies from different EU countries can compete fairly within the bloc's single market.

The European Commission monitors compliance with these rules.

So-called "green" hydrogen produced using renewable energy from wind and solar power is intended to replace fossil fuels such as diesel for trucks or coal in blast furnaces for steel production.

The first major pipeline in Germany is due to go into operation in 2025, and a complete core network should be ready by 2032.

In concrete terms, companies are to be supported in the form of state guarantees, through which they can obtain favourable loans. This could cover losses that are expected at the start of the project.
Insights from Financial Times, Bruegel, and Euronews

The News

European Union countries formally approved the beginning of accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, marking the start of what will likely be a yearslong process toward joining the bloc.

Negotiations are set to kick off on Tuesday in Luxembourg at two conferences the EU will hold with Kyiv and Chisinau.

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy celebrated the decision, writing on X that Millions of Ukrainians, and indeed generations of our people, are realizing their European dream. Moldovas President Maia Sandu said EU membership is our path to peace, prosperity, and a better life.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Challenges remain to integrating a country of Ukraines size

Sources: Bruegel, Financial Times

Extending certain bloc-wide programs such as the EUs cohesion policy and the Common Agricultural Policy to Ukraine is currently unthinkable, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg told Semafor, calling instead for gradual integration. The policies together amount to more than 60% of the EUs budget, and because Ukraine has a low GDP per capita compared to EU member states and farmlands that exceed the size of Poland, accession would have drastic economic impacts for existing members, an analysis by Bruegel, a Brussels-based think tank, argued. Ukraine has already clashed with its close ally Poland over agricultural policy, after cheap Ukrainian grain imports angered Polish farmers. Ukraine has not even entered the EU yet, and already it has damaged the single market, an EU diplomat told the Financial Times.

Hungarian EU presidency threatens to bring accession to a standstill

Sources: Euronews, Financial Times

The enlargement process could be halted for six months as Hungary takes over the European Councils rotating presidency in July, giving Prime Minister Viktor Orbans government the power to set the agenda. The Hungarian Minister for European Affairs said Tuesday that Budapest will aim to push accession forwards for the Western Balkans, but that opening the specific chapters of membership negotiations with Ukraine wont be raised at all, Euronews reported. Hungary long vetoed Ukrainian accession talks, but Orban relented in December, noting that he would have many more opportunities to block the process.

Ukrainian membership could test EU defense clause

Source: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

EU membership also comes with Article 42.7 of the EU treaty, an often forgotten mutual defense clause similar to NATOs article five. So far, the EU security guarantee has played little role in organizing European defense, but it could come to the fore if Ukraine is let into the EU before it gains NATO membership, two experts at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace argued. The union cannot defend its external borders without NATO. That dilemma has long been a theoretical one, but Ukraines march toward membership could make it real.
Evacuations ordered in Northern California for fire burning in difficult terrain, Cal Fire says

Residents living in a small community in Yuba County were ordered to evacuate Friday after a vegetation fire broke out.

Firefighters began dropping retardant on the 12-acre Double Fire, sparked off of Double Eagle Way near the community of Challenge-Brownsville.

The fire is approximately 7 acres with spotting a half mile ahead of the fire, Cal Fires Nevada-Yuba-Placer unit wrote on social media at 2:15 p.m. In an update just after 6:15 p.m., Cal Fire officials said the fire had reached 12 acres.

The Yuba County Sheriffs Office said on social media that evacuation zone E081 was split into three areas: E081A and E081C are under evacuation warnings.

E081A includes residents situated north of La Porte Road at Allen Way, before the thoroughfare turns into Willow Glenn Road. E081C includes residents living south of the Brownsville Aero Pines Airport and along Willow Glen Road, according to the countys emergency map.

The area between both subzones is known as E081B, and residents have been ordered to leave that area. People must also evacuate zone E007, Wildcat Trail and Double Eagle Way, deputies said.

A temporary evacuation shelter has been created at Sycamore Ranch, 5390 Highway 20. Large animals are welcome.

CAL FIRE/Placer County firefighters making access in difficult terrain to the Double Fire off Double Eagle Way near Brownsville in Yuba County. Air resources are over the fire making retardant drops. The fire is approximately 7 acres with spotting a half mile ahead of the fire. pic.twitter.com/u435ZOy8UK  CAL FIRE Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit (@CALFIRENEU) June 20, 2024
Nuclear-powered Type 094A Jin-class ballistic missile submarine of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy is seen during a military display in the South China Sea

Nuclear-powered Type 094A Jin-class ballistic missile submarine of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy is seen during a military display in the South China Sea

By Greg Torode, Gerry Doyle, Laurie Chen

HONG KONG (Reuters) -The United States and China resumed semi-official nuclear arms talks in March for the first time in five years, with Beijing's representatives telling U.S. counterparts that they would not resort to atomic threats over Taiwan, according to two American delegates who attended.

The Chinese representatives offered reassurances after their U.S. interlocutors raised concerns that China might use, or threaten to use, nuclear weapons if it faced defeat in a conflict over Taiwan. Beijing views the democratically governed island as its territory, a claim rejected by the government in Taipei.

"They told the U.S. side that they were absolutely convinced that they are able to prevail in a conventional fight over Taiwan without using nuclear weapons," said scholar David Santoro, the U.S. organiser of the Track Two talks, the details of which are being reported by Reuters for the first time.

Participants in Track Two talks are generally former officials and academics who can speak with authority on their government's position, even if they are not directly involved with setting it. Government-to-government negotiations are known as Track One.

Washington was represented by about half a dozen delegates, including former officials and scholars at the two-day discussions, which took place in a Shanghai hotel conference room.

Beijing sent a delegation of scholars and analysts, which included several former People's Liberation Army officers.

A State Department spokesperson said in response to Reuters' questions that Track Two talks could be "beneficial". The department did not participate in the March meeting though it was aware of it, the spokesperson said.

Such discussions cannot replace formal negotiations "that require participants to speak authoritatively on issues that are often highly compartmentalized within (Chinese) government circles," the spokesperson said.

Members of the Chinese delegation and Beijing's defence ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

The informal discussions between the nuclear-armed powers took place with the U.S. and China at odds over major economic and geopolitical issues, with leaders in Washington and Beijing accusing each other of dealing in bad faith.

The two countries briefly resumed Track One talks over nuclear arms in November but those negotiations have since stalled, with a top U.S. official publicly expressing frustration at China's responsiveness.

The Pentagon, which estimates that Beijing's nuclear arsenal increased by more than 20% between 2021 and 2023, said in October that China "would also consider nuclear use to restore deterrence if a conventional military defeat in Taiwan" threatened CCP rule.

China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control and has over the past four years stepped up military activity around the island.

The Track Two talks are part of a two-decade nuclear weapons and posture dialogue that stalled after the Trump administration pulled funding in 2019.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, semi-official discussions resumed on broader security and energy issues, but only the Shanghai meeting dealt in detail with nuclear weapons and posture.

Santoro, who runs the Hawaii-based Pacific Forum think-tank, described "frustrations" on both sides during the latest discussions but said the two delegations saw reason to continue talking. More discussions were being planned in 2025, he said.

Nuclear policy analyst William Alberque of the Henry Stimson Centre think-tank, who was not involved in the March discussions, said the Track Two negotiations were useful at a time of glacial U.S.-Chinese relations.

"It's important to continue talking with China with absolutely no expectations," he said, when nuclear arms are at issue.

NO FIRST-USE?

The U.S. Department of Defense estimated last year that Beijing has 500 operational nuclear warheads and will probably field more than 1,000 by 2030.

That compares to 1,770 and 1,710 operational warheads deployed by the U.S. and Russia respectively. The Pentagon said that by 2030, much of Beijing's weapons will likely be held at higher readiness levels.

Since 2020, China has also modernised its arsenal, starting production of its next-generation ballistic missile submarine, testing hypersonic glide vehicle warheads and conducting regular nuclear-armed sea patrols.

Weapons on land, in the air and at sea give China the "nuclear triad" - a hallmark of a major nuclear power.

A key point the U.S. side wanted to discuss, according to Santoro, was whether China still stood by its no-first-use and minimal deterrence policies, which date from the creation of its first nuclear bomb in the early 1960s.

Minimal deterrence refers to having just enough atomic weapons to dissuade adversaries.

China is also one of two nuclear powers - the other being India - to have pledged not to initiate a nuclear exchange. Chinese military analysts have speculated that the no-first-use policy is conditional - and that nuclear arms could be used against Taiwan's allies - but it remains Beijing's stated stance.

Santoro said the Chinese delegates told U.S. representatives that Beijing maintained these policies and that "'we are not interested in reaching nuclear parity with you, let alone superiority.'"

"'Nothing has changed, business as usual, you guys are exaggerating'," Santoro said in summarising Beijing's position.

His description of the discussions was corroborated by fellow U.S. delegate Lyle Morris, a security scholar at the Asia Society Policy Institute.

A report on the discussions is being prepared for U.S. government but would not be made public, Santoro said.

'RISK AND OPACITY'

Top U.S. arms control official Bonnie Jenkins told Congress in May that China had not responded to nuclear-weapons risk reduction proposals that Washington raised during last year's formal talks.

China has yet to agree to further government-to-government meetings.

Bejing's "refusal to substantively engage" in discussions over its nuclear build-up raises questions around its "already ambiguous stated "no-first-use" policy and its nuclear doctrine more broadly," the State Department spokesperson told Reuters.

China's Track Two delegation did not discuss specifics about Beijing's modernisation effort, Santoro and Morris said.

Alberque of the Henry Stimson Centre said that China relied heavily on "risk and opacity" to mitigate U.S. nuclear superiority and there was "no imperative" for Beijing to have constructive discussions.

China's expanded arsenal - which includes anti-ship cruise missiles, bombers, intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarines - exceeded the needs of a state with a minimal deterrence and no-first-use policy, Alberque said.

Chinese talking points revolved around the "survivability" of Beijing's nuclear weapons if it suffered a first strike, said Morris.

The U.S. delegates said the Chinese described their efforts as a deterrence-based modernisation programme to cope with developments such as improved U.S. missile defences, better surveillance capabilities, and strengthened alliances.

The U.S., Britain and Australia last year signed a deal to share nuclear submarine technology and develop a new class of boats, while Washington is now working with Seoul to coordinate responses to a potential atomic attack.

Washington's policy on nuclear weapons includes the possibility of using them if deterrence fails, though the Pentagon says it would only consider that in extreme circumstances. It did not provide specifics.

One Chinese delegate "pointed to studies that said Chinese nuclear weapons were still vulnerable to U.S. strikes - their second-strike capability was not enough", said Morris.

(Reporting by Greg Torode in Hong Kong, Gerry Doyle in Singapore and Laurie Chen in Beijing; Additional reporting by Michael Martina in Washington; Editing by Katerina Ang)
Opinion editor's note: Editorials represent the opinions of the Star Tribune Editorial Board, which operates independently from the newsroom.



They're the friendly people in the neon-colored vests or jackets you'll see on the streets of downtown St. Paul and Minneapolis. As one of the most visible parts of the Downtown Improvement District's (DID) programs, they have become a familiar, helpful presence as safety ambassadors who offer directions, keep things clean and provide help to those in need of services.

In St. Paul, a proposal to expand the DID to the Lowertown part of downtown merits support. The St. Paul Downtown Alliance wants to extend the mostly privately funded DID into that neighborhood, an area that has seen growth in its residential population in recent years.

That section of downtown should be covered by the DID because the program has proven its value where it now operates. According to St. Paul program leaders, the area DID covers now has seen a 40% drop in what are known as "quality of life" or "livability" crimes such as disorderly conduct, panhandling, vandalism and graffiti. Over the same period of the last three years, Lowertown saw the same types of calls increase by 25%.

"Making half of downtown better isn't enough," said Joe Spencer, president of the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance. "People don't recognize those imaginary lines between one part of downtown and another."

He told an editorial writer that what's been learned in the past three years is that DID efforts work and should cover more of downtown.

"If we're able to expand, we can put more boots on the ground and more focus on high-pedestrian areas," he said. "Our team is not just a group of greeters who pick up candy wrappers  they are really effective at addressing public safety, the signs of social disorder that make us feel uneasy."

The existing district, which is overseen by a board of property owners, contracts with the Downtown Alliance to manage operations like its safety communications center, where a dispatcher helps coordinate communications between private security teams, police and social service agencies. With a camera-sharing program and live communication channel, officials in the center are able to see and spread real-time safety information.

If approved, the district would cover all of downtown from the Xcel Energy Center to CHS Field.

Legislators passed a law last year that allows residential property owners to also be assessed for the services, which spreads out the cost among contributors. The city and county also voluntarily contribute toward the cost.

City Council members must first vote on the proposal. Then property owners must weigh in: If owners subject to 35% of the proposed service charges file objections, it is vetoed. If it is approved, the St. Paul DID could increase its budget to about $2.7 million and its number of ambassadors from 10 to 30.

Also with approval, safety ambassadors could have better training and equipment, Spencer said. And the program could pay for a city attorney position to address livability crimes and pursue repeat offenders.

In Minneapolis, DID has been operating for about a decade and touts a cleaner, safer and greener downtown through its various programs. Its successes also help support the proposal to expand the effort to cover all of downtown St. Paul.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  Having a dog could be one of lifes greatest gifts, but proper training could prevent deadly encounters, training that experts say begins with owners being aware of their responsibilities if they decide to bring a dog home.

Following the arrest of a woman for violating Alabamas dangerous dog law that led to the death of a 2-year-old, were revisiting the conversation surrounding the importance of dog training and safety.

Swimming safety tips for the Summer

Dog training expert Dale Buchanan explained the five foundational components of the dog training process.

Plenty of exercise, mental stimulation, enrichment, socialization, and play we incorporate the dog training commands such as sit, down, stay, and come into those components, Buchanan said.

Recently, theres been multiple deadly dog attacks in North Alabama including a child who was killed in Madison County.

Buchanan trains dogs throughout the Tennessee Valley for a living. Those deadly encounters are why he says owners should remain aware of keeping a close eye on their dogs at all times.

Elderly tenants suffer with no air condition at Huntsville apartment complex

Growling and barking for example could be two early signs of behavior changes along with certain body language like snarling and showing their teeth.

Stress and anxiety, those are going to be two precursors to dog aggression and also fear, Buchanan said. If the dog shows signs of any of those three, then you can be sure that their aggression could come after that.

Buchanan says dogs are like children who always need to be looked after and require a great deal of responsibility and attention.

They have to have the time to put into the dog, Buchanan said. If theyre working 12 hours a day and theyre leaving the dog at home or in the back yard, thats not good. If somebody gets a dog and they dont have time to put into raising the dog, the dog will surely develop behavior problems.

Melissa Phillips, 55, is now behind bars after being charged in connection to that dog attack in New Hope that killed a child.

As a reminder, dog owners could be held accountable for violating Emilys Law legislation passed in 2018 to prevent deadly dog encounters.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. The current relations between Azerbaijan and Russia are at the top level, as evidenced by the Declaration on Allied Cooperation signed in February 2022, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev said at the fifth meeting of the Russian-Azerbaijani Expert Council in Baku today, Trend reports.

"Common culture, history, and mutual respect have contributed to their development," he pointed out.

According to Hajiyev, in addition to bilateral relations in all spheres of life, interregional cooperation is also expanding.

"Azerbaijan maintains relations with more than 70 subjects of Russia and operates more than 10 agreements on trade, economic, scientific-technical, and cultural ties between Russian regions and Azerbaijani partners," the official emphasized.

He mentioned a strong demand for transport arteries around the world.

"Azerbaijan is involved in various Eurasian transport initiatives. Work is underway to expand the North-South International Transport Corridor (ITC). Azerbaijan continues to actively invest in the development of this logistics structure, expanding the capacity of the Azerbaijani part of the corridor. Undoubtedly, this will benefit not only Azerbaijan and Russia but the entire region," Hajiyev also said.

He underscored that educational cooperation is also progressing steadily, as Azerbaijan hosts branches of Moscow State University and a medical university, with more than 300 schools conducting education in Russian.

"In 2024, Azerbaijan will host Russian Culture Days," added Hajiyev.

He also emphasized the longstanding experience of bilateral and multilateral relations between the two countries, highlighting the crucial role of the expert council in their further development.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Experts from Intermountain Primary Childrens Hospital warn Utahns to never leave a child in a car

Experts from Intermountain Primary Childrens Hospital warn Utahns to never leave a child in a car

MURRAY, Utah (ABC4 Utah)  As the weather warms, safety experts at Intermountain Primary Childrens Hospital are reminding drivers to never leave a child in a vehicle  even for a minute  to prevent injury or even death from overheating.

Even in spring, the inside of your vehicle can heat up very quickly. An outside temperature in the mid-60s can cause the temperature inside a car to rise above 110 degrees Fahrenheit, said Michelle Jamison, community health program manager at Intermountain Primary Childrens Hospital. In just 10 minutes, a car can heat up by 20 degrees and become deadly.

Every year, nearly 40 children across the country die after being left in a hot vehicle.

In Utah, 13 children have died in hot vehicles between 1998 and 2022, and others have suffered injuries in close calls.

Hot car tragedies can happen to anyone. They can occur when a caretaker forgets a child is in the car. This can be due to fatigue or change of routine  common for families during summer break and vacations  that push a persons brain into autopilot, making it easier to forget.

Additionally, nearly 3 in 10 heatstroke deaths happen when an unattended child gains access to a vehicle.

A childs body temperature can increase 3-5 times faster than an adults. Cracking a window has very little effect on the temperature inside the car.

Here are some tips from the experts at Intermountain Primary Childrens Hospital to prevent hot-car injuries:

 Make it a habit to always look in the back seat before getting out of your vehicle.

 Keep vehicles locked and keys out of the reach of children. Curious children get into unlocked vehicles and cant get themselves out.

 Never leave your child alone in a vehicle  even for a few minutes.

 Keep a visual reminder that a child is with you, like a stuffed animal or diaper bag in the seat next to you.

 Place something youll need when you arrive at your destination, like your phone or bag, cell in the back seat. That way, when you reach for the item, youll likely see the child.

 If a child is missing, quickly check all vehicles, including the trunk.

 Call police or 911 if you see a child left alone in a car.

Injury prevention is part of Intermountain Healths more than $600 million Primary Promise to create the nations model health system for children. This historic campaign is a partnership between Intermountain Health and its communities and has raised more than $500 million to date.

For more information about child safety and injury prevention, visit primarychildrens.org/safety.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Gemayel Keyes, a teacher at Gilbert Spruance Elementary School in Philadelphia, testifies before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions June 20, 2024 (screen capture from committee webcast)

WASHINGTON  The only reason John Arthur is able to be a public school teacher is because his wife makes much more money than he does.

Arthur  the 2021 Utah Teacher of the Year  testified on Thursday at a hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on the challenges facing public school teachers.

Arthur, who is also a member of the National Education Association and holds National Board Certification, pointed to pay as the main reason for both teachers leaving the profession and parents not wanting their children to become teachers.

The No. 1 solution to addressing the issues we face must be increasing teachers salaries, said Arthur, who teaches at Meadowlark Elementary School in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Gemayel Keyes, a teacher at Gilbert Spruance Elementary School in Philadelphia, told the committee that even as an educator, he still has an additional part-time job.

The special education teacher spent most of his career in education as a paraprofessional. At the time he moved into that role, the starting annual salary was $16,000 and the maximum was $30,000.

Its still pretty much the same, he said.

Minimum teacher salary

Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, introduced a bill in March 2023 that would set an annual base salary of $60,000 for public elementary and secondary school teachers.

We understand that the children, young people of this country, are our future and there is, in fact  nothing more important that we can do to provide a quality education to all of our young people, and yet, for decades, public school teachers have been overworked, underpaid, understaffed, and maybe most importantly, underappreciated, Sanders said in his opening remarks.

Compared to many other occupations, our public school teachers are more likely to experience high levels of anxiety, stress and burnout, which was only exacerbated by the pandemic, he said.

Sanders said 44% of public school teachers are quitting their profession within five years, citing the extremely low pay teachers receive as one of the primary reasons for a massive U.S. teacher shortage.

For the 2023-24 school year, a whopping 86% of K-12 public schools in the country documented challenges in hiring teachers, according to an October report from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Maryland sets $60,000 minimum

But a minimum annual teacher salary of $60,000 is not far off for every state.

In Maryland, the Blueprint for Marylands Future raises the starting salary for teachers to $60,000 a year by July 2026.

William E. Kirwan, vice chair of Marylands Accountability and Implementation Board, said the multi-year comprehensive plan, passed in 2021 in the Maryland General Assembly, addresses all aspects of childrens education from birth to high school completion, including most especially, the recruitment, retention and compensation of high quality teachers.

Kirwan said the Blueprints principle for teacher compensation is that, as professionals, teachers should be compensated at the same level as other professionals requiring similar levels of education, such as architects and CPAs.

An allocation issue

Sen. Bill Cassidy, ranking member of the committee, dubbed Democrats solution of creating a federal minimum salary for teachers as a laudable goal.

But he noted that the federal government dictating how states spend their money does not address the root cause of why teachers are struggling to teach in the classroom.

More mandates and funding cannot be the only answer we come up with. We must examine broken policies that got us here and find solutions to improve, the Louisiana Republican said.

Nicole Neily, president and founder of Parents Defending Education, a parents rights group, argued that schools dont have a resource issue but rather an allocation issue.

Theres a saying: Dont tell me where your priorities are, show me where you spend your money, and Ill tell you what they are. Education leaders routinely choose to spend money on programs and personnel that dont directly benefit students, said Neily.

Neily pointed to a 2021 report from the Heritage Foundation, which found that standardized test results show that achievement gaps are growing wider over time in districts with (chief diversity officers). Such staff members commonly encourage efforts at diversity, equity and inclusion in schools.

Robert Pondiscio, a senior fellow at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, said higher pay does not ease the burden we place on teachers or add hours to their day.

By all means, raise teacher pay, but do not assume that it will solve teacher shortages or keep good teachers in the classroom. Poor training, deteriorating classroom conditions, shoddy curriculum and spiraling demands have made an already challenging job nearly impossible to do well and sustainably, he added.

Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) asked Keyes what resources he needed, that you feel are necessary both as an educator and a leader to ensure that all students can succeed, especially students with disabilities?

Keyes said better training, more focused training specific to the populations we work with whether its autism, whether its a child with multiple disabilities, whether its somebody who needs learning support, there needs to be better focused training, not just for teachers, but for paraprofessional staff as well.

He added that teachers often are not very well seasoned and dont get effective training.

Casey asked what the federal government could do to encourage development of teachers at the local level.

Eliminating that debt that comes along with going back to school, Keyes replied. Because again, when you think about paraprofessionals, remember theyre some of the lowest paid in education. They still have to survive out here in the world while theyre trying to get to that next level in their career.

Kim Lyons of the Capital-Star staff contributed.

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The post Extremely low pay cited at U.S. Senate hearing as prime reason for teacher shortage appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
Extremely low pay cited at U.S. Senate hearing as prime reason for teacher shortage

John Arthur, a teacher at Meadowlark Elementary in Salt Lake City, Utah, testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, June 20, 2024. (Screenshot from committee webcast)

The only reason John Arthur is able to be a public school teacher is because his wife makes much more money than he does.

Arthur  the 2021 Utah Teacher of the Year  testified on Thursday at a hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on the challenges facing public school teachers.

Arthur, who is also a member of the National Education Association and holds National Board Certification, pointed to pay as the main reason for both teachers leaving the profession and parents not wanting their children to become teachers.

The No. 1 solution to addressing the issues we face must be increasing teachers salaries, said Arthur, who teaches at Meadowlark Elementary School in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Gemayel Keyes, a teacher at Gilbert Spruance Elementary School in Philadelphia, told the committee that even as an educator, he still has an additional part-time job.

The special education teacher spent most of his career in education as a paraprofessional. At the time he moved into that role, the starting annual salary was $16,000 and the maximum was $30,000.

Its still pretty much the same, he said.

Minimum teacher salary

Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, introduced a bill in March 2023 that would set an annual base salary of $60,000 for public elementary and secondary school teachers.

We understand that the children, young people of this country, are our future and there is, in fact  nothing more important that we can do to provide a quality education to all of our young people, and yet, for decades, public school teachers have been overworked, underpaid, understaffed, and maybe most importantly, underappreciated, Sanders said in his opening remarks.

Compared to many other occupations, our public school teachers are more likely to experience high levels of anxiety, stress and burnout, which was only exacerbated by the pandemic, he said.

Sanders said 44% of public school teachers are quitting their profession within five years, citing the extremely low pay teachers receive as one of the primary reasons for a massive U.S. teacher shortage.

For the 2023-24 school year, a whopping 86% of K-12 public schools in the country documented challenges in hiring teachers, according to an October report from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Maryland sets $60,000 minimum

But a minimum annual teacher salary of $60,000 is not far off for every state.

In Maryland, the Blueprint for Marylands Future raises the starting salary for teachers to $60,000 a year by July 2026.

William E. Kirwan, vice chair of Marylands Accountability and Implementation Board, said the multi-year comprehensive plan, passed in 2021 in the Maryland General Assembly, addresses all aspects of childrens education from birth to high school completion, including most especially, the recruitment, retention and compensation of high quality teachers.

Kirwan said the Blueprints principle for teacher compensation is that, as professionals, teachers should be compensated at the same level as other professionals requiring similar levels of education, such as architects and CPAs.

An allocation issue

Sen. Bill Cassidy, ranking member of the committee, dubbed Democrats solution of creating a federal minimum salary for teachers as a laudable goal.

But he noted that the federal government dictating how states spend their money does not address the root cause of why teachers are struggling to teach in the classroom.

More mandates and funding cannot be the only answer we come up with. We must examine broken policies that got us here and find solutions to improve, the Louisiana Republican said.

Nicole Neily, president and founder of Parents Defending Education, a parents rights group, argued that schools dont have a resource issue but rather an allocation issue.

Theres a saying: Dont tell me where your priorities are, show me where you spend your money, and Ill tell you what they are. Education leaders routinely choose to spend money on programs and personnel that dont directly benefit students, said Neily.

Neily pointed to a 2021 report from the Heritage Foundation, which found that standardized test results show that achievement gaps are growing wider over time in districts with (chief diversity officers). Such staff members commonly encourage efforts at diversity, equity and inclusion in schools.

Robert Pondiscio, a senior fellow at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, said higher pay does not ease the burden we place on teachers or add hours to their day.

By all means, raise teacher pay, but do not assume that it will solve teacher shortages or keep good teachers in the classroom. Poor training, deteriorating classroom conditions, shoddy curriculum and spiraling demands have made an already challenging job nearly impossible to do well and sustainably, he added.

SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE

The post Extremely low pay cited at U.S. Senate hearing as prime reason for teacher shortage appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
Extremely low pay cited at U.S. Senate hearing as prime reason for teacher shortage

John Arthur, a teacher at Meadowlark Elementary in Salt Lake City, Utah, testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, June 20, 2024. Screenshot from committee webcast.

WASHINGTON  The only reason John Arthur is able to be a public school teacher is because his wife makes much more money than he does.

Arthur  the 2021 Utah Teacher of the Year  testified on Thursday at a hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on the challenges facing public school teachers.

Arthur, who is also a member of the National Education Association and holds National Board Certification, pointed to pay as the main reason for both teachers leaving the profession and parents not wanting their children to become teachers.

The No. 1 solution to addressing the issues we face must be increasing teachers salaries, said Arthur, who teaches at Meadowlark Elementary School in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Gemayel Keyes, a teacher at Gilbert Spruance Elementary School in Philadelphia, told the committee that even as an educator, he still has an additional part-time job.

The special education teacher spent most of his career in education as a paraprofessional. At the time he moved into that role, the starting annual salary was $16,000 and the maximum was $30,000.

Its still pretty much the same, he said.

Minimum teacher salary

Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, introduced a bill in March 2023 that would set an annual base salary of $60,000 for public elementary and secondary school teachers.

We understand that the children, young people of this country, are our future and there is, in fact  nothing more important that we can do to provide a quality education to all of our young people, and yet, for decades, public school teachers have been overworked, underpaid, understaffed, and maybe most importantly, underappreciated, Sanders said in his opening remarks.

Compared to many other occupations, our public school teachers are more likely to experience high levels of anxiety, stress and burnout, which was only exacerbated by the pandemic, he said.

Sanders said 44% of public school teachers are quitting their profession within five years, citing the extremely low pay teachers receive as one of the primary reasons for a massive U.S. teacher shortage.

For the 2023-24 school year, a whopping 86% of K-12 public schools in the country documented challenges in hiring teachers, according to an October report from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Maryland sets $60,000 minimum

But a minimum annual teacher salary of $60,000 is not far off for every state.

In Maryland, the Blueprint for Marylands Future raises the starting salary for teachers to $60,000 a year by July 2026.

William E. Kirwan, vice chair of Marylands Accountability and Implementation Board, said the multi-year comprehensive plan, passed in 2021 in the Maryland General Assembly, addresses all aspects of childrens education from birth to high school completion, including most especially, the recruitment, retention and compensation of high quality teachers.

Kirwan said the Blueprints principle for teacher compensation is that, as professionals, teachers should be compensated at the same level as other professionals requiring similar levels of education, such as architects and CPAs.

An allocation issue

Sen. Bill Cassidy, ranking member of the committee, dubbed Democrats solution of creating a federal minimum salary for teachers as a laudable goal.

But he noted that the federal government dictating how states spend their money does not address the root cause of why teachers are struggling to teach in the classroom.

More mandates and funding cannot be the only answer we come up with. We must examine broken policies that got us here and find solutions to improve, the Louisiana Republican said.

Nicole Neily, president and founder of Parents Defending Education, a parents rights group, argued that schools dont have a resource issue but rather an allocation issue.

Theres a saying: Dont tell me where your priorities are, show me where you spend your money, and Ill tell you what they are. Education leaders routinely choose to spend money on programs and personnel that dont directly benefit students, said Neily.

Neily pointed to a 2021 report from the Heritage Foundation, which found that standardized test results show that achievement gaps are growing wider over time in districts with (chief diversity officers). Such staff members commonly encourage efforts at diversity, equity and inclusion in schools.

Robert Pondiscio, a senior fellow at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, said higher pay does not ease the burden we place on teachers or add hours to their day.

By all means, raise teacher pay, but do not assume that it will solve teacher shortages or keep good teachers in the classroom. Poor training, deteriorating classroom conditions, shoddy curriculum and spiraling demands have made an already challenging job nearly impossible to do well and sustainably, he added.

The post Extremely low pay cited at U.S. Senate hearing as prime reason for teacher shortage appeared first on Minnesota Reformer.
Extremely low pay cited at U.S. Senate hearing as prime reason for teacher shortage

John Arthur, a teacher at Meadowlark Elementary in Salt Lake City, Utah, testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, June 20, 2024. (Screenshot from committee webcast)

WASHINGTON  The only reason John Arthur is able to be a public school teacher is because his wife makes much more money than he does.

Arthur  the 2021 Utah Teacher of the Year  testified on Thursday at a hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on the challenges facing public school teachers.

Arthur, who is also a member of the National Education Association and holds National Board Certification, pointed to pay as the main reason for both teachers leaving the profession and parents not wanting their children to become teachers.

The No. 1 solution to addressing the issues we face must be increasing teachers salaries, said Arthur, who teaches at Meadowlark Elementary School in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Gemayel Keyes, a teacher at Gilbert Spruance Elementary School in Philadelphia, told the committee that even as an educator, he still has an additional part-time job.

The special education teacher spent most of his career in education as a paraprofessional. At the time he moved into that role, the starting annual salary was $16,000 and the maximum was $30,000.

Its still pretty much the same, he said.

Minimum teacher salary

Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, introduced a bill in March 2023 that would set an annual base salary of $60,000 for public elementary and secondary school teachers.

We understand that the children, young people of this country, are our future and there is, in fact  nothing more important that we can do to provide a quality education to all of our young people, and yet, for decades, public school teachers have been overworked, underpaid, understaffed, and maybe most importantly, underappreciated, Sanders said in his opening remarks.

Compared to many other occupations, our public school teachers are more likely to experience high levels of anxiety, stress and burnout, which was only exacerbated by the pandemic, he said.

Sanders said 44% of public school teachers are quitting their profession within five years, citing the extremely low pay teachers receive as one of the primary reasons for a massive U.S. teacher shortage.

For the 2023-24 school year, a whopping 86% of K-12 public schools in the country documented challenges in hiring teachers, according to an October report from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Maryland sets $60,000 minimum

But a minimum annual teacher salary of $60,000 is not far off for every state.

In Maryland, the Blueprint for Marylands Future raises the starting salary for teachers to $60,000 a year by July 2026.

William E. Kirwan, vice chair of Marylands Accountability and Implementation Board, said the multi-year comprehensive plan, passed in 2021 in the Maryland General Assembly, addresses all aspects of childrens education from birth to high school completion, including most especially, the recruitment, retention and compensation of high quality teachers.

Kirwan said the Blueprints principle for teacher compensation is that, as professionals, teachers should be compensated at the same level as other professionals requiring similar levels of education, such as architects and CPAs.

An allocation issue

Sen. Bill Cassidy, ranking member of the committee, dubbed Democrats solution of creating a federal minimum salary for teachers as a laudable goal.

But he noted that the federal government dictating how states spend their money does not address the root cause of why teachers are struggling to teach in the classroom.

More mandates and funding cannot be the only answer we come up with. We must examine broken policies that got us here and find solutions to improve, the Louisiana Republican said.

Nicole Neily, president and founder of Parents Defending Education, a parents rights group, argued that schools dont have a resource issue but rather an allocation issue.

Theres a saying: Dont tell me where your priorities are, show me where you spend your money, and Ill tell you what they are. Education leaders routinely choose to spend money on programs and personnel that dont directly benefit students, said Neily.

Neily pointed to a 2021 report from the Heritage Foundation, which found that standardized test results show that achievement gaps are growing wider over time in districts with (chief diversity officers). Such staff members commonly encourage efforts at diversity, equity and inclusion in schools.

Robert Pondiscio, a senior fellow at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, said higher pay does not ease the burden we place on teachers or add hours to their day.

By all means, raise teacher pay, but do not assume that it will solve teacher shortages or keep good teachers in the classroom. Poor training, deteriorating classroom conditions, shoddy curriculum and spiraling demands have made an already challenging job nearly impossible to do well and sustainably, he added.

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The post Extremely low pay cited at U.S. Senate hearing as prime reason for teacher shortage appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Extremely low pay cited at U.S. Senate hearing as prime reason for teacher shortage

John Arthur, a teacher at Meadowlark Elementary in Salt Lake City, Utah, testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, June 20, 2024. (Screenshot from committee webcast)

WASHINGTON  The only reason John Arthur is able to be a public school teacher is because his wife makes much more money than he does.

Arthur  the 2021 Utah Teacher of the Year  testified on Thursday at a hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on the challenges facing public school teachers.

Arthur, who is also a member of the National Education Association and holds National Board Certification, pointed to pay as the main reason for both teachers leaving the profession and parents not wanting their children to become teachers.

The No. 1 solution to addressing the issues we face must be increasing teachers salaries, said Arthur, who teaches at Meadowlark Elementary School in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Gemayel Keyes, a teacher at Gilbert Spruance Elementary School in Philadelphia, told the committee that even as an educator, he still has an additional part-time job.

The special education teacher spent most of his career in education as a paraprofessional. At the time he moved into that role, the starting annual salary was $16,000 and the maximum was $30,000.

Its still pretty much the same, he said.

Minimum teacher salary

Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, introduced a bill in March 2023 that would set an annual base salary of $60,000 for public elementary and secondary school teachers.

We understand that the children, young people of this country, are our future and there is, in fact  nothing more important that we can do to provide a quality education to all of our young people, and yet, for decades, public school teachers have been overworked, underpaid, understaffed, and maybe most importantly, underappreciated, Sanders said in his opening remarks.

Compared to many other occupations, our public school teachers are more likely to experience high levels of anxiety, stress, and burnout, which was only exacerbated by the pandemic, he said.

Sanders said 44 percent of public school teachers are quitting their profession within five years, citing the extremely low pay teachers receive as one of the primary reasons for a massive U.S. teacher shortage.

For the 2023-24 school year, a whopping 86 percent of K-12 public schools in the country documented challenges in hiring teachers, according to an October report from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Maryland sets $60,000 minimum

But a minimum annual teacher salary of $60,000 is not far off for every state.

In Maryland, the Blueprint for Marylands Future raises the starting salary for teachers to $60,000 a year by July 2026.

William E. Kirwan, vice chair of Marylands Accountability and Implementation Board, said the multi-year comprehensive plan, passed in 2021 in the Maryland General Assembly, addresses all aspects of childrens education from birth to high school completion, including most especially, the recruitment, retention, and compensation of high quality teachers.

Kirwan said the Blueprints principle for teacher compensation is that, as professionals, teachers should be compensated at the same level as other professionals requiring similar levels of education, such as architects and CPAs.

An allocation issue

Sen. Bill Cassidy, ranking member of the committee, dubbed Democrats solution of creating a federal minimum salary for teachers as a laudable goal.

But he noted that the federal government dictating how states spend their money does not address the root cause of why teachers are struggling to teach in the classroom.

More mandates and funding cannot be the only answer we come up with. We must examine broken policies that got us here and find solutions to improve, the Louisiana Republican said.

Nicole Neily, president and founder of Parents Defending Education, a parents rights group, argued that schools dont have a resource issue but rather an allocation issue.

Theres a saying: Dont tell me where your priorities are, show me where you spend your money, and Ill tell you what they are. Education leaders routinely choose to spend money on programs and personnel that dont directly benefit students, said Neily.

Neily pointed to a 2021 report from the Heritage Foundation, which found that standardized test results show that achievement gaps are growing wider over time in districts with (chief diversity officers). Such staff members commonly encourage efforts at diversity, equity and inclusion in schools.

Robert Pondiscio, a senior fellow at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, said higher pay does not ease the burden we place on teachers or add hours to their day.

By all means, raise teacher pay, but do not assume that it will solve teacher shortages or keep good teachers in the classroom. Poor training, deteriorating classroom conditions, shoddy curriculum, and spiraling demands have made an already challenging job nearly impossible to do well and sustainably, he added.

The post Extremely low pay cited at U.S. Senate hearing as prime reason for teacher shortage appeared first on New Hampshire Bulletin.
Extremely low pay cited at U.S. Senate hearing as prime reason for teacher shortage

John Arthur, a teacher at Meadowlark Elementary in Salt Lake City, Utah, testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, June 20, 2024. (Screenshot from committee webcast)

John Arthur, a teacher at Meadowlark Elementary in Salt Lake City, Utah, testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, June 20, 2024. (Screenshot from committee webcast)

WASHINGTON  The only reason John Arthur is able to be a public school teacher is because his wife makes much more money than he does.

Arthur  the 2021 Utah Teacher of the Year  testified on Thursday at a hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on the challenges facing public school teachers.

Arthur, who is also a member of the National Education Association and holds National Board Certification, pointed to pay as the main reason for both teachers leaving the profession and parents not wanting their children to become teachers.

The No. 1 solution to addressing the issues we face must be increasing teachers salaries, said Arthur, who teaches at Meadowlark Elementary School in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Gemayel Keyes, a teacher at Gilbert Spruance Elementary School in Philadelphia, told the committee that even as an educator, he still has an additional part-time job.

The special education teacher spent most of his career in education as a paraprofessional. At the time he moved into that role, the starting annual salary was $16,000 and the maximum was $30,000.

Its still pretty much the same, he said.

Minimum teacher salary

Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, introduced a bill in March 2023 that would set an annual base salary of $60,000 for public elementary and secondary school teachers.

We understand that the children, young people of this country, are our future and there is, in fact  nothing more important that we can do to provide a quality education to all of our young people, and yet, for decades, public school teachers have been overworked, underpaid, understaffed, and maybe most importantly, underappreciated, Sanders said in his opening remarks.

Compared to many other occupations, our public school teachers are more likely to experience high levels of anxiety, stress and burnout, which was only exacerbated by the pandemic, he said.

Sanders said 44% of public school teachers are quitting their profession within five years, citing the extremely low pay teachers receive as one of the primary reasons for a massive U.S. teacher shortage.

For the 2023-24 school year, a whopping 86% of K-12 public schools in the country documented challenges in hiring teachers, according to an October report from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Maryland sets $60,000 minimum

But a minimum annual teacher salary of $60,000 is not far off for every state.

In Maryland, the Blueprint for Marylands Future raises the starting salary for teachers to $60,000 a year by July 2026.

William E. Kirwan, vice chair of Marylands Accountability and Implementation Board, said the multi-year comprehensive plan, passed in 2021 in the Maryland General Assembly, addresses all aspects of childrens education from birth to high school completion, including most especially, the recruitment, retention and compensation of high quality teachers.

Kirwan said the Blueprints principle for teacher compensation is that, as professionals, teachers should be compensated at the same level as other professionals requiring similar levels of education, such as architects and CPAs.

An allocation issue

Sen. Bill Cassidy, ranking member of the committee, dubbed Democrats solution of creating a federal minimum salary for teachers as a laudable goal.

But he noted that the federal government dictating how states spend their money does not address the root cause of why teachers are struggling to teach in the classroom.

More mandates and funding cannot be the only answer we come up with. We must examine broken policies that got us here and find solutions to improve, the Louisiana Republican said.

Nicole Neily, president and founder of Parents Defending Education, a parents rights group, argued that schools dont have a resource issue but rather an allocation issue.

Theres a saying: Dont tell me where your priorities are, show me where you spend your money, and Ill tell you what they are. Education leaders routinely choose to spend money on programs and personnel that dont directly benefit students, said Neily.

Neily pointed to a 2021 report from the Heritage Foundation, which found that standardized test results show that achievement gaps are growing wider over time in districts with (chief diversity officers). Such staff members commonly encourage efforts at diversity, equity and inclusion in schools.

Robert Pondiscio, a senior fellow at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, said higher pay does not ease the burden we place on teachers or add hours to their day.

By all means, raise teacher pay, but do not assume that it will solve teacher shortages or keep good teachers in the classroom. Poor training, deteriorating classroom conditions, shoddy curriculum and spiraling demands have made an already challenging job nearly impossible to do well and sustainably, he added.

The post Extremely low pay cited at U.S. Senate hearing as prime reason for teacher shortage appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
John Arthur, a teacher at Meadowlark Elementary in Salt Lake City, Utah, testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, June 20, 2024. (Screenshot from committee webcast)

John Arthur, a teacher at Meadowlark Elementary in Salt Lake City, Utah, testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, June 20, 2024. (Screenshot from committee webcast)

WASHINGTON  The only reason John Arthur is able to be a public school teacher is because his wife makes much more money than he does.

Arthur  the 2021 Utah Teacher of the Year  testified on Thursday at a hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on the challenges facing public school teachers.

Arthur, who is also a member of the National Education Association and holds National Board Certification, pointed to pay as the main reason for both teachers leaving the profession and parents not wanting their children to become teachers.

The No. 1 solution to addressing the issues we face must be increasing teachers salaries, said Arthur, who teaches at Meadowlark Elementary School in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Gemayel Keyes, a teacher at Gilbert Spruance Elementary School in Philadelphia, told the committee that even as an educator, he still has an additional part-time job.

Compared to many other occupations, our public school teachers are more likely to experience high levels of anxiety, stress and burnout, which was only exacerbated by the pandemic.

 U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont

The special education teacher spent most of his career in education as a paraprofessional. At the time he moved into that role, the starting annual salary was $16,000 and the maximum was $30,000.

Its still pretty much the same, he said.

Minimum teacher salary

Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, introduced a bill in March 2023 that would set an annual base salary of $60,000 for public elementary and secondary school teachers.

We understand that the children, young people of this country, are our future and there is, in fact  nothing more important that we can do to provide a quality education to all of our young people, and yet, for decades, public school teachers have been overworked, underpaid, understaffed, and maybe most importantly, underappreciated, Sanders said in his opening remarks.

Compared to many other occupations, our public school teachers are more likely to experience high levels of anxiety, stress and burnout, which was only exacerbated by the pandemic, he said.

Sanders said 44% of public school teachers are quitting their profession within five years, citing the extremely low pay teachers receive as one of the primary reasons for a massive U.S. teacher shortage.

For the 2023-24 school year, a whopping 86% of K-12 public schools in the country documented challenges in hiring teachers, according to an October report from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Maryland sets $60,000 minimum

But a minimum annual teacher salary of $60,000 is not far off for every state.

In Maryland, the Blueprint for Marylands Future raises the starting salary for teachers to $60,000 a year by July 2026.

William E. Kirwan, vice chair of Marylands Accountability and Implementation Board, said the multi-year comprehensive plan, passed in 2021 in the Maryland General Assembly, addresses all aspects of childrens education from birth to high school completion, including most especially, the recruitment, retention and compensation of high quality teachers.

Kirwan said the Blueprints principle for teacher compensation is that, as professionals, teachers should be compensated at the same level as other professionals requiring similar levels of education, such as architects and CPAs.

An allocation issue

Sen. Bill Cassidy, ranking member of the committee, dubbed Democrats solution of creating a federal minimum salary for teachers as a laudable goal.

But he noted that the federal government dictating how states spend their money does not address the root cause of why teachers are struggling to teach in the classroom.

More mandates and funding cannot be the only answer we come up with. We must examine broken policies that got us here and find solutions to improve, the Louisiana Republican said.

Nicole Neily, president and founder of Parents Defending Education, a parents rights group, argued that schools dont have a resource issue but rather an allocation issue.

Theres a saying: Dont tell me where your priorities are, show me where you spend your money, and Ill tell you what they are. Education leaders routinely choose to spend money on programs and personnel that dont directly benefit students, said Neily.

Neily pointed to a 2021 report from the Heritage Foundation, which found that standardized test results show that achievement gaps are growing wider over time in districts with (chief diversity officers). Such staff members commonly encourage efforts at diversity, equity and inclusion in schools.

Robert Pondiscio, a senior fellow at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, said higher pay does not ease the burden we place on teachers or add hours to their day.

By all means, raise teacher pay, but do not assume that it will solve teacher shortages or keep good teachers in the classroom. Poor training, deteriorating classroom conditions, shoddy curriculum and spiraling demands have made an already challenging job nearly impossible to do well and sustainably, he added.

The post Extremely low pay cited at U.S. Senate hearing as prime reason for teacher shortage appeared first on Tennessee Lookout.
Extremely low pay cited at U.S. Senate hearing as prime reason for teacher shortage

Students work in a French class at Wasatch Junior High School in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

WASHINGTON  The only reason John Arthur is able to be a public school teacher is because his wife makes much more money than he does.

Arthur  the 2021 Utah Teacher of the Year  testified on Thursday at a hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on the challenges facing public school teachers.

Arthur, who is also a member of the National Education Association and holds National Board Certification, pointed to pay as the main reason for both teachers leaving the profession and parents not wanting their children to become teachers.

The No. 1 solution to addressing the issues we face must be increasing teachers salaries, said Arthur, who teaches at Meadowlark Elementary School in Salt Lake City, Utah.

John Arthur, a teacher at Meadowlark Elementary in Salt Lake City, Utah, testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, June 20, 2024. (Screenshot from committee webcast)

Gemayel Keyes, a teacher at Gilbert Spruance Elementary School in Philadelphia, told the committee that even as an educator, he still has an additional part-time job.

The special education teacher spent most of his career in education as a paraprofessional. At the time he moved into that role, the starting annual salary was $16,000 and the maximum was $30,000.

Its still pretty much the same, he said.

Minimum teacher salary

Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, introduced a bill in March 2023 that would set an annual base salary of $60,000 for public elementary and secondary school teachers.

We understand that the children, young people of this country, are our future and there is, in fact  nothing more important that we can do to provide a quality education to all of our young people, and yet, for decades, public school teachers have been overworked, underpaid, understaffed, and maybe most importantly, under appreciated, Sanders said in his opening remarks.

Compared to many other occupations, our public school teachers are more likely to experience high levels of anxiety, stress and burnout, which was only exacerbated by the pandemic, he said.

Sanders said 44% of public school teachers are quitting their profession within five years, citing the extremely low pay teachers receive as one of the primary reasons for a massive U.S. teacher shortage.

For the 2023-24 school year, a whopping 86% of K-12 public schools in the country documented challenges in hiring teachers, according to an October report from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Maryland sets $60,000 minimum

But a minimum annual teacher salary of $60,000 is not far off for every state.

In Maryland, the Blueprint for Marylands Future raises the starting salary for teachers to $60,000 a year by July 2026.

William E. Kirwan, vice chair of Marylands Accountability and Implementation Board, said the multi-year comprehensive plan, passed in 2021 in the Maryland General Assembly, addresses all aspects of childrens education from birth to high school completion, including most especially, the recruitment, retention and compensation of high quality teachers.

Kirwan said the Blueprints principle for teacher compensation is that, as professionals, teachers should be compensated at the same level as other professionals requiring similar levels of education, such as architects and CPAs.

Students work in a math class at Wasatch Junior High School in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

An allocation issue

Sen. Bill Cassidy, ranking member of the committee, dubbed Democrats solution of creating a federal minimum salary for teachers as a laudable goal.

But he noted that the federal government dictating how states spend their money does not address the root cause of why teachers are struggling to teach in the classroom.

More mandates and funding cannot be the only answer we come up with. We must examine broken policies that got us here and find solutions to improve, the Louisiana Republican said.

Nicole Neily, president and founder of Parents Defending Education, a parents rights group, argued that schools dont have a resource issue but rather an allocation issue.

Theres a saying: Dont tell me where your priorities are, show me where you spend your money, and Ill tell you what they are. Education leaders routinely choose to spend money on programs and personnel that dont directly benefit students, said Neily.

Neily pointed to a 2021 report from the Heritage Foundation, which found that standardized test results show that achievement gaps are growing wider over time in districts with (chief diversity officers). Such staff members commonly encourage efforts at diversity, equity and inclusion in schools.

Robert Pondiscio, a senior fellow at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, said higher pay does not ease the burden we place on teachers or add hours to their day.

By all means, raise teacher pay, but do not assume that it will solve teacher shortages or keep good teachers in the classroom. Poor training, deteriorating classroom conditions, shoddy curriculum and spiraling demands have made an already challenging job nearly impossible to do well and sustainably, he added.

The post Extremely low pay cited at U.S. Senate hearing as prime reason for teacher shortage appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. The agreement between Azerbaijan and Jordan in the field of defense has been approved, Trend reports.

At today's session of the Azerbaijani Parliament, the draft law of the Republic of Azerbaijan, "On Approval of an Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Defense between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan," was put up for discussion.

The deputies noted that the document would make an important contribution to the development of cooperation between the two countries in this field.

Meanwhile, after the discussion, the document was put to vote and approved.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Extremely low pay cited at U.S. Senate hearing as prime reason for teacher shortage

CAPTION: John Arthur, a teacher at Meadowlark Elementary in Salt Lake City, Utah, testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in Washington, D.C., on Thursday (Screenshot from committee webcast)/

WASHINGTON  The only reason John Arthur is able to be a public school teacher is because his wife makes much more money than he does.

Arthur  the 2021 Utah Teacher of the Year  testified on Thursday at a hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on the challenges facing public school teachers.

Arthur, who is also a member of the National Education Association and holds National Board Certification, pointed to pay as the main reason for both teachers leaving the profession and parents not wanting their children to become teachers.

The No. 1 solution to addressing the issues we face must be increasing teachers salaries, said Arthur, who teaches at Meadowlark Elementary School in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Gemayel Keyes, a teacher at Gilbert Spruance Elementary School in Philadelphia, told the committee that even as an educator, he still has an additional part-time job.

The special education teacher spent most of his career in education as a paraprofessional. At the time he moved into that role, the starting annual salary was $16,000 and the maximum was $30,000.

Its still pretty much the same, he said.

Minimum teacher salary

Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, introduced a bill in March 2023 that would set an annual base salary of $60,000 for public elementary and secondary school teachers.

We understand that the children, young people of this country, are our future and there is, in fact  nothing more important that we can do to provide a quality education to all of our young people, and yet, for decades, public school teachers have been overworked, underpaid, understaffed, and maybe most importantly, underappreciated, Sanders said in his opening remarks.

Compared to many other occupations, our public school teachers are more likely to experience high levels of anxiety, stress and burnout, which was only exacerbated by the pandemic, he said.

Sanders said 44% of public school teachers are quitting their profession within five years, citing the extremely low pay teachers receive as one of the primary reasons for a massive U.S. teacher shortage.

For the 2023-24 school year, a whopping 86% of K-12 public schools in the country documented challenges in hiring teachers, according to an October report from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Maryland sets $60,000 minimum

But a minimum annual teacher salary of $60,000 is not far off for every state.

In Maryland, the Blueprint for Marylands Future raises the starting salary for teachers to $60,000 a year by July 2026.

William E. Kirwan, vice chair of Marylands Accountability and Implementation Board, said the multi-year comprehensive plan, passed in 2021 in the Maryland General Assembly, addresses all aspects of childrens education from birth to high school completion, including most especially, the recruitment, retention and compensation of high quality teachers.

Kirwan said the Blueprints principle for teacher compensation is that, as professionals, teachers should be compensated at the same level as other professionals requiring similar levels of education, such as architects and CPAs.

An allocation issue

Sen. Bill Cassidy, ranking member of the committee, dubbed Democrats solution of creating a federal minimum salary for teachers as a laudable goal.

But he noted that the federal government dictating how states spend their money does not address the root cause of why teachers are struggling to teach in the classroom.

More mandates and funding cannot be the only answer we come up with. We must examine broken policies that got us here and find solutions to improve, the Louisiana Republican said.

Nicole Neily, president and founder of Parents Defending Education, a parents rights group, argued that schools dont have a resource issue but rather an allocation issue.

Theres a saying: Dont tell me where your priorities are, show me where you spend your money, and Ill tell you what they are. Education leaders routinely choose to spend money on programs and personnel that dont directly benefit students, said Neily.

Neily pointed to a 2021 report from the Heritage Foundation, which found that standardized test results show that achievement gaps are growing wider over time in districts with (chief diversity officers). Such staff members commonly encourage efforts at diversity, equity and inclusion in schools.

Robert Pondiscio, a senior fellow at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, said higher pay does not ease the burden we place on teachers or add hours to their day.

By all means, raise teacher pay, but do not assume that it will solve teacher shortages or keep good teachers in the classroom. Poor training, deteriorating classroom conditions, shoddy curriculum and spiraling demands have made an already challenging job nearly impossible to do well and sustainably, he added.

The post Extremely low pay cited at U.S. Senate hearing as prime reason for teacher shortage appeared first on Missouri Independent.
John Arthur, a teacher at Meadowlark Elementary in Salt Lake City, Utah, testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, June 20, 2024. Screenshot from committee webcast

WASHINGTON  The only reason John Arthur is able to be a public school teacher is because his wife makes much more money than he does.

Arthur  the 2021 Utah Teacher of the Year  testified Thursday at a U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing on the challenges facing public school teachers.

Arthur, a member of the National Education Association who holds National Board Certification, pointed to pay as the main reason for teachers leaving the profession and parents not wanting their children to become teachers.

The No. 1 solution to addressing the issues we face must be increasing teachers salaries, said Arthur, who teaches at Meadowlark Elementary School in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Gemayel Keyes, a teacher at Gilbert Spruance Elementary School in Philadelphia, testified that he still has an additional part-time job. The special education teacher spent most of his career in education as a paraprofessional. When he moved into that role, the starting annual salary was $16,000 and the maximum was $30,000.

Its still pretty much the same, he said.

Minimum teacher salary

Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, introduced a bill in March 2023 that would set an annual base salary of $60,000 for public elementary and secondary school teachers.

We understand that the children, young people of this country, are our future and there is, in fact  nothing more important that we can do to provide a quality education to all of our young people, Sanders said in his opening remarks. And yet, for decades, public school teachers have been overworked, underpaid, understaffed, and maybe most importantly, underappreciated.

Compared to many other occupations, our public school teachers are more likely to experience high levels of anxiety, stress and burnout, which was only exacerbated by the pandemic, he said.

Sanders said 44% of public school teachers are quitting within five years, citing the extremely low pay teachers receive as one of the primary reasons for a massive U.S. teacher shortage.

For the 2023-24 school year, a whopping 86% of K-12 public schools in the country documented challenges in hiring teachers, according to an October report from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Maryland sets $60,000 minimum

But a minimum annual teacher salary of $60,000 is not far off for every state.

In Maryland, the Blueprint for Marylands Future will raise the starting salary for teachers to $60,000 a year by July 2026.

William E. Kirwan, vice chair of Marylands Accountability and Implementation Board, said the multiyear comprehensive plan, passed in 2021 in the General Assembly, addresses all aspects of childrens education from birth to high school completion, including most especially, the recruitment, retention and compensation of high-quality teachers.

Kirwan said the Blueprints principle for teacher compensation is that, as professionals, teachers should be compensated at the same level as other professionals requiring similar levels of education, such as architects and CPAs.

An allocation issue

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), ranking member of the committee, said Democrats solution of creating a federal minimum salary for teachers is a laudable goal. But he noted that the federal government dictating how states spend their money does not address the root cause of why teachers are struggling to teach in the classroom.

More mandates and funding cannot be the only answer we come up with. We must examine broken policies that got us here and find solutions to improve, Cassidy said.

Nicole Neily, president and founder of Parents Defending Education, a parents rights group, argued that schools dont have a resource issue but rather an allocation issue.

Theres a saying: Dont tell me where your priorities are, show me where you spend your money, and Ill tell you what they are. Education leaders routinely choose to spend money on programs and personnel that dont directly benefit students, Neily said.

Neily pointed to a 2021 Heritage Foundation report that found standardized test results show that achievement gaps are growing wider over time in districts with (chief diversity officers). Such staff members commonly encourage efforts at diversity, equity and inclusion in schools.

Robert Pondiscio, a senior fellow at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, said higher pay does not ease the burden we place on teachers or add hours to their day.

By all means, raise teacher pay, but do not assume that it will solve teacher shortages or keep good teachers in the classroom. Poor training, deteriorating classroom conditions, shoddy curriculum and spiraling demands have made an already challenging job nearly impossible to do well and sustainably, he said.

The post Extremely low pay cited at U.S. Senate hearing as prime reason for teacher shortage appeared first on Maryland Matters.
Extremely low pay cited at U.S. Senate hearing as prime reason for teacher shortage

John Arthur, a teacher at Meadowlark Elementary in Salt Lake City, Utah, testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, June 20, 2024. (Screenshot from committee webcast)

WASHINGTON  The only reason John Arthur is able to be a public school teacher is because his wife makes much more money than he does.

Arthur  the 2021 Utah Teacher of the Year  testified on Thursday at a hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on the challenges facing public school teachers.

Arthur, who is also a member of the National Education Association and holds National Board Certification, pointed to pay as the main reason for both teachers leaving the profession and parents not wanting their children to become teachers.

The No. 1 solution to addressing the issues we face must be increasing teachers salaries, said Arthur, who teaches at Meadowlark Elementary School in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Gemayel Keyes, a teacher at Gilbert Spruance Elementary School in Philadelphia, told the committee that even as an educator, he still has an additional part-time job.

The special education teacher spent most of his career in education as a paraprofessional. At the time he moved into that role, the starting annual salary was $16,000 and the maximum was $30,000.

Its still pretty much the same, he said.

Minimum teacher salary

Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, introduced a bill in March 2023 that would set an annual base salary of $60,000 for public elementary and secondary school teachers.

We understand that the children, young people of this country, are our future and there is, in fact  nothing more important that we can do to provide a quality education to all of our young people, and yet, for decades, public school teachers have been overworked, underpaid, understaffed, and maybe most importantly, underappreciated, Sanders said in his opening remarks.

Compared to many other occupations, our public school teachers are more likely to experience high levels of anxiety, stress and burnout, which was only exacerbated by the pandemic, he said.

Sanders said 44% of public school teachers are quitting their profession within five years, citing the extremely low pay teachers receive as one of the primary reasons for a massive U.S. teacher shortage.

For the 2023-24 school year, a whopping 86% of K-12 public schools in the country documented challenges in hiring teachers, according to an October report from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Maryland sets $60,000 minimum

But a minimum annual teacher salary of $60,000 is not far off for every state.

In Maryland, the Blueprint for Marylands Future raises the starting salary for teachers to $60,000 a year by July 2026.

William E. Kirwan, vice chair of Marylands Accountability and Implementation Board, said the multi-year comprehensive plan, passed in 2021 in the Maryland General Assembly, addresses all aspects of childrens education from birth to high school completion, including most especially, the recruitment, retention and compensation of high quality teachers.

Kirwan said the Blueprints principle for teacher compensation is that, as professionals, teachers should be compensated at the same level as other professionals requiring similar levels of education, such as architects and CPAs.

An allocation issue

Sen. Bill Cassidy, ranking member of the committee, dubbed Democrats solution of creating a federal minimum salary for teachers as a laudable goal.

But he noted that the federal government dictating how states spend their money does not address the root cause of why teachers are struggling to teach in the classroom.

More mandates and funding cannot be the only answer we come up with. We must examine broken policies that got us here and find solutions to improve, the Louisiana Republican said.

Nicole Neily, president and founder of Parents Defending Education, a parents rights group, argued that schools dont have a resource issue but rather an allocation issue.

Theres a saying: Dont tell me where your priorities are, show me where you spend your money, and Ill tell you what they are. Education leaders routinely choose to spend money on programs and personnel that dont directly benefit students, said Neily.

Neily pointed to a 2021 report from the Heritage Foundation, which found that standardized test results show that achievement gaps are growing wider over time in districts with (chief diversity officers). Such staff members commonly encourage efforts at diversity, equity and inclusion in schools.

Robert Pondiscio, a senior fellow at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, said higher pay does not ease the burden we place on teachers or add hours to their day.

By all means, raise teacher pay, but do not assume that it will solve teacher shortages or keep good teachers in the classroom. Poor training, deteriorating classroom conditions, shoddy curriculum and spiraling demands have made an already challenging job nearly impossible to do well and sustainably, he added.

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The post Extremely low pay cited at U.S. Senate hearing as prime reason for teacher shortage appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Extremely low pay cited at U.S. Senate hearing as prime reason for teacher shortage

John Arthur, a teacher at Meadowlark Elementary in Salt Lake City, Utah, testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, June 20, 2024. (Screenshot from committee webcast)

WASHINGTON  The only reason John Arthur is able to be a public school teacher is because his wife makes much more money than he does.

Arthur  the 2021 Utah Teacher of the Year  testified on Thursday at a hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on the challenges facing public school teachers.

Arthur, who is also a member of the National Education Association and holds National Board Certification, pointed to pay as the main reason for both teachers leaving the profession and parents not wanting their children to become teachers.

The No. 1 solution to addressing the issues we face must be increasing teachers salaries, said Arthur, who teaches at Meadowlark Elementary School in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Gemayel Keyes, a teacher at Gilbert Spruance Elementary School in Philadelphia, told the committee that even as an educator, he still has an additional part-time job.

The special education teacher spent most of his career in education as a paraprofessional. At the time he moved into that role, the starting annual salary was $16,000 and the maximum was $30,000.

Its still pretty much the same, he said.

Minimum teacher salary

Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, introduced a bill in March 2023 that would set an annual base salary of $60,000 for public elementary and secondary school teachers.

We understand that the children, young people of this country, are our future and there is, in fact  nothing more important that we can do to provide a quality education to all of our young people, and yet, for decades, public school teachers have been overworked, underpaid, understaffed, and maybe most importantly, underappreciated, Sanders said in his opening remarks.

Compared to many other occupations, our public school teachers are more likely to experience high levels of anxiety, stress and burnout, which was only exacerbated by the pandemic, he said.

Sanders said 44% of public school teachers are quitting their profession within five years, citing the extremely low pay teachers receive as one of the primary reasons for a massive U.S. teacher shortage.

For the 2023-24 school year, a whopping 86% of K-12 public schools in the country documented challenges in hiring teachers, according to an October report from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Maryland sets $60,000 minimum

But a minimum annual teacher salary of $60,000 is not far off for every state.

In Maryland, the Blueprint for Marylands Future raises the starting salary for teachers to $60,000 a year by July 2026.

William E. Kirwan, vice chair of Marylands Accountability and Implementation Board, said the multi-year comprehensive plan, passed in 2021 in the Maryland General Assembly, addresses all aspects of childrens education from birth to high school completion, including most especially, the recruitment, retention and compensation of high quality teachers.

Kirwan said the Blueprints principle for teacher compensation is that, as professionals, teachers should be compensated at the same level as other professionals requiring similar levels of education, such as architects and CPAs.

An allocation issue

Sen. Bill Cassidy, ranking member of the committee, dubbed Democrats solution of creating a federal minimum salary for teachers as a laudable goal.

But he noted that the federal government dictating how states spend their money does not address the root cause of why teachers are struggling to teach in the classroom.

More mandates and funding cannot be the only answer we come up with. We must examine broken policies that got us here and find solutions to improve, the Louisiana Republican said.

Nicole Neily, president and founder of Parents Defending Education, a parents rights group, argued that schools dont have a resource issue but rather an allocation issue.

Theres a saying: Dont tell me where your priorities are, show me where you spend your money, and Ill tell you what they are. Education leaders routinely choose to spend money on programs and personnel that dont directly benefit students, said Neily.

Neily pointed to a 2021 report from the Heritage Foundation, which found that standardized test results show that achievement gaps are growing wider over time in districts with (chief diversity officers). Such staff members commonly encourage efforts at diversity, equity and inclusion in schools.

Robert Pondiscio, a senior fellow at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, said higher pay does not ease the burden we place on teachers or add hours to their day.

By all means, raise teacher pay, but do not assume that it will solve teacher shortages or keep good teachers in the classroom. Poor training, deteriorating classroom conditions, shoddy curriculum and spiraling demands have made an already challenging job nearly impossible to do well and sustainably, he added.

The post Extremely low pay cited at U.S. Senate hearing as prime reason for teacher shortage appeared first on Source New Mexico.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after a Southwest Airlines flight descended dangerously low while approaching Oklahoma Citys airport early Wednesday from Las Vegas.

Flight 4069 was still nine miles from Will Rogers World Airport when its low altitude triggered an automated warning to air traffic control around 12:05 a.m. local time. Air traffic control then alerted the flights crew, the FAA said in a statement shared with HuffPost.

Southwest 4069, low altitude alert. You good out there? the air traffic controller asked, according to an archived recording of the incident obtained by LiveATC.net.

A Southwest Airlines aircraft is pictured flying out of the Los Angeles International Airport. Kevin Carter via Getty Images

Yeah, well go around, the pilot affirmed while announcing that they will not continue with their initial approach. The controller responded by advising the crew to maintain an altitude of 3,000 feet while circling.

The flight, at its lowest, descended to approximately 525 feet over the neighboring city of Yukon before pulling up, according to the flight tracking website FlightRadar24. Its sudden drop over a high school and neighborhood got people on social media inquiring about it and sharing fears that their house was about to get hit, The Oklahoman reported.

A representative for Southwest Airlines said in a statement to HuffPost Friday that it is in contact with the FAA to understand and address any irregularities with the aircrafts approach to the airport.

Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of our Customers and Employees, the statement added.

The incident comes roughly a week after it was first reported that another Southwest Airlines flight suddenly dropped thousands of feet while flying to a Hawaiian island in April.

The plane came within 400 feet of striking the ocean amid rough weather. No one was injured on the flight, which returned to its departure airport, according to Bloomberg.

Related...
FAA investigating after Southwest jet buzzes within hundreds of feet of Yukon neighborhood

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is looking into what caused a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 to get within several hundred feet above the ground over the City of Yukon earlier this week.

Flight data shows Southwest Airlines Flight 4069, a Boeing 737-800 en route to Oklahoma City from Las Vegas, flew as low as 400 feet above the City of Yukon just after 12 a.m. Wednesday morning, while on a final approach to Will Rogers World Airport.

Boeing given 90 days by FAA to come up with a plan to improve safety and quality of manufacturing

Air traffic control audio obtained by News 4 indicated the plane flew so low, it triggered a low altitude alert in the Will Rogers World Airport control tower.

The plane hit its lowest altitude while flying over Yukon High School at 12:06 a.m. Wednesday.

It was loud enough to wake up Spencer Basoco, who lives a few blocks from the school.

I was kind of like halfway in between sleep being awake, and I just hear this WHOOOSH, Basoco told News 4. And I thought at first, like a storm was blowing in because it just sounded like a wall of wind. And I looked out the window where the sound was coming from if you go a few blocks away is the high school. And I just see a plane.

A News 4 viewer shared video of the plane captured by his doorbell camera. It shows lights blinking on a jet-liner flying low above a neighborhood a good distance from the viewers house, before becoming obscured behind the roofs of nearby homes.

I knew it wasnt normal, Basoco said.

In the air traffic control audio obtained by News 4, it was indicated that the planes pilots intended to land on runway 13, a crosswind runway going diagonally across the airfield at Will Rogers World Airport.

As the plane flew hundreds of feet above Yukon High School, an air traffic controller can be heard telling the pilot his plane set off a low altitude alert in the airports control tower. At that point, the plane was still nine miles away from the runway.

Could Will Rogers World Airport get a new name?

Southwest 4069 low altitude alert, the air traffic controller said. You doing okay?

Yeah were going around 4069, the pilot responded.

At that moment, the plane was only 400-500 feet above the ground.

To me, thats way too low, KFOR Chopper 4 Pilot Mason Dunn said. Even if he is lined up on the wrong runway, hes extremely low out there.

After receiving the low altitude alert, flight records show the plane quickly gained altitude, climbing from around 450 feet above ground when it crossed over the northern edge of Yukon High Schools property, to more than 1,000 feet above ground by the time it crossed the southern edge of the schools property.

Flight records indicate the plane then circled around, and reapproached the airport from the north, eventually landing on runway 17R, a different runway which runs due north/south.

The next time the plane got below 500 feet was within one mile of runway 17R on its final landing approach.

Being this low out over a residential area is not normal, Dunn said. He doesnt get that low again until hes a mile from the airport.

Boeing confirms its in talks to buy Spirit AeroSystems, its key supplier on the troubled 737 Max

News 4 reached out to Southwest Airlines. In a statement, a Southwest spokesperson confirmed the airline is cooperating with the FAA to determine what happened.

Southwest Flight 4069 landed safely at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City just after 12 a.m. on June 19. Southwest is following its robust Safety Management System and is in contact with the Federal Aviation Administration to understand and address any irregularities with the aircrafts approach to the airport. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of our Customers and Employees. Southwest Airlines spokesperson

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Claim:

Former President Donald Trumps grandfather Friedrich unsuccessfully petitioned the government of Bavaria (now southeast Germany) not to deport him and his family.

Rating:

Rating: True

In June 2024, the X account for "Republicans against Trump" shared what it described as a "fun fact" about former President Donald Trump's grandfather  that he had supposedly been deported from his home country, part of present-day Germany:

This claim was true. Back in March 2017, Harper's Magazine published a translation of a letter written by Trump's grandfather, Friedrich Trump, to Prince Luitpold of Bavaria, in which he pled (unsuccessfully) for the Prince regent to reconsider his family's deportation.

The letter was found in a local German archive and was first published in the German newspaper Bild on Nov. 21, 2016. The Associated Press confirmed the story in a bulletin posted that same day:

Bild newspaper printed the 1905 letter located by an historian, in which Friedrich Trump wrote Bavarian Prince Luitpold begging the "well-loved, noble, wise and just" leader not to deport him. Luitpold rejected the "most subservient request." Trump's grandfather was born in Kallstadt, then part of Bavaria, and immigrated to the U.S. as a teenager without performing his military service. It was after he'd made his fortune there and tried to resettle in Germany that he was ordered expelled, and returned to the U.S.

Many news outlets have suggested that Friedrich's arguments appear similar to contemporary ones raised by those who fear deportation under President Trump's immigration policies, including this passage:

We were confronted all at once, as if by a lightning strike from fair skies, with the news that the High Royal State Ministry had decided that we must leave our residence in the Kingdom of Bavaria. We were paralyzed with fright; our happy family life was tarnished. My wife has been overcome by anxiety, and my lovely child has become sick. Why should we be deported? This is very, very hard for a family. What will our fellow citizens think if honest subjects are faced with such a decree  not to mention the great material losses it would incur. I would like to become a Bavarian citizen again.

The back story to this letter (and Trump's ultimate deportation from Bavaria) began when Friedrich first arrived in America as a 16-year-old barber's apprentice in 1886. He bounced around a variety of apartments and jobs in New York before moving to Washington state in 1891 and finding financial success even further north in Canada during the Gold Rush, as discussed in a New Yorker profile of him:

Suddenly, in 1891, Friedrich was off to Washington State before going to the Klondike regions, where he pursued a colorful career providing food, liquor, and women to miners He came back to New York enriched, a decade later, and continued to move around, trying the Bronx before settling in the Woodhaven section of Queens, where the Trump empire put down deeper roots than it had in Manhattan, and where his grandson [President Trump] was raised.

In 1902, during a trip back to his hometown of Kallstadt, Frederick Trump married a local woman named Elizabeth Christ and brought her home with him to New York:

On one of his trips home to Kallstadt, Friedrich married the girl next door, Elizabeth, and took her to New York. Elizabeth, however, was homesick, and in 1904 the family returned to Kallstadt. Friedrich "worked, for a year, to get his citizenship back" from the German authorities, according to John Walter, Donald's first cousin, who works for the Trump Organization and serves as the family historian. To no avail: Friedrich had failed to fulfill his compulsory military duty, and as a result he was expelled. "So they left," Walter says. "And they went back to America, and that's why Donald and I are here."

This was the context within which Friedrich pleaded Prince Luitpold for citizenship in 1905:

Most Serene, Most Powerful Prince Regent! Most Gracious Regent and Lord! I was born in Kallstadt on March 14, 1869. My parents were honest, plain, pious vineyard workers. They strictly held me to everything good  to diligence and piety, to regular attendance in school and church, to absolute obedience toward the high authority. After my confirmation, in 1882, I apprenticed to become a barber. I emigrated in 1885, in my sixteenth year. In America I carried on my business with diligence, discretion, and prudence. God's blessing was with me, and I became rich. I obtained American citizenship in 1892. In 1902 I met my current wife. Sadly, she could not tolerate the climate in New York, and I went with my dear family back to Kallstadt.

This request was ultimately denied because Trump had avoided his compulsory military service and because he had never removed himself from the registry of the town of Kallstadt as required of an emigrant, as reported by German public media outlet Deutsche Welle:

The authorities soon discovered that Friedrich Trump had never performed the mandatory military service before leaving Germany. Another problem, according to local historian Roland Paul, was that Trump never officially unregistered from his hometown.

The official notice of Trump's deportation read: "The American citizen and pensioner Friedrich Trump, currently residing in Kallstadt, is hereby informed that he is to depart the state of Bavaria, or face deportation."

Friedrich and Elisabeth returned to New York in July 1905 during Elizabeth's pregnancy with Fred Trump, Donald Trump's father.

Sources:

Trump, Friedrich. "The Emigrants." Harper's. 1 March 2017.

Bild. "Mit Diesem Brief Schob Deutschland Trumps Opa Ab." 21 November 2016.

Associated Press. Report: Trump's Grandfather Pleaded to Stay in Germany." 21 November 2016.

Widmer, Ted. "An Immigrant Named Trump." The New Yorker. 1 October 2016.

McGrane, Sally. "The Ancestral German Home of the Trumps." The New Yorker. 29 April 2016.

Deutsche Welle. "Report: Trump's Grandfather Pleaded to Stay in Germany" 21 November 2016.

Tharoor, Ishaan. "Newly Unearthed Letter Shows How Trump's Grandfather Begged to Stay in Germany." The Washington Post. 21 November 2016.
(Reuters) - As Ukraine's military struggles with a shortage of missile defense systems amid Russia's bombardment of its energy infrastructure, Patriot systems, which have helped Kyiv defend itself against the attacks, are in focus.

WHAT IS THE PATRIOT SYSTEM?

The Phased Array Tracking Radar for Intercept on Target, or Patriot, is a sophisticated surface-to-air missile defense system recognized as one of the most advanced air defense systems in the U.S. arsenal.

OPERATIONAL MECHANICS

The mobile missile defense system typically comprises strong radar, a control station, power generators, launch stations and ancillary support vehicles.

Its capabilities vary based on the type of interceptor deployed. An interceptor is a projectile fired at an incoming missile with the aim of knocking it down.

The PAC-2 interceptor features a blast-fragmentation warhead, whereas the PAC-3 missile utilizes advanced hit-to-kill technology.

MANUFACTURING AND SUPPLY CHAIN

The Patriot system is supported by two major primes. Raytheon, under RTX, manufactures radar and ground systems, while Lockheed Martin's Missiles and Fire Control division makes the interceptor missiles.

PRODUCTION SCALE AND BUSINESS

The much in demand Patriot system has been lucrative for these contractors. The production of Patriot interceptors is increasing at the rate of 100 missiles per year. With each missile costing about $4 million, this represents a potential $400 million increase in annual sales from just one weapons system.

Boeing, which makes the sensor that guides the Patriot missile, is increasing its production capacity by more than 30%.

OTHER WELL-KNOWN DEFENSE SYSTEMS

Beyond Patriot, other well-known defense systems include the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, designed to intercept and destroy short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missile threats in their terminal phase of flight. It is deployed in South Korea.

The Ground-based Midcourse Defense system, or GMD, can intercept and destroy long-range ballistic missiles during the mid-course phase of flight.

(Reporting by Pratyush Thakur in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai)
Fahim Saleh murder jury must decide if Tyrese Haspil believed stabbing and dismembering tech CEO was 'reasonable'

Fahim Saleh murder jury must decide if Tyrese Haspil believed stabbing and dismembering tech CEO was 'reasonable'

A New York City jury may begin deliberations Friday over the killing and dismemberment of Fahim Saleh.

Tyrese Haspil, who was embezzling Saleh, admits to Tasing, stabbing, and dismembering the Gokada CEO.

If jurors find Haspil "reasonably" believed he had no choice, he'd be sentenced for manslaughter.

A Manhattan jury will soon be asked to imagine the unimaginable: the mind of a killer.

They're set to be asked to assess the emotions and motives of Tyrese Haspil, a former personal assistant who admitted to stabbing his ex-boss to death to hide a $400,000 embezzlement and then sawing him into six pieces to hide the corpse.

Fahim Saleh, the CEO of the ride-hailing and delivery service Gokada, was found beheaded and dismembered in his $2.4 million Lower Manhattan condo on July 14, 2020. The prosecution is expected to argue in closing arguments set for Friday morning that it was a meticulously planned, stunningly brutal murder born of the basest greed.

But the defense is expected to counter that Haspil did it for love.

If the jurors agree  if they find that Haspil believed, in his own addled mind, that he had to kill Saleh to make his beautiful French girlfriend happy, as twisted as this thinking would seem to anyone else  then that love could literally set him free.

Days before admittedly stabbing and dismembering tech CEO Fahim Saleh, ex-personal assistant Tyrese Haspil admittedly used $750 of his victim's money to buy this 6-by-6-inch cake for his girlfriend. Manhattan district attorney/Business Insider

If the jury accepts what state law calls an "extreme emotional disturbance," or EED, defense, Haspil would be guilty of manslaughter, not murder, and would serve as little as five years in prison.

Anything less than unanimity  say, if one juror accepts Haspil's EED defense and 11 don't  would cause a mistrial.

And while murder must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, an EED defense requires only a preponderance of the evidence.

That means whichever side the jury agrees was even slightly more convincing is set to win  either Haspil's lawyers or prosecutors, who are fighting the EED defense strenuously.

This diagram is from the NYC medical examiner's office. It shows the five cuts Tyrese Haspill made in beheading and severing the limbs of Saleh. Manhattan district attorney/Business Insider

To 'show her that I loved her'

On the witness stand on Monday, Haspil described what he said was his state of mind.

"I needed to embezzle way more than I usually did," in the days surrounding the murder, he said.

He needed the extra money, he said, so he could buy birthday presents, including Louis Vuitton handbags and Christian Louboutin shoes, for his girlfriend, Marine Chauveau, before her Visa expired and she returned to France later that summer.

"That was the best way I could show her that I loved her," Haspil told the jury.

But Saleh's life stood in the way of this sumptuous send-off.

Haspil had been embezzling for almost two years, including in the year after quitting his $50,000-a-year job as the tech CEO's personal assistant. His ex-boss was letting him pay the money back without pressing charges but had discovered only a fraction of the thefts, Haspil testified.

The spending he planned would raise a "red flag," he testified.

"Well, I figured at that point I'm going to jail regardless," Haspil told jurors Monday, his voice so quietly calm it was barely audible.

"So either I go to jail because I can't pay him back, or I go to jail for murder."

Murder, he said, was the option that would buy him the most time.

Haspil and Saleh in the lobby of Saleh's Lower Manhattan condo complex one minute before the attack. Manhattan District Attorney/Business Insider

Haspil told jurors that he could buy the most time by hiding his victim, piece by piece.

"Well, at that point, I guess my goal was hopefully that people would initially consider him missing," Haspil testified.

"And until they discovered him, that would leave me enough time to let Marine leave the country," he said. After that, he told jurors, "I would get arrested."

Haspil testified that on the day after the killing, he returned to the scene, covered Saleh's face with a towel, and then "separated" the body with a Makita brand, 18-volt cordless reciprocating saw.

"Well, it was hard for me to do, mentally speaking," he said. "So I took a lot of breaks, and eventually, the battery died."

Saleh's cousin discovered the carnage later that afternoon, while Haspil was at a Home Depot buying a replacement battery and charger for the saw.

A bounty of birthday gifts

Haspil's spending spree on Chauveau  timed for the week of her 22nd birthday  included a stay at an $18,000-a-month Manhattan Airbnb apartment, an upstate zip-line adventure, a chauffeured shopping trip to a designer outlet center north of the city, and a spa treatment.

Haspil went online the night of the killing and ordered two of Chauveau's priciest gifts, trial evidence showed: a "Lockme" backpack and a "Trunk Clutch" handbag, both from Louis Vuitton, worth a combined $7,349.06.

He also spent more than $750 to have a 6-by-6-inch, single-tier vanilla cake custom-baked for delivery on Chauveau's birthday itself, July 19.

Haspil's booking photos. Clerk's office, Manhattan Supreme Court

He ordered the cake a month in advance.

"The gold is an edible gold mixture," the baker testified at Haspil's murder trial two weeks ago, describing the cake, which replicated a Louis Vuitton handbag down to the straps and hardware.

Chauveau, who wasn't called as a witness, returned to France after his arrest, apparently taking at least some of Haspil's presents with her.

These included the two Louis Vuitton bags and a pair of tan Christian Louboutin stiletto pumps he bought for $715.31 just hours before his arrest, which was three days after the killing, on July 16.

The cake was never delivered.

Haspil in state Supreme Court in Manhattan. Alan Chin/Insider

Extreme emotional disturbance

Haspil, 25, faces life in prison without parole if convicted of murdering Saleh, 33, an admired Bangladeshi American tech entrepreneur who'd made a fortune through Gokada, his motorbike ride-share and delivery service in Nigeria.

A successful EED defense would mean Haspil could be sentenced to only five to 25 years in prison, making it a certainty he'd be set free sometime before age 50.

Saleh embracing a friend. File photo

On Friday, after both sides' closing arguments, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice April A. Newbauer is set to explain the EED defense to the jury.

"Under our law, it is an affirmative defense to a charge of murder in the first degree that the defendant acted under the influence of extreme emotional disturbance for which there was a reasonable explanation or excuse," the judge is expected to tell jurors.

"The reasonableness of that explanation or excuse is to be determined from the viewpoint of a person in the defendant's situation, under the circumstances as the defendant believed them to be," she'll say.

The jury must attempt to view the defendant's excuse from his own state of mind. New York Penal Law/Business Insider

Haspil's emotional disturbance must be found to have been so extreme that he suffered "a profound loss of self-control," the judge is set to explain to jurors.

In other words, jurors must find that in killing Saleh, Haspil was helplessly under the influence of an emotional disturbance caused by circumstances that were "reasonable" in his own mind  his obsession with lavishing gifts on his girlfriend.

"He's a young man who had a really difficult childhood," the defense psychologist Dr. Barry Rosenfeld testified last week, describing Haspil's chaotic early years being raised in Brooklyn by a psychotic mother, followed by periods of foster care and homelessness.

The victim's sister shook her head in the audience as the psychologist continued.

"He finally gets himself into a relationship where he feels unconditional love," the doctor testified.

"Essentially, he's terrified of the end of this relationship coming," the doctor told jurors. "He's just essentially coming apart at the seams. And the only way out is suicide or homicide."

Weeks of detailed planning

Could it work? Might it convince even one juror and cause a mistrial?

Any kind of EED defense victory  even a mistrial  would be a historical outlier.

New York's EED defense and similar defenses in other states are almost always reserved for crimes of passion, when a homicide is committed by someone in the throes of a sudden, defensible rage  upon finding one's spouse in bed with a lover, as one example.

Haspil, by contrast, spent weeks researching, purchasing, and planning in preparation for the killing.



Earlier in 2020, Haspil took three trips to Saleh's offices in Lagos, Nigeria, and to his family's upstate New York home, which he testified were abandoned attempts to kill him.

Saleh pressing the button to access his seventh-floor condo as a heavily masked Haspil entered the elevator. Manhattan District Attorney/Business Insider

On June 13, 2020, as he pushed inside an elevator to share his victim's last ride home, Haspil wore or carried everything he had gathered for more than a month to transform himself, head to toe, into a furtive killing machine, trial evidence showed.

Across his face was a $55.98 black visor he'd ordered on Amazon on June 2, 2020, more than a month before the killing and the same day that Google records show he searched for, "What happens when you get tased?"

His head was shrouded in a black, balaclava-style face mask he bought on Amazon a week after the visor. His eyes were hidden by designer sunglasses purchased with Saleh's stolen money.

"So you bought $270 sunglasses to commit the homicide?" the prosecutor Linda Ford asked during cross-examination. "Yes," Haspil answered.

Saleh, sweating from a run in the July heat, appears to have given his heavily shrouded fellow passenger an amused look. Manhattan District Attorney/Business Insider

As the elevator began to rise, "He commented on my outfit," Haspil testified of Saleh. "He said something to the effect of, 'You're really taking this COVID PPE seriously.'"

Haspil wore a custom-tailored black suit with Tyrese D. Haspil embroidered on the inside jacket pocket, also purchased with Saleh's money.

Inside the embroidered breast pocket was a Taser Pulse he'd bought on Buy.Taser.com for $504.58. He'd signed for it himself when it was FedExed to his Brooklyn apartment on the first Sunday in June.

He Googled, "How many volts do Tasers put out?" after it arrived. "If i touch somkne being electrocuted will i get shocked if i touch them," evidence shows he also searched.

The black duffel bag Haspil held in his left hand as the elevator continued to rise contained a change of clothes.

It also held the iPad he'd been using to surveil his victim's building via a Nest camera he'd installed in a vacant apartment across the street. He'd gained access by posing as a prospective renter.

Haspil watching Saleh as the elevator door began to open. Manhattan District Attorney/Business Insider

Even Haspil's choice of footwear was calculated. His cowboy boots would make him look taller than Saleh would have remembered, he testified.

"And then the doors opened," Ford asked during cross-examination. "What did you do?"

"I tased him," Haspil answered.

A small circle of light is visible on Saleh's back as Haspil shocked him with a Taser. Manhattan district attorney/Business Insider

"And then what?" the prosecutor asked.

"I dropped the Taser and pulled the knife out and aimed for his neck," Haspil said, adding that he couldn't remember whether he'd pulled the hunting knife from his jacket or his duffel bag.

"Was there a delay between when you tased him and when you started stabbing him?" the prosecutor asked.

"It all happened really quickly," Haspil answered.

"Did he say anything to you as you were stabbing him?" the prosecutor asked.

"Yes."

"What did he say?" she asked.

Haspil said his victim asked him, "What are you doing?"

He said that when Saleh stopped moving, he "started looking for his bank cards to pay for the birthday."

Saleh facing Haspil as the elevator doors closed. The dropped Taser is visible at Saleh's feet. Manhattan District Attorney/Business Insider

'Simmering in the unknowing subconscious'

During a hearing on Tuesday, prosecutors asked the judge to add to the instructions the jury would hear Friday. They hoped the instructions could focus on the sudden, crime-of-passion rationale that typically underlies an EED defense.

The prosecutor Joseph Goldstein asked that jurors hear a definition of "profound loss of self-control" from a 2022 state Court of Appeals decision: "a one-time out-of-character loss of physical self-control resulting from extreme mental trauma or extremely unusual and overwhelming stress without time to think or deliberate."

Prosecutors could then argue that Haspil thought and deliberated extensively as he planned to end Saleh's life and spend his money.

Haspil's attorney Sam Roberts a public defender from New York City's Legal Aid Society  wanted the jury to hear different language.

He asked the judge to rely on Court of Appeals case law stretching back to 1976, which said EED could affect a defendant's mind "for a substantial period of time, simmering in the unknowing subconscious and then inexplicably coming to the fore."

After listening to both sides, the judge said she'd read the guidance on an EED defense as it's written in the state Criminal Jury Instructions.

Her only expected addition is telling jurors their decision to find or reject Haspil's EED defense must be unanimous.

"I think to add additional elements can be seen as adding an additional burden to the defense," the judge said of her reasoning.

Closing arguments are set for 9:45 a.m.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Sandra Nowak clutched the blue beads of her rosary as incense filled her nose and soft hymns floated past her ears.

She walked slowly near the front of more than 250 people processing down West Main Street in Waukesha.

The route was intentionally poignant; in November 2021, six people were killed and 62 injured when Darrell Brooks drove his SUV through the Waukesha Christmas parade down the same street.

The walk was part of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, a procession in which Christ  in the form of the Eucharist  is carried aloft in a consecrated vessel called a monstrance through communities as part of a Catholic effort to renew interest in what is known as the Blessed Sacrament, or Jesus revealing himself in the breaking of the bread at the Last Supper.

Followers are walking four routes across the country, converging in Indianapolis for a major gathering centered on the Catholic sacrament of communion. The four routes roughly form the shape of a cross.

Each route has so-called perpetual pilgrims, small groups of young adults who travel much or all of the journey. Then, in communities along the way, like Waukesha on Friday, local people join for Mass, short processions, prayer services or other gatherings. The idea is to travel physically alongside Jesus; Catholic doctrine says that Jesus is literally present in the consecrated bread and wine worshipers consume at Mass.

The route that went through the Waukesha parade path is called the Marian Route. It started in Mississippi and will be in different parts of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee through the weekend. The local participants were all ages, and while the mood was prayerful, it was also relaxed. Many near the front carried rosaries; some women wore veils, which have been uncommon for decades.

Mike Gutzwiller has been a Waukesha resident for seven years. He has been going to St. WIlliam Catholic Church where Friday's walk began, for six years. He and his family decided to walk in honor of those affected by the 2021 tragedy.

It affected our parish. There were some members of the community that were injured in the parade, Gutzwiller said. Waukesha is a fairly close-knit small community, so we will be walking in commemoration and memory of those that lost their lives, and bringing the power and healing of Christ.

The procession stopped at the Main Street Parade Memorial for a moment of prayer led by Rev. Patrick Heppe. Heppe was struck by the SUV during the 2021 parade and suffered a concussion.

He called on the Waukesha Catholic community to come together in prayer and remember those killed and injured during the parade.

Jesus tells us that we are to follow him, deny ourselves, pick up our cross and carry it and proclaim his name. I think as we reflect on the last two-and-a-half years, this community has done a marvelous job at that, Heppe said at the prayer service. Although we have seen and acknowledged sorrow, we have also seen resurrection and new life like never before.

Earlier, participants prayed while passing the Waukesha County Courthouse, saying they were asking for blessings on the government.

Clergy lead the way, marching with parishioners through downtown Waukesha along the Waukesha Christmas Parade route, in remembrance of the 2021 Christmas parade attack, as part of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, traveling through southeast Wisconsin in Waukesha, June 21, 2024. The Archdiocese of Milwaukee hosted the group traveling with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament to the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana July 17-21.

Nowak said she hopes the pilgrimage brings healing to the community of Waukesha, but it has also brought her healing within, even though she isn't from Waukesha. In April, she lost her brother to ALS, a progressive neurological disorder for which there is no cure.

"To think why would God take my baby brother?" Nowak said. "Why not me? I'm 10 years older."

Nowak said the pilgrimage has taught her that despite her suffering, Jesus still loves her. This is a message she said applies to everyone, but especially the people of Waukesha as they walk in unity for a community that experienced a devastating loss.

"There's evil in the world, but we can combat it with love. Love will always conquer evil," Nowak said.

Nowak said this most likely will be the only national Eucharistic pilgrimage in her lifetime, and she did not want to miss it. The last gathering under the name of National Eucharistic Congress was in 1941 in St. Paul.

A group of nuns take a short rest along the Fox River along with the rest of the group while marching as part of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, June 21, 2024.

One participant Friday, Kai Weiss, is a 28-year-old who came to the United States from Germany. He started the pilgrimage one month ago in Minnesota.

"Wherever we go we are informed on what people have on their hearts and minds, so we know what to pray for," Weiss said.

"My hope is that by carrying Jesus throughout the country, it can sanctify this country and bring some healing," he continued. "It's just amazing how much impact and joy there is everywhere we go. ....The Catholic Church is 2,000 years old, so it's not often that something is done that has never been done before. This is something very unique."

Heppe said in an interview that the procession has helped unite the four parishes of Waukesha.

Its really brought us together to celebrate and focus on what the epitome of our faith is  the real presence of Christ, he said.

The Rev. Matthew Widder, who marched in the 2021 parade and ministered to many who were injured, said Archbishop Jerome Listecki wanted the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage to pass along the parade route in Waukesha.

Widder, pastor of the Catholic Community of Waukesha, said that walking the parade route two-and-a-half years later felt extremely powerful.

The Eucharist is the fullness of Christs love, he said. Thats my prayer  that Gods love will be poured out on the city, because wherever theres love, theres healing.

Many of those injured in the 2021 parade were children. Lisa George, a second grade teacher at Waukesha Catholic School, said Friday that two second-graders had leg injuries after the parade. The pilgrimage, she said, fits into the theme for the previous school year: "holy moments.

The pilgrimage Friday was one such holy moment, George said, in which her students could walk with Christ.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Faithful walk Waukesha parade route in National Eucharistic Pilgrimage
ZANGILAN, Azerbaijan, June 21. The 29th high-level meeting on the topic "Pathway to COP29: Sustainable and Resilient Future" has been held in the Zangilan district, Trend reports.

The Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Jabrayil, Gubadli, and Zangilan districts, Vahid Hajiyev, delivered an opening speech.

Today's panel session was dedicated to the theme "Lessons from Azerbaijan's Experience".

The primary objective of convening this top-tier gathering is to make sure that all stakeholders are on the same page and pulling in the same direction for the success of COP29 in Azerbaijan's Baku.

Preparations for COP29 in Baku involve tackling existing global challenges and opportunities in climate action from all angles.

The first two days of the meeting took place in Baku (June 1920).
Family-run retail theft crew in Southern California taken down by L.A. police

Family-run retail theft crew in Southern California taken down by L.A. police

A multigenerational, family-run retail theft crew accused of robbing dozens of stores across the Southland and stealing thousands of dollars in merchandise was taken down Thursday in South Los Angeles.

The raid comes after a monthslong investigation by LAPDs Organized Retail Theft Taskforce into the crime family, dubbed the Dodger Crew by police because they often wore Dodger attire during their heists at stores in L.A., Glendale, Torrance and other SoCal cities.

Detectives told KTLAs Mary Beth McDade that the Mendozas ran a lucrative business stealing pricey perfumes and colognes from department stores like Nordstrom and Macys and then reselling the merchandise for a profit.

So, they go into various locations throughout the Los Angeles area and steal perfume, LAPD Lt. Mike McComas said. We were able to identify them, we were able to find them and today we served a warrant on their residence.

Authorities arrested 50-year-old Fermin Mendoza, his 23-year-old son also named Fermin, his 20-year-old daughter Natalie and the childrens mother, 48-year-old Gabriella Lopez.

Police say the elder Fermins girlfriend remains on the loose.

Investigators said its unusual to see multiple generations of one family committing these types of crimes together.

Police seen in South L.A. arresting members of a family-run retail theft crew on June 2024. (KTLA)

Police seen in South L.A. arresting members of a family-run retail theft crew on June 2024. (KTLA)

Police seen in South L.A. arresting members of a family-run retail theft crew on June 2024. (KTLA)

Police seen in South L.A. arresting members of a family-run retail theft crew on June 2024. (KTLA)

Police seen in South L.A. arresting members of a family-run retail theft crew on June 2024. (KTLA)

Police seen in South L.A. arresting members of a family-run retail theft crew on June 2024. (KTLA)

Police seen in South L.A. arresting members of a family-run retail theft crew on June 2024. (KTLA)

Police seen in South L.A. arresting members of a family-run retail theft crew on June 2024. (KTLA)

Police seen in South L.A. arresting members of a family-run retail theft crew on June 2024. (KTLA)

Police seen in South L.A. arresting members of a family-run retail theft crew on June 2024. (KTLA)

Alleged stolen merchandise recovered at a raid on the Mendoza family home in South L.A. on June 20, 2024. (KTLA)

Alleged stolen merchandise recovered at a raid on the Mendoza family home in South L.A. on June 20, 2024. (KTLA)

Alleged stolen merchandise recovered at a raid on the Mendoza family home in South L.A. on June 20, 2024. (KTLA)

Members of the Mendoza family captured on store surveillance cameras in this undated photo. (LAPD)

Were out here today because its a multigenerational theft crew, Det. Colin Langsdale said. So, theres a dad, whats probably is his girlfriend or maybe a stepmom, two children and then another friend that are going out and doing this throughout the Southern California area.

The Mendozas, according to investigators, have committed dozens of robberies since they gained the attention of police in December.

A couple of them have turned into robberies when they were confronted by staff that work at Nordstrom or Macys, Lt. McComas said.

LAPD says it has seen success in cracking down on retail theft since the task force, which shares information with multiple law enforcement agencies across SoCal, formed some 10 months ago.

The task force also works with the department stores.

We work very closely with department stores and retailers, McComas added. They share information with us, and we share information with them when we can.

Father of 3 young kids left paralyzed after being struck by gunfire in Los Angeles

Detectives said the next step is to find out how and where the Mendozas have been selling their stolen goods.

Anyone with information about this investigation is urged to contact the Los Angeles Police Department. Those wishing to remain anonymous call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at www.lacrimestoppers.org.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
A family in San Bernardino County left shaken by a terrifying home burglary, who previously wanted to remain anonymous, is speaking out about the harrowing break-in and a sense of safety thats been destroyed.

The burglary at Mary Ledets home in a Rancho Cucamonga neighborhood off Foothill Boulevard and Archibald Avenue happened on the morning of June 18.

Footage of the incident shows two suspects, each of whom approach the homes entrance alone and ring the doorbell, with the first man at 7:20 a.m. and the second at 7:23 a.m.

In both instances, the suspects stand there after ringing the doorbell to see if anyone would answer the door.

The burglars then moved to the side of the house where they lifted a gate off its hinges and entered the backyard. After cutting a hole in the homeowners rear metal security door, the two men are again captured on camera entering the home just before 8 a.m.

One of the suspects, armed with a can of spray paint, almost immediately spots the interior camera, which Ledet uses to watch her pets when shes not home, and paints it completely black.

Fortunately, Ledet was out of town when the break-in happened, and family members were watching her dogs.

Nearly 15 minutes later after getting inside, the two suspects are seen in front of the home, each carrying a bag of the homeowners belongings, when a dark-colored four-door sedan pulls into the driveway.

Both suspects enter the passenger-side back door before the getaway driver reverses the car and leaves the area.

One of two suspects seen before burglarizing a Rancho Cucamonga home on June 18, 2024. (viewer photo)

One of two suspects seen before burglarizing a Rancho Cucamonga home on June 18, 2024. (viewer photo)

One of two suspects seen before burglarizing a Rancho Cucamonga home on June 18, 2024. (viewer photo)

Two suspects seen burglarizing a Rancho Cucamonga home on June 18, 2024. (viewer photo)

Two suspects seen burglarizing a Rancho Cucamonga home on June 18, 2024. (viewer photo)

Two suspects seen burglarizing a Rancho Cucamonga home on June 18, 2024. (viewer photo)

One of the suspects seen blacking out an interior camera with spray paint on June 18, 2024. (viewer photo)

One of the suspects seen blacking out an interior camera with spray paint on June 18, 2024. (viewer photo)

Three suspects, including the getaway driver, seen leaving after burglarizing a Rancho Cucamonga home on June 18, 2024. (viewer photo)

Three suspects, including the getaway driver, seen leaving after burglarizing a Rancho Cucamonga home on June 18, 2024. (viewer photo)

Three suspects, including the getaway driver, seen leaving after burglarizing a Rancho Cucamonga home on June 18, 2024. (viewer photo)

Three suspects, including the getaway driver, seen leaving after burglarizing a Rancho Cucamonga home on June 18, 2024. (viewer photo)

The thieves made off with her vintage Barbie Doll collection, a computer she uses as a volunteer doing taxes for the elderly through AARP and they cleaned out her jewelry box.

What really outrages me and the rest of my family, Ledets granddaughter Jessica Pollock said, is just the fact that my grandmother is afraid to return to the home that shes lived in since 1974.

Pollock said shes grateful her grandmother wasnt at home at the time and hopes that someone will recognize the thieves.

The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department is investigating the burglary, but for Ledet, the days since the violating break-in have been nothing but stressful.

One thing, I live alone. My husband passed away two years ago, she said, unable to hold back tears. Im sorry. Im totally alone now and Im kind of afraid that theyre going to come back sometime, thats all.

Family-run retail theft crew in Southern California taken down by L.A. police

According to Pollock, her grandmothers lost possessions are upsetting, but whats worse is that the thieves have stolen her sense of security and she no longer feels safe in her own home.

That is just the most priceless, precious thing on the planet, and you took that from somebody for some Barbies and a laptop?

As for Ledet, she said before these two suspects burglarized her home, shed never seen them before in her life.

Anyone with information about the burglary is asked to contact the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Family of Taekwondo Black Belts Saves Woman from Attempted Sexual Assault After Hearing Her Scream, Police Say

The Texas family, who owns a taekwondo dojo, held the alleged assailant down until police arrived

Harris County Sheriff's Office/x Yong-In Taekwondo Academy members saved a woman from alleged sexual assault, police said

A family of taekwondo instructors in Texas helped stop a man allegedly attempting to assault a woman and subdued him until authorities arrived, police said.

The An family of Cypress, Texas  who own and operate the Yong-In Taekwondo Academy in the nearby Houston suburb of Katy  were going about their day in the dojo on Tuesday, June 18, when they heard a woman scream.

Simon An, 20, told The Washington Post and local CBS affiliate station KHOU that he and his father, Han An, 59, immediately sprung into action. The pair ran next door to a cell phone store to find a man on top of a woman, holding his hand over her mouth and touching her, Simon told the Post.

Han, an 8th-degree black belt, grandmaster and veteran of the South Korean military, attempted to pin down the man to prevent him from leaving, Simon said.

"He just kept him in the corner, he just kept pushing down. Automatic self-defense, automatic taekwondo style," Simon told KHOU, recalling how his father prevented the alleged assailant from escaping.

Simon also alleged that the man bit his father amid the struggle. The college student said he jumped into action to help Han, telling the Post that he kicked and punched the alleged attacker.

"Adrenaline just shot up, through the roof. No limit," Simon told the newspaper. "I was kind of shaking."

His mother Hong, 55 and sister, Hannah, 22, guided the alleged victim to safety in their dojo, and brother Christian, 18, locked the building's entrance.

"[We were] making sure that she's OK, because she needed that after that experience  after that situation that happened out of nowhere," Hannah told KHOU.



According to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, when police arrived at the scene, the family was still holding the suspect in place.

"By utilizing their training and discipline, they managed to stop the assault and hold him," Gonzalez wrote on Wednesday, June 19, in a post on X. "Deputies obtained charges for attempted sexual assault and unlawful detention on behalf of the survivor and assault on behalf of the instructors."

The sheriff also praised the family as "group of good samaritans" who rushed to "save the day."

"Thank you to the Yong-In dojo for your quick action in protecting others," Gonzalez finished.

Gonzalez later identified the alleged attacker as 19-year-old Alex Robinson. KHOU reported that Robinson appeared in court that night on a sexual assault charge, and his attorney asked for a low bond, citing mental health concerns. The judge set his bond at $100,000.

The Ans told both outlets that although they've trained for years to hone their fighting skills, they hope anyone  regardless of their black-belt status  would step in to intervene.

Related: Elderly Man Dead, Wife in Critical Condition After Being Stabbed at Rest Stop

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"If a regular person were to see something like that, I would hope for them to go and help, Simon told the Post. "Just help the person in need."

Han added to the Post that his kids have been learning taekwondo since they were 4 or 5 years old, and are set to take their 5th-degree black belt tests this weekend.

"My life is taekwondo. ... I'm very proud of my family," he told KHOU.

Hannah also chimed in, telling the local station that although she's thankful to those who called the family heroes, she hopes that anyone witnessing an attack of that nature would step in.

"I thank everybody who's calling us that, but still, I think anybody can do it," she said.



If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.

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Read the original article on People.
(BCN)  San Francisco police are investigating a fatal shooting in the citys Excelsior District earlier this week, the department announced Thursday.

The shooting was reported at 11:09 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Mission Street and Silver Avenue, where officers arrived and found the victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Cause of death released for girl, 15, who died in San Francisco driveway

The name of the victim was not immediately available and police have not announced an arrest or released any suspect details in the shooting.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Police Departments tip line at (415) 575-4444 or to send a tip by text message to TIP411 with SFPD at the start of the message.

Copyright  2024 Bay City News, Inc.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
North Carolinas Fayetteville State University has landed a whopping donation set to support its students further.

WTVD-11 reports that the HBCU received an anonymous donation of $750,000. The donation will aid Fayetteville State Universitys free summer school called 30/60/90. The outlet details that the summer school program works to assist students with decreasing their student debt. Whats more, it focuses on students earning their degrees early.

According to the summer school programs website, the scholarship covers two courses or up to seven credit hours for undergraduate students, one course or up to three credit hours for graduate and doctoral students in the College of Education, book rental fees, other fees, and on-campus housing and meals.

The financial aid, they help me, Deborah Cathcart, a rising sophomore student at Fayetteville State University, said per WTVD-11.

She continued, It helps me so muchthis school, they introduce such an easy and just a practical way of having free credits.

Another student added, I got a boost in my career and everything. I got used to on-campus life.

The outlet reports that following the launch of the summer school program, it has reached record enrollment of 66% (4,463 students) of the universitys total student population in 2024. In 2023, there were 4,100 students enrolled.

Over 70 percent of our students need some level of financial aid and assistance, Chancellor Darrell Allison told WTVD-11. And for 60 percent of our students, theyre first generation. So those are challenges. But they can be overcome. And thats why I think this is critically important

Prior to the anonymous donation, Fayetteville State University shared an additional announcement in early June 2024. The HBCU became one of six hubs selected by the U.S. Economic Development Administration and North Carolina Central University to launch a free biotechnology program, according to the outlet. The programs mission is to provide students with free access to high salary jobs in the bio-pharmaceuticals field. Anyone can participate in the program as long as they are age 18 or older and have a high school diploma or GED.
On the 60th anniversary of Mississippis infamous racially-motivated triple homicide, the FBI case file reveals disturbing details

FBI Left to right: the murdered civil rights workers Andrew Goodman, James Earl Chaney and Michael Henry Schwerner.

It started with a traffic stop. A Black man driving with two White men was pulled over by the deputy sheriff on an accusation of speeding.

In Philadelphia, Miss., on June 21, 1964, the three men in the car were an unlikely trio.

James Earl Chaney, a 21-year-old Black Mississippian, had a 10th-grade education and worked as an apprentice plasterer. The two White men  Michael Henry Schwerner, 24, and Andrew Goodman, 20  were from New York City.

When local police stopped the men  civil rights activists who had just visited the charred site of Mount Zion Methodist Church, a Black church burned to the ground earlier that month  they had already been on the radar of the local Ku Klux Klan.

Around 3:30 p.m., Chaney was incarcerated for speeding, and Goodman and Schwerner were thrown in jail for investigation," federal investigators wrote.

In the early morning hours of the next morning, a resident drove past their blue station wagons burned remains. Flames later described by the witness as ten to twelve feet high per a special agent's report leapt from nearby bushes, later giving federal investigators the cases infamous name: Mississippi Burning, abbreviated to MIBURN.

FBI Authorities located the burned out blue 1963 Ford station wagon on June 23, 1964. A witness later reported seeing the fire in the early morning of June 22.

What is known of the mens final hours  at the hands of Mississippi law enforcement and local Ku Klux Klan members  is detailed in hundreds of pages of FBI files, still heavily redacted 60 years later, which were obtained by PEOPLE.

While the men were behind bars, several local White men gathered at the Longhorn Drive-In to discuss two local Ku Klux Klan groups joining forces in whipping the men, James Edward Jordan, one of those men later told the FBI.

Later, Jordan and others met with a person whose identity remains redacted in official files, who told them: We have a place to bury them and a man to run the dozer to cover them up.

FBI Six weeks after the men were fatally shot, investigators recovered their bodies at a farm near Philadelphia, Miss., where a dam had been under construction.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage, and details of intriguing unsolved cases.



Chaneys $25 bail was paid, and the three men were released from Neshoba County Jail around 10:30 p.m. June 21, and by prearranged plans the participants in the attack were informed that the Mississippi Highway Patrol would intercept the civil rights workers who were driving back in their blue station wagon, per a narrative of the night later summarized by a special agent and based on interviews with collaborators.

Instead, a person whose name is redacted in the files stopped the men on Highway 492, placed the three civil rights workers in the backseat of his car and drove them down a nearby country road," according to the special agent's narrative.

There, the group that had followed them from Philadelphia, Miss., killed the three men with a volley of shots, and buried them with a bulldozer at a dam  which was then under construction  at a local farm, the narrative states.

Later, the group gathered with a jug of gasoline to burn the 1963 Ford vehicle.

The mens bodies were later found 14 feet underground at the Neshoba County farm on August 4. The men, whose bodies were laid head to toe, were identified by their fingerprints.

FBI Amidst swirling rumors that the men were faking their disappearance, their bodies  riddled with bullets  were found buried at a local farm later that summer.

The men knew that fighting for change  and getting Black people registered to vote  was dangerous in Mississippi.

Schwerner had come to Mississippi to organize local boycotts and aid in voter registration in a state that at the time had only registered 6.7% of eligible Black voters, per the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

On June 16, local KKK members came to the Methodist church looking for Schwerner, but they couldn't find him. That group beat church members and set the church on fire.

Goodman, a junior anthropology major at Queens College in New York, carried with him a salmon-colored paper with the names of five people in New York City he could call if he needed to get bailed out of a Mississippi jail.

Living in a small Mississippi town as a Black man, Chaney was a target even before he put on a straw cowboy hat with Civil Rights Movement buttons and left home in the station wagon that morning.

FBI The charred remains of the civil rights workers' Ford station wagon, the vehicle they were driving when Deputy Sheriff Cecil Price pulled them over June 21, 1964.

An activist who called Neshoba County Jail by 9 p.m. the day the men were arrested were told that: No one of the description he gave were being held," another activist reported back to the FBI, according to the files.

An hour and a half later, the men were released from that jail only to be followed by their killers.

Schwerners young widow, Rita, was stalked through town as she searched for her husband.

Ultimately, 18 people  including Neshoba County Sheriff Lawrence Rainey and his deputy, Cecil Price, as well as Edgar Ray Killen, a Baptist preacher and founding member of Philadelphias KKK  were indicted in connection to the slayings.

FBI FBI agents escort Sheriff Lawrence Rainey to court in October 1964.

In closing statements prosecutor John Doar told jurors that a not guilty verdict would declare the law of Neshoba County to be the law of the state. He added: What you twelve people do here today will long be remembered.

On October 20, 1967 seven men were found guilty, although both the sheriff and the preacher went free.

Decades later, Killen was charged with murder in a so-called Southern atonement trial in 2005. A jury convicted him of three counts of manslaughter, and he was sentenced to 60 years behind bars, The New York Times reported. He died in prison.

No one was ever convicted of murder.



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Read the original article on People.
CLEVELAND (WJW)  The Federal Bureau of Investigation has identified a deceased serial rapist from Cleveland as the suspect in a double murder that took place in Virginia in 1996.

Laura Lollie Winans and Julianne Julie Williams were killed at their campsite in Shenandoah National Park, near the Skyland Resort, on May 24, 1996.

Family members reached out to the National Park Service after they didnt return home from a trip. An extensive search ensued, and park rangers found the womens bodies about a week after they were murdered.

According to Fox News, another man was indicted for their deaths in 2004, but those charges were dropped when his DNA didnt match the crime.

Unsafe for flight: Lawsuit filed over plane crash that killed local men

The case remained cold for years, but a new FBI team took over the investigation in 2021.

Now, through recent DNA testing, investigators have identified Walter Leo Jackson Sr. as a suspect in the double murder, according to the FBI.

Walter Leo Jackson_mugshot

Jackson Sr., a Cleveland man who had a long criminal history of kidnapping, rapes and assaults, died in prison in Cuyahoga County in March of 2018.

FBI investigators say Jackson Sr. was an avid hiker and frequently visited Shenandoah National Park. They believe he was driving a a 1984 Chestnut Brown AMC Eagle 30 at the time of the murders.

$70K of cocaine seized in bust on Ohio interstate

After 28 years, we are now able to say who committed the brutal murders of Lollie Winans and Julie Williams in Shenandoah National Park, said United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh in a press release. I want to again extend my condolences to the Winans and Williams families and hope todays announcement provides some small measure of solace.

The FBI says it is working with other law enforcement agencies to determine if Jackson Sr. can be linked to any other cold cases.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
The FDA Now Wants Fall COVID Vaccines to Target KP.2But Not All Manufacturers Can Pivot

Fact checked by Nick BlackmerFact checked by Nick Blackmer





Key Takeaways

The FDA recently updated its recommendations to COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers to make the KP.2 variant the target of fall vaccines, if feasible. Just a week before, the agency recommended the JN.1 variant.

Pfizer and Moderna, whose mRNA vaccines are easy to update, say their shots will target the KP.2 variant.

Novavax, which makes a protein-based vaccine, will not be able to update its formula.







Less than a week after telling COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers to target the JN.1 variant this fall, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reversed course.

The FDA is now asking vaccine manufacturers Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax to target an offshoot of JN.1, called KP.2, insteadif feasible. The shift comes six days after the agency took the advice of its advisory panel and announced early fall vaccines should target JN.1.

While that advisory committee did discuss the emergence of KP.2 before the initial FDA decision to target JN.1, it concluded that the JN.1 vaccines already in development should be sufficient. That was in part to accommodate Novavax, who indicated it wouldnt be able to pivot to KP.2 for an early fall vaccine rollout. Experts like epidemiologist Katelyn Jetelina, PhD, MPH, believe a vaccine option like Novavax, which doesnt use mRNA technology like Pfizer and Moderna, is important to offer alongside mRNA vaccines for better uptake. Thats because some people are wary of the newness of mRNA technology. Plus, unlike the mRNA vaccines, the Novavax vaccine does not include an ingredient called PEG, which a small number of people are allergic to.

Moderna and Pfizer told Verywell in emails that they would be able to comply with the newest FDA request. In a statement, Novavax implied their planned JN.1 vaccine should still do the trick, indicating its not possible to update the vaccine platform in time: Novavax's JN.1 vaccine has demonstrated broad cross-neutralizing antibodies against multiple variant strains, including KP.2

Related: Is a Summer COVID Booster Worth It?

Is KP.2 the Right Choice?

Even if Pfizer and Moderna produce KP.2 vaccines in the coming months, that doesnt guarantee the vaccine will keep pace with COVID, which is constantly mutating. The FDA said that the agency will continue to monitor the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines.

If a markedly more virulent variant occurs that results in more morbidity or mortality, the agency could consider recommending a change in vaccine composition at any time, an FDA spokesperson told Verywell. Although it is true that protein-based vaccines [such as Novavax] currently take longer to manufacture, most COVID-19 vaccines administered in the U.S. have been mRNA-based, and these products could potentially be manufactured relatively quickly.

What Happens Next?

An advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will determine who should actually get an updated COVID vaccine late next week. While COVID doesnt have a typical season like flu does, it still tends to mutate and spread easily when people are in close quarters during the winter. Therefore, the CDC has begun recommending an annually-updated vaccine, especially for people at risk of severe COVID, each fall.

Once the CDC makes its recommendations, people who are eligible for another shot should ask their doctors or pharmacists about which vaccine brand is best for them.

Amesh Adalja, MD, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, suspects a Novavax vaccine that lags behind other options will have the lowest uptake, even though targeting JN.1 still offers cross-protection, because these variants are all very similar.

No matter what you choose, though, when it comes to protection against severe disease, any of the vaccines, including ones against outdated variants, confer that protection, he added. It will be important to look at the actual efficacy numbers [for Novavax], but I suspect that it would probably be much better than not getting an updated vaccine if youre in a high-risk group.







What This Means For You

A CDC advisory committee will meet next week to determine who should get the vaccine. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you whether an updated COVID vaccineand which oneis recommended for you.







The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page.



Read the original article on Verywell Health.
Attorneys say Biden administrations new safety standards for migrant children in custody not enough

FILE - This undated file photo provided by the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the Department of Health and Human Services, shows the shelter used to house unaccompanied migrant children in Tornillo, Texas. For 27 years, federal courts have held special oversight over custody conditions for child migrants. The Biden administration wants a judge to partially lift those powers on Friday, June 21, 2024 (Administration for Children and Families via AP, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP)  Attorneys for migrant children who arrived to the United States on their own say the Biden administrations new rules are not enough to ensure their safety while they are in U.S. custody and should not replace a decades-old agreement from a court settlement that requires court oversight.

Government attorneys at a federal court hearing in Los Angeles on Friday argued that the court oversight under the Flores agreement has outlived its purpose and new regulations are needed. Its attorneys said they would provide more details to the judge next Monday before she makes her ruling, including information on how they will ensure oversight of non-government facilities caring for children with acute needs.

The Biden administration last month asked the court to partially lift the rules, weeks after the U.S. Health and Human Services Department published its own safeguards, effective July 1, that Secretary Xavier Becerra said will set clear standards for the care and treatment of unaccompanied (migrant) children.

Currently advocates representing child migrants have broad authority to visit custody facilities and conduct interviews with staff and other migrants, and are allowed to register complaints with the court, which can order changes.

Leecia Welch, deputy litigation director at Childrens Rights, which represents children in the case, said the court oversight is needed now more than ever. Advocates say the Flores agreement has been instrumental in guaranteeing safe conditions for children, especially amid rising border detentions over the past two years that included nearly 300,000 unaccompanied minors.

There comes a time where all settlement agreements need to end, but now is not that time, Welch said.

The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The 1997 agreement was the result of over a decade of litigation between attorneys representing the rights of migrant children and the U.S. government over widespread allegations of mistreatment in the 1980s.

The original lawsuit was filed on behalf of four teenagers including Jenny Lisette Flores, a 15-year-old from El Salvador. The lawsuit detailed how Flores and the other plaintiffs were held by the government for extended periods of time, often in facilities with unrelated adults, and did not receive education or proper medical treatment.

In 2014, a surge of unaccompanied children at the border brought heightened scrutiny of the federal government. Since then, arrests of children traveling alone at the Mexican border have increased, and last year topped 130,000.

The health department releases the vast majority of unaccompanied children to close relatives while immigration judges weigh their futures.

The Biden administration is asking the court to terminate the agreement with the department, which takes custody of unaccompanied children within 72 hours of arrest by the Border Patrol.

The agreement would still apply when the children are in the hands of the Border Patrol and its parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security, including a 20-day limit on holding unaccompanied children and parents traveling with a child. Border Patrol holding facilities have experienced extreme overcrowding as recently as 2021.

The health department says its new rules meet, and in some ways exceed, standards set forth in the court settlement.

Lawyers for child migrants disagree. They say the federal government has failed to develop a regulatory framework in states that revoked licenses of facilities caring for child migrants or may do so in the future.

They say the new rules also do not adequately address for facilities that care for children with more acute needs.

Texas and Florida  led by Republican governors who are critical of unprecedented migration flows  revoked licenses in 2021, leaving what advocates describe as a void in oversight that endangers child safety.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. Azerbaijani-Russian relations showcase positive dynamics, Ambassador-at-Large of Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry Elshad Iskandarov said at the fifth meeting of the Russian-Azerbaijani Expert Council in Baku today, Trend reports.

He mentioned that one of the vectors of joint regional efforts between both states is the common approach to ensuring regional political and economic cooperation and limiting attempts at destructive external interference.

"Transparently, Azerbaijan and Russia both opt for sovereignty when it comes to decision-making," emphasized Iskandarov.

According to him, hosting the Baku event is a prime example of putting actions behind words to bolster Russian-Azerbaijani relations.

"When the idea of creating an expert council was first brought to the table three years ago, we were confident that this initiative would yield practical results. It is gratifying to see that in a short period, the platform is already holding its fifth meeting of our experts," added the diplomat.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
A sign outside the Frank M. Johnson Jr. Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Montgomery, Alabama seen on January 24, 2023. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

The judge overseeing a case over Alabamas ban on gender-affirming care for minors has required plaintiffs attorneys to turn over any public statements related to allegations that the attorneys engaged in judge shopping early in the case.

In a one-page order filed Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge Liles C. Burke ordered the attorneys, or respondents, to turn over copies of any public statements they or their organizations have made about these attorney-disciplinary proceedings, including press releases, website content, social media posts, interviews, public speeches, newsletters, and public emails.

Barry Ragsdale, an attorney for respondents James Esseks, Carl Charles and LaTisha Faulks, wrote in response to questions in a Friday afternoon email that they had no comment on the orders but planned to file an objection.

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The attorneys in the case were accused of judge shopping after a series of dismissals, consolidations and re-filings of the case in the immediate days after the law was first passed in 2022. Burke, an appointee of former U.S. President Donald Trump, was assigned the consolidated case and re-assigned the case after it was refiled.

A panel of three judges released an initially-sealed review in October, which included information on an attorney calling the chamber of U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson, who has historically ruled in favor of civil rights and reproductive rights.

The Alabama law makes it a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, for a physician to prescribe puberty blockers or hormones in gender-affirming care. Families of transgender youth said the ban would put their childrens physical and mental health in jeopardy.

Burke initially blocked the law after a hearing in 2022, but a three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit overturned that ruling last year, allowing the ban to go into effect. The plaintiffs are seeking a full review by the 11th Circuit.

The respondents are required to turn over the documents by Saturday 5:00 p.m.

In a separate Thursday filing, Burke also denied the use of some expert witnesses by attorneys accused of judge shopping in a case over Alabamas transgender affirming care.

The respondents had submitted requests for Burke to amend his order, allowing the use of some experts in the proceedings.

In the Thursday order, the judge cited a March 18 decision, where he wrote that legal questions are not subject to expert testimony.



An experts opinion on whether sanctions are appropriate is just the sort of legal conclusion the Court must be vigilant to exclude, Burke wrote.

Burke wrote in March that a second requested legal expert would have resulted in the same concerns as the first requested one. He wrote that the expert would would patently infringe on the role of the court.

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The post Federal judge demands lawyers public statements in judge-shopping case appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Editors note: The story in the video player originally aired on May 17, 2024.

NEW YORK (PIX11)  Congestion pricing has been paused by New Yorks governor, but a federal judge says theres no legal reason to stop it.

In May, a hearing on the issue was held in Lower Manhattan in federal court. A group of plaintiffs from New York had sued to block the congestion pricing program in Manhattan. They said the MTA needed to do more environmental study.

More Local News

The federal judge disagreed and found no legal cause to halt the program, and the lawsuit was dismissed.

There is still another federal lawsuit in New Jersey.

Earlier this month, Gov. Kathy Hochul stopped the implementation of congestion pricing, which was set for June 30. She said it was not the right time to add a charge for travel south of 60th Street in Manhattan.

After the judges decision, the non-profit organization Riders Alliance called on Hochul to revive the congestion pricing plan.

Now that a federal court has upheld the MTAs exhaustive environmental review, our governor should feel comfortable with moving forward and delivering the programs benefits, Riders Alliance said in a statement. Rather than blow a $15 billion hole in the MTAs budget and cost New York another $10 billion in federal transit aid, Governor Hochul can reverse course now and implement congestion pricing, which would be a major victory for public transit, public health, and affordability.

Lisa Daglian, the executive director of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA, said the ruling validates work, analysis and public input.

On yet another air quality alert day, the dismissal of the lawsuits is vindication that procedures were followed scrupulously to reach the articulated outcomes: reducing congestion in and around the Manhattan CBD; improving air quality regionally and in the CBD; and creating a sustainable funding source for the capital program that will increase ridership and improve service for low-income New Yorkers, Daglian said.

The United Federation of Teachers, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, provided the following statement.

The court still has a number of our claims before it and the litigation continues, a spokesperson for the United Federation of Teachers said.

MTA General Counsel Paige Graves also issued a statement that expressed appreciation for the judges ruling and acknowledgment of the work on the program, including the federal governments finding of no significant impact.

We stand ready to relieve congestion and improve transit service for millions of riders, Graves said.

Advocates of congestion pricing remain optimistic that the program will return.

The governor said the congestion pricing plan was not canceled and has voiced her support for transit.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
A protester runs through tear gas as officers in riot gear progress down Main Street near University Avenue during protests July 3, 2022, in response to the shooting death of Jayland Walker.

A federal lawsuit filed in the aftermath of the protests that followed Jayland Walker's fatal shooting in 2022 has been settled, and another is on the verge of settling.

A case filed by two protesters arrested by two University of Akron police officers reached a settlement this week, said their attorney, Elizabeth Bonham. This comes months after the city of Akron agreed to pay the 24 other plaintiffs  all who were arrested during Walker protests  a total of $747,000 in February.

The University of Akron said Friday it is paying $20,000 to settle the suit involving its officers.

UA "maintains that neither officer did anything wrong, therefore no action will be taken," a university spokesperson said.

The university "elected to resolve the matter because the cost to litigate the case through trial would have far exceeded the settlement amount," the UA spokesperson said.

Bonham said all 26 plaintiffs who sued for damages over their arrests have now settled.

April update: Rep. Sykes, activists called for a federal investigation of Akron police. What happened?

Following the settlement, Bonham and Andrew Zellers, representing the UA officers, filed a motion to dismiss the complaint on Thursday, according to court documents.

The city of Akron and the University of Akron were not immediately available for comment.

Police reform is goal of Akron Bail Fund proposed settlement

A settlement could come as soon as next week in a separate lawsuit filed by the Akron Bail Fund, Bonham said.

That lawsuit  the final unsettled suit related to the protests  alleges the city used tear gas, pepper spray and other types of force against nonviolent protesters during a protest April 19, 2023, in the Copley Road area.

Injunctive police reform is likely the focus of the bail fund's settlement, Bonham told the Akron Beacon Journal in April.

Settlement part one: Akron reaches settlement with protesters arrested during Jayland Walker demonstrations

Bonham met virtually Thursday with city of Akron attorneys Brian Bremer and John Reese to discuss the Northern District of Ohio case. Both parties reach an "agreement in principle" during the five-minute meeting; they have 45 days to finalize the settlement and file a motion to dismiss.

This tentative agreement, of which no concrete details are listed in court documents, came one week before the second anniversary of Walker's death.

U.S. District Court Judge James Gwin in Cleveland is assigned to both cases.

The City of Akron and Bonham declined to comment on the case because the settlement is not finalized and details are still being discussed.

Protests followed Walker's shooting and grand jury decision

Eight Akron police officers shot Walker 46 times on June 27, 2022, after he fled from police by car and then on foot. While in the car, he fired a gun from his window but was unarmed when fleeing on foot.

Following his death, protests rocked the city. More than 50 people were arrested over the Fourth of July weekend. Police deployed tear gas and pepper spray to disperse crowds.

On April 17, 2023, a special Summit County Common Pleas Court grand jury did not indict the eight officers who shot Walker.

Walker family's federal lawsuit remains

A federal lawsuit filed by Walker's family against the city of Akron and the Akron Police Department could be the final pending lawsuit.

No mediation hearings have been held in the case as recent court filings show it could head to trial.

Discovery and motion deadlines were scheduled in early May by U.S. District Court Judge John Adams.

Fact discovery is due by Aug. 31. Expert witnesses are due by Oct. 20 for Walker's family while the city has until Dec. 5. Depositions by those witnesses are due by Jan. 6, 2025, according to court documents. All dispositive motions are to be filed by Feb. 15, 2025.

Bryce Buyakie covers courts and public safety for the Beacon Journal. He can be reached by email at bbuyakie@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @bryce_buyakie.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Jayland Walker protesters reach settlement, Akron Bail Fund could be next
"The news media, contrary to Sen. Mills Twitter/X post and Trumps unfounded 'enemy of the people' refrain, serve as the voice for people who, unlike our lawmakers, do not hold positions of power," writes columnist and gun safety activist Teri Carter. (Getty Images)

Last Friday, I ran into the Anderson County judge-executive at Five Star where we were both getting gas. I had not seen him in a year. He smiled big and said, Well hello, Miss Carter!, walked around his truck to give me a hug, and stayed to chat about our families.

On Saturday, a couple I used to go to church with yelled a big hello to me as they were walking into the Lawrenceburg Kroger and I was looking for a parking spot. Seeing them was a bright spot in my afternoon.

The next day I texted a former magistrate to tell her Id been thinking about her in Sunday school. The word love was used in our exchange.

Twitter/X post by Sen. Robby Mills, R-Henderson.

I tell you this because I am an outspoken Democrat, the above folks are all lifelong Republicans, and these encounters are both routine and antithetical to what we see from too many GOP supermajority leaders and communications personnel in Frankfort who, if you follow their public comments and Twitter/X feeds, would have us believe real life in Kentucky is as snarky as they are.

It is not.

Just this week, Sen. Robby Mills  who ran for lieutenant governor alongside Daniel Cameron  posted, Watching @KyTonightKET and listening to the leadership of the Frankfort media out themselves! They are simply not balancedthat is why our citizens are confused as to what the truth is.

Click to watch: State of the Media on KETs Kentucky Tonight

No, senator. No one outed anyone and Kentuckians are not confused. But you do have to wonder why people like Sen. Mills are so bent on creating this illusion. Does he speak in person, in this tone, to his constituents who do not agree with him politically? Does he speak to anyone in this manner?

One of the destructive habits Donald Trump ushered in with his presidency was constant, off-the-cuff, Twitter whining by elected officials, as though being in a protected, elite position were an unbearable burden. Poor, poor me, they seem to be screaming.

When I see powerful Kentucky lawmakers on Twitter/X and elsewhere complaining about their coverage, I am reminded of the wise words of writer Anne Lamott: If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better.

The reason I have not seen our judge-executive in so long is because, after the Old National Bank shooting in April 2023, I decided to spend the entire next year outside of Anderson, up the road in Frankfort, to learn, in person, how things really work in state government, to spend hours upon hours in rooms with Republican lawmakers, and to see if the most basic firearm legislation stood a chance.

While I am sorry to disappoint recent GOP Twitter/X hullabaloo, I am nothing so glamorous as a lobbyist. I am just a citizen, mother, grandmother, and volunteer  read unpaid  trying to find a way to keep people from getting shot to death at work, school, church, etc A timely reminder that one of the fundamental differences between real news and social media is fact-checking.

As to potential gun legislation, what I learned this past year is that the chasm between doing what many in our GOP supermajority know (they know!) is right  like that people in the midst of a mental health crisis should not have access to guns  and the powerful seats they hold in our Republican supermajority is Grand Canyon-esque.

The seat itself must be held at all cost, and that cost, lets be blunt, includes lives.

With the exception of Sen. Whitney Westerfield (who, it must be said, has an affable Twitter/X presence but is unfortunately leaving office at the end of this year) even the most rudimentary discussion of laws to stem gun violence in Kentucky will not occur in any public setting where it could be video recorded and, in turn, shared on social media. It is simply not done.

Call it fear of the Trumpian social media mob; call it fear of the uninformed voter; call it fear of the constituent who gets most of their political information from non-fact-checked social media (including lawmakers and pundits who regularly post Trump-like snark); call it fear of being ousted from the Frankfort fraternity.

Sen. Robby Mills. (Photo by LRC Public Information)

But call it what it is at its core. Fear.

And the news media, contrary to Sen. Mills Twitter/X post and Trumps unfounded enemy of the people refrain, serve as the voice for people who, unlike our lawmakers, do not hold positions of power.

Earlier this month Bill Kristol, founder of The Weekly Standard, posted a quote from Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn that stuck with me: The line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either  but right through every human heart  and through all human hearts.

I am a Democrat living in a rural county that voted resoundingly for Donald Trump in both 2016 and 2020, but I am also the person who purposely goes to Kroger on a Saturday because I want to run into folks I have not seen lately and talk to my neighbors, no matter their political affiliation.

I spent the last year in Frankfort, attending every meeting I could and talking primarily to Republicans to, as I wrote in a recent article about Senate Bill 2, meet with the senator because I wanted to understand both him and his bill. Was I missing something? All it cost me was time.

The line separating good and evil is not party affiliation, it is fear of the other.

I encourage lawmakers like Sen. Mills and anyone else who feels stuck in an echo chamber to remember that social media and professional, fact-checked news are not the same  kinda like a Mustang convertible and barbecued ribs are not the same  and that talking to people, in person, who disagree with you politically is healthy for you, healthy for Kentucky and free of charge.

The post Feeling stuffy in that echo chamber? appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Tally Students for a Democratic Society held a demonstration on April 25, 2024, at Florida State University in support of pro-Palestine protesters who have gotten arrested in other college campuses. (Photo by Jackie Llanos)

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

Less than two months after students protesting the Israel-Gaza war at Florida State University were arrested and had the sprinklers turned on them, university trustees approved a revised protest policy that prohibits tents and bullhorns, among other new restrictions.

The updated Freedom of Expression Rights and Responsibilities regulations, approved Thursday by the FSU Board of Trustees, are absolutely political repression, Joelle Nunez, president of Tally Students for a Democratic Society, told the Phoenix following the vote.

The changes include a new prohibited conduct section, targeting a number of tactics pro-Palestinian protesters have deployed since the war began last October, including:

Camping

Building a shelter, barrier, or other physical structure

Failing to comply with any reasonable instruction by university policy or university official actions

Using amplified sound including bullhorns or airhorns unless approved in advance

Concealing or covering the identity of a protestors with a mask, hood, or device

A number of those absolutely do feel targeted, Nunez said.

Im guessing these rules right here are just so that next time they could have something more substantial to be like, You have to get out of here, for the upcoming protests, she added.

Members of the SDS chapter set up tents on FSUs Landis Green the week before finals during the spring 2024 semester but were asked to move and lawn sprinklers were turned on them at midmorning. The protesters had set up tents at 4 a.m.

Another pro-Palestine protest took place the week before finals in the fall 2023 semester. Both events were to call on the university to divest from companies with ties to Israel.

Students now are barred from displaying flags or banners that are not manned, hand-held shields, helmets, tents, vehicles, shelters, or bedding.

FSU Student Body President Jackson Boisvert, a trustee, and Student Body Vice President Anthony Benn did not respond to requests for comment Friday afternoon.

No protests during finals

Meetings, assemblies, picketing activities, demonstration, protests, and gatherings may not be held during finals week unless at a university-related event. Events are now subject to attendance limits and may be held only between sunrise and sundown absent prior approval.

Nunez discounted the universitys contention that the sprinkler incident reflected scheduled ground maintenance. Real obtuse maintenance that usually doesnt happen, regularly happening at the site of the protest during the protest, she said.

Instead of any attempt to kind of meet eye-to-eye with us with our demands, the entire time it just felt like the university was just trying to find more and more ways to get around the First Amendment, Nunez continued. They would come up with every policy short of just saying, You cant do this cause you cant do this, to try to get us to move.

The updated policy stiffens requirements to reserve protest sites, and those who reserve a space will receive priority over spontaneous activities.

The university has removed recognition of the SDS chapter, and Nunez argued the university is holding that over our head to discourage protests.

The policy change specifies that organizations must be registered to sponsor speeches, rallies, or other political events.

If it was something less controversial, then Im certain the university would be more lax, Nunez said. The reason the protests even happened in the first place is because its clear that the university doesnt stand on our side.

The post Feeling targeted: Pro-Palestine group reacts to new FSU protest regulations appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  Two Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) members were deployed on Friday, June 21 to assist the fires in Ruidoso, New Mexico.

According to CSFD, two members deployed at 4 a.m. on June 21 after FEMA activated Colorado Task Force 1 (CO-TF1). Their primary function will be search and rescue efforts in the South Fork and Salt fires.

Both firefighters are deploying alongside Arizona Task Force 1.

The firefighters are a part of CO-TF1, the forces main purpose is Urban Search and Rescue Operations for local, state, and national disasters. Seventeen CSFD members are a part of the force and are ready to deploy whenever and wherever help is needed.

CO-TF1 is supported by 23 departments in Colorado including CSFD.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Updated: SBU behind attacks on Russian oil refineries, military airfield, source says

Editor's note: The story was updated with a comment from the Kyiv Independent's source in security and defense forces.

A fire broke out at the Ilskyi oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai after a drone attack on the facility on the morning of June 21, the Russian Telegram news channel Mash reported.

Russian sources also reported that drones targeted a military airfield in Yeysk during the attack on Krasnodar Krai.

A source in security and defense forces confirmed for the Kyiv Independent that a joint attack by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Navy's missile forces targeted the 167th training center at the Yeysk military airfield, where Shahed drones were stored.

Several blasts and secondary explosions were recorded at the base, the source said. SBU drones also targeted the Afipskyi, Ilskyi, and Krasnodarskyi oil refineries, according to the source.

Read also: Ukraine attacks 4 refineries, Shahed drone storage sites in Russia, military says

Earlier in the night, the Krasnodar Krai Operations Center reported that several districts in the region had come under a massive drone attack.

The strike on the Ilskyi refinery reportedly caused a 50-square-meter fire at the attack site. Two people were injured, according to preliminary reports from local police.

Authorities claimed the fire had already been extinguished.

In recent months, Ukrainian forces have launched a series of drone strikes aimed at damaging Russia's oil industry, which is crucial to sustaining Moscow's war efforts, as well as its military hardware.

Attacks on oil depots in Krasnodar Krai in May reportedly disrupted operations at two facilities, the Slavyansk-on-Kuban and Tuapse refineries.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Fire at oil depot in Russia's Rostov Oblast extinguished, governor says

The fire at an oil depot in the town of Azov in Russia's Rostov Oblast has been extinguished, Rostov Oblast Governor Vasyl Golubev claimed on June 21.

Drones operated by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) hit two oil depots in the Russian region overnight on June 18, a source told the Kyiv Independent.

Russian authorities reported fires at several oil storage tanks in the Russian town of Azov in southwestern Rostov Oblast earlier the same day.

According to the source, the attacks successfully targeted the oil depots Azovska and Azovnaftoprodukt, where 22 oil storage tanks were located.

Powerful fires erupted following the reported attacks. No casualties were reported.

"The SBU will continue to implement 'drone sanctions' against the Russian oil refining complex and reduce the economic potential of the enemy, which provides the aggressor with resources for waging war against Ukraine," the source added.

In recent months, Ukrainian forces have launched a series of drone strikes aimed at damaging Russia's oil industry, the profits of which fuel Moscow's war efforts.

Read also: Updated: SBU behind attacks on Russian oil refineries, military airfield, source says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
MELROSE, the Bronx (PIX11)  Firefighters and emergency responders have been battling a fire and the heat all day Thursday in the Bronx.

The four-alarm fire broke out in the Melrose neighborhood early Thursday, according to the FDNY. It was first reported in a commercial building when employees were opening a nearby Dunkin.

Business owners said they were heartbroken.

Djounedou Titikpina is the owner of Holland Textiles in the shopping center. They were known for African fabrics and custom-made clothing and embroidery.

More Local News

Life is sometimes surprising. Yesterday, we were enjoying our business, and today we cannot enter. That shows how life can change overnight, Titikpina said as he looked over the burned storefront and clothing.

Many prom and wedding dresses were lost in the blaze.

Three firefighters went to the hospital with minor injuries, authorities said.

At least four stores along the 3000 block of Third Avenue between East 155th and 156th streets were destroyed in the blaze, according to the FDNY.

The heat and humidity fueled hot spots. The fire marshal will begin investigating once the fire is officially extinguished.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. Due to the political, diplomatic, and military strategies implemented continuously by the Azerbaijani state over many years, Armenian separatism, which had persisted in the country for several decades, has been eradicated and consigned to the pages of history. The conditions established by international law and the clear recognition of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity by countries worldwide have led to new geopolitical realities in the South Caucasus. However, some foreign forces, unwilling to accept the new political order, along with their representatives in Armenia (revanchists) and those close to the former separatist establishment, are attempting to revive the so-called Karabakh issue.

On January 17 this year, a non-governmental organization called "The Union for Protection of the Interests and Rights of the Artsakh People" was established, led by former "ombudsman" of the so-called Karabakh Republic, Artak Beglaryan. The organization's mission is to protect the collective rights of Karabakh Armenians who continue to live as "displaced persons" in Armenia and worldwide, represent their interests on international platforms, and raise global awareness of their issues. So far, the organization's leaders have organized trips to several countries and held meetings with representatives of the Armenian diaspora and pro-Armenian politicians. For example, on February 1, at a meeting organized by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) in the US, separatist representatives met with US Congressmen Brad Sherman and James Costa.

Photo 1. Meeting with US Congressman Brad Sherman

Meanwhile, we can see that similar activities are ongoing with the support of French Armenian diaspora organizations. Artak Beglaryan, who began his tenure as the leader of the "Union for Protection of the Interests and Rights of the Artsakh People" several months ago, recently visited the French capital, Paris.

Photo 2. Artak Beglaryan receiving an award from Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo on April 24, 2024, in Paris.

The organization has declared that it will fund its activities through civilian donations. Operating under the name "Union for Protection of the Interests and Rights of the Artsakh People," it carries a separatist agenda, with its goals openly accessible to the public.

Yet, the activities of foreign banks supporting this separatist agenda, particularly their financing directed towards claims against internationally recognized Azerbaijani territories, remain obscure. Information regarding the banks involved in financing the organization is outlined as follows:

It was revealed that contributions can be made through bank transfers and credit cards. While the primary account in this process is held by AMERIABANK, an Armenian bank, the intermediary banks for transfers in US dollars (USD) include CITIBANK NA, NEW YORK, for euros (EUR) RAIFFEISEN ZENTRALBANK OESTERREICH AG, and for Russian rubles (RUB) AO RAIFFEISEN BANK, MOSCOW.

Global financial giants such as CITIBANK NA and RAIFFEISEN BANK have been serving as intermediary banks in financing separatist activities for some time now.

AMERIABANK, being an Armenian bank, plays a pivotal role in funding the separatist organization named the "Union for the Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Karabakh Population". Earlier this year, there was a change in the shareholder structure of AMERIABANK, previously controlled by Armenian billionaire Ruben Vardanyan, who has long been based in the Russian Federation.

Photo 3. Current shareholders of AMERIABANK

Currently, 90 percent of the shares are owned by Bank of Georgia, with Bank of Georgia JSC operating as a subsidiary of Bank of Georgia Group PLC. Bank of Georgia is a prominent player in the financial markets of neighboring Georgia. AMERIABANK has long been actively involved in organizing separatist activities. However, the continuation of such activities even after Bank of Georgia acquired the majority shares of the bank is seen as a move against Baku.

The resurgence of Armenian separatism in a new guise, this time under the banner of the "Union for Protection of the Interests and Rights of the Artsakh People", and AMERIABANK's participation in these efforts - with Bank of Georgia as its major shareholder, a leading bank in Georgia - runs counter to the spirit of Azerbaijani-Georgian strategic and neighborly relations. Azerbaijan and Georgia have both faced challenges from separatism, and they have expressed mutual support for each other's territorial integrity at the highest levels. While Baku succeeded in quelling Armenian separatism, Georgia's issues with the so-called Abkhazia and South Ossetia remain unresolved.

During the separatist turmoil in Abkhazia during the 1990s, an armed Armenian group known as the "Bagramyan Battalion" played an active role, directly responsible for severe atrocities against the local population. The Georgian state and society are certainly well aware of this history.

Photo 4. The Bagramyan Battalion, an Armenian-formed group engaged in separatist activities in Abkhazia

Photo 5. Bagramyans Battalion is part of the so-called Armed Forces of Abkhazia, February 9, 1993.

The participation of AMERIABANK, owned by Bank of Georgia, in financing separatist activities claiming sovereign territories of Azerbaijan, is deemed an international crime.

In Georgia, which still grapples with separatism and where Armenian gangs committed atrocities against the local population in Abkhazia during the 1990s, the country's leading bank should not endorse Armenian separatism.

Bank of Georgia, now the major shareholder of AMERIABANK, cannot ignore Azerbaijani-Georgian relations and the challenges faced by its own nation, while supporting a political initiative aimed at revitalizing separatist activities that persisted in Azerbaijan's Karabakh for many years.

This issue will remain in the spotlight.

To be continued...
Aerial view of the aftermath of an explosion of a semi-truck in Wilmington in February that injured several firefighters. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

When Los Angeles firefighters arrived at the scene of a vehicle fire earlier this year in Wilmington, they found a semi-truck fully engulfed in flames.

But they were unaware that the truck was a ticking time bomb.

Firefighters had positioned their vehicles around the fire that was burning two large compressed natural gas tanks that helped power the vehicle. Minutes later, the truck exploded, injuring nine firefighters, including two critically, according to a new lawsuit filed against the trucking company and others.

Seven of the firefighters filed the lawsuit, which also names the manufacturer of the gas tanks and fuel system along with the truck driver, on Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

The firefighters accuse Costa Mesa-based Hexagon Agility, Daimler Truck North America and several other companies with negligence, strict product liability over the design of the tanks used to transport the compressed natural gas and similar complaints for damages.

The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a report of a truck fire on North Alameda Street shortly before 7 a.m. on Feb. 14. Firefighters arrived and parked their trucks from 50 to feet 250 feet from the burning vehicle, according to the lawsuit.

Firefighters followed their standard procedures for a vehicle fire, with a nozzleman positioned on the west side of the vehicle applying water. In about six minutes, the fire was almost put out and water was applied from the east side. During all of these standard procedures, firefighters did not know the contents of the tanks on the burning vehicle, according to the complaint.

The subsequent explosion rattled the Wilmington neighborhood, with the blast sending up a plume of black smoke and a fireball large enough to damage a transformer on a nearby power line. Firefighters were knocked down by the explosion and some were badly burned, according to the complaint.

The firefighters "were hurt and physically injured, sustaining medical bills, loss of earnings/earnings capacity, pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life and other damages, and will continue to sustain such damages in the future," according to the complaint.

When the initial 911 call was made about the fire there was no information about the compressed natural gas, the complaint says. The truck's driver, Shania Janea Sutton, also did not warn firefighters about the truck's cargo when they arrived on the scene, and there was no written warning on the tanks.

The firefighters who filed the lawsuit are Andres Saenz II, Casey Dunn, Daniel Goen, Howard Weiserweaver, Ian Gallardo, Robert Ward and Tom Rodriguez. They claim the compressed natural gas was stored in a tank with design and warning defects. These defects made the tank "unsafe and dangerous for use by the consumer," according to the complaint.

Charred remains of the truck that exploded in Wilmington in February, injuring several firefighters. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

The plaintiffs said that the defendants were aware of the dangers if the tanks were mishandled.

The firefighters are represented by attorney Matthew McNicholas.

It is unacceptably dangerous that a truck running on compressed natural gas can fail like this, exploding in the middle of a city street like a bomb as opposed to releasing pressure safely, McNicholas said in a statement. This would not have occurred had the product not had hidden defects preventing the safe release of pressure.

Daimler Truck North America said it does not comment on pending litigation. Hexagon Agility did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The South Fork Fire and the Salt Fire, burning near Ruidoso, New Mexico, continue to grow and together are estimated to be over 24,000 acres as of Friday morning, June 21, according to the New Mexico Forestry Division.

The South Fork Fire is estimated at 16,349 acres with 0 containment. The Salt Fire is estimated at 7,652 acres with 0 containment, according to the Forestry Division.

A spokesperson with the Lincoln County Fire and Emergency Services says residents in the Ruidoso, Ruidoso Downs, Glencoe, San Patricio, Angus, Bonito Lake, Alto, and Sierra Blanca Airport areas are on SET for flooding on Friday. The National Weather Service (NWS) has indicated a possible high-flow event.

The Forestry Division says electricity, water, internet, and phones remain shut down across both fires.

Crews on the South Fork fire continue engaging the fire with hand tools directly at its edge, utilizing hose along handlines and dozer lines to extinguish smoldering fuels and building fireline with machinery. Firefighters will also continue to conduct mop up operations, extinguishing and/or removing burning material along the fires edge to reduce the likelihood of fire creeping past control lines, where feasible, the Forestry Division said.

More than 1,000 personnel are currently at the sites with 22 crews, 87 engines, 15 dozers, and 16 water tenders. There are also helicopters and air tankers available for bucket and retardant drops, according to the Forestry Division.

Cooler temperatures, humidity, and light winds are expected on Friday. Thunderstorms are also expected and potentially impact areas with heavy rain, flash flooding, and debris flows Friday afternoon.

Firefighters on the Salt fire will construct control lines, prepare new lines where needed, and conduct point protection to protect private property and critical infrastructure in the area. Ground and air ignitions will be used where needed to burn out fuels between constructed firelines and active fire, the Forestry Division said.

The Forestry Division also says a South Fork Fire Emergency Closure Order was issued on Thursday for national forest lands within the Smokey Bear Ranger District. The area is closed to the public.

President Joe Biden issued a Major Disaster Declaration in response to the fires on Thursday, June 20. Federal funds will help impacted communities in Lincoln and Otero counties, according to Rep. Gabe Vasquez who announced the news on his X account.

President Biden issues Major Disaster Declaration for wildfires

Texas Governor Greg Abbott deployed Texas emergency management resources to New Mexico in response to the wildfires and flash flooding impacting the state, his office announced on Thursday.

Two people have died from the fire, according to New Mexico State Police.

State Police identified one of the victims as Patrick Pearson, 60, who was found dead near the Swiss Chalet Motel, located at 1451 N Mechem Road on Tuesday, June 18. He was found on the side of the road.

State Police say Pearson sustained numerous burns from the fire and died as a result of his injuries.

We are at a loss for words, and we are so heartbroken that this happened, family friend Christiana Alvarez told KTSM.

Pearsons family has created a GoFundMe for funeral costs. To access that, click here.

State Police also confirmed a second death, stating that they found a person in the drivers seat of a burned vehicle on Ranier Road during the South Fork Fire just before noon on Tuesday in Ruidoso.

State Police say the person is unidentified at this time, due to the persons condition being skeletal remains. No legible identification documents were located in the burned vehicle, State Police said.

A community meeting was held on Thursday which discussed the fires status. To watch that meeting, click here: South Fork and Salt Fires Community Meeting.

The State of New Mexico also launched a new wildfire dashboard on Thursday that will provide real-time updates and critical information on both fires, according to the Governors Office.

To access the dashboard, click here: Wildfire Updates | State of New Mexico.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, representatives Vasquez and Melanie Stansbury, along with Mescalero tribal officials and other stakeholders were briefed by Otero County officials on the relief status of the wildfires on Wednesday.

Vasquez said the most important thing right now is preventing the loss of life and Stansbury stressed the importance of evacuating.

State, local leaders briefed on firefighting progress for Ruidoso wildfires

An estimated 8,000 people have been evacuated from the area and the Village of Ruidoso continues to be under mandatory evacuation. Ruidoso Downs was also ordered to evacuate on Tuesday.

For more information on evacuations, shelters, and road closures, click here and scroll to the Evacuations section: South Fork Fire and Salt Fire information hub | Village of Ruidoso.

For those seeking reunification with friends and loved ones, call the Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767.

For those with questions, you can call the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at 202-794-5044.

To donate to those who have been affected by the fire, click on our story below.

Local, regional agencies offer assistance to residents affected by Ruidoso fires

The Forestry Division says the cause of the fires is currently under investigation.

Both fires are burning on Mescalero tribal land, US Forest Service land, and the area surrounding Ruidoso. The Forestry Division says the South Fork Fire was discovered at 9 a.m., Monday, June 17.

This story will be updated when we receive more information.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
As the new pastor of a historic church thats just blocks from the center of political upheaval and urban transformation, the Rev. Shane Scott said hes available to respond to community needs hes only begun to comprehend.

Scotts appointment to First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill comes with a set of expectations that differs from many pastors in a similar position due to the churchs stature in the Black church. Widely known for its legacy of civil rights activism, First Baptist Capitol Hill and its members continue to speak on the most pressing issues facing Nashville and Tennessee.

All of this leaves Scott with the question of how the new pastor upholds this legacy but in a way thats authentic to his ministry strengths. Scott said part of what that could look like is speaking directly for some social positions while avoiding some political fights.

The Rev. Shane B. Scott embraces Deacon Sunny Owunnah after he presented him with a Bible during the installation services for Scott as the 21st pastor at First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, June 1, 2024.

First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill can trace its roots back to before the Civil War and during the Civil Rights Movement served as a center local efforts toward desegregation.

The church celebrated Scotts appointment on June 1 during an installation service following an interim period under the leadership of the Rev. Joe Ella Darby, the first woman to serve as the churchs lead pastor.

Scott moved to Nashville from Los Angeles, where he pastored the 115-year-old Macedonia Baptist Church. Both Macedonia Baptist and the nearly 160-year-old First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill are part of the Nashville-based National Baptist Convention, USA, which is the nations largest Black Baptist denomination.

In an interview, Scott shared more about his vision for balancing the churchs needs with that of the wider community.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Related opinion column: As new pastor of First Baptist, Capitol Hill, I embrace the duty to honor its history

The Tennessean: How would you describe the sense of responsibility you feel stepping into this role at such a storied church like FBC, Capitol Hill?

Scott: It is weighty. But each of the congregations had faced their own challenges and had to wrestle with, "Do we want new life, or do we want to die holding onto old life?" Whats exciting about being here is a seeming willingness to reimagine the future.

Pastor Emeritus Kelly M. Smith Jr. and the family of The Rev. Dr. Shane B. Scott lay hands on Scott as he is installed as the church's 21s pastor at First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, June 1, 2024.

In the churchs pursuit of a reimagined ideal, how much of its past tradition does it bring along?

You take all of it with you. You reimagine with the past in perspective. While our challenges today arent integrating lunch counters, our challenges are making sure that children are not mistakenly shot in classrooms. Our challenges are to make sure that the least of these and the marginalized have adequate access to health care.

FBC, Capitol Hills proximity to the state Capitol has always been important to the churchs story, a reality youve already been introduced to when you opened legislative business with prayer earlier this year. What do you hope for the future of that relationship with state lawmakers?

What I envision is that while I have beliefs and I think this congregation has beliefs, I think we ought to be welcoming to our neighbors. So perhaps we use our fellowship hall for an opportunity to allow the legislature to have a place for lunch outside their normal environment.

The Rev. Shane B. Scott takes the pulpit after being installed as the 21st pastor at First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, June 1, 2024.

But I dont believe that guns belong in schools. I believe that every child should have the right to public education without the voucher system. I dont believe that rich corporations should be excused from paying taxes. Im not going to bend on some of the things that I believe. But I think you get more with honey than you do with vinegar.

Though its not always as seamless, especially for Black faith leaders. An example from last year was when the African American Clergy Collective of Tennessee received different treatment from Gov. Bill Lee than a group representing a majority white faith community. How would you want to respond to that sort of stonewalling in the future?

We have to figure out how to have conversations. But Im also not going to let anybody push me into a conversation that I shouldnt be having. And I dont believe that every fight is my fight.

The Rev. Shane B. Scott, second right, goes over last=minute details before his installation services as pastor of the First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, June 1, 2024.

That broader public engagement is just one part of your role as pastor of FBC, Capitol Hill. Focusing on your congregation, what excites you about the opportunity to shepherd this faith community?

Im really excited about a new generation of leaders being raised up. And what that means for the country and the world. I think that if Nashville can get it right and if Tennessee can get it right, I believe we can lead the rest of the country. I believe we need middle of the road policies.

Liam Adams covers religion for The Tennessean. Reach him at ladams@tennessean.com or on social media @liamsadams.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill: New pastor on activism
The Bonneville Dam is the last of 14 dams on the Columbia River before it empties into the Pacific Ocean. (Bonneville Power Administration/Flickr)

The Bonneville Dam is the last of 14 dams on the Columbia River before it empties into the Pacific Ocean. (Bonneville Power Administration/Flickr)

The federal government this week acknowledged that the construction and operation of 11 hydroelectric dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers during the last century has had a devastating effect on eight Northwest tribes and more than a dozen native fish stocks, some of which have gone extinct.

The acknowledgement came in a report, Tribal Circumstances Analysis, that was published Tuesday. It represents the first time that the U.S. government has comprehensively detailed the harm that federal dams have caused and continue to inflict on Northwest tribes, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of the Interior, which undertook the analysis.

Those harms include the inundation of thousands of acres of tribal land and sacred sites and the loss of traditional fishing areas. The government in the analysis acknowledged that it violated treaty promises to the tribes in developing the dams, which brought economic benefits to white settlers  hydropower, irrigation, improved river navigation and mining  while the tribes lost much of their land as well as many of their traditional fishing grounds and the fish theyve long depended on.

Eight tribes most affected by the dams

Coeur DAlene Tribe of Indians

Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation

Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation

Nez Perce Tribes

Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall Reservation

Spokane Tribe of Indians

Over a century ago, the government and private interests began damming the Columbia Rivers tributaries. These actions, along with many contemporaneous actions, perpetuated and were part and parcel of the historical transfer of land, natural resources and wealth away from the tribes, the report said. The government afforded little, if any, consideration to the devastation the dams would bring to tribal communities.

The analysis follows a series of promises from President Joe Biden to restore native fish populations in the Columbia and Snake River basins and decades of mounting research and litigation pointing to the role of dams in declining native and wild fish stocks and the subsequent decline in the cultural, physical and economic health of Indigenous peoples who have lived for millenia in the basins.

This week, White House officials announced the creation of the Columbia River Task Force to coordinate interagency and tribal work on restoring wild fish stocks in the basins during the next decade. It will be led by Nik Blosser, former chief of staff to Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, a special assistant and deputy cabinet secretary in the Biden administration and, most recently, a vice president at Portland General Electric.

Leaders of the eight affected tribes named in the report lauded the analysis. Shannon Wheeler, chairman of the Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee, said in a statement it is a stark reminder for the federal government.

We know we must act urgently to prevent extinction, and this report reaffirms the need for the United States and us to move forward together, he said.

The report also prompted criticism. The nonprofit trade group Pacific Northwest Waterways Association, which represents ports and other economic interests in the area and supports hydropower, said the analysis was not based on scientific evidence and deliberately left out other river basin stakeholders.

Our concerns with the Biden administrations actions are their excessive lack of transparency and the failure to account for all interests affected by this complex issue, Neil Maunu, the groups executive director, said in a statement.

Devastation of fish stocks

The analysis references dozens of studies that have shown that the 11 dams and their reservoirs on the Columbia and Snake rivers have caused the rapid decline of salmon and steelhead populations. It further connects those declines to a decrease in the health and economic well-being of members of eight affected tribes.

Up to 16 million salmon and steelhead historically returned to the Columbia River Basin each year, according to the report. Millions of them migrated hundreds of miles upstream from the ocean to return to their birthing grounds to spawn, including up to 3.7 million salmon and steelhead that returned to the area above what is now Grand Coulee Dam. More than 1 million spring and summer Chinook are believed to have returned annually to the Upper Snake River Basin from the Pacific to spawn.

Tribes in the basin consumed millions of pounds of fish each year, which sustained hundreds of thousands of people as well as more than 130 animal species, according to the report.

Today, four of the 16 salmon stocks in the Columbia and Snake rivers are gone, including coho and sockeye runs, the report said. Some populations have left their historic tributaries, such as salmon and steelhead that used to return to the Umatilla River. Today, seven of the 12 remaining salmon stocks in the Columbia River Basin are federally listed as threatened or endangered.

Chinook salmon spawn in Snake River. (Natalie Fobes/Getty Images)

Half of the historic populations of salmon, steelhead and lamprey that once inhabited the Snake River Basin are also gone. The rest are in a dire condition and could become extinct, the report said. It also detailed losses of lamprey and sturgeon that are important to Columbia River Basin tribes, and, with the inundation of land near the rivers, the loss of habitat for elk and deer that were hunted by tribes and where other foods were harvested.

Federal and state governments have supported hatcheries as their key strategy to reverse fish declines, but the operations have failed to fulfill their promise, the report found. Decades of data show that despite billions in taxpayer investment, salmon and steelhead hatchery programs and restoration projects in the Columbia River Basin have failed to support or boost native fish populations and, in fact, are contributing to their decline.

Telling the truth

Officials from the affected Northwest tribes welcomed the report.

In statements Tuesday, they said they were glad the federal government acknowledged the destructive role dams have played in the loss of their land, food, health, cultural practices and economic well-being. Leaders from the Nez Perce and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation said that in publishing the analysis, the federal government was finally being honest.

The United States  by telling the truth about the historic and ongoing injustices the federal dams have imposed on our people and by embracing its treaty and trust obligations  is upholding the rule of law and highlighting the urgency to act to prevent salmon extinction, said Wheeler of the Nez Perce.

Corinne Sams, a board member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla and chair of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, said in a statement that the analysis was an honest acknowledgment of the devastating impact that the dams have had on Columbia River Basin tribes.

Three Northwest tribes and federal agencies have begun work on reviving Chinook and sockeye salmon runs that were among the most abundant in the world before the Columbia River dams were built.

As part of that effort, the task force will be charged with coordinating salmon restoration efforts in the Columbia River and Snake rivers across agencies.

The administration said in its release that it chose Blosser to lead based on two decades of experience working on salmon and energy issues. The group will be co-chaired by three people: Laura Daniel-Davis, deputy secretary of the Interior; Deputy Secretary of Energy Dave Turk; and Janet Coit, assistant administrator for fisheries at NOAA. Other members will be from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Office of Management and Budget and the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

Recommendations

The report made vague recommendations to include the historic effects of the dams in federal environmental reviews on Columbia and Snake River Basin projects. It also called for federal agencies to work with the tribes and to consider the recommendation from the fisheries division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to potentially breach the four lower Snake River dams.

NOAA officials have said that breaching the dams would be a good way to restore fish stocks.

Opponents of dam breaching point to another NOAA study showing that warming ocean temperatures from climate change are playing a large role in salmon and steelhead declines as evidence that dam breaching wont save the fish. The study, by NOAA scientist Lisa Crozier, found that rising sea temperatures were a dominant driver toward future extinction.

But in an email, she told the Capital Chronicle that its inappropriate to use her study in discussing historic salmon declines.

My paper was about the future, she said.

Dams in Oregon, Washington and Idaho

The 11 dams studied in the report include four in Oregon, six in Washington and another in Idaho.

Lower Columbia River dams in Oregon:

Bonneville Dam (Cascade Locks), completed in 1938

The Dalles Dam (The Dalles), completed in 1957

John Day Dam (Rufus), completed in 1971

McNary Dam (Umatilla), completed in 1954

Upper Columbia River dams in Washington state:

Chief Joseph Dam (Bridgeport), completed in 1977

Grand Coulee Dam (Mason City and Grand Coulee), completed in 1942

Lower Snake River dams:

Ice Harbor Dam (Burbank), completed in 1961

Lower Monumental Dam (Kahlotus), completed in 1969

Little Goose Dam (Dayton), completed in 1978

Lower Granite Dam (Colton), completed in 1979

The report also considers the Dworshak Dam, which was completed in 1973 and is located on the North Fork Clearwater River just upstream of a tributary to the lower Snake River in Ahsahka, Idaho.

The post Federal government acknowledges dams devastated Northwest tribes and fish stocks appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle.
Oregon's Bonneville Dam is the last of 14 dams on the Columbia River before it empties into the Pacific Ocean. (Courtesy of the Bonneville Power Administration/Flickr)

The federal government this week acknowledged that the construction and operation of 11 hydroelectric dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers during the last century has had a devastating effect on eight Northwest tribes and more than a dozen native fish stocks, some of which have gone extinct.

The acknowledgement came in a report, Tribal Circumstances Analysis, that was published Tuesday. It represents the first time that the U.S. government has comprehensively detailed the harm that federal dams have caused and continue to inflict on Northwest tribes, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of the Interior, which undertook the analysis.

Those harms include the inundation of thousands of acres of tribal land and sacred sites and the loss of traditional fishing areas. The government in the analysis acknowledged that it violated treaty promises to the tribes in developing the dams, which brought economic benefits to white settlers  hydropower, irrigation, improved river navigation and mining  while the tribes lost much of their land as well as many of their traditional fishing grounds and the fish theyve long depended on.

Eight tribes most affected by the dams

Coeur DAlene Tribe of Indians

Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation

Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation

Nez Perce Tribes

Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall Reservation

Spokane Tribe of Indians

Over a century ago, the government and private interests began damming the Columbia Rivers tributaries. These actions, along with many contemporaneous actions, perpetuated and were part and parcel of the historical transfer of land, natural resources and wealth away from the tribes, the report said. The government afforded little, if any, consideration to the devastation the dams would bring to tribal communities.

The analysis follows a series of promises from President Joe Biden to restore native fish populations in the Columbia and Snake River basins and decades of mounting research and litigation pointing to the role of dams in declining native and wild fish stocks and the subsequent decline in the cultural, physical and economic health of Indigenous peoples who have lived for millennia in the basins.

Federal officials announce creation of Columbia River Task Force to restore fish

This week, White House officials announced the creation of the Columbia River Task Force to coordinate interagency and tribal work on restoring wild fish stocks in the basins during the next decade. It will be led by Nik Blosser, former chief of staff to Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, a special assistant and deputy cabinet secretary in the Biden administration and, most recently, a vice president at Portland General Electric.

Leaders of the eight affected tribes named in the report lauded the analysis. Shannon Wheeler, chairman of the Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee, said in a statement it is a stark reminder for the federal government.

We know we must act urgently to prevent extinction, and this report reaffirms the need for the United States and us to move forward together, he said.

The report also prompted criticism. The nonprofit trade group Pacific Northwest Waterways Association, which represents ports and other economic interests in the area and supports hydropower, said the analysis was not based on scientific evidence and deliberately left out other river basin stakeholders.

Our concerns with the Biden administrations actions are their excessive lack of transparency and the failure to account for all interests affected by this complex issue, Neil Maunu, the groups executive director, said in a statement.

Devastation of fish stocks on Columbia, Snake rivers

The analysis references dozens of studies that have shown that the 11 dams and their reservoirs on the Columbia and Snake rivers have caused the rapid decline of salmon and steelhead populations. It further connects those declines to a decrease in the health and economic well-being of members of eight affected tribes.

Up to 16 million salmon and steelhead historically returned to the Columbia River Basin each year, according to the report. Millions of them migrated hundreds of miles upstream from the ocean to return to their birthing grounds to spawn, including up to 3.7 million salmon and steelhead that returned to the area above what is now Grand Coulee Dam. More than 1 million spring and summer Chinook are believed to have returned annually to the Upper Snake River Basin from the Pacific to spawn.

Tribes in the basin consumed millions of pounds of fish each year, which sustained hundreds of thousands of people as well as more than 130 animal species, according to the report.

Today, four of the 16 salmon stocks in the Columbia and Snake rivers are gone, including coho and sockeye runs, the report said. Some populations have left their historic tributaries, such as salmon and steelhead that used to return to the Umatilla River. Today, seven of the 12 remaining salmon stocks in the Columbia River Basin are federally listed as threatened or endangered.

Chinook Salmon Spawning in Snake River

Half of the historic populations of salmon, steelhead and lamprey that once inhabited the Snake River Basin are also gone. The rest are in a dire condition and could become extinct, the report said. It also detailed losses of lamprey and sturgeon that are important to Columbia River Basin tribes, and, with the inundation of land near the rivers, the loss of habitat for elk and deer that were hunted by tribes and where other foods were harvested.

Federal and state governments have supported hatcheries as their key strategy to reverse fish declines, but the operations have failed to fulfill their promise, the report found. Decades of data show that despite billions in taxpayer investment, salmon and steelhead hatchery programs and restoration projects in the Columbia River Basin have failed to support or boost native fish populations and, in fact, are contributing to their decline.

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Northwest tribes say analysis acknowledges telling the truth

Officials from the affected Northwest tribes welcomed the report.

In statements Tuesday, they said they were glad the federal government acknowledged the destructive role dams have played in the loss of their land, food, health, cultural practices and economic well-being. Leaders from the Nez Perce and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation said that in publishing the analysis, the federal government was finally being honest.

The United States  by telling the truth about the historic and ongoing injustices the federal dams have imposed on our people and by embracing its treaty and trust obligations  is upholding the rule of law and highlighting the urgency to act to prevent salmon extinction, said Wheeler of the Nez Perce.

Corinne Sams, a board member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla and chair of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, said in a statement that the analysis was an honest acknowledgment of the devastating impact that the dams have had on Columbia River Basin tribes.

Three Northwest tribes and federal agencies have begun work on reviving Chinook and sockeye salmon runs that were among the most abundant in the world before the Columbia River dams were built.

As part of that effort, the task force will be charged with coordinating salmon restoration efforts in the Columbia River and Snake rivers across agencies.

The administration said in its release that it chose Blosser to lead based on two decades of experience working on salmon and energy issues. The group will be co-chaired by three people: Laura Daniel-Davis, deputy secretary of the Interior; Deputy Secretary of Energy Dave Turk; and Janet Coit, assistant administrator for fisheries at NOAA. Other members will be from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Office of Management and Budget and the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

Report recommendations

The report made vague recommendations to include the historic effects of the dams in federal environmental reviews on Columbia and Snake River Basin projects. It also called for federal agencies to work with the tribes and to consider the recommendation from the fisheries division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to potentially breach the four lower Snake River dams.

NOAA officials have said that breaching the dams would be a good way to restore fish stocks.

Opponents of dam breaching point to another NOAA study showing that warming ocean temperatures from climate change are playing a large role in salmon and steelhead declines as evidence that dam breaching wont save the fish. The study, by NOAA scientist Lisa Crozier, found that rising sea temperatures were a dominant driver toward future extinction.

But in an email, she told the Capital Chronicle that its inappropriate to use her study in discussing historic salmon declines.

My paper was about the future, she said.

Dams in Oregon, Washington and Idaho

The 11 dams studied in the report include four in Oregon, six in Washington and another in Idaho.

Lower Columbia River dams in Oregon:

Bonneville Dam (Cascade Locks), completed in 1938

The Dalles Dam (The Dalles), completed in 1957

John Day Dam (Rufus), completed in 1971

McNary Dam (Umatilla), completed in 1954

Upper Columbia River dams in Washington state:

Chief Joseph Dam (Bridgeport), completed in 1977

Grand Coulee Dam (Mason City and Grand Coulee), completed in 1942

Lower Snake River dams:

Ice Harbor Dam (Burbank), completed in 1961

Lower Monumental Dam (Kahlotus), completed in 1969

Little Goose Dam (Dayton), completed in 1978

Lower Granite Dam (Colton), completed in 1979

The report also considers the Dworshak Dam, which was completed in 1973 and is located on the North Fork Clearwater River just upstream of a tributary to the lower Snake River in Ahsahka, Idaho.

The Oregon Capital Chronicle, like the Idaho Capital Sun, is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Follow Oregon Capital Chronicle on Facebook and X.

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First Lady Jill Biden to visit Pennsylvania this weekend

(WHTM)  First Lady Jill Biden will be visiting Pennsylvania this weekend and Monday with one event in the Midstate.

The Office of the First Lady says Dr. Biden will be attending political events in Lancaster and Pittsburgh on Sunday. The locations of the events were not yet disclosed.

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This Week in Pennsylvania

The First Lady will also attend an event in Philadelphia on Monday before traveling to Charlotte, North Carolina.

Dr. Biden is very familiar with the area having grown up in the Philadelphia-area and attending West Chester University and Villanova University.

This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
Russian forces have begun employing massive 3,000-kilogram (6,600-pound) class FAB-3000 M54 bombs turned into stand-off weapons in Ukraine it has been claimed. If true, this could present a significant new challenge for Ukrainian forces given the amount of destruction power such a weapon could deliver while also helping the launch platform stay further away from Ukrainian air defenses. At the same time, questions have already been raised about what aircraft might be able to employ FAB-3000 M54s converted in this way and the size of the available stockpile of the bombs, all of which could limit their actual operational utility. The Fighterbomber channel on Telegram, which has close connections to the Russian Aerospace Forces, shared a video, seen below, earlier today purporting to show the first combat employment of a FAB-3000 M54 fitted with a UMPK-series glide bomb kit. UMPK modules consist of a pop-out wing kit and a guidance package, as you can read more about here. The FAB-3000 is one of, if not the largest conventional general-purpose high-explosive bomb in Russian service today. There is no direct U.S. military analog, with the largest of the three most common sizes of bombs American forces employ being in the 2,000-pound (900-kilogram) class, or less than a third of the size. A first by Russia: Three-ton FAB-3000 "guided" bomb was used on Ukrainian target in Kharkiv.The bomb was clearly off target, but the consequences were still serious. pic.twitter.com/dDqiAz79wL Clash Report (@clashreport) June 20, 2024 The post from Fighterbomber accompanying the video claims that it shows the modified FAB-3000 M54 being used to target a three-story structure Ukrainian forces were using as a forward operating location in the village of Lyptsi in the countrys northern Kharkiv region. A map showing the general location of Lyptsi in Ukraines northern Kharkiv region. Google Maps The War Zone has not been able to independently verify those claims. At the time of writing, there does not appear to be any picture or video showing or claiming to show a UMPK-equipped FAB-300 M54, either. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, at left, inspects a munitions plant in Nizhny Novgorod in March. A standard FAB-3000 M54 bomb is seen in the background. Russian MoD The video does show an aerial attack on a three-story building, as well as nearby structures. The munition responsible can be seen briefly before impacting the ground, but the footage is very grainy and what the weapon is cannot be readily discerned. A screen capture from the video right before the weapon, which can be just barely seen above the road at top center, impacts the ground. via X A close-up, such as it is, of the weapon. via X Whatever the weapon is, it clearly has significant destructive power, causing major damage to the apparent main target and completely leveling three other buildings. Other structures in the area also show signs of being damaged to varying degrees. A screen capture showing the large explosion after the weapon hits its mark. via X Another screen grab showing some of the aftermath of the aerial attack. Significant damage to the three-story building is visible and three structures that were to the right have been completely flattened. via X While it remains unknown whether FAB-3000 M54 fitted with a UMPK kit was used to carry out the attack seen in the video, Russian forces have been making heavy use of smaller 500-kilogram (1,100-pound) class glide bombs for more than a year now. In January, the Russian Ministry of Defense released a video showing a larger UMPK-equipped 1,500-kilogram (3,300-pound) class FAB-1500 M54. There have since been reports that FAB-1500-based glide bombs have been used in combat in Ukraine, as well. 2/ Footage from the same video showing such UMPK-equipped bombs being released by one or more Su-34s. pic.twitter.com/1mhTAcQ2p0 Guy Plopsky (@GuyPlopsky) April 4, 2024 Perhaps the clearest footage so far of a Russian UMPK FAB-1500 guided aerial bomb being used in combat in Ukraine.The silhouette of the bomb with wing UMPK kit/guidance module was plainly visible before making an impact in the Ukrainian town of Berislav in Kherson Oblast, right pic.twitter.com/F9NevrW6Mq Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@Archer83Able) March 4, 2024 It is also worth noting here that the first public picture of any bomb with a UMPK glide bomb kit and the first report that FAB-1500s were being converted in this way both came from Fighterbomber on Telegram. If Russian forces are now launching FAB-3000 M54-based glide bombs this presents new challenges for Ukrainian defenders. The emergence of 500-kilogram (1,100-pound) class glide bombs created major problems for Ukraines armed forces that prompted a notable shift in its air defense tactics, techniques, and procedures, developments which The War Zone has tracked closely. Even so, Russian forces continue to employ the smaller UPMK-equipped bombs, which remain very real threats. A clip from a newly released Russian MoD video showing the moment a VKS Su-34 strike fighter releases four UMPK-equipped FAB-500 M-62 bombs.Video link:https://t.co/ysevSvoz2P pic.twitter.com/KlMKg9e5EK Guy Plopsky (@GuyPlopsky) June 10, 2024 The new video from Fighterbomber certainly underscores the potential added destructive power that a UMPK-equipped FAB-3000 M54, which would give Russian forces a new stand-off option for engaging large targets. Still, there are real questions about Russias capacity to employ these monstrous bombs. FAB-3000 M54s even without the added weight and bulk of UMPK kits are beyond the stated payload capacities of pylons on the vast majority of Russian tactical jets. Russias MiG-31K Foxhounds, which can carry Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles that are estimated to weigh nearly 9,500 pounds (4,300 kilograms), might be one option, but there are only a small number of those aircraft. The MiG-31Ks high speed and service ceiling would help extend the range of a glide-bomb version of the FAB-3000 M54. A MiG-31K carrying a Kinzhal missile. Russian MoD Altogether, the Russian Aerospace Forces bomber fleets look to be the most likely launch platforms for FAB-3000 M54s tuned into glide bombs. The FAB-3000 was originally designed to be carried by Tu-22M3 Backfire bombers and those aircraft can only carry two of them at a time in their bomb bays. Russian Tu-22M3 Backfire bombers. Alexander Beltyukov via Wikimedia A FAB-3000-series bomb in a Tu-22M3s bomb bay. Public Domain via Defense Express Russias willingness, or lack thereof, to send its prize bombers closer to harms way could, in turn, limit its ability to use these bombs. Ukraine has already demonstrated its ability to target Russian bombers and other very high-value aircraft at extended ranges, particularly with Patriot surface-to-air missile systems it has received from the United States and other Western partners. In the course of the conflict so far, Russian bombers have largely been used to launch cruise missile strikes at Ukrainian targets from well within Russian airspace. The claim that the FAB-3000 M54 glide bomb was used to attack buildings in Lyptsi, which sits less than 10 miles from the Russian border, may point to limitations in using these weapons against targets deeper inside Ukraine. Theres also just the question of how many of the Cold War-era FAB-3000s Russia has at all in its stockpile to convert into glide bombs. Russian authorities did claim in March that mass production of the bombs had been restarted, but how long it might take them to really ramp that up remains to be seen. During a visit, Sergei Shoigu was shown the production of FAB-3000 aerial bombs. https://t.co/ZBefctOOFb pic.twitter.com/LU02N0zNNo Rob Lee (@RALee85) March 21, 2024 Even a small number of FAB-3000 M54s equipped with UMPK glide bomb kits could be problematic for Ukraine depending on how they are employed. This could be compounded by already concerning shortages of surface-to-air missiles, including interceptors for Patriot systems, within the Ukrainian armed forces. Just today, the U.S. government announced a new effort to redirect supplies of multiple types of air defense interceptors to Ukraine to bolster the countrys ability to defend itself against aerial threats, as you can read more about here. Whatever the case, hard evidence of UMPK-equipped FAB-3000 M54s being in service has yet to emerge. That being said, if even a small number of these three-ton bombs are now available and being employed against Ukrainian targets, they could still present a significant new threat. Contact the author: joe@twz.com

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Its the first summer weekend in Miami. Will it soak us or bake us? What forecast says

Summer is officially here. And that means summer weather is here, too.

If youre planning a beach day this weekend, be prepared for some rain, thunderstorms and possible rip currents. You know the drill.

The first weekend of summer will be a mix, but there is some good news: Temperatures wont hit the 90s, according to the National Weather Service.

Shawn Bhatti, a meteorologist with the weather service in Miami, warned that it will be a little bit warmer on Friday and into the weekend, but as of now we should stay out of the heat advisory criteria.

Yet this is no cool spell. Its still going to be fairly uncomfortable, especially for more vulnerable populations, Bhatti said.

Expect some rain as you make plans for the beach or other outdoor activities.

Through the next few days we are going to be in and out of some tropical moisture, Bhatti said, That will bring on and off spotty showers through Friday and into Saturday.

Also, a rip current advisory is in effect through at least Saturday evening.

MORE: Alberto fades out over Mexico. Florida could feel rain from approaching disturbance

Weekend forecast

Friday: High 89, Low 80. Partly sunny with a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms during the day and a 40% chance of rain overnight.

Saturday: High 88, Low 80. Partly sunny with a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms during the day and overnight.

Sunday: High 88, Low 79. Mostly sunny with a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms during the day and overnight.

Monday: High 89, Low 79. Mostly sunny with a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms during the day and 20% chance of rain overnight.
Fishing Crew Rescues Over 3 Dozen Dogs Treading Water in Mississippi Lake: 'We Rescued Every Dog We Saw'

The 38 hounds were stranded in Grenada Lake "for at least 45 minutes to an hour

Getty Dog in a boat -- stock image

A fishing crew caught more than what they bargained for during a recent trip to Memphis.

Bob Gist of Jonesboro, Ark. was at Grenada Lake in Mississippi with his friend Brad Carlisle of Covington, Tenn., when the pair made a startling discovery, local news station Action News 5 reported on Wednesday, June 19.

According to the outlet, the duo was also joined by fishing guide Jordan Chrestman as they headed out in their boat.

Getty Fishing rod on the boat -- stock image

Shortly after they left the shore, their tour guide noticed an unusual sight  more than three dozen dogs in Grenada Lake.

Related: Malnourished Puppy Abandoned in a Portable Toilet Acts Like a 'Wiggly Angel' After His Rescue

The canines were hounds, and all 38 of them were "wearing expensive radio collars and white paint on them," Action News 5 reports. The three men realized the dozens of dogs were stranded, treading water as they were unable to make their way back to land.

Action News 5 reported that the dogs were at least a mile offshore before the fisherman and guide spotted them, and the animals seemed to be lost.

Alamy dogs in water -- stock image

Springing into action, Chrestman cut the excursion short and quickly drove the boat to the distressed group of animals  filling their boat up with as many canines would fit.

Gist also spoke to Jonesboro KEGI radio station about the rescue, saying the animals were swimming in all different directions once their boat arrived.

They were lost. The dogs were at least a mile offshore. The way their heads were in the water theres no way they could see the shore. They were dog paddling and completely lost, Gist said.

The men first loaded 27 dogs into their boat. Once that group was safely dropped off, the guys went back for the remaining 11, both the radio station and news station reported.

Their heroic efforts were anything but easy.

Related: Baby Moose Stuck in Alaska Lake Rescued from 'Sure Demise' by Quick-Thinking Animal Lovers

When we first started there was this white one that Brad tried to reach for and the dog bit at him. He moved closer to me, so I tried to reach for him, and he tried to bite me, so we left him. Gist told the radio station. When we came back for the second load it was probably 30-45 minutes later. By that time, he was ready to get in the boat. He wasnt biting anybody.

The canines were reportedly part of a fox hunt, but got distracted by a deer that they chased into the Grenada Lake.

The dogs jumped a deer; the deer ran and jumped in the lake and ran off and left the dogs. The dogs kept trying to follow the deer and got lost," Gist continued.

He added that he didn't know if any of the dogs in the group had drowned before they were able to rescue the 38.

We were scared to ask. All I know is we rescued every dog we saw. Dog paddling and treading water for 45-60 minutes in the middle of the lake is a long time.

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The dogs owners reportedly told them they were unable to rescue the pets because they did not have a boat.

The owners reportedly tried to show their gratitude by giving the three money, but the trio declined the offer, saying they just happened to be in the right place at the right time, according to Action News 5.

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Read the original article on People.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. Unfortunately, this response is yet another attempt by the EU High Representative to satisfy Armenians and make claims that have no moral or factual basis, and Azerbaijan denies these false and inflammatory allegations, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry declared this in response to EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the EU Commission Josep Borrell's questions to the European Parliament members about "Armenian prisoners," Trend reports.

"After the 2020 war, as a humanitarian gesture and following its obligations under international humanitarian law, Azerbaijan released and repatriated more than 200 Armenians considered prisoners of war or detainees. All Armenian prisoners of war and civilians held in Azerbaijan were treated following the requirements of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and were not subjected to torture, humiliation, or inhuman treatment.

Each of them had been provided with medical care while under arrest, they had undergone examinations, and the ICRC had held regular meetings with them and ensured contact with their families. Nevertheless, after they were returned from Azerbaijan to Armenia, some of these persons were arrested and interrogated by the Armenian authorities.

The remaining imprisoned war criminals, separatist leaders, and other persons of Armenian origin are either accused of war crimes, ethnic cleansing, military aggression, torture, and other serious crimes, have already been convicted of these crimes, or are still under investigation.

Following the Geneva Conventions, as well as international and national legislation in general, Azerbaijan has rights and obligations to investigate and prosecute such crimes. Such arrests have a full legal basis and do not infringe on the rights of the detainees.

Even if the detainees are prisoners of war, under Geneva Convention III, prisoners of war who are prosecuted for an offense for which they may be charged may be detained until a trial such as this one is completed and, if appropriate, until the completion of their sentence.

Furthermore, it would be more appropriate to draw the EU's attention to the evidence of the Armenian side's ill-treatment of Azerbaijani prisoners of war and civilian detainees, as well as missing Azerbaijanis. Since the beginning of Armenia's military aggression, more than 3,890 Azerbaijanis have gone missing, and their fate remains unknown. Out of the missing, 3,171 are military personnel, and 719 (including 71 children, 267 women, and 326 elderly) are civilians.

Regarding comments on ensuring the rights of Armenians resettled in Armenia and other countries, it is important to recall that despite Azerbaijan's appeal for reintegration, program, and steps in this direction, local persons of Armenian origin have decided to leave Azerbaijan and not return. Unfortunately, in almost 30 years, we have not witnessed any concerns or appeals from the EU regarding the rights of the nearly one million Azerbaijani refugees and internally displaced persons who were forcibly and ruthlessly evicted from their homes.

Azerbaijan expects that at this crucial moment, the EU will refrain from biased statements undermining peace efforts in the region," the statement reads.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Former Florida police official says he was forced out for refusing governors unlawful orders

A former top Florida law enforcement official is claiming he was pressured several times by Gov. Ron DeSantis and his deputies to carry out unlawful activity, including collecting information about migrants and arresting neo-Nazi demonstrators without reasonable suspicion of criminal activity.

The allegations are outlined in a 16-page lawsuit filed this week by Shane Desguin, the former chief of staff for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, in which he accuses the state agency and DeSantis of wrongful termination and retaliation for questioning several unlawful directives  many of them tied to the governors political priorities.

One of those directives came from a senior aide to DeSantis around September 2023. According to the complaint, the aide told Desguin that the governor  who was running for president at the time  wanted state police to arrest neo-Nazi demonstrators in Orlando under a state law that prohibits people from projecting images on property without permission.

Desguin argued that state police couldnt arrest someone engaging in an activity protected by the First Amendment just because DeSantis desired it, according to the complaint.

I dont think you understand, the aide  Alex Kelly, at the time DeSantis chief of staff  told Desguin, according to the complaint. If you look hard enough, you can find a way. The Governor [DeSantis] wants someone arrested today. He will stand by you in any arrest.

The pressure campaign alleged in the complaint extended to requests to obtain photos and personal information of migrants without legal justification and to withhold public records related to DeSantis travels  and culminated in Desguin being forced out of his post in November 2023, the lawsuit claims.

The governors office declined to comment on the alleged directives, saying those arguments will be made in legal filings. But the governors spokesman, Bryan Griffin, said a state investigation found disturbing violations of state rules related to insubordination and workplace conduct. The investigation, launched by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, was finalized in May.

Marie Mattox, a prominent employment and civil rights attorney in Tallahassee representing Desguin, told the Herald/Times on Thursday that the timeline of the state investigation is further evidence that DeSantis and FDLE doubled down on [Desguin] after he left to smear his good name.

They really have no choice but to try to cast doubt on his character because they cannot defend the charges that he made on the merits. So what do they do? They point the finger at him AFTER he was cleared of wrongdoing, Mattox said in an email.

According to the lawsuit, Desguin was given the choice of retiring or being fired in November of last year. When he left, he received an affidavit of separation that said the reason for his departure was Retired. Not involving misconduct.

The fact that Desguin was cleared of wrongdoing on November 17, 2023, is golden and shows that the concoction of mistruths and half-truths are just that  to cover up what DeSantis did wrong, Mattox added.

A long running issue

Desguin stepped down from his post after more than 30 years with the states law enforcement agency, shortly after he raised concerns about the state agency delaying the release of public records requested by reporters that would have revealed who traveled with the governor on the state plane and where it went.

His lawsuit was filed under Floridas Whistleblower Act. Desguins then-deputy chief of staff, Patricia Carpenter, was also allegedly forced out when she sought whistleblower status for raising the same concerns about the public records.

Read more: State police officials say Florida governors staff targeted them over flight records

Florida has a broad public records law that allows news outlets and the public to request information on state and local governments. The law is broader than what exists in many other states.

But DeSantis has tried to curtail those laws for several years now.

Most recently, lawyers for DeSantis have tried to block the publics access to records showing phone calls about state business made on officials private cell phones  a dramatic change to the states long-standing interpretation of the states public records laws.

So when it came to releasing records about the governors taxpayer-funded plane travel, Desguin claims he ran into some trouble. He was of the opinion that the records should be released, because they did not pose a risk to the governor, his family or anyone else, as intended under the law.

DeSantis disagreed  and Desguin claims he was told the records were not to be released.

The episode indicated an unusual level of involvement by the governor in the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which is supposed to have some level of independence despite carrying out some of the governors top priorities, such as the elections police force and his immigration crackdown. The department does not report directly to the governor.

Rather, it reports to the governor and Cabinet  the states attorney general, chief financial officer and agriculture commissioner.

Further involvement in immigration

The governors office involvement in state police matters went beyond state records, according to the lawsuit. Most of the problems, Desguin claims, began in late 2021 when he was put in charge of dealing with immigration  a top priority for DeSantis.

Desguin said that DeSantis former public safety czar, Larry Keefe, ordered him to get photographs, biometric data, and any other pertinent information by engaging with migrants at the airport.

Concerned about the legality of the requests, Desguin objected  and Keefe persisted, according to the lawsuits.

Desguin alleges that he told Keefe that FDLE could not legally conduct name checks, capture photographs or compile intelligence files without a criminal predicate or reasonable suspicion, as though action would be unlawful.

On multiple occasions, Keefe informed [Desguin] that he was growing weary of his constant emphasis on reasonable suspicion and criminal predicate, the lawsuit says. Keefe conveyed that failure to comply with his directives would result in adverse consequences for [him].

On another occasion, DeSantis requested that his staff meet with Desguin to discuss the governors plan to relocate migrants to destinations outside of Florida.

Various proposals were entertained, including transporting migrants across state lines via bus and flying them to sanctuary states, the lawsuit says, noting that Desguin voiced multiple objections during these meetings in which he was requested to participate in the proposed bus transportation, citing concerns about potential false imprisonment or kidnapping.

DeSantis chief of staff, James Uthmeier, pressed Desguin on this matter, the lawsuit states. He told him that it was important to do at least one flight as part of the program  which had become a cornerstone of the governors immigration platform.

After that, Keefe went to Texas.

And with the help of a private contractor, Keefe, and Uthmeier were able to coordinate an operation out of Texas that led a group of roughly 50 migrants to the Massachusetts island of Marthas Vineyard.
St. Petersburg-based state Sen. Darryl Robson (second from left) with some of the Dozier School for Boys victims in Tallahassee after the bill signing on June 21, 2024. (Photo by Darryl Rouson)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has approved a measure that will finally provide reparations for hundreds of men who as children were beaten and raped for decades while in the custody of the state.

The law (HB 21) signed by the governor on Friday morning will divide $20 million in compensation between those who attended the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in North Florida between 1940 and 1975, as well as the Okeechobee School, another state-based institution known for its abusive nature.

According to a bill analysis, there were reports of children being chained to walls in irons, brutal whippings, and peonage at Dozier as early as 1901. In the first 13 years of operation, six state-led investigations took place. After former Dozier School students began to publish accounts of the abuse, their complaints gained traction.

Ultimately, then-Gov. Charlie Crist in 2008 directed the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate the Dozier School and the deaths alleged there.

Meanwhile, the school was closed following a federal investigation in 2011 and lawmakers gave a formal apology to the survivors in 2017.

Boys walking by dormitories at the School for Boys in Marianna, Florida, circa 1950. (Credit: Florida Memory, State Library and Archives of Florida)

Over those years, some of the still-living victims of rape and physical beatings by officers repeatedly made their way to Tallahassee to tell state lawmakers about the horrors suffered at those state-run institutions. Theyve been dubbed the White House Boys for the building on the Dozier campus in Marianna where boys were  among other abuse  beaten with a leather strap attached to a wooden handle.

Retired Army Ranger Capt. Bryant Middleton was one of those victims who made the trek to Tallahassee for years. Earlier this year, he told a state Senate committee not to think of him as the man in his late 70s, but as a young boy decades ago, when he and other boys endured abuse at the Dozier School.

I would ask you: If it were your child that came home from school, your child said to you, They took me to a room and beat me with a paddle. Your daughter comes home and says, They took me into a room and they did something to me that made me uncomfortable. Thats what we endured, he said.

We were children

Richard Huntly and Bryant Middleton (right) spoke before a Senate Committee on Feb. 20, 2024 (Photo by Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix)

We were children. Dont look at me as an adult. Think of me as a young child being beaten and molested and tormented, day in and day out. Thats what the school was really about. The beatings? We got over those. Those children that were raped at the age 6 and 7 and 8  I dont think they over got over that.

Somewhat surprisingly, the governors office invited no news reporters or cameras to the bill signing, although about 15 of the men who have regularly visited the Legislature to lobby for the measure were there, along with the legislators who sponsored the measure  St. Petersburg state Sen. Darryl Rouson and House Republicans Michele Salzman from the Panhandle area and Kiyan Michael from Jacksonville.

It came down to a crunch, you know, the final tranche of bills, and I know he has a very busy schedule, Rouson said. The important thing was to get it signed, and thats what happened.

The bill is set to go into effect on July 1. Applications for individuals eligible for compensation will go to the state Department of Legal Affairs, which will review and approve or deny applications.

Gene Luker is one of the oldest living White House Boys. He turns 80 next month (Photo by Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix)

Applications accepted through years end

The law says that only those who were confined to the Dozier School for Boys or the Okeechobee School between 1940 and 1975 are eligible; personal representatives or estates of those who attended the school but have died may not file an application for or receive compensation the law says. Applications will be accepted until Dec. 31 of this year.

Although it has been frequently mentioned that there are approximately 400 living survivors of the two institutions who are eligible to be compensated, one of the survivors, 80-year-old Tampa resident Gene Luker, told the Phoenix after the measure passed in the Florida Senate in March that he believes that far fewer than that are still alive.

I dont believe that, he said at the time of the higher number. I think if theres around 100-150 from that time limit  although he joked that more might come out of the woodwork now that it looks more possible than ever that the living victims will receive financial compensation.

After the measure passed out of a Senate committee in March, Broward County Democratic Sen. Rosalind Osgood approached one of the men who testified for the legislation.

Democratic State Senator Rosalind Osgood comforts Cecil Gardner after his testimony about the abuse he received at the Dozier School for Boys on Feb. 27, 2024 (Photo by Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix)

Im deeply sorry for what happened to you, Osgood said. I know that no amount of money or no words can take away your pain, but I do want to tell you this morning that I love you. I love you. And I pray in the days to come that you will have at least a sense of peace and knowing that we care, and that we are doing the best we can to acknowledge that.

Rouson has been pushing for the living victims at Dozier to be compensated for years. He said on Friday that he was elated after the governor signed the bill.

Its a poignant moment, he said. You cant do anything about the 55 unmarked graves  individuals who we may never know. But we can do something about those still living, and who witnessed the trauma of beatings, disappearances, and injuries, both psychological and physical. Its significant for them, and thats why they showed up today.

Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com. Follow Florida Phoenix on Facebook and X.
Florida man accused of breaking into exs home, flushing fish down toilet after smashing tank

Florida man accused of breaking into exs home, flushing fish down toilet after smashing tank

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A Florida man was arrested after he broke into his ex-girlfriends home, smashing her fish tank, then flushing the fish down the toilet, according to an arrest report.

On May 4, Lee County deputies responded to a Cape Coral home regarding a battery incident.

Deputies searching for 3 possible suspects after shooting at Pasco County home

The victim, who lived at the home, told officials that Bret Austin Dahl, 29, broke into the house through a window at 2:30 a.m. and attacked her.

According to the affidavit, Dahl threw a picture frame at her and demanded she tell him where his firearm was. Dahl then pushed her into a closet door, causing her to fall, and began knocking everything off the kitchen counter and other items including the TV, thermostat, two ceiling fans, and dishware, among other items.

The report said Dahl smashed the victims $300 betta fish tank, containing her fish Bean. The victim told officials she heard Dahl flush the toilet and did not see her fish after that. Dahl then grabbed her phone and took off from the house.

As he was leaving, he kicked and shattered her vehicles headlight and smashed one of the cars windows, before he left in his friends Jaguar.

Couple dies after getting caught in rip current while on Florida vacation with their 6 kids, deputies say

Cape Coral police said Dahl caused nearly $3,370 in damage and unnecessarily killed an animal when he deliberately and maliciously took the life of the Victims betta fish.

Dahl was arrested later that morning and was taken to the Lee County Jail. He was charged with battery (domestic violence), grand theft, criminal mischief (property damage), tampering with a victim, and animal cruelty.

Court records show Dahl had a court date on June 10, but remains in custody.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Florida pool contractor gets 18 years after pocketing more than $1M from homeowners, leaving holes in backyards

Florida pool contractor gets 18 years after pocketing more than $1M from homeowners, leaving holes in backyards

Related video: West Hernando Pools update: 77 pools remain unfinished, permitting privileges still suspended

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A Florida pool company owner was sentenced to 18 years in prison after prosecutors said he defrauded nearly 100 homeowners.

According to Attorney General Ashley Moodys Office of Statewide Prosecution, Ricardo Villarroel Duerto, owner of Villa Pavers and Pools, defrauded homeowners of more than $1 million. Judge William S. Orth sentenced Villarroel on racketeering charges and conspiracy to commit racketeering.

Investigators said Villarroel targeted victims in Broward, Collier, Hendry, Hillsborough, Lake, Miami-Dade, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas and Seminole counties. They said he promoted low prices on pools as a hook to gain business from victims and then pocketed significant deposits without installing the pools.

Building a pool is an expensive undertaking and some families may save for years to build their dream pool. This shady contractor took advantage of nearly 100 Florida homeowners, including seniors, trying to buy a poolcausing more than $1 million in losses. Thanks to our Statewide Prosecutors, this contractor will serve a lengthy prison sentence for ripping off Floridians, Moody said.

Couple dies after getting caught in rip current while on Florida vacation with their 6 kids, deputies say

Investigators said state law enforcement officials received complaints claiming Villa Pavers and Pools collected around 40% of the contracted price for the installation of pools but didnt finish the job. They said he left giant holes in some homeowners backyards and took the deposit and cut off communication with others.

Investigators also found out that Villarroel worked with licensed general contractor Luis Alvarez of Conquer Builders, who they say aided and abetted Villa Pavers and Pools to defraud homeowners throughout the state. They said Alvarez sold the use of his general contractor license to Villa Pavers and Pools, an unlicensed contractor company, to present a contractor license to homeowners and obtain building permits.

Moody said Villarroel used the license repeatedly and hired two salespeople, Michael Borrego Fernandez and Laura Ballester Alpizar. Then they gained several contracts to supercharge the scheme and acquired more business, leading to an excess in cash.

Officials said Alvarez, Borrego and Ballester were all taken into custody and facing the same charges as Villarroel. Alvarez pled guilty to both charges with a sentence pending. Borrego and Ballester are out on bond.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
TALLAHASSEE  Coming up with solutions to Floridas homeowners insurance crisis has been primarily the purview of state legislators and Gov. Ron DeSantis.

But this week, a new group of Republican mayors is out with ideas of its own.

The Florida Republican Mayors Public Policy Association is endorsing two bills in Congress that would provide tax breaks for victims of disasters and those who buy flood insurance.

The endorsements, which were sent to Floridas legislative delegation this week, are the first official proposals by the organization, whose members include Hialeah Mayor Esteban Bovo, who is its chairperson, and Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector. The group says it wants to find solutions to the states problems.

Our mayors tell us that the high cost of property insurance is top of mind to their residents and that we need to focus on ways to ameliorate these high costs and find solutions, said the organizations executive director, Helen Aguirre Ferre.

The ideas are also a tacit acknowledgement that despite years of reforms by DeSantis and the Legislature, Floridas homeowners insurance rates might be stabilizing but arent falling.

Lawmakers primary response to the crisis has been to make it harder to sue insurance companies. A more favorable environment for insurers would lead to competition that would eventually reduce rates, they say.

It doesnt happen overnight, said Ferre, a former spokesperson for DeSantis and former executive director of the Republican Party of Florida.

The organization this week urged senators to pass the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act, which passed the U.S. House with wide bipartisan support last month. Every member of the Florida delegation present for the vote supported the bill.

The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., would allow victims of hurricanes and federally declared disasters to avoid income taxes on compensation they receive for those disasters. Some people end up paying taxes on such compensation depending on their tax bracket, Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., said last month.

The mayors are also urging Congress to pass the Flood Insurance Relief Act, sponsored by Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., and Sen. Rick Scott. The bill was introduced in April and has not received a hearing.

The legislation would allow individuals earning $200,000 or less, or households earning $400,000 or less, to deduct their flood insurance premiums from their taxes.

The savings could be significant as National Flood Insurance Program premiums rise and as more people are required to get flood insurance. DeSantis and the Legislature in 2022 required nearly every person with a policy with state-run Citizens Property Insurance get flood insurance by 2027.

DeSantis and lawmakers this year suspended state taxes on homeowners and flood insurance premiums, a modest break that could save some people a couple hundred dollars this year.

During Floridas last insurance crisis in the early 2000s, state officials including then-Gov. Jeb Bush pushed Congress to create a national catastrophe fund to help communities across the country recover from storms, fires and other disasters. It passed the U.S. House in 2007, but died in the U.S. Senate after then-President George W. Bush threatened to veto it.

Ferre said that idea came up among the mayors, but they did not pursue it.

What were looking at right now is how can we lend support to these initiatives that are already in the pipeline, she said.
The Florida Supreme Court cleared the way for judicial candidates across the state to openly declare their political ideology  as long as they dont disclose their party affiliation.

The highest courts decision was tucked in a ruling over how to penalize a St. Johns County judge who told potential voters in a 2022 campaign voicemail that she was a conservative. Judicial races are supposed to be nonpartisan, but the highest court ruled her statement was ethically permissible.

To describe oneself as a conservative does not signal bias, pro or con, toward anyone or on any issue, the justices ruled, overriding the findings of the Judicial Qualifications and the admission of the judge facing disciplining, County Court Judge Casey L. Woolsey.

Judges have been publicly scolded for even admitting their political party registration in response to questions from the media. But Woolsey never said she was a Republican. The statement I am a conservative is not partisan, either inherently or, as the JQC believed, when made during an election campaign in a predominantly Republican community, the court ruled.

Our judicial code does not prohibit a candidate from discussing his or her philosophical beliefs, the justices wrote, citing an earlier decision.

In South Florida, lawyers and legal experts called the ruling bizarre and predicted it would usher in an era of nakedly partisan judicial campaigns.

The decision today will not only erode public confidence in the judiciary but also open the floodgates to campaign political speech-related disqualification motions, said Anthony Alfieri, director of the Center for Ethics and Public Service at the University of Miami School of Law.

Expect candidates to file complaints about the words their opponents use to on the campaign trail for years to come, he said. The JQC will get bogged down in abstract, definitional debates over the meaning of political labels across the ideological spectrum, Alfieri said.

Broward lawyer and legal blogger Bill Gelin made a similar prediction. The JQC will be performing linguistic gymnastics as candidates test the limits of what can and cannot be said during a campaign, said Gelin, who runs the JAABlog independent courthouse news and gossip website and was first to report on the courts decision Thursday.

Nova Southeastern University Law School professor Bob Jarvis called the ruling stunning, but predictable given the increasingly conservative makeup of the Florida Supreme Court, which consists entirely of Republican appointees.

We live in highly partisan times. We should not be surprised by this decision, Jarvis said. They are arguing that the word conservative means different things to different people. You could be a conservative and say youre for a strong national defense, low taxes, and smaller government. That doesnt predict judicial decisions. But conservative and liberal are stand-in words that almost always signal a candidates partisan preferences, he said.

Former Broward Democratic Party Chairman Mitch Ceasar agreed, predicting candidates will declare their political affiliations by announcing their political philosophies and letting voters fill in the blanks.

Even in Democratic Broward, I would not want to see that happen, said Ceasar, who is an attorney. In these times certain descriptions clearly transfer to certain parties. It does more than imply a political affinity, and in a judge or judicial candidate, that is unacceptable.

Alfieri said the Supreme Court ruling stands contrary to the language, history, structure, and policy of the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct.
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11)  A food delivery worker was punched and threatened with a gun in front of a Brooklyn building last month, police said Friday.

A man and a woman picked a fight with the 37-year-old worker outside 364 Batchelder St. in Sheepshead Bay at around 12:10 a.m. on May 27, according to the NYPD. The woman punched him in the face and flashed the gun in her waistband while her accomplice stole the food, police said.

More Local News

The suspects then ran into the building with the grub, police said.

The NYPD released photos of the suspects, who remained at large, as of Friday, cops said.

On Thursday night, two masked men stabbed and robbed a food delivery worker in a Brooklyn building, police said. The suspects took the victims scooter after stabbing him in the chest, authorities said.

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here.

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Forget the Concorde: Why Boom Supersonic believes its NC flight dreams will be different

The Concorde was noisy, fuel-inefficient, and very expensive. But it remains the only plane to achieve supersonic commercial flight. From 1976 to 2003, this fleet of 14 aircraft shuttled passengers across the Atlantic Ocean in a few hours at speeds above 1,300 mph.

There were reasons the Concorde halted. Its thunderous booms meant the plane wasnt permitted to fly supersonic over land, narrowing profitable routes. And its fuel demands elevated its ticket price: By the 1990s, round-trip fare on the airliner could cost around $20,000 in todays money.

21 years later, a Colorado startup called Boom Supersonic promises to achieve what the Concorde didnt by providing long-term commercial supersonic flight. And the company will achieve or fail in this goal from North Carolina.

On Monday, Boom completed construction on its first manufacturing and testing facility, a 179,000-square-foot hangar at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro. In exchange for promising to create at least 1,760 jobs and invest half a billion dollars at the site, Boom received up to $87 million in potential payroll tax benefits from the state. To win the project over Florida, North Carolina also appropriated $56 million upfront for Boom to construct two aircraft hangars.

Booms inaugural plane concept is called Overture, and in March, the company completed the first flight of its demonstrator plane at a subsonic speed. Over the next year, the company will install testing equipment at its new Greensboro facility, and in 2029, Boom hopes the Overture will be certified to transport passengers at speeds the Concorde once reached.

So, why will this time be different? Why does Boom believe it wont experience the same fate as the Concorde?

The potential hidden savings of going supersonic

Firstly, Boom says technological advances over the past 20 years have enhanced the business model.

Modern computing means more accurate aerodynamic and structural analysis, a Boom spokesperson said in an email to The News & Observer.

Like other modern planes, the Overture will also be made with composite materials instead of metal, which makes aircraft lighter and more fuel efficient. And while the Concorde used afterburners to accelerate during liftoff, Boom wont, which should further reduce fuel costs, says Daniel Bubb, a former airline pilot who teaches courses on aviation at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Thats the biggest step, he said. How do you make it fuel efficient? How do you make it relatively affordable?

Relative is an operative word. At the ribbon-cutting event in Greensboro on Monday, Boom CEO Blake Scholl said round-trip flights on Overture will start around $5,000. The company will initially target clients who currently buy business class on international flights.

Boom is designing the Overture to be smaller than the Concorde, seating at most 80 passengers rather than the 100 seats on its predecessor. The company says this right-sizing will make operations more economical and the flying experience more comfortable.

Gov. Roy Cooper (left) stands with Boom Supersonic CEO Blake Scholl on June 17, 2024 after cutting the ribbon on Booms first jet factory, a 179,000-square-foot building at the Piedmont Triad International Airport.

Getting to destinations faster also offers unique cost advantages for airliners, Scholl explained. He said less air time means companies like American Airlines and United (which have agreements to purchase Overtures) can complete more routes. Additional savings may occur if supersonic travel enables plane crews to more often return home rather than have to be put up in foreign hotels.

Boom has pledged to design the Overture to fly on sustainable aviation fuels, known as SAFs, which according to the U.S. Department of Energy may be blended from renewable feedstocks, food waste, woody biomass and other non-petroleum sources. SAFs currently cost more than petroleum, due in part to their lower production, but as demand for this alternative fuel rises, many expect its cost to come down.

The sound barrier

Despite the advantages Overture will face, modern aviation technology hasnt yet solved one of the Concordes core limitations. Even at 60,000 feet, Concorde was loud, and governments generally banned it from flying supersonic over where people lived. This restricted the destinations Concorde flew to, while adding to fuel costs when cruising over land.

In January, NASA introduced the X-59, an experimental plane that promises to break the sound barrier without producing earth-shaking sonic booms. One NASA administrator described the plane as instead making a gentle thump.

Whether the X-59 represents a future for overland supersonic travel remains to be seen, but Boom leaders are watching.

Boom will review and may leverage research from the X-59 project when it is available, the company told the N&O in January. However, the company emphasized it believes its business model will be viable with or without changes to overland flight restrictions. Boom says it has identified up to 600 profitable and mostly transoceanic routes.

While UNLVs Bubb is optimistic about Booms prospects, Janet Bednarek is skeptical. An aviation historian at the University of Dayton, Bednarek says companies who touted supersonic flight in the past have often over-promised how easy it would be, how cheap it would be, and how fast they could get from concept to finished product.

A video released by Boom Supersonic on March 22, 2024, shows the first test flight of its XB-1 supersonic jet at the Mojave Air & Space Port in California.

The demonstrator flight Boom completed earlier this year reached 273 mph. The company said it plans to conduct 10 to 20 additional test flights before going supersonic. Depending on factors like temperature and altitude, that begins at around 760 mph.

If and when the Overture is ready, Boom must gain Federal Aviation Administration certification before carrying any passengers. Bednarek called Booms mission to achieve this by 2029 very ambitious.

NC Reality Check is an N&O series holding those in power accountable and shining a light on public issues that affect the Triangle or North Carolina. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email realitycheck@newsobserver.com

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Former Kentucky pharmacy owner admits Medicare fraud, to repay more than $700,000

The former owner of a Kentucky pharmacy has admitted charging government health programs for drugs the business didnt actually dispense, and agreed to repay $730,055.

Stephanie Collins agreed to repay $730,055 to Medicare and Kentucky Medicaid.

Collins pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of executing a scheme to defraud a health care program.

Collins, a pharmacist, owned Stephanies Down Home Pharmacy in Corbin.

Between June 2014 and June 2020, the pharmacy billed Medicare and Medicaid for prescriptions that people didnt pick up or receive, according to her plea agreement.

The pharmacy received a total of $627,614 for those fraudulent claims, according to the plea agreement.

The pharmacy also submitted claims to the Kentucky Medicaid program for providing diabetes test strips to patients that cost less than the ones the business billed for, pumping up its profit.

Medicaid reimbursed the pharmacy a total of $102,441 for those false claims, the plea agreement said.

The News Journal newspaper in Corbin reported in September 2020 that Collins pharmacy closed.

In addition to making restitution to Medicare and Medicaid, Collins agreed to give up her Kentucky pharmacy license and her registration with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

The charge in her case is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Collins pleaded guilty June 17 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Edward B. Atkins, who recommended U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom accept the plea.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. Creating the Russian-Azerbaijani expert council was a right decision, and it has expanded its focus from bilateral to regional and global challenges, the head of the Presidential Department for Interregional and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries Igor Maslov said, Trend reports.

He made the announcement during the fifth session of the Russian-Azerbaijani Expert Council.

"Constant change brings with it fresh possibilities and dangers; the future of nations, regions, and the entire planet hinges on our ability to objectively assess trends and make sound decisions," Maslov emphasized.

According to him, after the collapse of the bipolar world system, attempts to square peg round hole international security institutions and the international security system to the new conditions were largely unsuccessful.

Particularly, as Maslov noted, the NATO bloc once tried to become a peace bloc, but "then there was Yugoslavia and other conflicts.

"Now we see that the level of conflict between different countries, cultures, and peoples is so high that we should hardly expect a return to the old times. This is not only since there is the good or bad will of some political leaders, these are objective processes," he noted.

Maslov believes that the changes taking place in the world in the economy and human relations are so global that it takes time to realize and correctly apply them. In this connection, the work of experts from Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation, their exchange of views, and the preparation of analytical materials are in demand by the authorities. In this neck of the woods, the work of hotshots from Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation, their back-and-forth, and the preparation of in-depth materials are all the rage with the authorities.

He voiced delight that the Russian-Azerbaijani expert council's agenda is always growing and includes everything from humanitarian and economic to military-political issues.

Maslov proposed to think outside the box and hold meetings in the regions of Russia and Azerbaijan in fresh and innovative ways.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Former Massachusetts State Senator Dean Tran and his sister were indicted on federal charges Friday.

The U.S. Attorneys office says the pair is accused of allegedly attempting to cover up a sham job offer from the sisters company to Tran.

Dean Tran, 48, of Fitchburg, was indicted on one count of obstruction of justice and one count of making a false statement.

His sister, Tuyet T. Martin, 54, of Pelham, N.H., was indicted on two counts of obstruction of justice and one count of perjury.

Martin was arrested Friday morning and will appear in federal court in Boston Friday afternoon. Tran is not scheduled to face a judge until a later date.

Tran served as an elected member of the Massachusetts State Senate, representing Worcester and Middlesex counties from 2017 to 2021.

Tran was first arrested on federal charges in November 2023 tied to a COVID fraud investigation, for allegedly scheming to defraud the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance and collecting income that he failed to report to the IRS, prosecutors said.

Anyone who obstructs a federal investigation is attempting to subvert the course of justice, said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division.

Today, former Massachusetts State Senator Dean Tran and his sister Tuyet Martin are accused of doing exactly that, in an effort conceal Mr. Trans alleged attempts to steal tens of thousands of dollars from public assistance programs at the expense of those in need, said Cohen. Make no mistake, the FBI and our partners will not hesitate to bring to justice anyone foolish enough to try to interfere with our cases.

The indictment and arrest of Tuyet T. Martin demonstrates the IRSs commitment to not only prosecuting those who break the law but also those who knowingly and willfully obstruct Federal investigations, said Special Agent in Charge, Harry T. Chavis Jr., Internal Revenue Services Criminal Investigations. Martin lied to Special Agents in an effort to obstruct an ongoing Federal investigation. Martin attempted to protect her brother, former State Senator Dean Tran, from being arrested but now she must face justice for her actions.

The charge of obstruction of justice provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000, according to the U.S. Attorney.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Former middle school teacher accused of sexually abusing minor in New Mexico

Former middle school teacher accused of sexually abusing minor in New Mexico

NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  A man has been arrested after allegations of sexual assault. The man was a teacher at Memorial Middle School in Las Vegas, but he hasnt been employed since word of the crime surfaced.

Leonard Romero, 28, has been charged with five counts of criminal sexual penetration of a minor by a school employee, child solicitation by electronic communication device, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

New Mexico man facing 10 years in prison after falsely demanding $20 million from federal employee

In 2022, a school employee reportedly heard students talking about a relationship between Romero and a child. The Las Vegas Police Department investigated the claim, and the victim came forward. Court documents claimed the sexual interactions happened at least five times.

The New Mexico Department of Justice took over the case, and Romero was booked at the San Miguel County Detention Center.

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DENVER (KDVR)  A former Larimer County middle school teacher was sentenced Thursday to over a dozen years in prison after he pleaded guilty in April to three counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

According to the 8th Judicial District Attorneys Office, Robert P. Denise Jr., 60, pleaded guilty on April 4 to three counts of sexual exploitation of a child. On Thursday, he was sentenced to 16 years in the Department of Corrections, followed by 10 years of Sex Offender Intensive Supervision Probation.

Scalded infants death leads to charges of child abuse, first-degree murder

During sentencing, three of Denises victims and the mother of one victim spoke about the impact Denises actions had on them or their loved ones, according to the 8th DAs Office.

The grooming in this case is the most extensive Ive ever seen, said Senior Deputy District Attorney Luke Birky, in a release. The defendant went out of his way to ensure he had constant access to teenage boys and targeted troubled boys as a way to further his manipulation.

The case was spurred by a victim who came forward in 2023 to report to the Larimer County Sheriffs Office that one of his teachers at Cache La Poudre Junior High School had sexually assaulted him while he was a student. Following this on April 16, Denise was arrested.

The Larimer County Sheriffs Office also publicized his arrest, which resulted in four more victims coming forward with allegations of abuse from Denise. The victims were students and members of the Boy Scouts, which Denise led activities for.

Two of the oldest offenses were no longer prosecutable due to a statute of limitations.

The bravery of these victims, including those whose crimes are not eligible for prosecution, cannot be overstated, the DAs office said in a release.

Investigation launched after missing Aurora womans body, car found submerged

The DAs Office reported that the court received numerous letters supporting Denise, highlighting his impact as a teacher. Birky said the impacts cannot counterbalance decades of abuse.

There is no number of good deeds that can balance out the rape of a child, Birky said in a release.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
The Prince Georges County administration building in Upper Marlboro. Prince Georges County photo.

The Maryland State Prosecutor charged former Prince Georges County Council Member Jamel Mel Franklin with multiple counts of a felony theft scheme, embezzlement and perjury Thursday, less than one week after Franklin abruptly resigned from the council.

In charging documents filed in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court, Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard III said that over a period of several years, Franklin embezzled more than $133,000 from his campaign account, Friends of Mel Franklin, by writing checks and electronically transferring funds for noncampaign expenses. The money was reportedly used for everything from hotel stays to cosmetic procedures to oil changes on Franklins car.

Attempts to reach Franklin were unsuccessful Thursday.

Franklin first ran for office in 2009 and was elected to a council seat representing South County. He held that seat until 2018, when term limits forced him to run for an at-large seat, which we won. He was reelected in 2022.

Charging documents said that Franklin set up campaign bank accounts with the treasurer of his first campaign, who had shared control over the accounts. But when that treasurer left in late 2009 and a new treasurer started, the second treasurer was never added as a signatory to the Friends of Mel Franklin account, and Franklin was the sole person with access to the account, charging documents said.

The documents also said that Franklin, who chaired his own campaign committee, signed all campaign finance reports to the state after 2011, not his treasurer.

Mel Franklin. Photo courtesy of Prince Georges County.

From 2020 to 2023, the documents said, the then-council member embezzled $124,450.10 from the campaign account.

Franklin used the funds from the campaign account to pay for, among other things, personal loans and credit card debt, his personal rent, personal subscriptions, and cosmetic procedures for him and a close friend, according to a statement from Howards office.

The charges say that Franklin embezzled another $8,718.57 from the campaign account beginning in 2021. He allegedly sent the money to third-party entities to pay for his personal expenses  sending money to a close friend, funding personal hotel stays, purchasing cosmetic procedures for the close friend and paying for an international trip in 2024.

Franklin also allegedly paid off his personal credit card and paid for the upkeep of his personal vehicle using funds from the campaign account, the statement said.

The charging document alleges that Franklin did not report the expenses on his campaign finance report and instead falsified those reports. That led to 16 counts of perjury filed against Franklin for campaign reports from 2018 to 2023.

Franklin also faces two counts of embezzlement and two counts of a theft scheme, the first for amounts ranging from $1,500 to $25,000 and the second for amounts over $100,000.

Franklin abruptly resigned last week, but gave no reason for the resignation. He could not be reached for comment on the resignation at the time.

When the resignation was announced, Prince Georges County Council Administrator Jennifer A. Jenkins said in a statement that Franklins presence will be greatly missed.

Hes authored numerous pieces of legislation that have significantly shaped Prince Georges County, and his knowledge and expertise have been invaluable in guiding the Council over many years, Jenkins statement said.

But a county council spokesperson said Thursday that the council would have no comment on the charges against Franklin.

According to some Prince Georges County political insiders, potential candidates for Franklins seat in the upcoming special election include state Sen. Alonzo T. Washington, Prince Georges County Clerk of the Circuit Court Mahasin El Amin and Bowie Mayor Tim Adams, all Democrats. Other names that have been mentioned are Council Member Jolene Ivey and Theresa Mitchell Dudley, the vice president of the Maryland State Education Association

Because Franklin held an at-large seat, the person who replaces him can come from anywhere within the county.

The County Council is expected to set the timetable for the special election in the next few days.

 Maryland Matters reporter Josh Kurtz contributed to this report.

The post Former Prince Georges County Council member charged with embezzling campaign funds appeared first on Maryland Matters.
Foundation for Fresno Unified Schools gets $25K grant from U.S. Bank

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  Over $20,000 has been awarded to the Foundation for Fresno Unified Schools from U.S. Bank.

The $25,000 in funding from U.S. Bank, officials say, will be used for the Foundation for Fresno Unified Schools events and initiatives that directly support students. These events include the Spill the Tea womens empowerment panel, the annual suit drive and Suited for Success shopping event, and the 2024 Noir concert.

We appreciate the U.S. Banks support for our students. They are among a growing network of

allies for our district, thanks to the efforts of The Foundation for Fresno Unified Schools, said

Fresno Unified Interim Superintendent Misty Her.

The Foundation is the strategic fundraising partner for Fresno Unified.

They work with schools, the district, and the community to accelerate progress for students through the funding of the highest impact investments, officials say.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Four indicted on multiple charges each in death of Kentucky baby Miya Rudd

Four people involved in the case of a missing baby Kentucky State Police later found dead were indicted on multiple charges each by an Ohio County Grand Jury on Monday.

Suspects involved in the Miya Rudd case were indicted after an extensive search by Kentucky State Policefound the body of the 8-month-old in Ohio County on June 14.

The parents, Tesla Tucker, 29, and Cage Rudd, 30, said they did not know where their child was when investigators found them at a motel in Owensboro.

Rudds decomposed body was found in their home in a concealed manner, according to a release from KSP.

The jury indicted Rudds parents and grandfather, as well as another man involved with the case.

Court records said Tucker, Rudd, Ricky Smith and Brodie Payne were indicted.

All individuals except for Tucker are facing these charges:

Engaging in organized crime

Criminal abuse of a child

Abuse of corpse

Enhanced trafficking of meth

Trafficking marijuana

Enhanced drug paraphernalia

Wanton Endangerment

Tampering with physical evidence

Trafficking in legend drug

Failure to report a death

Convicted Felon in Possession of a Handgun

Convicted Felon in Possession of a Handgun

Convicted Felon in Possession of a firearm

Tucker was not charged with handgun or firearm possession, according to court records.

Their arraignment is scheduled for 1 p.m. July 2.
Four members of Britains richest family given jail sentences for exploiting servants

Prakash Hinduja (left) has been found guilty of exploiting workers and providing unauthorised employment - AJIT KUMAR/AP

Four members of Britains richest family have been handed prison sentences for exploiting their servants after they were accused of spending more on their pet dog than one of their employees.

A Swiss criminal court found Prakash Hinduja, 78, and his wife, son and daughter-in-law guilty of exploiting workers and providing unauthorised employment, but rejected more serious charges of human trafficking.

The defendants were sentenced to between four and four-and-a-half years in prison each. Lawyers said they would appeal.

Prakash and Kamal Hinduja each received prison sentences of four and a half years, while their son Ajay and his wife, Namrata, were sentenced to four years each. The defendants did not attend court in Geneva.

A fifth defendant  the familys business manager Najib Ziazi  was present at the sentencing. He received an 18-month suspended sentence.

The family, which is the richest in Britain with a net worth of more than 37bn, was accused of trafficking and exploiting workers  mostly illiterate Indians  at their Swiss villa.

The Hindujas' Swiss villa overlooks Lake Geneva

Climate of fear

Earlier this week the court heard that employees had little freedom while working for the family as their passports were confiscated, they were paid in rupees and were not allowed to leave the house without permission.

Yves Bertossa, prosecuting, alleged that staff members were forced to work punishingly long hours for very low pay.

The court heard that pay for some staff was equivalent to less than 10pc of the amount required under Swiss law, while employees were given little or no time off.

Servants allegedly worked even longer hours for receptions and slept in the basement of the villa, sometimes on a mattress on the floor.

One woman was alleged to have been paid as little as seven Swiss francs (6.19) to work for up to 18 hours a day, seven days a week.

Ajay Hinduja (left) and his wife Namrata were sentenced to four years in prison each - Rex/Salvatore di Nolfi/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

By contrast, prosecutors referred to budget documents entitled Pets that showed the family spent 8,584 Swiss francs in a year on their dog.

Prosecutors accused Kamal Hinduja of creating a climate of fear.

Judge Sabina Mascotto said: They [the workers] were exploited given their situation in India was so precarious and they were exploited as they didnt know the language, had their passports confiscated and were only ever paid every three to six months.

The four Hindujas knew the vulnerabilities of the staff and knew what the rules were in Switzerland, as they all were Swiss citizens and Ajay was educated in Switzerland.

In addition to the prison sentences, the judge ordered the family to pay 850,000 Swiss francs in compensation and 270,000 francs in legal fees.

Unacceptable bias

Romain Jordan, a lawyer for the Hinduja family, previously branded the claims excessive and accused the prosecutor of unacceptable bias, adding: No other family would have been treated in this way.

Mr Jordan explained the defendants absence by saying that Kamal Hinduja was seriously ill and that her family had to be by her bedside. He added: Were not talking about two people who are trying to flee justice.

Swiss authorities have already seized valuable jewellery including diamonds, rubies and a platinum necklace in anticipation that they could be used to pay legal fees and potential penalties, Bloomberg reported.

Through their conglomerate Hinduja Group, the family controls businesses across almost a dozen sectors, ranging from finance and IT to infrastructure.

The Hinduja family owns the Raffles Hotel at the Old War Office in Whitehall - Grain London Ltd

They also own prime real estate in London, including the Raffles Hotel at the Old War Office in Whitehall, where a top suite costs 25,000 a night.

Since the death of patriarch SP Hinduja last year, the empire has been led by his brother Gopi. Prakash is their younger brother.

The family has been resident in Switzerland since the late 1980s and Prakash obtained citizenship in 2000.

He was previously convicted on similar, but less serious, charges in 2007. However, prosecutors said he continued to employ workers without the proper paperwork.

The Hinduja family reached an undisclosed settlement with staff members last week, concluding a civil case that was first filed six years ago.

An unrelated tax case is still pending against Prakash in Switzerland after the countrys highest court ruled he could owe Genevan authorities more than 125m Swiss francs in back taxes.

The Hinduja familys legal counsel said in a statement: Our clients the Hinduja family has been acquitted of all human trafficking charges.

We are appalled and disappointed by the rest of the decision made in this court of first instance, and we have of course filed an appeal to the higher court thereby making this part of the judgement not effective. Under Swiss law, the presumption of innocence is paramount till a final judgement by the highest adjudicating authority is enforced.

Contrary to some media reports, there is no effective detention for any members of the family.

It should also be recalled that the plaintiffs in this case had withdrawn their respective complaints after declaring to the court that they had never intended to be involved in such proceedings.

The family has full faith in the judicial process and remains confident that the truth will prevail.

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FPL partners with others to deliver free storm meal kits to seniors around Florida

It bears repeating again: Every forecast for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season calls for an above-normal number of tropical storms and hurricanes.

The time to prepare is before a storm is on the horizon and heading toward Florida.

Get prepared, stay prepared. That is the best way to reduce risk, said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad.

 Interactive map: Track active storms

 Invest 92L approaching Florida, Georgia coast

"Severe weather and emergencies can happen at any moment, which is why individuals and communities need to be prepared today," said FEMA Deputy Administrator Erik A. Hooks.

But what if you're unable to build a hurricane kit with basic water and food supplies?

Florida Power & Light is partnering with more than 25 other organizations to deliver more than 28,000 storm preparedness meal kits to nearly 10,000 seniors across 30 Florida counties.

NOAA forecast for 2024 Atlantic hurricane season

National Hurricane Center releases 2024 Atlantic hurricane season prediction.

The National Hurricane Center is predicting there is an 85% chance of an above-normal season, a 10% chance of a near normal season and a 5% chance for a below normal season.

NHC forecasters predict:

17-25 named storms

8-13 hurricanes

4-7 major hurricanes

A major hurricane is a Category 3 storm or higher, with maximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph.

Chances high a hurricane may hit Florida in 2024

Tropical storm and hurricane analog landfall locations.

Colorado State University is predicting Florida has a 96% forecast probability of being impacted by a named storm and a 75% chance of being impacted by a hurricane.

Chances are 44% Florida will be impacted by a major hurricane.

FPL partnering with organizations to help 'most vulnerable customers'

"We recognize Floridas senior population is one of the most vulnerable groups when it comes to hurricane preparedness, as some seniors face mobility challenges and may be unable to stock up on vital supplies," said Katia Saint-Preux, FPL community relations lead.

"To address this, FPL partners with community organizations across the state each year to identify underserved seniors at the start of the hurricane season. We see this as a way to help some of our most vulnerable customers with a vital need so that they can better prepare for whats forecasted to be a very active hurricane season."

FPL helping deliver 28,000+ free meal kits

FPL teams and volunteers are working alongside more than 25 partner organizations across the state to deliver more than 28,000 storm preparedness meal kits to nearly 10,000 seniors across 30 Florida counties, Saint-Preux said.

The kits are free for recipients. Funding for the program comes from the NextEra Energy Foundation, not from rates paid by FPL customers, Saint-Preux said.

What counties were chosen to receive the meal kits?

Seniors in 30 counties across the state will receive  or have received  the meal kits:

Escambia

Santa Rosa

Okaloosa

Walton

Bay

Washington

Holmes

Jackson

Calhoun

Gadsden

Miami-Dade

Broward

Hendry

Charlotte

Sarasota

Collier (Golden Gate)

Desoto

Glades

Manatee - Bradenton, Parrish

Lee

St. Lucie

Palm Beach

Okeechobee

Martin

Volusia

Putnam

Nassau - Callahan

Flagler

Brevard

Indian River

How were the counties chosen?

The Florida Council of Aging was able to select local partner agencies primarily within FPLs service area throughout the state to assist with distributing the hurricane meal kits, Saint-Preux said.

"These agencies typically have underserved seniors as clients, who are the customers we are hoping to help with this initiative.

"In Lee County we partnered directly with Community Cooperative, and in Palm Beach County we partnered directly with Meals on Wheels of the Palm Beaches, working with both agencies to support their underserved senior clients," Saint-Preux said.

What is in the hurricane meal kits?

Meals and snacks vary slightly from county to county but each hurricane preparedness meal kit contains three days of shelf-stable meals, water, snacks and a comprehensive storm preparedness guide available in English, Spanish or Haitian Creole.

Didn't get a hurricane meal kit but need some help?

"Underserved seniors located in FPLs service territory are encouraged to reach out to their local Florida Council on Aging partner organization to inquire about receiving food security assistance during storm season," Saint-Preux said.

Visit FCOA.org for more information about organizations and contact information.

FPL storm guide for seniors

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Can't see the guide? Open in a new browser.

FPL suggestions on how seniors can prepare for severe weather

As you prepare for this storm season, make sure to contact your local social service agencies as early as possible if you require assistance, and have a storm plan in place, Saint-Preux said.

Some storm plan options include:

Stay home: If you dont live in an evacuation zone or a manufactured/mobile home, you can stay home if you take these precautions: Establish a safe room in an interior room with no windows. Bring needed supplies. Make sure that your home is secure and shuttered. Ask neighbors to assist with preparations, if necessary.



 Do you live in a flood zone? It's better if you find out now. Here's how

Stay with local friends: If you plan to stay with family or friends in a safe area during a hurricane: Call them in advance. Make sure they will be ready for you. Have a backup plan in case they are out of town. If you are caring for a loved one with medical needs, review considerations enclosed.



Relocate outside the area: If you relocate because you live in an evacuation zone and/or a mobile/manufactured home: Have a full tank of gas and a current, easy-to-read map handy. Leave early and know where you are going. If you are traveling to a hotel, make sure that you have a reservation as many hotels, even those far away, will fill up quickly.

Go to a shelter: When going to a shelter, prepare in case of extended stay and take these precautions: Make sure that the shelter is open and available before you go. Shelters fill quickly and it is important to secure your spot early. Check with your shelter officials on supplies you can bring with you or if they allow pets. Transportation assistance may be available in your community.



This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: FPL delivers hurricane preparedness meal kits free for seniors
(Bloomberg) -- Frances leftist alliance unveiled plans to address the countrys economic challenges with a vast increase in taxation and public spending, and reaffirmed it would abolish several of Emmanuel Macrons pro-business reforms.

Most Read from Bloomberg

By 2027, when the presidents mandate ends, the New Popular Front is budgeting 90 billion ($96.2 billion) annually to boost purchasing power, 30 billion to protect the environment, and a further 30 billion to repair public services  totaling roughly 5.4% of last years gross domestic product. That would be matched by extra revenue including from levies on multinationals and financial transactions, it said.

The Macron era is over, Socialist Party Senator Alexandre Ouizille told a news conference on Friday. In a few days, therell be nothing left of it.

The French business community has criticized the economic programs of the left-wing alliance, raising concerns about its plans to hike the minimum wage, reinstate taxes on the wealthy and capital, and reverse Macrons pension reform.

Investors are having to reckon with the possibility of a seismic shift in French fiscal and economic policy after Macron called snap legislative elections. The current government planned sharp spending cuts to bring Frances deficit back under 3% of economic output by 2027.

Marine Le Pens far-right National Rally, which is leading in the polls, has sought to water down its proposals amid a business backlash, saying more costly measures would be delayed, maybe indefinitely, depending on an audit of public finances. It has not presented forecasts for a budget. The left, however, is powering ahead with its plans for massive spending.

In a post on X on Friday, former International Monetary Fund Chief Economist Olivier Blanchard said the lefts program is worse than that of the National Rally.

As an economist and someone sometimes involved in policy design, I also know there is a delicate balance between reducing inequality and maintaining strong growth, he said. The new left program simply ignores this balance, and can only, like many of its predecessors, lead to an economic catastrophe.

Last week saw investors react to Macrons decision by dumping French assets amid concerns about who might lead the next government. They have steadied in recent days, though bond investors are set to demand an extra premium relative to German securities for years.

The New Popular Front, which brings together the Socialists, Communists, Greens and the far-left France Unbowed, said it would take measures this year at an extra cost of 25 billion that would be more than covered through 30 billion in revenue from a levy on company superprofits and reinstating wealth taxes.

Eric Coquerel, of France Unbowed, who presided the finance committee at the National Assembly before the dissolution of the lower house on June 9, said all new spending would be funded by tax increases. In the longer run, he said a boost to economic activitiy from extra spending would help improve finances.

Our plan isnt to finance this program by increasing the deficit, he said. We even think we could do better than the current government.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Nazrin Abdul

The 29th High-Level Meeting on "Pathway to COP29: Sustainable and Resilient Future" commenced in Baku on June 19, as Azerbaijan prepares to host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), Azernews reports.

The event is currently underway with panel sessions in Zangilan district.

On the third day, the first panel session focused on "Lessons from Azerbaijan's Experience."

Earlier, on June 19, discussions included "Overview of the Climate Change Challenge," "Balancing Mitigation, Adaptation, and Sustainability," and "Climate Change and its Impact on Water, Biodiversity, and Food Security." The following day covered topics such as "Science, Technology, and Innovation," "Challenges in the Food and Agriculture Sector," "Financing Climate Change Responses and Sustainable Development Goals," and "One Planet, One Health: Uniting for a Sustainable Future."
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. Meetings of the Russian-Azerbaijani expert council are very much in demand within the framework of the realization of the Declaration on Allied Cooperation between the two countries signed in 2022, Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mikhail Yevdokimov said, Trend reports.

Addressing the fifth session of the Russian-Azerbaijani expert council in Baku, Yevdokimov pointed to the dynamic ties between Russia and Azerbaijan, primarily due to personal relations between the heads of the two states.

"Economic relations between Russia and Azerbaijan are successfully developing, trade turnover is growing, and the international transport corridor "North-South" is developing," the ambassador noted.

According to him, the Russian Federation is interested in a peaceful, prosperous South Caucasus and is ready to promote the normalization of relations between Baku and Yerevan. The Russian Federation is also ready to assist in promoting the promising format of the consultative regional platform 3+3.

The Ambassador believes that it is crucial to tackle the Caspian Sea issues as well.

"We are convinced that the interference of external forces in regional affairs is unacceptable, and all issues should and can be solved by the states of our region themselves," Yevdokimov emphasized.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
This Franklin chef is trying to win a national cooking contest. Find out how to vote for him.

Local chef Justin Lockridge of Root River Center in Franklin is surprised and humbled by the support he has received from the community as part of the Favorite Chef contest.

Local chef Justin Lockridge is surprised and humbled by the support he has received from the community as part of a national contest.

I did not expect to get this far, he said.

Lockridge, the chef and kitchen/banquet manager at the Root River Center in Franklin, said someone must've submitted his name into the Favorite Chef competition presented by Carla Hall  a chef and television personality. The winner will get $25,000, their photo on the cover of Taste of Home, and a cooking experience with Hall.

Lockridge said he doesn't know who entered him.

Lockridge said he received an email saying he was invited to participate which he said, sounded kind of cool. After submitting a response to a few questions in the email he got another message saying he was accepted into the competition.

Lockridge said the competition, organized by charity organization Colossal, is really a fundraiser for the James Beard Foundation.

The James Beard Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to "celebrate, support, and elevate the people behind Americas food culture and champion a standard of good food anchored in talent, equity, and sustainability, according to its website.

How the Favorite Chef competition works

Lockridge said the competition started with participants assigned to random groups.

(I had) no idea how many groups there are or how many people are in it total, he said.

His group started with 62 people, was cut down to the top 20; then the top 10.

After weeks of voting which started on May 20, Lockridge is now part of the top five in his group. He said the level of support has been monumental  and mostly word-of-mouth.

Its like a peoples choice thing, Lockridge said. Its a matter of promoting yourself through social media or however you want to do it.

"Top Chef" judge Gail Simmons (from left), host Kristen Kish and guest judge Carla Hall talk with AIisha Elenz during "Top Chef: Wisconsin" Episode 3, when contestants prepared dishes for a cheese festival in Oconomowoc.

Public voting ends July 25 when the top person from each group will go head-to-head, according to Lockridge. Competitors will be selected for "People's Choice" and "Carla's Pick."

Each groups winner will compete for the title of Favorite Chef through a plating competition. Each chef selects a dish and creates a plate, Lockridge said. Photos of the plates will be sent to Carla Hall, who picks her favorite.

Its not quite a Top Chef situation, Lockridge said with a chuckle.

He does think the plating will get pretty intense" and has plans to possibly utilize a couple appetizers we do for banquets for his plating if he makes it into the finals.

What would Lockridge do with the winnings?

The winner will be announced Aug. 2. In addition to a $25,000 price, they will be part of a two-day Taste of Home photo shoot in September. They will also visit the James Beard Foundation house in New York to spend two days cooking with Carla Hall, Lockridge said.

If he wins, Lockridge wants to use the prize money to start a community cooking project offering classes, communal dinners and workshops to teach nutrition and other skills.

By creating a space where people can connect, learn, and enjoy delicious food, I aim to strengthen community bonds and celebrate the rich tradition of gathering around the table, Lockridge told the competition organizers. This initiative would foster a sense of belonging and togetherness.

Lockridges love for cooking started as a teenager

At age 16, Lockridge took a job as a server at a Dennys in Glendale.

I kind of fell in love with the service industry and just kind of stayed in it, he said.

He didnt go to culinary school on the advice of a chef he worked with who told Lockridge he'd have better experience working in the industry and taking the knowledge from chefs.

In his 27 years in the industry, Lockridge has been a server, bartender, manager and head chef.

He said his passion is fueled by the people he serves.

Theres an instant reaction when you serve someone food, he said. Youre creating memories with every meal they have, and I was always drawn to that.

To vote for Lockridge: favchef.com/2024/justin-lockridge

For more information on the competition: favchef.com

Contact Erik S. Hanley at erik.hanley@jrn.com. Like his Facebook page, The Redheadliner, and follow him on X @Redheadliner.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Franklin chef advances in 'Favorite Chef' competition by Carla Hall
JOPLIN, Mo.  A training program at Freeman Health System, specifically for Graduate Medical Education (GME) students is redefining residency.

Im obviously very excited  definitely have some nerves.

Dr. Kayla Wooldridge is just getting started as a resident with Freeman Health System. She explains the transition from medical school to residency:

You come out of med school. You feel like you have some knowledge. But its not enough to practice. The real learning, I think, happens in the hospital with patients, with you as their primary doctor, with an oversight physician, said Dr. Wooldridge.

Dr. Wooldridge is one of the new medical school graduates transitioning out of the classroom and into the Freeman Health System Graduate Medical Education Residency program.

Its an opportunity to actually work and use the skills that theyve gone to medical school to learn. Theyre actually providing care but doing that under the supervision of teaching physicians who are fully competent in whatever their chosen specialty is, said Dr. Barbara Miller, Freeman GME Residency Program.

Freeman offers residency programs in various specialties, ranging from emergency medicine and internal medicine to an ear, nose, and throat residency.

Its an important investment. We know that students who do their medical school training in a community and do the residency training in a community, I think the current numbers are 75% likely to stay in that community, said Dr. Miller.

Dr. Wooldridge expects to make that decision herself.

I came here for medical school four years ago from Colorado  so I came here knowing no one. I met my husband here. His familys here. Its just become a second home, said Dr. Wooldridge.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Late at night on Friday last week, in the midst of the mad scramble for getting election documents in time in the shortened calendar of our snap election (three weeks!), a typescript of the Left Alliance Nouveau Front Populaire manifesto started circulating in Paris.

It was a glimpse of a document said to be already at their printers, but several journalists, when they started skimming it, grabbed their phones to check that it wasnt a brilliant fake concocted by Marine Le Pens National Rally. It seemed too demented to be true, from the capping of inheritances to abolish billionaires privileges (it will in fact hit millionaires first), to the welcome measures to help illegal migrants settle in France, with a new dedicated bureaucracy.

The morning brought a PDF of the official document, with catchy titles printed in bold red. There it was, practically all of it. The coalition, cobbled together within 48 hours as a supposedly principled, cross-party Left Front opposing the extreme-Right, from former Socialist president Francois Hollande to tiny Trotskyite micro-parties, seemed in effect to have delegated all powers to Jean-Luc Melenchons France Insoumise (France Unbowed) and produced something even Francois Mitterrand, in 1981, when he took four Communist ministers into his Cabinet, would have recoiled from.

If you worried about Keir Starmers intentions, you may find a grim relief in realising that a short Channel hop from Britain, the French Left has moved into another dimension, out-Corbynising old Jeremy himself.

Their platform cancels every modest reform that successive governments have passed in the past 30 years, from pensions (retirement age would drop to 60 again) to a dole system that is still one of the most generous in Europe, to housing benefits, to creating tens of thousands of extra civil service jobs, to raising minimum salary by 20 per cent, and restoring an expensive benefits system that Emmanuel Macrons administration had whittled down and means-conditioned. As for the working week, it will be lowered to 32 per cent, with no reduction in salary. Rent control will be strengthened

Even the British unions havent (yet?) thought of demanding that 30 per cent of corporate board seats should go to union reps, with an unspecified right of intervention in company policies. Or a priority for employees to buy their own workplace in preference to any bidder. Any economic aid to businesses, big or small, will depend on their ESG performance, with fines up the total amount of received subsidies.

As for farming policy, it is based simultaneously on an organic mantra and on a state-administered system guaranteeing each farmer a holding where they can start a family farming unit.

To pay for all this, there will be taxes. Many, many, many taxes, in a country where they already are the highest in the OECD. (France is the most redistributive country in Europe, having overtaken Denmark a couple of years ago.) Mitterrands wealth tax will come back, of course, as well as a sharply progressive income tax with 14 tax bands, a climate tax, an exit tax, an inheritance tax reaching 100 per cent for the (unspecified) rich and tightening further the current system which already reaches 45 per cent above 1.5m for direct descendants, and above 22,000 for everyone else, a distance tax on imports, an exit tax (to anyone leaving the country), green taxes  and thats just for the first hundred days.

French Reds want more green measures. The manifesto decrees moratoriums galore: on the use of pesticides, Sri-Lanka-style; on water reservoirs farmers use during droughts; even  mooted in campaign debates  on Emmanuel Macrons courageous nuclear plants programme, on which they want a referendum. Banks will be forbidden to offer finance to fossil energy ventures of any kind. The manifesto creates a new status for climate refugees, in effect offering asylum-seeker status to all of them, with fast-tracking of their legal situation. (It also decrees a universal right to all public services for anyone present in the country, in effect guaranteeing the clogging up of an already clogged welfare system.)

Foreign policy is boringly predictable. Needless to say, Israel is targeted for punitive measures: the manifesto calls for the EU-Israel trade agreements to be suspended, conditioned to Israel respecting human rights (not a word on the other countries in the area), arms sales to Israel to be banned, all based on the ICJs risk of genocide canard. France would also leave CETA, give up on Mercosur, and in general promote a peace diplomacy, heavy on virtue-signalling measures: it fosters a feminist diplomacy, the creation of an International Court for Climate and Environment Justice, lifting patents on vaccines and pandemic medicines, and diplomatic initiatives to demilitarise and depollute space.

There is more: the platform is 24 pages long. The likelihood of it being entirely adopted is, to be honest, remote, if only because, just like for Francois Mitterrands first changes 40 years ago, national and international pushback will be almost immediate. But not only will some demagogic measures squeeze through (were facing a return of a wealth tax that always cost more to enforce than it brought to state coffers, for instance, and caused the departure of tens of thousands of the most productive individuals in the country), the essential damage will be done.

France, once again, will be seen as an unpredictable, business-averse place to be avoided, where long-term plans will seem impossible. It will weaken us, Europe, and the West. This, I promise you, wont be in British interests.

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New Fresno budget keeps four firefighters on each engine. What was cut to do it?

Three fire engine crews across parts of the city of Fresno have been spared a 25% cut in staffing in the new 2024-25 fiscal year budget adopted Thursday by the Fresno City Council.

Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer and Fire Chief Billy Alcorn had proposed in May to reduce staffing on engines at three of the departments 20 stations to save an estimated $1.3 million  part of a broader effort across all city departments to close an anticipated $47 million budget deficit in the fiscal year that begins July 1. But City Councilmembers Mike Karbassi and Garry Bredefeld, representing districts where two of the three stations are located, registered their strong objections to the cuts when Dyer presented his proposed budget last month.

The council adopted the budget Thursday on a 6-0 vote, with Councilmember Miguel Arias absent. The total allocated for all 23 city departments amounts to almost $2.2 billion, including $483.1 million from Fresnos General Fund  the pot of money from which many of the citys day-to-day bills and expenses are paid.

Over the course of several days of budget hearings earlier this month, council members offered 110 motions to add or move money to reflect a wide range of priorities. Those proposals, however, threatened to throw the budget out of balance by about $27 million, Dyer said Thursday. Theres no way we could fund everything in the council motions, he added.

But Dyer and his budget staff, through the course of individual meetings with council members, agreed to include 76 of those proposals in the budget, either in whole or in part, including many which called for no additional spending.

Keeping all Fresno engines at four firefighters

Alcorns initial budget proposal called for no layoffs or cuts to the overall department, but included cutting back staffing on engines at three fire stations: Station 2 on West Avenue north of Herndon Avenue in northwest Fresno, Station 16 at Clinton and Polk in west-central Fresno, and Station 17 at Maple and International in northeast Fresno. At those stations, the plan was to reduce the number of firefighters on an engine crew from four to three.

Those are really just based off of call volume for those stations, Alcorn said in May.

But Karbassi and Bredefeld balked at the reduced engine staffing, instead insisting that creative solutions could be found to maintain four firefighters at all times on the engines.

In the final incarnation of the budget, Dyer and City Manager Georgeanne White said the money to preserve the station staffing is coming from a reduction in a $6 million payment due to be paid into the pension system for the police and fire departments.

That, however, has fueled fears from the citys firefighters union. Im definitely concerned that not fully funding a system that has been one of the nations best for as long as I can remember could be detrimental, said Dean Sanders, president of the Fresno City Firefighters Local 202. Currently Fresno City Firefighters dont support not fully funding the system.

White said that system is already funded at 116% of the citys pension obligations  a surplus estimated at $268 million. The city will still make a regular $36 million payment from the general fund into the retirement system, but wont plan on an increased payment of $6 million.

What we have proposed is not to continue to overfund it, White said Thursday.

The budget also preserves the fire departments four medical squads  two-member crews that last year responded to calls for medical aid across the city, freeing up engines and crews to handle fires and other major calls. Dyer said that of about 50,000 calls to the fire department last year, 7,000 were handled by the medical squads.

How much does each city department receive?

Behind the police department, Fresnos fire department is receiving the second largest allocation of money from the citys General Fund. Of the total $129.3 million earmarked for the fire department from all sources of money, almost $77.4 million is coming from the General Fund.

The police department has the largest slice of the General Fund, at almost $247 million. The departments overall budget from all revenue sources is about $284.5 million.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy following a "substantial" number of sexual abuse claims brought against clergy, Rev. Joseph Brennan, bishop of the diocese, wrote in an open letter dated May 28.

In recent years, hundreds of sexual abuse claims at the hands of Valley priests have come to light. There are currently 154 cases filed against the Fresno diocese. In order to resolve these claims, it is possible the diocese could be "rendered insolvent, according to the diocese website.

Brennan stated that filing bankruptcy will allow us to address those claims honestly, compassionately, and equitably."

The petition is expected to be filed in August, Brennan said.

The Catholic church has stated that bankruptcy filing will not result in any changes for local churches, according to a spokesman for the diocese.

As far as the faithful in the area of your readership, liturgy, masses, sacraments will continue as they have always continued, said Chandler Marquez, director of communications for the diocese. Mass time wont reduce. We know the services we offer through our sacraments wont reduce. Religious education will remain the same, and the services that we offer to the disenfranchised in the community via Catholic Charities and via the Bethlehem Center in Visalia  none of those services will go away. As far as the faithful sitting in the pews, they wont see much of a difference in their experience with their faith and with the Diocese of Fresno in the Tulare County area.

Bishop of the Diocese of Fresno Joseph Brennan conducts the Mass of Dedication on Thursday, February 2, 2023 for the new building at St. Charles Borromeo in Visalia. It is the most expansive building project for the Catholic Church in modern history. It will be the largest parish church in North America with a capacity of 3,200.

Dealing with consequences

Melanie Sakoda, the support director for SNAP, the Support Network of those Abused by Priests, agrees with Marquez  but for different reasons  that the Diocese of Fresno is unlikely to become insolvent.

I don't know that anyone is privy to the exact financial status of the diocese but some of that will come out in the bankruptcy," she said. "I suspect that they have been anticipating this bankruptcy since the last window closed ... and have been transferring assets out of the diocese into parishes, schools, or other Catholic entities that are associated with the diocese.

SNAP is an organization that has been highly critical of how the Catholic Church has dealt with cases of sexual abuse of minors by priests. It describes itself as an independent, peer network of survivors of institutional sexual abuse and their supporters.

In a response issued by SNAP on the same day as Brennans letter, Sakoda wrote, Bankruptcy is not the only way to achieve fair recoveries in all of the lawsuits against the diocese. In (previous cases), universal agreements were reached between the church and survivors and their attorneys, without the draconian consequences that bankruptcy will bring along with it.

The victim support organization highlighted another roadblock that victims may face when the Catholic church files for bankruptcy.

The California Child Victims Act established a revival window for sexual abuse survivors to file previously time-barred claims. Between Jan. 1, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2022, anyone could bring a new claim of childhood sexual assault, regardless of age or time of discovery.

Although a victim can still file a civil case for childhood sexual assault, California courts require the case to meet at least one of three rules, which includes the revival window.

SNAP is concerned that bankruptcy would bar late responders from receiving damages.

This would include those who do not yet remember their abuse, those who do not yet understand the impact it has had on their life, those who are not yet ready to speak out, and  most disturbingly  those children who are too young to understand that they need to file a claim before the bar date, SNAP officials stated.

Changes in the Catholic Church

The Catholic church as a whole throughout the United States has implemented changes through the Safe Environment Program, Marquez said.

"The charter to protect the youth is what they created and every diocese is mandated to follow that" Marquez said. "They are standards that are upheld throughout the nation with every diocese, so a safe environment is a very, very important piece of our church."

The mandated training for volunteers or employees of the Catholic church teaches people how to identify an unsafe environment, and how to handle the situation in regard to reporting, according to the Catholic diocese.

The Catholic church has made great progress in protecting the young and vulnerable and creating a safe environment for all, but it is still on its journey of dealing with the issue and atoning for the sin of clergy sexual abuse, Brennan wrote in the May letter. Our pledge to protect our youth is an ongoing effort that will continue to be a top priority for me and our diocese. Victims of abuse endure a lifetime of pain, and we as Catholics must commit to a lifetime of atonement.

Although Sakoda acknowledged that there have been some positive changes to create a safer environment in the Catholic church, she said more change is needed.

There has been limited improvement in the sense that the Diocese of Fresno ultimately produced a list of abusers, and also the training that's being given to staffers and to the children who are attending parish schools, she said. I think that is helpful, but what I don't think has changed is the bishops, and not necessarily this bishop, but all Catholic bishops attitudes toward abusers. If you have a victim and he's the only person thats coming forward, they are not going to remove him from ministry, particularly in this day and age when a lot of parishes don't have enough priests."

The Catholic Church isn't the only high-profile institution to be roiled by sex use scandals. Leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention and the Boy Scouts of America have also faced major sex scandals revolving around coverups of sexual abuse of children and young people.

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Fresno Diocese bankruptcy effect on Tulare County churches
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  A man from Fresno has been arrested after detectives linked him to two home invasion robberies and burglaries, according to the Fresno County Sheriffs Office.

Deputies say on June 7, they responded to a burglar alarm going off near W. Adams and S. Cherry Avenues south of Easton.

Deputies discovered tools, electric bicycles, and other items that had been stolen.

According to deputies, property detectives began an investigation, and through evidence collected, 30-year-old Armando Castro of Fresno was identified as the primary suspect.

As detectives worked to find Castro, a home invasion robbery took place on June 18 near E. Springfield and S. East Avenues.

Deputies say a man armed with a gun forced a 75-year-old woman into a room and ordered her to stay there, threatening to shoot her if she tried to leave. The suspect collected several items around the house and eventually fled with the stolen property.

Fresno County Sheriffs Office

Fresno County Sheriffs Office

Deputies say the woman was not injured and detectives collected evidence which pointed to Castro as the suspect.

On June 19, detectives contacted and arrested Castro, who was in possession of some of the stolen items, along with a handgun.

Detectives served a search warrant at Castros home and found property stolen from both the burglary and home invasion robbery.

Castro has been booked into the Fresno County Jail on charges of suspicion of burglary, robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of stolen property.

Deputies say efforts are underway to return the property to their rightful owners.

Anyone with additional information is asked to please contact the Sheriffs Office at 559-600-3111.

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CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Good morning and happy Friday! As we close in on the weekend we are expecting more sunshine and toasty temperatures on the way for the region.

Following more seasonal temperatures on Thursday, we are expecting temperatures to start heating up Friday and continue through the weekend and into next week. In the tropics, Alberto is moving inland into Mexico this morning and we are keeping our eye on a tropical disturbance in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean.

The heatwave will begin for the region with highs moving up into the low to mid-90s with more sunshine for the Carolinas. This weekend will see even hotter and more humid conditions with highs in the mid to upper 90s with feels-like temperatures around the 100-degree mark. Besides an isolated shower or storm on Sunday and Monday the toasty temperatures but be augmented by any shower chances.

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WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  TikToks latest court filing details its fight against the federal governments potential ban of the app in the United States. Congress passed a law that could ban TikTok from the app store, if it doesnt change owners.

The filing said the federal governments potential ban of the act violated the First Amendment. It also said TikTok worked with the federal government on a 90-page draft agreement, that wouldve addressed the governments concerns.

Instead, the filing said, Congress chose to force the sale or ban the app.

Earlier this week, the Federal Trade Commission referred a complaint to the Department of Justice, alleging TikTok violated or will violate the Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act.

The FTCs investigation of these companies began in connection with our order compliance review of Musical.ly following a 2019 settlement, the FTCs statement said.

It noted the FTC doesnt normally release statements when it refers a complaint, but released one this time because it was in the public interest.

A Department of Justice spokesperson said the department consulted with FTC before the referral. As always, the Department will be guided by the facts and the law as well as our responsibility to protect the American people.

TikTok, for its part said, it remains committed to protecting children.

We strongly disagree with the FTCs allegations, many of which relate to past events and practices that are factually inaccurate or have been addressed, a spokesperson said.

The filing in court said TikTok has 170 million users in the United States, who have made more than 5.5 billion videos. Oral arguments challenging the potential ban are scheduled for later this year.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. The US Embassy in Baku has offered condolences over the death of the employee of the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA), following an ordnance explosion in the liberated Jabrayil district, Trend reports.

"We offer condolences to the family of the ANAMA employee who was killed in a landmine explosion today. The United States is firmly committed to supporting Azerbaijan in its efforts to rid the country of landmines," the Embassy's message on X reads.

An ANAMA employee Ragif Isayev (born in 1980) died following an ordnance explosion in the liberated Jabrayil district on June 21.

Other employees who sustained various degrees of injuries during the incident were evacuated to the district hospital, and their condition is assessed as satisfactory.
Mark your calendars and turn to the sky  there will be another exciting celestial event Friday night, right after the start of summer.

The full moon, called a "strawberry moon" because of its pink or reddish hue, is expected to appear right after the summer solstice, which marks the onset of summer and the longest period of sunlight of the year for the Northern Hemisphere, according to NASA.

The moon is expected at 9:08 p.m. Eastern Standard Time and will be opposite to the sun, according to NASA. In Los Angeles, the moon is expected to rise at about 7:24 p.m. and reach the highest point in the sky at 12:13 a.m. Local times can be found at timeanddate.com.

The full moon only occurs within a day of the summer solstice about every 19 to 20 years, according to Space.com. This time around, the moon is expected to appear full for about three days.

Read more: Bill Anders, Apollo 8 astronaut who took iconic 'Earthrise' photo, dies in plane crash

The name "strawberry moon" comes from the Indigenous American Algonquin tribes to describe when strawberries ripen in June and are ready to be collected, according to the Farmer's Almanac.

"Since the 2024 June full Moon happens on the solstice, the very day the Sun is absolutely at its highest of the year, this months full Moon on the 21st is the very lowest full Moon, indeed, the lowest weve seen in years," the Almanac reported. "Just look at it! Because the Moon is so low, it will appear bigger than ever. This is called the 'Moon Illusion.'"

The European name for this moon is the "mead" or "honey moon," according to NASA. Mead, known in some countries as honey wine, is created by fermenting honey with fruits or other spices. Meanwhile, the term "honeymoon" dates back to Europe in the 1500s and references getting married in June because it's the "sweetest" moon of the year.

The moon will take on a reddish orange color due to how low it will hang in the sky and its close proximity to the horizon. Because of how low the moon will be, that also means the sky will be darker due to lower levels of moonlight.

Read more: Private U.S. craft lands on moon, but tips over, limiting communication

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Fulton Police Department is struggling to balance coverage and time with the community, and a staffing shortage is forcing a prioritization of public safety.

As Our Quad Cities News reporter Gavin Waidelich discovered, the issue is much more widespread as the department withdraws from some community events.

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The heavily armed men burst through on 10 motorcycles under a dark sky, traversing dirt roads, passing mango and coconut trees to reach their destination, a small rural community of thatched roof houses inside Haitis upper rice-growing Artibonite region.

Their mission: to kidnap a local teacher in Lagon.

But instead of a kidnapping, the incident in the rural communities of Lagon and Grand Plaine quickly descended into a chaotic bloodbath after residents tried to fight back. Armed with nothing but their bare hands and rocks, they set up barricades, trying to block the motorcycles and thwart the abduction. When that didnt work, they threw rocks, driving the bandits into a deadly rampage.

By the time the gang members finished, more than a dozen homes had been set ablaze and at least 11 people killed, said Hubert Ceneac, the mayor of the nearby commune of Gros-Morne.

Among the dead was Dieubon Desrameaux, the teacher and presumed target of the gang spree. Unable to take him on the back of their bikes, the gang members dismembered his body with a machete, according to a human rights group investigating the killings.

Ceneac said among the dead were a pregnant woman, pastor and a deacon.

The gang-orchestrated rampage that unfolded June 14 and 15 more than two hours north of Haitis capital illustrates not just the rampant violence engulfing the country, but its deadly expansion into once quiet communities. Haitians fleeing the kidnappings and violence in Port-au-Prince now find themselves left to fend for themselves in the absence of police patrols and outside help.

People feel that they are not living, said Ceneac. For the first time in their history, they are living in a situation where they are prisoners in their own country, they are prisoners in their own communities, they cannot move, they cant evacuate, they feel exposed.

Since last year, United Nations officials have been sounding the alarm about the rise of violence in the countrys rural outskirts, while calling for the rapid deployment of a police force from Kenya to help Haiti battle the gangs. Even before the latest gang assaults forced the displacement of more than 100,000 people from Port-au-Prince and led to a months-long shutdown of the main international airport and seaport, the situation was described as cataclysmic by the global agencys top human-rights expert.

Gang terror spreads beyond capital

The incident in Lagon shows that after the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, the Artibonite is the biggest target for gangs, said Samuel Madistin, a Port-au-Prince lawyer and human rights advocate. There is a need for the Artibonite to figure in the plan to dismantle the gangs.

Madistin said several communes in the region, considered the breadbasket of the country, are controlled by criminal armed groups. These include the communities of Petit Riviere de lArtibonite, Lestere, Gros Morne and Tele-Nueve, where the killings unfolded in the dead of night.

It is impossible for the farmers to work and harvest what is planted today in the Artibonite, he added. Schools do not function in many places, the rural economy is degraded, he said. He added that he hopes the Kenyan police force, known as the Multinational Security Support mission, sends cops to the provinces.

In a recently published report on Haitis security crisis, the Boston-based Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti said farmers, especially those in the Artibonite Valley, are among the marginalized groups in the country who are vulnerable to attacks by armed groups.

In the case of the Artibonites peyizan, Creole for farmers, they are being forced to pay taxes to water their crops by gangs reportedly controlling irrigation systems and diverting irrigation canals, the group said.

As a result, many peyizan have been forced to abandon their land, the report noted.

Attacks highlights challenges new government faces

The timing of the latest criminal attack in the Artibonite underscores not just the rise of gang violence with the new alliances that have paralyzed much of the capital, but of the challenges facing the new transitional government and the armed international force.

The incident is raising fears among some experts that as the force prepares to deploy, those communities could become a casualty as bandits flock there for refuge.

The gangs killing spree did not happen right away. After arriving in Lagon late Friday, the bandits went to the home of Desrameaux, the teacher, and spoke to his wife .

They said they were taking him somewhere, Ceneac said. She wanted to go too, and told them her husband wasnt leaving without her. They threatened the wife and then they left with him by force.

As the gang was leaving, some of the towns residents attempted to stop the abduction.

The residents didnt have anything in their hands, said the mayor, adding that the heavily armed gang members then opened fire on the residents.

The killings spread from Lagon, where gang members returned after being unable to get through barricades, to Grand Plaine.

Audalbert Norvilus, who lives in Grand Plaine, 12 miles from the center of Gros Morne, said the gang members first passed through around 9:30 p.m. Friday to get to Lagon. They returned around 3 a.m. and killed four people in the community while setting fire to 18 homes belonging to a dozen families. Several people were injured, including a baby who is currently hospitalized.

During the time between the gang members passing and their return, Norvilus, a member of the Association des Originaires de Grand Plaine (Association of Natives of Grand Plaine), said he and other community leaders frantically tried to reach the local police commissioner.

After writing him at 11 p.m. he responded to us at 9 a.m., he said.

Between 3 and 3:30 a.m., gang members were setting fires and killing people in Grand Plaine, Norvilus said. Police wouold have had time to set a trap for the gangs, but never showed up, he said.

There was no police before, during or after the attacks, he added.

Norvilus said since the rampage there has been no presence of authorities.... The people who died, they were buried without the presence of authorities.

A spokesperson for the Haiti National Police could not be reached for comment.

On Friday, Haiti welcomed a new head of its national police, Rameau Normil. Normil previously served 15 months as police chief before he was ousted in November 2020 over the lack of results in combating gangs. During his swearing-in, where he declined to shake hands the hands of his predecessor, Frantz Elbe, Normil promised, among other things, to put an end to the gang terror.

Armed and criminal gangs will be neutralized and dismantled, he said.

Normil will need to instill hope in a force increasingly being targeted by gangs, and will need to work with the seven-nation security force led by Kenya. The forces. operational plans have been kept under wraps.

Haiti, which under Elbe and the previous government negotiated the rules of engagement between the countries taking part in the mission, hasnt provided details on how the foreign cops and Haitian police officers will team up to battle the gangs.

Security experts openly question the impact of the police mission, given its relatively small size. The force will be made up of about 2,500 personnel. By comparison, the last U.N. peacekeeping mission in Haiti had as many as 6,700 troops.

The multinational mission, approved in October, has been hobbled by legal challenges, funding shortfalls and changing leadership in Haiti. Though Kenyan President William Ruto, who recently met with Haitis new leaders, has been insisting that his troops will go to HJaiti, there have been protests in Nairobi against the deployment.

On Friday, the U.N. Security Council got a private briefing on the mission at the request of the U.S. and Ecuador, which wrote the resolution supporting the deployment.

Hope and skepticism

The gang members reportedly responsible for the carnage in the Artibonite Valley operate in the nearby community of Tibwadom and are an offshoot of the Kokorat San Ras gang.

One of the regions most violent criminal groups, the Kokorat San Ras gang was recently highlighted by a U.N. panel of experts in a report to help guide the Security Councils decisions on sanctions. The gang, experts said, commits murders, kidnappings, rapes and attacks on farmers land and livestock. In its 62-page report, the experts provided photos of the gangs torture of kidnapping victims that were so gruesome they didnt allow the public to see them.

On Thursday, the Canadian government sanctioned one of the leaders of Kokorat San Ras, Ferdens Tilus, along with three other Haitian gang leaders for gross and systematic human rights violations. Tilus, 28, goes by the name Jeneral Meyer and Jeneral Meye.

Ceneac, the Gros-Morne mayor, said the people of the region have placed a lot of faith in the arrival of the Kenya-led force. But like others, he wonders about whether they will have a presence outside the capital.

The public feels that the [police] cannot respond to the actions of the bandits, and they are thirsty for help. They are waiting for... the arrival of the multinational security support force, he said. All of their hope is there, because they believe that it is the force that is going to give them a new lease on life.

Norvilus, the resident and community leader, is more skeptical about the multinational mission.

The international force is coming to do what? he said. When you chase [the gangs] in the capital, they are going to come and seek refuge in the provinces, and the problem will just change location.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Two repeat offenders are facing a long list of charges after police say a multi-agency investigation led to a large amount of illegal weapons and drugs in North Memphis.

Around noon on Wednesday, members of the Memphis Police Multi-Agency Gang Unit, along with the Shelby County Sheriffs Office Narcotics Unit executed search warrants at two homes in the 800 block of Ayers Street.

Police say the houses are known hangout locations for local gang EBG.

6 teens arrested in gang-related vehicle burglary ring

During the search warrant, detectives located one stolen Glock handgun equipped with a Glock switch, along with eight other guns, another Glock switch, a machine gun conversion device, ammunition, firearm accessories, and over $1,900.

They also recovered over 200 grams of marijuana, over 15 grams of cocaine, 25 Oxycodone pills, a stolen 2013 GMC Acadia, stolen vehicle parts for a Dodge Charger, two doors, a center console, four car seats, and three headlights.

Christopher Ivy, 30, and Alvin McGee, 22, were taken into custody. Police say each suspect is closely associated with the gang EBG, Fast Cash, and/or Travel Vice Lords.

Christopher Ivy was charged with eight counts of Possession of Firearm  Dangerous Felony, three counts of Possession of Prohibited Weapon  Machine Gun, three counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance with the intent to Manufacture/Deliver/Sell, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

According to records, Ivy has 10 prior arrests for Theft of a Firearm Less than $2,500, two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Theft of a Firearm Less than $1,000, Possession of a Controlled Substance  Marijuana, and Disorderly Conduct.

Alvin McGee was charged with eight counts of Possession of a Firearm  Dangerous Felony, three counts of Possession of Prohibited Weapon  Machine Gun, two counts of Theft of Vehicle $10,000-$60,000, Possession of a Controlled Substance with intent to Manufacture/Deliver/Sell, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

5 teens arrested after stolen cars found at Raleigh home

McGee was also arrested on a federal warrant for Possession of a Machine Gun.

He has five prior arrests including Possession of a Prohibited Weapon  Machine Gun, five counts of Vehicle Theft $10,000-$60,000, Alter/Falsify/Forge Auto Title/Plates, two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, two counts of Possession of Burglary Tools, Evading Arrest, and Possession of a Controlled Substance  Marijuana.

Bond has not yet been set for Ivy or McGee.

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Gates of Hell: Turkmenistan's methane-fueled fire pit that has been burning since 1971

The "Gates of Hell" in Turkmenistan are also known as the Darvaza gas crater. | Credit: Giles Clarke via Getty Images

QUICK FACTS

Name: The Gates of Hell

Location: Karakum desert, Turkmenistan

Coordinates: 40.252501987265276, 58.43959946915778

Why it's incredible: The entire gas crater has been on fire for more than 50 years.

The "Gates of Hell," also known as the Darvaza gas crater after a nearby village, is a methane- and fire-filled crater in Turkmenistan's desert.

There are several different accounts of when and how the Gates of Hell formed, but the most widely circulated story is that the crater opened in 1971 after a Soviet gas drilling rig accidentally hit a natural gas reservoir. (Turkmenistan was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union from 1925 to 1991.)

Related: Hot Tub of Despair: The deadly ocean pool that traps and pickles creatures that fall in

The puncture caused the ground around the rig to collapse, taking the drilling infrastructure down with it and creating a giant leak from the reservoir. As soon as the ground opened, methane gas and other noxious fumes began wafting from the crater, which is roughly 230 feet (70 meters) in diameter and 100 feet (30 m) deep. This prompted geologists to come up with a bold plan to avert a potential environmental disaster  people in neighboring villages becoming poisoned by the raw gases, for example.

A picture of the gates of hell by day show the near-circular pit glowing orange.

Shortly after the crater opened, Soviet scientists set its walls alight, thinking the fire would burn off the methane within a few weeks before dying down. But instead, the fire kept burning.

Fifty-three years later  and despite Turkmenistan's president announcing plans to close the Gates of Hell  the Darvaza gas crater is still a raging blaze. The crater sits atop the Amu-Darya Basin, a highly productive oil and natural gas province that stretches across Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan . Huge amounts of natural gas  predominantly methane  seep through Earth's crust across the basin, so "we shouldn't be surprised [the Darvaza crater] exists," Mark Ireland , a senior lecturer in energy geoscience at Newcastle University in the U.K., told National Geographic .

The crater is likely connected to stores of flammable methane gas that provide seemingly unlimited fuel for the fire.

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The charred remains of the drilling rig are thought to be somewhere inside the crater.

The fiery glow is visible from miles away, according to Atlas Obscura , and the site has become one of the country's top tourist attractions, drawing around 10,000 visitors per year. The crater also gained internet fame in 2019, when Turkmenistan's president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov released a video of himself driving a rally car and performing donuts on the edge of the crater.
We gave them refuge: Ex-cop recounts kids rushing into his store to escape mass shooting at Arkansas supermarket

We gave them refuge: Ex-cop recounts kids rushing into his store to escape mass shooting at Arkansas supermarket

As gunfire opened at an Arkansas grocery store, several families looking to escape the carnage rushed into the store of retired cop Ken Van Der Zwalms around the corner.

So we gave them refuge in the store  as a former police officer, I was armed. I told them that they were safe where they were. We kept the children safe, and waited till their family or somebody come to pick them up, Van Der Zwalms told The Independent just hours after the shooting.

On Friday afternoon, a gunman opened fire at the Mad Butcher supermarket in Fordyce killing three and leaving six injured, including an officer. Police said they wounded the suspect and had him in custory after the shooting. The motive for the attack in the small town of 3,000 people about 70 miles south of Little Rock remains unknown.

Van Der Zwalm said that he had initially thought the gunfire was somebody was throwing stuff in the dumpster.

I said, well, thats too much stuff going in the dumpster, so I got to listening, and it was actually rapid fire from a gun, because it was a deeper sound, he said.

I listened to it for a while, and then the news started coming out. People were running everywhere, and we had several people that ran to the store that were screaming and crying, and little children traumatized by what was going on.

Three people were killed and six were hurt in a shooting at a Fordyce, Arkansas, grocery store. A nearby owner recalled the moment gunfire began and families ran into his store for safety. (AP)

Van Der Zwalm, who lives in the nearby city of Warren, said that even as a former police officer, he had never experienced [gunfire] like that.

Its gonna mark those kids that we took in, he told The Independent. Its gonna mark them for life because they were right there. They were at the scene.

Its gonna affect them for the rest of their lives. They definitely need prayers.

Officers from multiple agencies, including highway, state and city police flooded the scene. There were also countless ambulances and helicopters to help evacuate the wounded.

Graphic footage shared online appeared to show a body lying in the parking lot of the supermarket.

Police have yet to release a motive in the Arkansas grocery store shooting and said the suspect was critically wounded. (AP)

Residents later described the incident as a terrible day for our little town. Charise Ellson said the shooting was a horrific tragedy as she thanked law enforcement for their quick response.

To all our family and Facebook friends.. We are ok. Today was a terrible day for our little town of Fordyce Arkansas, Ellson wrote on Facebook.

Thank you so much to the police for their quick response to apprehend the assailant and keeping others in nearby stores safe.

This is a small town and we personally know several people that were very nearby when the shooting took place. Its just such a horrible thing that happened to people simply trying to grocery shop.

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders later praised the heroic action of law enforcement.

I have been briefed on the tragic shooting in Fordyce, and Im in constant contact with State Police at the scene, she wrote on X.

I am thankful to law enforcement and first responders for their quick and heroic action to save lives. My prayers are with the victims and all those impacted by this horrific incident.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will travel to Israel on Monday and also visit Lebanon amid rising concerns about an escalation in the conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement.

Baerbock is also expected to address Israel's ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, the catastrophic humanitarian situation there and efforts to keep alive hopes for a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians, according to a spokeswoman for the Foreign Office.

It is Baerbock's eighth visit to Israel since the bloody terrorist attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on October 7.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vehemently rejected a two-state solution, which would involve granting Palestinians a sovereign state, as does Hamas.

According to the spokeswoman, Baerbock will first attend the regular meeting of the European Union's Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on Monday, which will focus on joint support for Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion as well as the situation in the Middle East.

In the evening, Baerbock is scheduled to give a speech at the Herzliya Security Conference held at Reichman University, located not far from the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv.

On Tuesday, talks are planned in Ramallah with the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority (PA), Mohammed Mustafa, on the situation in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and the PA's reform efforts.

A meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz is planned in Jerusalem.

On Tuesday evening, Baerbock will travel to Lebanon and meet Lebanese Prime Minister Nadschib Mikati in Beirut.

Violent clashes along the Lebanese-Israeli border and the recent Israeli approval of plans for a military offensive into southern Lebanon are expected to be discussed.
Robert Habeck, Germany's Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, speaks to journalists during a visit to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea. Habeck is visiting South Korea until June 21, after which he will fly to China. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa

German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, who is on a visit to South Korea, visited the country's heavily-fortified border with North Korea on Friday, as tensions on the Korean peninsula have been on the rise.

Following his return from the border area, Habeck compared the Korean demarcation line to the former border that separated West Germany and East Germany for decades before the end of the Cold War.

"It is a very different border to the one we know from the German division," Habeck said, adding that nevertheless the visit had reminded him of Germany's past.

The trip had also impressed on him Korea's history, the Korean War, the bloody battles and the division of the country, as well as the threat posed by North Korea following Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit there, Habeck said.

The German politician's trip to the border area comes on the heels of a visit by Putin to Pyongyang two days earlier where he and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un struck an agreement on mutual assistance in the event of an attack by a third country.

South and North Korea are separated by a 4-kilometre-wide Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) secured by a US-led UN command. The DMZ still forms the de facto border between the two countries, which have remained in a state of war under international law since the Korean War from 1950 to 1953.

The heavily-fortified buffer zone, which is around 240 kilometres long, was established across the Korean peninsula at the end of the war.

Tensions between the two countries have been rising significantly again for months.

North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the border line on Thursday, in the third such incident between the two hostile countries in less than two weeks, Seoul said on Friday.

After South Korean border patrols fired warning shots, the North Korean forces immediately retreated across the border again, said the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul.

The military administration had forbidden journalists to accompany Habeck during his visit to the DMZ. His delegation said that the vice chancellor had been briefed by a US soldier from the UN command on the history of the border and the security situation at and in the demilitarized zone.

He also visited the so-called blue barracks where the armistice was agreed in 1953. The building stands directly on the border line. The visit was observed by the North Korean side, it said.

Habeck, who also serves as Germany's economy minister, arrived in South Korea on Wednesday for the first leg of a multi-day diplomatic trip through East Asia.

He is being accompanied on the trip by German business executives as well as lawmakers from Germany's parliament.

Habeck and his delegation are scheduled to continue on to China on Friday.

A soldier of the United States Forces Korea stands in front of a logo of the Joint Security Area during the visit of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea to journalists of Minister of Economic Affairs Habeck. Habeck is visiting South Korea until June 21, after which he will fly to China. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa

Robert Habeck, Germany's Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, talks to soldiers on site during a visit to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea. Habeck is visiting South Korea until June 21, after which he will fly to China. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa

Robert Habeck, Germany's Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, walks away from the visitor center during a visit to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea. Habeck is visiting South Korea until June 21, after which he will fly to China. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa
Swimmers take part in the annual Winter Solstice Nude Swim during the Dark Mofo Festival in Hobart on Long Beach. Adam Sills/AAP/dpa

German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, who is on a visit to South Korea, visited the country's heavily-fortified border with North Korea on Friday, as tensions on the Korean peninsula have been on the rise.

Following his return from the border area, Habeck compared the Korean demarcation line to the former border that separated West Germany and East Germany for decades before the end of the Cold War.

"It is a very different border to the one we know from the German division," Habeck said, adding that nevertheless the visit had reminded him of Germany's past.

The trip had also impressed on him Korea's history, the Korean War, the bloody battles and the division of the country, as well as the threat posed by North Korea following Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit there, Habeck said.

The German politician's trip to the border area comes on the heels of a visit by Putin to Pyongyang two days earlier where he and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un struck an agreement on mutual assistance in the event of an attack by a third country.

South and North Korea are separated by a 4-kilometre-wide Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) secured by a US-led UN command. The DMZ still forms the de facto border between the two countries, which have remained in a state of war under international law since the Korean War from 1950 to 1953.

The heavily-fortified buffer zone, which is around 240 kilometres long, was established across the Korean peninsula at the end of the war.

Robert Habeck, Germany's Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, talks to soldiers on site during a visit to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea. Habeck is visiting South Korea until June 21, after which he will fly to China. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa

Robert Habeck, Germany's Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, speaks to journalists during a visit to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea. Habeck is visiting South Korea until June 21, after which he will fly to China. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa

A soldier of the United States Forces Korea stands in front of a logo of the Joint Security Area during the visit of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea by Minister of Economic Affairs Habeck. Habeck is visiting South Korea until June 21, after which he will fly to China. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa

Robert Habeck, Germany's Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, talks to soldiers on site during a visit to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea. Habeck is visiting South Korea until June 21, after which he will fly to China. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. The procedure for paying expenses for the relocation of customs officials and members of their families in connection with the new place of duty, as well as for the transportation of their property and payment of lum-sum compensation, will be approved, Trend reports.

The issue has been reflected in the decree of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the application of the law "On amendments to the regulations on service in customs authorities".

According to the decree, the Cabinet of Ministers, within two months, must approve the procedure for paying expenses for the relocation of customs officials and members of their families in connection with the new place of duty, as well as for the transportation of their property and payment of lump-sum compensation, and inform the President of Azerbaijan.
Germany arrests three men on suspicion of spying on Ukrainian citizen

German prosecutors said three suspects had been caught 'scouting' a cafe in Frankfurt - fhm/Moment RF

German police have arrested three men on suspicion of spying on a Ukrainian citizen in Frankfurt for a foreign intelligence service.

In a statement on Friday, German prosecutors said the three men had been caught scouting a cafe in Frankfurt as part of their espionage work.

They were named only as Ukrainian citizen Robert A, Vardges I, an Armenian national and Arman S, a Russian, in line with German privacy laws.

The accused are strongly suspected of having worked for a foreign secret service, prosecutors said, in a possible reference to Moscow.

It was not immediately clear why the men were spying on their Ukrainian target, but Russia has ramped up sabotage and spying operations on Nato states in retaliation for their support of Kyiv in the war.

Evidence fire started deliberately

It came as a report in Bild, a German tabloid, said the authorities were investigating suspicions that a fire at an arms factory in Berlin was an act of Russian sabotage.

An allied foreign security agency informed Berlin that there was evidence that the fire was started deliberately, the newspaper reported. The factory is owned by Diehl Metall, a subsidiary of German Diehl Group, which produces IRIS-T missiles for Ukrainian forces.

Earlier this year, German police also arrested two Russian-German citizens on charges of plotting to attack US military sites in Bavaria which are supporting the war effort in Ukraine.

In an interview with The Telegraph, the head of the Bundestags intelligence committee warned that Berlin was grappling with espionage and destabilisation on an almost daily basis.

Konstantin von Notz also warned that the German far-Right, notably the AfD, was being used as a puppet by Moscow to advance its goals.

In perhaps the most controversial spying case so far, an aide to a senior AfD MEP, Jian Guo, was arrested in April on charges of spying for China.

Maximilian Krah, the MEP who employed Mr Guo, is also under investigation for receiving suspicious payments from Russia and China, He denies any wrongdoing.

Also on Friday, a Russian citizen was detained in Montenegro on suspicion of attempting to interfere in the US elections. Russian officials confirmed they had been notified of the arrest but did not give further details of the allegations.

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Robert Habeck, Germany's Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, arrives at Beijing Capital Airport during a visit to China. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa

Germany needs to update its one-year-old China strategy to take a more European approach to relations, German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said after arriving in Beijing on Friday.

"The strategy starts from the status quo, but not from the horizon. So what will be our relationship with China in, let's say, 30 years?" Habeck said at a reception at the German embassy in Beijing.

Habeck, a Green politician who is also Economy Minister in the coalition government in Berlin, had arrived in China after a short trip to South Korea.

"I am sure that China has a strategy where they want to go, and I guess also the US," he said.

The German government adopted a formal China strategy document for the first time last year.

The core of the strategy calls for reducing Germany's economic dependency on China in order to avoid a rude awakening like the one that followed the Russian attack on Ukraine, when Germany was thrown into an energy crisis after supplies of Russian gas were cut off.

The strategy was controversial within Germany's three-party coalition government, but was backed most enthusiastically by Habeck and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, both Greens.

Habeck on Friday suggested that there needs to be more coordination with the rest of the European Union. At a meeting with ambassadors from EU countries in Beijing, Habeck said that approaches would have to be combined in a changed world.

"This is a German government's China strategy. What is missing is the European approach," he said.

He also talked about the sensitive issue of subsidies for Chinese firms. State support would result in goods being sold below market value in Germany and Europe, he said.

These would "undermine or even destroy" the markets there, he said.

He also commented on China's ties to Russia during the Ukraine war, arguing that China is paying an economic price for its good relations with Russia as Western countries seek to reduce their dependence on Chinese goods.

Buying cheap Russian raw materials was the "wrong" way to go, he said.

Habeck will not meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Saturday during his visit to Beijing as initially planned.

Habeck said he is still scheduled to meet "a whole series of cabinet colleagues" on Saturday before departing the Chinese capital for Shanghai.

The appointment with Li was "not feasible in the morning before departure," according to Habeck's ministry.

Robert Habeck (C), German Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, walks through a traditional Chinese hutong district with a guide during a visit to China. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa

Robert Habeck, German Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, speaks to journalists during a visit to China. Habeck has arrived in China as part of a trip to East Asia. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa
Robert Habeck, German Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, speaks to journalists during a visit to China. Habeck has arrived in China as part of a trip to East Asia. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa

German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck will not meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Saturday during his visit to Beijing as initially hoped.

Habeck, who travelled from South Korea to China on Friday, said he is still scheduled to meet "a whole series of cabinet colleagues" on Saturday before departing the Chinese capital for Shanghai.

Habeck said he has a relationship with Li dating back to Habeck's time as a politician in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, so there is "a history we can build on."

The appointment with Li was "not feasible in the morning before departure," according to Habeck's ministry.

Robert Habeck (C), German Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, walks through a traditional Chinese hutong district with a guide during a visit to China. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa
Heike Raab, Representative of Rhineland-Palatinate to the Federal Government, speaks in the German Bundesrat during a session. Germany's state-level governments want the public broadcasting system to cut the number of radio programmes as part of a broader reform aimed at making the system more cost-efficient. Michael Kappeler/dpa

Germany's state-level governments want the public broadcasting system to cut the number of radio programmes as part of a broader reform aimed at making the system more cost-efficient.

The coordinator of Germany's Broadcasting Commission of the Federal States, Heike Raab, told dpa that there have also been discussions about consolidating special-interest public television channels and limiting the number of smartphone apps operated by the public broadcasters.

In Germany, public broadcasting is funded by a fee charged to households and is governed under a treaty between all 16 German states.

The broadcasting commission, controlled by the states, determines the general structure of public broadcasting in the country, although the broadcasters themselves operate with journalistic independence and control the content of their programming.

"We will reduce the number of radio programmes," Raab told dpa, although he did not specifically name any targetted reductions.

The commission plans to present recommendations to Germany's 16 state premiers in October.

Recently, the regional broadcaster Hessischer Rundfunk announced that it was planning to have fewer than the current six radio programs in the long term.

The cost-savings push comes amid controversy over efforts to raise the monthly mandatory household contributions from 18.36 to 18.94 ($19.72 to $20.24), which some state leaders oppose.

Raab said the commission is looking to redefine the mandates for some public broadcasters, eliminate some redundant programming and encourage more cooperation with educational and cultural institutions.

"We are strengthening everything relating to cooperation and efficiency," he said.
St. Petersburg-based Democratic House Rep. Lindsay Cross in Lykes Gaslight Park in Tampa on June 21, 2024 (photo credit: screenshot from Americans for Contraception)

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

A group of female Democratic lawmakers spoke up for reproductive rights on Friday in Tampa, just days before the second anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Courts Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade, the case that for almost 50 years protected the constitutional right to abortion in the United States.

The event was sponsored by Americans for Contraception, which brought a 20-foot inflatable IUD to similar press events in Washington, D.C., and Miami in recent weeks and plans to do the same in Tallahassee on Monday, the Dobbs anniversary.

Speakers at the press conference decried the failure of recent votes in the U.S. Senate attempting to provide nationwide protections for in vitro fertilization and reinforce Americans access to contraception, both of which fell short of the 60 votes required to move under the filibuster rule.

And their aim was targeted toward Florida Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, running for a second term this fall.

While Rick Scott has said, Oh, no, he supports IVF, his record does not match his rhetoric, said Tampa Bay area Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor. Twice he has voted against in vitro fertilization. Rick Scott, were not going to let you get away with it.

Scott has said he supports IVF and has released two statewide television ads touting his advocacy for the medical procedure. He defended his opposition to the Democratic-sponsored IVF bill by telling WPLG Local 10 in Miami this week that the measure would take away religious freedom.

St. Petersburg Democratic House member Lindsay Cross said that underlying the crackdown on reproductive freedom is a desire to control womens bodies, to control womens futures, and to control womens freedoms.

We simply wont stand for it, and we will fight tooth and nail to get back our freedoms, to protect our reproductive rights, and to ensure that every young girl growing up in this great state and this great country has the freedom to live her life with liberty and to pursue her own happiness and prosperity, she said.

Hillsborough County Democratic state Rep. Susan Valdes noted how a Democratic-sponsored measure introduced in the Legislature (SB 1446) dubbed Access to Contraception never received a committee hearing in either chamber this year.

They will not stop in limiting just abortion and those reproductive rights, she said of Republicans. They will push their extremist agenda in controlling womens bodies as far as they can. It is imperative to ensure that contraception remains protected.

Democrats are pushing hard this election year for passage of Amendment 4, which would restore the right to an abortion up until the point of viability. As of May 1, the state has banned most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions for rape, incest, or human trafficking but only up to 15 weeks, and only if the pregnant person has copies of a restraining order, police report, medical record, or other court order or documentation to prove they are a victim of rape or incest.

The post With giant IUD in background, lawmakers push for abortion rights in Tampa appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
Girl, 15, calls for criminal penalties after classmate made deepfake nudes of her and posted on social media

Elliston Berry (left) and her mother Anna McAdams (right) say federal protections are needed to protect victims of deep-fake porn. Berry was just 14 when a classmate distributed AI-generated nude images of her last year (CNN)

Last October, 14-year-old Elliston Berry woke up to a nightmare.

The teens phone was flooded with calls and texts telling her that someone had shared fake nude images of her on Snapchat and other social media platforms.

I was told it went around the whole school, Berry, from Texas, told Fox News. And it was just so scary going through classes and attending school, because just the fear of everyone seeing these images, it created so much anxiety.

The photos were AI-generated - whats known as deepfakes. These generated images and videos have become frighteningly prevalent in recent years. Deepfakes are made to look hyper-realistic and are often used to impersonate major public figures or create fake pornography. But they can also cause significant harm to regular people.

Berry, now 15, is calling on lawmakers to write criminal penalties into law for perpetrators to protect future victims of deepfake images.

The teen told the outlet that after discovering what had happened, she immediately went to her parents. Her mother, Anna McAdams, told Fox News she knew the images were fake. McAdams then reached out to Snapchat several times over an eight-month period to have the photos removed.

Elliston Berry (left) and her mother Anna McAdams (right) say federal protections are needed to protect victims of deep-fake porn. Berry was just 14-years-old when a classmate distributed AI-generated nudes of her last year (CNN)

While the deepfakes of Berry were eventually taken down, McAdams told CNN, the classmate who distributed them is facing few repercussions.

This kid who is not getting any kind of real consequence other than a little bit of probation, and then when hes 18, his record will be expunged, and hell go on with life, and no one will ever really know what happened, McAdams told CNN.

This week, Republican Senator Ted Cruz, Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar and several colleagues co-sponsored a bill that would require social media companies to take down deep-fake pornography within two days of getting a report.

The Take It Down Act would also make it a felony to distribute these images, Cruz told Fox News. Perpetrators who target adults could face up to two years in prison, while those who target children could face three years.

Cruz said that what happened to Berry is a sick and twisted pattern that is getting more and more common.

[The bill] puts a legal obligation on the big tech companies to take it down, to remove the images when the victim or the victim's family asks for it, Cruz said. Elliston's Mom went to Snapchat over and over and over again, and Snapchat just said, Go jump in a lake. They just ignored them for eight months.

A spokesperson for Snap Inc, Snapchats parent company, said the platform does not allow pornography and has policies that prohibit deepfakes and bullying.

The mom and daughter say legislation is essential to protecting future victims, and could have meant more serious consequences for the classmate who shared the deep-fakes.

If [this law] had been in place at that point, those pictures would have been taken down within 48 hours, and he could be looking at three years in jail...so he would get a punishment for what he actually did, McAdams told CNN.

While the photos are now off Snapchat, Berry says she is terrified they will resurface if the Take it Down Act is passed.

Its still so scary as these images are off Snapchat, but that does not mean that they are not on students phones, and every day Ive had to live with the fear of these photos getting brought up resurfacing, Berry said. By this bill getting passed, I will no longer have to live in fear knowing that whoever does bring these images up will be punished.

This article was updated with comment from Snap Inc.
The Dawson County Courthouse in Glendive, Montana (Photo by Darrell Ehrlick of the Daily Montanan).

Jeremy L. Swisher, the Glendive Chief of Police, is facing three felony charges for hunting on Montana tribal lands without a license and tampering with witnesses, after the Montana Attorney Generals Office say he made up a story about hunting, then changed it, urging other law enforcement officers to lie to investigators.

The case stems from before Swisher arrived in Glendive as police chief. Previously, he was a law enforcement agent in Louisiana who said he was interested in the job because of the hunting and fishing hed done here. But a search of state databases shows he had not obtained any licenses, according to court documents filed in Dawson County Court.

Requests for comment from Swisher from the Daily Montanan went unanswered.

Investigators with several state agencies learned that Swisher had allegedly bragged to others about three mule deer mounts he had, and that he didnt need a license to hunt on Montana tribal lands so long as he was hunting with a tribal member. He told a Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks investigator that he had hunted on the Fort Peck Reservation for the preceding two years, and claimed that a tribal game warden had told him he didnt need a license to hunt on the Fort Peck Reservation, according to court documents.

The FWP investigator contacted the tribal authorities, but learned that they do not issue deer licenses to non-members.

When the same investigator interviewed Swisher a month later, the police chief confirmed that he knew that non-tribal members could not hunt on the reservation, but he said he could because he was invited by a trial member. Swisher told the investigators that he had confirmed the fact with several Montana game wardens and a federal guy, but refused to name them.

A month after the initial conversation with Swisher, investigators said that he put up the mule deer mounts in his office at the Glendive Police Station. The FWP investigator obtained a search warrant to seize the mounts, and informed Dawson County Sheriff Ross Canen about the warrant. Canen told investigators that Swisher had told him and other law enforcement officers that he had killed the deer on the Fort Peck Reservation, according to the lawsuit. A search of tribal records for 2020-2021 shows that Swisher obtained no conservation tags.

During a later interview with investigators, Swisher said that he had been worried about transporting the deer back to Louisiana because of the threat of chronic wasting disease, but that he had obtained permission from a tribal game warden, whose name Swisher did not remember.

After the interview and after authorities had seized the mounts, they began interviewing other people associated with Swisher and the Fort Peck Reservation. Authorities obtained Swishers cell phone records, which show several calls to different people associated with the case.

According to court records, they learned that Swisher had called several people to pressure them into telling different stories about the deer hunting. In several cases, Swisher had called different law enforcement agents to discourage them from talking, saying the case stemmed from a political dispute he was having with the mayor and city council.

One of the people involved in the case, Greg Brugh, Jr., originally told investigators in 2023, shortly after the European-style mounts were seized, that he had shot the bucks in 2017 and given Swisher the antlers.

Brugh could not provide an explanation about why the defendant would be telling people he shot the deer when he was only gifted them, the court documents said.

Brugh offered to provide an emailed document showing that he was authorized to hunt on the Fort Peck Reservation, but that was proof was never offered, court documents state.

Investigators also spoke with Lenny Boxer, who also said that he gifted Swisher four deer racks, three mule deer and one whitetail in exchange for a knife and taking him out.

Swisher allegedly was a groomsman in Brughs wedding as was Boxer, according to court documents.

But, after FWP investigators had spoken with Swisher and seized the property, further investigation shows that the chief of police had asked Robert Magnan, the director of the fish and wildlife for the Fort Peck tribes, for a letter that said he was gifted the antlers from a tribal member.

Director Magnan explained to the defendant that tribal members were not allowed to gift antlers to non-tribal members, and wanted to know who the tribal member supposedly was who gifted the antlers to the defendant, the court document said. (Swisher) initially refused because he didnt want to get him in trouble.

A search warrant for Boxers email revealed that just three days after being interviewed by Montana FWP, Boxer deleted nearly 500 photos, but three photos that remained show Swisher posing with the mule deer bucks in question on Dec. 1 and 2, 2021. Photos also revealed a lieutenant who works as a deputy sheriff in Louisiana participating in the hunts.

Montana authorities working with Louisiana game officials were able to obtain more information, including that Swisher had contacted authorities there about processing game taken in Montana.

Lt. Wendel Vaughn said that Swisher had contacted him in 2017 to ask about hunting without a license and transporting game back.

Lt. Vaughn obtained records from Unruh Meat Processing in Deridder, Louisiana, that indicate (Swisher) brought mule deer meat to them in 2017, 2020, and 2022, the court documents said. There was no letter from any tribe in the records obtained, nor was there any associated tag numbers with the defendants orders.

Montana authorities accuse Swisher of trying to convince others related to the case to cover up the story, as well as illegally transporting untagged, undocumented game across state lines.

(Swisher) took steps to cover up his illegal behavior, by manufacturing a completely different (albeit equally illegal) justification for his possession of the mule deer bucks. Such conduct, if proven to be true, demonstrates the defendant either relied on what his buddies were telling him and did not check it, or knew what he was doing was illegal and figured he would not get caught, the charging documents said. Instead of owning up to a perhaps understandable misapprehension of the law, the defendant allegedly doubled down and got his buddies to cover for him by making up a different story.

The post Glendive Chief of Police facing three felonies for illegal deer hunting, tampering with witnesses appeared first on Daily Montanan.
Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) expressed suspicion about "fires" at precincts in his district on election day -- except there were no fires, and there was nothing weird about routine fire alarms at those precincts. Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images

Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.), the House Freedom Caucus chairman fighting for his political life after a close primary, expressed suspicion Thursday night about several fires at polling sites in his district on election day, two days earlier.

Good, whose race is still too close to call after three days, wrote on social media that we had 3 fires on election day in 3 precincts ... Does anyone recall even 1 fire at a precinct on election day?

In a follow-up post, he noted: AI estimates the probability being 0.0000000318% chance.

Goods posts seemed to suggest the incidents Tuesday werent random. But in all three of the counties that Good cited, elections officials told HuffPost nothing happened except routine fire alarms going off.

Steam from the water heater set the alarm off, said Miriam English, the deputy registrar in Hanover County, part of Goods 5th District in south-central Virginia.

The evacuation at a high school polling site began at roughly 11 a.m. and lasted exactly 30 minutes, she said. There were no voters in there.

Daniel Pense, the voter registrar in Lynchburg County, home of the evangelical Liberty University, said in a statement that a brief evacuation happened at a polling site at the university for students who live on campus, and lasted 15 minutes.

The Chief of that precinct called to tell me of this alarm and that they needed to evacuate the precinct. He also told me that it was reported to him that there was not a fire, but that the alarm was triggered by cleaning equipment being used in the building, Pense said.

Goods campaign acknowledged to HuffPost on Friday that no fires actually happened, only fire alarms.

They were fire alarms [and] they went off resulting in polling locations being evacuated until the alarms were checked out, Diana Shores, Goods campaign manager, said in an email. We dont have any further information.

When asked specifically if Good is suggesting that his primary opponent, state Sen. John McGuire, had something to do with the fire alarms going off on election day, Shores demurred.

No one is suggesting anything, she said. Just stating the fact that three precincts were evacuated due to fire alarms going off. We dont know anything further at this time. We are focused on our canvassing observation efforts.

McGuire did not respond to a request for comment about whether he had anything to do with these quote-unquote fires at precincts.

Good is currently trailing McGuire by more than 300 votes after making enemies of both former President Donald Trump and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). If Good loses, hell be the first House Republican to go down in a contested primary this cycle.

The GOP congressman cited these election day fires in Albemarle, Hanover and Lynchburg counties. McGuire leads Good in two of the three counties.

Good is no stranger to election objections. Hes one of the congressional Republicans who voted against certifying Joe Bidens 2020 victory in several swing states after raising concerns about election integrity in those states. There was never evidence of the widespread voter fraud that Trump and his supporters alleged.

Related...
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Texas Governor Greg Abbott has deployed Texas emergency management resources to New Mexico in response to the wildfires surrounding Ruidoso and flash flooding impacting the state, his office announced on Thursday, June 20.

As we continue to move through hurricane season, Texans are no strangers to the devastating effects of severe weather, said Governor Abbott. While the initial force of Tropical Storm Alberto dissipates, Texas was able to swiftly and effectively respond thanks to the critical work our states first responders and emergency response personnel do to protect and assist Texas communities. Today, I am deploying emergency management personnel to assist our neighbors in New Mexico as they face wildfire and flash flooding impacts. Texas will continue to work to ensure the safety and well-being of our communities across the state and of our fellow Americans.

At the direction of Gov. Abbott, the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and Texas A&M Forest Service deployed emergency management personnel Thursday morning under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), according to the Governors office.

The Governors office said these personnel will support the State of New Mexicos Emergency Operations Center in a variety of roles including the following:

Response operations

Planning

Logistics

Public information

Finance

Geographic information systems

The Emergency Management Assistance Compact is a state-to-state mutual aid system that enables states to provide assistance and share resources with another state in response to a disaster or emergency, read the Governors office website. EMAC members can share resources from all disciplines, protect personnel who deploy, and be reimbursed for mission-related costs.

For more information, visit emacweb.org.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed a bill Friday addressing mask wearing in public that was modified to include an unrelated campaign finance provision, which critics say would allow more money from wealthy donors that is difficult to trace to pour into the state.

This legislation creates a gaping loophole for secret, unlimited campaign money in the middle of an election year, Cooper said in a statement. While voters are kept in the dark, this scheme allows anonymous out-of-state billionaires to flood North Carolina with campaign contributions to rescue extreme right-wing candidates that Republicans now fear will lose.

The legislation also removes protections and threatens criminal charges for people who want to protect their health by wearing a mask, Cooper said.

The bill, which passed both the Senate and House in party-line votes, now returns to the legislature.

Republicans have said that in the middle of stalled budget talks that will continue next week, they expect to hold some override votes on bills Cooper has vetoed this session. That could now include the masking and campaign finance bill.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on amendments to Decree No. 1153-VIQD of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Application of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan of May 21, 2024 "On Amendments to the "Regulation on Service in Customs Authorities" approved by Law No. 768-IQ of the Republic of Azerbaijan of December 7, 1999, and Decree No. 243 "On Application of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Approval of the Regulation on Service in Customs Authorities" of December 30, 1999, Trend reports.

According to the Decree, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan exercises the powers of the relevant executive authority stipulated in Articles 59 and 59-1 of the "Regulation on Service in Customs Authorities" approved by Law No. 768-IQ of the Republic of Azerbaijan of December 7, 1999.

The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan was charged with approving the procedure of relocation of customs officials and their family members to a new place of service, as well as payment of expenses for transportation of their property and one-time compensation, and informing the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan within two months following Article 59 of the "Regulation on Service in Customs Authorities" approved by Law No. 768-IQ of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated December 7, 1999, and informing the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Furthermore, following Article 59-1 of this Regulation, the Cabinet of Ministers, per Article 59-1 of this Regulation, is instructed to approve the procedure and the amount of payment of monetary compensation for rent of housing to the customs officials and their family members in connection with the change of place of service in the customs bodies, who have no place of residence and live in the rented apartment for this reason, and to inform the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan within the specified period.

The Cabinet of Ministers must also solve other issues arising from Law No. 1153-VIQD of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated May 21, 2024, "On Amendments to the "Regulation on Service in Customs Authorities," approved by Law No. 768-IQ of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated December 7, 1999, within the specified period.

Under the Decree, in the third paragraph of Part 2 of Decree No. 243 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated December 30, 1999, "On application of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan, "On Approval of the Regulation on Service in Customs Authorities" (Collection of Legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 2000, No. 1, Article 22 (Volume I)," the words "in Article 81" are replaced by the words "in Articles 59, 59-1, and 81".
Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed a bill Friday addressing mask wearing in public that was modified to include an unrelated campaign finance provision, which critics say would allow more money from wealthy donors that is difficult to trace to pour into the state.

This legislation creates a gaping loophole for secret, unlimited campaign money in the middle of an election year, Cooper said in a statement. While voters are kept in the dark, this scheme allows anonymous out-of-state billionaires to flood North Carolina with campaign contributions to rescue extreme right-wing candidates that Republicans now fear will lose.

The legislation also removes protections and threatens criminal charges for people who want to protect their health by wearing a mask, Cooper said.

The bill, which passed both the Senate and House in party-line votes, now returns to the legislature.

Republicans have said that in the middle of stalled budget talks that will continue next week, they expect to hold some override votes on bills Cooper has vetoed this session.

Speaker Tim Moore said in a social media post on Friday that the House will swiftly override Coopers veto of the masking and campaign finance bill.

Sen. Danny Britt, a Lumberton Republican, also indicated that the Senate would hold an override vote. Britt said the bill was necessary because bad actors have used masks to conceal their identity when they commit crimes and intimidate the innocent.

Instead of helping put an end to this threatening behavior, the governor wants to continue encouraging these thugs by giving them more time to hide from the consequences of their actions, Britt said in a statement. I look forward to casting a vote to override this veto and allowing those with actual health concerns to protect themselves and others.

What the mask restrictions do

A final version of the bill, which focused on making changes to masking laws and cracking down on protesters who block traffic, was negotiated by a group of House and Senate Republicans appointed to reach a compromise within the party.

The Senate-passed version of the bill had proposed repealing a health and safety exception to the states longstanding ban on wearing a mask in public.

Once the bill reached the House, a few Republicans in that chamber said they wouldnt vote to approve the Senates changes, because they were concerned repealing the exception entirely would create confusion for people who are immunocompromised, or have other health conditions that require them to wear a mask.

A compromise bill that was unveiled earlier this month kept an exception for health and safety in place, but rewrote it to be narrower.

State law currently allows mask wearing to ensure the physical health or safety of the wearer or others, but if the bill is enacted over Coopers veto, that will change to allow only medical and surgical grade masks to be worn for the purpose of preventing the spread of contagious disease.

Democrats and critics of the bill have argued theres no need to change the exception as its currently written, but Republicans have said the exception, which was added during the COVID-19 pandemic, is no longer necessary. They argue that protesters shouldnt wear masks or other face coverings while demonstrating in public.

They also say that people who wear masks for their health can continue to do so, even under the new, narrower language, without concern.

The bill also requires anyone wearing a mask for health reasons to take it off upon request by a law enforcement officer. That is broader language than existing law, which states people have to remove their masks if asked by law enforcement, during a traffic stop, at a checkpoint, or at a roadblock, or, if the officer has reasonable suspicion or probable cause during a criminal investigation.

Another provision would require people to temporarily remove the mask upon request by the owner or occupant of public or private property where the wearer is present to allow for identification of the wearer.

Other sections of the bill establish a sentencing enhancement for people who wear masks to conceal their identity while committing a crime, and increase criminal penalties for participating in a demonstration intended to impede traffic, or blocking emergency vehicles.

Organizers of demonstrations that impede traffic would be civilly liable for any injuries or deaths that result from an emergency vehicle being obstructed.

Debate over the bill shifted to the controversial campaign finance provision after Republicans negotiating the compromise between both chambers inserted that language into the bill, with several Democrats questioning why a bill concerning masking and protesters had been changed to include unrelated changes to campaign finance law.

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Gov. DeSantis signs bill creating a right to stand your ground against bears

Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a bill into law creating a right for Floridians to bear arms against bears.

The legislation establishing the right to stand your ground against bears had been awaiting the Governors signature since June 7th.

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The legislation gives Floridians the right to kill a bear if they believe it poses a risk to themselves or others - including pets.

A bear hunting season hasnt been authorized in Florida since 2015, but Katrina Shadix with Bear Warriors United said she fears the new law will make it open season year-round.

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Were basing the death of a species on feelings. Which is wrong. And like I said, there are no facts. If we go by science and facts, no one has ever been killed by a Florida Black Bear, said Shadix.

State Representative Dean Black (R-Yulee) co-sponsored the bill during the legislative session.

First and foremost, were trying to keep Floridians at the top of the food chain. Weve had instances where Black Bears have attacked people, Black said.

He argued there are protections in the law to prevent poaching.

Immunity will only be granted if a bear kill is reported to FWC within 24 hours, and Floridians are prohibited from keeping any parts of the bear.

We have stand your ground laws for human beings. This isnt that hard. If a bear attacks you, you should have a right to defend yourself, Black said.

But Shadix argued the protections dont go far enough.

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This is going to decimate the Florida bear population. And top of that, the kicker, that they dont have to call and report they shot a bear for 24 hours. That gives everybody time to get rid of the evidence, Shadix said.

Shadix told Action News Jax that her team is already prepared to file a lawsuit challenging the stand your ground against bears law.

The new law officially takes effect July 1.

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Republican Senate President Ty Masterson and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly praised a new Kansas law requiring special education services for children with dyslexia. That statute also replaced the toxic label of "emotional disturbance" with a more generic label of "emotional disability." (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Republican Senate President Ty Masterson and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly praised a new Kansas law requiring special education services for children with dyslexia. That statute also replaced the toxic label of "emotional disturbance" with a more generic label of "emotional disability." (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  Gov. Laura Kelly said Friday she signed a bill reducing state taxes by $1.2 billion over three years that was approved with broad bipartisan support of legislators during a one-day special session.

The Democratic governor put pen to paper to make law of Senate Bill 1, a tax-reduction plan negotiated by Kelly and Republican Senate President Ty Masterson and GOP House Speaker Dan Hawkins. It won approval during Tuesdays special session on votes of 121-2 in the House and 34-4 in the Senate.

I am proud to be delivering on my commitment to responsible, meaningful tax relief for all Kansans, Kelly said.

Kelly said in a statement the legislation reduced tax obligations of Kansans without threatening the states financial health. Overall, the bill would cost the state treasury an estimated $1.2 billion over three years or about $2 billion over five years.

The new law emphasized income tax changes by establishing a two-bracket system starting in tax year 2024. For married individuals filing jointly, taxable income from $0 to $46,000 would be taxed at 5.2%, while taxable income above $46,001 would be taxed at 5.58%. The existing three-bracket system had income tax rates of 3.1%, 5.2% and 5.7% depending on income levels.

Under the bill, the personal exemption from state income taxes presently at $2,250 for individuals would be elevated to $9,160, and there would be an additional $2,320 tax break for each dependent listed on the tax return. The standard deduction would grow from $3,500 to $3,605 for single filers and from $8,000 to $8,240 for married filers. In the 2024 tax year, the head of household deduction would expand from $6,000 to $6,180.

It eliminated in tax year 2024 a state tax on Social Security benefits that netted the state more than $100 million annually. More than 30 states dont tax Social Security.

In addition, the legislation included a $6 million per year child and dependent care tax credit that was incorporated in the bill at Kellys request during closed-door negotiations.

The package would increase in the 2024 tax year the amount of residential property exempted from the statewide school finance levy to $75,000 of appraised value. Currently, the exemption from the 20-mill state level for K-12 schools stands at $42,000.

The legislation signed by Kelly dropped a plan to repeal on July 1 the states 2% state sales tax on groceries. That states sales tax on food will come to an end Jan. 1 under existing law.

The package deleted property tax reductions contained in previous bills vetoed by the governor, which led to calls by Republicans and Democrats to return to the Capitol in 2025 and move quickly on property tax relief.

Hawkins and Masterson, who are heading into a campaign season in which Democrats hope to crack the GOPs two-thirds majorities in the House and Senate, said in a joint statement tax relief was now officially on its way to every Kansan.

While we firmly believe more relief could have and should have been included in this bill, it is an important first step toward putting Kansas in the best position for economic growth, the GOP lawmakers said. When we return in January, we plan to build on this momentum with a focus on providing property tax relief for every Kansan.

The bill negotiated by Kelly, Masterson and Hawkins reduced by about $50 million tax relief contained in Senate Bill 37, which was the last major tax bill vetoed by Kelly prior to calling the special session.

(An earlier version of this story incorrectly listed the upper individual income tax rate. The new rate will be 5.58%, a reduction from 5.7%.)

The post Gov. Laura Kelly signs tax reduction bill passed with bipartisan majorities in special session appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
The Ukrainian government has allowed Ukrainian Armed Forces' units to launch their own aircraft production, Taras Melnychuk, the government's representative in the parliament, wrote on Telegram on June 21.

A decree dating back to July 200 that lists the economic activities military units can carry out was updated on June 21 during a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, Melnychuk said.

The change in the decree allows the Ukrainian Armed Forces to construct drones and other aircraft.

The Ukrainian government is attempting to ramp up domestic drone production and develop the use of unmanned aerial vehicles on the battlefield.

Strategic Industries Deputy Minister Hanna Hvozdiar said in March that Ukraine has the capacity to produce 150,000 drones every month and may be able to make 2 million drones by the end of the year.

Drones have become crucial on Ukrainian battlefields for both belligerents, serving multiple purposes, including reconnaissance, airstrikes, naval strikes, and guiding artillery.

Ukraine officially presented its Unmanned Systems Forces on June 11, four months after President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a decree ordering the creation of a separate branch of the armed forces tasked with improving drone operations.

Read also: Ukrainian Defense Industry: Kyiv catches up with Russia in Shahed drone analog production

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Governor Roy Cooper has vetoed House Bill 237 (File photo)

Governor Roy Cooper vetoed House Bill 237 (Various Criminal and Election Law Changes) on Friday, saying the controversial legislation created a gaping loophole for secret and unlimited campaign contributions.

While voters are kept in the dark, this scheme allows anonymous out-of-state billionaires to flood North Carolina with campaign contributions to rescue extreme right-wing candidates that Republicans now fear will lose, said Cooper in a statement.

Good government groups widely panned the bill that initially addressed just wearing masks in public, but was then revised to include language that would dramatically change the states campaign finance laws.

The move so angered Senate Democrats, 20 members walked out of the chamber in protest when the bill was quickly brought to a floor vote. Undeterred, Senate Republicans passed the bill 28-0.

Melissa Price Kromm of North Carolina for the People Action said the provision amounted to a political money laundering scheme.

But it gets even worse. The way that they rewrote this law, it could influence legislation, Kromm told NC Newsline in an interview earlier this week. Remember last year they were trying to pass this gambling bill, right? Say, gambling interests wanted to make sure that their legislation passed. They could launder large donations to a federal front group and into these committees, maybe controlled by state folks. Or federal PAC could basically hand lawmakers a check before a crucial vote. Everything about this is outrageous.

Cooper said he also has concerns that the bill prevents those who want or need to wear a mask for medical reasons from doing so.

The legislation also removes protections and threatens criminal charges for people who want to protect their health, said Cooper.

Sen. Buck Newton (R-Greene) told colleagues the aim was to reinstate a law that existed before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The purpose is to deal with organizations and individuals who are intent on breaking the law and hiding their identity, Newton told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee last month.

With Coopers veto, the measure returns to the legislature where Republican leaders will attempt an override.

Speaker Tim Moore vowed Friday that the NC House will swiftly override Governor Coopers veto of this legislation that prevents violent protestors from masking their identity and updates campaign finance law to even the playing field for both political parties.

Last week, the governor vetoed a Republican bill that would modify the definition of delinquent juvenile and send more 16- and 17-year-olds to the adult court system. Cooper said he worried the legislation would erode the bipartisan Raise the Age law passed four years ago.

Dawn Blagrove, Executive Director of Emancipate NC, says HB 237 actually weakens our democracy. (Photo: Ahmed Jallow)

The post Governor Cooper vetoes bill that targets mask wearing, alters campaign finance laws appeared first on NC Newsline.
Group of Lithuanian troops heads to UK for international mission to train Ukrainian soldiers

The fifth group of Lithuanian servicemen has left for the UK to contribute to an international training mission aimed at training Ukrainian forces.

Source: Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT, as reported by European Pravda

Details: During the five-month mission, the instructors will teach Ukrainian soldiers the basic military knowledge and skills necessary for combat operations.

"I know and firmly believe that you will do your best to pass on your professionalism and knowledge to the Ukrainian Armed Forces," said Lieutenant Colonel Marius Kugauda, commander of the training regiment, seeing off the Lithuanian soldiers.

The Lithuanian military has been participating in the UK-led multinational training operation for Ukrainian troops since November 2022.

Lithuanian instructors also contribute to the EU training mission EUMAM Ukraine and train Ukrainian military personnel in Lithuania, focusing on junior commanders and specialists.

Background:

At the end of May, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte indicated that Lithuania was ready to send its military contingent to help train troops on Ukrainian territory.

In addition, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis expressed his belief that Western military instructors who were in Ukraine before Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022 should be sent back to galvanise the training of new Ukrainian troops.

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Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo speaks during an interview at the National Palace in Guatemala City, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Santiago Billy)

GUATEMALA CITY (AP)  Guatemala President Bernardo Arevalo says opposition in the Congress and the Attorney General's Office have made it difficult to implement the change he seeks for the Central American nation which he found semi-destroyed when he took office almost six months ago.

The politician from the progressive Seed Movement party was elected in August after voters angry at widespread corruption and leaders failure to tackle it made a decisive choice for change, elevating his long shot candidacy.

Central Americas most populous country and the regions largest economy continues to struggle with poverty and violence that have driven hundreds of thousands of Guatemalans to migrate to the U.S.

What has impacted me the most is seeing how corruption has impacted the executive capacity of all the countrys institutions; the levels of abandonment and dysfunctionality of the institutions are terrible, Arevalo said Thursday in an interview with The Associated Press.

Arevalo and his Seed Movement party posed a threat to those who have long wielded power in Guatemala. Guatemalan prosecutors tried to prevent Arevalo from taking office in early January.

Arevalo said he understands that Guatemalans want quick responses to the promises he made in his political campaign, and when they are delayed the public grows frustrated.

The promises focused on cleaning up corruption and expelling Attorney General Consuelo Porras from the Public Ministry, although Porras remains in office today.

Porras was legally selected by unpopular former Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei for a second four-year term ending in 2026.

She has criminalized political opponents such as the Seed Movement party, journalists, and exiled former prosecutors and judges who reported being persecuted for having investigated acts of corruption.

Porras has been sanctioned by the U.S. government and 40 other countries for hindering the anti-corruption fight and undermining the countrys democracy. Arevalo said he would not remove her by force.

We have a fundamental commitment to the democratic system and we are not going to resort to non-democratic measures to rescue democracy, Arevalo said. The most extreme voices have called for Arevalo to use the army or the police to oust Porras.

Arevalo also holds Porras responsible for delaying investigations in different corruption cases. His government has filed over 100 complaints.

Porras has denied interfering in corruption cases and refused to step down from her position.

People would like to see that the corrupt are being punished," Arevalo said. We take the first step (report)... but it all stops at the Public Ministry, where there is no investigation of complaints.

Arevalo has made addressing Guatemala's public infrastructure shortcomings a priority and said his administration had made some progress. People need to see that needs are being met, that health and education are improving, he said.

His administration has revamped more than 4,000 schools and carried out public infrastructure projects in many of those areas.

He said he plans to meet with outgoing Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador before he leaves office in October and with incoming President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Gun control advocates and domestic abuse victims' rights groups on Friday praised a U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding a federal ban on people under domestic violence restraining orders from owning guns.

The 8-1 decision in U.S. v. Rahimi, which ruled that federal and state laws that prevent domestic abusers from temporarily owning a firearm do not violate the Second Amendment, came after several decisions by the conservative-leaning court in the last two years that have scaled back gun control laws.

Janet Carter, senior director of issues and appeals at the gun control non-profit Everytown Law, said in a statement that the ruling was a step in the right direction but more work needs to be done to prevent gun violence.

"Our country has stood at a tipping point, with the safety of survivors of domestic violence on the line. But today, we took a step toward protecting millions from their abusers," she said in a statement.

MORE: Supreme Court says domestic abusers can be temporarily disarmed

LaShea Cretain, an Everytown volunteer, told ABC News she knows the decision will go a long way after she survived a violent encounter with her ex-boyfriend, a case profiled by ABC News.

The five bullets that put Cretain in a coma are still inside her body.

MORE: Shot 5 times, domestic abuse survivor implores Supreme Court to uphold gun ban

"It's going to affect so many children from witnessing their mothers, fathers, grandparents or friends or anyone, experiencing gun violence, at the hands of abusers, Cretain told ABC News.

PHOTO: In this Oct. 25, 2023, file photo, gun safety supporters attend a gun safety rally at the State House in Augusta, Maine. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images, FILE)

Certain added that the court showed that they listened to survivors' experiences.

"They listened to us. Because it's not a day, a minute, our second, but we don't think about it. We don't feel the pain. But we have to continue to go on in spite of it all," she said.

Former Arizona Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who survived a shooting in 2011 and now heads the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, echoed that statement.

Her organization noted that women in the United States are 21 times more likely to die from a firearm than women in other high-income countries.

"This is a win for women, children, and anyone who has experienced domestic abuse. Women should be able to live their lives free from the fear of gun violence," Giffords said in a statement.

Although gun control advocates contend the decision could pave the way for similar laws and firearms restrictions against dangerous individuals, one of the nation's most prominent gun rights groups argued that the Supreme Court's decision is narrow.

Randy Kozuch, executive director of the National Rifle Association, said in a post on X Friday, that the decision "holds only that an individual who poses a clear threat of violence may be temporarily disarmed after a judicial finding of dangerousness." The NRA has been vocal against red flag laws passed in several states which allow people or law enforcement the right to petition a court to have a person's firearms removed if they pose a threat to others or themselves.

PHOTO: In this Sept. 27, 2023, file photo, demonstrators hold signs during a Gun Owners' Action League pro-gun rally in Boston. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images, FILE)

"The Supreme Court's narrow opinion offers no endorsement of red flag laws or of the dozens of other unconstitutional laws that the NRA is challenging across the country that burden the right of peaceable Americans to keep and bear arms," Kozuch said.

Kelly Roskam, director of law and policy at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, said in a statement that research has shown that armed domestic abusers are not just a threat to their significant other but to the general public.

"It also shows that laws prohibiting these individuals from having firearms are effective at reducing intimate partner homicide. It is imperative that we be able to continue to do so," she said in a statement.

PHOTO: In this Nov. 7, 2023, file photo, gun safety and domestic violence prevention organizations hold a rally in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty Images, FILE)

President Joe Biden, a staunch gun control advocate, vowed to continue to advocate for laws and policies that prevent arming domestic violence suspects.

MORE: 'Red flag' laws can help reduce gun violence, if more widely used: Experts

Biden noted that Congress and his office have pushed forward policies to prevent shootings in domestic violence cases citing the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, which he helped pass during his time in the U.S. Senate, and the recent Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that narrowed the so-called boyfriend loophole so that dating partners convicted of domestic violence cannot buy a firearm.

"No one who has been abused should have to worry about their abuser getting a gun. As a result of todays ruling, survivors of domestic violence and their families will still be able to count on critical protections, just as they have for the past three decades," he said in a statement.

ABC News' Devin Dwyer contributed to this report.

Gun control groups hail Supreme Court decision upholding gun ban for domestic abusers originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Gun in deadly Vancouver police shooting found to be toy

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  New information from the recent shooting involving Vancouver police officers shows that the victims weapon was a cap gun, authorities said.

According to the Clark County Sheriffs Office, the gun found at the scene was a modified cap gun with the orange tip removed.

The gun, apparently a Chinese-manufactured Super Cap Gun, also broke during the incident with the grips coming off, officials said.

A cap gun similar to the one found after the Vancouver police shooting incident (CCSO)

Suspect indicted in 2023 triple murder, Portland police seek more suspects

Body cam footage that was released last week showed the suspect, Vadim Sashchenko, 43, point what appeared to be a gun at the patrol car. During the shooting the gun was thrown to the ground, authorities said.

The incident is still 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 KOIN.com.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  A Jackson County deputy seized two stolen handguns and drugs after a traffic stop turned into a chase early Friday morning.

The Sheriffs office posted on Facebook that a deputy pulled someone over on East Michigan Ave around 12:40 a.m. The driver and passenger refused to exit the vehicle and fled the scene, leading to a chase and ending when the driver slammed into a tree at the intersection of Page Ave. and Pringle St.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

When deputies searched the area of the chase they found more evidence including a 40-caliber handgun. The gun was reported stolen out of Detroit.

During the search, deputies also found 25 grams of heroin.

(Photo: Handgun seized by JPD after driver fled from a traffic stop/ Facebook)

(Photo: Handgun seized by JPD after driver fled from a traffic stop/ Facebook)

(Photo: Drugs seized by JPD after traffic stop/ Facebook)

(Photo: Drugs seized by JPD after traffic stop/ Facebook)

(Photo: Drugs seized by JPD after traffic stop/ Facebook)

Emergency responders took the unnamed driver and passenger to a local hospital to be checked out. Both were then handed over to the deputies and remain in custody.

The driver faces charges of fleeing and eluding, resisting and obstructing, and being a felon in possession of ammo. The passenger also faces a resisting and obstructing charge.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 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)

Iowa Writers 'Collaborative. Linking Iowa readers and writers.

They sounded like they cared.

In the aftermath of a mad gunmans horrifying massacre of 60 people at a concert in Las Vegas seven years ago, members of Congress from Iowa sent this message: It made no sense that bump stocks  the device that allows semi-automatic weapons to act like machine guns  could be legal under federal law.

Sen. Chuck Grassley said, modifications to legal firearms that effectively convert them into something that the law prohibits certainly deserve scrutiny.

Sen. Joni Ernst was one of nine GOP senators who asked the Trump administration to review an Obama-era finding that bump stocks were legal.

I do think there can be some action, Ernst said. Weve just got to figure out what that action is.

Turns out, they figured out exactly what to do: Nothing.

Nothing is what they did seven years ago, and nothing is what they did again on Tuesday, when Democrats in the Senate tried to enact a bump stock ban a week after the Supreme Court overturned former President Trumps administrative ban.

Big surprise. Guns win again. Americans lose.

Maybe we should have expected it.

Smart analysts at the time figured the gun lobby had a plan: Kick the issue to regulators in the Trump administration and thereby avoid what could have been a broader gun debate in Congress.

Sure enough, thats what happened.

The Trump administration banned bump stocks, Congress ducked for cover, the ban got all balled up in the courts and, last week, the conservative majority on the Supreme Court overturned it.

Just like some folks figured was the plan all along.

By a 6-3 vote, the majority said a semi-automatic with a bump stock isnt a machine gun under the law because it cant fire more than one shot by a single function of the trigger.

Even if it could, the court said, it would not be automatic.

Essentially, the majority agreed with a previous finding by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which the Trump administration overturned.

Dissenters, led by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, accused the majority of ignoring the laws ordinary meaning, ignoring their previous support for congressional intent  of essentially adopting the rationale that if a duck walks, swims and quacks like a duck, then it must be a chicken.

Still not all was lost.

Samuel Alito, the arch conservative justice, agreed that Congress intent was clear, even if the law didnt say so.

In a concurring opinion, Alito wrote, 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.

Im not sure if Alito is naive or disingenuous. Or just a guy with a lifetime appointment who doesnt have to worry about getting reelected.

The truth is, Congress wont act.

On Tuesday, Republicans blocked the Democrats attempt to do what Alito suggested  to ban bump stocks.

Supporters of the measure reminded lawmakers of the bloody carnage in Las Vegas, the dozens of dead and the hundreds of people who were injured in the rapid-fire of bullets and chaos.

Republican critics complained that the Democrats plan did more than just ban bump stocks.

Perhaps. But does anybody really believe if a clean ban on bump stocks were to be presented to congressional Republicans, they would pass it?

The Washington Examiner reported that some Republicans are interested. Perhaps a few, but surely not enough. Interestingly, the Examiner quoted Joni Ernst as saying the Supreme Court got the decision right.

Seven years ago, Grassley was chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and while he deferred to the Trump administrations regulatory effort to limit bump stocks, he said if it failed, hed be willing to consider legislation.

Well, senator  were waiting.

Im not naive. I dont think anything will get done. Democrats dont have the power, and Republicans dont have the will.

Trump even denies these days he ever did anything to restrict guns at all and was just following the NRAs lead.

The truth is, the moment is gone.

Those 60 people killed in Las Vegas have long since been buried. The horror has passed. The public demand for action has quieted.

Those seven-year-old quotes from Grassley and Ernst are in the archives.

Guns win again. Americans lose.

This column was originally published by Ed Tibbetts Along the Mississippi newsletter on Substack. It is republished here through the Iowa Writers Collaborative.

Editors note: Please consider subscribing to the collaborative and the authors blogs to support their work.

The post Guns win. Americans lose. appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Robert Habeck, German Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, speaks to journalists during a visit to China. Habeck has arrived in China as part of a trip to East Asia. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa

Germany needs to update its one-year-old China strategy to take a more European approach to relations, German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said after arriving in Beijing on Friday.

"The strategy starts from the status quo, but not from the horizon. So what will be our relationship with China in, let's say, 30 years?" Habeck said at a reception at the German embassy in Beijing. "I'm saying this because I am sure that China has a strategy where they want to go, and I guess also the US."

The German government adopted a formal China strategy document for the first time last year.

The core of the strategy calls for reducing Germany's economic dependency on China in order to avoid a rude awakening like the one that followed the Russian attack on Ukraine, when Germany was thrown into an energy crisis after supplies of Russian gas were cut off.

The strategy was controversial within Germany's three-party coalition government, but was backed most enthusiastically by Habeck and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, both Greens.

Habeck on Friday suggested that there needs to be more coordination with the rest of the European Union. At a meeting with ambassadors from EU countries in Beijing, Habeck said that approaches would have to be combined in a changed world.

"This is a German government's China strategy. What is missing is the European approach," he said.

Robert Habeck (C), German Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, walks through a traditional Chinese hutong district with a guide during a visit to China. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa
FILE - A Hawaiian monk seal and her newborn pup are seen on a Waikiki beach in Honolulu on June 29, 2017. U.S. officials on Thursday, June 20, 2024, said they fined two Hawaii residents $20,000 for their alleged roles in the fatal mauling of a female Hawaiian monk seal pup by unleashed dogs. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy, File)

HONOLULU (AP)  Two Hawaii residents were fined $20,000 for their alleged roles in the fatal mauling of a female Hawaiian monk seal pup by unleashed dogs, U.S. officials said Thursday.

Hawaiian monk seals are a critically endangered species. Only 1,600 remain in the wild. The loss of a female is a particularly hard blow to conservation efforts because she could have grown up to give birth to pups of her own.

A necropsy by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found the pup known as PO7 suffered puncture wounds consistent with dog bites and hemorrhaging consistent with being shaken by a dog.

NOAA's Office of General Counsel issued the fine on June 11, which didn't say how the two individuals were allegedly connected to the unleashed dogs.

Stefanie Gutierrez, a spokesperson for NOAA Fisheries, said further details were unavailable because enforcement proceedings were ongoing. The accused were fined $20,000 jointly.

The pup was born to a seal known as RN58 or Luana. She was seen with her mother for the first time on May 23 on Oahu's North Shore and reported to be a dog attack victim that same evening.

Those fined have the right to challenge the penalty and request a hearing before an administrative law judge.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said one of the two individuals was a state parks employee who wasn't on duty. She reported the pup death to her agency, department spokesperson Dan Dennison said.

The department has started its own investigation into potential violations of state and county laws, he said.

Phone numbers for the accused could not immediately be found.
HEBER CITY, Utah (ABC4)  One person is dead and two others were hospitalized after a head-on crash late Thursday night, June 20.

Lt. Cameron Roden with the Utah Highway Patrol said the crash happened just after 10:30 p.m. A black Ford F150 was traveling westbound on SR-40 near mile marker 24 when it crossed into oncoming traffic to pass another vehicle.

For an unknown reason, after passing this vehicle, the F150 remained in the oncoming travel lane and struck a silver Dodge Ram pulling a flatbed head-on, Roden said.

Roden confirmed the 39-year-old driver of the Ford F150 was killed in the collision. No other identifying information has been released.

A driver and a passenger in the Dodge Ram were taken by ambulance to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Their identities, including ages and gender, have not been publicly released.

The crash impacted traffic along SR-40 for several hours as Utah Highway Patrol and crews investigated and cleared the scene. The closure lasted for about three 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 ABC4 Utah.
MADISON, Wis. (WFRV)  Authorities in southern Wisconsin say they arrested a woman who is accused of multiple vandalism acts including the headquarters of an ice cream company.

According to the Madison Police Department, around 11:30 p.m. on June 20, officers responded to 2070 Helena Street for a report of vandals spray-painting a building. The release says the location is the headquarters of Schoeps Ice Cream.

Police say that two suspects fled, but one was eventually apprehended. The suspect who was apprehended was identified as a woman.

Outagamie County supper club closing after nearly 70 year run

She reportedly had multiple spray cans, paint markers and other items in her possession. The woman was found to be a Belgian citizen who reportedly told officers she was planning to fly home at the end of the week.

Headquarters of Wisconsin ice cream manufacturing company vandalized, one suspect arrested

Headquarters of Wisconsin ice cream manufacturing company vandalized, one suspect arrested

The release says the woman was taken to the Dane County Jail.

Additionally, officers reported seeing similar graffiti in other parts of the city, so authorities think that the suspects are responsible for other acts of vandalism.

Officer-involved shooting in Wisconsin leaves baby of pregnant woman dead, six suspects in total

No additional information was provided.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. Azerbaijan has handed over the remains of two Armenian servicemen to Armenia, a source in the State Commission of Azerbaijan for Prisoners of War, Hostages, and Missing Citizens told Trend.

According to the source, as a result of search operations carried out in Azerbaijan's liberated territories after anti-terror measures in September 2023, bone remains presumably belonging to two people were discovered and taken near the Bughdadag hill in the direction of the Dashkasan district and the Dava mountain in the direction of Kalbajar district.

It was established that the remains belong to two Armenian soldiers who died during the fighting on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in September 2022.

Furthermore, the results of a molecular genetic examination carried out at the genetic research center of the Main Military Medical Directorate of the Azerbaijani State Security Service confirmed that the remains belonged to two missing Armenian servicemen.

Once again demonstrating its goodwill and commitment to the principles of humanism, Azerbaijan handed over the remains to Armenia without the participation of a third party or intermediary.

To note, during the night of September 12, 2022, the Armenian armed forces units committed large-scale provocations in the Dashkasan, Kalbajar, and Lachin directions of the Azerbaijan-Armenia state border. As a result of the response measures taken by the Azerbaijani army against Armenian provocation, all military facilities built by the Armenian armed forces in Lachin, Kalbajar, and Zangilan directions, which posed a threat to the security of Azerbaijan, were destroyed.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Heat wave shifts to New York and the I-95 corridor as search for more victims in the deadly New Mexico wildfires continues

Extreme summer weather continues to impact much of the US on Friday and into the weekend with a dangerous heat wave ratcheting up in New York and the I-95 corridor, deadly and destructive wildfires still burning in New Mexico and potential tropical threats. Heres the latest:

 Heat escalates this weekend: More than 100 million Americans, including those in the highly populated I-95 corridor, are under heat alerts through the weekend. A heat emergency was in effect for Washington, DC, where upper 90s and even triple-digit temperatures for the first time since 2016 will be possible.

 Search for more loss of life in New Mexico fires: In New Mexico, authorities reported that at least two people died, 1,400 structures were destroyed and and more than 8,000 residents were evacuated as a result of wildfires. The mayor of hard-hit Ruidoso, New Mexico, said they were preparing for more fatalities in the fires and bringing in dogs to help the search for more loss of life. The South Fork and Salt fires have together burned an estimated 24,000 acres and were still 0% contained as of Friday. Evacuations are still in effect for Village of Ruidoso and City of Ruidoso Downs residents and additional evacuation orders have been issued in at least seven more areas.

 Flood threat in fire zone: A flash flood warning was issued for Ruidoso and other New Mexico areas burned by the South Fork Fire after 0.5 inches of rain fell in the morning. More rain was expected into the late afternoon hours. Rain earlier in the week created a flash flood emergency with water rescues as a torrent of mud and water rushed from burned areas. Ground charred by fire, also known as a burn scar, loses its ability to effectively absorb water and more easily floods.

 Tropical threats brewing: The National Hurricane Center is monitoring two areas with a medium chance of tropical development in the next 48 hours. One could become a tropical depression off the North Florida and Georgia coasts Friday. The other could take a nearly identical track to Tropical Storm Alberto.

 FBI investigating origins of New Mexico fires: FBI special agents have joined the investigation into the cause of wildfires in New Mexico, the agency said Thursday. I can confirm that the FBI is assisting our local, state, federal and tribal partners in the ongoing investigation of the fires in Ruidoso NM, said a spokesperson with the bureaus Albuquerque field office. President Joe Biden is closely monitoring wildfires in New Mexico, the White House said Thursday. The administration has also approved an expedited major disaster declaration from New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, unlocking further federal support and FEMA assistance to the impacted communities.

 California firefighters brace for 100-degree heat: California is heating up Friday, with triple-digit temperatures expected in some areas. Heat alerts span parts of southern and central California, including in Colusa County, where firefighters are working to rein in the Sites Fire spanning over 19,100 acres. High temperatures between 100 and 106 are expected and could hinder firefighting efforts. California is seeing an active early fire year, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Since the start of the year, 89,784 acres have burned, compared to 5,747 acres during the same period last year.

Early-season heat wave intensifies this weekend

More record daily high temperatures are possible through the weekend as heat expands into new areas and intensifies in others.

A stagnant heat dome over the eastern US is fueling some of the most unusually intense heat over portions of the Ohio Valley and the mid-Atlantic. Heat will build in Washington, DC, Friday and threaten triple-digits Saturday and Sunday.

The extreme heat and humidity will combine to push the heat index  or how hot it feels  to 100 to 105 degrees over a widespread area, with 110 degrees possible in the southern mid-Atlantic. Record overnight low temperatures will increase health risks by reducing the ability for people to cool down at night.

The heat waves prolonged nature is another serious concern. New York City could experience 90-degree temperatures or higher for seven days straight into week. The stretch would be the longest ever in June in the city.

Heat is also returning in full force in the West following a brief break. Heat alerts are already in place for portions of California, Arizona and Utah. Temperatures are expected to jump back up to 10 to 15 degrees above normal for Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Sacramento and Bakersfield, California, through the weekend.

Hurricane season heating up, too

Two tropical systems could develop quick on the heels of Alberto. The first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season made landfall as sprawling tropical storm in Mexico, but brought heavy rain and storm surge to much of the western Gulf of Mexico.

A system with a medium chance of tropical development could mimic Albertos track through the southwestern Gulf of Mexico and into northeastern Mexico this weekend.

CNN Weather

A broad area of low pressure near the Yucatan Peninsula is forecast to strengthen as it moves into the southwest Gulf of Mexico this weekend. This system has a medium chance of developing into a tropical system. in the next several days and will also bring more rain chances to South Texas.

While this system is not expected to be as large as Alberto, it would bring more rain chances to South Texas and trigger new flooding concerns there and along the Gulf Coast.

Texas isnt the only area watching for a potential tropical system. Those in Florida and Georgia should also watch closely as a tropical depression could develop Friday with little time before it makes landfall Friday night.

The National Hurricane Center on Friday morning increased the odds of the storm system developing after finding signs it was organizing. It has a medium chance of a last-gasp development, according to the NHC.

The designation would largely be ceremonial as some heavy rain, high surf and gusty winds are expected regardless of the systems final form.

CNNs Eric Zerkel, Brandon Miller, Taylor Ward, Sara Tonks, Taylor Galgano, Andy Rose and Josh Campbell contributed to this report.

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Heat waves have killed thousands this year. Experts say the worst could be yet to come

The ongoing heat wave gripping the Northern Hemisphere hasn't just triggered triple-digit temperatures, but also a sizeable death toll. From India to Saudi Arabia to Massachusetts, many regions across the globe have buckled under extreme heat  but while such phenomena is normal during the summer months, the degree to which things are cooking is not.

Unsurprisingly, climate change is a major culprit in this unfolding crisis and experts agree that it will get worse.

On Tuesday, AFP reported 550 people had died from heat-related causes during Hajj, an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca. By Thursday, the death toll had nearly doubled to 1,081 across at least 10 countries, with the principal reasons for death being dehydration, heat stroke, high blood pressure and other heat-related issues. One Egyptian man, according to the Associated Press, broke down in tears when learning that his mother was among the dead, and then called his travel agent in distress.

He left her to die, he shouted, referring to the agent, while those nearby tried to comfort him.

Meanwhile, more than 100 people have died in India from extreme heat in the last three-and-a-half months, with more than 40,000 cases of heat stroke being reported. One of India's largest hospitals in Delhi has created a first-ever heat stroke emergency room, with one doctor reporting that "in my 13 years of working here, I dont remember signing a death certificate for heat stroke. This year, Ive signed several."

And in the northeastern United States, more than 135 million people are under a heat advisory, with the holiday weather breaking temperature records both there and in the midwest. Europe is also under the grips of an unprecedented heat wave, with at least five people dying in Greece so far, as well as a heat dome that killed at least 61 in Mexico earlier this month.

"I am 100% certain that worsening heat waves across Earth are due to global heating caused primarily by burning fossil fuels," said Dr. Peter Kalmus, a NASA climate scientist, who emphasized his opinions are his own. "We see intensifying extreme heat in all observational datasets and model hindcasts."

Kalmus told Salon that quantified attribution studies  ones that, importantly, use models both with and without the presence of accumulated anthropogenic greenhouse gases in the atmosphere  show it is probable that the recent heat waves follow a pattern based on fossil-fueled global heating. The question becomes how much is climate change at fault and how much is part of El Nino and regular old summer?

Dr. Michael E. Mann, a climatologist at the University of Pennsylvania, told Salon "We have to be careful with the framing."

"Might there have been a heat wave like this without the effect of human-caused warming from carbon pollution? Perhaps." Mann said. Yet he added, "Would it have been as intense and persistent as this one? Almost certainly not."

"There's always a chance that we could have temporarily experienced extreme heat in this spatiotemporal pattern even without global heating, even if that chance is nearly zero," said Kalmus. "But when you look at intensifying extreme heat trends overall, it's 100% certain that this is caused by global heating at this point."

Want more health and science stories in your inbox? Subscribe to Salon's weekly newsletter Lab Notes.

Dr. Kevin Trenberth, a distinguished scholar at the National Center for Atmospheric Research who has published more than 600 articles on climatology, said that it would be simplistic to frame the current heat waves as being caused entirely by climate change.

"Climate change does not cause heat waves as such," said Trenberth. "The heat waves and their intensity and location are related mostly to the weather patterns, that even now are dominated by natural variability. What climate change does is exacerbate certain extremes. In particular in hot summer weather human-induced climate change makes the consequences much worse."

With thousands dying across the world, one major factor determining survival rates is income. In Saudi Arabia, for example, tens of thousands of low-income Muslims who cannot afford official permits take their pilgrimage to Mecca by using irregular channels and therefore lack access to the air conditioned spaces available for the 1.8 million people who are authorized to undertake the pilgrimage. Yet even people in more affluent countries are at risk if they stay outside too long.

"Of course, we need to take all of the steps we can to minimize the public health risk from extreme heat, and that requires a mobilization of resources and collaboration between policymakers, emergency managers and other stakeholders," Mann said. "But the only way we can prevent this from getting worse is to address the problem at its source; the ongoing warming of the planet from fossil fuel burning and other activities that generate carbon pollution."

Barring major changes in human behavior, climate change is expected to only get worse. In a recent study of hundreds of climate scientists by The Guardian, nearly 80 percent of the experts foresee Earth's temperature rising at least 2.5 C (4.5 F) above pre-industrial levels; almost half believe the temperature will rise at least 3 C (5.4 F) above that level. Only 6% thought the limit of 1.5 C (2.7 F)  the one agreed upon at the Paris climate accord, and widely acknowledged as being a major threshold before global catastrophe  is even attainable.

Regardless of whether Earth can avoid the more apocalyptic scenarios, however, experts agree that increasingly severe heat waves will exist in the foreseeable future.

"We can expect extreme heat, including deadly heat, to continue intensifying so long as the fossil fuel industry continues to exist, as they are the primary cause of global heating," Kalmus said. Like Mann, he said that humans need to rapidly transition away from fossil fuels, humans will soon experience heat waves that kill millions within a few days.

"If we continue burning fossil fuels despite such deadly warnings from the overheating Earth system, this death toll will continue to mount  and at some point the first 10-million-death heat wave will occur," Kalmus warned. "There's no good way to prepare for such deadly heat  air conditioning can go out in a blackout, and blackouts are more likely during heat waves  so the best preparation at this point is to minimize how hot things get by doing everything you can to end the fossil fuel industry as quickly as possible."
Emergency workers help an elderly man who fainted during a heatwave in Washington DC on 20 June 2024.

Emergency workers help an elderly man who fainted during a heatwave in Washington DC on 20 June 2024. Photograph: Andrew Leyden/NurPhoto via Getty Images

About 65 million people were under heat alerts in the north-eastern and midwest states on Friday, as an early season heatwave in the US continued to roast the region.

Record temperatures were set in some areas, with heat indexes that combine temperature and humidity hitting 100F and 110F. Calendar-day highs were broken across Maine, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania.

The National Weather Service warned that people without reliable air conditioning would be most affected. Across the Ohio River valley, the heat-risk index was at level 4  labeled extreme for the next two days.

Related: What is a heat dome and how is it contributing to the heatwave in the US

This rare and/or long-duration extreme heat with little to no overnight relief affects anyone without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration, the agency said, adding that it was likely to affect most health systems, heat-sensitive industries and infrastructure.

With temperatures only slightly dropping at night, the national forecaster advised people to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.

The sudden intensity of summer heat in the region is attributed the northerly movement of a high-pressure heat dome that had settled over Mexico and the US south-west in March.

It slowly traversed north, breaking temperature records as it went. The climate group World Weather Attribution released a report on Thursday saying that the southern heatwave in late May was 35 times more likely to have occurred because of climate change, and 2.5F hotter.

In Texas, the governor, Greg Abbott, issued a disaster declaration for 51 Texas counties after Tropical Storm Alberto deluged parts of the state. New Mexico has also requested federal assistance after wildfires forced the evacuation of a town in the southern part of the state.

But forecasters have predicted that colder air with less humidity will move across the northern plains and upper midwest over the weekend and the north-east soon after.

Still, it will be uncomfortable in some regions until then. In the mid-Atlantic states, temperatures are forecast to increase into the 100s with record-tying/breaking temperatures possible.

The heat has caused infrastructure problems. In New York, hundreds of commuters were stranded on trains out of Penn Station when a power outage and a brush fire in New Jerseys Secaucus marshland area disrupted service.

US train operator Amtrak said its trains would have to run at slower speeds because of the heat.
A Robinson R-66 helicopter crashed in Russia's Amur Oblast with a pilot and three passengers on board, the Russian state-owned news agency TASS reported on June 21, citing authorities.

According to preliminary data, the incident took place on the morning of June 20. It is unclear what caused the crash.

"Information on the number of victims is being clarified," the Eastern Interregional Investigation Department of the Transport Investigative Committee said.

The helicopter took off from a timber processing plan to an area near the Dzheltula River in Amur Oblast, TASS wrote.

The aircraft did not arrive at the destination and an emergency radio alert was sent out soon after, pointing to the helicopter's crash site.

Russian authorities launched an investigation into possible air traffic violations resulting in the death of two or more people through negligence.

TASS wrote that according to media reports, the pilot and the passengers were all found dead after more than a day of search.

Amur Oblast lies in Russia's Far East on the border with China, over 5,000 kilometers (more than 3,000 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

There have been several cases of Russian helicopters and planes crashing during the full-scale war, sometimes resulting in fatalities. Russia's aviation industry took a heavy hit as a result of Western sanctions, often lacking the necessary components to maintain the aircraft.

Read also: Russian Su-34 warplane crashes in North Ossetia

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
What the Hell Is Going on With the Supreme Courts Trump Ruling?

The Supreme Court released a slew of new rulings on Friday morning, but, once again, none of them included the decision weighing heaviest on Americans mindswhether Donald Trump should be granted king-like immunity for his criminal indictments.

Friday marks 114 days since the case was accepted by the high courtan inexcusable amount of time to rule on something so consequential to the country, a top legal expert tells The Daily Beast.

Laurence Tribe, a constitutional law professor at Harvard University, said Friday its clear that the Supreme Court, which has operated with a comfortable conservative majority since Trumps presidency, is doing the ex-presidents bidding.

With each day that passes without a decision, the chances of a Trump trial before the 2024 election grow slimmer.

Theyre obviously delaying to benefit Donald Trump, he said.

Real Housewives Creator: Put Ginni Thomas and Mrs. Alito on TV

Tribe said, realistically, an appropriate time for the court to reach a decision on Trump would have been sometime in December, and Trumps trial wouldve been completed by now.

Instead, its taken the Supreme Court more than twice the time to rule on Trumps immunitya matter an appeals court comprehensively rejectedthan it took to rule on the much more complex United States vs. Richard Nixon case, which took 54 days.

Whats more, the arguments in Trumps case were so outlandish that it should have been easy for the court to dispatch with them quickly, one former Supreme Court law clerk said this week.

Tribe says he believes the delay is simply thata way to buy Trump more time. If he were to win the presidency before hes convicted, hed almost certainly use his power to wipe away any charges.

Tribe isnt alone in his theory. Robert Reich, an attorney who was once Secretary of Labor, said Friday that the Supreme Courts far-right justices are effectively giving Trump the immunity hes seeking merely by delay.

Robert J. DeNault, a white collar criminal defense attorney in New York, said the delay in ruling is hard to justify.

The courts deadline to release a decision is next Friday, June 28, but Tribe fears the conservative majority may have something more sinister up their sleeve.

While just a theory, he said its possible the court is contemplating two thingsslating Trumps case for re-argument, which would delay things even longer, or potentially ruling that special prosecutors like Jack Smith, whose team brought the election-subversion charges at the heart of Trumps case, are unconstitutional.

It would be a massive win for the MAGA movement, he said of the hypotheticals.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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As a record-breaking heat wave grips the Midwest and Northeast this week, workers, especially those laboring outdoors, are facing dangerous conditions.

But even indoor workerssuch as those in Amazon fulfillment centers across the countrysay theyre battling extreme temperatures with little to no reduction in their fast-paced, physically demanding routines.

One union organizer at a West Deptford, New Jersey warehouse took readings with a room thermometer on Tuesday and clocked temps of 92 degrees in a trailer where people lift heavy boxes and 83 degrees in other areas of the building.

She sent her results to Make the Road New Jersey, an immigrant rights and labor nonprofit thats rallying for state legislation protecting workers from excessive heat. The bill, from Democratic state Sen. Joe Cryan, would require employers to provide cold water and rest breaks and postpone tasks that are not urgent until the heat wave is over.

Colony of Hell: 911 Calls From Inside Amazon Warehouses

We want to meet this exact moment that were in, where we have temperatures that are hitting the mid-90s and will hit the upper 90s by the end of the week, Garrett OConnor, Make the Road New Jerseys director of worker organizing and policy, told The Daily Beast.

OConnor pointed to the 2022 death of one Amazon warehouse employee in New Jersey as proof that indoor laborers need heat protection too.

As The Daily Beast reported, Rafael Reynaldo Mota Frias, 42, died during a Prime Day sales rush. At the time, coworkers told us they believed he was overworked and overheated. (Separately, NBC reported that the company installed new fans and an upgraded A/C system in the weeks after Mota Frias died.)

Still, an Amazon spokesperson said Mota Frias passing was not work-related and instead due to a personal medical condition. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) made the same finding and closed its case, issuing no health or safety violations to Amazon.

In response to union organizer criticisms, Amazon says it is one of few companies to provide air-conditioning at its warehouses, along with a variety of other cooling measures, and that it trains employees about preventing heat-related illnesses, and encourages them to take cool-down breaks.

The company has said its systems constantly measure the temperature and heat index (temperature plus humidity) in our facilities and proactively alert employees when climate conditions change.

Safety is, and always will be, our top priority, said Amazon spokesman Steve Kelly. In addition to scheduled break and lunch times, employees are free to take short breaks as needed to use the restroom, grab water, or speak to a manager, HR, or others.

Around the time Mota Frias died, OConnor says his group represented two employees at another, non-Amazon facility who were dealing with extreme heat. Their company denied their requests to install fans or rotate work duties to lighten the load. Eventually just for raising these issues  they lost their jobs, he said.

The fear, OConnor added, is that workers may be confronted with the same issue of having to choose between a paycheck or a job and their life.

Cryans bill defines excessive heat as a heat index of 80 degrees outdoors, and 80 degrees indoors when employees are present, or when the heat index equals or exceeds 80 degrees, among other variables.

Im 62, Cryan told The Daily Beast. When I was a kid, a really hot day was 80 degrees, you went to the beach, everybody ran for cover. Today we take 90-plus and 100 like its almost normal. It affects people [with] death and dehydration.

Inside the Employee Revolt Rocking Amazon

For a lot of people, it means going to work in really difficult conditions, he added. Frankly, a lot of them bring a package to your doorgive them a little thought here.

Online Amazon worker forums, including on Reddit, are filled with complaints about hot areas in warehouses. Last month, one Redditor shared an employees gripe on one facilitys Voice of Associates (VOA) internal message board about malfunctioning fans. "Its completely ridiculous that were expected to keep up with the volume weve had lately in the harsh heat, the person wrote. I spend more time wiping sweat off my face than I do actually doing work.

One commenter replied that their own warehouse A/C wasnt turned on and bigger fans werent enough. Every time we mention the issue, were gaslighted into oblivion about it, the person wrote, adding, They wrote off our heat rashes as poor hygiene, and passing out as our own failure to stay hydrated. (Amazon says the comment is contrary to the companys 24/7 climate controls.)

Yet, for its part, Amazon says it keeps employees safe with climate-control systems in all of its fulfillment centers and air-conditioned vans at its Amazon Air hubsand that its protocols often exceed industry standards. It also offers workers pallets with extra water and electrolyte packets.

As for the West Deptford warehouse, Kelly said the company frequently monitors temperatures for safety and added industrial fans to its inbound and outbound docks in May. He said in the last day, the average temperature at the fulfillment center was 72 degrees, with a high of 83 degrees.

An Amazon Prime van waits outside an Amazon fulfillment center. Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Not all employees, however, feel able to slow down. Some told The Daily Beast they feared failing to meet productivity metrics could eventually lead to them losing their jobs.

This week, California regulators announced they fined two Amazon facilities a total of nearly $6 million for violating a state law requiring warehouses to inform employees in writing of any quotas they must follow. The company is appealing the penalties.

Amazon has said it doesnt use quotas that require associates to meet specific productivity speeds or targets, and that assessing a staffers performance is far more complicated, taking into consideration time and tenure and safe work practices.

Managers will contact employees performing in the bottom five percent of their peers to see if they need additional training or support, the company says; terminating an employee for failing to meet benchmarks is extremely rare.

Our approach ensures everyone is on equal footing and their performance evaluation is insulated from things outside of employees controllike changes in the business, inventory, freight mix, or seasonal impacts, Kelly said.

Meanwhile, employees at Amazons air cargo center in Northern Kentuckywhich processes millions of packages per week in the Cincinnati areaare also enduring sweltering conditions thanks to the regions heat index topping 100 degrees.

Marcio Rodriguez, a ramp worker and union organizer at Amazons KCVG air hub in Florence, Kentucky, said management doesnt always advise employees to take 15-minute heat breaks each hour as required during high temps.

Asked for comment, Kelly said, This doesnt reflect the heat mitigation practices in place at KCVG and that employees can take breaks as needed.

Rodriguez told the Daily Beast that he was driving an aircraft tug on Monday when he started getting a headache and recognized symptoms of heat exhaustion. I had to take it upon myself to take those breaks, hoping the management wouldnt write me up for taking extra breaks, he said.

Ramp workers often sweat 10-hour shifts, loading and unloading the e-commerce giants planes and trucks. On the plane, its usually about 10 to 15 degrees hotter than it is down on the ground, Rodriguez said. Youre in a metal cylinder with the sun just baking on it. It gets pretty hot.

As soon as you come out, it looks like you took a shower because youre sweating so much, he added. Its a very dangerous job if youre not keeping hydrated. If youre not taking the proper cooling breaks.

In recent days, managers handed out Camelbaks, hydration backpacks typically used for outdoor recreation. But to fill these things up, you obviously need water, he said. And we keep running out of water out on the ramp. Ice machines run out of ice.

Rodriguez said the air-conditioning has been breaking on vans that transport crews of eight to 12 people from the main break room to the ramp.

Amazon is trying to fire Marcio Rodriguez for organizing coworkers to demand working A/C in their vans on the blacktop ramp in 90 degree weather. But we won't back down. Amazon has MORE than enough money to provide us this basic human right. #DontFireMarcio pic.twitter.com/RebrUMQS76  Amazon KCVG Teamsters (@AmazonUnionKCVG) May 15, 2024

Weve asked management to fix these vans, so we could have a proper way to have a cooling break. What they tell us instead is just to turn off the vans, so we dont break the A/C. In these grueling heats, I think we deserve a little bit of a cooling break because we are outside every day. Workers are gonna get sick.

Amazon denied these claims, saying that cooling and hydration stations are stocked every two hours by the site safety operations team, and that vans with mechanical issues are rotated out of service. (Kelly said KCVG has more than 10 vans in reserve so that if the A/C were down in one, it would easily be replaced with another vehicle.)

The company also says employees are only asked to turn vans off when they take breaks inside the building.

Last month, Rodriguez encouraged workers not to start their shifts until management fixed three vans with broken air-conditioning. Only then, he claims, did the company provide replacements. Rodriguez says hes had a target on his back ever since, with disciplinary writeups, monitoring, and meetings with bosses.

They treat us like numbers, Rodriguez said. Were the ones who make this company these billions of dollars. Without us, these planes would not be going in and out. And the least they could do is actually make sure that were going home safe at the end of the day.

Amazon said it gave Rodriguez warnings for safety and behavioral-based policy violations as it would any other employee. Mr. Rodriguez received a final written warning for violating Amazons policies by using a vape on an active airplane ramp, Kelly said. This has nothing to do with whether Mr. Rodriguez supports a particular cause or group, but rather his disregard for our safety policies.

But Rodriguez believes the company only penalized him because of his union organizing, including participating in a march on the boss event where employees accused the company of violating labor laws by intimidating workers.

Funny they didnt mention the final written for insubordination for not taking down my union tables, Rodriguez told us, adding that he used his vape in an area where he regularly sees coworkers do the same.

The writeup happened the same day I led the job action for the A/C in the vans, he said.

The National Labor Relations Board issued a complaint against Amazon earlier this year after finding the company intimidated, demoted, and threatened to call cops on employees trying to unionize the air hub. (Amazon called the boards accusations without merit and said it would continue to defend our position as the legal process continues, the Washington Post reported.)

Concerns about heat in Amazon facilities and inside delivery trucksdespite Amazon claiming all are equipped with A/Crun by third-party contractors are nothing new.

Last year, workers at a Garner, North Carolina, warehouse claimed that temperatures inside were too hot even during the winter.

The News & Observer, a regional newspaper in Raleigh, reported that two employees were transported to local hospitals after feeling faint during their shifts. An Amazon spokesperson called workers claims of excessive temps factually untrue and misleading, and said the Garner facility was between 70 and 73 degrees.

Amazon Employee Who Died on Prime Day Was Hardworking Dad

The company, however, announced in an employee newsletter that it would install nearly 80 large commercial grade fans in the building by summer.

Rev. Ryan Brown, a warehouse employee and labor organizer, told The Daily Beast that hes concerned about how upcoming Amazon Prime Day sales will impact workers confronting a sizzling summer and the possibility of mandatory overtime.

While the general public and our customers will only have two days, for most of us, thats going to be a six-day work week, said Brown, who leads Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment, or C.A.U.S.E.

Brown, who works in the pack singles department, fears were going to have multiple workers passing out because of the pace of the work and a lot of injuries, as well as terminations of employees who cant meet production metrics.

Before we demanded fans, it was extremely hot. It was an everyday experience to see a worker pass out, Brown said.

For a lot of people, its just boom, click that little button, and its here the same day, Brown continued, but its hell for us.

Amazons spokesman was adamant the company is leading the way when it comes to worker-safe warehouses.

We have industry-leading heat mitigation programs and technology across our network and many other companies are only now starting to do things weve done for years, like add air conditioning to warehouses or delivery vans, Kelly said.

While no company is perfect, we work hard to keep our team safe and are proud of the thousands of team members who work together to both prepare for and respond to these unprecedented heatwaves.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A Henderson County Republican Party official has accused the district attorney of interfering in her assault case  something denied by DA Andrew Murray who stepped away from the case citing a potential conflict of interest.

Kathy Maney, GOP precinct chair for Hoopers Creek, had brought a criminal complaint against the party county chair Brett Callaway, saying he assaulted her by grabbing her hand and trying to prevent her from taking a cell phone video at what Maney described as a chaotic March 23 county GOP convention.

On June 12, the charge against Callaway was dismissed in Henderson County District Court. A notation in the case file said it was "not in the state's interest to prosecute," a staff member with the clerk of court's office said June 18.

The Citizen Times reached out to Callaway.

Henderson is the Republican center for the west of the state and has produced the region's last two members of Congress  former Rep. Madison Cawthorn and current Rep. Chuck Edwards. In neighboring Buncombe, a heavily Democratic county, the GOP chair, Doug Brown, was also charged with assaulting a female Republican official. Brown's next court date is July 8.

Commenting June 18, Maney told the Citizen Times that she had evidence in the form of her video and two witnesses but was told by Assistant District Attorney Lily Ferry she was dismissing the charge because Maney had no bruises on her arms.

Murray, a Republican, had recused himself from the case because of potential conflicts of interest that he said were due to having interacted with Callaway and Maney at political functions.

Andrew Murray

Maney, though, in her June 18 comments to the Citizen Times said she did not know the DA and accused him of directing the actions of his assistant district attorney despite his recusal.

"I don't know if he knows me or not, but I personally don't know him. But I do know he has a good relationship with Brett Callaway," she said. "The thing is, his assistant district attorneys, they do what he tells them do, you know. So, Lily, I think, was just following what she was told she had do is what I believe."

Murray, who was at a DA's conference in Wilmington, denied the allegation.

"I had no knowledge as to evidence or specifics of the case, provided no instructions and made no decisions," Murray said in a text. "ADA Lily Ferry and Senior ADA Doug Mundy handled the matter and independently made all the decisions."

In a comment to the Citizen Times, Ferry said the choice to dismiss was hers and that she did a "thorough investigation of the facts."

"It seemed that a division in the GOP was fueling the decision for Ms. Maney to take out a magistrate's warrant against Callaway," she said. "The evidence pointed to him stopping her from videoing something rather than trying to hurt her."

Ferry said law enforcement present at the convention had access to the same evidence and chose not to take out charges, adding that she referred the parties to mediation but it was "unsuccessful."

The GOP official in charge of the region covering Western North Carolina's 11th Congressional District, meanwhile, said she respected the outcome.

"The assistant district attorney dismissed the charges, and we're going to respect the system," said 11th District GOP Chair Michele Woodhouse.

"At the at the end of the day, we want to make sure that the party is focused on doing the good work that the party needs to be focused on," Woodhouse said. "And I'm sure there is a process in place if Ms. Maney wants to pursue it further."

Asked about what that process might be, Woodhouse said she did not know, but added she was "extremely confident" in the work of the DA's office.

Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Got a tip? Contact Burgess at jburgess@citizentimes.com, 828-713-1095 or on Twitter @AVLreporter. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Henderson GOP official accuses DA of interfering in her assault case
The Hesperia Recreation and Park District announced that it joined other city agencies and businesses to offer assistance to first responders during the recent Hesperia Fire.

Hesperia Lake became a place of refuge for first responders who responded to the vegetation fire that began Saturday evening near Highway 173 in Summit Valley and grew overnight to 1,330 acres.

The Hesperia Recreation and Park District announced that it joined other city agencies and businesses to offer assistance to first responders during the recent Hesperia Fire.

Since then, firefighters on the ground and air continued battling the fire, which was fueled by strong winds and highly combustible vegetation, according to Cal Fire.

On Wednesday night, the fire was held at 1,078 acres with 99% containment. Crews continue to mop up and remove thousands of feet of hose line used during the attack, San Bernardino County Fire officials stated.

Hesperia to the rescue

As the fire approached homes, the park district closed Hesperia Lake to the public and set up operations there to assist fire, sheriffs, and ambulance crews, park district officials stated.

The park is located northeast of the fire on Arrowhead Lake Road.

First responders take a break. The Hesperia Recreation and Park District announced that it joined other city agencies and businesses to offer assistance to first responders during the recent Hesperia Fire.

At the park, local eatery Toms Burgers offered breakfast to firefighters and volunteers. Texas Roadhouse also organized a buffet-style dinner for over 300 workers. The city also provided ice cream, park officials stated.

Its important for all city agencies to work together in times of crisis, said Park Director Shawna Irish in a press release. We are always ready to stand with our first responders and are happy to offer support. We were able to assemble local businesses to offer meals and refreshments to those working hard to battle the fires.

Irish and city officials came together to help serve and create a lighthearted atmosphere so that everyone would be able to feel appreciated and ready to continue their attempts to contain and extinguish the fire, the district said.

Park district officials announced that Hesperia Lake Park was reopened on Wednesday, June 19, and that the lake was scheduled to be stocked with 1,000 pounds of catfish the following day.

First responders enjoy a meal. The Hesperia Recreation and Park District announced that it joined other city agencies and businesses to offer assistance to first responders during the recent Hesperia Fire.

Fire personnel at the lake continue to occupy the front parking lot as well as half of the day-use area. The public is asked to avoid the area, district officials said.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on X @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Hesperia unites to assist first responders during fire
The day after Hialeah Councilwoman Angelica Pacheco was arrested and charged with healthcare fraud, Mayor Esteban Steve Bovo Jr. held a press conference where he ruled out the possibility of conducting a special election this fall.

Bovo and other Hialeah government leaders expect Gov. Ron DeSantis to remove Pacheco from office, as he has done with other elected officials involved in criminal investigations. Only seven months after being sworn in, Pacheco is being charged with exploiting her business, Florida Life Recovery and Rehabilitation, to submit $19.1 million in bogus bills for substance abuse treatment, urine test analysis and other services to multiple insurance companies between July 2017 and August 2020, according to a grand jury indictment. The Miami Herald broke the news of the councilwomans arrest on Thursday.

Angelica Pacheco, second from the left, takes the oath during the Hialeah City Council swearing-in ceremony after defeating incumbent Vivian Casals-Munoz, on Monday, Nov. 13, 2023, in Hialeah, Florida.

At a press conference Friday, Bovo said he expects that the city council will appoint someone to replace Pacheco.

The council has had the ability to appoint a person that usually holds the position until the next election because a special election in the city costs half a million dollars, the mayor said. My advice to the councilors would be ... I dont think it is even feasible at this time to be able to conduct an election to try to have it in November.

But Roberto A. Rodriguez, deputy supervisor of the Miami-Dade County Elections Department, told the Herald there is still time for Hialeah to conduct an election this year for any vacant seat.

Rodriguez explained that any candidates would have to qualify for the November race before Aug. 23.

Rodriguez said that if the city decides to conduct an election for Pachecos seat  or for the seat held by Commissioner Bryan Calvo, who is running for tax collector  it would cost about $44,000, not the $415,000 that the city paid in 2023 for an election for four council seats, because it is a presidential election year.

Sources in the city have told the Herald that several names are being considered for the appointments of interim council members to fill the two seats. Among those considered is the mayors deputy chief of staff, Carlos San Jose.

When asked by the Herald, Bovo said that there are no vacancies on the council for the time being, so there is nothing to contemplate.

When the vacancies exist, then there can be a conversation, he said. And I imagine there will be several names of people who are interested.

Council President Jesus Tundidor told the media that Hialeah would have to have several elections in the coming years for council members, who serve four-year terms. Hialeah has seven council members, with four seats in one election cycle and three seats in another.

In 2025, three council seats and the mayoral seat are scheduled for election.

You have to keep in mind that if there is a special election this year, were going to have an election this year for this seat, another next year and then another in 2027, Tundidor said. It will be several elections, and everything always costs money.

Hialeahs council president, Jesus Tundidor, addressed the situation in the city after Councilwoman Angelica Pacheco was charged with healthcare fraud by the FBI.

Hialeahs special election in 2022 to fill the vacancy left by Councilman Oscar De La Rosa cost the city more than $44,000. That year there were also elections in Miami-Dade County.

Mayor dismisses involvement in the FBI investigation

Hours after Pacheco was released from jail, she posted a statement on her website, claiming to be innocent and blaming Bovo, a political rival, for the FBI investigation against her.

Although these accusations do not originate in the City of Hialeah the mayor is behind this due to his extensive network of contacts, the statement said. Pacheco noted she has been repeatedly threatened by the mayor of Hialeah due to her brave stance in defending the interests of the citys residents.

On Friday, however, Bovo pointed out that the investigation conducted by the FBI happened before he became mayor.

Trying to blame the city or me for her legal problems is a diversion tactic that I dont think people are going to buy into, Bovo said. Fraud is a serious situation in Miami-Dade County.

Pacheco, a 37-year-old registered nurse, pleaded not guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, five counts of healthcare fraud and two counts of wire fraud in Miami federal court on Thursday.

Public records showed Magistrate Judge Lauren Louis appointed the federal public defenders office to represent Pacheco and granted her a $250,000 bond.

The councilwoman compared her FBI investigation with the trials facing former President Donald J. Trump, saying in her statement that she is living an experience like Trumps. In the same way that Trump fights, she will fight.

At the press conference Friday, the mayor expressed his regret over the situation and the way it reflects on Hialeah.

Its image unfortunately is being dragged through the mud, he said. But I think its important to understand that everything that is transpiring right now was done before the councilwoman was even on the City Council.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. The meeting of the CIS Economic Council in Moscow became a hotbed of discussions on a plethora of economic cooperation between the CIS member states, Trend reports.

According to information, Azerbaijan was represented at the meeting by a member of the CIS Economic Council, First Deputy Prime Minister Yagub Eyyubov.

The heads of delegations exchanged views on topical issues of economic cooperation in the CIS space.

The event was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexei Overchuk and attended by members of the CIS Economic Council, including Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Igor Petrishenko, co-chairman of the CIS Economic Council, First Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan Hokim Kholikzoda and others.

The participants of the meeting received information on the main target macroeconomic indicators of economic development of the CIS countries for 2023 and decided to amend the concept of formation and development of the interstate system of personnel training, their professional training, and advanced training in the field of scientific and technical information, approved by the resolution of the CIS Council of Heads of Government dated November 20, 2013.

The next meeting of the CIS Economic Council is set to take place on September 20, 2024, in Moscow.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
High E. coli levels detected at lake at area state park; stunned parkgoers leave after learning that

An advisory has been issued for an area lake after high levels of E. coli were detected.

A Bacteria Contamination Advisory has been issued for Acton Lake at Hueston Woods State Park, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: High E. coli levels detected at lake at area state park

The advisory was issued on June 18 and remains active.

Jennifer Newman came to Acton Lake a couple of days ago and noticed something was wrong, but she didnt think that was because of contamination until News Center 7 broke the news to her.

Oh it is? We got to go! Newman said after being told about the advisory.

As shown on News Center 7 at 5:00, another family overheard our team and they packed their things up and left.

Im getting out of here because weve been here for over an hour and theyve been drinking, actually drinking, the water and stuff, Brittany Bowman, of Hamilton, said. And thats really aggravating.

>> Ohio rated as one of the worst states in the US, study says

The Ohio EPA defines water that is suitable for recreation as unsafe for human contact when E. coli is greater than 298 colony counts per 100 mL of water.

The latest sampling results from Lake Action state E. coli levels are over 866 colony counts per 100 mL.

Newman thanked our team for letting her know about the contamination.

We gotta be safe. Gotta be safe for sure, she said. Thank you, thank you for telling us.

Current water quality advisories can be found here.
As the Israel-Hamas war continued, a photograph lapped social media with captions claiming (archived) it depicted Palestine before Zionism and the foundation of Israel (archived):

Palestine in 1944

Before the incursion of the Zionism virus pic.twitter.com/wyw0OpmtmC    (@Miqdaad_hussein) June 21, 2024

(archived)

For example, a December 2023 post on X with the claim gained 5.7 million views, 17,600 likes and more than 6,500 shares. Many similar posts surfaced months later, in June 2024. The image existed on other platforms, too, including Reddit, where it included the tag "imperialism" and was upvoted 5,200 times, and Instagram.

What Year Was the Photograph Taken?

The photograph is difficult to date. A reverse-image search using TinEye and Google brought up several references for this image, all of which confirm it is an aerial view of a portion of the Tel Aviv Promenade. Tel Aviv is Israel's second-largest city.

One of the references is the catalog of a 2013 exhibit "White City: Bauhaus Architecture in Tel Aviv" at the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg, Russia.

Another is a 2013 blog post, which includes the photograph of a 2002 book titled "Bauhaus Tel Aviv," by Nahoum Cohen. The blog post dates the photograph to 1940, presumably citing the book.

We located a very similar image  though not the same one  on the eBay page of an antique and vintage photograph dealer. The product detail page titled it "Epic Aerial View of HISTORIC City of TEL AVIV Israel VINTAGE 1953 Press Photo." It includes a photo of the back of the photograph, which reads as follows:

B16324 WIDE WORLD

PLEASE CREDIT

(For use Sunday, April 12, with Eric Gottgetreu's Jerusalem AP-N story on Israel's 5th anniversary.) ISRAEL TODAY: THRIVING TEL AVIV

Israel's biggest and busiest city is Tel Aviv, shown above in airview, looking from the beach towards the heart of the city with its cluster of modern homes and buildings. Combined with adjacent Jaffa, the city has a population of 400,000. Near Tel Aviv is the big international aerodrome LOD (Lydda), home of Israel's national airline, "El Al." 5392 1135A- 4/3/53 AJE F WAB165

There is a stamp in purple ink on this text that says "RECEIVED EXAMINER REFERENCE LIBRARY APR 12 1953."

This photograph shows a less-built-up landscape, smaller trees and few people on the beach, indicating that it might have been taken earlier than the photograph in the viral posts.

Still, we used this information in a search on newspapers.com, a site that compiles newspaper archives, and we found several references to articles that published this photograph on April 12, 1953, and days later  using Gottgetreu's article and a portion or all of the caption cited above. This one is from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (note the headline is incorrect: in 1953, Israel had existed for five years, not two):



(newspaper.com)

Unfortunately, even this date and stamp cannot guarantee that the photo was taken in 1953, as press practices regarding image use were not as rigorous at the time as they can be in the 21st century. Not to mention, a deep dive into the history of Tel Aviv confirms that this beachfront was most likely constructed in the 1930s.

But the landscape seen in the photograph could not have been built before 1941, because it clearly shows London Square on Bugrashov Beach in Central Tel Aviv, which was inaugurated in 1942  a year after the end of Germany's bombing campaign against the United Kingdom known as the Blitz. This dates the photograph between 1942 and 1953.

Bauhaus and Tel Aviv

As soon as Adolf Hitler was elected Germany's chancellor in 1933, thousands of Jews left Germany for Mandatory Palestine. The wave of emigration intensified in 1935, when the Nuremberg race laws  which deprived Germany's Jews of rights  took effect. It continued until 1939, when Hitler invaded Poland, and France and the United Kingdom declared war. In 1941, Hitler decided that instead of encouraging Jewish emigration from Europe, he would focus on exterminating Jews.

Hitler's rise to power also caused the closure of the Bauhaus art school in 1933. According to journalist and Pulitzer Center grantee Veronica Zaragovia, the Nazis were hostile to the Bauhaus "because it was avant-garde and utopian. Because some of its members had ties to the Soviet Union or to communists, others were Jewish." This led at least half its students and professors to leave Germany, but instead of marking the end of the Bauhaus movement, it led to its revival elsewhere in the world  notably in Tel Aviv.

In the 1930s, Tel Aviv was in the middle of a construction boom. Founded by Jews under Ottoman rule in 1906, its first name was Ahuzat Bayit ("homestead" in Hebrew). To get around laws that banned land sales to Jewish subjects of the Ottoman empire, a Jewish banker named Jacobus Kann used his Dutch citizenship to buy the first 60 plots in his name.

Tel Aviv's construction started in earnest in the 1920s, and it accelerated in the 1930s with the arrival of Jewish German emigres. The timing contributed to turning Tel Aviv into a gem of Bauhaus architecture. Zaragovia wrote:

The students and teachers who left spread Bauhaus designs and helped it flourish around the world including the U.S. and Israel. Like in Tel Aviv  a city I lived in for about a year after college. About 4,000 Bauhaus-influenced buildings  designed by Jewish architects, some who'd studied at the Bauhaus  dot the city. They have flat roofs, balconies and simple straight or curvy lines.

The more than 4,000 buildings, built in the 1930s, became collectively known as the White City. The White City was inscribed as a protected site at the UNESCO World Heritage Center in 2003 (see the map of the conservation areas). Architecture Digest published an article in 2019 featuring some of Tel Aviv's best examples of this architecture.

In sum, the photograph is a snapshot of the early days of Tel Aviv. Though founded under Ottoman rule, it was built out during the British Mandate of Palestine by a growing community of Jews. In other words, this was a city created by the Zionist movement before the foundation of Israel.

In 2023, Snopes researched whether a different photo showed a street in Jerusalem before the founding of Israel.

Sources:

'10 of Tel Aviv's Best Examples of Bauhaus Architecture'. Dezeen, 24 Aug. 2016, https://www.dezeen.com/2016/08/24/10-tel-aviv-best-examples-bauhaus-residential-architecture/.

'12 Apr 1953, Page 19 - Fort Worth Star-Telegram at Newspapers.Com'. Newspapers.Com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/636730570/. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.

'100 Years of the Bauhaus'. @GI_weltweit, https://www.goethe.de/prj/tbp/en/bpa/yea.html. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.

Azoulay, Yuval. 'Jacobus Street, Corner of Oblivion'. Haaretz, 1 Apr. 2009, https://web.archive.org/web/20120404193456/http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/features/jacobus-street-corner-of-oblivion-1.273311.

Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. 'White City of Tel-Aviv  the Modern Movement'. UNESCO World Heritage Centre, https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1096/. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.

Cohen, Alina. 'Emerging Painter Kira Maria Shewfelt Transforms Moments of Passion into Surreal Canvases'. Artsy, 16 Apr. 2024, https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-emerging-painter-kira-maria-shewfelt-transforms-moments-passion-surreal-canvases.

Emigration, 1933-1941  The Holocaust Explained: Designed for Schools. 4 Jan. 1933, https://www.theholocaustexplained.org/resistance-responses-collaboration/responses/emigration/.

Warkentin, Elizabeth. 'How Did Tel Aviv Become a Beacon For Stunning Bauhaus Architecture?' Architectural Digest, 25 Sept. 2019, https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-did-tel-aviv-become-beacon-stunning-bauhaus-architecture.
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A teenager will be facing a homicide charge for a Clarksville shooting that led to an hours-long perimeter Thursday morning.

According to the Clarksville Police Department, officers received a 911 call about someone shooting a firearm inside a Timberline Way residence shortly before 9 a.m. Thursday, June 20. When they arrived at the home, police discovered two people with gunshot wounds inside.

PREVIOUS: 1 dead, 1 injured in shooting at Clarksville home

One victim, identified as 16-year-old BraAnna Harbison, was pronounced dead at the scene. The other person was a 16-year-old male who was flown to a Nashville hospital by helicopter. He is currently listed in stable condition, according to police.

Detectives have determined the juvenile male was the primary aggressor in the domestic-related shooting, and homicide charges are pending.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

The name of the juvenile suspect will not be released at this time, police said. The investigation is ongoing. No further information was released.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
By Alun John

LONDON (Reuters) - For Richard Wong, 25, who moved to Britain from Hong Kong two years ago, it "feels strange" taking part in a free election, exercising exactly those rights that he once fought for, knowing that his friends back home no longer can.

"Back in Hong Kong we tried so hard to get democracy and then lost it. And I moved here, and we are actually practicing democracy, but in a very different context," said Wong, who has been knocking on doors as a volunteer for an opposition Labour party candidate in next month's UK general election.

"I still have friends spending their time in prison and I'm ... doing this at the other end of the world."

Since 2021, more than 180,000 Hong Kongers have moved to Britain under a special visa programme set up in response to a crackdown on dissent in their homeland, a former British colony handed back to Beijing in 1997.

China says the crackdown was necessary to restore stability after months of sometimes violent protests in 2019.

When Britain left Hong Kong it offered a limited form of British nationality to residents, which means the Hong Kongers, unlike many newcomers from elsewhere, arrive with the right to vote in the UK.

Britain's national election next month is the first chance they will have to participate in the central ritual of democracy in their adopted home. Many are passionate about the opportunity.

"I know the power of votes. I think if we have that power we should utilise it," said Carmen Lau, a campaign coordinator for Vote for Hong Kong 2024, a group rallying Hong Kongers in the UK to participate in the British election.

Before she moved to Britain, Lau was elected a Hong Kong district councillor in 2019, but later disqualified for refusing to take an oath of loyalty to the territory's mini constitution.

With relations between Britain and China at a low ebb, amid accusations from London that Beijing had intimidated a foreign national on British soil and counter claims of spying activities, some Hong Kongers are still fearful China's reach.

Lau said at cultural events many attendees wore masks and avoided cameras because they were afraid their family back in Hong Kong would be harassed.

"The right to vote is precious, and more Hong Kong people are moving to the UK and we're concerned about China's control and spies, so there is a need to speak out," said one Hong Konger in the UK, Kate, 33, who declined to give her full name as she was fearful of reprisals.

(This story has been refiled to fix the number to 180,000 from 180,0000 in paragraph 4)

(Editing by Michael Holden and Peter Graff)
If it's hot outside, it's even hotter in your vehicle. Summer safety tips for extreme heat

If it's hot outside, it's even hotter in your vehicle.

On hot summer days, always double check your backseat for passengers (whether that be pets or children), drink lots of water and be sure to watch for signs of heat cramps, exhaustion or stroke.

Indiana will continue to see temperatures in the low-to-mid 90s over the weekend into next week. Stay safe during this heat wave with these life-saving heat safety tips.

Never leave children or pets unattended in vehicles

It is never safe to leave a child, disabled person or pet locked in a car. For more information about how cars can heat up quickly when left in the sun, check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website in both English and Spanish.

While this applies all year round, it is especially important on warm or hot summer days.

Every year, hundreds of pets die from heat exhaustion because they are left in parked vehicles, according to the American Veterinarian Medical Association. The temperature inside a vehicle can rise almost 20 F in just 10 minutes, and almost 30 F in 20 minutes.

Previously: Indiana couple arrested after leaving 2 kids in hot SUV while they shopped, police say

The longer a pet, child or person is inside a car turned off in the heat, the higher it goes.

At one hour, your vehicle's inside temperature can be more than 40 degrees higher than the outside temperature. Even on a 70-degree day, that's 110 degrees inside a car.

Others are reading: Can you legally break into a hot car to save a dog in Indiana? What about a child?

How to stay safe during a heat risk

Older Hoosiers and young children are most at risk during extreme heat events. To stay safe and prepared, heres what the experts suggest:

The American Red Cross

Stay hydrated and avoid sugary, caffeinated and alcoholic drinks

Electric fans may not provide relief; instead, take a cooling shower or bath and find an air-conditioned space

The National Weather Service

Reduce, eliminate or reschedule strenuous outdoor activities

Eat light, cool, easy-to-digest foods like fruits or salad

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Choose lightweight, loose-fitting clothes

Head to a public library or other space with air conditioning

Heat-related illnesses can be dangerous and even deadly. Learn what symptoms to look out for and how to properly treat someone who is suffering.

What are the signs of heat-related illness?

Three main heat-related illnesses to be on the lookout for are heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

If any of the following symptoms are evident in you or another person: move to a cooler area, loosen any clothing and sip cool water. Seek a medical professional if any of the symptoms dont improve within an hour.

Know the symptoms of heat exhaustion & stroke & do not ignore warning signs. Never leave anyone or pets in vehicles. Heat-related ER visits are on the rise; more of them earlier this year than last. #INwx #nwsind pic.twitter.com/pRKdxtvxUa  NWS Indianapolis (@NWSIndianapolis) June 20, 2024

Signs of heat cramps

Heat cramps may be the first sign of illness that could lead to more serious symptoms. Cramps shows up as painful muscle cramps or spasms along with heavy sweating, according to NWS. Use firm pressure on the cramping muscles and massage them gently.

Signs of heat exhaustion

Heat exhaustion will show up as heavy sweating, weakness or tiredness with cool and clammy skin. The persons pulse may be quick but weak and they may exhibit dizziness or nausea. Immediately move the person to an air-conditioned room, loosen clothing and apply cool, wet cloth to the skin.

Signs of heat stroke

Heat stroke needs immediate medical attention, so call 9-1-1 or get the patient to a hospital. Heat stroke can appear as throbbing headaches, confusion, nausea, dizziness, body temperatures above 103 degrees. The patients skin can also appear red with a lack of sweat. This is a serious illness and delays in medical care can be fatal.

Summer safety: Hot dogs (or cats) aren't cool. Vet offers tips on keeping your pets safe during heat wave

Who are the most vulnerable populations in the heat?

Groups that may be particularly vulnerable to heat include:

Young children and infants

Older adults

People with chronic medical conditions

Pregnant women

Cooling centers in Indianapolis

Indiana residents can call 211 or 866-211-9966 to find cooling centers near them. Indiana 211 is a helpline providing Hoosiers with the information they need to stay safe during the extreme heat this summer.

You can find a list of current cooling centers in your area on Indiana 211's website.

Report or add a cooling center by contacting the Indiana 211 resource team by email at in211database@fssa.in.gov.

No AC? Here's where to stay cool or swim in Indianapolis amid heat wave

Los recursos del tiempo de Indiana en Espanol

Para residentes hispanohablantes en Indiana, IndyStar tiene una pagina web de recursos para el tiempo en Espanol. La pagina web es accesible aqui y visite weather.gov/ind/espanol a encontrar el pronostico del tiempo diario, condiciones proximas e informacion adicional de seguridad.

Para informacion sobre el prevecion de muertes por calor extremo y mas visite nhtsa.gov/es.

Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach him at karl.schneider@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @karlstartswithk

IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

Contact Jade Jackson at Jade.Jackson@IndyStar.com. Follow her on Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON

Katie Wiseman is a trending news intern at IndyStar. Contact her at klwiseman@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @itskatiewiseman.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Summer heat safety: Don't leave kids, pets in cars, drink water, stay cool
Housing and Community Development Department held a community meeting to discuss the plans for Turpin Hill to revitalize the area

Housing and Community Development Department held a community meeting to discuss the plans for Turpin Hill to revitalize the area

AUGUSTA, GA. (WJBF)  Big developments could be coming to an Augusta neighborhood thanks to the 3-year Georgia Initiative for Community Housing program.

The Turpin Hill community has been waiting and asking officials to revitalize the historic area and bring it back to what it once was.

Im excited about attention being brought to this area because I know that this area can thrive again, said Mira Hobbs, President of Turpin Hill Neighborhood Association

Thursday nights presentation was the second community meeting about the project. Folks could ask questions and get an idea about whether the changes would be something neighbors wanted.

They said it is going to preserve the community, and I wanted to see if they would want to preserve it in the same way that Summersville community when they made it its own entity, including Dogwood Terrace, said Treyvon Beale, an attendee.

The plan allows the Housing and Development Department to collaborate with other entities to improve quality of life and economic development.

Im stepping up to the plate as their elected representatives and saying no, I hear you. That is why I am here. And so, Im bringing things like this to the commission, having the support of my colleagues, which I so appreciate. Its allowing us to create a better community, said Stacy Pulliam, District 2 Commissioner.

The program will start with a windshield assessment, which means inspecting each home to create a preliminary plan.

It starts off with the windshield assessment to find out what type of housing is needed. Then we move to our ultimate goal could be potentially revitalization plan of housing developments assessment and what the results will be, said Shauntia Lewis, Deputy Director for Augusta, GA Housing and Community Department.

Once the housing program knows that the Turpin Hill area is on board, they will be ready to move forward.

The community input is whats needed for us to be able to produce the result they are looking for, said Lewis.

The people in the area want to preserve its history and ensure results are done by the end of the program. 

What I love so much about the Turpin Hill area is the pride thats here and how much people love their community. Its Turpin Hill right now, but its setting a blueprint for all of Augusta, said Pulliam.

The next meeting is set for September 19th at the Carrie Mays Community Center. Organizers are calling it a think tank to be able to discuss more ideas with the community.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
Left to right, New Hampshire gubernatorial candidates Chuck Morse, a Republican, Cinde Warmington, a Democrat, and Kelly Ayotte, a Republican, at a gubernatorial forum hosted by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), on June 20, 2024. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joyce Craig did not attend the debate. (Ethan DeWitt | New Hampshire Bulletin)

Housing is the top issue for residents of New Hampshire, a new survey from the University of New Hampshire found Thursday. And candidates for office have taken notice.

A June round of the Granite State Poll found that 36 percent of responders identified housing as the most important problem facing New Hampshire  and it wasnt close. The housing crisis was followed by education, at 7 percent; immigration, at 6 percent; and jobs and the economy, at 6 percent.

Five percent of respondents were concerned about the cost of living, while taxes, right-leaning politicians, left-leaning politicians, and addiction each commanded 4 percent of those surveyed.

The responses drive home what indicators have long shown: New Hampshire does not have enough housing stock to meet demand, causing home prices to rocket upward and the rental market to tighten. Businesses have struggled to lure employees to the state as a result.

This May, the median home price hit $525,000, according to the New Hampshire Association of Realtors, a nearly 13 percent increase since May 2023, and a big leap from the $300,000 median price in 2019. And the rental vacancy rate has stayed near 0.5 percent, far below the 5 percent target that housing economists say is key to a stable housing market.

And according to some analyses, the state is not building housing fast enough. A 2023 report from New Hampshire Housing, a quasi-state agency, found that the state will need to build 90,000 units by 2040 to meet the demands of the states demographic changes. Falling short of that could impede New Hampshires growth, the report found.

The issue has spilled into the race for governor. On Thursday, candidates in both parties noted the problem at a forum organized by the National Federation of Independent Business.

Asked about how she would address the states workforce shortage as governor, Democratic Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington said the most important hurdle for businesses is housing.

She criticized Gov. Chris Sununu for initially proposing InvestNH  a $100 million program to use federal COVID money to encourage development around the state  without requiring that the units be made affordable. After pushback from Warmington and others on the council, the governors Department of Business and Economic Affairs agreed to require that the new developments included a set percentage of workforce housing units.

Warmington also argued that zoning codes across the state were the biggest barrier to an expansion of housing. She said developers have complained that zoning codes can significantly reduce the planned size of a housing project, or can add large costs or delays.

We need to really incentivize our community to address the zoning issues and thats going to require changing the narrative around housing, Warmington said. Its not a not in my backyard situation; the people youre keeping out of your backyard are your kids and your grandkids and your teachers and your firefighters and police officers who work in their communities.

Former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte also cited housing as an important issue. We have to build more housing, we have to make it workforce housing and make sure that people can afford where they live, the Republican candidate said.

Ayotte said as governor she would make moves to reduce wait times for state permits from the Department of Transportation and the Department of Environmental Services, which she said can also hamper developers. Sometimes driveway permits or environmental reviews can prove to be a drag on a contract even when the local community agrees to it, Ayotte argued.

What I think we need to do is actually what we do in manufacturing, called the lean process, where we look from beginning to end, how long does it actually take to get something done? Ayotte said. If youre a citizen of the state, whether an average person trying to get a driveway permit or somebody trying to build a large housing project, how long does it take?

Former Senate President Chuck Morse, who is also running for the Republican nomination, agreed.

Lets not go into April next year when we have 50 DOT permits that arent moving forward and were not building housing in New Hampshire, he said. Thats senseless.

Morse also pointed to driveway permits  which are issued by the Department of Transportation to developers seeking to add driveways to existing roads  as major barriers, and said in some cases those permits can add a year onto the development time. We cant let that happen in our state  were too great for that, he said.

The Legislature recently sent House Bill 1202 to Gov. Chris Sununus desk, which would give the department up to 60 days to deny a driveway permit or else require approval.

Morse also said that state grant programs to help cities and towns with water remediation would help create more housing and lead to more density.

Former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig, who is competing with Warmington in the Democratic primary, did not attend Thursdays debate. But when she filed for governor June 14, she told reporters she would be in favor of pushing to convert underutilized buildings into housing across the state  from abandoned office space to historic structures.

We need a governor who will work with our local communities to ensure were doing everything we can to build more affordable housing, Craig said.

Those who are entrenched in the fight for expanding housing say that this campaign season is a key time for lawmakers in both parties to propose housing solutions to voters  and follow through on them.

The cost of housing is just so extreme that an 18-year-old trying to move out and move into that same community is oftentimes not able to find any housing that would be affordable for them, said Rep. Josh Yokela, a Fremont Republican who has sponsored bills to expand housing. They have to move out of that town, maybe to a city like Manchester or Nashua, or possibly even out of the state to be able to afford to move out of their parents homes.

Yet even if many Granite Staters agree that the lack of housing is an issue, there can often be resistance about broad changes that would increase housing availability in local communities  the essence of the not in my backyard mentality, Yokela said. Political candidates are going to need to find a way to bring those voters aboard, he said.

I think it will be a discussion between the people that have liked their community the way that it is, that already own their home, and those trying to find housing, he said.  We dont want these towns to just turn into country clubs.

Elissa Margolin, executive director of Housing Action New Hampshire, said housing advocates should also raise the issue from the perspective of seniors this election season. This year, Housing Action New Hampshire partnered with AARP of New Hampshire to help lobby lawmakers on certain housing bills, noting that a lack of housing also squeezes residents at retirement age or older, who are looking for smaller and more affordable options.

Margolin says she wants to see that partnership continue  especially to help defend bills against opposition from local residents who dont want to see zoning codes overridden and are against increasing density.

Perhaps we need to show (lawmakers) the face of who is going to benefit, so that when they get that local pushback, they know who theyre helping, Margolin said. And I think AARP and the disability community will be powerful advocates moving forward.
We are finally getting a clear idea of just how big Northrop Grummans Manta Ray submersible drone is, with satellite images showing it in port looking like something that just landed on Tatooine. Manta Ray is being developed under a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) program that is focused on demonstrating a new category of very-long-endurance uncrewed naval platform that could be configured to perform a host of different missions. You can read more about what is known about the design, which had already been shown to be much larger than was originally understood, in our past reporting here. Satellite images taken in November 2023 and April of this year that are now available through Google Earth show the Manta Ray docked at the Port Hueneme naval base in California. Port Hueneme, which is part of the U.S. Navys larger Naval Base Ventura County, is home to the Naval Surface Warfare Center-Port Hueneme Division (NSWC PHD) and is a major research and development and test and evaluation hub. A satellite image taken in November 2023 showing the Manta Ray drone at Port Hueneme. Google Earth The November 2023 image recently began circulating on social media. That shits sci-fi as fuckDARPA Manta Ray UUV(34.1535990, -119.2086255) pic.twitter.com/si65fbr8zt FallenSphere (@FallenSphereLL) June 21, 2024 Interesting find heres a screen recording of what it looks like on the Google Earth.Coordinates:3409'12"N 11912'31"W pic.twitter.com/mThjJAGNBp Cade Wilson (@realcadew) June 20, 2024 Manta Rays wingspan is around 45 feet and it has an overall length of 33 feet from what can now be seen in the satellite images. For comparison, Boeings Echo Voyager underwater vehicle (UUV), from which the larger and still-in-development Orca design for the U.S. Navy is derived, is 51 feet long, but also is much narrower. The torpedo-like REMUS 600, one of the largest operational UUVs in Navy service currently, is just 10.6 feet long and 12.75 inches in diameter. Another lower-quality satellite image of Port Hueneme, taken in April 2024, with the Manta Ray visible. Google Earth To date, neither Northrop Grumman nor DARPA appears to have released any dimensional data or other specifications for the drone. Northrop Grumman did note the potential challenges to operationalizing the design due to its size and highlighted steps it has taken to mitigate those issues in an internal news item it put out earlier this month. Pictures and videos, seen below, the company has previously released show that a crane fitted with a specialized frame is needed to get the Manta Ray in and out of the water. The U.S. Navy notably canceled its Snakehead UUV program last year in large part due to concerns about limited options for actually deploying and recovering it. Northrop Grumman Most large undersea vehicles, like submarines, are so big when fully assembled that they cant be put on a truck or ship to transport. Our engineers designed Manta Ray with these considerations in mind, according to Northrop Grumman. Thanks to its modular design, Manta Ray can be separated into parts for easy shipping. Then, it can be assembled in-field. The Manta Ray demonstrator was built at a site in Maryland before being shipped across the country to California. With missions around the world, the U.S. military and our allies must be expeditionary, the company added in its internal news story. Manta Ray allows them to bring critical capabilities wherever they are needed. Northrop Grumman has also touted other features of the Manta Ray demonstrator, which was publicly unveiled in April and is categorized as an extra-large glider with a lifting body-like shape. The unique craft, which completed an initial round of in-water testing off the coast of southern California between February and March, is powered, via a pair of propellers on its wing tips. More specific details about its propulsion system are scant. A screen capture from a Northrop Grumman video showing one of the Manta Rays two propellers. Northrop Grumman capture A glider has a really intriguing propulsion mechanism, falling forward [with purpose] through the water all the time, both upward and downward, Brian Theobald, principal investigator and chief engineer for Manta Ray at Northrop Grumman, said in an internal news item the company put out earlier this month. When Manta Ray needs to go up or down, it changes buoyancy by pumping sea water to change the weight of the vehicle. Gliders only need to change buoyancy for a few minutes at the top or bottom of their path. The rest of the time, they glide forward using minimal power and energy, that piece adds. This technology makes gliders operate more efficiently, which will enable Manta Ray to save power for long missions. Northrop Grumman has pointed to the glider design as helping increase the designs available payload capacity will still retaining the ability to operate persistently across very long distances. Our team had to be creative and innovative to find solutions that would work for a glider UUV as big as Manta Ray, Structural Engineer Hayley Sypniewski said in another statement in the internal news story. Its not a one-to-one scale with typical glider UUVs; because of its size, we added more buoyancy engines, a bigger payload bay, an enhanced towing system and an extremely efficient and large hull system. Details about what payloads Manta Ray might be able to carry, and what missions it might then be capable of performing are limited. Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, including undersea mapping, as well as both mine-hunting and mine-laying, could be among the potential mission sets. The internal payload capacity could allow for differing degrees of weaponization, as well as using the drone as a mothership for smaller UUVs. Advanced networks and artificial intelligence-driven autonomous capabilities would open up additional possibilities. To date, Manta Ray [has at least] demonstrated its ability to glide, ascend and descend, turn, hover and anchor, according to Northrop Grumman It can do some of [that] autonomously, avoiding the need for on-site human logistics or a human captain. Manta Ray is also designed to be able to anchor itself to the seafloor and hibernate until needed to perform whatever missions it might be configured for, Northrop Grumman says. Broadly speaking, the kinds of capabilities Manta Ray is looking to demonstrate could be of particular value in future operations across the broad expanses of the Pacific region, especially in the context of a potential high-end conflict against China. Northrop Grumman What the future might hold for Manta Ray now is not entirely clear. As of May, DARPA said it was engaging with the U.S. Navy on the next steps for testing and transition of this technology. Another company PacMar Technologies is also set to test what the agency has described as a full-scale energy harvesting system this year part of the Manta program. Northrop Grumman has previously highlighted unspecified energy-generating technologies as a key enabler of the Manta Ray drones long endurance capabilities. Whatever the case, the Manta Rays large size, now further highlighted in satellite imagery, combined with its other capabilities, could make it an incredibly valuable asset for long-duration naval operations in the future. Contact the author: joe@twz.com

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The products are sold under a range of roaster and brand names.

Getty Images/Allrecipes

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports that Snapchill LLC out of Green Bay, WI, is recalling all canned coffee products out of concern the companys current manufacturing process could lead to the growth and production of botulinum toxin, a deadly toxin. The company failed to file its process for manufacturing with the FDA.

The coffee products are low-acid foods requiring a specific canning process to prevent botulism, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning that can result from consuming a product with botulinum toxin. To date, there have been no illnesses reported.

How To Identify the Recalled Canned Coffees

The canned coffees were distributed nationwide through various coffee roasters and retail locations. They were also sold directly online from Snapchill, although to date, the companys website makes no mention of the voluntary recall.

The canned coffees were sold under various roaster and brand names in can sizes ranging from 7 ounces to 12 ounces. The FDA lists the specific products, over 250 of them, that fall under the recall.

There are over 100 brand names associated with the recall. All products contain the language Produced and distributed by Snapchill LLC under the nutrition facts panel on the can. The recall is for all products on the list, regardless of purchase date or expiration date.

Consumers who have purchased the recalled canned coffee should either destroy the products or return them to Snapchill or the place of purchase for a full refund. Snapchill is offering full refunds with appropriate proof of purchase, including a picture of the product(s) being destroyed. For more information or to request a refund, consumers can contact Compliance@snapchill.com or call (920) 632-6018, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (CDT).

For more information on botulism, including symptoms, visit the CDC botulism information page.



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Hundreds of Strangers Attend Funeral of U.S. Veteran Who Died Alone at Nursing Home

Members of the military community paid their respects to Gerry Brooks, a Marine vet who died at the age of 86

AP Photo/Patrick Whittle Former U.S. Marine Gerry Brooks is laid to rest Thursday, June 20, 2024, at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Augusta.

Gerry Brooks, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, died alone at a nursing home in May at the age of 86

After the director of the funeral home put out a call for attendees and pallbearers for his funeral, so many people responded that they actually had to turn some people away

Following the service, the Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services thanked everybody who attended, calling it "an incredible display of honor and respect!"



A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, who died alone last month in a Maine nursing home, just received a heros farewell attended by hundreds of people who didnt even know him.

Gerry Brooks died in May at 86, and his funeral was held on Thursday, June 20, at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Augusta, the Associated Press and CBS affiliate WABI reported.

Not much is known about Brooks, an Augusta resident, other than he was widowed and died shortly after he was admitted to a nursing home, according to Katie Riposta, the director of a funeral home that put the call out for attendees and pallbearers for Brooks funeral, per the AP.

Related: Veteran, 90, Was Working in the Heat on Memorial Day. Within a Day, Over $200K Was Raised So He Could Retire

Riposta added that Brooks next of kin did not come forward or claim his body. The funeral homes initial notice about Brooks generated volunteers to the point where some had to be turned away to carry his casket.

Additionally, news about Brooks death spread on social media, reported WABI.

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At the funeral, Brooks received full military honors, The Guardian reported, noting that Patriot Guard Riders on motorcycles escorted his hearse while members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars gave him a 21-gun salute.

Related: Strangers Help Veteran, 76, Whos Been Living Out of His Car Since 2020 Fire Destroyed His Home

Jordan Elston, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, told WABI ahead of the funeral service that no military member should have a funeral alone. He called it heartwarming that the military community had come out to pay their respects to Brooks.

No service member should have their final farewell by themself, Elston said. Thats something that were really passionate about and feel like especially being a fellow Marine on top of a Veteran, that he really needs somebody there for his final sendoff to show him that he is remembered, he is important to somebody.

We received a notice from our brothers down in Augusta that we had a Marine who passed with no family, and we wanted some presence at his funeral, Donald Kozerow, a judge advocate of the Marine Corps League, told WABI.

Jim Roberts, a commander of the Veteran of Foreign Wars post in Belfast, called it an honor to rally around Brooks. Theres so much negativity in the world, he said, via the AP. This is something people can feel good about and rally around. Its just absolutely wonderful.

Brooks son, granddaughter and son-in-law attended the funeral, said Roberts, but they did not speak at the service.

Related: 104-Year-Old Marine Veteran Asks for Valentine's Day Cards  and Receives Over 70,000

"Thank god and praise god for Gerry's willingness to offer up what he has, to offer his life, said Chaplain Phillip Dow with the Maine Army National Guard, who officiated the service, via Fox affiliate WFVX. That request that offering was not called to him while he was in service. But that no less negates what he was willing to do. "

In a June 20 Facebook post, the Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services shared photos from the service and wrote: An incredible display of honor and respect!  Thank you to all who attended todays burial as we laid to rest Gerry R. Brooks, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of Augusta.



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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov received Kyrgyz Ambassador Kairat Osmonaliev on June 21, 2024, on the occasion of the completion of his diplomatic activity in the country, Trend reports.

The meeting expressed satisfaction with the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan, the increase in contacts between the leaders of the two countries, and the growth of cooperation.

Minister Bayramov expressed gratitude to Ambassador Osmonaliyev for his efforts during his diplomatic activity in the country towards the development of strategic partnership relations between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan and wished him success in his future work.

It was also observed with satisfaction that Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan's bilateral and multilateral cooperation is rooted in friendly and fraternal relations, solidarity, and mutual support between the two nations and their peoples.

Meanwhile, broad prospects of cooperation in many directions, especially in such spheres as mutual investments, transport, and communications, were emphasized, and the need to use the existing potential was noted.

Additionally, it was noted that the growing dynamics of cooperation within the framework of regional and international organizations, including the Organization of Turkic States, are praiseworthy.

Minister Bayramov gratefully mentioned Kyrgyzstan's support for reconstruction works in the territories of Azerbaijan liberated from occupation and the peace efforts of Azerbaijan.

Ambassador Osmonaliyev expressed gratitude for the support provided during his tenure as Kyrgyz Ambassador to Azerbaijan and expressed confidence that the strategic partnership between the two countries will continue to develop.

The sides also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest during the meeting.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
A Hungarian should no longer steer the European Commissions department in charge of the EUs future enlargement, the chair of the European Parliaments EU-Moldova delegation, Siegfried Muresan, has said.

His warning comes amid an imminent reshuffle in the EU executive, where for the past five years Hungarys Oliver Varhelyi has been the Commissioner in charge of the enlargement and neighbourhood portfolio after he was appointed to the job by Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Orbans government has since repeatedly attempted to slow down or completely derail Ukraines and Moldovas bids to join the bloc - both countries have been paired on their accession paths after jointly applying for membership following Russias illegal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Budapest is also taking over the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the EU as of July, giving the most Russia-friendly government in the bloc ample opportunity to demote the accession push.

Last week, EU ambassadors managed to piece together unanimous backing for the opening of accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova to start on 25 June, the first step in a notoriously long process where the countries must finalise a raft of reforms.

The next European Parliament, due to sit for the first time next month, is also more rightward-leaning than ever before, prompting fears far-right voices historically sympathetic to Putins Russia could be emboldened.

On Wednesday, the hard-right European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group - which is competing to become the third biggest political force in the European Parliament - welcomed a nationalist, populist party considered Russia-friendly, the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), into its ranks.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Muresan slammed AUR's veiled pro-Russian stance, which he compared to that of Alternative for Germany (AfD) as "not openly pro-Russian but open to pro-Russian narratives."

"The fact they (AUR) joined the ECR makes it more difficult to convince that ECR is moving to the centre," Muresan, who was this week elected vice-chair of the group of the centre-right European People's Party (EPP), added.

European security at stake

Muresan linked the successful and gradual integration of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova into the European Union and its single market as pivotal for the blocs future security. "We can only live in stability if we are surrounded by a neighbourhood which is safe and stable, he said.

Flanked by Romania and the EU to the west and Ukraine to the east, the pro-European government of Moldova has acted as a geopolitical cushion in the midst of the war in Ukraine, in sharp contrast to Alexander Lukashenko's regime in Belarus, which has allowed Putin to use its territory as a staging ground.

Moldova has also successfully shaken itself free from its pre-war 100% dependence on Russian gas and energy supplies, despite this coming at a cost to its citizens. Muresan explained that the only Moldovan entity still relying on Russian gas is an electricity production facility in the Kremlin-backed breakaway state of Transnistria.

Muresan assured that Transnistria was also part and package of Moldova's bid to become a member of the EU, despite the presence of some 1,500 Russian troops in the region and fears the territory is being used to harbour Russian ammunition.

"Transnistria belongs to the Republic of Moldova, so the will of Moldova is for all of the country to join the EU," he clarified.

"As long as Ukraine is holding the front, Russian troops in Transnistria are irrelevant," he explained. Transnistria borders the south-west of Ukraine, meaning Moldova's stability hinges on Kyiv's resistance. It also means Moldova sees the war in Ukraine as a historical opportunity to reintegrate Transnistria.

Chisinau has also been able to restore dialogue with the breakaway region, an industrial powerhouse which relies on the EU for 80% of its exports, above the Moldovan average of 65%.

Upcoming presidential election 'crucial'

On October 20, Moldovan voters will be called to the ballot boxes to elect their new president, with current office-holder Maia Sandu hoping to cement her mandate. On the same day, Moldovans will also vote in a referendum on European Union membership, in a move Muresan said is intended to confirm the "irreversibility" of the decision.

"President Sandu is projected to win in all scenarios," he explained. "But the nature of that victory will be significant: Will it be decisive? Will she need a second round?"

Such votes have in the past been targeted by Kremlin-backed attempts to sow disorder. In February, a series of anti-government protests mobilised by pro-Russia parties reached a climax.

It came a year after President Sandy revealed a foiled plot by Moscow to overthrow the country's government using external "saboteurs."

"Russia will for sure invest in pro-Russian candidates in the October presidential election," Muresan said.
As the presidents son prepares to appeal his recent conviction, he will likely renew his challenge to the constitutionality of the federal law that bars drug users from having guns. The high courts 8-1 ruling on Friday leaves a clear path for that challenge  and even contains some language that could bolster it.

I think at the end of the day, Hunter Biden may benefit from this, said Eric Ruben, a professor at the SMU Dedman School of Law and a fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice.

The case decided Friday, United States v. Rahimi, involved a provision of a federal gun-control law that bars people under domestic-violence restraining orders from having firearms. Its a sister provision to the drug-users prohibition that Biden was found guilty of violating.

Bidens legal team was closely tracking the Rahimi case and had hoped the court would strike down the domestic-violence provision  an outcome that would have sounded a death knell for the drug-users provision. The court didnt do that.

But Chief Justice John Roberts emphasized in his majority opinion that the justices were only greenlighting taking guns away from people who had first been deemed by a judge to pose a danger to others. That was what happened with Zackey Rahimi, the Texas man whose case reached the high court.

Roberts bent over backward to stay silent on other scenarios not involving judicial findings of dangerousness.

[W]e reject the Governments contention that Rahimi may be disarmed simply because he is not responsible, Roberts wrote. Responsible is a vague term. It is unclear what such a rule would entail.

Peter Tilem, a criminal defense lawyer and former Manhattan gun prosecutor, said that line is a good sign for Biden.

If you look at the holding of the court, there has to be a finding by a court that the person is a danger to someone, he said.



Referring to the section in the U.S. Code that contains the drug-users prohibition, Tilem added: It seems to me that 922(g)(3), whether someone is a drug user, doesnt necessarily make them a credible threat to the physical safety of an intimate partner or anyone else.

Roberts opinion does contain an important caveat. The Second Amendment, he suggested, still allows gun bans for categories of persons thought by a legislature to present a special danger of misuse. Its unclear whether people who use drugs would count.

Tilem said if he were representing Biden, he would urge him to challenge the constitutionality of the drug-users ban.

This is a little-used statute, he said, and I would certainly think that he has a very strong claim.

Biden sought to get the charges thrown out on constitutional grounds before his trial in Wilmington, Delaware, earlier this month. The trial judge rejected that bid, and a jury convicted Biden of three felonies stemming from his purchase of a handgun in 2018. The jury found that he was addicted to, or a user of, crack cocaine at the time of the purchase, and that he lied about his drug use on a gun purchase form.

Biden is expected to be sentenced in October. After that, he can appeal the conviction. When he does, he can revive his constitutional challenge  a legal position that will put him at odds with his fathers gun-control agenda.



But despite the peculiar political circumstances, Biden could be a strong Second Amendment plaintiff. He possessed the gun in question for less than two weeks, and there is no evidence he ever fired it. He faces no allegations of violence. And the gun case was his first criminal conviction  meaning that when he bought the gun, a court had never ruled he was dangerous.

In those respects, Biden is far more sympathetic than Rahimi, who was accused of participating in a string of shootings after a judge placed him under a domestic-violence protective order and barred him from possessing guns.

The Rahimi decision signaled that the justices expect to field more Second Amendment cases in the coming years, as they grapple with the consequences of a landmark 2022 decision that expanded Second Amendment rights. If they decide to weigh in directly on the constitutionality of the drug-users provision, Bidens case could be a good vehicle to do so.

What the court is saying is, Were going to look at this on a case by case basis, said Laura Edwards, a professor on the history of American law at Princeton University. Theyre going to be the ones to determine which regulations would be appropriate, which would be a huge power grab on the part of the court.
A Pennsylvania couple vacationing on the beach in Florida drowned Thursday after getting caught in a rip current, local authorities said.

On Thursday afternoon, a mother and father who had traveled to Florida's Hutchinson Island with their six children got caught in a rip current while swimming off of Stuart Beach, the Martin County Sheriff's Office said.

The man and woman were identified as Brian Warter, 51, and Erica Wishard, 48, the sheriff's office said. They leave behind the six siblings, who are mostly teenaged, according to the sheriff's office.

The couple's children and emergency responders tried to save the couple and administered CPR on shore and later on an ambulance that took them to Cleveland Clinic North, a local hospital in Stuart, Florida.

"Those life-saving efforts continued in the ambulance and at the hospital where doctors gave it every last effort before declaring the couple deceased," the Martin County Sheriff's Office said in a post on Facebook.

Florida's Hutchinson Island is a 24-mile-long barrier island beach off Florida's east coast, near the city of Port St. Lucie.

Beachgoers relax, swim and play at Bathtub Beach, on Monday, June 10, 2024, on Hutchinson Island in Martin County, Florida.

Rip current off Hutchinson Island trapped family

The mother and father got caught in the rip current along with two of their teenaged children who were also swimming, the sheriff's office said.

The two teenagers were able to break free from the rip current, but their parents were not, authorities said. The couple's two children tried to help their parents get out of the rip current, but when it became too dangerous to do so, "they were forced to swim ashore," the sheriff's office said.

The sheriff's office tried to help the six children throughout the afternoon and evening Thursday, as other family members from Pennsylvania traveled to Florida to be with them, authorities said.

Why are rip currents dangerous?

Ocean experts say rip currents are dangerous because they flow quickly, and flow away from the shoreline at a perpendicular or acute angle. This means that someone in a rip current won't be able to swim directly back to shore.

Rip currents can reach speeds of over 8 feet per second, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which is faster than Olympic swimmers.

Rip current can be hard to spot and if wave activity is already more intense at a beach, the rip currents will be stronger too, NOAA says.

The ways to get out of a rip current are to try to swim parallel to the shoreline, as opposed to swimming back in the direction of the shore, NOAA warns. Or, a swimmer could try to let the rip current carry them farther out into the ocean, making sure to keep their head above water. This can also become dangerous if a rip current pushes someone hundreds of yards offshore before breaking, NOAA's website says.

"The most important thing to remember if you are ever caught in a rip current is not to panic," the administration cautions. "Continue to breathe, try to keep your head above water, and dont exhaust yourself fighting against the force of the current."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rip current at Florida's Stuart Beach drowns parents of 6
FILE PHOTO: Iyad Ag Ghaly, the alleged leader of Ansar Dine, meets the then Burkina Faso foreign minister, Djibril Bassole, in Kidal, northern Mali in 2012

THE HAGUE (Reuters) -The International Criminal Court (ICC) published an arrest warrant on Friday against Iyad Ag Ghaly, the alleged leader of the Ansar Dine Islamist group which took over Timbuktu in northern Mali in 2012.

Ghaly, also known as Abou Fadl, is accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity between January 2012 and January 2013, the court said. The arrest warrant against him was issued in 2017 under seal but made public only on Friday.

After Ansar Dine took over Timbuktu, it tried to impose sharia law. In previous ICC cases of other Ansar Dine members, prosecutors said the group had subjected women in Timbuktu to rape and sexual slavery.

The al Qaeda-linked fighters also used pick-axes, shovels and hammers to shatter earthen tombs and centuries-old shrines reflecting Timbuktu's Sufi version of Islam in what is known as the "City of 333 Saints".

One Islamist rebel was given a nine-year sentence by the ICC in 2016 after pleading guilty to participating in destruction of Timbuktu's religious monuments. A second Malian suspect is due to hear the verdict in his case before the ICC next Wednesday.

The ICC, the world's only permanent war crimes tribunal, has been examining events in Mali since 2012. French and Malian troops pushed the rebels back the following year.

(Reporting by Tassilo Hummel and Stephanie van den Berg; Editing by Alex Richardson and Timothy Heritage)
Idaho's Legislative Council on Monday approved ballot language for a proposed amendment to the Idaho Constitution that would prohibit non-U.S. citizens from voting in Idaho elections. (Kyle Pfannenstiel/Idaho Capital Sun)

A proposed amendment to the Idaho Constitution that would prohibit non-U.S. citizens from voting in Idaho elections will go before voters on the November general election ballot.

That comes after the Idaho Legislature in March widely approved House Joint Resolution 5, with only 12 votes against it and 91 votes in support across the Idaho House and Senate.

No person who is not a citizen of the United States shall be a qualified elector in any election held within the state of Idaho, the resolution says.

The Idaho Constitution already lists U.S. citizenship as a qualification to be a qualified elector.

On Monday, Idahos Legislative Council  a committee of legislative leaders  approved ballot language for the constitutional amendment. The council will submit the language to the Secretary of States Office, a spokeswoman for the office said, and the office will publish the language in several newspapers and its voter pamphlet that is sent to all Idaho voters before the November election.

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The vote by the council largely accepted ballot language drafted by the Legislatures research arm, the Legislative Services Office. That includes statements in support of and against the amendment.

Idaho House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel  who unsuccessfully attempted several times to tweak the ballot language  decried the process used to approve the ballot language.

It is really abusing the majority power here to totally silence those who oppose this from having a say in articulating the opposition statement, Rubel, D-Boise, said at the meeting.

Idaho Senate President Pro-Tempore Chuck Winder, R-Boise, said legislative staff wrote the original ballot language, not the committee.

We tried to wordsmith. And our own preferences were starting to put into it, said House Majority Leader Jason Monks, R-Meridian. I think we came up with a worse product than what they were able to put in a more objective process. And I think thats why we ended up sticking with the original one.

Monks motion  approved by the Legislative Council  was to accept the original version, and add language to the first statement in support to state that noncitizens cant vote in government elections in Idaho.

Rubel said earlier in the meeting that she was concerned the amendment could be misconstrued to impact non-government, private elections, such as for parent teacher associations or nonprofit boards.

Only five public comments were submitted on the amendment, with three in favor and two against, according to Idaho Reports.

What information about the proposed constitutional amendment will be on November ballot?

The statements in support say the amendment is needed:

to clarify that United States citizenship is a requirement for eligibility to vote in Idaho elections because the current language does not expressly prohibit noncitizens from voting. The statement in support says the amendment will ensure people who arent U.S. citizens do not vote in any government election in the State of Idaho.

to clarify that the right to vote shall not be granted in the future to individuals who are not citizens of the United States. In some local elections in the U.S., the second statement said noncitizens have been granted voting rights, and that other states and cities have considered legislation to expand voting to noncitizens.

Letting noncitizens vote in Idaho elections could, according to the third statement, lead to concerns regarding election integrity and allow for foreign influence in Idaho elections.

The statements against the amendment say:

The amendment isnt needed because U.S. citizenship is already required to participate in Idaho elections. Federal law also says its a crime for noncitizens to vote in federal elections, the statement said. Under current law, the Idaho Secretary of State requires citizenship and proof of residency with respect to individuals who register to vote, and it is a felony for an individual to provide false information on an Idaho voter registration form.

In Idaho, there isnt a significant election fraud issue involving attempts to vote or voting by noncitizens, the second statement said. But adding new language to the Idaho Constitution in an effort to solve a problem that is not occurring could inadvertently create new problems or add an additional barrier to registering to vote by new citizens and state residents, the statement said,

The amendment undermines local control of local elections, the statement said. The amendment would foreclose any opportunity in the future for the Idaho Legislature or local governments in Idaho to authorize noncitizens to vote in certain elections that might directly affect their interests.

2024 HJR 5 arguments for and against - final - 6.17.24 (2)

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The post Idaho legislators approve ballot info for noncitizen voting constitutional amendment appeared first on Idaho Capital Sun.
One of the top immigration officials in the U.S. wants the federal government to resume direct deportation flights to Venezuela and increase repatriations to Cuba, both countries from which hundreds of thousands of migrants have attempted to come to the United States in recent years.

Id love to ramp them up. Were still in dialogue and trying, Patrick J. Lechleitner, acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, told the Miami Herald about deportations to Havana.

Lechleitner, a civil servant with a law enforcement background, has been at the Department of Homeland Security, the mother agency of ICE, since its inception. He declined to share any further details about any ongoing negotiations with the governments of the two nations.

The agency chief told the Herald that ICE has to navigate a very dynamic international environment amid deportation flights whose frequency can ebb and flow depending on whether a foreign government is open to taking its citizens at a given time, a variable that is out of control of his agency. The State Department is tasked with foreign policy and holding dialogue with foreign governments.

There are certain countries around the world that are definitely more difficult to deal with. Some very small amount just dont want to take their people back. Were working with them constantly trying to get them to take their nationals back, he said. But its not a new thing. This is a constant problem we always have to face.

U.S. deportations depend on conditions in those countries, available federal resources and the status of diplomatic relations, amid other factors. Deportation flights to Cuba stopped amid the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed again last spring. There has been an average of one flight to Cuba a month for the last 14 months, according to independent analyst Tom Cartwright, who has tracked U.S. deportations for years and is an advocate for Witness at the Border.

Meanwhile, the last deportation flight to Venezuela took place in January, shortly after the U.S. announced sanctions when Venezuela barred opposition candidates from running in the upcoming presidential election. In all, available federal data shows that the agency deported 122 Cubans and 1,553 Venezuelans between October and Dec. 2023.

The challenges around returning people to Venezuela and Cuba reflect the difficulties the U.S. faces in deporting migrants to some countries that have been significant sources of migration in recent years. Several countries in the Western Hemisphere are facing socioeconomic and political crises, presenting a challenging landscape for the regions governments as they attempt to address the root causes of migration.

Immigration system is not punitive

Deportations to Haiti temporarily stopped earlier this year, amid an ongoing gang insurgency that threatens to topple the government. Since then, gangs have broken thousands of inmates out of prison, killed police officers and vandalized and burned schools, hospitals and neighborhoods.

Gang violence in Haiti left approximately 2,500 people dead or injured in the first three months of this year. Almost 580,000 people have been forced to flee their homes, according to a recent United Nations report.

The resumption of deportations to Haiti in April triggered furor among Haitian rights activists and immigration advocacy groups who for years have been calling on the Biden administration to stop the flights there. Advocates have pointed out that the U.S. government evacuated its own citizens out of Haiti earlier this year, and that the Biden administration has expanded Haitis Temporary Protected Status twice so more Haitians already in the U.S. can benefit from the programs deportation protections and work authorizations.

Lechleitner said that the deportation flights continue because the federal government wants to make sure there is still a consequence for irregular migration.

Theres a way you should be coming in and theres a way you shouldnt, so there has to be a consequence from this when youre doing it improperly, he said.

Lechleitner told the Herald that the agency is prioritizing deportation for people who pose public-safety risks, and that its working closely with the State Department and nongovernmental organizations to determine whether its safe enough to do a repatriation. Between Oct. 1, 2023, and February of this year, ICE has deported 201 Haitian nationals, according to agency data.

As of mid-June, the agency did not have any deportation flights scheduled to Port-Au-Prince, the ICE director said. The Haitian capital is a hotspot of gang violence. The recent flights have landed in Cap-Haitien, a port city on the northern coast. The head of Haitis migration office told the Herald earlier this year that Haitians returned on deportation flights are from all over the country, and must travel through roads and neighborhoods controlled by armed gangs to return to their cities and towns.

READ MORE: Biden administration resumes deportation flights to Haiti amid ongoing violence

We want to do it the right way. And if the data is pointing that the ground truth and what we collectively agree is that its not safe to do, were not doing it, Lechleitner said. But we dont do it in a vacuum. Were doing it with our partners in the State Department, non governmental organizations, and the United Nations to make sure we can do it.

After a deportation flight in mid-May, the United Nations agency for refugees urged the Biden administration to refrain from forcibly returning Haitians who may face life-threatening risks or further displacement. Lechleitner acknowledged concerns about sending people back to Haiti amid the countrys volatile situation.

We dont ever want to repatriate an individual to an area where its unsafe or they can be in some kind of harm. Thats not the intent. Our immigration system is not punitive, he said.

Cautiously optimistic

One way the U.S. has increased deportation of migrants who come from places that are reluctant to take them back is by striking deals with Mexico, a key partner for the federal government in immigration issues across the Western Hemisphere. When the Biden administration rolled out a humanitarian parole program for nationals of Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti, and Nicaragua, it also announced that Mexico had agreed to take up to 30,000 people every month from those four countries who show up at the U.S.-Mexico border. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador recently said that hed like to see the U.S. deport more people directly to their home countries, given that Cuba and Venezuela accept migrants the U.S. has returned to his country.

Amid other high-profile actions that Biden has taken in recent weeks to curb illegal immigration is setting asylum limits for migrants who cross the U.S. border unlawfully whenever immigration authorities register a certain average of encounters per week. The administration said the policy would boost border enforcement capacities and make it easier to deport people who have no legal basis to stay. Immigration advocates and civil-rights groups have taken the Biden administration to federal court over the measure, arguing its a violation of international and U.S. asylum law. Nearly two weeks after, the administration announced a program that will make it easier for about half-a-million undocumented spouses of U.S. citizen and their children to apply for green cards.

ICE is coordinating with other departments in Homeland Security because the agency will be tasked with processing, detention, and deportation of immigrants to carry out the executive order, Lechleitner said. He added that Customs and Border Protection and Citizenship and Immigration Services will have the lions share of the grunt work related to Bidens order.

ICE, which has been chronically underfunded and understaffed for years, announced earlier this month that it would be analyzing its contracts with air charter carriers to ensure that it was carrying out the maximum number of deportation flights possible. The agency also said it would be shutting down a detention center in Texas to move funding towards expanding the overall capacity of its beds. The agency is still in the process of identifying which facilities will see an increase in beds, its acting director said.

Advocates and experts have raised doubts that ICE will be able to significantly increase the number of deportation flights to respond to the new order without an increase in funding or resources. The presidential order did not provide for additional money or staff. But Lechleitner said that he is cautiously optimistic that were going to be in a better place than we were.

Were still working out how we can optimize everything we have. But we still have bandwidth, he said of deportation flights.

Lechleitner also told the Herald that he agrees with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas assessment that the immigration system needs reform, and that hed like his agency to have more resources to carry out enforcement duties. The Biden administration has repeatedly called on Congress to reform the U.S. immigration system, saying that the ability to make fixes is limited without further legislative action.

We want to encourage legal immigration, and appropriate immigration, and really discourage illegitimate immigration, Lechleitner said, We just cant enforce our way, arrest our way, detain or repatriate our way out of this.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. The Baku Initiative Group convened an international conference on "Towards Independence and Fundamental Freedoms: The Role of the C-24 in Ending Colonialism" on June 20, 2024, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The conference took place within the framework of the annual meeting of the United Nations Special Committee on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (C-24). The conference brought together representatives, leaders of independence movements, decolonization experts, MPs, and researchers from Corsica, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Maohi Nui (French Polynesia), Kanaki (New Caledonia), Saint Martin, Bonaire, the USA, France, Brazil, the Union of Comoros Islands, Guyana and the Netherlands, which a total of 8 territories currently under the occupation of France and the Netherlands. Diplomats from the permanent missions of El Salvador, Argentina, Syria, Algeria, Brazil, and Palestine at the United Nations also actively participated in the conference.

During his opening address at the conference, the head of the department at the BIG, Elgun Hajiyev, brought to attention the fact that due to the unclear decision by the US government, the Executive Director of the BIG, Abbas Abbasov, has been unable to obtain a visa for the second consecutive year to attend the conference at the UN headquarters. As a result, a video appeal of the Executive Director was disseminated to conference participants.

He noted in his appeal that the recent violation of fundamental human rights by the French government in New Caledonia once again proves the lack of political will of the French Government to implement the resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly against decolonization overseas.

The Executive Director reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the Baku Initiative Group to supporting the just struggle of colonial territories for their independence, even in the face of various pressures from France.

After observing a moment of silence to honor the civilians who lost their lives due to actions by the French police in New Caledonia, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Caledonia, M. Forrest, provided a comprehensive account of the alleged illegalities and atrocities committed by the French government in his nation. Minister M. Forrest highlighted that numerous Kanaks, including eight leaders of the independence movement, were subject to unlawful arrests.

The Director for Political Affairs of the Tavini Huiraatira party in French Polynesia, Richard Tuheiava, as well as members of the independence movement from Saint-Martin, Corsica, Martinique, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, and Bonaire, addressed the colonial policies implemented by the French and Dutch governments in these territories. They highlighted the gross violations of fundamental rights of indigenous peoples, the illegal exploitation of natural resources, and the failure to meet international obligations. They strongly condemned the continued colonialism policy, ignoring the demands of the indigenous peoples.

The participants expressed profound gratitude to Azerbaijan for effectively conveying the demands and voices of the people they represent to the global community. Finally, they expressed confidence that independence is not far away with the support of the Baku Initiative Group, which plays the role of an international platform.

At the end of the conference, a political declaration was adopted. The participants committed to enhance their participation in regional and global events organised by the Baku Initiative Group as well as to strengthen their struggle within the UN. They denounced the violence of France, a colonial power, in New Caledonia, Corsica and Martinique.
On June 10, House Republican leaders sent a letter to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham explaining why her desire to rewrite highly complex behavioral health laws during the upcoming July 18 special session was not possible due to numerous unanswered questions. Instead, Republican leaders called on the governor to set a special session agenda that focuses on fixing our states violent crime problem, reducing the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs across our southern border, and reforming the problem-plagued Children, Youth and Families Department.

These unanswered questions, which have been raised by both Republican and Democrat legislators, include, how much will the governors proposals cost, how will these proposals make New Mexicans safer, and how will all these newly required behavioral health services be provided when the state is already facing a critical shortage of mental health professionals? Spending hundreds of thousands of taxpayers dollars to bring legislators back to Santa Fe to pass legislation that is not fully vetted and will have no immediate impact on the states violent crime and drug trafficking problems is not what special sessions are for.

New Mexico Rep. Rod Montoya (R-1)

Not surprisingly, the governors reaction to being told her so-called public safety agenda was not ready for a special session was to make false accusations that Republicans do not care about public safety. This couldnt be further from the truth. The governors partisan response ignored the fact House Republicans have proposed dozens of bills during her tenure to hold criminals accountable for their actions, secure the border, and protect our states most vulnerable population. Unfortunately, these Republican ideas have never been given fair consideration in the Legislature because progressive Democrats, like the governor, have been opposed to commonsense solutions.

Although the governors lack of leadership is inexcusable, the Legislature is complicit in the failure to protect the public. For years the progressive majority has not only failed to pass laws to stop our revolving door justice system, but they also have advanced bills that make it harder to retain law enforcement personnel, and have focused on restricting the rights of law-abiding citizens.

It is obvious why the Governor is focusing her public safety special session on complex mental health fixes rather than focusing on keeping dangerous criminals off the street --- she knows real crime reforms would be rejected by the progressive majorities in the House and Senate before they are even debated.

House Republicans are ready to work with the governor and legislative Democrats to find bipartisan consensus on ideas that will have an immediate and positive impact on protecting families and neighborhoods across New Mexico. However, for that bipartisan cooperation to exist, its time for the governor and the Democrat-majority Legislature to start listening to the demands of New Mexicans who are tired of seeing children die because of bureaucratic incompetence and watching their communities be riddled with violence and drug-related deaths.

It is ultimately up to the voters to decide whether to tolerate the yearly inaction from legislative Democrats, or if they are ready for real change. The people are watching what the upcoming special session will accomplish to make them safer, and if improvements are not immediate, the November election is the perfect opportunity for voters to voice their disapproval of those who refuse to protect New Mexico and its people.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Bipartisanship in improving New Mexican's mental, behavioral health
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  An incident report details the arrest of Tysons CFO on June 13.

John Tyson, 34

Courtesy: Washington County Sheriffs Office

John Tyson, 34, is charged with driving while intoxicated, improper turn at an intersection and careless and prohibited driving.

According to an incident report, police stopped Tyson for speeding and making an illegal turn at the intersection of Maple Street and Leverette Avenue around 12:46 a.m.

Tyson told police he was coming from his sisters wedding. He gave police his license and told them If I get into trouble tonight and go to bed, it will ruin the rest of my life.

Tyson told police he didnt have anything to drink at his sisters wedding, but the report says he smelled of intoxicants.

Police performed a standardized field sobriety test on Tyson. The report says he had difficulty with balance and had to restart the test multiple times.

After the test, Tyson was asked again how much he had to drink at his sisters wedding. He then said he had about six or seven drinks since around 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. He told police he drank Miller Lite at the wedding.

Tyson Foods heir suspended as CFO after second alcohol-related arrest

Tyson was asked where the wedding was held. The report says he then told police the wedding was planned for the following weekend.

Police asked again where he came from, and he told them he came from Maxines Tap Room on Dickson Street in Fayetteville.

Tyson was then placed under arrest and taken to the Washington County Sheriffs Office. The report says Tysons blood alcohol content was .191. The legal blood alcohol limit in Arkansas is 0.08.

Tyson was released from custody on the same day on a $1,105 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on July 15.

Tyson was suspended by Tyson Foods. The company named Curt Calaway as interim CFO. Calaway recently served as treasurer and senior vice president of finance and corporate development.

This is the second time Tyson has been arrested since 2022.

Tyson was arrested in November 2022 on criminal trespassing and public intoxication, after becoming intoxicated and falling asleep in the wrong home.

He initially pleaded not guilty in December 2022 but changed his plea to guilty in January 2023. He was ordered to pay $440 total in fines and fees.

Tyson is the great-grandson of Tyson Foods founder John W. Tyson.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand  A major acquisition effort for the Light Combat Helicopter has moved forward after Indias Defence Ministry issued a request for proposals.

The RFP was issued to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., which designs and manufactures the 5.8-ton LCH Prachand. The request asked for 156 helicopters, split into 90 for the Indian Army and 66 for the Indian Air Force.

HAL confirmed the RFPs release in a stock exchange filing on June 17. The deal is expected to be worth more than 450 billion rupees (U.S. $5 billion) once negotiations conclude and a contract is issued.

In response to the news, HAL shares surged 6.5% to hit a record 5,582.80 rupees.

The company did not respond to Defense News request for additional information by press time.

KP Sanjeev Kumar, a former Indian naval aviation test pilot, told Defense News this tender is a significant milestone in Indias journey of making customized helicopters for its armed forces.

The attack helicopter can take off and land at altitudes of 16,400 feet, making it ideal for operations along Indias mountainous borders with China and Pakistan.

Armaments on the LCH include Mistral air-to-air missiles; up to four 70mm FZ231 rocket pods; a nose-mounted 20mm M621 cannon; and eventually Dhruvastra air-to-ground missiles.

Although the LCH is considered an indigenous design, it was about 45% domestically manufactured during the limited-series production of 15 of the helicopters, delivered around the 2022-2023 time frame. However, HALs goal is to reach 55% with the 156 helicopters under the potential deal.

An important reason for the increase in indigenous content is a 2023 agreement with Safran for full technology transfer of the Shakti 1H1 engines that power it.

The LCHs development has been protracted, its maiden flight occurring back in 2010. Sanjeev Kumar noted product improvement is a continuous process, and that HAL may address legacy issues related to other helicopters it makes, such as low time between the overhaul of key subassemblies.

So long as attack helicopters remain relevant in the battlespace, the LCH will be a vital weapon in Indias arsenal, Sanjeev Kumar added.

The Prachands are to operate alongside 28 AH-64E Apache helicopters procured from the U.S. firm Boeing.

This tender comes on the heels of an RFP for 97 Light Combat Aircraft Mk1A aircraft issued to HAL in April. As of March 31, the companys order books stood in excess of 940 billion rupees, even before these LCA and LCH orders were logged.

Editors note: Vivek Raghuvanshi, a journalist and freelancer for Defense News for more than three decades, was jailed in May 2023 by Indias Central Bureau of Investigation on charges of espionage. The Indian government has released minimal information on his arrest. Sightline Media Group, which owns Defense News, has not seen any evidence to substantiate these charges and repudiates attacks on press freedom.
Indiana Republican leadership isn't jiving with its grassroots members around the state. (Getty Images)

Following Micah Beckwiths surprising lieutenant governor nomination and Jim Bopps startling assessment of how it impacts the governors race, I have seen a lot of shade thrown about establishment Republicans and RINOs.

Hearing Bopp  the Hoosier most directly responsible for Indianas anti-abortion moves in the last two decades and an ultra-conservative powerhouse lawyer  called a Republican in name only shocked me.

I wondered: what exactly is a Hoosier Republican these days and why are party members so divided?

So, I spent the last few days talking to delegates from the state convention to understand the split that has resulted in two consecutive repudiations of key GOP candidates.

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First, delegates in 2022 nominated Diego Morales over Gov. Eric Holcombs appointee, sitting Secretary of State Holli Sullivan. And this year, the delegates chose Beckwith over Rep. Julie McGuire, the choice of Republican gubernatorial nominee Mike Braun.

I spoke to around 20 delegates from around the state: large cities to rural towns; men and women; old and young. I spoke to those who supported Beckwith and people backing McGuire.

I did the interviews on background to allow them to speak freely, though many said they had no problem being quoted. They were candid and introspective. And I came away with four takeaways about the state of the Indiana Republican Party.

A personal touch

It was clear that Beckwith used a much more personal approach with delegates. This was buoyed by being able to campaign for months rather than weeks.

More than one delegate said they had multiple phone calls and in-person meetings with him. And when Beckwith saw them on the convention floor Saturday, he addressed them by name.

Couple that with the fact that Beckwith gave a strong speech, while Braun and McGuire were flat at best.

I never really knew where Julie stood on those issues. Think about the floor speeches. Beckwith laid it out plain as day. Julie didnt give a reason to vote for her other than she was Brauns pick, one delegate said.

Generational divide

A number of longtime Republicans believe the divide is somewhat generational.

The old guard are more polite and avoid harsh criticism, while younger Republicans are adopting a more aggressive nature. Donald Trump is an example of that, though several I talked to are not necessarily supporters of him. But they do think its time for a more outspoken GOP.

Policy basics

More than any other issue that arose in my talks was that the partys establishment  interchangeably linked to those in the Indianapolis bubble  is focusing too much on growth and economic development and not enough on values, farmland, personal freedom and more. The controversial LEAP project is the poster child for this but certainly not the last of it.

The establishment is focused on economics over the issues which Hoosier Republicans care most about, one delegate said. How about we focus those billions the IEDC is spending on small town/rural private businesses here in Indiana? Wed get a bigger bang for our buck and Hoosier families would benefit, not corporations.

No respect

My last takeaway was brought up the most often by delegates unhappy with the recent Republican party leadership. But it has nothing to do with public policy.

Delegates described a top-down approach, in which theyre told by county chairs to get in line and not given respect for the grassroots efforts they make. They are the ones staffing phone banks and hauling yard signs around. And they see the leaders of the party as bought and paid for by corporations and businesses.

Beckwith was an outsider with no allegiance to that inner sanctum and delegates liked that.

Many in the GOP dont want to be led around by the nose. That doesnt mean there is a divide, it means the people are standing up for what they believe in, which should make our party stronger, not weaker, moving forward, one delegate told me.

The post What is an Indiana Republican now? appeared first on Indiana Capital Chronicle.
Justices debated whether releasing the cell phone data of a driver in a car accident case is appropriate. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

The Indiana Supreme Court is considering how to balance the discovery of cell phone information with privacy rights following a hearing Thursday where a car accident victim wanted access to phone data of the driver who struck him.

The victim, Charles Jennings, argued a lower trial court abused its discretion when prohibiting him from inspecting the phone data.

During Thursdays oral argument, a lawyer for Jennings said the exclusion of the requested evidence could have contradicted the drivers deposition and impacted the outcome of a jury trial. Jennings sought phone data showing whether the person driving was using the navigation application Waze during the accident.

A smartphone contains far more information than a personal diary.

 Attorney Bob Durham

If this jury knew that she was lying about having Waze on, at the end of the day they would say okay we dont trust her, said Bryan Babb.

However, a lawyer for the driver, Jessica Smiley, said allowing the man to access her unlocked phone posed overwhelming privacy concerns.

A smartphone contains far more information than a personal diary, said Bob Durham.

Background of the case

Smiley was driving in Carmel in December 2019 when she struck Jennings, who was walking across the street at the time of the accident. According to an Indiana Court of Appeals opinion, Jennings had stepped into the street from behind a box truck, which had blocked Smileys view of him. Jennings sued Smiley in February 2020, arguing she had been negligent while driving. In her answer to Jennings complaint, Smiley claimed Jennings had been contributorily negligent.

A year later, Jennings moved to compel discovery of Smileys cellphone data, seeking to find out if she was using Waze at the time of the accident. Smiley had previously said in a deposition that she had been using the app when she started her drive, but was not using it during the accident.

Although the trial court initially granted Jennings motion, Smiley asked the court to reconsider due to privacy concerns. In September 2021 the trial court overrode its prior decision and denied the motion to compel.

In January 2023 a jury found Jennings had been 90% at fault and Smiley had been 10% at fault for the accident after experts testified Jennings had not crossed at an intersection or crosswalk, and that there was limited evidence Smiley was distracted or driving recklessly. The trial court ruled in Smileys favor and the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed that decision.

Balancing discovery and privacy

During Thursdays hearing, Babb argued the trial courts decision to deny the requested discovery constituted a reversible error. He said if his client finds data showing Smiley was using the navigation app at the time of the accident, the jurys judgment should be reversed and vacated.

Babb said Jennings needed access to Smileys phone to see if she was using the application within an hour of the accident. If they found Waze was running, Babb asserted they could then investigate further to find out if Smiley was interacting with the app  which allows users to tap on their screens to report traffic delays and accidents. Since Smiley said in her deposition she wasnt using the app, just that she had checked the app before starting her drive, Babb said contradicting data would prove she was a liar  something he believes would influence a jurys decision.

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However, Indiana Supreme Court Justice Geoffrey Slaughter said Jennings could have gotten that same information without accessing the phone, such as by contacting Waze to obtain the user data.

Its not obvious to me you couldnt have gotten it from an alternative source, Slaughter said.

Additionally, Durham, Smileys attorney, said the characterization of his client was not central to the case.

The question for the jury was was she negligent? not is she a liar? Durham told the court.

The justices asked both parties attorneys about the privacy implications of allowing cell phone discovery in civil cases. Durham said that even if the other party was only looking for the hour of Waze data, there are no safeguards to prevent them from accessing texts, emails and other personal information.

Discovery in its very nature is intrusive, Justice Derek Molter said in response to Durham.

The court will issue a decision in the coming months.

The post Indiana Supreme Court weighs discovery of cell phone data with right to privacy appeared first on Indiana Capital Chronicle.
Indiana Treasurer Daniel Elliott, who lobbied hard against inserting politics into state funds, chooses to invest state monies into Israel. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Indiana Treasurer Daniel Elliott announced Friday he placed BlackRock  one of the worlds largest asset managers  on a state watchlist, accusing the firm of making illegal environmental, social or governance (ESG) commitments. The public retirement system will decide whether to remove the company from its investment portfolio.

Lawmakers in 2023 empowered Elliotts office to enforce a new ban on ESG investing in the states pension system. The investment practices have become a culture war flashpoint, with advocates arguing the ban will keep politics out of state finances and opponents defending ESG as risk management.

We shouldnt accept actions that put Hoosier retirees at risk, Elliot said in a news release.

ESG commitments hurt investments when employed by financial institutions, he continued. We must protect our public servants from having their hard-earned savings affected by ESG decisions made by large corporations such as BlackRock.

BlackRock pushed back in a statement to the Capital Chronicle.

Contrary to the Treasurers assertion, BlackRock has been singularly focused on delivering performance for INPRS, consistent with their objectives, the company said. We take direction from our clients, as our business is grounded in our fiduciary obligation to provide our clients with choice.

On behalf of our clients, BlackRock has invested approximately $95 billion in Indiana, and we are helping more than 415,000 Indiana residents retire with dignity. We are proud of our contribution and remain committed to Indiana, it added.

INPRS confirmed that it would, in accordance with its anti-ESG policy, put BlackRock on an investments watchlist.

The allegations

Daniels office alleged that BlackRock prioritizes risky ESG engagement over its fiduciary duty to its clients, citing the companys own disclosures to the federal government.

Also in those disclosures, BlackRock has described its commitments as potential threats to its reputation and ability to attract and retain clients, Elliotts office added.

The office additionally said BlackRock acknowledges that using third-party providers for ESG data  which may not be complete or accurate  poses significant risks to its earnings.

And it asserted that BlackRocks membership in the NetZero Asset Management Initiative, intended to cut emissions and limit global warming, shows a commitment to ESG despite BlackRocks claims otherwise.

As described in state law, violators could include companies who promote greenhouse gas emission reductions and corporate governmental changes  including protected classes enshrined in Indianas civil rights code  as well as those who divest from companies in industries like weapons manufacturing, fossil fuel production or immigration enforcement. Advertising, client letters and more count as evidence.

Public retirement system to weigh in

The news was part of a Friday meeting of the INPRS board, though the online stream had no audio due to technical difficulties.

Elliotts involvement is the first step in the process 2023s House Bill 1008 established.

The General Assembly tasked me with safeguarding Indiana pensioners assets from non-fiduciary actions, Elliott said. Today we have begun the process of reevaluating BlackRocks role within our pension and retirement system.

First, the treasurer provides the asset managers name and evidence backing up the ESG allegation to the INPRS board. The treasurer is an ex-officio member.

The board has 180 days, beginning when it receives notice from the treasurer, to replace the investment manager with one comparable in financial performance.

The law also blocks the board from entering, editing or continuing contracts with asset managers on the watchlist unless it cant find comparable replacements.

Given that the Treasurer Of State has concluded that Blackrock has made an ESG commitment pursuant to the criteria established in Indiana law, the INPRS Board is now statutorily required to undertake a process to determine whether to replace Blackrock with a service provider that is comparable in financial performance, so as not to violate the boards fiduciary duty to the systems participants and beneficiaries, INPRS spokesman Dimitri Kyser said in a statement to the Capital Chronicle.

He said staff would conduct initial due diligence on potential replacements, consult with Elliotts office on the candidates and present them to the board as soon as practical. Staff can use procurement information less than five years old, like the results of any requests for proposal, in looking for replacements.

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INPRS staff will provide updates at each future board meeting and will provide the board with the sufficient information needed to take a decision within the 180-day timeframe, Kyser wrote.

INPRS did not respond to a question seeking how much state pension money is handled by BlackRock.

If the board decides there is no comparable service provider, it can keep contracting with the flagged provider, but must include the decision and evidence backing it up in meeting minutes.

Several states have passed similar ESG boycott legislation.

An Oklahoma judge in May issued a temporary injunction halting the enforcement of a law blocking that states public retirement system from doing business with financial institutions that boycott energy companies. The judges ruling came in response to a suit filed by a member of the Oklahoma Public Employee Retirement System.

Some states have seen losses.

A Texas study, for instance, found that a pair of laws there cost the state about $669 million in lost economic activity during fiscal year 2022-2023, along with $181 million in decreased annual earnings, 3,034 fewer full-time jobs and more than $37 million in tax revenues. One law bars insurers from considering ESG factors, while the other bans Texan municipalities from doing business with  including bond underwriting deals  banks that have ESG policies.

Note: This story has been updated with statements from BlackRock and the Indiana Public Retirement System.

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High voltage power lines run along the electrical power grid on May 16, 2024, in West Palm Beach. 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. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

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 vacant, 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 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 Rosner and See on Wednesday and Chang on Thursday.

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 Democratic to independent.

Manchin recommended Rosner, who was also previously a senior policy adviser 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 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 Florida Phoenix.
A premature baby girl was found abandoned along a Texas walking trail Saturday and authorities are trying to figure out who left her there.

Here's what we know.

Police search for male who abandoned baby near Bear Creek

Harris County law enforcement are searching for the person who left a newborn infant on Casa Martin Drive near Bear Creek, said Sgt. Juan Garcia with the sheriffs offices Child Abuse Unit at a press conference.

Right now, we have an unknown male who dropped the child off at the location right here located at the 5400 block of Casa Martin Drive, Garcia said, adding that there may be video footage of the person who dropped off the baby.

We are seeking info about a young Hispanic or White male, slim, fair complexion with black hair, (who) was holding the infant wrapped in a towel, he wrote on Facebook. He was wearing a black shirt, possibly gray pants. The male was on foot on the Plantation Lakes walking trail."

Garcia also stated investigators were reviewing video footage and canvassing the area.

The sheriffs office asks that anyone with information call them at (713) 830-3250 or Crime Stoppers of Houston at (713) 222-8477.

Abandoned baby still had placenta attached

The baby girl was freshly born and still had placenta attached to her body, according to Sgt. Garcia. He added that the person who left the child there could face abandonment and endangerment charges.

'A blessing': Family discovers abandoned infant on morning walk

A couple was walking with their child and dogs when they found the newborn baby on a bridge near a cul de sac in Katy, about 33 miles west of Houston. They called the sheriffs office about the infant around 9 a.m. Saturday morning.

Deputies showed up and spoke to two witnesses who found a baby naked and wrapped in a towel. Daniela Fedele was walking with her husband, dogs and three-year-old daughter early in the morning when she made the discovery.

"I noticed two little feet moving and then my husband was right behind me with the dogs, and I yelled to my husband. I'm like, 'oh my god, a baby, a baby,'" Fedele told KHOU. "And then my husband like, 'call 911, call 911' and that's what we did."

EMS took the child to a hospital, where she was listed as being in stable condition.

Amid the heat wave that swept through Texas last weekend, Garcia called the child's discovery a "blessing."

They were able to notice right away a male walking away from a white towel, Garcia said. They discovered the child and immediately  contacted 911. The child wasn't out in these elements, which is very hot right now, for a very long time.

Garcia also noted that the situation is not normal but  we don't know the elements behind it.

The child is going to be ascertained for any medical issues or anything like that, testing, and then once the child has  cleared with a doctor, of course CPS will step in and then provide some kind of housing or foster care for the child, Garcia said.

He said Daniela Fedele, who found the child on Saturday, was very emotional, in part because she has a child of her own.

The below pin shows the approximate location where the child was found, according to descriptions by local law enforcement.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Is it illegal to abandon an infant?

Texas' Baby Moses law, also called the Safe Haven law, allows newborn infants to be brought and left at a designated safe place without being questioned. Parents who are unable to care for their child can safely and legally leave them with an employee at a hospital, fire station or emergency medical services (EMS) station. The child will then receive medical care and be placed with an emergency provider.

A "Safe Baby Site" sign at fire station 35 in Houston.

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) encourages parents to read the following, if they are considering taking their baby to a Safe Haven:

Your baby must be 60 days old or younger and unharmed and safe.

You may take your baby to any hospital, fire station, or emergency medical services (EMS) station in Texas.

You need to give your baby to an employee who works at one of these safe places and tell this person that you want to leave your baby at a Safe Haven.

You may be asked by an employee for family or medical history to make sure that your baby receives the care they need.

 USA TODAY reporter Saleen Martin contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Infant found abandoned on Texas walking trail, police seeking suspect
As former President Donald Trump narrows his focus on a handful of potential running mates, the behind-the-scenes lobbying among close advisers and donors has intensified with sharp divisions emerging over who is best suited to join the ticket.

In every corner of Trumps orbit  from his family and conservative media figures to former advisers and donors  people are trying to get in the presidents ear before he finalizes a pick, several people close to the former president tell CNN.

His oldest son, Donald Trump Jr., has made his affinity for Sen. J.D. Vance well known, hosting the Ohio Republican on his web show and pushing him in conversations with his father. Rupert Murdoch has urged Trumpworld to consider North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum while showering the little-known Republican with friendly coverage in the conservative moguls media empire.

Meanwhile, one of Murdochs stars, Fox News host Sean Hannity, has gone to bat for Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, arguing the son of Cuban immigrants could help Trump with Latino voters in key battlegrounds.

The shadow campaigning in the veepstakes has become increasingly urgent. There is less than a month until the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee  the deadline Trump has set to announce his nominee for vice president  and internal conversations regarding who the former president will ultimately pick have entered a new phase. Vetting of the candidates has commenced, advisers have built pros and cons lists and Trump himself has taken on a more serious and earnest approach to determining who he envisions is best fit to serve alongside him, Trumps advisers and people close to the former president say.

Trumps campaign insists the former president is his own best adviser and he alone will make the call. His shortlist remains in flux, his advisers caution, noting that the former president is liable to change his mind until the moment he formally announces his pick.

While Vance, Burgum and Rubio are currently considered the three leading choices, other Republicans, including South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, House GOP conference Chair Elise Stefanik, Florida Rep. Byron Donalds and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson have all received various levels of vetting paperwork and are still under some consideration.

One senior Trump adviser put it this way: Their standing really depends on the day, who he speaks with and who he sees on TV.

One bundler for the former president suggested Trump is least likely to listen to people who have a clear bias.

Indeed, Trumps top lieutenants, including campaign managers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita, have made it a point not to weigh in, multiple people told CNN.

When Trump asks people their opinion, those folks campaigning for someone, he tunes them out, the bundler said. If he cares about and respects your opinion, he will ask you.

A person close to Trump added that Wiles in particular is wary of pushing for a single candidate  noting that her posturing has set the tone for the team.

Susie has lasted this long because she provides information that will be helpful, and then lets Trump make the decision, the person said.

A senior Trump adviser insisted, Nobody in this campaign is lobbying or pushing anyone above anyone else.

The presidents been very clear about the primary focus of his choice being a person that he believes would have a great eight years of service after his next four year term, the adviser added.

Dinner party straw poll win for Rubio

At a dinner in New York City following his felony conviction, Trump canvassed some two dozen Wall Street financiers and high-dollar donors to get their views on who he should pick, according to two attendees.

As he went one-by-one around the rectangular table, no clear consensus emerged. Trump scowled when one attendee suggested Trump pick his onetime Cabinet member and recent primary challenger, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. The crowd was perplexed when another suggested a write-in candidate with no name recognition from academia.

Vance and Burgum, according to attendees, received a few mentions. And at least two attendees supported Scott.

Rubio received the most votes in the informal straw poll, with many backers citing a key reason: The 53-year-olds ability to assume the office of the presidency if something were to happen to their 78-year-old nominee. In Rubio, they said, Trump would also get a seasoned lawmaker with the ability to bolster the former presidents Latino support  especially in Nevada, where the senator once lived  and provide his administration a bit of polish.

Besides Hannity and Trumps dinner company, Rubio has another influential figure in his corner: Kellyanne Conway.

Trumps former 2016 campaign manager played a key role in the selection of then-Indiana Gov. Mike Pence eight years ago and she continues to advise the campaign on issues relating to abortion policy and debate preparations.

Conway and Trump have met regularly over dinners on the patio at Mar-a-Lago over the past year, conversations in which Conway has made her case for Rubio to be considered a top contender, multiple sources familiar with the talks said.

Hannity did not respond to a request for comment. Though Conway declined to affirm her preference for Rubio, she told CNN that Trump should pick someone who can help him win, help him govern, who can be ready on day one.

She has also taken her arguments more public. For months, Conway has been outwardly arguing for Trump to consider a running mate who could help him make gains with non-White voters. In an April interview with The Washington Post, she said, if he has a Marco Rubio or a Byron Donalds, a Ben Carson, certainly a Tim Scott on the ticket, that could obviously help in what is already happening, which is a migration away from the Democratic Party by some of its core constituents over to President Trump in some of the major polls.

Conway also mentioned Rubio three times in a February op-ed for The New York Times pontificating on Trumps selection process. She namechecked Donalds and Scott in that piece as well. Conway has also privately told Trump and other members of his inner circle that she thinks Scott would make a good VP, but those close to Trump argue she touts Rubio more frequently.

Scott on Wednesday held a summit in Washington featuring Conway along with wealthy donors such as Marc Andreessen, Brian Hook and Bill Ackman  though not all of them are pushing Scott as VP. One of the donors, hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin, recently said he was going to wait to see who (Trump) picks as his VP candidate before deciding whether to contribute to the former presidents third White House bid  yet another example of how key voices are trying to influence the decision.

Griffin, who owns a home in South Florida and in recent years relocated his firm Citadel to Miami, backed Rubios unsuccessful 2016 presidential bid. A vocal Trump skeptic, he gave $5 million to super PACs backing Haley this cycle, before she exited the race.

From Hillbilly Elegy to far-right favorite

While Rubio may have support within the donor class, influential voices among Trumps far-right base have gravitated toward Vance.

The freshman senator is a regular on the War Room podcast hosted by Steve Bannon, the former Trump adviser headed to prison next month for contempt of Congress. Bannon in an interview with Politico earlier this year said Vance and his political operation were at the nerve center of Trumps movement and suggested the Hillbilly Elegy author could be the St. Paul to Trumps Jesus.

You know, Jesus played the small rooms until St. Paul came around, Bannon told the outlet. It took the zeal of St. Paul to turn Jesus into a headliner.

Bannon has also been a fierce defender of Vance behind the scenes, and confirmed to CNN that he has privately pushed Vance to Trumps allies.

Trump Jr., who helped to rally support around Vances Senate bid in 2022 during a contested GOP primary, has made clear his preference for his fathers running mate.

Id love to see a J.D. Vance, Trump Jr. told Newsmax in January. You actually need a fighter.

Tucker Carlson, the exiled Fox News commentator who now hosts his own podcast, has privately urged Trump to consider Vance as well, two sources familiar with the conversations told CNN.

In an interview with Politico, Carlson, a close friend of Trump Jr., called Vance by far the smartest and the deepest of any (senator) Ive ever met. Attempts by CNN to reach Carlson were unsuccessful.

The lesser known governor

To the surprise of some, Burgum remains in the mix, though many Trump allies often remark its clear the wealthy North Dakota governor looks the part. Trump once bluntly referred to Pence as straight out of central casting  and it appears Burgum has that going for him this time.

He also has benefited from a wave of positive publicity from Murdochs news empire, which has heaped praise on the former businessman-turned-red state executive. Burgum ran a software company and a real estate development firm in his home state of North Dakota. His wealth from his private sector success helped bankroll his failed campaign for the Republican nomination against Trump this cycle.

A June New York Post editorial ran with the headline Gov. Doug Burgum is Trumps best choice for VP, but Sen. Marco Rubios a strong runner-up. In May, the Wall Street Journal editorial board argued for Trump to consider a few outside-the-Beltway options. Burgum, the board wrote, would be an adult in White House councils.

He was a success as an entrepreneur and understands markets and global economic competition, the piece went on. Hes not flashy but Mr. Trump needs mature.

Murdochs News Corp did not respond to a request for comment.

Though hailing from a small state and largely unknown, Burgum is considered by some in Trumps orbit as someone who cant hurt the ticket. Thats a key concern of Trumps top advisers who have otherwise let the former president dictate the process.

He should have somebody whos not a distraction or subtraction and he doesnt need to be defending the statements of other people, Conway said. President Trump should not be made to explain other peoples scandals or statements.

Burgums wealth may have worked in his favor for a time when Trump trailed President Joe Biden in the money wars. But the recent influx of cash into the campaign following Trumps fundraising blitz and criminal convictions has blunted that advantage.

The campaign is exceptionally well-funded, the bundler said. We dont need a sugar daddy.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. There is significant potential for trade and economic cooperation between the Czech Republic and Azerbaijan, Director for Energy Strategy and International Cooperation of the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade Petr Binhack told Trend in an exclusive interview.

"The priority sectors for the Czech Republic in Azerbaijan include energy, engineering, transportation infrastructure development, healthcare, agriculture, and the food industry," he said.

This cooperation in the energy sector encompasses both fossil fuels and renewable energy sources. "Azerbaijan already holds a share in oil and gas imports to the EU, and we hope this share will increase. The general aim of the EU, and specifically the Czech Republic, is to phase out supplies of Russian oil and gas. We see the potential for an increase in the supply of Azerbaijani oil and gas to the CEE region".

At the moment, the Czech Republic is among the top five buyers of Azerbaijani oil.

"We have proved we are serious in this and now construction is underway for the extension of the capacity of the Transalpine Pipeline (TAL) which connects to the IngolstadtKralupyLitvinov (IKL) pipeline. This pipeline already brings almost two million tons of Azerbaijani oil to the Kralupy nad Vltavou refinery. It accounts for approximately 25 percent of oil consumption in the Czech Republic. With the increased capacity of the TAL pipeline, we hope to eliminate the remaining 50 percent of our supplies, which currently come from the Russian Federation," Petr Binhack elaborated.

Discussing gas, a representative from the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade emphasized that Czechia firmly supports EU efforts to strengthen internal gas infrastructure, whether through routes via the Western Balkans or LNG terminals in Northwestern Europe.

"We are certainly supportive of diversification projects and recognize the importance of alternative routes. We do not believe that investing in new infrastructure or enhancing existing infrastructure creates the risk of a lock-in effect. Our ultimate goal is to replace Russian supplies, so it's not a matter of increasing gas consumption that would compromise our climate goals by 2030 or 2050. Currently, even if consumption remains stable or slightly decreases, we still see room for new supplies as we phase out Russian supplies," he noted.

He added that gas consumption in the Czech Republic in 2023 decreased to 7 billion cubic meters, down from the previous level of 9.5 billion cubic meters per year. "This reduction is due to the COVID crisis, the energy crisis, additional demand reduction measures, and energy efficiency improvements. We are actively seeking to diversify our energy supply".

Petr Binhack pointed out that up until 2022, the Czech Republic was almost entirely reliant on Russian gas imports. However, in recent years, it has diversified its sources by increasing LNG imports from several Western European countries, the US, and other nations. "It is in our interests to attract as many alternative suppliers as possible, and Azerbaijan certainly plays a significant role in this strategy. A lot will depend on the infrastructure".

He stated that the Czech government supports Czech companies investing in Azerbaijan, recognizing their participation in projects as holding substantial potential for mutual benefit.

"Czech companies, whether in development, engineering, or technology production, are very interested in ambitious renewable energy development plans of Azerbaijan. These plans, as a result of energy sector developments, are very promising," Binhack said.

He reminded that there is a Czech company working on hydropower plants. "We believe this cooperation holds a great potential. Additionally, cooperation on developing solar power plants is of interest, with several Czech companies particularly keen. For the Czech Republic, it's crucial to develop renewables domestically and to share our lessons learned regarding the integration of renewables. This aspect represents a new field for cooperation, involving not only physical projects and technology transfer but also sharing best practices for managing energy transition. This includes integrating renewables, battery storage, and other flexibility options like hydro or power-to-gas into the energy sector".

According to Binhack, the prospects for cooperation with Azerbaijan in the field of technology and innovation are highly promising.

"The Center for Analysis and Coordination of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Azerbaijan has shown significant interest in collaborating with Czech partners, particularly in knowledge transfer and the adoption of advanced technologies. I would argue that the technology sector is one of the most important sectors for the Czech Republic," he added.

He also mentioned recent negotiations between representatives of the Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics, and Cybernetics and relevant Azerbaijani institutions regarding potential projects in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). "This is a very promising sector with potentially high returns".

Technological innovations play a vital role in climate protection. Czechia has committed to climate goals and looks forward to participating in the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in November in Baku.

According to Petr Binhak, Czechia is ready to discuss ambitious, nationally determined contributions (NDCs) aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. "Defining our NDCs and embracing the decarbonization process, alongside adapting our economy, will help us achieve our ultimate goal of carbon neutrality by 2050".

He clarified that Czechia is currently in the process of reassessing and adopting a national energy strategy, a national climate strategy, and national energy and climate plans for 2030.

"Our ongoing plans essentially serve as roadmaps to reach our climate and energy objectives by 2030 and 2050. Our overarching aim is achieving carbon neutrality by 2050," Petr Binhak concluded.
Intense heat in Gaza could worsen health crisis for Palestinians, WHO warns

GENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organization warned on Friday that scorching heat in the Gaza Strip could exacerbate health problems for Palestinians displaced by Israeli bombardment and heavy fighting between its forces and Hamas militants.

The World Food Programme has warned that a massive public health crisis is looming in Gaza due to the lack of clean water, food and medical supplies.

"We've seen massive displacement over the last weeks and months, and we know that combination and the heat can cause a rise in diseases," said Richard Peeperkorn, WHO's representative for Gaza and the West Bank.

"We have water contamination because of hot water, and we will have much more food spoilage because of the high temperature. We will get insect mosquitoes and flies, dehydration, heat stroke."

Extreme heat has killed hundreds worldwide as the northern hemisphere summer begins.

Peeperkorn said in Gaza, due to poor water and sanitation conditions, the number of cases of diarrhoea were 25 times higher than usual.

Contaminated water and poor sanitation are linked to diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery and hepatitis A, according to the WHO.

The WHO has been unable to carry out medical evacuations from Gaza since the closure of the Rafah crossing in early May.

Peeperkorn said an estimated 10,000 patients still required medical evacuation from Gaza, half of whom are suffering from ailments related to the war.

Israel's air and ground offensive has killed more than 37,400 people in the Hamas-ruled Palestinian territory, according to health authorities there.

Israel launched its assault after Hamas fighters stormed across the border into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing around 1,200 people and taking more than 250 people hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

(Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
The Supreme Courts delay in deciding Donald Trumps immunity case makes a trial before election highly unlikely, legal experts say.

Special counsel Jack Smith, who brought the four-count indictment against Trump in August 2023, has accused the former president of conspiring to thwart his 2020 electoral defeat and the peaceful transfer of power to President Joe Biden.

Laurence Tribe, a constitutional law professor emeritus at Harvard University, said the Supreme Court has dragged its feet.

it's obvious that the court has deliberately delayed everything, he said. It could easily have issued a ruling much sooner.

Last December, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan rejected Trumps motion to dismiss the charges on grounds of absolute presidential immunity, which he argues completely shields him from prosecution for any actions taken while in office. Trump has argued the House has to impeach a former president and the Senate has to convict before an ex-president could be criminally prosecuted.

In early February, the D.C. Circuit upheld the judges decision and rejected Trumps claim.

Chutkan also indefinitely delayed Trumps original March 2024 trial date until courts resolved Trumps immunity argument.

Trump then asked the Supreme Court to weigh in and offer justices thoughtful consideration.

In late February, the Supreme Court decided to take up Trumps immunity appeal.

It could have taken the case in December when the special counsel asked it to be heard directly, or they could have declined to take the case after the court of appeals quite comprehensively rejected Trump's appeal, so the trial could be over by now, Tribe said. Instead, the court has dragged its feet.

Hofstra University constitutional law professor James Sample said there was no legal necessity for the Supreme Court to take up this case, and Trumps dangerous arguments, in the first place.

When you compare the Supreme Court's handling of similarly urgent presidential matters in the past, including Watergate and the Nixon tapes and certainly Bush v Gore, the delay that has occurred here is intentional, and it is destructive of our democratic process, Sample said. The D.C. Circuits decision was thorough. It was by judges appointed by presidents from both parties, and it was correct on the merits, the Supreme Court has effectively interfered in the political process for no reason whatsoever other than for the purpose of interfering."

Claire Wofford, political science professor at the College of Charleston, said its certainly fair to criticize the court for not taking up the case sooner.

But she added: If you wanted, there are lots of people you could hold responsible for how long this is taking."

Attorney General Merrick Garland, for example, has faced criticism for waiting until November 2022 to appoint Smith in the first place. The Washington Post reported that the FBI resisted investigating Jan. 6 for over a year.

But once the Supreme Court decided to take up the appeal, Wofford said she hasnt been surprised by how long its taken for the court to release a decision on a sweeping constitutional question.

If you want something to be reasonable and rational and thoughtful and ordered, it doesn't happen quickly, she said.

Still  the Supreme Court has an undeniable backlog of cases: 23 of 61 cases this term remain unresolved.

Trumps lawyer is arguing that the Constitution provides him permanent immunity from criminal liability for his definition of what constitutes a Presidents official acts.

Trump has argued that he was simply promoting election integrity  and denies charges that he illegally interfered with the election through a scheme to create and submit fraudulent election certificates and the now-infamous slates of "fake electors" in several swing states.

Several legal experts said they expect the court will reject Trumps claim to absolute immunity.

In January, his lawyer told a court that a president could official order SEAL Team Six to assassinate a political rival and avoid prosecution until impeachment and conviction.

There's no prospect that the court will agree that no matter what a sitting president does, even if he orders SEAL Team Six to kill an opponent, that he cannot in the future be criminally prosecuted for it, unless he was first impeached and convicted by the Senate, Tribe said. That is a ridiculous position.

PennState Law fellow Stanley Brand, a former House of Representatives general counsel, agreed: I don't think that a majority of the court, even the conservatives, are going to buy that he is absolutely immune from any of these charges.

And Wofford said: The worst option for those who want to see Trump prosecuted would obviously be the court rules he has immunity for official acts, and that all acts taken here alleged in the indictment were official. But I just don't think there's a majority of justices willing to go to that extreme.

Tribe said theres consensus among legal experts about examples of a president duly exercising executive power: But none of that is involved in this case.

The question that the Supreme Court decided to take up asks: Whether and if so to what extent does a former President enjoy presidential immunity from criminal prosecution for conduct alleged to involve official acts during his tenure in office.

Tribe said the Supreme Courts decision to frame the immunity question broadly means the public can expect an array of potential, likely complicated options.

That could include: sending the case back for further hearings in the District Court, which could lead to a cascade of subsequent appeals, Tribe said.

The Supreme Court has previously held that presidents are immune from civil suits for their official acts.

Wofford said she expects some justices will want to tackle the question of what constitutes official acts.

What makes an act official? Wofford said. The court has an option here for many potential legal rules they can use to decide what makes an act official.

In the 1982 case Nixon V. Fitzgerald, the Supreme Court wrote: The President's absolute immunity extends to all acts within the outer perimeter of his duties of office.

Wofford said the Supreme Court has also held that basically, if you can plausibly think its an official act, its an official act.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Wofford pointed out that at oral arguments, Justice Amy Coney Barrett got Trumps counsel to acknowledge that certain conduct alleged in the indictment constituted private acts  and that a former president can be prosecuted for private acts.

Specifically, Barrett asked Trumps lawyer D. John Sauer if turning to a private attorney who was willing to spread knowingly false claims of election fraud to spearhead his challenges to the election results counts as a private act.

She also asked Sauer about Trump allegedly conspiring with a private attorney who caused the filing in court of a verification signed by petition that contained false allegations to support a challenge.

And Barrett asked about Trump allegedly directing an effort involving private actors to submit fraudulent slates of presidential electors to obstruct the certification proceeding."

Sauer said he disputes the allegations, but said those acts sound private.

He agreed he wouldnt raise a claim that those acts as characterized were official.

Sauer said that official acts would include meeting with the DOJ to deliberate who will be the AG, communicating with the public and communicating with Congress about matters of enormous concern.

Brand said its possible there could be consensus among conservatives on the courts to outline what counts as official acts, and then ask the lower courts to determine whether any of Trumps conduct did constitute official acts.

But relying on courts to make that determination would make a pre-November trial more unlikely.

Wofford said a pathway to Trump being prosecuted before the November election would require a tight timeline, and consensus among five justices.

"For those who want to see Trump prosecuted, the best option would be if a majority coalesced around this idea that President Trump can be prosecuted for private actions that he took," she said.

Wofford said that would "leave open the option either that Jack Smith can rewrite the indictment to include the things that Trump's lawyers admitted were private, or the court itself could list the acts that it thinks are private, and then the trial could on president's acts private actions begin immediately."

Tribe said the special counsel could then narrow the case to the fake elector scheme.

No one doubts that that's outside the president's official powers, that he supported the filing of false allegations of election fraud, that he signed verifications in court filings knowing that they were false," Tribe said.

Tribe said the special counsel could proceed with trial 88 days from whenever the case is handed down  a length of time that Tribe said Judge Chutkan said Trump should be entitled in order to prepare for trial.

If that happens, it's at least theoretically possible, though not likely, that there could be a trial of the former president for at least the core of what he is alleged to have done to prevent the peaceful transfer of power, Tribe said. That doesn't include all of the crimes that he may have committed leading up to and including January 6, but it includes enough so that before the election occurs, the American people could at least know whether a jury of ordinary citizens is ready to find, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Donald Trump interfered with the legal transfer of power and committed serious federal felonies in doing so.

Brand said he doubts that a pre-November trial could happen under that tight timeframe. He said overall, its important for the immunity decision to be decided before trial, and expected for the court process to be lengthy.

Having litigated the immunities involved in the legislative sphere, they always prolong the case, and they take months and months to resolve, Brand said. So in that sense, this case isn't unusual from any other immunity case."

Meanwhile, Tribe said its possible that Garland will say it's too close to the election for us to really authorize the special counsel to hold a trial.

If he did that, that would, I think, be a tragic error, Tribe said. It would essentially allow political considerations to trump the rule of law, and I'm worried that, given how slow he was to authorize special counsel in the first place, and given how judicious and cautious he has been, that Garland might, in fact, essentially, play along with the Supreme Court's unconscionable delay by allowing the case to languish until after the election.

And then if Trump wins, Tribe said: There's no question that he will get rid of the charges by selecting a compliant attorney general who will just do his bidding. I hope Attorney General Garland does not succumb to that temptation.
FILE - Fighters from Islamist group Ansar Dine stand guard in Timbuktu, Mali, Aug. 31, 2012, as they prepare to publicly lash a member of the Islamic Police found guilty of adultery. The International Criminal Court unsealed an arrest warrant Friday June 21, 2024, for a Malian accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the desert city of Timbuktu in 2012-13, where he is suspected of leading an al-Qaida-linked Islamic extremist group. (AP Photo/File)

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  The International Criminal Court unsealed an arrest warrant Friday for a Malian accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the desert city of Timbuktu in 2012-13, where he is suspected of leading an al-Qaida-linked Islamic extremist group.

The warrant for Iyad Ag Ghaly, also known as Abou Fadl, was originally issued under seal in 2017. It charges him with crimes including murder, rape, sexual slavery and persecution of women and girls on gender grounds.

It covers crimes in Timbuktu and an attack on a military base during which more than 40 Malian soldiers who were not taking part in hostilities were executed, including some who had surrendered and others who were in the base's hospital, according to the French-language warrant.

The court said in a statement that there are reasonable grounds to believe that he would be the undisputed leader of Ansar Dine, the extremist group which held power in northern Mali at the time.

It was not immediately clear why prosecutors asked for the warrant to be unsealed now.

In a written statement, the court's prosecution office welcomed the unsealing and said the warrant for Ghaly reflects the continued efforts of the Office to deliver justice for those in Mali who fell victim to crimes that were committed since 2012," when Malian authorities asked the court to intervene.

Today represents a further step forward in demonstrating that under international humanitarian law and the Rome Statute, the lives of all individuals have equal value and are deserving of equal protection, the prosecution office added. The Rome Statute is the court's founding treaty.

The prosecution office declined to comment on Ghaly's whereabouts.

The announcement came days before the court is scheduled to deliver its verdict in the trial of an alleged Islamic extremist who was tried on charges that he policed a brutal Islamic regime in Timbuktu after al-Qaida-linked rebels overran the historic Malian desert city in 2012.

Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud is accused of being a key member of Ansar Dine, an Islamic extremist group linked to al-Qaida that held p ower in northern Mali at the time. The judgment in his trial is scheduled for June 26.

A member of Ansar Dine, Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi, was convicted by the court in 2016 and sentenced to nine years imprisonment for attacking nine mausoleums and a mosque door in Timbuktu in 2012.

Mali, along with its neighbors Burkina Faso and Niger, has for over a decade battled an insurgency fought by armed groups, including some allied with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. Following military coups in all three nations in recent years, the ruling juntas have expelled French forces and turned to Russias mercenary units for security assistance instead.
DENVER (KDVR)  The Douglas County Sheriffs Office is asking the public for help identifying a man who they believe attempted to break into a Littleton showhome.

The sheriffs office said it happened at a showhome on Lake Breeze Drive in unincorporated Douglas County.

Surveillance video shows that on June 15th, shortly before 11 p.m., this man attempted to enter the showhome but was unsuccessful, the sheriffs office said in a post on X.

3 children found after going missing in Arvada for nearly 24 hours

In the video, the sheriffs office said the man walked to the east side of the house, outside of the cameras view.

The next morning an employee found that the electrical meter had been tampered with and the electricity was off, the sheriffs office said.

Now, the sheriffs office is asking for help identifying him.

He is described as a white male with glasses and short, slightly balding hair. He was wearing a dark green, short-sleeved shirt and khaki pants at the time of the incident.

The Douglas County Sheriffs Office is asking anyone with information about the incident to contact Cpl. Coleman at acoleman@dcsheriff.net.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
The Iowa Judicial Branch's mission is to provide independent and accessible forums for fair and prompt resolution of disputes, administering justice equally to all persons. (Gavel photo by Getty Images; seal courtesy the State of Iowa)

The Iowa Supreme Court on Friday refused to set aside a womans guilty plea in a dependent adult abuse case despite finding several defects in the plea-agreement process and the sentencing.

The case stems from Shannon Hightowers 2020 arrest in Black Hawk County on felony charges of dependent adult abuse and theft in the second degree. Court records indicate Hightower, now 39, had been granted power of attorney over a dependent adult female who was committed to a Cedar Valley facility, and that she then misused the womans money, opened new credit cards in the womans name, and then misused those cards.

The victim in the case lost $16,000 through Hightowers actions, police alleged.

In January 2022, Hightower signed a written guilty plea to the original charges. The agreement with prosecutors said the state would either follow a presentence investigation or recommend a suspended sentence of five years. The written agreement also included a sentence, initialed by Hightower, that said if the court does not accept the plea agreement, I may withdraw my plea of guilty.

At Hightowers sentencing 11 months later, District Court Judge Linda Fangman rejected the plea and sentenced Hightower to five years in prison, citing Hightowers failure to pay restitution prior to the sentencing.

During the sentencing hearing, Hightower immediately expressed her shock at the sentence, telling the judge, Can I just have one day, please? I havent even told my kids goodbye. I had no idea this was happening, your honor. I had no idea. I had none  I was told that there was an agreement and that I was supposed to be getting five years suspended  five years probation.

After Hightower filed notice of appeal, Judge Fangman set an appeal bond in the amount of $17,000 cash only and ordered that the clerk notify whoever posted the bond that none of the money would be returned and would instead be used to satisfy victim restitution in the case.

In its ruling Friday, the Iowa Supreme Court noted that before a guilty plea can be accepted, the defendant must be advised of the maximum punishment  including financial penalties  for the offense to which theyre pleading guilty. The court noted that Hightowers plea was inaccurate in that it stated the maximum fine was zero rather than $15,000.

The court, however found that despite that and several other defects in the plea deal, Hightower had failed to prove she would not have pleaded guilty had she fully understood the situation.

As for Hightowers sentence, the justices found that Fangman improperly based her sentence on Hightowers failure to pay restitution. Prior to sentencing, Hightower hadnt been ordered to pay restitution, the justice noted. The courts reliance on Hightowers failure to satisfy a nonexistent order was erroneous. Accordingly, resentencing is required.

The justices also concluded the district court judge erred by ordering the forfeiture of the $17,000 appeal bond to satisfy victim restitution  an act the state later conceded was contrary to state law.

The court affirmed Hightowers conviction, vacated her sentence, and reversed the district courts decision to impose forfeiture requirements in the case. The justices remanded the case back to district court for resentencing before a different district court judge.

Justice Matthew McDermott filed a dissenting opinion, joined by Chief Justice Susan Christensen. McDermott wrote that Hightower most likely would not have pleaded guilty had the defects in her plea deal not existed and so should be allowed to withdraw her plea.

The written plea agreement that the district court accepted in this case was not only confusing but materially inaccurate, and resulted in the court laying down a sentence far harsher than the one that Hightower reasonably understood the court could impose, McDermott stated. When it comes to defects, this plea contains multitudes. And these defects go to the very heart of the plea agreement.

McDermott went on to argue that the Supreme Courts approval of Hightowers defective plea agreement, after all weve said in our rules and cases about the enduring requirement of voluntary and intelligent guilty pleas, makes our lofty pronouncements ring hollow.

The post Iowa justices uphold guilty plea in abuse case but set aside sentence appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
(Main photo by simpson33 via iStock / Getty Images Plus; seal courtesy State of Iowa)

The state of Iowa has suspended for three years the law license of an attorney recently convicted of a sex offense and stalking an 11-year-old child.

Adam Kehrwald, an Iowa-licensed attorney who also practices in South Dakota, was first sanctioned by the state of Iowa in March 2020 when he was given a private admonishment in the wake of a drunken-driving incident.

In April 2022, his license was suspended for 90 days in connection with alcohol-related crimes that included assault and harassment.

His license was reinstated in December 2022. Two months later, in February 2023, he entered a gas station in Pierre, South Dakota, where he worked part time.

I was intoxicated, Kehrwald later told the Iowa Supreme Court in a sworn affidavit. He said he approached a female employee of the gas station and made unwanted sexual advances toward her.

I cornered her and began rubbing her hip by placing my hand under her shirt, Kehrwald told the court. After she moved away from me, I followed her and cornered her again. I placed a hand under (her) shirt and groped her.

Court records indicate Kehrwald was charged with one count of sexual contact without consent, a misdemeanor. He was released on bond after promising to refrain from consuming alcohol and to enroll in a 24-hour sobriety program. In the weeks that followed, he reportedly failed to submit to testing on two occasions and failed one test.

He later pleaded guilty to attempted sexual contact without consent, served one day in jail and was fined $500.

In July 2023, Kehrwald was at a South Dakota gas station where, he later told the court, he was in a state of severe intoxication. He said that while he was at the station, three minors, including an 11-year-old girl, entered the business and he followed them. He stated that he approached the girl and, for reasons he didnt explain, grabbed her by the wrist, and said, You want the long way or the short way?

After the girl purchased candy and left the store, Kehrwald said he followed her outside as she called her father to come pick her up. Once the girls father arrived, Kehrwald said, I engaged in an altercation with him.

The police were summoned and, according to Kehrwalds affidavit, he submitted to testing that indicated his blood alcohol level was 0.255  more than three times the legal limit for driving.

He was criminally charged with stalking a child under the age of 12, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to 180 days in jail, according to the affidavit.

Although Kehrwalds Iowa law license has been suspended since last year due to his alcohol-related disability, his conduct in South Dakota and his criminal convictions recently prompted the Iowa Supreme Court to suspend his license for a minimum of three years.

Other Iowa-licensed attorneys who recently been sanctioned or charged by the Attorney Disciplinary Board with misconduct include:

 Anna Ryon of Des Moines, who was issued a public reprimand. The reprimand grew out of Ryons representation of multiple parties in Summit Carbon Solutions case before the Iowa Utilities Board.

According to the Attorney Disciplinary Board, between October 2021 and May 2023, Ryon worked at the states Office of Consumer Advocate where she participated, personally and in a substantial manner, in the controversy surrounding Summits proposed construction of a pipeline in Iowa.

In June 2023, Ryon began representing former U.S. Rep. Steve King of western Iowa, who was attempting to intervene in the case. In accordance with the Iowa Rules of Professional Conduct, Ryon sought permission from the state to represent King.

According to the Iowa Attorney Disciplinary Board, Ryons former supervisor at the Office of Consumer Advocate denied Ryons request for permission, but Ryon chose to continue representing King, filing papers in the case on his behalf, challenging the objections raised by the Office of Consumer Advocate, and taking on additional clients in the pipeline case.

The Iowa Utilities Board eventually found that Ryon lacked permission from her former employer to represent King and others, and that she was privy to confidential information gleaned through her employment at the Office of Consumer Advocate.

The utilities board ultimately concluded that while there was likely sufficient cause to disqualify Ryon from the case, it did not do so for fear of causing unfair prejudice to her clients.

 Rebecca Sharpe of Scott County, who represented the $2 million estate of Evelyn Haack in a probate case. When Haack died in February 2018, she left $100,000 to the St. Paul Lutheran Church Endowment Fund.

According to the Attorney Disciplinary Board, Sharpe never notified the church of its interest in Haacks estate or delivered the money. The church did not learn of Haacks intended bequest until January 2021  almost three years after Haacks death  when a former friend of Haacks called the church to inquire about its receipt of the money.

Sharpe also is accused of failing to address the estates tax liability in a timely fashion, which led to a state-imposed interest and penalties on the estate totaling $224,984.

In addition, the board alleges that after the court granted Sharpe attorneys fees in the case, she took $155,000 from the estate and went on vacation in Florida.

Sharpe was only entitled to $89,709.29 of that, the board alleges. Sharpe converted $65,290.71 for her personal use without a colorable future claim to those funds.

Sharpe is also charged with ethical violations related to her handling of an adoption and her client trust account. She has not yet filed a public response to the allegations. A hearing on the matter is expected to be held before the Grievance Commission of the Supreme Court of Iowa.

The post Iowa-licensed attorney sanctioned for sex offense, stalking a child appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Iowa schools must tell parents if a child changes their pronouns

The Iowa Board of Education unanimously approved rules for a sweeping education law that requires educators to tell parents and caregivers if their child asks to use different pronouns.

The rules, first introduced last fall, are meant to help Iowa school officials navigate parts of a state law pertaining to letting families know about a student's gender identity. The law also requires schools to have an online library catalog and guidelines for determining age-appropriate instruction.

In particular, the year-old law requires school administrators to alert a student's family about any pronoun changes that vary from the child's sex at birth or a new name meant to affirm the child's gender identity. Educators are also barred from withholding information or giving misinformation to parents and caregivers about a student's gender identity.

Opponents of the new Iowa policy and other state and local laws that prohibit school staff from alerting parents if children ask to use different names or pronouns have said the mandate will forcibly out students. The move comes as schools across the nation seek to remove or ban protections for transgender and nonbinary students to comply with state laws.

The Lynchburg City Public Schools board in Virginia is among the districts to adopt Governor Glenn Youngkins policy barring transgender and nonbinary students from changing their names or pronouns at school without written permission from their parents.

Related: Iowa schools are seeking parent permission to use nicknames  regardless of gender identity

The climate in Iowa on book bans and gender identity

Passage of the rules at Thursday's Board of Education meeting was complicated by two ongoing federal lawsuits against Senate File 496, the law that prompted the new requirement of informing parents when children want to change their pronouns.

The lawsuits were filed days apart in November 2023 by the ACLU of Iowa and Lambda Legal on behalf of several Iowa families; and the Iowa State Education Association, Penguin Random House, authors whose books were banned as a result of the law, several educators and one parent.

Parts of the law pertaining to the book ban are on hold because of a federal injunction. Because of that, the long-awaited rules do not cover portions of the law related to the ban on most books that feature sex acts, and the prohibition of instruction related to sexual orientation and gender identity through the sixth grade.

Mari Butler Abry, the district librarian for Perry Community Schools, holds the three books removed by the school before the Senate File 496 injunction Wednesday, May 22, 2024, outside Perry High School.

Iowa Department of Education's general counsel Thomas Mayes told those gathered he would not discuss any parts of Senate File 496 that are under the injunction.

"It's not the time or place to discuss litigation strategy in an open meeting," Mayes said.

Here is everything to know about the Iowa Board of Education's amendments to its Chapter 12 rules.

Related: Iowa book ban's toll: 3,400 pulled books, including '1984' and 'To Kill a Mockingbird'

Related: Iowa's proposed rules on banning books in schools are out. Here's what you should know:

Are there penalties for violating the state mandate?

The rules lay out punishments for school staff who violate the law by withholding information or providing incorrect information related to a student's gender identity.

A first offense would likely be a warning. A person who committed additional violations would face an Iowa Board of Educational Examiners hearing and additional discipline.

'Don't Say Gay' and similar bills: LGBTQ youths feel they're 'getting crushed'

Documents state the rules are effective as of Aug. 28, 2024.

Contributed: Kayla Jimenez, USA TODAY

Samantha Hernandez covers education for the Register. Reach her at (515) 851-0982 or svhernandez@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @svhernandez or Facebook at facebook.com/svhernandezreporter.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa requires schools tell parents if a child changes their pronouns
Nazrin Abdul

On June 24th, London will host the second "IEA-COP29" high-level dialogue, as announced by International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol on his X account, Azernews reports.

"I am pleased to co-chair our 2nd IEA-COP29 high-level dialogue with COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev in London on June 24th," Birol said.

He emphasised that the event will bring together leaders in energy, climate, and finance to discuss increasing investments in clean energy, particularly in developing economies.

The first COP29-IEA high-level dialogue took place on May 15th in Paris.

COP29, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, will convene in Azerbaijan this November. The decision was made during the COP28 plenary session in Dubai on December 11th last year. Baku is expected to host approximately 70,000-80,000 foreign guests, making it a global focal point for two weeks.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. Kazakhstan's crude production in May 2024 has been estimated at 1.511 million b/d, Trend reports.

According to OPEC's latest report, the country's oil output in the reporting period decreased by 62,000 b/d month-on-month (1.73 million b/d in March 2024).

This volume also decreased by 101,000 b/d, compared to February 2024 output (1.612 million b/d).

In 1Q2024, Kazakhstan's daily crude output totaled 1.613 barrels, an increase of 7,000 b/d from 1.606 million b/d in 4Q2023, and by 84,000 b/d from 1.529 b/d in 3Q2023, the bloc's data says.

Meanwhile, total non-OPEC DoC crude oil production averaged 14.29 mb/d in May 2024, a decrease of 152,000 b/d month-on-month. Crude oil output increased primarily in Mexico, while production in Russia and Kazakhstan declined.

Meanwhile, Kazakhstan produced 90 million tons of oil in 2023, which is 6.9 percent higher than in 2022. Oil exports also increased and amounted to 70.5 million tons, which is 9.6 percent more than the previous year.

Moreover, Kazakhstan plans to increase oil production in 2024 to 90.3 million tons.
Israel will soon impose new travel restrictions on Ukrainians, leading Ukraine to impose similar requirements in response, Ukraine's Embassy in Israel announced on June 20.

From July 1, Ukrainians who want to enter visa-free to Israel need to first apply for an electronic travel authorization (ETA) permit.

"The latest requirement effectively ends the visa-free regime" that has been in place since 2010, the Ukrainian Embassy in Israel said.

"In response, Ukraine will impose similar pre-approval requirements for Israeli citizens."

The new rules will impact the thousands of Hasidic Jews who travel to Uman in Cherkasy Oblast, a major pilgrimage site, to mark Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

"Ukraine remains open to dialogue with Israel to discuss and negotiate these travel policy changes for the benefit of both nations," the embassy said, but noted that "recent Israeli actions, such as restricting Ukrainian refugees and denying entry to many Ukrainians," has strained relations.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said in September 2023 that he had raised the issue of Ukrainians being refused entry to Israel during a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Zelensky highlighted the "number of refusals for Ukrainian citizens to enter Israel under the visa-free regime."

Reports emerged over the summer that around 10% of Ukrainians are denied entry to Israel, despite the visa-free regime.

Ukraines Ambassador to Israel Yevhen Korniichuk said on Aug. 21 that Kyiv was considering suspending the visa-free travel regime in response.

There is a large Ukrainian community in Israel, estimated by the Foreign Ministry as being around 500,000, most of whom left Ukraine after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The vast majority of them are Jews from Ukraine.

In addition, some 15,000-40,000 Ukrainian refugees have entered Israel since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. It is unclear what their status is, or how many have stayed in the country.

Read also: Zelensky: Ukraine recognizes both Israel and Palestine, seeks to end suffering of civilians

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
By Nidal al-Mughrabi

CAIRO (Reuters) - Israeli forces pounded Rafah in southern Gaza on Friday, as well as other areas across the enclave, killing at least 45 Palestinians as troops engaged in close-quarter combat with Hamas militants, residents and Israel's military said.

Residents said the Israelis appeared to be trying to complete their capture of Rafah, which borders Egypt and has been the focus of an Israeli assault since early May.

Tanks were forcing their way into the western and northern parts of the city, having already captured the east, south and centre.

Firing from planes, tanks and ships off the coast caused more people to flee the city, which a few months ago was sheltering more than a million displaced people, most of whom have now relocated again.

The Gaza health ministry said at least 25 Palestinians had been killed in Mawasi in western Rafah and 50 wounded. Palestinians said a tank shell hit a tent housing displaced families.

"Two tanks climbed a hilltop overseeing Mawasi and they sent balls of fire that hit the tents of the poor people displaced in the area," one resident told Reuters over a chat app.

The Israeli military said that the incident was under review. "An initial inquiry conducted suggests that there is no indication that a strike was carried out by the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) in the Humanitarian Area in Al-Mawasi," it said.

Earlier, the military said its forces were conducting "precise, intelligence-based" actions in the Rafah area, where troops were involved in close-quarter combat and had located tunnels used by militants.

Over the past week, the military said, troops targeted a university that served as a Hamas headquarters from which militants fired on soldiers and found weapons and barrel bombs. It did not name the university.

In the central Gaza area of Nusseirat, the military said soldiers killed dozens of militants over the past week and found a weapons depot containing mortar bombs and military equipment belonging to Hamas.

Some residents said the Israeli onslaught on Rafah had intensified in the previous two days and that the sounds of explosions and gunfire had hardly stopped.

"Last night was one of the worst nights in western Rafah: Drones, planes, tanks, and naval boats bombarded the area. We feel the occupation is trying to complete the control of the city," said Hatem, 45, reached by text message.

"They are taking heavy strikes from the resistance fighters, which may be slowing them down."

STRIKES ON KHAN YOUNIS AND GAZA CITY

More than eight months into the war in Gaza, Israel's advance is now focused on the two last areas its forces had yet to seize: Rafah on Gaza's southern edge and the area surrounding Deir al-Balah in the centre.

"The entire city of Rafah is an area of Israeli military operations," Ahmed Al-Sofi, the mayor of Rafah, said in a statement carried by Hamas media on Friday.

"The city is living through a humanitarian catastrophe and people are dying inside their tents because of Israeli bombardment."

Sofi said no medical facility was functioning in the city, and that remaining residents and displaced families lacked the minimum daily needs of food and water.

Palestinian and U.N. figures show that fewer than 100,000 people may have remained in the far western side of the city, which had been sheltering more than half of Gaza's 2.3 million people before the Israeli assault began in early May.

In nearby Khan Younis, an Israeli air strike on Friday killed three people, including a father and son, medics said.

In parallel, Israeli forces continued a new push back into some Gaza City suburbs in the north of the enclave, where they fought with Hamas-led militants.

On Friday, an Israeli air strike on a Gaza City municipal facility killed five people, including four municipal workers, the territory's Civil Emergency Service said. Rescue teams were searching the rubble for more missing victims.

In the nearby Beach camp, an Israeli air strike on a house killed at least seven people, medics said.

Palestinian health officials said at least 45 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza on Friday.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said its Gaza office was damaged when heavy-calibre projectiles landed nearby, in an area where hundreds of displaced Palestinians are living in tents.

"This grave security incident is one of several in recent days; previously stray bullets have reached ICRC structures," the organization said in a post on X on Friday. "We decry these incidents that put the lives of humanitarians and civilians at risk."

Israel's ground and air campaign was triggered when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing around 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

The offensive has left Gaza in ruins, killed more than 37,400 people, according to Palestinian health authorities, and left nearly the entire population homeless and destitute.

The United Nations said on Friday it is Israel's responsibility - as the occupying power in the Gaza Strip - to restore public order and safety in the Palestinian territory so humanitarian aid can be delivered, amid warnings of imminent famine.

(Reporting and writing by Nidal al-Mughrabi; Editing by Peter Graff, Sharon Singleton, Kevin Liffey, Andrew Heavens and Cynthia Osterman)
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears increasingly at odds with both the U.S. government and his own military over his handling of the war in Gaza, and the divisions come amid mounting concern that another front in the war, with serious implications for U.S. forces in the region, could open up.

A fracture appeared in public view this week between Netanyahu and Israel's military as the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip approaches the 10-month mark.

The Ministry of Health in the Hamas-run territory says more than 37,400 Palestinians have been killed since the war began. The crisis was sparked by Hamas' Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel, which saw the militants kill about 1,200 people and kidnap more than 200 others  about half of whom remain captive in Gaza.

Freed Israeli hostage says she was held in Gaza hospital, civilian homes

The Israel Defense Forces says 664 of its troops have been killed during the operations against Hamas, and with Netanyahu vowing to continue the war until his key objectives are met, senior Israeli military figures have voiced frustration  echoing remarks from the White House  that there appears to be no plan for what comes after the fighting.

In the days right after the war started, Netanyahu was unequivocal about his aims, vowing in televised remarks to destroy Hamas and warning that every member of the group "is a dead man."

More recently, his government has spoken specifically about destroying the group's military and governing capacities, but a U.S. official told CBS News on Thursday that after nine months of bloodshed, Israel's forces "haven't come close to achieving their objective of destroying Hamas."

The official told CBS News national security correspondent David Martin that hundreds of Hamas fighters are still operating in Gaza, taking advantage of miles of still-intact tunnels under the Palestinian territory. Hamas' top leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, also remains at large. The official added that, as Israel has no "day after" plan for Gaza, the current strategy appears to be "a recipe for continuous war."

This week, the same concerns from Netanyahu's own military were thrust into the public domain.

"Whoever thinks we can eliminate Hamas is wrong," IDF chief spokesman Daniel Hagari said Thursday on Israeli TV, adding what appeared to be a pointed jab at Netanyahu, saying that leading Israelis to believe that was an achievable mission, was "simply throwing sand in the eyes of the public."

He warned of consequences if a plan isn't crafted to administer the densely packed Palestinian territory in the wake of Hamas, which has ruled over the enclave for almost 20 years.

"If we don't bring something else to Gaza," Hagari said, "we will get Hamas."

Netanyahu's war cabinet, a coalition of rival politicians formed almost immediately by the prime minister after the Oct. 7 attack to show a unified response, recently fell apart over the same issue.

CBS News asked political analyst Tal Schneider, a veteran reporter for the Times of Israel, what would happen if Hamas is defeated militarily, but there's nothing there to fill the power vacuum in Gaza.

"Hamas stays in power," she replied. "As long as you don't have civilian, other civilian infrastructure, this is just Hamas. Even if they don't carry guns."

She said Hamas already appeared to be making the transition, as its last few combat battalions fight IDF forces in and around the group's last bastion, the southern city of Rafah.

"Once they knew the military is going to go into Rafah, they dropped the guns and ran away with their, just clothes," she said, adding that laying down their arms for now, "doesn't mean that they are, you know, stopped being Hamas people."

Protesters hold a sign depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with words reading,

Under increasing pressure from his own military, and with regular protests being staged against his policies in Israel, Netanyahu publicly lashed out this week at his biggest international benefactor, the United States. In a video statement posted online, the Israeli leader called it "inconceivable that, in the past few months, the [Biden] administration has been withholding weapons and ammunitions to Israel."

While the U.S. has paused one shipment of a specific type of bomb, over concern that the American weapons could be used in Rafah, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre replied bluntly on Tuesday to Netanyahu's remarks, saying: "We genuinely do not know what he's talking about. We just don't."

"There was one particular shipment of munitions that was paused, and you've heard us talk about that many times. We continue to have constructive conversations with the Israelis for the release of that particular shipment and don't have any updates on that," she said. "There are no other pauses or holds in place."

Netanyahu delivered his video message just as clashes intensify along another high-stakes front line: Israel's northern border with Lebanon, where it has exchanged fire for months with Hamas' ally Hezbollah. Those missile and rocket attacks have intensified in recent weeks, along with threats, from both sides.

The leader of Hezbollah, a powerful group that, like Hamas, is backed by Iran and has long been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and Israel, warned this week that it was ready to defend itself in a war with Israel.

Israel's leaders have delivered a consistent counter message. The Foreign Ministry issued a new warning in a social media post Friday, saying Hezbollah had fired "thousands of rockets, missiles, and explosive drones" at the Jewish state since Oct. 7, and adding: "Make no mistake: We will not allow Hezbollah to terrorize the people of Israel."

The White House has voiced concern over the prospect of Israel launching a full-scale military operation to go after Hezbollah in Lebanon. President Biden sent an envoy to Israel this week, partly to stress those concerns.

Hezbollah and affiliated Iran-backed groups across the region have significantly more firepower than Hamas, and some of them have already lethally targeted U.S. troops based in the Middle East with rockets and drones since the war in Gaza broke out.

Clarence Thomas dissents in ruling to keep guns from domestic abusers

Supreme Court upholds ban on gun ownership for domestic abusers

Record-breaking heat to stick around through weekend for Northeast
ORLANDO, Florida  Lawmakers and local reproductive rights advocates gathered outside Orlando City Hall on Thursday alongside a giant inflatable IUD to advocate for legislation to protect contraceptive access.

They criticized what they viewed as threats to that access and called for voters and lawmakers to protect and expand reproductive rights in Florida. They urged residents to vote yes in Novembers election on Amendment 4. The constitutional amendment would protect abortion in Florida up to about 24 weeks of gestation, if 60% of voters say yes. Abortion is currently banned in Florida after six weeks with limited exceptions.

Were here for awareness, education, and advocacy on the right to contraception, said Laura Packard from Americans for Contraception, which hosted the event, with its model of an IUD, a birth control device that is implanted in the uterus, serving as the backdrop.

The groups IUD, standing more than 20 feet tall, has accompanied group members on all their stops, from Washington, D.C. to Las Vegas to Miami. It even appeared on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."

The press conference highlighted recent actions that speakers said jeopardize contraceptive rights, including U.S. Senate Republicans votes in the last two weeks to block bills that would guarantee nationwide access to in vitro fertilization and birth control.

Earlier this year, Democrats in the Florida Legislature proposed a Right to Contraception Act, similar to the contested federal legislation, but it failed to gain traction during the 2024 legislative session..

This past week, members of Congress had the opportunity to defend access to contraception, to put into place federal protections, and they denied us those protections, said State Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando. I know a lot of folks sometimes feel like things cant get worse, but I want to remind you that they start with abortion bans, but they dont end with abortion bans.

Some Republicans have argued those bills were unnecessary.

The Democrats are using their power to push an alarmist and false narrative that there is a problem accessing contraception, said Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, The Associated Press reported.

A recent Alabama Supreme Court ruling found that frozen embryos created during IVF  a method for people struggling to get pregnant where eggs are fertilized in a lab  have the same rights as children, conferring legal personhood.

Many of the states IVF providers immediately paused services. Alabamas governor has since signed a bill into law aimed at providing legal protection for the procedure, allowing most IVF services to resume but not undoing the courts ruling.

A similar bill during Floridas 2024 legislative session, SB 476, proposed allowing Floridians to collect civil damages for the wrongful death of an unborn child. Democrats argued that opened the door to fetal personhood as well. The bill was pulled by its sponsor, State Sen. Erin Grall (R-Vero Beach).

Speakers at the event Thursday called out U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, who voted against last weeks bill to protect IVF and then released a campaign ad in support of the procedure, explaining that his youngest daughter is currently using it.

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, read a statement on a June 14 social media post.

Weve got to look these politicians in the face that are being complete hypocrites and tell them we believe in health care for everybody, said U.S. Congressman Maxwell Frost on Thursday.

Sarah Henry, a candidate trying to flip Floridas House District 38 in Seminole County from red to blue, also spoke passionately on the issue. The Democrat recalled her experience volunteering as an abortion clinic escort in high school.

Patients seeking the health care they were entitled to both legally and morally were under relentless attack, Henry said.

_______
Special counsel Jack Smiths case against Donald Trump for allegedly stealing national security secrets is on trial Friday  just not in the way Smith intended.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon has punted the case indefinitely and seems many months away from preparing it to go before a jury (assuming the case even makes it that far). Meanwhile, she has scheduled a multi-day hearing in her Fort Pierce, Florida, courtroom focused on whether Smith, the prosecutor leading the case, was unconstitutionally appointed or is otherwise acting without legal authority.

The claim is a far-fetched bid by Trump to scuttle the case altogether. Numerous courts have rejected nearly identical constitutional challenges to other special counsels.

And in a case that has moved like molasses for a year, Cannons decision to devote substantial time and resources to the argument is just the latest, and perhaps most blatant, example of her unusual approach. Her management of the case has frustrated the special counsels team and prompted critics to accuse her of being in the tank for Trump, who appointed her to the bench during his final year in office.



The hearing on Trumps challenge to Smiths authority is set to begin Friday and to continue Monday morning. Later on Monday, Cannon plans to hear arguments on Smiths request for an order barring Trump from lying about the FBI raid of Mar-a-Lago that led to the criminal charges in the case. And then, on Tuesday, Cannon has scheduled an additional hearing on another Trump motion that could derail the case.

Any signal from Cannon about how she views the appointment issue will be carefully dissected, because it could threaten Smiths entire operation. If Cannon took the extraordinary measure of declaring Smiths position unconstitutional, she would not just upend the classified documents case but would also throw into doubt Smiths other case, which accuses Trump of a conspiracy to subvert the 2020 election.

Trumps choice to challenge Smiths constitutionality before Cannon is notable because his lawyers didnt even raise that argument in the election case, which has been assigned to a less receptive judge in Washington, D.C., and is currently on hold while the Supreme Court weighs Trumps bid for immunity.

The string of hearings in Florida will be a trial of sorts for Cannon herself. She has done little to shed light on her intentions for the case  though she rarely misses an opportunity to scold prosecutors, even when issuing minor rulings in their favor. Now, she will publicly confront Trumps legal argument that Smiths appointment is unconstitutional because he has too much independence from Justice Department leadership.

That argument, of course, is in some tension with Trumps public claims that Smith is simply following orders from President Joe Biden. And other defendants who have been charged by special counsels  including Hunter Biden, the presidents son  have mounted similar constitutional challenges with little success.



But early signs are that Cannon is taking the challenge seriously. She has granted time during Fridays hearing for three outside lawyers to argue as friends of the court. Two of them are on Trumps side; one will support the special counsel. The choice to allow outside lawyers to intervene in this way and present arguments on a purely legal issue is highly unusual at the district-court level.

And the hearing comes as scrutiny of Cannon is at its apex. On Thursday, the New York Times reported that, when Cannon was initially assigned to preside over the case last year, two other judges urged her to step aside, but she refused.

Cannons extensive consideration of even Trumps most dubious efforts to unravel the case has aided the former presidents strategy to delay his prosecutions until after the 2020 election. If Trump is elected in November, he could order the Justice Department to shut down both of Smiths cases.

The Florida case, previously scheduled to go to trial on May 20, no longer has a trial date. For months, Cannon has slowly weighed Trumps numerous efforts to toss out the case. She has also mulled how to handle the large volume of classified evidence that prosecutors may introduce and other sensitive materials the defense could seek to counter with.



The hearing that begins Friday is focused on Trumps claim that Attorney General Merrick Garland had no power to appoint Smith in the first place. Trump contends that federal law doesnt authorize the establishment of special counsels and that Garland is using an improper Justice Department funding source to pay for Smiths work.

Smiths team, on the other hand, says the establishment of special counsels is a routine internal Justice Department process well within the attorney generals discretion and control. And the prosecutors note that federal courts have largely backed their position for the past 25 years, including to preserve the probe that special counsel Robert Mueller conducted of alleged Russian influence on Trumps 2016 presidential campaign.

Special counsels  sometimes referred to as special prosecutors  are typically appointed in politically sensitive cases in which the Justice Department may have a conflict of interest. Though earlier conceptions of the position enjoyed near total independence, the regulations in effect for the past two decades require special counsels to report to the attorney general, though they still have significantly more independence than regular federal prosecutors.



The validity of special counsel appointments has been relatively uncontroversial in recent years, with courts routinely rejecting challenges to their authority. Trump and Smith filed briefs on the matter over the winter laying out their positions.

Trump contends that Smith is so independent of the Justice Department leadership that he counts as a superior officer under the Constitutions appointments clause. Such officers need to be nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate  a procedure not used for Smith or other special counsels. Trump also alleges that the pool of funds the Justice Department has tapped to pay Smith, his staff and expenses was available only for independent counsels appointed under a federal statute that expired in 1999 and cant be used for special counsels appointed under DOJ regulations since then.

Despite having detailed written briefs from both sides, Cannon nevertheless has ordered a day and a half of oral arguments on the issue, including 30 minutes apiece for the three outside lawyers who will weigh in on Friday: Josh Blackman, a professor at South Texas College of Law Houston; Gene Schaerr, an appellate lawyer at a Washington, D.C., boutique law firm; and Matthew Seligman, a scholar at the Stanford Constitutional Law Center. Blackman and Schaerr will argue that Smiths appointment violates the Constitution; Seligman will defend its validity.

On Monday afternoon, Cannon will pivot to a different issue: Smiths recent request for a gag order curtailing Trumps ability to continue falsely accusing the FBI of an assassination plot when it raided Mar-a-Lago in August 2022. And Tuesdays hearing will focus on Trumps claims that the FBIs search warrant was defective and that prosecutors improperly breached his attorney-client privilege.
Japan has no right to meddle in China-Philippines maritime issues, says Chinese embassy in Japan

BEIJING (Reuters) - Japan is not a party to the South China Sea issue and has no right to intervene in China-Philippines maritime matters, a spokesperson for China's embassy in Japan said on Friday.

Japan's foreign ministry said this week that it was seriously concerned over repeated actions that obstruct freedom of navigation and increase regional tensions, including recent dangerous actions that damaged a Filipino vessel and injured Filipinos onboard.

The Philippine foreign ministry has denounced as "illegal and aggressive" China's actions during a routine resupply mission on Monday, which the Philippine military said severely injured a navy sailor and damaged Manila's vessels.

China denied the allegations as the two countries square off over the Second Thomas Shoal, a disputed atoll inside the Philippines' exclusive economic zone in the vast South China Sea.

"We express our strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to the fact that the Japanese side has once again made erroneous remarks on the South China Sea issue that manipulate right and wrong, and make unreasonable accusations against China," the spokesperson said.

China claims almost all of the South China Sea as its own, infuriating neighbouring countries. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 found China's sweeping claims have no legal basis, a ruling Beijing rejects.

Japan said it has consistently advocated upholding the rule of law at sea, and will continue to work with the international community, such as ASEAN member states and the United States.

"Japan's cooperation with the United States and the Philippines must not undermine China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests," China's spokesperson said in a statement.

The U.S, Canada, Japan, and the Philippines recently wrapped up a two-day joint maritime exercise in Manila's exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea.

(Reporting by Bernard Orr, Farah Master in Hong Kong and Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Gerry Doyle)
Japan sanctions China-based companies, other entities over support for Russia's aggression

Japan on June 21 for the first time announced sanctions against China-based companies over their support for Russian aggression.

The new measures also targeted companies based in India, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, as well as Russian entities and officials.

The targeted companies include China-based Yilufa Electronics Limited or Hong Kong-based Asia Pacific Links, which has provided microchips for Russian drones, Reuters noted.

China is Russia's leading source of dual-use goods needed to fuel the Russian defense industry.

The new list of Japanese sanctions also includes 10 Russian government electorate commission officials and executives of companies of the Russian military-industrial complex.

It further blacklists 27 Russia-based organizations for their involvement in the occupation of Ukrainian territories, among others.

The restrictive measures include freezing of assets and restrictions on transactions.

While not providing lethal military aid to Kyiv, Tokyo has been supportive of Ukraine's struggle against the full-scale Russian invasion.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said in April that the East Asian country has already provided Ukraine with more than $12 billion in non-military assistance since the start of the full-scale war.

Japan has also previously joined the international sanctions regime against Russia and other steps taken against Moscow within the Group of Seven (G7).

Read also: G7 loan from Russian assets not substitute for full confiscation, experts say

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. The second COP29-IEA High-Level Dialogue will be hosted on June 24 in London, Trend reports.

"Looking forward to co-chairing with COP29 President-Designate Mukhtar Babayev our 2nd COP29-IEA High-Level Dialogue on June 24 in London," Fatih Birol, IEA Director General, wrote on his page on X.

He noted that, during the event, energy, climate, and finance leaders will focus on how to boost clean energy investment, especially in emerging economies.

Meanwhile, the first COP29-IEA High-Level Dialogue was held in Paris on May 15.

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

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The acronym COP (Conference of Parties) stands for Conference of Parties, which is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change.
LONDON (Reuters) -Emperor Naruhito and his wife began a week long trip to Britain on Saturday, during which they will visit Oxford University where they both studied and attend a banquet with King Charles, but no formal meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is scheduled.

Naruhito and his wife, Empress Masako, had been due to make the visit in 2020 when Queen Elizabeth was still alive but it was postponed because of the COVID pandemic.

Their first overseas trip together after Naruhito's enthronement was to Elizabeth's funeral in 2022. Ahead of this state visit the 64-year-old emperor spoke of the kindness the British royals showed him when he arrived in Britain to study in the early 1980s.

He recalled how the late queen had invited him to Buckingham Palace for tea, which she made herself.

"I have fond memories of the heartwarming hospitality I received from her majesty the queen and the royal family, making me feel like I was part of their family," he told a news conference in Tokyo.

Naruhito was greeted by officials on his arrival at London's Stansted airport on Saturday afternoon.

The emperor's trip is the third state visit of Charles' reign, and the first since it was revealed earlier this year that the British monarch had been diagnosed with cancer.

Ahead of the visit, Naruhito said he was grateful the king would host them despite his illness, and he also sent good wishes to Charles' daughter-in-law Kate, wife of heir Prince William, who is having preventative chemotherapy treatment for cancer.

"I understand that they are both going through a hard time, but I pray that their treatment will go smoothly and that they will have a speedy recovery," he said.

The official reason for the trip is to celebrate the long ties between the two royal families, and to demonstrate the deep relationship between the two countries.

The Japanese royals are also using it as a chance to return to Oxford where they both studied at separate times, while Naruhito will visit the River Thames flood barrier which he researched while at university.

The visit clashes with campaigning for the British election on July 4, and a Japanese foreign ministry official said there were no plans for a meeting with the prime minister.

The official state elements of the trip begin on Tuesday when Prince William will formally greet the emperor, before a grand carriage procession along The Mall to Buckingham Palace where there will be a state banquet.

During the trip Naruhito will also privately visit St Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle to lay a wreath at the tomb of Queen Elizabeth.

(Reporting by Michael Holden and Sakura Murakami in TokyoEditing by Miral Fahmy and Frances Kerry)
An independent investigation launched after seniors at a New Jersey high school received yearbooks with a Jewish Student Union photo that had been replaced by a photo of Muslim students has determined the incident was an unfortunate error with no ill intent.

The swapped photo appeared in East Brunswick High Schools 2024 yearbook that was handed out to the senior class  prompting an independent investigation that started on June 6 and was completed on Tuesday, according to attorney Yaacov Brisman, whose law firm was retained by the school district to conduct the probe.

Seniors who received the yearbooks had been asked to return them so that the errant page can be replaced, CNN previously reported.

An unidentified school staff member who served as a Yearbook Club advisor placed the incorrect image in the yearbook, Brisman said in the report.

I conclude that the use of the incorrect photograph was not purposeful, but rather was a highly unfortunate error, Brisman wrote in the findings, adding the staff members actions were at best careless but can also be considered negligent.

 I have no basis to find that she acted out of any animus, racial, religious, or political, towards Jewish or Muslim students, he said in the report.

The Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey demanded facts and accountability after it learned of the swapped photo.

Muslim Student Association Vice President Ali Salama said in a statement after the incident came to light, the MSA had no involvement in this, yet we have become the face of the whole incident because our faces werent even blurred out before the photo was posted on social media.

In his report, Brisman gave a series of recommendations to the school district, notably that it should revisit the entire Yearbook production process and implement more sophisticated review measures.

Yearbook for East Brunswick High School in New Jersey. - NEWS 12 NEW JERSEY LLC

Any decisions on taking disciplinary action against the schools administration for the error will be left to the discretion of the schools administration, he wrote.

The unidentified school staff member who was interviewed by investigators expressed deep remorse at her error, and sadness that her mistake caused the uproar, Brisman said in the report.

She was visibly distressed when discussing the possibility that she might have done this purposefully, and vehemently denied having done so, Brisman added.

In a Wednesday news release, East Brunswick Public Schools Superintendent Victor Valeski said: While Im grateful that the results of this investigation show that these actions were serious mistakes without malice, we must now focus on repairing the deep hurt and division that has been created in our school and community.

The superintendent said the school district will work with the states board of education to ensure there is accountability for the mistakes that were made and take measures, including implementing a tolerance training program for the start of the next school year, to ensure something like this never happens again.

CNNs Emma Tucker and Taso Stefanidis contributed to this report.

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New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy speaks before President Joe Biden delivers remarks at NJ Transit Meadowlands Maintenance Complex in Newark on October 25, 2021. Murphy complained about delays on NJ Transit on Thursday. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

June 21 (UPI) -- Snarled passenger train travel along the busy Northeast Corridor Thursday evening still affected some rail travel on Friday morning, officials said.

Amtrak was forced to cancel some of its passenger routes on the corridor, the busiest passenger rail traffic in the country, because of the delays. NJ Transit passenger rail traffic appeared to bounce back after early slowdowns to maintain its schedule.

Officials said a brush fire in Secaucus, N.J., and overhead wiring issues, which started to affect trains coming into and out of New York City, were to blame for Friday's commuter headaches that started Thursday evening.

Trains from Philadelphia to New Haven, Conn., were affected on Thursday.

Amtrak said that sweltering temperatures, which appeared to peak on Thursday, would force the train company to travel at slower speeds, causing further delays. A new heat advisory had been issued for New York City for noon with temperatures reaching 97 degrees.

Some passengers were still fuming over Tuesday night delays, which caused commuters to run behind for more than an hour in New Jersey. The problems come as the state is poised to increase fees starting July 1.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy called the NJ Transit and Amtrack delays "unacceptable."

"It feels like both Amtrak and NJ Transit had issues," Murphy told NJ Spotlight News. "We're trying to get to the bottom of that. It used to be the lack of manpower. That's not the issue today."
A journalist who spent hours interviewing Donald Trump for an upcoming book about "The Apprentice" said there were times when the ex-president couldn't remember him  even though they'd already met.

In multiple TV hits promoting his forthcoming book "Apprentice in Wonderland," Variety co-editor-in-chief Ramin Setoodeh told fellow reporters that Trump seemed to have some cognitive issues during his time with the former president.

Speaking to MSNBC's "Morning Joe," which is hosted by former Trump friend Joe Scarborough, Setoodeh said that his time getting to know the former "Apprentice" host post-presidency makes his comments about President Joe Biden's own alleged cognitive issues all the more ironic.

"Trump had severe memory issues," the Variety editor said. "As the journalist who spent the most time with him, I have to say, he couldn't remember things, he couldn't even remember me."

Recalling that the second of six times he met Trump in 2021, Setoodeh said that although they'd spoken for an hour just a few months prior to their second meeting, the former president admitted that he didn't recognize him.

"He had a vacant look on his face, and I said, 'Do you remember me?'" the reporter recounted. "And he said 'no'  he had no recollection of our lengthy interview that we had, and he wasn't doing a lot of interviews at that time."

"I got to know Donald Trump post-presidency... and Trump had severe memory issues. As the journalist who spent the most time with him, he couldn't remember things, he couldn't even remember me."



 @RaminSetoodeh on interviewing Trump for his book, 'Apprentice in Wonderland' pic.twitter.com/yUnxZ5K5QR  Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) June 17, 2024

In another interview, this time with CNN's Kaitlan Collins, Setoodeh affirmed the impressions from a recent CNBC report about CEOs who were "not impressed" by Trump's "meandering" train of thought.

"He goes from one story to the next," the reporter said. "He struggles with the chronology of events. He seems very upset that he wasn't respected by certain celebrities in the White House."

Setoodeh added that although it was never exactly easy to interview Trump, the situation seems to have gotten worse after he left the White House and relaunched his rematch with Biden.

"There were some cognitive questions about where he was and what he was thinking," the biographer said, "and he would, from time to time, become confused."

Far be it from us to offer unschooled armchair diagnoses about the mental states of people we only know via celebrity, but Setoodeh's remarks don't inspire confidence. Then again, neither are those about the person currently occupying the Oval Office, either.

More on cognition: Scientists Discover That When You Don't Sleep, You Turn Into a Bigtime Dumbass
District Judge Aileen Cannon appeared skeptical of Donald Trumps arguments that Jack Smiths appointment as special counsel didnt meet constitutional requirements, but she also displayed what has been a common distrust of the prosecutors during a day-long session Friday.

Trump is arguing that Smith  who has brought charges against Trump in Florida and Washington, DC  was unlawfully appointed as special counsel.

At the center of Trumps argument is the claim that the Attorney General Merrick Garland does not have legal authority to appoint someone as special counsel who hasnt confirmed by the Senate. The Justice Department says the attorney general has ample authority to appoint inferior officers, which would include special counsels.

Cannon, prepared with question after question for both the defense attorney and prosecutors, on Friday pushed Trumps lawyer to defend his claim that Smiths position amounted to a shadow government.

That sounds very ominous, Cannon said to Trump attorney Emil Bove. But what do you really mean?

Bove did not directly answer the question, but he repeated the argument that Smith was inappropriately appointed. He also said that there should be an additional hearing over the issue, which could include testimony about the relationship between Garland and Smith, arguing that the two have said Smith is acting independently and not under the direction of Garland.

Cannon noted there is a regulatory system that Smith must still adhere to  to which Bove retorted that Smith still wasnt reporting to anyone.

Cannons handling of the Trump case has been closely watched, as critics say she is taking too long to settle legal challenges from the former president, aiding his quest to delay any trial past the November election.

The New York Times reported Thursday that two federal judges in south Florida, including the districts chief judge, urged Cannon to forgo overseeing the criminal prosecution when she was first assigned the classified documents case in 2023.

Pressing the special counsels office

The judge, appointed in 2020, has peppered prosecutors with questions in hearings over recent months about aspects of the case that the Justice Department treats as routine. That includes the fact that prosecutors used a grand jury in Washington to conduct the classified documents investigation before moving the case to Floridas southern district where she sits.

On Friday, that wariness extended to pressing the government lawyers to specify whether Garland personally approved the Trump indictment or any other specific actions by Smith.

Prosecutor James Pearce, during his arguments in the morning, said that Garland could, this very moment fire Smith, but he added later that Garland did not review all of Smiths decisions.

We are following all the rules, Pearce argued.

Has there been any actual oversight? Cannon pressed.

Pearce said yes but declined to give details on internal deliberations in the Justice Department.

Cannon again pushed, suggesting prosecutors were experiencing heartburn over the question of whether Garland signed off on the indictment.

Pearce said that regulations require the special counsels office to report any major developments to the attorney general. Pearce said earlier that an indictment could certainly be considered a major development.

Cannon did not say when she would rule on the issue.

Trumps attempt to nullify the special counsels offices work is an anomaly among recent efforts from other defendants in different federal courts to do the same, because Cannon is giving far more time to weigh the challenge than other judges have in recent years.

The judge is allowing for several hours of questioning about the authority of the special counsels office, which is at work in federal court cases around the country, as Republican-led attacks of the Justice Departments special counsel appointments gain steam on Capitol Hill and in legal circles.

The series of hearings will resume Monday with arguments over the prosecutors request for a gag order against Trump and the former presidents argument the special counsel is being unlawfully funded.

Cannon allows non-parties to argue in rare move

In addition to granting the hearing on the legitimacy of Smiths office, attorneys representing non-profit groups and former government officials will join the in-person debate Friday, having been allowed by Cannon to file their own arguments on the matter. It is very unusual for outside parties to be given argument time like this, especially in a criminal case at the trial level.

In one filing in support of Trumps motion to toss the case, attorneys for a former attorney general and the right-wing nonprofit Citizens United wrote that because of his appointment outside of the Senates review, Smith is thus one of the most powerful officials in the entire United States Government.

By pursuing a former President of the United States who is currently the leading candidate to become the next President of the United States, the group wrote, Smiths prosecution here shows that he wields the power to profoundly alter the trajectory of a presidential election, and with it the destiny of the Nation.

Gene Schaerr, who represents former Attorney General Edwin Meese and Citizens United, argued that Smiths appointment gave him more power than a US attorney without political accountability.

Mr. Smiths appointment severely undermines the constitutional order, he said, arguing that special counsels must be already working in government and approved by the US Senate. Before taking the role as special counsel, Smith was a top prosecutor in the Hague, prosecuting war crimes.

In support of Smith and his appointment as special counsel, attorneys representing the nonprofit State Democracy Defenders and others argued in their own filing that the constitution differentiates between principle and inferior officers, allowing the AG to appoint the latter.

Another attorney, Matthew Seligman, who argued in favor of Smith, focused on claims that Smith was fully independent from the Justice Department.

Theres sufficient direction here, Seligman told the judge of the oversight from Garland, citing the regulations that govern special counsels.

He added the oversight was a more hands-off approach but noted that the attorney general could fire Smith if he didnt approve of his work.

In his two federal cases, attorneys for Hunter Biden also argued the indictments against him should have been dismissed because the special counsel overseeing the cases was, they argued, unlawfully appointed.

Almost inverse from Trump, Biden argued that special counsel David Weiss was unlawfully appointed because he was already in the federal government and therefore not fully independent.

His motions for dismissal were struck down by the two judges overseeing his cases.

This story has been updated with additional developments.

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Judge calls for restitution in Cuba agents case, but then sides with DOJ that U.S. is only victim

A federal judge called a hearing for Friday morning to decide whether a former American ambassador convicted of being a covert agent for Cuba should be required to pay any victims of his betrayal against the United States in a national security case that rocked both the U.S. intelligence and exile communities.

But just minutes after the hearing began in Miami federal court, U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom found that former career diplomat Victor Manuel Rocha did not have to pay restitution to anyone because, as prosecutors argued, the only victim was the U.S. government.

Prosecutors asserted that Rocha, who in April was sentenced to 15 years in prison and paid a $500,000 fine, was not required to pay restitution because no one else had been harmed by his wrongdoing as an unregistered foreign agent for the Cuban government since the early 1980s.

The prosecutors noted in a court filing that Rocha pleaded guilty to failing to notify the U.S. government of his covert role for Cuba, not to passing national security secrets as a spy to his Cuban handlers. Moreover, they said, no victims came forward with evidence showing they were harmed by Rochas actions while he was interacting with the Cuban government. They also said the 73-year-old was cooperating with U.S. authorities on a damage assessment of his clandestine work for Cuba.

We respect the courts desire ... to ensure that any other potential victims of the defendants criminal conduct be afforded their rights under the law to receive restitution, wrote prosecutors Jonathan Stratton and John Shipley, representing the U.S. Attorneys Office. It remains the case, however, that there are no other victims entitled to restitution.

The prosecutors said that one Cuban who wrote a letter to Judge Bloom  dissident Francisco Pastor Chaviano Gonzalez, who spent years in Cubas prison  was interviewed by FBI agents. But agents found no proof to his claim that Rocha was passing sensitive information to the Castro government that directly harmed the now-naturalized U.S. citizen. The prosecutors also said that anyone claiming to be a victim of Rochas crime could pursue legal action against him in state or federal court.

In February, the widow of Oswaldo Paya, a prominent Cuban opposition leader who is widely believed to have died in a car crash caused by Cuban state security officials, filed a civil lawsuit in Miami against Rocha, who was still covertly working as an agent for Cuba at the time of Payas death in 2012.

Rocha, who climbed the foreign service ladder to become the ambassador to Bolivia in 2000 during the George W. Bush administration and then entered the private sector as a consultant, was arrested in December after the FBI launched a sting operation in late 2022. He was video-recorded telling an undercover FBI agent that he worked for the Cuban intelligence services for four decades, according to a criminal affidavit and indictment.

He told the FBI agent his last contact with Cuban intelligence was around 2017 during a secret trip to the island. Rocha was accused of conspiring as an agent for Cuba since 1981, when he started working for the State Department, three years after he was naturalized as a U.S. citizen and had earned degrees from Yale, Harvard and Georgetown universities.

Rocha, who is being held at the Federal Detention Center in Miami was not present for Fridays restitution hearing. Critics of the Justice Departments handling of Rochas prosecution expressed outrage over the governments no-restitution stance.

The Justice Departments stance is alarming, particularly their assertion that the only party injured was the United States government, that there is no justification for compensation for victims, that Rocha is cooperating, and that he did not enter a plea of guilty to spying, the Center for a Free Cuba, a Washington, D.C.-based group that monitors human rights violations on the island, said in a statement.

The plea agreement with Manuel Rocha is troubling since he did not have to plead to espionage or conspiracy to commit espionage, despite the evidence gathered by the FBI, the center said, asserting that we believe that Mr. Rocha has done a lot of harm to the Cuban people.

Federal authorities are conducting a confidential damage assessment that could take years to complete, according to press reports. If that is the case how can DOJ lawyers make the claim that only the government was harmed?

Emilio T. Gonzalez, former director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in the George W. Bush administration, said on the social media platform X that Justice Department lawyers in the Rocha-Cuba spy case [were] acting like defense attorneys. He cited the prosecutions plea deal with Rocha and raised the issue of whether he should be denaturalized as a U.S. citizen and deported to his native Colombia.

This was a poor excuse of a restitution hearing, said Gonzalez, a former intelligence officer.

At Rochas sentencing in April, Judge Bloom described Rocha as an enemy of the United States government during the hearing.

Your actions were a direct attack on our democracy and the safety of our citizens, she said. You turned your back on this country, a country that gave you everything.

Speaking before he was sentenced, Rocha apologized to the judge, the United States and his family for his actions.

During my formative years in college, I was heavily influenced by the radical politics of the day, he said. My deep commitment at that time to radical social change in the region led me to the eventual betrayal of my oath of loyalty to the United States during my two decades in the State Department.

Today, I no longer see the world through the radical eyes of my youth.

READ MORE: Convicted ex-U.S. diplomat says radical politics at Yale turned him into Cuban spy

Rocha pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the U.S. government and acting as an illegal foreign agent in an agreement struck with the U.S. Attorneys Office in Miami. Those two offenses carried maximum sentences of five and 10 years, respectively. According to his plea agreement, he is cooperating with the U.S. government on investigations about Cuba, including a Justice Department assessment of the damage caused by his own covert work for the late Fidel Castros regime and his successors. In addition to his 15-year maximum prison term and $500,000 fine, Rocha was also stripped of his federal pension.

However, Judge Bloom, during the hearing, made clear she didnt think the initial agreement presented by the prosecutors was enough punishment for what she called Rochas betrayal of the United States.

She did not hide her displeasure with the governments plea deal, briefly suspending the hearing three times to get clarification on why prosecutors were not seeking forfeiture of Rochas properties, as the indictment initially suggested, as well as restitution for his victims.

After being charged in December, Rocha transferred the deeds on four luxury Brickell City Centre condos valued at more than $4 million that he bought with his wife, Karla Wittkop Rocha, exclusively to her. He also transferred his two bank accounts to his wife, prosecutors said Friday.

The judge said she was concerned about restitution to other victims of Rochas actions beyond the U.S. government, citing the four Cuban American men who died in the Brothers to the Rescue shootdown in 1996. But the FBI did not include any evidence of Rochas possible involvement in the shootdown as part of the case record, and the controversial incident did not come up at Fridays restitution hearing.

At the earlier sentencing, Bloom also questioned why the Justice Department was not proposing that Rocha be denaturalized as a U.S. citizen after he completed his prison sentence. Initially, the federal prosecutors told Bloom they were not going to request that Rocha, who was born in Colombia and naturalized in 1978, be stripped of his U.S. citizenship, which would mean he would be deported after serving his sentence if he were still alive.

But after the tense exchanges, the judge decided on a new hearing to consider restitution in the future and ordered prosecutors to include the possibility of stripping him of his citizenship in his plea agreement. Rocha and his defense lawyer, Jacqueline Arango, agreed with the judges demands.

Rocha was not formally accused of being a spy  a crime that would have required time-sensitive evidence, such as catching him exchanging damaging top-secret information with his Cuban handlers or other evidence of furtive communications. Instead, he was accused of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which requires those working under the control of a foreign government to notify the U.S. Attorney Generals office.

Nonetheless, top federal officials have characterized Rocha, who retired from the State Department in 2002 and later worked as an adviser to the commander of U.S. Southern Command and in the private sector, as one of the worst offenders in the annals of foreign spying on the U.S. government.

After his arrest in early December, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said Rochas covert work for Cuba was one of the highest-reaching and longest-lasting infiltrations of the United States government by a foreign agent.

El Nuevo Herald staff writer Nora Gamez Torres, who covers Cuba and U.S.-Latin American policy, contributed to this story.
A legal challenge brought against the Department of Defense by a group of LGBTQ veterans who were dismissed under a former military policy that prevented them from serving openly will move forward after a federal judge denied the Pentagons motion to dismiss it.

Five LGBTQ veterans filed the class action lawsuit last summer in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, arguing that the Defense Department violated their constitutional rights by failing to update them to honorable discharges after repealing its Dont ask, dont tell (DADT) policy, which dismissed them with less-than-honorable discharges, more than a decade ago.

Separation documents assigned to veterans discharged under DADT for their actual or perceived sexual orientation denotes their sexuality as the reason for their discharge, which the plaintiffs argue violates their privacy. The discharge papers also deprive LGBTQ veterans of certain benefits, such as a veteran designation on their state ID or drivers license and some military discounts, according to the lawsuit.

While veterans may apply to correct their discharge papers, the plaintiffs argue the process is lengthy and burdensome.

Attorneys for the Pentagon had sought to dismiss the lawsuit, citing a 2011 internal policy guidance that instructed military correction boards to grant veterans requests for discharge upgrades following the repeal of DADT. The guidance noted, however, that broad, retroactive corrections of records from applicants discharged under DADT are not warranted.

Correction boards have reviewed more than 1,683 applications by veterans for records correction and have granted relief to more than 1,406 former service members who, like Plaintiffs here, were discharged pursuant to the DADT policies, the department wrote in its motion to dismiss.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero rejected that request late Thursday, ruling that the plaintiffs will likely prove the department violated their right to equal protection under the Fifth and 14th amendments by failing to systematically correct the paperwork of all veterans discharged under DADT and similar policies.

At a February motion hearing, Pentagon attorneys argued the rules and procedures governing the departments records correction process are indiscriminate.

Spero on Thursday said he disagreed, and the militarys decision to leave the discharge paperwork of LGBTQ veterans dismissed under DADT unchanged was motivated by discriminatory intent.

He wrote in his decision that the plaintiffs are also likely to succeed in arguing that the Department of Defenses actions violated their rights to substantive and procedural due process.

The plaintiffs allegations, he wrote, are sufficient to raise a plausible inference that the departments conduct was intended to injure in some way unjustifiable by any government interest, namely, to perpetuate discrimination against Plaintiffs based on their sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation even after they were wrongfully discharged from the armed services on that basis.

The Department of Defense did not immediately return a request for comment.

The department has in recent years taken steps to correct discharge designations given to LGBTQ veterans who served under DADT. Last year, it said it would proactively review military records of veterans who received a less-than-honorable discharge because of their sexual orientation.

A resolution filed by Senate Democrats earlier this week would formally apologize for past actions that discriminated against LGBTQ service members and federal employees, including DADT, which was repealed in 2011.

Attorneys for the veteran plaintiffs celebrated Thursdays ruling in a joint statement.

This ruling allows us to move forward in rectifying the discriminatory effects of the Department of Defenses policies, ensuring that LGBTQ+ veterans receive the honor they rightfully deserve, having served our country with dignity and integrity, attorneys from the Impact Fund, Legal Aid at Work and King & Spalding LLP said in the statement.

This decision is especially significant as it comes during Pride Month, a time when we celebrate the progress, and recognize the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ rights, they added. These brave veterans honorably served our country, and we look forward to securing the justice they rightfully deserve.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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A New York judge on Thursday dismissed trespassing cases against 30 individuals who were among the dozens arrested inside Columbia Universitys Hamilton Hall during a pro-Palestinian protest in April, with prosecutors citing a lack of evidence.

Of the 46 initially arrested, 15 defendants still face charges, the Manhattan district attorneys office said.

Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters were accused of unlawfully entering the universitys Hamilton Hall on April 30 and barricading themselves inside before the university asked for assistance from the New York Police Department. After being removed from the building, many were charged with criminal trespass in the third degree, a class B misdemeanor.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said at the time he intended to look at each case and make decisions based on facts and the law. In the past, the Manhattan DAs office has declined to prosecute or deferred prosecution cases where large numbers of people were arrested as part of civil disobedience.

During Thursdays court hearing, Judge Kevin McGrath dismissed 30 cases of trespass against those who have no criminal history. One other defendant previously had their case dismissed, for a total of 31 individuals no longer facing charges.

At the time of the charged conduct, the defendants were either staff employed by, or students enrolled in, Columbia University, and are now subject to student or staff disciplinary proceedings, according to the Manhattan DAs news release.

In calling for the dismissal of charges Thursday, Assistant District Attorney Stephen Millan cited what he called extremely limited video, adding that the security cameras were immediately covered by certain defendants, who prosecutors have been unable to identify.

The available video evidence fails to establish or prove the 31 people participated in damaging university property or causing harm to anyone, making it difficult for prosecutors to prove anything other than trespassing at trial, the DAs office said.

Also complicating matters, students inside Hamilton Hall were wearing face masks, making it difficult to tie students to specific acts, according to a law enforcement official.

Columbia University on Thursday declined to comment on the court proceedings when contacted by CNN.

Protesters unanimously reject deals

Fourteen of the defendants still facing charges  12 of whom were neither staff nor students at Columbia  have been offered Adjournments in Contemplation of Dismissal (ACD), the Manhattan DAs office said. An ACD allows a court to defer a defendants case  with the potential that the defendants charge will be dismissed  if the defendant does not engage in additional criminal conduct.

But those defendants have refused the offer, they said at a news conference held outside the courtroom after Thursdays hearing, speaking to demonstrators wearing keffiyehs, a traditional Palestinian scarf.

We stand here today united by our action and the Palestinian cause, one of the protesters said. The state has attempted, once again, to divide us  dismissing some of our cases and offering others deals in accordance with their outside agitator narrative, adding they reject the division they say is intended to preserve the sanctity of Columbia University, not an institution in the city of New York but always above and apart from it.

All of us who took part in the liberation of Hinds Hall were driven by the same necessity to escalate, to escalate for Gaza, to resist the savage genocide of our siblings in Palestine, the protester continued, referring to Hamilton Hall by another name bestowed on it by protesters.

We exercised our shared right to oppose the US war machine by putting our bodies upon the years of Columbia, one of its most well-oiled domestic components.

The protester said the defendants unanimously rejected deals to present a united front against state repression.

The 14 defendants are scheduled to appear back in court on July 25.

The only allegation thats different is they werent currently enrolled as a student or werent employed by the university, said public defender Matthew Daloisio, who is representing 43 defendants.

Daloisio argued those defendants experienced the same police raid and got the same injuries as anyone else during the NYPD raid.

A 15th defendant, James Carlson, 40, was arrested on burglary charges at Columbia University, is facing a charge of criminal trespass in the third degree from the Manhattan DA, according to court records. He is also facing an arson charge from a separate incident. Hes pleaded not guilty in both cases, court records show.

On Thursday, Carlson went before the judge, where the prosecutor recounted how he is being accused of involvement in the Hamilton Hall protest. Carlson is accused of damaging a NYPD camera and being involved in burning an Israeli flag. When the prosecutor described the flag burning in court, some supporters in the courtroom snickered, prompting the court officer to reprimand them, telling them to be quiet.

The district attorney said there are ongoing school disciplinary proceedings for the students who had their case dismissed.

CNNs Emma Tucker contributed to this report.

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Nevada Republican Party Chairman Michael McDonald in 2020. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Policy, politics and progressive commentary

Clark County Judge Mary Kay Holthus on Friday said she lacked jurisdiction to try the states case against Nevadas alleged fake electors  six Republican leaders who cast electoral votes for Donald Trump in December 2020, although Joe Biden had won the state.

If its not here, its not here, Holthus said following arguments from Attorney General Aaron Fords office and from Las Vegas attorney Richard Wright, who represents State Republican Party chairman Michael McDonald. I dont see any way I have jurisdiction over this case.

Ford, who was at the prosecution table, told the judge he will immediately appeal her ruling to dismiss.

Six Republicans  McDonald, national committeeman Jim DeGraffenreid, Clark County Republican Party chair Jesse Law, state party vice chair and Storey County clerk Jim Hindle III, Shawn Meehan, and Eileen Rice  faced felony counts of offering a false instrument for filing, and uttering a forged instrument.

On Dec. 14, 2020, the six held a ceremony in Carson City where they cast their electoral votes for Trump. The event coincided with similar efforts in other states in an attempt to prevent Congress from certifying the election for Biden on Jan 6, 2021.

Some 84 individuals in seven states falsely claimed their electoral votes for Trump. Arizona and Michigan are prosecuting their alleged fake electors, while those in New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are not facing charges. Three electors have been charged in Georgia, however, others made deals for immunity.

Fords office argued that although the ceremony took place in Carson City, the documents were mailed to Nevadas chief federal judge in Las Vegas. However, the documents were forwarded unopened to the courts official address in Reno. Prosecutors also argued two of the Republicans  McDonald and Law  reside in Las Vegas, and the state partys official address is in Las Vegas. They also maintained then-Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske was in Las Vegas at the time.

The arguments failed to sway Holthus.

I dont know why we are all here struggling, she said, calling the states arguments for Clark County jurisdiction insufficient.

Wright suggested Ford brought the case before a Las Vegas grand jury for political reasons  to take advantage of a jury pool laden with Democrats. You dont need the weatherman to know which way the wind blows, he said, quoting lyrics from Bob Dylan.

The judge got it wrong, Ford said before hastily leaving the courtroom through a back door.

Ford, a Democrat, initially said Nevada lacked the explicit law required to prosecute the alleged fake electors.

With it on our radar, we ascertained that current state statutes did not directly address the conduct in question  to the dismay of some, and Im sure, to the delight of others, Ford testified during a hearing in May 2023 on a bill that would have prohibited individuals from creating or serving on a false slate of electors. Gov. Joe Lombardo, a Republican, vetoed the legislation.

Defense attorneys were also prepared to argue that emails from Trumps 2020 campaign attorney Ken Chesboro included exculpatory evidence, however the lack of jurisdiction rendered that issue moot.

Attorney Monti Levy, representing Rice, noted after the hearing she wrote the motion challenging jurisdiction. She says shes confident the states appeal will fail.

Its clear that no acts occurred in Clark County, she added.

The post Judge dismisses case against Nevadas fake electors for lack of jurisdiction appeared first on Nevada Current.
FILE - Nevada GOP chair Michael McDonald, right, shakes hands with Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at a campaign event, Jan. 27, 2024, in Las Vegas. A Nevada state court judge dismissed a criminal indictment Friday, June 21, 2024, against six Republicans accused of submitting certificates to Congress falsely declaring Donald Trump the winner of the states 2020 presidential election. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

LAS VEGAS (AP)  A Nevada judge dismissed an indictment Friday against six Republicans accused of submitting certificates to Congress falsely declaring Donald Trump the winner of the states 2020 presidential election, potentially cutting from four to three the number of states with criminal charges pending against so-called fake electors.

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford said hell take the issue to the state Supreme Court after Clark County District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus ruled that Las Vegas was the wrong venue for the case.

The judge got it wrong and well be appealing immediately, Ford, a Democrat, told reporters afterward. He declined additional comment.

Defense attorneys bluntly declared the case dead, saying that to bring it now before another grand jury in another venue such as Nevadas capital city of Carson City would violate a three-year statute of limitations that expired last December.

Theyre done, said Margaret McLetchie, attorney for Clark County Republican party chairman Jesse Law, one of the defendants in the case.

The judge called off the trial, which had been scheduled for January, for defendants also including state GOP chairman Michael McDonald; national party committee member Jim DeGraffenreid; national and Douglas County committee member Shawn Meehan; Storey County clerk Jim Hindle; and Eileen Rice, a party member from the Lake Tahoe area. Each was accused of offering a false instrument for filing and uttering a forged instrument  felonies carrying a penalty of up to four or five years in prison.

Defense attorneys led by McDonald's lawyer, Richard Wright, said Ford improperly brought the case before a grand jury in Las Vegas  Nevadas largest and most Democratic-leaning city  instead of Carson City or Reno, northern Nevada cities in a more Republican region where the alleged crimes occurred. They also accused prosecutors of failing to present to the grand jury evidence that would have exonerated their clients, who they said had no intent to commit a crime.

Crimes are tried and venue lies in the venue in which the offense was committed, Wright told the judge on Friday. Signing the document occurred in Carson City.

Challenged by Judge Holthus to respond, Deputy State Attorney General Matthew Rashbrook argued that no one county contains the entirety of these crimes.

Society is the victim of these crimes, the prosecutor said. Voters who would have been disenfranchised by these acts ... would have been victims of these crimes.

But the judge decided that even though McDonald and Law live in Las Vegas, everything took place up north.

After the court hearing, Hindles attorney, Brian Hardy, declined to comment on calls from advocacy groups for his client to resign from his elected position as overseer of elections in Storey County, a jurisdiction with a few more than 4,100 residents. Those calls included a news conference Friday outside the courthouse by leaders of three organizations.

The state Republican party issued a statement welcoming the court decision, pointing to Ford's vow to appeal and asking for contributions to continue the court fight.

Meehan is the only defendant not to have been named by the state party as Nevada delegates to the 2024 Republican National Convention next month in Milwaukee. His defense attorney, Sigal Chattah, said her client chose not to seek the position. Chattah ran as a Republican in 2022 for state attorney general and lost to Ford by just under 8% of the vote.

Nevada is one of seven presidential battleground states where slates of fake electors falsely certified that Trump had won in 2020, not Democrat Joe Biden. Others are Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Nevadas case, filed last December, focused on the actions of six defendants. Criminal cases in three other states focus on many more  16 in Michigan, 19 in Georgia and 18 in Arizona.

Kenneth Chesebro, a lawyer who pleaded guilty in Georgia last October to helping orchestrate the Trump campaign fake elector scheme in 2020, cooperated with prosecutors in the Nevada criminal investigation and was not charged.

In testimony before the grand jury that met in Las Vegas in November, Chesebro said he provided the state GOP with an organized step-by-step explanation of what they would have to do to sign and submit certificates falsely stating that Trump, not Biden, won in Nevada.

He also called Nevada extremely problematic to the fake elector plot, compared with other states, because the meeting of electors was overseen by the secretary of state. Also, unlike other states, Nevada did not have a legal challenge pending in courts at the time.

Trump lost Nevada in 2020 by more than 30,000 votes to Biden and the states Democratic electors certified the results in the presence of Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske, a Republican. Her defense of the results as reliable and accurate led the state GOP to censure her, but Cegavske later conducted an investigation that found no credible evidence of widespread voter fraud in the state.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. Expansion of cooperation in the field of cargo transportation by road between Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia has been discussed, Trend reports, referring to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Digital Development and Transportation.

According to reports, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia met to discuss road cargo transport. Road transport industry and customs service representatives, road transport and international cargo carrier associations, and transport company leaders of all three parties attended the meeting.

The delegations visited the border checkpoints of Astara and Khanoba of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Astara - Islamic Republic of Iran, and Tagirkent - Russian Federation.

At the border checkpoints, the parties became acquainted with the customs inspection method, document processing, and the process of cars crossing the border.

To note, the infrastructure established on the Azerbaijani side is capable of ensuring the passage of any automobile flow.

Furthermore, inspections at checkpoints, measures to reduce the waiting time of vehicles, increasing the share of carriers from Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia in the international road transportation market, and other issues were discussed at the meeting held in Derbent.

The sides exchanged views on the potential and prospects of the North-South international transport corridor.

However, both sides noted the importance of strengthening cooperation to fully utilize the transit potential of Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia and develop the North-South international transport corridor.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
A Nevada state court judge dismissed a criminal indictment Friday against six Republicans accused of submitting certificates to Congress falsely declaring Donald Trump the winner of the states 2020 presidential election, potentially killing the case with a ruling that state prosecutors chose the wrong venue to file the case.

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford stood in a Las Vegas courtroom a moment after Clark County District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus delivered her ruling, declaring that he would take the case directly to the state Supreme Court.

The judge got it wrong and well be appealing immediately, Ford told reporters afterward. He declined any additional comment.

Defense attorneys bluntly declared the case dead, saying that to bring the case now to another grand jury in another venue such as Nevadas capital city of Carson City would violate a three-year statute of limitations on filing charges that expired in December.

Theyre done, said Margaret McLetchie, attorney for Clark County Republican Party Chair Jesse Law, one of the defendants in the case.

The judge called off trial, which had been scheduled for next January, for defendants that included state GOP Chair Michael McDonald; national party committee member Jim DeGraffenreid; national and Douglas County committee member Shawn Meehan; Storey County clerk Jim Hindle; and Eileen Rice, a party member from the Lake Tahoe area. Each was charged with offering a false instrument for filing and uttering a forged instrument, felonies that carry penalties of up to four or five years in prison.

Defense attorneys contended that Ford improperly brought the case in Las Vegas instead of Carson City or Reno, northern Nevada cities closer to where the alleged crime occurred. They also accused prosecutors of failing to present to the grand jury evidence that would have exonerated their clients, and said their clients had no intent to commit a crime.

All but Meehan have been named by the state party as Nevada delegates to the 2024 Republican National Convention next month in Milwaukee.

Meehans defense attorney, Sigal Chattah, said her client chose not to seek the position. Chattah ran as a Republican in 2022 for state attorney general and lost to Ford, a Democrat, by just under 8 percent of the vote.

After the court hearing, Hindles attorney, Brian Hardy, declined to comment on calls that his client has faced from advocacy groups that say he should resign from his elected position as overseer of elections in northern Nevadas Story County, a jurisdiction with a few more than 4,100 residents. Those calls included ones at a news conference Friday outside the courthouse by leaders of three organizations.

Nevada is one of seven presidential battleground states where slates of fake electors falsely certified that Trump had won in 2020, not Democrat Joe Biden.

Others are Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Criminal charges have been brought in Michigan, Georgia and Arizona.

Trump lost Nevada in 2020 by more than 30,000 votes to Biden and the states Democratic electors certified the results in the presence of Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske, a Republican. Her defense of the results as reliable and accurate led the state GOP to censure her, but Cegavske later conducted an investigation that found no credible evidence of widespread voter fraud in the state.
A Nevada judge dismissed a case Friday against six so-called fake electors who falsely claimed former President Trump won the state in the 2020 presidential election.

Clark County District Judge Mary Kay Holthus ruled that prosecutors with the Nevada attorney generals office chose the wrong venue in which to file the case, calling off a trial scheduled for January.

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford (D) brought the case in Clark County, home to Las Vegas, but defense attorneys contended that it should have been filed in a northern Nevada city closer to where the alleged crime occurred.

We disagree with the judges decision and will be appealing immediately, said John Sadler, a spokesperson for the Nevada attorney generals office.

Following the judges decision, defense attorneys told reporters the case is done since a three-year statute of limitations on filing charges expired in December, meaning that the state likely could not bring the case to a grand jury in a different venue.

The pro-Trump electors who were charged were Michael McDonald, Jesse Law, Jim DeGraffenreid, Durward James Hindle III, Shawn Meehan and Eileen Rice. They each faced felony charges of offering a false instrument for filing and uttering a forged document, which carry penalties up to four or five years in prison.

When announcing their indictments, the state attorney generals office said in a statement they posed as duly qualified electors to disrupt the results of a free and fair presidential election.

The alternate electors scheme relied on former Vice President Mike Pence to certify slates of Trump-supporting electors in battleground states instead of the true Electoral College votes cast for now-President Biden. Pence declined to do so on Jan. 6, 2021, the day of the election certification, after which a mob of Trumps supporters stormed the Capitol.

In addition to Nevada, slates of pro-Trump electors have faced criminal charges in three of those states  Michigan, Georgia and Arizona.

Trumps lawyers spearheaded the plan, and several face charges in other states in connection with it. Trump himself also faces federal charges and charges in Georgia in connection with efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election in his favor. He has pleaded not guilty in both cases.

Biden won Nevada by more than 33,000 votes in 2020.

The Associated Press contributed.

 Updated at 4:13 p.m. EDT

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Judge Judy calls out Trump trial as nonsense and says taxpayer money better spent making NY subways safer

Judy Sheindlin, better known as TV icon Judge Judy, has described Donald Trumps criminal hush money trial in New York as nonsense.

The retired judge spoke with CNNs Chris Wallace on Friday about the former president and his recent felony conviction. Sheindlin was the star of reality TV hit Judge Judy, where she presided over small claims cases on the show, which ran from 1996 to 2021.

Sheindlin, who is originally from Brooklyn, said that she had not been in favor of Trumps Manhattan prosecution.

I would be happier as someone who owns property in Manhattan, if the district attorney of New York County would take care of criminals who are making it impossible for citizens to walk in the streets and use the subway, to use his efforts to keep those people off the street, than to spend 5 million or ten million of taxpayers money trying Donald Trump on this nonsense, she said.

Last month, a Manhattan jury unanimously convicted Donald Trump of falsifying business records to cover up a payment to porn star Stormy Daniels to stay quiet about an alleged affair in the run-up to the 2016 election.

Judy Sheindlin, pictured, described Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs prosecution of Donald Trump as nonsense (CNN)

You had to twist yourself into a pretzel to figure out what the crime was, he doesnt like [Trump], Sheindlin said of Bragg.

But despite her defense of the former president, Sheindlin had some strong criticism.

I dont think that Donald ever should have been president, and I dont think that even Donald thought he was going to be president, the TV star said.

Sheindlin, 81, did not endorse Trump for the 2024 presidential election, instead backing former GOP candidate Nikki Haley, who dropped out of the race in March.

Last month, Sheindlin sued the publisher of The National Enquirer, the tabloid which endorsed Trump in 2016 and played a key role in his hush money trial.

During Trumps trial, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified that he was the Trump campaigns eyes and ears, using the publication to catch and kill stories on Trumps alleged affairs. He spent about $180,000 purchasing two stories.

Sheindlin is suing a360 Media, and its parent company Accelerate360, after she said the tabloid damaged her reputation with unequivocal falsehoods that she was trying to overturn the conviction of two California murderers, Lyle and Erik Menendez.

The case, initially filed in the Collier County, Florida Circuit Court, has now been moved to US District Court, Middle District of Florida. After filing for an extension, the defense team has until July 5 to respond, according to court filings.
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Despite its name, Junes full moon will not look like a strawberry. But the bright orb could still turn heads Friday night with an appearance that is bigger and more colorful than the average moon.

The full moon  which will reach the crest of its fullness at 9:08 p.m. ET Friday  comes one day after the summer solstice, the day of the year when the sun appears the highest in the sky for the Northern Hemisphere. Since a full moon is opposite the sun, this strawberry moon will shine lower in the sky than usual, according to NASA.

Because of this lower than average path across the sky, the full moon could have an orange- or amber-colored appearance, for the same reason sunsets appear orange or reddish, said Preston Dyches, a science communicator with NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, in an email.

Dyches said the effect is the result of the moons reflected light having to travel a longer distance throughout Earths atmosphere, scattering away most blue wavelengths (which are shorter than red wavelengths).

Native American tribes across North America gave the strawberry moon its name to mark the in-season ripeness of strawberries, according to The Old Farmers Almanac.

The moons low placement in the sky could also cause the orb to appear bigger than usual, according to NASA, due to an effect dubbed the moon illusion. Scientists dont really know why this optical illusion happens, but its believed to be a combination of how our brain processes visual information and the moons size in comparison with smaller objects near the horizon, such as trees or the roofs of houses.

For optimal viewing, Dyches recommends looking when the moon is rising or setting to see the effects of the moon illusion. No equipment is needed to view a full moon, but a telescope or pair of binoculars could enhance its features, according to NASAs Moon Viewing Guide.

Whenever something beautiful about the natural world can be experienced from your doorstep, its worth a few minutes of your time, Dyches said. Its rewarding to marvel at the sight of another giant world.  I like to gaze up and think of it as a place people will live and work someday.

How to see the Summer Triangle in the night sky

Because the moon appears full for three days a month surrounding its peak, the strawberry moon will be visible to almost everyone worldwide. However, it will be more difficult to observe for those farther north, such as in Alaska or Denmark, where the low-traversing moon will only briefly rise above the horizon, Dyches said.

Besides the full moon, those in the Northern Hemisphere can spot the Summer Triangle, an arrangement of three bright stars whose presence in the sky symbolizes summertime in the north, said Dyches, who also produces the space agencys monthly sky-watching highlights video called Whats Up.

To find the triangular pattern, it is easiest to look for the brightest of the three stars, Vega, which will be near the east in the sky, according to EarthSky. The second brightest, Altair, will be to the lower right, and the star Deneb, to the lower left of Vega, will finish off the sides of the triangle.

Those away from bright city lights can spot the center of the Milky Way as a hazy band of dim clouds arching across the sky, and the constellation Scorpius can be seen as it points the way to the galaxys core, Dyches added.

Remaining moons of 2024

There are six more full moons set to shine bright in the sky this year, according to EarthSky. Here are the remaining full moons of 2024 and their peak dates:

July 21: Buck moon

August 19: Sturgeon moon

September 17: Harvest moon

October 17: Hunters moon

November 15: Beaver moon

December 15: Cold moon

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
More than 100 adults, teenagers and children lined up along a middle school's track on Thursday evening holding candles lit in honor of Lyndsey Vicknair.

Vicknair, a 33-year-old lawyer and mother of three children, was one of two innocent bystanders killed in a shooting at a Juneteenth celebration Saturday in Round Rock. She was named a Texas Super Lawyer Rising Star in construction litigation in 2023 by Super Lawyers magazine, according to the website of the Chapman law firm where she worked.

The other woman killed at the shooting was Ara Duke, a 54-year-old educational administrator who had planned to visit London to help with her daughter's pregnancy, a relative has said.

The shooting was an altercation between two groups of people, according to police. Police arrested 17-year-old Ricky Thompson III of Manor on Thursday in connection with the shooting, said Round Rock Police Chief Allen Banks. Thompson is currently charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was not the only shooter in the incident, and police are still looking for other suspects, Banks said.

Community members gather Thursday at Webb Middle School to mourn the death of Lyndsey Vicknair, 33, one of the two people killed in a shooting at a Juneteenth event last weekend in Round Rock. The shooting also injured 14 others.

More: 17-year-old arrested in fatal shooting at Round Rock Juneteenth festival, police say

Vicknair and her husband, Kevin Vicknair, were members of the Austin Honey Badgers Track Club, a nonprofit for young runners, said Candice Cooper, one of the group's co-founders. The club held the vigil Thursday for Lyndsey Vicknair on the track at Webb Middle School.

The Vicknairs' 7-year-old daughter ran in track meets for the club, Cooper said. Lyndsey Vicknair was always at practices and competitions offering assistance, she said. The Vicknairs' other children are 4 and 1, other friends said.

"She was a light," Cooper said. "She was a helper, and she had a love for young people."

More than 100 people attended Thursday evening's candlelight vigil in honor of Lyndsey Vicknair.

Vicknair and her husband joined the club two years ago when they moved to Central Texas from Mansfield, near Dallas, Cooper said.

"A lot of the track moms embraced Lyndsey when she came," Cooper said. "From combing hair to cookouts and babysitting to birthday celebrations, she's been a part of our life for two years."

More: Police: Round Rock Juneteenth shooting victims identified as Pflugerville, Manor residents

She said several of the club's members were at the Juneteenth celebration when the shooting happened, including one parent who was selling barbecue and saw Lyndsey Vicknair buy nachos before she was shot.

She was at the Juneteenth celebration at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock because she was on a date night with her husband, a few of Vicknair's friends said at the vigil.

"She was very kind-hearted, very caring and very soft-spoken," Adrienne Williams said. "She left behind such a beautiful, young family."

She wanted her children to be bilingual, so they were all learning Spanish, said Kalee Perkins, another of Lyndsey Vicknair's friends. The children were also vegetarian because she wanted them to avoid the high blood pressure that she had when they were born, Perkins said.

Perkins said she talked to Lyndsey Vicknair at a barbecue a few weeks ago about arranging playdates with their kids this summer. When she found out that Lyndsey had been killed, Perkins said, she started shaking.

"I was in disbelief," Perkins said.

The Austin Honey Badgers Track Club, a nonprofit for young runners, was the host of Thursday's vigil on the track at Webb Middle School for Lyndsey Vicknair.

Lauren Varner said her 4-year-old son was on a T-ball team with Lyndsey Vicknair's 4-year-old son. She remembered Lyndsey Vicknair as pleasant and sweet.

"Her presence made you feel at ease," Varner said.

Lyndsey Vicknair knew that Cooper had track equipment scattered around her house and always complained about it, Cooper said. For her birthday this year, Cooper said, Lyndsey Vicknair gave her a candle with the words "It smells the opposite of track equipment," on it, Cooper said, smiling. She said she has lit the candle every day since Vicknair died.

Cooper said the track club has started a GoFundMe page for the Vicknair family.

"My message from this tragedy is to try to find a way to triumph," said Cooper. "Allow this to be a reminder to us to say that life is short and we must appreciate it. You never know when you are going to see somebody next. You may not see them again."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Round Rock Juneteenth shooting victim was 'a light' for young people
Junior doctors have warned Sir Keir Starmer that they could cripple the NHS with strikes this winter if Labour does not agree to a 35 per cent pay rise.

The co-leaders of the British Medical Association (BMA) said they would not rule out industrial action continuing if their demands for what they term pay restoration are met.

The long-running junior doctors dispute has caused the cancellation of more than one million NHS appointments and hamstrung Rishi Sunaks attempts to bring down waiting lists.

Thousands of junior doctors will walk out on a five-day strike from June 27 to July 2, two days before the election, in what is the 11th round of junior doctor strikes since March last year.

The BMA will have to re-ballot its members in September to secure another six-month mandate for strikes until March 2025.

Dr Robert Laurenson, the co-chairman of its junior doctors committee, told The Times that winter strike action was being considered.

It really depends on how the next negotiation goes, Dr Laurenson said. I dont think we can rule that out. If we need another mandate, well have to get another mandate.

Patients cant take any more

Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, warned in response that patients cant take any more and that the BMA should prepare to negotiate with a Labour government.

He has previously said Labour will not meet the junior doctors demand for a 35 per cent pay rise.

The BMA should call off the strikes next week and prepare to negotiate with a Labour government, Mr Streeting said.

If Labour is elected, the junior doctors will be one of my first calls on July 5, and we will get talks up and running as quickly as possible to bring an end to this disruption.

Labour has promised to slash waiting lists if it wins the general election, an ambition that will be harder to achieve if the strikes continue.

Mr Laurenson added that the pay rise demand could be met over time rather than in an instant.

What weve heard [from Labour] is that its not an event, its a journey, he said.

And I think thats really sensible. We look forward to starting those discussions, as and when whoevers in power wants to have those discussions.

Victoria Atkins, the Health Secretary, said the Conservatives would get back into the negotiating room immediately if Mr Sunak wins on July 4.

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WEST PALM BEACH  Two divers' decision to release sharks from a government-sanctioned fishing line ignited a fierce debate online over whether they were Good Samaritans or shameless thieves. Public outcry pushed the debate from internet chatrooms to a federal courthouse, where jurors decided the latter was true.

Almost two years later, the debate is playing out again in an appeals court where three judges have the power to overturn the divers' felony convictions for theft on the high seas. Their decision hinges on what it means to steal, and whether it can be done unintentionally.

"When you're taking property to resolve an emergency  a life-or-death emergency, which the appellants were doing in this case  that is not stealing," Assistant U.S. Public Defender Andrew Adler said during a hearing in Miami this month.

Adler said the judge who oversaw John Moore Jr. and Tanner Mansell's criminal trial erred by refusing to define "steal" for jurors as taking someone else's property "with the intention to keep it" for their benefit or for other's. Had that definition been given instead of the broad one  purposefully taking something that isn't yours  Moore and Mansell would have been acquitted, Adler said.

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals judges did not immediately rule on whether to reverse the commercial divers' convictions. However, two voiced confusion over why the men were charged with a crime to begin with.

Judge Barbara Lagoa questioned prosecutors' claim that the men should have known the unattended line was one of about five legal shark-harvesting operations in the world. She noted also that Moore and Mansell called law enforcement several times to report the line, though no officer heeded the call.

"That's obviously evidence of people who like to commit theft," Lagoa told the prosecutor, her voice dry. "They like to call law enforcement, correct?"

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Colan replied: "If you tell them a false story, it is."

A photo of captain John Moore Jr. and passengers unloading miles of longline onto a dock in Jupiter went viral on Aug. 10, 2020. Prosecutors would use this photo, and others, to prosecute Moore and his crewmate, Tanner Mansell, for theft in federal court.

19 stolen sharks: How the theft went down, as told by the divers and the angler who lost his catch

Moore and Mansell have long said they believed they were thwarting a crime by releasing the sharks  not actively committing one. Unconvinced, Colan repeated the argument that Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Watts-Fitzgerald made to jurors during the divers' weeklong trial in 2022.

Moore and Mansell are commercial shark divers whose livelihoods depend on sharks in the water. It wasn't altruism that motivated them to free the sharks, pull the line ashore and leave it to be scavenged by passersby, the prosecutor said.

Colan didn't mention that Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer Barry Partelow declined to investigate the longline immediately, and instead told Moore to leave it on the dock for him to collect later. By the time the officer finally returned, the three-mile line had been picked clean of its hardware and loaded into a dumpster at the order of the harbor master.

The gear alone cost the vessel owner about $1,300, Colan said, and the value of the lost sharks amounted to several thousand more. Tourists aboard Moore and Mansells boat testified that the men believed they were doing the right thing by confiscating the fishing gear and releasing the sharks snagged by its hooks.

'Blessed that it wasn't worse': Florida surfer recounts shark bite that cost him tip of toe

A legitimate concern for wildlife should never result in people facing felony charges, wrote one of the divers supporters, who helped fundraise about $28,000 for Moore and Mansell through a GoFundMe page launched prior to their conviction. A GoFundMe page in support of the Fort Pierce fisherman whose equipment was destroyed helped raise about $4,500.

The jury's guilty verdict appeared to come after much back and forth in the deliberation room. They mulled over the evidence for three days, at times asking federal Judge Donald Middlebrooks for help.

Not unanimous. Cannot get there. How should we proceed? wrote the jury foreman in a note to the judge.

Continue deliberating, Middlebrooks wrote back. Could he define the word mistake? the foreman asked. No, Middlebrooks responded.

After another note in which the foreman said the jury was still very divided, Middlebrooks issued a formal letter imploring them to press on anyway.

Finally, and to the defense attorneys dismay, the jurors agreed: Moore and Mansell had intended to steal the fishing gear.

Moore and Mansell faced up to five years in federal prison and as much as $250,000 in fines after jurors convicted them of theft in December 2022. Middlebrooks spared them from both, sentencing the men to one year of probation and about $3,345 in repayment to the fisherman whose sharks they freed.

Marc Seitles, who represented Moore during the criminal trial and continues to represent him through the appeal, said he was pleased with this months hearing before the appeals court judges. If they reverse the divers conviction, it will be up to the U.S. Attorney's Office to decide whether to try the case again or drop the charges entirely.

Hannah Phillips is a journalist covering public safety and criminal justice at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at hphillips@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Appeals court may overturn divers' theft conviction for freeing sharks
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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A Jackson County jury has convicted a Raytown, Missouri man in the April 2023 deadly shooting of 24-year-old Nehemiah Newton.

The jury on Thursday convicted 19-year-old Jayshaun D Jones of second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of armed criminal action.

The jury has recommended up to 36 years in prison. A Jackson County judge will sentence Jones at a later date.

According to court records, Raytown police officers responded to a person being shot just after 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 20, 2023, in the area of E. 87th Street and Stark Avenue.

Woman charged with arson following Independence apartment fire

When officers arrived on scene they found a man, identified as Newton, in the driveway of a residence, dead from multiple gunshot wounds.

Following a postmortem conducted the following day, detectives were informed Newton sustained thirteen total gunshot wounds, with seven in the back of the body and six in the front, according to court records.

A neighbor stated he heard people arguing outside and saw a man in a red hooded sweatshirt arguing with the victim. Shortly after, rapid gunfire followed and the victim fell to the ground, according to court records.

Another witness stated she was sitting in the living room of the home when she heard an argument outside. She stated Jones reached into a bag and pulled out a firearm. A struggle for the firearm began between Jones and Newton when Newton was shot by Jones, according to court records.

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Court records show Jones had previous involvement with the Raytown Police Department in March of 2023 involving a stolen car, in which he was arrested.

Jones told detectives he shot Newton as he was moving away but thought he might pivot.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Jury reaches verdict on two charges against former Cape Cod priest, mistrial on third

A Barnstable Superior Court jury found Mark Hession, the former Cape Cod priest accused of rape, not guilty Friday on two counts of rape alleged to have occurred between 2005 and 2008.

The jury deadlocked, however, on one count of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, alleged to have taken place in 2002.

Judge Mark C. Gildea declared a mistrial on the charge of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, saying the jury was hopelessly deadlocked. A status hearing on the indictment will be held Aug. 19 in Barnstable Superior Court.

Outside the courthouse following the verdict, Hession and his defense team, attorneys Frank C. Corso and Paolo G. Corso, and said they had no comment on the verdict.

Mark Hession waits during jury deliberations Friday at Barnstable Superior Courthouse where the former Cape Cod priest was found not guilty on two charges of rape later that morning.

We believed in our case, said Cape and Islands District Attorney Rob Galibois following the verdict. I want to recognize the victims courage to come into court to testify, and we respect the jurors verdict.

Following closing statements made by the defense and prosecution June 14, court was adjourned over the weekend without the jury reaching a verdict. They were then instructed by Gildea to return to court Monday morning at 10:30 a.m. to continue deliberations.

In total, the jury deliberated for five days.

Mark Hession, left, stands to hear the verdict from the jury read at Barnstable Superior Courthouse on Friday.

Hession pleads not guilty to charges in 2021

Hession, who served as the parish priest of Our Lady of Victory in Centerville from 2000 to 2014, pleaded not guilty to all charges stemming from his January 2021 indictment.

The defense rested their case on June 13 without calling Hession to the stand. Paolo Corso said June 14 the prosecutions case against Hession was based on faulty testimony from an uncredible witness, calling the accusations revisionist history.

During the defense's testimony, four witnesses who had worked at Our Lady of Victory testified that they never saw Hession engage in any inappropriate behavior with the accuser.

Prosecuting the case, Cape and Islands Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Halprin Isaacs outlined the allegations in closing statements on June 14, underscoring the case is about sexual abuse and a dynamic that functioned on Hession abusing his position of power.

What was the timeline for the allegations?

A 36-year-old man testified June 11 that he was sexually abused in 2002 by the former Cape Cod priest while working on a science class project at the church.

The accuser, who at the time was 13, said Hession raped him, saying he was forced to receive and perform oral sex. At the time, he said he never told anyone about the alleged abuse, saying he trusted Hession and calling him the closest thing to God.

The defense focused on the absence of eyewitness testimony supporting the accuser's claims. Isaacs pointed out some of the witnesses did not know the accuser or did not see Hession in the church often due to conflicting schedules.

Supporters of Mark Hession embrace after the verdict at Barnstable Superior Courthouse on Friday, where the former Cape Cod priest was found not guilty on two charges of rape.

What is Hession's background?

Hession was ordained in 1984 and served at 12 different institutions in the Cape Cod and Fall River areas. In 2009, he delivered the homily at the funeral for U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy in Boston.

He has been listed on a publicly accused list by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River since 2021. This list includes religious leaders publicly named in media reports and by advocacy groups for alleged sexual abuse of minors.

Hession has been on leave from active ministry since 2019 due to conduct deemed inconsistent with priestly standards, following complaints of inappropriate communications by parishioners at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Seekonk.

Walker Armstrong reports on all things Cape and Islands, primarily focusing on courts, transportation and the Joint Base Cape Cod military base. Contact him at WArmstrong@capecodonline.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jd__walker.

The Cape Cod Times is providing this coverage for free as a public service. Please take a moment to support local journalism by subscribing.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Hession rape trial: Ex-Cape Cod priest found not guilty of two charges
Donald Trump continues to brag about almost single-handedly demolishing Roe v. Wade, the constitutional right to an abortion that was thrown out by the Supreme Court on June, 24 2022. Two years since, Trump and his anti-abortion allies are continuing their step-by-step efforts to whittle down reproductive rights, extending their attack to in vitro fertilization (IVF), birth control pills and other vital reproductive healthcare.

They're not going to stop at that, Silvina Alarcon, political director at the advocacy group Reproductive Freedom For All, told Salon. That is just the beginning.

In the last two years, women all across America, and especially in red states, have been stripped of the power to decide what happens to their bodies. In Alabama, the state's highest court ruled that frozen embryos were literal children, raising the prospect that couples using IVF to have a child, and the medical professionals assisting them, could face criminal penalties. In Idaho, a near-total ban on abortion provides no exceptions for the life of a mother.

Recent polling suggests as many as one in five voters blame President Joe Biden for the 2022 Dobbs decision, when three Trump appointees joined with the Supreme Court's other conservative justices and overturned Roe v. Wade. But Alarcon explained that Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have in fact done more to protect reproductive freedom than any other administration, arguing that the contrast between the Biden and previous Trump administration couldnt be starker.

There's also reason to hope for a better future. If Biden were to win another term, Alarcon said, and "we are able to flip the House, hold the Senate, have four more years of the White House, we are going to have a [Democratic] trifecta that is going to allow us to have a path to be able to codify Roe into law, into the Constitution."

There's also reason for alarm. If Trump wins, regardless of the color of the state  red, blue or purple  women and others who need access to reproductive care will suffer the consequences.

Trump has boasted of his role in rolling back reproductive freedom, saying that Republican-led states imposing abortion bans in the wake of the Dobbs decision has been a beautiful thing to watch. He also recently suggested he would favor state limits on birth control, comments he backtracked from following widespread criticism.

Democrats, for their part, have been seeking to highlight some of the dangers of another Trump presidency, seeing these broadly unpopular policies as a vulnerability for Republicans. At a press conference Friday, Democrats from the red states of Alabama, Kansas, and Idaho shared the harsh reality of the ongoing fight for reproductive freedom in the places they call home.

MAGA Republicans following in the footsteps of Donald Trump, who has bragged repeatedly about his role in the Supreme Courts decision have waged war on reproductive healthcare in this nation, Alabama state Rep. Marilyn Lands said at a press conference, describing her state as "ground zero in Trumps war against women and families.

What starts in Alabama seems to spread rapidly to other states, Lands said. Our maternal outcomes are the worst in this country because we could be the last state to extend Medicaid," she added, noting that Republicans who claim to support life have denied healthcare, including prenatal care, to its poorest residents.

Kansas Democratic Party Chair Jeanna Repass spoke emphatically about the state bans that, in Republican eyes, are working the way they should. She drew attention to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and her role in blocking aggressive Republican proposals to further roll back reproductive rights in the state, including a near-total ban on abortion and drugs such as mifepristone.

Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea likewise noted that Republicans in her state do not even want exemptions to their abortion ban that would protect mothers. She said she has discouraged her own daughters from raising a family in Idaho, noting that women there must be "airlifted" to other states if they face life-threatening complications during pregnancy.

Democrats also know that the issue of reproductive freedom is a winner for them, politically, and an albatross for many Republican politicians, who have sought to portray themselves before a national audience as more moderate than they are in real life.

Alarcon told Salon that Democrats are right to focus on the issue for moral reasons, but it could also help keep the party in the White House and help it regain complete control of Congress in November.

"We know that eight in 10 Americans are with us, including 58% of Republicans that say that we should have legal access to abortion," she said.
An investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice found that Alaska failed to comply with requirements set forth by federal law to make voting accessible for people with disabilities.

The Justice Department announced on Tuesday that Alaska discriminated against voters with disabilities by failing to provide an accessible ballot for in-person voting; selecting inaccessible polling places for federal, state and local elections; and maintaining an inaccessible election website.

For too long, people with disabilities have been denied the fundamental rights and freedoms that citizens of our democracy possess, including the opportunity to fully participate in the voting process, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division said in a statement on Tuesday.

Under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), state voting services, programs and activities are required to be accessible to individuals who have disabilities.

The Justice Department is fully committed to enforcing the ADA to make sure that individuals with disabilities have an equal opportunity to vote, including by voting privately and independently like everyone else, Clarke said.

An investigation in 2022 through the departments ADA Voting Initiative was prompted by several complaints from Alaskans about accessibility issues they faced in the voting process.

Some voters reported that they couldnt privately or independently vote because the accessible voting machines were unavailable or didnt work. Others said that the polling places were inaccessible and that they couldnt obtain important information about the election online because the states election website wasnt accessible.

These voting barriers were detailed in the Justice Departments investigation findings, which were outlined in a public letter of findings issued to Alaska on Monday.

Accessible machines were developed decades ago to make voting accessible to people with disabilities, according to ADA training materials for poll workers. For instance, ballot marking machines can audibly read the ballot to voters, allowing them to cast their votes privately and independently. These machines usually have tools that voters with disabilities can choose from to help them navigate the process, including a keypad, touchscreen, Braille, rocker paddles and a sip-and-puff accessory for air-pressure controls.

Michael Kasey, an election official in Fredericksburg, Virginia, explained in an interview with WRC-TV in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday that these specific tools allow disabled individuals to exercise their right to vote without having to disclose their choices to those helping them vote.

Most Americans choose to keep [their choices] private, and thats their right, so this should be extended to people with disabilities and thats what these ballot marking machines do, Kasey told WRC-TV.

But similar to the findings in the Justice Departments investigation of Alaskas voting accessibility, data shows that it is still an issue in states across the country.

Officials from the Government Accountability Office visited 167 polling places during the 2016 general election and found that only 17% were fully accessible for people with disabilities who wanted to vote in person, with the most common barriers being steep ramps, lack of signs for accessible paths to the building, gravel parking lots or lack of parking options.

Despite the increased voting access created by mail-in absentee ballots in 2020, data shows more than 11% of voters with disabilities reported having difficulty casting their ballot that year. Voting barriers have continued. Voter suppression laws that affect people with disabilities have been enacted in at least 14 states, including Georgia and Texas, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

Related...
**UPDATE: KCPD has identified the victim as 48-year-old Larry D. Boyd.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Homicide detectives are looking for clues after a man was found shot and killed on Friday afternoon at 84th and Wabash.

Kansas City police say officers were called at 1 p.m., to a scene south of Malborough Park and directed to a space where there was overgrown brush. Investigators say officers found an adult male who was unresponsive and declared dead at the scene with a gunshot wound.

Second alleged victim of Blue Springs school board president speaks out

KCPD doesnt have a suspect or suspect description, and the victim hasnt been identified.

If you saw or heard anything, or know of something that will help with this investigation, call the Homicide Unit at (816) 234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-TIPS.

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SHERMAN COUNTY, Kan. (KSNW)  Authorities were asking for the publics help to find a missing 13-year-old Goodland girl.

The Sherman County Sheriffs Office reported to the KBI that the girl was located in Goodland and was safe.

KSN News is now removing all identification of the girl in our story.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
LAKIN, Kan. (KSNW)  KCB Bank is addressing a recent smishing incident that targeted customers and non-customers alike with phone numbers in the 620 area code.

Smishing is a form of phishing that utilizes text messages to lure customers into revealing sensitive information, such as online banking credentials.

The bank has taken immediate steps to safeguard customer funds and data, ensuring their security remains the top priority, KCB Bank said in a news release.

The bank has suspended person to person payments and online banking external transfers to prevent any additional funds from being compromised.

We understand the concern this incident may cause our customers, said John Young, chief executive officer at KCB Bank. Our team is working diligently to investigate and mitigate the impact of this smishing attack.

Sick of those scam text messages? What you can do

Customers of several Kansas banks have been the target. KCB Bank urges all consumers to remain vigilant and follow the following practices to protect themselves from phishing and smishing attacks:

Avoid clicking on suspicious links : Customers should never click on links from unknown or suspicious sources.

Avoid entering credentials from suspicious links : KCB Bank will never send a link asking customers to enter their username, password, or other sensitive information.

Verify communications: Customers should verify the authenticity of any communication purportedly from the bank by contacting KCB Bank directly through official channels.

The Federal Communications Commission also encourages the following practices:

Never click links, reply to text messages or call numbers you dont recognize.

Do not respond, even if the message requests that you text STOP to end messages.

Delete all suspicious texts.

Make sure your smart device OS and security apps are updated to the latest version.

Consider installing anti-malware software on your device for added security.

Protect any sensitive personal information  bank accounts, health records, social media accounts, etc.  by using multi-factor authentication to access it.

Educate your friends and family.

To report an online crime, head to the Federal Bureau of Investigations ic3.gov website.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
Kentucky doctor who gave up license but worked as a consultant admits illegal prescribing

A Kentucky doctor who had given up his license but worked as a consultant at clinic pleaded guilty to conspiracy to illegally distribute drugs.

Don V. Bryson, a 1979 graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, surrendered his license in 2012 after a consultant raised concerns about his prescribing practices, according the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure.

However, he worked as a consultant for a company called The Talmadge Group Inc., which did business in Paintsville under the name Appalachian Family Medicine.

The clinic was in a building Bryson owned. He received rent for the space and a monthly payment for being a consultant, according to his plea agreement.

The business was not registered as a pain clinic, but significant numbers of the people who went there seeking prescriptions for opioid pain medication, the plea agreement says.

Much of the time it was open, the clinic didnt have a full time medical provider, instead using temporary providers. There was a good deal of turnover because the clinic was issuing prescriptions under circumstances that made the providers uncomfortable, according to Brysons plea agreement.

Bryson and the owner of the business put limits on the providers medical decision-making, restricting or discouraging their ability to order drug tests and pill counts for patients, Brysons plea says.

Those are measures doctors can use to make sure patients are not misusing or selling drugs.

Bryson and the owner also discouraged providers at Appalachian Family Medicine from reducing the dosage of pain pills people received.

The plea agreement cited an example from September 2021 in which Bryson and the owner agreed to have a provider issue prescriptions under the name of another provider who had left.

The clinic issued prescriptions for a total of 6,915 pills from Sept. 6 to 9, 2021, in the name of the provider who wasnt there, according to the plea deal.

The clinic owner is identified only as J.B in the court record. State records list Jeremy Talmadge Bryson as the incorporator and agent of The Talmadge Group Inc., which is no longer active.

The address for The Talmadge Group was the same as Don Brysons building on 10th Street in Paintsville.

In an earlier case, Bryson agreed in 2013 to pay the federal government $200,000 to settle allegations of improper billing to Medicare and Medicaid.

Federal authorities had alleged that between 2008 and December 2011, Bryson didnt keep proper documentation for the bills he submitted to the federally funded programs.

In the current case, Bryson agreed to forfeit his office and agreed not to contest seizure of a 2020 Dodge Ram pickup truck and nearly $125,000.

The charge against Bryson is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. He is scheduled him to be sentenced in September.
Kenyas independent policing review body has launched an investigation into the death of a protester who was shot during the mass anti-tax demonstrations in the capital Nairobi on Thursday. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and intensified scrutiny of police actions amid the escalating protests.

The man named by authorities as Rex Masai was present at one of many protests against a controversial finance bill going through parliament, and was allegedly shot with live ammunition by a police officer.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) said Friday it has documented the death of Mr. Rex Masai allegedly as a result of police shooting and several serious injuries suffered by other demonstrators including police officers.

On Thursday, a CNN team witnessed protesters being tear-gassed by police, resulting in a journalist being injured by a canister. Earlier in the week, mass arrests were recorded in Nairobi, with over 200 people detained by police, according to civil society groups.

The Authority has this morning launched investigations into the fatal shooting and our investigation team has since established contact with the family of Mr. Masai, the IPOA statement said.

IPOA called for continued restraint by the police and urged the members of the public to be peaceful and conduct themselves within the confines of the law.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. The State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) has started supplying natural gas to Bulgarian industrial enterprises, Trend reports via SOCAR.

The natural gas supplies are carried out following the agreement between the governments of Azerbaijan and Bulgaria on various directions, including further development of cooperation in the energy sector (signed in Baku on May 8), as well as based on the strategy of expanding SOCAR's commercial participation in the European gas market.

"As a result of successful cooperation between SOCAR and Bulgarian companies M-Gas and Assarel Medet, natural gas supplies to Bulgarian industrial enterprises started on June 21. This is an important step towards strengthening the energy security of this European country," the information notes.

To note, SOCAR and Assarel Medet signed a memorandum of cooperation on May 8 in Baku, which envisages the gasification of several Bulgarian cities, as well as industrial facilities.

Nevertheless, in general, Bulgaria has been receiving Azerbaijani gas since January 2021. The supply is anticipated to reach 1.5 bcm per year in 2024.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
The key to a Trump win in NC? Showing voters their ballots count, RNC leader says

After years of sowing doubt in election results, Republicans are on a tour to convince voters the 2024 presidential election will be secure in order to win key states, including North Carolina.

State and national Republicans gathered in Charlotte Thursday to encourage GOP voters to work as election monitors in the swing state. The event occurred as Republicans work to turn out their base to vote, and vote early, in November. Thats a shift from the 2020 presidential election, when then-President Donald Trump disparaged the process. Trump has also fanned distrust in elections by making false accusations of voter fraud in the wake of the 2020 election.

But after previously calling voting by mail corrupt and crooked, Trump has said this election cycle absentee voting, early voting and Election Day voting are all good options.

On Thursday, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley said it will be vital for the party to assure North Carolina GOP voters the election will be secure to win the single most important battleground state in the entire country.

People will not vote if they dont think their vote is going to count. People will not vote if they dont think that the elections are going to be secure. Theyll stay home, he said. We cannot afford to have people stay home.

The event was part of the RNCs Protect the Vote Tour, a nationwide effort to train supporters as poll watchers, poll workers and volunteer lawyers for the 2024 election. The tour features stops in other critical swing states, including Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona.

It also comes the same day as Republicans in Raleigh rolled out proposed amendments to the state constitution they want on the ballot in November to clarify voter ID is required for mail-in voting and only citizens are allowed to vote in North Carolina elections. Both items are already law.

North Carolina election integrity

Whatley, who previously chaired the North Carolina Republican Party, said voter turnout and election integrity are his top priorities as RNC leader

He told supporters Thursday those efforts will be focused on turning out early voters and training them to work as poll watchers, poll workers and volunteer lawyers. The GOP wants to ensure voter ID and other election laws are followed, he said.

These are things that are not conspiracy theories. This is not election denialism, Whatley said.

The GOP training will focus on teaching prospective volunteers how polling places work and how to report any issues that are spotted to officials, according to Whatley.

We want to make sure everybody understands that were going to respect the poll workers. Were going to respect the process and were going to respect the voters  he said. Were not here to be confrontational.

U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop, the Republican N.C. attorney general nominee, questioned state Democratic leaders ability to run a fair election.

There is no substitute for vigilance, he said.

Thursdays event also featured former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who publicly questioned the results of the 2020 presidential election.

We have to fight to make this the fairest election in our lifetime, she said.

The North Carolina Democratic Party criticized Thursdays event as nothing more than a thinly-veiled effort to train MAGA extremists to suppress the vote in North Carolina.

Trump and his MAGA allies tried to undermine our democratic process in 2020 and they are attempting to do it again this year. We are going to ensure that all voters are heard without intimidation or suppression in November as we re-elect President Biden and elect Democrats up and down the ballot, Democratic spokesman Tommy Mattocks said in a statement.

Is voter fraud a problem?

Years of research by government agencies, academics and news outlets have shown voter fraud is uncommon in the U.S.

Putting rhetoric aside to look at the facts makes clear that fraud by voters at the polls is vanishingly rare, and does not happen on a scale even close to that necessary to rig an election, the New York University School of Laws Brennan Center for Justice says.

But the lack of evidence of widespread electoral fraud hasnt stopped many Americans from doubting the integrity of the upcoming election.

A 2023 Associated Press poll found fewer than half of Americans  44%  have a great deal or quite a bit of confidence that the votes in the 2024 presidential election will be counted accurately. Just 22% of Republicans have high confidence 2024 votes will be counted accurately, compared to 71% of Democrats, the same poll said.

Asked whether hes concerned Trumps past claims about election integrity could hurt Republican turnout, Whatley told The Charlotte Observer Trump has been very clear hes now in favor of early voting.

It really comes down to making sure were talking to (early voters), and were making sure that theyre informed voters before they go out to the polls, he said of the election.

In our CLT Politics newsletter, we offer exclusive insight into Charlotte-region politics sent to your inbox on Thursdays. Subscribe for free. Story idea? mramsey@charlotteobserver.com.
The King County Sheriffs Office has released more information regarding a hit-and-run collision earlier this week in hopes the public can help identify the car involved.

On Sunday, June 16 at 7:17 p.m., deputies were dispatched to the intersection of Southeast 200th Street and 148th Avenue Southeast in unincorporated King County for a hit-and-run injury collision.

The car struck a pedestrian, who suffered critical injuries and continues to be hospitalized with injuries.

Based on evidence, the car was identified as a white/cream, 2007 to 2014 Cadillac Escalade with a missing or damaged drivers side mirror. The Escalade is missing a front plate and has six-spoke chrome rims, chrome running boards, and a roof rack.

Anyone with information or who may recognize the car is asked to send tips to: KCSO.MarrUnitTips@kingcounty.gov

UPDATED NEWS RELEASE:

DETECTIVES SEEK HELP IN HIT AND RUN CASE



KCSO Detectives have determined the vehicle in question has a missing or damaged drivers side mirror.

More details here:https://t.co/if0hwCqxFA pic.twitter.com/o3KC560zpd  King County Sheriff's Office (@kingcosoPIO) June 20, 2024
(FOUNTAIN, Colo.)  After eight years in the making, the City of Fountain and King Soopers finally broke ground at the center of the newest store on Thursday, June 20.

The store will be located at 6255 Sawcut Point and will be the 156th location. To add to the fun, it will also be the companys 16th large-format Marketplace-style store.

This project has been a long time coming, weve been wanting to come to this community and we believe this community wants us as well, said King Soopers Corporate Affairs Manager Jessica Trowbridge. Its been about eight years in the making to bring this project to life, we are really excited to be at this point today where we are scooping dirt and getting started on the project.

The newest grocery store in town brings a $37.3 million investment to Fountain. When completed, it will offer career opportunities to over 250 individuals and bring over $60 million to the area.

The newest store will be 122,000 square feet and offer the community an array of amenities including Starbucks, a drive-thru pharmacy, and an onsite fuel center.

We love to see this because its the fourth big retail thats come here to town so this is kind of a monumental moment, said Councilmember Cory Applegate. They are filing in about a $60 million gap in the retail, we love to see this here. This is a great location, great little corner they got here.

According to Applegate, this was one of Fountains worst kept secrets. It has been a couple of years coming, he added. Everybody had talked about it.

With a set completion date of Summer 2025, the store will feature a variety of amenities including; sushi, Murrays Cheese Shop, a Starbucks, and expanded home and lifestyle offerings. King Soopers will also offer a drive-thru pharmacy and an onsite fuel center.

As for new traffic demands, Councilmember Deitra Duncan said that part of the development requirements is to make roads nearby safer for the community.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: New King Soopers coming to Fountain and the community has mixed reviews

The development and our contractors have done a great job, said Applegate. They will be making improvements to the road in Mesa Ridge Parkway and the intersection over here.

King Soopers wont be the only addition community members may expect in the next few years, according to Duncan, UCHealth will be opening a much-needed clinic in the area to address the healthcare desert.

We have more to come, said Duncan. Im so excited about all the economic development that this project alone is bringing to the Fountain area.

The grocery store will also address the food desert in Fountain.

During the ceremony, King Soopers awarded $5,000 through their Zero Hunger, Zero Waste impact plan to the local food bank Care and Share in support of the Sunny Side Market, which focuses on increasing food access in Fountain.

Care and Share was provided a check to help support local Sunny Side Market.

Those funds are to help continue to serve that program and the population who are struggling with food insecurity down here, said Trowbridge.

Once completed, King Soopers will continue to aid Sunny Side Market by donating food. Last year, they donated over 2.9 million pounds of food through their no-waste plan.

As Fountain continues to responsibly grow to meet the needs of its residents, the value of this project and what King Soopers will bring to our area cannot be understated, said Mayor Pro Term Gordon Rick. Bringing additional options for healthy food, a pharmacy, and other products offered by King Soopers, as well as new local jobs, will no doubt improve opportunities and the quality of life of our residents.

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Fridays Top Stories

Fridays Five Facts

[1] South Fork Fire burns 16,349 acres near Ruidoso, estimated 1,400 structures lost  Two people have died and more than 1,400 structures have been lost in the South Fork and Salt Fires. The fires are still 0% contained. The South Fork Fire is burning more than 16,000 acres and the Salt Fire more than 7,000. Thursday, an additional 570 firefighters arrived in Ruidoso.

[2] Federal funds approved to support wildfire recovery efforts in New Mexico  Thursday, President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration for Lincoln County and the Mescalero Apache Tribe. The declaration will release federal funding to families and businesses in the areas affected by the fires. The governors office and department of homeland security say they are now working to add Otero County to the declaration.

[3] Showers and storms Friday through the weekend  Moisture will continue streaming into the state today, with scattered showers and storms in eastern New Mexico all day. Isolated storms will develop in northwest NM and southwest CO this afternoon, moving east through the overnight hours. These storms may become severe, with damaging wind and hail as the main threats. The storms will move into the Rio Grande Valley and northern mountains late in the evening, after 9 PM, bringing strong winds and heavy rain.

[4] ABQ advisory board recommends making discrimination against homeless a hate crime  A new proposal would create a new classification of hate crime against homeless people in Albuquerque. The resolution from the citys Human Rights Board would ramp up penalties for any crime if the victim was targeted for being homeless. If passed by the board, the resolution would need to go before Albuquerque City Council to be approved.

[5] Bernalillo County GO Bond package  Bernalillo County is released a look at this years General Obligation Bond Questions. The package includes questions on the next general election ballot. The county commission is expected to vote on the final version of the bond package before it goes to voters in November.

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(Bloomberg) -- A California bill forcing the two largest US pension funds to divest an estimated $15 billion in oil and gas assets has quietly fizzled for the third straight year, but the influential state lawmaker behind the effort vowed to renew the legislation with a stronger alliance of climate activists.

Most Read from Bloomberg

State Senator Lena Gonzalez, a Democrat from Los Angeles County, said shell reintroduce legislation next year to force the California Public Employees Retirement System and the California State Teachers Retirement System to dump their holdings in oil and gas companies. She shelved the bill this week after a committee in the legislatures lower house sought to water it down.

We think well get an even broader coalition, Gonzalez, the majority leader of the California Senate, said in an interview. So its going to be more of a concerted effort, a lot more voices.

The proposal stirred divisions among Californias Democratic supermajority by highlighting a choice between climate-change priorities and concerns that divestment would threaten the financial health of municipalities already burdened with pension-fund liabilities. Gonzalezs bill also stalled last year after passing the state Senate.

Under this years proposal, Calpers and Calstrs would have been required to halt new investments in oil and gas companies next year and get rid of their existing assets in the sector by 2031. But the Committee on Public Employment and Retirement, chaired by Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, sought to extend the divestment deadline to 2045 among other provisions, Gonzalez said.

McKinnors office didnt return a request for comment. In a statement, a Calpers spokesperson pointed to the $504 billion funds efforts to combat carbon emissions, including a commitment to increase green investments by more than $50 billion by 2030.

Calstrs, with about $338 billion in investments, said attempts to restrict investments would increase portfolio risk and maintained that the fund is able to use its holdings in energy companies to push for changes that reduce their climate-related risks.

Gonzalezs bill would have required Calpers and Calstrs to sell an estimated $15 billion in assets, according to a legislative analysis last year. A study this year said it would cause the equivalent of a fire sale, potentially forcing the pensions to sell assets at a loss.

(Updates with Calpers comment in sixth paragraph, Calstrs comment in seventh.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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Labour plots to end rental price wars in another blow for landlords

Sir Keir Starmer has hinted Labour could ban landlords and estate agents from accepting offers on rental properties in a crackdown on bidding wars.

The plans replicate amendments the shadow minister for housing and planning Matthew Pennycook tabled for the Conservative Governments now defunct Rental Reform Bill, and are based on similar legislation enacted in New Zealand.

During a Question Time leaders special on Thursday night Sir Keir said: We have to stop the landlords ripping off tenants who are doing this bidding war: wholl pay more until people are paying through the roof. We have to end that.

We can pass legislation to say you cant do it because its driving rents through the roof and its not fair. Its taking advantage.

However, experts have warned the policy could backfire  and drive up rents instead.

Mr Pennycook in April said that if enacted the measures would require landlords or agents acting on their behalf to state the proposed rent, based on an estimate of the propertys market rate in a property advertisement.

The policy, he said, would prevent landlords from inviting bids over the advertised amount.

In 2021, under former prime minister Jactina Arden, New Zealand banned bidding wars and rental properties from being listed without a price.

Rents in Britain have spiralled in recent years due to rising demand and a shortage of properties.

Official government figures show average rents rose by 8.7pc in the 12 months to May this year.

Around 40pc of those who moved in the past year ended up in contracts that were an average 1,200 a year above the advertised rate, according to think tank the New Economics Foundation.

Scotland, which has rent controls, saw the biggest percentage increase in rent in the same period, with costs rising 9.3pc.

The National Residential Landlords Association, an industry body, agreed with the proposals.

Policy director, Chris Norris, said: Reports that some letting agents are encouraging payments above this are concerning. Whilst we agree with the principle of ending bidding wars to tackle the actions of those who do promote such practices, more detail is needed about how this would work and be enforced.

But others accused Labour of misunderstanding the rental crisis.

Chief executive of trade body Propertymark, Nathan Emerson, said: Because you have such pressure on stock it [a bidding war] does not come from landlords, it comes from tenants offering above the price or saying they can pay a year up front.

Agents are legally obliged to pass on all offers to the landlord. The property can only go to one person, those who lose out feel frustrated and bid higher for the next property and it goes on.

There is a longer term picture here so lets see the details but I dont believe it will solve the problem and my experience is landlords arent out there to get every penny they can, they just want consistency and security.

Partner at law firm Gowling WLG Senay Nihat warned a ban on bids could push up listing prices instead.

Clearly for renters this is a positive step, especially with an overheated market where rents are consistently rising, particularly in the midst of a cost of living crisis.

For landlords of course this is an intervention in the market. If a tenant is willing to pay more, arguably they should be allowed to do so. You might therefore see landlords starting listings with higher rents to begin with.

The proposals come in addition to rental reforms detailed in Labours manifesto.

The party has said it plans to reinstate costly energy efficiency targets and abolish no-fault evictions immediately.

Labour said it would give landlords until 2030 to comply with new minimum energy efficiency standards  a plan previously shelved by the Tories.

The targets, which included measures such as installing eco boilers and solar panels, would have cost homeowners thousands of pounds each.

The Labour party declined to comment.

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This weekend marks the eighth anniversary of one of the greatest democratic exercises in this nations history. On June 23, 2016, 17.4 million voted for the UK to leave the EU, the largest mandate the British people have ever given in a public poll. It took three and a half fractious years for Britain to eventually exit the bloc. In January 2020, however, it finally did.

That was no thanks to Sir Keir Starmer. The now Labour leader did not play a prominent role in the referendum campaign. But in the parliamentary battles that followed, he used his position as shadow Brexit secretary to seek to frustrate the will of the people. Instead of seeing his duty as being to respect the mandate that MPs had been given, he manoeuvred to crush it. The result was a well-deserved rout for Labour in Brexit-supporting seats in the 2019 general election.

Labour today insists that its plans to change Britains post-Brexit relationship with the EU are relatively limited. It says that it will not attempt to rejoin the single market or customs union. It asserts that it only wishes to improve the UKs ties with Brussels, through a veterinary agreement, work to prevent border checks, and a new security pact. But it may not need a formal new deal to effectively extinguish the Brexit project. As the Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch warns in this newspaper, Labour could take us backwards simply by copying everything the EU does.

There is no evidence that Sir Keir, his shadow Cabinet, or his partys candidates have become genuine converts to Brexit or new freedoms. Their view of the EU tends to be cartoonish  unwilling to acknowledge, for example, that Europe is shifting to the Right on matters like immigration  but it reflects the partys wider belief in international institutions and technocracy. Winning a massive majority would almost certainly result in a growing clamour within Labour for Sir Keir to seize the opportunity to put the UK back into the EUs tractor beam.

It is strange that Brexit has played so little part in the current election campaign. Some imply that this is because leaving the EU has been a failure. That is wrong. As Lord Frost writes in these pages, many of the arguments made by Europhiles are fatuous and the opposite of the truth.

We have been critical of the Conservatives over the past few years for not embracing the full possibilities of leaving the EU. But it was always going to be a long-term project, and the deals that allowed Britain to leave Brussels orbit stand among the most significant recent Tory achievements. They gave us back our independence and restored faith in the UKs democratic institutions. Sir Keir threatens to put that at risk again.

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Wayne Rodolfich

The firing of former Lake Wales Charter Schools Superintendent Wayne Rodolfich was unlawful, unfair and the termination process violated his employment contract, his attorney said at a hearing Thursday before the charter district's board.

But if the board is willing to change his termination to without cause and offer to pay Rodolfich a severance, any further actions by his client against the board would go away, attorney J. Kemp Brinson of Lakeland said.

Rodolfich was fired with cause on June 7 by the Lake Wales Charter School District board in a 5-1 vote after hearing privately at least some parts of an investigation into complaints that he had created a hostile work environment and racially discriminated against at least one employee.

Two other options were explained by Brinson. The board could leave his termination as "with cause" and negotiate a settlement. Or the board could go to court to defend a lawsuit over the matter.

If we do not find a solution, we have no choices left to us but to file a lawsuit, Brinson said.

We are not going to say much at all about the allegations themselves, the substance of the investigation or the underlying concerns that went into it, he said. We will leave that for the courtroom if it comes to it."

In a video recording of the meeting, Rodolfich could be seen seated behind his attorney. He did not attend the board meeting in which he was let go.

The board members were given summaries of the interviews the investigator conducted, but no written report has been prepared nor the terms of his contract followed for a termination, Brinson said, calling the investigator professional.

Tampa-based attorney Terin Cremer of Barbas Cremer PLLC met individually with each board member the day before and the day of the firing to provide a verbal summary of the interviews she conducted with about 30 employees during her part of the investigation.

The board voted to fire Rodolfich with cause at a special meeting within hours of meeting with Cremer. Several said the allegations against him were substantiated once they heard those summaries.

The Ledger has requested the summaries from the charter school districts attorney, Robin Gibson. He declined, citing an exemption to Florida's public-records laws that shields material from active investigations.

Reason for the hearing

The only board member who spoke at Thursdays hearing was Chairman Danny Gill, who told his colleagues the purpose of the hearing was to hear from Rodolfichs attorney. He urged them to be respectful and courteous and not engage in gossip and speculation regarding the situation.

This matter has affected many people in various ways, and we should always strive to be sensitive to others, he said. Gossip and speculation regarding the situation doesn't help this community heal. And only creates more of a division. The board is handling this matter based on pure facts and not emotions.

Is Lake Wales city manager leaving? James Slaton is finalist in two other Florida cities

He also cited a section within Rodolfichs contact saying he was entitled to a hearing within 20 days after receiving the written charges against him.

Any comments today will be handled by our attorney, Gill said. He added, Please do not take the lack of Board response today as affirmation or confirmation of any statements made.

He recapped the board actions prior to and on June 7 and then read the reason for the termination with cause.

And as required by section 6B of the agreement, the Board decided to terminate for cause for the following reasons set forth in section 110.227, sub one Florida statute, he said. (A) violation of the provisions of law or agency rules (B) conduct unbecoming of a public employee and (C) misconduct.

Was the contract process followed?

Brinson said that this was an unusual situation. After watching videos of the board meeting, he said, he was struck by the number of times one of you asked, well, do we have a policy on this? Is there a procedure for this? And the answer was, no, we just have to figure it out.

He also acknowledged the board was likely not to respond to his presentation at the hearing because wise attorneys usually tell their clients it is best not to say too much.

Still he said, There is still a possibility of an amicable path forward. He added, We're here today just to talk in good faith, to try to reach a resolution.

He said there are very specific circumstances when the superintendent cannot get severance pay when terminated with cause under the contract and even those are not very clear.

In addition to the legal obligations imposed by the contract, there are also certain obligations imposed by Florida sunshine statutes that require you to do your business with transparency and in the open and not behind closed doors, he said.

The process should give Rodolfich an opportunity to respond to the allegations. While Rodolfich was interviewed by the investigator, Brinson said he was concerned his client was not given an opportunity to respond.

You probably believe that he was clearly confronted with the allegations and the evidence against him, Brinson said. That he had a chance to provide a thorough and detailed response to those allegations.

That is not how these investigations work, he said. That is not how this investigation worked. I am not in any way casting aspersions on the investigator."

He added that Rodolfich never got to see the complaint. There was no information that flowed from the investigator to Dr. Radovich. There were only questions asked and answers given.

You don't get to find out what the allegations were," Brinson said. You don't get to review and respond to the evidence. You're simply asked questions and you're required to answer them. It's more like a deposition or an interrogation or a police interview than it is an opportunity to be heard such as the one that you probably believe he was afforded.

"We can guess what some of those concerns are, what some of the allegations were, based on the questions, he added.

I am only saying that I think that you have a conclusion about what that process looked like that is not true, he said. So as we sit here today. We have still not seen the allegations. We know via rumor, via what some of the questions were, via some verbal summaries, what some of them probably are. We have not seen the evidence. We have not seen the findings.

Brinson said he had spoken with Cremer to also hear the summaries shared with the board. He also said the one-on-one meetings between the board and the investigators were conducted outside of the sunshine.

I am not casting aspersions on her, he said. The purpose of those conversations was to help facilitate whether some sort of amicable separation could be possible, and we approached it in that spirit, not in the spirit of learning what the allegations were so that we could fight against them.

BizLinc: CFO of company that runs Lake Wales incubator charged with embezzling more than $250,000

He also said he understood that the board was under no obligation to negotiate after hearing the allegations privately.

But what happened next ... was you took the next step, he said. You did not wait for the investigation to be completed, did not wait for the report to be finalized.

You did not treat him fairly like you said was your intent when you initiated the investigation, he said. You jumped immediately to a termination decision, and you did that without the findings of the investigation being made a matter of record in the sunshine.

You did that without any substantive discussion of the findings on the record at a public meeting, Brinson said.

Your council then sent a notice to us of the termination that is required under the contract, he said. In that notice, there is not a single fact. There is not a single charge explaining what it is that he did wrong.

This was not the process that the law requires, he said. And this is not the process that government in the sunshine requires. And this is definitely not a process that was fair to Dr. Rodolfich, and it's not the process you envisioned when you hired the investigator.

Brinson said the process has damaged the reputation of Rodolfich.

Rumor and gossip about what the allegations were, which have not been made public, in which, even I've never seen. Rumor and gossip about what the findings were. Rumor that he's a racist. Dr. Rodolfich is a passionate antiracist, he said, both in Lake Wales and his home state of Mississippi.

Brinson said Rodolfich would have wanted to solve concerns his employees had about bias.

He said the board had backed Rodolfich "into a corner" and left them no choice but to sue.

It's going to be a long battle," he said. "It's going to be ugly, it's going to be expensive. It is going to be a distraction, which we've said today already we do not want.

You, however, have other options, he said. Make the termination a termination without cause and pay him the severance promised to him under the contract. If you do that, this is over today.

Next steps

After Brinsons presentation, Gibson said told the board that, unless they wanted otherwise, he would continue negotiations with Brinson. He urged any board member to speak with him privately should they have questions about the matter.

Gill then told the board the matter would be on the agenda for the July 22 meeting and ended the hearing.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lawyer for former Lake Wales school superintendent threatens to sue
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. The current and future cooperation in the energy sector, energy transition, and decarbonization were the topics of the meeting between SOCAR President Rovshan Najaf and Ukrainian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Azerbaijan Yuriy Husyev, Trend reports via SOCAR.

Both parties expressed contentment with the prosperous advancement of SOCAR Energy Ukraine and deliberated on many matters of shared concern.

To note, SOCAR is interested in Ukraine's gas infrastructure, including its gas storage facilities.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
LANCASTER, Pa. (WHTM)  The Lancaster City Police Department is celebrating a new member to their K9 police force.

On Monday, June 17, Lancaster City Police welcomed Mizo, a 14-month-old German Shepherd from the Czech Republic, to the force. Mizo is partnered with Officer J. Hatfield and will serve as a dual-purpose K-9, cross-trained in patrol and narcotics. Mizo is one of five K9s that graduated from the Iron Rose K9 Police Academy this year.

Lancaster County police celebrate K9 Graduation Day

Mizo and Officer Hatfield will start their first shift together this evening. Lancaster Police say they are excited to watch the duo grow into a skilled and reliable team.









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The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. Heres the state of abortion rights now in the US

Judges, state lawmakers and voters are deciding the future of abortion in the U.S. two years after the Supreme Court jolted the legal status quo with a ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade.

The June 24, 2022, ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization sparked legislative action, protest and numerous lawsuits  placing the issue at the center of politics across the country.

Abortion is now banned at all stages of pregnancy, with limited exceptions, in 14 Republican-controlled states. In three other states, it's barred after about the first six weeks, which is before many know they are pregnant. Most Democratic-led states have taken actions to protect abortion rights, and become sanctuaries for out-of-state patients seeking care.

That's changed the landscape of abortion access, making it more of a logistical and financial ordeal for many in conservative states. But it has not reduced the overall number of procedures done each month across the U.S.

Here's what to know about the state of abortion rights in the U.S. now.

Limited abortion access prompts more out-of-state travel

Bans in Republican-led states have prompted many people seeking abortions to travel to get care.

That translates into higher costs for gas or plane tickets, hotels and meals; more logistics to figure out, including child care; and more days off work.

A new study by the Guttmacher Institute, which advocates for abortion access, found that out of just over a million abortions provided in clinics, hospitals and doctors' offices, more than 161,000  or 16%  were for people who crossed state lines to get them.

More than two-thirds of abortions done in Kansas and New Mexico were for out-of-staters, particularly Texans.

Since Florida's six-week abortion ban kicked in in May, many people had to travel farther than before, since throughout the Southeast, most states have bans.

Low-income patients and those lacking legal permission to be in the country are more likely to be unable to travel. There can be lasting costs for those who do.

In Alabama, the Yellowhammer Fund, which previously helped residents pay for the procedure has paused doing so since facing threats of litigation from the state.

Jenice Fountain, Yellowhammers executive director, said she met a woman recently who traveled from Alabama to neighboring Georgia for an abortion but found she couldnt get one there because she was slightly too far into her pregnancy. So she then went to Virginia. The journey wiped out her rent money and she needed help to remain housed.

Were having people use every dime that they have to get out of state, or use every dime they have to have another child, Fountain said.

It's usually provided with pills rather than procedures

Nearly two-thirds of known abortions last year were provided with pills rather than procedures.

One report found that pills are prescribed via telehealth and mailed to about 6,000 people a month who live in states with abortion bans. They're sent by medical providers in states with laws intended to protect them from prosecution for those prescriptions. The laws in Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, Vermont and Washington specifically protect medical providers who prescribe the pills to patients in states with bans.

The growing prominence of pills, which were used in about half of all abortions just before the Dobbs ruling, is a frontier in the latest chapter of the legal fight.

The U.S. Supreme Court this month unanimously rejected an effort by abortion opponents who were seeking to overturn or roll back the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations approval of mifepristone, one of two drugs usually used together for medication abortions. The issue is likely to return.

Abortion is on the 2024 ballot

In this presidential election year, abortion is a key issue.

Protecting access has emerged as a key theme in the campaigns of Democrats, including President Joe Biden in his reelection bid. Former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, has said states should decide whether to restrict abortions. He also suggested states could limit contraception use but changed his tune on that.

We recognize this could be the last Dobbs anniversary we celebrate, Kelsey Pritchard, a spokesperson for Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America said in an interview, noting that if Democrats win the presidency and regain control of both chambers of Congress, a right to abortion could be enshrined in the law.

The issue will also be put directly before voters in at least four states. Colorado, Florida, Maryland and South Dakota have ballot measures this year asking voters to approve state constitutional amendments that would protect or expand access to abortion. A New York measure would bar discrimination against someone who has an abortion. There are attempts to put questions about abortion access on the ballots this year in Arkansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska and Nevada.

There's also a push for a ballot measure in Arizona, where the state Supreme Court this year ruled that an 1864 abortion ban could be enforced. With the help of some Republicans  Democrats in the Legislature were able to repeal that law.

Generally, abortion rights expand when voters are deciding. In the seven statewide abortion policy-related votes since 2022, voters have sided with abortion rights advocates in every case.

It's still up to the courts  including the Supreme Court

The Dobbs ruling and its aftermath gave rise to a bevy of legal questions and lawsuits challenging nearly every ban and restriction.

Many of those questions deal with how exceptions  which come into play far more often when abortion is barred earlier in pregnancy  should apply. The issue is often raised by those who wanted to be pregnant but who experienced life-threatening complications.

A group of women who had serious pregnancy complications but were denied abortions in Texas sued, claiming the state's ban is vague about which exceptions are allowed. The all-Republican Texas Supreme Court disagreed in a May ruling.

The Supreme Court also heard arguments in April on the federal government's lawsuit against Idaho, which says its ban on abortions at all stages of pregnancy can extend to women in medical emergencies. The Biden administration says that violates federal law. A ruling on that case could be issued at any time.

Meanwhile, bans have been put on hold by judges in Iowa, Montana, Utah and Wyoming.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced that there will be lane restrictions in place on Sunday, June 23 and Monday, June 24 on northbound I-83 in Harrisburg.

According to PennDOT, the right lane of northbound I-83 will be closed from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. on both June 23 and June 24. The right lane will be closed from the South Bridge to just north of 19th Street.

PennDOT says that closure is so a temporary concrete barrier can be installed along the right shoulder between the bridge and 13th Street interchange.

Once the barrier is installed, drainage work will be performed behind it.

This project is associated with the first two contracts for East Shore Section 3 of the larger I-83 Capital Beltway Project, which includes widening and reconstruction portions of the I-83 roadway, construction of overhead bridges at 29th Street and 19th Street, construction of the new Cameron Street Interchange, removing the 13th Street interchange, and roadway improvements along the Cameron Street, 19th Street and 29th Street corridors.

As part of this project, there may be significant impacts to traffic, including shifts, lane restrictions, and road closures/ detours.

All work on this $154,627,000 contract is expected to be completed by October 2027.

The second East Shore Section 3 contract is expected to be under construction from 2025 to 2028. This will include the widening and reconstruction on I-83, the construction of the 13th Street bridge and approaches, and the construction of the 17th Street interchange and widening 17th Street.

abc27 news will keep you updated as more information becomes available.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Metro police arrested a Las Vegas woman on a misdemeanor DUI charge after finding her at home a quarter mile from where her Jeep struck a light pole on Monday afternoon, according to a police report.

The vehicle had left the scene of another collision a half mile away, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department impaired driving report said.

Brittany Lynn Hunter left the scene of the crash because she was shaken up, her husband, William Hunter, told officers who arrived after a call reporting the crash at about 4:20 p.m. Monday at Paradise Road and Shady Meadows Avenue in the south valley.

When officers arrived at the house, she was slumped over on the bed and wasnt fully responsive, the report said. Officers reported a strong odor of alcohol and observed slurred speech and an unsteady gait when she was escorted out of the home.

William told officers that Brittany started drinking when she got home after the collision. About an hour had elapsed between the crash and officers arriving at the home. Brittany, who is either 41 or 42 years old based on information in the report, had small scrapes on her arms and reddening on her face consistent with an airbag deployment.

The level of intoxication and signs exhibited by Brittany were not consistent with her having consumed alcohol after she arrived home, instead having consumed a large amount of alcohol prior to her driving and being involved in a vehicle collision, the report said.

Brittany initially refused to undergo a Standard Field Sobriety Test. When asked a second time, she declined again. She also refused a Preliminary Breath Test. Later, she said she wanted her lawyer.

She was arrested and transported to University Medical Centers Trauma Unit for clearance before being taken to the detention facility. Officers obtained a warrant and the DUI van went to UMC to take blood samples.

Brittany did also fail to maintain lane resulting in a collision and did fail to remain on the scene of two separate collisions without providing the necessary information to the other involved drivers, the report said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
After a 7-year-old girl died in a beach sand hole that collapsed on her, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea has restricted the depth of sand holes on its beaches.

The June 6 ordinance, passed unanimously by the five-person town commission, prohibits digging a hole or trench on the beach deeper than 18 inches and outlaws anyone from leaving an area without completely filling in a hole or trench dug on a beach. The measure also prohibits removing or excavating sand from any dune or beach within town limits.

The new ordinance comes four months after the February death of Sloan Mattingly, who was playing with her brother Maddox when a 5- to 6-foot sand hole they dug on the beach collapsed on them, trapping her. Despite beachgoers and the parents frantic efforts to dig them out, the shifting sand hindered their rescue attempts.

Maddox Mattingly, Sloans 9-year-old brother, survived; Sloan was rushed to Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, where doctors pronounced her dead. The family was vacationing from Indiana and were at the beach at 4424 El Mar Drive in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea.

In a statement to the Herald on Friday, the Broward Sheriffs Office Homicide Unit says it has concluded its investigation and ruled Sloans death as an accident.

Investigators on the beach in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea take photos of the scene of a sand collapse on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. A young girl died Tuesday afternoon after she and a young boy were digging a hole in the sand on the beach at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea when it collapsed on them, burying them both, a city official said.

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is not the first Broward city that regulates sand holes. The city of Fort Lauderdale has an existing ordinance that prohibits digging holes at beaches.

No lifeguards

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea does not employ lifeguards, however.

Tom Gill, vice president of the United States Lifesaving Association, emphasized the need for greater safety measures.

Passing an ordinance limiting holes to 18 inches is a very small step in protecting people, said Gill, who has been an ocean lifeguard for 34 years. Ordinances, similar to flags, do not save people. Lifeguards, trained to prevent drowning and injuries, could significantly enhance beach safety.

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Mayor Edmund Malkoon reiterated the towns commitment to public safety, in an email to the Herald. We recently amended our Town Code to prohibit digging deeper than 18 inches on our beach and are now considering adding a beach code enforcement officer to enforce our local laws. I hope other coastal towns will follow our lead.

A man died last Friday afternoon after he was rescued from the ocean in a town beach. Pompano Beach Fire Rescue took the man to Holy Cross Health in Fort Lauderdale, where he was pronounced dead, the Broward Sheriffs Office said.

On its website, the town has a rip current safety guide that states: The Towns Volunteer Fire Department established a Beach Safety Patrol in October 2008. However, Beach Safety Patrol members are not lifeguards, and they have not received training to make ocean rescues.

The Broward Sheriffs Office and Pompano Beach Fire Rescue intermittently patrol the beach as well.

Commissioner Theo Poulopoulos has been advocating for lifeguards and did so after the June 6 vote.

I think the prospects are good in the long run, Poulopoulos told the New Pelican, a Pompano Beach newspaper. We need to look at the costs and how we can pay for it. I dont want to raise taxes for it, but there are other ways we can look into paying for it.

Gill, with the lifeguard association, acknowledged the cost.

The financial aspect is always a concern, but the cost of not having lifeguards is also significant, said Gill. Lifeguards can minimize emergency response costs by handling situations before they escalate.

In addition to the ordinance, the Town Commission approved the Sandcastles for Sloan national beach safety campaign on April 30.

The initiative, developed at the request of the Mattingly family, aims to educate the public about beach safety. Materials, including flyers, brochures, videos and social media posts, are being rolled out and shared with coastal communities nationwide. The campaign encourages beachgoers to build sandcastles instead of digging holes.

For more information and to access educational materials, visit the towns website at Sandcastles for Sloan Beach Safety Campaign.
Beetlejuice is rearing its ugly head once again for Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), this time in the form of a political opponents campaign ad.

John Padora, a Democrat running against Boebert to replace Republican Ken Buck in Colorados 4th Congressional District, says he filmed his video in the exact seat at the Denver theater where Boebert sat in September, when she and a date were escorted out of a Beetlejuice musical for vaping and being disruptive.

In the ad, Padora points out that Boebert is switching over to Colorados 4th District from the 3rd. The move, announced last year, meant that she could avoid a rematch against a Democrat in the 3rd who outraised her.

Im sitting in the very same seat that Lauren Boebert got kicked out of, the same way she got kicked out of Colorados 3rd Congressional District, Padora says in the video. Now shes picked up her bags and fled to eastern Colorado to run in the 4th Congressional District.

Let's send @laurenboebert packing.  Can you chip in $5 or $10 today so we can win this?! https://t.co/nVRiuji3cwpic.twitter.com/jMd7FCYGjV  John Padora for Congress (CO-4) (@PadoraforCO) June 20, 2024

HuffPost reached out to Boeberts office for comment on the ad but did not receive an immediate response.

Boebert has been plagued with Beetlejuice references throughout her campaign in the 4th District.

During a debate in May, moderator Kyle Clark brought up the incident and bluntly asked:

Did you apologize for the behavior that went on with you and your date, or the vaping ... or did you apologize for lying to voters about what you did that night and the disrespect that you showed to service workers that night? What specifically were you apologizing for?

Earlier that month, when Boebert visited a Washington university as students protested Israels war in Gaza, demonstrators mocked her by chanting, Beetlejuice.

Boebert was also taunted by a fellow Republican in January, when Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) told guests at the Washington Press Club Foundations annual Congressional Dinner: I know its date night for some of you, but no inappropriate touching. That includes you, Lauren Boebert. No vaping, either.

Despite all the ridicule and accusations of carpetbagging, Boebert has a good chance of winning next weeks GOP primary election in the 4th District. In a late May poll, 40% of respondents said they would vote for her.

Related...
Lauren Boebert has not yet won the Republican nomination in Colorados 4th district, but that hasnt stopped a Democratic challenger from blasting her for her infamous behavior at a performance of Beetlejuice in Denver.

John Padora, a Democrat running to replace Republican Representative Ken Buck in the district, has wasted no time going after Boebert, the best-known candidate in next weeks Republican primary. His new advertisement, recorded at a similar angle to the security camera that captured her vaping and groping her date in the middle of the musical, is going viral.

Im sitting in the very same seat Lauren Boebert got kicked out of, the same way she got kicked out of Colorados 3rd Congressional District. Now shes picked up her bags and fled to eastern Colorado, Padora says in the fundraising spot.

Boebert announced she would not run for reelection in the 3rd district after eking out a reelection victory in 2022 and then being outraised by a Democratic challenger and losing the endorsement of several prominent district Republicans for the upcoming election. She fled to the redder 4th districtbut her date-night hijinks seem to have followed her, and Padora is taking full advantage.

Boeberts an opportunistic carpetbagger, and we deserve real leadership here in Colorados 4th, Padora says.

Let's send @laurenboebert packing.  Can you chip in $5 or $10 today so we can win this?! https://t.co/nVRiuji3cw pic.twitter.com/jMd7FCYGjV  John Padora for Congress (CO-4) (@PadoraforCO) June 20, 2024

Of all of Boeberts transgressions that Padora might have seized onpromoting the QAnon conspiracy, engaging in election denialism, giving customers at her open-carry restaurant diarrhea by serving them tainted porkaccusing her of carpetbagging seems, if anything, tame.


Students from Cahuenga Elementary School perform a Korean fan dance during a gathering to celebrate the opening of the 2023-24 school year. Parent researchers are accusing the school district of violating the law and shortchanging elementary school arts programs. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles school officials have quietly added $30 million to elementary school budgets for arts education in the wake of accusations from former Supt. Austin Beutner, parents and union leaders that the district violated Proposition 28, a voter-approved law mandating increased arts funding at all California schools.

The leadership of L.A. Unified, including Supt. Alberto Carvalho, denied any wrongdoing and said the funding shift  included in next school year's budget  was aimed at avoiding further contention.

The action will restore arts programs paid for by the school district to 2022-23 funding levels, according to officials. This benchmark is crucial because California school systems can't receive additional arts funding from Proposition 28 unless they maintain their own spending at the 2022-23 levels.

At stake for L.A. Unified is $77 million a year in new funding created by the measure, an amount expected to increase annually.

Voters approved Proposition 28 in November 2022 with a two-thirds majority with the expectation that children would benefit from more arts instruction at every school. Allocations at the state level are determined for every school based on enrollment, with extra dollars added for students from low-income families.

A fundamental promise of the voter initiative was that the new money could be used only to add to arts funding  and not to replace existing funding.

Parents in L.A. Unified became concerned when despite the flow of new dollars, nothing appeared to have changed at their elementary schools. If they had an art teacher on campus two days a week the prior year, that teacher was still on campus two days a week. Some schools even appeared to have had cutbacks, parents reported.

Read more: LAUSD is violating the law on arts education spending, former Supt. Beutner and unions allege

They suspected that the district had swapped in the new state arts money for the district arts funding  leading to little or no gain in arts instruction. Some administrators quietly confirmed such suspicions, to the parents and to The Times.

For months, and including this week, officials have offered various explanations for what happened. They suggested that some schools had expiring arts grants, although they have yet to provide examples. They also talked about declining enrollment, which could have resulted in reductions of services. However, the rate of decline last year was marginal compared with the size of the influx of new state arts dollars.

Officials also said some funding shifts were based on "equity"  providing more to higher-needs students. But no examples have yet been provided.

Deputy Supt. Pedro Salcido said all that matters now is the positive outcome.

"I think the important piece is ... the additional $30 million  that is included in the '24-'25 budget," Salcido said during a presentation at this week's Board of Education meeting. He talked of a "hold harmless" to affected schools "that we will make whole."

"So the intent is to kind of do right from the perspective of level setting with the community and how we're making investments around the arts," Salcido said. "We want to make sure that as we move forward this is not a place of contention, controversy or questioning."

Anger remains, however, among critics who include parents who became budget sleuths, Beutner and unions representing the vast majority of employees in the nation's second-largest school system.

This week the district's senior leaders acknowledged that $30 million would be needed to restore district-funded arts instruction at elementary schools to the level before Proposition 28 funds arrived.

But officials insisted they were within their legal rights to take money from individual schools provided that total district spending on the arts went up by at least the amount that Proposition 28 provided.

Read more: Voters approved more arts money for schools. Powerful unions allege funds are being misused

"The accountability test is not done at the school site," said L.A. schools Supt. Alberto Carvalho, who also spoke during the Tuesday staff presentation. "The accountability test is done districtwide. So is there the possibility of variance in schools? Absolutely. Does that happen? Absolutely."

Echoing Salcido, Carvalho added:

"We decided, considering the degree of confusion and because ultimately we believe in the benefit of arts education ... to create this additional fund.... Notwithstanding the letter of the law, we decided to lean on the intent, not just the letter, but the intent. How are people perceiving that? And we're paying a price for that. So ... $30 million is above and beyond full compliance with the letter of the law, leaning more towards what we believe is the understanding of individuals in schools."

However, Beutner  the author of Proposition 28  accused the district of making up spending rules that exist nowhere in the law and that explicitly violate its letter and intent.

"District Leadership is violating the law by using Prop. 28 funds to replace existing spending at schools while making false and misleading statements about its implementation," Beutner and union leaders wrote in an 11-page analysis sent Tuesday to L.A. Unified.

Parents kept digging

Beutner relied substantially on research that parents, including Nicolle Fefferman, who also is a high school social studies teacher, began to conduct.

"Our thinking about arts funding in LAUSD started because a concerned parent began asking questions in our Facebook group in March of 2023," Fefferman said. "More parents and then teachers began to see problems as well."

Fefferman has a large network through the Facebook group Parents Supporting Teachers, for which she is an administrator.

"Once a few of us were able to understand how to access that information, we taught others how to do the same," she said. "We were able to see what had happened  or what did not happen.... We could see the hours of arts instruction at each school did not increase as a result of this new money."

For months, district officials had insisted that funding reductions at schools were isolated or entailed small amounts of money that were balanced out in other places.

But parents and school staff kept sleuthing and adding more schools to their list.

"The insult is that the school district thinks we are all so stupid we won't pay attention," said library aide Franny Parrish, a veteran leader within California School Employees Assn. Chapter 500, whose members include library aides. "They have cheated the children of valuable tools that could help with reading and maybe, just maybe, make them want to stay in school."

The analysis  signed by Beutner and leaders of unions representing the vast majority of district employees  looked at 14 schools, calling them a small sample of illegal financial abuse.

Going school by school, with incomplete information, the parent sleuths had no firm total for the funding they suspected L.A. Unified pulled from elementary arts programs. But on Tuesday, the district said $30 million would be needed to "make whole" these programs.

This total suggests that once Proposition 28 funds became available, the district largely eliminated its own funding of elementary arts instruction.

L.A. Unified officials said they relied on guidance from the California Department of Education, although they also have said that state guidance has been unclear or slow to develop.

State officials have so far not weighed in on the dispute.

Field trips as arts instruction

District field trips recently became organized under a program called Cultural Arts Passport. Although "arts" is in the name, the program includes field trips of many sorts.

District officials said at the board presentation Tuesday that the Passport field trips were part of total district arts spending of $129.5 million  allowing them to say that overall arts expenditures increased last year.

The public presentation did not reveal how much of the total was spent on the school outings.

A long list of "preferred" field trip locations includes Universal Studios, the "Jeopardy" game show, Disneyland, local recreation centers and indoor skydiving.

Board member Scott Schmerelson questioned why all field trips  such as those to a theme park  qualified as arts education.

Chief Academic Officer Frances Baez partly avoided his question by saying that a trip to a historic mission could be arts-related because students could build on that knowledge to make dioramas: "So it was the follow-up and the deepening of the activity that had that arts connection."

And, she added, there are arts learning opportunities in every situation and subject matter: "Arts is integrated into math.... It's integrated into history, language arts. With that integration, people might not understand the direct connection, but it's integrated.... It's not a stand-alone. Arts lives everywhere."

She noted, too, that "the field trips with the highest attendance were the Pantages Theatre."

Even though a particular field trip could contribute to arts education, under Proposition 28, at least 80% of the new arts funding must pay the salaries of art teachers and up to 20% can be spent on supplies related to that instruction.

In a Thursday email, a district spokesperson said Proposition 28 funds were not used for field trips.

Tuesday's staff presentation was related to the need for the school board to approve an annual Proposition 28 report that the district is required to send to the state and to post publicly. This report asserts that the district managed its arts funds according to legal requirements and spent more of its own money than ever on the arts.

Board members ultimately raised many of the same concerns that parents and district employees have been raising  and they, too, were less than satisfied with all the answers.

But senior staff warned them that future funds could be jeopardized if they failed to approve the report. The board approved the report with a 5-2 vote.

Schmerelson and board member Rocio Rivas voted no.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  This week at the state capitol, lawmakers signed off on whats said to be crucial funds for the Arkansas Drug Task Force.

In Thursdays peer subcommittee meeting, legislators approved $4 million in funds for the task force. They say this is just the first step of their latest efforts to ramp up their resources.

Batesville man arrested after authorities find $1 million in methamphetamine during search

Michael Evans, the coordinator and commander of the Fifth Drug Task Force agency, said funding is crucial for a few reasons.

Evans said his agency in northwest Arkansas receives $170,000 a year to cover four employees salaries, all of whom have long backgrounds working in law enforcement. He also noted that money can get drugs off the streets and the sellers behind bars as the agency purchases large amounts of drugs in order to track down the sellers.

According to officials, major fentanyl and methamphetamine deals can cost up to a few thousand dollars, which Evans said the agency often doesnt have. This results in them not being able to make the purchase because they cant let $3,000 to $5,000 go.

Its frustrating because we dont want the publicity for it, we just want to be funded to where we can go to work, Evans said.

Police arrest 15 in drug trafficking investigation in northeast Arkansas

The funding from the legislature lifts a huge burden off the agencys shoulders, Evans explained, calling it a step in the right direction.

Oh, its huge, he said. We have to try and rely on the agencies in our districts to fill in the gaps with funding or manpower. but theyre having the same issues. My task force hasnt received a raise in 12 years so I cant compete with surrounding agencies, and youre trying to find qualified candidates.

Evans emphasized that the drug problem in Arkansas is only heating up every year. In 2019, the task force seized more than $59,740,000 worth of narcotics in the state. Compare that to just four years later, in 2023, when officials said the DTF seized $224,828,000 worth of narcotics.

Sen. Ben Gilmore (R-Crossett), who sponsored the latest prison reform legislation now known as the Protect Act, said the task forces efforts play a significant role in lowering crime rates in the state.

What we know is a certainty of arrest is a huge deterrent and we want to make sure theyre there to do their job to keep our streets safe and our people safe, he said.

Drug task force finds guns, methamphetamine, fentanyl & cash in White County home

This $4 million is expected to help the agency get through the next fiscal year until lawmakers come back for session next year. Gilmore said lawmakers are considering putting Drug Task Force funding under the state, or the prosecutors office to ensure long-term, sustainable funding.

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Gov. Chris Sununu's plan was called a "direct threat" to hospitals by the president of the New Hampshire Hospital Association. Here, Sununu talks with reporters in April 2023. (Hadley Barndollar | New Hampshire Bulletin)

Some lawmakers are exploring an 11th hour attempt to settle a showdown between Gov. Chris Sununu and the states hospitals over Sununus plan to cut their state Medicaid payments by nearly $35 million a year.

Senate President Jeb Bradley said earlier this month that Sununus plan would take so much Medicaid funding away from hospitals, the viability of hospitals is at stake. Steve Ahnen, the president of the New Hampshire Hospital Association, has called Sununus plan a direct threat to hospitals.

At a Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee meeting Thursday, Sen. Tim Lang, a Sanbornton Republican, proposed that both chambers bring forward new legislation this fall on veto day, typically lawmakers final meeting of the session. Such an effort will almost certainly face significant hurdles.

Bringing a bill forward that late would require a two-thirds vote among lawmakers to suspend legislative rules, and Sununu, who has long been at odds with hospitals, would have to sign on.

That seemed unlikely based on a statement his office sent to the Bulletin Friday.

The Senate had their chance but they refused to find common ground with the House, Sununu said, referring to the chambers inability to agree on legislation earlier this month.

Still, Lang thinks taking another pass at legislation is critical.

I know my communitys hospital will have a problem if we dont get something done and thats going to affect my constituents and their access to health care, Lang said in an interview Friday. The reality is if there is the will between the House and the Senate to come to a resolution on this issue, there is a process in place to get it resolved this year.

At issue is the Medicaid Enhancement Tax (MET) hospitals pay annually, which totaled about $320 million this year. The state receives a federal match on that money and returns 91 percent of it to hospitals to help them cover primarily uncompensated medical care costs.

Sununus directive to DHHS would reduce that to 80 percent and redirect some of the money that currently goes to hospitals to community mental health centers, federally qualified health centers, and substance use disorder providers, which do not pay the tax.

This (new) process has been finalized and the new positively adjusted rates going into effect will ensure community mental health agencies and local health centers have more resources for their critical services, while fairly compensating the hospitals, Sununu said in his statement Friday. We are moving our health care into the 21st century and thats a big win for New Hampshire.

The current arrangement that returns 91 percent of the tax hospitals, which was reached in 2018 as part of a lawsuit filed by the hospitals, expires at the end of June. Hoping to avoid another lawsuit from the hospitals, Bradley began negotiating late last year with hospitals, the governor, and other stakeholders on a legislative fix.

By the time the Senate passed that proposed legislation in May, there was no time for the House to study it and hold public hearings. Bradleys bill fizzled this month in a committee of conference when House negotiators rejected it.

During the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee meeting Thursday, Sen. Lou DAllesandro, a Manchester Democrat, blasted Sununus decision to resolve the dispute by directing DHHS to implement his own plan.

That is totally disregarding the Legislature, and we all represent hospitals, he said. There are critical access hospitals that will be impacted severely and there will be hospitals that will be impacted significantly. That is the public we are talking about. The public is served by these hospitals.

It was unclear how hospitals will respond if the $35 million reduction in Medicaid payments holds or whether they will sue the state again. The New Hampshire Hospital Association said it is considering all options.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. EU Commissioner for Climate Action Wopke Hoekstra discussed the preparations for COP29 during his visit to Baku on June 20, Trend reports with reference to the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan.

Reportedly, the main aim of the visit was to discuss the preparations, the priorities, and deliverables of COP29 with Azerbaijan as the incoming COP29 Presidency.

These are the follow-up to the UAE consensus, climate finance, Article 6 and international carbon markets, adaptation, and transparency reporting (countries will submit their Biennial Transparency Reports this year), amongst others, said the EU Delegation.

The meetings also focused on how Azerbaijan plans to fast-forward its own climate targets.

During the meeting with Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov, they discussed the importance of the EU and Azerbaijans strategic energy partnership and possible COP29 initiatives on renewables, hydrogen, methane, storage, and grids.

The meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov focused on the priorities of COP29, the plans for the Global Climate Action Agenda which will take place in parallel to the formal negotiations, as well as the importance of inclusivity for the COP.

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

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The acronym COP (Conference of Parties) stands for Conference of Parties, which is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change.

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Disney promised 2,000 of its California employees new jobs in Florida, and asked that they move, before abruptly canceling those plans and leaving the employees jobless, a lawsuit alleges.

Two employees in the complaint, which has yet to be filed in L.A., say they sold their L.A.-area homes and purchased property in Florida after the company directed them to relocate to support the construction and staffing of a planned $1 billion campus.

But the positions they moved to take were canceled, along with all 2,000 others associated with the Lake Nona project after a feud between the company and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis endangered its tax breaks.

Per the suit, Disney employees Maria De La Cruz and George Fong had to move back to California in order to keep their employment, with De La Cruz claiming that an inquiry on her job status in Florida was ignored.

After all of this, will there be any security in our positions? My fear would be that we decide to stay in Florida, only to be laid off in the next year or so. I dont want to be punished for being put into a situation my company put me in, De La Cruz wrote to Disney Human Resources, per the complaint.

The two named parties seek to enter a class-action lawsuit with others who moved for the project, arguing that Disney misled the employees of the projects future and made it clear that employees who declined relocation would lose their jobs.

The company previously drew criticism in 2017 for employee wages so low that many Anaheim park employees were left homeless, in a year when theme park revenue climbed 8%. California park workers made headlines earlier this year when they announced their intent to form a union, and garnered thousands of signatures to do so.
Lawyer wants charges dropped against judge arrested after police say she punched officer

New developments this afternoon involve the arrest of a judge in connection with an altercation at a lounge.

Douglas County Probate Judge Christina Peterson was arrested after police say she punched an off-duty officer at the Red Martini Lounge around 3 a.m. Thursday.

On Friday, her lawyer, Marvin Arrington Jr., held a news conference and called for the charges against her to be dropped. He also requested that police release all videos of the incident. Arrington also urged the arrest of the man who witnesses say attacked a woman.

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A witness, Madison Kelley, spoke at the news conference and said Peterson accidentally hit the officer while trying to stop a man from beating her friend, Alexandria Love.

The judge didnt speak at the news conference, but Love defended her actions.

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She was the one that was grabbing him. She didnt mean to hit the officer, Love said. I have never been in that situation before in my life.

Atlanta police arrested Peterson on charges of simple battery and felony obstruction.

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Video of the judge being arrested, shot by another witness, Madison Kelley, showed the tense moments that unfolded in the club.

She stepped up and helped my friend. This man was three times my friends size, Kelley said.

Love said she couldnt believe the judge was arrested when the person who should have been arrested got away.

And she was the only one to help me, Love said.

Police plan to release body cam video next week.

Arrington said Peterson was at the lounge for a birthday party and did not know Love or Kelley.




LDS church announces new website with resources for prisoners  but what is prison ministry?

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently announced a new website to provide resources and services to incarcerated individuals  but the church said it has had the program in place for decades.

Church officials who are familiar with the prison ministry program told ABC4.com that the church has had correctional branches and has been ministering to incarcerated people for several decades.

READ NEXT: Heres why there are 263 miles of cables under the LDS Salt Lake Temple

Jesus Christ taught His disciples to serve those in need. This includes those who are or have been incarcerated, the church said on the introduction page for its new Prison Ministry website.

On the new website, people can find testimonials from members of the church who were previously incarcerated, as well as testimonials from family members of incarcerated individuals and leaders from within correctional units.

The new website will help elevate correctional ministry work by bringing awareness, introducing guidelines, proven practices, and self-help materials, the church said.

The website offers resources for incarcerated people, as well as resources for leaders and church members who have been called to serve within prisons. There are also resources for children and teenagers who have been affected by the incarceration of their loved ones.

Some of the topics available on the new Prison Ministry website include Help for Family Members of Incarcerated or Previously Incarcerated Individuals, Guided Study for Adults in Custody, and Prison Ministry Videos.

What is the prison ministry program?

Mathew Ellis, the prison ministry manager, said members of the church will be called to serve in incarceration facilities, and once they are called, they will work with the administration of the facilities to ensure they are following the policies.

Some members do express interest in serving those who are incarcerated, however those individuals are not always called, he said. The unit leaders assigned to these facilities will call individuals within the governing Stake or in some cases nearby Stakes.

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a stake is a group made up of smaller, local LDS congregations, and stakes usually consist of about 3,000 to 5,000 members.

Church officials said members who are called to serve in a prison facility will work to identify all within correctional facilities that want to improve their lives and draw closer to God.

In some facilities they will also hold worship services where inmates and leaders will collectively sing hymns, give sermons, and join in prayer, Ellis said.

Church officials said that, while the focus of the Prison Ministry program is primarily on currently incarcerated people, members of the church are invited to minister to people within their communities who have been affected by crime or incarceration.

One mistake to avoid is to not minister with a predetermined agenda. Simply meet the person where they are, the church said. Begin by listening and serving the individuals and their families.

If you are seeking more information, the church said you can reach out to 1-801-240-2644 or send an email to PrisonMinistry@ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

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Le Pen party pledges to cut up to 3bn from EU budget

Marine Le Pens National Rally threatened to slash Frances payments to the European Union after the Commission moved to punish Paris for breaking the blocs fiscal rules.

Jordan Bardella, the hard-Right partys president, told business leaders he would cut the EU budget payment by 2 to 3 billion (1.7-2.5 billion) if National Rally won snap elections next month.

France is the second largest contributor to the EUs budget and will pay 21.6bn of the 189.4bn total this year.

The European Commission said on Wednesday that France should be disciplined for running budget deficits in excess of EU limits, with deadlines for reducing the gaps to be set in November.

But Mr Bardella said on Thursday: There is no reason why we should be asking everyone to cut spending but not ask that EU operating spending be cut too.

Were net contributors, the eurosceptic Mr Bardella said, meaning France pays more into the EU Budget than it gets back from Brussels.

The less we give to the EU, the more we can forward money to the real French economy.

However, the EU Budget is agreed for seven-year periods, which will make it legally impossible to renege on the commitment.

Siegfried Muresan, the lead MEP on the 2024 budget, told the Euractiv website: Bardellas statement reminds me of Brexit and the long and false claims made by those calling for a UK exit.

There is no way for Bardella to amend it, and France has a legal obligation to pay its share.

Emmanuel Macron, the French president, called surprise parliamentary elections after being trounced by National Rally in European elections on June 8.

If National Rally win an absolute majority in the July 7 vote, Mr Bardella is expected to be appointed prime minister and wrest control of France from the presidents party.

The nationalist party is leading in the polls with a newly formed alliance of Left-wing and environmentalist parties in second place and Mr Macrons camp trailing.

National Rally and the Left-wing New Popular Front have both pledged to ditch Mr Macrons unpopular pensions reforms and embark on a public spending spree, despite Frances deficit.

Marine Le Pen, addressing a campaign rally at Henin-Beaumont in the Pas-de-Calais - CHRISTIAN LIEWIG/CORBIS NEWS

French stocks and the euro tumbled after the announcement of the national election and investors remain nervous about the future.

Bruno Le Maire, the finance minister, told the business leaders event: The budgetary margin for manoeuvre is zero.

He described Mr Bardellas policy proposals as crazy and repeated a Macron pledge to return the budget deficit to below 3 per cent of GDP.

Mr Bardella said a pledge to lower the retirement age from 64 to 60, after Mr Macron faced down months of street protests to raise it to that age, would apply to people who began work aged under 20.

His government would introduce a revised 2024 budget over the summer, he said, and measures would include cutting production taxes on companies.

He added: Ive understood that I need to reassure people.

He pledged that, if in government, he would launch an audit of public finances to gauge his margin for manoeuvre.

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Around 600 Egyptians have died during the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca amid scorching heat, a security source said, as authorities formed a crisis unit on Thursday to probe the deaths.

The Egyptian fatalities are part of at least 1,000 deaths reported from this years hajj pilgrimage from different countries due to extreme heat as temperatures soared past 51 degrees Celsius (123.8 degrees Fahrenheit).

Most of the deaths occurred among unregistered pilgrims who did not have permits giving them access to air-conditioned tents and bus transfers between holy sites provided to authorized worshippers.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has ordered that a crisis unit headed by the prime minister investigate the deaths of the country's pilgrims.

Egypt has not confirmed the total fatalities, but the cabinet said of the 50,752 officially registered pilgrims, 28 have died. Authorities said it was difficult to provide medical care for unregistered worshippers due to lack of information.

Egypt was coordinating with Saudi authorities to get an accurate inventory of the dead and missing and arrange for the transfer of bodies, the cabinet said in a statement.

Companies that had facilitated travel for unauthorized pilgrims would be investigated and penalized, it added.

PHOTO: SAUDI-RELIGION-ISLAM-HAJJ (Fadel Senna/AFP via Getty Images)

Egyptian officials were visiting hospitals to obtain information about Egyptian pilgrims being treated or those who have passed away.

"There are large numbers of Egyptian citizens who are not registered in hajj databases, which requires double the effort and a longer time to search for missing people and find their relatives," the cabinet said.

Videos posted on social media in recent days showed bodies of pilgrims scattered on the streets around the Grand Mosque in Mecca.

Fatalities have also been confirmed by other countries with at least 183 having been confirmed dead by Indonesia, 68 by Jordan, 35 by Tunisia and 68 by India. Malaysia, Pakistan, Iran and Senegal also reported more deaths.

Hajj is one of the main pillars of Islam. Muslims who can afford it and are physically able are required to take part in it once in their life. Its one of the largest annual religious gatherings in the world and over 1.8 million pilgrims were expected to take part in this years hajj, according to Saudi authorities.

At least 600 Egyptians die in hajj pilgrimage: Source originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
LEAVENWORTH, Kan.  A Leavenworth, Kansas man has been convicted of voluntary manslaughter and theft of property. The 42-year-old pleaded no contest to both charges on June 18.

According to court records, Terrance O. George used a knife to stab a man multiple times and take his truck on June 5, 2022. The 45-year-old victim was then taken to a Kansas City hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

George was located and taken into custody later that day.

Kearney woman charged with murder in death of husband

Upon further investigation, police officers found a 41-year-old womans body inside Georges apartment. It was later determined that the woman died of blunt force trauma.

Voluntary manslaughter can involve the intentional killing of a human being committed upon a sudden quarrel or in the heat of passion, said Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson.

We stayed in contact with the interested parties of this case; upon review of the evidence and through numerous discussions, we were able to come up with a resolution that satisfied all involved.

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The sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 24, 2024.

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Letters to the Editor: Hey, Louisiana, put the Golden Rule instead of the Ten Commandments in the classroom

A statue of Moses with the Ten Commandments is seen at Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove in 2020. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

To the editor: Decades ago, I attended public elementary school in the segregated, very Christian deep South. I still remember the horizontal sign in giant letters posted above the chalkboard: "Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." ("The Ten Commandments must be displayed in Louisiana classrooms under new GOP law," June 19)

If this sign had a Christian or religious intent, I was too young at the time to know that. There was no mention of a god or a religion. Although the saying appears in the Christian Bible, its history (with slight variations) is much broader and longer. It goes back to ancient times and is reflected in the teachings of many religions throughout the world and in secular humanist thought.

This message applies to all of us. If there is any sign that should be posted in classrooms, it is this one.

Carla St. Romain, Pasadena

..

To the editor: Ah, but which set of Ten Commandments will have to go up in Louisiana classrooms?

There is the set used by Catholics, and there is another set used by most Protestants. The Louisiana law requires the latter, and that state has a lot of Catholics who may be upset that their children will be taught the Protestant Big Ten.

The Protestant set includes as its Second Commandment: "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them nor serve them." Catholics can make all the graven images they want.

I have yet to see a politician demand that the Catholic set be displayed. So, at least in Louisiana, no more graven images will be made in art classes.

Bob Wicks, Brea

..

To the editor: After the Ten Commandments are posted in every Louisiana school classroom, Im wondering how a teacher of, say, a third-grade class will answer the inevitable question from some bright, interested, student:

"Ms. Jones, will you explain to us what adultery is, and how we can make sure not to commit it?"

Brian Bland, Santa Monica

..

To the editor: First Amendment issues aside, how wonderful in this age of antisemitism that the state of Louisiana has chosen to highlight a portion of the Torah ("the Jewish Bible") to teach ethics to its students.

I do hope it is setting a good example and using the original source of the Ten Commandments, since both Catholics and Protestants have made minor changes over the years.

Victor Dorff, Agoura Hills

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
If there is one top-line point in the Worker Rights Consortiums (WRC) latest factory investigation, its that brand labor standards are meaningless if theyre not enforced, said Scott Nova, the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofits executive director.

And this is a glaring example of non-enforcement, he said.

More from Sourcing Journal

Nova was referring to the long-anticipated results of the WRCs investigation into allegations of severe repression of workers freedom of association, including verbal and physical intimidation, union-busting, mass firings and wage and severance theft, at the Sanlurfa Province location of Ozak Tekstil, one of Turkeys largest apparel manufacturers. Levi Strauss & Co. is the sole buyer at the plant, though other Ozak Tekstil outposts also supply jeans to nameplates such as Hugo Boss and Zara owner Inditex. By dismissing most of the nearly 500 workers who had protested for months over what they say is the right to choose a union other than the factorys established one, the WRC says that Ozak Tekstil breached not only Turkish law and international labor mores, but also Levis code of conduct.

Levis has pushed back at the WRCs report, which was published Friday, saying that it contains several mischaracterizations and omits a number of relevant details. It said that it has a longstanding commitment to supporting safe, productive workplaces and that it takes any allegations of attempts to undermine freedom of association extremely seriously.

But what happened in Urfa is the worst case of union-busting he has seen in years, Nova said. In December, following the layoffs, Levis wrote to Ozak Tekstil stating that the firings were a zero-tolerance violation of its standards and that it would take appropriate next steps to uphold workers rights if the workers werent reinstated without retaliation, the report noted. (The Red Tab purveyor told the Clean Clothes Campaign, the garment industrys largest consortium of trade union and labor groups, the same thing, the latter said.) The following month, Levis informed the WRC that it would be ending its relationship with Ozak Tekstil, which confirmed to the nonprofit that it received a formal letter of termination in February.

WORKER RIGHTS CONSORTIUM (WRC) RELEASED ITS REPORT:



"LEVI'S AND OZAK RESPONSIBLE FOR EGREGIOUS LABOR RIGHTS VIOLATIONS"



On November 27, 2023, during the protests of Ozak Tekstil workers, which began with the dismissal of a female worker for being a member of our union, the  BIRTEK-SEN (@birlesiktekstil) June 21, 2024

The situation took a turn in April, the report said, when Levis informed the WRC that it would continue to conduct business with the Urfa factory without requiring Ozak Tekstil to rehire the workers. Levis told Rivet that month that it would be working with the plant on a conditional basis, one that was dependent on the manufacturers fulfillment of a remediation plan that included fixing oppressive working hours, improving health and safety and addressing the routine verbal onslaughts known as mobbing. Those were the same issues that striking workers claimed that Oz Iplik-Is, the incumbent union, had failed to protect them against, causing them to decamp for the less established Birtek-Sen.

Neither Oz Iplik-Is nor Ozak Tekstil were able to immediately return requests for comment because of the Turkish holiday on Friday.

It was the wave of threats, harassment and pressure that workers said ensued after they exercised their right to choose an alternative to what they characterized as a yellow unionmeaning a workers organization that is heavily or unduly influenced by an employer instead of representing the genuine interests of its membersthat resulted in the 80-day face-off against factory management and law enforcement that began in the final weeks of November. If you dont leave Birtek-Sen, Im going to break your head, one worker said a factory manager told him. If you change unions, well fire you without giving you your severance, another was reportedly intimidated. Ozak Tekstil insisted to the WRC that its management made no such explicit threats of firing or violence.

The workers at Ozak Teksil have suffered a lot for simply exercising their right to choose a union, Birtek-Sen said in a statement, which it also published on X. They have been sacked en masse, subjected to illegal attacks, bans and mass arrests by the governorate and the police. They have been blacklisted and condemned to starvation and social death. However, with this report of the WRC, it has once again become clear that their demands and actions are justified and legitimate, that their rights have been usurped and that the Ozak boss and Levis are responsible for these crimes against the workers and for these terrible violations of their rights.

To stay or to go?

That Oz Iplik-Is is being framed as a yellow union is something that IndustriALL Global Union, a global union federation that represents more than 50 million working people in over 140 countries, takes issue with. Oz Iplik-Is is an IndustriALL affiliate that has inked collective bargaining agreements on behalf of its members with Ozak Tekstila rarity in a nation that the International Trade Union Confederation consistently ranks among the 10 worst countries for working people because of crackdowns on civil liberties, including union activity.

Atle Hie, IndustriALLs general secretary, said that it is more than probable that global standards, as well as Levis code of conduct, have been violated, based on the report, but that it supports a process and procedure before a brand disengages, as it does in initiatives such as the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry and the global framework agreements it has signed with the likes of H&M Group and Inditex. In short, in IndustriALLs view, Levis did the right thing.

When there are violations, they should be dealt with in a process. Brands shouldnt cut and run, Hie said. The only long-term solution is a trade union that has the legal right to sign a collective agreement, like our affiliate Oz-Iplik Is.

Levis said that the preservation of the Urfa facilitys remaining 400 jobs was one of the drivers behind its decision to keep working with Ozak Tekstil, and that it had been in frequent contact with factory management to firmly express its support for the lawful expression of workers voices and the right to freedom of association.

After several months of engaging to find solutions and wanting to ensure there is no further job loss, we decided to continue working with Ozak on a conditional basis that depends on managements fulfillment of a detailed remediation plan, a spokesperson said. We reduced our production orders to align with the facilitys capacity and are conducting regular visits to the facility to ensure compliance with the remediation plan.

The blue jean maker said that it remains committed to ensuring that Ozak Tekstil upholds the rights and benefits of its employees per local laws and its code of conduct. Fulya Pinar Ozcan, head of international relations and sustainability at Oz Iplik-Is, previously told Rivet that the union has worked to address feedback from the Urfa factorys remaining employees, including electing new worker representatives. She said there would be better representation and more accountability. A Levis exit would have meant the end of the Urfa plant, Ozcan had said.

Even so, Nova called Levis desire to protect jobs obviously disingenuous because it didnt protect the jobs of the hundreds of workers who had already been discharged. Brands like Levis also regularly exit factories, which can result in job loss, whenever they find a cheaper place to produce, he said.

Theyre perfectly willing to do that when the reason is to increase their profit margin, Nova said. Only when protecting the rights of workers requires them to hold a supplier accountable, do brands suddenly have an attack of conscience about unemployment in their supply chains.

Neither can there be meaningful corrective action in a factory that has destroyed a unionone that most workers chose to joinby firing those same workers unless they are re-employed, he added. By December, 78 percent of the Ozak Tekstil workforce in Urfa had joined Birtek-Sen.

Otherwise, every worker employed by Ozak now and in the future will know that the price of joining an independent union that is not favored by management is dismissal and the destruction of your livelihood, he said. No one can exercise their associational rights under those conditions. Until the firings are reversed, there cannot be remediation. Pretending this all didnt happen and having some training on freedom association is meaningless. That is not remediation, it is a fig leaf.

Birtek-Sens legitimacy has come under question because Turkish law requires unions to meet certain membership thresholdssay, representing 1 percent of workers in the relevant industrybefore they are vested with the authority to negotiate. But while employers are prohibited from covering the same group of employees with multiple collective bargaining agreements, Nova said, nothing is stopping multiple unions from co-existing in the same workplace or raising labor concerns with factory management.

Workers in a @Levis factory in Turkiye were fired last year after striking in response to earlier dismissals & obstruction of their freedom to choose a union. Levi's denounced this as a "zero tolerance violation", but has failed to support the workers. https://t.co/6CauM9M9D2  Clean Clothes Campaign (@cleanclothes) June 21, 2024

Both Ozak Tekstil and Oz-Iplik Is have claimed that the workers were fired not because they were protesting but because they were missing work. Nova said this was false because people cant strike without being absent and Ozak Tekstil sent letters to workers saying they would be fired if they continued striking. And though Ozak Tekstil has pointed to a Ministry of Labour investigation endorsing the mass dismissals as proof that its actions were by the book, the WRC called it one-sided and flawed, not least because nearly everyone it interviewed was an Oz-Iplik Is member.

The report said that even after axing the protestors, Ozak Tekstil continued to retaliate against its former workers by illegally withholding statutory severance compensation payments and entering falsely disparaging information about them into public agency records. The supplier also used this denial of severance, which the WRC deems wage theft, and blacklisting to pressure the fired workers into coercive settlements in which they agreed to relinquish the right to reinstatement and back pay, it said.

Last month, German labor organization Internationaler Gewerkschaftlicher Arbeitskreis Koln filed a complaint on behalf of Birtek-Sen to accuse Levis, Hugo Boss, and Inditex of reneging on their human rights obligations under the German supply chain due diligence law. It is currently under consideration, the Clean Clothes Campaign said.

Nova said he hopes the report will spur Levis to take a different tack because its actions demonstrate not only a fundamental lack of commitment to protecting associational rights in its supply chain but they also send a message to suppliers that brands wont fully punish even the worst abuses in this category of labor rights.

If Levis had been serious about enforcing its standards, it wouldnt be dropping them now, he said. They are the sole buyer. They have enormous leverage. They could exercise it tomorrow. They could compel Ozak to offer reinstatement. They could have real remediation of these egregious abuses. They could compel Ozak to sit down and talk with the independent union that [most] of the workforce, even in the face of management threats, chose to join.
ZANGILAN, Azerbaijan, June 21. The Azerbaijani government intends to turn the Karabakh region into a dynamically developing center of clean energy, a special representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan for Jabrayil, Gubadli, and Zangilan regions Vahid Hajiyev said, Trend reports.

He made the statement during his speech at the 29th high-level meeting in Zangilan on "Pathway to COP29: Sustainable and Resilient Future."

"We are installing solar panels in residential homes and street infrastructure in Jabrayil, Gubadli, and Zangilan to take advantage of their plentiful solar energy. Solar charging stations for electric vehicles, smart parking, and other eco-friendly solutions demonstrate our dedication to sustainability," he emphasized.

Hajiyev recalled that in Jabrayil, the British company bp intends to build a 240 MW solar power plant, while Nobel Energy intends to invest in the construction of a 100 MW solar panel plant.

"These initiatives organically fit into the National Strategy aimed at turning the Karabakh region into a dynamically developing center of "clean energy." Moreover, the implementation of major construction projects throughout East Zangezur and Karabakh continues in line with modern urban planning trends.

The construction is in line with modern urbanism trends, where sustainability, inclusiveness, and safety are prioritized. The smart village of Aghali in Zangilan district can be cited as an example. This village was built with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in mind. Nowadays, 171 families live in Aghali, and the total number of residents reaches 870," he added.

Additionally, he brought up the fact that thermal insulation materials were extensively utilized in the liberated regions' construction projects.

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We werent there to steal things. We werent there to do damage. We were just there to overthrow the government.comment of a 56-year-old Michigan woman present at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021

Robert Kagan, historian and resident scholar at the Brookings Institution, is not befuddled by the question of what liberalism is, leastways not liberalism in the context of American political history, past and current. Liberalism, as Kagan writes in his new book, Rebellion: How Antiliberalism Is Tearing America ApartAgain, is exactly the philosophy originated by the British political thinker John Locke (building on previous writings of Thomas Hobbes) and embodied in Americas Declaration of Independence, as well as its Constitution and Bill of Rights. As the opening of the Declaration goes, We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among them are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

Patriotic Americans are so used to those words that, in Kagans view, they hardly realize how radical they were at the time of their conception, nor, for that matter, how radicalor maybe nonsensicalthey must seem today to an unpatriotic American right-wing that rejects the concepts of equality and liberty and seeks instead to constitute (or, in their view, reconstitute) an America of predominately white people and an all-dominant Christian religion. And a large number of ideologically loyal Americans are apparently unaware of the threat these peoplenow that they have found an effective charismatic leader in the person of Donald Trumppose to the liberal values by which they (aware of it or not) live.

American Colonial leaders did not originally set out to discover a radically new philosophy of political freedom or establish a virtually unprecedented form of government, one in which members of a political community ruled themselves rather than being ruled over by a king. For a long period of time, they were content with the purported compact between British subjects and their king that allowed them greater freedom than existed in other countries. But much of the freedom the colonists enjoyed was illusory, derived from the fact that, because of their distance from their homeland, they were treated with benign neglect by British authorities. As soon as those authorities began taxing them to finance expeditionary military operations in America and elsewherewithout their consentthey rebelled, rejecting taxation without representation and setting out on a trajectory that would lead to a final break with Britain and the creation of an unprecedented Constitution in Philadelphia in 1787.

Tom Paine spoke of America as begin[ning] the world over again, but there is always a snake in any Eden, and in the case of the United States that was the existence of Black African slavery on plantations throughout the South. Most of the Founders from north of the Mason-Dixon Line would have preferred to abolish slavery throughout the land, but they did not want to truncate the country into what they imagined would be two relatively weak and vulnerable entities. They therefore countenanced its continued existence, without besmirching the Constitution with that concession. They did accede to Southerners demand that their slaves be counted as if they were actual voters in apportioning each states representation in Congress (using the infamous three-fifths of all other Persons measurement). The Electoral College also helped guarantee them a representation greater than their voting population alone would warrant. Through these provisions, the South hoped to make its peculiar institution a permanent one. This hope was unrequited. A bloody Civil War ultimately ensued, following which, during the period known as Reconstruction, an intense but likely predoomed attempt was made to put the South on a new footing of rough racial equality. But after the withdrawal of federal troops in 1877, the South reverted to its old ways, reducing its Black population to virtual peonage and abrogating their voting rights completely. And this was almost exactly how things still stood in that region when the era of intense civil rights activism commenced in the 1950s.

In the area of religion, Kagan identifies the Mayflower Compact as the source of the erroneous belief on the part of many that the United States was founded as a Christian commonwealth. These professed Christians perceive, or rather misperceive, a straight line from the Compact to the Declaration, perhaps misled by Jeffersons late insertion, at the behest of friends, of the term Creator into the text, resulting in the phrase endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights. In fact, this phraseology directly contradicts the liberal political philosophy of the Founders in this regard, which, following Locke, held that these unalienable rights preexisted in nature and were not endowed by any being. In any case, these same religious agitators reject the liberal principles of human equality and freedom of conscience, and that is what has brought them into the orbit of the crypto-fascist political movement led by Trump.

To understand the full pernicious effect of such misguided Christianity, however, one also has to consider the belligerent reaction of the radical Christian right to the various Supreme Court decisions over the last 70 years expanding citizens rights in the arenas of public education, reproductive freedom, same-sex marriage, and prayer in public schools. Kagan stipulates that the Founders created a rights-protection machine, and the radical right has manifested its rage against that machine. It is because of Trumps pledge to put reactionary justices on the Supreme Courta promise fulfilledthat he has their unwavering support, especially in view of their overturning Roe v. Wade. When that ploy is combined with his clear determination to restore white supremacy (largely through drastically limiting immigration), Trump has a potent case to make to his followers for his reelection. Can American liberalism survive their onslaught?
(Bloomberg) -- Federal regulators are set to decide the fate of a long-stalled natural gas export project that has been at the center of a political firestorm over climate change and energy policy.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Venture Global LNG Inc.s massive export project CP2 in Louisiana is set for a vote by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission at its June 27 meeting, according to the posted agenda.

The project, which has been the subject of protests from environmentalist Bill McKibben and other climate activists, has been pending more than 10 months before the independent regulatory agency, making it one of the longest to sit before the commission.

The fierce objections to it were followed by the Biden administrations January decision to pause approval of new LNG export projects  a move that could further delay the export facility if the regulatory commission approves it, a decision that would put final approval in the hands of the Energy Department.

The fight over building CP2 and other LNG terminals will have lasting implication for the future of gas in the global energy mix. Advocates say exporting more US gas is crucial for getting developing nations to stop using coal and enabling Europe to power its economy without relying on Russia. Environmentalists, meanwhile, warn that building the enormous infrastructure required to ship LNG ensures the fossil fuel will be burned for generations to come.

(Adds context in the last paragraph.)

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SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  Two local business owners were indicted for theft of over $50,000 after being contracted to build a swimming pool.

Rance and Tanya Millican were indicted by a grand jury in Tom Green County for the theft of property between $30,000 and $150,000. This is a third-degree felony.

Mugshot Rance Millican 12-19-2023

Records filed within the county state that an individual had contracted the Millicans, who own Deep Blue Pools in Carlsbad, to build a swimming pool at his residence in October 2022. The man made the initial deposit of $52,638 that month, however, it is reported that in December 2023 the construction on the pool had not begun.

The individual attempted to contact the Millicans regarding the construction of the pool but the couple allegedly made several excuses over the months as to why they were not building the pool. In January 2023, the individual reported that the owners of Deep Blue Pools had cut off communication.

Mugshot Tanya Millican 12-19-2023

A civil lawsuit was filed within Tom Green County in an attempt to recover the $52,638. Rance and Tanya Millican filed an answer to the lawsuit stating that they would contact plaintiffs and try to resolve this.

Court records state that the individual had spoken with Rance Millican on the phone in May 2023. During this conversation, Rance Millican allegedly stated that an unexpected expense came up and that all of the $52,638 had been spent.

The affidavit further states that bank records regarding an account owned by Rance Millican named DBA Deep Blue Pools with Tanya Millican listed in the signature card showed a deposit of $52,638 was made on Oct. 12, 2022. Numerous personal debits are reported being made from the account Applebees, Buffalo Wild Wings, HEB, Wal-Mart, cash withdrawals and Discover credit card payments. In December 2022, the account was closed with a negative $1,720 balance.

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Congressman Scott Peters, joined by other local leaders, is calling for stronger federal action to combat gun violence. At a press conference held on Thursday at the County Administration Building, Peters emphasized the urgency of addressing issues such as ghost guns and bump stocks.

This June marks the eighth anniversary of the Pulse nightclub mass shooting in Orlando, FL, and is also Gun Violence Awareness Month. Peters underscored the significance of this timing for the press conference.

Im tired of seeing innocent Americans senselessly killed with military-style weaponschildren at school, grandmothers at grocery stores, families at places of worship, said Peters, who represents Californias 50th District.

He reflected on the second anniversary of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which he described as the most significant gun violence prevention legislation in decades but argued it did not go far enough. Peters is advocating for more stringent federal gun restrictions.

These include a ban on ghost guns that can be built and assembled with a 3D printer. These guns are untraceable and completely unregulated, Peters said.

San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl highlighted the local impact, noting that the San Diego Police Department recently established a ghost gun team to tackle the increasing prevalence of these firearms.

We get hundreds of ghost guns off our streets locally. The ease of access and the ability of those who wish to do harm create a threat to public safety, Wahl stated, emphasizing that ghost guns often end up in the hands of those who should not possess them.

Luggage lost on American Airlines flight found in Hollywood homeless encampment

County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer, who has championed policies against ghost guns in unincorporated San Diego County, echoed the call for tougher federal laws.

We need Congress to take action on the bills that would make common sense changes to federal law to ensure safe and responsible gun ownership, she said.

San Diego City Council member Marni Von Wilpert noted a troubling statistic from the Centers for Disease Control: as of 2022, fatal gunshots have surpassed car accidents as the leading cause of death for children under 18.

The press conference also addressed the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning former President Trumps ban on bump stocks. Peters is urging lawmakers to restore the ban, highlighting the dangers posed by bump stocks that enable semi-automatic rifles to fire up to 800 rounds per minute.

We cant have situations like the Las Vegas massacre where almost 60 people were killed and 400 were shot in less than ten minutes, added Therese Hymer, president of San Diegans for Gun Violence Prevention.

Additionally, Peters is advocating for raising the minimum age to buy a gun to 21 and implementing a ban on assault rifles.

For further information, contact the Peters office.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
A Long Beach woman was shot to death Wednesday afternoon, the Long Beach Police Department said.

Myriam Zaragoza, 43, was found in full cardiac arrest in the 2300 block of Locust Avenue at about 3:25 p.m., police said in a news release.

She had been shot multiple times in the upper body and was declared dead at the scene.

Police said the identity of the shooter or shooters and a possible motivation behind the attack remain under investigation.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Detectives Michael Hubbard or Jesus Espinoza at 562-570-7244.

To submit information anonymously, contact Crime Stoppers by calling 800-222-TIPS (8477) or by visiting LACrimeStoppers.org.

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More than 100 child care and preschool seats for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old could be available in Arlington by next summer.

A 14,802-square-foot child care facility with 10 classrooms for infants, toddlers and preschoolers will be built at 696 N. Fielder Road in Arlington after the Tarrant County Commissioners Court approved an agreement with the city of Arlington on Tuesday to transfer $4.7 million of American Rescue Plan funding toward the project. There was no discussion by commissioners on the project because it was approved as a consent item, which are typically discussed only at a commissioners request.

Child Care Associates, one of the largest child development organizations in North Texas, will operate the facility and offer Early Head Start and Head Start programs, which provide federally funded child care services to low-income families, in addition to non-subsidized child care and pre-K.

Were just thrilled with the chance to continue to expand to Arlington. Arlington is an area that has a great deal of child care needs, Kara Waddell, CEO and president of Child Care Associates, told the Star-Telegram. We look forward to meeting the needs of working families.

The plan is to have two infant classrooms, four toddler classrooms and four preschool classrooms at the Arlington facility, Waddell said. Depending on the number of children who are enrolled in Early Head Start and Head Start, the range of total children who could be served is 106 to 132.

The total cost of construction for the early childhood space is budgeted at $6.5 million, according to county records.

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Tarrant Countys contribution toward the project is part of its $36 million investment in expanding high-quality child care and family support programs through federal COVID-19 relief funding. The city of Arlington is also contributing $1.8 million in community development block grant funds toward the project and acquired the property where the facility will be constructed.

The Arlington site is one of six early childhood education projects in the pipeline in Tarrant County that will be operated by Child Care Associates and opening from this year through 2026. The other projects and their locations are:

Child Care Studio at Las Vegas Trail, 8201 Calmont Ave., Fort Worth

Stop Six Hub, 5100 block of Avenue G, Fort Worth

Gwendolyn C. Gragg Child Development Center, 2400 E. First St., Fort Worth

Tarrant County College south campus, 5301 Campus Drive, Fort Worth

Tarrant County College northwest campus, 4801 Marine Creek Parkway, Fort Worth

Just by nature of choosing these locations, it will be focused on being able to serve low-income families, Waddell said of the projects.

Although the ZIP code of the incoming Arlington facility is not considered to be a subsidized child care desert itself, it is in the midst of multiple ZIP codes that are. The neighboring 76013 ZIP code has 32 subsidized seats for every 100 children of low-income parents, according to Children at Risk, a child advocacy organization that tracks various types of child care deserts. To the east in Grand Prairie, that number of seats drops to 14, and to the north in Hurst, that number of seats drops to 16.

A subsidized child care desert is a ZIP code where the demand for subsidized child care of newborns to 5-year-olds  whose families are living below 200% of the federal poverty line  is at least three times greater than the supply. A ZIP code must have at least 30 low-income children in its boundaries to meet this definition.
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  The owners of the beloved Mooresville diner, Trackside Restaurant, announced theyre retiring after 32 years in business.

Helen and George Georgakis opened Trackside Restaurant in 1992. They plan to work their last day on Saturday, June 22.

The couple said they have been pleasantly overwhelmed with customers and well-wishers stopping by in their final week.

It looks like its our family now. Everybody comes to see us, bring us flowers, cards. We cry, we laugh, Helen said.

They said there have been more than twice as many diners this week than a typical week, even though theyre running on a shortened schedule. The business closes at 3 p.m. each weekday while they transition out of the space.

Gaston County father uses CPR, rescues 2-year-old daughter drowning in pool

People have been coming from all over to dine with the Georgakis.

This lady was in Jacksonville, Florida and she found out about us from her son. She came all the way here, Helen said. This other girl came from Winston. She used to ride her bike through the drive-through across the street and she found out and she come to see us from Winston-Salem today.

Their original location in Mooresville sits across the railroad tracks from their current location at 233 S. Broad St. They were there for 17 years before moving into a new facility.

The pair spent many years in the restaurant business. George owned the Acropolis in the Eastland Mall food court from 1975 to 1989. He then opened The Plantation Restaurant in Charlotte.

The couple said they are proud of the business they built, but even more proud of the family they raised.

Both of my daughters used to work with us when they were young, said Helen. Now they are both married, and I have two daughters, two sons-in-law and four beautiful grandchildren.

They look forward to spending more time with the grandchildren and with each other.

I got my wife, Im happy, said George. My wife is number one.

Duke Energy construction causing more headaches for Central Avenue businesses

Helen said its a bittersweet feeling to say goodbye to Trackside.

We get a lot of love. Im going to miss all the people working for me here. A lot of memories, she said.

Another family-owned business will move into the restaurant. Rise Cafe owners plan to move in in a few weeks.

This will be the second location for the restaurant. The original cafe sits just off Sam Furr Road in Huntersville.

Helen and George thank all of their customers and hope to see many familiar faces on Saturday.

 Click here for more heartwarming news across the Carolinas

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Clouds pass over Tiger Stadium on Monday, March 20, 2023, on LSUs campus in Baton Rouge, La. (Matthew Perschall for Louisiana Illuminator)

Gov. Jeff Landry vetoed a bill that would have made it easier for the public to access personnel records of public employees.

House Bill 116 by Rep. Dixon McMakin, R-Baton Rouge, aimed to clarify state public records law as it relates to personnel records of public employees, which are commonly withheld from public view. McMakin filed his proposal to make it easier to access records related to employee misconduct.

His bill would have prohibited public records custodians from solely using a court case as the reason for denying a request.

That provision would have prevented records custodians from citing the 2022 court case McMakin v. LSU as the sole reason for denying a record. LSU commonly cites the 2022 court case, in which McMakin was the plaintiff, for denying access to investigations into employee wrongdoing.

Landry raised concerns with this provision in his veto message but committed to working with McMakin, an ally, on the bill in the future. Read the full veto message below.

There are some concerns that we need to look at it more broadly, to make sure that we still have all the protections in place that should be there for public employees to feel secure in the part of their records that are not meant for the public, McMakin said. And so thats what were gonna work on in the future, just tightening up the language.

Public records laws protect the publics right to know what governments are doing. Theyre part of sunshine laws that every state and the federal government has put in place to ensure transparency.

McMakins bill would have preserved public records exemptions to personal identifying information such as an employees personal phone number or address.

McMakin v. LSU was one such quest for information. In that case, McMakin sued for records related to Donald Abels, a former LSU Greek Life Official accused of setting up fake social media profiles to entrap fraternity recruits he allegedly solicited to commit crimes.

Landry previously sued a reporter for The Advocate for seeking records related to the alleged sexual misconduct of an employee in the Attorney Generals office. While he lost that lawsuit, The Advocate was unable to obtain all of the records it sought.

Proponents of expanded public records access argue the public should have access to these records.

The public has a right to access records of government business and taxpayer expenditures. These records allow citizens to access information that is vital to accountability and oversight, both of which help prevent abuse of power and potential corruption, Melia Cerrato, Sunshine Legal Fellow at Tulane First Amendment Law Clinic, said in a statement to the Illuminator when the bill was first filed. Public records about employees conduct and the governments response are matters of significant public importance.

McMakins bill was unique in the regular session in that it aimed to expand public records access rather than restrict it. While the Legislature has tightened Louisianas public records law regularly since it was created in 1960, expanding access is rare.



The governor supported a number of bills to greatly restrict public records access, though the most extreme of these fell short. Landry did sign a law that would restrict access to records from his office to Louisiana residents and another that would allow local governments to withhold economic development records.



Landry did sign another of McMakins bills that prohibits Louisiana colleges and universities from charging student-funded and -operated media outlets affiliated with the school for public records requests. It goes into effect Aug. 1.

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ZANGILAN, Azerbaijan, June 21. COP29 will be an opportunity to strengthen cooperation in the struggle against climate change, and Azerbaijan has also launched large-scale tree planting and greening initiatives in the country, Head of the Environmental Policy Division, Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan Faig Mutallimov said, Trend's Karabakh bureau reports.



He made the remark at the 29th high-level meeting in Zangilan on the theme "Pathway to COP29: Sustainable and Resilient Future".

According to him, Azerbaijan has committed to restoring 270,000 ha of forest land.

"We planted about 4 million saplings in 2023, and in 2024 we plan to increase this number to 5 million," he emphasized.

He noted that holding the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku in November this year emphasizes the government's commitment to care for the environment.

"Azerbaijan is honored to host COP29. The event will provide an opportunity for world leaders to come together, exchange ideas, and strengthen cooperation in the fight against climate change. Hosting this event in Baku also emphasizes Azerbaijan's commitment to respecting the environment," he added.

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Sen. Heather Cloud, R-Turkey Creek, sponsored legislation that will cut permit fees for trucking businesses like the one she owns. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator)

A new law to reduce the number of commercial truck permits the state requires might benefit the family business of the state lawmaker who pushed the measure.

Sen. Heather Cloud, R-Turkey Creek, authored Senate Bill 260 even though her husband Jody owns a commercial trucking company that could gain from the bill. Her legislation allows truckers to purchase fewer $2,500 annual state permits for hauling heavy equipment. It takes effect Aug. 1.



Cloud said her husbands company only has one truck that hauls heavy equipment and wont be affected much by the new law.



Its probably 5% of our business, she said in an interview. To say it would be a big benefit for me? It would not.

When describing her legislation during a public hearing earlier this year, Cloud repeatedly referenced her familys trucking company to explain why the new law would be beneficial. She told lawmakers the measure would resolve challenges her familys business faced.

We have trucks and this is what we do, Cloud said at a Louisiana Senate transportation committee hearing earlier this year.

Under the current system, Louisianas Department of Transportation and Development typically allows the transfer of a heavy haul equipment permit from one truck to another within the same company only once per year. Clouds new law will allow that type of transfer to happen four times per year before a new $2,500 permit would have to be purchased.

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Like for us, we have one designated truck. We have six to eight trucks in our fleet right now, and one designated truck thats doing the oversized, overweight hauling, Cloud said at the Senate hearing in March when she introduced the legislation. If that one truck goes down, and we need to replace it with another truck in our fleet, this would allow us to be able to do that.

In 2022, Jody Cloud Trucking LLC had a contract worth more than $500,000 with the Evangeline Parish Police Jury as well as more modest deals worth a few hundred to a few thousand dollars with Evangeline Parish Solid Waste, the Allen Parish Police Jury and the Village of Turkey Creek, where Heather Cloud previously served as mayor, according to state financial disclosure paperwork.



Her law will likely mean fewer expenses for truckers but also less money for the state. Last year, the transportation department generated $3.8 million selling more than 1,500 of heavy equipment haul permits. The money goes into the states transportation trust fund, which pays for road and bridge projects, according to a fiscal analysis of the bill.



Kimberly Fruge, a state financial analyst, wrote in a review of the bill that the proposed law will likely result in a decrease in revenue for the transportation trust fund.

Fruge couldnt predict how many trucking companies would take advantage of the standards. In the unlikely event that every single eligible business did, it could reduce funding for the transportation trust fund by a maximum $1.9 million, she said.

Thats a small amount for the state transportation trust that was expected to collect over $600 million this year, but the truck permits serve a purpose other than generating money. They help the state track potential damage to local roads and bridges that comes from heavier loads and larger vehicles.



Yes, in general heavier loads cause more damage to the roadway, transportation department spokesman Rodney Mallett said in response to questions sent by a reporter. The concept is that the cost of the permit offsets the cost of the damage to some degree.

Ethics laws on elected officials family business conflicts are largely toothless

There are state laws that prohibit public servants from participating in government business where they have personal substantial economic interest or an immediate family member has an interest, but state courts have prevented the Louisiana Board of Ethics from enforcing them.



In 2007, the ethics board charged former state Reps. Jeff Arnold, D-New Orleans, and Alexander Heaton, D-New Orleans, with violating ethics laws by participating in legislative deliberations over the consolidation of the New Orleans Assessors Office. At the time, Arnolds father and Heatons brother both served as elected assessors and would have been affected by the proposal to eliminate positions.



The state courts sided with Arnold and Heaton over the ethics board in 2008 and threw out the charges. Louisianas First Circuit Court of Appeals said the ethics board could not reprimand a legislator for participating in such discussions. It would violate a provision in the state constitution that blocks a lawmaker from being investigated and punished for any speech in either house, the judges ruled.



Since that decision, the ethics board has filed no other charges against legislators who have brought forward or participated in discussion of legislation that might financially benefit them or their families.

Cloud said many of her legislative proposals, not just the trucking permit law, result from her own personal experiences and what she hears from constituents.



Much of my legislation comes from having conversations with people in the trenches, she said.



The legislation also had a few large business community backers including Entergy Louisiana, the Louisiana Loggers Association and the Louisiana Motor Transport Association, which represents trucking companies.



Cloud was a speaker at a Louisiana Motor Transport Association meeting on the Alabama Gulf Coast in July of last year. The organization covered her $1,000 hotel bill at The Lodge of Gulf State Park in exchange for her appearance.

Renee Amar, the trucking groups executive director, said its only fair that Cloud, a person with expertise in trucking, be able to file legislation related to her familys business like legislators who are attorneys can.



The trucking industry is currently in a battle with the states trial attorneys over lawsuit legislation. It often accuses the legislators who are lawyers of scuttling legislation to limit lawsuit awards, a measure they say is necessary to bring down trucking insurance costs.

Id love to see lawyers recuse themselves for every lawyer bill that comes up on the floor, Amar said.

The post Louisiana lawmaker who owns trucking business authors law to reduce trucking fees appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
(FOX40.COM)  Passengers flying between Sacramento and Burbank will have another airline as an option later this year, according to the Sacramento International Airport.

A Thursday afternoon post on the airports account on X reads, in part, Surprise! New flights to Burbank are taking off from SMF!

Terminals, gates and airlines: A guide to travelers heading to the Sacramento International Airport

The post goes on to say that Spirit Airlines will have two daily flights between the two cities starting on September 4.

The carrier is known for its low-cost flights and already has flights out of Sacramentos main airport.

Serious delays: Major I-5 construction heading toward Sacramento airport begins

Flights between Sacramento and Burbank are currently only serviced by Southwest, according to the airports tool that shows its nonstop destinations.

Sacramentos airport also has nonstop flights available on different airlines to several Southern California destinations, including Santa Barbara, Ontario, Long Beach, Orange County, Palm Springs, Santa Ana, San Diego and Los Angeles.

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These Madison entrepreneurs want to help you make friends as an adult

In the fall of 2021, Madison native Michael Orosz-Fagen, then a sophomore at Saint Louis University, glanced around the college's dining hall and noticed many students were sitting alone.

"What if there was a way to say you want to eat a meal with someone?" Orosz-Fagen thought to himself. An entrepreneurship major, he immediately added this to the list of business ideas in his phone's Notes app.

With the help of his friend and fellow SLU student Stuart Ray, a computer science major, Orosz-Fagen's idea eventually became Mesh, a matching service that pairs groups of four with potential friends for a Saturday morning coffee date at cafes throughout Madison.

Each Wednesday, Mesh sends out a text inviting those who've signed up for the free service to a coffee shop meetup. Those who respond with a "yes" are sorted into a foursome using an algorithm designed to match people of similar ages and interests. Meetups occur on Saturdays at 10 a.m. at spots like Leopold's Books Bar Caffe, Finca Coffee, Lakeside St. Coffee House and Ancora. Shortly beforehand, users receive a message with photos of the people they've been matched with to help them find each other.

A Mesh group of four meets at Colectivo Coffee in Madison, Wis. Mesh participants are paired in a foursome of similarly aged strangers for coffee every Saturday at 10 a.m.

"It's similar to a first date, you just don't know what you'll find," said Kyle Pineda, 26, who works in global tech marketing and has attended five Mesh meetups. "It's interesting how you can't talk to your group before you meet up. There are no preconceived notions."

After a 1.5-year development period in St. Louis, Mesh launched in Madison in early April. After just two months, over 800 people have signed up for Mesh's text invites. Two Saturdays ago, over 200 strangers met at six Madison coffee shops, Orosz-Fagen said.

Seventy percent of Mesh users are between the ages of 20 and 35, he said, with the majority being between 22 and 28. Many recently graduated from college. Orosz-Fagen, a 2024 graduate, said this shows members of his age group are eager to form new connections but don't always know where to look. He said many people have told him they consider themselves "fairly social" but struggle to meet people after graduation.

"Everyone moves away or they change or they get married. It can be really hard to connect with people," he said. "And it's not because there's anything wrong with you. It's just because there's some kind of friction in the way."

Saint Louis University graduates Stuart Ray, 24 of St. Louis, and Michael Orosz-Fagen, 22 of Madison, founded Mesh while still students.

Mesh hopes to help people make friends after college

Though the transition from college to adult life has always been tough, the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought up America's newest grads in a world of virtual classes and remote work, has made it even harder.

"Humans are such social creatures, it's just inherent, it's in our DNA," Orosz-Fagen said. "After 2020, with COVID, we lost a little bit of that. We just need to figure out how to get back on that bike." A benefit of Mesh, he said, is that everyone has their minds open to the common goal of meeting new friends.

Natalie, a 26-year-old working in student affairs at UW-Madison, said she tried various online meetup services including Bumble BFF, Meetup and Facebook events. She attended the first Mesh meetup in April and has gone out for drinks multiple times with the people she met. She's attended Mesh most Saturdays since.

"With Bumble BFF ... you're trying to form this one-on-one relationship right away. You spend a lot of time texting a person and getting a feel for them before deciding if you want to meet, so that can easily fizzle out," Natalie said. "With other things, I might show up, and the people there are nice, but we're there for a secondary activity so I feel like I haven't really gotten to know them. So, Mesh is different."

How does Mesh work?

Mesh groups meet weekly at Madison coffee shops on Saturdays at 10 a.m. Multiple groups typically meet in the same coffee shop.

Those living in or near the Madison area (including Milwaukeeans willing to make the drive) can sign up for Mesh invites on the free Mesh app. Users share their age and answer a few personality questions to help optimize their matches. Then, every Wednesday, they receive a text invite to a Madison coffee shop. If you respond with a "yes," you get a reminder Friday at 5 p.m. and photos of your matches Saturday at 8:30 a.m.

The 10 a.m. Saturday meetups are officially an hour long, and multiple foursomes meet at the same coffee shop. After the first hour, groups often merge and continue socializing, Orosz-Fagen said.

You don't have to be available every Saturday to participate. If you can't make a meetup, you'll continue to receive weekly invites. The more you participate, the more potential friends you'll meet; you generally won't be paired with the same people twice.

Mesh plans to expand to other cities, including Milwaukee

A Mesh group meets outside the Wisconsin State Capitol building.

While Madison is Mesh's "pilot community," Orosz-Fagen and Ray intend to expand the service to cities throughout the country. The pair plans to launch Mesh in Austin, Texas, and Washington, D.C., in the next few months, Orosz-Fagen said, and Milwaukee is in their "top 30 list" of cities they hope to launch in within the next year.

Mesh will also launch a premium membership option this summer. For $12 a month, premium members will receive 10% discounts on drinks at various partner coffee shops. Additionally, premium members will have the opportunity to meet earlier or later than 10 a.m. and will receive priority invites on Tuesdays, increasing their likelihood of being matched.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Madison entrepreneurs create app to help young adults make friends
Our lawsuit in a nutshell is to hold the state accountable to its legal obligations to meet its science-driven climate mandates," said Emily Green, senior attorney for the Conservation Law Foundation. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Attorneys for the state of Maine on Friday filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by youth groups and environmental advocates that argues officials have failed to take the necessary steps to cut carbon emissions as required by law.

The initial lawsuit  filed in April by the Conservation Law Foundation, Maine Youth Action and Sierra Club  alleges that the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is not following a 2019 law that requires the state to cut its carbon emissions 45% by 2030 and 80% by 2050.

On Friday, lawyers for the Maine Office of the Attorney General said those arguments are baseless.

The motion to dismiss argues that the state did not violate any laws because it was not required to adopt the particular rules that it ended up rejecting, namely the Advanced Clean Cars II Act, which would have required 82% of new vehicles sold in the state to be electric by 2032. The lawyers also argue many of the claims brought by the groups are repetitive and that the proposed remedy  asking the court to direct and accelerate the DEPs rulemaking efforts  would breach the constitutional separation of powers between branches of government.

The plaintiffs will now have until the beginning of August to respond to the states motion.

During a media briefing on the case prior to the states filing, Emily Green, senior attorney for the Conservation Law Foundation, said advocates are trying to ensure adherence to the stipulations of the law.

Our lawsuit in a nutshell is to hold the state accountable to its legal obligations to meet its science-driven climate mandates, she said.

Green argued that the climate groups are not trying to dictate exactly how Maine will cut emissions but are seeking a court ruling that would require concrete steps to meet the targets outlined in state law.

Green pointed out that impacts of climate change are already being seen, pointing to the warming of the Gulf of Maine, the series of violent storms this past winter and dangerous pests like ticks moving north as temperatures rise.

While she said the state has taken steps to support decarbonization and resilience planning in policy, Maine officials have failed to develop and implement the enforceable standards necessary to slash carbon pollution as our climate law requires.

For example, the initial lawsuit points to the Maine Board of Environmental Protections decision in March to reject the Advanced Clean Cars II Act.

Board members who voted against the rule cited lingering questions about the policy and also argued that such a significant decision should instead be considered by elected officials.

But critics of that decision say the state hasnt done enough to address pollution from transportation, which is the largest source of emissions of any sector in Maine.

We think Maine deserves more than empty promises and Mainers need action that matches the magnitude of the climate crisis, Matt Cannon of Sierra Club Maine said during the media briefing Wednesday. State leaders must do all they can to responsibly and equitably reduce emissions, starting with our most significant polluters.

State leaders insist they are taking significant steps to address the climate crisis. In an April proclamation honoring Earth Day, Gov. Janet Mills said Maine has made extraordinary progress toward our climate goals outlined in the states climate action plan, Maine Wont Wait, which is intended as a roadmap for how to reduce emissions at the rate required by law.

The Maine Climate Council  the group that created that plan  met on Tuesday and received draft strategies and recommendations from an array of experts to help strengthen Maines resilience to the effects of climate change and continue its momentum in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to a news release from the Governors Office of Policy Innovation and the Future.

The 39-member council, which includes scientists, industry leaders, local and state officials, and citizens, is working to update the climate action plan by December and will be reviewing the strategies and recommendations in the coming months. The public can also provide feedback by filling out a survey on the strategies.

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The post Maine AG asks court to dismiss suit alleging lack of action to address climate change appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
Laura Phoenix's new Habitat for Humanity home in Durham (Photo: Greg Childress)

Surrounded by friends and Habitat Humanity of Durham staff, Laura Phoenix grew emotional Thursday during the dedication of her new home in East Durham.

Just a year ago, the 43-year-old yoga instructor was without permanent housing after a bad break-up. It was the second time as an adult that shed found herself without a permanent home.

This situation is not unique to me and some people are in worse shape, said Phoenix, who has spent the past year living with friends. We all deserve to live safely, and we shouldnt have to bust our ass and hand over tremendous amounts of our paychecks to make that happen.

Laura Phoenix

Phoenixs home dedication comes just weeks before she is scheduled to close on a new 3-bedroom, 1 1/2-bath home on North Plum Street that has been appraised at $285,000 (Habitat homes are sold at appraised value). The home was built with the help of Habitat volunteers. And as is the case with Habitat homes, Phoenix was required to contribute at least 300 hours of sweat equity.

You know, I liked hammering and I liked putting up walls, Phoenix said, laughing. We had a workday that was just my friends putting in the grass and the plants in front of a couple of these houses including this one [the home she bought].

Thursdays home dedication also comes during National Homeownership Month. Habitat for Humanity of Durham will recognize two additional local families during home dedications this weekend.

The lots on which the houses are built was originally zoned for two homes, said Tiana Joyner, CEO at Habitat Durham. It was rezoned to allow seven Habitat homes to be built, Joyner said. Were calling these homes our skinny Plum lots because theyre a little skinnier [than traditional Habitat lots] and we took advantage of the density to ensure that we could build more homes here.

Such creative approaches to zoning are becoming increasingly important in the battle to keep pace with the demand for affordable housing in one of the nations hottest housing markets, Joyner said. U.S. News and World Report recently ranked Durham the fourth hottest housing market in the nation. Raleigh came in second.

We call it responsible density, Joyner said. As land becomes more scarce in Durham, and just nationally, we have to make best use of the land we have.

To keep homes affordable, Habitat Durham is looking to build smaller homes and to move into the townhome market for the first time, Joyner said. A 40-unit townhome complex is planned for land the organization purchased near N.C. Central University, Joyner said.

But building smaller homes and increasing density is only a part of the solution to the housing affordability crisis, she said.

Tiana Joyner

We have to really get creative because there is an affordability crisis, Joyner said. Making homes smaller does not equal making them affordable. Theres a lot of other things that we have to look at like taxes, homeowners insurance. All of those things go into factoring affordability. Durham has changed so much, and affordability is looking different for everyone, not just those who need affordable housing.

In Durham, 18% of homeowners  13,520  households have difficulty affording their homes, according to a recent report by the N.C. Housing Coalition. Families that spend more than 30% of their annual or monthly income on housing are considered cost-burdened.

Habitat Durham would prefer that its homes sell for $200,000 or less, Joyner said, but realizes that has become an unlikely scenario due to increased land and material costs.

Our homes have gone up tremendously, Joyner said. We had a home last year that appraised for $310,000. We want our homes to be under $200,000 but this is the new normal, unfortunately.

Although the North Plum Street homes are near Durhams highly desired downtown, Joyner said that the trend of higher prices can be found all over the county.

Were finding the challenge everywhere, she said. Were working on a project, purchasing off of Duke Street, which is kind of far from downtown, and were having a challenge of making the project affordable, so we dont even know if were going to be able to move forward with purchasing it.

In addition to reducing property taxes and homeowners insurance for buyers of affordable housing, Joyner said, elected officials must provide more downpayment assistance and increase subsidies to developers.

If we can have more assistance with building [affordable housing], we can pass that along to the homeowner, she said.

Habitat already provides 0% interest loans to homebuyers and forgives some portions of loans.

The forgivables are getting more and more expensive, Joyner said. If we have a homeowner who can only afford $200,000 and the home is $300,000, we have to do a forgivable of $100,000 and sometimes more than that. We cant afford to do those kinds of forgivables continuously. We do them, but we have to figure something out.

Homeowners must earn between 50% and 80% of the area median income to qualify for Habitat Durham homes. The median income for Durham is $79,154.



Meanwhile, Phoenix was moved to tears after friend David Huber shared testimony about her recent housing journey.

This has been a long journey for you, and I know that its not been easy, necessarily, when it began, Huber said. Im so excited for you, to get into a place that firmly supports you. You have a place that you can call home.

The post Maintaining affordability has become a growing challenge in addressing housing crisis appeared first on NC Newsline.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, June 21. The regional forum on freight transportation and logistics has commenced in Astana under the auspices of the International Air Cargo Association (TIACA), Trend reports via the Kazakh Ministry of Transport.

The forum, themed "Silk Road in the Sky  Kazakhstan Cargo Hub," aims to significantly contribute to the implementation of the Transport and Logistics Potential Development Concept of Kazakhstan until 2030.

During the forum, negotiations will take place between various organizations, resulting in the signing of documents between several airports (Astana, Karaganda, and Aktobe) and MNG Airlines, MSC Air Cargo SA, Coyne Airways Limited, and Alpha Sky (Kazakhstan) (TBC). Additionally, memoranda of cooperation will be signed between TIACA and local airports (Aktau, Aktobe, Astana, Karaganda, and Uralsk) and the airline SCAT, as well as between TIACA and the organization JARUS.

More than 300 participants from 30 countries, representing various organizations involved in the entire freight transportation chain, including shippers, forwarders, ground service providers, airports, airlines, manufacturers, and IT suppliers, have joined the forum.

The forum offers industry experts the opportunity to discuss current issues in several areas, such as the regulatory framework of the industry, an overview of the current state of freight transportation, multimodal logistics, the creation of cargo aviation hubs, trends, innovations, and digitalization in air cargo transportation, e-commerce opportunities and challenges, sustainable development of freight transportation, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The interaction between Kazakh companies and various organizations, along with the implementation of advanced technologies, will help increase trade with Central Asian countries by 2.4 times, from $6.3 billion to $15 billion, including a growth in Kazakh exports of $560 million.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  The Maize Police Department is warning the public about a scammer who is impersonating a police officer.

A Facebook post from the MPD says the police department was notified by a citizen that they had received a call from someone claiming to be with the MPD about an outstanding warrant for their arrest through the Maize Municipal Court.

The call was received from a phone number that matched that of the Maize Municipal Court. The caller instructed the citizen to stay on the phone with them and to drive to pay the warrant. The citizen became suspicious, hung up, and called the MPD to verify the validity of the warrant and call.

MPD said there was no warrant for the callers arrest.

Scammer claiming to be police chief of Kansas town

MPD said never to agree to pay any fine or warrant over the phone unless you personally have verified you are actually speaking with an actual representative of the court. Maize police officers will never demand or ask for a form of payment over the phone.

This type of scam is becoming more predominant in the area and across Kansas, the post reads. If you receive such a call demanding immediate payment to clear a warrant, please hang up and call the Maize Municipal Court or Maize Police Department to verify the validity of the call. Never agree to pay any fine or warrant over the phone unless you personally have verified you are actually speaking with an actual representative of the court.

Additionally, no law enforcement agency will ever ask or require anyone to pay a fine or warrant on demand with a Green Dot or other type of similar gift card.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
A man accused of targeting, punching and injuring an 11-year-old Bellingham boy who was returning from a field trip with his class in downtown Bellingham last week has pleaded not guilty to felony hate crime and assault charges.

Paul Jonathan Bittner, 42, was charged June 14 in Whatcom County Superior Court with one count of a hate crime and one count of second-degree assault of a child. Bittners hate crime charge states that he maliciously and intentionally assaulted another person because of the perception of their race, while his assault crime charge states that he intentionally assaulted a child under the age of 13 and thereby recklessly inflict(ed) substantial bodily harm upon the child, according to court records.

Bittner pleaded not guilty to the charges at his arraignment hearing Friday morning, June 21.

Bittner was arrested and booked into the downtown Whatcom County Jail shortly before 2:30 p.m. June 12. He remains incarcerated in lieu of $500,000 bail, which was set at his first appearance hearing on June 13.

Similar to the June 13 hearing, more than 70 community members packed a small fifth-floor courtroom in the Whatcom County Courthouse on Friday morning in support of the child and his family. Extra benches were brought into the courtroom for people to stand on in the back, and at least nine chairs were set along the middle aisle to provide extra seating. Additional benches were pulled into the hallway outside, while the large, double doors were kept open for people in the hallway to watch and hear the proceedings.

Bittners arraignment was one of the most well-attended arraignment hearings that has happened in Whatcom County Superior Court in at least five years  so much so that court and judicial officials were concerned they may have been running afoul of capacity rules for the room.

Whatcom County Superior Court Commissioner Lisa Keeler accepted the not-guilty pleas of Paul Jonathan Bittner, 42, on June 21, 2024. Bittner was charged on June 14 with one count of a hate crime and one count of second-degree assault of a child.

Bittners case was originally called first, but he had not yet made it to the jail courtroom, so two other cases were called beforehand. Members of the public let out groans and sighs as the court announced it would be calling other cases while Bittner made his way to the converted jail courtroom he eventually appeared from. The announcement that Bittner was not yet ready for his hearing was made following nearly a 45-minute delay to the hearings original start time.

When Bittners case was called, he appeared with a public defense attorney via video conference dressed in a yellow jumpsuit with his wrists shackled at his sides.

Members of the local Black community and others watched as Bittner pleaded not guilty to the racially-motivated attack two days after the Juneteenth holiday. A public defense attorney who appeared with Bittner for purposes of Fridays hearing entered his not guilty pleas.

Paul Jonathan Bittner, 42, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment hearing on June 21, 2024. Bittner was charged on June 14 with one count of a hate crime and one count of second-degree assault of a child. His jury trial is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 12.

In addition to the childs family, community members in attendance at Fridays hearing included Bellingham City Council Member Edwin Skip Williams and former City Council Member Kristina Michele Martens. Both made history in 2022 as the first Black man and woman to be elected to the council. Other members in attendance included Jason McGill and others of Northwest Youth Services, Michelle Harmeier of the Bellingham Queer Collective, members and founders of the Whatcom Racial Equity Commission, members of the Whatcom Coalition for Anti-Racist Education, members of Connect Ferndale, Markis Dee of Serenity Outreach Services and more.

Some members of the public wore black T-shirts with white lettering that read Together is Better.

Whatcom County Superior Court Commissioner Lisa Keeler accepted Bittners not guilty pleas and tentatively set his jury trial for Aug. 12. He will have a preliminary status hearing on July 17.

Keeler also re-issued a no-contact order put in place between Bittner and the child. Bittner also signed a declaration stating he had no weapons or firearms to surrender, which the court found him to be in compliance with.

In total, the actual hearing itself took nine minutes.

In a statement sent Friday to The Herald, Whatcom County senior deputy public defender Matthew Palmer, who is representing Bittner, said they are in the process of gathering records for the case.

We may be able to provide responsive comments after we have time to carefully review records and discovery. Broadly speaking, our whole community, and nation, is safer when everyone has access to meaningful psychiatric care, Palmer said in the Friday statement.

The Bellingham Herald has reached out to the Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorneys Office for comment.

The assault

The boy was returning to school Wednesday afternoon, June 12, with his sixth-grade Whatcom Middle School class following a walking field trip they had taken to the Pickford Film Center in downtown Bellingham.

The students were walking north on Grand Avenue near the county courthouse when Bittner, who was also walking north, appeared to follow alongside the students. Not long after, Bittner slipped into step with the group and began walking directly in front of the boy, who was speaking with his white friend, according to court records.

Bittner, who is white, then turned around and punched the boy, who is African American, in the face. The boy suffered immense pain in his face and a chipped tooth, court documents state.

After Bittner punched the child, he then shoved the student and said are you gonna talk to a white man like that? court records state.

School staff members quickly separated Bittner from the group following the attack. He was found and detained shortly after the assault in the 200 block of Prospect Street. Police said Bittner was generally uncooperative and refused to speak about the incident, court documents state.

Bittner also reportedly used racial slurs while speaking with officers when he was detained in Bellingham police patrol vehicles during the initial investigation.

Several witnesses later confirmed Bittner in a police lineup as the person who assaulted the student. The attack was also captured on surveillance video from the Bellingham police station, court documents show.

In an interview with Bellingham police, the boy told officers he believed the random assault occurred because of his race. He and Bittner do not know one another and had never met, according to court records.

No place for hate

In an interview with media following the court hearing, the boys father, DeVante Blow, said he was at his office when he received a phone call from his son informing him of the assault.

Blow said he initially thought maybe his son had been involved in a schoolyard fight, but quickly learned that his child had been punched in the face by an adult man who had used racial slurs during the attack. In less than 15 minutes, Blow was at his sons school.

Blow said the slurs Bittner is accused of using were one of the most disappointing things about the entire situation.

For so long, Ive been trying to protect my son from that specific thing. Thats the reason why were here in Washington, and that sense of safety was probably taken for a little bit, but the community support has definitely reassured us, he said. I was hoping that this would be the turnout and the community has not disappointed.

Blow and his family, who are originally from Whidbey Island, moved to Bellingham in 2020. He said they were deciding between Texas and Bellingham, but ultimately decided that this is home.

Blow said prior to this incident, his experience has generally been positive while living in Bellingham. He said the assault on his child is the most impactful negative thing that has happened to their family since moving here. He also said he was surprised this occurred, and that this event was one of the most blatant and overt pieces of racism that he has seen or experienced while living in Washington state.

Despite that, he said the ways in which the community has shown up and provided support has been amazing.

Thats really been the difference in this whole thing, he said. When I look around, its not just a room full of African American people, but a conglomerate of people and really, thats what makes a difference. We feel safe, we feel seen, and hate has no place here.

Blow said his son is doing well. He is attending therapy and will be receiving some dental work, adding that outside of that, his spirits are high.

When asked what message he had for Bittner, Blow said he and his son share the same sentiment.

We dont hate Mr. Bittner, we hate what he did. And we hope that the time that he serves hopefully for what he has done, he will be rehabilitated and Bellingham will be safe, he said.

Blow said he hopes his son will be able to share a story of forgiveness with his peers and friends, and tell of how the Whatcom County community has shown up for him and his family. He said his son, whom he called a social butterfly, has enjoyed the numerous cards and letters of support that have been provided.

He said this incident is a wake-up call.

We cant be lulled to sleep. Things like this and people like this and hate is still around, and so we need to stand up and be vocal about it. At any sights or notes of any hatred, we stand up and we kick it out of here, Blow said. We move together and we move with community. We speak out loud about what has happened, but we make sure that nobody else is affected by hate. So were advocates.

Work to do

Martens, the former city council member and co-founder of the Whatcom Racial Equity Commission, echoed Blows statements in that there is still work to be done to dismantle racism in Whatcom County and the U.S.

She said while the attack on the boy was a giant macroaggression, there are still microaggressions that happen at every level on a daily basis for people of color living in Whatcom County. She said its great that people show up to Juneteenth celebrations, to other events celebrating communities of color and to the courthouse hearings in solidarity, but that those actions are performative. Martens, who is Black, encouraged people to keep attending, but said people also need to sit with themselves and identify the microaggressions they may be engaging in and the ways they may be upholding systemic racism.

Bellingham City Councilwoman Kristina Michele Martens, left, and Shu-Ling Zhao were key members of a committee that sought public input and outlined how the Racial Equity Commission would work.

Yes, this is a huge problem that the community has to deal with. But we also have to reckon with ourselves. What are the smaller things that are happening every single day that lead people in and around our community to think that then this leap is okay? Martens said in referring to the hate crime assault. So keep going and bringing more friends to those events, but also really sit and reflect in all of the things that you dont know youre doing every day that are contributing to upholding the systemic racism.

Martens said she too was attacked in a similar manner when she was 11 years old, and that she understood the way the world has shifted for the boy and his family. It was this experience, in part, that made her attend the hearing Friday.

I found that especially in Bellingham, things are better when we come together. So anytime theres an option to show up and support anyone, but specifically this family that is kind of the forefront right now or the front page of the work we still have to do in our community, Ill be there every time, she said. I dont know a single person of color that something like this hasnt happened to. So its like a really dark rite of passage, to fully understand what can happen to you still in 2024 because of your skin color.

Messages of support

Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund, Bellingham Police Chief Rebecca Mertzig and Bellingham Public Schools Superintendent Greg Baker all issued statements June 13 denouncing the attack.

The school district collected cards, letters and messages of support and solidarity for the student and his family at the district office at 1985 Barkley Boulevard in Bellingham. Some schools created larger posters with messages of love and support that were displayed in the Whatcom Middle School lobby throughout the last days of the school year, Bellingham Public Schools spokesperson Dana Smith told The Herald.

Most of the cards and posters were collected and presented in a large basket to the family at a gather at the middle school Friday afternoon following the court hearing, Smith said. She said the district will continue to collect cards and will ensure they get to the student and his family.

The district provided additional counselors while school was still in session. Small reflection groups and individual counseling were also offered. The district values the familys direct input on what they and the student need, and will continue to check in regularly so the districts supports include and honor their input and voices, Smith said.

Community members have expressed outrage and frustration that this happened in our community, and the event complicates feelings of safety and security for Black children and community members, especially as our students move into the summer months, Smith said in a statement sent to The Herald. The community has come together to show support in multiple ways, from showing up for the student and family with meals and small gifts and offering healing resources to standing in solidarity at the courthouse hearings.

Additionally, the community response highlights the importance of our schools and district continuing and emphasizing anti-racist education and culturally responsive education, policies, and learning environments, Smith added.

Connect Ferndale  a community organization that works to cultivate growth, connection and inclusion through cultural events, learning opportunities and more  also held a card-writing campaign on Thursday, June 20. Members of the public were invited to come to FrinGe Brewing in Ferndale to make a card and write a note of love and support for this young man and his family.

Members of the community handed a stack of colorful cards to the students parents following Bittners arraignment hearing.

Sense of safety

Over the weekend the Whatcom Coalition for Anti-Racist Education issued a letter calling the community to action. Whatcom CARE is a grassroots organization of parents, caregivers and educators working to educate, inform and advocate for anti-racism, inclusion and equity in classroom communities, according to its website.

The organization took issue with Bittners bail amount set at his first appearance hearing last week. The Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorneys Office requested Bittners bail be set at $1 million, but a Superior Court Pro Tem Commissioner ultimately decided to set it at $500,000. Whatcom CARE said in its June 15 community letter that it was sending a letter to Whatcom Countys Superior Court judges asking them to revisit Bittners bail amount.

Make no mistake, what this child experienced, in the place his parents believed to be one of the safest places in the world for him, was a hate crime, Whatcom CAREs community letter stated. Nothing can restore a sense of safety for an 11-year-old child who experienced such violence. That sense of safety has now been taken away from him, but we can stand in solidarity to create safe spaces  and it is imperative that we do so.

The letter called on the Whatcom County community to not cast this attack aside as an isolated incident, or to say that Bellingham is generally a safe place for Black people and other POC (people of color). Whatcom CARE said the 11-year-old boy is not alone in feeling unsafe and treated differently by their peers, teachers, and strangers on the street.

The letter continued by saying that Whatcom CARE has heard of incidents from students, parents and teachers about racially motivated language, actions and incidents aimed at students of color who attend public schools throughout the county. The organization said it was calling out such microaggressions, negligence and discrimination. Children of color deserve to feel safe in their schools and communities, the organizations letter stated.

Yard signs, commissions, and promises are not enough. We need real action in our schools and neighborhoods. We will continue to uplift students of color and their communities through connection to safe spaces, supporting projects that center Black and Brown joy, facilitating classroom discussions, offering anti-racist classroom tool kits, and providing bystander training, as well as through advocacy at personal, community, and legislative levels, the letter stated. We invite all our neighbors and community members to join us in taking action against racism of all kinds in Whatcom County.
FILE - Visitors pay their respects, Thursday, July 7, 2022, at altars for the seven people killed in the Fourth of July mass shooting in Highland Park, Ill. Robert Crimo III, accused of killing seven people and injuring dozens more, including children, at a Fourth of July parade in suburban Chicago in 2022 is scheduled for a court hearing Wednesday, June 26, 2024, when it is possible he will change his not guilty plea, the prosecutor says. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

CHICAGO (AP)  A man accused of killing seven people and injuring dozens more at a Fourth of July parade in suburban Chicago in 2022 will return to court next week for a possible change in his plea of not guilty, a prosecutor said Friday.

Robert Crimo III was scheduled to face trial next February on a raft of charges, including murder and attempted murder, for the shooting in Highland Park. The hearing set for Wednesday is a little more than a week ahead of the two-year anniversary of the attack.

The case will be up on June 26 for a possible change of plea. We have been updating and supporting the victims as the situation has been developing," Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart said.

A message seeking comment from the public defender's office, which is defending Crimo, wasn't immediately returned.

An attorney representing three family members wounded while attending the parade said prosecutors told them this week that Crimo is expected to change at least part of his earlier not guilty plea to guilty on Wednesday.

Mike Bonamarte, a managing partner with Levin & Perconti, represents Zoe and Stephen Kolpack, a married couple, and her father, Mike Joyce, in a civil suit against Crimo, his father and gun manufacturers and sellers.

Bonamarte said the Kolpacks' main question is whether a change of plea will mean a life sentence.

What Zoe said to me is shell feel better if she believes this is a step closer to some justice, Bonamarte said. But it doesnt change the fact shes going to deal with what happened for the rest of her life.

Authorities have said Crimo, 23, confessed to police in the days after he opened fire from a rooftop in Highland Park, terrifying parade participants and spectators.

The case has moved slowly as attorneys reviewed reams of evidence including video footage.

In December, Crimo insisted to Judge Victoria Rossetti that he wanted to fire his public defenders and represent himself. He reversed that decision weeks later.

Crimo would face a mandatory sentence of life without parole if convicted of first-degree murder.

Separately, his father, Robert Crimo Jr., pleaded guilty last year to seven misdemeanor counts of reckless conduct.

In 2019, at age 19, Crimo III was too young to seek his own gun license, but he could apply with the sponsorship of a parent or guardian. His father agreed, even though a relative reported to police that Crimo III had a collection of knives and had threatened to kill everyone.

____

White reported from Detroit.
WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, Manhattan (PIX11)  A man is accused of stabbing his neighbor with a machete during a fight in a Manhattan apartment building early Friday, according to police and sources.

Phillip Ocana, 54, allegedly stabbed the man, 43, in the hands and arms during an argument in their building at 520 West 180th St. in Washington Heights at around 1:10 a.m., according to the NYPD. The victim took himself to the hospital and was treated and released.

Ocana was also injured during the fight. He was taken to the hospital with head bruises and cuts to the hand and face, police said.

Ocana was arrested and charged with assault, police said. The victim was also taken into custody but has not yet been charged.

It was unclear what the neighbors were arguing about.

Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Pro-Palestinian protesters defend themselves against a pro-Israeli supporter at an encampment at UCLA early on the morning of May 1. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles)

A pro-Israel counterprotester will not face felony assault charges in connection with an alleged attack against occupants of a Palestinian solidarity encampment at UCLA last month, Dist. Atty. George Gascon's office announced Friday.

Instead, the Los Angeles district attorney's office announced that after reviewing the evidence against 18-year-old Edan On, the case was referred to the city attorney's office for a possible misdemeanor filing.

On was identified as a counterprotester at an April 30 pro-Palestinian demonstration at the UCLA campus. In widely shared videos, a masked man in a white hoodie can be seen repeatedly striking protesters with a pole. Law enforcement sources identified the man as On and video of his actions were first aired by CNN.

The UCLA Police Department interviewed witnesses and victims in connection to the violence that erupted at the encampment, reviewed security camera footage of the masked man and later identified him as On. Pro-Israeli counterprotesters armed with fireworks, gas irritants, and blunt objects violently attacked students and faculty in the encampment for hours as private security guards and campus police watched from a distance.

Read more: Four UCLA student journalists attacked by pro-Israel counterprotesters on campus

On was detained by police on May 23 at a business in Beverly Hills and booked on suspicion of felony assault with a deadly weapon, police announced at the time. He was held in a Los Angeles County Jail on $30,000 bail and his arrest marked the first in connection to the violent scene that unfolded at UCLA.

On allegedly assaulted a person between 12:30 p.m. on April 30 to 1:30 a.m. on May 1 during the clash at UCLA, Gascon's office said in a statement.

Gascon's office reviewed the evidence in the case, but "cannot establish beyond reasonable doubt that Mr. On's conduct directly caused the victim's injury."

Gascon goes on to say that there is "no evidence to suggest that Mr. On was working in collaboration with any other individuals, and our investigation found no proof of conspiracy or any organized effort by Mr. On related to the incident."

Read more: Timeline: UCLA's night of violence before police moved in

There are no other alleged victims in the matter, the DA's office said. The city attorney's confirmed they are reviewing the case but declined to say more about the case.

"This referral aligns with our commitment to applying the law fairly and ensuring that justice is served based on the available evidence," Gascon's office said.

The DA's office is reviewing one other case involving the attacks at the UCLA encampment, but details on that matter have not been released.

Protesters erected their encampment on the UCLA campus to demand the university divest any financial ties with Israel over the country's ongoing war against Gaza in response to an Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack.

Following the April 30 brawl, On's mother posted an online comment about his involvement.

In a now deleted Facebook post, Sharon On-Siboni shared a photo of her son from a Fox 11 news segment at UCLA that she captioned in Hebrew, saying, Edan went to bully the Palestinian students in the tents at UCLA and played the song that they played to the Nukhba terrorists in prison! according to a law enforcement source.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Man arrested for multiple Oklahoma murders may be connected to El Reno case

EL RENO, Okla. (KFOR)  El Reno Police say a man arrested in Arkansas for multiple murders in Oklahoma may be connected to a case in their city.

Police say they responded to the home of Phillip Emerson, 56, on June 14 where officers found him dead. Officers initially noted that the cause of death was suspicious, before investigators determined his injuries were consistent with a homicide.

The victim died from a gunshot wound, said El Reno Assistant Police Chief Kirk Dickerson.

Alabama man wanted for multiple Oklahoma murders arrested in Arkansas

News 4 asked Dickerson if that meant Emerson was only shot once, but Dickerson could not answer that question directly.

During the investigation, Dickerson said they discovered Emersons vehicle was missing from the scene and presumed it was taken by suspect Stacy Lee Drake.

Stacy Lee Drake. Photo courtesy Arkansas Department of Public Safety.

Dickerson said Emerson and Drake knew each other.

The victim and suspect did know each other, said Dickerson. Weve confirmed that they did have a relationship. They were seen together on more than one occasion recently.

Police believe Drake was transient and had only just recently arrived in El Reno.

Hes also been tied to another murder case in Sequoyah County from June 18. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) said the Sequoyah County Sherriffs Office requested its assistance after a man and woman were found inside a Gans business.

The woman has since been identified as Tara Barnett-Underwood, a mother of three.

El Reno Police say Emersons vehicle was found where the murders took place.

Family identifies woman killed in Oklahoma double homicide

That vehicle was missing, and it was subsequently located in Sequoyah County, said Dickerson.

After the Gans crime took place, OSBI believes Drake stole another vehicle found in Morrilton, Ark., later that same night.

Drake was arrested Thursday morning by multiple Arkansas law enforcement agencies in a wooded area.

In addition to the murders he was already wanted for, Drake was also in trouble for felony counts from multiple jurisdictions for charges including robbery and carjacking.

Drake is currently being held at the Conway County Detention Center in Arkansas.

News 4 reached out to an OSBI spokesperson on Thursday after El Reno police said it requested the agencys assistance in the homicide there.

A spokesperson said the OSBI is not connecting Drake to any other homicides at the time other than the two homicides in Gans.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Topeka Police have arrested one man in relation to a shooting earlier this week.

Thursday evening, Topeka police say a 41-year-old Topeka man has been arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections in relation to a North Topeka shooting that happened on Tuesday, June 18.

The man wasarrested on the following charges:

Attempted voluntary manslaughter; unreasonable belief or justified deadly force

Aggravated battery; knowingly use weapon cause get body harm/disfigure/death

Interference with law enforcement officer; conceal/alter/destroy evidence in a felony case.

Woman in custody after 9-year-old son dies in Topeka

A Topeka police spokeswoman said in a news release that an investigation is ongoing at this time.

Topeka police responded to a reported shooting just before 11 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18 near the intersection of Northeast Monroe and Northeast Gordon Street. Officers found one individual at the scene with life-threatening injuries, and was later taken to the hospital.

For more crime 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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CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A Charlotte man is facing numerous charges after a shooting and assault in April, according to Asheville Police and court documents.

Asheville officers arrested 43-year-old Leonard Carlos Edwards, of Charlotte, just before 1 p.m. on June 19 in the 300 block of New Leicester Highway. This is near Smile Avenue on the outskirts of Asheville.

Leonard Carlos Edwards (Buncombe County Sheriffs Office)

Prior to his arrest, authorities located and identified him as a fugitive wanted out of Charlotte. Edwards has 11 open warrants:

Two counts of Discharge a Firearm into Occupied Property

Possession of Firearm by Felon

Felony Conspiracy

Six counts of Assault with a Deadly Weapon

Assault on Female

According to court records, Edwards is charged in connection with a shooting and assault that happened on April 23. He allegedly punched a woman numerous times before shoving her to the ground.

It is unclear what led up to the incident or the details of the shooting. Queen City News has reached out to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department for clarification.

No regard for anyones life. Man who shot at deputies and school bus during chase captured near Days Inn in Cleveland County

Edwards has previously spent time in North Carolina prisons for DWI, Speeding to Elude Arrest and Driving without a License which stem from multiple incidents in Buncombe and Henderson counties since 2010. His parole ended in December 2023.

Edwards is currenlty being held without bond in the Buncombe County Detention Facility. There is no word on when he will be extradited to Charlotte; however, Edwards does have a Mecklenburg County court date on the morning of July 19.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Man charged with murder after victim found with blunt force injuries Friday in Lexington

One man is dead and another has been arrested and charged with his murder after an assault Friday on Old Georgetown Street in Lexington.

The Lexington Police Department found a man suffering from blunt force trauma when they were called to the 100 block of Old Georgetown Street to respond to an assault with a weapon at 11:48 a.m., police said in a news release.

The man died at the scene, police said.

The Fayette County Coroners Office later identified him as Charles McDowell, 57.

McDowell was pronounced dead at 12:37 p.m. at 199 Old Georgetown Street, according to a news release from the coroners office. An autopsy was scheduled for Saturday in Frankfort.

Police arrested Roger Wiley, 55, and charged him with murder and second-degree assault. He was being held Friday afternoon in the Fayette County Detention Center.

The incident marks the seventh homicide of the year for Lexington, according to police. At this point last year, there had been nine homicides.

Police asked anyone with information to call them at 859-258-3600. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Bluegrass Crime Stoppers at 859-253-2020, visiting Bluegrasscrimestoppers.com or using the P3 Tips app available at P3tips.com.
Ulviyya Shahin

The 5th meeting of the Russian-Azerbaijani Expert Council is being held in Baku, Azernews reports.

The platform was established in 2021 and held its meetings in Moscow and Baku.

"We have bilateral issues on our agenda. We will touch on regional security issues, a number of logistics and transport issues", said Farid Shafiyev, Chairman of the Management Board of the Center for the Analysis of International Relations (Air Center).

Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan - Head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs of the Presidential Administration, Hikmet Hajiyev said at the 5th meeting of the Russia-Azerbaijan Expert Council in Baku that Azerbaijan plays an important role in the development of the "North-South" transport corridor.

He noted that Azerbaijan continues to actively invest in the development of this logistics structure: "Currently, work is being done to expand the transmission capacity of the Azerbaijani part of the corridor. Undoubtedly, this will benefit not only Azerbaijan and Russia, but the entire region."

Hikmet Hajiyev said that the bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Russia are at the highest level.

According to him, this has already become a good tradition:

"Today, relations between Azerbaijan and Russia are at the highest level. "Common culture, history and mutual respect have contributed to the development of these relations."

H. Hajiyev noted that this was possible thanks to mutual understanding between President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Russia Vladimir Putin.

The assistant of the president emphasized that currently there is a trend of strengthening and development of relations between the two countries in economic, cultural, humanitarian and other fields:

"Azerbaijan expands relations with more than 70 subjects of Russia, there are more than 10 agreements on commercial-economic, scientific-technical, cultural relations between the regions of the neighboring country and Azerbaijani partners."
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, June 21. KazMunayGas (KMG, Kazakhstan's national oil and gas company) and Eni have discussed prospects for oil exports via the Trans-Caspian route, Trend reports.

Negotiations on this topic took place between the Chairman of the Board of KMG, Askhat Khassenov, and Seger Hoytink, Chairman and Managing Director of Eni Kazakhstan.

Thus, the parties reviewed the progress of preparatory work for drilling a well at the Abay site, planned for the near future, and the prospects for oil exports along the Trans-Caspian route and through the Transneft system in the direction of oil refineries in Germany.

At the same time, the interlocutors discussed the current status of expansion projects for the Kashagan field, the construction of a gas processing plant at the Karachaganak field to supply commercial gas to the domestic market, as well as issues of developing Kazakhstani content.

In addition, the parties considered the implementation of the project for the construction of a hybrid power plant in the city of Zhanaozen. Soon, KMG and Eni plan to complete the procedures for creating two joint ventures (for a power plant operating on renewable energy sources and for a gas power plant).

Furthermore, Kazakhstan produced 90 million tons of oil in 2023, which is 6.9 percent higher than in 2022. Oil exports also increased and amounted to 70.5 million tons, which is 9.6 percent more than the previous year. Moreover, Kazakhstan plans to increase oil production in 2024 to 90.3 million tons.

In 2023, gas production in Kazakhstan amounted to 59.063 billion cubic meters, including large fields such as Tengiz (16.009 billion cubic meters), Karachaganak (22.385 billion cubic meters), Kashagan (11.856 billion cubic meters), and others (8.813 billion cubic meters). Kazakhstan is projected to produce 60.456 billion cubic meters of raw natural gas in 2024.
Lance Clark was 9 years old when he was shot dead in a robbery. A man named Ernest Dykes was convicted of the 1993 Oakland murder and sentenced to death. But the boys family says prosecutors just told them Dykes could be released from prison in nine months to a year.

Lance was a happy, funny, loving, sweet little boy, his sisters told CNN in a family statement. He was robbed of a future.

Lance Clark was 9 years old when he was shot dead in a robbery. - Provided by family

Dykes might be released because, while preparing for his appeal, an Alameda County deputy district attorney found in the dusty case files some handwritten notes about potential jurors from the trial back in the 1990s.

One potential juror in the Dykes case file is described as a Short, fat troll. Like other Black potential jurors  and only Black potential jurors  her race is noted. The letters FB are written next to her name, apparently noting her gender and race. Must go, is written next to the name of a Black man, who is described as MB. Another juror has the word Jewish underlined on their questionnaire. Farther down, a handwritten note reads: I liked him better than any other Jew. But no way.

There were no Black or Jewish jurors seated at the trial.

When you have serious prosecutorial misconduct, that means that the conviction is a wrongful conviction, said current Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price. And so, its a question of whether or not were able to negotiate a resolution, or whether we have to go back to trial.

Brian Pomerantz, current counsel for Dykes, could only speculate about what prejudices prosecutors could have had about certain groups. Black people dont like police. So, theyre more defense-oriented, he said when asked why prosecutors might have tried to keep Black people off juries in death penalty cases. Obviously, I think thats a generalization that shouldnt be made, he added.

A note about a potential juror is seen. A portion of the note has been redacted by Brian Pomerantz to protect the potential juror's privacy. - Courtesy Brian Pomerantz

Ive heard a couple of different things, said Pomerantz when asked why prosecutors might not have wanted Jewish jurors seated. Theres a thought that perhaps Jewish jurors would not want to send someone to a gas chamber, he said, recalling the genocide of Jews in the Holocaust. The other was, they just thought Jewish jurors were more liberal.

Pattern of serious misconduct

Federal Judge Vince Chhabria, who was alerted to the prosecutors notes after being assigned the appeal by Dykes last year, believes they are evidence of a much wider issue.

In prior decades, prosecutors from this office were engaged in a pattern of serious misconduct  automatically excluding Jewish and African American jurors from death penalty cases, he wrote in a court order.

Ernest Dykes - California Department of Corrections

He has ordered the DAs office to review 35 cases dating from the mid-1980s through 2007. Among those cases are convicted mass shooters, serial killers, rapists and murderers. Pomerantz has begun looking through those files as he works on his cases for Dykes and other clients.

In almost all the cases weve seen lists like this, he said, pointing to the letters MB and FB next to the names of potential jurors in a number of different cases, involving defendants of different races. A misspelled homophobic slur is used to describe another person in the jury pool. Pomerantz showed documents he says prove that jurors were being racially profiled and struck as late as 2008. Prosecutors, by law, cannot exclude jurors because of race, ethnicity, gender or sexuality.

District Attorney Price, who took office last year, would not comment on the claim of Dykes impending release. Earlier, she told CNN: Mr. Dykes has spent 31 years behind bars and so he has paid a price for that crime.

Pomerantz believes that some of those sentenced to death might now be freed. For some, that may be the solution, he said. And for some that should be the solution.

A note about a potential juror is seen. A portion of the note has been redacted by Brian Pomerantz to protect the potential juror's privacy. - Courtesy Brian Pomerantz

Like Mark Schmeck, a client who Pomerantz believes is innocent but was sentenced to death for the killing of Lorin Germaine during an armed robbery in the mid-1980s.

He was a fun dad, Germaines daughter, who asked to remain anonymous for her safety, told CNN. He would always take us fishing and camping mom worked swing shift, so he was the guy home at night he, he even was the tooth fairy. I caught him. Once.

Schmeck claims he is innocent in Germaines death and Pomerantz is petitioning for his release, claiming he did not get a fair trial. And that terrifies Germaines daughter. I dont know why, she said. Just that somebody out there like hurt my dad and then hes gonna be out there and whos to say hes not gonna hurt me.

There had to be knowledge

Price and Pomerantz believe there has been a decades-long cover-up of jury tampering within the Alameda County DAs office. There does not appear to have been any accountability, or certainly no investigation to determine how widespread the practice was. Price said. There had to be knowledge.

In 2003, during an appeal of a death penalty conviction, John Quatman, a former deputy DA, testified that a judge said I could not have a Jew on the jury. He went on, It was standard practice to exclude Jewish jurors in death cases: as it was to exclude African-American women from capital juries.

It is ironic they didnt want me on the jury, said Price, who is Black. And now Im the district attorney.

Pamela Price is seen during an interview. - CNN

A number of prosecutors who worked in the office testified in 2003 that Quatmans claims were untrue, and some have told CNN that potential jurors were never racially profiled.

According to Price, one of the prosecuting attorneys involved in jury selection on the Dykes case was Morris Jacobson, who now serves as a judge in Alameda County. Asked if it is Jacobsons handwriting on those jury notes Price said, We dont know that for sure. It is also not known if it was definitely a prosecutor who wrote the notes.

Judge Jacobson declined CNNs request for an interview. A CNN crew waited outside his courthouse in Berkeley one day hoping to ask him some questions. Jacobson, a source said, knew they were outside but did not come out for at least two hours after his hearings had ended for the day. Colton Carmine was the chief prosecutor on the Dykes case. He is now retired and could not be reached for comment.

A problem in America, not just Alameda

This is one of the most liberal counties in America. This is where Berkeley is. If this is happening there, whats happening everywhere else? said Pomerantz.

Studies have found patterns of racial bias in jury selection from California and Washington to Connecticut and New York as well as the Deep South.

One of the Alameda County cases that Pomerantz has reviewed is that of Franklin Lynch, known as The Day Stalker. He was convicted of killing three elderly women in 1987 and sentenced to death.

Notes about potential jurors are seen. Portions of the documents has been redacted by Brian Pomerantz to protect potential jurors' identities. - Courtesy Brian Pomerantz

You see the B circled, said Pomerantz pointing to notes on potential jurors at Lynchs trial. He also pointed to 1/2 B written twice on one persons form. They were so concerned about that person even being half Black, he said, that they flagged it not once but twice.

This is a tragedy on all levels, Pomerantz said. There are victims, families who are suffering because now these cases 30 years later are, are coming back through this situation. Thats incredibly unfair. It is wrong that these prosecutors did this this way and that now people are going to suffer for it Its also wrong when Franklin Lynch doesnt get a fair trial.

CNNs Stephanie Becker contributed to this story.

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ABBEVILLE, La. (KLFY)  A Vermilion Parish jury found a man guilty Thursday of molesting a 4-year-old, prosecutors said.

Harry Lee Touchet was convicted in the 15th Judicial District Court in Abbeville of molestation of a juvenile victim who was under the age of thirteen.

Abbeville Police Department witnesses testified that the crime occurred when Touchet babysat the 4-year-old female victim while her mother worked, and during his time alone with her sexually assaulted the young victim, prosecutors said. Lt. Eugene Rougeaux led the investigation for Abbeville P.D., with assistance from Department of Child and Family Services.

District Attorney Don Landry said the victims family had consistently communicated with

his office and cooperated whenever called on.

We appreciate the victims helping us to get this case to trial so quickly, Landry said. We will continue to keep our community safe by prosecuting sexual predators who victimize young children, and we will continue to see that the victim obtains justice. That family is to be commended for doing so in this case.

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Felony prosecutor Aaron Meche, who prosecuted at the jury trial with fellow assistant DA

Celeste White, said he was very satisfied with the result and that the victims family obtained justice.

Thanks to the hard work and commitment of Lt. Rougeaux and the Abbeville Police Department

and the entire staff at the District Attorneys Office in Vermilion Parish, we were able to give the victim and her mother closure and ensure that this defendant cannot victimize any other children in Vermilion Parish or anywhere else, Meche said.

Family of victim of alleged rapes by former Estherwood police officers files lawsuit

District Judge Laurie Hulin set sentencing for Aug. 8, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years at hard labor without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence provided under Louisiana law. The maximum sentence for molestation of a juvenile is 99 years.

Latest news

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Donald Wacker, who was convicted of felony kidnapping and aiding Doil Lane in the kidnapping of Nancy Shoemaker, 9, in July 1990, has died.

Nancy Shoemaker (Courtesy: The Shoemaker Family)

Nancy Shoemaker (Courtesy: The Shoemaker Family)

Nancy Shoemaker (Courtesy: The Shoemaker Family)

Nancy Shoemaker (Courtesy: The Shoemaker Family)

The two drove her to a field where Lane raped and strangled her. The Kansas Department of Corrections tells KSN that Wacker died from natural causes on June 14, 2024.

Wacker was sentenced to 16 years to life in 1992. He became eligible for parole in December 1999 and was denied four times before being granted parole in 2020. He was released from prison in January 2021.

I-235 reopened at Zoo following crash

In April 2020, The Kansas Prisoner Review Board issued more information on a decision granting parole to Wacker on or after Nov. 1, 2020.

Lane, the other man convicted in the murder, is currently serving a life sentence in Texas for another girls murder. If he is ever released from prison in Texas, he will serve a hard 40-year sentence in Kansas.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
NORFOLK  A man has died and two others were injured in a shooting Thursday evening in the Calvert Square neighborhood, police said.

Officers responded to the 900 block of Bagnall Road around 4:45 p.m. Several were already in the area investigating a shooting that happened the day prior, and just a short distance away from Thursdays incident, a Norfolk police spokeswoman said.

The officers reported they heard about 10 gunshots and upon arrival, found three men with gunshot wounds. Police said one man was pronounced dead at the scene and the others were taken to the hospital.

One of the men is in critical condition, according to police.

Residents of Calvert Square gathered outside the crime scene tape on East Olney Road, and watched as dozens of officers worked the scene. Norfolk Police Chief Mark Talbot was among the officers there.

Wednesdays shooting happened on East Olney Road. A woman was shot as she was trying to protect children after an altercation between two men resulted in gunfire, according to WAVY TV.

Norfolk police ask anyone with information about either shooting to submit a tip to http://p3tips.com/1126.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A man who was assaulted in Downtown Portland last week has died from his injuries, Portland police announced Friday.

The original incident happened June 12, when officers responded to reports of an assault in the 1900 block of Northwest Everett Street.

Suspect indicted in 2023 triple murder, Portland police seek more suspects

On arrival, they found a man  later identified as 51-year-old OMarr Burnett  badly injured.

Although he was taken to a hospital, Burnett died two days later.

The Medical Examiner found Burnett died of homicidal violence, according to PPB.

It was pretty unsettling idea that somebody right here gets killed like that. Nobody knows who did it, said one woman. He seemed like a really decent guy.

Police say no arrests have been made and the incident is under investigation.

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact Portland police.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Man disconnects ankle monitor, sexually assaults 3 teens while on the run, officials say

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A Washington man has been taken into federal custody Thursday after disconnecting his electronic monitoring device to allegedly assault two teens in Washington and one in Oregon earlier this year, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced.

Court documents allege registered sex offender 27-year-old James Harrison Newcomer was wearing the electronic monitoring bracelet as a part of his 30-month sentence for two counts of child rape.

As Supreme Court decision looms, Grants Pass remains stuck on homelessness

However, on Jan. 19, the ankle monitor disconnected and when officers went to arrest Newcomer almost a week later, they could not find him.

The documents further state that, over the next three months on the run, Newcomer allegedly contacted three teen girls on Snapchat, arranged to meet them in person, gave them drugs and alcohol, then sexually assaulted them.

Man killed by officers after allegedly pointing gun at people in McDonalds parking lot IDd

The three victims were from Snoqualmie, Auburn in Washington and Woodburn, Oregon, ranging in age from 14 to 16.

Newcomer made his first court appearance Thursday afternoon at the U.S. District Court in Seattle.

Should Newcomer be convicted, he could face up to 30 years in prison.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
The man who dismembered tech CEO Fahim Saleh said he was so in love he was disturbed. Prosecutors say he was on Bumble.

A jury will return to Manhattan court on Monday to decide the fate of Tyrese Haspil.

Haspil said his extreme emotional disturbance led to the brutal slaying of tech CEO Fahim Saleh.

But Haspil's activity on a dating app undermined that argument, the prosecution said.

A Manhattan jury is about to decide the fate of Tyrese Haspil, the 25-year-old former personal assistant on trial for the brutal murder of his boss, tech CEO Fahim Saleh.

An attorney for Haspil, who has been standing trial in New York Supreme Criminal Court, argued that he was so in love with his girlfriend and terrified that she would leave him, he became extremely emotionally disturbed, leading him to kill Saleh.

But prosecutors said Haspil was active on Bumble, a popular dating app, while he was dating his girlfriend  attempting to undermine claims that he was mad with his love for her at the time of the killing.

During closing arguments at the start of the day, public defender Sam Roberts argued Haspil deserved the jury's "deliberate, comprehensive consideration of why" he slayed his former boss, whose family sat stoically in the pews of the courtroom gallery.

"Why did Tyrese do this terrible, irrevocable thing? Why? That's the only major question," Roberts told the jury, arguing that his client was suffering from extreme emotional disturbance, or EED.

If the jury buys it, Haspil would be guilty of manslaughter instead of murder, significantly reducing his prison sentence.

Saleh was the CEO of Gokada, a ride-hailing and delivery service Gokada based in Nigeria.

Saleh's cousin found him beheaded and dismembered in his $2.4 million Lower Manhattan condo on July 14, 2020.

Haspil, his former personal assistant, admitted after his arrest to stabbing Saleh to death to hide a $400,000 embezzlement, and then sawing him into six pieces to hide his corpse.

Roberts tried to convince the jury that, for Haspil, the thought of potentially being abandoned by his girlfriend was "worse than the thought of killing this innocent person." Haspil was so compelled by "his first real relationship" with Marine Chauveau, who was about to return to France upon her visa's expiration, that he had to embezzle his boss's money to shower her with gifts for her birthday.

"However warped it may seem to us," Roberts said, "for Tyrese, Marine was his whole world."

Haspil had spent years embezzling from Saleh, who was giving him a chance to pay the money back without getting the police involved. Those thefts spiked when he got into the relationship, Roberts told the jury, referencing a graph of the embezzlements over time.

In his extremely emotionally disturbed state, Haspil believed homicide was his only path forward because "it would provide a little more time" with his girlfriend before he would inevitably go to prison for embezzlement, Roberts said.

When it was the government's turn to make closing arguments, prosecutor Linda Ford popped the love bubble.

Not only did Haspil plan the murder months in advance, Ford argued, but he was also on Bumble while he was supposedly obsessively in love with his girlfriend.

"This is about his lifestyle," Ford said, underscoring how Haspil lived in a penthouse and traveled by helicopter before he even met Chauveau. "This is not about a birthday party. This is about murdering Fahim Saleh."

After closing arguments, Judge April Newbauer told the jury they would begin deliberations Monday morning.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A Koreatown resident is lucky to be alive after re-entering a burning home to rescue his dog Friday.

The fire was reported at the one-story home in the 900 block of Kenmore Avenue shortly before 10 a.m.

Crews arrived to find the home already well involved with flames, the Los Angeles Fire Department stated in a news alert.

Firefighters battle a blaze in Koreatown

The man had safely evacuated the home prior to the firefighters arrival but went back in to look for his dog.

Though he amazingly survived his attempt at this often deadly action, the intense heat and smoke soon pushed him out of the home, before he could find his pet, the Fire Department stated.

Aerial video from Sky5 showed the man being treated on the sidewalk for smoke exposure and minor thermal injury.

Fire crews later confirmed the dog was rescued and safely reunited with its owner.

Flames also threatened adjacent homes to the north and south but crews managed to douse the fire and contain it to the original structure

The Fire Department reminded residents never to re-enter a burning building.

If people, pets or possessions remain behind, tell the first arriving firefighters, the statement read. They are trained, equipped and prepared to rescue them from the flames.

The cause of the fire is 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 KTLA.
Man fails to report back to work release in Davenport

Another worker has failed to report back to work release in Davenport.

Rayshawn Cole (Iowa Department of Corrections)

An email from the Iowa Department of Corrections says Rayshawn Donnell Cole failed to report back to the Davenport Work Release Center as required yesterday. He was convicted of first-degree burglary in Scott County. Cole is a 32-year-old, 5 10, 179-pound Black man. He was admitted to the work release facility on March 18, 2024.

Anyone with information on Coles location should contact local police.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, June 21. Kazakhstan and the World Bank have discussed cooperation in the public utilities sector, Trend reports.

Discussions on this topic took place between the Vice Minister of Industry and Construction of Kazakhstan Kuandyk Kazhkenov and representatives of the World Bank.

As Kazhkenov noted, the Ministry is implementing the "Program for the construction and reconstruction of sewerage treatment facilities." Of the 89 cities, 69 require the construction and reconstruction of sewage treatment facilities.

In order to develop a "Strategy for the Reuse of Treated Wastewater and Residual Sludge in the conditions of Kazakhstan, an extradepartmental working group was created together with the World Bank Group, industry, government bodies, and experts in this field. The working group will work on technical, regulatory, and potential aspects of the use of treated wastewater in the industrial and public utilities sectors.

"Cooperation with the World Bank in the public utilities sector is a significant and promising initiative. Taking into account the international experience of the organization in this area, it is possible not only to modernize the infrastructure, but also to improve the environmental situation," Kazhkenov noted.

At the end of the meeting, WB representatives spoke about ongoing projects, the process of issuing loans, and opportunities for co-financing projects.

Notably, the World Bank's total loan amount for Kazakhstan exceeds $9.17 billion. Kazakhstan took 23rd place among the countries with the largest volume of the loan portfolio from the WB.

The World Bank's cooperation in Kazakhstan spans more than 30 years and is presently governed by the Kazakhstan Country Cooperation Framework (CPF 20202025).
Man who kidnapped 9-year-old Nancy Shoemaker in 1990 in south Wichita has died

Donald Wacker, one of two men involved in the kidnapping, rape and murder of 9-year-old Nancy Shoemaker in Wichita in 1990, has died, a Kansas Department of Corrections official said Thursday.

Wacker died June 14 of natural causes. He was 60, KDOC spokesperson David Thompson said.

Wacker and Doil Lane snatched Shoemaker in south Wichita on July 30, 1990 and drove her to a Sumner County field, where Lane raped her and strangled her with a belt as Wacker watched, The Eagle previously reported.

Her body was found by a jogger nearly seven months later.

Wacker was sentenced to 16 years to life in prison in 1992 for kidnapping and aiding a felony in connection with Shoemakers abduction and death.

He was up for parole in 1999, 2004, 2010, 2017 and 2019 but was denied, according to Eagle archives. He was granted parole in 2020 and released in January 2021.

Lane was convicted of raping and killing Nancy Shoemaker and sentenced to life without parole for 66 years. He is serving a life sentence in Texas for a similar crime.
Man killed in hit-and-run after Tampa police officers tried to arrest him

Man killed in hit-and-run after Tampa police officers tried to arrest him

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A man was killed in a hit-and-run after Tampa police officers tried to arrest him during a police investigation.

Tampa police said they responded to the 4000 block of West Hillsborough Avenue around 2:20 a.m. after a man was reportedly choking a woman in the parking lot.

Police said the first officer at the scene found the man and attempted to question him. They said the suspect refused to obey commands and tried to re-enter a vehicle where the woman was.

As more officers arrived at the scene, the man attempted to leave on foot. As an officer deployed his Taser, a vehicle traveling eastbound on Hillsborough Avenue struck the suspect and continued without stopping. The suspect died at the scene.

Tampa police said the incident is classified as an in-custody death because an officer was trying to make an arrest when the suspect was hit by a car. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will take the lead on the investigation.

Police said they are searching for a dark four-door sedan.

The woman involved in the incident did not suffer life-threatening injuries.

The eastbound lanes of Hillsborough Avenue between Lois Avenue and North Dale Mabry Highway were closed for several hours. They reopened at 8 a.m.

This is a developing story. Stay up to date on the latest from News Channel 8 on-air and on the go with the free WFLA News Channel 8 mobile app.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A man with no permanent residence was sentenced in Niagara County Court on Friday to 20 years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman while threatening her with a knife, according to the Niagara County District Attorneys Office.

Duvan Berrio-Hernandez previously admitted to sexually assaulting a woman in Niagara Falls on Nov. 5, 2023.

What happened to this young woman was quite simply the realization of her worst nightmare, Niagara County District Attorney Brian D. Seaman said in a release.

This defendant spotted her walking, began to follow her and then lewdly exposed himself to her. She attempted to flag down help, screamed for help, but was not successful. The defendant then chased her down, tackled her to the ground, and sexually assaulted her while threatening her with a knife. This individual was illegally in this country.

Berrio-Hernandez was convicted of first-degree criminal sex act and will serve his sentence in state 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.
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  Thirty-one-year-old Dequan Copeland was sentenced to 30 years in prison after being convicted by a Norfolk jury earlier this year of fatally shooting a father in front of his 2-year-old daughter during an altercation in February 2021.

Previous Coverage: Man wanted in connection with Norfolk homicide arrested in Arizona

Tracy Eugene Bellamy Jr., 23, showed up to his estranged wifes home, armed and unannounced, to pick up his daughter, according to the Norfolk Commonwealths Attorneys office. Copeland was dating the woman and was at the house at the time. Bellamy began arguing with Copeland and demanded to take his daughter.

After Bellamy put his child in the car, Copeland got a gun from inside the house and fired several shots at Bellamy, fatally wounding him. Bellamy returned fire, but missed.

Bellamy attempted to drive away, but the injuries caused him to crash the car at a low rate of speed. Although the child wasnt hit during the gunfire, she did get minor injuries as a result of the crash.

While the mother of the child was calling 911, Copeland took the phone in order to blame Bellamy for the incident. After Bellamy died at the hospital, Copeland fled to Arizona where he was found and arrested a month later.

Copeland was charged with second-degree murder, using a firearm in the commission of murder, being a felon in possession of a firearm, recklessly discharging a gun resulting in an injury, maliciously shooting into an occupied vehicle and unlawfully shooting at a vehicle. He pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and went to trial for the other charges where he was found guilty.

On Friday, he was sentenced to serve 30 years in prison and three years of post-release supervision. That sentence was above the high end of Copelands advisory sentencing guidelines.

Mr. Copeland killed Mr. Bellamy in front of Mr. Bellamys toddler child, said Commonwealths Attorney Ramin Fatehi. The last memory that child will have of her father is of her father dying. Mr. Copeland will now spend most of the rest of his life in prison for robbing that child of her father and for taking Mr. Bellamy away from his loved ones forever. I wish Mr. Bellamys family peace and hope that they take comfort in the accountability we have secured today.

Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
Man seriously injured after fight near local bar

A man had serious injuries after a fight near a Harrison Township bar Wednesday.

Around 6:10 p.m. deputies were called to My Brothers Place on North Main Street for reports of an unresponsive man, according to a spokesperson for the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office.

Deputies found a man with a head injury and learned he had been in a fight with another man.

>> Vehicle crashes into Springboro bank

He was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

Deputies said they are continuing to investigate.

We will continue to follow this story.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Authorities are trying to track down a man accused of stabbing another man at a gas station in Nashvilles Priest Lake area Thursday evening.

According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, the incident happened while a 29-year-old man was getting gas at the Exxon in the 2600 block of Smith Springs Road, by the Bell Road intersection, around 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 20.

Officials said the suspect arrived on foot from the nearby wood line as the victim pulled into the parking lot. The suspect reportedly lingered by the front of the business for a few seconds before walking toward the victim.

1 hospitalized after domestic assault at Thompson Lane Chipotle

As the victim started to pump gas, police told News 2 he felt an impact at the top of his head from behind. He turned around to see the suspect, with a knife in his hand, allegedly assaulting him.

When the victim realized what was happening, he fought off the suspect and ran inside the convenience store for help, but by the time officers arrived, the suspect  described by authorities as a young man wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt and dark  had fled the scene and ran back into the wood line.

Police reported the victim was stabbed in the head and neck area for no apparent reason, leaving him with serious but non-life-threatening lacerations. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Teen charged with driving stolen car recklessly through Nashville

The victim told law enforcement the suspect didnt say anything to him or take anything from him.

Detectivesare trying to identify the suspect  whose photograph is included below  and determine the motive behind this incident.

Suspect in Smith Springs Road stabbing (Source: MNPD)

If you recognize the man from the surveillance footage, or if you have any information about Thursday evenings incident, you are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.

 Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go.

 Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox.

 Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee.

This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
TOMS RIVER - A 35-year-old Manchester man is facing seven years in state prison after pleading guilty to arson and other charges stemming from an antisemitic crime spree last year, said Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.

Ron Carr pleaded guilty Thursday before Superior Court Judge Guy P. Ryan to arson, bias intimidation and two counts of criminal mischief related to vandalism he committed in Manchester on June 6, 2023, and the early morning of the next day, Billhimer said.

Carr was accused of spray-painting swastikas and other graffiti on 14 homes in the Pine Lake Park section of Manchester and setting fire to another home that was under construction there. The fire destroyed the home, spread to nearby woods and also damaged three other houses, authorities said.

After police responding to the fire found Carr a short time later in the area of Commonwealth Boulevard and Larchmont Street, he told him he was "saving the neighborhood," and indicated he committed the crimes to keep Jewish people out, according to court documents.

Ron Carr was charged with an antisemitic crime spree in Manchester along with burning down a First Avenue home.

Does hate have a home here? Monmouth, Ocean towns see high number of bias incidents

When he was asked why he spray-painted the homes with graffiti, Carr responded that he did it to "keep sneaky penguins out," court documents said.

Asked to clarify, Carr laughed and said, "Jews," Manchester Detective Patrick Cervenak wrote in an affidavit of probable cause to charge the defendant with the crimes.

When Cervenak asked him why he set the fire, Carr responded that he was "saving the neighborhood," Cervanik wrote in the affidavit. He told the detective he feared the house "will destroy everything" and become a "school" or "prayerland," Cervenak wrote in the affidavit.

NJ closer to defining antisemitism: What it means and what's next

Bias incidents rise again in New Jersey: Colleges and universities see a sharp spike

While being questioned, Carr made "multiple antisemitic statements," the affidavit said.

The crime spree was committed amid legal battles and zoning disputes over placement of synagogues and Orthodox Jewish schools in residential communities in Ocean County with rapidly growing Orthodox communities.

'Words can light fires that kill': Jewish leaders blast antisemitic rhetoric in Jackson

Carr has been held without bail at the Ocean County Jail since his arrest. His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 16.

The state will recommend then that Carr be sentenced to seven years in prison for the arson, with concurrent terms of five years for bias intimidation and 18 months for each of the criminal mischief counts.

The remains of 1932 First Avenue in Manchester is shown Thursday, June 8, 2023. The home was gutted by a suspicious fire.

Here's how you can help: Family's Manchester home burned to ground in bias crime

Kathleen Hopkins, a reporter in New Jersey since 1985, covers crime, court cases, legal issues and just about every major murder trial to hit Monmouth and Ocean counties. Contact her at khopkins@app.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Manchester antisemitic crimes: Man pleads guilty to arson, mischief
The Manhattan district attorney dropped the charges for more than half of the Columbia University protesters who were arrested in April during a pro-Palestinian demonstration on campus.

Hundreds of students seized Hamilton Hall, a building on Columbias campus in Manhattan, on April 30 amid a nationwide mobilization of protests on college campuses to protest Israels attacks on Palestinians and called on their college institutions to divest from Israel.

The protests revolve around Israels ongoing offensive against the militant group Hamas in Gaza, after it had launched a deadly surprise attack against Israel on Oct. 7. Since then, Israels ongoing strikes have killed over 30,000 people in Gaza and displaced most of the population.

On Thursday, Manhattan district attorneys office, dismissed the charges against 31 out of 46 protesters who were arrested on April 30 at the colleges pro-Palestine demonstrations due to lack of evidence, among other reasons. Those who were students or employed at Columbia are facing ongoing disciplinary hearings.

All the individuals whose cases were dismissed were students or staff at Columbia, Barnard or Union Theological Seminary, the DA office told HuffPost.

James Carlson, another defendant who is unaffiliated with Columbia University, faces charges for trespassing and burning an Israeli flag. According to NBC News, he has two open cases against him involving separate charges.

Some individuals  two students and 12 individuals who were not staff or students at Columbia  were offered a proposal to have their charges dropped as long as they arent arrested within the next six months, NBC News reported. Prosecutors said that the individuals nonexistent criminal history and the limited video or surveillance footage of what happened inside Hamilton Hall were factors in the dismissal of their charges.

The available evidence fails to establish or prove that they personally participated in damaging any Columbia University property or causing harm to anyone. Additionally, no police officers were injured, the DA office wrote regarding the 12 individuals, adding that it would be extremely difficult to prove any charges other than trespassing at a trial.

Some of the protesters said at a news conference after their hearing that they would reject the proposed dismissal of their charges as a means of showing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Reuters also reported that the individuals said they would reject the proposal, and are expected back in court on July 25.

HuffPost reached out to a spokesperson for Columbia who declined to comment.

Related...
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, June 21. The Minister of Energy of Kazakhstan Almassadam Satkaliyev has discussed the prospects for bilateral cooperation with counterparts from a number of countries within the framework of the 4th Meeting of Energy Ministers of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana, Trend reports.

During the meetings among Deputy Minister of Energy of Russia Sergey Mochalnikov, Deputy Director of the National Energy Administration of China Wan Jinsong, SCO Deputy Secretary General Sohail Khan and Energy Minister of Iran Ali Akbar Mehrabian, the parties discussed regional and international issues, bilateral collaboration, and cooperative project implementation during negotiations. Development and strengthening mutually beneficial ties were prioritized to create and maintain favorable energy sector circumstances.

In addition, a whole host of matters pertaining to the mutual interests of both parties were taken into account, such as the growth of the oil and gas sector and energy infrastructure, bolstering regional energy security, the sharing of cutting-edge technologies, heightened investment, the implementation of groundbreaking solutions, and the enhancement of production processes.

To note, energy ministers from Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states reviewed and approved the "Development strategy for energy cooperation among SCO member states until 2030" during the fourth Meeting of Energy Ministers of SCO Member States in Astana.

The document outlines key areas of cooperation among SCO member states in the energy sector up to 2030, including:

- prospects for developing the transit potential of energy resources and diversifying export routes;

- establishment of a new energy system with a balanced development priority;

- modernization of traditional energy sources and systemic improvement of the industry;

- development of innovative technologies and science in the use of renewable energy sources, including hydrogen energy;

- exploration of new solutions in energy conservation and efficiency improvement.
A number of live and dead cockroaches were observed by Stanislaus County health inspectors at two Modesto food facilities during inspections in early June.

The majority of the 2,400 permitted food service establishments in the county receive two unannounced routine food safety inspections per year, according to the Department of Environmental Resources. The website says inspection reports are scanned weekly.

Food trucks that operate under a Stanislaus County Health Department permit also are inspected by the county, though those are scheduled and done at the departments office.

Dirty conditions at a Stanislaus County restaurant? How to report health code violations

Of the 21 restaurant inspection reports sent to The Modesto Bee on Thursday, one was not updated on the site as of Thursday afternoon.

If an inspection listed below needs clarification, business owners can email Modesto Bee reporter Dominique Williams at dwilliams@modbee.com.

Cockroaches among major violations

Violations were found during routine inspections of the following Stanislaus County food facilities during the week of June 3-9. Only the dates of violations are listed.

The details of the reports do not indicate whether a restaurant passed or failed inspection. Corrective actions may have been made by the business by the time of publication.

The reports are linked. For updates on individual restaurants, search the DER website.

Guayabitos Restaurant, 500 Kansas Ave., Suite A, in Modesto, had five violations June 5. There was slime buildup in the floor sink by beverage dispenser and food product was dripping on the floor of the walk-in refrigerator. The front cover was missing over the compressor at the ice machine and several cans of food sauce lacked product labels. Four food handlers cards were expired.

Paradise Donuts & Ice Cream, 615 Paradise Road in Modesto, had three violations June 5  one of them major. Inspectors observed several live and dead cockroaches. A cutting board and its holder were soiled and the food safety certificate was expired.

Farmer Boys, 1701 Prescott Road in Modesto, had five violations June 5  two of them major. Potentially hazardous food was at 46 degrees in the walk-in refrigerator (must be 41 degrees or lower). The hot water temperature throughout the facility was noted at 117 degrees (must be a minimum of 120 degrees). The chlorine sanitizer concentration in the dishwasher was at 10 ppm (must be at 50 ppm). An accumulation of debris and grime was spotted around the soda machine nozzles, and an employees food handler card was expired.

One violation remained during a reinspection June 17. The cold-holding unit was not functional.

Battambang Market, 929 Paradise Road in Modesto, had three violations June 5  two of them major. Inspectors observed many live and dead cockroaches in the rear prep area and the market area. Cockroaches also were observed in the refrigerator. The food safety certificate was lacking.

One to two violations for these food facilities

According to Stanislaus County, food facilities that had one to two violations, none of them major, are:

No violations for some Stanislaus County restaurants

These food facilities had no violations, according to the county:
The Marine Scout Sniper War Memorial will look something like this: a bronze World War I observer, with an iconic brimmed helmet and a specialized Winchester rifle slung over his shoulder, points ahead. His hand rests on the shoulder of a Marine sniper with a high fade haircut, Oakley-style glasses and an M40A6 rifle, emblematic of those who served during the Global War on Terror.

They are both hunting a target, looking toward a future that has yet to be written. Yet they bookend the 105-year history of one of the military's most storied and elite occupations, the Marine scout sniper.

In the summer of 2021, two years before the Corps axed the current iteration of the job, members of the Marine scout sniper community saw a growing need to preserve and catalog their heritage, one that is legendary but largely untold.

Read Next: Air Force Captain, Staff Sergeant Permanently Disabled in 2023 Search and Rescue Tactical Vehicle Rollover

That is something that Tim Parkhurst and the Marine Scout Sniper Heritage Foundation hope to rectify as they seek to establish a first-of-its-kind memorial for generations of the community to call a place of reverence.

"The mission of the organization doesn't stop with the memorial," Parkhurst, president of the foundation and a retired Marine master sergeant, told Military.com in an interview Wednesday. "One of our responsibilities is to uncover that lost history of Marine scout snipers that literally has been lost."

That history is often marked by moments, battles or the legendary men who took up the job's purpose, such as the late retired Gunnery Sgt. Carlos Hathcock, a Marine sniper who racked up 93 confirmed kills during the Vietnam War. But its continuum -- the beginning-to-end history that is common in other storied military jobs -- has never been fully cataloged.

According to Parkhurst, that is due to a generational loss of knowledge induced -- in part -- by an administrative pipeline that does not favor continuity and a historical tendency by the Marine Corps to sideline snipers after major conflicts.

"That's the thing, it's an HR nightmare," Parkhurst said. "We were never a primary duty. We never had a career path of our own."

For decades, the scout sniper job was an additional military occupational specialty, or MOS, meaning that -- administratively -- it came second to whatever primary job the Marine held. Marines who became scout snipers after attending the course would spend tours within the specialty platoon, but then get farmed off to other positions that aligned with their primary job.

It also means that the Marine Corps system, which has "monitors" to assign Marines based on their primary MOS, didn't prioritize the scout sniper position.

Parkhurst said it was common that, after experiencing the thrill and challenge of being a scout sniper, Marines would leave the service when faced with having to go back to whatever their primary duties were.

"How many guys were just like, 'Screw that, I'm gone,' and they go try to find greener pastures on the other side of the fence?" Parkhurst said.

On top of that, the scout sniper position is an enlisted one. Officers attended a course intended to teach them how to employ the asset, but as decision-makers who might spend only a brief time in the sniper platoon, they didn't have an intimate knowledge of the job or how best to use it, Parkhurst said.

Last of the Scout Snipers

At the end of last year, when the Marine Corps graduated its last class of scout snipers, Military.com interviewed several members of the community, some of whom shared that frustration. When asked whether that lack of understanding morphed into a perception that the job was unimportant, Parkhurst agreed.

"That's a correct conclusion," he said. "And it's been like that for decades. It's not a recent thing, and it's not something that only occurred back in the old days. It's been a systemic problem."

The lack of understanding, frequent turnover and apparent tokenism of the job resulted in an institutional knowledge drain, one catalyzed by a century-long trend of needing the asset when conflict started and then setting it aside when the bullets stopped flying.

"What we're finding is that in every era of conflict -- from World War I to World War II to Korea to Vietnam and the more recent War on Terror -- there was, at some point, enough interest because of the looming conflict at hand, that the powers-that-be decided there needed to be a sniper capability, a scout sniper capability," Parkhurst said.

But, as demonstrated during the withdrawal from Afghanistan, where Marine scout snipers played an integral role in the evacuation of Kabul, a "peacetime" military brought change. As the greater defense apparatus began shifting in earnest to its "pacing threat" -- China -- in the Pacific, the Marine Corps restructured itself under an initiative called Force Design, beginning in 2019.

So, out went tanks, some artillery, and the Marine Corps scout sniper MOS, among other positions. But in Parkhurst's estimation -- and other former scout snipers Military.com has spoken to -- that won't be the case forever.

"When it comes time to start slashing things at the end of the conflict, it's not a surprise that they're going to at least cut our numbers or at least downsize the program," Parkhurst said. "But what's kind of unconscionable in my mind, and it leaves us all scratching our heads, [is] we've got 105 years of history that shows that they want to bring us back every single time the shooting starts again."

The Corps maintains that sniper weapons and marksmen will be "sustained" within infantry units and other specialized entities, but not in the same way as they once were, to include trading the coveted 0317 MOS -- Scout Sniper -- for the 0322 Reconnaissance Sniper title.

"As planned, the Marine Corps deactivated the Scout Sniper Instructor Course in November 2023, and has graduated the final class of Marines from the Basic Scout Sniper Course this month," Maj. Joshua Pena told Military.com in December. "Though the graduates of this course will not be receiving the 0317 MOS, they will play a vital role of ensuring infantry battalions retain scouting and precision marksmanship capabilities while the training and curriculum necessary to meet fleet requirements [are] finalized and approved."

Before those changes came to fruition, the Marine Scout Sniper Heritage Foundation began working on the scout sniper war memorial concept. The bronze sculpture designed by Sabin Howard, who recently completed his work on the National World War I Memorial to be unveiled in September, will stand 11 feet tall.



And pending some conceptual changes to the statue, the foundation hopes to have it completed in the next couple of years -- but that timeline will come down to funding. Parkhurst and his team have begun the hard work of raising roughly $5 million for the project.

Parkhurst said that he visited the space where the memorial is planned to go in the Semper Fidelis Memorial Park outside of the National Museum of the Marine Corps last week. The foundation posted on social media Friday, writing that "the brave men who have served behind the long gun, and paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, deserve nothing less!"

The fundraising goal not only contributes to the war memorial itself, but the research it will take to flesh out the true history of the Marine scout sniper.

Unearthing Sniper History

While some of the more famous Hollywood interpretations of the job have come from the Vietnam and GWOT eras, Marine scout snipers have their roots in World War I when Gen. John "Black Jack" Pershing, the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces, ordered infantry units to billet eight snipers per company, according to the foundation's research.

By 1918, the military established a scout sniper school alongside other jobs, such as machine gunnery, and more than 400 service members were trained as snipers, an effort that was bolstered during World War II to combat German marksmen.

"No one at any schoolhouse for Marine scout snipers has ever taught that we had scout snipers in World War I," Parkhurst said. "Occasionally, some individuals may have mentioned that we had scout snipers in World War II, but if they did, they were unable or just failed to produce any documentation that showed what that program looked like."

It is the foundation's aim to capture that legacy not only in the history books to educate the public -- and Marines -- about the scout sniper's historical efforts, but also in the imagery that the memorial hopes to convey.

"The positioning of the figures is intended to evoke the symbolism every Marine is familiar with in the cake-cutting ceremony of the Marine Corps birthday celebration, where the oldest Marine passes knowledge and experience to the younger generation," a document from the foundation said.

Parkhurst said that, along with donations, sales of commemorative bricks that will be laid near the memorial and from the foundation's online store, he is looking for more help to make the project a reality -- and for people to spread the word.

"We need all the help we can get fundraising," Parkhurst said. "One of the specific things that I am asking for people to understand is that we all walk in different circles. I'm just a dumb grunt; I only know the people that I know. I don't know anybody that particularly has a lot of money, and I'm not that well-connected. ... So, anybody that's willing to introduce us to someone who can make connections is greatly appreciated."

Editors note: After publication, the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation clarified that it is not collecting or soliciting funds for the scout sniper war memorial.

Related: Into the History Books: Last Marine Corps Scout Snipers Graduate amid Service's Planned Redesign
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is to be named the next Secretary General of NATO after the last remaining holdout Romania agreed to back his candidacy.

Rutte will govern over a tricky few years as the transatlantic alliance balances Russian aggression and potentially wavering US support.

His appointment was confirmed just ahead of a summit due to be held in Washington, DC on July 9-11, marking the alliance's 75th anniversary.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis had also put himself forward to be Secretary General, the senior official that coordinates the Brussels-based organisation, but his government has now offered its support to Rutte, according to an official press release.

The incumbent, Jens Stoltenberg, has been in the post since 2014 and had been due to stand down last year.

But the wrangling appears to have been caught up in a wider debate over top jobs at the European Union's institutions  with Estonia's Kaja Kallas, another who had proferred her candidacy for the NATO job but subsequently withdrew, now a favourite to be the blocs foreign policy chief.

Once he enters office, Rutte will serve a term of at least four years.

To be appointed he had to square off opposition from Hungary's Viktor Orban, who did not want to be forced to support Ukraine.

Rutte assuaged those concerns in a letter sent earlier this week, bringing him one step closer to securing the needed consensus among NATOs 32 members.

As NATO chief, Rutte faces a difficult balancing act, as members of the alliance have sought to support war-torn Ukraine without provoking further Russian aggression.

A further twist may come with US Presidential elections in November, as Republican frontrunner Donald Trump has proven lukewarm over the alliance, even calling on Russia to invade supposed allies that dont invest in their military.

Rutte has led the Netherlands since 2010, managing a series of tricky coalitions, but is set to step down on 2 July. Rutte's liberal party the VVD will form part of a coalition led by former spy chief Dick Schoof, after November elections that saw a surge in support for right-wing firebrand Geert Wilders.

Last weekend, Rutte attended the Ukraine summit in Switzerland, from which he promised the Netherlands will "continue to support Ukraine any way we can. For as long as it takes and with all the backing that is necessary."
Baltimores shipping channel is fully re-opened after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse and the cargo ship Dali, which knocked the bridge over, will soon head out of town  but the bills from the disasters cleanup are starting to come in.

Marylands Board of Public Works will consider at its next meeting a $50.3 million contract between the Maryland Transportation Authority and Skanska, a Swedish construction company, for removal, disposal and cleanup of debris following the collapse of the Key Bridge. The proposal is on the boards July 3 agenda, which was posted Friday.

The debris consists mainly of large sections of highway bridge trusses, steel girders, the bridge deck, and concrete parapets, the agenda item stated.

The contract was awarded April 23, according to the agenda item, and will last six months, until Oct. 22. A Skanska news release last week noted that the contracts work would conclude in July. The contract will be 100% funded by state toll revenue, the agenda item stated, however, the transportation authority anticipates that this work is eligible for federal reimbursement.

The cargo ship Dali lost power in the early hours of March 26 and crashed into a Key Bridge support pier, knocking the span into the water and killing six construction workers. The debris blocked the shipping pathway for months, but the 700-foot wide, 50-feet deep channel fully reopened last week.

The Skanska contract is not for clearing that precise channel, however, but for the surrounding area  including the temporary channels used by salvage and commercial vessels following the collapse.

The debris in the federal channel of the river was removed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the agenda item stated. The MDTA is responsible for removing the debris from the areas outside of the federal channel.

The transportation authority initiated the contract on an emergency basis with Skanska, rather than following the typical procurement process, because of the urgency of completion, as well as the risk of underwater demolition.

Procuring the debris removal through competitive bidding would have delayed the removal by a minimum of eight months, according to the agenda item.

Skanska was chosen, in part, because it successfully demolished the existing Nice/Middleton Bridge across the Potomac River, which also meant it was already mobilized nearby.

Efforts to remove roughly 50,000 tons of steel and roadway from the Patapsco River have cost at least $160 million in federal funds thus far. Democratic President Joe Biden authorized $60 million in federal emergency relief funds to the state in the days following the disaster and the Army corps, as well as the Coast Guard, spent roughly $100 million on cleanup.

The rebuilt bridge, which is expected to open by October 2028, will cost an estimated $1.7 billion. Proposals are due Monday and the transportation authority is expected to pick a building team by the end of the summer.

The Dali has remained in Baltimore since the collapse but is tentatively scheduled to depart Monday morning for Norfolk, Virginia, for further repairs.
Dehydration is caused by not drinking enough water. The amount of water necessary to keep someone hydrated depends greatly on the weather, the amount of physical activity, and an individual's physical fitness level. The symptoms of dehydration include lethargy, headaches and lack of energy. (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Timothy R. Koster)

State officials are warning Marylanders to stay cool and protect family and neighbors from preventable heat-related sicknesses, such as heat stroke, as temperatures are expected to climb to nearly 100 degrees this weekend and could feel even hotter.

It doesnt take long to get into trouble, said Clifford S. Mitchell, director of the Environmental Health Bureau in the state Department of Health.

Shortly after noon Friday, the National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for most of the state for the weekend. The agency also issued an excessive heat watch for northeast Maryland with dangerously hot conditions expected.

Oppressive heat and humidity will overspread the area Saturday and last into Sunday. Little relief from the heat is expected Saturday night with low temperatures in mid 70s to near 80 for most, which will compound heat stress on those without air conditioning, according to the urgent weather message from the National Weather Services Baltimore/Washington office.

High moisture levels this weekend could make temperatures feel as high as 107 degrees out in some parts of the state. The advisory extends to portions of Washington, D.C., and Virginia.

The Maryland Department of Health issued tips and reminders on how you can stay cool this weekend and protect your family from the heat:

Fluids

Increase fluid intake and start drinking fluids before you feel thirsty.

Continue to drink fluids after strenuous activities.

Avoid alcohol, caffeine and drinks with large amounts of sugar.

When hydrating, avoid very cold drinks as they can cause stomach cramps.

Outdoor activities

When possible, avoid physical activities between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. when the sun is at its peak intensity.

Apply sunscreen at least 30 minute prior to going outdoors. Use a sunscreen with a minimum SPF 15 and reapply as necessary.

Rest frequently underneath shade.

Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing and wide-brimmed hats to keep your head cool. Also wear sunglasses to protect your eyes.

Other tips

Never leave dogs or children inside a parked vehicle on hot days.

Check with doctors or pharmacists about over-the-counter and prescription medications. Some medications can increase your sensitivity to heat-related illnesses.

Call 2-1-1 to find out where the nearest cooling centers are located across the state. The locations of cooling centers can move, state officials said.

Gov. Wes Moore (D) declared a state of preparedness in an executive order Thursday that authorized state agencies to coordinate and prepare for potential emergency situations that could arise from extreme heat.

Transportation, power utility, water utility, and other critical infrastructures may be negatively affected by the impacts of extreme heat; specifically, prolonged extreme heat can overwhelm the power grid, increase water demand, and increase heat-related illness resulting in capacity issues at healthcare facilities, the order says.

Meanwhile, unions representing laborers who work outdoors are still waiting on new state standards that would help protect workers from heat exposure both indoors and outdoors. Discussion of those regulations began during the Hogan administration, and while they are nearing completion, they are not yet finalized.

Maryland Occupational Safety and Health programs are currently in the process of discussing a heat standard, Mitchell said. Though it is not yet formally adopted, but it certainly recognizes that as the planet warms and conditions grow hotter, workers  need to be taking care to protect themselves, and their employers do as well.

Outdoor and construction workers are one of the many vulnerable populations that are most at risk of a heat-related illness. Others include young children, senior citizens, the homeless population and people with chronic diseases.

Health officials urge residents to pay close attention to any symptoms that indicate heat-related illnesses.

People really should be listening to their bodies. And if they are starting to feel a little uncomfortable and theyre out in the heat, do not wait, Mitchell said. Get yourself inside, get yourself in a place where its cool and where you can get some water to drink.

A common ailment from excessive heat is painful muscle cramps from performing physical activities in high temperatures, due to the loss of electrolytes and fluids that occurs when sweating.

But heat exposure can lead to other serious health conditions, some of which are fatal. People should look for signs of heat exhaustion or a heat stroke and call an ambulance to receive emergency medical care.

Anytime you have somebody with an altered mental status  So theyre having a bit of trouble answering questions clearly, or they seem a little confused, Mitchell said. Thats an emergency situation.

If you feel their skin is dry, that means their sweating mechanism has failed or been overwhelmed. And that to me is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention, he said. He added that vomiting and nausea are also signs of more serious heat-related illnesses.

Those are all urgent medical problems, he said.

The Maryland Department of Health has already recorded the first heat-related death of the summer. In June, it announced that a 59-year-old Prince Georges County man had died due to heat-related causes.

But Mitchell wants to stress that anyone can experience unpleasant or even lethal heat-related illnesses.

Even if youre a young healthy person, you dont want to take the heat for granted, Mitchell said. What were wanting to emphasize is that  these are preventable illnesses and injuries and deaths. If people intervene early, we can prevent the most severe consequences and its one of the reasons we urge people to look out for their neighbors and their loved ones.

According to weekly data from the health department, there have already been at least 166 visits to Maryland emergency rooms due to heat-related illnesses so far this year. Of those, 72, or a little more than 40%, came in the first two weeks of June, the recent date for which data is available.

The data also showed 106 heat-related calls for emergency medical service during the first two weeks of the month. And this is the time of year when ER and EMS calls for heat-related illnesses have started to spike in past years, according to the data.

The Heat-Related Illness Surveillance Report period runs from May through September each year.

The post Maryland officials urge residents to be prepared ahead of excessive heat watch weekend appeared first on Maryland Matters.
Flooding in Cambridge. Photo from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.

An obscure but influential commission has begun to tackle a multibillion-dollar problem for the state of Maryland: How to pay for governments ambitious climate goals.

As state leaders tout Marylands tough standards for reducing carbon emissions  Gov. Wes Moore (D) earlier this month issued an executive order to advance certain climate initiatives  they have yet to identify ways to fund the various programs necessary to fully meet them. A comprehensive report issued late last year by the Maryland Department of the Environment on meeting the states climate goals suggested that an additional $1 billion a year in government funding over the course of a decade would be necessary.

Moore this year released $90 million that had been sitting in a reserve clean energy fund toward meeting the states climate goals, but he and environmental advocates called it a downpayment and acknowledged that the amount was woefully inadequate. But Moore and legislative leaders during this years General Assembly session offered no proposals for generating additional revenues for climate, and at least three bills that would have started to bring in extra money were laid aside in various committees.

Now, the Maryland Commission on Climate Change, whose members come from an array of backgrounds, is determined to offer recommendations on funding later this year. And the commissions Mitigation Workgroup started the assignment Thursday, by listening to four proposals for how to generate revenue for climate solutions during a two-hour online hearing.

The funding issue is complicated and difficult, said Michael Powell, the workgroups co-chair.

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Powell is a veteran lawyer and State House lobbyist who represents manufacturers, building interests and energy companies. Reflecting the diversity of the workgroup, his co-chair is Kim Coble, executive director of the Maryland League of Conservation Voters  who is also a co-chair of the overall climate commission, which is staffed by employees of the state Environment Department.

Commission members, policymakers and environmental advocates agree that more than one funding stream will be needed to pay for state climate programs, and most believe that polluters, rather than consumers or small businesses, ought to bear most of the burden. But whether political leaders will show the political will to do what is necessary is very much an open question, especially as Maryland grapples with projected budget deficits over the next five years.

A lot of hard work ahead, Coble said.

Workgroup members on Thursday were briefed by policy experts on four funding proposals that have been discussed to varying degrees over the past few years:

A cap-and-invest initiative

The concept is to set limitations on carbon emissions and make emitters pay for pollution by making them buy credits from the government, which are usually sold at auction. The proceeds would then be used to pay for climate mitigation, consumer reimbursements and clean energy programs.

The system catches all the low-hanging fruit from polluters and buttresses various state climate and renewable energy regulations, said Dallas Burtraw, a senior researcher at Resources for the Future, a national nonprofit that studies energy economic and regulatory policy.

Maryland already participates in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a multistate alliance in the Northeast that auctions carbon credits quarterly from power plant operators and uses the proceeds for a clean energy fund. So a broader cap-and-invest program would seek similar funding from other sectors of the economy that produce carbon emissions.

The state of Washington already has a cap-and-invest program, and California and the province of Quebec in Canada jointly auction carbon credits. The state of New York is also scheduled to do so soon. Burtraw suggested that Maryland try to enlist as many partners as possible in a cap-and-invest scheme to maximize flexibility and profits.

Linking is really important, he said. We cant accomplish this just by doing it in Maryland.

The Climate Crisis and Environmental Justice Act

Lawmakers this year, and in the 2022 legislative session, considered a measure that would have imposed fees on companies that bring natural gas, coal and petroleum into the state. It came with a provision that the additional costs would not be passed on to consumers, and would generate about $1.25 billion a year when fully implemented, according to Wandra Ashley-Williams, regional director of the group Climate XChange Maryland.

The bill as written would have established two funds, one to help households and energy-intensive businesses, the other targeted to mitigate climate damage in poor communities that have been particularly vulnerable to the ravages of climate change.

The Climate Crisis and Environmental Justice Act is predictable  predictable for the fossil fuel companies as well as the state of Maryland, Ashley-Williams said. It provides new, essential revenues that the state of Maryland will depend on.

Asked whether the measure could stand up to a court challenge, Ashley-Williams said her group received guidance from the state attorney generals office that it can.

The Climate Reduction Act

During the most recent legislative session, Del. Dana Stein (D-Baltimore County) introduced a climate bill that many environmental groups saw as a solid first step for generating revenues. Specifically, the bill was designed to tax the transportation of coal and natural gas into the state and would have generated an estimated $250 million to $300 million a year. The bill was nicknamed the coal train bill during the legislative session.

The state already taxes oil that is transported into the state, and that funding goes into an oil disaster containment, cleanup and contingency fund.

Stein told members of the mitigation workgroup that he plans to reintroduce the bill next year with a few amendments, including one that specifies that utilities are exempt from the legislation, unless they are the first carrier of coal or gas into the state. He predicted that the legislation could result in about a 50-cent per month addition to a households electric bill, and a higher average gas bill of $1.88 per month.

The funding could be used for a range of climate mitigation programs, Stein said. He said the bill would be similar to a law in New Jersey that taxes companies for the transportation and laws in several states that tax companies for energy extraction.

Responding to Emergency Needs from Extreme Weather (RENEW) Act

One of the most high-profile climate bills in the last session would have essentially imposed fines on close to 40 large fossil fuel companies responsible for the greatest amount of carbon emissions in Maryland. Jamie DeMarco, the Maryland director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, noted that taxpayers are already footing the bill to repair climate damage, and the fines essentially amount to free money for the state.

Theres no option of not paying these costs, he said. It takes that financial burden off the shoulders of Maryland residents and puts it on international fossil fuel companies that knew and lied about the climate crisis.

Vermont just passed similar legislation and Republican Gov. Phil Scott allowed it to become law without his signature. The New York legislature has also passed such a measure, but it remains on Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochuls desk.

Maryland advocates have suggested that the legislation could generate in the neighborhood of about $9 billion in one-time collections from the fossil fuel companies for 20-plus years of climate damage. But theyve also acknowledged that states that enact this legislation are almost certainly going to be sued.

DeMarco said the money from the RENEW Act could be used to pay for the states new disaster relief fund  which was created two years ago without any funding  clean-energy programs, flood mitigation, minority health disparities initiatives and more staffers at environmental agencies.

After the presentations, two business leaders representing the Maryland Chamber of Commerce pushed back gently on some of the proposals. While conceding that the state needs to do more to address climate change, they warned against programs that could be too costly to businesses or taxpayers, especially with certain mandates and timetables, including a carbon-neutral building industry by 2040, a rule already in place.

Almost every service provided in Maryland can be migrated into other states, said Tom Ballentine, vice president for policy and government relations at NAIOP Maryland, a trade association for commercial real estate developers.

The mitigation workgroup plans to meet in July and August and draft recommendations in September. They would then go to the full climate commission, which would finalize them in the late fall. What policymakers decide to do with the recommendations is anyones guess.

It is some very hard decisions and conversations that were going to have to have, Powell said.

The post Maryland panel pondering the multibillion-dollar climate question appeared first on Maryland Matters.
Marysville city officials said they have no confidence the operators of the historic Hotel Marysville property will accept financial responsibility for a fire that decimated the aging structure, prompting the City Council to unanimously approve Friday a state of emergency declaration due to the outsized economic impact the fire is having on the city and Yuba-Sutter region.

Flames sparked Saturday in the upper floors of the crumbling structure of concrete, brick and timber sitting vacant at the corner of Fifth and E streets for nearly four decades. Businesses have suffered economic loss after officials shutdown roads because the building faces imminent risk of collapse.

The historic Hotel Marysville, which burned down over the weekend, is seen on Thursday. Caltrans shut down traffic on Highway 70 in downtown Marysville because of fears the building, which has been vacant since 1985, might collapse.

And no one has been able to enter the site to determine the next steps as Marysville encounters a strain on its resources that were overextended as of two days ago, said City Manager Jim Schaad.

City council members, Marysville Mayor Chris Branscum, Schaad and Marysville Police Chief Christian Sachs met in a closed session during an emergency meeting to discuss the threat to public services and Fifth Street, the thoroughfare that carries Highway 70 through downtown. The proclamation was approved in the hopes that the Governors Office of Emergency Services will provide monetary aid.

This incident, the aftermath, has devastated and taxed the local resources, Schaad said.

Marysville City Manager Jim Schaad declares a state of emergency during a news conference on Friday, June 21, 2024 amid the risk of collapse of the Hotel Marysville, a historic downtown gutted Saturday and Sunday by a fire.

Who will pay for hotel to be torn down?

Negotiations were ongoing between the property manager Urban Smart Growth and the city to address which entity would bear financial responsibility for the buildings demolition and how quickly it can be done, Schaad said. Urban Smart Growth indicated it is self-insured and does not have casualty insurance, he said.

I am not confident that at this point (Urban Smart Growth) will (accept responsibility) because of the devastating impact that this has had on our residents, our community, our businesses, commuters and a movement of goods within the region, Schaad said during the news conference.

Dan Katz, the legal counsel with Urban Smart Growth, did not directly answer a question about assuming responsibility but noted their firm is not the owner of the building.

Property records show Feather River Plaza LLC has owned the site since at least 2004. The company could not be reached for comment.

An Urban Smart Growth spokesperson said the Los Angeles-based developer offered to donate the building to the city, according to a statement sent to reporters and first reported Thursday by the Marysville Appeal-Democrat.

The city said it rejected the developers donation because the demolition costs alone exceeded the value of the property, said Dan Flores, the citys community development director. At the time of the fire, the building was listed for sale at $925,000, a cost of $12 per square foot.

Firefighters work to douse flames from the top floor of the Hotel Marysville, which ignited Saturday, June 15, 2024, and burned through the night as crews worked against flames and the vacant landmarks structural integrity.

Hotel Marysville remains too unsafe to survey

City officials have not yet determined the future of the 73,040-square-foot, five-story building, but Branscum indicated demolition would be the only path forward. Four to five companies will tour the site next week and estimate costs to tear it down, he said.

But it was still unknown when anyone could survey the damage inside. Flames, estimated to have burned as high as 1100 degrees, may have turned the steel brittle. Concrete likely absorbed the gallons of water poured to douse the fire, leading to further deterioration, according to an assessment conducted by engineering firm Jackson & Sands Engineering, Inc. It was released to the public by Schaad on Wednesday.

Marysville Fire Chief Kyle Heggstrom said arson investigators have focused on reviewing surveillance footage and trying to find witnesses since they cannot inspect the interior. Hes sent drones into the structure, but it doesnt replace people carefully canvassing the cinders.

He said it was unknown if the fire was human-caused, but the structure was disconnected from utilities and had been vacant for nearly 40 years. It was likely there were not any natural or accidental ignition points, he said, but the fires cause remains under investigation.

Marysville Mayor Chris Branscum talks to reporters after the city declared a state of emergency Friday, June 21, 2024. City officials declared the emergency in the hopes of freeing up state funds in the wake of the fire at the Hotel Marysville, a nearly-century-old structure downtown that could collapse.

Traffic choke point on Highway 70

Caltrans closed the Highway 70 portion of E Street, the citys main thoroughfare and downtown strip. Both directions between Third and Sixth streets are expected to remain closed until the buildings danger to the roadway can be addressed, according to Caltrans District 3 officials.

Some neighboring businesses laid off employees and travel times have been seriously delayed, Flores said. The emergency proclamation states there have been traffic delays of up to 40 minutes during peak commute hours, and that a vast majority of Marysvilles police resources have been dedicated to traffic control.

But the devastation affects residents living outside Marysville, Yuba County Supervisor Gary Bradford said during the public comment portion of the meeting. He noted many elected officials came to the meeting to support the City Councils actions as the road closures have stymied a nexus for travel between Sacramento and north state destinations including Yuba City, Chico, Grass Valley and the upper tier of the Sierra Nevada.

I certainly have constituents  and myself included  that think twice right now about coming to not only Marysville but also to Yuba City because of the amount of additional drive time that it takes, Bradford said. And maybe I choose not to visit businesses that I would otherwise visit.

Schaad said the city could pay overtime to police officers, firefighters and public works employees managing traffic and investigating for a short while.

But, where we are right now, we have people that are just physically exhausted from the amount of time spent here, Schaad said. We just cant sustain this forever.
Pat Smith sits in front of the old Billie Dean's Cafe mural in his updated diner a year after the Matador tornado, Tuesday, June 16, 2024, in Matador, Texas.

MATADOR  Driving into Matador on U.S. Highway 62 a year ago, visitors would have been greeted with the sights of twisted metal, foundations of homes with their contents scattered for miles and emergency vehicles lining both sides of streets  evidence of a tornado.

A year later, newly built businesses and overgrown vegetation on foundations hide the scars of the deadly tornado that ripped through the community on June 21, 2023. Still recovering from that trauma, the town has a new mayor, a newly built dinner, and a new vision leading them into the next chapter of the city's history.

June 21, 2023: EF3 tornado in Matador kills four, causes damages

On the afternoon of Wednesday, June 21, 2023, a supercell thunderstorm was developing, southeastward, according to the Lubbock National Weather Service.

The storm ultimately produced five tornadoes, with one hitting the community of Matador at 7:50 p.m.  a town of about 570 people 70 miles northeast of Lubbock.

A Matador citizen told the A-J in 2023 that they had little to no warning about the tornado, and the mayor at that time, Pat Smith, echoed the same thoughts after he took shelter in his diner with two of his waitresses.

The tornado hit his diner, Billie Dean's Restaurant, in the western part of town. Smith said it felt like the longest 20 seconds of his life.

Dig Deeper An 'unprecedented tornado': Violent storm leaves 4 dead in Matador, damage across Texas Rolling Plains

NWS reported that the tornado was a third of a mile wide, with peak wind gusts between 145 to 165 mph. This resulted in an EF3 rating.

The damage was extensive, with several gas stations hit, one of the city's iconic restaurant/motel badly damaged, a Dollar General leveled and one of the city's two transformers destroyed.

The tornado left 15 people injured and four dead, including:

Jo Etta Bumgardner, 85, of Matador.

Randell (Randy) Rolin, 59, of Purcell, Oklahoma.

Victor Valenzuela Jr., 43, of Austin.

Troy Hernandez, 23, of San Angelo .

Dig Deeper: Texas officials ID 4 victims of Matador tornado, provide updates on recovery

Though hurting, the West Texas spirit and grit brought the community together to rebuild in the days following the storm. A year later, that same spirit continues in Matador.

Iconic Billie Dean's restaurant in Matador reopens, motel plans in progress

Smith, owner of Billie Dean's Restaurant and Motel, lost both businesses after the night of the tornado but told the A-J that he was "determined to rebuild."

One year later, on the anniversary of the tornado, Smith reopened Billie Dean's Restaurant  1224 Bailey Ave, Matador  literally bigger and better than before.

"The building is a third larger," Smith said. "Before, it was about 2,000 square feet, and now it's at 3,250 square feet."

The building replaced the old brick-and-mortar Smith's father bought in 1964, when the family moved into town and opened the restaurant. Though new, this restaurant means just as much to Smith as the last building.

"We started getting plans and my nephew actually done us a blueprint of the building  he's an engineer," Smith said.

Pat Smith uses the new register for Billie Dean's Cafe a year after the Matador tornado, Tuesday, June 16, 2024, in Matador, Texas.

Once the plans were drawn, it was time to get to work. Smith said he and his son-in-law built 80% of the building, having only contracted out the foundation pouring, windows, central heating and air and the insulation.

During this time, Smith received $50,000 in donations to help him rebuild and to help him get by after losing his livelihood. But people also gave their patience and skills to help him rebuild.

Smith's friend, Bruce Wynn, an independent contractor, traveled to Matador to help install the building's sheetrock.

"He'd drive back and forth from Lubbock," Smith said. "He'd come down once or twice a week. He'd come to work and get here seven o'clock in the evening (and) work 'til four or five in the morning."

Now with a brand new building, Smith said in an interview this week he was ready for the grand opening on June 21  the anniversary of the tornado  with doors opening at 7 a.m.

A photo of the Billie Dean's Cafe construction is seen a year after the Matador tornado, Tuesday, June 16, 2024, in Matador, Texas.

And yes, the famous Saturday Night in Matador mural, along with other remnants from the former restaurant can be seen on display throughout the restaurant. As for the motel, Smith's has plans in the work to bring it back in a modern way.

After losing so much, Smith also had the duties of the Matador mayor, leading a town through the disaster.

That disaster destroyed a major portion of the city's electricity grid. The outpouring of community support was so high that, as previously reported, it forced the city to ask the public to stop sending water and food because the city already had enough supplies. Officials were concerned extra supplies would go bad before they could be used.

Through it all, Smith said it became a lot to manage.

"It was really more challenging than I could handle," Smith said. "I didn't sign back up for mayor."

New Matador mayor plans for future while addressing ongoing community impact

The Matador water tower is seen a year after the Matador tornado, Tuesday, June 16, 2024, in Matador, Texas.

In May 2024, the citizens went to the ballot box to vote between two mayoral candidates. Gerald "Fuzzy" Conner received 81% of the votes and was installed as the new mayor of Matador.

Conner said the tornado was one of the reasons he ran for mayor.

"A tornado is devastating, and a lot of times people sit back and reflect, and that was kind of one of my things is I'm a small business owner, and I thought I had a lot to offer for the community, and I thought that's a good reason to run," Conner said. "I just want to see it grow and prosper."

Conner said he moved to Matador two years after seeing his daughter get married on a ranch there. On the night of the tornado, Conner said he remembers were he was on the night of the tornado.

"I take a vacation once every five years, we got to the Bahamas the night the tornado hit and turned around and came home the next day," Conner said.

Billie Dean's Motel sign a year after the Matador tornado, as seen Monday, June 15, 2024, in Matador, Texas.

He said he remembered seeing the destruction and praying for the people who were lost, but then got to work cleaning up the town.

Now as mayor, Conner has an agenda to help prepare the city for the next storm.

"We have implemented an IRIS system, otherwise known as a reverse 911 system," Conner said.

An Immediate Response Information System is a mass notification system that allows city governments to communicate in real time about emergencies occurring via texts, emails and phone calls, according to the city's Facebook.

"We're working at getting more tornado sirens so there's better coverage in town," Conner said.

Texas Tech also installed the 154th West Texas Mesonet station in September 2023 to help detect future severe storms to provide additional warning time for the community.

Conner said the city is still facing issues, including an overfilled dump ground, which is frequently closed. Smith said the city still faces frequent power outages due to its continued reliance on a small substation, but both issues are being addressed.

Even though scars are still visible in town, Conner said he's looking toward the future.

"I want to see growth," Conner said. "I want to see the tax revenue go up with businesses. When you do that, that brings people. So we want to find not just a business, but the right business to come in and be a part of our community."

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: 2023 Matador tornado challenges ongoing as community rebuilds
(Bloomberg) -- Lawmakers in Slovakia approved an overhaul of public media, effectively putting broadcasters under government control in a move criticized by the opposition and international organizations for undermining press independence.

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As of July, the ruling coalition will nominate its own candidates to the governing bodies of Slovak public television and radio after legislators in Bratislava backed the measure Thursday.

The main opposition party said it will challenge the law in the Constitutional Court. Lubos Machaj, the current head of public media who will be automatically ousted once the law takes effect, said it was a black day for the media landscape and for civil society in Slovakia.

Anti-media sentiment has intensified after an assassination attempt last month on Prime Minister Robert Fico, which he blamed on a hostile atmosphere fueled by the press and the opposition. His administration has consistently criticized coverage in the European Union member state, calling it biased or anti-government.

The public media are not objective because they are in direct conflict with the Slovak government, Fico said in April when proposing the bill. He claimed that the basic right of Slovak citizens to access objective information is violated.

The minister responsible for media has criticized the public broadcaster for unbalanced reporting, particularly regarding the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, alleging that they present only the mainstream view.

At the same time, Fico and his allies praise alternative media that avoid critical coverage and echo the premiers main narratives, including criticism of pandemic measures and vaccines during Covid-19, as well as spreading conspiracies about the war.

The administration has also faced criticism for using financial pressures to soften private media outlets, mirroring policies of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Slovak journalists have cautioned against the Orbanization of media. The host of the most-watched private television channel recently accused the management of political pressures in favor of the ruling coalition in an unexpected on-air comment.

Reporters Without Borders has also warned the law could violate the European Media Freedom Act, which entered into force last month to secure media pluralism and independence within the EU bloc.

Slovakias premier has drawn scrutiny from Brussels since his return to office in October, while his decision to overhaul the criminal code and ditch a special prosecutors office sparked public protests.

Ficos previous government stint ended five years ago when he was forced to resign amid national outrage over the murder of an investigative journalist.

Slovakia has dropped from 17th to 29th place in the press freedom index since Ficos return to power. Pavol Szalai, head of the EU-Balkans desk at Reporters Without Borders, sees the risk of further decline.

A battle is taking place in Slovakia over whether the media will remain pluralistic and impartial, Szalai said in an interview last week.

(Updates with opposition, media reaction in third paragraph.)

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Media: South Korea's level of arms supplies to Ukraine will depend on Russia's actions, official says

South Korea will determine the volume of potential weapons deliveries to Ukraine based on Russia's position toward North Korea, Yonhap reported, citing an unnamed presidential official on June 21.

The reports came after Seoul said it would reconsider supplying Ukraine with weapons in response to Moscow's newly announced security agreement with North Korea.

Up until now, Seoul has only provided humanitarian aid to Kyiv, though it has been reported the country has indirectly supplied artillery shells via the U.S.

"There are various options for providing weapons, and our position on the recent developments between Russia and North Korea depends on how Russia approaches the situation going forward," the unnamed official told Yonhap.

The weapons that Seoul could potentially send to Ukraine include 155 mm artillery shells or air defense systems, government sources told Yonhap.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow would take decisions that are "unlikely to please South Korea" if Seoul decides to send arms to Ukraine. He also did not exclude the possibility of sending weapons to North Korea, based on the recently signed deal between the two countries.

Under the new treaty, Russia and North Korea pledged to provide aid to one another if either is attacked, Putin said.

Matthew Miller, the U.S. State Department spokesperson, called Putin's threats "incredibly concerning" at a press briefing on June 20.

"It would destabilize the Korean Peninsula... depending on the type of weapons they provide, (it) might violate U.N. Security Council resolutions that Russia itself has supported," Miller said.

South Korea's Foreign Ministry summoned on June 21 Georgy Zinoviev, Russia's ambassador to Seoul, and protested the conclusion of the strategic partnership agreement between Moscow and Pyongyang.

Read also: Rather desperate  5 key takeaways from Putins North Korea visit

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, June 21. US Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Deterrence, and Stability Mallory Stewart will travel to Astana, Kazakhstan and Geneva, Switzerland, June 2228, Trend reports, citing the US Department of State.

"In Astana, Assistant Secretary Stewart will sign the National and Nuclear Risk Reduction Center's (NNRRC) Secure Line Agreement between the United States Department of State and the Kazakhstan Ministry of Defense," the statement reads.

According to the statement, this agreement showcases the robust U.S.-Kazakhstan partnership and their mutual commitment to minimizing risks and promoting global stability.

"In Geneva, Assistant Secretary Stewart will attend the celebration of the Tenth Anniversary of the International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification (IPNDV). This two-day event will showcase the work done by the IPNDV over its decade of work in nuclear disarmament verification. She will provide welcoming remarks and speak during a session on the future of nuclear disarmament verification," the statement reads.

To note, the volume of trade turnover between Kazakhstan and the US amounted to $4.1 billion in 2023. The volume of trade turnover increased by 32.7 percent compared to the same period in 2022 ($3.053 billion).

At the same time, exports to the US for the above period amounted to $1.509 billion, which is 30.1 percent more than from January through December 2022 ($1.152 billion).

In addition, imports from the US from January through December 2023 increased by 33.7 percent and amounted to $2.541 billion. In 2022, imports amounted to $1.9 billion.
Photo: Getty Images

We all want to be compassionate and help people in need, Jere Royall of the NC Family Policy Council told member of the Senate Rules Committee Thursday morning, before sharing his dismay about the latest version of House Bill 563. A day earlier, a lengthy amendment was added to the bill regulating hemp-derived consumables to legalize medical marijuana in North Carolina.

We appreciate the overall effort of this bill to address the availability of substances that are harmful to children and adults. We agree with making Kratom and tianeptine, referred to as gas station heroin, illegal to manufacture, sell or possess. However, adding the legalization of marijuanas medicine to this bill is contrary to the positions stated for years by the Food and Drug Administration, the American Academy of Neurology, and the American Medical Association, Royall said.

Royall told the lawmakers that marijuana use came with immense public health risks including intoxication, impaired cognition, and addiction.

But Senator Bill Rabon, a cancer survivor and the primary sponsor of the Compassionate Care Act, was having none of it.

Senator Bill Rabon

The chairman of the Rules Committee told his colleagues that the medical marijuana legislation was more germane than ever as they considered how to regulate numerous hemp-derived consumable products and supplements that are currently unregulated and readily available to children.

Rabon said they should also realize that there is very little difference between products like Delta 9 and marijuana.

They are the same. Theyre more closely akin than two oak trees growing out front. They are the same genus, same species, same product, said Rabon.

The Brunswick County Republican said there was an urgency to pass comprehensive legislation this session addressing marijuana usage before the federal government moves cannabis from Schedule I to a less-restrictive Schedule III classification.

The Biden administration announced in late April its intent to remove marijuana from a list of the most highly regulated drugs.

Its going to happen. We can be in control, or they can be in control, Rabon warned.

Rabon said those who would benefit from medical-grade cannabis have been dying every day for the six years that he has been working on this legislation.

I want to know where the compassion in this room is? I want to know because Im not seeing it. Its ridiculous people, its absolutely ridiculous.

Last year, Rabon shared his own story of using marijuana illegally during his aggressive treatment for colon cancer. Then and now, he credits its use with saving his life.

People that need help have the right to try to stay alive to stay with their loved ones another day.to feel good about life, not to be put on morphine, so they dont know what world theyre in, to have a conversation with their loved ones before they die, Rabon pushed. If youre scared of the boogie man, sleep with the lights on.

Rev. Mark Creech with the Christian Action League joined the Family Policy Council in opposing medicinal cannabis, pointing out the problem of bundling Senate Bill 3 with legislation (House Bill 563) that has won bipartisan support.

With the deepest respect, I suggest that such tactics erode public trust and compromise good government, said Creech. I do not wish to be hypocritical, Im sure someone can probably cite a time when I supported a bill that was passed by the same means and I never raised any opposition to it, but I wished I hadnt done that so that the force of my argument might be stronger today.

Creech said bundling the medical marijuana bill with the hemp bill unfairly forces many legislators into an all or nothing decision in the waning days of the session.

Rabon said those dead set against medical marijuana need to have walked a mile in his shoes.

I was ready to give up. I couldnt eat and theres not a trash can in this room that would hold how much vomit Id throw up every day, he shared.

Guardrails to prevent misuse

Rabon said a more dangerous approach would be for the legislature to take no action, leaving desperate individuals to self-treat themselves for their terminal illness.

Under the Compassionate Care Act, doctors could authorize cannabis in treating more than a dozen debilitating medical condition including cancer, AIDS, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Crohns disease, Parkinsons disease, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

A written certification from the doctor would specify the amount and dosage of the cannabis or cannabis-infused product, and the period of time for which the certification is valid.

So, you can preach to me folks all you want about loving your fellow man. If you love your fellow man, youll try to make every day of their life better. Youll try to do it in a way that protects the rest of the population.

Rabons argument helped move House Bill 563 through the Senate Rules Committee on a voice vote Thursday morning. By Thursday afternoon, the bill passed an initial vote (33-9) on the Senate floor.

One more vote by the Senate on Monday, and the medical marijuana legislation will be back before the state House.

House Speaker Tim Moore has previously said that there was not support in his chamber for the measure to pass. That was before the federal government moved to reclassify the drug.

Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia permit medical marijuana use.

The post Medical marijuana clears initial North Carolina Senate vote with bipartisan support appeared first on NC Newsline.
Brightline trains pass through Brevard County 32 times per day and many those railroad crossing are in the City of Melbourne.

That means hours of horn blasts for area residents.

Melbourne Mayor Paul Alfrey told WFTV, Its very loud and its constant. So, its a quality-of-life issue within the city of Melbourne and many, many, many of our residents, they want the quiet zone. So, if we can get these upgrades done, thats something that we can approach.+

Read: Man charged with brutal rape, attack of Orange County woman faces jury

Alfrey told Channel 9 that the city is pursuing federal grants with the Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization to make improvements like quad gates at additional crossings that would put the city in a better position to apply for the quiet zone designation through the Federal Railroad Administration.

Melbourne resident, Martha Heaton said, Its done, and we just must live with it. But we could really appreciate having a quiet zone. It was quieter before bright line, and I would appreciate it being quiet.

Read: OPD updates LGBTQ+ safe place markers to be even more inclusive

Only local governments and public agencies can establish a quiet zone.

An assessment must be done to assess the risk of collision at any crossing, where a local government wishes to silence a horn.

Alfrey said it will take time and coordination, Unfortunately, you know, were dealing with different entities, state and federal, the federal government, so were just trying to get things moving as fast as we can. And of course, its about funding. Its about making sure these intersections are safe. I mean, with the upgrades and the safety crossing gate. So again, we want to have a quiet I would like a quiet zone with safe intersections.

Read: This is crazy: Local woman says HOA continues to charge a late fee for 20-cent mistake

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Former President Trump is making a new effort to boost his support from working-class voters: Hes proposing to make tips exempt from taxes.

The gambit has captured plenty of attention, to Democrats dismay and despite being viewed with skepticism by many financial experts.

Tellingly, the idea seems to have been first pushed by the former president at a rally in Nevada earlier this month. The Silver State, with its huge concentration of service industry workers, is a key battleground in Novembers election.

Trump is very competitive there, even though the last Republican to carry Nevada at the presidential level was then-President George W. Bush in 2004. An Emerson College/The Hill poll Thursday put Trump 3 points ahead of President Biden.

Trump told his Nevada rally that hotel workers and people that get tips are going to be very happy, because when I get to office, we are going to not charge taxes on tips.

He added, Were going to do that right away, first thing in office, because its been a point of contention for years and years and years, and you do a great job of service.

Even if Trump is elected in November, he could not make taxation policy alone. Thats a matter for Congress. But some allies on Capitol Hill, notably GOP Reps. Thomas Massie (Ky.) and Matt Gaetz (Fla.), are already pushing legislation that would give effect to Trumps idea.

The proposal is underscoring how the GOP has changed under Trumps leadership.

Fiscal conservatives are plainly skeptical of the idea, fearing it would further deepen the deficit and might have other unintended consequences.

But plenty of prominent voices within the GOP have hailed the concept. A desire to show fealty to Trump in an election year is part of that picture, but the enthusiasm seems to also be driven by a belief that the proposal could help undercut Democratic attacks on Republicans as the party of the rich.

Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) told National Review it was a fabulous idea and one of those things where good policy and good politics merged.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told NBC News the concept was terrific in part because there are a lot of people who are starting to climb the economic ladder who rely on tips.

Cruz added that the proposal belied the caricature  that Republicans were the party of the rich and Democrats are the party of the poor and the working class.

Some kind of political realignment on the basis of class and education has been underway for several years, as strategists across the partisan divide have acknowledged.

Left-of-center strategist and data analyst David Shor has argued for some time that education has become one of the major dividing lines in American politics, with college-educated voters being increasingly likely to support Democrats and those who have never attended college being correspondingly likely to vote Republican.

The shift is not necessarily caused by Trump alone, but he has clearly amplified it and benefited from it. An analysis from the Brookings Institution published in April showed Trump winning more white working-class support than any Republican presidential nominee in the past 40 years, including former President Reagan.

On the other hand, there are serious questions as to how the Trump tipping proposal would work in practice.

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a group that is hawkish about deficits, has projected that Trumps idea would cost at least $150 billion over 10 years. The groups president, Maya MacGuineas, told CBS News that it was one of a number of proposals, from both presidential candidates, that would make the nations fiscal situation worse rather than better.

Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) told NBC News that everybody likes to pay less taxes but we got to pay the bills.

Others have raised issues of basic fairness. Making tipping exempt from taxation would self-evidently only help people who derive a significant share of their income from tips  leaving out other low-wage employees.

If youre working at McDonalds flipping burgers, youre not going to benefit from this  but youre going to have low wages, Mark Zandi, the chief economist at Moodys, told this column.

Zandi also expressed a fear that has been raised from liberal-leaning groups  that making tips tax exempt could erode the larger impetus for an increase in the minimum wage. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, and for employees who receive tips it is a mere $2.13 per hour.

Saru Jayaraman, the president of One Fair Wage, a group that advocates for an increase in the minimum wage, recently told The Wall Street Journal that the Trump idea was pandering to workers.

It doesnt actually solve the problem of economic instability and poverty and struggle that most of these workers are facing right now, Jayaraman added.

There is a separate concern, too. If the tax system were to be shifted to incentivize tips over regular wages, it seems likely that some jobs that are currently waged would shift to a tipping model.

Such a shift might exacerbate existing public annoyance about an apparent expansion of the services for which tipping is expected.

Still, Trump is clearly not backing down from a proposal that is easily understood and has populist appeal.

He has even encouraged supporters to write on restaurant and bar checks that the workers should vote for him because of his proposal.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), one of the former presidents most ardent supporters, posted a receipt showing she had followed that plan.

Vote Trump! No tax on tips!, Greene wrote on the receipt, posted June 14 to the social platform X.

The Memo is a reported column by Niall Stanage.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Men suspected of attempt on life of Kazakh opposition journalist in Kyiv flee to Moldova: search announced

Two citizens of Kazakhstan suspected of the attempted murder of Kazakh journalist Aidos Sadikov crossed the border with Moldova on the day of the crime and were have been put on the international wanted list.

Source: Prosecutor Generals Office of Ukraine

Quote: "The suspects fled from the territory of Ukraine on the day the attempted murder was committed by crossing the Ukrainian-Moldovan border. They have been put on the international wanted list.

The Holosiivskyi District Court has remanded the two citizens of Kazakhstan in custody as a pre-trial restriction measure.

The investigation is ongoing, and measures are being taken to arrest the suspects."

Details: The attempted assassination of Kazakh citizen Sadikov was committed on 18 June in the Shevchenkivskyi district of Kyiv near the residential building where the victim lives with his wife.

The two men (Meiram Karataev, 33, and Altai Zhakanbaev, 36) meticulously planned the murder of the journalist who has refugee status in Ukraine.

The suspects arrived in Ukraine on 2 June, crossing the Polish-Ukrainian border. Once in the capital, they rented an apartment and bought a car.

They were watching the victim for some time, studying his routes.

On 18 June, the day the crime was committed, one of the suspects approached the victims car, fired a shot while his accomplice was on look-out near the building. After that, they fled the crime scene.

Under the procedural management of the Kyiv City Prosecutors Office, the two citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan were served with a notice of suspicion for attempted premeditated murder, committed to order and by prior conspiracy.

Background:

On the afternoon of 18 June, in Kyivs Shevchenkivskyi District, an unknown person approached a car and shot at Kazakh opposition journalist Aidos Sadykov, who was in the car.

The wife of opposition Kazakh journalist Sadykov, in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda, said that her husband is in intensive care in a critical condition. She is also convinced that Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was involved in the murder attempt.

Tokayev, commenting on the attack on Sadykov in Kyiv on 18 June, said that if necessary, the official authorities of Kazakhstan are ready to join the investigation.

For reference: Aidos and Natalya Sadykov moved from Kazakhstan to Kyiv in 2014. Criminal charges have been brought against Aidos Sadykov in Kazakhstan which he says are politically motivated.

The Sadykovs were granted refugee status in Ukraine and ran their own YouTube channel, Base (). They are critical of the Kazakh authorities and oligarchs and were supportive of the protests that took place in Kazakhstan in 2022.

The Kazakh authorities placed Aidos and Natalya Sadykov on the wanted list in the autumn of 2023, accusing them of inciting hatred.

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The U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday that leaders of a Mexico-based drug cartel, the La Nueva Familia Michoacana, were charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and import heroin into the United States.

The cartel leaders who were indicted by a federal grand jury, Rodolfo Maldonado-Bustos, a.k.a. Don Jose, and Euclides Camacho-Goicochea, a.k.a. El Quilles, faced their charges in a federal court.

According to USDOJ, the cartel members were accused of importing massive amounts of heroin from Mexico to the Atlanta area and elsewhere in the United States.

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U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said the indictments came alongside the recent imposition of OFAC sanctions send a strong message that our office, in coordination with our law enforcement partners, will relentlessly investigate, prosecute, and defund individuals around the globe who import deadly drugs into our communities.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen was in Atlanta Thursday to announce the new sanctions as part of a multi-agency effort to prevent the trafficking of fentanyl and other illicit drugs.

According to Buchanan, the indictments against Maldonado-Bustos and Camacho-Goicochea stem from an investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration which began in September 2016, when agents worked with the Internal Revenue Service to look into how certain La Nueva Familia Michoacana cartel members were allegedly importing heroin, cocaine and marijuana into the U.S. and Georgia.

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Maldonado-Bustos is said to have been coordinating the manufacturing of large quantities of heroin in Mexico, including the direct harvest of gum from opium fields, before finishing the production process and working with conspirators in Mexico to import the drugs in Atlanta and Houston, Texas, USDOJ said.

Funds from the sale of those drugs were then funneled back to Mexico by Camacho-Goicochea, USDOJ said. In 2017, agents seized more than $580,000 in drug proceeds from vehicles and homes in the Atlanta area.

Justice officials said Maldonado-Bustos and Camacho-Goicochea were both indicted in August 2017, but the indictments were only recently unsealed.

While both men were indicted on conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute heroin and conspiracy to import heroin into the U.S., Camacho-Goicochea was also indicted for conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

These actions demonstrate that in addition to holding cartel leaders accountable for their crimes, we are working together with our partners at the Treasury Department to hit the cartels criminal operations where it hurts the most  their profits, said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. We will continue to mobilize a whole-of-government effort to disrupt the cartels profiting from the drug trafficking and human smuggling that devastate communities and endanger our national security.

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RUIDOSO, N.M. (KRQE)  A New Mexico family fleeing the wildfires outside Ruidoso experienced an added challenge after the expectant mom went into labor.

Like most of the Alto community, Joshua and Lina Sandy started noticing wildfire smoke Monday. Then Lina Sandy, who was nine months pregnant, began feeling her contractions getting closer and closer.

So I whispered to him and I was like, I think this babys coming sooner than later,' she said.

They checked into a Ruidoso hospital, but their stay there wasnt long. Theyre like, Yeah, theres an evacuation for the hospital,' said Lina Sandy.

As fast as the flames spread, so did the questions of what to do next.

Are we actually getting an ambulance? Do we leave now? Bumper-to-bumper traffic all the way to Roswell and get there in maybe four hours? said Joshua Sandy.

With their daughter with her grandparents, the expectant dad drove to Roswell. Stressed out more. Driving alone for two hours to see my wife, who might be having a baby right now I dont know, because theres no cellphone reception, he said.

South Fork Fire burns 16,349 acres near Ruidoso, estimated 1,400 structures lost

Meanwhile, his wife took an ambulance to Eastern New Mexico Medical Center. The paramedic was super sweet. She just made conversation with me the entire time and just made it a good experience in an ambulance, as weird as that sounds, said Lina Sandy.

The next day, all 6 pounds and 4 ounces of baby Hayden arrived. At the time, they were unsure when they would get to take him home and if their house would still be standing when they did.

Just kind of taking it day by day and see what happensWere staying hopeful and well see, said Lina Sandy.

The couple was just grateful their family of four was all here. I wouldnt change the experience; it was a good experience for sure, said Lina Sandy.

The Sandys were set to be discharged from the hospital on Thursday.

This isnt the couples first time having a baby out of town. Their first child was born in Albuquerque after they had evacuated for the McBride Fire in 2022.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  New Mexicos Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) is offering to pay for childcare for evacuees of New Mexicos wildfires. The department says they are willing to help, even if families are missing important documents.

Our team is willing to work with people, no matter what they had to evacuate with, says Sara Mickelson, the deputy cabinet secretary for ECECD. The best thing to bring would be your ID. If you have your childs birth certificate, you can bring that. But again, we would recognize that people had to evacuate quickly and may not have those materials, and we can work with them.

Wildfires raise flood risk for New Mexico communities

The program can help connect families with children up to the age of 12 (or older if they have a developmental disability) with local childcare options. Families can also get help paying for childcare if they already have a childcare provider.

The process goes fastest if they already know what childcare provider they want to use, Mickelson says. We can also work with families who may want to use a relative or a friend that they know who is going to be caring for less than four children. Mickelson says ECECD also has an online childcare finder.

To get help, families can call 1-800-832-1321 or visit https://www.nmececd.org/child-care-assistance/. ECECD says they will also have staff visiting evacuation centers to connect with families. You can also visit an ECECD office in-person (the Roswell field office is at 400 N Pennsylvania Ave, Roswell, NM 88201 4th floor Suite 441).

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
*Editors Note: This story has been updated with a quote from New Mexicos attorney general.

NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  For decades, Texas and New Mexico have been fighting over legal access to water in the Rio Grande. Recently, the two states reached an agreement on how to share water, but the U.S. Supreme Court has rejected the settlement.

The case goes back to 1938, when Colorado, Texas, and New Mexico agreed to the Rio Grande Compact, which requires New Mexico to allow a certain volume of water to reach Elephant Butte and further south to Texas. Then, in 2013, Texas sued arguing that they werent getting their fair share of water.

Wildfires raise flood risk for New Mexico communities

After a lengthy court battle, Texas and New Mexico reached an agreement that would have established a new way to calculate water deliveries  a method that took into account New Mexicos groundwater pumping from the 1950s through 1970s.

But, the federal government objected to the agreement, arguing that the agreement essentially took away the federal governments role in the water distribution. Now, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed, meaning the proposed agreement will not move forward.

We are disappointed that the U.S. Supreme Court has remanded the case back to the Courts Special Master for further proceedings, New Mexico State Engineer Mike Hamman said in a press release. We need to keep working to make the aquifers in the Lower Rio Grande region sustainable, and lasting solutions are more likely to come from parties working together than from continued litigation.

New Mexicos attorney general also lamented the outcome: We are profoundly disappointed by the Supreme Courts decision to reject a comprehensive settlement that would have safeguarded the rights of water users throughout southern New Mexico, Attorney General Raul Torrez said in a press release. But we are even more disappointed that the federal government would stand in the way of an equitable resolution of a decades-long case that neither Texas nor New Mexico wish to continue. This decision will result in millions more spent on legal fees and more uncertainty for New Mexicos water users, all because the Interior Department feels the need to dictate how New Mexico meets its obligations to the State of Texas. Its a sad day when two western states are able to resolve a generational dispute over water only to have that deal undermined by lawyers and bureaucrats in Washington D.C.

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New Mexico woman becomes second American tourist killed by an elephant in Zambia this year

New Mexico woman becomes second American tourist killed by an elephant in Zambia this year

An American tourist was killed in Zambia this week after she was trampled by an elephant while on a wildlife excursion.

Juliana Gle Tourneau, 64, was thrown from a vehicle in the city of Livingstone this week as a group of tourists observed a herd of elephants. One of the elephants attacked the vehicle her, according to CBS News. Tourneaus group stopped near the Maramba Cultural Bridge because of traffic caused by the herd. The woman had been visiting the country from New Mexico.

Juliana Gle Tourneau, 64, of New Mexico, United States of America, died on Wednesday around 17.50 after being knocked from a parked vehicle which had stopped due to traffic caused by elephants around the Maramba Cultural Bridge, Auxensio Daka, southern province police commissioner, told the countrys national broadcaster ZNBC.

Authorities did not release any more details about the attack.

Juliana Gle Tourneau, an American tourist, died after an elephant attacked her vehicle during a wildlife excursion in Zambia. (File photo) (EPA)

Another American tourist was killed earlier this year in a similar attack. Gail Mattson, 79, from Minnesota, was killed in Zambia while on her dream adventure in March, her daughter, Rona Wells, told CBS News.

Footage of the attack was captured on a cellphone. The group had been on a safari tour in the countrys Kafue National Park. As a large bull elephant came close to the vehicle, its occupants began to become concerned.

Another American tourist was killed earlier this year in a similar attack. Gail Mattson, 79, from Minnesota, was killed in Zambia while on her dream adventure in March. That incident was caught on video (Collin Rugg/Twitter)

In the video, a person can be heard saying oh my goodness before a man adds, its coming fast. The groups car came to a stop and someone attempted to get the elephant to go away.

However, the animal put its tusks into the car and rolled it several times, leading to the womans death.

Zambian officials are asking tourists to use caution while on wildlife excursions.
A Miami art museums jumbo digital billboard is now live. Take a look at the first ads

A controversial digital billboard went live this week at the Perez Art Museum Miami, offering the first look at the new advertising space on the city waterfront.

The debut of advertising for the Lowes hardware-store chain, Gran Centenario tequila and Saint Laurent apparel gave critics new material for their ongoing fight over the 100-foot-tall structure built on land that PAMM rents from the city.

The Perez Art Museum Miami billboard is live with its first digital displays in Miami on Friday, June 21, 2024.

Its worse than I expected. When you see it lit up, its really in your face, said James Torres, president of the Downtown Neighbors Alliance in Miami. It intrudes on the skyline.

Along with commercial content, PAMMs billboard on Friday included the kind of artsy promos that the museum said would come with the jumbo sign. That included images of art itself, as well as a promotion for arts-magnet schools in Miami-Dade and a poster of a Brazilian artist with work on display in the PAMM.

This project creates a new highly visible way for us to connect with the Miami community at large, to share what is happening inside of PAMM, and to invite them to visit, while at the same time generating critical funding for our ongoing operations, exhibitions, and programs, the museum said in a statement this week.

Seen on Friday, June 21, 2024, the Perez Art Museum Miami billboard went live with both advertisements and art this week in Miami.

The PAMM sign measures 1,800 square feet, more than twice the size allowed elsewhere in Miami and across Miami-Dade under long-standing caps on free-standing digital billboards. In early 2023, the Miami City Commission made exceptions to those caps for PAMM and a few other locations in Miami.

Seen on Friday, June 21, 2024, the Perez Art Museum Miami billboard went live with both advertisements and art this week in Miami.

That legislation was sponsored by then-Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, who was removed from office after an arrest on unrelated corruption charges.

Orange Barrel Media, an Ohio advertising firm that signed the deal to build PAMMs sign and share in its advertising revenue, donated $225,000 to a political committee that is run by a company lobbyist and backed Diaz de la Portillas failed reelection bid last year.

With two newly elected members this year, the Miami City Commission in May repealed the 2023 law allowing jumbo digital billboards at PAMM, as well as at the nearby Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts and the citys Bayfront Park. PAMM is the only location to construct a billboard using the full size allowed under the 2023 law.

The repeal didnt invalidate the sign permits issued under the 2023 law, so PAMM was free to turn on the sign this week.

Seen on Friday, June 21, 2024, the Perez Art Museum Miami billboard went live with both advertisements and art this week in Miami.

But compliance with the law doesnt mean PAMMs billboard fight is over.

Though the City Commission named PAMM in the original legislation authorizing the sign and the city issued a building permit for it, City Manager Art Noriega claimed in a May 30 letter that construction of the sign violated the museums ground lease because it didnt get the administrations permission to build it.

That could lead to a court fight over the billboards fate if the two sides dont reach an agreement.

Torres and Michael Llorente, a lawyer and lobbyist for a rival billboard company, Outfront Media, both claim the billboard violates state and federal rules governing advertising near federally funded highways, such as the nearby Interstate 395. Enforcing that rule would require action by Floridas Department of Transportation.

The Perez Art Museum Miami billboard is live with its digital mix of ads and art promotions in downtown Miami. This photo was taken on Friday, June 21, 2024.

In a statement, Orange Barrel Media noted the sign is larger than nearby lighted commercial signs, which Miami allows to be larger, provided they arent digital. One exception is the 3,400-square-foot digital sign on the county-owned Kaseya Center. The sign is attached to the building and thus not considered a billboard.

This project is sensitive to the context of PAMM and the surrounding neighborhood, and is less than 20 percent of the size of approximately fifty 10,000 square foot advertising signs that are already installed in the immediately surrounding downtown area, Orange Barrel said. City rules requiring the PAMM sign to go dark after 11 p.m. and brightness restrictions will ensure the sign does not create any negative impact.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, June 21. The first deputy chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Adylbek Kasymaliev, suggested that German banks take into consideration setting up correspondent accounts in Kyrgyzstan, Trend reports.

According to the Kyrgyz Cabinet, he made this statement during a meeting with the Managing Director of German AKA Bank, Mark Venchik, on the sidelines of the Kyrgyz-German business forum in Frankfurt am Main.

Kasymaliev said that the opening of these accounts would be a significant step in strengthening mutual cooperation between the two countries. He noted that the Cabinet of Ministers is taking decisive measures to increase trust in Kyrgyzstan's banking system.

He also emphasized that Kyrgyzstan is interested in establishing and developing cooperation with Germany. Kasymaliev pointed out that the forum provides a good opportunity for exchanging views, ideas, and plans for further developing mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.

In response, Mark Venchik expressed his readiness to cooperate in all areas of mutual interest, particularly in renewable energy, logistics, and the mining industry. The Managing Director of AKA Bank also highlighted the great potential for cooperation in healthcare and the extraction of critical minerals.

Venchik positively noted the trends in Kyrgyzstan's economic development, the significant strengthening of budgetary discipline, and the improvement of macroeconomic indicators in recent years.
Miamis flagship art museum is distancing itself from Kehinde Wiley, a famed artist known for his portrait of former President Barack Obama, after several people came forward with sexual-assault allegations.

Perez Art Museum Miami suspended plans to exhibit Kehinde Wiley: An Archaeology of Silence, which was set to open this summer and run until January 2025, meaning it would have been on view during Miami Art Week and Art Basel Miami Beach. A museum spokesperson confirmed the exhibition was canceled but did not comment on when or why the museum made the decision.

Since last month, Wiley, a New York-based portrait painter known for depicting Black people in the ornate style of Old Master paintings, was accused of sexual assault by three people. Wiley has denied the claims.

PAMM isnt the only arts institution to cancel the traveling exhibition, which debuted at the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco in 2023 and later showed at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

The Joslyn Museum of Art in Omaha, Nebraska, and the Minneapolis Institute of Art in Minnesota canceled or postponed upcoming iterations of the show, as reported by arts publication Artnet. The Minneapolis museum confirmed to ArtNews that it canceled the show as a result of these unfortunate allegations.

Art superstar Kehine Wiley speaks Monday at the New World Center.

It is disappointing that this social media-driven fabrication is distracting from the goal of the tour: shedding light on the inequities Black and Brown people face in our society, Wiley told ARTnews in a written statement. These allegations are completely false, raising more questions about their credibility and motivation than there are facts supporting their authenticity.

Instead of the Wiley show, the spokesperson said, PAMM will exhibit works from its permanent collection curated by Director Franklin Sirmans and featuring artists Morris Louis, Richard Serra, Julie Mehretu, Richard Dupont, Jennie C. Jones and Alfredo Jaar.

Wileys bold and easily recognizable artwork is highlighted in several Miami institutions, including PAMM.

Until recently, a Wiley piece titled Regard the class struggle as a main link in the chain was on display on the museums first floor. That painting, along with other artworks in the same gallery, were rotated as part of a previously planned exhibition update, following a long-term display, the spokesperson said.

Wileys paintings are also featured prominently at the Rubell Museum in Allapattah, home to the illustrious and vast collection of arts patrons Mera and Don Rubell. Among the works is the massive Sleep, a 25-foot-long painting of a sleeping man wrapped in cloth inspired by Jean-Bernard Restouts 1771 painting of the same name. A museum spokesperson declined to comment on the matter.

Sleep, Kehinde Wiley, 2008.

Wileys fame and acclaim cannot be understated. A superstar in the art world, Wiley was dubbed one of the most influential figures in global Black culture in a 2022 New Yorker profile. His career accelerated when the Smithsonian commissioned him to paint Obamas official portrait, which sparked a media frenzy when it was unveiled in 2018.

In May, Ghana-based artist Joseph Awuah-Darko took to Instagram to accuse Wiley of sexually assaulting him twice on June 9, 2021, at a dinner event held in Wileys honor.

Former first lady Michelle Obama and former President Barack Obama pose with artists Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald during the unveiling of their official portraits at the National Portrait Gallery on February 12, 2018 in Washington, D.C.

It almost destroyed me, Awuah-Darko wrote on Instagram. I hope my words and openness about my painful experience empower others to come forward. I hope all that unravels creates a path towards not only accountability, but recompense and collective healing for other victims.

Weeks later in June, Wiley was accused of sexual assault by two other people: prominent activist Derrick Ingram accused Wiley of raping him in 2021, and Terrell Armistead accused Wiley of raping him in 2010. Another artist, Nathaniel Lloyd Richards, also accused Wiley of groping him on a date in 2019. Several accusers said they would pursue a class-action lawsuit against Wiley in New York.

Wiley has dismissed the claims of sexual assault as baseless and defamatory and posted screenshots of friendly conversations with Awuah-Darko and Ingram on Instagram. Wiley said he had consensual encounters with Awuah-Darko and Ingram and said he had never met Armistead. The artist said on Instagram that the accusers were motivated by money and attention.

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.
Miami Herald coverage of unethical practices by a developer in Coconut Grove and plans to demolish a historic residence in Coral Gables captured two national awards from the National Association of Real Estate Editor this month.

Linda Robertson won the Kenneth R. Harney Award for Best Real Estate Consumer Education Reporting for her story, They bought their dream homes from the King of Coconut Grove. They still cant move in.

Published in March 2023, the coverage exposed the negligence of real estate developer Doug Cox, who strung along buyers who paid down payments for 4,000-square-foot townhouses in Coconut Grove in 2018. The homes ranged in price from $1.2 million to $1.8 million. Buyers never got the keys to their residences, and a judge finally stepped in after the Miami Heralds reporting to decide the fate of the townhouses.

Herald photojournalists D.A. Varela and Al Diaz photographed the townhomes for the story, and Susan Merriam created the graphics.

The Harney award is named for a former Washington Post real estate columnist and NAREE president, and given for coverage showing dogged, original enterprise reporting on current real estate policy and practices impacting the consumer.

READ THE WINNING COVERAGE: They bought their dream homes from the King of Coconut Grove. They still cant move in.

The Herald also won bronze in the best architecture story category for Its a crime. Mogul aims to demolish famed architects Coral Gables masterpiece home.

The Texas construction mogul Felix Sorkin of General Technologies purchased a waterfront Coral Gables designed by famed architect Alfred Browning Parker for $36 million. Built in 1963, the 11,000-square-foot house was long considered one of Parkers most important designs for environmentally-oriented approaches to architecture. The article explored the history of the home, highlights what distinguished it architecturally, and the communitys response to the new owners demolition application and plans. The residence eventually met death by bulldozer, despite protests by preservationists.

The story was reported and written by urban affairs reporter Andres Viglucci, with photos by visual journalist Matias J. Ocner.

READ THE WINNING COVERAGE: Its a crime. Mogul aims to demolish famed architects Coral Gables masterpiece home.

Veteran reporters Robertson and Viglucci cover a range of homeowner and community issues in South Florida, and have been Miami Herald staff writers since 1983.

The association announced the winners Thursday at its 74th annual journalism awards during a ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Austin. The competition, judged by a panel from Northwestern University, recognizes excellence in residential and commercial real estate reporting from across the country.
A newspaper in Miami, Florida is under fire after running several pro-Trump political ads filled with racial slurs.

The full-page ad, which ran on the back cover of the Miami New Times June 1319 print edition, features several uncensored uses of the n-word, as well as a misleading quote of President Biden using the slur in 1985.

The quote was taken from a 1985 hearing in which then-Senator Biden quoted racist remarks made by a state legislator during a redistricting process in Louisiana. At the time, Biden was questioning William Bradford Reynolds, a nominee for deputy attorney general, who oversaw the redistricting process.

During the hearing, Biden read verbatim from a memo highlighting racist language used by lawmakers to support the redistricting plan. We already have a n----- mayor, we dont need any more n-----big shots! Biden quoted a lawmaker as saying, before arguing that Reynolds had ignored racist comments by lawmakers and allowed them to gerrymander Louisianas congressional districts in a way that underrepresented Black residents.

The Miami New Times is under fire after featuring several pro-Trump political ads filled with racial slurs (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

A video of Bidens comments also resurfaced during the 2020 election, with some social media users sharing edited clips to claim Biden used the n-word, and omitting the context.

Its not clear who paid for the ad in the Miami New Times. However, it appeared to have been placed by Blacks for Trump, a right-wing group thats often spotted behind the former president at his campaign rallies.

Maurice Symonette, who founded the group, told Axios that he stands by the ad, which also featured his and Trumps mugshots side-by-side.

Ive heard a lot of white men quoting people but when they get to that word, every decent white person says the n-word, he said.

A profane, pro-Trump political ad in the Miami New Times features several uncensored uses of the N-word and displays a misleading quote from Biden using the slur in 1985.https://t.co/79K3t5ypcm  Axios (@axios) June 21, 2024

Symonette, formerly Maurice Woodside, once belonged to the black supremacist Nation of Yahweh cult, which was accused of plotting 14 murders, according to the Miami Herald. Symonette was charged with conspiracy to commit two murders but later acquitted, the Herald reported.

Miami New Times publisher, Adam Simon, told Axios that the ad was unacceptable and that it should not have run in the newspaper.

The bottom line is that it was gross and unacceptable oversight by our local leadership and I take 100% responsibility for allowing that language to run in an ad, he said.

He said that he did not see the ad before publication because it came in past the deadline for the print day.

The Miami publication has now said that it will no longer take ads so late that they cant be reviewed. Naturally, had I seen it, which I should have, I would not have let it run as is, Simon said.

Copies of the issue remained available in news boxes on Wednesday. A digital edition of the New Times did not show the advertisement on Thursday.

The Independent has contacted The Miami New Times for comment.
LANSING  State Rep. Neil Friske, R-Charlevoix, who was arrested early Thursday morning following a disturbance in Lansing that involved a firearm and a possible sexual assault, was released from the Lansing police lockup late Friday morning as Ingham County prosecutors continue to investigate possible charges against him.

Friske, 62, declined comment as he left the Lansing police station with his attorney, Edwar Zeineh of Lansing. Friske then drove away as a passenger in a red pickup truck.

"This is a case that is getting our full attention to show actual innocence," Zeineh told the Free Press.

Records the Free Press obtained Friday through the online Michigan State Police criminal background service, the Internet Criminal History Access Tool, show Lansing police requested felony charges of sexual assault, assault, and a weapons-related offense against Friske. The lawmaker has not been charged or arraigned and it is not clear those are the charges he will ultimately face.

In a Friday news release, Ingham County Prosecutor John Dewane's Office said it has requested Lansing police to continue its investigation, and prosecutors are coordinating with law enforcement on the matter.

Michigan state Rep. Neil Friske, R-Charlevoix.

Who is Neil Friske? 4 things about Michigan lawmaker arrested in Lansing

Friske was arrested about 2:45 a.m. Thursday in the 2000 block of Windbreak Lane in Lansing, police spokeswoman Jordan Gulkis confirmed to the Free Press. Gulkis said officers were dispatched initially to the nearby 2100 block of Forest Road to respond to reports of a male with a gun, "as well as possible shots that were fired," she said in an email.

Dewane's Office said police "learned of a possible sexual assault of an adult female" during the course of their initial investigation of a man with a gun and possible shots fired.

"The Lansing Police Department submitted a warrant request to our office on June 21, 2024, after a review of the initial investigation, I have asked the Lansing Police Department to continue their investigation. Our office will continue to work in coordination with law enforcement on this matter," Dewane said in a provided statement.

In a statement posted to Friske's Facebook page, his campaign called the arrest "highly suspect," adding "Friske is always exercising his 2nd Amendment right."

Zeineh said he wants to let the process play itself out, but that his office will be conducting "a very thorough investigation" of what happened and will provide the results of that investigation to the Ingham prosecutor so officials there "can make a very informed decision."

Friske is a first-term Republican lawmaker representing Michigan's 107th House District, which covers all of Charlevoix and Emmet counties and portions of Cheboygan, Chippewa and Mackinac counties, spanning both peninsulas. He has filed for reelection and is seeking a second term in the House this fall. He is the owner of Friske and Sons Property Management, according to his website.

He is considered one of the more conservative members of the Legislature and is part of the House's Freedom Caucus. The caucus describes itself as "focused on traditional conservative values and individual liberty."

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on X, @paulegan4.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Rep. Neil Friske could face sexual assault, weapons charges
A protest held in New York City against the attacks on Black folks registering to vote in Mississippi, US, 1964. | Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The Michigan Senate on Thursday commemorated the anniversary of Freedom Summer and the role played by Michiganders.

Senate Resolution 134, sponsored by state Sen. Erika Geiss (D-Taylor), honored the effort in the summer of 1964 to recruit volunteers from across the country to come to Mississippi and help register Black residents to vote.

It is necessary to acknowledge the 60th Anniversary of Freedom Summer in Michigan not only because the legacy continues to inspire work towards equity and justice, but because Michigan has long been a national leader in voter registration, election turnout and election security, said Geiss. The fight to secure the right to vote and dismantle systemic racism and discrimination continues to be an ongoing struggle in many parts of the country.

Organized by the Council of Federated Organizations (COFO), the initiatives leaders made a strategic decision to have almost all of the out-of-state volunteers be white in order to draw national attention to the brutality and corruption that dominated Mississippi. That brutality was noted by the resolution.

Many civil rights activists in Mississippi were beaten, shot, and murdered, including Medgar Evers, it stated. African Americans were effectively barred from holding any elected office, serving on juries, and from registering or voting without facing possible violence 

Those who volunteered recognized that they would be facing violent resistance, and in fact, two student volunteers and four Mississippi residents were murdered, the most notable of which were Michael Schwerner and James Chaney, who worked for the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), and Andrew Goodman, one of the hundreds of college students from across the country who volunteered to come to Mississippi that summer. All three disappeared near the town of Philadelphia, Miss., after being pulled over by local police. A massive search ensued involving more than 200 FBI agents that resulted in their bodies being found weeks later in an earthen dam. All three had been shot. Eight men, including a deputy sheriff, were eventually convicted for their role in the murders.

Eighty volunteers were also brutally beaten over the course of that summer, 37 churches were firebombed or burned, and at least 30 Black homes and businesses were destroyed.

According to the resolution, the volunteers included over 75 Michiganders, 1,000 student volunteers from northern colleges and universities, 254 clergy, 169 attorneys, and 50 medical professionals, as well as a staff of over 120 Mississippi residents.

The efforts and sacrifices of COFO and their volunteers resulted in about 10% of the 17,000 Black voters who attempted to register to vote being successful. Meanwhile, Freedom Schools in rural counties were attended by 30,000 students, and over 50 Freedom libraries were established to provide adult literacy classes.

Perhaps the most significant achievement was an election held by the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, in which 60,000 state residents voted to select an integrated slate of delegates to challenge the segregated state party delegation at the 1964 Democratic National Convention held in Atlantic City. While they ultimately werent successful, their resistance to the institutional racism within the party paid off in 1968, when they were seated.

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The post Michigan Senate honors the sacrifices and legacy of 1964s Freedom Summer appeared first on Michigan Advance.
HOLT, Mich. (WLNS)  More than 2,000 people were left without power in Holt and Mason combined after a stormy Thursday afternoon. Holt resident Lorin Gipe is one of them. He says he does not remember hearing the moment a tree branch brought down his power line.

All we heard was the hail, the wind hitting the side of the house. I looked out the window and that was the first tree that I spotted, said Gipe.

Utility trucks on the scene (WLNS)

Gipe might also be waiting a bit longer than his neighbors for power to be restored. The storm also pulled down the electrical mast on his house.

They have to have an electrician inspect it to make sure theres not damage there, said Gipe.

Other people were not as patient with waiting for the damage to get cleaned up.

The 6 News crew on the scene saw a resident of a Holt neighborhood cross a taped barrier surrounding a downed power line to help a car cross into the neighborhood. Utility companies recommend people stay at least 25 feet away from fallen power lines.

Caution tape around a downed power line (WLNS)

Other people living in the area are making the most of their evening by lending a helping hand.

Some of these people dont have people to help them so thats what were here for, said Caden Grant. Grant was behind the wheel of a lawnmower hooking up small and large branches and clearing them from neighbors yards.

He and his friend, Carter Sproessig, said its the best way to pass the time as they wait for the lights to come back on.

Its kind of fun helping out people you know? Theres no power so why not do something to help other people? said Sproessig.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Memphis students may be out of school, but theres still a need for summer meals. Now, the Mid-South Food Bank is providing free food, and one South Memphis church is stepping in to help.

Morning View Baptist Church Pastor Ronald Claxton says church members filled tables with food from the Mid-South Food Bank. Those who pulled up live all over South Memphis, in need of fresh food as students are home for the summer.

Heat may hit 100 this weekend; free fans available

Its vital to the community. We do it once a month. I wish we could do it once a week, Claxton said. Normally we have meat. As I was passing out forms I informed people we dont have meat today and they said we want whatever we have. We are going to stay in this line and take whatever you have. Thats how important it is to them.

Memphis Shelby County Schools says about 55% of students are considered economically disadvantaged. So, for many students, summer break means no guaranteed meal.

The Mid-South Food Banks mobile pantry is changing that. The free mobile pantry will be in six locations all over Memphis on Saturday.

Believing Church 4798 Summer Ave. at 9:00 a.m.

St. Andrews AME Church 1472 Mississippi at 9:00 a.m.

Faithful Community Outreach 462 Flynn Road at 10:00 a.m.

The Life of Liberty 749 Tate Ave. at 8:00 a.m.  9:30 a.m.

New Salem 2237 S. Pkwy East at 9:00 a.m.

New Covenant SDA 4335 Horn Lake Road at noon  3:00 p.m.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Nolensville Chief Roddy Park recently announced that he will officially retire in August after more than four decades in public service.

Parker grew up in Arrington, Tennessee and graduated from Franklin High School. He attended Middle Tennessee State University and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in criminal justice.

I was 21 years old at the time. I thought law enforcement was kind of cool, but I only thought I'd try it a couple years then do something else, he said.

Nolensville Police Chief Roddy Parker

As he began his career, Parker said he always knew one day, he wanted to be a police chief. After retiring as a captain from the Williamson County Sheriff's Office in 2017, he was able to realize that dream in Nolensville the same year.

I had gone about as far as I was willing to go at the sheriffs office unless I moved somewhere else, he said before reflecting back on his career. I think it was like 1985, and a local Franklin newspaper would write a man behind the badge article each month. I was quoted as saying, 'Someday I'd like to be the chief of a small town.'

As he prepares to leave office, Parker could have reflected on the hundreds of cases he's been involved with during his tenure. He could have chosen to talk about crime prevention methods or the latest techniques. Instead, he chose to focus on community, and he shared some words of wisdom for his successor.

You have to be really involved in the community and be willing to not only be a part of the community in that way, but also you have to be hands-on because there's so many pieces to making a police department run, he said.

As a smaller law enforcement agency with 18 employees, Parker says Nolensville has a lot of moving parts.

We don't have the luxury of having a lot of manpower to do those kinds of things like we want to do, he said. But that's the fun part of the job is being involved.

The next chief needs to make sure residents can appreciate Nolensville's small-town feel without letting their guard down, he said.

We live in a magical place compared to a lot of other places. But the issue with that is it kind of lulls people into a false sense of 'it won't happen here,' he added. I think we have to be very vigilant and do everything that we can to ensure our community runs smoothly.

Nolensville has asked for help from the Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS) in the search and selection of its next police chief. The process will include an assessment, interviews and final selection by Nolensville Town Manager Victor Lay.

We will be looking for a candidate who not only has the experience we need for the position, but someone who is a fit for the Town of Nolensville, Lay said, noting that the hiring process could take a few months.

Parker has agreed to serve until a successor is named and has transitioned into the role.

But he's looking forward to the day when he can relax.

While I have my health, I want to be able to do some things like fishing more, taking more trips, he said.

I hope that Ive left this place in better shape than I found it, and I hope I have done something to add to the quality of life in Nolensville, he said with tears in his eyes. If Ive done that, then Im completely satisfied.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee top cop talks about after 46 years on job, being hands on
Landowners and residents protested a development plan for a huge industrial park in rural Wilson County area Friday with a tractor parade leading up to a planning commission meeting.

The tractor convoy included about 30 tractors with signs like "protect our farmland," and "no farms no food."

"The tractor is an emblem of agriculture," said Jack Pratt Jr., a landowner near the proposed industrial park site in the eastern portion of the county. The plan is connected to Texas-based Hillwood, a company tied to the Ross Perot family. "We want our voice to be heard. Sometimes you can do that visually more than words."

Tractors participated in a parade on June 21, 2024 to protest an industrial development plan in rural Wilson County.

Conceptual plans from Hillwood have shown 10.35 million square feet of industrial style office, warehousing and light manufacturing space that would be part of the approximate 1,380-acre proposed site off Interstate 40 near the Linwood Road exit in eastern Wilson County.

The tractor parade started at the James E. Ward Agricultural Center and made its way to the Lebanon downtown square and ultimately just east to the courthouse on East Main Street, where the planning commission was scheduled to meet Friday morning. A number of trucks participated in the parade with the tractors and people with signs were also on the side of East Main near the courthouse.

A decision had not been reached by the planning commission as of press time for this story Friday.

"It brings visibility that this is truly a farming community coming together on a day we should be bailing hay," said area landowner Michael Swope, who was with his two daughters, Allie Swope, 10, and Stella Swope, 8. Both girls were wearing shirts that said "no industrial park."

Michael Swope, left, with daughters Stella Swope, left, and Allie Swope, right , on a tractor that was part of a parade to protest an industrial park plan proposed in rural eastern Wilson County.

The Wilson County Planning Commission hadn't taken action due to the length of the meeting at deadline for this story. The meeting had standing room only in a packed meeting room.

About 475 signatures were obtained on a petition against the industrial park development's rezone and development plan as of several weeks ago, according to Wendy Miller, the owner of Crossroads Salon. She is overseeing the effort.

A tractor parked that was part of a parade to protest an industrial park plan proposed in rural eastern Wilson County.

The site encompasses two commission districts  one represented by Commissioner Chris Dowell and the other by Commissioner Terry Scruggs, officials have said. Dowell has said his constituents overwhelmingly do not want the industrial park plan.

About the plan

The portion of land listed as Area A includes one building at 1.2 million square feet, six buildings at 1 million square feet, one at 900,000 square feet and one at 800,000 square feet. There was also a 550,000-square-foot building and three 300,000-square-foot buildings, according to the plans.

A tractor parked at the James E. Ward Agricultural Center in Lebanon just before pulling out as part of a tractor parade to protest an industrial development plan in rural Wilson County.

A retail mix at the northwest corner of the grounds is also proposed with remaining areas to include maintaining agricultural uses or a conservation easement on the proposed master plan.

Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Farmers protest Tennessee industrial plan tied to Perot family
Photo: The Cabinet of the Ministers of Kyrgyzstan

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, June 21. Several documents were signed following the Kyrgyz-German business forum themed "Kyrgyzstan Economic Day in Frankfurt am Main," Trend reports via the country's Cabinet of Ministers.

The signed agreements are:

- memorandum of understanding between the Green Energy Fund under the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan and the German-French banking group "ODDO BHF";

- contract for the supply of agricultural machinery for leasing purposes between Ayil Bank OJSC, MTS Standard Agroservice LLC, and Amazonen-Werke;

- contract for the supply of agricultural machinery for leasing purposes between Ayil Bank OJSC, MTS Standard Agroservice LLC, and Grimme Landmaschinenfabrik.

Speaking at the forum, the First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Adylbek Kasymaliev, noted that, over 32 years of mutual cooperation, German partners have implemented a number of socially significant projects in the country.

The official particularly highlighted the opening of the Tuberculosis Clinic and the Perinatal Center in Bishkek, built and equipped to the most modern standards.

"Joint trade turnover over the past four years, from 2019 through 2023, has increased by 5.5 times, including imports  almost six times. Also, more than 180 joint Kyrgyz-German enterprises operate in Kyrgyzstan," he emphasized.

Kasymaliev pointed out that the fiscal reforms undertaken have created the most liberal tax regime in Central Asia in Kyrgyzstan.

"German companies and entrepreneurs will be able to take advantage of all the opportunities available in Kyrgyzstan and actively invest in joint ventures," he added.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Middletown jewelry store robbed at gunpoint, police on the hunt for suspect

The Middletown Police Department released this still image of a suspect from video surveillance taken at Jewelry Repair and Design, 147 Cherry Tree Farm Road, where an armed robbery took place on Friday, June 21, 2024.

MIDDLETOWN - An armed robbery at the Jewelry Repair and Design store has set off a manhunt for a suspect who brandished a handgun at the owner, according to township police.

Police responded to the jewelry store at 147 Cherry Tree Farm Road just before 2 p.m. for a report of the robbery, said Middletown Deputy Police Chief Paul Bailey.

Upon arrival, officers learned that the suspect had been outside the store with the store owner just prior to the robbery, Bailey said. When the victim re-entered the store, the suspect followed the victim inside and displayed a handgun.

The assailant is described as a white male with facial hair, about five feet and seven inches in height, who appeared to be in his late 20s or early 30s, the deputy chief said.

The Middletown Police Department released this still image from video surveillance taken at Jewelry Repair and Design, 147 Cherry Tree Farm Road, where an armed robbery took place on Friday, June 21, 2024.

Officers from the Middletown Police Department are actively searching for a suspect. Any member of the public who may have information is asked to call Middletown Police Detective First Class Daniel Sullivan at 732-615-2120.

Contact Asbury Park Press reporter Erik Larsen at elarsen@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Armed jewelry store robber on the loose in Middletown NJ: Cops
Migrant in US illegally was previously deported prior to allegedly killing woman: ICE

Migrant in US illegally was previously deported prior to allegedly killing woman: ICE

The man accused of murdering a Maryland woman in 2023 is an undocumented immigrant who was arrested and expelled at least three times, according to an ICE official.

Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez is accused of murdering Rachel Morin in August of 2023. He was arrested last week by authorities in Oklahoma and sent to Maryland to stand trial on murder charges.

Martinez-Hernandez, who is from El Salvador, entered the country on Jan. 19, 2023, near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. He was expelled on Jan. 31, 2024, near El Paso, and again near New Mexico on Feb. 6 under the Title 42 authority.

PHOTO: In this photo released by the Harford County Sheriff's Office, Rachel Morin is shown. | Police said they arrested Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez on June 14, 2024, in connection with the 2023 homicide of Rachel Morin. (Harford County Sheriff's Office)

MORE: Suspect arrested in 2023 murder of mother of 5 killed while hiking in Maryland

Title 42, a Trump-era policy that expelled migrants under the auspices of a public health emergency, was phased out in May of 2023 by the Biden Administration.

An ICE spokesperson said that Martinez-Hernandez was placed on an ICE detainer with the Tulsa County Jail before being extradited to Maryland to face charges.

"On June 14, officers from the Tulsa, Oklahoma, police department and agents from the FBI arrested Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez, a 23-year-old unlawfully present Salvadoran national wanted by authorities in Harford County, Maryland, for the Aug. 6, 2023, murder of Rachel Morin. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged an immigration detainer against Martinez-Hernandez with the Tulsa County Jail June 15, 2024," ICE Spokesperson James Covington said in a statement.

"On June 20, 2024, authorities in Tulsa, Oklahoma, successfully extradited Martinez-Hernandez to Harford County, Maryland. Martinez-Hernandez currently remains in the Harford County Jail pending trial," he added.

ABC wasnt immediately able to find a legal representative for Martinez-Hernandez.

MORE: No, migrants are not driving a surge in violent crime as Trump claims

Morin, a 37-year-old mother of five, was found dead on a hiking trail in Bel Air, Maryland on Aug. 6, 2023, a day after her boyfriend reported her missing.

Martinez-Hernandez was found and arrested after a 10-month search, which involved using DNA evidence to track him down.

Investigators said they believe Martinez-Hernandez attacked Morin while she was hiking, dragged her through a wooded area, then killed her in a nearby drainage culvert.

Migrant in US illegally was previously deported prior to allegedly killing woman: ICE originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Hours after the demonstration areas for next month's Republican National Convention were unveiled Friday, the most prominent group planning to protest the event slammed the plan and vowed to march its own route.

Omar Flores, co-chair of the Coalition to March on the RNC 2024, rejected the city's plans for demonstration areas at parks on the north and south ends of a "hard" security zone that will encompass the primary convention sites of Fiserv Forum on the north down to the Baird Center on the south.

"It's completely insulting for them to offer either of those parks because they're not within sight and sound of the Fiserv Forum," Flores said at a press conference outside the federal Courthouse where earlier discussions failed to produce a resolution to the group's lawsuit against the city over its plans for demonstrations.

Omar Flores criticizes proposed protest routes during a news conference by the Coalition to March on the RNC Friday, June 21, 2024 outside the federal courthouse in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Authorities on Friday released the boundaries of the credentials-only area for next month's Republican National Convention in downtown Milwaukee in addition to demonstration areas that will surround it.

On Friday, representatives from the U.S. Secret Service, FBI, city and Milwaukee County announced the location of the demonstration areas and a march route in addition to the boundaries of a hard security zone that credentials will be needed to enter for the July 15-18 event.

Of note was the inclusion of Pere Marquette Park in the hard security zone, a move the Secret Service had previously resisted despite pressure from Republicans to do so. The city had been expected to designate the space just west of the Milwaukee River and two block from Fiserv Forum as a demonstration area, causing consternation for Republicans, the Coalition and nearby businesses for different reasons.

Two demonstration areas will instead be located at Haymarket Square on the north side of the hard zone and at Zeidler Union Square on the south side.

A demonstration march route will be on the south side of the hard zone, beginning and ending at Zeidler Union Square.

A speakers platform for the public will be placed on Dr. Martin Luther King Drive at McKinley Ave. with space for assembly at Haymarket Square Park. Milwaukee and U.S. Secret Service officials announced the locatoins on Friday, June 21, 2024.

Zeidler Union Square Park will serve as a speakers platform for the public on the south side of the RNC security perimeter. Milwaukee and U.S. Secret Service officials announced the location along with a parade route on Friday, June 21, 2-24.

"We believe we provided premier access on both the south and the north side," Mayor Cavalier Johnson's Chief of Staff Nick DeSiato said.

He pointed to the area where the march route will take demonstrators directly up to the fence outside the Baird Center, where media from around the nation and globe will be working.

On the north side, he said, demonstrators will be close to Fiserv Forum, where primary convention activities will take place. Former President Donald Trump is expected to formally accept the party's nomination in the arena during the convention, setting up a rematch of the 2020 race for the White House between Trump and Democratic President Joe Biden.

The northern demonstration zone is also by an area where delegates will be entering, DeSiato said.

Citing the group's lawsuit, he said he could not speak to how the city would respond if anyone chose to march a route different than the one designated by the city.

It's difficult to gauge how many people will choose to demonstrate at the city's designated areas because the city does not ask how many people are expected to accompany the applicant, he said. About 100 applications have been filed with the city to demonstrate during the RNC, he said.

"We also suspect that just like any national convention, there'll be some ad hoc demonstrating," he said. "And if you're lawfully demonstrating on a sidewalk, you can lawfully demonstrate on a sidewalk. If you're lawfully demonstrating on public property, you can lawfully demonstrate on public property."

Flores vowed to march a route the group expects to release soon, saying it will be a "family-friendly protest." And while he said the group does not plan to try to march into the hard zone, the group won't be limited to the sidewalk, either.

The U.S. Secret Service on released a map of the security zones for the Republican National Convention during a meeting on Friday, June 21, 2024, in downtown Milwaukee. The convention will be centered at Fiserv Forum, UWM Panther Arena and the Baird Center on July 15-18.

Flores said he expected thousands of people to be part of the group's march, making it unsafe to try to squeeze onto the sidewalk.

As for the group's plans to march its own route, he said, "If MPD is serious about what they're saying, then we shouldn't be worried about any type of arrest and honestly, I'd encourage them to not even show up."

At an earlier press conference, Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said police would seek to be patient and communicative, though he said there would be limits.

Friday's back and forth was the latest in a monthslong debate over the city's plans for demonstrations during the convention.

Representatives of the Coalition to March on the RNC met with officials on June 17 in an ultimately failed effort to resolve the federal lawsuit the group brought earlier this month over the city's demonstration plans.

The group is represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin, which on Friday also criticized the demonstration plans and the size of the downtown hard zone.

"The large size of this zone makes it more critical than ever that the City take steps to allow for effective opportunities for expression and assembly by those with differing viewpoints," Tim Muth, staff attorney for the ACLU of Wisconsin, said in a statement.

He also said the inclusion of Pere Marquette Park in the hard zone "cannot be justified" and "represents an impermissible concession to the Republican National Committee, which did not want to see or hear demonstrators near its convention."

Republicans previously argued that locating a demonstration zone at Pere Marquette Park would force convention attendees to walk right by protestors, creating a "mandated confrontational area."

Secret Service RNC Coordinator Audrey Gibson-Cicchino cited the RNC's rental of the Milwaukee County Historical Society building on the park's southwest corner as the reason it was included in the perimeter.

Alison Dirr can be reached at adirr@jrn.com. Tristan Hernandez can be reached at thernandez@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee releases RNC demonstration sites; protest group rejects them
What is the minimum age requirement to marry in WA? It just changed. Heres the new law

Up until two weeks ago, minors in Washington could get legally married at the same time as getting a drivers license.

As of June 5, minors in Washington are no longer allowed to get married in the state. House Bill 1455 amended Washington State law that once made it legal for a 17-year-old to be married with parental consent, and anyone younger than 17 could be married with a judges permission.

According to the Tahirih Justice Center, more than 4,800 children under the age of 18 were allowed to marry in Washington between 2000 and 2018.

McClatchy News previously reported that Rep. Monica Stonier, D-Vancouver, sponsored the bill and said its intended to end child marriage in the state by prohibiting courts or anyone else acting on behalf of a minor from consenting to marriage.

This is important because young people who are married before they are legal adults do not have access to the full range of legal services, counseling, therapy, financial support they might need if they were in a coercive and abusive relationship, Stonier said in January 2024.

The bill passed the House unanimously on Jan. 10, making Washington join other states, including Vermont, New York, and Pennsylvania in outlawing child marriage.

Marriage age limits in other states

There are 40 states where the minimum age required to marry is 16. In the U.S., 12 is technically the youngest age at which you can get married with parental consent. Additionally, Mississippi and California have no age limit on marriage as long as there is guardian approval.

In Massachusetts, girls can marry as young as 12 and boys as young as 14. Hawaii and Missouri are the next youngest at 15 years old, but minors can only obtain a marriage license in Missouri under special circumstances.

Mississippi is the only state that allows minors to obtain a marriage license without parental permission. The state enables 17-year-old boys and 15-year-old girls to get married without permission.

Every state has different laws. Here is the full list of states and their minimum age requirement for marriage:

Alabama: 16. Parental consent is not required if the minor was previously married. Other statutory requirements apply.

Alaska: 16. Younger parties may marry with parental consent.

Arizona: 16. Younger parties may marry with parental and judicial consent.

Arkansas: Male: 17, female: 16. Younger parties may marry with parental consent. Younger parties may obtain a license in case of pregnancy or birth of a child.

California: No age limits. Other statutory requirements apply, such as a judges approval.

Colorado: 16. Younger parties may marry with parental consent.

Connecticut: 16. Younger parties may marry with parental and judicial consent.

Delaware: Male: 18, female: 16. Younger parties may marry with parental consent.

Florida: 16. Parental consent is not required if the minor was previously married. Younger parties may obtain a license in case of pregnancy or childbirth.

Georgia: 16. Younger parties may obtain a license in case of pregnancy or birth of a child. Parental consent and/or permission of the judge are required.

Hawaii: 15. Parental consent and/or permission of the judge is required.

Idaho: 16. Younger parties may marry with parental consent.

Illinois: 16. Judicial consent may be given when parents refuse to consent.

Indiana: 17. Younger parties may obtain a license in case of pregnancy or birth of a child.

Iowa: 16. Parental consent and/or permission of judge required.

Kansas: 16. Younger parties may marry with parental and judicial consent.

Kentucky: 18. Parental consent and/or permission of judge required.

Louisiana: 18. Younger parties may marry with parental consent.

Maine: 16. Younger parties may marry with parental consent.

Maryland: 16. Younger parties may obtain a license in case of pregnancy or birth of a child. If parties are at least 16 years of age, proof of age and consent of parties in person are required. If a parent is ill, an affidavit by the incapacitated parent and a physicians affidavit are required.

Massachusetts: Male: 14, female: 12. Parental consent and/or permission of judge required.

Michigan: 16

Minnesota: 16. Parental consent and/or permission of judge required.

Mississippi: No age limits. Parental consent and/or permission of the judge is required for minors.

Missouri: 15. Younger parties may obtain a license in special circumstances.

Montana: 16. Parental consent and/or permission of judge required.

Nebraska: 17

Nevada: 16. Younger parties may marry with parental consent.

New Hampshire: Male: 14, female: 13. Parties under the age of consent need parental consent and the judges permission.

New Jersey: 16. Younger parties may marry with parental consent. Younger parties may obtain a license in case of pregnancy or birth of a child.

New Mexico: 16. Younger parties may obtain a license in case of pregnancy or birth of a child. Younger parties may obtain licenses in special circumstances.

New York: 16. Parties under the age of consent need parental consent and the judges permission, no younger than 14 for males and 13 for females.

North Carolina: 16. Younger parties may obtain a license in case of pregnancy or birth of a child.

North Dakota: 16

Ohio: Male: 18. Parental consent and/or permission of judge required. Female: 16. Younger parties may marry with parental consent. Younger parties may obtain a license in case of pregnancy or birth of a child.

Oklahoma: 16. Younger parties may marry with parental consent. Younger parties may obtain a license in case of pregnancy or birth of a child.

Oregon: 17. If a party has no parent residing within the state, and one party has residence there for six months, no permission is required.

Pennsylvania: 16. Younger parties may obtain a license in special circumstances.

Rhode Island: Male: 18, female: 18. Younger parties may obtain a license in special circumstances.

South Carolina: 16. Younger parties may obtain a license in case of pregnancy or birth of a child.

South Dakota: 16. Younger parties may obtain a license in case of pregnancy or birth of a child.

Tennessee: 16. Younger parties may obtain a license in special circumstances.

Texas: 16. Parental consent and/or permission of a judge are required. Parties under the age of consent need parental consent and permission of a judge, no younger than 14 for males and 13 for females.

Utah: 16. Parental consent is not required if the minor was previously married.

Vermont: 16. Parental consent and/or permission of judge required.

Virginia: 16. Parental consent is not required if the minor was previously married. Younger parties may obtain a license in case of pregnancy or birth of a child.

Washington: 18

West Virginia: 18. Younger parties may obtain a license in case of pregnancy or birth of a child.

Wisconsin: 16

Wyoming: 16. Younger parties may obtain a license in special circumstances.

District of Columbia: 16. Parental consent is not required if the minor was previously married.
Mississippi Coast man dead after shooting in DIberville, police say. What we know

A DIberville man died of a gunshot wound Thursday night, but it is unclear what led to the shooting or who shot the man, and no charges have been filed, police said in a news release Friday.

Alton Eugene Parker, 53, of DIberville died in the 11000 block of Gorenflo Road of a single gunshot wound, police said.

Police first responded to the area at 8:20 p.m. Thursday and said they found Parker lying dead in the driveway.

Minutes before the gunshot on Gorenflo Road, police said an officer responded to an unrelated incident near Rodriquez Street and Automall Parkway.

A witness said he was driving down Rodriguez Street when a blue truck stopped beside him and began to threaten him, according to the news release.

Parker appeared to be in that truck.

The witness told police a person inside the blue truck fired two shots toward his vehicle, but neither the man or vehicle was hit.

The two incidents are unrelated, but Parker arrived at Gorenflo Road in the same blue truck, police said

Parker arrived at the residence with a gun and and displayed it in a threatening manner when the shooting occurred, police said in the news release.

Investigators found that Parker had threatened the homeowner in the past and the two had an ongoing dispute, according to the release.

Police said they brought in several individuals, including the homeowner, for questioning but had made no arrests as of Friday.
Missouri AG plans to file lawsuit against New York after Trump conviction

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.  Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey says he plans to file a lawsuit against the state of New York just weeks after former U.S. President Donald Trump was convicted of 34 felony charges in a hush-money trial.

Bailey made an announcement Thursday on social media platform X that reads, I will be filing suit against the State of New York for their direct attack on our democratic process through unconstitutional lawfare against President Trump.

Five men charged with kidnapping after missing teen found in Missouri

On May 30, a jury convicted Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actress. This made Trump the first former American president to be convicted of felony crimes.

Bailey added on X that the lawsuit comes in an effort to fight back against a rogue prosecutor and alleges that the verdict sabotages Missourians right to a free and fair election.

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Trump has a sentencing hearing in the hush-money trial scheduled for July 11, just four days before the Republican National Convention.

Trump, likely set for a rematch with Joe Biden in the 2024 presidential election, served as the 45th U.S. president from January 20, 2017 to January 20, 2021

Trump also faces ongoing legal challenges in cases over a Georgia election, a federal election, classified documents, and civil fraud, according to The Associated Press.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey (R) announced Thursday he intends to sue the state of New York over its unconstitutional lawfare against former President Trump.

I will be filing suit against the State of New York for their direct attack on our democratic process through unconstitutional lawfare against President Trump, Bailey wrote in a post on the social platform X.

The move comes nearly a month after a Manhattan jury convicted the former president on 34 counts of falsifying business records in his New York hush money trial. The verdict made Trump the first former president in U.S. history to be convicted of felony crimes.

The state of Missouri and the voters of Missouri have a sovereign interest in having access to  that means having physical access to and hearing from  a presidential candidate for the top office in the United States government, Bailey told Fox News during an appearance Friday.

Bailey argued the New York verdict denies Missourians access to their chosen presidential candidate.

Millions and millions of Missourians have voted for President Trump and deserve the ability to hear from him. We cant let states like New York deny Missourians of access to that candidate, Bailey said later during the appearance.

While Bailey believes the Manhattan conviction would be thrown out eventually, it would be too late, it will still have interfered with the 2024 election, he said.

The remarks also follow Baileys testimony before the House Judiciary Committee last week on the illegal prosecution of the former president.

This is a strategic attack against a former president of the United States, against a current candidate for president, and against the value we as a nation place on our system of government, he said before the House committee. The term lawfare, while apt, fails to adequately convey the moral depravity underpinning this strategic attack.

The Hill has reached out to Baileys office and the New York attorney generals office.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Missouri attorney general, Andrew Bailey, has confirmed that he is suing the state of New York for election interference and wrongful prosecution for bringing the Stormy Daniels hush-money case to a trial that saw Donald Trump convicted of 34 felonies.

Bailey, a Republican politician appointed by Missouris governor, Mike Parson, last year, said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that he would be filing a lawsuit against the State of New York for their direct attack on our democratic process through unconstitutional lawfare against President Trump.

We have to fight back against a rogue prosecutor who is trying to take a presidential candidate off the campaign trail. It sabotages Missourians right to a free and fair election, he added in a subsequent message.

The lawsuit is anticipated to be among a series of similar actions against the New York attorney general, Letitia James, and the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, over a pair of lawsuits brought against Trump or the Trump Organization and its officers. Both resulted in findings against the defendants. Trump is appealing both cases.

Related: New York DA who prosecuted Trump is target of death threats and racial abuse

Bailey claims the hush-money case was brought to smear the presumptive presidential nominee going into Novembers election and that New Yorks statute of limitations on falsification of business records, a misdemeanor, expired in 2019.

Moreover, he argues, Bragg never specified intent to commit another crime  namely election interference  that would have brought the charges back within time-limitation statutes.

Radical progressives in New York are trying to rig the 2024 election. We have to stand up and fight back, Bailey told Fox News Digital on Thursday.

But Bailey also told the outlet that he recognized that any attempt by one state to sue another would probably go straight to the US supreme court. He said the investigations and subsequent prosecutions of Trump appear to have been conducted in coordination with the United States Department of Justice.

Next month, Matthew Colangelo, a former federal prosecutor who transferred to New York where he worked on Trumps state and city prosecutions, will be called to give evidence before Congress.

The aftershocks of Trumps 34-count criminal conviction continue to travel. On Friday, it was reported that the presumptive Republican presidential candidate had overtaken his Democratic rival, Joe Biden, in fundraising since the May verdict.
The Republican gubernatorial primary in Missouri is an open contest, with a plurality of voters undecided on whom they want to succeed term-limited Gov. Mike Parson (R), according to a poll released Friday.

The survey from Emerson College Polling/The Hill showed Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft narrowly in the lead with 23 percent support, followed closely by Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe with 20 percent. State Sen. Bill Eigel was in third with 6 percent, while 46 percent said they were undecided.

The GOP primary is crowded to succeed Parson, who has served as governor since 2018, when he succeeded former Gov. Eric Greitens following his resignation amid scandal. Parson, who cannot run for another term because he served more than half of Greitenss unexpired term, appointed Kehoe lieutenant governor after becoming governor.

Ashcroft is the son of former Gov. John Ashcroft, who also served as attorney general during President George W. Bushs administration.

Most polling taken of the race so far has shown Ashcroft in the lead, but with many voters who are undecided.

Spencer Kimball, the executive director of Emerson College Polling, said in a release that Ashcroft performs best with voters in their 30s, 40s and 50s, with 31 percent supporting him to only 15 percent for Kehoe. But Kehoe has the advantage with the oldest voters, having 26 percent support from those over 60, to Ashcrofts 18 percent.

Whoever wins the Republican nomination will be the strong favorite to be elected the next governor in the solidly conservative state.

The poll was conducted among 1,000 registered voters, including 489 likely Republican primary voters, from June 17-19. The credibility interval for the overall sample was 3.3 points, while the interval for the sample of Republican primary voters was 4.4 points.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
MASON, Ohio  Three Missouri men were on the Banshee roller coaster when it struck a 38-year-old man on Wednesday at King Island in Ohio.

According to WCPO, the victim was hit after entering the restricted area around 8 p.m. Mason police said the man was allegedly trying to retrieve his keys.

Christian Yonkus, Ethan Fox and Braden Vogel were visiting the park from Missouri and described the scene to FOX 19 NOW as crazy. Yonkus said that they sat on the coaster for 20 to 25 minutes.

The workers were coming up to see how we were doing, Yonkus said. We had no idea what was going on, so that was kind of crazy.

Vogel said they were hearing sirens and that police and fire crews were in the parking lot.

(They) were going toward the back of the ride (with) a bunch of security, Vogel said. The supervisors that came out to unlock us and get us off the ride. We asked what happened and they wouldnt say anything.

Fox said the staff at Kings Island handled the incident professionally.

Workers at Kings Island did a very good job of controlling the situation, Fox said. Especially after an incident like that. They made sure not to create a panic between all of the passengers.

The Mason Fire Department took the victim to West Chester Hospital, where he was later flown by helicopter to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. The police say he suffered from a critical injury.

According to King Islands website, the Banshee is the worlds largest steel-inverted roller coaster, measuring 167 feet tall. The ride travels at a top speed of 68 mph and is 4,124 long.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
From Cannes Lions direct to you!

Despite Washington moves to ban TikTok, the company and influencers in the South of France seem to be in denial. Ben, Nayeema, and Max explore conspiracies around TikTok and the companys future, particularly if its most recent Tokfluencer, Donald Trump, wins in November.

Then they turn to the saga of Will Lewis, CEO of The Washington Post, unpacking why everyone (in media) is talking about it and what it means for the future of the Post and the bigger picture of journalistic ethics. Max brings blind spots from the worlds of short-short fashion and political video editing, and Nayeema and Ben talk about how we get to the bottom of the age question in the presidential campaign.

Also: on-the-ground updates from the Cannes Lions Festival, where you can find the real conspiracy behind media: The ad business.

Mixed Signals from Semafor Media is presented by Think with Google.

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Full episode transcript

Ben Smith: Im Ben Smith.

Nayeema Raza: Im Nayeema Raza.

Max Tani: And Im Max Tani.

Nayeema: Max, youre here early.

Max: Yes, and Im going to steal Bens line. This is Mixed Signals from Semafor Media.

Ben: Good job.

Nayeema: Said it better than he does.

Ben: This is the whole problem.

Nayeema: Today were doing something a little bit different. No guest here because we have Max Tani from beginning to end. Its like when the besties hang out in All-In podcast, except we have a lot fewer billions.

Max: Which one am I? Am I the heel? Are they all heels?

Nayeema: I feel Im racial profiling on Chamath. But we are in a squillionaire spot. We are taping this live from the south of France for the Cannes Lion Festival. Were going to be talking about a couple of things that are missing at Cannes this year. One of them is any fear of the TikTok ban. Senior executives of the social media platform are here, as are an array of influencers, Tyla, Tefi, et cetera. But no one but Max Tani seems to be discussing the TikTok ban. So we will be talking about it and the other thing that seems to be missing is Will Lewis, who at the time of this taping is the CEO of the Washington Post.

Ben: But that might not be the case by the time that people hear this. We dont really know.

Nayeema: Well take bets on that.

Ben: I think its going to be okay for two more days, but I might look really stupid.

[MUSIC]

Nayeema: All right, before we dive in, lets give some color about what Cannes Lion is because it is actually the money that powers the media machine.

Ben: Its one of the real media hardship assignments and Im sorry to have dragged you guys out here.

Nayeema: Kicking and screaming.

Ben: Its essentially an advertising business conference in a beautiful riviera tent. But what I kind of actually like about it and find interesting is that there are three sets of companies that youre really familiar with here. Theres the huge tech giants, TikTok, Meta, Google, Pinterest, Snap. There are big journalism companies. The New York Times had a huge presence here, as does every other brand youve heard of except the Washington Post. Sorry. And the entertainment companies are here. Theres a lot of, I would say, maybe not absolute A-list celebrities, but like hustle and low A-list celebrities here. And the reason theyre all here is because this is where the advertising dollars are.

Nayeema: Lots of celebrities, and I would not necessarily call them not A-list. You have celebrities like Jessica Alba, you have Ali Love from Peloton, Kenan from Saturday Night Live, hes definitely A-list. He might be the next Lorne Michaels for all we know. The most brand safe celebrity, John Legend is in the house and performed beautifully.

Max: Hes at multiple different events. He literally attends panels as a guest as we reported in our newsletter, just like random panels that hes attending to learn more about marketing.

Ben: This is a place where companies that spend the rest of their year in public focused on talking about technology, focused on talking about journalism, focused on talking about entertainment. Where they show what the business theyre in, which, to varying degrees is advertising. And they are all here to worship the feet of chief marketing officers. The gods of Cannes are CMOs, as theyre known in the business and the place revolves around them, and thats who the celebrities are here for. Thats who the fancy journalists are having dinners for. And its this one week of the year when the shape of the business kind of reveals itself.

Nayeema: Theyre all kind of here for each other. Theyre buying and selling. But yes, those are the money bags.

Ben: This is your first time out here Nayeemaeema. Im curious kind of how you found it because a strange situation.

Nayeema: I never really understood why the French hated Americans until this week, I would say, which is that if youve ever had the pleasure of being in south of France at any point. Its generally beautiful, kind of unadulterated visions of beautiful sea line, the highway down. Its stunning. And now its just LED screens, billboards, drunken executives at some point and everybodys walking around talking in English.

Ben: So youre saying its because they hate capitalism?

Nayeema: Well, no, but I think Max hates capitalism right now because the other day he told me this place is turning him into a socialist. Max, explain yourself.

Max: Im not a particularly radical person. I like nice things. I spend too much money at restaurants. I spend too much money on clothes. I like going on vacation, all this stuff. But I really do feel that Cannes Lion brings out a side of me in which I feel that all of this advertising is in service of mostly meaningless stuff. All of these panels and everything you go to is about how to optimize your business for getting people to buy things that they dont want, and thats kind of a failure of our whole system. Thats how I feel for at least one week out of the year.

Nayeema: There are a lot of these kind of circuses around the world where you see this. At the correspondence center, its like you see celebrities, you see executives. The thing thats very conspicuously missing here is anybody from government. I havent met a single person, a single regulator in town. No one from the White House, no one from Congress shows up at the Cannes Lion Festival where all this money is being exchanged, which is probably somewhat related to our first story. Which is that here we are, TikTok has a big presence at Cannes and the fight over TikTok is heating up in the United States. In the last several weeks, there have been two lawsuits that have been filed against the law that would end up banning TikTok from app stores if ByteDance, its Chinese parent company doesnt sell TikTok to a US owner before January 19th, the so-called TikTok Ban. The FTC also issued a statement saying that an investigation uncovered reason to believe that TikTok and ByteDance were in violation of COPA.

This is the Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act, which is one of the few online and digital privacy legislations that actually exists in the United States. And yet nobody at Cannes Lion is talking about the potential death of this big business. Max, you seem to be one of the few people whos up in arms about it here.

Max: Its so strange that a major piece of legislation passes that would ultimately fundamentally alter and certainly threaten the future of this company, and yet it is acting like theres been no change whatsoever. They have a big tent set up in the exact same places last year and they didnt mention it at all at their press conference. They alluded very vaguely to it, but they talked mostly about innovations that they have in the AI space and, Didnt you see this funny TikTok? And, Look at how brands could work with the platform? And it was a bit surprising to me. So I asked their president of global business solutions, Blake Chandlee. Basically what he thought about this, and it was a very kind of simple question. Just noting that the US government, the president, had just signed a bill putting ByteDance on the clock to sell TikTok. And he basically said hes not hearing about anything like that from advertisers and nobodys really mentioned it, though it is of course the obvious question.

Nayeema: He said it was the obvious question when you asked it, even though it hadnt been asked in any of the other questions that preceded yours.

Max: So its kind of a strange situation where everybody seems to be ignoring it and acting as if its business as usual.

Nayeema: Meanwhile, in the United States, people are freaking out. I mean, listen to this TikTok video from one of the eight creators whos filed a lawsuit against the government. The costs are being covered by TikTok, but youll get a sense of their main arguments.

tophertownmusic: This is infringement upon our First Amendment right. As Americans, we should be free to choose whatever app that we want to use. The government does not have the right to tell us what we cant use. Especially when they have improved or provided evidentiary evidence to show the danger of said app, that is unique to TikTok and not common on the other social media platforms. So Im fighting against it because thats what you do as a patriot. If theres nothing else that we do, we stand for the rights that we were given by God.

Nayeema: The rights that we were given by God.

Ben: Good legal briefing here. I mean, should we talk a little about the swirl of conspiracy theory?

Nayeema: Yes.

Ben: I think the thing with TikTok is that its the subject of real conspiracy theories and a lot of it is unknown, maybe real conspiracies. Theres a belief at the top levels of the US government that it is a Chinese conspiracy to influence American citizens in various political ways.

Nayeema: This is something that the CEO of TikTok Shou Chew has addressed in congressional testimony.

Shou Zi Chew: ByteDance is not owned or controlled by the Chinese government. Its a private company.

Nayeema: But of course he would say that, right? Meanwhile, legislators are offering us conflicting accounts. Some are coming out of these briefings that we are not privy to saying that theyre alarmed. Others like Congresswoman Sara Jacobs are coming out saying that they havent seen anything that suggests this level of concern that is different to any other social media company. Because what we know is that the DNI, the Director of National Intelligence in the United States says that TikTok accounts run by a PRC propaganda arm were reportedly targeting candidates. But this is something we see on every social media platform. On Facebook, on Twitter.

Ben: This sounds just like what that other TikTok guy said.

Nayeema: Well, I mean I do think that we have yet to see the evidence-

Ben: Thats true.

Nayeema: But its also very plausible and we know that ByteDance and China has accessed information about US journalists who were spied on by TikTok and ByteDance. So there is definitely cause for concern, but the jurys out on this one.

Max: I wish that TikTok was bold enough to actually use this as its pitch to marketers like, Look, we are so good at getting people to do things that the US government is terrified of us and its terrified of our influence, and thats how influential we can be for your brand.

Ben: Facebook succeeded with that pitch for a while. We were all out there flacking for Facebook when we were saying how powerful it was.

Nayeema: And thats the second conspiracy. The concern is that not only is TikTok potentially being used for espionage, but its being used for propaganda. Seeding preferences and perspectives on everything from the Israel-Gaza war to what music you should like. And its why musicians cant get in the top 10 anymore. Its kind of this idea that they control everything. They are the puppeteers of the next generation, as it were.

Ben: Mostly true. Thats why people here at Cannes are still really obsessed with TikTok, and I think to some degree wishcasting that all this US government stuff is just theater. That its never going to happen and that theyre going to be able to keep marketing. Its really... It is striking here.

Nayeema: Well, the US government stuff really turned on at the midst of the Israel-Gaza war and the college protests in the United States, which breathed fresh life to this divest or ban effort that had been in play for a long time. But was resuscitated early this year because of everything happening in Israel-Gaza.

Ben: Also definitely true. You look at the studies and you look at all the information that gets put out surveys, and it says that while some people are obviously using TikTok to get their news, the vast, vast, vast majority are not. So this idea that the Chinese government is using it to subtly push in one way or the other, it just cuts against what Americans are saying in terms of where theyre getting their information from. Theres an argument for privacy and the information that theyre collecting on people. But as far as the tool of influence, do we actually think that people are getting their perspectives from TikTok in a way thats moving the needle in any sort of way?

Nayeema: Well, I think that where you saw that happen was in response to this ban where actually TikTok was pushing, lobbying its users to call up members of Congress and demonstrate how they felt on this. Which is something that you could see a lot of companies kind of pushing and lobbying efforts pushing. But TikTok was able to get a bunch of young kids calling, screaming, some threatening violence or suicide in rare cases to their congressional representatives. Some of whom were not old enough to vote. So you do see, I think the influence, but for the most part, I do think that TikTok is a reflection of the culture. Its that algorithm. Its getting you deeply in yourself and your interests and your machinations and not puppeteering Gen Z to act a certain way.

Ben: Yeah, the move that youre describing, which was TikTok told everybody to call their congressman, was the worst act of political malpractice in the history of that kind of Washington lobbying.

Theyre basically saying, Hey, look, were not playing politics. Were just an engine for youth culture. And then theyve got a bunch of tweens calling members of Congress, pushing a policy, and it turned the government just massively against them. It was just this kind of unbelievable unforced error by them, and it was already a very difficult situation. And I think that is why you really do have a consensus now in Washington. Its so alien to the conversation here, and its so striking.

Nayeema: Yeah, its been thought that this ban wont happen because Donald Trump, who of course initiated talk of the TikTok ban under his presidency actually did a flip-flop on this. Because of his proximity to Jeff Yass, whos a major TikTok investor.

Ben: That is actually a conspiracy theory. The idea that some donor is going to change the direction of his administrations policy. Because the thing to realize here is, our colleague Morgan Chalfant has a great story about this, this week, and I was just talking to her about it. Its not that Trump is going to get into office and decide, Should I ban TikTok? Hes going to get into office and decide, Should I proactively come and intervene to save TikTok, withdraw the lawsuits, and unroll this stuff? And hes surrounded by people whose idea it was to ban TikTok, who are focused on banning TikTok, who promise theyre going to follow through on banning TikTok. Hes promising confrontation with China, just see no reason to think hes not going to go through with it. The courts might stop it, but I was actually surprised that TikToks rivals arent just licking their chops about this.

Max: And the other thing you excluded from that is hes also surrounded by a bunch of people who want to buy TikTok too, who would love to take it off of his hand. Steve Mnuchin, his former Treasury secretary, was one of the first people who came out publicly and said he wanted to buy it. If you believe that conspiracy that he could be influenced by this one donor, theres a lot of other noise to suggest that that may be more complicated.

Nayeema: Yes, Donald Trump has proven to be an unreliable partner for many, and the idea that hes going to come rushing in to save TikTok is hard to say. But I think, look, there are a couple of winners, no matter how this thing plays out. Its estimated that Meta would draw up to 60% of the ad revenue that TikTok has if there was a ban, while YouTube could take another 25%. And on the day of the announcement of this ban, Metas stock actually went up.

Ben: Thats true.

Nayeema: Another winner of this I think could actually be counter-intuitively the Chinese government, because the way this is being reported in China right now. This is in China Daily, so take it as you will. But throughout the kind of Chinese state-run media machine, you see this kind of description. This is by a gentleman named Tom Fowdy, who is an Oxford-educated British journalist whos published in all kinds of state-run media as kind of... I think hes been banned from China Global Television Network. But otherwise you do read his byline a fair bit. He wrote, The idea that the US believes it has a right to extort a company into selling a hugely successful operation is an act of extreme arrogance, entitlement, and unbridled callousness. Not only does it illustrate the absurd levels of irrational paranoia and McCarthyism that have gripped Washington D.C., but also the total lack of respect it has for China, and its people. Using the auspices of the Communist Party of China as a justifying premise for anything in the country they do not like.

And the way this is being set up, not just in China, but in an increasing part of the world that is under, I would say, the Chinese sphere of influence is that the US has long presented itself as this kind of holder of free expression and capitalism. And now is the greatest hypocrite in this world. And theyre undermining what has been a big part of the global order in the last 20, 30 years, which is Americas soft power. America and the kind of Washington Consensus and the Western liberal values as a kind of vanguard for where the world should head to. And that I think is a really interesting part of this TikTok ban.

Ben: So Im glad you have a favorite Chinese state media columnist. No, but I think your friend obviously has a point that-

Nayeema: Not my friend, Tom Fowdy is not my friend.

Ben: And the most real and most obvious conspiracy here is just were shifting from this big open internet to an internet where therere national champions, where countries are favoring their champions. We talk about the winners being Meta and Google here, these are huge national American companies that by the way, are much more experienced and much more compliant. Partly through having been burned a lot of times with US government regulation than TikTok is-

Nayeema: I guess the question is, is a greater threat to national security for the United States to have TikTok continue to compete in the United States, become over time a kind of irrelevant or passe social media platform? Or for the United States to kind of be this idea of hypocrisy in the rest of the world? Oh, this is a country that has interfered in foreign elections. It has a long history of interfering in Latin American governments, et cetera. This is a country that sold us exactly what it wanted to through Hollywood, and now theyre stripping away the rights of this foreign thing. So well watch how these lawsuits play out. We will be watching, the people in Cannes, it seems will not be watching.

Ben: All right, comrade, lets take a quick break and well be right back.

[MUSIC]

Nayeema: So noticeably absent from Cannes is not just the TikTok conversation, but also a gentleman Will Lewis, who we talked about a couple of weeks ago on this podcast. Who at the time of this recording is the CEO of the Washington Post, but someone whos become really embattled in recent weeks.

Ben: Will Lewis arrived in Washington with a story but pretty complicated reputation as a cleanup guy for Rupert Murdoch after the phone hacking scandal among other things, before he was a successful CEO of Dow Jones. And on arriving at the Post, he was welcomed, the newsroom loved him, and then he violated a very important American journalistic tradition, which is that the Washington Post wrote a couple of stories about Will Lewis. That mentioned Will Lewis, that mentioned he had been Rupert Murdochs cleanup guy after the phone hacking scandal, that he was implicated in a lawsuit by Harry and Meghan and many other victims of phone hacking. And Lewis didnt kill those stories, but as Max Tani first reported, people at the Washington Post started getting edgy about distributing the stories. Sally Buzbee, the former editor has told people that Lewis expressed displeasure over the stories. And that just violated this really sacred weird American tradition that you show your purity by reporting independently on yourself, which is not the British tradition and he apparently did not like.

Nayeema: Right. And that of course, as every good story does, let open the crack where the light came in. David Folkenflik came in and said, Oh, he tried to exchange a story with me when I was going to write up about him. He was always the cleanup guy, but there had been this allegation that he ordered the deletion of millions of emails. And its unclear if that was in the process of following up on the companys email security policy or if it was in a way as its been alleged to kind of cover up the News of the World hack.

Ben: And as the words email security suggest, this is a fifteen-year-old, exciting but old story that had been laid to rest in the UK and Will just kicked over the rock. And it is now being re-investigated, particularly by the New York Times, which I believe has a fifty-person team in London embarked on an eleven-part series. And you know what? This principle of journalistic independence is important and important to American journalists and particularly important to the way the Washington Post thinks about itself. And he really did violate it and its really a huge problem for him.

Nayeema: But the machinations of the story, why its fascinating is like why is this a story? Because the lead of the story is the Washington Post was losing subscribers. People were no longer interested in the Washington Post, and now its the media story of the moment. Because there was all this stuff kind of living in the light of day and then somebody with an axe to grind somebody who had caused to make this into a story. And the medias utter desire and love of reporting on itself and also upholding and fighting for these ethics, that are guidelines. Theyre not... Like in England, these are regulated in large part by the law, which is very specific around journalism. So it can be, as youve said then a trade. But in the United States, these are a code of principles. A kind of... Unwritten rules are codified by various institutions on their webpages that American consumers, media consumers think journalists have ethics in the United States. They would think that they dont.

Ben: One of the questions here is to what degree American journalists really do hold ourselves to the standards that we aspire to. And really historically looking back how real that has always been. Lewis is accused of being part of a culture that hired private investigators to obtain peoples phone records. And particularly private investigators who misrepresented themselves, who lied about their own identities on phone calls to get information which they call charmingly blagging.

Nayeema: And also paying for sources.

Ben: And the British press has a practice of paying for stories, particularly when they think theyre in the public interest and sometimes just because theyre great stories. And I guess that theres a question here of how really outrageous this is even by American standards.

Max: Well, I mean I think that obviously these have developed over the years, and particularly in recent years in the time since Watergate, which of course was broken by the Washington Post. And if you take a close look back at Watergate and at the reporting youll see that Woodward and Bernstein actually did very, very similar things to what Will Lewis has been accused of. The thing thats kind of interesting to me is, I mean, I just really ultimately think that this is a pretty major comms screw up by Will Lewis. I dont know if it necessarily is entirely to do with the journalistic ethics. Because of course one of the ironies here is that Woodward and Bernstein who are responsible for some of the greatest acts of American journalism. And of course the acts that still define the Washington Post today, actually did some things that by todays standards would be pretty unethical, which also included illicitly obtaining phone and banking records and impersonating other people, obfuscating, getting way too close to sources. I mean, these are things today that wouldnt fly and I think that would get them both fired from the Post.

Nayeema: But in the time of Watergate got them awards and lauded.

Max: Right, exactly. So I think that the problem here is its twofold. One, its that the Washington Post has had a really, really difficult run over the last few years post-Trump. Its lost a lot of subscribers and a lot of viewership and traffic, and I think people are pretty on edge and theyre scared about the changes that Will Lewis is going to have to put in place to kind of keep this place afloat. And of course, Will Lewis himself underestimated the amount in which people are nervous and suspicious. And if you are tense and rude, even in the name of tough talk, which is kind of how he put it, that people werent going to respond particularly well to that. So I think that thats ultimately the kind of confluence of things thats really shaping this.

Nayeema: Whole thing started because Will Lewis offered Sally Buzbee the job of moving from executive editor of the newsroom to the editor of a third newsroom. A third newsroom room that would be separate from news and opinion, but actually be kind of a social media desk, like be social first news content across social media platforms. And this is, I think, amazing because Sally Buzbee saw it as a demotion. But I have to say, and this might be a generational thing, I see it as a promotion. I think every newsroom should actually be looking at doing-

Ben: Youve been spending too much time in Cannes.

Nayeema: Really?

Ben: Yeah, this is a PR stunt to put the social media people under a fancy editor so you can go out and sell advertisers that youve got some new innovative third newsroom with some video.

Nayeema: But actually... But this is where people are... What is it? 20 to 30% of Americans are getting their news on Meta and on social media. And how many people are reading the 14,000 word Evan Osnos profile of Joe Biden and the New Yorker versus seeing a tweet or seeing an Instagram post or TikTok.

Ben: Will Lewis isnt here, but maybe you can go on his sales calls because theres so many marketers here eager to hear about the Washington Post-

Nayeema: Maybe hes going to offer me the job that Sally turned down.

Ben: You can run the fourth newsroom, which is the most interesting stuff in the Washington Post, which of course is its coverage of itself.

Nayeema: For a long time these things have been seen as service desks to the print journalism, but it might be that print journalism becomes the service desk to putting out the great Instagram content of the Washington Post or the TikTok guy.

Ben: I think you and Will Lewis will have a good time selling that on the beach next year.

Nayeema: I wont be back, Ben. I will not be back. But we will take a quick break.

[MUSIC]

Ben: In this weeks segment sponsored by Think with Google. I visited their studio on Google Beach at Cannes to chat with Googles VP of marketing, Josh Spanier. About the impact AI will have on creatives in advertising.

Im Ben Smith from Semafor. Im here at Cannes with the VP of marketing at Google, Josh Spanier. Josh, thanks for taking the time.

Josh Spanier: Bonjour, Ben.

Ben: So on stage here at Cannes theres an enormous amount of optimism about the use of AI, particularly the use of AI in the creative space. And the company is up and down the Beach here, seeing a very optimistic and profitable future for AI and marketing. Privately enormous amount of anxiety among creatives in particular that AI could replace them. Im curious how you see that tension, how you see the future of AI in advertising.

Josh Spanier: Cannes this week is feeling a lot like the famous Oprah moment. You get AI, you get AI, everyone gets AI, and Im actually really, really excited. I see AI as a tool, a tool thats going to unlock all sorts of opportunities for us to do things in more interesting ways. I think AI is going to unleash creativity across the board, enable us to do all sorts of things that we never can conceive of. I understand theres sort of fear out there right now, but this year already it feels like weve moved from last year, which was all about the wow of AI to more of the how of AI. So were seeing on stage from my own company Google, all sorts of new features and products which are enabling marketers to really reinvent and rethink how they do their creativity. How they uncover insights and how they measure their campaigns and deliver the media top to bottom.

Ben: Anything specific youre doing with Google?

Josh Spanier: So just this year we worked on our Pixel phone campaign. We used a Google tool called Demand Gen to generate 4,500 different creative assets, which flowed across all of Googles advertising services from YouTube and beyond. To actually drive brand preference and actually sales of Pixel phone. That sort of scale, that sort of creativity isnt possible in a manual always on world. And the irony of it all, given all the doom and gloom headlines is weve needed more people to actually execute that work at our agencies. More creative minds to actually imagine and help the machines scale our ingenuity and possibilities of what we can do. Its been really exciting.

[MUSIC]

Nayeema: All right, now time for blind spots. Max, youve been here from the beginning, so we feel like we know everything, but what is not known? Whats hobbling up on the left and right? We do not see.

Max: Oh, theres plenty that we all dont know. I mean, weve been swimming in the world of advertising and marketing and because were six hours ahead, we have a weird connection to the news cycle. But the big story in celebrity/fashion media this week is Paul Mescals shorts. This week Mescal pulled up to the Gucci menswear show during Milan Fashion Week wearing a pair of Gucci striped cotton shorts, which he described as a quote, Cute pair of shorts. But essentially they were high fashion boxers and he told Sam Hine from GQ that hes a fan of the short inseam saying that quote, From my eye its to do with proportion, a shorter short with maybe a longer top.

And these went totally viral because theyre incredibly short shorts and he looks great, but its obviously kind of a statement. Now, Im kind of curious, Nayeema, where do you come down as our resident person who is explaining womens perspectives on men. And things that men should think about-

Nayeema: As your resident woman and consider, yes-

Max: No, as our resident woman who has informed opinions about men, Im curious if youve seen the Paul Mescal short shorts, what you think about them. Do you think that thats going to break into conservative media at all or is this just all... Are liberal dudes in New York going to be wearing these short shorts because Paul Mescal is going viral wearing them?

Nayeema: I think it might be a trend amongst a certain generation, but I dont think its going to last. I dont know that the shorts looked great, Paul. But Im actually very curious, looking at Bens face, if Ben has any idea who Paul Mescal is.

Ben: Its a blind spot for me.

Nayeema: Paul Mescal is an Irish actor and he was in Aftersun. I think hes Academy Award nominated.

Max: Hes incredible.

Nayeema: He is incredible. He must be in his twenties, sorry, Ben.

Max: Hes in his late twenties-

Ben: I know, I got a hand in my media reporter card.

Nayeema: The actual blind spot was who Paul Mescal is. Do I think that the shorts are going to make a... Look, I think the weird thing is that this summer is womens shorts are getting longer, like bermuda shorts were seeing this, and the mens shorts are getting shorter. And I can only imagine that Ron DeSantis is getting some legislation ready in the state of Florida to stop this from happening and he will save America, or at least Florida from short shorts.

Max: I kind of thought that... I considered this to be a conservative blind spot because this is only the things that coastal elites talk about, but what it really was, sorry, Ben was an age blind spot.

Ben: Ouch.

Nayeema: Well, why dont you take us beyond the coastal blind spot, whats happening? Whats bubbling up on the right this week that the coasts arent seeing because theyre being so blinded by Pauls shorts and what might be under the-

Max: Or by his legs. So the big story on the right this week, at least if you were paying attention to the conservative internet, was Joe Biden, our current president, was at an event commemorating the history of D-Day in France where we are currently. And the RNC posted a video of him seeming slightly lost, somewhere kind of in between standing up and sitting down for about 10 seconds. And of course, some prominent online conservatives said that he had pooped his pants. The Daily Beast noted that Dave Rubin, whos a conservative commentator, tweeted that he was quote, Pooping or sitting in an invisible chair. While the podcaster, Tim Pool blared, he quote, Pooped, and quote, Holy shit in all caps, claiming that the president quickly needed to leave the ceremony to clean himself up. Of course it should go without saying that this is not true and that the president was just kind of trying to look for his seat.

But it was really interesting to me because the RNC has gotten really good at posting these quick kind of out-of-context clips where hes lost or seems lost. And these have done really, really, really well for them and theyve made their way across social media. And its basically a full-time job for Democrats on social media to push back against these clips and to provide context for them. But of course, we know that thats not how things work on the internet. Im curious if you guys have seen, and if your feeds have been full of these Republican National Committee clips of Biden seeming lost or losing his train of thought.

Ben: Yeah, I have seen these and Ive seen them posted also by Democrats. I mean, I think the Twitter in particular, X is just a machine for confirmation bias. And if you think that President Joe Biden is too old, that clip will find its way for you, confirm everything you already thought and you will reshare it. Its interesting because of course for all the fears of artificial intelligence and distortion, the real thing melting all our brains right now is very selective old-fashioned video editing.

Nayeema: And even Andrew Ross Sorkin had some comments that had come out of like 80 CEOs met Trump, and a couple of them had mentioned to Andrew Ross Sorkin that Donald Trump was meandering in his points. And that was also lifted a little bit out of context on the left where people were kind of saying, Oh, he was meandering in the ways that kind of... Look, you say this about Biden, but its happening to Trump too, when in fact it was a very different claim. So I think this is just happening everywhere. And I almost wonder, does any of it matter? Is there any signal in this noise? Because Americans look at this and theres no new information, theres no reporting. And theyre seeing something they recognize as elderly behavior or gaffes by each presidential candidate and theyre going to call it, and instead the media is trying to disintermediate and tell you what you should see.

Ben: Yeah, I think if anything, the reporting isnt going hard enough at trying to sort of block out that noise, which as you say is self-fulfilling nonsense and get a real sense of hows Joe Biden doing. What is it like to spend a day with him? My proposal is the White House, just let Max come spend a day with Joe Biden, then he can tell us how hes doing because these clips are just unbelievably misleading garbage. And also the president is being kept pretty protected by his staff from us really knowing the answer to that question.

Max: Well, first of all, I will say, I just want to publicly say that I would absolutely be willing to spend a day with President Joe Biden. I just want to put that out there for our podcast listeners. Many of them in the White House, a hundred percent of course. But I think one of the other issues here is when the White House has given access, its not necessarily to these kind of people who are ubiquitous or the people who can kind of reach the largest audience. We say that he did a short interview on SmartLess, but there were a bunch of other former presidents there.

Nayeema: Howard Stern.

Max: Yeah, Howard Stern. Hes given the most access to Evan Osnos, who you mentioned earlier in the episode, Nayeema, which is for these long, windy, New Yorker profiles, which are totally fascinating and which talk about how coherent he is. But how many Americans are actually reading something like that or paying attention to it. And is that enough to kind of counter out these things? I have my suspicions and my doubts about that.

Nayeema: See well, when Im editor of the third newsroom, youll have content that you can read delivered by Max Tani, who I will poach from you, Ben.

Max: Im happy to go on TikTok and make TikToks with Joe Biden for as long as TikTok exists for our third Washington Post newsroom.

Nayeema: All right. Before we run, quick prediction: Will Will Lewis still have the job by the time people are hearing this episode? Or will we just sound completely out of touch?

Ben: I predict that he will, but that the guy hes brought in to nominally run the post in Britain, Rob Winnett will not.

Max: I think thats become a bit of the conventional wisdom over the last few days is that Rob will not be getting the job and that Will will stay on. But Bezos put out a note supporting Will Lewis, and Im going to go the opposite direction. Im going to say theyve all bought into the newsroom has gone too far, and Bezos is going to stand strong behind his guys.

Nayeema: Behind both of them.

Max: I think hes going to stand behind both of them. Nayeema, what are you thinking here? Whats your prediction?

Nayeema: I thought its funny because Bezos, its like a bit of a Rorschach test. I dont feel like Bezos letter was so standing behind Will Lewis either. It was kind of saying nothing. It was like the art of word salad in an email. The ethics will be upheld, but also we cant do what weve been doing. But it wont change the ethics. So I think its a note for everyone to stand down and Jeff is going to do what Jeff wants to do. So it will be Will Lewis, Rob Winnett, and then myself in the third newsroom. I think thats the future of the Washington Post.

Ben: You will lend prestige to that newsroom, which will be your job.

Max: But it seems like maybe you guys have also become a little bit socialist here at Cannes in the sense that you believe in the power of the workers to overturn the will of management.

Nayeema: Oh, I think that thats what theyre most excited about. Im sure Jeff Bezos is like, Im excited for the people I do not need to buy out because they will leave in protest of this. So goodbye to you all. You squeaky union... Woke union havers. Thats the door, see yourselves out.

Ben: Im just impressed by how fast Max got from socialism to Gucci and back.

Max: I contain multitudes.

Nayeema: All right, thats it for today. From socialist Max, comrade Nayeema, and Ben, ever the capitalist. Thanks for listening to Mixed Signals from Semafor Media. Our show is produced by Max Tani, Alison Rodgers, Alan Haburchak, Joe Strauss, Shina Ozaki, and Andrea Lopez-Cruzado. With special thanks to Britta Galanis, Chad Lewis, Rachel Oppenheim, Anna Pezzino, Garrett Wiley, and Jules Zirn. Our engineer is Fernando Arruda. Our theme music is by Billy Libby and our public editor is Gucci who says the shorts can be as short as they would like to be, but this podcast remains a bit too long. If you like Mixed Signals, please follow us wherever you get your podcasts. And if you really like us, give us a review.

Ben: If youre watching on YouTube, give us a like and subscribe to Semafors channel.

Max: And of course, dont forget to subscribe to Semafors Media Newsletter.
Montgomery County police charge man for trying to sexually assault teen

GAITHERSBURG, Md. (DC News Now)  Police arrested a 26-year-old man accused of trying to sexually assault a teenager.

The Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD) said on Monday, the girl got into an elevator in an office building on Russell Avenue in Gaithersburg just before 3 p.m.

Samuel Deweh Gray, Jr., then allegedly started to violently assault her until bystanders intervened.

MCPD said that he escaped. K-9 units were not able to find him on Monday.

Man charged with murder in connection to Prince Georges County high school event shooting

Officers identified Gray as the suspect and were able to arrest him on Tuesday. MCPD charged him with attempted first-degree rape, first-degree assault and second-degree assault.

He was being held without 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 DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Representative Lauren Boebert wants to bring morality back. Ironic, no?

The Colorado Republican went off on a tangent Thursday evening while cheerleading Louisianas wild new law mandating that the Ten Commandments be hung in every public school classroom, from kindergarten to state university, on prison-bound Steve Bannons podcast.

The Louisiana legislation is a blatant violation of the separation between church and state created by the establishment clause of the U.S. Constitution. To Boebert, its exactly what this country needs.

I think this is something we need throughout our nation, and I am so proud of Governor Jeff Landry, hes a wonderful man, a great friend of mine, and Im glad hes in that position and taking action because we need morals back in our nation, and back in our schools, she said.

At this point, Boeberts name has become so synonymous with her do-nothing record, as well as many humiliating scandals, that she is the last politician anyone would look to for moral guidance.

If there is anything that were going to present in front of our children, its going to be, it should be the word of God because this is the one truth that is never going to change, and never going to leave them. Its not some woke fad of the day that you can get canceled for believing in 10 years from now, Boebert said.

There are about one million things that could be hung on the wall of a classroom that would (a) be true, and (b) not get you canceled in the future, without being an egregious violation of federal doctrine. Quick, someone tell her about multiplication tables!

I dont think its wrong to have something that says honor your father and mother, so that you will live a long life, that is the First Commandment that has a promise attached to it, she continued. I dont think its bad to teach children that adultery is something that you should not do. Boebert once fretted that if she ever left office, students might be taught comprehensive sex-ed in Colorado schools.

Boebert also took the opportunity to do a quick plug for the Big Lie.

And also elicit in the Ten Commandments, Thou shalt not steal, and maybe the Left and some of these politicians are having a meltdown over having that right there listed in our classrooms.

Whatever happened to Thou shalt not bear false witness, which Boebert seems to have conveniently forgotten?

Boeberts zealous grandstanding marks the final week of her death crawl toward the Colorado primaries next Tuesday, when the far-right Republican will either be kept by constituents in her new district or brutally cast out.
This article was originally published in Washington State Standard.

There were more weapons brought into Washingtons schools during the last school year than the year before.

Thats according to a new report from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, which found an 11.6% increase in weapons on school grounds in the 2022-2023 school year compared to 2021-2022.

During the 2022-2023 school year, 2,275 weapon incidents were reported by Washingtons public and private schools. Of those, 316 involved possession of a firearm. All of the gun incidents were reported at public schools. Most other reports involved knives, daggers or other weapons.

However, the presence of guns specifically increased, as there were 236 incidents involving firearms during the 2021-2022 school year, according to last years report from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

I wish I could say I was really shocked by this increase, but sadly Im not that shocked, said Johnny Lupinacci, an associate professor at Washington State University who studies the intersection of schools and social justice.

While national data on the 2022-2023 school year is not yet available, data from 2021-2022 show that, among states, Washington had the 11th highest rate of students bringing firearms to school.

Nationwide, the number of guns showing up in schools is soaring. A Washington Post investigation found 1 in 47 school-age children, or about 1.1 million students, attended a school where at least one gun was found and reported on by the media in the 2022-2023 school year  and the actual number of guns in schools may be much higher.

Washington has enacted some of the most restrictive gun laws in the country and passed three gun control laws just this year.

Lupinacci praised the states strict gun laws and said his gut reaction to seeing increasing numbers of guns in schools is to make it even harder to obtain a firearm. He said getting a gun remains just far too easy, even in some of the most restrictive jurisdictions.

State law prohibits possession of firearms and other dangerous weapons on school grounds, except for security and law enforcement. The law also requires the expulsion of students found in possession of a firearm anywhere on school grounds, although superintendents can modify expulsions on a case-by-case basis.

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Lupinacci said students primarily bring weapons into schools because they feel unsafe and believe the only way they could be safe is to somehow arm themselves.

Firearms are the leading cause of death for American children and teens, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data for 2022, analyzed by Everytown for Gun Safety, a group that advocates for stricter gun laws.

Despite the increase in weapons in Washingtons schools, expulsions due to weapon incidents were down 49%. Schools chose to suspend students instead: Compared to the 2021-2022 school year, there was a 12% increase in suspensions in 2022-2023.

Lupinacci said zero tolerance policies around weapons in schools are important, particularly with firearms, and praised Washingtons schools for reducing expulsions and increasing suspensions, calling the schools response empathetic but firm.

He also said the solution to reducing weapons in schools involves a larger discussion about reducing child poverty, increasing school funding and dealing with rising mental health issues among Americas youth.

Our public school systems can and ought to be that safety net in our communities, Lupinacci said. What we see is when we dont take care of our community, kids experience school in a way where it feels dangerous or unsafe.

Washington State Standard is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Washington State Standard maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Bill Lucia for questions: info@washingtonstatestandard.com. Follow Washington State Standard on Facebook and X.
Mosquitoes collected in traps in Tiverton and Coventry on June 10 have tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis. (Getty image)

A sure sign of summer in southern New England: mosquitoes, and the diseases they carry.

Rhode Island had its first positive test of mosquitoes with Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and Rhode Island Department of Health announced Thursday. The virus was detected in mosquitoes collected from Tiverton and Coventry on June 10.

Although extremely rare in humans, EEE can be very serious. Approximately 30% of people infected with EEE die, and many survivors have ongoing neurological problems.

Unlike West Nile virus (WVN), which is prevalent in Rhode Island every year, EEE risk is variable, changing from year to year.

However , DEM in its announcement also noted the positive virus tests arrived earlier than usual in the mosquito season, and from two geographically distant municipalities. In 2023, the first EEE-positive mosquitoes in Rhode Island werent detected until late August.

The local mosquito samples tested negative for West Nile and a third, emerging mosquito-borne disease called Jamestown Canyon Virus. Massachusetts and Connecticut have not yet reported any findings of mosquito-borne diseases, according to DEM.

State officials are urging residents to take precautionary measures, including protective clothing, bug spray and limiting outdoor activities and dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most prevalent. Property owners are also encouraged to remove standing water from their land, which is a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Additional prevention tips and information about EEE is available at health.ri.gov/mosquito. Mosquitoes are trapped weekly by DEM and tested at the RIDOH State Health Laboratories. DEM issues advisories on test results from June through September, with additional reports as necessary. Typically, positive test results trigger additional trapping to assess risk.

The post Mosquitoes in Tiverton, Coventry test positive for EEE appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Mother Discovers Son's Murder As She Walks Home From The Grocery Store, Sleeping Mom of Six Killed in Drive-by, CNBC Commentator Turned Fugitive Caught and More

Photo: GoFundMe

An otherwise normal night turned tragic when a North Carolina mother of six was killed in a drive-by shooting that couldve ended much worse.

On the night of June 10, 39-year-old Latasha Cureton was sleeping in her home in Gastonia, N.C. while her children watched television. A loud sound that witnesses thought were fireworks interrupted the peace, according to WSOC. - Noah A. McGee Read More

Screenshot: Twitter

A Bronx mother was returning home from buying groceries Monday evening when she saw a slew of police cars down the block. She told The New York Daily News she ran toward the yellow tape, trying to call her sons phone but it never answered. The mother said bystanders and neighbors surrounding the scene looked at her with a worried expression. - Kalyn Womack Read More

Screenshot: FBI

Uh oh the CNBC financial commentator turned fugitive of the law has been captured by federal law enforcement, bringing an end to a three-year goose chase for the guy. - Kalyn Womack Read More

Screenshot: WKRG (YouTube)

Fresh off of backlash from the fatal shooting of Air Force Senior Airman Roger Fortson just last month, Floridas Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office is facing another suit following an incident that left a Black mother and her children traumatized. - Kalyn Womack Read More

A parade float drives by during the 45th annual Juneteenth National Independence Day celebrations in Galveston, Texas, on June 15, 2024 - Image: Mark Felix (Getty Images)

Juneteenth marks the second American Independence Day. What does that Mean? Lets get to it.

In 1865, enslaved Americans were freed. President Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation was supposed to mean the end of enslavement, but slavery still dominated in Confederate states during the Civil War. It wasnt until Union troops arrived in Texas on June 19 to share news of the wars end that all enslaved people were freed. A broken promise? In a way ...yes. Regardless, Juneteenth is considered the oldest running African American holiday, according to History.com. It was declared a national holiday in 2021, 156 years after slaverys end. - Phenix S Halley Read More

Photo: Facebook

Updated as of 6/20/2024 at 4:00 p.m. ET

Last month, a dismembered arm washed up from Lake Michigan on the shore of Illinois. The Lake County, Michigan Coroners Office says the remains match the DNA of a Black girl whose body has been found in pieces since her disappearance. - Kalyn Womack Read More

Photo: Prince Williams/Filmmagic (Getty Images)

Its official: the viral Bling Bishop Lamor Whitehead from Brooklyn is about to trade his Gucci-down ensembles for an orange jumpsuit.



Whitehead was sentenced on Monday to nine years in prison following a conviction on several charges of conning millions of dollars, including from his own congregation. Whitehead was accused of being a con man after an elderly member of Leaders of Tomorrow International claimed she was scammed out of $90,000 on a false promise hed buy her a home, per the U.S. Attorneys Office. - Kalyn Womack Read More

Photo: Jarell Lee

When you look at Jarell Lees credentials, you may assume he had everything easy. Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, he graduated from a tony private high school. He then attended Harvard University where he earned a degree in sociology and African-American studies. His early life has even been chronicled in a book about unlocking the secrets to raising successful and purposeful children . If that wasnt enough, he has also received two Masters degrees from Hunter College and the University of Houston. - Noah A. McGee Read More

Photo: Dawson Construction

Whats going on with grown men assaulting middle schoolers lately?! First, there was the Michigan middle school employee who was caught on camera choking a 14-year-old student with a t-shirt, and now this. - Noah A. McGee Read More

Photo: Brandon Bell (Getty Images)

History books are notorious for leaving out information, especially about racism in America. Have you ever heard of Black Wall Street? Or were you ever taught in school about the Tulsa Massacre of 1921? - Phenix S Halley Read More

For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Related video: Whats next for Donald Trump

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP)  The federal judge presiding over the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump is hearing arguments Friday on a long-shot defense effort to get the indictment thrown out based on the claim that the prosecutor who brought the charges was illegally appointed.

The arguments over the legality of special counsel Jack Smiths appointment kick off a three-day hearing that is set to continue next week and bring further delays to a criminal case that had been scheduled for trial last month but has been snarled by a pileup of unresolved legal disputes. The motion questioning Smiths selection and funding by the Justice Department is one of multiple challenges to the indictment the defense has raised, so far unsuccessfully, in the year since the charges were brought.

FILE  A police officer stands beside an entrance to the Alto Lee Adams Sr. U.S. Courthouse, Aug. 15, 2023, in Fort Pierce, Fla. The federal judge presiding over the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump is hearing arguments Friday, June 21, 2024, on a long-shot defense effort to get the indictment thrown out based on the claim that the prosecutor who brought the charges was illegally appointed. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)

Even as Smiths team looks to press forward on a prosecution seen by many legal experts as the most straightforward and clear-cut of the four prosecutions against Trump, Fridays arguments before U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon wont involve discussion of the allegations against the former president. Theyll center instead on decades-old regulations governing the appointment of Justice Department special counsels like Smith, reflecting the judges continued willingness to entertain defense arguments that prosecutors say are meritless, contributing to the indefinite cancelation of a trial date.

Cannon, a Trump appointee, had exasperated prosecutors even before the June 2023 indictment by granting a Trump request to have an independent arbiter review the classified documents taken from Mar-a-Lago  an order that was overturned by a unanimous federal appeals panel.

Since then, she has been intensely scrutinized over her handling of the case, including for taking months to issue rulings and for scheduling hearings on legally specious claims  all of which have combined to make a trial before the November presidential election a virtual impossibility. She was rebuked in March by prosecutors after she asked both sides to formulate jury instructions and to respond to a premise of the case that Smiths team called fundamentally flawed.

FILE  The indictment against former President Donald Trump is photographed on Friday, June 9, 2023. The federal judge presiding over the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump is hearing arguments Friday, June 21, 2024, on a long-shot defense effort to get the indictment thrown out based on the claim that the prosecutor who brought the charges was illegally appointed. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick, File)

The New York Times, citing two anonymous sources, reported Thursday that two judges  including the chief federal judge in the southern district of Florida  urged Cannon to step aside from the case after she was assigned to it.

The hearing is unfolding just weeks after Trump was convicted in a separate state case in New York of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to a porn actor who has said she had sex with him. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is set to issue a landmark opinion on whether Trump is immune from prosecution for acts he took in office or he can be be prosecuted by Smiths team on charges that he schemed to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

At issue in Fridays hearing is a Trump team claim that Smith was illegally appointed in November 2022 by Attorney General Merrick Garland because he was not first approved by Congress and because the special counsel office that he was assigned to lead was not also created by Congress.

Smiths team has said Garland was fully empowered as the head of the Justice Department to make the appointment and to delegate prosecutorial decisions to him. Prosecutors also note that courts have upheld prior appointments of special counsels, including Robert Mueller by Trumps Justice Department.

On the agenda for next week are arguments over a limited gag order that prosecutors have requested to bar Trump from comments they fear could endanger the safety of FBI agents and other law enforcement officials involved in the case.

The restrictions were sought after Trump falsely claimed the agents who searched his Mar-a-Lago estate for classified documents in August 2022 were prepared to kill him even though he was citing boilerplate language from standard FBI policy about use of force during the execution of search warrants. The FBI had intentionally selected a day for the search when it knew Trump and his family would be out of town.

Trumps lawyers have said any speech restrictions would infringe on his free speech rights. Cannon initially rejected the request on technical grounds, saying prosecutors had not sufficiently conferred with defense lawyers before seeking the gag restrictions. But prosecutors subsequently renewed the request.

Another issue set to be discussed next week is a defense request to exclude from the case evidence seized by the FBI during the Mar-a-Lago search, and to dismiss the indictment because of evidence it includes that came from former members of Trumps defense team.

Though attorney-client privilege protects defense lawyers from being forced to testify about their confidential conversations with clients, prosecutors can get around that shield if they can establish that the lawyers legal services are being used to further a crime.

Thats what happened last year in the classified documents investigation, with prosecutors in their indictment repeatedly citing details of conversations Trump had with M. Evan Corcoran, an attorney who represented the former president during the investigation and who was forced by a judge to appear before the grand jury investigating Trump .

____

Tucker reported from Washington.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, June 21. A small hydroelectric power plant, "Ysyk-Ata-1" with a capacity of 2 MW has been launched in the Chuy region of Kyrgyzstan, Trend reports.

Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Head of the Presidential Administration of Kyrgyzstan Japarov Akylbek took part in the opening and launching of the hydropower plant.

He noted that as part of the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Kara-Kyrgyz autonomous region, which will be celebrated in 2024, 100 new enterprises, including this hydropower plant, will be opened throughout the republic.

"In the coming years, dozens of HPPs, solar, and wind power plants will be built in our country. We have started the construction of the century - Kambarata HPP-1, and the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railroad will also begin," Japarov said.

He emphasized that the launch of the Ysyk-Ata-1 HPP was the result of joint efforts by the state and the private sector aimed at improving the country's energy infrastructure.

To note, two more small hydropower plants are currently under construction in the Ysyk-Ata district of Chuy province of Kyrgyzstan: the Ysyk-Ata-2 HPP with a capacity of 4 MW and the Amanat Energy HPP with a capacity of 0.5 MW. According to the country's Ministry of Energy, they are planned to be commissioned in the summer of 2024.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
(NewsNation)  Earthquake activity around Mount St. Helens spiked to nearly 350 quakes between February 1 and June 18, spurring concerns that the volcano is recharging.

While it may sound terrifying, Wes Thelen of the U.S. Geological Survey says its a standard part of the volcanos cycle.

Recharging is just the way that we talk about the little pieces of magma moving into the mid-crustal magma chamber; thats about five miles below the crater floor, he said. And were just talking about little pieces of magma coming up. Its all part of normal activity between eruptions at Mount St. Helens.

Why this weeks heat wave could be next summers normal

While the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory says it will continue to monitor this activity and will provide any updates or warnings if warranted, Thelen isnt worried at the moment.

I am not concerned. This is really just something thats interesting, he said. We know people are looking at the public data that we have available on our websites and our partners websites. And were just looking to give them a little bit of context in terms of what this means.

On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted, killing 57 people, blasting more than 1,300 feet off the top and raining volcanic ash for miles around. Today, the volcano has become a world-class outdoor laboratory for the study of volcanoes, ecosystems and forestry as well as a major recreational and tourist destination.

July 4th travel expected to set record

Thelen believes the next eruption isnt likely to be as catastrophic.

We know that the most likely type of eruption is something thats just going to build a dome, he said. (It would) likely impact the area right around the volcano, not something big and spectacular like we all have seen in pictures from 1980.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
MPD still claiming officers were truthful in Jaleel Stallings case. They werent.

Attorneys Chris Madel, left, and Fred Bruno, right, stand by the side of former Minneapolis police officer Justin Stetson, who was sentenced for beating Jaleel Stallings amid the civil unrest after George Floyd's murder, at the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis, on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023. Photo by Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Star Tribune via AP.

An important footnote to the police murder of George Floyd was the infamous press release the Minneapolis Police Department sent out after Floyds death.

The headline: Man dies after medical incident during police interaction.

The description was equally brazen in what it left out: Officers were able to get the suspect into handcuffs and noted he appeared to be suffering medical distress. Officers called for an ambulance. He was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center by ambulance where he died a short time later.

In reality, as Dr. Martin Tobin testified at Derek Chauvins trial, Floyd suffocated because he was face down on the pavement and handcuffed while Chauvins left knee was putting pressure on the neck area.

Weve come to expect a casual relationship to the truth when it comes to MPD, which erodes trust in the department and sends a message to officers that its fine to lie, be it to the public, command staff or on the witness stand.

One would hope reform-minded Chief Brian OHara, who came aboard in late 2022, is putting a stop to it, but an MPD spokesman recently made a provably untrue statement in the pages of the Washington Post.

The Post recently profiled Jaleel Stallings. His story was exhaustively covered first by the Reformers Deena Winter, beginning with his acquittal in 2021 on charges he sought to kill police officers. A jury found he acted in self-defense.

The prosecution also collapsed because body-camera footage contradicted what officers claimed in their reports.

Former Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman  hardly an anti-police prosecutor  later said officers lied to prosecutors, which contributed to the miscarriage of justice.

Heres MPDs response in the Post: In an email, police spokesperson Sgt. Garrett Parten denied that officers had lied.

Lets just start here: Stallings was acquitted, an MPD officer wound up pleading guilty to assault, and the city had to pay Stallings $1.5 million for his ordeal.

The cat is totally out of the bag, but MPD is still claiming officers didnt lie about what went on that night. (I emailed Parten to ask about his statement, but he wasnt available.)

Where to begin?

Sgt. Andrew Bittell and Officer Justin Stetson, who would later plead guilty to felony assault, testified  in court!  that their use of force was necessary because Stallings was resisting arrest.

In fact, as Winter reported, bodycam footage showed Stallings dropped his gun on the ground and lay face down, with his hands to the side above his head, surrendering. He didnt move for 20 seconds as the officers approached.

You f***ing piece of shit! Stetson yelled, and began kicking and punching Stallings in the head and neck. Stallings didnt move. He was trying to surrender and de-escalate the situation, he told Winter in an interview. Bittell began kneeing and punching Stallings in the stomach, chest and back.

After handcuffing him, Bittell sat Stallings up and kicked him in the ribs as Stetson continued hitting him in the head.

Theres video.

The charging documents against Stetson said Stallings had already surrendered, was lying prone on the ground, posed no imminent threat and did not resist Stetsons use of force.

By pleading guilty, Stetson conceded that Stallings wasnt resisting, i.e., he had lied.

But MPD is claiming Stetson didnt lie, which means the blue wall of silence extends even to disgraced officers who have confessed in court.

Stetson and Bittell also claimed the use of force was necessary because they feared Stallings was armed, even though Stallings had dropped his gun and they didnt search him for weapons.

(Interesting footnote: Both and Bittell and Stetson receive a disability pension despite Stetsons guilty plea.)

Stallings was hospitalized with a fractured eye socket, even though the county attorney claimed in a press release after the incident that there were no injuries. (Wonder where he got that idea?)

The charging documents against Stallings said officers deployed one 40-mm round at Stallings. Not true. They fired two rounds before Stallings  an Army veteran who feared hed been hit by white supremacists firing live ammunition  returned fire with his (permitted) pistol.

When Bittell asked his unit, Did anybody shoot? nobody mentioned that theyd shot Stallings with 40mm less lethal plastic projectiles before he fired back.

Not lying exactly, because they had not used their real guns, but definitely not entirely truthful, either.

You could reasonably argue that the officers were dealing with a chaotic scene during a challenging time, with Lake Street buildings still smoldering in the aftermath of the rioting.

The problem is that Minneapolis police went looking for trouble that night.

As Winter wrote in her first story: Before the white, unmarked cargo van drove down Lake Street, an officer gave Bittell his orders: Drive down Lake Street. You see a group, call it out. OK great! F*** em up, gas em, f*** em up.

This entire mission  if you wanna call it that  was based on a lie, that somehow what Minneapolis needed was an unmarked van of exhausted, ill-trained police officers shooting at people with 40mm rounds for breaking curfew.

The first step is admitting you have a problem, and MPDs bizarre claim of honesty vis-a-vis the Stallings debacle does not inspire hope.

The post MPD still claiming officers were truthful in Jaleel Stallings case. They werent. appeared first on Minnesota Reformer.
Some MS students will have to lock up cell phones at school

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  When Marshall County students return to school in the fall, they will have to lock up their cell phones.

During the school day, kids in grades 5-12 will be required to put their phones, smartwatches, and other devices in magnetically sealed pouches.

Dr. Carrie Skelton, superintendent of the Marshall County School District, said they want students to be less focused on their phones and more engaged in learning.

Kids are addicted to their cell phones. I mean, adults are too, but so much research is going on right now with the health of students and them being addicted to their cell phones, said Skelton. I know a lot of kids are going to see this as a punishment, but its not a punishment. Its actually something hopefully to help them.

5 teens arrested after stolen cars found at Raleigh home

Students will have possession of their phones at all times but will need a magnetic tool to unlock their Yondr phone bag.

There will be some portable ones that administrators can carry around, but there will be bases mounted on the wall at each door, said Skelton.

The Marshall County School Board approved the Yondr pouches, which are now being used in over 2,000 school districts nationwide.

According to Yondr, a survey of 1,200 school partners that implemented the program says they saw an 84 percent change in student engagement, a 72 percent positive change in student behavior, and a 68 percent positive change in academic performance.

The pouches cost around $30 each. The school district said if a student damages the pouch, their parents will have to pay a replacement fee.

Skelton said parents who need to reach their children during the school day can do it the old-fashioned way.

They can contact the school through the secretary or email. They all have the principal email addresses. They have our email addresses. You know, theyre going to contact us just like they did before the phones in school.

But students WREG spoke with are skeptical.

At first, I thought it was a good idea, but then I thought about if I have to text my mom about stuff that is important and I dont want anybody else around me to hear it, then I was like I dont like it, Byhalia Middle School student Skylar Beard said.

The school district said if a student is caught using their cell phone at school, their parents will be called to come pick it up, and the student could face disciplinary action.

The district has not addressed what might be the critical need for a cell phone during an active shooter situation or violent events at school. The district says it will provide more specific information regarding the new policy as the school year approaches.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Murder charges filed against Alabama man for double homicide in Sequoyah County

GANS, Okla. (KNWA/KFTA)  An attorney in Sequoyah County District Court has filed murder charges against an Alabama man who is accused of killing two people in Gans, Okla., on Tuesday.

Stacy Lee Drake, 50 (Courtesy: Conway County Jail)

Stacy Lee Drake, 50, was arrested in Morrilton on Thursday morning after a multi-day search.

Drake was officially charged with two counts of first-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon.

In the filing, the two victims were identified as Tara Underwood and Taylor Sharp.

The Sequoyah County Sheriffs Office was notified on June 18 of an incident at LaFerrys in Gans after Underwoods fiance allegedly found her and Sharps bodies.

SCSO requested assistance from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations (OSBI) for a double homicide.

Court documents say OSBI agents reviewed surveillance video of the business and a white man, later identified as Drake, can be seen entering the business between 2:49 p.m. and 3:05 p.m.

Once Drake left LaFerrys, he reportedly drove away in Underwoods vehicle. The filing said no other person was at the business until Underwoods fiance.

The vehicle was later found at a motel in Morrilton. Drake was reportedly seen on the motels security camera in the same clothes and gloves as the surveillance footage in Gans.

Drake provided an Alabama drivers license to the Morrilton motel.

He is reportedly tied to four homicides.

In addition to the two deaths in Gans, Drake has been connected to a homicide investigation in El Reno, Okla. where 56-year-old Phillip Emerson was found dead at a residence on June 14, the El Reno Police Department confirmed to Nexstars KFOR.

Drake is also connected to a homicide investigation in Tuscaloosa, Ala. where 62-year-old Russell Thomas Andrews was found dead outside of an Alcoholics Anonymous building on May 14, according to Nexstars WIAT.

KNWA/FOX24 has team coverage tonight on KNWA News at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. and FOX24 News at 9.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN)  Gunshot detectors are popping up around Murfreesboro. Police are installing these unique sensors so that they receive an alert whenever theres possible gunfire.

The Murfreesboro Police Department (MPD) already installed roughly 85 sensors in areas that could be beneficial, according to crime data.

| READ MORE | Latest headlines from Murfreesboro and Rutherford County

The technology is quite simple: gunshots, or something that sounds similar, would be picked up by these devices. The devices would then immediately notify police. The notification would show a timestamp, the approximate area where the sound came from (within an approximate 100 foot radius), an audio clip of the sound for officers to analyze, and other bits of information.

The ultimate goal is a quicker response to possible gun violence.

It will actually give us an opportunity to respond to that scene faster, ahead of potentially first callers as well, explained Ryan Lawrence, Crime Analysis Unit Supervisor for MPD. And that gives us the opportunity to find injured persons, potentially save lives, identify property damage, preserve evidence, and of course, hopefully, catch the perpetrators.

Eventually, over 200 gunshot sensors will be scattered around Murfreesboro. The technology is the latest to be used by MPDs real time crime center, which already deploys license plate readers and public safety cameras.

As with those tools, these sensors are being implemented to increase public safety.

All the technology that we utilize here will allow us to increase public safety, help maintain officer safety, and those are of course the biggest concerns that we have, Lawrence said. The system itself boasts about a 90 percent accuracy rating. Its capable of differentiating between fireworks, a single gunshot, and multi-gunshots.

Lawrence told News 2 that alert data from the sensors would remain in their database for six days and could only be accessed by specific police personnel. Lawrence added that any sensors on private property were placed with the owners permission.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

The installation and testing process is still ongoing. MPD could not say when this new system would officially be up and running.

Im really looking forward to seeing the difference we can make as we go along with this process here at the RTC, Lawrence said.

To learn more about these gunshot sensors and other new technology being deployed by MPD, you can visit the departments website.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
The Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and local community leaders are calling on authorities to further investigate the alleged hate-motivated attempted murder of two children in Euless.

The attack happened on May 19 at a swimming pool at a Euless apartment complex and led to the arrest of a woman on charges of attempted capital murder and injury to a child, according to Euless police.

A Muslim mother, referred to in a CAIR news release as Mrs. H, was watching her children in the shallow end of the pool when the suspect, identified by police as 42-year-old Elizabeth Wolf, also entered the swimming pool area, the mother told police and CAIR.

Mrs. H was wearing a hijab and modest swimwear at the time, CAIR said.

Wolf, who is white, approached the mother while making racist comments, witnesses told CAIR and police.

Police say Wolf also asked Mrs. H where she was from and if the two children in the pool were hers.

Wolf then jumped into the pool and pulled Mrs. Hs children to the deep end, where she tried to drown them, the mother said. Wolf tried to grab (the mothers) 6-year-old son, but he pulled away from her grasp, which caused a scratch on his finger, Euless police said in a statement on Friday. The mother began helping her son when Wolf grabbed her 3-year-old daughter and forced her underwater. The mother was able to pull her daughter from the water. Her daughter had been yelling for help and was coughing up water.

Mrs. H told authorities she jumped into the pool to save her children. Her 6-year-old son was able to escape, but her 3-year-old daughter was not, according to the CAIR release. The attacker snatched the hijab off the mothers head and used it to beat and kick her, trying to keep her away while forcing her daughters head underwater, the mother told CAIR.

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A man helped the mother rescue her daughter from the attacker, according to CAIRs statement. As Wolf was being handcuffed by police, she allegedly shouted to a witness who was with Mrs. H, Tell her I will kill her, and I will kill her whole family, CAIR said in the release.

Witnesses told police Wolf was intoxicated when she attacked the mother and her children. She was initially arrested on a charge of public intoxication, according to police.

According to CAIRs Austin operations manager, Shaimaa Zayan, Wolf was able to bail herself out of jail a day after being arrested.

The local Muslim organization is calling for federal and state authorities to investigate the attack as a hate crime.

We are seeing a new level of bigotry here where a person deeply believes they get to decide, based on religion, spoken language, and country of origin, whose kids deserve to stay alive and whose dont, Zayan said. We ask for hate-crime probe, a higher bail bond, and an open conversation with officials to address this alarming increase in Islamophobia, anti-Arab, and anti-Palestinian sentiment.

Mrs. H, whose family are American citizens from Palestine, says she doesnt know where she can go to feel safe with her children.

My country is facing a war, and we are facing that hate here, the mother said in the statement.

Taha Taha, an attorney working on the case, said, Every person has the right to feel safe and protected in their community. Our politicians and leaders must be careful when they address the media about foreign affairs to prevent acts of hatred that can only be attributed to Islamophobia and ignorance.

Texas State Rep. Salman Bhojani, representing House District 92, says his office is monitoring the case as it develops.

Im shocked and appalled by this alleged racist, Islamophobic occurrence that took place in my town. Hate has no place in Euless, District 92, or anywhere in our great state, Bhojani said.

The case is being prosecuted by the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorneys Office.

A CAIR news conference discussing the alleged hate crime will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday.

The mother says the attack has jeopardized her husbands job because hes had to take time away to accompany his family to appointments and errands.

As a result, the family is looking to raise $5,000 to provide financial assistance for the husband and the children as they recover from the trauma of the attack.
Insights from Red Pepper, openDemocracy, Democracy in Africa, and Context News

The News

Namibias High Court struck down two colonial-era laws that criminalized same-sex relationships between men on Friday, declaring them unconstitutional in a landmark win for the southern African countrys LGBTQ+ community.

Namibian activist Friedel Dausab, who brought the case with the support of UK-based organization Human Dignity Trust, hailed the win as a great day for Namibia, adding that it would no longer be a crime to love.







SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Namibias ruling bucks broader continental trend

Sources: Amnesty International , Human Rights Watch, BBC, openDemocracy

Last year witnessed a disturbing regression of progress on LGBTQ+ rights across Africa, Amnesty International warned in January. Since then Ugandas Constitutional Court has ruled to uphold the most abusive and radical provisions of the countrys 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act, which introduced the death penalty for so-called aggravated homosexuality, and in February, Ghanas Parliament voted to impose jail terms for anyone convicted of even identifying as LGBTQ+, as well as forming or funding LGBTQ+ groups  a bill that is now in the hands of the Supreme Court, though LGBTQ+ Ghanians told openDemocracy their lives had already been severely impacted.

LGBTQ+ rights are often associated with Western imperialism

Sources: Red Pepper , Context News , Democracy in Africa

Crackdowns on LGBTQ+ rights in Africa are increasingly framed in anti-colonial terms, with homosexuality labeled a Western import. But these narratives rely on a distortion of history, insofar as homophobia was primarily introduced to Africa through colonialism, a Ghanaian theologist told Red Pepper. The British exported their legal systems imposing them on societies where often consensual same-sex activity did not carry the same social and religious taboos, the chief executive of Human Dignity Trust said in an interview with Context News. Thats not to say the treatment of gender and sexuality in pre-colonial Africa was uncomplex: But because much historical documentation was done by colonizers themselves, this history is coloured[by colonizers mores] rather than a neutral reflection of our[s], a columnist argued in Democracy in Africa.

Discrimination may be linked to Christian fundamentalism

Source: openDemocracy

Well-funded evangelical Christian groups from the United States have worked to sow mass hysteria around homosexuality in Africa, an expert in Christian fundamentalism on the continent told openDemocracy as part of the outlets 2020 investigation into conservative Christians. Their agenda parallels the 19th-century colonial scramble for Africa, a Ugandan activist added, in a desperate quest for new spheres of influence amid Western advances in LGBTQ+ rights.
By Nyasha Nyaungwa

WINDHOEK (Reuters) - A high court in Namibia declared two colonial-era laws that criminalised same-sex acts between men unconstitutional on Friday, in a landmark win for the LGBTQ community in the southern African country.

The case was brought by Namibian activist Friedel Dausab with the support of British-based non-governmental organisation Human Dignity Trust.

Dausab told Reuters he was "just happy" after the court's decision. "It's a great day for Namibia," he said. "It won't be a crime to love anymore."

Consensual same-sex activity is prohibited in more than half of 54 African countries, according to ILGA, an international organisation supporting LGBTQ rights.

"This victory also brings much-needed and renewed energy to other decriminalisation efforts across Africa," said Tea Braun, chief executive of the Human Dignity Trust.

Rights campaigners say that, while convictions under the laws on "sodomy" and "unnatural sexual offences" were relatively rare in Namibia, they have perpetuated discrimination against the LGBTQ community and made gay men live in fear of arrest.

John Nakuta, a law professor at the University of Namibia, said the court's order can be appealed by the Namibian government within 21 days.

Namibia inherited the laws when it gained independence from South Africa in 1990, though same-sex acts between men were initially criminalised under colonial rule.

South Africa has since decriminalised same-sex sexual activity and is the only country on the African continent to allow LGBTQ couples to adopt children, marry and enter civil unions.

Last year, Uganda enacted one of the world's harshest anti-LGBTQ laws, which included the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality", despite widespread condemnations from the West.

LGBTQ supporters gathered outside the court carrying banners that read, "Get the law out of my love life", and "Peace, Love, Unity", told Reuters they were overjoyed.

Omar van Reenen, co-founder of the Namibia Equal Rights Movement, welcomed the court's judgment and said the LGBTQ community in Namibia could finally feel like equal citizens.

"The message that the court sent today is that we have every right to belong and exist in this country and that the constitution protects us," said van Reenen.

(Reporting by Nyasha Nyaungwa in Windhoek; Additional reporting and writing by Bhargav Acharya; Editing by Alexander Winning and Jan Harvey)
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, June 21. Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Head of the Presidential Administration of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Japarov will pay a business visit to Urumqi city in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China, Trend reports.

Furthermore, Japarov will take part in the 8th international exhibition, "China-Eurasia EXPO: New Opportunities on the Silk Road and New Vitality for Eurasia".

The bilateral meetings are also planned to discuss the progress of projects and cooperation in the political, economic, cultural, humanitarian, and security spheres.

Moreover, meetings of the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers with the heads of large corporations and companies are expected. Several documents are planned to be signed during the events and meetings.

Meanwhile, more than 1,900 enterprises and institutions from 50 countries and regions, as well as from 30 provinces, autonomous regions, and cities in China, are expected to take part in the exhibition.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
NASA will discuss the results of a recent asteroid-threat exercise today (June 20), and you can watch it live.

The simulation, called the Planetary Defense Interagency Tabletop Exercise, was held April 2 and April 3 at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Maryland. It aimed "to inform and assess our ability as a nation to respond effectively to the threat of a potentially hazardous asteroid or comet," NASA officials said in a statement.

Officials from NASA and other organizations will discuss the results of the exercise during a briefing today at 3:30 p.m. EDT (1930 GMT). You can watch it live here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA.

illustration of two asteroids in space, with earth in the background

Participating in the briefing will be:

Lindley Johnson, NASA's Planetary Defense Officer Emeritus, NASA Headquarters, Washington

Leviticus "L.A." Lewis, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) detailee to NASAs Planetary Defense Coordination Office, NASA Headquarters

Terik Daly, planetary defense section supervisor, APL

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NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office and FEMA organized the April exercise, with the help of the U.S. Department of State Office of Space Affairs. It was the fifth such simulation that researchers have conducted.

"While there are no known significant asteroid impact threats for the foreseeable future, hypothetical exercises like this one, which are conducted about every two years, provide valuable insights on how the United States could respond effectively if a potential asteroid impact threat is identified," NASA officials wrote in the same statement.

"This years exercise was the first to include participation by NASA's international collaborators in planetary defense and the first to have the benefit of actual data from NASA's successful DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) mission, the world's first in-space technology demonstration for defending Earth against potential asteroid impacts," they added.
The Nashville police officer shot by a robbery suspect last June is suing the valet parking company he says attracted criminal activity because its poor security was an open secret.

Detective Donovan Coble was hospitalized on June 1, 2023, after he was shot by Delama Casimir near a valet parking lot on Donelson Pike operated by The Parking Spot, which shuttles travelers to Nashville International Airport. Coble was responding to reports of a man breaking into vehicles at the parking lot. Police said Casimir shot him with a pistol stolen from one of the unlocked cars in the parking lot.

Coble and another officer returned fire. Casimir died from his injuries.

Metro Nashville Police Officers investigate after an officer was shot in Nashville, Tenn., on June 1, 2023. The officer was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for treatment.

Coble argues in his new lawsuit that the valet company should be held liable for the near-fatal injuries he sustained during the shooting because of its negligent security practices, which he alleges include regularly leaving car doors unlocked, not employing security guards and failing to keep perimeter fences in good condition.

"Not only did the Defendant fail as stated above, TPS (The Parking Spot) allowed through their omissions for it ... to become common knowledge to the nearby criminal element that TPS failed to even lock vehicle doors, thus creating an attractive environment to encourage break ins," the lawsuit states.

A manager at The Parking Spot told The Tennessean it could not comment for this story. The Parking Spot has not responded in court.

Coble is joined by his wife Kayla Coble as a plaintiff in the case. They are seeking as much as $8 million in damages.

Coble is represented by longtime Nashville lawyers David Raybin and David Weissman. The lawsuit, initially filed in Davidson County Circuit Court in May, was transferred to federal court on June 12.

Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him at emealins@gannett.com or follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @EvanMealins.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville officer sues valet company he says attracted criminals
NATO hopes to Trump-proof the alliance with new chief Mark Rutte. It could backfire.

The Biden administration got its way when outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte secured the support of all 32 NATO allies for the alliance's top political post.

Though the secretary general of NATO is often described as more of a secretary than a general, former NATO officials and U.S. diplomats said the alliance may need Rutte to be battle ready if Donald Trump wins back the presidency in November.

The question looming over next months NATO leaders summit  to be held in Washington from July 9 to 11  is if Rutte will be up to the task.

Rutte, whose center-right politics in Europe would put him to the left of many mainstream Democrats, is known for his pragmatism, his skill for building coalitions and his staunch transatlantic views. But his low-key, common-sense approach might make him better suited to working with President Joe Biden than Trump, who at one point threatened to pull the U.S. out of the alliance, and who has repeatedly berated European allies over their meager defense spending.

Having a superb coalition builder  which is what NATO is all about, getting the consensus for an organization  is good for NATO, said Ivo Daalder, who served as U.S. ambassador to NATO during the Obama administration. But no one person is going to be able to manage an alliance that is bound to be disrupted by a president who is not interested in either being managed himself or managing an alliance.

Trump only had a few one-on-one in-person meetings with Rutte during his presidency, and several of his former diplomats in Europe said they couldnt speak to the relationship between the two men. But when the two leaders did meet, Ruttes no-nonsense approach to Trump made headlines.

During a July 2018 bilateral meeting at the White House, Trump attempted to tell reporters that the result would be positive even if the U.S. and the EU couldnt agree on a trade deal. Rutte quickly cut Trump off.

No, Rutte interjected, with a laugh and his trademark smile. Its not positive. We have to work something out.

Gordon Sondland, who served as Trumps ambassador to the European Union, told POLITICO that Rutte has had a history with him of pushing back when he thinks Trump is wrong, and he does it right to his face.

I think thats very refreshing for Trump, he added.

But Sondlands suggestion that Trump would appreciate Ruttes candor and bluntness is at odds with Trumps even greater appreciation for loyalty. (Trump recalled Sondland as EU ambassador after his testimony in the former presidents first impeachment inquiry.)

The Trump campaign has revealed little so far about how he would approach NATO under Rutte, saying only that Trump will restore peace and rebuild American strength and deterrence on the world stage.

Outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg attempted to manage his own relationship with Trump through a policy of appeasement, including by appearing on Fox News to give Trump credit for helping increase the defense spending of member countries.

I think the relationship between Trump and NATO, including the secretary general, will be far worse in the second term than it was in the first  and it was terrible in the first even though Stoltenberg spent all this time trying to find a way for Trump to play nice on NATO, Daalder said.

Fabrice Pothier, who served as former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussens policy chief, said that Stoltenberg succeeded in convincing Trump to think of NATO as his company and that he helped it grow in revenue. But Pothier warned that the strategy may not work again.

Im just skeptical that Trump-proofing NATO and Trump-proofing the transatlantic relationship will do the trick, Pothier said. Trump, and some people around him, wont be tricked a second time.

Kay Bailey Hutchison, who served as ambassador to NATO under Trump, said the former president would listen to his secretaries of state and defense and that his relationship with the alliance could be determined by who he appoints to those positions.

Daalder said its possible that Trump will appoint a greater number of NATO skeptics to top administrative posts if he wins in November  unlike his first term, when Trump selected more traditional pro-alliance people to senior defense and national security roles.

If Ric Grenell is secretary of state or if, God forbid, Jared Kushner  they dont care about, they dont understand and they dont want to understand NATO, Daalder added.

Even Stoltenberg needed a reality check during a meeting with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday.

During the meeting, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) interrupted Stoltenberg when he claimed that all 32 NATO members  including the U.S.  support Kyiv joining the alliance.

I expressed the reality that a great many Americans, myself included, believe Ukrainian membership in NATO would be a serious mistake, Cruz told POLITICO. And I noted the obvious, which is we have a presidential election in about five months.

If Donald Trump is reelected president, I think it is extremely unlikely that President Trump would support Ukraine being a member of NATO, Cruz added.

Regardless of Trumps transatlantic policy, longtime NATO observers dont expect Rutte to adopt his predecessors conciliatory approach. If Trump wins, Daalder said he expects Rutte will focus on uniting the Europeans in NATO.

Rutte has already shown signs that he might need to make more compromises than hed like to keep the alliance united. During a Monday meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Rutte promised to excuse Hungary from participating in NATO efforts to aid Ukraine in exchange for Budapests support for his candidacy as secretary general.

I think the moment you become the secretary general, you have to become a bit more flexible, Pothier said. You have to be willing to put more water in your wine because you are representing 32 allies, so you have to be even more of a coalition builder.

But Daalder indicated that Ruttes flexibility may also have its limits, especially when it comes to Trump.

Rutte will do whatevers best for the alliance, Daalder said. That may not be in any way trying to be closer with the president of the United States who is not interested in being closer to NATO.

Regardless of interpersonal squabbles, the reality is the United States remains one of the greatest contributors to the alliances budget  a country Pothier said the alliance simply cannot operate without.

NATO is nothing without the United States, Pothier said. Whoever tells you that  the contrary  is kidding himself.
A former Navy ship captain was convicted last week of cyberstalking and stealing his ex-girlfriends identity to create explicit online content, according to the U.S. Justice Department.

During a four-day federal trial in San Diego, prosecutors presented evidence that Capt. Theodore E. Essenfeld, 52, created fake Facebook, LinkedIn, email and cell phone accounts using the womans name, photographs and personal information without her consent or knowledge.

Posing as the victim, Essenfeld posted erotic and sexually explicit content to the Facebook account, as well as graphic media files, the Justice Department said in a statement announcing the June 14 conviction.

Prosecutors presented evidence showing that Essenfeld joined Facebook dating groups using the bogus account and interacted with other users while pretending to be the woman.

The captain also followed and engaged with social media accounts belonging to the womans prospective employers, according to the feds.

Feds charge Navy captain with cyberstalking

More than 1,200 Facebook users became friends with the fake account, including the womans former colleagues.

The victim reported this imposter account to Facebook more than 400 times, but the company refused to take the account down because it appeared more authentic than the victims actual account due to the volume of images and level of Essenfelds engagement on the platform, the Justice Department said.

Essenfeld and the woman began dating in 2018 and broke up in 2021, according to his 2023 indictment.

The prior-enlisted surface warfare officer was assigned to Expeditionary Strike Group 3 at the time of his indictment in 2023, and previously commanded the dock landing ship Pearl Harbor from 2015 to 2018.

Essenfeld is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 6.

He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of cyberstalking by an active-duty servicemember, call the Department of Defense Hotline at 800-424-9098.
Nearly 71 million people expected to travel 4th of July week, AAA reports record-setting numbers

The holiday is approaching and that means more travelers, and this year we will see record-setting numbers.

According to a report from the American Automobile Association, nearly 71 million people are expected to travel over the July 4th week.

AAA said this years extended Independence Day forecast exceeds the pre-pandemic numbers.

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AAA projects 70.9 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Independence Day holiday travel period.

The association looked at the entire July 4th week, plus the Saturday before and the Sunday after the holiday and it found that 2024s projected number of travelers for that time is a 5% increase compared to 2023 and a 8% increase over 2019.

Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel, said theyre anticipating this July 4th week to be the busiest ever.

With summer vacations in full swing and the flexibility of remote work, more Americans are taking extended trips around Independence Day, said Twidale. We anticipate this July 4th week will be the busiest ever with an additional 5.7 million people traveling compared to 2019.

Out of the travel numbers, AAA projects a record 60.6 million people will travel by car for Independence Day. Thats an additional 2.8 million travelers compared to last year and in 2019 when the number was 55.3 million.

Gas prices are lower than last year when the national average was $3.53. Pump prices will likely continue going down leading up to the holiday.

The number of air travelers is also expected to set a new record.

TRENDING STORIES:

AAA projects 5.74 million people will fly to their July 4th destinations, which is an increase of nearly 7% compared to last year and a 12% increase over 2019. AAA booking data shows domestic airfare is 2% cheaper this Independence Day week compared to the previous year.

The average price for a domestic roundtrip ticket is $800.

AAA recommends arriving 2 hours early, reserving parking ahead of time, and traveling with carry-on luggage versus checked bags to save time and money.

More than 4.6 million people are expected to travel by other modes of transportation, including buses, cruises, and trains.

INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, says the worst times to travel by car before and on July 4th are between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Drivers should hit the road in the morning, and travelers returning on Monday, July 8 should avoid rush hour traffic in the morning and afternoon.

Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, said drivers may experience the worst traffic on Wednesday, July 3.

Drivers in large metro areas can expect the worst traffic delays on Wednesday, July 3rd, as they leave town, and Sunday, July 7th, as they return, said Pishue. Road trips over the holiday week could take up to 67% longer than normal. Travelers should monitor 511 services, local news stations, and traffic apps for up-to-the-minute road conditions.

Best and Worst Times to Travel by Car, according to AAA:

Date Worst Travel Time Best Travel Time

Monday, Jul 1 Minimal Traffic Impact Expected

Tuesday, Jul 2, 2:00  6:00 PM After 7:00 PM

Wednesday, Jul 3, 2:00  7:00 PM Before Noon

Thursday, Jul 4, 2:00  7:00 PM Before Noon

Friday, Jul 5, 11:00 AM  4:00 PM Before 10:00 AM

Saturday, Jul 6, 10:30 AM  2:30 PM Before 10:00 AM

Sunday, Jul 7, 2:00  8:00 PM Before 11:00 AM

Monday, Jul 8, 1:00  5:00 PM After 7:00 PM

Source: INRIX

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Attorney General Dana Nessel speaks at a gathering at the Michigan Capitol following the Feb. 13, 2023 mass shooting at Michigan State University, Feb. 15, 2023 | Laina G. Stebbins

Following Fridays decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold a federal law that bars people subject to domestic violence restraining orders from owning a firearm, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel says she was thankful that common sense prevailed on the matter.

The 8-1 decision overturned a lower court ruling that vacated the conviction of a Texas man, Zackey Rahimi, who had been prohibited from possessing a firearm by a restraining order issued after he assaulted his girlfriend in 2019. While the lower court cited a 2022 Supreme Court decision  New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen  that greatly expanded gun rights in its decision, Chief Justice John Roberts, writing the 8-1 majority opinion, said individuals who threaten physical harm to others from misusing firearms, could be legally disarmed.

Nessel, speaking to reporters Friday afternoon, said the decision would undoubtedly help protect countless lives.

This is a victory for crime victims and survivors everywhere, but no more so than the estimated 4.5 million women who have been threatened by an intimate partner with a gun, as well as all those who are at higher risk of gun violence, including Black and Indigenous women, women who are under 20, women who are pregnant or have disabilities, and also members of the LGBTQ community, she said. Michigans recently passed ERPO [extreme risk protection order] law was modeled after the federal law at issue in the Rahimi case, and the Supreme Courts decision today only confirms the constitutionality of our own law.

Nessel said her office had deep concerns about which way the court would rule considering the significant legislation that was signed into law last year, including expanding background checks, initiating safe storage requirements, creating extreme risk protection orders and strengthening penalties for those convicted of domestic abuse.

Im grateful to be sitting here today to tell you that I truly believe that the Rahimi decision, if anything, supports the work that was done in those cases and upholds the constitutionality of those new laws, she said.

Nessel also pointed to the creation on Thursday of a Gun Violence Prevention Task Force by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, which she said would be helpful in making sure there was collaboration between agencies across the state to craft the best policies and practices in regard to enforcing the new laws.

The AG said she was mostly encouraged at the instances that the ERPO laws were being utilized, with 62 cases since it went into effect in February.

I think if more people knew about them, I think more people would utilize them, said Nessel. And when they do, what we find is that we save lives. And were talking about not just the prevention of homicides, but suicides as well. And so I think the more that were out there educating people about these laws, the more lives that were going to save.

The lone dissenting vote on Fridays ruling was from Justice Clarence Thomas, who argued that a restraining order was not the same as a criminal conviction, and in and of itself was not enough to deprive someone of their Second Amendment rights.

However, Nessel said the ruling was a win for common sense.

This was not a close call, she said. It was an 8-1 decision. Those who were appointed by Democratic presidents as well as Republican presidents, eight of the nine agreed that the statute at issue was constitutional and that there are people who can be restrained and prohibited from ownership and possession of firearms if they pose a credible threat to the public and to specific individuals. Thats a person that shouldnt own a firearm.

Nessel was also asked how the ruling squares with a Supreme Court decision last week that invalidated an executive order by former President Donald Trump that outlawed bump stocks, which allows a semi-automatic weapon to have the same rate of fire as a machine gun.

The attorney general said that particular decision was more about the constitutionality of executive orders than it was about gun laws, although she said it did open up the possibility for legislative action on a ban either at the federal or state level.

There could be a bump a stock ban here in the state of Michigan, she said In fact, I have talked to several legislators who are very interested in proposing such legislation, and I wouldnt be surprised to see it pass here in Michigan.

The post Nessel says SCOTUS gun ruling confirms constitutionality of Michigan gun laws appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is doubling down on criticisms that U.S. ammunition and weapons deliveries are arriving to Israel in a trickle, adding that he is airing private disagreements to force a change in the situation.

I felt that airing it was absolutely necessary after months of quiet conversation that did not solve the problem, Netanyahu said in an interview with Punchbowl News that was published Friday morning.

I raised this issue with Secretary [of State Antony] Blinken. And I said that we are being told by our Defense Department officials that barely a trickle is coming in. He said, Well, everything is in process. Were doing everything to untangle it. And to clear up the bottlenecks.

The Biden administration is rejecting Netanyahus characterization of the pace of U.S. weapons deliveries.

White House national security communications adviser John Kirby called Netanyahus criticisms  first aired in a video posted to social media  vexing, disappointing, and incorrect, in a call with reporters Thursday.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller separately rejected that there are any bottlenecks stifling U.S. weapons and ammunition deliveries to Israel.

President Biden has paused one delivery of heavy bombs to Israel, which U.S. officials say is under a review. The pause in heavy bomb shipments came as Biden has faced mounting criticisms from Democrats and protests across the country over how U.S. weapons are contributing to the heavy toll of death and destruction suffered by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

There is one shipment of high-payload munitions that we have put under review and that remains under review. Thats not a bottleneck; thats a policy review, Miller said Thursday.

Other shipments of weapons have been moving regularly to Israel, because we are committed to Israels long-term defense, and that includes things that have nothing to do with the war in Gaza but are capabilities related to Israels long-term security, defending itself against, for example, the threat from Iran.

Earlier this week, Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released a hold on a military sale for Israel that would include 50 F-15 fighter jets, air-to-air missiles, and JDAMs  attachments to unguided bombs to make them precision missiles.

Netanyahus public attacks against the Biden administration come one month before the longtime Israeli leader is set to address a joint session of Congress.

Some Democrats have called for Biden to hold back weapons deliveries as leverage for Netanyahu to shift course on the war conduct in Gaza and his policies toward the Palestinians, while Republicans have made a stronger show of support for Israel.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) released a statement Friday saying he was deeply concerned about Netanyahus reports of delays in U.S. weapons deliveries.

It is unacceptable for the Biden administration to play politics with Israels security, he wrote on the social platform X.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Netherlands puts together Patriot system to be sent to Ukraine in conjunction with another state

The Netherlands, along with another state, is to send a Patriot air defence system to Ukraine, Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren announced on Friday, 21 June.

Source: Dutch news agency ANP, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Ollongren revealed on Friday that the Netherlands had found all the components required for a complete Patriot air defence system. She refused to specify which country will be helping to transport the system.

The Dutch defence minister also refused to reveal the date on which the Patriot air defence system will be delivered to Ukraine to avoid disclosing this information to Russia.

It was reported in May that the Netherlands, with support from other countries, wanted to assemble a Patriot air defence system to send to Ukraine in the short term.

Ukraine has stated that it will require seven Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems in the near future to defend its airspace from Russian strikes.

Following that, Germany and Romania announced that they would be transferring their own systems.

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Netherlands to supply Patriot system to Ukraine together with another country

Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren announced that the Netherlands will supply components for a Patriot air defense system for Ukraine together with another country, Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau (ANP) reported on June 21.

Ollongren did not name the second country or provide details on when the system would be delivered, but said that the Netherlands will supply the system's radar and launchers.

Kyiv has been calling on its partners to provide additional air defenses as Russia intensifies its strikes against cities and energy infrastructure.

Ukraine received its first Patriot battery from the U.S. in the first half of 2023 and since then, the U.S.' most advanced anti-air system has proved crucial in protecting the sky from Russian attacks.

The Dutch Defense Ministry said in May that the Netherlands would like to deliver a Patriot system to Ukraine in cooperation with other countries and was in talks to compile the air defense system.

The Netherlands has not delivered a full patriot system to Ukraine so far, but has previously provided launchers and other supplies, as well as training for crews.

Ollongren described Romania's decision to supply a Patriot system, announced on June 20, as "very good news."

Bucharest said it decided to donate the Patriot system to Kyiv in coordination with partners in view of the "deteriorating security situation" in Ukraine due to Moscow's constant attacks.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Kyiv to get priority on air defense missiles from US, new Patriot from Romania

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Nigel Farages analysis of Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine could hardly be more wrong. He claims that Nato and EU expansion was provocative. In fact it was Western weakness and timidity that encouraged Putins aggression in 2022. Rather than making any attempt to oppose Russias seizure of Crimea in 2014, or helping Ukraine to do so, Western governments called on Kyiv to take no action that might lead to escalation. In spirit, it was a foreshadowing of Joe Bidens offer in February 2022 to give President Zelensky a ride out of Ukraine.

When Putin saw the West was unwilling to confront him, he rapidly followed up with aggression in the Donbas. In the face of that, Europe desperately sought to revert as soon as possible to business as usual with Russia, even taking steps to increase energy dependence. Seeing he had nothing to fear, an assessment reinforced by Natos abandonment of Afghanistan, Putin returned to the charge in Ukraine in February 2022.

To give credence to Putins frequently trotted out excuse for starting this war is, to say the least, naive. Farage says that he admires him as a political operator. Well, the political operator understood only too well that Russia had nothing to fear militarily from Nato, having rubbed shoulders with the heads of Western governments for so many years. Not one of them has any aggressive instinct let alone intent.

Quite the reverse. As we have seen repeatedly in the pusillanimous responses from both Europe and the US to the 2022 invasion, with pretty much whatever Ukraine has needed to fight back being provided reluctantly, inadequately and with crippling restrictions, if at all. If Putin has any genuine fear of Natos eastward expansion, why has he withdrawn 80 per cent of Russian forces from the border with Finland shortly after it joined the alliance?

Beyond his imperialist motivations to recreate a greater Russia with him as Tsar, what Putin did actually fear was a democratic Ukraine and a Ukraine that has benefited increasingly from alignment with the West. He recognised the dangers to his own regime of growing economic prosperity just across the border, with the potential to create envy inside Russia that could lead to popular challenges to his repressive authority as he leads his country into economic decline and marginalisation on the world stage.

A serious political leader should not parrot the talking points of Vladimir Putin. Instead Farage should be encouraging our country and the West to stand up to this dictator against his criminal assault on a sovereign state. We have seen the consequences of appeasement play out over the last two years in Ukraine, and we can be sure that anything short of Russian defeat there will inevitably lead to even greater aggression and bloodshed in Europe in the future.

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DUSHANBE. Tajikistan, June 21. Tajikistan and Turkmenistan have discussed regional economic cooperation, Trend reports.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan, the issues were discussed during a meeting between Tajikistan's Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Vafo Niyatbekzoda, and the Hakim of Turkmenistan's Balkan Province, Ashirmyratov Khojamyrat.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the development of cooperation between the regions of Tajikistan and Turkmenistan in various sectors, including economy and trade, investments, industry, agriculture, education, and culture.

To note, in April of this year, five cooperation documents were signed between the countries during an official visit by the Chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. These documents include:

- An Agreement on Cooperation between the Center for Advanced Training and Retraining of Diplomatic Service Employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan and the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.

- An Agreement between the executive body of state power of the city of Khujand of the Sughd region of Tajikistan and the Hokimlik of the city of Arkadag of Turkmenistan on the establishment of sister city relations.

- An Agreement on Cooperation between the Committee on Architecture and Construction under the Government of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Construction and Architecture of Turkmenistan.

- A Memorandum between the Institute of Geology, Seismic-Resistant Construction, and Seismology of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan and the Institute of Seismology and Atmospheric Physics of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan.
FILE - The Orano logo is pictured at La Defense business district, outside Paris, on Jan. 23, 2018. Nigerian military authorities have withdrawn the operating permit for a large uranium mine from the French company Orano, the company said, significantly escalating tensions between the military junta and the country's former colonial power. Niger, a landlocked country of 26 million, is the world's seventh biggest supplier of uranium, used for the production of weapons and nuclear power. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

NIAMEY, Niger (AP)  Nigerien military authorities have withdrawn the operating permit for a large uranium mine from the French company Orano, the company said, significantly escalating tensions between the military junta and the country's former colonial power.

Niger, a landlocked country of 26 million, is the world's seventh biggest supplier of uranium, used for the production of weapons and nuclear power. In 2022, the country supplied over a quarter of the uranium used in the European Union, according to the bloc's nuclear energy agency, making it its second-biggest uranium source, after Kazakhstan.

Before the military coup last year, Niger was the Wests major economic and security partner in the Sahel, the vast region south of the Sahara Desert that has become a hot spot for violent extremism. But the military junta which seized power on the pledge of cutting ties with the West vowed to review mining concessions in the country and ordered the withdrawal of Western troops.

The Imouraren mine, located in the northern part of the country, is one of the largest uranium deposits in the world, with reserves estimated at 200,000 tons. Mining activities were supposed to start there in 2015, but production was halted after the crash in uranium prices following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan.

Thursday's decision by the Nigerien junta comes despite the resumption of activities on site, pursuant to the expectations they had expressed, the company said in a statement.

Current market conditions, with a favorable increase in the price of uranium, make it possible to once again consider putting Imouraren into operation, it said late Thursday. The infrastructure had reopened earlier this month, it added.

The company's exploitation plan did not meet our expectations," the Nigerien mining ministry wrote to the company in a letter dated June 20 and seen by The Associated Press. As a result, the mine has been returned to the public domain and exempted from all contractual rights, the letter said.

Orano, which has been operating in Niger for over 50 years, said it has always followed a responsible approach of partnership and transparency, acting in continuous consultation with the State of Niger and local stakeholders.

The company said it was "willing to keep all channels of communication open" with the Nigerien junta, but it reserved the right to challenge the decision to withdraw the permit in a national or international court.

___

Pronczuk reported from Dakar, Senegal.
Nikki Haley is the clear choice for Trump's VP pick. So I'm sure he'll go full MAGA.

In recent weeks, varying media sites have been putting out short lists for Donald Trumps VP choice. Names like Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio and Reps. Byron Donalds of Florida and Elise Stefanik of New York have gotten much attention as potential successors to the MAGA movement and possible Trump vice presidential pick.

Trump has a couple of options. He could pander to potential voters by picking a candidate who appeals to a certain regional or demographic group. Or he could pander directly to his followers by choosing the candidate most aligned with his ideals to preserve the MAGA legacy beyond his final term in office.

Trump's reported short list features mostly MAGA candidates and has sparked tremendous interest as we head toward the Republican National Convention next month. Now we are waiting for the name and the type of politician Trump will choose as his running mate.

Moderates could decide the election. Trump needs to think about them.

President Donald Trump and his ambassador to the United Nations, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, at the U.N. headquarters in New York City in 2017.

I believe that Trumps best choice is to pick somebody who can make voting for him more palatable. Moderates who dislike President Joe Biden but are turned off by the Trump persona could be a deciding force in the election.

Trump could foreseeably bring in a portion of these sympathetic voters who are reluctant to vote for him as it stands and need somebody else to root for on the ticket.

Will Gen Z pick Trump or Biden? Gen Z has the opportunity to decide 2024, but Biden and Trump make us want to sit out.

Nearly 1 in 5 Republican primary voters in many states continued to vote against Trump even after he was the sole candidate in the race. These protest votes could be a signal of voters who fall under the conservative umbrella but will refuse to show up for Trump on Election Day.

At the same time, these are probably the easiest voters to persuade to support a second Trump presidency, and it could be by something as simple as the right VP choice.

The obvious choice for Trump and Republicans has been there all along

Nikki Haley, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and a former South Carolina governor, put up respectable numbers in the GOP primary, even after she dropped out.

Although she ultimately came up short, she won Vermont and Washington, D.C., while putting up a staunch fight in states like South Carolina and New Hampshire. While Trump's performance in the primary was nothing short of dominant, Haley's performance proves that her vein of GOP voters are willing to use their voice.

Nikki Haley, former Republican candidate for president and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, visits on May 27, 2024, the site of the Israeli music festival that Hamas terrorists attacked on Oct. 7, 2023, with gunfire, grenades and rockets  killing hundreds.

This means that Haley, as the vice president pick, would give Trump the best path forward. A Trump-Haley ticket would represent an olive branch extended between the two factions of the GOP at war with each other. Trumps populist base would certainly take issue with it, but his supporters won't let any VP choice stand in the way of their vote for him.

Sadly, Haleys name has seemingly been excluded from the publicly circulated short lists. Given the hostility that her rivalry with Trump brought about in the primary, the Republican presumptive nominee may be reluctant to choose her.

Trump is a horrible choice without somebody like Nikki Haley

Trump is the most controversial nominee choice for the GOP to have, and that scares moderates. In 2020, moderates broke for Biden, with 62% helping propel him to the White House.

While the economic attitude of the country is certain to help Trump close that gap, he has other concerns.

Trump trial shouldn't have happened: Trump was found guilty in a sham case DA Bragg never should have prosecuted

Now a convicted felon, Trump has a new struggle among the center of American voters. More than 20% of moderates, as well as 1 in 10 Republicans, have said that they are less likely to vote for him after a jury found him guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

Trump as an alternative to Biden may be a no-brainer for most GOP voters, but for those on the fence, something as simple as a reasonable VP choice could be a deciding factor. Haley could help Trump.

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Trump's VP shortlist doesn't make him more palatable to voters

Instead, the best moderate option on Trumps short list appears to be South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. He is a proven legislator, having served in both the House and Senate, and is less extreme on topics that moderate voters might care about.

Scott has the added benefit of being a Black conservative, allowing Trump to parry many of the attacks GOP campaigns face on racial issues. Scott is a quality choice for vice president, especially when you compare him with others.

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., campaigns for former President Donald Trump on Feb. 23, 2024, in Rock Hill.

The alternatives on the short list are far more concerning:

Vance is an inexperienced Ohio senator who willfully departed from conservative principles on economics and foreign policy, favoring Trump's brand of "America First" populism over a more disciplined approach.

Donalds, seemingly one of the heirs to the MAGA movement, has only been in the House of Representatives for three years and is best known for his role in the House speakership fiasco last year.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who once was a forefront member of the GOP, long ago bent the knee to Trump to salvage his political career after a brutal 2016 primary race.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, a relatively politically inexperienced businessman who is difficult to pinpoint on many major issues, positions himself as a milquetoast and inoffensive pick.

Any of these choices would be great if Trump wants a "yes-man," but they would do a great disservice to the American people.

Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, addresses the conservative Turning Point Action on June 16, 2024, in Detroit.

Sadly, Trump may not feel he needs to pick a moderate candidate in order to win, which is the only thing he truly cares about. He is the favorite in polling over Biden, albeit by a slimmer margin than conservatives would like to portray. And we still have months before the election.

However, if he truly does care for the state of the Republican Party, bringing a more principled conservative to the White House at his side could do wonders for Trumps ability to bring the party closer together. Though that is a task Trump is almost certain to fail at.

Picking a MAGA successor like Vance is a sure way to tear the GOP apart even more.

Dace Potas is an Opinion fellow for USA TODAY. A graduate from DePaul University with a degree in political science, he's also president of the Lone Conservative, the largest conservative student-run publication in the country.

You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump VP pick will be a MAGA yes-man. It should be Haley instead
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (PIX11)  A star high school lacrosse player in Bergen County, New Jersey, Max Lenowitz had many friends and a bright future. On July 14, 2022  his 25th birthday  he took what he thought was Xanax  and ended up being pure fentanyl.

Now, his mother, Patrice Lenowitz, is his voice to the world.

Prior to losing Max, I knew nothing about fentanyl, said Lenowitz. The most important thing we can do right now is to try to raise awareness, and the only reason Im able to stand before you right now is thats the only thing that gives me purpose right now.

Shes one of many parents who came to Rutgers University Thursday for the DEA New Jersey Field Divisions Family Summit. Together, parents who have lost children to fentanyl overdoses learned about how to deal with grief and talk about how they can spread awareness.

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Its so painful to come here, said Lenowtiz, and all these other families are grieving the loss of their loved one.

A little over a year ago, Gina Rahim of Red Bank lost her son, Dillon, in a very similar situation  taking a pill that was for sleep, not knowing it was laced with fentanyl.

Im not always strong, said Rahim. There are times where I cant really lift myself up and move forward knowing Ive lost my first love. His life has to serve a purpose, and the purpose, I believe, is to be able to save other kids.

We hope they continue to spread the message, share their stories, said DEA Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz.

According to the DEA, only 2 milligrams of fentanyl is enough to be lethal.

It is the leading cause of death for those 18 to 45 years of age here United States, said Ortiz. Our DEA labs are showing seven out of 10 pills seized contain a lethal dose. This is a crisis. This is an absolute crisis.

I definitely dont think we talk about it enough, said New Jersey State Police Col. Patrick Callahan. I think the fact that we lost 112,000 Americans last year to it  imagine if we lost that many people on our highways, what highway traffic safety we would be talking about.

Rahim said more needs to be done by the federal government to fight the fentanyl crisis.

I hope that other families lives can be saved and their futures not ruined, as I feel like mine is, said Rahim.

Last year, in Max Lenowitzs memory, the New Jersey Legislature passed a joint resolution designating July 14 of every year as Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Day.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
A Palatka man is behind bars, accused of multiple sex charges against children. Due to the nature of the crimes and to protect the young victims, some details have been left out of this story.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

The Putnam County Sheriffs Office arrested Tony Lee McKenzie, 47, after two children told authorities they had been sexually assaulted.

In April a child protection team called detectives when one of the victims told investigators about the crimes. McKenzie was a friend of the family. The child said the abuse, which caused injuries, began in 2021 and went on until December 2023.

Another child also told detectives about sexual abuse crimes and that McKenzie was a family relative. The child did not tell the family out of fear of retaliation.

READ: Two North Florida men arrested for possession and transmitting child sexual abuse material

In May, detectives obtained a warrant for McKenzies arrest. The sheriffs office said McKenzie was detained by officers after fleeing to Ohio in early June. He was extradited back to Putnam County on Fri., June 21.

This is a further testament to how far we will go to bring these predators to justice, Sheriff H.D. Gator DeLoach said. They can run, they can try to hide, but we will find them. No child should have to live in fear and we hope these children will recover eventually from their abuse. The nightmare is now in jail.

McKenzie is being held in the Putnam County Jail on no bond. He has been charged with two counts of sexual assault on a child less than 12 years of age by a suspect 18 years or older, one county of molestation of a child 12 to 16 years old, and one count of lewd and lascivious battery.

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No getting out of this one: Shanna Gardners attorney claims prosecution lied, withheld evidence

The high-profile attorney representing Shanna Gardner in her alleged murder-for-hire case claims the prosecution withheld evidence, lied during court testimony, and mischaracterized witness statements.

The defense is asking the court to reconsider Gardners bond.

In a letter to State Attorney Melissa Nelson, Shanna Gardners attorney Jose Baez claimed a Jacksonville Beach Police detective lied on the witness stand during a bond hearing.

Baez claimed the detective falsely claimed he never personally spoke with a witness, whose text exchanges with Gardner were used as evidence to support Gardner being held in jail without bond.

We even have the phone records from when Detective Johns actually called her. So, theres no getting out of this one, Baez said.

Additionally, Baez claimed those text messages, which included one from 2016 where Gardner asked her friend, Is it too late to get a hitman, along with testimony from another witness, were mischaracterized by the prosecution.

Many of them were made in jest and they were not taken seriously by anyone and in fact, many of the individuals who were surrounding this case knew that, Baez said.

But Baez claimed that additional context wasnt shared with the defense, and it wasnt until those witnesses contacted his office that the defense was made aware.

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Both witnesses submitted affidavits clarifying their position and basically saying these statements were completely taken out of context, Baez said.

In response to Baezs allegations, the State Attorneys Office issued a statement.

We will respond to these spurious allegations in the appropriate venue  the courtroom, not the courthouse steps. We continue to abide by the ethical standards that govern all Florida attorneys regarding trial publicity, SAO Communications Director David Chapman said.

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Due to the alleged misconduct, Baez filed a motion requesting Gardners bond be reconsidered, the case be reassigned to another state attorneys office, or thrown out completely.

If this is the type of conduct and these are the types of things that are done in this case when everyone is watching, you can only imagine what is been done when no one is watching, Baez said.

Action News Jax also reached out to the Jacksonville Beach Police Department for a response to Baezs accusations and is awaiting a response.

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NORFOLK  A man was sentenced Friday to 30 years in prison for the 2021 fatal shooting of another man at the Calvert Square housing community, prosecutors announced.

A jury found Dequan Tasean Copeland, 31, guilty of second-degree murder and weapons charges at his trial earlier this year. The shooting occurred in February 2021 and resulted in the death of Tracy Eugene Bellamy Jr., 23.

In a summary of events leading to the murder, prosecutors said Copeland had recently begun dating Bellamys estranged wife, with whom Bellamy shared a child. Bellamy went to his wifes Calvert Square home unannounced and armed with a gun, they said. He demanded to take their 2-year-old child with him and began to argue with Copeland.

As Bellamy took the child to his car, Copeland got a gun, prosecutors said. He fired several shots at Bellamy after he had placed the child in the backseat and as he was climbing into the drivers seat, prosecutors said in a news release. Bellamy was struck in the torso. He shot back multiple times, but struck no one.

Bellamy attempted to drive away, but crashed into a parked car a few blocks away as he began to succumb to his injuries, the release continued. The child was not injured by the gunfire, but was superficially injured in the crash due to not being properly restrained. Bellamy was taken to a hospital, where he later died.

Copeland fled the area afterwards, and was arrested a month later in Arizona, prosecutors said.

Jane Harper, jane.harper@pilotonline.com
The study initially focused on the on upper Wabash River watershed, shown in purple, but was expanded to include its headwaters. (Indiana Finance Authority)

Water withdrawals in the states north-central region have dropped  not risen  over the last two decades, the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA) reported Thursday.

The agency, at Gov. Eric Holcombs behest, assumed control of an Indiana Economic Development Corp. water study connected to development of a controversial industrial park in November.

IFA Chief Operating Officer and Environmental Programs Director Jim McGoff told board members Thursday that the agencys consultants were wrapping up the first half of the 50-year demand and supply study.

The IFA is committee to providing updates, McGoff wrote in the letter, and since the consultants are wrapping up their work on water demand and shifting their focus to supply, we thought this to be an appropriate time to update the IFA Board Members on the progress.

IFA contracted Stantec Consulting Services and Jacobs Engineering Group for the project.

The studys initial analysis of the 15-county upper Wabash River watershed includes Boone County, the site of the Limitless Exploration/Advanced Pace Innovation District.

Average water withdrawal in the area was about 770 million gallons per day in 2022, according to McGoffs letter. Most, 88%, came from surface-water diversions while 12% came from groundwater wells.

Water withdrawals in north-central Indiana over the last 37 years peaked in 2006. (Indiana Finance Authority)

McGoff wrote that total annual water withdrawals increased between 1985 and 2006 by 50%, but have been on the decline since 2006. Now, demand is at 80% of 1985 levels, per the Indiana Department of Natural Resources significant water withdrawal facility database.

Much of the decline was in the energy sector, McGoff wrote, but the industry is still responsible for 85% of total water withdrawal. But he noted that energy demand is mostly non-consumptive water use, meaning that most of the water is returned to the river after use.

Public water supply accounts for 6% of the total and other industrial uses represents about 5%. Irrigation and rural use, like livestock and fish hatcheries have grown in water use but remain a small share of the total.

IFA in late March announced it would expand the study to include a 10-county area of the Wabash Rivers headwaters.

In that area, average water withdrawal in 2022 was about 63 million gallons per day. Most water came from groundwater wells, 63%, while 37% came from surface water diversions.

Total annual water withdrawals increased for the Wabash Rivers headwaters between 1985 and 2005 by about 136%, but has declined since 2005, according to McGoff.

When averaged across the entire 1985-2022 period, water use has increased by a modest 29%. He said the energy sector was responsible for the majority of the variability.

Industry water demand has grown.

In the Wabash River headwaters area, industrial sector water withdrawals have supplanted energy sector demand. (Indiana Finance Authority)

In 1985, the public water supply sector was the largest water-use category, eating up about 63% of the total, while industry followed at 32%.

In 2022, however, the industrial sector has grown to consume about 47% of the total, while public water supply systems take about 44%.

McGoff noted that between 2007 and 2009, four new industrial facilities began operating in the area.

Agricultural irrigation has also grown, but like in the studys other region, still represents a small share of total demand.

Memo to IFA Board re Demand (1)

The post North-central water withdrawals in decline, Indiana Finance Authority reports appeared first on Indiana Capital Chronicle.
Nazrin Abdul

A trilateral meeting among representatives from Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia focused on international cargo transportation via road was recently convened, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport.

Participants included stakeholders from the road transport sector, customs services, international freight carriers associations, and heads of transport companies.

Delegations visited key border crossing points: Astara and Khanoba in Azerbaijan, Astara in Iran, and Tagirkand in Russia. They observed vehicle border crossing processes, customs inspections, and document clearance procedures.

Azerbaijan has developed robust infrastructure capable of accommodating various traffic flows under current conditions. Discussions during a subsequent meeting in Darbend centered on checkpoint inspections, strategies to reduce vehicle waiting times, and increasing the market share of carriers from Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia in international road transport.

The meeting also explored the potential and future prospects of the North-South International Transport Corridor. Participants emphasised the need for enhanced cooperation to fully leverage the transit potential of Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia and advance the development of the corridor.
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, June 21. Russia's Gazprom Neft and Tajikistan have discussed cooperation in the oil and gas sector, Trend reports.

According to Tajikistan's ministry, Sharifa Khudobakhsh, Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan, met with representatives of Gazprom Neft. Domestic oil and gas companies also participated in the event.

The meeting took place within the framework of high-level negotiations between Tajikistan and Russia during the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Commission, aimed at expanding bilateral economic cooperation and developing the country's oil and gas industry.

The company representatives expressed hope that cooperation with Tajikistan's oil and gas sector companies would elevate to a new level following a thorough analysis.

Moreover, Gazprom Neft representatives met with the leadership of the State Committee on Investments and State Property Management, the Main Department of Geology, and industry companies. They also visited operational sites.

To note, Gazprom Neft operates a network of gas stations in the country and holds a license for gasoline importation into Tajikistan.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The North Las Vegas Police Department released body-worn camera footage after an officer-involved shooting that consisted of police firing 92 rounds at an armed suspect.

The shooting occurred on June 15 at about 9 p.m. officers responded to the intersection of Craig Road and North 5th Street for reports of a four-vehicle crash.

Witnesses told police that a male driver, who was later identified as Julian McCoy, 57, of Las Vegas, by the Clark County Coroners Office, was driving a silver car northbound on North 5th Street, failed to stop at a red light, and crashed with vehicles traveling on Craig Road.

Witnesses at the scene stated that McCoy, who police described as a five-time registered felon in Nevada, threatened people, emergency personnel, and officers with a loaded gun at the crash site.

Detectives found surveillance video that shows the vehicle running the red light at a high rate of speed.

Detectives found surveillance video that showed the suspects vehicle running a red light at a high rate of speed on June 15, 2024, before the officer-involved shooting. (NLVPD)

Multiple callers told NLVPD dispatch that McCoy was believed to have caused the crash and had a gun. Another person stated that McCoy threatened him with a gun when he walked up to the car, police stated.

When North Las Vegas firefighters arrived at the scene to assist they reported that they were also threatened by McCoy who was armed with a gun, according to police.

On June 15, 2024, North Las Vegas police shot and killed the suspect in a multi-vehicle crash after he threatened people, emergency personnel, and officers with a gun, police said. (NLVPD)

When officers arrived they said they attempted to de-escalate the situation and gave McCoy commands multiple times to drop the gun and exit the vehicle. However, police said he ignored the commands and raised his gun toward officers.

According to police, 7 officers discharged their guns, and McCoy was shot multiple times.

A close-up of the suspects car during an officer-involved shooting near North 5th Street on June 15, 2024 (NLVPD)

In the video, several shots were heard being fired toward the suspects car. A total of 92 shots were fired at Mccoy by the officers during the incident, according to NLVPD.

No information was released by police on how many bullets hit the McCoy in total.

McCoy was later pronounced dead at the scene.

The officers also recovered McCoys 22-caliber rifle which was found in his car loaded with 15 bullets, along with alcohol and drug paraphernalia at the scene.

The officers also recovered McCoys 22-caliber rifle which was found in his car loaded with 15 bullets, along with alcohol and drug paraphernalia at the scene. (NLVPD)

The seven officers who fired shots were identified by NLVPD.

Officer Darren Rigsby  Hired in 2017  fired 3 shots

Officer Alexandre Chevalier  Hired in 2021  fired 7

Officer Logan Guerin  Hired in 2021  fired 13

Officer Christopher Dellorco  Hired in 2022  fired 15

Officer Timothy Barnes  Hired in 2023  fired 11 shots

Officer Rodrigo Garcia  Hired in 2023  fired 26 shots

Officer Robert Ryan  Hired in 2023  fired 17 shots

The officers were put on paid administrative leave pending the results of the investigation per department policy.

Had McCoy survived he would have faced the following charges.

Assault with a deadly weapon on a protected person (x8)

Ex-felon in possession of a firearm

DUI involving a collision

Assault with a deadly weapon

Possession of a firearm while under the influence

McCoys preliminary toxicology screening was positive for cocaine, fentanyl, ethynol, and methamphetamine, according to police.

Police records show that McCoy had a lengthy criminal history which included narcotic offenses, conspiracy to commit 1st-degree murder, theft, and kidnapping. He was on probation in Nevada for a prior theft conviction. He was also a five-time registered felon in Nevada. He also had a non-extraditable warrant for his arrest in Texas for the charge of assault.

Police records show that McCoy had a lengthy criminal history dating back to 1987 and as recent as 2023, which included narcotic offenses, conspiracy to commit 1st-degree murder, theft, and kidnapping. (NLVPD)

Following the officer-involved shooting, four people had to be treated at the scene for minor injuries. A female passenger in one of the vehicles involved in the initial crash was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, police stated.

911 audio recordings were also released by NLVPD on Thursday.

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North TX church staffer charged with child sexual assault when he was Lubbock youth pastor

A former youth pastor for a Lubbock church who later worked at churches in North Texas has been charged with sexually assaulting at least one child.

Luke Cunningham, 41, was arrested on Wednesday by the U.S. Marshals Service in Shallowater and booked into the Lubbock County Jail, according to jail records.

Cunningham, who most recently was a staff member of Lakeside Baptist Church in Granbury for more than two years, faces three counts of sexual assault. After learning of the accusations against Cunningham, Lakeside Baptist notified law enforcement agencies in Lubbock and Granbury, church officials said.

In light of Cunninghams arrest, the Granbury church sent an email to its congregation, stating that its personnel committee had terminated his employment. The church also said, Lakeside Baptist Church stands firmly against clerical sexual abuse.

Lakeside Baptist Church officials said they have spoken with other church leaders and instructed all staff to come forward and cooperate fully with police.

According to Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV, Turning Point Community Church in Lubbock said it was contacted on June 3 by Lakeside Baptist about the allegations against Cunningham. Lakeside officials told Turning Point that the allegations included potential victims between 2016 to 2020, which is when Cunningham served as student pastor at the Lubbock church.

 More top stories from our newsroom:

 Accused drunk driver slams into 2 cyclists near Dallas-Fort Worth Airport

 Gateway Church pastor resigns after admitting to sexually abusing 12-year-old girl

 Allan Saxe, beloved UT Arlington professor, has died

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Cunningham also has worked in Fort Worth at North Fort Worth Baptist Church and the former Agape Baptist Church, Baptist News Global reported.

Officials at the Lubbock church told WFAA that they had never received any complaints or allegations during the time Cunningham worked there.

We are devastated by these allegations and feel enormous grief for anyone who is a potential victim, Turning Point said in its statement.
MARION COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  A now-former Marion County detention officer is facing charges after allegedly injuring a female inmate by maliciously using pepper spray, authorities said.

Nekenya Chiquita Taylor, 47, is charged with third-degree assault and battery and misconduct in office, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, which was asked to investigate by the Marion County Sheriffs Office. The is the second former Marion County officer arrested this week.

The alleged incident happened on May 1 at the Marion County Detention Center, according to warrants provided to News13 by SLED. The incident caused burning to the inmatess eyes and face.

Taylor was arrested on Wednesday and booked into the detention center, online records show. She posted a $4,087 bond and was released the next day.

SLED indicated that Taylor is no longer employed by the sheriffs office. The case will be prosecuted by the 12th Circuit Solicitors Office.

Taylor is the second Marion County officer to be charged with a crime this week. Kyle Michael Kelly was arrested on Thursday and charged with third-degree assault and battery and misconduct in office. He was booked into the detention center and released the same day after posting a $12,125 bond.

According to SLED, Kelly allegedly grabbed a man by the throat and punched him in the face at the detention center. The incident happened in April when Kelly arrested a man for public intoxication.

* * *

Dennis Bright is a Digital Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
Tesla owners say they've been trapped in EVs after they lost power. Here's how to manually open a Tesla door if you get stuck inside.

Numerous Tesla owners say they have been trapped inside their EVs after they lost power.

Teslas come with manual door releases, but they can be hard to find without the owner's manual.

Business Insider has compiled a guide on how to find them in a range of different Tesla models.

Numerous Tesla owners have said they've been stuck inside their EVs after the cars suddenly lost power.



Firefighters recently had to rescue a toddler from a locked Tesla after the car's battery died.

Renee Sanchez told reporters at On Your Side, a segment in the local outlet Arizona's Family, that her EV's battery died after she put her 20-month-old granddaughter in the car and went to get in the front seat.



When the firefighters arrived on the scene, they used an ax to break the car's window to rescue the child, the report said.

YouTuber Tom Exton claimed back in 2022 that his Tesla Model Y ordered him to pull over before it suddenly lost power and left him unable to exit.

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Exton said he followed the instructions for the manual release to open the door, but that this "somehow broke the driver's window."

Another Tesla driver, Rick Meggison, told Arizona-based TV station ABC 15 last summer that he got trapped inside his Model Y vehicle for around 20 minutes on a 100-degree day. He said he couldn't open the doors or windows as the battery had died.

Meggison, who was 73 years old at the time, said he called his sister who was able to open the passenger door using the Tesla app  but that also cracked the car's window, he said.

The manual door release can be tricky to find unless you've combed through your car's owner's manual.

To help Tesla owners avoid getting into the same situation, BI has put together a short guide on how to locate and activate the manual door releases in the Model S, 3, X, and Y.



Model S

The Tesla Model S. Tesla

To manually open the front doors when a Model S loses power, you need to pull up the release tab that's found in front of the window switches on the door panel, the Tesla owner's manual says.

Story continues

To open the rear doors, pull back the carpet below the back seats to expose the emergency door release cable, the manual says, adding that you then need to pull the cable "toward the center" of the car.

YouTuber @TeslaInventory, who posts videos about his experience with Teslas on his channel, said that the front doors of a Tesla Model S would still work even if the car lost power, but the rear doors would not.

He also says the manual release will override the car's child lock.

Model 3

Tesla Model 3. Tesla

The Model 3 owner's manual states that "only the front doors are equipped with a manual door release."

To open the front doors in the event that the car loses power, you need to pull up the manual release that's located just in front of the window switch panel on the door.



Model X

The Tesla Model X. Tesla

The front doors of the Model X can also be opened using a manual door release that you can find in front of the window buttons, the owner's manual says.

If the power drops out, you can open the rear doors using a mechanical release found behind the speaker grille, which you need to remove from the vehicle's door, the manual adds.

You then need to "pull the mechanical release cable down and towards the front of the vehicle" before lifting up the door to open it.

Model Y

The Tesla Model Y Tesla

You can also find the manual door release for the Model Y's front seats in front of the window switch panel, the owner's manual says.

The manual makes it clear that not all Model Y cars come with a manual release for the rear seats. For those that do, it is located in the rear doors' pockets.

You need to remove the mat from the pocket and press a red tab to reveal the manual release cable, which you need to pull forward to open the door.

Tesla did not respond to a request for comment from BI.

Read the original article on Business Insider
New York Gov. Kathy Hochuls approval rating is at its lowest level ever.

Only 38% of Empire State voters gave Hochul a thumbs up, with 49% saying they disapprove of her job performance, in a Siena College poll released Thursday.

A whopping 81% of Republicans who participated in the survey  conducted last week  said they disapproved of the governor.

She also isnt winning over a huge number of fellow Democrats, with only 56% saying they view her favorably.

Hochul is struggling with independents and third-party voters, too, with 61% viewing her unfavorably in the poll.

Gov. Kathy Hochuls approval numbers are sagging at their lowest levels ever, per a Siena College poll conducted last week. Robert Miller

When it comes to various Hochul characteristics, the partisan divide remains between Democrats on one side and Republicans joined by independents on the other side, Siena poll spokesperson Steve Greenberg said.

June is the second consecutive month where Sienas poll shows Hochuls approval rating at 38%.

Her favorability has hovered around 40% over the last year, reaching a high of 45% in January.

Hochuls numbers are even sagging below those of President Biden, who 42% of respondents viewed favorably.

Hochuls numbers are even dipping below Joe Bidens. AP

The governor is in the second year of her first full term after winning her election bid in 2022.

Shed been serving in the role since 2021 after the resignation of disgraced ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The Siena poll includes responses from 805 registered New York voters with a margin of error of 4.1%.
FILE - Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump enters at a campaign event, June 18, 2024, in Racine, Wis. Manhattan prosecutors are urging the judge overseeing Donald Trumps criminal hush money case to uphold a gag order that bars the Republican former president from criticizing jurors, court staff, or members of the prosecution that convicted him. In court papers filed Friday, prosecutors with the Manhattan district attorneys office argued portions of the gag order remained necessary given Trumps singular history of inflammatory and threatening public statements." (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps, File)

NEW YORK (AP)  Prosecutors on Friday urged the judge overseeing Donald Trumps criminal hush money case to uphold provisions of a gag order that bar him from criticizing jurors and court staff, while agreeing to lift a restriction on his public statements about trial witnesses.

In court papers filed Friday, prosecutors with the Manhattan district attorneys office argued that portions of the gag order remained necessary given the Republican former president's singular history of inflammatory and threatening public statements, as well as efforts by his supporters to identify jurors and threaten violence against them.

Since the verdict in this case, defendant has not exempted the jurors from his alarming rhetoric that he would have every right to seek retribution as president against the participants in this trial as a consequence of his conviction because sometimes revenge can be justified, the filing states.

The gag order, issued in March, prohibited Trump from making or directing others to make public statements about witnesses, jurors and others connected to the case. It does not restrict comments about the judge, Juan M. Merchan, or Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office prosecuted the case.

Attorneys for Trump have called on the judge to lift the order following the culmination of his trial last month, which ended in his conviction on 34 felony counts for falsifying records to cover up a potential sex scandal. Trump, who has denied any wrongdoing, is set to be sentenced on July 11.

Defense attorneys argue Trump should be free to fully address the case as he campaigns for the White House, pointing to comments made by President Joe Biden and the continued public criticism of him by his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen and the porn actor Stormy Daniels, both key prosecution witnesses.

Now that the trial is concluded, the concerns articulated by the government and the Court do not justify continued restrictions on the First Amendment rights of Trump, they wrote earlier this month.

In their letter, prosecutors agreed that the provision barring statements about trial witnesses no longer needed to be enforced but said the restrictions on statements about court staff and members of the prosecution, excluding Bragg, should remain in place.

They cited an intensified threat situation in recent months, with more than 60 actionable threats directed against Bragg, his family and court staff since April. The threats include social media posts disclosing the address of an employee of the district attorney's office and a photo showing sniper sights aimed on people involved in the case, according to police.

Merchan is expected to issue a ruling soon, possibly before Trumps June 27 debate with President Joe Biden.

Earlier this week, New Yorks top court declined to hear Trumps appeal on the gag order, finding it does not raise substantial constitutional issues that would warrant an immediate intervention.

____

This story has been updated to correct the working of a quote from the district attorneys court filing.
Sorry may not be enough to save him.

Embattled Squad Rep. Jamaal Bowman apologized at long last this week for initially claiming that reports of rape and child murder during Hamas Oct. 7 terror attack against Israel were a lie.

Immediately when the [United Nations] provided additional evidence, I voted to condemn the sexual violence. I apologize for my comments, Bowman said Monday during a WNYC interview after a listener pressed him on the matter.

Rep. Jamaal Bowman apologized for denying the that Hamas raped Israeli women during the Oct. 7 terror attacks. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Bowman said in an interview that he voted to condemn the sexual violence after seeing evidence from the United Nations. SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

As soon as I got the additional information from the UN, we condemned the sexual violence, we voted to condemn it, and were continuing to do the work.

Speaking during an anti-Israel rally in White Plains last Nov. 17, Bowman said: There was propaganda used at the beginning of the siege.

Theres still no evidence of beheaded babies or raped women, but they still keep using the lie, Bowman said, according to video posted to TikTok and first reported by Politico.

Bowman, 48, is facing off against Westchester County Executive George Latimer, 70, in the June 25 primary for the 16th House District, which covers much of Westchester and parts of the northern Bronx.

The race has shattered records as the most expensive House primary ever in terms of ad spending, with more than $23 million doled out for TV, radio, digital and social media spots.

A recent Emerson College/WPIX poll showed Bowman trailing Latimer by 17 points  48% to 31%  among likely primary voters, with 21% undecided.

Bowman had said in a November rally that reports of sexual violence from Hamas were propaganda. TikTok/@amyjvele

Bowman claimed the video showed no evidence of beheaded babies or raped women in Israel. SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Pro-Israel activists accused Bowman of spreading Hamas propaganda by denying atrocities against Israeli women and children during the Oct. 7 attack, which killed an estimated 1,200 people  including 33 Americans.

While Bowman had had walked back his November comments previously, Monday marked the first time the two-term congressman issued a humble mea culpa.

I am not going to be perfect. Im going to make mistakes. Im going to say things that harm people, even though I dont mean to. When I do, Im going to take accountability for it. Im going to own it, he said on WNYC.

I want to learn and grow and be the best representative I can be. Thats who my mother raised me to be, thats who I was as an educator, and thats who I am now.

Latimer and pro-Israel activists said Bowmans apology was too little, too late.

Denying rape is wrong, period. Denying the barbaric beheading of babies is wrong, period. Calling rape victims liars is wrong, period, the Latimer campaign said in a statement Thursday.

And Bowman apologizing for his lies six months later, and only because he is now on the verge of getting tossed out of office, speaks volumes about his lack of decency and compassion. Its not just a matter of his `apology being too little, too late  its that no one believes Bowman because he has proven he will say anything, no matter how dishonest, cruel, or divisive, to try to stay in power.

The Democratic Majority for Israel, which is backing Latimer and released a digital ad accusing Bowman of lying on other issues, also mocked the congressmans half-hearted apology.

Congressman Jamaal Bowman has flip-flopped again. Bowman falsely labeled the savage sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas propaganda. Now, on the eve of an election hes losing, Bowman makes a halfhearted apology, said DMFI president Mark Mellman

Way too little. Way too late.

Meanwhile, Bowman is trying to connect with younger voters, making an appearance Wednesday night on CBS Late Show with Stephen Colbert, during which he discussed hip-hop as well as the war in the Middle East.

Bowman said he immediately condemned the Hamas Oct. 7 attacks on Israel as a horrific but described Israels retaliatory response in Gaza as collective punishment, and called for a permanent cease-fire, saying: Weve got to put the guns down.

The congressman is also scheduled to appear with rapper Cash Cobain Thursday night at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester.

Westchester County Executive George Latimers campaign called Bowmans apology too little, too late. Tania Savayan/The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Emerson/PIX/The Hill poll found Bowman leading Latimer among voters under 40, 44% to 35%, while older voters broke for the Westchester executive by double-digits.
A former senior adviser to Harlem Assemblyman Eddie Gibbs alleges in a new lawsuit that the uptown politician abruptly and illegally fired him last summer, a day before he was set to undergo amputation surgery related to diabetes.

Keith Lilly, a fixture of Harlem politics who made his bones in public service working for late City Councilman Bill Perkins in the 1990s, filed the lawsuit in Manhattan Supreme Court on Tuesday and shared it exclusively with the Daily News.

In the court papers, Lilly charges that Gibbs discriminated against him on the basis of a disability when he fired him on July 26, 2023 in violation of state and city human rights laws. Hes asking for at least $500,000 in compensatory damages for emotional pain and suffering as well as backpay, attorneys fees and reimbursement for lost 401(k) contributions.

Gibbs  who faces a competitive challenge in Tuesdays Democratic primary election  didnt immediately return a request for comment via his Assembly office Friday.

Lillys lawsuit alleges the timing of his termination is key to his discrimination claim.

On July 24, 2023, Gibbs and another staffer visited Lilly at Mount Sinai Hospital, where he had been admitted days earlier after discovering what he describes in court papers as a hole in his left foot, according to the lawsuit. During the visit, Lilly alleges he told Gibbs that doctors had determined the hole was caused by his underlying diabetes, that the hole had grown severely infected and that several of his toes would need to be amputated.

Ill probably be here for a while, Lilly told Gibbs from his hospital bed, according to court papers.

Two days later, on July 26, 2023  the day before his amputation procedure  Gibbs called Lilly and told him he had been fired.

Gibbs provided Lilly with no explanation for his decision to terminate his employment, which he did not attempt to justify, the lawsuit says. At the time of this termination, Lilly had received no negative performance feedback of any kind, had not received any performance warnings, and had not been subjected to any form of employee discipline.

After Lillys toes were amputated, doctors found that the infection had spread, according to the lawsuit. As a result, he had to undergo a second amputation procedure to remove his left leg up to his knee, the lawsuit says.

In my darkest hour, I faced both personal and professional devastation, Lilly told The News.

Left without health insurance after his termination, Lilly has launched a GoFundMe page to raise funds for his medical bills. As of Friday, he has received $21,518 in donations.

In addition to human rights laws, Lilly claims his axing violated the Family and Medical Leave Act, which gives New Yorkers protections against termination while on medical absence. The effective date of his firing came just days before his one-year anniversary as a senior adviser in Gibbs office, which wouldve made him eligible for protections under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Seeking reelection for the East Harlem-based 68th Assembly District, Gibbs faces a challenge in Tuesdays Democratic primary election from Xavier Santiago, a local community board chairman.
NEW YORK  A bill requiring proactive inspections for high-risk New York buildings was passed by the City Council on Thursday, following two devastating collapses last year that underscored the wider issues plaguing older structures.

The Billingsley Terrace Structural Integrity Act requires the Department of Buildings to create a proactive inspection program to identify potentially dangerous buildings using predictive technology.

The agency would analyze information including a buildings age, history of violations and 311 complaints. If a corrective action plan is issued, the department would carry out inspections and issue violations if landlords fail to comply.

New York City has more than 1 million buildings, most of which predate 1960.

The act was first announced in April by Councilwoman Pierina Sanchez, whose district includes 1915 Billingsley Terrace in Morris Heights. The corner of the nearly century-old apartment building collapsed in December, displacing over 100 residents. There were, miraculously, no deaths or serious injuries.

The same could not be said for the tragic garage collapse at 57 Ann St. in lower Manhattan in April 2023, when one person was killed one and five others were injured. Both incidents were cited as inspiration for the legislation.

The Billingsley address had a history of neglect and more than 100 building violations before it collapsed. The city subsequently opened a criminal investigation into the collapse and suspended an engineer who allegedly misidentified a support beam. One of the factors the inspection program will weigh is the disciplinary history of a buildings contractors and licensees.

Sanchez, a Democrat, said the two tragedies highlighted the need to ensure our buildings are stable and habitable and address deficiencies at the Department of Buildings.

[This bill] was born of the question, what more should our agencies have done to prevent this tragedy? There were glaring warning signs here, and tenants and New Yorkers alike were left asking, what did New York City do with this information? Sanchez said at a Council Housing Committee meeting on Thursday.

We should not only rely on reactive approaches when we have so much information available to us as a city to enforce.

Buildings Commissioner Jimmy Oddo characterized the legislation as the DOB going on the offense against bad actors before tragedy strikes  a shift from its history as a reactive body called to respond to incidents and complaints after the fact.

Too many times, we have seen careless property owners fail to keep their buildings safe and neglect their responsibilities, he said in a statement. The creation of a proactive building inspection program will be transformative.

Mayor Adams administration has earmarked $4.7 million for the new inspection program. The bill is set to take effect 180 days after becoming law.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is discussing possible infrastructure projects related to the Trans-Caspian Corridor (Middle Corridor) with the authorities of Turkmenistan, Regional Head of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan for the EBRD, Ayten Rustamova told Trend.

"In June 2023, the EBRD published a study that argues that the Trans-Caspian Corridor, which will integrate the countries of Central Asia, could be the best cargo transportation route to complement the Eurasian Northern Corridor. Regional trade within Central Asia, including Turkmenistan, will greatly benefit from the upgrading and expansion of this transport corridor. We believe that Turkmenistan should be part of this undertaking. Our bank is discussing possible infrastructure projects related to the Trans-Caspian Corridor with the authorities of Turkmenistan," she said.

The reports specified that the following investment needs have been identified for Turkmenistan:

Source: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Moreover, Rustamova highlighted that EBRD Vice President for Policies and Partnerships, Mark Bowman, recently met with President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

"This was the first visit of a high-ranking EBRD official to the country since 2019. Our Bank expressed its readiness to re-engage with Turkmenistans private sector not only through advisory projects but also through lending to companies. Historically, the EBRD has a lot of experience in working with local private businesses in Turkmenistan, and we are eager to reengage and expand this cooperation,'' she said.

Rustamova mentioned that the EBRD would also be interested in exploring other areas for cooperation with Turkmenistan, such as water management, green energy, transport connectivity and work through financial intermediaries.

"The Bank can use its experience and resources to support bankable projects, which could address the issue of water scarcity in Turkmenistan. It stands ready to explore the countrys potential for the development of renewable energy and tap into positive experience we have in this field in the neighboring countries of Central Asia," the regional head added.

The Middle Corridor is a transportation and trade route that connects Asia and Europe, passing through several countries in the region. It is an alternative route to the traditional Northern Corridor and Southern Corridor.

The route starts in China and crosses Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. It then passes through the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye before reaching Europe.
LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (NEWS10)  Two Pennsylvania parents were arrested on Tuesday after leaving their child on a Lake George Beach to go on a boat, per New York State Police. Paul Thorley, 30, and Mary Thorley, 28, are each charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

On Tuesday, around 5:47 p.m., troopers responded to Lake Shore Drive in Lake George for reports of an infant left alone on the beach. State Police say an investigation found a passerby found a child crying for an extended time alone on the beach. Police say the child was about five feet from the shore.

Police say Paul and Mary Thorley, the childs parents, left the child alone for about 15 minutes while they went boating on the lake. Both were arrested and taken to Chestertown State Police for processing. They were issued appearance tickets to return to Lake George Town Court and were released.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
(KRON)  The Oakland chapter of the NAACP called for Mayor Sheng Thao to resign after her house was raided by the FBI on Thursday morning. Thao is currently facing a recall effort.

FBI agents arrived at Thaos property on the 100 block of Maiden Lane at about 5:30 a.m. and left hours later carrying bags and boxes. KRON4 sources say the raid is related to alleged campaign finance violations.

The NAACP said that while it does not support a rush to judgment, Oakland needs a mayor who is not distracted.

Whos who in the Oakland mayor FBI raid

The City of Oakland has a cloud hanging over it today. The world watched as Oakland Mayor Sheng Thaos home was raided by the FBI. While the public should refrain from a rush to judgment, the leadership of the NAACP and its members are calling on Mayor Sheng Thao to resign immediately and spare the city the cost of a recall, NAACP Oakland President Cynthia Adams said.

On Tuesday, the Alameda County Registrar of Voters confirmed that the effort to recall Thao had enough signatures to appear on the November ballot. The petition has 40,595 signatures, which easily clears the 25,000 needed to force a recall election.

Oaklanders deserve a mayor who is not distracted, fully committed, and able to lead the city. Clearly, Mayor Thao cannot focus on the needs of the residents of Oakland while she addresses the major challenges posed by the FBI raid and investigation, Adams said.

Adams went on to mention that Oakland is facing a massive budget deficit and local businesses closing.

Oakland United to Recall Sheng Thao (OUST), the group attempting to get her out of office, called for her to resign as well on Thursday.

While the FBI raid does not prove her guilt in the ongoing investigation, we already have multiple smoking guns indicating Thaos lack of fitness for public office, said Brenda Harbin-Forte. OUST calls on the numerous individuals and organizations that endorsed Mayor Thao to speak out on these recent events. They spent millions to get Thao elected, and all of these relationships are now called into question.

The raid came hours after 15 people were shot at a Juneteenth celebration near Lake Merritt. A celebration that was peaceful for most of the day descended into violence and chaos when a sideshow and a fight broke out.

Former Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong, who was fired by Thao in early 2023, was critical of city leadership in a statement released in response to the shooting.

This is a sad day for the City of Oakland. Oakland is a city in crisis. Crime, violence, shootings, uncontrolled homelessness, unmitigated encampments, the budget deficit and more. The biggest obstacle to overcoming these crises are the failures of leadership in City Hall. Even before todays news, some city leaders have done nothing to helpand much to hurtour city, he said in part.

Read the NAACPs full statement below:

The City of Oakland has a cloud hanging over it today. The world watched as Oakland Mayor Sheng Thaos home was raided by the FBI. While the public should refrain from a rush to judgment, the leadership of the NAACP and its members are calling on Mayor Sheng Thao to resign immediately and spare the city the cost of a recall. Oaklanders deserve a mayor who is not distracted, fully committed, and able to lead the city. Clearly, Mayor Thao cannot focus on the needs of the residents of Oakland while she addresses the major challenges posed by the FBI raid and investigation.

The City of Oakland continues to face a public safety crisis and just experienced a tragic mass shooting where 17 people were injured during a Juneteenth celebration. The city is also facing a massive budget deficit including the freezing of positions and loss of critical city services. Businesses are closing every day, and this incident only contributes to the decline in the citys reputation and makes it harder to attract new businesses to Oakland.The mayor should resign and give the city an opportunity to heal and move forward. We are asking everyone to please keep those impacted by violent crime and the safety of all the residents of Oakland in their prayers.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 federal appeals court ruled Friday that a Christian-owned business cant be compelled to cover preventive medications as is required under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), but it determined a Texas judge carried out an abuse of discretion in his prior ruling by blocking federal agencies from enforcing the rule universally.

In a decision it characterized as a mixed bag, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower courts ruling that the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) could not force Braidwood Management Inc. to abide by a preventive care mandate in the ACA. The court rejected another ruling, however, and remanded another one back to the lower courts.

The ACA provision in question requires private health insurers and companies to cover preventive services and drugs like HIV preventive drugs, known as PrEP, which Braidwood objected to. This provision also requires coverage of cancer screenings, vaccines, STD screenings, gestational health screenings and birth control.

The company claimed this requirement was a violation of its religious freedom as a Christian company because it made them complicit in facilitating homosexual behavior, drug use, and sexual activity outside of marriage between one man and one woman.

Judge Reed OConnor, a George W. Bush appointee for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, struck down the provision in September 2022. The appeals court said in the Friday ruling that it believed blocking the federal government from enforcing this mandate across the board was an error and an abuse of discretion.

It follows, in our view, that there was also no basis for the universal injunction, the court wrote in its ruling.

The court determined other arguments had yet to be fully decided and should be subject to further review in the lower courts.

One of the key questions left to be answered was whether the U.S. Preventive Task Force (USPTF) that decides which services must be covered under the ACA is constitutionally sound. OConnor ruled the task forces system was unconstitutional.

The plaintiffs argue that the task force violates the appointments clause of the U.S. Constitution because Task Force members are not nominated by the president or confirmed by the Senate. The federal government argued that the task force members are private citizens who dont qualify as principal officers of the U.S.

The court found that HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra had not cured the constitutional problems lingering over the Task Force but declined to issue a ruling on this particular question.

We are disinclined to decide questions without sufficient briefing, particularly ones of high stakes and of constitutional import. We also generally prefer to adhere to our policy of being a court of review, not first view,' they wrote.

Like the courts ruling, stakeholders had mixed reactions to the news.

While we were predicting the worst, at the moment insurers will still have to cover preventive services, including PrEP, except for the original plaintiffs. That is the good news, said Carl Schmid, executive director of the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute, in a statement.

The bad news is, the court still finds the mandate to cover USPSTF recommended services unconstitutional and now asks the lower court to review both the [Health Resources and Services Administration] and [Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices] preventive services. Schmid added. The case is not going to the Supreme Court at this time, but back to the lower court. Coverage of preventive services continues.

While we had hoped for a complete reversal of the District Courts ruling, this decision is a sigh of relief for the 151 million people  including 37 million children  whose access to free preventive services has been hanging in the balance for over a year, said Natalie Davis, United States of Care CEO and co-founder.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Ryan Kriegshauser, left, and Kyler Sweely review materials provided by Republicans who object to Sweely's candidacy for a Kansas House seat during a June 21, 2024, hearing in Topeka.

Ryan Kriegshauser, left, and Kyler Sweely review materials provided by Republicans who object to Sweely's candidacy for a Kansas House seat during a June 21, 2024, hearing in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  A state panel agreed Friday to allow Republican Kyler Sweely to remain on the ballot as a candidate for a Kansas House seat in a Hutchinson district, despite concerns that he appears not to be living at the house he leased shortly before filing.

Reno County Republicans Robin Jackson and Dawn Varney objected to Sweelys candidacy after compiling evidence that he doesnt live at the residence where he signed a lease shortly before filing for office. But the Kansas State Objections Board  composed of Secretary of State Scott Schwab, Dwight Carswell from the attorney generals office and Ashley Stites-Hubbard from the governors office  rejected the complaint.

The board members unanimously agreed with Sweelys attorney, Ryan Kriegshauser, who argued the standard is low for establishing residency under state law. Because Sweely intends to renovate and eventually live at the house in Hutchinson, Kriegshauser said, he must be allowed to remain on the ballot.

Sweely, who is endorsed by the Kansas Chamber, faces Tyson Thrall in the GOP primary. The winner will take on incumbent Democratic Rep. Jason Probst.

Robin Jackson, left, and Dawn Varney address the Kansas State Objections Board during a June 21, 2024, hearing in Topeka

Probst said in an interview earlier this month that Republicans engaged in district shopping to bring Sweely into the race, even though he had no connection to our community.

Sweely is a 26-year-old U.S. Army veteran who moved from Harvey County to Reno County on May 29, shortly before the June 3 filing deadline.

In a presentation before the objections board, Jackson and Varney presented evidence they collected by walking around Sweelys residence in Hutchinson. They described an overgrown yard, rooms with no furniture, uncollected mail, the absence of trash service and a real estate lockbox on the door.

I believe what were really seeing is an attempt to deceive, Varney said.

Sweely told the objections board that he grew up in Kansas, joined the military out of high school, was deployed to the Middle East and eastern Europe, and had lived in five or six states before working as a legislative staffer this past session. Sweely was an administrative assistant to the House Transportation and Public Safety Budget Committee, which is chaired by Rep. Avery Anderson, R-Newton.

From left, Ashley Stites-Hubbard, Secretary of State Scott Schwab and Dwight Carswell prepare for a meeting of the State Objections Board on June 21, 2024, at Schwab's office

Sweely provided a copy of the lease agreement he signed for the house in Hutchinson. He said he was working to improve the condition of the house while paying rent there.

Kriegshauser said the law is clear that candidates can move where they want before filing for office, voters should get to decide who wins the race, and the board for 30 years has consistently rejected residency-based objections.

The panel members, in brief discussion, agreed with Krieghausers interpretation of the law.

My personal opinion would be that its on the Legislature to change it, Schwab said.

The post Objections board rejects residency complaint against GOP candidate for Kansas House appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS)  There are some things in West Virginia that are against the law that you may not know about.

Did you know that in West Virginia, if someone swears in public, they can be fined one dollar per swear?

There are a few laws in the Mountain State that may seem a bit weird.

Tamarack Marketplace celebrates West Virginia Day

59News traveled to Beckley to understand more about these laws.

Attorney Robert Dunlap said in his experience, there are many outdated laws that need to be changed or updated.

I find that as I do municipal law in even smaller communities there are even more outrageous ones. For instance, the rule of thumb is often in some of our smaller cities and municipalities. Which that is you can beat your wife and children as long the stick isnt wider than your thumb. Its amazing how many different laws we havent cleaned up, went through, straightened, and updated, said Dunlap.

It is also against the law to sleep on a train in West Virginia.

Parents Against Child Abuse hold peaceful rally at Raleigh County Courthouse

The laws listed are just a small sample and this raises an important question. How can laws like these eventually be fixed? Dunlap told 59News that laws like these will eventually become obsolete.

When I was the attorney for the City of Rainelle, you hire an attorney, they come look at the ordinance book, and they update it to make sure the laws arent archaic as they reference. Mode of transportation, that is now out of date. So, its just incumbent upon all of us to know your local laws, how youre governed, and find out how archaic and how out of date they can be, said Dunlap to 59News.

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Officer-involved shooting in Wisconsin leaves baby of pregnant woman dead, six suspects in total

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (WFRV)  Six people, including an 18-year-old Wisconsin woman who was pregnant, were hospitalized after an alleged carjacking on Thursday afternoon.

According to a release, officers with the Milwaukee Police Department attempted to conduct a felony stop at around 2:30 p.m. at the intersection of North 17th Street and West Vliet Street.

Elijah Vues mother has status conference, scheduling conference set for July

Police say the vehicle was wanted in connection to an attempted carjacking that occurred on the 500 block of North Broadway. The vehicle was also wanted in connection to an armed robbery carjacking that occurred earlier in the day in the 500 block of North Jefferson Street.

The Milwaukee Police Department said that the pursuit ended when the driver of the vehicle moved into the construction lane on Interstate 43 near Vienna Avenue and was blocked by the construction and a cement truck. It was noted that several construction workers were present during the incident.

Officers approached the vehicle, gave several commands to stop it, and commanded the suspects to get out. The suspect driver allegedly reversed the vehicle. An officer was located behind the vehicle.

At this time, another officer shot into the vehicle, subsequently hitting two of the six suspects. The vehicle was determined to be a stolen auto, and a firearm was recovered.

One of the gunshot-injured suspects is an 18-year-old Milwaukee woman who has life-threatening injuries and was pregnant. The Milwaukee Police Department says that they are aware the female was pregnant, and unfortunately, the baby did not survive the shooting.

Another suspect is a 17-year-old Milwaukee boy, who police say suffered serious injuries.

The other suspects are a 15-year-old girl, a 16-year-old boy, a 17-year-old boy, and an 18-year-old woman. These suspects were also transported to local hospitals for minor injuries.

All of the suspects were arrested, and criminal charges are being referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorneys Office.

The officer involved in this incident is a 25-year-old male with over 4 years of service. He will be placed on administrative duty, as is routine in an officer-involved shooting.

Pursuit of wrong-way driver in downtown Madison ends with crash through construction area

The Milwaukee Area Investigative Team will be investigating this incident. The West Allis Police Department will be the lead law enforcement agency in this investigation.

The Milwaukee Police Department says a community briefing discussing the details of the incident will be released in the future and the investigation remains ongoing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
Officers injured after person stole police car, crashed near Fair Oaks Shopping Center, police say

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  Police said two officers were injured after someone stole a police cruiser and crashed near Fair Oaks Shopping Center on Friday afternoon.

The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) said officers were investigating a stolen vehicle in the shopping center when the person took a police cruiser. FCPD said the person in the cruiser hit another police car, in the area.

Two dead in three-car crash, fire on I-270 in Montgomery County

Officers were able to detain the person.

FCPD said two officers and the person accused of stealing the cruiser had non-life-threatening injuries.

At 12:36 p.m., FCPD posted on X that the westbound lanes on Government Center Parkway at Post Forest Drive are closed as detectives investigate the scene.

Officers injured after person stole police car, crashed near Fair Oaks Shopping Center, police say

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
RUIDOSO, N.M. (KRQE)  An incident command team overseeing operations on the South Fork and Salt Fire gave an update to the public on Thursday night. Because of cloud cover on Thursday, fire officials have not been able to measure the growth of the South Fork and Salt Fires burning outside of Ruidoso. As of Thursday afternoon, the South Fork Fire is 16,335 acres in size and 0% contained. The Salt Fire is 7,071 acres in size and 0% contained.

They are securing the line from Cedar Creek to Eagle Creek and from Cedar Creek to Flume Canyon. Crews are trying to hold the line to keep the smaller salt fire from reaching Ruidoso Downs. When these fires started, they had an alignment of hot very, dry windy weather, that Tom just showed you, and an alignment of heavy fuels and topography. The Sacramento Mountains are as rugged as we see anywhere in the southwest, said Arthur Gonzales, Fire Behavior Analyst for the incident command.

Rain Wednesday into Thursday has helped slow the fires growth, and helped crews maintain the line on both fires, though crews are uncertain about what that means when the moisture leaves the area. That moisture really hung around today and it really took the momentum out of this fire, said Gonzales.

An additional 570 firefighters arrived in Ruidoso on Thursday for a total of more than 800 people battling both fires. Earlier Thursday, crews were unable to use tankers because cloud cover made it hard to see, but crews were able to get heavy helicopters up to do water drops along the southern parts of both flames. Those areas saw the least amount of rainfall.

Wildfire Resources

Help line and connecting with loved ones

The New Mexico Wildfire State-Sponsored Help Line can assist people affected by the wildfires with issues of housing, transportation and other assistance. It can also be used by those wishing to inquire about volunteering during the relief efforts. It is a 24/7 helpline at 833-NMFire (833-663-4736).

Separately, anyone seeking to locate family or friends who they lost contact with during the fire evacuations should call the Red Cross at 1-800-Red Cross (1-800-733-2767). Once you call, select 0 from the menu to reach a Red Cross agent.

State launches wildfire dashboard for South Fork and Salt Fires

New Mexico has launched a Wildfire Dashboard, providing real-time updates and information on the South Fork and Salt fires. It offers an overview of the current fire conditions, including fire perimeter maps, evacuation zones, air quality reports, and weather forecasts.

 View Wildfire Dashboard

For more resource information for evacuees click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Ohio landlord Joseph Pedaline has paid almost $200,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by the DOJ over complaints of sexual harassment from multiple female tenants (WKBN)

An Ohio landlord has been fined just shy of $200,000 after being accused of sexually harassing a number of female tenants at his properties.

Joseph Pedaline was alleged to have subjected multiple female tenants to unwelcome sexual comments, entered their homes without consent, and touched them without consent.

He also offered to excuse late or unpaid rent in exchange for sexual acts and took adverse housing-related actions against female tenants who refused him, according to the US Department of Justice (DOJ).

Pedaline and YLP LLC, who owned and managed residential rental properties in Youngstown, Ohio, agreed to pay $199,000 to resolve a lawsuit, brought by the DOJ. The suit alleged that both violated the Fair Housing Act.

No one should ever have to fear sexual harassment when they sign a lease, pay their rent or simply spend time in their home, said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division.

Ohio landlord Joseph Pedaline has paid almost $200,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by the DOJ over complaints of sexual harassment from multiple female tenants (WKBN)

Landlords who sexually harass tenants violate the Fair Housing Act, and the Justice Department will continue to hold landlords accountable for this egregious conduct.

The DOJ complaint said that Pedalines conduct occurred with multiple women between 2009 and 2020. It also alleged that YLP LLC was liable for Pedalines discriminatory conduct while it owned and managed the rental properties.

As part of the settlement, a consent decree, Pedaline and YLP LLC must pay $189,000 to former tenants harmed by his conduct, as well as a $10,000 civil penalty to the federal government.

They must also take steps to help repair the credit of tenants who were evicted after refusing Pedalines advances.

He is permanently barred from being able to rent property again, the department said.

Justice Department Secures Agreement from Ohio Landlords to Resolve Claims of Sexual Harassment Against Female Tenants



: https://t.co/cWO1Jpsmx4 pic.twitter.com/cTBDALfI5p  DOJ Civil Rights Division (@CivilRights) June 20, 2024

This resolution should serve as a strong reminder to all landlords that they must comply with all aspects of the Fair Housing Act and may not engage in discriminatory behavior that violates the security, safety and wellbeing of their tenants, said US Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio.

Individuals who may have been victims of sexual harassment at rental dwellings owned or managed by Joseph Pedaline or YLP LLC are advised to contact the DOJ.

If you are a victim of sexual harassment by a landlord or have suffered other forms of housing discrimination, call the Justice Departments Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743, email the Justice Department at fairhousing@usdoj.gov or submit a report online. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt.

Reports may also be made by contacting the Department of Housing and Urban Development at 1-800-669-9777 or by filing a complaint online.
Getty Images.

While Gov. Mike DeWine is dealing with the ongoing discovery of text messages linking him to now-indicted FirstEnergy executives, Ohio Republican lawmakers are drafting legislation requiring greater campaign finance disclosure. The bill sponsor gave us the first look.

The largest corruption scheme in state history was able to take place due to dark money. 501(c)(4) nonprofits are allowed to spend unlimited funds on advertisements so long as they are not coordinating with the candidate. They dont have to disclose where their money comes from, hence why it is called dark.

This 501(c)(4), Generation Now, allowed FirstEnergy to stay under the radar with campaign donations into the independent account. The corporation then spent $61 million dollars in exchange for H.B. 6, legislation giving a $1 billion bailout for the failing energy company.

This landed former House Speaker Larry Householder in federal prison for 20 years, and he is now facing state charges, as well.

On Monday, DeWine deflected questions about his relationship with the former executives after text messages revealed he asked for money ahead of his first gubernatorial campaign. He also seemed frustrated with my questions about him allegedly being informed about half a million dollars that the now-indicted CEO put into a dark money PAC for him.

Following the release of those texts, we found additional ones we published on Tuesday. These showed that the governor and his team allegedly worked with FirstEnergy to pass H.B. 6. DeWine denies knowing H.B. 6 was a bribe.

With DeWines track record, we asked him why anyone should believe that he wasnt involved with the corruption scheme or didnt remember the conversations with executives.

My one takeaway from your story is  we need to get rid of all of it, House Finance Chair Jay Edwards (R-Nelsonville) said about dark money.

Edwards said that not knowing where campaign money comes from doesnt seem right.

The big thing is we want Ohioans to figure out who is funding campaigns, Edwards said.

He and state Rep. Sara Carruthers (R-Hamilton) are currently drafting a bill to require some sort of disclosure for dark money groups.

If a 501(c)(4) is giving to a candidate or doing something for a candidate, does that need to be disclosed publicly? he asked. Who the donors are to that 501(c)(4), should that be disclosed publicly?

This issue is personal for both lawmakers.

Carruthers has filed a formal election complaint against Make Liberty Win, a Virginia-based group that targeted Republicans who supported House Speaker Jason Stephens during the 2024 primary. They are funded by the conservative dark money group Young Americans for Liberty.

The group and other dark money PACs sent out mailers that were misleading, or just wrong, about certain lawmakers  including saying they didnt support legislation that they voted yes on.

I think she is going to see it through or the campaign caucus is going to see it through to see if people are held accountable, Edwards said. But in reality, you cant go back and change what happens election day is judgment day.

Carruthers ended up losing on election day.

Edwards had mailers sent out about him despite not even running for reelection due to being term-limited.

Theres also no accountability, he said. They can lie about you, they can say whatever they want about things that arent true.

This isnt about a grudge, though, he said.

Why do we allow discreet campaign donations  that are basically to political candidates, he added.

However, Edwards also has a connection to H.B. 6. He was a close ally of Householder and was recorded at a dinner with two undercover FBI agents. The representative has not been accused of wrongdoing by law enforcement. He has consistently said he was not involved in any of the illegal activity; in fact  had no idea it was happening.

Obviously, weve had a scandal here in Ohio around dark money, Edwards said. We want to get rid of that and I think the overall majority of people, not just Ohioans, but Americans, actually feel that way.

Not all campaign solicitations or political action committees (PACs) are bad, he said. He is supported by the Ohio Education Association (OEA) Fund. In the budget, he helped give public school teachers a raise. He didnt do that because they donated to his campaign, he did that because he is good on teacher issues, he said.

You can find anything we do and try to tie it back to some campaign, he added. Now, that doesnt mean it doesnt happen  but I think sometimes its overblown.

To make sure that Ohioans know that their elected officials arent behaving based on ill intentions, learning who donates to their campaign is key, the lawmaker said.

Plausibility

Each Statehouse legislative leader has seemed open to beefing up Ohios campaign finance laws.

Democrats like House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) and Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio would be on board, but they arent optimistic that legislation like this will pass. Since the H.B. 6 scandal, they have proposed legislation to require more transparency, but those bills barely get hearings.

The reality is there seems to be no political will here to put in place protections that prevent this type of scandal from happening in the future, Russo said.

House Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) would support more disclosures but raised concerns about how this type of legislation can be implemented.

The First Amendment and the federal Supreme Court decisions make it a little more challenging to deal with that issue, Stephens said.

Back in 2010, Citizens United v. FEC ruled corporations have the same rights as people, and thus have free speech in donating.

Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) and Senate Majority Floor Leader Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) have previously shared the same concerns about infringing on Citizens United. Still, the Householder case has ignited calls for reform.

Its something that has been an ongoing discussion, especially since Generation Now, McColley said. Its worth a conversation for sure.

McColley is likely to be the next Senate president once this General Assembly ends at the beginning of 2025, so it is possible legislation could move if he and his caucus desire reform.

Edwards knows his bill would have an uphill battle within the legislature to pass and will likely face court challenges.

But he said he wasnt giving up.

You never know if somethings unconstitutional until you try to do it, he said.

He is currently working with the House legal team to figure out how best to follow the law and help rebuild Ohioans trust in their lawmakers.

Follow WEWS statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on Twitter and Facebook.

This article was originally published on News5Cleveland.com and is published in the Ohio Capital Journal under a content-sharing agreement. Unlike other OCJ articles, it is not available for free republication by other news outlets as it is owned by WEWS in Cleveland.

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The post Ohio Republicans draft bill to require campaign fund disclosure amid DeWine text message debacle appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, June 21. A high-level delegation headed by the Federal Minister for Industries and Production of Pakistan, Rana Tanveer Hussain, will visit Turkmenistan from June 24 through June 26 to explore new opportunities for bilateral trade and investment, Trend reports.

According to an official source, Rana Tanveer Hussain said this during a meeting with the Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Pakistan Atajan Movlamov.

The Pakistani Minister stressed that strengthening trade and economic relations with Turkmenistan is a top priority for the Pakistani government, adding that the visit of the delegation will play a crucial role in advancing this agenda.

In turn, Ambassador Movlamov proposed to organize a joint trade exhibition to further develop trade and investment between the two countries.

During the meeting, they really drove home the point that the visit is all about strengthening economic ties and opening up new doors for cooperation in different sectors. This comes after both countries have been pulling out all the stops to boost their bilateral economic relations.

Meanwhile, economic cooperation between Pakistan and Turkmenistan is showing positive dynamics, covering such areas as trade, transport, and energy. Both states are striving to strengthen their economic ties by actively developing bilateral relations and interacting within the framework of various international and regional organizations.
Okaloosa County and the new state budget: Which requests got funded? Which got vetoed?

The upcoming Florida budget signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis includes $13.3 million for projects in Okaloosa County.

OKALOOSA COUNTY  With the stroke of a pen, Gov. Ron DeSantis earmarked $13.3 million in the 2024-25 Florida state budget for various projects for Okaloosa County.

The funds for Okaloosa County were part of a $116.5 billion state budget for the upcoming year. DeSantis also vetoed $950 million for programs and projects statewide, including $5.3 million intended for the area.

The Republican-led Legislature approved the budget in March and it will be effective on July 1.

Here is what we know.

First Responder & Public Saftey Training Center: $8.5 million

The First Responder & Public Safety Training Center located at Northwest Florida State College is set to enhance training facilities for state and local responders. The upcoming renovations will include upgraded classrooms, tactical training rooms, emergency medical simulation spaces and search and rescue practice areas.

Stormwater improvements: $1.5 million

To alleviate stormwater drainage issues, the allocated funds will go toward areas in southern Okaloosa County.

The first is located on Lloyd Street in Fort Walton Beach, near the middle of a drainage basin that implements outdated stormwater infrastructure and ineffective outfall. The project will implement utilities to increase stormwater capacity, including Lloyd Street and Mayflower Avenue, with outfalls to Cinco Bayou.

To improve the bayou's water quality, a hydrodynamic separator  a device that uses a swirling water vortex to control pollution  will be installed.

Community re-entry programs: $1.25 million

To help facilitate a path to normal society and reduce recidivism, $1.25 million will be used to provide behavioral, educational and employment programs for currently incarcerated individuals within 12 months of release. The goal is to help them live independently and successfully once they are back in society.

These funds also will support dedicated reentry programs, postsecondary programs with local college partners, and a coding program. The money will be used in the Bay, Gadsden and Graceville correctional facilities, as well as Panama City and Miami North community release centers.

Four Prong Lake emergency outfall: $1 million

To prevent flood damage, $1 million will be spent on an emergency outfall at Four Prong Lake in Destin.

Due to the lake's position on the drainage basin, stormwater runoff is funneled to the lake, where there is currently no natural outlet. This causes the lake's elevation to climb.

Mental health and substance abuse pre-trial diversion program: $325,000

This money will help create a diversion program designed to keep certain individuals away from incarceration in local jails. Those who participate in the program will be placed into the program as a condition of their bond and pretrial release supervision.

This program will include services such as needs assessment, service referrals, case management, psychosocial rehabilitation, substance use treatment, recovery planning, health and wellness, and relapse prevention.

Judicial cyber-resilience initiative: $250,000

To ensure that the 1st Judicial Circuit's digital records remain protected, $250,000 will be used to create a comprehensive and redundant data backup solution. This will keep records safe in the event of a ransomware attack.

One Hopeful Place: $200,000

This money allows One Hopeful Place to remove 10 concrete wastewater treatment clarifiers from the existing property. With the open space, the facility will have five additional acres to build more shelter and affordable housing for the homeless.

Forever Warriors Initiative: $150,000

To support the military missions at Hurlburt, Duke Field, 6th Ranger Training Battalion, 7th Group and Eglin Air Force Base, the Forever Warriors Foundation will use $150,000 to help address needs in key areas, such as recruitment and retention resiliency, well-being support, reintegration support services and family and spousal support systems.

Harbor Channel dredge project: $100,000

State funds have been allocated to a dredging project to facilitate boat traffic in Destin Harbor and help larger vessels navigate safely in the area.

What got vetoed?

Niceville Reclaimed Water Pipeline Project:- $3 million

Ocean City-Wright Fire Control District aerial firefighting apparatus:- $1.5 million

Stahlman Intersection Improvement Project: $200,000

Fort Walton Beach Hill Avenue & Anchors Street complete street project design: $187,500

Bridgeway Center, a pilot program for homeless outreach specialists to assist law enforcement: $120,000

Baker Fire District tanker: $250,000

Baker Fire District air compressor/purifier: $70,000

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Winners and losers: How Okaloosa projects fared in the new state budget
Transportation Secretary Tim Gatz participates in an Oklahoma Turnpike Authority meeting. (Photo by Carmen Forman/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  After losing a public battle over cabinet secretaries, Gov. Kevin Stitt quietly renamed them chief advisors.

Hes since reinstated his former transportation cabinet secretary as one of his advisors.

It wasnt clear Friday though if the name change is enough to circumvent a May court ruling that found that cabinet secretaries cant serve in other state leadership roles.

The Governor began to consider making this change when it became clear that a certain public official was increasingly interested in targeting public servants for political purposes, said Meyer Siegfried, Stitts spokesperson.

Siegfried did not specify which public official he was referring.

Republican Attorney General Gentner Drummond and Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman, have both questioned Stitts appointments of state officials who work in other capacities.

The name change was first reported by QuorumCall, a subscription-based, online news and bill tracking service.

After Drummond on Feb. 28 issued an opinion saying members of Stitts cabinet couldnt hold dual offices, Tim Gatz and Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell resigned from their cabinet posts.

Gatz had been transportation secretary. He retained his role as head of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, but quit as head of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority.

Pinnell had been workforce development secretary.

On March 7, Stitt and three of his cabinet secretaries sued Drummond. Secretary of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage Shelley Zumwalt later removed her name as cabinet secretary and from the suit, leaving Blayne Arthur and Dr. Deborah Shropshire as plaintiffs.

Zumwalt is executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation.

Arthur was serving as agriculture secretary and remains head of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. Shropshire is head of the Department of Human Services, but did not get confirmed as human services secretary.

In a May 31 order, Oklahoma County District Judge Richard C. Ogden wrote Cabinet Secretaries are office holders or officers of the state of Oklahoma and are not excepted from the dual office holding prohibition under law.

Stitt vowed to appeal and renamed his cabinet secretaries chief advisors.

Gatz returned as chief transportation advisor.

Siegfried said Stitts decision to change the name was further solidified when the Senate chose to abdicate its duties to provide advice and consent to the Governors nominations and not even hold hearings on two of his cabinet nominations this session.

Siegfried said he did not know if the advisors were paid or how much.

Drummonds office on Friday did not respond to a question concerning whether the title change satisfied his dual office-holding concerns.

The response from our office is that we are pleased with the judges ruling and we look forward to defending it on appeal, said Leslie Berger, a spokesperson.

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Oklahoman Ryan Watson will avoid jail time in the Turks and Caicos Islands after airport security found bullets in his luggage.

An Oklahoma man arrested for possessing ammunition in the Turks and Caicos Islands is heading home.

Ryan Watson will avoid jail time but must pay a $2,000 fine  or $500 for each bullet, reports ABC News. He was expected to pay the fine today and return to Oklahoma.

In April, Watson was detained by authorities in the British overseas territory when security agents at the airport found bullets in his luggage. Watson has maintained that the bullets were left in the bad by accident after a hunting trip in the United States.

Possession of ammunition is illegal on the islands.

Watson was initially detained alongside his wife, Valerie, but she was allowed to return home to their children. He was also released from jail but stayed on the islands until his trial and this week's sentencing hearing.

Watson's case is one of several in recent months featuring American tourists caught up in a strict Turks and Caicos law banning the possession of ammunition. The authorities' decision to hold the Watsons and eventually charge Ryan triggered an outpouring of support that has raised nearly $250,000 for their legal defense and expenses.

The law allowed island authorities to sentence violators to a mandatory 12 years in prison. The Turks and Caicos Weekly News reported, however, that the strict sentencing law has been softened after public outcry.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma man detained in Turks and Caicos headed home after sentencing
Oklahoma man pays $2K fine to avoid jail for bullets found in suitcase while in Turks and Caicos

June 21 (UPI) -- American tourist Ryan Watson avoided jail time in the Turks and Caicos on Friday by paying a $2,000 fine for bullets found in his luggage at Howard Hamilton International Airport in April.

Watson, who lives in Oklahoma, was facing up to 12 years in prison after he was arrested on April 12 while returning with his wife from a trip to Turks and Caicos to celebrate the birthday of several friends.

He was released on bond after his arrest but was not allowed the leave the island until Friday, when the judge cited "exceptional circumstances" in allowing him to pay the fine, $500 for each bullet found.

Watson entered a guilty plea for owning ammunition on the island. He said he did not realize he had the bullets, used for hunting, in the carry-on bag when he traveled there.

Family spokesman Jonathan Franks said on X that Watson will pay the fine and will be flying out on Friday to return home.

Watson was one of several Americans who ended up in a legal bind under the strict weapons rules in the Turks and Caicos. Last month, Tyler Wenrich, of Virginia, was ordered to pay $9,000 after he was sentenced to time served for bringing ammunition to the islands.

He was found with bullets in his backpack while on Grand Turk to attend a bachelor's party.

Bryan Hagerich, of Pennsylvania, was released in May after he was initially arrested in February while vacationing on the island with is wife and two children.
Oldest Man in U.S. Dies at 110 After Walking Daily and Avoiding Bottled Water  Now Scientists Will Study His Brain (Exclusive)

Morrie Markoff followed a mostly vegetarian diet, didn't use plastic and didn't have any neurological disorders like dementia or Alzheimer's

Courtesy Judith Markoff Hansen Morrie Markoff

The oldest man in America, Morrie Markoff, died in June at age 110  and his family has donated his brain to science via the Brain Donor Project

His brain is the "oldest cognitively healthy brain that's ever been donated, Tish Hevel, CEO of the Brain Donor Project, tells PEOPLE

Markoff's daughter, Judith Hansen Markoff, tells PEOPLE her father and mother  who lived to 103  ate largely vegetarian meals, stayed mentally and physically active, and avoided bottled water

When he died at age 110, Morrie Markoff was the oldest man in the United States, but thats not the only reason he was so remarkable.

At the time of his death on June 3, Markoff hadnt suffered any cognitive decline from illnesses like dementia or Alzheimers disease, which are linked to aging.

I didn't think too much about it until he was dying, his daughter, Judith Markoff Hansen, 83, tells PEOPLE. I woke up and I thought, What's going to happen to dad's brain? This fabulous brain? 

She shared that her dad joked he couldnt donate his organs  No one would want them because they were too old  but she hadnt thought about suggesting that he donate his brain before.

Courtesy Judith Markoff Hansen Morrie Markoff

An online search led her to the Brain Donor Project, which facilitates the pairing of donated brains with researchers.

Scientists believe this is the oldest cognitively healthy brain that's ever been donated, Tish Hevel, CEO of the Brain Donor Project, tells PEOPLE. So, that's quite a thing.

Hansen pointed to her fathers healthy lifestyle, sharing that he and her mother, Betty, ate largely vegetarian meals, rarely drank alcohol, stayed active  and were constantly learning.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

He was just an incredibly curious person, Hansen tells PEOPLE about her father, who was born in the Bronx but moved to Silver Lake, Calif., for work as a salesman and machinist.

He was very interested in science. He at one time subscribed to Scientific American and this is a man with an eighth grade education.

She said that her father and late mother, who died at age 103, walked three miles a day, late into their 90s. And I know that it was three miles a day because they went down their hill and then they walked around a lake. And you can't cheat, you know, [when] you're going around the lake.

Related: Drinking Any Amount of Alcohol Causes Damage to the Brain, New Study Finds

They ate very simply, she says, adding that they didn't eat fast food, Never had any soda, no junk food at all," she tells PEOPLE.

"Even store-bought cookies were a little hard to come by.

Courtesy Judith Markoff Hansen Betty (left) and Morrie Markoff

Hansen is also quick to point out that mom shunned that whole fad of bottled water." She continued, "They drank a lot of water but always from the tap, explaining that her father trusted science  and trusted the routine testing of Los Angeles countys water supply.

She had an instinct about plastic, Hansen says, sharing that when a recent study found that the average bottle of water contains 250,000 pieces of plastic, My dad called me. He said, J, mama was right. We were right. They should have listened to us. "

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He was also an artist, Hansen says, explaining that the story goes that he was fixing a toilet, he took a piece of the toilet, it looked like a ballerina's dress on her skirt. And he made that into a sculpture.

He was just an incredibly creative person, she shared about her father, who often posted his artwork and musings on his blog  which made him the oldest living blogger. Hopefully the brain will find a large area of creativity. I don't know what it's going to find. It's going to be interesting.

Related: Where You Live Might Increase Your Risk of Developing Alzheimers, New Research Says

Thats for certain: Hevel tells PEOPLE that they're hoping they can learn what allowed this man to live so long at such a high-functioning level, in case there are things that we can do.

Just for example, maybe there's a certain kind of protein or enzyme that was more prevalent in his brain than most people. And then the next step would be, 'How can we help other people experience that?' 

Judith Markoff Hansen One of Morrie Markoff's sculptures

If you asked Markoff, however, Hansen says he would say the secret to living long is to keep breathing  the title of his memoir, which he published when he was 103.

He always joked about the keep breathing,  Hansen tells PEOPLE, adding that on a more serious note, her father would say be interested in things and walk a lot.

And, she adds, My mother would say, Don't drink bottles [of water]. 



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Olympia council considers decriminalizing shrooms and other psychedelics. Heres what to know

The Olympia City Council will consider a proposal to decriminalize psilocybin and other fungal and plant-based medicines within city limits.

Two council members voiced hesitation during a conversation about the proposal Tuesday night, worried that abuse of psychoactive drugs will rise in the states capital if approved.

The referral was drafted by council member Clark Gilman and brought to the City Council on June 18. It was backed by council members Dani Madrone and Robert Vanderpool.

Gilman said its time the city of Olympia joins other cities across the country, and the state of Oregon, in decriminalizing entheogenic substances, including psilocybin and other fungal and plant-based medicines. He said theyve been shown to assist in the treatment of post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression.

We had in particular advocates coming from the veterans community talking about the impacts of PTSD and the rates of suicide in their community, and what theyve experienced with the efficacy of these sorts of treatments, Gilman said.

Entheogens refer to any living, fresh, dried or processed plant or fungal material that may contain psychoactive compounds such as indolamines, tryptamines and phenethylamines. They include teas, powders, psilocybin mushrooms, ayahuasca tea, mescaline and iboga.

If passed, arrests and prosecutions of people engaging in activities with these substances would become a low-level priority for the Olympia Police Department. Uses of the substances listed include for spiritual and religious reasons, healing and personal growth practices.

Gilmans proposal states no city funds or resources should be used to investigate, prosecute or arrest individuals solely for entheogenic plants and fungi.

The council stated its unanimous support for the full decriminalization of use of these psychoactive substances at the state and federal level.

It also referred Gilmans proposal to staff and the police department for review. Gilman said the plan is to have the Chief of Police report to the council on current enforcement of nature-based psychedelics.

Mayor Pro Tem Yen Huynh said she had a lot of questions when she first heard about the proposal. She wondered if enforcement is an issue in Olympia now and what the perception would be of such a move by the City. But she recognizes that its part of a larger effort.

There is an opportunity for me to check my own biases with this one, because I will tell you I did not like it, Huynh said. I thought, What? Mushrooms? What are we doing with that? Why now? We have enough things on our plate.

Council member Lisa Parshley said the majority of medicine comes from natural sources. She said St. Johns wort has been used as an antidepressant. A cancer drug was made out of Pacific yew bark.

But while supporting alternative medicines, she said theres always the potential for abuse and self medication. She thinks people should still be charged with a low-level misdemeanor.

I do worry  and Im of the age, eight Grateful Dead concerts  that I do know that its an extreme potential, Parshley said. Id hate to tie the hands of our police department.

She also asked that the Social Justice and Equity Commission review the proposal, specifically how treatments involving psychedelic drugs have affected community members who are Black, Indigenous and other people of color.

Mayor Dontae Payne said he supports moving the proposal forward for review, but he doesnt want the city to get too far ahead of other jurisdictions  or science.

Payne said in 2022 the state Legislature directed the Health Care Authority to create a work group whose purpose was studying making psilocybin and other psychoactive substance-therapy services available in Washington.

Gilman said as far as he knows, those groups are still in the research phase.

This one has taken me some time to think about, and obviously I think about the people who spoke against the legalization of marijuana and how wrong those people were, Payne said. Were in a place of, we just dont know, and I want to acknowledge that.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Three people were involved in a southeast Columbus crash with one suffering serious injuries early Friday morning.

According to police a red Ford Escort was traveling west on Omar Road in the Marion Franklin neighborhood when the driver lost control of the vehicle. The car struck several parked vehicles before coming to a stop near Bulen Avenue.

Homeowner chases porch pirate moments after package delivery

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The driver was taken to Grant Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. A passenger in the front seat was also taken to the hospital and listed in stable condition. A passenger in the rear seat reported no injuries.

The Accident Investigation Unit responded to the scene and initiated an investigation, which remains 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 NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Jose Antuna fell through a drain at a west suburban car wash where he worked and tore his meniscus in mid-November.



The 40-year-old from Venezuela didnt have a work permit at the time and was making $10 an hour.

But after being injured for a second time in May while working at a flea market  this time as an innocent bystander when a woman allegedly attempted to run her car into her adulterous husband  he can barely walk around his apartment.

He struggles to load himself onto CTA buses for his physical therapy appointments. He spends his days sitting or sleeping, watching his 3-year-old daughter, Luz, run around his apartment.

In Illinois, it is illegal under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 to knowingly hire workers who are in the country without legal permission. However, these workers are as entitled to workers compensation benefits when injured on the job as people who are citizens.



Its hard. I dont have a way to pay for rent right now, Antuna said in Spanish. Im worried my family will be kicked out of my apartment.



Immigrants who cant work legally are more likely to work higher-risk jobs and less likely to know how to access protection if they need it, advocates say. While experts say that there is no way to officially track how many workers compensation cases from migrants have been filed, with more than 43,000 migrants who have passed through Chicago in almost two years, some workers compensation lawyers say they have seen an increase in migrant cases.



They still have virtually the same workers compensation rights as every other worker, said Brian Hercule, the workers compensation and personal injury attorney representing Antuna. It falls on the employer to be to take responsibility for their employees.



A slow process

Living paycheck to paycheck, Antuna looked online and found an attorney to help him file a work compensation claim against the car wash. He told his boss he was moving forward with a claim.

But he said his boss went to his eldest daughters house in Chicago and tried to bully her so that her father wouldnt move forward with it.

My daughter called me desperately, he had gone there, had threatened her, Antuna said.

Hercule largely represents immigrants. He said that in the 14 years hes been practicing, hes consistently seen employers who try to use a persons immigration status against them.

Because Antunas case is still pending, Hercule could not provide any more specifics. But he said the process can take months or even years to resolve, depending on the nature of the injury and the amount of treatment a person is getting.

Its a slow process, unfortunately, he said.

With the help of the workers compensation firm, Antuna started going to physical therapy.

Workers who have filed for compensation are supposed to receive temporary, weekly wage replacement benefits during the period in which theyre being treated, and then more once the case is closed.

But that weekly rate is typically less than what they actually make, according to Jose Rivero, a longtime workers compensation attorney.



Rivero, who used to do work compensation cases with immigrant farmworkers, said he believes many Venezuelans are scared to come forward. This worries him.



You have one body. This is it. And youve got to treat it because this is what is making you money, he said.

For five months, Antuna slowly recuperated his knee to a point where he could walk again. His orthopedic surgeon cleared him to return to work on March 21, according to medical records.

The only breadwinner

Venezuelans escaping economic ruin and government prosecution in their country of origin have accounted for many of the arrivals in Chicago. Unlike immigrants from Mexico and Central America who have come to the United States in the past, most Venezuelans do not have a network of support.

Im the only breadwinner of my family here in Chicago, Antuna said.

Antuna was a welder in Venezuela before his company folded under the countrys far-left president, Nicolas Maduro. Antuna said after he was laid off, he moved home and started raising pigs at his house in the central western state of Yaracuy.

He signed a contract with the federal government, under the impression that he could sell his pigs at subsidized prices in exchange for material goods to keep his farm going. But he said the government took all of his pigs and didnt provide the benefits it had agreed upon.

Officials came to his little farm three times and demanded more from him each time. When he refused, he said they retaliated.

The third time, they hit my wife. She had my daughter in her arms, he said. They took everything. Everything I had worked for. Me quitaron todo.

He and his wife filed a report against the government, which didnt sit favorably with officials. They were facing death threats from the government, he said.

Antunas family, at the urging of his mother, had to leave their home. He left behind his mother and godfather, his grandkids and siblings, and everything they knew.



I wish I could just have avoided all of this

Antunas family arrived in Chicago in late July and was staying at the Inn of Chicago in Streeterville when the first injury occurred later that November while working at the car wash, he said.

After months of healing, he was eager to save up to pay for housing on his own. In March, Antuna started working at a stand in the Swap-O-Rama flea market in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. He worked for a friend, he said, and would take two buses to get there in the morning.



I was feeling pain, but I could still walk. I could work, he said.



He and his family moved into an apartment in Chicago Lawn in late April with a state-funded grant.

He said he was heading in the right direction. He had a stable job. His wife and daughter were getting used to the neighborhood.



But on May 25 around 5:30 p.m., his bosss wife  who had recently found out that her husband was cheating on her  got into her car in a fit of jealousy. Antuna was standing in the parking lot between the couple.



According to a police report, she was trying to either hit or scare her husband. But she allegedly turned the wheel abruptly and hit Antuna instead, in the same knee he had injured months earlier.

Antuna was transferred to Holy Cross Hospital and officers opened an investigation.



When he left the hospital, he was on crutches. He was back to square one  frantically looking for legal solutions and recourse. His boss at Swap-O-Rama stopped answering his calls. He requested video footage of the incident from the Swap-O-Rama manager but got no response.



I wish I could just have avoided all of this, he said, crying.



The Tribune reached out to a Swap-O-Rama spokesperson, but didnt receive a response.



Moving forward

Antuna knew he had no choice but to move forward. He found a second lawyer for his latest injuries and started a new round of physical therapy.



Taylor Unterberg, the personal injury attorney handling Antunas new case at Swap-O-Rama, said the car accident, classified as aggravated battery, is a pending civil and criminal matter. Unterberg could provide no other details other than that person injury cases typically take months to finish.



Until someone is done with treatment, or at the very end of treatment, we cant place a value on a case, she said.

While his cases are ongoing, Antuna passes his days resting his knee and attending his physical therapy appointments in Logan Square. The two buses to get there take over an hour.



He worries about meeting his monthly rental payments. His wife has had little success looking for work, and she also has to help him care for their toddler.

When he calls the police station to check on the status of the investigation, there is rarely anyone there who speaks Spanish.

Unterberg said that while she does not ask for the immigration status of her clients, she has seen more Spanish-speaking people in her practice over the past few years. Out of the firms 23 employees, only about four or five speak Spanish.



Nicole Hallett, director of the Immigrants Rights Clinic at the University of Chicago Law School, said Antuna likely qualifies for a U visa, which allows crime victims and certain family members to apply for lawful permanent residence after three years. But this requires someone like Antuna to know how to apply.

Its really important that police departments make information available for noncitizens so that they know to make the request, Hallett said.

At some point, while he waits for his second case to wrap up, Antuna believes its likely hell have to beg on the street.

My dream, everything I had hoped and planned for in the United States, it all went away with this accident, he said, on a recent bus trip to therapy.

On the way there, he adjusted his leg on the bus and flinched. He called the police and asked for a Spanish speaker. They hung up on him.

nsalzman@chicagotribune.com
There is a border problem, and its unknown to most Americans. Its a criminal form of trafficking. It involves scores of individual victims crossing the Rio Grande. It is a public safety threat and a massive expense to American taxpayers.

In this case, I refer to the cockfighting trade.

Cockfighting is outlawed in every state, and it is a felony in most. But south of the border, it is legal, and U.S. cockfighters smuggle hundreds of thousands of fighting birds to cartel-controlled cockfighting arenas in Mexico for regular bloodletting, high-stakes gambling and money laundering. The flow of birds also moves in the opposite direction, with the cartels shipping them along north-facing routes to their network of criminal operators in our homeland.

Court dockets in Texas counties show its an epidemic.

Recently, Bexar County law enforcement arrested 47 people and seized 200 birds, along with illegal weapons. A raid in Goliad County resulted in 60 arrests and several illegal weapons seized.

Earlier this year, more than 160 roosters were seized in a Potter County bust where according to the sheriff, many participants were unlawfully in the United States. At a cockfight busted by the San Jacinto sheriff, suspects were expected to face multiple felony charges, ranging from animal cruelty, cockfighting, illegal gambling, unlawful weapon possession, organized crime, and federal firearm possession by people in this country illegally.

The Humane Society of the United States has honored the Chatham County sheriff for the arrests of two people on cockfighting charges in 2020.

We saw more of the same in Cherokee, Texas, where two dozen suspected cockfighters were arrested on similar charges. And in Lynn County, the sheriff brought felony charges because of organized criminal activity.

There has been a series of interdictions at the border, including a federal enforcement action in which officers made an unusual discovery, roosters deeply hidden within passenger vehicles.

This is no benign trade. Cockfighting is barbaric and cruel. Fighting birds are fitted with razor-sharp blades on their legs to hack and cut one another for the sick enjoyment of spectators who get a thrill from the bloodletting. But apart from this sheer barbarism, cockfights are also a gathering place where organized crime festers and spills over into communities.

In Hidalgo County, in early June, a young man shot his uncle in a dispute over birds thought to be raised for cockfighting. There was also a shooting at a Dallas cockfight last year.

The cockfighting-related violence in Mexico is chilling in its scale. In 2022, in the state of Michoacan, cartel members entered a cockfighting arena, sealed off exit routes  and killed 20 people. Three of the victims were Americans, including a mother of four from Illinois. A similar incident occurred at a cockfighting derby in Guerrero in January, where 14 people were wounded and six murdered, including a 16-year-old boy from Washington state.

Cockfighting has also been linked to outbreaks of H5N1 bird flu in Asia, and there have been 15 outbreaks of another kind of bird flu, virulent Newcastle Disease, in the U.S. in recent decades. Ten of those 15 outbreaks were linked to fighting birds smuggled across the border from Mexico. The United States indemnifies the farmers and has paid out billions of your tax dollars to reimburse them for birds lost to disease.

Texas is at a crossroads of the North American cockfighting trade. Three neighboring states  Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma  were the last ones to criminalize cockfighting. Organized criminal networks of cockfighters still operate, coordinating with associates in Texas and Mexico and contributing to the crime wave.

This is one more border crisis we cannot ignore.

A bill in Congress would strengthen federal enforcement of our laws against animal fighting. The FIGHT Act would ban online gambling on animal fights, allow courts to seize fighting pits and other property used by convicted animal fighters in the commission of their crimes and stop the shipment of fighting roosters through the mail. It would also allow law-abiding citizens to protect their homes and families by bringing civil suits against cockfighters and dogfighters when governmental authorities are too slow to act.

With a law such as the FIGHT Act to protect the public from deadly cross-border crimes, we could finally put an end to the scourge of illegal animal fighting in Texas and across our nation.

Wayne Pacelle is president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy at animalwellnessaction.org . He is the author of two New York Times bestselling books about the human relationship with animals.

Wayne Pacelle is president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy, www.animalwellnessaction.org. He is the author of two New York Times bestselling books about the human relationship with animals.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, June 22. Turkmenistan has strengthened the development of trade and economic cooperation within the China-Central Asia format, Trend reports.

According to an official source, representatives of the Ministry of Finance and Economy and the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations of Turkmenistan took part in events to strengthen trade and economic cooperation between China and Central Asian countries.

This is a meeting of senior officials of China - Central Asia and a business forum on trade and economic cooperation between Shaanxi Province and Central Asia, which took place on June 18 in Xi'an city (China).

The meeting of senior officials on trade and economic cooperation "China-Central Asia" was chaired by the Director of the Eurasia Department of the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China.

During the meeting, priority areas of trade and economic relations in the China-Central Asia format, strengthening cooperation in the field of the production chain, and the and the creation of working groups on trade facilitation and investment cooperation within the framework of the ministerial meeting of the dialogue countries were discussed.

Meanwhile, Turkmenistan's cooperation in the China-Central Asia format is actively developing, reflecting the growing importance of the region in geopolitics and economics.

Turkmenistan participates in regional initiatives aimed at strengthening the country's role in logistics and trade, and cooperation with other Central Asian countries contributes to the stability and economic growth of the region, creating new opportunities for integration and mutually beneficial cooperation.
An Online Rant Against A Trans Counselor At The Space & Rocket Center Is All It Took To Unleash The Wolves

Illustration: Jianan Liu/HuffPost; Photo: Getty Images

ForLGBTQ+employees at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, what used to be a haven now feels like a nightmare  and it only took one fearmongering rallying cry from a parent.

In a Facebook post from March 9, Clay Yarbrough, the father of a child enrolled at Space Camp, urged parents to pull their children from the program and started a smear campaign against a camp counselor named Molly Bowman.

Why? Because shes trans.

As a bisexual woman who has struggled with her identity for years, Im pretty tired of rhetoric that not only makes queer people question our own worth, but frequently makes us, especially members of the trans community, feel unsafe. As I watched all of this play out in the news, I knew I had to get the story from those who hadnt yet been included in the conversation.

Though the post included no evidence or credible allegations of wrongdoing on Bowmans part, the crux of Yarbroughs argument hinged on the idea that Bowman could do something wrong  a possibility that, of course, isnt exclusive to the LGBTQ+ community.

Yarbrough misgendered and used slurs against Bowman online, his post amassing comments that made unfounded accusations that she and the rest of the LGBTQ+ counselors had behaved inappropriately. The group dissected Bowmans personal social media pages, and even her Amazon wish list, in their attempts to pull something from nothing.

Yarbroughs post blew up with over 6,000 shares, garnering the attention of right-wing groups and politicians. Moms For Liberty Alabama tweeted Yarbroughs Facebook post with the comment: Do not send your children to Space Camp in Huntsville, AL. The entire program has gone woke! Girls as young as 7 attend Space Camp and this is what they are exposed to! Protect your kids!!!!

Given that the age range for the camp begins at 9, the group was already off to a rocky start.

Meanwhile, the right-wing account Libs of TikTok misgendered Bowman and repeated the baseless claim that Bowman went into the girls showers while they were changing.

Bowmans supporters began researching Yarbrough. Commenters on his Facebook post raised questions about Yarbroughs own alleged criminal past, which he dismissed on March 11 as irrelevant. After the backlash, Yarbrough wrote on Facebook: Oh and because I have a mug shot on the internet and have been arrested before then I am a axe murdered with 12 criminal records, in a place I havent been since I was 23, IM ALSO ARMED AND DANGEROUS.

He also posted a comment that read: The crap is hitting the fan and I just spoiled the devils plans to hurt some kids!!! Major change is coming and the GOD I worship is still in charge and still more powerful than anything they can throw at me!!

The Facebook conversation caused so many ripples that local conservative officials quickly weighed in.

I call on the Center to immediately remove this individual and open a safety review to consider the potential harm and damages they have inadvertently caused children, Rep. Dale Strong (R-Ala.) wrote in a statement.

Rep. Gary Palmer, another Alabama Republican, posted a similar sentiment on March 11, writing on social media: The situation currently unfolding at @SpaceCampUSA is unacceptable.When parents send their kids to Space Camp in Alabama, they should be confident they are going to a safe, educational environment.

The Space & Rocket Center said in a statement that the organization conducts extensive background checks on prospective employees, so Bowman wouldnt have landed the job to begin with if she had a criminal record.The space center said in the statement that she has not been reported for misconduct.

On March 20, Alabama state Rep. Mark Gidley (R) attempted to amend House Bill 130, also known as the Dont Say Gay bill, which would ban discussions of gender identity and sexual orientation in public school classrooms through grade 12. (Under current law, discussion of those topics is only forbidden through fifth grade.) The amendment, which would have specified that Space Camp is subject to those same rules, died in committee, and HB 130 was likewise killed in mid-May.

On March 15, Rocket Center CEO Kimberly Robinson sent an internal memo to staff, which an employee shared with me. The memo described how employees had been harassed and how people on our staff have also received threats over email and phone.

Patricia Ammons, senior director of public and media relations at the Center, told me over email that Robinson wanted to send a message expressing her care and concern for our employees safety and well-being.

Following an investigation, the Rocket Center said in a March 29 public statement that there is no evidence of inappropriate behavior or malfeasance between any Space Camp staff and student campers. The statement said the Rocket Center provides private areas for campers to change, shower and use the restroom, and no staffers had been in those areas.

Four Rocket Center employees told me that the center fostered an inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ employees, but that it has soured somewhat since the incidents of harassment.

It seemed like a very queer-positive place, especially for Alabama, said one. My department has a ton of LGBTQ+ people in it and most of us feel a bit hung out to dry by higher-ups.

Another employee said theyd feel better if the center made a definitive statement against anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, instead of the HR bullshit we always get at jobs.

When asked about its support for LGBTQ+ workers, a Rocket Center representative said: Space Camp is and will remain an equal-opportunity employer adhering to all state and federal laws regulating hiring practices. We are an apolitical organization with no social agenda. Our singular mission is to inspire and educate.

The Rocket Center conducted an internal investigation and a review of on-campus footage, and concluded that Bowman had done nothing wrong. But she was still transferred to a new department  something that the first employee claims amounted to punish[ing] a trans employee for online weirdos being mad shes trans.

As these trolls have gotten more boisterous and bold, Bowman and her peers have grown concerned for their physical safety.

As LGBTQ+ folks, we are just trying to do a job that we are underpaid for, an employee told me. Were not indoctrinating your kids or being inappropriate.

Recently, there have been many comments from guests regarding our looks and religion, another said. Its a mix of hate and love, but more hate lately.

Many [employees] have left because they are scared for their lives, regardless if they are trans or not, this employee said. I would feel safer with metal detectors. Its reasonable for a place that is part of the [NASA] arsenal and that has kids to have metal detectors.

When I askedwhat safety precautions the center has taken to protect employees and keep them in the loop about any developing safety issues, a representative told me: We take the safety of our campers, visitors, and staff extremely seriously. As reported [in the centers post-investigation statement], we worked with the Huntsville Police Department to increase patrols through our campus and engaged a private security firm in the days and weeks following the social media post with accusations against an employee.

The employees told me they hadnt seen much change, beyond noticing police cars on patrol every so often.

The most concerning safety risk, multiple employees told me, was when someone shot a BB gun at the windshield of an employees car toward the end of March. The queer employees said the incident spurred fear for themselves and the kids who visit the center  the very children whom all these agitated conservatives are ostensibly trying to protect.

The Huntsville Police Department would neither confirm nor deny that a police report was filed, citing confidentiality restrictions. The Rocket Center said it couldnt confirm that an employees car had been shot at. One of my sources speculated that the centers leadership is worried about losing funding, and is therefore opting not to confirm any specific threats or violence.

The employees I spoke to dont feel like management is showing up for them when they feel particularly vulnerable. One employee told me that a recent policy change prohibits employees from wearing any pins other than those provided by NASA. Many of the non-NASA pins that employees wore were Pride- and pronoun-related.

Regarding pins staffers may wear, it has been a long-standing policy that pins and other embellishments focus on and dont distract from our mission, a Rocket Center representative said. According to the workers I talked to, their pins werent previously policed.

All in all, I believe that the center missed an opportunity to really stand up for Bowman and queer employees as a whole. Staff there are limited in what theyre allowed to say, and the political pressure brought against them has been significant. Still, the higher-ups have a duty to protect all employees, especially given the widely held attitudes about queer people in the state of Alabama.

Shame on the transphobic politicians that want to kick out the LGBTQ+ [employees], one employee I spoke to said. In my opinion, calling for someones termination without any facts to back up that action is irresponsible at best and blatant discrimination at worst.

If the politicians who are so up in arms about a trans person working at the Space & Rocket Center want to protect children  as they claim  then they need to protect all children. Keep religion-based ideology out of the classroom and out of integral programs like Space Camp. Allow for safe spaces for queer kids to feel seen and worthy of education and love. The separation of church and state exists for a reason, and dismantling that freedom is inherently un-American. Its about time that political leaders in this country stop weaponizing religion to justify agendas based on personal bigotry.

If one personshateful comments hadnt snowballed, and politicians and hate groups hadnt bullied Bowman, maybe she wouldnt now feel like she needs to pack up and leave her state  along with her job, friends and family  to feel safe. But thats what she feels she has to do.

Due to recent events and media coverage I no longer feel safe living in Alabama, she wrote in a note on a GoFundMe drive. This move is not just a change of scenery; its a crucial step towards rebuilding my life and securing a stable future.

Queer people should be allowed to live, work and thrive in every single state. What will it take to get us there?
'Only pirates do this,' a general said after China's Coast Guard, armed with bladed weapons, clashed with Philippine boats in the South China Sea

A Philippine general called China's coast guard pirates after a violent confrontation.

China's Coast Guard disrupted a Philippine resupply mission at Second Thomas Shoal.

Experts say it's not piracy, but it's a troubling escalation all the same.

The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines accused China of behaving like pirates after members of China's coast guard aggressively clashed with Philippine vessels running a resupply mission on Monday, wielding bladed weapons.

"Only pirates do this," General Romeo Brawner Jr. said in a social media post regarding the recent actions of the Chinese coast guard. "Only pirates board, steal, and destroy ships, equipment, and belongings."

Beijing has blamed the Philippines for the incident, with a foreign ministry spokesperson saying Thursday that "the Philippine side has been calling white black and falsely accusing China."

Footage of the encounter showed China's Coast Guard fleet surrounding Philippine vessels in the South China Sea that were in the process of conducting a resupply and rotation mission. The Chinese vessels closed in and tensions flared. The incident marked an escalation amid months of confrontations in the area.

Members of the Coast Guard are seen in the videos wielding blades and removing objects from the Philippine vessel.

This is how barbaric the Chinese Coast Guard is in the recent RoRe mission of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. These videos show how blatantly they use physical attacks and violence to prevent our soldiers from completing the legitimate and humanitarian resupply mission to pic.twitter.com/7vzFDem1DE  Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) June 19, 2024

The Philippine general added that the crew members aboard the ambushed vessels were outnumbered and "fought with bare hands" against the Chinese coast guard personnel.

Though the Chinese coast guard behavior documented by the Philippines is aggressive, it's not piracy, an expert explained, but it's still a serious problem.

The Chinese coast guard might have used pirate-like tactics, but it's not legally piracy. The incident wasn't on the high seas beyond a country's jurisdiction, and as Harrison Pretat, deputy director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies' Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, told Business Insider, it wasn't for monetary gain.

The Chinese Coast Guard is "trying to prevent the Philippines from resupplying the BRP Sierra Madre, a ship grounded on Second Thomas Shoal since 1999 where the Philippines maintains a garrison of marines," Pretat explained.

He added that the Permanent Court of Arbitration declared in 2016 that Second Thomas Shoal was a part of the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. Therefore, the Philippines should be able to access Second Thomas and even build artificial structures there in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, to which China is a signatory.

This photo taken on February 15, 2024, shows an aerial view of Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea. JAM STA ROSA/AFP

Although the country is a signatory, "China rejects the 2016 ruling and is attempting to enforce its control over maritime activity within its nine-dash line claim," Pretat said. The nine-dash line is a map marking designating China's sweeping and controversial claims to the South China Sea.

This isn't the first time China's coast guard has acted aggressively toward the Philippines at sea, especially over parts of the hotly contested Spratley Islands. In recent months, Chinese ships have also fired water canons at Philippine vessels and even rammed them. Equipment has been damaged, and crew members have been injured. But this week's incident was notable, reaching a new level.

Per other reporting on the incident, Brawner said that the Chinese guardsmen "took guns and other equipment, destroyed our equipment onboard, including the motors. They punctured our rigid-hulled inflatable boats." One of the Filipino crewmembers even lost his thumb in the incident.

"This latest incident is a significant escalation from recent tensions, which previously involved water cannons targeting Philippine civilian boatsthis time, the inflatable boat that was boarded and destroyed by Chinese personnel was a Philippine Navy vessel," Pretat said. That raises the stakes.

The maritime expert noted that the attack "could trigger US obligations under the Mutual Defense Treaty." Pretat said it could raise the risk of a conflict between the US and China. Manila does not, however, plan to invoke the treaty. It's a means to prevent further escalation, but the Philippines is demanding China return seized equipment and pay for damages.

US ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said this week in a post on X that the US "condemns the PRC's aggressive, dangerous maneuvers," referring to China by the acronym for People's Republic of China.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Thanks to a new law, Louisiana classrooms are slated to post the Ten Commandments in every classroom in the state. As a father who sends his children to Christian schools, you might not be surprised to learn that I endorse this message.

To be sure, there are reasonable concerns about blurring the separation of church and state, and there will no doubt be court challenges. Likewise, I have no doubt that the same people applauding this decision would be up in arms if, say, a Dearborn, Michigan, school district decided to post some comparable verse from the Koran.

But its hard to see how posting this text (which has both a moral and historical component) constitutes some major affront to the sensibilities of Louisiana families, much less the Constitution. And if it does, then we should acknowledge that this revelation is a relatively new development, and that our past leaders (including liberal Democrats) would be shocked by this secular interpretation.

CNN Wants to Mute Trump at Its Debate. Good Luck With That

The most important business in this Nationor any other nation, for that matteris raising and training children, declared televangelist Pat Robertson*, adding: The fundamental basis of this Nations law was given to Moses on the Mount. (*Just kidding. Harry Truman said that!)

Aside from imparting values like Thou shalt not kill, supporters of the law argue that the Ten Commandments also have historical significance.

Its hard to argue that they are wrong.

As President Franklin Roosevelt said in a 1935 statement, We cannot read the history of our rise and development as a Nation, without reckoning with the place the Bible has occupied in shaping the advances of the Republic.

Conservatives who argue that the secular left has radically changed America could do worse than citing these quotes. To modern secular ears, the words of liberal heroes like FDR and Truman might be mistaken for something coming from, I dont know, Mike Huckabee.

But while I am fine with posting the Ten Commandments in school classrooms, its also hard to ignore the blatant hypocrisy exhibited by so many on the right (this Louisiana law was pushed by Republicans) when it comes to Donald Trumpa man who publicly flouts many of these same commandments.

Along those lines, I also think its telling that many Christian conservatives these days seem very interested in the Old Testament, but not so interested in Jesus teachings, including the new commandment he gave us.

As Kurt Vonnegut observed in 2005s A Man Without a Country, For some reason, the most vocal Christians demand that the Ten Commandments be posted in public buildings. And of course thats Moses, not Jesus. I havent heard one of them demand that the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes, be posted anywhere.

The modern right, it seems, are much more at home with a more judgemental God who smites His enemies than they are with the God who tells them to turn the other cheek, welcome the stranger, and care for the widow, the poor, and the hungry.

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Now, truth be told, some of this criticism is overblown. A common narrative suggests, for example, that pro-life conservatives dont much care for life post-birth. While there is certainly some truth to this lament, the Ethics and Public Policy Center recently went through and documented the Support for Moms, Babies, and Families that various states have implemented in the wake of overturning Roe v. Wade. More work (such as support to aid moms) has been done than you might think.

Still, anyone paying attention to the rhetoric and actions of many of todays right-leaning activists and pols knows that the teachings of Jesus are largely at odds with the zeitgeist we see on Fox News, on the floor of Congress, and even in some of our pews. So its no surprise that the front section of the Good Book gets more love from the political right.

Last year, for example, Russell Moore, editor-in-chief of Christianity Today, recalled several pastors telling him that their preaching on the topic of turning the other cheek resulted in having congregants ask, Where did you get those liberal talking points? When the pastor would say, Im literally quoting Jesus Christ, Moore recalled, The response would be, Yes, but that doesnt work anymore. Thats weak.

Anyone paying attention to modern politics knows that it rings true.

As I wrote way back in 2018, We all fall short, but Christians aspire to bring about the fruits of the spirit (love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control). These virtues arent just out of step in todays societythey are utterly countercultural in Trumps Republican Party.

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So yes, Im concerned that too many of our school children lack a grounding in the moral lessons that can be found in the Ten Commandments. But Im likewise concerned that so many of our leaderspeople who ostensibly are fighting to restore traditional valuesare so unfamiliar with the new covenant delivered by Jesus.

Perhaps we could mandate that the Sermon on the Mount be posted at the Republican National Committee, Mar-a-Lago, and the Fox News green room.

What could it hurt?

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Editors Note: Justin Gest (@_Justin Gest) is a professor at George Mason Universitys Schar School of Policy and Government, where he directs the Public Policy program. He is the author of six books on the politics of immigration and demographic change, including his newest, Majority Minority. The views expressed in this commentary are his own. Read more opinion at CNN.

When the 2020 murder of George Floyd inspired a national reassessment of race relations, many companies responded by investing in their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Four years later, these initiatives are facing a two-front battle.

Justin Gest - Ron Aira/Photo by: Ron Aira/Creative Services/GMU

On one front, Republican activists have begun eliminating DEI interventions, sweeping them into the vortex of Americas culture wars. In March, House Republicans dissolved their chambers Office of Diversity and Inclusion as part of a government spending bill, and Republican legislators have proposed about 50 other bills in 20 state legislatures that would restrict DEI initiatives or require their public disclosure, according to an Associated Press analysis.

On the other front, corporate America is reexamining the efficacy of DEI initiatives. In a recent survey of more than 300 C-suite executives across the US, 59% of respondents agreed that the backlash against DEI programs or initiatives has increased since the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action practices in June 2023. Earlier this month, the largest division of Harvard University  which often sets the standard for the higher education sector  eliminated diversity statements from its hiring requirements. These statements asked job candidates to assert their commitment to a diverse and inclusive campus environment but were ultimately criticized for being perfunctory and an assault on intellectual freedom.

It is not unreasonable to be cynical about conservative and corporate scrutiny of DEI programs. But behind the ideological contestation, the actual results of DEI programs have not been encouraging.

Todays DEI programming emerged from Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which barred racial, religious and gender discrimination at work. By 2003, DEI programming had become an $8 billion market of trainers, compliance officers, consultants and executives who made a compelling business case for checking organizations and individuals biases  not simply in hiring, promotion and development of human capital, but in marketing and corporate strategies, too. Since 2020, many organizations have empowered their DEI programs to address perceived shortcomings related to racial and gender equity.

But today, non-White people  who comprise about 40% of the US population  still occupy disproportionately few positions of power and leadership in American businesses. And voluminous research over the decades about DEI efforts shows further room for improvement.

A 2016 study from the Harvard Business Review discovered that, among all US companies with 100 or more employees between 1985 and 2014, the percentage of Black men in management increased from just 3.0% to 3.3%. While White women saw more advancement from 1985 to 2000, their numbers havent moved since. Dozens of large companies also saw no improvement in the proportion of White women, Black men or Latinos in management roles even after five years of required training for managers, according to the 2016 study.

Another study determined that those who attend optional DEI training sessions tend to be people who are already more competent in the skills they develop; people with low competence in intergroup relations were unaware of their low competence levels and therefore unmotivated to participate. DEI training sessions may even awaken biases among attendees because discussing stereotypes can unintentionally make people more likely to apply them.

In a 2019 meta-analysis of 30 scientific studies, researchers concluded that training programs are ineffective; their use at present cannot be described as evidence-based. A newer analysis admits that little is known about what strategies yield successful results.

This record is indefensible, and its not helped by the fact that, as time has passed since the Civil Rights era, DEIs purpose has itself grown opaque. Lately, some Americans  not only White conservatives, but liberals  have come to begrudge DEI programming because they believe its patronizing, accusatory or threatening to free speech. Worse, people positioned to champion DEI initiatives sense that Americas meritocracy is weakening.

By all appearances, the right-wing movement seizing upon this resentment is not grounded in research; instead, it is part of a broader ideological reaction to the immigration and civil rights reforms that built America. The DEI critique from the right is merely the continuation of Republicans use of divisive social issues to try to split voters in their favor  such as same-sex marriage in 2004, mosque construction in 2010 and undocumented immigration for the better part of this century. Since former President Donald Trumps foray into politics, Republicans have additionally targeted critical race theory and transgender rights.

This treatment from the right sets up a false choice for those who believe in the enduring purpose of DEI programming: either offer unconditional support because the initiatives are under attack, or join with those who want to erase institutional acknowledgments of sexism and racism.

But as the recent debate over affirmative action shows, Americans are defying this binary. They broadly value diversity and equal opportunity but largely oppose systems that promote people based on their identity.

By focusing so singularly on having the labor force match national demographics, DEI programs are the victims of sweeping expectations they have set that dont mesh with the nuanced realities of different workplaces.

While many Americans are from non-White backgrounds and about 47% of the workforce is female, those numbers are lower among older people. Racial and gender distributions also vary by region. And industries remain stubbornly segmented across demographic subgroups, like Latinos in construction, African American men in transportation and utilities, Asian American men in professional and business services, and women in education and health services.

Supporters of DEI initiatives should account for todays demographic and social realities, and reimagine their work in four crucial ways.

First, DEI professionals should reevaluate their devotion to diversity metrics. Meeting certain gender and racial distributions risks future Title VII claims of discrimination and may entail quotas that are not aligned with demographic trends. A narrow focus on race-based metrics also risks ignoring DEIs immense capacity  when done right  to make workplaces inclusive for people of different physical abilities, sexual orientations and religious backgrounds, too.

Second, businesses should invest in diversifying the pipeline of historically underrepresented candidates specific to their industries. By supporting targeted educational scholarships, internships and loan-forgiveness hiring programs, organizations can improve the pool of job candidates.

Third, public and private sector executives should design mentoring initiatives, job assignment procedures, project management and work-life adjustments to maximize the inclusion and promotion of non-White and women employees  who remain more likely to confront social challenges and domestic commitments. These initiatives should be universal in application but designed to accommodate groups that are more likely to be exposed to discrimination or related disadvantages. For example, corporate Americas recent back-to-office mandates have hit women and members of ethnic minorities disproportionately hard.

And fourth, training programs should be overhauled. Beyond their evidence-backed inefficacy, new research shows that anti-bias messaging tends to provoke resistance among White men who feel unjustly accused of discrimination or worry that their employers commitment to equity threatens their career progression. Rather than underscore which demographic groups are deserving of protection, materials can be reoriented to cultivate empathy and pluralism  leveraging the ways most Americans can identify with stories of personal struggle or aspiration independent of their identities.

More innovations await. But without any innovation, DEI programs continued decline in the next few years wont only be because of Republicans political maneuvering. It will be because their principled backers have less reason to defend them.

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Editors Note: Terry Szuplat, who served as a White House speechwriter for President Barack Obama, is an adjunct professor of political speechwriting at American University and the author of the forthcoming book, Say It Well: Find Your Voice, Speak Your Mind, Inspire Any Audience. The views expressed in this commentary are his own. Read more opinion articles at CNN.

In these polarized times, Ive decided to do something that may sound crazy. Im going to watch next weeks CNN debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump with several hundred Republicans, Democrats and independents. In one room. Together.

Terry Szuplat - Courtesy of Terry Szuplat

What could possibly go wrong?

As Americans, weve lost, it seems, the ability to talk with one another. From our social media feeds to family dinners to town hall meetings to college campuses, we lecture when we should listen. We drown out the voices of those with whom we disagree rather than trying to persuade them to open their minds to a different point of view.

For the sake of our families, our communities and our democracy, the way we talk to one another has to change. We know this. Most Americans say they want more civility in our national discourse. But how do we get there?

As a speechwriter, Ive spent nearly 30 years thinking about the language we use to communicate with each other. I admit that, at times, Ive probably been guilty of overwrought rhetoric thats contributed to our divisions. Ive seen it in my own family too. Im a liberal who wrote speeches for President Barack Obama. My uncle Dan was a staunch conservative who loathed Obama. Our conversations at Thanksgiving could get heated. More than once, I wish I had chosen my words more carefully.

We all need to do better.

Thats why I sought out the group thats bringing together so many Republicans, Democrats and independents for what may be the largest debate watch party in the country. Braver Angels is one of the many grassroots organizations that have sprouted up in recent years to try to bridge partisan divides and debate issues from immigration to abortion with more civility, which theyll do next week at their national convention in Kenosha, Wisconsin  one of the swing states that could decide this years presidential election.

In that spirit, here are a few ways that this years candidates  and we, as Americans  can debate the issues while upholding the civility we say we want.

Have some humility. Weve come to our own political beliefs, we tell ourselves, through careful consideration of the facts. Its the other guy whos blinded by ideology. In fact, most of us inherit our politics  like our religion  from our parents. Conservative parents tend to raise conservative children; liberal parents tend to raise liberal children. When we remember that our politics are often a product of our environment  over which we have little control  perhaps we can all be a little less quick to dismiss those with a different worldview.

If you want to persuade, dont condemn. By all means, stand up against racism, sexism and homophobia as the scourges they are. At the same time, if youre trying to persuade a family member or neighbor to change their views, dont call them a bigot. Telling people theyre racist, sexist and xenophobic is going to get you exactly nowhere, explained Alana Conner, former executive director of Stanford Universitys Social Psychological Answers to Real-World Questions Center. One of the things we know from social psychology is when people feel threatened, they cant change, they cant listen.

Dont otherize, demonize, or dehumanize. Politicians and TV pundits love to speak in terms of us vs. them, brand their opponents as sinister, wicked or evil or, worse, describe other people as less than human vermin, animals or hordes. But history shows us where dehumanizing language can lead  slavery and segregation; more than six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust. Every one of us is responsible for the words that come out of our mouth  and every one of us can reject hateful rhetoric that can get people hurt or killed.

Dont fight for your country. We have to fight for the future we want, politicians often tell us. It used to be metaphorical. These days, its all too real. In recent years, there have been hundreds of acts of political violence, including the January 6, 2021 assault on the US Capitol. Nearly a quarter of Americans agree it might be necessary to resort to violence to save the country from their political opponents. When politically-motivated attacks are a clear and present danger, wed all be wise to step back from language that could be perceived as threatening or inciting violence.

Appeal to common identities. Trying to persuade someone? Avoid leading with statements like As a Republican/conservative As a Democrat/liberal Most Americans dont embrace the label youre proud of, and the moment you invoke partisan politics, the other person may stop listening. Try connecting on a different, more human, level: As a mother/father/person of faith/veteran/American, I believe When you remind people of the identity you have in common, theyre more likely to listen to what you have to say.

Remember the values we share. Finally, even as we may disagree vehemently with one another on specific issues, its worth remembering that when it comes to core values, were still surprisingly united. Overwhelming majorities of Americans say they support equal protection under the law, the right to vote, freedom of speech, the right to privacy, freedom of religion, the right to assemble peacefully and freedom of the press. Were still united around basic principles, like honesty, responsibility and freedom.

As one Braver Angels member said after I observed her and a group of liberals and conservatives spend a day talking with each other in a church basement in Virginia a few years ago, We have sincere differences, but I think were motivated by deeply shared principles.

Thats the spirit I hope to find when I watch the presidential debate with hundreds of fellow Americans in Wisconsin. Because the fate of our country of more than 330 million people will be decided  not only by candidates on a debate stage  but by the debates and conversations we have with our families, friends and neighbors every day. And none of us are going anywhere.

Physically speaking, we can not separate, President Abraham Lincoln told us in another era of division. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it, it must not break our bonds of affection. Our great American experiment will only endure if we summon the better angels of our nature. That includes relearning how to speak to one another with the civility, empathy and honesty that our democracy deserves  and upon which its survival depends.

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Opinion: My uncle was tossed in a mass grave beside Nazis. Hell finally be reburied under a Star of David

Editors Note: Samantha Baskind is Distinguished Professor of Art History at Cleveland State University and the author of six books, including The Warsaw Ghetto in American Art and Culture. She tweets @SamanthaBaskind. The views expressed here are her own. Read more opinion on CNN.

Last spring I learned the unthinkable: My great uncle, 1st Lt. Nathan B. Baskind of the US Army who landed on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day  and stayed missing in action for almost 80 years  was buried under three gothic stone crosses in that French regions German Military Cemetery.

Samantha Baskind - Courtesy Samantha Baskind

If that was not enough to batter my heart, Nate had been ignobly tossed in a mass grave with 23 Nazis and German soldiers. After the war, 29 more Germans joined him.

Uncle Nate was Jewish. His parents, my great-grandparents, were Eastern European immigrants who settled in Pittsburgh. Dozens of Baskinds left behind died at Auschwitz.

On June 23, 1944, Nate was commanding a platoon of M-10 tank destroyers supporting an attack on an enemy strong point near Cherbourg. He went ahead in a jeep to scout a firing position near a junction reportedly secured by American troops.

Nates Individual Deceased Personnel File indicates that his driver returned from the mission seriously wounded. He told the battalion that their jeep had been ambushed and he thought Nate was mortally wounded by machine gun and rifle fire. Later that day, when American troops seized the road junction, a thorough search failed to reveal any trace of Nate or his vehicle.

German war records told a different story: Nate was taken prisoner and died of his wounds at a German Airforce hospital. Soon after, his remains were mingled with those of the enemy.

A letter my great-grandfather wrote to the government inquiring about his son. - Courtesy Samantha Baskind

My great-grandfather Abe Baskind wrote to the Army for several years, desperately inquiring about the whereabouts of his son. In July 1949, Lieutenant Colonel W.E. Campbell from the Armys memorial division informed him that Nates remains were unrecoverable. He signed off that letter: May the knowledge of your sons honorable service to his country be a source of sustaining comfort to you who gave your loved one under circumstances so difficult that there is no grave at which to pay homage.

In the late 1950s, the German War Graves Commission (GWGC or Volksbund) disinterred the common grave. When finding one of Nates dog tags, his unit patch, and lieutenant bars, officials contacted the US Mortuary Service. The American team could not make a positive identification despite Nates distinct dentition. I know this because Nates dental files sit in a folder on my desk. Case closed.

Nathan Baskind with Philip Baskind, the authors father, soon before he was shipped to war. - Courtesy Samantha Baskind

Nates fate became part of my fate 13 months ago when I received an email from Operation Benjamin  an organization unfamiliar to me at the time  that began: Im quite certain this will be the most unusual and potentially profound email you will receive for quite some time.

Operation Benjamin identifies Jewish GIs from World War I and World War II who were mistakenly buried under crosses in Americas foreign cemeteries, and works with the US governments American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) to replace them with a Star of David.

Following a tip from a genealogist who specializes in German war cemeteries, Operation Benjamin discovered the whereabouts of my great uncles remains. His name is on a brass plaque marking that mass grave, embossed alongside Rudolf Bauer, Leonhard Aumuller, and others. The search was renewed, and I was enlisted to lead the family charge. If this had to fall into some Baskinds lap, I was the one. I am a professor specializing in Jewish American art, I teach the Holocaust and I am an intrepid researcher.

The mass grave in the German military cemetery at Normandy where Nathan Baskind was buried under three crosses. - Courtesy Anibas Photography

It has been a winding road but, improbably, Operation Benjamin received permission from the French and German governments to disinter the grave. There were thousands of broken bones. Among them were some relatively intact femurs that could possibly be Uncle Nates. What was surely a challenge in life  Nate stood at just 55 inches  was a benefit in death. Samples of five femurs from men of small stature were shipped by diplomatic pouch to Virginia, and tested against family DNA. There was only a gossamer thin chance of a match. We were stunned: A perfect match was made.

On June 23rd, the 80th anniversary of Nates death, I will be at Normandys American Military Cemetery, burying him with full military honors, under a Star of David with a rabbi presiding. Later that day, I will place a rosette on the Wall of the Missing next to his name. The names of 1,557 Americans are etched on the wall, with rosettes marking the names of those soldiers since recovered. Nates rosette will only be the 27th.

Exhumation of the mass grave in the German Military cemetery at Normandy where Nathan Baskind has been buried for 80 years. - Anibas Photography

For the past year, my life has intertwined with the uncertainty of Nates bones. A shadowy figure in my childhood, all I knew about Nate was a refrain tossed about by my dad: Your Uncle Nate was a great Jewish American war hero. But after Operation Benjamin, I woke each morning with the steady ache of his story, imagining him exhausted and bewildered during basic training in Texas before he was shepherded to Northwest Africa, Tunisia, Italy, England, and then France for his final battle.

How cold he must have been on rainy Utah Beach, and how deep his pain after being shot. I imagined my great-grandparents sinking in a quicksand of grief and his twin sisters seismic despair at hearing the news of his death. How my grandfather, Nates older brother, faced the prospect of taking over the family wallpaper business alone.

My teenaged children have lived with the uncertainty too. Once Nate entered our lives, he became the topic of conversation at dinner, and not always a palatable one. Did they find Uncle Nates femur yet, Mom? my daughter Naomi would ask while eating her salad. How will they know which bones are his, Mom? my son Asher would worry over his pasta. We were all unsettled.

And after the match: Have you picked Uncle Nates coffin yet? Asher wants to know. I had Nate will be buried in a polished dark walnut coffin with a crepe interior, a decision I agonized over. Naomi requests yet again: Can I show Uncle Nates Purple Heart to my friends? She can  Naomi knows where to find it, and to touch it only after washing her hands.

Back of Nathan Baskinds Purple Heart - Courtesy Samantha Baskind

Nates Purple Heart was presented to me just before Memorial Day by a captain from the Armys Casualty Operations who drove two hours to my home. My heart dropped to the floor when I saw it. The medal sits next to his military and dental records on my desk. I plan to file those after Normandy. Then I will place Nates Purple Heart in a shadowbox along with the burial flag ceremoniously handed to me before his coffin is lowered into the ground.

With bones, disinterment and DNA finally in the past, I have reflected on this unexpected and unbelievable mission to find Lt. Baskind. Here is what I hope my children have learned and what I will teach my students in the fall.

We are at a moment where democracy cannot be taken for granted. We cannot assume antisemitism is no longer a threat and we cannot just sit by and hope everything will turn out okay. Uncle Nate fought for our freedoms, and his death reminds us that freedom is never free.

Burying the dead is among the most selfless of tasks because the dead can never thank you. It has been the honor of a lifetime.

In our fractured world today, the recovery of Uncle Nate, after 80 years in a German mass grave, represents a triumph of the goodwill of nations. All hope is not lost.

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the date that Nathan Baskind was mortally wounded. It was June 23, 1944.

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Opinion: Do Utahns need to be convinced their elections will be handled correctly?

Caitlin Mullen organizes primary ballots at the Salt Lake County Government Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday, July 2, 2020. Audits have shown that Utahs elections are clean. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Audits have shown that Utahs elections are clean. No counting system is perfect, and an audit of the 22 election did find some counties with a few more votes than ballots, but no systemic errors or significant fraud were uncovered. Anomalies occur in any vote count. Unfortunately, that doesnt satisfy a segment of the population that believes otherwise.

Utahns are less cynical about state election systems than they are about the rest of the nation. A Deseret New/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll in 2022 found 89% of Utahns believing the mid-term election would be conducted fairly in Utah. But a 2021 poll found that 41% believed there was widespread voter fraud in the presidential election of 2020.

That cynicism tends to trickle down, which is why former GOP state chairman Stan Lockhart and Josh Daniels, the former Utah County clerk, have found it necessary to start a website  trustutahelections.org  with the stated aim of reassuring voters and building trust in Utah elections.

Unfortunately, facts just arent what they used to be. Or, more accurately, a segment of the population no longer is interested in facts. Former president Trump and his supporters filed 62 lawsuits in nine states after the 2020 election, contesting the results. Only one was initially ruled in Trumps favor, but then it was overturned by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. And yet, national polls consistently show about a third of Americans believe the 2020 presidential election was stolen. A January poll by USA TODAY/Suffolk University showed 52% of Trump supporters had zero confidence that the 2024 count would be accurate.

Lockhart and Daniels met with the Deseret News/KSL editorial board last week to talk about these things. The discussion is important for two reasons. First, Tuesdays GOP primary election in Utah features hotly contested races with multiple candidates for U.S. Senate and House, and second, because election workers, and elected officials themselves, are experiencing a surge in physical threats.

At a legislative hearing last month, Director of Elections Ryan Cowley said 20 of the states 29 county clerks have left office since 2020, many due to the tense political environment.

We havent had any necessarily actionable threats; weve come really close, KSL reported him saying.

Daniels sees a problem with the unruly few possibly influencing the uninformed many.

There are people out there tearing down election administration without very much knowledge, he said. And then theres a whole lot of other people kind of in the middle who maybe dont care that much but dont understand if theres a problem or not. And what theyre hearing are really loud voices who are angry, who are asserting theres a problem, oftentimes with very little evidence, and theyre not really sure what to think.

And we thought, we need to speak to that audience.

The website establishes four general principles of good elections. They must be fair, accountable, secure and transparent. Each of those can be divided into several subheadings. The idea is to set a standard by which an election may be judged.

And then you can sort of ignore all these specious red-herring type arguments trying to drag you into rabbit holes of conspiracy theories with very little evidence and just lots of fear and uncertainty and doubt, Daniels said.

Lockhart suggests voters with doubts should become personally involved. Call your county clerk and ask to come by on election night and watch the counting. Transparency, he said, is the best antidote to suspicions.

Sometimes, he said, the truth is boring. Conspiracies are much more fun to consider  except that when democracy is at stake, there is nothing fun or interesting about entertaining rumors.

A website isnt going to sway those who are disposed to mischief. It might convince people in the vast and largely politically unaware middle.

But the fact that Utahns, without any evidence, would need convincing that their states elections are handled competently, is a tragic sign of a nutty time in history.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, June 21. Turkmenistan and Bulgaria note the potential for expanding cooperation in various fields, Trend reports.

According to the Turkmen Parliament, this was stated during the meeting of the Speaker of the Parliament of Turkmenistan, Dunyagozel Gulmanova with the new Bulgarian Ambassador to Ashgabat Ruslan Stoyanov, during which he presented his credentials.

Key facets of Turkmenistan's foreign policy, which is founded on the ideas of neutrality and equitable partnership, were discussed by the participants during the meeting.

Special attention was paid to the structure and functions of the Parliament of Turkmenistan in the context of legislative support for reforms in the country.

Furthermore, the parties noted the potential for expanding cooperation in various fields, including trade, economic relations, and humanitarian ties.

They stressed the importance of cooperation both at the bilateral level and within the framework of international organizations, in particular, in the context of Turkmenistan's dialogue with the EU.

Meanwhile, in recent years, Turkmenistan's cooperation with the Balkan countries has gone to a whole new level, both in the economic and political arenas.

Economic ties have grown more robust with the signing of pivotal trade agreements and the expansion of reciprocal investments. Simultaneously, political dialogue has intensified through regular high-level meetings and collaboration within international organizations. These efforts have significantly bolstered mutual understanding and cooperation among the nations involved.
Next weeks debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump will be novel for many reasons. It will be the first debate between a current and a former U.S. president. It will be the first featuring a convicted felon. It will be the first conducted before either major party has formally picked a nominee. But perhaps most importantly, it harks to an earlier time in presidential campaign politics when debates were neither typical nor expected, and when they occurred, they did so to serve specific needs of the candidates, rather than as a form of public service.

Weve come to expect presidential debates in a pretty specific and consistent format  three faceoffs between the candidates (plus one between the vice presidential candidates) in September and October, with a pretty neutral and dispassionate moderator and a stone-quiet audience. Theres a fairly high threshold for third-party candidates to be included, and only one campaign  Ross Perots in 1992  ever qualified. These were the rules set up by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates back in 1988, and both major parties have generally acceded to them. As a result, over nearly four decades, debates have become a valued tradition, seen as serving an important public function of informing voters and providing an example of civil discourse for democracies around the globe.

Read more: Column: Biden-Trump debate nears amid hopes to avoid another Dumpster fire

Yet the tradition frayed in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic and some unhinged behavior by Trump  veteran moderator Chris Wallace rued that he had lost control of the first debate . And Trump and Republicans signaled pretty early in the 2024 cycle that they had no intention of adhering to the rules set out by the commission.

In its heyday, the Commission on Presidential Debates represented the institutionalization of a campaign tool, which is all well and good, but certainly not required. In other circumstances, debates are neither obligatory nor inevitable.

The reality is that any direct engagement between campaigns  whether a military battle or a candidate debate  carries risk. A candidate with a large lead has little reason to jeopardize it, which is why Trump didnt appear at any of the Republican primary debates for this years election. Absent a commission-like institution, the only time a debate is likely to happen is when both sides view the risks as acceptable and the potential benefits worthwhile.

And this is a good way to think about past presidential debates. Dwight Eisenhower and Adlai Stevenson could have held a televised debate in 1952 or 1956, but Eisenhower was well ahead in both contests and a bit awkward on camera. A debate presented only risks for him. Similarly, there was no real reason for Lyndon B. Johnson to debate Barry Goldwater in 1964 or for Richard Nixon to debate George McGovern in 1972; why jeopardize a lead?

The first televised presidential debate was between Nixon and John F. Kennedy in 1960, and it seemed like a good gamble for both campaigns. Both candidates were articulate, well-informed and sharp on their feet, and the election appeared to be a close one. Both had reason to believe that a debate could give them just the edge they needed to win the contest. The general belief that Nixon had looked bad on TV and that this might have cost him the election is probably at least part of the reason he had no interest in debating when he ran again in 1968.

The pre-Commission on Presidential Debates world is actually a lot like primary debates within parties, which are traditionally less formal. Sometimes news organizations set up those debates, inviting whichever candidates interested them. Sometimes they were created by just two or three candidates and excluded many others, such as when Ronald Reagan challenged George H.W. Bush to a one-on-one debate, ignoring other candidates, shortly before the 1980 New Hampshire primary. On occasion, weve even seen cross-party debates during primary season, as happened between Reagan and Robert F. Kennedy in 1967 or between Ron DeSantis and Gavin Newsom last year.

Read more: Column: Trump and Biden both think they can land a knockout in the debates. They can't both be right

But regardless of what happens in next weeks debate, Biden proposed it for strategic campaign purposes. For one thing, by limiting the debate to just him and Trump, and by going around the commission, Biden may well have avoided Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s participation, which could have elevated the independent candidates stature and taken votes away from the president. Biden might well be hoping for a repeat of his State of the Union address in March, where he benefited from a strong performance following low expectations and effectively silenced some critics.

Bidens team also insisted on no in-person audience and a neutral moderator who could shut off the microphone if a candidate goes over his allotted time. As Commission on Presidential Debates co-chair Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr. has said , the president proposed terms highly favorable to him  perhaps more favorable than a commission-brokered debate would have been  and Trump rushed to accept those terms based on his belief that he could crush Biden one on one.

Presidents seeking reelection often under-perform in their first debate (think about Barack Obama in 2012 or George W. Bush in 2004, for example), at least in part because of overconfidence and having rarely faced direct questioning in the Oval Office. But both Biden and Trump are vulnerable to this in next weeks debate.

Whats important to remember is that presidential debates are no longer an automatic feature of the campaign environment. These candidates are debating because each of them sees this not as an obligation, but rather something thats in their campaigns own best interests. And they each recognize that this election could go either way.

Seth Masket is a professor of political science and director of the Center on American Politics at the University of Denver.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
(tchara/Getty Images)

Environmental groups and residents are pushing back against a wood pellet production facility proposed on the south end of the Olympic Peninsula, the second plant of its kind approved in southwest Washington.

Conservation groups are challenging an air quality permit for the proposed wood pellet mill, arguing the approval is based on faulty data and that the plant will cause more pollution than its backers claim.

Friends of Grays Harbor, Grays Harbor Audubon, Twin Harbors Waterkeeper, Natural Resources Defense Council and Wild Orca filed an appeal over the projects permitting last week with the states Pollution Control Hearings Board.

The appeal was filed against the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency, which approved the application, Pacific Northwest Renewable Energy, the company behind the plant, and the city of Hoquiam, where the facility would be located. The environmental groups are asking that the approved permit be canceled until the emissions calculations and environmental impacts are updated.

The permit calculations are just wrong and vastly underestimate the amount of hazards that will be released, said Kristen Boyles, attorney at Earthjustice, an environmental law firm thats representing the groups in the appeal.

Wood pellet production has grown across the country in recent years, but the Hoquiam mill would be among the first in the Pacific Northwest. A facility in Longview is under construction.

Pacific Northwest Renewable Energy did not respond to requests for comment but said in its permit application that it hopes to have the Hoquiam site running by early 2025.

Pellets are burned in stoves for home heating and in some cases used by utilities or industry to generate power. According to the permit approval, Pacific Northwest Renewable Energys pellets from the Hoquiam site will be held in large silos and then transported to neighboring shipping facilities.

Supporters say pellets are a sustainable and affordable alternative to other fuels, with fewer emissions than natural gas or oil. And they note pellets are often made of sawdust and other wood waste. But critics say the production process is bad for the environment and cast doubt on the emissions benefits.

The project

The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency approved a permit application for Pacific Northwest Renewable Energys proposed industrial wood pellet manufacturing plant last month. The planned 60-acre site near the Port of Grays Harbor would produce, store and export up to 440,800 short tons of wood pellets a year, according to the companys application.

Last April, the project received a $200,000 grant from the state Department of Commerce through a program meant to accelerate manufacturing job growth. The project is supposed to create 53 jobs and generate $155 million in capital investment, according to the department.

The U.S. Forest Service also approved a $300,000 grant for the project as part of their Wood Innovations grant program to expand forestry and lumber-related projects nationwide.

Washington State and the United States Government are investing in this specific wood products industry project, Hoquiam City Administrator Brian Shay wrote in an email, adding the project only got state approval after it met state and federal regulations.

Dan Nelson, a spokesman for the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency, said the agency spent months reviewing information about the plant and receiving public comment.

During the comment period, multiple people questioned data used to calculate the plants emissions.

The agency reexamined the data used in the initial permit application and still found that it was considered acceptable for this facility, Nelson said.

Looking at similar wood pellet plants in the southeastern United States is not a perfect comparison to the amount of potential emissions in Washington, according to the agencys response to public comments. Those plants process different types of wood, which can emit air pollution at a significantly higher rate than the wood processed in Washington, the agency wrote.

Contingent on its approval, Nelson said the plant will have to follow emissions standards, and the company will be held accountable for meeting the low levels estimated in its application.

Wheres the accountability?

Environmental groups and residents arent convinced.

Boyles, with Earthjustice, said wood pellet manufacturing causes pollution at all levels.

People who live nearby breathe in dust and fine particles from the plants, she said, and the noise can be a hazard or nuisance to nearby schools or wildlife. Boyles added she would anticipate pressure to log more of the nearby lands for wood to create the pellets.

The idea that this is somehow a renewable energy source and that its helping our climate is just incorrect, she said.

During a public comment, 30 people raised similar concerns.

At a Department of Commerce hearing earlier this month, Grays Harbor resident Liz Ellis said people living nearby are worried about their home values going down and poor health outcomes going up.

Wheres the accountability? Ellis said. And at what cost to my community for 50 jobs?

There is no timeline yet for the appeal, but Boyles said it will likely go in front of the Pollution Control Hearings Board within the next year.

In that time, the plant can keep moving forward with construction unless the appellants ask the board to pause it, which Boyles said the opponents are considering.

The post Opposition heats up over proposed wood pellet mill in western Washington appeared first on Washington State Standard.
Viktor Orban, Prime Minister of Hungary (R), gives a speech during his visit to Baden-Wuerttemberg in the New Palace. Christoph Schmidt/dpa

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has described the emerging new leadership of the European Union, under a potential second term for Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, as a "coalition for war and migration."

In an interview with a Hungarian state broadcaster on Friday, Orban stated that the "increasingly left-wing" coalition of conservatives, social democrats and liberals, who hold a majority in the new European Parliament, have already reached an agreement on this matter.

At an informal meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on Monday, no agreement had yet been reached on the filling of the EU's top jobs after the European elections on June 9.

However, it was a "match that has already been whistled," said Orban. "A warmongering, anti-business and pro-migration coalition has emerged in the EU," he continued.

As the leader of the conservative European People's Party (EPP), the party with the most votes in the European Parliament, the German Manfred Weber had played "the role of Beelzebub" - a demon or devil - in forging this coalition.

Weber is "an old enemy and evildoer of Hungary" and von der Leyen is "just a little altar girl" to him, Orban said.

The coalition of "Weberians" would execute the so-called "Soros plan," Orban continued. According to this plan, the Hungarian-born US billionaire and philanthropist George Soros is attempting to flood Europe with migrants to rob European nations of their Christian and national identity.

"A population exchange is taking place in Europe, the white, Christian, tradition-conscious - let's say European - person is becoming fewer, the number of imported migrants is increasing," Orban continued.

The allegation of a - unverifiable - "Soros plan" and the complaint about an alleged "population exchange" are part of the conspiracy narratives propagated by right-wing extremists.

The radio interview with Orban was recorded in Berlin. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz plans to meet with Orban for talks on Friday. Hungary takes over the EU Council Presidency on July 1.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Part of Oregons northern coast reopened for razor clamming on Tuesday after an elevated level of a marine biotoxin in shellfish led officials to shut down harvesting on the entire Oregon coast in an unprecedented event that sickened dozens of people.

As of Tuesday, razor clam harvesting is open from the Washington border to the Yachats River but remains closed from the river to the California border due to high levels of paralytic shellfish poison and domoic acid, the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife announced.

A spokesperson for the department said its most recent tests showing safe biotoxin levels were reported on June 6 and June 14.

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While different shellfish are showing improvement in biotoxin levels, officials said mussel harvesting and bay clamming remain closed on the entire Oregon coast.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture told KOIN 6 News there is no timeline for when other areas on the coast might open for harvesting, noting the department is continuing to monitor biotoxin levels.

The toxin is produced from Alexandrium, a marine algae that is commonly found off the Oregon coast. Officials said the reason why the toxin grew to a huge bloom and caused severe toxicity is not well understood.

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According to the Oregon Health Authority, there have been 38 reported cases of paralytic shellfish poisoning and seven people have been hospitalized.

ODFW, OHA, and the Department of Agriculture held a joint press conference on May 31 announcing the closure on the entire Oregon coast, which marked an unprecedented event that has never been seen in Oregon based on the number of species impacted and individuals getting sick from PSP.

Officials initially said at least 20 people were sickened from the PSP outbreak after harvesting mussels from Short Beach near Oceanside, Hug Point, and Seaside.

Authorities added that climate change will impact the frequency of PSP as harmful algae increases in frequency and toxicity.

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OREM, Utah (ABC4)  The Orem Police Department took to social media Thursday afternoon to seek the publics help in identifying a sexual assault suspect.

Police said they received a call just before 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon about an assault that happened in the Orem recreation center.

READ NEXT: I hate them: Murder suspect accused of killing parents said she would do it again

An image taken from security footage obtained by the Orem Police Department. The man in the image is a suspect in a sexual assault that reportedly happened in the Orem Recreation Center on June 19, 2024. (Courtesy: Orem Police Department)

An image taken from security footage obtained by the Orem Police Department. The man in the image is a suspect in a sexual assault that reportedly happened in the Orem Recreation Center on June 19, 2024. (Courtesy: Orem Police Department)

An image taken from security footage obtained by the Orem Police Department. The man in the image is a suspect in a sexual assault that reportedly happened in the Orem Recreation Center on June 19, 2024. (Courtesy: Orem Police Department)

Police were informed that, in one of the changing rooms of the recreation center, a sexual assault had occurred.

The adult victim was able to get away, however, identifying the male is still ongoing, the Orem Police Department said in the social media post.

Police were able to get security camera footage of the suspect, and officers are seeking the publics help to identify him. The suspect has a tattoo on the back of his right hand that appears to be a skull, according to the footage obtained by police.

Anyone with information that could assist with the case is being asked to contact Detective Williams with the Orem Police Department at dmwilliams@orem.gov.

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.
CAPE HATTERAS, N.C. (WAVY)  A bunch of big fish tales from the Outer Banks have recently taken off on social media like theyre riding the East Australian Current in Finding Nemo.

Some photos included with the stories are clearly fake, but they still racked up thousands of comments and shares, while other more realistic-looking shots are still raising alarm bells  and concerns about misinformation online as a whole.

First, there was a report of an orca spotted off the coast of Cape Hatteras last week that some thought was a little fishy.

The orca report came from North Carolina resident Amiee Dean, who contacted a local fishing shop and state wildlife officials after she said her family spotted the orca on June 12.

She said it happened while the family was at the Point at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and her son was the one who took the photos, though as the story gained hundreds of shares and likes, some people on social media and elsewhere online started to point out that at least two frames appear to be from an old Powerade commercial (which ironically has been discussed on fact check site Snopes before).

A screenshot of the now deleted post about the reported Cape Hatteras orca sighting (Screen shot taken from Reddit)

The fishing store has since deleted the post about the orca after taking heat online from those saying the photos were fake.

Dean, though, is sticking with her story.

When reached Thursday, she said they were completely, 100% orcas and not the false killer whales, another species that were reportedly spotted the same day. She said others on the beach that day could vouch for her.

[The photos] are definitely not fake, I can assure you that, Dean said.

The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries said they were looking into the matter, but there was no update as of June 20. If the sighting does prove to indeed be legitimate, it would be just one of a handful in North Carolinas history. The last confirmed sighting was in 2011.

Meanwhile there are other recent images from an Outer Banks-focused account that 10 On Your Side can definitively say are fake.

Outer Banks Vibes, a page known for its manipulated viral posts, saw several images shared by tens of thousands of people online this week. The posts include stunning images of a pink dolphin off the North Carolina coast  which happen to be A.I.-generated.

A screenshot of the apparent A.I. pink dolphin images from Outer Banks Vibes.

Another post shows other photos that could be apparently fake to the average social media users, but they seem to look a little more real than the images above.

One key fact, though, easily gives both versions away: pink dolphins only live in freshwater, specifically the Amazon River.

Outer Banks Vibes, which has also gone by OBX Life, has also acknowledged in the past that many of its posts are made via Photoshop and A.I. A similar fake post claiming to show a beached great white shark racked up the views last year.

The pages founder, Alex Lex, simply told the North Carolina Rabbit Holes Jeremy Markovich in a story last year that Photoshop + ai = cool photos. 10 On Your Side reached out to Lex to see if hed add disclaimers to future posts, but didnt hear back by the time of publishing.

10 On Your Side spoke with Cayce Myers, a professor with Virginia Techs School of Communication who has been tracking the evolution of artificial intelligence, and the now glut of A.I.-generated images online.

This is something thats going to continue on as we see A.I. become more and more evolved, Myers said.

Were talking about sea life on the ocean, and its fake, Myers said. Whats the impact of that societally? Probably not a whole lot, but it does create a reality for some people that is untrue. Where the problem comes into is that its high-stakes disinformation [such as political and health disinformation].

People are making decisions about themselves, how theyre going to vote, Myers added. How theyre maybe going to get treatment or not get treatment for some sort of medical condition, or high stakes societal issues. And youre predicating that off of disinformation, theres the problem.

Myers, though, said unfortunately, A.I. images, which can still many times be detected by things like extra limbs or fingers on the subject or misspelled or blurred words, are evolving rapidly and fakes may not be able to be determined by the naked eye. Theres also an extremely low entry barrier to make A.I. images with free accounts, whereas things like Photoshop still require some degree of skill.

Were seeing high levels of visual content that is really good, Myers said. Very good graphically and very good in its coloration and its realistic portrayals. That is always amplified in terms of disinformation when you can create a deep fake or a voice clone.

And so, then you see video that seems very realistic, very believable, and that can create a lot of problems, particularly in an election year like 2024 where theres going to be a proliferation of disinformation.

Going forward, Myers cautioned people to wait and verify images before sharing them online. He said people sharing manipulated images hope youll engage with a like and not question the validity of posts.

If you see something online that looks a little askew, or looks a little outside of the realm of normality, maybe you need to a dig a little deeper into that.  Do your due diligence, Myers said. What is the source of this content? Where am I seeing this content. Am I seeing this content on multiple platforms that are legitimate, that are news sources that have high levels of credibility? If I see this content on some off-brand social, or somewhere Ive never seen it before, that may be an indicator that its fake.

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Outrage as Manhattan DA Braggs office drops nearly all cases from Columbia Universitys anti-Israel protest

Nearly all the protesters charged with storming and occupying Columbia Universitys campus during heated anti-Israel demonstrations wont face criminal charges, Manhattan prosecutors announced Thursday  drawing outrage from law enforcement and Jewish advocates.

District Attorney Alvin Braggs office dismissed cases against 31 of 46 people charged with trespassing in the Ivy League schools Hamilton Hall after a dramatic April 30 NYPD raid rounded up protesters on the Morningside Heights campus.

Prosecutors largely cited lack of evidence, such as security video footage, that could tie the students or staff to the building takeover for leaving them free and clear without even a slap on the wrist.

The dismissals quickly drew fury from rank-and-file NYPD officers, higher education officials and Jewish leaders who spoke with The Post.

Nearly all of the protesters who were charged occupying Columbias University Hamilton Hall during anti-Israel protests had their cases dismissed Thursday. Anadolu via Getty Images

This is turnstile justice, said Michael Nussbaum, a 25-year member of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York.

This a green light for chaos, a green light for destroying property.

Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Stephen Millan said that prosecutors had trouble moving forward with charges due to extremely limited video surveillance that couldnt prove anything was damaged inside the building.

Milan also told Judge Kevin McGrath that cameras inside Hamilton Hall were covered up during the police raid, and that no cops were injured.

It would be extremely difficult for the people to prove any charge of misconduct, Millan said in Manhattan Criminal Court, adding the each of the individuals getting their cases tossed had no criminal history.

Protesters wore masks during the demonstration, making it difficult to point out the specific antics of each individual, the DAs office added.

Students and staffers at Columbia, Barnard or the Union Theological Seminary who had their charges dropped face disciplinary action by the school, which also factored into the decision, prosecutors said.

The Manhattan District Attorneys Office said that they lacked evidence to prosecute the cases. AP

More than 280 protesters were arrested during New York City college protests in April. AP

The assistant DA said it would be extremely difficult for the people to prove any charge of misconduct. Anadolu via Getty Images

Notorious protester Aidan Parisi, 27, a postgrad student in social work at Columbia, was among the 31 to have their cases dismissed.

The lone remaining Hamilton Hall defendant not offered a plea deal is James Carlson, the scion of millionaire ad executives who owns a $2.3 million home in Park Slope.

Carlson, who has been dubbed as the possible leader of the Columbia University protests, was reported to have been charged by cops with hate crime, assault and petit larceny raps.

Prosecutors said he faces trespassing charges for the Hamilton Hall takeover, as well as arson and criminal mischief charges for allegedly torching an Israel supporters flag during an April demonstration.

He is also accused of destroying a camera inside a holding call at One Police Plaza after he was taken into custody during the Hamilton Hall takeover.

Prosecutors said they plan to move forward with charges against Carlson, whos been dubbed a wannabe bad boy and is due back in court July 25.

James Carlson is the lone defendant with a case opened in the Hamilton Hall protests.

His attorney, Moira Meltzer-Cohen, said that Carlson disputes the validity of many of these allegations.

The DAs office told another 14 individuals  including 12 people not affiliated with the Ivy League school  that their cases would be thrown out on certain conditions.

But defense attorney Matthew W. Daloisio argued that they should have their cases tossed immediately, saying that no one was hurt or damaged property.

The only allegation that was different is that they werent enrolled or currently a faculty member, Daloisio told the judge, adding that this group included alumni [and] community members concerned of genocide.

Prosecutors also threw out nine cases  including six students  who were charged for occupying a building at the City College of New York protests on April 30.

Several police sources could barely contain their disbelief to The Post.

Lack of evidence? one said. Apparently body-worn camera wasnt enough?

We have a DA giving them what amounts to a mandate to push the envelope further now, fumed another veteran cop.

Jeffrey Wiesenfeld, who served 15 years as trustee on the governing board for CUNY, said it strained belief that authorities couldnt identify anyone.

Cameras inside Hamilton Hall had been covered up. AFP via Getty Images

How can it be that you cant identify a single person? he said.

Its not acceptable and its not good for the city.
State Rep. Mark Rozzi, D-Berks, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, speaks before signing a package of three bills, which mirror three of the Grand Jurys recommendations on addressing the statute of limitations for victims of child sexual abuse, inside Muhlenberg High School on Tuesday, November 26, 2019 (Commonwealth Media Services photo).

After a 2011 grand jury investigation revealed the Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia had covered up the sexual abuse of dozens of young parishioners by priests, lawmakers in Harrisburg took steps to give those who remained silent about their victimization a shot at justice.

More than 13 years later, survivors are still waiting.

Two members of the state legislature, Rep. Mark Rozzi (D-Berks) and Rep. Jim Gregory (R-Blair/Huntingdon), are among survivors of child sexual abuse. They have pushed for legislation which would give adult survivors a two-year window to sue their childhood abusers.

But both will leave the General Assembly later this year, likely before the goal comes to fruition.

Rozzi is retiring to focus on his mental health. Gregory lost his May primary. And with budget negotiations a seeming final opportunity to seek a win, the clock is ticking.

Many who are abused dont talk about it for decades, Gregory said during an interview at his state Capitol office, and expanding that window gives them the opportunity to come forward.

Advocates have pressured lawmakers toward an expansion of the state statute of limitations for more than 18 years since the first Philadelphia grand jury report. Subsequent state grand juries revealed sexual abuse of children by clergy in Pennsylvanias seven other Catholic dioceses.

Rozzi has been pushing for the window since being elected to the state House in 2013. Gregory has been aiding the effort for the last five years.

A long, frustrating road

The journey to get the two-year window approved in any form has been a bumpy ride spanning over a decade. During his 12 years in office, Rozzi has witnessed sexual abuse reform bills he introduced stall, fail and fall to technical error.

Rozzi was first elected to the state House in 2012. In 2013, he introduced a bill that would have given adult survivors of childhood sexual assault a two-year window to sue. The legislation never left the House Judiciary Committee.

He attempted a more ambitious bill that would completely suspend the civil statute of limitations for those who had not yet reached 50 years old in 2014. It met the same fate, as did his 2015 and 2017 proposals.

In 2018, Josh Shapiro, who was then Pennsylvania attorney general, unveiled the results of the states 40th grand jury report, which investigated six Pennsylvania dioceses for sexual abuse against children. The report contained credible allegations against over 300 priests.

Rozzi endured sexual abuse at the hands of a priest at the age of 13. Two years before the grand jury report, Rozzi proposed a resolution calling for a similar investigation into Roman Catholic dioceses in the state.

Put yourself in my position, Rozzi said in an interview with the Capital-Star. Youre 13, youre in the shower, and you get raped by a priest. You dont even know what the statute of limitations is.

Rozzi and Gregory finally spearheaded a major success for child sexual abuse reform in 2019. That November, Wolf signed a bill into law giving survivors of abuse until the age of 55 to take civil action and abolished the statute of limitations in criminal cases for child sex abuse. New survivors abused between the ages of 18 and 23 were given until the age of 30 to sue for damages.

Then, in 2019, Rozzi began procedures to pursue the two-year window as an amendment to the state Constitution. To make it to the ballot, one chamber must introduce a joint resolution proposing the amendment, which must pass by a majority vote in both the House and Senate in two consecutive sessions.

After years of faltering as a bill, the two-year window seemed like it might make it through to the people for a vote on the 2021 ballot.

Except there was a technical error.

After passing through both chambers in 2019, the Office of Legislative Affairs was to notify the Department of State so that it could advertise the proposed amendment in two newspapers in every county. Publication is required to begin three months before the November election.

When officials with the Department of State discovered through an AP news story in January 2021 that the two-year window proposal had passed through the House for a second time, they realized the Office of Legislative Affairs never told them about the first time. No advertisements were ever published.

With one more successful vote in the state Senate, the amendment would have been on the ballot. But the error made it an impossibility for at least another two years.

The Department of State launched an investigation, according to former Secretary of the Commonwealth Kathy Boockvar. The department reviewed emails, summaries, calendars and every document you could possibly imagine.

Boockvar resigned following the mistake. She described the incident as heartbreaking on every level.

We knew that if I didnt resign, the legislature would have basically halted anything from getting done, Boockvar said in an interview with the Capital-Star. It wouldve become the focus of everything, and the last thing I wanted to do was add another layer of the legislature not allowing what needed to happen to go forth.

Following the state departments floundering, Rozzi would have to begin the process all over again.

The only thing I wouldve done differently, Rozzi said. I wouldnt have trusted the state department.

Boockvar said that she was confident that the proposal would quickly pass through both chambers again to get it back on the ballot. A nearly identical error occurred in Iowa in January 2019 regarding an amendment to expand gun rights, and the states legislature was only temporarily delayed.

Its already rectified in Iowa, Boockvar said. The amendment protecting the right of the people to keep and bear arms won on the ballot in November 2022.

But Pennsylvania, unlike Iowa, has a divided legislature, the only one in the country. And the state Senate has attempted to fuse the two-year window amendment with voter ID requirements and regulatory reforms.

Theyve been politicizing victims lives by combining it not just with unrelated issues, which is not supposed to happen in Pennsylvania at all, Boockvar said, but theyre combining it with unrelated, controversial, politicized issues that they know full well dont have popular support, and thats reprehensible.

The proposed amendment has awaited movement in a Senate committee since June 5 after the House returned the Senates proposal stripped of its additions.

Senate Republicans did not reply directly to a series of questions from the Capital-Star but spokesperson Kate Flessner said in an emailed statement that it was unfortunate the House has chosen to put politics ahead of survivors because of their unwillingness to allow voters to have a voice on voter photo identification, a position the caucus has previously stated.

Unless the two-year window passes the legislature in the form of a statute rather than an amendment, Gregory and Rozzi will not be in the General Assembly to see it through. ChildUSA, a nonprofit focused on child sexual abuse reform, supports passing the window via statute rather than an amendment on the ballot, according to founder and chief executive officer Marci Hamilton.

Boockvar said it is her understanding that the governors administration and the attorney general believed the two-year window could be passed and signed as statutes, just as three other bills reacting to the 2018 grand jury report  Acts 87, 88 and 89 of 2019  had been.

State Senate Republicans argued in 2018 that the two-year window could not succeed as a statute because a retroactive change to state law would breach a clause in the state Constitution, making the amendment route the only way to get justice.

One of the most important things Ive learned here is the more you want something here, the more it gets used against you, Gregory said. I wanted this so bad, so bad.

Blame to go around

Whereas some blame the divided legislature for the two-year windows failure, others criticize another source.

It comes down to two words actually. Its very easy to see why none of this legislation passed, Rozzi said. F  lobbyists.

Rozzi said that he blames lobbying by the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference and the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania. Gregory said a representative of the Insurance Federation attempted to dissuade him from the effort.

My response at that time was, I appreciate those sentiments, but I cant stop fighting for victims of sexual abuse because I know, as a victim myself, the ripple effects of the secondary trauma that victims perpetrate, he said. Their loved ones, their relationships, because I did it to my family.

Survivors of sexual abuse are at increased risk for self-injurious behaviors, substance abuse, and mental health and sexual disorders, according to a 2017 ChildUSA report.

Shaun Dougherty, interim executive director of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, said that on more than one occasion, he and insurance lobbyists have been the only spectators in the Senate gallery.

Dougherty, also a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, explained that he believes too many Pennsylvania legislators allow lobbyists to influence their vote on sexual abuse reform.

The bills get written in the Capitol, he said. They get cooked out at the bar.

Long and Nyquist Associates, which lobbies on behalf of the Catholic Conference, directed questions from the Capital-Star to the Catholic Conference. The Catholic Conference declined an interview.

Jonathan Greer, president and chief executive of the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania, said its lobbying efforts respond to the unexpected risk accompanying otherwise time-barred claims.

Once the statute of limitations has come and gone, there is no more risk to insure, Greer said. Retroactive liability is something that we have concern about in any context.

Hope for the future

Rozzi and Gregory will leave the legislature at the end of this year when newly elected officials fill their seats. Both said they would continue their advocacy efforts.

Ill certainly continue to pray for victims of sexual abuse. I look forward to continuing advocacy for them after Im not here, Gregory said. But Ill continue to pray that sometime someone in the Senate will hear what they need to hear to say, you know what? Maybe its finally time to do this.

Sexual abuse was the leading category of substantiated child abuse in 2021, according to Pennsylvanias Department of Human Services

Ive heard some senators say, You need to get over it, you cant remember what happened, Rozzi said. My response to them is, I dont want to hear a f  word out of your mouth. Stop saying that we cant remember. Stop saying to get over it. Were not getting over it.

Gregory said it would be difficult for other legislators to take on the mantle with the same amount of passion that he and Rozzi showed.

Even so, Rozzi and Gregory were assured that new representatives would pick up the fight to get the two-year window legislation onto Shapiros desk or onto the ballot.

Youve got a lot of members that are angry and pissed that this isnt getting done, Rozzi said.

They, and Dougherty, would rather it happen sooner.

I am confident that there are people in the House who are willing to take this charge up, Dougherty said, but I am going to fight like hell to get it done first.

Rep. LaTasha Mayes (D-Philadelphia), a survivor herself, spoke in favor of Rozzis 2023 two-year window legislation on the House floor in February. Rep. Maureen Madden (D-Monroe) also spoke out.

Mayes said in an interview with the Capital-Star that legislators and Capitol staff confided in her about their own survivor stories after her remarks.

If youre going to take on a far-reaching, life-changing issue such as this, you have to put 100% into it, Mayes said. But I wouldnt want to be premature that its going to be me. Who wants to and is able to lead the charge on this issue in the way that it deserves?

Mayes cited her equal commitment to Black maternal health, childcare and reproductive rights as keeping her from fully taking on the two-year window legislation. She said it is an issue requiring singular attention.

As budget negotiations pick up speed in Harrisburg next week, advocates hope that the two-year window will find its way, at long last, into dealings.

Shapiros office did not return a request for comment before press time.

Gregory is hopeful that what he and Rozzi started has opened the door for others  even non-survivors  to take action.

I will take away from this experience an amazing sense of fulfillment for what Mark and I accomplished by simply getting it as far as we did, Gregory said. Well set an example for any future representatives and senators that have a desire to take this on.

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The post Pa. lawmakers who survived child sexual abuse push for long-sought amendment before leaving office appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
I paid $1 to see Zurich from a train that's been around for 130 years. It was unlike any railway I've taken.

The Polybahn in Zurich is a train that runs on a steep incline. It's also known as a funicular. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

The Polybahn in Zurich is the most unique train ride I've ever experienced.

The Polybahn is a train on a steep incline that takes riders up and down the hilly Swiss city.

At just over $1, it's an affordable and historic travel experience with scenic views.

I've traveled 5,120 miles on trains in the US, Canada, France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, and Germany.

My rail journeys in these seven countries have varied greatly. I've booked a range of classes on day trips and overnight rides. I've even been on the 21st-century version of a legendary luxury train the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.

But none of those experiences were as unique as my ride on the Polybahn in Zurich in 2022.

The Polybahn is a funicular, like a train on a steep incline (sometimes called a hillavator). The rails go up and down, making it feel like a slow roller coaster.

I thought the Swiss funicular was a great tourist attraction similar to an aerial tram because you can see a range of views of the surrounding areas. It's also a cool experience for history buffs, as the transportation mode has served Zurich since 1886, according to the company's website.

And for just over $1, it's the cheapest travel activity I've ever paid for  and one of the best.

My journey started at Central Polybahn station in Zurich's Altstadt neighborhood.

Zurich's Central Polybahn station. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

At the station, I used an automated machine to purchase a ticket. One ride cost me $1.30.

Inside, I walked up a set of stairs to the only platform and immediately noticed the tracks were on an incline.

The Polybahn pulled up within minutes.

A Polybahn arrives at a station in Zurich. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

According to the Polybahn website, the train arrives every five minutes. It has two cars that each carry 50 people at a time.

As I stepped on board, I was excited by the car's bold red exterior, wide windows, and unique shape.

I noticed that there were no staff members on board. Since 1996, the train runs automatically.

Inside a Polybahn car in Zurich. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

There were less than a dozen people on board. Some looked like fellow tourists with phones and cameras out; others seemed like locals.

But none were employees. According to the company's website, the Polybahn was upgraded in 1996 and has since operated completely automatically.

From the elevated train, I had wide views of Zurich from start to finish.

Views of Zurich from the Polybahn. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I saw a range of architectural styles, an abundance of greenery, and the hilly streets of the Swiss city from a window seat. A wide window at the back of the train reminded me we were moving up as the tracks sloped downward behind us.

Just two minutes later, my journey was over far too soon.

Views of Zurich from Polyterrasse. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I could have spent at least an hour gazing at the city from the Polybahn, but just two minutes after departure, I arrived at Polyterrasse  a viewing deck at the University of Zurich.

With a panoramic scene of Zurich in front of a mountain range, I had an optimal view of the city I'll never forget.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, June 21. Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan from January through May 2024 amounted to more than $68.8 million, Trend reports.

According to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, this figure amounted to 0.90 percent of Azerbaijan's total foreign trade turnover.

Furthermore, Uzbekistan imported 10.6 million dollars from Azerbaijan during this period. The imports amounted to 0.10 percent of the total foreign trade turnover.

Moreover, the country's exports to Azerbaijan amounted to $58.2 million from January through May 2024, which is 0.80 percent of the total volume of international trade.

Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan from January through March 2024 totaled more than $35.7 million, which is 53.7 percent less than last year ($77.2 million).

Uzbekistan's imports from Azerbaijan rose to $5.8 million during this period. Imports amounted to 0.10 percent of Azerbaijan's total foreign trade turnover.

To note, Uzbekistan's exports to Azerbaijan amounted to $29.9 million, or 0.81 percent of Azerbaijan's total trade turnover.

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Local residents look at a spot where a Muslim mob lynched and burned a man over allegations that he had desecrated Islam's holy book, the Quran, in Madyan in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Friday, June 21, 2024. The attackers also torched a police station which had held the man in Madyan and burned police vehicles parked there, according to local police official Rahim Ullah. (AP Photo/Naveed Ali)

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP)  Police in northwestern Pakistan on Friday registered a case against hundreds of people who attacked a police station and killed a man being questioned there on suspicion of desecrating the Quran, Islams holy book, officials said.

Police were trying to identify the people who attacked and burned the police station in Madyan, a popular tourist destination in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, on Thursday night and killed the suspect, police official Zahid Khan said.

He said the suspect, identified as Mohammad Ismail, was a tourist from the eastern Punjab province and was staying at a hotel in the town when a mob accused him of burning pages from the Quran.

Khan said Ismail was being questioned by police when the mob attacked the police station and clashed with officers. The mob later snatched Ismail, killed him and burned his body, he said.

Police have not yet arrested any of the attackers, Khan said.

Blasphemy accusations are common in Pakistan. Under the countrys blasphemy laws, anyone found guilty of insulting Islam or Islamic religious figures can be sentenced to death. While authorities have yet to carry out a death sentence for blasphemy, accusations can cause riots and incite mobs to violence.

Last month, a mob in Pakistans eastern Punjab province attacked a 72-year-old Christian man after accusing him of desecrating pages of the Quran. He later died at a hospital.
Parents Drown After Getting Caught in Rip Current While Vacationing in Florida with Their 6 Kids

Brian Warter, 51, and Erica Wishard, 48, were "in panic mode" and unable to "swim parallel to the shore," according to authorities

Martin County Sheriff's Office

A couple from Pennsylvania died after being caught in a rip current at a Florida beach, authorities said.

Brian Warter, 51, and Erica Wishard, 48, were swimming with their children off the coast of Hutchinson Island on Thursday, June 20, when the strong tide swept the couple away from the shore, according to a post from the Martin County Sheriffs Office on Facebook.

Warter and Wishards two teenagers also were swept out by the current, but they were able to swim out of it and attempted to help their parents  until it became too dangerous and they were forced to swim ashore, the sheriffs office said.

Lifeguards with Martin County Ocean Rescue located the adults and began CPR. The couple was then transported to Cleveland Clinic Martin North Hospital in Stuart where they were pronounced dead, per the sheriffs office.

Related: 3 People Injured in 2 Different Shark Attacks at Neighboring Beaches in Florida: This Is an Anomaly

A Martin County Sheriffs crisis intervention team deputy assisted the couples children throughout the day and evening as they awaited the arrival of other family members traveling to Florida in the wake of the tragedy.

According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, the family is from Chester County, Penn.

The accident occurred at around 1:30 p.m. local time near the Marriott Hutchinson Island hotel, ABC affiliate WPVI-TV reported.

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"Multiple witnesses told our investigators that both the male and female, who are now deceased, got in the ocean, right into a rip current and immediately were pulled from the shore, Martin County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy John Budensiek told ABC affiliate WPBF-TV. One of the children of the deceased tried to yell to them instructions on how to swim parallel to the shore, but they were in panic mode and unfortunately went under."

Experts advise anyone caught in a rip current to swim parallel to shore.

Related: Rip Currents Have Killed 65 This Year  What Experts and Victims' Parents Say Beachgoers Should Know

"If you get caught up in a rip current, don't panic, rip current expert Stephen Leatherman told PEOPLE last year. Just swim sideways. Swim along the shore, and you'll swim out of the rip current. Anytime you can't touch the bottom, and you're not a good swimmer, or you panic and start fighting the rip, that's when you drown."

Eleven other deaths have been attributed to rip currents so far in 2024, according to the National Weather Services data.

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Empty chairs are pictured inside a Planned Parenthood clinic in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Carmen Forman/Oklahoma Voice)

In the two years since Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022, the number of patients forced to seek out-of-state abortion services has doubled. Fourteen states have total abortion bans, three more restrict abortions after six weeks  before most people know they are pregnant  and two others limit them after the first trimester.

One population often overlooked in reproductive rights conversations are people under community supervision, also known as probation and parole, which often prohibits travel across state lines without government approval. A new briefing by the public policy think tank Prison Policy Initiative puts these challenges into context for a country without Roe.

About 800,000 U.S. women are under probation or parole, according to PPIs analysis. Probation happens when a convicted person serves their time outside of a jail or prison but is still under legal surveillance and restrictions. Parole is a similar concept, but is given to a person who has served time in prison and is released early under the condition that they follow a strict set of rules.

These conditions can include hefty fees, curfews, job requirements, travel restrictions and meetings with a probation or parole officer. Every state and Washington, D.C. restricts the movement of people under community supervision. Violating these restrictions can lead to prison time.

Fifty-three percent of women on probation and parole live in the 21 states that have abortion restrictions set earlier than the point of fetal viability, which is usually around 22 to 25 weeks. As a result, only 1 in 6 women on probation or parole can access abortion services at any stage of their pregnancy without needing permission to cross state lines, according to the PPI briefing.

Its exponentially more difficult, I would say, for people on community supervision because they have to literally go and ask permission from their probation parole officers, or from the court, to cross state lines, said Wendy Sawyer, research director at the Prison Policy Initiative. You have to give really detailed information about what your travel plan is, so that means that youre leaving their ability to access abortion care to people who shouldnt have any say in the decision.

The PPI briefing does not go into detail on trans or nonbinary people who may become pregnant. Sources of data like the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics often do not specifically mention LGBTQ+ people.

Three states with some of the toughest abortion bans in the country have a large share of women under community supervision. Together Texas, Florida and Georgia hold 227,801 women on probation or parole, or nearly thirty percent of the women under community supervision nationwide, according to PPIs breakdown.

Texas first outlawed abortions after six weeks of pregnancy with S.B. 8 in 2021. The next year after Roe was overturned, the state banned the procedure almost completely except to save the life of a pregnant person. Last year the Georgia Supreme Court upheld a six-week abortion ban, and Floridas six-week ban took effect in May. Southern states represent a majority of those with either total abortion bans or six-week bans, leaving people in the south with few options for care.

It is devastating. It is no surprise at all to me that the same states that have consistently restricted health care for people are the same states that make up the largest number of community surveillance of women in their state. That is not a coincidence, said Kylee Sunderlin, the legal services director for If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice, a reproductive health legal advice and aid organization that operates the Repro Legal Helpline.

Sunderlin oversees the helpline and has taken calls from people on parole or probation.

Every day when Im on the helpline, my primary goal for people is, How can I help reduce harm? How can I share information so that you can feel best equipped to make the decision that is right for you and your family? Sunderlin said. I feel inept in these particular scenarios, because there is no harm reduction, there is no risk mitigation. I feel completely helpless.

Access to abortion medication is also inconsistent. Last week, the Supreme Court unanimously dismissed a case that would have limited access to the abortion pill. Some health care providers mail pills to people in states with bans, but this is not widely available to everyone who might want it.

The demographics of women disproportionately affected by abortion restrictions around the country  low income women and women of color, particularly Black women  are also those more affected by incarceration and criminalization. Another PPI report based on 2019 data found that 70 percent of women on probation and 65 percent of women on parole make incomes below $20,000 annually.

For those in states with near-total bans, there is little they can do to officially request travel for an abortion. In Texas, for example, a number of cities and counties have passed bans to restrict people from traveling outside the state for the procedure. Even in states that allow abortions up to a certain point, pregnant people under community supervision come up against delays for travel approval.

Depending on their location, people on parole or probation have to submit a travel request from 10 days to four weeks in advance of travel. One travel request form in Nebraska, which has a 12-week ban, asks the departure and return date, method of travel, purpose of the trip and the address of their accommodations. Additionally, dozens of states that allow abortion have mandatory waiting periods and require counseling before receiving one. This means that pregnant people either have to stay overnight in the area where their abortion will be performed, or return a second time or third time.

These restrictions can put people on probation or parole in tricky situations: Their travel requests could be denied, or they could risk violating the parameters of their travel approval.

Black bodies are definitely being surveilled, and theyre under attack, and it is the history and foundation which this country is built on, said Kamyon Conner, executive director of Texas Equal Access Fund. At TEA Fund, we say abortion bans are racist for a reason, because they know which communities and people they are targeting, and its purposeful. Its another way to control what we do with our bodies, where we move with our bodies, how they can keep track of our bodies.

This article was originally published by The 19th.

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The post Parole and probation rules limit travel. That can be complicated for people seeking abortions. appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
This article was originally published in Arizona Mirror.

Indigenous students enrolled in schools run by the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) will have access to more comprehensive, culturally relevant agricultural training and education as part of a new partnership the BIE established with the Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF).

This partnership furthers BIEs commitment to provide a high-quality, culturally relevant education while empowering Native communities and paving the way for a brighter future in Indigenous agriculture, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland said in a press release.

NAAF is a private, charitable trust created by the settlement of the class-action lawsuit Keepseagle v. Vilsack, according to its website. NAAF provides grants to eligible organizations for business assistance, agricultural education, technical support, and advocacy services that support Indigenous farmers and ranchers.

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Agricultural education is a fundamental focus for NAAF, offering a pathway for students, producers, and Native communities to engage in tribal agriculture, sustain food systems, bolster credit and lending opportunities, and support tribal economies, Native American Agriculture Fund CEO Toni Stanger-McLaughlin said in a press release.

As part of this partnership, the educational resources will explore Native agricultural history as well as modern practices, according to the BIE. The lessons will focus on topics such as origins, leadership, and plant science within Indigenous communities.

Increasing agricultural education through business and lending experiences, vocational education programs, youth initiatives and outdoor agricultural exposure helps to create increased interest and new opportunities for Native students to develop career pathways in agriculture and related fields, Newland said.

As part of the partnership, students can participate in project-based learning, according to the BIE. Students will engage with traditional agriculture principles and practices, fostering an understanding of Indigenous agricultural systems.

This collaborative lifelong agriculture education effort addresses a crucial gap in agricultural education, Stanger-McLaughlin said. It aims to empower Native students with education to preserve generational knowledge and sustain holistic agricultural ecosystems.

The BIE and NAAF entered into a partnership in June and will launch educational resources at BIE-operated schools in Wingate, New Mexico, near the Navajo Nation and Zuni Pueblo.

NAAFs sister organization, the Tribal Agriculture Fellowship program, will be leading the collaborative efforts with schools, according to the BIE, and they will be developing and tailoring resources to meet the needs of each school utilizing the educational resource.

We are thrilled to embark on this journey with BIE schools, Nicole De Von Jackson, director of the Tribal Agriculture Fellowship program, said in a press release.

This partnership represents an incredible opportunity to create customized resources that truly reflect each communitys unique needs and strengths, De Von Jackson added. We are excited to see how this initiative will inspire and empower Native students to become the next generation of leaders in agriculture.

The partnership will also support the Indigenous Foods Hubs project, according to the BIE, which provides culturally based healthy nutrition education and boosts training for healthy and culturally appropriate food preparation.

From our Food Hubs program to community growing efforts and new degree programs, BIE has increased agricultural education opportunities from early childhood to post-secondary, Bureau of Indian Education Director Tony L. Dearman said in a press release.

The Indigenous food hubs were launched in 2022 by the BIE and the Department of Interior. Since its inception, it has been established in four BIE-operated schools.

The hubs use Indigenous knowledge to develop holistic approaches to support Native Food Sovereignty movements, according to the BIE, which incorporates culture, social determinants of health, food, nutrition, land management, and regenerative agriculture.

This partnership will build upon those efforts and support Indigenous agriculture, furthering our commitment to including Indigenous knowledge in the BIE curriculum and providing career pathways in agriculture, Dearman stated.

Arizona Mirror is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Arizona Mirror maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jim Small for questions: info@azmirror.com. Follow Arizona Mirror on Facebook and X.
Passerby Found Small Child Alone on Beach and Crying. Police Say His Parents Abandoned Him to Go on Boat

Paul D. Thorley, 30, and Mary E. Thorley, 28, allegedly left the child alone for around 15 minutes while they went boating in Lake George, N.Y., police say

Getty Lake George, N.Y.

A Pennsylvania mother and father have been charged with endangering the welfare of a child after authorities allege they left their infant alone on a beach while they went boating in Upstate New York.

On Tuesday, June 18, just before 6 p.m., troopers responded to Lake George, N.Y., on a report of an infant left unattended on the beach, New York State Police said in a press release.

Investigators were told that a passerby heard a child crying for an extended period of time and found them alone on the beach about five feet from the shoreline, per the release.

Police identified the childs parents as Paul D. Thorley, 30, and Mary E. Thorley, 28, both of Mount Pocono, Pa. According to police, the parents allegedly left the child alone for around 15 minutes while they went boating in the lake.

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The suspects were arrested and taken to Chestertown State Police, where they were each charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Police said they were issued appearance tickets to return to the Lake George Town Court and subsequently released.

Its unclear if they have entered pleas or retained attorneys to speak on their behalf.



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UPDATE: As of 10:30 p.m. I-15 northbound far left travel lanes opened for traffic and both far right travel lanes were still closed with active personnel in the area. Drivers are asked to slow down and use caution, according to NSP.

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  One person is dead after a crash involving a pedestrian and semi-tractor trailer along Interstate 15.

It happened on Thursday around 6 p.m. along I-15 northbound between Russell Road and Tropicana Avenue.

The crash involved a white semi-tractor trailer, NSP stated.

Investigators are asking anyone with information on the crash to contact Nevada State Police at *NHP or 702-486-4100 extension 6.

Shortly after 8 p.m. Nevada State Police said that all northbound travel lanes at Russell Road to Tropicana Avenue along I-15 are closed, due to the investigation. Traffic will be diverted onto Russell Road off-ramp to Collector Dist. travel lanes. Drivers should avoid the area as closures will be in place until at least 10 p.m.

The crash hours after another deadly crash in the northwest valley near 215 west of Jones Boulevard.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Pennsylvania couple drowns in rip current while on vacation with their kids in Florida

A Pennsylvania couple died on Thursday after they got caught in rip currents off a Florida beach.

The Martin County Sheriffs Office in Florida identified the couple as Brian Warter, 51, and Erica Wishart, 48.

Warter and Wishart were vacationing on Hutchinson Island with their six teenage children when they got caught in a rip current with two of their kids.

The two kids broke away from the current and tried to help their parents, but had to return to shore without them because of the dangerous current.

Warter and Wishart were given CPR on the beach before being pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

Sheriffs deputies are helping the children as they wait for family members to arrive in Florida.

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JUNIATA COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  Pennsylvania State Police say a State Trooper was injured when a tractor-trailer failed to move over and struck their vehicle.

State Police say on May 29, a State Trooper was conducting a traffic stop on US Highway 322 eastbound just east of the Mifflintown ramp. The Trooper was inside his vehicle with the emergency lights flashing when a tractor-trailer failed to move over.

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The tractor-trailer, driven by a 74-year-old Ephrata man, lost control and struck the Troopers vehicle. The Trooper suffered minor injuries and was taken to Lewistown Hospital by EMS.

The operator of the vehicle whom the Trooper had pulled over was not injured.

Pennsylvania couple dies after getting caught in rip current while on Florida vacation with their 6 kids, deputies say

The tractor-trailer driver was charged with three summary offenses including not fulfilling his duty in an emergency response area.

Pennsylvanias Move Over Law requires drivers approaching an emergency response area to move to a lane further away. Those unable to move safely must slow to no more than 20 MPH below the posted speed limit.

An emergency response area is where an emergency vehicle has its lights flashing, or where road crews or emergency responders have lighted flares, posted signs, or try to warn travelers.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 did not keep adequate track of funds awarded to Chinese research labs or other countries that could have been used to enhance pathogens of pandemic potential, according to a report published Tuesday by a Pentagon watchdog.

The Pentagons Office of the Inspector General report was required in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act to look at grants, contracts and other forms of collaboration with China and affiliated parties on pathogens of pandemic potential between 2014 and 2023. Investigators did not find any funds were given to organizations for pathogen enhancement, but they ran into difficulty tracking the movement of funds through organizations.

The Pentagon did not track funds to the level of detail necessary to allow investigators to completely determine if funds went to Chinese or other foreign laboratories to enhance pathogens, according to the report.

The issue stemmed from the Pentagon not tracking how the institutions that received funds  which frequently contract out work to other institutions  spent the money. The report found that the Pentagon receives a list of intended secondhand recipients of funds during the application process, but organizations can change recipients while in the performance period without being required to document those changes.

The Defense Department did not track funding at the level of detail necessary to enable the [inspector general] to completely and accurately determine if the (Defense Department) provided funding to Chinese research laboratories or other foreign countries for research related to the enhancement of pathogens of pandemic potential, the report stated. These limitations hindered our ability to determine the extent of (Defense Department) funds allocated for those research activities.

The Pentagons Office of the Inspector General notified Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and former Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wisconsin, in April that the watchdog agency would investigate the diversion of funds from the Pentagon into entities working to enhance pathogens.

In a January letter, Ernst and Gallagher requested a comprehensive review of possible experiments being conducted in foreign laboratories with Pentagon funds.

The DoD OIG report is nothing short of jaw-dropping, with millions of U.S. tax dollars being funneled to China for shady experiments and a complicated web of mysteries that creates more questions than answers, Ernst told Military Times Friday via email.

Investigators did find seven awards, sub-awards or fee-for-service agreements from the Army for research that involved potential enhancement of pathogens, according to the report. Army officials told investigators that the research did not necessarily enhance the virus for pathogenic potential.

Army officials offered investigators a couple examples of what the research they funded produced, such as the modification of a virus to infect a rodent versus a human. Another project looked at combining genetic sequences to produce a protein to develop antibodies in order to study immune responses, according to the report.

We determined that (defense) officials viewed the enhancement of pathogens of pandemic potential as offensive biological work that does not align with the mission and authorities of the (Defense Department), the report stated. Army officials also stated that all pathogen research is for defensive purposes in support of understanding the threat, developing diagnostic systems to identify the threat, and developing medical countermeasures to prepare for, or respond to, the threat.

Investigators also did not find that any of the $46.7 million awarded to EcoHealth Alliance  which has come under fire from Republican lawmakers over its ties to the Wuhan Institute of Virology  was sent to China.

The Wuhan Institute of Virology has been at the center of right-wing conspiracies and accusations of being the originator of the coronavirus pandemic.

Investigators findings corroborate an April 2023 Government Accountability Office report, which found that collected data is often incomplete or inaccurate.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, June 21. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree on approval of the intergovernmental agreement of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries on the development of cooperation in the field of tourism, Trend reports.

According to the decree, the responsible body for the implementation of the decree is the Tourism Committee under Uzbekistan's Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change.

The president of the country instructed Uzbekistan's Foreign Ministry to notify the SCO about the implementation by Uzbekistan of the internal state procedures necessary for the document to enter into force.

Meanwhile, the agreement on the development of cooperation in the field of tourism was signed on September 16, 2022, in Uzbekistan's Samarkand during the summit of heads of SCO member states.

Earlier in October 2023, Uzbekistans Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov proposed to develop and adopt a program of new economic dialogue within the framework of the activities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization during an extended meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government in Bishkek.

"We propose to start developing and adopting the program of the new SCO economic dialogue, which will cover such areas as innovative development, digitalization and robotics, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, pharmacology, and other industries of the future," Aripov said.
Pepper Park getting new splash pad, playground and more after construction contract approved

NATIONAL CITY, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI)  Pepper Park is getting a facelift. Community members in South Bay can expect several upgrades to the park starting later this summer after the construction contract was approved.

The Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners approved the improvements to Pepper Park just this week.

Padres fans light up Petco Park after stadium goes dark

The 5.2-acre park on Tidelands Avenue in National City adjoins the Sweetwater Channel, and currently has a boat launch ramp, picnic tables, restrooms, a fishing pier, floating boat dock, playground equipment and lawn areas, along with an Aquatic Center.

With the Pepper Park Phase 1 Improvements Project, construction is set to begin in August on a new splash pad, which the Port of San Diego says will be the first in any park along San Diego Bay. Other additions include a pirate-themed playground, a perched beach, an overlook/terrace, a hillside play area, an additional picnic area, a new entry plaza and new lighting, along with landscaping and hardscaping throughout the park.

Holiday Bowl moving to Snapdragon Stadium after two years at Petco Park

View renderings of the proposed splash pad and perched beach below:

Conceptual rendering of the splash pad, the first in any park along San Diego Bay. (Photo Courtesy KTU+A)

Conceptual rendering of the perched beach. (Photo Courtesy KTU+A)

At its June 18, 2024 meeting, the board awarded a $6.1 million contract to De La Fuente Construction and authorized an additional $1.2 million for construction administration and contingency, for a total construction cost of up to $7.35 million.

For the project, the port has designated $3.5 million in funding received via the American Rescue Plan Act and the State of Californias Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Fund, plus another $2 million from the Ports Balanced Capital Program and $1.6 million in Other Capital Projects funding, according to the port. Austal USA, which operates a new ship repair facility on the National City Bayfront, also contributed $250,000.

PHOTOS: Thousands of runners take over San Diego streets for Rock n Roll Marathon

Project construction is slated to begin in August 2024, and is expected to be complete by the end of 2025.

The Pepper Park Phase 1 Improvements Project includes upgrades and new amenities in the parks current footprint.

Families with EBT can visit these San Diego County museums for free all summer long

As a port of communities, we promised to enhance and transform Pepper Park and we are delivering, said Chairman Frank Urtasun, Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners. This first phase will dramatically change and improve how the public uses and enjoys the park, and its just the beginning. The future phase will bring a bigger park for the National City Bayfront with even more for the community and visitors to experience and enjoy.

The port says the improvements were identified after several rounds of public outreach between 2016 and 2022.

The redesign and future expansion of Pepper Park is part of the National City Balanced Land Use Plan (or Balanced Plan). Learn more here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
(Bloomberg) -- The Philippines said this weeks clash with China in the South China Sea isnt an armed attack that could trigger a defense treaty with the US, while announcing changes to operations in disputed waters.

Most Read from Bloomberg

We are not yet ready to classify this as an armed attack, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said Friday, adding that the June 17 encounter between Chinese and Philippine vessels was probably a misunderstanding or an accident.

Manila has accused China Coast Guard of seizing guns, puncturing boats using bladed weapons, and ramming Philippine vessels that led to a Filipino sailor losing his thumb. Beijing has maintained its actions were professional and lawful.

The cabinet official also said that the Southeast Asian nation is set to announce ahead of time when it will resupply a military outpost in the Second Thomas Shoal, which has been the epicenter of Manilas territorial dispute with Beijing.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. accepted a maritime councils recommendation to announce the missions, which shall remain routinary and will be scheduled regularly, said Bersamin.

Bersamin also said that Chinas lack of prior knowledge about the Philippines resupply mission couldve triggered the recent clash. He added that the Philippines move is in the best interest of all parties and that the nation will be publicizing the missions schedules without giving up anything.

The Philippines, under Marcos, has asserted the countrys claims in the South China Sea, where Beijing lays expansive claims. Manilas pushback has led to frequent confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the contested waters.

Also on Friday, more than a dozen local business groups released a joint statement saying they deplore the continued harassment of the Philippine military and coast guard. We appeal for unity towards a non-violent resolution that respects our rights as a peace-loving nation, they said.

(Updates with details throughout.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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Philippines says it did not consider invoking US pact over South China Sea clash

FILE PHOTO: Aerial view of the contested Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea

MANILA (Reuters) -The Philippines did not consider invoking a mutual defence treaty with the United States after accusing China of disrupting a resupply mission in the disputed South China Sea, officials said on Friday.

A Philippine sailor suffered serious injury after what its military described as "intentional-high speed ramming" by the Chinese Coast Guard on Monday, aiming to disrupt a resupply mission for troops stationed on the Second Thomas Shoal.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who also chairs the national maritime council, said the confrontation between Philippine navy sailors and the Chinese coast guard "was probably a misunderstanding or an accident".

"We are not yet ready to classify this as an armed attack," Bersamin told a briefing. "I think this is a matter that can easily be resolved by us and if China wants to work with us, we can work with China."

China's foreign ministry disputed the Philippines' account, with a spokesperson saying on Thursday that the necessary measures taken were lawful, professional and beyond reproach.

China's embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Philippines has a mutual defence treaty with the United States, and U.S. officials including President Joe Biden have reaffirmed its "ironclad" defence commitments against any attack on Philippine aircraft and vessels in the South China Sea.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a call with the Philippines' foreign minister on Wednesday, "underscored the United States' ironclad commitments to the Philippines under the Mutual Defense Treaty.

Andres Centino, a presidential assistant for maritime concerns, said invoking the treaty was not considered in discussions.

The council, however, had recommended to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that its resupply missions to the disputed shoal should be announced and continue to be "scheduled regularly".

(Reporting by Mikhail Flores, Karen Lema and Neil Jerome Morales, Editing by Ed Davies and Timothy Heritage)
Photojournalist Linda Tirado, who was partially blinded by a foam projectile fired by Minneapolis Police during unrest in June 2020 has entered hospice care.

The photographer was covering riots outside the Third Precinct in Minneapolis following the murder of George Floyd when she was injured four years ago. Minneapolis police "ignored the press credential she wore around her neck" and marked her with a "ballistic tracking round" and then "shot her in her face with foam bullets," according to her federal lawsuit, for which she was awarded $600,000 from the city of Minneapolis. Tirado said in her lawsuit that police targeted her as she took photos outside a police precinct in south Minneapolis. According to the complaint, officers ignored her press credentials and fired a foam bullet at her, striking her in the face and shattering her protective goggles.

Protesters escorted the bleeding Tirado to onsite medics who took her to a hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery. Tirado awoke the next morning to doctors telling her that she would be permanently blind in her left eye. She has since undergone subesequent surgeries.

In a post on her Substack page about her health and the expense of palliative care, Tirado, 42, writes that she is dying, but does not specify the diagnosis, or whether it is related to the injuries she suffered.

"I know that I'm lucky to have been diagnosed early, so that I have time to write another book or at least put all my journals in one place so that if I go sooner than we think I will, someone will be able to read them all and pull out enough words to publish on my behalf. But I don't feel lucky, or unlucky."

"I feel nothing but joy and peace and pain and fear, all of it all at once."

However, Emily Wilkins, president of the National Press Club, said in a statement that Tirado "has traumatic brain injury from the blow and corresponding dementia. While she has battled, her condition has continued to worsen to the point she is at life's end and receiving palliative care," and that most of her $600,000 settlement has gone toward medical expenses.

"The Club recognized her work with the Aubuchon press freedom award, which carries a $1,000 prize. We did not get to see her until after Covid, when she visited the Club wearing a black patch," the statement said. "She said kids in the airport would ask if she was a pirate. Yes, she whispered, she was."

Tirado, a published author whose memoir "Hand to Mouth: Living in Bootstrap America" led her to become a journalist covering an array of issues, including race.

"I'm a frontline journalist; that's what I do," Tirado said in a video interview with Mashable. "I don't think losing an eye necessarily has to stop me."
Growing up, Larry Myers was surrounded by people who thought Native Americans were extinct. That they were wiped out after the 19th century and had completely vanished.

But Myers, who is a citizen of the Pinoleville Pomo Nation, one of the 109 federally recognized tribes in California, is living proof that theyre wrong.

Im around here, and so are my cousins, and brothers and sisters, Myers said. The general people, when they ran into an Indian, they would be surprised that (we are) still alive.

Myers now serves as the chairperson for the California Indian Heritage Center Foundation and is a part of an initiate to keep Native identity alive. Its through the creation of the California Indian Heritage Center in Sacramento.

The project is set to replace the State Indian Museum, a 4,300 square foot museum located next to Sutters Fort State Historic Park in Midtown. The California Indian Heritage Center is set to be a larger museum with an amphitheater and an outdoor gathering space located on 43 acres on the riverfront in West Sacramento.

The project first had its start in 2007. But due to budgetary issues with the state, it took a pause until 2018 when the Heritage Center received funding for construction.

The museum project plans to open in 2030.

For Natives by Natives

The center is currently in its planning stages, said Jennifer Cabrera the State Parks project manager for the California Indian Heritage Center.

The centers task force is conducting outreach to tribal communities across the state. Cabrera said the task force has gathered more than 7,000 informational pieces from 35 different outreach events and surveys. Theyve also done did 75 video interviews with California Native American tribes and 13 tribal hosted events.

Cabrera said outreach is ongoing. A report on the task forces findings will later be released to the public.

The center is for Natives, Native-run, Native-designed, said Cabrera. Thats really the goal of the project is to be for California Native Americans.

Myers said the center is crucial for all Californians.

I think it is vital for the citizens of California to really understand and know what happened, because theres really no voice for our people statewide, Myers said.

The museum portion of the project will include federally recognized and non-federally recognized tribes in California, Myers said. The project will also spotlight Native communities that moved to California during the relocation era in the 1950s. Alongside telling the history of Native people, the center would like to serve as a a living facility for Native artists to showcase their art, basket weaving or paintings.

The center has been described as a project built by Native people for Native people. The California Indian Heritage Centers task force is Native-led, with tribal chairpersons and other Native community leaders, Myers said.

Myers described the center as a hub for Native communities across California and in Sacramento. In Sacramento county alone, Native Americans make up 1% of the population. Its an isolating experience being Native in spaces where no one is like you. This is where the center plans to be a place to just be for Native people, without those feelings of not fitting in, Myers said.

Youre different. Everyone else is different. You dont feel quite right. Youre kind of alert to where you are and whos looking at you, he said. (But the center) will be a place where there will be other Indian people. Youll feel comfortable and youll feel at home.

Acknowledging Sacramentos Native history

The California Indian Heritage Center isnt the only Sacramento landmark acknowledging Native history. The state recently approved proposed changes to Sutters Fort. The updates are aimed at reflecting a more inclusive, complex and accurate history of Sutters Forts role in the colonization of California, by highlighting Native perspectives.

The fort, which was an economic center for the earliest European colonizers in California, was built and supported by the exploited labor of Native people from the region, according to the parks website.

In a document laying out the proposed changes, officials from the Capital District of the state Department of Parks and Recreation said the fort would become a laboratory of learning that addresses this topic of exploitation and oppression of Native people in California, through changes to content, interpretation and administration at the fort, among other areas.

Native community members, including Calvin Hedrick, who is Mountain Maidu, said in a state parks and recreation commission meeting last week that the changes are more than (hes) seen in my lifetime.

When were looking at this history, we want to make sure that from this generation on, our students  are being taught a real and accurate history, said Hedrick, who also serves as the director of the 5th Direction, a tribal youth program.

For the Heritage Center, the goal is to recognize the identity of California tribes, Myers said, to not just show artifacts or depictions of Native people as a thing of the past, but to show that Native people are still here.

We need to have the real people tell the real story, Myers said.
Rep. Neil Friske | House GOP photo

State Rep. Neil Friske (R-Charlevoix) could face three felony charges, following his arrest early Thursday morning.

According to a records obtained through the Michigan State Police Internet Criminal History Access tool, Lansing Police have requested charges of felony sexual assault, assault and a weapons-related offense against Friske.

An email from the Ingham County Prosecutors office on Friday confirmed no charges have been filed against Friske, nor was he scheduled for arraignment.

In a statement, Ingham County Prosecutor John Dewane said the Lansing Police Department responded to an incident on Thursday for a report of a male with a gun, as well as possible shots that were fired. During the course of the initial investigation, law enforcement officers learned of a possible sexual assault of an adult female, and they arrested a 62-year old male, Kornelius Friske, Dewane said, which is the lawmakers legal name.

The Lansing Police Department submitted a warrant request to our office on June 21, 2024, after a review of the initial investigation, I have asked the Lansing Police Department to continue their investigation. Our office will continue to work in coordination with law enforcement on this matter, Dewane said.

Lansing Police Department Public Information Director Jordan Gulkis confirmed Friday Friske had been released from jail.

In a video posted to X by Detroit Free Press Reporter Paul Egan, Friskes attorney, Edwar Zeineh, said they would be conducting a thorough investigation and turning over the findings to the Ingham County prosecutor so they can make a very informed decision not to prosecute Representative Friske.

Following Friskes arrest, his reelection campaign made a post on Facebook Thursday, calling the timing of his arrest highly suspect, and drawing a connection that Friske had been arrested just before absentee ballots are released for the upcoming Aug. 6 primary election.

This morning, it was brought to our attention that Representative Friske was arrested and being held. As many of us know, Rep Friske is always exercising his 2nd Amendment right. We do not have any details, besides what the media sourced, oddly before anyone of us knew anything. . We ask everyone for prayers and to stay tuned for updates directly from this campaign or Representative Friske himself, the post reads.

Friske, who represents Michigans 107th House District, is being challenged by Republican Parker Fairbairn of Harbor Springs, while Jodi Decker of Sault Ste. Marie is unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Among the most conservative lawmakers in the state, Friske is a member of Michigans far-right Freedom Caucus, which has attempted to censure Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit) claiming the states first Black House speaker championed unambiguous discrimination for allowing the House to pass a state budget that included grants for minority-owned businesses.

Friske has also introduced efforts to repeal protections for reproductive rights approved by voters, and requiring libraries to create a restricted area for obscene or sexually explicit matter that is harmful to minors that is only accessible to individuals 18 or older.

Rep. Phil Skaggs (D-East Grand Rapids) called for Friske to resign in a post to X on Thursday.

While we do not yet have all the details of the incident, Neil Friske himself knows exactly what happened. I call on Rep. Friske to look to his conscience and do the right thing. If these allegations are true, Friske should resign from the Michigan House immediately, Skaggs said.

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Man detained after standoff in Land Park. Sacramento police say he didnt have gun

A man reportedly brandishing a gun inside William Land Park on Friday was subdued with less-than-lethal force and detained by police after a standoff that lasted more than an hour inside the popular Sacramento green space.

Minutes after he was placed into custody, officers said the man did not have a gun but authorities declined to say whether he had a weapon.

Officers later arrested the 35-year-old Sacramento man on suspicion of making criminal threats and resisting arrest, said Officer Anthony Gamble, a Sacramento Police Department spokesman.

The suspect was booked at the Sacramento County Jail, where he was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail. The criminal threats charge he faces is a felony, and the resisting arrest charge is a misdemeanor, jail records show.

The Police Department said in a 1 p.m. social media post that officers were in the area of Land Park Drive and 17th Avenue for reports of a man with a gun and began negotiating with the subject.

Police said the park was never evacuated and nearby businesses were not locked down.

A Bee reporter at the park at 1:30 p.m. saw dozens of police cars crowded on park roadways and grassy areas near the golf course amid a typical summer Friday surge in vehicles. Parkgoers, including adults and children, were seen calmly getting into vehicles or moving outside of police tape.

The area where this happened is, you know, very lively this time of day, said police spokesman Sgt. Michael Severi. With the zoo with Funderland, Fairytale Town (and) the golf course right next to us with the park.

Zoya Ahmed, who came to Fairytale Town with her two children and their grandmother, said that her car was behind the police tape and that she was scared of getting too close.

This is crazy, and its happening more and more often, Ahmed said.

By 2:10 p.m., officers had deployed pepper-ball rounds and the suspect was safely taken into custody, Severi said. When the suspect was not cooperating with officers and making threats toward them, Severi said officers brought in armored vehicles, canine officers and drones.

Severi said the man did not have a gun but had property on him, and said police would give further details later.

No information about the age and identity of the man was immediately available, Severi said, as officers remained at the scene Friday afternoon investigating the incident.

We were very happy that the people who did call in called in, he said. Obviously, if there is someone in a park like this with a weapon, we want to know about it. We want to bring all the resources in to make sure that we could protect the public in an incident like this.

Great work by all involved. Pepperball rounds were deployed and the suspect was safely taken into custody. https://t.co/wHvZ3qrgc1  Sacramento Police Department (@SacPolice) June 21, 2024
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, June 21. President of Mongolia Ukhnaa Khurelsukh will pay a state visit to Uzbekistan on June 2326 at the invitation of President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Trend reports.

According to the Uzbek presidents office, the sides plan to hold high-level talks in Tashkent, during which issues of further expansion and strengthening of Uzbek-Mongolian relations of friendship and multifaceted cooperation will be discussed.

The agenda of the visit includes plans to develop constructive political dialogue and inter-parliamentary contacts, increase bilateral trade turnover, and implement cooperation projects in mining, agriculture, livestock, light industry, healthcare, transport, logistics, and other areas. The parties will also discuss joint measures aimed at boosting cultural, humanitarian, and tourist ties. Both officials will talk about international issues.

Moreover, the sides will sign a package of intergovernmental and interdepartmental documents following the results of the summit.

As part of the program of the state visit, the leaders of the two countries will meet with representatives of leading companies and business circles, and a number of other bilateral events will be held.

Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh will also visit Uzbekistans Khiva.
UPPER WEST SIDE, Manhattan (PIX11)  Police are searching for a man accused of sexually abusing a teenager in a subway station on the Upper West Side on Wednesday, according to authorities.

More Crime News

A 16-year-old girl stood in the 96th Street subway station on the uptown No. 1 train platform around 8 p.m. Police said a man walked up to her and sexually abused her before leaving the station.

The victim was not physically injured, according to police.

Police are searching for a man accused of sexually abusing a teenager in a subway station on the Upper West Side, according to authorities. (NYPD)

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Jonathan Rizk is a digital journalist who has covered local news in New York City and Washington, D.C. He has been with PIX11 since August 2022. See more of his work here, and follow him on X and Facebook @OfficialRizk. Get in touch at jonathan.rizk@pix11.com.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Police: Shots fired at vehicle on I-264 in Norfolk

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  A person apparently intending to shoot at one vehicle instead struck a different vehicle on eastbound Interstate 264 in Norfolk Thursday, Virginia State Police said.

There were no reported injuries, according to State Police.

VSP responded to an emergency call for shots fired on I-264 in Norfolk near the Broad Creek Bridge, about a half-mile east of Ballentine Boulevard just after 5:30 p.m.

The State Polices Bureau of Criminal Investigations Chesapeake Field Office is at the scene. Anyone with information about the incident can call VSP at 804-750-8788, dial #77 if calling by cell phone or contact it by email at questions@vsp.virginia.gov.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
Politician who pushed Philippines natural gas boom is behind firm that planned to profit

The sun sets over a liquefied natural gas power plant in Santa Clara, Batangas province, Philippines on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023. The Philippines is seeing one of the world's biggest buildouts of natural gas infrastructure. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

BATANGAS, Philippines (AP)  An influential politician in the Philippines, who has been a cheerleader for natural gas power, is behind a company that planned to make a fortune from it, an Associated Press investigation of thousands of pages of documents has found.

Gov. Hermilando Mandanas of Batangas province and his late wife stood to profit from a buildout of liquified natural gas power  he owned the largest share in a real estate firm that soared in value as energy companies moved in, while he promoted the expansion in media interviews and public events. The firm also launched its own natural gas project.

Experts in government ethics deplored the scenario, with one environmental law advocate calling for an investigation into Mandanas. In an interview with the AP, Mandanas denied his associated businesses are involved with the buildout and called natural gas the best choice for the country.

The major commitment to natural gas comes at a time when many countries are ramping down the use of the fossil fuels that cause climate change. Scientists say that to avoid profound disruption from climate change, no new fossil fuel infrastructure that emits carbon dioxide can be built. Some analysts say all the Philippines' future electricity growth could be met with clean renewables.

Filipinos will likely pay more for electricity than if the country went all in for wind and solar power, because in many places renewable energy is now the cheapest form of new electricity.

The construction also is happening in an ecologically vibrant zone with coral reefs and communities that depend on their fish. The AP previously reported that both could be harmed by the planned power stations.

Gerry Arances, who heads up the Center for Energy, Ecology and Development, a Philippine nonprofit, said natural gas was not the path the country should have chosen.

Theres only one reason it became the Philippines energy priority. That is greed and self-interest.

Promoters of the gas plants see the Batangas region, about two hours south of Manila, as a new energy center for the country. Four gas power plants sit along the coastline already and four more are planned. Six new terminals for importing chilled, liquefied natural gas are also on the way in Batangas or have started operating.

The government says it wants the Philippines to become an LNG hub for the entire Asia-Pacific region.

It is needed very much for development, Mandanas told the AP in an interview in the white-columned regional capitol. The electricity will attract other industries, he said, which benefits the entire country.

Mandanas is well known in the Philippines for winning a landmark Supreme Court case that increased local government funding nationwide.

The governor said he was very conscious that what he referred to as the center of marine biodiversity of the entire world needed to be protected, and his administration is taking such action. We have to balance the need of the environment and development, he said.

Alleged conflict of interest

Not only did companies affiliated with the governor own coastal real estate where gas developments are happening, the family firm, AbaCore Capital Holdings Inc., launched its own gas power project in Batangas.

Legal experts said these dealings violate the Philippine law on ethics in public office and very possibly the nation's law on local government. Philippine politicians are not allowed to own major stakes in companies with goals that could be at odds with their official duties. Governors must also maintain a balanced ecology and conserve marine resources.

Michael Henry Yusingco, a lawyer and fellow at the Philippine Institute for Autonomy and Governance, called the situation a clear conflict of interest that could merit Mandanass suspension or removal from office. He said there was a strong case that the governor is not meeting his legal responsibilities to the environment or residents, which would be a dereliction of duty.

Mandanas led a takeover of AbaCore in the 1980s, building it into a real estate behemoth beyond its original interests in mining and gaming.

When voters returned him to the governor's seat in 2016 after an absence, Mandanas stepped down from the CEO position at AbaCore. His wife Regina Reyes took over the post.

In the Philippines press, AbaCore is frequently referred to as a Mandanas family company. Documents filed with the Philippines Securities and Exchange Commission shows as of last fall, Mandanas still owned almost 30% of it through a complex structure involving three layers of Philippine companies.

In 2019, Reyes said publicly that her husbands policies would benefit the family company. Addressing shareholders, she said the infrastructure buildout in Batangas implemented and led by its current governor would boost AbaCore, increasing property values, cash flow and revenue.

The energy industry moving in, she said, would help AbaCore grow, continuing, We expect land values to increase exponentially. In a separate interview with Philippine TV, she agreed the gas expansion meant the value of surrounding areas rose, benefitting shareholders.

Reyes died of natural causes in May 2022, and Mandanas recently remarried.

San Miguel Corporation, one of the Philippines biggest power providers, affirmed in an email to the AP that its LNG projects there led to a substantial increase in local property values. They rose more than 13-fold, it said.

Mandanas was in Beijing during a deal signing in 2019 that involved an AbaCore sister company in which he now holds a large stake. The AbaCore affiliate and three Chinese firms agreed to build a $3 billion LNG complex, including a power plant, in the fishing village of Simlong in Batangas.

According to filings with Philippine authorities in December 2018, four properties including the land in Simlong, where the power hub will be built, were valued at $6.2 million. Shortly after that deal was struck, they were revalued at more than $30.6 million. The vast majority of AbaCores income has come from land revaluations in recent years, its filings show.

Asked in an interview whether the Simlong energy hub was a conflict of interest, Mandanas suggested AbaCore's role was limited to selling land.

Probably one of the subsidiaries sold a piece of property to the developers, indicating a distance from the transaction. That would be probably the involvement of AbaCore.

AbaCore is not in any energy business here in Batangas, he said.

Yet that conflicts with AbaCore statements in official documents from 2021 that its then-renamed AbaCore Energy Hub would result in huge recurring revenues.

Mandanas did not reply to followup questions via email.

Call for an investigation

Elizabeth David-Barrett, director of the Centre for the Study of Corruption at University of Sussex, England, reviewed the APs findings and agreed with Yusingco, the Philippine governance attorney, that they amount to a conflict of interest and the abuse of entrusted power for private gain which harms the public interest.

A professor in political science at the University of the Philippines, Maria Ela Atienza, said Mandanas may also be violating a Philippine law on conduct and ethics. She cited a ban on favors being granted to relatives.

Yusingco called it "a sad, tragic aspect of Philippine politics. Political dynasties thrive because of their business interests, and their business interests thrive because of their positions in government."

"The really tragic result (is) fisherfolks suffering, the environment suffering.

Barnaby Pace, at the nonprofit Center for International Environmental Law, said evidence of Mandanass business interests in the LNG buildout was deeply concerning and demanded authorities investigate.

LNG projects should be reviewed in light of this information, he said. The local population has a right to know whats behind the push for LNG facilities.

__

News researchers Rhonda Shafner and Jennifer Farrar in New York contributed to this story.

___

The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
Molly Malones Irish Pub, a beloved Los Angeles bar known for its extensive Irish memorabilia, perfect Guinness pours and nightly live music, is temporarily closed after a fire scorched the building.

The blaze largely damaged the exterior of the 95-year-old building that houses the bar, which opened in 1969. The bar is expected to be closed for several months. Aside from a period during the COVID-19 pandemic, this marks the first time the bar will be closed for any stretch of time since it opened, owner Damian Hanlon said.

It was a scary day for our little pub on Fairfax but we are blessed, Hanlon wrote in an Instagram post Thursday. Our doors will be shut (for now) but we plan to be back better than ever before you know it!

Read more: Legendary Clifton's is reopening in a struggling downtown L.A. Its owner hopes crowds return

The Los Angeles Fire Department received a report at 1:17 p.m. Thursday that the bar at 575 S. Fairfax Ave. was on fire.

Firefighters extinguished the flames 19 minutes after they received the 911 call, LAFD spokesman Brian Humphrey said.

There was heat and smoke inside the structure, he said. But the flames were largely kept to the facade and the exterior of the structure.

No injuries were reported. Officials have not determined the cause of the fire. But Hanlon told The Times firefighters believe the blaze had probably started outside by the bars front door.

The pubs dark walls are covered with Irish memorabilia and art, including paintings by Irish portrait painter Neil Boyle. The work depicts both notable Irish figures and the bars longtime staff members and customers, according to the bars website. Hanlon said firefighters were able to save the artwork.

The firefighters did an incredible, great job, he said. Its all very sentimental to us. To have lost anything would have been a shame.

Read more: The shocking state of the restaurant industry: 'We can't afford to be open. We can't afford to be closed.'

The pub, known as a hangout for musicians, initially featured Irish troubadours performing drinking songs and traditional ditties. But its list of bands has expanded and the pub now features music from a variety of genres.

The Celtic punk band Flogging Molly got its start  and its name  in the 1990s performing at Molly Malone's.

Hanlon took over the business from his mother, Angela, a native of Dublin, who bought the bar after the family moved to Los Angeles.

Now, Hanlon's daughter is a bartender at the pub a few nights a week. Keeping the family tradition alive is more motivation to rebuild, he said.

"My mom put her heart and soul into this place," he said. "I want to see things continue on."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Portland City Council is considering changes to how it and the county deal with homelessness. All of this comes at a precarious time for the city as it fends off criticism about its policies.

The next step involves City Council voting on whether to sign another three-year agreement and continue funding the Joint Office of Homeless Services.

Clackamas County considers towing nuisance RVs, removing occupants

One of the hot button issues is that the county keeps giving out tens of thousands of tents and tarps to the homeless. At the same time, the City of Portland is paying millions for removing them in clean-up efforts.

Last year, the county ended up placing 6,500 tents and 24,000 tarps in neighborhoods while the city was cleaning up 12,000, said Attorney John DiLorenzo. But that also doesnt make sense. It makes no sense whatsoever.

Commissioner Mingus Mapps says hes not sold on how the current agreement is written.

Providence nurses to continue picketing after 3-day strike

Me personally, when I look at the overall package, I still have some deep concerns, he noted. I am not necessarily to someone yes today.

He added that while the plan clearly lays out where the money is going in the first year, the following two years are not set in stone.

In year two and three of this contract, we do not have a clear agreement about where the city stallholders go, he said.

In the end, the councilors approved a list of complaints for the joint office to respond to by October. If theyre unsatisfied by then, they can end the agreement.

Mayor Wheeler told KOIN 6 News he is happy with the amended agreement so far and a vote on this plan could be as soon as next week.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Last year, the number of driver stops conducted by the Portland Police Bureau rose for the first time since before the pandemic.

The bureau published its annual report on driver stops on Friday morning. According to the data, officers completed 17,118 stops throughout 2023  a 26% hike from the previous year and the only increase since 2019, when there were 33,035 total.

Mom part of Oaks Park lawsuit after ride malfunction trapped daughter mid-air

PPB attributed the year-over-year rise to the resurgence of the Traffic Division. It began a two-year hiatus in 2021, when the bureau ordered traffic officers back to the precincts to respond to emergency calls. The division returned in mid-2023 after the city experienced a record-high of fatal crashes.

Traffic Division stops accounted for about 37% of stops last year, at 6,429 overall. This is more than double what was recorded in 2022.

Portland police reported that speeding was the most common offense that traffic officers saw, while missing or expired drivers licenses were the most common for other officers. Nearly 98% of stops involved drivers who were stopped solely for traffic reasons.

The agency also said that drivers who were perceived as Black or African American were significantly more likely to be stopped for a non-moving violation by non-traffic personnel than their counterparts in other racial groups.

Neighbors say intersection where off-duty deputy was killed in crash has a dangerous reputation

However, PPB claimed no racial group was over-represented or under-represented in their driver stops last year. Officials noted an increase in the number of Hispanic and Latino drivers who were stopped from 2019 to 2023, and a decrease in white drivers who were stopped in that same time.

This trend mirrors the overall demographic patterns in the area, with the Hispanic / Latino resident population growing at a faster rate in the region than White individuals, the report said.

Additionally, PPB noted that East Precinct officers conducted more stops than those from the Central and North precincts  although the East Precincts stops declined from 2022 to 2023.

Police said the Focused Intervention Team was the only non-traffic unit to complete a sizeable number of stops. Also known as the Specialized Resources Division, FIT was deployed in early 2022 in response to gun violence throughout Portland.

Kayaker dies after incident with Ferry on Willamette River

I understand how the community may perceive the increase in driver stops in 2023, particularly by our Focused Intervention Team, Chief Day said in a statement. I believe there is a correlation between the stops and the work FIT is asked to do to combat gun violence. We will continue to engage with the Focused Intervention Team Community Oversight Group, and other stakeholders, in discussions on how to keep the community safe in the most equitable manner possible.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
PORTSMOUTH  Around a dozen city leaders and employees in Portsmouth have collectively received almost $900,000 in severance payouts after parting ways with the city over the last five years.

Portsmouth has recently seen high turnover in top positions, including three city managers and four police chiefs over the past four years, in addition to shakeups in the city assessors office.

Records obtained by The Virginian-Pilot from a Freedom of Information Act request revealed Portsmouth has authorized $896,318 in severance payouts to 11 top city employees who have parted ways with the city since 2019. Two city officials received severance twice after leaving city government and then returning to it.

In a city weary of high turnover, residents often voice concern about the fiscal impact and perceived instability, sometimes deeming city leadership a revolving door. But leaders say severance agreements can also benefit a city situated in a region where surrounding municipalities frequently try to lure top talent away from each other.

Its a political arena, said former Interim City Manager Mimi Terry, who held the position before council appointed a new manager in March. So anytime you get a new council where the majority can make the determination of who comes and goes, you put that persons career in limbo. And so, unfortunately, Portsmouth happens to be one of those organizations or municipalities that has a revolving door as it relates to the executive level staff. But its not uncommon to have a severance for anybody, whether youre in corporate America or local government.

Terry is among the former city employees who has received multiple severance payments. Across two departures as interim city manager and deputy city manager, Terry is receiving two payouts that amount to $153,435.

In Portsmouth, city policy as of May 2023 authorizes the city manager to offer severance agreements to department heads and deputy city managers, though its ultimately up to the managers discretion. Employees who are terminated with cause, however, arent entitled to severance.

New Portsmouth City Manager Steven Carter said he doesnt have any comment on the citys past practice of granting severance agreements. But he noted comprehensive benefits packages can be a valuable tool when cities are competing for talent, especially department heads and deputy city managers.

Therefore, I foresee this continuing to be a benefit evaluated on a case-by-case basis, he said.

There are some limits dictated by city policy, however. Severance cant exceed more than 12 weeks of the employees salary and doesnt extend to health or retirement benefits. The source of funding from the citys budget for the severance must be identified, and severance must be coordinated with the city attorneys office to ensure it is only granted if the employee is terminated without cause.

Mayor Shannon Glover said high turnover and instability in leadership can affect Portsmouths financial standing, such as lowering the citys credit ratings. Being good stewards of taxpayer money, he said, starts with City Council but includes city leaders dedicated to hiring competent, professional staff.

First of all, it has to start with city leaders in the government, the mayor and council. And if you look at what has happened, we have not been consistent as a council in keeping stable leadership, Glover said. It affects the morale and the people that work under those leaders. And all of that trickles down to the services and what is provided and what takes place for our citizens.

The city manager is one of several positions the City Council appoints, in addition to the citys attorney, auditor, assessor and clerk. In those cases, the councils personnel committee primarily handles negotiations and severance agreements.

Vice Mayor Lisa Lucas-Burke, who is on the councils personnel committee, agreed that leadership decisions begin with a cohesive council working together to build consensus.

Carters contract stipulates that hes entitled to a full year of salary as severance if fired without cause, which would be $255,000. Carter, who was appointed on a 4-3 vote in March, noted in April that we have to agree that we are not adversaries.

I am fully aware that the vote for my appointment was not unanimous, Carter said at the oath of office ceremony last spring. However, I am encouraged by the commitment of all seven (council) members who have pledged to work with me to make Portsmouth all that it can be.

Terry is one of two city leaders drawing two pots of severance money. Her most recent stint was about 14 months as interim city manager before Carters appointment. She was chief financial officer in 2020 and also served as interim city manager when the council terminated Angel Jones.

Former Deputy City Manager Demetrice Wright, who also served a stint as human resources director, is also drawing two severance payouts of $81,375 and $49,791 after her last departure this year. Terry said she and Wright were two of the handful of employees terminated during then-City Manager Tonya Chapmans six-month tenure in 2022.

Terry brought Wright back in 2023 to serve as her deputy, given Wrights background and knowledge of the city. Terry said she let Wright go after learning council was not going to hire her as the permanent city manager. Terry described the move as one meant to protect Wright from future retaliation.

Wright could not be reached for comment.

Also during Terrys tenure, the city lost then-Deputy City Manager and Planning Director Robert Baldwin, who was entitled to $80,759 of severance after nearly a decade working for the city. Baldwin did not respond to a request for comment. Terry declined to provide details on why Baldwin parted ways with the city.

For employees without a severance agreement, city policy allows some authority to negotiate a payout when the employee is being terminated. Terry said that discretion is useful in an at-will employment state, particularly if someone is being terminated for no apparent reason.

People didnt really want to step into these executive level positions with the understanding that Portsmouth has a revolving door, Terry said. How are you going to get anything done if people dont want to work in those positions at the thought of the city managers gonna get fired, then Im gonna get fired.'

The biggest payouts have gone to former City Attorney Solomon Ashby and former City Manager Lydia Pettis Patton, who both were entitled to almost $133,500 after their nearly simultaneous departures in 2020 amid protests and controversy over criminal charges filed in the vandalism of a Confederate monument.

Amid the fallout, Patton resigned hours before she was seemingly poised to be fired and months before she was set to retire. Ashby, meanwhile, was fired.

Patton had been manager since 2015. She returned to the city this year after City Council voted to have her serve for about a month as interim city manager through the Berkley Group, a consulting firm, to help with the transition as the city awaited its new manager. The city agreed to pay Patton $210 an hour. She has since taken on an interim role with Roanoke city government with a similar arrangement through Berkley Group, according to Cardinal News.

Neither Ashby nor Patton returned calls seeking comment.

Patton also made her mark during her short stint back in Portsmouth this year by getting rid of a few city employees before Carter took the reins, with one drawing a severance as a result. Former Deputy City Manager Vernell Woods received a severance of $13,077. He previously said it was Terry who convinced him to make the move to Portsmouth after more than 30 years of city government experience in Norfolk and Newport News.

Another notable departure was Jones, who was fired in May 2022 in a divided and heated council vote. Jones was granted a severance of $103,000, but she also sued the city for wrongful termination and made other explosive allegations in a lawsuit that has since been dismissed.

Jones could not be reached for comment.

Former Police Chief Renado Prince was fired by Chapman in 2022, entitling him to $77,500 in severance. Hes since returned as assistant chief. Prince could not be reached for comment.

Because Chapman was fired with cause in January 2023, she didnt receive any severance, though she tried. She could not be reached for comment.

Other former employees who collected severance payments over the last five years include:

Kathryn Crocker, former assistant Human Resources director, $27,319.

Thomas Stallings, former General Services director, $10,803.

Deanna Valentine, former Social Services director, $32,347.

Natalie Anderson, 757-732-1133, natalie.anderson@virginiamedia.com
Many Atlantans have grown frustrated with lengthy delays in delivery of mail and packages from the post office  and its a problem that rapidly worsened earlier this year amid an attempt to reform the U.S. Postal Services complex and troubled system.

Georgia has been ground zero for some of the worst issues. The Postal Service in February opened a new processing and distribution facility in Palmetto, southwest of Atlanta, that was supposed to be a model of the restructuring. Instead, the rollout has gone awry and worsened delivery delays.

But the Postal Services challenges date back much further than this years Palmetto facility problems.

USPS, led by pugnacious Postmaster General Louis DeJoy since 2020, has faced serious structural and financial problems for decades.

Deteriorating financial status

The Postal Service, unlike UPS and FedEx, serves every address in the country as part of its universal service mandate  even as it loses money doing so.

USPS also cannot raise its rates without approval from its 11-member Postal Service governors, and is subject to price caps in some categories. And the Postal Service notes it is self-funding, meaning it generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses.

Some of its financial problems date back to the 1970s, when Congress passed legislation to make USPS responsible for increased liability for employee retirement benefits, shifting enormous costs onto it, according to a letter from its general counsel at the time.

Frustration continues for some Georgians experiencing mail service delays

Beginning in the 1990s, USPSs financial status deteriorated, and by the early 2000s, financial concerns about USPS had become acute, according to an opinion issued this year by the U.S. Department of Justice on the Postal Services liability for those retirement benefits.

In 2006, Congress required the Postal Service to prefund its retiree health care benefits.

That move, according to the American Postal Workers Union, has been responsible for most of the Postal Services net losses since 2013.

The number of pieces of first-class mail handled has plummeted, from 103.5 billion in 2001 to roughly 46 billion in 2023.

In 2020, the Postal Service implemented several changes, which included cutting overtime and limiting post office hours, which workers said were causing massive delivery delays, according to published reports.

Moves to reform

The Postal Service in 2021 released DeJoys 10-year plan to work toward financial stability and improve service, called Delivering for America.

A key part of the effort was the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022, which removed the requirement for prefunding of retiree health care benefits, but kept the Postal Service responsible for covering the cost of premium payments when due. That sets the Postal Service apart from federal agencies, which are generally not responsible for paying those costs, according to a report from the USPS Office of Inspector General.

The 2022 act also sought to cut costs for USPS by requiring most new retirees from the Postal Service to enroll in Medicare Part B when eligible to keep their retiree health coverage, starting in 2025.

Meanwhile, the Postal Service has continued to lose billions of dollars. In the January-to-March quarter of 2024, it reported a net loss of $1.5 billion. However, that was improved from a $2.5 billion loss in the same period of 2023.

Because the Postal Service is responsible for these huge costs, those billions of dollars in losses limit the USPS in its efforts to upgrade its delivery network and technology.

USPS in its most recent quarterly financial report said: We continue to face systemic imbalances that make our current operating model unsustainable.

It also called for more legislation to change retiree pension benefit funding rules, or alternatively the Postal Service will need to identify and pursue more drastic additional cost cutting and revenue initiatives for reforms.

The financial report also said continued increases in capital investment are necessary to upgrade our facilities, fleet of vehicles, and processing equipment in order to remain operationally viable.

Problems at Palmetto

A key part of DeJoys reforms was a plan to consolidate sorting and delivery operations into large centrally located sorting and delivery centers.

Our new regional processing and delivery centers  over a million square feet and also purpose-built  will enable more effective workflows that simplify the movement of all classes of mail and packages, the USPS Delivering for America webpage says.

The new facility in Palmetto was supposed to be a shining example of that. About 2,000 employees were moved to the Palmetto facility from other locations, and Postal Regulatory Commission leaders toured the Palmetto distribution center before its February opening, as well as a sortation and delivery center in Athens.

The visit to these two facilities allowed us to better understand and personally observe how the new network conceived under the Delivering for America plan is being implemented, said Vice Chairman Thomas Day in a written statement at the time.

By mid-March, problems multiplied and on-time delivery of first class mail in the Atlanta area plummeted to 36%, according to Postal Service data.

A video obtained by Channel 2 Action News showed a sorting machine spewing packages onto the floor.

U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff is focused on improving mail delivery in Georgia. (Henry County Government/TNS)

Members of Georgias Congressional delegation from both parties, including U.S. Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock and U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, have pushed for answers and improvements for months.

At a meeting with the USPS Board of Governors in May, DeJoy acknowledged the problems in Atlanta, as well as in Houston and Richmond, Virginia, where modernization work was underway.

We apologize for these conditions and are working hard and know that we soon will be delivering the service the American people deserve, he said.

This massive and complex evolution includes correcting decades of haphazard decision making and neglect to our physical infrastructure and overall network, DeJoy said.

DeJoy also last month committed to pause the changes until 2025 in order to understand their full effect on service.

This week, DeJoy in response to a query from Ossoff shared data showing first-class mail on-time delivery performance in Georgia had reached about 75% for the first week of June.

DeJoy wrote that he agrees with Ossoffs comment that postal workers deserve the infrastructure to help them deliver mail six and seven days a week.

But he added that as a result of over a decade long consequence of terrible Congressional legislation and the resulting regulation, our infrastructure and work environment in the Atlanta area has deteriorated to an embarrassing and unworkable condition.

Ossoff issued a statement saying hes still hearing from Georgia families and businesses about the difficulty they continue to face sending and receiving their mail.

I will not rest until my constituents are well and fully served by the U.S. Postal Service, he added.

Staff writer Jillian Price contributed to this article.

This story was made possible through a partnership with The Atlanta Journal Constituion.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. Iran's imports of products from Tajikistan decreased by 68.5 percent in value and 62.8 percent in weight during the 1st month of the current Iranian year (from March 20 through April 19, 2024) compared to the same month last year (from March 21 through April 20, 2023), the statistics of Iran's Customs Administration read, Trend reports.

According to the statistics, Iran brought in about 1,300 tons of goods worth about $3 million from Tajikistan during the first month.

The statistics indicate that Iran's imports of products from Tajikistan during the first month of last year amounted to 3,470 tons worth $9.6 million.

Furthermore, the information notes that during the first month, Iran mainly imported cotton, silk fabrics, various equipment, etc. from Tajikistan.

Iran's imports of products from Tajikistan during the last Iranian year (from March 21, 2023, through March 19, 2024) decreased by 3.86 percent in value term and increased by 6.23 percent in weight compared to the previous year. Iran's imports of products from Tajikistan amounted to 29,600 tons worth about $76.6 million.

Meanwhile, during the first month of the current Iranian year (from March 20 through April 20, 2024), Iran's imports of non-oil products amounted to 2.4 million tons worth $2.7 billion. Non-oil product imports decreased by 11.4 percent in value and increased by 33.4 percent in weight terms during the first month compared to the same month of last year.

To note, imports of Iranian-made goods are subject to certain limitations, but the country's primary focus is on acquiring necessities.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Milwaukee Police shared that the 25-year-old officer "involved" has been placed on "routine" administrative duty

WISN/YouTube Scene of police pursuit in Milwaukee on June 20, 2024

A pregnant 18-year-old was left with "life-threatening injuries" and lost her baby after police in Wisconsin shot her during a pursuit in connection to carjackings.

On Thursday, June 20, officers for the Milwaukee Police Department "attempted to conduct a felony stop" around 2:23 p.m. local time at N.17th Street and W. Vliet Street  in connection with what the department shared on Facebook was two "armed robbery carjackings."

During the pursuit, which took place on Interstate 43, the vehicle was "blocked by the construction and a cement truck" in a construction lane. Officers commanded the suspects to exit, but the driver "reversed the vehicle striking a marked squad car."

"The suspect driver drove forward and then reversed the vehicle. An officer was located behind the vehicle. At this time, another officer discharged his firearm into the vehicle subsequently striking two suspects. A total of six suspects were in the vehicle," the release notes.

A 17-year-old boy was also left with "serious injuries," police note, and both injured suspects were "transported to local hospitals for treatment of their injuries." Other suspects ranged in age from 15-18 and were treated for minor injuries.

Related: Ga. Teen, 14, with a Gun Led Cops on a Car Chase Before Surrendering: He Was Going Across Peoples Yards

Milwaukee Police shared that the 25-year-old officer "involved" has four years of service and will be placed on "administrative duty," which is "routine in an officer-involved shooting."

A firearm was recovered from the vehicle, which was determined to be stolen, per the department's Facebook release. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, citing a news conference from Police Chief Jeffrey Norman, it was unclear if suspects had fired shots as of Thursday afternoon.

A local woman told ABC affiliate WISN at the scene that she "definitely heard shots," despite not knowing "who fired shots first." "It was just a lot at once," she added.

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Norman noted that both carjacking victims were "OK"  with those taking place before the pursuit at the 500 block of N. Broadway and the 500 block of N. Jefferson Street.

"We have multiple young people involved in unacceptable behavior in this city. This is unacceptable," Norman said, per the Journal Sentinel. "Parents, what is going on with your children? People in our community, how are we helping to keep our kids in positive behaviors, rather than what we are seeing today?"

"This should never have happened. ... There are no winners in this particular situation," he continued. "So I'm asking the community, let's take our kids and embrace them in a positive way to engage in positive behaviors and not in these unacceptable behaviors we saw today."

The department also shared that "criminal charges will be referred" to the Milwaukee County District Attorneys Office and that the incident is being investigated by the Milwaukee Area Investigative Team, with the West Allis Police Department leading law enforcement in the "ongoing investigation."

The DA's office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for more information on Friday.

Citing police data, NBC News noted carjackings in the city increased 16% from 2022 to 2023  398 to 463.

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Read the original article on People.
President Biden to be joined by first lady at Raleigh-area rally after debate

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will hold a rally together in the Raleigh area next week, a campaign official tells McClatchy exclusively.

The campaign stop will be June 28, the day after Bidens first 2024 debate against former President Donald Trump.

Biden is expected to spend the next week at Camp David, preparing for the debate, held in Atlanta, Georgia, and hosted by CNN, on June 27. The broadcast marks the first time a former president and a sitting president will debate one another. It is also the earliest debate in a presidential election cycle.

On Thursday, Biden won a coin-toss that allowed him to choose for his podium to be positioned on the right side of the stage, and for Trump to get the final closing remark, ABC News reported.

Following the debate, Biden and his wife are planning to visit the Tar Heel State, though exact details about their rally havent been announced.

Both Biden has become a frequent visitor to North Carolina this year, making a forceful push to focus on the battleground state.

A Democratic win for a presidential candidate is rare in North Carolina. Its only happened once since 1976  in 2008, when former President Barack Obama won the state.

But Trump only led North Carolina in 2020 with 1.3% of the vote and the Biden-Harris campaign is working hard to flip the state.

Unlike Biden, Trump has made few appearances in North Carolina and most recently attended NASCARs Coca-Cola 600 in Concord.

Under the Dome

Get the latest news about North Carolina politics from The News & Observer's award-winning team. Get the free digest sent to your inbox by signing up here.
Senate candidate Trent Staggs speaks as he meets with the Deseret News and KSL editorial boards at Triad Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

National special interest groups supporting 3rd District Congressman John Curtis for U.S. Senate have spent over $2 million in the last two weeks to oppose one of his rivals, Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs.

By law, PACs cannot coordinate with campaigns on expenditures, including advertisements. But following how these groups spend can shed light on the state of the race.

The last minute flood of attack ads comes just days before the June 25 Republican primary election to replace Sen. Mitt Romney.

Utahs two additional GOP Senate hopefuls, former Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson and Moxie Pest Control CEO Jason Walton, appear to not have received any PAC expenditures, for or against their campaigns, in the month leading up to the primary election.

Staggs gets attacked

Beginning on June 14, four days after the first and only Senate primary debate, Conservative Values for Utah PAC  which endorsed Curtis even before he announced his Senate campaign  announced its first opposing expenditure of the election cycle, targeted at Staggs.

A day later, Defend American Jobs, a Silicon-Valley-funded PAC, launched a $1.2 million ad buy in opposition to Staggs. The group has spent $15 million to help candidates in federal elections across the country, including roughly $3.5 million to support Curtis, according to FEC filings. But the only money they have spent against a candidate so far is $1.5 million to oppose Staggs.

The remaining $550,000 in PAC spending against Staggs has come from Conservative Values for Utah, which spent more than $725,000 to support Curtis in the weeks leading up to the election out of more than $5.3 million this election cycle. The group was created in October 2023, shortly before releasing an ad to convince Curtis to reconsider swapping a House reelection bid for a Senate one.

Among the several donations Conservative Values for Utah has received, the largest was from North Carolina native Jay Faison, the head of a conservative clean energy group, while another came from Robert Walton, one of Walmart founder Sam Waltons heirs.

Faisons ClearPath Action Fund, American Conservation Coalition PAC, and EDF Action Votes  all with an emphasis on clean energy and environmental sustainability  have spent a combined total of nearly $310,000 to support Curtis since the end of May.

In the 30 days preceding the primary, Staggs has received supportive expenditures from PACs totaling more than $890,000. The vast majority has come from the Protect Freedom PAC, which is aligned with Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who has endorsed Staggs. The PAC is largely funded by billionaire Wall Street trader Jeff Yass. Staggs additional PAC support comes from the Beehive Values PAC, started in November, that is mostly funded by Samer Salih, who owns Dalia Real Estate, a Utah-based commercial real estate company.

Between Curtis and Staggs, at least $7.5 million in outside money has entered the U.S. Senate race in Utah in the month leading up to the primary election on Tuesday.

Who has the most money in Utahs Senate race?

Staggs was the first to officially declare his intent to run for U.S. Senate in Utah. In April, he won the GOP nominating convention, capturing 70% of delegates votes hours after receiving the endorsement of former President Donald Trump.

Curtis currently leads the race in terms of fundraising and polling. The congressman raised nearly $610,000 between April and June with more than $575,000 left on hand, according to his pre-primary Federal Election Commission report. During the same window, Staggs raised just shy of $260,000 with more than $375,000 in cash on hand, his report showed.

A Deseret News-Hinckley Institute of Politics poll conducted in early June found Curtis ahead of Staggs 34% to 16%, with 33% of voters saying they were unsure.

Wilson and Walton trailed with 12% and 4%, respectively. Walton raised less than $40,000 in the pre-primary filing period and Wilson raised less than $30,000. At the time, Wilson had more than $550,000 left in his campaign coffers and Walton had $260,000. Both candidates loaned their respective campaigns at least $2.5 million during the election cycle.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  Michigan State Universitys Hurriya Coalition will hold a rally Monday evening after meeting with University President Kevin Guskiewicz and members of student leadership.

Representatives of the coalition will meet with the public and members of the media at the Hannah Administration Building to update the MSU community on the results of the meeting and the current state of their campaign.

This is the first meeting with university leadership since the end of the Gaza Solidarity Encampment at Peoples Park.

Students occupying Peoples Park on MSUs campus in April. (WLNS)

This meeting will discuss the continued demands of the student organizers for the Board of Trustees to divest from the state of Israel.

They demand that the Board of Trustees withdraw MSUs investments that directly or indirectly support Israel.

For far too long, Michigan State University has been complicit in the occupation and genocide of the Palestinian people through their investments into the State of Israel and weapons manufacturers, said the Hurriya Coalition in a statement in February.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Leaders from Jewish Voices for Peace MSU, Students United for Palestinian Rights, the Sunrise Movement, and the Arab Cultural Society will be present at Mondays event.

The Hurriya Coalition is made up of over 20 different student organizations on MSUs campus

March For Our Lives

Jewish Voices for Peace MSU

Lebanese Student Association

Iraqi American Union

JMC Women of Color

South Asian Awareness Network

Students Organize For Syria

Egyptian Student Organization

North American Indigenous Student Organization

Timetzalimet

Students United For Palestinian Rights

Muslim Student Association

Middle Eastern Law Student Association

National Arab-American Medical Association

Arab Cultural Society

Yemeni Student Association

Sunrise Movement

Young Communists League

Spartan Shifa

Bengali Student Association

Somali Student Association

Philipino American Student Society

Wilma Mankiller Society

American Medical Association MSU

The Hurriya Coalition claimed to 6 News back in February that the Board of Trustees has invested $236,114 in direct aid to the State of Israel and hundreds of millions of dollars into global investment companies BlackRock and BNY Mellon, who they claim fund weapon manufacturers. The Hurriya Coalition additionally claimed that the Board invested a separate $3 million into weapons manufacturers.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX)  With Colorados primary on June 25, WesternSlopeNow wanted to give you a profile on two of the Republican candidates for the 3rd Congressional District.

Ron Hanks, a 32-year Air Force veteran says he is running to resecure the border, calling for energy independence, and is looking to restore Americas supply chain and what he calls traditional education.

Hanks garnered attention and raised eyebrows when he called for the elimination of the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Energy, as well as an audit of the Federal Reserve.

Republican candidate Russ Andrews is also vying for the nomination.

Andrews moved to Colorado in 1994. His website claims hes running to restore the Western Slope and rural Colorado values.

Andrews says if he wins, his priority would be to reach out to other representatives and senators to find legislative common ground.

Andrews website touts hell defend Second Amendment rights and help secure the border with a seven-point plan.

Andrews says hell also work for fair compensation to ranchers for losses.

He supports utilizing beetle kill wood, ending taxes on social security benefits and expanding rural cell phone connectivity.

Along with GOP candidate Jeff Hurd, Andrews and Hanks hope to win the Republican nomination and face off with Democrat Adam Frisch in November.

Links to all candidates running for District 3 are below.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com.
Monserrath Aleman at the Pride Parade in Baltimore on June 16. Courtesy photo of CASA.

When Monserrath Aleman left Honduras for a better life in Baltimore, she was leaving behind a country where Human Rights Watch said LGBTQ individuals are frequently targets of discrimination, extortion, and violence from gangs, the police and the public.

What she found in Baltimore, where her cousin lives, was a different kind of prejudice.

Aleman, 36, a transgender woman whos lived in Baltimore for two years, said shes endured indirect racism trying to obtain full-time employment in Maryland cleaning offices and homes.

While she did not originally have a work permit, she has one now  but is not getting calls for jobs that she said her friends who are not trans are getting. To earn income, Aleman said her cisgender friends, whose identity aligns with their sex assigned at birth, have brought her with them on jobs.

Its been my friends that have seen my situation. They will pay me to help them clean [a] house, she said in Spanish through a translator last week.

As thousands of Marylanders, including Aleman, celebrate Pride Month, separate reports from the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights and the Maryland Commission on LGBTQIA+ Affairs indicate theres still discrimination against people in that community.

The Commission on Civil Rights, an independent agency that enforces anti-discrimination laws and oversees discrimination cases focused on employment, housing, public accommodations and state contracts, said in its 2023 report that it handled a total of 661 cases in 2022, up from 623 the year before. That report highlighted a number of cases, including two involving LGBTQ individuals.

In one case in Montgomery County, coworkers allegedly harassed a colleague who identified as a transgender woman. After no corrective action was taken by management, the parties agreed to a $35,000 monetary settlement for the complainant.

In another, a finance manager at a car dealership in Baltimore allegedly made a derogatory comment about a customers sexual orientation. Afterward, the manager refused to speak to the customer and denied his preapproval to purchase a vehicle. The customer filed a complaint with the commission and the parties agreed to a $2,000 settlement.

The civil rights commission also said that there were 465 hate/bias reports in the state in 2022. In comparison, last years document noted 388 reports made in 2021.

A look at the numbers

According to a 2023 report by the states Commission on LGBTQIA+ Affairs, those in the trans community experienced some of the most challenges, including alarmingly high rates of violence and victimization.

About 78% of 750 participants in a Maryland Trans Survey reported that they experienced verbal insults or abuse at least once in their lives; 55% experienced threats of violence at least once; 46% experienced physical and/or sexual assault at least once.

The survey was conducted between May and December 2023. Of the respondents, 43.3% identified themselves as non-binary, genderqueer, genderfluid or agender; 29.3% as men/transmasculine; 24.7% men/transfeminine; and 2.4% another gender identity.

However, the majority of those who surveyed were white at 76.3%. The other races were 7.7% multiracial; 6.4% Black; 4.8% Asian or Pacific Islander; 3.6% Hispanic/Latinx; and 1.2% another identity.

The report acknowledged measures the commission supported that were signed into law this year:

Senate Bill 134  Creates a correctional ombudsman office to assess programs by the state Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.

Senate Bill 119  Places gender-affirming care under the states category of legally protected care.

House Bill 602  Prohibits employer discrimination against a person based on their sexual orientation.

Although theres been positive legislative developments, M Pease, director of research and assessment with Trans Maryland, said this month there remains more work to do.

For example, the trans survey notes some people had challenges in health care, such as the 85% who experienced barriers accessing trans-related surgery.

When those larger institutions are not designed for inclusion or not designed to affirm, support, uplift members of marginalized communities, it is no wonder that we still see experiences of discrimination, we still see instances of violence and harm within our communities, said Pease, who served as lead author of the survey.

Maryland on paper might look like a more positive state for the community, and I think in some ways that is still true, we still have a long way to go, Pease said. We shouldnt become complacent as we consider the way that we can continue to make our state safer for members of the community.

The LGBTQIA+ commission made eight recommendations for state agencies including that all staff and the public are aware of the states anti-discrimination laws, requiring at least six hours of mandatory cultural humility and competency training for new and existing employees annually, and collecting data on sexual orientation, gender identity and sexual characteristics in state surveys to better understand the challenges and needs of LGBTQIA+ communities.

Meanwhile, Aleman wants policymakers to make it as easy for people in the LGBTQ community to obtain employment as it is for anyone else.

We are essential, she said. We have the ability to work because we have the right to work in whatever job, whatever place of employment, whatever company there is. Were asking for their support.

The post Theres been progress, but discrimination against the LGBTQ community continues appeared first on Maryland Matters.
What is Project 2025 and what does it mean for LGBTQ+ Americans?

If youre looking for yet another reason that Donald Trump shouldnt be elected president again, we have two words for you: Project 2025.

Youve probably been hearing these words, but you may be sketchy on what they mean. Were here to fill you in on the details thanks to a report by Accountable.US.

What is Project 2025?

Basically, Project 2025 is a blueprint of what far-right activists want from the next conservative president  and Trump is the conservative whos running. It includes plans to fire as many as 50,000 career federal employees and replace them with people who have unquestionable loyalty to the president; restrict access to contraception; possibly implement a national abortion ban; cut federal health care programs; and much more, designed to make the U.S. an authoritarian nation. And LGBTQ+ people are directly in its crosshairs.

Project 2025 couldnt make its anti-LGBTQ+ agenda any more clear. With far-right extremists at the helm, the project is a power grab by conservatives attempting to turn back the clock on hard-fought progress and fundamental rights, Accountable.US President Caroline Ciccone said in a statement to The Advocate. Project 2025 doesnt just pose an existential threat to our democracy but seriously threatens the rights and freedoms of LGBTQ+ communities across the country.

Who created it?

Project 2025 is spearheaded by the ultraconservative Heritage Foundation, with Paul Dans, a former Trump administration official, as the projects director. Several other Trump associates are involved, such as Stephen Miller, was a senior adviser to Trump during his presidency; and Roger Severino, a notoriously anti-LGBTQ+ official in Trumps Department of Health and Human Services; and Kiron Skinner, who was director of the Office of Policy and Planning in the Trump administration until she was fired for abusive and unprofessional behavior, including homophobic remarks.

How will it affect LGBTQ+ Americans?

Project 2025s Mandate for Leadership is a document taking up 900 pages, but Accountable.US has put together a succinct summary of what Project 2025 would mean to LGBTQ+ Americans, and The Advocate has a first look. Here are the key points.

The project urges the next conservative president to basically ignore the 2020 Supreme Court decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, in which the court found that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, in banning sex discrimination in the workplace, also bans discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. President Joe Biden, in contrast, had directed all federal agencies to implement the provisions of Bostock not just in the workplace but in health care, education, and other aspects of life.

It calls for barring transgender people from the military and to stop what it considers the toxic normalization of transgenderism across the government and American society. It seeks to abolish the presidents Gender Policy Council, which it views as promoting abortion and the new woke gender ideology, Accountable.US notes.

The next Health and Human Services secretary, Project 2025 recommends, should reverse what it calls a focus on LGBTQ+ equity, subsidizing single-motherhood, disincentivizing work, and penalizing marriage, replacing such policies with those encouraging marriage, work, motherhood, fatherhood, and nuclear families.

The Project 2025 playbook laments the fact that family policies and programs under President Bidens HHS are fraught with agenda items focusing on LGBTQ+ equity, making it clear that they intend to roll those agenda items back, Accountable.US explains.

It further calls for the Department of Justice to defend the First Amendment right of those who would discriminate against LGBTQ+ people. It also objects to the DOJ notifying states that their bans on abortion and medical services to transgender persons may violate federal law, Accountable.US reports.

On foreign policy, Project 2025 says a new conservative president should dismantle and U.S. Agency for International Development programs that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, such as what it dubs the bullying LGBTQ+ agenda.

Project 2025s anti-LGBTQ+ policy recommendations are sweeping  affecting agencies throughout the federal government and even past Supreme Court rulings, the Accountable.US summary concludes. In no uncertain terms, Project 2025 and its allies intend to slash LGBTQ+ equity advancements in favor of what they claim is life and strengthening the family.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. German law enforcement agencies have nabbed three individuals - citizens of Russia, Ukraine, and Armenia - under the suspicion of being in cahoots with foreign intelligence, Trend reports.

Furthermore, it is noted that the trio was acting in Germany under the radar of foreign intelligence to gather intelligence on individuals from Ukraine.

However, the name of the country's intelligence agency remains unknown. After the suspects were taken into custody on June 19, a judge issued an arrest warrant for them on June 20.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
After 68 witnesses, the prosecution rested on Friday in the Karen Read murder trial.

The defense began its presentation to the jury after the judge denied their request to immediately find Read not guilty.

Attorneys Alan Jackson and David Yanetti began with a plow driver  Brian Lucky Loughran.

Live video: Defense in Karen Read murder trial starts calling witnesses after prosecution rests

Loughran works for the town of Canton and was plowing overnight on January 29, 2022.

He says his route takes him right by 34 Fairview Road  the house John OKeefes body was found on the lawn of.

The prosecution says Karen Read struck OKeefe around 12:45 a.m. with her SUV  and his body was on the lawn until about six that morning.

Heres why Loughlin is important: He says he passed by 34 Fairview Road at 2:45 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. and claims there was no body.

When you make that first pass by that residence at 245 in the morning, sir, with your headlights on, Attorney David Yannetti asked, What, if anything, did you see on the front lawn in the area of the flagpole? "

I saw nothing, Loughlin replied.

If there had been a six-foot-two, 200-pound man lying in the snow there, would you have seen it? Yannetti inquired.

Prosecutor Adam Lally objected to this and Judge Beverly Cannone sustained the objection.

During a later trip to the neighborhood, Loughlin testified that he saw something unusual outside 34 Fairview Road. He says he saw what he describes as a Ford Edge parked near the flag pole and he drove around it.

In previous testimony, the jury heard that the then-owner of 34 Fairview, Brian Albert, owns a Ford Edge.

Prosecutor Lally suggested Loughlins story has changed over the years  and his testimony is not reliable.

There is a full week of testimony expected next week, although Yannetti tells Boston 25 Investigative Reporter Ted Daniel with only three witnesses to call, the defense could wrap by the end of the day on Monday.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Prosecutor Accused of Stealing Money for Crime Victims to Buy Pillow, Pillowcase and Other Items

Georgia county prosecutor Stephanie Woodard was indicted on 24 counts of theft and fraud, the Attorney General announced

Hall County Sheriffas Office Stephanie Woodard

A Georgia county prosecutor has been indicted and accused of stealing taxpayer funds to pay for personal expenses including buying a Target pillow and pillowcase she claimed was for a crime victim, according to the Georgia Attorney Generals Office.

On June 18, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced in a news release that Hall County Solicitor General Stephanie Woodard was indicted on 11 counts of theft by taking and 13 counts of false statements and writings. She denies the allegations.

Woodard, who is an elected official, allegedly claimed that she used some of the money to pay for items for crime victims, the Attorney General said in the release.

She allegedly bought some items with a credit card issued by the county, according to the release.

Woodard was released without having to post bail after a court hearing on June 18, the Associated Press and WYFF 4 report.



In a statement to PEOPLE, Woodard's attorneys, Marissa Goldberg and Drew Finding, said, "Ms. Woodard has been a dedicated public servant for the past 16 years, as the elected Solicitor General on behalf of the people of Hall County.

"She has been deeply committed to the plight of victims, particularly those in domestic violence situations, and has been focused on the recovery and stability for citizens and families, including defendants under her purview.

"The decision by the Attorney Generals Office to institute charges against her in this absurd indictment is unfathomable and a waste of court time and taxpayer dollars. She absolutely committed no crime, but yet she has been viciously pursued by the GBI for years," the statement continues. It later adds: "We do not say this lightly- the misguided Attorney Generals Office is utterly and provably wrong here."

In his lengthy release about the indictment, Carr laid out the allegations against Woodard, stating that "On several occasions from July 2018 through September 2022, Woodard is alleged to have unlawfully acquired funds from Hall County and the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia (PAC) to cover personal and unrelated expenses.

The indictment contains a number of travel expenditures for which Woodard is alleged to have obtained reimbursement for expenses she had previously submitted to PAC or had never actually incurred, the release states. "To support these purchases, the defendant is alleged to have made false statements and falsified documents, including receipts," it says.

In June 2022, the Attorney General alleges, the defendant made a false statement that a receipt from the restaurant First Watch was an expense for abuse awareness and then took funds from Hall County, the release states.

In August 2022, the defendant allegedly used her Hall County P-Card to make a purchase related to Law School Admissions, according to the release. The defendant then made false statements and writings that the registration and receipt from the Law School Admissions Council were for a victim in a local youth program.

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In July 2021, Woodard allegedly made a false statement that a reimbursement request was for a dog cremation for an old magistrate court case and then took funds from Hall County, according to the release.

In September 2022, she allegedly used her Hall County P-Card to make a purchase at Target, the release states. The defendant then made a false writing that a pillow and pillow case were for a victim.

Carr stated in the release that Those elected to uphold the law must operate honestly, ethically and transparently, and anything less undermines our system.

Theft of taxpayer dollars and falsifying documents to cover up that theft are entirely unacceptable.

This case was investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

The Attorney Generals announcement came after an investigation into the alleged theft in 2022 by the Fox 5 I-Team.



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Read the original article on People.
Sen. Bob Menendez saw his fortunes climb even before Fred Daibes snagged a $95 million investment from a Qatari royal for a planned development along the Hudson River, according to testimony Thursday in his federal bribery trial in Manhattan.

Over several months in 2021 and early 2022, New Jerseys senior senator researched the value of gold and luxury watches online while his wife scheduled tours of multi-million-dollar mansions for sale in Alpine and Englewood Cliffs and accepted a gifted lounge chair and Formula 1 race tickets for her son.

At the center of it all was Daibes, acting so much like Santa Claus that Nadine Menendez texted him: Thank you. Christmas in January.

On the 21st day of Menendezs trial Thursday, prosecutors focused on Daibes and their claims that he schemed to hook Qatari investors by bribing Menendez to publicly praise the small Arab country on the Persian Gulf.

Manhattan, NY  October 18, 2023 -- Fred Daibes, involved in the bribery case involving Sen. Bob Menendez enters the Federal Courthouse in lower Manhattan for a hearing on corruption charges.

Jurors heard from FBI special agent Paul Van Wie, who laid out a timeline of texts, calls, encrypted messages, and other communications that show Menendez connected Daibes with Sheikh Sultan bin Jassim Al Thani, a member of Qatars royal family, and Ali Al Thawadi, the sheikhs chief of staff. The sheikh heads the largest construction and real estate company in Qatar and advises the emir on investments in the U.S., testimony showed.

When the sheikhs investment adviser learned Daibes had been federally charged in a 2018 bank fraud case and urged the sheikh to reconsider, Menendez called and met with the sheikh and other Qatari officials in what prosecutors suggested was an attempt to smooth things over.

I hope that this will result in the favorable and mutually beneficial agreement that you both have been engaged in discussing, Menendez wrote to bin Jassim in an encrypted WhatsApp message in January 2022.

To sweeten the deal for the Qataris, prosecutors say Menendez shepherded a resolution praising Qatars humanitarian work through the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which he then chaired, and issued a related press release that he forwarded to Daibes first, texts showed.

You might want to send it to them. I am just about to release, the senator told Daibes.

Daibes did just that, assuring the Qatari officials our mutual friend would issue it within days.

At last, the sheikh responded.

Its very good, his chief of staff agreed.

In May 2022, Daibes and Heritage Advisers, a London-based investment firm the sheikh founded, signed a $190 million deal, with the sheikh footing half of it, according to documents Van Wie presented.

Many of the messages and documents Van Wie presented Thursday, under questioning by prosecutor Paul Monteleoni, seemed intended to prove the quid pro quo part of their argument  revealing the bribes the Menendezes allegedly accepted for the senators intervention and influence.

One exchange showed Daibes connected Nadine Menendez with the Tenafly real estate agent who scheduled tours for her of two homes priced at over $4 million.

Another showed that Menendez himself asked Al Thawadi for the Formula 1 tickets, saying Nadine Menendezs son and his fiancee wanted them.

Thank you. He is thrilled and so is his mother, the senator texted Al Thawadi after receiving the tickets.

United States Senator Bob Menendez (center), arrives at Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse where he will be on trial for bribery and corruption charges. The jury selection for the trial is expected to start today, Monday, May 13, 2024.

Defense attorney Avi Weitzman cast doubt on some testimony, like prosecutors claim that Daibes gave Menendez a new recliner as a bribe when the senator struggled to heal from a shoulder injury. Van Wie acknowledged under Weitzmans questioning that prosecutors didnt show jurors all of the Menendezes messages with others involved, including one text suggesting the recliner was a used loaner or hand-me-down.

That chair has saved so many people in our family! Daibes sister texted Nadine Menendez.

As for the luxury watches, Daibes shared screenshots of Patek Philippe watches ranging in price from about $10,000 to almost $30,000 with Menendez in 2021, asking which he liked, Van Wie testified. But prosecutors offered no receipts or messages proving a purchase occurred, and investigators found no such watches during a June 2022 search of the couples Englewood Cliffs home, testimony showed.

According to the federal indictment, Sen. Bob Menendez allegedly made public statements supporting Qatar and after attending a private event hosted by the Qatari government, developer Fred Daibes sent Menendez a picture of a luxury watch website.

Earlier Thursday, prosecutors focused on Menendezs effort to derail the U.S. Attorneys Offices 2018 bank fraud probe of Daibes.

He is FIXATED on it, Nadine Menendez assured Daibes by text.

Philip Sellinger, New Jerseys U.S. attorney, previously told jurors that Menendez asked him to look at prosecutors handling of Daibes case and ended their longtime friendship when Sellinger reported he had a conflict of interest, prompting his Department of Justice bosses to recuse him from the case in December 2021. The recusal left Sellingers first assistant, Vikas Khanna, in charge of Daibes case.

Menendez co-defendants: Jose Uribe's sentencing set for Oct. 29; Fred Daibes bank fraud trial also scheduled

Thursday, Van Wie presented documents and messages showing that Menendez subsequently researched and communicated with Khanna. The documents also showed that Menendez admonished Daibes attorney on a January 2022 phone call for being a wuss and not pushing the U.S. Attorneys Office aggressively enough to dismiss the case, and that Daibes rejected two plea offers before prosecutors agreed in February 2022 to Daibes request for probation.

He is an amazing friend, and as loyal as they come, Daibes gushed about the senator in an email to Nadine Menendez.

The trial is expected to resume Monday morning, with cross-examination of Van Wie continuing and Khanna and Sarah Arkin, a Senate Foreign Relations Committee staffer, taking the stand.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story misidentified Sheikh Sultan bin Jassim Al Thani.

This story was originally published by the New Jersey Monitor, for which Dana DeFilippo is a staff writer. The New Jersey Monitor is part of States Newsroom, the nations largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Bob Menendez trial: Prosecutors shift focus to Qatar
Fred Daibes, an Edgewater developer, right, leaving the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse in Manhattan after pleading not guilty to federal corruption charges on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. (Aristide Economopoulos for New Jersey Monitor)

Sen. Bob Menendez saw his fortunes climb even before Fred Daibes snagged a $95 million investment from a Qatari royal for a planned development along the Hudson River, according to testimony Thursday in his federal bribery trial in Manhattan.

Over several months in 2021 and early 2022, New Jerseys senior senator researched the value of gold and luxury watches online while his wife scheduled tours of multimillion-dollar mansions for sale in Alpine and Englewood Cliffs and accepted a gifted lounge chair and Formula 1 race tickets for her son.

At the center of it all was Daibes, acting so much like Santa Claus that Nadine Menendez texted him: Thank you. Christmas in January.

On the 21st day of Menendezs trial Thursday, prosecutors focused on Daibes and their claims that he schemed to hook Qatari investors by bribing Menendez to publicly praise the small Arab country on the Persian Gulf.

Jurors heard from FBI special agent Paul Van Wie, who laid out a timeline of texts, calls, encrypted messages, and other communications that show Menendez connected Daibes with Sheikh Sultan bin Jassim Al Thani, whose brother is Qatars emir, and Ali Al Thawadi, the sheikhs chief of staff. The sheikh heads the largest construction and real estate company in Qatar and advises the emir on investments in the U.S., testimony showed.

When the sheikhs investment adviser learned Daibes had been federally charged in a 2018 bank fraud case and urged the sheikh to reconsider, Menendez called and met with the sheikh and other Qatari officials in what prosecutors suggested was an attempt to smooth things over.

I hope that this will result in the favorable and mutually beneficial agreement that you both have been engaged in discussing, Menendez wrote to bin Jassim in an encrypted WhatsApp message in January 2022.

To sweeten the deal for the Qataris, prosecutors say Menendez shepherded a resolution praising Qatars humanitarian work through the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which he then chaired, and issued a related press release that he forwarded to Daibes first, texts showed.

You might want to send it to them. I am just about to release, the senator told Daibes.

Daibes did just that, assuring the Qatari officials our mutual friend would issue it within days.

At last, the sheikh responded.

Its very good, his chief of staff agreed.

In May 2022, Daibes and Heritage Advisers, a London-based investment firm the sheikh founded, signed a $190 million deal, with the sheikh footing half of it, according to documents Van Wie presented.

Many of the messages and documents Van Wie presented Thursday, under questioning by prosecutor Paul Monteleoni, seemed intended to prove the quid pro quo part of their argument  revealing the bribes the Menendezes allegedly accepted for the senators intervention and influence.

One exchange showed Daibes connected Nadine Menendez with the Tenafly real estate agent who scheduled tours for her of two homes priced at over $4 million.

Another showed that Menendez himself asked Al Thawadi for the Formula 1 tickets, saying Nadine Menendezs son and his fiancee wanted them.

Thank you. He is thrilled and so is his mother, the senator texted Al Thawadi after receiving the tickets.

Defense attorney Avi Weitzman cast doubt on some testimony, like prosecutors claim that Daibes gave Menendez a new recliner as a bribe when the senator struggled to heal from a shoulder injury. Van Wie acknowledged under Weitzmans questioning that prosecutors didnt show jurors all of the Menendezes messages with others involved, including one text suggesting the recliner was a used loaner or hand-me-down.

That chair has saved so many people in our family! Daibes sister texted Nadine Menendez.

As for the luxury watches, Daibes shared screenshots of Patek Philippe watches ranging in price from about $10,000 to almost $30,000 with Menendez in 2021, asking which he liked, Van Wie testified. But prosecutors offered no receipts or messages proving a purchase occurred, and investigators found no such watches during a June 2022 search of the couples Englewood Cliffs home, testimony showed.

Earlier Thursday, prosecutors focused on Menendezs effort to derail the U.S. Attorneys Offices 2018 bank fraud probe of Daibes.

He is FIXATED on it, Nadine Menendez assured Daibes by text.

Philip Sellinger, New Jerseys U.S. attorney, previously told jurors that Menendez asked him to look at prosecutors handling of Daibes case and ended their longtime friendship when Sellinger reported he had a conflict of interest, prompting his Department of Justice bosses to recuse him from the case in December 2021. The recusal left Sellingers first assistant, Vikas Khanna, in charge of Daibes case.

Thursday, Van Wie presented documents and messages showing that Menendez subsequently researched and communicated with Khanna. The documents also showed that Menendez admonished Daibes attorney on a January 2022 phone call for being a wuss and not pushing the U.S. Attorneys Office aggressively enough to dismiss the case, and that Daibes rejected two plea offers before prosecutors agreed in February 2022 to Daibes request for probation.

He is an amazing friend, and as loyal as they come, Daibes gushed about the senator in an email to Nadine Menendez.

The trial is expected to resume Monday morning, with cross-examination of Van Wie continuing and Khanna and Sarah Arkin, a Senate Foreign Relations Committee staffer, taking the stand.

The post Prosecutors in Sen. Menendezs corruption trial shift focus to Qatar appeared first on New Jersey Monitor.
Smoke from the South Fork and Salt fires blots out the sun Tuesday along NM Highway 70 outside of Tilley, NM. (Photo by Danielle Prokop / Source NM)

Officials from many agencies responding to the unfolding natural disaster in southeast New Mexico have said an investigation is ongoing about the cause of the South Fork and Salt fires, including whether the blazes were caused by a human or nature.

When we got here we were told it was human-caused; we were also told it was lightning, but those sources were unconfirmed, not official, said Dave Shell, a spokesperson for the incident command team handling the fires since yesterday.

Still, publicly available information  including records approved by the incident commanders of both fires and lightning strike data provided to Source New Mexico  sheds new light on potential causes of the blazes, which have so far destroyed or damaged 1,400 structures and taken two lives.

Records from the Alamogordo Interagency Dispatch Center show a cluster of confirmed fire starts on June 16, 17 and 18. Among the cluster are two fire starts that incident commanders have listed as the ignition points of what became the deadly Salt and South Fork fires on June 17.

Officials in charge of the fire did not answer questions as to whether investigators are looking into the cluster of fire starts detected by the Alamogordo dispatch center as part of their search for the fires causes.

Additionally, incident commanders in daily update reports  known as ICS 209s  have listed human as the cause for both fires.

However, Lessa Peter, a spokesperson for the fire response team, told Source New Mexico on Thursday afternoon that the cause listed as human is an error. Its a result, she said, of an automated system incorrectly converting text entered as undetermined to human.

The fires cause is still very much under investigation, Peter and other officials stressed Thursday, including an initial determination about whether it was human-caused or natural. If it is human-caused, an investigation could take months or longer. The fires are still 0% contained.

The cause listed as human appears on the forms for both fires, two days in a row, according to a Source NM review. Other options available to include on those forms include Undetermined, and Natural/Lightning, according to the March 2023 user manual produced by the National Interagency Fire Center.

Incident commanders have also listed the cause being human in daily summaries provided by the Southwest Coordination Center since the South Fork and Salt fires started. Thats a case of the original error from the ICS 209 forms being repeated, Peter said.

Few lightning strikes in area

While there is no determination whether the fire was caused by human activity, data provided to Source NM shows there were few lightning strikes in the area in the days before the fire began.

There were about 100 lightning strikes in June in the area of the fires before the fires began, records show. However, the closest ones to the ignition sites struck the ground on June 7, 10 days before the fires started.

Those 16 strikes on June 7 were a mile or more from the ignition sites, according to data provided to Source New Mexico by Vaisala XWeather, a private company that uses sensors and proprietary technology to detect lightning strikes.

The company says its technology can detect cloud-to-ground lightning strikes within 100 meters of where the bolt struck earth, as well as determine the electrical power and how many pulses were in each bolt. The National Weather Service contracts with the company for its own lightning strike analyses in the Wisconsin service area.

Investigation ongoing

State officials with the governors office, State Forestry and the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management did not immediately answer a list of detailed questions Thursday.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham at a news conference this week cautioned the public against speculating on the fires causes as the disaster unfolds. She also said there had been reports of lightning in the area, stressing that much is still unknown about the fires origins.

Officials did not respond to a request for more details on the strikes she was referring to.

State officials said a team of six investigators, overseen by the Bureau of Land Management, is working diligently to determine the causes of the fires.

The fires were first detected on June 17 on the northeast corner of the Mescalero Apache Reservation, and high winds and dry conditions carried both quickly to the village of Ruidoso and the city of Ruidoso Downs, which are both under evacuation orders.

The fires, though covering an area of only about 35 square miles, are already among the most destructive in New Mexicos history, in terms of structures damaged or destroyed, the governor has said.

The Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire in 2022, for example, was more than 10 times the size in terms of area burned but damaged or destroyed fewer structures: about 1,000 compared with the 1,400 impacted this week.

Two people have died, according to New Mexico State Police, and rain that fell in the area yesterday caused floods that required at least two swiftwater rescues and untold additional damage.

Additional fire starts

Dispatch records show fire crews responded to fire starts between June 16 and June 18, including the two that became Salt and South Fork Fires, in a roughly 20-square-mile area in the Mescalero Apache Reservation.

The first fire in that cluster was on June 16 at 7:44 p.m. and was deemed the Trails Fire. Dispatcher notes say fire out, suggesting it was extinguished or out by the time resources arrived.

The next day, on June 17, dispatchers detected four other fires in the area, including the South Fork Fire at 7:08 a.m. Then three others were detected progressively south of there, beginning with the Carrizo Fire at 8:08 a.m. about five miles south.

At 12:43 p.m., about 2 miles southwest of the Carrizo Fire, the Penn Scott Fire was reported. Finally, at 2:20 p.m., the Salt Fire was detected about 2.3 miles east of the Penn Scott Fire.

The next day, June 18, at 10:49 a.m., the 244 Penn Scott Fire was detected, according to dispatch logs. Apart from the Salt and South Fork Fires, all the fires are listed as less than an acre in size.

All of those fires, according to Source New Mexico review of satellite imagery, appear to have started within 100 feet of trails or roads.

Dispatchers also detected two fires nearby the afternoon of June 14: The Chico Canyon Fire about 2 miles south of the Salt Fire ignition site, and the Snowflake Ridge Fire about 4 miles northeast of the South Fork ignition site.

The Snowflake Ridge Fire occurred within 670 feet of a lightning strike that occurred that same day, according to Vaisala data provided to Source New Mexico. Two lightning strikes June 7 occurred a mile or so from the Chico Canyon Fire, according to the data.

Vaisala detected 260 lightning strikes so far this month in a roughly 400-square mile area, per Source New Mexicos request  an area that more than covers the perimeters of both fires and stretches from the Sierra Blanca Peak in the northwest to 10 miles east of the edge of the Lincoln National Forest

The company detected about 100 strikes that lightning struck June 7, June 12, June 14 and June 15. Apart from the 16 strikes June 7, the rest of the strikes before the fires began hit far east of the ignition sites.

Another 160 or so lightning strikes were detected June 19, the day when 2 to 4 inches of rain fell on fire that was fully underway, adding the risk of lightning to an area already beleaguered by fire and water.

The post Public records and lightning data shed new light on Salt and South Fork fire origins appeared first on Source New Mexico.
Unlike multiple other crowded races for elected office in Washington state this year, the race for the Attorney Generals Office attracted only three candidates.

Those three candidates  all Washington attorneys with a host of varying litigation experience  will soon be narrowed down to two in the August primary. Those two will advance to the November general election.

The winner will replace Bob Ferguson, who has been the states Attorney General since 2012. Ferguson is giving up the seat to run for governor.

Heres what the three Attorney General candidates had to say in interviews with McClatchy.

Manka Dhingra

Manka Dhingra is the current Democratic Deputy Majority Leader of the Washington State Senate and has been in the Legislature since 2017 after being voted in during a special election that year. She is also a former Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with King County, she assisted in the creation of 40-hour crisis intervention training, and served on the Shoreline Police Departments Advisory Group for Response Awareness De-escalation and Referral.

Dhingra told McClatchy that her background in healthcare aligns perfectly with the needs of the AGs Office, and that it is important because of whats happening with hospital mergers as well as for developing an exit strategy for the states Trueblood lawsuit, which challenged delays in competency evaluations for people in jail.

And with a shortage of prosecutors and defense across the state, a lot of civil commitment work is going to have to fall on the shoulders of the Attorney Generals Office. Theyre going to have to step in and really make sure theyre being a partner, Dhingra said.

Dhingra also believes that her work in the Legislature negotiating with other Democrats and with Republicans will translate well to the work she would be doing at the AGs Office.

If elected, Dhingra said she would prioritize consumer protection laws, access to healthcare, and environmental protections.

Weve got to make sure we are holding polluters accountable, Dhingra said. ...I really do think we need to make sure were leaving the planet in a condition where the next generation and the generation after that can actually breathe the air and drink the water. I think it is critical to change that culture where companies are saying its OK to pollute the planet.

Dhingra said she also believes transparency is key in the AGs Office.

I think thats how you build trust in government, Dhingra said. ...I actually think it is a very positive thing to help build trust and relationships with the community. So to me, thats critical.

Dhingra has been endorsed by nearly every other current Democratic state Senator including Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig from Spokane, retiring Olympia Sen. Sam Hunt, and Tacoma Sen. Yasmin Trudeau.

Dhingra has collected more than $873,000 in donations, and has spent nearly $492,000 of that, according to the Public Disclosure Commission.

Nick Brown

Nick Brown is a former Army Judge Advocate General (JAG) Officer and Washington prosecuting attorney who was appointed to be general counsel for Gov. Jay Inslee. He was then appointed U.S. Attorney for Western Washington by President Joe Biden in 2021, a post he left in June 2023, shortly before he announced his run for state Attorney General.

Brown told McClatchy that, if elected, he looks forward to managing the states largest law firm to make it run more efficiently. He said he would like to see the office function at a higher level to make sure that the legal services and advice are doing better on behalf of Washingtonians.

He believes the AGs Office needs to be on the front line for issues that are nationally important, such as access to abortion and environmental issues.

Id like to see the AGs Office be more heavily involved in some of the public safety issues, Brown said. And that means helping the legislature craft good policies, trying to figure out all the ways that we can do the things that build sustainable safety, addressing the housing crisis  theres just a litany of things Id love to see the office continue to improve on.

Brown said the concerns hes heard from Washingtonians are consistent across the state: housing and homelessness, the impacts of fentanyl on communities, and general concerns about democracy.

Public safety issues are one of his major priorities, he said, but said law enforcement, prisons, and prosecution are just some of the tools, not the only tools, needed for public safety.

The things that make safety sustainable in my mind are things like housing and jobs, and an education system and a mental health and drug support system for people who are dealing with addiction or other issues, Brown said. And those are the things that make it sustainable. And those are also things that play a really important role and can play a larger role.

While Brown said he believes Washington state is transparent in many ways, there is room for improvement, such as making the records process more efficient.

I think the government, whether its the state government or local government, should always be trying to get better, Brown said.

Inslee has endorsed Brown, as have Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, and former Washington State Gov. Gary Locke.

Brown has raised the most in donations in the AGs race, with donations totaling more than $1.1 million. The campaign has spent over $464,000 of that so far.

Pete Serrano

Pete Serrano, the only Republican in the race, is the current mayor of Pasco and a former Pasco City Council member. Previously an environmental attorney who worked for the U.S. Department of Energy at the Hanford site, Serrano also co-founded the Silent Majority Foundation, a conservative non-profit currently engaged in a battle with the state over the high-capacity magazine ban in the Washington State V. Gators Custom Guns lawsuit.

As AG, Serrano told McClatchy one of his main focuses would be on environmental issues. He believes his background in environmental law makes him distinct from the other candidates in that respect.

I do think the Attorney Generals role could really advise on what is going to protect our environment and preserve it and allow us to utilize the natural resources in a good way, Serrano said.

Additionally, Serrano said he would be different from his opponents because he wants to see more criminal prosecution in the state.

I am here to make sure the streets are cleaned up, Im here to make sure the laws are enforced, and I will advise the legislature when they overstep their bounds, he said. Similarly, when agency overreach is afoot, I will peel that back.

Serrano acknowledged that he would be unquestionably different from the other candidates on the issue of gun control. He said he is not out to protect guns, but wants his team to analyze constitutional questions.

He is also against abortion, unlike his Democratic opponents, but told McClatchy that he would not violate abortion laws that have been in place in the state for decades. He also noted that he would not attack other states regarding their abortion laws.

In regards to transparency, Serrano said he would like to increase the number of public records officials in the Attorney Generals Office, and would make sure they knew to expedite the release of records.

I think the more public and open and transparent we are, the more trust that people have, he said. Thats what people want in their government. They want a body that they believe is looking for their best interests instead of just spending their money to make political plays.

Serrano has the endorsements of the Washington State GOP, many current and former Republican state lawmakers, and former Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward.

Serrano has raised over $162,000 so far for his campaign, and has spent over $115,000.
Putin claims South Korea will make "big mistake" if it provides weapons to Ukraine

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has stated that it would be a "big mistake" if South Korea provides lethal weapons to Ukraine after Seoul had suggested such a possibility in response to Russia's commitment to military cooperation with North Korea.

Source: Yonhap and Reuters with reference to Putins statement

Details: During a press conference in Vietnam, Putin responded to reports that South Korea would consider supplying weapons to Ukraine after he and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement.

Quote from Putin: "South Korea, the Republic of Korea has nothing to worry about because our military assistance under the treaty we signed only arises if aggression is carried out against one of the signatories. As far as I know, the Republic of Korea is not planning aggression against the DPRK (North Korea)."

"As for the supply of lethal weapons to the combat zone in Ukraine [by South Korea], it would be a very big mistake. I hope it will not happen. If it does, then we too will then make the respective decisions, which South Korea's current leadership is unlikely to be pleased with."

Details: Yonhap reiterated that South Korea's assistance to Ukraine has been limited to providing medical kits, medications, portable mine detectors and protective clothing, because the country was adhering to a policy of not supplying weapons.

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(Bloomberg) -- Russian President Vladimir Putins trip to Asia won him support to maintain his grinding war on Ukraine while alarming the US and allies such as South Korea, which is now considering supplying Kyiv with weapons that could change the battlefield.

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Putin returned to Russia after visits to North Korea and Vietnam that resulted in a military pact with Pyongyang that bound the two US adversaries even closer and raised the risks of military action on the Korean Peninsula.

Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un agreed Wednesday to come to each others defense if one is attacked. While it remains to be seen what the lasting impact of the visit will be, in the short term it will likely push Japan and South Korea to bolster their relationship and their bonds with the US, which have already become stronger over the past year. It also left China on the sidelines, an unusual position for North Koreas biggest benefactor.

President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol are likely to meet next month for a summit where the US is expected to reaffirm its commitment to extended deterrence, or the nuclear umbrella it provides for its Asian allies. Yet the message that Kims rule over North Korea would end if he tried to use nuclear weapons may be met with a new element of doubt.

If there is a contingency, the US president will have to think not only about North Koreas nuclear weapons, but about Russias nuclear weapons, so we can foresee a situation where US extended deterrence is weakened, said Tetsuo Kotani, professor of global studies at Meikai University. We cant assume everything is absolutely fine.

The US and its allies have accused Kim of sending millions of rounds of artillery and scores of ballistic missiles to Putin for his war on Ukraine. The weapons gained in prominence as Kyivs supplies dwindled due to the US Congress holding up new military aid. But with President Volodymyr Zelenskiys government now taking delivery of billions of dollars in fresh arms from its US and European allies, the window for a Russian breakthrough is narrowing.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a call with his South Korean counterpart that he condemned the deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, including ongoing arms transfers that violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions, the State Department said in a statement Friday. It said Blinken reaffirmed the vital importance of the ironclad alliance between the US and South Korea.

Kim hailed the deal with Russia as the most powerful treaty signed between the two countries, but Putin was more cautious in his wording. I would like to underline that this agreement is not something new, Putin said in Vietnam, adding the deal had the same wording as an agreement from the early 1960s.

Putin also downplayed any speculation North Korea could send troops to join the fight in Ukraine, saying no one asked about it and no one offered it.

Seoul responded to the deal by saying its considering whether to end its ban on sending lethal weapons to Ukraine. Japan is unlikely to follow suit, Kotani of Meikai University said, but the pact sparked a flurry of diplomatic activity.

Both countries and the US denounced the deal as well as the arms transfers, which they say violate United Nations Security Council resolutions. Japanese and South Korean foreign ministers held a call to share their concerns over the pact, and both countries announced more Russia-related sanctions. The South Korean government summoned Russias ambassador to make a formal protest, while Japans Defense Minister reiterated that US nuclear deterrence is indispensable.

Artillery Supplies

The Koreas have two of the worlds largest artillery forces, with thousands of large caliber guns pointed at each other. Their stockpiles of shells include North Korean ones that are inter-operable with Soviet-era artillery that Russia has deployed to the front-lines in its war. South Korean 155 millimeter caliber shells meanwhile are the standard used by the NATO countries supplying Ukraine.

South Korea has completed a review of the steps that would be taken for sending weapons to Ukraine with its 155 mm artillery shells likely at the top of the list, South Koreas Yonhap News reported, adding the stock is estimated at over 3 million shells. Seoul may be less worried about depleting its inventory after seeing North Korea drawing down theirs by sending to Russia what Seoul believes to be more than 4 million shells.

While South Koreas current policy prohibits sending lethal aid to nations at war, that hasnt stopped its arms makers from selling weapons to Ukraines European neighbors. Exports have surged since Russias full scale invasion of Ukraine, mostly to buyers seeking to replace Soviet-era weaponry with higher tech arms from the Asian country.

Despite the increased unease, the trip may not have changed the balance of power in the region, said Rachel Minyoung Lee, a senior fellow with the 38 North Program at the Stimson Center.

What we just saw are two internationally isolated countries formalizing cooperation across various areas, much of which has the potential to violate sanctions, for example North Korea-Russia cooperation on space and peaceful nuclear energy, Lee said.

China still looms large, and the US alliances with South Korea and Japan and US-South Korea-Japan security cooperation remain intact, said Lee who worked as an analyst for the CIAs Open Source Enterprise for almost two decades. North Korea has won itself an extra protection cover against its external threats, namely the US, South Korea, and perhaps even China, she added.

--With assistance from Isabel Reynolds, Yoshiaki Nohara, Youkyung Lee and Larry Liebert.

(Updates with Blinkens statement in seventh paragraph)

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(Bloomberg) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he cant exclude providing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un with high-precision weapons in response to Western military assistance for Ukraine.

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We reserve the right to supply arms in other regions of the world, Putin said late Thursday at a press conference in Hanoi. Bearing in mind our agreements with the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, I dont rule this out.

The two leaders signed a deal Wednesday to provide immediate military aid if one of them is attacked, rekindling an agreement dating back to the Cold War when the Soviet Union was a main backer for Pyongyang. Kim said the agreement elevated relations with Russia to an alliance.

The pact, dubbed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty, also says Russia and North Korea will work together to strengthen their defense capabilities, while expanding cooperation in trade and investment.

The warning is likely to unnerve the US and its partners and ratchet up tensions. It also raises the risks for Western countries responding to provocations from Moscow and Pyongyang.

Westerners give arms to Ukraine and say we dont control how they are used afterward, Putin told reporters in response to a question on the provision of advanced arms. We can also say the same.

South Korea, earlier on Thursday, said it would reevaluate its policy of prohibiting the export of lethal aid to countries such as Ukraine and expressed concern over the pact between Moscow and Pyongyang. Putin told reporters that it would be a mistake for South Korea to provide weapons to Kyiv.

The US, South Korea and Japan have accused Kims regime of sending munitions and ballistic missiles to aid Putin in his war on Ukraine. Moscow and Pyongyang have denied the arms transfers despite ample evidence showing them taking place.

Putin also said Russia was considering changes in its nuclear doctrine in response to discussions in the West about lowering the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons and the development of less powerful arms. Russia recently held combat drills to practice the use of tactical nuclear weapons.

The Russian leader has repeatedly brandished the threat to use nuclear weapons since the start of his February 2022 invasion, drawing condemnation from the US and its North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies.

Still, Putin said Russia doesnt need to introduce the idea of a so-called preventative strike. In a retaliatory strike, the enemy will be guaranteed to be destroyed, he said.

Putin was in North Korea on his first visit in 24 years before traveling to Vietnam.

(Updates with additional comments from Putin from the ninth paragraph.)

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Putin threatens to arm North Korea if the West continues to supply weapons to Ukraine

Vladimir Putin has threatened to arm North Korea if Western countries continue providing military aid to Ukraine, as the Russia presidents new defense pact with Pyongyang sparked a series of diplomatic reverberations in the region.

Putins remarks, at the end of a state visit to Vietnam, capped off a week in which Moscow sought to rattle the West and project strength from a part of the world in which his influence still carries weight.

Those who supply these weapons believe that they are not at war with us. I said, including in Pyongyang, that we then reserve the right to supply weapons to other regions of the world, Putin told reporters Thursday at the end of his trip to Hanoi, in response to a question on whether the supply of Western long-range weapons could be considered an act of aggression.

Where they will go next? he said, suggesting those countries could then sell the weapons to Western adversaries.

The US called Putins remarks incredibly concerning in a briefing on Friday.

It would destabilize the Korean Peninsula, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters, and depending on the type of weapons they provide, might violate UN Security Council resolutions that Russia itself has supported.

Russia and North Koreas signing of a mutual defense pact this week sent ripples out across the region, with South Korea summoning Moscows envoy on Friday, and Japan and the United States voicing serious concern.

The defense pact, which comes against the backdrop of Putins grinding war against Ukraine, is the most significant agreement signed by Russia and North Korea in decades and is seen as something of a revival of their 1961 Cold War-era mutual defense pledge.

The deal was inked on Wednesday during Putins trip to Pyongyang, where he received a lavish welcome from fellow autocrat Kim Jong Un, North Koreas leader.

It consolidates the Kim regimes powerful link with a world power that wields a veto on the UN Security Council and means Russia now has a defense pact with South Koreas biggest enemy.

South Korea, a US ally, condemned the treaty and summoned Russias ambassador on Friday, a rare diplomatic step that illustrates the soured tensions between Seoul and Moscow.

First Vice Minister Kim Hong-kyun relayed the South Korean governments stern position on Kim and Putins defense pact, urging Moscow to immediately halt military cooperation with Pyongyang and abide by UN Security Council resolutions, the Foreign Ministry said.

Kim told the Russian ambassador that any cooperation that could directly or indirectly help reinforce the North Korean military power is a violation of the UN Security Council resolution, adding that Russia, a permanent member of the UNSC, should act responsibly, according to the ministry.

An official of the US military, which maintains almost 30,000 troops in South Korea, told CNN the closer Russia-North Korea ties were troubling.

These developments should concern any country that cares about maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, abiding by UN Security Council resolutions, and supporting the people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom and independence against Russias brutal invasion, the military official said.

New threats

Putin flew to Vietnam on Thursday where he renewed threats towards both Western powers and their partners in Asia.

Speaking to Russian journalists at the end of the visit he accused NATO of creating a threat for Russia in Asia.

And we see whats happening in Asia, right? The bloc system is being cobbled together in Asia. NATO is already moving there as a permanent place of residence. This, of course, creates a threat for all countries in the region, including the Russian Federation. We are obliged to respond to this and will do so, Putin said.

Putin warned South Korea on Thursday it would be making a very big mistake if it decided to supply arms to Ukraine, claiming Seoul has nothing to worry about concerning the new strategic partnership signed by Russia and North Korea.

As far as I know, the Republic of Korea does not plan aggression against the DPRK, which means there is no need to be afraid of our cooperation in this area, he said.

But at the same time, senior Russian government officials were warning that Moscow planned to send weapons to North Korea.

I wonder what the people of this country (South Korea) will say when they see the latest Russian weapons from their closest neighbors  our partners from the DPRK? senior Russian official Dmitry Medvedev said in a post on Telegram.

US and South Korean forces hold regular exercises and training in and around the Korean Peninsula, and the two allies have been working more closely with Japan, including recent exercises involving forces from all three countries.

National Security Director Chang Ho-jin said South Korea would review the issue of arms provision to Ukraine, but he also noted that Seoul was willing to wait for the Russian governments explanation of the results of the meeting between Putin and Kim Jong Un.

Currently, South Koreas policy is not to provide lethal weapons to Ukraine.

When later asked about those comments, Putin said: As for the supply of lethal weapons to the combat zone in Ukraine, this would be a very big mistake. I hope that this will not happen. If this happens, then we will also make appropriate decisions, which are unlikely to please the current leadership of South Korea.

Ukrainian soldiers with the 57th Motorized Brigade operate at an artillery position on June 9, 2024 near Vovchansk, Kharkiv Region, Ukraine. - Nikoletta Stoyanova/Getty Images

Reports from earlier in the war say South Korea may have provided 155mm artillery shells to the United States to replace 155mm rounds sent to Ukraine.

A recent report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said South Koreas stockpile of 105mm howitzer rounds could give Ukraine an important battlefield boost if it were released to Kyiv.

Public reports suggest South Korea has around 3.4 million 105mm artillery shells, the CSIS report said.

Ukraine has about 100 105mm artillery pieces, the report said.

During the Vietnam War, these lighter howitzers proved indispensable in firebases, given their high mobility by road and air. Their light weight and mobility would allow Ukrainian artillery units to relocate quickly after firing, a crucial tactic for survivability on the modern battlefield. These howitzers would also allow Ukrainian battlefield commanders to conduct attacks on rough terrain against high-value targets, the CSIS report said

Earlier on Thursday, Japans Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi also expressed strong concern about the agreement signed by Russia and North Korea.

The fact that Putin did not rule out military-technical cooperation with North Korea, which could be a direct violation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, is a point of serious concern from the perspective of its possible impact on the security environment surrounding our country, Hayashi said in a press conference.

CNNs Hanako Montgomery and Mike Valerio contributed to this report.

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When global problems arise, those who bear the main responsibility for what happened are the first to search for the perpetrators. This is usually the case. Let's recall the noisy search for those responsible for the coronavirus pandemic and calls for sanctions and other punishments against the allegedly guilty party. Public opinion has been sidelined and focused on who was found guilty rather than on the essence of the issue. Today, hardly anyone remembers what happened or how it was. The main thing is that it's over. Pandemics tend to end. No matter how long they drag on and no matter how many lives they take, they eventually stop.



In addition to finding the wrong person, the most memorable moment of the first coronavirus year was the division of the world into conditional "whites" and "others", that is, into countries that had money to buy vaccines and other protective equipment, and those who did not have this money. The former hoped to isolate themselves from the latter and sit out the pandemic. Until smart people explained that without investing in saving the "other world", the pandemic will never end.



The same can be observed in connection with the climate crisis and the processes taking place around it. The search for the culprit is underway again and there are calls for ill-considered actions.



Climate change is indeed a very serious problem. According to forecasts, by the end of the century, the temperature on the planet may rise by 2.4 degrees. Previous forecasts were optimistic and assumed a decrease in global temperatures by 45 percent by 2030. Now, by this time, warming to 1.5 degrees is predicted. This will entail the melting of glaciers, the disappearance of some species of flora and fauna, and a blow to food security for most of the world's population. According to forecasts, by 2050, a third of the glaciers on the UNESCO World Heritage List may disappear.



As noted in the address to the participants of the 29th High-level Meeting on the theme "The Road to COP29: a sustainable and lasting future" by President Ilham Aliyev, we have less and less time to mobilize the efforts of the international community to take joint urgent measures and urgent steps to keep global warming at 1.5 degrees.



"At COP29, which will be organized in Baku, negotiations will be held to agree on a new collective quantitative goal on climate finance for the period after 2025. Agreeing on a new collective quantitative goal to meet the growing financial needs of developing countries related to climate change is the main task facing all of us, an investment in our common future, our collective responsibility to present and future generations. Azerbaijan will take all necessary measures to advance these negotiations in an environment of transparency and inclusiveness, and accelerate the fulfillment of previously undertaken commitments and promises. At the same time, one of the priority issues on the agenda of our COP29 presidency will be solving the problems faced by small island developing States, which are most susceptible to the negative effects of climate change," the Head of state said.



President of COP29, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan Mukhtar Babayev also spoke at the forum of the youth organization of the Non-Aligned Movement in Baku about the importance of solving the issue of financial resources for building a world resistant to climate change. Among the main topics of the COP29 will be the development of national adaptation plans reflecting ways to ensure the country's resilience to the effects of climate change.



The main result of the COP28 in Dubai was the presence in the decision of the conference of a direct appeal regarding the abandonment of fossil fuels. The UN Secretary General even called for a complete and urgent abandonment of fossil fuels and challenged OPEC countries that this would happen, "whether they want it or not." The world cannot afford delays, indecision or half measures, Antonio Guterres said.

Such statements gave rise to demagogic speeches and, to some extent, led the discourse into the wilds of useless disputes. Azerbaijan, represented by its leader, has already given a reasoned answer. It can be said that Baku is responsible for all the producing countries on which the developed world, which is the largest consumer of oil and gas, is trying to hold responsible for climate change.



Meanwhile, no one has the answers to the main questions. Namely, how to deal with the majority of the world, which is not able to cope with the consequences of the climate crisis on its own and adapt to the changed conditions. He will be in charge at COP29 in Baku.



A few years ago, the German environmental organization Germanwatch conducted a study on the damage caused to the countries of the world by climate change. Studies have shown that Honduras, Haiti, Myanmar, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Vietnam, Thailand and the Dominican Republic were the most affected. Among the industrialized countries, France, Portugal and Germany were the most affected. According to experts, from 1997 to 2016, more than 11 thousand extreme weather events were the direct cause of death of more than 520 thousand people worldwide, and economic damage amounted to about 3.16 trillion dollars.



The report by German environmentalists emphasized that small island states are more affected by climate change than others. In addition, nine of the ten countries most affected by climate change over the past 20 years are developing countries with low GDP indicators.



Last year, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) published a report on the state of the climate in Africa in 2022. According to the report, in 2022, more than 110 million people were directly affected by weather, climate and water-related hazards in Africa, with damage amounting to more than $8.5 billion. According to the International Emergency Database, 5,000 people have died, half of them due to drought and the other half due to floods.





According to experts, these are only official statistics, but the true number of victims should be much higher. At the same time, according to WMO experts, Africa accounts for less than 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. That is, the African continent is responsible for climate change on the planet by less than one tenth, but due to the low standard of living and poverty, its constituent countries cannot withstand negative natural phenomena. According to a study published in Nature Sustainability, the average African produces 0.6 tons of CO2 annually, while the average American produces 14.5 tons.





The authors of the study found that the average carbon footprint of the richest 1 percent of the countries was more than 75 times higher than that of underdeveloped countries. At the same time, Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan, which are extremely affected by climate problems, are responsible for only 0.1 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions.



In April of this year, the effects of climate change were felt by the countries of the Persian Gulf. Heavy rainfall and flooding swept the entire region. Oman and the United Arab Emirates were particularly affected. 32 people were killed, 19 of them in Oman. Water flooded southeastern Iran, Yemen, Bahrain, Qatar and eastern Saudi Arabia. Such intense precipitation (an annual norm fell per day) and floods are very rare in this region, but the countries located here are able to take care of themselves, eliminate the consequences, and compensate the population for losses. The same cannot be said about most African countries and small island states, which the "metropolises" remember only on occasion. Experts expect that the effects of climate change will be felt especially acutely in these territories. To avoid this, large funds are required.





The lack of financing promised by rich countries to adapt to climate change in poor countries is an issue that is constantly on the agenda of UN climate conferences, but is not being resolved. Poor countries suffer the most from the effects of the crisis, despite the fact that almost half of the carbon footprint accounts for one percent of the most affluent part of the world. According to the UN, at least $200 billion can really help solve the problems of adaptation of the poorest countries. During the COP15 in 2009, the "white" camp agreed to allocate 100 billion per year to the developing camp by 2020 to counter climate change, but this level was not reached.



Meanwhile, the real damage from climate change exceeds $300 billion. Oxfam (Oxford) experts estimated it at this amount. Many analysts draw attention to the fact that the West is trying to portray a favor that it is doing to poor countries by allocating some funds in connection with the climate crisis. Although no one will deny that the states of the developed world are to blame for the current situation. In addition, funds are often allocated on the lender's own terms, for example, with the condition of purchasing equipment and materials only from the party allocating the money, although a poor country receiving a loan could buy all this much cheaper elsewhere.





The allocated funds are actually returned, and doubly so. This is an unfair approach, pursuing not so much the fight against the crisis as its own economic interests.

The fight for climate is a very important mission that has fallen to those who make decisions on the planet today. These decisions must be verified and fair. During its presidency, Azerbaijan will try to do everything in its power to ensure that the decisions taken are exactly like this.






BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. The II round in Group D of EURO-2024 has started today, Trend reports via Idman.biz.

Poland met with Austria. The meeting was held in Berlin.

Both sides fought for the first 3 points in the duel between the teams that lost in the last round.

France and the Netherlands will meet in the other match of the tour to be held today.

EURO-2024

Group stage, second round

June 21, group D

20:00. Poland - Austria - 1:3

Goals: Krzysztof Piatek, 30 - Gernot Trauner, 9. Christoph Baumgartner, 66. Marko Arnautovich, 78 (pen.)
Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened Thursday to send weapons to North Korea if South Korea delivers arms to Ukraine, as international tensions spike following a new treaty between Moscow and Pyongyang.

Speaking to reporters in Hanoi, Vietnam, after visiting North Korea and cementing the treaty with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that includes a mutual defense pact, Putin said South Korea has nothing to worry about so long as it didnt invade Pyongyang.

As for the supply of lethal weapons to the combat zone in Ukraine, this would be a very big mistake, he said. I hope this doesnt happen. If this happens, then we, too, will make appropriate decisions that are unlikely to please the current leadership of South Korea.

South Korea on Thursday blasted the treaty between Russia and North Korea, which stipulates that the nations will defend each other in the event of an attack. Seouls presidential office spokesperson warned that it was reviewing its arms transfer policy for Ukraine, according to media reports.

South Korea has an export policy of only providing nonlethal aid to other nations, but as a major U.S. ally, it has supported Kyiv with pickup trucks and other equipment.

Putins meeting with Kim was a major blow to the U.S., as both countries deepened an alliance that was formed last year when North Korea began supplying artillery shells to Russia in return for food and critical technology for its space and missile programs.

The Putin-Kim meeting came not just amid the war in Ukraine but also as tensions are boiling over between North Korea and South Korea, which have been in a frozen conflict since war ended in the 1950s.

A 2018 military agreement that had seen both North Korean and South Korean forces pull back certain equipment from the border has now been abandoned, with Seoul resuming its campaign of blaring messages on loudspeakers across the demilitarized border.

North Korea has sent balloons filled with trash across the border in response to South Korean leaflets being dropped in its country, while Kim continues to launch spy satellites and test missiles, and the U.S. and Seoul ramp up military exercises on the Korean Peninsula.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Insights from The Chosun Daily, BBC, and The New York Times

The News

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned South Korea against sending arms to Ukraine days after signing a defense pact with Pyongyang.

Putin also said that Moscow had not ruled out sending arms to North Korea, a move that Washington called incredibly concerning.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Seoul has faced criticism for equivocating on weapons

Sources: The Chosun Daily, BBC

Seoul has been weighing the possibility of shipping arms to Kyiv  a first for the nation, which has so far only offered Ukraine humanitarian aid. Putin said Seoul would be making a big mistake if it decided to do so, adding he will then make decisions which are unlikely to please the current leadership of South Korea. Seoul has been criticized for not offering Ukraine more support, Korean outlet The Chosun Daily reported. A former high-ranking member of the South Korean government told the outlet that it is as if our government has been blindsided by Russia.

Russian foreign policy guided solely by war

Source: The New York Times

Putin has repeatedly warned the West against increasing shipments of weapons to Ukraine: On Thursday, he said he was willing to send arms to North Korea if Western nations continued to supply aid to Kyiv. Washington and Seoul have alleged that Pyongyang has supplied 11,000 shipping containers full of munitions to Moscow, a partnership that would help Russia circumvent the pressures of Western sanctions. Both countries deny any exchange of weapons, and such a trade would violate sanctions on North Korea by the United Nations. The partnership marks a drastic change in Russian foreign policy, which is adapting to the costs of the war in Ukraine: Moscow previously supported efforts to curb North Koreas weapons development, The New York Times noted.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned South Korea against supplying weapons to Ukraine, saying it would be a "very big mistake." Putin made the comments at a press conference during a state visit to Vietnam on Thursday. Kremlin Pool Photo by Gavriil Grigorov/Sputnik/EPA-EFE

SEOUL, June 21 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin warned South Korea against directly supplying weapons to Ukraine for its battle against Moscow's invasion, saying it would be a "very big mistake."

Putin made the comment when asked about the possibility of Seoul sending arms by a member of the Russian media during a state visit in Vietnam Thursday.

"As for the supply of lethal weapons to the combat zone in Ukraine, this would be a very big mistake," Putin said. "I hope this doesn't happen. If this happens, then we, too, will make appropriate decisions that are unlikely to please the current leadership of South Korea."

The Russian president added that Moscow is not ruling out supplying weapons to North Korea to counter "acts of aggression" by Washington and Seoul.

"I said, including in Pyongyang, that we then reserve the right to supply weapons to other regions of the world," Putin said. "Keeping in mind our agreements with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, I'm not ruling that out."

The remarks came after South Korea's presidential office said Thursday that it would consider sending lethal arms to Ukraine in the wake of a treaty signed by Russia and North Korea that involves a pledge of mutual military aid.

Seoul has provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine and sold weapons to neighboring Poland, but has stuck to a policy of not sending deadly weapons directly to any country during a conflict.

South Korea "expresses grave concern and condemns the signing of the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement between North Korea and Russia" National Security Advisor Chang Ho-jin said at a press briefing.

Chang called the closer ties between North Korea and Russia "troubling" and said any military assistance to the North was a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

"As for arms support to Ukraine, the issue will be reexamined," he said.

Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed the treaty Wednesday night during the Russian leader's first visit to the North since 2000.

Article 4 of the 23-point document calls for each country to "provide military and other assistance without delay by all means at its disposal" if the other is attacked and goes to war.

South Korea's Foreign Ministry summoned Russia's top envoy in Seoul on Friday to express concern over the pact.

First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun called in Russian Ambassador Georgy Zinoviev and "conveyed our government's stern position on the decision to strengthen mutual military and economic cooperation," the ministry said in a statement.

Kim "strongly urged Russia to immediately cease military cooperation with North Korea and comply with Security Council resolutions."

Moscow and Pyongyang have bolstered ties following a state visit by Kim in September, with North Korea supplying munitions to Russia for its war in Ukraine.

U.S. State Department spokesman Matt Miller said earlier this week that the North has transferred "dozens of ballistic missiles and over 11,000 containers of munitions to aid Russia's war effort."

Washington and its allies claim that Russia is likely providing fuel, raw materials and advanced space and weapons technology to North Korea in exchange.
Rainbow Family Gathering, 'legacy of the original hippies,' is returning to California. Not everyone is feeling the love

For attendees, the upcoming Rainbow Family Gathering in Plumas National Forest is a chance to celebrate community, peace, love and healing.

But authorities in this sparsely populated corner of California have other words for the affair: non-permitted, disruptive and potentially destructive.

Thats why the thousands of people expected to camp as part of the event in early July can expect to have company this year. The Plumas County Sheriffs Office is warning attendees that there will be a substantial law enforcement presence to enforce a zero-tolerance policy toward any illegal activities or behaviors that threaten public safety or our natural resources.

Members of a management team assembled by the U.S. Forest Service have already begun enforcing parking restrictions barring people from leaving vehicles farther than one car length off the road, an agency spokesperson confirmed to The Times.

Read more: Two deaths force closure of Miracle Hot Springs along Kern River

Despite the warnings, members of the Rainbow Family  many of whom have gathered from across the country each year for decades  say they arent changing their plans.

Between 2,000 and 8,000 people are expected to camp at the site during the celebration July 1-7.

Its a community, said Adam Buxbaum, 36, who has been attending since he was an infant. We go there on paper  and its the truth  to pray for peace on the Fourth of July. Thats primary, but secondarily, we go there to spend time with all of our dearest friends and family once a year.

The Rainbow Family Gathering was held in Routt National Forest north of Steamboat Springs, Colo., in 2006. (Ed Andrieski / Associated Press)

Each year, the U.S. Forest Service calls attention to the Rainbow Family Gathering, pointing out that organizers refuse to get a special-use permit, which is mandatory for groups of 75 people or more.

Authorities have also said attendees engage in public nudity, drink alcohol to excess and use drugs.

Some people do go without clothes, Buxbaum acknowledged, though thats a really kind of weird thing to accuse people of doing in a malicious way.

He said nudity is prohibited around childrens play areas, and alcohol has always been discouraged.

And pot? Some people pass on the grass, while others partake, he said.

We believe in letting people express themselves as long as theyre not harming their neighbors, he said. The Rainbow Gathering is the legacy of the original hippies.

Attendees are known to set up extensive infrastructure: welcome tents, outdoor kitchens and areas dedicated for medical needs.

Officials have warned residents of Plumas, a county with a population of about 19,000 in northeastern California, near where the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Range meet, to expect traffic and delays as more people arrive in the area.

We urge the organizers and participants of the Rainbow Family Gathering to respect our community, residents and local businesses. Any unlawful activities that cause harm or damage will result in appropriate law enforcement action, the Plumas County Sheriffs Office said in a statement Wednesday.

Hilary Markin, a spokesperson for the Forest Service incident management team, said the agencys top priorities are ensuring the health and safety of participants and shielding natural resources.

We have a large incident thats taking place in a general forest area, where there are critical resources that we want to make sure are protected, she said.

Read more: 420 celebration canceled at San Francisco's Hippie Hill? Not if a psychedelic church can hash out plan

Buxbaum, whose nickname at the gathering is Finch, calls the movement one of the longest-running acts of civil disobedience.

The first Rainbow Gathering was held in 1972 in Colorado. Each year since, individuals have converged in various locations  but always outdoors.

Though Buxbaum is dismayed by the constant police presence, it hasnt dampened his desire to attend.

But attendance has been dwindling. In years past, it was typical for 20,000 people to camp. This year, he said, hell be surprised if there are 10,000.

A lot of people have quit coming to the gatherings permanently because theyre tired of being searched and harassed every single year, Buxbaum said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Raleigh County high school teacher being investigated due to possible inappropriate communication with student

BECKLEY, WV (WVNS)  An investigation was opened by the Beckley Police Department into what they told 59News were possible inappropriate communications between a student and a teacher at a Raleigh County high school.

According to Morgan Bragg, Chief of Detectives for the Beckley Police Department, the female teacher, who has not been named yet, was a teacher at Woodrow Wilson High School when she allegedly had inappropriate communications with a male student who was over the age of 16.

The communications allegedly took place during the 2023-24 school year.

59News reached out to the Raleigh County School Board for comment on the investigation. They were not available at the time and a statement will be added when one is given.

Bragg also told 59News that the investigation is too early in its stages to release any further information.

Stick with 59News for updates as the become 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 WVNS.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  Advocates for an increased minimum wage rallied at the Capitol on Thursday calling on lawmakers to take action.

Members of the group One Fair Wage covered the steps of the Capitol with pink aprons to represent the more than 600,000 Michiganders who signed a petition to increase the states minimum wage to $15 an hour.

We just want to remind our legislators that investing in workers is good economic policy, says Justin Onwenu, organizing director at One Fair Wage. Its good politics and its something we need to do right now.

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The call for action comes after the Michigan Supreme Court declined to issue an order putting the question on the ballot, noting that decision is up to the Board of State Canvassers. The ballot question has been met with a deadlocked committee at previous hearings.

Advocates held up signs reading, use the trifecta. Thats a reference to the Democratic control of both chambers of the legislature and the governors office.

Democrats for the first time in forty years have a trifecta, its a huge opportunity, says Onwenu. Right to work was repealed, other meaningful progress has been made. Workers still need to see the trifecta working for them.

The proposal is not favored by all. John Sellek is spokesman for the group Save MI Tips, which represents bartenders and servers in the food industry.

Servers and bartenders who know what theyre doing and provide good service are making way more than minimum wage, Sellek says. They self-report at least 28 dollars an hour now.

He says if the proposal goes to voters and is approved it would have an impact on food industry workers.

So many of the Michigan servers and bartenders are literally scared about that once the customers realize that everybodys making the same minimum wage that tipping culture will go out the window, and everyone will lose their income, he says.

The Michigan Restaurant Lodging Association also claims the higher wages would raise food prices and cause some restaurants that cant afford it, to shutter.

Current laws would require the minimum wage to rise to $12 an hour by 2030.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry has handed over a note to Armenia, Trend reports.

According to the information, Head of the Department of Bilateral Cooperation with CIS Countries Sergei Molunov met with Charge d'Affaires of the Republic of Armenia in the Republic of Belarus Narek Tiraturyan at the Belarusian Foreign Ministry on June 21.

"The diplomats discussed several topical issues of bilateral relations, prospects of trade and economic cooperation, and interaction in joint integration structures. The Armenian side was handed over the relevant note from the Belarusian Foreign Ministry. They touched upon humanitarian issues and emphasized the long-standing friendly ties between the two peoples," the information notes.

Will be updated

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Hundreds rally at the state Capitol for the MI Body MI Choice event on Oct. 2, 2021 | Allison R. Donahue

The last few years have been hard. Weve lived through a historic pandemic, unprecedented political turmoil, and significant erosion of some of our most fundamental freedoms  and our future continues to look uncertain.

Its not surprising that between the prospect of a new presidential administration that would rip away reproductive access and a hostile court system that threatens to destroy all that weve built in Michigan the past couple years, many of us are feeling deeply anxious about the future. Its in these moments that we must find strength and community in each other  because while elections undoubtedly shape public policy, our ongoing collective activism must go beyond the ballot.

I certainly dont want to discount the power of the vote  for women, Black people, and other marginalized communities, securing our right to vote was a hard-fought battle and is one were still fighting to protect today. And it was just two years ago that our votes enshrined the right to reproductive freedom in the Michigan constitution.

But voting is one of many tools in our toolbox. We must commit to actively participating in our communities and local governments, supporting and amplifying the voices of marginalized people, and working together to build a society that values equity, justice, and bodily autonomy for all. This work must be year-round, both on election years and off.

This kind of deep-rooted community engagement cannot be accomplished by dropping your vote into the ballot box every couple of years and walking away.

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan stands firmly at the forefront of this movement, and were proud to work in partnership with other organizations and activists statewide who are committed to championing comprehensive reproductive health care, expanded access to abortion, sex education, gender-affirming name change policies, paid family leave and Black maternal health care as part of a broader movement for social justice.

Our work extends beyond the confines of Planned Parenthoods health centers because in the words of Audre Lorde, an intersectional feminist, Black lesbian poet, and civil rights activist, There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives. We know that progress can only be achieved when we work together to channel our collective anxiety into action.

There is no one roadmap for what this looks like. But this summer, there are countless opportunities to get involved. Through Planned Parenthood, that could look like attending our Healing in Action Summit on the anniversary of the Dobbs decision, volunteering at local Pride events, serving as a clinic escort, or putting together abortion care bags. There are plenty of phenomenal opportunities to get involved in allied organizations and community groups large and small. It doesnt matter where you start  just start.

We stand on the shoulders of those who fought for the freedom for women to vote, challenged segregation, and won marriage equality. Despite the seemingly insurmountable challenges each of these movements faced, activists dedicated their lives to pushing societal progress forward, no matter how incremental and painstaking the work.

James Baldwin, a prolific author, civil rights activist, and queer Black man, once said, Those who say it cant be done are usually interrupted by those doing it.

So interrupt the pundits, pollsters, and panic, and find a way to join the fight for reproductive rights. Because history shows that when enough people come together, we can turn a moment into a movement  and movements arent bound by ballot boxes.

The post Rallying for reproductive rights means going beyond the ballot appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner refused to be drawn on 'hypotheticals' concerning the project's future - Andy Buchanan/PA

The future of a key UK oilfield has been thrown into doubt after Angela Rayner refused to commit to backing a landmark project near the Shetland Islands.

Asked on Friday whether Labour would approve Rosebank, one of Britains largest untapped oil fields, Labours deputy leader refused to commit to the project.

It comes just a day after the future of the development was thrown into doubt following a Supreme Court ruling that emissions from burning fossil fuels must be considered when approving new drilling sites.

The landmark decision increases the odds that Rosebank will need a new assessment under a Labour government, should the party take power on July 5.

Ms Rayner told the BBC: Im not going to do hypotheticals, but what we have said and what we have set out is that oil and gas is part of the mix for the next three decades. Thats the practicalities of what we face. We cant rely on oil and gas into the future.

If theres a decision to be made at the time then that will come to the secretary of state to make that decision. What we are very clear on is that we cant rely on it in the future.

We will always follow court rulings.

We are the only party that has been very clear that we have to move away from oil and gas. It will be part of the mix for decades to come, but we have to transition to renewables.

Labour has faced rising criticism over its energy plans, with Ineos owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe warning this week that North Sea oil could be taxed out of existence by the party.

Sir Keir Starmer is planning to slash North Sea tax alliances, prompting fears the UK will become more reliant on overseas imports and cut its energy security.

Rosebank, which is owned by energy giant Equinor, is expected to deliver 300m barrels of oil.

Equinor said it would continue to work closely with all relevant parties to progress the project.

It said Rosebank was a vital project for the UK and will bring benefits in terms of investment, jobs and energy security.

Oil and gas provides about 75pc of the UKs energy demand and the sector employs about 2,000 workers across the UK.

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NEW YORK (PIX11)  Whether theyre native New Yorkers or new arrivals seeking asylum, homelessness did not stop dozens of students from graduating high school.

A special group of teenagers busted through many barriers to achieve the college dream.

More Local News

A cap and gown, diplomas  they arent guaranteed. Theyre earned with hard work and drive.

For some 100 New York City high school graduates honored Thursday night, the odds were stacked against them.

Among 32,000 children living in shelters  they began their high school journey during a global pandemic. But they crushed the odds and are now college-bound.

Graduating and college is not easy, and for these kids to do it, they are exceptional in my book, said NYC DHS administrator Joslyn Carter

For two students at the National Museum of the American Indian, this rite of passage came with safe passage to New York.

Stepan Volkov fled a war waged by Russia, and Jonathan Paradas journey began in Colombia to escape its cartels. Both made separate months-long, harrowing treks through the southern border two years ago.

It was difficult, Volkov said, When we made it, it was wonderful.

And now, they share a common bond at commencement.

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Im really grateful for the opportunities the city has given me, Parada, 18, said.

They both learned English and plan on attending college in the fall. School and teachers, Im really grateful for them; theyre really helpful and patient, Parada said.

I thank you, New York, the government, for this opportunity, Volkov added.

One hopes to be a cyber security analyst, the other a journalist.

The Thompson Family Benevolent Fund sponsored the tenth annual DHS Future Leaders College Scholarship Program. Eight college-bound high school seniors who attended the celebration were awarded $2,000 scholarships.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Editors note: This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, neighboring Slovakia, with its own experience of decades of Russian occupation in the 20th century, became one of the staunchest supporters of Ukraine.

Under the guidance of then-Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad, Bratislava became the first country to deliver fighter jets to Ukraine, handing over its MiG-29s to a badly depleted Ukrainian Air Force, along with a much-needed S-300 air defense system.

But in September 2023, Slovakia made a 180-degree turn when a coalition led by pro-Russian populist Robert Fico won the countrys parliamentary elections. With public rhetoric openly blaming the West for Russias war and vowing never to supply any military aid to Kyiv, Slovakia embarked on a path very similar to its southern neighbor Hungary, where Prime Minister Viktor Orbans Russia-friendly leadership has been a consistent thorn in the side of EU and NATO unity regarding Ukraine.

The Kyiv Independent spoke with Nad about Slovakias turn away from Ukraine, political processes inside the country, and the future of pro-Russian political advances across Europe.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban reacts during a conference with Baden-Wuerttemberg's State Premier in the New Castle in Stuttgart, south-western Germany, on June 19, 2024, ahead of attending the UEFA Euro 2024 football match between Germany and Hungary. (Silas Stein /AFP via Getty Images)

The Kyiv Independent: I wanted to start with the recent news about you and your government being accused of treason because of a very simple and very obvious decision to transfer your old, Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, a neighboring country fighting for survival against Russia, which knew how to use those jets already. To an outside observer, this news seems absurd to put it lightly. What was your reaction, were you surprised?

Jaroslav Nad: I wasn't surprised because the current ruling government in Slovakia consists of three political parties, and all three of those parties claimed even before the election that they consider any military help to Ukraine to be treason, and that they would like to sue us. They had submitted their proposal for us to be accused of treason and for mismanagement of state property several times already. But every time in the past it was dismissed, and I hope that justice still exists in Slovakia, and there will be the same result again. Honestly, if somebody accuses me officially of treason for providing Ukraine with MiG-29s or the S-300 air defense system that would be probably the only case in the world where somebody could be prosecuted for helping Ukraine militarily. It really is insane and I still believe that even though there is a lot of pressure from the government on police and prosecutors to find any way to accuse us officially, I don't think this will happen.

The Kyiv Independent: How can this in any way be rationally explained? Given Slovakia's history in the 20th century, who could they possibly expect to be defending against? How do these leaders explain and sell this to their electorate?

Jaroslav Nad: First of all, they won the election on being very much anti-Ukrainian and very much pro-Russian. Now they are actually paying back their voters, they're playing the same game they were playing before the election, and it is all very irresponsible behavior.

We already acquired F-16 supersonic jets so in reality, even the government that is currently ruling, during their term between 2016 and 2020, officially decided when they acquired F-16s that there will be no training for pilots on MiG-29s. We had two options: first, to help Ukraine because Ukraine was asking us for the MiG-29 planes.

We wanted to help our neighbors, our good friends; we have never had any open issues with Ukraine.

So it was in terms of morals, but also in terms of our own interests because we definitely would like to see Ukraine winning. If we have Russia on the border with Slovakia, that would be against our national interests, obviously. But if you want to sell it to another country, then you need to actually have Russian approval, and as (Slovak Defense Minister Robert) Kalinak said, he would rather sell it to some African country. That would be with Russian approval, which means that most likely, at the end of the day, those planes would end up in Russia. I'm so glad that we decided to donate those planes to Ukraine. If I was in the same place again, I would definitely again decide the same way.

Slovakia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Robert Kalinak addresses a press conference after the meeting of the State Security Council in Bratislava, Slovakia, on May 16, 2024, one day after an attack on the Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. (Tomas Benedikovic /AFP via Getty Images)

The Kyiv Independent: It's strange that we even have to repeat this openly, it's obvious that Slovakia should want Ukraine to win because they don't want, again, Russian troops at the border. So what do Fico and his government really want to achieve by not helping Ukraine and blocking help to Ukraine? What do they hope to happen?

Jaroslav Nad: Honestly, I simply don't understand them.

I don't want to accuse them of anything, but they are meeting on the high level with Russian representatives.

There was a meeting of our foreign minister with (Russian Foreign) Minister (Sergey) Lavrov, which is really insane. Second, there was the inauguration of the new president in Slovakia. The president comes from the current ruling coalition and he officially invited the Russian ambassador to be a part of this inauguration, which is, for me, absolutely against normal thinking. At the bilateral meeting of Slovak and Ukrainian prime ministers, they signed a joint communique, but the next day, Prime Minister Fico claimed that whatever he signed didn't have any real impact. He said at the meeting that Slovakia supports the Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine, which is good, but then he said that he actually doesn't think so, that Ukraine should not be in the EU, certainly not in NATO, and that Ukraine is the most corrupt country in the world. So I really don't understand the rationale behind it, the only thing that I see is that they would like to get this pro-Russian electorate, which they actually created in Slovakia themselves with this rhetoric. The other explanation would be that they are paying back Russia for supporting them in the election campaign.

Chairman of Smer-Social Democracy party Robert Fico arrives for a press conference at the party's headquarters after an early parliamentary election in Bratislava, Slovakia on Oct. 1, 2023. (Vladimir Simicek/AFP via Getty Images)

The Kyiv Independent: Can you, maybe talk a little bit about these processes that are going on within Slovak society; it's a country that's been known to be very polarized since the pandemic and, obviously with the war as well. Why is it that these narratives have had so much success?

Jaroslav Nad: The country is very much polarized, I would say it's almost 50-50. It also depends on the educational level of the population. As a matter of fact, the Slovak population is very much under pressure from Russian propaganda, disinformation campaigns, and people have a tendency to believe in many strange things. During the pandemic, and later during the war in Ukraine, I would say we are number two from the bottom in EU and NATO countries, just after Bulgaria, when it comes to believing Russian propaganda. It really is a big problem. People in Slovakia really believe that it is the U.S. who started the war, and that Russia is only a victim. The only way to change this is to improve, first and foremost, policy on fighting disinformation campaigns and propaganda, which will not happen under this government. They actually canceled or dismissed all the structures that we created to fight Russian propaganda and disinformation.

The Kyiv Independent: A lot of people put Fico and Orban into one box. Fico only came into power now, but Orban has been in power for 14 years. Now people are discussing whether Fico will try to, by moving against independent media and the independent judiciary, in effect follow the Orban playbook. Do you see any big difference between their ideologies, their personal approaches to leadership, and their aspirations?

Jaroslav Nad: What I see in Fico is a kind of envy towards Orban because he would like to have the kind of support that Orban has. But this will not happen. Fico has the majority now, but a very slim majority in parliament. Yes, Orban helped Fico a lot during the campaign, behind the scenes, but also using Hungarian media, and social media campaigns boosted by the Hungarian government and targeting Slovakia. There is evidence that these campaigns on Facebook and Instagram reached more than 1.5 million voters in Slovakia just before the election. So yes, this cooperation between Orban and Fico is significant. Fico would like to mirror many of Orban's policies and decisions. On the other hand, I saw the misuse of (Ficos) assassination attempt by Orban in Hungary, claiming that (it was carried out by) a leftist, and trying to use it in his own campaigning.

Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico (R) and Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban (L) attend a session on the second day of the EU Leaders Summit in Brussels, Belgium on March 22, 2024. (Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The Kyiv Independent: Hungary, of course, has really been the center of attention, the outlier in the EU for its quite bold and successful policies of hijacking independent media and judiciary. Now, with these consensus rules in the EU and NATO, we see them actually blackmailing and blockading both bodies. It was bad enough before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but now we're feeling it more and more. There's a consensus that Europe, especially the EU, was not prepared for such a scenario, and people are often at a loss to think of what needs to be done. Now, the rise of Fico doubles the size of this challenge. From your perspective, how should other EU countries deal with this in practical terms?

Jaroslav Nad: It is extremely difficult, I can tell you that. There is a rising adversity, I would say, among EU and NATO members, for Hungary, especially Hungary, to blackmail  I cannot find any other term for that  to blackmail others, with their position. Regarding the MiG-29s for donation, the reimbursement for them through the European Peace Facility was not finalized because Hungary is still blocking this payment. Both the EU and NATO are trying to find a way to communicate with Hungary. It's not an easy decision to get rid of the veto right or the consensus policy in the EU and NATO, but the more Hungary plays this game, the more probable it is that they will have to pay for it eventually.

Vladimir Putin during a meeting with workers at the Obukhov State Plant in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on Jan. 18, 2023. (Contributor/Getty Images)

So far what we see is that Hungary and Slovakia have not been invited to several high-level meetings. You can read the official position of the Czech prime minister, who officially said that he was forced to change his speech when he was traveling to Paris for a meeting on Ukraine once he learned that Fico would be there, even though he wasn't invited previously. He (Petr Fiala) was afraid that his remarks would end up in the Kremlin. There is significant mistrust towards Slovakia and Hungary among allies in the EU and NATO. The only happy person out of this reality is Vladimir Putin. But this is also the result of a democratic election. The majority in Slovakia voted in favor of Fico and his government. The only people who can change this are again the Slovak citizens in the next election. Obviously, people from the opposition, people from independent media, people from NGOs, all of us, together, we have to hold Fico and his government to account.

The Kyiv Independent: We've now had the European Parliament elections where, similarly, pro-Russian, far-right parties have been advancing all across Europe. From what you've seen in Slovakia and Hungary, in terms of what this could lead to, what do you think should be the lesson for Europe? What's the takeaway and what steps can be taken to avoid this as much as possible?

Jaroslav Nad: It is extremely difficult to fight against Russian involvement, which is illegal and non-democratic, using whatever tools it can. If you try to ban a Russian channel, or any propaganda with Russian connections on a European or national level, Russia will scream that it is against human rights and freedom of speech. But the question that we have to ask ourselves is, what is our primary goal? If our primary goal is to keep democracy, liberty, freedom on European soil, in the EU or NATO, then we have to use all the tools that we have, or we have to create new tools to fight Russias hybrid warfare. One of the ways you have to do it is simply to close down Russian channels of communication or false communication. In Slovakia now Fico's government is asking for freedom of speech, which in reality means that they would like to see Russian propaganda spread across the country because that means support for their parties.

Minister of Defence of Slovakia Jaroslav Na is seen at the Bucharest Nine group meeting in Warsaw, Poland on 26 April, 2023. (Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The whole of Europe should be very careful; many of those parties have clear links to Russia. For example, Le Pen's party: in the past, it was proved that they were receiving millions and millions of euros from Russia, and other parties with similar links are also present in the election campaign. There were several examples of politicians from Western European countries and also from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, and other countries, who were meeting with Russian officials. Some of them were receiving illegal campaign money from Russia, that's the reality we have to face. If we want to keep the European continent free from injustice and achieve peace, we need to fight Russian hybrid warfare as much as we can, using all the tools that we have.

Read also: How Mark Rutte became NATO Secretary General and what it means for Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Chelsea Donnor said she struggled with drug and alcohol addiction for the better part of 20 years. It wasnt until last year she was ready to get clean.

I just hit a spiritual low that I was willing and desperate to do whatever was suggested to me through the mentor program, she told KOIN 6 News. They gave me a safe place to stay. The requirements were go to meetings, community service, and intensive outpatient. And there were folks that believed in me when I really didnt believe in myself.

She completed the 80 hours of volunteer work, like packing boxes of food for families in need, landscaping at Portland parks, and assisting at the Ronald McDonald House.

CVC volunteers in front of Ronald McDonald House vehicle, 2024 (CCC)

Now she is the lead liaison for Central City Concerns Community Volunteer Corps (also known as CVC) and oversees people in early addiction and homeless recovery complete that 80-hour volunteer program.

Shes on the other side of addiction, like her coworker Jon Wall.

The reality is, Wall said, Im a recovering addict and I was at a point in my life where I needed some help.

He found that help at Hooper Detox. That got him into CVC.

If you look outside in Portland and you see that were struggling, right? People need help. They need a way to give back. They need a place to start, he said.

Volunteering is a simple starting point that they say helps pave the way to reintegrate into the workforce and build a sense of community.

Members of the Central City Concern Community Volunteer Corps at Sunshine Division, 2024 (CCC)

Just the basics of following a schedule one day a week, showing up on time, getting to know my peers, Donnor said. And because the one thing that we all have in common is were struggling with addiction.

Giving back was a way they could get their lives back.

I have been homeless, Ive been incarcerated, Wall said. Im now a program manager for this program, and Im not the only one. We have nurses, small business owners, construction workers, all sorts of people that started their journey with a basic volunteer program, and now their lives are amazing.

If only supportive employment programs were easy to come by.

It is one of the first things that funders cut when theyre considering budgets. And its really tragic because its actually cost-effective and has an incredible return on investment, Juliana Lukasik of Central City Concern told KOIN 6 News.

Central City Concerns data shows if someone is introduced to employment services at any point in their recovery journey, theyre seven times more likely to remain employed, housed and clean.

When somebody has the ability to have an income that is so critical to their ability to move from subsidized housing into the community again, and thats what we need, Lukasik said. We need folks moving through the continuum of care.

A member of the Central City Concern Community Volunteer Corps cleans up in Portland, 2024 (CCC)

Leaders at Central City Concern call on the state, county and city to fund sustainable employment services programs.

The challenge is that Oregon is very reliant on federal resources to fund employment and training efforts. At the federal level, these resources have been declining for decades.

According to Worksystems, nationally the US spends one-third on employment services compared to its spending in the 1970s.

In other words, we need consistent funding that goes beyond just one year, Lukasik said. We dont need to fund the shiny new object. We need to fund the things we know work.

A 2023 study focused on the Portland metro area found that Central City Concerns program had the highest success rate. Every dollar CCC spent on employment services nearly doubled its return on investment to society.

Yet the same study recorded that the top problems for employment services providers are insufficient funding and workforce shortages. These are linked. Low wages contribute to the lack of staff.

Jon and Koko stand in front of the A member of the Central City Concern Community Volunteer Corps van, 2024 (CCC)

As one interviewee in the study said, If you are job seeking and see that you can make 25-50% more as a case manager than as a supportive employment (SE) provider, you probably wont apply for the SE position.

They need to be able to offer significantly higher wages to be able to compete, another interviewee noted. Workforce has difficulty finding housing, so this contributes to workforce leaving the area.

Ive been really, really baffled, Lukasik said. I cannot understand why people dont see the need to invest in employment services because it is such a huge part of somebodys road to recovery.

The latest Community Volunteer Corps group will graduate in July. From there, they will be paired with an employment specialist who helps refine their resume, look for jobs, find professional clothing and any other necessary training to get them employed.

Central City Concern said the public and private sectors in the Portland metro area need to work together to reconnect people to the labor market.

Experts who work in employment services stress that getting people job training and into work should be prioritized at the same rate as shelter and housing.

As recovering addicts, we can give back to the community. We can be a good workforce, Wall said.

The Citys tentative plan

The City of Portland said it is working with partners to create employment opportunities for people who are trying to get into stable living situations.

Right now, the team is figuring out how they can create work opportunities for people who are living in Safe Rest Villages and Temporary Alternative Sheltersas well as helping them find work after they leave the shelter system.

The citys current goal is to acquire adequate funding for the next fiscal year, starting July 1. The plan is to use the money to start a pilot program to establish an internship where clients will have the chance to work for 4-5 shifts (4-hour shifts) and receive 1-2 classroom sessions.

From there, the city wants to create packages of work opportunities within its shelter sites. Plus, incorporate time with a workforce case manager to understand their clients goals, so they can help make a work plan for individuals.

The second piece of the pilot is to potentially start a grant program to fund local groups doing this work, like Central City Concern and Ground Score Association.

Overall, the city said its goal is to collect data through this process, develop a recipe that worksand use it to leverage a case for getting more money for employment services from the county and state.

There are so many individuals and organizations that recognize the importance of job opportunities, however, right now the demand for employment services outweighs the opportunities available, said Hendrik Broekelschen, policy & outreach advisor for the Mayors Office. The goal for all of us is to figure out how we can collaborate and make a case for additional funding for supportive employment.

The Countys contribution

The Joint Office of Homeless Services funds several employment programs that provide low-barrier employment opportunities for people experiencing homelessness. These programs are contracted through several providers, including Cultivate Initiatives, Central City Concern and Trash for Peace.

The programs offer entry-level opportunities to earn income, develop various work skills and establish a recent work history.

In fiscal year 2024, JOHS-funded programs provided an estimated 900 people with employment services. For the next fiscal year (FY 2025), the Joint Office is budgeting $5.7 million for employment services.

Plus, the Department of County Human Services employment service program has provided $4.2 million in payments to 365 clients, across five different categories, for the current fiscal year as of May 3 (the period between July 1, 2023 and May 3, 2024).

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Rep. Marilyn Lands, D-Huntsville, listens to debate in the Alabama House of Representations in the Alabama Statehouse on April 9, 2024 in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

Reproductive rights advocates and Democratic officials in three traditional red states said Friday the 2024 election could have potentially harmful consequences Friday.

The group spoke on a conference call hosted by the Democratic National Committee (DNC), a few days before the 2nd anniversary of the Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and ended federal abortion rights protections.

The speakers came from states that restricted or attempted to restrict abortion access after Dobbs, a ruling in which three of the six Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe were appointed by former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. Following the ruling, trigger laws made abortion illegal in many southern and western states.

Because of Trump, millions of women living in Republican-led states have fallen victim to dangerous abortion bans, and if Trump is elected for a second term, he, alongside whoever he elects for his VP, is going to take their attacks on women nationwide and enforce a National abortion ban, said Maddy Mundy, deputy state communications director at the DNC.

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Democrats are planning to highlight abortion and reproductive rights in their campaign to hold the White House and Senate and flip the House of Representatives, arguing that Republicans will attempt to impose nationwide bans on abortion if they win control of federal government.

Moodys Analytics released an analysis this week that show the most probable result is that Biden will remain president with a divided Congress, with a 40% probability. A Republican sweep had a probability of 35%.

The most likely scenario of Biden remaining president with a split Congress suggests that the GOP would flip the Senate and the Democrats would regain the House of Representatives.

Alabama Rep. Marilyn Lands, D-Huntsville, said the state has become ground zero for efforts to roll back reproductive rights. Alabama passed an effective abortion ban in 2019 that went into effect shortly after the Dobbs decision came down.

What starts in Alabama seems to spread rapidly to other states, especially in the Deep South, she said.

Lands shared her personal experience of needing abortion care two decades ago.

I had an unviable pregnancy. My baby had a fatal condition and would not survive, and I was told that my life was at risk. During my campaign, I chose to share my story because it was in stark contrast to women today, Lands said.

Lands won a special election in March after campaigning on reproductive rights, flipping a seat held by a Republican.

Kansas Democratic Party Chair Jeanna Repass described Kansas as a battleground for abortion rights following the Dobbs decision. In 2022, 59% of Kansas voters rejected a state constitutional amendment that would have outlawed abortion in the state. Despite that, Repass said Kansas Republicans continue to push for restrictive measures, such as introducing a bill to impose a near-total abortion ban and voting against IVF protections.

Repass said that another Trump presidency could result in a national abortion ban, overturning state-level protections and furthering the assault on reproductive rights.

Donald Trump and his MAGA minions in Kansas and across the country have shown us exactly who they are, and we should believe them, Repass said. Theyre using every tool in their toolbox to chip away at reproductive freedoms nationwide.

Rep. Lauren Necochea, chair of the Idaho Democratic Party, said Idahos abortion ban, which criminalizes the procedure without exceptions for the health of the mother, has had a severe effect on health care in the state. She pointed to the exodus of medical professionals from the state and shared stories of women forced to be airlifted for emergency care out of state. Necochea also said its critical to elect Democrats to counteract these policies.

Idaho women have lost so much, and we all stand to lose even more. As the mother of two girls, Im heartbroken that I cant encourage them to put down roots in our home state and build families here. Its simply not safe to be pregnant in Idaho, Necochea said.

Mini Timmaraju, President of Reproductive Freedom for All, called for a combined effort to elect Democrats at all levels to ensure federal reproductive rights protection.

Make no mistake, if Republicans win majorities in Congress and Donald Trump, God forbid, locks in the presidency, a national abortion ban is next, she said.

State officials also discussed the significance of the upcoming presidential debate, where they expect President Biden to draw a clear contrast between his administrations support for reproductive rights and Trumps anti-abortion stance.

The differences are going to be laid clear. The choices are going to be laid clear, and I think youre going to see President Biden really make it plain what the risk is with Donald Trump, Timmaraju said.

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The post Red state Democrats, advocates warn of abortion rights threat in 2024 election appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Registered sex offender removes ankle monitor to meet teen in next state, feds say

A registered sex offender was arrested after being accused of driving from Washington to Oregon to sexually assault a teen, federal officials said.

James Harrison Newcomer, 27, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison following his 2020 conviction of raping a 15-year-old girl, court documents stated.

After serving his sentence, he was put on state supervision, according to a June 20 news release by the United States Attorneys Office Western District of Washington. As part of the supervision, Newcomer was required to wear an ankle monitor.

In January 2024, officers went to Newcomers home to arrest him after his ankle monitor lost connection, prosecutors said.

When officers arrived, Newcomer was not there and his ankle monitor was found, with a dead battery, documents said.

Over the next three months, Newcomer met three teen girls on Snapchat and arranged to meet them, officials said.

During the meetings, Newcomer gave the girls, ages 14 to 16, drugs and alcohol and sexually assaulted them, prosecutors said.

In February 2024, Newcomer picked up a 16-year-old girl at her North Bend, Washington, home and took her to a Seattle apartment, documents said. There he gave her methamphetamine and sexually assaulted her.

Later that month, Auburn police learned of a similar situation involving a 15-year-old girl who ran away overnight, prosecutors said.

The girls mother went on her laptop and learned of conversations her daughter was having with Newcomer in which he told her to disable the home security system and wait until her parents were asleep before leaving, officials said.

In May 2024, officers in Woodburn, Oregon, learned of a sexual assault involving a 14-year-old girl, officials said.

Newcomer was arrested on June 20, officials said.

If convicted, Newcomer is facing up to 30 years in federal prison, prosecutors said.

If you have experienced sexual assault and need someone to talk to, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline for support at 1-800-656-4673 or visit the hotline's online chatroom.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  New Mexico agencies and officials are providing state relief to those who have been affected by the South Fork Fire and Salt Fire.

UPDATE: President Biden issues Major Disaster Declaration for wildfires

The New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD)

The New Mexico ECECD is providing free childcare to evacuees, according to the department in a news release.

The organization is said to provide your child/ren with a safe, healthy and high-quality learning environment and meals.

To apply, the only thing residents need is a picture ID, the ECECD said.

For more information or to apply, you can contact at 1-800-832-1321 or email to ECECD-ECS-AtRisk@state.nm.us

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham

Gov. Lujan Grisham signed executive orders authorizing the release of $5.25 million in additional emergency funds for the Department of Homeland Security Management to support relief efforts for the ongoing wildfires, the Governors office announced on Thursday, June 20.

In the face of such a disaster, it is imperative that we act swiftly, said Gov. Lujan Grisham. Although there is still a long road to full recovery ahead, these emergency funds will help stabilize these communities and provide much-needed assistance to those in need.

Key provisions of the executive orders include:

The States Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) is tasked with coordinating all requests for assistance and responses.

Deployment of National Guard to provide military support to civil authorities as needed during this emergency.

All Cabinet Departments and agencies under gubernatorial control are directed to provide necessary assistance as required by DHSEM or the state Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

Local, regional agencies offer assistance to residents affected by Ruidoso fires

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Remy Mas son, Jayson Scott, has been arrested on first-degree murder charges for a June 2021 shooting in Queens, New York.

According to the New York Police Department, Scott, 23, was arrested on June 18 on charges of murder in the first and second degree, two counts of criminal weapon possession and reckless endangerment.

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Twenty-two-year-old Richard Swygert is also being charged as an accomplice in the same murder of 47-year-old Darius Guillebeaux, who was shot following a dispute on June 7, 2021. Swygert faces one murder charge in the first degree in addition to criminal possession of a weapon and reckless endangerment.

Guillebeaux suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the head and chest. He was transferred to a local Queens hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Per ABC7, Guillebeaux was indicted eight months before his death as part of Operation Heat Wave, which apprehended 54 people accused of drug trafficking.

A statement from reps for Remy Ma claimed her sons innocence and shes fully supporting him throughout this process.

Remy Ma wished to address this situation personally, but has been strongly advised by our office not to say anything publicly  as most people in this situation are, as the case is still active, a rep said in a statement relayed to NBC. To be clear, Jayson Scott is innocent and Remy Ma is committed to proving his innocence and fully supporting her child during this time.

Remy  born Reminisce Smith  has yet to publicly address the charges levied against her son. On the music side, the Bronx native has laid low and has yet to release a single in 2024.

Scott is reportedly yet to be arraigned in court. Billboard has reached out to reps for Remy Ma and the NYPD for comment.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. Turkiye's population will reach 100.3 million people by 2040, Executive Vice President for Health at QNB Sigorta ve Emeklilik A.S Melda Suayipoglu said during a panel discussion themed "Health Insurance in the Post-Pandemic Era" on the second day of the Azerbaijan International Insurance Forum 2024 (AIIF-2024) today in Baku, Trend reports.

She highlighted that the average age of the population will be 38.5 years.

"According to forecasts, by 2040, Turkiye's population will reach 100.3 million people. This data reflects a significant increase compared to 2020, when the population was 83.6 million. The forecasts show a substantial increase in the number of people over the age of 65, whose share will rise from 9.5 percent in 2020 to 16.3 percent in 2040.

At the same time, the proportion of the population aged 0 to 14 is expected to decrease from 22.8 percent in 2020 to 19.3 percent in 2040. These demographic changes indicate an aging population and require the adaptation of the country's social and medical systems to the new conditions," she added.

To note, the first day of the forum was held on June 20.

The first day of the forum, organized with the strategic support of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) and the Compulsory Insurance Bureau, the Association of Insurers of Azerbaijan, and 'Xprimm' International Company, featured speeches by CBA Governor Taleh Kazimov, Agriculture Minister Majnun Mammadov, Chairman of the State Agency for Mandatory Medical Insurance Zaur Aliyev, and other government officials.

The two-day forum is also featuring panel discussions on topics relevant to the local and global insurance markets, such as motor and health insurance, as well as the role of insurance in climate risk management.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Passengers board a New Jersey Transit train at Pennsylvania Station on April 26, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Trains on the countrys busiest commuter rail line stopped running Friday for the third time this week amid scorching heat and persistent technical problems, spawning a new round of finger-pointing.

Rail service in and out of New York Penn Station was suspended Friday morning and delayed into the afternoon  snarling trains on the northeast corridor and other lines as transit officials offered competing explanations for the latest delays.

NJ Transit said issues with Amtraks overhead wires were responsible, while Amtrak  which owns the tracks the corridors trains travel on  said a disabled commuter train in New York Penn Station was responsible for the cancellations.

We are working with our partners at NJT to investigate the cause of this mornings disruption, said Amtrak spokesman Anderson Kyle.

A spokesperson for the governor deferred a request for comment to NJ Transit, which called the frequency and severity of recent service disruptions beyond unacceptable.

The agency said an inspection of the disabled train conducted before it left Newark uncovered no issues, including with pantographs that collect power from overhead lines.

What we can say is that we operate approximately 700 trains every weekday along hundreds of miles of track on 11 rail lines with the same equipment and these incidents are mainly occurring on just this one stretch of track on the NEC between Newark and New York, NJ Transit CEO Kevin Corbett said in a statement. We continue to offer Amtrak our assistance to resolve the issue.

I always had a feeling like once we hit the first heat wave, sh*t was going to go down.

 Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese

It has been a rocky week for the two transit agencies.

On Tuesday, train service to and from New York Penn was suspended during the morning rush due to Amtrak wire issues, with delays throughout the day that grew worse in the evening after officials reported a disabled Amtrak train near the station.

A power issue at a substation near train tunnels running into New York Penn caused more wire problems and another set of service suspensions on Thursday, and those were exacerbated by a nearby but unrelated brush fire that delayed wire repairs.

I know everyone likes to dump on New Jersey Transit, but this is a bigger issue. This is an Amtrak issue, and we really have to bring our federal representatives and state representatives together to address this. This is a number one priority, said Sen. Patrick Diegnan (D-Middlesex), the Senate Transportation Committee chairman.

Rep. Frank Pallone (D-06), whose district includes a portion of the rail line that runs along the Jersey Shore, on Friday called the service disruptions utterly unacceptable.

Throughout the week, Amtrak officials have warned the heat wave battering the Northeast could force trains to run at lower speeds, creating delays of up to an hour during afternoons.

Excessive heat can deform rail tracks and the overhead wires that power trains, and it can cause certain train parts to fail.

I always had a feeling like once we hit the first heat wave, sh*t was going to go down, said Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese (D-Bergen), the Assembly transportation chair. Here we are in the first heat wave, and things are going down.

Calabrese and Diegnan said they hope the early-summer disruptions do not presage another summer of hell of the type that has dogged NJ Transit in recent years.

Amtrak issues have mounted over the past few months. The quasi-public corporation was responsible for 185 of the 381 cancellations NJ Transit saw in May, according to NJ Transit data, though the causes for cancellations can vary widely month-to-month.

Sen. Raj Mukherji (D-Hudson), the Senate transportation vice chair, said the latest issues underscore the need for customer advocacy at NJ Transit, pointing to a bipartisan bill that would create a new independent office to represent riders interests on fares and services.

With everybody pointing fingers and a lack of clarity as to what keeps going wrong, this underscores why we need to pass my customer advocate legislation so that an independent rider advocacy commission can investigate these things and report to the Legislature and the governor and, most importantly, our commuters when things and go wrong what solutions must be implemented, said Mukherji.

The post Renewed suspensions, delays, and finger-pointing cap rocky week for transit appeared first on New Jersey Monitor.
Rent aid program for needy Nebraskans on track, with much of the $48M still available

(Courtesy of Nebraska Investment Finance Authority)

LINCOLN  A once-controversial emergency rent aid program has distributed about $11 million to eligible Nebraskans, leaving more than three-quarters of $48 million available following its September launch.

(Getty Images)

Except for a funding bottleneck at the beginning, administrators are pleased with the rollout of the latest round of pandemic-related Nebraska Emergency Rental Assistance, said Shannon Harner, executive director of the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority.

Were pretty happy, said Harner, whose NIFA team is leading the ERA II effort. The flow of getting funds out continues to speed up. That is also positive.

Given that the federally-provided funding had been shut off for a year, pent-up demand led to some challenges early on, Harner said. Extra staffing helped get the process to a better pace and smoother disbursement of funds, she said.

Since late September, about 1,800 applicants who represent almost all of Nebraskas 91 smaller, more rural counties have received funding, according to an update provided by NIFA.

Renters in the states largest two counties of Douglas and Lancaster are not eligible for this pool of funds, but each of those counties was able to apply for and distribute its own ERA aid.

Overall, the average amount of assistance delivered to households in the eligible counties has been about $6,262. Sarpy County has had the most participants.

The bulk of financial help has been directed at rent  about $7 million for past-due bills and $3.8 million for future payments. However, a slice also has gone toward utilities and to help renters catch up on overdue internet bills.

Harner said that NIFA and its community collaborative partners have been working diligently to distribute the emergency aid to households who prove they had financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic.

How to apply

To qualify for remaining emergency rent aid, applicants must have:

Experienced financial hardship during the pandemic.

Income at or below 80% of the area median income.

Legal residency and a primary rental home in one of the states 91 counties outside Douglas and Lancaster.

Information on how to apply for the ERA II dollars can be found online at NebraskaRentHelp.org.

People can also call 1-844-429-6575. The call center is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Help in applying can be obtained through a Community Collaborative partner, either in person or by phone.

We understand the relief and stability this program has provided to so many families across the state, and we continue to encourage anyone who believes they may qualify to apply, she said.

Under program guidelines, funds are to be distributed until they run out or until September 2025, and they do not have to be paid back.

NIFAs hope, Harner said, is to get at least 75% of the $48 million spent by the years end. We believe we are on track, she said.

Once that 75% point is reached, she said, the program guidelines allow remaining funds to be directed toward building affordable housing.

Shannon Harner, executive director of the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (Courtesy of NIFA)

We look at that as having a better long-term impact, said Harner.

She said it was too early to know how many dwellings might be created or in what form they would be built.

But she said it was likely such remaining dollars would be directed toward the low-income housing tax credit program administered by NIFA.

A sample of representatives who work with low-income families across the state said this ERA II process has gone smoother, especially in comparison with the previous one.

Many advocates, renters and landlords had voiced complaints to lawmakers and state officials about the management of the first round of emergency rental aid to the 91 counties.

They said the previous contractor, Deloitte, an audit and financial services firm, had created a cumbersome online application process that kept many needy Nebraskans from accessing the aid.

Low participation rate was among reasons cited by then-Gov. Pete Ricketts when he refused to tap the second round of rent aid dollars that the federal government had set aside for the 91 Nebraska counties. Ricketts said that the pandemic was over and that Nebraska should guard against becoming a welfare state.

State lawmakers stepped in but the Legislature fell one vote short of overriding a gubernatorial veto on a bill that would have forced Ricketts hand in accepting the aid.

Gov. Jim Pillen, after he was elected, bucked Ricketts stance and accepted what was left of the original $120 million that was to go to the states 91 smaller counties. By then, certain deadlines had been missed, and much of the original allocation went back to the federal government and was redirected to other states.

Gov. Jim Pillen. April 29, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

NIFA was tapped to lead the second ERA phase  which Harner said will be the last tranche for those American Rescue Plan Act emergency rental and utility funds.

Tanya Gifford of Lift Up Sarpy County said she has seen improvement in the program after early sluggishness in getting the rental aid distributed.

It started out bumpy. They were obviously not staffed adequately, she said of the call center.

Now, Gifford said, clients are seeing a three- to four-week processing time, which she said is fair.

NIFA officials, she said, have been super responsive.

Araceli Santos-Ayala of the McCook area Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska said most landlords she has dealt with have been patient. The landlords must participate, and are the receivers of the rent aid.

We might have a hiccup here or there  but knowing there is someone to email, ask questions of or get clarification is great, she said. I havent had anybody get denied at this point. I tell them it can take time and try to ease them by explaining the process.

Harner said fraudulent applications also have slowed the process at times. Most have been discovered prior to money being disbursed, so not many applicants have been turned over to the state authorities, she said.

Sandy Nation is a housing advocate who assists ERA applicants in northeast Nebraska.

The ERA program has helped so many families get past a really difficult time, especially in rural communities where housing is in short supply, Nation said.

Ive spoken to people who think they may not qualify, but I always say, you dont know unless you apply, Nation said. The ability to get caught up on past-due payments and build a cushion for future needs relieves a lot of stress and provides a sense of stability.

The post Rent aid program for needy Nebraskans on track, with much of the $48M still available appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  A day and a half after Lansing police arrested Michigan Representative Neil Friske (R-107th Dist.), the Ingham County Prosecutor confirms police are also investigating a claim of sexual assault related to this arrest.

Police were dispatched to the 2100 block of Forest Rd near Aurelius Rd, around 2:45 a.m. Thursday where they were told a man had a gun and shots had been fired.

(Photo: https://gophouse.org)

When Lansing Police officers arrived they said they found all the parties involved, but at this time, they are only naming Friske. Earlier Thursday, police said they arrested Friske on the 2000 block of Windbreak Lane.

Criminal History Record Information, ICHAT document (Source: Michigan State Police)

During the course of the initial investigation, law enforcement officers learned of a possible sexual assault of an adult female and they arrested a 62-year old male, Kornelius [Neil] Friske, Ingham County Prosecuting Attorney John Dewane told 6 News. The Lansing Police Department submitted a warrant request to our office on June 21, 2024, after a review of the initial investigation, I have asked the Lansing Police Department to continue their investigation. Our office will continue to work in coordination with law enforcement on this matter.

According to a police request for a warrant obtained by 6 News, police asked the Ingham County prosecutor to file three felony charges. The requested charges are Sexual Assault, Assault Excluding Sexual and Weapons Offense.

The warrant requests mirror radio communications from early Thursday morning.

Caller states there is a male with a gun threatening to shoot her and that he tried to rape her, the radio dispatch from Broadcastify reveals.

In addition, radio traffic from the incident identifies Friske as the owner of a Ford Explorer at the scene.

Radio traffic also reveal police sought to verify he had a current conceal pistol license, CPL.

Representative Friske was released from custody without being charged with a crime, Edwar Zeineh, Rep. Friskes lawyer told 6 News. Representative Friske has faith in God, Americas Constitution, and the right it affords to citizens, including due process, presumption of innocence, and the right to counsel. We look forward to the accurate facts vindicating Representative Friske.

Friske was first elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in November 2022. He represents the 107th House District in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. The district includes all of Charlevoix and Emmet counties and portions of Cheboygan, Chippewa, and Mackinac Counties.

Friskes father, Richard Friske, flew for the Luftwaffe  the Third Reichs air force  during World War II, reports the New York Times. The father also served as an organizer for the George Wallace for President campaign in 1968 and was a member of the John Birch Society. During his tenure in the Michigan Legislature, he advocated for legislation to limit the birth rate of poor people, particularly those on government assistance, the NYT reported.

The elder Friske in 1996 and 1999 made a total of $1,500 in donations to former lawmaker and white nationalist David Duke, reports OpenSecrets.com.

This district was represented by former Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield (R-Levering) who is facing his own criminal issues stemming from his time in office.

As a representative, Neil Friske has voted against allowing violent offenders to have access to mental health or substance abuse courts as well as voted against legislation to criminalize deep fake pornography, reports BillTrack50.com  which drives its data from the state legislature.

On Friskes re-election Facebook page, the following statement was posted shortly after noon Thursday:

This morning, it was brought to our attention that Representative Friske was arrested and being held. As many of us know, Rep Friske is always exercising his 2nd Amendment right. We do not have any details, besides what the media sourced, oddly before anyone of us knew anything.

It is highly suspect considering the timing of this situation: -Right before absentee ballots are released. -Day after an unknown phone number conducted polling on the 107 race between Rep. Friske and our opponent with deep-state ties. We ask everyone for prayers and to stay tuned for updates directly from this campaign or Representative Friske himself.

Thank you for the outpouring of concern and unwavering support we have received this morning. Clearly, Rep. Friske is over the target in this race. https://www.facebook.com/NeilFriskeMI

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
A new report from the Maryland Office of the Attorney Generals Independent Investigations Division sheds light on the decision by the Baltimore State Attorneys Office to not charge Baltimore Police officers in a June 2023 shootout that killed 40-year-old Darryl Gamble.

In a shootout a few blocks north of Patterson Park, Gamble fired more than 30 rounds while five officers fired 51, according to the report, which summarizes the evidence and reviews potential charges and defenses but does not offer an opinion.

Gamble and his vehicle were wanted in connection to an attempted murder when he was spotted by four officers stopped at a Royal Farms on East Fayette Street on June 29, 2023. The officers started following him in an unmarked black Ford Fusion police car, according to the report. Officers attempted to follow Gamble on East Fayette but lost sight of him around 5:30 p.m., according to the report citing body camera footage.

Around 40 seconds later and about a half mile away at the intersection of East Fayette and Lakewood streets, another officer in an unmarked SUV spotted Gamble, who got out of his car and shot at the officers passenger window, according to the report. Then five officers on foot surrounded Gamble near the 1400 block of North Milton Avenue in the Patterson Park and Patterson Place neighborhoods. Private security camera footage recorded Gamble as he opened fire with a handgun before falling backward. He attempted to retrieve a rifle from a backpack as officers opened fire, and Stephen Romey radioed just before 5:32 p.m. suspect is down, according to the report. A medic declared him dead at 5:41 p.m.

The officers, Matthew Banocy, Nicholas DeJesus, Austin Gutridge, Connor Johnson and Nevin Nolte, each fired at least five rounds, and Gamble was shot 15 times.

The officers could have been charged with excessive force, second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter, according to the report.

The independent investigative division finished its investigation Dec. 8 and sent the report to the Baltimore City States Attorney on Dec. 20. In May, the Baltimore State Attorneys Office said charges were declined because officers were pursuing a wanted person who fled and fired a gun at officers as the initial aggressor. Police officers shot Gamble in response to his gunfire and were justified in the use of deadly force, prosecutors wrote.
Incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle (left) and challenger Monique DeSpain, Republican nominee to represent the 4th Congressional District (right). (Campaign photos)

Incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle (left) and challenger Monique DeSpain, Republican nominee to represent the 4th Congressional District (right). (Campaign photos)

Republican congressional nominee Monique DeSpain challenged Democratic U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle to six debates in a congressional district that many Republican operatives are eying as key to maintaining the partys slight majority in the House.

DeSpain made the challenge via a news release and email Thursday, according to campaign communications director, Kevin Hoar. DeSpain hopes to unseat Hoyle, the incumbent representative for Oregons 4th Congressional District, which spans seven counties mostly along the southwest coast from the Oregon-California border to Lincoln City.

DeSpain wants the debates held between August and October, each in a different county in the district, with at least three of the debates broadcast on television and the rest streamed on the internet or broadcast on a radio station, the news release said.

These debates will give voters a chance to hear and compare Vals disastrous record of corruption and shilling for DC special interests with my track record of bringing people together to solve tough problems and my bold vision for securing our border and communities, restoring economic prosperity and holding government accountable  starting with Val Hoyle herself, DeSpain said in the release.

Elizabeth Wilson, a spokesperson for Hoyles campaign, said DeSpain is seeking media attention and never directly contacted Hoyle, or Hoyles team, to coordinate a debate.

We wont respond to a challenge made through the media, but the congresswoman looks forward to a discussion with Oregon voters about Moniques support for banning abortion, her work to undermine workers rights, and her fealty to Donald Trump, Wilson said in an email. With respect to news organizations and civic organizations who host these forums, we will coordinate with them on appropriate times and venues for debates.

Potentially pivotal seat

The race for the 4th District has caught the eye of the National Republican Congressional Committee, which has indicated that flipping the district is among its top priorities in 2024. And last month the, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee identified Hoyle as a vulnerable incumbent.

Since redistricting in 2021, the 4th Congressional Districts voter base favors Democrats. Unaffiliated voters who often vote for Democrats make up 35% of registered voters compared to 32% for Democrats and 23% for Republicans, according to the Secretary of States data for this month.

Hoyle has raised nearly $1.3 million for her campaign so far, about five times as much as DeSpain. In 2022, Hoyle defeated Republican Alek Skarlatos despite being outspent by nearly $2 million.

DeSpain has no previous elected experience, though shes worked in recent years as a lawyer for Salem area Rep. Kevin Mannix, a prominent state Republican. DeSpain is also a 30-year veteran of the Air Force and Oregon Air National Guard who retired as a colonel.

Hoyle, former state labor commissioner, is a freshman member of Congress who is facing scrutiny over her relationship with the troubled founders of a cannabis company thats under federal investigation. The company, La Mota, owes millions in state and federal taxes, and the founders are being investigated by federal regulators over their ties to former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan, who worked as a private consultant for them while her office conducted an audit of state cannabis regulations.

The post Republican candidate Monique DeSpain challenges U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle to six debates appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle.
A voting location manager says goodbye to a voter. (File photo by Graham Stokes for the Ohio Capital Journal. Republish photo only with original story.)

Legislation in the Ohio House and Senate would make sweeping changes to the way Ohioans vote and how those votes are counted. Despite sterling post-election audits in Ohio and the arrival last year of strict new photo voter ID requirements, backers insist more must be done to secure the states elections.

Among their demands are provisions allowing hand-counted ballots, and new voting machine requirements that could force counties across the state to replace the voting machines they have. Moreover, certified voting machines dont exist that would meet the bills standards, and hand-counting has been shown to be more timely and less accurate than the currently certified voting machines that do exist. The bill would also extend photo ID requirements to absentee voting  making voters include a photocopy of their ID with their completed ballot.

And the drafters have plans for in-person voting as well. The bill directs county boards to include a voters photograph in the pollbook, so poll workers wont simply compare a photo ID to person standing in front of them, but also to a photo on file from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

The League of Women Voters of Ohio policy affairs manager Nazek Hapasha argued the measure is rooted in conspiracy theories about non-citizens voting in Ohios elections. Ohios secretary of state has referred more than 500 of cases of alleged non-citizen voter fraud since taking office. Only one of those cases led to charges.

All of this together, she said, opens up the door to election deniers to cast doubt over our election systems, and the reliability and integrity of our election system.

The House version of the proposal, sponsored by state Reps. Bernie Willis, R-Springfield and Bob Peterson, R-Selina, has already had a pair of hearings. The Senates bill, sponsored by state Sen. Andrew Brenner, R-Dublin, and Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, has yet to get a hearing.

In sponsor testimony Willis invoked the growing prevalence of cyberattacks, and Peterson compared the bills security measures to keeping your computers antivirus software up to date. Gavarone and Brenner struck a similar tone.

Technology is rapidly evolving, which means that our systems must be constantly updated to prevent bad actors from threatening our elections, Gavarone said in a press release. Brenner added the bill aims to make Ohios elections as safe and secure as possible.

You gonna pay for that?

The proposal has garnered push back from elections officials and county commissioners in large part because of the potential expense. In a written statement, the County Commissioners Association of Ohio described the bills as unnecessary, cumbersome and a huge unfunded mandate on counties.

State lawmakers earmarked about $115 million for new machines in 2018. According to legislative researchers, it appears none of them meet the standards laid out in the bill.

So, then that would mean we would need to replace our voting equipment across the state, Lorain County Board of Elections Director Paul Adams explained. And that is assuming that we have a vendor that has something certified, as well as a vendor that can supply them in enough quantities.

In addition to leading the Lorain County board, Adams serves as President of the Ohio Association of Election Officials.

Despite those sweeping changes, Adams noted the bill doesnt carry an appropriation  Ive called it an unfunded mandate in search of a problem  and even the $115 million lawmakers spent last time didnt cover the full cost of new machines.

Whats more, the bills security standards dont just cut out the states current machines, theyd potentially eliminate all machines. The United States Election Assistance Commission establishes voluntary standards, and the bill requires any Ohio voting machine clear a standard known as VVSG 2.0.

The only problem is the EAC has yet to certify a machine that meets that standard.

Even assuming they did so tomorrow, Adams adds, county boards still wouldnt be out of the woods.

Just because somebody goes through certification, he said, doesnt mean that theyve already started production, and they have enough to replace 88 counties in the state of Ohio.

Elections officials worry as well about the cost of hand counting ballots. While the bill doesnt direct counties to count ballots by hand, Adams argued the approach would undermine rather than bolster confidence. He pointed to a mock hand count in Butler County earlier this year.

The county board took a batches of 50 ballots from the March primary and had bipartisan teams tally the votes. On average, it took the teams a little more than 2 hours to tally 50 ballots. Applying that to their precincts, the report estimates the smallest polling locations could take over 9 hours to count their ballots while the largest locations could take as long as 50 plus hours. And the authors are quick to note, thats if everything goes perfectly on the first count. When it comes to cost, the report suggested additional supplies and staffing would set the board back more than $827,000.

The accuracy in hand-counting also worsened. Counting just 150 ballots total, the teams generated 8 mistakes  an error rate of 5.33%. The report noted in the countys 2020 post-election audit, they went back over 10,600 ballots. The accuracy rate was 100%.

Practical effects

Hapasha worries about how the hand counting and voting machine provisions might interact. Although the measure would allow rather than require hand counts, it also effectively mothballs the states voting machines.

And so, practically speaking, if this were to go into effect, it might actually require hand counting the next day even though the bill says that it would only allow hand counting, she explained.

She also has significant doubts about requiring absentee voters to mail a photocopy of their ID.

Every elections official that I have spoken to around the state has told me that they have no problem verifying the identity of a person who votes by mail now under the current methods we have, Hapasha said.

Adams dismissed the idea as well. How many people have access to a photocopier at home? he asked. Adams argued the requirement would be particularly challenging for disabled voters, and it could lead to identity theft.

I think you create more of a reason for fraudulent individuals to target election mail, he said, because they know that inside of that is going to be a copy of your drivers license, which I dont necessarily think that people want to have out there.

They both highlighted other provisions in the bill could create substantial delays in getting election results. For one, the bill takes away boards ability to pre-process absentee ballots before the polls close. That preliminary work helps Ohio get election night results much faster. For another, if a voter casts an absentee ballot and later votes a provisional ballot, the bill directs the board to count the provisional ballot. That reverses current practice, Adams said, and creates a loophole for voters change their vote.

This would then encourage organizations and voters to switch their votes if something came up, Adams said.

With such a sweeping set of policy changes, and less than six months left in the current general assembly, Hapasha argued the lawmakers dont have enough time to adequately discuss the bill.

I just dont see how its possible that the legislature could possibly give this bill the time that it needs to go through the legislative process, Hapasha said. It makes election administration extraordinarily more difficult, more time consuming, and more expensive, with little to no added benefit.

Follow OCJ Reporter Nick Evans on Twitter.

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The post Republican lawmakers working on sweeping changes to Ohio election administration appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
From the Dispatch Politics on The Dispatch

Happy Friday! We hope your Friday morning began with your feeding two wild ravens, as Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s may have.

Up to Speed

Former President Donald Trump will get the last word at next weeks CNN debate against President Joe Biden, the network announced Thursday. The Biden campaign, which won a coin toss, chose for the president to stand on the right side of the debate stage from the viewers perspective as Trumps team opted for their candidate to deliver closing remarks last. Biden is in prep sessions at Camp David while Trump is engaged in policy-focused meetings ahead of Thursdays matchup. CNN finalized debate rules with both campaigns over the weekend.

Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. did not meet the requirements for that debate, CNN announced Thursday. It appears that both President Trump and President Biden are afraid to debate me, and their campaigns are colluding with CNN to keep me off the debating stage, Kennedy said in a video he posted on X. To qualify, candidates had to hit 15 percent in four polls that met the networks standards and be on enough state ballots to reach 270 electoral votes and win the presidency. As of Monday, Kennedy had met the threshold in three polls and had ballot access to take 89 electoral votes.

Trump said Thursday that foreign students who graduate from American colleges and universities should receive a green card upon completion of their degree. You graduate from a college, I think you should get, automatically as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country, and that includes junior colleges too, he said on an episode of The All-In Podcast that aired on X. Trumps comments come as Biden has attempted to hedge against backlash on immigration from his right and left flanks. In recent weeks hes taken executive action both to institute border restrictions and give a path to legal residence to certain spouses and children of American citizens who are in the country unlawfully.

Vice President Kamala Harris will blame Trump for the overturning of Roe v. Wade at events in Arizona and Maryland this Monday on the second anniversary of the Supreme Courts Dobbs decision, Axios reported Wednesday. Harris is also expected to accuse Trump and other Republicans of wanting to enforce a nationwide abortion ban. Democrats have continually criticized Republicans on abortion access to make the topic a winning issue for their party this election cycle. Harris trip is intended to boost Democratic candidates in both states, including Maryland Senate nominee Angela Alsobrooks, who is in a competitive race against Republican former Gov. Larry Hogan.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee plans to spend more than $100 million as part of its effort to regain control of the Senate, Politico reported Thursday. To that end, it began placing multimillion dollar ad buys in Ohio, Nevada, Michigan, and Arizona, and a key part of its strategy was to recruit wealthy candidates who can self-fund campaigns and split the cost of advertising in such key races. The news comes months after the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee announced an investment of $79 million in advertising buys that included coordinated spending with campaigns.

On the House side of the campaign, the National Republican Congressional Committee announced a May fundraising haul of $12.6 million, a record for the month of May in an election year. It is more than $700,000 higher than the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committees gains in the same month. Democrats held a fundraising advantage early in the cycle, but Republicans and the Trump campaign have begun to close the gap after a guilty verdict in the former presidents Manhattan hush money trial.

Pro-Trump Outside Group to Boost Nevada Ground Game

Supporters of former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump arrive before the start of a campaign rally at Sunset Park in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 9, 2024. (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

The Republican Leadership Fund, an outside group helmed by a veteran Republican field operative, is aiming to buttress the GOPs threadbare ground game in Nevada: It plans to deploy more than 100 paid and contracted staff to knock on doors and turn out votes for the partys 2024 ticket.

But in a twistand in an effort this super PAC may export to additional battleground statesit plans to exclusively target non-partisan voters. Nevada has seen an explosion of voters unaffiliated with the Democratic or Republican parties. Chris Carr, the GOP strategist running the group, has concluded thousands of such voters are ripe for persuasion, based on extensive polling and data-analytics modeling. In a state where elections are often decided by a hair, that could be a difference-maker.

In 2020, Carr did double duty as political director for the Republican National Committee and Donald Trumps reelection campaign, and previously ran voter turnout operations for the RNC. Earlier this week, he shared his plans for Republican Leadership Fund with Dispatch Politics. The program, Carr said, will accelerate in September; is budgeted to spend roughly $2 million to $3 million; will include direct-mail and text-message appeals; and will target voters who prefer Republican policies, even if they dislike the Republican Party.

Similar to a strategy Carr leaned on during his RNC days, canvassers will be deployed to designated communities and remain there through Election Day. This approach breeds familiarity with neighborhoods, and the voters who live there, and often yields more results than a mercenary door-knocker who is just passing through. Why is Carr focused on turning out unaffiliated voters?

Possibly because of a successful 2018 ballot initiative that uses the Department of Motor Vehicles to automatically register Nevadans to vote, the states 668,000 nonpartisan voters as of May 1 outnumbered both Democrats (602,917) and Republicans (570,283.) Combined with Democrats historic voter registration advantage over the Republicans shrinking significantly, nonpartisan voters could hold the key to Joe Biden and Trumps fall fortunes. In 2020, Biden defeated his predecessor in the Silver State 50.06 percent to 47.67 percent.

That the Republican Leadership Fund is active at all, concentrating on any voting bloc, is a significant development.

As Dispatch Politics previously reported, the Trump campaign and the RNC have lagged behind the ground game fielded by Team Biden and the Democratic National Committee. The former president is finally raising money at a healthy clip and beginning to catch Biden in the race for resources that might fund a voter turnout operation. But Trump has told several Republican operatives that he prefers funding litigation to prevent Democrats from cheating, rather than investing in voter turnout, sources tell us.

So now, even though the Trump campaign has the money, the former president may still rely on outside groupslike the Republican Leadership Fund and othersto shoulder field duties for the GOPs 2024 ticket. Meanwhile, in Nevada, where Biden is on his heels and Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen is up for reelection, Democrats also are looking beyond their base, wooing independents and soft partisanspart of a massive spend that is financing 1,000 paid staff and 200 field offices across multiple battleground states.

Donna West, a grassroots organizer for the Nevada Democratic Party, told Dispatch Politics in May that her door-knocking this summer and fall will include appeals to unaffiliated voters and persuadable Republicans, especially suburban women. One issue that pops with this cohort, West told us during state Democrats biennial convention, is abortion rights: Im not just going to D doors anymore.

Senate Dems Push Back on Calls for Justices to Step Down

The prospect of Democrats losing the Senate, the White House, or both in November has prompted some progressives to make one last push for Justice Sonia Sotomayor, age 69, and possibly even Justice Elena Kagan, age 64, to retire from the Supreme Court so they can be replaced by young progressive jurists.

Justices Sotomayor and Kagan must retire now, progressive legal writer Ian Millhiser wrote at Vox on June 10. I am begging the justices to learn from Ruth Bader Ginsburgs historic mistake.

But Senate Democrats who spoke to Dispatch Politics in the Capitol on Thursday dismissed the argument. We need to keep [Justice Sotomayor] on the bench, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin said. Those calling on Sotomayor to step down were suffering from irrational exuberance if they think filling the vacancy is an easy process, he said.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, another member of the Judiciary Committee, told Dispatch Politics he hasnt called for Sotomayor to be replaced because I think she has a pretty good sense of what her own health situation is.

As far as I can see theyre doing the job vigorously and able, Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said of Sotomayor and Kagan. They as individuals have to make the decision about whats right for them. Im not going to tell justices on the Supreme Court to resign, especially when I agree with their outlook and views on the law.

And when asked if theres anything to the argument that Sotomayor and Kagan should retire so their successors can be named by a Democratic president and confirmed by a Democratic Senate, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts scoffed and simply said, No.

Notable and Quotable

I think he will be somebody who will be a worthy debater. I dont want to underestimate him. Former President Donald Trump speaking about facing President Joe Biden in Thursdays CNN debate on The All-In Podcast, June 20, 2024

Read more at The Dispatch

The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free.
Reinvigorating the dwindling Great Salt Lake could bring benefits to regional ecology and help bridge the environmental justice gaps that impact area residents, a new study has found.

As inland seas dry up worldwide, they emit polluted dust into surrounding communities, the study authors explained. Near the Great Salt Lake, exposure to those contaminants is highest among Pacific Islanders and Hispanic populations and lowest among white people, the researchers noted.

Restoring the lake would therefore benefit everyone in its vicinity by decreasing dust exposure, while also reducing disparities among different racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups, according to the study, published Friday in One Earth.

People here in Utah are concerned about the lake for a variety of reasonsthe ski industry, the brine shrimp, the migratory birds, recreation, first author Sara Grineski, a sociologist professor at the University of Utah, said in a statement.

This study adds environmental justice and the equity implications of the drying lake to the conversation, Grineski added.

The Great Salt Lake has been on a continuous drying trajectory since the mid-1980s  exposing its dry lake bed to wind and atmospheric weather conditions, the researchers noted.

Meanwhile, they explained, past studies have demonstrated that dust emissions from drying salt lakes generate fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), which has become a public health threat worldwide.

Grineski and her colleagues therefore sought to determine whether some individuals suffer the consequences disproportionately.

To do so, they used a model to explore how dust pollution would change if the lake became even dryer or if water levels climbed to a healthy level. Specifically, they simulated how much dust would be generated by erosion under various conditions  and how wind would distribute the resultant dust across three nearby counties.

The researchers then combined their models results with demographic data from the U.S. Census to determine whether dust exposure severity has any connection to racial and ethnic groups or socioeconomic status.

Ultimately, Grineski and the team found that at the lakes current level, people in the Great Salt Valley are exposed to 26 micrograms per cubic meter of PM 2.5 dust on average.

Although that figure is much higher than the World Health Organizations threshold of 15 micrograms per cubic meter, it is lower than the U.S. threshold of 35 micrograms per cubic meter.

Should the lake dry up entirely, average exposure to PM 2.5 during dust storms would soar to 32 micrograms per cubic meter, according to the study. Restoring the lake to a healthy level would reduce average exposure to 24 micrograms per cubic meter.

In addition to identifying disproportionate exposure among Pacific Islander and Hispanic populations, the authors also found that individuals who lacked a high school diploma were more likely to be heavily exposed.

The researchers stressed the importance of enacting policy and conservation measures that could help bolster water levels of the lake and accelerate the regions climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts.

If we can raise the levels of the lake via some coordinated policy responses, we can reduce our exposure to dust, Grineski said.

Doing so, she continued, would be good for everyones health, and we can also reduce the disparity between groups.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Statement: The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals just ruled Covid vax mandates unconstitutional.

After an appeals court ruled in favor of Los Angeles school employees who opposed COVID-19 vaccination mandates, independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. celebrated on social media.

"The ranks of the conspiracy theorists now include the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which just ruled Covid vax mandates unconstitutional because the vaccine does not stop transmission," Kennedy wrote in a June 12 Facebook post. "I dunno, maybe its the brain worm, but I seem to remember the experts and authorities telling us otherwise."

But Kennedys characterization distorts the courts ruling. Kennedy has made misleading anti-vaccine claims a hallmark of his campaign. Kennedys campaign of conspiracy theories was PolitiFact's 2023 Lie of the Year.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled June 7 only that the lawsuit filed against the Los Angeles Unified School District could move forward. It overturned a lower court decision to dismiss the lawsuit, which was brought by the nonprofit Health Freedom Defense Fund, which advocates against vaccine mandates, and employees who opposed the districts COVID-19 vaccination mandate.

"The court did not rule on the legitimacy or accuracy of the plaintiffs factual allegations about the vaccines, such as their claims that the vaccines do not prevent transmission," said Stacey B. Lee, a law and ethics professor at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School.

Both Lee and Dorit Reiss, an expert on vaccine policy at University of California Law, San Francisco, told PolitiFact that the court didnt directly address the constitutionality of vaccine mandates.

"The question before the court was whether the District Court was right to dismiss the case without letting it go to fact finding," Reiss said.

That question had two main parts: Did the school districts decision to revoke the mandate render the case moot? And did the lower court correctly apply a U.S. Supreme Court precedent related to vaccine requirements?

"We vacate the district courts order dismissing this claim and remand for further proceedings under the correct legal standard," Judge Ryan Nelson wrote in the courts 2-1 decision.

We contacted Kennedy and received no response.

The school districts vaccine mandate

In 2021, the Los Angeles Unified School District announced  and repeatedly amended  policies that required employees be vaccinated against COVID-19 or risk losing their jobs.

Vaccine mandate-opposed employees and the Health Freedom Defense Fund argued in their lawsuit that the policy violated their right to refuse medical treatment. The Supreme Court has ruled that the Constitutions due process clause protects a persons right to refuse medical care.

The lower court dismissed the case.

Appealing that decision, the plaintiffs asked the courts to declare the vaccination requirements unconstitutional and to prevent the district from requiring it in the future, according to the 9th Circuit opinion.

The district dropped its vaccination policy in September 2023. Administrators said the district weighed factors including the slower, more predictable spread of the virus and the availability of COVID-19 treatments, LAist reported.

Oral arguments before the 9th Circuit took place Sept. 14, 2023, not long before the districts school board voted to rescind the policy, according to the 9th Circuit opinion.

Nelson wrote that the district had "reversed course several times" on its policy.

"LAUSDs pattern of withdrawing and then reinstating its vaccination policies is enough to keep this case alive," the 9th Circuit opinion said.

The appeals court said a Supreme Court precedent was incorrectly applied

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a lower courts dismissal of a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a school districts policy that required staff vaccinations against COVID-19.

In dismissing the lawsuit, the lower court had relied in part on the Supreme Courts 1905 ruling in Jacobson v. Massachusetts, which the defense had argued supported the vaccine mandates constitutionality. The Jacobson decision established that a smallpox vaccination requirement was constitutional, saying states can implement "reasonable regulations" to protect public health and safety.

The 9th Circuit ruling said the lower courts application of the Jacobson precedent in the Los Angeles case was flawed.

The plaintiffs in the Los Angeles district case had argued that COVID-19 vaccines do not effectively prevent the spread of the virus and only mitigate symptoms for vaccine recipients. They argued COVID-19 vaccines are "a medical treatment, not a traditional vaccine," according to the 9th Circuit opinion.

The appeals court ruled that the Jacobson standard would not apply if the plaintiffs anti-vaccine arguments were factually true  something the court noted had not been fully examined or factually established at this stage of the court proceedings.

"On a motion to dismiss, the court is compelled to take the plaintiffs allegations as true," said Margaret Foster Riley, a law and public health sciences professor at the University of Virginias School of Law. "It is not meant to evaluate those claims, but rather to determine whether the plaintiff has a legally viable case assuming everything that they allege is true."

The plaintiffs now have the task of arguing the veracity of their COVID-19 vaccine claims. The defense, if it wants to use Jacobson as grounds for dismissal, has the task of submitting evidence to rebut the plaintiffs claims that vaccines dont effectively prevent the virus spread.

Alternatively, the district could appeal and either request a larger bench of 9th Circuit judges hear their arguments for dismissal or appeal directly to the Supreme Court.

"Its crucial to note the court did not endorse the plaintiffs claims about the vaccines," Lee said. The court found that "Jacobson alone would not definitively resolve the case at the outset," if the plaintiffs allegations about the vaccines proved true.

The ruling said the appeals courts findings on the application of Jacobson were preliminary. "We do not prejudge whether, on a more developed factual record, Plaintiffs allegations will prove true," it read.

PolitiFact's ruling

Kennedy claimed the 9th Circuit Court "just ruled Covid vax mandates unconstitutional."

The appeals court ruled 2-1 to vacate a lower courts dismissal of a vaccine mandate lawsuit; it didn't rule on whether a vaccine mandate is constitutional.

We rate this claim False.

PolitiFact Researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report.

Our sources

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: PolitiFact: RFK Jr.'s false claim on federal vaccine mandate ruling
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. smiles while speaking during a press conference at the East Senate Building at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024. Kennedy discussed his ballot status in Utah, the first state where the campaign submitted signatures. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Time has run out for independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to qualify for CNNs June 27 presidential debate in Atlanta.

The network announced Thursday that the historic debate would be between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump while Kennedy fell short of qualification benchmarks. According to parameters set by CNN, Kennedy failed to secure a place on state ballots totaling at least 270 Electoral College votes and did not reach at least 15% support in four separate national polls.

Kennedy, backed by his famous family name and his reputation as an environmental lawyer, is confirmed to be on the ballot in Utah, Delaware, Oklahoma, Michigan, and Tennessee, according to The Washington Post.

According to The Guardian, CNN also counted Kennedy as a nominee of minor parties in California and Hawaii. Those states total 100 electoral votes, missing the mark to qualify for the debate.

The other requirement Kennedy failed to meet was the polling threshold. According to CBS News, Kennedy fell short in one national poll, claiming only three qualifying polls with 15% support.

The missed opportunity denies Kennedy the opportunity of confronting the leading presidential candidates and of the chance to be in front of a large national audience. According to The New York Times, More than 73 million people watched the first debate between Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump in 2020 ... .

The Associated Press reported on a released statement where Kennedy called his rejection from the debate undemocratic, un-American, and cowardly.

The New York Times reported, the last time a third-party presidential candidate reached the debate stage was in 1992. Texas billionaire Ross Perots self-funded independent campaign made its way to the debate stage against President George H.W. Bush and Gov. Bill Clinton.

Kennedy has issued a complaint with the Federal Election Commission suggesting CNN has conspired with the leading candidates to keep him from debating, according to The Hill.

Presidents Biden and Trump do not want me on the stage, and CNN illegally agreed to their demand, Kennedy said, per the Times.

The second presidential debate will be hosted by ABC on Sept. 10, two months before the November election.
Mark your calendar for Time Capsule: The Breitling Heritage Exhibition, a showcase of the most important timepieces from the brands illustrious 140-year history. The exhibit is now on tour, with 55 stops planned across four continents

Founded in 1884, Breitling has been at the forefront of watchmaking innovation for 140 years. Its legacy is one of firsts: Breitling invented the modern chronograph, equipped the first pilots watch with a circular slide rule, sent the first Swiss wristwatch into space, and sent the first dive chronograph underwater. It codeveloped the first automatic chronograph movement, put the first international emergency beacon in a watch, was the first to make its movements 100% COSC certified, and today is still breaking ground with innovations like the first traceable watch and an array of manufacture movements designed and assembled at the Breitling Chronometrie. Breitling is celebrating this legacy throughout its anniversar y year with the tagline 140 Years of Firsts. And now, a new exhibition offers a chance to see these trailblazing pieces firsthand.

Time Capsule: The Breitling Heritage Exhibition will make 55 stops at selected Breitling boutiques across four continents: North America, Europe, Oceania, and Asia (including the Middle East). This travelling showcase brings together the most significant watches from Breitlings past, highlighting those that played a pioneering role in watchmaking history and aligning them with their modern-day counterparts.

Weve launched Time Capsule to honor our heritage and celebrate our breakthroughs, said Georges Kern, CEO of Breitling. Each exhibition is a captivating journey that connects our heritage with the present, allowing guests to witness the evolution and lasting spirit of our brand. The four exhibition kits are already on tour, set to be showcased for one to two weeks in each boutique, with the exhibition running from May 27 to December 6, 2024.

Time Capsule: The Breitling Heritage Exhibition  Breitling

KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EXHIBITION

Gaston Breitlings mono-pusher (1915): This pioneering design was the first to separate the chronograph functions from the crown, marking a significant innovation.

Willy Breitlings Populaires (1937): Inspired by the Kodak Brownie camera, this line made chronographs accessible to a wider audience by mass-producing them at an approachable price.

Cocktail watches (1940s): Breitlings elaborate womens cocktail watches, handcrafted in gold and gemstones, showcase the brands historic craftsmanship and inspire its modern womens lines.

The first smartwatch (1942): Breitlings Chronomat, originally meaning Chronograph for Mathematicians, was the first watch equipped with a circular slide rule. It acted as an analog calculator, setting the stage for future innovations like the Navitimer.

The Navitimer (1952): This revolutionary pilots watch developed in 1952 featured a circular slide rule that turned it into the worlds first wrist-worn flight computer. Adopted by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the Navitimer became an iconic timepiece for aviators and style icons alike.

The Cosmonaute (1962): A Navitimer with a 24-hour display, requested by astronaut Scott Carpenter to distinguish day from night in space. It became the first Swiss wristwatch in space, leading to its popular appeal back on Earth.

The Chrono-Matic (1969): The result of a top-secret consortium with Heuer Leonidas, Hamilton Buren, and Dubois-Depraz, this movement was the first to market that combined a chronograph with an automatic caliber.

The Emergency (1995): This was the first watch to contain a miniature international distress beacon, which helps locate and rescue people in danger and potentially save their lives.

EXHIBITION EXPERIENCE

Time Capsule offers a walk-in experience open to all, showcased in vintage-inspired steamertrunk displays tailored to each boutique. Guests can explore the watches and delve deeper into Breitlings history by scanning QR codes for information about each timepiece. For those seeking a more in-depth experience, scheduling an appointment is recommended.

[Link to dates and locations]
Records pertaining to Mark Cooper's court case will be destroyed.

A jury in April found Cooper, 57, not guilty of two counts of involuntary manslaughter and a single count of reckless homicide in connection with the death of Alexander Rios, 28.

Cooper was a correctional officer in the Richland County Jail when he and several of his co-workers struggled to contain Rios, who had burst out of his holding cell and darted past them into the book-in area on Sept. 19, 2019.

Mark Cooper prepares to testify during a hearing on his motion to expunge records from his court case.

Through defense attorney James Mayer III, Cooper asked to have his record expunged. Common Pleas Judge Brent Robinson held a hearing on the matter Thursday morning.

The judge had to weigh Cooper's interest in having his record expunged against the state's interest in having those records retained.

In the case at hand, Rios went limp after the struggle and never regained consciousness. His family took him off life support eight days later. The state, represented by the Ohio Attorney General's Office, contended Cooper killed Rios when he stood on him with both feet.

Cooper took the stand Thursday for testimony limited to the motion to expunge. After voluntarily leaving the county jail, he said he lost his job when he was charged.

Cooper lost job after hospital found out about charges

Cooper was a security guard at Knox Community Hospital. He had been there for a year, testifying he made good money and benefits and got a three-day weekend.

"At first they said they were going to keep the job for me," Cooper said.

After losing his job at the hospital, Cooper said he was hired by four different factories until they did background checks.

He has been working as a flagger for a traffic control company, which didn't do a background check. He said he makes $14 an hour and has to pay $700 a month for benefits.

Cooper said he has bad feet, arthritis and high blood pressure, making the job difficult for him, along with weather and safety issues.

He said when co-workers found out about his case, they started treating him differently by not talking to him.

"I am an honorable person, and I've tried to live my life the right way," Cooper said.

On cross-examination, Special Prosecutor Denise Salerno asked Cooper about losing his job as a security guard. He said the hospital couldn't let him carry a taser and handcuffs given his charges.

Cooper said he did factory work for nine years in the 1980s. Salerno asked if he simply lost out on jobs because he was overqualified or underqualified.

"I wouldn't think so," Cooper said.

Alexander Rios' mother addresses court

Attorneys offered brief arguments to the judge after Cooper's testimony and after Toni Mould, Rios' mother, addressed the court.

"I think it needs to remain on the record that he broke policy to obtain his objective," she said. "He continues to not show remorse for a life he was partially responsible for."

Mould said Cooper should not be allowed to work in law enforcement or security.

"Alex died as a result of negligence, which can't be denied," she said. "This was not changed by a 'not guilty' verdict."

Mayer then addressed Robinson.

"When applying the law that is currently in effect, I think this an easy call for the court," Mayer said. "My client has testified under oath and has clearly laid out a compelling reason for the record to be expunged.

"We are talking about a case that involves an actual acquittal. ... That's super important."

Mayer credited Cooper for not giving up when he lost his job at Knox Community Hospital or being bypassed for four other jobs he had secured.

"Does he hang his head? No," Mayer said. "He finds the only job that will hire him without a background check. He's patiently waiting for a meaningful job that he can feel good about."

He added he didn't understand the state's objection.

Attorney general's office sought to retain records

Salerno was up next.

"The people of the state of Ohio, and especially the Attorney General's Office, would disagree that the state doesn't have a legitimate purpose in having these records retained," she said.

While Salerno said she empathized with Cooper's job difficulties, she pointed out Rios died while in custody.

"In law enforcement, there is a duty of care for all people in your custody," she said. "This is a big issue right now in society, not just in Richland County, not just in Mansfield.

"These records shouldn't be hidden from society. ... This goes to the transparency to the people."

More: Families protest, seeking justice for loves ones who died in care of Richland County Jail

In making his ruling, Robinson said he has typically been granting a request such as Cooper's.

"I get why they (defense and Rios' family) have the feelings that they have," Robinson said. "It would be a different story if there was a conviction in the case. The state would have more basis if there hadn't been an acquittal."

mcaudill@gannett.com

419-521-7219

X: @MarkCau32059251

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Ex-corrections officer at Richland County Jail to have record expunged
A 58-year-old rideshare driver accused of raping his passenger has been released from the Thurston County jail after posting a $100,000 bail bond.

Ahmed Hassan Ali of Seattle posted bond on Monday. Judge John Skinder set the bail amount earlier that day in Thurston County Superior Court.

The Prosecuting Attorneys Office charged Ali on Tuesday with second-degree rape and first-degree kidnapping. Deputies arrested him Saturday morning after an investigation into a shooting led them to Ali and the passenger, a 22-year-old woman.

The womans father told deputies he found Ali sexually assaulting her, Thurston Sheriffs Lt. Mike Brooks said on Sunday. In response, the father assaulted the driver and fired a gun, but the driver was not shot.

In setting the bail amount, Skinder determined there existed a substantial danger Ali may commit a violent crime if he were released without conditions. Skinder also barred Ali from contacting the woman and ordered him to surrender his passport, according to court records.

Ali also was instructed to to wear a tracking unit and remain at his home with few exceptions, such as visiting court, his attorney, medical appointments or religious services.

Court records indicate Ali has no known adult criminal convictions.

The investigation

A statement of probable cause describes the investigation into the alleged crimes from the perspective of law enforcement.

A Thurston County deputy responded to the area of Gardner Court Southeast and Nisqually Park Drive on June 15 after someone reported gunshots in that area.

The caller told dispatch they heard a man say, I dont want to kill you, two gunshots and then two unknown vehicles driving away, according to the statement.

The deputy contacted the driver of one of those vehicles, later identified as Ali, during a traffic stop on Sixth Avenue Southeast, just south of Steilacoom Road.

Ali reportedly appeared injured and confused at the time. The deputy noted he was bleeding from his head and hands and had multiple lumps on the front sides of his head.

Ali allegedly told the deputy he dropped off a female passenger in the area when four unknown individuals exited from another vehicle, opened his vehicle doors and assaulted him, according to the statement.

The deputy noted a smartphone, a black T-shirt and a single shoe were in the backseat of Alis vehicle. He allegedly said those items did not belong to him.

Medics transported Ali to Providence St. Peter Hospital to be treated for his injuries, the statement says.

A detective responded to the scene of the alleged sexual assault and contacted two men. One of them reportedly said they were looking for his girlfriends smartphone and they had tracked it to that location.

The detective observed a pair of black lace panties, a hat, sunglasses and two .45 caliber bullet casings at the scene before following the men to a residence.

At the residence, the detective met the woman who was allegedly assaulted and some of her family members, all of whom were intoxicated, the court records say.

One of the family members said they called a ride for the woman outside a bar and later found her naked on the side of the roadway. The family member said it appeared as if the woman had been sexually assaulted.

Based on the womans behavior, the detective believed she was too intoxicated to be capable of consent. The woman told the detective her phone and panties were missing and she did not recall what happened after she left the bar.

A deputy transported the woman to a hospital to complete a sexual assault kit. At the hospital, the family member broke down and offered a different account of what happened, according to the probable cause statement.

The family member alleged a rideshare driver matching Alis description picked up the woman from a bar. The family member said the woman was not home when they returned later that night..

The womans father then tracked her location to the 11600 block of Sixth Avenue Southeast and went there with three other people, according to the statement.

The group allegedly found Alis vehicle and opened the backdoor to find the woman fully naked and Ali jumping over the center console to the front of the vehicle. The statement says the group then assaulted Ali.

Later that night, one of Alis family members called 911 from Seattle to report him as a missing person. His phones location reportedly showed it was near the womans home.

The detective later returned to the womans residence and gave her back her phone. The woman reportedly allowed the detective to look through her phone to establish a timeline of events.

The rideshare app on her phone showed she was picked up from a bar at 12:17 a.m. Saturday and dropped off at about 12:31 a.m. at 624 Old Pacific Highway SE, which is not her residence.

The rideshare app also identified Ali as her driver and detailed his vehicle, court records say. Another app indicated she continued moving past the drop-off point in the rideshare app until she reached a long private driveway on Sixth Avenue, the statement says.

With this information, the detective alleges Ali marked the woman as dropped-off in the rideshare app to conceal her location so he could sexually assault her.
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  As the daytime highs rise, so do calls to the Emergency Room.

28/22 News spoke with someone who responds to those calls and found out the heat has been taking a toll on his team as well.

With the high volume of calls emergency services have been receiving, they too have been spending a lot of time in the heat.

Something that needs to be taken care of while also helping those in need.

Excessive Heat Watch in effect for the weekend

As Pennsylvania Ambulance continues to respond to heat-related calls, those on the other end of the call arent the only ones affected by the high temperatures.

Were dealing with issues with the trucks and the heat affecting the vehicles and of course, the crews themselves that are out there really getting hot and sweaty and having to keep themselves hydrated in the heat, said Pennsylvania Ambulance Operations Manager Bruce Beauvais.

Emergency medical staff have to be prepared every step of the way, never knowing how long they could be exposed to the extreme heat on any call.

As far as preparing, more water, more water, more water. We have our ice machine in service, we have a full refrigerator filled with water, and we have our roving unit that is actually bringing water to the crews at the hospitals, Beauvais explained.

How the heat is impacting farmers

Beauvais says there have been consistent heat-related calls rolling in, but luckily none have been too severe.

He says the most common, and dangerous, call theyve been responding to is near drownings.

When we think about the weather, we try to anticipate a lot of different things. Near drownings can usually occur all throughout summer, but because the heat is so early this year in June. Its not something we anticipated, Beauvais added.

What they did anticipate was responding to calls for chest pain, dizziness, or trouble breathing, all stemming from dehydration.

Beauvais says the biggest mistake he sees people make during a heat wave is not drinking enough fluids.

Often times, we get sick with heat exhaustion and sometimes that even brings on nausea and vomiting. Without that hydration, it often times mimics other things. The weakness, the dizziness, that comes along with that, Beauvais continued.

Its always recommended to stay in a cool and controlled climate when possible during this type of heat wave.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
A Rite Aid Pharmacy in Michigan. (Getty Images.)

Several signs indicate that pharmacy chain Rite Aid will close more than 300 pharmacies in Ohio and Michigan in the coming weeks. Walgreens is likely to buy the stores prescription files  meaning that Rite Aid patients will now have to go to the nearest Walgreens unless they make some other arrangement.

The news is especially concerning because many Rite Aid stores are in small communities and their closure will deprive some residents of what had been their most common point of access to a health professional.

Philadelphia-based Rite Aid is restructuring and on Monday, it filed a pleading with a U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New Jersey saying that it planned to close 27 stores in the two states. However, Rite Aid, Walgreens, and its restructuring agent, Kroll Inc., havent spoken publicly about further closings.

Even so, Rite Aid on Monday held a conference call with its Michigan and Ohio pharmacists and told them it would close all but a tiny number of its stores in a series of waves over the coming weeks.

The number of such closures would be relatively huge. Rite Aid has about 142 pharmacies in Ohio  a state with about 2,100 pharmacies. The Rite Aid website says it has 185 stores in Michigan, a state with about 1.6 million fewer residents than Ohio.

Among the questions the interested businesses havent answered is whether such sweeping closures will hit the 14 other states in which Rite Aid currently operates: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.

The Village Reporter in Montpelier, Ohio, on Tuesday first reported on the call with pharmacists, citing unnamed Rite Aid employees.

On Thursday, a Rite Aid pharmacist in Ohio confirmed the call to the Capital Journal. He asked not to be named because pharmacists were warned not to talk to the media and many hope for jobs with Walgreens as those pharmacies business expands.

They had a conference call on Monday and they let us know that the corporation made the decision to close the stores in Ohio and Michigan, the pharmacist said. There are a few exceptions, a onesie, twosie here and there. Theyre asking us to work the rest of the days until our stores close.

In addition to those confirmations, Bled Tanoe, an Oklahoma-based pharmacist who advocates for safer working conditions, on Monday took to Facebook to post a sheet of talking points under the Walgreens letterhead. Tanoe didnt immediately respond to a message asking where the document came from.

Beginning in late June, pharmacy patient prescription files and related inventory from nearly all Rite Aid locations in Michigan and Ohio will automatically transfer to a nearby Walgreens, the document said. Rite Aid pharmacies will close in waves and transfers will occur the morning after a location has its last day of business.

The document doesnt specify how close a Walgreens has to be to a closing Rite Aid to be nearby. And since Rite Aid has a big presence in small communities, those distances can be pretty big.

Reimbursement practices and a difficult retail environment have already led to a large number of closures in small or distressed communities, creating pharmacy deserts. Such deserts are particularly hard on the sick, poor and elderly, who are more likely to face transportation challenges.

The Rite Aid pharmacist who spoke to the Capital Journal said the closures without a doubt would create more problems for the most vulnerable to access pharmacy care.

Some of the Rite Aid locations are in areas where there are not a lot of competitors or other options, he said.

The document under Walgreens letterhead also said, To help ensure a smooth transition, former Rite Aid pharmacy customers will receive a letter in the mail notifying them of this change and providing them with information about their new Walgreens pharmacy.

Yet its not clear why the companies involved arent talking publicly about the closures so customers can plan. Among the questions Walgreens didnt respond to: Were the companies delaying an announcement so that Rite Aid customers would have less time to find an alternative to Walgreens, thus making the Rite Aid files it purchased more valuable?

The pharmacist who spoke to the Capital Journal and others with knowledge of the planning said that Rite Aid and Walgreens were trying to manage the closures in a way that maintains good patient service throughout the process.

Pharmacy giant CVS earlier this year settled claims levied against it by the Ohio Board of Pharmacy. They were related to critical understaffing after CVS bought and closed competitors as well as its own stores and then failed to adequately staff the pharmacies where it moved prescriptions.

The pharmacy board subsequently adopted rules that would, among other things, fine pharmacies for not timely filling prescriptions.

Moving scripts from the closing Rite Aid stores to the nearest Walgreens might also land Walgreens in hot water with newly active antitrust authorities. In 2017, the companies abandoned a proposed merger as the Federal Trade Commission was in talks with the companies about what assets theyd have to sell off in order to maintain a healthy marketplace.

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The post Rite Aid likely to close hundreds of pharmacies in Ohio and Michigan appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
CAPTION: Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. takes the stage at the Des Moines Register soapbox Aug. 12, 2023. On Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, national Democrats alleged Kennedy has illegally coordinated with a super PAC to gather signatures for his bid. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. filed papers Thursday to run for president in Pennsylvania as a third-party candidate in a race where the front runners, President Joe Biden and Donald Trump, are in a dead heat.

While Kennedy has little chance of winning the election, his presence on the ballot in this highly competitive battleground state could be decisive. The question is, said one Pennsylvania political observer, for whom.

When you look at his data its not always clear who he hurts more, Berwood Yost, director of the Franklin & Marshall College Poll, told the Capital-Star on Friday.

Kennedys candidacy in Pennsylvania is not a sure thing yet, Yost said, noting that his nominating petitions can be challenged to ensure that every signature is that of a registered voter and that the information of those who signed is correct.

I would bet that neither campaign wants him on the ballot so they will challenge all those signatures, Yost said.

Kennedys campaign said Friday that it has submitted 9,000 signatures, nearly twice the number required for independent candidates, and that volunteers plan to continue submitting signatures.

We now have a candidate we can vote for who truly cares about us, the campaigns Northeast Regional Director Jon Raso said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will give Pennsylvanians the government accountability they deserve.

Kennedy is officially on the ballot in eight states, including the battleground state of Michigan, and has collected signatures for ballot access in 15 others including North Carolina, which is also a must-win for the presidency.

Members of Kennedys family, one of the most prominent in American politics, stood on a Philadelphia stage with Biden in April to offer the president their full-throated endorsement.

Neither the Biden nor the Trump campaign directly answered questions about possible challenges. And both parties have worked to associate Kennedy with the ideologies of the other, with the Trump campaign issuing a statement calling Kennedy a radical leftist and environmental whack job. The Democratic National Committee highlighted what it called MAGA ties through conservative mega donor Timothy Mellon as Kennedy sought to secure ballot access through right-wing third parties.

Kennedy, nonetheless, resonates with some voters, Yost said.

The most recent Franklin & Marshall poll, published June 6, which focused on Pennsylvanias closely-watched 10th Congressional District, showed Biden and Trump neck and neck, each with 40% of voters polled in the district. Kennedy was favored by 13% of those asked in the poll.

Its unclear, Yost said, whether those who vote for Kennedy are taking their votes away from Biden or Trump.

We know that theres a lot of disaffection among voters, Yost said, noting the poll showed those who responded feel the biggest problems facing Pennsylvania are the economy and government and politics.

And in the last two elections, the share of the vote received by independent candidates has neared or surpassed the margin between the winner and the loser. In 2020, Biden won by 1.17% of the vote, while Libertarian candidate Jo Jorgensen took 1.15%. In 2016, when Hillary Clinton lost by an even narrower margin, the three independent candidates collectively received more than 3.5%.

I think people do recognize that historically a vote for the third party will not be a vote for the winner, Yost said. But if you do want to vote for someone who reflects your views on the issues or even if you want to register your protest about the major party candidates thats a rational choice to make, I suppose.

The post Robert F. Kennedy Jr. files papers to join Pennsylvania presidential race as independent candidate appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s campaign is not going well. At all.

That may, in fact, be an understatement. He has been steadily declining in the polls for months and now sits at around 7 percent, down from nearly 20 percent in the fall. Its possible, meanwhile, that many of his biggest fans may not even get the chance to vote for himhe currently only has enough signatures to appear on the ballot in just nine states. And hes hemorrhaging cash. If not for his vice presidentan unknown tech billionaire who may have been selected because her immense wealth has allowed her to fund their political operationshis campaign might very well be flat broke. It raised a paltry $2.6 million in May, suggesting that no one really wants to give him money. Kennedy is, in other words, spending millions to be on the ballot in a handful of states and is only getting less popular in the process.



On Thursday, Kennedys campaign got even more bad news. He would not be appearing at next weeks presidential debate due to his low poll numbers. The candidate was apoplectic. My exclusion by Presidents Biden and Trump from the debate is undemocratic, un-American, and cowardly, Kennedy Jr. seethed in a statement released soon after CNN announced that he didnt make the count. Americans want an independent leader who will break apart the two-party duopoly. They want a President who will heal the divide, restore the middle class, unwind the war machine, and end the chronic disease epidemic.



That may be trueat the very least Americans certainly say they want those things in a leader when polled. But its abundantly clear that they dont want Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The candidate should be grateful he didnt make the cutappearing in next weeks debate would only accelerate his campaigns demise.



The biggest problem with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s campaign is that voters do not like him. Thats not an overstatement. Last October, his favorability rating, per 538s average, was plus eight points; he was, around the same period, regularly polling in the 1520 percent range. His favorability rating today is minus nine points; he has been polling in the high single digits for months.



Kennedy Jr.s campaign wants to make this out to be a media conspiracythe press is colluding with the major party candidates to suppress an independent candidate who would be the peoples choice! But theres no reason to believe thats the case. Kennedy Jr. began the race as an unknown with a famous name that often (incorrectly) brings to mind a rosier, earlier period in American history. Voters have subsequently gotten to know Kennedy Jr., and it is abundantly clear that they do not like what they see. His support has steadily declined since the race actually began and voters started to actually consider who they wanted to vote for.



That is not surprising. At all. Kennedy Jr.s platform is a mishmash of ideas that hints at another big problem with his campaign: It is the deranged marriage of consultant-driven nonsense on one hand and the candidates own conspiracy-addled bullshit on the other. It is a pro-environmental campaign that also enjoys speaking ominously about the national deficit and the need to balance the budget. It is a campaign that is critical of Americas support for Ukraine but sees little wrong with Israels devastating military campaign in Gaza. At every turn it is overrun with strange conspiracy theories about vaccines, medicine, and public health. For every plank in his platform that appeals to a Trump supporter there are three that repel them; for every liberal point he makes in a stump speech he makes seven that would leave a potential Biden voter scowling or shaking their head.



Despite his famous name, Kennedy Jr. is also a shockingly unpolished and uncharismatic presence. Hes prone to rambling on the stump and has a stodgy mien thats hardly invitingparticularly given his tendency to get lost in the feverswamps. (I attended a press event with the candidate that was maybe the single most embarrassing political event I have ever attendedand Ive been to several Trump rallies. In it, Kennedy Jr. and his campaign manager made the laughable, fantastical case that they would be leading in a two-person race and that Joe Biden should drop out so RFK Jr. could defeat Donald Trump.) Kennedy Jr. has die-hard supporters, to be clearmost of whom are conspiracy-addled, obsessed with his (dead) family members, or both. But hes done nothing to attract anyone elsequite the opposite.



And so he should be counting his lucky stars that he wont be participating in CNNs debate. Kennedy Jr.s campaign is struggling with a simple, insurmountable political problem: Exposure is very bad for it and for him. If he wants to keep runningand polling in the high single digitshe should be happy that hell be watching on TV like the rest of us.


A Rock Falls man was arrested on firearm charges following an incident in Sterling.

According to a release, on May 28 at approximately 9:12 p.m., the Sterling Police Department responded to a report of gunshots being fired in the 2200 block of E. Lincolnway in Sterling. When officers arrived, they were notified that a man had been shot and was being transported by private vehicle to CGH Medical Center. The victim, 28, was later transferred to Javon Bea Hospital in Rockford in serious condition.

Daveon Lucas (Sterling Police Department)

Daveon Lucas, 24, was arrested by Markham Police Department on a Whiteside County arrest warrant for aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated discharge of a firearm. Lucas was wanted in connection to the May 28 incident in Sterling. The warrant for Lucas was a no bond warrant. Lucas will be taken to Whiteside County Jail after his arrest processing by the Markham Police Department.

The Sterling Police Department was also assisted by the Rock Falls Police, Whiteside County Sheriffs Office, Illinois State Police and Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services.

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Rohingya may have entered Bangladesh in recent Myanmar clashes, refugee official says

By Sudipto Ganguly and Ruma Paul

DHAKA (Reuters) - Escalating violence in Myanmar's western Rakhine state in recent months may have spurred some Rohingya Muslims to cross into Bangladesh, a key refugee official said, although Dhaka insists it cannot accept more refugees from its war-torn neighbour.

Rohingya have faced persecution in Buddhist-majority Myanmar for decades, with large numbers fleeing to Bangladesh from Rakhine in 2017, following a military-led crackdown on the minority community.

Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, the Bangladesh official tasked with refugee relief and repatriation, said his office had received reports of Rohingya crossing over to swell the figure of nearly a million housed in refugee camps in the Cox's Bazar area.

"Some people have managed to enter Bangladesh in various ways and have taken refuge in different places," Rahman, who is based in the southeastern coastal region, told Reuters. "I believe some people are being allowed to enter unofficially."

Fighting has flared in Rakhine after a ceasefire between the Arakan Army (AA), one of Myanmar's most powerful ethnic armies, and the ruling junta broke down late last year.

Spokesmen for the AA and the junta did not respond to telephone calls from Reuters to seek comment.

The AA has captured nine key towns in the coastal province and pursued its offensive to take more territory, in a nationwide rebel onslaught that has left the junta at its weakest since taking power in a 2021 coup.

In May, the AA said it had taken control of Buthidaung town, which had a large Rohingya population, amid accusations it had targeted members of the Muslim-minority community during the offensive. The rebel group denies the allegations.

On Sunday, the AA warned residents of Maungdaw, a town west of Buthidaung that is home primarily to Rohingya, to leave ahead of a planned offensive on the settlement.

'HELPLESS SITUATION'

But with exit routes blocked, several residents, a Rohingya leader and the United Nations human rights chief have said that Maungdaw residents have nowhere to flee.

About 70,000 Rohingya are feared trapped in the area.

Rahman said he had received messages from Rohingya that the AA offensive could lead to more displacement in Maungdaw, which touches the border with Bangladesh.

"I am receiving letters ... from organisations, especially the UNHCR, about their helpless situation, how they are stranded and that they want to come to Bangladesh, and they need protection," he said, referring to the U.N. Refugee Agency.

The UNHCR did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Bangladesh's foreign and interior ministries did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment.

There was no change in policy on the Rohingya, however, a foreign ministry official said on condition of anonymity.

On Thursday, a Maungdaw resident who sought anonymity told Reuters that some townspeople had moved to nearby villages for fear of air strikes and artillery barrages as the AA edged nearer, with some injuries from artillery shelling.

(Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly, Ruma Paul and Reuters staff; Editing by Devjyot Ghoshal and Clarence Fernandez)
Russian propagandists showed numerous photos of their dictator Vladimir Putin's visit to North Korea. But for some reason, the gifts exchanged between the two dictators did not appear in these photos. However, after the gifts to Putin were shown on DPRK television, the network burst into laughter.

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In particular, the Russian dictator was presented with his own white bust and a strange picture that looks more like an applique  a portrait of Putin against the backdrop of the Kremlin and fireworks.

The DPRK's national broadcaster also did not show the third gift (two dogs of the Pyongsan breed). However, the first two gifts from Kim Jong-un to Putin provoked an explosion of laughter on the network, as both the bust and the portrait look like grave accessories.

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"It's asking for a grave," the Russians themselves say. They also recall that recently their officials have been humiliated abroad even by "friends of the Russian Federation". Like, for example, the African necklace and the Order of the Stallion, which were previously presented to Lavrov.

By the way, the "grave gift" was not the only humiliation for Russians in Pyongyang. Lavrov, Belousov, and the entire Russian delegation were kicked out of the negotiation room because they entered and sat down at the table before Kim Jong-un entered the room.

By the way, Putin is often presented with dogs, but no one sees them afterward. In 2017, Turkmenistan gave him an alabai. Serbia gave him a Yugoslavian Shepherd puppy, and Kyrgyzstan gave him a Taiga puppy.

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Putin himself presented the DPRK leader with an Aurus car, an admiral's dagger, and a tea set.

As OBOZ.UA reported, on June 19, Putin arrived in North Korea on a state visit for the first time in 24 years. In Pyongyang, he held a one-on-one meeting with DPRK leader Kim Jong-un.

During the visit, Russia and the DPRK signed an agreement on a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. This agreement provides for mutual military assistance in the event of aggression against one of the participants.

In addition, Kim Jong-un declared his "full support" for Russia's war against Ukraine. After all, Russia is allegedly "defending" its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security interests on Ukrainian soil.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration is once again trying to carve out broad new exemptions to the state's celebrated government transparency law.

This time, lawyers for DeSantis are arguing that call logs from a high-ranking staffer's phone aren't public record, even though the staffer was conducting government business, because it was a private phone.

The Tampa Bay Times first reported Thursday that lawyers for the DeSantis administration argued in court this week before a Leon County judge that the governor's office shouldn't be compelled to turn over call logs from DeSantis' Chief of Staff James Uthmeier's private cellphone.

The Florida Center for Government Accountability sued the DeSantis administration in 2022 for records concerning the migrant flights to Martha's Vineyard that DeSantis organized that year using state resources. The governor's office has turned over many records so farand disclosed that Uthmeier and other staff used personal email addresses and phones rather than their state-issued onesbut it is currently defying a court order to release Uthmeier's phone logs.

"Florida is no longer the Sunshine State when it comes to transparency," says Michael Barfield, the Center's director of public access. "The public's right to know is headed into darkness."

Public records laws are commonly interpreted at both the federal and state levels, including in Florida, to cover records created on private devices and accounts if they concern government business. For example, the 2023 edition of the Florida attorney general's Government-in-the-Sunshine Manual states that "the mere fact that an e-mail is sent from a private e-mail account using a personal computer is not the determining factor as to whether it is a public record; it is whether the e-mail was prepared or received in connection with official agency business."

The manual also notes that "a public official or employee's use of a private cell phone to conduct public business via text messaging 'can create an electronic written public record subject to disclosure' if the text message is 'prepared, owned, used, or retainedwithin the scope of his or her employment or agency.'"

But DeSantis' lawyers are arguing that Uthmeier's call logs are "tertiary data," the Tampa Bay Times reports:

"If you hold that these tertiary data points are somehow public records that also have to be captured by a public records custodian, that is a sweeping  sweeping  interpretation of public records," DeSantis lawyer Christopher Lunny told Leon County Circuit Judge Lee Marsh on Tuesday. But under that argument, Marsh said, all government business could be shielded from the public. "We ought to just put out word, 'Let's do all of our business on private, bring-your-own cellphones," Marsh said. "Then we don't need public records laws because there'll be no public records, right?"

As Reason described in a magazine feature last year on Florida's Sunshine Law, the DeSantis administration is not just chipping away at the once-powerful public records law; it's taking a sledgehammer to it. State lawmakers have made the governor's travel records secret, and the DeSantis administration has also tried to invoke executive privilege over other documents, a privilege that is found nowhere in Florida's Sunshine Law and has never been claimed by previous governors.

DeSantis' office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The post Ron DeSantis Won't Stop Trying To Gut Florida's Public Records Law appeared first on Reason.com.
Rory Stewart was a likely contender for the chancellor role, alongside Theresa May and Boris Johnson - ANDREW CROWLEY

Rory Stewart has ruled himself out of the race to become the next chancellor of the University of Oxford.

The former Conservative MP wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday that there were much better candidates than me.

He was understood to be the frontrunner in the process to replace Lord Patten of Barnes, who has announced plans to retire from the role he has held for more than two decades at the end of this academic year.

The chancellor is the largely ceremonial head of the university, who is usually an eminent public figure elected for life and presides over all major ceremonies, according to Oxford Universitys website.

Mr Stewart said: More election news when everyones had enoughTheres been talk of me as a candidate for Oxford chancellor. There are much better candidates than me for Oxford. I wont be standing. Good luck to those who are. Its an amazing role!

The former Tory leadership hopeful, who previously had the best odds of replacing Lord Patten on William Hill, the betting site, recently joined Yale University in Connecticut as a professor in the practice of grand strategy.

The host of The Rest is Politics podcast, alongside the former Labour Party spin doctor Alastair Campbell, studied history and philosophy, politics and economics at the Balliol College, Oxford.

Oxford insiders told The Telegraph his withdrawal leaves Theresa May, the former prime minister, and Lady Elish Angiolini, the principal of St Hughs College, as the most likely challengers to succeed Lord Patten.

The Telegraph revealed in March that politicians will be barred from standing to be Oxfords next chancellor, following a ruling by the institutions governing body.

In a leaked email sent to Oxford academics, Gillian Aitken, the universitys registrar, said that a panel of dons and administrators would block members of legislatures or those active in politics from the race to succeed Lord Patten of Barnes.

The university abandoned plans earlier this year for an internal committee to pre-screen candidates, following backlash from alumni.

Tweaked rules proposed that the chancellors election committee made up of senior university staff, would oversee the election process based on equality and diversity principles.

However, this was amended to the committee being able to organise the election process and play no substantive role in the selection of a chancellor.

Likely contenders

Mrs May has announced plans to step down after the general election after 27 years in parliament as the Conservative MP for Maidenhead. It means she would be allowed to run for Oxford chancellor under the current rules.

Lady Angiolini led the inquiry into the abduction, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by serving police officer Wayne Couzens, which reported its findings in February.

She currently serves as one of sixteen Oxfords pro-vice-chancellors, who aid Irene Tracey, the vice-chancellor, with degree ceremonies and chairing electoral boards, according to the universitys website.

Lady Angiolini was also previously the chancellor of the University of the West of Scotland and is an honorary professor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Success for either her or Mrs May would result in Oxfords first female chancellor in the roles 800-year history.

Oxford is understood to still be considering nominations and the official process has not yet kicked off. Potential candidates are thought to be taking soundings on their possible chances of success.

First online election

The election will be held online for the first time and will take place in the Michaelmas term at the start of the next academic year.

During the last election in 2003, voting was held entirely in person at Oxfords Sheldonian Theatre, and more than 8,000 academics and former students took part. It is expected that far more people could vote this year as Oxford prepares to move to an electronic voting system.

Boris Johnson and Imran Khan, the former Pakistani prime minister, have also been touted as possible contenders. Mr Khan is currently in jail after being sentenced over corruption allegations in Pakistan last August, in what he claims are politically motivated charges.

Mr Johnson, the former prime minister, was thought to have been drafted in by the Tories earlier this week to play a more active role in the election campaign, but it has since emerged he is on holiday in Italy with his family.

Lord Patten, who was the last governor of Hong Kong and a former chairman of the Conservative Party, said earlier this year: It is in my own interest and that of the University for me to step down [] giving the University the opportunity to plan a sensible succession which matches the demands of the 2020s.

Previous Oxford chancellors include Harold Macmillan, the former Conservative prime minister, and Oliver Cromwell, the 17th-century statesman.

Oxford was approached for comment.

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Rose Bud, mayor being sued by ACLU of Arkansas over petition signatures at town-sponsored event

ROSE BUD, Ark.  The town of Rose Bud and its mayor Shawn Gorham are being sued by the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas on behalf of the ballot question committee For AR Kids.

The ACLU said the committee planned to collect petition signatures at Summerfest from June 20-22.

Rose Bud implements Academic Intervention, says students are missing assignments

Rose Bud passed an ordinance on June 17 that the ACLU claims limits the abilities of ballot question committees at town-sponsored events, including the planned Summerfest running Thursday through Saturday.

Under the new ordinance, any groups looking to get people attending events like Summerfest to sign petitions must rent a booth on the event grounds that can be placed wherever the event organizers decide it to be.

Arkansas Bar Association and ballot group react to removal of attorney from Hot Springs Convention Center

The ACLU also said the rule puts restrictions on looking for signatures on the public space outside of the actual festival.

The lawsuit argues the restrictions unfairly targets those who seek to advocate for political change through the petition process.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Katie Page leads a presentation on maternal health and midwifery at a rural health committee meeting in Farmville on June 18, 2024. (Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury)

A rural health committee met in Farmville this week as part of ongoing efforts to hear from community members and experts on rural healthcare disparities and brainstorm ways to fix them.

Assembled earlier this year, the bipartisan cohort has been hosting meetings around the state to focus on different challenges to healthcare access in rural communities. The group is also tasked with delivering policy recommendations by the end of the year.

Some of those recommendations may include trying again on bills that didnt cross the finish line this year or were vetoed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

Such was the case for a bill to reestablish a maternal health task force, which had been tabled for this year, and a bill to require unconscious bias training when renewing medical licenses, which Youngkin vetoed last month. An effort to collect data on fetal and infant mortality had also been tabled.

Katie Page, a certified nurse-midwife with Centra Health who serves as the legislative liaison for the American College of Nurse-Midwives said she considered those policies to be important.

Page was among presenters at the meeting where maternal health was a focus of discussion. As a midwife, she explained the role the medical professionals play in labor and delivery as well as prenatal and postnatal care.

Maternal health was a focal point of Tuesdays meeting in Farmville in Virginias South Side. Other topics included overlapping issues with regards to access such as dental care and how free clinics have been safety nets for communities since Virginia expanded Medicaid several years ago.

Workforce development was a shared concern for the various industries and a suggestion that emerged during the discussion was a sales pitch to medical professionals about working in rural areas.

Polly Raible, director of Delta Dental of Virginia Foundation, said were not doing enough to ask medical professionals what would bring them to rural areas. And, she added that Virginia isnt doing enough to sell whats attractive about rural areas and working in them.

Another challenge that the different groups shared was transportation for patients  be it travel time and cost or less access to public transportation options. The matter also popped up when the committee met in Tazewell this past spring, the first of its several meetings scheduled throughout this year.

What were finding out is that even if you can find a provider, so many people cant get to them or their follow up visits, said Del. Rodney Willett, D-Henrico, who chairs the committee.

Originally from Farmville, Willett recalled how his own family had to drive up to an hour away for dental care growing up. Thats not feasible for everyone, he said, and added that allocating state and federal funding towards transportation can help families.

Money of course could always be part of the equation, but weve got to look at that, he said. But once youve got the funding, can you find a transportation company willing to provide services in a really rural area? Weve got some figuring out to do there; this (issue) just keeps hitting us in the face.

He suspects transportation struggles will surface in future presentations at future committee meetings. The next meeting is slated for mid-September on Virginias Eastern Shore. Willett said the details are still being finalized.

The post Rural health committee hears from maternal health, dental specialists in Farmville appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
Russian troops started storming the town of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk Oblast from Toretsk direction a few days ago, Nazar Voloshyn, the spokesperson for the Khortytsia group of forces, told Interfax Ukraine on June 21.

The statement came after Ukraine's 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade said it had been redeployed to bolster the Armed Forces' defense of Chasiv Yar, an elevated town that potentially opens for Russia the way to further advances into Donetsk Oblast.

The Ukrainian military reported on June 18 an increase in Russian attacks near the town of Toretsk after a "long lull" in fighting in the area.

Toretsk, the strategically important town located less than 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the front line, had a population of around 31,000 before the start of the full-scale invasion.

Russian forces are trying to advance from the occupied town of Horlivka to the villages of Shumy and Niu-York, Voloshyn said.

"Over the past week, (Russian) attacks have been taking place constantly. There are mechanized frontal assaults on Chasiv Yar, and small groups of up to five people are trying to break into Novyi and Kanal neighborhoods," the spokesperson said.

Russian troops tried three times to approach Ukraine's positions near Chasiv Yar and Klishchiivka, he said, adding that the situation is "under control" and fighting is ongoing.

"The defense forces units are successfully restraining the onslaught and strengthening their positions in some areas," Voloshyn said.

Russian forces have ramped up their offensive in Donetsk Oblast, focusing their efforts on Chasiv Yar. By attacking nearby settlements such as Ivanivske, Moscow is attempting to encircle the town, whose capture would allow further advances into the region.

Read also: With all eyes on Kharkiv, Russian troops take one Donbas village after another

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Russia claims more than 100 drones used in attack on Crimea, Krasnodar Krai

More than 100 drones were reportedly used in a mass strike on occupied Crimea, Krasnodar Krai, and Volgograd Oblast, killing at least one person and injuring another six, Russian authorities claimed on June 21.

Earlier, Russian Telegram channels reported that fires had broken out at Krasnodar Krai's Yeysk military airfield and Ilya oil refinery following a drone attack.

Russia's Defense Ministry said that 70 drones had been shot down over occupied Crimea, 43 over Krasnodar Krai, and one over Volgograd Oblast. Another six naval drones were reportedly destroyed in the northwestern area of the Black Sea, the ministry said.

Read also: Ukraine attacks 4 refineries, Shahed drone storage sites in Russia, military says

Krasnodar Krai Governor Veniamin Kondratyev wrote on Telegram that a bus station employee was killed by falling debris, and another four people were injured.

According to preliminary reports by local police, the strike on the Ilya refinery reportedly caused a 50-square-meter fire at the attack site and injured two people.

The reports could not be independently verified, and Ukraine has not commented on the news at the time of this publication.

In recent months, Ukrainian forces have launched a series of drone strikes aimed at damaging Russia's oil industry, which is crucial to sustain Moscow's war efforts, as well as its military hardware.

Attacks on oil depots in Krasnodar Krai in May reportedly disrupted operations at two facilitiesthe Slavyansk-on-Kuban and Tuapse refineries.

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Russia will lose war against Ukraine if West mobilises its assets to confront Kremlin  ISW

Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have noted that despite Russian ruler Vladimir Putin's rhetoric and threats, including the one to use nuclear weapons, Russia will not be able to defeat Ukraine if the West mobilises its assets to confront the Kremlin.

Source: ISW

Quote: "ISW continues to assess that Russia cannot defeat Ukraine or the West  and will likely lose  if the West mobilises its resources to resist the Kremlin."

Details: Russian leader Vladimir Putin, during his visit to North Korea and Vietnam on 18-19 June, initiated a significant information operation intended to disrupt the efforts of Ukraines partners to formulate a unified strategic objective and plan to decisively defeat Russias unlawful invasion.

In mid-June, Ukraines allies made several crucial moves to develop a common strategy and outline the desired strategic outcome of the conflict. Over 80 Western and international officials recently established a firm stance on supporting Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity as the foundation for lasting peace, says the communique from the Ukraine-led Global Peace Summit on 16 June.

On June 13, Ukraine secured 10-year security agreements with the United States and Japan, while various partner states reaffirmed their long-term support for Ukraine through the G7 and the Ukraine Defence Contact Group formats.

Putins strategy hinges on the Kremlins ability to mislead the United States, the European Union, and Ukraines international allies into withdrawing their support for Ukraine.

To undermine the international communitys cohesive strategic vision of supporting Ukraine, Putin implicitly threatened to use nuclear weapons if the West facilitates a decisive Ukrainian victory over Russia.

Putins nuclear threat is part of an ongoing Kremlin campaign of nuclear blackmail aimed at discouraging Ukraines allies from fully committing to defeating Russias illegal invasion, making actual nuclear escalation highly unlikely.

To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 20 June:

Russian leader Vladimir Putin launched a major information operation during his recent visit to North Korea and Vietnam on 18-19 June aimed at sabotaging efforts by Ukraine's partners to clearly define a common strategic objective and strategy to decisively defeat Russias illegal war of conquest in Ukraine.

Putin implicitly threatened to use nuclear weapons if the West enables Ukraine to decisively defeat Russia in order to undermine the international community's cohering strategic vision of support for Ukraine.

Putins nuclear threat is part of an ongoing Kremlin nuclear blackmail campaign aimed at dissuading Ukraines allies from decisively committing to defeating Russias illegal invasion of Ukraine and is therefore highly unlikely to result in actual nuclear escalation.

South Korea responded to the Russian-North Korean comprehensive strategic partnership agreement on 20 June and stated that it will reconsider its previous ban on sending lethal military assistance to Ukraine.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin simultaneously attempted to downplay aspects of the Russia-North Korea agreement potentially in response to South Korea's concerns during a 20 June press conference in Vietnam.

Russian forces used the new FAB-3000 M-54 bomb with a unified planning and correction module (UMPC) to strike Ukrainian positions in Kharkiv Oblast for the first time, representing a new Russian capability with a high potential for destruction if Russian forces continue to be able to use such weapons uninhibited.

The United States made a policy change to prioritise delivering Patriot air defence interceptors to Ukraine against the backdrop of the increasing threat of Russian guided glide bomb use in Ukraine.

US policy still prohibits Ukrainian forces from striking military targets with US-provided weapons in the operational and deep rear of Russian territory.

The Russian military's increased over-reliance on infantry-heavy frontal assault tactics has greatly degraded the distinctions between various Russian combat services on the battlefield in Ukraine, minimising the operational efficacy of frontline troops.

Ukrainian forces conducted drone strikes against at least two oil facilities in Russia on the night of 19-20 June.

Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Vovchansk, and Russian forces recently advanced near Chasiv Yar, Avdiivka, and Donetsk City.

Russian milbloggers complained that the Russian military command is failing to properly incentivise Russian servicemen to fight and explain the purpose of the Russian full-scale invasion to its troops.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un exchange documents during a signing ceremony of the new partnership in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. Putin and Kim signed a new partnership that includes a vow of mutual aid if either country is attacked, during a Wednesday summit that came as both face escalating standoffs with the West. (Kristina Kormilitsyna, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

BEIJING (AP)  With no obvious options, China appears to be keeping its distance as Russia and North Korea move closer to each other with a new defense pact that could tilt the balance of power among the three authoritarian states.

Experts say China's leaders are likely fretting over a potential loss of influence over North Korea after its leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the deal this week, and how that could increase instability on the Korean Peninsula.

Beijing may also be struggling to come up with a response to what could be the strongest Russia-North Korea partnership since the Cold War because it has conflicting goals: keeping peace in the Koreas while countering the U.S. and its Western allies on the global stage.

Beijing so far has not commented on the deal  which requires both countries to provide defense assistance if the other is attacked  and only reiterated boilerplate statements that it seeks to uphold peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and advance a political settlement of the North-South divide.

The Chinese response has been very weak," said Victor Cha, senior vice president for Asia and Korea chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, adding that it could be a sign that Beijing doesn't yet know what to do.

Every option is a bad option, he said. Youre either unable to make a decision because of very strongly held competing views or ... youre just incapable of making a decision because you just dont know how to evaluate the situation.

Some in Beijing may welcome the Russia-North Korea partnership as a way of pushing back at America's dominance in world affairs, but Cha said that there is also a great deal of discomfort in China, which doesnt want to lose its sway over its neighbor to Russia, doesnt want to see a destabilizing nuclear power on its doorstep, and doesnt want to bring the conflict in Europe to Asia.

But China isn't raising these concerns publicly. They dont want to push Kim Jong Un further into the arms of Vladimir Putin, Cha said, referring to the leaders of the two countries.

Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, declined to comment on the new agreement. The cooperation between Russia and the DPRK is a matter between two sovereign states. We do not have information on the relevant matter, he said, referring to North Korea by the initials for its official name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

John Kirby, the White House national security spokesman, told reporters that the pact between Russia and North Korea "should be of concern to any country that believes that the U.N. Security Council resolutions ought to be abided by. The Security Council has imposed sanctions on North Korea to try to stop its development of nuclear weapons.

Kirby also said the agreement "should be of concern to anybody who thinks that supporting the people of Ukraine is an important thing to do. And we would think that that concern would be shared by the Peoples Republic of China."

One area that China could be concerned about is whether Russia will help North Korea's weapons program by sharing advanced technology, said Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center.

If China is indeed concerned, it has leverage in both Russia and North Korea and it could probably try to put some limitations to that relationship, he said.

The meeting between Putin and Kim this week was the latest chapter in decades of complicated political and military relationships in East Asia, where the Chinese Communist Party, once an underdog, has emerged as a leading power that wields influence over both North Korea and Russia.

That and other developments have raised alarms in the U.S. that Beijing, now the world's second-largest economy, could challenge the U.S.-led world order by aligning itself with countries such as Russia, North Korea and Iran. Beijing has rejected that allegation.

Sun Yun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center, said Beijing doesn't want to form a three-way alliance with North Korea and Russia, because it needs to keep its options open."

Such a coalition could mean a new Cold War, something Beijing says it is determined to avoid, and locking itself to Pyongyang and Moscow would be contrary to China's goals of maintaining relationships with Europe and improving ties with Japan and South Korea, she said.

Sun added that the rapprochement between North Korea and Moscow opens up possibilities and potentials of uncertainty, but based on what has happened so far, I don't think that China's national interests have been undercut by this.

Closer ties between Putin and Kim could weaken Beijing's sway and leave it as the biggest loser, said Danny Russel, who was the top U.S. diplomat for Asia in the Obama administration.

Apart from irritation over Putins intrusion into what most Chinese consider their sphere of influence, the real cost to China is that Russias embrace gives North Korea greater impunity and room to maneuver without consideration to Beijings interests, he said.

Russel, now vice president for international security and diplomacy at the Asia Society Policy Institute, said that Kim is eager to reduce his countrys dependence on China.

The dilution of Chinese leverage means Kim Jong Un can disregard Beijings calls for restraint," he said, "and that is much more likely to create chaos at a time when (Chinese leader) Xi Jinping desperately wants stability.

___

Tang reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Will Weissert and Matthew Lee contributed from Washington.
What happened

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed an agreement Wednesday pledging some sort of mutual assistance if either country faced foreign "aggression." The pledge appears to be the strongest since the collapse of the Soviet Union ended a 1961 pact that required Moscow to step in if North Korea were attacked.

Who said what

Kim said the agreement, signed during Putin's first visit to North Korea since 2000, was the "strongest treaty ever" between Moscow and Pyongyang. Putin said the "breakthrough" pact "does not exclude the development of military-technical cooperation"  a statement analysts said could mean he will reward Kim's flow of munitions for the Ukraine invasion by helping to improve North Korea's nuclear missiles and other advanced weapons.



The scope of the agreement was unclear. South Korean analyst Cheong Seong Chang told The Associated Press it appears the two hermit states have "completely restored their Cold War-era military alliance." Moscow and Pyongyang are declaring a "de facto alliance," Hudson Institute security analyst Patrick Cronin said to The Wall Street Journal, but "there is nothing fundamentally new about this relationship today that was not true before Putin's visit."

What next?

Putin arrived in Vietnam on Thursday to bolster ties with Moscow's longtime ally and demonstrate the "diplomatic support Russia still enjoys in the region," the BBC said.
The 14th package of sanctions against Russia agreed by the European Union (EU) member states will include a ban on any private and charter flights in favor of Russians or companies from the Russian Federation. In particular, the sanctions will apply to resort charters.

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This was reported by EUobserver. "The ban will apply to any flights for which a Russian legal entity or individual has the right to determine the place of takeoff and landing," the publication notes, citing a relevant document of the European Commission.

The measure is intended, in particular, to stop mass flights of Russians to resorts. To do this, Russian companies order charter flights from European carriers to circumvent the existing bans.

So far, the EU restrictions apply only to scheduled airline flights. The EU imposed this ban in February 2022, immediately after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. However, this did not prevent European airlines from operating charter or private flights commissioned by Russians, including within the EU.

The new 14th package of sanctions against Russia has already been approved by the permanent representatives of the EU member states. In addition to the charter ban, it includes:

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restrictions on imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) , other resources and mining machinery;

, other resources and mining machinery; restrictions on financing of political parties and non-governmental organizations;

measures against 11 cargo ships;

disconnection of Russia from its own SWIFT analog;

expansion of sanctions lists of individuals and legal entities;

a list of more than 50 companies outside the EU that are subject to trade restrictions due to their assistance to Russia in circumventing sanctions.

OBOZ.UA also reported on the disputes that arose between the countries over the approval of sanctions. Earlier, the clause prohibiting subsidiaries of European companies from re-exporting LNG to Russia and for use in Russia was removed from the package, but Berlin continued to delay the adoption of sanctions.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber Do not fall for fakes!

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Several Russian pro-war Telegram channels have reported that a Ka-29 helicopter was shot down near Anapa, Krasnodar Krai of the Russian Federation.

Source: BBC Russian Service

Quote from the Trinadtsatiy (Thirteenth), one of the Telegram channels: "Our own air defence shot down our own helicopter in Anapa. The Ka-29 was searching for uncrewed vessels, and one of our Pantsir air defence systems struck the helicopter (according to the early version, due to a malfunction of the friend-or-foe identification system)."

Details: Other pro-war Russian sources also reported the downing of the helicopter. They stated that four people had been killed in the crash.

"Eternal flight to you, brothers," the Voyevoda Veshchayet Telegram channel said. It posted a photo of a Ka-29.

The Russian Ministry of Defence has not made any official statements regarding the downing of the Russian helicopter.

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Consequences of a drone attack on an oil depot in Russia's Tambov Oblast on 20 June. Photo: Astra Telegram channel

The Russian Defence Ministry has claimed that they intercepted and destroyed 114 Ukrainian drones over temporarily occupied Crimea and two Russian oblasts on the night of 20-21 June, and destroyed six unmanned surface vehicles in the Black Sea.

Source: Russian Defence Ministry on Telegram

Quote: "Air defence systems on duty intercepted and destroyed 70 UAVs over the territory of Crimea and the Black Sea, 43 UAVs over Krasnodar Krai and 1 UAV over Volgograd Oblast. Russian naval aircraft destroyed six Ukrainian unmanned surface vehicles in the northwestern part of the Black Sea."

Details: The Russian Defence Ministry did not provide any information about drones that were not downed or any other consequences.

Previously: Russian media reported a large-scale drone attack in Russias Krasnodar Krai. A fire was visible near the air base in Yeysk, which the Russians use frequently to attack Ukraine.

Mikhail Razvozhayev, the so-called "governor" of Sevastopol, claimed that Ukrainian drones attacked the city in the morning of 21 June.

Background:

On 20 June, Russian Telegram channels reported that drones had attacked the Afipsky oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai and an oil depot in the Russian republic of Adygea. Later, Murat Kumpilov, Head of the Republic of Adygea, confirmed this information.

Later, Maksim Yegorov, Governor of Russia's Tambov Oblast, reported that drones had attacked two districts and a fire had broken out at one oil depot. Russian Telegram channels published photos and videos of the fires.

Meanwhile, Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency RIA Novosti claimed that Russian air defence systems had intercepted and destroyed 15 Ukrainian drones overnight over the Republic of Adygea, Krasnodar Krai, Bryansk, Rostov, Belgorod and Oryol oblasts.

Later, an Ukrainska Pravda source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) said that it was SSU drones that had struck a Tambovnafteprodukt JSC fuel and lubricants depot and a LUKOIL-Yugnefteprodukt LLC oil depot in the settlement of Enem, Republic of Adygea, Russia, on the night of 19-20 June.

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A Russian drone hit an Ukrposhta postal vehicle in the community of Vovchansk in Ukraine's Kharkiv Oblast, killing a courier and injuring a driver, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported on June 21.

Moscow has recently intensified attacks against Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, as well as surrounding Kharkiv Oblast, with the use of missiles, glide bombs, and drones, destroying energy infrastructure and killing civilians.

According to local authorities, the attack occurred at around 10 a.m. local time. The driver, an employee of the state-owned postal service, was delivering pensions to residents in the region at the time of the attack.

The injured individual reportedly walked to the nearby billage of Buhaiivka, where he was taken to the hospital by Ukrainian military personnel in the area.

Syniehubov said access is restricted to the site of the attack due to constant shelling.

Russia launched a new offensive on May 10 in northern Kharkiv Oblast and Vovchansk became the scene of some of the heaviest fighting.

The town of Vovchansk is described by Ukrainian officials as almost destroyed, while Russia keeps attacking other neighboring settlements, inflicting civilian casualties.

Read also: Russias move on Kharkiv has bogged down. But was it a failure?

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Russian forces have struck infrastructure in the city of Kryvyi Rih (Dnipropetrovsk Oblast) on the afternoon of 21 June, causing a fire.

Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram; Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne; Ukraine's Air Force

Quote from Lysak: "The enemy has attacked Kryvyi Rih. The city's infrastructure has been targeted. A fire has broken out. Information is being gathered."

Details: Earlier, Suspilne reported that explosions had rocked Kryvyi Rih, and Ukraine's Air Forces warned of a high-speed target approaching the city.

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Russian troops dropped a guided aerial bomb on the town of Selydove in Donetsk Oblast on the morning of June 21, killing two people and injuring three, Governor Vadym Filashkin said.

Selydove is located some 45 kilometers (28 miles) west of the city of Donetsk, which has been occupied by Russia since 2014.

The attack targeted the residential area of the town, according to Filashkin. Six houses, five high-rise buildings, and a car were damaged, he added.

Settlements in Donetsk Oblast suffer from daily Russian strikes due to their proximity to the front line. Heavy fighting continues in Donetsk Oblast as Russia seeks to occupy the entire region.

Russian attacks against Ukraine over the past day killed six people and injured 13, regional authorities said.

Read also: With all eyes on Kharkiv, Russian troops take one Donbas village after another

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A Russian Navy Ka-29 Helix-B assault helicopter was shot down near the Russian resort city of Anapa on the Black Sea. It was hit during what Russian and Ukrainian military officials say was a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack overnight Thursday into Friday on Crimea and Russias neighboring Krasnodar region, where Anapa is located. Russian and Ukrainian Telegram channels concurred that the helicopter was downed, but offer differing accounts of how. It would be the first known loss of a Helix, a heavily armed helicopter with various gun pods, rocket pods, provisions for an external cannon and a rotary machine gun in the nose. The Helix family can also sport door guns for drone hunting. A 2017 photo of a Russian Navy Ka-29 Helix_B assault helicopter. Alan Wilson, Wikimedia Commons One influential Russian source claims the Helix was taken out by friendly fire, during a search for Ukrainian uncrewed surface vessels (USVs). Another said it came during a massive aerial and USV attack that killed nearly 30 Russian troops in occupied Crimea and Krasnodar. In Anapa, our own air defense shot down our own helicopter, the Thirteenth Telegram channel, run by Russian soldier and milblogger Egor Guzenko, wrote. During its sweep for Ukrainian drone boats in the Black Sea, one of our [Pantsir air defense systems] hit the helicopter, the Thirteenth wrote, adding that four Russian troops were killed in the incident. Preliminary information indicated it was due to a malfunction of the friend or foe system, he suggested. I will not voice any versions, let counterintelligence and the investigation sort it out. Eternal memory to our soldiers. The War Zone cannot independently confirm that. Multiple Russian channels report that a Russian Ka-29 was destroyed. They claim while operating against Ukrainian USVs the Russian chopper was targeted by a malfunctioning Pantsir air defense system, whose IFF considered it to be hostile, and shot it down. Crew is presumably pic.twitter.com/wHhG2nvU5i (((Tendar))) (@Tendar) June 21, 2024 Other Russian Telegram channels also reported that the helicopter was downed, but did not state the cause. The incident coincided [during] a night attack by Ukrainian kamikaze UAVs and unmanned boats, in the destruction of which these helicopters were actively involved, the Russian Military Observer Telegram channel wrote. Sources also confirm the loss of the Ka-29 helicopter, the Kremlin Snuff Box wrote. We wont say who hit him. But we hope that this situation will not happen again. At the same time, we once again call on the Ministry of Defense: strengthen our air defense! Now not only in Crimea, the enemy has new regions where he is launching large-scale attacks. One Ukrainian Telegram channel suggested the Helix was shot out of the sky by a Ukrainian USV armed with an infrared-guided R-73 (AA-11 Archer) short-range air-to-air missile. The Ka-29 could well have been intercepted by an anti-aircraft modification of the R93 missile mounted on the USV, the Ukrainian VRB news outlet postulated, without proof, on its Telegram channel. Obviously, the [Russians] were working on {USVs] from a distance of less than 3 km and were directly within the range of the R-73RDM-2 missiles. The War Zone could not independently confirm that theory either. We first reported about Ukraine pairing the weapon with its drone boat back in May in a story about a Helix attacking one. You can watch a video of that encounter below. Footage from Russian Ka-29 helicopter engaging Ukrainian USV with R-73 air-to-air heat-seeking missiles. https://t.co/ONS0uacMKB pic.twitter.com/E6zGjmCbuv Clash Report (@clashreport) May 6, 2024 Neither Russian nor Ukrainian officials have yet commented on the Ka-29 downing. Ukrainian Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Defense Intelligence Directorate, declined comment. However, if the drone boat-launched R-73 missile claim is true, it would be the first successful downing of a Russian aviation asset by such a system. It would also be Russias first known Helix loss. The Oryx open-source tracking group has yet to add the helicopter to its list of Russian combat losses, but it only tabulates those it can visually confirm. As of noon Eastern time, there were no Ka-29s on that list. The shootdown of a Russian Navy Ka-29 Helix-B assault helicopter, like the one in this phone, is the first known such loss. Alan Wilson, Wikimedia Commons Regardless of how the helicopter may have been downed, it appears there was a great deal of confusion during the engagement. It was caused by a new Ukrainian tactic of using aerial drones combined with sea drones in a complex, layered attack, in an effort to confuse Russian defenses, according to the Russian Aerospace Forces-connected Fighterbomber Telegram channel. To fight off [USVs] you need to raise helicopters; to fight off hundreds of UAVs, you need to destroy aerial targets. And one thing doesnt go well with the other, Fighterbomber explained. This tactic was expected, Fighterbomber continued. For a year and a half, [Ukrainians] have been hitting the ground with missiles at the moment when our front-line aviation enters the launch/drop zone. There, in the same way, an overload of channels is artificially created with the hope of an error and less efficiency and freedom of action for air defense operations. Fighterbomber then took what appears to be a sarcastic, backhanded swipe at Russian air defenses, alluding to the friendly fire theory. Of course, it is very good that we have a reliable friend or foe system, which excludes shooting at our own, Fighterbomber chided. It sucks that shes not in Laos. Budanov confirmed that Ukraine is using the new tactic, but said it was experimental. He declined to elaborate. Fighter bomber also says Ukraine is using UAVs with its naval drones, which creates problems because Russia counters naval drones with helicopters and increases the risk of friendly fire from Russian air defenses. He says Ukraine also launches rockets/missiles when Russian attack pic.twitter.com/ycjSGg84DT Rob Lee (@RALee85) June 21, 2024 We regularly discuss how layering multi-domain unmanned craft or missile attacks can greatly stress and complicate an enemys defense. This would be a textbook case of that if indeed the tactic was used as described. All this happened during what Russian and Ukrainian military officials said was a large-scale aerial Ukrainian drone assault. The Russian Defense Ministry (MoD) claimed it thwarted an attack by more than 100 aerial drones and additional sea drones. Over the past night, an attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack using unmanned boats and aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles on objects on the territory of the Russian Federation was stopped, the MoD claimed. Air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 70 UAVs over the territory of the Republic of Crimea and over the Black Sea, 43 UAVs over the territory of the Krasnodar Territory and one UAV over the territory of the Volgograd Region, the MoD stated. In the northwestern part of the Black Sea, the naval aviation of the Russian Black Sea Fleet destroyed six unmanned boats of the Ukrainian Navy. Russian and Ukrainian military officials say several areas in the Krasnodar region were targeted by Ukrainian drones. Google Earth image While Russia claims to have destroyed all the drones, Kremlin Snuff Box said some got through defenses with deadly effect. The enemy cunningly and meanly attacked Russia with drones, Kremlin Box complained. Some of the drones launched by the enemy on the night of Friday, June 21, unfortunately, broke through our air defense. There are deaths among the military. In total, we have 28 dead military personnel at various facilities in Crimea and the Krasnodar Territory, Kremlin Snuff Box claimed. The attack was too large-scale and it was not possible to completely repulse it. The losses were especially serious at a facility near Yeysk and in several other areas. The enemys attack this time was very sneaky  there were a lot of drones flying along a tricky trajectory, said our source in the Ministry of Defense. We will not reveal exactly where the enemy drones hit, Kremlin Snuff Box continued. Let us only note that among the dead there were very valuable specialists. Some of them played an important role in attacks on enemy territory, including military infrastructure in the Ukrainian rear. However, Yeysk Airfield is home to a major tactical jet forward operating base, which includes Sukhoi Su-34 Fullbacks, and there Russian training facilities nearby. Claims have emerged that it was struck during the attack. Visual evidence and NASAs Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) indicates some kind of attack nearby there, but not on the base itself. Subsequent satellite imagery taken today shows that there was a fire to the west of the base, matching the firms data. FIRMS data appears to confirm that the adjacent 726th Air Defense Training Center is burning. pic.twitter.com/PdCQauP0sl OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 21, 2024 A satellite image showing the burned field area that was set ablaze last night to the west of the airbase. (Planet Labs) The Ukrainian General Staff said that aerial drones attacked two oil refineries in Krasnodar as well as radar stations and radio-electronic intelligence centers of the Russian invaders in the Bryansk region [of Russia] and temporarily occupied Crimea. Ukrainian forces also made a successful attack on the places of storage and preparation for the use of Shahed-136/Geran-2 [drones], training buildings, control and communication points of these UAVs located in the Krasnodar Territory. According to the results of combat work, a series of explosions and a fire followed by detonation were recorded. The defense forces continue to take all measures to undermine the military and economic potential of the Russian occupiers and stop Russias armed aggression against Ukraine, the General Staff concluded. This is the latest example of Ukraine massing drones in an attempt to overwhelm Russian air defenses on the way to their targets. Last week, Budanov told us that about 70 drones were used to strike Morosovsk Airbase in Rostov Oblast. That attack damaged at least two Fullbacks. The one Friday was over a much wider area and appears to be multi-domain in nature. It also resulted in more claimed damage and loss of lives. Whats totally clear is that Ukraine is highly focused on expanding the magnetude and frequency of its long-range drone attacks, which are becoming increasingly challenging for Russia to defend against. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com

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Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration, has reported that a 33-year-old civilian man was killed in the Russian attack on the city of Kherson on 20 June.

Source: Prokudin on Telegram

Quote: "As a result of yesterdays Russian attack on the city, a 33-year-old man received fatal injuries."

Details: Prokudin expressed his condolences to the family of the man.

Background:

On the night of 19-20 June, civilian power infrastructure facilities were damaged in four oblasts of Ukraine as a result of a Russian attack: Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk and Kyiv oblasts.

The Ministry of Energy of Ukraine reported that seven employees were injured at two power facilities during Russian attacks on 20 June.

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Russian troops dropped a guided aerial bomb on the town of Selydove in Donetsk Oblast on the morning of 21 June, killing two people and injuring three others.

Source: Vadym Filashkin, Head of Donetsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "This morning, the Russians dropped a guided aerial bomb on the city, striking residential buildings. Five five-storey buildings, six houses and a car were damaged."

Aftermath of Russian attack.

Photo: Donetsk Oblast Military Administration

Details: Filashkin reports that two people were killed, and three others were injured as a result of the attack on the settlement.

Updated: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutors Office clarified that two men, aged 51 and 52, were killed on the spot from mine-blast injuries. Three more citizens, aged 35, 43 and 65, sustained injuries of varying severity.

Aftermath of Russian attack.

Photo: Donetsk Oblast Military Administration

Filashkin once again urged people to evacuate so as not to endanger their lives and health.

Aftermath of Russian attack.

Photo: Donetsk Oblast Military Administration

Background: Five civilians were killed and 11 others injured in an attack on Donetsk Oblast on 20 June.

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Five civilians have been killed and 11 more wounded as a result of attacks in Donetsk Oblast on 20 June.

Source: Vadym Filashkin, Head of Donetsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Details: In particular, one person was injured in the village of Maksymilianivka in Marinka hromada [an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.] in the Pokrovsk district. In Kurakhove hromada, houses were damaged in the city of Horlivka. The Russians fired on the outskirts of Kurakhove.

In the Kramatorsk district, the settlements of Zakitne, Zarichne, Terny, Yampolivka and Yampil in Lyman hromada were attacked. One person was killed and three were injured in the city of Mykolaivka. One person was killed and one more injured and four houses damaged in Kostiantynivka; also in the hromada, one person was injured and two houses were damaged in Mykolaivka, one house was damaged in Ivanopil. Three people were killed, four were injured and seven facilities were damaged in Rozkishne, part of Illinivka hromada.

In the Bakhmut district, a total of 11 houses, two non-residential premises and an industrial building were damaged in Chasiv Yar hromada. One person was injured in the town of Pivnichne in Toretsk hromada. The settlements of Siversk and Serebrianka are under fire.

In total, the Russians attacked populated areas of Donetsk Oblast 22 times during the day. A total of 81 people were evacuated from the combat zone, including 13 children.

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On the afternoon of 21 June, the Russian used a drone to attack the cars of Ukrposhta (Ukrainian Postal Service) employees transporting and delivering pensions in Vovchansk hromada [an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories]. The 45-year-old manager of the mobile post office was killed in the attack, and the driver who accompanied the woman was injured.

Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram; Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office on Telegram

Details: According to Lysak, the injured man arrived at Buhaivka on foot, where he was spotted by the Ukrainian military and hospitalised in Kharkiv.

It should be mentioned that there is currently no access to the area where the post office worker was killed due to severe shelling.

The Prosecutor's Office also said that at about 14:20, the Russians launched an airstrike on Borova in the Izium district. A 63-year-old man sustained injuries. In addition to this, the Russian attack damaged homes and stores.

The village of Borova. Photo: Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutors Office

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On the night of June 21, explosions were heard in the Krasnodar region of the Russian Federation. After the night attack, satellites recorded several fires on the territory of the airfield in Yeysk.

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A fire also broke out at the Afipsky oil refinery. This was reported by the Crimean Wind Telegram channel.

Thus, after the explosions heard by the residents of Yeysk at night, satellites recorded several fires on the territory of the airfield, which, due to its proximity to Ukraine, is used by Russian troops as a forward air base of the Russian Air Forces.

"The fires were spotted in the area of buildings near the eastern end of the runway. These buildings are clearly related to the airfield, their purpose is unknown," Crimean Wind notes, publishing the relevant satellite images.

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Satellites also recorded a fire at the Afipsky oil refinery, the channel's authors claim.

"The fire is located near the tanks. The Afipsky oil refinery has been attacked several times before: on May 31, 2023, October 29, 2023, and May 2, 2024," the report said.

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Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that 70 drones were allegedly shot down over the territory of occupied Crimea and the Black Sea, 43 over Krasnodar Krai and another over Volgograd region last night.

Earlier, it was reported that on the night of June 21, drones massively attacked the Russia's Krasnodar Territory. Explosions were heard near the city of Yeysk, the village of Afipskoye, Krasnodar, and the village of Yablonovsky.

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Russian media reported that the first explosions in Afipskoye occurred at approximately 1:40 a.m. Before that, the characteristic sound of a UAV flying overhead was heard. After several "loud pops", a fire broke out in the area of the local thermal power plant.

A fire was also reported in Yeysk after the UAV attack. It is known that there is a military airfield there.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has stated that Kyiv is not seeking direct contacts with Russia, but its participation in the second Peace Summit is possible under the Black Sea Grain Initiative format.

Source: Kuleba on air during the 24/7 national joint newscast, as reported by European Pravda

Details: In response to the question of who could potentially represent Russia at the second Peace Summit, Kuleba indicated that there had been a very successful experience of talks regarding the Black Sea Grain Initiative. He mentioned that Ukraine conducted talks with Turkiye and the United Nations, while Turkiye and the UN engaged in talks with Russia.

Quote: "The agreement appeared as a document signed between Turkiye, the UN and Ukraine, as well as between Turkiye, the UN and Russia."

However, he emphasised that Kyiv had no intentions to have direct contact with Russia due to all its crimes and Moscow's strategic goal of destroying the Ukrainian state.

Answering the question whether there are any safeguards to prevent the next agreement with Russia at the Peace Summit from collapsing, similar to what happened with the Black Sea Grain Initiative, he said that when it comes to Russia, the term "safeguards" is quite conditional.

"This is why the ultimate victory should be to create a reality where Russia is unable to repeat its attack on Ukraine," Kuleba noted, adding that security agreements with the US and other countries send a signal to Russian leader Vladimir Putin that there will be no fatigue in supporting Kyiv.

Background:

Earlier, Switzerland reported that it intends to discuss the Peace Summit, which took place on 15-16 June, with Russia, as well as with China and other countries that did not participate in it.

Meanwhile, Viola Amherd, Head of the Swiss Federal Council, said Russia's participation in the peace process remained a key issue.

Participants in the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland issued a joint communique on the foundations of peace in Ukraine.

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Sacramento fired two police officers in 2021, according to new records. Heres why

Sacramento officials fired two police officers in 2021 for dishonesty during a domestic violence call, according to newly released disciplinary records.

On Aug. 13, 2020, at around 11 p.m., a woman called 911 and said her husband had pressed his elbow on her breast really hard and threw a box at their 11-year-old son, according to disciplinary records the department released May 30 following a request under Californias Public Records Act from The Sacramento Bee.

Officers Kevin Spring and Joseph Swaleh responded to the parking lot of the Ross Dress For Less on Stockton Boulevard in south Sacramento, where the couple was located with their seven young children, the records state.

During a hasty investigation, the husband alleged he was the one assaulted, the records state. But officers did not investigate his or her allegations, determined no crime had occurred and cleared the call as 415 DV, which is a code for fighting in public, but no assault.

The next day around noon, the woman called 911 again and said her husband had assaulted her again in their van, the report states. Two different officers, David Costan and Sgt. Austin Hollibaugh, responded to the same parking lot. Its unclear from the records whether the family was living in their van. The officers spoke to both the husband and wife. Both alleged that the other had hit them.

But instead of investigating assault charges, the officers classified the incident as a fight in public, no crimes committed.

Officers Costan and Hollibaugh dismissed all allegations, failed to conduct a thorough investigation, choosing to facilitate a civil standby instead, the report stated. While on scene Officer Costan broadcasted, 415 DV only and gave Sgt. Hollibaugh inaccurate information over the telephone while updating him on the details of the call. Officer Hollibaugh would later clear the call 415 DV only and put inaccurate remarks on the call.

The husband called the departments internal affairs office the next day complaining that he had told the officers his wife had hit him in the head, and the officers did not investigate the allegations. His wife had previously been charged with assault in a different city, he said. After an internal affairs investigation, in April 2021, Police Chief Kathy Lester terminated both of them for dishonesty, the records stated.

Hollibaughs last day was June 5, 2021, and Costans last day was Nov. 9, 2021, city spokesman Tim Swanson said.

Costan and Hollibaugh did not immediately return emails and calls seeking comment.

According to the city charter, the police chief recommends to the city manager members of the force for demotion or dismissal. City Manager Howard Chan, in responding to criticism from Black Lives Matters Sacramento chapter, has said he has terminated multiple police officers since becoming city manager in 2017.

Lester also issued a 40-hour suspension to another officer and to a sergeant for dishonestly regarding the incident. The department in the records redacted both those names.

The officers who responded to the original call, Swaleh and Spring, are still employed as officers with the city, Swanson said.

Senate Bill 1421 required law enforcement agencies in California to release internal affairs disciplinary documents for certain incidents, including uses of force and dishonesty. As of November, city police had not released those records for over 50 incidents, a Bee investigation found. After the story published, the police department has released records for multiple incidents, including those involving Costan and Hollibaughs termination.
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  The San Angelo Health Foundation has announced that it donated over $200,000 to nonprofit organizations in the area during its first quarter. Heres what nonprofits got part of the money and what the funds went to.

Grants Committee Chair Carlos Rodriguez stated in the announcement that the foundation awarded $246, 118 to eight area nonprofits during the quarter. These awarded grants encompass community impact, education, emergency response, health care, mental health, and youth development, as per SAHF.

The foundation has provided over $67 million to 246 organizations since its inception in 1995.

According to SAHF, the nonprofits that received the grants, the amount of money they each were awarded and what the funds were spent on are as follows:

All-Tex Splash Pad Fund was awarded $50,000 to install community splash pads at Unidad and Kirby Park. This special project encourages physical activity, drives eco-friendly play initiatives and creates an enjoyable outdoor experience for everyone.

CV Biblical Counseling Center was awarded $20,000 for technology upgrades. The center provides faith-based counseling, pastoral care and ministry training. Counseling services include individual, marriage and family sessions.

East Concho Volunteer Fire Department was awarded $35,500 to purchase and install a wildland skid unit. Established in 1999, the department has 24 active volunteers and provides firefighting and emergency rescue services throughout northeast Tom Green County.

Eaton Hill Nature Center & Preserve was awarded $20,000 to build an outdoor primitive learning and discovery area. Located at the western edge of the Texas Hill Country and the eastern edge of the rugged Chihuahuan Desert, they offer 38 acres of spectacular views of Sonora, birding, hiking, picnic spots, and nature center tours.

Junction Community After School Program & Family Resource Center was awarded $75,000 to build a new facility to house its expanding after-school care program, clubs for middle and high school students and adult classes. The centers mission is to enrich and equip students to be successful academically and emotionally and to have the life skills needed to thrive in life.

Sight Savers America  San Angelo Low Vision & Blindness Program was awarded $14,488 to secure high-tech vision aids for individuals with low vision. The program enables individuals to access the vision services needed to reach their fullest potential in the classroom, workplace and life.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace  San Angelo Chapter was awarded $7,130 to purchase materials to build beds, mattresses and bedding. Its mission is to ensure that No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town. The San Angelo chapter brings together community volunteers to construct and deliver fully furnished twin-size beds to children aged 3-17.

United Way of the Concho Valley, Inc. was awarded $25,000 for Dolly Partons Imagination Library. DPIL is designed to enrich the lives of children from birth to five years old, increase access to books and promote daily reading habits between caregivers and children.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com.
Saint Petersburg woman sentenced to 10 years in prison for allegedly setting fire to military enlistment office

Saint Petersburg woman Elena Komaricheva was sentenced to 10 years in prison for allegedly trying to burn down a military enlistment office, a city court ruled on June 21.

According to the court, Komaricheva received instructions from an unknown source on how to acquire flammable materials and create an improvised Molotov cocktail.

Komaricheva then threw three of the homemade incendiary devices at a recruiting office in September 2023, reportedly causing around 37,000 rubles ($418) of damage.

At least 11 military enlistment offices were set on fire in Russia following the beginning of the general mobilization campaign in September 2022, in which hundreds of thousands of reservists were brought into the army.

A 17-year-old was sentenced to six years in a penal colony in November 2023 for attempting to burn down enlistment centers in Kirovsk and Saint Petersburg.

Even as the peak of mobilization subsided, arson attacks against enlistment offices continued.

The independent Russian media outlet Meduza reported in August 2023 that there had been at least 28 attempts to set fire to enlistment offices over the previous five days.

Read also: UK Defense Ministry: Increase in arson attacks at Russian enlistment offices likely signals disaffection amid war, potential mobilization

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Amid the unrelenting debate about undocumented immigration, 148 immigrants and refugees from around the world were sworn in as new U.S. citizens at a ceremony in Salt Lake City Thursday to mark World Refugee Day.

Those speaking at the event at the Utah Capitol in Salt Lake City steered clear of thorny political questions, instead emphasizing the historic role of immigrants in the nation's development and in diversifying the nation's culture. The 148 newly naturalized citizens come from 50 nations.

"Salt Lake City needs you. We want you and the culture and unique characteristics that you bring from your former nations. ... Your culture is important to us, and we want you to celebrate it," Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall told the crowd.

Utah Rep. Dan Johnson, R-Logan, also addressed the gathering, noting the economic contribution of immigrants and refugees, especially after they attain citizenship. He sponsored a symbolic measure approved by Utah lawmakers earlier this year, HCR9, celebrating Utah as a "welcoming state" for refugees.

"Refugees and immigrants bring with them experience, skills and perspectives that enrich our society," Johnson said.

Citizenship, he went on, bolsters the engagement and productivity of those who attain it and adds to the "social and economic vitality" of the country. "Economically, the benefits of granting citizenship are significant. Immigrants and refugees actually contribute billions of dollars, every year, to our economy. They start businesses, create jobs and pay taxes. And studies have shown that with citizenship, their ability to engage and to contribute to that economic stability grows," Johnson said.

The broader immigration debate across Utah and the nation focuses on those crossing illegally into the United States via the border with Mexico and others entering the nation via asylum claims made at the border. The state of Utah, Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County recently started circulating a flier advising asylum-seekers without family or friends in Utah to reconsider coming to the state given limited housing and other services to assist them.

Johnson and the other speakers didn't delve into such questions, but the northern Utah lawmaker differentiated those at Thursday's ceremony from immigrants trying to enter the United States illegally.

"I want to congratulate you for following the process ... of becoming a citizen of the United States. You have done the right thing, and you have done it the right way," he said.

The 148 new citizens come from around the globe  Europe, Asia, South America, the Caribbean  and many of them and their family members on hand cheered and waved U.S. flags as the ceremony progressed. The United Nations has designated June 20 as World Refugee Day, meant to recognize the struggles refugees face around the world, and Thursdays event, co-hosted by the Utah Department of Workforce Services Refugee Services Office, was timed to coincide with it.

"I feel really excited mostly because I get my freedom back," Katherine Hunsberger, originally from Venezuela and one of the 148, said after the ceremony.

Her country has experienced corruption and economic mismanagement, U.S. officials charge, which has spurred many, including Hunsberger, to leave the South American nation. But now, she said, "I feel I'm free again." Notably, Hunsberger has been unable to vote in the United States and Panama, where she lived before coming here. Now as a U.S. citizen, she noted, she can take part in the electoral process here.

Alexander Cruz, of Ecuador, hugs friends and family after his naturalization ceremony at the Utah Capitol in Salt Lake City on Thursday. The ceremony kicked off World Refugee Day celebrations in Utah as 148 immigrants and refugees got their citizenship. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News

Trescoth Guthrie, originally from Jamaica, came to the United States on a temporary worker visa and said attaining U.S. citizenship is a major milestone. "It's one of the happiest days in my life next to the birth of my son," he said.

Queried about the heated immigration debate, those at Thursday's ceremony offered mixed responses.

"For me, I think everybody should come in the country the right way," Guthrie said, while acknowledging that's not possible for everyone. He favors increased border security to, among other things, get a better handle on who's coming into the United States.

Jing Zhang, who accompanied his wife, Ling Li, one of the new citizens, to Thursday's ceremony, also emphasized the importance of following proper procedure in entering the country. Both Zhang and Li are originally from China and later emigrated to Canada before coming to the United States.

"They need to follow the legal process and not just cross the border," said Zhang, who's completing the process to become a U.S. citizen.

Hunsberger offered a more open-ended response, expressing sympathy for those fleeing hardship and struggles in other nations. I feel we all deserve an opportunity, she said.
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Same-sex sexual behavior has been observed in more than 1,500 animal species, but a new study has found that it is massively underreported by researchers.

Observations of this same-sex behavior in animals, such as sexual mounting and genital touching, date back to the 1700s and 1800s. But research on the subject only progressed in the 20th and 21st centuries.

In a study published Thursday in the journal PLOSOne, a team of researchers at the University of Toronto, Northwestern University and the University of Warsaw found that experts who study animal behavior are underreporting and rarely publishing their observations of same-sex sexual behavior.

The study surveyed 65 experts and found that 77% of them observed same-sex sexual behaviors in the species they studied. But only 48% collected data on these behaviors and even fewer  just 18%  had published papers on these findings.

Many respondents reported that their lack of recording data or publishing on SSSB [same-sex sexual behavior] was due to a perception that it was very rare, Karyn Anderson, a PhD candidate in evolutionary anthropology at the University of Toronto, who led the study, told CNN. When looked at on a broader scale, we found instead that it was very commonly observed by our survey participants.

The notion that these sexual behaviors are rare in the animal kingdom has been, and continues to be, used in debates about the ethics of human homosexuality, the study noted.

Anderson says that their study, like others on same-sex sexual behavior in animals, has found that this behavior is in fact widespread and natural in the animal kingdom.

Two female penguins stand in front of a cavity where two male penguin pairs "Sechs Punkt" (Six Point) and "Schraegstrich" (Slash) cuddle at the Bremerhaven Zoo, where three male homosexual penguin pairs live, February 2005. Although the zoo imported four female penguins from a Swedish zoo last January, the males still don't show any interest for them. - David Hecker/DDP/AFP/Getty Images

Yet homosexual behavior continues to be newly discovered among different species. In 2018, the first report of sex between male spider monkeys was recorded. That same year, two male Gentoo penguins made headlines for adopting an egg that had been abandoned by a male-female penguin pair.

The field appears to be ripe for future research  of the species identified as engaging in same-sex behaviors in the survey, nearly 39% had no prior reports of these behaviors, according to the authors.

Josh Davis, a science writer for the Natural History Museum in London and author of the book A Little Gay Natural History was not surprised by the studys findings, but says he found it quite exciting to have the data to prove these numbers.

Homosexual behavior, its been officially recorded for around 1,500 species of animals, but I think for a long time most people have suspected that this is most likely a huge underestimate, he told CNN. Because its found in almost every branch of the evolutionary tree from beetles and butterflies, to lizards and squirrels.

By identifying this gap in the research, Anderson says she hopes other mammalogists will be encouraged to publish their studies of same-sex sexual behaviors.

Two adult male Edible Frogs (Pelophylax kl. esculentus) in mating trial on waterlily leaves in water in Luisenpark, Germany. - FLPA/Shutterstock

Why so underreported?

While the authors hypothesized that discomfort or socio-political reasons may contribute to the underreporting of same-sex sexual behaviors, they didnt find this to be the case among the researchers they surveyed.

Instead, respondents told them it could be because these sexual behaviors were rare or not a research priority for their lab. Most of their observations would be considered anecdotal rather than the result of systematic study, perhaps making scientific journals less inclined to publish their findings.

Davis added that there have been other obstacles that get in the way of documenting same-sex behaviors among animals.

Historically, there has definitely been fears from researchers that if they were to publish on these behaviors, they might then get associated with those behaviors, he said, though it has got better over time.

Another challenge for researchers is when they observe sexual activity in species, it might not always be clear of the animals sex. There is an underlying assumption that when theyre seeing it, theyre watching a male and a female, said Davis.

The biggest take away from this research is that same-sex sexual behavior is widely observed within mammals, but not widely reported, explained Anderson, who added that this could be true for other behaviors which are perceived to be rare but are found to be more common when looked at on a broader scale.

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Dutch Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot has welcomed the approval of the 14th package of sanctions against Russia by the EU member states.

Source: Hanke Bruins Slot on X (Twitter)

Details: She said that this package contained several important measures that the Netherlands has strongly advocated, including firm opposition to Russia's "shadow fleet" of tankers and the imposition of sanctions against it.

"Through this sanctions package, the shadow fleet can be denied access to European harbours and services," she noted.

Through this sanctions package, the #shadowfleet can be denied access to European harbours and services. It is crucial that we continue working on new EU sanctions. This will significantly slow down Putins war machine. 2/2  Hanke Bruins Slot (@HankeBruinsSlot) June 20, 2024

Bruins Slot stressed that it was crucial for EU member states to continue working on new EU sanctions.

"This will significantly slow down Putins war machine," she stressed.

Background:

EU ambassadors agreed on the 14th package of sanctions against Russia earlier on Thursday after more than a month of discussions.

EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell said that this package of sanctions against Russia targets its defence industrial base, financial services, the energy sector, sanctions circumvention and war crimes, including those individuals involved in the deportation of Ukrainian children.

As previously reported, Germany was hampering the sanctions package by expanding measures that would have forced EU companies to guarantee that their customers would not be able to sell sanctioned goods to Russia.

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Sansom Park police ask residents for security footage as they investigate deadly shooting

Sansom Park police ask the public to check their surveillance video or security footage as they investigate a shooting that killed a man Friday morning.

Officers responded to the shooting in the 3100 block of Skyline Drive early Friday where they found 42-year-old Richard Applegate shot. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The two suspects are described as young males wearing hoodies and carrying backpacks. They were both last seen fleeing on foot from the area, according to police.

Police ask residents in the following areas to check their surveillance for images or footage of people walking or running around in the area between 4:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. Friday:

Skyline Drive

Crowley Street

Comanche Street

Cowden Street

Calloway Street

Joshua Court

Jalah Court

Information or tips regarding the homicide can be sent to CID@sansompark.org.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Sarasota County deputies arrested 15 people in an undercover anti-drug operation, the sheriffs office announced Thursday.

During the operation, which lasted nearly two years, deputies seized significant quantities of fentanyl, crack and powder cocaine, other stimulants, substantial amounts of cash, and firearms, according to a news release.

Deputies executed search warrants at the homes of Anthony Alexander and Darrenton Trebbles, which resulted in the seizure of various illicit narcotics  including over five kilograms of Dimethylpentylone, a synthetic stimulant, discovered at Trebbles home in Manatee County, the sheriffs office said.

Additional search warrants carried out with help from the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the Sarasota Police Department (SPD), the North Port Police Department (NPPD), and the Office of Statewide Prosecution-Fort Myers, resulted in the seizure of 159.9 grams of Fentanyl, 5,569.8 grams of Cocaine, 7.5 grams of Marijuana, approximately $218,000 in cash, two firearms, gold jewelry and other illegal substances, according to SCSO.

17 people were charged in the operation, but two are still wanted: Victor Schuler, 32, of Sarasota and Terrance Reed Sr., 56. Schuler is charged with one count of conspiracy to traffic in cocaine and one count of trafficking in cocaine.

The following 15 individuals were arrested by the Sarasota County Sheriffs Office:

Anthony A. Alexander, 31, of Venice, is charged with one count of racketeering, eight counts of conspiracy to traffic in amphetamine/cocaine, and six counts of trafficking in cocaine/fentanyl.

Darrenton Trebbles, 29, of Sarasota, is charged with one count of racketeering, three counts of conspiracy to traffic in amphetamine/cocaine, five counts of trafficking in cocaine/phenethylamines/fentanyl, one count of cocaine possession with intent to sell/manufacture/deliver, and one count of resisting officer without violence.

Eric McClain, 41, of Wauchula, is charged with one count of racketeering and three counts of conspiracy to traffic in cocaine/amphetamine.

Israel Corona, 42, of Bradenton, is charged with one count of racketeering, two counts of conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, and one count of trafficking in cocaine.

Porcha Graham, 35, of Nokomis, is charged with one count of racketeering, one count of conspiracy to traffic in amphetamine, two counts of conspiracy to traffic in cocaine.

Allen Roberts III, 28, of North Port, is charged with one count of racketeering and three counts of conspiracy to traffic in cocaine.

Sammy Robinson, 33, of Sarasota, is charged with one count of trafficking in cocaine and one count of trafficking in fentanyl.

Niko Curington, 29, of North Port, is charged with one count of conspiracy to traffic in cocaine.

Antonio Charles, 36, of Nokomis, is charged with one count of sale of rock cocaine.

Horace Charles Jr., 62, of Nokomis, is charged with two counts of sale of rock cocaine.

Jerry Charles, 54, of Nokomis, is charged with one count of sale of rock cocaine.

Gerald Charles, 30, of Nokomis, is charged with one count of sale of rock cocaine.

Samtavia Robinson, 29, of Sarasota, is charged with two counts of sale of rock cocaine.

Clydrick Lewis, 38, of Nokomis, is charged with two counts of sale of rock cocaine.

Rashard rivers, 35, of Bradenton, is charged with one count of cocaine possession.

I commend the almost two years of painstaking work put into Operation Stamp Out by the Special Investigations Section, Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman wrote in a statement. Additionally, we appreciate and acknowledge the cooperation and outstanding efforts of the DEA, SPD, NPPD, and the Office of Statewide Prosecution-Fort Myers. Their contributions were significant in the successful outcome of this operation. Working together makes a difference in our community.

Anyone with information about the wanted suspects is asked to contact the Sarasota County Sheriffs Office or Crime Stoppers at (941) 366-8477.

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 WFLA.
Satellite images show apparent mock-ups of US fifth-gen fighter jets and a runway with blast marks and craters in a Chinese desert

Satellite image from April 19, 2024, show Chinese mock-ups of what appear to be US aircraft in the Taklamakan Desert. Planet Labs PBC

China built mock-ups of US aircraft out in the Taklamakan Desert, satellite images show.

Apparent blast marks and craters suggest China may be using the area for target practice.

China has previously built mock-ups of US warships and carriers, likely for similar purposes.

Satellite images show what appear to be mock-ups of fifth-generation US aircraft, among other aircraft, out in a Chinese desert.

The airplanes, along with the suspected runway covered in apparent scorch marks and craters, suggest that China may be using the mock aircraft and area for target practice. It would not be the first time that this sort of thing has been observed in China.

The satellite image of the mock-ups, captured April 19, 2024 by Planet Labs PBC and then obtained by Business Insider, show both covered and uncovered aircraft by a runway at a site in the Taklamakan Desert. There looks to be around 20 aircraft near a building and three more planes near the runway.

Satellite image from April 19, 2024, show Chinese mock-ups of US aircraft in the Taklamakan Desert. Planet Labs PBC

Brady Africk, an open-source-intelligence analyst and an associate at the American Enterprise Institute think tank, said that the mock aircraft appear to be targets for some sort of training, not unlike other mock-ups China has made.

While most of the aircraft in the image are covered up, nine look to be exposed. Six of the uncovered aircraft strongly resemble the US Air Force's F-22, the first fifth-generation fighter. As for the other aircraft, they look a bit like the P-8A Poseidon and the U-2 reconnaissance plane, though it is difficult to say for certain.

More recent satellite images from late May surfaced on social media this week, showing apparent F-35 mock-ups among the fighters.

Chinese PLA Air Force pilots are learning to practice air strikes on American F-35 and F-22 mockups.



Qakilik, Taklamakan Desert, Xinjiang. pic.twitter.com/BjTHpgEWQI  Clash Report (@clashreport) June 20, 2024

Those satellite images, like the image from April, also appear to indicate that China has been using the aircraft and the area for target practice. Scorch marks and craters are evident at one end of the apparent runway, and some of the aircraft mock-ups appear wrecked. Those marks were not visible in an earlier image from a few years ago.

Satellite image from June 28, 2021, show Chinese mock-ups of US aircraft in the Taklamakan Desert. Planet Labs PBC

That satellite image from June 28, 2021, also courtesy of Planet Labs PBC, shows the same site but with only seven aircraft and an unscathed runway area.

Satellite image of a new carrier target in China's Taklamakan Desert. Image  Planet Labs PBC

China has previously built mock-ups of American assets for target practice.

In January of this year, satellite images showed what appeared to be a mockup of the Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and a US Arleigh Burke-class destroyer also in the Taklamakan Desert. The mock-ups are believed to be targets and may be part of China's efforts to further develop its missile force against naval targets.

In a war with China, the US would likely turn to its carrier strike groups for combat power projection.

One expert previously told BI that these mock-ups potentially allowed China to refine seekers with image-recognition capabilities and help it develop the ability to accurately target particular ships or even specific parts of ships where a missile could do the most damage.

A satellite image of an apparent US Arleigh Burke class destroyer in the Taklamakan Desert, photographed January 1, 2024. Image  Planet Labs PBC

China has much to gain from practicing with mock-ups of US aircraft and ships. China has also built a mockup of Taiwan's capital city, including its presidential office and government buildings, out in the desert of the Alxa League area. Such a facility could be used for training to prepare it for conflict.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A team of scientists has recreated the face of the oldest human being. The discovery of this skull has changed our understanding of history, as experts have found that it is more than 300,000 years old.

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The remains of Jebel Irhoud, named after the place in Morocco where it was found, have pushed back the Homo sapiens lineage by 100,000 years. Now, the face of our oldest known ancestor may be revealed to history after scientists reconstructed his likeness using the shape of the skull found, The Mirror reports. However, the true gender of the individual is unknown due to the absence of pelvic bones.

Brazilian graphics expert Cicero Moraes, who completed the recreation, described the resulting face as "strong and calm."

"First, I scanned the skull in 3D using data provided by researchers at the Max Planck Institute. I then proceeded with a face approximation that consisted of crossing several approaches, such as anatomical deformation. It uses the tomography of a modern human being, adapted so that the donor's skull becomes Jebel Irhoud's, and the deformation eventually led to the creation of a compatible face," the expert explained.

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Further data from modern humans was used to predict soft tissue thickness and the likely projection of the nose and other facial structures.

"The final face is an interpolation of all this data that generates two groups of images, one objective, with more technical elements, no hair, and in grayscale, and the other artistic, with skin and hair pigmentation," Cicero added.

The donor data used was from an adult male with a low body mass index. Mr. Moraes said he decided to give the skeleton a male face to make the skull look more robust and masculine.

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The skull itself is a collection of various fossils reconstructed into a single whole, which Cicero called "magnificent and perfectly consistent, anatomically speaking." According to the Max Planck Institute, Jebel Irhud has "a modern face and teeth, as well as a large but more archaic-looking brain case."

The fossils were first found in Jebel Irhoud in the 1960s but were initially estimated to be around 40,000 years old. Returning to this issue in the 1990s, scientists dated the bones to be between 100,000 and 200,000 years old. But in 2017, it was discovered that they were even older than they thought. This came to light after new methods were used to show that they were approximately 300,000 years old.

Speaking at the time, paleoanthropologist Jean-Jacques Hublin of the Max Planck Institute said: "We used to think that the cradle of humanity was 200,000 years ago in East Africa. But our new data show that Homo sapiens spread across the African continent around 300,000 years ago."

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Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
BALTIMORE -- Inside a hallway of the veterinary hospital at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, a popular new program plays 24/7 on a computer screen.

They call it Woodrat TV, said Erin Grimm, the zoos mammal curator.

On camera is a singularly important Allegheny woodrat, whose job it is to help repopulate her species, which is threatened by encroachment from human development. She is the first participant in a captive breeding program at the zoo to save the woodrat, a big-eared relative of the pack rat thats about the length of a bowling pin (if you include the woodrats furry tail).

When she arrived at the zoo from her habitat in Pennsylvania, Allegheny Woodrat 9891, as she is known, was already pregnant. Within weeks, she gave birth to three healthy pups: Must See TV on the Woodrat Channel.

Woodrats are solitary critters who live in remote, rocky outcroppings dotting the Appalachians from Pennsylvania to Georgia, hidden from all but the most determined seekers. Several biologists have watched the zoos footage eagerly, Grimm said, having never seen a woodrat give birth before, despite years of studying and tracking them.

They are secretive and live in tiny cracks and crevices in the rocks, Grimm said. Its nice for us to be able to capture this.

But, for the zoos program, thats just a cherry on top. The real goal lies with those three rapidly growing woodrats, who will be released into the wild in Pennsylvania and Indiana. The juvenile woodrats will offer something desperately needed in their new homes: genetic diversity.

Underlying the woodrats precipitous decline is, unsurprisingly, human development. The construction of homes, buildings and roads has isolated individual populations of woodrats, destroying the forested lands through which they traveled to breed with one another.

Scientists call it the extinction vortex, said Jacqueline Doyle, a Towson University associate professor who studies the genetics of woodrat populations. As animals are assailed by habitat loss, pollution, hunting or invasive species, their populations shrink and fragment  and so does the gene pool. Inbreeding and the loss of genetic diversity make entire populations less adaptable to disease and environmental change, and can send species into a tailspin.

Even if you address the initial problem that resulted in the population decreasing in size  even if you combat habitat loss or you combat an exotic species  if youve lost that genetic variation, it can still be very difficult for the population to recover, Doyle said.

Doyle is assisting with the captive breeding program, which is being administered through a special work group dedicated to the creatures. By comparing DNA samples collected from the baby woodrats, and samples collected in the wild, Doyle will help play matchmaker, by identifying the woodrat populations most in need of the pups unique genetic background.

But at the beginning of their lives at the Maryland Zoo, these potential species-savers were just like any other kids. As soon as the lights went off each night and the cameras switched to infrared, the nocturnal rat chaos would begin, Grimm said. The siblings often sparred with one another, rising to stand on their back feet and box with their paws. That is, until Mom separated them.

The woodrats grew in a multilayer cage with PVC piping for tunnels. And that cage was locked behind latched, lion-proof metal doors, since it sits inside a room previously used to treat the zoos other, much larger, inhabitants. Now, a whiteboard hangs out front, with a drawing of a rat and the words Rat Room.

After Mom and the kids spent several weeks together, zoo staff separated them. Now, each woodrat has its own enclosure. Zoo staff are keeping their distance, trying to ensure that the young woodrats dont grow too accustomed to humans, or hearing human voices. Soon, the woodrats will go to the wild, where they will spend their first two weeks in an enclosed area with natural food items. Then, the gates will open, and eventually the enclosure will be removed, leaving them on their own.

The zoo employees werent sure how Mom would react to losing her young. But mostly, she just seemed to take some much-needed R&R, sleeping in her nest assembled partially from her favorite nesting material  toilet paper  and munching on the chinchilla chow, seeds, nuts and fresh produce that arrive through a chute.

Along the way, the zoo is picking up meaningful tidbits about woodrat behavior that will help other zoos that are discussing how to replicate the program, Grimm said. For the Maryland Zoo, the breeding program isnt atypical, said spokesman Mike Evitts. The zoo participates in similar programs for the African penguin and the Panamanian golden frog. Such programs are a bit more rare for mammals that are difficult to breed, Grimm said, though the zoo had a brief breeding program for woodrats decades ago.

Perhaps the programs biggest challenges lie ahead: ensuring that the baby woodrats survive in the wild, and successfully mating Woodrat 9891 in captivity, said Kate Otterbein, a mammal recovery specialist at the Pennsylvania Game Commission, who trapped Woodrat 9891 in central Pennsylvanias Mifflin County and drove her to Baltimore.

Its not simple as just putting them together, because theyre not social and they are territorial, and they get aggressive when another woodrat is in their territory, Otterbein said.

Staff members will need to carefully monitor the courting, to ensure it doesnt sour to the point that one of the woodrats becomes violent, Otterbein said.

The Allegheny woodrat is listed as endangered in Maryland and several other states, and is near threatened on a global scale, as measured by the International Union for Conservation of Natures Red List.

Woodrats have other environmental factors working against them. Raccoons, for example, pushed by human development, have foraged deeper into the woods, where they are more likely to encounter Allegheny woodrats. Raccoons can carry a parasite called racoon roundworm, which lies dormant inside them, but is typically lethal when passed to a woodrat. The woodrats food sources have also taken a hit, such as chestnut trees destroyed by chestnut blight and acorn-producing oak trees imperiled by the spongy moth.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is beginning a statewide reassessment survey of its remaining woodrat populations, said Megan Zagorski, the agencys western region ecologist. Historically, the creatures could be found in the states westernmost four counties and Montgomery County. Over time, the population generally appears to be contracting westward, as sites that formerly hosted woodrats are lost.

Zagorski hopes the holistic survey will provide meaningful answers to explain the decline, but the states existing survey work has provided clues, including trail cameras that pick up families of raccoons passing by.

One of the sites  is one mountain and the next mountain, and in between those two mountains, put a highway, Zagorski said. So its much more difficult for woodrats to safely cross and mix across that ridge line.

In addition to the captive breeding program, state officials are trying other methods to keep the critters alive. In Pennsylvania, that comes in the form of taxing work: At key times of the year, state employees and volunteers haul 25-pound bags of chestnuts up into the mountains to drop them in crevices only hungry woodrats could reach, Otterbein said. The state game commission also has worked to rebuild rock areas to connect woodrat habitats, she said.

Its not just about the woodrats. Their habitats also are used by rattlesnakes, birds of prey, black bears and other small mammals, such as rock moles, Otterbein said.

I like to think of it as this complex puzzle of species that fit into this community, and the idea of losing some of those pieces of the puzzle is just not something that we want to face, Otterbein said.

The woodrat also deserves study  and saving  on its own merits, the scientists say. Theres a lot of interest among scientists in working with what they call charismatic megafauna, Doyle said. Think polar bears, golden eagles, dolphins.

The Allegheny woodrat is  perhaps some would argue  less charismatic. Its certainly not mega, Doyle said. But its no less important ecologically than these top predators that many people are interested in studying.
SC woman didnt fire a gun. Why Rock Hill police are charging her with murder in shooting

Rock Hill police on Thursday charged a South Carolina woman with murder after a fatal shooting  even though the woman did not fire a gun.

Brittney Reed, 32 is charged in connection with the death of her girlfriend, 39-year-old Samarian Lindsay, of Rock Hill, police said. Reed allegedly provided the gun to her girlfriend before a man shot and killed Lindsay in self-defense on Wednesday, according to a Rock Hill Police Department written statement.

The man and Lindsay had an altercation at a nearby business earlier where they were co-workers, police said.

Reed allegedly brought the gun to Lindsay knowing it was going to be used to confront the man, Rock Hill police said. She also drove a car that blocked the mans car in traffic before the shooting, police said.

Reed was aware at the time of doing this that a felony act would likely be committed that could result in the death of another person, Rock Hill police said in a news release.

The man involved has not been identified. And he faces no charges because police said he acted in self-defense.

Reed also faces an assault and battery charge for allegedly punching the man in the face after the shooting, police said.
Gwinnett County teachers are the latest group of teachers to receive a significant pay raise as more districts boost efforts to retain and recruit educators in metro Atlanta.

The Gwinnett County School Board unanimously voted to approve a $3.2 billion proposed budget Thursday night that includes a $4,000 pay raise for teachers.

The raise includes a $2,500 pay increase budgeted by Gov. Brian Kemp for teachers statewide earlier this year.

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I think itll be a morale boost, Jennifer Wurschinger, a 17-year Gwinnett County teacher told Channel 2s Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson. Theres all kinds of things that every teacher does that are uncompensated.

She welcomes an emphasis on keeping teachers in the classroom by boosting their pay.

Those pay raises are going to go towards retaining and recruiting the people who are going to make positive changes, she said.

Gwinnett Schools staff who are not on a teacher salary will receive a 4.25% increase in pay with the proposed budget.

Earlier this month, Atlanta Public Schools gave teachers an 11% pay raise.

Some educators applaud the pay raises but say teachers need dedicated time to do their jobs at school.

They need that time just so they can plan their lessons and so they can grade papers and not be taking that work home, said Lisa Morgan, President of the Georgia Association of Educators.

Wurschinger says she hopes these raises spark conversations on how Gwinnett school leaders can make the district work toward being more equitable by increasing salaries for special education teachers and teachers who work at Title 1 schools.

Those are our most vulnerable students, Wurschinger said. We need our best teachers there.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Kingdom Come

Scientists have long observed animals engaging in same-sex behavior  but for complex reasons, those observations have rarely made their way into academic literature.

In a new paper in the journal PLOS One, anthropology researchers at the University of Toronto spoke to 65 experts about the frequency of observed homosexual animal behavior in the animal kingdom and their experiences documenting it.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, there was a gigantic gulf: 77 percent had observed same-sex animal behavior, but only 48 percent collected data on it and just 19 percent ended up publishing their findings.

Though none of the survey respondents themselves reported any "discomfort or sociopolitical concerns" of their own, many said that journals were biased against publishing anecdotal evidence of these same-sex animal couplings and preferred instead to rely on systematic findings. That trend is compounded by the fact that many countries have anti-gay laws on the books.

"Researchers working in countries where homosexuality is criminalized may be less likely to, or unable to, publish papers on this topic if they wish to maintain good working relationships in that region," the paper reads. "The political or social values of the institutions where researchers work may pose a barrier to their ability to publish on this topic."

It's Natural

The effect of this apparent bias is clear: despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, same-sex animal behavior has been considered "unnatural," or rare with key exceptions like penguins and Japanese macaques, which are both known for their homosexuality.

According to Karyn Anderson, a Toronto anthropology grad student and the paper's first author, this erroneous belief seems to extend to humans, too.

"I think that record should be corrected," Anderson told The Guardian. "One thing I think we can say for certain is that same-sex sexual behavior is widespread and natural in the animal kingdom."

While the PLOS One paper looks at a relatively narrow cohort as exemplary of this seeming trend, other experts also suggest the lack of academic acknowledgment of near-universal animal homosexuality is bizarre.

"Around 1,500 species have been observed showing homosexual [behaviors], but this is certainly an underestimate because its seen in almost every branch of the evolutionary tree  spiders, squids, monkeys," recounted Josh Davis, who works at London's Natural History Museum and wrote a book titled "A Little Gay Natural History."

"Theres a growing suggestion its normal and natural to almost every species," Davis, who was not involved in the research, told The Guardian. "Its probably more rare to be a purely heterosexual species."

Be that as it may, there remain clear barriers to getting this well-observed reality into the mainstream  but hopefully, that tide will soon turn.

More on animal behavior: Orcas Strike Again, Sinking Yacht as Oil Tanker Called for Rescue
A federal law that Congress enacted in 1994 prohibits gun possession by people subject to domestic violence restraining orders. Since that seems like a no-brainer, many people were dismayed when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit deemed that provision unconstitutional last year in United States v. Rahimi. But as anyone who reads the majority and concurring opinions in that case can see, there is a striking problem with 18 USC 922(g)(8): It disarms people even when there is little or no evidence that they pose a danger to others.

In an 81 decision today, the Supreme Court avoided that issue by noting that the man who challenged his prosecution under Section 922(g)(8), Zackey Rahimi, is a bad dude with an extensive history of violence, including violence against his girlfriend. As applied to people like Rahimi, Chief Justice John Roberts says in the majority opinion, the law is "consistent with this Nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation"the constitutional test that the Court established in the 2022 case New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen.

"When a restraining order contains a finding that an individual poses a credible threat to the physical safety of an intimate partner, that individual mayconsistent with the Second Amendmentbe banned from possessing firearms while the order is in effect," Roberts says. The decision does not address the question of whether it is consistent with the Second Amendment to disarm someone without such a judicial finding.

Noting that Rahimi raised a facial challenge, Roberts faults the 5th Circuit for focusing on "hypothetical scenarios where Section 922(g)(8) might raise constitutional concerns" instead of "consider[ing] the circumstances in which Section 922(g)(8) was most likely to be constitutional." That error, he says, "left the panel slaying a straw man."

As 5th Circuit Judge James Ho emphasized in his Rahimi concurrence, that "straw man" is not merely hypothetical. The "constitutional concerns" to which Roberts alludes derive from the statute's loose requirements for court orders that trigger the gun ban. Under Section 922(g)(8), a restraining order must include at least one of two elements, one of which sweeps broadly enough to encompass individuals with no history of violence or threats.

The first, optional elementa judicial finding that the respondent "represents a credible threat to the physical safety" of his "intimate partner" or that person's childprovides some assurance that the order addresses a real danger, especially since the law requires a hearing in which the respondent has "an opportunity to participate." As Roberts notes, the order against Rahimi included such a finding. But the second, alternative criterionthat the order "by its terms explicitly prohibits the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against such intimate partner or child that would reasonably be expected to cause bodily injury"can be met by the boilerplate language of orders that are routinely granted in divorce cases, whether or not there is good reason to believe the respondent is apt to assault anyone.

In his Rahimi concurrence, Ho noted that protective orders are "often misused as a tactical device in divorce proceedings" and "are granted to virtually all who apply." They are "a tempting target for abuse," he said, and in some cases have been used to disarm the victims of domestic violence, leaving them "in greater danger than before."

In the lone dissent from today's decision, Justice Clarence Thomas likewise notes how easily someone can lose his right to arms under Section 922(g)(8). The provision "does not require a finding that a person has ever committed a crime of domestic violence," he writes. It "is not triggered by a criminal conviction or a person's criminal history." And it "does not distinguish contested orders from joint ordersfor example, when parties voluntarily enter a no-contact agreement or when both parties seek a restraining order."

Furthermore, Thomas says, the law "strips an individual of his ability to possess firearms and ammunition without any due process," since "the ban is an automatic, uncontestable consequence of certain orders." The Cato Institute made the same basic point about due process in a brief supporting Rahimi's challenge.

Although a hearing is required for the restraining order itself, Thomas notes, "there is no hearing or opportunity to be heard on the statute's applicability, and a court need not decide whether a person should be disarmed under 922(g)(8)." He also points out that the penalties for violating the provision are severe: up to 15 years in prison, plus permanent loss of gun rights based on the felony conviction.

Roberts, who criticizes the 5th Circuit for requiring a "historical twin" rather than a "historical analogue" under the Bruen test, sees precedent for Section 922(g)(8) in "surety" laws that required threatening people to post bonds, which they would forfeit if they became violent. But Thomas does not think those laws are "relevantly similar" to the provision that Rahimi violated.

"Surety laws were, in a nutshell, a fine on certain behavior," Thomas writes. "If a person threatened someone in his community, he was given the choice to either keep the peace or forfeit a sum of money. Surety laws thus shared the same justification as 922(g)(8), but they imposed a far less onerous burden."

In particular, Thomas says, "a surety demand did not alter an individual's right to keep and bear arms. After providing sureties, a person kept possession of all his firearms; could purchase additional firearms; and could carry firearms in public and private. Even if he breached the peace, the only penalty was that he and his sureties had to pay a sum of money. To disarm him, the Government would have to take some other action, such as imprisoning him for a crime." Thomas thinks the government "has not shown that 922(g)(8)'s more severe approach is consistent with our historical tradition of firearm regulation."

Roberts, by contrast, says a prosecution under Section 922(g)(8) can be consistent with that tradition, at least when a judge concludes that someone "poses a credible threat to the physical safety of an intimate partner." The constitutionality of applying Section 922(g)(8) in cases where there was no such finding remains uncertain. Some Second Amendment scholars, such as the Independence Institute's David Kopel, argue that the provision would be constitutional if it were amended to require a finding of dangerousness.

The Court did clarify an important point in a way that could bode well for other challenges to the broad categories of "prohibited persons" who are not allowed to possess firearms, such as cannabis consumers and other illegal drug users. The majority rejected the Biden administration's position that only "responsible" people qualify for Second Amendment rights.

"We reject the Government's contention that Rahimi may be disarmed simply because he is not 'responsible,'" Roberts writes. "'Responsible' is a vague term. It is unclear what such a rule would entail. Nor does such a line derive from our case law."

In Bruen and in District of Columbia v. Heller, the 2008 case in which the Court first explicitly recognized that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to armed self-defense, Roberts notes, "we used the term 'responsible' to describe the class of ordinary citizens who undoubtedly enjoy the Second Amendment right.But those decisions did not define the term and said nothing about the status of citizens who were not 'responsible.' The question was simply not presented."

The post SCOTUS Dodges a Crucial Problem With Disarming People Based on Restraining Orders appeared first on Reason.com.
Sculptor of monument on SC Statehouse grounds reflects on his view from space

Blue Origins New Shepard lifts off from the Launch Site One launch pad carrying Good Morning America co-anchor Michael Strahan, Laura Shepard Churchley, daughter of astronaut Alan Shepard, and four other civilians on December 11, 2021 near Van Horn, Texas. The six are riding aboard mission NS-19, the third human spaceflight for the company which is owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. (File/Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Ed Dwight, one of six passengers on Blue Origins seventh manned flight into space, feared for a moment something had gone awry.

As the rocket launched last month, the light below him was so bright, he thought it had exploded. The noise of the engine was deafening, even through his earplugs.

Ah, well, was his first thought, he told the SC Daily Gazette this week. I had a nice life.

But the rocket didnt explode. And Dwight went roaring into space, soaring through the atmosphere and, at 90 years old, breaking the record for the oldest astronaut in space for his 11-minute trip.

Captain Edward J Dwight (center), the first African-American to have entered the Air Force training program from which NASA selected astronauts, pictured with fellow pilots at Edwards Air Force Base in California, circa April 1963. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Dwight, who is based in Colorado, is best known in South Carolina for his sculptures, which include the African American History Monument on the Statehouse grounds and, more recently, a statue of Harriet Tubman at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Beaufort.

But before becoming an artist  or a restauranteur or construction company owner, his other previous professions  he trained to become the first Black astronaut.

Ed Dwight, not only do you capture history with your hands, but you make history, reads a Facebook post from the group behind the Harriet Tubman monument. You are history.

The first Black astronaut candidate

As Dwight tells it, President John F. Kennedy selected him to bring some diversity to the space mission, then in its infancy.

But after Kennedys assassination in 1963, Dwight lost his chief sponsor, and NASA passed him over when selecting its next cohort of astronauts.

A lot of people didnt want any Blacks or women in the space program, because it was all about heroes  Superman and Daredevil and all that stuff, Dwight said. Of course, white men considered themselves the Superman, and they didnt like the idea of having super women or super Black people.

A woman looks at the African American History Monument on the Statehouse grounds on Thursday, March 7, 2024. (File/Skylar Laird/SC Daily Gazette)

Dwight left the Air Force a few years later. The first Black astronaut would not leave Earths atmosphere for another 20 years, when Philadelphia native Guion Bluford went up in 1983.

Over 60 years later, Dwight doesnt harbor any resentment.

He decided to take the May 19 trip into space for all the people in his life who were angry on his behalf at losing that chance when he was younger, not for his own sake, he said.

Dwight is happy with the way his life turned out, making huge memorials for people to visit that are going to be there for the end of time, as he put it.

Finally taking the trip he didnt get 60 years ago showed that hard work does pay off, even if it takes decades to show it, said Rev. Kenneth Hodges, pastor of the church that commissioned the Harriet Tubman sculpture.

A lot of people who have visited the monument, which was unveiled earlier this month, have heard about the oldest man to go into space but dont realize hes also the artist behind the piece, Hodges said.

It shows the determination of a person and lets us all know you can still accomplish your dream  it doesnt matter how long it takes, it doesnt matter your age, said Hodges, a former state legislator.

And an offer to go into space is tough to turn down, he added.

Space for Humanity, with support from the Jaison and Jamie Robinson Family Foundation, sponsored Dwights seat on the private flight, according to Blue Origin. The company, owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, has not publicly disclosed the price of the tickets.

The view from space

Dwight logged so many flying hours in his youth, he was prepared for the force caused by the rockets acceleration, known as G force, which can cause some people to pass out. What he wasnt prepared for was the view, he said.

He had thought the dividing line between the Earths atmosphere and the space beyond would be a more gradual transition, but instead he found it to be one sharp, distinct line.

At first, everything went blue-black. Then, the ship rocketed into space, and Dwight got a glimpse of the Earth, appearing to sit all on its lonesome against never-ending darkness.

As the five other passengers screamed and clapped and kicked, Dwight looked out at the Earth growing smaller beneath him and thought: I get it. I get it. Now I get it, he said.

He likened the experience to looking down at a playground from the top of a slide.

You see all these people, and they have the ability to play and to drive and to ride their bikes and do whatever they do, he said. Its just the damndest thing. The feelings you get are really incredible.

Along with those feelings came a philosophical question Dwight has been chasing in his artwork for years: Why cant those people just get along?

When you get above it all, you dont see any dividing lines between the states or dividing lines between the countries, Dwight said. Its just amazing thinking, Everybody down there should be really getting along with each other, because this is just one place that were all in.

Thats not a new question for Dwight, but a reminder of one hes had for a long time, he said.

In his artwork, such as the monument beside the Statehouse that traces African American history in South Carolina from the slave trade through the 20th century, he tries to teach people about the past in a way that will help them lead better futures, he said.

What were really trying to do as artists and peacemakers is we try to make life a little bit more livable, to have something that people can enjoy, he said.

The post Sculptor of monument on SC Statehouse grounds reflects on his view from space appeared first on SC Daily Gazette.
The search continues for at-risk man last seen in Salt Lake, police seek more help

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  The Salt Lake City Police Department is continuing to ask the public for information regarding a missing, at-risk man who was last seen in March.

Jordan Gonzales, 34, was last seen in the Salt Lake area on March 13, but the investigation did not begin until April 17, after family members reported him missing, according to a press release from SLCPD.

LEARN MORE: What should you do if someone goes missing?

Gonzales is said to be about 55 tall, weigh around 170 pounds, and have brown hair and brown eyes. He has numerous tattoos on his face and neck.

Salt Lake Police provided the image below, which is his Utah drivers license photo that was issued in January 2024.

Jordan Gonzales, 34, was last seen on March 13, according to SLCPD. He is considered to be an at-risk individual. (Courtesy: Salt Lake City Police Department)

Salt Lake City Police detectives have been working diligently on this case, including communicating with the family to learn more about Gonzales, police said in a press release.

Gonzales was listed as missing and at-risk after police learned that he is somewhat visually impaired and has a traumatic brain injury, the press release said.

SLCPD has asked anyone with information on his whereabouts to call 911.

What to do when speaking to law enforcement about a missing person

More than 600,000 people go missing each year in the United States, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.

Here are some suggestions to keep in mind if someone you know goes missing.

Utah officials suggest taking notes on interactions with law enforcement to keep track of details such as officer names, dates and times of interactions, the case number, and what the officers say.

When working with local law enforcement to report a missing person, it is recommended one shares as much information as possible about the missing person, including but not limited to:

Full name or nicknames.

Recent photos.

Date of birth and age at the time they disappeared.

Gender/sex.

Detailed physical description (including unique scars or tattoos).

Date of disappearance.

Medical conditions.

Last known location.

Social media accounts.

Additional resources

For more information, the Department of Public Safety has a page on its website dedicated to resources for missing persons, as well as pages to view missing persons from Utah.

Additional hotlines and resources originally compiled in a 2021 guidebook are available below:

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233

National Human Trafficking Hotline: 888-373-7888

National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs): 833-872-5176

National Runaway Safeline: 800-786-2929

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255

StrongHearts Native Helpline: 844-762-8483

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Securities and Exchange Commission has charged a Fort Worth man with making a fraudulent investment bid worth $200 million, the commission announced this week.

In a statement, the SEC said Matthew Brown and his company, Matthew Brown LLC, made an unsolicited offer to invest $200 million in Virgin Orbit, a company owned by Richard Bransons Virgin Group.

In reality, officials with the SEC said, Brown had less than $1 in his bank account.

The complaint also alleges that Brown told the CEO of Virgin Orbit that he had previously invested hundreds of millions of personal capital in other aerospace companies. He sent Virgin Orbit a fake screenshot that purported to show a balance of more than $182 million in his companys account, the SEC said.

Brown appeared on CNBC in March of 2023 to talk about the offer, despite having signed a nondisclosure agreement with Virgin Orbit.

He also claimed to have obtained a law degree from Southern Methodist University, but SEC officials said they later uncovered that he had never graduated from college.

 More top stories from our newsroom:

 Accused drunk driver slams into 2 cyclists near Dallas-Fort Worth Airport

 Gateway Church pastor resigns after admitting to sexually abusing 12-year-old girl

 Allan Saxe, beloved UT Arlington professor, has died

[Get our breaking news alerts.]

Negotiations with Virgin Orbit collapsed after Brown failed to place funds in escrow and refused to respond to the companys discovery requests, the SEC said.

Virgin Orbit filed for bankruptcy in April 2023.

In its complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, the SEC is seeking civil penalties, permanent injunctions and an officer-and-director ban against Brown.
INDEPENDENCE, Mo.  Accusations against a former school board president continue to emerge.

Bobby Hawk, who is also lead pastor at Epic Church in Independence, resigned from his position as Blue Springs School Board president on Wednesday. On Thursday, Epic Church announced Hawk has been placed on leave from his duties at the church.

Blue Springs school board president resigns, on leave from church following allegations

Police in Blue Springs confirm for FOX4 they took a report from an alleged victim on Thursday morning. Two victims reached out to FOX4 on Thursday, accusing Hawk of sexual misconduct, including one victim who says she was 12 years old at the time.

He would hug me frequently, and wrap his arm around me more often, Izzy Davis, who is now a college student, said on Thursday.

Davis said she was 12 years old when Hawk assaulted her at a gathering at his home.

Davis went to Blue Springs Police on Thursday, detailing an incident from 12 years ago. In a blog post, Davis wrote about two occasions where Pastor Hawk forced her to hold his hand as if they were dating, and then, he allegedly put both hands underneath his thigh for the entire length of a movie that was showing. Davis blog post accuses Hawk of grooming her for the future.

I just immediately felt horrible. I didnt know what to do, Davis told FOX4 News.

I was afraid of causing a scene and upsetting him by a strong reaction and being offended by that. I didnt want to upset him.

Kearney woman charged with murder in death of husband

Ali Terwilliger said she was a 22-year-old church volunteer in 2011. Terwilliger said on one occasion, Hawk intentionally touched her rear end, and he frequently talked about wanting a sexual relationship with her. Terwilliger said she knew Davis, and her testimony inspired her to speak out.

Terwilliger said she complained to Epic Church leadership, but eventually, she chose to leave the church. Terwilliger said she doesnt believe Hawk should remain as church pastor there.

It definitely is not an environment, at least it was not at that time, an environment where they were helping victims, Terwilliger said.

It was more of trying to cover up what was going on with the pastor.

Epic Church is affiliated with the Assemblies of God denomination. Don Miller, who leads the Southern Missouri Ministry Network, said leaders with that denomination are aware of the allegations against Hawk.

Troost Ave. cafe and community services are coming back home

When allegations toward a minister arise, we take those matters very seriously and we have a well-established process in addressing them, Miller said via email.

We are following these guidelines to properly investigate these allegations.

Davis said she knows of at least three other alleged victims, and shes hopeful theyll feel strong enough to speak out too.

FOX4 News reached out directly to Bobby Hawk three times on Thursday. So far, he hasnt returned our calls.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
On June 25, the European Union (EU) decided to start negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the bloc. This means the actual start of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU, during which all the technical details of the process will be worked out. Similar negotiations will officially begin with Moldova.

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This was officially announced by the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council. "The EU Council has adopted common positions, in particular on the framework for negotiations on Ukraine's accession to Moldova. This paves the way for the start of negotiations on Tuesday, June 25, in Luxembourg," the statement said.

It refers to the "in-principle agreement of 27 countries" to negotiate. The decision was officially approved at a ministerial meeting on June 21. However, in the Netherlands, parliamentary approval will also be required.

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal commented on the EU Council's decision at a government meeting on June 21. "On June 25, we will hold the EU-Ukraine Intergovernmental Conference, which will mark the formal start of negotiations on our accession. Then we will start detailed technical negotiations on dozens of different chapters of the future agreement," Shmyhal said.

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He also added that Ukraine continues to integrate into the EU in all areas. In particular:

Ukraine and the EU have extended the "transport visa-free regime"  an agreement on the liberalization of freight transportation that eliminates the need to obtain permits for such transportation;

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a law on a common roaming area with the EU, which is part of the "roaming visa-free regime" that will allow Ukrainians in the EU to use their mobile phone tariffs without additional charges.

"We will continue to work to ensure that both the 'transport visa-free regime' and the 'trade visa-free regime' work permanently. ... We are grateful to our European partners for their support, which strengthens our economy and our state," Shmyhal summarized.

The heads of state and government of the European Union prepared the ground for accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova in mid-December 2023. However, Hungary has so far slowed down the formal start of negotiations with Ukraine, believing that the conditions have not been met.

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However, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has already officially stated that Ukraine has fulfilled all the recommendations of the European Commission. "Ukraine has fulfilled all the steps that we have prescribed, that we have formulated. That is why we believe that the European Union should start accession negotiations by the end of this month," she said.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
L.A. teen got a second chance from Gascon after killing. Now he is accused in a new homicide

Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascon's reform-minded outlook on juvenile justice seemed made for someone like Denmonne Lee.

When he was 16, Lee took part in an Antelope Valley gas station robbery that ended in the death of former Marine John Ruh. Lee, who was acquainted with the victim, had planned the 2018 robbery and provided a weapon to his co-defendant, according to court records. Although Lee wasn't the shooter, he was charged with murder.

But when Gascon took office two years later, as Lee's case was making its way through the court system, he barred prosecutors from trying juveniles as adults. Lee was convicted and ordered held at the county's Secure Youth Treatment Facility in Sylmar until he turned 25.

Lee "responded very well" to programs in custody, authorities said. Within a year, probation officials moved him from the high-security Sylmar facility into a rehabilitation-focused setting in Malibu. After being released to a halfway house last June, Lee enrolled in community college and found work at a local nonprofit.

And then, in April, he was arrested and charged with playing a major role in another homicide.

The case has given Gascon's critics an opportunity to claim a direct link between the progressive district attorney's policies and a violent crime that some say could have been prevented had Lee faced a stiffer penalty in adult court. Nathan Hochman, Gascon's opponent as he seeks reelection in November, has spent significant time shouting out high-profile crimes that he contends are symptoms of the incumbent's policies.

Read more: When prosecutor is defendant: L.A. D.A. George Gascon's legal battles with his own staff

Some juvenile law experts maintain that Lee's case is an outlier that doesn't necessarily disprove research supporting Gascon's way of doing things. But his alleged role in the killing of 28-year-old Eric Ruffins this year has generated outrage among victims' relatives  and provided fresh ammunition to the district attorney's political opponents.

Kathy Cady, a victims-rights attorney representing Ruh's widow, said that "if Gascon hadn't stopped [Lee from] being tried in adult court, he'd be in prison for life. Instead, he was freed to commit another horrific murder." Cady was among those who spearheaded efforts to recall Gascon from office in recent years.

Some criminologists  as well as a Times' analysis of court data  have cast doubt on attempts to solely blame Gascon's policies for crime rate fluctuations, and his handling of the initial murder case against Lee isn't too far out of step with the way California's criminal justice system is treating teens.

After a series of changes in state law meant to keep teens out of adult prisons, only 12 juvenile cases were successfully transferred into adult court in 2022, the latest year for which such data are public. In 2016, the last year prosecutors could directly file adult charges against teens, 340 youths were tried as adults statewide, records show.

"People often leave prison more dangerous than when they went in," said Sean Garcia-Leys, co-executive director of the Peace and Justice Law Center in Fullerton. "We have to look at what data shows about the effectiveness of different types of sentences at reducing recidivism."

Gascon's opposition to trying juveniles as adults has been among his most controversial policies. His 2022 decision to not charge 26-year-old Hannah Tubbs as an adult for the sexual assault of a child, which occurred when Tubbs was 17, drew widespread criticism. The fallout led Gascon to backpedal and create a method for prosecutors to seek to have cases transferred to adult court after stringent review.

Lee's first case, however, was resolved while Gascon's ban was still in use.

Lee walked up to the VP Fuels and Drive-Thru Dairy in Lancaster on Feb. 19, 2018, and asked the cashier, Ruh, for a cigarette, according to testimony given during an appellate court hearing. The request was a distraction so that his accomplice, Deonta "Fatboy" Johnson, could get close to Ruh with a gun and demand that he open the cash register, court records show.

After a brief exchange, Johnson shot Ruh, 61, three times. Detectives said Lee walked away from the scene "smiling," and later detailed the crime to his girlfriend, claiming his gun "had a body on it," according to court testimony.

Lee was arrested that March and charged with murder. A hearing to transfer him to adult court began in April 2020, but Lee changed attorneys and hearings were delayed until after Gascon took office, records show.

Cady fought the plan to have Lee tried as a juvenile. The lawyer said in court papers that Lee had obtained a cellphone while in juvenile custody and "sent a threatening video rap to his ex-girlfriend, promising to shoot her."

"The same b I call my baby momma snitched on a guy," Lee rapped, according to court records. "When I catch that b, I'm gonna shoot that b right between her eyes."

Cady said her bid to stop the case from being moved to juvenile court failed, and prosecutors did not proceed with witness-tampering charges related to the video.

A spokeswoman for the district attorney's office declined to comment on the tampering allegation or the video. In a statement, the office said Lee's case should have remained in juvenile court regardless of Gascon's policy because he was not the shooter and had no prior record of violence.

"His previous delinquent history, and the other factors controlling transfer decisions strongly supported his amenability for rehabilitation in the juvenile justice system," the statement read. "There was not a reasonable probability that a juvenile court would have transferred him to adult court."

Since forming a committee allowing prosecutors to seek that some juveniles be tried as adults, the district attorney's office said it has signed off on the filing of 20 transfer motions, with just one case ultimately receiving judicial approval.

Read more: Jackie Lacey lost the L.A. D.A. job to George Gascon. Now she's endorsing his 2024 rival

In 2022, the California Legislature also raised the standard for a teen to be tried as an adult, requiring prosecutors to prove by clear and convincing evidence that the juvenile can't be rehabilitated in a youth facility.

Jerod Gunsberg, a veteran criminal defense attorney who often represents juveniles in Los Angeles, said that even before the change in the law, a judge would have been unlikely to try Lee as an adult.

"If you look at somebody, a young person, who has no history of violence prior to this incident, who wasnt a shooter, who may have planned a robbery that went tragically bad, that strikes me as a case that should not have been transferred to adult court even in 2018," Gunsberg said.

For the better part of two years, it looked as though the decision to keep Lee out of adult court was turning out as intended.

The probation department declined to answer a detailed list of questions from The Times, and probation reports for Lee are not public record. But according to the district attorney's office, Lee performed so well when he was transferred out of the high-security Sylmar compound in March 2023 that probation officials recommended that he be moved to a less restrictive "step down facility."

Read more: Juvenile hall fight videos raise question: Can L.A. County probation reports be trusted?

Prosecutors and Ruh's widow supported the move. After spending five years in custody, Lee would be released to a de facto halfway home, where he would still have to obey a curfew and remain under probation supervision, but would have more freedom than he'd had since his 2018 arrest.

Lee enrolled in classes at Mission Hills Community College and began working part time at a Torrance nonprofit called Mass Liberation, according to the district attorney's office. Calls and emails to the college and the nonprofit seeking comment were not returned.

In the case of Ruffins, the second killing in which Lee is accused, the victim was shot dead in the 15600 block of Atlantic Avenue, in an unincorporated area near Compton, around 5 p.m. on Jan. 19, according to the L.A. County Sheriff's Department.

In April, an arrest warrant surfaced naming Lee as an accomplice, records show. Weeks later, Lee and Dewayne Cathey were charged with Ruffins' murder.

The Sheriff's Department would not comment further on the shooting. Emails and calls to Lee's attorney were not returned. A spokeswoman for the district attorney's office confirmed that Lee had been charged as an "aider and abettor" and was not suspected of shooting Ruffins, but declined to provide further details.

Upon learning of the latest charges against Lee, Cady expressed frustration with Gascon's repeated justification of his juvenile policies by citing studies showing adolescent brain development isn't complete until age 25.

The theory is that the brain wasnt developed and wont be until they are 26," she said. "Yet, they are let out before they are 26.

Read more: Felony charges against Gascon's top advisor spark confusion, criticism in L.A. D.A.'s office

Michelle Brace, Ruh's widow, said she felt betrayed by Lee's alleged actions near Compton.

Denmonne, you were given a gift and you squandered that gift. Against my familys wishes, I had hope that you would change and help your community. I will always pray for you and your safety. You broke my heart when I heard you were in trouble again," she said in court earlier this month. "You gave me hope when you apologized to me about killing  my husband. I forgave you; now I feel like a fool.

In an interview, Brace said that even though she supported Lee's progress in the juvenile system, she has long been frustrated with Gascon's initial refusal to try him as an adult.

"He didn't know what he was doing with his directives and the lives they'd shatter," said Brace, who plans to leave California, but not before the November election. "I won't move until George Gascon is out of office."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
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.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand vulnerable in bid for fourth term as NYers say shes missing in action: poll

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) speaks during a news conference on the Family and Medical Leave Act at the U.S. Capitol on February 1, 2023 in Washington, DC.

Democratic New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand appears vulnerable as she seeks a fourth term, a survey released Thursday claims.

Only 42% of voters support Gillibrands re-election in the deep-blue Empire State, while 42% prefer someone else and 16% were undecided, the Siena College poll found.

While 62% of Democratic voters backed Gillibrands re-election, only 32% of registered independents supported another term for the junior senator, while 46% preferred someone else.

Just 40% of voters view her favorably while a combined 60% either view her unfavorably or have no opinion.

Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand appears vulnerable as she seeks re-election of a fourth term  with only 42% of New York voters backing her return to office while 42% prefer someone else. Getty Images

Her Republican opponent, retired NYPD Detective Michael Sapraicone, said the findings show he has a shot to topple Gillibrand, whos been a senator since 2009.

Sapraicone claimed Gillibrand is in trouble because shes been missing in action.

As I travel the state, I hear valid concerns about crime, illegal migrants, and the economy  and every New Yorker, no matter their party, says Gillibrand is missing in action, Sapraicone said in a statement.

Gillibrand has condoned the policies that are destroying our state and nation, failed her constituents, and disappeared.

Gillibrand ran in the 2020 Democratic primary for president but dropped out early after garnering scant support.

Does New York even have a junior senator? Ms. Gillibrand vanished from the public eye after being trounced in the 2020 presidential primary, and few have seen or heard from her since, said state Conservative Party chairman Gerard Kassar, who backs Sapraicone.

Thats clearly reflected in her anemic poll numbers. Make no mistake about it: Republican-Conservative Mike Sapraicone can beat Senator Gillibrand in November. This is a race to watch, said Kassar.

Only 42% of voters support Gillibrands re-election in the deep-blue Empire State, while 42% prefer someone else and 16% were undecided, the Siena College poll found. AP

Gillibrand was first appointed to the Senate in 2009 by Gov. David Paterson after then-Sen. Hillary Clinton stepped down to become incoming President Barack Obamas secretary of state.

She won re-election in 2010 to complete Clintons term in 2010.

Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg said its striking that a sizeable number of voters have no strong opinion about or dont know Gillibrand, given the length of her time in office.

Its a very high number for someone who has been a US senator for 15 years. But its consistently been like this through her time in office, Greenberg said.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, New Yorks senior senator, is better known in polling, he noted.

But history shows that talk of toppling Gillibrand could turn out to be irrational exuberance.

A better-financed Gillibrand easily won re-election with 67% of the vote in 2018 and 68% of the vote in 2012.

Sen. Gillibrand will win re-election in a walk  hands down, said Manhattan Democratic Party leader Keith Wright.

A former upstate congresswoman, Gillibrand shifted left on some policy issues such as gun control when she became senator.

While 62% of Democratic voters backed Gillibrands re-election, only 32% of registered independents supported another term for the junior senator, while 46% preferred someone else. AP

Shes been a leading advocate against sexual harassment and sexual abuse of women in the military.

In 2017, she was the first Democratic senator to call for the resignation of then-Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota, who was accused of unwanted groping and kissing of women.

She also made headlines when she said President Bill Clinton, a former political backer, should have resigned over the Monica Lewinsky affair.

Both comments drew some rebuke from fellow Democrats for political opportunism.

Senator Gillibrand has won her previous races by historic margins and she looks forward to running on her record of delivering health care to veterans and 9/11 first responders, and passing bipartisan gun trafficking legislation that has taken nearly 3,000 illegal guns off the street, said Gillibrand campaign spokesman Evan Lukaske.

This Siena College Poll was conducted June 12  17 among 805 registered voters.

It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.
St. Mary canal siphons burst resulting in severe erosion and flooding in the surrounding area. (Photo via U.S. Bureau of Reclamation)

St. Mary canal siphons burst resulting in severe erosion and flooding in the surrounding area. (Photo via U.S. Bureau of Reclamation)

With late-season irrigation now under threat along the Hi-Line after the failure of the St. Mary Canal earlier this week, the U.S. Senate voted Thursday to pass a long-awaited water compact settlement with the Fort Belknap Indian Community that includes $275 million to rehabilitate the canal as part of the Milk River Project.

The Senate voted by unanimous consent to pass the Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act, a $1.3 billion infrastructure and economic development package that has been under negotiation for years.

It is the final Indian water rights settlement in Montana, according to U.S. Sens. Jon Tester and Steve Daines. But it will still need to pass the House and be signed into law in order to take effect.

The Milk River Project irrigates about 121,000 acres of land along 165 miles of the river from Havre to near Nashua and provides drinking water to about 18,000 people, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The failure of the siphoning pipes at the St. Mary Canal on Monday means the project cannot pull water out of the St. Mary River at that point and send it into the Milk River.

After Montanas political leaders called for quick action this week to try to fix the canal and project, Tester took to the floor Thursday to urge passage of the water settlement that includes more funding to rehabilitate the 111-year-old canal.

It is a vital source of water for north-central Montana water users and to so many farmers that feed the world. The timing of this could not be worse, because there are literally hundreds of farmers and ranchers who are currently depending on the Milk River Project to irrigate their crops, Tester said. Congress can unlock critical funding for the Milk River Project once again by passing the Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement.

The St. Mary Canal provides between 60% and 80% of the water supply to users along the Milk River Projects stretch depending on the water supply each year. The Bureau of Reclamation said Thursday it will continue to send water from Fresno and Nelson reservoirs until there are 27,000 acre-feet left in the reservoir and will move to holding water to meet municipal water and tribal storage needs.

Impacts from this failure will be numerous and wide ranging, and we will be working closely with our partners to do everything in our power to minimize impacts, said Bureau of Reclamation Montana Area Office Manager Ryan Newman.

The Bureau of Reclamation told the Associated Press earlier this week that design work to replace the pipes that failed had already been underway since last year and were 60% complete. A 2023 Bureau of Reclamation report considering the impacts of replacing the diversion dam at St. Mary Canal found failures of the dam or headgates could lead to a potential catastrophic situation that could result in an economic disaster for north-central Montana.

The Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Compact was ratified between the tribes, State of Montana and feds in 2001. The Fort Belknap Indian Community has been trying to get the settlement approved in Congress since 2012. Along with sending funding toward the Milk River project, the settlement restores management of 38,000 acres of federal and state land to the Fort Belknap tribes and provides hundreds of millions of dollars for irrigation on the reservation.

This bill will help provide clean drinking water to Montanans on the Hi-Line, invest in critical ag irrigation and help prevent costly litigation by codifying existing water rights, Daines said in a statement. Especially after the catastrophic siphon failure at St. Marys this week, we must get this done. After years of hard work with the Fort Belknap Indian Community and local leaders on the ground, Im glad to see this come one step closer to becoming law.

Daines and Tester had placed the settlement into the Senate-passed version of the National Defense Authorization Act last summer, but it was stripped out of the House-passed version.

On the Senate floor Thursday, Tester pressed the Republican-led House to take up the bill imminently before the Senate passed it by unanimous consent.

The House needs to put aside politics and pass this bill. Farmers operations that have been generational in this regions livelihood are on the line. Water for municipalities is on the line. This is no time to play politics, Tester said. The Senate will do its job. Its time for the House to act responsibly too. So lets get this done. We can repair the Milk River Project and give water users in north-central Montana the certainty and predictability they need to survive.

Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Montana, introduced a Fort Belknap water rights settlement bill similar to Testers and Daines bill earlier this week, so if the House decides to take up his bill or the Senate version, there is a chance the measure could soon be headed to President Joe Bidens desk. Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Montana, supported the compact settlement last year.

Just this week another siphon on the St. Mary Canal blew out. The canal provides critical water resources to our reservation and surrounding communities, Fort Belknap Indian Community Jeff Stiffarm said in a statement. Congressional passage of our bill will finally protect our water rights and provide the funding we all need to secure our future for generations to come.

Tester said earlier this month an $88 million contract was awarded to a construction company to finish the St. Mary Diversion Dam Replacement project that is part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act pool of money.

He also wrote to the secretaries of the Department of Interior and Department of Agriculture this week saying the departments needed to put their full attention toward the canal failure. Tester additionally sent a letter to President Biden asking him to consider including money for repairs in a domestic spending package the White House is preparing to send to Congress.

Addressing the damage caused by the floods and rebuilding this critical infrastructure will require support from Congress. The cost will be far too great for the local communities to meet the current cost-share requirements, Tester said to Biden. Furthermore, this will not be a simple project to design and construct. As such, it is critically important that resources are made available to begin this process without delay.

Gov. Greg Gianforte in a statement lauded the Senate passage of the water rights settlement.

This settlement reflects the culmination of nearly a half-century of dedicated work, he said. This historic bill is a win for our state and the Fort Belknap Indian Community.

The post Senate passes Fort Belknap water compact settlement that includes Milk River Project rehab funds appeared first on Daily Montanan.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Many senators on Capitol Hill are fired up after seeing the Surgeon Generals op-ed on social media warning labels.

Social media as designed today is a dangerous product, said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).

Senator Graham says its about time Congress takes action against the dangers of social media.

I totally support what hes saying, Graham said.

The only way to implement warning labels of any kind is through Congressional action, and Graham says the numbers justify it.

Weve seen suicide rates among teenage girls go fairly dramatically. Depression among the younger population, Graham said.

Hes not alone. Some Democrats, such as, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), see this as an opportunity for Congress to do something.

We have to keep trying. And I think that the Surgeon Generals approach is a good step, Gillibrand said.

Gillibrand is also pushing for regulation because of criminal organizations that target kids online, by posing as young girls and soliciting nude photos for ransom.

And say, were going to publish these if you dont give us money. And one young boy, 17-year-old, just succumbed to suicide because of it, Gillibrand said.

In his three years in the role, the Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, has spoken with lawmakers on social media dangers. This week he stated he wants Congress to take the next step and not just verbally support his call for warning labels.

What we have to do is finish the deal. Youve got to, like, get something across the line and actually implement it, said Murthy.

Even with Congressional approval, tech companies would likely challenge warning labels in court.

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A tentative settlement agreement has been reached in a federal lawsuit against Wilmington that alleges the city's towing practices violated the U.S. Constitution.

The "detailed, written settlement" avoids a trial that was set to begin in July in U.S. District Court in Delaware.

The lawsuit, filed in September 2021, claimed Wilmington's towing practices violated the U.S. Constitution by illegally seizing cars for nonpayment of parking tickets, impounding them and allowing private towing companies to scrap the vehicles and keep the proceeds if the owners do not pay the outstanding debt within 30 days.

Ameera Shaheed is one of two Wilmington residents challenging the city's parking and towing practices, claiming they are unconstitutional.

A letter filed in federal court Friday by city attorneys said the settlement "will include modifications to procedures for towing and impoundment of vehicles" in Wilmington, some of which require Wilmington lawmakers to amend the City Code.

"The settlement also provides for the court to retain jurisdiction to enforce the settlement," said Steven Wood, the outside attorney representing Wilmington in the matter, in the letter to U.S. District Chief Judge Colm Connolly.

While the details of the settlement agreement were not divulged by attorneys Friday, Institute for Justice attorney Will Aronin, who represented plaintiffs Ameera Shaheed and Earl Dickerson in the suit, said he was pleased with the outcome.

"We and the city have worked hard to resolve this case and Im really excited by what weve come up with so far," he said. "Were not done yet, but Im very hopeful and cannot wait to share details once we cross the finish line."

POISED FOR TRIAL: 'Wilmington can't have it both ways,' federal judge orders towing suit to move forward

Connolly granted the order requesting an adjournment of the planned July 15 trial date start shortly after the letter was submitted. Attorneys asked for six months' leeway to allow the parties to finalize the settlement and give Wilmington City Council time to approve the "required legislative amendments."

Should these amendments not be approved, attorneys asked Connolly to set a trial date. A proposed pretrial order is due Dec. 19, with a final pretrial conference set for Jan. 9, 2025, should the legislative efforts fail.

The city of Wilmington did not respond to requests for comment.

How we got here

Wilmington officials have resisted calls for reform to its parking and towing practices for years, despite the federal lawsuit that was ordered to move forward by Connolly in 2022.

The lawsuit alleges the city allows private companies to tow legally parked cars that have unpaid parking tickets totaling over $200. If the owners do not pay the outstanding debt within 30 days, the tow companies can scrap the vehicles and keep the proceeds. This created a structure where tow companies were incentivized to sell or scrap cars they towed and, in turn, violated multiple constitutional rights, the lawsuit alleged.

One particular towing company, New Castle-based City Towing Services, had repeatedly won contracts with Wilmington to provide towing and impoundment services because it would promise to charge nothing for storing vehicles and only a penny for each car towed.

But a 2022 Delaware Online/The News Journal review of state Justice of the Peace Court filings showed City Towing charged fees for storing vehicles towed in Wilmington anyway, taking owners and lienholders to court for thousands of dollars when those fees went unpaid.

However, this year, City Towing  which was awarded the Wilmington contract for towing and impoundment services  sought payment for those services in its latest bid.

CITY PARKING ISSUES: Parking woes targeted for audit in Wilmington as federal suit goes to trial

Action taken by council members

The City Council passed a resolution in April calling for the city to audit its parking, towing and booting practices in response to the lawsuit. Council members expressed concerns over equity and shifting dynamics in downtown Wilmington  which have led to more people visiting the city in the evenings and weekends when there is no parking enforcement  as reasons for the audit.

City councilors said the audit should also explore the frequency of street cleaning, whether parking enforcement should remain under the city's Finance Department and the parameters and rules of engagement for towing companies operating in the city.

They also acknowledged that the resolution and demands for an audit were largely symbolic.

Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzyckis administration has repeatedly denied a need for any audit beyond the city's "normal review schedule."

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Wilmington towing practices: Agreement reached in federal lawsuit
Mikhail Razvozhayev, the so-called "governor" of Sevastopol, has claimed that Ukrainian drones have attacked the city in the morning of 21 June.

Source: Razvozhayev on Telegram

Quote: "The military repels an enemy UAV attack. Early reports indicate that four UAVs have been downed."

Details: Razvozhayev said grass caught fire near Monastyrskyi Highway due to wreckage from downed UAVs. He also claimed that there was no damage to objects or casualties.

In addition, he emphasised that "rescue services continue their work".

Previously: Russian media reported a large-scale drone attack in Russias Krasnodar Krai. A fire was visible near the air base in Yeysk, which the Russians use frequently to attack Ukraine.

Background:

On 20 June, Russian Telegram channels reported that drones attacked the Afipsky oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai and an oil depot in the Russian republic of Adygea. Later, Murat Kumpilov, Head of the Republic of Adygea, confirmed this information.

Later, Maksim Yegorov, Governor of Russia's Tambov Oblast, reported that drones attacked two districts and a fire broke out at one oil depot. Russian Telegram channels published photos and videos of fires.

Meanwhile, Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency RIA Novosti claimed that Russian air defence systems had intercepted and destroyed 15 Ukrainian drones overnight over the Republic of Adygea, Krasnodar Krai, Bryansk, Rostov, Belgorod and Oryol oblasts.

Later, an Ukrainska Pravda source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) said that were drones of the SSU that struck a fuel and lubricants depot of Tambovnafteprodukt and a petroleum base of LLC LUKOIL-Yugnefteprodukt in the settlement of Enem, Republic of Adygea, Russia, on the night of 19-20 June.

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MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11)  Police are searching for a man accused of sexual abuse at a train station in Manhattan on Tuesday, officials said.

More Local News

A 50-year-old woman was leaving the Fulton Street station from the No. 2, 3 lines around 8 a.m. when a man walked up behind her. Police said that she was walking up the stairs when the man sexually abused her before leaving the area.

Police said the man is around 5 foot 8 and 160 pounds. He was shirtless at the time.

Police are searching for a man accused of sexual abuse at a train station in Manhattan, officials said. (NYPD)

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Jonathan Rizk is a digital journalist who has covered local news in New York City and Washington, D.C. He has been with PIX11 since August 2022. See more of his work here, and follow him on X and Facebook @OfficialRizk. Get in touch at jonathan.rizk@pix11.com.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Shmyhal meets US Deputy Secretary of State to discuss further US aid for Ukraine

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and U.S. Acting Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs John Bass held a meeting on June 21 to discuss further Ukraine-U.S. cooperation.

Bass arrived in Kyiv earlier in the day to meet with Ukrainian officials and other partners to "reiterate the unwavering commitment" of Washington to Ukraine in its fight against Russia's war.

Shmyhal thanked the U.S. for participating in Ukraine's peace summit in Switzerland and supporting Ukraine's peace formula.

"We have made an important step towards a just peace on the European continent," Shmyhal wrote on Telegram.

The parties also discussed Ukraine's integration into NATO, the restoration of the Ukrainian energy sector through USAID programs, joint defense production, and further supply of necessary weapons, first and foremost, air defense.

The prime minister also announced that the U.S. will allocate $7.8 billion in direct budget support to Ukraine this year.

"This will help strengthen the macro-financial stability of our country," Shmyhal added.

Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, the United States has devoted more than $3.2 billion to humanitarian assistance and nearly $1.5 billion to helping the energy sector recover.

Read also: Opinion: Tracking Ukraines reconstruction funds

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Two friends who were expecting to spend a day together on a fishing trip ended up embarking on a fully-blown rescue mission after they spotted 38 dogs treading water in the lake.

Bob Gist, 61, from Arkansas had planned on meeting up with his friend Brad Carlisle from Tennessee after they had not seen each other for some time, Gist told Fox News.

The pair headed to Grenada Lake in Mississippi, and along with Jordan Chrestman, a local fishing guide, the party went out on the water to spend time fishing.

After a few hours of not finding much luck with the spot they were in, the group moved to a different location, where things took a bizarre turn.

While they may have been hoping for a successful bounty of catches from their trip, they ended up coming away with a huge haul  but instead of fish, they wound up with a total of 38 dogs.

"We go about a half mile or so from where we were to another place and we start fishing, and pretty soon we can hear some dogs barking," Gist told the outlet.

More than 30 dogs had rushed into the water in pursuit of a stag (Bob Gist)

The group continued to fish for about 10 or 15 minutes until Chrestman realized that a number of dogs were way out in the water and asked the two friends if it was okay to go over and check on them.

Once they arrived in the canine-infested waters, the three men were stunned to see the sheer number of dogs stuck out in the lake.

"Were just flabbergasted because its dogs everywhere, and theyre all going in different directions because they can no longer see the bank on either side," Gist told Fox News.

The three men grabbed the exhausted dogs by their collars and dragged them into their boat (Bob Gist)

"And theyre all hunting dogs  we can clearly see that because they have expensive GPS radio collars on them.

The group later learned that the hounds were part of an annual fox run that was taking place nearby, and Chrestman explained that he spotted a deer in the water that appeared to attract the dogs into the lake after they were chasing it, the outlet reported.

The three men, without hesitation, immediately took action and fished them out of the water by grabbing their collars and calling them, encouraging them onto their vessel.

They grabbed as many as they could until the boat was swarmed with the wet dogs, but they soon became overwhelmed and had to deposit the first round of hounds to the bank, the outlet said.

Chrestman managed to grab 25 to 27 dogs at first, and Gist told the outlet that once they reached the bank, their owners were there in a panic.

After they went out to grab the remaining dogs, another man on land said he had a GPS tracker for the dogs and asked to join their rescue mission.

Bob Gist said he and his companions were flabbergasted by what they found (Bob Gist)

The tracker was able to locate around three to four more dogs, Gist explained, saying they were on the verge of drowning, because now they have been treading water for an hour.

In the end, a total of 38 dogs were rescued out of Grenada Lake.

Gist told Fox Newsthat when they "got back over to the ramp with that last bunch of dogs [and] we were having to drag them out of the boat because they didnt want to get out of our boat. They were scared they were going back to the water. It was terrible."

Gist explained to the outlet that Chrestman was the true hero of the dog rescue, saying that the owners even tried to give him money for his quick thinking, but he turned it down.
Shooting at Arkansas grocery store kills 3, wounds 10 others, police say

FORDYCE, Ark. (AP)  Arkansas State Police say a shooter opened fire Friday at a grocery store, killing three people and wounding 10 others.

Officials said the shooting occurred around 11:38 a.m. at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce.

Arkansas Department of Public Safety director said police shot the suspected shooter, who sustained injuries that were not life-threatening. Two law enforcement officers were among those shot, and neither have life-threatening injuries.

Video posted on social media showed at least one person lying in the parking lot. In another video, multiple gunshots could be heard.

During a press conference, Director of the Arkansas State Police Mike Hagar said the situation is contained and there is no active threat to the community.

The injuries to the two injured officers as well as the shooting suspect are not considered life-threatening injuries.

Arkansas State Police are leading the investigation and say a further news release is expected Friday evening.

Law enforcement officers work the scene of a shooting at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce, Ark., Friday, June 21, 2024. (Colin Murphey/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette via AP)

Damage can be seen to a front window law enforcement officers work the scene of a shooting at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce, Ark., Friday, June 21, 2024. (Colin Murphey/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette via AP)

Law enforcement officers work the scene of a shooting at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce, Ark., Friday, June 21, 2024. (Colin Murphey/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette via AP)

This is a developing story. Stay up to date on the latest from News Channel 8 on-air and on the go with the free WFLA News Channel 8 mobile app.

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Two Sikorsky Aircraft subsidiaries have agreed to pay $70 million to resolve claims they overcharged the U.S Navy for spare parts used to maintain aircraft used to train Navy pilots.

The settlement settles a whistleblower suit filed in Wisconsin against Sikorsky Support Services Inc. of Stratford and Milwaukee-based Derco Aerospace Inc.

The two companies are accused of entering into an illegal cost-plus-percentage contract on parts Sikorsky Support bought from Derco at cost. The contract inflated the price at which Sikorsky Support resold the spare parts to the Navy by 32 percent, according to a statement by the U.S. Department of Justice.

A federal court in Milwaukee ruled that the arrangement violated a law against cost-plus-percentage contracting, which Congress has said provides an incentive to drive up costs to the government.

Government contractors must ensure their subcontracting arrangements comply with the law and with their contractual obligations, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Departments Civil Division, said Friday. Todays settlement demonstrates that the Justice Department will ensure that government contractors do not skirt the law and engage in self-dealing that may artificially inflate their charges at the expense of the American taxpayers.

A spokesman for Lockheed Martin, which owns Sikorsky, said that the settlement was based solely on allegations and there has been no determination of liability.

We are pleased that the settlement will bring this case to a conclusion and there is no finding of wrongdoing by Sikorsky or Derco Aerospace, the spokesman said.

The suit was the result of a complaint by a Derco employee who will share a portion of the settlement under the terms of the whistleblower law.
During the past day, the Russians conducted 48 assaults on the Pokrovsk front. They have been most active near the town of Ocheretyne, Donetsk Oblast, from where they have advanced in various directions. Ukrainian defenders have repelled 29 attacks, while 19 combat clashes are still ongoing. The situation has been difficult.

Source: the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 22:00 on 20 June

Quote: "Since the beginning of the past day, 128 combat clashes have occurred. The Russian aggressor is attempting to use its advantage in manpower, equipment and air support. Throughout the day, the enemy have launched two missile strikes using 10 missiles. Additionally, they conducted 36 airstrikes using 50 guided bombs and 373 attacks by kamikaze drones. The Russians also fired 2,634 times on the positions of our troops and populated areas using various types of weapons."

Details: On the Kharkiv front, the Russians, supported by aircraft, attempted to attack the positions of Ukrainian units near the settlements of Vovchansk, Lyptsi and Tykhyi three times. All the attacks were unsuccessful.

As of now, a Russian armoured combat vehicle, two artillery systems, 22 UAVs, two vehicles, a UAV ground control station and two ammunition storage points are known to be destroyed. In addition, two vehicles, an armoured vehicle and two artillery systems were damaged.

On the Kupiansk front, the Russians attacked Ukrainian positions 16 times. Ukraines defence forces successfully repelled 15 Russian assaults near the settlements of Stepova Novoselivka, Synkivka, Stelmakhivka and Pishchane. The situation is tense and fighting is ongoing near Stelmakhivka.

On the Lyman front, the Russians unsuccessfully attacked Ukrainian defenders near the village of Nevske and the Serebrianka forest six times during the day. Currently, three combat clashes are ongoing near the settlements of Hrekivka and Nevske.

A similar situation is observed on the Toretsk front, where the Russians attacked near the settlements of Shumy, Toretsk and New-York seven times. Four combat clashes have finished but battles continue.

The Russians are intensely attacking Ukrainian defenders on the Pokrovsk front. Throughout the day, they increased their efforts, conducting a total of 48 assault and offensive actions. The highest activity of the Russians is noted near the town of Ocheretyne, where they attempt to penetrate Ukrainian defensive lines in various sectors. Ukrainian defenders have repelled 29 attacks, and 19 combat clashes are ongoing. The situation is challenging. Ukraines defence forces are putting maximum efforts to prevent the Russians from advancing deeper into our territory.

There have been 13 unsuccessful combat clashes for the Russians on the Kurakhove front so far. They attempted to advance near the settlements of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Pobieda, Paraskoviivka and Kostiantynivka.

On the Prydniprovske front, the Russians persist in their intention to drive Ukrainian troops from the Dnipro River's left (east) bank. All six Russian attacks were unsuccessful.

There were no significant changes in the situation on the remaining fronts.

Ukrainian soldiers are inflicting significant losses on the Russians, actively firing on their personnel and equipment.

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SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KRON)  A local marine wildlife photographer captured images of young great white sharks who appear to be smiling as they swim close to Santa Cruz County beaches.

The underwater photographs, shot by Eric Mailander this June, look like something youd see with the Baby Shark song playing in the background. More than 20 juvenile great whites were swimming near New Brighton State Beach.

A young great white shark near New Brighton State Beach swims toward a GoPro camera in June 2024. (Photo courtesy Eric Mailander)

We have all seen the aerial views of the dark shark shadows close to shore, Mailander said in reference to drone images. The underwater photographs show how cute great white sharks are up close, he said.

It looks like they are smiling. I wanted to show what they look like under the water, Mailander told KRON4.

An area of water near New Brighton is nicknamed Shark Park, where young great white sharks appear annually. Mailander helps scientists with the Monterey Bay Aquarium track populations off the coast of the Central California.

A drone image shows a shark swimming up to the photographers boat. (Image courtesy Eric Mailander)

Last week he launched his small boat and lowered a long pole with a GoPro camera attached into the water to document the sharks dorsal fin identification numbers. Curious juvenile sharks swam straight toward the GoPro to investigate the strange object, the photographer said.

A young great white shark near New Brighton State Beach swims toward a GoPro camera in June 2024. (Photo courtesy Eric Mailander)

The largest migrating sharks  some up to 16-feet-long migrate into the Monterey Bay in October, also known as Sharktober. When chilly ocean water temperatures rise in June, 7-foot-long juvenile sharks swim into the bay to warm up.

When the water temperatures dip below 60 degrees, you dont see any sharks. When it spikes, like right now, the juvenile white sharks (appear), Mailander said.

Fortunately for boogie-boarders, swimmers, and surfers, there have not been any reported incidents in recent years of the juveniles behaving aggressively toward people around Shark Park. They are not bothering anybody, Mailander said.

A young great white shark near New Brighton State Beach swims toward a GoPro camera in June 2024. (Photo courtesy Eric Mailander)

The photographer and other longtime shark observers counted up to 40 sharks near New Brighton State Beach in a single day. This year has been phenomenal, best year since 2015, the photographer said. Shark Park is a great area to learn because its a natural habitat.

Mailander and Monterey Bay Aquarium scientists published some of their population research findings in a 2021 study, North Pacific warming shifts the juvenile range of a marine apex predator. The study found a dramatic increase in white sharks in the Monterey Bay, overwhelmingly comprised of juveniles, from 2014 to 2019.

The study states, Even though white sharks are endothermic, greater surface-to-volume ratios in these juveniles may challenge their thermal inertia and ability to thermoregulate especially at the cold limit of their thermal habitat. As a result, the thermal range of juvenile white sharks is likely a major driver of the habitats they occupy, and this appears to be sensitive to climatic shifts.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Action 9 is still seeing a lot of cases of thieves stealing Hyundai and Kia vehicles.

Stephanie Moyer told Action 9s Jason Stoogenke that someone stole her Kia Soul.

I didnt think it would happen to me but thats the first thing I thought of, was someone finally got my car, she said.

Hyundais and Kias still targeted by car thieves in Charlotte

She says she and her fiance started carpooling. Its been so stressful. Its been very stressful. [My fiance and I] have a lot going on this year. Were getting married so were really cutting down on our expenses to try to save for this, and having this car taken away from us without any notice or anything is just making life a lot harder and, financially, its very, very hard, she said.

Moyer, who works part-time in the racing industry and knows a thing or two about cars, says she had not gotten the software upgrade or the steering wheel lock Stoogenkes been telling you about but now thinks maybe she should have. It can happen to anyone, no matter who you are. If they want it bad enough, theyll take it, she said.

She told Stoogenke Friday, that shes been without her car for a month and a half and still hasnt seen it.

Concord police look to major cities to combat Kia, Hyundai thefts

If you own a Kia or Hyundai, Action 9 suggests:

- Ask your dealer if you qualify for the free software update. It applies to 2011-2021 models that use a key. If your car has a push button to start it you dont need the update. See models listed below.

- Ask police for a free steering wheel lock.

- Hyundai (hyundaitheftsettlement.com) and Kia (kiatheftsettlement.com) agreed to settle a class action lawsuit involving the rash of thefts. The companies agreed to pay roughly $200 million, mostly to victims. The court still has to sign off on the case. That hearing is set for next month. If the judge approves it, youll have until Jan. 11 to file a claim.

Cars that qualify for the update:

2011  2016 Sportage

2011  2016 Forte

2010  2021 Soul

2011  2021 Rio

2014 Sedona





2011-2019 Sonata Hybrid

2016-2019 Sonata Plug-In Hybrid

2010-2012 Santa Fe

2010-2021 Tucson

2014 Elantra Coupe

2014-2016 Elantra

2014-2020 Elantra GT

2012-2017 Veloster

VIDEO: Drivers urge Hyundai to offer free fix for expanding gas tanks like Kia is




Son of man killed in Alabama speaks out after Morrilton manhunt arrest

MORRILTON, Ark.  The search is over in Arkansas for a man who was wanted in connection to multiple homicides in separate states, but the heartbreak for the victims families will last forever.

Police said 50-year-old Stacy Drake is accused in three killings in Oklahoma, two of which police said took place Tuesday. Officials said Drake is also wanted in connection with the May killing of Russell Andrews out of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Morrilton manhunt suspect Stacy Drakes criminal history shows decades of violence, convictions

His son, Russell Andrews Jr., shared his feelings following Drakes Thursday morning arrest in Morrilton.

I probably shouldnt say this but Im going to, he said. I wish they would have just shot him.

Authorities said Andrews Sr. was killed at an Alcoholics Anonymous club. Andrews Jr. said his father became a volunteer after a long road of addiction, adding that his dad had been sober for 35 years.

The place that gave him hope and that saved his life is ultimately the place where he lost his life, Andrews Jr. said.

Suspect in Oklahoma, Alabama killings arrested in manhunt, will be in Conway County court Friday

The AA club is where Andrews Sr. came in contact with Stacy Drake who police said stole his car after allegedly killing him.

When I first found out yesterday that he has murdered people out of Oklahoma, I broke down because I knew exactly what they were going through, Andrews Jr. said. I almost feel like I share a connection with those people in a sense.

Arkansas family member of victim killed in Oklahoma reacts to manhunt for suspect

According to authorities, Drake is the suspect in four killings they said took place from May 14 to June 18. Court records state that Drake also had an extensive criminal history.

This guy should have never been out on the streets, Andrews Jr. said. As a Christian, I have to find a way to forgive this man one day.

Andrews Jr. gives thanks to all of the law enforcement who helped with the investigation of Stacy Drake, especially the Conway County Sheriffs Office and the Morrilton Police Department.

To know that hes not going to hurt anybody and tear any more families apart is pure elation, he said.

Manhunt for man sought in multiple out-of-state killings leaves Morrilton locals scared

Law enforcement officials said Drake is expected in the Conway County Courthouse Friday at 9 a.m. A judge will likely decide on extradition to Alabama or Oklahoma.

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Earlier this week, a conference dedicated to Russia's hybrid threats was held in Brussels. It is noteworthy that the name of the Armenian-Russian entrepreneur and fraudster Ruben Vardanyan was especially loud at the event as an example of a hybrid warfare tool. Vardanyan's question was raised by Deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Yuriy Kamelchuk. The Ukrainian parliamentarian spoke indignantly about the nomination of this former Russian citizen for the Nobel Prize and informed the audience about his shady dealings and Vardanyan's direction to Karabakh in 2022.





The Alien is now under investigation in the Baku pre-trial detention center, and a certain initiative group presented him for the Nobel Prize under the pretext that he allegedly "prevented a humanitarian catastrophe in Karabakh during the escalation of the military conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan." Kamelchuk stressed that Vardanyan had previously been included in the draft sanctions lists or directly in the sanctions lists of the European Parliament, the US Congress, and Ukraine. The Ukrainian MP called the proposal to add Vardanyan to the list of nominees for the Nobel Peace Prize an attempt to whitewash the "Kremlin man" in the eyes of the European public and one of the tools of the Russian hybrid war.





Recall that a few days ago, 123 MEPs appealed to the Nobel Committee with a request to reject Vardanyan's candidacy in 2024 and any subsequent years. An open letter to the Nobel Committee says that "it is unacceptable to nominate for the Nobel Peace Prize a person who was directly involved in the implementation of the policy of misanthropic regimes." The MEPs called for not bleaching Vardanyan's image and pointed out, among other things, his ties to the Iranian regime. "His ties with Iran can be traced through the Russian Gorchakov Foundation, which organizes events in various countries, including Armenia, with the participation of government-approved speakers from Tehran," the statement said.





Welcoming this approach of the European deputies to the identity of the fraudster Vardanyan, we note that in Azerbaijan, from the very appearance of this type in Karabakh, they talked about his provocative "mission". The facts revealed by the Europeans are not a revelation to us. Rubik Vardanyan's shadow business activities are well known. As for Vardanyan's renunciation of Russian citizenship, this farce was part of a plan to introduce the fraudster into big politics in the face of anti-Russian sanctions. Baku understood this perfectly well, as can be seen from the statements of the country's leadership.





Sending Vardanyan to Khankendi was undoubtedly part of certain plans, but Azerbaijan destroyed them. The provocateur's stay under investigation is an absolutely logical ending to his biography. The Russian side disowned him and stepped aside, but today certain Western circles hanging out at the Armenian feeder are trying to take this type under their wing.





Vardanyan's completely inadequate nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize is their work. In most cases, the authors of the nomination hardly knew who they were standing for at all, they were only aware of the figures received on their accounts. And therefore it is especially valuable that it is on the European platform that Vardanyan is spoken about without embellishment, but as he is. Even the money of his family and the diaspora does not help to present him in the guise of a "political prisoner." The tales thrown out on social networks about his alleged torment in the Baku pre-trial detention centre quickly disappeared from the discourse, obviously not interesting to anyone. That is, no one needs Vardanyan anymore. Moscow is not interested in his fate in principle, and in the West, they cannot stand up for him because of the unflattering background of Rubik, voiced in Brussels by a Ukrainian deputy.





The day before, the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrel, answering questions from MEPs, said that "the EU firmly believes that confidence-building measures, including the release and repatriation of Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan, can benefit the overall peace process and pave the way for confidence-building between the parties."





It is difficult to say whether the arrested separatist leaders are also meant by "Armenian prisoners," along with terrorists and saboteurs. If Mr. Borrel also meant them, then the appeal of 123 deputies of the EP is addressed to him.
For the first time, Russian troops used a new FAB-3000 M-54 bomb with a unified planning and adjustment module (UMPC) to strike "Ukrainian positions" in the Kharkiv region. This is a new destructive potential for the occupiers if they continue to be able to use such weapons without hindrance.

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This is the opinion of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Earlier, Ukrainian military expert Oleksandr Kovalenko said that the enemy's new development weighs three tons (of which 1200 kg is explosives) and could negatively affect the situation on the battlefield.

Russian sources widely disseminated footage of the "first-ever" FAB-3000 strike on an allegedly Ukrainian deployment point in Liptsi, Kharkiv region, on June 20. So-called military officials claimed that it caused significant damage. But in reality, the bomb fell 10 meters from the "destination".

The day before, the Ukrainian military portal Defense Express clarified that the occupiers' target was a hospital in the village: their new FAB missed, but still caused significant damage.

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ISW notes that former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu first announced the serial production of the FAB-3000 M-54 during a visit to the Nizhny Novgorod region of Russia in March 2024. He said that these are variants of unguided bombs weighing more than 3,000 kg, which, with the addition of the UMPK modification, can be converted into guided corrective bombs.

Russian sources boasted about the production of these weapons, but admitted that due to their weight and size, the supply of bombs would be very difficult for most tactical aircraft of the Russian Armed Forces.

"The fact that Russian troops have figured out how to launch the FAB-3000 is an important development and will increase the destructive potential of sustained attacks with precision-guided bombs against Ukrainian forces and infrastructure," ISW experts said.

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They emphasized that the occupiers have already increased the use of guided and unguided corrected bombs against Ukraine, especially in the Kharkiv region, and this has had a devastating effect.

"If the Russian Armed Forces are able to launch a massive strike with FAB-3000s (or even heavier KABs), they will be able to inflict even more damage on Ukrainian forward positions and critical infrastructure," the analysts emphasized.

Russian bloggers wrote the day before that the June 20 strike on Liptsy was not particularly accurate, but the FAB-3000's radius of destruction "compensates for the lack of accuracy." The ISW added that this is true, especially if the Russian occupation forces are able to use such bombs on an unprecedented scale, as they have been doing with FAB-500 since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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As reported by OBOZ.UA, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the terrorist state of Russia fires 3200-3500 KABs of various modifications at Ukraine every month. These hostile strikes are aimed exclusively at damaging infrastructure and civilians to instill fear in people.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
In a ruling delivered Friday, the Supreme Court decided 63 that U.S. citizens have no constitutional interest in their noncitizen spouses being able to enter the United Statesdespite the fact that a married person has an inherent interest in their spouse being able to live in the same country as they do. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor warned the ruling is an obvious sign the court will seek to overturn protections for marriage equality next.

Sotomayor issued a dire warning in her dissent, accusing the conservative supermajority of chipping away at constitutional protections for married couples and saying theyre making the same fatal error as they did in Dobbs v. Jackson, the 2022 Supreme Court ruling that overturned federal abortion protections.

The majority, ignoring these precedents, makes the same fatal error it made in Dobbs: requiring too careful [a] description of the asserted fundamental liberty interest, Sotomayor wrote. The majoritys failure to respect the right to marriage in this country consigns U.S. citizens to rely on the fickle grace of other countries immigration laws to vindicate one of the basic civil rights of man and live alongside their spouses.

The case involved Sandra Munoz, a U.S. citizen whose husband was denied a visa by the U.S. consulate in El Salvador. That denial came from a broad provision in U.S. immigration law that disqualifies a person from obtaining a visa if the consulate knows or has reasonable ground to believe that a person is trying to enter the U.S. to engage solely, principally, or incidentally in unlawful activity. Her husband was denied because of tattoos he has, which a court-appointed gang tattoo expert later determined were not gang-related.

Munoz sued the State Department, arguing that her husbands inexplicable denial of entry into the U.S. infringed on her constitutional liberty interest in her husbands visa application and their inability to start a life together in the U.S. In upholding the denial, the Supreme Courts conservative justices decided not just that the State Department doesnt need to provide reason for denying a visa but that a citizens right to be married doesnt supersede the states strict, and often questionable, immigration processes. The conservative supermajority of the Supreme Courts ruling chips away at the core of Obergefell v. Hodgesthe landmark ruling that legalized same-sex marriage in 2015which decided that citizens have a right to marriage.

In her dissent, Sotomayor cast urgent warnings on the impact of restricting who is allowed to be married in the U.S., noting that the conservative decision will extend to couples like the Lovings and the Obergefells, [who] depend on American law for their marriages validity.

Same-sex couples may be forced to relocate to countries that do not recognize same-sex marriage, or even those that criminalize homosexuality, Sotomayor added. Obergefell rejected what the majority does today as inconsistent with the approach this Court has used in discussing [the] fundamental rights of marriage and intimacy.

Despite the majoritys assurance two Terms ago that its eradication of the right to abortion does not undermine  in any way other entrenched substantive due process rights such as the right to marry, the right to reside with relatives, and the right to make decisions about the education of ones children, the Court fails at the first pass, Sotomayor wrote in dissenting the conservative supermajoritys decision issued on Friday.
Whos in charge?

A recent Sound Off writer preferred President Biden because, even with his age and health concerns, he is surrounded by good knowledgeable people. But, thats exactly the problem. Recently, The White House has clarified statements and made changes to the official record due to Bidens gaffes. Who on the staff makes these decisions? Who really is in charge that decides what corrections are needed?

The debate

As he approaches the upcoming presidential debate with former president Donald Trump, President Biden needs to heed a warning attributed to Mark Twain, paraphrased: Never argue with a fool. Theyll bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.

Hard to keep track

There have been claims in this column that Donald Trump doesnt lie. Theres a good Wikipedia summary that says he told over 30,000 lies just during his presidency  an average of about 21 per day. Just this week he added to that. He made over two dozen false claims during his rally this past Tuesday in Racine, Wisconsin. I know true cult believers dont believe the media, but CNN has a good summary of each claim and the actual fact.

This is failure?

I would like specifics on the Sound Off saying that as a president, Joe Biden has failed miserably. I think his greatest accomplishment was capping insulin prices at $35. What a lifesaver for so many people. Donald Trump had promised a beautiful health care plan, and he never even looked into it. Now Trump is saying that he is going to improve Obamacare. Trump also is now backpedaling on abolishing abortion because he needs votes from people other than white supremacists and Christians.

Just too old

If one thinks President Biden is mentally and physically ready and able to serve as president for 4 more years, you are just so anti-conservative and anti-Donald Trump that your ideology needs help. The Democrats can choose another candidate and that would be smart. Joe cant cross the finish line, either way.

Same complaints

The shrill, panicked hyperbole from Democrats and the leftist media about a potential return of Donald Trump to the White House is reaching levels like standing in front of a jet engine. The comments are vintage Democrat trash reused over and over through decades. They hated Ronald Reagan exposing liberalism and taxation until Americanism brought down the Soviet Union and gave us a soaring economy after Jimmy Carter had burned it to the ground. They made fun of Bush II until 9/11 showed he was the man of the hour like Churchill.

Common sense, huh?

A person wrote in Sound Off that we voters need to use our common sense and vote for Donald Trump over Joe Biden. Common sense would tell anyone that voting for a convicted felon who has more trials to face might be a tad shady.

Send your Sound Offs to soundoff@sunherald.com.
South Carolina runoff elections are Tuesday: Here are 7 districts to watch

Voters arent quite done with elections this month. They still have 13 runoff elections Tuesday in state legislative and congressional districts.

In order to win a major party nomination and advance to the November general election, a candidate needs to receive more than 50% of the vote in a primary election.

Only 13.55% of voters statewide turned out for the June 11 primary elections. For candidates trying to win a runoff, turning out their voters will be key.

Here are some key races to watch.

3rd Congressional District

Mark Burns and Sheri Biggs are the last two candidates standing in the GOP race to succeed U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-Laurens, who chose not to run for reelection.

Burns finished first in the June 11 primary, garnering 33.16% of the vote. Biggs finished second in the June 11 primary receiving 28.82%.

Seven people were on the ballot for the Republican nomination in the solidly conservative district. The top vote-getters sought to connect themselves to former President Donald Trump, but Burns was the candidate in the race to get GOP standard bearers endorsement.

Burns, a pastor, took out a $500,000 loan from a bank in Missouri to fund his campaign this cycle. Outside of the loan, Burns has only raised $64,000. According to Federal Election Commission documents, Burns is using future contributions as collateral for the loan.

I am grateful to be backed by some several wealthy people that support my candidacy. Also, of course, I put my own back, and my own skin in the game, Burns said in an interview in May. I got my own skin in the game, and so I believe in myself, Im banking and betting on myself and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Biggs, an Air National Guard lieutenant colonel who is backed by Gov. Henry McMaster, also rolled out endorsements from seven county sheriffs.

I am deeply honored to earn the trust of and receive the endorsements from these distinguished sheriffs, Biggs said. Their support underscores my commitment to uphold the rule of law, ensure our law enforcement officers have the resources they need to keep our communities safe, and represent our community with integrity.

The winner will face Democratic nominee Byron Best in the general election. But the 3rd Congressional District is one of the most conservative districts in the country, so the winner of the GOP runoff is in the overwhelming favorite to win the November general election.

The 3rd Congressional District includes all or parts of Abbeville, Anderson, Edgefield, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens and Saluda counties.

Candidates for the third congressional district Sheri Biggs, left and Mark Burns.

Senate District 23  Republican

State Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, is hoping to hold on her seat and potentially remain the only Republican woman the upper chamber. Shealy finished first in the primary, but only received 40% of the vote in the primary.

Carlisle Kennedy finished second in the three-person primary with 36%.

The Lexington County Republican Party initially endorsed Zoe Warren in the race, but he finished in third place. The Lexington County GOP has since moved its endorsement to Kennedy.

State Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, and Carlisle Kennedy are in a Republican runoff on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 in Senate District 23.

Senate District 12  Republican

Will former state Sen. Lee Bright make his way back into the upper chamber?

Bright, who was defeated by state Sen. Scott Talley in 2016, is in a runoff against state Rep. Roger Nutt, R-Spartanburg.

Talley chose not to run for reelection.

A Bright victory could bring House Freedom Caucus-like behavior into the state Senate.

Bright, on his campaign Facebook page, called Nutt a Republican in Name Only.

We need a proven conservative leader, not another yes man for the Columbia Swamp like Roger Nutt, Bright said.

The S.C. Senate Republican Caucus is backing Nutts election by spending $230,000 in radio and television ads.

I think folks up there know Lee. They know what he talked about. I think its important, Roger has not only walked the walk but hes talked the talk, said Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield. Hes been successful at it, as opposed to just fussing about things.

The Upstate district includes parts of Greenville and Spartanburg counties.

Senate District 26  Republican

Chris Smith and Jason Guerry are running for the Republican nomination in Senate District 26. The winner takes on Democratic state Rep. Russell Ott in the November election.

Smith ran in 2020 against state Sen. Nikki Setzler, D-Lexington. Smith came up short losing by 9 percentage points.

In the three-person June 11 primary, Smith, who was endorsed by the Lexington County GOP, received 38.22% of the vote. Guerry received 35.32%.

The district covers parts of Calhoun, Lexington and Richland counties, and is expected to lean Democratic in the general election.

Senate District 22  Democratic

The race for the Democratic nomination in the northeastern Richland County Senate District 22 between Overture Walker and Ivory Thigpen will test if money is key to victory.

Walker, a Richland County Council member, entered District 22 Senate race on the last day of filing and quickly raised nearly $116,000 through May 22. However, Walker finished in second place in the primary after receiving 40.36% of the vote.

Thigpen, a sitting Richland County state representative and chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus, raised $49,000 through May 22. He finished in first place of the three-person primary with 42.88% of the vote.

The winner becomes the Democratic nominee to succeed state Sen. Mia McLeod, a Richland independent, and will face Workers Party candidate Gary Votour in Novembers election. McLeod chose not to run for reelection.

Overture Walker and Ivory Thigpen are running for the democratic nomination in Senate District 22,

Senate District 35

Both major parties have runoff elections to succeed state Sen. Thomas McEleveen, D-Sumter, who chose not to run for reelection after three terms in the state Senate.

On the Republican side, Lindsay Agostini and Mike Jones are facing off for the GOP nomination. Jones is in the drivers seat going into Tuesdays runoff. He received 49.51% of the vote in the four-person June 11 primary coming up just shy of the simple majority to win the nomination outright.

Agostini received 30.36%.

Jeffrey Graham and Austin Floyd are battling for the Democratic nomination. Graham finished first in the primary with 46.99% of the the vote. Floyd had 37.76% of the vote in the three-person primary.

Senate District 35 covers parts of Kershaw, Lee, Richland and Sumter counties.

House District 93  Democratic

With state Rep. Russell Ott running for the state Senate, his House seat is up for grabs. Former state Rep. Jerry Govan is in a runoff with Johnny Felder.

Govan, a former educator, served in the House for 15 terms and was once chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus. He did not run in 2022 because he was was drawn into a district with Ott. Instead Govan mounted an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic nomination for superintendent of education.

Felder, an attorney, is the son of former state Rep. John Felder, who served 11 terms in House.

In the June 11 primary, Govan received 45.92% of the vote in the four person race. Felder had 32.1% of the vote.

The winner goes on to face Republican Krista Hassell and Workers Party candidate Harold Geddings in the November election.

The House district includes parts of Calhoun, Lexington and Orangeburg counties.
South Dakota motorists asked not to travel in southeastern SD due to flooding

Update as of 2:15 p.m. Saturday: I-29 has fully reopened both northbound and southbound from Sioux Falls to the South Dakota/Iowa state line.

"Some water currently remains on the outside shoulders but water levels are continuing to drop throughout the day," SD DOT posted on social media.

Update as of noon Saturday: Southbound Interstate 29 has partially reopened. One lane of southbound Interstate 29 has reopened to traffic from Sioux Falls to the South Dakota/Iowa state line, according to the SD Department of Transportation.

Earlier: Some state highways in southeastern South Dakota are being closed due to widespread flooding, and with heavy rains expected to return Friday evening, the state is asking motorists to avoid travel in the area if at all possible.

Canton residents help pile sand bags near a home as water from Christmas Lake in Canton rises Thursday, June 20, 2024.

A press release from the South Dakota Department of Transportation said that as of 2 p.m. Friday, all state highway sections experiencing flooding are under a no-travel advisory, with the department calling travel "difficult to impossible in the southeastern portion of the state."

More: Road closures in Minnehaha and Lincoln Counties: What we know so far

Specific road closures included in the release include Interstate 9, which has been blocked at exit 59 near Davis and exit 62 near Canton. Northbound traffic is being diverted through exit 50 with a detour, while southbound traffic is being diverted at exit 64, with no detour due to impassable roads.

Interstate 90 remains open as of 3:45 p.m. Friday afternoon, but the release said it is expected to close as conditions worsen on Friday evening, with areas near Salem and Mt. Vernon said to be "significantly impacted" by flooding.

More: Live updates: NWS issues severe thunderstorm watch as flood watches, warnings continue

In-depth information on road closures and other advisories can be found on the DOT's website.

Much of the southeastern part of the state is either under a flood watch or flood warning until Saturday morning, with the National Weather Service forecasting another 1.5-3 inches of rain possible in the Sioux Falls area, in addition to slight chances that storms are severe.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Flooding in South Dakota prompts state to warn against travel
Vladimir Putin's threats come just days after agreeing to a defence pact with Kim Jong-un while on a state visit to Pyongyang - Kristina Kormilitsyna/REUTERS

Vladimir Putin warned South Korea that it will be making a very big mistake if it sends weapons to Ukraine to defend against Russia.

Moscow would make decisions which are unlikely to please the current leadership of South Korea if Seoul decides to supply arms to Kyiv, Putin said on a visit to the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi.

Putins threats come just days after agreeing to a defence pact with Kim Jong-un while on a state visit to Pyongyang, in which he praised the North Korean dictator for firmly supporting Russias war in Ukraine. South Koreas government issued a diplomatic protest in response and said on Thursday it will review changing its policy to send arms to Kyiv.

The warning also comes as tensions rise at the border between the two Koreas. Troops from the South fired warning shots at soldiers crossing from the North on Thursday morning, Seouls joint chiefs of staff said on Friday, the third such incident this month.

The demilitarised zone separating the Korean peninsula has remained a flashpoint between the North and South, even decades after the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The demise of communism in Europe left Pyongyang with few diplomatic allies aside from China, until a revival of relations with Russia more recently after its invasion of Ukraine.

Tensions rise at the border, as troops from the South fire warning shots at soldiers crossing from the North - KIM HONG-JI/REUTERS

In response to Moscows embrace of Pyongyang, Chang Ho-jin, the South Korean national security advisor, told reporters on Thursday that Seoul will review the possibility of supplying weapons to Ukraine. Currently, it has provided only non-lethal aid such as mine clearance equipment.

South Koreas presidential office said: Any cooperation that directly or indirectly helps North Korea increase its military power is a violation of UN Security Council resolutions and is subject to monitoring and sanctions by the international community.

Russias agreement with North Korea should be a concern to any country that cares about maintaining peace and stability, said John Kirby, the spokesman for the US national security council.

Moscows agreement with Pyongyang revives an earlier Cold War-era defence pact. According to North Korean state media, if either country experiences an armed invasion, then the other shall provide military and other assistance with all means in its possession without delay.

North Koreas leadership also signalled it may take action after a balloon launch by anti-Pyongyang activists on Thursday night, floating thousands of propaganda leaflets, US dollar bills, and USB sticks containing K-pop songs and South Korean TV dramas across the border from the South.

Putin with Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, during their meeting in Tsiolkovsky, Russia, last year - VLADIMIR SMIRNOV/POOL SPUTNIK KREMLIN

In response, Kim Yo-jong, Kim Jong-uns influential sister indicated that Pyongyang might retaliate, calling them disgusting defectors and human scum, in a statement to the official Korean central news agency.

It is natural that there would be something trouble to happen as they did again what they had been urged not to do, she said.

Since the end of last month, the North has launched hundreds of huge balloons carrying rubbish bags into the South containing waste including rags, used batteries, cigarette butts, and what appeared to be excrement, according to the South Korean Yonhap News Agency.

North Korea also appears to be building a wall at some parts of its border with the South, the BBC reported, citing satellite imagery.

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South Korea on its military aid for Ukraine: It depends on Russia's approach towards North Korea

Chang Ho-jin, South Korea's National Security Adviser, has stated that his country will determine the scale of armament supply for Ukraine depending on how Russia will build its relation with North Korea.

Source: Yonhap with reference to the conversation with South Korea's national security adviser

Details: Yonhap noted that Chang Ho-jin had said in a phone conversation that South Koreas position depends on Russias future actions.

"There are various options for providing weapons, and our position on the recent developments between Russia and North Korea depends on how Russia approaches the situation going forward," Chang Ho-jin said.

The media outlet reports with reference to its sources in the South Korean government that among the potential weapons which South Korea can supply Ukraine with there are 155 mm artillery ammunition, as well as air defence systems.

"Seoul officials have maintained strategic ambiguity regarding the types of weapons, seen as a diplomatic move to leverage the option to pressure Moscow to refrain from transferring key military technology to Pyongyang," Yonhap reports.

The agency noted that until now South Korea only supplied Ukraine with non-lethal weapons due to the countrys policy against providing lethal weapons to countries in a state of war.

Background:

During a press conference in Vietnam, Putin responded to reports that South Korea would consider supplying weapons to Ukraine after he and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement.

Putin claimed that it will be a "big mistake" if South Korea provides lethal weapons to Ukraine.

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South Korea said it might send weapons to Ukraine after Putin signed a security pact with its biggest enemy

South Korea said it might send weapons to Ukraine after Putin signed a security pact with its biggest enemy

South Korea said it could start sending weapons to Ukraine.

It came after Russia signed a security pact with North Korea.

Russia's alliance with North Korea has spiked tensions in the region.

South Korea said it could send weapons to Ukraine after Russia signed a security pact with Seoul's biggest regional foe, North Korea.

"We will reconsider the issue of supplying weapons to Ukraine," South Korean national security advisor Chang Ho-jin told reporters late on Thursday after the Russian President signed the pact with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang.

"Any cooperation that helps increase North Korea's military power is a violation of the UN Security Council," Chang added. "It doesn't make sense to promise military co-operation, assuming a pre-strike by the international community that will not happen."

Putin became the first Russian leader to visit North Korea in a quarter of a century this week, cementing an alliance with the pariah state.

The partnership has seen North Korea supply Russia with badly needed artillery for its war in Ukraine. In exchange, reports say, Russia has provided North Korea with satellite technology.

The security pact signed by the leaders, in which they pledged to provide each other with military support in a conflict, has spiked tensions in East Asia, where North Korea has long menaced US regional allies South Korea and Japan with an attack.

North Korea is under international sanctions to curtail its nuclear weapons program, and though Russia remains committed to upholding the sanctions on paper, critics say that it is undermining attempts to isolate North Korea.

Russian diplomats in March effectively disbanded the UN panel responsible for monitoring North Korean sanctions.

South Korea on Friday summoned Russia's ambassador over the pact, with South Korean foreign minister Cho Tae-yul and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemning the deal as a threat to regional stability and security.

Putin, on a trip to Vietnam Friday, warned South Korea against arming Ukraine in response, saying that it would be a "big mistake."

Moscow "will... [make] decisions which are unlikely to please the current leadership of South Korea" if it goes ahead and sends weapons to Ukraine, Putin said, reported BBC News.

But he also said that South Korea has "nothing to worry about" from the new pact as long as it doesn't commit acts of aggression toward North Korea.

South Korea is among the US allies that provided Ukraine with aid in battling the Russian invasion, but so far, has stopped short of providing Kyiv with weapons.

Analysts from the US think tank Institute for the Study of War say Russia is attempting to remake Cold War-era alliances to counter US global power.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Cho Tae-yul, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, speaks during a meeting on Cyber threats at the U.N. headquarters in New York City

Cho Tae-yul, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, speaks during a meeting on Cyber threats at the U.N. headquarters in New York City

By Hyunsu Yim

SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea's foreign ministry said it had summoned the Russian ambassador in protest of a pact between Russia and North Korea signed in Pyongyang this week, as a Reuters witness saw him enter the ministry building on Friday afternoon.

First vice foreign minister Kim Hong-kyun conveyed Seoul's stance on the pact and military cooperation between Russia and North Korea to Georgy Zinoviev, the top Russian envoy to Seoul, Seoul's foreign ministry said.

Kim told Zinoviev that Russia's military support for North Korea harms South Korea's security and would inevitably have a "negative impact" on relations between Seoul and Moscow.

He also urged Russia to "act responsibly," according to the ministry.

Attempts to intimidate Russia are unacceptable, Zinoviev was quoted as saying by the Russian Embassy in Seoul.

"The ambassador said that cooperation between Russia and North Korea is not aimed at a third country," the embassy said in a post on X soon after he was summoned to the ministry.

South Korea's foreign minister, Cho Tae-yul, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken have condemned the treaty as a serious threat to regional peace and stability, Seoul's foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday.

The two in a phone call on Thursday also discussed ways to respond to the summit between Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and agreed to closely monitor the situation, the foreign ministry said.

Blinken said the United States supports South Korea's responses to security threats. Under the pact, Moscow and Pyongyang said each country would provide immediate military assistance if either faces armed aggression.

Cho said any cooperation to help strengthen North Korea's military capabilities is a clear violation of the U.N. Security Council resolutions, according to the statement.

The United States will consider various ways to respond to the threat to international peace and stability from Russia and North Korea, Blinken was quoted as saying by the ministry.

Cho also spoke on the phone with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, and both expressed grave concern over the treaty between Moscow and Pyongyang, according to the ministry.

South Korean National Security Adviser Chang Ho-jin said on Thursday that Seoul would review the possibility of supplying weapons to Ukraine in response to the landmark pact.

Domestic ammunition manufacturer Poongsan Corporation gained 3.42% when the market closed on Friday, compared with a 0.83% drop in the main KOSPI.

(Reporting by Hyunsu Yim; Editing by Sonali Paul and Gerry Doyle)
Russian Ambassador to South Korea Georgy Zinoviev arrives at the Foreign Ministry in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, June 21, 2024. South Korea summoned the Russian ambassador to protest a defense pact with North Korea on Friday, two days after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an agreement vowing mutual defense with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on a state visit to Pyongyang. (Choi Jae-koo/Yonhap via AP)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  South Korea summoned the Russian ambassador to protest the countrys new defense pact with North Korea on Friday, as border tensions continued to rise with vague threats and brief, seemingly accidental incursions by North Korean troops.

Earlier Friday, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un issued a vague threat of retaliation after South Korean activists flew balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets across the border, and South Koreas military said it had fired warning shots the previous day to repel North Korean soldiers who briefly crossed the rivals land border for the third time this month.

That came two days after Moscow and Pyongyang reached a pact vowing mutual defense assistance if either is attacked, and a day after Seoul responded by saying it would consider providing arms to Ukraine to fight Russias invasion.

South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong Kyun summoned Russian Ambassador Georgy Zinoviev to protest the deal between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un and called for Moscow to immediately halt its alleged military cooperation with Pyongyang.

Kim, the South Korean diplomat, stressed that any cooperation that directly or indirectly helps the North build up its military capabilities would violate U.N. Security Council resolutions and pose a threat to the Souths security, and warned of consequences for Seouls relations with Moscow.

Zinoviev told Korean officials that any attempts to threaten or blackmail Russia were unacceptable and that his country's agreement with North Korea wasn't aimed at specific third countries, Russia's embassy wrote on its X account. The South Korean ministry said Zinoviev promised to convey Seoul's concerns to his superiors in Moscow.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Russia and cited U.N. Security Council sanctions against The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the country's official name, which ban all countries from providing the DPRK with any material for nuclear or ballistic missile programs.

Any relationship that any country has with DPRK, including the Russian Federation, must entirely abide by those sanctions, he told reporters at the U.N. headquarters in New York.

Leafletting campaigns by South Korean civilian activists in recent weeks have prompted a resumption of Cold War-style psychological warfare along the inter-Korean border.

The South Korean civilian activists, led by North Korean defector Park Sang-hak, said it sent 20 balloons carrying 300,000 propaganda leaflets, 5,000 USB sticks with South Korean pop songs and TV dramas, and 3,000 U.S. dollar bills from the South Korean border town of Paju on Thursday night.

Pyongyang resents such material and fears it could demoralize front-line troops and residents and eventually weaken Kim Jong Uns grip on power, analysts say.

In a statement carried by North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency, Kim Yo Jong, one of her brothers top foreign policy officials, called the activists defector scum and issued what appeared to be a threat of retaliation.

When you do something you were clearly warned not to do, its only natural that you will find yourself dealing with something you didnt have to, she said, without specifying what the North would do.

After previous leafletting by South Korean activists, North Korea launched more than 1,000 balloons that dropped tons of trash in South Korea, smashing roof tiles and windows and causing other property damage. Kim Yo Jong previously hinted that balloons could become the Norths standard response to leafletting, saying that the North would respond by scattering dozens of times more rubbish than is being scattered on us.

In response, South Korea resumed anti-North Korea propaganda broadcasts with military loudspeakers installed at the border for the first time in years, to which Kim Yo Jong, in another state media statement, warned that Seoul was creating a prelude to a very dangerous situation.

Tensions between the Koreas are at their highest in years as Kim Jong Un accelerates his nuclear weapons and missile development and attempts to strengthen his regional footing by aligning with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a standoff against the U.S.-led West.

South Korea, a growing arms exporter with a well-equipped military backed by the United States, says it is considering upping support for Ukraine in response. Seoul has already provided humanitarian aid and other support while joining U.S.-led economic sanctions against Moscow. But it has not directly provided arms, citing a long-standing policy of not supplying weapons to countries actively engaged in conflict.

Putin told reporters in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Thursday that supplying weapons to Ukraine would be a very big mistake, and said South Korea shouldnt worry about the agreement if it isnt planning aggression against Pyongyang.

South Koreas Foreign Ministry said Minister Cho Tae-yul on Friday held separate phone calls with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa to discuss the new pact. The diplomats agreed that the agreement poses a serious threat to peace and stability in the region and vowed to strengthen trilateral coordination to deal with the challenges posed by the alignment between Moscow and Pyongyang, Chos ministry said in a statement.

North Korea is extremely sensitive to criticism of Kims authoritarian rule and efforts to reach its people with foreign news and other media.

In 2015, when South Korea restarted loudspeaker broadcasts for the first time in 11 years, North Korea fired artillery rounds across the border, prompting South Korea to return fire, according to South Korean officials. No casualties were reported.

South Koreas military said there are signs that North Korea was installing its own speakers at the border, although they werent yet working.

In the latest border incident, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said several North Korean soldiers engaged in unspecified construction work briefly crossed the military demarcation line that divides the two countries at around 11 a.m. Thursday.

The South Korean military broadcast a warning and fired warning shots, after which the North Korean soldiers retreated. The joint chiefs didnt immediately release more details, including why it was releasing the information a day late.

South Koreas military says believes recent border intrusions were not intentional, as the North Korean soldiers have not returned fire and retreated after the warning shots.

The Souths military has observed the North deploying large numbers of soldiers in frontline areas to build suspected anti-tank barriers, reinforce roads and plant mines in an apparent attempt to fortify their side of the border. Seoul believes the efforts are likely aimed at preventing North Korean civilians and soldiers from escaping to the South.
South Korea is reassessing its earlier decision to not supply weapons to Ukraine, leading to a warning from Russias President Putin that it would be making a big mistake if it were to change its policy. While Seoul has so far condemned Moscow for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and provided Kyiv with economic and humanitarian aid, it has stopped short of sending arms. An angry reaction from Putin  who recently returned from North Korea where he signed a mutual defense pact with leader Kim Jong-un  should come as no surprise. After all, access to South Koreas burgeoning defense industry would be a huge deal for Ukraine, offering advanced equipment, and in significant quantities, opening up one of the last major untapped resources of arms for the war-torn country. Putin threatens South Korea:If South Korea supplies weapons to Ukraine, it will not like the answer. I hope they wont do it. It would be a big mistake. pic.twitter.com/2giiTzYEbw Clash Report (@clashreport) June 20, 2024 South Korea, the Republic of Korea has nothing to worry about because our military assistance under the treaty we signed only arises if aggression is carried out against one of the signatories, Putin told reporters. As far as I know, the Republic of Korea is not planning aggression against the DPRK [Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, the official name for North Korea]. Speaking at a news conference in Vietnam today, Putin added: As for the supply of lethal weapons to the war zone in Ukraine, that would be a very big mistake. I hope that this will not happen. And if it does happen, then we will also take appropriate decisions, which are unlikely to please the current leadership of South Korea, Putin said. Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un (right) attend a joint press conference in Pyongyang, North Korea, on June 19, 2024. Photo by Contributor/Getty Images Contributor#8523328 The news that Seoul is mulling sending lethal military aid to Kyiv surfaced in a report from the South Korean Yonhap news agency. The agency cited South Korean National Security Advisor Chang Ho-jin, who suggested that the policy review had been driven by the mutual defense pact signed between Putin and Kim. An official statement released by Seouls presidential office today also criticized the MoscowPyongyang pact, observing that it contravenes sanctions on North Korea: The government clearly emphasizes that any cooperation that directly or indirectly helps North Korea increase its military power is a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and is subject to monitoring and sanctions by the international community, the statement said. Interestingly, in April 2023 there had also been signs that Seoul was reconsidering its position on supplying arms to Kyiv. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers a speech during a ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of Armed Forces Day in Seoul, on September 26, 2023. Photo by Kim Jae-Hwan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images SOPA Images At that point, South Koreas President Yoon Suk Yeol had said that he would consider supplying weapons to Ukraine in the event of a major new attack against Ukrainian civilians. While the parameters of that were not made explicit, since then the Ukrainian population has been subject to repeated attacks, mainly by Russian drones and missiles, which have targeted critical infrastructure as well as cities across the country. In response to that, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, a close ally of Putin, threatened South Korea by suggesting that more and increasingly advanced Russian weapons could be delivered to the North. I wonder what the inhabitants of this country [South Korea] will say when they see the latest designs of Russian weapons in the hands of their closest neighbors  our partners from the DPRK? Medvedev said in a post on Telegram. Even without the new pact, under which Pyongyang and Moscow agreed to provide military assistance if either were ever attacked, Putins recent visit to North Korea further cemented the increasingly close relationship between the two countries. North Korean military officers attend the large-scale Center-2015 military exercises at the Donguzsky range in Orenburg, Russia, September 19, 2015. Photo by Sasha Mordovets/Getty Images Sasha Mordovets As far as the war in Ukraine is concerned, the emergence of North Korea as a key ally for Moscow has ensured that Russian forces have received much-needed ammunition including artillery projectiles  reportedly numbered in the millions  as well as ballistic missiles, although these appear to have been used in a mainly evaluation capacity and with mixed results. Meanwhile, there have long been concerns that the burgeoning military relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang is also providing North Korea with Russian expertise to help with the further development of its ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons  as well as other weapons and technologies. On the other side of this equation is now the prospect that South Korea could start to provide vital weapons to Ukraine, unlocking a previously untapped and highly versatile source. In recent years, South Korea has emerged as one of the worlds leading arms exporters and its weapons manufacturers span a notably wide range of technologies, from combat aircraft and helicopters to ballistic missiles and air defense systems to tanks and armored fighting vehicles and artillery. South Korean engineers work on a K9 self-propelled howitzer at the Hanwha Aerospace factory in Changwon on September 15, 2023. Photo by JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images JUNG YEON-JE President Yoon Suk Yeol has already laid out an ambition to become one of the worlds top four weapons suppliers, behind the United States, Russia, and France. The goal is not entirely unrealistic, however, with South Korea already being listed as the worlds ninth largest arms exporter between 201822, amounting to a 75 percent increase in its arms sales compared to 201317. Ukraine has repeatedly been frustrated with the time that it takes to secure newly manufactured arms from Western nations  first in terms of gaining political approval, and second, waiting for the required industrial capacity to actually make those weapons. South Korea offers something of a remedy to this problem, with active production lines operated by the likes of Hanwha, Hyundai Rotem, LIG Nex1, Hyundai Heavy Industries, and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). While these are primarily engaged in meeting a steady flow of domestic orders, they have demonstrated the scalability and flexibility to meet the demands of export customers, too. South Korean K2 tanks fire during a South Korea-U.S. joint military drill at Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon on June 15, 2023. Photo by JUNG YEON-JE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images JUNG YEON-JE At the same time, South Korean defense companies have shown a willingness to cooperate closely with export clients, including establishing assembly lines in foreign countries. Hanwha Aerospace, for example, has been tasked with establishing assembly lines for its K9 self-propelled howitzer in Australia, Egypt, and Poland. This, too, is something that could be of considerable interest to Ukraine, as it seeks to tap into its existing defense industry while at the same time introducing more modern equipment to replace its Soviet-era inventory. At one time, South Korean defense exports had very little in the way of success in Europe, but this has changed significantly in recent years, thanks primarily to Poland  also a close ally of Ukraine. In 2022, in its biggest arms export deal ever, South Korea sold Poland 180 K2 tanks, 48 FA-50 light combat aircraft, and around 670 K9 self-propelled artillery pieces, worth upwards of $14.5 billion. Whats equally remarkable about this package is the speed at which it has been realized. Polish soldiers stand next to K2 tanks at the Baltic Container Terminal in Gdynia after the first K2s and K9 howitzers for Poland arrived there on December 6, 2022. Photo by MATEUSZ SLODKOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images MATEUSZ SLODKOWSKI For example, the first 10 K2 tanks and 24 K9s were unloaded onto Polish docks only four months after the contract signature, with the first FA-50 aircraft being handed over in Poland within 10 months of the contract signature. Few European or U.S. defense companies can match such a pace and this kind of commitment to fulfilling orders rapidly is something that Ukraine would surely be eager to benefit from as well. For NATO customers, of which Poland is one, there is an issue arising from the fact that South Korean equipment generally doesnt conform to NATO standards, making its integration with Western systems harder. On the other hand, Poland seems to have decided it was more important to get its hands on the desired weapons faster, and in greater numbers, for which South Koreas impressive industrial capacity was found to be the answer. For Ukraine, with its combination of NATO, Soviet-era, and other weapons systems, a lack of standardization is hardly an issue, while industrial capacity most certainly is. Aside from bigger-ticket items like those mentioned above, South Korea also offer a potentially very useful source of artillery ammunition, something that Ukraine has, at times, run dangerously short. In the meantime, multiple sometimes complex initiatives have been set up to try and source 155mm rounds, in particular, from around the world and get them into the hands of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Technicians of the German defense company Rheinmetall work on 155mm ammunition that will be delivered to Ukrainian Forces at a factory in northern Germany, on June 6, 2023. Photo by AXEL HEIMKEN/AFP via Getty Images AXEL HEIMKEN As well as being one of the leading developers of artillery, South Korea has a significant capacity to produce the ammunition that arms these systems. The war in Ukraine has already driven South Korean ammunition production, with Seoul producing rounds for the United States, which are used to backfill stocks depleted by transfers to Ukraine. In this way, Seoul has been able to help ammunition get to Ukraine, without having to deliver lethal aid directly to Ukraine. A change in policy in South Korea would allow such measures to be sidestepped, and for ammunition to be provided directly to Kyiv. At the same time, countries like Poland would also stand to benefit from expanded production lines, as would other importers of South Korean defense equipment. Theres little doubt that South Koreas defense industry is on the rise and its combination of technical know-how, flexible workshare arrangements, and rapid delivery schedules will continue to secure export orders for the country. If and how Ukraine fits into this remains to be seen, but there is very clearly a demand for various types of weapons from Kyiv that South Korea could potentially help fulfill. Now that the issue of South Korean arms transfers to Ukraine is apparently back on the table, the results could be highly significant. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com

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Ukraine is negotiating with the European Union to return men who left our country illegally to avoid mobilization. Currently, European countries are not planning to introduce such measures.

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Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko commented on the issue in an interview with Radio Liberty. He said that every day law enforcement officers detain dozens of people who intend to cross the border illegally, but not all of them are draft vaders.

The journalist asked about a specific figure since the beginning of the full-scale war. The minister replied that such statistics are available, but they are closed and do not reflect the real situation.

At the same time, Klymenko said that the journalist's assumption about "tens of thousands" of men was "an overstated figure."

"We are consulting with our colleagues from the European Union. Of course, each EU country acts according to the laws and rules of the European Commission. Therefore, these negotiations on the possible return of our citizens if they crossed the border illegally will continue," the Interior Minister said.

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As reported earlier, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine explained where to which countries most draft evaders often try to escape. With forged documents - to Poland; if we talk about illegal border crossing outside checkpoints - most often to Romania and Moldova.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and in Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
UPDATE: FRIDAY 6/21/2024 8:30 a.m.

(COLORADO SPRINGS)  According to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) southbound I-25 has reopened between South Academy Boulevard and Mesa Ridge Parkway after a crash on Thursday night, June 20 closed the portion of the interstate for about three hours.

CDOT initially posted about the crash on its X page (formally known as Twitter) around 8:45 p.m. on Thursday and said the area was reopened to traffic just before 11:45 p.m.

ORIGINAL STORY: Southbound I-25 closed near South Academy exit

THURSDAY 6/20/2024 9:12 p.m.

Southbound I-25 is closed at South Academy Boulevard due to a crash between South Academy and Mesa Ridge Parkway, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT).

CDOT posted about the crash shortly before 8:45 p.m. on Thursday, June 20. Southbound traffic is being diverted at South Academy, and heavy delays are expected.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Travelers are urged to use caution in the area, and plan alternate routes.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Vivek Raman, the environmental health supervisor for the Southern Nevada Health Department checks mosquito traps. (Photo courtesy of Southern Nevada Health District)

Policy, politics and progressive commentary

Unlike her stealthy common cousin, the female yellow fever mosquito prefers to feed on humans and doesnt wait for nightfall to take a bite.

Aedes aegypti, an aggressive urban mosquito commonly known as the yellow fever mosquito, was first identified in four North Las Vegas zip codes in 2017. By 2022, the yellow fever mosquito was found reproducing in eight more zip codes in Southern Nevada.

Without any coordinated control or intervention to stop their spread, the urban mosquito made its way to 43, or one-third, of all zip codes in Clark County.

It was a very rapid expansion of this aggressive urban mosquito, said Vivek Raman, the environmental health supervisor for the Southern Nevada Health Department.

This month, the SNHD reported the highest level of mosquito activity in the agencys 20-year history of monitoring. Thats largely due to the explosion of the Aedes aegypti.

Along with the spread came the dramatic increase of public mosquito complaints, from 99 in 2022 to more than 700 in 2023, according to the SNHD.

Health officials expect even more this year. Thats because the mosquitos are arriving earlier than usual. The health department has already received more than 300 mosquito complaints, a significant increase from the 60 received at the same point last year.

Its not entirely clear why Southern Nevada is seeing an early explosion in its mosquito population, but there are clues.

Its likely flood conditions in recent years have helped the mosquito population grow. In June 2023, the approximately 90 traps set by the SNHD caught more than 7,000 mosquitoes for testing. So far this June, the health district has already caught more than 26,000, about 19,000 more than last year.

But even when there are drought conditions, the yellow fever mosquito  which requires standing water to reproduce  can thrive. Thats thanks to the yellow fever mosquitoes specialized breeding habits.

Typically mosquitoes prefer to feed on birds, but because Aedes aegypti prefers to feed on people, it has developed habits where it breeds very efficiently and effectively in our yards, Raman said.

Female yellow fever mosquitoes need much less water to successfully breed compared to the common mosquito. The Aedes aegypti can lay eggs in the amount of water it takes to fill a bottle cap. For the Aedes aegypti, a spare tire, plastic toy, discarded food container, or a saucer under a flower pot is a potential site to lay the next generation of mosquitoes. Their eggs can also lay dormant in dry conditions for as long as nine months.

Unlike other mosquito eggs that we typically find here, they can remain dry and dormant inside of those little containers until the next rain comes through, or water fills those containers, and then they rehydrate and hatch, Raman said.

Potential for viruses

Yellow fever mosquitoes arent just aggressive biters, theyre capable of transmitting a number of pathogens, including the dengue and zika viruses.

Locally transmitted dengue and zika fever infections  meaning the infected person didnt get sick abroad  are still rare in the continental U.S. While dengue and zika are infectious diseases, they dont spread from person to person, only through a vector organism like a mosquito. A mosquito would have to first bite an infected human before being able to transmit the virus to another human.

Still, several states in the U.S. have reported cases of locally transmitted dengue fever infections in recent years, including neighboring Arizona and California. Last October, California health officials reported the states first case of locally transmitted dengue in Pasadena.

Those first cases of local transmission may be a warning of whats to come, said Louisa Messenger, an entomologist and assistant professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas who studies mosquitoes and vector-borne diseases.

The larger concern in Nevada is disease spread by the common mosquito, which can carry the West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis.

In Southern Nevada, two human cases of locally transmitted West Nile virus, another vector-borne virus, were reported in 2023. As of June 17, the SNHD has identified mosquitoes positive for West Nile virus in 25 zip codes. Mosquitoes in another two zip codes tested positive for the virus that causes St. Louis encephalitis.

The most mild symptoms of West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis are similar to the common flu: fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. But in the most severe cases those infected with the viruses can develop a neuroinvasive form of the disease that can cause paralysis or a coma.

This year is unprecedented, Messenger said. Its the largest number of mosquito pools testing positive at the earliest point in the transmission season, which lasts until around October.

We are all quite concerned at the moment that so many mosquitoes are potentially positive for this virus out in the environment, and that we may see a ramp up in disease transmission in the following weeks, she continued.

Climate change

The relationship between climate change and disease is complex. Much is still unknown about how virus-carrying mosquitoes will react to climate change, but research shows a clear connection between heat and mosquitoes, said Messenger.

Rising temperatures allow mosquitoes to grow faster and live longer. Cooler winters help reduce the survival of mosquito larvae, but with warmer temperatures in the spring and fall due to climate change, they have a greater shot at survival and longer breeding seasons to build up their populations.

Mosquitoes and other insects are really sensitive to small changes in temperature and humidity because their life cycles are so intrinsically linked to temperature, she continued.

Heavy rains from extreme weather events can also cause water to pool and stagnate, creating conditions for mosquitoes to thrive. Last year, a series of heavy storms  including Hurricane Hilary  flooded the valley and left behind large pools of warm stagnant water perfect for mosquitoes to establish a breeding population.

When theres more rain and stagnant water for several days afterwards, and the weathers nice and hot, thats the sort of perfect conditions for mosquitoes to breed, Messenger said.

No mosquito control plan in Nevada

Each breeding season, the SNHD places mosquito traps near potential mosquito hot-spots in order to monitor the presence of West Nile and other viruses, but mosquito prevention is largely out of their hands, Raman said.

Southern Nevada does not have an established mosquito control program to oversee the treatment and elimination of mosquito breeding, despite their growing presence.

Mosquito abatement programs in the U.S. have proven effective at reducing mosquito populations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that the only way to reduce mosquitoes and the dangers they pose is a comprehensive hands-on approach, including monitoring, targeted pesticide use, and systemic interventions by local governments.

However, establishing a mosquito control program would likely require dedicated funding and support from local government, said Raman.

We need sustainable solutions. Its not just a shot in the arm, you have a program for a year, and then it goes away. This is something that will require sustainable solutions for long-term improvement.

The post Southern Nevada health officials are tracking major increase in mosquito activity appeared first on Nevada Current.
An air traffic controller alerted the crew of Southwest Airlines Flight 4069 that the aircraft had descended to a low altitude, the FAA tells PEOPLE in a statement

Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Southwest Airlines Boeing 737

A Southwest Airlines flight is being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration after it flew at an abnormally low altitude over Oklahoma.

Flight 4069 was flying over Yukon, Okla. when it reached a low altitude of 525 feet on Wednesday, June 19, CNN reports. Air traffic controllers at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City were alerted that the aircraft was getting too low after it triggered a Minimum Safe Altitude Warning, according to the FAA.

After an automated warning sounded, an air traffic controller alerted the crew of Southwest Airlines Flight 4069 that the aircraft had descended to a low altitude nine miles away from Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, the FAA tells PEOPLE in a statement. The FAA is investigating the incident that occurred around 12:05 a.m. local time on Wednesday, June 19.



Related: Southwest Airlines Celebrates 53rd Birthday by Offering $53 One-Way Flights

Sue Ogrocki/AP Southwest Airlines plane at Will Rogers World Airport

During the flight, an air traffic controller reportedly asked the pilot, You good out there? after alerting them of the planes low altitude, CNN reports.

In a statement from Southwest, the airline confirmed that the aircraft, a Boeing 737-800, landed safely at the Oklahoma City airport.

Southwest is following its robust Safety Management System and is in contact with the Federal Aviation Administration to understand and address any irregularities with the aircrafts approach to the airport, the airline added. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of our Customers and Employees.

Related: Plane Engine Fire Forces Emergency Landing After Possible Bird Strike: WATCH

Will Rogers World Airport/Facebook Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City

In December 2022, a United Airlines Boeing 777 reached a low altitude of 800 feet as it was flying over the Pacific Ocean on its way to Maui, Hawaii.

It was later determined in August 2023 by the National Transportation Safety Board that the incident was a result of pilot error.

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The NTSB report states that the Boeing 777 made a dramatic drop due to the flight crews failure to manage the vertical flightpath, airspeed, and pitch altitude.

In the conclusion of the report, it was confirmed that the incident occurred because of a miscommunication between the two pilots about the captains desired flap setting during takeoff.



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Read the original article on People.
As a tropical rainstorm approached the coast of northeastern Mexico into Sunday night, time has now run out to spawn a tropical depression or storm just days after Alberto formed in the same region, AccuWeather meteorologists say. Regardless, the system will continue to spread heavy rain into northeastern Mexico on Monday.

"This feature in the southwestern Gulf that we are monitoring is a disturbance on the Central America gyre that has broken away and rolled west-northwestward this weekend," AccuWeather Lead Tropical Meteorologist Alex DaSilva said.

This image shows the tropical rainstorm over the Bay of Campeche on Sunday morning, June 23, 2024. (AccuWeather Enhanced RealVue Satellite)

A gyre is a large, slowly spinning low-pressure area that often enhances showers and thunderstorms in its circle of influence. A gyre over Central America and southern Mexico is common this time of the year and can contribute to tropical storm or hurricane formation over the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and the eastern Pacific Ocean.

AccuWeather began monitoring the system's potential in early June and issued an official track map for the center of the rainstorm late last week. The system will continue to push heavy rain inland with the risk of flooding, regardless of its official classification.

AccuWeather refers to it as a tropical rainstorm to raise awareness of the potential dangers. Only the National Hurricane Center can officially designate the system as a tropical depression or tropical storm.

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Widespread rainfall of 4-8 inches is anticipated in northeastern Mexico with some areas along the coast and inland on the east-facing slopes of the mountains picking up 8-12 inches. Localized amounts may be even higher. Since some of these areas were hit with similar rainfall from Alberto just a few days earlier, the flash flood and mudslide risk is significantly higher.

In the wake of the system along the northeast Mexico coast, the Atlantic may become quiet once again and remain so for many days. A lull in tropical activity is not uncommon during July.

"We will be on the lookout for another weak system that could try to develop in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico around the start of July," DaSilva said, "But, just like the system from Saturday to Sunday, it will not have much time to develop before being pushed into northeastern Mexico."

After the flurry of tropical activity dies down and the mid-summer lull occurs, AccuWeather meteorologists forecast that the Atlantic will become a hotbed later in the summer and into the fall with a bumper crop of tropical storms and hurricanes.

A significant number of tropical systems may experience rapid strengthening. Where this occurs near land, it could significantly raise the risk to lives and property.

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 last Southwest 737 Max 8 airliner, ordered grounded by U.S. President Donald Trump, sits at Gate 40 after arriving from Los Angeles at St. Louis-Lambert International Airport in St. Louis on March 13, 2019. The FAA is investigation a dangerously low approach of Southwest flight 4069 into Oklahoma City Thursday. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

June 20 (UPI) -- The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating an incident in which a Southwest Airlines jet descended dangerously low on its approach into Oklahoma City shortly after midnight on Thursday.

An air traffic controller at the Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City radioed to the plane's pilots telling them they were at an extremely unsafe altitude when an automated warning from the Minimum Safe Altitude Warning system sounded 9 miles away from the airport.

The plane passed over Yukon High School at roughly 625 feet, and at one point had descended to roughly 525 feet, according to FlightRadar24, which tracks arrivals, departures and in-flight operations of planes in the air.

"Southwest 4069, low altitude alert. You good out there?" the air traffic controller said, according to audio of the call obtained by The Oklahoman. Southwest Airlines Flight 4069 had departed from Las Vegas.

"It woke me up and I thought it was gonna hit my house," one person told The Oklahoman.

The commercial jet eventually landed safely after it regained altitude and circled around the airport.

"Southwest is following its robust Safety Management System and is in contact with the Federal Aviation Administration to understand and address any irregularities with the aircraft's approach to the airport. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees," a Southwest spokesperson said.
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) is celebrating southwest Detroit and the many Latin cultures that come together to create the neighborhood affectionately called Mexicantown.

On Saturday, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) and Mexicantown Community Development Corp. (MexicantownCDC) will join forces to present Southwest Sounds, a free event highlighting the arts and culture of Venezuela. The festivities will take place from 5-7 p.m. at MexicantownCDCs mercado, 2835 Bagley St., Detroit.

Southwest Sounds will include free food, music and dance, featuring live performances by Sphinx Overture student musicians, musicians from the DSO and Pa La Parranda Venezuelan Afrodrums.

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Mexicantown Community Development Corporation will present Southwest Sounds on Saturday, June 22 in Detroit.

DSO Senior Director of Social Innovation and Learning Karisa Antonio said the event is part of a new path of exploration for the organization.

Part of our Detroit strategy is, over the past four years, weve done a lot of listening, hundreds of hours of listening across Detroit, Antonio said. Southwest has been one of the neighborhoods where we first started our listening process, and were doing a whole bunch of things in Southwest. When were doing our listening  and were still doing it, actually  there were a couple of themes that really came out of that. Specifically, we heard from the Detroiters in Southwest that they felt Southwest needed to be recognized for being this cultural jewel that it is, with distinct cultures from all over the world.

And then we also heard that, in addition to being recognized, they didnt want to be seen as a monolith, particularly people who come from Latin American countries and all of those distinct areas of culture. Even within Mexico, you have distinct regions. So the thing thats special about Southwest Sounds is that this is a performance thats particularly focused on Venezuelan culture and music.

Antonio said the goal is for the DSO to eventually have a series of events that celebrate different Latin American countries and cultures.

Its exciting for us, she said. These are meant to be connective experiences to open the door to other ways of engaging, whether its for students to connect with local music and education programs, or to celebrate local artists and promote their work, or to invite people to join us at all the things the DSO is doing around the city. This is an experience that will lead to many others. And that makes it even more exciting from my vantage point.

Contact Free Press arts and culture reporter Duante Beddingfield at dbeddingfield@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Southwest Sounds event to celebrate Venezuelan culture on Saturday
The University of Central Florida may ban camping on campus and limit the duration of protests in the wake of pro-Palestinian demonstrations that roiled colleges and took over university lawns across the country this spring.

UCFs Board of Trustees is to take up new regulations dealing with use of university facilities; events and protests on Tuesday, according to the agenda for the meeting.

Florida State Universitys trustees approved a similar change to their policies Thursday, banning tents, the blocking of entrances to buildings and the wearing of hoods that cover protesters faces, according to documents on the FSU website.

UCFs proposal would prohibit camping  an activity not mentioned in current rules  and limit the length of protests and other expressive activities to five days in a row and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. most days. The university defines expressive activities as ones that are exercises of free speech under the First Amendment. They include taking part in marches, protests, parades and picket lines, the proposed regulation says.

Robert Cassanello, a UCF history professor and president of United Faculty of Florida at UCF, thinks the proposals go too far, given the restrained nature of UCFs pro-Palestinian protests to date.

Responding to what you think might come might be a little over-reactive, he said. Certainly, theres nothing going on on the ground at UCF that would merit these kinds of precautions.

Spokespeople for UCF didnt respond to email and phone call requests for comment on Friday.

The proposed changes come in wake of nationwide campus protests in April and May calling for universities to divest from ties to Israel, sparked by the ongoing war in Gaza, which came in response to Hamas October attack on Israeli residents.

At some Florida protests, including some at the University of South Florida in Tampa, students tried to erect tents on campus, only for police and university officials to take them down.

The UCF proposal defines camping as laying down blankets, cooking utensils or other materials for the purpose of living or sleeping  regardless of whether campers actually stay overnight.

UCF students staged several protests on the east Orlando campus this spring about the war. On April 26, more than 200 protesters gathered near UCFs main library. On May 7, a group set up blankets and folding chairs near Memory Mall in the center of campus as part of another protest.

The UCF protesters did not engage in confrontations with police, and left campus before midnight as police instructed. No one was arrested.

But at the University of Florida, where students staged a five-day demonstration, nine people were arrested.

UF did not change our policies on protest, UF spokesperson Cynthia Roldan said of rules there. We enforced existing rules and regulations. University police worked to patiently explain rules to protesters in an effort to bring them into compliance.

At USF, more than 10 were arrested, one of whom had a gun, and police used tear gas to break up a group of protesters who had put up a tent.

Protesters at FSU tried to build a handful of tents, only for police to take them down minutes later. At that time, FSUs regulation already prohibited camping.

FSUs new regulations also say that no individual or group may claim exclusive use of any area without prior approval from the university.
KANSAS CITY  (KSNT) Every St. Jude patient has a story, and Cassidys is nothing short of inspiring.

Cassidy grew up playing competitive softball and spending quality time with her family as a teenager. She loved staying active and was excited for her sophomore year softball season when she noticed she was having breathing issues during practices.

After what thought to be a simple sickness, doctors told Cassidy life changing information.

My mom came back into the room, and she just sat there, and I could tell something was wrong, Cassidy told 27 News. She just said the doctors found a tumor. Its taking up your whole left lung. They think its stage three. They think it spread to your spleen, and you have cancer.

Last chance to win Sutherlands gift card from St. Jude

Cassidy and her family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where she was admitted to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital. Even at one of the scariest moments in her life, Cassidy says she never felt alone.

I remember the women who checked us in being just so incredibly kind and just wonderful and welcoming. When you see their doctors working, when you see their nurses working, when you see just any of their team members working, thats what theyre there to do. They dont just say it, they do it.

After her first scans, doctors were able to diagnose Cassidy with stage two Hodgkins lymphoma, a verry treatable form of cancer. She was set up on a chemotherapy plan, and in just four months, she was deemed cancer free.

St. Jude research saves man after brain tumor diagnosis

Thanks to St. Jude, Cassidy has spent the last 11 years of her life cancer free. She hopes that by sharing her story, it will shine a light on the organization.

I can be this person who like advocates for just awareness for such an amazing organization like St. Jude. I can bring awareness to them, and I can tell people about the amazing things they do and why they should donate to St. Jude, Cassidy said.

The Dream Home can be found at 2635 SW Sherwood Park Drive in southwest Topeka. It is being built by Drippe Homes, and has an estimated value of $600,000. It will be raffled off to one lucky winner.

Features of the dream home include three bedrooms, two bathrooms and an estimated 2,200 square feet. Free tours of the home run from July 12-28 at the following times:

Fridays: 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sundays: Noon to 4 p.m.

Less than 1,700 tickets for the 2024 St. Jude Dream Home are available. Each ticket is $100. Get a ticket here or call (800) 846-2640.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
On the night of June 21, the Air Defense Forces of Ukraine shot down four Russian guided missiles in the sky. The occupiers launched them from airplanes.

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Air defense was operating in the south. This was reported by the commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk.

According to him, on Friday night, Russian troops launched X-59/X-69 guided missiles from tactical aircraft.

All four enemy targets were neutralized by the Air Defense Forces within Kirovohrad and Kherson regions.

"Thank you for your combat work! Together  to victory!" said Oleshchuk.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, during a massive Russian attack on the night of June 20, Ukrainian defenders shot down 32 of 36 Russian air targets. In particular, all four X-101/X-555 missiles, one X-59, and all 27 Shahed attack UAVs were neutralized.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
ST. LOUIS  Homicide detectives with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department are investigating a fatal shooting across the street from Fairground Park.

According to a police statement, officers received a call for a shooting around 9:40 p.m. Wednesday, across from the park in the 4100 block of Natural Bridge Avenue. This is in the citys OFallon neighborhood.

Police arrived at the scene and found the body of a 22-year-old man.

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The victims name has not been released, pending notification of family members.

Anyone with information on the investigation is asked to contact the citys Homicide Division at 314-444-5371. If you wish to remain anonymous or are interested in a cash reward, call CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
ST. PETERSBURG  The proposal to replace Tropicana Field and develop the land around it took center stage Friday when candidates for the City Council lined up to face the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club.

Candidates for the two open seats presented options to voters depending on how they feel about the public ponying up nearly half the cost of a new $1.3 billion stadium. The city would chip in more to pay for roadwork and other infrastructure costs around the new stadium, plus sell public land at a discount to a private developer.

The candidates faced a lightning-round question that didnt give them much opportunity to explain their positions before the crowd at the St. Petersburg Museum of History. The forum was moderated by Janelle Irwin Taylor, a former St. Petersburg spokesperson under Mayor Ken Welch, who has led the redevelopment effort.

In the District 3 race to represent the citys northeast neighborhoods of Shore Acres, Snell Isle and Placido Bayou, four of five candidates attended, excluding Mike Harting, the CEO of 3 Daughters Brewing.

Treasure Island & Madeira Beach Chamber of Commerce President Barry Rubin and restaurateur Pete Boland both said they support the proposal. Chemist-turned-community organizer Nick Carey said no, and Juan Lopez, an executive with the Tampa Convention Center, said the proposed terms still need work.

Each is campaigning to replace the lone Republican on the nonpartisan City Council, Ed Montanari, who is leaving due to term limits and is running for state House.

The candidates for District 7, competing to represent parts of southwestern St. Petersburg, had the opportunity to explain themselves in answering whether the deal does enough to honor Black residents displaced in the name of economic development in the years before the Trop was built.

Donald Bowens Jr., Corey Givens Jr. and Eritha Brandis Cainion were no-shows.

Candidate Treva Davis went first, saying she would support any decision that was made and would work hard to make sure the districts residents are not hurt and benefit from whatever decision is made.

Restaurateur Dan Soronen, a critic of the deal, said the Gas Plant land should revert back to the descendants through eminent domain. Wengay Newton, who is running for his former seat on the City Council, said he would have hired a major-league attorney and wouldve liked more clarity when it came to affordable housing on- and off-site.

Right now its the best they can get, Newton said. I wouldve done a little more due diligence.
(KRON)  An award-winning student journalist for the Stanford Daily, Dilan Gohill, was arrested while covering a pro-Palestine protest outside the Stanford campus presidents office on June 4. Gohill was one of the 13 people arrested after what officials described as extensive vandalism around the office.

Mother, son, daughter arrested for set of car thefts, police chases in San Rafael

The takeover began around dawn on the last day of spring classes at the Stanford campus in Silicon Valley. Gohill covered the details of what protesters were doing inside the presidents office. While inside, Gohill identified himself as a reporter by displaying his newspaper-issued press badge and wearing a red Stanford Daily sweatshirt, his attorneys said.

Stanford officials do not object to the attorneys description of the events but argue that Gohill was unrightfully there because the building is not open to the public or the campus community, but rather consists of private offices, barring Gohill from his First Amendment rights. Stanford officials continued, And we would expect even a student journalist to understand that they had no right to be barricaded inside the presidents office.

Once law enforcement entered the building, protesters allegedly told law enforcement officers that Gohill was not one of us, hes press, an interaction Gohills editors could hear via speakerphone, Gohills attorneys said.

Gohill and 12 others were soon after arrested with zip ties and were taken to Santa Clara County Jail. Stanford Daily editors said they were in contact with Gohill and told him to comply with any instructions from police officers, editors from the Daily said.

Gohill was held in jail for 15 hours and faces charges of felony burglary, vandalism and conspiracy, according to his lawyers and the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker. While in jail, Gohills attorneys said, Santa Clara County Sheriffs Deputies attempted to gain access to Dilans iPhone, putting it up to his face in order to gain entry via Face ID. Dilan looked away repeatedly, stymying the Deputies efforts to get into his device.

In reply to the arrests, Stanford officials said they do not agree that Gohills rights have been violated. We believe that the Daily reporter acted in violation of the law and University policies and fully support having him be criminally prosecuted and referred to Stanfords Office of Community Standards along with the other students.

Stanford study: Hybrid work does not damage performance, improves retention

Whatever your position is on the war in Gaza, a free press ensures we receive vital information and differing viewpoints, said Jean-Paul Jassy, an attorney representing Gohill. Seeking accountability for the protestors is one thing, but advocating that a journalist face criminal consequences for doing his job is at odds with an institution of higher learning and the universitys own motto that the winds of freedom blow.

Stanford University has since lifted Gohills interim suspension and campus ban because they believed he was not an immediate threat to the Stanford campus. They also reserve the right to reinstate the suspension and ban if further evidence comes to light, university officials said.

On Thursday, the First Amendment Coalition and the Student Press Law Center, along with 24 other organizations dedicated to free speech and freedom of the press, called on the Santa Clara District Attorneys Office to decline charges against Gohill.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
State employee awarded after alerting police of teen with gun in Scranton

HARRISBURG, DAUPHIN COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  A Special Agent working for the Office of State Inspector General has received one of the highest honors in the Commonwealth after alerting police about a teenager who was caught with a gun near Scranton High School.

Special Agent Moriah Harding has received a Governors Award for Excellence for preventing a potentially serious crime.

According to a release from State Inspector General Lucas M. Miller, the award comes from an incident in which Harding heard a clicking noise coming from the clothing of a person who was asking for directions to a Lackawanna County high school.

The release states that Harding contacted police who were able to intercept the suspect, 16-year-old Sihyar Dickerson, who was found to be in possession of a long gun and numerous rounds of ammunition.

Police can be seen gathered outside Scranton High School back in January after they received reports about a person with a gun in the area.

Authorities say Dickerson plotted to shoot rival gang members at the school after he took a bus to Scranton from Wilkes-Barre in January.

Special Agent Hardings actions exemplify OSIGs dedication to public safety, . . . She demonstrated exceptional readiness and courage, acting immediately and prioritizing the safety of others, especially the high school students, above all else. I am deeply thankful for Special Agent Harding and her work with the Office of State Inspector General. I commend her for earning this well-deserved award. State Inspector General Lucas M. Miller

The release says the Governors Awards for Excellence is the highest level of recognition for Commonwealth employees.

Dickerson pleaded guilty to aggravated assault charges on Tuesday. He is expected to be sentenced in September.

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The process to determine if fully expanding Medicaid for low-income and uninsured Georgians is about to begin.

Next month, a state health care commission will begin considering options including if the governors Pathways program is the best way to achieve that goal.

I think we make really good decisions when we deal with the facts, House Speaker Jon Burns told Channel 2s Richard Elliot.

Elliot spoke exclusively with Burns Friday at his home in Effingham County about the new state healthcare commission.

He made his picks for it Thursday: A vice president of an elderly healthcare association, an ophthalmologist, a general surgeon, and the CEO of a Macon healthcare company.

Burns told Elliot that he wants them to get those facts.

This commission will help us put the facts before us and will challenge us. Itll challenge us to make some decisions that sometimes may be out of the norm, Burns said.

Last session, the Republican speaker said he wasnt opposed to fully expanding Medicaid, something Republicans initially opposed but he put that on hold, wanting to give Gov. Brian Kemps Georgia Pathways idea time to work.

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Kemp still opposes full expansion.

State democrats thought they had a deal to get a Senate vote on it in March, but at the last second, it failed to get out of a committee.

And this session, yet again, Georgia Republicans chose to look at patients in need with an obvious solution in reach and they chose to do nothing, State Rep. Michelle Au said.

The governors choice to lead the commission, Georgia Hospital Association president Caylee Noggle said in a statement that shes looking forward to starting work and explore all options.

Burns thinks all sides are working toward the same goal -- to help Georgians.

The lieutenant governor will pick four positions as well.

The commission will begin next month and will deliver its recommendations to the legislature in January.

RELATED NEWS:
Daniel Elliott is running for Indiana State Treasurer, and speaks at the state GOP Convention, Indiana Farmers Coliseum, Indianapolis, Saturday, June 18, 2022.

Indiana Treasurer Daniel Elliott has placed investment firm BlackRock on a watchlist, enforcing a 2023 law banning Indiana pension funds from investing with firms that consider environmental, social and/or governmental factors in their investment decisions. It's the first time the state has flagged an asset manager since this controversial law was signed.

BlackRock manages multiple funds for INPRS, which administers Indianas public pension funds.

The company was put on the treasurers offices watchlist because it made a commitment to environmentally and socially conscious investing as defined by a new Indiana law, according to a press release from Elliott's office. An Indiana law signed by the governor in May of 2023, requires Indianas public retirement pension to divest from investment firms that use ESG factors in their decision-making.

In a statement, Christopher Van Es, a spokesperson for BlackRock, defended the company's investment strategies, and said its leaders "remain committed to Indiana."

More statehouse news: Jennifer McCormick taps Terry Goodin as running mate, despite conservative voting history

"Contrary to the Treasurers assertion, BlackRock has been singularly focused on delivering performance for INPRS, consistent with their objectives," Van Es said in a statement. "We take direction from our clients, as our business is grounded in our fiduciary obligation to provide our clients with choice."

INPRS did not provide an answer to questions about the financial impact ceasing all ties to BlackRock would have on the state. According to the firm, BlackRock has invested approximately $95 billion in Indiana.

The law defines ESG commitment as an action taken or a factor considered by a service provider: (1) with respect to or including the systems assets; and (2) with the nonfinancial purpose to further social, political, or ideological interests based on evidence indicating the purpose.

A 2022 BlackRock sustainability disclosure states the companys integration of these goals throughout firm-wide investments.

BlackRock incorporates financially material environmental, social, and/or governance data or information, alongside other information into firmwide processes with the objective of enhancing risk-adjusted returns," the form reads. "This applies regardless of whether a fund or strategy has a sustainable objective."

The treasurers office has been researching BlackRock and other companies since the beginning of the year, Chief of Staff and Legislative Counsel Abhi Reddy said. The office is looking into every company thats eligible." BlackRock just happens to be the first. The office doesn't know if or how many future companies may be put on the watchlist.

We will see where it leads us," Reddy said. "We're not making prejudgments on anyone. They just happen to be first."

Looking at the bill as a whole, Reddy said both the General Assembly and Elliot were concerned about corporations "making non-financial decisions based on non-fiduciary reasons" with pension funds.

We shouldnt accept actions that put Hoosier retirees at risk, Elliot said in a press release. ESG commitments hurt investments when employed by financial institutions. We must protect our public servants from having their hard-earned savings affected by ESG decisions made by large corporations such as BlackRock.

As of today, INPRS has officially been put on notice. It will have 180 days to meet with its board, of which Elliot is an ex-officio member, to see if there are other viable options that would provide the same services as BlackRock and perform comparably financially.

"If the board determines that there is not a comparable service provider to replace Blackrock," agency spokesperson Natalie Derrickson said in an emailed response, "the board shall continue contracting with Blackrock."

Contact IndyStar politics Pulliam fellow Nadia Scharf at nscharf@indystar.com or follow her on Twitter @nadiaascharf.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana treasurer puts BlackRock on watchlist due to 2023 ESG law
Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger speaks with rape survivor Angela Wharton at a June 20, 2024, news conference on a new online system that lets victims track rape kits. With them is Sen. Shelly Hettleman (D-Baltimore County). Photo by Steve Crane.

State officials unveiled an online system Thursday for tracking sexual assault evidence kits, a process they said should help bring peace of mind to victims and accountability to law enforcement officials.

Under the system, all new rape kits will have a unique bar code attached to them, and victims will be given a password that will let them go online and track the status of the sexual assault evidence that was taken from them.

For too many victims and survivors, in too many communities  when kits left hospital rooms, victims were left with nothing but questions, Attorney General Anthony Brown (D) said at Thursdays unveiling. Wheres my evidence kit? When does justice come?

Now, were going to use a bar code system to change everything here in Maryland. It is the key to the new statewide system that will provide survivors with answers, he said.

The state is also in the process of adding bar codes to the thousands of evidence kits currently in the system, some of which have been languishing for years. Brown said that process will take some time, and an official in his office said the goal is to get all the backlogged cases tagged by the end of 2025.

Gov. Wes Moore (D) said the new system is aimed at addressing the backlog of 5,000 rape kits that the state reported in 2022.

We know too often that sexual assault evidence kits end up sitting in hospitals or in precincts or in labs. Its very easy for these kits to get lost when there is no accountability, Moore said.

Rape survivor Angela Wharton speaks at a news conference on a new tracking system for rape kits. Looking on, from left, are Gov. Wes Moore (D) and Attorney General Anthony Brown (D). Photo by Steve Crane.

It changes today, he said. Survivors can go online and see exactly where their evidence stands, through every single step of the process, and if the evidence is not moving, survivors can speak out.

Thursdays event was highlighted by the testimony of Angela Wharton. The Baltimore resident told of being raped at gunpoint in a wooded area of the city in 1996, only to find out more than 20 years later that the evidence she had provided after her attack  what is known as a Sexual Assault Forensic Exam, or SAFE examination  had been destroyed by police without ever being tested.

In the aftermath of the assault, I summoned every ounce of courage within me to undergo an invasive and humiliating process called the SAFE examination, Wharton said. It was a grueling ordeal, where my body was a literal crime scene, but I endured it  with the hope that justice would prevail and that my perpetrator would be held accountable for his heinous actions.

But she found out in 2018 that police had destroyed the evidence in her case, less than two years after her assault, without ever having it tested. She was left feeling betrayed, violated and utterly powerless and felt revictimized.

Wharton said the new system offers a ray of hope for survivors like me who have endured the anguish of having their trauma dismissed and their pursuit of justice thwarted by a system that failed to protect and serve.

Besides helping victims, officials said they hope the system will be used by advocates and law enforcement officials to help press cases. The collection of DNA evidence through SAFE examinations can be entered into a national database where it can help find predators in what may seem like unrelated cases, or close cases that have long been open.

The kit-tracking system is the latest step in several years of efforts by advocates for sexual assault victims, including funding to clear up the backlog of untested rape kits and a law requiring that law enforcement officials retain the kits for at least 75 years after the evidence is collected.

Maryland is not the first state to use a bar code system to keep track of sexual assault evidence kits. Moore said similar systems have been created in red states and in blue states, from North Carolina to Ohio and Oklahoma.

Brown said the system had already been used by 14 victims who had visited the site a total of 90 times since it launched on May 28.

What does it tell you? Survivors want action. They expect all of us to do our jobs, Brown said. The tracking program is going to give survivors the transparency, accountability, dignity and support they deserve. Survivors of sexual assault will no longer be kept in the dark after forensic evidence is collected.

The post State unveils online tracking system for rape kits, providing a ray of hope for victims appeared first on Maryland Matters.
SEBRING, Fla. (WFLA)  Prosecution called one witness Friday on the first day of its rebuttal after four days of defense evidence in the Zephen Xaver sentencing trial in Highlands County.

Xaver previously pleaded guilty to five counts of murder for the deaths of Ana Pinon Williams, Debra Cook, Marisol Lopez, Cynthia Watson and Jessica Montague at the SunTrust Bank in Sebring in Jan. 2019.

A sentencing trial is now underway as prosecutors pursue the death penalty.

It does not have the appearance of a tumor to me, said radiologist Dr. Marc Glickstein.

Asst. state attorney Bonde Johnson (L), Dr. Marc Glickstein (R)

Dr. Glickstein was called as the states rebuttal to testimony Thursday from Dr. Mark Rubino, who said Xaver had a growing tumor on his brain, visible on scans from 2013-2023.

Dr. Rubino testified he believed the brain tumor and focal seizures in the area caused Xaver to hear voices, a main part of the defenses case.

I would say that the vast majority of the time you see something like this, its a benign inconsequential lesion, said Dr. Glickstein.

Prosecution stated it had another witness to call on Monday and the judge released jurors early on Friday.

Jurors are expected to start deliberations after closing arguments early next week.

They will be deciding whether to recommend Xaver be sentenced to life in prison or death.

Under new Florida law, it will require eight jurors for the death sentence rather than a unanimous verdict.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
State Dept wont say if it is investigating Israeli strikes cited by UN as possible war crimes

State Dept wont say if it is investigating Israeli strikes cited by UN as possible war crimes

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller declined to say Thursday whether the U.S. is investigating six Israeli strikes on Gaza cited in a new United Nations report as possible violations of the laws of war.

The report from the U.N.s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, published Wednesday, detailed six emblematic attacks by Israeli forces in Gaza, all of which occurred in October, November or December of last year.

Miller, asked about the report by The Hill, said he was not going to speak to specific incidents that are under review but that there were a broad number of incidents that were looking at.

Miller was asked specifically about one of the six strikes detailed in the U.N. human rights report.

On Oct. 25, residential buildings in Gaza City were hit by large explosions, according to the report. The U.N. body said it has verified that 105 people were killed, with 32 women and 47 children among them.

The report noted that at least seven structures, including a residential building called the Taj3 Tower, were completely destroyed. It further found that it was likely, given the structural damage and the size of the craters left in the aftermath, that several 2,000-pound bombs had been used.

Eight months have passed since the attack, without any public determination by the U.S. as to whether the strikes violated international law.

Its very difficult to draw fact-specific conclusions when we dont have someone on the ground and were in the middle of an active conflict, Miller said in response to a question about the timeline.

Miller noted there was an issue with the number of incidents that we have to review and the limited resources that we have to make those assessments. But he insisted that government personnel were working hard on it, day and night.

Groups ranging from Amnesty International to the International Criminal Courts (ICC) chief prosecutor say they have found evidence of Israeli war crimes. Asked about those findings, Miller noted that different organizations have different burdens, different responsibilities, and we take ours very seriously.

He added that the administration wants to finish its assessments as soon as possible but its important that we get them right.

More than 37,000 people are estimated to have been killed in the Israeli assault on Gaza, which was launched in reprisal for the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas. Israeli actions have displaced around 80 percent of the population in Gaza, which is suffering a humanitarian crisis.

Israel rejected the findings of the new U.N. report, calling it factually, legally and methodologically flawed.

The ICCs Prosecutor Karim Khan announced in May that he would seek arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and three Hamas leaders, all under suspicion of having committed war crimes.

The Biden administration has sharply criticized that effort. The U.S. is not a party to the ICC.

About 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, were killed in the Oct. 7 attack. Around 250 hostages were also taken; about 120 remain, with 43 pronounced dead, according to The Associated Press.

Israels conduct of its war in Gaza has divided opinion internationally and in the United States, where President Bidens Democratic Party is deeply split over the issue. Netanyahu is scheduled to address a joint session of Congress July 24.

The specific issue of whether Israel has abided by international law has been controversial for the Biden administration.

In May, a State Department report found that while it was reasonable to assess that Israel had committed violations of international humanitarian law, it was difficult  to reach conclusive findings on individual incidents.

The report also found that action and inaction by Israel had delayed the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza but that the U.S. government did not currently assess that the Israeli government was breaking specific regulations.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) was strongly critical of the State Department report, saying that it was part of a pattern in which expert opinions were swept aside to facilitate a predetermined policy outcome based on political convenience.

Wednesdays U.N. human rights report emphasized that the scale of human death and destruction wrought by Israels bombing of Gaza has been immense. It noted that between Oct. 7, 2023, and Feb. 19, 2024, more than 29,000 targets in Gaza had been attacked.

The human rights report stated that armed Palestinian groups had also acted in violation of international law even after the Oct. 7 attacks, because they had continued to fire inherently indiscriminate projectiles toward Israel.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
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 Michigan Advance.
HAYS, Kan. (KSNW)  The Hays Police Department requested the Kansas Bureau of Investigation issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Hays man.

The whereabouts of 66-year-old Randy S. Goodermuth are unknown. The Hays Police Department says he was last seen around 1 a.m. on Thursday.

Randy Goodermuth (Courtesy: KBI)

Randy is 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs around 180 pounds. He has blue eyes and is balding.

Man convicted in Nancy Shoemaker case dead

Randy was last seen wearing a red Kansas City Chiefs Travis Kelce jersey (with the number 87 on it) and khaki pants.

If you see Randy Goodermuth, please call 911 immediately. If you have other information about his whereabouts, please call the Hays Police Department at 785-625-1011.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
KIMBALL  A Stearns County Deputy on Sunday crashed his squad car into a power pole, according to a Friday Stearns County release.

Stearns County Deputy Allan Sana was responding to a potential domestic abuse call, with his lights and siren on, when he lost control of his car as he turned left onto County Road 44 off of Highway 55 in Kimball. He eventually crashed into a power pole after losing control.

A Stearns County Sheriff's Department deputy crashed into a power pole on June 16.

Upon hitting the pole, it snapped, downed power lines and caused a local power outage, the Stearns County Sheriff's Department release states.

The Kimball Fire Department responded to the crash alongside Watkins Ambulance. Sana was cleared by medical responders at the scene. The Minnesota State Patrol also responded to investigate the incident.

More: Man who started car fire in court Man arrested for setting fire to car granted mental health, disability evaluation

The Kimball Fire Department was established in 1917 and serves City of Kimball as well as the townships of Fairhaven, Kingston and Maine Prairie.

Corey Schmidt covers local government for the St. Cloud Times. He can be reached at cschmidt@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Stearns County deputy causes Kimball power outage
Steve Bannon made a long-shot attempt to avoid prison on Friday, asking the U.S. Supreme Court to pause his case as he fights his conviction for contempt of Congress on which he was sentenced to four months in jail.

Applicant Mr. Bannon seeks the narrow relief of continued bail pending completion of his further appeals, a court filing on behalf of the Trump ally and adviser and far-right activist said.

Absent relief Mr. Bannon will be forced to serve his entire term before this Court has the opportunity to review that issue.

The filing came shortly after a federal court in Washington, D.C., turned down Bannons latest appeal.

Bannon was Donald Trumps campaign chairman in 2016 and chief White House strategist in 2017 until being forced to leave in the aftermath of a deadly far-right march in Charlottesville, Virginia, that the president was slow to disavow.

Steve Bannon Still Wont Shut Up Even as Hes Ordered to Jail

Bannons legal troubles have mounted.

In January 2021, two weeks after the deadly January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trumps supporterspart of election subversion efforts in which Bannon was closely involvedBannon received a pardon from Trump on federal charges of duping donors to a campaign to build a southern border wall.

In 2022, the same We Build the Wall effort produced state fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy charges against Bannon in New York. That trial is due to begin in September. Bannon has pleaded not guilty.

But it was Bannons role in Trumps attempt to overturn the 2020 election that produced his prison sentence for contempt of Congress, after Bannon refused to comply with a subpoena from the U.S. House committee that investigated January 6.

Like Peter Navarro, another Trump aide, Bannon claimed executive privilege protected him from complying with the subpoena.

Like Navarro, Bannon saw that argument rejected at trial and was sentenced to four months in jail.

Navarro has nearly finished his sentence. Bannon is due to report to jail, reportedly in Connecticut, by 1 July.

The rightwing-dominated U.S. Supreme Court turned down a similar appeal from Navarro.

On Friday, Bannons filing to the Supreme Court said, There is no dispute that Mr. Bannon is not likely to flee or pose a danger to the safety of any other person or the community if releasedindeed, he has been out on release for years now without incident, and his crime was non-violent.

Nor is there any claim that his continued pursuit of appeal is for the purpose of delay.

Bannon however recently said that if Trump wins re-election in November, a second Trump administration would seek to purge the U.S. Department of Justice and to gain retribution against the former presidents enemies.

Like Trump, who has been convicted on 34 criminal counts but so far avoided trial on another 54, Bannons best hope of avoiding jail lies in securing delays in his cases until the election has passed.

The U.S. Supreme Court asked prosecutors to respond to Bannon by Wednesday afternoon.

A representative for Bannon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Steve Bannons most recent effort to avoid his looming prison sentence did not go well.

The former Donald Trump advisers lawyers had asked the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to allow Bannon to remain free while he appeals his contempt of Congress conviction related to his defiance of a subpoena from the House Jan. 6 committee. In a 2-1 vote, a panel of judges ruled that Bannons case does not warrant a departure from the general rule that defendants start serving their sentence after convictionmeaning hes still expected to begin his four-month prison term on July 1.

Steve Bannon Still Wont Shut Up Even as Hes Ordered to Jail

Explaining the ruling, the judges said Bannons request to stay out of jail while he fights his conviction up to the United States Supreme Court wasnt compelling because its not likely the justices will agree with his argument. Judges Bradley Garcia, a Biden appointee, and Cornelia Pillard, an Obama appointee, wrote that Bannon has no basis to think the high court will be favorable to his case.

Judge Justin Walker, who was appointed by Trump, dissented. Bannon should not go to prison before the Supreme Court considers his forthcoming petition, he wrote.

Bannon vowed earlier this month that he would contest his conviction all the way to the Supreme Court if we have to after a federal judge ordered him to report to prison by July 1.

Bannon was convicted in 2022 on two counts of contempt of Congress for failing to comply with the Jan. 6 committee subpoena. His appeal is centered on a claim that he didnt willfully ignore the subpoena and that he was relying on the advice of a lawyer who thought Bannon couldnt testify or hand over documents after Trump invoked executive privilege.

His setback at the federal appeals court in D.C. now gives him little hope of staving off his jail sentence before its set to start. The Supreme Court also shot down a similar request earlier this year from Peter Navarroa former Trump trade adviserwho was also handed a four-month sentence for contempt of Congress.

Navarro, like Bannon, had also said he was unable to cooperate with the Jan. 6 committee after Trump invoked executive privilege, and wanted to remain free while he appealed. Chief Justice John Roberts denied Navarros last-ditch request to delay his sentence, seeing no reason to disagree with a lower courts decision ordering him to prison while his appeal process unfolded.

Navarro is currently incarcerated in Miami Federal Corrections Institute and is set for release next month.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A federal appeals court panel rejected former Trump adviser Steve Bannons bid to delay the July 1 start to his prison sentence for defying a subpoena issued by Congress January 6th select committee investigating the 2021 U.S Capitol attack, CNN reported.

After the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit upheld Banons conviction, earlier this month the U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, nominated by Trump, granted the prosecutions request to send Bannon to prison.

The former Trump aides lawyers requested the appeals court to delay his prison sentence while he tries to fight the conviction at a Supreme Court level.

The government seeks to imprison Mr. Bannon for the four-month period leading up to the November election, when millions of Americans look to him for information on important campaign issues, his attorneys said of their client, who hosts a conservative podcast, in the filings.

They added that if he is made to serve his sentence now, it would also effectively bar Mr. Bannon from serving as a meaningful advisor in the ongoing national campaign, CNN reported.

Prosecutors resisted, claiming in a filing that Bannons role in political discourse is simply not a relevant factor under the federal statute dictating when a defendants appeal can delay his sentence. Bannon also cannot reconcile his claim for special treatment with the bedrock principle of equal justice under the law.

The panel voted 2-1 with Judge Cornelia Pillard, a nominee of former President Barack Obama, and Judge Bradley Garcia, a President Joe Biden nominee, in the majority. The panel said Bannons case does not warrant a departure from the general rule that defendants begin their sentence after being convicted, CBS reported.

Bannon is expected to report to prison at the start of next month to begin serving his four-month sentence. Without Supreme Court intervention, he will serve his sentence at a low-security prison camp in Danbury, Connecticut, CNN reported.
Official state beverage?A whiskey entrepreneur is one of the candidates rumored to be interested in running for Tennessee governor in 2026. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

Official state beverage?A whiskey entrepreneur is one of the candidates rumored to be interested in running for Tennessee governor in 2026. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

The list of gubernatorial hopefuls in Tennessee is growing with the addition of an alcohol distiller and a private prison company executive.

Damon Hininger, CEO of CoreCivic, spoke at Republicans Statesmens Dinner last weekend, and Joe Baker, owner of Ole Smoky Moonshine and Yee-Haw beer  who chaired last years event  worked the crowd at the annual event, according to the Tennessee Journal.

Neither one is close to committing to a run for the governors seat, but Gov. Bill Lee was a political unknown with no name recognition other than as the owner of HVAC company bearing his last name before he vaulted over a crowded field of political veterans some six years ago.

Theyre joined by a list of usual Republican suspects such as U.S. Reps. John Rose of Cookeville, Mark Green of Clarksville and Tim Burchett of Knoxville, as well as Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Knox County Mayor Glen Jacobs, formerly known as Kane the WWE wrestler. Jacobs wasnt ready to announce when seen at the Cordell Hull Building this spring.

Hininger, though, is the most interesting of those simply because of his position as leader of the company that runs four state prisons. He could fit well with the lock em up crowd while Baker, who didnt respond to a request for comment, would garner the drinking vote.

When asked if he would divest himself of CoreCivic stock were he to be elected governor, Damon Hininger, CEO of the private prison company, said he would seek out advice from multiple sources on not only meeting the appropriate standards but also what has been customary in similar, previous situations.

Comptrollers Office audits have not been kind to CoreCivic, a publicly-traded company criticized for failing to hire enough staff to monitor inmates, which leads to a myriad of problems. People whove worked for CoreCivic at the prison in Clifton tell me management is the problem.

Asked about a potential candidacy by the Lookout, Hininger responded by email, saying its no secret hes considering how he can best serve the state (It could be simply by bringing in more prison staff).

Hininger is only mulling a candidacy, but he declined to say whether he would divest himself of CoreCivic stock if elected.

If I decide to run for office  and thats a big if  and if the people of Tennessee decide Im the right person to lead our great state, well abide by the highest level of legal and ethical standards, he said in an email statement. To do this, I would seek out advice from multiple sources on not only meeting the appropriate standards but also what has been customary in similar, previous situations.

This seems a pretty simple question, not one that would require an army of consultants.

But if nothing else, Hininger, who started as a prison guard, has the ability to throw together a word salad, for which journalists should be thankful? After all, were accustomed to deciphering and dealing with disappointment.

In his answer, he could be referring to Gov. Lee, whose holdings in Lee Co. are in a blind trust and when running said any contracts the company had with the state would be wrapped up and not renewed.

If thats the case, then CoreCivic would drop its contracts totaling $233 million with the Tennessee Department of Correction, which is about as likely as cows flying.

And speaking of cattle, never underestimate the possibility of a political newcomer winning the governors seat.

The first time I met Bill Lee was a campaign stop at the Farmers Co-op in Eagleville seven years ago. About five people and a couple of heifers were there for the event, a pretty unremarkable gathering. But he gained momentum as a political outsider, and here we are six years later dealing with the fallout of Lees permit-less gun carry law (some say the escalation of handgun thefts from vehicles is not connected) and the possibility of spending millions for public school students to enroll in private schools, which again will be the biggest item on the Tennessee Legislatures agenda next year.

Its enough to make one long for a former Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey governorship. Then again, the former lieutenant governor who engineered a Republican supermajority couldnt beat former Gov. Bill Haslam in 2010 Republican primary.

Can I get a shot of moonshine with a craft beer chaser?

Black Caucus renews nonprofit

The Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators is reviving a nonprofit organization that will focus on education, according to state Rep. Sam McKenzie, who chairs the group.

Members of the Black Caucus will start holding a fall event again to plan activities and, ultimately, give out scholarships.

The resumption comes nearly 10 years after the group suspended some efforts when it rebuffed former Republican state Rep. Stacey Campfield, a white lawmaker from Knoxville, as he tried to join the caucus. Campfield accused the caucus of having more racist bylaws than the Ku Klux Klan and pointed out the Klan didnt bar people because of their race (After all, it needs all the members it can get).

Black lawmakers such as Democratic Reps. Johnny Shaw of Bolivar and Larry Miller of Memphis called Campfield a strange guy and crazy, in addition to questioning his racial motivation.

Knoxville Democrat Sam McKenzie, chair of the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators. (Photo: John Partipilo)

No doubt, Campfield was trying to be cute and cause problems, as Shaw said, reviving the tired argument that groups made up of one race perpetuate separation. After all, if America is a truly color-blind nation, we dont need organizations for one race. Thats easy to say for someone whos never faced discrimination.

But as the Legislature has proved time and again, the Black Caucus is as important now as it ever was because of the overt and underlying friction within the General Assembly.

Please dont ask me to replay the Tennessee Three debacle of 2023.

On the political trail

Life in Williamson County is growing stranger every day.

Long a Republican stronghold  for the love of money, whether gained legally or not  Williamson is home to an interesting race to replace state Rep. Sam Whitson of Franklin in House District 65.

Candidate Lee Reeves, who recently received the endorsement of Lee as the governor tries to shore up support for another run at statewide school vouchers, also snared the support of Americans for Prosperity (shocker alert) and former congressional candidate Robbie Starbuck, a music video director who produced a video claiming the trans community is targeting children.

Likewise, candidate Michelle Foreman, who was trounced by Democratic Rep. Caleb Hemmer two years ago in a southern Davidson County race, netted the backing of Tennessee Stands founder Gary Humble, a thorn in the side of traditional Republicans.

Reeves and Foreman are said to be in a battle of denial over carpetbagging, a case of moving into the area just to run for office.

Also running is Williamson County Commissioner Brian Beathard, who received Whitsons support as he tries to tap into moderate Republicans, most of whom appear to be Williamson lifers.

The question is whether Reeves and Foreman will wind up canceling each other out in Augusts Republican primary, much the way former House Speaker Beth Harwell and Kurt Winstead did two years ago, enabling former AFP state director Andy Ogles to capture the gerrymandered 5th U.S. Congressional District race encompassing part of Nashville.

VP aspirations?

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a potential running mate for Donald Trumps presidential campaign, and state Sen. Brent Taylor are heading the Shelby County Republicans Lincoln Day banquet Sunday, the Memphis Flyer reports.

Taylor, who is backing the event financially, appears to be more than a folksy young grave digger, as fellow Sen. Frank Niceley referred to him, passing several law-and-order bills this year and recently calling for the ouster of Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy.

The Democrat DA had the gall to consider avenues besides conviction for non-violent felons caught carrying a gun, a move that got under Taylors skin, causing him to notify the lieutenant governor he will file a resolution to remove Mulroy after the November election. Lt. Gov. Randy McNally is backing the ouster.

Sen. Brent Taylor will headline the Shelby County Republican Party Lincoln Day Banquet with South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Oddly enough, under Mulroys policy, convicts such as Republican Sen. Brian Kelsey, whom Taylor replaced in the Legislature, might be able to escape prosecution for packing a weapon. That is, if Kelsey lived in Shelby County.

Kelsey has moved on to Lexington, Kentucky, where his wifes family is stationed, as he tries to renege on a guilty plea he made two years ago and overturn a conviction for federal campaign finance violations. (Lexington is also much closer to the U.S. Court of Appeals in Cincinnati than Memphis, although some folks questioned whether Kelsey lived in Germantown for the last several years, even as he continued to serve in the state Senate.)

Getting back to Noem, shes making the talk-show rounds to quell discussion about shooting a poorly performing hunting dog (they can piss you off if they start running deer, which is illegal) in a gravel pit as a group of construction workers watched. Why would anyone brag about that?

Simultaneously, she appears to be gathering support for a VP candidacy, yet saying the decision lies with Trump.

It sounds like a match made in heaven. While Noem wrote in her memoirs about killing a dog but doesnt want to talk about it, Trump is the master of saying he didnt say what he said.

With that duo, the White House would be at one with the universe again.

Jai guru deva, om / Nothings gonna change my world. *

* The Beatles, Across the Universe







The post Stockard on the Stump: Moonshine maker or private prison exec for governor? appeared first on Tennessee Lookout.
He stole $45,000 from a Pierce County Home Depot. His rewards account led to his arrest

Gig Harbor police accuse a man of stealing more than $45,000 in merchandise from Home Depot in the past year through a self-checkout scheme, according to court records.

Prosecutors charged the 38-year-old Tuesday with four counts of first-degree organized retail theft. His arraignment is scheduled for next month in Pierce County Superior Court.

Charging papers give this account of what happened:

A list of dates and stolen merchandise alleges the thefts started last July. His largest haul, on a visit in September, was just under $2,500.

It was using his rewards account that got him caught.

Loss prevention found that the defendant had a rewards account with Home Depot, the declaration for determination of probable cause said. Using the rewards account, they could pull his credit card purchases and review surveillance.

He used cards in his name and in his business name to pay, and he used his drivers license at one point when he had Home Depot process a refund.

Loss prevention stated that the defendant would mask his thefts by making small purchases at the self-checkout registers prior to pushing out the cartload of unpaid merchandise, the probable cause statement said. Loss prevention could see the defendant failing to scan or pay for high dollar items.

Police responded to the store May 22 and saw the man leaving with a cart of merchandise.

The defendant said he missed scanning some boards, solar lights and brackets, the charging papers said.

His receipt only showed 28 boards, but he had 36. He had solar lights and other items, too, as well as two baggies he said contained methamphetamine.

Each of the four counts hes charged with has a major economic enhancement, which means if hes convicted as charged a judge could give him a sentence above the standard range.

State law says that enhancement applies when there are multiple victims or multiple incidents per victim, when there is attempted or actual monetary loss substantially greater than typical for the offense, when there was a high degree of sophistication or planning or the crime occurred over a lengthy period of time, or when the person used a position of trust, confidence, or fiduciary responsibility to facilitate the crime.

Emphasis patrols in Gig Harbor

Gig Harbor police have taken steps to address retail theft in recent years, including regular emphasis patrols. They identified 21 shoplifters during a two-day operation last month, according to one of the agencys social media posts.

Many got citations, but some went to jail, including someone who was caught twice. Police cited him for shoplifting at one store, then found him stealing from another. They also arrested someone who had a $150,000 Kitsap County warrant for identity theft.

Retail theft is among our biggest issues in Gig Harbor (and all of Washington), the agencys social media post said. We will continue to address this crime with these types of emphasis operations while working with our business partners to help them reduce their vulnerabilities. You never know when we will be out there again.
China has threatened to impose tough sentences, including the death penalty, for diehard supporters of Taiwanese independence. According to guidelines issued jointly by the highest judicial authorities and the Chinese government and reported by state media, this would be the maximum sentence in the most extreme cases among those who pursue secessionism for the island. The guidelines, which came into force upon their publication Friday, represent an additional pressure point against the democratic island, but the government of Taipei immediately responded that they will have no effect as Beijing has no jurisdiction over its territory. It is a crude provocation, the Taiwanese authorities said.

The new guidance comes a month after Lai Ching-te, whom China describes as a separatist who endangers peace in the Strait, was sworn in as Taiwans president. His inauguration speech, in which he stated that the Republic of China (Taiwans official name) and the Peoples Republic of China are not subordinate to each other, aroused Beijings anger, which responded with military maneuvers around the island.

Under the one-China principle, the Asian giant considers Taiwan an inalienable part of its territory and treats it as a rebellious province, which it intends to unify peacefully, although Beijing has not ruled out the use of force if necessary. The maneuvers following Lais speech were aimed at safeguarding Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity and effectively punishing secessionist activities, Chinese foreign spokesman Wang Wenbin said at the time. Taiwan deplored the provocation that threatened the status quo of regional peace and stability.

The new guidelines call on courts, procuratorates, public security, state security and administrative organs to severely punish Taiwan independence diehards for splitting the country and inciting secession crimes in accordance with the law. The text asserts that a very small number of separatist stalwarts have carried out secessionist activities which seriously jeopardize peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and seriously harm the common interests of compatriots on both sides of the Strait and the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation.

The guidelines define criminal acts of dividing the country as initiating or establishing Taiwan independence separatist organizations, carrying out separatist actions, or attempting to change Taiwans legal status as part of China through amendments to Taiwan regulations or referendums. They also contemplate offenses such as advocating Taiwans entry into international organizations limited to sovereign states, or engaging in official exchanges and military contacts abroad with the aim of creating two Chinas or one China, one Taiwan in the international community. It will also be considered criminal conduct to distort or falsify facts about Taiwans historical links to China in areas such as education, culture, history and the media, or to suppress political parties, groups or individuals who support peaceful cross-strait relations and national unity, according to the document.

Life imprisonment

The text adds that ringleaders or those who commit relevant crimes may be handed life imprisonment or a prison sentence of more than 10 years. Those who cause particularly serious damage to the state and the people, it adds, may be sentenced to death. Meanwhile, those who are only considered active participants could face prison terms of between three and 10 years. The new guidelines have been drawn up in accordance with Chinas anti-secession law (2005) and the Chinese penal code, state media stressed.

The Beijing authorities have absolutely no jurisdiction over Taiwan, and the Chinese communists so-called laws and norms have no binding force on our people, Taipei said in response, through a statement issued by the Mainland Affairs Council, the body in charge of cross-strait issues, as reported by Reuters. The government appeals to our countrys people to feel at ease and not to be threatened or intimidated by the Chinese Communist Party.

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Strange debris found in WNC was part of SpaceX spacecraft, NASA says

Debris spread across western North Carolina in late May and early June was part of a SpaceX spacecraft that broke up during re-entry, NASA told ABC affiliate WLOS.

The items were expected to burn up, but several pieces were found littered across three counties, officials said Thursday.

PAST COVERAGE: NC man thinks debris that crashed onto his home came from space

SpaceX has confirmed the re-entry of Dragon spacecraft trunk hardware to NASA following its service missions to the International Space Station, a news release stated.

NASA said no one was hurt and nothing was damaged by the falling debris.

NASA officials advised anyone who finds a piece of space debris to not handle or retrieve it. Instead, residents are asked to contact the SpaceX Debris Hotline at 1-866-623-0234 or at recovery@spacex.com.

VIDEO: NC man thinks debris that crashed onto his home came from space
What is STSS, the deadly flesh-eating bacteria on the rise in Japan?

Over 1,000 cases of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) were reported in Japan in the first six months of 2024. The disease is predominantly caused by a bacterium named Streptococcus pyogenes (pictured) (National Institute of Infectious Diseases)

A rare, deadly, flesh-eating bacteria is on the rise in Japan, with hundreds of people infected.

Over 1,000 cases of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) were reported in Japan in the first six months of 2024, surpassing the total number recorded last year in the country.

The disease is predominantly caused by a bacterium named Streptococcus pyogenes, commonly known as group A streptococcus.

STSS can be fatal in some cases, with 77 deaths from the illness recorded by Japans National Institute of Infectious Diseases in March. The institute has warned that the disease can kill you in a matter of days.

But despite a record number of cases of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) this year, the cause for the increase remains unknown.

What is STSS?

Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome is a severe illness caused when Group A Streptococcus bacteria spreads into the blood and deep tissues, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Open wounds or sores, diabetes and alcohol usage are all factors that can increase the risk of contracting STSS. The disease is most common in over 65s.

Symptoms of STSS include fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea and vomiting, according to the CDC.

Group A streptococcus (National Institute of Infectious Diseases)

The disease can be more serious when it occurs with necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh-eating form of Group A Strep bacteria that STSS is highly associated with, and destroys muscles, skin and the underlying tissues, according to Penn Medicine.

Andrew Steer, director of infection, immunity and global health at Murdoch Childrens Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia has warned that those suffering from STSS often have no prior warning signs.

You tend to be well, and then become acutely quite sick, he said, adding that a sunburn-like rash could also be one of the first indications of infection.

Within 24 to 48 hours, blood pressure drops, followed by organ failure and a rapid heart rate and breathing, according to the CDC. It is vital to go to a hospital as soon as possible where the infection can be treated with antibiotics, surgery or intravenous fluids.

What is causing the outbreak in Japan?

The exact cause of the outbreak of STSS in Japan is unknown. However, Japans Health Ministry has suggested that the relaxation of coronavirus measures could be a contributing factor in the rise.

Despite the increase, the ministry has insisted that it is still safe to travel to the country, but has warned travellers to take precautions including washing hands and cleaning wounds to prevent infections.

Meanwhile, experts have warned that STSS has been around for hundreds of years but is still fairly uncommon.

Its still an uncommon infection, but the community and doctors should be aware that there is an increase in the number of cases, Steer said.

The US reported 145 cases of STSS in 2021.
The Victor Valley Transit Authority announced significant ridership numbers for its fare-free public transportation initiative, aimed at enhancing accessibility and affordability for students in the Victor Valley area.

Due to funding and support from the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, the transportation program continued through the last school year, according to the Hesperia-based transit authority.

The Victor Valley Transit Authority reports significant ridership numbers for its fare-free public transportation initiative, aimed at enhancing accessibility and affordability for students in the Victor Valley area.

During that time, the program benefited local Kindergarten to 12 grade students for the first time.

The transit authority also extended its other fare-free programs for the 11th consecutive year to Victor Valley College students and for a third year to California State University, San Bernardino students.

During the current school year, from Aug. 7, 2023, to June 6, 2024, Victor Valley Transit provided fare-free trips to 228,578 student riders.

The impressive figure included 109,797 rides by Victor Valley College students, 6,244 rides by CSUSB students, and 112,537 rides by K-12 students, transit authority officials stated.

Victor Valley Transit Authority Board Chair James Noble emphasized the significance of this program.

"Providing free transportation to our students underscores our commitment to education and the community, Noble stated. We believe that removing transportation barriers will enable students to focus on their studies and achieve their full potential.

The Victor Valley Transit Authority reports significant ridership numbers for its fare-free public transportation initiative, aimed at enhancing accessibility and affordability for students in the Victor Valley area.

Victor Valley Transit Authority CEO Nancie Goff echoed Nobles sentiments, highlighting the broader impact of the programs.

"This continues to be a game-changer for our community," Goff said. "By offering free rides to students, we are investing in the future of Victor Valley. We are proud to play a part in the educational journey of our students and pathways to their success."

The free transportation program is available to all K-12 students and Victor Valley College students on any of Victor Valley Transits fixed and county routes.

Students attending California State University, San Bernardino can also ride VVTAs Route 15 fare-free and utilize the Howling Express line, which departs from the university on weekdays at 5:53 p.m. and travels directly to the Victor Valley Transportation Center in downtown Victorville.

Looking ahead to the 2024/2025 school year, Victor Valley Transit encourages all eligible students to take advantage of this opportunity to ease their daily commutes and fully engage in their academic pursuits, agency officials said.

Victor Valley Transit officials said its agency remains dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in the region through innovative and inclusive transportation solutions.

For more information about these programs and other services provided by Victor Valley Transit Authority, visit vvta.org or contact the agencys customer service at 760-948-4021.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on X @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Student ridership numbers up for Victor Valley Transit Authority
If humanity ever wants to escape the solar system, were going to need a faster-than-light engine. Enter: the warp drive.

While such a drive pushes the limits of known physics, a new study ponders whether we could detect gravitational waves produced from collapsing warp drives using laser-based detectors, such as LIGO or even the upcoming LISA.

While purely speculation, this study doesnt continue the conversation about whether gravitational waves could be another tool for our never-ending search for intelligent life beyond Earth.

Theres always an enormous elephant in the room when talking about the far future of human space travel. Colonizing other planets is relatively doable with known physics, but if humans have any hope of spreading our wings beyond the solar system, space travel gets pretty daunting, pretty quickly. Even traveling at the speed of lightwhich we cant yet domeans that a trip to Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our Sun, would still take more than four years.

Because of this seemingly insurmountable obstacle, some scientists have relied on exotic ideas like warp drives to cover these fast distances. Instead of going from point A to point B in a straight line, warp drives would bend spacetime itself so that star trekking (see what we did there?) doesnt take whole lifetimes.

While warp drives are a great sci-fi narrative tool, the real-world physics are a bit more complicated. Most of these drives rely on exotic ideas like negative energy or superluminal matter, and while non-profits like Applied Physics are putting up money for research into warp drives based in real physics, these engines remain unattainableat least to us humans.

A new study published on the preprint server arXiv ponders whether it might be possible to detect the presence of warp engines at work among advanced alien civilizations. Scientists from the U.K. and Germany theorized that a warp drive that experiences a containment failure would produce a gravitational wave, otherwise known as a ripple in spacetime.

The paper reads:

In this work, we study the signatures arising from a warp drive containment failure, assuming a stiff equation of state for the fluid. Our work highlights the importance of exploring strange new spacetimes, to (boldly) simulate what no one has seen before.

First detected by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) in 2015, these ripples are usually associated with gigantically violent space phenomenon, such as black hole mergers, supernovae explosions, and neutron star collisions. However, scientists have recently considered whether LIGO, or its space-based big brother, the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), could potentially pick up on artificial sources of gravitational wavesa.k.a. alien tech.

In late 2022, a paper published on the arXiv server analyzed gravitational waves as a means for searching for intelligent life, stating that LIGO also provides the potential to detect extraterrestrial mega-technology.

The idea of a warp drive is particularly appealing because its technically describable within general relativity, as the Mexican theoretical physicist Miguel Alcubierre proposed back in 1994. (These theoretical drives are also sometimes called Alcubierre drives.) This new paper tries to piece together what these grav-wave signatures would look like if some advanced lifeform were able to crack the warp drive conundrum. But just because we know what the signatures might look like, actually finding them is a whole other problem.

The paper continues:

For a 1km-sized ship, the frequency of the signal is much higher than the range probed by existing detectors, and so current observations cannot constrain the occurrence of such events. However, the amplitude of the strain signal would be significant for any such event within our galaxy and even beyond, and so within the reach of future detectors targeting higher frequencies.

In other words, its a long shotbut thats always the case when it comes to faster-than-light ravel.

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ABILENE, Texas (BCH Weather)  Have you ever wondered why the days feel so much longer in June? Well, it could be the June solstice.

Thursday marked the June solstice, also known as the summer solstice, in the Northern Hemisphere. This is the longest day and the shortest night of the year. This event occurs when the Earth aligns such that the North Pole is at its maximum tilt toward the sun. This tilt is typically around 23.5.

Historically, this solstice has been celebrated with festivals and rituals across the globe. For example, Stonehenge is a significant site that aligns with the solstice sunrise. Many people around the globe travel to witness this annual event.

Big Country fire danger heats up with summertime; 8 counties under burn bans

(Getty Images)

In meteorological terms, the solstice marks the beginning of summer, bringing much warmer temperatures and extensive daylight hours. While this is nearly always true, for Thursday, it is quite opposite. Daylight hours are the same but our temperatures are much cooler than average. Tropical Depression Alberto has allowed for the stronger presence of moisture here in the Big Country. It was responsible for those showers we saw this morning and in return brought the cooler air with it too.

Typically, the increased amount of solar energy during this time is what warms the Earths surface much faster. In return, this is another reason why the temperature increases the way it does during the summer season.

Partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the mid 80s. June 20, 2024 in Abilene. KTAB/KRBC

Sky high forecast: How Abilenes airport uses aviation weather

The summer solstice is also known to bring many different formations of high-pressure systems. These systems are best known for fair weather and stable conditions. Lastly, and most certainly not least, if you are a nature fanatic, this event allows for more time outdoors with the extra daylight.

For Abilene, the National Weather Service said there is a 10% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7:00 p.m. Thursday, with lows of around 71. As for Friday, we expect to get back into the low 90s.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, 74, Unexpectedly Absent from Bench for Second Day in a Row

As the Supreme Court crams to decide on the final cases of the term, the most conservative justice on the bench has been absent without explanation

Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Associate Justice Samuel Alito during the Supreme Court's group photo on Oct. 7, 2022

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito missed his second day of work in a row on Friday, June 21, as his colleagues handed down several opinions that included a landmark Second Amendment ruling.

He has now missed the release of nine court opinions between the two days, and the Supreme Court has not offered an explanation for his unexpected absences.

Related: Stop the Steal Symbol Was Displayed at Justice Samuel Alitos House While He Considered Trump Election Case

The final weeks of June are usually the busiest for Supreme Court justices, and this year is no exception  more than a dozen cases remain undecided with only a week left in the term.

The court will have to extend its term into July if any opinions are outstanding by the end of the month, putting justices into overdrive to catch up on their caseload.

Related: Justice Alito Tastelessly Jokes About Black Kids in Klan Robes, Extramarital Dating Website During Debate

Mark Wilson/Getty Images News/Getty Images Samuel Alito is sworn in as a Supreme Court justice by President George W. Bush in 2006

Alito, who authored the 2022 opinion that overturned Roe v. Wade, is often ranked the most conservative justice on the Supreme Court. At 74 years old, he's also the second-oldest, behind Clarence Thomas.

He has been under scrutiny since The New York Times reported in May that his personal properties flew flags associated with the "Stop the Steal" movement and used by Jan. 6 Capitol rioters. Alito, who said that his wife chose to fly the flags, refused to recuse himself from two soon-to-be-decided Supreme Court cases related to Jan. 6 criminal charges.

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.

Prior to joining the Supreme Court in early 2006, Alito was a U.S. attorney and federal appeals court judge.

President George W. Bush nominated him to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor following her retirement in 2005. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in a 58-42 vote.



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Read the original article on People.
In an 8-1 decision, justices upheld federal and state laws that take away guns from those who are subject to domestic violence restraining orders. (Bebeto Matthews / Associated Press)

The Supreme Court put new limits on the 2nd Amendment on Friday, ruling that dangerous people who have threatened a domestic partner may be denied their right to have guns.

The 8-1 decision upholds federal and state laws that take away guns from those who are subject to domestic violence restraining orders.

"Since the founding, our nations firearm laws have included provisions preventing individuals who threaten physical harm to others from misusing firearms," said Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., writing for the court.

The outcome shows that the conservative justices are willing to restrict the 2nd Amendment. The court reversed a ruling by the conservative 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, which had struck down part of the Violence Against Women Act. The law authorizes judges to remove guns from persons who pose a "credible threat" to a domestic partner or a child.

In the past, gun rights advocates had argued that a responsible and law-abiding person has a right to have a gun for self-defense, and the Supreme Court had agreed. Two years ago, the justices ruled in favor of gun owners in New York and said they had a right to seek a permit to carry a concealed gun with them when leaving home.

But the justices were not willing to rule that the 2nd Amendment protects the rights of dangerous people who have threatened others.

"An individual found by a court to pose a credible threat to the physical safety of another may be temporarily disarmed consistent with the 2nd Amendment," the chief justice said. Equally important, seven other justices were willing to sign on to his opinion.

"Despite its unqualified text, the 2nd Amendment is not absolute," Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote in one of five concurring opinions. History is consistent with common sense: it demonstrates that legislatures have the power to prohibit dangerous people from possessing guns," she said, quoting one of her earlier opinions.

Justice Clarence Thomas, the author of the New York opinion two years ago, dissented alone on Friday.

"This is a major win for gun safety advocates," said UCLA law professor Adam Winkler. "This decision will make it much easier for gun laws to survive legal challenge. Broadly it sends a signal that the courts majority is not completely hostile to gun laws."

California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta called the ruling "an important victory for public safety and for survivors of domestic violence nationwide. Disarming violent and dangerous individuals is a cornerstone of public safety."

Despite Friday's ruling, however, the justices may soon consider 2nd Amendment challenges to laws in California and other blue states that prohibit rapid-fire assault weapons. The court is considering several appeals involving a newly adopted Illinois ban on assault weapons.

In dissent Friday, Thomas said Zackey Rahimi, the defendant, had been accused of threatening his ex-girlfriend but he had not been convicted of a crime such as assaulting her.

"The question is whether the government can strip the 2nd Amendment right of anyone subject to a protective order  even if he has never been accused or convicted of a crime. It cannot," he wrote. "The court and government do not point to a single historical law revoking a citizens 2nd Amendment right based on possible interpersonal violence."

In the past, most of the 2nd Amendment cases to come before the Supreme Court have featured gun owners who were described as law-abiding and responsible. That description did not easily fit Rahimi.

Texas police said he was a drug dealer who had shot at people and cars five times within a month in December 2020.

They said he had fired into the house of a man who he said had been talking trash about him on social media. He also shot at a driver after getting into an auto accident, and fired wildly into the air after a friends credit card was declined at a fast-food restaurant, prosecutors said.

A year before the five shooting incidents, Rahimi had been brought before a judge in Arlington, Texas, because he had beaten and threatened a girlfriend who had a child with him. He grabbed her in a parking lot, forced her into his car and shot at a bystander who saw what happened. He later threatened to kill the woman if she reported the assault.

The federal Violence Against Women Act of 1994 said judges may enforce restraining orders that take away firearms from someone who has harassed or threatened an intimate partner or a child, and who poses a credible threat.

The judge issued a restraining order for two years that denied Rahimi the right to have firearms and warned him he would be guilty of a federal crime if he defied the order. Rahimi agreed, but then defied the order, including by threatening the woman again.

When police went to arrest Rahimi for the shooting incidents, they found a .45-caliber pistol, a .308-caliber rifle, magazines for both pistols and rifles, ammunition, approximately $20,000 in cash, and a signed copy of a court restraining order that prohibited him from having firearms.

He was indicted by a federal grand jury, pleaded guilty to violating the restraining order and was sentenced to six years in prison.

But last year, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled for Rahimi, overturning his conviction and declaring unconstitutional the part of the federal law that denied guns to those accused of domestic violence.

The three-judge panel agreed it was laudable to protect vulnerable people in our society, but said the "the 2nd Amendment right is exercised individually and belongs to all Americans .... Rahimi, while hardly a model citizen, is nonetheless among the people entitled to the 2nd Amendments guarantees.





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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Supreme Court rejects a settlement in a water dispute between New Mexico and Texas

FILE - Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, center, is joined by fellow governors during a news conference along the Rio Grande to discuss Operation Lone Star and border concerns, Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, in Eagle Pass, Texas. Louisiana lawmakers approved a bill Wednesday that would empower state and local law enforcement to arrest and jail people in the state who entered the U.S. illegally, (AP Photo/Eric Gay, file)

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a settlement between Western states over the management of one of North Americas longest rivers.

In a 5-4 decision, the justices ruled that the water-sharing deal between Texas and New Mexico can't go through because the federal government still has concerns about New Mexico water use on the Rio Grande, which Colorado also draws from.

Having acknowledged those interests, and having allowed the United States to intervene to assert them, we cannot now allow Texas and New Mexico to leave the United States up the river without a paddle," said Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, reading the majority opinion, which crossed ideological lines as it was joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Brett Kavanaugh and John Roberts.

In a dissent, Justice Neil Gorsuch said the United States' theory about how water should be distributed between the two states is so aggressive that New Mexico fears it could devastate its economy." Joined by Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Amy Coney Barrett, he wrote that the high court's ruling defies 100 years of this court's water law jurisprudence.

New Mexicos state engineer said it was disappointing the high court scuttled the deal recommended by a federal judge overseeing the case.

We need to keep working to make the aquifers in the Lower Rio Grande region sustainable, and lasting solutions are more likely to come from parties working together than from continued litigation," said Mike Hamman, whose office is responsible for administering the states water resources.

Some New Mexico lawmakers had voiced concerns about the proposed settlement, which would have meant reducing the states use of Rio Grande water with steps like paying farmers to leave their fields barren and making infrastructure improvements.

Attorney Samantha Barncastle with the Elephant Butte Irrigation District, the largest in New Mexico, greeted the ruling with pleasure and said her group hopes all the parties will go back to the settlement table and hammer out a new agreement.

Farmers in southern New Mexico have had to rely more heavily on groundwater wells over the last two decades as drought and climate change resulted in reduced flows and less water in reservoirs along the Rio Grande. Texas sued over the groundwater pumping, saying the practice was cutting into the amount of water that was ultimately delivered as part of the interstate compact.

U.S. Circuit Judge Michael Melloy had previously deemed the proposal a fair and reasonable way to resolve the conflict consistent with a decadeslong water-sharing agreement.

The federal government, though, lodged several objections, including that the proposal did not mandate specific water capture or use limitations within New Mexico.

___

Associated Press writer Rio Yamat in Las Vegas contributed to this story.
The U.S. Supreme Court voted 6 to 3 on Friday against a Los Angeles woman who argued that her constitutional rights were violated when the federal government denied a visa to her Salvadoran husband, in part because they viewed his tattoos as gang-related.

The broad ruling is a major setback for Americans with foreign spouses, because it explicitly rejects the idea that a citizen has a constitutional right to attempt to bring their noncitizen spouse into the country.

The conservative majority, led by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, said that while the plaintiff, L.A. civil rights attorney Sandra Munoz, does have a fundamental right to marriage, she had failed to establish that her right extends to living with her husband in the U.S.

In fact, Congresss longstanding regulation of spousal immigration  including through bars on admissibility  cuts the other way, Barrett said, so a citizen does not have a fundamental liberty interest in her noncitizen spouse being admitted to the country.

Read more: Supreme Court skeptical of siding with L.A. man denied visa in part over tattoos

Luis Asencio Cordero, who lived in the U.S. until 2015, has been separated from Munoz since his visa was denied during a consular interview in El Salvador.

The couple sought to file a new visa application with evidence they said refuted his alleged membership in the MS-13 gang, and wanted assurance that the federal government would review it.

The government said it denied the visa due to concerns that Asencio Cordero would be likely to engage in unlawful activity if he were allowed back into the U.S.

Munoz argued the government violated her rights to marriage and due process by failing to provide a timely explanation for her husbands visa denial. The couple sued, and learned through their lawsuit that the government believed he was an MS-13 member based on his tattoos, an interview and a background check including confidential law enforcement information. Asencio Cordero had no criminal history in the U.S. or in El Salvador.

Asencio Corderos tattoos depict the comedy and tragedy theater masks, La Virgen de Guadalupe and a tribal design with a paw print. He denies they are gang-related, and a court-approved gang expert agreed.

A long-established judicial policy  the doctrine of consular nonreviewability  prevents court reviews of visa determinations except in limited cases.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the couple in 2022. The Biden administration asked the Supreme Court to reverse the ruling, arguing that because Munoz and Asencio Cordero could choose to live outside the U.S., her right to marriage had not been violated.

Immigration officers have broad discretion about whom to admit into the country, administration lawyers said. They also said that requiring the government to disclose specific details about the evidence and intelligence used in such decisions would slow processing, pose a risk to public safety and could chill future information-sharing with foreign partners.

But the dispute over tattoos and what role they played in the visa denial was not decisive for the justices. Instead, the majority agreed with the State Departments concern that Munozs claims could have unsettling collateral consequences. They questioned whether a wife could then challenge her husbands assignment to a remote prison or overseas military deployment, or whether a citizen could challenge their immigrant spouses deportation proceedings.

Munozs position would usher in a new strain of constitutional law, Barrett wrote, because the Constitution doesnt prevent the government from taking actions that indirectly affect a citizens rights.

Barrett wrote that while Congress can use its authority over immigration to prioritize family unity, that is a matter of legislative grace. She said the 9th Circuit Court, based in San Francisco, stood alone in having embraced that as an asserted right.

Munoz has suffered harm from the denial of Asencio-Corderos visa application, but that harm does not give her a constitutional right to participate in his consular process, Barrett wrote.

Liberal Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson disagreed. Writing in dissent, Sotomayor said the majoritys fear that the case could result in a slippery slope of constitutional challenges was groundless.

Sotomayor said she did agree with conservative Justice Neil M. Gorsuchs opinion concurring with the majority that because the basis for the denial of Asencio Corderos visa had been revealed, Munoz has already received the process she was due.

There is no question that excluding a citizens spouse burdens her right to marriage, and that burden requires the Government to provide at least a factual basis for its decision, Sotomayor wrote.

That simple resolution should have ended the case, she said, but instead the majority swings for the fences, limits the courts long-standing precedent about the fundamental right to marriage, and gravely undervalues the right to marriage in the immigration context.

That a married couple could move elsewhere does not suddenly remove the burden of not being able to live together in the U.S., Sotomayor wrote. She cited Loving vs. Virginia, the 1967 ruling that struck down state bans on interracial marriage.

The court did not tell Richard and Mildred Loving to stay in the District of Columbia, she said. It upheld their ability to exercise their right to marriage wherever they sought to make their home.

Sotomayor continued: The majoritys holding will also extend to those couples who  depend on American law for their marriages validity. Same-sex couples may be forced to relocate to countries that do not recognize same-sex marriage, or even those that criminalize homosexuality.

Advocates for immigrants slammed the decision as allowing another form of family separation.

The National Immigrant Justice Center said the decision will make litigation by families in similar situations all but impossible. So while Munoz and Asencio Cordero eventually got a basic explanation for his visa denial, others might never get such information.

The couples attorney Eric Lee said he worries the decision opens the door to justifying the dismantling of other rights that are not explicitly spelled out in the Constitution, such as gay marriage.

Its hard to overstate how dangerous this decision is, not only for our clients and for similarly situated mixed-immigration families, Lee said. It sets the stage for taking the country back to a very dark period in its history.

Read more: Immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens protected from deportation under Bidens latest action

Earlier this week, President Biden announced an executive order to protect citizens immigrant spouses who have lived consecutively in the U.S. for at least a decade. At the White House on Tuesday, he said it was the right thing to do.

Theres already a system in place for people were talking about today, Biden said. But the process is cumbersome, risky, and it separates families. From the current process, undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens must go back to their home country ... to obtain long-term legal status. They have to leave their families in America, with no assurance theyll be allowed back in.

Had he never left the country, Asencio Cordero could have qualified for protections. For Lee, the announcement was bittersweet. He implored Biden to extend similar protections to families who have already been separated due to such visa denials.

We hope the new relief applies to as many families as possible, the couples lawyer said, but it is hard not to ask: If these are the new criteria, then why did the administration fight Sandra and Luis case as hard as they did for so many years?

Times staff writer David G. Savage contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The president-elect of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, presented on Thursday some of the members of her government team, which will take office on October 1. These are men and women who will give continuity to the project initiated by her predecessor, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in his six-year term, which he promised to historically transform the country. But she has left her mark on the new Cabinet. Sheinbaum has created a new secretariat  as ministries are called in Mexico  of Science, Technology, Humanities and Innovation, a significant gesture towards a collective with which the current president had not maintained the best of relations. In addition, she has placed Alicia Barcena, who will leave her post as foreign affairs secretary, at the head of the Secretariat of the Environment and Natural Resources. Both Sheinbaum and Barcena have extensive academic and administrative experience. The remainder of the Cabinet will soon be presented, including crucial portfolios such as Security, National Defense and the Navy, as well as Education and Health.

On the campaign trail, Sheinbaum promised to continue the policies of Lopez Obrador, and this has been reflected in the appointment of Barcena and Marcelo Ebrard, both of whom were foreign affairs secretaries under the president. Ebrard left that position to seek the presidential candidacy for the Morena party, but the internal contest was won by Sheinbaum, which strained relations between them for a time. Now he will be economy secretary, a key department for development with Mexicos main trading partner, the United States. Diplomatic in nature, Ebrard must deal with the USMCA free trade agreement that has been renewed with the United States and Canada.

Another Cabinet pick is Rogelio Ramirez de la O, who will continue as finance secretary. This appointment had been announced prior by Sheinbaum in an effort to reassure the markets and recover the exchange rate of the Mexican peso, which was devalued after the elections. Julio Berdegue will be the agriculture secretary.

The creation of a ministry overseeing science, humanities, technology and innovation, which elevates the former Mexican Science Council, is the most significant decision of the president-elect. She herself is a scientist, with a degree in Physics and a doctorate in Environmental Engineering. This ministry is a declaration of intentions about her priorities and a way of healing the governments wounds with the science sector. Likewise, the appointment of a person like Barcena  who has a background in environmentalism and extensive political experience  as environmental secretary promises to give weight to one of the issues that has caused the most friction with the government. Lopez Obrador has greatly criticized the pseudo-environmentalists who opposed his projects.

The Cabinet picks are political veterans who have worked closely with the president-elect, helping her draw up the electoral program. This is the case of Juan Ramon de la Fuente, who will be the foreign affairs secretary. A surgeon, he is well known to Mexicans, as he was once the rector of the prestigious National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). He has served as Mexicos representative to the U.N. and has to his credit up to 20 Doctor Honoris Causa awards, said Sheinbaum. With a moderate and negotiating character, he is the man who is commanding the transfer of powers between the current administration and the next.

Another woman, loyal to the Lopez Obrador project and with a feminist profile, is Ernestina Godoy, who will now be the administrations legal adviser, a position of maximum trust. Both Sheinbaum and Godoy worked together in Mexico City when the president-elect was the mayor and Godoy was the chief prosecutor for the capital.

Sheinbaum  who is announcing her Cabinet picks gradually  still needs to confirm who will lead the portfolios overseeing key areas such as citizen security, national defense and the Navy, which play an essential role in Mexicos fight against violence. Omar Garcia Harfuch has been floated to oversee security: when Sheinbaum was the mayor of Mexico City, he was her secretary of citizen security.

For the Secretariat of National Defense and Secretariat of the Navy, Sheinbaum is expected to pick two military officers. While it is not mandatory, traditionally the military has been in charge of these portfolios. It would be a dramatic move if Sheinbaum opted to put a civilian in charge of the Army for the first time.

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Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts along with Associate Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh stand before President Joe Biden as he delivers the State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 7. File Pool photo by Shawn Thew/UPI

June 21 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling Friday that affirmed the government's authority to prohibit domestic abusers from owning guns.

The court ruled 8-1 in favor of upholding the federal law that bars people under restraining orders as a result of domestic violence from possessing a firearm.

The decision came down in the case U.S. vs Rahimi, following a complaint by respondent Zackey Rahimi. The Texas man was accused of assaulting a woman who is the mother of his child in 2019. She was granted a restraining order against him in 2020 and he was later connected to multiple shootings.

Rahimi argued that restricting him from having a gun based on a protective order against him is a violation of his second amendment right.

The ruling was a win for the Biden Justice Department, which appealed a lower courts ruling that called the statute unconstitutional.

Associate Justice Clarence Thomas was the only justice to dissent in Friday's decision on the case U.S. vs Rahimi. Thomas argued that the government does not have the authority to restrict domestic abusers from owning firearms. File Photo by Eric Lee/UPI

In a statement from the White House praising the decision, President Biden noted his career-long efforts to prevent domestic abusers from purchasing guns, from his writing of the Violence Against Women Act three decades ago and, more recently as president, his support of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that prevents dating partners convicted of domestic violence from being able to buy guns.

"No one who has been abused should have to worry about their abuser getting a gun," Biden said in the statement.

Embattled Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was the lone dissenting opinion.

The justices were not in complete agreement on the rationale behind their decisions. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion but five justices wrote concurring opinions.

Roberts' opined that the government is within its right to prevent "individuals who threaten physical harm to others from misusing firearms."

The majority stopped short of fully embracing the restriction as it is written. Roberts objected to the government's argument that Rahimi may be disarmed because he is not "responsible." Roberts wrote that the term "responsible" is "too vague."

Thomas argued that the restriction against domestic abusers is triggered without due process. He also writes that the government "fails to carry its burden of proving that [the restriction] is 'consistent with the Nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation.'"

The Supreme Court set a modern precedent in its 2022 ruling in the case New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. vs. Bruen. The majority opinion in that case, written by Thomas, stated that the government must prove that its regulations are "consistent with the Nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation."

Roberts' opinion is that the Biden administration's policy "fits comfortably within this tradition."

Justice Amy Coney Barrett discussed in her concurring opinion the limits of viewing history through the originalist lens Thomas applies.

"It forces 21st-century regulations to follow late-18th-century policy choices, giving us 'a law trapped in amber,'" she writes. "And it assumes that founding-era legislatures maximally exercised their power to regulate, thereby adopting a 'use it or lose it' view of legislative authority. Such assumptions are flawed and originalism does not require them."

It is the second time in little more than a week that Barrett, also a conservative judge, has pushed back on Thomas' view of the weight that should be given to history by the high court.

"Tradition has a legitimate role to play in constitutional adjudication," Barrett wrote in her opinion in the case Vidal vs. Elster.

That case considered the use of a person's name -- in this instance, former President Donald Trump -- in a trademark without their consent. California attorney Steve Elster sought a trademark for the phrase "Trump Too Small" to be used on T-shirts that he was selling.

"In my view, the Court's laser-like focus on the history of this single restriction misses the forest for the trees," Barrett continued in her Elster opinion. "Eventually, the Court will encounter a restriction without a historical analogue and be forced to articulate a test for analyzing it."
a homeless camp

The author says criminalizing homeless camps like this one in New Jersey sidestpes the problem. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

In a matter of days, the United States Supreme Court will decide the case of Johnson v. Grants Pass. But no matter what it rules, one thing is for sure, it will not solve Americas homelessness and housing crisis.

Johnson is the case the court is reviewing to determine if cities have the right to cite or even jail a homeless person for having a blanket, a pillow or a piece of cardboard when sleeping outside.

Some cities such as Grants Pass, Oregon where my employer AllCare Health is based, want the right to move homeless people out of their towns and end the tent cities which dot the landscape of parks and public lawns. But those of us in the business of helping the unhoused know that homelessness is a housing problem which cant be fixed by putting people on buses to the next town over or handing out citations and jail time to those affected by it. A systemic and structural problem cant be remedied by punishing the people affected by it. Homelessness can only be remedied by one thing: solving the housing crisis we face in our nation.

Can you imagine how many homes we could build and how many people we could house if communities made affordable housing the priority instead of punishment? We could solve the issues of people living rough in public and cure the health crisis homeless people face daily, which costs countless millions in tax dollars. We could restore our communities to home ownership, dignity and a middle class existence.

And its entirely possible. It begins with recognizing we have a housing crisis and doing whats necessary to fix it, including diverting money from punishing the homeless to subsidizing affordable homes. Subsidies are how we created the American Dream which we successfully did until the 90s.

If homelessness is to be solved for us and for our neighbors, subsidies, regulation and ingenuity are how.

The University of California San Francisco, in its comprehensive report on homelessness, discovered that more than 90% of unhoused people in a community are people who were once housed there and contributing to community life and they could do it again, if given the chance. And weve learned that most unhoused people dont suffer from addiction or mental illness when they become homeless, 75 to 80%, in fact. Those who do suffer from such maladies can be helped. But it bears noting the fastest growing group of unhoused people are seniors and children, none of whom are homeless by choice or fault. I know we dont want children and grandparents living and dying on our streets. I know we want people to be housed, healthy and contributing to our communities and country.

I learned a lot when I was embedded in homeless camps as a journalist where I conducted hundreds of interviews. I never feared being harmed and I never was. I traveled much of the country this way meeting teachers, machinists, former factory workers and hard working people who wanted an opportunity. I watched as they rose early, showering with a bucket before work. And Ive learned that most anyone is a paycheck or two away from being there themselves.

The unhoused are not other than us, they are us, average Americans trying to survive a crisis. Many have been dislocated from the effects of climate change like wildfires, floods and tornadoes. Others cannot make it on their social security checks or one income when their partner dies or their relationship falls apart.

And heres another thing I learned, we cannot solve the housing crisis by focusing on the consequences of homelessness which includes tents and sleeping bags in public. It may seem like the point, but its not. The point is: there are not enough homes for people at any price, especially those in the middle income bracket, the working poor and retirees surviving on social security.

The only long term solution to Americas homelessness crisis is to create affordable housing indexed to minimum wage and social security. The crisis will only get worse until we do, no matter what the Supreme Court decides.

The post Supreme Court ruling in homelessness case will not solve Americas housing crisis appeared first on NC Newsline.
In a significant ruling aimed at protections for victims of domestic violence, the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday upheld a 1994 federal law that prohibits people under domestic restraining orders from possessing firearms.

The case, which brought national attention to the intersection of gun rights and domestic violence, originated in North Texas and involved Zackey Rahimi, who was charged with crimes in Arlington. Rahimi had been convicted of possessing firearms while under a restraining order after he was accused of hitting his girlfriend and threatening her with a gun.

The Supreme Courts 8-1 decision reverses an earlier ruling by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, which had struck down the law.

Rahimis legal challenges focused on the argument that the federal law infringed upon his Second Amendment rights. He was initially successful when the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in his favor, stating the law was unconstitutional, but the Supreme Courts ruling overturned the decision.

The ruling was supported by Chief Justice John Roberts, along with Justices Elena Kagan, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett, and Ketanji Brown Jackson. The decision marks a crucial affirmation of federal efforts to address domestic violence through firearm restrictions.

Justice Clarence Thomas was the sole dissenter in the case. In his dissenting opinion, Thomas argued that the law infringes on the Second Amendment rights of individuals who have not been convicted of a crime.

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The decision comes at a time of heightened awareness and legislative activity surrounding gun control and domestic violence. Lawmakers and advocacy groups continue to push for stronger protections and more comprehensive measures to prevent gun violence.

As the nation absorbs the impact of this landmark decision, the ruling reinforces the ongoing debate over gun rights and public safety. The Supreme Courts affirmation of the federal law represents a pivotal moment in the effort to protect vulnerable populations from the threat of domestic violence.
The Supreme Court in an 8-1 decision Friday upheld a federal law that disarms people under domestic violence restraining orders, ruling it complies with the courts recent expansion of Second Amendment rights.

Under that two-year-old precedent, which found a right to bear arms outside the home for the first time, the court has prescribed a new test requiring gun control measures fit within the nations historical tradition of firearm regulation.

Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, noted a tradition of disarming individuals found to pose a credible threat to the physical safety of another, rejecting a defendants challenge to the gun possession ban.

Since the founding, our Nations firearm laws have included provisions preventing individuals who threaten physical harm to others from misusing firearms, Roberts wrote.

Justice Clarence Thomas dissented, writing that not a single historical regulation justifies that statute at issue.

Yet, in the interest of ensuring the Government can regulate one subset of society, todays decision puts at risk the Second Amendment rights of many more. I respectfully dissent, Thomas wrote.

The decision rules in favor of President Bidens Justice Department, which appealed to the Supreme Court to defend the statute after a lower court deemed it unconstitutional under the new standard, throwing out a Texas mans conviction.

No one who has been abused should have to worry about their abuser getting a gun. As a result of todays ruling, survivors of domestic violence and their families will still be able to count on critical protections, just as they have for the past three decades, Biden said in a statement after the opinion was released.

Zackey Rahimi, the man, had been placed under a restraining order after he dragged his girlfriend, with whom he has a child, into a parking lot and attempted to shoot a witness. Rahimi later participated in a series of five shootings, court filings show, and he was indicted on the gun charge after police found a rifle and a pistol while searching his home.

The dispute marked the justices first plenary Second Amendment case since they established their new history-based test, known as the Bruen test.

Advocates on both sides of the gun control issue have closely followed Rahimis case to see how the justices might clarify their recent Second Amendment expansion or rein in lower courts that have in the two years since invalidated a dizzying array of firearms provisions.

Many of those challenges have reached the Supreme Court but were held in limbo pending the resolution of Rahimis case. Among the stalled petitions include the Justice Departments defense of the provision that Hunter Biden, the presidents son, was convicted under in his recent criminal trial.

Six of the seven justices who joined Roberts in the majority Friday wrote or joined separate opinions discussing the Bruen test.

Justice Neil Gorsuch forcefully defended it. Fellow conservative Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett wrote solo opinions making observations about the history-based inquiry.

The courts three liberals, however, all raised how lower courts have expressed struggles in attempting to apply the Bruen test.

In my view, the blame may lie with us, not with them, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by Justice Elena Kagan, said she continues to think the Second Amendment test used by courts prior to Bruen remains the right one, but that no party had asked the court to overrule their new precedent.

Nearly 200 Democratic members of Congress and 23 Democratic states attorneys general filed written briefs backing the Biden administration in defending the law. They were joined by advocacy groups that advocate for stronger gun restrictions, including March for our Lives, the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence and Everytown for Gun Safety.

Rahimis challenge was backed by the National Association for Gun Rights, the National Rifle Association, the Firearms Policy Coalition, other gun rights groups and the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank.

Updated at 11:56 a.m. EDT

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Supreme Court Police officers stand on duty outside of the Supreme Court building on Thursday, June 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Supreme Court on Friday upheld a federal gun control law that is intended to protect victims of domestic violence.

In their first Second Amendment case since they expanded gun rights in 2022, the justices ruled 8-1 in favor of a 1994 ban on firearms for people under restraining orders to stay away from their spouses or partners. The justices reversed a ruling from the federal appeals court in New Orleans that had struck down the law.

Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the court, said the law uses common sense and applies only "after a judge determines that an individual poses a credible threat of physical violence.

Justice Clarence Thomas, the author of the major 2022 Bruen ruling in a New York case, dissented.

President Joe Biden, who has been critical of previous high-court rulings on guns, abortion and other hot-button issues, praised the outcome.

No one who has been abused should have to worry about their abuser getting a gun, Biden said in a statement. As a result of todays ruling, survivors of domestic violence and their families will still be able to count on critical protections, just as they have for the past three decades.

Last week, the court overturned a Trump-era ban on bump stocks, the rapid-fire gun accessories used in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. The court ruled that the Justice Department exceeded its authority in imposing that ban.

Friday's case stemmed directly from the Supreme Courts Bruen decision in June 2022. A Texas man, Zackey Rahimi, was accused of hitting his girlfriend during an argument in a parking lot and later threatening to shoot her.

At arguments in November, some justices voiced concern that a ruling for Rahimi could also jeopardize the background check system that the Biden administration said has stopped more than 75,000 gun sales in the past 25 years based on domestic violence protective orders.

The case also had been closely watched for its potential to affect cases in which other gun ownership laws have been called into question, including in the high-profile prosecution of Hunter Biden. Bidens son was convicted of lying on a form to buy a firearm while he was addicted to drugs. His lawyers have signaled they will appeal.

A decision to strike down the domestic violence gun law might have signaled the court's skepticism of the other laws as well. But Friday's decision did not suggest that the court would necessarily uphold those law either.

The justices could weigh in soon in one or more of those other cases.

Many of the gun law cases grow out of the Bruen decision. That high court ruling not only expanded Americans gun rights under the Constitution but also changed the way courts are supposed to evaluate restrictions on firearms.

Roberts turned to history in his opinion. "Since the founding, our nations firearm laws have included provisions preventing individuals who threaten physical harm to others from misusing firearms, he wrote.

Some courts have gone too far, Roberts wrote, in applying Bruen and other gun rights cases. "These precedents were not meant to suggest a law trapped in amber, he wrote.

In dissent, Thomas wrote, the law strips an individual of his ability to possess firearms and ammunition without any due process.

The government failed to produce any evidence that the law is consistent with the nations historical tradition of firearm regulation, he wrote.

Not a single historical regulation justifies the statute at issue, Thomas wrote.

Seven of the nine justices wrote opinions in the guns case spanning 94 pages, mainly focused on the proper use of history in evaluating gun restrictions and other limitations on constitutional rights.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote that Roberts' opinion permits a historical inquiry calibrated to reveal something useful and transferable to the present day, while the dissent would make the historical inquiry so exacting as to be useless. She was among the three liberal justices who dissented in the Bruen case.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was part of the Bruen majority, noted that the court probably will have many more cases about the reach of gun rights because Second Amendment jurisprudence is in its early innings. It was only in 2008 that the court declared for the first time that the Constitution protects an individual's right to keep and bear arms.

Rahimis case reached the Supreme Court after prosecutors appealed a ruling that threw out his conviction for possessing guns while subject to a restraining order.

Rahimi was involved in five shootings over two months in and around Arlington, Texas, U.S. Circuit Judge Cory Wilson noted. When police identified Rahimi as a suspect in the shootings and showed up at his home with a search warrant, he admitted having guns in the house and being subject to a domestic violence restraining order that prohibited gun possession, Wilson wrote.

But even though Rahimi was hardly a model citizen, Wilson wrote, the law at issue could not be justified by looking to history. Thats the test Justice Thomas laid out in his opinion for the court in Bruen.

The appeals court initially upheld the conviction under a balancing test that included whether the restriction enhances public safety. But the panel reversed course after Bruen. At least one district court has upheld the law since the Bruen decision.

After the ruling, Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Justice Department will continue to enforce this important statute, which for nearly 30 years has helped to protect victims and survivors of domestic violence from their abusers.

As the Justice Department argued, and as the Court reaffirmed today, that commonsense prohibition is entirely consistent with the Courts precedent and the text and history of the Second Amendment, Garland said in a statement.

Advocates for domestic violence victims and gun control groups had called on the court to uphold the law.

Firearms are the most common weapon used in homicides of spouses, intimate partners, children or relatives in recent years, according to data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Guns were used in more than half, 57%, of those killings in 2020, a year that saw an overall increase in domestic violence during the coronavirus pandemic.

Seventy women a month, on average, are shot and killed by intimate partners, according to the gun control group Everytown for Gun Safety.

Gun rights groups backed Rahimi, arguing that the appeals court got it right when it looked at American history and found no restriction close enough to justify the gun ban.

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Associated Press writers Fatima Hussein, Alanna Durkin Richer and Lindsay Whitehurst contributed to this report.

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Follow the AP's coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court at https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court.
The federal government can continue to limit domestic abusers gun rights, according to a landmark ruling issued by the U.S. Supreme Court on Fridaythat helps clarify the conservative-majority courts thinking on firearm restrictions.

In an 8-1 decision, the Supreme Court affirmed that the federal government can temporarily restrict a persons right to possess firearms without violating the Second Amendment. Only Justice Clarence Thomas dissented.

Our tradition of firearm regulation allows the Government to disarm individuals who present a credible threat to the physical safety of others, Justice John Roberts wrote in the majoritys ruling.

The case of United States v. Rahimi emerged as a high-profile test of how far the Supreme Court was willing to go in expanding gun rights after its sweeping reinterpretation of the Second Amendment two years ago directed courts to stop considering public safety when assessing the constitutionality of firearm restrictions.

Under the Supreme Courts new doctrine, gun restrictions are only constitutional when they fit within a centuries-old historical tradition of firearm regulation. Public defenders representing Rahimi had argued that the United States did not develop a legal tradition of disarming people for domestic abuse until the 20th century.

Activists rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court before the start of oral arguments in United States v. Rahimi, a Second Amendment case, on Nov. 7, 2023. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images

But the ruling found that the law barring domestic abusers from possessing guns fit within a long tradition of keeping guns away from dangerous people. State constitutions at the time of the nations founding allowed governments to restrict firearm possession from people who posed a threat of violence to others under criminal laws, the ruling noted.

The ruling also pointed to surety laws, which required someone with a history of violence to post a bond that could be revoked if they committed new crimes. Some states used surety laws as a way to disarm people with a history of violence. Restrictions against brandishing weapons publicly to terrorize people have also long been part of American law, the ruling says.

Taken together, the surety and going armed laws confirm what common sense suggests: When an individual poses a clear threat of physical violence to another, the threatening individual may be disarmed, Roberts wrote.

Thomas took the lonely position that only an exact match for the 1994 federal law barring those subject to protective orders would survive the courts new Second Amendment standard.

Not a single historical regulation justifies the statute at issue, Thomas wrote.

The ruling comes as a relief to gun reformers, who had viewed the decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in the Rahimi case as a disturbing precedent that privileged the gun rights of abusers over the safety of their victims.

This is a win for women, children and anyone who has expressed domestic abuse, former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), who now runs a group to combat gun violence, wrote in a statement. We know that firearms make domestic abuse situations significantly more deadly, and firearms effects on womens safety is a crisis. This ruling is a small step in the fight to stop violence against women.

A court in Tarrant County, Texas, placed Zackey Rahimi under a protective order on Feb. 5, 2020, after he assaulted his former girlfriend.Prosecutors accused him of shooting guns in public in at least six separate instances while subject to the protective order  including once at a woman he allegedly lured into a parking lot, two instances of alleged road rage and one instance in which he allegedly fired a rifle into someones home.

When police investigating those shootings searched Rahimis room on Jan. 14, 2021, they discovered a semiautomatic rifle under the bed and a pistol with an extended magazine on the nightstand, along with a copy of the protective order. A 1994 federal law makes it a felony to possess firearms while subject to a protective order in a domestic violence case.

Rahimi, facing an open-and-shut case, pleaded guilty.

But in 2022, Justice Clarence Thomas laid out a new constitutional standard for assessing gun restrictions when the Supreme Court ruled on the case of New York State Rifle and Pistol Assn. v. Bruen. The new standard directed courts to judge the constitutionality of gun laws by narrowly focusing on whether a given restriction fit within a history of regulation dating back to some time between the signing of the Bill of Rights in 1789 and the end of the Civil War in 1865.

The ruling set off dozens of Second Amendment challenges to long-standing gun laws, many of which are still playing out.

But the Supreme Courts lopsided ruling Friday made gun laws appear far less vulnerable than they have since the post-Bruen legal onslaught.

Roberts warned that some courts have misunderstood the methodology of our recent Second Amendment cases, referring to a string of decisions dating back to 2008, when the high court established that the right to bear arms extended to individuals rather than just the militias that the Bill of Rights references in its text.

Rahimis was among the most highly publicized decisions after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit ruled that the Second Amendment protected his right to bear arms despite allegedly using them to commit several other crimes.

The decision set off a firestorm of criticism from gun law reformers and advocates for victims of domestic violence, who feared that overturning the 1994 law would empower abusers.

Gun rights groups, which normally challenge firearm restrictions they oppose in civil court, had only reluctantly taken a stand on the Rahimi case, featuring a criminal defendant accused of multiple violent crimes. The National Rifle Association argued in an amicus brief last year that courts should strip Rahimi of his gun rights based on criminal convictions alone, rather than a protective order related to domestic violence.

While that argument failed, Randy Kozuch, the executive director of the NRAs Institute for Legislative Action, played down the impact of the Supreme Courts ruling Friday.

The Supreme Courts narrow opinion offers no endorsement of red flag laws or of the dozens of other unconstitutional laws that the NRA is challenging across the country that burden the right of peaceable Americans to keep and bear arms, Kozuch wrote in a statement. This decision holds only that an individual who poses a clear threat of violence may be temporarily disarmed after a judicial finding of dangerousness.

The decision means that Rahimi will almost surely face a significant federal prison sentence, in addition to possible jail time for his alleged state crimes.

Rahimis state cases have remained pending while the Supreme Court considered the issue. He also faces a state felony charge for possession of fentanyl.

Sebastian Murdock contributed reporting.
The Supreme Court upheld a federal law disarming domestic abusers on Friday, significantly narrowing a radical 2022 precedent in the process. Its 81 ruling in U.S. v. Rahimi is a major victory for gun safety laws, a much-needed reprieve after two years of unceasing hostility from the federal judiciary. Chief Justice John Roberts majority opinion walked back maximalist rhetoricrecklessly injected into the law by Justice Clarence Thomasthat had imperiled virtually every modern regulation limiting access to firearms. Thomas was the lone dissenter, signifying the rest of the courts mad dash away from his extremist position on the Second Amendment.

Rahimi involves a violent criminal, Zackey Rahimi, who beat his girlfriend, then fired shots at either her or a witness as she fled his abuse. His girlfriend subsequently obtained a restraining order from a state court that found that he posed a credible threat to her physical safety. Rahimi, however, continued harassing her, threatened a different woman with a firearm, and was identified as the suspect in at least five additional shootings. When the police searched his apartment, they found a pistol, a rifle, ammunition, and a copy of the restraining order.

Rahimi was indicted under a federal law that bars individuals from possessing firearms while subject to a restraining order for domestic violence. He argued that this statute violated his Second Amendment rights, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit agreed. The court rested its analysis on New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, the Supreme Courts 2022 decision establishing a constitutional right to carry firearms in public. Thomas opinion in Bruen, though, went much further than that specific holding, declaring that all restrictions on the right to bear arms are presumptively unconstitutional unless they have a sufficient set of historical analogues from the distant past. (He didnt bother to clarify the precise era, but it seemed to be sometime between 1791 and 1868.)

That approach posed two fundamental problems, which the lower courts quickly encountered when trying to apply Bruen: First, judges are not historians and cannot parse the complex, often incomplete record in this area with any consistency or reliability; and second, modern problems require modern solutions, especially when past bigotry prevented lawmakers from perceiving those problems in the first place. Rahimi is Exhibit A: Men were generally permitted to abuse their wives in the 18th and 19th centuries, with courts hesitant to interfere with what they deemed a private familial affair. Countless other examples have arisen in the lower courts since Bruen, with judges creating new rights to scratch the serial number off guns and own firearms while using illegal substances.

Roberts attempted to put a stop to this chaos on Friday. His Rahimi opinion cut back Bruen at every turn. Some courts, the chief justice wrote, have misunderstood the methodology of our recent Second Amendment cases. These precedents were not meant to suggest a law trapped in amber. Rather than hunt for perfect historical analogs, courts should ask whether the challenged regulation is consistent with the principles that underpin our regulatory tradition. If old laws regulated guns to address particular problems, that will be a strong indicator that contemporary laws imposing similar restrictions for similar reasons fall within a permissible category of regulations. Todays regulations should generally avoid imposing restrictions beyond what was done at the founding, but the modern law need not precisely match its historical precursors. Roberts test significantly broadens (or perhaps loosens) the constitutional inquiry beyond what Bruen allowed. It instructs courts to look at principles, at a fairly high level of generality, rather than demanding a near-perfect match from centuries past.

The difference between Rahimi and Bruen is perfectly captured by Roberts majority opinion and the lone dissent written by Bruens own author, Thomas. The chief justice asserted, The government offers ample evidence that the Second Amendment permits the disarmament of individuals who pose a credible threat to the physical safety of others. He breezily walked through a smattering of history allowing for the seizure of arms to preserve public order. For proof, Roberts cited surety laws, legislation that required an individual suspected of future misbehavior to post a bond, which he would forfeit if he engaged in misconduct. Domestic abusers could, in theory, be subject to the surety system, as could individuals who misused firearmsand that was good enough for Roberts. To him, this evidence established a historical practice of preventing individuals who threaten physical harm to others from misusing firearms. And disarming abusers fits comfortably within this tradition.

To Thomas, by contrast, surety laws are worldsnot degreesapart from the law in question, because they were civil (not criminal) measures that did not actually disarm people but merely threatened them with a fine. These laws did not alter an individuals right to keep and bear arms, Thomas protested, and they therefore failed to establish a relevant history and tradition. Indeed, the government does not identify even a single regulation with an analogous burden and justification, he complained in dissent. In 1791 a man like Zackey Rahimi could be disarmed only after a conviction for a violent crime. And so, Thomas wrote, that must remain the rule today.

Bruen was a 63 decision. Yet every justice who joined Thomas opinion in Bruen in 2022 signed on to Roberts walk back of Bruen on Friday. What happened? Aside from Justice Samuel Alito, every remaining member of the court expressed their views by writing or joining separate concurrences in Rahimi. Justice Brett Kavanaugh tried to defend his beloved history and tradition test, as opposed to a balancing test that churns out the judges own policy beliefs, while creating more room for precedent (or the accumulated wisdom of jurists). Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote that Bruen demands a wider lens than the 5th Circuit deployed, explaining that historical regulations reveal a principle, not a mold, and do not forever lock us into late-18th-century policy choices. Justice Neil Gorsuch tried to split the difference, marshaling a defense of Bruen while subtly reworking it to limit sweeping legal attacks on gun regulations.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by Justice Elena Kagan, celebrated the majoritys focus on principles instead of perfect analogs. History has a role to play in Second Amendment analysis, she wrote, but a rigid adherence to history, (particularly history predating the inclusion of women and people of color as full members of the polity), impoverishes constitutional interpretation and hamstrings our democracy. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who joined the court soon after Bruen came down, warned that Rahimi will not end the increasingly erratic and unprincipled body of law that Bruen inspired. The blame for the lower courts struggles may lie with us, she noted, not with them. All three liberals sound ready and willing to overturn Bruen altogether if they get the chancebut will, for now, settle for Rahimis compromise.

What next? The Supreme Court will have to vacate a spate of lower court decisions that used Bruen to strike down seemingly sensible gun safety laws, ordering a do-over in light of Rahimi. Some courts will gladly accept the message. Others, like the lawless 5th Circuit, will probably interpret Thomas dissent on Friday as the law and refuse to change their tune. Such defiance will test the majoritys commitment to a more workable and balanced Second Amendment jurisprudenceand likely fracture the court once more. By replacing Thomas hard-line views with a more malleable standard, SCOTUS has ended one battle over guns. But by remaining in this area, where it has no right to be in the first place, the court has invited a thousand more.

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!)
Anyone with a passing knowledge of the history of reproductive rights in America has heard of the antediluvian Comstock Act but I doubt most of them ever thought it would actually be back in use in the 21st century. The notorious "anti-vice" law from 1873 banned the shipment of "lewd" written materials, contraceptives and any instrument, substance, drug, medicine, or thing for the purpose of abortion, and had not been in force for many decades since the passage of various laws and the recognition of a constitutional right to abortion in 1973's Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision. Nonetheless, it remained on the books. And leave it to the radicals putting together Project 2025 to exhume it the minute Samuel Alito and company give them the green light.

My Salon colleague Amanda Marcotte wrote about the Comstock Act in depth a few months ago in the wake of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Mifepristone ruling (access to which was thankfully affirmed (for now) by the Supreme Court this month.) The original decision relied heavily on the Comstock Act to justify the decision to ban the drug, an issue which was left unresolved by the Supreme Court when it threw out the lawsuit on the basis of standing rather than the merits. So the Comstock Act remains on the books and is now theoretically constitutional since the reversal of Roe v Wade, at least when it comes to contraception and abortion. Other aspects of the law regarding obscenity are still unenforceable as they remain protected under other precedents.

The Comstock Act is what's known as a "zombie law" which is a law that has been neutered by subsequent High Court decisions that have found a constitutional prohibition against enforcing them but remain on the books sometimes for centuries lurking around like the undead (hence the name) waiting for a chance to be reanimated by the Supreme Court overturning one of its own decisions. There are a lot of them as we just saw in several states that had draconian 19th-century laws go into effect when the Court handed down its Dobbs decision.

In Arizona, after Roe was overturned, the conservative state Supreme Court revived a near-total ban on abortion, invoking an 1864 law that only allows abortion to save the mother's life and gave prison time to doctors who perform them. The state legislature went through tremendous gyrations to finally repeal that 1864 law but the status of the state's abortion laws remains in limbo and doctors and patients remain confused and anxious about the law's requirements. A similar story has played out in all the states that had these zombie laws on the books.

The Comstock Act is a federal law, however, and it is still in effect and is ripe for the picking by anti-abortion zealots and others who want to further restrict reproductive freedoms, including contraception. From the moment the Dobbs decision came down legal experts and activists recognized the danger it posed with this radical right-wing judiciary and they immediately started to work on repealing it. At the time a number of abortion rights groups asked them to stand down because of cases already in the pipeline that would have been affected. As Notus reported:

Theres a lot of litigation playing out thats specific to this that many of the reproductive rights groups are in the middle of. Theyre actually wanting to, theyre not wanting to see [the Comstock Act] change in the middle of that litigation. So that was at the request of Planned Parenthood and other reproductive freedom groups that have been fighting this for a long time, Democratic Representative Pat Ryan said.

That came as something of a surprise but the Democrats in Congress complied with the request. However, with the Mifepristone case decided they have decided to make the move.

According to the Washington Post, Democrats are now introducing legislation to repeal the abortion provisions of the Act with the backing of those major abortion rights groups. (They will apparently leave in some of the obscenity laws on which bans on child pornography are based.) The Senate bill has 20 co-sponsors, including Sens. Tina Smith, D-Minn., Elizabeth Warren, D-Ma., and Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev. And Reps. Becca Balint, D-Vt. and Cori Bush, D-Mo. introduced the legislation in the House. Although they haven't spoken out, the assumption is that the Democratic leadership is supportive.

The Post article suggests that there may be some reluctance by the White House but the reasons are unclear although other unnamed Democrats fear that it will somehow distract from other issues, which is typical but foolish. I hope that's not the case. The Comstock Act is a 19th-century monstrosity that should be repealed because it is grotesque and we are watching it be used to roll back Americans' basic human rights.

Obviously, the very pious Christian Nationalist Speaker of the House Mike Johnson will not let this pass. The Comstock Act might have been written by him personally. (This is a man who participated in one of those bizarre purity balls with his daughter, after all. ) So there's no hope of passage this year. But this should be part of the debate going into the election and the Democrats must repeal it the minute they get the chance because we know the Republicans are planning to use it the minute they get theirs.

There are a lot of zombie laws on the books that are likely to be used by conservative judicial activists in the next few years now that they've secured the right-wing Supreme Court of their dreams. For instance, there are existing, unenforced laws against adultery, atheism and sodomy which could easily be reanimated under some of the right's current crusades. Discriminatory housing covenants and outdated draconian drug laws could rise from the dead as well.

They are setting up test cases all over the country with an eye toward overturning precedents to make that happen. Just this week Louisiana passed a new law requiring that all schools display the Ten Commandments in every classroom (using a large font!) They hope to get it to the Supreme Court which has shown every inclination to destroy the separation of church and state. Any zombies from the 1950s will immediately go back into effect if they uphold this law as constitutional.

Democrats in state legislatures and at the national level would be wise to survey all the laws and repeal these dead ones wherever they can as soon as possible. If they don't, there's every chance the right's various culture crusades will end up bringing them back to life.
Kirilo Budanov dropped a bombshell on March 31. That day, the head of the intelligence services of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense (GUR) stated in an interview with Ukrainian state television that Russia had almost completed the construction of a new railway line that will connect the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don with Crimea along the Sea of Azov. Until that day, Ukrainians had barely heard of this infrastructure, except for the propaganda statements made by Russian President Vladimir Putin, which few in Ukraine believed. The military authorities in Kyiv have admitted this week that they expect this route to come into operation in soon, which will be a significant step forward in Russias efforts to consolidate its military presence in four partially occupied provinces.

Tavrida-2 is the name of this train line, as reported on Wednesday by Denis Chistikov, the second-highest Ukrainian representative for the occupied territories of Crimea. Once completed, the 310-mile railway line will be the second rail network connecting Crimea  the peninsula illegally annexed by Russia in 2014  with Russian territory. The first train line crosses the Kerch Strait bridge. With its nautical drones and NATO-supplied missiles, Ukraine has managed to push back the Russian Black Sea fleet stationed in Crimea. Whats more: two attacks in 2022 and 2023 against the Kerch Strait Bridge significantly reduced its capacity as a logistical connection. Less than a quarter of the total load is carried by this bridge. The rest goes along the ferry crossing, which was recently hit, Ukrainian Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk explained at a conference on June 17.

I am sure that the Russians will be able to complete the railway before the end of the year, said Pletenchuk, at least from Rostov-on-Don to the Dzhankoi Isthmus. This is one of the areas that connect Crimea with the occupied areas in the province of Kherson. Chistikov and the spokesman for the Ukrainian Navy have confirmed that the final section of the rail line, inside Crimea, still needs to be built. In a June 18 document, Deep State  one of the leading Ukrainian groups analyzing the situation on the war front  argued that the first 40 miles of the infrastructure, between the Russian border city of Taganrog and the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, on the coast of Donetsk province, will be completed in the near future.

Deep State added that works to connect the city of Donetsk with Mariupol, a variant of this new railway network, are well advanced in the middle of the route, up to the municipality of Volnovakha. Other Ukrainian defense analysis institutions, such as the Center for Investigative Journalism, claim that convoy tests were conducted this June between the latter locality and Mariupol.

Tavrida-2 will also connect Rostov-on-Don with the cities of Melitopol and Berdiansk. The project  according to the authorities imposed by the invader in the provinces of Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Kherson  is to consolidate the integration of citizens in these Russian-annexed territories. But the design of the line, which has been built in record time, indicates that its primary purpose will be to supply Moscows military forces. Currently, there is only one track, with points where trains can wait on parallel parking tracks to make way for a convoy arriving in the opposite direction. The line also has a newly built parallel road. Defense Express, a Ukrainian media specialized in military information, pointed out in April that the invading army also uses cargo trucks on platforms, instead of wagons, so that they can be easily lowered from the convoy in case they are unable to continue down the tracks.

Ukraines goal now is to find out how to interrupt the traffic of these trains. Russia has actually been building a railway for over a year now to connect with our temporarily occupied southern territories, Budanov said. This process is almost complete, and it could pose a serious problem for us. I hope that we will somehow manage the land section of the railway. Everyone has experience in this, and this is much easier than the Crimean bridge issue.

Russians know how to build railroads  thats a fact. They know how to restore it  this is also a fact, Pletenchuk added. Nevertheless, we should not forget that this logistics route is much closer to the front line, and therefore it is in the area of destruction of more Ukrainian weapons.

Defense Express recalled in its analysis that, since World War II, military theory has indicated that bombing railway sections is ineffective. These are easy to repair and, as in the case of Ukraines rail network, there are multiple lines that can divert a convoy if tracks have been destroyed, meaning it can continue towards its destination, even if the journey is longer. That is why, as military experts have been explaining to this newspaper since 2023, Russia does not bomb railway lines in Ukraine, even though weapons supplies from NATO countries enter via the train line that connects the country to Poland.

The advantage for Ukraine is that the new Russian line has only one track. And there are at least two newly built bridges over which the trains will pass. These will be a weak point for the occupying troops. Defense Express estimated that the best place to strike will be in the areas where convoys wait for the oncoming train to pass. The disadvantage for Ukraine is that destroying a stretch of track, if not with an infiltrated sabotage team, is a small target that requires enormous precision if it is to be struck with missiles or drones. Making the situation more difficult, Russia this year reinforced its network of anti-aircraft defenses on the southern front.

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A convicted serial rapist was responsible for the unsolved murders of two women hikers 28 years ago in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, authorities announced Thursday.

The bodies of Laura Lollie Winans, 26, and her girlfriend, Julianne Julie Williams, 24, were found at their remote campsite on June 1, 1996, by park service rangers after they were reported missing. The mysterious deaths of the women, who were experienced hikers, had long raised fears for others seeking to tackle the Appalachian Trail as well as questions about whether they were targeted because they were gay.

A convicted serial rapist was responsible for the brutal 1996 murders of Julie Williams (left) and Lollie Winans in Shenandoah National Park, authorities said. FBI

On Thursday, federal investigators revealed the name of a suspect  and that he had already died while in custody for other crimes. DNA taken from Walter Leo Jackson Sr., who died in an Ohio prison in 2018 at age 70 while serving a sentence for kidnapping and rape, was a match for several items of evidence collected from the crime scene, the FBIs Richmond Field Office said Thursday in a press release.

Authorities said new forensic testing also revealed evidence that the women had been sexually assaulted.

A new team was assigned to reinvestigate the case in 2021 and submitted the evidence to a private DNA lab for retesting. The DNA obtained from the lab was then submitted to the national law enforcement DNA database known as CODIS, which matched a cheek swab taken from Jackson.

The bodies of Winans and Williams, who were last seen May 24, were found inside their sleeping bags. They had been gagged, with their hands bound and their throats slashed.

The FBI declined to answer questions from HuffPost about when Jacksons DNA was collected, what specific items from the crime scene were tested, and whether they had been previously submitted to CODIS.

Kathryn Miles, who researched the case for her book, Trailed: One Womans Quest to Solve the Shenandoah Murders, told HuffPost that investigators had mishandled the case from the start. Despite evidence to the contrary, she said, rangers initially speculated that the killings were a murder-suicide or that the women had been attacked by a bear.

In 2002, prosecutors charged Darrell Rice, a 34-year-old computer programmer with four counts of capital murder. They described the killings as a hate crime, saying he targeted the women because they were gay, and said they would seek the death penalty. It was the first federal hate crime capital case in U.S. history.

Rice, who had previously been found guilty of the attempted abduction of a woman in the park, wasnt a viable suspect for the double murders and prosecutors unfairly targeted him, Miles said, despite the fact that DNA clearly excluded him, despite the fact that he had an alibi for the day that they were killed, despite the fact that there was absolutely nothing linking to the case.

Lollie Winans and Julie Williams pose with their dog, Taj, who was found unharmed on a park trail after their killings. FBI

Authorities eventually dropped the charges against Rice, but said he could be tried if additional evidence came to light.

Rice lived in basically what was a de facto double jeopardy situation for the rest of his life, and it completely ruined his life, Miles said. It rendered him destitute, it did incredible social and emotional damage to him and to his family. And I didnt hear an apology for that today.

A lawyer for Rice in September 2021 provided some details about the DNA collected in the case, which was excluded as belonging to Rice.

Theres male DNA on the gag in Julies mouth, there are hairs under the duct tape. they werent Darrell Rices, Deirdre Enright, the founder and director of the Innocence Project at the University of Virginia School of Law, told WUSA9.

On Thursday, the FBIs Cavanaugh acknowledged the failure of the initial prosecution of Rice.

That case was not built on forensic evidence, Cavanaugh said. He also said there was no evidence that the women had been targeted because of their sexuality or other characteristics.

Make no mistake, this crime was brutal. This crime was definitionally hateful. Nevertheless, we do not have any evidence that the victims were selected for or that Jackson had any knowledge of or was otherwise motivated by their membership in a protected class, he said.

FBI agent Stanley Meador added that authorities had spoken with the womens families and recognized how hard it was for them to hear Thursdays news.

Theyve been seeking answers for far too long, he said.

Related...
After nearly three decades, a convicted serial rapist has been identified as the suspect in the 1996 double murder of two women in a Virginia national park, federal authorities said.

But the suspect won't face charges, as he died in prison six years ago, authorities said.

On May 24, 1996, Laura "Lollie" Winans, 26, and Julianne "Julie" Williams, 24, were sexually assaulted and killed in a "brutal" attack at their Shenandoah National Park campsite, Christopher Kavanaugh, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, said at a Thursday news conference.

Winans and Williams met through an organization providing outdoor adventure and educational programs for women, Kavanaugh said.

PHOTO: Julianne Williams. (FBI)

PHOTO: Laura Winans (FBI)

The women went into the park on May 19 and were last seen alive on the evening of May 24, Kavanaugh said.

Their relatives called the National Park Service when they didn't come home, and their bodies were discovered a week later, the FBI said.

MORE: Supreme Court says domestic abusers can be temporarily disarmed

Decades went by without answers.

Then, in 2021, a new FBI team was assigned to investigate the case, and the team determined what evidence would be suitable for retesting, FBI Richmond special agent in charge Stanley Meador said.

A lab recently "pulled DNA from several items of evidence," and that DNA profile was submitted to CODIS, the national law enforcement DNA database, the FBI said in a statement.

MORE: Couple drowns in rip current while on vacation with their kids in Florida

The DNA profile was a positive match to Walter "Leo" Jackson Sr., a convicted serial rapist and avid hiker who was known to visit Shenandoah National Park, the FBI said.

"Even though we had this DNA match, we took additional steps and compared evidence from Lollie and Julies murders directly to a buccal swab containing Jacksons DNA," Meador said in a statement. "Those results confirmed we had the right man and finally could tell the victims families we know who is responsible for this heinous crime."

PHOTO: Walter Leo Jackson Sr. (FBI)

The FBI said, "Jackson had a lengthy criminal history, including kidnapping, rapes, and assaults."

On June 5, 1996, just days after the double murder at Shenandoah National Park, Jackson kidnapped and raped a woman at knifepoint in Ohio, Kavanaugh said. One month later, he kidnapped and raped another woman at knifepoint, Kavanaugh said.

Jackson was most recently sent to prison in 2011 and died behind bars in Ohio in March 2018, the FBI said.

MORE: USC student will not be charged in fatal stabbing of homeless person

Kavanaugh noted that 22 years ago, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging another man in the murders of Winans and Williams, but "that case was not built on forensic evidence."

In 2003, in the lead up to the trial, prosecutors "moved to continue that case because the government's experts concluded that DNA" from the crime scene was from a then-unidentified man -- not their defendant, Kavanaugh said.

Prosecutors then dismissed the case, Kavanaugh said.

The re-testing of the crime scene evidence developed the DNA profile that was uploaded to CODIS, leading to Jackson, Kavanaugh said.

Suspect identified in women's 1996 double murder at national park campsite: FBI originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The man accused of murdering a 43-year-old Azle woman and concealing her body in a yard admitted to striking the victim on her head with his fist and wrapping her body in sheets from her bedroom, according to court documents.

Shane Breshers was arrested June 14 as the primary suspect in the killing of Heather Treibly, according to Azle police. Treibly was reported missing May 27, and her body was found June 12 in the back yard of the home where she had been staying, in the 100 block of Ty Lane.

When Treibly went missing, her roommates told police that Breshers was the last person she had been seen with. Breshers admitted to officers that he had spent time alone with Treibly at her residence on May 26 and 27, according to his arrest warrant affidavit.

On June 12, the property owners at Treiblys residence found a bundle wrapped in a pink sheet in the back yard. The Texas Ranger assigned to the case found human remains inside and turned them over to the Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office, according to the affidavit.

Treibly, who according to social media posts had been undergoing treatment for cancer, was identified by her tattoos and medical paraphernalia which were present with the body. The body was secured with electrical cords, which matched the description of cords missing from Treiblys room, the affidavit states.

One of the cords was wrapped around Treiblys neck, according to the affidavit. The Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office told the investigator that Treibly had fractured ribs, a fractured jawbone and signs of trauma on her neck.

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Video footage from Treiblys residence shows a man dressed in dark shorts and no shirt pushing a yellow shopping cart with a bundle inside from the house to the southeast corner of the property, the affidavit states. The bundle resembles the one Treiblys body was found in.

The investigator identified the man pushing the cart as Breshers, based on his social media accounts and body-camera footage from his previous interview with Azle police. On June 14 an arrest warrant was issued for Breshers on the grounds of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. The 52-year-old was arrested by Texas Rangers at his home the same day.

After his arrest, Breshers admitted to hitting Treibly on the head with his fist, police said. He told investigators that she fell to the ground and was unresponsive. After discovering she had no pulse, Breshers said, he wrapped Treibly in sheets from her bedroom, took her body to the yard in a shopping cart and covered it, according to the affidavit.

When asked about Treiblys broken jaw, Breshers said he kicked her body after wrapping it in the sheets, the affidavit states. He told investigators he couldnt remember doing anything with electrical cords, but recalled seeing the cords in Treiblys bedroom.

Breshers has been charged with Treiblys murder. He is being held in the Tarrant County Jail on $650,000 bond, according to court records. Breshers attorney, Brian Goza, did not immediately respond to the Star-Telegrams request for comment Friday.
Suspect in Oklahoma, Alabama killings arrested in manhunt, will be in Conway County court Friday

Suspect in Oklahoma, Alabama killings arrested in manhunt, will be in Conway County court Friday

MORRILTON, Ark.  Authorities said the man arrested after a three-day manhunt in Morrilton will go before a judge on Friday.

Authorities said 50-year-old Stacy Lee Drake is expected in the Conway County Courthouse Friday at 9 a.m. A judge will likely decide on extradition to Alabama or Oklahoma.

Morrilton manhunt suspect Stacy Drakes criminal history shows decades of violence, convictions

Police said Drake is the prime suspect in a carjacking and homicide in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, on May 14. Officials in Oklahoma say the same thing happened in in the small town of El Reno on June 14. In both cases the victims were shot, with investigators saying Drake stole vehicles and fled the scene.

On Tuesday, June 18, police said two people were killed and a car was stolen from a business in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma. The vehicle was found hours later at a Motel 6 in Morrilton, Arkansas. Investigators said Drake was observed leaving the scene through surveillance video.

It was a big sigh of relief; Morrilton community grateful Stacy Lee Drake manhunt ends with capture

A three-day search led by the Morrilton Police Department ended around 10 a.m. Thursday in the woods Southeast of University Boulevard and Poor Farm Road. Conway County Sheriffs Office deputies say Drakes hammock was spotted by helicopter, and he was arrested without incident.

MPD said they believe Drake bought the camping gear from the nearby Walmart.

Arkansas family member of victim killed in Oklahoma reacts to manhunt for suspect

Other agencies involved in the search include Arkansas State Police, U.S. Marshals Task Force, Arkansas Army National Guard, Arkansas Department of Corrections K9 Team, Arkansas Game and Fish and University of Arkansas Community College Monticello Police.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
Suspected drunken driver accused of killing pedestrian, going to work with severed arm

Suspected drunken driver accused of killing pedestrian, going to work with severed arm

DALLAS, Texas (WFLA)  A suspected drunken driver who fatally struck a pedestrian, went to work with their severed arm, according to Dallas police.

In an arrest affidavit obtained by Fox 4, Juan Morgan Munoz, 31, waited half an hour before calling 911 following the deadly crash.

Deputies searching for 3 possible suspects after shooting at Pasco County home

Police said Munoz admitted to hitting the victim with his BMW and continuing to drive a mile down to road to an Auto Body Shop, where he worked.

Officials found his vehicle had a hole in the front passenger windshield and an entire arm on the front passenger seat with blood, according to the Dallas news outlet.

Munoz told police he only took one Patron shot in the afternoon, but a breathalyzer test revealed his blood alcohol content level to be .179, which is over twice the legal limit.

According to Fox 4, Munoz is no stranger to drunk driving, as he pled guilty in 2018 to a DWI charge in New Hampshire and was arrested in 2023 for FWI in Fort Worth, Texas.

The suspect was taken to the Dallas County Jail, Fox 4 reported.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
One person was shot in a fight late Wednesday night at the Redondo Boat Launch in Des Moines. The suspected shooter was later arrested after crashing in Federal Way.

Police went to the boat launch around 11:22 p.m. after multiple 911 calls reporting a fight and shots fired.

Everyone involved in the fight had left when police arrived.

Officers were notified about a shooting victim who had arrived at the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Officers were also told about a vehicle involved in an accident in Federal Way that matched the description of the suspected shooters vehicle.

Des Moines police arrived at the accident scene and arrested the suspected shooter.

The case is still under investigation and police are asking anyone with information to call (206) 870-6871 or e-mail PHSCrimeTips@desmoineswa.gov.
An attorney representing a conservative election denial group in an ongoing legal battle with Maricopa County over public records may not have been licensed to practice law during an hourslong trial last week.

County attorneys said in court documents that lawyer Bryan Blehm was suspended by the Arizona State Bar for several days because of a "fees-related issue." That time period includes June 12, when he appeared before Judge Scott Blaney in Maricopa County Superior Court for a lengthy and emotional evidentiary hearing and trial.

The attorneys said Blehm was still suspended on June 14, when they filed a notice with Blaney on the matter. The attorneys said they had "an ethical duty" to inform the court of what they had learned.

Blehm was listed as active when The Arizona Republic checked the state bar's website on Wednesday.

He did not respond to a request for comment on the issue. However, he submitted a notice to the court on Wednesday afternoon indicating he had been reinstated by the state bar. An attached letter from the association said his reinstatement was effective as of June 17.

Kari Lake Attorney Bryan Blehm attends the Kari Lake election challenge trial at Maricopa County Superior Court in Mesa on May 19, 2023.

It is the latest legal trouble for Blehm, who was recently issued a 60-day suspension by the state bar for lying while representing Republican Kari Lake in a lawsuit that sought to overturn the results of the 2022 election. He will be temporarily barred from practicing law starting July 7.

His suspension is also a new twist in the case, which challenges the county's policy of redacting names of election workers while responding to public records requests.

County election officials say the measure aims to protect low-level employees from threats in an increasingly volatile political environment and is justified under an exemption to public records law known as "best interest of the state."

"Once these names go out there and are placed into the public sphere ... it entices bad actors to quote-on-quote hold these people accountable," said Jack O'Connor of the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. "It is foreseeable."

But We The People Arizona Alliance, an organization that has long spread voting conspiracies, says the policy interferes with its ability to verify elections are being administered properly and investigate perceived abnormalities.

"There's evidence on both sides that people are somewhat out of control in their tone," Blehm said, adding that the group works toward election integrity "so that a lot of this nonsense going on in society, which they have nothing to do with, stops."

An emotional hearing

Four people took the stand in court: We The People Arizona Alliance Chairwoman Shelby Busch, Recorder Stephen Richer, Elections Director Scott Jarrett and former Elections Department employee Kristi Passarelli. All of them said they'd received harassing messages and threats.

Richer said a temporary worker came into his office distraught after someone took a photo of her in her vehicle and threatened to post it on social media. The worker told Richer that the man had accused her of stealing the election.

"I have had people walk out in tears and never come back," Richer said. "I have had long-term employees quit."

Threats toward election officials tend to spike amid elections, Richer said. But they also can be spurred by other events. He said election officials received a number of nasty messages and threats when former President Donald Trump came to Arizona in early June for a political rally.

"Bad actors are obsessed with elections right now," Richer said.

Arizona politics: Kari Lake's lawyer sanctioned for 60 days for lying in effort to overturn '22 election

Jarrett said many people who apply to become poll workers, help with signature verification or perform other temporary election work ask whether their names will be made public. He said the county began redacting low-level employee names in 2022 because threats were escalating.

"All these staff members were getting very concerned about their safety," he said.

Passarelli said she began receiving threats the day before the state primary election in August 2022. The people behind the social media messages, emails and voicemails accused her of helping to steal the 2020 election.

She quickly locked down her social media accounts and created an email filter. She recalled being escorted to her vehicle to ensure nobody tried to harm her as she entered and exited the county's election headquarters. As she left work, she often worried that someone might try to follow her home.

The threats were so concerning that Passarelli asked her parents and two sons to take basic safety precautions, fearing someone might try to harm them if they couldn't get to her.

"It was one of the most difficult things I had to do," she said. "To tell them that people were targeting their mom, to be careful about having their last names on social media."

Busch said she also receives death threats "on a regular basis." She told The Republic that her contact information had been released on social media days before the court hearing and she was still receiving harassing messages from it.

"I believe it's fair to say it exists across the aisle in our political parties," she said, adding that she knows of several high-profile conservative state lawmakers who have also received threats.

But she said she believes redacting county employees' names restricts transparency and only heightens societal unease around election administration. She wishes to track down election workers using county records and talk with them about their experiences with signature verification and other processes.

Busch said she doesn't condone threats against county employees. But Passarelli noted her face and name still appear in videos on We The People Arizona Alliance's website.

Passarelli said she received a new message days before the court hearing. The sender said she should be in jail.

"This is the first time I'm talking about it in a really long time," Passarelli said. "I don't want anyone else to have to go through what I went through."

What now?

Blaney took the case under advisement last week. That means a ruling should be coming soon.

"There's so many different state agencies that I deal with in my courtroom that would love to have their employees shielded," he told county attorneys, adding that he would need time to weigh the "broad" disclosures included in state public records law against their arguments that election workers could be harmed if their identities were publicly exposed.

But Blehm's suspension could impact what happens next. Blaney has yet to respond to the county's letter notifying the court of the issue.

Tom Liddy, civil division chief for the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, said he's never encountered a similar situation.

"I don't know what the judge will do," he said.

Tim Tait, a spokesperson for the Maricopa County Superior Court, said Blaney could formally address the issue, but that it will most likely be resolved through the state bar.

Spokespeople for the association did not respond to a request for comment. Bar proceedings begin with a "charge" against an attorney. The state bar reviews allegations to determine if there is enough information to dismiss a case or proceed with a recommendation of discipline.

The bar's recommendation then goes to the Arizona Supreme Court's Attorney Discipline Probable Cause Committee for review. The committee can take a number of actions, including dismissing a case, ordering the state bar to investigate further or imposing a range of discipline.

An attorney can appeal the committee's decision to the presiding disciplinary judge. The judge heads a three-member panel that adjudicates discipline. The state bar or the attorney facing discipline can also appeal to the Arizona Supreme Court.

The bar does not make charges public until after review by the Attorney Discipline Probable Cause Committee.

Republic reporter Fernando Cervantes Jr. contributed to this article.

Sasha Hupka covers county government and election administration for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at sasha.hupka@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @SashaHupka. Follow her on Instagram or Threads: @sashahupkasnaps. Sign up for her weekly election newsletter, Republic Recount.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suspended Arizona attorney participates in election court hearing
Bullets are seen in a magazine holder during a gun rights and free speech protest near the state Capitol in Raleigh, N.C., in 2020. States have considered a variety of gun policies this year, with especially heated debate in swing states. (Gerry Broome/The Associated Press)

Read more Stateline coverage of the 2024 election.

States continued to diverge on gun policy this year, with especially intense debate in the swing states that will decide Novembers election.

In Michigan, legislators are considering at least half a dozen gun bills that would create storage requirements and establish gun-free zones. In Pennsylvania, lawmakers are still debating measures that would ban sales of untraceable guns and gun parts, prohibit bump stocks and make some procedural changes related to gun purchases. Meanwhile, Republican legislators in Arizona, Georgia and North Carolina have sought to make it easier for people to procure guns and to carry them in more places.

This past week offered reminders of the continuing salience of guns in American life.

On June 14, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a 2018 rule  issued by the Trump administration  that banned bump stocks, which are attachments that transform semiautomatic rifles into weapons that can shoot hundreds of rounds per minute. The administration issued the rule after a gunman used semiautomatic rifles equipped with a bump stock device to kill 60 people and injure more than 500 others at a Las Vegas music festival.

And on Saturday, a gunman opened fire at a splash park in Rochester Hills, Michigan, injuring nine people  including two children. The violence came three years after a student opened fire at Oxford High School in the same county, killing four people and injuring seven.

Mass shootings that occur close to election seasons typically have a significant effect on the countrys perception of guns, according to experts.

If there are any particularly horrendous shootings in the months to come, that has a way of pushing the issue back to the forefront of the agenda, Robert Spitzer, a gun policy expert who has written six books and over 100 articles on gun policy, told Stateline.

Meanwhile, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and GOP candidates nationwide have made crime and public disorder main themes of their campaigns  even though most crime measurements are trending downward.

Gun policy has been a topic of debate for decades, but has become especially prominent as the number of gun-related deaths and mass shootings has grown almost every year since 2014, according to the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit group that tracks gun violence in the United States.

A Gallup poll from October 2023 found that the majority of U.S. adults, or 56%, support stricter gun laws, while 31% think they should remain as they are and 12% prefer less strict laws. Meanwhile, a Pew Research Center survey from June 2023 found that 60% of U.S. adults say gun violence is a major problem in this country.

Other states  including Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia  also considered gun-related legislation this year.

Electoral impact

Voters who support gun rights are often highly mobilized and consistently turn out at the polls because of their strong personal connections to firearms, according to politics and gun policy experts.

In contrast, voters who support gun safety measures are harder to mobilize because they are more likely to prioritize other issues, such as the economy or foreign policy.

A small but highly motivated minority can often win the day politically over a large but fairly apathetic majority, said Spitzer, an emeritus professor of political science at the State University of New York at Cortland and an adjunct at the William & Mary Law School. Thats kind of the short version of how you explain whats been going on in gun politics in America.

Extensive academic research and numerous studies can support either side of the gun policy debate. Politicians will use whatever data or studies that best support their platforms, according to political communications experts.

For example, left-leaning Democratic politicians often cite studies suggesting a correlation between stricter gun policies and lower crime rates, according to Jacob Neiheisel, a political science professor at the University at Buffalo.

But gun rights think tanks and organizations also produce research supporting their position, including the claim that crime rates drop when more people carry guns, Neiheisel added.

Experts stress that, regardless of party or position on gun policy, its important for people to understand how the data was collected and to be aware of potential biases.

For example, politicians often rely on annual national crime and victimization data produced by the FBI, but these datasets measure crime differently  a fact that is not always well understood by politicians or voters.

This allows some politicians to lean on the sources that best support their arguments on gun policy, said Alex Piquero, a criminology professor at the University of Miami and former director of the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Its not that the data are wrong. Its not that the data lie. Its just that there are different data measuring different things, Piquero said. But if the average person doesnt know that or doesnt take the time to understand  then they are an ill-educated voting populace.

Campuses and polling places

In Michigan, legislators are considering at least half a dozen gun bills, including measures that would establish firearm storage requirements and prohibit guns in certain state-owned buildings and within 100 feet of polling places, drop boxes, early voting sites and absentee ballot counting boards.

Being that we dont want firearms at polls or counting boards is very reasonable and very much needed in the spirit of promoting democracy  allowing people to cast their votes without fear of intimidation, said Democratic state Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou, one of the sponsors of the elections-related gun bills, in an interview with Stateline.

Tsernoglou said she expects both bills to pass this session. While they have already cleared the House and Senate, the bills await another vote in the House before advancing further. The legislature adjourns in December.

The Wisconsin state legislature, now adjourned, considered a handful of gun bills during its session. One bill sought to prohibit credit card companies from mandating specific merchant category codes for firearms retailers and prevent governmental entities from compiling lists of firearm owners based on background checks. This bill passed the legislature, but was vetoed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in March.

Another proposed bill in Wisconsin sought to ban firearms in buildings or on the grounds of publicly or privately owned colleges and universities in the state. This bill did not advance in the legislature, but Democratic state Sen. Kelda Roys, the bills lead sponsor, plans to reintroduce it during the next legislative session.

We have now a whole generation of young people that have grown up with this horrible specter of gun violence following them through their education, Roys said.

In Georgia, a measure that bans firearm purchase tracking was signed into law in April and will go into effect in July.

A proposed bill in Arizona would have allowed people with valid concealed carry permits to carry firearms on university and college campuses.

Another Arizona bill under consideration would have prohibited local governments from restricting or banning gun shows within their respective jurisdictions. The Arizona legislature has adjourned, and neither bill advanced.

State legislators in Pennsylvania are still considering at least six gun bills, all of which would further restrict gun purchases and ownership. Some of these bills would ban future sales of assault weapons, outlaw the purchase, sale and production of untraceable guns and gun parts, and reduce the time judges have to notify the state police about people with mental health records from a week to about four days for background checks.

While some of these bills have failed in the House, the Pennsylvania legislature adjourns at the end of November, so there may be more activity closer to the upcoming election.

Permitless carry

State legislators in North Carolina may consider at least two gun-related bills this session, with sponsors planning to reintroduce and garner support for their proposals.

One bill would make North Carolina the 30th state to allow permitless concealed carry or constitutional carry, meaning it would be legal to carry a concealed firearm without a permit.

The bills supporters point to FBI data in arguing for the measure.

Crime rates go down when you have armed citizens. Theres no doubt about that. The FBI holds that up time and time again, said Republican state Rep. Keith Kidwell, one of the bills sponsors, in an interview with Stateline.

The gun rights group Grass Roots North Carolina is pushing for the supermajority Republican legislature to pass the bill, arguing that there has been no increase in violent crime in any of the states that have adopted constitutional carry.

In North Carolina, people are no longer required to apply for a pistol purchase permit from a sheriff, but they must still go through the sheriff for a concealed carry license. Grass Roots North Carolina would like to see the state enact a constitutional carry bill to remove this requirement.

We are particularly interested in passing [the bill] to make sure that we can keep some of these urban sheriffs from obstructing people from carrying concealed firearms for self-protection, said Paul Valone, the groups president, in an interview with Stateline.

The other bill would establish a so-called red flag law in North Carolina. At least 21 other states and the District of Columbia have similar laws, which typically allow a judge to take someones firearms away if they are deemed to be a harm to themselves or others.

Many gun rights groups argue that red flag laws infringe on Second Amendment rights and the right to due process.

I dont care which right it is, you dont take away peoples rights without the due process of law, Kidwell said, adding that he will work to prevent the bill from advancing.

Democratic state Rep. Marcia Morey, a former judge and the bills lead sponsor, told Stateline in an interview that the bill includes specific protections to prevent any infringement on due process rights.

Its just about keeping people safe, and the safety, I think, preempts any right to possess a gun, she said.

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and X.

The post Swing-state legislatures diverge on election-year gun measures appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
AT&T must continue to be Carrier of Last Resort in California, state regulator rules

(FOX40.COM)  After months of deliberation by the California Public Utilities Commission, AT&T will remain the Carrier of Last Resort for California, the regulating body announced on Thursday.

The action means the communications company must continue providing landline telephone service in mainly rural areas of the state if customers there request the service.

AT&Ts request to stop being the carrier of last resort could not be honored because there is no other carrier being designated, the CPUC said. The decision affects hundreds of thousands of Californians who live in rural and isolated areas of the state.

According to the CPUC, they received over 5,000 public comments regarding the withdrawal request and saw nearly 6,000 people attend their eight public forums.

Our vote to dismiss AT&Ts application made clear that we will protect customer access to basic telephone service  no matter where they live, income, or access to other forms of communication, CPUC Commissioner John Reynolds said. Our rules were designed to provide that assurance, and AT&Ts application did not follow our rules.

A COLR is a telecommunications service provider that stands ready to provide basic telephone service, commonly landline telephone service, to any customer requesting such service within a specified area. At least one telephone company in a specified area is legally required to provide access to telephone service to anyone in its service territory who requests it. California Public Utilities Commission

AT&T is the largest COLR in California and covers a large portion of the state including its extremely rugged and rural regions that rely on the landline services.

Why AT&T no longer wanted to be COLR

According to the CPUC, AT&T had filed the request as they no longer receive any federal high-cost support to provide universal services like COLR.

Response to Request From COLR Users

In February, Sierra County, one of Californias most rural counties, voiced concerns if AT&T were to be relinquished of its COLR obligations.

County leaders cited massive changes in elevation, severe weather conditions, public safety power shut-offs, and the potential for wildfires as critical issues for why their community is in need of a reliable COLR.

One of the most famous events in the county is the Downieville Downhill Race, which brings hundreds of mountain bikers and spectators from across the world to watch what is considered one of the sports greatest races.

The board said if a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) or wildfire occurred during an event like the downhill races, it would leave not only the 3,000 county residents without the ability to contact emergency services but also the thousands of visitors.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
As a child, Maura Gancitano dreamed of being ugly and becoming a philosopher. She was convinced that if she wanted to be intelligent, she would have to forfeit beauty. A story in a school anthology  Beautiful and Attractive, by Madame Leprince de Beaumont, author of Beauty and the Beast  convinced her that beautiful women are stupid because they fail to cultivate their intellect, while ugly women attract attention on account of their wit.

As Gancitano grew up in Mazara del Vallo, she had the feeling that her boyish gait, sporty clothes, make-up-free face, bitten nails and unkempt hair went against social convention to the point of seeming immoral. A gender expert who writes for the Italian media, Gancitano has written several essays with her partner, editor Andrea Colamedici, on the subject. In her latest book, Mirror, Mirror. The Tyranny of Beauty, she invites us to rethink our idea of beauty beyond the current indoctrination.

She welcomes ideas at Tlon, her philosophy school, publishing house and theatrical bookstore, which has nearly 300,000 followers on social networks and is located in Ostiense, a working-class neighborhood of Rome. Surrounded by books, Gancitano talks to EL PAIS about philosophy and current affairs.

Question: Do we live in an appearance dictatorship?

Answer. We live in a social system that puts beauty center stage, both for judging others and ourselves. Beauty is an obstacle and also a business card that offers some people access while excluding others. Decisions are made on who we are, what we know and what we can do on the basis of how we look.

Q. Can you explain how beauty interferes in our lives?

A. We tend to blame ourselves for not achieving the perfection we are supposed to aspire to. Thats when you see the interference of beauty. It affects behavior and mental health and leads to an inability to perceive our bodies as a whole. Instead, we see dark circles under the eyes; we focus on the nose, the mouth, the thighs... As if we were fragments that should be beautiful, not a body that belongs to us and that is there to serve us and help us do things. This fragmentation makes it difficult to feel free to do what we want.

Q. Have we always lived in what you call the beauty prison or is this a recent scenario?

A. It is a recent scenario that has emerged with the society of the masses, communications, and the cultural system of the 19th century that begins to talk about normal and abnormal bodies, constructing a norm to which we must adhere. It happens especially when women enter social spaces reserved for men where a certain appearance and attitude are expected. This has become more acute with advertising, magazines and television. And it has ended up extending to men as well.

Q. In what way?

A. Not only has the situation not improved for girls, it has become worse for boys. Compared to their grandparents, boys today have a relationship with their own bodies very similar to that of their female counterparts, with ideals to be achieved and certain criteria to be met.

Q. What led you to reflect on the tyranny of beauty?

A. There is a large percentage of women who suffer from the so-called imposter syndrome. And its not natural, its just a cultural thing. We are educated to feel that occupying the place we occupy is an anomaly, and that makes us feel unsafe. This generates problems in self-esteem and self-acceptance that have been more intense and widespread in the last 150 years than ever.

Q. What can we do to escape from this prison?

A. We should ask ourselves this question: are we doing what we really want to do or is it out of a sense of guilt, duty, or a bid to satisfy what others expect of us? Freeing ourselves from the tyranny of beauty does not mean abandoning creams or makeup. It is rather about not perceiving ourselves as decorative wrapping paper that must be beautiful and pleasing to others, which unfortunately is something we are constantly encouraged to do. We should learn to move away from certain images of perfection and develop a positive body image. It is important that there is a collective awareness and discussion on the topic.

Q. Do you think your life would have been easier if your body had not been subjected to public scrutiny?

A. Yes. I come from the South, where there is this idea that you should always act with others in mind. This is something that requires too much energy, time, money, and effort and you dont always want to make that effort. There are women who really enjoy doing their make-up every day, but for the vast majority it is just a social duty. That is, you have to do it because otherwise you pay the consequences; you invite criticism. But you have to find a balance.

Q. Is the rise of the ultra-right generating a setback for women?

A. This government has focused on pushing women to have children and preventing them from having an abortion at all costs. The idea of having control over ones own body is threatened. They say they are working for women, but they have really done nothing. If they want to overcome the current demographic crisis, they have to guarantee economic and labor stability for women, a balance in care and paternity leave.

Q. Why arent we seeing more protests in Italy in response to certain restrictive policies implemented by the far-right government?

A. We Italians are not much inclined to demonstrate. We look enviously at what happens in other countries but tend to resign ourselves. There is a lot of fragmentation. Even the progressive parties have strong Catholic pockets that agree with certain government policies, such as those related to abortion.

Q. Until recently, Giorgia Melonis party was practically a marginal option. How did the situation change?

A. Nowadays, declaring oneself anti-fascist is seen as divisive; its not something that unites the entire political spectrum anymore. Instead, it is seen as exaggerated, a paranoia. In the younger generations, calling oneself a fascist is almost a legitimate identity, suggesting strength. We are seeing cases of bullying in schools with fascist connotations; kids who make the fascist salute in class.

Q. How does politics help to normalize situations that would otherwise set off alarm bells?

A. We have ministers of the Republic who are reluctant to declare themselves anti-fascists.

Q. Giorgia Meloni is denouncing intellectuals who have criticized her origins and her policies. Is there a crackdown in Italy regarding reflection and criticism?

A. These are the so-called reckless lawsuits. They serve to block journalists and intellectuals. It also means blocking freedom of the press and expression. They use it as a warning: better not do anything, better not go against. It is something that the dictator Benito Mussolini did. And it should really scare us.

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(Bloomberg) -- Taiwans opposition Kuomintang threatened to derail much of the ruling Democratic Progressive Partys agenda, amid a deepening row over new legislation that would let lawmakers probe President Lai Ching-tes government and summon top officials.

Most Read from Bloomberg

If the DPP insists on acting against reform and public opinion, then the KMT will fight it on issues ranging from nuclear power to revenue and expenditure laws, KMT leader Eric Chu told reporters. The Cabinet later confirmed it will challenge the laws in the Constitutional Court.

On Friday, the KMT and its Taiwan Peoples Party allies, who hold a narrow legislative majority, again voted in support of laws giving them more power, rejecting the Cabinets request to reconsider the legislation. They argue it will improve scrutiny of government. The DPP and many civil groups view the changes as a power grab on an island that lies at the heart of China-US tensions.

The row deepens an already fractious relationship between the parties, whose lawmakers have engaged in shouting and shoving matches in parliament since Lais May 20 inauguration. Tens of thousands of people across the island protested during initial debates in May, mostly in the capital of Taipei.

The KMTs Chu said the DPP is out of step with public opinion on the reforms, and the party is prepared to fight the ruling partys efforts to end nuclear power and abolish the death penalty. We will do our utmost to push for important bills, including the extension of nuclear power plants, showing that the KMT is standing with public opinion, he said.

Lai said in a statement that he respects the decision to submit the laws for constitutional review.

While the DPP made history this year by winning its third successive presidential election, it lost control of the legislature. The vote Friday shows Lai may struggle to enact his agenda in the face of a hostile parliament. Earlier this week, he announced plans for new defense, health care and climate committees to help push through his policies.

The latest vote means the legislature is awarding itself investigative powers that will let it hold hearings, with penalties or even jail time possible for public officials who refuse to attend or testify. The bills were initially passed in May but were sent back to lawmakers.

Taiwan already has the Control Yuan, which has the power to investigate and impeach officials. It has said the laws risk violating the separation of powers. The DPP has expressed concern that companies could be forced to reveal sensitive commercial information.

If TSMC is going to be summoned and probed by the legislature, they would be forced to give out trade secrets, and Taiwan is basically done, said one protester, a 35-year-old chip industry worker surnamed Cheng, referring to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., maker of the bulk of the worlds most advanced chips.

Around 1,000 protesters gathered outside the legislature Friday, with organizers setting up chairs, tents and air coolers. What started as a bright, hot day in the capital saw afternoon thunderstorms that may deter some attendees. About 500 police were reportedly deployed.

It was unclear how the Constitutional Court would rule on the new laws, according to Liao Dachi, emeritus professor at Institute of Political Science of National Sun Yat-sen University. The amendments effectively empowered lawmakers, whose authority has been much weaker historically compared to the executive branch, she said.

Markets in Taiwan have been largely unfazed by the political confrontation. That benchmark Taiex stocks gauge rose 3.3% this week and is near a record high. The Taiwan dollar is little changed for the week, last trading at 32.37 to the greenback.

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A former school teacher accused of sexually abusing students holed up with a gun for four hours Friday inside a Sacramento County home before being taken into custody, after he failed to appear in court that morning for a hearing in his criminal case, sheriffs officials said.

Steven Richard Kester, 78, was inside the home in the 9200 block of Madison Avenue, near Blue Oak Drive on the border of Orangevale and Fair Oaks.

About 1:15 p.m. Friday, Kester was taken into custody, Sacramento County Sheriffs Office spokesman Sgt. Amar Gandhi said.

Authorities had surrounded the home and evacuated nearby residents as they worked to get Kester to surrender.

Kester was initially arrested on sexual abuse charges three years ago. Hes been free on bail as he awaited prosecution in Sacramento Superior Court. He was scheduled to appear in court Friday morning for a hearing to schedule his trial and to give attorneys a chance to discuss a potential plea deal in the criminal case.

A deputy closes Blue Oak Drive near Madison Avenue during a standoff Friday, June 21, 2024, with a barricaded suspect in Orangevale. The suspect, identified as Steven Kester, failed to appear at a court hearing Friday morning and deputies were relayed to a home to check on him after Kester became despondent.

Gandhi said Kester failed to show up for the 8:30 a.m. court hearing, so his attorney asked deputies to check on him. The Sheriffs Office spokesman said deputies arrived at the home about 9:15 a.m. and found Kester, who put a gun to his head, started stabbing himself with a knife and went back inside the home.

Deputies heard a single gunshot inside the home after 11 a.m., and they have not been able to communicate with Kester since, Gandhi said. It did not appear to deputies that the gunshot was directed outside the home.

The sheriffs SWAT team had the home surrounded, and Gandhi said they were using aerial drones and other assets to try to look inside to check on Kester. Gandhi said that, at some point, the deputies will have to enter the home if they cant reach him.

Ultimately, we want a peaceful surrender, Gandhi told reporters about noon. Theyve been trying to establish communication the whole time, theyve been unsuccessful so far.

He said deputies evacuated nearby homes strictly as a precaution as they would do with any reports of an armed person refusing to surrender. There was no indication Kester intended to harm anyone else, according to deputies.

About 12:30 p.m., sheriffs officials were telling Kester  via a loud speaker  that they could see him in the front living room. They told him to come out and surrender with his hands up or answer his cellphone, so they could speak with him.

Gandhi said sheriffs officials fired less-lethal rounds to burst through windows at the home, so aerial drones could fly in and provide authorities video.

About 45 minutes later, Kester was taken into custody. The extent of his injuries wasnt immediately clear.

Steven Richard Kester, who taught in the Folsom Cordova Unified School District, is taken into custody at his Orangevale home after missing a court hearing in Sacramento Superior Court on Friday and engaging deputies in a standoff Friday. He was arrested on suspicion of multiple felony counts of child sexual abuse in June 2021.

Failed to appear in court

Jay Dyer, Kesters defense attorney, had asked deputies to check on his client after he didnt appear in court.

He is not present, he is out of custody, Dyer told Judge Satnam S. Rattu on Friday morning before prosecutors asked for a bench warrant for Kesters arrest.

I spoke with him last night. I fully expected him here today, Dyer told the judge. He is elderly. He does have some health conditions. ... My primary concern is that he is OK that his health is all right. He has faithfully attended court, up until now. I understand, your honor, to be in a position to issue a warrant, but Id ask the court to hold the warrant.

Mr. Kester is not a danger to anybody.

Dyer said in court that he had tried to reach out to Kester before Friday mornings hearing but did not receive any replies.

My understanding is that, that law enforcement at this point is in contact with him to ensure that hes all right, Dyer said.

Its just not like him, Dyer said. The fact that law enforcement had to do a welfare check to me that bears that out. I dont know whats going on your honor.

Rattu issued a no-bail bench warrant.

Deputies and SED are in a standoff with an armed subject at an apartment complex on the 9200 block of Madison Avenue in Orangevale. Surrounding buildings have been evacuated, please avoid the area. pic.twitter.com/qpujUkMFVo  Sacramento Sheriff (@sacsheriff) June 21, 2024

School sex abuse allegations

Kester was a full-time teacher at Folsom Cordova Unified School District since 1976, retiring in May 2012. He became a part of the districts substitute teacher pool a few months later.

The former school teacher was arrested in June 2021 on charges of committing lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14, according to the Sheriffs Office, which investigated the allegations against Kester in collaboration with the FBI.

The FBI contacted us in May (2021) to alert us of an investigation involving Kester, the school district wrote in a statement at the time of his arrest. We immediately severed ties and removed Kester from the sub list and all involvement with our schools.

The school district has said Kesters employee file showed no arrest reports or disciplinary actions. Sacramento Superior Court records show no prior criminal history for Kester in Sacramento County.

In a separate civil lawsuit, four former Folsom Cordova Unified students are suing Kester, alleging grooming and acts of sexual abuse while they were his students. Theyre also suing the school district, which they say acted negligently and failed to protect its students from serial molestation taking place over the course of several decades.

The plaintiffs allege serial molestation beginning in the 1990s with the most recent case of abuse taking place in 2021 at Cordova Meadows Elementary School.

The four litigants all allege experiencing abuse in different time periods and are 11 to 39 years old. The mother of the 11-year-old is suing on behalf of her daughter, who, according to the complaint, was abused from 2017 through 2021 when she was 5-9 years old.

The child, according to the civil lawsuit, reported to her family that Kester had been abusing her. She disclosed this information following an incident when he held her in a Cordova Meadows Elementary bathroom and molested her for several hours, the complaint states. This led to Kesters eventual arrest in 2021.

The other litigants said they experienced abuse at varying times between 1998 and 2008 at Cordova High School and Folsom Middle School. The lawsuit alleges that Kester was known as Kester the molester throughout the Cordova High student body due to his pervasive and inappropriate touching of the female students and also that he was known to stand outside the girls locker room every day.

The Bees Hector Amezcua contributed to this story.
CLEVELAND (WJW)  The FOX 8 I-Team has found some detectives, dispatchers and others have been working during the Northeast Ohio heat wave under sweltering conditions even inside Cleveland police buildings.

We first heard about problems with air conditioning systems in the First District and Second District headquarters. One photo showed the temperature inside was 90 degrees.

Browns DE Lonnie Phelps arrested in alleged DUI, waived by team

Then, we heard about similar issues in the building housing the Cleveland police, fire and EMS dispatching.

Cleveland Police Union President Andy Gasiewski told us hes been monitoring the situation, and hes contacted the city. He added parts are on order and portable fans and air conditioning units are being distributed.

Local amusement park closes for everyones safety

Cleveland police spokesman Sgt. Freddy Diaz said in an email:

We are aware of the AC issues affecting the buildings. A city technician has been actively working to get this resolved. Upon learning of the delay in completing the repairs, the Division provided multiple fans to help provide some relief to the limited number of officers working primarily in the interior of the building on administrative roles, the majority are primarily out on patrol or completing investigations throughout their shifts. We are hopeful this AC issue will be resolved as soon as reasonably possible.

The folks working in those buildings hope it all gets fixed soon, especially since the extreme heat is sticking around a bit longer.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Teamsters union General President Sean O'Brien will be a guest at the Republican National Convention next month, with a speaking role that sharply contrasts with other labor leaders' embrace of President Joe Biden.

Former President Donald Trump announced the appearance by O'Brien, whose union hasn't made an endorsement yet, on his social media platform.

Our GREAT convention will unify Americans and demonstrate to the nations working families they come first, Trump posted on Truth Social. When I am back in the White House, the hardworking Teamsters, and all working Americans, will once again have a country they can afford to live in and be respected around the world.

A spokesperson for the Teamsters confirmed that OBrien will participate in the GOP convention and has made an identical request to appear at the Democrats convention in Chicago the following month in August.

This is truly unprecedented since it will be the very first time a Teamsters General President has addressed the RNC, Kara Deniz said in a statement. Our 1.3 million members represent every political background, and their message needs to be heard by as wide an audience as possible, and that includes all political candidates running for elected office.

"We appreciate former President Trump's openness to inviting a labor leader to speak on behalf of working families.

Long a Democratic mainstay, the Teamsters have sought to make inroads with the GOP this election cycle. The union held listening sessions with several Republican presidential candidates  including Trump, following a personal appeal from OBrien  and the unions political arm has given thousands to both the RNC and DNC.

At the same time, OBrien has had heated exchanges with anti-union Republican lawmakers, most notably on multiple occasions during congressional hearings with Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) that risked turning physical.

The Teamsters are perhaps the most politically influential of the handful of national labor unions that have yet to endorse a presidential candidate, and OBrien said that they intend to announce their choice sometime after this summers conventions.

Trump has been keen on cutting into Biden's  and other Democrats'  advantage with the union vote, and driving a wedge between labor leadership and rank-and-file members.

At times, Trump has traded barbs with high-profile union leaders like the United Auto Workers Shawn Fain  who endorsed Biden and was a guest at this years State of the Union address  while touting economic policies the former president believes would appeal to autoworkers and other working-class voters.

Ironically, the Teamsters has been one of the chief beneficiaries of the Biden administration's unabashed union boosterism. The American Rescue Plan, which was one of the administrations first legislative priorities, included a bailout program for distressed pension funds that extended nearly $36 billion in assistance to one multi-employer pension plan mostly comprised of Teamsters members and their families.

Earlier on Friday the administration announced that pensions for a million workers and retirees  roughly half a million of whom are Teamsters  across more than 80 plans have been shielded from cutbacks due to the ARP.

Whether it is Social Security, Medicare, or pensions, workers who earn a dignified retirement through decades of hard work and sacrifice should never see their benefits cut due to broken promises or policies that favor the wealthy over working families, Biden said in a statement.
International Brotherhood of Teamsters President Sean OBrien plans to address the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, in what would be a rare appearance by a high-profile labor leader at the GOPs quadrennial meeting.

Former President Donald Trump announced the news on his social media platform Truth Social on Friday, saying OBrien had accepted my invitation.

Sean, I look forward to seeing you represent the Teamsters in Milwaukee, Trump said. Together we can Make America Great Again.

A Teamsters spokesperson confirmed the planned appearance in an email and said OBrien had asked to speak at both the Democratic and GOP conventions.

This is truly unprecedented since it will be the very first time a Teamsters General President has addressed the RNC, the spokesperson said. Our 1.3 million members represent every political background, and their message needs to be heard by as wide an audience as possible, and that includes all political candidates running for elected office.

Most major unions have either publicly opposed or kept their distance from Trump, whose agenda as president was extremely hostile to organized labor. The Teamsters endorsed President Joe Biden during his 2020 run against Trump, but so far, the union has declined to throw its backing behind either candidate for 2024.

In the meantime, OBrien appears happy to hear Trump out. He and other top Teamsters met with the former president in January, rankling members who strongly oppose a Trump return to the White House.

OBrien, who took the helm of the union in March of 2022, said it was important to speak with all candidates.

Theres always a threat to organized labor, so we want to be proactive and make certain every candidate  not just President Biden  understands how important our issues are, he told Politico in March.

When Trump was president, he wasnt exactly friendly to organized labor. He installed members on the National Labor Relations Board who made it more difficult for workers to organize unions and rolled back several workplace regulations meant to improve safety and raise wages.

Once Biden arrived at the White House, he set to peeling back several of those Trump-era changes and shaped the NLRB into arguably its most pro-union form in decades. He also signed a coronavirus relief package that provided $86 billion in funding for troubled union pension funds, with the largest beneficiary being a Teamsters plan.

The AFL-CIO labor federation, which includes 60 unions but not the Teamsters, has already endorsed Biden for reelection. So has the United Auto Workers union, whose president, Shawn Fain, declared during the announcement in January that Trump is a scab.
The Department of Energy is unlikely to meet a deadline set by a federal court for the next step to prepare the Hanford sites vitrification plant to treat radioactive waste for disposal.

On Thursday DOE notified the Washington state Department of Ecology that it was at risk of not meeting the Aug. 1 deadline to start cold commissioning of the plant, a test of vitrification using nonradioactive chemicals to simulate waste before radioactive waste is introduced into the plant.

DOE is asking the Department of Ecology to agree to a four-month extension to Nov. 29 of this year.

The process for commissioning this first-in-kind facility is comprehensive and dynamic, said DOE Hanford Manager Brian Vance in a message to Hanford employees Thursday.

Inside the Hanford vitrification plants Low Activity Waste Facility.

He said the delay was a caused by relatively minor equipment issues that DOE wants to fix before introducing chemicals to simulate radioactive waste into the vitrification plants Low Activity Waste Facility.

DOE remains committed to starting treating radioactive waste by the federal court consent decree deadline of August 2025, Vance said, despite the shortened time proposed between the start of cold commissioning and introducing radioactive waste into the plant for hot commissioning.

DOE broke ground 22 years ago on the vitrification plant at the Hanford nuclear reservation to turn much of the 56 million gallons of radioactive and hazardous chemical waste stored in underground tanks into a stable glass form for disposal.

The waste is left from chemically processing uranium fuel irradiated at the Hanford site adjacent to Richland in Eastern Washington to produce nearly two-thirds of the plutonium for the nations nuclear weapons program from World War II through the Cold War.

Workers at the Hanford site vitrification plant add frit, or glass beads, to the first melter inside the Low-Activity Waste Facility as preparations are made to glassify radioactive waste.

The current plan is to begin treating some of the least radioactive tank waste next year as DOE continues to work toward meeting a consent decree deadline to also start treating high level radioactive waste in the tanks by 2033.

The 2010 consent decree resulted from a Department of Ecology lawsuit over legal deadlines that DOE had missed or was near certain to miss. The consent decree deadlines originally called for cold commissioning to treat both low activity radioactive waste and high level radioactive waste to begin in 2018.

Consent decree deadlines have been extended several times over the last 14 years, including to allow DOE more time due to work delays caused by the COVID pandemic.

The Department of Ecology said Thursday morning that it was reviewing the notification from DOE, which also was sent to Oregon.

If the Department of Ecology agrees to the extension, the federal court must then sign off on the change.

Technical issue at Hanford plant

DOE told the Department of Ecology in its notification Thursday that it has had technical issues with the glass former system at the vitrification plants Low Activity Waste Facility.

Glass forming materials are planned to be mixed with waste and then heated to fill canisters with a molten glass mixture. After cooling, the radioactive waste will be immobilized and ready for disposal.

Environmental cleanup is underway at the 580-square-mile Hanford nuclear reservation. The underground radioactive waste storage tanks and the vitrification plant are in the center of the site.

The glass forming material is trucked to 12 vertical tanks outdoors at the vitrification plant in central Hanford. From there horizontal pipes with a screw conveyor are used to move the solid glass forming material into vessels inside the plant before the glass forming material and waste or waste simulant are added to melters.

There have been problems with clogging as the system has been used so far to move 40,000 pounds of glass forming material into the plant.

The issue with the glass forming system is the main reason DOE has asked for a deadline extension, but it also has some other issues it is addressing at the vitrification plant that might interfere with the Aug. 1 deadline to start cold commissioning.

Other issues are with the thermal catalytic oxidizer, the steam plant Morrison tubes and the overall reliability of the mechanical handling system, DOE told the Department of Ecology.

The delay comes as DOE and its vitrification plant contractor Bechtel National have been making progress on preparing to treat waste at the vitrification plant.

Workers unload a tanker truck carrying sodium hydroxide, a simulant for tank waste, at the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant. The chemical will be used to test treatment processes before radioactive waste is used.

The Low Activity Waste Facility has both its melters operating, and both have successfully melted glass and filled containers with glass.

The first shipment of 10,000 gallons of the simulated waste, which is liquid sodium hydroxide, has been delivered to the vitrification plant for the start of cold commissioning after technical issues with the glass forming system are resolved.

DOE initially talked to the Department of Ecology in April about technical challenges to start cold commissioning, but at that time it was uncertain about a possible schedule delay. Federal and state officials met again earlier this week before DOE submitted its request for a deadline extension.

DOE said that the commissioning process for the complex waste treatment plant is being done methodically for good reason. It is responsible for the safety of plant workers and for protecting the plant as a valuable federal asset, it said.

It has overcome other technical issues as it has worked to commission the plant, including overheating in the power supply system for the melter heaters and a melter cooling panel leak.
With temperatures and tensions soaring, forests are burning in Israel and Lebanon

A plane uses a retardant to extinguish a fire burning in an area near the border with Lebanon, in Safed, northern Israel. (Leo Correa / Associated Press)

It was only 10 a.m., but it had already been a long day for the firefighters in these borderlands of southern Lebanon.

They had barely finished containing a 130-acre forest fire when a call came in at 2 a.m. about a house in flames. Both blazes were caused by bombs from Israeli warplanes.

Now there were three teams, all scrambling one recent Thursday morning to deal with fires from Israeli strikes across the 15 villages and towns under their mandate.

"At this rate, we'll have to get the reserve teams," said Ali Qashaqish, 36, who heads field operations for one of the main fire stations in the southern district of Bint Jbeil.

Ali Qashaqish inspects the burning remains of a furniture fire sparked by shrapnel from an Israeli strike on Aitaroun, Lebanon. (Nabih Bulos / Los Angeles Times)

Summer always means fire in Lebanon's bucolic south  and regular work for fire crews here among the fields and orchards of olives, almonds, pines, cherries, cherimoyas and avocados.

But the fire season this year has been fueled not only by scorching temperatures but also by fighting between the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and Israel. The combination has laid waste to thousands of acres of farmland on both sides of the border, displaced about 160,000 people and wrought heavy economic damage.

Hezbollah fired the first shots Oct. 8  the day after the Hamas attack on southern Israel  in what it has described as a support campaign for Gaza. Since then, Hezbollah and Israel have traded strikes daily along the 62-mile-long border. The death toll in Lebanon has climbed to at least 473, mostly fighters but also 92 civilians, according to tallies to the group's statements and various monitoring groups. Israel says 17 of its soldiers have been killed, along with 10 civilians.

Read more: A halfway war pulses on Israel's border with Lebanon. Will it escalate?

Armed by Iran, Hezbollah has escalated its campaign in recent weeks, attacking Israel an average of 10 times a day, according to observers. Last week it fired 200 rockets on the Galilee area after an Israeli drone strike took out one of its top-flight commanders.

Israel has launched roughly four times as many attacks as Hezbollah over the course of the conflict, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, a Wisconsin-based research group specializing in conflict data analysis. Last week, Israel made its deepest attack yet into Lebanon, striking 75 miles north of the border.

An Israeli firefighter works to extinguish a fire burning near the border with Lebanon, in Safed, northern Israel, this month. (Leo Correa / Associated Press)

In Israel, about 7,400 acres have burned this year because of Hezbollah rockets, the government reported last week, while at least 60,000 Israelis remain displaced from the fighting with Hezbollah. Israeli news channels earlier this month showed smoke wreathing wide swaths of the Galilee and Golan Heights, prompting threats from Israeli leaders to obliterate Lebanon and turn the capital, Beirut, into another Gaza.

Read more: This 5-year-old from Gaza is learning to live with one leg and untold loss

"All Hezbollah strongholds should be burned," Israel's national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, said in a video from the northern town of Kiryat Shmona after a Hezbollah barrage ignited fires in the area this month. "They should be destroyed. War!

In Lebanon, the scale of the fire damage is harder to determine. The country's National Council for Scientific Research reported in early May that 1,680 hectares have burned since Oct. 7, though some officials have put the damage as high as 6,000 hectares.

Fire trucks congregate in Aitaroun, Lebanon, after a trio of missiles slammed into the village's main thoroughfare. (Nabih Bulos / Los Angeles Times)

Many areas along the border have been deemed too dangerous for Lebanese authorities to visit to update their figures.

The war has displaced some 100,000 people in the south and forced farmers to leave their land untended, with leaves layered eight inches deep and crops crowded by neck-high thistles  all ready fuel for any conflagration.

"There's just so much more flammable material than in the past," said Jaafar Kawtharani, the civil defense station chief, which is part of the Hezbollah-affiliated Islamic Health Committee. "Any spark can start a big fire."

An intense heat wave these past few weeks has made for a particularly combustible fire season, as temperatures brushed past 100 degrees and strong, dry winds supercharged spreading flames.

Read more: In northern Israel, fears grow of a war that engulfs 'all the Middle East'

The fires have been exacerbated by the Israeli military's widespread use of incendiary munitions, including fireballs lobbed by catapults and slingshots in a bid to deny Hezbollah fighters forest cover.

A shell that appears to be white phosphorus from Israeli artillery explodes over a house in Al Bustan, a Lebanese village along the border with Israel. (Hussein Malla / Associated Press)

Israeli troops have also deployed white phosphorus, a substance that burns at high temperature and can be used to create smokescreens to obscure troop movements, but can cause respiratory damage and deadly burns. Its use near civilian areas is generally a violation of international humanitarian law.

Read more: Israel and Hamas at odds over cease-fire pact details as international pressure builds

Human Rights Watch reported this month that Israeli forces used white phosphorus munitions in at least 17 municipalities across south Lebanon since October, including over populated areas. Lebanese authorities have counted more than 159 white phosphorus attacks and at least 183 incendiary strikes since October.

"In our sector, before June, we would see phosphorus or an incendiary shell burn once a week or so," said Samer Hardan, head of the government's firefighter station in the southeastern village of Rachaya Al-Foukhar. "Now? It's every day, in multiple areas."

Samer Hardan, head of a firefighter station in southeast Lebanon, trudges through a soot-covered meadow. (Nabih Bulos / Los Angeles Times)

The Israeli army has said its use of white phosphorus complies with international law and that it does not use such shells for starting fires.

Normal ordnance was bad enough. As the firefighters chased calls, a trio of missiles slammed into the central thoroughfare of Aitaroun, a village less than two miles from the border and a staging ground for Hezbollah. The June 6 attack sent burning shrapnel flying 150 feet, sparking fires in an apartment building and three orchards.

Qashaqish, the field operations chief, trudged through the backyard of a collapsed house into an orchard where a colleague sprayed water on flames lingering on the trunk of an olive tree. He looked at his watch then at the sky, scanning for any sign of a drone.

The fire crews had arrived about an hour and a half earlier. Though the fire wasn't completely out, they would have to leave soon or risk being caught in an Israeli attack.

"If I had time, I wouldn't leave a single blade of grass burning," he said. "But this is all I can do now.

"Smell that? That's the oil in the olives burning."

Back in the pickup, he began rattling off the names of orchards ravaged by the hostilities, a note of sadness in his voice: "On this mountain, we've already lost 12 acres of oak. Nearby, more than 200 acres of seasonal fruit trees, not to mention olives."

A burst of static from his walkie-talkie interrupted him as a dispatcher came on to report yet another attack on a village seven miles away.

"Shell, incendiary or white phosphorus?" Qashaqish asked. He gunned the engine and drove off before the answer came.

With well over two-thirds of people in southern Lebanon relying on agriculture and livestock farming, the losses of the last eight months have been devastating, said Mohammad Husseini, the head of the Farmers' Union for the region.

Members of a civil defense team in southeast Lebanon put out embers threatening to reignite under a layer of thick leaves. (Nabih Bulos / Los Angeles Times)

"A lot of farmers aren't daring to go to their lands," he said. "They can't harvest their crops, but they also can't prepare the land to plant again. They've effectively lost two seasons."

Livestock farmers, unable to take care of their animals, were forced to sell most of them for slaughter at cut prices, he added.

Those losses are having knock-on effects across the economy, said Mohammad Chamseddine, a policy specialist at the Beirut-based research firm Information International. He estimated the country was losing as much as $7 million a day. And with little prospect of the war ending soon, tourism is also hurting, he said.

Khaldoun Fanash, a farmer from Dheira, a border town of some 2,000 people that has become a regular target for Israeli forces, fled to the coastal city of Tyre after his house was hit with white phosphorus Oct. 16. It has subsequently been struck three times by artillery, and he's lost tens of thousands of dollars' worth of avocado and cherimoya crops, not to mention 50 beehives.

Lebanese men inspect a destroyed house that was hit by an Israeli airstrike, killing one woman and wounding several other people, in the southern village of Adloun, Lebanon, this month. (Mohammad Zaatari / Associated Press)

Hezbollah, he said, is giving the displaced a monthly $200 subsidy for expenses along with $333 for rent. But rental prices in Tyre are now more than twice that.

"A person used to working on the farm, making $1,000 a month, can't accept working in the city for $100," Fanash said.

Though Fanash remains supportive of Hezbollah, he acknowledged the toll of its extended solidarity campaign with Gaza.

"This war has been going on for eight months," he said. "It's not one or two weeks. And people say it's only going to get bigger.

"In Beirut, people have no problems. You can even see people partying here on the beaches in Tyre. Those of us living on the border, we're the ones paying the price for this war."

That applies to the Israeli side as well. The north of the country supplies 40% of the country's fruit, but agricultural organizations say some 500 growers have left since the start of the war. Tourism there is all but dead. The region is also a tech hub, and those industries have suffered too.

Smoke rises to the sky as a fire burns an area after a Lebanese shelling in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. (Leo Correa / Associated Press)

Many Israelis here fear a Hezbollah version of Hamas' Oct. 7 attack.

"Its not a question of if it will happen but when it will happen, Avichai Stern, the mayor of Kiryat Shmona, the largest town in Israel's north, said in an interview last month with a philanthropy website.

He said only 3,000 of the town's 24,000 residents remain and that many who fled have said they will not return unless the threat from Hezbollah is eliminated.

"We have to wipe them out," he said.

This week, the Jewish People Policy Institute released a poll of 800 Israelis that found roughly two-thirds wanted Hezbollah attacked "with full force," and more than a third wanted it done as quickly as possible.

Hezbollah insists it is not seeking a wider war with Israel. But in a televised address Wednesday, the group's chief, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, threatened that no place in Israel would be safe from the group's arsenal if Israel escalated the war.

Israeli firefighters extinguish a fire near Ramot Naftali, northern Israel. (Ariel Schalit / Associated Press)

Hezbollah and Israel have faced off before, first in 1982, when Israel invaded southern Lebanon and attempted to install a friendly government  a plan that backfired so badly that many Israelis consider Lebanon their Vietnam. The ensuing 18-year occupation, with widespread allegations of torture and killings by Israel and its collaborators, spurred the ascent of Hezbollah.

The last major war between the two was in 2006, when Hezbollah abducted two Israeli soldiers and Israel retaliated by turning villages and towns to rubble.

After the war, the two sides had maintained an uneasy truce. Despite the occasional shelling or Israeli warplane overflight, families would come to the beach in Naqoura, the southernmost city on Lebanon's coast, and swim in the shadow of a giant cutout figure depicting a slain Hezbollah commander.

In some parts of the south, you could drive so close to the border you could make out the license plate numbers on Israeli cars passing by.

People spend time on the beach in the port city of Tyre in southern Lebanon. Many Lebanese have fled to Tyre from areas closer to the Israeli border amid fighting between Lebanon's Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, and Israel. (Anwar Amro / Getty Images)

But it may be harder to recover this time. With Lebanon's economy in free-fall since 2019, rebuilding will be more difficult. There are also fears about contamination of the soil with white phosphorus and what that could mean for farming.

Many here believe it's part of a wider campaign aimed at creating a buffer zone with Israel.

"It's clear in the official Israeli psyche that the security of northern Israel in their mind is premised on emptying southern Lebanon," said Nadim Houry, the executive director of the Arab Reform Initiative think tank.

For now, firefighters are racing to limit the damage as best they can. Hardan, the civil defense chief, drove to a spot by a chicken coop, where a column of smoke had reappeared in an area where they had put out a fire. He dragged a fire hose through a soot-blanketed meadow, then sprayed water at the embers hidden under one of the trees.

"Let both sides fight as much as they want and attack military sites," he said. "But there's nothing here. Why hit this area with phosphorus or incendiary weapons?

"This tree, it's like my child. Even on the other side, when I saw the forests there burning, I was sad  that's the air we breathe."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Tennessees unemployment rate hit an all-time low in May, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development (TDLWD). However, some economists said that number may not fully capture the current state of the labor market.

The states unemployment rate dropped by 0.1 percent between April and May to just three percent, making it the lowest since the federal government began tracking the statistic in 1976. During that same time, the nations unemployment rate increased by 0.1 percent to four percent.

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Tennessees booming economy and strategic investments in workforce development and job creation have set the standard for success nationwide, Governor Bill Lee said in a press release. Now, were making history with record-low unemployment, ensuring Tennessee remains a beacon of opportunity, security, and freedom for all.

Tennessees unemployment rate has been on a steady decline since February. Commissioner Deniece Thomas, who heads Labor & Workforce Development, spoke with News 2 in April about the states progress.

Overall, I think Tennessee is still seeing a pretty remarkable unemployment rate across the state, Thomas said.

According to the TDLWDs April data, Williamson Countys unemployment rate is the lowest in the state at 2.0 percent. Lauderdale County and Clay County are among the highest rates at 4.1 percent each. The press release noted that the state will release each countys May unemployment data on June 27.

The counties that are struggling a little bit with the growth, I think a lot of that has to be reckoned to just the change in activity, Thomas said in April. As workers are leaving one job and going to another, they may be going to an adjacent county, so all those things we have to dive deeper into the numbers to get an exact science, but as you well know with the labor market exact is pretty hard to get to.

While Tennessees low unemployment rate may look good on paper, some economists said that it may be partly due to the dwindling number of people actively seeking jobs, which is depicted in the states labor force participation rate.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

In April, Tennessees labor force participation rate was 59.8 percent, according to TDLWD data, which was lower than the national average of 62.5 percent. Despite that, the states labor force participation rate has remained relatively steady, only fluctuating a little more than one percent in the last year.

The TDLWD said that Tennessee employers created 3,300 new non-farm jobs between April and May. According to the Jobs4TN website, there are 219,000 current job openings in the state.

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Tension grows between U.S. and Israel

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  House Speaker Mike Johnsons office announced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address a joint session of Congress at 2 p.m. ET on July 24.

In response, several Democrats have announced they will skip the address.

His extremist right-wing government needs to hear from the United States that we need peace in the region. Not escalating war, said Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas.).

Congressman Casar said he will not attend Netanyahus speech next month. The Hill.com reported Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) are among the Democrats who will not be at Netanyahus speech.

He should be making sure he gets the Israeli hostages home, Casar said about Netanyahu.

At a press conference on Thursday, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said he would attend Netanyahus address.

The address comes at a time of increasing strain in the relationship between the Biden administration and Netanyahu.

Earlier this week, Netanyahu released a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, criticizing the Biden administration for withholding weapon shipments to Israel.

Its inconceivable that the past few months, the administration has been withholding weapons and ammunitions to Israel, Netanyahu said.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the administration wasnt aware Netanyahu would be releasing that video.

It was vexing and disappointing to us, Kirby said. As much as it was incorrect.

The Biden administration said in May it was delaying one shipment of heavy offensive weapons to Israel, over concerns they would be used in Rafah, a place with more than a million civilians.

Republicans meantime have emphasized their unwavering support for Israel in the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks.

Israel is our ally and she needs to be defended, said Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.).

Israel said nearly 1,200 people died and 250 people were taken to Gaza as hostages because of Hamass Oct. 7 attack.

Since then, the Palestinian Health Ministry said more than 37,000 Palestinians have been killed.

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Bulent Aslanoglu after his arrest on May 9 for his alleged involvement in the stash of 100 kilos of cocaine discovered in Fuenlabrada, in an image provided by the Bogota authorities.

Drug trafficking is big business and, as such, it has suppliers, buyers, intermediaries, logisticians, and investors. In recent months, the Spanish National Police have dismantled a complex scheme comprising criminals of various nationalities who had to seek financial help from an Albanian mafia group to pay to smuggle a cache of 100 kilos of cocaine from Ecuador into Spain. Operation Botnia resulted in the seizure of the drugs and the arrest of 10 people in Spain and a further two in Colombia. Among the latter, Bulent Aslanoglu, alias El Padrino, a dual Swedish-German national who is considered by the Swedish police to be the former leader of a gang called Sodertalje and who was listed as HVT (High Value Target) for his alleged connection with drug trafficking. The Spanish Ministry of the Interior described the operation as an unprecedented blow to the structure of one of the most powerful international criminal organizations.

The investigation began just over a year ago, in early 2023, when agents of the Spanish Drugs and Organized Crime Unit (Udyco) detected meetings in Madrid and Malaga between alleged drug traffickers from various organizations. Among them were three old acquaintances of the Spanish security forces. One was Asnaloglu, who was arrested in 2013 in Malaga for his involvement in a shipment of 246 kilos of cocaine seized in France. The other two were the Atrach brothers, French citizens of Moroccan origin and the alleged ringleaders of a gang specializing in the reception and storage of drugs in Spain. The investigations indicated that the three were allegedly organizing the smuggling of large quantities of cocaine from Colombia, a country where Asnaloglu had contacts with producers.

The investigations took a twist at the end of last year, when agents detected the arrival on the scene of Lucien Berisha, the alleged head of an Albanian mafia clan in Spain, and his lieutenant, Kujtim Tanase. According to the investigation, Asnaloglu and the Atrach brothers had contacted them through a Moroccan based on the Costa del Sol, who allegedly played the role of intermediary to obtain financing. Surveillance revealed that after these initial contacts the Albanians began to travel frequently to their home country and the city-emirate of Dubai, which with its 3.4 million inhabitants and very high standard of living has become a sanctuary for drug lords in the last five years.

Investigators suspect that the alleged Albanian criminals were making these trips to inform their bosses in both locations about the possibility of financial participation in the operation. It was something very similar to a capital increase, said sources familiar with the investigation. Once the approval of the bosses had been obtained  and despite the arrest in December of Berisha on the orders of the Tirana authorities, who were trying to track him down to serve a 20-year sentence for murder  the various groups involved intensified their meetings, allegedly with the aim of arranging a first shipment of drugs by air from Guayaquil (Ecuador).

The first phase of the operation took place last April, after the agents detected that four Albanians  residents of Tarragona, Spain, and allegedly members of what in police jargon is known as the operational arm of the network  were travelling by car to a warehouse located in an industrial estate in Fuenlabrada (Madrid). The police then decided to blow the operation and arrest them. When the agents raided the premises, the suspects were trying to pack the 100 kilos of cocaine distributed in backpacks into false compartments in two vehicles. Simultaneously, Tanase (who had taken Berishas place) and the mediator were arrested in Marbella when they held a meeting, supposedly to coordinate the reception of the drugs and their subsequent distribution to Catalonia and, from there, to Europe.

After that first strike, the Spanish High Court issued eight international arrest warrants for the rest of the identified members of the group. On May 9, Asnaloglu, who was in Colombia to coordinate the operation, and a Colombian alleged to be a member of the group producing the drug, were arrested. A second person of Colombian nationality was also arrested the same day at Madrid-Barajas airport upon landing.

Of the 12 arrested  10 in Spain and two in Colombia  11 have been remanded in custody. The last, a woman who allegedly played a secondary role in the scheme, has been released on bail. Two more suspects remain at large. The police believe that this operation, which also involved the seizure of $424,000 in crypto-assets, has dismantled the groups logistical base in Spain.

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East Helena Public Schools East U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-Montana) announces a $10 million RAISE Grant for East Helena at East Helena High School on June 21, 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, announced Friday that East Helena had been granted a $10.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to redevelop Valley Drive and build out more road infrastructure in the city where new housing developments are expanding.

The city will receive the funding through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program, and 83% of the funding comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that Tester helped to pass.

I dont have to tell the folks in this room one of the biggest challenges facing Montana today is the high cost of housing, Tester told the group of about 60 people gathered in the atrium of the new East Helena High School. From places like here in Helena, Bozeman, and Missoula, all the way to smaller communities across the state like my hometown of Big Sandy, I hear folks who are struggling with the rising costs and the shortage of affordable housing.

Tester praised the East Helena officials who put together what he said was a rock-solid grant application to improve road infrastructure along Valley Drive, where the Highland Meadows Subdivision is being built that includes 319 lots geared toward younger families, and where more housing could be built in the future.

Helena Area Habitat for Humanity also recently received a $100,000 grant that will go toward a subdivision application for a 1,1500-home development the organization wants to build involving different types of homes.

Tester said he had personally spoken with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and urged him to approve the citys grant request, which had originally been for $12.5 million.

Infrastructure is expensive. The local communities cant do it; the federal government needs to be there to improve connectivity, public safety and increase the opportunity for businesses to be able to be in business. Its a win all the way around, Tester said.

East Helena Public Schools East Helena Mayor Kelly Harris and U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-Montana) announce a $10 million RAISE Grant for East Helena on June 21, 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

East Helena Mayor Kelly Harris said the expansion of the citys infrastructure and housing developments marked the next step in East Helenas identity  moving from a smelting town that supported local workers to one that utilizes the old smelting land to build a new identity.

Helena Area Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Jacob Kuntz called the grant award an amazing moment as the city expands. He said more than 70% of people living in the Helena area qualify for Habitat for Humanity programs  families earning 60% or less of area median income  which he said accounted for most of the workforce.

People are being left out of the dream of acquiring an affordable home and need to do something about it, Kuntz said. Weve made some great gains in building strong, durable, safe housing that we needed, and now we need to find ways of building strong neighborhoods to backfill strong homes.

East Helena Public Schools Superintendent Dan Rispens said the build-out of neighborhoods around the new high school would expand the East Helena community and keep children safer going to and from school.

Especially the corridor that were talking about right here, where weve got thousands of schoolkids and moms and dads trying to get from one place to the other safely, this is going to make a huge difference, and I just dont know how to tell you how excited I am, Rispens said.

The post Tester announces $10.2 million infrastructure grant for East Helena development appeared first on Daily Montanan.
The Texas Medical Board on Friday adopted guidance for how doctors should interpret the states new abortion laws, reducing paperwork requirements some saw as overly burdensome but declining to provide a list of cases in which an abortion would be legal.

The board unanimously approved the new guidelines after making revisions in response to concerns raised by doctors, lawyers and people who say they were denied medically necessary abortions. The changes included removing a controversial provision that appeared to encourage doctors to transfer patients who might need an abortion.

Board Chair Dr. Sherif Zaafran acknowledged Friday that, even with these edits, this guidance doesnt address all the concerns the board heard during this process.

There are certain things that we can address and there are certain things that we ultimately don't feel that we have the authority to address, Zaafran said.

This long-awaited guidance is just that  guidance, laying out how the Texas Medical Board will investigate allegations of illegal abortions. The medical board can take away the license of a doctor found to have performed an illegal abortion, and its findings could potentially be used by prosecutors or the attorney generals office in determining whether to seek criminal or civil penalties.

There is nothing that prevents a prosecutor in an individual county or an individual who wants to file a lawsuit to do so, Zaafran said. But my hope would be, and my strong recommendation would be, that any entities out there would defer to the actions of the medical board and its judgment when a complaint has come in as to whether something was appropriate or not.

The final guidance

Texas law bans abortion, except when a doctor, in their reasonable medical judgment, believes it is necessary to save the life or protect the health of the pregnant patient. Doctors have struggled to know when they can safely intervene without risking their medical license, as well as potentially up to life in prison and a $100,000 fine.

The Texas Medical Board was initially hesitant to offer doctors guidance on how they should interpret this medical exception, even after the the Texas Supreme Court called on the board to assess various hypothetical circumstances, provide best practices, identify red lines, and the like.

But after health care lobbyists and lawyers Steve and Amy Bresnen filed an official petition, calling on the board to act, it took on the charge. For advocates, doctors and lawyers whod been hoping for robust clarification of the laws, the first draft of the guidance, released in March, was largely a disappointment. It mostly listed definitions from Texas different abortion laws, and told doctors what theyd be expected to document if they performed an abortion.

The guidance was criticized as both overly vague and overly prescriptive. At a stakeholder meeting in May, Steve Bresnen said the board shouldnt be afraid to start with a blank slate.

Instead, the board tweaked the proposed guidance and adopted it at Fridays meeting. Zaafran said some of what the board was asked to include in the guidance was beyond their scope, including adding exceptions that allow for abortions in cases of rape and incest.

The board did add additional definitions, including language from a law that offers doctors protections if they intervene on an ectopic pregnancy or previable premature membrane rupture. Additionally, the guidance echoes the Texas Supreme Courts ruling that a doctor need not wait until a medical emergency is imminent to perform an abortion.

One does not need to wait until imminent harm is about to happen in order to act, Zaafran said. I can't emphasize that enough. In fact, even though the Supreme Court mentioned it, there was enough concern highlighted in stakeholder meetings that we felt it was appropriate for us to actually specifically include it in the rule.

While some advocates initially hoped the board would issue a non-exclusive list of conditions that would qualify for an abortion, the board rejected that request.

Because each patient and their presenting condition is unique, any list would be incomplete and not necessarily applicable to a given medical situation, Zaafran said. What if you have a situation, a condition that is not on that list? Then there's an implication, even though it may be inaccurate, that that is prohibited.

The main thrust of the guidance lists documentation doctors are expected to produce if they perform a medically necessary abortion. At the May meeting, doctors expressed concerns about having to document these details before intervening, even during medical emergencies.

A cesarean hysterectomy can lead to five liters of blood loss in three minutes, said Dr. Joseph Valenti, an OB/GYN who serves on the Texas Medical Associations Board of Trustees. We don't want to be documenting while we're having blood loss or a baby is dropping heart tones.

The new guidance removes some of the documentation requirements, and says doctors should create this documentation within seven days of performing an abortion. It also eliminated the provision that said doctors should document whether they tried to transfer a patient to avoid performing an abortion.

Zaafran said there was near universal objection to that aspect of the guidance.

Initial feedback

LuAnn Morgan, one of the non-physician members of the board, raised concerns that this guidance didnt go far enough to ensure doctors felt safe treating patients.

We can't take away physicians hesitation or reluctance or concerns or fear, Zaafran said. We can't take away that fear of potential prosecution.  What we can do is highlight as best we can what are the processes that were going to follow in addressing complaints.

Dr. Manuel Quinones, Jr, a family physician in San Antonio who serves on the board, said the doctor-patient relationship is the holiest of holy things.

This ruling is, if I interpret it correctly, is to protect that relationship, that decision that that doctor makes with that patient and that patient's family at that very moment when somebody has to make a decision, Quinones said. Somebody has to make that decision, and that's what we're trying to protect.

During the public comment, Steve Bresnen raised concerns about how this guidance aligns with the recent Texas Supreme Court ruling in Zurawski v. Texas, a case where 20 women allege their medical care was delayed or denied because of the states abortion laws.

In that ruling, the court said the legal standard to bring a case against someone who performed an abortion is that no reasonable physician would have said terminating a pregnancy was medically necessary.

Bresnen said this new guidance doesnt take that ruling into account, and will lead to legal challenges down the road if a doctor is investigated for an improper abortion.

Meantime, that physician and all the physicians in the state are going to have been tortured because your rule does not change the burden of proof in a case alleging a violation of the prohibition on abortion, he said.

In concluding the meeting, Zaafran said the final rule the board approved Friday is not necessarily the final word on this issue.

We're not perfect. That's why this is a process, he said. Final rules can be adjusted, revised, depending on circumstances that may come up.

Just in: Former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming; U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania; and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt will take the stage at The Texas Tribune Festival, Sept. 57 in downtown Austin. Buy tickets today!
More frequent and destructive fires are combining with booming oil production to put towns across the American West at risk, a new study has found.

These trends are made more dangerous by both rising temperatures and the sprawl of Western towns  driven by rising populations  into the increasingly fire-prone wildlands that surround them, the study in the journal One Earth found.

As more than 350,000 houses have been built each year in this wildland-urban interface (WUI), these outlying areas have also become the sites of tens of thousands of new oil and gas wells  sites that both contribute to, and are put at risk by, a new age of destructive fire.

The study found that about 3 million people currently live within about a half mile (1 km) of highly wildfire-threatened wells, and more than 10 million people live near wells that face moderate risk  a disproportionate number of whom are lower-income and people of color.

Oil and gas pollution already causes significant health risks to nearby communities  and particularly children. But the One Earth researchers warned that fires risks are making these situations worse and that it adds to the potential for explosions and wildfire-fueling leaks.

One principal center of this collision is Texas, a site of record oil production that was hit in February by the largest wildfire in state history.

Another is California, where 1,200 people just evacuated from fires in Los Angeles, a city still dotted by thousands of wells, including new ones.

Despite that new drilling, Californias oil industry is in a period of lengthy decline, which helps counter the rising risk from sprawling towns and the worsening wildfires.

About 100,000 wells in the state were at high risk from wildfire in 2017, a number that researchers projected would hold steady throughout the rest of the century.

But in other parts of the country, the picture is marked by increasing risk: Researchers found that the number of wells at risk of destructive fire would nearly double by the end of the century, from just under 120,000 today to about 205,000 by the end of the 2080s.

That rise is driven by Utah and Texas.

The Lone Star State, the nations biggest oil and gas producer, had about 10,000 wells at high risk for fire in 2017  a number that is expected to boom to 76,000 by the end of the century.

In Utah, while fewer than 2,000 wells are currently at risk from fire, that number is expected to rise to 12,000 by the mid part of this century and to 18,000 by the end of it.

The fact that a fire happens around oil and gas development doesnt necessarily mean the wells will catch fire. After the record February fire in Texas, several oil companies told industry news site Rigzone that their operations had suffered no disruptions.

That is something the Railroad Commission of Texas, the states oil and gas regulator, credited to careful preparation on the front end. After the fires, the agency sent out a picture depicting a blackened prairie surrounding an untouched Carson County well pad  an argument for mowing grass and treating weeds to keep fuels for fires away from drilling sites.

But the February fires had been big enough to cut off access for worker or fire crews to many wells, said Ed Longanecker, the head of the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association, a state trade association.

Given the sheer magnitude of the wildfires, some disruptions will likely occur, Longanecker told Rigzone.

In the case of those fires, the oil industry was a cause as well as a potential victim: A Texas legislative committee found that the Panhandle fires had been caused in part by faulty electric equipment installed by an oil company.

Witnesses told the committee that irresponsible oil and natural gas operators  were among the most common culprits contributing to wildfires. Because pumpjacks run on electricity, they require a network of transmission lines that, if improperly maintained, can spark fires.

And as wells decline  and fracked wells decline fast  and are ultimately abandoned, witnesses said that operators often lost economic incentives to maintain that infrastructure or to remove and shut off that wiring.

One Texas Railroad Commission inspector told the Legislature that 32,000 such orphaned wells existed in the Panhandle alone, in what the report described as a minefield of potential fire ignition sources.

These abandoned wells can also be persistent sources of plumes of flammable  and planet-heating  methane, the One Earth researchers found.

The researchers urged regulators to get ahead of these risks, whatever their feelings on the future of the oil economy.

Policymakers, they wrote, had a chance to treat the compounding risks of fire and oil by proactively retiring low-producing wells in wildfire country. They should also monitor those wells for leaks and limit drilling in high-wildfire areas  and above all, make sure the communities with the least resources werent saddled with the most risk.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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This article was originally published in The Texas Tribune.

Texas Democrats are zeroing in on education issues in their bid to flip several state House districts this fall, as they look to blame GOP lawmakers for teacher shortages and school closures and mobilize their base around defeating Gov. Greg Abbotts signature school voucher policy.

That approach came into focus last week at the Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso, where party leaders and House candidates repeatedly bashed Abbotts push to provide taxpayer funds for private school tuition. They also acknowledged the governors recent success ousting members of his own party who oppose school vouchers, invoking it as a reason to focus on battleground House races this fall.

State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, an Austin Democrat who is leading House Democrats campaign efforts, told delegates at the convention that Abbotts crusade against voucher opponents in the primary has tipped the scales of the House narrowly toward passage of vouchers next year.

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To put it another way, we need to elect about three more Democrats to the Texas House to defeat vouchers and defend our neighborhood public schools, she said.

Democrats and rural Republicans in the lower chamber have historically united against measures that would divert state funds to help families pay for private school. Critics say vouchers would siphon money away from public schools that are already facing widespread teacher shortages and budget deficits  a trend exacerbated by lawmakers failure last year to tap the states historic $33 billion budget surplus to boost school funding, after the effort got caught up in the voucher fight.

Most of the House battlefield this election cycle is centered in the Dallas and San Antonio suburbs and South Texas, across several districts with struggling schools where Democrats hope public education will resonate at the ballot box.

Among their top targets is GOP state Rep. John Lujan, who won his Bexar County district in 2022 by 4 percentage points  overcoming trends atop the ballot, where Democrat Beto ORourke carried the district by 2 points over Abbott.

Kristian Carranza, a progressive organizer and Lujans Democratic opponent, said when she meets voters on block-walks, the No. 1 issue at the door is public education and the voucher fight. She noted that the district  which covers south San Antonio and the eastern side of Bexar County  includes beleaguered districts like Harlandale ISD, which closed four elementary schools last fall amid a funding deficit.

For people, this is a lived reality when we talk about private school vouchers, said Carranza, who opposes the measure. The way I talk about this is, the financial crisis schools are facing is due to massive budget deficits, and thats the inevitable result of elected officials like John Lujan who have been choosing to toe the line with their party rather than stand up for their community.

Abbott and his pro-voucher allies argue that parents deserve the option to remove their kids from the public education system, which has been attacked by conservatives over its response to the COVID-19 pandemic and concerns about how race, history and sex are taught in the classroom.

Republicans are already countering Democrats narrative, accusing the House voucher opponents of being responsible for the demise of a bill last fall that would have pumped billions into public schools. The bill died after a coalition of House Democrats and 21 Republicans removed vouchers from the package; the bill author then withdrew the entire measure, citing Abbotts threat to veto education funding that did not include vouchers.

Abbott spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris said Democrats, by putting voucher opposition at the forefront of their campaigns, are fighting for teacher unions and their self-serving agenda, instead of the Texans they claim to represent.

When it comes to education, parents matter, and families deserve the ability to choose the best education opportunities for their children, Mahaleris said in a statement. If Democrats want to make their opposition to parental empowerment a central theme of their campaign, good luck.

Joshua Blank, research director for the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin, said part of the strategy for Democrats is to move the debate over public education back onto friendlier terrain  toward school funding and away from things like curriculum.

In recent years, Blank said, Republicans have mobilized voters based on the idea that, essentially, teachers werent to be trusted and the curriculum had gone off the rails, allowing them to go on offense in an area typically dominated by Democrats.

Traditionally, we think of public education as a Democratic issue, because most often if were talking about public education, were talking about spending, and  theres almost no debate in which Democrats arent going to be more willing than Republicans to spend money on public education, Blank said. But if were talking about curriculum concerns and parental rights, that puts Democrats in a difficult position.

Under the banner of protecting kids in public schools, Texas Republicans in recent years have passed laws aimed at keeping sexually explicit books out of school libraries and limiting how topics like race and racism can be taught in public schools. Conservatives have also extended the battle outside the classroom, passing a law restricting sexually explicit performances in front of minors and proposing a bill that targeted drag queen story hours  events typically held at public libraries and bookstores aimed at promoting literacy.

Over the last several days, Republicans including Abbott and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz have taken aim at Democrats for hosting a drag queen, Brigitte Bandit, at their convention. Bandit delivered a speech where she defended the practice of reading books to children at drag queen story hours and took aim at the Legislatures move to ban transgender youth from taking puberty blockers and receiving hormone therapies.

These are the same Texas Democrats who thought it was a good idea to parade a drag queen on stage to talk about indoctrinating impressionable children, Mahaleris said, underscoring how Abbott has painted the public school system as a hotbed of liberal indoctrination in his push for school vouchers.

Carranza is not the only Democratic candidate shaping her campaign around public education and vouchers. In Dallas County, Democratic hopeful Averie Bishop is emphasizing her background as a substitute teacher in her bid to unseat state Rep. Angie Chen Button, R-Richardson. Bishop also has pointed to the firsthand view she received of Texas flagging public schools as she traveled the state after winning the 2022 Miss Texas competition.

I personally saw how severely underfunded and undersupported our schools are, Bishop said at the Democratic convention. School vouchers will pass if we do not flip my seat from red to blue.

Democrats also see a newfound opportunity to pick up the San Antonio-area seat held by state Rep. Steve Allison  a moderate Republican who opposes school vouchers  after Allison was defeated in the March primary by conservative challenger Marc LaHood, a criminal defense attorney who backs vouchers.

State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, said LaHood holds extreme views that are out of step with the district.

Looking at the contrast between Steve Allison and Marc LaHood, and understanding and knowing the independent and educated voters in the [districts] Alamo Heights area, theres no doubt in my mind that our Democratic hopes just increased tenfold, said Martinez Fischer, who chairs the Texas House Democratic Caucus.

Under its current configuration, the district would have been carried by former President Donald Trump by about 2 percentage points in 2020. Trump would have carried Buttons district by half a point the same year.

LaHood, asked about Martinez Fischers comment, said in a statement that parental choice isnt a partisan issue.

Parents want and deserve to have more options in selecting the best educational environment for their individual children, LaHood said. Democrats are in for a rude awakening if they want to make disempowering parents their hill to die on. I welcome the conversation and the fight.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/13/texas-democrats-house-election-vouchers-public-education/. The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
Days after Louisiana required all public schools and colleges to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) vowed that he would pass a similar bill in the Texas Senate in the next legislative session.

In a post on social platform X, Patrick criticized Texas state House Speaker Dade Phelan (R) for killing a state Senate bill that would have required the display of the Ten Commandments in schools, and he vowed to bring it back.

SB 1515 will bring back this historical tradition of recognizing Americas heritage, and remind students all across Texas of the importance of a fundamental foundation of American and Texas law: the Ten Commandments, Patrick wrote on X.

During the last legislative session, the Texas Senate passed S.B. 1515, which would have required every Texas public elementary and secondary school to display the Ten Commandments. As lieutenant governor, Patrick is the president of the state Senate.

The bill sailed through the states Senate last session on partisan lines, with Democrats criticizing the bill for insulting non-Christian Texans.

A House committee voted favorably on the bill, but it did not come to the floor of the state House, thus preventing its passage.

In his remarks, Patrick blamed Phelan for what happened. The two have been feuding since Phelan presided over Texas Attorney General Ken Paxtons House impeachment trial this year, and both Patrick and Paxton backed a primary challenger to Phelan.

Texas WOULD have been and SHOULD have been the first state in the nation to put the 10 Commandments back in our schools, Patrick wrote on X. But, SPEAKER Dade Phelan killed the bill by letting it languish in committee for a month assuring it would never have time for a vote on the floor.

This was inexcusable and unacceptable. Putting the Ten Commandments back into our schools was obviously not a priority for Dade Phelan, he added.

Phelan did not respond to a request for comment.

The Texas Legislature meets for regular sessions for about five months every odd year, meaning the Ten Commandments legislation could come up at the Legislatures session next summer unless the governor convenes a special session earlier.

Oklahoma and Utah have also considered similar bills in the past.

Earlier this week, Louisiana became the first state in the nation to require that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every classroom, starting next school year. The bill in Louisiana calls the Ten Commandments a foundational document of our state and national government.

However, the American Civil Liberties Union and other civil rights groups, including Americans United for Separation of Church and State, have made clear that they view this law to be unconstitutional, saying that it breaches protections against government-imposed religion.

Former President Trump lauded Louisianas move, posting on Truth Social that he LOVES[s] THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PRIVATE SCHOOLS, AND MANY OTHER PLACES, FOR THAT MATTER.

The White House and Department of Education have not responded to requests for comment on the issue, and President Biden has not publicly addressed it either.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN)  The Bobcats are taking learning to the sky. Texas State University will offer a new Aviation Science degree program through a partnership with Coast Flight Training, the City of San Marcos and Texas Aviation partners, according to a Texas State news release.

The new program was inspired by the increasing national demand for commercial pilots. The degree will be a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences with a concentration of Aviation Science, the release said.

Students will learn how to fly and will be able to pursue becoming an airline, commercial or professional pilot, according to the release.

In the next decade, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the demand for commercial pilots will grow nationally by more than 5,600 positions, which is an increase of more than 4%, the release said. Each year, about 16,800 openings for commercial pilots as a result of pilots reaching mandatory retirement, according to the university.

Coast Flight  one of the partners  is an FAA regulated flight school, which is based at the San Marcos Regional Airport, according to their website. Texas State students enrolled in this program will now train at the airport, the university said.

Texas State is proud to partner with Coast Flight Training, Texas Aviation Partners and the City of San Marcos at San Marcos Regional Airport to address the nations pilot shortage by offering this exciting new opportunity to our students, Texas State President Kelly Damphousse said in the release.

More details about the degree and program admission can be found online 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 KXAN Austin.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Clarence and Janie Robison lost their oldest son Barry about six weeks ago.

It was devastating. It was something you never expect, said Clarence.

At 52-years-old, Barry Robison died of natural causes. He battled a heart condition for years. Barrys ex-wife found him in his home.

Passed away before Mothers Day, said Janie.

IN YOUR CORNER: Because In Your Corner woke them up: ONG fixes problems at NW Oklahoma City condos

As if burying their son wasnt hard enough, Clarence and Janie told KFOR they had been struggling for weeks trying to get Barrys death certificate signed by a doctor at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital South.

It was expected to take three weeks, but after not hearing an update for four, Clarence called the hospital.

[I was told] The doctors not going to sign because hes only seen him once for consultation, said Clarence.

However, Clarence said that wasnt true.

Barry had been seeing him quite often for his high blood pressure All of his scripts have the doctors name on them, said Clarence. I was more than frustrated. I was angry.

The Robisons said after exhausting all of their efforts to get the death certificate signed for weeks, they decided to give us a call.

In a matter of less than an hour, we had this resolved and the doctor was signing and faxing over the death certificate to the funeral home, said Clarence.

IN YOUR CORNER: Edible Arrangements employees left with a bitter taste, turned sweet

A spokesperson for the Oklahoma Heart Association sent KFOR the following statement:

Our sincere condolences to the family for their loss. Deaths that occur outside the hospital setting are complicated as an Oklahoma Heart Hospital physician was not present and signing a legal document regarding an unobserved death is complex. The death certificate has been signed and sent to the funeral home. Oklahoma Heart Hospital cares deeply for all patients and families and we send our sympathies to the family. Oklahoma Heart Association

Its a little bit of closure to know that theres people out there that care that that will help you, said Clarence. We thank KFOR for that.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Nicholas Michael Nelson, who goes by "Poodle," takes medication in their unit at the public housing facility where they live in the Tenderloin neighborhood in San Francisco. Poodle has struggled with addiction from a young age. (Loren Elliott / For The Times)

After coming out as gay at 14 years old, Nicholas Michael Nelson was kicked out of the family home in Oceanside and spent the next twenty years struggling with homelessness and drug addiction.

Nelson, who is nonbinary and goes by the name Poodle," moved to San Francisco last year and turned to shoplifting to survive in a town that's pricey even for the well-to-do.

"I wasnt ready to fly a sign," said Poodle, referencing a term that is slang for panhandling. "It's degrading."

Still struggling with drugs, such as fentanyl, but living in a subsidized apartment and no longer going hungry, Poodle in December decided to stop stealing once and for all.

Lawmakers have spent all year working on an ambitious package to crack down on retail theft. They have been outspoken about not wanting to criminalize the poorest and most desperate Californians if they steal necessities such as food while also making sure store owners and communities feel protected from these crimes. Poodle exemplifies the complexity of the issue: They represent someone who has both stolen out of need and has also been a part of organized theft rings.

Nelson, who goes by "Poodle," moved to San Francisco last year and shoplifted to survive. Having found housing and no longer going hungry, Poodle in December decided to stop stealing. (Loren Elliott / For The Times)

The Democratic-led Legislature is expected to pass a bipartisan 13-bill crime package that will head to Gov. Gavin Newsom for consideration. The legislation would enact some harsher criminal penalties for repeat thieves, give store owners the chance to file for restraining orders against repeat offenders and provide prosecutors with better tools to prosecute car break-ins and multiple thefts that take place across counties. If signed into law, the bills will immediately be put into effect.

Some Democrats have been steadfast in creating tougher criminal penalties for those who are part of organized theft operations, but are hesitant to cast their votes on some legislation that could send those in desperate need to jail for stealing out of necessity.

"Youre hungry! We all know what its like when were just a little hungry," said Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City), who sits on the Assembly Public Safety Committee. "When you are hungry and you are desperate, you make desperate decisions."

Read more: Tough-on-crime measure officially qualifies for November ballot as rifts in Legislature mount

Wilson said food insecurity from her childhood is a feeling she knows all too well. And although desperation is not an excuse to steal, she thinks the law should not forget to "take care of people."

"As a legislator, its like, 'OK, I can fix that so another kid doesnt have to end up on the wrong track," she continued. "I know Im saving someone."

Poodle spends some weekdays on the corner of Octavia and Page Streets near the freeway exit clutching a piece of cardboard that reads: "Dont want to steal. Anything helps." They figure getting a few bucks a day from friendly pedestrians is better than nothing.

I got tired of waking up and stealing every day, Poodle told The Times. They said that things have become "out of control" and agreed that there should be jail time for certain repeat offenses. I was just so uncomfortable. I knew what I was doing was wrong. I had already done jail time for petty theft with a prior. I fought so hard to get my freedom back, I was so scared of getting it taken away.

Poodle spends some weekdays on a street corner with this sign. (Loren Elliott / For The Times)

The Legislatures Democratic leadership wants to resolve the retail theft problem that some argue has been blown out of proportion. Still, lawmakers have been hesitant to pass legislation that hurts the poorest and most marginalized Californians. The bills they have ushered forward address people exactly like Poodle.

Magnus Lofstrom, the policy director of criminal justice at the Public Policy Institute of California and author of widely disseminated research on this issue, knows the nuances involved.

"Part of [the problem] may be driven by people who are poor, lacking opportunities, might be dealing with behavioral health issues, homelessness," Lofstrom told The Times. "From my perspective, we are seeing symptoms of a social problem."

In 2014, California voters passed Proposition 47, a ballot measure crafted amid California's efforts to abide by a federal court mandate to eliminate prison overcrowding. In the decade since, California has been positioned as a leader in criminal justice reform, but after an uptick in property crimes amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many skeptics have blamed the decade-old law for the increase.

Read more: Secret negotiations heat up in Sacramento as budget, ballot deadlines loom

A prosecutor-led initiative that could undo parts of Proposition 47 has qualified for the November ballot. Proposition 47 reclassified some felony drug and theft offenses under $950 as misdemeanors. The measure helped reduce jail and prison populations and has saved the state upward of $100 million annually. That money helps fund reentry programs and victim services programs across California.

Earlier this year, Newsom suggested a blueprint of legislation he wanted to crack down on organized retail theft. He has repeatedly emphasized his opposition to changing Proposition 47 through the statewide voter initiative process.

Lawmakers understood the assignment, and at least twenty-seven bills were introduced this year to combat organized retail theft. Thirteen of those bills were bundled into two separate packages brought forward by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) and Senate leader Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg).

Over months of debates in various legislative committees, some Democrats told The Times that they came across legislation that missed the point.

Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas in Sacramento in 2023. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

One bill would make it a felony for anyone to coerce a minor into stealing. Democrats pushed back, calling it "overly broad." Advocates said it would only "criminalize young people" and "overcrowd our jails." The bill failed in the Assembly Public Safety Committee.

Another would expand the definition of organized retail theft to make it a felony for anyone who acts in concert with another to steal infant formula or baby food. Although some do resell these items on the online marketplace, criminal justice reform advocates pushed back, saying parenthood in California is expensive and questioning whether lawmakers were really going to throw parents into jail for trying to get food for their babies. This bill was pulled by its author.

Last week, a public defender ridiculed one bill allowing prosecutors to charge several offenses across counties and handle them in a single court, arguing that the state needs to address "root causes" of theft and invest in basic needs and housing.

"As a public defender, I know that theft is an act of desperation," said Sujun Kim, a deputy public defender in San Francisco.

A fourth bill, by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park), has been considered overly punitive, though it does acknowledge the predicament of many Californians who live in food deserts. It would allow retailers to request restraining orders against people who repeatedly steal. But in weighing a request, the court would have to consider "whether the retail establishment is the only place that sells food, pharmaceuticals, or other basic life necessities within one mile of where the individual resides."

Assemblymember Juan Alanis (R-Modesto), a former law enforcement officer and co-chair of the Assembly Public Safety Committee, told The Times that communities are becoming retail deserts because businesses affected by theft are closing or leaving town. Alanis supports the ballot initiative to roll back sections of Proposition 47, including making the third theft offense of any amount a felony.

Read more: Column: Stop playing politics on retail theft crackdown

"What about the person who owns the store? What about their livelihood? That's how they're making a living," Alanis said. "It's about time we start helping out these small businesses and these families."

Over the years, research has shown that those who are in poverty and who are food insecure are more likely to commit certain crimes, such as stealing, than those who are not.

"Were not trying to lock people up for up to three years because they stole food, they were in poverty, or had a child who was hungry," Berman said. "It is important for the state to address retail theft but we have to be honest with ourselves about why some of this is happening."

Poodle eventually found the Homeless Youth Alliance, a nonprofit organization that helps youth in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. There, they are offered a warm meal, harm reduction courses and a safe community. Because of that organization, they were able to connect with a case worker and get approved for the Single Room Occupancy program, which offers free housing for people struggling to get back on their feet. Poodle now lives in the Tenderloin and said it's the first housing they've lived in since they were a teenager.

Now, at 34, Poodle said they envision a whole new life in San Francisco. They still struggle with drug use, but their volunteer work several days a week keeps them going.

"I feel that I have a job to do here."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 21, 2024 - 19:47 | All, Japan

Japan's top court on Friday recognized a transgender woman as the "father" of her 3-year-old daughter conceived using her frozen sperm and born to her female partner after legally transitioning, in the first such ruling.

Scrapping a high court ruling, the Supreme Court recognized the parent-child relationship of the woman in her 40s, who was assigned male at birth and underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2018, and her second daughter, born in 2020, using sperm preserved before her transition.

"If a child cannot seek recognition because of a gender change, he or she cannot receive support as a dependent or become an heir. This is clearly contrary to the child's welfare and interests," the ruling said.

The Tokyo High Court ruling in August 2022 said the trans woman can only be recognized as the parent to her first daughter born before the legal gender change, but not after, resulting in different parent-child relationship statuses for the daughters.

The decision came despite both children being confirmed as biological children of the woman and her partner through DNA tests.

The woman applied for recognition as a parent of two daughters at a local government after switching from male to female in 2018 between the two births but was rejected.

The family then sought a legal remedy, filing a lawsuit with a Tokyo Family Court in 2021, but the court did not recognize the woman as a parent for both daughters.

Japan does not recognize same-sex marriage. The country's law on gender dysphoria requires surgery to remove a person's reproductive capabilities to register a gender change, but a top court decision in 2023 said that was unconstitutional.

Related coverage:

Japan publisher threatened over publication of trans-skeptical book

Revamped public toilets tours give visitors unique view of Tokyo

Japan high court rules same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional
KEARNS, Utah (ABC4)  A third man has pleaded guilty to the 2021 kidnapping and murder of Nicole Solorio-Romero, according to the Salt Lake County District Attorneys Office.

Jorge Rafael Medina-Reyes, 25, pleaded guilty to murder and aggravated kidnapping, both first-degree felonies on June 20, 2024. He was also initially charged with obstructing justice, though that was dismissed with prejudice.

Our hearts mourn for the loss of Nichole, said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill. We hope that his outcome can help bring about peace and closure for her family.

Medina-Reyes was one of the men who took Solorio-Romero, 25, from her home at gunpoint back on Feb. 6, 2021, according to court documents. The kidnappers then took her to a West Valley City apartment where she was held by knife-point before being shot in the head by Medina-Reyes and then shot a second time by co-defendant Orlando Esiesa Tobar, 32.

I hate them: Murder suspect accused of killing parents said she would do it again

Court documents indicate Solorio-Romero was questioned about speaking with police while being held against her will in the West Valley apartment. Solorio-Romero denied speaking with police but told one of the witnesses that her husband did not commit suicide as the witness thought. Instead, she said he was killed by the two men who had her detained.

Tobar told police that Solorio-Romero knew too much which led to her then being shot and killed by Medina-Reyes.

A sentencing hearing for Medina-Reyes is scheduled for July 23, 2024. He faces five years to life in prison for each of the two charges he has been convicted for.

Medina-Reyes is the third man to plead guilty to Nicole Solorio-Romeros murder. Orlando Tobar pleaded guilty to the murder and aggravated kidnapping charges in May of this year. Tobars sentencing is scheduled for July 22.

Cristian Morales, who was originally charged with felony obstructing justice and desecration of a dead human body, also pleaded guilty in June of this year. Morales charge for obstructing justice was amended to a misdemeanor while the desecration charge was dismissed with prejudice. His one-year jail sentence was suspended and he was released on a two-year probation period.

Ivan Acosta, Fernando Marquez, and Carolina Marquez, all of whom were allegedly involved in the incident are still awaiting trial. Acosta faces charges of obstructing justice and desecration of a dead human body while Fernando and Carolina Marquez face murder and kidnapping charges.

They are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  A GoFundMe fundraiser is gaining traction in the community of Brady, Texas, after the home of a local firefighter and his family burned down on June 20.

The Brady Fire and EMS Department stated in a social media post that Ben West, one of its firefighters and paramedics, was on duty when his son called to tell him that their home had been lost to a fire. The building, along with all of the West familys possessions, was lost in the blaze.

A GoFundMe fundraiser was set up in the aftermath of the inferno by Dwayne Cummings, who asked the community to rally around the family in its time of need.

As you may or may not know, Ben is a career firefighter with 20 years of service to the community, and this loss is so hard when it hits so close to home, the GoFundMe page reads. Now, its our turn to support them during this incredibly challenging time. The fire has taken not only their home but also their sense of security and the place where countless memories were made.

EXCLUSIVE: San Angelo high school grad shares battle with leukemia amid search for stem cell donor

The community has answered the call, it seems. The fundraiser has since raised over half of its $10,000 goal, pooling together $6,125 across 59 donations as of the time of publication.

The GoFundMe page states that all money raised by the campaign will go directly towards helping rebuild their life. It also lists some of the expenses the funds are expected to cover, which are as follows:

Temporary Housing : Providing a safe place to stay while they rebuild.

Basic Necessities : Clothing, toiletries and other essential items.

Furniture and Appliances : Replacing the essentials lost in the fire.

Rebuilding and Repairs: Contributing to the cost of restoring their home.

With thousands of dollars raised to help the West family rise from the ashes, the citizens of Brady  and, perhaps soon, the entire Concho Valley  have shown some Southern hospitality to one of its own.

No donation is too small, and every bit helps. Even if you cannot donate, sharing this campaign with your network can make a huge difference, the GoFundMe page reads. Lets come together to show that they are not alone and that their community stands with them.

To support the fundraising effort, donate to the GoFundMe campaign or share it with others.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com.
Four dead and several injured in Arkansas grocery store shooting

A window riddled with bullet holes at the store in Fordyce - AP

Four people have died and several were injured after a shooting at a grocery store in Arkansas on Friday, police said on Saturday. Cars were riddled with bullet holes and panicked bystanders scrambled for cover during the attack.

The fourth person died on Saturday evening, Arkansas state police said in a statement, listing a total of 14 people as hit by gunfire: 11 civilians, two law enforcement officers and the suspect.

The dead were identified as Shirley Taylor, 62, Callie Weems, 23, Roy Sturgis, 50, and Ellen Shrum, 81  all civilians, according to the statement.

The wounded ranged in age between 20 and 65, police said. Four were still on hospital, including a woman who was in critical condition.

The wounded agents were identified as Fordyce Police Officer James Johnson, 31, who was released from a hospital on Saturday evening, and Stuttgart Police Officer John Hudson, 24, whose injuries were said to be minor.

Police said the suspect was Travis Eugene Posey, 44, of New Edinburg, and he would be charged with four counts of capital murder.

He was treated for non-life-threatening injuries after exchanging gunfire with law enforcement and was then released to police custody and taken to the Ouachita County Detention Centre, police said.

Police have not released a motive. A media briefing to update about the shooting was announced for Sunday afternoon.

The incident occurred on Friday morning in the small town of around 3,200 people, around 70 miles south of Little Rock, the state capital.

Law enforcement officers rushed to the scene and two were injured in the shooting - AP

Arkansas State Police did not explain the circumstances of the shooting but said that the wounded police officers were expected to survive.

Injuries of civilians ranged from non-life-threatening to extremely critical, he said.

Videos posted on social media showed at least one person lying in the car park. Another captured multiple gunshots ringing out.

Images from reporters on the scene showed a slew of bullet holes in the grocery stores window.

The injured officers are expected to survive - AP

In video footage, local and state agencies could be seen responding to the scene, with at least one medical helicopter landing nearby.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the Arkansas governor, issued a statement later on Friday.

I am thankful to law enforcement and first responders for their quick and heroic action to save lives, she said.

My prayers are with the victims and all those impacted by this horrific incident.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the Arkansas governor, offered prayers to the victims - REUTERS

The incident comes a week after Joe Biden, the US president, acknowledged he had not met many of his pledges on gun safety.

More children are killed in America by guns than cancer and car accidents combined, he said at the annual training conference for Everytown for Gun Safety.

He called for an outright ban on civilian ownership of assault rifles, which have been used in some mass shooting incidents.

The issue is a well-established dividing line between Democrat and Republican candidates at presidential elections.

Mr Biden has criticised his Republican rival, Donald Trump, for addressing a conference of the National Rifle Association (NRA) and taking a conservative stance on the current rules.

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(KLFY) Three men of the Lake Charles area were sentenced for multiple firearm and drug charges, including heroin and fentanyl.

Dexter Jamone Allen, 37, of Fenton was sentenced to 151 months, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of firearms by a convicted felon and possession with intent to distribute a substance containing heroin and fentanyl. He pleaded guilty to the charges on Feb. 7.

On February 8, 2022, after the Calcasieu Parish Sheriffs Office stopped the vehicle Allen was driving to issue a traffic violation and execute an arrest warrant, a vacuum sealed bag of suspected heroin, .45 caliber ammunition and a large amount of cash was discovered and seized. The suspected substance that was found was later analyzed, and it was confirmed it was at least 49.81 grams of heroin, fentanyl and 4-ANPP. A search warrant for Allens home was obtained, and additional controlled substances, a digital scale, more cash and five firearms and ammunition were found; two of the seized firearms were reported as stolen.

Brendan Alexander Delafose, 28, of Lake Charles has been sentenced to 24 months in prison with three years of supervised release to follow, for illegal possession of a machine gun. He pleaded guilty on Jan. 31.

Authorities stopped Delafose in July 2021 for careless driving, and deputies discovered he had marijuana. Law enforcement officials found a Glock firearm with a Glock conversion device attached which purposefully converted the firearm to a machine gun.

Daniel Chemeeks Rodasti, 35, of Lake Charles was sentenced to 105 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. He pleaded guilty to the charge on Feb. 7.

In June 2021, Rodasti committed a traffic violation, and officers stopped him as a result of it. Deputies smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle as they approached. After conducting a search, deputies found and seized a Smith & Wesson semi-automatic pistol and an Arex semi-automatic pistol. Rodasti could not have a firearm or ammunition due to a previous felony conviction.

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A sign reading "Attorney General at the Federal Supreme Court" is pictured at the entrance to Germany's Federal Public Prosecutor's Office building. Christoph Schmidt/dpa

Prosecutors in Germany have revealed that three suspected agents for a foreign intelligence agency are in custody after being arrested earlier this week.

The suspected foreign agents were arrested in Frankfurt on Wednesday, according to Germany's federal prosecutor's office, which revealed the arrests for the first time publicly on Friday.

The men were brought before a judge on Thursday, who ruled that the men should continue to be held in custody.

"The three accused were travelling in Germany on behalf of a foreign secret service in order to gather information on a person from Ukraine who was staying here," the highest German prosecution authority added.

The specific foreign secret service for which they were working remains unidentified, prosecutors said.

The alleged agents are a Ukrainian, an Armenian and a Russian national. They are "strongly suspected" of having worked for a foreign secret service, they said.

Their mission allegedly involved collecting information on a Ukrainian individual residing in Germany. On Wednesday, the trio was observed scouting a cafe in Frankfurt where their target was expected to be, according to prosecutors.

The arrests were made based on observations rather than a tip-off, which is often the case in such scenarios, dpa has learned.

This is not an isolated incident. German prosecutors have been handling several espionage cases recently.

In late April, four suspected agents were detained for allegedly working for a Chinese secret service. Among them was a former top aide of Alternative for Germany (AfD) lawmaker Maximilian Krah.

Krah has been battered by several scandals, including allegations of accepting funds from Russia and China.

His former aide is accused of passing on information about European Parliament activities and spying on Chinese opposition members in Germany.

Less than a week earlier, two men were arrested in Bavaria for allegedly working for a Russian secret service.

They were reportedly scouting potential targets for sabotage operations intended to undermine Germany's military support to Ukraine amid the Russian invasion.

Germany remains a significant target for espionage due to its prominent role in the EU, NATO, and other international organizations.

A 2023 report from Germany's Interior Ministry on the protection of the constitution underscored the significant use of human intelligence, cyber attacks, and other technical reconnaissance tools by foreign powers in their intelligence operations, which present a grave threat to Germany and its interests.
MORRILTON, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Court documents show the suspect associated with the double homicide in Sequoyah County on June 18 had an extensive criminal history.

Stacy Lee Drake, 50, was arrested in Morrilton on Thursday morning after a multi-day search. He was charged later that day by a Sequoyah County attorney for two counts of first-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Stacey Lee Drake moments after he was captured. (Courtesy: Arkansas State Police)

Stacy Lee Drake, 50 (Courtesy: Conway County Jail)

He has also been connected to two other homicide investigations, one in El Reno, Okla., and the other in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Murder charges filed against Alabama man for double homicide in Sequoyah County

This was not the first time Drake was wanted for crimes across multiple states.

Here is a timeline of Drakes extensive criminal history:

1994

Court documents show in Arizona in 1994, Drake was convicted of armed robbery.

2003

Drake was convicted of aggravated assault in Arizona for attacking a peace officer, according to court documents.

February 6, 2010

Fort Smith police say Drake was wanted for a home burglary. The residents of the home were reportedly tied up and had their cash, credit cards and car stolen.

Drake was identified as the suspect in the case but had already fled to Alabama where he was in custody, according to FSPD.

The bank cards and money were never recovered.

March 31, 2010

Drake was indicted by the Northern District of Alabama for a carjacking in Gordo, Alabama, on carjacking, using a firearm during a carjacking, and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm charges.

Its going to be a celebration family of murder victim speak after suspect caught

August 27, 2010

Drake pleaded guilty to all three charges and was sentenced to the maximum of 22 years in prison. His sentence was enhanced because of the two previous convictions and considered a career criminal.

2016

Two Supreme Court cases in 2015 and 2016 allowed for Drake to be resentenced without enhancement because his previous felonies were no longer seen as violent crimes.

In light of Johnson vs. United States and Welch vs. United States, Mr. Drake is entitled to be resentenced without the career offender enhancements because his Arizona convictions no longer qualify as violent felonies or as crimes of violence Mr. Drake is not an armed career criminal or a career offender, a motion for relief said.

2017

Court documents said because of these Supreme Court cases, Drake was resentenced in 2017 to 11 years, half of his original sentence.

His time previously served was credited to this sentence, allowing him to be released sooner.

Wanted man has criminal past in Fort Smith

2022

An Alabama newspaper reported Drake pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery in Dale County in southeastern Alabama. He received a 10-year suspended sentence, according to court documents.

June 2024

On June 18, the Sequoyah County Sheriffs Office responded to a double homicide at LaFerrys Propane in Gans.

A filing in Sequoyah County on June 20 said Drake was at the business on the afternoon of June 18 and no other persons [entered] or [exited] during that time frame.

Once he left the business, he allegedly drove away in one of the victims cars which was later found in Morrilton.

Family identifies woman killed in Oklahoma double homicide

The following day, authorities out of Arkansas and Oklahoma announced a manhunt for Drake.

Drake was arrested in Morrilton on June 20 after a multi-day search. Arkansas State Police said Drake was taken into custody without incident by the Morrilton Police Department, ASP and the Conway County Sheriffs Office.

He was found around 10 a.m. in a wooded area south of the Morrilton intersection of University Boulevard and Poor Farm Road, according to ASP.

Drake has been connected to a homicide investigation in El Reno, Okla. where 56-year-old Phillip Emerson was found dead at a residence on June 14, the El Reno Police Department confirmed to Nexstars KFOR.

Also in June, it was announced Drake is also connected to a homicide investigation in Tuscaloosa, Ala. where 62-year-old Russell Thomas Andrews was found dead outside of an Alcoholics Anonymous building on May 14, according to Nexstars WIAT.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
New monolith appears in Colorado: Timeline of 'mysterious' columns around the world

Few modern-day structural mysteries have garnered as much international fascination as the tall, mirrored monolith columns that have appeared in seemingly random locations since 2020.

The latest monolith sighting appeared on a hill in Bellvue, Colorado, over 70 miles outside of Denver.

PHOTO: This popup monolith was discovered outside Bellvue, Colo., on June 23, 2024. The structure is located on private land and has generated wide interest. (Miles Blumhardt/The Coloradoan via USA Today Network)

The rectangular, mirrored structure appeared this week and reportedly has no known connection to the Las Vegas monolith, which appeared earlier this month, according to ABC News' Denver affiliate KMGH .

Reminiscent of the prehistoric Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England, but rooted in Millennium-era fictional lore, monoliths are long vertical metal slabs, each approximately 10 to 12 feet tall.

Monoliths are believed to stem from Arthur C. Clarke's "Space Odyssey" series and Stanley Kubruck's 1968 famed sci-fi film "2001: A Space Odyssey," where aliens used large, black monolith-shaped machines as a guide to monitor and control humans' evolution.

PHOTO: Monoliths in Utah, California, Warsaw, Poland, and Las Vegas (Utah DPS via AP | The Tribune via AP | NurPhoto via AP | LVMPD/X)

However, the scores of monoliths that have appeared around the world since 2020 look slightly different from those Clarke and Kubrick imagined -- opting for a metal, often stainless steel structure.

MORE: 'Mysterious' monolith similar to column seen in 2020 appears in Las Vegas desert: Police

From Utah in the United States, Wales in the United Kingdom and as far as Romania in southeastern Europe, these often unexplained structures have left officials and Internet sleuths questioning their makers and intentions.

Below is a timeline of monolith appearances internationally since 2020.

Nov. 18, 2020: Utah

The first unaccounted-for monolith appeared in Utah's remote Red Rock Country on Nov. 18, 2020, during the height of the pandemic.

The Utah Department of Public Safety Aero Bureau was working to conduct a count of big horn sheep in a portion of southeastern Utah when crew members "spotted an unusual object" and landed nearby to investigate further, according to a press release at the time.

PHOTO: This Nov. 18, 2020, file photo provided by the Utah Department of Public Safety shows a metal monolith in the ground in a remote area of red rock in Utah. (Utah Department of Public Safety via AP, FILE)

The crew members discovered the metal monolith installed in the ground in a remote area of Red Rock, according to the release.

MORE: Monolith discovered in Utah mysteriously disappears overnight, similar structure spotted in Romania

Just 10 days later, the monolith disappeared, with officials saying it was removed by an "unknown party."

"We have received credible reports that the illegally installed structure, referred to as the 'monolith' has been removed by an unknown party," the Utah Bureau of Land Management wrote on X on Nov. 28, 2020.

A man named Andy Lewis later took credit for the removal, sharing a YouTube video of him and a small crew detaching the monolith from the rocks.

"We removed the Utah Monolith because there are clear precedents for how we share and standardize the use of our public lands, natural wildlife, native plants, fresh water sources, and human impacts upon them, Lewis said in an interview at the time.

Despite Utah officials never specifically saying where the monolith was located, online detectives allegedly found it on satellite images dating back to 2016 and determined its GPS coordinates, according to Britains The Independent at the time.

Nov. 27, 2020: Romania

Just as the monolith was removed from its location in Utah, another monolith was discovered across the world in Romania.

The prism was found near an archaeological site outside of the city of Piatra Neamt, on the plateau of Batca Doamnei, officials said at the time.

PHOTO: In this Nov. 27, 2020, file photo, a metal structure sticks out from the ground on the Batca Doamnei hill, outside Piatra Neamt, northern Romania. (Robert Iosub/ziarpiatraneamt.ro via AP, FILE)

Piatra Neamt Mayor Andrei Carabelea took to Facebook to joke about the mysterious monolith in Romania, My guess is that some alien, cheeky and terrible teenagers left home with their parents UFO and started planting metal monoliths around the world. First in Utah and then at Piatra Neamt. I am honored that they chose our city, the mayor wrote.

Four days after it first appeared, the Romanian monolith disappeared as mysteriously as it arrived.

Dec. 2, 2020: California

The streak of monolith appearances continued the exact day the column was removed in Romania -- this time in California.

On Dec. 2, 2020, another monolith was discovered on Pine Mountain in Atascadero, a city in San Luis Obispo County in central California.

The 10-foot-tall and approximately 18-inch-wide monolith was found by hikers two miles up from the base of the mountain, according to local reports.

PHOTO: In this Dec. 2, 2020, file photo, a monolith stands on a Stadium Park hillside in Atascadero, Calif. (Kaytlyn Leslie/The Tribune (of San Luis Obispo) via AP, FILE)

"I think it disappeared in Utah and landed right here in Atascadero," hiker Blake Kuhn told ABC News' Fresno affiliate at the time.

However, unlike the mysteries surrounding the other monoliths, the makers of the California column came forward to reveal themselves.

The four men who created and installed the third monolith are Travis Kenney, his father Randall Kenney, Wade McKenzie and Jared Riddle, they said in a statement.

"The purpose of this project was to create a positive and encouraging environment in a rather negative 2020, a year that has been plagued with health issues, political separation, and systemic racism," Riddle said in an interview with Your Tango. "This event separated all of that!"

December 2020: Various locations

After the Internet frenzy the string of back-to-back monoliths caused, several copycat monoliths started popping up around the world in Pittsburgh, Joshua Tree, Las Vegas, Boulder, Albuquerque, Russia, Colombia, Spain and more.

A Business Insider report in Dec. 2020 estimated there were 87 monolith sightings globally.

March 12, 2024: Wales

Years after the initial monolith obsession died down, the tall, mysterious structure reemerged in Wales, United Kingdom, in 2024.

PHOTO: A mysterious, roughly 10-foot-tall silver metal monolith was discovered on a muddy bluff in Wales by hiker Craig Muir. (Craig Muir via Storyful)

The 10-foot-tall silver monolith was discovered in Hay-on-Wye in Powys, Wales, by construction worker Craig Muir while he was out for his regular hike.

MORE: Monolith mystery reemerges in Wales, prompting speculation of space aliens

Muir posted a video of the bizarre find on TikTok, saying, "I come up here most days, and I've never seen this before. Almost looks like a UFO just put it on the ground."

June 17, 2024: Las Vegas

This month, the monolith mystery continued when the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department took to X to share two photos of the long, vertical slab of metal they said appeared on a hiking trail near Gass Peak on the northern side of the Las Vegas area.

"We see a lot of weird things when people go hiking like not being prepared for the weather, not bringing enough water... but check this out," the department wrote alongside photos of the column.

PHOTO: The Las Vegas Metro Police Department posted a photo to X showing a mysterious monolith near Gass Peak, north of the valley, Las Vegas, NV, June 17, 2024. (LVMPD/X)

In the photos, the tall, geometric figure reflects the rocky desert and perfectly aligns with the horizon.

A similar monolith appeared in downtown Las Vegas in December 2020, standing under the Fremont Street Experience canopy.

The monolith was removed by Las Vegas police on June 20, saying it was necessary "due to public safety and environmental concerns."

MYSTERIOUS MONOLITH UPDATE: A lot of you have asked about the mysterious monolith that was recently spotted north of Las Vegas.

Yesterday afternoon, we assisted with the removal of the item due to public safety and environmental concerns. pic.twitter.com/4NrR9FDo4T  LVMPD (@LVMPD) June 21, 2024

June 25, 2024: Colorado

Just 10 days after the Las Vegas monolith reignighted the Internet's fascination with the "mysterious" structures, another popped up in northern Colorado.

This week, a rectangular, mirrored monolith was spotted atop a hill in Bellvue, Colorado over 70 miles outside of Denver, according to ABC News' Denver affiliate KMGH .

PHOTO: This popup monolith was discovered outside Bellvue, Colo., on June 23, 2024. The structure is located on private land and has generated wide interest. (Miles Blumhardt/The Coloradoan via USA Today Network)

"When I first saw it, I definitely thought of '2001: A Space Odyssey,'" Brandon Scott told the outlet, saying he was driving out of state and stopped to see the monolith on the way.

Lori Graves, who owns the land the structure is on, has no idea where it came from, she told the outlet.

"I was hearing that there was an alien monolith on the hill, and where did it come from? And a whole bunch of questions. And I didn't know. I had to go outside and look for myself," Graves told the outlet.

This monolith varies in appearance from others that have appeared internationally, with a wider base that's cemented into the ground.

New monolith appears in Colorado: Timeline of 'mysterious' columns around the world originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
If you thought the Conservatives had hit the bottom of the moral swamp, think again. The new gambling scandal is proving to be an even more stomach-churning spectacle than Prime Minister Rishi Sunak deserting the D-Day commemorations.

The scandal of Tory candidates and a top official  all of them tellingly close to Sunak  being probed for betting on the General Election date suggests that corruption around the rotten Conservative Party could be even worse than we imagined.

Its as if the future of Britain is just a crooked game to these people. And if they cant fix the electoral game, they think they might at least make a few quid by having a fixed bet on the side.

In their final few weeks in Government the Tories look less like a sitting government than a dodgy tenant who, when he knows hes being evicted, takes the lightbulbs and toilet seat with him.

The latest round of the gambling scandal has seen Conservative Party director of campaigns, Tony Lee, step back from his role  just as the election campaign enters the final furlong.

Lee had to go after news broke that his wife Laura Saunders, parliamentary candidate for Bristol North West and a former Tory head office staffer, is under investigation by the Gambling Commission for betting on the election date before it was announced. We then learned that Lee is also being investigated by the Commission.

This scandal came to light when another Tory candidate, Craig Williams  who just happens to be prime minister Rishi Sunaks closest parliamentary aide  was exposed and investigated for betting 100 on a July election at odds of 5/1.

Williams admitted that hed made a huge error of judgement, as if he had accidentally fallen into a betting shop in his Montgomery and Glyndwr constituency and mistakenly placed the bet.

Betting on an event that you might have insider knowledge about is not only morally bankrupt, but could also be a criminal offence. A serving police officer in Sunaks personal protection has already been arrested and suspended on suspicion of misconduct in public office, reportedly for betting on the election date.

I guess the PC isnt technically part of the Conservative party but maybe the stink of corruption can just rub off on anybody who gets too close and personal with the top Tories.

To recap: those involved so far are Sunaks Parliamentary Private Secretary, his campaigns director (and wife), and his police driver. The rot comes from the top.

And who knows where it ends? Figures from Betfair, the online betting exchange, show that bets placed on there being a July general election shot up from a couple of hundred pounds on May 20th to almost 6,000 on May 21st  the day before Sunak stood in the pouring rain and told us it would be July 4th .

How many of them were at it? Thats a lot of errors of judgement.

The Conservatives have spent years lurching from one scandal to another, ranging from the partygate affair that brought down Boris Johnson to serious allegations of a sexual nature; no fewer than 10 Tory MPs have had the party whip withdrawn for alleged sexual misconduct since the 2019 general election.

It all looks rather like the last decadent days of the Roman empire, but on a tawdry, tacky scale. After 14 years in government marked by broken promises and betrayals, the Tories are finished and they know it. The latest polls show that they are set to get wiped out on July 4th, with up to three quarters of the Cabinet losing their seats. And they fully deserve whats coming to them.

The one thing we can bet the house on is that no Tory candidates or officials will be wasting their money betting on their party winning the election (current odds: 40/1).

On the other hand, as a betting man, with our support surging around the country, I am willing to make the wager of my life with the people behind some out-of-date polls that Reform UK will win seats and surprise a lot of people on July 4th.

We are the real opposition to the coming Labour government. Time for former Tory voters to finally vote with their hearts and join the revolt against the corrupt political establishment.

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KYODO NEWS - Jun 21, 2024 - 08:24 | All, Japan, World

The U.S. Treasury Department said Thursday it has once again put Japan on a list of major trading partners that it monitors for potentially unfair foreign exchange practices.

It is the first time since June last year for Japan to be on the "monitoring" list. In its biannual report to Congress, the department also placed six other economies on the list -- China, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam.

The department said Japan, Germany, Taiwan and Vietnam all met the criteria for having a significant trade surplus with the United States as well as a notable current account surplus.

For the list, it uses three criteria to assess whether a country has manipulated its foreign exchange rates to gain an unfair trade advantage.

A country would meet all three if it had a trade surplus with the United States of at least $15 billion, a current account surplus of at least 3 percent of gross domestic product, and if it had engaged in persistent, one-sided intervention in foreign exchange markets.

The report covered economic data from the 20 largest U.S. trading partners for the four quarters through December 2023.

Without criticism, it mentioned that Japanese authorities intervened in foreign exchange markets in April and May for the first time since October 2022, in an attempt to deal with the yen's rapid depreciation against the U.S. dollar.

The report said the department's "expectation is that in large, freely traded exchange markets, intervention should be reserved only for very exceptional circumstances with appropriate prior consultations."

"Japan is transparent with respect to foreign exchange operations, regularly publishing its foreign exchange interventions each month," it added.

Japan was on the list for many years until June 2023, as it had met the same two criteria.

The department did not designate any trading partner as a currency manipulator, which could result in the imposition of U.S. sanctions.

Nonetheless, the report provided more information on China than on the other countries, pointing out issues such as anomalies in Beijing's current account data.

It reiterated that China's failure to disclose foreign exchange interventions and its lack of transparency around key features of its exchange rate system makes it "an outlier among major economies."

Related coverage:

BOJ likely to keep policy rate unchanged, debate bond purchases

Japan retains economic view in May as output picks up

Japan logs 462.5 billion yen trade deficit in April on weak yen, oil
Heat Stroke

Two French women and a US man have gone missing on the Greek island of Amorgos, with temperatures soaring over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, stoking fears that they may have passed away due to the unseasonally hot weather and highlighting the growing danger of climate change.

As CNN reports, several tourists have already died in the extreme heat engulfing the European islands over the last couple of weeks, including a British health guru named Michael Mosley who went missing in early June after embarking on a long walk, with his body found several days later.

The incidents and ongoing search-and-rescue missions highlight just how dangerous this summer's soaring temperatures can be to the human body. Scientists warn that extreme heat can reduce blood flow to the brain, impairing complex decision-making.

"You make wrong decisions and it can cost you your life," University of South Wales physiology and biochemistry professor Damian Bailey told CNN earlier this week.

Deadly Hike

The latest disappearances come after a string of deaths on the Greek islands. The body of another American tourist was discovered over the weekend on the tiny island of Mathraki, though the exact cause of death has yet to be determined.

A Dutch tourist was found dead on the island of Crete on Saturday after his car was spotted on a cliff edge.

"There is a common pattern  they all went for a hike amid high temperatures," police spokesman for the Southern Aegean Petros Vassilakis told Reuters.

Whether the deaths can be chalked up to global warming remains unclear, but it's certainly a possibility. Researchers have shown that the number of stroke-related deaths and disabilities linked to extreme temperatures has been steadily growing since 1990, suggesting a link to the wide-ranging effects of climate change.

Now, all eyes are on the three individuals who were announced missing over the weekend. The brother of the American tourist has since spoken up, urging the US government to help out.

"I know, probably, the chances are very slim," he told CBS News on Tuesday. "But if there's that one percent... I just want to find my brother."

More on hot weather: Climate Change Now Linked To Rise In Strokes
DELAWARE, Ohio (WCMH)  Nearly 150 townhomes will be built as part of a Cleveland-based real estate companys 270-acre development in Delaware.

Addison Properties is planning to build a second round of townhomes inside the 273-acre Addison Farms development.

Addison Properties final plan to build a second round of townhomes inside the 273-acre Addison Farms development was approved by the Delaware Planning Commission on June 5. Once completed, 70 townhomes will sit within Section 2 north of Merrick Boulevard and near Smith Park on Troy Road.

Progress made on upcoming community center in Upper Arlington

The 7.2-acre Section 2 will be part of the developments Sub-Area B, which will also include Section 1 with 76 townhomes that were approved for construction earlier this year. The two sections will come together to create a townhome neighborhood in Addison Farms with 146 units.

The 7.2-acre Section 2 will be part of the developments Sub-Area B, which will also include Section 1 that was approved for construction earlier this year. (Courtesy Photo/Delaware Planning Commission)

The 7.2-acre Section 2 will be part of the developments Sub-Area B, which will also include Section 1 that was approved for construction earlier this year. (Courtesy Photo/Delaware Planning Commission)

Its such a great alternative option, it doesnt exist in Delaware, said Jason Friedman, CEO of Addison Properties, during a previous commission meeting. High demand, great price point relative to the new houses that will be built. Just, really excited.

In both sections, the townhomes will be built within 12 six-unit buildings and one four-unit building. Friedman said the townhomes will be for sale, not rent, and mark the only townhome development planned for Addison Farms.

See 55 places in Ohio that have banned recreational marijuana businesses

The two-story townhomes will sprawl a minimum of 1,200 square feet with a two-car garage. Section 2 will also include seven overflow parking spaces and 3.14 acres of open green space, while Section 2 will feature 30 overflow spaces scattered and 7.7 acres of green space.

Friedmans Addison Farms is also set to include a Four Seasons subdivision, under construction to feature 49 single-family homes on 29 acres and 45 single-family homes on 11 acres. Other parts of Addison Farms include 139 single-family homes to be built in two sections, with 73 homes on 17.25 acres and 66 homes on 17.78 acres.

The development will also feature more than 280 apartment units across 45 single-story buildings. To the south of Addison Farms, Friedman is also aiming to build 72 single-family homes across 22 vacant acres in a development called Rutherford Acres.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Toxin-carrying creature popping up on GA, NC beaches. Have they washed up on Hilton Head?

While causing a stir on the coasts of Georgia and North Carolina, the notoriously beautiful and threatening tentacled spectacle hasnt washed up along Hilton Head Island beaches this year so far.

And thats a good thing, because even when dead, the creature can pack a punch.

Portuguese man-o-war, what many mistake as jellyfish, have iridescent floats and inky-colored tentacles that can reach up to 100 feet. The species known as a siphonophore, which is made up of several specialized organisms working together, got the name from its resemblance to an 18th century Portuguese warship under full sail, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

But dont underestimate looks and lore.

The tentacles of a man-o-war contain stinging nematocysts, NOAA said, which are microscopic capsules loaded with coiled, barbed tubes that deliver venom. The toxin is capable of paralyzing and killing small fish and crustaceans.

For humans, the touch of a tentacle can cause severe pain and reactions, and welts can form on exposed skin.

Alert of sightings

Near the South Carolina-Georgia state line at Georgias well-known Tybee Island, officials warned the public Wednesday that the creatures had been sighted on the beach.

These creatures may look fascinating, but they can be extremely dangerous, read a Facebook post by the City of Tybee Island. Even dead or washed-up Man O Wars can still sting, so please be cautious!

Along North Carolina beaches this month, federal officials issued a marine life warning notifying that the creatures have been spotted on the beaches of a coastal town in Carteret County, according to ABC affiliate WCTI.

Good news for Hilton Head, Shore Beach Services operations manager Mike Wagner said there had not been local reports of man-o-war sightings. Wagner said if there is a sighting to alert the service so it can remove the creature. The service will collect and bury the washed-up siphonophore to ensure theres no threat to the public.

While it can be difficult to parse what stung someone in the water, whether a man-o-war or jellyfish, the treatment is similar.

Youve heard all the old wives tales, and some people swear by them, Wagner said. But theres not a lot of scientific proof with that stuff.

A common tall-tale is urinating on the stung area. But its best to listen to professionals and first rinse off the stinging cells with saltwater. Anything else could potentially make it worse, Wagner said.

He suggested follow-up treatment with a doctor based on the sting severity.
Treason trial for US citizen accused of donating to Ukraine begins in Russia

The trial of Ksenia Karelina, a U.S.-Russian dual national accused of treason for allegedly raising money for the Ukrainian military, began on June 20 in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg.

Karelina, a 33-year-old resident of Los Angeles, was arrested in Russia earlier this year while visiting her grandparents. Authorities charged her with treason on the grounds that she donated $51.80 to the nonprofit organization Razom for Ukraine.

Her trial began June 20 in the Sverdlovsk regional court and was held behind closed doors. The next hearing will be held on August 7, according to the Russian state news agency TASS.

If convicted, Karelina faces up to 20 years in prison.

Razom for Ukraine said on Feb. 20 that it was "appalled by reports that a U.S.-Russian dual national has been arrested by Russian authorities for purportedly making a charitable donation" to the organization.

Karelina is one of several U.S. citizens currently detained in Russia.

Russian court officials announced on June 17 that the espionage trial of Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporter who has been jailed in Russia for over a year, will begin on June 26. Gershkovich is the first American journalist to be arrested for espionage in Russia since the Cold War.

Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine accused of spying and arrested in 2018, is also considered to be wrongfully detained by the U.S. State Department.

Alsu Kurmasheva, a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist with dual U.S. and Russian citizenship, was arrested in Russia in October 2023 for allegedly violating Russia's law on foreign agents. She is currently being held in pre-trial detention, which has repeatedly been extended.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Dec. 14 that he would be open to negotiating the return of jailed U.S. citizens under "mutually acceptable" conditions.

Read also: Russias descent into totalitarianism: How it happened

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Triangle residents can now travel directly from RDU to Panama thanks to Copa Airlines

Raleigh-Durham International Airport welcomed a 160-seat, blue-finned Boeing 737 Friday touting the name of an airline that may be new to some Triangle residents: Copa Airlines.

Its because of the new-to-RDU airline that customers can now fly directly to Panama City, the airports first nonstop flight to Latin America. Fridays inaugural flight is the airports 10th international destination, a number that has doubled since 2019.

Copa reaches 85 destinations in 32 countries across North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. Seventy of those are now accessible from Raleigh.

RDU is the airlines 16th destination in the United States. But the Triangle wasnt always on Copas radar.

Copa CEO Pedro Heilbron told The News & Observer it was RDU officials who first brought the idea to the airline. When they discovered that 275 people each day were flying between RDU and Central and South America, they started to look for an airline that could provide those customers with nonstop flights.

On Friday, that goal became a reality. Under two soaring arches of water in the customary cannon salute, the jet taxied to the terminal with an official landing time of 2:22 p.m., about six minutes ahead of schedule. Cheers and exclamations erupted from the crowd of guests and RDU employees watching from the tarmac when the pilot and copilot unfurled Panamanian and American flags from the planes cockpit.

The flight crew of the inaugural Copa Airlines flight from Panama City, Panama to Raleigh-Durham International Airport wave the Panamanian and American flags as they get a water cannon salute as they arrive at their gate Friday, June 21, 2024.

Nearly 2,200 travelers fly to and from destinations outside the U.S. every day at RDU and more than 200 of them are going to Central and South America, RDU president and CEO Michael Landguth told the crowd gathered at the gate Friday.

We reached out to our regions Latin American community, who overwhelmingly supported the new route during the recruitment process, he said

Record growth

The new nonstop service to Panama City is not the first international addition this summer  and its not the last.

Earlier this month, on June 6, the first nonstop flight between the Triangle and Frankfurt, Germany, via Lufthansa landed in the Triangle. And on July 1, Aeromexico will begin daily flights between RDU and Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City.

RDU estimates that the added Frankfurt destination will bring $3.3 billion to the North Carolina economy over the next 25 years.

Partly thanks to its expanding international service, RDU saw record-high traffic last month. More than 1.4 million people flew through the airport in May, a new record for monthly traffic. Landguth expects passenger traffic to increase as the airport adds new international destinations.

RDU was the fastest-growing large airport in the United States in 2023 with a rate of 22%. San Francisco International Airport, Washington-Dulles International Airport and Luis Munoz Marin International Airport followed RDU with growth rates of about 18%.

Landguth said that RDU moved domestic carriers Breeze Airways and Sun Country Airlines from Terminal 2, the hub for all international flights, to Terminal 1 to manage the increase in traffic.

Were also starting to better manage the gates we have to make sure we can get the best utilization out of every available gate weve got every time during the day, he said. Its a combination of trying to be more efficient with our operations plus moving some folks over to Terminal 1.

The inaugural Copa Airlines flight from Panama City, Panama to Raleigh-Durham International Airport lands at the airport Friday, June 21, 2024.

Latin American connection

David DeFossey, who heads commercial sales for Copa in the United States, Mexico and Canada, said the new service bridges the Triangle and Latin America like never before.

Today, we take a giant leap forward in enhancing our presence in the United States by connecting the vibrant Raleigh-Durham region renowned for its academic brilliance, rich cultural scene and cutting edge innovation to our dynamic Copa Airlines hub in Panama City, Panama, DeFossey said.

Francis Lewis opened the celebration hosted at Gate C17 with a performance. Wearing a colorful dress and headpiece from the province of Colon, she danced the congo for the crowd of guests and travelers.

Lewis, who is originally from Panama and lives in Raleigh, said shes been dancing for more than 50 years.

Larissa McGrath also danced at the event following comments from Landguth, DeFossey and RDU Authority Board board chairman Ellis Hankins. She wore Gala Pollera, the national dress of Panama that originated in the central provinces of the country. Both performers dresses and headpieces were completely handmade.

Whenever you see any of our folklore represented outside of the country, this is what you will see, McGrath said.

Beginning Friday, weekly departures are planned for Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. DeFossey said Copa may increase to daily service from the current schedule.

With a growing Latino community and several universities with foreign students in the Triangle, DeFossey said Copa saw an opportunity to make it more convenient to visit relatives and friends in Latin American countries.

He added that all Copa flights feature a complimentary hot meal catered from Panama, whether the flight is two hours or four.

It is a pride of Panama to work with Copa and it really reflects on our services, he said

At 4:20 p.m., Josue Andrade, his wife and three children from Wilkesboro departed RDU on the nearly full Copa flight back to Panama City. They were traveling to Honduras, but planned to stay overnight in Panama.

Andrade was also on the first nonstop flight from Baltimore to Panama City. He said the direct flight from Raleigh is more convenient for Triangle residents.

Its going to be good for more tourists to travel to Panama instead of going from here to Miami or from here to Houston or from here to Atlanta or from here to New York, he said.
The General Assembly passed legislation this year guaranteeing Georgians the right to fish in the states navigable rivers and streams.

Now comes what promises to be the trickier question of deciding which rivers and streams are navigable and which are not.

This is the harder one to figure out, said Mike Worley, president and CEO of the Georgia Wildlife Federation.

A Georgia House study committee will begin tackling that task this summer and make recommendations to the full House - if any - by Dec. 1.

It will be chaired by Rep. Lynn Smith, R-Newnan, who also chairs the House Natural Resources & Environment Committee, and include Majority Whip James Burchett, R-Waycross, who chaired a study committee on the fishing rights issue last year and was chief sponsor of this years bill. Neither lawmaker could be reached this week to talk about the upcoming effort.

The study committee wont be working from a blank slate. Burchett introduced legislation this year naming 64 rivers and creeks presumed to be navigable.

The list includes such no-brainers as the Altamaha, Chattahoochee, Flint, and Savannah rivers. But others that may or may not make the list arent so clear-cut.

There are some well-known streams throughout the state that are going to be question marks, Worley said.

Worley named the Toccoa River, Seventeen Mile Creek, and Ichawaynochaway Creek as examples. The Toccoa is on the list included in Burchetts bill, but the other two are not.

There is a lack of clarity over whats navigable and whats not, said Gordon Rogers, executive director of the environmental advocacy organization Flint Riverkeeper. We need to hash that out.

How we got here

Historically, Georgians have enjoyed the right to fish in the states navigable waters. But that right came into question early last year when a property owner along a portion of the Flint River asserted an exclusive right to control fishing from the bank on its side of the river to the center of the stream and banned fishing there.

Four Chimneys LLLP sued the state alleging failure to enforce the ban and won an agreement from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources in March of last year promising to enforce the ban. That agreement prompted the General Assembly to pass a bill on the final day of the 2023 legislative session codifying a public fishing rights guarantee into state law.

No sooner had the ink dried on that legislation when some waterfront property owners began objecting to language in the bill guaranteeing access to fishing on navigable waterways as a public trust.

After holding a series of hearings on the issue around the state last fall, Burchett introduced a fishing rights bill removing the public trust doctrine. The General Assembly passed House Bill 1172 in March primarily along party lines after minority Democrats complained it didnt go far enough to protect fishing rights.

Although the bill wont take effect until July 1, Worley said hes already heard stories of people fishing being approached by property owners and told they cant fish.

I dont think the language (in the bill) was clear enough, he said. There are going to be lawsuits.

Rogers said he doesnt fear the threat of litigation.

Im fishing where Ive fished for decades and doing it the way Ive been doing it for decades, he said. If a property owner wants to bring an action contrary to that, fine.

Rogers praised Burchetts efforts to get a bill that would satisfy both property owners and the states anglers.

But Rogers warned that the new study committee faces a difficult task when it comes to deciding which rivers and streams - or portions thereof - will be open to fishing and which wont.

If it was easy, Burchetts bill declaring dozens of waterways navigable would have passed this year. Instead, it died without even a committee vote.

Whoever does that is going to run into a buzzsaw from both sides, Rogers said. Theres going to be people who say its not enough and people who say its too many.
What troops need to know about Tricare in 2024

The 9.6 million Tricare beneficiaries can expect some important changes in the Department of Defense health care program within the next few years. New Tricare contracts are expected to be implemented starting on Jan. 1, 2025. The new contractor for the West Region is TriWest Healthcare Alliance. Humana Government Business, the incumbent contractor for Tricares East Region, will continue in that role.

When those contracts take effect, an additional 1.5 million beneficiaries will transfer to the West Region from six states in the East Region: Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin. The West Region will cover 26 states.

Beneficiaries dont need to take any action now; the contractors will notify beneficiaries of any action they need to take.

The new contracts will bring improvements for beneficiaries, according to defense health officials, such as more efficient health care referral transfers between the two regions; greater provider network flexibility; improved beneficiary choice; and enhanced telehealth appointments.

Meanwhile, after years of forcing some military beneficiaries to seek medical care in the Tricare private sector network, the Defense Department wants to attract patients back to military treatment facilities.

Citing problems that have led to chronically understaffed military treatment facilities and dental treatment facilities, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks has directed sweeping changes to boost staffing at medical facilities and increase access to care for beneficiaries.

Hicks laid out a plan to grow the number of patients who receive care in a military treatment facility by 7% by the end of 2026, compared to the number of beneficiaries in December 2022. That would mean 3.3 million people would be using the MTFs in three years, according to Military Times calculations.

For example, officials are conducting a comprehensive review of all medical manpower and staffing; and plan to shuffle medical personnel to boost capacity at a few key locations by July 1.

Beneficiaries increased costs in 2024

Some military families saw a rise in their health care costs in 2024. Generally speaking, if a Tricare beneficiary paid out of pocket for Tricare before, those costs went up. Active duty service members dont have any out-of-pocket costs.

For those who make co-payments for covered services such as primary care visits, specialty care outpatient visits and urgent care, the co-pays generally went up by $1 to $3 a visit. And those who pay annual enrollment fees also saw increases. Annual deductibles increased for some, too, which means the families will pay more out of pocket before Tricare kicks in.

Pharmacy costs also increased for Tricare beneficiaries who get their prescriptions filled at a retail pharmacy or through the mail-order program, as increases set by a 2018 law went into effect. There arent co-payments for prescriptions filled at military pharmacies.

Active duty members pay nothing for their covered medications through military pharmacies, retail pharmacies in the Tricare network and through the home delivery benefit. The military pharmacy is still the lowest cost option for all military beneficiaries, because theres no cost for covered generic and brand-name drugs at these pharmacies.

A new Tricare Pharmacy Home Delivery policy continues from 2023: You must approve each refill when youre enrolled in the automatic refill program, so that you only receive the prescriptions you need. Express Scripts, the administrator of the program, will let you know by phone, email or text, that you have a refill coming up. Youll log in to your account to confirm you want it.

Tricare expanded the telehealth program during the pandemic to make it easier for military beneficiaries to get care. It now covers telehealth visits over the phone as a permanent benefit. While there was a temporary waiver on patient costs for telehealth during the pandemic, patients now pay cost-shares and co-pays. Telehealth costs are like costs for in-person care.

Tricare also covers the use of secure video conferencing to provide medically necessary services, allowing patients to connect with a provider using a computer or smartphone.

Whos eligible?

Tricare offers 11 different options, with choices depending on the status of the military sponsor and the geographic location. It is open to active duty members; military retirees; National Guard and Reserve members; spouses and children registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System; and certain others, including some former military spouses and survivors, as well as Medal of Honor recipients and their immediate families.

Those entering the military or changing status (e.g., from active duty to retired) should make sure they and their eligible family members are enrolled in the Tricare program of their choice. Those who dont enroll may only receive care at a military clinic or hospital on a space-available basis; medical care by civilian providers would not be covered. The one-month open season begins on the Monday of the second full week in November. During that time, you can enroll in a new Tricare Prime or Tricare Select plan or change your enrollment. If youre satisfied with your current Tricare health plan you dont have to take action.

The law overhauling Tricare included a strict limitation on switching plans outside of open season. The exception to that rule is if there is a qualifying life event, such as the birth or adoption of a child, a move to a new duty station, marriage or retirement. Open season doesnt apply to active duty members, who have full health coverage, or to retirees who are in Tricare for Life.

By law, Tricare beneficiaries fall into one of two categories:

Group A: Sponsors who entered the military before Jan. 1, 2018, and their dependents

Group B: Sponsors who entered the military on or after Jan 1, 2018, and their dependents

Those in Group A and Group B have different enrollment fees and out-of-pocket costs.

Families of active duty, National Guard and Reserve service members as well as guardsmen and reservists who arent on active duty  are eligible for the Tricare Dental Program, which requires separate enrollment.

Most retirees and their family members are eligible for dental and vision coverage under the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program, or FEDVIP, which is administered by the Office of Personnel Management and also requires separate enrollment.

What are the options?

Tricare offers two core health care options: Tricare Prime and Tricare Select.

All active duty members are required to enroll in Tricare Prime; they pay nothing out of pocket. Active duty families can also enroll in Tricare Prime without an enrollment fee. Prime beneficiaries are assigned a primary care manager, or PCM, at their local military treatment facility or, if one is not available, they can select a PCM within the Tricare Prime civilian network. Specialty care is provided on referral by the PCM, either to specialists at a military facility or a civilian provider.

Tricare Select is similar to a traditional fee-for-service health plan. Patients can see any authorized provider they choose, but must pay a deductible and co-pays for visits. Patients pay lower out-of-pocket costs when they receive care from a provider within the Tricare network.

All Tricare programs have a cap on how much a family pays out of pocket each fiscal year, depending on the sponsors status and the type of Tricare program used.

The plans

Tricare Prime: Similar to a health maintenance organization, Tricare Prime has lower out-of-pocket costs but requires enrollees to use network providers and coordinate care through a primary care manager  a doctor, nurse practitioner or medical team. Its free to active duty members. Families enrolled in a Tricare Prime plan dont have to pay enrollment fees or co-payments unless they use the point-of-service option or fill a prescription outside of a military pharmacy. Retirees must pay an annual enrollment fee (Group A retirees pay $363 for an individual or $726 for a family in 2024). Co-payments for medical visits are lower than other programs.

Tricare Prime Remote: Service members who live and work more than 50 miles or an hours drive from the nearest military treatment facility must enroll in Tricare Prime Remote. Family members are eligible if they live with an enrolled service member in a qualifying location, or they may use Tricare Select.

Tricare Prime Overseas: This is a managed-care option for active duty members and their command-sponsored family members in nonremote locations. They have assigned primary care managers at a military treatment facility who provide most care, and referrals for and coordination of specialty care. Tricare Prime Remote Overseas is a managed care option in designated remote overseas locations, with most care from an assigned primary care manager in the local provider network who provides referrals for specialty care. Activated National Guard and Reserve members and their families also may enroll in these options while the sponsor is on active duty; retirees and their families arent eligible.

Tricare Select: This is a preferred-provider plan  authorized doctors, hospitals and other providers are paid a Tricare-allowable charge for each service performed. Costs are higher for out-of-network providers, and certain procedures require pre-authorization. There is no enrollment fee for active duty families. Group A working-age retirees were required to start paying monthly enrollment fees in 2021. Co-pays vary by status and type of care: An in-network primary care outpatient visit costs Group A retirees and their families $36 in Tricare Select, for example, while Group A active duty family members pay $27. Group B active duty family members pay $18.

Tricare Reserve Select: Qualified Selected Reserve members can buy Tricare coverage when they are in drilling status  not while mobilized. The program offers coverage similar to Tricare Select.

Tricare Retired Reserve: Gray area National Guard and Reserve retirees who have accumulated enough service to qualify for military retirement benefits, but have not reached the age at which they can begin drawing those benefits (usually age 60) can purchase this insurance, which offers coverage similar to Tricare Select.

Tricare for Life: This wraparound program is for retirees and family members who are eligible for Tricare and Medicare. The provider files the claims with Medicare; Medicare pays its portion and then sends the claim to the Tricare for Life claims processor. Enrollees must enroll in Medicare Part A (free for those who paid Medicare taxes while working) and Part B (monthly premium required) to receive Tricare for Life.

Tricare Young Adult: Unmarried dependent children who do not have private health insurance through an employer may remain in Tricare until age 26 under a parents coverage via TYA Select or TYA Prime. Premiums are required for both.

U.S. Family Health Plan: Beneficiaries who live in one of six designated areas, can enroll in this as a Prime option. Those enrolled get all their care, including prescription drugs, from a primary care provider the beneficiary selects out of a network of private doctors affiliated with one of the not-for-profit health care systems in the plan. Beneficiaries dont get care at military hospitals or clinics, or from Tricare network providers when enrolled in the U.S. Family Health Plan.

Action items

Beneficiaries must take action to enroll in a Tricare plan in order to be covered for civilian health care. Those who dont enroll will only be able to get health care at a military clinic or hospital on a space-available basis.

To be eligible for any of the Tricare plans, beneficiaries must first be enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System. Active duty members are automatically registered in DEERS when they join the military, but they must register eligible dependent family members. Service members should make sure the information is correct for their family members. Only military members can add or remove family members through the local ID card office.

Read more from the 2024 Pay and Benefits Guide here.
A tropical disturbance off the coast of Florida will increase the chances of rain and storms on Friday.

Our area will have a 60% chance of seeing scattered rain and showers on Friday.

The storm system also creates dangerous seas and rip currents on Floridas east coast.

Watch: Active duty and veterans of U.S. military compete in DoD Warrior Games

The disturbance itself is less organized than Thursday.

It will move into northern Florida and southern Georgia later Friday.

Read: Parents arrested after baby left alone on beach while going on boat

There is still a slight chance the system will become a depression if it can feed off of the warm water before moving inland.

Rain and storm chances will stay active over the weekend.

Read: This is crazy: Local woman says HOA continues to charge a late fee for 20-cent mistake

Our area will have a 60% to 70% chance of rain and showers on Saturday and Sunday.

Follow our Severe Weather team on X for live updates:
The National Hurricane Center is monitoring two separate areas for tropical development. One is in the Bay of Campeche while the other is offshore of Florida and Georgia this Friday morning. Both disturbances have a medium chance of becoming a tropical depression or stronger in the next 2 to 7 days. Neither of them poses a real threat to Louisiana.

More showers and storms are slowly moving into the Bay of Campeche this weekend in the same area that Tropical Storm Alberto formed earlier this week. Similar to Alberto, any tropical system that forms will mainly impact Mexico and stay well south of Louisiana. The next names on the list are Beryl and Chris.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
FILE - Steve Bannon appears in court in New York, Jan. 12, 2023. Trump ally Steve Bannon has asked the Supreme Court to delay his prison sentence while he fights his convictions for defying a subpoena from the House committee that investigated the attack on U.S. Capitol. The request from Republican former President Donald Trump's longtime ally comes after a federal appeals court panel rejected his bid to avoid reporting to prison by July 1 to serve his four-month sentence. (Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP, Pool, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  Steve Bannon, a longtime ally of former President Donald Trump, asked the Supreme Court on Friday to delay his prison sentence while he fights his convictions for defying a subpoena from the House committee that investigated the attack on U.S. Capitol.

The emergency application came after a federal appeals court panel rejected Bannon's bid to avoid reporting to prison by July 1 to serve his four-month sentence. It was addressed to Chief Justice John Roberts, who oversees emergency appeals from courts in Washington, D.C.

The high court asked the Justice Department to respond to the request by Wednesday, days before the court is set to begin its summer recess. The court denied a similar request from another Trump aide shortly after receiving a response in March.

Bannon was convicted nearly two years ago of two counts of contempt of Congress: one for refusing to sit for a deposition with the Jan. 6 House Committee and the other for refusing to provide documents related to his involvement in Trumps efforts to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.

Bannon has cast the case as politically motivated, and his attorney David Schoen has said the case raises serious constitutional issues that need to be examined by the Supreme Court.

If Bannon goes to prison next month, he will likely have to serve his full sentence before the high court has the chance to review those questions, since the court is due to take its summer recess at the end of June, attorney Trent McCotter wrote in his emergency application.

His lawyer says the former adviser didnt ignore the subpoena but was still negotiating with the congressional committee when he was charged. His previous attorney told him that the subpoena was invalid because the Republican former president has asserted executive privilege and the committee would not allow a Trump lawyer in the room.

In court papers, Bannons lawyers also previously argued that there is a strong public interest in allowing him to remain free in the run-up to the 2024 election because Bannon is a top adviser to Trumps campaign.

Bannon's prison term has been delayed as he appealed. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols ordered him to turn himself in after an appeals court panel upheld his contempt of Congress convictions.

A second Trump aide, trade adviser Peter Navarro, was also convicted of contempt of Congress. He reported to prison in March to serve his four-month sentence after the Supreme Court refused his bid to delay the sentence.

Courts have rejected his executive-privilege argument, finding Navarro couldnt prove Trump had actually invoked it.

Bannon is also facing criminal charges in New York state court alleging he duped donors who gave money to build a wall along the U.S. southern border. Bannon has pleaded not guilty to money laundering, conspiracy, fraud and other charges, and that trial has been postponed until at least the end of September.
By Yuko Nemoto, KYODO NEWS - Jun 21, 2024 - 15:07 | All, Feature

A store in Tokyo's high-end Ginza district selling culinary treasures from Russia, Ukraine and other former Soviet republics will cease operations at the end of June, succumbing to the prolonged turmoil of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

Aka-no-Hiroba, which opened just a year before Russia's February 2022 invasion of its neighbor, has struggled amid escalating sanctions and logistical hurdles that have pushed up costs and has also faced acts of vandalism and harassment.

Owner Victoria Miyabe described the decision to close as "agonizing." The shop, adorned with treats like Russian chocolates, Ukrainian borscht and Armenian honey, has been a cultural oasis for expatriates yearning for a taste of their homelands while also building up a loyal base of Japanese customers.

Miyabe, 50, a 25-year resident of Japan who was born in what was then the Soviet republic of Ukraine but also has relatives in Russia, established her store in February 2021.

"I wanted to bridge Japan and Russia through food," reflected Miyabe, who named her store after Moscow's famous Red Square and filled its shelves with as many as many as 500 items at its peak, carefully selecting them on trips to the former Soviet republics.

Following the start of the war, the store received abusive phone calls and in one incident, its signboard was damaged. But customers continued to flock there, with some 70 people coming through the doors on weekdays and more than twice that on weekends and holidays. More than half of its customers are women.

Now, however, economic realities, compounded by stringent sanctions imposed by Japan and its allies, have forced Miyabe's hand.

Regulars expressed sadness.

A 47-year-old Japanese woman who expressed a love of Russia's artistic traditions lamented that the war now dominates perceptions of the country. Meanwhile, a 32-year-old Russian who works in Japan and identified himself only by his first name Vladimir, acknowledged that business between Japan and Russia has become difficult. "I hate the Russian government," he added. "My friends around me also think like that. But what can I do?"

When asked for her thoughts on the conflict, Miyabe's face clouded with concern. "I want peace to come soon," she said. "This is no time for fighting."

Miyabe was born in Zaporizhzhia in southeastern Ukraine but moved to the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk when she was 15. She has been unable to visit the city for more than a decade now since the eastern part of the country became a battleground in 2014 when Russia began supporting separatists there.

Related coverage:

Japan, Ukraine sign deal for long-term support amid Russian war

Putin says no talks with Japan unless it alters stance on Ukraine

As war rages on, Ukrainian Refugees ready for long-term stay in Japan
Sean OBrien, the president of the Teamsters union, will speak at the Republican national convention in Milwaukee next month, a move that could spell trouble for Joe Bidens support among blue-collar workers ahead of the November election.

Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, announced on Friday on his Truth Social platform that OBrien had accepted his invitation to speak at the convention and that he was looking forward to seeing him represent the Teamsters.

Our GREAT convention will unify Americans and demonstrate to the nations working families they come first, Trump wrote. When I am back in the White House, the hard-working Teamsters, and all working Americans, will once again have a country they can afford to live in and be respected around the world.

A Teamsters spokesperson confirmed the news, saying it was truly unprecedented since it will be the very first time a Teamsters general president has addressed the RNC. The powerful union represents more than a million members across sectors such as trucking, packaging, manufacturing and logistics.

Our 1.3 million members represent every political background, and their message needs to be heard by as wide an audience as possible, and that includes all political candidates running for elected office, the spokesperson said. We appreciate former President Trumps openness to inviting a labor leader to speak on behalf of working families.

Related: Trump declares love for Milwaukee at rally days after calling it a horrible city

The Republican national convention will kick off on 15 July, where Trump will once again be nominated as the GOP presidential candidate. The Teamsters spokesperson said OBrien had made an identical request to appear at the Democratic national convention in Chicago the following month.

The Teamsters endorsed Biden over Trump in the 2020 presidential election. But OBrien, who took over in March 2022, has yet to publicly back a candidate in this election cycle.

OBrien has invited Biden, Trump and the independent presidential candidates Robert F Kennedy Jr and Cornel West to speak to his group. OBrien drew anger from the unions progressive members after he held a private meeting with Trump earlier this year. OBrien later met Biden, who he described as having been great for workers. But he stressed there was still a lot of work to be done to bolster unions.

OBriens appearance at the Republican national convention would challenge Bidens historic alliance with organized labor and threatens to undercut his claim that he is the most pro-union president in US history.

Biden kicked off his re-election campaign last June at a union-backed rally, and has since been endorsed by the United Auto Workers (UAW) after he walked the picket line with union president Shawn Fain during its strike against Americas three biggest car manufacturers.
New York State Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron is shown during an appearance by former President Donald Trump in the court room in week three of his civil fraud trial at State Supreme Court on Tuesday, October 18, 2023 in New York City. Trump lawyers asked for Engoron's recusal in current civil fraud case. Pool Photo by Jeenah Moon/UPI

June 20 (UPI) -- The legal team for Donald Trump on Thursday asked the New York judge who ordered the former president to pay $364 million in penalties for financial fraud to recuse himself from the case.

Trump's legal team has accused Judge Arthur Engoron Engoron of "engaging in prohibited communications" with a real estate attorney ahead of final judgment.

If no recusal is awarded, the legal team asked for the court to grant an expedited hearing on the issues in the case.

That real estate attorney, Adam Bailey, said he offered advice to Engoron well before the judge made his decision simply because he wanted the judge to know his position on the matter.

"I wanted him to know what I think and why," Bailey said in an interview, adding "because I really want him to get it right."

Bailey represented a group of condo buyers who sued Trump for fraud in 2010, saying Trump exaggerated the value of the property.

Bailey, who has no connection to any of Trump's current criminal cases, said he was not prompted by the judge for any opinion and offered solely on his own.

While there is no connection to Trump's current legal challenges, the former president's lawyers say the very fact that Engoron is overseeing the case and has heard from an attorney associated with past Trump cases sets up a conflict of interest and calls into questions Engoron's ability to be impartial in the civil fraud case.

"It is beyond dispute that neither defendants nor the attorney general were present during the purported communication with Mr. Bailey," Trump's lawyers wrote.

"Nor did this court ever notify either party that the purported communication took place, which would have at least permitted an opportunity for comment on the substance of the conversation, as conveyed by this court.

"Worse yet, Mr. Bailey's account indicates that this court not only permitted but welcomed such prohibited communication," the filing says.

Engoron has said Bailey's comments have not influenced him in this case, but the conversation has prompted a state judicial conduct investigation.

Engoron ordered Trump, his companies and fellow defendants to pay nearly $364 million over his business practices in February. Trump appealed.

Engoron required a court-appointed independent monitor overseeing the Trump Organization's finances continue in the role for at least three years.
FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Trump holds a campaign event, in Racine

FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Trump holds a campaign event, in Racine

By Andrew Goudsward

FORT PIERCE, Florida (Reuters) -Donald Trump's lawyer argued on Friday that the criminal case charging the former U.S. president with mishandling classified documents should be thrown out because the prosecutor is too independent -- even as Trump complains that his legal woes are directed by Democratic President Joe Biden.

At a hearing in a federal court in Florida, Trump lawyer Emil Bove pressed U.S. Judge Aileen Cannon to dismiss the case because Special Counsel Jack Smith is not subject to the constraints that other federal prosecutors must face.

"Jack Smith does not have a superior who is operating with sufficient oversight authority over his decisions right now," Bove said.

That argument has not succeeded in other cases involving special counsels, who have been appointed in Democratic and Republican-led administrations alike to ensure a degree of autonomy in politically sensitive cases.

But Cannon, a Trump appointee, has ruled in favor of the Republican presidential candidate on previous requests and has allowed a flurry of motions by his legal team to slow the case to a crawl. It is unlikely the case will reach a jury before Trump and Biden face voters in the Nov. 5 election.

Trumps legal challenge is part of a multi-pronged attack on Smith, whom he has called deranged and a thug on social media. Smith, a veteran public corruption prosecutor who worked on war crimes cases in The Hague, was named by Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2022 to lead the investigations into Trump.

Bove challenged the legal authority behind Smith's appointment, arguing that Congress would have to approve a prosecutor with his level of autonomy.

Justice Department lawyer James Pearce told Cannon that Smith's independence is not absolute, as Garland has the power to weigh in on important decisions and overrule him if necessary.

Cannon asked Pearce if Garland had approved Smith's decision to bring criminal charges in the classified documents case.

Pearce declined to answer, saying the Justice Department needed to preserve the confidentiality of its internal decision-making.

In a rare move, Cannon has allowed three outside lawyers, including two siding with Trump, to argue during Fridays hearing. Neither Trump nor Smith attended the heading.

Hearings in the case will continue on Monday and Tuesday.

FIRST APPEARANCE SINCE VERDICT

The hearings mark the first time Trump's legal team has appeared in court since he was convicted on 34 felony counts in May of falsifying business records in New York.

Smith oversees the classified documents prosecution and a second criminal case in Washington accusing Trump of attempting to overturn his 2020 election defeat.

That case likewise has been delayed as the U.S. Supreme Court considers his claims of presidential immunity. It is expected to issue a ruling by the end of June, but did not do so on Friday.

Trump has pleaded not guilty in both of those cases and a separate election-interference case in Georgia.

He has frequently claimed that his four criminal cases stem from a coordinated effort by Biden's Democrats to hobble his presidential bid.

As special counsel, Smith operates with a greater degree of independence than other federal prosecutors in an effort to minimize political influence.

Trump's lawyers face an uphill battle as they challenge the special counsel appointment, as courts have previously rejected challenges to their authority, most recently in cases involving Bidens son Hunter, who was found guilty this month on gun charges.

Trump has not raised the same challenge to Smith in the election case in Washington, where judges would be bound by prior rulings in prior challenges to special counsel.

The hearings will also address Trumps bid to suppress evidence seized during an FBI search of his Mar-a-Lago resort and Smiths request to bar Trump from making statements that may endanger law enforcement. That stems from Trump's baseless claim that a standard FBI use-of-force policy filed ahead of a search of his Florida property was an authorization to assassinate him.

(Reporting by Andrew Goudsward; Writing by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Scott Malone, Alistair Bell and Nick Zieminski)
Donald Trump is a big fan of the new Louisiana law that requires the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public classrooms.



The presumptive Republican presidential nominee and convicted felon posted his approval early Friday morning on Truth Social in an all-caps post, noting HOW CAN WE GO WRONG???

Trump Truth Social post: I LOVE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PRIVATE SCHOOLS, AND MANY OTHER PLACES, FOR THAT MATTER. READ ITHOW CAN WE, AS A NATION, GO WRONG??? THIS MAY BE, IN FACT, THE FIRST MAJOR STEP IN THE REVIVAL OF RELIGION, WHICH IS DESPERATELY NEEDED, IN OUR COUNTRY. BRING BACK TTC!!! MAGA 2024

The bill almost certainly will invite a lawsuit on First Amendment grounds, which would likely make its way to the Supreme Court, which, thanks to Trump, has a conservative majority. In past decades, however, the court has struck down similar bills.



But Trump knows what hes doing. This is a calculated effort to appease the Christian right, along with his attacks on abortion rights, which he tries to disguise but very clearly states to Christian audiences. Somehow, despite his philandering, lying, business fraud, and numerous other violations of the Ten Commandments, he continues to be thought of as a person of faith by 64 percent of Republicans.

Trump depends on support from the Christian right, not just for himself but also to keep the Republican Party behind him. He will need their votes to have any chance of reelection in November, and they are already making plans for what to do if he returns to the White House.
Louisianas governor has signed a bill requiring every classroom in the state to display a copy of the Ten Commandments, and Donald Trump is all for it.

On Friday the former president  a serial fabricator and convicted fraudster who has said he doesnt think adultery is a sin  wrote on Truth Social that he was over the moon about the gross violation of the First Amendment.

I LOVE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PRIVATE SCHOOLS, AND MANY OTHER PLACES, FOR THAT MATTER. Trump wrote. READ IT  HOW CAN WE, AS A NATION, GO WRONG??? THIS MAY BE, IN FACT, THE FIRST MAJOR STEP IN THE REVIVAL OF RELIGION, WHICH IS DESPERATELY NEEDED, IN OUR COUNTRY. BRING BACK TTC!!! MAGA2024

Trump, in the wee hours, emphatically backed Louisianas new Ten Commandments law: pic.twitter.com/uAHxNfvBKy  Michael Gold (@migold) June 21, 2024

The new law, which Louisianas Republican Governor Jeff Landry signed on Thursday, will require a display of the Biblical covenant in a large, easily readable font on a poster no smaller than 11 by 14 inches in every state-funded school from kindergarten to the university level.

On Wednesday, the American Civil Liberties Union announced they would be suing the state to have the law repealed. Public schools are not Sunday schools, the civil rights group wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

BREAKING: Were suing Louisiana for requiring all public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom.



Public schools are not Sunday schools.  ACLU (@ACLU) June 19, 2024

The law violates longstanding Supreme Court precedent and the First Amendment. More than 40 years ago, in Stone v. Graham, the Supreme Court overturned a similar state statute, holding that the First Amendment bars public schools from posting the Ten Commandments in classrooms, the group wrote in a statement issued Wednesday. The government should not be taking sides in this theological debate, and it certainly should not be coercing students to submit day in and day out to unavoidable promotions of religious doctrine.

Despite the legal challenges, other states may attempt to follow suit. On Thursday, Texas Republican Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick griped on X that Texas WOULD have been and SHOULD have been the first state in the nation to put the 10 Commandments back in our schools, had Democrats in the state legislature not intervened to block the measure.

I will pass the 10 Commandments Bill again out of the Senate next session, Patrick promised.

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Former President Donald Trump is raising his debate expectations for President Joe Biden a week ahead of the two men facing off, and after spending months describing him as a weak, mentally unfit leader.

"I assume he's gonna be somebody that will be a worthy debater. ... I don't want to underestimate him," Trump said during an episode of the "All In" podcast, hosted by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs Chamath Palihapitiya, Jason Calacanis, David Sacks and David Friedberg, and released on Thursday.

Pointing to Biden's vice-presidential debate performance against former House Speaker Paul Ryan, who ran as the VP choice of Sen. Mitt Romney in his 2012 presidential campaign, Trump, in a rare moment, praised Biden.

"All I can say is this, I watched him with Paul Ryan, and he destroyed Paul Ryan. Paul Ryan with the water, he was chugging water left and right  and he beat Paul Ryan. So, I'm not underestimating him. I'm not underestimating him. It is what it is."

MORE: Biden campaign picks right-side podium for CNN debate, Trump will have the last word

Trumps comments are a departure from his previous rhetoric and come as his campaign advisers have warned that Biden may overperform on Thursday because expectations have been set low for him, though Trump himself has contributed to those conversations.

"Crooked Joe Biden is the WORST debater I have ever faced - He can't put two sentences together!" Trump posted on his social media platform when he accepted Biden's debate proposal.

"I would strongly recommend more than two debates and, for excitement purposes, a very large venue, although Biden is supposedly afraid of crowds - That's only because he doesn't get them."

After Trump and Biden agreed to face off twice, Trump called for Biden to be drug tested ahead of the debates, claiming that if he performed well, it would be because of some kind of performance enhancement.

"I'm gonna demand a drug test, by the way. I am. No, I really am," Trump said at a campaign event in Michigan last month.

PHOTO: Former President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden (Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images, Cj Gunther/Shutterstock)

"I don't want him coming in like the State of the Union. He was high as a kite. They said 'Is that Joe up there in that beautiful room?' And by the end of the evening, he's like, where? He was exhausted, right?" Trump continued, making unfounded claims that Biden was on drugs during his State of the Union address.

Trump also previously floated the idea that Biden would be replaced as the Democratic nominee if he performed poorly at the debate, quipping that he would "lose the debate on purpose," to ensure Biden stays in the race.

"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," Trump said during an interview with Real America's Voices the day he visited with Congressional Republicans.

MORE: How do voters feel about the Biden-Trump debates? And will they make a difference?

However, now as the debate inches closer, Trump has started to plant seeds of doubt with his supporters about potential ways Biden could exceed expectations, complaining about the logistics of next Thursday's first debate and potential media coverage.

At his most recent rally in Racine, Wisconsin, Trump criticized debate moderators Dana Bash and Jake Tapper, arguing they won't be fair to him, and labeled their network, CNN, which is hosting the debate, as "fake news."

"I'll probably be negotiating with three people, but that's OK. I've done that before where I'll be debating three people instead of one-half of a person," Trump previously said, continuing to attack Biden's mental fitness.

He has also claimed that Biden's metric of success won't be based on performance but on mere completion.

"If he's standing, they'll say it was a brilliant performance," Trump told an NRA Convention crowd last month in Dallas.

Ahead of Thursday, both candidates have taken different approaches to preparation. While Biden is hunkering down at Camp David, participating in mock debates and refining his message with advisers, Trump has been holding policy meetings with his vice presidential candidates and former administration officials.

The second debate, hosted by ABC, airs Sept. 10.

Trump expects Biden to be a 'worthy debater' after spending months attacking his mental fitness originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
(Bloomberg) -- A Nevada state judge on Friday dismissed charges against six individuals involved in the false certification of former President Donald Trump as the winner of the states 2020 presidential election.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Clark County District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus, who sits in Las Vegas, found that the Nevada attorney generals office had brought the case in the wrong state jurisdiction. The judge announced her decision from the bench. A written order was not immediately available but a spokesperson for the attorney generals office confirmed the decision.

The attorney generals office disagrees with the ruling and plans to immediately appeal, said spokesperson John Sadler.

The Nevada defendants included Michael McDonald, the chair of the state Republican party, and Jim DeGraffenreid, the state GOPs national committeeman. George Kelesis, an attorney for DeGraffenreid, said they believe the judges ruling was correct. Lawyers for the other defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The December indictment charged the pro-Trump electors with felony counts for offering a false record and forgery. Nevada was one of seven states where Republican electors met on Dec. 14, 2020, to sign false certifications that Trump had won. That same day, the official Electoral College voted to confirm President Joe Bidens win.

A trial in the Nevada case had been scheduled for January 2025.

There are pending prosecutions against pro-Trump electors who signed similar false certifications in Arizona, Georgia and Michigan. Trump faces an indictment in Georgia for his efforts to overturn the election but hasnt been charged in the other state elector cases.

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 21, 2024 - 20:30 | All, Japan

Nissan Motor Co. will close its passenger car factory in Jiangsu province, China, people familiar with the matter said Friday, as the Japanese automaker faces intensifying price competition and the rising popularity of electric vehicles made by local brands. Like its Japanese peers, Nissan has been struggling with declining sales in the world's largest auto market. Limited options in all-electric cars have been a major setback for Japanese companies as China is experiencing a rapid shift to EVs.

The plant in Changzhou is capable of building about 130,000 units annually, accounting for approximately 10 percent of Nissan's production in China, the sources said.

The factory, which came online in November 2020, is scheduled to stop operations on Friday, and the production of sport utility vehicles made there will be transferred to a different Nissan plant in China, according to the sources.

Nissan operates eight factories in China through its partnership with state-owned Dongfeng Motor Corp., with a total production capacity of about 1.6 million units per year.

The plant's closure follows Mitsubishi Motors Corp.'s decision to discontinue vehicle production in the country last year. Honda Motor Co. is also slashing its full-time production workforce in China.

The market share of Japanese automakers in China decreased to 12.1 percent as of May from 23.1 percent in 2020, while that of local brands rose to 61.3 percent from 38.4 percent in the same period, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

Related coverage:

Honda to spend 10 trillion yen on EVs through fiscal 2030

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Accused adulterer Trump who paid to keep Stormy Daniels affair secret professes love for the Ten Commandments

Accused adulterer Trump who paid to keep Stormy Daniels affair secret professes love for the Ten Commandments

Donald Trump declared his love for the Ten Commandments and called for them to be displayed in schools and many other places in an all-caps, late-night post on his social media platform, Truth Social.

His post came after Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry signed legislation this week that requires the display of the Ten Commandments in every public classroom in the state, a move that will be challenged in court. Elementary, middle and high schools, as well as public colleges, must all display posters no smaller than 11 by 14 inches and the commandments must be the central focus of the poster and in a large, easily readable font, the law states.

Louisiana is the only state in the country with such a requirement  but Trump suggested hed like to see that changed.

I LOVE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PRIVATE SCHOOLS, AND MANY OTHER PLACES, FOR THAT MATTER. READ IT  HOW CAN WE, AS A NATION, GO WRONG??? THIS MAY BE, IN FACT, THE FIRST MAJOR STEP IN THE REVIVAL OF RELIGION, WHICH IS DESPERATELY NEEDED, IN OUR COUNTRY. BRING BACK TTC!!! MAGA2024, Trump wrote in the early hours of Friday.

Trump, however, has been accused of breaking the 7th Commandment, which forbids adultery. He was accused of having an affair with Stormy Daniels and was convicted in New York of 34 felonies to make hush money payments to keep it secret.

Donald Trump announced his support for publicly posting the Ten Commandments in schools in an all-caps late-night Truth Social post (Getty Images)

On Friday, the federal judge presiding over Trumps classified documents case in Florida is hearing arguments on a long-shot defense effort to get the indictment thrown out. It is the latest update in the slew of court cases facing the former president.

He is also facing state and federal cases in connection with his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results which he has falsely claimed was stolen from him. Trump has denied all the charges against him.

The Louisiana law has been backed by Trump, who has growing support among Christian conservatives, with 84 percent of white evangelicals backing him in 2020, compared to 77 percent in 2016, according to Pew Research.

However, the legislation also has been heavily criticized with the American Civil Liberties Union and the Americans United for Separation of Church and State group planning to sue.

Were going to be seeing Gov. Landry in court, Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State said on Wednesday.

She added that the organization is worried about public school families and students in Louisiana.

They come from a variety of different traditions and backgrounds, different religious beliefs, nonreligious beliefs and students in those classrooms will be made to feel like outsiders when they see the government endorsing one set of narrow religious beliefs over others.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry addresses members of the House and Senate on opening day of a legislative special session, Feb. 19, 2024 (AP)

Landry previously said at a GOP fundraiser in Tennessee that he cant wait to be sued over the law.

The new legislation is part of an effort by conservative legal groups to reverse Supreme Court rulings protecting the separation of church and state after justices shot down a similar state law in Kentucky more than 30 years ago, on the grounds that the state violated the First Amendments prohibition against any laws respecting an establishment of religion.

In 2005, the Supreme Court ruled that the public display of the Ten Commandments in two Kentucky county courthouses was similarly unconstitutional.
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump speaks to members of the press at Trump Tower in Manhattan, New York

By Luc Cohen

(Reuters) - New York prosecutors say they are open to a partial lifting of a judge's gag order now that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has been convicted on criminal charges stemming from an effort to influence the 2016 election by buying a porn star's silence.

Prosecutors in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office said in a court filing dated Thursday and made public on Friday that they supported allowing him to speak publicly about witnesses in the case.

But they urged Justice Juan Merchan to keep in place restrictions on his comments about jurors, court staff and individual prosecutors, citing risks to their safety.

In the first criminal trial of a U.S. president, a Manhattan jury on May 30 found Trump guilty of covering up his former lawyer Michael Cohen's $130,000 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who was threatening to go public before the election with her story of a sexual encounter with Trump.

Trump, elected to a four-year term in 2016, denies the alleged 2006 encounter and has vowed to appeal his conviction. Sentencing is scheduled for July 11, four days before his party convenes to formally nominate him for president ahead of the Nov. 5 election.

Trump's lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.

They had asked to lift the gag order, arguing it was stifling his ability to respond to attacks by political opponents. They complained he was barred from responding to public attacks from Cohen and Daniels, who testified on behalf of the prosecution at trial.

They said it was particularly important ahead of Trump's debate next Thursday with his rival, Democratic President Joe Biden, who has called Trump a convicted felon.

It was unclear when Merchan would rule on any modifications to the gag order. The judge fined Trump $10,000 for violations of the order during the seven-week trial and warned him on May 6 that he would be jailed if he ran afoul of the order again.

Merchan imposed the gag order before the trial began in April, finding that Trump's history of threatening statements posed a risk of derailing the proceedings.

Prosecutors said the gag order does not prohibit Trump from criticizing the verdict, the case in general, Bragg or Merchan.

"Many of the defendant's complaints simply ignore the narrowness of this Court's orders," they wrote in the filing.

The prosecutors said the restriction on Trump's comments about trial witnesses no longer needed to be enforced.

But they said: "Defendant's supporters, following his lead, have attempted to identify jurors and threatened violence against them."

"There thus remains a critical need to protect the jurors in this case from attacks by defendant and those he inspires to action," they wrote.

Defense lawyers previously argued that holding Trump accountable for "harassing communications" by "independent third parties" violated his right to free speech.

(Reporting by Luc Cohen in Boston; Editing by Howard Goller)
Former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on June 20 that the possibility of Ukraine's entry into NATO was "really why this (full-scale) war started" and blamed President Joe Biden's alleged support for Ukraine's accession as a trigger to the invasion.

Speaking on a podcast hosted by David Sacks, an entrepreneur and regular critic of U.S. policy toward Ukraine, Trump said, "For 20 years, I heard that if Ukraine goes into NATO, it's a real problem for Russia."

"And I think that's really why this war started."

Trump added that Biden was "saying all of the wrong things (about Ukraine)," namely that "Ukraine will go into NATO."

Biden's record on Ukraine's NATO accession prior to the full-scale war was mixed, and he did not directly declare his support for its joining the alliance in the near term.

Speaking in June 2021, Biden said, "School's out on that question (of Ukraine joining NATO). It remains to be seen."

In December of that year, as tensions increased and Russian troops massed on the border, Biden reportedly said that the "decision on Ukraine's accession to NATO is the decision of the Ukrainian people only, this is a sovereign and independent Ukrainian state," according to Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak.

In the podcast, Sacks also claimed, without citing evidence, that "the month before the Russians invaded, (Secretary of State Antony) Blinken told (Russian Foreign Minister Sergey) Lavrov that the (Biden) administration was not only going to bring Ukraine into NATO, but that they thought it was okay for the U.S. to put nuclear weapons in Ukraine."

Michael McFaul, former U.S. Ambassador to Russia, wrote on X that it was "the first time I have ever heard someone claim that Blinken told Lavrov that the U.S. planned to put nuclear weapons in Ukraine."

"Is there evidence supporting that claim? I've never seen any."

Sacks, who has no specific previous expertise on either Russia or Ukraine and is primarily known in the U.S. as an investor in technology companies, has previously made misleading or unsubstantiated claims about Ukraine.

In December 2023, Sacks wrote on X, "Has a U.S. Army general taken de facto control of the Ukrainian Army?" Sacks cited an article by the New York Times (NYT) that the Pentagon had sent U.S. Lieutenant General Antonio Aguto Jr. to "spend lengthy periods of time in Kyiv" and "work more directly with the countrys military leadership."

Both Sacks and Trump made several other misleading comments about Ukraine in the podcast.

Without citing evidence, Trump claimed that Ukraine "wants to use children (and) old people" to fight in the army.

As with many armies around the world, the minimum age to join Ukraine's army is 18. President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a controversial measure into law in April that lowered the minimum age for conscription into the army from 27 to 25. The government has so far resisted calls to further lower the minimum draft age.

Trump also said that Russia "doesn't want to have (NATO) soldiers right on their border," declining to mention that Russia already bordered four NATO countries prior to the full-scale invasionEstonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. Russia's border with NATO significantly expanded after Finland joined the alliance in April 2023, which it had resisted before 2022.

Read also: Trump criticizes Ukraine for requesting aid, promises to settle it

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Count former President Trump among those who are backing Louisianas controversial and first-in-the-nation law that will mandate classrooms from elementary school through college prominently display the Ten Commandments.

I LOVE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PRIVATE SCHOOLS, AND MANY OTHER PLACES, FOR THAT MATTER, Trump wrote this week on his online platform Truth Social. READ IT  HOW CAN WE, AS A NATION, GO WRONG??? THIS MAY BE, IN FACT, THE FIRST MAJOR STEP IN THE REVIVAL OF RELIGION, WHICH IS DESPERATELY NEEDED, IN OUR COUNTRY.

BRING BACK TTC!!! Trump added, referring to the Ten Commandments.

The White House and the Department of Education didnt respond to The Hills requests for comment on Louisianas new law or Trumps remarks. President Biden, who is locked in a contentious reelection battle with Republican Trump, also hasnt publicly addressed the issue.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican in a deeply conservative and religious state, signed House Bill 71 into law Wednesday after it sailed through the states GOP-controlled Legislature.

Critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Freedom From Religion Foundation, vowed to fight the law they see as blatantly unconstitutional.

The Biden administration didnt immediately respond to The Hills requests for comment on the official position about the Louisiana law. The president is a devout Catholic who regularly celebrates Mass with his family.

Opponents of the legislation have vowed to take the matter to the courts.

Politicians have no business imposing their preferred religious doctrine on students and families in public schools, Louisianas ACLU chapter said in the statement joined by the Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Freedom from Religion Foundation.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Donald Trump pledged to give green cards to foreign graduates of American colleges if hes elected in November  a stunning development given his plan for mass deportations for undocumented immigrants and fearmongering about migrants poisoning the blood of America.

Yet, there was the former president taking a rare pro-immigrant stance on the All-In podcast Thursday. The subject came up when he was asked if he would enable recruitment of the best and the brightest from around the world if he defeats President Joe Biden.

What I will do is  you graduate from a college, I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country, and that includes junior colleges, Trump said.

Trump said its so sad when the country surrenders talent from Harvard University and MIT or lesser schools, which are phenomenal schools also.

The presumptive Republican nominee claimed he intended to promote the same policy when he was president previously but got derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trump, who moments earlier had hyped his efforts to build a border wall, spoke ruefully of stories where people graduated from a top college or from a college, and they desperately wanted to stay here, they had a plan for a company, a concept, and they cant  they go back to India, they go back to China, they do the same basic company in those places.

And they become multibillionaires, employ thousands and thousands of people and it could have been done here, he added.

But hours later, Trumps campaign press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, walked back his comments in a more on-brand response to The New York Times. She said there would be an aggressive vetting process to exclude all communists, radical Islamists, Hamas supporters, America haters and public charges. She added that the policy would target the most skilled graduates who can make significant contributions to America.

Fast-forward to 44:00 for Trumps college plan:

Related...
Former President Donald Trump has been busy in recent weeks. He was found guilty in his hush money trial in New York, is embroiled in three other legal cases and has continued his campaign to win back the White House.

But Trump has another task: Choosing a running mate.

With just weeks until the Republican National Convention, where the former president is expected to announce his pick for vice president, sources have told CNN that these are the possible contenders on Trumps mind.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum speaks during a campaign event with former President Donald Trump, in Laconia, New Hampshire, in January. - Al Drago/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Doug Burgum

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum challenged Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination before suspending his campaign in December.

A former Microsoft executive, Burgum is a second-term governor with a conservative track record. He signed a bill last year that bans gender-affirming care for most minors and enacted a near-total ban on abortions in the state.

Late last month, Burgum  who was among the candidates that received vice-presidential vetting materials from the Trump campaign  told CNNs Kaitlan Collins that the whole discussion about the veepstakes  is kind of a giant distraction.

(Trump) can win this election on his own, Burgum said, adding that the people of this country are focused on the issues and not on whos going to be the VP.

In this November 2022 photo, Sen. Marco Rubio takes to the stage before the arrival of former President Donald Trump at a rally at the Miami-Dade Country Fair and Exposition on in Miami. - Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Marco Rubio

With several Trump insiders encouraging the former president to consider a Hispanic running mate, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio  the son of Cuban immigrants  could be an appealing choice.

Rubio ran against Trump in 2016, positioning himself at the time as the only person who could stop Trump. But since then, Rubio has adopted Trumpism and regularly defends the former president.

The senator, who was first elected to his office in 2010, is among the candidates who received vice-presidential vetting materials from the Trump campaign, and if chosen, Rubio would be the first Hispanic running mate on a major party ticket. The senator helped the former president gear up for the June debate against President Joe Biden by participating in a policy discussion.

But he faces a potential hurdle.

Rubio and Trump are both Florida residents and while there is no law preventing a president and vice president of the US being from the same state, the Constitution prevents electors from voting for two people from the same state. This could be detrimental if the election is close  and the Trump campaign expects it to be so, according to multiple Trump advisers. Rubio has not ruled out changing his residence.

In this April 2022 photo, J.D. Vance, shakes hands with former President Donald Trump during a rally hosted by the former president at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in Delaware, Ohio. - Drew Angerer/Getty Images

J.D. Vance

Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, a freshman, entered Congress with the help of the former president, whose endorsement helped him win a contentious race in 2022.

Vance was critical of Trump in 2016, and, six year later, Trump publicly humiliated Vance even after endorsing him in the 2022 election.

Still, Vance is an outspoken supporter of Trump in Congress, and often votes in allegiance with the former presidents interests. He opposed a Ukraine aid bill earlier this year, adopting Trumps criticism of providing more aid. He is also close with Donald Trump Jr.

Vance, a former venture capitalist, veteran and author, is among the candidates who received vice-presidential vetting materials from the Trump campaign.

When asked by CNNs Kaitlan Collins if he has any pause to be Trumps running mate given Trumps treatment of his former vice president, Vance said he is extremely skeptical that Mike Pences life was ever in danger on January 6, 2021, the day of the riot at the US Capitol.

Sen. Tim Scott waves as he sits with former President Donald Trump during a Fox News town hall at the Greenville Convention Center on February 20, 2024 in Greenville, South Carolina. - Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Tim Scott

Trump has said Tim Scott is a guy I look at when asked on a radio show earlier this year if the South Carolina senator was a front-runner to be his potential running mate.

While Scott challenged Trump for the Republican nomination this election cycle, he ran a campaign that avoided being overly critical of the former president and often expressed support for policies enacted during the Trump administration, positioning himself to be considered as a running mate.

Since he suspended his campaign in November, he has aligned himself closely with Trump, and he is among the candidates who were sent various levels of paperwork in the vice-presidential vetting process.

Scott was appointed to the Senate in 2013 by then-South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. He retained the seat in a 2014 special election, was reelected to a full term in 2016 and won a second full term in 2022. He has one of the most conservative voting records in Congress and rarely broke with Trump during the latters presidency.

Rep Elise Stefanik speaks during a campaign rally for former President Donald Trump at the Grappone Convention Center on January 19, 2024 in Concord, New Hampshire. - Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Elise Stefanik

House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik was once a Trump skeptic during the 2016 campaign and in the early days of his presidency. She has since emerged as one of the former presidents most ardent supporters in Congress.

Stefanik delivered a strong defense of Trump during his 2019 impeachment trial, which positioned her as a Republican star, as the then-president said at the time. She then objected to Bidens 2020 win in the House and promoted election lies.

Trump has at various times asked donors and allies what they think about Stefanik as a potential vice president, though her perceived zeal for the job turned off some of the former presidents advisers, one person close to Trump previously told CNN.

Stefanik  who was among the candidates who were sent various levels of paperwork in the vice-presidential vetting process  has publicly expressed interest in becoming Trumps running mate or for a Cabinet position if he wins. The congresswoman, who was first elected in 2014, told CNN earlier this year that shes proud to be a top surrogate and would proudly serve in a future Trump administration.

Former HUD Secretary Ben Carson campaigns for former President Donald Trump at the Grace Baptist Church on January 11, 2024 in Marion, Iowa. - Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Ben Carson

Former Housing and Urban Development secretary Ben Carson challenged Trump for the Republican nomination in 2016. And while Carson  who didnt win a single primary contest  didnt immediately endorse Trump, he did offer a strong defense of the man who would eventually become president.

People who think Donald Trump would be the worst thing that ever happened  you make a really big mistake by trying to thwart the will of the people, Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, said while suspending his campaign.

Once Trump was elected, Carson turned down the then-president-elects offer to be his health and human services secretary. But he eventually led the Department of Housing and Urban Development, despite criticism that he was not qualified to do so.

Carson  who is among the candidates who received various levels of paperwork in the vice-presidential vetting process  disagrees with Trumps stance on one key issue: Abortion. In his new book, The Perilous Fight, Carson argued in favor of a legislation that guarantees the right to life for all American citizens, including those still in the womb. Trump has said that he would not sign a federal abortion ban if hes back in office.

Rep. Byron Donalds speaks before former President Donald Trump at the People's Convention of Turning Point Action on June 15, 2024, in Detroit. - Carlos Osorio/AP

Byron Donalds

Florida Rep. Byron Donalds is a Trump loyalist and one of the former presidents most trusted surrogates. He rose to prominence in Trump world last year when he endorsed Trump over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the Republican presidential primary, and he has received routine praise and public support from the former president.

He was part of a launch of the Black Americans for Trump group meant to target Black voters as the Trump campaign seeks to win over voters from the traditionally Democratic bloc. Donalds has been outspoken on related issues, including controversial comments he made earlier this month suggesting that Black families were together during the Jim Crow era of racial segregation.

Donalds has been confident that if selected as Trumps vice president, he would be able to assume the role of commander in chief, if necessary, and said he will support Trump however he decides.

I think that I have the ability to step in, Donalds said in June on NBCs Meet the Press. Im actually pretty intelligent.

Nikki Haley walks on stage at her caucus night event on January 15, 2024 in West Des Moines, Iowa. - Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

Nikki Haley

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley was the last Trump opponent to stay in the GOP presidential race and on the trail, she tried to distinguish herself from the former president as the better alternative to reel in moderate and independent voters in a general election against Biden.

When asked if he would consider Haley as his running mate, Trump said earlier this month that he was very disappointed in her because she stayed too long.

Haley, who served as Trumps ambassador to the United Nations, said on the trail that she feels no need to kiss the ring. Even after suspending her campaign, she didnt immediately endorse the former president and instead urged him to earn the support of voters who backed her. But she ultimately said last month that shed be voting for her former boss.

Even after Haley suspended her campaign, tens of thousands of voters continued to vote for her in Republican primaries across the country. Her selection could help Trump win over GOP voters who are seeking an alternative to the former president. Still, Trump himself said on Truth Social that she is not under consideration.

Haley was elected as governor of South Carolina in 2011, making history as the first woman and the first person of an ethnic minority to hold governorship in the state.

In the Trump administration, she was initially considered for secretary of state before being offered the UN ambassadorship  a role she said she accepted on conditions that she be a Cabinet member, be on the National Security Council and have the ability to speak her mind. She resigned as ambassador in October 2018.

Sen. Tom Cotton arrives for a news conference on Capitol Hill on May 1, in Washington, DC. - Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Tom Cotton

Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton spent months exploring a 2024 presidential run, but eventually decided after the 2022 midterms that he would not join the race.

First elected to the US House in 2012 and then to the US Senate in 2014, the Afghanistan and Iraq War veteran has established himself as a conservative security hawk. He also put a long-standing hold on US attorney and US marshal nominations.

Cotton announced earlier this year that he would run for Senate Republican conference chair, the third-ranking leadership position in GOP leadership. However, he told NBC earlier this month that any great patriot, if offered a chance to serve our country by the president, would have to consider it seriously.

However, he said he has not talked to Trump or his campaign about the role or any position in his administration.

Former Congressman Tulsi Gabbard speaks during a general session of the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, on February 22, 2024. - Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

Tulsi Gabbard

Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard ran as a Democratic presidential candidate in 2020, but left the party to become an independent in 2022, alleging that her former party is under the complete control of an elitist cabal of warmongers driven by cowardly wokeness.

Gabbard, a veteran, was first elected to Congress in 2012, making history as the first American Samoan woman and first practicing Hindu member in Congress. She also served as the vice chair of the Democratic National Committee. She left Congress in 2021.

As a congresswoman, she voted present on both articles of impeachment against Trump in 2019. And in recent months, she has ramped up her praise and defense of the former president, alleging at a Conservative Political Action Conference earlier this year that the Democrat elite and cronies are using our criminal system to prosecute Trump and undermine his support.

Gabbard has publicly expressed interest in joining the ticket, telling an audience in response to a question at a book event, If asked to serve in that way, I would be honored to do so, according to the New York Times.

In 2016, Gabbard was considered by Trump for jobs at the Defense Department, State Department and the United Nations, a source then told CNN.

CNNs Veronica Stracqualursi, David Wright, Shania Shelton, Kristen Holmes, Steve Contorno, Stephen Collinson, Avery Lotz, Manu Raju, Alayna Treene, Kate Sullivan, Aaron Pellish, Jeff Zeleny, Eva McKend, Gregory Krieg, Kylie Atwood, Arit John, Ebony Davis, Clare Foran, Ali Zaslav and Ted Barrett contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
As Donald Trump seeks a second presidential term, he has been promising major policy wins to donors while seeking their cash  and testing corruption laws in ways never before seen.

In April, Donald Trump asked oil and gas executives to donate $1 billion to help his 2024 presidential campaign, according to The Washington Post, which reported that he had promised the donors a host of policy favors, including a rollback of President Joe Bidens environmental regulations and faster, painless corporate mergers.

Now, fossil fuel cash is pouring in: Last month, Energy Transfer CEO Kelcy Warren hosted a Houston-area fundraiser for Trump  and he also donated $5 million to the primary pro-Trump super PAC, Make America Great Again Inc. The oil and gas firm Continental Resources, Inc. donated $1 million to MAGA Inc. in late April.

Those donations and policy promises are part of a broader pattern: Trump has been making big promises to potential donors, while reportedly requesting huge amounts of cash  amounts that far exceed the limits on contributions that candidates can accept for their own campaigns.

Last month, Trump warned donors that Biden would allow Republicans 2017 tax law to expire. The tax cuts all expire for wealthy and poor and middle-income and everything else, but they expire in another seven months and hes not going to renew them, which means taxes are going to go up by four times, Trump said, according to the Post. (The 2017 tax law has disproportionately benefited the wealthy.)

He subsequently told top corporate executives he wants to renew the tax programs and further slash the corporate tax rate.

Campaign finance records show that Trumps super PAC received a combined $10 million in May from conservative billionaires Richard and Liz Uihlein. The family, which leads a cardboard box empire, received a $118 million tax deduction in one year thanks to a provision in the GOPs 2017 tax law, according to reporting by ProPublica.

While the Uihlein family previously backed Trump challenger primary challenger Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, Liz Uihlein declared in March they would support Trump. Everybody likes Trumps policies, she said.

Trump is also reaping rewards from a change in his stance on cryptocurrencies. In 2021, the former president said that bitcoin seems like a scam. Earlier this month, Trump reportedly pitched himself to Silicon Valley donors as the crypto president, and pledged to immediately halt the Biden administrations scrutiny of the industry. He also reportedly told a group of crypto mining company executives that he wants all bitcoin mining, a highly energy-intensive process, to be done in the United States.

On Thursday, billionaire twins Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, who founded the crypto company Gemini, announced that they had each donated $1 million in bitcoin to boost Trump.

President Donald J. Trump is the pro-Bitcoin, pro-crypto, and pro-business choice, Tyler Winklevoss posted on X, adding: Its time for the crypto army to send a message to Washington. That attacking us is political suicide.

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KYODO NEWS - Jun 21, 2024 - 20:24 | Japan, All, Travel/Tourism

A Kyoto hotel illegally refused accommodation to an Israeli man, citing possible ties with his country's military engaging in conflict in the Gaza Strip, the local government said Friday.

The city has instructed Hotel Material in Higashiyama Ward that such an act violates a law prohibiting hotels and other facilities from refusing to accommodate visitors except under special circumstances.

Israel's embassy in Tokyo criticized the hotel's action, calling the incident "a clear case of discrimination that is not in line with Japan's business law."

"This serious incident appears to be due to an employee's personal political views and is unacceptable by any measure," the embassy said in a statement issued Friday. "It is crucial that the hotel takes this issue seriously to prevent further harm and to uphold the values of respect and equality."

The city, having investigated the matter, said the hotel's justification for rejecting the man's online booking "is not a legitimate reason for denying accommodation."

The city warned the hotel of the illegal act verbally on Thursday and via a written document on Friday.

The hotel declined to comment, saying a lawyer representing the facility is handling the situation.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said it is "unacceptable" to refuse accommodation on the basis of nationality.

"We hope all visitors to Japan will be able to engage in various activities in Japan feeling secure," she said at a press conference.

Related coverage:

Hiroshima urges Israel to cease Gaza attack in peace ceremony invite

Japan's Himeji Castle entry fees could increase for overseas visitors

Foreign visitors to Japan top 3 mil. for 3rd straight month in May
Donald Trump was apparently full of religious zeal early Friday as he fired off an all-caps post throwing his support behind a move to force the Ten Commandments on public schools.

The former presidents Truth Social rant came after Louisianas Republican Gov. Jeff Landry on Wednesday signed a law requiring every public classroom in the state to display a poster of the commandments. I LOVE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PRIVATE SCHOOLS, AND MANY OTHER PLACES, FOR THAT MATTER, Trump wrote in his post.

GOP Pushes the Ten Commandments but Ignores Jesus Actual Teachings

Trump went on to urge his followers to study the commandments. READ IT  HOW CAN WE, AS A NATION, GO WRONG? he wrote. The former presidents public support for the commandmentswhich prohibit lying and adulteryfollows his conviction last month of falsifying business records after he was accused of attempting to hide a hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels to stop her speaking about her claims of an extramarital one-night stand with him.

The new law in Louisiana immediately triggered debates about the separation of church and state, and threats of legal action challenging the mandate as unconstitutional (Landry says he cant wait to be sued). According to Trump, however, the lack of religiosity isnt just confined to public schools.

THIS MAY BE, IN FACT, THE FIRST MAJOR STEP IN THE REVIVAL OF RELIGION, WHICH IS DESPERATELY NEEDED, IN OUR COUNTRY, Trump wrote, adding: BRING BACK TTC, seemingly referring to the initials of The Ten Commandments.

The presumptive GOP presidential nominee has frequently made appeals to the Christian right of his party over the course of his campaign, bragging about his role in curtailing federal abortion rights and arguing that it would be crazy for any Christian to vote for a Democrat. In March, he also started promoting $59.99 God Bless The USA Bibles, which includes the text of the Constitution, Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, and Pledge of Allegiance alongside the scriptures.

All Americans need a Bible in their home, and I have many, Trump said in a video advertising the potentially blasphemous product. Its my favorite book.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Former President Trump proposed giving green cards to international college graduates in a podcast interview released Thursday.

But what I wanna do  and what I will do  is, you graduate from a college, I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country, Trump said on the All-In podcast.

Trumps words seems to mirror language used on former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clintons website during her 2016 campaign, which said that in a comprehensive immigration solution, Hillary would staple a green card to STEM masters and PhDs from accredited institutions  enabling international students who complete degrees in these fields to move to green card status.

Trump also said he knows of stories where people graduated from a top college, or from a college, and they desperately wanted to stay here. They had a plan for a company, a concept, and they cant.  They go back to India, they go back to China.

Trump recently went after 2024 election rival President Biden on immigration at a rally in Wisconsin in the wake of an announcement by the White House about an executive action that would let some immigrants without legal status but married to U.S. citizens stay in the country and work legally.

Crooked Joe is sending a message to the world that he rewards illegal entry, and thats whats happening, Trump said.

Dont kid yourself, the ones that are hurt the most, the Black population, the Hispanic population, he continued. And you know who else is hurt badly? Unions.

Every chance Donald Trump got in office, he made it his mission to rip apart immigrant families for his own political gain. Hes also proudly running to go even further in a second term, not only by openly echoing Nazi rhetoric around immigrants, but also by promising cruel policies like rounding up immigrants and putting them into mass detention camps, Biden-Harris campaign spox Kevin Munoz said in a statement to The Hill on Friday. Trumps empty promise is both a lie and an insult, especially to the countless people that have been permanently damaged by his first-term in office.

Updated at 1:51 p.m. EDT

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
MIAMI (AP)  Former President Donald Trump said in an interview posted Thursday he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges, a sharp departure from the anti-immigrant rhetoric he typically uses on the campaign trail.

Trump was asked about plans for companies to be able to import the best and brightest in a podcast taped Wednesday with venture capitalists and tech investors called the All-In.

What I want to do and what I will do is you graduate from a college, I think you should get automatically as part of your diploma a green card to be able to stay in this country. And that includes junior colleges too, anybody graduates from a college. You go there for two years or four years, he said, vowing to address this concern on day one.

Immigration has been Trump's signature issue during his 2024 bid to return to the White House. His suggestion that he would offer green cards  documents that confer a pathway to U.S. citizenship  to potentially hundreds of thousands of foreign graduates would represent a sweeping expansion of America's immigration system that sharply diverges from his most common messages on foreigners.

Trump often says during his rallies that immigrants who are in the country illegally endanger public safety, and steal jobs and government resources, and once suggested that they are poisoning the blood of our country. He has promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history if elected.

Trump and his allies often say they distinguish between people entering illegally versus legally. But during his administration, Trump also proposed curbs on legal immigration such as family-based visas and the visa lottery program.

Right after taking office in 2017, he issued his Buy American and Hire American executive order, directing Cabinet members to suggest reforms to ensure that business visas were only awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers.

He has previously said the H1-B program commonly used by companies to hire foreign workers temporarily  a program he has used in the past  was very bad and used by tech companies to get foreign workers for lower pay.

During the conversation with All-In, Trump blamed the coronavirus pandemic for being unable to implement these measures while he was president. He said he knows of stories of people who graduate from top colleges and want to stay in the U.S. but can't secure visas to do so, forcing them to return to their native countries, specifically naming India and China. He said they go on and become multibillionaires, employing thousands of workers.

You need a pool of people to work for your company, Trump said. And they have to be smart people. Not everybody can be less than smart. You need brilliant people.

In a statement released hours after the podcast was posted, campaign press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: President Trump has outlined the most aggressive vetting process in U.S. history, to exclude all communists, radical Islamists, Hamas supporters, America haters and public charges. He believes, only after such vetting has taken place, we ought to keep the most skilled graduates who can make significant contributions to America. This would only apply to the most thoroughly vetted college graduates who would never undercut American wages or workers.
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Photo: Hans Gutknecht (Getty Images)

Brian Michael Gaherty, 61, of Houston, was sentenced earlier this week for making racist threats to kill Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif. through numerous phone calls. In addition to receiving 33 months in federal prison, Gaherty was fined $10,000 according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Central District of California. - Candace McDuffie Read More

Photo: Jabin Botsford (Getty Images)

Donald Trump once called Detroit a city that was totally corrupt and riddled with crime. Now, the potential Republican presidential nominee has attempted to court its Black voters at an event held there over the weekend. - Candace McDuffie Read More

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Since taking office as mayor of Dolton, Ill. in 2021, Tiffany Henyard has had nothing short of a hectic term thanks to a slew of legal allegations coming against her. - Kalyn Womack Read More

Pres. Joe Biden speaks during a campaign rally at Girard College on May 29, 2024 in Philadelphia.

- Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images (Getty Images)

Just months ahead of the 2024 election, President Biden finds himself in a neck-and-neck race against Donald Trump. Many are asking how thats possible after Trump, now a convicted felon, inspired the Jan. 6 insurrection and faces dozens of criminal charges. - Nigel Roberts Read More

US President Joe Biden (L) speaks flanked by former US President Barack Obama onstage during a campaign fundraiser at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on June 15, 2024. - Photo: MANDEL NGAN/AFP (Getty Images)

The Black community just let out a collective sigh after learning this weekend that there may never be another Obama in the White House again. The news was confirmed by former President Barack Obama at a star-studded June 15 fundraising event for the Biden campaign in Los Angeles. - Angela Johnson Read More

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Valentina Gomez, a Colombia-born secretary of state candidate in Missouri, has gone viral for another hateful online tirade. In addition to using homophobic rhetoric to boost her GOP campaign, she disparaged Black Americans and the holiday of Juneteenth  on Juneteenth. - Candace McDuffie Read More

Photo: CNN

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Trump says he wants foreign nationals who graduate from US colleges to automatically receive green cards

Former President Donald Trump proposed automatically giving green cards to foreign nationals who graduate from a US college  comments that break from his efforts to curb both legal and illegal immigration while in office and stand in stark contrast to his inflammatory anti-immigrant rhetoric on the campaign trail.

What I want to do, and what I will do, is you graduate from a college, I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country, the presumptive GOP nominee said on The All-In Podcast, which aired Thursday.

He continued, And that includes junior colleges too. Anybody graduates from a college  you go in there for two years or four years. If you graduate, or you get a doctorate degree from a college, you should be able to stay in this country.

Trump made the comments on a podcast whose hosts included prominent tech venture capitalists David Sacks and Chamath Palihapitiya, who recently hosted a fundraiser for Trump in San Francisco. Trump was responding to another one of the podcast hosts, investor Jason Calacanis, who asked the former president, Can you please promise us you will give us more ability to import the best and brightest from around the world to America?

Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said that graduates would be screened to exclude all communists, radical Islamists, Hamas supporters, America haters and public charges.

He believes, only after such vetting has taken place, we ought to keep the most skilled graduates who can make significant contributions to America. This would only apply to the most thoroughly vetted college graduates who would never undercut American wages or workers, Leavitt said in a statement to CNN.

Trump has made immigration a central focus of his 2024 bid for the White House, promising to carry out the largest domestic deportation operation in American history and using the issue to attack President Joe Bidens leadership. His latest comments come after Biden earlier this week announced an executive action allowing certain undocumented spouses and children of US citizens to apply for lawful permanent residency without leaving the country. The election-year move from the president, intended to appeal to key Latino voters in battleground states, followed a more restrictive action earlier this month to limit asylum processing at the US southern border.

Trump on the podcast complained that some foreign graduates of top US colleges cannot start companies in the US and instead found their companies in other countries like India or China.

You need a pool of people to work for your companies and they have to be smart people.  You need brilliant people and we force the brilliant people, the people that graduate from college, the people that are number one in their class from the best colleges. You have to be able to recruit these people and keep the people, the former president said.

Trumps remarks are at odds with his efforts to limit immigration when he was in the White House, including targeting visa programs that tech companies use to bring in thousands of skilled workers and directing federal agencies to employ what he called a Buy American, Hire American strategy to promote the hiring of American workers. Trump also tried to restrict refugee resettlement and temporarily banned travel from seven Muslim majority countries while in office.

In his third presidential run, Trump regularly stokes fears about undocumented migrants, claiming without evidence the vast majority are violent criminals as he rails against Bidens immigration policies. His language  including saying that undocumented immigrants were poisoning the blood of our country  has often drawn rebuke from his opponents campaign.

When Trump ran for president in 2015, he expressed support for some foreign nationals graduating from US colleges having a pathway to citizenship.

I also want people of great talent to come to this country, to Silicon Valley for engineers. If you go to Harvard and you graduate No. 1 in your class, and youre from China, they send you home, you cant get back into the country. So you end up working for companies in China and fighting us, Trump said in an interview with Time magazine.

This story has been updated with additional reaction and background information.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
The H-1B visa about-face: "What I want to do and what I will do is, you graduate from a college, I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country," former President Donald Trump told The All-In Podcast. "And that includes junior colleges, too. Anybody graduates from a college, you go in there for two years or four years. If you graduate or you get a doctorate degree from a college, you should be able to stay in this country."

One of the podcast's co-hosts had asked him to "promise" to give people like them (venture capitalists and entrepreneurs) "more ability to import the best and brightest around the world to America."

"I know of stories where people graduatedfrom a college, and they desperately wanted to stay here," Trump continued. "They had a plan for a company, or a concept, and they can't. They go back to India, they go back to China. They do the same basic company in those places, and they become multibillionaires, employing thousands and thousands of people. And it could have been done here."

"You need a pool of people to work for your companies," he added. "You have great companies, and they have to be smart people. You have to be able to recruit these people and keep the people. Somebody graduates at the top of the class, they can't even make a deal with a company because they don't think they're going to be able to stay in the country. That is going to end on Day One."

What Trump is articulating about high-skilled workers, and the H-1B visas they are eligible for, is not just sensible but also something immigration proponents have been saying for a long time.

The idea that he'll focus on this as a policy priority strains credulity, given that this is the man who hired notorious restrictionist Stephen Miller as one of his top immigration advisers during his first term. (Miller, "best known for his role in implementing a 'zero tolerance' policy at the Mexican border, in which migrant parents were systematically separated from their children as part of a deterrence strategy," writes Reason's Billy Binion, was the architect of some of Trump's most cruel and haphazard policies that worsened the already-convoluted immigration system.)

It's especially funny that his spokesperson attempted to walk much of Trump's comments back, leaving would-be voters even more confused as to what the administration might choose to prioritize.

Donor management: In some sense, this is the most predictable tale of all time: A politician tells donors exactly what they want to hear, and it's questionable whether he'll actually do anything based on this.

For the unfamiliar, The All-In Podcast is comprised of venture capitalistsChamath Palihapitiya, Jason Calacanis, David Sacksand entrepreneur David Friedberg, who range from politically Trump-curious (but not sold) to donor-supporters, like Sacks, who just hosted a Trump fundraiser at his home in San Francisco at which Trump purportedly raised $12 million. Other Silicon Valley folks, like Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, who claimed Mark Zuckerberg stole the idea for Facebook from them (and sued over it) during their college days, have come out of the political closet in the last few days and publicly pledged donations to Trump.

A seemingly related headline: "Trump has rapidly eroded Biden's edge in 2024 cash battle." Whether these Silicon Valley donors buy what Trump is sellingthat he's interested in helping America prevent brain drain to China and Indiais debatable, but it's clear that currying favor with these folks is having a positive outcome for Team Trump.

As for the All-In guys, the whole interview is worth a watch since the crew eschews the apoplectic tone used by much of the media. The end result is better for it, and certainly more useful to the viewer. It's yet another example of how the traditional media fumbled the ball during the 2016 election and subsequent Trump years, failing to self-correct, and how media-class incuriousness has led to a worse quality product.

Of course, All-In has its own problemsthey're playing the role of journalists, but Sacks is himself a Trump donor, and there's a sycophantic attitude toward the former president at timesbut at least their cards have been laid on the table. Compare that to a media class that sometimes pretends it's not disproportionately liberal but won't tell you who they voted for (the way Reason journalists do). Partisanship does not mean you can't do good journalism, but journalists sometimes delude themselves into thinking that hiding their political affiliation results in objectivity or somehow prevents bias from seeping in.

Scenes from New York:

This is such a misleading hit piece. Yes, Jacobin wants the DSA-member Bowman to win. So they selectively quote from a DOJ federal monitoring to make it seem that the more centrist Latimer is bad on affordable housing. In fact the monitor cites him and his administration https://t.co/Pg3L6ZTzOd pic.twitter.com/uY6oMrOmGN  Mike Pesca (@pescami) June 20, 2024

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Earlier this week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom called for a statewide ban on smartphones in public schools. (Of all the Newsom priorities, this is possibly the least bad, at least to me. And, amusingly, even The New York Times admits that "teachers unions have been reluctant to take on the responsibility of having to enforce the policies, though they also have welcomed efforts to prevent distractions.")

Must Catholic hospitals be forced to provide euthanasia? Assisted suicide activists, and the family members of a suicide patient, are suing St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver.

"The US Supreme Court upheld a 2017 tax on American-owned businesses' foreign profits, rejecting an appeal that could have saved companies hundreds of billions of dollars," reports Bloomberg.

"America's top export may be anxiety," writes Derek Thompson in The Atlantic, complicating Jonathan Haidt's smartphone thesis a bit.

The former Thai prime minister has been indicted for allegedly defaming, insulting, or threatening a member of the royal family.

"The gloating insistence from progressives that they are never bothered by the behavior of disturbed people on the subway does not fit the facts about mental illness and violence," writes Freddie deBoer in a provocative Intelligencer piece about forcing mentally ill people into involuntary treatment in order, he argues, to save them.

A cruise ship rescued 68 migrants who were attempting a voyage to Spain's Canary Islands in dangerous conditions via a fishing boat. Six people died, which tragically adds to the roughly 5,000 migrant death toll from sea crossings to the Canary Islands so far this year.

What has Javier Milei accomplished so far in Argentina? Watch the latest Just Asking Questions to find out.

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Trump is a go as Tennessee attorney general refuses to render opinion on putting felon on ballot

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said Friday his office cannot offer opinions on election eligibility after being asked for a ruling on whether convicted felon Donald Trump can appear on the Tennessee ballot. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said Friday his office cannot offer opinions on election eligibility after being asked for a ruling on whether convicted felon Donald Trump can appear on the Tennessee ballot. (Photo: John Partipilo)

The Tennessee Attorney Generals Office is declining to give an opinion on a lawmakers request to determine whether former President Donald Trump can be placed on the state ballot this fall after being convicted of a felony.

In a letter to Democratic Rep. Vincent Dixie of Nashville, who requested a formal legal opinion, Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said, after careful consideration, his office cannot opine based on a state law dealing with election eligibility.

The Attorney Generals statutory authority is limited to providing written legal opinions on matters submitted by officials in the discharge of their official duties. Skrmettis office notes, And Tennessees election officials  not individual members of the General Assembly  enforce (the state law) in specific factual scenarios.

Tennessees Secretary of State, who oversees elections statewide, is not popularly elected but is appointed by the General Assembly.

This just highlights the broken criminal justice system in this country. There is no rational explanation for a way that a person can possibly be elected POTUS by this state, and if that same person lived in Tennessee, they wouldnt even be able to cast a ballot and vote.

 Rep. Vincent Dixie, D-Nashville

Dixie said in a statement he is disappointed but not surprised by the AG Offices response. He made the request after the former president was convicted in New York last months on 34 counts of breaking business laws by paying off porn star Stormy Daniels to cover up an alleged sexual encounter before the 2016 presidential election.

This just highlights the broken criminal justice system in this country, Dixie said. There is no rational explanation for a way that a person can possibly be elected POTUS by this state, and if that same person lived in Tennessee, they wouldnt even be able to cast a ballot and vote. How does that make sense?

Trump won about 68% of the vote in Tennessee two years ago against Democratic President Joe Biden.

In his letter to Skrmetti, Dixie pointed out that state law says, A person who has been convicted in this state of an infamous crime  or convicted under the laws of the United States or another state of an offense that would constitute an infamous crime if committed in this state, shall be disqualified from qualifying for, seeking election to or holding a public office in this state, unless and until that persons citizenship rights have been restored by a court of competent jurisdiction.

The Attorney Generals Office letter, though, claims Dixies letter rests on an incorrect premise, that the state law regarding a public office in this state includes the U.S. presidency, which it points out is not a Tennessee public office.

The letter written by Solicitor General Matt Rice claims that any state effort to add new qualifications for the U.S. president would raise serious constitutional questions. He refers to a U.S. Supreme Court decision in which all nine justices agreed that states cant place qualifications on the U.S. presidency.

Dixies request of the attorney general might have been moot, regardless of the response. Secretary of State Tre Hargetts office told the Lookout shortly after Dixie requested the opinion that Trump is eligible to be on the Tennessee ballot as the Republican Partys nominee and voters will make their decision in the upcoming election.

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The post Trump is a go as Tennessee attorney general refuses to render opinion on putting felon on ballot appeared first on Tennessee Lookout.
The turtle tanks have emerged as test beds for new tactics and technology for Russia - CHP

In April, a strange new vehicle rolled onto the battlefield in eastern Ukraine. It was a Russian tank but not the kind were used to. Encased in an iron shell, it bristled with electronics.

The new vehicle, dubbed the turtle tank, initially had just a metal shell to protect them from drones. They were then developed to have protection against electronic warfare.

This week, Ukraine captured one of these tanks. It should prove useful in knowing exactly whats in them and where their weak spots lie. Yet theyre evolving so quickly that by the time Ukraine has pulled it apart and had a dig around, the next iteration might be rolling out the factory.

Whatever that looks like, one thing weve learnt is that these tanks are a very particular solution to a very particular problem.

After 26 months of war, each side is struggling to come up with new offensive weapons to gain the upper hand.

The turtle tanks have therefore emerged as testbeds for new tactics and tech. Among their various strengths, they provide a defence against loitering munitions and first-person-view drones. They also have the capacity for electronic breaching  or jamming  operations as part of a ground assault.

In their current form, the tanks are big and bulky but each of these capabilities is being trialled and might feature subsequently in a more miniaturised form on future armoured vehicles, on uncrewed ground vehicles or in a combination of both.

This will lead to a kind of cat-and-mouse situation, with Ukraine trying to catch up and figure out ways it can immobilise and destroy these vehicles.

A striking feature of this war has been the use of drones and their ability to heavily influence battles. Every day, each side uses hundreds of unmanned aerial vehicles to track enemy forces, guide artillery and strike targets.

Ukraine is thought to be leading the drone race, in both numbers and innovation, driven partly by its need to compensate for Russias huge artillery superiority.

But there is some evidence that the turtle tanks can sustain dozens of strikes from first-person-view drones, which makes them a deadly addition to Russias ground combat forces.

The tanks will continue to be useful in offensive operations but are likely to be an evolutionary dead end. The vehicles are large, slow-moving and unwieldy, with limited crew visibility, unless there are numerous external cameras we arent aware of.

As Ukraine gets the Western weapons it has so desperately been requesting, the tanks will be more vulnerable to attack.

If thats the case, Russia would need to get creative and lessen their reliance on the turtles. This may have several outcomes.

First, the Russians might use uncrewed ground vehicles, which are being rapidly developed by both sides for electronic breaching operations.

Second, the physical breaching of minefields and other obstacles might be conducted by new types of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). This could include kamikaze UGVs and UGVs that lay out explosive line charges. There are already prototypes of such vehicles being developed.

Third, crewed armoured vehicles might appear with better drone defences, camouflage, and electronic counter-measures.

By dispersing the tasks these turtle tanks currently undertake to smaller, uncrewed vehicles, Russia can spread the risk of its operations to ensure success with other units.

The turtle tank is a weird-looking beast, very specific to this conflict. Ukraine is already finding ways of countering it and consigning it to history. It is unlikely to appear in other warzones.

But it shows how resourceful the Russians can be, having learnt to adapt to Ukraines various innovations throughout the war and break through with some of its own.

The tanks moniker might conjure the image of a slow-moving and placid animal, but dont let that fool you, Russia remains a dangerous and unpredictable adversary.

Mick Ryan is a retired major general in the Australian Army, a fellow at the Lowy Institute and an adjunct fellow at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The man accused of orchestrating the murder of rap icon Tupac Shakur has secured money to post his $750,000 bail, which could put him on house arrest pending trial, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned.

Las Vegas Metro police arrested Duane Keffe D Davis, 61, on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023, near his Henderson home. The day before, a grand jury indicted him on a charge of murder with a deadly weapon with a gang enhancement.

Davis has remained incarcerated at the Clark County Detention Center since his arrest. When setting bail, Clark County District Court Judge Carli Kierny said should Davis come up with the money, she would need to hear where it came from releasing him.

A hearing  referred to as a source hearing  was scheduled for Tuesday morning, the 8 News Now Investigators first reported late Thursday.

Duane Keffe D Davis appears in court in Las Vegas. (KLAS)

A company called E-Bail was securing the bond, records said. In Nevada, a defendant must post 15% of ones bail, with a bail bonds company posting the rest. Fifteen percent of Davis bail amounts to about $112,000.

The shooting on Sept. 7, 1996, at the intersection of Flamingo Road and Koval Lane, a block off the Las Vegas Strip, followed a fight earlier in the night. In the hours before the murder, Shakurs group reportedly attacked Orlando Anderson, a member of a rival gang and Davis nephew. Davis, Anderson and two other men were in the shooters car, Davis has publicly claimed, adding he handed Anderson the gun used to shoot Shakur.

Davis has publicly said he was sitting in the front passenger seat of the car, which pulled up side-by-side to Tupacs before the shooting at the intersection. Marion Suge Knight, the then-head of Death Row Records, was driving the car with Shakur in the passenger seat. Knight was injured in the shooting.

Davis arrest, Carl Arnold, previously told the 8 News Now Investigators that his client was lying when making public statements about Shakurs murder.

It will be up to prosecutors to prove Davis own words are true beyond a reasonable doubt, Arnold said. As far as the defense attorney knows, no video exists of the shooting and its aftermath nor is there DNA evidence tying Davis to the crime. The gun in the shooting was never located. Evidence includes hotel receipts from Davis group at the time of the shooting.

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KIEV, June 21 (Xinhua) -- More than 52,000 Ukrainian troops have been trained under the European Union Military Assistance Mission (EUMAM), the Ukrainian government-run Ukrinform news agency reported Friday.

Ukrainian soldiers, sergeants and officers have participated in the training program, according to the country's defense ministry.

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Oleksandr Balanutsa urged the EU to extend the training mission as the Ukrainian army is forming new brigades.

The two-year EUMAM was launched on Nov. 15, 2022. The mission includes training on demining, medical assistance, maintenance and repair, among others, and is conducted on the EU's soil. 
Turning in a firearm could get you up to $400 at Stockton Polices gun buyback event

(FOX40.COM)  Stockton Police will organize a gun buyback event in mid-July in an effort to reduce gun violence and the number of firearms in the community.

The event will be on Saturday, July 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the parking lot located at 300 N. Harrison St., police said.

Sacramento County arrest yields nearly 10,000 pounds of illegal fireworks, cash, and guns

Buyback amounts could be $200 or $400 depending on the type of firearm, but no money will be given for non-operable firearms, although these will still be accepted, police said.

The money will be given via gift cards. Police officers will be at the lot to give instructions to drivers as they enter.

CHP to conduct sobriety checkpoint in El Dorado Hills

People who turn in firearms will not be required to identify themselves and will remain completely anonymous, and all firearms will be destroyed, the agency said.

Police did not provide details about how drivers should approach, but in a previous buyback event at the same lot, they have asked people to have the firearms unloaded and placed in the trunk, with drivers staying inside their vehicles at all times.

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Two dead in shooting at Lake Pueblo State Park, witnesses reported a gunmen fled the scene

Editor's note: This is a developing story. Check back at chieftain.com for updates.

A gunman is believed to have fled the scene following a shooting that left two people dead at the Lake Pueblo State Park Sailboard Beach shortly after midnight Friday.

The Pueblo County coroner took custody of the bodies. Autopsies will determine the cause of death.

The identities of the victims were not released early Friday as the coroner works to make formal identification and notify relatives of the victims.

The incident occurred just after midnight at the Sailboard Beach area on the north shore of the lake, not far from the dam, where a group was fishing from shore, according to Bill Vogrin, spokesperson for Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Park Manager Joseph Stadterman, right, speaks during a press conference about a shooting that left two dead at Lake Pueblo State Park's Sailboard Beach on Friday, June 21, 2024.

CPW received a call for help at 12:45 a.m. and responded immediately, said Joe Stadterman, park manager at Lake Pueblo. In addition, deputies from Pueblo County Sheriff responded along with emergency responders."

Responding officers found two victims. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation was called in to assist CPW with the case," Stadterman said.

Stadterman said witnesses indicated the gunman fled the scene.

We believe there is no threat to guests in the park at this time, Stadterman said. However, there is no suspect in custody.

The park, its campgrounds and marinas remain open. However, Sailboard Beach and the waters around it will remain closed indefinitely due to the ongoing investigation.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation will take over as lead agency in the case with assistance from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office.

UPDATE from Lake Pueblo:@COParksWildlife and partners @PuebloCountySO and @CBI_Colorado are investigating a shooting that left 2 dead.

The Pueblo County Coroner took custody of the bodies.

We believe there is no threat to guests in the park.

No suspect is in custody.  CPW SE Region (@CPW_SE) June 21, 2024

Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon covers business news. She can be reached by email at tharmon@chieftain.com or via X, formerly Twitter, at twitter.com/tracywumps. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Two killed in shooting at Lake Pueblo State Park
Two men convicted in 8-hour-long armed highway standoff in Wakefield in 2021

Two men convicted in 8-hour-long armed highway standoff in Wakefield in 2021

Two men charged in a tense, hours-long highway standoff on I-95 in Wakefield in 2021 have been found guilty of several charges, according to the district attorney.

Jamhal Tavon Sanders Latimer and Steven Anthony Perez will be sentenced in July.

Latimer was found guilty of unlawful possession of a large capacity weapon, unlawful possession of a large capacity feeding device, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a shotgun or rifle, improper storage of a rifle or shotgun near a minor, use or wearing body armor during a felony, and unlawful possession of ammunition.

Perez was found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm and use or wearing body armor during a felony.

The defendants in this case disrupted multiple communities and jeopardized the safety of many residents who were traveling or intending to travel on a busy Fourth of July weekend, said Middlesex District Attorney Ryan. Both Jamhal Tavon Sanders Latimer and Steven Anthony Perez demonstrated a disregard for our laws and failed to comply with the directives of multiple police agencies on scene.

The law enforcement agencies that responded that day navigated a very difficult, long and highly publicized situation while ensuring that no one got hurt. said Ryan.

The case dates back to July 3, 2021, when the men and two of their vehicles were located by State Police in the breakdown lane of I-95 in Wakefield wearing military style camouflage clothing and body armor.

Latimer was armed with an AR-style large capacity rifle and falsely claimed that he was the leader of an armed militia from Rhode Island, according to the district attorney.

The men claimed they were on their way from Rhode Island to train in Maine. Latimer and Perez were in the company of nine other individuals, who Latimer referred to as his men, according to the district attorney. When officers asked the defendants to put their weapons down, they refused, resulting in an eight-and-a-half hour long standoff.

The group referred to itself as the Rise of Moors.

All 11 males, one of whom was a 17-year-old juvenile, were from at least three states: New York, Michigan and Rhode Island.

They referred to themselves as a militia and said they adhered to Moorish Sovereign Ideology, said state police in 2021.

After their arrest, police seized three large capacity AR-style rifles from the defendants vehicles, a bolt-action rifle, a semi-automatic shotgun, two drum large capacity magazines capable of holding fifty rounds or more, dozens of thirty-plus round large capacity magazines and three semi-automatic pistols along with hundreds of rounds of ammunition in varying calibers, according to the district attorney

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Two men run local unemployment scheme while at least one was incarcerated

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  Two men were sentenced in Norfolk for running a scheme to obtain COVID-19 pandemic unemployment benefits while at least one was already in prison.

37-year-old Raton J. Tharp was an inmate at Wallens Ridge State Prison in Virginia and gave personal information of fellow inmates in order to operate the scheme. Tharp gave this information to his co-conspirator on the outside, 31-year-old George Napoleon Cuffee Jr.

Cuffee then used the information provided to make applications for benefits in these inmates name. Cuffee also provided false information in the applications including: false addresses, telephone numbers, email accounts and last employers.

In addition to the scheme with Tharp, Cuffee also unlawfully obtained and used the information of six non-inmates. The individuals had no knowledge of this scheme.

From Aug. 12, 2020 to Oct. 28, 2020 Cuffee was incarcerated at the Chesapeake Sheriffs Office Correctional Center. During that time, some of his associates on the outside continued recertifying the fraudulent claims to ensure the payments were uninterrupted.

Cuffee also filed his own false unemployment claim, stating that his occupation of a real estate broker, prevented him from working during the pandemic. For his own claim, Cuffee received $18,162, of which $2,906 was received during the time Cuffee was incarcerated.

The conspiracy resulted in eight successful claims for $75,960 using other inmates information filed by Cuffee, and six more claims for $81,362 using non-inmate information, for a total of $187,928.

Tharp pled guilty on Jan. 25 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. On May 28, he was sentenced to three years and four months in prison.

Cuffee pled guilty on Feb. 2 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. He was sentenced today to five years and eight months in prison.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Two years after Dobbs, the need to protect reproductive rights is greater than ever

A protester attends a June 24, 2022, rally against the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Photo by Andrew Roth | Michigan Advance

On June 24, 2022, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization to take away the federal right to abortion. This decision left abortion access up to states, and, in the two years since, weve seen Arizona politicians not just playing games with reproductive health care, but putting patients health and lives at risk.

On the anniversary of Dobbs, its more important than ever to support efforts to protect reproductive rights.

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In Arizona, we value our privacy and our freedom, and the Arizona Abortion Access Act protects both. As a proud Arizonan, I believe  as many do  in a persons freedom to make their own choices and that patients must be free to exercise individual autonomy. This includes the right to make their own health care decisions without interference from politicians.

As a doctor, Ive had the privilege of knowing my patients very well. Doctors work hard to build trust in the exam room. We learn about their concerns, hopes and goals for their futures and their families. Protecting our patients privacy is very important. The skills of qualified medical providers, with years of medical training and expertise, are essential to helping patients and their families navigate complex physical and emotional medical issues.

In my years of caring for my patients, I have seen for myself how every patient is unique, with unique medical needs. I firmly believe that every patient should be able to decide whats best for them and their families with the help of their medical provider. Politicians shouldnt be involved in these decisions, nor should they have more control over patients health care decisions than doctors and patients themselves.

As an OB/GYN, I often helped patients explore their options so that they had the best information possible when making deeply personal decisions. Ive been in the room when patients faced serious challenges  things like ectopic pregnancies, fetal abnormalities that are incompatible with life, or severe medical problems such as high blood pressure or worsening diabetes, all of which could result in the early end of a pregnancy.

These are difficult moments in our exam rooms, and should not be complicated by political ideology.

In states that ban abortions, patients experience worse health outcomes during pregnancy because doctors are forced to ignore standard of care recommendations for fear of losing their license, severe fines or imprisonment.

Abortion bans like the one that Arizonas Republican lawmakers defended ignore these realities of modern medicine and deny patients a medical option. In fact, Arizonas original ban goes all the way back to 1864, before Arizona was a state. For my patients who faced all kinds of terrifying complications during their pregnancies, the 1864 law effectively told them that they must continue their pregnancies, no matter what.

Even the current 15-week ban has no exceptions for rape, incest or the health of the mother. Real-world medical practice demands that doctors today follow rigorous standards of care and medical evidence. Medical practice should not be politically driven by one-size-fits-all edicts from politicians with no experience in medicine and health care.

Today, we know that patients who live in states with abortion bans face tremendous challenges that put their health and their lives at risk. Because of abortion bans, far too many women today are denied treatment during and after their miscarriages when their pregnancies developed serious complications from hemorrhage and/or infection.

Women in these states are forced to continue their pregnancy until they become gravely ill, or until the embryo or fetus dies, in order to receive the care that they deserve. We know of women who no longer can have children because they lost vital reproductive organs after they were refused timely care.

These all add up, giving us a more complete, deeply disturbing picture: In states that ban abortions, patients experience worse health outcomes during pregnancy because doctors are forced to ignore standard of care recommendations for fear of losing their license, severe fines or imprisonment.

Its been a scary, painful two years for women and also for their families and health care providers in Arizona and states across the country since the Dobbs decision. But in November, Arizonans have the opportunity to put medicine back in the hands of health care experts and patients.

We deserve the freedom to decide whats best for our health without politicians meddling in our privacy.

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The Biden administration is banning the use of Kaspersky Lab cybersecurity software throughout the U.S. over fears that the Russian government may be interfering with its operations, the U.S. Commerce Department said on Thursday.

U.S. officials have long had concerns about the safety of Kasperskys software, claiming that Russian law gives Vladimir Putins government access to Kasperskys systems and therefore data on all of its customers.

Speaking to Reuters, an unnamed source claimed that the softwares access to a computer system could potentially allow a perpetrator to steal sensitive information from computers or install malware. The source added that Kasperskys customer list includes critical infrastructure providers and state and local governments.

Russia has shown it has the capacity and  the intent to exploit Russian companies like Kaspersky to collect and weaponize the personal information of Americans, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told reporters on Thursday, adding that the decision to ban the software was prompted by the present geopolitical climate and theoretical concerns, rather than on a comprehensive evaluation of the integrity of Kasperskys products and services.

Raimondo pointed out that Kaspersky-made software has been banned from a number of government bodies for the last seven years, but said that ongoing concerns about the tool meant that it was finally time to take more drastic action.

Elaborating on her comments, the Commerce Department said that starting next month, sales of Kaspersky tools will cease in the U.S., and that beginning in September, it will no longer be able to provide updates to software already in use. Companies, including sellers and resellers, who ignore the ban could be fined by the Commerce Department.

Kaspersky is headquartered in Moscow, but has offices in more than 30 countries, with some 400 million users and 270,000 corporate customers across more than 200 countries and territories.

Kaspersky Lab and and the Russian government have yet to publicly respond to the decision, though in the past, Kaspersky has said that it is a privately managed business and has no links to the government of Russia.

Looking for new antivirus software? One of these two options might suit you.
The Biden administrations decision to temporarily halt deliveries of Patriot and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, or NASAMS interceptors for all countries except Ukraine and Taiwan wont just affect allied air defense capabilities. Patriot interceptors can only be used on the Patriot system, at least for now. The primary weapon for NASAMS is the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), which is also the most widely used western beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, as we explained in our deep dive here. As such, it is a critical component of many Foreign Military Sales (FMS) the U.S. has for combat aircraft and to arm existing fighter fleets, as well as countries with NASAMS. Dutch F-35 brandishing its AIM-120s during a NATO air policing drill. Photo by Bartek Bera In response to Russias ongoing attacks on cities and civilian infrastructure, the White House opted to put Ukraine at the top of the list for hundreds of missiles for both the Patriot and NASAMS, a National Security Council spokesman told reporters, including from The War Zone, at a Thursday morning press conference. Were going to reprioritize the deliveries of these exports so that those missiles rolling off the production line will now be provided to Ukraine, John Kirby said, adding that while the other countries will have to wait, it is only a temporary delay, through Fiscal Year 2025. The missiles will begin arriving in Ukraine in the coming weeks and certainly by the end of the summer, Kirby said. That dovetails with the pending delivery of U.S.-made F-16s that can carry AMRAAMs. An AIM-120C AMRAAM on the wingtip of an F-16C. USAF An AIM-120C AMRAAM on the wingtip of an F-16C. (USAF) While the interceptor decision focuses on Ukraine, Kirby said Taiwan will not be affected. Taiwan, which is facing a quickly expanding cross-channel threat from China, is a major user of the AIM-120 and has ordered batches of the missiles. Last year, the State Department approved the possible sale of 200 AIM-120C-8 missiles to that island nation. We have, of course, informed all the affected countries that we are taking this extraordinary step, and were making every effort to minimize any negative impact, Kirby explained. Were going to make sure that we give Ukraine the critical air defense capabilities they need now and into the future, and were going to keep working with our allies and partners to make sure that they, too, get the air defense capabilities that they need. While NASAMS can also fire AIM-9X Sidewinders, a U.S. official told us that this plan involves two types of missiles, Patriot PAC-3 interceptors and AMRAAMs Patriot PAC-3 missile being launched. (US Army) John Hamilton There are plans underway to produce Patriot interceptors in Germany, but that will only involve an earlier variant, the Guidance Enhanced Missile-Tactical (GEM-T) version of the PAC-2 Patriot missile, which is still capable of defeating some ballistic missiles. You can read more about that plan here. To boost U.S. supplies of Patriot interceptors, the Japanese government in December announced plans to deliver Patriots produced in Japan under an American license. The exact size of of U.S. Patriot stockpiles remains classified. As for AMRAAMs, there are multiple FMS deals in the works for hundreds of those missiles. Kirby declined to say which nations will be affected by the delay. Some are part of recent deals for U.S. fighters. There are also other FMS deals in the works to provide hundreds of AMRAAMs to arm jets already in service. The AIM-120 is a critical weapon for these aircraft and they are severely degraded in the air-to-air realm without them. About 500 AMRAAMs are in the pipeline that could potentially be available to Ukraine over the next 16 months. The next scheduled batch of FMS AMRAAMs to be delivered is Lot 36 (FY2022), a total of 547 missiles. This is the first lot to entirely consist of the new AIM-120D3 (for the US & select allies) and AIM-120C8 for FMS customers. These missiles are more capable than the older https://t.co/mWNJmsAVDR pic.twitter.com/RRnv8KixzD Colby Badhwar (@ColbyBadhwar) June 20, 2024 The State Department said it was up to the Pentagon to discuss delivery timelines. A Pentagon spokesman said that information wasnt immediately available. Beyond the issue of how this will affect aircraft deals, the Biden administrations decision on interceptors also impacts Pacific allies amid increasing Chinese belligerence. While Taiwan is exempted, South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines are among the nations waiting in line for their missiles. This decision wont diminish our deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, a U.S. official told The War Zone. Under the Presidents leadership, we are working with our Allies and partners across the Indo-Pacific to deter our adversaries and advance a free and open region. We will continue to do so. For example, we are working to finalize the rollout of $2 billion in Indo-Pacific foreign military financing from the bipartisan supplemental, a historic investment in the region  and Taiwan is exempted from this decision and will continue to receive interceptors under the same timeline as before. I would also note that our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific understand just how critical it is to support Ukraine, the official added. Many of them have stepped up to provide aid to Ukraine themselves because they understand that if Russia succeeds in Ukraine, that will embolden autocrats and other regimes around the world who want to seize their neighbors territory. That would have damaging effects for countries everywhere. A battery assigned to 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment, display their patriot radar and antenna mast group during table gunnery training exercise on Kadena Air Base in Japan, Oct. 19, 2017. U.S. Army Photo by Capt. Adan Cazarez This move also does raise questions about U.S. stockpiles of these weapons after constant consumption in Ukraine and a costly battle against Houthi drones over and around the Red Sea. Diverting customers sales to supply Ukraine does point to limitations in just how many more drawdowns the U.S. can do from its own stockpile. The U.S. is set to buy around 360 AMRAAMs in the same period of time as this diversion is set to last, for now. For U.S. allies waiting for interceptors, even a 16-month delay is a cause for concern. Moreover, holding back promised weapons can raise issues of trust about whether Washington wont deliver along promised timelines in the future. This is especially true if the war in Ukraine drags on. Regardless, its a reminder that even though firm orders are in place, the U.S. can manipulate the timing of those orders at will, even when it isnt in a direct shooting conflict. This could impact the decision-making process for prospective customers in the future. While some allies may be fine with the decision, others may not. Each customer has its own unique security challenges to deal with and not all are highly engaged with supporting Ukraine. Given world events, the chances that those allies would need these missiles in a fight are not inconceivable, and a delay now only could compound in the future, especially considering the extreme demands for anti-air missiles globally. While Biden administrations move is good news for Ukraine, it remains to be seen how it works out for those who will be waiting and what type of protest some may make over the decision. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com

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A United States Air Force Sergeant holds his Honorable Discharge papers in 1975. He was discharged from the service because he was gay. Credit - BettmannGetty Images

For military servicemen during World War II, the sight of a blue discharge paper was a sentence for struggle. The color, indicating a dishonorable discharge from the military during a time long before Dont Ask, Dont Tell, and when homosexuality was classified as a mental illness, not only formally outed people to their friends and family, but also cut their access to military benefits, setting them up for prejudice in the workforce and beyond.

Of the more than 9,000 servicemen and women who received a blue discharge during World War II due to the ban on queer service membersthough there were thousands of others who received dishonorable discharges for other reasonsmany decided to settle in San Francisco, cementing the city as an LGBTQ+ huba legacy that originally stemmed from the towns reputation as a hotbed for sex and gender nonconformity in the 1800s. Ever since the Gold Rush, there was already a kind of queer world in the city, but certainly, the military role in World War II built upon that world, Steve Estes, a history professor at Sonoma State University, tells TIME.

Many were attracted to the city because it provided them with a sense of freedom from the judgment theyd likely receive at home due to their sexuality. It was also easily accessible, serving as a major port of disembarkation for more than a million individuals throughout the war. Homosexuals who couldn't hope to pass for straight set up their own small businesses that created a group of openly gay people [in San Francisco] with an economic base to sustain the possibilities of a movement here, says Gerard Koskovich, a founding member of the GLBT Historical Society.

The citys long-standing history earned it the status of the gay capital of the U.S. in a 1964 LIFE Magazine issue. San Francisco was also one of the first cities to issue same-sex marriage licenses in 2004though the licenses were not legally binding at the time.

The number of queer-identifying individuals in San Francisco's gay neighborhoods has diminished over time, in part due to a trend of declining affordable housing units that has also been seen in other corners across the U.S. Still, San Francisco remains a mecca of LGBTQ+ history and culture.

How the military played a role

The roots of San Franciscos LGBTQ+ community came following the Gold Rush in the late 1840s. It went from being a small village of about 850 people to being a city with 50,000 residents, almost all of them young, single men who didn't fit in back home and decided to try their luck in San Francisco, says Koskovich. Like other port cities, the community attracted vice businesses, including gambling and prostitution.

But San Franciscos role as a port of embarkation for the Pacific Ocean Theater during World War II also played a prominent role. More than 1.5 million soldiers passed through the city in the 1940s, attracting many to the Californian community. During that period and long after, the U.S. military conducted scrutinous screening of the sexual orientation of its troops and staff.

For some Americans, it was the first time they heard the word homosexual and understood what that term meant. Some historians say the draft process raised greater social consciousness about sexual identities that were outside of the norm. Some LGBTQ+-identifying troops found a homosocial world in the military, Estes says, which was not necessarily accepting but was a world away from the towns where they came.

The U.S. military had strict policies regarding service members that were attracted to the same-sex, forcing many to lie about their sexual orientation to serve. One of the arguments against letting gay people in the military is that they could be security risks, says Estes, who says that military leaders feared that queer duty members could be blackmailed into revealing U.S. secrets in exchange for staying silent about their orientation. It was this classic Catch-22. You're not allowed to be in the military because you're gay. And you're not allowed to be gay because you're a security risk, because you're not allowed to be in the military.

Many LGBTQ+ serving individuals sought refuge in San Francisco because the blue paper served as a stain on their employment and housing opportunities elsewhere. No point in going back to your small town in the middle of nowhere in the Midwest to try to get a job with that kind of discharge. The first thing any employer asked for was your honorable discharge from your military service, says Koskovich.

At the same time, San Franciscos own population was also largely depopulating as it deindustrialized. While the quality of its schools, jobs, and neighborhoods decreased, a new set of residents found their way to the city. It was a good place for this new population of young, largely gay men fleeing persecution elsewhere in the United States to come to what was really a kind of declining city. [They] were willing to live here even if the schools were poor, [or] if the neighborhoods weren't really safe. These young men didn't have families, they didn't have kids. They weren't worried about that. They wanted to have liberty, and this was a place for them to get it, Koskovich says. Still, there were several actorsincluding the militarys San Francisco Moral Drivethat frequently raided gay spaces, which were in that time limited to bars and nightclubs.

By the 1950s, discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals in the workforce led to the Lavender Scare, which removed queer individuals from roles within the federal government during the Cold War. Queer individuals, including veterans and other residents, moved to mobilize. Two leading organizationsthe Daughters of Bilitis, the first national lesbian political organization, and Mattachine Society, a national gay-rights organizationwere founded or had their headquarters in San Francisco in the 1950s. Their emergence was part of a growing movement towards liberation and against conventional society that was promoted by the Beatniks. The Beat generations desire for sexual liberation fostered increasing acceptance towards homosexuality, and as the movement grew in popularity, its members helped to establish many gay social and political groups in San Francisco, the California Migration Museum says.

Soon after, the LGBTQ+ community became even stronger. In the early 1960s in some cities, notably in San Francisco, due to changes in society, politics, and police practices, you began to see what we would think of as an actual neighborhood emerge, says Koskovich, mentioning the emergence of the Castro District. There were bars, or nightclubs, or cabarets catering to LGBTQ+ people, but also daytime businesses like restaurants, or clothing shops, or record stores, or ultimately services providers like doctors and lawyers and so on.

Leading figures for the queer liberation movement also appeared. Jose Sarria, a San Francisco drag queen and World War II veteran, also became the first out gay candidate to run for public office in the U.S in 1961. Leonard Matlovich, a former soldier who sued to fight the militarys gay ban, graced the cover of TIME in 1975. When I was in the military they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one, his tombstone famously said. Harvey Milk, who settled in San Francisco after serving in the Navy, became the first out gay elected official in California in 1977though he was assassinated one year later.

By 1984, a New York Times article reported that 40% of single men in San Francisco self-identified as gay. San Francisco still has the highest percentage of LGBT-identifying adults at 6.7%, when compared to other large metropolitan areas, per a 2021 UCLA Williams Institute report. A fall 2022 poll by the San Francisco Standard found the number to be much higherwith 23% of the citys electorate identifying as LGBTQ+.

San Francisco remains one of the cities where LGBTQ+ people have claimed the largest place, publicly, in culture, politics, societywhere we are an institutionalized and accepted part of the city's life and culture, says Koskovich. At the same time we're in the United States, and that means that there continues to be LGBTQ+ phobia, attacks on LGBTQ people, and political organizing against us. We remain a community that has to continue struggling for its rights and for its place in society, even in a city like San Francisco.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
The Rio Grande at the New Mexico-Texas border near El Paso in 2013. Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a deal struck between Texas and New Mexico on Friday over the management of water in the Rio Grande, ruling the federal government should have a say in any agreement reached.

The 5-4 opinion is the latest twist in a conflict dating back to the 1930s, when Colorado, New Mexico and Texas agreed to share water in the Rio Grande.

Most recently in 2022, Texas and New Mexico sought an agreement that side-stepped the federal government. Federal regulators objected because it would impact an international water treaty with Mexico.

In the majority opinion, the court said we cannot now allow Texas and New Mexico to leave the United States up the river without a paddle.

The ruling comes as Texas and other states clamor for water. The region along the Rio Grande, in particular, is still considered in a drought.

Water is never an issue until there isn't enough. When there isn't enough, suddenly everybody starts to look at the various agreements that share this water source," said Amy Hardberger, a water law professor at Texas Tech School of Law, about the water conflicts.

The decades-long dispute centers around an 80 year-old water agreement, known as the Rio Grande Compact, which legally binds Colorado, New Mexico and Texas to share the water in the Rio Grande. The 1938 agreement ended years of water disputes between the three states and directed how the states should split surface water.

Under the compact, Colorado must deliver a proportion of water each year to New Mexico at the state line and New Mexico must deliver a certain amount of water to the Elephant Butte Reservoir, located in southern New Mexico, for Texas.

In a 2013 complaint, Texas sued New Mexico, alleging groundwater pumping by New Mexico was taking water from the Rio Grande owed to Texas, causing river levels in the state to drop and depriving Texans of the water they're obligated to.

Texas accused New Mexico of violating the interstate compact that has governed water allocations between the two states and Colorado for decades.

Water law experts say the Supreme Court's recent decision has significant implications for future interstate water disputes, which would allow the federal government to intervene in water conflicts between states moving forward.

Texas and New Mexico came up with a compromise that allowed for a higher number of water pumping from New Mexico than the original 1938 agreement stated, but not big enough to run Texas dry.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which is also responsible for delivering water to Texas and New Mexico, did not agree with their allocations and requested intervention because that same water, in the Rio Grande, impacted the international 1906 water treaty that requires the U.S. to deliver 60,000 acre-feet of water from the Elephant Butte Reservoir to Mexico. The federal government argues it cannot meet its obligation if New Mexico does not comply with their obligations.

Youve got all these competing responsibilities here that have never been put together in one agreement, said Gabriel Eckstein, a legal expert on water issues at Texas A&M University. Its a number of different projects and agreements that now have to work together so this is why the U.S. government thought to intervene in the dispute.

The U.S. Supreme Court decided that the U.S. needs to be in agreement with Texas and New Mexico.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the International Boundary and Water Commission, which oversees the international treaty, both declined to comment on the ruling. A spokesperson for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said the agency does not comment on pending litigation.

Gage Zobell, a water law expert and attorney with Dorsey & Whitney said todays decision will allow for the potential increase of federal involvement in water management.

This has turned that long held principle on its head, Zobell said. What we have here is Supreme Court precedent that states that there are federal interests that can actually be brought forward as claims when two states are fighting over water, and that the federal government has a seat at the table, and that has been unheard of.

Hardberger, the water law professor at Texas Tech, said that the Texas, U.S. and New Mexico will need to go back to the drawing board to figure out how they are going to resolve this conflict. She said there's an opportunity to continue negotiating, but the court has made it clear that all parties have to be in agreement.

There's definitely not enough water in South Texas and Southwest Texas. I think everyone knows that, Alex Ortiz, the volunteer Water Reservoir Chair for the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club, adding the ruling doesnt mean there will be more water or less water available. It means that it's possible that there's more water than what the consent decree would have allowed for but it's up to the United States now."

The water disputes come at a time when South Texas battles severe drought conditions, tremendous water shortage issues impacting farmers, and there were these impending conflicts between the U.S. and Mexico about how that water is being shared.

While the water in dispute is not directly related to water deliveries in South Texas, one environmentalist group argues there are downstream effects.

If there's not enough water coming into the state as a whole, that puts more pressure on the upper part of the Rio Grande, Ortiz said. It changes a little bit of the management strategies for reservoirs that might already be struggling."

Disclosure: Texas A&M University and Young President's Organization - Lone Star Chapter have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

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BEIJING, June 21 (Xinhua) -- China urged the Philippines to immediately stop infringement and provocations on the Ren'ai Jiao issue, and return to the right track of properly managing differences through dialogue and consultation as soon as possible, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Friday.

Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks at a regular news briefing when asked to comment on the recent moves by the Philippine military at Ren'ai Jiao, China's Nansha Qundao. 
The Vinton stretch of the Rio Grande just north of El Paso at Vinton Road and Doniphan Drive on May 23, 2022.

The Vinton stretch of the Rio Grande just north of El Paso at Vinton Road and Doniphan Drive on May 23, 2022. The river below Elephant Butte Reservoir in Southern New Mexico through Far West Texas is dry most months of the year, only running during irrigation season. (Photo by Diana Cervantes for Source NM)

The U.S. Supreme Court is allowing the federal government to block the deal Texas and New Mexico proposed to end a decade of litigation over Rio Grande water.

The narrow 5-4 decision made Friday morning raises the question if the states and the federal government will go back to the negotiation table, or fight it out in the courtroom.

The order stated that the 2022 deal hammered out between New Mexico, Colorado and Texas to measure water deliveries at El Paso, and would officially allocate the river in southern New Mexico and far west Texas at a 57-43 split, and end a decades long dispute between the states over the Rio Grande.

The federal government argued that the proposed deal  called a consent decree  unfairly imposed conditions it did not consent to, and that it had the authority to object to the deal, pointing to treaty obligations to deliver water to Mexico, and contracts with two regional irrigation districts.

Justice Michael Melloy, a federal appeals judge overseeing the case as special master, recommended the U.S. Supreme Court approve the deal, over the federal governments objections.

The crux of the ruling was determining if the federal government could object to the deal, even if it was not a signatory on the Rio Grande Compact, the 85-year old legal agreement dividing the river.

In the majority decision, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said the court finds the states deal unfairly excluded the unique federal interests.

We cannot now allow Texas and New Mexico to leave the United States up the river without a paddle. Because the consent decree would dispose of the United States Compact claims without its consent, Jackson wrote.

Jackson pointed to the courts prior recognition that the federal government had valid claims under the 1939 Rio Grande Compact when allowing them to intervene as a party in 2018.

Our 2018 decision leads inexorably to the same conclusion today: The United States has its own, uniquely federal claims under the Compact. If it did not, one might wonder why we permitted the Federal Government to intervene in the first place, Jackson wrote.

Justices John Roberts,Brett Kavanaugh, Elena Kagan, and Sonia Sotomayor joined Jackson in the majority.

Justice Neil Gorsuch, in his dissent, wrote the court should have followed the recommendation of the Special Master to approve the deal, but instead, overturned years of water law precedents.

The Courts decision is inconsistent with how original jurisdiction cases normally proceed. It defies 100 years of this Courts water law jurisprudence, he said.

Justices Sam Alito, Clarence Thomas and Amy Coney Barrett joined Gorsuch in dissent.

State Engineer Mike Hamman, New Mexicos top water official, who retires at the end of June, said in a statement he was disappointed in the courts decision.

We need to keep working to make the aquifers in the Lower Rio Grande region sustainable, and lasting solutions are more likely to come from parties working together than from continued litigation, he said in a written statement.

The original lawsuit was brought in 2013 by Texas. In the complaint, Texas alleged New Mexicos groundwater pumping below Elephant Butte reservoir was taking Rio Grande water owed to Texas under the 1939 compact. 141orig_d18f

The post U.S. Supreme Court rejects NM and Texas deal on Rio Grande appeared first on Source New Mexico.
A customer tries out a semi-automatic pistol at The Gun Store on Nov. 14, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

The U.S. Supreme Court Friday upheld a federal law that bars people subject to domestic violence restraining orders from owning a firearm.

In an 8-1 decision on United States v. Rahimi, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the opinion that our Nations firearm laws have included provisions preventing individuals who threaten physical harm to others from misusing firearms.

When an individual has been found by a court to pose a credible threat to the physical safety of another, that individual may be temporarily disarmed consistent with the Second Amendment, Roberts wrote.

Justice Clarence Thomas, a staunch advocate of the Second Amendment, was the lone dissent.

Thomas argued that the question before the court was not if someone can have their firearms taken away under the Second Amendment, but instead whether the Government can strip the Second Amendment right of anyone subject to a protective order  even if he has never been accused or convicted of a crime. It cannot.

The White House and gun safety advocates welcomed the long-awaited decision as a major victory.

No one who has been abused should have to worry about their abuser getting a gun, President Joe Biden said in a statement. As a result of todays ruling, survivors of domestic violence and their families will still be able to count on critical protections, just as they have for the past three decades.

2022 decision

This was the first major test of the 2022 Supreme Court decision  New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen  that struck down a New York law limiting carrying firearms in the open in a decision from the high court that greatly expanded gun rights. Thomas wrote that decision.

Because of the Bruen decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit vacated Zackey Rahimis conviction on the grounds that the federal law violated his Second Amendment rights.

In 2019, Rahimi assaulted his girlfriend in Arlington, Texas, and threatened to shoot her if she told anyone, according to the Department of Justice. That led to a restraining order that suspended his handgun license and prohibited him from possessing firearms.

But Rahimi did not adhere to that order and then threatened another woman with a gun, and two months later opened fire in public five times.

J. Matthew Wright, a federal public defender in North Texas who argued for his client, Rahimi, declined to comment on the decision.

Roberts says appeals court was wrong

Roberts argued the courts decision in Bruen does not help Rahimi, and said the 5th Circuits decision was wrong in its methodology.

Roberts said instead of reviewing the circumstances in which the federal law was most likely to be constitutional, the panel instead focused on hypothetical scenarios where the provision might raise constitutional concerns.

He said that lower courts have misunderstood the methodology the high court used in the Bruen decision and that those precedents were not meant to suggest a law trapped in amber.

Roberts said that lower courts should discern [w]hy and how the regulation burdens on the Second Amendment right are central to this inquiry.

For example, if laws at the founding regulated firearm use to address particular problems, that will be a strong indicator that contemporary laws imposing similar restrictions of similar reasons fall within a permissible category of regulations, he said. As Bruen explained, a challenged regulation that does not precisely match its historical precursors still may be analogous enough to pass constitutional muster.

Liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote a concurring opinion in which she said while she agreed with the Rahimi decision, she still believed Bruen was wrongly decided. However, she added the decision clarifies Bruens historical inquiry.

Rather than asking whether a present-day gun regulation has a precise historical analogue, courts applying Bruen should conside(r) whether the challenged regulation is consistent with the principles that underpin our regulatory tradition, she said.

Sotomayor said in the Rahimi case, the government did not identify a founding-era or Reconstruction-era law that specifically disarmed domestic abusers, but that it didnt need to because there is shared principle in restricting gun use by those who pose a threat.

History has a role to play in Second Amendment analysis, but a rigid adherence to history, (particularly history predating the inclusion of women and people of color as full members of the polity), impoverishes constitutional interpretation and hamstrings our democracy, she said.

Historical precedent

During oral arguments in November before the court, U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, representing the Biden administration, argued that the 5th Circuit misinterpreted the Bruen decision.

She said there is historical precedent in the ability of Congress to disarm those who are not law-abiding, responsible citizens.

Under a 1994 federal law, anyone who has been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, and, or, is subject to domestic violence protective orders, is prohibited from purchasing and having possession of firearms and ammunition.

During those oral arguments, the justices  both liberal and conservative  seemed to side with Prelogars argument that the federal law is in line with the longstanding practice of disarming dangerous people and does not violate an individuals Second Amendment rights.

More than half of female homicide victims are killed by current or former male intimate partners. Firearms are used in more than 50% of those homicides.

More than two dozen states have laws that prevent someone subject to an order in a domestic violence case from buying or possessing a gun and ammunition.

Some of those states include Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Protecting victims

Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement the decision upheld a law that protects victims by keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous individuals who pose a threat to their intimate partners and children.

As the Justice Department argued, and as the Court reaffirmed today, that commonsense prohibition is entirely consistent with the Courts precedent and the text and history of the Second Amendment, Garland said.

Angela Ferrell-Zabala, the executive director of the gun safety advocacy group Moms Demand Action, said in a statement that the courts decision will ensure that millions across the country will be protected over the desires of gun rights extremists.

This is a win for the gun safety movement and another loss for the gun lobby hellbent on putting lives in danger, Ferrell-Zabala said.

Douglas Letter, the chief legal officer of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, said in a statement that he hopes lower courts will follow the advice from Fridays ruling.

Guns are the number one weapon of choice for domestic abusers, and there is no reason why anyone who is a known danger should be permitted access to firearms, Letter said.

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A customer tries out a semi-automatic pistol at The Gun Store on Nov. 14, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. Supreme Court Friday upheld a federal law that bars people subject to domestic violence restraining orders from owning a firearm.

In an 8-1 decision on United States v. Rahimi, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the opinion that our Nations firearm laws have included provisions preventing individuals who threaten physical harm to others from misusing firearms.

When an individual has been found by a court to pose a credible threat to the physical safety of another, that individual may be temporarily disarmed consistent with the Second Amendment, Roberts wrote.

Justice Clarence Thomas, a staunch advocate of the Second Amendment, was the lone dissent.

Thomas argued that the question before the court was not if someone can have their firearms taken away under the Second Amendment, but instead whether the Government can strip the Second Amendment right of anyone subject to a protective order  even if he has never been accused or convicted of a crime. It cannot.

The White House and gun safety advocates welcomed the long-awaited decision as a major victory.

No one who has been abused should have to worry about their abuser getting a gun, President Joe Biden said in a statement. As a result of todays ruling, survivors of domestic violence and their families will still be able to count on critical protections, just as they have for the past three decades.

2022 decision

This was the first major test of the 2022 Supreme Court decision  New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen  that struck down a New York law limiting carrying firearms in the open in a decision from the high court that greatly expanded gun rights. Thomas wrote that decision.

Because of the Bruen decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit vacated Zackey Rahimis conviction on the grounds that the federal law violated his Second Amendment rights.

In 2019, Rahimi assaulted his girlfriend in Arlington, Texas, and threatened to shoot her if she told anyone, according to the Department of Justice. That led to a restraining order that suspended his handgun license and prohibited him from possessing firearms.

But Rahimi did not adhere to that order and then threatened another woman with a gun, and two months later opened fire in public five times.

J. Matthew Wright, a federal public defender in North Texas who argued for his client, Rahimi, declined to comment on the decision.

Roberts says appeals court was wrong

Roberts argued the courts decision in Bruen does not help Rahimi, and said the 5th Circuits decision was wrong in its methodology.

Roberts said instead of reviewing the circumstances in which the federal law was most likely to be constitutional, the panel instead focused on hypothetical scenarios where the provision might raise constitutional concerns.

He said that lower courts have misunderstood the methodology the high court used in the Bruen decision and that those precedents were not meant to suggest a law trapped in amber.

Roberts said that lower courts should discern [w]hy and how the regulation burdens on the Second Amendment right are central to this inquiry.

For example, if laws at the founding regulated firearm use to address particular problems, that will be a strong indicator that contemporary laws imposing similar restrictions of similar reasons fall within a permissible category of regulations, he said. As Bruen explained, a challenged regulation that does not precisely match its historical precursors still may be analogous enough to pass constitutional muster.

Liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote a concurring opinion in which she said while she agreed with the Rahimi decision, she still believed Bruen was wrongly decided. However, she added the decision clarifies Bruens historical inquiry.

Rather than asking whether a present-day gun regulation has a precise historical analogue, courts applying Bruen should conside(r) whether the challenged regulation is consistent with the principles that underpin our regulatory tradition, she said.

Sotomayor said in the Rahimi case, the government did not identify a founding-era or Reconstruction-era law that specifically disarmed domestic abusers, but that it didnt need to because there is shared principle in restricting gun use by those who pose a threat.

History has a role to play in Second Amendment analysis, but a rigid adherence to history, (particularly history predating the inclusion of women and people of color as full members

of the polity), impoverishes constitutional interpretation and hamstrings our democracy, she said.

Historical precedent

During oral arguments in November before the court, U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, representing the Biden administration, argued that the 5th Circuit misinterpreted the Bruen decision.

She said there is historical precedent in the ability of Congress to disarm those who are not law-abiding, responsible citizens.

Under a 1994 federal law, anyone who has been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, and, or, is subject to domestic violence protective orders, is prohibited from purchasing and having possession of firearms and ammunition.

During those oral arguments, the justices  both liberal and conservative  seemed to side with Prelogars argument that the federal law is in line with the longstanding practice of disarming dangerous people and does not violate an individuals Second Amendment rights.

More than half of female homicide victims are killed by current or former male intimate partners. Firearms are used in more than 50% of those homicides.

More than two dozen states have laws that prevent someone subject to an order in a domestic violence case from buying or possessing a gun and ammunition.

Some of those states include Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Protecting victims

Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement the decision upheld a law that protects victims by keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous individuals who pose a threat to their intimate partners and children.

As the Justice Department argued, and as the Court reaffirmed today, that commonsense prohibition is entirely consistent with the Courts precedent and the text and history of the Second Amendment, Garland said.

Angela Ferrell-Zabala, the executive director of the gun safety advocacy group Moms Demand Action, said in a statement that the courts decision will ensure that millions across the country will be protected over the desires of gun rights extremists.

This is a win for the gun safety movement and another loss for the gun lobby hellbent on putting lives in danger, Ferrell-Zabala said.

Douglas Letter, the chief legal officer of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, said in a statement that he hopes lower courts will follow the advice from Fridays ruling.

Guns are the number one weapon of choice for domestic abusers, and there is no reason why anyone who is a known danger should be permitted access to firearms, Letter said.

The post U.S. Supreme Court upholds law that prevents domestic abusers from owning guns appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.
In the 8-1 decision, the Supreme Court justices wrote that the country's firearms laws have included provivisions to prevent people from harming others. (Connor Radnovich/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. Supreme Court Friday upheld a federal law that bars people subject to domestic violence restraining orders from owning a firearm.

In an 8-1 decision on United States v. Rahimi, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the opinion that our Nations firearm laws have included provisions preventing individuals who threaten physical harm to others from misusing firearms.

When an individual has been found by a court to pose a credible threat to the physical safety of another, that individual may be temporarily disarmed consistent with the Second Amendment, Roberts wrote.

Justice Clarence Thomas, a staunch advocate of the Second Amendment, was the lone dissent.

Thomas argued that the question before the court was not if someone can have their firearms taken away under the Second Amendment, but instead whether the Government can strip the Second Amendment right of anyone subject to a protective order  even if he has never been accused or convicted of a crime. It cannot.

The White House and gun safety advocates welcomed the long-awaited decision as a major victory.

No one who has been abused should have to worry about their abuser getting a gun, President Joe Biden said in a statement. As a result of todays ruling, survivors of domestic violence and their families will still be able to count on critical protections, just as they have for the past three decades.

2022 decision

This was the first major test of the 2022 Supreme Court decision  New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen  that struck down a New York law limiting carrying firearms in the open in a decision from the high court that greatly expanded gun rights. Thomas wrote that decision.

Because of the Bruen decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit vacated Zackey Rahimis conviction on the grounds that the federal law violated his Second Amendment rights.

In 2019, Rahimi assaulted his girlfriend in Arlington, Texas, and threatened to shoot her if she told anyone, according to the Department of Justice. That led to a restraining order that suspended his handgun license and prohibited him from possessing firearms.

But Rahimi did not adhere to that order and then threatened another woman with a gun, and two months later opened fire in public five times.

J. Matthew Wright, a federal public defender in North Texas who argued for his client, Rahimi, declined to comment on the decision.

Roberts says appeals court was wrong

Roberts argued the courts decision in Bruen does not help Rahimi, and said the 5th Circuits decision was wrong in its methodology.

Roberts said instead of reviewing the circumstances in which the federal law was most likely to be constitutional, the panel instead focused on hypothetical scenarios where the provision might raise constitutional concerns.

He said that lower courts have misunderstood the methodology the high court used in the Bruen decision and that those precedents were not meant to suggest a law trapped in amber.

Roberts said that lower courts should discern [w]hy and how the regulation burdens on the Second Amendment right are central to this inquiry.

For example, if laws at the founding regulated firearm use to address particular problems, that will be a strong indicator that contemporary laws imposing similar restrictions of similar reasons fall within a permissible category of regulations, he said. As Bruen explained, a challenged regulation that does not precisely match its historical precursors still may be analogous enough to pass constitutional muster.

Liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote a concurring opinion in which she said while she agreed with the Rahimi decision, she still believed Bruen was wrongly decided. However, she added the decision clarifies Bruens historical inquiry.

Rather than asking whether a present-day gun regulation has a precise historical analogue, courts applying Bruen should conside(r) whether the challenged regulation is consistent with the principles that underpin our regulatory tradition, she said.

Sotomayor said in the Rahimi case, the government did not identify a founding-era or Reconstruction-era law that specifically disarmed domestic abusers, but that it didnt need to because there is shared principle in restricting gun use by those who pose a threat.

History has a role to play in Second Amendment analysis, but a rigid adherence to history, (particularly history predating the inclusion of women and people of color as full members of the polity), impoverishes constitutional interpretation and hamstrings our democracy, she said.

Historical precedent

During oral arguments in November before the court, U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, representing the Biden administration, argued that the 5th Circuit misinterpreted the Bruen decision.

She said there is historical precedent in the ability of Congress to disarm those who are not law-abiding, responsible citizens.

Under a 1994 federal law, anyone who has been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, and, or, is subject to domestic violence protective orders, is prohibited from purchasing and having possession of firearms and ammunition.

During those oral arguments, the justices  both liberal and conservative  seemed to side with Prelogars argument that the federal law is in line with the longstanding practice of disarming dangerous people and does not violate an individuals Second Amendment rights.

More than half of female homicide victims are killed by current or former male intimate partners. Firearms are used in more than 50% of those homicides.

More than two dozen states have laws that prevent someone subject to an order in a domestic violence case from buying or possessing a gun and ammunition.

Some of those states include Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Protecting victims

Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement the decision upheld a law that protects victims by keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous individuals who pose a threat to their intimate partners and children.

As the Justice Department argued, and as the Court reaffirmed today, that commonsense prohibition is entirely consistent with the Courts precedent and the text and history of the Second Amendment, Garland said.

Angela Ferrell-Zabala, the executive director of the gun safety advocacy group Moms Demand Action, said in a statement that the courts decision will ensure that millions across the country will be protected over the desires of gun rights extremists.

This is a win for the gun safety movement and another loss for the gun lobby hellbent on putting lives in danger, Ferrell-Zabala said.

Douglas Letter, the chief legal officer of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, said in a statement that he hopes lower courts will follow the advice from Fridays ruling.

Guns are the number one weapon of choice for domestic abusers, and there is no reason why anyone who is a known danger should be permitted access to firearms, Letter said.

The post U.S. Supreme Court upholds law that prevents domestic abusers from owning guns appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle.
Potential buyers try out guns which are displayed on an exhibitors table during the Nations Gun Show on Nov. 18, 2016 at Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, Virginia. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. Supreme Court Friday upheld a federal law that bars people subject to domestic violence restraining orders from owning a firearm.

In an 8-1 decision on United States v. Rahimi, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the opinion that our Nations firearm laws have included provisions preventing individuals who threaten physical harm to others from misusing firearms.

When an individual has been found by a court to pose a credible threat to the physical safety of another, that individual may be temporarily disarmed consistent with the Second Amendment, Roberts wrote.

Justice Clarence Thomas, a staunch advocate of the Second Amendment, was the lone dissent.

Thomas argued that the question before the court was not if someone can have their firearms taken away under the Second Amendment, but instead whether the Government can strip the Second Amendment right of anyone subject to a protective order  even if he has never been accused or convicted of a crime. It cannot.

The White House and gun safety advocates welcomed the long-awaited decision as a major victory.

No one who has been abused should have to worry about their abuser getting a gun, President Joe Biden said in a statement. As a result of todays ruling, survivors of domestic violence and their families will still be able to count on critical protections, just as they have for the past three decades.

2022 decision

This was the first major test of the 2022 Supreme Court decision  New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen  that struck down a New York law limiting carrying firearms in the open in a decision from the high court that greatly expanded gun rights. Thomas wrote that decision.

Because of the Bruen decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit vacated Zackey Rahimis conviction on the grounds that the federal law violated his Second Amendment rights.

In 2019, Rahimi assaulted his girlfriend in Arlington, Texas, and threatened to shoot her if she told anyone, according to the Department of Justice. That led to a restraining order that suspended his handgun license and prohibited him from possessing firearms.

But Rahimi did not adhere to that order and then threatened another woman with a gun, and two months later opened fire in public five times.

J. Matthew Wright, a federal public defender in North Texas who argued for his client, Rahimi, declined to comment on the decision.

Roberts says appeals court was wrong

Roberts argued the courts decision in Bruen does not help Rahimi, and said the 5th Circuits decision was wrong in its methodology.

Roberts said instead of reviewing the circumstances in which the federal law was most likely to be constitutional, the panel instead focused on hypothetical scenarios where the provision might raise constitutional concerns.

He said that lower courts have misunderstood the methodology the high court used in the Bruen decision and that those precedents were not meant to suggest a law trapped in amber.

Roberts said that lower courts should discern [w]hy and how the regulation burdens on the Second Amendment right are central to this inquiry.

For example, if laws at the founding regulated firearm use to address particular problems, that will be a strong indicator that contemporary laws imposing similar restrictions of similar reasons fall within a permissible category of regulations, he said. As Bruen explained, a challenged regulation that does not precisely match its historical precursors still may be analogous enough to pass constitutional muster.

Liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote a concurring opinion in which she said while she agreed with the Rahimi decision, she still believed Bruen was wrongly decided. However, she added the decision clarifies Bruens historical inquiry.

Rather than asking whether a present-day gun regulation has a precise historical analogue, courts applying Bruen should conside(r) whether the challenged regulation is consistent with the principles that underpin our regulatory tradition, she said.

Sotomayor said in the Rahimi case, the government did not identify a founding-era or Reconstruction-era law that specifically disarmed domestic abusers, but that it didnt need to because there is shared principle in restricting gun use by those who pose a threat.

History has a role to play in Second Amendment analysis, but a rigid adherence to history, (particularly history predating the inclusion of women and people of color as full members of the polity), impoverishes constitutional interpretation and hamstrings our democracy, she said.

Historical precedent

During oral arguments in November before the court, U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, representing the Biden administration, argued that the 5th Circuit misinterpreted the Bruen decision.

She said there is historical precedent in the ability of Congress to disarm those who are not law-abiding, responsible citizens.

Under a 1994 federal law, anyone who has been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, and, or, is subject to domestic violence protective orders, is prohibited from purchasing and having possession of firearms and ammunition.

During those oral arguments, the justices  both liberal and conservative  seemed to side with Prelogars argument that the federal law is in line with the longstanding practice of disarming dangerous people and does not violate an individuals Second Amendment rights.

More than half of female homicide victims are killed by current or former male intimate partners. Firearms are used in more than 50% of those homicides.

More than two dozen states have laws that prevent someone subject to an order in a domestic violence case from buying or possessing a gun and ammunition.

Some of those states include Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Protecting victims

Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement the decision upheld a law that protects victims by keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous individuals who pose a threat to their intimate partners and children.

As the Justice Department argued, and as the Court reaffirmed today, that commonsense prohibition is entirely consistent with the Courts precedent and the text and history of the Second Amendment, Garland said.

Angela Ferrell-Zabala, the executive director of the gun safety advocacy group Moms Demand Action, said in a statement that the courts decision will ensure that millions across the country will be protected over the desires of gun rights extremists.

This is a win for the gun safety movement and another loss for the gun lobby hellbent on putting lives in danger, Ferrell-Zabala said.

Douglas Letter, the chief legal officer of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, said in a statement that he hopes lower courts will follow the advice from Fridays ruling.

Guns are the number one weapon of choice for domestic abusers, and there is no reason why anyone who is a known danger should be permitted access to firearms, Letter said.

The post U.S. Supreme Court upholds law that prevents domestic abusers from owning guns appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
Opponents of new gun laws dotted Capitol Square on Jan. 13, 2020, as the Senate took up legislation that would implement universal background checks, red flag laws, and limit handgun sales to one a month. (Ned Oliver/Virginia Mercury)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. Supreme Court Friday upheld a federal law that bars people subject to domestic violence restraining orders from owning a firearm.

In an 8-1 decision on United States v. Rahimi, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the opinion that our Nations firearm laws have included provisions preventing individuals who threaten physical harm to others from misusing firearms.

When an individual has been found by a court to pose a credible threat to the physical safety of another, that individual may be temporarily disarmed consistent with the Second Amendment, Roberts wrote.

Justice Clarence Thomas, a staunch advocate of the Second Amendment, was the lone dissent.

Thomas argued that the question before the court was not if someone can have their firearms taken away under the Second Amendment, but instead whether the Government can strip the Second Amendment right of anyone subject to a protective order  even if he has never been accused or convicted of a crime. It cannot.

The White House and gun safety advocates welcomed the long-awaited decision as a major victory.

No one who has been abused should have to worry about their abuser getting a gun, President Joe Biden said in a statement. As a result of todays ruling, survivors of domestic violence and their families will still be able to count on critical protections, just as they have for the past three decades.

2022 decision

This was the first major test of the 2022 Supreme Court decision  New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen  that struck down a New York law limiting carrying firearms in the open in a decision from the high court that greatly expanded gun rights. Thomas wrote that decision.

Because of the Bruen decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit vacated Zackey Rahimis conviction on the grounds that the federal law violated his Second Amendment rights.

In 2019, Rahimi assaulted his girlfriend in Arlington, Texas, and threatened to shoot her if she told anyone, according to the Department of Justice. That led to a restraining order that suspended his handgun license and prohibited him from possessing firearms.

But Rahimi did not adhere to that order and then threatened another woman with a gun, and two months later opened fire in public five times.

J. Matthew Wright, a federal public defender in North Texas who argued for his client, Rahimi, declined to comment on the decision.

Roberts says appeals court was wrong

Roberts argued the courts decision in Bruen does not help Rahimi, and said the 5th Circuits decision was wrong in its methodology.

Roberts said instead of reviewing the circumstances in which the federal law was most likely to be constitutional, the panel instead focused on hypothetical scenarios where the provision might raise constitutional concerns.

He said that lower courts have misunderstood the methodology the high court used in the Bruen decision and that those precedents were not meant to suggest a law trapped in amber.

Roberts said that lower courts should discern [w]hy and how the regulation burdens on the Second Amendment right are central to this inquiry.

For example, if laws at the founding regulated firearm use to address particular problems, that will be a strong indicator that contemporary laws imposing similar restrictions of similar reasons fall within a permissible category of regulations, he said. As Bruen explained, a challenged regulation that does not precisely match its historical precursors still may be analogous enough to pass constitutional muster.

Liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote a concurring opinion in which she said while she agreed with the Rahimi decision, she still believed Bruen was wrongly decided. However, she added the decision clarifies Bruens historical inquiry.

Rather than asking whether a present-day gun regulation has a precise historical analogue, courts applying Bruen should conside(r) whether the challenged regulation is consistent with the principles that underpin our regulatory tradition, she said.

Sotomayor said in the Rahimi case, the government did not identify a founding-era or Reconstruction-era law that specifically disarmed domestic abusers, but that it didnt need to because there is shared principle in restricting gun use by those who pose a threat.

History has a role to play in Second Amendment analysis, but a rigid adherence to history, (particularly history predating the inclusion of women and people of color as full members of the polity), impoverishes constitutional interpretation and hamstrings our democracy, she said.

Historical precedent

During oral arguments in November before the court, U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, representing the Biden administration, argued that the 5th Circuit misinterpreted the Bruen decision.

She said there is historical precedent in the ability of Congress to disarm those who are not law-abiding, responsible citizens.

Under a 1994 federal law, anyone who has been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, and, or, is subject to domestic violence protective orders, is prohibited from purchasing and having possession of firearms and ammunition.

During those oral arguments, the justices  both liberal and conservative  seemed to side with Prelogars argument that the federal law is in line with the longstanding practice of disarming dangerous people and does not violate an individuals Second Amendment rights.

More than half of female homicide victims are killed by current or former male intimate partners. Firearms are used in more than 50% of those homicides.

More than two dozen states have laws that prevent someone subject to an order in a domestic violence case from buying or possessing a gun and ammunition.

Some of those states include Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Virginia enacted laws in 2016 and 2020 to establish and strengthen gun laws to protect domestic violence survivors.

Protecting victims

Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement the decision upheld a law that protects victims by keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous individuals who pose a threat to their intimate partners and children.

As the Justice Department argued, and as the Court reaffirmed today, that commonsense prohibition is entirely consistent with the Courts precedent and the text and history of the Second Amendment, Garland said.

Angela Ferrell-Zabala, the executive director of the gun safety advocacy group Moms Demand Action, said in a statement that the courts decision will ensure that millions across the country will be protected over the desires of gun rights extremists.

This is a win for the gun safety movement and another loss for the gun lobby hellbent on putting lives in danger, Ferrell-Zabala said.

Douglas Letter, the chief legal officer of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, said in a statement that he hopes lower courts will follow the advice from Fridays ruling.

Guns are the number one weapon of choice for domestic abusers, and there is no reason why anyone who is a known danger should be permitted access to firearms, Letter said.

The post U.S. Supreme Court upholds law that prevents domestic abusers from owning guns appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
A customer tries out a semi-automatic pistol at The Gun Store on Nov. 14, 2008 in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Policy, politics and progressive commentary

WASHINGTON  The U.S. Supreme Court Friday upheld a federal law that bars people subject to domestic violence restraining orders from owning a firearm.

In an 8-1 decision on United States v. Rahimi, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the opinion that our Nations firearm laws have included provisions preventing individuals who threaten physical harm to others from misusing firearms.

When an individual has been found by a court to pose a credible threat to the physical safety of another, that individual may be temporarily disarmed consistent with the Second Amendment, Roberts wrote.

Justice Clarence Thomas, a staunch advocate of the Second Amendment, was the lone dissent.

Thomas argued that the question before the court was not if someone can have their firearms taken away under the Second Amendment, but instead whether the Government can strip the Second Amendment right of anyone subject to a protective order  even if he has never been accused or convicted of a crime. It cannot.

The White House and gun safety advocates welcomed the long-awaited decision as a major victory.

No one who has been abused should have to worry about their abuser getting a gun, President Joe Biden said in a statement. As a result of todays ruling, survivors of domestic violence and their families will still be able to count on critical protections, just as they have for the past three decades.

2022 decision

This was the first major test of the 2022 Supreme Court decision  New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen  that struck down a New York law limiting carrying firearms in the open in a decision from the high court that greatly expanded gun rights. Thomas wrote that decision.

Because of the Bruen decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit vacated Zackey Rahimis conviction on the grounds that the federal law violated his Second Amendment rights.

In 2019, Rahimi assaulted his girlfriend in Arlington, Texas, and threatened to shoot her if she told anyone, according to the Department of Justice. That led to a restraining order that suspended his handgun license and prohibited him from possessing firearms.

But Rahimi did not adhere to that order and then threatened another woman with a gun, and two months later opened fire in public five times.

J. Matthew Wright, a federal public defender in North Texas who argued for his client, Rahimi, declined to comment on the decision.

Roberts says appeals court was wrong

Roberts argued the courts decision in Bruen does not help Rahimi, and said the 5th Circuits decision was wrong in its methodology.

Roberts said instead of reviewing the circumstances in which the federal law was most likely to be constitutional, the panel instead focused on hypothetical scenarios where the provision might raise constitutional concerns.

He said that lower courts have misunderstood the methodology the high court used in the Bruen decision and that those precedents were not meant to suggest a law trapped in amber.

Roberts said that lower courts should discern [w]hy and how the regulation burdens on the Second Amendment right are central to this inquiry.

For example, if laws at the founding regulated firearm use to address particular problems, that will be a strong indicator that contemporary laws imposing similar restrictions of similar reasons fall within a permissible category of regulations, he said. As Bruen explained, a challenged regulation that does not precisely match its historical precursors still may be analogous enough to pass constitutional muster.

Liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote a concurring opinion in which she said while she agreed with the Rahimi decision, she still believed Bruen was wrongly decided. However, she added the decision clarifies Bruens historical inquiry.

Rather than asking whether a present-day gun regulation has a precise historical analogue, courts applying Bruen should conside(r) whether the challenged regulation is consistent with the principles that underpin our regulatory tradition, she said.

Sotomayor said in the Rahimi case, the government did not identify a founding-era or Reconstruction-era law that specifically disarmed domestic abusers, but that it didnt need to because there is shared principle in restricting gun use by those who pose a threat.

History has a role to play in Second Amendment analysis, but a rigid adherence to history, (particularly history predating the inclusion of women and people of color as full members of the polity), impoverishes constitutional interpretation and hamstrings our democracy, she said.

Historical precedent

During oral arguments in November before the court, U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, representing the Biden administration, argued that the 5th Circuit misinterpreted the Bruen decision.

She said there is historical precedent in the ability of Congress to disarm those who are not law-abiding, responsible citizens.

Under a 1994 federal law, anyone who has been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, and, or, is subject to domestic violence protective orders, is prohibited from purchasing and having possession of firearms and ammunition.

During those oral arguments, the justices  both liberal and conservative  seemed to side with Prelogars argument that the federal law is in line with the longstanding practice of disarming dangerous people and does not violate an individuals Second Amendment rights.

More than half of female homicide victims are killed by current or former male intimate partners. Firearms are used in more than 50% of those homicides.

More than two dozen states have laws that prevent someone subject to an order in a domestic violence case from buying or possessing a gun and ammunition.

Some of those states include Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Protecting victims

Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement the decision upheld a law that protects victims by keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous individuals who pose a threat to their intimate partners and children.

As the Justice Department argued, and as the Court reaffirmed today, that commonsense prohibition is entirely consistent with the Courts precedent and the text and history of the Second Amendment, Garland said.

Angela Ferrell-Zabala, the executive director of the gun safety advocacy group Moms Demand Action, said in a statement that the courts decision will ensure that millions across the country will be protected over the desires of gun rights extremists.

This is a win for the gun safety movement and another loss for the gun lobby hellbent on putting lives in danger, Ferrell-Zabala said.

Douglas Letter, the chief legal officer of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, said in a statement that he hopes lower courts will follow the advice from Fridays ruling.

Guns are the number one weapon of choice for domestic abusers, and there is no reason why anyone who is a known danger should be permitted access to firearms, Letter said.

Reactions from Nevada

The first priority of the justice system must be to protect the safety and liberty of those who would otherwise be threatened by others,said Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford in a statement after the ruling. Todays decision is common-sense, though it is concerning and disappointing that this case had the opportunity to get this far. If a person has been found to be a credible threat, that person should not be allowed to possess tools to terrorize or threaten another.

[Editors Note: This story has been updated to include a statement from Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford.]

The post U.S. Supreme Court upholds law that prevents domestic abusers from owning guns appeared first on Nevada Current.
Editor's note: The story was updated with a comment from the Kyiv Independent's source in security and defense forces.

Ukrainian drones attacked four refineries in Russia's Krasnodar Krai and Astrakhan Oblast, as well as sites where Russian Shahed-type drones are stored overnight on June 21, Ukraine's General Staff reported.

Russia claimed to have shot down more than 100 drones in a mass strike on occupied Crimea, Krasnodar Krai, and Volgograd Oblast at night. Russian Telegram channels claimed that drones targeted a military airfield in Yeysk during the attack on Krasnodar Krai.

Afipskyi, Ilskyi, and Krasnodarskyi oil refineries came under attack in Krasnodar Krai, as well as the "Astrakhan oil refinery" in Astrakhan Oblast, the Ukrainian military said. The Astrakhan refinery may have referred to the city's gas processing plant.

Ukrainian forces also hit Russian radar stations and electronic intelligence centers in occupied Crimea and Russia's Bryansk Oblast, the General Staff said.

Shahed-type attack drone storage and preparation sites, training buildings, and command and communications centers of these drones located in Krasnodar Krai were also attacked, the military reported.

"As a result of the operations, a series of explosions and a fire with subsequent detonation were recorded overnight," the General Staff said. The full consequences of the attacks are being determined.

A source in security and defense forces confirmed for the Kyiv Independent that a joint attack by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Navy's missile forces targeted the 167th training center at the Yeysk military airfield, where Shahed drones were stored.

Several blasts and secondary explosions were recorded at the base, the source said. SBU drones also targeted the Afipskyi, Ilskyi, and Krasnodarskyi oil refineries, according to the source.

The attacks on the refineries will allegedly complicate deliveries of lubricant products. The source did not mention the Astrakhan refinery.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims.

Ukraine's Armed Forces also attacked Russia's Republic of Adygea and Tambov Oblast along with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) overnight on June 20, the General Staff confirmed.

Ukrainian drones attacked the Tambovnefteprodukt fuel and lubricants warehouse in Tambov Oblast and Lukoil-Yugnefteprodukt company's Enyemskaya oil depot in the Republic of Adygea, a source in security and defense forces told the Kyiv Independent.

Read also: Strategic battlefield defeat would be end of Russias statehood, Putin claims

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In this photo released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Friday, June 21, 2024, Russian soldiers fire an anti-aircraft gun at an undisclosed location in Ukraine. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  The Ukrainian military launched a wave of drones that struck three oil refineries inside southern Russia overnight, a security official said Friday, as Ukraine tries to disrupt the infrastructure that supplies the Russian military.

Russia said its air defenses shot down scores of drones, including a half dozen it said were launching a naval attack in the Black Sea.

The Ukrainian security official said his country's forces also struck a drone-launching facility within Russia, but declined to say how that target was attacked. The operations involved the armed forces and the Ukrainian Security Service, SBU, the official said. The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to announce the information publicly.

SBU drones struck oil refineries in the Russian locations of Afipsky, Ilsky, and Krasnodar, which supply fuel for ships in Russia's Black Sea Fleet, the official said.

Ukranian forces also struck a drone facility in the southern Russia town of Yeysk where Iranian-designed Shahed drones were stored and launched, the official said. A series of explosions were recorded there, the official said.

Russian regional authorities in the Krasnodar region said four people were injured, including oil refinery workers, as a result of drone strikes.

Despite improvements in Russias air defenses, Ukraine has continued its campaign to strike oil infrastructure across the border, hitting multiple sites in 2024, as part of a wider effort to disrupt Russias military supplies.

Russias Defense Ministry said Friday that its air defenses had downed 114 Ukrainian drones It said that 70 drones were shot down in Crimea and the Black Sea, 43 in the Krasnodar region and one in the Volgograd region, further east.

Russian warplanes also destroyed six Ukrainian naval drones in the Black Sea early Friday, the ministry said, responding to an incident that appeared to be one of the largest drone attacks of its type in recent months.

Veniamin Kondratyev, the governor of the Krasnodar region, said that Ukrainian drones also damaged a boiler room near a bus station in the city of Krasnodar, killing a worker.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Ukraine and Poland hold final round of talks on security agreement

Final round of negotiations regarding the signing of a bilateral security agreement between Ukraine and Poland. Photo: Ukrainian President's Office

Ukraine and Poland have held the final round of negotiations regarding the signing of a bilateral security agreement.

Source: press service of the Ukrainian President's Office, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the Ukrainian President's Office, noted that the negotiating teams had conducted a difficult job, and now "we are close to concluding a bilateral security agreement".

"Poland's role in assisting Ukraine and bringing our victory closer cannot be overestimated. The agreement will be truly ambitious, reflecting most of our achievements and joint plans for the future," he said.

The parties noted the progress achieved and agreed upon a schedule of further actions to finalise the bilateral agreement and sign it shortly.

Background:

The bilateral security agreement between Ukraine and Poland could reportedly be finalised and signed before the NATO summit, which will be held on 9-11 July.

Pawel Kowal, a Polish lawmaker and chairman of Poland's Council for Cooperation with Ukraine, stated that the agreement would be ready soon.

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BEIJING, June 21 (Xinhua) -- China urged the Philippines to immediately stop infringement and provocations on the Ren'ai Jiao issue, and return to the right track of properly managing differences through dialogue and consultation as soon as possible, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Friday.

Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks at a regular news briefing when asked to comment on the recent moves by the Philippine military at Ren'ai Jiao, China's Nansha Qundao.

The Financial Times, citing six people familiar with the operation, said the Philippine military carried out the mission to reinforce the grounded warship at Ren'ai Jiao to extend its service life.

"Reports once again confirm that the Philippine side's claim of sending only living necessities for its grounded warship on Ren'ai Jiao is a complete lie," Lin stressed.

In fact, as pointed out by the Chinese side on multiple occasions, the Philippine side has been trying to send construction materials and even weapons and ammunition to its illegally grounded warship in an attempt to carry out large-scale repair and reinforcement in order to achieve long-term occupation of Ren'ai Jiao, he added.

Such actions by the Philippine side seriously infringe upon China's sovereignty, which China will never accept. China will respond resolutely in accordance with the law and regulations, Lin said.

The cause of the current situation on Ren'ai Jiao is very clear, Lin said. The root cause is that the Philippine side violated its promise, refused to tow away the warship that had been illegally grounded on Ren'ai Jiao for 25 years, and insisted on sending construction materials in an attempt to reinforce it, he added.

This warship is irrefutable evidence of the Philippines' long-standing infringement and provocation against China in the South China Sea, its treachery and violation of the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and its destruction of the ecological environment in the South China Sea, Lin noted.

"We urge the Philippine side to immediately stop its infringement and provocative actions and return to the right track of properly managing differences through dialogue and consultation. China's determination to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests remains unwavering," Lin said. 
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said that Kyiv is determined to hold the second Peace Summit in one of the countries of the so-called Global South.

Source: Kuleba on air during the 24/7 national joint newscast

Details: Kuleba said that Saudi Arabia is not the only option being considered for hosting the second Peace Summit as one of the countries of the Global South.

"We are really committed to the second summit being held in one of the countries of the so-called Global South. And there are several high-quality and strong players who are interested in hosting the second summit," Kuleba said.

The minister noted that the time between the first and second summits would not be wasted, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has agreed with the leaders of Europe, Latin America, and Africa to hold thematic events on each point of the peace formula during this period to form a negotiating position.

"A lot of work will be done now to come to the second summit with the strongest possible position supported by the maximum number of countries," Kuleba explained.

Background: The participants of the Global Peace Summit held in Switzerland issued a joint communique on the foundations of peace.

The President's Office says that the concluding document of the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland might be supported by additional countries that had not yet signed it.

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Ukraine to start talks on security agreement with Ireland, Presidential Office says

Ukraine will soon start negotiations on security guarantees with Ireland, and is ready to sign the bilateral agreements with Estonia and Lithuania, Ihor Zhovkva, deputy head of the Presidential Office, said in an interview with Interfax Ukraine on June 21.

The agreements follows the pledge made by the G7 during the NATO summit in Vilnius in July 2023 to commit to Ukraine's long-term defense.

More than 15 countries, including the U.S., Japan, U.K., Germany, and France, that have signed similar bilateral treaties to help Kyiv repel Russia's aggression.

While Ireland is considered a "neutral country," the agreements "are not only about weapons," Zhovka said.

"It is also about the economy, about sanctions," and issues like Russian assets, Zhovka said.

"Ukraine also invites other countries that declare or have such a neutral status, such as Austria or Malta, to join the G7 declaration and have relevant agreements with Ukraine."

According to Zhovka, negotiations on agreements with Czechia, Luxembourg, Romania, and Poland are ongoing.

Read also: Ukraine-US 10-year security deal: 5 key takeaways

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Editors Note: This is issue 136 of Ukrainian State-Owned Enterprises Weekly, covering events from June 09-16, 2024. The Kyiv Independent is reposting it with permission.

Corporate governance of SOEs

HACC extends pre-trial restrictions for Kobolyev. On June 11, the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) granted the SpecialiZed Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office (SAPO) motion to extend pre-trial restrictions for former Naftogaz CEO Andriy Kobolyev. Before Aug. 11, he must:

appear at every request of the prosecutor and the court;

report any change of place of residence;

refrain from communicating with the persons specified in the court ruling; and

hand over all passports to the State Migration Service.

As we reported in Issue 71, on Jan. 19, 2023, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and SAPO charged Kobolyev with illegally awarding himself Hr 229 million, part of a bonus given to the Naftogaz team for their victory against Russias Gazprom in Stockholms court of arbitration in 2018. Hr 229 million was $8.8 million, or 7.6 million euros, at the time when bonuses were awarded.

On Aug. 9, 2023, HACC decided to extend the Hr 229 million bail ($6.1 million or 5.6 million euros at that time) for another two months and left Kobolyevs procedural obligations, including pre-trial restrictions, unchanged. See SOE Weeklys Issue 99 for details.

On Sept. 25, 2023, HACC removed the electronic ankle monitoring device from Kobolyev and halved his bail to the amount already paid, Hr 107 million ($2.9 million or 2.8 million euros). See Issue 104 for more detail.

Read also: Ukraine needs $9.5 billion for rapid recovery in 2024

As we reported in Issue 113, on Nov. 29, 2023, SAPO said that it filed abuse of office charges against Kobolyev. On Nov. 30, 2023, at the first preparatory hearing on Kobolyevs charges, HACC granted the SAPO prosecutors motion and extended his procedural duties until Jan. 30, 2024.

On Dec. 14, 2023, following the results of the preparatory meeting, the panel of judges at the HACC denied the defenses request to return the indictment, scheduled a hearing on the merits, and commenced a hearing in the Kobolyev case. There have been at least eight court hearings since then. See Case No. 991/10459/23.

Note that Oleksiy Nosov, the lead attorney and communicator in the Kobolyev case on the part of the defense, was detained for a suspected attempt to bribe NABU and SAPO in an unrelated case, after which HACC set bail for him. The case involves an alleged theft of Hr 716 million (16.4 million euros) worth of electricity from Ukrenergo by a group led by Mykhailo Kiperman, a businessman reportedly associated with the Privat group.

For an extended background on the Kobolyev case, see SOE Weeklys Issues 71, 72, 73, 77, 78, 79, 83, 84, 88, 91, 99, 104, and 113.

For a detailed analysis of this case from a corporate governance perspective, see series of columns by SOE Weekly team members Andriy Boytsun, Oleksandr Lysenko, and Dmytro Yablonovskyi: Are Kobolyevs bonuses a threat to corporate governance reform? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5.

Energy sector

Ukrnafta and Ukrtransnafta pay 2023 dividends to Naftogaz. On June 11, Ukrnafta reported that it paid Hr 3.5 billion ($86.5 million) in dividends to Naftogaz, fully covering its dividend obligations for the previous year.

The 2023 financial statements of Naftogaz or Ukrnafta were not publicly available at the time of writing.

As we reported in Issue 131, Naftogaz Group said that it made Hr 23.1 billion ($571 million) in consolidated net profit in 2023, a significant rebound from its Hr 79.1 billion ($1.9 billion) loss in 2022. With a 95% payout ratio, Naftogazs dividends come out to Hr 21.9 billion ($541 million). Ukrnafta accounts for 16% of this amount.

In total, Ukrnafta has paid about Hr 8 billion ($197 million) in 2023 dividends to its shareholders, the Defense Ministry and Naftogaz, the companys CEO Sergii Koretskyi said in a statement.

Naftogaz owns 50% plus one share of Ukrnafta, while the Defense Ministry owns 50% minus one share.

Note that Ukrnafta used to pay its dividends on Naftogazs share directly to the state treasury, which was out of step with the OECD Guidelines on Corporate Governance of SOEs. This was rectified by the SOE corporate governance law adopted in February 2024  Law No. 3587-IX, previously known as Draft Law No. 5593-d. The laws whose major contribution was to align the SOE corporate governance framework with the OECD Guidelines, including the rule that SOEs and their subsidiaries pay dividends on a consolidated basis. See SOE Weeklys Issues 120 and 122 for more detail.

However, as soon as in May, parliament adopted Draft Law No. 10168-2, which reversed the dividend provisions of the new SOE governance law to have Ukrnafta pay all dividends directly to the state budget. See our Issue 132 for detail.

Read also: Zelensky signs law on single roaming zone with EU

Although voted in the second (i.e., final) reading, Draft Law No. 10168-2 has not yet been either signed or vetoed by the President, meaning that it is not (yet) effective, and the dividend provisions of Law No. 3587-IX remain in force. In other words, the fact that Ukrnafta paid dividends to Naftogaz on its share in the company this year is a direct effect of Law No. 3587-IX.

Pursuant to the Cabinets decision, Ukrnafta must pay 30% of its net profit for 2023 as dividends and use another 50% of the profit for capital investments approved by the Cabinet.

As we reported one and half years ago, the shares of Ukrnafta, Ukrtatnafta, Motor Sich, AvtoKrAZ, and Zaporizhzhiatransformator (ZTR) were seized for the needs of the state and transferred to the Defense Ministry. See Issue 68 for detail.

On June 12, another Naftogaz subsidiary, Ukrtransnafta, announced it was paying Hr 5.3 billion ($131 million) in dividends for 2023, more than it ever paid in its history. This was made possible by the companys 40% spike in net profit to Hr 5.6 billion ($138 million).

With this dividend payment, Ukrtransnaftas contribution to Naftogazs consolidated dividends for the year will be 24%. Ukrtransnaftas audited financial statements for 2022 or 2023 were not available at the time of writing. No further information was made available on the drivers of Ukrtransnaftas profitability. The subsidiarys core business is oil transit through the Ukrainian pipeline network, including transporting Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline.

Earlier, Naftogaz said that the profitability of its business lines was driven by significantly improved financial results of the Groups subsidiaries. The company did not provide any details. (See SOE Weeklys Issue 131.)

Ukrenergo receives a 30-million-euro loan and 15-million-euro grant from Germany to improve the reliability of Ukraines energy infrastructure. The agreements were signed between Ukrenergo and Germanys KfW development bank on June 10-11.

This is an investment into the resilience of Ukraines power grid and the stable operation of the Ukrenergo trunk high-voltage network, the company said.

Ukrenergo also received 40 high-voltage bushings from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Ukraine, the Republic of Korea, and Iceland to help to restore power facilities damaged by the Russia. The bushings are a vital component in power transmission and distribution systems. If the bushings are damaged, the power cannot reach consumers, even if the transformer is in good condition, the company explained.

Since March 22, Ukraine has faced six massive missile and drone strikes on energy facilities. See our Issues 124, 125, 127, 129, 131, and 134 for more detail.

After every Russian mass missile attack on Ukraines vital infrastructure, emergency outages take place, lasting for days due to the ongoing repair works. During such outages, people in Ukraine are often left without electricity, heating, water supply, or access to mobile phone networks.

Defense

UDI and Rheinmetall opened the first joint armored vehicle repair and production workshop in Ukraine on June 10. The workshop will repair and manufacture German military equipment in use by Ukrainian forces. Ukrainian specialists do the work while Rheinmetall representatives supervise.

In Issue 88, we reported that Rheinmetall signed an agreement with Ukrainian Defense Industry (UDI) in May 2023 to set up a joint venture to repair tanks in Ukraine.

According to the agreement, the German side would hold 51% of the shares and have the management rights. The cooperation will focus on the maintenance and repair of armored vehicles in Ukraine, while preparations will be made for the construction of tanks.

As we wrote in Issue 108, the German-Ukrainian LLC Rheinmetall UDI (Rheinmetall Ukrainian Defense Industry LLC) was registered on Oct. 18, 2023.

Rheinmetall AG, headquartered in Dusseldorf, is one of the largest manufacturers of military equipment, weapons, and vehicle components in Europe.

Read also: EU to reinstate tariffs on Ukraines oats, eggs, eyeing sugar next, Euronews reports

The group consists of five divisions: Vehicle Systems; Weapons and Ammunition; Electronic Solutions; Sensors and Actuators; and Materials and Trade. With some 28,000 employees working in 132 locations worldwide, Rheinmetalls sales were 6.4 billion euros in 2022.

The groups sales were distributed geographically as follows: Germany (34.1%), the rest of Europe (30.8%), Asia (18.4%), the Americas (8.2%), and other regions (8.5%).

Rheinmetall has a large institutional investor base (280 institutional owners and shareholders). As of Dec. 31, 2022, 69% of its shares were owned by institutional investors and 21% by private shareholders. The largest shareholders were Harris Associates LP (11.6%), Wellington Management Co. LLP (5.08%), Capital Research & Management Co. (4.99%), and BlackRock Fund Advisors (2.35%).

On June 12, UDI also signed a memorandum of intent to establish a joint venture with the US-based Amentum Services, one of the leading global design, project management, and solution integration companies. The memorandum provides for potential cooperation in the restoration and maintenance of US-made armoured vehicles, UDI explained.

Privatization

SPFU receives winning bid of 2.4 million euros for confiscated PentoPack. On June 10, the State Property Fund of Ukraine (SPFU) announced that PentoPack Plant went for Hr 103.1 million ($2.5 million) at its second auction.

The plant had been confiscated from sanctioned Russian-Greek businessman Ivan Savvidi.

According to Prozorro.Sale, Kyiv-based Lonikos LLC, which offered Hr 103.1 million, was the only bidder. According YouControl, Larysa Ashkinazi from Dnipro is listed as the companys owner. A woman with the same name is the wife of Vladyslav Zhyrko, a former forensic expert at the Dnipro Research Forensic Centre. His declarations in recent years indicate that the family lived exclusively on his income, and his wife was not engaged in business, liga.net wrote.

Lonikos LLC is registered in Kyiv at vul. Larysy Rudenko, 6a. According to liga.net, this is a place of mass registration, with about 80 companies located there.

The buyer has 20 days to pay up or lose the Hr 20.3 million ($502,000) deposit.

According to the SPFU, the buyer must repay all wage arrears within six months of purchase and keep a six-month moratorium on firing employees.

The SPFU declared its privatization plans for PentoPack in early March 2024 (see our Issue 122) and approved its starting price at Hr 203 million ($5 million) in early May (see Issue 131).

Read also: Parliament committee slams anti-corruption bureaus chief over failure to explain leak scandal

As we wrote in Issue 134, the first attempt to sell PentoPack failed, as no participants registered for the auction. The starting price for a second auction was halved to Hr 102 million ($2.5 million). See Issue 134 for more detail.

According to the SPFU, PentoPack is one of the leading producers of packaging for meats and sausages. It produces multilayer synthetic shrink wrap using modern technologies, including printing with UV, water, and alcohol inks.

PentoPacks products are used in more than thirty countries around the world. In Ukraine, the company does business with Rud, Globino, and Myasna Gildiya.

PentoPack retained 193 jobs and has no wage or state budget arrears. The company plans to enter new markets for packaging materials for the dairy industry, fish processing, and animal feed packaging, the SPFU added.

The Cabinet transfers land bank of over 100,000 hectares to the SPFU. On June 13, the Cabinet of Ministers took away 2,764 agricultural land plots with a total area of more than 104,000 hectares from SOEs. The SPFU-managed Agrarian Investment Fund was given control.

The SPFU then announced that preparations for the Land Bank are complete. The next step is to corporatize the Agrarian Investment Fund, so it could act as a land auction operator.

The Land Bank would open the opportunity for farmers to lease state land on a transparent and competitive basis through online auctions on the Prozorro.Sale platform. The auctions would start in early July 2024, the SPFU also said. In the first pool, the Fund plans to lease 82,800 hectares, Ekonomichna Pravda (EP) wrote.

According to the SPFU, the winners of the auctions could lease state land for up to 14 years for annual crops or up to 25 years for perennial crops. The starting price of the lots would be 12% of the normative monetary value of the land.

The SPFU expects that the opening of the state land lease market through the Land Bank would bring an additional Hr 1 billion ($24 million) to the budget at the first stage, and this amount may increase to Hr 8 billion ($197 million) if all the land is involved.

According to EP, about 800,000 hectares remain in state ownership, and almost half of them are currently at the disposal of the SPFU.

The SPFU has 386,000 hectares of land at its disposal, of which 98,000 are under Russian occupation, EP wrote at the end of May 2024.

The National Academy of Agrarian Sciences (NAAS) currently oversees 277,000 hectares. Since 2023, 80 enterprises and 11 scientific institutions have been transferred from the NAAS to the SPFU  a total land bank of 210,000 hectares. These are mostly problematic enterprises (with litigation, debts) and those under Russian occupation. The transfer process is ongoing.

The Academy has often been involved in corruption scandals. Investigative journalists have found that the heads of NAAS and their relatives have become owners of land plots in areas previously used by research institutions subordinate to the Academy.

Another 99,200 hectares are used by the Education Ministry, mainly at the expense of the land of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences.

The Justice Ministry owns another 41,700 hectares, mostly under the penitentiary system, and about 1,600 hectares are owned by the Agrarian Policy Ministry, EP also wrote.

In Issue 93, we reported that the SPFU was working out plans to centralize state property management, which included setting up a land bank.

As we wrote in Issue 100, on Aug. 11, 2023, the Cabinet transferred 25 SOEs, previously managed by the NAAS, to the SPFU.

Starting from 1 July 2021, Ukrainian citizens can legally buy and sell agricultural land. However, the sale and purchase of state-owned and communal agricultural land remains banned.

Ukrainian SOE Weekly is an independent weekly digest based on a compilation of the most important news related to state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and state-owned banks in Ukraine.

The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the editorial team of the Ukrainian SOE Weekly.

The SOE Weekly is produced and financed by Andriy Boytsun. Communications support is provided and financed by CFC Big Ideas. The SOE Weekly is not financed or influenced by any external party.

Editorial team: Andriy Boytsun, Oleksiy Pavlysh, Dmytro Yablonovskyi, and Oleksandr Lysenko.

Read also: G7 loan from Russian assets not substitute for full confiscation, experts say

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Ukrainian law enforcement agencies suspect two residents of Kazakhstan in an assassination attempt on Kazakh opposition activist and journalist Aidos Sadykov in Kyiv, the Prosecutor General's Office announced on June 20.

The suspects were put on an international wanted list.

Sadykov was shot on June 18 when an attacker approached his car parked in the Shevchenkivskyi district of Kyiv. The activist suffered a brain injury and was hospitalized. He is reportedly in serious condition.

The two suspects, Altai Zhakanbayev and Meiram Karatayev, born in 1988 and 1991, respectively, arrived in Ukraine's capital on June 2 and rented apartments at different addresses, according to the prosecutors.

Four days later, Zhakanbayev bought a car, allegedly to stalk Sadykov. The suspects learned the victim's schedule, social circles, and routes to Sadykov's home, the statement read. The two reportedly rented an apartment near Sadykov's home on June 8 for the next nine days.



According to the prosecutors, Karatayev was supposed to approach Sadykov's car when he was in it, shoot him with a silenced firearm, and flee while Zhakanbayev was on the lookout for the police.

The suspects threw away the gun that Karatayev used to shoot Sadykov in the head on June 18 and crossed the border into Moldova the same day, the police said.

The activist's wife, Natalya Sadykova, accuses Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of involvement in the assassination attempt. Tokayev said that the Kazakh authorities are ready to join the investigation.

Aidos Sadykov and his wife Natalya Sadykova fled Kazakhstan and were granted refugee status in Ukraine in 2014. The couple founded the Base YouTube channel, which is critical of the Kazakh government and oligarchs and has over 1 million subscribers.

Until 2010, Sadykov was the leader of one of the branches of the opposition party Azat in Kazakhstan. He then founded the Gastat movement and organized actions in defense of civil and political rights, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RLE).

The Kazakh court sentenced the activist to two years in prison for "resisting the police" in a case the couple called politically motivated.

The Sadykovs have been placed on Kazakhstan's wanted list in October 2023.

Read also: Reuters: Russia asks Kazakhstan to resupply gasoline in case of shortages, sources say

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Ukraine wants to hold another peace summit by end of year, official says

Ukraine wants to hold a second global peace summit before the end of 2024, Ihor Zhovkva, deputy head of the Presidential Office, said in an interview with Interfax Ukraine on June 21.

Switzerland hosted Ukraine's global peace summit on June 15-16, with over 90 countries and organizations in attendance. Russia and China did not attend.

Almost 80 attendees signed the final joint communique of the peace summit on June 16.

Some of the countries that were notably absent from the list of signatories included India, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Colombia, South Africa, Thailand, Mexico, and the United Arab Emirates.

"We want to hold the second peace summit before the end of the year," Zhovka said. "Ukraine, like no one else, wants peace as soon as possible."

"We definitely do not want peace based on the so-called Russian recognition of reality," Zhovka added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed on June 14 that Moscow would only consider a ceasefire if Ukrainian troops were to leave Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

According to Zhovka, Ukraine would be prepared to start negotiations with Russia "tomorrow" if Moscow were to immediately withdraw its troops from Ukrainian territory.

There is a "high degree of probability" that the next peace summit will take place "in one of the countries of the global south," Zhovka added.

"It would be logical, because the first summit took place in a European state," he said.

Ukraine's Ambassador to Singapore Kateryna Zelenko said in an interview published on June 20 that Kyiv would also consider participating in a Beijing-led peace conference with Russia's presence if the talks are based on the principles of the "U.N. Charter and international law."

Read also: Ukraines peace summit falls short of engaging Global South  can Ukraine expand its coalition?

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Key developments on June 21:

Ukraine attacks 4 refineries, Shahed drone storage sites in Russia, military says

Russia attacking Chasiv Yar from Toretsk direction, military says

Media: South Korea's level of arms supplies to Ukraine will depend on Russia's actions, official says

Russian guided bomb attack on Donetsk Oblast town kills 2, injures 3

3 people arrested in Germany for allegedly spying on person from Ukraine

Ukrainian drones attacked four refineries in Russia's Krasnodar Krai and Astrakhan Oblast, as well as sites where Russian Shahed-type drones are stored overnight on June 21, Ukraine's General Staff reported.

Russia claimed to have shot down more than 100 drones in a mass strike on occupied Crimea, Krasnodar Krai, and Volgograd Oblast at night. Russian Telegram channels claimed that drones targeted a military airfield in Yeysk during the attack on Krasnodar Krai.

Afipskyi, Ilskyi, and Krasnodarskyi oil refineries came under attack in Krasnodar Krai, as well as the Astrakhan oil refinery in Astrakhan Oblast, the Ukrainian military said. The Astrakhan refinery may have referred to the city's gas processing plant.

Ukrainian forces also hit Russian radar stations and electronic intelligence centers in occupied Crimea and Russia's Bryansk Oblast, the General Staff said.

Shahed-type attack drone storage and preparation sites, training buildings, and command and communications centers of these drones located in Krasnodar Krai were also attacked, the military reported.

"As a result of the operations, a series of explosions and a fire with subsequent detonation were recorded overnight," the General Staff said. The full consequences of the attacks are being determined.

A source in security and defense forces confirmed for the Kyiv Independent that a joint attack by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Navy's missile forces targeted the 167th training center at the Yeysk military airfield, where Shahed drones were stored.

Several blasts and secondary explosions were recorded at the base, the source said. SBU drones also targeted the Afipskyi, Ilskyi, and Krasnodarskyi oil refineries, according to the source.

The attacks on the refineries will allegedly complicate deliveries of lubricant products. The source did not mention the Astrakhan refinery.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims.

Ukraine's Armed Forces also attacked Russia's Republic of Adygea and Tambov Oblast along with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) overnight on June 20, the General Staff confirmed.

Ukrainian drones attacked the Tambovnefteprodukt fuel and lubricants warehouse in Tambov Oblast and Lukoil-Yugnefteprodukt company's Enyemskaya oil depot in the Republic of Adygea, a source in security and defense forces told the Kyiv Independent.

Read also: Fire at oil depot in Russias Rostov Oblast extinguished, governor says

Russia attacking Chasiv Yar from Toretsk direction, military says

Russian troops started storming the town of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk Oblast from Toretsk direction a few days ago, Nazar Voloshyn, the spokesperson for the Khortytsia group of forces, told Interfax Ukraine on June 21.

The statement came after Ukraine's 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade said it had been redeployed to bolster the Armed Forces' defense of Chasiv Yar, an elevated town that potentially opens for Russia the way to further advances into Donetsk Oblast.

The Ukrainian military reported on June 18 an increase in Russian attacks near the town of Toretsk after a "long lull" in fighting in the area.

Toretsk, the strategically important town located less than 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the front line, had a population of around 31,000 before the start of the full-scale invasion.

Russian forces are trying to advance from the occupied town of Horlivka to the villages of Shumy and Niu-York, Voloshyn said.

"Over the past week, (Russian) attacks have been taking place constantly. There are mechanized frontal assaults on Chasiv Yar, and small groups of up to five people are trying to break into Novyi and Kanal neighborhoods," the spokesperson said.

Russian troops tried three times to approach Ukraine's positions near Chasiv Yar and Klishchiivka, he said, adding that the situation is "under control" and fighting is ongoing.

"The defense forces units are successfully restraining the onslaught and strengthening their positions in some areas," Voloshyn said.

Russian forces have ramped up their offensive in Donetsk Oblast, focusing their efforts on Chasiv Yar. By attacking nearby settlements such as Ivanivske, Moscow is attempting to encircle the town, whose capture would allow further advances into the region.

Read also: Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 6, injure 13 over past day

Media: South Korea's level of arms supplies to Ukraine will depend on Russia's actions, official says

South Korea will determine the volume of potential weapons deliveries to Ukraine based on Russia's position toward North Korea, Yonhap reported, citing an unnamed presidential official on June 21.

The reports came after Seoul said it would reconsider supplying Ukraine with weapons in response to Moscow's newly announced security agreement with North Korea.

Up until now, Seoul has only provided humanitarian aid to Kyiv, though it has been reported the country has indirectly supplied artillery shells via the U.S.

"There are various options for providing weapons, and our position on the recent developments between Russia and North Korea depends on how Russia approaches the situation going forward," the unnamed official told Yonhap.

The weapons that Seoul could potentially send to Ukraine include 155 mm artillery shells or air defense systems, government sources told Yonhap.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow would take decisions that are "unlikely to please South Korea" if Seoul decides to send arms to Ukraine. He also did not exclude the possibility of sending weapons to North Korea, based on the recently signed deal between the two countries.

Under the new treaty, Russia and North Korea pledged to provide aid to one another if either is attacked, Putin said.

Matthew Miller, the U.S. State Department spokesperson, called Putin's threats "incredibly concerning" at a press briefing on June 20.

"It would destabilize the Korean Peninsula... depending on the type of weapons they provide, (it) might violate U.N. Security Council resolutions that Russia itself has supported," Miller said.

South Korea's Foreign Ministry summoned on June 21 Georgy Zinoviev, Russia's ambassador to Seoul, and protested the conclusion of the strategic partnership agreement between Moscow and Pyongyang.

Read also: Duo of leading bipartisan US senators introduce law to declare Russia state sponsor of terror

Russian guided bomb attack on Donetsk Oblast town kills 2, injures 3

Russian troops dropped a guided aerial bomb on the town of Selydove in Donetsk Oblast on the morning of June 21, killing two people and injuring three, Governor Vadym Filashkin said.

Selydove is located some 45 kilometers (28 miles) west of the city of Donetsk, which has been occupied by Russia since 2014.

The attack targeted the residential area of the town, according to Filashkin. Six houses, five high-rise buildings, and a car were damaged, he added.

Settlements in Donetsk Oblast suffer from daily Russian strikes due to their proximity to the front line. Heavy fighting continues in Donetsk Oblast as Russia seeks to occupy the entire region.

Russian attacks against Ukraine over the past day killed six people and injured 13, regional authorities said.

Read also: Russian forces claim to have deployed FAB-3000 glide bomb for first time

3 people arrested in Germany for allegedly spying on person from Ukraine

Three men were arrested in Germany on suspicion of cooperating with a foreign secret service, the German Federal Prosecutor's Office reported on June 21.

"The three accused were traveling in Germany on behalf of a foreign secret service to collect information on a person from Ukraine who was staying here," the statement said, adding that they "scouted out a cafe in Frankfurt am Main where the target person was supposed to be."

Men from Ukraine, Armenia, and Russia were arrested by Hesse state police in Frankfurt am Main on June 19.

No further information was provided.

This development occurs amid a rise in sabotage activities in Europe, seemingly aimed at disrupting Western support for Ukraine and allegedly orchestrated by Russia or Russian-linked individuals.

A Russian woman was arrested in Denmark just over a week prior and charged with helping a foreign intelligence service operate in the country, the Danish national broadcaster DR reported on June 11.

The New York Times (NYT) reported on May 26 that U.S. and allied intelligence officials have noted a growing number of low-level sabotage operations in Europe that seem to be part of Russia's effort to undermine assistance for Ukraine.

Read also: It really is insane: Ex-defense minister on Slovakias pro-Russian turn

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Units of Ukraine's 24th separate mechanized brigade have been redeployed to bolster the Armed Forces' defense of the front-line town of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk Oblast, the brigade's press service announced via Facebook on June 20.

After capturing Avdiivka in February, Russian forces shifted their focus toward Chasiv Yar, a town on a relatively higher elevation, which could potentially open the way to further advances into the oblast.

"The situation in and around the city is extremely difficult," the announcement said.

Russian forces are "constantly organizing massive frontal assaults and trying to bypass the settlement from the north and south."

The brigade also reported that the city is under relentless attack from Russian guided aerial bombs.

Ukrainian forces have inflicted damage to Russian infantry units and equipment, the brigade said, but have also sustained losses.

Moscow is attempting to encircle Chasiv Yar by capturing surrounding villages. In their assault on the region, Russian forces have used multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) equipped with thermobaric munitions, according to the Ukrainian military.

Read also: With all eyes on Kharkiv, Russian troops take one Donbas village after another

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Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has welcomed the EU Council's decision to approve the negotiation framework for Ukraine and Moldova and to launch accession talks on 25 June.

Source: Kuleba on Twitter (X), as reported by European Pravda

Details: Kuleba noted that it was "a big day for Ukraine, Moldova and the European Union".

Quote: "All 27 EU member states have approved the negotiation frameworks, and practical EU accession talks are scheduled to begin next week. We thank the EU Council and the Belgian Presidency for making history," the foreign minister wrote.

Kuleba noted that Ukraine has set a record for the speed of progress from the application for accession to the opening of negotiations, having done so in just two years and without "discounts", fulfilling the requirements and reforms set in the context of the full-scale war.

Quote: "As an EU member, Ukraine will strengthen security and prosperity for all Europeans while also making significant contributions to our shared European defence, foreign policy, green transition, digitalisation, innovation, culture, economic development, and other areas. What happens next is the process of negotiations. It will take time. But we are certain that we will accomplish this path," said Dmytro Kuleba.

This is a big day for Ukraine, Moldova, and the European Union. All 27 EU member states have approved negotiating frameworks, and practical EU accession talks are scheduled to begin next week. We thank @EUCouncil and @EU2024BE for making history.



Ukraine's path to today has not  Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) June 21, 2024

Background:

On the afternoon of 21 June, the Council of the European Union approved on Friday the negotiation framework for Ukraine and Moldova, and the EU is officially starting preparations for intergovernmental conferences with these states on 25 June, which will launch accession talks.

The permanent representatives of the EU member states approved the framework for accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on 14 June.

Hungary, at the level of permanent representatives, blocked the decision, saying that Ukraine had made "insufficient progress on national minorities". But after assurances that its demands would be included in the negotiating framework, it lifted its veto.

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Ukrainian defenders have inflicted heavy losses on Russian forces in Kharkiv Oblast and foiled their plans to capture the settlement of Borova (Kharkiv Oblast).

Source: Andrii Yusov, representative of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), during the national joint 24/7 newscast

Quote: "As for Borova and the area, Ukrainian defenders have thwarted the enemy's intentions there, and their [Russian] losses in military personnel and equipment are significant.

Yes, they [the Russians] are trying to pull up reserves, and the potential threat remains, but there is currently no indication of them assembling new significant forces to replicate the previous situation. But the potential threat remains."

Details: Yusov reported that Ukrainian forces thwarted Russia's plans and intentions in the north of Kharkiv Oblast, forcing them to redeploy reserves, including from other areas that are very sensitive to the Russians: "This indicates heavy losses and that the situation is definitely not going according to plan for them."

The DIU representative added that the situation on Ukraine's northern border remains just as tense and dangerous: "The enemy will continue to try to stretch Ukrainian reserves and distract us, including from the situation in the east."

Background:

Ukraine's 3rd Separate Assault Brigade confirmed that the Russians had intensified their efforts in Luhansk Oblast and were trying to capture the settlements of Cherneshchyna and Pershotravneve, with the subsequent capture of Borova. The 3rd and 144th Divisions of the 20th Army of the Russian Federation are fighting against Ukrainian forces in the area.

On 18 June, DeepState analysts reported that the Russians had amassed up to 10,000 troops and 450 pieces of military equipment in the area between Raihorodka to Novovodiane, which is about 20 km from the village of Borova, Kharkiv Oblast.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine liberated the village of Borova in Izium district, Kharkiv Oblast, as well as part of the namesake hromada in early October 2022.

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The Ukrainian military has stalled Russian advances in the direction of Borova in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukrainian military intelligence spokesperson Andrii Yusov reported on June 21.

Ukraine's 3rd Assault Brigade reported on June 18 that Russian forces were intensifying attacks in the border areas of Luhansk Oblast with the aim of capturing the village of Borova in neighboring Kharkiv Oblast.

"Ukrainian defenders have broken the enemy's intentions there (in the direction of Borova), and the losses in manpower and equipment are significant," Yusov said.

"(Russian forces) are trying to pull up reserves, and the potential threat remains, but we are not talking about forming new powerful groups to repeat the situation," he added.

Yusov said that the Russian military has been forced to redeploy its reserves, including from other areas that are very "sensitive" to them.

"This indicates heavy losses, and that the situation is definitely not going according to (Russia's) plan for them," Yusov said.

The spokesperson emphasized that the situation on the country's northern border remains "tense and dangerous."

"The enemy will continue to try to stretch Ukrainian reserves and distract us, including from the situation in the East."

Borova was occupied by Russian forces in March 2022 and subsequently liberated later that year during Ukraine's sweeping counteroffensive in Kharkiv Oblast.

The 3rd Assault Brigade said on June 18 that Russian forces were suffering heavy losses but were replenishing their numbers.

The brigade also said it was managing to hold the front line "despite the overwhelming number of the enemy and the lack of reserves."

The Kyiv Independent could not verify the reports.

Read also: Russias move on Kharkiv has bogged down. But was it a failure?

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Lindsey Sarah Archer (R), niece of a British soldier who fell victim to the shipwreck of Lisbon Maru, hugs Chen Xuelian, daughter of a Chinese rescuer in Zhoushan, east China's Zhejiang Province, June 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Yu Aicen)

HANGZHOU, June 21 (Xinhua) -- From the stern of a wobbly ferry, Kenneth Andrew Salmon dropped a red poppy wreath bearing the picture of his father into the sea -- the exact same wreath was placed on his father's coffin during his funeral and had been preserved at home for 24 years.

The wreath kept afloat, riding away on the choppy, frothy waves off the Zhoushan Islands in east China's Zhejiang Province.

Salmon's father, Andrew Salmon, was a sergeant of the Royal Artillery and one of the 384 British prisoners of war (POWs) who were rescued by Chinese fishermen following the sinking of the Japanese-requisitioned ship Lisbon Maru in 1942.

On Tuesday, Salmon and a dozen of other descendants of British POWs visited the water of the sunken ship in Zhoushan, where they scattered white chrysanthemum petals -- a Chinese ritual for mourning the dead.

Among the visitors was 75-year-old Denise Wynne. She is the daughter of Dennis Morley, a soldier of the Royal Scots and a British POW who survived the shipwreck.

"My father always said that the fishermen were heroes, and if it weren't for the Chinese fisherman, he wouldn't have lived," Wynne said.

A TRIBUTE TO HEROES

In October 1942, Lisbon Maru, requisitioned by the Japanese army to carry more than 1,800 British POWs from Hong Kong to Japan, was torpedoed by the U.S. army near the Zhoushan Islands.

While the Japanese army were evacuated from the sinking ship, the POWs were left in battened cabins. Some managed to jump off the ship but faced the bullets of Japanese soldiers, who tried to stop their escape. It was at that moment when the Chinese fishermen came to the rescue, with paddles, fishing junks and shampan.

Hu Yifang, in his 70s, said his father Hu Keshun (also known as Hu Aagou) rescued eight POWs. The fisherman took multiple trips, as most of the other rescuers did, because his shampan had very limited seats, Hu said.

Historical records show 198 Chinese fishermen brought 384 POWs to haven. A total of 843 POWs died in the incident: some of them sank along with the ship, others drowned or were killed by Japanese soldiers during the desperate escape.

"I think for the rest of his life, my father felt he was so lucky. He almost felt guilty, because he survived, but so many didn't," Salmon said.

When asked why she decided to take on the journey to China, Wynne became profoundly emotional.

"I want to say 'thank you' to the relatives of the Chinese fishermen. I just want to say 'thank you', and 'thank you' on behalf of my father as well," Wynne said.

"It could have been terrible, could have been worse. They were so brave to come out," she added.

Last Friday, they were in Shanghai for the premiere of a documentary "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru." The history consultant of the film, Tony Banham, is one of the early researchers of the incident.

"One group of human beings saw another group of human beings in trouble and dropped everything, without knowing who they were, and rescued them at great risk of their own lives. That is a timeless story," said the British historian.

"I think it's a very powerful story to tell at any time in human history," he added.

A FRIENDSHIP THAT LASTS

The descendants of rescuers and the rescued met by chance on Monday evening, a day ahead of their scheduled meeting. Both groups were strolling along the seashore when Chen Xuelian, another rescuer's daughter, recognized Wynne. After a flurry of hugs and tears, they decided to call each other brothers and sisters.

"Our forefathers have passed, but we still have each other," Chen said.

Many descendants keep a piece of the past with them. Kenneth Andrew Salmon inherited his father's first name as his middle name; Denise Wynne has the female form of her father's first name as hers. Chen operates a home inn overlooking the place where his father dragged the POWs onshore, while Liang Yindi, whose grandfather was a rescuer, provides guide service in a small museum in memory of this incident.

"This is a friendship our families left for us, for the present, for our generation," said Wu Buwei, whose grandfather, Wu Qisheng, participated in the rescue.

"And it's about two peoples, too," Chen said. "The two countries are thousands of kilometers apart, and yet we met and befriended each other." 

Kathleen Margaret Birch (C) and Karen Louise Birch (L), families of a British soldier who fell victim to the shipwreck of Lisbon Maru, pose for a photo with Hu Yifang, son of a Chinese rescuer in Zhoushan, east China's Zhejiang Province, June 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Yu Aicen)
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has commented on the situation concerning the disappearance of some countries' signatures from the communique of the Peace Summit held last weekend in Switzerland.

Source: Kuleba on air during the 24/7 national joint newscast

Details: Kuleba noted that his Swiss colleagues included some countries in the original list of signatories that had not yet confirmed that they would sign it.

"And so when they [these countries] approached us and said: Hold on, we are still considering this document, because it was still being edited until the last moment at the Summit, they were removed from the list," Kuleba explained.

The Ukrainian minister also noted that Russian propaganda was the first to start spreading the information about countries withdrawing their signatures from the communique.

At the same time, Kuleba did not specify which countries were still considering signing the communique, noting that it would be incorrect for him to say so.

"There are several countries from Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and several countries from Oceania and Asia [that could potentially sign the Summit's decision]," Kuleba said.

Background:

Initially, the final document was supported by 80 countries and four organisations, but later three countries withdrew their signatures; however, the state of Antigua and Barbuda, the Organisation of American States and the Ecumenical Patriarchate have signed the communique.

The Office of the President of Ukraine said that the outcome document of the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland might be supported by additional countries that had not yet signed it.

The day before, Zambia signed the Peace Summit communique.

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Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the Ukrainian President's Office, stated that Ukraine intends to conduct its second Peace Summit before the end of this year.

Source: Zhovkva in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine, as reported by European Pravda

Details: According to Zhovkva, Kyiv intends to host a second Peace Summit before the end of the year.

Quote: "The process should not be delayed. Ukraine, like no other, desires peace as quickly as possible. But we surely don't want peace based on what they call the Russian understanding of reality," he added.

Zhovkva further stated that the timing of the Summit will be determined not only by the US presidential elections, but also by the "intensity of work in the appropriate groups" that produce individual paragraphs of the Peace Formula.

"You heard the president say that the second Peace Summit would take place in months rather than years. This is Ukraines intention," said Zhovkva.

He also confirmed Ukraine's ambition to hold a second summit in one of the Global South countries, as previously expressed by Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

"And this makes sense, given that the first summit was held in a European country, neutral Switzerland. According to the logic of events, this summit should take place in one of the Global South countries. Which country specifically remains to be seen. This is a work in progress," the official added.

The President's Office says that the concluding document of the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland might be supported by additional countries that have not yet signed it.

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Crime scene technicians from the police work at the scene of the murder of a Ukrainian man in his 20s. Photo: Jan Kare Ness/NTB

A refugee from Ukraine in his 20s was murdered in the municipality of Karmy in southwestern Norway last weekend, and the suspect has been taken into custody.

Source: Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The incident occurred in the Karmy district, where municipal housing is located, on the evening of 14 June. A man from Ukraine, who relied partially on a wheelchair, was stabbed to death.

The police detained a Norwegian man, also in his early 20s, at the scene. He has been charged with murder and is currently in custody, but he has not been willing to give a statement to the police.

Prosecutor Siri Anne Flindall told Dagbladet that the accused and the deceased had been neighbours. They resided in the Karmy area, where municipal housing is situated. This area accommodates people requiring additional care or undergoing treatment for drug addiction.

In response, Sigurd Rnningen, the lawyer representing the detained Norwegian, has claimed that the deceased man had repeatedly threatened his client, even with death. Consequently, he is requesting an investigation into the matter.

The Norwegian police are currently refusing to comment on the circumstances of the case.

Background: Earlier this month, seven individuals accused following the death of a Ukrainian citizen at the Wrocaw centre for individuals under the influence of alcohol in Poland were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 1.5 to 5 years.

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On D-Day, the anniversary of which we just commemorated, the Allies knew the location of the Nazi defences thanks to the French Resistance. Now, Ukrainian resistance groups are playing pivotal roles in similar, albeit smaller, operations, enabling the Ukrainian Armed Forces to halt and, in places, turn back the Russian war machine. Their D-Day, however, is yet to come.

As detailed in my new report Crossing Thresholds: Ukrainian Resistance to Russian Occupation on the Ukrainian underground, the patriotic partisan movement comprises many tens of thousands of Ukrainians, covering all manner of activities, from distributing yellow ribbons to assassinating Russian secret policemen. They do this despite overwhelming enemy surveillance and the dreadful risks of being caught.

Across Russian-occupied towns and cities in Ukraine, torture chambers run by the FSB function in plain sight, as a demonstrative form of intimidation. There are legion reports of sexualised torture (e.g., electric shocks attached to genitalia), the removal of fingernails, rape, and mutilation. This performative terror is used to compel Ukrainians into submission. Life under Russian control is grim, with egregious crimes spanning large-scale child abduction, torture, extrajudicial killings, and the use of locals as human shields.

Aside from a few lucky collaborators, the only people leading normal lives there are Russian nationals who have relocated in their hundreds of thousands to what they call the new regions, often with direct encouragement and financial incentives from the Kremlin. These resettlements are part of a deliberate strategy of ethnic cleansing, as Russia seeks to dilute these areas Ukrainian identity.

This selective imposition of normality has developed into a system that resembles apartheid between Russian and Ukrainian citizens. It is heavily enforced by the near-mandatory acquisition of Russian passports. Daily life and access to essential services, from prescriptions to pensions, are contingent upon compliance with the occupiers demands. Those without a Russian passport have their properties seized and are unable to obtain even emergency services.

Despite the grinding demoralisation interspersed with horror, a large number of Ukrainians are resisting. According to Ukraines National Resistance Centre, using Russias own census and electoral data, at least 60 percent of Ukrainians on the occupied territories have refused Russian passports; 80 percent have refused to put Russian license plates on their cars. One interviewee from an area occupied since 2014 but unable to leave explained: I wont take a Russian passport [] if I do, then who will be here to greet our boys when they liberate us? Where will all the Ukrainians be? I will greet [our boys] as a Ukrainian.

In wars like Ukraines fight for sovereignty, the distinctions between soldiers, civilians, and resistance fighters often become indistinct, as a broad segment of the population engages in the struggle for national survival, just like Britain in World War Two. Nonviolent acts of resistance, from refusing a Russian passport to tying a blue-and-yellow ribbon around a tree, play a crucial role in maintaining morale and community bonds. One active resistance fighter from Crimeas ATESH movement told me: Non-violent resistance is incredibly important [.] People feel a sense of support, that people who think like them are living next door.

The Ukrainian resistance is playing a varied and instrumental, yet largely unsung, role in the war, from maintaining a sense of collective identity to transmitting intelligence about enemy equipment and personnel. Partisans engage in sabotage to disrupt enemy logistics and command structures, damaging the occupiers operational capabilities and exposing critical weaknesses, such as the inadequacy of Russian air defences. Resistance attacks in Crimea, in particular, have carried substantial geopolitical weight, countering Putins propaganda.

Ukrainian partisan activities also debunk Russian propaganda claims of a welcoming Russian-speaking populace in eastern Ukraine and pose challenging questions for the occupiers. Constant Moscow-directed increases in the numbers of Russian national guard, FSB, and security personnel being sent to the occupied territories shows the difficulty of policing a hostile local population.

The scale of Ukrainian resistance is such that Russia has been unable to assert full control over its new regions. It is facing a well-trained, and astute insurrectionist campaign that will play an ever more important role in undermining the sustainability of the Russian war effort. From Melitopol to Simferopol, the occupied regions are not lost causes but active participants in Ukraines ongoing war of liberation.

Dr Jade McGlynn is a Research Fellow at The Department of War Studies at Kings College, London. She is the author of Memory Makers: The Politics of the Past in Russia and Russias War .

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A Ukrainian soldier shot down a cruise missile using just a machine gun, officials say

A Ukrainian soldier shot down a cruise missile using just a machine gun, officials say

The Air Force of Ukraine claims that one of its soldiers downed a Russian missile using just a machine gun.

The feat took place during a massive Russian aerial bombardment on June 12, it said.

Experts have previously told BI that takedowns like this are extremely difficult.

A Ukrainian soldier successfully downed a Russian cruise missile using just a machine gun, according to claims from the Ukrainian armed forces.

The feat took place over the Kyiv region during a massive Russian aerial bombardment overnight on June 12, Ukraine's Air Force Command said on Thursday.

Business Insider could not independently verify the claim.

When the bombardment alert came in, "they told us over the radio that our target was close," the soldier, identified as Serhii, said, according to Ukrainska Pravda's translation.

"Seconds later, we saw an enemy missile heading towards Vasylkiv," he continued, referring to a small city roughly 10 miles south of Kyiv.

Serhii said he didn't hesitate to open fire, adding: "After I fired from the machine gun, I saw the missile starting to veer off course and descend."

A close-up of debris that Ukrainian Air Force Command says came from the downed missile. Air Force Command of Ukraine/Facebook

Serhii, formerly a civilian doctor who uses the callsign "Dr. Mom," said he only believed he'd shot the missile down after he saw the debris on the ground.

Experts examining similar past claims  such as a January report of a Russian cruise missile being shot down by a Soviet-era antiaircraft gun  told BI's Sinead Baker that such feats are extremely difficult.

Serhii acknowledged that the claimed shoot-down was a very difficult thing to achieve, but said his sense of responsibility had made the "impossible possible," per The New Voice of Ukraine's translation.

An official Ukrainian account of that night's bombardment said that Russia had launched a volley of six missiles  including at least four cruise missiles  and 24 Shahed drones, with all but one of the missiles shot down.

Air defense units were deployed in multiple Ukrainian regions, including Kyiv, officials said.

Ukraine's recently replenished stockpiles of US-supplied antiaircraft missiles were instrumental in repelling the attack, The New York Times reported at the time.

Read the original article on Business Insider
By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Russia must abide by United Nations sanctions on North Korea, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday after the two countries this week deepened ties and agreed to provide immediate military assistance if either faces armed aggression.

The pact - signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday - follows U.S. accusations that Pyongyang has been transferring weapons to Russia for use against Ukraine, which it invaded in February 2022. Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied the accusations.

The U.N. Security Council will meet June 28 on North Korea, diplomats said, at the request of the U.S., France, Britain, South Korea and Japan, who want to discuss weapons transfers by Pyongyang in violation of council resolutions.

Formally known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), North Korea has been under U.N. sanctions since 2006 for its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and those measures have been strengthened over the years - with Russia's support.

"There are sanctions approved by the Security Council in relation to the DPRK," Guterres told reporters on Friday. "Any relationship that any country has with DPRK, including the Russian Federation, must entirely abide by those sanctions."

Russia's mission to the United Nations declined to comment on Guterres' remarks.

For the past several years the 15-member Security Council has been divided over how to deal with Pyongyang. Russia and China say more sanctions will not help and want such measures to be eased. They proposed some sanctions be lifted in December 2019 but have never put their draft resolution to a vote.

In May 2022, the pair vetoed a U.S.-led push to impose more U.N. sanctions on North Korea over its renewed ballistic missile launches. Russia then vetoed in March the renewal of a panel of experts monitoring enforcement of U.N. sanctions.

Before the panel disbanded at the end of April, three of the experts traveled to Ukraine and - in a report to the Security Council seen by Reuters - determined that the debris from a missile that landed in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Jan. 2 was from a North Korean Hwasong-11 series ballistic missile.

China and Russia say joint military drills by the United States and South Korea provoke Pyongyang, while Washington accuses Beijing and Moscow of emboldening North Korea by shielding it from more sanctions.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Katharine Jackson and Cynthia Osterman)
By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday he is profoundly concerned by escalating tensions between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah and that U.N. peacekeepers are working to calm the situation and prevent miscalculation.

"One rash move - one miscalculation - could trigger a catastrophe that goes far beyond the border, and frankly, beyond imagination," he told reporters. "Let's be clear: The people of the region and the people of the world cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza."

Iran-backed Hezbollah has been firing rockets at Israel in solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas since the Gaza war erupted in October, forcing tens of thousands to flee homes in Israel, where political pressure is building for tougher action.

Tens of thousands of Lebanese have also fled their homes following Israeli strikes in south Lebanon.

Iran's mission to the United Nations said on Friday that Hezbollah has the capability to defend itself and Lebanon against Israel, warning that "perhaps the time for the self-annihilation of this illegitimate regime has come."

"Any imprudent decision by the occupying Israeli regime to save itself could plunge the region into a new war," Iran's U.N. mission posted on X.

A U.N. peacekeeping force UNIFIL, as well as unarmed technical observers known as UNTSO, have long been stationed in southern Lebanon to monitor hostilities along the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel, known as the Blue Line.

"U.N. peacekeepers are on the ground working to de-escalate tensions and help prevent miscalculation," Guterres said.

"The world must say loudly and clearly: immediate de-escalation is not only possible  it is essential," he said. "There is no military solution."

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols;Editing by Alistair Bell)
UN says up to Israel to restore order in Gaza for aid

A truck carrying aid for delivery into Gaza drives through the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Israel

A truck carrying aid for delivery into Gaza drives through the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Israel

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - It is Israel's responsibility - as the occupying power in the Gaza Strip - to restore public order and safety in the Palestinian territory so humanitarian aid can be delivered, the United Nations said on Friday.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said there is as "total lawlessness" in Gaza, where the U.N. has warned a famine looms for the population of 2.3 million after more than eight months of war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas.

"Most of the trucks with humanitarian aid inside Gaza are now looted," Guterres told reporters on Friday, adding that Israel prevented the U.N. from using Palestinian civil police for aid security. "There is total chaos in Gaza and there is no authority in most of the territory."

Israel's military announced on Sunday that there would be a daily daytime pause in its attacks along a key road in southern Gaza that the U.N. and aid groups use to access the Kerem Shalom crossing from Israel.

But U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq said on Friday that along with fighting between Israel and Hamas, the risk of crime had "effectively prevented humanitarian access" to critical areas, including Kerem Shalom.

"As the occupying power, it is incumbent upon the Israeli authorities to restore public order and safety as far as possible and facilitate safe humanitarian access so that assistance reaches civilians in need," Haq said.

Israel's U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan declined to comment.

Hamas came to power in Gaza in 2006 after Israeli soldiers and settlers withdrew in 2005, but the enclave is still deemed as Israeli-occupied territory by the United Nations. Israel controls access to Gaza.

"We see extreme difficulty in distributing inside Gaza," Guterres said. "There must be a mechanism guaranteeing that there is a minimum of law and order that allows for that distribution to take place"

"That is why a ceasefire is so necessary to get properly organized and implement a plan for that purpose," he said.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Josie Kao)
PHNOM PENH, June 21 (Xinhua) -- A Khmer-version book titled "Deeper Insights into Global Civilization Initiative (GCI)" was launched in the capital city of Cambodia on Friday.

Authored by Chea Munyrith, president of the Cambodian Chinese Evolution Researcher Association, the book briefs readers of background and objectives of the GCI before going deeper into the initiative and its benefits for humanity.

The GCI is another important public good China has shared with the world in the new era after the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and the Global Security Initiative (GSI), said Munyrith.

"The GCI has been injecting vigorous impetus into advancing humanity's modernization process and building a community with a shared future for mankind," he told Xinhua at the launching event.

He said the GCI has advocated respect for the diversity of civilizations, common values of humanity, importance of inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and robust international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.

"The CGI inspires countries to uphold the principles of equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness among civilizations, and let cultural exchanges transcend estrangement, mutual learning transcend clashes and coexistence transcend feelings of superiority," the author said.

Munyrith said peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom are the common aspirations of all peoples.

"The GCI has inspired countries to keep an open mind in appreciating the perceptions of values by different civilizations, and to refrain from imposing their own values or models on others and from stoking ideological confrontation," he said.

"I hope that the book will help Cambodian readers gain better insights into the GCI," he added.

Speaking of the book, CMSRRC's Director Neak Chandarith said the GCI holds significant practical value and global importance, providing important means to maintain peace, international cooperation and development through solutions to civilization clashes.

"The GCI respects the diversity of civilizations, and promotes peaceful development and mutual learning among civilizations," he said.

"Together with the BRI, GDI, GSI and the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, the GCI has provided the international community with a model for avoiding zero-sum games and achieving win-win development," Chandarith said. 
United Airlines jet, headed to Denver, turns back after a piece of engine lining fell off during takeoff

A United Airlines plane headed to Denver International Airport turned back to a Connecticut airport Thursday after a piece of lining from an engine cover fell off during takeoff.

A United spokesperson said a portion of the engines sound-dampening outer liner was found on the runway at Bradley International Airport near Hartford.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it would investigate the incident. The FAA said crew members on the Airbus A320 jetliner heard an abnormal noise shortly after the Denver-bound flights takeoff, and pilots flew safely back to Bradley airport.

United said it was arranging other flights for the passengers. There were 124 passengers and five crew members on board.

Earlier this year, United suffered a series of mishaps on flights that led the FAA to tighten its oversight of the airline. An outer piece of fuselage fell off one plane, another lost a wheel during takeoff, and others suffered an engine fire and other problems.

CEO Scott Kirby assured travelers that the incidents were unrelated to each other and that the carrier is safe. He said, however, that United would review its safety training for employees.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
A now buoyant Francois Hollande is on the comeback trail as a prominent member of the coalition against Marine Le Pen's far-Right party

It was an uncharacteristically outlandish move for the man who prided himself on being President Normal.

Ten years after leaving the Elysee as the most unpopular French head of state in postwar history, Francois Hollande was making his comeback in Tulle, where he was once mayor.

Its an exceptional decision for an exceptional moment, the 69-year-old said after declaring he was running for the southwestern constituency of Correze in Frances snap Assembly elections.

It was yet another surprise in the week after Marine Le Pens landslide victory over Emmanuel Macron in the European Parliament elections on Sunday June 9.

That very night Mr Macron dissolved the National Assembly and challenged France to end its flirtation with the hard-Right.

Mr Macron shakes hands with former president Francois Hollande, who made his comeback in Tulle, where he was once mayor - CAROLINE BLUMBERG/AFP

Its a huge gamble, which could leave Mr Macron a lame-duck president with a National Rally prime minister running France if Ms Le Pen wins a majority.

Mr Macron hoped to force the centre-Left and centre-Right to join him in a new coalition and exile the extreme parties.

The Republicans, the Right-wing heir to the party of Charles De Gaulle, promptly imploded in a row over whether or not to join forces with Ms Le Pen.

Bitter infighting also erupted within Eric Zemmours far-Right party Reconquest after star member Marion Marechal, Ms Le Pens niece, called for an alliance with the National Rally.

Marine Le Pen secured a victory over Emmanuel Macron in the European Parliament elections on Sunday June 9 - FRANCOIS GREUEZ/SIPA/Shutterstock

But on the Left, opposition was coalescing against Mr Macron in an uneasy marriage of convenience to stop the hard-Right.

After four days of intense negotiations, the New Popular Front was born on June 13 and will run a shared list of candidates in the two rounds of voting on June 30 and July 7.

It is dominated by the hard-Left France Unbowed party (LFI), led by the combustible Jean-Luc Melenchon, and includes the Greens, the Communists and the Socialist Party.

There are definite questions about how cohesive this bloc will be, said Kate Parker, an expert in French politics at the Economist Intelligence Unit.

Melenchon is a loose cannon. Hes hot-tempered, divisive. Yes, hes charismatic, but that comes with a downside as well.

For now the differences have been patched over. Mr Melenchon, who is soft on Putin and Hamas, has made clear he would not try to become prime minister if the group won the elections.

The Front supports military aid to Ukraine, supports an arms embargo on Israel, and rejects Macrons efforts to cut the deficit and his unpopular pensions reforms.

Mr Melenchon purged the LFI of some of his most vocal critics as he drew up the list of his candidates in a characteristic power move.

Jean-Luc Melenchon, of La France Insoumise (LFI), leads the New Popular Front which will run a shared list of candidates in the two rounds of voting on June 30 and July 7 - SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP

Mr Hollande was not yet a candidate for the Socialists, the establishment centre-Left party he once led.

As president, he was a laughing stock after being photographed on the back of a three-wheeled moped, taking breakfast croissants to his film star lover Julie Gayet, who is now his wife.

Frances betrayed premiere dame, Valerie Trierweiler, later took her revenge for laffaire du scooter with a bombshell memoir about her betrayal.

Mr Hollandes unpopularity reached record lows, as France faced rising unemployment and the threat of Islamic terrorism.

The Socialists and Republicans swapped power for years until Mr Macron turned French politics upside down before 2017s presidential elections.

Breaking French politics

Mr Macron, then Mr Hollandes economics minister, formed his own centrist party and announced he would run for president.

As Socialist and Republican heavyweights flocked to Mr Macron, their parties were left shadows of their former selves and the Left and Right was abandoned to the extremes.

Emmanuel Macron, the French president, enjoys a cup of beer during the election campaign period - CHRISTOPHE ENA/REUTERS

Mr Hollande decided not to run for a second term, and shuffled off into the wilderness, until last Thursday.

There is a moment when we go beyond the differences, we go to the essential, he said, as he gave the New Popular Front his blessing, despite his antipathy towards Mr Melenchon.

He was not asked if he planned to stand himself. Only one former French president has ever won a seat in the Assembly after leaving the Elysee.

But he had already begun secret negotiations with old contacts in Correze, without the knowledge of party leader Olivier Faure, to return to his old stomping ground.

Bernard Combes, the mayor of Tulle, was meant to get the nomination but stepped down in favour of Mr Hollande.

Mr Faure, who thought he had long since killed off all the old elephants of his rebranded party, was forced to admit that he was blindsided by the coup.

On Saturday, as thousands marched across France against the hard Right, Mr Hollande ventured into the market at Tulle to shake hands and blow kisses in scenes that could have come from the campaign trail more than a decade ago.

An end to old grudges

Any reinforcements are welcome to fight the National Rally, Mr Melenchon said. Im throwing my grudge into the river, and I hope he does the same.

We didnt believe it at first, Ali Can, spokesman for LFI in Correze, told The Telegraph. When it was confirmed, there were a lot of negative reactions. There are a lot of voters who have not forgotten Hollandes five-year term, for whom it remains painful.

He said LFI would temporarily support Mr Hollande to stop the far-Right if he toed the party line, which includes repealing Mr Macrons raising of the retirement age to 64.

Mr Hollande is getting cosy with the worst of the extreme-Left, which is anti-Semite, violent and abject, Valery Elophe, departmental delegate of the National Rally in Correze, said. This man is disgraceful.

Mr Hollandes move damaged Mr Macrons election strategy. Mr Hollande was no hard-Leftist.

Nevertheless, Mr Macron told his aides to treat Hollande as an ally of Melenchons extremists.

The presidential bloc was not fielding a candidate in Correze.

In a Monday morning interview, Macrons Prime Minister Gabriel Attal urged voters there to back the Republican candidate instead of Mr Hollande.

Meanwhile, the Socialists are in a better place than they have been for years after Mr Macron veered to the Right to outflank Mrs Le Pens National Rally, This has created space on the centre-Left.

In Raphael Glucksmann, a Jewish MEP, they finally have a viable alternative to Mr Macron. Young, intellectual and charismatic, he led the Socialists to victory over Mr Macron in the European elections.

National Rally are predicted to win a 33 per cent share of the first round Assembly vote, followed by the New Popular Front on 28 per cent, with the presidents party lagging far behind on 18 per cent.

The Socialists are running fewer candidates than LFI but could win more seats, putting them in the driving seat if the Front can hold together for the 18 days before the end of the elections.

The compromise candidate?

Mr Hollande has given up the cosy life of a retired president. But he never forgave Mr Macrons betrayal and believes he broke Frances political system.

Could he emerge as an unlikely compromise prime minister after the elections?

He may plan to run in the 2027 presidential elections, which Mr Macron cannot contest.

I have no ambition other than to serve the country, Mr Hollande says.

In April, an opinion poll ranked him as the second most popular politician in France. At one point in 2017, he had an approval rating of just 4 per cent.

When you average out the unpopularity of yesterday and todays popularity, Im at the normal level, he said, in a knowing nod to his President Normal tag.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  As of Sunday, June 23, a young Nashville father will have been missing for 27 years.

At the time of his disappearance, 27-year-old Andre El was living at an apartment complex at 2621 Airpark Drive in East Nashville. Its the same area where he is believed to have last been seen, but the details remain murky.

5 Nashville missing persons cases hit over 2 decades without answers

Like his last location, much of the information in the case is still unclear, making Els disappearance one of the most mysterious and difficult to solve for the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD).

In an interview last year, MNPD Cold Case Detective Matthew Filter told News 2 there was a nearly six-month gap in between when El was reported missing and when anyone last spoke with him.

Andre El (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

I would like to say that it is odd, but Ive had some other cases where the missing person just didnt stay in that close of contact with people and so nobody really knew that they were missing until several months had gone by and they couldnt get ahold of the person, Filter said.

It was the mother of Els young child who finally filed a report on Jan. 4, 1998. According to officials, the woman lived hundreds of miles away in Atlanta, and at the time, the police department required people to make reports in person.

Nashville fathers mysterious disappearance goes unsolved for 25 years

We needed a signature on the report in order to fulfill NCIC requirements, Filter said. Technically, thats still kind of a rule today. However, theres some ways weve found that we can kind of get around that if somebody is not in the city.

Detectives still arent sure who exactly was the last person to physically see El. After he was reported missing, investigators learned of a few people he was known to associate with, but some of the names provided were only street names, making it difficult to locate them.

It looked like at least two or three of the people, the detective was never able to make contact with them, Filter said. And we still, to this day, arent sure who these people may have been.

Authorities suspect that Els disappearance may have been linked to some type of criminal activity and have said that foul play is likely. However, few tips have been received since the 1990s.

UNSOLVED TENNESSEE: Find more of the states cold cases, missing persons, and other mysteries 

Still, detectives believe there may be someone who knows something that could help crack the case  whether its a neighbor who lived at the same apartment complex or someone who knew more about El.

El would be 54 years old today. When he was last seen, El was 6 feet tall, weighed about 220 pounds and had black hair and brown eyes. He could have a mustache, beard or a goatee.

Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to contact the MNPDs Cold Case Unit at 615-862-7329. Anonymous tips can also be shared by calling the police departments Crime Stoppers Division at 615-74-CRIME (615-742-7463).

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
US allows Ukraine to strike at Russian border area "anywhere" in case of threat of attacks  Politico

The US has told Ukraine that it can use US-delivered weapons to strike "anywhere" in the Russian border area where Russian forces are bombarding Ukraine from  not just near Kharkiv Oblast.

Source: Politico with reference US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and two unnamed US officials

Details: Politico noted that this subtle change in the messages coming from US officials happenned just weeks after the US had given Kyiv the green light to launch strikes inside Russia in response to the cross-border attacks on the city of Kharkiv. At the time, US officials stressed that this policy had been limited to Kharkiv Oblast.

Since then, Ukrainian forces have used US-supplied weapons to strike inside Russia at least once, destroying targets in the city of Belgorod, and have succeeded in holding back the Russian offensive. But Ukrainian and other European officials have been pressing the US to extend its authorisations, allowing Ukraine to strike anywhere in Russia.

Sullivan said in a PBS interview on Tuesday that the agreement with Ukraine on US weapons strikes against Russia covers "anywhere that Russian forces are coming across the border from the Russian side to the Ukrainian side to try to take additional Ukrainian territory."

In recent days, Russia has said that it may soon advance on the northeastern city of Sumy, which is also close to the Russian border. Sullivan said that if this happens, the policy of allowing strikes with provided weapons will be applied there.

Quote from Sullivan: "This is not about geography. Its about common sense. If Russia is attacking or about to attack from its territory into Ukraine, it only makes sense to allow Ukraine to hit back against the forces that are hitting it from across the border."

More details: Two US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that allowing Ukraine to strike Russian territory in response to fire from anywhere along the border does not represent a change in policy since the decision on Kharkiv Oblast. Initially, this move was only considered in the context of the Kharkiv offensive, but this does not exclude the possibility of retaliatory strikes in response to other cross-border attacks.

However, Sullivan's language is notably different from what US officials said in May, when the new policy was being developed in detail.

Back then, a senior US official said: "The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use US weapons for counter-fire purposes in Kharkiv so Ukraine can hit back at Russian forces hitting them or preparing to hit them."

The official stressed that the policy of not allowing long-range strikes inside Russia "has not changed."

Previously: The White House confirmed its authorisation for Ukraine to use US-supplied weapons on Russian territory from the Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts of Ukraine.

Background:

Sullivan said that the Ukrainians had used the authorisation to strike Russian territory near the border with US-delivered weapons, and the momentum of the Russian operation in Kharkiv Oblast had stalled.

Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) estimated that the limited authorisations to hit targets in Russia with the weapons provided by the US had reduced the Russian safe space by 16%.

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The U.S. Department of Commerce announced a ban on Kaspersky antivirus software on June 21, citing national security concerns due to the company's links with Russia.

Reuters reported on June 20 that the U.S. was to ban the software, which is used by state and local governments in the U.S, due to the risk it can "steal sensitive information from American computers, install malware, or withhold critical updates."

The company's CEO, Eugene Kaspersky, worked for Soviet military intelligence. The company has repeatedly denied allegations of ties to the Russian government.

Kaspersky describes itself as "the world's largest privately held vendor of internet security solutions for businesses and consumers."

Kaspersky will no longer be able to sell its software within the U.S. or provide updates to software already in use, the Department of Commerce said in a statement.

The ban is "the result of a lengthy and thorough investigation, which found that the companys continued operations in the U.S. presented a national security risk."

The Department of Commerce said that Kaspersky users will not face penalties, but they are "strongly encouraged" to find "suitable alternatives." The ban will come into force on Sept. 29, 2024.

The news comes one week after the U.S. State and Treasury departments issued what they called a "sweeping" set of sanctions against Russia and its financial backers.

More than 300 new sanctions were announced, targeting a range of entities and sectors from Russian natural resources to Russian banks that have relocated abroad.

Read also: Russia, China found workarounds for payments despite sanctions, Reuters reports

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Insights from Meduza, CNN, The Washington Post, and Foreign Policy

The News

The US said it would ban the sale of antivirus software made by Russian firm Kaspersky Lab in a first-of-its-kind move. The ban will come into effect at the end of September.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said Moscows potential influence over the company posed an unacceptable security risk.

Kaspersky said in a statement the decision was based on the geopolitical climate and theoretical concerns, and denied that it poses a risk.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Concern about software dates back several years

Sources: Meduza, BuzzFeed News, NPR

The Kaspersky ban is the culmination of growing US scrutiny against the company that began in 2017, when its products were banned from federal government networks because of alleged ties to Russian intelligence. Kaspersky had become an international giant in cybersecurity, a BuzzFeed News and Meduza investigation found, but an internal power struggle that placed allies of Russias secret services against tech-savvy staff and Western investors ultimately led to former President Donald Trump signing an order to restrict the companys activities in the US. The threat posed by Kaspersky and similar Russian companies has not receded, Liz Cannon, who leads the Department of Commerces information and communications technology office, told NPR.

US is increasing scrutiny over foreign adversaries

Sources: CNN, Reuters, The Washington Post

The ban relies on new authorities the Commerce Department developed based on Trump and Biden executive orders, CNN reported, intensifying scrutiny over companies operated by foreign adversaries like Russia and China. The move comes as video sharing network TikTok is also under fire for its Chinese ownership, as US policymakers increase their focus on foreign-owned apps and raise concerns over the potential threats they pose to American privacy and security, The Washington Post said. Biden approved a ban-or-divest bill against the app in April.

Biggest threats coming from Russia, China, and Iran, especially on critical infrastructure

Source: Foreign Policy

Threats to Western cybersecurity have increased in recent years, Foreign Policy wrote, particularly targeting critical infrastructure like communications, defense, manufacturing, energy, agriculture, water, and transportation. The most debilitating attacks on those sectors, like the ones against oil pipeline Colonial Pipeline, meat production giant JBS, and government system operator SolarWinds, have been attributed to groups in Russia. But experts said China is also increasing its targeting of the US, and Iran was linked to an attack that compromised water systems across states, the outlet added.






US changes rules on Ukraine firing long-range missiles into Russia

Members of Ukraine's 24th Mechanised brigade fire mortar towards Russian positions on the front line at Chasiv Yar - Oleg Petrasiuk/Ukrainian 24th Mechanised brigade via AP

Ukraines military can use US-supplied long-range missiles to strike targets deeper inside Russia if it is acting in self-defence, the Pentagon said on Thursday.

The US had previously maintained a policy of not allowing Ukraine to use the weapons to hit targets inside Russia for fear of further escalating the war with Russia.

But, Joe Biden had earlier loosened those restrictions to help Kyiv defend the eastern city of Kharkiv from a relentless barrage of Russian missiles.

Moscow has been firing on Ukrainian targets from inside its border, which it treats as a safe zone, said Maj Gen Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary.

As we see those forces conducting those types of operations from across the border, weve explained Ukraine can and does have the right to fire back to defend themselves, Mr Ryder said.

It comes as Ukraine launched a major drone assault on military objects in Russian territory, targeting oil refineries, drone facilities and radar stations.

However, Russia continues to retaliate and is said to be launching massive frontal assaults around the town of Chasiv Yar, according to a Ukrainian military brigade who described the situation there as extremely difficult.

Chasiv Yar has become a flashpoint on the Donetsk front line as its capture could accelerate Russian advances in the industrial region.

04:19 PM BST

Thats all for today

Thanks for following our live coverage of the war in Ukraine. You can read more of The Telegraphs latest news from the front line here.

Todays headlines have included:

Ukraine launched a major drone assault overnight, including against military targets within Russian territory

A Ukrainian military brigade reported massive frontal assaults taking place around the flashpoint of Chasiv Yar in eastern Donetsk

The EU officially approved the launch of membership talks for Ukraine and Moldova, to begin next week

President Zelensky set out a plan to protect Ukraines energy supply, which continues to be pummelled by Russia

Germany arrested three men who are accused of spying on a Ukrainian national on behalf of a foreign intelligence service

Putin warned South Korea it would be a big mistake to arm Ukraine, as tensions rumble on following the signing of a military pact between Russia and North Korea

03:59 PM BST

Ukraine facing mass frontal assault on strategic hilltop city

Russia is launching massive frontal assaults around the town of Chasiv Yar, according to a Ukrainian military brigade.

The 24th Mechanised Brigade said it was deploying extra units to the town, where the situation has become extremely difficult.

The enemy is constantly organising massive frontal assaults, and also trying to bypass the settlement from the north and south, it said in a statement.

Chasiv Yar has become a flashpoint on the Donetsk front line as its capture could accelerate Russian advances in the industrial region.

A frontal assault is a risky and violent military tactic which involves a direct, full-force attack on the front of an enemys forces, rather than to the flanks or rear.

03:56 PM BST

Watch: The Telegraphs exclusive interview with Olena Zelenska

The wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has told The Daily Telegraph there are moments when she feels close to psychological burnout as the war in her country heads towards the 2.5 year mark.

In an exclusive interview, Mrs Zelenska spoke to Defence Editor Danielle Sheridan at the presidents office in Kyiv. She also spoke about how to maintain support for Ukraine as the war drags on, and her mixed feelings when it comes to speaking Russian.

03:32 PM BST

Watch: Ukraines SBU security service strikes two Russian fuel depots

03:22 PM BST

Zelensky hails start of EU membership talks next week

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday welcomed the launch of accession talks with the EU - which were formally approved today and will begin next week. The opening of the talks will formally mark the start of Kyivs path towards joining the bloc.

Millions of Ukrainians, and indeed generations of our people, are realising their European dream. Ukraine is returning to Europe, where it has belonged for centuries, as a full-fledged member of the European community, Zelensky said on social media.

03:02 PM BST

Russia sentences Ukrainian woman to 12 years for balloon protest

A Russian military court on Friday sentenced a Ukrainian woman to 12 years in prison for releasing blue-white-blue balloons - the colours of opposition to the Ukraine offensive - over Moscow last year.

Ukrainian citizen Kristina Lyubashenko, 35, was found guilty of taking part in a terrorist group and spreading fake information about the Russian armed forces, the state news agency TASS reported.

The prosecution said Lyubashenko released the balloons into the sky above the Russian capital and installed speakers at a window in a residential building that blasted out fake information on Moscows Ukraine offensive.

02:45 PM BST

Germany arrests three for spying on a Ukrainian national

German authorities have arrested three men - a Russian, a Ukrainian and an Armenian - on suspicion of spying for an unspecified foreign intelligence service.

The three men were arrested in Frankfurt after allegedly trying to gather information about a Ukrainian national, federal prosecutors said in a statement.

The men were only identified as Robert A. from Ukraine, Vardges I. from Armenia and Russian citizen Arman S.

The three suspects were acting on behalf of a foreign intelligence service in Germany, the statement said, adding that the trio had on June 19th scouted a cafe in Frankfurt am Main where the target person was thought to be.

12:56 PM BST

Russian politician warns of dangerous convicts returning from Ukraine

Russian authorities need to do more to protect civilians from ex-convicts who have returned home from fighting in Ukraine, a politician said this week.

Nina Ostanina, a Communist Party deputy who is sanctioned by the West, warned that violent crimes involving decommissioned soldiers will be even more numerous if authorities do not act.

Reports of Russian soldiers committing serious crimes including murder and rape after returning from Ukraine are widespread and have posed problems for the Kremlin, which portrays those fighting in its special military operation as heroes.

Many of the offenders are men who had been released early from prison, where they were serving time for serious crimes, in exchange for fighting in the war. Some Russian prisons are set to close this year because so many of their inmates have gone to the battlefields.

The comments by Ostanina are a rare admission from a Russian politician that returning soldiers are straining local communities.

Ostanina said law enforcement should be obliged to keep regular tabs on the former soldiers, and also help them find jobs and reintegrate into society.

12:31 PM BST

Seoul summons Russias ambassador amid tensions

South Korea summoned Russias ambassador to Seoul on Friday to protest a defence deal signed by President Vladimir Putin and North Koreas Kim Jong-un during a visit to Pyongyang this week.

Seoul strongly urged Russia to immediately stop military cooperation with North Korea and comply with (UN) Security Council resolutions, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Summoning Russias Ambassador Georgy Zinoviev came two days after Putin and Kim signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement, which includes a pledge to come to each others aid if attacked.

Putin also said this week that Moscow did not rule out military and technical cooperation with the North, or even sending weapons - all of which would violate rafts of UN sanctions against Pyongyang.

Tensions have ramped up this week between Moscow and Seoul. After the deal was signed, Seoul - which is a major weapons exporter - said it would reconsider a longstanding policy that bars it from supplying arms directly to Ukraine.

Putin said this would be a big mistake.

12:04 PM BST

Blinken condemns Russia-North Korea security pact

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has condemned the new security pact between Russia and North Korea as a serious threat to regional peace and stability, according to a readout of a phone call with South Koreas foreign minister Cho Tae-yul.

The pair agreed to closely monitor the situation and discussed ways to respond, the South Korean foreign ministry said.

Cho said any cooperation to help strengthen North Koreas military capabilities is a clear violation of the UN Security Council resolutions, while Blinken said the US will consider various ways to respond to the threat to international peace and stability from Russia and North Korea.

Under the pact, Moscow and Pyongyang have agreed to provide each other with immediate military assistance if either faces armed aggression.

11:42 AM BST

Ukraine EU membership talks to begin

EU countries today formally approved launching membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova next week, a landmark event for the two countries at the start of their long path towards joining the bloc.

EU ministers will start negotiations first with Ukraine and then with Moldova in Luxembourg on Tuesday afternoon, officials said.

10:44 AM BST

Putin says South Korea making big mistake if it arms Ukraine

South Korea would be making a big mistake if it decides to supply arms to Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday, warning that Moscow would respond if so.

A local news report yesterday suggested that South Korea would review the possibility of supplying weapons to Ukraine after Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed a mutual defence pact.

Putin said Seoul had nothing to worry about when it came to the pact because our military assistance ... only arises if aggression is carried out against one of the signatories.

As for the supply of lethal weapons to the war zone in Ukraine, that would be a very big mistake, he said. I hope that this will not happen. And if it does happen, then we will also take appropriate decisions, which are unlikely to please the current leadership of South Korea.

10:20 AM BST

The latest pictures

A destroyed house in Kostyantynivka on the Donestsk front line - Jose Colon/Anadolu via Getty Images

This newly-released photo taken a few days ago shows Ukrainian soldiers resting in a trench in Kharkiv region - Pablo Miranzo/Anadolu via Getty Images

09:59 AM BST

Zelensky sets out plan to protect Ukraines energy supply

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky set out steps to protect the countrys energy supply in his nightly address to the people on Thursday.

It includes installing solar power in homes, rapidly building protection for energy infrastructure, and creating new, decentralised energy capacities.

Russia has been intensively targeting energy infrastructure in recent months. Kyiv says half of its energy generating capacity has been knocked out since March, forcing rolling blackouts.

09:45 AM BST

Ukraine claims strikes on military targets in Russia

Ukraines military says it struck four oil refineries and military objects within Russia overnight. Targets included radar stations, electronic intelligence centres and drone storage facilities. The drone attack took place in the early hours of Friday morning.

It comes after the Russian defence ministry said it had repelled a mass drone attack over Crimea and the Black Sea and the Krasnodar region in southern Russia. One man was killed.

The oil refineries that were attacked were named as Afipsky, Ilsky, Krasnodar, and Astrakhan.

09:13 AM BST

Reinforcements deployed to Chasiv Yar

Ukraine is dispatching reinforcements to an embattled hilltop town in the eastern Donetsk region that has become a strategic flashpoint.

Units of the 24th Mechanized Brigade have been redeployed to strengthen the defence of the Chasiv Yar sector, the grouping said in a statement late Thursday.

The situation in and around the town is extremely difficult. The enemy is constantly organising massive frontal assaults, and also trying to bypass the settlement from the north and south, it added.

The unit is being redeployed from the town of Toretsk, another frontline region where Russian forces have gained ground after a lull in fighting, according to military bloggers.

Chasiv Yar, which had a pre-war population of around 12,000 people, sits above nearby civilian hubs of Kramatorsk and Kostiantynivka.

If it were to be captured, it could accelerate Russian advances deeper in the industrial territory.

08:41 AM BST

Russia fires deputy defence minister detained on bribery charges

Russian authorities have formally dismissed a deputy defence minister jailed on bribery charges and accused by Kremlin critics of living a lavish lifestyle, Russian media reported on Thursday.

Timur Ivanov, 48, is one of several senior military officers arrested on corruption charges in recent months. He was a close associate of Sergei Shoigu, whom President Vladimir Putin replaced as defence minister last month.

Ivanov, arrested in April, was charged with taking an especially large bribe. His lawyers said he maintains his innocence. On Thursday, he was dismissed from his post, according to a registry of government officials cited by Russian media, and a court ordered that his pretrial detention be extended for three more months. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.

08:22 AM BST

One killed in mass drone attack on Russia, officials say

Russia says it repelled a mass drone attack overnight that killed at least one person.

The defence ministry said it had intercepted 114 drones over Crimea and the Black Sea and the Krasnodar region in southern Russia.

In Krasnodar, an employee of a heating station was killed when a drone struck the facility, Regional Governor Venyamin Kondratyev said on Telegram.

Several administrative buildings at an oil refinery were also damaged in Severski district, he said.

07:56 AM BST

Russian teacher jailed for 20 years for sending money to Ukraine

A Russian military court has jailed a teacher for 20 years on high treason charges for sending money to Ukraine, with the defendant saying colleagues reported him to authorities.

Daniil Kliuka, 27, will spend five years in prison and 15 more in a strict-regime penal colony, the RIA Novosti news agency reported on Thursday.

Russian media group RBK said Kliuka allegedly made two bank transfers in cryptocurrency worth between 20,000 and 100,000 rubles (181 to 904) to a Ukrainian fund, Come back alive, which collects money for the countrys army.

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US concerned about Putin threat to deliver arms to North Korea

The US said it was concerned about Russian President Vladimir Putin's threat to supply North Korea with weapons, warning it would "destabilize" the Korean peninsula.

Depending on the type of weapons provided, such a move may violate UN Security Council resolutions which Russia itself supported, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said on Thursday.

The US would continue to work with its allies in the region, including South Korea and Japan, to "respond to the threat posed by North Korea," he said.

During a state visit to Pyongyang on Wednesday, Putin signed a partnership agreement with North Korean strongman Kim Jong Un, that includes a vow of mutual aid if either country is attacked.

Speaking in Vietnam on Thursday, Putin threatened to deliver high-precision weapons to North Korea as a response to Western arms deliveries to Ukraine.

The South Korean government expressed concern over the Russia-North Korea strategic partnership.

Seoul said the security commitments violated UN sanctions imposed on Pyongyang. South Korea also suggested it could reconsider its long-standing policy of not supplying weapons to Kiev.

Putin said South Korea would be making a "big mistake" if it supplies arms to Ukraine.

"If that happens, then we will make corresponding decisions that will not please the current leadership of South Korea," Putin said.

Putin called Seoul's concerns unfounded.

He said South Korea had nothing to fear as the pact would only apply if either Russia or North Korea was attacked by a third country.

"As far as I know, [South Korea] is not planning any aggression" against North Korea, he said. This means that "there is no need to fear our cooperation."

Putin also said that he would not deploy any North Korean soldiers in Ukraine.

North Korea, ruled by dictator Kim Jong Un, is subject to far-reaching UN sanctions and import bans due to its nuclear weapons programme, including the trade in weapons and the transfer of military technologies to the country.
US imposes sanctions on leadership of Russian company Kaspersky Lab

The US Treasury Department has issued sanctions against 12 key executives at the Russian software company Kaspersky Lab.

Source: US Treasury Department in a statement, as reported by European Pravda

Details: As explained in the US Treasury, sanctions against the leadership of Kaspersky Lab contribute to ensuring "the integrity of our cyber domain and to protect our citizens against malicious cyber threats".

The sanction decree includes members of the company's board of directors Andrei Tikhonov, Danil Borshchev, Andrei Efremov, and Igor Chekunov, vice president Andrei Dukhvalov, and executive vice presidents Mikhail Gerber and Kirill Astrakhan.

It also includes the names of Kaspersky Lab's department leaders: Andrei Suvorov, Denis Zenkin, Marina Alekseeva, Anton Ivanov; and Anna Kulashova, managing director for Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

At the same time, the US Treasury Department did not include Kaspersky Lab, its parent company, subsidiaries, or CEO on the sanctions list.

This ruling followed a Department of Commerce order that prohibited persons and businesses in the United States from using Kaspersky Lab products for cybersecurity purposes.

The Russian corporation was blacklisted because it collaborated with the Russian military and intelligence organisations to help the Russian government's cyber-intelligence objectives.

In 2017, the United States outlawed the use of Kaspersky Lab products in state-run organisations. Following that, Western intelligence services discovered proof that Russia was stealing data using Kaspersky Anti-Virus.

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BRATISLAVA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese-Slovak joint EV car battery plant will receive 214 million euros (about 229.1 million U.S. dollars) in investment aid from the Slovak government, Slovakia's Ministry of Economy said Thursday.

In November 2023, the Slovak government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Gotion InoBat Batteries (GIB) for the construction of a battery factory in Surany, located in Southern Slovakia.

GIB is a collaborative project between Slovakia's InoBat company and China's Gotion High Tech, aimed at developing a battery giga-factory in Slovakia.

According to a press release issued by the ministry, the planned investment in the construction of the plant amounts to 1.2 billion euros (1.28 billion U.S. dollars), making it the second-largest investment in Slovakia's history.

Of the total investment aid, 150 million euros (160.58 million U.S. dollars) will be provided as a subsidy, while an additional 64 million euros will be granted as income tax relief.

This investment represents an important milestone for Slovakia, said Slovakia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Denisa Sako.

"It will strengthen our position in the field of electromobility, create new job opportunities and support the professional growth of our employees," she added.

The battery plant is expected to create over 1,300 job opportunities after commencing production in 2027. 
US Senate wants to recognise Russia as sponsor of terrorism following Putin's pact with Kim Jong Un

Senators from the two leading parties in the US Congress, Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal, have introduced a bill to designate Russia a state sponsor of terrorism following Russian leader Vladimir Putins strategic partnership agreement with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.

Source: Voice of America, with reference to a joint press conference by Graham and Blumenthal

Details: Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said that in addition to Russias crimes in Ukraine and other countries around the world, Putins visit to North Korea is a new challenge, and now is the right time to pass the bill designating it as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Quote from Graham: "The fact that he [Putin] would be bold enough to do a defence agreement with North Korea [...], one of the most oppressive regimes on the planet, means that we have lost to terrorists. [...] I would urge the administration, given what Putin has done yesterday, let us go all in in designating his regime for what it is: a state sponsor of terrorism."

Details: In his turn, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal noted that the agreement signed between Putin and Kim Jong Un is deeply frightening and hostile to the United States, peace, freedom and justice around the world.

The senators said that the illegal invasion of sovereign Ukraine in 2022, which led to the brutal murder of thousands of innocent civilians, was among the actions that qualify Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.

They suggested that the evidence of Russias terrorist activities includes the poisoning of Ukrainian presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko in 2004, the poisoning of former Russian FSB officer Alexander Litvinenko in 2006, the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 350 in Donetsk Oblast in 2014, Russias involvement in the bombing of Aleppo in Syria in 2016, the poisoning of former Russian military officer and British double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the UK in 2018, and the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in 2024.

Graham and Blumenthal said that the bill could be put to a vote sooner rather than later. According to Blumenthal, there is currently bipartisan support for the bill in Congress.

He also said that the bill is being discussed with the US presidential administration. In a comment on the coordination of the bill with the White House, Graham added that he did not consider the recognition of Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism to be a provocative step on the part of the US.

Background:

In September 2022, US President Joe Biden made a decision against designating Russia as a state sponsor of terror.

In July 2022, the US Senate unanimously passed a resolution calling on US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism in light of its actions in Chechnya, Georgia, Syria and Ukraine.

The US Department of State is in charge of designating countries as state sponsors of terrorism, but has so far resisted the calls to label Russia as such coming from both Ukraine and the US Congress.

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US State Department avoids answer as to whether Washington opposes wording about Ukraine's "irreversible path" to NATO

The US State Department has said that it would not discuss any wording from the upcoming communique of the NATO summit in Washington against the background of reports spread in the press about disputes over how the clause on Ukraine's membership will be formulated.

Source: Matthew Miller, spokesperson of US State Department at a briefing on 20 June; European Pravda

Details: Miller was answering a question about whether the United States opposes the use of the word "irreversible" to characterise Ukraine's path to NATO.

Quote from Miller: "So Im not going to get into what the eventual words might be in a NATO communique for a summit that hasnt actually happened."

But, he added, "Ukraines future is in NATO."

Quote: "It will become a member of NATO. We have made that clear. And we will continue to work with our Allies in NATO on the exact bridge to membership and what that looks like and what Ukraine has to do," the spokesperson said.

He added that the United States will coordinate diplomatically with its allies on the wording of the summit communique in Washington.

Background:

Recently, CNN and The Telegraph reported that discussions were continuing among North Atlantic Alliance members about how decisive the wording should be for the decision of the NATO summit in Washington regarding Ukraine's future membership.

While the United States and Germany support the wording that "a bridge" to NATO membership should be created, the United Kingdom and some Central and Eastern European countries favour the wording that Ukraine should have an "irreversible path" to the Alliance.

Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, said she hoped that the Washington NATO summit decision would be worded to include a statement on the irreversibility of Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic course.

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US thanks Romania for its leader exiting the NATO leadership race to clear the way for Rutte

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Romanian Foreign Minister Luminita-Teodora Odobescu shake hands after signing a memorandum of understanding during a ceremony in the Treaty Room at the State Department, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Biden administration on Friday thanked Romania for its president withdrawing from the race to lead NATO, saying the move would help ensure the Western military alliance stays properly focused.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivered the message to his Romanian counterpart Luminita-Teodora Odobescu. Their meeting Friday at the State Department came just a day after Romanian President Klaus Iohannis dropped out of the running for NATO's top job, clearing the way for outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

Blinken said he was grateful for Iohannis leadership in the alliance, although he did not specifically mention the contest to be NATOs next secretary-general.

Romania has played a critical role in making sure that the alliance is focused everywhere it needs to be focused, including on our eastern flank, Blinken told Odobescu. Were grateful for that. I am grateful for President Iohannis and his leadership and making sure the alliance is appropriately focused.

Two U.S. officials said Washington was pleased by Iohannis' decision to withdraw, suggesting it was a sign that Romania takes its alliance responsibilities seriously. Those officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal Biden administration thinking.

Iohannis is nearing the end of his second five-year term as Romanias president and had announced his intention to run for NATO's top job in March. Romania, a NATO member since 2004, borders Ukraine and has played an increasingly prominent role in the alliance throughout Russias full-scale invasion, including hosting a NATO meeting of foreign ministers in November 2022.

Iohannis withdrawal means that Rutte is all but certain to replace Jens Stoltenberg at the top of the alliance when its leaders meet next month in Washington to celebrate NATOs 75th anniversary.

It removed the last real hurdle Rutte might have faced and should allow NATO to put on a show of unity and demonstrate solidarity with war-ravaged Ukraine when U.S. President Joe Biden and his counterparts meet in Washington on July 9-11 for the summit.

Ruttes appointment could be sealed by a meeting of NATO ambassadors in the coming days or by the leaders when they meet in Washington. He would officially start work on Oct. 1.

NATO secretaries-general are responsible for chairing meetings and guiding sometimes delicate consultations among the 32 member countries to ensure that an organization that operates on consensus can continue to function.

NATO makes all of its decisions by consensus, giving any of the member countries an effective veto, including on whether they should take part in any joint effort or operation.

Rutte has for months been the preferred candidate of the majority of NATO allies, including big members like the United States and Germany.
A student at the University of Southern California who fatally stabbed a man outside his fraternity house will not face charges following a police investigation

Kirby Lee/Getty University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

A student at the University of Southern California who fatally stabbed a man outside his fraternity house will not face charges following a police investigation.

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon said on Thursday, June 20, that Ivan Gallegos, 19, acted in self-defense when he stabbed Xavier Cerf, 28, four times after Cerf broke into a car outside of Gallegos fraternity house on Monday, June 17, according to a press release.

We believe that Mr. Gallegoss actions were driven by a genuine fear for his life and the lives of others, Gascon said. Our heart goes out to the deceaseds family, friends and everyone impacted by this tragic incident.

Around 8 p.m., Cerf was captured on surveillance video breaking into a car belonging to one of Gallegos roommates, the press release states. According to the Los Angeles Times, police said Cerf appeared to be homeless.

Gallegos and two others then went outside to investigate after hearing a car alarm go off and one of them called 911, according to the release. Prosecutors said Gallegos was armed with a knife while another witness carried a large wooden stick.

As the group confronted Cerf and asked him to leave, they claimed that Cerf announced that he had a gun while simultaneously reaching for his waist, according to the release. During the struggle, Gallegos stabbed Cerf four times. Cerf then walked away from the car as Gallegos and the others waited for police to arrive, prosecutors said.

The witness accounts and the independent evidence supports Mr. Gallegoss claim that he acted with the actual and reasonable belief that deadly force was necessary to protect himself and others from the imminent threat of being shot by Cerf, the release states. The use of deadly force under these circumstances was both proportionate and objectively reasonable and would support a claim of self-defense.

Online county jail records show Gallegos was booked on June 18 and held on $2 million bond before being released two days later.

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Prosecutors did not share in the release whether a gun was recovered from Cerf or at the scene.

Cerfs mother, Yema Jones, told the Los Angeles Times that while her son has dealt with mental health struggles he wasnt a violent person.

"Theyre making my son out to be a person that hes not, Jones said, per the outlet. He was very vibrant. He loved to dance. He wasnt a violent kid coming up."

Jones also launched a GoFundMe campaign to help offset Cerfs funeral expenses.



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TYLER, Texas (KETK)  Gov. Gregg Abbott appointed a UT Tyler student as the student representative for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

UT Tyler Cowan Center announces 2024-2025 season Imagine, Dream, Believe

Lucas Schwartz, courtesy of UT Tyler

According to a release from the university, Lucas Schwartz, a student at the UT Tyler School of Medicine, will serve a one-year term as the student representative for the board.

According to the university, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board oversees higher education institutions and policies to ensure that higher education goals are aligned with economic and talent needs.

Lucas Schwartz embodies the spirit of leadership and dedication that we strive to cultivate in our students, Dr. Brigham C. Willis, UT Tyler School of Medicine founding dean, said. His commitment to serving both the state and East Texas is commendable. We are confident that he will represent the interests of Texas students with great passion and integrity on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Schwartz will attend quarterly meetings with the board and participate in training sessions, according to the university.

UT Tylers Concrete Canoe team heading back to nationals for second straight year

I am deeply honored to have been chosen to serve as the student representative on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Schwartz said. This role provides a unique opportunity to advocate for students across Texas and address critical issues such as mental health resources, economic alignment of degree programs, and the student debt crisis. I look forward to working with the board and making a meaningful impact on higher education in our state.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
ANKARA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Five people were killed, and 44 others injured in a forest fire in southeastern Turkiye, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said Friday.

A stubble fire broke out on Thursday night in the cultivated areas between the Cinar district of the Diyarbakir province and the Mazidagi district of the Mardin province, Yerlikaya said on social media X.

The fire was fueled by wind and quickly spread over a wide area, but it has been taken under control following firefighters' interventions, he said.

Local authorities have issued warnings about the high risk of forest fires due to the forecasted extreme heat and dry weather conditions during the week.

Turkiye is often subjected to forest fires in summer, especially in its western and southern regions. 
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) has named their next leader for the Aerospace Center.

Shery Welsh is to start her new position as executive director on Monday, July 15, replacing, Acting Head Dr. Kenneth Meissner, dean of the College of Engineering, according to a news release sent by UTEP.

Dr. Welsh is a national aerospace leader who will take UTEP to the next level, said President Heather Wilson. Her decades of experience in engineering leadership will help the Aerospace Center reach its full potential in serving the aerospace sector and driving economic development in our region.

Welsh was previously the Director of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research in Arlington, Virginia and worked on various aerospace programs for the Department of Defense, according to UTEP.

Welsh has a bachelors and masters degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Wright State University. She also has a Ph.D. in Materials Sciences from the University of Alabama.

I am very excited to join the faculty and staff at UTEP, Welsh said. Together we will realize the Centers full potential to advance aerospace research and engineering and build the aerospace industry into a significant driver of El Pasos economy.

This news comes after the suspension of a $15 million grant from the National Science Foundation and removal of prior executive director, Dr. Ahsan Choudhuri.

UTEP suspends work on its regional innovation program

After the removal of Choudhuri, many El Paso leaders, such as Mayor Oscar Lesser and Congresswoman Veronica Escobar expressed their concerns regarding UTEP presidents actions impacting the Aerospace Center.

UTEP president faces backlash from elected officials over actions with Aerospace Center

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
MOYOCK, N.C. (WAVY)  A Virginia Beach man was arrested on Thursday in connection with a road rage incident in Moyock.

Micahel Latham (Courtesy: Currituck County Sheriffs Office)

According to officials, at 8:07 p.m. on June 20, deputies with the Currituck County Sheriffs Office responded to the 2000 block of Tulls Creek Road for reports of a road rage incident with shots fired.

Deputies arrived to the scene and found two vehicles that were in a collision. One of the witnesses at the scene informed deputies that one of the drivers had fled the scene.

After a search with the help of K-9 units, deputies were able to locate the suspect, 27-year-old Michael Latham.

Deputies said Latham was arrested for a felony warrant out of South Carolina, where he was turned over to the Detention Center on a $250,000 secured bond.

The incident remains under investigation.

Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
(Bloomberg) -- Venezuela, already under sanctions from the US, is expected to get added to a global watchdogs gray list for not making sufficient progress to stem illicit financial flows.

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The Paris-based Financial Action Task Force is poised to put the South American nation  home to the worlds largest proven oil reserves  on its list as early as June 28, the final day of its plenary in Singapore, according to people familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity as the plans are private.

No final decisions have been made. To avoid the designation, a significant majority of the FATFs members must agree that a country has made sufficient progress since its evaluation period began. Just a few votes to the contrary can lead to inclusion on the list of nations under increased monitoring, the people said.

FATFs recommendations are taken seriously because no nation wants to be flagged for deficiencies that might cast doubt on the integrity of its banking system. Those added to the list require closer monitoring and the designation can make foreign investors more wary of doing business there. A 2021 International Monetary Fund report finding that gray-listed countries experienced a large and statistically significant reduction in capital inflows.

The designation would add to hurdles for a nation that already faces heavy compliance requirements in the financial sector and elsewhere due to sanctions. The US and the EU are among governments that have sanctioned Venezuela or government officials for corruption, criminal activity or antidemocratic measures.

In early 2022, an assessment team visited Venezuela to prepare the countrys mutual evaluation report. It raised concerns about the money-laundering risks associated with the nations large informal economy, including illegal mining. Among the terrorist financing threats highlighted were those tied to the close economic alliance between Caracas and Tehran. (Iran is one of three jurisdictions currently on the FATFs highest-risk black list.)

Monaco Scrutiny

Currently there are roughly 20 countries spanning several continents on the gray list, including Nigeria, South Africa, Bulgaria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Philippines and Syria. Monaco is also expected to be added to the list in the FATFs plenary, Bloomberg reported earlier Friday, also citing people familiar with the matter.

A gray-list classification isnt as punitive as the black list, and it would suggest that Venezuelan officials are taking steps to address current shortcomings, the people said. The decision comes just weeks before a closely watched election pitting President Nicolas Maduro against opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, who leads the Chavista by at least 20 percentage points in voter opinion polls.

The FATF didnt respond to a request for comment. Venezuelas Central Bank and Information Ministry didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

The FATF counts roughly 40 members, though its imprint is much wider. The groups rulebook for tackling money laundering and terrorist financing applies globally. Founded more than three decades ago at the initiative of the G7, its members include the US and China as well as the European Commission and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Venezuela  which isnt an FATF member  was evaluated by its own regional body based on the groups recommendations. That evaluation, carried out by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force, and progress made by Venezuela to address its deficiencies will form the basis for discussions during the FATFs plenary.

--With assistance from Fabiola Zerpa.

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A U.S. veteran living on White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico was arrested on suspicion of making threats on social media, including declaring war on the U.S. and targeting federal employees and President Joe Biden supporters, court documents show.

Joseph Rose, 27, was arrested June 20 in connection with making threats against current and former federal employees and their family members, a complaint affidavit filed in New Mexico federal court states.

Joseph Rose

Federal court records do not list an attorney for Rose.

FBI agents received information from the U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Division about a man named "Joey Rose" on Facebook, making threats toward federal employees on social media, the affidavit states.

Social media posts declare war on U.S., threatens Biden supporters

Rose allegedly threatened to declare war on the U.S. and attack federal employees and Biden supporters.

"If Biden grants Amnesty for these illegal immigrants im officially declaring war on the United States and I will attack federal employees on sight. Yea federal government this is a direct threat," Rose allegedly wrote in the June 18 Facebook post.

The post was in reference to Biden's recent announcement of a new program aimed at helping migrant families stay together by allowing noncitizen spouses and children to apply for lawful permanent residency without leaving the country, the affidavit states.

One of several posts allegedly made by Joseph Rose, 27, threatening federal employees and supporters of U.S. President Joe Biden. Rose was arrested Thursday, June 20, 2024 by FBI agents at White Sands Missile Range.

FBI agents identified Rose as a U.S. Marine Corps veteran living on White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

In the affidavit, an FBI agent wrote, "I noted multiple instances on Joseph Rose's Facebook account that show Joseph Rose is pervasive in his threats and has a disdain for following laws."

Agents saw photos on Rose's Facebook page of him open carrying a pistol, the affidavit states. The U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Division had no firearms registered to Rose, a requirement for living on White Sands Missile Range.

More: Federal sentencing postponed for El Paso man charged in deadly Capitol riot

Another post allegedly made by Rose focused on gun control.

A May 18 post reads: "#Donotcomply If you comply with this you are an accessory to violating civil rights of American citizens which is a punishable crime. Until the 2nd Amendment of the United States is formally amended through a convention of states every gun regulation is illegal and unconstitutional."

This post included a news article about a new gun law implemented in May.

One of several posts allegedly made by Joseph Rose, 27, threatening federal employees and supporters of U.S. President Joe Biden. Rose was arrested Thursday, June 20, 2024 by FBI agents at White Sands Missile Range.

A May 11 post allegedly made by Rose threatened Biden supporters.

"If you vote for Joe Biden I'll shoot you on sight for supporting pedophiles," the post states.

Army cancels trainings at White Sands due to threats

The U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Division told FBI agents it wanted Rose removed from his home on White Sands Missile Range.

They also told agents they were forced to cancel two training activities scheduled for June 20 after learning of the threats. The trainings were canceled "due to fear of Joseph Rose having access to harm federal employees who would be on base for the trainings," the affidavit states.

More: President Biden declares major disaster in NM, approves federal aid: recap

Rose remains jailed at the Dona Ana County Jail without bond, jail records show.

No safety concerns at White Sands Missile Range, surrounding area

White Sands Missile Range officials did not confirm Rose's arrest. However, they sent a news release informing the public of an arrest made on the installation June 20 because of threats made on social media.

"Last night, federal law enforcement agents detained a civilian who resides at White Sands Missile Range," officials said in the Friday, June 21, news release. "He was detained because of comments he allegedly posted on social media. At this time, there are no safety concerns for the White Sands Missile Range installation or the surrounding communities."

No further information was released.

Aaron Martinez may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com or on Twitter @AMartinezEPT.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: White Sands man arrested for making threats against Biden supporters
Video appears to capture the first use of Russia's monstrous 6,600-pound glide bomb in Ukraine and the immense destruction it causes

Video appears to capture the first use of Russia's monstrous 6,600-pound glide bomb in Ukraine and the immense destruction it causes

Russia appears to have used its 6,600-pound glide bomb in Ukraine for the first time.

Battlefield footage captures the moment the FAB-3000 strikes in the Kharkiv region.

War analysts say this highly destructive capability could be a huge problem for Ukrainian forces.

New video footage appears to capture the first combat employment of Russia's 6,600-pound glide bomb in Ukraine, a highly destructive capability that analysts say could be a tremendous problem for Kyiv.

Russian sources published footage to the Telegram messaging app purportedly showing a FAB-3000 M-54 bomb strike Ukrainian positions in the northeastern Kharkiv region on Thursday.

The munition was outfitted with a unified planning and correction module that turns it into a glide bomb, meaning it could have been air-launched from far away.

Upon impact, the bomb causes a massive fireball. With a large blast radius, the explosion rips through just about everything in its path  though it's mostly rubble from previous fighting.

One Russian milblogger, Fighterbomber, noted that the strike actually missed its target by a few meters, but the devastating blast radius makes up for any inaccuracies. Fragments from the explosion can travel more than 4,000 feet out, the channel suggested.

Reportedly the first video of a Russian FAB-3000 UMPK glide bomb strike. https://t.co/C1NY8OXWMG https://t.co/VilUVEYlmJ pic.twitter.com/ob32zsPLL9  Rob Lee (@RALee85) June 20, 2024

In March, Russia's defense ministry announced increased production of the FAB-3000  and several other munitions, like the 1,100-pound FAB-500 and 3,300-pound FAB-1500. All three of these can be modified and turned into glide bombs, but it was unclear whether the heaviest one would be an issue for aircraft to carry.

Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War think tank said the use of the FAB-3000 bomb awards Russia a new weapon that carries a "high potential for destruction" if it can be launched with impunity.

"The fact that Russian forces have figured out how to launch FAB-3000s is a significant development and will increase the destructive potential of Russia's ongoing glide bomb attacks against Ukrainian forces and infrastructure," the analysts wrote in a Thursday assessment.

"Russian forces have already increased guided and unguided glide bomb use against Ukraine, particularly in Kharkiv Oblast, to devastating effect," they said.

In this photo taken from an undated video released by the Russian Defense Ministry shows a glide-guided bomb being released by a Russian air force jet at an undisclosed location. Russian Defense Ministry Press Service photo via AP

"Should Russian forces be able to launch massive barrages of FAB-3000s (or even heavier guided glide bombs), they will be able to cause even more widespread damage to Ukrainian frontline positions and critical infrastructure," the analysts added.

Russia's glide-bomb strikes have caused headaches for Ukraine throughout the war, but these munitions have been especially problematic over the past few months. Unlike conventional gravity bombs, glide bombs have flight control surfaces and are standoff weapons. Attacking aircraft can release them at a distance  in many cases, well beyond the reach of Ukraine's air-defense systems.

Because these munitions have short flight times, small radar signatures, and non-ballistic trajectories, they are extremely difficult to intercept. The only way to really defeat them is by either intercepting the aircraft mid-flight or destroying it at its base.

With the Kharkiv region bearing the brunt of Moscow's glide-bomb strikes in recent months, Ukrainian officials called for Western countries to relax restrictions on Kyiv using their weapons to strike inside Russian territory so that the country could better tackle this deadly and destructive threat. Some of those restrictions have since been lifted.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A cup of pencils sit on top of a classroom desk in Virginia (Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury)

The Virginia Board of Education took another step on Friday to clarify how schools will be rated and student performance measured to better determine how to direct state resources.

The board, on the superintendents recommendation, approved four performance descriptors: Distinguished, On Track, Off Track and Needs Intensive Support.

Schools considered distinguished are those that exceed the states expectations for growth, achievement, and readiness, while needs intensive support schools are those that significantly do not meet any of the states expectations.

The on-track and off track descriptors mean schools are either meeting or not meeting expectations. However, questions surfaced on where the terms came from, the benchmarks, and the descriptions behind the labels.

Under the proposed plan, Virginia will begin collecting data for the new performance framework starting in August. Results will be released during the 2025-26 school year.

Board President Grace Creasey, a Gov. Glenn Youngkin appointee, said the department will do more work to flush out the descriptions as the revision of the states accreditation system moves forward.

I would like to remind us that the purpose here is transparency and understanding on behalf of not just people in schools, not just those of us sitting here in this room, not people who do education every day, said Creasey on Friday. This is for people to understand who are parents and families; and so while were deciding what the main categories are, these descriptors have yet to be fully baked at this point.

Earlier in the process of revising the accreditation system, the board considered two different measures to track academic performance: an achievement index and an overall school rating, which raised concerns about the potential impact on low-performing schools and efforts to recruit teachers and influencing parents to seek other school choices for their children.

Since April, teachers, parents, students, and education leaders have told the board they support using category descriptions instead of an A-F rating scale.

The category descriptors are part of a larger plan by Youngkins administration to overhaul the existing accountability system, which focuses on accreditation and measures schools based on academic achievement, performance gaps, student attendance and graduation and dropout rates, and factors like building safety, student-teacher ratios and licensure.

Schools are then labeled accredited, accredited with conditions or not accredited.

Members of the administration and the board have criticized the current system for being vague and failing to address declines in student performance in subjects such as math and reading.

The administrations process includes splitting up the states accreditation system into two parts: an accreditation system, to assess whether schools meet all requirements laid out in state laws and regulations; and an accountability system, to provide timely and transparent information on student and school performance.

Under the new system, schools will be rated based on students success, measured by their mastery of subjects and academic growth.

Stakeholders and the board are split on the weight factors totaling the overall score for each school level.

Earlier the board expressed that mastery is important to make sure students thoroughly understand the concepts before graduating to the next grade level. Others have urged the board to keep mastery and growth at an equal weight.

The overall score for elementary schools consists of three weight factors: 65% mastery, 25% growth, and 10% readiness.

In middle schools, the performance score is weighted 60% mastery, 20% growth and 20% readiness; high schools performance score is weighted 50% mastery, 35% readiness and 15% graduation.

VDOE staff said the performance descriptors would be in addition to the three federally required support and improvement identification categories: Comprehensive, Targeted and Additional Targeted. The designations are given to schools because a specific group of students may need assistance in catching up to the instruction.

Schools identified as comprehensive receive full federal support for the entire school, compared to targeted schools, which receive support for low-performing subgroups.

This is all about providing a holistic picture to the public thats more transparent, more clear about where schools are performing across all the indicators in the system, said Anne Hyslop, director of policy development for All4Ed.

Last year, the department contracted with Hyslop to work on changes to the accreditation system along with Chad Aldeman, the Edunomics Lab policy director at Georgetown University.

Board member Anne Holton, former state secretary of education and an appointee of Democratic Govs. Terry McAuliffee and Ralph Northam, was the lone vote against accepting the recommendation, saying she needed more information about the descriptors.

There are at least a dozen significant decisions, including one of the most important decisions of these where the lines are going to be drawn that we havent made yet, even though were implementing the system starting with the school year that starts in six weeks, Holton said.

She added that shes concerned that the proposed accreditation system has not been fully thought out and will have unintended consequences on teachers, families and our neediest students.

The post Virginias new school accountability system is taking shape appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
The Volusia Sheriffs Office Thursday conducted a drug bust resulting in the arrest of most of the 38 individuals accused of being involved in a major drug trafficking ring, the sheriffs office announced that afternoon.

Sheriffs deputies, with the assistance of about a dozen other agencies, led a series of raids Thursday to arrest the suspects after an eight-month multi-jurisdictional investigation.

It takes a team effort to bring down a drug trafficking organization like this, and thats exactly what we did in this investigation, said Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood in a new release. Today we put a bunch of drug dealers in jail and made a major dent in the fentanyl, heroin and meth supply in our community. But we know our work is never done, and we have to pick it right back up tomorrow."

The Volusia Sheriff's Office conducts Operation Wild-n-Out, which identified 38 individuals accused of being involved in a drug trafficking ring in Volusia County, Thursday, June 20, 2024.

While most of the accused were arrested Thursday, those remaining will be arrested in the hours and days to come, according to the sheriffs office.

Last year: Accused drug dealers arrested in Volusia County, one found hiding in attic of Deltona home

The drug ring is allegedly responsible for dealing fentanyl, heroin, meth and cocaine.

Operation seizes 'pounds' of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine

The drug trafficking ring distributed illegal narcotics to other dealers throughout the Volusia County communities of Daytona Beach, Port Orange, New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater, Oak Hill and Deltona, as well as Pomona Park in Putnam County," according to the new release.

Authorities said deputies seized more than a kilogram of fentanyl, more than 19 pounds of methamphetamine, 69 grams of cocaine, and various equipment used to manufacture and package drugs for sale.

Volusia Sheriff's Office deputies and partners conduct a search warrant during Operation Wild-n-Out, which dismantled a drug trafficking ring involving 38 individuals, Thursday, June 20, 2024.

Deputies also found 75 grams of fentanyl stored in a baby diaper at a Daytona Beach home.

Three of the accused leaders of the drug ring  Toure Wilder, 24; Khyree Isaac, 24; and Allen Messer, 58  are facing multiple charges involving conspiracy to traffic, trafficking and manufacturing drugs such as fentanyl and methamphetamine.

Others also arrested in the operation were charged with unlawful use of a two-way communications device, unlawful financial transactions, solicitation to deliver fentanyl, conspiracy to purchase fentanyl, cocaine among other charges, according to the sheriffs office.

State attorney general to prosecute the case

According to the sheriffs office, the Florida attorney general will prosecute the case.

Thankful to our law enforcement partners for shutting down this massive drug trafficking ring in Volusia County and getting this deadly poison off our streets, said Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody in the news release. Now our statewide prosecutors will ensure these 38 drug traffickers are held accountable for their crimes.

Approximately 15 agencies collaborated in the eight-month investigation leading to Thursdays bust, including the Volusia Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the East Volusia Narcotics Task Force, FBI, DEA, FDLE, Homeland Security Investigations, ATF, Central Florida HIDTA, the DeLand, Edgewater, Holly Hill, New Smyrna Beach, Ormond Beach, and Port Orange police departments, the VSOs Overdose Task Force, Deltona Narcotics Enforcement Team, West Volusia Narcotics Task Force, and SWAT teams from VSO and FDLE," according to the news release.

A member of the East Volusia Narcotics Task Force assists in the Volusia Sheriff's Office Wild-n-Out operation, Thursday, June 20, 2024.

Special Agent in charge of the FBI Jacksonville Field Office Kristin Rehler said the FBI and our partners will continue to use every legal means available to rid our communities of dangerous drug distributors and the wanton destruction their activities create.

In a video released by the sheriff's office about the operation, Chitwood said those who are peddling this poison and killing our residents will be behind bars and hopefully in jail for a long, long time.

The message has to be clear, Chitwood continued in the news release. If youre going to peddle that poison in this community, we are coming to get you. Be prepared for whats next.

Editor's note: The headlines have been corrected to reflect that 25 of the 38 warrants resulted in arrests.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Volusia County drug bust nets 25 arrests after 8-month investigation
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Vice President Kamala Harris will campaign in Las Vegas on Friday, June 28, a day after President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump square off in a CNN debate.

Harris will highlight the stakes of this election for Latino voters, according to Nevada campaign officials.

Latinos represent a growing force in Nevadas electorate, and the Biden-Harris campaign is working to preserve Democrats appeal in the Hispanic community. Biden trails Trump by 2.8 points in the latest Emerson College Polling/8NewsNow/The Hill poll, released June 20.

Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff will accompany Harris on the visit.

This is VP Harris fifth visit to Nevada. In January, her first visit to a battleground state in 2024 was to Nevada.

In her visits to Nevada, Vice President Harris has met with Culinary Union members and rallied voters ahead of the June 11 primary. She has also held a rally with Latino voters, visited Broadacres swap meet and held a reproductive rights organizing event.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
A northern spotted owl perches on a branch in Mount Rainier National Park. The owl is listed as endangered under Washington law and threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. (National Park Service/Emily Brouwer)

Washingtons public lands commissioner, Hilary Franz, is voicing skepticism about a federal proposal to kill thousands of barred owls in the Pacific Northwest to help the threatened northern spotted owl.

Franz wrote in a letter sent this week to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland that shes concerned about unintended consequences and that the plan could be unworkable given the scale of the overlapping habitat for barred owls and spotted owls.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to kill about 500,000 barred owls, living on millions of acres of land between California and Washington, over three decades.

Hunters would shoot the owls with shotguns in most cases, according to a draft environmental impact statement released in November.

The Commissioner doesnt oppose the plan but has concerns about the cost, the scope, and potential impacts to habitat, Franz spokesman Michael Kelly said in an email on Thursday.

He also said Franz isnt convinced the plan represents a solution to reducing threats to the spotted owl thats viable, affordable, or achievable.

Franz, who is also running for a U.S. House seat in western Washington, asked to meet with Department of Interior staff but had not received a response from Haaland as of Thursday.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in November sought public comment on its draft barred owl management plan, noting that the owls are prolific hunters that decades ago moved beyond their traditional range in the eastern U.S., into western forests.

This leaves them competing against northern spotted owls, the species known for its central role in the battles in the 1980s and 1990s over logging Northwest forests. The Fish and Wildlife Service plan also aims to prevent barred owl incursions into California spotted owl habitat.

Washington state designated the spotted owl as endangered in 1988 and the federal government listed the bird as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1990.

The post WA lands commissioner wary of federal plan to kill thousands of owls appeared first on Washington State Standard.
Wade Wilson, 30, of Fort Myers, enters the courtroom during his murder trial at Lee County Courthouse in Fort Myers on Thursday, June 20, 2024. On Monday, a jury reconvenes in the penalty portion of his trial, where he faces the death penalty after the murder conviction.

After 5 years at the Lee County Jail, convicted killer Wade Wilson's new address could be death row. This coming week's jury decision will determine his fate.

Wade Wilson, 30, of Fort Myers, has been in custody at the Lee County Jail in Fort Myers since his Oct. 8, 2019, arrest and now faces the penalty phase in court.

Expected to last up to two days, the jury will determine beginning Monday whether it recommends death.

Wade Wilson was convicted on June 12, of the first-degree killings of Kristine Melton, 35, and Diane Ruiz, 43. In 2019, he narrated the murders during a phone call made to his biological father who then turned him in to the authorities.

Who was Christine Melton?Cape Coral murder victim Kristine Melton was best friend, cat mom

Who was Diane Ruiz?Cape Coral murder victim Diane Ruiz was loving mom, hardworking

Who is Wade Wilson?Guilty: Wade Wilson convicted of all counts in 2019 murders of Kristine Melton, Diane Ruiz

If Wilson is sentenced to the death penalty, he will join eight other men from Lee and Collier counties. Although Wilson technically has two first-degree murder convictions, he would automatically be eligible for death row because of his first murder charge.

What is the death penalty process in Florida?

Men on death row are housed at Union Correctional Institution in Raiford, according to the Florida Department of Corrections. There are 276 people on death row in the state with 274 of them being male.

Specifically in Lee County, inmates go through central intake at the Lee County Jail upon arrest. From the downtown Jail at the courthouse, inmates can be transferred to the core facility on any day depending on their level of sentencing.

The core facility is where main operating services are provided.

If a prosecutor intends for the death penalty sentence, the prosecutor must give notice and file the notice within 45 days after arraignment.

The death penalty laws vary from state to state, however, Florida's death row provides two means of execution: lethal injection or electrocution. Either will be administered at the execution chamber at the Florida State Prison. Previously, executions were completed by counties instead of the state as a whole.

Inmates on death row are placed in Death Watch cells prior to execution as they wait for the governor to sign their death warrant. Inmates are served meals three times a day with the option to request a last meal. Showers are allowed every other day and all inmates remain in handcuffs unless in the exercise yard, shower, or individual cell.

Visitors must be pre-approved and can only visit during set hours.

What does life in prison look like in Florida?

If a jury doesn't recommend death, Wilson faces an automatic life sentence.

Stated by the Florida Statues Section 782.04, for an inmate to be sentenced to life in prison their crime must consist of the unlawful killing of a human.

If this is Wilson's sentence, he would spend the rest of his natural life in prison without the possibility of parole because of the severity of the crime.

How many jurors in Florida must make a death recommendation?

In Florida, a judge may impose the death sentence if eight of 12 jurors agree. Most states require the jury to give a unanimous jury verdict for the death penalty.

"If eligible and the jury has at least 8 votes for a death sentence, the recommendation must be death. If there are less than 8 votes for death, the recommendation must be for life without parole" according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

People opposed to the bill explained that Florida has the highest amount of death penalty cases in the nation.

Tiffany Knight is a reporter for The Naples Daily News and Fort Myers News-Press. You may reach her by email at tknight@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Possible death penalty in Wade Wilson trial
SHENYANG, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Xu Wenrong, a former deputy general manager of China National Petroleum Corporation, stood trial at the Intermediate People's Court of Shenyang in northeast China's Liaoning Province on Friday.

According to prosecutors, Xu took undue advantage of his various positions from 1998 to 2023 to assist individuals and organizations in matters concerning obtaining contracts, purchasing equipment, business operation and personal promotion. In return, he accepted money and valuables worth 53.29 million yuan (about 7.48 million U.S. dollars).

At the trial, the prosecutors presented evidence and the defendant and his lawyers examined them. The two sides gave their respective accounts, according to a court statement.

Xu pleaded guilty and expressed remorse in his final statement.

The verdict will be announced in due course. 
Wait, What? Air Quality in South Louisiana's Majority Black 'Cancer Alley' May Be 1,000 Times More Toxic Than We Thought

The Denka Performance Elastomer Plant sits at sunset in Reserve, La., Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. Less than a half mile away from the elementary school the plant, which is under scrutiny from federal officials, makes synthetic rubber, emitting chloroprene, listed as a carcinogen in California, and a likely one by the Environmental Protection Agency. - Photo: Gerald Herbert (AP)

The southeast of Louisiana, dubbed Cancer Alley, is historically known for the proximity of toxic factory plants to its majority Black community resulting in decades of serious health issues and cancer diagnoses. Well, a new study says the conditions are even worse than we thought.



We expected to see ethylene oxide in this area. But we didnt expect the levels that we saw, and they certainly were much, much higher than EPAs estimated levels, said senior author Peter DeCarlo, an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering.



New Shocking Levels of Air Pollutants

Photo: Johns Hopkins University

Findings from a February 2023 study conducted by Johns Hopkins Universitys environmental engineers reveal the levels of ethylene oxide in the area between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. That chemical is a man-made gas used commonly in the manufacturing of plastic or medical and food production equipment.



The last time The Root served you the deal on whats going on down there, it was reported that the carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals) being pumped out of the nearby factories were emitted at 14 times the recommended level for the surrounding (and majority Black) neighborhood and seven times the national average, per the Environmental Protection Agency.

This recent report suggests the toxin levels are 1,000 times worse than those prior measurements.

Read more from Johns Hopkins University:

Ethylene oxide is so toxic, red flag levels for long term exposure and human health start at anything over 11 parts per trillion. The team found levels as high as 40 parts per billion in spots closed to industrial facilities. They were also able to follow air flow and detected concerning amounts of the gas as much as 10 kilometers downwind from the plants. We saw concentrations hitting 40 parts per billion, which is more a thousand times higher than the accepted risk for lifetime exposure, DeCarlo said. When the team compared their measurements with those able to be detected with the EPAs current screening tools, their own measurements were significantly higher, translating to much greater risks for cancer for the nearby communities.

Previous Research Underreported Emissions

Oil and chemical refinery plants cover the landscape, next to African American communities along the Mississippi River, October, 1998, south of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. - Photo: Photo by Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis (Getty Images)

DeCarlo told The Root previous measurements were based on research models that didnt accurately reflect the health risk for those exposed to the emissions.



Other reports that have gone out tend to be modeled concentration and the problem with those, not that they didnt show cancer risk, is that the modeled concentrations rely on underreported emissions. So, the concentrations the models produce are not reality, he said. The models are under predicting the concentrations that we observe and sometimes by a factor of 20.

DeCarlo also clarified these findings were only based on a months worth of data. Theres no telling what the levels could look like if they studied the air for a whole year.

Denial of Wrongdoing from Chemical Company

The Denka, formerly DuPont, factory in Reserve, Louisiana, on August 12, 2021. - Silos, smokestacks and brown pools of water line the banks of the Mississippi River in Louisiana, where scores of refineries and petrochemical plants have metastasized over a few decades. - Photo: Emily Kask / AFP (Getty Images)

A spokesperson from Denka, the petrochemical company whos been under fire for running a chemical plant located next to the local Black neighborhood of St. John the Baptist Parish, previously told NBC News there was no evidence their company operations increased the risk health impacts of the residents. They insisted their operations complied with the air permits under state law.



However, a Tulane report found toxic air pollution in the area was linked to nearly 85 cancer cases in impoverished communities annually in the state. It certainly seems theres a correlation (if not, causation) between the dangerous levels of air pollutants and steady increase in terminal illness diagnoses.

A Severe Lack of Urgency and Action

President Joe Biden smiles after signing an executive order that would create the White House Office of Environmental Justice after speaking from the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Friday, April 21, 2023. - Photo: Susan Walsh (AP)

Though plenty of research has been conducted to support the claim, very little action has been taken to mend the issue.



A report from the human rights officials at the United Nations called for an end to what they believed was environmental racism. In response, legislators introduced a bill to punish protestors who stepped on the chemical plants property.

President Joe Biden signed an executive environmental justice order last year requiring federal agencies to meet with communities when toxic chemicals are being released from federal facilities. Though, its unclear how the order has addressed the issue occurring in Cancer Alley.

The latest action item was a lawsuit filed against Denka and another petrochemical company by the Department of Justice last year on behalf of the residents of St. John the Baptist Parish. Additionally, a source from the EPA enforcement division told NBC the EPA couldve sent an order to shut down the plant altogether, but obviously, that never happened.

Theres no denying whats going on in southeast Louisiana. Its a matter of whos going to take it seriously.

We hope this report centers a national conversation on what communities who live in the region have been saying for yearspetrochemical pollution poisons community, said Heather McTeer Toney, Executive Director of the Beyond Petrochemicals Campaign. Study after study confirms the staggering health impacts our communities are experiencing. We need the EPA to continue to take a hard look at this issue and implement rules like the recent rule on ethylene oxide and other pollutants.

For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Jeff Bezos New Washington Post Editor Is Out Before He Even Starts

The man who was supposed to become the new editor of The Washington Post has apparently decided that maybe its not such a great idea after all.

It is with regret that I share with you that Robert Winnett has withdrawn from the position of Editor at The Washington Post, the papers embattled CEO and publisher, Will Lewis, told staffers in an email obtained by The Daily Beast. Rob has my greatest respect and is an incredibly talented editor and journalist.

Its unclear if this is a fresh headache for Lewis or part of an operation to stem the tide of vitriol headed his way.

Lewis announcement came nearly an hour after the Telegraph told its staff that Winnett, whose appointment to the top Post editorial job led to a firestorm of controversy, had chosen to stick around at his old paper. Im pleased to report that Rob Winnett has decided to stay with us, Chris Evans, the editor of the Telegraph, told the newsroom in an email Friday.

WaPos Next Editor, an Undercover Reporter and Stolen Secrets

Without mentioning the Post by name, Evans added: As you all know, hes a talented chap and their loss is our gain.

Lewis said the Post would immediately launch a head-hunting mission to find a new executive editor for the core newsroom, including the use of a recruiting firm. He promised the process would be timely but thorough, one the paper appeared not to take when it announced Winnetts appointment earlier this month.

Until then, Lewis said, executive editor Matt Murray would continue to lead the Post until after the 2024 election.

The Post did not have an immediate comment. The Post Guild, the papers staff union, said in a statement it would figure out its next steps as a unit.

Were incredibly proud of the work our colleagues did to unearth even more consequential and troubling information on the journalistic practices of Robert Winnett, it said.

Will Lewis wears a pair of $1,100 calfskin-and-suede Zegna sneakers while speaking to staff at The Washington Post. Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post via Getty

Lewis, who joined the Post in January, mentored Winnett during their time together at The Sunday Times in London and chose him to take over the top editorial job at the Post once the November presidential election is over. But the hiring of Winnettwho earned the nickname rat boy for his tenacious pursuit of scoopshas come under intense scrutiny, particularly after the early June ouster of executive editor Sally Buzbee.

Winnetts 18-day tenure as incoming executive editor is equivalent to 1.63 Scaramuccis, the unit of measurement coined for Anthony Scaramuccis 11 days as President Donald Trumps communications director. Winnett was not actually employed, so this may be the first negative Scaramucci since the units inauguration.

The Post itself was the first U.S. outlet to report the news, in a story by its own media desk. Managing editor Krissah Thompson and deputy managing editor Monica Norton signed off on a push alert for the story, according to a source.

Winnetts sudden exit concluded a three-week saga of story after story that outlined Lewis and Winnetts reporting tactics abroad, scoops that made his appointment as executive editor untenable for Post staffers.

WaPos Next Editor, an Undercover Reporter and Stolen Secrets

After The Daily Beast reported on Winnetts use of undercover operatives and payments to sources for information, The New York Times reported that Lewis and Winnett worked on stories based on stolen documents. The Washington Post itself followed up on the bombshell report, tying Winnett to a self-described thief who tried to help the Telegraph reporter obtain an early copy of former Prime Minister Tony Blairs memoir.

Lewis never commented on any of the reports about his chosen leader, instead opting for late-Friday memos to the newsroom that outlined his thoughts and vague visions for his planned Third Newsroom. Post owner Jeff Bezos tried to assuage some concerns within the newsroom, offering mild support to his CEO in a note to senior staff, but Lewis silence did little to quell many Post staffers outrage, and some wondered whether Winnett would join the paper at all.

Its unclear how the exit will reshuffle Lewis Third Newsroom vision, who will run the paper following the 2024 election, or what it means for Lewis future at the Post. The most-liked comment on the Posts story, however, offered a suggestion.

Public pressure still works, the commenter wrote. Now do Lewis.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (WJHL)  The Washington County Commission approved a 30-cent property tax increase Thursday evening.

In an 112 vote, county commissioners approved the increase, raising the property tax rate by 21% to $1.71 per $100 of assessed value. The owner of a $200,000 house will see their annual tax bill increase by $151.

Before the vote, many residents spoke against the proposed increase.

Ive cut a lot in the household, but yet I cant cut enough to have these increases and be able to support my household, Washington County resident Catherine Hopper told News Channel 11. Hopper said she has already experienced a significant financial impact from the recent loss of her husband.

Tennessee offering free seeds to help boost Monarch butterfly population

District 13 Commissioner Kenneth Huffine said he understands the decision to raise the property tax rate but voted against it for all the struggling residents.

Its going to put a real hardship on them, Huffine said. And in my heart, I could not support putting the amount of stress on those individuals that we ultimately did. My hope moving forward is that there are some ways we can try to help those individuals in the future.

District 4 Commissioner Josh Edens also voted against the tax hike because of the many phone calls he said he has received from people in his district trying to make ends meet.

Were not talking about financial discomfort. Were talking about keeping the lights on, keeping the kids fed, Edens said.

My job when I got elected was to represent the people in my district and to vote for what I felt like was best. After those conversations, for not just the people in District 4, but the people in Washington County. And quality of life comes in a lot of different fashions. Tonight, I voted against that tax increase because I feel like it negatively affects the quality of life for several of our residents.

Edens did vote for a resolution to give county government employees raises. Mayor Joe Grandy previously said the main reason for the increase was to increase salaries across the county, with the biggest being in public safety.

Our departments in Washington County do a tremendous job and the job that they do warrants that $2 raise and those items that they do need in their budget, Edens said.

Huffine said being transparent with taxpayers about where the increase is going is important.

I think theres a big opportunity for us to communicate to everyone that pays taxes, what services are the county providing to them, Huffine said. Sadly, we take these volunteer fire departments for granted. They have gone years supporting themselves and theyre in a position they truly, truly need help. From that perspective, Im really glad that were providing that support to them. Without them, we would lose a lot of houses and unfortunately, probably even some people in the county.

The new budget, property tax rate, and raises for county employees will go into effect on July 1.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
Law enforcement in the nations capital are bracing for potential unrest and ramping up security this summer when a number of high-profile and politically fraught events could spark protests, including a NATO summit and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus visit to Washington.

The confluence of events stretches from late June when the Supreme Court is expected to issue several blockbuster opinions, including on former President Donald Trumps immunity claim, to July when DC will host the NATO summit as well as Netanyahu, to the political conventions that will draw law enforcement resources from DC to Milwaukee and Chicago.

The outward signs are already on display. Bike rack fencing has gone up around the Supreme Court in anticipation of decisions expected Friday and likely several days next week before the high courts summer recess. Capitol Police will also work with Supreme Court Police to cover security.

With the political conventions, visits from high profile leaders, and the many issues being debated in Congress, this will be a very busy summer, US Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger told CNN. Im confident that our Department is prepared for whats ahead.

Between the NATO summit from July 9 to 11 and Netanyahus visit two weeks after that, Washington could see its largest demonstrations since the US Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, according to one official with the Metropolitan Police Department in DC. The department is preparing for the potential of mass arrests.

Theres not one single demonstration or one single thing that is like causing more or less angst, the official said, adding that current intelligence indicates a high volume of protests this summer.

An elevated security posture could continue around key dates in November and January, including the presidential election, the congressional certification of election results and the inauguration.

Manger said his department draws up security plans for every major event on Capitol Hill.

Today, our officers are better trained, better equipped and better prepared for the many challenges we face, Manger said. With both conventions, the election and the upcoming inauguration, the USCP remains committed to our mission and our Nations security.

Capitol Police are planning to send more than 300 officers to help with security to both the Republican National Convention from July 15 to 18 and the Democratic National Convention from August 19 to 22  the largest-ever deployment of officers from the department to an event outside of DC.

At the same time, Capitol Police, the Secret Service, DC police and other agencies are also planning to deploy more officers, track intelligence on potential threats and coordinate cross-agency efforts in the nations capital over the coming weeks.

Underscoring the security concerns around the NATO summit, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has designated it as a National Special Security Event.

That designation, reserved for events like presidential inaugurations, political conventions and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, means the Secret Service will take the lead on operational security planning with additional resources from federal agencies like the FBI and FEMA.

DC police are already ramping up staffing for the first part of July ahead of the three-day NATO summit, the MPD official told CNN. The entire department will be working 12-hour shifts for the week around the event, and during the summit every DC police officer is expected to be on-duty.

The FBI is leading the counterterrorism effort, assessing and sharing intelligence they gather in the lead-up to and during the summit. And the Secret Service will augment the security teams of foreign diplomats and leaders during the summit, working with security details from various countries and providing their own agents as security on the ground.

Some of the security concerns around Netanyahus visit are based on past anti-Israel protests, which have been some of the most confrontational DC has seen in recent months, one source familiar with the planning for that event told CNN.

Pro-Palestinian protesters have trailed President Joe Biden at nearly every public event since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began in October.

Capitol Police are generating weekly intelligence updates ahead of Netanyahus planned trip to address a joint session of Congress on July 24, and the department is planning to ramp up officer deployments.

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Robert Winnett will not become editor of The Washington Post, after all, the newspapers embattled CEO and publisher Will Lewis told staffers Friday morning.

It is with regret that I share with you that Robert Winnett has withdrawn from the position of editor at The Washington Post. Rob has my greatest respect and is an incredibly talented editor and journalist, Lewis said in a newsroom leadership update posted to The Washington Posts comms blog.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Later this year, after the 2024 U.S. presidential election in November, Winnett  a veteran of the U.K.s Telegraph Media Group and a former colleague of Lewis in London  was to have become editor of The Washington Post. That move followed Sally Buzbee leaving as executive editor of the iconic newspaper in early June.

And as part of a planned newsroom restructuring, Matt Murray, former editor-in-chief of The Wall Street Journal, would replace Buzbee until Winnett would take on a newly created editor role. Also Friday, Daily Telegraph editor Chris Evans in an internal memo to his own newspaper staff obtained by The Hollywood Reporter announced: Im pleased to report that Rob Winnett has decided to stay with us. As you all know, hes a talented chap and their loss is our gain.

Winnetts dashed plans to cross the Atlantic were apparently upended by recent allegations of journalistic ethical lapses by himself and Lewis when they worked together in the U.K. That includes allegedly using hacked phone and company records as part of their reporting.

The British press has received widespread scrutiny and become the subject of court cases over its ethical practices, including the infamous News International phone-hacking scandal that led to the closure of British tabloid newspaper The News of the World in 2011.

Prince Harry, actor Hugh Grant and others have claimed executives at Rupert Murdochs News Corp. knew the breadth of the companys use of illegal news-gathering tactics and conspired to destroy evidence as the phone-hacking scandal exploded over a decade ago.

Best of The Hollywood Reporter
Robert Winnett, who was slated to join The Washington Post as its executive editor this fall, will no longer lead the publication after backlash from its staff and its reporting on his career in journalism.

Winnett, currently an editor at The Telegraph, will remain with the publication, its editor Chris Evans wrote in a memo to staff that was obtained by the Post on Friday.

Plans had been in place for Winnett to take over as editor of the Post after the 2024 election.

In a note to Post staff, CEO and publisher Will Lewis said Winnett had withdrawn from the position, saying he was announcing the news with regret.

Rob has my greatest respect and is an incredibly talented editor and journalist, Lewis added.

We will soon announce both the recruiting firm and process we will utilize to ensure a timely but thorough search for this important leadership role, Lewis wrote to staff, the Post reported.

Winnetts exit from consideration for the top position comes just days after Jeff Bezos, the billionaire who owns the newspaper, voiced his support for Lewis and the Posts editorial leadership.

I know youve already heard this from Will, but I wanted to also weigh in directly: the journalistic standards and ethics at The Post will not change, Bezos wrote to staffers. To be sure, it cant be business as usual at The Post. The world is evolving rapidly and we do need to change as a business.

In recent days, the Post has reported on ethics concerns surrounding Winnett, and several staffers have publicly criticized Lewis, who reportedly ousted former editor Sally Buzbee amid a major reorganization of the Post newsroom.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Story originally posted at MyNorthwest.com

A 27-year-old registered sex offender from Washington was captured in Oregon earlier this month while allegedly traveling to sexually assault a teen.

According to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Western District of Washington Thursday, James Harrison Newcomer allegedly removed his electronic monitoring device and met and assaulted three different teens between February and April 2024. The criminal complaint stated Newcomer met the teens through Snapchat.

The DOJ stated Newcomer was on state supervision following a 30-month prison sentence for two counts of rape of a child and was subsequently issued an ankle monitor.

Newcomer escapes custody, allegedly assaults 3 girls in 3 months

On Jan. 19, Newcomers ankle monitor lost its connection and when officers went to arrest him on Jan. 25, he was nowhere to be found.

Over the next three months, Newcomer connected with various teen girls and arranged to meet them in person, according to the DOJ. In the meetings, he allegedly gave the girls drugs and alcohol and sexually assaulted them. The girls were from Snoqualmie, Auburn and, most recently, Woodburn, Oregon. Their ages ranged from 14 to 16.

Court documents from the DOJ show Snapchat messages where Newcomer also allegedly tried to coerce one of the girls to engage in sexual activities with him on a cam site to make money.

Newcomer was arrested on June 7 in Kent and is currently in custody for his Department of Corrections (DOC) violations.

Very emotional situation: Milton officer run over, dragged through parking lot

Newcomer raped girl in 2020

Court documents stated in July 2020, Newcomer raped a 15-year-old girl when he was 24 years old. He was posing as a 17-year-old boy.

Newcomer drove from King County to Clallam County and picked up the girl near a bed and breakfast where she was visiting with her family. He drove around for five minutes, pulled over and sexually assaulted her. He then gave the girl alcohol and marijuana and drove her to his parents King County home where he lived. He snuck the girl into his home and sexually assaulted her around 10 times over several days before she was recovered by law enforcement.

More on the charges Newcomer faces

The DOJ stated that travel with the intent to engage in sexual acts with a minor is punishable by up to 30 years in prison. However, the charges in the complaint are only allegations, the agency stated.

The case is being investigated by the FBI, the Woodburn Police Department, the Marion County District Attorneys Office, the Auburn Police Department, the Snoqualmie Police Department and the Kent Police Department, with the assistance of the DOC.

Anyone with information regarding other potential victims is urged to contact the Seattle FBI Field Office at (206) 622-0460.

Newcomer was set to appear in U.S. District Court in Seattle Thursday afternoon, according to the DOJ.

Julia Dallas is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read her stories here. Follow Julia on X here and email her here.
CHICAGO (WGN)  A Chicago resident thwarted a burglary Thursday afternoon by hitting the alleged suspect with a frying pan.

Jason Williams, the homeowner, said he was first alerted to a burglary attempt at his home just after 3 p.m., when his alarm company called him to notify him of suspicious activity at his front door. Williams had been away from home at the time, but he was already on his way back.

Looking at his camera feed remotely, Williams said he saw a man on his front porch, trying to break in. But when he arrived at his home, he didnt suspect anyone was still inside  until he walked in and came face to face with the suspect, who was coming down his stairs.

He seemed as startled as I was when we ran into each other downstairs, and once he got hit with the frying pan, he was super stunned, said Williams.

I am heavily armed, Las Vegas bank robber showed tellers notes with iPad: police

Williams told Nexstars WGN he raced to grab a weapon to defend himself, and reached for a frying pan out of necessity. The pair then got into a tussle, he said, and he hit the suspect inside the foyer several times.

Unfortunately, he got outside, (and I) chased him around the back of the house, Williams said.

Williams said he was trying to stop the suspect, but the man managed to exit out the front gate, even as he was being hit with the pan. As seen in footage from Williams surveillance camera, officers with the Chicago Police Department arrived just as the chase was spilling into the street.

Right when I came out, they were there, so I was really happy to see police, said Williams.

A Chicago resident thwarted a burglary Thursday afternoon by hitting the alleged suspect with a cast-iron frying pan. (Jason Williams)

CPD said the 33-year-old suspect was taken into custody and brought to Illinois Masonic Hospital, where he was reportedly in good condition.

Williams said watching the video back felt like something out of a television series or movie, but he also recognizes the seriousness of the situation.

This is your house; I have kids, I have a wife, I have a dog, so youre worried about your family, but you really feel violated, and I was angry, so the frying pan  took it out on the burglar, said Williams, who was uninjured.

Williams said his dog was also home at the time of the break-in and was not injured. He does not believe the dog heard the suspect enter the house, or the situation may have been handled before he got home.

Im glad he wasnt armed, Im glad the police were here, and Im glad he was caught quickly, said Williams. Im not advocating that people fight back, but sometimes youve gotta say enough is enough and stick it back to the criminal.

Watch: Burglary attempt at Chicago bakery does not go as planned

This isnt the first time Williams chased a burglary suspect away. During his 15 years in the city, he said hes had to do it once before.

My wife definitely was not happy and shes like, youve gotta stop doing this, said Williams.

Police did not take the pan as evidence. Williams said he still planned to use it to cook, though it has a dent that might need to be fixed.

Charges against the suspect are pending amid the investigation, CPD said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
MORRILTON, Ark.  The man wanted in connection to multiple killings and was arrested in Morrilton appeared in a Conway County Courthouse Friday morning.

After a three-day manhunt involving several Arkansas agencies, 50-year-old Stacy Lee Drake was taken into custody Thursday morning and now he has made his first appearance in front of Conway County Judge David McCormick.

It was a big sigh of relief; Morrilton community grateful Stacy Lee Drake manhunt ends with capture

Stacy Lee Drake as hes entering Conway County Courthouse in Morrilton, AR. @KARK4News @FOX16News pic.twitter.com/UbimSmdFjR  Dorothea Wilson (@DorotheaWTV) June 21, 2024

KARK 4 News and FOX 16 News reporter Neale Zeringue shared that Drake signed to waive his right to an extradition hearing in front of Judge McCormick meaning Oklahoma authorities do not have to provide evidence of his crimes prior to picking him up from the Conway County Sheriffs Office.

Officials with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation that Stacy Drake is being extradited back to Sequoyah County.

Stacy Drake signed to wave his right to an extradition hearing before a judge meaning #Oklahoma does not have to present any evidence on 3 murders and they can collect him when they arrive to the Conway County Sheriffs Office.

In the courtroom, it was said there are no pending pic.twitter.com/WOHnZWibKN  Neale Zeringue (@NealeZeringue) June 21, 2024

Police said Drake is the prime suspect in a carjacking and homicide in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, on May 14. Officials in Oklahoma say a similar crime happened in in the small town of El Reno on June 14. In both cases the victims were shot, with investigators saying Drake stole vehicles and fled the scene.

Authorities said there are currently no pending charges to Drake within the state of Arkansas at this time.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
A visitor looks at a drone at the low-altitude economy exhibition area at the World Intelligence Expo 2024 in north China's Tianjin, June 21, 2024. The World Intelligence Expo 2024, with the theme of "Intelligence: Extensive Development Space, Sustainable Growth Driver," opened on Thursday in north China's Tianjin, and exhibition of low-altitude economy has won much attention.

The growing low-altitude economy has led to the development and application of various types of innovative aerial vehicles for logistics, commuting, tourism and even sports. It covers a chain of industries, including aircraft research and development, infrastructure construction and operation, and services for flight activities. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

Visitors look at drones at the low-altitude economy exhibition area at the World Intelligence Expo 2024 in north China's Tianjin, June 21, 2024. The World Intelligence Expo 2024, with the theme of "Intelligence: Extensive Development Space, Sustainable Growth Driver," opened on Thursday in north China's Tianjin, and exhibition of low-altitude economy has won much attention.

The growing low-altitude economy has led to the development and application of various types of innovative aerial vehicles for logistics, commuting, tourism and even sports. It covers a chain of industries, including aircraft research and development, infrastructure construction and operation, and services for flight activities. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue)

Visitors look at an aircraft at the low-altitude economy exhibition area at the World Intelligence Expo 2024 in north China's Tianjin, June 20, 2024. The World Intelligence Expo 2024, with the theme of "Intelligence: Extensive Development Space, Sustainable Growth Driver," opened on Thursday in north China's Tianjin, and exhibition of low-altitude economy has won much attention.

The growing low-altitude economy has led to the development and application of various types of innovative aerial vehicles for logistics, commuting, tourism and even sports. It covers a chain of industries, including aircraft research and development, infrastructure construction and operation, and services for flight activities. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue)

A visitor looks at an aircraft at the low-altitude economy exhibition area at the World Intelligence Expo 2024 in north China's Tianjin, June 20, 2024. The World Intelligence Expo 2024, with the theme of "Intelligence: Extensive Development Space, Sustainable Growth Driver," opened on Thursday in north China's Tianjin, and exhibition of low-altitude economy has won much attention.

The growing low-altitude economy has led to the development and application of various types of innovative aerial vehicles for logistics, commuting, tourism and even sports. It covers a chain of industries, including aircraft research and development, infrastructure construction and operation, and services for flight activities. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

A low-altitude aircraft is seen at National Convention and Exhibition Center in north China's Tianjin, June 19, 2024. The World Intelligence Expo 2024, with the theme of "Intelligence: Extensive Development Space, Sustainable Growth Driver," opened on Thursday in north China's Tianjin, and exhibition of low-altitude economy has won much attention.

The growing low-altitude economy has led to the development and application of various types of innovative aerial vehicles for logistics, commuting, tourism and even sports. It covers a chain of industries, including aircraft research and development, infrastructure construction and operation, and services for flight activities. (Xinhua/Li Ran)

Visitors look at a drone at the low-altitude economy exhibition area at the World Intelligence Expo 2024 in north China's Tianjin, June 21, 2024. The World Intelligence Expo 2024, with the theme of "Intelligence: Extensive Development Space, Sustainable Growth Driver," opened on Thursday in north China's Tianjin, and exhibition of low-altitude economy has won much attention.

The growing low-altitude economy has led to the development and application of various types of innovative aerial vehicles for logistics, commuting, tourism and even sports. It covers a chain of industries, including aircraft research and development, infrastructure construction and operation, and services for flight activities. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

Visitors learn about an emergency rescue drone at the low-altitude economy exhibition area at the World Intelligence Expo 2024 in north China's Tianjin, June 20, 2024. The World Intelligence Expo 2024, with the theme of "Intelligence: Extensive Development Space, Sustainable Growth Driver," opened on Thursday in north China's Tianjin, and exhibition of low-altitude economy has won much attention.

The growing low-altitude economy has led to the development and application of various types of innovative aerial vehicles for logistics, commuting, tourism and even sports. It covers a chain of industries, including aircraft research and development, infrastructure construction and operation, and services for flight activities. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue)

German exhibitors demonstrate simulated flying of aircraft at the low-altitude economy exhibition area at the World Intelligence Expo 2024 in north China's Tianjin, June 20, 2024. The World Intelligence Expo 2024, with the theme of "Intelligence: Extensive Development Space, Sustainable Growth Driver," opened on Thursday in north China's Tianjin, and exhibition of low-altitude economy has won much attention.

The growing low-altitude economy has led to the development and application of various types of innovative aerial vehicles for logistics, commuting, tourism and even sports. It covers a chain of industries, including aircraft research and development, infrastructure construction and operation, and services for flight activities. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue)

People look at an aircraft at the low-altitude economy exhibition area at the World Intelligence Expo 2024 in north China's Tianjin, June 20, 2024. The World Intelligence Expo 2024, with the theme of "Intelligence: Extensive Development Space, Sustainable Growth Driver," opened on Thursday in north China's Tianjin, and exhibition of low-altitude economy has won much attention.

The growing low-altitude economy has led to the development and application of various types of innovative aerial vehicles for logistics, commuting, tourism and even sports. It covers a chain of industries, including aircraft research and development, infrastructure construction and operation, and services for flight activities. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue)

Visitors look at an aircraft at the low-altitude economy exhibition area at the World Intelligence Expo 2024 in north China's Tianjin, June 20, 2024. The World Intelligence Expo 2024, with the theme of "Intelligence: Extensive Development Space, Sustainable Growth Driver," opened on Thursday in north China's Tianjin, and exhibition of low-altitude economy has won much attention.

The growing low-altitude economy has led to the development and application of various types of innovative aerial vehicles for logistics, commuting, tourism and even sports. It covers a chain of industries, including aircraft research and development, infrastructure construction and operation, and services for flight activities. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue)

A visitor looks at a delivery drone at the low-altitude economy exhibition area at the World Intelligence Expo 2024 in north China's Tianjin, June 21, 2024. The World Intelligence Expo 2024, with the theme of "Intelligence: Extensive Development Space, Sustainable Growth Driver," opened on Thursday in north China's Tianjin, and exhibition of low-altitude economy has won much attention.

The growing low-altitude economy has led to the development and application of various types of innovative aerial vehicles for logistics, commuting, tourism and even sports. It covers a chain of industries, including aircraft research and development, infrastructure construction and operation, and services for flight activities. (Xinhua/Li Ran)

This photo shows an agricultural drone at the low-altitude economy exhibition area at the World Intelligence Expo 2024 in north China's Tianjin, June 20, 2024. The World Intelligence Expo 2024, with the theme of "Intelligence: Extensive Development Space, Sustainable Growth Driver," opened on Thursday in north China's Tianjin, and exhibition of low-altitude economy has won much attention.

The growing low-altitude economy has led to the development and application of various types of innovative aerial vehicles for logistics, commuting, tourism and even sports. It covers a chain of industries, including aircraft research and development, infrastructure construction and operation, and services for flight activities. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue)

People take photos of a delivery drone at the low-altitude economy exhibition area at the World Intelligence Expo 2024 in north China's Tianjin, June 21, 2024. The World Intelligence Expo 2024, with the theme of "Intelligence: Extensive Development Space, Sustainable Growth Driver," opened on Thursday in north China's Tianjin, and exhibition of low-altitude economy has won much attention.

The growing low-altitude economy has led to the development and application of various types of innovative aerial vehicles for logistics, commuting, tourism and even sports. It covers a chain of industries, including aircraft research and development, infrastructure construction and operation, and services for flight activities. (Xinhua/Li Ran)

A visitor experiences simulated flying of aircraft at the low-altitude economy exhibition area at the World Intelligence Expo 2024 in north China's Tianjin, June 20, 2024. The World Intelligence Expo 2024, with the theme of "Intelligence: Extensive Development Space, Sustainable Growth Driver," opened on Thursday in north China's Tianjin, and exhibition of low-altitude economy has won much attention.

The growing low-altitude economy has led to the development and application of various types of innovative aerial vehicles for logistics, commuting, tourism and even sports. It covers a chain of industries, including aircraft research and development, infrastructure construction and operation, and services for flight activities. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

Visitors look at a helicopter at the low-altitude economy exhibition area at the World Intelligence Expo 2024 in north China's Tianjin, June 21, 2024. The World Intelligence Expo 2024, with the theme of "Intelligence: Extensive Development Space, Sustainable Growth Driver," opened on Thursday in north China's Tianjin, and exhibition of low-altitude economy has won much attention.

The growing low-altitude economy has led to the development and application of various types of innovative aerial vehicles for logistics, commuting, tourism and even sports. It covers a chain of industries, including aircraft research and development, infrastructure construction and operation, and services for flight activities. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

Visitors sit in an aircraft at the low-altitude economy exhibition area at the World Intelligence Expo 2024 in north China's Tianjin, June 20, 2024. The World Intelligence Expo 2024, with the theme of "Intelligence: Extensive Development Space, Sustainable Growth Driver," opened on Thursday in north China's Tianjin, and exhibition of low-altitude economy has won much attention.

The growing low-altitude economy has led to the development and application of various types of innovative aerial vehicles for logistics, commuting, tourism and even sports. It covers a chain of industries, including aircraft research and development, infrastructure construction and operation, and services for flight activities. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

A low-altitude aircraft is seen at National Convention and Exhibition Center in north China's Tianjin, June 19, 2024. The World Intelligence Expo 2024, with the theme of "Intelligence: Extensive Development Space, Sustainable Growth Driver," opened on Thursday in north China's Tianjin, and exhibition of low-altitude economy has won much attention.

The growing low-altitude economy has led to the development and application of various types of innovative aerial vehicles for logistics, commuting, tourism and even sports. It covers a chain of industries, including aircraft research and development, infrastructure construction and operation, and services for flight activities. (Xinhua/Li Ran)
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is looking into what caused a Southwest Airlines plane to drop within several hundred feet of an Oklahoma neighborhood earlier this week.

Flight data shows Southwest Airlines Flight 4069, a Boeing 737-800 en route to Oklahoma City from Las Vegas, flew as low as 400 feet above the City of Yukon just after 12 a.m. Wednesday morning while on a final approach to Will Rogers World Airport.

Boeing given 90 days by FAA to come up with a plan to improve safety and quality of manufacturing

Air traffic control audio obtained by Nexstars KFOR indicated the plane flew so low that it triggered a low altitude alert in the Will Rogers World Airport control tower.

The plane hit its lowest altitude while flying over Yukon High School at 12:06 a.m. Wednesday.

It was loud enough to wake up Spencer Basoco, who lives a few blocks from the school.

I was kind of like halfway in between sleep being awake, and I just hear this WHOOOSH, Basoco told KFOR. And I thought at first, like a storm was blowing in  because it just sounded like a wall of wind. And I looked out the window where the sound was coming from.  If you go a few blocks away is the high school. And I just see a plane.

A KFOR viewer shared video of the plane captured by his doorbell camera. It shows lights blinking on a jet flying low above the neighborhood a good distance from the viewers house, before becoming obscured behind the roofs of nearby homes.

I knew it wasnt normal, Basoco said.

In air traffic control (ATC) audio obtained by KFOR, it was indicated that the planes pilots intended to land on runway 13, a runway going diagonally across the airfield at Will Rogers World Airport.

Could Will Rogers World Airport get a new name?

As the plane flew hundreds of feet above Yukon High School, an air traffic controller can be heard telling the pilot his plane set off a low altitude alert in the airports control tower. At that point, the plane was still nine miles away from the runway.

Southwest 4069  low altitude alert, the air traffic controller said. You doing OK?

Yeah were going around 4069, the pilot responded.

At that moment, the plane was only 400-500 feet above the ground.

To me, thats way too low, KFOR helicopter pilot Mason Dunn said. Even if he is lined up on the wrong runway, hes extremely low out there.

After receiving the low altitude alert, flight records show the plane quickly gained altitude, climbing from around 450 feet above ground when it crossed over the northern edge of Yukon High Schools property to more than 1,000 feet above ground by the time it crossed the southern edge of the schools property.

Flight records indicate the plane then circled around and reapproached the airport from the north, eventually landing on runway 17R, a different runway which runs due north/south.

The next time the plane got below 500 feet was within one mile of runway 17R on its final landing approach.

Being this low out over a residential area is not normal, Dunn said. He doesnt get that low again until hes a mile from the airport.

Boeing confirms its in talks to buy Spirit AeroSystems, its key supplier on the troubled 737 Max

In a statement, a Southwest spokesperson confirmed to KFOR that the airline is cooperating with the FAA to determine what happened.

Southwest Flight 4069 landed safely at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City just after 12 a.m. on June 19. Southwest is following its robust Safety Management System and is in contact with the Federal Aviation Administration to understand and address any irregularities with the aircrafts approach to the airport. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of our Customers and Employees.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
SALLISAW, Okla. (KNWA/KFTA)  The suspect associated with a double homicide in Gans, Oklahoma, and two other homicides has arrived to the Sequoyah County Jail.

Stacy Lee Drake, 50, waived his right to an extradition hearing in Conway County Court on Friday morning meaning Oklahoma authorities did not have to provide evidence of his crimes prior to picking him up from the Conway County Sheriffs Office, according to Nexstars KARK.

WATCH: Morrilton manhunt suspect Stacy Lee Drake appears in Conway County Courthouse

Stacy Lee Drake, 50 (Courtesy: Sequoyah County Jail)

He was arrested Thursday morning by multiple Arkansas agencies in Morrilton after a multi-day search.

A Sequoyah County attorney filed first-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon charges on Thursday against Drake.

Click here for more information on Drakes arrest and extensive criminal history.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
An apparent road rage incident in Santa Ana was captured on video, showing a man appear to be viciously assaulted.

The video, which was shared to the Citizen app, shows one man punching and kicking another to the ground while several vehicles were stopped at a red light.

The man who appeared to be assaulted can be seen writhing in pain on the ground as cars pass by.

Santa Ana road rage

The incident took place at about noon on Thursday in the area of West 1st Street, near Euclid Street. There was no immediate word as to why the incident began or what happened to either person afterward.

Neither of the men have been identified.

KTLA has reached out to Santa Ana police for more information.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
(Photo by Hal Brown)

The states elections law watchdog plans to examine whether the radio show hosted by a Republican running for governor provides an indirect financial benefit to his campaign.

The push pits the state Election Law Enforcement Commission against the candidate, Bill Spadea, and New Jersey 101.5, the radio station where Spadea hosts a four-hour morning show each weekday.

Spadea announced Monday that he is seeking the GOP nod for governor in 2025, and almost immediately afterward, the radio stations owner announced that Spadea would continue as an on-air personality for an unspecified period of time.

The news that Spadea would simultaneously run for governor while hosting a high-profile talk show where he often speaks about politics and policy led to grumbling from some of his opponents. Its not clear whether the Election Law Enforcement Commissions decision to look into the matter resulted from a complaint about Spadeas campaign.

The commission said Thursday it will host a hearing June 28 on the matter.

Election law attorney Flavio Komuves said its rare for state election law officials to determine the value of a media company providing airtime to an employee who is seeking political office.

I think theres two questions: One is, is this an in-kind donation, and two, if it is, how should it be valued? And what other considerations apply given that this is a media company? said Komuves.

In-kind donations are non-cash gifts to campaigns, usually in the form of goods and services. The legal limit for in-kind contributions is $5,800.

A campaign official for Spadea could not be reached for comment, while NJ 101.5 owner Townsquare Media did not respond to a request for comment. In a statement Monday, the media company said Spadea will remain on the air until he becomes a legally qualified candidate and that the company has put guidelines in place to make sure his show violates no election laws.

We are sensitive to the legal parameters attendant keeping a broadcast personality on air while they are seeking public office, the statement says.

The post Watchdog to examine financial benefit of gubernatorial hopeful Bill Spadeas radio show appeared first on New Jersey Monitor.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  A woman was arrested on a possession charge to distribute fentanyl this week after she was arrested back in February by the Williamson County Sheriffs Office, the agency said in a news release Thursday.

During a stop for a traffic violation on Feb. 27, WCSO searched a Dodge Charger, driven by Lacy Jones, of Katy, and found a firearm, narcotics and a large sum of money, the release said.

WCSO said, over the course of the investigation, it learned Jones was a known Fentanyl distributor. As a result of the investigation, Jones was arrested on Tuesday in Williamson County on an additional federal indictment, the release said.

Jones was arrested by the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force on a charge of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute fentanyl, according to WCSO.

Attorney information wasnt available as of Thursday, June 20. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

WCSO said it worked with the Drug Enforcement Agency and United States Marshals Service (USMS) throughout 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 KXAN Austin.
Western New York receives over $8.8 million to help combat youth vaping epidemic

Western New York receives over $8.8 million to help combat youth vaping epidemic

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  Western New York received over $8.8 million to help combat the youth vaping epidemic, New York Attorney General Letitia James Office announced Friday. The funds come from a historic $462 million settlement with JUUL for its role in the dangerous rise of underage e-cigarette use.

The $8.8 million, which will go to WNY counties, BOCES and the Buffalo City School District, will be used for evidence-based measures to combat underage vaping and e-cigarette addiction. The funds must be dedicated to one of the following categories:

Public education campaigns to prevent e-cigarette use among young people.

Community, school, and university-based anti-vaping programs.

Vaping cessation services in communities, schools, and colleges.

Enforcement of vaping laws and regulations.

Public health research into e-cigarette use among young people and the effectiveness of anti-vaping programs.

Additionally, JUUL will make significant changes to its sales and marketing tactics as part of the settlement.

James sued JUUL in 2019 over the companys deceptive and misleading marketing that glamorized vaping and targeted young people and eventually settled with it in April 2023, securing a multistate agreement.

JUUL knowingly ignited a nationwide public health crisis, luring young people in with flashy colors and flavors, James said in a release. E-cigarettes are deeply addictive and have severe health impacts on our youth. My offices historic settlement holds JUUL accountable for the harm theyve caused our kids and the $8.8 million that Western New York leaders will receive will help fight the youth vaping epidemic.

The breakdown of funds for Western New York is:

Counties

Allegany County  $322,931.56

Cattaraugus County  $467,578.61

Chautauqua County  $804,688.01

Erie County  $3,311,394.60

Niagara County  $1,062,901.15

School Districts / BOCES

Buffalo City School District  $504,879.27

Cattaraugus-Allegany-Erie-Wyoming BOCES  $269,781.45

Erie 1 BOCES  $1,068,780.83

Erie 2-Cattaraugus-Chautauqua BOCES  $563,121.77

Orleans-Niagara BOCES  $507,353.46

Latest Local News

Adam Gorski is a Buffalo native who joined the News 4 team in 2022. You can find more of his work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
Every high school has them. The graduates who move on fully, keeping their teenage school years in the rearview mirror.

The members of the Westlake High School Class of 1972, though, were stunned to learn this month why they never heard from one classmate, why she couldn't join them at reunions.

Karen Ramseys remains were discovered buried in Patterson in April during excavation on a new home. Once they were identified as hers, state police said she disappeared in May 1980, at the age of 25, although no missing person report has surfaced. And last week they confirmed what classmates who first learned of the discovery had feared: Karen was the victim of a homicide.

Karen Ramsey of Southeast disappeared in May 1980. Her remains were found April 16, 2024, at a construction site in neighboring Patterson.

"I heard and basically spent the next 24 hours crying," Marie Nankervis said in a phone interview from her home in Las Vegas. "My heart is breaking because this shouldn't have happened to her. She was too good a person."

Karen Angelillo grew up in Thornwood

Karen Angelillo and Marie Lupinski grew up in Thornwood and became friends in grade school at Holy Rosary, the school at the Hawthorne church where the families were parishioners and their mothers friends. Karens parents switched her at one point to public school and the two girls reconnected when they started 9th grade at Westlake in September 1968.

Both girls were in the Theater Club, which took students to New York City to see Broadway shows. Karen signed Marie's yearbook in their junior year, writing next to the Theater Club picture that the following year she would list all the things they did together since Holy Rosary.

"Stay Sweet," she wrote in signing off. Marie checked her senior yearbook this week but found Karen hadn't gotten a chance to sign it.

Karen was active in the French Club starting in her freshman year. She was one of just a few sophomores in the spring of 1970 to join upperclassmen on a 17-day trip to France where she skied for the first time, according to an article in The Patent Trader when they returned.

Westlake classmates remember what Karen was like

Jim Hauser, a class member who helped organize the 50th reunion two years ago, wasnt a close friend but remembered Karen fondly.

She was sweet, polite, well-mannered, just a nice girl, he said. For that to happen to someone like that makes you sick.

Marie didn't know much about Karen's life, only that she was several years younger than her two older sisters. She and Karen would speak often, do regular teenage things and also had after-school jobs together at Shopwell in the Rose Hill Shopping Center.

But she didn't remember any substantive conversations. She recalls wondering whether something was amiss at home as Karen never spoke of her family.

"Karen was just different," Marie said. "She was sweet. She was lovable. But she never opened up about things."

She said she stayed in touch with Karen off and on for about a year after high school. She learned a few years later that Karen had gotten married but never knew anything about her husband or that she had become a mother.

What we know about Karen Ramsey after Westlake

Karen married John Ramsey, a Vietnam War vet from Maryland a few years after high school. They lived in a rented Peekskill apartment before buying a condo off Route 22 in Southeast in 1977, a month before their daughter Jennifer was born.

The condo was sold in September 1981. Mysteriously, despite the last known sighting of her more than a year earlier, a signature purporting to be Karen's was on the deed of sale. It was notarized in August 1981.

State police have said little about what they have gleaned in their two-month investigation so far. They have not said what they were told specifically about who saw Karen in May 1980 and the circumstances of that.

It was around that time that John Ramsey began divorce proceedings, citing spousal abandonment and seeking custody of their daughter in legal notices required when a spouse cannot be located.

Three weeks after the condo sale, John Ramsey married Elaine Calvano, who herself had gone through divorce proceedings the previous year.

John and Elaine Ramsey lived in East Fishkill for years. He died in 2022.

Elaine and Jennifer have not responded to phone messages. Neither have Karen's oldest sister and that woman's daughter. Karen's other sister died in 2016.

'Nobody deserves to die like that'

When she saw the picture of Karen that state police released this month Marie was struck by the scarf she wore, an accessory Karen never bothered with when they knew each other. But it wasn't a stranger she was looking at, Marie said.

"It was just like her, never a huge smile, never super happy, like she was doing what she had to to get through the day."

She wonders how nobody seems to have ever reported Karen missing. And was outraged to learn John Ramsey claimed Karen abandoned him and his daughter when he filed for divorce.

"Karen would never have abandoned a child," Marie said. "That was not in her heart at all."

She said she has found herself praying, even asking Karen for some hints from her life that may help solve the mystery of her death.

Nobody deserves to die like that, she said. They need to figure out who did this to her. I want to know that she can rest in peace.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Karen Angelillo Ramsey, homicide victim, remembered by classmates
Washington, D.C. (WHTM)  Along the Anacostia River in the District of Columbia is the Washington Navy Yard, home of the Navy History and Heritage Command.

According to Underwater Archeology Conservator Shanna Daniel, Here we actually do the conservation of all naval archeological artifacts that are from military craft, starting from the Revolutionary War all the way up until today.

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New artifacts come in constantly. They just started conservation work on a ships bell, recently salvaged from the U.S.S. Jacob Jones, a destroyer sunk by a U-boat during World War One.

We have over 30,000 artifacts within our collection, says Daniel. We also have a really robust loan program. Our ultimate goal is once we stabilize the artifact here, and make sure its thoroughly documented, it goes straight out for exhibit and gets to tell the story about the Navy.

One of their most unusual collection of relics came from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In 2015 the city turned over to the U.S. Navy the remains of the Royal Savage, the flagship of Benedict Arnold during a battle against the British on Lake Champlain in 1776.

Then NHHC had to move it.

We brought our entire team down from the underwater archeology branch, says Underwater Archeologist Dr. George Schwarz. We took all the timbers and we laid them aside, we photographed them, we wrapped them up in foam, and we put them into a truck. It was a process that took several hours, and then driving them back to the Navy Yard and unloading them into to our warehouse 

Whatever happened to Harrisburgs Warship?

The timbers of the Royal Savage now rest in a dozen wooden crates in a Washington Navy Yard storage area. When they first arrived, though, they were thoroughly studied.

Weve been documenting them through drawings and photographs. We actually did some 3-D laser scanning of each of the timbers, says George Schwarz

Unfortunately, when the Royal Savage was salvaged in the 1930s, the timbers were disassembled and stacked, leaving the NHHC archeologists in a position akin to putting together a 3-D puzzle without the picture on the box. The scans helped them avoid some heavy lifting.

We wanted to try to reassemble them digitally before we did it physically, because theyre large timbers, and they weigh a lot. And so what we did is we laid each timber out. We drew all the features that we could see that would lead to the reassembly of the original layout of the vessel.

Underwater 19th-century hospital, graveyard uncovered in Florida Keys

That took a very long time because we had to look at each timber, look at the curvature of the timber, look at the fastening patterns, and look at any kind of construction features that might indicate where they actually went along the length of the vessel. After we did all the scanning and the documenting and all the photographing and everything we had to do, we were able to look at these pictures and put the digital model together by looking at the big picture and by moving these timbers around without having to physically do it.

But the Royal Savage yielded more than timber. Along with the wood came over a thousand artifacts. Arianna Johnston of the Maryland Archeological Conservation Lab is helping with the restoration work. We found her peering through a microscope gently cleaning a piece of leather less than two square inches in size. Other bits of leather in clear plastic envelopes were waiting their turn.

Race is on to find Great Lakes shipwrecks before quagga mussels destroy them

I work often in bulk, so Ill work with one type of material at a time, Johnston explains. A lot of archeological material is often only made of one material at a time. So leather shoes, its just leather, or an iron pot, thats just iron. And so Im able to bulk treat a lot of these things at the same time.

I work on a lot of archeological collections. And this is this is certainly a special one. It has a really good breadth of showing life on the ship, and not just related to the military campaign, but also what it was like to live there.

Johnston showed us some of the Royal Savage artifacts; leather shoes, a broken cooking pot, a small medicine bottle, bayonets, hand grenades, a file, a chisel, and one of her favorite items, a spoon engraved with 1776 on the back of the handle.

Students find their calling for archeology in Dauphin County

The Royal Savage artifacts arent going to just sit on the shelves. The Naval History and Heritage Command wants to create an exhibit around them.

We are hoping to actually recreate and put the ship back together for exhibit in the new National Museum at the U.S. Navy, along with the smaller artifacts that we are hoping to display that are being currently worked on says Shanna Daniel. We are trying to recreate two different models. One is the what the ship looked when it first came up, because right now its in different pieces. And then we want to recreate what it looks like in 1776. And so we are working on getting those two models together.

Its Navy Day! Go see some ships!

And new artifacts may soon join the collection.

Later in the summer, we are planning to return to the original site of the recovery. Were hoping to relocate where the vessel was when it was recovered, Says Dr. Schwarz. The details are a little bit fuzzy on that. So were going to go back up there and do some remote sensing surveying and see if we can find any depressions or signs of where the original vessel was. And then if there are any artifacts down there, we can document them, and potentially recover those for eventual conservation, and exhibit in the museum.

To see part one, 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 ABC27.
Facing 16 felony charges in federal court, New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez launched a long-shot bid for reelection earlier this month as an independent, but he appears to have held no campaign events, raised almost no money through the first quarter of this year, reportedly has no paid staff and -- by siphoning votes from the Democratic Party's Senate nominee, Rep. Andy Kim, could hand a safe-blue seat to Republicans.

New Jersey Democrats ABC News spoke with are split over Menendez's motivation.

Some -- including Kim -- speculate his independent campaign could help him fundraise to cover mounting legal costs. Others said they believe he could be seeking leverage with the Democratic Party. And some state Democrats can't even agree on whether Menendez will go through with the race at all.

MORE: Bob Menendez files as independent Senate candidate in New Jersey

"It's unfathomable to think I'm running for reelection for any reason other than to continue to uphold my oath of office to help and protect New Jerseyans," Menendez said to ABC News in an emailed statement. "My candidacy is not, and never was, about leveraging my fellow Democrats."

Many of those fellow Democrats disagree.

PHOTO: Sen. Bob Menendez leaves Manhattan federal court after hearing witness testimony during his trial, June 10, 2024, in New York. (Stefan Jeremiah/AP)

Kim, who won the New Jersey Democratic Senate primary earlier this month, said in an interview with ABC News that he assumed Menendez was running as an independent because he needed money to pay legal fees -- incurred in his ongoing trial.

Menendez is charged with allegedly accepting cash, gold bars, luxury wristwatches and other perks from a New Jersey businessmen in exchange for official favors to benefit the businessmen and the governments of Egypt and Qatar.

He has pleaded not guilty and denied all wrongdoing.

MORE: Sen. Bob Menendez 'put his power up for sale,' prosecutor claims in bribery trial

"Depending on what happens with this trial, there could be a long appeals process or other things, so he may have to fundraise for a while," Kim said.

Julie Roginsky, a veteran New Jersey Democratic political strategist, said she agreed.

"Bob Menendez is staring down millions and millions of dollars in legal fees" and, not being independently wealthy, he has to raise funds to cover them, Roginsky said.

Campaign funds can be used to cover some legal expenses under Federal Election Commission rules, according to former FEC Chairman Michael Toner.

In New Jersey, independent candidates can remove their names from the ballot up until Aug.16. Even if Menendez were to withdraw before that deadline, lobbyists and supporters who might be unwilling or unable to contribute to Menendez's legal defense fund could donate until then to his campaign instead, Roginsky said.

Toner confirmed that a candidate cannot raise funds for a campaign once they fail to qualify for the ballot in an upcoming cycle. By qualifying for the ballot as an independent, Menendez can therefore continue to raise funds.

PHOTO: Senator Robert Menendez exits federal court in New York, May 20, 2024. (Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Two Democratic operatives close to New Jersey Democratic leadership have a different theory.

New Jersey is a reliably blue seat, and if Menendez pulls votes from Kim, it could imperil that standing -- and potentially the U.S. Senate majority in Washington.

Democrats currently hold a narrow 51-seat majority in the Senate but are facing long odds to keep it, with Cook Political Report rating one currently Democratic seat as solid for Republicans and a three others as toss-ups.

Roginsky said she thinks Menendez would not want to cost Democrats the Senate majority.

Knowing that, Menendez could be looking for leverage to extract concessions in exchange for dropping out of the race before late summer, the operatives said. Concessions Menendez might seek, the operatives speculated, could range from financial support to even a pardon from President Joe Biden -- as politically improbable as that might be -- especially in an election year.

MORE: Sen. Bob Menendez bribery case: What to know as trial starts

But for many of the state Democrats ABC News interviewed, the question is not why, but whether Menendez will go through with the reelection bid.

"He's not running again," said David Wildstein, the editor-in-chief of the New Jersey Globe and a longtime observer of New Jersey politics who says he has known Menendez for 35 years. "I just don't believe that he'll want to suffer the indignity of a defeat."

PHOTO: Rep. Andy Kim attends a news conference outside the U.S. Capitol, Jan. 26, 2023. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images)

Kim, for his part, said he isn't listening to the speculation surrounding Menendez.

"My working assumption right now is that he will be on the ballot," said Kim, who previously told ABC News "everyone knows Bob Menendez isn't running for the people of New Jersey, he's doing it for himself."

And, Kim said, he will have the support of national Democrats in the event that Menendez does go through with the reelection bid.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer drew criticism for declining to immediately endorse Kim after his primary victory -- and still has not done so. But Kim said that he spoke with Schumer after his victory last Tuesday and that they have been "talking more and more" since.

"I've certainly felt like we're getting the support that we need," Kim said. "And if there are things that we need going forward, I think that we'll certainly be able to have that kind of coordination."

What's up with Menendez's independent Senate bid? New Jersey Democrats share their thoughts originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Republican Rep. Pete Stauber has made mining central to his priorities.

The northeastern Minnesota congressman was one of several Republican members of Minnesota's House delegation who were able to include amendments in the massive $895 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that passed the House largely along party lines earlier this month.

Stauber's mining-focused amendment would require the Department of Defense to consult with federal agencies on critical mineral projects that affect national security.

And Stauber's Superior National Forest Restoration Act also passed the House last month. It would reinstate mineral leases that President Joe Biden's administration withdrew which total more than 225,000 acres in the Superior National Forest. It follows the Biden administration's public land order that has stopped copper and nickel mining in the Duluth Complex of the Superior National Forest.

Both of his priorities are at a standstill and are waiting to be carried over in the Senate.

Stauber says both policies would help make the country less dependent on countries like China that dominate the critical mineral supply chain to the United States and around the world. He says his Superior National Forest Restoration Act would also be a boon for the economy and Minnesota miners.

But environmental groups like the Save the Boundary Waters say Stauber's NDAA amendment is an unnecessary layer to a review process the Department of Interior already oversees. And they believe the Superior National Forest Restoration Act would be harmful to the Boundary Waters and conservation efforts in the region.

Stauber talked about his mining legislation on Thursday. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Q: Why was it important to add this amendment in the NDAA? Why involve DoD?

Stauber: This is about not relying on the communist country of China for our strategic critical minerals. Whichever agency has the responsibility to review these mine plans of operation, what the amendment says is, you must have a consultation with the Department of Defense to see if these minerals are critical for the strategic national security of our nation. And as you know, the critical minerals that we can mine in this country are important for our defense systems. Our aircraft, et cetera, that keep our nation safe.

Q: Do you think this amendment is going to be included in the Senate's version of the NDAA?

Stauber: I'm looking forward to this amendment to be kept in the final version, and then ultimately passing with the president's signature.

(Stauber's office says it has been working with the office of Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska to get his amendment in the base bill of the Senate's NDAA, which means it could be included in the final bill.)

Q: What's next for the Superior National Forest Restoration Act? Have you spoken with any senators who plan to carry a companion bill in the Senate?

Stauber: We look forward to it passing in a bipartisan fashion out of the Senate.

The Superior National Forest Restoration Act, it doesn't automatically allow mining. It allows the process to continue.

There's been some misinformation and some confusion. I want to be very, very clear. There will be no mining in the Boundary Waters or in the buffer zone surrounding the Boundary Waters. That was decided in 1978 when the wilderness was incorporated.

Q: Where would it take place then if it's not in the Boundary Waters or buffer areas?

Stauber: Outside those areas in the Superior National Forest. The Superior National Forest is a working industrial forest, where mining and timber harvesting are a desired condition.

Q: Do you think Sen. Amy Klobuchar will carry the Superior National Forest Restoration Act in the Senate? Can you speak to any conversations you both have had?

Stauber: I hope she does. The senator has repeatedly talked about her support for mining. And so this is an opportunity to bring a good bipartisan bill to the Senate floor.

(Sen. Tina Smith is opposed to Stauber's mining bill and said in a statement that she plans to "do everything I can to organize my Senate colleagues against this legislation and protect the Boundary Waters.")

Q: Do you think it's possible for your legislation to pass so long as Biden is president?

Stauber: Yes. I do believe I believe legislation is the art of the possible. You look at this opportunity to strategically look at our national security and the minerals that we need, doing it in an environmentally sound way with union labor.

Q: Can you speak directly to the concerns raised by environmental groups?

Stauber: Any mine plan of operation has to meet the current environmental standards and labor standards. We have [the National Environmental Policy Act] that we must follow, we have labor standards that we must follow. And when you've met those standards, you ought to be able to move forward.

Q: Did you speak with Trump about this bill when he came to Minnesota? Will he sign this into law if he is elected?

Stauber: [The] National Defense Authorization Act, as it sits on the House, if that was the final bill, I do believe he would sign it. And I also believe that he would sign my Superior National Forest Restoration Act, which passed in a bipartisan fashion.

Q: Do you think Trump will visit the Iron Range or Duluth on the campaign trail?

Stauber: I can't really answer that. But I know that he has said he is putting Minnesota in play in his campaign.
BEIJING, June 21 (Xinhua) -- China will continue to levy anti-dumping duties on styrene imported from the Republic of Korea (ROK), the Taiwan region and the United States for five years from June 23, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on Friday.

In June 2018, the ministry announced a decision to impose anti-dumping duties on the two countries and the Taiwan region for a period of five years. Duties on styrene imports were set at a range of 6.2 percent to 7.5 percent for the ROK, 3.8 percent to 4.2 percent for the Taiwan region, and 13.7 percent to 55.7 percent for the United States.

Styrene, also known as styrene monomer, is a chemical used widely in the plastics and rubber industries.

In June 2023, the ministry launched a review of anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of styrene from the ROK, the Taiwan region and the United States, in response to an application from the Chinese mainland styrene industry.

It was ruled that should the anti-dumping measures be terminated, the dumping of styrene from the two countries and the Taiwan region could continue or reoccur, which could damage the Chinese mainland styrene industry, according to the ministry. 
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  A former top state law enforcement official claims he was forced to retire after questioning unlawful directives from Gov. Ron DeSantis, including requests to delay the release of public records, photograph and transport migrants out of state and arrest neo-Nazi demonstrators in Orlando.

Shane Desguin, the former chief of staff for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, filed a whistleblower lawsuit in Leon County Circuit Court this week accusing the agency and DeSantis of wrongful termination and retaliation.

Desguin says that despite his stellar work performance, he was targeted because he reported gross misconduct and unlawful activities by his boss and other officials in the DeSantis administration.

The lawsuit says Desquin faced disparate treatment and retaliation from FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass and others.

Desguin said he was forced to step down from the FDLE last November after more than 30 years with the agency because of the concerns he raised about the agency delaying the release of public information requested by reporters. His deputy chief of staff Patricia Carpenter was fired when she sought whistleblower status for raising the same concerns.

Carpenter will be filing a similar lawsuit, said their lawyer, Marie Mattox, a well-known employee rights attorney in Tallahassee.

Both were the subject of an internal investigation by FDLE that produced a 129-page report that the lawsuit calls a thinly veiled attempt at character assassination.

Dana Kelly, an FDLE spokeswoman, said Thursday in an email that the investigation showed that Desguin and Carpenter created workplace chaos, endangered the safety of other employees, and acted dishonestly and unprofessionally. This included sexual harassment, workplace discrimination, and brandishing a firearm inside an office.

Mattox previously told Politico those allegations were untrue.

Kelly said FDLE has not received a copy of the lawsuit and does not comment on pending litigation.

DeSantis Press Secretary, Jeremy Redfern, referred to a post he wrote on X when asked about the lawsuit. The post referenced the FDLE internal investigation into Desguin and Carpenter, but didnt address the claims raised in the lawsuit.

Both Desguin and Carpenter provided statements for the Washington Post in its lawsuit against FDLE, which accused the agency of blocking the release of public records.

Desguin and Carpenter were recently cleared to sue the state after the Florida Commission on Human Relations concluded its investigations, Mattox said.

Desguin said he began raising concerns around 2021, when he was the special agent in charge of statewide intelligence for the FDLE, and Larry Keefe, the former public safety czar for DeSantis, asked him to get photographs and gather personal data on migrants being flown into Florida by the U.S. government. Desguin said that FDLE could not legally conduct name checks, capture photographs, or compile intelligence files without cause or reasonable suspicion.

Several times, Keefe told Desguin that he was getting tired of his constant emphasis on reasonable suspicion and criminal predicate, and failing to comply with his directives would have adverse consequences for Plaintiff, the lawsuit says.

When DeSantis called several meetings to discuss his intent to relocate the migrants to other states, Desguin raised concerns about the risk of being accused of false imprisonment and kidnapping, the suit says.

But Chief of Staff James Uthmeier told Glass and Desguin that it was imperative to complete at least one flight of the migrants from Florida to another state, the suit claims.

Uthmeir went as far as suggesting that his tenure as their superior might be in jeopardy if this directive was not fulfilled, the suit states.

In a separate incident last September, Desguin said he was told by DeSantis aides that the governor needed some arrests at a neo-Nazi demonstration in Orlando, but he responded that FDLE could not arrest demonstrators who were participating in a First Amendment-protected activity.

Despite raising those concerns, the governors staff insisted  DeSantis was running for President at the time, the lawsuit says  and FDLE agents made some arrests.

Also last fall, FDLE officials and governors staff argued over whether a new law prevented them from releasing specific details of the governors travel records. Janine Robinson, the head of the public records unit at FDLE, said she felt uncomfortable with the directive coming from the governors general counsel, which ultimately cost her a promotion and raise, the suit claims.

Shortly after that, Desguin and Carpenter were placed on administrative leave.

This action constituted retaliation against Plaintiff for his participation in whistleblowing activity, the lawsuit said, including his refusal to comply with unlawful directives from Defendant DeSantis and  raise concerns about the agencys trajectory and the hostile environment fostered by Glass.

Desguin was given the choice of retiring by Nov. 17 or being fired, the lawsuit says. When he left the FDLE, he received an affidavit of separation which said the reason for the separation was Retired. Not involving misconduct.

_____
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A White Sands Missile Range resident was detained Thursday, June 20, due to comments he posted on social media, according to the White Sands Missile Range Public Affairs Office.

The Public Affairs Office says Federal Law Enforcement agents detained the civilian Thursday night.

The Public Affairs Office did not provide any further details on what the alleged social media comments were about.

The Public Affairs Office says there are no safety concerns for the White Sands Missile Range installation or the surrounding communities at this time.

No further information has been released.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
The whole sky was on fire: Fort Worth friends heartbroken, homeless amid Ruidoso blaze

For nine years, two Fort Worth musicians lived as neighbors and old friends in Gods country amid a thick pine forest in the mountain resort town of Ruidoso, New Mexico.

Then the fires came.

On Monday, they lost their homes, their life possessions and their love for mountain life.

By late in the week, guitarist Joe Corpening was living in his car outside the only gas station in a nearby town. Fellow bluesman Dave Millsap, once the lead guitarist for Chuck Berry and Delbert McClinton, and his wife, Carol Boggs, were sleeping in a 1950s motel 80 miles away.

Somebody at Walmart asked, What do you need? and my eyes welled up, Millsap, 68, said by phone Thursday from his room in Alamogordo.

Flames leap above Joe Corpenings house in Ruidoso, New Mexico in a fire May 18, 2024. The house was eventually destroyed.

I realized  I dont have anything. I have my wife and my car and my two cats. Thats all. Everything else is just rubble.

Corpening lived side-by-side next to Millsap and Boggs in Alpine Cellars Village, north of Ruidoso in the path of the killer South Fork fire.

They were among an estimated 500 residents who lost homes both large and small in fires that wrapped around Ruidoso on three sides and burned 24,000 acres.

It looked like the whole sky was on fire, Corpening said by phone.

He answered the call in his car at a Capitan, New Mexico, gas station with a phone signal, internet, everything you need.

Corpening, 69, moved from Fort Worth to Ruidoso in 2012, leaving the traffic of South Hulen Street for mountain life in a city he used to visit at the height of its 1980s heyday as a horse racing and casino town.

Dave Millsaps truck remains almost untouched next to his destroyed home after the fires June 17, 2024, in Ruidoso, N.M.

MIllsap had grown up camping summers at Red River in northern New Mexico. When he and Boggs visited Corpening in 2015, she saw that the house next door was for sale.

Nothing is left but one pickup  oddly almost untouched  and a small figurine of St. Francis, the Roman Catholic patron saint of animals.

I used to hand-feed my foxes and my elk, my deer, 10-11 turkeys every day, Dave Millsap said. Im hoping he protected my little animals.

Homes and structures were destroyed by the South Fork Fire in Ruidoso, New Mexico. About 1,400 structures were damaged by the fire according to New Mexico officials. In this June 19, 2024 photo a deer can be seen on a property that was destroyed.

Both described similar experiences on Monday.

First, Millsap heard a fire scanner call about smoke. From his deck, he could see a little wisp over the ridge.

By noon, Corpening saw the smoke growing brighter. Carol came by on her way out and shouted, We gotta get out of here.

Millsap planned to stay. But Boggs and a firefighter friend begged him to leave.

As I was leaving, I looked up at the sky and it was just all fire  I could hear homes exploding  it was awful, he said.

They eventually found shelter in different towns and moved to stay ahead of the fire.

Corpening said hes insured and is just waiting to get back into the village.

Then hes moving home to Fort Worth.

I will not rebuild, he said.

The trees are gone. And Ruidoso is all AirBnBs anyway. Ive just kind of had my fill of it.

Surviving a forest fire is not like surviving a hurricane or tornado, he said.

The fire stays.

Its so mountainous up here, itll just burn for days. The crews will all leave and months will go by. Then here comes the fire again.

Millsap and Boggs also have some insurance. A relatives GoFundMe.com campaign has raised more than $20,000 for their stopgap expenses.

Dave Millsap performs in memory of friend and late guitarist Stephen Bruton in 2009 at McDavid Studio in Fort Worth.

Millsap wants to stay in Ruidoso, where he plays regularly in clubs and at festivals.

But he and Boggs wont live in the woods.

These incredible fans are so kind to me, he said. I just dont want to ever evacuate from fire again.

If they build another house, he said, its going to be out away somewhere, in a tiny house surrounded by gravel.

Nobody wants to burn up in a fire.

It was Gods country.

Before it turned into an inferno.

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West Belfast rappers Kneecap have been granted permission by Northern Irelands High Court to challenge a decision by the British government to block funding from a music promotion scheme.

The Irish language artists were awarded a 15,000 grant under the Music Export Growth Scheme (MEGS), which was subsequently withdrawn by UK Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch.

Badenoch had announced 1.6 million funding in February, to boost 67 artists from across the UK and support homegrown musical talent.

Kneecap stated that that despite their application being approved by the selection board, it was subsequently blocked by the British government. They claim that denying the grant discriminates against them on grounds of nationality and political opinion.

In February, they released a statement to X claiming they were being silenced by the UK government.

A spokesperson for Badenoch said at the time that the government did not want to fund people that oppose the United Kingdom itself.

Legal proceedings against the unlawful decision were started, with Darragh Mackin of Phoenix Law, representing Kneecap, saying that the decision represented an attack on identity, freedom of expression and the fundamentals of the Good Friday Agreement.

Weve been granted permission to challenge the Secretary of States decision, tha band posted on Instagram. That means we have cleared the first legal hurdle and the Judge has ruled that the case is arguable with a reasonable prospect of success. The Secretary of State must now file evidence justifying their position.

A date for the High Court has been set for 14 November.

Who are Kneecap?

Kneecap are two MCs, Moglai Bap and Mo Chara, along with DJ Provai.

They quickly became an underground hit, earning praise from fellow rappers within the Irish hip-hop scene.

Fond of merging Gaelic with English, balaclava-wearing satire with socially conscious lyrics, and plenty of drug and sex references, the band have been active since 2017.

They have been labelled controversial because of their outspoken lyrics, use of Troubles-related imagery, and provocative merchandise. Most of all, they take rap back to its roots as being a music genre to voice opposition and challenge the establishment.

The group previously claimed that their 2019 Farewell to the Union tour poster had pissed off the Tories, explaining: Once again the British government is trying to silence voices from west Belfast - once again it will fail!.

The band exploded onto the worldwide musical scene this year, especially with the release of their second album Fine Art.

Coinciding with the release of 'Fine Art', Kneecap placed stickers around the British Museum in London, claiming some of the exhibits there are "stolen from Ireland".

"Place would be empty only for the theft of everything they discovered..."

To cement their cultural dominance in 2024 is an upcoming biographical film about the band, which is due to hit theatres on 2 August.

It premiered to wide acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year.
Editors Note: A version of this story appears in CNNs Meanwhile in the Middle East newsletter, a three-times-a-week look inside the regions biggest stories. Sign up here.

In a fiery speech this week, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah singled out nearby Cyprus, threatening to target the small, divided Mediterranean island if it aids Israel in a potential war between the Lebanese militant group and Israel.

Cyprus will be part of this war too if it opens its airports and bases to Israeli forces, the leader of the Iran-backed militant group said in a televised speech Wednesday, a day after Israel warned that the prospect of all-out war in Lebanon was getting very close.

Responding to the comments, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides denied being involved in the war.

The statements are not pleasant, but they do not correspond in any way to what is being attempted, to present an image that Cyprus is involved in the war operations. In no way whatsoever, he said, adding that lines of communication are open with the Lebanese and Iranian governments.

The European Union on Thursday came to Cyprus defense, saying that since the island is a member state of the EU, this means the EU is Cyprus and Cyprus is the EU.

Any threat against one of our member states is a threat against the EU, Peter Stano, an EU spokesperson, told reporters.

Neighboring Greece also expressed its undivided solidarity with Cyprus, saying on X that the threat to use force is a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter.

In an apparent attempt to control the damage, Lebanons Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib called his Cypriot counterpart, Constantinos Kombos, expressing Lebanons continued reliance on the positive role played by Cyprus in supporting stability in the region, according to Lebanese state media.

While experts say war between Israel and Hezbollah remains unlikely, the very mention of Cyprus adds a new dimension to the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. It risks drawing an EU nation into a war that has already spread across the Middle East and puts the spotlight on Cypruss ties with Israel.

Heres what we know.

Why is Cyprus location important?

An island in the Eastern Mediterranean located on a geopolitical fault line between the Middle East and southern Europe, Cyprus is geographically much closer to the conflicts in the Middle East than it is to European power centers.

The island is twice the size of the US state of Delaware, and it is split into two parts: a Greek-speaking southern part known as the Republic of Cyprus, and a Turkish-speaking region known as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The islands divide reflects the rivalry between regional foes Greece and Turkey. Most of the international community only recognizes the sovereignty of the Greek part of Cyprus, and that was the nation Nasrallahs threats were directed at.

The Republic of Cyprus is a member of the EU but not of the NATO defense alliance that obliges member nations to come to each others defense in case of attack. It is home to around 920,000 people, with Nicosia as its capital.

How close are Cyprus ties with Israel?

Diplomatic relations between Cyprus and Israel started in 1960, following the islands independence from British colonial rule, but Cyprus didnt open an embassy in Tel Aviv until 1994. Relations went sour in the 1980s and 1990s over issues including Israels close ties with Turkey and the Arab-Israeli conflict, in which Cyprus sided with Arab states and supported Palestinian statehood.

Ties bounced back in the late 1990s and 2000s, as Israel began turning to the Eastern Mediterranean for economic partnerships, especially after the discovery of natural gas in the region. Experts say Israel has also looked to Cyprus as a partner to thwart regional threats, particularly from Turkey and Iran-linked groups.

Israel has in recent years used Cypriot territory to train its troops on possible war with Hezbollah. Cyprus terrain is similar to that of Lebanon, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has said, according to Israeli media.

In 2022, the IDF conducted a joint military drill with Cypriot forces. Some of the joint training focused on fighting multiple fronts and focusing on battling Hezbollah in Lebanon, Israeli media reported. Their latest exercises were conducted in May 2023 in Cyprus.

The Cypriot presidency said on X on Thursday that the country has never facilitated and will not facilitate any aggressive action or attack against any country.

Cyprus' Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos welcomes his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen in Larnaca, Cyprus, on December 20. - Stavros Ioannides/PIO/Reuters

What has Cyprus role been in the Gaza war?

Cyprus has been keen to dispel any suggestions that it is implicated in the Gaza war, noting its humanitarian efforts that helped bring some aid into Gaza.

The Republic of Cyprus is not part of the problem. The Republic of Cyprus is part of the solution, said Christodoulides, the president. And our role in this, as demonstrated, for example, through the humanitarian corridor, is recognized not only by the Arab world but by the international community as a whole.

In March, Cyprus began allowing aid ships to sail from its ports as part of international efforts to create a humanitarian aid route via sea toward Gaza.

The first maritime shipment to Gaza carried 200 tons of food, which equates to roughly 500,000 meals. An EU logistics hub was also set up in Cyprus to facilitate the flow of aid into Gaza.

Nicosia has criticized some of Israels actions in Gaza, especially those that have hampered the delivery of humanitarian aid.

In April, it issued a joint statement with the UAE, condemning the deadly Israeli attack on the World Central Kitchen charity group that killed seven people.

It has also repeatedly condemned Hamas for its October 7 attack on Israel.

Humanitarian aid for Gaza is loaded on a platform next to a rescue vessel of the Spanish NGO Open Arms at the port of Larnaca, Cyprus on March 11. - Yiannis Kourtoglou/Reuters

What is the likelihood of Cyprus getting more deeply involved?

The island has previously been caught in the crossfire of regional conflicts, a reminder of its proximity to the volatile Middle East. In 2019, a suspected Russian-made missile exploded over the region of northern Cyprus. Cypriot officials believed the missile was linked to military operations in Syria, saying it landed less than 15 (24km) miles north of the capital Nicosia.

A scenario in which Israel uses Cypriot bases for its military forces, which Hezbollah warned against, would effectively expand Gaza war into the European Union, Mohammad Ali Shabani, Iran analyst and editor of Amwaj.media, wrote on X.

It would mean that an EU country is, for the first time, directly involved in an expanded Gaza war.

Some experts say that the prospect of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict breaking out into an all- out war is unlikely, however, as neither side want such an escalation.

Hezbollahs release of drone footage of sensitive positions inside Israel is meant as a deterrent to Israel, Lina Khatib, associate fellow in the Middle East and North Africa Programme at the Chatham House think tank in London, told CNN, referring to the 9-minute drone video released by Hezbollah on Tuesday, showing civilian and military locations in and around the Israeli city Haifa.

It is normal for both Israel and Hezbollah to have military plans in place for handling a potential escalation. But as things stand, neither Israel nor Hezbollah benefits from all-out war, Khatib said, adding that Hezbollah knows that war with Israel would be devastating for Lebanon and that there is no popular appetite for such a scenario in the country.

The Biden administration is also unlikely to let Israel fight a two-front war on its own, she said, adding that US involvement may pull in other Iran-backed actors as well as the potential for Iran itself to be targeted.

This is a high cost that Iran wants to avoid paying, she said. The US also does not want to find itself in another Middle East quagmire, especially with presidential elections looming.

CNNs Sharon Braithwaite, Tamara Qiblawi, Mostafa Salem and Abbas Al Lawati contributed reporting.

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Why Judge Aileen Cannon is under fire in Trump classified documents case

The judge at the center of former President Donald Trumps classified documents case in Florida has ordered three days of hearings  including on an unusual legal argument raised by Trump  beginning Friday morning.

The hearings begin as federal District Court Judge Aileen Cannon is facing scrutiny after the New York Times reported Thursday that she rejected suggestions from two other judges, including her district's chief judge, to step aside when she was first assigned the case.

Cannon is already under fire after indefinitely delaying the trial, effectively ensuring there will not be a verdict in the case until after the November election.

Heres what to know about Cannon:

Who is Judge Aileen Cannon?

Cannon is an American lawyer and has served as a judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida since 2020.

Upon graduating from Duke University in 2003, she attended the University of Michigan Law School. She clerked for a judge in Iowa before working for the prominent corporate law firm, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, from 2009 to 2012.

Cannon landed a job as a federal prosecutor in 2013 in the Southern District of Florida. She remained there until 2020, working in the major crimes division before transferring to the appellate division where her work involved convictions and sentencings.

More: Trump's Florida classified documents case gets ready for 3 days of hearings | The Excerpt

Why are some calling Judge Cannon corrupt?

Cannon has been under fire for delaying the trial, almost guaranteeing that it will not happen before Novembers election. If Trump wins and moves back into the White House, he could order the Justice Department to drop the case.

Opponents of the former president have also criticized a previous decision that was helpful to Trump and made by Cannon during the criminal investigation. Cannon temporarily blocked investigators from examining seized documents while a special master reviewed Trump's claims that the documents were privileged.

Former President Donald Trump and special counsel Jack Smith are seen in a combination of file photos in Washington in 2023.

Her decision was reversed, though, by a panel of appellate judges all nominated by Republican presidents.

Judicial colleagues, including Southern District of Florida Chief Judge Cecilia Altonaga, phoned Cannon at the outset to suggest she step aside.

Who appointed Judge Cannon?

In the final months of his presidency, Trump nominated and appointed Cannon to the federal bench after confirmation by the Republican-controlled Senate in November 2020.

As a federal judge, she presided over four criminal trials before taking on Trumps classified documents case in 2022.

Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump arrives at the courthouse as he is expected to bid for dismissal in a hearing on a classified documents case, in Fort Pierce, Florida on March 14, 2024.

More: Court records reveal new details of alleged obstruction in Trump's classified documents case

Can Judge Cannon be removed?

Either party could request Cannon be removed from the case  though its unlikely Trumps lawyers would do so.

Special counsel Jack Smith could make the request, but experts say Cannons actions so far do not necessarily merit the move, according to NBC News.

Judges can be removed from a case for reasons including a conflict of interest keeping them from being impartial or for illegal conduct.

Contributing: Aysha Bagchi, USA TODAY, and Bart Jansen, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Judge in Trumps classified documents case attracting controversy
Lady Starmer, the de facto new 'first lady', smiled and waved to crowds before entering her new home in No 10 - Eddie Mulholland

In the 1,550 or so days since he assumed the leadership of the Labour Party, Sir Keir Starmer has been precise about the details hes chosen to divulge about his personal and private life. He likes  no, loves  Arsenal Football Club. His father, you may have gleaned, made tools for a living. And he was a lawyer once.

But on his breakneck, four-year journey from merely picking up the pieces of a broken Opposition to presiding over a staggering electoral landslide, becoming only the sixth individual to serve as Labour prime minister in history  and the first for 14 years  the people closest to him, namely his wife, Lady Victoria Starmer, and their two teenage children, have been seldom seen. In the case of the children, theyve never appeared with him publicly.

Whether the family edge into the spotlight, now that Sir Keir is Prime Minister, remains to be seen. Most expect the couple to continue to shield their children, who are 13 and 15, from the fierce glare of the media and public opinion. But what Lady Starmer does is another matter. Until today, when she travelled to Buckingham Palace for her husbands first meeting with the King as PM, and then walked up Downing Street to enter her new home, Victoria had hardly been seen throughout the six-week election campaign.

Lady Starmer by Sir Keir's side for his victory in Holborn and St Pancras - Geoff Pugh for the Telegraph

All requests for interviews, comments, or the kind of off-the-record briefings by friends which tend to make up the way media-shy political spouses communicate with the electorate were met with a wall of silence by Sir Keirs team. We arent encouraging pieces on her, the Labour leaders office said early on. Mrs Starmer will NOT be giving interviews.

She still isnt giving interviews, but she has become more visible. Lady Starmer finally stepped out with her husband last weekend, joining him on stage after a rally speech in central London. She then appeared with him on polling day, wearing a vivid red dress while joining him to cast their votes.

Outside of the campaign, she joined him at Buckingham Palace for the state banquet in honour of the visit of Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako the week before. And away from politics entirely, days earlier they attended a Taylor Swift concert at Wembley Stadium. Purely as a piece of communication, this picture of Keir and Victoria Starmer at Taylor Swift speaks a million words. His rivals look angry, old, unhealthy, flabby, tired the media commentator David Yelland wrote of an image of the couple at the gig.

And in the early hours of Friday, looking remarkably sprightly and clean given the time, Lady Starmer was there for Sir Keirs victory in Holborn and St Pancras. A few hours later, she was still by his side when he slowly descended upon Downing Street as the new Prime Minister. Dressed in sleek, tailored, on-brand red, Lady Starmer, the de facto new first lady, smiled and waved to the crowds and turned to walk into her new home in No 10. A penny for her thoughts, though. Because, by all accounts, it wasnt a move she was desperate to make.

Lady Starmer wore a 275 red dress from British label Me+Em for her arrival in Downing Street - Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

According to her husband, Lady Starmer was always eager to push his ambition in the legal field, but had reservations about him becoming a politician. My wife was ringing adverts in the papers about well-paid lawyers jobs and I said, No, I want to serve my country, which is why, at a late stage, I came into politics he told Sky recently.

Asked if his attention-averse wife was happy about that, Sir Keir replied: No, she wasnt at all; she thought itd be far better to continue being a lawyer on a reasonable salary and not have all the challenges you get as a politician.

The Starmers have had a taste of that scrutiny lately, closer to home than theyd have liked. For many nights in recent months, the streets around their (former) family home in Kentish Town, north London, reverberated with the sound of protest.

During Gaza Week in Sir Keirs constituency last month, the drum chants were noisy. Stop the genocide! End Israeli apartheid! the protestors shouted, with leaflets depicting the Labour leaders face splattered with blood. Were taking over Keir Starmers neighbourhood to create a space for educating, learning, mobilising, sharing and building community resistance to show him that Camden stands with Gaza was the message, sent loud and clear.

Until this year, aside from spotting Sir Keir and Lady Starmer  or Lady Vic as she is affectionately known among Labour staff (but just Vic in the area)  at the Peckwater Estate polling centre as they cast their votes, or seeing Sir Keirs motorcade pass down Leighton Road in the early morning, the presence of the future first couple in NW5 had caused no ripples.

Sir Keir and Lady Starmer at the Labour Party conference in Brighton, 2021 - Eddie Mulholland for The Telegraph

The Starmers have been a big part of that tight-knit inner-city neighbourhood. Their two children attended Eleanor Palmer, the local primary school. Lady Starmer is an occupational health worker for the NHS in Camden, and a popular figure in the local mums networks. Understandably, residents are protective of their famous  and now incredibly powerful  neighbours.

And so, too, are the Starmers keen to keep themselves out of the spotlight. Lady Starmer was said to be highly resistant to the idea of breaking up the familys happy existence in the leafy streets near Hampstead Heath, and did her best to stay out of the general election campaign until the moment she couldnt possibly stay away any longer.

Vivacious and glamorous as she is, usually appearing in Labour red on the few occasions she has joined her husband at events, Lady Starmer could be just as much as a popular and humanising a figure for Sir Keir as Samantha Cameron was to David, or Michelle Obama was to Barack. But she is not a trump card he has ever dealt since entering politics.

Its the children, an influential Labour insider says of the reason for the Starmers fierce emphasis on privacy. It has got pretty heavy recently with childrens shoes, representing the dead kids in Gaza, being left outside the Starmer house  Sir Keir is determined that his family wont be dragged into any of this.

Notably, there was no sign of the couples son and daughter when Sir Keir gave his first speech in Downing Street on Friday.

Though he may now be installed in Downing Street, some Labour figures worry this could cost him. Utterly sick though much of the nation was with Tory government, people still dont entirely know who Sir Keir is. We need to humanise him, but hes a proud man and doesnt like telling sob stories about his tricky upbringing  and we cant use Vic to show a more colourful side of the man, because of him not wanting to involve the children, a Labour MP says.

Still, attempts to deploy Lady Starmer have fallen on deaf ears in the Labour media camp.

The couple, pictured heading to their polling station for the recent London Mayoral election, live near Hampstead Heath in leafy north London - Labour Party

Its a real shame, because Sir Keir is principled, tough, strategic and determined, the kind of man who is a planner and will make an excellent prime minister. But the trouble is, he doesnt have the charisma for campaigning. He could really do with his wife telling people about the real Keir.

Try as they might to deny theres public interest, now that she is weighing up how to act as first lady, we could all do with knowing a little more about Lady Starmer, besides the basic facts that she always looks impeccable, is clearly in a deeply happy family and has her own career. And nothing sums up why people like her so much than the story of the first time she encountered the then plain-old Keir Starmer.

Who the f--- does he think he is? the then Victoria Alexander said, with pleasing bluntness, about her future husband. At the time, in the early 2000s, she was a solicitor in London, and had an ambitious young QC with a slightly nasal voice on the phone.

[Starmer] rang her and, having never spoken to her before, queried whether the brief she had sent him was less than 100 per cent accurate, Sir Keirs unofficial biographer, Nigel Cawthorne, the author of Keir Starmer: A Life of Contrasts, wrote.

Unflustered, Victoria firmly held her ground against the person on the other end of the line, reassuring him that she knew her job and, after putting the phone down, said the fateful line. Only she hadnt asked Who the f*** does he think he is? after she put the phone down, according to Sir Keir, who told Vogue this year that he in fact heard her mutter it.

You might think, Not the best of starts, but it was absolutely classic Vic. Very sassy, very down to earth, no nonsense from anyone, including from me, he said. A family friend, the Labour MP Carolyn Harris, agreed they were very much characteristic of a woman who balances her husbands (sometimes too) mild manner. Lady Starmer is, Harris said, a litmus paper, the yin to his yang.

Victoria Alexander was raised in the affluent north London suburb of Gospel Oak. Her father was born in Britain as part of a Jewish family who arrived from Poland before the Second World War. Her mother was a community doctor, and its been reported that her sister, Judith, once taught at Gospel Oak primary, which Lady Starmer attended before joining the private day school Channing in Highgate.

While neither is especially religious, Sir Keir has said that he and his wife make a point of honouring Jewish traditions, including taking their children to the Liberal Jewish Synagogue in St Johns Wood. He was mocked, somewhat bizarrely, for insisting last week that he will protect family time with the children, especially on Fridays.

Weve had a strategy in place and well try to keep to it, which is to carve out really protected time for the kids. So on a Friday  Ive been doing this for years  I will not do a work-related thing after six oclock, pretty well come what may, he told Virgin Radio.

On the Radio 4 programme Desert Island Discs in 2020, he elaborated on the role faith plays in the family. It is perfectly true that my wifes father is Jewish  they came from Poland  and my wifes mother converted when they got married. There is a long tradition of family and faith there. We observe some of the practices, for example Friday-night prayers, occasionally with my wifes father  her mum sadly passed away earlier this year, he said. My wife in particular wants our children to know the faith of her family.

Lady Starmer, who is younger than Sir Keir but whose precise date of birth hasnt been publicly revealed, studied law and sociology at Cardiff University, and, according to Tom Baldwins recent book Keir Starmer: The Biography, became president of the student union  like Neil Kinnock decades before her. She later volunteered in Tony Blairs campaign headquarters in 1997, and became a solicitor in London, initially specialising in street crime in Soho.

The Starmers attend a state banquet at Buckingham Palace, November 2023 - NEWSPIX INTERNATIONAL

It was around that time when she found out who the f--- Keir Starmer was, and after meeting at a legal dinner, agreed to a first date at the Lord Stanley pub in north London, which evidently went well. Starmer, Baldwin writes, felt he had found someone grounded, sassy, funny, streetwise  and utterly gorgeous too. He proposed, spontaneously, on holiday in Greece. Wont we need a ring, Keir? she replied.

They were married on May 6 2007, with a cabinet of four best men present, and honeymooned on the Amalfi coast in Italy. A year later, their son arrived. He will turn 16 soon. In 2010, a daughter followed. Its fair to say those are difficult ages to suddenly have your father become the prime minister, and to move into the heart of Westminster.

I am worried about my children, that is probably the single thing that does keep me awake  as to how we will protect them through this, Sir Keir told BBC journalist Nick Robinson recently. At the moment were in the stage of  this is very much Vic  lets take each day as it comes.

So we dont do the great planning or anything like that, that would be presumptuous. But we do try to protect them. We dont name them in public. My boy is 15 and my girl is 12. I want to protect them. We dont use photos of them in any way. I want to, for as long as I can, to preserve that space for them. But am I worried? I am worried.

Keir and Victoria at their wedding at Fennes, in Essex, with his parents, in 2007

Lady Starmer retrained in occupational health after having children, and still works in the NHS (I get a direct line of sight on a daily basis into the challenges of the NHS and the morale of the staff, her husband has said), but has otherwise been committed to Kentish Town, where the family have lived in a handsome four-bedroom terraced house for 20 years.

According to Baldwin, she allegedly told him: If it happens [becoming prime minister], I wont want to leave Kentish Town. He probably doesnt want to be as far from his beloved Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal FC, as he will be, either. But it is Lady Starmer who is particularly wedded to the area. She jokes, Baldwin writes, that although her husband thinks its his constituency, its actually mine.

As a political wife, she has not been entirely hermitic. Occasionally seen on photo-op walkabouts with her husband, she is a stylish and popular figure at Labour conferences, and made her first prominent appearance at the 2021 Labour conference in Brighton.

Then, under the immediate scrutiny of a political spouse (her outfit on that occasion, a 269 navy blue eco-friendly polyester dress by French fashion house Claudie Pierlot, was immediately priced up by the news pages), she embraced her husband on stage after his speech.

Besides a handful of other public appearances, though, she remains little known  which it seems is precisely how she likes it. As the prospect of having to move from Kentish Town to a fairly poky flat above the shop a few miles south grew, she has had to come to terms with a very different life.

Once the excitement of the Labour landslide abates, she will now have to decide how she will play the part of the prime ministers spouse. In some ways, she has already rewritten the rules: no husband or wife of a Labour or Conservative leader has been so absent from a campaign before, so it may be that she continues in that vein.

But there is no one correct way to approach being a first lady or first gentleman. Akshata Murty, Rishi Sunaks wife and the most recent holder of the post, recently said her role was simply to keep the show going. Whether she did that or not is for the pundits to decide, but she certainly made her own headlines, not least over the non-dom tax scandal.

Hugh OLeary, Liz Trusss husband, barely had time to unpack his bags. Carrie Johnson, Boris Johnsons wife, was vilified with the nicknames Carrie Antoinette and, in Dominic Cummingss poetic way, princess nut nut. Samantha Cameron, who kept a very different career in fashion throughout her husbands time in office, described herself as not a very hands-on political wife who often had no idea what was to be announced.

Gordon Browns wife, Sarah, focused on charity work while also helping with her husbands PR, but later lamented not speaking out more. Cherie Blair was, at least for a time, as famous as her husband Tony. Norma Major led a seen but not heard existence. And Denis Thatcher summed up the role well with just four words: always present, never there.

What Lady Starmer decides to do remains to be seen. She may become an adviser to her husband. She may work to bolster Labours campaigning on healthcare, given her expertise. She may do something else. Or she may do nothing, as is her right, and simply stay where she is comfortable, rarely in Westminster and seldom seen before the cameras until the moment calls for it.

But for now, the public is still getting to know her. It seems a small thing, but it was telling that until only this week, she didnt have a Wikipedia page. Even Hugh OLeary has one of those. Shes got one now, though, and its just had its first line changed from the wife of Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Opposition to the wife of the leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Now, as she grows used to the idea of being Britains new first lady, Lady Victoria Starmers time in the shadows is surely over.

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Why Pride week is so meaningful to the LGBTQ+ community

AUGUSTA, Ga (WJBF)- Pride celebrations continue in Augusta this week. Thursday night was the Presidents Soiree and Friday night people will gather downtown for Beats On Broad.

There is a lot of history behind Pride month. Police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City in 1969 when homosexuality was still criminalized across much of the U-S. The raid turned violent, though no one was seriously injured.

The Pride marches started as a day of remembrance of the Stonewall riots, but through the decades has morphed into a celebration of self for the LGBTQ+ Community.

James Mintz is the former president of Augusta Pride and he said Pride is a safe space for the community to be able to be themselves.

Augusta Pride organizers preparing for Pride week with changes

50 to 55 years ago, not a lot of us could come out and feel open and safe and have the community out in the open. When youre open and out, youre able to not get fired from your job. Youre able to enjoy spousal benefits that many of our friends and family members get to enjoy. But its just about being safe and feeling comfortable in your own skin.

This week of celebration holds a lot of meaning for the LGBTQ+ community.

For centuries it was illegal to be gay or transgender. In the 1960s states began to decriminalize homosexuality in the US and it wasnt until 2003 that all remaining laws against it were overturned.

People in the LGBTQ+ community have fought for equal rights and against discrimination for decades a fight that continues today.

Being able to fully celebrate who they are each year means a lot to the community, some of who still feel they have to hide their sexual and gender identity from family, friends and employers.

Theres going to be a new sheriff in town: Gino Brantley ousts Sheriff Roundtree

We still have a long ways to go. We have members of our transgender community that are targeted, unfortunately. The Supreme Court has given us rights, but they can be easily taken away as well, explained Mintz. So thats why pride festivals like Augusta, which is the second largest LGBTQ focused festival in Georgia, thats why its so important to be here.

The Beats on Broad party is Friday night starting at 6 p.m. at the Augusta Common.

Starting at noon Friday, both lanes of Broad Street on the river side, will be closed between 8th and 9th Streets until the festival is over.

The Pride Parade will take place Saturday morning starting at 10 a.m. with the Pride Festival immediately following at the Common.

There is a different route for this years Parade. The parade will start at Green and 7th Street and then make its way down to 9th Street.

2024 Pride Parade route, courtesy of Augusta Pride.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
RAMALLAH, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian presidency welcomed Friday Armenia's recognition of the State of Palestine, considering the decision an important step towards achieving peace and stability in the region, according to the Palestinian official news agency WAFA.

The Palestinian presidency expressed its thanks to Armenia for the step that reflects the friendship between the two peoples and the two friendly countries, and Armenia's keenness to support the Palestinian people's rights to self-determination, WAFA said.

The statement called on the countries of the world, especially the European countries that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine, to do so based on legitimate international resolutions.

Also on Friday, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said in a statement that it welcomes Armenia's decision, calling it an "additional and important" step on the path to establishing international recognition of the rights of Palestinian people.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday that Armenia officially recognized the State of Palestine. The Caucasus country also stated its support for the two-state solution, stressing it is "the only way to ensure that Palestinians and Israelis can realize their legitimate aspirations."

Norway, Ireland, and Spain made a coordinated announcement on May 22, declaring their recognition of Palestine as a state effective as of May 28. Their decision was condemned by Israel.

So far, over 140 countries have already recognized a Palestinian state, representing more than two-thirds of the United Nations' membership. 
Wienermobile makes pitstop in Topeka: Where to find it

Wienermobile makes pitstop in Topeka: Where to find it

TOPEKA (KSNT)  An iconic vehicle will roam the area throughout the weekend.

On Thursday, June 20, The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile was at the Dillons on Southwest 22nd Street and Southwest Fairlawn Avenue for most of the day. Its the first of multiple days the hot-dog shaped car will be in Topeka.

Matthew Grillmaster Bailey, of Madison, GA., is one of the Wienermobile drivers.

Well, you can always expect some fun, some smiles, Bailey said. You can take pictures, get yourself an iconic weenie-whistle, and be able to experience this wonderful American icon.

Topeka kids learn the history of Juneteenth

The Wienermobile will be in Raytown, MO., Friday, June 21, before returning to the area to visit Oskaloosa Saturday, June 22. On Sunday, June 23, the car will be stationed at the Kansas Childrens Discovery Center in West Topeka.

This is one of six Wienermobiles throughout the United States. The hot dogs home base is Madison, WI.

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.
Wilson County planning commissioners recommended denial Friday for requests connected to a huge industrial park development in a rural part of eastern Wilson County after residents staged a tractor parade protest and showed up in force to speak against the measure during their meeting.

Texas-based Hillwood, a company tied to the Ross Perot family, can still seek approval for the project by appealing to the full Wilson County county commission within 10 days. However, Hillwood representatives did not comment on future plans and whether they intended to move forward on Friday.

The planning commission's first vote was 8-2 to recommend denial of a land use plan amendment for the area referred to as part of the Tuckers Crossroads community.

Wilson County Commissioner Chris Dowell addresses a packed crowd at a Wilson County Planning Commission meeting that debated a massive industrial park proposal by Texas base Hillwood.

Conceptual plans show 10.35 million square feet of industrial style office, warehousing and light manufacturing space. The approximate 1,380-acre location is near Linwood and Bluebird Roads just off Interstate 40.

The planning commission also voted unanimously against a rezone request for the property after more than three hours of debate that included about 40 speakers during the public comments portion of the meeting.

Roughly 30 landowners near the area of the development went to the Wilson County Courthouse on tractors in a protest convoy through Lebanon.

Embedded content: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/wilson/2024/06/21/farmers-protest-tennessee-industrial-plant-perot-family-wilson-county/74100566007/

"If Hillwood decides to take this to the county commission, I hope this sends a message to them," said Perry Neal, an area landowner who lives near the proposed site and participated in the convoy of about 30-35 tractors. "We won the first battle, but the war's not over."

Hillwood representatives said the project could bring 3,400 direct jobs over 15 years and more than 6,400 direct and indirect jobs combined. Representatives also said the project could bring more than $138 million in local taxes. More than $3 million in new property tax revenues was also projected by Hillwood representatives.

The project also presented an extension of public water totaling approximately seven miles to a number of homeowners that currently don't have that service. Several nearby landowners did speak in favor of the development in order to bring water to their properties.

A convenience store and gas station and protecting 352 acres as agricultural property through zoning and easements are also part of the plan.

Many landowners near a rural area of eastern Wilson County went to a planning commission meeting on June 21, 2024, as part of a parade of tractors to protest a large industrial development plan.

But the majority of residents attending the meeting were against the plan. Traffic and flooding were concerns, but speakers opposing the plan were unified in a desire to keep the agricultural feel of the community, even with the possibility that by voting down Hillwood's project, it could leave the land open to a residential development and more residents.

"It was exactly what I was hoping for," said resident Michael Swope after the vote.

The location encompasses two commission districts  one represented by Commissioner Chris Dowell and the other by Commissioner Terry Scruggs, officials have said. Dowell has said his constituents overwhelmingly do not want the industrial park plan.

Dowell spoke at the meeting and said he would "stand with" the majority in his district who were against the industrial park, but urged the community to "pull back together."

Scruggs also spoke and said he had feedback from those for and against the project, but he sided with those who needed public water.

A rendering of a plan that would include a large-scale industrial park proposed in Wilson County.

About the plan

The portion of land listed as Area A includes one building at 1.2 million square feet, six buildings at 1 million square feet, one at 900,000 square feet and one at 800,000 square feet. There was also a 550,000-square-foot building and three 300,000-square-foot buildings, according to the plans.

A retail mix at the northwest corner of the grounds is also proposed with remaining areas to include maintaining agricultural uses or a conservation easement on the proposed master plan.

Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Wilson County denies Perot family company industrial plan, for now
Donald Trumps newest policy endorsement  granting green cards to college grads from abroad  is drawing fierce backlash from the anti-immigrant Republicans that propelled him to the presidency.

The departure from Trumps immigration policy as we've known it was discussed on the All-In podcast, where he promised to grant work authorizing papers to international graduates.

What I will do is: you graduate from a college, I think you should get, automatically as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country, Trump said. Anybody who graduates from a college, you go in there for two years or four years, if you graduate, or if you get a doctorate degree from a college, you should be able to stay in this country.

The eagle-eyed may notice similarities between Trumps words and Hillary Clintons 2016 campaign promise to staple green cards to diplomas, one which Trump allies bashed at the time.

Evergreen anti-immigration hard-liners slammed Trump for his departure from his typical America First rhetoric, which won him his 2016 nomination, then campaigning on the construction of a border wall and the end of the Obama-era DACA, which granted some rights to lifelong U.S. residents without citizenship.

Conservative columnist Pedro Gonzalez blasted the plan as a de facto amnesty.

Its completely unacceptable, Gonzales wrote on X, adding that the plan would undermine employment opportunities for American college grads who took the advice to work hard and go to school.

Anyone who claims to be an immigration restrictionist and doesnt call this out is a fraud. This is a policy that Biden himself could have come up with, Gonzales said.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Some expressed a desire for Trump to bring white supremacist and anti-immigrant Stephen Miller back into the advisory fold, with one X user joking that he need[s] Stephen Miller to tattoo the actual immigration policy on the back of Trumps hand.

Other critics noted the potential impacts on universities, like immigration restriction activist Jeremy Beck, who told the Washington Post that the plan would turn colleges into visa mills.

The Trump campaign made sure to roll back his apparent endorsement of the idea in part, with campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt outlining a screening process to weed out communists, radical Islamists, Hamas supporters, [and] America haters.

Trump previously promised to deport student demonstrators who expressed concern over Israels military actions in Gaza.

Far-right critics say the move would give immigrants jobs that U.S. citizens could use, a claim similar to one Trump himself spouted last week in Michigan while speaking in a Detroit church.

Theyre invading your jobs, he said of immigrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.

Immigration advocates may be skeptical of Trumps claim, and they wouldnt be alone. Far-right social media users chimed in with their own doubts on his follow-through.

Trump is (hopefully) misleading us with the green card stuff, to deflate the issue. I cant see him actually going through with that proposal, an X user wrote.

The plan comes alongside the ex-presidents proposal to launch a mass deportation of more than 10 million people, while his opponent, President Joe Biden, recently announced a clearer pathway for U.S. citizenship for the spouses of citizens.
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL)  A Carter County Judge heard dramatic testimony in the case against Joey Guinn and Jim Chambers, both facing murder charges related to the death of Edward Elliott.

Joey Guinn was arrested in May after law enforcement found a body in a buried freezer. Jim Chambers was apprehended in Louisiana a few days later.

Chambers girlfriend Amanda Brooke Quillin, also facing charges of accessory after the fact and coercion of a witness, spent over an hour on the stand providing an account of the night of the alleged murder. The judge also heard testimony from Madison Hobbs, who also lived on the property, and reported seeing Guinn and Chambers beat Elliott.

Carter County authorities searching for inmate who walked off work detail

Hobbs said she went outside after Chambers called her to tell her Elliott had broken into her truck. She and her boyfriend found Eliott lying facedown on the ground near the truck.

I told him, you know, you got to go. I cant help you, Hobbs said. He said, Yeah, I will, just give me a minute.

Hobbs said she replied, You got to go now. You know I cant help you. You know theyll kill me, too, if I try to help you.

Quillen told the judge that Elliott was visiting the trailer she shared with Chambers on Guinns property before a fight occurred between the three men. After leaving the trailer, she said, Elliott remained on the property. Eventually, she went outside to find Elliott standing behind one of Guinns vehicles, which had been set on fire.

Quillen returned to her trailer; however, she said, Guinn and Chambers went in search of Elliott. Quillen said Chambers was silent when he returned, but he spoke after she pressed him to find out what had happened.

He was like we were kicking Eddie, and Joey kicked him in the throat, and he stopped moving, Quillen said. Thats when I knew that Eddie had been killed.

During her testimony, Quillen said she saw Guinn move a freezer into his truck and that Guinn and Chambers went into the woods that evening.

I knew, Quillen said, under questioning. That thats where they were taking the body.

Carter County Investigator Roger Brown also provided the judge with more details about the circumstances around law enforcements discovery of Elliotts body, inside a buried freezer.

It was extremely heavy, Brown said. We had to bring in equipment to remove it from the hole because we could not get it out.

Brown said the body was bound, wrapped in a tarp, and covered with concrete rocks when law enforcement discovered it inside the freezer.

Im physically ill, Judge Keith Bowers, Jr. said following the testimony. Im shocked.

The cases against Guinn and Chambers will be bound over to criminal court. The next court date is scheduled for October.

Guinn is being held on a $5 million bond.

Quillen waived her right to a preliminary hearing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
Woman abused by Gateway Church pastor as child calls for other survivors to come forward

The woman who said she was sexually abused as a child by now-former Gateway Church head pastor Robert Morris has mixed feelings about his resignation from the church.

Shes glad hes no longer the pastor of the North Texas megachurch that he founded, but doesnt like the way he departed.

Though I am grateful he is no longer a pastor at Gateway, I am disappointed that the board of elders allowed him to resign, Cindy Clemishire wrote in a statement released by her attorney Boz Tchividjian. He should have been terminated.

Now Clemishire, who told the religious watchdog blog The Wartburg Watch that from 1982-1987 Morris abused her starting when she was 12 and ending when she was 16, after he was caught, says she doesnt believe she is the only victim.

The complete statement by Cindy Clemishire in response to todays announcement by @GatewayPeople. pic.twitter.com/NRcQNffgqB  BozLaw P.A. (@bozlawpa) June 19, 2024

Morris resigned Tuesday after calls for his removal from ministry by elected leaders who were disturbed by his actions. He admitted in a statement released by the church that the abuse happened.

Morris referred to Clemishire in his statement as a young lady and said that he kissed her and touched her but that there was no intercourse. The churchs board of elders said that they were unaware of the details of the abuse and that Morris had talked in the past about an affair he had without revealing that the affair was actually the sexual abuse of a child.

Clemishire said in her statement that she had previously reported her abuse to church officials. She emailed Morris and got a response from a church elder in 2005, acknowledging the receipt of her email, she said. She also said a former attorney representing her contacted Morris in 2007 seeking reimbursement for years of counseling she had to undergo because of the abuse.

His attorney acknowledged the dates as well and then attempted to blame me for the abuse, Clemishire wrote in her statement. At the very least, both the Gateway pastor and at least one elder had specific notice that I was sexually abused beginning when I was 12 years old. Gateway had the information but intentionally decided to embrace the false narrative Robert Morris wanted them to believe.

 More top stories from our newsroom:

 Accused drunk driver slams into 2 cyclists near Dallas-Fort Worth Airport

 Gateway Church pastor resigns after admitting to sexually abusing 12-year-old girl

 Allan Saxe, beloved UT Arlington professor, has died

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Morris said in the statement released by Gateway Church that after the abuse was discovered in 1987, he was removed from ministry by Shady Grove Church, where he worked at the time, and went to freedom ministry.

On its website, Gateway Church describes its own freedom ministry as religious counseling to undo the works of the devil in the lives of individuals, including exorcism.

Morris said he spoke with church elders and Clemishires father and that he returned to ministry with their blessing in 1989.

Gateway Church started with 180 members in a Grapevine hotel in 2000 and has grown to more than 39,000 active members at its home campus in Southlake and at satellite churches across Dallas-Fort Worth, from North Richland Hills to Grand Prairie to Frisco.

The churchs elders said in Tuesdays statement that they are thankful the abuse has been exposed, for the sake of the victim.

We know how many have been affected by this, we understand that you are hurting, and we are very sorry, the board said in its news release. It is our prayer that, in time, healing for all those affected can occur.

Morris resignation came after elected leaders across Texas called for him to resign and said he should face consequences for his actions.

John Huffman, former mayor of Southlake, apparently took issue with Morris characterization of Clemishire as a young lady at that time.

Years ago, he ruined a 12 year old girls life. She was not a young lady, but a child, Huffman wrote in a post on X on Tuesday morning. He should have spent time in jail, but he didnt.

In times of great and sudden calamity, many of us feel quite helpless to put into words our thoughts. Ive had many conversations, and seen many posts online, with friends and neighbors who are at a loss for words because of the news coming out of Gateway Church.



Yet, the  John Huffman (@JohnRHuffman) June 18, 2024

Gateway Church said it has retained Haynes & Boone, a Fort Worth law firm, to run an independent investigation into abuse between 1982 and 1987.

A spokesperson for Haynes & Boone confirmed to the Star-Telegram that the firm has been hired to conduct the investigation but released no other information.

Clemishire quoted her attorney in her Thursday statement as saying that the investigation isnt enough. Haynes & Boone handles crisis management, according to its website. That worries Tchividjian, who is also unsatisfied with the decision to limit the investigation to the time during which Clemishire was abused. He said the investigation should include Morris entire tenure at Gateway Church.

Clemishire urged any other victims to speak up.

I encourage anyone who has been sexually victimized by a leader at Gateway Church to take the bold step forward and say something. Now is the time, she wrote.

She said that anybody who comes forward will have support.

I hope and pray that the leadership at Gateway Church will echo this encouragement knowing that this can be an opportunity to find the truth while providing help and restitution to victims, she wrote.

Clemishire said shes heartbroken for the congregation who trusted Morris and encouraged them to keep their faith despite his actions.
Woman accused of stealing $20,000 in identity theft case is at large, police say

LOWER ALLEN TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WHTM)  Police are looking for a woman accused of stealing over $20,000 from an alleged victims bank account.

According to Lower Allen Township Police, on May 31, 2024, the department was dispatched to the 200 block of Creekwood Drive at 12:12 PM for a report of identity theft and fraud. Police say the alleged victim discovered several large withdrawals from her Fulton Bank account for the following amounts: $5,312, $5,743, $3,025, and $6,420, totaling $20,511.00.

Upon contacting the Fulton Bank, the alleged victim was informed that someone who matched her appearance came to a Lancaster branch, presented a US Passport bearing her photo and information, and made several withdrawals, some of which were paid in cash and others in cashiers checks, according to police.

Police: South Carolina man left sleeping daughter in locked vehicle, faces charges in Cumberland County

The female suspect, who was identified as Carol Cook, 56, is around 500-505 with glasses and long, gray hair. She was seen wearing a black and white shirt with a design, dark leggings, and white sandals on both May 30 and May 31 when she was at the bank, police said.

When the suspect attempted to pass one of her checks, Fulton employees kept the check and turned it over to Law Enforcement after the suspect fled.

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Police say on June 14th, they learned Cook was arrested in Lancaster County following her attempt to fraudulently obtain money from their branch at Penn Square in Lancaster City. Upon reviewing her Lancaster County booking photo, police confirmed that Cook is the suspect involved in this case, as well as numerous others.

Lancaster City Police arrested Cook in connection to this incident, however, she was released from prison on unsecured bail before the arrest warrant was able to be served.

Anyone with information on Cooks whereabouts is asked to contact Lower Allen Township Police at (717) 238-9676.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A 22-year-old woman is facing charges in connection to a fire at the Independence Towers apartments earlier this week.

Jackson County prosecutors on Friday charged Destiny R. Kley, a resident at the apartment, with first-degree arson.

According to Independence Fire Department, at around 4:15 a.m. Monday, crews were dispatched to a residential fire at the Independence Tower  located at 728 North Jennings in Independence, Missouri.

IFD said that upon arrival, crews saw heavy smoke and fire coming from a second-floor apartment. They soon began their aggressive fire control tactics and eventually contained it inside the apartment.

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A fire investigator stated he located a definitive ignitable liquid pour pattern, which is consistent with an intentionally set fire. The Missouri Fire Marshal was then contacted to help investigate.

According to IFD, no injuries have been reported, however, tenants of 27 apartments spanning three floors have been displaced due to smoke and fire damage.

Kley was reported to be the last known occupant inside of one of the apartments. It was later determined that Kley was at Centerpoint Medical Center on a self-admit.

An Independence police detective went to the hospital to speak with Kley who stated she had her husband arrested earlier in the evening after police were called regarding domestic violence.

Kley said after her husband was arrested, she sat in the apartment and drank a bottle of vodka. She stated she became upset with the situation with her husband an began destroying everything in the apartment, breaking several glass items, turning over furniture and threw his belongings out the window.

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She said she then poured a cleaning liquid on the kitchen floor and around the stove. She turned the knobs on the stove and sat on the couch. Kley stated she poured the liquid with the intention of setting fire to the apartment to destroy everything they had together and to kill herself.

A $50,000 cash only bond has been set for Kley.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
A woman was excited to take home her newly adopted shelter dog. An hour before pick up, the pup was mistakenly euthanized

A woman had her newly-adopted dog mistakenly euthanized by a local shelter just an hour before she was set to pick her up.

The tragic mixup happened after Jianna Maarten Sadda called the Los Angeles Animal Services South LA Shelter to say she would pick up Sheba, her newly adopted pit bull mix, by 3pm on June 11.

But when she called again at 2pm, shelter staff told her Sheba was dead, NBC Los Angeles reported.

Lived half her life in the shelter, so she had been in for a whole year, Sadda said, of the two-year-old dog. And after a year, a dog will usually go crazy after being in jail, so we call it. And she was still such a good dog.

Two-year-old Sheba, pictured, was euthanized at a Los Angeles animal shelter just one hour before her new owner was set to rescue her (Paw Pals South LA/Instagram)

The South LA Shelter Networker, an Instagram account that highlights dogs at the shelter, described Sheba as a a playful girl who enjoys fetch.

The shelter told Sadda they euthanized the two-year-old dog due to a communication error, according to NBC.

The same day Sheba died, LA Animal Services started a new temporary policy. Dogs with dangerous behavior now need to be adopted or saved by an authorized rescue group within three days, or theyll be killed. Before, the dogs on the red list for behavior had one week.

The new policy came after a 63lb dog mauled kennel supervisor Leslie Corea on May 31. Corea needed at least three surgeries to recover, NBC Los Angeles reports.

Sheba, pictured, was euthanized the same day LA Animal Control announced that all dogs with behavioral problems will be killed if not adopted or saved by an authorized rescue group within three days (Paw Pals South LA/Instagram)

There are so many people that have been bit and mauled at the shelters and it needs to stop because were overcrowding and were not euthanizing the animals that need to be euthanized in a timely manner, Corea said.

But Sadda told NBC Los Angeles there was no behavioral reason to euthanize Sheba. She was purely killed for space, she said.

The South LA Shelter Networker also described Sheba as well-behaved, both around people and other dogs.

Meanwhile, many community members have pushed back on the new policy. A group of Animal Services volunteers have contacted LA Mayor Karen Bass to share their concerns, NBC Los Angeles reports.

The Independent has contacted Los Angeles Animal Control for comment.

Last month, a Maryland woman said she experienced a similar communication breakdown when she brought her ill puppy to a shelter to be euthanized, and a year later he was up for adoption at the same center.

Kristie Pereira said she decided to put her dog down after consulting several experts who agreed he would not recover, the Associated Press reports. But after finding Beau up for adoption a year later, Pereira said the shelter had decided he did not need to be euthanized.

The person that called me was so rude and just disrespectful and just being really nasty towards me, Pereira told tAP last month. Just saying, you know, that I abandoned him, and that I left him to die. That I never cared about him.

She was told that the dog will never go back to you. As of late May, Beau was still listed on the shelters website.
A Texas woman has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against two Mexican resort travel companies, seeking more than $1 million, after her husband was electrocuted in a resort hot tub earlier this month.

Lizzette Zambrano, a resident of El Paso County, Texas, accuses the operators, managers, and possessors of the Sonoran Sea Resort in Sonora, Mexico, of being grossly negligent, which led to her injury and the death of her husband, Jorge Guillen, according to the lawsuit. She is now recovering at home, her attorney said.

I want somebody to take accountability for what happened to my husband and myself, Zambrano told ABCs Good Morning America in an interview aired Friday.

The couple were on vacation at the resort on June 11 when they decided to spend time in the hot tub, the lawsuit said. As soon as Guillen entered the tub, he was exposed to an electrical current in the water, it said.

Jorge immediately keeled over into the tub and was taken under the surface of the water, according to the lawsuit. Witnessing her husband immediately collapse, Lizzette sprang forward from the pool deck to try and grab Jorges body  

Zambrano attempted to rescue him, the suit states, but was also shocked. She was eventually rescued by a bystander and taken to a hospital.

Patrons attempted to assist, grabbing a shepherds cross and other items to attempt to get Jorges body, the suit claims. However, the metal from the objects carried the electrical current and began shocking the rescuers.

The lawsuit names vacation rental companies Casago, LLC, Casago International, LLC and High Desert Travel, Inc. as defendants. CNN reached out to each company for comment. The latter two did not immediately respond.

Guillen was being shocked and drowned underwater for 10 minutes, the suit said, before Casago staff and the other defendants finally availed themselves and began to assist in rescuing Jorge, the lawsuit said.

Zambrano told ABC: A lot of people jumped in, but they kept jumping out because the shocks were so strong.

In a statement to CNN, Casago LLC said, We are devastated by what has occurred and our hearts are with the family and the victims of this terrible incident.

The Sonoran Sea is a condo resort and the homeowners association is responsible for all common areas, including the maintenance of the swimming pool, hot tubs, and grounds. Casago, a vacation rental company, is not involved in any management or maintenance of the resort, the statement continued. Regarding this incident, our involvement ends at the individual condo reservation.

The homeowners association has not returned CNNs request for comment.

It is not clear how or if Casago, LLC is connected to Casago International LLC. Corporate records show Casago International, LLC and High Desert Travel, Inc. have the same Arizona office address and the same top executive. Corporate records also show Casago LLC and High Desert Travel share the same telephone number.

El Paso County Judge Francisco X. Dominguez granted a temporary restraining order Tuesday, prohibiting the defendants or anyone working with them from altering the hot tub. The judge also ordered any video evidence from the incident and any communications about the incident between the defendants employees be preserved until at least July 2.

Preserving this evidence is important to the prosecution of Ms. Zambranos case, and a crucial first step in this litigation, to hopefully preventing this type of tragedy from ever happening again, said Zambranos attorney Tej Paranjpe.

The lawsuit describes Guillen as an industrious, affectionate, loving, compassionate, energetic, cooperative, patient, and attentive father and gave guidance, advice, counseling, protection, comfort, services, care, and attention to his family.

His death has deprived Lizzette of the love and society of her husband, and the right to that affection, solace, comfort, companionship, and assistance, the suit said.

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BEIJING, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, Chinese president, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said that Qinghai Province should conscientiously implement the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, and fully and faithfully implement the new development philosophy on all fronts. He was on an inspection tour in the province. Xi said that Qinghai should have a clear understanding of its strategic positioning in the overall development of the country, fully leverage its own advantages, firmly deepen reform, expand opening up, prioritize ecological conservation and pursue green development. He urged the province to uphold ethnic unity and seek common prosperity, and make greater progress in promoting eco-environmental protection and high-quality development on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, so as to write its own chapter in advancing Chinese modernization.

From June 18 to 19, Xi visited a middle school and a religious venue in the provincial capital Xining, accompanied by Chen Gang, secretary of CPC Qinghai Provincial Committee, and Wu Xiaojun, provincial governor.

On the afternoon of June 18, Xi first came to Golog Xining Ethnic Middle School. It is a boarding school that was funded and built with assistance from Shanghai and is attached to Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Xi was briefed on how Shanghai and other eastern regions have assisted Qinghai's education work and school construction, asked in detail about the composition of students, school's curriculum, students' physical exercise, putonghua proficiency and other information. He walked into the canteen and dormitory building to inspect the students' dining and accommodation conditions, and told the canteen staff to ensure that students are provided with safe, nutritious and tasty food.

After that, Xi came to the classroom of Class 1 of grade 1 of high school to observe the ideological and political class themed "New Era, New Hometown." Xi was very happy to learn that the school has integrated ideological and political lessons into its daily teaching, listen to the students talking about the gratifying changes in their hometown in the new era, and see the students' paintings. Xi said that the collaboration between the country's eastern and western regions as well as paired assistance, particularly in education, has yielded remarkable results. This fully showcases the strengths of the CPC's leadership and the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, as well as the support for each other among members of the big family of the Chinese nation, Xi said.

Xi stressed the need to make it a key task of school ideological and political lessons to foster a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, tell well the story of the CPC and socialism with Chinese characteristics, the story of comprehensively promoting the building of a strong country and the realization of national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization in the new era, and the story of the community for the Chinese nation as well as ethnic unity and progress, so that the sense of community for the Chinese nation can be implanted in the hearts of children since childhood.

On the square in front of the classroom building, Xi was surrounded by the faculty and students who greeted him loudly. Xi said, "I come to visit you teachers and students at my first stop in Xining." He emphasized the achievements and importance of the school, which was built with fund and assistance from Shanghai and accommodates ethnic minority students from the pastoral areas of Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. He expressed the hope that the students will cherish the favorable conditions of the school, be grateful, study hard, and develop sound moral grounding, intellectual ability, physical vigor, aesthetic sensibility, and work skills. They should aspire to become successors to and builders of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, striving to create opportunities for developing a distinguished career. Xi also wished them success in their study and healthy growth.

Then, Xi arrived at Hongjue Temple in downtown Xining. In the front courtyard, chief of the democratic management committee of the temple presented Xi with a Khata, a ceremonial white scarf symbolizing goodwill and blessings, and monks greeted him holding incense burners and parasols. Xi visited an exhibition by the provincial educational base for ethnic unity and progress. He learned about the temple's history and was briefed on how veteran revolutionaries cared about ethnic and religious affairs. He walked into the main hall and was briefed on the temple's efforts to strengthen daily management and promote ethnic unity and progress. Xi pointed out that the centuries-old Hongjue Temple had played an important role as a bridge in strengthening the bond between the central government and Tibetan Buddhism over generations. It is essential to protect this precious historical and cultural heritage and make further contributions to forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation and promoting ethnic unity and progress. He noted the need to learn from veteran revolutionaries and do a better job in the Party's united front, ethnic and religious work in the new era. Xi stressed that to build a strong country and advance national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernization, the Chinese people of all ethnic groups around the country including religious believers should strive in unity. He expressed the hope that the Tibetan Buddhist circle in the province should carry forward the fine traditions of patriotism and religious piety, help promote religious, social and ethnic harmony, and play a positive role in advancing Chinese modernization.

On the morning of June 19, Xi was briefed on the work of the province by the CPC Qinghai Provincial Committee and the provincial government, and he affirmed what the province has achieved in various aspects of its work.

Xi noted that Qinghai shoulders the important mission of safeguarding the country's ecological security, and as far as industrial development is concerned, the province must do what it should and never do what it should not, so as to build a modern industrial system that reflects Qinghai's characteristics and advantages. The province is urged to effectively pool resources to speed up building itself into a world-class salt lake industrial base, a national highland for clean energy industry, a destination for international ecological tourism, and a supplier of green and organic agricultural and livestock products. The province should attach equal importance to scientific and technological research and development and the application of sci-tech achievements. New technologies should be applied extensively, traditional industries transformed and upgraded according to local conditions, and emerging strategic industries developed to foster new quality productive forces. Further efforts are required to deepen reform on all fronts and expand opening up and optimize the business environment. The province should also align its development with that of major strategies such as the Yangtze River Economic Belt and promote the development of the green Silk Road. Qinghai should coordinate regional development within the province, give full play to the supportive role of Xining, Haidong and Haixi, and develop county economies and industries with local features according to local conditions.

Xi stressed it as the region's major task to strengthen ecological conservation and environmental protection and maximize its ecological functions since the ecosystem of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau is diverse yet fragile. It is imperative for the province to prioritize eco-environmental protection, advance green development, conscientiously execute the law concerning ecological conservation on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and implement on all fronts the plans and requirements entailed by its principal zone function so as to build the plateau into a hub for ecological conservation. It is imperative for the province to persist with a holistic and systematic approach to conserving and improving mountain, water, forest, farmland, grassland, and desert ecosystems. Efforts should be made to accelerate the implementation of major projects for the conserving and restoring of key ecosystems, and consolidate and enhance what has been achieved in ecological conservation and environmental protection. The utmost priority is to conserve the source region of three major rivers, also known as "the water tower of China," protect biodiversity, and boost water conservation capacity. Efforts should also be made to strengthen the establishment of a nature reserve system with national parks as the mainstay and build exemplary nature reserves with national characteristics and global influence. It is necessary to promote energy conservation and carbon reduction in key sectors in an orderly manner, develop eco-friendly industries, and accelerate the development of a new energy system.

Xi noted that concrete measures must be taken to ensure and improve people's well-being. The province is urged to do everything within its capacities, make concrete efforts to meet people's needs, deliver real benefits to the people, and win their approval, and take solid steps to resolve the pressing difficulties and problems that concern people most. It is also a must to coordinate and plan the layout of basic public service facilities and put more efforts into making public services more balanced and accessible. Rural revitalization should focus on increasing the income of farmers and herdsmen, and efforts should be accelerated to invigorate characteristic seed industries of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, develop green and organic agricultural and animal husbandry, and promote native product brands of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. It is also necessary to advance the construction of beautiful rural areas on the Plateau and promote the transformation of outdated rural customs. Monitoring and assistance mechanisms should be implemented to prevent those lifted out of poverty from falling back to poverty, and see that no large number of people become poverty-stricken again. It is imperative for the province to continue to do a good job in the post-earthquake recovery and reconstruction of Jishishan and improve disaster prevention, mitigation, and relief capabilities.

Xi stressed that Qinghai is a province with concentrated ethnic minority groups, and it is essential to keep doing a good job in the work concerning ethnic and religious affairs. The province should fully implement the Party's major principles and policies for ethnic affairs in the new era, make it a main task to consolidate the sense of community for the Chinese nation, make efforts to promote ethnic unity and progress, and facilitate all-round integration and extensive exchanges and interactions among all ethnic groups. It is necessary for the province to fully implement the theories, principles and policies of the Party's religious work in the new era, uphold the principle of developing religions in the Chinese context, and strengthen the administration of religious affairs, especially the administration of religious venues, in accordance with the law.

Xi pointed out that the campaign to study the Party discipline across the entire Party is on-going, and the campaign must be carried out in earnest so that real outcome can be achieved. It is a must for the Party discipline to be enforced and abided by to the letter when the campaign has brought home its importance. It is essential to vigorously carry forward the zeitgeist with reform and innovation at its core and the spirit of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, so as to inspire Party members and officials to further emancipate their minds and update their thinking, as well as take firm steps and shoulder responsibilities. Concerted work must be done to enhance Party consciousness, improve Party conduct, and tighten Party discipline, and endeavors in this regard should facilitate fight against corruption. Work on improving Party conduct must continue permanently and further fight against pointless formalities so as to reduce burden on primary-level officials. Coordinated steps should be taken to see that officials do not have the audacity, opportunity, or desire to be corrupt so that a wholesome political atmosphere will help create a positive and upright social environment.

Li Ganjie, He Lifeng, and leading officials from relevant Party and state departments accompanied Xi on the inspection tour. 
Janet Gaston and her husband Marc Francis were reported missing in April

Asociacion Sosdesaparecidos Marc Francis, left, and Laura Gaston

Three men were arrested after the dismembered remains of a missing Belgian woman were found in Tenerife, part of Spains Canary Islands off the coast of West Africa. The womans husband is still missing.

Diario De Avisos, Levante and Mirame TV report that 66-year-old Laura Gastons body was found after she and her husband, Marc Francis, were reported missing on April 24. The couple, originally from Belgium, lived on Tenerife, the outlets reported.

Gastons body was found floating, dismembered with a bag over her head off the coast of the town of Arico, Diario De Avisos reported. The outlet also reported that and autopsy found that her death had been violent.

Mirame reported, citing local authorities, that three men have been arrested in connection with Gastons death. Two were arrested in Belgium, while the third was arrested on the island.

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Authorities did not identify the suspects and did not specify what charges they are facing.

A local court ruled that any proceedings on the case would be kept secret.



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Read the original article on People.
A woman is seeking $1 million, saying she saw her husband drown after being electrocuted in a jacuzzi at a Mexican resort

A woman is seeking $1 million, saying she saw her husband drown after being electrocuted in a jacuzzi at a Mexican resort

A Texas woman is seeking over $1 million in damages after her husband died at a Mexican resort.

The wrongful-death lawsuit claims that he died after being electrocuted in a jacuzzi and drowned.

The lawsuit accuses three companies linked to the resort of negligence.

A Texas woman is seeking over $1 million in damages, saying she watched her husband get electrocuted and then drown while in a hot tub during a family vacation in Mexico.

In a wrongful-death lawsuit filed in El Paso County District Court in Texas, first published by Inside Edition, Lizzette Zambrano accused three companies associated with the Sonoran Sea Resort of negligence.

It follows the death of her husband, Jorge Guillen, on June 11, 2024, while they were on holiday at the resort in Sonora, northern Mexico.

According to the lawsuit, Guillen stepped into the hot tub and was immediately "exposed to an electrical current in the water," causing him to keel over and become submerged.

The lawsuit said that Zambrano tried to grab her husband from the water but she was also electrocuted and fell into the jacuzzi.

According to the lawsuit, another guest managed to pull Zambrano out, but attempts to get Guillen, using a shepherd's cross and other items, were unsuccessful.

"The metal from the objects carried the electrical current and began shocking the rescuers," the lawsuit said.

Zambrano claims in the lawsuit that resort staff did not try to engage the emergency shutoff for the jacuzzi or try to rescue her or her husband.

Guillen died of drowning, the lawsuit said, while Zambrano was hospitalized but survived the incident.

According to the lawsuit, the defendants showed negligence by not providing warnings about faulty jacuzzi wiring, and breached their duty of care by failing to keep the resort reasonably safe.

A spokesperson for Casago, the vacation rental company that manages the resort, told BI by email: "We are devastated by what has occurred, and our hearts are with the family and the victims of this terrible incident."

The spokesperson added that the resort is a condo resort, and the homeowners association is responsible for the common areas, including maintenance of the pools and hot tubs.

"Regarding this incident, our involvement ends at the individual condo reservation," they said.

Guillen is described in the lawsuit as "an industrious, affectionate, loving, compassionate, energetic, cooperative, patient, and attentive father."

The couple's family has raised more than $55,000 on a GoFundMe campaign, which says it is fundraising to bring Guillen's body home and to cover Zambrano's medical expenses.

At the time of writing, the Sonoran Sea Resort's website includes a note indicating that the swimming pools and jacuzzis are temporarily closed.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A woman took her boyfriend to a tribunal because he didn't take her to the airport as promised

The woman said her boyfriend broke a promise to drive her to the airport. Yana Iskayeva/Getty Images

A New Zealand woman took her boyfriend to a disputes tribunal for not taking her to the airport.

The woman said that the boyfriend's promise to take her there was a verbal contract.

But the tribunal dismissed the claim, saying it couldn't justify ordering her to be compensated.

A woman from New Zealand took her long-term boyfriend to a disputes tribunal for failing to keep his promise to take her to the airport.

According to a tribunal order released on Thursday and first published by The Guardian, the woman said they had been in a relationship for six and a half years until the dispute arose.

The couple's names have been redacted.

The woman said her boyfriend had promised to take her to the airport and look after her two dogs while she attended a concert with friends.

She argued that this promise constituted a "verbal contract," which she claimed had been breached by him not keeping his word.

According to the order, he did not arrive to collect her and take her to the airport on the day she was due to travel, resulting in her missing her flight.

The woman told the tribunal that this resulted in additional expenses, including arranging travel for the following day, paying for a shuttle to the airport, and kennel fees for her dogs.

The tribunal examined the claim to determine whether the boyfriend had entered into a contract and, in turn, whether he owed her compensation.

Ultimately, the judge dismissed the claim, explaining that friends often let each other down, but this does not mean compensation is owed.

"Partners, friends, and colleagues make social arrangements, but it is unlikely they can be legally enforced unless the parties perform some act that demonstrates an intention that they will be bound by their promises," the order said.

In addition, it said that while financial consequences may arise from broken plans, the courts consider these "non-recoverable losses" unless the promise went beyond a favor between friends.

"In this case, I find that the nature of the promises was exchanged as a normal give-and-take in an intimate relationship," the tribunal ruled.

The order explained that, in this case, the promise fell short of being a contract, and just formed part of the "everyday family and domestic relationship agreements that are not enforceable in the Disputes Tribunal."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Woman wanted in kidnapping of SC mom, child caught at Tunica casino

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A woman wanted in connection to the kidnapping of a mother and her 8-year-old son in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, was arrested at a Tunica Casino Thursday.

The Tunica County Sheriffs Office said Amy Perez, 45, of Union County, North Carolina, is facing charges of attempted murder, kidnapping, impersonating a law enforcement officer, and intimidation of court officials, jurors, or witnesses.

According to the Chesterfield County Sheriffs Office on May 28, the female victim and her young son were taken by force from a house in the Jefferson area of Chesterfield County.

Deputies said they found both victims several hours later. The mother was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, and her son was not hurt.

The sheriffs department said two others have been charged in the case, and they expect to make more arrests.

Perez was taken into custody in Mississippi after the Tunica County Sheriffs Office received a tip about her whereabouts.

She is also charged with burglary and possessing a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.

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A recent Alabama Supreme Court ruling deemed frozen embryos to be children under state law. This led most clinics in the state to immediately halt in vitro fertilization (IVF) due to fears of legal repercussions under Alabama's Wrongful Death of a Minor Act. This ruling is just one in a series of attacks on reproductive rights in the United States that affects both queer and heterosexual people aspiring to parenthood.



The ruling also compounded existing inequalities in access to fertility treatment faced by queer women, single women and transgender men, in particular. A 2023 Human Rights Watch investigation found that heterosexual couples are covered by at least three major U.S. insurance companies' fertility policies, while lesbian couples face significant hurdles and must demonstrate multiple failed rounds of self-funded fertility treatments to qualify for coverage. In what one woman aptly described as a "queer tax," this makes fertility treatment cost up to $30,000 more for queer couples.

Discrimination against queer and single women who want to start and protect their families is a global issue.

In Japan, parliament recently considered a draft law that would restrict access to fertility treatment to women who have a husband, explicitly discriminating against single women and lesbians. In both the U.S. and Italy, the authorities have taken steps to remove non-gestational lesbian mothers from their children's birth certificates. In February 2023, an Oklahoma court removed Kris Williams from her son's birth certificate, ruling the sperm donor is the child's second legal parent. In an eerily similar attack on queer motherhood, a state prosecutor in Italy ordered the cancellation and re-issuance of 33 birth certificates of lesbian couples' children in January 2023, removing the non-gestational mother. Though a court ruled in March 2024 that the government could not simply remove women from their children's birth certificates, a similar case in Milan indicates that a precarious, back-and-forth legal battle may ensue.

Despite the barrage of bad news and court cases, the British government committed in 2022 to a 10-year strategy to end discrimination against "female same-sex couples" seeking fertility services. This change, thanks in large part to queer women's activism, would remove the requirement that lesbians seeking publicly funded fertility treatment prove infertility by self-funding 12 rounds of artificial insemination, including 6 in a clinical setting. Doing so has historically cost lesbian couples around 26,000 - yet another queer tax - while heterosexual couples could prove infertility by simply attesting to having had two years of unprotected sex. The strategy does not, however, define "same-sex" or "couple," leaving it unclear if those in civil partnerships, as well as transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people qualify. It is also silent on the treatment of single women.

The lack of policies around the globe to protect single and queer women who wish to become parents points to the grim reality that many rights  parental and otherwise  are still allocated to women based on their proximity to men.

Doctors in several U.S. states still ask women for "spousal consent" before performing hysterectomies. Almost half of countries limit women's property rights, and 44 countries prioritize sons in land inheritance, meaning that a woman's only path to generational wealth is often through a husband. To add insult to injury, even for women who do marry men, more than 100 countries still deny them the right to inherit their husband's land. Several countries allow fathers to prevent unmarried daughters from traveling abroad, and some ask women to produce evidence of a male guardian's "permission" to rent an apartment.

A lesbian activist in Kyrgyzstan told me she was coerced into marrying a man at 19 and wasn't allowed to move out of her parents' home until then. Paradoxically, she explained, "there is no path to freedom if you don't marry a man."

Around the world, attaching oneself to a man legally, financially, and socially is a prerequisite for a host of rights.

It would be easy to assume that fertility treatment is a privileged woman's issue, something lesbian and trans activists would only advocate after they had achieved other, more seemingly foundational LGBTQ+ rights. Traditionally conceptualized, this would include the decriminalization of same-sex conduct and marriage equality. However, in interviews I conducted across 26 countries, I found that queer women raised fertility, parental rights, and women's rights in custody battles as often or more than they did police abuse, criminalization, marriage equality, and employment discrimination.

Lesbians in Kenya and Malawi, two countries without marriage equality and where same-sex conduct is a criminal offense, told me that having children and protecting their rights as legal guardians was "what kept them up at night." They questioned not only why their ability to become parents was dependent upon marrying a man but also why it had to follow a normative LGBTQ+ rights advancement ladder.

Governments should reform discriminatory fertility laws, introduce anti-discrimination legislation, and remove disproportionate barriers to accessing reproductive treatments. States should also abolish laws that prevent single women and unmarried couples from adopting, and pass queer-inclusive parental recognition bills that explicitly recognize the legal parenthood of non-gestational lesbian parents.

As LGBTQ+ advocates and allies globally, we also need to center women's autonomy, including advocacy on behalf of single women, in the struggle for queer justice. The LGBTQ+ rights advancement playbook, as we normally speak of it, doesn't tell the whole story for queer women.

Erin Kilbride is a researcher with the LGBT rights and Women's rights programs at Human Rights Watch.

Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ and Allied community. Visit Advocate.com/submit to learn more about submission guidelines. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on any of our stories. Email us at voices@equalpride.com. Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists and editors, and do not directly represent the views of The Advocate or our parent company, equalpride.
Yes, Columbus: How the city is working to change its outside perception

Yes, Columbus: How the city is working to change its outside perception

View a previous report about Columbus population growth in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Columbus wants more people to recognize it as a tourist and convention destination, and the city is teaming up with local groups to make that happen.

Yes, Columbus is a campaign to boost awareness to potential visitors outside Ohio. When approving $650,000 in new funds for partner nonprofit Experience Columbus in early June, the city council said surveys show the city has a positive perception among those aware of it. Within Ohio, a 2022 study also flagged it as the only major city with population growth. But outside of Ohio, the council is concerned that people arent particularly familiar with it.

See 55 places in Ohio that have banned recreational marijuana businesses

Weve done a pretty good job in Ohio, making people aware of Columbus and what we have to offer, other than just Columbus is Ohio State and the capital,' said Brian Ross, CEO of Experience Columbus. We want people in Cincinnati and Cleveland to understand the neighborhoods, the cultural assets, the culinary and fashion that we have. We need to amplify and expand that outside of Ohio.

Experience Columbus, which is also Franklin Countys convention and visitors bureau, was already working to increase tourism and convention business, according to its online mission statement. For every dollar the group has spent on marketing and promotion, data showed that visitors spent $13.60, the council reported in its agenda. Ross said doubling the citys investment into the nonprofit could see that return on investment rise to $26 or $30.

Despite this, the city and its nonprofit partner admitted Columbus is not on enough peoples radar outside of the state. Ross said this is largely due to a lack of resources being put toward telling the story of Columbus. Thats where the Yes, Columbus campaign comes in.

Progress made on upcoming community center in Upper Arlington

Franklin County officials and Downtown Columbus Inc. are also involved in the project. They will showcase locally, regionally and nationally that Columbus measures up to  and sometimes even outperforms  other major cities. It will specifically target towns and cities in driving distance, or within 250 to 500 miles. Ross said places like Chicago and San Diego come to mind as comparable.

We rank as high in different aspects of that culinary and zoo experience that people arent aware of, Ross said.

Other qualities of Columbus the campaign wants to highlight include having COSI, one of the top science museums in the country, and being home to the Columbus Crew, fresh off an MLS Cup win.

A new study by Zumper recently found Columbus is the fourth-best city for new college graduates. Factors such as median rent prices, average income, unemployment rate and social opportunities were considered to reach that conclusion. And in May, Forbes named Columbus as one of the top 10 best cities to move to.

See five historic Columbus buildings added to endangered sites list

Columbus is also in the running to win a readers choice award from luxury and lifestyle magazine Conde Nast Traveler for best city. Experience Columbus has been making a push to try and win the award, with voting open until June 30.

Most of all, Ross said Columbus best selling point is its people.

The number one thing that really sets our city apart is the culture, our people being welcoming, forward-thinking, collaborative and making sure that were inclusive, Ross said. But also, there is sort of that entrepreneurship, theres innovation to it.

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One year on from Yevgeny Prigozhin's mutiny, BBC News Russian reveals where Wagner mercenaries are now

Former mercenaries from the Wagner Private Military Company are currently deployed in Syria, the Central African Republic (CAR), and Ukraine, serving in the Akhmat unit loyal to Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, BBC News Russian has found. [The Chechen Republic, also known as Chechnya, is a federal subject of the Russian Federation; the Ukrainian parliament has recognised it as the temporarily Russian-occupied territory of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria  ed.]

Source: BBC News Russian

Details: The BBC noted that Wagner mercenaries are known to have been present in Syria since 2015, but they now operate under the control of Russia's Ministry of Defence. According to one former Wagner commander, the offer presented to them was straightforward: "Either join the Ministry of Defence or **** *** [go away]."

The BBC reports that Wagner mercenaries in some African countries have now joined the Africa Corps, having signed contracts with the Russian Defence Ministry. Until the summer of 2024, the Central African Republic was the only country where the Wagner Group continued to operate in its traditional format.

The mercenaries' operations in the CAR are reportedly led by Pavel Prigozhin, son of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the late Wagner financier. "Moscow has given the heir the go-ahead to continue doing what his father did in Africa, on condition that it does not contradict Russia's interests," a source who used to work with Yevgeny Prigozhin says.

In addition, Apti Alaudinov, the commander of the Akhmat special forces unit, said at the end of October 2023 that former Wagner mercenaries were joining his units and heading to Ukraine to fight.

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov gave a specific number, claiming that over 170 former mercenaries had joined Akhmat. However, BBC sources said no more than 50 people actually joined.

Background: On 23 June 2023, Yevgeny Prigozhin, being at odds with Russia's senior political and military leadership, attempted to carry out an armed rebellion and moved his forces towards the Russian city of Rostov. A month later, on 23 August, Prigozhin and his closest aide Dmitry Utkin were killed when an Embraer Legacy 600 aircraft crashed near the village of Kuzhenkino, Tver Oblast.

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Six months after her daughters death, Jenele Hughes and her family attended what would have been the teens graduation from Grandview High School.

Like many seniors, her daughter Amauri Hughes had been excited to graduate and start the next phase of her life. She had planned to attend Florida A&M University, and then become a flight attendant to travel the world.

Before school started, her mom picked out a shirt on Amazon that said Proud mama of a 2024 senior, and found similar ones for Amauris sister, brother, grandparents, aunts and other relatives. She let the shirts sit in her online cart for months, unsure if the family should wear them for Amauris senior photos or save them for graduation.

But the opportunity to stand beside her daughter for those occasions was taken from her.

In November, 17-year-old Amauri was reported missing. She was found dead the following day with stab wounds, a gunshot injury, bruises and missing teeth. Her boyfriend Tyheem V. Anderson, 19, was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree assault, kidnapping, unlawful use of a weapon and three counts of armed criminal action.

The violence cut short the life of a young girl who loved competitive cheerleading, excelled in coding classes and, by the time she was 11 or 12, started a hair styling business in the familys home. She was an active older sister who helped teach her siblings to walk, cooked for them and showed up to cheer them on at their events.

As time passed, Jenele Hughes decided to order the shirts anyway, and wore them to work ahead of graduation. She is still Amauris proud mother, she reasoned. She always will be. But as the ceremony approached, her excitement turned to anger and sadness. An empty chair sat on the stage where her daughter should have been, with a cap and gown draped in Amauris honor.

You see everything on social media about all these people graduating, walking across the stage, and you dont get that experience. Someone took that from you, Jenele Hughes said. And though Im happy for everyone else and glad that they get to experience that, Im jealous as well that all I can walk away with was a sign that I had made and taking a picture with a sign and not a child.

The school called her daughters name and held a moment of silence. Jenele Hughes burst into tears and decided to leave. She didnt want to overshadow the moment her daughters classmates and friends had worked toward for years.

Amauris story is far from an isolated case.

In 2023, Kansas Citys deadliest year ever recorded, Amauri was among 19 minors who died by homicide. By the end of the year, there had been 185 homicides in the city  the deadliest year on record in Kansas City  with just over 10% of those deaths among youth. Of the 70 homicides in Kansas City as of June 20, 10 juveniles have died, according to data tracked by The Star, totaling over 14% of homicides.

The rise in gun-related injuries among youth in Kansas City has been steep this year, officials say.

Over the last year, the emergency room at Childrens Mercy has seen a significant increase in patients admitted with gunshot wounds and other forms of penetrating trauma, said Dr. Jennifer Watts, a pediatric emergency medicine physician.

In 2023, Kansas City police reported 59 children and teens wounded by gunfire. As of June 16, 52 youth gunshot wounds have already been reported in 2024, according to data from police.

As the numbers rise, so does the heartbreak for families across Kansas City.

Among the youth killed this year: 17-year-old Benyamin Hawthorne, who was fatally shot on a basketball court at a park; 11-year-old Kourtney Freeman, who was shot and killed while getting ready for bed in her home and 17-year-old Carlos Gonzalez, who was fatally shot alongside his childhood friend.

Flowers, photographs, a graduation cap and more cover an entry way table in Jenele Hughess home.

Part of everyones story

In the past, many young patients have come to Childrens Mercy with unintended gunshot wounds, sometimes caused when a child found a weapon and mistakenly fired it. Now, whether its a homicide or suicide, the hospitals emergency department is treating more patients with intentional gunshot injuries, Watts said.

These are things that could be prevented, Watts said, and its heart-wrenching to see it increase and continue to increase.

As staff work to heal patients physical wounds, theyre also starting to help them process the traumatic events theyve experienced with preventative mental health treatment. That work includes normalizing a childs fears after a traumatic event and providing a space where they feel safe.

Once an injury occurs, its a part of that childs life forever, Watts said. Its a part of that familys life forever. But if we can help mitigate some of the symptoms that they have just post-trauma, then the better off that kid and that family will be.

The ongoing threat of violence poses an obstacle to helping children heal from traumatic events, said Alexandra Beineman, vice president of clinical advancement at Camber Childrens Mental Health. As kids work through their mental health issues, theyre often exposed to stories of loved ones and other community members impacted by violence, even at events meant to be safe for families.

If that is happening in the community, then our kids are feeling that, theyre bearing the weight of that, Beineman said. Its a part of what theyre having to process with their mental health struggles.

Camber was one of the area providers to offer free virtual therapy sessions to children impacted by the shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl victory rally at Union Station on Feb. 14 that killed one person and left 24 others shot, including nine children. They heard from and helped families who didnt know how to help their child process their feelings after that day.

Its important all families and caretakers learn to talk to their children about community violence, Beineman said. Whether or not its impacted them directly, she said, kids are aware that its a problem.

One of those kids was 11-year-old Kourtney Freeman, who worked throughout the last school year on anti-violence initiatives with her classmates at Ewing Marion Kauffman School. About two weeks before the students were set to host a workshop on community violence, Kourtney was fatally shot while getting ready for bed in her home.

At this point, its really just a part of everyones story, Beineman said. So I think that if were looking at kids who are feeling anxious, who are struggling with trauma responses, whether thats behaviorally or impulse control or suicidal ideation, with the level of community violence were seeing in our communities across America, it would be ignorant to not assume that that is part of that childs story.

Jenele Hughes wears a heart-shaped necklace containing a photograph of her daughter, Amauri Hughes.

Everyone needs to care

Rosilyn Temple founded KC Mothers in Charge about a decade ago, after losing her son to gun violence in 2011 when he was 26 years old. She travels to homicide scenes across the city and offers support and resources to victims families.

In the early days of KC Mothers in Charge, Temple remembers the August 2013 killing of 3-year-old Damiah White and her mother, Myeisha Turner, who were found dead inside their home. Speaking with a homicide detective at the time, they talked about how more children like Damiah would die if community leaders didnt step up to help curb gun violence.

In the years since, their fears have come true.

When someone dies in their community, whether or not they know the victim or their family, everyone needs to care, Temple said.

Through her organization, Temple hosts canvassing events and vigils to remember victims lost to gun violence and push to solve their cases. To help lower homicide rates, she thinks more community members need to learn about the issue and do what they can to spread awareness, while organizations like hers work to provide support, as they did after the death of Amauri Hughes.

After her daughters death, Jenele Hughes felt alone, even in rooms where everyone loved her. People offered support with good intentions, but at times it was overwhelming. It felt like her privacy had been stripped, and everyone in the community was watching her.

Then Temple reached out, and Hughes found an outlet in KC Mothers in Charge. There, she said, shes surrounded by people who know what shes been through. On the third Thursday of every month, she meets them for group therapy.

You get to be free and just let it out, and youre not judged for anything, Hughes said. You can scream, cry, roll on the floor, laugh. It has been probably the best release for me that I have had as of yet, and I am truly grateful.

Hughes has learned that shell never fully heal from her daughters death, but she hopes to still have a fulfilling life and turn her attention toward activism focused on preventing domestic violence and homicide.

Mitigating violence will require help from every part of a community to ensure kids have safe places to go, and have adults in their lives who model healthy conflict resolution skills and mental health resources, Beineman said.

She hosts two free webinar series a year for community members on pertinent mental health topics. Last fall, the program discussed violence in schools and communities and its effects on young people. In spring, the series focused on PTSD and the impact trauma has on the brain. Both times, the webinar looked at ways communities can support young people processing these issues.

Hughes also believes that, in order to lessen violence in communities, adults should step up, watch over the young people in their area and treat them as their own children. Kids in her neighborhood know that her home is a space they can come for food, water and birthday presents, she said, but they also know shell discipline them when theyre out of line.

Its important, Hughes said, to be the person who speaks up when they see something wrong, even if theres fear involved.

When Hughes first knocked on doors after learning her daughter was missing, only two women answered and tried to help. The man living closest to where her daughter was killed shut the door in her face and refused to help. She wonders if some information he couldve provided may have been the difference that saved her daughters life.

Maybe you couldve helped save a 17-year-old from sitting in a house for two days being tortured and dying, Hughes said. But you were so unwilling to be a part of what could have been a solution.
Judge Ural Glanville's conduct in the YSL RICO case has been criticized by defense attorneys. - Credit:  Miguel Martinez/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution/ZUMA

Defense lawyers in the Young Thug racketeering conspiracy trial filed an emergency petition Thursday asking Georgias Supreme Court to step in and force Fulton County Chief Judge Ural Glanville to let an unbiased judge decide whether he should step down from the high-profile case now underway in Atlanta.

Filed by lawyers representing Young Thugs co-defendant and fellow rapper Yak Gotti, the 26-page petition claims Glanville committed judicial misconduct and violated Yak Gottis constitutional right to a fair trial when he held a secret meeting with prosecutors and a key witness without alerting the defense. The witness, Kenneth Copeland, had been sworn in for live testimony in front of the jury on June 7, but was taken into custody and spent the weekend in jail when Glanville found him in contempt for refusing to answer questions after signing an immunity deal. The secret meeting on the morning of June 10 led into Copelands return to the witness stand.

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In their filing on Thursday, defense lawyers Douglas Weinstein, Jay Abt, and Katie Hingerty argue that troubling facts about the secret meeting implicate Glanville in a joint effort to coerce Copeland to testify. They allege the judge and prosecutors engaged in an effort to join forces to get Copeland back on the witness stand under threat of returning to jail indefinitely.

The only logical conclusion for the secret nature of the proceeding was to give Glanville in conjunction with the state the unfettered ability to harass and intimidate the sworn witness into testifying, the lawyers argue in the motion. They go on to say defense lawyers have a right to the full transcript of the meeting since Copeland may have said things that could be used to undermine his credibility on cross-examination.

Copeland is a key witness in the case because he had access to an Infiniti sedan that allegedly was rented by Young Thug and was later linked to the 2015 murder of Donovan Nut Thomas Jr. outside a barbershop in Atlanta. Yak Gotti, whose legal name is Deamonte Kendrick, is charged with Thomas murder alongside fellow defendant Shannon Stillwell. Young Thug, whose legal name is Jeffery Williams, was indicted on an overarching count of racketeering conspiracy, with Thomas drive-by shooting death as an overt act carried out in furtherance of the alleged gang conspiracy.

According to the petition filed Thursday, Kendricks lawyers say they learned from an unidentified source that Glanville informed Copeland during the secret meeting that he could keep Copeland incarcerated until all 27 remaining defendants charged under the indictment conclude trial  not just the six defendants currently facing jurors in whats now the longest criminal trial in Georgia state history.

The defense lawyers further claim they believe Copeland said during the secret meeting that he would simply lie on the stand if forced to return and that he would testify he killed Thomas. The defense lawyers say such statements amount to important material they have a right to use as defense evidence. They go on to fault Glanville for finding Williams defense lawyer Brian Steel in contempt when he confronted the court about the secret meeting on June 10 and refused to divulge how he learned about it.

It is apparent that Glanville has made every effort to keep the proceeding a secret and inaccessible to defense counsel  going so far as to hold Steel in criminal contempt for refusing to provide the name of our source, Weinstein and his co-counsel write. They argue that a stay of the proceedings and immediate relief is necessary because the witness that was coerced by Glanville is presently on the witness stand. Absent emergency relief from this court in some form, Glanville will control the scope and substance of undersigned counsels cross examination of Copeland.

A spokesperson for the Fulton County Superior Court did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Rolling Stone sent Thursday. Prosecutors also did not respond to an email seeking comment on the emergency petition. Glanville previously denied three separate recusal motions filed in his courtroom, including one from Kendricks lawyers and one from Steel. He said an appeals court could look at his denials after the trial concludes.

Williams, Kendrick, and four others deny the charges against them and are expected to be on trial through the end of the year. Prosecutors already have called more than 70 witnesses in the frequently delayed proceeding, but thats still not half of the names on their list. Steel previously called the case against his client unconscionable and unconstitutional.

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Young Thug and his lawyer, Brian Steel, watch Judge Ural Glanville speak during the hearing of key witness Kenneth Copeland on June 10. - Credit: Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/AP

When Georgia state prosecutors announced their sprawling gang and racketeering conspiracy indictment against Grammy-winning rapper Young Thug and his many co-defendants in 2022, they knew it would generate headlines. They just didnt know how wild and unprecedented those headlines would get.

With courtroom cameras rolling, the case would give rise to the longest criminal trial in state history. The problem-plagued proceedings would be halted by everything from a jailhouse stabbing to the live-streamed arrest of Young Thugs lawyer on a contempt charge and the recusal of Fulton County Chief Judge Ural Glanville over his handling of a secret meeting  followed by the recusal of another judge appointed to replace him. The trial that started with jury selection in January 2023 and finally reached opening statements in an Atlanta courtroom that November was all but off the rails by mid-June 2024, Douglas Weinstein, a defense lawyer for Young Thugs co-defendant Deamonte Yak Gotti Kendrick, told Rolling Stone.

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Young Thug, born Jeffery Williams, is accused of co-founding and overseeing a gang called Young Slime Life that allegedly terrorized Fulton County with drug sales, armed robberies, shootings, and at least three murders. Williams vehemently denies the charges but has been in jail since his May 2022 arrest. His lawyer, Brian Steel, has called his indictment unconscionable and unconstitutional. On Thursday, June 13, Steel called the high-profile prosecution an authoritarian absurdity. This is crazy. This is like communist Russia. Mr. Williams is having the worst trial, Steel told the court as his high-profile client watched alongside his five co-defendants.

Heres what you need to know about the trial that keeps breaking into the national news cycle with its chaos and complexity.

Who is Young Thug?

Williams, 32, is one of the most influential hip-hop artists to rise to mainstream fame over the last decade. Raised in Atlanta as the tenth of 11 children, hes known for his acrobatic voice, flamboyant fashions, and innovative rapping on releases like 2014s Rich Gang: Tha Tour Pt. 1 (with Rich Homie Quan), 2015s Barter 6, 2016s Jeffery, and many more. Hes collaborated with many of the biggest artists in pop and hip-hop, starred on a digital cover of Rolling Stone, and won a Grammy for Song of the Year for his contributions to Childish Gambinos 2018 single This is America. His record label, Young Stoner Life, topped the Billboard 200 with its Slime Language 2 compilation, where Williams led a group of artists including Gunna, Drake, Travis Scott, and Lil Baby.

What charges are Young Thug and his trial co-defendants facing?

Fulton County prosecutors claim Williams is the head of a Bloods-affiliated gang called Young Slime Life (YSL) that formed in 2012 and consolidated power in south Atlanta though alleged crimes including armed robberies, carjackings, illegal narcotic sales, shootings, and at least three homicides. An initial indictment in May 2022 charged Williams and his co-defendants with racketeering conspiracy and participation in criminal street gang activity. An August 2022 re-indictment, filed after a search of Williams residence, charged him with six more counts including possession of a machine gun. In total, the indictment lists 65 charges involving 28 defendants and 191 overt acts ranging from alleged violence to song lyrics. Williams is being tried alongside Deamonte Kendrick, Rodalius Ryan, Marquavius Huey, Shannon Stillwell, and Quamarvious Nichols. Nine other defendants previously reached plea deals with prosecutors. A dozen more had their cases severed into separate proceedings. One defendant, Cordarius Dorsey, had his charges dropped after he was convicted of murder in a different case and sentenced to life without parole.

The homicides in the indictment are characterized as overt acts furthering the purported conspiracy because the victims allegedly belonged to rival gangs. Kendrick and Stillwell are specifically charged with the murder of Donovan Nut Thomas Jr. in 2015. Stillwell is further charged with the 2022 murder of Shymel Drinks. Ryan previously was convicted in the 2019 murder of 15-year-old Jamari Holmes, so Holmes murder is listed only as an overt act, not charged as a separate count in the indictment.

How many witnesses have been called so far, and how much longer could this trial last?

At least 75 witnesses have been called to testify already, according to daily live streams of the proceeding by Law & Crime. Its a high number for any trial, but not even half of the names on prosecutors whittled-down list. Initially the state said it had 737 potential witnesses. The astronomical number was later slashed to closer to 400 and now hovers around 200. In a motion for a mistrial filed June 17, Steel wrote that the trial is expected to last, at least, through the end of the 2024 calendar year. Only one of the three homicides in the indictment (Donovan Thomas Jr.) has been the subject of dedicated witness testimony so far.

How did each side frame the case in opening statements?

In her opening address to jurors last November, Fulton County Chief Deputy District Attorney Adriane Love said YSL was a criminal street gang led by Williams. For 10 years and counting, the group calling itself Young Slime Life dominated, dominated the Cleveland Avenue community of Fulton County, she told jurors, alleging YSL created a crater that sucked in the youth, the innocence, and even the lives of some of its youngest members. Love said Williams was known as King Slime and that Thomas murder on January 10, 2015 was carried out for YSLs benefit, leading to no less than 50 shootings over the next few months. She recited rap lyrics attributed to Williams, claiming they referenced real events, something that Williams lawyers deny. (Judge Glanville previously ruled lyrics could be used as evidence.) We didnt chase the lyrics to solve the murders. We chased the murders, the evidence will show, and in the process, we found the lyrics, Love said.

For his part, Steel said Williams was born into an environment, a community, a society that was filled with depression, despair, hopelessness, and helplessness. He said his client was raised in public housing, sharing a small bedroom with four brothers while six sisters shared a separate room. Severe poverty, crime, and the shooting death of his 20-year-old brother left Williams with an embedded distrust of police and the justice system, Steel said. The high-profile lawyer hailed Williams for surmounting the generational harms of institutional racism and becoming a world-renowned artist. He worked so hard. He outworked everyone, Steel said, adding that Williams Thug moniker is an acronym for Truly Humbled Under God. Hes not running this criminal street gang, Steel said. He is not sitting there telling people to kill people. He doesnt need their money. Jeffery is worth tens of millions of dollars. The defense lawyer added that Williams doesnt even know most of the people in this indictment.

Who are some notable witnesses so far?

Walter DK Murphy: A childhood friend of Williams and alleged co-founder of YSL, Murphy testified for several days in mid-April. He previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate Georgias RICO Act and was sentenced to time served plus nine years of probation. His deal required him to testify truthfully. On the stand, Murphy was evasive. I dont recall, he said, over and over, at one point claiming he played the part of a Bloods gang member but wasnt. I wasnt like a real Blood, so I was afraid of going to jail because of that, he said under oath. Prosecutors grilled him over an April 2015 shooting at an Atlanta Citgo gas station. Victim Dexter Montgomery was shot in the head but survived. Prosecutors showed surveillance images of Murphy with an assault rifle at the Citgo. Murphy confirmed he pleaded guilty to his role in the shooting. Under cross-examination by Steel, Murphy said he understood he could go back to prison if he lied on the stand. Did Jeffery (Williams) ever ask you or instruct you to commit a crime? Steel asked on April 15. No, Murphy responded. Murphy then said it was his understanding that he had to stop committing crime to continue hanging out with Williams.

Trontavious Tick Stephens: Another alleged co-founder of YSL, Stephens reached a deal that required his truthful testimony in exchange for time served and eight years of probation. In his plea statement, he accepted prosecutors claim that Williams urged him and other YSL members in a group chat to target an unidentified individual: Yall aint beat em up or shot em yet [youre] getting soft. Under direct examination by Love, Stephens told jurors he co-founded YSL with Williams and Murphy. Asked to explain the distinction between YSL the record label and the gang Young Slime Life, Stephens told jurors that the label that Jeffery Williams created was based on positivity, and the gang was negative. He continued, I committed crimes while being a part of YSL, so, by me committing crimes while being a part of YSL, that was the basis to say that YSL was a gang. Under cross-examination by Steel, Stephens told jurors that Williams offered him jobs to get him off the streets. Stephens testified that he wanted instant money, so he committed crimes instead. He encouraged me to stop selling drugs, Stephens said of Williams.

Kenneth Lil Woody Copeland: Trial watchers expected Copeland, an aspiring rapper known as Lil Woody, to be a valuable witness for prosecutors. Instead, he led to pandemonium. On Friday, June 7, the YSL associate was taken into custody after he refused to answer questions and invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Judge Glanville said Copeland had signed an immunity agreement that required his testimony, so Copeland spent the weekend in jail. The following Monday, Copeland was part of a private  now highly controversial  meeting with Judge Glanville and prosecutors before he returned to the stand (more on that later). When his testimony resumed, it was numbingly evasive. He sat with his arms crossed, yawned repeatedly, rolled his eyes and rocked back and forth in his chair. Over several days, he was questioned about the January 2015 drive-by shooting of Donovan Nut Thomas. Prosecutors say Williams rented the silver Infiniti Q50 sedan used in the deadly shooting and that Williams loaned the vehicle to Copeland around the same time and later paid for Copeland to lay low in Miami. Asked who paid for his Miami hotel, Copeland testified, I guess Young Thug did, I dont know. Copeland said he saw Williams in Miami after the shooting and asked him for help because everybody was blaming Copeland for Thomas death. According to prosecutors, Thomas was aligned with Atlanta rapper YFN Lucci, a purported rival of Williams. At one point during his testimony on June 13, Copeland said he was answering yes robotically to every query from prosecutors in an effort to speed up his questioning. He claimed he wasnt truthful in prior interviews. I was saying whatever they wanted me to say, he testified.

At another point, without the jury present, Steel told Judge Glanville that he was disturbed to see Copeland surrounded by prosecutors and law enforcement during breaks. Steel said he was worried it amounted to coercion. Thats when he compared the treatment to communist Russia. The judge replied, Intimidation?I dont see that. A few days later, on June 17, Steel filed a motion to disqualify Judge Glanville for alleged unethical behavior related to the secret meeting. The trial judge in this case participated in ex parte communications with the prosecutor in which he assisted the state to influence a witness to testify against Mr. Williams, Steel wrote in the motion that also called for a mistrial. The court and the prosecutors should not be working together, but they are, teaming up to gain an unlawful advantage over Mr. Williams. Judge Glanville denied the motion but agreed to release a transcript of the meeting to the defense.

What happened with Brian Steels contempt charge?

A wild scene played out on the trial livestream on Monday, June 10, as Steel removed his jacket and tie and was taken into custody for alleged contempt. Steel had just confronted Judge Glanville for the first time over his meeting in his private chambers with prosecutors and Copeland that excluded the defense. Steel said the defense had a constitutional right to attend the meeting, considering Copeland had been sworn in as a witness before he spent the weekend in jail on his own contempt charge. Steel told the court he was worried Copeland was threatened with more jail time during the meeting. Judge Glanville was more concerned with how Steel found out about the secret meeting. Steel refused to give up his source. On his way out of the courtroom in custody, he asked for a mistrial. Mr. Williams does not wish to go forward without me being here. You are removing me against his will and my will. Youre taking away his right to counsel, and youre conducting material parts of this trial without me present, he said. Judge Glanville denied the motion and ordered Steel to spend 10 weekends in jail as punishment. Steel asked to spend the time bunking with Williams so they could work on his case. Georgias Supreme Court later granted Steel bond, so the maximum 20-day jail sentence was put on hold pending the outcome of his appeal.

Brian was placed in the difficult position of choosing between his duty and loyalty to his client and sanctions including potential disbarment. He was told, if you stay quiet and honor the duty to your client, the court is going to lock you up, Alex Susor, one of Steels colleagues who jumped to his defense as co-chair of a strike force with the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, tells Rolling Stone. Brian found out about [the meeting], and it concerned him greatly. If Mr. Williams is convicted, and the conviction is based on evidence that has been withheld, it calls into question whether the trial was fair and whether a conviction should stand.

After Steel first raised the issue of the ex parte meeting, he and other defense lawyers in the case repeatedly asked Judge Glanville for the transcript of the secret meeting. They argued any inconsistent statements made by Copeland in the judges chambers could be used as valuable exculpatory evidence during his cross-examination. After initially resisting, Judge Glanville released the transcript on July 1 and halted the trial pending the decision on his possible recusal by a fellow Fulton County judge.

In scathing paperwork filed July 9, Steel and his co-counsel Keith Adams said the transcript showed Glanville acted unethically by allowing the meeting without the defense present, by failing to disclose Copelands statements and by telling Copeland he could remain in jail until every single defendant charged in the YSL indictment finished trial. Steel and Adams said Judge Glanvilles claim was not only false but amounted to witness intimidation and coercive pressure. They noted Glanville is not even the judge on the cases for the dozen other co-indictees yet to face trial. The lawyers further faulted Glanville for telling Copeland his immunity agreement protected him from prosecution. In reality, Copeland received only use immunity, not transactional immunity, they said. That means other prosecutors outside Fulton County could possibly charge him over an offense covered in his testimony if other evidence emerges that implicates him. (A spokesperson for Fulton County said Georgias code of judicial conduct barred Judge Glanville from commenting.)

What happened with Judge Glanvilles recusal?

On Monday, July 15, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Rachel Krause granted the motions to remove Judge Glanville that were filed by the defense teams for Williams and Kendrick. This court has no doubt that Judge Glanville can and would continue presiding fairly over this matter if the recusal motions were denied, but the necessity of preserving the publics confidence in the judicial system weighs in favor of excusing Judge Glanville from further handling of this case, Judge Krause wrote.

Krause ordered the Fulton County clerk to reassign the trial to another judge. By Monday evening, the trial docket said the case had been given to Judge Shakura L. Ingram. By Wednesday, July 17, Judge Ingram recused herself as well, citing her own connection to a courthouse deputy who was arrested in 2023 for smuggling contraband to YSL defendant Christian Eppinger. The case is now in the hands of Judge Paige Reese Whitaker.

Whats happening now that Judge Whitaker is at the helm?

At a hearing on Friday, July 19, Judge Whitaker said she was ready to pick up and continue the trial where it left off. I want to be moving forward efficiently and expeditiously, she said, admitting that she was parachuting in without having followed the case that closely. Laying down some new rules, she outlawed the use of AirPods and eating during trial and said she hoped to enforce a tight schedule that would start at 8:45 a.m. and run until 6 p.m. each day. She asked for revised witness lists and warned she would be scrutinizing them for wasteful overlap.

This case has been going on for a really long time, she said. There is a rule that lets me exclude cumulative evidence, and I might end up using that.

She then issued a general warning. It definitely has appeared that there have been times that tempers have flared a whole lot, and that people have been maybe less than professional, she said, adding that she hoped the weeks-long pause in the trial initiated by Judge Glanville before his recusal had been a helpful breather for everyone. Everybody has been absolutely wonderful here today, but I would like for us to maintain a degree of decorum and dignity and professionalism that is what is expected of all of us as members of the bar, Whitaker said. Im here to give everybody a fair trial, a fair shake, and follow the law.

Over the next few weeks, Judge Whitaker is expected to take up a motion from Williams lawyers asking to disqualify Fulton Countys two main prosecutors on the case, Adriane Love and Simone Hylton. They argue Love and Hylton violated Williams right to a fair trial by participating in the June 10 meeting with Copeland. They argue Love and Hylton knowingly made false and misleading assertions to Mr. Copeland and provided legally incorrect information to Mr. Copeland in order to persuade Mr. Copeland to testify against Mr. Williams. (Love and Hylton did not respond for a request for comment on the motion.)

What have been some other notable moments in the trial?

This chaotic, bizarre trial centers on very serious allegations, with the fates of six men hanging in the balance. Its become a social media spectacle due to Williams fame and the vast quantities of video available from the proceedings. Small moments or details have blown up and overshadowed hours of testimony, such as when Williams made headlines for wearing a wolf-emblazoned Armani sweater to court one day after Love described him as the leader of a wolf pack in her opening statement. For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack, she said, quoting Rudyard Kiplings The Jungle Book. Williams fashion choices again took center stage during Stephens testimony, when Steel asked him about a photo showing Williams posing in a blue sweater for GQ magazine. The choice was notable, Steel suggested, because real members of the Bloods street gang are known to avoid blue, the color of their rival gang, the Crips.

The forever trial also has been plagued by lengthy delays, one related to an Internet outage and another caused by the December jail stabbing of Shannon Stillwell. Issues with pay for the public defender representing Rodalius Ryan have been another recurring theme. She told WSB-TV she was considering starting an OnlyFans account as a side hustle to make ends meet. She reportedly was set to make only $15,000 for her work on the entire trial. That was later raised to a capped fee of $55,000 and then modified again to $5,000 for every month of trial.

Back in November, the courtroom livestream inadvertently filmed a few members of the jury, leading to concerns about their personal safety. The possible privacy breach happened the same day as a lighter exchange in which Judge Glanville introduced jurors to his Labrador retriever service dog, Jack. Glanville, an Army veteran, told the jury Jack is spoiled rotten, so there was no need to bring him any treats.

Whats up with fellow YSL artist Gunna?

In December 2022, Gunna, born Sergio Kitchens, pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy in the case and was immediately released. He was given a one-year sentence that was commuted to time served, a five-year suspended sentence, and 500 hours of community service. Footage of his Alford Plea hearing went viral, and some were outraged to hear him affirm the prosecutions claim that YSL is a criminal organization. Still, a source close to Kitchens told Rolling Stone that the rapper wont be testifying during the trial  which is the only way those comments could be used in court against his co-defendants. Gunna has since resumed his successful career, releasing A Gift & a Curse (featuring the hit single Fukumean) in 2023 and One of Wun earlier this year. On June 11, Williams dad, Jeffery Williams Sr., attended Gunnas Bittersweet Tour stop at Atlantas State Farm Arena. According to Billboard, the elder Williams was seen in the VIP section enjoying a performance of Ski from the YSL compilation album Slime Language 2.

Whats next?

Looking ahead, Deamonte Kendricks defense lawyer Doug Weinstein says its possible hell ask for a mistrial based on the actions of prosecutors and the court. If a new judge grants the motion as argued, the state could be barred from filing the charges again, the lawyer said.

I dont want to put the cart before the horse, but if we ask for a mistrial, its because we were goaded into that through the actions of the prosecution as well as the judge, and given that goading, double jeopardy should attach and Mr. Kendrick should not be retried, Weinstein told Rolling Stone.

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Zhang Shaogang, vice chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), delivers a speech via video at the 2nd China International Supply Chain Expo roadshow in Jakarta, Indonesia, June 21, 2024. The 2nd China International Supply Chain Expo roadshow, hosted by the CCPIT, was held here on Friday.(Xinhua/Xu Qin)

JAKARTA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The 2nd China International Supply Chain Expo roadshow, hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), was held here on Friday.

The roadshow aimed to provide a comprehensive introduction to the expo. Indonesian enterprises, professional buyers and people from various sectors were cordially invited to participate in the upcoming exhibition to foster in-depth exchanges and cooperation between China and Indonesia in the field of supply chain.

In a video speech, Zhang Shaogang, vice chairman of CCPIT, highlighted the significance of the supply chain expo, noting it as the world's first national-level exhibition dedicated to the theme of supply chain. He emphasized that China is hosting the expo to establish an international platform that facilitates enhanced communication, deepened cooperation and mutual development among all participants.

"In the context of the current global economy facing many uncertainties and challenges, we are very much looking forward to further strengthening cooperation between Indonesia and China in the field of supply chain through the second expo, and jointly promoting the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative," said Steven Siek, vice chairman of the Indonesian Chinese Entrepreneurs Association.

The second supply chain expo is scheduled to take place in Beijing from Nov. 26 to Nov. 30, 2024. In addition to ongoing exhibition areas for clean energy, smart vehicles, digital technology, healthy life, green agriculture and supply chain services, a new advanced manufacturing chain exhibition area will be introduced. 
New Zealand's Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee addresses a press conference at Parliament in Wellington, New Zealand, on April 22, 2024. McKee says the government will review stricter gun controls introduced after a mass shooting five years ago as part of a wide-ranging overhaul of firearms laws. (Mark Mitchell/New Zealand Herald via AP)

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  New Zealands government will overhaul the tighter gun laws introduced after a deadly mass shooting by a white supremacist five years ago, because they put excessive burdens on gun owners who feel vilified by law enforcement and the public, the lawmaker leading the changes said.

Whats happened is a massive change with massive penalties and targets on people who didnt do anything wrong, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee  a lobbyist for gun owners before she entered Parliament in 2020  told The Associated Press in an interview this week. Every part of the law will be scrutinized, including the restrictions that bar all but a few hundred New Zealanders from firing banned semiautomatic weapons, she said.

McKees pledge of a wide-ranging review  following an earlier announcement that she would ease rules for gun clubs  was applauded by groups representing the countrys 250,000 license holders and decried by survivors of the 2019 attack at two Christchurch mosques where an Australian man opened fire on Muslim worshippers, killing 51 people.

It makes me scared for our futures, Temel Atacocugu  who was shot nine times in the attack and fears an erosion of the assault weapon ban  told the AP. What have the past five years been for? How are they going to prevent this from happening again?

New Zealand drew global admiration when its then-Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said six days after the massacre that her government would outlaw all semiautomatic weapons. The change was approved by 119 lawmakers with only one opposed, and sweeping reforms followed: bolstered licensing requirements, more rules for gun clubs, and the creation of a firearms registry.

The changes introduced onerous regulatory compliance, said McKee, whose political party, Act, campaigned for New Zealands 2023 election on a platform for reversing many of them. Now in government as part of a center-right coalition, McKee pledged to update the law before the next election in 2026.

Her bloc has enough lawmakers to easily pass any reforms in the face of any resistance from the parliamentary opposition.

The changes we made off the back of March 15 took military-style semi-automatic weapons off the street and made our communities safer, said Ginny Andersen, a lawmaker for Labour  the largest opposition party, previously led by Ardern. Making those guns more accessible will take New Zealand backwards.

McKee's consultation was a box ticking exercise, with a select group and a very short time for responses, Andersen said in her emailed statement.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, whose party is in government with McKee's, did not answer AP's requests for comment.

McKee said she would consult with the public before deciding specific measures and that her personal views would not direct the overhaul. Critics rejected that.

She was elected as a gun lobbyist, that was her role, said Chris Cahill, president of the Police Association, a group representing most New Zealand officers. Shes got a loyalty to the gun lobby groups.

The review was without a doubt, a backdoor into giving people access to semiautomatic assault rifles again, Cahill said.

At the time of the ban, McKee denounced it as knee-jerk. As a minister she is more guarded, but told the AP that New Zealand had not been entirely rid of such weapons; several hundred people have permits to use them for pest control in rural areas, while others can own but not fire them.

If we extend the access, what are the possible controls around the use of the extension? And would society be happy with what those controls mean? McKee said she would ask during the review.

Its about how do we find the balance with protecting people but not going over the top with a regulatory regime, she said. Any concerns raised by opponents should be realistic," McKee added. It cannot be anecdotal.

New Zealands gun laws were safer before the 2019 reforms, the minister said, citing the dozens of pages of information now required for a gun license as an example of changes that could deter gun owners compliance.

Thats absolute rubbish, said Cahill. Gun laws were loose before the attack, he added, and the scrutiny reported by owners in the years since reflected the proper administration of the law after an injection of government funds.

McKee will begin by examining the gun registry created after the attacks; some gun owners want it shrunk to only the highest-powered weapons, rather than all guns. She will also explore removing from police oversight the new agency that administers gun licenses and registrations.

Gun crime has increased in New Zealand since 2019, according to analysis of official crime figures by New Zealand news outlets. Supporters of the tighter restrictions say they will take time to have an impact, and that a burgeoning problem with violent gang crime is fueling the rise. McKee, and groups representing gun owners, say scrutiny since the attack has fallen on law-abiding license holders at the expense of criminals, who are not captured by the stricter rules.

The Council of Licensed Firearms Owners said members had lost or couldn't obtain licenses because of malicious reports from past partners  who must be interviewed as part of a persons application  or because they had divulged depression to their doctors. Areas of flexibility should be introduced to applications, spokesperson Hugh Devereux-Mack said.

Every single New Zealander who is not convicted of a serious criminal offense and has no sort of problematic behaviors or serious mental health conditions is eligible to own a firearm, Devereux-Mack said.

The gunman serving a life sentence for the Christchurch attack, Brenton Tarrant, moved to New Zealand from Australia, acquired a gun license and amassed a cache of assault weapons, all legally, without drawing the attention of law enforcement until he committed the massacre.

The police were censured by an inquiry that found Tarrant was incorrectly allowed to nominate a character reference who barely knew him because he did not have relatives in New Zealand who could be interviewed.

McKee said the rules that followed have made the system rigid and unwieldy. She would prefer a licensing regime that looked at the individual," she said  without prompting the same disregard of rules that had allowed Tarrant to receive a license.

Devereux-Mack said his group might support an additional practical testing component to gun licensing, and a tiered system with more freedoms for longtime license holders.

New Zealand wont be safer if it becomes easier to get a gun, Atacocugu said. I have to have an eye test every time I renew my drivers license. Gun owners should have similar background and mental health checks every few years to make sure theyre still safe to have guns.
President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Oleksii Morozov as the new head of Ukraine's State Security Administration (UDO), the Presidential Office announced on June 21.

The UDO's main tasks include ensuring the security of the president of Ukraine and high-ranking officials of the state, as well as the protection of administrative buildings and objects of state authorities of Ukraine.

Serhii Rud, Morozov's predecessor in office, was dismissed on May 9, shortly after the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) claimed to have uncovered a network of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) agents who were plotting to assassinate Zelensky and other high-ranking officials in Ukraine.

Two colonels of the UDO accused of leaking classified information to Russia were reportedly detained.

The FSB network aimed to find perpetrators among the military close to Zelensky's security, "who could take the head of state hostage and then kill him."

Just a few weeks before, SBU officials and Polish law enforcement worked to detain a Polish citizen who allegedly offered to Russia to assassinate Zelensky.

In late November, Zelensky said in an interview with The Sun that he had survived at least five assassination attempts since the start of Russia's full-scale war.

Read also: Zelensky appoints new Special Operations Forces head

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Oleksii Morozov as the new Head of Ukraine's State Security Administration.

Source: decree No. 361/2024, dated 21 June

Quote: "Oleksii Volodymyrovych Morozov shall be appointed as the Head of the State Security Administration of Ukraine".

Background:

On 7 May, the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) said it had foiled plans by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other members of Ukraines senior military and political leadership.

Two colonels from the State Security Administration were suspected of treason and aiding and abetting a terrorist attack, the SSU said.

On 9 May, Zelenskyy issued a decree dismissing Serhii Rud from his post as the Head of the State Security Administration of Ukraine, which he had held since 2019.

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Zelenskyy approves delegation for EU accession talks. Who will take part?

On 21 June, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree approving the membership of the delegation that will represent Ukraine in its accession negotiations with the European Union.

Source: the decree published on the website of the Presidents Office, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The delegation will be led by Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration.

It will also include Andrii Yermak, Head of the President's Office, and his deputies Iryna Mudra and Ihor Zhovkva; Maria Marchenko, Deputy Head of the Department for European Integration of the President's Office; Oleksandr Korniienko, First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament); Taras Kachka, Trade Representative of Ukraine; Yevhen Perebyinis, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Vsevolod Chentsov, Ambassador of Ukraine to the EU.

The decree also mentions the deputies and first deputies of all Ukraines ministries. The only minister is Ruslan Strilets, Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources.

The other members of the delegation are Oleksandr Ilkov, Director General of the Government Office for the Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration; Ihor Verner, Head of the State Statistics Service; Pavlo Kyrylenko, Head of the Antimonopoly Committee; Serhii Nikolaichuk, Deputy Chairman of the National Bank; and Maksym Libanov, member of the National Securities Commission.

Zelenskyy's decree also governs the approval of directives for the negotiations with the EU and directs the government to set up working groups to prepare Ukraine's negotiating positions and approve their members.

On the afternoon of 21 June, the EU Council approved Ukraine and Moldova's negotiating frameworks and the intergovernmental conferences that will officially open the accession negotiations on 25 June.

Moldova has also chosen its lead negotiator for EU membership, and President Maia Sandu has signed a decree to initiate the talks.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a telephone conversation with his Polish counterpart, Andrzej Duda, on 21 June.

Source: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: During the conversation, the Ukrainian president thanked Duda for "actively supporting the Peace Summit", and they agreed to collaborate in involving other countries in the final communique.

"We also noted the productive work of our teams in preparing our bilateral security agreement and discussed regional security challenges," Zelenskyy added.

I spoke with President of Poland @AndrzejDuda and thanked him for actively supporting the Peace Summit.



We discussed the summits outcomes and agreed to continue working with other countries on joining the final communique.



We also noted the productive work of our teams in pic.twitter.com/2A7QiScxDQ  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) June 21, 2024

Background:

The conversation between Zelenskyy and Duda took place after Ukraine and Poland held the final round of talks on signing a bilateral security agreement.

The bilateral security agreement between Ukraine and Poland could reportedly be finalised and signed before the NATO summit, which will be held on 9-11 July.

On 20 June, Pawel Kowal, a Polish lawmaker and chairman of Poland's Council for Cooperation with Ukraine, stated that the agreement would be ready soon.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has noted that the situation on the Kharkiv front has stabilised, while it is still "extremely difficult" on the Pokrovsk front.

Source: Zelenskyy's evening address on 21 June

Quote: "Kharkiv Oblast: the situation has become even more stable. This is the merit of our men. Donetsk is quite challenging. This is especially true for the Pokrovsk front, which suffers dozens of Russian assaults per day. It is critical to withstand there, destroy the occupier, and not give Russia any cause to believe that Russia will win the war against Ukraine.

We can and must get the best results for Ukraine. In everything. Always. When there is an opportunity, there are chances, and we are required to create opportunities for ourselves to win. For Ukraines success."

Details: Zelenskyy also reported on his conversation with Poland's President Andrzej Duda. They discussed more coordinated initiatives and stances ahead of the NATO meeting in Washington.

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Bossa is bringing denim made with SaXcell fiber into the market.

For Fall/Winter 2025-2026, the Turkish denim mill introduced Endless Blue, fabric collection made with the regenerated virgin cellulose fiber.

More from Sourcing Journal

SaXcell is derived from chemical recycled cotton waste. The fibers production begins with sorting domestic cotton textile waste into a well-defined waste stream. Non-textile components like zippers and buttons are removed as the waste is grinded into a dry mixture of fibers with different lengths. The dry mixture is chemically decolored, followed by a wet spinning process.

The fiber can be cut to specified lengths, spun into yarns and woven or knitted into fabrics. Coloring can take place at the fiber, yarn or fabric stages.

From hemp to colored cotton, Bossa actively introduces new fibers to their denim fabrics. With SaXcell blended denim, Muge Tunceren, Bossas product development manager, said the mill is able to create denim fabrics not only to meet high standards of quality and performance but also prioritize environmental conservation.

The Endless Blue collection includes two fabrics: the comfort stretch Organic Cypress Savetrue with 34 percent SaXcell lyocell; and the power stretch FX Metacell Freshblue with 18 percent SaXcell lyocell.

SaXcell exhibits excellent performance throughout the washing and laundry processes, said Jordan Nodarse, Bossa Denim designer. We havent encountered any performance issues that differ from other lyocell fibers currently on the market. This is a significant advantage since SaXcell is made from recycled input, unlike recycled cotton, which performs differently compared to its virgin counterpart.

Nodarse added that the mill has received a lot of interest in SaXcell fiber as the market is looking for recycled cellulosic fibers. We have several new developments in progress for some iconic sustainable brands, he said.

The collaboration between Bossas experienced denim manufacturing team and SaXcells innovation expertise addresses some of the big challenges of our time; moving from a linear to a circular economy, SaXcell stated.

The Dutch fiber producer said that PVH Corp., which recently made sample tops with SaXcell fibers, gave positive feedback about the quality of the garments.

Initially a project by a team of researchers from Saxion University of Applied Science in 2011, SaXcell was spun off as a startup in 2015. The company has been scaling its technology since through partnerships with Rieter, a supplier of systems for short-staple fiber spinning, and Birla Cellulose, a producer of man-made cellulosic fiber.
First Neuralink patient explains what could happen if his brain-chip implant gets hacked

First Neuralink patient explains what could happen if his brain-chip implant gets hacked

Neuralink's first human patient discussed hacking concerns on Joe Rogan's podcast.

Noland Arbaugh said a hacker could, in theory, see his brain data or access his PC by controlling a cursor.

However, Arbaugh said he isn't too worried about getting hacked.

Neuralink's brain chip has already shown promising results for its first recipient Noland Arbaugh, since he received it in January.

But is it possible the chip could be hacked?

"The short answer is yes," Arbaugh said in a podcast interview with Joe Rogan released Thursday.

While Rogan lightheartedly discussed the possibility of humans being hijacked and becoming cyborgs, Arbaugh said hacking his brain implant wouldn't do much  at least at this point.

"You might be able to see like some of the brain signals," Arbaugh said. "You might be able to see some of the data that Neuralink's collecting."

It's unclear what this kind of data would look like. The Neuralink chip, which is about the size of a coin, contains thousands of electrodes that monitor and stimulate brain activity. The information is then digitally transmitted to researchers.

Arbaugh, a 29-year-old quadriplegic, previously told Business Insider that the brain chip has given him more independence and helped him reconnect socially.

The chip allows him to control a cursor on his computer using only his brain.

"I've been using it to message people on X, use Instagram, reply to emails, play fantasy sports, read comics online, and access a site I use to learn Japanese," he said. "I also used it to book a hotel for when I visited Neuralink's headquarters."

A diagram of Neuralink's brain chip procedure. Neuralink/YouTube

Arbaugh told Rogan that if he was connected to his computer at the time of the hacking, someone could steer and control his mouse cursor. They could also potentially access his messages and emails by getting into his computer, Arbaugh said.

The possibility of hacking isn't a taboo subject for Arbaugh, though. He said he was warned about the risk before he started the study, but he's not worried about it.

"It is what it is," Arbaugh said. "I think if it happens, it happens."

The current focus on Neuralink is for medical uses.

Neuralink founder Elon Musk has predicted the chip will one day be able to "solve" mental conditions like autism and schizophrenia . That's been contested by some neuroscientists who don't think the chip will be able to change the developmental structure of the brain impacted by certain conditions. But the technology may be able to help paralyzed patients like Arbaugh experience improved movement.

Eventually, though, Musk hopes to make Neuralink chips mainstream and turn them into a " Fitbit in your skull ." If that becomes a reality, hacking concerns might be more pressing.

Check out the full interview below.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A Rocket Lab Electron launcher lifts off from New Zealand on June 20, 2024, carrying five satellite for the French Internet of Things company Kineis. | Credit: Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab reached the milestone 50th launch of its Electron rocket in record time.

An Electron lifted off from Pad B at Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, at 2:13 p.m. EDT on June 20 (1813 GMT; 6:13 a.m. local New Zealand time on June 21). The rocket was operating with an instantaneous launch window but lifted off at the first opportunity in a 14-day launch window.

The mission, which Rocket Lab named "No Time Toulouse," is carrying five satellites for Kineis, an Internet of Things (IoT) satellite connectivity provider. The satellites were deployed in a precise sequence, one after the other, with deployment completed today by about one hour and six minutes after launch as planned.

a bright white plume of fire lifts off at night above a cloud of smoke. a white rocket is just barely visible above the flames

"MISSION SUCCESS for our 50th Electron launch! Welcome to orbit, @KineisIoT. Congratulations to the entire Rocket Lab team on reaching 50 launches faster than any other commercially developed rocket. Thank you to the many customers who have flown on Electron and helped us revolutionize access to orbit for small satellites," Rocket Lab said via X shortly after deployment today.

Kineis, which is based in Toulouse, France, is backed by private and public investors, including the French space agency CNES. The mission is the first of a planned five; Rocket Lab will send 25 satellites into orbit to complete Kineis' constellation.

"No Time Toulouse" was Rocket Lab's 50th Electron mission, following the first in May 2017, which ended in failure. The half-century of launches includes one Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron launch. Electrons had been launching solely from New Zealand until a first liftoff from U.S. soil last year.

The milestone came fast  seven years and one month after Electron's debut. For comparison, SpaceX took seven years and nine months to conduct 50 Falcon 9 launches, while United Launch Alliance's venerable Atlas V rocket reached the milestone in just under 10 years, and the now-retired European Ariane 5 in 11 years and 9 months.

Electron's development and success  overcoming significant challenges on the way  have positioned Rocket Lab as a significant player in the small satellite launch market.

The carbon composite rocket uses electric pump-fed Rutherford engines burning rocket-grade kerosene (RP-1) and liquid oxygen (LOX). It can carry 661 pounds (300 kilograms) of payload to low Earth orbit and has become a popular choice for dedicated missions, like "No Time Toulouse," as well as smaller rideshare missions.

Rocket Lab founder Peter Beck put the achievement into context in a company post on X ahead of the milestone launch. Recounting a meeting with a venture capitalist in the company's early days, Beck succinctly noted the hurdles ahead through the potential investor's summary of Beck's proposal.

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"That made it sound totally absurd. It went something like: 'So you have no degree. You're from a country that has never put anything into orbit before. You think you can beat Richard Branson. You're going to build a rocket out of carbon composite; that's never been done before. You're proposing to 3D-print a rocket engine; that's never been done before. And, by the way, you're also going to build a large site in another country. You're going to get a bilateral treaty signed between those two countries to enable it, and you think that you can get there faster than everybody else.'"

Beck said that he systematically went through each one of those points and explained how Rocket Lab would address them. "And they led the B-round [of funding]," he added in the X post.

Rocket Lab is now working on reusing Electron first stages that are fished out of the sea following reentry.

The company is also progressing on a new, larger launch vehicle called Neutron , whose name is in keeping with Rocket Lab's subatomic particle theme. (The company also builds a satellite bus called Photon.) The next-generation, reusable rocket is expected to fly for the first time in mid-2025.

Editor's note: This story was updated at 3:25 p.m. ET on June 20 with news of successful satellite deployment.
A breakthrough in transforming hazardous ash into an in-demand building material could help solve a major problem in the construction industry.

A press release by RMIT University in May revealed that engineers successfully replaced 80% of the cement in concrete with coal fly ash, a toxic waste generated by burning dirty fuel in coal-fired plants. According to RMIT project lead Dr. Chamila Gunasekara, most low-carbon concretes contain no more than 40% of fly ash.

"Our addition of nano additives to modify the concrete's chemistry allows more fly ash to be added without compromising engineering performance," Gunasekara said in the release.

Various state and national governments have been working to close existing coal plants, which release pollutants linked to severe health issues, including heart problems, neurological disorders, cancer, as well as premature deaths, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.

However, as RMIT University noted, the ash already generated by plants will "remain abundant" in Australia for decades even as the world transitions to clean, non-polluting energy like solar and wind.

Meanwhile, cement production is widely reported to account for around 8% of worldwide carbon pollution, contributing to a warming planet that causes destructive weather events to become more frequent and extreme. While some builders have turned to alternative weatherizing materials, like the affordable hempcrete, the demand for cement continues to grow.

Scientists have been investigating how to reduce harmful construction-sector pollution, and coal ash appears to be another promising solution. A separate project by the University of Victoria examined how fly ash and bottom ash may be able to create carbon-sequestering concrete.

RMIT University's research  conducted in collaboration with the Ash Development Association of Australia and AGL's Loy Yang Power Station  also looked at pond ash. Large concrete beam prototypes reveal that the team's fly ash and pond ash methods met quality and environmental standards.

"It's exciting that preliminary results show similar performance with lower-grade pond ash, potentially opening a whole new hugely underutilized resource for cement replacement," Gunasekara said in the release, noting that Australia's dams alone have hundreds of megatonnes of the hazardous waste. "... The ability to repurpose this ash in construction materials at scale would be a massive win."

As Interesting Engineering pointed out, one challenge to adopting less polluting materials in construction has been proving that they will last reliably over time. To address this, RMIT partnered with Hokkaido University's Dr Yogarajah Elakneswaran to develop a computer modeling program.

"We've now created a physics-based model to predict how the low-carbon concrete will perform over time, which offers us opportunities to reverse engineer and optimize mixes from numerical insights," RMIT virtual computational mechanics expert Dr. Yuguo Yu explained in the release.

The team hopes its findings, published in the journal Cement and Concrete Research, will help build confidence in the potential of low-carbon concretes.

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BEIJING, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The People's Republic of China and the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Friday issued a joint statement of their first plenary session of the intergovernmental committee.

Full Text: Joint Statement of the First Plenary Session of the Intergovernmental Committee between the People's Republic of China and the Federal Republic of Nigeria
The 200 block of North Fourth Street between Lincoln Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard is pictured June 20, 2024. The new school gym is on the right.
GAZA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The civil defense service in Gaza said on Friday that the Israeli forces bombed a facility belonging to the municipality of Gaza City and killed five municipal employees.

The civil defense service said rescue teams are still searching for missing persons under the rubble of the bombed facility, which is near Yarmouk Stadium in the city center.

The Gaza Municipality condemned the Israeli army's attacks in a statement and called for an immediate investigation.

The municipality stressed that the killed employees were pumping water for the citizens, who were "performing the duty of the nation and serving the citizens despite the limited capabilities and high risk."

It also warned of the collapse of municipal services due to the Israeli attacks on municipal employees, which could interrupt the basic services, such as water and sanitation, and put extra strain on Palestinians living in the besieged enclave.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli army about the incident.

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 were taken hostage. 
SYDNEY, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Australian police revealed on Friday that a woman was charged after wielding a knife and being injured during a police shooting in Victoria last weekend.

According to a report from Victoria Police, the 51-year-old woman has been charged with two counts of threats to assault police, two counts of assaulting police, two counts of common law assault, and reckless conduct causing serious injury.

On Sunday, emergency services were called to Penders Park near Collins Street in Thornbury at about 2:50 p.m. local time, following reports of a woman armed with a kitchen knife.

The involved venue is located approximately 8 km north of Melbourne's central business district.

Despite officers' negotiations with the woman to drop the knife, she refused to do so, and pepper spray was deployed afterward.

"The woman then allegedly ran at officers while holding the knife, before one shot was fired by police. She was conveyed to hospital in a stable condition to be treated for a gunshot wound to her thigh," said Victoria Police.

Local authorities have launched an investigation into the incident under the oversight by Professional Standards Command, which is standard protocol when a police firearm is discharged. 
The China Cultural Centre opened in Budapests 14th district on Friday with an exhibition featuring the works of 7 photographers called China through the eyes of Hungarian photographers.

Director Jin Hao said the centre would open to the public on Thursday, after years of careful planning. The exhibition features the photos of Hungarian photographers of the Shanghai and Suzhou regions, he added.



Janos Csak, the outgoing minister of culture and innovation, said the centre was another sign of Hungarian-Chinese friendship and long-term mutual respect.



Hungarian-Chinese cooperation, he added, extends beyond culture to economy, trade and finance.



The centre will have an important role in helping Hungarians to get to know Chinese culture better, similarly to the work of the Beijing Liszt Institute and Hungarian consulates in China, which are spreading knowledge of Hungarian culture, Csak said, adding that his successor, Balazs Hanko, would be similarly committed to supporting relations between the two countries.



Chinas Ambassador to Hungary, Gong Tao, said the centre had always had full support from the Hungarian government since its inception in 2020.



He said the two peoples had great respect for each others history and culture, and nurtured a strong friendship.



Chinese Cultural Center on Facebook / website



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by Dana Halawi

BEIRUT, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The ongoing war of attrition between Israel and Hezbollah has significantly escalated recently while Lebanese experts reported little but a possible chance for a comprehensive war between Israeli forces and the Lebanese military group.

On Tuesday, the Israeli military said it has approved "operational plans" for an offensive against Hezbollah. In response, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah pledged on Wednesday a fight "without limitations" if Israel starts a war with the group.

On Thursday, Hezbollah fired multiple rockets in northern Israel after Israel launched an attack in southern Lebanon, killing a Hezbollah commander earlier in the day.

While recent escalations raised concerns of a full-scale conflict along the Israel-Lebanon border, Lebanese analysts noted that Israel and Hezbollah, with deeper incursions into each other's territories and heightened rhetoric, are mainly trying to deter each other and test their boundaries.

However, they also warned that the possibility of the situation escalating into a full-scale war cannot be ruled out, as the dynamics between the two sides have become increasingly risky.

Refaat Badawi, a political analyst and adviser to former Lebanese Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss, believes that Israel is reluctant to engage in a full-scale war on its northern border with Hezbollah, as it would force Israel to fight on two fronts.

Badawi also pointed out that Hezbollah is capable of mounting a "much stronger resistance" compared to Hamas in Gaza, and the United States is against Israel initiating a full-scale war with the Lebanese Shiite militant group.

Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in border fighting since Oct. 8, 2023, following the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel. The confrontation is expanding, with both sides stating they are ready for war.

The United States has called for a cessation of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, advocating for Lebanese residents in the south and Israelis in the north to return to their homes. American special envoy Amos Hochstein visited Israel and Lebanon earlier this week to defuse the situation in southern Lebanon.

Badawi noted that although the possibility of an all-out war remains relatively low, it is still looming on the horizon, suggesting that internal pressure within Israel may prompt its leaders to venture into a larger conflict.

Meanwhile, Adnan Mansour, former Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, told Xinhua that the Israeli government may opt for an all-out war against Lebanon to achieve military gains after more than eight months of offensive in Gaza failed to eliminate Hamas.

Mansour also noted that even though the United States advised Israel against a full-blown conflict with Hezbollah, it will support Israel if it decides to proceed, "just as it does now" in Gaza. 
Prosecutors have dropped the investigation into voice recordings of former justice minister Judit Varga's private conversation published by her former husband, Peter Magyar, who now leads the Respect and Freedom (Tisza) party.

Magyar alleged that the recordings proved that the documents of a criminal trial had been tampered with, as well as other wrongdoing.



He was heard as a witness in the case, along with Varga, cabinet minister Antal Rogan and Gergely Gulyas, the head of the Prime Ministers Office.



All witnesses said they knew of no corruption case where officials had failed their duty to report to the authorities, the Prosecution Investigation Offices chief, Pal Furcht, said.



One procedure connected to a corruption case incriminating former state secretary Pal Volner and Gyorgy Schadl, the former head of the Hungarian Chamber of Bailiffs, was closed for lack of evidence of a crime because no officials were found who knew of the graft before the launch of the procedure, Furcht said.



Regarding allegations that documents of the Volner-Schadl case had been redacted, Furcht said the documents had not been manipulated, and the prosecution investigators had assessed all data according to the relevant legislation.



The investigation concluded that the recordings contained instances of Judit Varga sharing gossip with her husband, he said.



Document Redaction, Manipulation Allegation Outrageous

The idea that the documents related to voice recordings of former justice minister Judit Vargas private conversation published by her former husband, Peter Magyar, the leader of the Respect and Freedom (Tisza) party, had been redacted was outrageous and surreal the Prosecution Investigation Offices chief, Pal Furcht, said.



Further, he said the recorded conversation contained factual errors excluding the possibility that the information had come from the prosecutions documents or from a person familiar with those documents.



The documents themselves were stored in multiple copies at multiple locations, including with the defence and the suspects themselves, making redaction impossible, he said.



The investigation into those allegations was terminated for lack of suspicion that a crime had been committed, he said.



Katalin Kovacs, the spokeswoman of the prosecutors office, said investigators heard nine witnesses and reviewed some 17,000 pages of documents.



Due to a lack of evidence during the investigation, it could not be clarified whether Volner had received information about the ongoing investigation against him, which is why the investigative prosecutors office terminated the investigation.



The prosecutors office has taken action in all suspicious cases, taken those responsible to court and ensured that a criminal procedure was conducted. All allegations regarding the voice recording were proven to be unequivocally false, Kovacs said.



The decision is not binding, she added.



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Hungary and the United Arab Emirates have both benefitted a lot from their cooperation and are prepared to further develop their relations, Peter Szijjarto, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said in Budapest.

Bilateral trade turnover increased by 8% last year, and Hungarian exports to the UAE are up by 18% so far this year, Szijjarto told a joint press conference with UAE Economy Minister Abdulla bin Touq Al-Marri.



Szijjarto welcomed that the two countries have signed an agricultural cooperation agreement, which he said would create more opportunities to export Hungarian food products and technologies to the Gulf country.



He said a space exploration cooperation agreement signed by the two countries demonstrated the scope of their cooperation and would promote the internationalisation of Hungarys space programme.



The minister also touched on the investment project to redevelop the Rakosrendezo area in Budapests 14th district, which he said would give new momentum to the capitals development.



A new, modern, green and sustainable quarter will be developed around the Rakosrendezo train station which today is an abandoned derelict area, Szijjarto said.





MTI Photo: Zoltan Mathe



We will revive this area and give it back to Budapest residents and the Hungarian people. It will be turned into a new, modern green district with complex sports, tourism, residential, economic and business functions.



Szijjarto said the preparatory public procurement work was already under way, and the aim was to turn the area over to the property developer in September.



As regards energy cooperation, Szijjarto said he and bin Touq Al-Marri had agreed to elevate their countries cooperation on research, education and training and to take a joint stand against discrimination against nuclear energy.



On the topic of global and regional security, Szijjarto expressed Hungarys appreciation for the UAEs wise, restrained, moderate and responsible behaviour with which, he said, it played an extremely important stabilising role in the Middle East.



Underlining the negative economic impact of armed conflicts, he said the settlement of these conflicts was a serious economic interest. He said the Gaza crisis and terrorist attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea posed a risk of price surges in Europe.



We greatly appreciate the efforts of the United Arab Emirates and other countries in the region to restore the freedom and security of maritime trade in the Red Sea, which is a clear European and clear Hungarian interest, the minister said.



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New Delhi: After a 28-year hiatus, Kamal Haasans iconic film Indian 2 is set for release, igniting excitement among fans. The legendary actor's return to the big screen is a cinematic event, further heightened by the inclusion of the charming and versatile Rakul Preet Singh, who is expected to deliver her most lovable performance yet.

The original Indian, released in 1996, captivated audiences with its gripping storyline and Kamal Haasans powerful performance. Now, as Indian 2 prepares for release, fans eagerly anticipate Haasans return to action and are thrilled to see his on-screen chemistry with the talented Rakul Preet Singh.

Details about Rakuls character in Indian 2 remain under wraps, but she's described as a headstrong, practical, bold, and no-nonsense woman. Glimpses from the latest song suggest her character will have a significant and compelling presence in the film.

Anticipation is high to see Rakul Preet Singh share the screen with Kamal Haasan. Her dynamic personality and strong screen presence are expected to add a fresh and exciting element to the film.

In addition to Indian 2, Rakul Preet Singh is busy with the sequel to De De Pyaar De alongside Ajay Devgn.

'Indian 2' promises to deliver an unforgettable cinematic experience, eagerly awaited by fans.
New Delhi: Co-produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and Kabir Khan, 'Chandu Champion' is winning over audiences with overwhelming praise and glowing reviews. Audiences and critics alike are lavishing praise on the exceptional narrative and Kartik Aaryan's stellar portrayal of Murlikant Petkar in the film.

As the movie continues to enchant viewers, it has garnered acclaim from diverse quarters, including prominent personalities across various domains.

Adding to the accolades, Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif have also expressed their admiration for the film, praising its compelling storyline.

Vicky Kaushal took to his social media and wrote

"Throughly enjoyed watching the film! Incredible story telling @kabirkhankk Sir. Moves you, inspiresbyou, entertains you!. Spectacular work @kartikaaryan keep shinning brother.."

Katrina Kaif took to her social media and wrote

"Kabirrrrrr just loved the film, you are such a beautiful storyteller, you bought such a incredible inspiring story to life, was so emotional to see this story and how beautifully you have made this film and such a outstanding performance by @kartikaaryan and all the cast @kabirkhank"

Released on June 14, 2024, 'Chandu Champion' is directed by Kabir Khan features Kartik Aaryan in a pivotal role.
New Delhi: The Centre has issued an order imposing stock limits for pulses that can be stored by wholesalers, retailers, big chain retailers, millers, and importers to prevent hoarding and keep prices in check. The order, which kicks in with immediate effect, prescribes stock limits for tur and chana, including kabuli chana, until September 30, 2024, for all states and Union Territories.

The action is part of a slew of measures taken by the government to keep prices of essential commodities under control. The stock limit is aimed at preventing unscrupulous elements from profiteering at the cost of consumers. Stock limits applicable to each of the pulse individually will be 200 metric tonnes (MT) for wholesalers; 5 MT for retailers; 5 MT at each retail outlet and 200 MT at the depot for big chain retailers.

In the case of millers, the stock limit is the last 3 months of their production or 25 per cent of annual installed capacity, whichever is higher. Importers are barred from holding imported stock beyond 45 days from the date of Customs clearance, according to an official statement. (Also Read: Top Stocks On D-Street: Sun Pharma, Hindustan Zinc, Bajaj Consumer Among 7 Stocks Lead Today's Market Focus)

The respective legal entities are to declare the stock position on the portal (https://fcainfoweb.nic.in/psp) of the Department of Consumer Affairs and in case the stocks held by them are higher than the prescribed limits, they shall bring the same to the prescribed stock limits by July 12, 2024, the order said. (Also Read: Beware! Claiming False HRA While Filing ITR Could Cost You THIS Much: Check Here)

The Department of Consumer Affairs has been closely monitoring the stock position of pulses through the stock disclosure portal. The Department had, in the first week of April, communicated to the state governments to enforce mandatory stock disclosure by all stockholding entities, which was followed up with visits to major pulses-producing states and trading hubs across the country from the last week of April till May 10.

Separate meetings with traders, stockists, dealers, importers, millers, and big chain retailers were also held to encourage and sensitise them for truthful disclosure of stocks and maintaining the affordability of pulses for the consumers.

Sowing of Kharif pulses like tur and urad is expected to increase significantly this season due to high price realisation by farmers and above-normal monsoon rains predicted by the IMD. Further, tur imported from East African countries is expected to arrive from August onward. These factors are expected to help bring down the prices of Kharif pulses like tur and urad in the coming months.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Friday that 98 Indians died during the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, Haj. According to MEA spokeswoman Randhir Jaiswal, there were 187 deaths among Indians over the Haj time last year. "This year, 1,75000 Indian pilgrims came to Mecca for Haj. The Haj takes place between May 9 and July 22. This year, 98 deaths have been reported," he said. "The deaths were caused by natural causes, chronic illnesses, or old age. At his weekly media conference, Jaiswal stated that six persons died on the day of Arafat, four of them were killed by accidents. The MEA representative was replying to a query about Indian deaths while performing Hajj.

According to AFP, the death toll from the Hajj 2024 has surpassed 1,000, with more than half of those killed being unregistered pilgrims who worshipped in extreme temperatures in Saudi Arabia. This year's Hajj trip began on June 14. According to the data, there were 58 additional deaths deported on Thursday (June 20) from Egypt.



According to an Arab ambassador, 630 of the 658 total Egyptian deaths were unrecorded. This year's yearly pilgrimage has claimed the lives of 1,081 people from about ten countries. According to AFP, the death toll during the Hajj pilgrimage 2024 is based on official announcements or ambassadors working on their countries' responses.

Dead pilgrims have also been recorded in Senegal, Tunisia, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, and Senegal. Numerous pilgrims are also reported missing; photographs of the missing and requests for information may be found all over Facebook and other social media sites.



An Egyptian guy burst into tears on Wednesday at Mecca's medical complex after learning that his mother was among the deceased. He cried for a while before picking up his phone and phoning their travel agency, according to The Associated Press.

The Hajj is timed according to the lunar year, which moves back ten days each year. While the Hajj is currently migrating towards winter, it will take place in the height of summer in Saudi Arabia by the 2040s.



According to Saudi Hajj authorities, more over 1.83 million Muslims will conduct the Hajj in 2024, including over 1.6 million from 22 countries and approximately 222,000 Saudi nationals and residents. Deaths are not uncommon during the Hajj. There have also been stampedes and diseases during the pilgrimage's history.
New Delhi: Amidst the rising water crisis in National Capita, Delhi Water Minister Atishi began the indefinite fast on Friday due to a rising water shortage. Atishi asserted that she will step on the path of 'Satyagraha' and start an 'indefinite fast'.

Following Atishi's indefinite hunger, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal read the Kejriwal letter and said, "He says 'When I see on TV, the way Delhi people are suffering due to water scarcity, it hurts me. I hope Atishi's 'tapasya' will succeed and Delhi people get relief. I wish all the best to Atishi, may God protect her..."

#WATCH | Delhi Water Minister Atishi begins indefinite hunger strike for water crisis



Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal says, " Kejriwal says that 'when I see on tv, the way Delhi people are suffering due to water scarcity, it hurts me. I hope Atishi's 'tapasya' pic.twitter.com/faQepXdv5y  ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2024

AAP leader Atishi Saurabh Bharadwaj and Sanjay Singh visited Rajghat to pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi following Atishi's indefinite fast.

Delhi Minister shared a post on the social media handle X and stated that the Haryana government is not providing the right water share to Delhi. She asserted that due to a non-proper share of water, 28 lakh Delhiites are suffering from crisis.

"Water shortage continues in Delhi. Even today 28 lakh Delhiites are not getting water. Despite every possible effort, the Haryana government is not providing full water to Delhi. Mahatma Gandhi has taught that if one has to fight against injustice, one must adopt the path of Satyagraha," Atishi said.

AAP leader called it a 'Pani Satyagraha' and said, "I will start an indefinite fast at Bhogal, Jangpura from 12 o'clock. I will remain on fast until the people of Delhi get their rightful share of water from Haryana."

#WATCH | Delhi: Sunita Kejriwal, Delhi Ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj and AAP MP Sanjay Singh leave after visiting Rajghat.



Delhi Water Minister Atishi will begin an indefinite hunger strike from today over the water crisis in the national capital. AAP alleges that pic.twitter.com/KWy8X0awXN  ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2024

On Wednesday, Atishi said that Delhi is not getting a "rightful" share of water so she is forced to begin doing a 'Satyagraha'.

On the other hand, the BJP has continued to attack the Delhi government over the water crisis. The party MP Bansuri Swaraj alleged that the Delhi water crisis has been orchestrated by the Kejriwal government to encourage their corruption.

"It almost seems that this crisis, which is not a natural crisis, has been orchestrated by the Kejriwal government to encourage their corruption as well as to encourage the illegal tanker mafia," Bansuri Swaraj said to ANI.
In a disturbing trend reported from Maharashtra's Amravati district, 2024 has seen a sharp rise in farmer suicides, earning the region the grim title of "Suicide Capital." According to recent statistics, 461 farmers in the Amravati division alone have tragically taken their lives within the span of just five months.

In todays episode of DNA, Sourav Raj Jain analyses this severe agricultural crisis in the state of Maharashtra.

Between January and May 2024, the highest number of suicides by farmers have been reported in Maharashtra's Amravati. In just five months, the Amravati division has witnessed a staggering toll of farmer suicides, with 461 cases reported. The distressing trend is especially pronounced in Amravati district, where 146 farmers have tragically ended their lives. Additionally, Yavatmal district recorded 132 suicides, Buldhana 83, Akola 82, and Washim 21, highlighting a widespread crisis gripping Maharashtra's agricultural communities.

Watch Full Episode Here:

Cotton and soybean cultivation is done in Amravati. The famous Nagpur oranges are also cultivated in parts of Amravati district. Since starting soybean cultivation, Amravati's farmers have seen a significant decline in yield.
Arvind Kejriwal: ED moves Delhi High Court against the order of the trial court granting bail to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi Excise policy money laundering case. In a rather setback for Kejriwal's camp, Delhi HC has paused the release order till the investigation is completed, according to Zee News TV.

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has approached the Delhi High Court to challenge the trial court's decision to grant bail to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi Excise policy money laundering case. The ED requested the Delhi High Court to put a hold on the trial court's order that granted bail to Kejriwal. The High Court has agreed to hear the ED's plea urgently, and the case file is expected to be presented before the bench within 10-15 minutes.

On Thursday, despite opposition from the Enforcement Directorate, the Rouse Avenue Court granted regular bail to Kejriwal in the money laundering case. Vacation judge Nyay Bindu of Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court granted bail upon Kejriwal furnishing a bail bond of Rs 1 lakh. Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 this year. The Supreme Court had earlier granted him interim bail on May 10, allowing him to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections until June 1.
A day after Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sinha claimed that prime accused of NEET UG paper leak case Sikander Yadavendu is a relative of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's assistant Pritam Yadav, the party on Friday shared an old picture of Dy CM Samrat Chaudhary with another accused Amit Anand. During a press conference in Patna, Sinha said that the officer was in frequent contact with Sikander Prasad Yadvendu, the arrested prime accused in the case.

RJD Hits Back At BJP

Reacting to Sinha's allegations, the RJD termed it a "bundle of lies" and said the BJP leader was only trying to divert the attention of 25 lakh NEET aspirants from their main demand of cancellation of the exam held on May 5. In a X post, the party alleged that the accused was fecilitating the minister amd he Chaudhary has deleted all pictures of him from his X account.

"The main accused in the NEET exam paper leak scam with the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar. The so called powerful minister who was felicitated by the accused has deleted all his photos with her from his social media handles but don't worry we have them all. Send this to your worried counterpart the other deputy CM," RJD said in its X post.

Tejashwi Yadav Slams BJP

Spaking to reporters, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said, "The INDIA alliance is united on this issue. We want the NEET exam to be immediately cancelled...The (BJP) have all the investigation agencies, they can call the PS or PA anyone for probe...They want to divert the issue from the kingpin...Those who want to drag my name or my PA's name, this will not benefit anyone...The engineer who is talked about could be a beneficiary but Amit Anand and Nitish Kumar are the masterminds of the paper leak. The people of the country know that whenever BJP comes to power, then paper leaks happen."

Bihar Dy CM Vijay Sinha's Allegations

Sinha on Thursday also claimed Yadavendu's ties to RJD leader Lalu Yadav. Sinha had alleged Mr Yadavendu was sleeping at a guesthouse run by the NHAI, or National Highways Authority of India, which reports to the Centre's Road Transport Ministry.

"The official linked with Yadav used to arrange for Sikandar to stay at guest houses in Patna and other areas. I have copies of the mails that the official sent to the people in charge of arranging Sikandar's accommodation," the deputy chief minister stated.



Sinha stated that he had the mobile number from which the texts were sent. He stated, "It needs to be thoroughly investigated. Why is the RJD leader (Tejashwi Prasad) remaining silent on this? The accused was also associated with RJD supremo Lalu Prasad while he was in judicial detention in Ranchi, according to the Deputy Chief Minister.

Who Is Amit Anand?

Yadvendu's confessional statement, recorded on May 5 under Section 161 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), also disclosed his interactions with Nitish Kumar and Amit Anand, who are accused of leaking test papers such as NEET.



Yadvendu stated that he asked Rs 40 lakh from each aspirant, including his nephew Anurag Yadav, for delivering the leaked question paper on May 4, one day before the exam. According to Yadvendu, a junior engineer at Bihar's Danapur Town Council, "I contacted Nitish and Amit and told them that I have four candidatesAyush Kumar, Anurag Yadav, Abhishek Kumar, and Shivnandan Kumar."



Yadvendu stated that Nitish and Amit charged Rs 32 lakh each applicant and assured him that the question paper will be sent in advance.



On May 4, all four candidates were summoned to a guest house, where Nitish and Anand "prepare" them using the leaked paper, according to Yadvendu. The candidates eventually admitted that the same questions appeared on the official exam on May 5.
In the present context, expanding long-term investment and patient capital has become a major theme in the high-quality development of China's capital market. The guideline on strengthening regulation, forestalling risks and promoting the high-quality development of the capital market released by China's State Council this year specifically emphasizes the need to build a policy system for "long-term investment with long-term funds", vigorously develop equity public funds, and promote the development of indexing investment. The combination of policy guidance and market enthusiasm has ushered in a strategic opportunity period for indexing investment in the A-share market. As of the end of May 2024, the total size of domestic index fund products reached 3.4 trillion yuan, an increase of nearly 20% from 2.9 trillion yuan at the end of 2023, and a 17-fold increase compared to 19 billion yuan in 2005, with an annual compound growth rate of more than 30%. In particular, index funds, represented by ETFs, have developed rapidly, becoming an important channel for indexing investment. After 20 years of development, as of the end of May this year, the domestic ETF market size reached 2.45 trillion yuan, playing an increasingly important role in residents wealth management. The Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) continues to expand its ETF product layout, accounting for 75% of the total domestic ETF market size, and 33 ETF products have reached a size of 10 billion yuan each.

The Surge in Indexing Investment

In recent years, the concept that "active investment is difficult to outperform passive investment in the long term" has been increasingly accepted and recognized by more investors. Over the past decade, the S&P 500 Index has outperformed large-cap mutual funds in the US market at a rate of nearly 90%, and the CSI 300 Index has outperformed active funds tracking it at a rate of about 60%, with this rate rising to nearly 70% over the past year. Correspondingly, indexing investment has increasingly become a mainstream trend in international investment markets. In 2023, the global ETF market size exceeded 11 trillion US dollars for the first time, an increase of over 20% from the end of 2022, with nearly 1 trillion US dollars in net capital inflows for the year. In China, the popularity of indexing investment continues to rise, ushering in a strategic opportunity period.

From a policy perspective, strengthening long-term investment and patient capital has become a major focus of current investment-side reforms. The guideline on strengthening regulation, forestalling risks and promoting the high-quality development of the capital market released by China's State Council this year clearly emphasizes the need to build a policy system for "long-term investment with long-term funds", vigorously develop equity public funds, and promote the development of indexing investment. From a market perspective, with the acceleration of macroeconomic structural adjustment and industrial transformation and upgrading processes, the rapidly growing needs of residents' wealth management, and the continuous improvement of a multi-level capital market system, the trend of indexing investment in the A-share market has gradually formed. As of the end of 2023, the number of domestic index funds had increased from 10 in the year of 2005 to over 2,000, with their size growing from 19 billion yuan to 2.9 trillion yuan, achieving an annual compound growth rate of 34.1% and 32.5%, respectively. Throughout 2023, the cumulative net inflow of index fund products amounted to 570 billion yuan. Among them, the number of ETFs listed on the stock exchange reached about 890, with a total size exceeding 2 trillion yuan, reaching a historical high, representing increases of 18.06% and 28.13% respectively compared to the end of 2022. This data is being continuously refreshed this year. Various types of investors, including medium and long term institutions, have significantly increased their recognition of indexing investment. As of the end of May 2024, the size of domestic index fund products had reached 3.4 trillion yuan, a further growth of 17.24% from the end of 2023, with cumulative net capital inflows of over 360 billion yuan. Among them, the size of domestic ETF products reached 2.45 trillion yuan, an increase of 19.5% from the beginning of the year.

Accelerated Construction of Index and Product Systems

The year of 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China's ETF market. In 2004, China's first equity ETF - ChinaAMC SSE 50 ETF was launched. After 20 years of exploration and development, China's index and product systems continue to expand. As one of the leading exchanges globally, the SSE brings outstanding companies from various industries across China together. In recent years, with collective efforts, the quality of SSE-listed companies has steadily improved, laying a solid foundation for the accelerated construction of high-quality index and product systems. The SSE, in collaboration with the China Securities Index Company, has been actively enriching the index system and encouraging the development of index fund products. Currently, the combined number of SSE and CSI indices exceeds 7,000, covering multiple asset classes such as stocks, bonds, commodities and funds, with stock indices accounting for nearly 70%. The index samples span more than 20 major countries and regions worldwide, centered around the markets of Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong. In 2023, the net inflow of SSE and CSI index fund products totaled nearly 430 billion yuan, accounting for more than 75% of the net inflow of domestic index fund products. As of the end of May 2024, the size of SSE and CSI index fund products had approached 2.4 trillion yuan, hitting a record high and accounting for about 70% of the domestic index fund market share. Among these, the STAR Market's index products, such as the STAR 50 Index and STAR 100 Index, continued to receive positive market responses, with a combined size exceeding 150 billion yuan. Recently, the first batch of Enhanced Strategy ETFs based on the SSE STAR 100 Index was launched, providing more investors with excellent tools to share in the growth dividends of the STAR Market. The CSI A50 Index, released this year, facilitates investors in the "one-click configuration" of high-quality leading enterprises in various industries, with the product size reaching 21.7 billion yuan, a new historical high. Additionally, since the beginning of 2024, the dividend index and the low-volatility dividend index have achieved nearly 20% returns, with a combined product size of 83.6 billion yuan, marking an increase of 36%.

Supported by indices, the SSE has accelerated the construction of a more diverse ETF product system. As of the end of May 2024, the number of ETFs on the SSE exceeded 570, with a size of 1.84 trillion yuan, an increase of nearly 19% from the beginning of the year, accounting for 75% of the total domestic ETF market size. Among them, the size of SSE equity ETFs reached 1.34 trillion yuan, an increase of 24% from the beginning of the year, while bond ETFs reached a market value of 87.7 billion yuan, an increase of 62% from the beginning of the year. Based on data as of the end of May, the SSE and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE) have a total of 43 ETF products with a market size exceeding 10 billion yuan, of which 33 are on the SSE, accounting for 77%, and 13 have a market value exceeding 30 billion yuan, with 11 on the SSE. Broad-based ETF products, in particular, have seen continuous growth. As of the end of May 2024, the number of broad-based ETFs on the SSE stood at 131, with a combined size of 929.3 billion yuan, reflecting an increase of 44% from the end of 2023. The introduction of measures such as fee reductions and dividends has further enhanced the attractiveness of these products. Since August 2023, to increase long-term returns for investors holding broad-based ETFs and improve their ongoing experience, seven broad-based ETFs on the SSE have reduced their management fees, with fee reductions ranging between 10 and 35 basis points. In terms of dividends, ETFs on the SSE have cumulatively paid dividends of 20.401 billion yuan in the past three years, with broad-based ETFs accounting for 11.843 billion yuan, or 58%. Particularly in 2024, the dividend distribution has intensified, with SSE ETFs cumulatively paying dividends of 4.749 billion yuan, of which broad-based ETFs accounted for 3.841 billion yuan, or 81%. Moreover, in recent years, several products have adjusted their income distribution model to monthly dividends, increasing the predictability of dividends, which not only enhances the holding experience for investors but also significantly boosts the attractiveness of the products.

Highly Promising "New Blue Ocean" for Investment

From the establishment of the world's first ETF in 1993 to the ETF market size exceeding 1 trillion US dollars in 2009, it took 17 years. It then took just four more years to reach 2 trillion US dollars in 2013, and only three additional years to surpass 3 trillion US dollars. By 2023, the global ETF market size had grown to over 11 trillion US dollars. This rapid development underscores the increasingly crucial role that ETFs-oriented indexing investment is playing in global asset allocation.

In China's domestic market, indexing investment is also flourishing and is regarded as a highly promising "new blue ocean" for investment. Particularly with the growing emphasis on long-term, value, and rational investment concepts, indexing investment, exemplified by ETFs, is being recognized by more and more investors and has become a key asset allocation option for various market institutions. It took 16 years for the domestic ETF industry to reach its first trillion yuan, but only three years more to achieve the second trillion yuan. Notably, in recent times, domestic index funds have demonstrated certain excess returns over active funds, further enhancing the attractiveness of related products. Throughout 2023 and the first five months of 2024, the CSI Passive Equity Fund Index achieved excess returns of approximately 3.7% and 1.2%, respectively, compared to the CSI Active Equity Fund Index. Market professionals point out that the current size of domestic equity ETFs accounts for only 2% of the total market value of A-shares, and index funds constitute about 11% of the public fund size, indicating significant room for growth compared to mature overseas markets. With the continuous inflow of medium and long term funds such as social security and insurance funds, the increasing effectiveness of the domestic market, and the further recognition and acceptance of indexing investment concept, China's indexing investment has broad prospects.
Yoga Day: Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the 10th International Day of Yoga (IYD) in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir today. The Prime Minister led the celebrations of International Yoga Day and took part in the yoga session. Although due to heavy rains, the function was held in the winter hall of SKICC. It was initially planned to be held on the lawns of SKICC on the banks of the world-famous Dal Lake.

Addressing the occasion, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude for being present in Jammu & Kashmir, the land of Yog and Sadhna, on International Day of Yoga. The atmosphere, energy, and experience from yoga can be felt in Jammu & Kashmir today. The number of people practicing yoga is growing worldwide. Today the world is seeing a new yoga economy emerging. The world is looking at yoga as a powerful agent of global good. Yoga helps us live in the present moment, without the baggage of the past. Yoga is scripting new pathways of positive change in society. Yoga helps us realize that our welfare is related to the welfare of the world around us. Yoga is not only a discipline but also a science, said PM Modi.

The Prime Minister also recalled that a record 177 countries endorsed Indias proposal in the UN. He also mentioned subsequent records made in the context of IYD, such as 35,000 people doing yoga on Kartavya Path in 2015 and more than 130 countries participating in the yoga event led by the Prime Minister at the UN Headquarters last year. He also expressed happiness that more than 100 institutes in India and 10 major foreign institutes have been recognized by the Yoga Certification Board formed by the Ministry of Ayush.

The Prime Minister underlined that the number of people practicing yoga is growing worldwide while its attraction is constantly on the rise. He highlighted that yogas utility is also being recognized by people and stated that there is barely any world leader who has not discussed yoga during their interactions.

Touching upon the changing notions about yoga due to its expansion in the last 10 years, the Prime Minister talked about a new yoga economy. He mentioned the growing attraction for yoga tourism and people's desire to visit India to learn authentic yoga. He also mentioned yoga retreats, resorts, dedicated facilities for yoga at airports and hotels, yoga apparel and equipment, personal yoga trainers, and companies carrying out yoga and mindfulness wellness initiatives. All these are creating new avenues of employment for the youth, he added.

Since 2015, the Prime Minister has led the International Day of Yoga (IDY) celebrations at various iconic locations, including Kartavya Path in Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Ranchi, Lucknow, Mysuru, and even the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

This years theme, Yoga for Self and Society, highlights the dual role of fostering individual and societal well-being. The event will encourage grassroots participation and the spread of yoga in rural areas.
New Delhi: Indian-origin Canadian Member of Parliament Chandra Arya recalled the Kanishka flight bombing and asserted that the ideology responsible for the terrorist attack is still alive among a few people in Canada.

Speaking in the Canadian Parliament, Chandra Arya emphasized that June 23rd is the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism. He said, "Mr Speaker, June 23rd is the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism. 39 years back, on this day, Air India Flight 182 was blown up mid-day by a bomb planted by Canadian Khalistani extremists."

Arya added that 329 passengers and crew members were killed which is the largest mass killing in Canadian history.

While speaking in the Canadian Parliament on Thursday, Arya said that many Canadians are not aware that the ideology responsible for this terrorist attack is still alive among a few people in Canada.

"The recent celebration of the assassination of Hindu Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by Khalistan supporters, glorifying violence and hate, shows that the dark forces have been energized again and point to dreadful times ahead. Hindu Canadians are rightfully concerned. I stand in solidarity with the families of the victims of Air India bombing," he said, ANI Reported.

His remarks come ahead of the 39th anniversary of the bombing of Air India Flight 182, scheduled for June 22, 2024.

In 1985 on June 23, the Air India 182 Kanishka flight, en route from Montreal, Canada to London, UK and Delhi, India, exploded mid-air over the Atlantic Ocean near the coast of Ireland. It was described as a "cowardly act of terror perpetrated by Khalistani terrorists based in Canada," according to a press release from the Indian High Commission in Ottawa in 2023.
New Delhi: Markets rallied for the sixth straight session on Thursday, with benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty zooming to all time fresh peaks. Sensex surged 141.34 points or 0.18 percent to finish at a new record closing of 77,478.93 while Nifty scaled 51 points or 0.22 percent to close at 23,567.

Ajit Mishra  SVP, Research, Religare Broking Ltd said, "On the benchmark front, the Nifty index closed at 23,581, up 0.30%. Sectorally, realty, metal, and private banking finished in the green, while Pharma, PSU Bank, and Auto sectors lagged. Broader indices also edged higher, both gaining over half a percent."

"Looking ahead, a decisive close above 23,600 in Nifty could trigger fresh upward momentum, potentially pushing the index to 24,000 levels. On the downside, 23,400 is expected to act as strong support. Besides banking and IT, themes like sugar, fertilizers and chemical are showing good traction on the expected lines. Traders should align their positions accordingly," he added.

Meanwhile, ahead of the market opening today, as per Zeebiz, HDFC Life, Tata Motors, JM Financial, HPCL, BPCL are a couple of stocks that will likely be in focus today.



HDFC Life



HDFC Life Insurance shares are set to trade ex-dividend today. In the company's Board meeting held on April 18, 2024, it had recommended a final dividend of Rs 2 per equity share of face value of Rs 10 each for FY 2023-24, subject to approval of the shareholders. The record date for payment of final dividend is Friday, 21 June 2024.



Tata Motors

Tata Motors has announced the launch of Tata Motors Fleet Verse  a comprehensive and innovative digital marketplace for Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles. The platform offers features like new vehicle discovery, configuration, acquisition, financing, and is future-proofed to include a range of additional services and features, making Fleet Verse a one-stop digital destination for all commercial vehicle needs.



JM Financial

Securities Exchange SEBI has directed the Company to not take any new mandate as lead manager in public issue of debt securities up to March 31, 2025 or such further date as may be specified by SEBI.



HPCL

HPCL's shares are scheduled to trade ex-bonus today. The company has recommended Bonus Issue Proportion @ 1 share for every 2 Shares held.



BPCL

BPCL's shares are scheduled to trade ex-bonus tomorrow (June 22). The Board has recommended issue of Bonus Shares in the ratio of 1:1 i.e. one new bonus equity share of Rs 10 each for every one existing equity shares of Rs 10.

It has recommended a final dividend of Rs 21 per equity share of face value of Rs 10 each (pre-bonus), which translates into final dividend of Rs 10.5 per equity share of face value of Rs 10 per equity share) (post-bonus).
No Direct Passenger Flights Between India And China: China is trying to restart direct passenger flights to India after a four-year halt, but New Delhi shows no interest as a border dispute continues to weigh on ties between the two. India-China relations have been tense since the military confrontation in Galwan Valley in June 2020, when China tried to infiltrate Indian soil.

Two-pronged Counterattack

India launched a two-pronged counterattack, one on the border, where the Indian troops inflicted heavy casualties on the Chinese Army in a deadly conflict and the other on the diplomatic front. Since the clash, India has made it difficult for Chinese companies to invest, banned hundreds of popular apps, and severed passenger routes.

What does China want?

According to Reuters, a news agency, several times over the past year or so, China's government and airlines have asked India's civil aviation authorities to re-establish direct air links. Two people with direct knowledge of the matter told, with one saying China considers this a "big issue".

"We hope India will work with China in the same direction for the early resumption of direct flights," China's Foreign Ministry told in a statement last week, adding that resuming flights would be in the interest of both countries.

Peace & Tranquillity On Border First

But a senior Indian official familiar with India-China bilateral developments said of Beijing's desire to resume flights: "Unless there is peace and tranquillity on the border, the rest of the relationship cannot move forward."

Indigo's Statement

Indian airlines are holding discussions with New Delhi, while Chinese carriers are talking to their government about resuming direct routes, CEO Pieter Elbers of Indigo, India's largest airline, told Reuters.

No Direct Flight

Flights were halted four months later as the pandemic escalated. Now, both countries have lifted COVID restrictions on international air routes but direct flights between the two have not been resumed.

At present, those traveling between the two countries must change planes either in Hong Kong, which has a separate aviation regulator and border controls from the rest of China, or in hubs like Dubai or Singapore.

(Inputs- Reuters)
New Delhi: Bollywood's Khallas girl Isha Koppikar recently made some shocking revelations about the dark truth of casting couch in the glamour industry. In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, the actress recalled two such horrifying incidents.

ISHA KOPPIKAR ON CASTING COUCH

Isha said, I was 18 when a secretary and an actor approached me for casting couch. They told me that to get work, you have to be friendly with actors. I am very friendly, but what does friendly mean? I am so friendly that Ekta Kapoor once told me to have some attitude.

Isha Koppikar also shared an incident when an A-list actor asked her to meet him alone. When I was 23, one actor asked me to meet him alone, without my driver or anyone else, because there were rumours about him being involved with other actresses. He said, There are already controversies about me, and the staff spreads rumours. But I refused and told him that I couldnt come alone. He was an A-list actor from the Hindi film industry.

ISHA KOPPIKAR MOVIE CAREER

Isha made her movie debut in 1998 with 'Chandralekha', a Telugu venture. The same year, she starred in 'Kaadhal Kavithai', a Tamil film for which she even won the Filmfare Best Female Debut Award. After starring a few Tamil, Telugu and Kannada language movies, Isha made her Bollywood debut in Karisma Kapoor-Hrithik Roshan starrer 'Fiza' in 2000.

The film was directed by Khalid Mohamed. She then went on to star in the movies such as Rahul, Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat, Aamdani Atthanni Kharcha Rupaiya in 2001.

But it was in 2002, Ram Gopal Varma's 'Company' marking Vivek Oberoi's debut that Isha's item song 'Khallas' became a chartbuster and she a rising popular star. Soon, she became the 'Khallas' girl, we know today.

Isha featured in several movies like Kaante, Pinjar, Dil Ka Rishta, Qayamat: City Under Threat, Darna Mana Hai, LOC Kargil, Rudraksh, Krishna Cottage, Kyaa Kool Hai Hum, Ek Vivaah... Aisa Bhi amongst various others.

She was last seen in a Kannada film 'Kavacha'.
'The Steel of India' campaign, which earned a Silver and Bronze Lion at the prestigious Cannes Lions 2024, stands as a testament to the prowess of Indian creativity. Developed by Kondurkar Studio and Early Man Film, this milestone has been marred by controversy due to claims from the foreign agency Wieden+Kennedy (W+K).

W+K's Indian office alleged that the campaign closely mirrored their concept, igniting a dispute that saw initial hesitation from the Delhi High Court to fully support W+Ks assertions. Despite an out-of-court settlement, W+K has maintained its stance, persisting with their narrative of ownership over the creative idea.

It appears that the Cannes success of Kondurkar Studio and Early Man Film was met with discontent by Wieden+Kennedy, says a report by Zee News' sister concern DNA. Other reports indicate that their foreign-born CEO attempted to undermine this victory by contacting Cannes organizers and influencing media outlets. This action, perceived by many as a desperate and disgraceful attempt, taints a moment of national pride for India, where Indian companies were celebrated on an international platform.

An analysis of the court order reveals a narrow interpretation. The judge refrained from addressing the substance of the copyright infringement claim, suggesting arbitration instead. Following the settlement, W+K withdrew their appeal, rendering the initial court order moot and ineffective.

The announcement of the Cannes award, achieved by an Indian company, appears to have unsettled W+K, leading them to disparage the work and recognition of Indian creative talent. This incident underscores the persistent challenges Indian creatives face in gaining global recognition, often hindered by foreign entities with vested interests.

This controversy emphasizes the ongoing struggle for respect and recognition faced by Indian creatives. While the Steel of India campaign should be lauded for its excellence, W+K's actions represent a regrettable effort to undermine Indian success. It is crucial for the global community to acknowledge and honor the contributions of Indian companies, celebrating their achievements without prejudice.
VIENTIANE, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The National Committee for the Amendment of the Constitution is reviewing the content of the 2015 constitution with a view to making revisions to suit Laos' changing circumstances.

The committee will draft amendments from now until the middle of 2025, and has formed a secretariat and subcommittees to support its work, local newspaper Pasaxon reported on Friday.

In preparation for the process, a meeting took place here on Thursday, when committee members discussed some amendments to be made, including more specific and accurate definitions of certain terms.

The meeting summarized and interpreted the implementation of the 2015 constitution to identify its strong points, weaknesses, achievements, main problems, and inconsistencies.

Meeting participants considered lessons learned and the various problems arising from the formulation of the 2015 constitution, which will be taken into account when making changes.

Changes to the existing constitution will be made to ensure greater accuracy, completeness and consistency, with the new version being more focused and practical.

Representatives of various bodies contributed opinions and suggested clarifications to the content of the constitution, while several committee members promised to provide insightful content after holding meetings with other groups.

The committee plans to organize similar evaluation meetings across Laos. 
NEW DELHI, June 20 (Xinhua) -- A local court Thursday granted bail to jailed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the money laundering case related to the excise policy case.

"Rejecting all objections of Bharatiya Janata Party's Enforcement Directorate (BJP's ED), the Hon'ble Court has granted bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal," the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) wrote on social media.

Reports said after the pronouncement of the order Thursday evening, the ED requested whether the signing of the bail bond could be deferred by 48 hours so that the order may be challenged before the appellate court.

However, the judge refused to stay the order. The bail bond will be produced before the duty judge on Friday.

Kejriwal, who is also the AAP's chief, is likely to come out of jail on Friday as the bail order has to reach the jail first.

Kejriwal was arrested by the ED, the Indian government's financial crime-fighting agency in March on charges of corruption related to the direct involvement in the formulation of the excise policy favoring specific individuals.

Investigations into the Delhi excise policy case began in August 2022 when India's premier investigating agency Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) accused the Delhi government of using the policy to favor certain liquor dealers who had allegedly paid bribes. The policy was subsequently scrapped.

Last month India's top court granted an interim bail to Kejriwal until June 1 in the case to allow him to campaign for his party and the opposition alliance in the country's general elections. He returned to jail on June 2 after the interim bail period ended.

The AAP has been governing India's national capital territory for over a decade. It also governs the northern Indian state of Punjab. 
Law enforcers of China Coast Guard take back the fishing nets deployed by Philippine personnel near the illegally grounded Philippine navy transport ship in China's Ren'ai Jiao and the surrounding territorial sea, June 10, 2024. Recently, in China's Ren'ai Jiao and the surrounding territorial sea, personnel from the illegally grounded Philippine navy transport ship repeatedly damaged Chinese fishermen's nets and deployed the illegally obtained fishing nets to the nearby waters of their ship to obstruct the law enforcement of China Coast Guard (CCG).

CCG law enforcers have retrieved these illegally obtained fishing nets and returned them to Chinese fishermen to recover their economic losses. (China Coast Guard/Handout via Xinhua)

A law enforcer of China Coast Guard is pictured on the way to Chinese fishing boats with retrieved fishing nets in China's Ren'ai Jiao and the surrounding territorial sea, June 11, 2024. Recently, in China's Ren'ai Jiao and the surrounding territorial sea, personnel from the illegally grounded Philippine navy transport ship repeatedly damaged Chinese fishermen's nets and deployed the illegally obtained fishing nets to the nearby waters of their ship to obstruct the law enforcement of China Coast Guard (CCG).

CCG law enforcers have retrieved these illegally obtained fishing nets and returned them to Chinese fishermen to recover their economic losses. (China Coast Guard/Handout via Xinhua)

A law enforcer of China Coast Guard waves goodbye to Chinese fishermen after returning the retrieved fishing nets in China's Ren'ai Jiao and the surrounding territorial sea, June 11, 2024. Recently, in China's Ren'ai Jiao and the surrounding territorial sea, personnel from the illegally grounded Philippine navy transport ship repeatedly damaged Chinese fishermen's nets and deployed the illegally obtained fishing nets to the nearby waters of their ship to obstruct the law enforcement of China Coast Guard (CCG).

CCG law enforcers have retrieved these illegally obtained fishing nets and returned them to Chinese fishermen to recover their economic losses. (China Coast Guard/Handout via Xinhua)

Law enforcers of China Coast Guard prepare to take back the fishing nets deployed by Philippine personnel near the illegally grounded Philippine navy transport ship in China's Ren'ai Jiao and the surrounding territorial sea, June 10, 2024. Recently, in China's Ren'ai Jiao and the surrounding territorial sea, personnel from the illegally grounded Philippine navy transport ship repeatedly damaged Chinese fishermen's nets and deployed the illegally obtained fishing nets to the nearby waters of their ship to obstruct the law enforcement of China Coast Guard (CCG).

CCG law enforcers have retrieved these illegally obtained fishing nets and returned them to Chinese fishermen to recover their economic losses. (China Coast Guard/Handout via Xinhua)

Law enforcers of China Coast Guard return the retrieved fishing nets to Chinese fishermen in China's Ren'ai Jiao and the surrounding territorial sea, June 11, 2024. Recently, in China's Ren'ai Jiao and the surrounding territorial sea, personnel from the illegally grounded Philippine navy transport ship repeatedly damaged Chinese fishermen's nets and deployed the illegally obtained fishing nets to the nearby waters of their ship to obstruct the law enforcement of China Coast Guard (CCG).

CCG law enforcers have retrieved these illegally obtained fishing nets and returned them to Chinese fishermen to recover their economic losses. (China Coast Guard/Handout via Xinhua)

Law enforcers of China Coast Guard (1st and 2nd, L) and Chinese fishermen pose for photos with retrieved fishing nets on a fishing boat in China's Ren'ai Jiao and the surrounding territorial sea, June 11, 2024. Recently, in China's Ren'ai Jiao and the surrounding territorial sea, personnel from the illegally grounded Philippine navy transport ship repeatedly damaged Chinese fishermen's nets and deployed the illegally obtained fishing nets to the nearby waters of their ship to obstruct the law enforcement of China Coast Guard (CCG).

CCG law enforcers have retrieved these illegally obtained fishing nets and returned them to Chinese fishermen to recover their economic losses. (China Coast Guard/Handout via Xinhua)

Law enforcers of China Coast Guard help Chinese fishermen arrange the retrieved fishing nets on a fishing boat in China's Ren'ai Jiao and the surrounding territorial sea, June 11, 2024. Recently, in China's Ren'ai Jiao and the surrounding territorial sea, personnel from the illegally grounded Philippine navy transport ship repeatedly damaged Chinese fishermen's nets and deployed the illegally obtained fishing nets to the nearby waters of their ship to obstruct the law enforcement of China Coast Guard (CCG).

CCG law enforcers have retrieved these illegally obtained fishing nets and returned them to Chinese fishermen to recover their economic losses. (China Coast Guard/Handout via Xinhua)

A law enforcer of China Coast Guard is pictured on the way to Chinese fishing boats with retrieved fishing nets in China's Ren'ai Jiao and the surrounding territorial sea, June 11, 2024. Recently, in China's Ren'ai Jiao and the surrounding territorial sea, personnel from the illegally grounded Philippine navy transport ship repeatedly damaged Chinese fishermen's nets and deployed the illegally obtained fishing nets to the nearby waters of their ship to obstruct the law enforcement of China Coast Guard (CCG).

CCG law enforcers have retrieved these illegally obtained fishing nets and returned them to Chinese fishermen to recover their economic losses. (China Coast Guard/Handout via Xinhua)
SUVA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Fijian authorities have warned the public to be aware of impersonators and illegal employment agents who are promising overseas job opportunities.

Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Agni Deo Singh said the authorities have recently received reports regarding an individual who is falsely claiming to be the "chief mediator" from his ministry.

"This individual has been deceiving Fijians by promising them aged care employment opportunities in Queensland, Australia under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme," Singh said, adding that the impersonator has obtained over 10,000 Fijian dollars (about 4,411 U.S. dollars) in payments through the scam.

The minister urged the public to be extremely cautious and not fall victim to such deceptive practices. 
VIENTIANE, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The Lao government signed a concession agreement with an investor to develop a 124 MW hydropower project, boosting the country's efforts to promote clean energy consumption and export to countries in the region.

Lao Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Sthabandith Insisiengmay and Managing Director of Nam Neun 1 Hydropower Sole Co Ltd, Sounthone Sabandith, inked the deal to push forward the Nam Neun 1 Hydropower project in northern Laos' Xieng Khuang and Huaphan provinces.

The construction of the project is expected to be completed in the next four or five years, with commercial operations set for 2028. Once it is operational, the project will increase the country's hydroelectric power generation capacity and boost energy exports, Lao national TV reported on Friday.

Power from the project, which is expected to generate 576 GWh annually, will be sold to neighboring Vietnam.

Speaking at the signing ceremony on Wednesday, Sounthone highlighted that the project will have a significant impact on the local community, creating jobs and stimulating local economic growth.

It will also help to improve infrastructure such as roads, electricity transmission lines, and clean water supply.

He added that the project has attached great importance to reforestation to offset the loss of trees due to the plant and its water catchment area, and that the developer has allocated funds to finance reforestation. 
China's permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong (C, front) speaks at the Security Council briefing on cybersecurity at the UN headquarters in New York, on June 20, 2024. Fu Cong, on Thursday called for global efforts to build a more peaceful and secure cyberspace. (Xinhua/Xie E)

UNITED NATIONS, June 20 (Xinhua) -- China's permanent representative to the UN, Fu Cong, on Thursday called for global efforts to build a more peaceful and secure cyberspace.

"Cyberspace is deeply integrated with the physical world and is an important anchor for the development of human society," Fu told the Security Council briefing on cybersecurity, emphasizing that cyberspace "must never become a new battlefield."

He criticized actions of designating cyberspace as a "domain of military operations," developing "offensive cyber military capabilities," and building "cyber military alliances."

Such actions, he warned, undermine mutual trust and escalate risks of "friction and conflict in cyberspace."

Fu called for efforts to "build a more universally beneficial and prosperous cyberspace," where digital and cyber economies drive global economic growth.

Fu urged all countries to adopt more "active, open, coordinated, and inclusive" policies to promote ICTs (information and communication technology) and ensure the security of the ICT industrial chain.

He criticized the practices of forming cliques, seeking "technological dominance," and interfering with the development of other countries.

The ambassador advocated "a more equitable and orderly cyberspace," calling for the development of international rules acceptable to all.

He urged adherence to the UN Charter principles, such as "sovereign equality" and "non-interference in internal affairs," and emphasized the importance of translating international consensus into "legally binding norms of behavior in cyberspace."

The envoy emphasized the need to "build a more equal and inclusive cyberspace" to promote diversity and mutual understanding among different civilizations.

He warned against using cyberspace to spread extremism, terrorism, and disinformation.

China, with nearly 1.1 billion internet users, has built the world's largest cyber infrastructure and developed a sound policy system for cyberspace governance, Fu said. He also highlighted China's active engagement in cybersecurity processes and cooperation with the Global South.

Fu reiterated China's commitment to working with the international community to build a "more peaceful, secure, open, cooperative, and orderly cyberspace" and to join hands in building "a community with a shared future in cyberspace." 

The United Nations Security Council briefing on cybersecurity is held at the UN headquarters in New York, on June 20, 2024. China's permanent representative to the UN, Fu Cong, on Thursday called for global efforts to build a more peaceful and secure cyberspace. (Xinhua/Xie E)
LUSAKA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has partnered with the Zambian government to undertake two climate adaptation projects aimed at protecting the ecosystem along one of the country's biggest river and a national park.

The projects include the Kafue Flats Climate Resilience and Adaptation project and the Kafue Flats Wildlife, Habitat, Health and Livelihood project.

The two projects will be undertaken in five years at a cost of 9 million U.S. dollars funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), a multilateral environmental fund established in 1991 that provides grants and blended finance for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation in developing countries and countries with economies in transition.

Nalucha Nganga-Ziba, the WWF-Zambia country director, said her organization was honored to be selected to partner with the government in implementing the two projects to support communities on sustainable crop and livestock farming and support to livestock conservation.

"With the recent severe drought, these needs have become even more urgent, with many communities' crops failing, including in the Kafue Flats," she said during an inception meeting of the two projects.

While acknowledging that the adaptation will only start in mid-2025, the WWF representative said it would build on the government's drought relief efforts by strengthening communities' long-term resilience to water scarcity through putting in boreholes and rooftop water harvesting.

She added that the projects will also promote holistic rangeland management, and unlock resources to restore grazing lands for both livestock and wildlife animals.

Douty Chibamba, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, said the need to build the resilience of farming communities to future impacts of climate change has now become more crucial and a matter of priority.

He said the ministry has been working with the WWF and other partners to develop and design interventions to curb the numerous environmental challenges and build resilience of the ecosystems.

According to him, the two projects were aimed at promoting a transformational approach that not only preserves the ecosystem and wildlife habitat in the Kafue Flats but also makes communities more adaptative and resilient.

"The projects will work at the landscape and ecosystem level and promote a whole-of-society approach with active participation of all stakeholders including local communities at various levels of governance across multiple sectors to address the challenges posed by climate change collaboratively and comprehensively," he said.

The projects, he added, will support the government's efforts in promoting biodiversity conservation, sustainable land management and increase people's resilience to climate change. 
SHENZHEN, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese tech giant Huawei's HarmonyOS operating system, a rival to Apple's iOS and Google's Android, has built a vibrant ecosystem featuring more than 900 million devices, the company said Friday.

Yu Chengdong, Huawei's executive director, made the announcement at the company's annual developer conference being held in the city of Dongguan, south China's Guangdong Province.

HarmonyOS, or Hongmeng in Chinese, is an open-source operating system designed for various devices and scenarios, including intelligent screens, tablets, wearables and cars. It was first launched in August 2019. 
PHNOM PENH, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has arrested a gang of five foreigners in two nationalities for trafficking illicit drug, seizing 145 kg of a narcotic, a senior police official said on Friday.

The all-male suspects aged between 23 and 76 years old, Lieutenant General Chuon Narin, chief of the Phnom Penh Municipal Police said, adding that they were apprehended at four different locations in Phnom Penh on June 16 and 17.

"A total of 145 kg of ketamine was seized from the suspects' possession during the crackdowns," he said in a press conference.

The police also confiscated 2 kg of precursor chemicals, three scales, and some equipment for drug packaging, he added.

The Southeast Asian country has no death sentence for a drug trafficker. Under its law, someone found guilty of trafficking more than 80 grams of illicit drugs could be imprisoned for life.

According to the Anti-Drug Department, the kingdom detained 9,369 drug-related suspects, including 324 foreigners, during the January-May period of 2024, seizing a total of 4.71 tons of narcotics. 
BEIJING, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese lawmakers will deliberate the latest draft of a preschool education law at the 10th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature, scheduled for June 25 to 28.

Huang Haihua, spokesperson for the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, said at a Friday press conference that according to the draft law, China would encourage non-government participants to contribute to the development of preschool education.

The draft law states that there must be non-profit kindergartens in new residential areas, and highlights the importance of ensuring access to preschool education for rural children whose parents have migrated to cities for work, according to Huang.

It also states that kindergartens should take immediate protective measures in cases of child abuse and other emergency situations, Huang said.

During the session, legislators will also deliberate a draft law on emergency response work, a draft amendment to the country's accounting law, and draft revisions to the public security administration punishments law and the cultural relics protection law. 
A symposium on law-based governance on all fronts and human rights protection was held on Friday in Hefei City, east China's Anhui Province.
HEFEI, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Continuous rainfall has impacted many parts of eastern and southern China, claiming lives, damaging crops and cutting off roads. Local authorities have raised emergency response levels to minimize the impact of the extreme weather conditions.

As of late Friday, torrential rains have resulted in the loss of at least 11 lives -- two in east China's Anhui Province and nine in south China's Guangdong Province.

At 9 a.m. on Friday, Anhui raised the emergency response for major meteorological disasters (rainstorms) from Level IV to Level III, as strong downpours are expected to batter the province over the next three days.

The city of Huangshan in the province, where the casualties were reported and home to the renowned Huangshan Mountain, raised the emergency response levels for flood control twice on Thursday from Level IV to Level III, and to Level II.

The city's average rainfall from 8 p.m. Wednesday to 11 p.m. Thursday reached 176.4 mm, with the maximum precipitation of 405.7 mm recorded in Tunxi District.

As of 11:30 p.m. Thursday, about 179,000 people had been affected, with nearly 11,000 residents temporarily evacuated. The area of damaged crops reached 10,480 hectares, according to the publicity department of the city's Party committee.

Rain-triggered floods had cut off 50 roads in the city, including nine national or provincial highways. The public passenger transport operations in five county-level areas were all suspended.

The city mobilized more than 3,000 rescuers, 235 firefighting vehicles and 105 vessels for rescue relief, evacuating and rescuing over 2,400 stranded residents.

Near the Guguan shopping center in Shexian County, a rescue team cracked open a rolling door to save a group of stranded people late Thursday.

"The waterlogging level rose so fast that we were trapped inside before we could finish transferring the goods that were soaked in water," said Fang Jie, one of the saved residents.

Gao Bin, a rescuer on site, said the team started working at 5 a.m. Thursday, and as of 10 p.m. Thursday, his smartwatch showed he had walked 31,564 steps. "We'll go wherever we are needed," said Gao.

He said some rural roads collapsed in the rain, forcing the rescuers to walk to reach certain remote villages in the mountainous area.

In the city's Huizhou District, a high-lying study tour base in Chengkan Township has been transformed into a temporary settlement site for evacuated residents. As of 5 p.m. Thursday, 46 households had been sent there, and that number has continued to climb. The site offers sufficient meals and has doctors on standby.

Chen Tieniu, deputy head of the township, said it is now a critical period for flood control.

"All cadres at the township and village levels have been assigned to disaster-prone sites to patrol and conduct inspections. They have also been tasked persuading residents in dangerous areas to evacuate so that they can safely make it through the flooding season," said Chen.

In Guangdong, heavy rains have left four people dead and four others missing in Meixian District of the city of Meizhou, and another five dead and two others missing in Jiaoling County of Meizhou. Rescue and disaster relief efforts are underway in both places, local authorities said.

In Fujian Province, which borders Guangdong, continuous rains starting on June 16 have disrupted the lives of more than 100,000 residents in the city of Longyan.

Despite the flood levels decreasing, it's still taking time for locals to be able to resume their normal lives.

Rain-triggered landslides had cut off water, power and telecommunication supplies in some areas of Zhongdu Township, Shanghang County, which are under urgent repair.

"We have mobilized more than 150 units of equipment and 500 people to ensure the post-disaster water supply," said Wei Jinrong, a manager stationed in Longyan from the Fujian provincial water development group.

Luo Jian, Party chief of the county, said more than 8,000 cadres have been dispatched to the grassroots level in the county around the clock for disaster relief.

"We will make every effort to restore the normal production and living order of the affected people as soon as possible," said Luo. 
KABUL, June 21 (Xinhua) -- A total of 121 factories have been established in Afghanistan since March 20, when the current Persian calendar year 1403 started, local media reported Friday.

Moreover, 217 machines have been imported to Afghanistan for industrial uses, Afghan TV TOLOnews quoted Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, a spokesman with the country's Ministry of Commerce and Industry, as saying.

During the Persian calendar year 1402 (March 21, 2023 to March 19, 2024), 614 factories were established, and 1,098 machines were imported into the country.

The Afghan caretaker government has been accelerating its efforts to boost industries in the cash-strapped country. 
YINCHUAN, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has underscored the ecological conservation and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin during an inspection tour in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, came to Ningxia on Wednesday after wrapping up his inspection in Qinghai Province.

Situated in the Yellow River basin, Ningxia is surrounded by deserts on three sides and faces the daunting task of conserving and restoring ecosystems.

Xi asked Ningxia to coordinate high-quality development with high-level environmental protection, further reform and opening up, advance new urbanization and rural revitalization, and promote ethnic unity and common prosperity.

The autonomous region has a large ethnic minority population. On Wednesday afternoon, Xi visited a multi-ethnic residential community in the regional capital Yinchuan. Of over 18,000 residents in the community, 38 percent belong to ethnic minority groups such as Hui, Manchu, Mongolian and Tibetan.

Xi first went to the community service center and an activity room where he watched residents practice paper-cutting and dancing, and talked with them. He called for thorough, detailed and concrete efforts to address urgent needs and concerns of the residents, and deliver high-quality services to the people.

Xi then visited the home of resident Zhao Shoucheng, where he chatted with the Zhao family to learn more about things related to employment, income, medical insurance reimbursement, and children's education. "I am concerned about the well-being of every family of all ethnic groups," Xi said, extending best wishes to the Zhao family.

At the community square, Xi spoke to the residents who gathered there to greet him. Xi said he was delighted to visit Ningxia again and meet with local people of various ethnic groups.

"The Chinese nation is a big family," Xi said, calling for continued efforts to foster a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation and pool strength from all sectors to advance Chinese modernization.

On Thursday morning, Xi was briefed by the Ningxia regional committee of the CPC and the regional government on their work, and acknowledged their achievements.

Noting that Ningxia boasts unique geographic conditions and resources, Xi said the region should follow a distinctive and differentiated development path.

Ningxia should develop modern coal chemical and new materials industries, clean energy industries including wind, photovoltaic and hydrogen power, as well as its specialty industries of wine and goji berries, Xi said.

He called for more efforts to integrate scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation, and develop new quality productive forces in light of local conditions.

Ningxia should continue to deepen the reform of state-owned capital and enterprises, facilitate the growth of the private sector, and improve the business environment, Xi said.

Xi called on the region to actively participate in the Belt and Road cooperation and the construction of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, and enhance trade and economic cooperation with Arab states.

Ningxia should adopt the strictest possible management system for water resources, and strive to protect the ecosystem in the areas of the meandering bends of the Yellow River, Xi underlined.

The Yellow River, China's second-longest river, is deemed the country's "mother river." It originates from the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and runs through the Loess Plateau, flowing about 5,464 km through Ningxia and eight other provincial-level regions.

Xi demanded concerted efforts to achieve common prosperity for people of all ethnic groups, and solid measures to ensure job opportunities for college graduates, migrant workers, and veterans.

He emphasized advancing the integrated development of both urban and rural areas and advancing rural revitalization across the board.

Xi also underlined governing ethnic affairs in accordance with the law, and building an ethnically integrated society. 
Actors perform at a ceremony worshiping Fuxi, a mythical ancestor of the Chinese nation, in Tianshui, northwest China's Gansu Province, June 21, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Zhimin)

LANZHOU, June 21 (Xinhua) -- A ceremony worshiping Fuxi, a mythical ancestor of the Chinese nation, was held on Friday in the city of Tianshui, northwest China's Gansu Province.

At 9:50 a.m., the ceremony began in front of the city's Fuxi Temple to the sounds of drums and tolling bells. This was followed by a series of customs and rituals, including the reading of a eulogy. More than 500 people from home and abroad were in attendance.

A similar event was held at the same time in the Taiwan region's New Taipei City, marking the 11th year that the legendary figure has been commemorated simultaneously on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.

"The commemoration is an important carrier of Fuxi culture and, I think, the broad and profound traditional Chinese culture. It also strengthens the bonds between Chinese compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait," said Kao Tianlong, who traveled from Taiwan to Tianshui to attend the ceremony.

Fuxi is believed to have taught people fishing, hunting and animal husbandry. Tianshui is said to be the birthplace of the mythical figure.

According to historical records, the annual commemoration of Fuxi has a history of more than 2,000 years. It was listed as a form of national intangible cultural heritage by the State Council in 2006. 

Actors perform at a ceremony worshiping Fuxi, a mythical ancestor of the Chinese nation, in Tianshui, northwest China's Gansu Province, June 21, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Zhimin)

A ceremony worshiping Fuxi, a mythical ancestor of the Chinese nation, is held in New Taipei City, southeast China's Taiwan, June 21, 2024. A similar event was held at the same time in the city of Tianshui, northwest China's Gansu Province, marking the 11th year that the legendary figure has been commemorated simultaneously on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.(Xinhua/Wang Chenghao)

A ceremony worshiping Fuxi, a mythical ancestor of the Chinese nation, is held in New Taipei City, southeast China's Taiwan, June 21, 2024. A similar event was held at the same time in the city of Tianshui, northwest China's Gansu Province, marking the 11th year that the legendary figure has been commemorated simultaneously on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.(Xinhua/Wang Chenghao)
NAIROBI, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's earnings from horticulture exports rose 14.3 percent in the first quarter of 2024, boosted by increased shipments to markets in Europe and Asia, the Central Bank said in new economic data released Friday.

The central bank said the country earned 45.1 billion shillings (about 351 million U.S. dollars) during the quarter, an increase from 307 million dollars during a similar period in 2023.

The country in the quarter exported 208,146 tonnes of produce, a rise from 171,384 tonnes in a similar period in 2023, according to the bank.

Kenya's main horticulture exports are vegetables, fruits and cut flowers, with the former comprising the bulk of the shipments in volume. Flowers, mainly sold in Europe, however, make up most of the earnings.

The rise in horticulture exports is a continuation of 2023, when the East African nation's earnings from the sector stood at 1.21 billion dollars, up from 1.14 billion dollars in 2022.

In Europe, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom are the biggest horticulture produce markets for Kenya, while in Asia, there are China, India and Kazakhstan.

Kenya is also seeking new markets for its produce, especially in Africa, where in May it was among five countries selected to implement the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the East African Community (EAC) Horticultural Accelerator initiative alongside Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

Mohamed Kadah, assistant secretary-general for Programs at the COMESA secretariat, said recently that the initiative will speed up the growth of the fruit and vegetable sections of countries in the two regions. 
BEIJING, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese authorities on Friday issued a set of guidelines on imposing criminal punishments on diehard "Taiwan independence" separatists for conducting or inciting secession, allowing death penalty and a trial in absentia in relevant cases.

The guidelines, jointly issued by the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, and the ministries of public security, state security, and justice, will take effect upon release.

The document, based on the Anti-Secession Law, the Criminal Law and the Criminal Procedure Law, provides more specific rules concerning conviction and sentencing in the event of such crimes, as well as relevant procedures, serving as guidance for the judiciary in handling relevant cases.

It spells out clearly-defined circumstances in which a very few diehard "Taiwan independence" separatists, through acts such as organizing, plotting or carrying out schemes of "de jure independence," or seeking independence by relying on foreign support or by force, should be held criminally responsible.

Also, it stipulates that those who are found to have colluded with any foreign or overseas institution, organization or individual in committing such crimes, should be given a harsher punishment.

According to Article 6 of the document, those who commit the crime of splitting the state may be sentenced to death if the crime causes particularly grave harm to the state and the people or if the circumstances are particularly serious.

The guidelines further stress the principles of balancing clemency and severity and proportionality in judicial procedures, saying that if diehard "Taiwan independence" separatists voluntarily drop their "Taiwan independence" stance, stop conducting separatist activities, and take measures to mitigate or undo the harm, or prevent the spread of the damage, they may have their cases dismissed or be exempted from prosecution.

According to the guidelines, relevant proceedings must be carried out following due process without prejudice to the litigation rights of the suspects or defendants, such as their right to defense and right to appeal.

The document also makes it clear that for diehard "Taiwan independence" elements, a trial in absentia may be applied.

The document urges all relevant authorities to give full play to their functions, severely punish the "Taiwan independence" diehard elements for conducting or inciting secession, and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.

Commenting on the release of the guidelines, Chen Binhua, spokesperson of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, pointed out that it is a common practice for countries around the world to use criminal justice measures to punish criminals who conduct secession and safeguard the core interests of the state.

As clearly said in the title to the text of the guidelines, the criminal justice measures are aimed at a small number of diehard individuals who engage in or incite secession activities, and do not target the majority of Taiwan compatriots, said Chen at a press conference.

Identifying "Taiwan independence" as the biggest source of danger and harm to the interests of the people in Taiwan, he said that only by severely punishing acts of secession, can the compatriots in Taiwan enjoy the dividends of peaceful development across the Taiwan Strait and live a peaceful and stable life.

It is advised that the diehard individuals of "Taiwan independence" recognize the situation as soon as possible and quickly rectify their ways, said Chen. 
Hungarian Minister of Culture and Innovation Janos Csak (3rd L) and Chinese Ambassador to Hungary Gong Tao (3rd R) unveil the China Cultural Center in Budapest, Hungary, on June 20, 2024. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

The China Cultural Center in Budapest sprung into life on Thursday, with an opening event featuring a photo exhibition and an interactive tea show.

BUDAPEST, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The China Cultural Center in Budapest sprung into life on Thursday, with an opening event featuring a photo exhibition and an interactive tea show.

Hungarian Minister of Culture and Innovation Janos Csak spoke at the event of the enduring friendship and mutual respect between Hungary and China. "The opening of this institution marks another milestone in our cooperation, which spans economic, cultural, commercial, and financial areas," he said.

The new center will deepen Hungarians' understanding of Chinese culture, and strengthen bilateral relations, he added.

Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador to Hungary Gong Tao expressed gratitude for the support received from Hungarian authorities, and expressed hope that the center would facilitate rich cultural exchanges. "Although China and Hungary are separated by great distances, the friendship between our peoples has a long history and a bright future," he added.

Director of the China Cultural Center in Budapest Jin Hao welcomed the guests and acknowledged the collaborative efforts that led to the center's opening.

People watch a photo exhibition called "Silk Road's Reflection - China Through the Eyes of Hungarian Photographers" at the China Cultural Center in Budapest, Hungary, on June 20, 2024. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

The event continued with an unveiling of the center's nameplate, a tea ceremony presentation and a viewing of a photo exhibition called "Silk Road's Reflection - China Through the Eyes of Hungarian Photographers." 
BEIJING, June 21 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese military spokesperson on Friday urged the United States to honor its commitment to not support "Taiwan independence" and stop arming Taiwan in any form.

Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to the newly approved U.S. arms sales to Taiwan worth about 360 million U.S. dollars.

"We firmly oppose such arms sales and have lodged stern representations to the U.S. side," said the spokesperson.

The fact that the ruling Democratic Progressive Party of the island attempts to seek "Taiwan independence" by force and the United States stubbornly aids separatism through arms sales poses the biggest threat to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, Wu noted.

He added that the People's Liberation Army will strengthen combat readiness across the board to smash all "Taiwan independence" separatist schemes. 
Children relocated from a flood-hit area play at a resettlement site in Renju Town of Pingyuan County, Meizhou City, south China's Guangdong Province, June 21, 2024. Continuous rainfall has impacted many parts of eastern and southern China, claiming lives, damaging crops and cutting off roads. Local authorities have raised emergency response levels to minimize the impact of the extreme weather conditions. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)

Villagers check a road damaged by landslide in Guilin Town of Shexian County, east China's Anhui Province, June 21, 2024. Continuous rainfall has impacted many parts of eastern and southern China, claiming lives, damaging crops and cutting off roads. Local authorities have raised emergency response levels to minimize the impact of the extreme weather conditions. (Xinhua/Du Yu)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 21, 2024 shows landslide caused by heavy rainfall in Guilin Town of Shexian County, east China's Anhui Province. Continuous rainfall has impacted many parts of eastern and southern China, claiming lives, damaging crops and cutting off roads. Local authorities have raised emergency response levels to minimize the impact of the extreme weather conditions. (Xinhua/Du Yu)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 21, 2024 shows flood water in Qi River, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. Continuous rainfall has impacted many parts of eastern and southern China, claiming lives, damaging crops and cutting off roads. Local authorities have raised emergency response levels to minimize the impact of the extreme weather conditions. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)

People relocated from flood-hit areas have lunch at a resettlement site in Renju Town of Pingyuan County, Meizhou City, south China's Guangdong Province, June 21, 2024. Continuous rainfall has impacted many parts of eastern and southern China, claiming lives, damaging crops and cutting off roads. Local authorities have raised emergency response levels to minimize the impact of the extreme weather conditions. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 21, 2024 shows flood water under Yuanjiang Bridge in Wuzhou City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Continuous rainfall has impacted many parts of eastern and southern China, claiming lives, damaging crops and cutting off roads. Local authorities have raised emergency response levels to minimize the impact of the extreme weather conditions. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)

A bulldozer removes fallen rocks in Huicheng Town of Shexian County, east China's Anhui Province, June 21, 2024. Continuous rainfall has impacted many parts of eastern and southern China, claiming lives, damaging crops and cutting off roads. Local authorities have raised emergency response levels to minimize the impact of the extreme weather conditions. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 21, 2024 shows submerged area in Wuzhou City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Continuous rainfall has impacted many parts of eastern and southern China, claiming lives, damaging crops and cutting off roads. Local authorities have raised emergency response levels to minimize the impact of the extreme weather conditions. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 21, 2024 shows the site of a landslide caused by heavy rainfall in Guilin Town of Shexian County, east China's Anhui Province. Continuous rainfall has impacted many parts of eastern and southern China, claiming lives, damaging crops and cutting off roads. Local authorities have raised emergency response levels to minimize the impact of the extreme weather conditions. (Xinhua/Du Yu)

A villager clears mud in Huangtan Village, Lanxi Town of Shanghang County, Longyan City, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 21, 2024. Continuous rainfall has impacted many parts of eastern and southern China, claiming lives, damaging crops and cutting off roads. Local authorities have raised emergency response levels to minimize the impact of the extreme weather conditions. (Xinhua/Zhou Yi)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 21, 2024 shows flood water in Qi River, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. Continuous rainfall has impacted many parts of eastern and southern China, claiming lives, damaging crops and cutting off roads. Local authorities have raised emergency response levels to minimize the impact of the extreme weather conditions. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)

Villagers cleas mud at home in Rentian Town of Shanghang County, Longyan City, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 21, 2024. Continuous rainfall has impacted many parts of eastern and southern China, claiming lives, damaging crops and cutting off roads. Local authorities have raised emergency response levels to minimize the impact of the extreme weather conditions. (Xinhua/Zhou Yi)

A bulldozer clears mud on a road in Shexian County, east China's Anhui Province, June 21, 2024. Continuous rainfall has impacted many parts of eastern and southern China, claiming lives, damaging crops and cutting off roads. Local authorities have raised emergency response levels to minimize the impact of the extreme weather conditions. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan)

Bulldozers clear mud in a farmers' market in Lanxi Town of Shanghang County, Longyan City, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 20, 2024. Continuous rainfall has impacted many parts of eastern and southern China, claiming lives, damaging crops and cutting off roads. Local authorities have raised emergency response levels to minimize the impact of the extreme weather conditions. (Xinhua/Zhou Yi)
BEIJING, June 21 (Xinhua) -- China's commerce ministry said Friday that the European Union (EU) is to blame for escalating trade frictions, which could lead to a "trade war."

"The responsibility lies solely with the EU side," the ministry said in a statement commenting on concerns from the European side over possible escalations of trade frictions.

China does not want to see the ongoing trade frictions with the EU, the ministry stressed, pointing out that it was the European side that "regrettably" kept provoking trade disputes.

Since the beginning of this year, the EU imposed 31 restrictive trade and investment measures against China, 25 of which were trade remedies, seriously undermining China-EU economic and trade cooperation, according to the ministry.

Meanwhile, China has demonstrated an open and cooperative attitude and explicitly sought to solve the issues through dialogue and consultation, said the ministry.

China has always followed the rules of the World Trade Organization and used trade remedy measures with prudence and restraint, it said.

In face of the EU's protectionism, China is determined to safeguard its legitimate and lawful interests, and hopes the EU will handle the differences through dialogues and prevent trade frictions from escalating or going out of control, the ministry noted. 
VILNIUS, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The Lithuanian parliament (Seimas) on Thursday passed an annual quota allowing 40,000 third-country nationals to come and work in Lithuania.

Eighty-seven MPs voted in favor of the quota, one against, and eight abstained.

"We will have a real quota that allows us to ensure that all workforce migration processes will be better controlled in Lithuania," Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite told lawmakers.

The quota would allow for the annual entry of third-country laborers representing up to 1.4 percent of the number of permanent residents in Lithuania as of July 2022.

Lawmakers also tightened conditions for the employment of foreigners, requirements for companies, and the procedure for issuing temporary residence permits in Lithuania.

"When tackling labor shortages, we certainly cannot overlook threats to our national security and we must prevent abuse of migration procedures," Bilotaite said.

According to the ministry, the quota was calculated after assessing the authorities' capacity to monitor compliance and the needs of the country's labor market. The new quota will only apply to newcomers.

Figures from the Interior Ministry show that last year, the number of foreigners living in Lithuania exceeded 200,000 for the first time in the country's history.

The number of foreign workers coming to Lithuania, mostly from Belarus, increased by 65 percent to 142,000 in 2023, the Employment Service said on Wednesday, citing employers' reports.

At the beginning of this year, the majority of foreigners working in Lithuania, 131,400, were third-country nationals. This was 65.5 percent more than a year ago, while the number of EU citizens working in Lithuania stood at 10,000, a 66.7 percent increase. 
SANAA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Central Command on Friday said its forces destroyed four Houthi boats and two drone aircraft in the Red Sea during the past 24 hours.

"There were no injuries or damage reported by U.S., coalition, or merchant vessels," it said in a statement on social media platform X.

Yemen's Houthi group has not commented yet.

This development comes after the Greek-owned cargo ship Tutor, attacked on June 12, sank in the Red Sea on Tuesday, according to Houthi-run al-Masirah TV.

The Houthis claim their attacks target Israel-linked ships in solidarity with Palestinians. In response, a U.S.-British naval coalition has conducted airstrikes and missile strikes against Houthi targets since January, aiming to deter further attacks. However, these actions have led to an expansion of Houthi attacks, now including U.S. and British commercial vessels and naval ships. 
OTTAWA, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday unveiled the federal government's policy to deliver the National School Food Program across the country.

With an investment of 1 billion Canadian dollars (730 million U.S. dollars) over five years, the program will provide meals to up to 400,000 more kids every year, beyond those served by existing school food programs, according to a news release from the prime minister's website.

On average, the program is expected to save participating families with two kids up to 800 Canadian dollars (584 U.S. dollars) a year in grocery bills, the release said.

The program includes investments that will support school food programming for First Nations, Inuit, and Metis communities as well as Self-Governing and Modern Treaty partners, many of whom have some of the highest rates of food insecurity in Canada, the release said.

According to Statistics Canada estimates, in 2022, 22.3 percent of families and more than 2.1 million children under the age of 18 in Canada reported experiencing some level of food insecurity over the past 12 months. 
ANKARA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- A Turkish soldier was killed in clashes with "terrorists" in northern Iraq on Friday, according to the Turkish Defense Ministry.

In a statement, the ministry said an infantryman, identified as Mehmet Ali Horoz, died in an engagement with "terrorists" while participating in search and sweep operations in the "Operation Claw-Lock" region.

The statement didn't specify the affiliation of the "terrorists" but noted that three "terrorists" were "neutralized" during the clashes.

Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralize" in their statements to imply the alleged "terrorists" have either surrendered, been killed, or been captured.

The Turkish government launched "Operation Claw-Lock" in April 2022 to fight the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq near the Turkish border.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has rebelled against the Turkish government for more than three decades.

On March 14, Turkiye and Iraq said they had reached a landmark deal to tackle the security threat posed by the PKK, and Baghdad labeled the group a "banned organization." 
ADEN, Yemen, June 21 (Xinhua) -- A roadside bomb blast on Friday targeted a security commander of pro-government Yemeni forces in the southern province of Abyan, injuring the commander and resulting in the deaths of two of his bodyguards, a government official told Xinhua.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attack took place in the province's eastern Mudiyah district, an area known for its instability and persistent security challenges due to the presence of terrorist elements.

He added that the security commander, Samir Muhlab, was reportedly conducting a routine patrol in the area when the improvised explosive device detonated and struck his vehicle.

The Yemeni official blamed al-Qaeda militants for orchestrating the attack, though no group has yet claimed responsibility for the blast.

This incident marks the latest in a series of violent attacks against pro-government forces and security officials in Yemen, a country that has been embroiled in a civil war since 2014.

The civil war, pitting the internationally recognized government against the Houthi group, and the ensuing power vacuum in Yemen, have allowed extremist groups, including al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, al-Qaeda's Yemeni faction, to flourish, posing a severe security threat within Yemen's borders and beyond. 
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Grand Duke of Luxembourg Henri in Luxembourg, June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

Grand Duke Henri noted that the European Union and China should strengthen dialogue to properly address their economic and trade differences.

LUXEMBOURG, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang and Grand Duke of Luxembourg Henri met here Thursday and the two sides agreed to deepen cooperation in various fields.

Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, conveyed Chinese President Xi Jinping's cordial greetings and best wishes to Grand Duke Henri.

He said that China and Luxembourg have always accommodated each other's core interests, and engaged in mutual respect and open cooperation, forging a path featuring mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.

China stands ready to work with Luxembourg to earnestly implement the significant consensus reached by President Xi and Grand Duke Henri to advance bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields, better benefiting the peoples of both countries, Ding noted.

President Xi's vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, along with the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, all aim to promote global unity, stability and cooperation, Ding said.

Noting that China remains committed to reform and opening up, Ding said that China will firmly support economic globalization and boost trade liberalization and facilitation. China will work with all countries including Luxembourg to build a better world, Ding said.

Grand Duke Henri asked Ding to convey his sincere greetings to President Xi, adding that Luxembourg and China have enjoyed a long history of friendship as well as sound momentum in bilateral relations.

Speaking highly of China's remarkable achievements, he said Luxembourg is willing to maintain close cooperation with China in such fields as education, culture, finance, transportation and logistics, to elevate bilateral relations to new heights.

Grand Duke Henri also noted that the European Union and China should strengthen dialogue to properly address their economic and trade differences. 
NAIROBI, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The Kenyan police confirmed Friday that one person was killed in Thursday's protests against the rising cost of living in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.

Rex Kanyike Masai, 29, was shot and killed as he and others protested a controversial Finance Bill that seeks to raise taxes on a wide range of items that protesters said will pile more economic hardship on citizens.

The police have since launched investigations into the fatal shooting, which happened in Nairobi's central business district.

Meanwhile, the Kenya Red Cross Society said that 39 people were injured in Thursday's protests, and eight of the critically injured ones have been evacuated to Kenyatta National Hospital for specialized treatment.

One police officer was admitted to hospital with a hip injury after he fell while escaping from the crowd.

Police managed to keep protesters away from the Parliament building, where legislators were debating on the controversial bill.

Unlike the protests Tuesday, which only occurred in Nairobi, Thursday's demonstrations also spread to major towns across the country, including Kisumu and Kakamega in western Kenya, Eldoret and Kericho in the Rift Valley and Mombasa and Kilifi at the coast.

Protesters have vowed to be back on the streets on June 25.

On Tuesday, President William Ruto said his government had dropped proposals to impose new taxes on vegetable oil and a levy on various finished products that contribute to e-waste that harms the environment.

Among the tax proposals dropped in the bill were a 16-percent value-added tax on bread, transportation of sugar, foreign exchange transactions, financial services, and a 2.5-percent motor vehicle tax.

The protesters, however, want a total rejection of the bill, saying there are hidden clauses that would still load taxes on citizens.

Police Inspector General Japhet Koome said Thursday that while the protesters' right to assemble would be respected, they will not be permitted to access critical government infrastructure or disrupt ongoing parliamentary proceedings.

There have been calls for police restraint as observers say the protests, dubbed "Occupy Parliament," could intensify. 
TUNIS, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The death toll among Tunisian pilgrims who performed Hajj in Saudi Arabia has risen to 49, Tunisian national radio reported on Friday.

"Fourteen more Tunisian pilgrims died in Saudi hospitals when performing Hajj, raising the total death toll among Tunisian pilgrims to 49," Tunisian Minister of Religious Affairs Ibrahim Chaibi was quoted by the report as saying.

According to the minister, many factors contributed to this loss of human life, including the extreme temperatures surpassing 50 degrees Celsius, a significant presence of elderly pilgrims, and a high number of pilgrims with pre-existing illnesses.

The Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday that at least 35 Tunisian citizens died during this year's Hajj pilgrimage.

Hajj, a key pillar of Islam, is annually performed in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, by pilgrims from all over the world. The number of pilgrims exceeded 1.8 million this year, according to Saudi authorities. 
CANBERRA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- A significant number of Australian women regularly drink alcohol at very high-risk levels, research has found.

The research, which was conducted by a team from Flinders University in South Australia, found that 3.1 percent of Australian adult women -- 300,000 people -- consumed 11 or more standard drinks in one sitting, known as binge-drinking, at least once per month in 2019.

"What makes this especially concerning is that unfortunately women are more susceptible than men to experiencing severe health problems from excessive drinking, including liver issues, cardiovascular disease, cancers and mental health issues like depression and anxiety," Victoria Kostadinov, co-author of the study from the College of Medicine and Public Health, said in a media release on Thursday.

The study was the first of its kind in Australia to examine the prevalence and characteristics of women who binge drink and compare it with men who do so.

It found that women who drink alcohol at very high-risk levels are more likely to be younger, unmarried, experience high levels of psychological distress and have a mental health condition than men who drink at similar levels.

Rates of very high-risk drinking declined after the age of 24 for men compared to 44 for women.

Kostadinov said the findings support the need for tailored strategies to prevent and manage very high-risk consumption of alcohol among women.

Co-author Jacqueline Bowden, director of the National Center for Education and Training on Addiction at Flinders University, said it is important for people to know that alcohol is classified as a group 1 carcinogen and can increase a woman's risk of developing digestive, breast, and pancreatic cancer. 
HANOI, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The corporate income tax on Vietnam's small and micro-sized enterprises might be cut to 15-17 percent from a current common rate of 20 percent, depending on previous revenues, according to the country's draft amendments to the Law on Corporate Income Tax, Vietnam News Agency reported Friday.

The Ministry of Finance has proposed a tax rate of 15 percent for enterprises with revenues of less than 3 billion Vietnamese dong (117,800 U.S. dollars) per year and 17 percent for enterprises with revenues between 3 billion dong and 50 billion dong (1.9 million dollars).

The move aims to promote the development of the private economic sector and encourage a transition from business households into enterprises, said the ministry.

Vietnam's current common tax rate of 20 percent is equal to that of Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, lower than the Philippines (at 30 percent), Myanmar (at 25 percent) and Indonesia (at 22 percent) but higher than Singapore (at 17 percent) and Brunei (at 18.5 percent), according to the ministry.

There are currently about 900,000 enterprises in Vietnam, of which small and micro-sized enterprises account for nearly 94 percent. 
by Pankaj Yadav

NEW DELHI, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Chief Minister, or head of the government, of India's southern state of Tamil Nadu M.K. Stalin on Friday promised to take a strict action against those found involved in this week's hooch tragedy, which has so far claimed nearly 50 human lives, including a few women.

The chief minister also said methanol, which was used in making the spurious liquor, was procured from the neighboring state of Puducherry, and that four persons had already been arrested in this regard.

More than 100 people were admitted to three different government hospitals, battling for their lives.

The tragedy had struck Tamil Nadu's Kallakurichi district on Wednesday morning, after the locals, mostly laborers from low-income families, consumed spurious liquor on Tuesday night. The initial death toll reported on Wednesday morning was 12, which gradually rose to nearly 50 over the past three days.

A pal of gloom descended in Karunapuram area of Kallakurichi district even as mass cremations of the deceased were performed there by grieving family members on Thursday and Friday.

This was described as one of the biggest hooch tragedies in south India in recent history. Hooch tragedies are quite common in many Indian states, even as low-income people prefer consuming cheap liquor made locally and illegally.

"For years together spurious liquor was sold in Kallakurichi and nearby areas in a secret manner by bootleggers who have a perfect nexus with the local police. The bootleggers give 'protection money' regularly to the local police for carrying on their illegal activity," said a social activist in Kallakurichi, N.B. Veerasami, while speaking to Xinhua over phone.

Speaking in the state's Legislative Assembly on Friday, Chief Minister Stalin said actions are being taken against the offenders. He was replying to a Calling Attention Motion moved by lawmakers belonging to Opposition political parties.

The chief minister also announced additional relief assistance to the children who lost both or one of their parents in the tragedy. 
KIEV, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine and the European Union (EU) have amended and extended their agreement on freight transport liberalization, which was due to expire on June 30, for another year, the Ukrainian government press service reported Thursday.

The updated deal includes provisions for prolonging the cancellation of special permits for haulers traveling between Ukraine and the EU.

At the same time, the agreement created new mutual obligations between the parties regarding transport licenses and the labeling of trucks.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said the "transport visa-free regime" with the EU would contribute to Ukraine's integration into the European economic space and spur the country's economy.

"It will ensure positive dynamics of exports to the EU countries, which will make us more economically sustainable," Shmyhal said.

According to him, in the past 18 months, Ukraine's exports to the EU increased by 48 percent backed by permit-free freight transport travel.

Ukraine and the EU signed the freight transport deal in June 2022. At the end of last year, Polish carriers staged protests at several checkpoints on the Ukrainian border, demanding the return of the permit regime for Ukrainian haulers crossing into the EU.

The updated agreement includes a clause that a permit-free regime for Ukrainian carriers could be automatically extended until the end of 2025. 
KIEV, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Friday that his country will start membership talks with the European Union (EU) next week.

"On June 25, we will hold the Ukraine-EU Intergovernmental Conference, which will mark the formal start of negotiations on our accession," Shmyhal told a government meeting.

After the conference, Ukraine and the EU will launch detailed technical negotiations on dozens of different chapters of the future membership agreement, he said.

Earlier in the day, the EU adopted the negotiating frameworks for accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, thus greenlighting the membership talks.

Ukraine was accepted as a candidate for EU membership in June 2022.

In December 2023, the EU leaders agreed to open accession talks with Kiev. 
WASHINGTON, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The United States will redirect near-term arms sales planned for other countries to Ukraine to "reprioritize" Kiev's need for advanced missile systems, a senior U.S. national security official said Thursday.

John Kirby, the National Security Council's spokesperson, told the press that to address Ukraine's urgent need for missile defense systems such as the Patriot and the NASAM, the United States will "reprioritize the deliveries of these exports so that those missiles rolling off the production line will now be provided to Ukraine."

"As a result, deliveries of these missiles to other countries that are currently in the queue will have to be delayed. To be clear, those countries will still receive the missiles that they have ordered. It's just that the delivery timelines will now take a little longer," Kirby said.

He said the administration has informed "all affected countries" and is "making every effort to minimize any negative impact" to countries that should have been the recipients of those military sales.

Asked about the affected countries' reaction to the decision, Kirby said he would describe it as "broadly understanding of it." 
Mexico's president-elect, Claudia Sheinbaum, speaks at a presentation of the first six members of her government cabinet for the period 2024-2030, in Mexico City, Mexico, on June 20, 2024. (Photo by Francisco Canedo/Xinhua)

MEXICO CITY, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Mexico's president-elect, Claudia Sheinbaum, on Thursday announced the first six members of her government cabinet for the 2024-2030 period, composed of three women and three men to ensure gender parity.

Sheinbaum appointed former Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard as economy minister, Juan Ramon de la Fuente as the new foreign minister, and Julio Berdegue as agriculture minister.

Current Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena will lead the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, while Ernestina Godoy will serve as Sheinbaum's legal advisor, and Rosaura Ruiz will be the minister of science, humanities, technology and innovation.

"They know and are committed to shared prosperity, to the humanist principle of 'for everyone's well-being, the poor come first,' and they know that 'republican austerity' will continue," Sheinbaum said.

Sheinbaum, 61, won the presidential elections in early June by a landslide to become the first woman in North America to lead a nation. 

Mexico's president-elect, Claudia Sheinbaum (R), reacts during a presentation of the first six members of her government cabinet for the period 2024-2030, in Mexico City, Mexico, on June 20, 2024. (Photo by Francisco Canedo/Xinhua)

Mexico's president-elect, Claudia Sheinbaum, leaves the meeting venue after a presentation of the first six members of her government cabinet for the period 2024-2030, in Mexico City, Mexico, on June 20, 2024. (Photo by Francisco Canedo/Xinhua)

Mexico's president-elect, Claudia Sheinbaum, speaks at a presentation of the first six members of her government cabinet for the period 2024-2030, in Mexico City, Mexico, on June 20, 2024. (Photo by Francisco Canedo/Xinhua)
WASHINGTON, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions Friday against a dozen senior executives of Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab, one day after the Commerce Department banned the sale of its antivirus software in the United States.

"Today's action against the leadership of Kaspersky Lab underscores our commitment to ensure the integrity of our cyber domain and to protect our citizens against malicious cyber threats," Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said when announcing the designations against 12 Kaspersky executives, including the company's chief operating officer.

"The United States will take action where necessary to hold accountable those who would seek to facilitate or otherwise enable these activities," Nelson said.

Separately, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement that "Kaspersky is subject to the jurisdiction, control, or direction of the Russian government, which could exploit the privileged access to obtain sensitive data, including personal information, or bypass cybersecurity measures, thereby posing an unacceptable risk to U.S. national security or the safety and security of U.S. persons."

The above announcements followed the Commerce Department's decision Thursday to ban the sale of Kaspersky's antivirus software in the United States.

"Kaspersky will generally no longer be able to, among other activities, sell its software within the United States or provide updates to software already in use," the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security said in a statement.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said the department's first-of-its-kind action was in response to Russia's repeated show of "capability and intent to exploit Russian companies, like Kaspersky Lab, to collect and weaponize sensitive U.S. information." 
Reuters

Nvidia stock still offers a compelling valuation even after its 170% rally this year, BofA says.

The bank highlighted Nvidia's software offerings as a catalyst that could drive the next leg of growth.

There are five reasons investors should view any decline in Nvidia stock as a buying opportunity.

Nvidia has soared 170% year-to-date to become the largest company in the world this week, but the stock still represents an attractive investment opportunity  and any decline in the stock should be used as an opportunity to buy more.

That's according to Bank of America analyst Vivek Arya, who outlined in a note on Wednesday a handful of reasons investors should remain bullish on the chip maker that's powering the artificial intelligence boom.

"Nvidia stock's steep climb, up 50% just in CQ2 (vs. SPX up 4.4%) could make it vulnerable to near-term profit taking," Arya said. "But we argue any volatility likely to be short-lived."

These are the five reasons Arya is staying bullish on the stock.

"GenAI hardware deployments are still only in Yr 2 of what could be a 3-5yr deployment cycle," Arya said, adding that the company has a $300 billion opportunity to capitalize on, which is about three times the size of Nvidia's expected revenue this year. "Benefits of NVDA's next-gen purpose-built Blackwell AI accelerator systems will start later this year, with solid demand/visibility across cloud customers," Arya said. "On-premise enterprise/sovereign AI demand plus software monetization in early stages," Arya said. "We believe recurring software services could open the next leg of growth, while strengthening its direct relationship over enterprise users," Arya said.



Nvidia's potential to build a significant recurring revenue stream from its CUDA software offering is what drove Rosenblatt to raise its Nvidia price target to a street-high $200 per share on Tuesday. "Valuation compelling at 35-40x consensus and only ~30x PE on bull-case $5/sh earnings scenario," Arya said, adding that the stock is trading at a cheaper valuation today than it was last year. "Unlike the 'dot-com boom' that was funded by risky debt-taking, genAI deployment is a mission-critical race between some of the best-funded (cloud) customers," Arya said.

Arya reiterated his "Buy" rating on Nvidia stock and $150 price target, representing upside of 12% from current levels.

Read the original article on Business Insider
By Aditi Shah and Tim Hepher

DUBAI (Reuters) - Chinese state-owned planemaker COMAC has the opportunity to break Airbus and Boeing's duopoly of the passenger jet market over the next decade, the chief of aircraft leasing company Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) told Reuters.

Airbus and Boeing are the main suppliers of aircraft to airlines, but the European planemaker is struggling to boost production amid record orders and Boeing is under scrutiny from regulators after a mid-air panel blowout on a new plane in January.

The narrow-body C919 jet, which is manufactured by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) and is pitted against Airbus' A320 and Boeing's 737 MAX, is a "perfectly fine aircraft", Firoz Tarapore said in a recent interview.

"Over the next decade COMAC has a unique opportunity to break this duopoly into a triopoly because on the one hand Airbus is sold out, and Boeing is having production problems," he said in Dubai this month.

COMAC's planes fly almost exclusively within China and with one Indonesian airline. The planemaker is pursuing certification with Europe's aviation regulator for its C919 jet while also looking for international customers.

Aviation industry sources, however, caution that COMAC is a long way from making inroads internationally, especially without benchmark certifications from the United States or European Union, or more efficient planes.

Tarapore said that the demand for aircraft from China and nearby countries is "extremely robust" and that COMAC has a "a very good chance of making a solid inroad".

As global travel surged after the pandemic, airlines rushed to order new planes. But problems in the aerospace supply chain and aircraft maintenance industry, including labour shortages and engine issues, have resulted in delivery delays of new jets complicating airline growth plans and garnering COMAC attention.

Airbus has said production slots for its popular A320 family of aircraft are sold out until the end of the decade.

Boeing, on the other hand, is engulfed in a sprawling safety crisis. It faces investigations by U.S. regulators, possible prosecution over past actions and slumping production of its strongest-selling jet, the 737 MAX.

Tarapore said he hopes Boeing will initiate structural and cultural change that results in the "production of high-quality aircraft at a rate that is in line with historical standards and consistent with what Boeing needs to produce to stay relevant".

Problems at Boeing are slowing supplies for DAE, one of the world's top 10 lessors, with a 500-strong fleet of owned, managed or ordered aircraft. DAE has previously said it expects to receive only around half the number of aircraft from Boeing this year than the planemaker had committed to deliver.

Story continues

"In 30 years from now, I believe we will not be talking about a duopoly, we will definitely be an industry where COMAC plays a much more significant role," Tarapore said.

(Reporting by Alexander Cornwell, Aditi Shah and Tim Hepher in Dubai. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
Australia-based salads supplier HS Fresh Food has appointed administrators.

The company, which has operations in Tasmania, Western Australia and New South Wales, has appointed FTI Consulting, a filing with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission shows.

The business, which is reported to have approximately 500 employees, is a manufacturer of salad bowls, packaged salad and pre-made meals. It sells into retailers including Woolworths and Coles, Australia's two largest grocers.

The salad producer reportedly collapsed because of tough market conditions.

We are working with HS Fresh Food Group's management team and staff, and other stakeholders to continue operations while we secure the future of the business, FTI Consulting's Vaughan Strawbridge said in a statement reported in various media outlets in Australia.

A sale process for the business and assets of the HS Fresh Food Group was undertaken and in advanced stages at the time of our appointment. We intend to continue this process, while exploring all available options, and are confident of completing a sale and/or recapitalisation of the business in an expedited time frame with the support of all relevant stakeholders.

The company markets products under brands including Houston's Farm, Sunfresh, Gourmet Selections and HS Fresh Farms.

The company started doing business as Houstons Farm in Tasmania, where its still headquartered. It later expanded across Australia.

"Australian salad supplier HS Fresh Food goes into administration" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
DAYTONA BEACH  Saturday marked the one-year anniversary of Avelo Airlines' inaugural flight to Daytona Beach from its hub airport in New Haven, Connecticut.

To mark the milestone, the airline, which touts its "ultra low cost" passenger ticket prices, announced Friday that it will offer one-way fares on its nonstop Daytona Beach-New Haven route as low as $84.

Avelo spokeswoman Courtney Goff said the special low one-way fares include taxes and are for travel on that route between now and Aug. 14. The tickets must be booked by June 27. Prices vary but are typically around $100 each way on the airline's Daytona Beach-New Haven flights, she said.

Daytona Beach International Airport officials are hopeful that the strong performance of Avelo's Daytona Beach-New Haven route could lead to the airline adding service to other destinations in the near future.

"There potentially could be announcements of new destinations to and from Daytona Beach coming soon," said Cyrus Callum, Volusia County's director of aviation and economic resources, told The Daytona Beach News-Journal in a phone interview on Friday. "It's dependent on Avelo being able to get deliveries of additional aircraft. We've been told we're one of the markets they are contemplating adding additional services."

Air travelers line up to catch a departing nonstop flight on Avelo Airlines from Daytona Beach International Airport to New Haven, Connecticut, on Sept. 14, 2023.

How often does Avelo offer Daytona-New Haven flights?

Avelo currently offers nonstop flights from Daytona Beach to New Haven on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays through the end of August. It will then revert back to offering flights here on Sundays and Thursdays in September and October, according to its website.

How has the route performed so far?

Since launching its Daytona Beach-New Haven service on June 22, 2023, Avelo in its news release stated that it has flown nearly 50,000 passengers on just under 350 flights on that route. It began offering flights to New Haven just two times a week on Mondays and Fridays, but increased the frequency to three each way a week on June 10.

Excluding weather-related cancellations outside of Avelo's control, the airline did not cancel any scheduled flights at Daytona Beach International Airport, according to the news release.

The first-ever Avelo Airlines jetliner to arrive at Daytona Beach International Airport from New Haven, Connecticut, receives a water cannon salute on June 22, 2023. The ultra low-cost carrier recently announced its decision to increase nonstop service on its Daytona Beach-New Haven route to three times a week, up from two, beginning June 10, 2024. The flights will be offered Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays through the summer.

"Today's milestone demonstrates the appeal our low fares, nonstop access and friendly service are having with travelers throughout the region," stated Avelo Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy in the news release. "It is also clear the fast and easy travel-friendly experience DAB (Daytona Beach International Airport) offers has played an equally significant role in inspiring so many people to fly with us."

Karen Feaster, the airport director for Daytona Beach International Airport, said, "We are excited to be celebrating one year of service with Avelo Airlines. The greater New York area has traditionally been one of our top markets for air service and these Avelo flights to/from New Haven to Daytona Beach have proven that Daytona Beach is its own destination and (that) travelers will support new service."

Avelo's Daytona-Wilmington/Philly route still on hold

Avelo a year ago also launched twice-weekly nonstop flights from Daytona Beach to Wilmington, Delaware, which it touted as service to the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area because of Wilmington's close proximity to the City of Brotherly Love. It suspended that route in January.

The airline was expected to only suspend service on that route for two months, but as of Friday it has yet to resume its Daytona Beach-Wilmington/Philadelphia flights, confirmed Joanne Magley, director of marketing and customer service for Daytona Beach International Airport.

"DAB is Avelo's most requested route to return to ILG (the airport in Wilmington, Delaware) so we are confident we will see that route return," said Magley.

Avelo charges additional fees for extra services

The $84 one-way anniversary special rate allows passengers to take a personal item with them on the flight. However, Avelo charges additional fees for carry-on bags, checked luggage and other optional services as well as for passengers who want to pick their own seats as opposed to being randomly assigned a seat.

Avelo's operations have been partially subsidized by Volusia taxpayers

Avelo in its first three months of operation here used over $226,000 from a Volusia County taxpayer fund set aside to ensure a minimum amount of revenue for the airline. The fund, which has a maximum cap of $1 million, was used as an incentive by the Volusia County-run airport to persuade Avelo to give flights to and from Daytona Beach a try.

The minimum revenue guarantee fund offer expires after two years. The money comes from the county's Economic Development fund and is used to promote business activity in the county.

Cyrus Callum, Volusia County director of aviation and economic resources, speaks at the ribbon-cutting event for the launch of Avelo Airlines' service at Daytona Beach International Airport on Thursday, June 22, 2023. Avelo now offers nonstop flights to and from New Haven, Connecticut on Thursdays and Sundays and Wilmington, Delaware on Fridays and Mondays.

Callum, whose department includes Daytona Beach International Airport, said $191,000 of the $226,000 was to cover revenue shortfalls for Avelo's service to Wilmington/Philadelphia. An additional amount has been withdrawn to offset the airline's continued revenue shortfalls for its Daytona-Wilmington/Philadelphia service. He did not know the exact amount off the top of his head on Friday, but said the Wilmington route portion of the revenue guarantee fund has been exhausted.

But other that the initial approximately $35,000 pulled from the fund for its Daytona-New Haven route, no additional money has been withdrawn by Avelo, said Callum. "Service to New Haven has been very successful, which is why they increased service on that route to three days a week."

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Avelo Airlines trots out 1-year anniversary fares for Daytona
One of the stocks most seen on the list of hedge fund selling lists in the first quarter of this year was Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META). Among the well-known billionaire hedge fund managers selling the stock were David Tepper, owner of the Carolina Panthers NFL team and founder of Appaloosa Management; Karthik Sarma of SRS Investment Management; and Philippe Laffont of Coatue Management.

Given the stock's huge run in 2023, it should be of little surprise that these well-known investors are taking some profits from the stock.

The question is, should investors follow suit?

Meta's big run

Meta shares were tossed into the bargain bin in 2022 and throughout the early part of 2023 for a number of reasons. These included concerns over competition from TikTok, worries over ad spending and the economy, the potential impact of Apple's privacy changes, and a large amount of spending on the unproven metaverse.

The sell-off in shares, however, led a number of well-known investors to come in and scoop up the stock on the cheap. The stock subsequently rallied and is up more than 400% from its 2022 lows. As such, it's not surprising that these billionaire investors would be taking some profits in the stock. However, that does not mean they have completely dumped their positions. For example, Meta is still Tepper's fourth-largest holding, representing over 8% of Appaloosa's portfolio.

For investors that got in around this time, it is a smart idea to sell some shares and take some money off the table. After all, this is just prudent portfolio management.

A long-term winner

Meta is no longer in the bargain bin, as it was when it was trading below a 12 times price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio back in late 2022. However, at a forward P/E of about 25 times, it's not overly expensive either.

META PE Ratio (Forward) Chart

The company saw a solid rebound in the ad market, with revenue growth of over 20% each of the past three quarters, highlighted by last quarter when revenue grew 27% to $36.5 billion. This was led by a 20% increase in ad impressions across its apps as well as a 6% average increase in price per ad. Meta also showed that it is continuing to grow its users, with family daily active users increasing 7% to 3.24 billion on average for March 2024.

At the same time, Meta was able to keep costs in check, with expenses rising just 6% year over year and its headcount down 10%. This led to its earnings per share more than doubling to $4.71.

Going forward, Meta plans to invest heavily in artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives. It has already introduced an AI assistant, Meta AI, which has been rolled out across its apps and augmented reality (AR) glasses. It also has developed its own large language model (LLM) called Llama, which it touts as the most intelligent AIS system that can be used for free.

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In the future, it predicts a convergence with AI and the metaverse, particularly within its glasses products. The company is expecting a multiyear investment cycle in its AI and metaverse initiatives before they reach the scale to become profitable.

More immediately, though, Meta has said it is seeing solid returns from AI in its core products as it has led to improvements in engagement and ad performance, which is helping revenue growth. It also noted that it has seen revenue double from its two end-to-end AI-powered tools Advantage+ shopping and Advantage+ app campaigns.

Image source: Getty Images.

Overall, Meta remains one of the premier advertising platforms in the world, with extraordinary reach across its apps, such as Instagram and Facebook. No social media company has shown the ability to better monetize (profit from) its user base than Meta, and AI looks like it will only help in this regard.

The metaverse still remains a wild card. The company continues to pour money into the project, but whether the virtual reality world will take off and eventually become profitable is still to be seen. If it does, Meta stock will likely be a big winner. If it's not successful, it will be a disappointment, given the money and resources directed toward it, but it should not derail the company in the long term.

At this point, the stock still looks like a long-term winner, although it isn't the bargain it was a year or so ago.

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Billionaires Are Deciding to Sell Shares of This Well-Known Stock was originally published by The Motley Fool
Jacob Wackerhausen / iStock.com

Warren Buffett often advises people to invest in brands they know and understand. He follows his own advice with investments in companies like Coca-Cola, his favorite soft drink.

See: In 5 Years, These 2 Stocks Will Be More Valuable Than Apple

Learn More: Become a Real Estate Investor for Just $1K Using This Bezos-Backed Startup

But is this always a good strategy? And should you take it one step further to invest not just in companies, but in individuals you follow and admire? The answer from experts is a solid maybe, depending on your risk tolerance and other factors.

Wealthy people know the best money secrets. Learn how to copy them.

Investing in Brands

From Apple to Tesla, todays investment apps make it pretty easy to buy shares, or even fractional shares, in popular companies. For some beginning investors, building your portfolio with popular brands can be a comfortable way to get started.

When it comes to stocks, being a fan of a brand like Disney, Tesla or any other company can certainly spark your interest, but it shouldnt be the sole reason you invest, advised Ned Priestly, CEO at MQL. You need to dig deeper into the companys financial health, market position and growth potential.

Investing in your favorite brands doesnt always mean putting your hard-earned money at risk. LIONS LoveTheWork.com website spotlighted several companies, including Xbox and Kentucky Fried Chicken, that launched campaigns encouraging fans to invest via sweat equity in various promotional projects.

For You: Heres How Much a $1,000 Investment in Ford Stock 10 Years Ago Would Be Worth Today

Other Ways To Invest

KFC asked fans in China to sell exclusive KFC-branded products through the WeChat platform. Fans, in turn, received vouchers and rebates for every sale. KFC earned $42 million in sales in four months with the campaign.

Similarly, XBox invited fans to customize game controllers and sell the designs, according to LIONS website.

Of course, many companies use affiliate marketing to encourage influencers, bloggers, YouTube creators and other individuals with a social media following to promote their products and earn a share of the profits.

How To Invest in People

A new platform called HumanIPO.app takes personalized investing to another level, inviting people to invest in individual creators and support their products. With HumanIPO.app, which uses the tagline Turn your fans into shareholders, you can issue shares backed by your time and success. Fans can then buy, sell and trade shares like stocks and also purchase your time at an hourly rate.

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The concept isnt exactly new, however. Back in 2008, artist and creator Mike Merrill became the worlds first publicly traded person.

In a recent interview with GOBankingRates, Merrill said, The idea was that if corporations could be defined as people, then it was fair to take the advantages of being a corporation and apply it to a person.

In creating this IPO, Merrill said he relied on his own ingenuity, creative thinking and guidance from his network.

Luckily, I am surrounded by smart people, many of whom are now my shareholders. With their help, we designed a market that let people buy and sell shares in me and also vote on any questions I needed help with.

When HumanIPO launched, Merrill said, it seemed to be a perfect fit for his concept. He became one of the first people to list his personal brand in the marketplace.

The HumanIPO project was the first time Id seen someone try to recreate the experiment Ive been doing as a platform. By basing the shares on units of time, they figured out a really elegant solution. I loved what they built and talked with them soon after their launch. I see it as an extension of my own personal experiment, he said.

Should You Invest in People?

Because its a relatively new concept, without the history and foundation of the stock market behind it, investing in people carries risks.

Merrill likened investing in individuals to investing in a meme stock  but with some distinct social advantages over highly volatile investments like GameStop.

Its probably not a good way to make money, he said of human capital investments. But its a great way to meet people  Its as much about the community and other investors (ideally) as it is the movement of the share price.

The social reasons to invest can still have a great ROI. Ive met so many people because they first became shareholders.

He spotlighted one of the other advantages of investing in people before brands.

It makes sense if you look at how people can become very famous very quickly now, and then [they] leverage that into a business or a service, he said. The person comes before the business, so maybe it makes sense to just invest in people?

Whether you choose to invest in your favorite snack food or your favorite YouTube personality, keep the risks in mind, Priestly said.

Assess the potential downsides and how they might impact your investment  While your passion for a brand or individual can be a factor, it should be balanced with a thorough analysis. Dont let your emotions override sound financial judgment.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Brands Are Turning Fans Into Shareholders  Should You Invest in Your Favorites?
(Reuters) - The Brazilian government issued on Thursday tighter guidelines for the extension of energy distribution contracts, easing the advanced cancellation of concessions and allowing the country to limit pay out from firms that do not comply with the rules.

The energy ministry has been working since 2022 on the guidelines, which affect international energy groups such as Italy's Enel and Portugal's EDP, as they are among the 20 concession contracts expiring by 2031 - the guidelines timeframe.

The new rules are aligned with government hopes that tightening the enforcement for distributors would force companies to provide better services, after climatic events in Brazil left millions of people without power in some big cities in the last few months.

"In case of non-compliance with the contract, we are allowing the early expiration of the concession or an intervention", energy minister Alexandre Silveira told journalists at an event to present the guidelines in Brasilia.

The launch of the guidelines was delayed about five months from its previous deadline.

(Reporting by Leticia Fucuchima and Roberto Samora in Sao Paulo; writing by Andre Romani; Editing by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez and Diane Craft)
(Bloomberg) -- A dealership in Phoenix is handwriting paper contracts and gauging creditworthiness with guesswork. A Jeep owner in Alabama keeps calling about when a replacement part will be in stock. A family in New Jersey is waiting for word on when they can take delivery of their new Audi.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Such is life for auto retailers and their customers across the US and Canada since CDK Global  a software provider to some 15,000 dealers  was waylaid by debilitating cyberattacks that began June 19. CDK warned on Thursday that a second incident is likely to keep its systems down for several more days.

The attacks have had a crippling effect on an industry that topped $1.2 trillion in sales last year just in the US, and is in the thick of an end-of-quarter sales push. CDKs core product  a suite of software tools referred to as a dealership management system, or DMS  underpins virtually every element of auto retailers day-to-day business.

Its just mass chaos at this point, Diana Lee, the chief executive officer of Constellation, a social media agency that works with auto dealerships across the US, said on Bloomberg Television. The dealers required to actually run a DMS for sales, service, parts, for every single functionality  even stocking a vehicle, you cant do it without the DMS system. So it is a disaster.

CDK hasnt said who or which entity is behind the intrusion, but it did issue a warning to customers Thursday evening that people are reaching out to customers and attempting to capitalize on the confusion.

We are aware that bad actors are contacting our customers, posing as members or affiliates of CDK, trying to obtain system access, the company said. CDK associates are not contacting customers for access to their environment or systems. Please only respond to known CDK employees and communications.

There are only a handful of DMS companies like CDK for dealers to choose from after decades of consolidation within this corner of the car-retailing industry. As a result, thousands of stores are highly reliant on the companys services to line up financing and insurance, manage inventory of vehicles and parts, and complete sales and repairs.

CDKs parent, Brookfield Business Partners LP, had its worst trading day since October  plunging 5.7% on Thursday  and extended its decline Friday. Shares in dealer groups AutoNation Inc., Group 1 Automotive Inc. and Sonic Automotive Inc. also slumped.

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In the meantime, CDK competitor The Reynolds and Reynolds Co. said its on the lookout for things it can do quickly for affected dealerships.

Our industry is under attack, Christopher Walsh, the companys president, said in a comment posted to LinkedIn. The impact of this goes far beyond CDK  it is hurting a lot of dealers and consumers as we enter the peak of summer.

Representatives for General Motors, Ford, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and BMW confirmed some of their dealers use CDK and said theyre working with those affected by the disruption. Other car companies didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

For Joshua Adams, the Jeep owner in Millbrook, Alabama, CDKs outage comes at an inopportune time. Hed already gone weeks without his 2020 Renegade sport utility vehicle as he waited for a warranty claim to be sorted out.

This week, he called his dealership to check if the final part needed to fix his vehicle had arrived, as expected. The service center was unsure, saying it was impossible to know because of the hack.

They cant tell me where my part is or when it will arrive, Adams said. We are just up in the air. He expects the delay will cost several hundred dollars in additional expenses for a rental car hes driving in the meantime.

In New Jersey, the Lanni family was excited to take delivery of a new Audi Q5. Daniel Lanni and his wife had removed the child seats from their old vehicle so theyd be ready for plopping into the new SUV. But on June 19, their dealer called to say the stores computer system was down, and it wasnt clear when theyd be able to take delivery.

Lanni and his wife re-installed the car seats for their children  ages 3, 5 and 8  and said they hadnt heard more from the dealer as of Thursday afternoon.

The kids were really excited, said Lanni, a 41-year-old commercial real estate broker. Theyre upset and now theyre just regularly asking about it.

Alex Padron, a sales manager at a Nissan dealership in Phoenix, said that business was almost at a standstill on Thursday. Everyone whos purchased a vehicle from the store since 2014  when it began using CDKs software  has data stored in the system, he said.

Its probably more than 50,000 customers, he said.

The dealership is now handwriting paper contracts and finding novel ways to get deals done. He said workers in the finance department have had to guess customers creditworthiness based on whatever information they can gather.

Since the attack began, the dealership has been able to process about half the transactions it usually can. Anything complicated  say, a purchase involving a trade-in or unusual financing  simply cant get done.

For this store, Id like to have 10 complete deals done a day, Padron said. Five, six, seven would be nice today.

Why Ransomware Hacks Mean Your Money or Your Network: QuickTake

--With assistance from Wilfried Eckl-Dorna, Monica Raymunt, Keith Naughton, Ed Ludlow and Paayal Zaveri.

(Updates with comment in fourth, fifth and eighth paragraphs)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
(Reuters) -China is pushing for Visa and Mastercard to lower their bank card transaction fees in the country to encourage spending by foreign visitors, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing a person familiar with the matter.

The Payment & Clearing Association of China is proposing lowering the fees charged on foreign card transactions to 1.5% from between 2% and 3%, the report said.

If implemented, the proposal could cut costs for foreign nationals visiting China. While merchants bear the fees charged by Visa and Mastercard, they often pass these on to their customers through price hikes.

Regulators around the world have been trying to rein in the fees Visa and Mastercard charge merchants for processing transactions. Earlier this year, the duo reached one of the largest settlements in U.S. history to limit credit and debit card fees.

But a New York judge has indicated she would reject the agreement that would have ended longstanding litigation in the U.S. over the fees.

Mastercard told Bloomberg it had received the proposal from the Payment & Clearing Association of China and would work with partners to lower costs for local merchants accepting foreign bank cards.

Visa and Mastercard did not immediately reply to Reuters requests for comment.

So far this year, shares of both companies have gained more than 6% each.

(Reporting by Disha Mishra and Niket Nishant in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza, Rashmi Aich and Devika Syamnath)
By Joe Cash

BEIJING (Reuters) -The European Commission sought an unprecedented amount of detailed information on Chinese automakers' supply chains during its investigation into the country's subsidised electric vehicle imports, China's commerce ministry said on Thursday.

The Commission, which oversees trade policy for the 27-nation strong European Union, last week slapped extra duties on imported Chinese EVs following the probe, prompting rebuke from Beijing and spying allegations from Chinese state media. China has also launched a dumping investigation into EU pork imports.

"The type, scope and quantity of information collected by the European side was unprecedented and far more than what is required for a countervailing duties investigation," He Yadong, a commerce ministry spokesperson told a news conference. He was responding to a question from Chinese state radio over whether Brussels had been seeking to spy on China's EV industry.

The Commission "mandatorily required" Chinese automakers hand over information concerning sourcing raw materials for batteries, manufacturing components, and pricing and developing sales channels, the spokesperson said.

Governments typically impose anti-subsidy duties on imported goods to protect domestic firms when they suspect the item in question can only have been produced for less than the market rate because it benefited from unfair incentives or handouts.

European automakers are being challenged by an influx of lower-cost EVs from Chinese rivals. The European Commission says prices are typically 20% below those of EU-made models.

Chinese automakers that Brussels deemed non-cooperating companies, such as SAIC, will face a tariff of 38.1% once the provisional duties take effect, which is likely to be July.

He Yadong called claims that Chinese car companies did not fully cooperate "groundless."

State media CCTV also ran an article on Wednesday suggesting that Brussels had sought to spy on Chinese car companies, given the "many unreasonable demands made during this inquiry".

(Reporting by Joe Cash; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
Consensys, an Ethereum software company, is continuing its lawsuit against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for greater regulatory clarity in the cryptocurrency sector, even after the agency concluded its investigation into Ethereum 2.0.

The companys founder, Joseph Lubin, acknowledged the SECs decision to end the probe on Tuesday as a positive step for the community.

However, he claims it falls short of providing the necessary legal clarity for the industry.

The SECs discontinued investigation into Ethereums shift to a proof-of-stake model sparked debates over the classification of Ether as a security.

With the probe concluded, there remains uncertainty about its implications for other cryptocurrencies with similar mechanisms.

Consensyss lawsuit aims to address these regulatory ambiguities.

The SEC began scrutinizing Ethereum 2.0 on March 28, 2023, examining the buying and selling of Ether during its shift to a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism.

In April, Consensys received a Wells notice, indicating the SECs intent to pursue enforcement action.

The company sued the SEC in April this year, claiming that the SEC lacked authority to regulate Ether.

Consensys described the SECs recent decision as a potential shift in the regulators stance on Ethers status as a security.
Amidst a backdrop of political uncertainty and fluctuating market indices in Europe, Sweden's stock market presents unique opportunities for investors looking for potentially undervalued assets. Understanding the intrinsic value of stocks and their potential in current economic conditions is crucial when considering investment options.

Top 10 Undervalued Stocks Based On Cash Flows In Sweden

Name Current Price Fair Value (Est) Discount (Est) Bjorn Borg (OM:BORG) SEK55.60 SEK101.91 45.4% Boule Diagnostics (OM:BOUL) SEK10.80 SEK21.03 48.6% Alleima (OM:ALLEI) SEK70.60 SEK138.44 49% RaySearch Laboratories (OM:RAY B) SEK140.00 SEK279.05 49.8% Net Insight (OM:NETI B) SEK5.02 SEK9.83 49% Nolato (OM:NOLA B) SEK58.35 SEK111.93 47.9% MilDef Group (OM:MILDEF) SEK68.50 SEK131.89 48.1% Humble Group (OM:HUMBLE) SEK10.11 SEK19.48 48.1% Hexatronic Group (OM:HTRO) SEK49.85 SEK98.54 49.4% Gigasun (OM:GIGA) SEK3.95 SEK7.56 47.7%

Click here to see the full list of 48 stocks from our Undervalued Swedish Stocks Based On Cash Flows screener.

Let's uncover some gems from our specialized screener

Overview: CTT Systems AB, based in Sweden, specializes in designing, manufacturing, and selling humidity control systems for aircraft globally, with a market capitalization of approximately SEK 4.37 billion.

Operations: The company generates its revenue primarily from the Aerospace & Defense sector, totaling SEK 314.20 million.

Estimated Discount To Fair Value: 16.8%

CTT Systems, a Swedish company specializing in aircraft cabin humidification systems, appears undervalued based on cash flow analysis. Currently trading at SEK 349, it is below the estimated fair value of SEK 419.42. The company's revenue and earnings are expected to grow significantly, with forecasts suggesting a 20.3% annual increase in revenue and a 21.58% rise in earnings per year. Recent successes include securing deals for their humidifiers with several airlines for new A350s and Boeing 777Xs, indicating potential future revenue streams starting from 2025 onwards. However, its dividend track record remains unstable despite recent increases.

OM:CTT Discounted Cash Flow as at Jun 2024

Overview: NIBE Industrier AB specializes in developing, manufacturing, marketing, and selling energy-efficient solutions for indoor climate comfort and intelligent heating and control across the Nordic countries, Europe, North America, and globally. The company has a market capitalization of approximately SEK 98.26 billion.

Operations: The company's revenue is derived from three primary segments: Stoves (SEK 5.62 billion), Element (SEK 13.62 billion), and Climate Solutions (SEK 36.83 billion).

Estimated Discount To Fair Value: 22.9%

NIBE Industrier, priced at SEK 48.74, is considered undervalued with a fair value of SEK 63.26, reflecting a significant discount of 22.9%. The company's earnings are projected to grow by 27.57% annually, outpacing the Swedish market's average. Despite robust profit growth forecasts and favorable revenue comparisons to the market, NIBE faces challenges with lower profit margins year-over-year and debt that isn't well covered by operating cash flow. Recent leadership changes could influence future strategic directions and financial health.

OM:NIBE B Discounted Cash Flow as at Jun 2024

Overview: Sweco AB (publ) offers architecture and engineering consultancy services globally, with a market capitalization of approximately SEK 53.86 billion.

Operations: Sweco's revenue is generated from various regional segments, including SEK 8.52 billion from Sweden, SEK 3.94 billion from Belgium, SEK 3.67 billion from Finland, SEK 3.39 billion from Norway, SEK 2.98 billion from Denmark, SEk 2.89 billion from the Netherlands, and SEK 2.62 billion from Germany & Central Europe; other regions contribute smaller amounts.

Estimated Discount To Fair Value: 28.0%

Sweco, priced at SEK 150.1, trades below its estimated fair value of SEK 208.55, indicating a substantial undervaluation based on cash flows. Expected to grow earnings by 16.4% annually and revenue by 5.3%, it outpaces the Swedish market forecasts significantly in both areas. However, Sweco has an unstable dividend track record and recent earnings have declined from last year's figures despite robust sales growth in Q1 2024 to SEK 7,720 million from SEK 7,140 million previously. Additionally, Sweco is expanding its role in sustainable energy projects across Europe which may bolster future performance.

OM:SWEC B Discounted Cash Flow as at Jun 2024

Taking Advantage

Discover the full array of 48 Undervalued Swedish Stocks Based On Cash Flows right here.

Are any of these part of your asset mix? Tap into the analytical power of Simply Wall St's portfolio to get a 360-degree view on how they're shaping up.

Simply Wall St is your key to unlocking global market trends, a free user-friendly app for forward-thinking investors.

Ready To Venture Into Other Investment Styles?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include OM:CTT OM:NIBE B and OM:SWEC B.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
The Indian market has shown robust growth, climbing 1.0% over the last week and achieving a remarkable 44% increase over the past 12 months, with earnings expected to grow by 16% annually. In such a thriving environment, stocks like Dixon Technologies (India), which combine high insider ownership with significant growth potential, are particularly compelling for investors looking to tap into this upward trajectory.

Top 10 Growth Companies With High Insider Ownership In India

Name Insider Ownership Earnings Growth Archean Chemical Industries (NSEI:ACI) 22.9% 28.9% Pitti Engineering (BSE:513519) 33.6% 28.0% Rajratan Global Wire (BSE:517522) 19.8% 33.5% Dixon Technologies (India) (NSEI:DIXON) 24.9% 33.5% Happiest Minds Technologies (NSEI:HAPPSTMNDS) 37.8% 22.7% Jupiter Wagons (NSEI:JWL) 11.1% 27.2% Paisalo Digital (BSE:532900) 16.3% 23.8% JNK India (NSEI:JNKINDIA) 23.8% 31.8% Chalet Hotels (NSEI:CHALET) 13.1% 27.6% Kirloskar Pneumatic (BSE:505283) 30.6% 27.7%

Click here to see the full list of 82 stocks from our Fast Growing Indian Companies With High Insider Ownership screener.

Here's a peek at a few of the choices from the screener.

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: Dixon Technologies (India) Limited operates as an electronic manufacturing services provider in India, with a market capitalization of approximately 68.72 billion.

Operations: The company's revenue is segmented into home appliances (12.05 billion), security systems (6.33 billion), lighting products (7.87 billion), mobile and EMS division (109.19 billion), and consumer electronics & appliances (41.48 billion).

Insider Ownership: 24.9%

Dixon Technologies, a key player in India's electronics manufacturing sector, has demonstrated robust growth with substantial insider ownership fostering strong alignment between management and shareholder interests. Recently, Dixon reported a significant year-over-year increase in quarterly and annual revenues and net income. The company is expanding its manufacturing capabilities through strategic partnerships, like the recent MOU with Acerpure India CE Private Limited. Despite high expectations set by market analysts for revenue and earnings growth significantly outpacing the broader Indian market, Dixon maintains high-quality earnings with a very large expected increase in return on equity.

NSEI:DIXON Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Jun 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

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Overview: Persistent Systems Limited operates in the software industry, offering products, services, and technology solutions across India, North America, and other global markets with a market capitalization of approximately 57.27 billion.

Operations: Persistent Systems generates revenue from three primary segments: Healthcare & Life Sciences (20.88 billion), Software, Hi-Tech and Emerging Industries (45.95 billion), and Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) at 31.39 billion.

Insider Ownership: 34.3%

Persistent Systems, a prominent Indian software and technology services company, is experiencing notable growth with high insider ownership contributing to its strategic direction. The company's earnings are forecasted to grow at 18.2% per year, slightly above the market average. Recent initiatives like the launch of GenAI Hub underscore Persistent's commitment to innovation in enterprise AI solutions, enhancing its competitive edge despite a challenging regulatory environment marked by minor fines in its Netherlands branch. This blend of insider alignment and technological advancement positions Persistent well for sustained growth.

NSEI:PERSISTENT Ownership Breakdown as at Jun 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: Varun Beverages Limited operates as a franchisee of PepsiCo, producing and distributing carbonated soft drinks and non-carbonated beverages, with a market capitalization of approximately 2.10 billion.

Operations: The company generates revenue primarily through the manufacturing and sale of beverages, which amounted to 164.67 billion.

Insider Ownership: 36.4%

Varun Beverages, a key player in the Indian beverage sector, demonstrates robust growth potential with high insider ownership. The company recently expanded operations by opening a new subsidiary in Zimbabwe and starting production at its Uttar Pradesh facility. With earnings increasing by 29.4% over the past year and forecasted to grow at 24.7% annually, Varun Beverages outpaces the Indian market's average. However, it carries a high level of debt which could impact financial flexibility despite strong revenue growth projections of 16.7% annually.

NSEI:VBL Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Jun 2024

Key Takeaways

Access the full spectrum of 82 Fast Growing Indian Companies With High Insider Ownership by clicking on this link.

Have you diversified into these companies? Leverage the power of Simply Wall St's portfolio to keep a close eye on market movements affecting your investments.

Discover a world of investment opportunities with Simply Wall St's free app and access unparalleled stock analysis across all markets.

Ready To Venture Into Other Investment Styles?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.The analysis only considers stock directly held by insiders. It does not include indirectly owned stock through other vehicles such as corporate and/or trust entities. All forecast revenue and earnings growth rates quoted are in terms of annualised (per annum) growth rates over 1-3 years.

Companies discussed in this article include NSEI:DIXONNSEI:PERSISTENTNSEI:VBL and

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
(Bloomberg) -- The US Justice Department is dropping one of two proposed claims against ByteDance Ltd.s TikTok, planning to focus a consumer protection lawsuit later this year on childrens privacy instead of allegations the video-sharing platform misled consumers about their data security.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The department is preparing to file the lawsuit on behalf of the US Federal Trade Commission, which investigated the case, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified discussing interagency communications.

The FTC gave the Justice Department a referral with two parts. The department plans to drop one part of the complaint alleging that TikTok deceived US consumers by failing to inform them that Beijing-based employees of its parent company, ByteDance, would have access to their personal and financial information, the people said. The DOJ plans to proceed with allegations the company violated the Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act, which bars collecting data about children under the age of 13.

TikTok has faced enormous scrutiny over the security of user data and ties between its parent company, ByteDance, and the Chinese government. President Joe Biden in April signed a law that would ban TikTok unless it is sold within a year. The company is challenging the law in the courts.

The FTC declined to comment on the DOJs decision.

The Justice Department cannot comment on the substance of the referral from the FTC against TikTok, said DOJ spokesman Terrence Clark. Consistent with our normal approach, the Department consulted with FTC in advance of this referral and will continue that consultation going forward.

The Justice Department, which is litigating against TikTok in the D.C. Circuit, is uniquely situated to evaluate the best ways to hold TikTok accountable for the violations of law alleged here while also ensuring that this case does not interfere with other proceedings raising critical national security issues, Clark added.

When the FTC seeks monetary penalties  such as when a firm violates a settlement agreement  it must refer the matter to the Justice Department for litigation. The same goes for cases the FTC investigates under federal consumer protection laws related to childrens online privacy.

Story continues

The FTC recommended the agency sue TikTok over the two violations and took the unusual step of making its referral public on June 18. The FTC and Justice Department have been at odds over recent consumer protection cases involving Amazon.com Inc. and Meta Platforms Inc.

For more: TikTok Argues US Disregarded National Security Plans Before Ban

TikTok in 2019 paid $5.7 million to settle similar FTC allegations that it had illegally collected personal information from children. As part of that, the company agreed to provide annual reports to the agency about its data collection and compliance with the settlement. Those reports helped lead to the current case.

The DOJs Consumer Protection Branch has 45 days from when the FTC makes a referral to decide whether it wishes to litigate or send the case back to the FTC. The Justice Department almost always opts to take charge of the case as it can retain as much as 3% of the civil penalties it collects.

Earlier this year, the FTC asked Congress to amend the law and allow it to litigate its own cases, saying the process for referring cases to the Justice Department is badly broken.

--With assistance from Emily Birnbaum.

(Updates with Justice Department statement starting in the sixth paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Amid a broader recovery, the UK stock market is showing signs of resilience with the FTSE 100 marking its fourth consecutive day of gains. This positive momentum in the market sets an intriguing backdrop for exploring undervalued small-cap stocks, such as Bytes Technology Group, which may offer potential opportunities in these improving conditions.

Top 10 Undervalued Small Caps With Insider Buying In The United Kingdom

Name PE PS Discount to Fair Value Value Rating Norcros 7.5x 0.5x 41.91%  Breedon Group 12.6x 0.9x 45.59%  THG NA 0.4x 34.76%  Ultimate Products 9.4x 0.7x 19.63%  Bytes Technology Group 29.2x 6.6x 10.75%  Eurocell 14.2x 0.4x 25.57%  H&T Group 7.7x 0.7x -8.95%  Robert Walters 20.6x 0.3x 35.48%  Savills 37.1x 0.7x 23.88%  Hochschild Mining NA 1.7x 35.98% 

Click here to see the full list of 33 stocks from our Undervalued Small Caps With Insider Buying screener.

Let's explore several standout options from the results in the screener.

Simply Wall St Value Rating: 

Overview: Bytes Technology Group is a provider of IT solutions, with a market capitalization of approximately 1.07 billion.

Operations: IT Solutions Provider achieved a gross profit margin of 70.42% in its latest reporting period, reflecting an increase from previous years. The company's revenue for the same period was 207.02 million, with a net income margin of 22.63%.

PE: 29.2x

Bytes Technology Group's recent financial performance highlights a robust upward trajectory, with sales climbing to 207.02 million and net income reaching 46.85 million for the fiscal year ending February 2024. This reflects a discernible growth from the previous year, accentuated by a significant increase in dividends, suggesting strong profit generation and shareholder returns. With insider confidence underscored by recent appointments of seasoned executives aimed at bolstering governance and strategic oversight, particularly in ESG initiatives, Bytes presents as an appealing prospect within the undervalued UK small-cap arena. Their financial health is further evidenced by reliance on external borrowing over customer deposits, positioning them distinctively in their funding strategy.

LSE:BYIT Share price vs Value as at Jun 2024

Simply Wall St Value Rating: 

Overview: Hochschild Mining is a precious metals company focused on the exploration, mining, and processing of silver and gold, primarily operating in the Americas with a market capitalization of approximately $1 billion.

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Operations: San Jose, Inmaculada, and Pallancata are the primary revenue contributors for the entity, generating $242.46 million, $396.64 million, and $54.05 million respectively. The company's gross profit margin has fluctuated over recent periods, with a notable figure of 26.46% reported in the latest quarter of 2024.

PE: -21.9x

Recently, Eduardo Navarro demonstrated insider confidence in Hochschild Mining by acquiring 148,000 shares, signaling a robust belief in the company's potential. This move aligns with the firm's positive production outlook for 2024, expecting to yield between 343,000 and 360,000 gold equivalent ounces. Additionally, first-quarter results showed an increase in gold output year-over-year, underscoring operational strength despite a slight dip in silver production. These factors collectively suggest that Hochschild Mining might be positioned for growth amidst its current market valuation.

LSE:HOC Share price vs Value as at Jun 2024

Simply Wall St Value Rating: 

Overview: MONY Group operates in various sectors including money, travel, cashback, insurance, and home services.

Operations: The entity generates a substantial portion of its revenue from the Insurance segment (220 million), followed by Money services (100.2 million). It has achieved a gross profit margin of approximately 67.67% as of the latest reporting period in 2024, reflecting an increase from earlier years.

PE: 17.2x

Recently rebranded as MONY Group, the company posted a revenue increase to 114.6 million in Q1 2024 from 106.3 million the previous year, signaling promising growth prospects. With earnings expected to rise annually by 10.29%, this highlights its potential amidst the UK's undervalued entities. Adding insider confidence, key executives have recently purchased shares, underscoring their belief in the companys future performance. The appointment of Jonathan Bewes as Chair Designate further strengthens governance, poised to guide strategic decisions effectively.

LSE:MONY Share price vs Value as at Jun 2024

Seize The Opportunity

Access the full spectrum of 33 Undervalued Small Caps With Insider Buying by clicking on this link.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include LSE:BYIT LSE:HOC and LSE:MONY.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
The Federal Reserve and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. issued their reviews of the living wills of eight of the most systemically important banks and found "shortcomings" with the plans for Citigroup, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase. The FDIC found Citi's data management issues to be a "deficiency," but because the Fed only determined those problems to be a "shortcoming" the less severe label applies for remediation purposes. Credit: Mario Tama/Photographer: Mario Tama/Getty I

WASHINGTON  The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Federal Reserve have found Citigroup's living will to be lacking, although the two agencies disagree as to the severity.

Four of the plans that the largest U.S. banks must submit that outline how they would wind down in the event of a crisis were found to have weaknesses, according to the Fed and the FDIC. Those institutions include Bank of America, Citi, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase.

The FDIC, however, reached a "different conclusion" than the Fed on the severity of Citi's plan. The FDIC determined that Citi's plan "is not credible or would not facilitate an orderly resolution" under U.S. bankruptcy law, and would consider the weakness to be a "deficiency."

The Fed, meanwhile, found that Citi's weakness is a "shortcoming," a less severe rating.

The FDIC's finding is largely symbolic in this case. The two agencies said that when one agency finds a shortcoming and the other finds a deficiency, the bank's plan is deemed to have a shortcoming.

The FDIC, in what could be Chairman Martin Gruenberg's last board meeting atop the agency, voted on the "deficiency" finding in a closed session on Thursday, over concerns about the bank's ability to get a handle on its data governance.

Earlier in the day, the board voted to finalize stricter standards on the resolution plans of large regional banks, and to speed along the merger review process.

Citi has worked for years to assuage regulators' concerns over the way it handles data in the event the bank needs to wind down . Both the FDIC and the Federal Reserve identified shortcomings in Citi's living will in 2022 , citing concerns with how it manages financial data and how that could impede its ability to produce accurate reports under stress.

A Citigroup spokesperson said that the bank continues "to make substantial investments to modernize our infrastructure, including the work we're doing to automate data and regulatory reporting processes."

"We have rigorous, firm-wide stress testing and resolution planning processes and we're always working to improve and strengthen those capabilities," the spokesperson said. "Our balance sheet and financial health remains strong, with high levels of capital, liquidity and reserves. We continue to have confidence that Citi could be resolved without the use of taxpayer funds or an adverse impact on the financial system."

Specifically, the Fed and the FDIC have concerns over Citi's capability to unwind its derivatives portfolio, according to a letter from the pair of agencies to the bank.

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Citi's "ongoing weaknesses" regarding data reliability meant that its calculations of resolution capital and liquidity needs were inaccurate, the agencies said in the letter.



"Due to their magnitude and impact, the FDIC considers the derivatives data reliability and unwind calculation weaknesses to be a deficiency," the FDIC and Fed said.

The FDIC and the Fed told Citi that, until those weaknesses are fixed, the bank should "ensure governance routines meant to compensate for those weaknesses are operating effectively."

The Fed and FDIC jointly found that weaknesses identified in the living wills of Bank of America, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan are a "shortcoming."

Bank of America's plan was found to have a shortcoming related to its strategy to unwind its derivatives positions.

The agencies found that the bank "lacks the capability to use dates outside of normal business-as-usual production process for spot derivatives and trading positions in estimating resource needs associated with unwinding its derivative portfolio.

"This, in turn, raises questions about the firm's ability to implement this aspect of its preferred resolution strategy in an actual resolution event," the agencies said.

Goldman Sachs was also found to have a shortcoming related to its derivatives portfolio. In this bank's case, the two agencies said that it questions Goldman Sachs' "ability to segment its derivatives portfolio in a manner that accounts for trade-level characteristics, including the complexity and the granularity necessary to accurately measure exit timing, exit costs, and the difficulty of unwinding the portfolio in a resolution scenario."

JPMorgan's plan was also criticized for its derivatives unwind strategy. Specifically, the Fed and the FDIC said that the bank is "unable to update certain economic conditions" when calculating how much capital and liquidity it would need to unwind its derivatives portfolio in a timely manner.
German Government Begins Massive Bitcoin Sell-Off, Sparking Market Jitters

The German government has commenced the sale of a significant Bitcoin stash seized from the operators of a movie piracy website. Over $195 million in Bitcoin was sold in the past 24 hours. In the latest transactions, $65 million worth of Bitcoin was likely deposited into exchanges, adding to the $130 million moved the previous day. Despite these sales, the German government still holds approximately $3.05 billion in Bitcoin.

This move is part of a recent trend of large-scale Bitcoin transactions by German authorities, with substantial funds being transferred to major exchanges like Coinbase, Kraken, and Bitstamp, hinting at further sales. The nearly 50,000 Bitcoin, originally seized from the operators of Movie2k.to, a film piracy site last active in 2013, were handed over to the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) in January following a voluntary surrender by the suspects.

The sale has already impacted Bitcoins market price, which has slipped due to these significant sales. Bitcoin's price has dropped about 0.67% over the past 24 hours, now sitting around $64,723, contributing to a nearly 3% decline over the past 7 days.

Despite the German government's sell-off, companies like MicroStrategy continue to show bullishness. The software firm recently purchased $786 million worth of Bitcoin, expanding its significant holdings. This acquisition followed the raising of $800 million through convertible senior notes.
Offshore wind turbines are located at the Arcadis Ost 1 wind farm off the island of Ruegen in the Baltic Sea. Stefan Sauer/dpa

Germany's Federal Network Agency has auctioned off the rights for the construction of two wind farms in the North Sea for just over 3 billion ($3.2 billion).

The contracts concern two areas around 120 kilometres north-west of Helgoland, a small German archipelago in the North Sea. One has a capacity of 1,500 megawatts, and the other 1,000 megawatts, the Bonn-based agency said on Friday.

The bidding consortium Offshore Wind One GmbH was awarded the contract for one area for 1.96 billion, while a project company of energy group EnBW paid 1.07 billion for the other.

They can now apply for planning permission to construct and operate wind turbines and feed the electricity into the national grid. The wind farms are scheduled to come online in 2031.

EnBW plans to sell most of the electricity produced by the offshore wind farm in future to industrial customers via power purchase agreements. This should reportedly cover the electricity needs of 1.35 million households.

This is only the second time that companies in Germany have paid money for offshore wind rights. Previously they were given money as a subsidy for acquiring the rights, or later waived the subsidy. But now the companies must pay to be able to build in the areas. Last year, the network agency organized an auction for the first time, raising 12.6 billion.

According to EnBW, wind turbines with a capacity of almost 8,500 megawatts were installed in the North Sea and Baltic Sea at the end of 2023.

According to the German government, this figure is set to rise to 30,000 megawatts by 2030.

"The results show the attractiveness of investing in offshore wind energy in Germany," Network Agency head Klaus Muller said on Friday.
By Maria Martinez

PAJU, SOUTH KOREA (Reuters) - In his trip to China, Germany's Economy Minister Robert Habeck doesn't expect to reach a solution on trade tensions after the EU threatened to impose steep tariffs on Chinese cars.

"We don't see any major opportunities," Habeck said on Friday in South Korea, the first stop of his East Asia trip. "There is no chance of the conflict being resolved in China."

Habeck's trip comes a week after the European Commission proposed tariffs of up to 38.1% on electric vehicle imports from China, marking a new low point in economic relations.

This week, Chinese automakers urged Beijing to hike tariffs on imported European gasoline-powered cars in retaliation.

The three-day visit is seen as an opportunity for Germany to seek consensus, some experts said, according to Chinese state-controlled tabloid Global Times.

On Friday, Habeck visited Panmunjom, the demilitarized zone between South and North Korea. Later on the day he will travel to Beijing, where he will first meet with ambassadors from different EU countries.

"I can't negotiate for the EU," Habeck said, noting that this is the task of the European Commission.

However, as Europe's largest economy, Germany's voice carries particular weight.

"I hope that it will be to set up solution-orientated formats in the near future," Habeck said. "If my trip can make a contribution to this, that would be good."

(Reporting by Maria Martinez; Editing by Kim Coghill)
As former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani continues to be plagued by legal troubles, including bankruptcy, his Upper East Side apartment has hit the market once again, this time for nearly $1 million less than what he had initially asked for.

In April 2023, the New York Times reported that the asking price for Giulianis apartment was $6.5 million. Three months after listing the property, he dropped the price by $400,000 before taking it off the market altogether.

The apartment has now been relisted by Sothebys International Realty for $5.7 million.

The three-bedroom apartment features leaded-glass windows, wood paneling, a massive primary bathroom, western and northern exposures and access from a semi-private elevator.

It also features a library with a wood-burning fireplace, an oak-paneled dining room with a carved plaster ceiling, an eat-in kitchen, a butlers pantry and a staff room with an ensuite bath.

Giuliani filed for bankruptcy after a jury awarded Fulton County election workers Ruby Freeman and Shay Moss $148 million after they said he continued to spread lies about them tampering with votes from the 2020 election.

RELATED STORIES:

When Giuliani filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December, he said he had less than $10 million in assets but more than $100 million in debt.

Last month, creditors asked a bankruptcy judge to appoint a trustee to oversee Guilianis finances because they claim he is hiding his spending and income from them.

Currently, Giuliani is living off of income that he is making from speaking events, personal services, his podcast, and his line of coffee called Rudy Coffee.

Creditors have been urging Giuliani to sell his New York and Florida condos as soon as possible.

In a court filing last week, the creditors said they have been asking the debtor (Giuliani) to sell his New York City apartment and Florida condominium for months  The Committee was crystal clear  that the debtor should sell his non-exempt assets, like his Florida condominium, as soon as possible and stop wasting funds and resources on assets that he cannot keep.

The debtors delay and refusal to sell his multimillion-dollar homes should not be applauded, regardless of how any related upkeep expenses are paid, the document said.

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The money from the sale of his New York apartment will go to help settle part of his debt.

RELATED NEWS:
(Bloomberg) -- Hackers are selling data about consumers of the LendingTree Inc. subsidiary QuoteWizard after the company detected unauthorized access on a cloud database hosted by Snowflake Inc., according to a person familiar with the matter.

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There have been several listings of the data on cybercriminal forums, the person said, asking not be named because they werent authorized to speak on the matter. The data is being sold to the highest bidder, they said. The hack has had no impact on operations, and LendingTree is still investigating the size and scope of the theft, the person said. Exactly how the information was stolen wasnt immediately clear.

This is an ongoing investigation, and as soon as that investigation is complete we will notify all the impacted customers, said Arun Sankaran, LendingTrees chief information security officer.

LendingTree has said that the breach didnt affect information linked to the parent company or financial account information of QuoteWizard customers.

LendingTree shares were down 3.3% on Friday, and Snowflake stock fell 1%.

LendingTree uses cloud data analytics company Snowflake for its business operations and has said it was notified earlier that its QuoteWizard subsidiary may have been affected. LendingTree said on Tuesday that it was investigating whether it was a victim of a larger hacking campaign against Snowflake clients. In that incident, a hacking group used stolen login details to access Snowflake accounts of as many as 165 of the firms customers, according to Googles Mandiant security business.

We take these matters seriously, and immediately after hearing from them we launched an internal investigation, LendingTree spokesperson Megan Greuling said.

Snowflake referred to its June 10 blog post when asked for comment.

(Updates with trading figures in the fifth paragraph.)

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
With sustainable mobility remaining front and centre of automakers goals in the lead up to 2030, there is another crucial aspect of the green transition that can be overlooked: access to mobility and social inclusion.

Just Auto interviewed Mike Bowers, Chief Sustainability Officer at Inchcape, a leading independent global automotive distributor with a presence in over 40 markets worldwide.

Mr Bowers lent his insight into the importance of having local expertise to help guide Inchcapes OEM and brand partners in smaller and more complex markets, and how bringing mobility to the worlds communities enables better social inclusion and education opportunities.

Chief Sustainability Officer Mike Bowers

Dani Cole: Could you give us an outline of your role and what your day-to-day looks like?

Mike Bowers: Ive got two hats: Im both the group General Counsel at Inchcape where I head up the legal team for the organisation and Im also the Chief Sustainability Officer.

If I think about my legal hat its about delivering the legal services across the group, making sure were attendant to legal risk and keeping the organisation safe and driving a robust approach to compliance.

When I think about our sustainability work, its really leading our thinking and the execution of what we do in terms of our responsible business approach which we split into four pillars: people, planet, place, and practices. Its making sure we have a consistent vision for that approach to sustainability  everyone knows what theyre doing. Were getting people engaged in the journey and were executing against all the things we want in those pillars.

Inchcape has a purpose: to bring mobility to the worlds community for today, for tomorrow and the better.

DC: Talk us through how you see the EV market evolving and how you utilise local expertise to help guide partners to deliver sustainable mobility.

MB: Inchcape has a purpose: to bring mobility to the worlds community for today, for tomorrow and the better. Were present in 40+ markets across the world with 60+ OEM partners but thats out core purpose. Why mobility is so important is that its a real enabler of social inclusion: when people have access to vehicle ownership, it means they can participate in education, work, and leisure opportunities  things that might not be available to them if they dont have access to mobility though vehicle ownership. Were really proud of what we do there: its really key to driving social inclusion.

We also know as an industry the way we need to deliver mobility needs to change  it needs to become more sustainable. We need to drive down emissions because we know that road transport accounts for 15% of global emissions. So we have a big part to play as an industry in addressing man-made climate change  and to reduce emissions.

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The good news is the industry is stepping up  there are no end of technological innovations the industry is driving to help to do that, principally through the changing drivetrain. We are going through this transition of sustainable mobility [and] the best understanding is that it will be battery electric as the most likely end-point.

Whats interesting is the way thats happening: the pace and the characteristics of that transition are different market-to-market. There are a lot of local factors involved. Its not one straight line, uninterrupted; it is not the same journey everywhere. You see some markets moving really quickly like Norway and Hong Kong, and other markets where its taking a little longer for that to gain traction.

We see trends in markets, and we bring our local expertise and knowledge to help interpret that for our OEM partners so they can bring the most relevant product to market when the markets are ready to receive it. In some markets that means BEVs faster, and in others a mix of BEV and hybrids and ICE, and some markets will be slower and will be predominantly ICE for longer.

We also know as an industry the way we need to deliver mobility needs to change  it needs to become more sustainable.

It was announced earlier this year that Inchcape would sell its British dealerships, which will simplify its business  whats the status of Inchcape in the UK now?

We announced in April that we will be selling our UK businesses to Group 1 Automotive, which is a US-based automotive retail organisation. Thats subject to only one condition which is FCA approval for that disposable to take place  were just waiting for that approval to come through and were expecting that in the coming months.

The rationale for that transaction is we are strategically speaking, a distributor for the brands we represent rather than a standalone retailer, whereas Group 1, they are principally a standalone retail operator, so we think this a great home for our UK business, colleagues and a great solution for our OEM partners too.

DC: South America is a key market for many automakers: from a sustainable mobility perspective, are you seeing difference in demand between EVs and ICE vehicles?

MB: It comes back to every market being very specific and having unique characteristics market-by-market. We are seeing an increase for demand for NEVs in those Latin American markets  but its from a low base.

Its still quite small demand in the Latin American markets where we operate: small but growing. We have an important role to play there because we have a large market share.

The role we can play to help accelerate the transition to more sustainable mobility is really important. We talk to trade organisations and policymakers to understand the things that are really important as a framework for ensuring the sustainable mobility transition can happen more quickly.

DC: Inchcapes Q1 2024 trading update noted further momentum in the APAC region  how do you see that region developing from a sustainable mobility perspective. Are you able to share any additional insights into this?

MB: It is not homogenous as a region, with the pace of change and characteristics being different. We have very important businesses in those APAC [Asia-Pacific] markets and are present in Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand as well as Australia and New Zealand. We represent a range of brands there.

If you take Hong Kong and Macau, in Hong Kong youre seeing an accelerated rate of change because the Hong Kong Administration has determined, they want to see that happen very quickly and so they put in place a range of incentives for people to buy BEV vehicles and access charging infrastructure. Were collaborating with Schneider Electric to put in place charging infrastructure so customers can access charging solutions.

In Singapore, its also happening at some pace. Were talking regularly to Singapores Land Transport Authority on how that should develop and [so] we have a strong collaboration with them because they recognise that we can help them to understand the perspective around different markets. Recently in Australia, the government has introduced some measures to also incentivise a shift towards more sustainable mobility; thats currently from a low base but that is also starting to ramp up.

It depends on a range of factors around government incentives, charging infrastructure, geography, and customer preference  all these difference things play a role in terms of the pace at which it [sustainable mobility] is happening.

The role we can play to help accelerate the transition to more sustainable mobility is really important.

DC: What are the key drivers of distribution business for Inchcape?

We take vehicles from factory gates all the way through to the end customer using our own retail network or a third-party retail network  and we are a true partner to our OEM mobility company partners as we do that.

We provide the best solution for them. We can invest at scale in data and digital solutions in a way other organisations would find difficult as they dont have the same scale that we do.

As we do that, we can bring more and more value to our OEM partners through that investment in data and digital and the expertise of our people, market-to-market.

The markets in which we typically represent those mobility partners are those which are too small or a little bit too complex for them to do themselves.

But were very relevant in the markets that are a little bit smaller or more complex and were very often therefore a developing market specialist.

All of our businesses in the Americas for example; you can see exactly its those sorts of markets where we operate: automotive markets and those which are typically well set up for growth. We have a really strong growth profile because we are in markets which have underlying GDP growth potential and strong growth potential for higher motorisation rates and therefore greater potential or grow.

DC: Do you have any additional insights youd like to offer?

MB: There are other aspects of Inchcapes sustainability practices that I havent mentioned: we look out for our people and are focused on how we can increase the number of women in senior leadership roles to 30% across our and the whole workforce by 2025.

Were also really focused on the way we operate, and making sure we have a robust set of practices because in the markets where we operate, thats really important for our OEM and brand partners so they can have confidence that someone is looking after their brand and who shares the same values as they do.

"Inchcape: Mobility is a real enabler of social inclusion" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Chief Technology Officer Dilek Marsh sold 1,500 shares of Grand Canyon Education Inc (NASDAQ:LOPE) on June 18, 2024, as reported in a recent SEC Filing. Following this transaction, the insider now owns 24,174 shares of the company.

Grand Canyon Education Inc provides postsecondary education services in the United States, focusing on graduate and undergraduate degree programs in education, healthcare, business, and liberal arts.

Over the past year, Dilek Marsh has engaged in multiple transactions involving the company's stock, selling a total of 3,000 shares. There have been no purchases recorded in the same timeframe. Overall, there have been 8 insider sells and no insider buys at Grand Canyon Education Inc over the past year, indicating a trend of insider sales.

Shares of Grand Canyon Education Inc were priced at $136.78 on the day of the transaction. The company has a market cap of approximately $3.99 billion. The price-earnings ratio stands at 18.77, slightly above the industry median of 18.385 but below the company's historical median.

According to the GF Value, the intrinsic value of the stock is estimated at $139.77, making the price-to-GF-Value ratio 0.98. This suggests that the stock is Fairly Valued.

Insider Sale: Chief Technology Officer Dilek Marsh Sells Shares of Grand Canyon Education Inc (LOPE)

Insider Sale: Chief Technology Officer Dilek Marsh Sells Shares of Grand Canyon Education Inc (LOPE)

The GF Value is calculated based on historical trading multiples like the price-earnings ratio, price-sales ratio, price-book ratio, and price-to-free cash flow, adjusted for the company's past performance and expected future business outcomes.

This sale by the insider could be part of personal portfolio management or other undisclosed reasons. Investors often monitor insider transactions as part of their due diligence on any potential stock investments.

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.


David Weinstock, the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Essent Group Ltd (NYSE:ESNT), executed a sale of 2,000 shares of the company on June 18, 2024. The transaction was reported in a recent SEC Filing. Following this transaction, the insider now owns 27,416 shares of the company.

Essent Group Ltd is a company that offers private mortgage insurance and reinsurance for single-family mortgage loans in the United States. It serves lenders and originators to manage capital and risk through insured mortgage loans.

Over the past year, David Weinstock has sold a total of 6,000 shares and has not made any purchases of the company's stock. The broader insider transaction trend at Essent Group Ltd shows a total of 11 insider sells and no insider buys over the same period.

Shares of Essent Group Ltd were priced at $55.61 on the day of the sale. The company has a market cap of approximately $6.03 billion. The price-earnings ratio of the stock stands at 8.55, which is below both the industry median of 11.32 and the company's historical median.

According to the GF Value, the intrinsic value of Essent Group Ltd's stock is estimated at $55.34, making the stock Fairly Valued with a price-to-GF-Value ratio of 1. The GF Value is calculated based on historical trading multiples, a GuruFocus adjustment factor, and future business performance estimates.

Insider Selling: SVP and CFO David Weinstock Sells Shares of Essent Group Ltd (ESNT)

Insider Selling: SVP and CFO David Weinstock Sells Shares of Essent Group Ltd (ESNT)

This insider selling activity may be of interest to investors tracking ownership changes and evaluating the stock based on its 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.


Insiders who bought US$1.18m worth of CommScope Holding Company, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:COMM) stock at an average buy price of US$1.80 over the last year may be disappointed by the recent 15% decrease in the stock. This is not good as insiders invest based on expectations that their money will appreciate over time. However, as a result of recent losses, their original investment is now worth only US$777.7k.

While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether.

View our latest analysis for CommScope Holding Company

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At CommScope Holding Company

The President Charles Treadway made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for US$250k worth of shares at a price of US$1.63 each. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being US$1.19). While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the company's future. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares. It is generally more encouraging if they paid above the current price, as it suggests they saw value, even at higher levels.

In the last twelve months CommScope Holding Company insiders were buying shares, but not selling. Their average price was about US$1.80. I'd consider this a positive as it suggests insiders see value at around the current price. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

CommScope Holding Company is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of under-the-radar companies with insider buying.

CommScope Holding Company Insiders Bought Stock Recently

We saw some CommScope Holding Company insider buying shares in the last three months. Executive VP & CFO Kyle Lorentzen purchased US$15k worth of shares in that period. It's great to see that insiders are only buying, not selling. However, in this case the amount invested recently is quite small.

Insider Ownership

I like to look at how many shares insiders own in a company, to help inform my view of how aligned they are with insiders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Insiders own 3.3% of CommScope Holding Company shares, worth about US$8.5m, according to our data. Whilst better than nothing, we're not overly impressed by these holdings.

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So What Do The CommScope Holding Company Insider Transactions Indicate?

Our data shows a little insider buying, but no selling, in the last three months. The net investment is not enough to encourage us much. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. The transactions are fine but it'd be more encouraging if CommScope Holding Company insiders bought more shares in the company. 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. Our analysis shows 3 warning signs for CommScope Holding Company (1 shouldn't be ignored!) and we strongly recommend you look at these before investing.

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
By Nupur Anand

NEW YORK (Reuters) -JPMorgan Chase is seeing signs of an improving economy in China that will bolster the bank's business in the country after a sluggish period, its CEO of asset and wealth management Mary Erdoes said.

U.S. companies are assessing their prospects in China as its economy recovers unevenly and relations worsen between the two nations. For banks, sluggish capital markets have weighed on activity in China, and investors are watching the effect of government support measures on the economy.

"The business environment in China has been challenging in recent years, but sentiment began turning more bullish in March," Erdoes said in an interview at the bank's headquarters in New York.

China's consumer spending is showing some signs of recovery, and while the country is still grappling with real estate problems, the government is looking at ways to fix those, both "positive signs", she said.

Erdoes, one of four executives recently identified by the bank's board as a potential successor to CEO Jamie Dimon when he eventually steps down, visited China last month to present at an annual Global China summit hosted by the bank in Shanghai.

Attendance increased from last year to more than 3,000 delegates from across 33 countries as clients sought to gauge whether to revive their investments in China, she said.

"Long-term investors know and understand that China is a very important market, and we are continuing to grow and expand our business there," she said, without giving further details.

JPMorgan became the first foreign owner of a brokerage in China in 2021 and its asset management unit in China employs 400 people. It has been among those to cut jobs in the country this year, Reuters reported last month.

Dimon said last month in Shanghai that parts of its investment banking business in China had "fallen off a cliff" in recent years, the Financial Times reported.

Erdoes, whose business manages more than $5 trillion of assets, in September convened a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and U.S. billionaires in New York to discuss investment in Ukraine, a country she has visited four times.

The lender has offered advice to Zelenskiy on economic policies and growth, and Erdoes assembled more billionaires in Davos, Switzerland in January to discuss aid and investment opportunities in Ukraine after the war with Russia ends.

"We are working on development issues critical to their rebuilding efforts and exploring ways to connect clients to business there once a peaceful resolution is hopefully reached," Erdoes said.

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The World Bank estimates Ukraine may need almost $500 billion to rebuild its economy.

Erdoes has taken a personal interest in the country, traveling with her family, including her three daughters, to Poland to volunteer at an orphanage for Ukrainian children in 2022.

She and her family raised more than $92,000 for charities supporting Ukrainian families, according to a fundraising site that the bank confirmed was set up by her family.

SUCCESSION

JPMorgan's stock has risen almost 17% so far this year, lagging its biggest peers, but outperforming a broader S&P index of bank shares.

Dimon, who has run the biggest U.S. lender for more than 18 years, said he plans to step down in less than five years.

Along with Erdoes, other contenders identified for the top job are Jennifer Piepszak and Troy Rohrbaugh, co-CEOs of its commercial and investment bank, and Marianne Lake, CEO of consumer and community banking.

If JPMorgan picks a woman as CEO, she would be only the second female head of a major Wall Street bank after Citigroup's Jane Fraser was appointed in 2021.

"Building a diverse workplace is not something that you do in a day," Erdoes said. "We have been on this journey for multiple decades."

(Reporting by Nupur Anand in New York; Editing by Lananh Nguyen and Jan Harvey)
It was probably fortunate for Paramount Global shareholders that Wall Street had Juneteenth off. The rumor mill did not take a holiday.

How close were Shari Redstone and David Ellison to striking a deal for NAI, in turn striking a deal to merge Paramount with Skydance? Exactly two minutes away (from the consummation meeting), according to Variety. Thats when an email from the Redstone camp to the Ellison camp landed, saying NAI would not be moving forward with the deal.

More from IndieWire

The email was not exactly well-received. The lawyers scrambled, the expletives flew, and Paramount Globals stock price (PARA) sunk to its lowest point in five years.

What happened? Ellison had already taken out $8 billion at the ATM.

After months of negotiations, including one month of exclusivity in those negotiations, Redstone bailed on a deal that would have sold her familys National Amusements, Inc. movie-theater chain to the son of Oracle founder Larry Ellison.

But Redstone was reportedly annoyed with leaks in the media about how close a deal was, according to the media reports. She also was none-too-pleased as her own personal offer dwindled in favor of appeasing Paramounts non-voting shareholders. She expected lawsuits from those common stockholders, and Skydance would not agree to protect her, and a desired vote among majority and minority shareholders didnt come to pass either.

Still, rude  and bad business. Is there anyone else out there who still wants to buy NAI (for control of Paramount) after all of this nonsense? Its a risk, and these processes are expensive. They are also long  just ask Ellison, and he didnt even get to the regulatory process.

But Shari still has suitors, according to Puck. Sony, Apollo, and their $26 billion (for all of Paramount Global) are still patiently waiting in the wings. Puck also says Paramounts special committee is prepared to do its due diligence on that potential deals specific governmental hurdles. Other buyers, including Seagrams heir Edgar Bronfman Jr. and Baby Geniuses producer Steven Paul are both still circling with their own respective offers for NAI specifically. And THR is reporting that Byron Allens initial offer for all of Paramount Global ($30 billion)  or at the very least, one for BET  is realer than some analysts suspected.

Yes, BET is back on the table after former CEO Bob Bakish previously overlooked some multi-billion-dollar offers for the brand. Showtime could also be up for grabs; Bakish turned down several billion bucks for that one too. Pluto TV has been up for sale for a while now, a person with knowledge of the subject told IndieWire; Paramount denies that one.

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In the interim  and it could be a long interim  Redstone is giving Paramounts three CEOs (Chris McCarthy, George Cheeks, and Brian Robbins) 12-18 months to right the ship. The guys addressed shareholders earlier this month and have a town hall scheduled for next week. Their basic plan is cost cuts, find a partner for Paramount+, and sell some assets to pay down its $12 billion in debt.

Hey, at least Yellowstone is coming back soon  to Paramount Network (yay!), and then to Peacock (boo!).

NAI had no comment for this piece.

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Citigroup Inc. hosted its annual investor day this week, with a big push from CEO Jane Fraser to redefine how it's biggest segment, services, is valued. Apparently, it worked, as Morgan Stanley analysts today pinned the value of Citi's services segment, which includes many of the payment rails that connect global finance, to about $56 billion ($30 per share)nearly half the banks entire value. Citis market cap is currently $115.8 billion.

The segment, which includes what Citi calls Treasury and Trade Solutions such as liquidity management, and Securities Services, like custody and fund services, transacts about $5 trillion a day for clients including Microsoft, Walmart, and Stripe according to the Morgan Stanley report.

The bank views Services as its crown jewel located at the heart of Citis global network, wrote report authors, and equity analysts Betsy L. Graseck and Ryan Kenny.

The authors found that Citis Services segments Return on Average Tangible Common Shareholders' Equity (ROTCE)a metric that divides annualized net earnings by average monthly tangible common shareholders' equityhas between between 21 percent and 23 percent over the last 3 quarters, the highest of any Citi segment.

Citi believes that continued growth in the volume of the segment can offset headwinds from lower rates. Specifically," the report's authors note, "Citi highlighted expectations for continued strength in cross-border transactions, US dollar clearing volumes, commercial card volumes, and trade loans.

In spite of the higher-than-expected returns Citi maintained its ROTCE target of between about 11 percent and 12 percent until 2026, with revenue increasing 4 percent to 5 percent compounded annually.

Earlier this week, Citi hosted a full day of presentations just on services, reintroducing Wall Street to what the Wall Street Journal described as a "collection of functions most big companies couldnt do without," and which could increase the value of Citi's stock if accounted for differently. While Citis stock has increased 14 percent this year to $60.62, analysts at Oppenheimer and Wells Fargo have the stock marked to buy with a target price of $86.00 and $85.00 respectively.

Last week Citis acting CIO told Fortune he expects a calmer than expected economy will help reduce the impact of rapid artificial intelligence adoption on the jobs market.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

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Even months after tech company Dell pushed its strict return-to-office policy barring fully remote employees from promotions, its workers still refuse to come back to in-person work.

Almost 50% of Dells full-time U.S. workforce and one-third of international employees have continued to work remotely, according to internal data from the company, Business Insider reported. Unless these employees return to the office or Dell changes its remote work policy, they will not move up the ladder.

Remote workers were willing to defy company policy because the perks of staying at home simply outweighed what they believed working in person had to offer.

The more time I have to spend in the office, the less time, money, and personal space I have for all of that, an employee told Insider. I can do my job just as well from home and have all of those personal benefits as well.

Other employees found that returning to in-person work simply wasnt practical given the nature of their job.

My team is spread out around the world. Almost 90% of the team did the same, as in our case there was no real advantage going to the office, another employee said.

Multiple Dell employees told Insider they work with team members in different time zones and held meetings requiring them to be on the clock at times when being on-site wouldnt be appropriate. Others said they lived too far away from a company location or that a Dell office near them had recently been shut down.

Dell did not immediately respond to Fortunes request for comment, but told Insider it believes in-person connections paired with a flexible approach are critical to drive innovation and value differentiation.

Its RTO policy rolled out in March certainly reflects this. The policy reclassified employees into remote and hybrid workers, with those in the latter category required to work in person for at least 30 days per quarter, about three days a week. In a 2022 blog post, the company set a goal for 60% of its workforce to be remote at any given time.

In May, Dell cracked down on enforcement, instituting additional means of tracking employees office attendance. The tech company began keeping track of how often employees swiped their electronic key card and their VPN usage to see which staffers were really showing up three days a week. Those who were received blue flags, and employees who showed up less frequently received green and yellow flags, with never-seen employees getting literal red flags from the company.

But time and again, remote employees have shown their disdain for policies like these: After software company SAP began enforcing its RTO rules in January, 5,000 employees signed a letter to company executives in a remote-work rebellion, saying they felt betrayed by the policy. An October 2023 survey by FlexJobs found that among 8,400 U.S. workers, 17% of employees would sacrifice up to 20% of their pay if it meant being able to work remotely. Over half of respondents said they knew someone planning to quit their job because of an unwanted RTO mandate.

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Lack of remote work options is a significant reason why people leave their jobs, FlexJobs career expert Keith Spencer wrote in the report.

How to quell the remote-work rebellion

Despite the ire over inflexible RTO policies, Dells own strict set of rules follows a trend in companies favoring hybrid and in-person employees, particularly when it comes to promotion. According to a January report from employment data platform Live Data Technologies, companies have maintained their position when it comes to rewarding in-person employees.

Of 2 million white-collar workers, 5.6% of hybrid and in-person staff received promotions at work last year, compared with 3.9% of remote workers. Ninety percent of CEOs surveyed said theyd favor employees who came into the office for a raise or favorable assignment.

People may not like it, but I cant build a company by playing to the lowest common denominator, Vineet Jain, CEO of software company Egnyte, told the Wall Street Journal. If you dont show up and work with the rest of your colleagues, its showing a lack of connectivity and a lack of ownership.

But Stanford economist Nick Bloom isnt buying the strategy of strict RTO policies and found that hybrid work in particular has its benefits in the workplace ecosystem. According to a study he authored published in Nature this month, employees who worked from home twice a week reported greater job satisfaction and had reduced turnover compared with fully in-person employees. In fact these flexible arrangements slightly improved productivity among a group of 1,612 employees at a Chinese technology company from 202122. It also had no impact on rates of promotion.

Though he didnt extol the benefits of exclusively remote work, Bloom advocated for flexibility for workersnot only for their own sake, but for the sake of managers hoping to keep talented employees.

The results are clear: Hybrid work is a win-win-win for employee productivity, performance, and retention, Bloom said.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

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Palantir Technologies (NYSE: PLTR) stock received a boost on June 17 after a Wall Street firm initiated coverage on the stock. Shares of the company, which is known for providing software and analytics platforms to both government and commercial customers, rose more than 6% in a single session.

Independent research firm Argus Research gave Palantir stock a buy rating along with a $29 price target. That points toward potential gains of 16% from current levels. Argus analyst Joseph Bonner points out that Palantir is on track to gain from the growing adoption of its artificial intelligence (AI) software platform by commercial customers, which could help the company increase its earnings at an annual rate of 19% for the next five years.

It is worth noting that Palantir stock has now gained nearly 46% so far in 2024 following its latest pop. Does this mean it is too late for investors to buy this AI software play right now? Or can investors still consider buying Palantir in anticipation of more gains?

Palantir Technologies is expensive for a reason

Palantir stock's healthy surge in 2024 means that it is now trading at 25 times sales. That's higher than the price-to-sales ratio of 18 at the end of last year. Additionally, the software specialist's trailing price-to-earnings ratio is also quite rich at 208. Investors who are looking to add Palantir to their portfolios may be wondering if it is worth paying such a rich valuation for the stock.

After all, Palantir's expensive multiple means it is prone to volatility. For instance, the stock crashed last month after the company's first-quarter earnings barely matched Wall Street's expectations and its 2024 revenue guidance fell slightly short of consensus estimates. However, Argus Research points out that Palantir is a "highly differentiated" company. The firm adds that its commercial business is going to be its next big catalyst.

It is easy to see why the research firm is upbeat about Palantir's commercial business. A couple of years ago, market research firm IDC pointed out that Palantir was the top player in the global AI software platform market in terms of both revenue and market share. This puts the company in a terrific position to make the most of the booming demand for AI software.

Gartner predicts that AI software spending could hit $298 billion in 2027, with government spending accounting for $70 billion after three years. Palantir's legacy as a provider of software platforms to federal agencies will come in handy to help it tap this market. After all, Palantir gets 53% of its revenue from selling its software platforms to government agencies.

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Its government-related revenue increased 16% year over year in the first quarter of 2024 to $335 million. However, there is a good chance that Palantir could witness stronger growth in this segment as it has been winning more AI-related government contracts.

The U.S. Department of Defense, for instance, awarded a $480 million contract to Palantir last month that will be in force through 2029. The agency will be using Palantir's Maven AI platform to detect potential targets automatically by accumulating and analyzing data from multiple sources. This is not the only government contract Palantir has landed of late for deploying its AI expertise; the U.S. Army awarded it a $178 million deal in March to build an AI-powered ground station system.

But at the same time, investors shouldn't forget that the demand for Palantir's AI platforms remains solid among commercial customers as well, and its growth from this segment far exceeds the growth of the government business.

This is the next big catalyst for the company

Palantir's commercial revenue increased 27% year over year in Q1 to $299 million. However, the revenue pipeline the company is building in the commercial business points toward impressive long-term growth in this segment.

Management pointed out on its May earnings conference call that its total contract value (TCV) in the commercial segment shot up an impressive 187% year over year to $505 million. According to Palantir, this metric refers to "the total potential lifetime value of contracts entered into with, or awarded by, our customers at the time of contract execution." What's also worth noting is that Palantir finished Q1 with a total remaining deal value (RDV) worth $4.1 billion, up 22% from the previous year.

Palantir says RDV is the "total remaining value of contracts as of the end of the reporting period," and is indicative of the healthy revenue pipeline the company is sitting on. Even better, the strength in Palantir's deal activity is translating into solid growth in the company's commercial customer base. Its commercial customer count in the U.S. jumped 69% year over year in Q1 to 262, while the overall commercial customer count increased 53% year over year to 427.

The company is also witnessing stronger deal activity -- it closed 87 deals worth $1 million or more in Q1 2024, up from 64 in the same period last year. All this clearly indicates that commercial customers are warming up to Palantir's software offerings, and the company's government business is likely to gain more momentum as well thanks to recent developments.

As a result, there is a solid chance that Palantir's growth in 2024 could be better than expectations and the lucrative AI-related opportunity could help it deliver healthy growth in the long run. That's why investors who are looking to invest in a growth stock can still consider buying Palantir as its growing revenue pipeline could help it justify its valuation.

Should you invest $1,000 in Palantir Technologies right now?

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Harsh Chauhan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool recommends Gartner. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Is Palantir Technologies Stock a Buy Now? was originally published by The Motley Fool
Amidst a backdrop of fluctuating global markets, the Hong Kong stock market continues to present unique opportunities for discerning investors. High insider ownership combined with robust revenue growth can be indicative of management's confidence in a company's future prospects, making such stocks potentially attractive in the current economic climate.

Top 10 Growth Companies With High Insider Ownership In Hong Kong

Name Insider Ownership Earnings Growth iDreamSky Technology Holdings (SEHK:1119) 20.1% 104.1% Fenbi (SEHK:2469) 32.4% 43% Zylox-Tonbridge Medical Technology (SEHK:2190) 18.5% 79.3% Adicon Holdings (SEHK:9860) 22.3% 29.6% Tian Tu Capital (SEHK:1973) 34% 70.5% DPC Dash (SEHK:1405) 38.2% 89.7% Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals (Beijing) (SEHK:2315) 13.9% 100.1% Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology (SEHK:9863) 15% 76.5% Beijing Airdoc Technology (SEHK:2251) 28.2% 83.9% Lianlian DigiTech (SEHK:2598) 19.4% 84.2%

Click here to see the full list of 51 stocks from our Fast Growing SEHK Companies With High Insider Ownership screener.

Below we spotlight a couple of our favorites from our exclusive screener.

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: BYD Company Limited operates in the automobile and battery sectors across China, including Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and internationally, with a market capitalization of approximately HK$749.39 billion.

Operations: The company generates revenue primarily from its automobile and battery sectors.

Insider Ownership: 30.1%

Revenue Growth Forecast: 14.0% p.a.

BYD Company Limited, a significant entity in the Hong Kong market, is poised for robust growth with earnings forecasted to grow by 14.84% annually, outpacing the local market's 11.7%. The company's revenue growth is also expected to exceed the market average at 14% per year. Despite these promising figures, growth rates are not considered very high as they fall below the significant threshold of 20%. Additionally, BYD trades at a substantial discount of 22.2% below its estimated fair value and has demonstrated strong revenue and earnings growth over the past year with an impressive increase of 52.7%. This financial health is complemented by strategic expansions such as entering new product markets including launching its first pickup truck internationally.

SEHK:1211 Ownership Breakdown as at Jun 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: J&T Global Express Limited, an investment holding company, provides express delivery services and has a market capitalization of approximately HK$73.14 billion.

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Operations: The firm generates its revenue primarily from air freight transportation, totaling approximately HK$8.85 billion.

Insider Ownership: 20.2%

Revenue Growth Forecast: 15.9% p.a.

J&T Global Express Limited, a growth-oriented firm in Hong Kong, exhibits promising revenue trends with an annual forecasted increase of 15.9%, surpassing the local market average of 7.8%. Despite a lower-than-benchmark forecasted return on equity at 17.9%, the company's earnings are expected to surge by approximately 102.86% annually. Recent executive changes and substantial parcel volume growth highlight its dynamic operational environment, although it faces challenges in achieving high profitability within three years as per market expectations.

SEHK:1519 Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Jun 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: Meituan is a technology retail company based in the People's Republic of China, with a market capitalization of approximately HK$741.75 billion.

Operations: The company generates its revenue from various technology retail activities within China.

Insider Ownership: 11.4%

Revenue Growth Forecast: 12.7% p.a.

Meituan, a growth company in Hong Kong, is poised for substantial earnings growth at 31.5% annually, outpacing the local market's 11.7%. Despite recent significant insider selling, its revenue growth forecast of 12.7% annually also exceeds the Hong Kong market average of 7.8%. The company's high-quality earnings have been impacted by one-off items but show resilience with a robust return on equity projected at 20.7% in three years. Recent financial reports indicate strong sales and net income increases, affirming its growth trajectory.

SEHK:3690 Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Jun 2024

Make It Happen

Unlock more gems! Our Fast Growing SEHK Companies With High Insider Ownership screener has unearthed 48 more companies for you to explore.Click here to unveil our expertly curated list of 51 Fast Growing SEHK Companies With High Insider Ownership.

Hold shares in these firms? Setup your portfolio in Simply Wall St to seamlessly track your investments and receive personalized updates on your portfolio's performance.

Streamline your investment strategy with Simply Wall St's app for free and benefit from extensive research on stocks across all corners of the world.

Interested In Other Possibilities?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.The analysis only considers stock directly held by insiders. It does not include indirectly owned stock through other vehicles such as corporate and/or trust entities. All forecast revenue and earnings growth rates quoted are in terms of annualised (per annum) growth rates over 1-3 years.

Companies discussed in this article include SEHK:1211 SEHK:1519 and SEHK:3690.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
The main aim of stock picking is to find the market-beating stocks. But the main game is to find enough winners to more than offset the losers At this point some shareholders may be questioning their investment in Yinson Holdings Berhad (KLSE:YINSON), since the last five years saw the share price fall 23%.

So let's have a look and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress.

See our latest analysis for Yinson Holdings Berhad

In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. One 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 unfortunate half decade during which the share price slipped, Yinson Holdings Berhad actually saw its earnings per share (EPS) improve by 22% per year. Given the share price reaction, one might suspect that EPS is not a good guide to the business performance during the period (perhaps due to a one-off loss or gain). Or possibly, the market was previously very optimistic, so the stock has disappointed, despite improving EPS.

Because of the sharp contrast between the EPS growth rate and the share price growth, we're inclined to look to other metrics to understand the changing market sentiment around the stock.

The modest 1.3% dividend yield is unlikely to be guiding the market view of the stock. In contrast to the share price, revenue has actually increased by 36% a year in the five year period. A more detailed examination of the revenue and earnings may or may not explain why the share price languishes; there could be an opportunity.

The image below shows how earnings and revenue have tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

We know that Yinson Holdings Berhad has improved its bottom line lately, but what does the future have in store? If you are thinking of buying or selling Yinson Holdings Berhad stock, you should check out this free report showing analyst profit forecasts.

What About Dividends?

It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. In the case of Yinson Holdings Berhad, it has a TSR of -6.1% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence!

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A Different Perspective

Yinson Holdings Berhad shareholders are down 6.7% for the year (even including dividends), but the market itself is up 24%. 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 1.2% 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. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Yinson Holdings Berhad better, we need to consider many other factors. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Yinson Holdings Berhad (of which 2 shouldn't be ignored!) you should know about.

If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of undervalued small caps that insiders are buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on 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
By Anton Bridge

TOKYO (Reuters) -SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son said on Friday that the group's mission was to help in humanity's progress by realising artificial super intelligence, which he said would exceed human capabilities by a factor of 10,000.

"SoftBank Group has done many things until now that have all been a warm up for my great dream to realise artificial super intelligence," Son told shareholders at the group's annual general meeting.

Son often hails the transformative power of new technologies and has made his name and fortune by betting on the proliferation of the internet and smartphones.

At Friday's meeting, he said the group was now putting all its efforts into pairing robotics with artificial intelligence to be used in all kinds of mass production and logistics, as well as autonomous driving.

Son's vision for AI robots would require "immense capital" and pooling funds with partners, he said, as SoftBank would not be able to bankroll it alone.

Son's reputation as a visionary investor was dented after many of the tech startups held by the Vision Fund investment vehicles have gone sour since 2021. Some of his other predictions, such as the widespread adoption of "internet of things" technology have not materialised.

But the success of SoftBank subsidiary Arm, the British chip designer, since its public listing in September last year has burnished Son's reputation, as investors have piled into firms linked to AI.

As Arm's share price has surged, the discount between the value of SoftBank's assets and its market capitalisation has grown wider.

Earlier in June a source told Reuters that activist investor Elliott Management had built a stake worth over $2 billion in SoftBank and called for a $15 billion share buyback to boost its share price.

Son said SoftBank was always ready to buy back its own shares, but had no plans to do so.

He also left open the possibility of taking SoftBank private should its share price fall even further below the group's true value, saying he had considered it many times.

(Reporting by Anton Bridge and Miho Uranaka; Editing by Shri Navaratnam and Christopher Cushing and Miral Fahmy)
(Bloomberg) -- SoftBank Group Corp.s big-talking founder Masayoshi Son is back, this time with plans to bring about an era of artificial super-intelligence.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Son sketched out ambitions to help create AI thousands of times smarter than any human, making his most grandiose pronouncements since the Japanese conglomerate began taking steps to shore up its finances following a series of ill-timed startup bets.

Son, sounding both more energized and more reflective than he has in years, talked Friday about a future when Arm Holdings Plc chips support a thriving ecosystem of robots and powerful data centers that can collectively cure cancer, clean houses and play with children.

Son, at times visibly overtaken with emotion, talked about how he wanted to change the world before he leaves it for good. The 66-year-old invoked his late friend Steve Jobs, saying their frequent conversations often left him in tears when he realized his legacy would pale in comparison with the Apple Inc. co-founders.

But after agonizing about his next move over the past year, during which Sons father passed away, the billionaire said he woke up with an epiphany Friday morning. I had my answer, Son told shareholders gathered at an annual meeting. This is what I was born to do, he said, without elaborating on what his next plans might be. Weve done many things, but all thats been a warmup for my dream to realize ASI.

Shares of SoftBank fell 3.1% in their biggest drop in three months.

SoftBank is working on a plan to deploy some $100 billion into AI-related chips in a project dubbed Izanagi, Bloomberg reported in February. When a shareholder asked about Izanagi, Son said hes committed to obtaining results and that he will work hard to achieve his goals, without elaborating.

Sons exposition and his goals have grown grandiose in proportion to SoftBanks share price, which has ridden Arms AI-driven rally in 2024, and its cash pile. He brushed off questions about share buybacks, dividends and stock splits, saying that such matters are of little significance compared to realizing a world powered by super intelligence and the evolution of humanity.

Share buybacks, dividend payouts - these are minor things, Son said, adding that evolution and proliferation of technology were what will boost boost shareholder value. You may be worried about whether or not SoftBank shares are going to rise. Lets all forget about such things. Does that really matter? Masayoshi Son has a dream to chase - please root for me.

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Sons stance on share buybacks come after Elliott Investment Managements recent purchase of more than $2 billion of SoftBank stock and its demand for a share buyback worth $15 billion. This is the second time Elliott has targeted SoftBank.

You never know what will happen, and Im not promising anything. I might do a share buyback, I might decide to take the company private, or I might continue business as is, Son said. In whatever shape or form, Im going after ASI.

Top executives have hinted that the company is getting ready to go on the offense in investing, potentially ending several quarters of hiatus in activity. The companys loan-to-value ratio dropped to 8.4% as of end March, near a record low and far below the companys target of 25%. That is one of Sons favorite metrics for determining whether the company is properly balancing risk and opportunity.

SoftBanks net asset value hit 34 trillion ($214 billion) as of Thursday, bolstered by Arms rally. SoftBanks own shares are up almost 60% this year and are on the verge of setting a fresh record high.

Chief Financial Officer Yoshimitsu Goto told investors during an earnings briefing last month that SoftBank is now in a position where it needs to take more risk, particularly as AI development accelerates. Failing to take risks constitutes the biggest risk for us, said Goto whos previously served as the voice of reason to the risk-taking Son. We have our sights set on a variety of challenges.

--With assistance from Hiroshi Miyazaki.

(Updates with share reaction.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Key Insights

Solarvest Holdings Berhad's estimated fair value is RM2.09 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Current share price of RM1.60 suggests Solarvest Holdings Berhad is potentially 24% undervalued

Our fair value estimate is 15% higher than Solarvest Holdings Berhad's analyst price target of RM1.83

Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Solarvest Holdings Berhad (KLSE:SLVEST) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Before you think you won't be able to understand it, just read on! It's actually much less complex than you'd imagine.

We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model.

See our latest analysis for Solarvest Holdings Berhad

Crunching The Numbers

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM14.9m -RM8.60m RM45.0m RM75.1m RM100.2m RM124.7m RM147.4m RM167.8m RM185.7m RM201.7m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x1 Analyst x2 Analyst x1 Est @ 33.43% Est @ 24.47% Est @ 18.19% Est @ 13.80% Est @ 10.72% Est @ 8.57% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 11% RM13.4 -RM7.0 RM32.7 RM49.2 RM59.1 RM66.2 RM70.4 RM72.1 RM71.8 RM70.1

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM498m

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We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 3.6%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 11%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = RM202m (1 + 3.6%)  (11% 3.6%) = RM2.8b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM2.8b ( 1 + 11%)10= RM957m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is RM1.5b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of RM1.6, the company appears a touch undervalued at a 24% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

dcf

Important Assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Solarvest Holdings Berhad as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 11%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.195. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

SWOT Analysis for Solarvest Holdings Berhad

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows.

Weakness

Shareholders have been diluted in the past year.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Malaysian market.

Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%.

Threat

Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year.

Moving On:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For Solarvest Holdings Berhad, there are three further items you should further examine:

Risks: As an example, we've found 2 warning signs for Solarvest Holdings Berhad that you need to consider before investing here. Future Earnings: How does SLVEST's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the KLSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
The proven sales expert and computer science graduate Sonja Pierer (undated photo) will be the head of Intel Germany. She has been appointed the new managing director of the chip manufacturer in Germany. -/Intel/dpa

Sonja Pierer has been appointed new managing director of chipmaker Intel in Germany, the company said in Munich on Friday.

Pierer, a 46-year-old computer scientist, follows Christin Eisenschmid who left the company in March citing personal reasons.

"Intel will continue to make a significant contribution to the ongoing digitalization of the German and European economy in the coming years," Pierer said.

US Chip-maker Intel plans to produce state-of-the-art chips at two new mega factories the eastern German city of Magdeburg.

The German government approved funding of around $10 billion for the project last year.

Once the European Commission approves the move, construction could start as early as next year, after Intel had initially planned for a 2024 start date.

The company expects to start operations in the first factory four to five years after the funding is approved.

Pierer said that with the Magdeburg plants, Intel was sending a strong signal in Europe. The US chipmaker is planning to spend over 30 billion ($32.1 billion) on the site, making it "one of the largest single investments in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany," she said.

Pierer will be responsible for landing orders for the new "Silicon Junction" project, which will not only produce semiconductors for Intel itself, but also for other semiconductor suppliers.

However, costumers will have to be patient as it takes between two and four years to develop the microprocessors needed for the production processes in Magdeburg, according to Intel.
Financial technology platform, Adyen, has teamed up with SumUp to optimise payments and accelerate settlements for small businesses. Specifically, SumUp will build on its existing near-instant settlements offering for SumUp merchants and scale this benefit to millions of small and micro merchants in Europe and the UK. The aim is to give them faster access to their money and ensure full control over their finances.

Faster settlements and payouts within minutes

Through the expansion of accelerated settlements in cooperation with Adyen, SumUp will provide more of its users with access to same day settlements, seven days a week, 365 days a year. This means that SMEs will receive their funds within minutes rather than within days after a sale. This initiative provides small businesses with faster access to funds, reducing the need for large working capital reserves and addressing critical cash flow needs. 79% of SME platform users place a high value on faster access to funds and have expressed their demand for same-day payouts (source: Adyen/BCG - Embedded Finance Report: How platforms are revolutionising SMB banking, 2022).

The partnership brings together two global fintechs with decades of payments experience. Adyen's single platform consolidates payment services. It streamlines pay-ins, reporting, and payouts in real-time, thereby reducing transit times and enhancing financial agility. SumUp offers an industry-leading, end-to-end platform of business tools and financial services for SMEs. SumUps product suite currently offers in-person and remote payment acceptance, card terminals and point-of-sale registers, a free business account and card, online store hosting and invoicing tools.

Serving global merchants

According to SumUp, its growth has been driven by the ability to enter new markets while launching new product categories and services. It currently serves over 4 million merchants in 36 markets around the world. By teaming up, Adyen and SumUp say they will set a new industry standard for resilient and future-proof market expansion. This builds on an existing successful partnership in Australia.

This partnership is one of a kind as we join forces as major payments players to give SMEs the ability to settle at incredible speeds, said Alexa von Bismarck, President EMEA, Adyen. Cash flow is of the utmost importance for small business owners. We are proud of being selected by SumUp as their partner on this mission.

Marc-Alexander Christ, co-Founder and COO, SumUp added: Over the last 10 years, we established the de facto market standard for card acceptance and financial technology for merchants in 36 markets. This partnership will allow us to keep pushing boundaries and continue providing our merchants with the best solutions to manage their business, be it payments, software or financial services. We are excited to amplify our ecosystem of tools and services for small, medium and even enterprise merchants.

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"SumUp and Adyen partner to bring faster payouts to millions of SMEs globally" was originally created and published by Electronic Payments International, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Key Insights

Institutions' substantial holdings in Synthomer implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price

A total of 5 investors have a majority stake in the company with 52% ownership

Insiders have bought recently

If you want to know who really controls Synthomer plc (LON:SYNT), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. We can see that institutions own the lion's share in the company with 58% ownership. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

Given the vast amount of money and research capacities at their disposal, institutional ownership tends to carry a lot of weight, especially with individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait.

In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Synthomer.

View our latest analysis for Synthomer

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Synthomer?

Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices.

We can see that Synthomer does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Synthomer, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too.

Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. Hedge funds don't have many shares in Synthomer. Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad is currently the largest shareholder, with 27% of shares outstanding. In comparison, the second and third largest shareholders hold about 10% and 7.8% of the stock.

To make our study more interesting, we found that the top 5 shareholders control more than half of the company which implies that this group has considerable sway over the company's decision-making.

While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future.

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Insider Ownership Of Synthomer

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves.

Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances.

Our information suggests that Synthomer plc insiders own under 1% of the company. It appears that the board holds about UK2.4m worth of stock. This compares to a market capitalization of UK420m. Many tend to prefer to see a board with bigger shareholdings. A good next step might be to take a look at this free summary of insider buying and selling.

General Public Ownership

With a 14% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Synthomer. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Public Company Ownership

We can see that public companies hold 27% of the Synthomer shares on issue. We can't be certain but it is quite possible this is a strategic stake. The businesses may be similar, or work together.

Next Steps:

While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Synthomer (of which 2 are a bit concerning!) you should know about.

But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
If we want to find a stock that could multiply over the long term, what are the underlying trends we should look for? Amongst other things, we'll want to see two things; firstly, a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and secondly, an expansion in the company's amount of capital employed. Basically this means that a company has profitable initiatives that it can continue to reinvest in, which is a trait of a compounding machine. Speaking of which, we noticed some great changes in Gas Malaysia Berhad's (KLSE:GASMSIA) returns on capital, so let's have a look.

What Is Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)?

For those that aren't sure what ROCE is, it measures the amount of pre-tax profits a company can generate from the capital employed in its business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Gas Malaysia Berhad:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.33 = RM517m  (RM3.3b - RM1.8b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2024).

So, Gas Malaysia Berhad has an ROCE of 33%. That's a fantastic return and not only that, it outpaces the average of 8.1% earned by companies in a similar industry.

See our latest analysis for Gas Malaysia Berhad

roce

In the above chart we have measured Gas Malaysia Berhad's prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free analyst report for Gas Malaysia Berhad .

The Trend Of ROCE

Gas Malaysia Berhad's ROCE growth is quite impressive. More specifically, while the company has kept capital employed relatively flat over the last five years, the ROCE has climbed 91% in that same time. So our take on this is that the business has increased efficiencies to generate these higher returns, all the while not needing to make any additional investments. The company is doing well in that sense, and it's worth investigating what the management team has planned for long term growth prospects.

On a separate but related note, it's important to know that Gas Malaysia Berhad has a current liabilities to total assets ratio of 53%, which we'd consider pretty high. This effectively means that suppliers (or short-term creditors) are funding a large portion of the business, so just be aware that this can introduce some elements of risk. Ideally we'd like to see this reduce as that would mean fewer obligations bearing risks.

What We Can Learn From Gas Malaysia Berhad's ROCE

As discussed above, Gas Malaysia Berhad appears to be getting more proficient at generating returns since capital employed has remained flat but earnings (before interest and tax) are up. And investors seem to expect more of this going forward, since the stock has rewarded shareholders with a 69% return over the last five years. In light of that, we think it's worth looking further into this stock because if Gas Malaysia Berhad can keep these trends up, it could have a bright future ahead.

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One final note, you should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Gas Malaysia Berhad (including 1 which doesn't sit too well with us) .

If you'd like to see other companies earning high returns, check out our free list of companies earning high returns with solid balance sheets here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
As global markets navigate through a landscape marked by political uncertainties and fluctuating inflation rates, investors continue to seek stable returns, making dividend stocks in Hong Kong an attractive option. These stocks often provide consistent income streams, which can be particularly appealing in times of market volatility and economic unpredictability.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks In Hong Kong

Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Chongqing Rural Commercial Bank (SEHK:3618) 8.45%  CITIC Telecom International Holdings (SEHK:1883) 9.66%  China Construction Bank (SEHK:939) 7.43%  S.A.S. Dragon Holdings (SEHK:1184) 8.82%  Bank of China (SEHK:3988) 6.53%  China Resources Land (SEHK:1109) 5.68%  China Mobile (SEHK:941) 6.43%  Sinopharm Group (SEHK:1099) 3.98%  International Housewares Retail (SEHK:1373) 8.75%  Shougang Fushan Resources Group (SEHK:639) 8.51% 

Click here to see the full list of 92 stocks from our Top Dividend Stocks screener.

Let's uncover some gems from our specialized screener.

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Agricultural Bank of China Limited, along with its subsidiaries, offers a range of banking products and services and has a market capitalization of approximately HK$1.56 trillion.

Operations: The Agricultural Bank of China generates its revenue primarily through a variety of banking products and services.

Dividend Yield: 7.2%

Agricultural Bank of China offers a dividend yield of 7.22%, slightly below the top quartile in Hong Kong's market. While its dividends are currently well-covered by earnings with a 32.3% payout ratio, this is expected to remain stable at around 30.6% in three years, indicating sustainability. The bank has consistently raised its dividends over the past decade, demonstrating reliability and stability in its dividend payments despite trading at a significant discount to estimated fair value and recent executive changes which include appointing Mr. WANG Zhiheng as President pending regulatory approval.

SEHK:1288 Dividend History as at Jun 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: China Hongqiao Group Limited is an investment holding company that manufactures and sells aluminum products in the People's Republic of China and Indonesia, with a market capitalization of approximately HK$119.39 billion.

Operations: China Hongqiao Group Limited generates revenue primarily through the manufacture and sales of aluminum products, totaling CN133.62 billion.

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Dividend Yield: 3.2%

China Hongqiao Group recently projected a significant net profit increase for the first half of 2024, largely due to higher sales and lower raw material costs. Despite this positive financial outlook, the company's dividend yield remains relatively low at 3.23% compared to other top dividend payers in Hong Kong. However, its dividends are well-supported by earnings and cash flows with payout ratios of 30.8% and 21.9%, respectively. The recent approval of a final dividend of HK$0.29 per share underscores a commitment to returning value to shareholders, although its track record shows some volatility in dividend payments over the last decade.

SEHK:1378 Dividend History as at Jun 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Pacific Basin Shipping Limited operates globally, providing dry bulk shipping services, with a market capitalization of approximately HK$14.07 billion.

Operations: Pacific Basin Shipping Limited generates its revenue primarily from dry bulk shipping services, totaling approximately HK$2.30 billion.

Dividend Yield: 4.5%

Pacific Basin Shipping's profit margin has declined to 4.8% from last year's 21.4%, and its dividend yield of 4.52% trails behind Hong Kongs top dividend payers at 7.75%. Despite a volatile dividend history over the past decade, dividends have grown, supported by a payout ratio of 47.6% and cash payout ratio of 80.3%, suggesting coverage by both earnings and cash flows. The company recently initiated a share repurchase program, enhancing shareholder value through potential increases in net asset value per share and earnings per share.

SEHK:2343 Dividend History as at Jun 2024

Turning Ideas Into Actions

Dive into all 92 of the Top Dividend Stocks we have identified here.

Have you diversified into these companies? Leverage the power of Simply Wall St's portfolio to keep a close eye on market movements affecting your investments.

Join a community of smart investors by using Simply Wall St. It's free and delivers expert-level analysis on worldwide markets.

Looking For Alternative Opportunities?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include SEHK:1288 SEHK:1378 and SEHK:2343.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
As European markets navigate through a period of political uncertainty and fluctuating economic indicators, investors are keenly observing how these dynamics could influence market stability and investment returns. In this context, dividend stocks in Sweden may offer a measure of predictability and resilience, making them an appealing option for those looking to manage risk while seeking returns.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks In Sweden

Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Betsson (OM:BETS B) 6.08%  Zinzino (OM:ZZ B) 4.26%  Loomis (OM:LOOMIS) 4.38%  HEXPOL (OM:HPOL B) 3.24%  Axfood (OM:AXFO) 3.07%  Duni (OM:DUNI) 4.83%  Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken (OM:SEB A) 5.55%  Nordea Bank Abp (OM:NDA SE) 8.12%  Bahnhof (OM:BAHN B) 4.02%  AB Traction (OM:TRAC B) 3.97% 

Click here to see the full list of 23 stocks from our Top Dividend Stocks screener.

We'll examine a selection from our screener results.

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: HEXPOL AB (publ) specializes in the development, manufacture, and sale of polymer compounds and engineered products across Sweden, Europe, the Americas, and Asia, with a market capitalization of approximately SEK 42.47 billion.

Operations: HEXPOL AB generates SEK 20.48 billion from its Compounding segment and SEK 1.59 billion from its Engineered Products segment.

Dividend Yield: 3.2%

HEXPOL AB, with a dividend increase to SEK 6.00 for FY 2023, demonstrates a commitment to shareholder returns, supported by a stable dividend history over the past decade. Despite its lower yield of 3.24% relative to some Swedish peers, the dividends are well-covered by both earnings and cash flows, with payout ratios around 54.9% and 54.6%, respectively. The firm is actively seeking acquisitions which might influence future financial flexibility but also indicates potential for growth beyond its modest earnings forecast of 5.36% annually.

OM:HPOL B Dividend History as at Jun 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Nordea Bank Abp provides banking products and services across Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, and other international markets with a market capitalization of approximately SEK 445.81 billion.

Operations: Nordea Bank Abp generates revenue through various segments, with Personal Banking contributing 4.75 billion, Business Banking adding 3.55 billion, Large Corporates & Institutions at 2.46 billion, and Asset and Wealth Management bringing in 1.44 billion.

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Dividend Yield: 8.1%

Nordea Bank Abp, despite a forecasted average earnings decline of 2.4% annually over the next three years, maintains a stable dividend with a high yield of 8.12%, ranking in the top 25% in Sweden. The dividends are well-covered by earnings with a current payout ratio of 63.8% and an expected slight increase to 65.6% in three years, indicating sustainability despite past volatility and unreliable payment patterns. Recent financial results show robust growth with net income rising to 1.36 billion from 1.15 billion year-over-year, supporting ongoing dividend commitments.

OM:NDA SE Dividend History as at Jun 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: AB SKF (publ) is a global company that designs, manufactures, and sells bearings and units, seals, lubrication systems, condition monitoring services with a market capitalization of approximately SEK 97.50 billion.

Operations: AB SKF generates revenue primarily through two segments: Automotive, which contributes SEK 29.79 billion, and Industrial, with SEK 72.25 billion in sales.

Dividend Yield: 3.5%

AB SKF, while trading 43.4% below estimated fair value, presents a mixed scenario for dividend seekers with its dividend yield at 3.5%, lower than the Swedish market's top quartile at 4.3%. The dividends are supported by a payout ratio of 55% and cash flow coverage of 45.2%, indicating reasonable security in payments despite an unstable historical track record over the past decade. Recent innovations highlighted at the SKF Tech & Innovation Summit may bolster future performance, but past earnings have shown volatility with a recent drop in Q1 net income to SEK 1.88 billion from SEK 2.07 billion year-over-year.

OM:SKF B Dividend History as at Jun 2024

Key Takeaways

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include OM:HPOL B OM:NDA SE and OM:SKF B.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
French oil giant TotalEnergies and its licence partner NNPCL have made the final investment decision for the development of the Ubeta gas field in Nigeria.

Located in the OML 58 onshore licence in Nigeria, the Ubeta gas condensate field is due to be developed with a new six-well cluster that will be connected to the existing Obite facilities through a 11km pipeline.

Scheduled to commence production in 2027, the field is expected to have plateau production capacity of 300mcf/d (around 70,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day including condensates).

Gas from the field is due to be supplied to the Nigeria LNG (NLNG) liquefaction plant located in Bonny Island.

TotalEnergies currently owns a 15% interest in the NLNG plant.

Ubeta is a low-emission and low-cost development, leveraging OML 58's existing gas processing facilities.

The carbon intensity of the project is expected to be further reduced through a 5MW solar plant, which is currently under construction at the Obite site, and the electrification of the drilling rig.

The French oil company operates the OML 58 onshore license with a 40% stake. NNPCL holds the remaining 60% stake.

Located around 80km north-west of Port Harcourt in Rivers state, the OML 58 licence also comprises the producing Obagi oil field and Ibewa gas and condensate field.

TotalEnergies is collaborating with NNPCL to ensure more than 90% of the work is performed locally.

TotalEnergies exploration & production Africa senior vice-president Mike Sangster said: Ubeta is the latest in a series of projects developed by TotalEnergies in Nigeria, most recently Ikike and Akpo West.

I am pleased that we can launch this new gas project, which has been made possible by the governments recent incentives for non-associated gas developments. Ubeta fits perfectly with our strategy of developing low-cost and low-emission projects, and will contribute to the Nigerian economy through higher NLNG exports.

Last year, TotalEnergies announced a $6bn (5.47bn) investment to boost its oil and gas operations in Nigeria over the coming years.

"TotalEnergies, NNPCL make FID on Ubeta gas project in Nigeria" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Former President Donald Trumps huge May fundraising haul erased President Joe Bidens longstanding cash advantage as the two gear up for a rematch.

Trumps campaign had $116.6 million in the bank at the end of May, compared to $91.6 million for Biden.

It wasnt due to poor fundraising on the incumbents part  Bidens campaign saw a decent fundraising rebound in May after a weak showing the month prior. But Trumps fundraising while he was on trial in New York that month, punctuated in the final days when he was convicted, was enough to surpass Biden in campaign cash, something that had long been seen as a crucial strength of his.

The latest campaign finance filings with the Federal Election Commission also revealed how Biden has continued to build out his campaign apparatus, while Trump has largely held onto cash. And down-ballot races are also heating up, with party committees and other outside groups bringing in  and spreading around  more cash than before.

After months of a relatively sleepy start, the real money race has begun.

Those are among the takeaways of the campaign finance reports filed by presidential campaigns, party committees and a handful of other groups on Thursday. The reports covered all activity for the month of May.

Biden was counting on a cash advantage. Trump wiped it out.

Trumps campaign and the Republican National Committee said they raised $141 million in May, a figure that included the significant fundraising boost after the former presidents criminal conviction on hush money charges. (The full breakdown behind that number wont be available until mid-July, when Trumps joint fundraising committees file their own reports.)

But the former presidents campaign filing Thursday showed a significant surge in the final two days of the month  the day the jury handed down a guilty verdict and the day after.

Just looking at large-dollar donations, the campaign reported receiving at least six times as many daily donations those two days compared to a typical day. And the fundraising spike was likely even greater, considering that doesnt include unitemized donations of less than $200 or any donations that the joint fundraising contributions hadnt yet transferred.

In total, Trumps campaign and the RNC reported just over $170 million cash on hand combined at the end of May, overtaking Biden and the Democratic National Committee, which reported just shy of $157 million.



While Trumps New York trial and conviction did drive grassroots fundraising, the strong numbers from last month also reflected traditional Republican donors ramping up their donations as the general election cycle kicked off.

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The pro-Trump super PAC Make America Great Again Inc. raised nearly $70 million in May. But the bulk of that total was a single $50 million donation from Timothy Mellon, a longtime GOP donor who had already given the super PAC $25 million since the start of last year. (Mellon has also given $25 million to a super PAC backing Robert F. Kennedy Jr.) The super PAC also received $5 million each from Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein, longtime GOP megadonors.

Bidens fundraising rebounded  but he spent far more than Trump

Bidens operation said it raised $85 million in May across his campaign, the Democratic National Committee and two joint fundraising committees  a significant rebound from the prior month, when it raised just $51 million.

The incumbent presidents campaign also spent more than $30 million, according to its report filed late Thursday, up from $25 million the previous month and nearly four times as much as Trumps campaign spent over the same period.

Ad buys and media production accounted for roughly two-thirds of that spending total, but Biden also outspent Trump heavily in a range of other expense categories, such as payroll, on which Bidens campaign spent nearly $3.8 million compared to $176,000 for Trump. Part of that disparity likely reflected some rejiggering on the Republican side, as many staffers recently paid directly by Trumps campaign are now on payroll at the RNC instead. But it also reflects how Bidens campaign has built out a much more robust  and more expensive  campaign infrastructure.

Of course, Trump now has the cash available to match Bidens campaigning. The question for the rest of the summer will be how his campaign chooses to use it.

RFK Jr. (and his allies) are pressed for cash

Kennedys campaign has struggled for months to raise cash, and things appeared to get even more dire last month.

The campaign spent considerably more than it raised in May amid a fundraising slowdown, and even the primary super PAC backing him  which can take unlimited funds from wealthy donors  reported raising a measly $281,000 for the month, though it still had more than $19 million in the bank.

Kennedy's lagging fundraising presents challenges on several levels. First, it suggests that Kennedy largely hasnt been able to significantly grow his support beyond the base that liked him from the start. It also comes at a time when presidential fundraising typically picks up, with Biden and Trump both reporting strong fundraising months. But Kennedy, who also failed to qualify for next weeks CNN debate, isnt building any momentum.



And of course, lack of fundraising could create very practical challenges for Kennedy and his allies. Campaigning down the stretch will require significant resources, but its not clear whether Kennedy will have them.

Down-ballot Republicans pick up the pace

As general election campaigning picks up in down-ballot races, both House Democrats and House Republicans campaign arms said they set new May fundraising records. And for the first time this year, the National Republican Congressional Committee outraised its Democratic counterpart.

The House GOPs campaign arm brought in $12.6 million to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committees $11.9 million, which was the Democrats second-lowest monthly fundraising total this year since its $9.5 million January haul.

The windfall after the Trump verdict likely helped Republicans. The NRCC noted in a press release that it raised over $1 million from small-dollar donors in the days following Trumps conviction, demonstrating how Trumps fundraising prowess is trickling down-ballot.

Still, the DCCC has raised more so far this cycle and retains a significant cash advantage  it had $78.8 million in the bank at the end of May compared to $64.6 million for the NRCC.

Senate Republicans campaign arm also outraised the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee last month, $12.4 million to $10.6 million. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has outraised the DSCC every month this year. But the DSCC maintains a slight cash advantage  $48.3 million to $41 million.

AIPACs spending is broader than previously known

The biggest pro-Israel group continued to flex its muscle: The American Israel Public Affairs Committee directed major funds toward its endorsed candidates in two major Democratic primaries in May, raising $890,000 for George Latimer, who is challenging Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), and $818,000 for Wesley Bell, who is challenging Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.).

AIPAC did not raise more than $140,000 for any other single candidate in May, reflecting how those two primaries continue to be the groups highest priority. Its affiliated super PAC, United Democracy Project, made a splash in congressional races over the last month  including Bowmans  by spending heavily.

AIPAC also quietly funneled money into a congressional race in May  but the source of the funds, after much speculation, has only now become public.

Two super PACs that spent big in an open Democratic congressional primary in Oregon this year got money from an AIPAC affiliate. The groups, 314 Action Fund and Voters for Responsive Government, spent nearly $5.5 million combined boosting State Rep. Maxine Dexter and attacking former Multnomah County Commissioner Susheela Jayapal, who had the backing of national progressives. Dexter won the primary convincingly and is set to cruise to victory in the safe Democratic district where Biden won by almost 50 points in 2020.

Last month, The Intercept reported the link between AIPAC and 314, which the group pushed back on. Dexters primary opponents also took issue with the spending during the campaign and accused 314 of being funded by Republicans  a refrain that progressives often use as an attack against AIPAC.

Thursdays filings showed that Voters for Responsive Government received $1.3 million from United Democracy Project, while 314 Action Fund received $1 million. Both donations were made on May 1  a day after the monthly disclosure deadline that would have led the source of the funds to be disclosed ahead of Oregons May 21 congressional primary.
Former President Donald Trumps felony conviction was a springboard for more cash from donors and allowed his campaign to overtake a cash advantage President Joe Biden spent months building.

After a jury found him guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records on May 30, Trump saw a massive surge in grass-roots donations in the days that followed, taking in millions of dollars an hour.

By June 1, according to new campaign finance filings released Thursday, Trump's campaign bank account had ballooned to $116.6 million and overtaken Bidens $91.6 million.

The surge capped a remarkably quick turnabout for Trump, who had trailed in this critical metric by more than $40 million just two months prior.

Thursdays release was just one piece of a fuller campaign finance picture that won't be known for months but is emblematic of Trumps potent fundraising power among both small-dollar donors and billionaires.

Another wealthy backer emerged this week, with the New York Times reporting that banking heir Timothy Mellon donated $50 million to a super-PAC supporting Trump one day after the conviction was announced.

That check is among the largest single gifts ever disclosed in campaign finance history.

Other wealthy donors, notably Sequoia Capital partner Shaun Maguire, had previously announced Trump donations in the immediate aftermath of the verdict.

In total, Trump and the Republican National Committee raised $141 million in May to beat a total of $81 million raised by Biden and the DNC.

New evidence of billionaire support

The election law only allows individuals to give a maximum of $3,300 to each candidate per election, meaning that this weeks powerful result for Trumps formal campaign was largely due to a surge in grass-roots donations.

But Trump's overall fundraiser surge has been due to his campaign's ability to tap billionaires for both formal campaign checks and money for Trump-affiliated groups that can accept unlimited amounts. Some of those totals will not be available for weeks or months.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during a visit to Wisconsin on June 18. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) (Scott Olson via Getty Images)

In addition to the eye-popping donation from Mellon  the grandson of former Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon and a member of a family that created a Pittsburgh banking dynasty during the Gilded Age  Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss announced Thursday that they had each given $1 million to Trumps campaign.

The cryptocurrency investors said those funds were to protest what Cameron called "the Biden Administration's war on crypto."

That donation will likely show up on future election filings as the twins attached a picture of themselves apparently taken at a Trump Silicon Valley fundraiser earlier this month that garnered a reported $12 million in a single night.

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The event was co-hosted by billionaire investor David O. Sacks and venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya and capped a wave of recent Trump inroads into the pocketbooks of wealthy donors from the worlds of tech, crypto, and Wall Street.

President Bidens campaign also continued to rake in dollars, with a fundraising total in May that outpaced the April numbers but still lagged Trump's.

Bidens team said it has been spending its money more effectively on campaign infrastructure, a move that would drain the cash-on-hand figure.

They also maintain that they have a "strong and consistent fundraising program," as campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez put it in a statement.

Biden also revealed his own new billionaire donor this week. Michael Bloomberg, the onetime Biden presidential rival back in 2020, sent $20 million Biden's way.

The donation, according to the Washington Post, was split between $19 million to a pro-Biden super-PAC and another $1 million to another Biden group.

Ben Werschkul is Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance.

Click here for politics news related to business and money

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The US is asking the EU to postpone the implementation of its new deforestation law, due to come into effect at the end of this year.

Members of the US Department of Agriculture, the US Trade Representative office and Department of Commerce have written to the European Commission to call for a delay, the USDA confirmed.

In a statement sent to Just Food, a USDA spokesperson said the government was "concerned" about "how the regulation will be implemented and the impact it may have on US producers that engage in sustainable production practices".

It added: "We look forward to continuing to work with the European Union to address issues and concerns with the EUDR [Regulation on Deforestation Free Products] such that the regulation can most effectively address global deforestation, without creating unjustifiable economic effects on both producers and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic.

Reports from Reuters suggest the country is particularly worried about how the ban could impact the trade of cocoa products.

According to the publication, the US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack, and trade envoy Katherine Tai, said the incoming law would bring "critical challenges" for US food producers.

They added that the Commission should consider delaying "the implementation of this regulation and subsequent enforcement of penalties until these substantial challenges have been addressed".

Due to come into play on 30 December, the incoming legislation will ban the export of products with connections to deforestation, such as meat, cocoa beans, soya beans and palm oil.

The sale of these products will only be allowed in the EU if the supplier has issued a statement of due diligence that states the ingredients have not been sourced from degraded land or contributed to deforestation since December 2020.

Earlier in April, the EU climate transition minister, Alain Maron, stressed that approval of the legislation by EU members was "not far from a qualified majority.

His comments were made amid media reports that member nations such as Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, Austria, Italy, Poland and Slovenia were calling on Brussels to revise the law.

"US calls for delay to EU deforestation law enforcement" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Thursday it is investigating a Southwest Airlines flight that descended to a low altitude 9 miles (14.5 km) from the Oklahoma City airport.

The incident involving Southwest Airlines Flight 4069, which had departed from Las Vegas, occurred around at 12:05 a.m. Wednesday, the FAA said. After the automated Minimum Safe Altitude Warning sounded, an air traffic controller alerted the flight crew.

Southwest said it is following its Safety Management System and is in contact with the FAA to "understand and address any irregularities with the aircrafts approach to the airport."

Several incidents involving Southwest flights in recent months have raised concerns.

Asked on Monday if the incidents would prompt the agency to boost scrutiny of Southwest, as it has with United Airlines, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker declined to comment. He said the agency reviewed all airline incidents and closely monitored carriers.

"The airline oversight model is a pretty good model that we want to build out for other players in the system," Whitaker said.

Last week, the FAA and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said they were investigating a May 25 Southwest flight of a Boeing 737 MAX. The NTSB said the plane experienced a "Dutch roll" at 34,000 feet while en route from Phoenix, to Oakland, California. Such lateral asymmetric movements are named after a Dutch ice-skating technique and can pose serious safety risks.

The FAA said last week it was also investigating a Southwest 737 MAX 8 flight in April that came within about 400 feet of the ocean off the coast of Hawaii after bad weather conditions prompted pilots to bypass a landing attempt at Lihue airport, on the island of Kauai.

During the go-around, the first officer "inadvertently pushed forward on the control column while following thrust lever movement commanded by the autothrottle," according to a June 7 airline memo, and the plane began to descend rapidly, hitting a maximum descent rate of about 4,400 feet per minute.

The pilots in a post-debrief said seeing the severity of the flight "through the animations was a significant, emotional event," the Southwest memo said, adding the airline is reviewing data and trends related to its procedures, training, standards, and performance.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Sandra Maler and Leslie Adler)
We recently compiled a list of the 14 Most Promising Gold Stocks Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Galiano Gold Inc. (NYSE-A:GAU) stands against the other promising gold stocks.

Global Gold Market Dynamics and Investment Trends in 2023

The global gold market is a vast and multifaceted industry, with a diverse range of participants and investment opportunities. The total above-ground stock of gold is estimated to be around 209,000 tons, worth approximately $12 trillion. Central banks hold around 35,715 tonnes of gold, accounting for 16% of total global allocated reserves, second only to the US dollar and the euro. Investors view gold as a safe-haven asset and a hedge against economic uncertainties. In 2023, global investment demand for gold (bars, coins, and ETFs) was the lowest since 2014, primarily due to outflows from gold ETFs.

Gold prices increased 13% in 2023 as investors considered it a hedge against inflation in the face of economic turmoil. Driven by investors, industry, and central banks, demand reached 4,899 metric tons. Demand was further stimulated by the SVB bankruptcy and the Middle East tensions, which resulted in large rises in gold equities. According to Invesco and Bloomberg reports, sovereign wealth funds and central banks, who oversee $21 trillion in assets, significantly raised their gold holdings.

Gold-tracking ETFs showed robust gains in 2023: SPDR's ETF rose 12% YTD, and iShares' ETF increased by 12.1% YTD. Analysts attribute gold's recent success to favorable market conditions likened to a "Goldilocks scenario," marked by ideal circumstances for investors.

Gold Stocks and Their Relationship to Gold Prices

Investors are increasingly turning to gold stocks to diversify their portfolios amidst economic uncertainties. According to a report by State Street Global Advisors, gold has historically offered positive risk-adjusted returns, averaging a 7.7% compound annual growth rate in USD terms since August 15, 1971, making it a sought-after safe-haven asset.

A VanEck report highlighted that gold prices directly influence the performance of gold stocks, underscoring the correlation between the two.

"Gold stocks are supposed to outperform the metal when golds price rises. Their leverage to gold justifies outperformance. For any given move in the price of gold, the operating cash flow generated by these companies increases (or decreases) by a much greater percentage. Take Alamos (8.06% of Fund net assets), for example. The company estimates that a 5% increase in the price of gold (about a+$100/oz move), would translate into an increase of almost 30% in their free cash flow in 2024. "

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The VanEck report noted a recent disconnect between gold prices and gold stocks in the past two years, primarily due to central bank buying and other temporary factors.

Gregory Shearer, Head of Base and Precious Metals Strategy at J.P. Morgan echoed the prevailing market sentiment regarding gold.

Across all metals, we have the highest conviction on a bullish medium-term forecast for both gold and silver throughout 2024 and into the first half of 2025, though timing an entry will continue to be critical. At the moment, gold still appears quite rich relative to underlying rates and foreign exchange (FX) fundamentals, and still looks vulnerable to another modest retreat in the near-term, as Fed rate cut expectations are now running earlier than our forecasts.

Our Methodology

Our methodology involves sorting gold stocks based on their upside potential of at least 20%. Upside potential represents the likelihood, in percentage terms, that a stock will reach a specified price target within the next 12 months, as estimated by analysts. This calculation is derived by subtracting the consensus price target from the current stock price, dividing the result by the current price, and multiplying by 100. Additionally, for each stock we shared the number of bullish hedge fund positions, but the rankings are purely based on each stock's upside potential. A higher upside potential corresponds to a higher rank for the stock in our analysis.

Before talking about the most promising gold stocks, we noticed that there is some interest towards Gold IRAs among investors. While these products may offer some tax advantages and diversification, we don't endorse any particular company in this space. The IRS allows holding certain precious metals, including gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, in a self-directed IRA, however, gold IRAs might not be suitable for all investors. They typically have higher fees compared to traditional IRAs and involve additional storage costs.

An aerial view of Asanko Gold Mine in Ghana, West Africa.

Galiano Gold Inc. (NYSE-A:GAU)

Upside Potential: 109.43%

Number of Hedge Funds: 5

Galiano Gold Inc. (NYSE-A:GAU) is a promising gold stock. The company is a mid-tier gold producer focused on creating a sustainable business. Several analysts have issued positive forecasts for Galiano Gold's stock. Two Wall Street analysts have set a 12-month price objective of $3.02, ranging from $1.64 to $4.40, for Galiano Gold over the last three months. This is an 89.94% gain from the current price of $1.59.

Hedge funds have a significant stake in Galiano Gold Inc. (TSE:GAU), owning around 26% of the company's shares. Galiano Gold's stock has been performing well recently, with a 224% increase in its share price over the past five years and a 53% gain in the last three months. This strong share price momentum suggests that investor sentiment towards the company has been positive lately. The stock was held by 5 hedge funds in Q1 2024. The hedge fund with the largest stake in Galiano Gold Inc. is Sun Valley Gold, holding 14,978,090 worth $20.79 million, comprising 40.44% of their portfolio.

In Q1 2024, the gold that the company produced was 30,386 ounces, compared to 32,678 ounces in Q1 2023 and the gold sold was 31,840 ounces, compared to 35,174 ounces in Q1 2023. The total cash costs were $1,180 per gold ounce sold in Q1 2024, compared to $1,083 in Q1 2023. As of March 31, 2024, the company had $130.8 million in unaudited cash and cash equivalents and no debt.

Overall GAU ranks 9th on our list of the most promising gold stocks to buy. You can visit 14 Most Promising Gold Stocks Now to see the other promising gold stocks that are on hedge funds radar. While we acknowledge the potential of GAU as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than GAU but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: Analyst Sees a New $25 Billion Opportunity for NVIDIA and Jim Cramer is Recommending These 10 Stocks in June.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
Why Palantir (PLTR) Shares Are Getting Obliterated Today

What Happened:

Shares of data-mining and analytics company Palantir (NYSE:PLTR) fell 5.7% in the morning session after Monness, Crespi, Hardt analyst Brian White downgraded the stock's rating from Neutral to Sell and assigned a $20 price target. The price target represents a potential 15% decline from where shares traded when the downgrade was announced. The analyst called out "worries in the software space." adding that earnings results from some of the large enterprise software companies that recently reported were "largely downbeat." In addition, the analyst noted that the anticipated gains from Generative AI had been a "revenue illusion" during the year.

The stock market overreacts to news, and big price drops can present good opportunities to buy high-quality stocks. Is now the time to buy Palantir? Access our full analysis report here, it's free.

What is the market telling us:

Palantir's shares are very volatile and over the last year have had 35 moves greater than 5%. In context of that, today's move is indicating the market considers this news meaningful but not something that would fundamentally change its perception of the business.

The biggest move we wrote about over the last year was 5 months ago, when the stock gained 28.5% on the news that the company reported fourth-quarter results with expectations for revenue growth to accelerate in the next fiscal year, highlighting growing demand for its new artificial intelligence platform (AIP), which was launched in 2023.

It was also encouraging to learn that the company has improved the time it takes to deploy AIP and integrate with client's data from "weeks and months to as little as a few hours." The icing on the cake was adjusted operating income well above expectations, showing that the company is not sacrificing profits for the higher topline growth. Also, its revenue, billings, and free cash flow exceeded Wall Street's expectations in the quarter, and its gross margin improved. Notably, the US commercial business significantly contributed to the solid performance during the quarter, as revenue in the segment grew 70% year on year and 12% sequentially.

Looking ahead, the company expects the US commercial business to grow at least 40% in 2024. A minor negative was that revenue guidance for the next quarter missed analysts' expectations. Overall, this was a very solid quarter for Palantir.

Palantir is up 47% since the beginning of the year, and at $24.36 per share it is trading close to its 52-week high of $26.46 from March 2024. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of Palantir's shares at the IPO in September 2020 would now be looking at an investment worth $2,565.

Todays young investors likely havent read the timeless lessons in Gorilla Game: Picking Winners In High Technology because it was written more than 20 years ago when Microsoft and Apple were first establishing their supremacy. But if we apply the same principles, then enterprise software stocks leveraging their own generative AI capabilities may well be the Gorillas of the future. So, in that spirit, we are excited to present our Special Free Report on a profitable, fast-growing enterprise software stock that is already riding the automation wave and looking to catch the generative AI next.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP)  Try saying no when a child asks for a smartphone. What comes after, parents everywhere can attest, begins with some variation of: Everyone has one. Why cant I?

But what if no preteen in sight has one  and what if having a smartphone was weird? Thats the endgame of an increasing number of parents across Europe who are concerned by evidence that smartphone use among young kids jeopardizes their safety and mental health  and share the conviction that theres strength in numbers.

From Spain to Britain and Ireland, parents are flooding WhatsApp and Telegram groups with plans not just to keep smartphones out of schools, but to link arms and refuse to buy young kids the devices before  or even into  their teenage years.

After being inspired by a conversation in a Barcelona park with other moms, Elisabet Garcia Permanyer started a chat group last fall to share information on the perils of Internet access for children with families at her kids school.

The group, called Adolescence Free of Mobile Phones, quickly expanded and now includes over 10,000 members. The most engaged parents are pushing for fellow parents to agree not to get their kids smartphones until they are 16. After organizing online, they facilitate real-world talks among concerned parents to further their crusade.

When I started this, I just hoped I would find four other families who thought like me, but it took off and kept growing, growing and growing, Garcia Permanyer says. My goal was to try to join forces with other parents so we could push back the point when smartphones arrive. I said, I am going to try so that my kids are not the only ones who don't have one."

It isn't just parents. Police and public health experts were sounding the alarm about a spike of violent and pornographic videos watched by children via handheld devices. Spains government took note of the momentum and banned smartphones entirely from elementary schools in January. Now they can only be turned on in high school, which starts at age 12, if a teacher deems it necessary for an educational activity.

The movement in Britain gained steam this year after the mother of 16-year-old Brianna Ghey, who was killed by two teenagers last year, began demanding that kids under 16 be blocked from accessing social media on smartphones.

It feels like we all know (buying smartphones) is a bad decision for our kids, but that the social norm has not yet caught up, Daisy Greenwell, a Suffolk, England-area mother of three kids under age 10, posted to her Instagram earlier this year. What if we could switch the social norm so that in our school, our town, our country, it was an odd choice to make to give your child a smartphone at 11? What if we could hold off until theyre 14, or 16?

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She and a friend, Clare Reynolds, set up a WhatsApp group called Parents United for a Smartphone-Free Childhood, with three people on it. Within four days, 2,000 people had joined the group, requiring Greenwell and Reynolds to split off dozens of groups by locality. Now there's a chat group for every British county.

Parents rallying to ban smartphones from young children have a long way to go to change whats considered normal. By the time theyre 12, most children have smartphones, statistics from all three countries show. In Spain, a quarter of children have a cellphone by age 10, and almost half by 11. At 12, this share rises to 75%. British media regulator Ofcom said 55% of kids in the UK owned a smartphone between ages 8 and 11, with the figure rising to 97% at age 12.

Parents and schools that have succeeded in flipping the paradigm in their communities told The Associated Press the change became possible the moment they understood that they were not alone.

In Greystones, Ireland, that moment came after all eight primary school principals in town signed and posted a letter last year that discouraged parents from buying their students smartphones. Then the parents themselves voluntarily signed written pledges, promising to refrain from letting their young kids have the devices.

The discussion went away almost overnight, says Christina Capatina, 38, a Greystones parent of two preteen daughters who signed the pledge and says there were almost no smartphones in schools this academic year.

Something like a consensus has built for years among institutions, governments, parents and others that smartphone use by children is linked to bullying, suicidal ideation, anxiety and loss of concentration necessary for learning. China moved last year to limit children's use of smartphones, while France has in place a ban on smartphones in schools for kids aged six to 15.

The push to control smartphones in Spain comes amid a surge in cases of children viewing online pornography, sharing videos of sexual violence, or creating deep fake pornographic images of female classmates using generative artificial intelligence tools. Spain's government says that 25% of kids 12 and under and 50% of kids 15 and under have been exposed to online pornography.

The dangers have produced school bans on smartphones and online safety laws. But those dont address what kids do in off hours.

What I try to emphasize to other principals is the importance of joining up with the school next door to you, says Rachel Harper, principal of St. Patricks National School, one of the eight in Greystones to encourage parents to refrain from smartphones for their kids. Theres a bit more strength that way, in that all the parents in the area are talking about it.

The home isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic offered a firsthand glimpse of their kids staring at screens and getting clever about hiding what they were seeing there  and what was finding them.

But if the kids cant have smartphones, are the parents cutting back their own online time? Thats tough, multiple parents say, because theyre managing families and work online.

Laura Borne, a Greystones mom of kids ages 5 and 6 who have never known smartphones, says she is aware of the need to model online behavior  and that she should probably cut back.

Im trying my best, she says. But just as with the children she parents, the pressures are there. And they're not going away.

___

Kellman reported from London.
In this article, we will find out whether Zacks is the best website for stock research. For our detailed discussion, go directly to the 15 Best Websites To Research Stocks.

When it comes to building a strong portfolio, retail investors conduct a great deal of research to learn about the macroeconomic climate, read up on the most recent stock market trends, become familiar with investing strategies, and observe the most notable actions of smart investors and elite hedge funds. A sizable portion of the investing community consists of retail investors, and they have access to a wealth of online information that can assist them in navigating the volatile stock market. According to Gallups survey, 162 million Americans, or 62% of adults in the United States, own shares in public companies. That is a 1% rise over 2023 and the highest percentage observed by Gallup since 2008. During the Great Recession, stock ownership declined and remained low for more than a decade, reaching lows of 52% in 2013 and 2016. Before 2008, the majority of Gallup surveys revealed that at least 60% of American adults owned stocks.

Today, the stock market is very different from what existed at the time of the millennium. The internet has democratized information, resulting in increased stock market involvement, which has been accelerated during the pandemic. Wall Street welcomed retail investors for the first time as a result of the pandemic, even though the global outbreak is primarily remembered for the deadly virus and lockdowns. In a poll, 15% of American stock market participants stated they started investing in 2020. The study additionally shows that these new investors tended to be more optimistic about their prospects for success in the stock market. A study revealed that 19.5% of all stock market shares exchanged in the first half of 2020 were made by individual investors. That is about twice as many trades by ordinary investors as there were in 2010, and it represents an increase of 4.5% over 2019. This occurred during the meme stock mania in 2021, which saw prominent businesses skyrocketing on the stock market as retail investors banded together on social media and purchased the shares in bulk.

Notwithstanding the attraction of potential profits, new research from eToro indicates that many retail investors in the United States appear to be more afraid of losing money than they are of missing out on the next great opportunity. Rethinking Risk, research by eToro, finds that while 31% of US retail investors are driven by the fear of missing out on the next great thing, 61% of investors indicate that their investment strategy is shaped by the fear of losing money through immoderate risk. Their behaviors, however, reveal a different tale, as many retail investors continue to invest in risky assets, with 70% holding single stocks and 41% holding crypto assets in their portfolios. Additionally, this research shows that 62% of people who began investing in the markets now feel better about it.

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Amidst these developments, the demand for easily available, reliable information to aid retail investors in their decision-making is rising. According to a survey conducted by BNY Mellon and the World Economic Forum on global retail investment, three-quarters of current retail investors said they would trade more actively if they had more opportunities to learn about investing along with personalized, goal-oriented stock guidance. Here's where trustworthy websites for stock research would come in very handy.

So let's look at the Best Website for Stock Research and Market Data.

Best Website for Stock Research and Market Data

A trader on the floor of the stock exchange, capturing the energy that powers the market.

Methodology:

For our list of the best websites to research stocks, we ranked them on the basis of consensus of several sources and reddit threads on the same topics. A website received one point everytime it appeared on a source, and we only selected websites that appeared at least thrice in our research. Furthermore, we also considered quantifiable factors in these websites that create substantial value for their audience and scored them additional points for that.

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 newsletter's 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)

Zacks Investment Research

Zacks Investment Research, Inc. is an online resource for financial research, analysis, and investment advice. Typically, the website provides a variety of financial data, stock analysis, investment advice, and other investor services.

MoneyLion Inc. (NYSE:ML), a provider of customized financial products and services, is one of the Zacks #1 Rank Top Movers for June 12, 2024. Its price per share was $92, and its stock price had increased by more than 10%. The YoY growth percentages for MoneyLion Inc. (NYSE:ML) are around 24.27% for 2023 and 6.48% for TTM.

MoneyLion Inc. (NYSE:ML), a provider of customized financial products and services, is one of the Zacks #1 Rank Top Movers for June 12, 2024. As of that day, its price per share was $92, and its stock price had increased by more than 10%. The YOY growth percentages for MoneyLion Inc. (NYSE:ML) are around 24.27% for 2023 and 6.48% for TTM.

In Q1 FY 2024, 23 hedge funds reported holding shares in MoneyLion Inc. (NYSE:ML), up from 19 funds the previous quarter.

Zacks Investment Research ranks 14th on our list, but if you want to check out what other websites are and where they rank, visit the 15 Best Websites To Research Stocks. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than ML but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: Analyst Sees a New $25 Billion "Opportunity" for NVIDIA and Jim Cramer is Recommending These 10 Stocks in June.

Disclosure: None. 15 Best Websites To Research Stocks is originally published on Insider Monkey.

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An aggressive expansion in the Pikes Peak region by supermarket giant King Soopers will mean more grocery shopping options for Fountain-area residents.

King Soopers broke ground Thursday on its latest large format marketplace store, which will anchor the Mesa Ridge Marketplace in Fountain, south of Colorado Springs. The shopping center will be constructed on 21 acres southeast of Mesa Ridge Parkway and Syracuse Street.

The approximately 122,000-square-foot King Soopers marketplace will be roughly twice the size of the chain's traditional stores and will sell apparel, shoes, dinnerware, small appliances and other items to go with full lines of groceries, meat and produce. Amenities will include a Starbucks, a Murray's cheese shop, an 18-pump fuel station and a pharmacy with a drive-thru.

The store is scheduled to open in summer 2025, will cost $37.3 million and will be the 156th location for Denver-based King Soopers, which is part of the nationwide Kroger grocery chain, store officials said during a groundbreaking ceremony.

"We think that it's a community that's underserved from a grocery perspective and we think that we can serve the community in a great fashion with all kinds of solutions, including an in-store pharmacy, our favorites like Starbucks and sushi and Murray's cheese," said Joe Kelley, King Soopers' president. "We're just really excited to get this store open."

So are Fountain city officials.

For years, they've sought to expand Fountain's grocery offerings for local residents, some of whom still drive north to Colorado Springs when they shop. Last year, a Fountain consultant estimated the city was losing $42 million annually in retail activity because area residents chose to shop in the Springs and elsewhere.

Now, the King Soopers marketplace will provide another major grocery to go with a Safeway store and two Walmart Supercenters. Sam's Club, the Walmart-owned wholesale club, also has a location in Fountain, where smaller discounters Dollar Tree and Family Dollar also operate, though with limited grocery offerings.

"When you look at the entire Fountain Valley, there's about 70,000 residents here," said Fountain City Councilman Gordon Rick, who also serves as mayor pro tem. "We only have two places to go that provide fresh meat and fresh produce. King Soopers will give us a third option for those 70,000 residents to buy from."

Safeway and Walmart have been in Fountain for many years. So, why has it taken King Soopers so long to expand there?

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Rick said there's been a perception that Fountain has been too small to support big businesses. A U.S. Census Bureau report estimated Fountain's population at 28,489 in 2023, though that figure represents a reduction of about 1,400 people since 2020  a loss city leaders have disputed.

"That perception may be what has driven some companies to look beyond Fountain," Rick said of the notion of Fountain being too small. "But we have done a lot of work to bring more rooftops and more people in here that will support bigger stores."

King Soopers will be joined at the Mesa Ridge Marketplace by other stores and restaurants, according to Evergreen Devco, a real estate company with offices in Denver, Phoenix, California and Utah and that's building the shopping center.

Evergreen Devco's website shows that hamburger, chicken and Mexican restaurants, a sandwich shop, hair salon, bank, auto parts store, oil change service and dentist's office are among users who have signed leases or have pending deals to come to Mesa Ridge Marketplace.

But the new Mesa Ridge Marketplace, King Soopers and additional stores and restaurants will be just one component of development near the Mesa Ridge Parkway and Syracuse Street intersection.

Fountain officials have said that healthcare provider UC Health is building a 23,000-square-foot medical facility across the street, on the west side of Syracuse. That's where the Mesa Ridge Crossing shopping center  home to Dutch Bros Coffee, Quick Quack car wash, Discount Tire and a Good 2 Go convenience store  has been developed.

"We don't have a hospital, we don't have a lot of clinics that can handle specialty treatments that people need in Fountain," Rick said. "That (UC Health) clinic will give us those options."

King Soopers in Fountain will be the chain's fourth marketplace store in the Colorado Springs area.

The first opened in 2017 as the anchor of the Claremont Ranch Marketplace at Constitution Avenue and Marksheffel Road on the east edge of the Springs. A second King Soopers marketplace opened in January as anchor of Falcon Marketplace, at Woodmen and Meridian roads in unincorporated Falcon outside Colorado Springs. Those shopping centers also have been built by Evergreen Devco.

King Soopers broke ground in November on a third marketplace store that will anchor a shopping center being built southeast of Colorado 83 and North Gate Boulevard in the Flying Horse development on Colorado Springs' far north side. That King Soopers, part of a shopping center being built by the Barclay Group, an Arizona real estate company, is targeted to open in early 2025.
For the second time, prominent Colorado Springs health care administrator Margaret Sabin is stepping down from hospital oversight to do consultancy, but shes now leaving behind a vast matrix of leaders that have advanced in their careers after working under her at Penrose-St. Francis Health Services and Childrens Hospital Colorado in Colorado Springs.

I realized all but one of the leaders of the hospitals in Colorado Springs used to be on my team, and I thought, Wow, thats unusual, especially in health care, said Sabin, who will vacate her position as strategic adviser at Childrens Hospital at the end of this month.

She served for 10 years as president and CEO at Penrose-St. Francis Health Services, which is part of the CommonSpirit Health network and includes both Penrose and St. Francis hospitals, from 2008 to 2018.

During that time, Sabin built what some employees called a dream team, said Dr. Jack Sharon, who spent 30 years as an emergency department physician for Penrose-St. Francis and was promoted to chief of the medical staff, which carried the responsibility of overseeing 800 providers.

For the past year and a half, Sharon has been a hospice physician and remains on the board for the Penrose-St. Francis system.

The culture wasnt great when Margaret took over, and she came in and made some changes and did a good job of assembling the right kind of team, he said.

She followed the old-school concept of the importance of relationships and building trust, and if someone knows youve got their best interests at heart, you can work together and collaborate. Few administrators have that gift anymore.

Out of that decade of Sabins leadership came the new CEO for Penrose Hospital, Kristi Olson, whom CommonSpirit Health named to the role as of Sunday. Olson had worked for Sabin at Childrens Hospital as director of home care.

Lonnie Cramer, who was director of radiology and was promoted to Sabins chief operating officer at Penrose-St. Francis, in March 2023 was appointed president and CEO of UCHealth, the other major hospital system in southern Colorado.

UCHealth facilities include Memorial Central, Memorial North and Grandview hospitals in Colorado Springs as well as Pikes Peak Regional Hospital in Woodland Park and numerous medical clinics in the region.

The newly appointed CEO of St. Francis Hospital in the Penrose-St. Francis system, Gina Temple, who will start the job June 30, did not work with Sabin.

But many other medical leaders did, including Greg Raymond, who was chief operating officer at Childrens and slid into Sabins southern region president position in March 2021.

People knew it was my plan when I went to Childrens to lead there until it was ready to hand off to Greg, who is extremely capable, Sabin said.

After quitting Penrose-St. Francis Health Services in 2018 and opening a consulting business, Sabin returned to full-time administration as she was asked to oversee the opening and operation of a new Childrens Hospital Colorado location in the Briargate neighborhood in Colorado Springs.

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She ran the local hospital for its first three years of operation and for the past three years has been a strategic advisor on the staff.

Sabin inspired people to do their best work, said Jameson Smith, CEO of Kootenai Health in Coeur dAlene, Idaho.

In fact, on Wednesday of this week, Smith said he channeled Sabin in advising his executive team.

I havent worked for Margaret for over 10 years, and here I am still referencing what she taught me, he said. Shes had such a lasting impact on me that it still inspires me and is relevant to this day.

When he began working with Sabin in 2008 as the second in command at Penrose-St. Francis South State Operating Group, Smith said his own management style was focused on outcomes, results and metrics.

I was an operator, which is important  everyone needs to have that grounding in concrete things  but what she really helped me do from a leadership standpoint is to become much more strategic, much more inspirational and much more creative, he said. To create a culture that is sustainable, you just cant be all about the numbers.

He takes that approach in his job today, promoting an environment of success by emphasizing teamwork, enjoyment at work, reminding people of the purpose of their work and inspiring them in the way that Sabin motivated him.

In 2017, the consumer information site Healthgrades ranked Penrose-St. Francis hospitals among the top 50 best in the country for the 10th consecutive year.

A week ago, Michael Cafasso was named CEO for two southern Colorado hospitals: St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center in Pueblo and St. Thomas More in Canon City.

He worked for Sabin from 2011 to 2018, when he was vice president of operations at St. Mary-Corwin.

Cafasso calls Sabin a culture builder, who was caring, kind and supportive, and who had ideas that worked.

Employees also knew what was expected of them, he said.

Her leadership provided a platform from which we could grow, Cafasso said. It was a natural energy for her and those that worked for her, and the communities will continue to benefit.

Said Sharon, the physician: Margaret remains my favorite boss.

Contact the writer: 719-476-1656.
A voter-approved program mandating free breakfast and lunch for grade school students  regardless of income  is facing tens of millions of dollars in funding shortfall, a problem lawmakers will need to resolve under tight budget pressures.

The steep shortfall could mean allocating money for students' meals at the expenses of other priorities, something that lawmakers appeared reluctant to do. A few noted the earlier skepticism toward the program's "math," citing analyses saying it would not pencil out.

The Healthy School Meals for All program, which lawmakers placed on the ballot and which 55% of voters approved in 2022 election, was initially projected to cost up to $115.5 million for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 and anywhere from $71.4 to $101.5 million the following year.

However, the actual numbers came in at $166 million for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 and more than $131 million for Fiscal Year 2024-2025.

"This is another program that voters passed with an identified fund source that has also come up short," noted Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, chair of the Joint Budget Committee.

The March revenue forecast shows the state has collected more in "cash funds"  funding sources that may only be used for the purposes designed by state law, such as the license fees paid for by hunters and anglers. A significant infusion of cash funds, together with general fund monies, means going over the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights limit, and the more lawmakers have to send back to taxpayers through TABOR refunds, the less they have for next year's fiscal budget.

The Healthy School Meals for All program, which also intends to make upgrades to school kitchens, increase wages for cafeteria staff, and provide grants for schools to purchase local produce, is funded by limiting state income tax deductions for taxpayers who make more than $300,000 in annual income. More specifically, the program increases the state's income tax revenue by requiring them to to add back a certain amount of federal deductions to their Colorado taxable income.

Amanda Bickel, chief legislative analyst for the Joint Budget Committee, said one of the reasons the state is expected to be over $100 million short in funds over the next two years is because of a change in eligibility criteria for the federal school meal service option known as the Community Eligibility Provision.

The program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), reimburses schools for serving free breakfast and lunch to low-income students. Bickle said that when the Healthy School Meals for All program was enacted, the Community Eligibility Provision required a school district to have 40% of its students qualify as low-income to receive reimbursement.

In October of 2023, the USDA changed the threshold to 25%, resulting in a significant increase in the number of schools eligible for the program.

Bickel said the consequences of the threshold reduction, positive or negative, are yet to be seen.

"It's much less clear whether it's actually gonna be to the state's benefit, and if it's gonna be less expensive for the state for schools to do Community Eligibility Provision or not," she said.

Another factor contributing to the increased costs is the higher-than-anticipated participation rates.

The initial estimates said about 20% of students would participate in the Healthy School Meals for All program. The actual number is closer to 30%, which translates to approximately 150,000 additional meals the state did not budget for.

'The math doesn't work'



The governor's Office of State Planning and Budgeting suggested paying for this year's additional expenses by tapping into either the State Education Fund or general fund dollars  revenue from individual and corporate income taxes and state sales and use taxes.

Bickel, the budget analyst, said the General Assembly could then enact legislation to make several changes to the program, including delaying implementation of the wage increases and grants until at least Fiscal Year 2025-2026 and integrating legacy school nutrition initiatives with the Healthy School Meals for All program.

While the members of the Joint Budget Committee agreed with the latter half of OSPB's recommendation, they found themselves divided on where to draw funds from to account for this year's shortfall.

Bird, the committee chair, said she and her colleagues have a responsibility to follow through with the commitment they made to their constituents who voted to enact the program, even as she expressed worries about taking funds out of the State Education Fund. She has doubts it would ever be paid back, she said.

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"We need to feed children," she said. "This is not ideal, but I don't think that when we passed this we would want to have said we're gonna crowd out anything else that we wanted  even State Ed money  for. I don't think that's right, because I don't see any real prospect of ever paying that back. That seems to be something that probably wouldn't happen."

Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada, agreed with Bird, adding that she doesn't think the program qualified for funding under the State Education Fund. She said that, while she voted in favor of the program in 2022, financial experts at the time had cautioned against its financial viability.

"There were tons and tons of analyses that were done that said this is not penciling out, the math doesn't work, and nobody listened," she said. "So, here we are. We're in a situation now where we have an obligation that is on the line, and I don't think it's appropriate to use the State Ed Fund."

Zenzinger added: "We are in a position, just this year, for the first time ever, to pay off the Budget Stabilization Factor, and I don't want to put that in jeopardy. I don't like falling back on our piggy bank to solve for this because I don't feel it's appropriate."

Zenzinger suggested exploring the possibility of using funds from the Department of Agriculture's Community Food Access Grant, which currently holds over $3 million in unencumbered funds, to support the local foods purchase grant.

Meanwhile, Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, R- Brighton, proposed looking into the Department of Local Affairs' Community Services Block Grant.

"I'm for getting as much food as possible to the kids, but I'm not for putting everything else in jeopardy over this," Kirkmeyer said. "Things came up. Everything changed. That's the way it goes. Everybody deals with this, even in their own budget."

She added: "We cannot fund everything."

Will the consultants figure it out?

Sen. Jeff Bridges, D-Greenwood Village, expressed apprehension with delaying or getting rid of some of the provisions of the program, especially ones voters specifically embraced via the ballot measure.

"The voters said they wanted all of these things, but when they said they wanted all of these things, it was with the understanding that the ask for increased revenue that accompanied them would cover for all of these things," he said. "I think the position we find ourselves in as a JBC and as a legislature is what do we do when with the best of intentions and with the best research and the best understanding we had, we went to voters and said, 'We have this idea. What do you think?' and they said, 'Go for it.' And then it turns out things changed?"

The governor's office said the state will fulfill the obligation.

"Colorado will fulfill the voter requirement that every child has access to healthy meals so they can succeed academically and in life," said spokesperson Shelby Wieman. "The state continues working to fulfill the will of Colorado voters who passed the ballot measure making school lunches free for all students.

For the time being, the committee has opted to allocate a total of $250,000 over the next two years to hire consultants and temporary staffers to explore potential ways to mitigate program expenses.

They plan to craft and endorse legislation aimed at postponing the enactment of wage distribution provisions, enhancing statutory adaptability concerning the Community Eligibility Provision and collaborating with the Department of Education and districts to ensure adherence to optimal cost-saving practices.

An existing $675,000 grant will be used to fund local food purchasing through fiscal year 2024-2025.

In addition, on March 18, the JBC elected to take out $22.8 million from the State Education Fund for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 fiscal years to cover the shortage, if necessary.

In addition, the lawmakers chose to implement four proposals from JBC staff, such as capping distributions by creating a revenue-sharing program that prorates the program's revenue. They also directed the Department of Education to collaborate with school districts, OSPB staff, and other parties to identify other ways to reduce program costs and present their findings to the JBC in June and September, with a final report due on Dec. 1.
A shooting overnight at Lake Pueblo State Park was under investigation Friday, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Officials said through a social media announcement at 2:49 a.m., that an investigation is underway at the Sailboard Beach area, on the north shore of the lake, not far from the dam of the state park.

CPW said the shooting occurred as a group of people were fishing from shore. Park Manager Joe Stadterman said the initial call for help came in at 12:45 a.m.

According to a CPW announcement at 7:45 a.m., two people have been pronounced dead and have been taken by the Pueblo County coroner. The coroner is working to positively identify both individuals and notify their relatives.

While officials said there is no believed threat to guests in the park Friday, a suspect is not in custody at this time.

The park remains open today, aside from Sailboard Beach and the surrounding waters due to the ongoing investigation.

The Gazette is working to learn more. This article will be updated.
Harrison School District 2 is gearing up to ask taxpayers for additional funding for its teacher salaries and charter schools this fall.

During the board of educations regular meeting Thursday night, board members voted to approve a notice of intent to participate in the 2024 election.

Though the language has yet to be finalized, their participation would involve a new mill levy override for the November ballot.

The override would add $9 million annually over the next 10 years with a focus on keeping teacher salaries and benefits competitive with other regional districts and providing consistent funding for the districts D-2 promise program, which provides district graduates scholarships to Pikes Peak State College and its three charter schools.

The motion was approved unanimously.

The need for the additional funds come in anticipation of the federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds ending this year that had supplemented district spending over the past four years in response to learning losses from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The board had previously passed a motion in January to partner with the Legacy Institute of Colorado Springs to assist the district with the ballot language and spreading public awareness of the mill levy override.

Legacy Institute is a local nonprofit that works to advance opportunities for students in Colorado Springs and has previously worked with D-11 for the passage of their mill levy override in 2017.

A successful vote would buck a near-20-year trend of MLOs getting denied by voters. The last time D-2 successfully passed new mills was back in 2007, followed by an unsuccessful vote in 2014.

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That said, voters did approve a bond in 2018 to upgrade buildings and improve the security and technology throughout the district.

Legacy Institute Founder and CEO Zach McComsey told the board at their January meeting that his organization decided to help the district pursue this measure after noting their gap in funding when compared to other districts that had passed initiatives in recent years.

"How are your teachers, how are your principals, how are your kids supposed to do all the great things that they can when, right next door, districts are passing increases and having other opportunities," he asked.

He added that he was confident the measure could pass, based on the district's use of taxpayer dollars with the most recent bond and their overall investment towards their students, community and culture.

Shortly after the vote, D-2 Superintendent Wendy Birhanzel said that the board had met and deliberated the parameters of the mill levy override request over the past year and thanked them for taking time to do the research to do whats right for our community.

Other actions

Earlier in the meeting, the board also unanimously approved to change the name of Stratmoor Hills Elementary to the Dr. Pam Robinson Education Center after the former D-2 educator and current board member.

The board also approved the districts budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year totaling $213.7 million.
The iconic Colorado Springs Western Street Breakfast returned to Tejon Street on Thursday morning, ringing in the summer and the exciting start of the Pikes Peak Rodeo season.

Per tradition, Fort Carson soldiers worked late into the night Wednesday to ensure the events timely kick-off at 5:30 a.m., cooking up pancakes, eggs and sausage for the masses who were armed with their cowboy hats, boots and Western spirit.

Costing only $5 for the full spread, the price hasnt increased much from its original $1 price tag nearly 100 years ago amid the events humble beginnings.

Its nice to see people interested in Western heritage. This is our first time up here, and Im kind of shocked by the amount of people who have shown interest in the Range Riders and want to pick up a rope. Its a positive outlook, said Amber Schalla, a ranch owner from southeast Colorado.

Teaching roping techniques and how to lasso to the breakfast crowds, Schalla spoke on the importance of her Western heritage, and sharing it with the community Thursday morning.

Were kind of a dying breed, being a cowboy. To be able to come here and share it with kids from the city who dont know much about rope or riding, its neat to see, Schalla said, a smile peering below the rim of her hat.

Its a way of life, I was raised in the Western lifestyle and were raising our kids that way. Its the American West. Its our tradition.

The local street breakfast traditions date back to 1936, according to the event website.

The first Western Street Breakfast 88 years ago featured a small fraction of the crowds seen Thursday, 35 rodeo cowhands and belles who were served breakfast out of an old chuck wagon in front of Joe Reichs Swiss Chalet  now the home of La Baguettes downtown location.

The Pikes Peak Range Riders horseback trek downtown began in 1949. On Thursday, the Range Riders and their trusty steeds made their appearance at 8 a.m. sharp, waving to patrons pridefully.

Today, the event is one of remembrance and tradition. Along with a classic American breakfast, event patrons were seen enjoying an array of music, performances and Western-centric activities throughout a portion of the downtown Colorado Springs area.

To me, the historic value of the Western tradition in Colorado Springs is lost in translation. People want to have that Western culture, but a lot of people dont understand how to live that Western culture, Ralph Bowers, a historic reenactment performer with Colorado Cowboys, said.

Born and raised in Colorado Springs, Bowers said that while hes noticed the street breakfast seemingly decrease in size over the years, he does believe Western culture is making a resurgence in popularity.

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When you think cowboys and Western culture people tend to think of horses and shooting things up, everything like that, but its so much more, Bowers said.

Dressed as historic Colorado cowboy U.S. Marshall David James Cook, Bowers spoke briefly on the figures history in Colorado and his impact.

In Colorado, he started the Rocky Mountain Detective Agency. He also was a Union soldier that came out here to stop the confederates from stealing gold from the (Native Americans) to support the southern Confederacy, Bowers said.

Hes not one of the better-known historical people, but hes a very interesting person.

Rob Devega and his two daughters, Ruth and Nicolette, could be seen eagerly awaiting their turns to have their faces painted. Carrying a deep familial history within the Western culture in Colorado Springs, little Ruth Devega beamed with pride at the event.

Being a cowgirl means a lot to me, Ruth Devega said, sporting a red hat and matching handkerchief. It goes back to the history of our family when it comes to the Native Americans and the cowboys and cowgirls and our ranch our family owned back in the day.

Were up in Black Forest, were Native American in heritage, Rob Devega said. Its great to see everyone getting dressed up and having an appreciation for the community, and all its different cultures. No matter where youre from, everyone can be a cowboy and a cowgirl.

The last music act of the morning, the Flying W Wranglers garnered quite the surrounding crowd, pressed against the guard rails; laying and standing on the makeshift stadium of hay bails.

Known around the world since its formation in 1953, the musical group is known as the second oldest Western performance band internationally. Over 60 performers have been a part of the band since its start, several of which have performed for more than three decades, according to its website.

Hoots, hollers and yeehaws could be heard throughout the crowd as the guitars ramped up their twang and the strings of the fiddle were picked.

Cowboy, great American cowboy, the band sang in a four-part harmony.

With a hoss and a rope and a gun, he tamed the West!

For more information about the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, scheduled for July 9 through 13, Click or Tap Here.
A $42.5 million Colorado project has come to fruition, replacing 17 structurally-deficient bridges in southeastern and south-central Colorado.

The Colorado Department of Transportation announced the completion of its Region 2 Bridge Bundle Project, which set out in the summer of 2022 to update the 17 bridges by late 2024 but was able to finish about five months ahead of schedule and $2 million under budget.

The new bridges, which are supposed to have a lifespan of up to 100 years, run along three highway corridors:

Three were reconstructed along Colorado Highway 9 between Canon City and Alma.

Five were reconstructed along US Highway 24 between Florissant and Antero Junction.

Nine were reconstructed along US Highway 350 between La Junta and Trinidad.

The updated bridges will support intra- and interstate commerce and access to tourist destinations, CDOT said.

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The success of this project could not have been accomplished without the support of our transportation partners and the communities involved. We appreciate that our first responder agencies modified operations, working with us to ensure that safety was maintained throughout the duration of the project," CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew said in the announcement.

Funding for the project came from the Federal Highway Competitive Bridge Program, which awarded $12.5 million to the project, and $30 million of it came from the Colorado Bridge and Tunnel Enterprise.

Lew thanked residents and commuters who were affected by the project.

"We know traveling through construction can be challenging and we appreciate your patience as we constructed these much-needed structure replacements, Lew said.
DES MOINES  Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird filed a promised appeal in federal court on Wednesday of a judges decision temporarily blocking Iowas law that makes illegal reentry by immigrants a state crime.

Judge Stephen Locher of the Southern District of Iowa ruled on Monday that the Iowa law was preempted by federal law, which reserves enforcement of immigration laws to the federal government. The judge issued a preliminary injunction, pausing the law while legal proceedings play out.

The law, which was scheduled to go into effect July 1, would allow Iowa law enforcement officials to arrest and charge a non-citizen with a crime if they are in the state and have previously been blocked from entering the country or deported. A judge would then be able to order the person to leave the country or face prison time.

Birds appeal sends the case to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, which will rule on whether to keep the injunction in place or dissolve it. The case could then be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

While the Supreme Court does not have to take up appeals, Bird told reporters on Tuesday she thinks Iowas law, or a similar law in another state, is likely to make it to the nations highest court.

I think theres a possibility theyll be dealing with this issue or issues similar to it in the future because a number of states are having this problem with an out-of-control border and out-of-control immigration system, Bird said.

Bird said she believes the precedent that the district court relied on to block the states law  Arizona v. United States  does not apply to Iowas law. She said Iowas law allows state officials to enforce existing federal laws, while Arizonas law created a new law.

A similar law in Texas has been blocked by an appeals court pending further legal proceedings.

Republican supporters of the law, including Bird, Gov. Kim Reynolds and state lawmakers, said it was necessary to address the rising numbers of illegal border crossings in recent years under Democratic President Joe Biden, and accused Biden of abandoning his responsibility of securing the border.

Biden announced a plan this month to block migrants from being granted asylum when encounters at the border reach a certain level. The executive action came after Republican lawmakers opposed a bipartisan deal that would have imposed immigration restrictions through Congress.

On Tuesday, Biden announced an executive action to grant legal protections for undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens, which is expected to affect about 500,000 people without legal status, according to the Associated Press.

The injunction on Monday applied to two separate lawsuits, one brought by the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice and the other brought by the U.S. Justice Department. In his ruling, Locher said the law was likely to disrupt the federal governments immigration policy and relationship with foreign nations.

Locher also agreed with plaintiffs who argued that even legal residents of the U.S. could be prosecuted under the law if they had been previously barred from entering the country or deported. Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice sued on behalf of two Iowa immigrants who gained legal residency after previously being deported from the U.S.

While the state argued that the law should be interpreted to only affect people who currently lack legal status, Locher said there is no language in the law that exempts legal residents from being charged with a crime.

Immigration activists vowed to keep fighting the law, both in the court and through protests. Members of the eastern Iowa immigration aid group Escucha Mi Voz said Monday they would continue to oppose the law until it is permanently blocked.

"We have to keep fighting, we have to keep going on, because this is not over yet. We have not received what we want," Petra Mujica, an Iowa City resident and Escucha Mi Voz member, said Monday. "We want to stop the law, we want to cancel the law. That's what we want."
MATTOON  An appeals court has thrown out the shaken baby conviction of a former Mattoon day care provider and ordered she be given a new trial.

Carmen Petak, 53, was sentenced to six years in prison in September of 2022 after a jury convicted her of aggravated battery by shaking a 6-month-old boy who would not stop fussing.

The jury had also found her not guilty of a second charge of battery after the six-day trial.

Petak had appealed her conviction citing ineffective assistance of defense counsel Anthony Bruno and legal errors made by Coles County Circuit Court Presiding Judge Mitchell K. Shick.

In a ruling handed down June 12, the Appellate Court for the Fifth District of Illinois agreed with her claims. But in vacating the conviction and requiring a new trial, the appeal judges were careful to stay neutral on the issue of whether, in fact, Petak was guilty of hurting the baby, who doctors concluded had suffered internal head trauma in January of 2020.

Because we are remanding this case for a new trial, we will consider briefly whether the evidence was sufficient to prove the defendants guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, said Presiding Justice Barry L. Vaughan.

Upon review of the evidence, we find it was sufficient to support the guilty verdict and therefore find no impediment to a new trial. However, we in no way imply that we have made a finding as to the defendants guilt that would be binding on the trial court on retrial.

PROBLEMS WITH THE CASE

Vaughan and two fellow appeal court judges said the case against Petak had gone wrong on several fronts. Among them was that Bruno as her lawyer had not sought an evidentiary hearing on a motion to suppress interviews with Mattoon Police Department officers which Petak, a former State Police cop and Mattoon Police auxiliary officer herself, said were coerced and continued even after she had asked to see a lawyer.

The defense had hired a neuropsychologist to analyze the two recorded interviews and the appeals court found that Shick had made mistakes in dealing with the expert's report. It said the judge had "misinterpreted" several of the report's findings, including deciding the neuropsychologist had not reached a conclusion on whether the statements to police were involuntary, when the expert had in fact said they were involuntary.

The appeals court also noted, however, that Shick had appeared to change his own views negatively on the way the police interviews were conducted after he read the expert's conclusions. The appeals court quoted Shick as saying that he found the interviews not comfortable to watch and that police had clearly made statements that werent true about what the doctors were saying" (as regards medical evidence of the baby's condition).

"I don't fault the Mattoon Police Department, but... it's not how we normally act in society," Shick says in quotes taken from a court transcript. "It's not how we normally expect police officers to act, that they would lie to someone, but it's an investigative tool that is used by officers to get to the truth and it's not illegal."

At sentencing, Shick had brought up the police interviews again and told Petak he doubted whether she would have been convicted without them. He also said the overall evidence against her wasnt overwhelming and he would not have been surprised if the jury found her not guilty.

Writing in the appeal courts 19-page opinion, Justice Vaughan said the appeals court took a similar view and that the defense attorney should have required, and the judge should have granted, an evidentiary hearing on whether Petak's statements to police were allowed at trial. There had in fact been a pretrial hearing at which the defense expert's written report was considered, but the neuropsychologist had not been present to take questions and police officers had not been present to defend their technique for interviewing suspects.

Vaughan said the crucial point is that the defense should have insisted on a hearing with witnesses because "we find the outcome of the proceeding would have been different if the defendant's statements had been suppressed," Vaughan added.

Accordingly, we find defendant has also proved prejudice and agree that her trial counsel provided ineffective assistance.

In response to written questions from the Herald & Review, Bruno said the appeals court had misread what had happened on the question of his efforts to get his client's statements to police thrown out of the case. "We also moved to suppress Ms. Petak's statements to police as unreliable, coerced admissions resulting from unsavory police tactics that even the trial court said were 'not comfortable to watch,''' Bruno said. "We provided the court with a report from a nationally respected neuropsychologist from Portland, Oregon, who had personally examined Ms. Petak.

"On the issue of whether we waived Ms. Petak's right to a hearing, the appellate court appears to be confused," Bruno said. "In fact, we demanded a hearing and the trial court conducted one. Ms. Petak testified at it. During that hearing, the trial judge explained that he had considered our expert's report, but the appellate court found that he misinterpreted it."

Bruno said he has not been retained to represent Petak in the second trial and, asked what conclusions can be drawn from the whole affair, said: "The case stands for two propositions: bad evidence can convict anyone; and talking to police gets innocent people convicted."

The Herald & Review also reached out for comment from Judge Shick, who was away from his office, and left messages for Mattoon Chief of Police Sam Gaines and Coles County State's Attorney Jesse Danley which were not immediately returned.

MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE CASE

In their ruling, the appeal judges had also faulted Shick for denying a defense request for something known as a Frye hearing that might have rejected the validity of medical evidence the prosecution was using against Petak. This evidence centered on whether signs of hemorrhaging in the babys eyes were indicative of abusive head trauma, a subject of conflicting views among doctors.

Bruno, in his comments to the Herald & Review, said: "Shaken Baby Syndrome is junk science. We asked for a Frye hearing to keep it out of the courtroom, but the trial court denied our request. The appellate court found that was reversible error."

Justice Vaughan, writing in the appeal court ruling, said Shick had concluded there wasnt enough well-established case law or undisputed medical opinion for the trial judge to decide the issue himself and the evidence had stayed in.

As such, we find it was error for the trial court to deny defendants motion for a Frye hearing, Vaughan concluded.

No date for a retrial has been set. Illinois Department of Corrections records show Petak is being held in the Logan Correctional Center and is due for parole in October of 2027.

A letter from the babys mother, read out at the defendant's sentencing, said her injured son was doing better and his mother now wakes up every morning to a smiling, silly boy who is happy, healthy and growing.

States are required to background check child care workers, but many are falling short States are required to background check child care workers, but many are falling short
Lyme disease can be difficult to diagnose and even trickier to treat. In agriculture, workers and animals are outdoors for the majority of the day, making tick bite prevention paramount in ensuring good health for all. On an AgriSafe Learning Lab webinar, Program Coordinator Abigail Kahrs shared concrete ways to prevent and address infections.

Start by dressing for the elements every day, she said. Wear long sleeves, full-length pants, and closed-toed shoes. Further, pull back long hair and avoid wearing dark colors  ticks are less likely to attach to a host with a bright red outer layer than a familiar-seeming brown one.

Workers should also research what kind of insect repellant will be most effective for their area by visiting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)s website. And, as a final prevention measure, Kahrs suggested checking oneself daily once in the house for signs of ticks or tick bites.



One way to do an easy check is to take a shower immediately after being outside. One should thoroughly examine all areas of their body, including behind the knees, into the hairline, inside the inner thighs and the belly button, and in other such easy-to-miss places for signs of the insect. Smaller than a dime at their largest, deer ticks (those carrying Lyme) can look like freckles.

I always tell people to be vigilant in their checking, even if it takes a few extra minutes at the end of the day, Kahrs said. And since Lyme-bearing ticks can be found in almost every region of the country, in nearly every season, its important to conduct checks year round.

Should you find a tick that is loose on the body or on clothing, dispose of it by putting it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down the toilet, Kahrs said. If it has already embedded itself within the skin, the best way to remove it is to locate finely tipped tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the skins surface and to the ticks head as possible, and pull upward with steady, even pressure. Do not use a flame, nail polish, or alcohol  all of which have circulated as methods of removal. Tweezers ensure an accurate grip and a thorough removal of the entire tick. Post-removal, dispose of the tick via one of the ways listed above, and wash hands and skin thoroughly.



Unfortunately, lyme disease is so varied in its symptoms and time lines that it can be difficult to diagnose and treat. Because of its commonalities shared with the flu, mononucleosis, and COVID-19 viruses, lyme is considered to be the great imitator. Still, a classic target-shaped rash as well as symptoms such as fever, joint pain, headaches, and lymph nodes in the neck are possible signs of the bacteria having made its way into a hosts bloodstream.

If a farm worker has been bitten or shows signs of being ill  even if there is doubt as to what the illness may be  Kahrs advised seeking advice from a medical professional.

For more information on how to prevent tick bites or spot infections, view the webinar and find resources at https://learning.agrisafe.org/products/talking-about-ticks-lyme-disease.

To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.

(c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2024

June 10, 2024
Data that is claimed to be from Australian ticketing vendor TEG has been put up for sale on a website, with the poster asking US$30,000 (A$45,032) for the whole lot.

The data is claimed to include the name, gender, business, date of birth, username and hashed password of users among others. It was posted on 20 June.

The theft of the data was acknowledged by TEG on 31 May in a detailed note which said the data had been stolen from a third-party vendor.

"Ticketek has secure encryption methods in place for all passwords and no Ticketek customer account has been compromised," the company said.

"Additionally, Ticketek utilises secure encryption methods for online payments and uses a separate system to process online payments, which has not been impacted. Ticketek does not hold identity documents for its customers.

"Since our third party supplier brought this to our attention, over the past few days we have worked diligently to put every resource into completing an investigation so that we can communicate with customers who may have been impacted, and other stakeholders, as quickly as possible.

"The available evidence at this time indicates that, from a privacy perspective, customer names, dates of birth and email addresses may have been impacted."

Ticketek's US outlet was claimed to have been compromised through the theft of credentials from a data storage vendor known as Snowflake.

A number of companies whose data was compromised in a similar way have now been hit by demands for money.

iTWire has contacted TEG to inquire about the exact business relationship it has with Ticketek.
The US will ban the sale of anti-virus products made by Russian vendor Kaspersky to American customers from July onwards, a report says.

Additionally, Kaspersky will not be able to provide services to any existing customers from September onwards.

US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, who is slated to announce the ban on Friday, told customers of the vendor: "You have done nothing wrong, and you are not subject to any criminal or civil penalties.

"However, I would encourage you, in as strong as possible terms, to immediately stop using that software and switch to an alternative in order to protect yourself and your data and your family."

Kaspersky already faces a ban on sales to the American public sector which wasin 2017.

In 2022, the Federal Communications Commission put Kaspersky on its list of companies deemed to be posing unacceptable security risks.

Andrew Borene, executive director for Global Security at threat intelligence firm Flashpoint, commented: "This decision is a logical reflection of the tectonic shifts that are dividing economies along the lines of power competition between [US] allies and the Russia/China/Iran/North Korea digital domain; these divides obviously extend into private sector actors as well.

"Kaspersky has a history of problems with US, Canadian and other allied governments - banning its use for US security probably is a wise choice in many cases, particularly in the categories of civilian critical infrastructure at state/local/municipal level whether that infrastructure is inherently governmental or privately owned and operated.

Adam Maruyama, field CTO at Garrison Technology, said: "The [US] administrations move to ban Kaspersky Lab products in the United States underscores the stakes of security products gone bad, wherein the privileges that are supposed to be used to protect networks and systems are instead used to subvert security mechanisms, deploy malware, and steal data.

"But deliberate seeding of such capabilities via a commercially available product is only the tip of the iceberg. In their report on zero-days exploited in the wild in 2023, Google noticed a marked increase in attacks against enterprise security software, including detection and response, VPN, and firewall operating systems.

"Left unchecked, this rise in exploits could provide attackers the same privileged access they would have had if administrators installed compromised software.

"As threat actors become more sophisticated and look to privileged services such as security software to gain and maintain persistent access, the cyber security community needs to rethink the way we consider security solutions. The cyber security community, particularly in the high-threat sectors of government and critical infrastructure, must consider innovative solutions like using fixed-function, deterministic components such as FPGAs rather than malleable software solutions to enforce critical security functions.

"If we dont fundamentally rethink the way we approach and enforce security, our most sophisticated adversaries will continue to subvert the software meant to keep us safe  whether its by shipping compromised software or attacking and compromising legitimately-developed solutions.

Kaspersky has made no public comment on the development. iTWire has contacted the company for comment.
To recognise the great contribution women engineers are making to the profession, INWED is also an important opportunity to encourage more women and young girls to pursue a career in engineering.

Hwa Choo Lim, Equinixs VP, Human Resources, Asia Pacific said: We recognise the invaluable contributions of women engineers who are transforming the industry with their innovation and expertise.

At Equinix, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace where women can thrive and excel. I am proud to share that we have made significant progress toward our five-year diversity goals, including a 17% increase in the number of women employees globally. By tapping their unique perspectives and talents, we drive creativity, productivity, and innovation within our organisation and the broader technology industry.

Our initiatives, such as mentorship programs, leadership development, and flexible work arrangements, are designed to support and empower women engineers at every stage of their careers, she adds.

Hong Zhu, Sales Engineer at Equinix Australia, joined the company in 2016 and is passionate about pursuing her engineering aspirations.

Becoming an engineer has always been my dream because I'm passionate about understanding how things work and creating innovative solutions to real-world problems, she said.

At Equinix, I've found a supportive and inclusive environment that fosters innovation and personal growth. The company's commitment to diversity, inclusion, and employee wellbeing ensures that I feel valued and supported in my career journey, especially as a new mom. The collaborative culture and emphasis on work-life balance make Equinix an ideal place to pursue my engineering aspirations.

Ms Lim continues, By encouraging young women to pursue careers in the IT and engineering industry, and by providing ongoing support and development opportunities, we can ensure that the women engineering industry continues to be #EnhancedbyEngineering.

Were proud to be part of this global movement, celebrating the achievements of women engineers and paving the way for future generations.
COMPANY NEWS: Tata Communications today announced the launch of its Unified/ Single-Vendor Hosted Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) for global enterprises. In partnership with Versa Networks, a leader in AI-powered Unified SASE, Tata Communications Hosted SASE, converges software-defined wide area networks (SD-WAN) and secure service edge (SSE) capabilities in a single pass technology enabling future ready businesses to fully harness the power and potential of cloud-based environments through exceptional performance, zero-trust security, ease of use, and cost effectiveness.

Hosted and managed end-to-end by Tata Communications, the solution offers secure, scalable, and agile deployment. The companys cross domain expertise across network, security and cloud, delivers a seamless operational management and integration with existing systems for enterprises, ensuring robust support throughout their journey.

As enterprises increasingly adopt hybrid working, SD-WAN and a digital-first approach, their distributed network architecture increases vulnerability to cyberattacks, and hence the need for robust SSE solutions. A study commissioned by Tata Communications with Omdia identified that secure remote working was the top driver (49%) for adopting SASE solutions in global businesses, followed closely by simplified and integrated security models (43%). Furthermore, when implementing SASE, nearly half of businesses cited siloed security and networks teams as a key challenge.

Tata Communications Hosted SASE is uniquely positioned to address these challenges. The company is harnessing its globally distributed network for delivering Hosted SASE ensuring carrier grade connectivity and superior performance. It also offers advanced detection and real-time protection via a cyber threat intelligence platform that generates insights by aggregating data from Tata Communications network and other leading industry sources.

Our customers operate in a hyperconnected environment, so it is vital that they are able to access data anytime anywhere without compromising on security or user experience, said Srinivasan CR, Executive Vice President-Cloud and Cybersecurity Services & Chief Digital Officer, Tata Communications. Our Hosted SASE solution powers global businesses with secure communication and collaboration weaving all of their data and applications into a single digital fabric that enables end-to-end control and visibility.

Tata Communications Hosted SASEs single pass technology ensures unified visibility and control of network traffic along with actionable insights to optimize network performance. This helps enterprises to avoid complexities and delays in managing an ever-growing stack of point solutions. Furthermore, they can also improve their return on investment  with Tata Communications Hosted SASE, the cost of ownership is estimated to be nearly 40% lower than deploying point solutions.

As workforces become increasingly hybrid, there has never been a more important time to deliver something radically different, as every customer is unique and needs flexibility when determining how a SASE architecture fits into their environment. With the Hosted SASE, Tata Communications has set a new standard for enterprise security and connectivity for enterprises, said Mouli S, SVP & CTO, Hinduja Global Solutions.

"We are thrilled to deepen our partnership with Tata Communications, said Kelly Ahuja, CEO, Versa Networks. Their Hosted SASE offering will help enterprises drive business transformation while enhancing security posture and providing a better user-to-app experience. Delivering this via a single platform and fully leveraging their global network footprint allows Tata Communications to create differentiation through data sovereignty and regulatory compliance.

Remote working, connectivity to clouds and collaboration are key enterprise considerations. But each comes with security risks. SASE helps simplify and integrate enterprise security models, said Brian Washburn, Research Director, Omdia. Tata Communications Hosted SASE solution marks a first for its type of implementation globally, combining the providers high-performance global network with enhanced security for enterprises to connect, communicate and collaborate more safely.

Click here to learn more about Tata Communications Hosted SASE.

About Versa Networks

Versa, the leader in single-vendor Unified SASE platforms, delivers AI/ML-powered SSE and SD-WAN solutions. The platform provides networking and security with true multitenancy, and sophisticated analytics via the cloud, on-premises, or as a blended combination of both to meet SASE requirements for small to extremely large enterprises and service providers. Thousands of customers globally, with hundreds of thousands of sites and millions of users, trust Versa with their mission critical networks and security. Versa is privately held and funded by Sequoia Capital, Mayfield, Artis Ventures, Verizon Ventures, Comcast Ventures, BlackRock, Liberty Global Ventures, Princeville Capital, RPS Ventures, and Triangle Peak Partners. For more information, visit https://www.versa-networks.com or follow Versa on LinkedIn and X (Twitter) @versanetworks.

About Tata Communications

A part of the Tata Group, Tata Communications (NSE: TATACOMM; BSE: 500483) is a global digital ecosystem enabler powering todays fast-growing digital economy in more than 190 countries and territories. Leading with trust, it enables digital transformation of enterprises globally with collaboration and connected solutions, core and next gen connectivity, cloud hosting and security solutions and media services. 300 of the Fortune 500 companies are its customers and the company connects businesses to 80% of the worlds cloud giants. For more information, please visit www.tatacommunications.com
The Byte Channel , a leading provider of e-commerce solutions, has today announced a strategic partnership with Arxanum, a German company specialising in EU VAT compliance services. Under this agreement, The Byte Channel will act as an agent to supply Arxanum's VAST (VAT Assurance Services Technology) offerings to businesses in Australia, New Zealand, and the broader Australasian region.

The services offered through this partnership include:

- IOSS (Import One-Stop Shop): Simplifies VAT reporting for distance sales of goods imported into the EU worth less than 150.

- OSS (One-Stop Shop): Allows businesses to report and pay VAT on all distance sales of goods and services to EU consumers through a single return.

- Fiscal Representation: Provides a local fiscal representative to handle VAT registrations, filings, and interactions with EU tax authorities on behalf of non-EU businesses.

"As more Australasian companies look to expand their e-commerce operations into Europe, navigating the complex web of VAT rules has become a major hurdle," said Stephen Schwalger, CEO of The Byte Channel. "Through our partnership with Arxanum, we can now offer best-in-class VAT compliance solutions to simplify selling into the EU market."

The benefits of Arxanum's VAST services for mid-to-large companies in the Australasian market include:

- Reduced risk of VAT non-compliance and penalties across 27 EU member states.

- Centralised reporting and payment through a single return, eliminating the need for multiple VAT registrations.

- Expert guidance from Arxanum's team of VAT specialists, ensuring full compliance with all EU VAT regulations.

- Streamlined cross-border logistics and reduced administrative burden.

- Improved cash-flow management without bank guarantees

"We are thrilled to partner with The Byte Channel and bring our VAT compliance expertise to businesses across Australia, New Zealand, and the broader region," said Luigi Pezzuto, CEO of Arxanum. "As e-commerce continues to grow globally, having a trusted partner to ensure VAT compliance is essential for success."

The partnership between The Byte Channel and Arxanum is effective immediately.

For more information or to enquire about Arxanum's VAST services, please visit www.thebytechannel.com/eu-vat-solutions.

About The Byte Channel

The Byte Channel is a leading provider of e-commerce, digital transformation and international market solutions, offering a comprehensive suite of services to help businesses succeed in the digital marketplace. With a focus on innovation and customer success, The Byte Channel has established itself as a trusted partner for companies of all sizes across Australasia.

About Arxanum

Arxanum is a German company specialising in EU VAT compliance services. With expertise in IOSS, OSS, and fiscal representation, Arxanum helps businesses worldwide navigate the complexities of VAT regulations and sell into the EU market with confidence.
COMPANY NEWS: Australian Payments Plus (AP+) today announced its digital identity solution, ConnectID, is now available to ANZ Plus customers.

AP+ developed ConnectID to enable people to securely verify their identity to businesses without having to repeatedly share unnecessary data about themselves.



The partnership further strengthens security for ANZ Plus customers by helping reduce data sharing and protecting customers against identity theft and fraud.

Instead of providing proof of identity documents, ANZ Plus customers can now ask a participating business to verify them using the information they already trust ANZ Plus to look after.

Importantly, ConnectID does not see or store personal information. Rather, it acts as a bridge between an organisation that wants to verify someones identity and the organisation providing that verification, and only when the customer authorises it. This means ConnectID combines the convenience of real time identity verification with enhanced security and customer consent.

In September 2021, ConnectID became the first non-government operator of a digital identity exchange to be accredited under the Australian Governments Trusted Digital Identity Framework (TDIF) which sets standards, rules and guidelines based on international best practice. In March this year, AP+ welcomed the passage by the Senate of the Digital ID Bills as a step forward for the digital economy.

ConnectID Managing Director Andrew Black said: We are delighted to have ANZ Plus go live with ConnectID. Its customers will enjoy greater control over what personal data is shared with and used by a business. ConnectID also ensures consumer and business convenience and confidence, with fast and secure identity verification.

AP+ is excited to welcome ANZ Plus on this journey, leveraging the benefits of ConnectID to deliver greater functionality and security for customers and businesses in Australia.

ANZ General Manager, Customer & Identity Services, Gabriel Steele said: Were pleased to help ANZ Plus customers keep control of their identity and minimise the sharing of data for services where this is not necessary. Not only do we see this better protecting our customers from the evolving threat of cybercrime, but we believe theres an equally significant opportunity to reduce the risk our business customers face in holding more data than required.

In partnership with ConnectID, we are excited to provide ANZ Plus customers with the choice to use a secure, convenient method to verify their identity with a growing list of approved merchants. We look forward to shaping the network to provide even greater customer value.

For more information on how AP+ is modernising how Australians can securely share less of their identity information, please visit https://www.auspayplus.com.au/brands/connectid.
Australias national science agency, CSIRO has announced that it will partner with governments across the Pacific and Southeast Asia to help them better prepare for, and respond to, disease outbreaks.

Noting that emerging and endemic infectious diseases in humans and animals pose a major challenge in the Pacific and Southeast Asia regions, the CSIRO warns that globally, more than 75 per cent of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic (transmitted from animals to humans), with a 300 per cent increase in outbreaks over the past 30 years - and recent examples include COVID-19 and avian influenza.

The CSIRO advised that it will partner with nations including Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, and Fiji to improve their ability to identify, track and react to health emergencies.

CSIRO Chief Executive, Dr Doug Hilton, said an investment in the health of the region is an investment in the health of Australia.

Building stronger, more resilient health systems in the Pacific and Southeast Asia creates shared success, prosperity, stability and trust in science, Dr Hilton said.

It protects human and animal health; ensures equitable and inclusive health outcomes; and strengthens regional economic security, productivity, trade, tourism and development.

Guided by regional priorities identified by Australias Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and regional partners, CSIRO will begin by helping with laboratory capacity building, biomedical manufacturing training, digital health expertise, and building health networks, the CSIRO explains.

CSIRO will also offer access to its multidisciplinary expertise across animal and human health as well as its facilities, such as the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP), National Vaccine and Therapeutics Lab, and Australian e-Health Research Centre.

The five ACDP projects will strengthen:

animal health laboratory networks and leadership across southeast Asia and the Pacific, through cross-region lab placements and by building lab leadership capability in Vietnam

regional networks and building laboratory diagnostic and leadership capacity for avian influenza in Indonesia and across Southeast Asia and the Pacific

field animal health diagnostic capacity and networks for Pacific Island nations and territories

biorisk management training for laboratory personnel, and the development of a network of biorisk leaders across Southeast Asia and the Pacific

viral emerging infectious disease testing at high-risk locations such as wildlife markets in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, and the Philippines.

The CSIRO says that a biomanufacturing partnership will also strengthen Thailand and the Southeast Asia regions capabilities to develop and manufacture vaccines, biopharmaceuticals, and small molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).

CSIRO will help build capability and skills in Thailand in the process development and scale-up capabilities needed to produce complex products, starting with the development of an anti-cancer drug and an anti-viral.

The Australian e-Health Research Centre will use its world leading capabilities in digital health to assist partners in the Philippines and Fiji adopt international open health data and interoperability standards. These standards enable safer, consistent, equitable and effective health data exchange between nations; and the creation of real-time systems for disease making and disease surveillance.

DFAT will provide $15 million in funding for the partnership, and CSIRO a further $9.2m million, plus access to its researchers, expertise and facilities.

We look forward to working with regional partners to help them build more resilient health systems, address their current and future challenges, and ensure they have the right tools and training to protect our region from the spread of disease, Dr Hilton said.

CSIRO has clear scientific strengths in health, biosecurity, and infectious disease, as well as decades of experience in health system strengthening in the Pacific and Southeast Asia, which continue to improve lives around the world.

The CSIRO says the new partnerships are part of the Australian Government's five-year $620 million Partnerships for a Healthy Region initiative, which is supporting partner nations to build resilient and equitable health systems.
OPENING

The Bikeriders. Austin Butler and Tom Hardy star in this well-done biker picture that doesn't deny motorcycle gangs are dangerous but humanizes figures whove been long misrepresented on film. R. (Grand, SouthPointe). Grade: B+.

The Exorcism. Russell Crowe stars as a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film in this picture that was not screened in advance for critics. R. (Grand, East Park).

Ghost: Rite Here Rite Now. The Swedish theatrical rock band's feature film debut combines live performances from the two-night finale of the bands 2023 tour with a narrative story that picks up plot threads from the bands long-running webisode series. It was not screened in advance for critics. Not Rated. (Grand).

Ghostlight. A construction worker finds purpose in a local theater's production of "Romeo and Juliet," in this film about art's power to heal that's literally a family story, in front of and behind the camera. R. (Ross). Grade: A.

I Am Celine Dion. This inspirational documentary presents an honest, behind-the-scenes look at superstar Celine Dion's struggle with a life-altering illness while highlighting the music that has guided her life. Unrated. (Grand).

Thelma. 93-year-old June Squibb turns action star in this sweetly touching dramedy that could have been lifted from the lives of many elderly people had they picked up a gun and headed out to get back the money that was taken from them in a phone scam. PG-13. (Ross, Grand). Grade: B.

ONGOING

Bad Boys: Ride or Die. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence return in the fourth installment of the buddy-cop action comedy franchise that feels like a flimsy, disposable cash grab. R. (Grand, East Park, Edgewood, SouthPointe). Grade: C.

The Fall Guy. Ryan Gosling stars in this funny, sexy action film about a Hollywood stuntman and his girlfriend/director, played by Emily Blunt. PG-13. (Grand). Grade: B.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. This latest movie in the "Mad Max" saga still delivers the clean, electrifying, inches-above-asphalt camera shots, even if the story is a bit of a trudge. R. (Grand). Grade: B.

The Garfield Movie. Lasagna-loving cat Garfield and his canine pal Odie team up with a street cat and Garfield's long-lost father for a high-stakes heist in this animated picture. PG. (SouthPointe). Grade: B-.

Inside Out 2. The sequel to the 2015 Pixar hit that adds anxiety to the emotions inside a girl's head feels like an educational childrens book, failing to impart anything insightful to an adult audience. PG. (Grand, East Park, Edgewood, SouthPointe). Grade: B.

IF. A girl who can see everyone's imaginary friends goes on a magical adventure to reconnect forgotten IFs with their kids in this family comedy from writer/director John Krasinski. PG. (Grand, East Park, Edgewood). Grade: B.

Kingdom of The Planet of the Apes. Director Wes Ball injects new life into the long-running franchise with this politically tinged take on the apes dominating the Earth as humans struggle to survive. PG-13. (Grand, Edgewood). Grade: B.

The Watchers. Dakota Fanning is an artist stranded in an Irish forest with three strangers who are watched and stalked by mysterious creatures in this clunky, uneven horror movie. PG-13. (Grand, East Park, Edgewood). Grade: C.

Movies and TV shows casting across the US Movies and TV shows casting across the US Movies and TV shows casting across the US Movies and TV shows casting across the US 'The Pelican (up to 23 episodes)' 'Spider-Man: Fallout,' Fan-Film' 'Vanderpump Villa' - hit reality TV show on Hulu 'Supernatural Thriller Film' 'A Love by Fate' 'Crash' 'A Christmas Party' 'Same Hour Delivery' 'The Final Production' 'Elmwood Park' 'Pick-up Shoot' 'Girl In A Glass Box' 'Stepping Stone' 'Cotton Fever' 'Meant To Dream' 'Mya' 'Starling Heights Forever' 'Sketches' 'Untitled Feature Film' 'MALLORY'S GHOST' Movies and TV shows casting across the US 'A Quarter Past Midnight' 'Lost in Revenge' 'The Day God Died' 'Phineas Atters' 'She's Back' 'The Veil' 'State of Survival Game Drama Casting' 'Room 17' 'Seasons In The Abyss' 'Lets Make A Deal' Gameshow' 'Golden' 'Nationally Syndicated Court TV Shows' 'I'm the Rule' 'TV Pilot (NYC Comedy)' 'A Christmas Party' 'Waking State' 'Doctor Feldman' 'Untitled Gothic Revenge Film' 'The Vacation Plan' 'The Barn Part III' 'Dangerous Blind Wife' 'Lets Make A Deal' Gameshow' 'Botox Party' 'Elmwood Park' 'Long Stories Short Vol.1' 'She's Back' 'A Quarter Past Midnight' 'It Was a Quiet Seeming Day' 'The Later Show,' Extra's' 'Last Call for Redemption' 'The Barn Part III' 'Untitled Horror Project' 'Room 17' 'The Veil' 'Confidential' 'Doctor Feldman' 'Lace-Weaver Spiders' 'Dead Fred' 'Untitled Feature Film' 'Belle & Beau' 'The Stand-in' 'Room 17' 'The Confessional' 'Untitled Horror Project' 'Lace-Weaver Spiders' 'Dean' 'Music Centric Rom Com' 'The Best Mistake Ever' 'Dead Fred' 'The Later Show,' Extra's' 'UNDERSTUDY' 'Untitled Feature Film' 'Long Stories Short Vol.1' 'Americatronic!' 'A Christmas Party' 'Doctor Feldman' 'The Veil' 'Seasons In The Abyss' 'The Later Show,' Extra's' 'Dean' 'Lowball' 'Dog Years' 'The Veil' 'The Barn Part III' 'Darren Aronofsky/Austin Butler Sony Film 'Caught Stealing' 'One Step Closer to Hell' 'Breaking Point' 'The Confessional' 'You Don't Know' 'Doctor Feldman' 'Student Body' 'Happy Gilmore 2' 'Spy Balloon' 'While the Sun Shines' 'The Killers' 'The Vacation Plan' 'A Christmas Party' 'Docuseries, Extras' 'The Hanged Man' 'Music Centric Rom Com' 'Darren Aronofsky/Austin Butler Sony Film 'Caught Stealing' 'The Barn Part III' 'A Christmas Party' 'Student Body' 'Subclass' 'I Fell in Love with a Z-Grade Director from Brooklyn' 'Sony Pictures Feature Film' 'One Step Closer to Hell' 'Trip To The Moon' 'Breaking Point' 'Lets Make A Deal' Gameshow' 'Petty Crimes - Feature Film/News Thriller' 'A Soho Love Story' 'Happy Gilmore 2' 'Seeking Horse' 'Untitled Feature Film' 'Girl Code' 'Before We're Over' 'In the Shadow Of Waves' 'The Hanged Man' 'Breaking Point' 'The Confessional' 'Crystal' 'Darren Aronofsky/Austin Butler Sony Film 'Caught Stealing' 'Petty Crimes - Feature Film/News Thriller' 'Anna's' 'Seeking Horse' 'I Fell in Love with a Z-Grade Director from Brooklyn' 'The Veil' 'We Live at Night' 'Wedding Fortune' 'Student Body' 'A Christmas Party' 'Untitled Josh Safdie Film' 'Happy Gilmore 2' 'Untitled Feature Film' 'Untitled Josh Safdie Film' 'A Christmas Party' 'Breaking the Darkness' 'The Better Sister' TV Series' 'Bluff' 'Survival Of The Thickest' 'Helen's Bridge' 'Elmwood Park' 'Americatronic!'
An inmate died Thursday at a Lincoln prison, according to a news release from the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services.

Steven Tucker, 73, died at the Reception and Treatment Center. He was being treated for a medical condition, the department said.

Tucker began serving his sentence in August 2001. He was serving a 35- to 45-year sentence for manslaughter out of Lancaster County.

He pleaded no contest to manslaughter for the 2000 killing of Cheryl Olson Walter.

According to Journal Star archives, two snowplow operators found Walter's body on Dec. 19, 2000. Prosecutors claimed that Tucker had sexually assaulted and strangled Walter after she had asked for a ride from him and another man.

The cause of Tucker's death has not been determined. As is the case whenever somebody dies in custody in Nebraska, a grand jury will conduct an investigation.

Top Journal Star photos for June 2024
An inmate died Friday at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution, according to a Nebraska Department of Correctional Services news release.

Luis Gonzalez, 53, was serving a 30- to 35-year sentence out of Adams County for first-degree sexual assault of a child.

Gonzalez was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 9-year-old boy. He claimed to have fallen asleep watching a movie and woke up to see the boy in his bed.

He was found guilty in May 2012.

The cause of death has not been determined, but Gonzalez was being treated for a medical condition, the department said.

A grand jury will conduct an investigation, as is the case whenever somebody dies in custody in Nebraska.
Police have arrested two additional suspects in a June 8 armed home invasion on Redfield Street.

Marcos R. Montalvo-Razo, 43, and Braxton C. Sullivan, 26, no permanent address, were charged Thursday in La Crosse County Circuit Court with felony counts of armed robbery, burglary, first-degree recklessly endangering safety, endangering safety with reckless use of a firearm and intimidating a victim. Montalvo-Ross also faces felony counts of possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of a stolen firearm.

Montalvo-Razo and Sullivan are being held in the La Crosse County Jail along with a third co-defendant, Hunter Walz, 18, of La Crosse. Walz was arrested June 10 and faces the same charges as Sullivan except for intimidating a victim.

According to the criminal complaint filed against Walz, the three entered the residence uninvited and demanded $10,000. The complaint says one of the men waved a gun at one of the residents and fired a shot that nearly struck another.

The complaint says the suspects left without obtaining the money. One of the residents told police the three were likely searching for another resident who wasnt present at the time.

Judge Scott Horne ordered Montalvo-Razo held on a $50,000 cash bond and Sullivan held on a $7,500 cash bond. Cash bond for Walz was set earlier at $15,000. All three have calendar calls set for July 9.
Chicago: The Musical made its Shanghai debut on Jun 19, at the AIA Grand Theatre and will have altogether eight shows in the city, running until Jun 23.

Created by Bob Fosse, the Broadway musical premiered in 1975 and celebrated its 35,000 show earlier this month.

A representation of American musicals, Chicago is a theatrical masterpiece with iconic choreography, music and designs, said Djalenga Scott, who plays Velma Kelly, one of the leading characters.

As the longest-running American musical in the world, it kicked off its new round of its China tour in Tianjin, went on to Wuxi of Jiangsu province before arriving in Shanghai. It will go on to Nanjing of Jiangsu province from Jun 27 to 30 and Qingdao of Shandong province July 5 to 7.

According to Qin Tiji, general manager of AIA Grand Theatre, Chicago was the second western musical production the theater presented since its opening last September, following Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies, the sequel to his most celebrated musical The Phantom of the Opera.

In the past nine months, AIA Grand Theatre has held 151 shows of 74 theater productions, which were attended by 150,000 people. "In the future, we are dedicated to bringing more top-level theater extravaganza from all over the world to Shanghai," Qin said.
On 20 June Argentinas Presidentcalled on provincial governors, former presidents, supreme court magistrates, and trade union leaders to sign a social contract, which he has named the Pacto de Mayo, at a ceremony in the north-western province of Tucuman as part of independence celebrations on 9 July.

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Millions of years ago, a huge and powerful hunter flew in the skies above a former sea in what is now Australia. Its large mouth and long, pointed teeth captured fish and other sea life.

Scientists in Australia recently announced the discovery of fossil remains of the animal, named Haliskia peterseni. They said the fossils are the most complete remains of any pterosaur ever unearthed in Australia. The creature lived alongside dinosaurs during the Cretaceous Period, the researchers said.

Haliskia means "sea phantom." The researchers said Haliskias wings measured 4.6 meters across from end to end. The animal lived about 100 million years ago.

"The Eromanga Sea was a massive inland sea covering large parts of Australia when this pterosaur was alive," said Adele Pentland, a doctoral student in paleontology at Curtin University in Australia. Pentland was the lead writer of a study, which appeared recently in the publication Scientific Reports.

The thin bones of pterosaurs do not easily turn into fossils. For Haliskia, only 22 percent of the skeleton was unearthed. The bones included complete lower jaws, part of the upper jaw, throat bones, 43 teeth, vertebrae, ribs, bones from both wings and part of one leg.

Pentland said the researchers believe the muscle in the animals mouth, called the tongue, was very strong, based on the length of its throat bones.

"In many other pterosaurs, the throat bones are 30 percent or 60 percent the length of the lower jaw, whereas in Haliskia the throat bones are 70 percent the length of the lower jaw, Pentland said.

Haliskia is a little larger and older, by about 5 million years, than the closely related Australian pterosaur Ferrodraco. Scientists announced its discovery in 2019. Haliskia's remains are more complete than those of Ferrodraco.

Both animals belong to a pterosaur group called anhanguerians known from remains found in China, the United States, Brazil, Britain, Spain and Morocco. The three other named Australian pterosaurs are known only from partial jaw bones, Pentland said.

The Haliskia individual's body ended up buried under sediment at the bottom of the Eromanga Sea.

Pterosaurs were the first of three vertebrate groups to fly, appearing about 230 million years ago. Birds appeared about 150 million years ago and bats appeared around 50 million years ago.

Pentland said the Haliskia discovery is also important because for many years experts believed Australia had very few fossils from the age of dinosaurs.

Im Caty Weaver.

Will Dunham reported this story for Reuters. Caty Weaver adapted it for VOA Learning English.

________________________________________________

Words in This Story

fossil n. the mineralized remains of an animal or plant that died long ago

pterosaur n. a kind of ancient reptile that had wings and is believed to have been able to fly

paleontology n. the study of ancient fossils and life

vertebrae n. individual bones that form a backbone

rib n. one of a group of bones that form the middle part of the body in many animals

sediment n. very fine pieces of rock that settle to the bottom of water that, over time, form a solid level of rock

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Expats working in Beijing's media industry get an introduction on the history of the canal at the Beijing Grand Canal Museum during a cultural tour in Tongzhou district, Beijing, June 15, 2024. [Photo/China.org.cn]



Expats working in Beijing's media industry visited three new community spaces in southeast Beijing's Tongzhou district on June 15. Co-organized by various government departments of Tongzhou district, the trip was designed to expand the international editors, journalists and hosts' understanding of Grand Canal Culture as well as the high-quality urban development of the capital's sub-center.

"The visit was very interesting as it offered an insight into Tongzhou's development, architecture and culture," said Magdalena Rojas, a journalist for China Today's Spanish edition. "I believe the Chinese government is doing a great job in its attempt to preserve cultural heritage, and Tongzhou is no exception. The three places we visited  the center for performing arts, the library and the Grand Canal museum  are all a testimony of that effort."

The cultural activity started with a guided visit of the Beijing Performing Arts Centre (BPAC), a part of the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA). Participants got to see firsthand the Dutch-designed facilities' vast concert halls and theaters.

A staff member at the Beijing Performing Arts Centre introduces one of its new concert halls to expats working in Beijing's media industry during a cultural tour in Tongzhou district, Beijing, June 15, 2024. [Photo/China.org.cn]

BPAC opened in December 2023 with the goal of fostering both international outreach as well as promoting cultural heritage. Since opening to the public, the center has hosted international orchestras and staged western plays as well as regularly presenting traditional Chinese dramas and operas.

The cultural activity also provided participants with the chance to see how innovation and high-quality development was used in the construction of the Beijing City Library, which opened its doors late last year. Technical amenities include a metaverse room where patrons can immerse themselves in a virtual version of the library as well as a robot barista.

The main hall of the gingko forest-inspired Beijing City Library in Tongzhou district, Beijing, June 15, 2024. [Rochelle Beiersdorfer/China.org.cn]

The public library's overall construction was conscious of energy conservation. The 75,000-square-meters space is a certified China Three Star green building, receiving a Green Building Evaluation Label from China's Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, according to Snhetta, a Swiss architecture firm that contributed to the library's construction.

This educational outing also included a tour of the Beijing Grand Canal Museum where participants learned about the area's cultural and historical significance within China's long history.

The last event of the activity was a cruise down the Grand Canal at dusk, allowing the group to observe the intermingling of cultural heritage and modernization as they floated by traditional Chinese structures and contemporary high-rises.

A replica traditional boat stands outside the Beijing Grand Canal Museum in Tongzhou district, Beijing, June 15, 2024. [Rochelle Beiersdorfer/China.org.cn]

"After visiting the Grand Canal museum, I learned that the world's longest and largest canal is located in China. It's good to know about the history of canals and their related stories. I also love the boat ride experience on the canal," stated Si Thu Tun, a social media editor and host at China Report ASEAN, when asked for his thoughts on the activity.

All three community spaces are built around the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, which runs nearly 2,000 kilometers. With construction beginning in 468 B.C., the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is the only waterway in China that runs north to south, making it a channel not only for goods and services but also aided in the spread and cultivation of local cultures and exchange.

In 2014, the canal was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and was inducted into the international institution's Intangible World Heritage List.

A view of the Grand Canal in Tongzhou district, Beijing, June 15, 2024. [Rochelle Beiersdorfer/China.org.cn]
The Health Bureau (SSM) is calling on the public to take preventive measures against the effects of hyperthermia as the region experiences high temperatures. The Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) has issued a yellow hot weather warning, indicating that the hot weather is expected to continue in the coming days. In a press release, the SSM explained that under intense heat, the human body will naturally increase sweating and breathing as a physiological adjustment to reduce body temperature.

Related
The government of Cape Verde wishes to turn the page and close the Macau Legend Development Ltd (MLD) chapter as fast as possible, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Business Promotion and Digital Economy, Olavo Correia, told the Times in an exclusive interview.

This concerns the abandonment by MLD of the development of a casino resort at the Praia da Gamboa and Santa Maria Islet at Cidade da Praia.

The Times previously reported that MLDs subsidiary companies in Cape Verde had long been in a state of non-fulfillment regarding their contracts for the project.

When questioned by the Times about statements aired in May this year with the local broadcaster RTC, where he said that the government of Cape Verde intended to revoke MLDs license and that negotiations were underway to reach an amicable agreement, Correia explained that these statements were referring to the extended period that the Cape Verde government gave to MLD to propose a solution.

We gave MLD additional time to present us with a credible proposal for completing the project, Correia said, explaining why he previously mentioned that the negotiations with MLD should conclude within two months.

Still, the government official reaffirmed that the door is not yet completely closed with MLD and that the Cape Verdian government is still waiting for the company to present a feasible solution before reclaiming the assets.

The contract can be terminated at any time. We have given additional time based on good faith for MLD to directly or indirectly demonstrate their ability to complete the project. That deadline is running out, the Deputy Prime Minister said. He refuted the idea that the contract between the Cape Verde government and MLD has already been terminated, as the Times reported, based on a letter signed by the chairman and CEO of Cabo Verde TradeInvest (Investment and Export Promotion Agency of Cabo Verde Islands), Jose Manuel Almada Dias, dated September 7, 2023.

Correia confirmed that, to his knowledge, there are no legal or judicial proceedings related to this matter.

On whether the Cape Verde government has quantified the losses caused by MLDs breach of contract, as mentioned in the September 7, 2023 letter, Correia said, Allow me not to advance the values for the time being, taking into account the phase we are in.

The government official also confirmed previous statements of Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva that said that the government would reverse the concession and initiate procedures for the project to be repurposed, attributing the assets to a different company to complete the project and bring it to operation.

Our legal teams are currently working on this matter, Correia added.
The Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) and the Macau Federation of Trade Unions will jointly organize three industry-specific job-matching events next week, offering a total of 345 job openings. Online registration will begin today. On June 27, the Life Retail Industry Job Matching event will be held at the Macau Federation of Trade Unions Building in Sai Van, providing 188 job openings. On June 28, the Hotel Industry Job Matching event at the Grand Lisboa Hotel will provide 106 job openings, including front desk staff, uniformed staff, and customer service-training officers. Additionally, the Pre-employment Training Program offers 1,065 job openings, with applications closing on June 28.

Related
The European Union (EU) is set to implement two new border control measures over the next 12 months, which will affect travelers from Macau and Hong Kong.

The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will require travellers from 60 visa-exempt territories, including Macau, to obtain permission before visiting 30 European countries. This authorization will be valid for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Meanwhile, the Entry/Exit System (EES) will collect biometric information and record travel document details, date and place of entry and departure from a European country for all non-EU nationals.

The exact dates for these changes have yet to be announced. It is expected that ETIAS will go into force in the first half of next year, with a transition period and a grace period to follow. And the EES is expected to take effect from this autumn.

Applicants will need to provide personal information such as name, date and place of birth, nationality, home address, parents first names, email address, phone number, travel document details, education level and occupation, as well as details of criminal convictions. Information about planned stays, previous travel to war or conflict zones, and any recent decisions requiring departure from a country will also be required before entering the Schengen Area.

The change was prompted as ETIAS aims to detect security, irregular migration, or health risks posed by visa-exempt travelers, ensuring a safer and more secure travel experience. EES, on the other hand, focuses on preventing document fraud and strengthening control at the EU external border by monitoring traveler movements and detecting overstaying.

Travellers should be vigilant about fraudulent application channels, as there are at least 106 unofficial websites claiming to facilitate ETIAS applications. Only one official website exists for ETIAS applications.

ETIAS is a different system from obtaining a visa, which requires a longer procedure involving consulates. ETIAS is quick and can be applied for online, with an authorization costing 7 euros (MOP60) for most applicants but waived for those under 18 or over 70. NS
The Macao One Account system has added a new feature allowing residents to book appointments for three types of public services in the Hengqin Cooperation Zone: driving licenses, residence permits, and exit-entry permits. This feature was made available as of yesterday (June 20).

Currently, the system offers booking services for 36 government departments, covering 692 services, including 10 services related to Hengqin government services. The Administrative Office stated that, in addition to the seven services introduced last year, the system now offers 10 categories of services for Macau residents in the Hengqin Cooperation Zone, covering most of the common government services used by Macau residents.

The Hengqin Government Services Center has also added self-service machines for issuing identification documents and travel documents, allowing Macau residents living in Hengqin to obtain these documents without returning to Macau.

The director of the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau (SAFP), Ng Wai Han, emphasized that the Macau government will continue to cooperate with the Cooperation Zone to extend more electronic government services to the area, aiming to meet the needs of Macau residents and promote the integration of Macau and Hengqin residents.

Self-service center offerings expansion

Macaus government has introduced new self-service pickup services, streamlining processes for residents. The service is now available at six 24-hour self-service centers across Macau, as of June 20.

The Smart Locker service allows residents to apply for designated public services, select the nearest Smart Locker pickup point, and generate a code to scan and pick up their items without visiting the department in person or being limited by office hours.

The self-service center aims to ease the process for citizens and businesses alike, allowing them to apply for identification documents and other services electronically. This move is part of the governments efforts to promote digital services.

Five-year plan for digital services

Macaus government has released a five-year plan for digital services, which includes the development of self-service stations. The plan aims to enhance the overall digital experience for citizens and businesses, making it easier for them to access government services.

The initial phase of the service includes services for identity verification documents, such as proof of identity, and registration services in government departments.

Electronic self-service sales boost

In a move to enhance the convenience of purchasing government-issued products such as books and magazines, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense have been supporting the availability of these items in various regions since January 2021.

The vending machines now feature a larger screen to provide more detailed product information. The sales ratio for the period between 2020 and 2023 stood at 13%, but it has seen a significant increase to 20% in the first five months of 2024.

This sales increase indicates a growing demand for electronic self-service stations. The public has also provided valuable feedback, which has led to efforts to expand the sales base and standardize the service in the region. As a result, the sales rate at the 24-hour service center has increased. Currently, the sales rate at this center stands at 11%.

Nadia Shaw
Audiences in Macau are in for a treat as the Portuguese Film Agency and CAC Association collaborate to present the creme de la creme of Portuguese cinematography at the 6th Portuguese Cinema Showcase in Macau (Mostra do Cinema Portugues em Macau).

A selection of modern Portuguese films will be shown to audiences in Macau from the June 28 to 30 at the Dr. Stanley Ho Auditorium of the Consulate General of Portugal in Macau and Hong Kong.

Whether youre a seasoned cinephile or a curious newcomer, the three-day showcase promises to take audiences from Macau and Hong Kong on a cinematic journey. Admission to the event is free of charge and all films will be subtitled in Chinese and English.

The Times spoke to Margarida Moz, the curator of the event. Her role has been instrumental in presenting the best of Portuguese cinema in Macau for the past few years.

Moz expressed her delight in bringing these projects to the city where she once lived, highlighting the significance of this connection. She seeks to promote the exchange of cultural experiences between Portugal and Macau, whilst also promoting Portuguese cinema within and outside the Portuguese community.

Her meticulous approach has led to successful showcases at both the China and Portuguese-speaking Countries Film Festival and the Portuguese Cinema Showcase in Macau for several years now. She works closely with directors, having a deep understanding of their work. And Moz often presents the films herself and facilitates interactions between the audience and the filmmakers.

Her aim is for event attendees to experience the unique storytelling and cinematic style of Portuguese filmmakers. Moz wants audiences to enjoy the intentionality of watching films in a cinema, because when youre at home, you kind of pause the film, and go get some chips, or someone calls you, so you stop the film a bit, you answer the call. We all do that  I do that  but when youre in the cinema, youre taken by the film, and you disconnect from the outside world. Youre in the dark, and you become part of the film in a more physical way than if you were watching it on a computer or at home. So, by having this experience, youre thinking about it and youre really watching it.

She emphasizes the importance of bringing debut presentations to Macau, ensuring that the films are diverse and representative of the current state of Portuguese cinema. We were keen not to repeat films that had been previously screened in Macau at the Macau Documentary Film Festival, where we have had Portuguese films before. We wanted all these films to be absolute premieres in Macau.

WHAT AUDIENCES CAN EXPECT

The events diverse film lineup ranges from thought provoking shorts to visually stunning feature films. The event acts as a glimpse into the artistic vision of Portuguese directors. Audiences can look forward to a diverse program that highlights the best of modern Portuguese cinema, said Moz.

The cinema showcase will feature the latest films by renowned Portuguese director Joao Canijo. Names like Samuel Barbosa, Jorge Jacome, Daniel Soares and others will also grace the screens of Macau at this years event.

A diverse range of cinematic masterpieces will be shown, including the award-winning mirror films Mal Viver/Viver Mal [Bad Living/Living Bad] that captivated audiences at the Berlin Film Festival, as well as the critically acclaimed Shrooms that recently triumphed at the Hong Kong Film Festival.

AWARD WINNING FILMS

On the first day of the festival, Mal Viver  Bad Living, directed by Joao Canijo, will be screened on June 28 at 7 p.m. This film draws inspiration from the plays of Strindberg and films of Rivette, telling the story of five women who run an old hotel in the North of Portugal. The second film, Viver Mal  Living Bad, will be shown on the second day, June 29 at 7 p.m. These ambitious cinematic projects showcase Canijos mastery of storytelling, weaving together complex narratives and characters.

Mal Viver is the central film of the duo that mirrors it, Viver Mal. The second film, Viver Mal (Living Bad) is set in the same location, but from the viewpoint of the guests. Both films were shot over a 12-week period during Portugals second lockdown period in early 2021.

Moz described Mal Viver as having received widespread acclaim, including a Silver Bear Award at the Berlin Film Festival, noting it has been commercially successful too. The films also received the Best Film award at the Sophia Awards of the Portuguese Film Academy.

These achievements are a testament to the films universal appeal. The films themes of family, love, and identity are relatable to audiences everywhere, said Moz. It is a must-see for anyone who has ever experienced the complexities of human relationships. The event curator emphasized the films universal appeal, stating, It is a cinematic experience that transcends cultural and linguistic barriers.

The films use of sound and music masterfully crafts an immersive atmosphere; drawing the viewer into the narrative and making them feel like they are part of the story. Moz highlights the very experiential nature of the mirror films, which she believes will captivate audiences in Macau. The performances, too, have received widespread acclaim, with critics praising the outstanding performances of the actors, each bringing their unique energy to their roles.

Margarida Moz THE RESILIENCE OF THE FILM INDUSTRY The cinema showcase event serves as a gateway for audiences to explore the rich tapestry of Portuguese filmmaking, displaying the industrys resilience and creativity in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The works on show this year reflect the unique cultural and societal influences that have shaped their storytelling. Films in the Portuguese cinema are typically not very commercial when compared to Hollywood or Bollywood. Its always a more niche experience, giving the films a more intimate feeling, said Moz. In the post-Covid era, Moz described the Portuguese film industry as having undergone a remarkable transformation, adapting to the challenges posed by the pandemic. While the global health crisis disrupted traditional distribution channels, it also sparked a renewed sense of innovation and experimentation. Filmmakers have embraced new storytelling techniques, delving deeper into the human experience and exploring themes that resonate with audiences in a post-pandemic world. The films featured at the exhibition are a testament to this creative resurgence. Portuguese filmmakers look forward to presenting their work and engaging audiences in Macau and Hong Kong, said Moz. The screening is one of the highlights of the Day of Portugal, which is celebrated in Macau in the month of June. Nadia Shaw
Ilya Sutskever, one of the founders of OpenAI who was involved in a failed effort to push out CEO Sam Altman, said hes starting a safety-focused artificial intelligence company.

Sutskever, a respected AI researcher who left the ChatGPT maker last month, said in a social media post Wednesday that hes created Safe Superintelligence Inc. with two co-founders. The companys only goal and focus is safely developing superintelligence  a reference to AI systems that are smarter than humans.

The company vowed not to be distracted by management overhead or product cycles, and under its business model, work on safety and security would be insulated from short-term commercial pressures, Sutskever and his co-founders Daniel Gross and Daniel Levy said in a prepared statement.

The three said Safe Superintelligence is an American company with roots in Palo Alto, California, and Tel Aviv, where we have deep roots and the ability to recruit top technical talent.

Sutskever was part of a group that made an unsuccessful attempt last year to oust Altman. The boardroom shakeup, which Sutskever later said he regretted, also led to a period of internal turmoil centered on whether leaders at OpenAI were prioritizing business opportunities over AI safety.

At OpenAI, Sutskever jointly led a team focused on safely developing better-than-human AI known as artificial general intelligence, or AGI. When he left OpenAI, he said that he had plans for a very personally meaningful project, but offered no details.

Sutskever said that it was his choice to leave OpenAI.

Days after his departure, his team co-leader Jan Leike also resigned and leveled criticism at OpenAI for letting safety take a backseat to shiny products. OpenAI later announced the formation of a safety and security committee, but its been filled mainly with company insiders. MDT/AP
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a series of deals with his Vietnamese counterpart To Lam yesterday, during a state visit that comes as Moscow is seeking to bolster ties in Asia to offset growing international isolation over its military actions in Ukraine.

The two signed agreements to further cooperation on education, science and technology, oil and gas exploration and health. They also agreed to work on a roadmap for a nuclear science and technology center in Vietnam.

Following the talks, Putin said that the two countries share an interest in developing a reliable security architecture in the Asia-Pacific Region based on not using force and peacefully settling disputes with no room for closed military-political blocs.

Vietnams new President To Lam congratulated Putin on his re-election and praised Russias domestic political stability.

Putin arrived in Hanoi early yesterday morning from North Korea, where he and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed an agreement that pledges mutual aid in the event of war. The strategic pact that could mark the strongest connection between Moscow and Pyongyang since the end of the Cold War comes as both face escalating standoffs with the West.

Putin drove to Vietnams Presidential Palace yesterday afternoon, where he was greeted by school children waving Russian and Vietnamese flags. There, he shook hands with and embraced Lam before a bilateral meeting and a joint briefing to the media.

He met Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh later in the afternoon and is also scheduled to meet Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong  Vietnams most powerful politician  and parliamentary chief Tran Thanh Man.

Russia is keen to maintain close and effective cooperation in energy, industry, technology, education, security and trade, said Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Gennady S. Bezdetko on Wednesday, according to Vietnamese official media.

The trip has resulted in a sharp rebuke from the U.S. Embassy in the country.

Much has changed since Putins last visit to Vietnam in 2017. Russia now faces a raft of U.S.-led sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine. In 2023, the International Criminal Court in Hague issued an arrest warrant for Putin for war crimes. The Kremlin rejected it as null and void, stressing that Moscow doesnt recognize the courts jurisdiction.

Putins recent visits to China and now North Korea and Vietnam are attempts to break the international isolation, said Nguyen Khac Giang, an analyst at Singapores ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.

The U.S. and its allies have expressed growing concerns over a possible arms arrangement in which Pyongyang provides Moscow with badly needed munitions for its use in Ukraine, in exchange for economic assistance and technology transfers that could enhance the threat posed by Kims nuclear weapons and missile program.

Both countries deny accusations of weapons transfers, which would violate multiple U.N. Security Council sanctions that Russia previously endorsed.

Meanwhile, Russia is important to Vietnam for two reasons, Giang said: It is the biggest supplier of military equipment to the Southeast Asian nation, and Russian oil exploration technologies help maintain its sovereignty claims in the contested South China Sea.

Russia is signaling that it is not isolated in Asia despite the Ukraine war, and Vietnam is reinforcing a key traditional relationship even as it also diversifies ties with newer partners, said Prashanth Parameswaran, a fellow with the Wilson Centers Asia Program.

It is unlikely that Vietnam will supplying significant qualtities of weapons to Russia, because that would risk progress the country has made with NATO members on military equipment, particularly the U.S., which has donated naval patrol vessels and is in talks to supply aircraft, said Ridzwan Rahmat, a Singapore-based analyst with the defense intelligence company Janes.

There is progress that you wouldnt have imagined just 10 years ago, he said. So I would imagine Vietnam wouldnt want to take a risk, inviting the wrath of Western countries by supplying the Russians.

Hanoi and Moscow have had diplomatic relations since 1950, and this year marks 30 years of a treaty establishing friendly relations between Vietnam and Russia.

Evidence of this long relationship and its influence can be seen in Vietnamese cities like the capital, where the many Soviet-style apartment blocks are now dwarfed by skyscrapers and a statue of Vladimir Lenin, the founder of the Soviet Union, stands in a park where kids skateboard every evening. Many of the Communist Partys top leadership in Vietnam studied in Soviet universities, including party chief Trong.

In an article written for Nhan Dan, the official newspaper of Vietnams Communist Party, Putin vowed to deepen the ties between Moscow and Hanoi and hailed Vietnam as a strong supporter of a fair world order based on international law, on the principles of equality of all states and non-interference in their domestic affairs.

He also thanked Vietnamese friends for their balanced position on the Ukrainian crisis, in the article released by the Kremlin.

Given Putins international isolation, Vietnam is doing the Russian leader a huge favor and may expect favors in return, wrote Andrew Goledzinowski, the Australian ambassador to Vietnam, on social media platform X. He said that it would have been hard for Vietnam to decline the visit since Putin was already in Asia and Vietnam has historical ties with the former Soviet Republic, but said that it was unlikely that the two would be strategic partners again. Vietnam will always act in Vietnams interests and not anyone elses, he wrote.

Vietnams pragmatic policy of bamboo diplomacy  a phrase coined by Trong referring to the plants flexibility, bending but not breaking in the shifting headwinds of global geopolitics  is being increasingly tested.

A manufacturing powerhouse and an increasingly important player in global supply chains, Vietnam played host to both U.S. President Joe Biden and the leader of rival China, Xi Jinping, in 2023.

Vietnam has remained neutral on Russias invasion of Ukraine. But neutrality is getting trickier, with the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi criticizing Putins visit, saying that no country should give Putin a platform to promote his war of aggression and otherwise allow him to normalize his atrocities. If Putin is allowed to travel freely it could normalize Russias blatant violations of international law, the statement said. ANIRUDDHA GHOSAL, HANOI, MDT/AP
Still images have been a source of wonder and mythology in the films of Jeff Nichols.

Mud, Nichols Twain-soaked Mississippi fable, seemed derived from the magical sight of a boat held aloft by a tree. Loving, about a 60s interracial marriage, took inspiration from tender Life magazine photographs taken of the real-life couple. Nichols latest, The Bikeriders, is based on photographer Danny Lyons 1968 book of the same name, for which he spent four years with a Chicago motorcycle club.

Its not hard to see what Nichols saw in Lyons black-and-white stills. Theres the stylish raw materials  the chrome bikes, the slicked back hair, the black leather jackets. But theres also a just emerging antiauthoritarian, easy-riding spirit and camaraderie. Like the central figures of Loving, they are classically drawn outsiders who encapsulate something glorious and uneasy about freedom in America.

In the exhilarating first half of The Bikeriders, which opens in theaters Friday, Nichols is less compelled to build a narrative around his bike gang, the Vandals (based on the Outlaws) than summoning an intoxicating atmosphere reminiscent of those old photographs. The Bikeriders eventually becomes saddled with heavier plot mechanics  you can almost sense his riders growing weary from having to strap narrative devices onto their bikes. The movie wants to ride, but its not sure how much story to pack for the trip. But this is a vivid dramatization of the birth of an American subculture.

The framing device Nichols settles on is Lyon, himself, played by Mike Faist, whos conducting interviews for his book. His conversations with a woman named Kathy ( Jodie Comer ) bookend and sporadically narrate the movie.

Kathy, also based on a real person, seems at first an unlikely spokesperson for the gang. She speaks with a thick Illinois accent (an actorly distraction throughout) and has no affection for motorcycle riders. But one night at a bar, she sees Benny ( Austin Butler ) across the smokey room and, even if she doesnt admit it at that moment, falls for him. Again, its not hard to see why. Butler is by now well removed from Elvis Presley but the suppleness with which he can sink into mid-century America is no less apparent. Benny drives Kathy home, parks his bike outside the place and patiently waits for her boyfriend to skip town.

Nichols, a devotee of films like Hud and Cool Hand Luke, is a filmmaker who works very consciously within classic American idioms. In Butler he has his James Dean, making Tom Hardy his Marlon Brando. Hardy plays Johnny, Bennys best pal and the one who starts up and presides over the Vandals. (The whaddya got clip of Brando from The Wild One is even briefly seen on a small TV in The Bikeriders.)

The Vandals, as a club, start about as simply as kids might call a tree house to order. Theyre a bunch of guys who like riding motorcycles and like talking about them. Simple as that. But men come like moths to a flame, attracted by the tough lifestyle, the cool jackets with patches and a way out of mainstream America. Among them are Cal (Boyd Holbrook), Cockroach (Emory Cohen), Funny Sonny (Norman Reedus) and Zipco (Michael Shannon). JAKE COYLE, Film Writer, MDT/AP

The Bikeriders, a Focus Features release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for language throughout, violence, some drug use and brief sexuality. Running time: 116 minutes. 
Bona Film Group, a leading private film company in China, announced plans for several high-profile film projects during the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF).

Bona Film Group, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, has released an impressive list of future projects. These include investing in and producing Dante Lam's military blockbuster "Operation Leviathan," Stanley Tong's action-packed romantic fantasy film "A Legend" starring Jackie Chan, Hu Mei's highly anticipated adaptation "The Dream of the Red Chamber," as well as Gao Peng's crime drama "A Long Shot." Additionally, the company will be coordinating the Chinese marketing for "Paddington in Peru."

Bona Film Group is renowned for producing "The Battle at Lake Changjin," China's highest-grossing film of all time.

Cast and crew of "Operation Leviathan" pose for a photo at a press event held by Bona Film Group during the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival, June 17, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Bona Film Group]

"Operation Leviathan" is a sequel to Lam's 2018 military action movie "Operation Red Sea," which grossed 3.65 billion yuan. Set in the near future, this sequel tells a story about a special operation of the Chinese navy in the deep sea, with advanced military equipment being showcased.

Yu Dong, chairman of Bona Film Group, highlighted that it is the first time a Chinese film has focused on submarine action, adding that this production is bigger than its predecessor. While not naming a specific amount, Yu previously disclosed in April that this film's budget is the largest for a Chinese film in 2024, even comparing the film's expenses to that of Hollywood productions. "Operation Leviathan" is currently in post-production and is slated to be released next year.

"Director Lam went all out and even risked his life to get shots done for the film," Yu exclaimed. "I know this production will exceed the budget, and all I can do is help secure more investment for them, to ensure everything is done perfectly. I hope all our efforts will pay off and the audience will get to see an incredible film from Lam, a superb military action movie paying tribute to China's navy."

Cast and crew of "A Legend" pose for a photo at a press event held by Bona Film Group during the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival, June 17, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Bona Film Group]

"A Legend," the sister film to the 2005 hit "The Myth," will open in cinemas across China on July 12. In this new film, Jackie Chan plays the role of an archaeologist who discovers a powerful jade artifact that sends him and his assistant, played by Lay Zhang, back to a tumultuous period in the Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 24).

A highlight of the film is the use of AI technology to recreate a 27-year-old version of Chan as an ancient Chinese general. Besides using innovative technology, the film also showcases stunning scenes of ancient battlefields and massive horse-riding armies, which involved a real cavalry of 1,300 men and ten thousand horses. These epic scenes were all shot on location in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region rather than using CGI.

"The Dream of the Red Chamber," based on the classic novel by Cao Xueqin, took ten years to prepare and officially started production in 2017. In preparation of its upcoming nationwide release on July 26, Bona Film Group has held over 70 advanced screenings across 50 Chinese cities to generate buzz and collect feedback. Yu suggested the film provides a concise summary of the novel's complex plot and characters, appealing to younger audiences who may lack the time or interest to read the original Chinese epic.

Cast and crew of "The Dream of the Red Chamber" pose for a photo at a press event held by Bona Film Group during the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival, June 17, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Bona Film Group]

In addition to these forthcoming film projects, Yu also announced the production of several TV series, such as "Battle of Shangganling" by Andrew Lau and "Lin Zexu" by Yin Li. He also revealed that the company would venture into using AI technology to create a sci-fi mini-drama series about an apocalypse at the Sanxingdui archaeological site in Sichuan province.

Over the past 25 years, Bona Film Group has produced and distributed many high-grossing and patriotic blockbusters, including "The Battle at Lake Changjin," "Operation Red Sea," "The Captain," "Chinese Doctors" and "The Taking of Tiger Mountain." The film group has witnessed and participated in the rapid market-oriented reforms and industrialization of Chinese cinema.

Collaborating directors and actors pose for a group photo at a press event held by Bona Film Group to mark its 25th anniversary during the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival, June 17, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Bona Film Group]

Despite Bona Film Group's past glories and challenges, Yu Dong stated that the 25-year-old company will "continue to strive for growth as always, keep up with trends, face challenges fearlessly and evolve towards the new." Yu said the group will always be committed to innovation and meeting audience expectations with higher quality film productions.
Lawmaker Wong Kit Cheng has praised the governments recent decision to extend the maternity leave compensation subsidy scheme, expressing hopes to see it converted into a permanent subsidy.

The continuation of relevant subsidy measures with retroactive effect reflects support and emphasis on family development and dual-career women, while also considering Macaus true economic environment, said Wong.

The vice-chairman of the Womens Federation expressed hope that the authorities will take the lead in coordinating consensus within the Social Council, expedite the introduction of relevant plans, and propose to make temporary measures permanent.

Since the SAR government amended the Labor Relations Act in 2020, increasing maternity leave from 56 days to 70 days and providing maternity leave compensation subsidies to eligible local female employees, these measures have played a positive role in encouraging enterprises to actively implement family-friendly measures.

The lawmaker observed that the birth rate in Macau has dropped significantly in recent years, and fertility-related surveys conducted by the Womens Federation have found that residents are eager for more family-friendly measures to foster a more conducive environment for childbirth.

While the new subsidy plans are temporary, Wong emphasized that the subsidies approved during the transition period in the past three years totaled only around MOP14.3 million, with an average annual cost of less than MOP5 million, which accounted for a very small portion of the governments annual expenditure.

She hopes that the feasibility of converting it to a permanent subsidy can be examined and used as a reference to promote other family-friendly measures, such as accelerating research on amending the Labor Relations Law to extend maternity leave and increasing social security birth allowances. Such measures are hoped to provide more support for the sustainable development of families in Macau. Howard Tong
Some of the latest in policing technology was on display Thursday outside the Dane County Law Enforcement Training Center, shielded from threats of rain by tents and under the watchful eye of a tethered drone, quietly buzzing against the overcast sky.

The gadgets on display came from Axon, an Arizona company that develops weapons and technology for law enforcement, military and civilian use. Axon team lead Andrew Padilla said the equipment is something thats going to keep a community safe.

As he showed off the equipment, those gathered at the demonstrations craned their necks, mindful of the drone overseeing them.

Body-worn and squad car cameras were a topic of discussion, as Axon officials and officers discussed the extra layer of accountability that comes with the digital video footage: Dane County sheriffs deputies are undertaking a yearlong body camera pilot program in the West Precinct. County officials approved the program in November, allocating $320,000 for the test.

Practice Law enforcement officials were invited Thursday to test out Axon's virtual reality Taser training simulations.

Another star of the show in the training facility parking lot was the Taser 10, which Dane County officers will soon be outfitted with. The Taser 10 boasts a maximum effective distance of 45 feet, about three times that of its predecessor, the Taser 7. And when youre confronting a suspect, Padilla said, distance is everything.

The key thing is to create distance, speak to that subject and de-escalate the situation, Padilla said. Just because they pull the Taser out of their holster doesnt mean theyre going to use it.

Virtual reality A screen showcases what the VR headset user sees, a target suspect lit up on screen.

Officers were invited to test the Tasers on tarp-material targets and in virtual reality, the latter drawing more attention. A headset put the user in a dark room, or a liquor store parking lot, with suspects drawing weapons or shouting.

Its going to make the community safer, keep the officer safer as well, Padilla said.

Training tools A virtual reality headset places users in different scenarios and allows them to practice deploying a Taser in real time.

While virtual reality has yet to make its way into the Dane County police academy, training Lt. Jeffrey Heil is looking forward to putting the new Tasers into action, replacing the current models, which he said are around a decade old.

Everything in our research has shown us the new equipment is more reliable, more accurate. It gives the officers immediate feedback that its working the way they intended it to, Heil said. When we have to use it, its more effective.

As technology intensifies, so does police training. When Heil went through the police academy in 1995, it was a 400-hour commitment. Recruits now face 720 hours of training, including much more hands-on instruction.

When I started in law enforcement, we didnt have a computer in the car, we just had a radio. Ive watched in my career the technology become more of what we do, Heil said.

Before his time at Axon, Padilla, too, was an officer, serving 21 years with the Santa Fe, New Mexico, police. Like Heil, Padilla said he has marveled at the advancements in policing since his early days.

I wish I wouldve had these devices back in my day when I was a young police officer on the streets, he said.
The National Bureau of Investigation arrested three individuals for allegedly hacking into the social media accounts and websites of several government agencies and banks.

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NBI Cybercrime Division Chief Jeremy Lotoc said the suspects admitted to exploiting and defacing the platform of online payment gateway Dragonpay before moving on to Pinoy LulzSec a hacking group responsible for defacing hundreds of Philippine websites, including that of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, and the National Security Council.

One of the arrested individuals was identified as a data officer working for the Manila Bulletin.

The suspect claimed he hacked some of the websites under the instruction of Manila Bulletin IT Editor Art Samaniego so that he can allegedly use it as content for his column and social media platforms.

The NBI said it was also preparing to file a case against Samaniego, who denied all the allegations.

The suspect said Samaniego began giving him instructions on which websites to hack in 2019, after he was hired by the Manila Bulletin.

The suspect said one of the last instructions he got from Samaniego was to hack the online application of the 1Sambayan political coalition.

Lotoc said they would give Samaniego the opportunity to answer all the allegations against him.

The Manila Bulletin also issued a statement regarding the incident.

As a responsible corporate citizen, the Manila Bulletin adhered to the laws of the land and requires its employees to be law abiding. We expect our employees to be accorded their rights. We assure the public of Manila Bulletins utmost fidelity to the laws of the land, the company said.

The other two suspects were a cybersecurity researcher working for a major company with an office in BGC and a graduating student from an undisclosed university in the Philippines.

Lotoc said the agency has been tracking these individuals since 2016.

He said they were still minors at the time and members of a group of international independent hacktivists calling themselves Global Security Hackers.

Lotoc added the suspects were also the same threat actors who defaced the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Hospital website as a protest against a doctor who allegedly refused the admission of a woman who was about to give birth but could not pay the P20,000 security deposit.

The NBI also presented two other hackers who were arrested Thursday night for selling compromised GoTyme accounts.

Whats worrisome based on what weve seen is that aka Illusion, one of the hackers presented here, we saw in his device through control viewing, user account credentials for banks  PNB, BDO, Unionbank, and even Security Bank, Lotoc said.

The NBI will be verifying with the involved banks whether or not these credentials are genuine since cybercriminals use accounts with fake user information in their exploits.

Lotoc added the data stolen by these individuals were either sold on hacking marketplaces and forums to organized cybercrime groups, used as bragging rights by individuals who aim of joining hacking organizations, or act as a bargaining chip in exchange of malicious scripts. With Darwin Amojelar

Editors Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline NBI nabs 3 for hacking online platforms of govt agencies.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jiang claimed on Friday that the recent Philippines operation near the disputed Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea to Beijing) had nothing to do with humanitarian resupply.

This operation of the Philippines is absolutely not about humanitarian resupply. The Philippine vessels secretly carried construction materials and even weapons and equipment, and they deliberately rammed Chinese vessels, Lin claimed.

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The Chinese spokesperson also took issue with the Filipino troops throwing water and hurling objects against the China Coast Guard (CCG) personnel, who wielded deadly weapons during the tense encounter.

Video footage released by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) clearly showed members of the CCG acting belligerent at sea. The images directly contradicted statements from Beijing that it was the Filipinos who made provocative action during the incident.

The confrontation resulted in injuries to Philippine sailors, with one losing a finger, and the confiscation of equipment including firearms. The incident has drawn international condemnation and calls for restraint from various nations, including the United States and G7 members.

AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner reiterated that their personnel were unarmed and were forced to defend themselves with their bare hands against the aggressive actions of the CCG.

Ayungin Shoal, also known as Second Thomas Shoal, is about 200 kilometers (120 miles) from the western Philippine island of Palawan, and more than 1,000 kilometres from Chinas nearest major landmass, Hainan island.

It is the same location where there have been recent collisions between vessels belonging to both countries, as well as water cannoning by the CCG.  With Agence France Presse
The Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance, launched by the Organizing Committee of the Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) in June 2018, has grown from 31 film institutions in 29 countries to 55 institutions in 48 countries, establishing itself as a key platform for cultural exchanges.

Representatives from the film industries of different countries along the Belt and Road pose for a group photo at a press conference for the Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance during the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) in Shanghai, June 16, 2024. [Photo courtesy of the SIFF Organizing Committee]

Film plays a crucial role in cultural exchanges along the Belt and Road, said Huang Qunfei, deputy general manager of Huaxia Film Distribution Co. Ltd., at a press conference in Shanghai on June 16.

"This effort aims to contribute jointly to the high-quality development of the Belt and Road film industry," Huang said. "In the future, we will deepen mutual learning between films and visits by filmmakers, promote beneficial cooperation across film production, distribution, and screening, enhance international talent development, and continue to work on the innovation and application of film technology."

Guillermo Olivares, program planner of the Valdivia International Film Festival in Chile, noted that the alliance "holds tremendous potential to generate and disseminate creative energy in cinemas worldwide, promoting collaboration and creating hotspots for cultural exchange-centered, more diverse film creation, production and distribution."

Since this year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Hungary, the SIFF will collaborate with the 20th Miskolc International Film Festival in September to organize a "Focus on China" screening unit.

The associated Belt and Road Film Week, held during the SIFF, featured 18 selected films from over 100 entries, screened across 65 showings. Of these 18 films, eight were chosen by professional selectors as finalists to compete for awards.

(From left to right) Chinese actor Da Peng, Wu Jincheng, district mayor of Pudong New Area in Shanghai, Pan Min, director of the Office of the Shanghai Municipal Commission for Guiding Cultural and Ethical Progress, and actress Yao Chen launch the exhibition tour for films from the Belt and Road Film Week selection at the closing ceremony of the Belt and Road Film Week in Shanghai, June 18, 2024. [Photo courtesy of the SIFF Organizing Committee]

On the closing night of the film week on June 18, director Eva Nathena of the Greek film "Murderess" won best director, and Mongolian actress Battsooj Uurtsaikh from "If Only I Could Hibernate" won best actor in the media choice award for filmmaker category. The Chilean film "The Settlers" received the media choice award for film, while "The Midsummer's Voice" by Chinese director Zhang Yudi won the audience choice award.

Chinese director and actor Da Peng and actress and producer Yao Chen were named ambassadors for the Belt and Road Film Week. They announced at the closing ceremony that selected films from the event will be showcased in additional cities and member states in the coming months.

During the film week, over 40 international filmmakers from 18 countries and regions along the Belt and Road, along with representatives from more than 20 Chinese and foreign film institutions, gathered in Shanghai's Pudong New Area for extensive exchanges. The event also included various cultural activities, such as a lively Latin American fiesta, allowing visitors to experience the diverse cultures of Belt and Road countries.

Dancers perform at a Latin American fiesta during the Belt and Road Film Week in Shanghai. [Photo courtesy of the SIFF Organizing Committee]

Sun Yu, deputy director of the Administrative Committee of the Shanghai International Resort in Pudong, announced that due to the Belt and Road Film Week's ongoing growth and support, over 150 businesses in the cultural and creative industries have established themselves at the resort. These businesses cover areas like film and television post-production, filming, and distribution, creating a more complete and diverse industry.

Zhang Yudi appreciated that the film week selected many films she had never seen and some are from countries she might never visit. "But film gives me a window to understand them. This might also be the charm of film itself; it is a bridge for communication, a language everyone can understand," she said.
The 2024 attempt at reviving a bipartisan and controversial N.C. Senate medical marijuana bill cleared the first of two floor votes in the Senate Thursday with legislative analysts saying the language still lacks enough House support to pass.

An amendment was attached to House Bill 563 on Wednesday that inserted most of the language from Senate Bill 3, titled NC Compassionate Care Act.

The vote passed on Thursday by a vote of 33-9. A final vote is likely to be held Monday night.

Upon approval of the final vote, the bill goes back to the House, which can accept or reject the changes. If the House rejects the changes the bill could go to a concurrence committee.

The amendment comes as House and Senate Republican leadership are in negotiations over the state 2024-25 budget.

Because the 2024 session is expected to end shortly after the state budget becomes law, legislators have started their annual 11th-hour scrambling to get hot-button bills through both chambers.

The amendment filer to HB563 was Sen. Bill Rabon, R-New Hanover, chairman of the Senate Rules and Operations committee, primary sponsor of SB3 and a cancer survivor. SB3 cleared the Senate by a 36-10 vote in March 2023, but has not received a vote in a House committee.

HB563's initial focus was tightening sale and distribution regulations on hemp-derived consumable products, such as vaping devices, as well as banning those devices from school grounds.

The bill also contains language that would: place Tianeptine, Xylazine and Kratom on the state's controlled substance schedules; create criminal penalties for criminal possession and unlawful sale of embalming fluid; and create penalties for exposing a minor to a controlled substance.

Opponents have expressed concerns about the medical marijuana legislation, including that it would serve as a gateway to legalizing marijuana in North Carolina, and that medical research isnt definitive on benefiting users.

House Speaker Tim Moore has told legislative media outlets that for a medical marijuana bill to clear the House, there would need to be reasonable controls, and a balance to have enough distributors to prescribe and avoid a monopoly.

Rabon plea

Rabon was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2000 at age 48. Rabon has said his oncologist initially told him he had as much as 18 months to live.

Rabon has acknowledged limited use of marijuana  a few puffs  enabled him to withstand the worst of his chemotherapy treatments as he continued to work at his veterinarian practice.

On Thursday, Rabon made another impassioned plea for recommendation of the medical marijuana language, particularly addressing its provision requiring the necessity of a doctor experienced in cannabis involved in treatment.

"The people who need  and can benefit from  medical-grade cannabis are dying every day," Rabon said. "They are at their wit's end. People are buying marijuana on the street and they don't know what they're getting and no idea the interaction with the drugs they are taking.

"We have a right to try bill that has passed the House unanimously and is going to be added on the (Senate) floor to the bill because people are dying. They need help to stay alive, to stay with their loved ones another day, to feel good about life, to have a meal, not be put on morphine so they don't know what world they're in."

Addressing opponents of medical marijuana language, Rabon said that "if you are scared of the boogeyman, sleep with the lights on."

"This is something we should do. I have lived it. Those who are dead set against it should walk in my shoes, know what I've done.

"You can preach to me folks all you want about loving your fellow man," Rabon said. "If you love your fellow man, you will try every day to make their life better."

Hemp language

Rep. Jeffrey McNeely, R-Iredell, and primary sponsor of HB563, asked Senate Rules members to back out of the medical marijuana language, saying the proposed language in the previous version of the House bill should not be tied to language unlikely to pass the House.

"Don't take your eye off the ball," McNeely said. "We're trying to regulate a completely unregulated industry that is hooking our children on marijuana at a very early age.

"It's a pathway, and we need to be very mindful of that. So, don't forget that part of this when some shining new object is added. We're trying to save our children from a path of destruction."

Rabon said the tightening of the hemp vaping regulation is important, saying "we're in the ninth inning on that one."

That language, according to Rabon, attempts to fix "our dropping of the ball and letting something that should have been tightly regulated make it to our (retail) shelves, into our homes and into our children's lives with absolutely no control."

SB3 background

SB3 would permit the use of medical marijuana for individuals with ALS, cancer, epilepsy, Parkinsons disease, post-traumatic stress disorder and other ailments, but not for those experiencing chronic pain.

The bill does not allow recreational marijuana usage.

Legislative analysts have said House members were likely to amend SB3 to add language that reflects a more conservative approach.

Although Rep. Donny Lambeth, R-Forsyth, has championed many health-care bills, foremost the historic Medicaid expansion bill pending funding in the 2023-24 state budget, he had not expressed an opinion on medical marijuana until May 31, 2023, during a non-voting committee meeting.

Lambeth said what changed his mind was a fact-finding visit with 15 other legislators to a marijuana operational center in Mississippi. That state has similar restrictions to the ones SB3 proposes for North Carolina.

Lambeth said he was reassured by how Mississippi handled the growing of the marijuana used for medical purposes.

Lambeth also cited recent conversations with ministers, family people, friends, saying please help us because weve been in such pain and we think this will actually relieve us of that pain.

'Behind the 8 ball': How research is trying to catch up on cannabis and kids 'Behind the 8 ball': How research is trying to catch up on cannabis and kids 'Behind the 8 ball': How research is trying to catch up on cannabis and kids
Diamond-rich African nations, like Botswana, are ramping up production to fill the gap left by the sanctions on Russian diamonds announced by the Group of Seven (G7) earlier this year, but not all countries and companies are happy about the ban.

Botswanan Minister of Minerals and Energy, Lefoko Moagi, said recently that the southern African countrys mining sector presents promising opportunities despite the challenges posed by the G7 ban on rough diamonds mined in Russia. The ban part of many sanctions on Russia imposed by the G7 group of wealthy nations for President Vladimir Putins 2022 invasion of Ukraine. But the sanctions against Russian diamonds could pose a potential risk to the global diamond markets stability. As diamonds and other precious gems bring massive revenues for some African countries, the ban will put a lot of pressure on Botswana and other producing countries, Moagi said.

De Beers Group, the worlds leading diamond company, has said it strongly supports the G7s proposed sanctions on Russian diamonds, but stressed the need for an extended timeline to ensure effective implementation and industry adaptation. The company underscores that for the sanctions to be effective, they must be practical, industry-wide, and enforceable. In enhancing the so-called Kimberley Process, the only government-backed certification system for diamond origins, De Beers proposes that also producer countries with globally respected standards, such as Botswana, Canada, Namibia, South Africa, and Angola, should be empowered to certify their diamonds for trade with the G7.
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Genetic testing is not yet a standard component of workplace wellness programs, but what if it were? Researchers at The Jackson Laboratory and the University of Michigan aim to answer this question, and to consider the ethical and social implications associated with such offerings.

The work, published in the August issue of Genetics in Medicine, provides real-world employee perspectives, following employer-sponsored genetic testing, as well as valuable insights into how employers make informed decisions about integrating genetic testing into their wellness programs.

The future of personal health

"Genetic testing may very well be the way of the future when it comes to personal health," said Kunal Sanghavi, MBBS, M.S., CGC, Associate Director of Genetic Counseling at The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine and one of the leaders of this study.

"These findings are highly relevant to the research we are doing at JAX, studying genetic markers and applying them to personalized medicine that could provide targeted care to the patients who need it the most."

The survey-based study recruited participants from a large health care system employing approximately 30,000 individuals, who had been offered workplace genetic testing (wGT) as part of their wellness benefits.

The wGT program, established in fall 2018, used a third-party testing service which included genes associated with increased risk for cancer and heart disease. Genes driving medication response (pharmacogenes) were also includedthis type of testing can reveal an individual's metabolic response to certain medications as well as susceptibility to side effects.

Of the 776 web survey respondents, 418 elected to have genetic testing and received results. The web survey collected information about their use of health services and their health behaviors after receiving their test results.

Some 12% of the 418 employees who opted into testing reported that they received results indicating an increased risk for cancer and 9.5% received results that showed increased risk for heart disease. These individuals were 8.6 times more likely to follow up with a health care professional and 3.23 times more likely to make a health behavior change.

Furthermore, among those that received genetic testing through their workplace, 31.4% received results from the pharmacogenomic testing that they felt might be informative for their future prescription medication use.

"Most participants reported that obtaining their genetic test results satisfied their curiosity about their health (74.7%)," said Elizabeth Charnysh, M.S., CGC, a genetic counselor at JAX and lead author of the study.

She noted that employees with negative test results (i.e., no detectable increased risk of cancer or heart diease) were more likely to feel that their test results reassured them they were healthy.

"However, all individuals have a baseline risk for cancer and heart disease. Having a negative test result also does not negate other factors that may increase a person's risk for cancer or heart disease, such as lifestyle and family history," said Charnysh, "so these findings raise some concerns about false reassurance and lack of understanding among employees."

The broader implications of workplace genetic testing

The study is part of a larger project titled "Ethical, Legal, Social and Policy Implications of Workplace Genetic Testing." The project, led by Charles Lee, Ph.D., FACMG, scientific director and the Robert Alvine Family Endowed Chair and professor at The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine and University of Michigan Professor Scott Roberts, Ph.D., is employing a multi-step approach to gather employee and employer perspectives regarding genetic testing in the workplace.

The goal is to help guide the future of wGT across the country. Charnysh also notes that insights from wGT may also inform other new genetic testing initiatives that are designed to be offered to others in the general population.

Upcoming research from this team will delve deeper into ethical frameworks and the broader implications of workplace genetic testing, including its potential benefits, potential harms, and considerations for maximizing the former and minimizing the latter.

"It was encouraging to see that many employees who learned from wGT results of their elevated risk for cancer and heart disease were taking steps that might aid prevention of future disease," said Roberts, a professor of Health Behavior and Health Education at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

"However, it will be important for future studies to examine whether these potential health benefits are truly realized among employees undergoing wGT."

More information: Elizabeth Charnysh et al, Health care utilization and behavior changes after workplace genetic testing at a large US health care system, Genetics in Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.gim.2024.101160 Journal information: Genetics in Medicine
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Abortion care providers in North Carolina report spending more time on administrative tasks, voice frustration with new required consent forms, have feelings of anxiety and burnout, and fear for the future pipeline of providers since the state adopted regulations in 2023 limiting abortion care, according to a new RAND report.

In addition, abortion facilities reported reorganizing or changing clinical workflows, adjusting staffing, facing higher costs, and in some cases, physically relocating their clinics to adapt to the state's new abortion rules.

Providers reported that patients faced increased resource and time burdens, particularly with a requirement that consent be done only in person, with a disproportionate impact for historically marginalized populations. Additionally, providers reported that individuals seeking care faced limitations on decision-making inputs, combined with high levels of confusion and misinformation.

"Beyond shortening the gestational period when abortions may be performed, state laws often impose additional regulations on clinicians and clinic operators," said Julia Rollison, lead author of the report and a senior policy research at RAND, a nonprofit research organization. "This analysis provides new information about how those additional restrictions are affecting providers, clinics, and people's access to abortion."

In May 2023, North Carolina legislators approved Senate Bill 20, which set new restrictions on abortion services in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs decision overturning the constitutional right to an abortion.

The legislation limits abortion to 12 weeks, 6 days, with exceptions for cases of rape, incest or medical emergency. Prior to legislation taking effect, abortions were broadly lawful in North Carolina during the first 20 weeks of a woman's pregnancy.

The 47-page bill also added an in-person counseling requirement to the already required 72-hour waiting period for both procedural and medication abortions, modified required consent language and signature requirements, mandated detailed reporting requirements for abortions performed after the 12th week of pregnancy, and established penalties for physicians and health care providers who violate the regulations. Some parts of the legislation are in flux as courts adjudicate challenges to the rules.

The legislation was seen as more moderate than laws adopted in many other states after the Dobbs decision. Since North Carolina is adjacent to other states with more-restrictive policies, some women travel to the state for abortions.

To better understand how the changes were affecting practice in North Carolina, RAND researchers used a variety of methods to gather information about the delivery of abortion services in the state.

They conducted interviews with clinicians who regularly provide abortion care and non-clinicians who work at facilities that provide abortion care or organizations that support abortion access. Participants worked at different types of clinics (independent, Planned Parenthood and hospital-based) or support organizations (policy advocacy, abortion funds).

Researchers also identified state and local policies and supporting documentation and reviewed published material about abortion care in the state, including peer-reviewed literature and news articles.

The research found that to manage the increased number of appointments based on the in-person consent requirements, some clinics needed to reorganize their patient waiting areas to improve the workflow of the clinic or set aside specific days and times for consent visits.

Interview participants also reported that the new law created the need for many new compliance functions that did not benefit patients, such as protocols for documenting medical emergencies.

In addition, since the new law requires clinicians to be involved in gathering consent in-person from patients with lengthy forms, some participants remarked that clinicians were now spending a significant amount of time on more-administrative tasks and less time on direct patient care.

Most respondents felt that the new law did not impact a patient's decision to have an abortion, just when and where. Specifically, they reported seeing patients earlier in their pregnancies than they might otherwise.

Those interviewed for the RAND study emphasized the disproportionate impact Senate Bill 20 had on individuals who already were marginalized, including low-income, immigrant, persons of color, adolescents and rural patients.

"There is not a lot of data on whether and to what extent state and local policies adopted in the wake of Dobbs have influenced providers' practices," Rollison said. "This initial study of one key state begins to fill that gap."

More information: Understanding the State and Local Policies Affecting Abortion Care Administration, Access, and Delivery: A Case Study in North Carolina. DOI: 10.7249/RRA3324-1 www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA3324-1.html
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People with type 2 diabetes who are treated with GLP-1 agonists have a decreased risk of developing dementia, according to a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in the journal eClinicalMedicine.

Drugs known as GLP-1 agonists or GLP-1 analogs have become increasingly popular in treating type 2 diabetes and obesity as they help control blood sugar, promote weight loss and protect the heart.

People with type 2 diabetes have an increased risk of developing dementia and it's been hypothesized that newer diabetes drugs such as GLP-1 agonists and DPP-4 inhibitors might have a protective effect.

In the new register-based study, researchers followed more than 88,000 older individuals with type 2 diabetes for up to ten years. Using a study design called target trial emulation, which imitates a randomized clinical trial, they analyzed the association between three diabetes drugs (GLP-1 agonists, DPP-4 inhibitors or sulfonylureas) and the risk of dementia.

Can help doctors make better decisions

They found that patients who used GLP-1 agonists had a 30% lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who used sulfonylureas, and a 23% lower risk compared to those who used DPP-4 inhibitors.

"This is important because it can help doctors make better decisions about which medicines to use for older patients with type 2 diabetes," says Bowen Tang, a Ph.D. student in Sara Hagg's research group at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet. "However, proper randomized trials are needed to establish with certainty that GLP-1 agonists reduce the risk of dementia."

More information: Bowen Tang et al, Comparative effectiveness of glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, and sulfonylureas on the risk of dementia in older individuals with type 2 diabetes in Sweden: an emulated trial study, eClinicalMedicine (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102689 Journal information: EClinicalMedicine
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Immunofluorescence and confocal analysis of representative day 20 assembloid and kidney organoid generated under hydrogel bed culture for the detection of proximal tubule (LTL) (green), endothelial cells (CD31) (red), podocyte protein (NEPHRIN) (magenta), and DAPI nuclei staining (blue). Credit: Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC)

A study led by the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) describes a new approach to producing mini-kidneys in the laboratory that mimic a complex vasculature, similar in some characteristics to those of the human kidneys. These "asembloids" are created by combining 3D kidney organoids with endothelial organoids.

Organoids are three-dimensional structures grown in vitro that mimic organ function and are a promising tool for disease modeling and drug screening. However, these small organs often lack nervous, immune, or vascular systems due to their complexity.

Reproducing the complex vascular system of the kidney, a highly perfused tissue, in the laboratory has been a challenge for scientists for more than a decade. Now, a paper published in Advanced Materials, describes an approach that has never been tried before:

"We assembled kidney organoids with vascular organoids. To carry out this process successfully, it is essential to identify the ideal time to join them, taking into account the developmental stage of each organoid," explains Nuria Montserrat Pulido, ICREA Research Professor, Principal Investigator at IBEC and leader of the study.

"When these two types of organoids are together, they start a process of interaction in just three hours. The result of this process is truly spectacular," she says.

These findings not only provide valuable insights into the development of renal organoids, but also lay the groundwork for the development of new methods to vascularize these organoids. This could have applications in organoid transplantation in clinical settings and in the study of vascular dysfunction in human disease.

"We need to have this vascular system in our organoids if we want to model systemic pathologies that affect the kidney through the bloodstream, such as an autoimmune disease or diabetes, for example. We also believe that the approach we have used in this study could also be applied to other organoid models," says Elena Garreta Bahima, researcher in the Montserrat group at IBEC and first author of the study.

The next step, says Montserrat, will be to introduce these vascularized organoids on a microfluidic chip to be able to carry out even more specialized studies in order to mimic conditions that occur in complex diseases as well as to allow vascular connection with other organoids, such as cardiac organoids, work that is currently being carried out in the laboratory at IBEC.

Printing with cells

In previous studies, the team had seen that the kidney organoids they created contained a vascular component: endothelial cells, the cells that eventually form blood vessels. Using porcine or human kidney tissue, they created a biocompatible hydrogel that could be used as a 3D printing ink.

On this basis, they decided to simplify the system to make it more accessible and economical. Among all the proteins that make up the hydrogel, they chose collagen I, one of the most abundant proteins in the extracellular matrix of kidney tissue, and generated a biocompatible gel with which to validate their experimental results.

This work represents a significant milestone in the field of emerging and advanced therapies, one of IBEC's key research areas. These therapies are innovative medical treatments that use cutting-edge technologies to address complex diseases and conditions.

The study has also brought together researchers from other centers that are part of the National Platform of Biomodels and Biobanks of the Carlos III Institute of Health (PISCIII-BB), highlighting the importance of network collaboration in defining biomedical solutions based on bioengineering.

This platform, coordinated by Nuria Montserrat, Deputy Director of Clinical Translation Initiatives at IBEC, provides high-level scientific and technological services by integrating and coordinating the activities of all its units in response to the needs of the National Health System, in addition to managing more than 500,000 biological samples and related clinical data.

In addition to IBEC, the Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA) of the University of Navarre, the Institute for Biomedical Research of A Coruna (INIBIC), the Leartiker Technology Center (Basque Country), the Hospital Clinic de Barcelona and the Gregorio Maranon General University Hospital (Madrid) participated in the study.

More information: Elena Garreta et al, Natural Hydrogels Support Kidney Organoid Generation and Promote In Vitro Angiogenesis, Advanced Materials (2024). DOI: 10.1002/adma.202400306 Journal information: Advanced Materials

Provided by Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC)
For at least 10 years, journalists and anyone with access to the Internet could read all the emails sent to members of the Missoula City Council and the mayor and all emails sent among those elected officials.

The topics ranged from the mundane  people complaining about dog poop on public trails  to matters of high importance to public interest, such as city council members arguing with each other over policy proposals or businesses attempting to influence the mayor on particular issues.

The emails are a window into what the voters and taxpayers in Missoula are interested in and what they want to talk to their elected officials about. In 2007, then-Missoulian reporter Keila Szpaller revealed that city council members were sending emails to each other during public meetings, oftentimes "discrediting the public, scheduling lunch meetings and making jokes." The emails also revealed strategic alliances between some members.

The emails are also public records, and like a lot of government records, are available to the public under the Freedom of Information Act of 1966 and the Montana Public Records Act.

The easy accessibility of those email records changed on March 4 of this year, as the city overhauled the way city council members receive emails. Instead of a person sending an email to council@ci.missoula.mt.us, there is now a form online at the website ci.missoula.mt.us/FormCenter/City-Council-9/Contact-City-Council-330.

Now, on the website that used to show all the emails to city council listed by date, there is simply a message that says, "As of March 4, 2024, City Council emails will no longer be published on the city website. You may continue to connect with your city council representatives by (contacting individual members or emailing the entire city council through the form)."

City council president Amber Sherrill was unaware of the website that showed all the archived emails and was unaware that they were no longer posted until the Missoulian contacted her on Thursday morning.

"I do think it's important that the public has access to their representatives and all public records are public," she said.

After looking into the matter, Sherrill called back with an explanation.

"It's a by-product of going to the new form email system," she said.

The form email system is better for the city council because it requires senders to list which of the six city wards they live in, Sherrill said. Before, when emails were sent to all 12 members, nobody had a clue which ward the sender lived in so sometimes nobody responded.

"I think it's a great system," Sherrill said. "So now, we can scroll down and say oh, that's Ward 6, that's (Ward 6 representative) Sandy (Vasecka) or oh, that's Ward 4, I need to get back with them."

Sherrill also said she's been told the old system was extremely labor-intensive for the city clerk, who had to convert dozens of emails everyday into PDFs and then upload them.

"Especially if we have a contentious issue, they would get behind," Sherrill explained.

Sherrill said she would work with city staff to look into the possibility of coming up with a system that would allow the emails to be published regularly without taking up too much staff time.

In the meantime, all emails to city council are still accessible, but they have to be acquired through a more cumbersome public records request through the city.

The Missoula County website does not publish emails sent to the county commissioners online, but those are also available via a public records request.

Under the Montana Public Records Act, emails from private citizens and other types of correspondence that are received by government officials are considered public records.

The Missoula City Council's Committee of the Whole discussed the email format change on March 13 of this year. In that meeting, city council member Daniel Carlino expressed his desire for constituent emails to city council to still show up on a city website. He asked a city staff member if it was possible and the staff member responded that it took a lot of staff time.

"I know sometimes journalists have been like, 'Oh look, wow, I can see a bunch of constituents are reaching out to Missoula City Council,'" Carlino said at the time. "Is there a way to track people's emails when they email us all because it was kind of nice having them on the website so people can see what people are saying."

Dale Bickell, the city's chief administrative officer, said it was possible to keep the website up but it was "difficult to manage" and a "constant issue with capacity."

Sherrill was absent from that meeting, as were four other city council members.

City council member Mirtha Becerra said she'd like to see the city give the new format "a try."

"It's not set in stone," she said. "If we hear from the media or anyone saying that they would like to see some changes I think we can work through that. I think it would be great to give this an amount of time to see if it works and tweak it if needed."

She said the new way was a good compromise between effective use of staff time and still allowing constituents a way to reach the council members.

City communications director Ginny Merriam said that the old system was a huge workload for the city clerk's office.

"We were the only government we know of that was doing this," Merriam said. "The County doesn't post emails as a matter of course, nor does the state. But they are all public records."

She said the Missoulian's request this week was the first time anyone had inquired about the change.

"I've heard from several council members that they are communicating much better with their constituents because they are not just receiving a barrage of emails addressed to the entire council," Merriam said.
A local boatman's tale of a sunken ship near the Dongji Islands in Zhoushan, eastern China's Zhejiang province, captured the attention of producer Fang Li during a film shoot in 2013, setting him on an eight-year odyssey to uncover the vessel's lost history.

Fang was on location with writer-turned-director Han Han, who was filming "The Continent" when the chance encounter with the boatman occurred, sparking Fang's interest in the mysterious shipwreck.

Producer and director Fang Li speaks at the premiere of "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru" during the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival in Shanghai, June 14, 2024. [Photo/China.org.cn]

The result of Fang's arduous journey was recently presented to the world. "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru," a 123-minute film, premiered on June 14 as the first film to open during the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival, leaving the audience both in tears and applauding. The film was the fastest to sell out at the festival.

"We not only finished a film but also guarded a history," said Fang, a veteran film producer who served as director for the first time in this project. "This cruel historical event has been buried under the sea and denied by the Japanese military for 82 years, and I hope that together we can share it with the world."

The Lisbon Maru was an armed Japanese cargo ship carrying 1,816 British prisoners of war (POWs) from the Battle of Hong Kong in 1941. In October 1942, while en route to Japan without a sign indicating POWs onboard, violating the Geneva Conventions, the ship was torpedoed by a U.S. submarine. As the ship sank off the Dongji Islands, Japanese soldiers locked the prisoners below deck or shot at them, leading to the deaths of 828. Despite the danger, 255 local Chinese fishermen nearby risked their lives to rescue 384 British prisoners amid gunfire.

A poster for "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru." [Image courtesy of Laurel Films]

"After James Cameron made 'Titanic,' everybody knew about it. The death toll of the Lisbon Maru is more than half that of Titanic, yet few know about it," Fang said. "Plus, the POWs on board were massacred and abused. We must tell the world that this happened on our country's land. Our fishermen, our older generation, were witnesses, participants, and rescuers. Thus, making this film is something that only Chinese can do."

Fang, an expert in geophysical exploration and marine technology, led professional teams to search for the sunken ship in 2016 and 2017. They eventually located it on the seabed, 36 kilometers away from an incorrect historical coordinate.

Fang and his team also traveled worldwide to locate related historical documents and the POWs aboard the ship, along with their families. In 2018, Fang spent 250,000 ($317,000) on advertisements in three major U.K. newspapers to find British POWs and their descendants from the Lisbon Maru incident. They established contacts with about 380 families and interviewed nearly 120 descendants in China, the U.K., the U.S., Canada, and Japan.

Unfortunately, only two POWs and one Chinese fisherman involved in the rescue were found alive at the time of the film's production. These men shared their firsthand experiences in the documentary, providing invaluable perspectives. Sadly, all the three passed away in the years before the film's release.

Producer and director Fang Li interviews Ron Brooks, who was 83 at the time, reading the last letter his father sent to his mother before he perished on the Lisbon Maru. It says, "We will be together again soon." [Photo courtesy of Laurel Films]

Despite financial difficulties, which forced Fang to max out five credit cards and sell all his houses, he never gave up on the production of the documentary. "We have to rescue this piece of history as fast as possible before it's too late," he said.

The premiere was also attended by family members of British soldiers who survived or lost their lives in the Lisbon Maru incident. They praised the heroism of the Chinese fishermen and the legacy they left through their humanity and bravery. Following the premiere event, the relatives of the POWs left Shanghai for Zhoushan to mourn the British soldiers resting there. On the ship, Jean Clements and Kathleen Birch, niece and cousin of POW Kenneth Hodkinson, took a small gravestone with them to bury at sea.

Tony Banham, the film's history consultant and one of the early researchers of the Lisbon Maru incident, greatly aided the filmmaking process. His book, "The Sinking of The Lisbon Maru: Britain's Forgotten Wartime Tragedy," originally published in 2006, served as a valuable reference.

"I would have never dreamed that for me, this journey would take me to Shanghai 20 years later, not just by myself, but as a part of something so much bigger," Banham said as he attended the premiere. "It is one of the most emotionally draining documentaries I've seen."

Creators, guests and families of Lisbon Maru prisoners of war pose for a group photo at the premiere of "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru" during the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival in Shanghai, June 14, 2024. [Photo/China.org.cn]

"Now I have fulfilled a commitment in my heart," Fang concluded. "No matter how much money or time the film took, what matters to me is the hope and expectations of over 2,000 families. More than 1,800 families of POWs hope to see the experiences of their ancestors; over 200 families of fishermen from Zhoushan hope that their ancestors' good deeds and heroic acts will be remembered."

"This is the most important thing I have ever done in my life," he added.
Montanas senators in a bipartisan effort Thursday backed the Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act, days after a massive siphon broke on the Milk River Project just outside Babb, putting drinking water and irrigation for tens of thousands of acres at risk.

The water rights settlement is the final compact to be ratified with tribes in Montana, following the final approval of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Water Compact in 2021. The FBIC compact would put $1.3 billion toward infrastructure and economic development projects and improve the efficiency of the Milk River Project, which irrigates 121,000 acres of tribal and non-tribal land. It also has $275 million to rehabilitate the St. Marys canal. Additionally, it will restore 38,462 acres of state and federal land to tribal management.

The compact passed the Senate earlier this term as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act with support from Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and Republican U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, but it was stalled as Republicans in the House stripped out the provision.

The compact has been in negotiations for decades and was approved by the Fort Belknap Indian Community in 2001, and OKd by state lawmakers that same year.

Kristal Hawley-Fox, the water resources director for the Ft. Belknap Water Resources division, said of the action: It was a good day for Fort Belknap today.

I was a little disappointed that they would use this catastrophe to do it. They shouldve done this a long time ago. They knew how dire things were. We look forward to better days," Hawley-Fox said during the Milk River Irrigation Project Joint Board of Control meeting Thursday evening.

On the Senate floor Thursday, Tester, the states senior senator who brought the bill to the floor and cleared it through unanimous consent, said: This is no time to play politics. The siphon bursts that we saw earlier this week have left Montana families reeling. Congress can do its job. The Senate will do its job. Its time for the House to act responsibly too.

Tester said the timing of the break near Babb could not be worse, because there are literally hundreds of farmers and ranchers who are currently depending on the Milk River Project to irrigate their crops.

The siphon failure caused thousands of gallons of water to flood the surrounding area, leading to extensive damage to local businesses in that area, and will damage irrigation opportunities for 120,000 acres It is a vital source of water for north-central Montana water users and to so many farmers that feed the world," Tester said.

He urged the House to act: I want to be clear: the House needs to pass this bill. The House needs to put aside politics and pass this bill. Farmers operations that have been generational in this regions livelihood are on the line. Water for municipalities is on the line. This is no time to play politics.

Separately Tester, has requested money for the Milk River Project in the Biden Administrations domestic supplemental package, as well as requesting more immediate relief from the White House.

In a press release, Daines welcomed the passage of the bill in the Senate.

This is a huge win for the Tribe, farmers and ranchers and the entire state of Montana. As the final Indian water rights settlement in Montana, this bill will help provide clean drinking water to Montanans on the Hi-Line, invest in critical ag irrigation and help prevent costly litigation by codifying existing water rights, Daines said. Especially after the catastrophic siphon failure at St. Marys this week, we must get this done. After years of hard work with the Fort Belknap Indian Community and local leaders on the ground, Im glad to see this come one step closer to becoming law.

In the House, Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke, a Republican, on Tuesday introduced a House version of the water rights settlement, with $300 million to rehabilitate the St. Mary and Dodson South Canal, $250 million for a wastewater treatment facility and $416 million to rehabilitate, modernize and expand the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Fort Belknap Indian Irrigation Project.

President Stiffarm and the entire team with the FBIC has worked diligently with me and my staff for over a year to make this legislation possible which meets long-overdue treaty obligations and delivers clean and reliable water to the great nation, Zinke said in a release. "The settlement honors commitments to the tribes while also meeting the needs of Montanas ag producers, private property owners, and other stakeholders along the Hi-Line.

Jeffery Stiffarm, the president of the Fort Belknap Indian Community, said he supports Zinkes effort.

Our water settlement bill is our top priority and will help to address urgent water infrastructure needs on our reservation and across the Montana Hi-Line. Just this week another siphon on the St. Mary Canal blew out. The canal provides critical water resources to our Reservation and surrounding communities. Congressional passage of our bill will finally protect our water rights and provide the funding we all need to secure our future for generations to come, Stiffarm said in a release.

Montana Republican U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale is a sponsor of the House legislation as well.

In a statement on X, he said: "I am glad the FBIC Water Rights Settlement has officially gotten one step closer to becoming law. Now, lets get this through the House, so critical water infrastructure can be developed for the people of north-central Montana."

A joint press release from Tester and Daines said that the FBIC water compact bill is supported by the Blaine County Conservation District, Hill County, Phillips County, Valley County, St. Mary Rehabilitation Working Group, Milk River Joint Board of Control, Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council, The Wilderness Society, Montana Farmers Union, Bear Paw Development Corporation, Blaine County, Montana Farm Bureau, Montana Stockgrowers Association and Wild Montana.

 Missoulian reporter Joshua Murdock contributed to this story.
China will continue to levy anti-dumping duties on styrene imported from the Republic of Korea (ROK), the Taiwan region and the United States for five years from June 23, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on Friday.

In June 2018, the ministry announced a decision to impose anti-dumping duties on the two countries and the Taiwan region for a period of five years. Duties on styrene imports were set at a range of 6.2 percent to 7.5 percent for the ROK, 3.8 percent to 4.2 percent for the Taiwan region, and 13.7 percent to 55.7 percent for the United States.

Styrene, also known as styrene monomer, is a chemical used widely in the plastics and rubber industries.

In June 2023, the ministry launched a review of anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of styrene from the ROK, the Taiwan region and the United States, in response to an application from the Chinese mainland styrene industry.

It was ruled that should the anti-dumping measures be terminated, the dumping of styrene from the two countries and the Taiwan region could continue or reoccur, which could damage the Chinese mainland styrene industry, according to the ministry.




WASHINGTON  Scientists studying a family plagued by early-in-life Alzheimers found some carry a genetic oddity that delays their initial symptoms by five years.

The finding points to novel ways of fighting the mind-robbing disease  if researchers can unravel how a single copy of that rare gene variant offers at least a little protection.

It opens new avenues, said neuropsychologist Yakeel Quiroz of Massachusetts General Hospital, who helped lead the study. There are definitely opportunities to copy or mimic the effects.

The first hint of this genetic protection came a few years ago. Researchers were studying a huge family in Colombia that shares a devastating inherited form of Alzheimers when they discovered one woman who escaped her genetic fate. Aliria Piedrahita de Villegas should have developed Alzheimers symptoms in her 40s but instead made it to her 70s before suffering even mild cognitive trouble.

The big clue: She also harbored something incredibly rare, two copies of an unrelated gene named APOE3 that had a mutation dubbed Christchurch. That odd gene pair appeared to shield her, staving off her genetic predisposition for Alzheimer's.

Quirozs team then tested more than 1,000 extended family members, and identified 27 who carry a single copy of that Christchurch variant.

But would one copy be enough to offer any protection? Those Christchurch carriers on average showed their first signs of cognitive trouble at age 52, five years later than their relatives, concluded a collaboration that includes Mass General Brigham researchers and Colombia's University of Antioquia.

The findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, are encouraging, said Dr. Eliezer Masliah of the National Institute on Aging.

It gives you a lot of comfort that modifying one of the copies could be really helpful, at least in helping to delay the disease, he said.

Already some very early work is beginning to explore if certain treatments might induce the protective mutation, he added.

More than 6 million Americans, and an estimated 55 million people worldwide, have Alzheimers. Less than 1% of cases are like the Colombian familys, caused by a gene passed through generations that triggers the disease at unusually young ages.

Alzheimers usually is a disease of people over age 65 and while simply getting older is the main risk, the APOE gene has long been known to play a role. It comes in three main varieties. Carrying one copy of the notorious APOE4 gene increases the risk  and recent research found that having two copies of APOE4 can actually cause Alzheimers in seniors. Another variety, APOE2, seems to reduce the risk while APOE3 has long been considered neutral.

Then came discovery of the Christchurch variants seemingly protective role.

Silent changes in the brain precede Alzheimers symptoms by at least two decades  including buildup of a sticky protein called amyloid that, once it reaches certain levels, appears to trigger tangles of another protein, called tau, that kill brain cells. Earlier research has suggested something about the Christchurch variant impedes that tau transition.

Wednesday's study included brain scans from two people with a single Christchurch copy and autopsy analysis of four others whod died. Quiroz cautioned there's still a lot to learn about how the rare variant affects the underlying Alzheimers process  including whether it affects the common old-age type  but said tau and inflammation are among the suspects.

10 potential early signs of dementia Intro Memory loss that disrupts daily life Challenges in planning or solving problems Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work, or at leisure Confusion with time or place Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relations New problems with words in speaking or writing Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps Decreased or poor judgment Withdrawal from work or social activities Changes in mood and personality
The principal magistrate at Kiambu Law Courts, Wanjiru Njuguna, has granted bail to Dennis Mwai Irungu, a police officer accused of shooting Anthony Njomo, a United States Embassy staffer.

Magistrate Njuguna stated that there is no indication that Irungu poses a flight risk or would interfere with witnesses or evidence if released.

The court released the accused on Kes. 300,000 bail on June 19, 2024.

If released on cash bail of Ksh 300,000 and providing two contact persons, the matter will be mentioned on June 24, the magistrate declared.

The case is scheduled for another mention on June 24, 2024, to assess its status.

Additionally, the file has been transferred to the homicide division in Nairobi for further investigation.

Dennis Mwai Irungu stands accused of shooting an electrical engineer employed by the US embassy during a confrontation outside a club in Kiambu town.

Anthony Njomo, who was not involved in the altercation, was shot while witnessing a dispute that started inside the club and spilled outside on Sunday, May 26, 2024.

Two other suspects, Nason Kiteme and Joseph Njenga, have been identified, and their case is currently under investigation.
Key stakeholders have formally adopted the planned integration of over 700,000 refugees in Daadab and Kakuma camps.

They have set November of this year as the launch date for the Shirika Plan, which will redesign the refugee camps in Garissa and Turkana counties into municipalities.

The Kenyan government, respective county governments, UN agencies, and the United Nations Commission for Refugees will jointly implement the Shirika Plan.

Under the plan, municipalities within host communities will absorb refugees, with the communities benefiting from enhanced socioeconomic investments such as schools, health facilities, roads, and modern markets.

Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok announced a shift in focus towards mobilizing resources for implementing the Shirika Plan, estimating phase one of the four-year project to cost $943 million (Kes.115.6 billion).

This money will come from different partners and donors, including governments and the private sector. It will be channelled not only through the government but also through international NGOs, county governments, ministries, and departments such as the Ministry of Lands, he explained.

Bitok disclosed that the necessary framework to support the Shirika Plans implementation is already in place.

The enactment of the Refugee Act 2021 gave us the foundation. We also have the gazettement of regulations to operationalise the Act. We have a gazettement of documents used by refugees. The government has made a lot of progress in ensuring there is a legal and regulatory framework to support Plan.

The Turkana and Garissa county governments have officially designated Dadaab and Kakuma as municipalities to facilitate necessary planning and infrastructure upgrades for integration.

As municipalities within the proposed integration, the current refugee camps will undergo restructuring into modern urban centers equipped with essential infrastructure such as roads, water systems, sewerage, and other amenities.

These developments aim to promote mobility, freedom of movement, economic inclusion, and active refugee participation in the countrys development processes.

The Shirika Plan National Steering Committee includes the governors of Nairobi, Garissa, and Turkana, along with at least 17 Principal Secretaries from key state departments crucial to implementing refugee integration. These departments encompass Interior, Treasury, Health, Lands, Water, Housing, Education, and Foreign Affairs.
In a move that could significantly impact the digital finance sector in Kenya, the countrys government recently amended its Finance Bill. This revision removes a proposed 16% Value Added Tax (VAT) on financial services.

This decision is welcome news for both businesses and consumers, and it holds exciting potential for the growth of digital assets within Kenya.

The Burden Of VAT On Financial Services

Value Added Tax (VAT) is a consumption tax levied on the incremental value added to products and services at each stage of production and distribution. In simpler terms, a product goes through several stages before reaching the consumer. At each stage, the value of the product increases slightly. VAT is essentially a tax on this increase in value.

While VAT is commonly applied to tangible goods, some countries also extend it to financial services. This can include charges associated with bank accounts, money transfers, loan processing fees, investment management services, and insurance premiums.

When a VAT is applied to financial services, it becomes an additional cost layered onto the base service fee. However, imposing VAT on financial services can have several negative consequences.

A 16% VAT on financial services translates to a 16% increase in the cost of digital transactions like mobile money transfers and online payments. These services are crucial for promoting financial inclusion, especially in developing economies where access to traditional banking may be limited.

A VAT on these transactions would make them less affordable, potentially discouraging people from using them and hindering the transition to a cashless society.

A VAT on financial services could discourage people from adopting cashless methods by making digital transactions more expensive. This, in turn, could hinder efforts to promote financial inclusion, which aims to bring more individuals into the formal financial system.

For low-income individuals, even a small increase in cost can be a hindrance for accessing financial services.

A VAT on financial services could make essential products like loans, insurance, and investment services less affordable for this segment of the population. This could widen the financial gap and limit their opportunities for economic advancement.

Kenyas Move for Digital Transactions

Kenyas decision to scrap the proposed VAT on financial services is a significant step forward for promoting digital transactions within the country.

Removing the 16% VAT translates to a direct reduction in the cost of mobile money transfers, online payments, and other digital transactions. This makes these services more affordable for both businesses and consumers, encouraging wider adoption.

Lower transaction costs can incentivize businesses to offer more digital payment options, while consumers benefit from faster, more convenient, and cheaper ways to manage their finances.

By making digital transactions cheaper and more accessible, Kenyas move paves the way for increased adoption of cashless transactions. This can significantly contribute to financial inclusion efforts.

With lower costs, more people, particularly the unbanked, will be encouraged to participate in the formal financial system. This can empower individuals and unlock new economic opportunities for them.

A thriving digital transactions ecosystem creates a fertile ground for the growth of the digital financial services sector. With the increased adoption of cashless transactions, there will be a growing need for new digital financial products and services.

This can attract new players to the market, leading to the development of more user-friendly and accessible financial solutions tailored to the Kenyan populations needs. This growth can further fuel the countrys financial inclusion and economic development.

The Connection To Digital Assets

Kenyas decision to nurture a thriving digital financial services sector has a ripple effect that extends beyond just cashless transactions. It paves the way for the potential growth of digital assets within the countrys financial landscape.

Increased Accessibility Of Digital Wallets And Platforms

A strong digital financial services sector relies heavily on digital wallets and platforms that facilitate online transactions. This established infrastructure can readily be adapted to accommodate digital assets.

As people become more comfortable using digital wallets for everyday transactions, the transition to holding digital assets like cryptocurrencies becomes smoother. Existing platforms can evolve to offer secure storage and management solutions for these new asset classes.

Potential For Growth In Digital Asset-Based Financial Products And Services

A flourishing digital financial services ecosystem promotes innovation and creates a market receptive to new financial products and services. This can lead to the development of solutions specifically designed for digital assets.

For instance, we could see the emergence of security token offerings (STOs) for local businesses, allowing them to raise capital through the issuance of digital tokens representing ownership or investment opportunities.

Similarly, theres potential for the development of cryptocurrency trading platforms like Quantum AI catered towards the Kenyan market, facilitating the buying and selling of digital assets in a regulated environment.

By removing the VAT on financial services, Kenya demonstrates a forward-thinking approach and openness towards creativity in the digital finance space.

This can be seen as a positive signal to businesses and investors interested in the digital asset market. It creates an environment that encourages the exploration and development of new financial solutions built on blockchain technology and digital assets.

This openness can attract investment and expertise in the digital asset space, further propelling Kenyas position as a regional leader in financial innovation.

Implications And Future Developments

Kenyas decision to scrap VAT on financial services has the potential to serve as a beacon for other countries in the East African region, particularly those striving to promote financial inclusion and digital economies. It demonstrates the positive impact that encouraging a strong digital financial services sector can have on a nations economic development.

Neighboring countries might be encouraged to follow suit, potentially leading to a domino effect that accelerates the adoption of digital finance across the region.

Despite the challenges, Kenyas progressive stance towards digital finance paints a promising picture for the future. By nurturing a thriving digital financial services sector, the country is opening doors for the potential growth of digital assets.

This, can lead to increased financial inclusion, innovation in financial products and services, and a more robust and dynamic financial landscape for Kenya. Kenyas leadership in this space can pave the way for a brighter future, not just for its own citizens but for the entire East African region.

Summing Up

Kenyas decision to remove VAT on financial services is a significant step forward for both digital assets and financial inclusion.

This move creates fertile ground for the growth of innovative financial solutions built on digital assets by making digital transactions cheaper and fostering a thriving digital financial services sector.

This has the potential to expand access to financial services, empower individuals, and propel Kenya towards a more inclusive and digitally driven future.
In 2023, a wave of excitement rippled through Nairobis tech scene with the arrival of Worldcoin, a cryptocurrency project aiming to provide a universal basic income through digital tokens.

Worldcoin offered Kenyans a chance to earn free tokens in exchange for scanning their irises, a method that promised a more inclusive approach to cryptocurrency adoption. However, the projects honeymoon phase was short-lived.

Concerns around data privacy and security led the Kenyan government to abruptly suspend Worldcoins operations in August 2023. This move left many questions unanswered: Was this the end of Worldcoins journey in Kenya?

How did this episode impact Nairobis burgeoning crypto industry? This article will tell you about the current state of Nairobis crypto sector in 2024.

What Happened With Worldcoin In Nairobi?

Worldcoin arrived in Nairobi with a bold vision: to create a global database of identities secured through blockchain technology. By scanning an individuals iris with a special smartphone attachment, Worldcoin aimed to distribute a universal basic income (UBI) in the form of their cryptocurrency token.

This unique approach promised to overcome barriers to entry often faced in the crypto world, like complex sign-up processes or the need for initial investment.

The project yielded a lot of buzz in Nairobi. Kenyans, particularly those familiar with the challenges of financial inclusion, were intrigued by the idea of receiving free digital currency.

Worldcoins emphasis on using iris scans for identification resonated with a population increasingly accustomed to biometric authentication for various services. Local tech enthusiasts saw Worldcoin as a potential catalyst for wider cryptocurrency adoption in Kenya.

However, this initial excitement was overshadowed by concerns about data privacy and security. The Kenyan government expressed reservations about the collection of such sensitive biometric data as iris scans.

Critics argued that the vast database Worldcoin aimed to build could be vulnerable to hacks or misuse, potentially leading to identity theft or discrimination.

These concerns culminated in the Kenyan governments decision to suspend Worldcoins operations in August 2023, effectively putting the project on hold.

Nairobis Crypto Industry In 2024

One year after the Worldcoin saga, Nairobis crypto industry presents a fascinating picture. While the initial excitement surrounding Worldcoin has subsided, interest in cryptocurrency has demonstrably grown.



The dust has settled since the Worldcoin saga, but what does Nairobis crypto industry look like today, in 2024? Has interest grown?

The answer is complex. While Worldcoins suspension undoubtedly dampened initial enthusiasm, it also sparked a conversation about cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology in Kenya. This has led to a more informed and cautious interest in the space.

Major Players and Local Projects

Several established cryptocurrency exchanges like Binance and Paxful operate in Kenya, offering Kenyans avenues to buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies. Additionally, local startups are emerging, focusing on blockchain-based solutions for specific sectors like remittance or microfinance.

These ventures aim to leverage the transparency and security of blockchain technology to address local challenges.

Worldcoins Impact

Worldcoins impact on Nairobis crypto scene is multifaceted. On the one hand, it raised awareness and ignited curiosity about cryptocurrencies. However, the projects abrupt halt due to security concerns also instilled a degree of caution.

This cautious optimism is shaping Nairobis crypto industry, fostering a more measured approach focused on building secure and practical blockchain applications.

The Kenyan Crypto Industry

To gain deeper insights, we spoke with one of the experts, a renowned [Expert Title] with extensive experience in the Kenyan tech and blockchain space.

Through the experts insights, we gain a clearer picture of the evolving crypto scene in Nairobi. While the Worldcoin episode left its mark, it has also spurred a more thoughtful approach to cryptocurrency adoption in Kenya.

Local entrepreneurs are building innovative solutions, and Kenyans are approaching crypto with a newfound awareness of the underlying technology and potential risks.

There are several factors that contribute to this growth in Nairobi:

Kenya boasts a robust mobile money ecosystem like M-Pesa, which could potentially be linked to crypto platforms, making entry easier for the tech-savvy population.

Institutions like Unichrome offer blockchain certification courses, indicating a growing demand for professionals with crypto expertise.

Local entrepreneurs are exploring blockchain applications beyond just currency, potentially in areas like supply chain management or voting systems.

Major Players and Local Projects

While there isnt a dominant crypto giant in Nairobi yet, several startups and established players are making their mark:

Luno  A global cryptocurrency exchange platform with a presence in Kenya that offers user-friendly buying and selling of cryptocurrencies.

Ajani Africa  A Kenyan blockchain startup is focusing on building decentralized applications (dApps) for the African market.

KuriaPay  A Kenyan fintech company is exploring blockchain solutions for cross-border payments.

The impact of Worldcoin on Nairobis crypto scene is based on the positive and negative aspects:

Positive

Worldcoin sparked a wider conversation about cryptocurrency in Kenya, bringing it to the forefront of public discourse.

Worldcoins UBI approach highlighted the potential of crypto for promoting financial inclusion in underbanked regions.

Negative

The Worldcoin saga created a sense of uncertainty surrounding cryptocurrency regulation in Kenya, which can be a barrier for potential investors and businesses.

]Worldcoins data collection methods raised valid concerns and may have instilled a sense of wariness towards future crypto projects.

Kenya and Worldcoins Future

The Kenyan governments current stance on cryptocurrency can be described as cautiously optimistic. While the Worldcoin episode raised concerns, the government recognizes the possible advantages of blockchain and digital currencies.

The Kenyan government is actively exploring ways to regulate the cryptocurrency space. This includes establishing clear guidelines for cryptocurrency exchanges and outlining data security protocols for projects involving biometric data collection.

Despite the Worldcoin suspension, the government is open to innovative blockchain solutions and trading tools like Immediate Vault. Projects focusing on areas like supply chain management or mobile money integration with crypto could potentially find a more receptive audience.As of June 2024, there havent been any official talks of Worldcoin resuming operations in Kenya.



However, news reports suggest Worldcoin is in discussions with the government to potentially operate under new regulations.

Final Thoughts

Despite the challenges, Kenyas crypto industry is poised for potential growth. With a tech-savvy population, a focus on financial inclusion, and a measured approach from the government, Nairobi could become a significant player in Africas burgeoning crypto sector.

The future of cryptocurrency in Kenya is bright, with the potential to revolutionize financial services, empower individuals, and foster innovation across various sectors.
President William Ruto announced that the government has allocated Kes.60 billion to the education sector to fund the education of all children in Kenya.

He emphasized the governments commitment to ensuring inclusive, accessible, and affordable education for all.

Ruto highlighted education as the greatest equalizer and multiplier of opportunities in Kenya, pledging continuous allocation of resources to develop the countrys human capital.

We will, therefore, continuously allocate our resources to the education and training of our human capital, he said.

Addressing attendees at Garissa Universitys 5th Graduation ceremony on Thursday, the President disclosed that Kes.18 billion will be used to hire Junior School intern teachers on permanent and pensionable terms.

He also allocated Kes.52 billion to the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) to provide scholarships and loans to students, particularly from vulnerable families, ensuring no one is left behind.

Additionally, funds have been earmarked for the school feeding program to support students, especially those in arid and semi-arid regions who might otherwise drop out due to lack of food at home.

President Ruto urged Members of Parliament to expedite the passage of the Finance Bill 2024 to unlock these funds.

He noted that the new university funding model has improved access to higher education, with an additional Kes.4 billion allocated for ongoing university and TVET students.

Ruto underscored the governments investment in expanding infrastructure in northern Kenya to unlock its economic potential, particularly in agriculture, livestock, and energy sectors.

He emphasized the importance of building resilient agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions to promote nutrition, enhance manufacturing, increase value-addition capacity, and create employment opportunities.

Unleashing the immense economic potential in these areas, particularly in agriculture, livestock and energy, is critical for Kenyas economic transformation, he said.

The President affirmed the governments commitment to transforming Garissa University into a premier institution that attracts students nationally and internationally.

He praised the university for its resilience and success despite facing challenges, including the April 2015 terrorist attack.

The history of this university is an inspiring account of progress amid difficulty, triumph against daunting challenges and success in the face of risks and threats, he said.

Ruto urged the institution to innovate in solar and wind power to align with global climate action goals while meeting the regions energy needs.

He announced plans to streamline the issuance of government documents in northern Kenya, such as national identification cards and passports, to improve access to government services and opportunities.

President Ruto reiterated the governments dedication to fostering inclusive growth to ensure no community is left behind in Kenyas development journey.

We will spare no effort in making sure that we build a truly inclusive Kenya that leaves no village, no sub-county and no county behind. We are all going to move together, he said.

Earlier, he laid the foundation stone for the Garissa University Administration Block and commissioned the Garissa University borehole.

The President also paid tribute to the 148 students who lost their lives during the Garissa University attack in 2015, laying a commemorative wreath in their honor.

Cabinet Secretaries Ezekiel Machogu and Aden Duale, Garissa Governor Nathif Adam, MPs, and MCAs attended the event.
President William Ruto emphasized Kenyas dedication to multilateralism as outlined in the United Nations Charter, underscoring the nations role in safeguarding global values of peace, security, and stability.

In a significant move reflecting this commitment, President Ruto held pivotal talks with the Haiti Transitional Presidential Council, chaired by Engineer Edgard Leblanc Fils on June 19, 2024.

The discussions aimed to establish robust communication channels to support Haiti in its ongoing quest for peace and stability.

Kenya is a firm believer in the shared global values of multilateralism as enshrined in the United Nations Charter, Ruto stated.

He added, We will safeguard shared principles of humanity that enable us to advance peace, security, and stability.

President Ruto underscored the talks with Haitis Transitional Presidential Council as integral to a comprehensive strategy aimed at assisting nations contending with conflict and instability.

Highlighting the significance of these discussions, President Ruto emphasized their role in laying the foundation for peace restoration in Haiti, a country plagued by extended periods of political turmoil and insecurity.

We shall establish communication channels as part of the ongoing engagement in restoring peace to Haiti, Ruto affirmed.

Establishing communication channels with Haiti is anticipated to enhance coordination and bolster support for peace-building efforts, offering renewed optimism for the nations future.

President Rutos discussions followed a meeting between Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome and Haiti Police official Joachim Prohete at the National Police Service (NPS) headquarters in Nairobi on Tuesday, June 18.
The Napa Valley Unified School District (NVUSD) was recently awarded a $3.65 million Golden State Pathways Program grant.

According to the California Department of Education, The purpose of the Golden State Pathways Program is to provide local educational agencies with the resources to promote pathways in high-wage, high-skill, high-growth areas, including technology, health care, education, and climate-related fields that, among other things, allow pupils to advance seamlessly from high school to college and career and provide the workforce needed for economic growth.

This grant award aligns seamlessly with NVUSDs vision and plan for the school district as it looks to best prepare students for college and careers. Specifically, it supports developing and implementing systems that enable all students to experience career-aligned, real-world learning, a strategic outcome for NVUSD over the next five years (pending board approval of NVUSDs new strategic plan).

The funds will support the development of new innovative pathways which will be offered at five high schools in alignment with the regional workforce needs:

Agricultural Science: Mechanics, Technology and Viticulture

Business

Culinary and Hospitality

Health Science

Principles of Engineering

Transportation

These pathways will provide our students with experiences and coursework directly related to high-demand industries in our area, shared Dr. Monica Ready, NVUSD Director III Curriculum, Instruction, & English Learner Services - Secondary. Connecting our students to world-class industry has the potential to enrich our students education and strengthen our local workforce.

By providing additional learning opportunities, inside and outside the classroom through these pathways, we provide our students with the educational and experiential learning they need to succeed after high school, shared NVUSD Superintendent Dr. Rosanna Mucetti. We are excited to continue to prepare our students for a bright future of their design.

PHOTOS: Napa High School's 2024 Graduation Ceremony Napa High School Graduation 2 Napa High School Graduation 1 Napa High School Graduation 3 Napa High School Graduation 4 Napa High School Graduation 5 Napa High School Graduation 6 Napa High School Graduation 7 Napa High School Graduation 8 Napa High School Graduation 9 Napa High School Graduation 10 Napa High School Graduation 11 Napa High School Graduation 12 Napa High School Graduation 13 Napa High School Graduation 14 Napa High School Graduation 15 Napa High School Graduation 16 Napa High School Graduation 17 Napa High School Graduation 18 Napa High School Graduation 19 Napa High School Graduation 20 Napa High School Graduation 21 Napa High School Graduation 22 Napa High School Graduation 23 Napa High School Graduation 24 Napa High School Graduation 25 Napa High School Graduation 26 Napa High School Graduation 27 Napa High School Graduation 28 Napa High School Graduation 29 Napa High School Graduation 30 Napa High School Graduation 31 Napa High School Graduation 32 Napa High School Graduation 33
Xi inspects northwest China's Ningxia

Xinhua) 08:30, June 21, 2024

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a residential community in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 19, 2024. Xi inspected northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Wednesday. Xi visited a residential community in the city of Yinchuan, the regional capital, to learn about how Party organizations at the primary level perform their duties. He also learned about the community's work in improving services for residents and facilitating exchanges and interactions among people of different ethnic groups. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

YINCHUAN, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, inspected northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Wednesday.

Xi visited a residential community in the city of Yinchuan, the regional capital, to learn about how Party organizations at the primary level perform their duties.

He also learned about the community's work in improving services for residents and facilitating exchanges and interactions among people of different ethnic groups.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a residential community in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 19, 2024. Xi inspected northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Wednesday. Xi visited a residential community in the city of Yinchuan, the regional capital, to learn about how Party organizations at the primary level perform their duties. He also learned about the community's work in improving services for residents and facilitating exchanges and interactions among people of different ethnic groups. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a residential community in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 19, 2024. Xi inspected northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Wednesday. Xi visited a residential community in the city of Yinchuan, the regional capital, to learn about how Party organizations at the primary level perform their duties. He also learned about the community's work in improving services for residents and facilitating exchanges and interactions among people of different ethnic groups. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a residential community in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 19, 2024. Xi inspected northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Wednesday. Xi visited a residential community in the city of Yinchuan, the regional capital, to learn about how Party organizations at the primary level perform their duties. He also learned about the community's work in improving services for residents and facilitating exchanges and interactions among people of different ethnic groups. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a residential community in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 19, 2024. Xi inspected northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Wednesday. Xi visited a residential community in the city of Yinchuan, the regional capital, to learn about how Party organizations at the primary level perform their duties. He also learned about the community's work in improving services for residents and facilitating exchanges and interactions among people of different ethnic groups. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a residential community in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 19, 2024. Xi inspected northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Wednesday. Xi visited a residential community in the city of Yinchuan, the regional capital, to learn about how Party organizations at the primary level perform their duties. He also learned about the community's work in improving services for residents and facilitating exchanges and interactions among people of different ethnic groups. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a residential community in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 19, 2024. Xi inspected northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Wednesday. Xi visited a residential community in the city of Yinchuan, the regional capital, to learn about how Party organizations at the primary level perform their duties. He also learned about the community's work in improving services for residents and facilitating exchanges and interactions among people of different ethnic groups. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a residential community in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 19, 2024. Xi inspected northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Wednesday. Xi visited a residential community in the city of Yinchuan, the regional capital, to learn about how Party organizations at the primary level perform their duties. He also learned about the community's work in improving services for residents and facilitating exchanges and interactions among people of different ethnic groups. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a residential community in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 19, 2024. Xi inspected northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Wednesday. Xi visited a residential community in the city of Yinchuan, the regional capital, to learn about how Party organizations at the primary level perform their duties. He also learned about the community's work in improving services for residents and facilitating exchanges and interactions among people of different ethnic groups. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a residential community in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 19, 2024. Xi inspected northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Wednesday. Xi visited a residential community in the city of Yinchuan, the regional capital, to learn about how Party organizations at the primary level perform their duties. He also learned about the community's work in improving services for residents and facilitating exchanges and interactions among people of different ethnic groups. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
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Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a residential community in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 19, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Wednesday called for high-quality community services for residents during his inspection of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in northwest China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a residential community in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 19, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

At the service center of a residential community in Jinfeng District in the regional capital of Yinchuan, Xi learned about how community services had been provided to facilitate people's daily life and cultural activities. He also talked with community workers and residents.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a residential community in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 19, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Underscoring the key role of communities in serving residents, Xi stressed strengthening primary-level Party organizations and maintaining a stable team of warm-hearted community workers.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a residential community in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 19, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

He said communities should continue to sum up experience and explore new methods to render better services to residents.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a residential community in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 19, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a residential community in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 19, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
The mayors of San Francisco, San Jose and Berkeley joined housing advocates at a press conference in San Francisco's Mission District on Thursday to announce support for a proposed $20 billion housing bond that would fund regional housing goals.

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao was also scheduled to appear at the press conference to express support for the regional measure but was not in attendance. A home connected to her was raided by the FBI earlier in the day.

Thao released a statement endorsing the bond plan, which would fund 90,000 affordable housing units in the Bay Area. Her office did not respond to an inquiry about whether the absence was related to the raid.

The mayors are trying to find ways to fund regional housing goals mandated by California that call for hundreds of thousands of new affordable homes to be built in the current housing cycle, which ends in 2031 in the Bay Area.

The regional Bay Area Housing Finance Authority will vote on Wednesday on whether to put the measure on the November ballot. If placed on the ballot, it would need to be approved by 55% of voters across the nine counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma and San Francisco.

Under the state's Regional Housing Needs Assessment, the Bay Area's nine counties and 101 cities must collectively build about 441,000 new residential units by 2031.

Housing units must accommodate a range of income levels, including nearly 115,000 units reserved for residents with very low incomes. That's defined by the state as someone making between 30% to 50% of the Area Median Income. In San Francisco, the AMI is nearly $105,000 for a single person and just less than $150,000 for a family of four.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed said the city had made some housing mistakes in the past and recounted living in a public housing complex when she was younger that was torn down, only to have the 300 units there replaced with 200 units.

"We didn't prepare for the future," Breed said. "We didn't prepare for a growing city, and housing has been a bit at a standstill in terms of our ability to get more built."

Breed said there were several projects that could be advanced in the city with more funding.

The proposed general obligation bond measure calls for directing 80% of the money raised to county governments for housing allocations, and the remaining 20% to the Housing Finance Authority for housing targeting people experiencing homelessness.

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said the city was trying to end "the era of encampments."

"Given the immediate, urgent, humanitarian, fiscal and environmental crises of homelessness, I see the most vital part of this regional housing measure as the flexible funding that will allow us to expand immediate solutions, interim housing, and get people out of the unsafe and unmanaged conditions on our streets and along our creeks," Mahan said.

Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin, who is also the vice president of the Association of Bay Area Governments, said housing and affordability could only be addressed with regional solutions.

"The housing affordability crisis is not just a big-city problem," Arreguin said. "It affects each and every jurisdiction in all nine Bay Area counties. This is a regional problem that requires a regional solution, and cities large and small must rise to the occasion."

If the Housing Finance Authority votes to place the measure on the November ballot, the campaign in support of the bond measure would be run by the nonprofit organization Bay Area Housing for All.

Photos: Almost homeless -- Napa RV dwellers face a tough road Al Foshee 12 Al Foshee 10 Al Foshee 9 Al Foshee 11 Al Foshee 4 Al Foshee 5 Al Foshee 6 Al Foshee 7 Al Foshee 8 Al Foshee 1 Al Foshee 2 Al Foshee 3
A plan to build the largest new reservoir in California in 50 years will face a new round of legal challenges.

Less than three weeks after a judge rejected a lawsuit by a coalition of environmental groups seeking to stop construction of Sites Reservoir, a $4.5 billion project planned for rural ranchlands 70 miles northwest of Sacramento, the groups have filed an appeal.

Sites would be Californias eighth largest reservoir, a 13-mile-long, off-stream lake in Colusa County providing water to 500,000 acres of Central Valley farmlands and 24 million people, including residents of Santa Clara County, parts of the East Bay and Los Angeles.

Supporters, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, say with climate change making droughts worse, it is critical that California store more water in wet years to ease shortages during dry years.

Opponents say the off-stream reservoir would divert too much water from the Sacramento River, harming endangered salmon, steelhead and Delta smelt, and depriving the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta of fresh water.

In December, the Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the River, and other groups sued, claiming the projects environmental impact report was inadequate and needed to be redone. But on May 31, Yolo County Superior Court Judge Samuel T. McAdam, an appointee of former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, ruled against them.

On Monday, the groups filed a notice of appeal.

The states strong environmental laws demand a thorough review for potentially damaging projects, said John Buse, senior counsel at the Center for Biological Diversity. For the sake of the Delta community and the fish and wildlife already struggling in this sensitive ecosystem, I hope the true environmental harms of this reservoir will be taken seriously.

The projects planners said they are confident they will win on appeal.

The trial court ruled our original actions to approve the project were based on our conclusions that we conducted a thorough environmental evaluation, said Jerry Brown, executive director of the Sites Project Authority, a collection of local government officials in the Sacramento Valley who are proposing the new reservoir. The courts ruling confirmed that.

Brown said that the authority published 9,838 pages of environmental studies for the project, with analysis from more than 100 experts and consultation with every state and federal agency involved in issuing permits.

Brown, who is not related to the former California governor, said Tuesday that the project is on track to break ground in 2026 and finish by 2032.

The Sites Reservoir project is an integral element of managing water in the 21st century, he said. It will pull water from the Sacramento River in wet years and save it for dry years when people and the environment need it most.

The project is supported by Newsom, President Biden, farm organizations, labor unions and about 20 water agencies, including the Santa Clara Valley Water District in San Jose, Zone 7 Water Agency in Livermore, and the Metropolitan Water District in Los Angeles, all of which are partners and would receive water from it.

If completed, Sites would be the largest new reservoir in California since 1979, when the federal government opened New Melones Lake in the Sierra Foothills between Sonora and Angels Camp.

The project has most of its funding lined up. Earlier this month, the Biden administration granted it $67 million, raising the total funding from Congress and the administration to $519 million. It also has received a $2.2 billion loan from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a $450 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and $875 million in state funds from Proposition 1, a water bond approved by California voters in 2014. Much of the rest of the money, and the loan repayments, would come from water agencies around the state who buy its water.

Under streamlined rules approved by Newsom last July and designed to speed construction of water, solar, wind and transportation projects, the state appeals court will have 110 days, until mid-October, to hear the environmentalists challenge.

It is difficult to win appeals cases in California. Only about 20% are successful, according to the California Judicial Branch website.

Apart from the legal appeal, the final hurdle for the project is to receive water rights from the State Water Resources Control Board, which is appointed by Newsom. Hearings are set to begin in July and run until next April.

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You are here: China

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a residential community in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 19, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, highlighted ethnic unity during his inspection of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Wednesday.

Visiting a multi-ethnic residential community in the region's capital city Yinchuan, Xi was pleased to see the residents living harmoniously and happily together.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a residential community in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 19, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

"Ethnic unity is very important," Xi said. "The 56 ethnic groups unite together to forge the community of the Chinese nation. The Chinese nation is a big family."

Xi also called for concerted efforts to advance Chinese modernization and realize national rejuvenation.
Rescuers work in a flood-affected area in Sishui Township of Pingyuan County, Meizhou City, south China's Guangdong Province, June 20, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Heavy rainfall has pelted many areas in southern China since June 9, prompting local authorities to beef up flood control and rescue measures to reduce disaster damage.

The emergency management department of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in south China said on Thursday 48 rivers in Guangxi were running above flood alert levels. The region started on Wednesday to implement a Level-II emergency response, which is next to the highest in the four-tier emergency response system, to floods, with flooding having hit 64 counties in 11 cities in Guangxi.

The region's Lijiang River, a signature scenery in the popular tourist destination of Guilin City, saw its worst flooding since 1998 between last Thursday and Wednesday.

On Wednesday, the Liujiang River in Guangxi saw its first flood crest passing through the city of Liuzhou, as the water level exceeded the warning level by 3.78 meters.

The city's urban area suffered severe waterlogging. Urbanites were seen carrying goods out of building basements. A resident surnamed Zhang said he began to remove supplies from the underground floor on Tuesday evening because of his worry about flood water potentially gushing in.

While the flood was passing, the city authorities have opted to mobilize rescue efforts, including involvement of the city's maritime affairs department, the Red Cross and volunteer groups, which have responded to emergency deployment needs. Rescuers used boats in waterlogged areas, searching for trapped people and transferring them in batches.

On Tuesday evening, the city's power supplier owned by the China Southern Power Grid, took the initiative to cut off power supply to residential communities along the riverside for the safety of the people.

"Some residential buildings, shops and underground garages along the river embankment were flooded. However, many electrical appliances were not cut off when residents were evacuated. To ensure the safety of the people, we took the emergency measure to temporarily cut off the power supply," said Luo Xinzhu, a staff member of the Liuzhou branch of the company.

Statistics from the Guangxi regional emergency management department on Thursday showed that floods had affected 431,000 people in Guangxi, while 36,150 hectares of crop planting areas were inundated.

In Huangshan City of east China's Anhui Province, due to intense downpours, some 2,110 residents had been relocated as of 9 a.m. Thursday, according to the local flood control and drought relief headquarters.

Meanwhile, in the flood-ravaged province of Fujian in east China, heavy rainfall had affected 586,500 people in 40 counties in Fujian, where 37,000 hectares of crops were flooded. Seven rivers in the province were in flood.

Local authorities in Fujian have implemented an all-out rescue effort, including evacuating victims, repairing flooded roads, clearing silt and draining waterlogged areas.

In the rain-battered cities of Longyan, Nanping and Sanming in Fujian, local authorities made it safe and possible for more than 1 million students to take the senior high school entrance exam as scheduled on Wednesday.

Following a week of rainfall, challenges frequently emerged in this area, with roads collapsing, trees falling over, debris gathering, and geological disasters encountered. In the city of Longyan, teachers and volunteers escorted examinees on their walks along rural roads to exam venues.

South China's Guangdong Province has also suffered severe flooding this month. Persistent rainfall, which continues, has soaked mountainous areas. By Wednesday evening, there were still seven rivers exceeding the flood alert level in Guangdong. The provincial observatory forecast that the rain would likely see a reduction in most parts of Guangdong after Thursday.
09:49





Addressing a gathering at the 10th International Yoga Day event at the SKICC here, the prime minister said yoga has helped people realise that their welfare is linked to the welfare of the world around them.





"The world is looking at yoga as a powerful agent of global good. Yoga helps us live in the present moment without the baggage of the past," the prime minister said.





"When we are peaceful within, we can also make a positive impact on the world...Yoga is making new ways of positive change in the society," the prime minister said.





The event was scheduled to be held on the lawns of the SKICC on the banks of the Dal Lake but had to be shifted indoors due to incessant rain. The prime minister said the number of yoga practitioners across the globe is growing every day and the regimen is becoming a part of their daily life.





"The number of yoga followers is growing continuously. Wherever I go, there is hardly any (international) leader who does not talk to me about the benefits of yoga.





"In many countries, yoga is becoming a part of the people's daily lives," Modi said as he cited the examples of Turkmenistan, Saudi Arabia, Mongolia, and Germany, saying the ancient form of meditation was fast becoming popular there.





In his address, the prime minister also made a mentioned of 101-year-old Frenchwoman Charlotte Chopin who was awarded a Padma Shri for her services in popularising yoga in her country.





Modi said the spread of yoga globally has led to a change in perception about it as more people are travelling to India to get authentic knowledge about it.





"We are now seeing yoga tourism in states like Uttarakhand and Kerala. People are coming to India because they get to see authentic yoga.





"People are now hiring personal yoga trainers for fitness, and companies are including yoga in mind and body (fitness) programmes for their employees. It has opened new avenues of livelihood," he said. The prime minister said yoga provides solutions to several problems faced by people today. "Yoga is not only knowledge but it is science as well. In this era of information revolution, there is a flood of information sources and it is a challenge for the human mind to focus on one subject.





"A solution for this is also in yoga as it helps the mind to focus. That is why from army to sports, yoga has been included in their routine," he said.





The prime minister said astronauts and people working on space projects are also trained in yoga as it increases "productivity as well as tolerance". "In many prisons, the inmates are also taught yoga so that they can think positively," he added.





Modi expressed satisfaction that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are also taking up yoga which will help the tourism sector of the Union Territory.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the world sees yoga as a powerful agent for global good as it helps people live in the present without carrying the baggage of the past.
TRIO Student Support Services students Francesca Stewart and Makiya Golden enjoyed a trip to the African American Music Museum in Nashville, one of the many activities SIUs TRIO program has participated in. (Photo provided)

Hundreds of participants coming to SIU for Illinois TRIO Conference June 28-30

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill.  More than 200 high school and university students from across Illinois will be converging on Southern Illinois University Carbondale June 28-30 for the 2024 Illinois TRIO Student Leadership Conference, celebrating the golden anniversary of the state chapter of the TRIO Programs.

The theme of the conference is Leadership Renaissance: Bridging the Past, Building the Future. As participants enjoy workshops, panel discussions, guest speakers and a variety of special activities, they will recognize the innovative federal TRIO outreach and student services programs created to help disadvantaged students navigate challenges and succeed academically and in life, organizers say.

The 2024 Illinois TRIO Student Leadership Conference is not just a gathering of TRIO programs, but a catalyst for inspiring innovation, driving impactful change and shaping our future leaders, said Victoria Taylor, assistant director of TRIO Student Support Services at SIU. We are thrilled to celebrate the accomplishments and the 50th anniversary of the Illinois TRIO programs with the SIU Carbondale community. TRIO students and staff will also enjoy learning more about SIU and visit hometown favorite restaurants and businesses.

Media Advisory

Reporters, photographers and news crews are invited to cover the TRIO Student Leadership Conference June 28-30. Opportune times to capture appealing videos, photos and interviews include:

Welcome and kickoff event  Friday, June 28. Participants will enjoy bowling, billiards and e-sports at the Student Center from 5-7 p.m.

Panel discussions  Saturday, June 29, 2:45-3:30 p.m. at the Student Center River Room, featuring successful student-athletes, entrepreneurs, and medical and law professionals sharing their stories. Group activities including tram rides, and a visit from an ice cream truck will follow 3:45-4:45 p.m.

Dance and karaoke night  Saturday, June 29. Join participants in the upper level of Grinnell Hall 9-11 p.m. for karaoke and dancing.

Participants will enjoy a continental breakfast together from 9-10 a.m. Sunday, June 30, at Neely Hall and packing up to head home.

For more information or details about other possible options, contact Victoria Taylor at vtaylor@siu.edu or 618-203-1820.

The conference begins with games and a welcome and event on Friday, June 28, and continues throughout the weekend. There will be enriching learning activities covering a wide range of topics to help participants hone their leadership skills, enhance strategic thinking and decision-making abilities, build meaningful relationships, collaborate, set goals, leverage strengths, learn to navigate challenges and much more. They will also enjoy fun, interactive activities to help them get acquainted with one another and the SIU campus and community before heading home on Sunday.

SIUs TRIO Programs, including Project Upward Bound, McNair Scholars and Student Support Services, is hosting the Illinois TRIO Student Leadership Conference.
PNN Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 21: Shivalic Power Control Limited, a manufacturer specializing in electric panels, has announced its plan to go public with an Initial Public Offering (IPO) on June 21, 2024. The company is aiming to raise Rs 64.32 Crores at the upper band through this IPO, with shares set to be listed on the NSE Emerge platform. The issue size is Up To 64,32,000 equity shares at face value of Rs 10 each. Equity Share Allocation * QIB Anchor Portion - Up To 18,28,800 Equity Shares * Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIB) - Up To 12,19,200 Equity Shares * Non-Institutional Investors (NII) - Up To 9,14,400 Equity Shares * Retail Individual Investors (RII) - Up To 21,33,600 Equity Shares * Market Maker - Up To 3,36,000 Equity Shares The net proceeds from the IPO will be utilized to meet working capital requirements, to fund capital expenditures including the procurement of new machinery and the construction of a new assembly line by adding a roof, to support inorganic growth through unidentified acquisitions, and for general corporate purposes. The bidding for Anchor portion will open on June 21, 2024, the issue will open for subscription for all other category from June 24, 2024 and closes on June 26, 2024. The Book Running Lead Manager to the Issue is Corporate Capital Ventures Private Limited. The Registrar to the Issue is Skyline Financial Services Private Limited. Amit Kanwar Jindal, Founder & Managing Director of Shivalic Power Control Limited expressed, "At Shivalic Power Control Limited, we have built a robust foundation with over 20 years of industry experience. Our partnerships with industry leaders such as Siemens, Schneider Electric, L&T, and TDK highlight our commitment to quality and innovation. The upcoming IPO will provide the necessary funding to enhance our working capital, meet the growing demand for our panels, and drive expansion in the rapidly developing data center sector. Our strategic focus on value added offerings like process automation, leveraging economies of scale, and improving product quality through direct sourcing from OEMs positions us well for future growth. Our emphasis on export markets, particularly in Africa and the Middle East, is contributing significantly to our expansion efforts. With a modern facility in IMT Faridabad and a dedicated team, we are prepared to capitalize on the emerging opportunities in the IT and data center industry in India. This IPO is a crucial step in supporting our strategic goals and continuing our legacy of excellence in the electric panels industry." Kulbhushan Parashar, Director of Corporate Capital Ventures Private Limited said, "The demand for advanced electrical panels in India's burgeoning data center and renewable energy sectors is on a significant rise. Shivalic Power Control Limited, with its robust in-house manufacturing and strategic partnerships with industry leaders, Shivalic is well-positioned to capitalize on this growth. The IPO proceeds will fuel their efforts to expand production capacity, integrate smart technologies for enhanced efficiency and reliability, and solidify the market presence. This strategic investment underscores their commitment to meeting the evolving needs of our customers and contributing to India's renewable energy goals." (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)
You are here: China

Volunteers walk into the venue of the World Intelligence Expo 2024 in north China's Tianjin, June 20, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

China now hosts more than 4,500 artificial intelligence (AI) companies, reflecting the country's efforts to embrace the AI boom, according to official figures released at an industry event on Thursday.

The data was made public by Shan Zhongde, vice minister of industry and information technology, at the 2024 World Intelligence Expo in north China's Tianjin Municipality.

Shan said that China has built 421 national-level demonstration factories featuring intelligent manufacturing and over 10,000 provincial-level digital workshops and smart factories.

From humanoid robots to autonomous vehicles, officials and experts at the expo highlighted that AI technology is rapidly reshaping human life.

Technologies such as brain-computer interfaces and humanoid robots will have practical impacts on industries like manufacturing, transportation, education and healthcare, said Wu Zhaohui, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

"AI technology can also inject transformative power into regional economic growth and reshape the landscape of global competition," Wu added.

China's core AI industry reached a scale of more than 578 billion yuan (about 81 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 13.9 percent year on year, official data shows.

This year's government work report unveiled an AI Plus initiative, a strategic move designed to propel the digital economy's expansion and spearhead the transformation and modernization of manufacturing sectors.

The 2024 World Intelligence Expo, running until June 23, was co-hosted by Tianjin Municipality and southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, merging the former World Intelligence Congress in Tianjin and the Smart China Expo in Chongqing.

With an exhibition area of 100,000 square meters, the event features various themed exhibition areas covering AI, intelligent connected vehicles, intelligent manufacturing and robotics.

The two municipalities will alternate hosting the World Intelligence Expo in the future.
Port Vila [Vanuatu], June 21: Leveraging the momentum from its successful launch of "The Vantage Markets Podcast", leading multi-asset broker, Vantage Markets, is pleased to introduce its latest educational courses, now available on Vantage Academy.

The Vantage Academy Courses provide a comprehensive introduction to various financial instruments, such as shares, indices, and forex. Through engaging and easy-to-understand modules, interactive quizzes, infographics and videos, participants can delve into the world of trading with confidence. Moreover, traders can apply their newfound knowledge in a simulated environment by utilising a free demo account to reinforce their learning.

These courses - currently covering Forex, Stock, and Index trading for beginners - mark the beginning of a broader curriculum expansion planned by Vantage to encompass a wider array of topics and skill levels in the future.

"Gaining a solid understanding of the financial markets can be daunting, especially for newcomers," explains Geraldine Goh, Chief Marketing Officer at Vantage. "Our Vantage Academy Courses are meticulously crafted to provide structured guidance and foundational knowledge, ensuring an accessible learning experience for all participants."

These courses, along with the comprehensive suite of educational resources offered by Vantage Academy, including evergreen articles, market updates and analysis, webinars, e-books, beginner guides, and podcasts, reflect Vantage's commitment to empowering traders at every stage of their journey.

To explore the Vantage Education Courses and access these invaluable resources, visit Vantage Academy.

About Vantage

Vantage Markets (or Vantage) is a multi-asset broker offering clients access to a nimble and powerful service for trading Contracts for Difference (CFDs) products, including Forex, Commodities, Indices, Shares, ETFs, and Bonds.

With over 13 years of market experience, Vantage transcends the role of broker, providing a trusted trading ecosystem, an award-winning mobile trading app, and a user-friendly trading platform that empowers clients to seize trading opportunities. Download the Vantage App on App Store or Google Play.

trade smarter @vantage

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1745281/Vantage_Logo.jpg

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Battery manufacturer Amara Raja Energy and Mobility, the parent company of Amaron has acquired Rs 170 crore (20 million euros) stake in Norwegian battery manufacturing company InoBat AS, the company informed the exchange in a filing. Amara Raja Energy and Mobility informed that it is acquiring around 4.5 per cent stake in InoBat AS and after acquisition, the stake of the company will increase to 9.32 per cent. "Amara Raja Energy & Mobility (ARE&M) has further invested EUR 20mn, which includes a subscription for an additional 4.5 per cent equity stake in InoBat AS, Norway. With the above, Amara Raja Energy & Mobility Limited's total holding will be around 9.32 per cent of its equity stake in InoBat AS, including its previous investment of EUR 10mn," the company said in its filing. The Slovak company InoBat AS specializes in research, development, and production of batteries for electric vehicles custom-designed to meet the specific requirements of global mainstream and specialist OEMs within the automotive, commercial vehicle, motorsport, and aerospace sectors, and has shown significant growth in the recent times. "Our investment in InoBat AS underscores our commitment to being at the forefront of the energy revolution. InoBat's innovative approach to battery technology complements our mission to deliver sustainable and cutting-edge energy solutions. Together, we aim to accelerate the transition to electric mobility and contribute significantly to global sustainability goals" said Vikramadithya Gourineni, Executive Director of Amara Raja. The company also informed that it is setting up one of India's largest gigafactories for Li-ion cell and battery pack manufacturing, the first phase of which is slated to be functional this year. The shares of the company surged more than 2 per cent during the opening session on Friday trading and stands at Rs 1430 at the time of filing this report. (ANI)
BusinessWire India Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 21: Alyve Health, India's fastest-growing health tech platform, announced a Series A funding round of USD 5.5 million. The investment round was led by Axilor Ventures and saw participation from 1Crowd Fund, an existing investor, as well as InHealth Ventures, a healthcare-focused fund. The company also raised a venture debt fund from Trifecta Capital as part of this round. Founded by Shashank Avadhani, Sushant Roy, and Vineet Mehta in May 2020, Alyve Health was built with the vision to provide unparalleled coverage and simplify the health plan experience for its members. Alyve's health plans cover multiple healthcare journeys like doctor consultations, diagnostics, medicine purchases, dental procedures, gym memberships, and proactive well-being. The personalized plans, cashless experience and assured care across prevention & cure sets the brand apart. "We are thrilled to secure more fuel for our growth," said Shashank Avadhani, Co-founder & CEO at Alyve Health. "We are privileged to play a significant role in shaping the future of health plans." Sushant Roy, Co-founder, CBO & COO at Alyve Health, expressed how the company intends to use the funds: "We are committed to leveraging these resources to enhance our platform, expand our service offerings, and ultimately, create enriching experiences for millions of users across India to achieve a healthier and quality life. This investment empowers us to continue innovating on our product and technology." Prachi Sinha, Principal at Axilor, who led this investment, said, "Even for a mature product like IPD insurance, India struggles with not just poor coverage but also under coverage. With rising incomes and awareness, consumers are asking for offerings beyond just hospitalization benefits. In a market fraught with noise, Alyve's customer-centric approach to enhancing the healthcare experience while offering tailor-made, high-utilization OPD services, gives the company the right to win. We have been early partners with Alyve and are proud to support them in their next stage of growth." The Alyve Health platform is seamlessly integrated with payers (insurers, TPAs), intermediaries (brokers, financial institutions, digital platforms), and providers (clinics, diagnostic centers, fitness studios). The platform provides tailored solutions to multiple groups - employees, customers, and channel partners - and currently serves over 1 million members. Vineet Mehta, Co-founder, and CTO at Alyve Health said, "This funding will enable us to further fortify our platform and enhance our data, security, and AI capabilities." Anil Gudibande, Co-founder of 1Crowd Fund, said, "Alyve Health is a unique technology venture in the insurance industry weaving an ecosystem of service providers and providing an assured experience to all stakeholders. With growing coverage, we believe that Alyve Health can help redefine health plans. 1Crowd is privileged to continue backing Shashank, Sushant, Vineet, and their team as they pioneer a new paradigm in the space" Lavanya Bhamidipati, Principal at InHealth Ventures said, "We are excited to support Alyve Health (our second investment in India) in their mission to democratize healthcare access and empower individuals to take charge of their well-being " The company has won several awards including Dun and Bradstreet's Startup Trailblazer 2024, Integrated Health & Wellbeing (IHW) Council's Healthcare Startup of the Year 2024 as well as the Healthy Lifestyle Startup of the Year 2024. Nilesh Kothari, Co-founder, and Managing Partner, Trifecta Capital said, "We are excited to partner with Alyve Health during this pivotal growth phase. Led by Shashank, Sushant, and Vineet, one of the most execution-focused founding teams in the ecosystem, Alyve Health is uniquely positioned to address the rising awareness of insurance and healthcare in India." Alyve Health caters to individuals, employers, and other businesses, offering a comprehensive suite of preventive and medical care services. By prioritizing prevention, early detection, lifestyle management, mental health, high-quality medical care, and providing cutting-edge technology, Alyve Health not only delivers diverse benefits but also reduces healthcare costs, solidifying its role as a transformative force in healthcare. By leveraging technology and human expertise, Alyve Health aims to disrupt traditional healthcare models, offer a more customer-centric experience, and tailor healthcare plans to each individual's unique needs and goals. The size of the Indian healthcare industry crossed USD 370 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach over USD 610 billion by 2026, as per the International Trade Administration report. Alyve Health recognizes the opportunity in the Indian healthcare industry, its focus area is corporates and modern workforces. It is trying to remove the complexities in providing comprehensive healthcare coverage to individuals and groups. For more information visit www.alyve.health. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
BusinessWire India New Delhi [India], June 21: Praveen Kankariya, Founder and Executive Chairman of Impetus Technologies has been recognized by Great Place To Work India among - India's Most Trusted Leaders. His recognition reflects the strong collaborative culture Impetus has established within the organization. Under Praveen's visionary leadership, Impetus has pushed the boundaries of innovation and excellence. His ability to inspire and lead has driven the company to achieve remarkable growth and success working in concert with some of the world's leading technology companies. Praveen's strategic direction continues to guide Impetus toward new heights and sustained accomplishments. As a global authority on workplace culture, Great Place To Work has been studying employee experience and people practices across organizations for over three decades. Every year, more than 100 million employees from over 150 countries worldwide take the with Great Place To Work for assessment, benchmarking, and planning of actions to strengthen their workplace culture. In this year for India, based on a rigorous evaluation methodology, 27 leaders among India's Most Trusted Leaders 2024 have been recognized. "Today, we celebrate those who embody this philosophy. The leaders recognized here haven't just created exceptional workplaces, they have the potential to inspire our workforce through their legacy of trusted leadership. We are confident that with your continued dedication, India will continue to shine as a global hub of innovation and knowledge, ultimately realizing our shared vision of making India a Great Place To Work for All." - Balbir Singh, CEO, Great Place To Work India "It is a proud moment for Impetus as Praveen Kankariya is recognized as one of the Most Trusted Leaders by Great Place To Work India for the second year running. This award is a testament to his leadership and his ability to build a culture of trust within our organization. His influence is instrumental in our continued success." - Rajeeva Gupta, CEO, Impetus Technologies (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
NewsVoir Panaji (Goa) [India], June 21: Goa Carbon Ltd., one of the oldest and leading manufacturers of calcined petroleum coke (CPC), proudly announces the launch of its first branded product, "gcarb+" aimed at revolutionizing the recarburiser & carbon additive markets. With manufacturing units strategically located across India, Goa Carbon Limited serves largely to the Aluminium, Steel, and Foundry sectors. Continuing its legacy of excellence, the new brand "gcarb+" highlights the company's commitment to quality, sustainability and industry leadership with an intent to provide 'Total Carbon Solutions'. "gcarb+" stands out for its superior quality and is derived from the finest raw materials sourced globally. The product comes with guaranteed specifications, including low sulphur content, significantly reducing harmful emissions and supporting environmental sustainability. "gcarb+" is a high-performance carbon raiser/additive, meeting the specific requirements of the primary and secondary steel manufacturers and foundry industries. The brand launch event was attended by Shrinivas V. Dempo, President - Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and Chairman of Dempo Group of Companies, Anupam Misra, Executive Director of Goa Carbon Limited along with other senior officials of Dempo group and all the three units. The unveiling of the "gcarb+" logo and brand was a significant moment, symbolizing the company's forward-looking vision and commitment to innovation. Shrinivas V. Dempo congratulated the entire Goa Carbon team for launching their first branded offering and applauded the initiative to offer differentiated and superior solution for the 'Recarb' industry. He highlighted the core values of Dempo group i.e. Integrity, Fairness, Solicitude, Teamwork, Innovation and Social Responsibility and was happy to learn that the brand's philosophy is aligned with our core values. Anupam Misra highlighted that the introduction of "gcarb+" marks a significant milestone in Goa Carbon Limited's illustrious journey. "Goa carbon has been one of the most trusted names in the recarb industry and it was incumbent upon us to bring in creative and innovative solutions for the recarb industry. We would also like to start offering need-based value added services apart from supplying only CPC. This is in line with our vision to be the total carbon solution provider to the industry. The new brand is set to redefine industry standards, offering a blend of quality, performance, and value added services that strengthens Goa Carbon Limited's market leadership." Goa Carbon Limited, established in 1967, manufactures Calcined Petroleum Coke (CPC) and operates plants in Goa, Bilaspur, and Paradeep with a combined annual capacity of 308,000 MT. Serving industries like aluminum smelting, graphite electrodes, and titanium dioxide manufacturing, the company is known for its expertise in green coke blending. Listed on BSE and NSE, Goa Carbon's facilities are ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified, featuring advanced dust extraction systems and well-equipped laboratories, with strategic port-based locations enhancing export capabilities. For more information about gcarb+ and Goa Carbon Limited, please visit our website www.goacarbon.com or contact our customer service team at info@goacarbon.com. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Agriculture economists and representatives of farmer associations were among the key industry stakeholders who were part of a pre-budget consultation meeting chaired by Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi on Friday. The meeting is a significant step towards formulating a budget that addresses challenges and opportunities within the agriculture sector. Bhartiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) highlighted the urgent need for substantial budget allocations towards the sector in the budget for the fiscal year 2024-25. "The consultation focused on key issues such as sustainable farming practices, the financial well-being of farmers and measures to enhance the productivity and profitability of the agricultural sector. The meeting provided a platform for farmer representatives to voice their concerns and offer suggestions directly to policymakers," Badri Narain Chaudhary, President, BKS said. Emphasising that 65 per cent of population is dependent on agriculture, the Bhartiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) said, "When the government uses the phrase 'sabka saath, sabka vikas,' and given that agriculture provides the maximum sustainable employment, it becomes inevitable to allocate more budget towards all components of agriculture." Chaudhary underscored the need for a comprehensive review of current budgetary allocations, particularly in light of the increasing unpredictability of weather patterns due to climate change. Chaudhary proposed several key measures, including increased investment in irrigation infrastructure and the interlinking of rivers to mitigate the effects of erratic rainfall on crop production. He also called for a thorough evaluation of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) to improve its implementation and ensure wider farmer participation. The BKS President advocated for the adoption of a DBT system to ensure that all farmers, regardless of the fertilizers and implements they use, receive fair and direct financial assistance. "Currently, many farmers are unable to avail themselves of the subsidies due to their use of alternative fertilizers and equipment," Choudhary noted. Addressing the issue of Goods and Services Tax (GST), Chaudhary highlighted the lack of input tax credit for farmers. "Farmers are producers, and most of the inputs they use are highly taxable under GST. There must be provisions for farmers to receive input tax credit, or alternatively, agricultural inputs should be exempt from GST," he proposed. MJ Khan, Chairman of the Indian Chambers of Food and Agriculture said, "Our economy is growing at a rate of 8.2 per cent, but last year, the agriculture sector grew at a rate of only 1.4 percent. We suggested ways to increase productivity. We need to adopt good agricultural practices, fine-tune the agricultural subsidy system, increase the scope of irrigation, and use digital agriculture technology. These measures will boost productivity and benefit farmers." Khan said that the policy of frequent ban on export of agriculture produce must stop. "Our agricultural export share is only 2 per cent in global agricultural exports. Due to bans on some agricultural products, our exports have fallen. We need to avoid erratic reactions and focus on creating an export hub. The Kisan lobby advocates lifting the ban on agricultural products. They suggested to the finance minister that if the government wants, it can take back the Kisan Samman Nidhi, but it should not ban the export of agricultural products." Ashok Gulati, Agricultural Economist and Professor at ICRIER, emphasized the need for climate-resilient agriculture and better research practices to conserve resources and enhance productivity. Gulati said, "We suggested climate resilient agriculture, research and R&D to more and better farming practices that can save water and more eco service payments so that those farmers who are doing farming and lying with nature are rewarded so that's one big message. There was another big message." He added. "Can we combine all the subsidies together and give it directly to farmers digitally in his accounts and let them the market prices rule. We do realise that China has done it and there are ways to do it. It requires more discussion and it can be done. Andhra Pradesh has started the recording of tenant farmers." BKS has called for increased budget allocations to enhance the financial and technical capacities of KVKs, enabling them to improve, reproduce, and distribute indigenous seeds in line with the Central government's push for chemical-free and natural farming practices. The discussion revisited the 2018-19 budget allocation of Rs 2000 crore for the development of rural markets (Hats/Gamin), with a call for increased funding to improve infrastructure and boost the rural economy. This move, could be transformative for small farmers, who constitute 85% of the farming community. BKS suggested allocating incentives to encourage farmers to adopt green energy solutions, such as solar power, for irrigation and other farming operations. The meeting also discussed the need to substantially increase the credit limit under the KCC scheme to match the rising costs associated with high-investment farming technologies and practices. BKS proposed allowing KCCs to serve as licenses for primary food processing, streamlining access in place of complex FSSAI norms. (ANI)
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], June 21: Jos Alukkas introduces Mehfil, an elegant new sub-brand that showcases a captivating array of Mughal-inspired jewellery. The Mehfil range was launched with glamour in Chennai. The renowned South Indian film star Anarkali Marikar graced the event, unveiling Mehfil's exquisite pieces graciously designed for discerning tastes, and ready for the upcoming wedding season. The event was attended by Jos Alukkas' Managing Directors, Varghese Alukka, Paul J Alukka, and John Alukka.

Magnificent Jewellery Designs of the Mughal Period

The Mughal period was renowned for its magnificent jewellery designs, crafted from precious gemstones like diamonds, emeralds, rubies, kundan, polki, jade, and others. Mughal jewellery represents a fusion of Indian jewellery art and Middle Eastern charm. Two distinctive features that set Mughal jewellery apart from other Indian styles are its meticulous stonework and intricate enamelling techniques. Jos Alukkas draws inspiration from the rich legacy of Mughal jewellery, infusing it with contemporary flair to captivate the present generation.

The Mehfil Collection: A Celebration of Craftsmanship

Mehfil jewellery showcases Jos Alukkas' dedication to timeless craftsmanship and innovation, offering pieces that resonate with both tradition and modernity. Monalisa, moissanite, onyx, rice pearl, and Russian emerald are the precious stones featured in the Mehfil collection. Their meticulous workmanship brings out the true beauty of these gems.

"Mehfil jewellery is crafted by expert designers and skilled craftsmen, celebrating the rich tapestry of diverse cultures. In addition to weddings, the Mehfil Collection offers exquisite jewellery perfect for various special occasions," stated Chairman Jos Alukka.

Jos Alukkas employs a stone-setting method that does not involve wax, ensuring the purity and grammage of the gold.

Jos Alukkas, established in 1964, is a leading jewellery group in South India known for its legacy of trust and innovation. Jos Alukkas continues to set benchmarks in the jewellery industry, offering customers exquisite designs and maintaining uncompromising standards of purity.

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
NewsVoir Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 21: After a successful completion of 12 editions, All India Gem & Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC), the national apex body of the gems and jewellery industry, is inviting entries for the 13th edition of National Jewellery Awards (NJA'24) - Pratibha ka Utsav. The premier industry association is opening to accept entries from 21st June 2024. Interested award enthusiasts may send their entries online via website www.gjc.org.in by 18th August 2024. The Screening jury round to be conducted on 30th August 2024 followed by the Grand jury round of the 13th edition of NJA'24 on 17th September 2024. The jury includes industry veterans, entrepreneurs, advisers, financiers, among others, is scheduled to select winners for their distinction in designs, craftsmanship, finishing, intellectuals in marketing, exports, etc., which has set milestones in their respective fields, and set a roadmap for others to follow. The NJA'24 award ceremony is scheduled to take place at Jasmine Hall, Jio World Convention Centre, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai on 26th September 2024. The unique feature of this year's NJA'24 is the widening coverage of segments. NJA'24 will consist of six award segments, which will be further divided into 35 sub-categories. This year, the entire segment of India's jewellery value chain will be covered for the benefit of various sectors of the Indian jewellery industry. Saiyam Mehra, Chairman of All India Gem & Jewellery Domestic Council, stated, "The 13th edition of NJA'24 is a testimony of the successful completion of its 12 such events in the past. The National Jewellery Award brings nationwide recognition and a unique identity for the Indian jewellery industry. NJA 2024 will offer an immense opportunity for national identification in the gems and jewellery industry, helping achievers stimulate growth in their businesses. NJA symbolises creativity and innovations, building sustainable imagery within the industry and among direct customers. It contributes to enhancing individuals' knowledge of the latest industry trends and fashion, inspiring passion, craftsmanship, and devotion to the 'Make in India' ethos in gems and jewellery manufacturing." Rajesh Rokde, Vice Chairman of GJC, commented, "My experience at the previous 12 editions of NJA was thrilling. Winners are required to undergo a rigorous selection process as they compete with thousands of other players to claim the accolade. In the 13th edition of NJA'24, we have expanded the horizon for jewellery enthusiasts to cover all segments of the industry. NJA indirectly helps encourage competence in terms of designs and industry trends, providing an opportunity to showcase one's talent in the industry and opening up the untapped business potential." Sunil Poddar, Convenor of NJA, said, "We are overwhelmed to bring in numerous talents on the front page of the industry, who otherwise do not get opportunities to showcase their talent. NJA is considered to be the industry's biggest and widest award show, recognizing all sectors of the industry and providing a platform to discover talent in their respective fields. Known for its commitment to craftsmanship, dedication, and motivation within the industry, NJA is appreciated and encouraged for its role in stimulating growth and creativity. Nurturing creativity and honouring innovation, inspiration, passion, craftsmanship, and devotion that inspires the emergence of new talent is the core objective of NJA." Avinash Gupta, Co-Convener of NJA, expressed, "The 13th edition of NJA'24 is unique in itself. This year, we have introduced 2 new categories: Jewellery Innovation Excellence Award - Applicants get to showcase unique and original designs with innovative techniques or materials, demonstrate high-quality craftsmanship, and have a strong aesthetic appeal. Jewellery of the Year (Theme - Colonial Elegance and Indian Heritage): This theme invites designers to create jewellery that blends the opulence of the British Raj with India's cultural legacy. NJA will have six award segments which are further divided into 35 sub-categories to cover all segments of the jewellery industry starting from students, designers, jewellery awards, store awards, the women entrepreneurs, thus encouraging the entire value chain of the Gems & Jewellery Industry." All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) represents lakhs of trade constituents comprising manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, distributors, laboratories, gemologists, designers and allied services to the domestic gems & jewellery industry. The Council functions with the objective to address the industry, it's functioning, and its cause with a 360 approach to promote and progress its growth while protecting the industry's interests. GJC, for the last 18 years, has been serving as a bridge between the government and the trade by undertaking various initiatives on behalf of and for the industry. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Union Minister for Coal and Mines, G Kishan Reddy, has reaffirmed the government's commitment to keeping the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) as a public sector undertaking (PSU). In a statement addressing concerns about potential privatization, Reddy emphasized the government's stance and reiterated that SCCL will not be privatized. Reddy said, "We will take care of Singareni (Singareni Collieries Company) with full responsibility. I will do a special review on the subject of Singareni, will talk to all the officials. When the Prime Minister came to Telangana, he had said that Singareni is not going to be privatised, Singareni will remain as a PSU. We are not in favour of its privatisation, we want the Telangana government to also not be in favour of privatisation." This announcement comes amid broader efforts by the Ministry of Coal to boost coal production across the country. According to a press release released by the Ministry of Coal on Friday, Reddy is set to launch the 10th round of commercial coal block auctions, as part of a major push to enhance coal production and meet the country's growing energy demands. According to a statement by the Union Ministry of Coal, 60 coal blocks will be offered in this round of auctions. This initiative aims to bring more coal blocks into production, thereby reducing India's reliance on coal imports and ensuring energy security. The 10th round of coal block allocation will include mines from several states including Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, and West Bengal. Notably, Odisha will see the largest offering with 16 mines up for auction. Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh will each have 15 coal mines available for bidders. The Coal India Limited (CIL) has already awarded 23 coal mines to private sector bidders under a revenue-sharing model. These efforts are aimed at tapping into the latent coal reserves found in some of its previously closed and discontinued underground mines. The move is part of a broader strategy to maximize the use of domestic coal resources and reduce the environmental and economic costs associated with coal imports. So far, the Ministry of Coal has allocated or auctioned 161 coal mines with a peak rated capacity of 575 million tonnes (MT). Out of these, 58 mines have received permission to begin operations, and 54 mines are currently operational. Last year, these mines produced a total of 147 MT of coal, contributing to 15 percent of the country's total coal production. (ANI)
Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, chaired the fifth Pre-Budget Consultation in New Delhi on Friday. The session focused on gathering vital inputs from representatives of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector for the forthcoming General Budget 2024-25. Sandeep Jain, representing the Federation of Indian Small and Medium Enterprises (FISME), emphasized the necessity for comprehensive digitization of the funding process. Jain said, "In terms of funding, we have emphasized that there should be complete digitization. The discretionary powers that bankers currently have should be eliminated. Regarding GST, representatives from certain sectors such as ceramics, TV, textiles, etc., have discussed their concerns with the Finance Minister." He added, "She assured them that she will consider their issues and get back to them. The MSME sector is mostly directly connected to citizens, so there is a demand to strengthen the MSMEs. Just as housing loans are provided at lower rates, MSME loans should also be offered at reduced rates." Murali Krishna Vasireddy, President of the Federation of Andhra Pradesh Small and Medium Industries Associations (FAPSIA), underscored the challenges faced by MSMEs in Andhra Pradesh, particularly those still reeling from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. He called for simplified taxation and a reduced compliance burden, as well as tax exemptions for MSMEs supplying goods and services for significant government projects like the Polavaram dam. Vasireddy also requested tax exemptions for unique, geo-identified products such as Dharmavaram sarees, Kondapalli toys, and Atreyapuram Putharekulu sweets, to support local artisans and promote regional economic development. Ghanshyam Ojha, President of Laghu Udyog Bharti, along with General Secretary Om Prakash Gupta, presented a detailed agenda for strengthening Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs). They emphasized the need for prioritizing MSEs in manufacturing sectors to transform India into an export hub and achieve the vision of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India). Their proposals included the establishment of a robust system for accurately identifying the number of MSEs, addressing working capital issues, and creating a dedicated grievance redressal mechanism for MSEs. Ojha and Gupta also suggested several policy changes, such as easing land conversion laws for MSMEs and providing consistent and subsidized electricity rates nationwide. They advocated for enhanced support for MSME exports and tax deductions for the internationalization of MSMEs, highlighting the need to overcome competition from other countries and improve the marketing capabilities of Indian MSME exporters in international markets. Addressing liquidity crunches, they suggested cluster-based financing strategies and urged for timely fund releases from government bodies. They also called for simplified Udyam Aadhaar registration, a dedicated grievance redressal mechanism, and uniformity in labor law thresholds to ease compliance. Measures to streamline land conversion, provide subsidized electricity, and incentivize exports were also emphasized, aiming to enhance MSE competitiveness and foster sustainable growth. Attended by Union Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, Finance Secretary and Secretary of Expenditure, Secretaries from the Departments of Economic Affairs, Industrial Policy and Promotion, and MSME, along with the Chief Economic Adviser, the meeting underscored the government's commitment to addressing the challenges faced by MSMEs. (ANI)
Chinese authorities on Friday issued a set of guidelines on imposing criminal punishments on diehard "Taiwan independence" separatists for conducting or inciting secession, allowing a trial in absentia in relevant cases.

The guidelines, jointly issued by the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, and the ministries of public security, state security, and justice, will take effect upon release.

The document, based on the Anti-Secession Law, the Criminal Law and the Criminal Procedure Law, provides more specific rules concerning conviction and sentencing in the event of such crimes, as well as relevant procedures, serving as guidance for the judiciary in handling relevant cases.

It spells out clearly-defined circumstances in which a very few diehard "Taiwan independence" separatists, through acts such as organizing, plotting or carrying out schemes of "de jure independence," or seeking independence by relying on foreign support or by force, should be held criminally responsible.

Also, it stipulates that those who are found to have colluded with any foreign or overseas institution, organization or individual in committing such crimes, should be given a harsher punishment.
On the occasion of International Yoga Day, veteran actor Anupam Kher shared a special video with glimpses of him performing Yoga. Taking to his Instagram handle, he posted a video aiming to raise awareness about the relevance of Yoga among his fans and followers. He wrote in the caption, "Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self! "Heartiest greetings and congratulations to all of you on International Yoga Day. My salute to all my yoga gurus. #InternationalYogaDay" https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8dkSH2irfU/utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated all the people of the country and those doing Yoga in every corner of the world on the occasion of the 10th International Day of Yoga and said the world is seeing a new Yoga economy going forward for the last 10 years. PM Modi performed Yoga at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar on J-K, on International Day of Yoga on Friday. While addressing an event in Srinagar, the Prime Minister said that India's proposal regarding the celebration of International Yoga Day at the United Nations was supported by 177 nations. "Today, from the land of Kashmir, I congratulate everyone around the world on International Yoga Day! Ten years ago, I proposed the celebration of International Yoga Day at the United Nations. India's proposal was supported by 177 nations, which is a record in itself. In 2015, on Kartavyapath in Delhi, 35,000 people performed Yogasanas together," he said. This year's event underscores Yoga's profound impact on young minds and bodies. The celebration aims to unite thousands in the practice of Yoga, promoting health and wellness on a global scale. This year's theme, "Yoga for Self and Society," emphasizes yoga's vital role in fostering both individual well-being and societal harmony. Since 2015, the Prime Minister has led the International Day of Yoga (IDY) celebrations at various iconic locations, including Kartavya Path in Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Ranchi, Lucknow, Mysuru and even the United Nations Headquarters in New York. This year's celebrations will span across the Nation, with a notable event termed "Yoga for Space", wherein all the centres and units of ISRO will have programs on the practice of CYP or common Yoga Protocol. Globally, Embassies and Indian Missions abroad will join the celebrations, reflecting yoga's widespread influence. Meanwhile, talking about his work front, Kher will be next seen 'Tanvi The Great' Anupam announced the film on his social media handle. Sharing the update, he wrote on Instagram, "TANVI THE GREAT: Today, on my birthday I proudly announce the name of the film I have decided to direct. Some stories find their path and compel you to share it with the world! And the best way I thought to start is by taking the blessings of my mother in her temple with my father's pic blessing me too. Have been working on this musical story of #Passion #Courage #Innocence and #Joy for the last three years. And finally starting shooting tomorrow on the auspicious day of #Mahashivratri. Birthday is the best day to CHALLENGE yourself! Please Send me your love, best wishes and blessings! Om Namah Shivay! #TanviTheGreat #Musical #Film #Passion #Courage @anupamkherstudio." Apart from this, Kher has 'The Signature', 'Emergency', 'Vijay 69', and the Curse of Damyaan' and a few other films in his kitty. (ANI)
Tamil actor Suriya Sivakumar expressed his condolences over the death of at least 47 people after consuming illicit liquor in the Kallakurichi district of the State. Suriya took to his X account on Friday and criticized the state's liquor policies and the political debate surrounding them. "We have been seeing Liquor Policy debate only during election time from all the parties. We have been witnessing that the people of Tamil Nadu who did vote with faith that their lives will get improved are constantly watching the plight of the governments that have ruled us for more than 20 years with TASMAC and forcing people to drink," Suriya wrote. He pointed out the dire consequences of addiction to alcohol sold by TASMAC (Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation). "When people addicted to Rs 150 alcohol from TASMAC are unable to afford it, they are preferring Rs 50 poisonous liquor," he added. Suriya also mentioned that alcohol addiction is not merely an individual issue but a societal one that affects families and communities. "When are we going to realise that alcohol addiction is not an individual issue and it is an issue of the whole society of each family? Many years of violence should be stopped immediately where the government itself encourages consumption of alcohol." https://x.com/Suriya_offl/status/1804076926480314835 Urging the government and political parties to act with foresight to prevent such tragedies, the actor wrote, "We can stop such incidents in the future if the government and political parties act with foresight. Irrespective of a short-term solution, with people I also have faith that the Chief Minister will take reforming decisions on Liquor Policy for people's welfare." At least 47 people died and over 100 people were hospitalized after allegedly consuming illicit liquor in the Kallakurichi district. Earlier today, three accused in the Kallakurichi illicit liquor case were sent to 15 days of judicial custody and taken to Cudallore Central prison. Kallakurichi police produced the accused before the district combined court. Accordng to the police, the accused have been identified as Govindaraj, Damadoran and Vijaya. The accused have been taken to Cuddalore Central Prison from Kallakurichi Combined District Court. Meanwhile, Chief Minister MK Stalin has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of each of the deceased victims, with those under treatment to receive Rs 50,000 each. Victims are undergoing treatment at the Kallakurichi Government Medical College and Hospital and in Hospitals in Salem, Villupuram, and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) in Puducherry. (ANI)
The show which will take place on June 24 will feature the latest couture collections from Dior, drawing top fashion names from around the world.

The 'Neerja' actress has become a regular fixture at international fashion events, including Paris Fashion Week, King Charles' Coronation, and the Cannes Film Festival, where she was the first Indian actress to attend.

A recent report listed Sonam among the most influential celebrities for luxury fashion brands in 2023, placing her alongside names like Zendaya and Kylie Jenner. Her presence at Dior's show continues this trend, showcasing her impact on the fashion industry.

Apart from her fashion credentials, Sonam has also become the sole Indian actor to be on the South Asia Acquisition Committee of the Tate Modern Museum.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Sonam Kapoor recently starred in the crime thriller 'Blind,' which premiered on July 7, 2023.

The actress is also preparing for two upcoming projects, with details to be announced soon. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the celebrations of the 10th International Day of Yoga at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar on Friday. This year's event underscores Yoga's profound impact on young minds and bodies. The celebration aims to unite thousands in the practice of Yoga, promoting health and wellness on a global scale. On the occasion, the Prime Minister will address the gathering and participate in the Common Yoga Protocol session, highlighting Yoga's significance in nurturing physical, mental, and spiritual growth. Lieutenant Governor of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Ayush and Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav among others will join the program led by the Prime Minister. Over 7,000 people from various walks of life will gather with the Prime Minister on the banks of Dal Lake, Srinagar to mark this special occasion. Since 2015, the Prime Minister has led the International Day of Yoga (IDY) celebrations at various iconic locations, including Kartavya Path in Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Ranchi, Lucknow, Mysuru and even the United Nations Headquarters in New York. This year's theme, "Yoga for Self and Society," emphasizes yoga's vital role in fostering both individual well-being and societal harmony. To maximize the inclusiveness of Yoga benefits, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also written a letter to all the Gram Pradhans stating, "At the grassroots level, I urge you to make holistic health, a people-led movement by spreading more awareness about Yoga and millet." This year's celebrations will span across the Nation, with a notable event termed as "Yoga for Space", wherein all the centres and units of ISRO will have programs on the practice of CYP or common Yoga Protocol. ISRO among other autonomous bodies will also participate in the CYP practice on June 21. Along with this active participation from the Gaganyaan project team is also scheduled for June 21. Observance of IDY at Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari is also in full swing. Globally, Embassies and Indian Missions abroad will join the celebrations, reflecting yoga's widespread influence. Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary of Ayush, recently in a gathering highlighted the journey of IDY, emphasizing its role in promoting health, social values, and a sense of community. The 'Whole of Government' approach to IDY celebrations includes coordinated efforts across various government departments and active participation from state governments and union territories. The National Ayush Mission team is also organizing events nationwide, demonstrating yoga's impact on holistic health. In Delhi, the Ministry of Ayush has partnered with NDMC (New Delhi Municipal Corporation), ASI (Archaeological Survey of India), and DDA (Delhi Development Authority) to organize mass yoga events. To engage the masses, the Ministry of Ayush has launched several contests and activities, including the "Yoga with Family" Video Contest in partnership with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) on the MyGov and MyBharat platforms. This contest encourages families worldwide to showcase the joy of yoga and reinforce family bonds, with submissions due by June 30, 2024. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated all the people of the country and those doing Yoga in every corner of the world on the occasion of the 10th International Day of Yoga and said the world is seeing a new Yoga economy going forward for the last 10 years. PM Modi performed Yoga at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar on J-K, on International Day of Yoga on Friday. While addressing an event in Srinagar, the Prime Minister said that India's proposal regarding the celebration of International Yoga Day at the United Nations was supported by 177 nations. "Today, from the land of Kashmir, I congratulate everyone around the world on International Yoga Day! Ten years ago, I proposed the celebration of International Yoga Day at the United Nations. India's proposal was supported by 177 nations, which is a record in itself. In 2015, on Kartavyapath in Delhi, 35,000 people performed Yogasanas together," he said. "On International Yoga Day, I have had the privilege of coming to Kashmir, the land of yoga and meditation. In Srinagar, we are feeling the power that yoga gives us. I congratulate all the people of the country and those doing Yoga in every corner of the world on International Yoga Day from the land of Kashmir," PM Modi added. He said that in the last 10 years, the expansion of Yoga has changed the perception related to Yoga adding that the world is seeing a new Yoga economy going forward. "In the last 10 years, the expansion of Yoga has changed the perception related to Yoga. Today, the world is seeing a new Yoga economy going forward. From Rishikesh and Kashi to Kerala, we can witness a new trend of Yoga Tourism emerging in India. People from all over the world are coming to India in pursuit of learning authentic yoga. Accordingly, sectors related to hospitality, tourism, apparel, etc. are booming from the huge inflow of people. This is creating new avenues for employment opportunities for youth," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister also recalled Charlotte Chopin, a 101-year-old woman Yoga teacher from France who was awarded the Padma Shri this year and said that the number of people doing yoga all over the world is constantly increasing. "In India this year, a 101-year-old female yoga instructor from France was honored with the Padma Shri. Despite never having visited India, she devoted her entire life to promoting awareness about Yoga. Currently, esteemed universities and institutions worldwide are conducting research on Yoga, resulting in the publication of research papers," he said. French national Charlotte Chopin, a 100-year-old yoga practitioner, was felicitated with the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, during the Padma Awards 2024, held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Highlighting the journey of Yoga all over the world, PM Modi said that in India, the AYUSH department has also formed the Yoga Certification Board for yoga practitioners. "Last year, I had the opportunity to preside over the Yoga Day Programme at the UN headquarters in the USA. People from over 130 nations participated in the event. The journey of Yoga continues. In Bharat, the AYUSH department has formed the Yoga Certification Board for yoga practitioners. Over 100 major institutions in India and 10 from abroad have been granted certifications from this board," he said. "In 2015, I inaugurated a Yoga Centre in Turkmenistan. Today, yoga activities are flourishing there. At the State Medical University of Turkmenistan, Yoga therapy has been included as a subject," the Prime Minister added. He further said that the attraction towards Yoga in the entire Jammu and Kashmir has become an opportunity to give a new impetus to the tourism of the union territory. "The attraction towards yoga that has developed in the entire Jammu and Kashmir, the zeal and enthusiasm with which people are eager to connect with yoga, has become an opportunity to give a new impetus to the tourism of Jammu and Kashmir," he said. This year's theme, "Yoga for Self and Society," emphasizes yoga's vital role in fostering both individual well-being and societal harmony. Since 2015, the Prime Minister has led the International Day of Yoga (IDY) celebrations at various iconic locations, including Kartavya Path in Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Ranchi, Lucknow, Mysuru and even the United Nations Headquarters in New York. (ANI)
Some children were also seen participating in yoga along with Navy personnel.

Meanwhile, Indian Army personnel also performed Yoga in icy heights on the northern frontier and in Eastern Ladakh on International Yoga Day.

Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel performed Yoga at Pangong Tso and Karzok in Leh.

ITBP personnel deployed at Muguthang Sub Sector in Muguthang Sub Sector, Sikkim at an altitude of more than 15,000 feet were also seen performing Yoga.

The ITBP personnel are deployed in far-flung areas, at heights above 18,000 feet and the physical difficulties at such high altitude can be overcome by practising Yoga every day.

Apart from that, to engage the masses, the Ministry of Ayush has launched several contests and activities, including the "Yoga with Family" Video Contest in partnership with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) on the MyGov and MyBharat platforms. This contest encourages families worldwide to showcase the joy of yoga and reinforce family bonds, with submissions due by June 30, 2024. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people of the country to make yoga a part of their daily lives as the world celebrated the 10th International Day of Yoga on Friday. PM Modi performed Yoga at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar today. "As we mark the 10th International Day of Yoga, I urge everyone to make it a part of their daily lives. Yoga fosters strength, good health and wellness. Wonderful to join this year's programme in Srinagar," the Prime Minister posted on social media platform X. He congratulated all the people of the country and those doing Yoga in every corner of the world and said the world is witnessing a new Yoga economy going forward for the last 10 years. Speaking at the event in Srinagar, the Prime Minister said that India's proposal regarding the celebration of International Yoga Day at the United Nations was supported by 177 nations. "Today, from the land of Kashmir, I congratulate everyone around the world on International Yoga Day! Ten years ago, I proposed the celebration of International Yoga Day at the United Nations. India's proposal was supported by 177 nations, which is a record in itself. In 2015, on Kartavyapath in Delhi, 35,000 people performed Yogasanas together," he said. "On International Yoga Day, I have had the privilege of coming to Kashmir, the land of yoga and meditation. In Srinagar, we are feeling the power that yoga gives us. I congratulate all the people of the country and those doing Yoga in every corner of the world on International Yoga Day from the land of Kashmir," PM Modi said. He said that in the last 10 years, the expansion of Yoga has changed the perception related to Yoga adding that the world is seeing a new Yoga economy going forward. "In the last 10 years, the expansion of Yoga has changed the perception related to Yoga. Today, the world is seeing a new Yoga economy going forward. From Rishikesh and Kashi to Kerala, we can witness a new trend of Yoga Tourism emerging in India. People from all over the world are coming to India in pursuit of learning authentic yoga. Accordingly, sectors related to hospitality, tourism, apparel, etc. are booming from the huge inflow of people. This is creating new avenues for employment opportunities for youth," PM Modi said. This year's theme, "Yoga for Self and Society," emphasizes yoga's vital role in fostering both individual well-being and societal harmony. Since 2015, the Prime Minister has led the International Day of Yoga (IDY) celebrations at various iconic locations, including Kartavya Path in Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Ranchi, Lucknow, Mysuru and even the United Nations Headquarters in New York. (ANI)
Four people, including the driver and the conductor of a Himachal Pradesh Road and Transport Corporation (HRTC), died in the accident at Chauri Kainchi near Kudu in the Jubbal area of Shimla district.

Three other people also sustained injuries in the incident and are undergoing medical treatment at the Civil Hospital Rohru.

Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla and Chief Minister Sukhu extended their heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and said their thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families. They also assured the victims' families of all possible support and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri said that after receiving information about the unfortunate incident, the local administration provided full support and relief to the affected families.

He expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the peace of the departed souls. He also directed to ensure the best possible medical care to the injured.

Meanwhile, the district administration paid an interim relief of Rs 25,000 to each family of each deceased and Rs 10,000 each to the injured ones. (ANI)
To spread awareness of yoga, Jimmy, an Indian pariah dog, trained by NDRF, performed yoga along with them, as the 13th battalion of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) celebrated the 10th International Yoga Day in Udhampur on Friday. Parveen Singh Assistant Commandant 13th Battalion NDRF Udhampur said, "On the occasion of International Yoga Day, for the last 15 days we are regularly involved in Yoga Day activities. The most important aspect is that we have involved a stray dog. To raise awareness of Yoga we have included stray dog in the activity so that people realise that if a stray dog can perform it with ease then definitely the common man should do it. Trained dogs have high IQ levels and can pick up easily but the stray dog took more time to learn yoga." He said that the stray dog has been included in the Yoga activity since the last 15 days. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led celebrations of the 10th International Day of Yoga at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar on Friday. This year's event underscores Yoga's profound impact on young minds and bodies. The celebration aims to unite thousands in the practice of Yoga, promoting health and wellness on a global scale. This year's theme, "Yoga for Self and Society," emphasizes yoga's vital role in fostering both individual well-being and societal harmony. Since 2015, the Prime Minister has led the International Day of Yoga (IDY) celebrations at various iconic locations, including Kartavya Path in Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Ranchi, Lucknow, Mysuru and even the United Nations Headquarters in New York. (ANI)
Union Health Secretary, Apurva Chandra released a document titled, "Medical Care Arrangements for Haj Pilgrimage", here today, in collaboration with the Ministry of Minority Affairs. Mohammed Shahid Alam, Consulate General of India in Jeddah (who joined virtually), representatives of WHO, and other stakeholders were also present, an official statement said on Friday. Haj represents the largest and most enduring annual mass gathering event globally. The responsibility for medical care arrangements lies with the Emergency Medical Relief Division and the International Health Division of the Directorate General of Health Services under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. On the occasion, Apurva Chandra stated that "this document lays the roadmap of the health services and how those services can be availed of by the pilgrims." Noting that this is only the second year since the healthcare responsibilities have been assigned to the Union Health Ministry, he stated that "the experience has provided significant learnings for improving the healthcare services. Around 1,20,000 pilgrims undertook the Haj pilgrimage this year from India, of which approximately 40,000 are elderly people above the age of 60. Given the harsh weather conditions this year, the health challenges have necessitated round-the-clock services for the pilgrims. Last year, oral health and dental care services were added learning from the experience". The Union Health Secretary also added that nearly 2 lakh OPDs have been conducted this year, along with visits by the medical teams to the pilgrims. Apurva Chandra stated that with the help of NIC, a live portal has been developed that provides real-time data and analysis on the pilgrims seeking medical care and the services being provided. "We are continuously monitoring and this will help us to improve our services significantly, such that we become the beacon of excellence to be emulated by other countries', he added. The Union Health Secretary said, "It is a matter of pride to be of assistance to our citizens wherever they might be. Be it for evacuating our students from Ukraine or assisting our people who got stuck in the fire incident in Kuwait, India has always been at the forefront in helping its citizens." He stated that India has even helped citizens from other countries, including European countries who sought its help during the crisis. LS Changsan, Additional Secretary, MoHFW emphasized on the importance of comprehensive healthcare planning for such a large gathering, especially in the demanding Saudi Arabian climate. She highlighted the strategic placement of medical teams in Mecca and Medina for easy convenience of the pilgrims and the collaboration between MoHFW and NIC on creating a portal for real-time access to data on admissions and operations of the health mission. She also acknowledged the tireless efforts of the medical teams in Saudi Arabia who are still there and working hard to ensure the health and safety of pilgrims. She commended the dedication of all stakeholders involved, which included the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Consulate General of India, Jeddah, Haj Committee of India, National Informatics Centre (NIC), WHO India, HLL Lifecare Limited (HLL), Central Govt Hospitals, All AIIMS and all states and institutions from across the country for their support towards this endeavour. Shahid Alam, Consular General of India in Jeddah highlighted that the publication of the document is vital for institutionalizing the healthcare arrangement system for Indian pilgrims. He explained the on-field experiences and challenges faced during Haj. Appreciating the efforts of the Indian medical personnel, he informed that the medical services provided by the Indian health mission were also rated highly by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The medical care arrangements provided by the Union Health Ministry include revising the medical screening and fitness certificate used to assess the health and fitness of Haj applicants in India, providing health cards to select Haj pilgrims for their journey and stay in KSA, providing vaccines to states for organizing vaccination camps, establishing Health Desks at embarkation points, deputation of healthcare personnel with the support of MoMA and setting up of medical infrastructure at various sites in KSA chosen by MoMA. Jitendra Prasad, Additional Director General of Health Services, Shobhit Gupta, JS, Ministry of Civil Aviation; L Swasticharan, Additional DDG and Director, EMR; Ankur Yadav, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs and senior officers of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare were present on the occasion. (ANI)
[Photo/VCG]

June 6 marked the fifth anniversary of the commercial launch of the fifth-generation (5G) mobile network in China. On this date in 2019, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued the first 5G commercial licenses to China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom and China Broadnet, the country's most influential players in the telecommunications sector.



With its high speed, low latency and multiple connections, 5G technology has since revolutionized a wide range of industries, including big data and artificial intelligence (AI), enabling seamless connectivity for a multitude of devices. Smart household appliances, along with progress in telemedicine and driverless technology, are already (becoming) part of people's daily lives and work routines.

China's 5G sector has seen rapid expansion over the past five years. According to MIIT figures, as of late April, 3.75 million 5G base stations had been installed nationwide, constituting 31.7 percent of the total number of mobile base stations in the country. The number of 5G-subscribing mobile phones had reached 889 million, accounting for 50.6 percent of all mobile phones in use in China.

Since its commercial launch five years ago, 5G technology has directly generated a total economic output of some 5.6 trillion yuan ($787.62 million) and indirectly boosted economic output by 14 trillion yuan ($1.97 trillion).

These figures highlight China's leading position in global 5G applications. In China, the technology has been widely used across many sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, transportation, education, healthcare, aviation and power, accelerating the country's digital transformation. It serves not only as strategic infrastructure supporting digital and intelligent transformation, but also as a leading industry propelling industrial restructuring.

5G technology has enhanced the competitiveness of Chinese industries. China's progress has also had a profound impact on a global scale, promoting the technology's development and application worldwide. Currently, China's essential 5G standard patent claims account for 42 percent of the world's total, playing a pivotal part in pushing global 5G development forward.

China is working to promote the continuous evolution of the technology, including advancements like 5G-Advanced (5G-A), which is set to unlock new possibilities for the Internet of Everything (IoE), which builds on the concept of the Internet of Things by including humans and their interactions. It promises not just faster data speeds, but also better reliability and power savings.

By integrating with technologies such as cloud computing, big data and AI, 5G-A will facilitate the establishment of new industrial models. China Mobile has already launched the world's first 5G-A commercial plan and will expand it to over 300 cities nationwide, laying the groundwork for the most extensive commercial 5G-A network worldwide. Based on the 5G fundamentals, China has also started research and development of 6G technology.

The evolution of global telecommunications points toward China becoming a frontrunner not only in technology development but also in its application. Any country that seeks to restrict the use of 5G products produced by tech titan Huawei and other Chinese companies or hinder chips trading with China is actually hampering the growth of its own telecommunications technology. This is clearly not a forward-looking approach.

Over the past five years, China's 5G achievements show just how important it is to reframe the narrative around Huawei and other Chinese 5G developers and consider them potential collaborators. Engaging in targeted measures against these entities, or pressuring and coercing other countries to do so, is a misguided approach with misplaced targets.

Everyone must recognize that in the imminent era of the IoE, the underdevelopment of 5G infrastructure will exacerbate development disparities across industries and nations.
The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) on Friday organized a special session 'Ghat Par Yoga' along the banks of Yamuna to celebrate the 10th International Day of Yoga in the national capital. This year's theme for the International Day of Yoga is 'Yoga for Self and Society', highlighting the significance of yoga not only for personal well-being but also for fostering harmony and betterment in society. The event saw participation of NMCG officials, staff, NGOs under YAP-III of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). Personnel of Border Security Force (BSF), members of Ganga Vichar Manch, various other NGOs, as well as students and children also participated. Director General of NMCG Rajeev Kumar Mittal, Deputy Director General Nalin Kumar Srivastava, and other senior officials participated in the event. Addressing the gathering, DG Rajeev Kumar Mittal said they have assembled to celebrate the 10th edition of International Yoga Day. "Traditionally, yoga and rivers have a deep connection. Yoga, as imparted by gurus to their students, has historically been associated with ashrams situated near ghats. Therefore, rivers, ghats, and yoga share a profound connection." The NMCG Director General said they aim to encourage everyone to visit riversides and keep them clean. He added that the society organizes yoga events only in New Delhi but also in other states. "Through initiatives like these, we aim to encourage everyone to visit riversides, utilize them responsibly, and keep them clean. Yoga embodies this philosophy. We organize yoga activities not only in New Delhi but also across India in states like Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand to encourage wide participation," he said. "Yoga integrates the mind and body at an individual level and connects individuals with nature and society at another," he added. Rajeev Kumar Mittal highlighted that the International Day of Yoga, aligned with the Prime Minister's vision, is celebrated globally to honour this facet of Indian cultural heritage. He underscored that yoga, as a unique Indian spiritual science, promotes both mental and physical well-being. Its diverse forms resonate across civilizations, imparting it a distinctive identity and establishing it as a unique practice. This year's yoga session was led by Yogini Meenakshi, a yoga instructor. "This marks the 10th edition of the International Day of Yoga, and we are gathered here to celebrate this occasion. The theme 'Yoga for Self and Society' emphasises that practising yoga can profoundly transform our lives. Its benefits extend beyond the individual to encompass families and society as a whole," she said. As part of the Namami Gange Programme, yoga sessions were conducted at 139 sites across the Ganga Basin by District Ganga Committees in collaboration with the State Mission for Clean Ganga (SMCG), yoga instructors, Ganga Praharis, Ganga Vichar Manch, Ganga Task Force, and students, the release added. These sessions were held on the banks of the River Ganga and its tributaries. (ANI)
"Due to the efforts of the PM, the UN announced International Yoga Day on June 21. There is increased awareness across the world today. It has come to notice that preventive care is the way forward. Yoga transforms people's lives," said Union Minister Goyal.

He urged youth to practice yoga to stay healthy.

"On the occasion of International Yoga Day, PM Modi is sending a message by practising Yoga in Srinagar...The entire nation is practising Yoga...Yoga inspires the world to walk on the path of peace...I want to thank PM Modi for giving out the message of Yoga for self and society."

Earlier in the day, Piyush Goyal took part in a Yoga session in Mumbai.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also hailed PM Modi and said he made Yoga reach the entire world. "Yoga lovers are doing yoga in the entire world and bringing a positive change to their lives and society. India is lucky that India's Yoga is famous all over the world now..."

Vaishnaw took part in a Yoga session in the national capital.

PM Modi led the celebrations of the 10th International Day of Yoga at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar today.

This year's theme, "Yoga for Self and Society," emphasizes yoga's vital role in fostering both individual well-being and societal harmony.

Since 2015, the Prime Minister has led the International Day of Yoga (IDY) celebrations at various iconic locations, including Kartavya Path in Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Ranchi, Lucknow, Mysuru and even the United Nations Headquarters in New York. (ANI)
On the occasion of the 10th International Yoga Day, a 'Yoga Program' was organised in the Ahmedabad Central Jail on Friday. The yoga session was organised in Sabarmati Central Jail, Mahila Jail and Talim Shala which marked the attendance of around 3,000 prisoners. This event is organised every year for the prisoners in the Ahmedabad Central Jail. The event was also attended by the Director General of Police (DGP) of Gujarat, Dr KLN Rao. From officers to the prisoners, everyone practised various yoga asanas together with great enthusiasm and dedication. The main objective of this event was to achieve mental peace and create a balance in the daily life of the prisoners. Speaking to ANI, the DGP of Gujarat Police, Dr KLN Rao stated, "More than 3,000 prisoners participated in the Yoga Day camp that was organised in the Sabarmati Central Jail, Mahila Jail and Talim Shala. This event is organised every year on the occasion of International Yoga Day. There was a lot of enthusiasm among prisoners to perform yoga, as everybody knows that performing yoga helps achieve balance in our daily lives and provides peace to the mind." Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Modi performed Yoga at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar today. PM Modi urged people of the country to make yoga a part of their daily lives as the world celebrated the 10th International Day of Yoga on Friday. "As we mark the 10th International Day of Yoga, I urge everyone to make it a part of their daily lives. Yoga fosters strength, good health and wellness. Wonderful to join this year's programme in Srinagar," the Prime Minister posted on social media platform X. He congratulated all the people of the country and those doing Yoga in every corner of the world and said the world is witnessing a new Yoga economy going forward for the last 10 years. This year's theme, "Yoga for Self and Society," emphasizes yoga's vital role in fostering both individual well-being and societal harmony. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Friday granted interim bail for two weeks to activist Mahesh Raut, an accused in the Bhima-Koregaon case, to attend rituals following the death of his grandmother. A vacation bench of Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti granted interim bail to Raut from June 26 to July 10. The bench ordered that Raut has to surrender without fail on July 10. The interim bail will be subject to the terms and conditions set by the Special NIA court, it added. "Considering facts and circumstances, and period of incarceration already undergone, and the nature of the request made, we are inclined to grant interim bail of two weeks to the applicant (Raut), which may commence from 26 June and end on 10 July. Terms and conditions of release will be stated by the NIA Special Court. NIA can request the trial court to impose stringent conditions. The applicant shall surrender on July 10," the apex court stated in its order. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) opposed the 33-year-old Raut's interim bail plea. On the last date of the hearing, Raut's counsel had told the apex court that this was an interim bail plea to go to Gadchiroli to attend the rituals after the death of his grandmother. In September 2023, the apex court extended the stay granted by the Bombay High Court on the implementation of its verdict granting bail to Raut. The stay was granted by the apex court after NIA had challenged the September 21 order of the Bombay High Court granting bail to Raut, who was arrested in June 2018 and is presently lodged in judicial custody at the Taloja prison. As per the prosecution provocative and inflammatory speeches were made at the event that was allegedly backed by banned terror outfit CPI(M), which later led to violence at Koregaon Bhima village near Pune in 2018. (ANI)
The accused was identified as Brahmaiah (23)

According to an official release, "The sleuths of Meerpet Police and Rachakonda Commissionerate nabbed the chain snatcher on Thursday and seized gold ornaments and a bike, altogether worth Rs 1.6 lakh."

Sharing details about the case, police said, "A complaint was received from a woman identified as Kumbham Padma on June 10, 2024, at 8:15 pm, wherein she complained that her chain was snatched by an unidentified person on the same day around 7 pm."

"As per the woman's complaint, she stated that while she was travelling to her house at Vishweshwarayya Colony on June 10, an unknown person on a bike suddenly arrived from the rear side and snatched the gold chain from her neck, after which she fell on the ground," said police.

Subsequently, the woman filed a complaint for action against the snatcher.

The police, after acting on technical evidence and specific information, nabbed the accused on June 20 and registered a case under the appropriate section of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Further details on the matter is awaited. (ANI)
As air pollution continues to become a pressing issue worldwide, the city of Agartala in Tripura has installed two real-time air quality monitoring systems as a significant step to monitor and address the levels of particulate matter and other pollutants in its air. The city, along with other sub-divisional cities in the state, installed two real-time air quality monitoring systems that are connected to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) servers, allowing citizens to observe pollution levels from anywhere through the Sameer application on their mobile phones. The Sameer app provides detailed information on all pollution levels, making data easily accessible to the public. This transparency is crucial, as Agartala's air quality index (AQI) often exceeds the standard quality index during the summer and dry seasons, with notably high PM 10 and PM 2.5 levels. Conversely, during the monsoon season, the AQI improves significantly due to reduced dispersion of particulate matter, resulting in lower pollutant content. Urbanisation in Agartala is a key factor contributing to the elevated AQI, particularly during the dry months. In response, an action plan to control air pollution has been developed and is currently being implemented by various stakeholder departments, including the Transport Department and the Urban Development Department, that are working continuously to mitigate pollution levels. One of the critical measures in place is the operation of Pollution Under Control (PUC) centres run by authorised personnel from the department. These centres are essential in addressing vehicular pollution, a significant contributor to air pollutants in the city. Furthermore, the Tripura State Pollution Control Board is set to conduct a source apportionment study to identify the origins of particulate matter more precisely. This study will inform the revision and modification of the current action plan to better tackle the sources of pollution. In addition to the existing monitoring systems, Tripura has initiated the setup of three more air quality monitoring stations under the National Ambient Monitoring Stations programme. This expansion aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of air quality across different regions of the state. With these concerted efforts, Tripura is on a path to not only monitor but also actively improve the air quality in Agartala and beyond, ensuring a healthier environment for its residents. Dr Bishu Karmakar, Member Secretary of the Tripura State Pollution Control Board, spoke about the matter and said, "Air pollution, as of today, is a sensitive issue. Indoor air pollution and outdoor air pollution are very dangerous. In the context of Tripura, we are assessing continuously the level of particulate matter and pollutants in the air in Agartala city and other sub-divisional cities. We have installed two real-time air quality monitoring systems, which are connected to the central pollution control board servers. From anywhere, any citizen can observe the pollution level." "In Agartala city, there are some Pollution Under Control (PUC) centres run by some authorised people of the department. So that PUC are more needed as vehicular pollution is one of the reasons for the air pollutants. Apart from that, the Tripura State Pollution Control Board will conduct a study of the source of particulate matter, which is known as a source approachment study." "After that, the end of the action plan will be revised and modified. We have also initiated setting up three more air quality monitoring stations under the National Ambient Monitoring Stations," he added. (ANI)
In a bid to promote wellness and enhance work efficiency among employees, an organisation will be inaugurated to carry out special yoga camps within the premises of the Civil Secretariat, Chandigarh, said Haryana Chief Secretary TVSN Prasad on the occasion of International Yoga Day. "Yoga not only improves physical health but also strengthens mental resilience, essential for professionals working long hours in office environments," said T.V.S.N. Prasad while addressing the officers and employees at the Yoga Camp organised on the occasion of 10th International Yoga Day at Haryana Niwas here today. Highlighting the significance of the yoga camp for the Civil Secretariat staff, Prasad urged all officers and employees to embrace yoga as a daily routine. He stressed that regular practice of yoga asanas and pranayama would not only boost their efficiency but also enhance their immunity. Trained yoga instructors conducted various yoga asanas and pranayama exercises that were performed by all the attendees. Prasad called upon all participants to take a pledge to incorporate yoga into their lives and encourage others for the same, aiming to propagate yoga in every household across the nation. Earlier in the day, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini performed Yoga at a Yoga event in Hisar on the occasion of International Day of Yoga. Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the celebrations of the 10th International Day of Yoga at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar today. This year's event underscores Yoga's profound impact on young minds and bodies. The celebration aims to unite thousands in the practice of Yoga, promoting health and wellness on a global scale. This year's theme, "Yoga for Self and Society," emphasises yoga's vital role in fostering both individual well-being and societal harmony. Since 2015, the Prime Minister has led the International Day of Yoga (IDY) celebrations at various iconic locations, including Kartavya Path in Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Ranchi, Lucknow, Mysuru and even the United Nations Headquarters in New York. This year's celebrations will span across the Nation, with a notable event termed "Yoga for Space", wherein all the centres and units of ISRO will have programs on the practice of CYP or common Yoga Protocol. Globally, Embassies and Indian Missions abroad will join the celebrations, reflecting yoga's widespread influence. (ANI)
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav broke his silence on the alleged NEET paper leak case after Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sinha sought to draw a link between Yadav's personal secretary and an accused engineer. He said that the BJP wanted to "divert the attention" from the kingpin so they were dragging his name. The RJD leader said, "The INDIA alliance is united on this issue. We want the NEET exam to be immediately cancelled. The (BJP) have all the investigation agencies, they can call the PS or PA anyone for probe. They want to divert the issue from the kingpin. Those who want to drag my name or my PA's name, this will not benefit anyone. The engineer who is talked about could be a beneficiary but Amit Anand and Nitish Kumar are the masterminds of the paper leak. The people of the country know that whenever BJP comes to power, then paper leaks happen." Tejashwi further said that paper leaks have taken place in BJP-ruled states of Bihar, Gujarat and Haryana. "Only Vijay Sinha is making these claims. The Economic Offences Wing (EOU) has never raised any question. When the arrests happened in May since then we have been raising our voices to carry out a probe. The engineer (Sikandar Yadvendu) about whom they are talking was recruited in 2021 by them in the urban development from the water resources department. Why do they want to save Amit Anand and Nitish Kumar? The truth will prevail soon. When paper leaks happened in the third phase of teachers' recruitment test (TRE) conducted by BPSC the accused got bail without going to prison," Yadav said. Bihar Deputy CM Sinha claimed that Tejashwi's personal secretary, Pritam Kumar had called a guest house worker of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to book a room for Sikander Kumar Yadavendu, one of the accused in the case. He said that the word "Mantri" was used for the former Deputy CM. "On May 1, Tejashwi Yadav's personal secretary Pritam Kumar called guesthouse worker Pradip Kumar to book a room for Sikander Kumar Yadavendu who was jailed in Ranchi. On May 4, Pritam Kumar called Pradip Kumar again to book the room in the NHAI guest house. The word 'Mantri' was used for Tejashwi Yadav," Sinha said at a press conference on Thursday. The Deputy CM also sought clarification from Tejashwi Yadav regarding whether Pritam Kumar is still his Personal Secretary and who is Sikander Yadavendu. "Tejashwi Yadav should clarify if Pritam Kumar is still his PS and he should also clarify who is Sikander Kumar Yadavendu. When Lalu Prasad Yadav was jailed in Ranchi, Sikander Kumar Yadavendu used to be at Lalu's service. He was a Junior Engineer in the irrigation department. They play with the future of the people. They do scams when they are in power and they try to influence the appointment process," Sinha alleged. Notably, Patna police has arrested several people including some candidates who had taken the NEET exam. Out of them, four have been identified as- Anurag Yadav, a NEET candidate, his uncle Sikandar Yadavendu, and two others - Nitish Kumar and Anand. (ANI)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing "grave concern" over the implementation of three new criminal laws, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023; the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and has urged the PM "to consider at least a deferment of the implementation date." The three new criminal laws-- the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023; the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023; and the Bharatiya Sakshaya Adhiniyam, 2023-- to replace the Indian Penal Code, 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 were notified on December 25, 2023 and will come into effect on July 1, 2024. CM Banerjee in a letter to PM Modi on Thursday said "I write to you with grave concern regarding the impending implementation of three crucial laws, namely The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNA) 2023, The Bharatiya Sakhsya Adhiniyam (BSA) 2023, and The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023." She said three Bills which were passed with absolutely no debate deserve review now. "If you kindly recall, on the 20th of December last year, the outgoing Government of yours had passed these three critical Bills unilaterally, and with absolutely no debate. That day, almost one hundred members of the Lok Sabha had been suspended and a total 146 MPs of the both Houses were thrown out of the Parliament. The Bills were passed in an authoritarian manner in that dark hour of democracy. Matter deserves review now," she added. "I urge your esteemed office now to consider at least a deferment of the implementation date. Reasons are two-fold: ethical, and practical," CM Banerjee said. Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita will have 358 sections (instead of 511 sections in the IPC). A total of 20 new crimes have been added to the bill, and the imprisonment sentence has been increased for 33 of them. The amount of the fine has been increased in 83 crimes and mandatory minimum punishment has been introduced in 23 crimes. The penalty of community service has been introduced for six crimes and 19 sections have been repealed or removed from the bill. Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita will have 531 sections (in place of 484 sections of CrPC). A total of 177 provisions have been changed in the bill, and nine new sections as well as 39 new sub-sections have been added to it. The draft act has added 44 new provisions and clarifications. Timelines have been added to 35 sections and audio-video provision has been added at 35 places. A total of 14 sections have been repealed and removed from the bill, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam will have 170 provisions (instead of the original 167 provisions), and a total of 24 provisions have been changed. Two new provisions and six sub-provisions have been added and six provisions have been repealed or deleted from the bill. The recent criminal justice reform in India marks a significant shift in priorities, placing crimes against women, children, and the nation at the forefront. This stands in stark contrast to colonial-era laws, where concerns like treason and treasury offences outweighed the needs of ordinary citizens. (ANI)
Multi-faith leaders participated in the 10th UN International Day of Yoga in Leh, Ladakh, under the banner of the Indian Minorities Foundation and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his initiative to take yoga to the world and make it a global phenomenon. According to the Indian Minorities Foundation, the leaders said that this is the best gift of India to the world under PM Modi's leadership. The leaders performed yoga in unison with the students in the serene landscape of Leh, Ladakh. Speaking to ANI today, Bhikku Sanghsena, Leader of the Maha Bodhi International Medidation Centre, said, "I believe this is an excellent initiative under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Yoga started from India but it remained limited to our country and did not spread much across the world. It is through the initiative of PM Modi that it has spread to every nook and cranny of the world." Swami Dayadhipanada, Medical Superintendent of Ramakrishna Mission Hospital, also spoke on the occasion and said, "PM Modi has successfully made it an international yoga day wherein people from all parts of the world are practicing yoga for unity and for health and wellness. In modern times, lifestyle diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol are increasing. All these diseases can be prevented, or rather reversed, by a proper way of life, which we call yoga's way of life." Meanwhile, sailors onboard India's aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya also participated in an early morning yoga drill on the occasion of International Yoga Day 2024 on Friday. Some children were also seen participating in yoga, along with Navy personnel. Indian Army personnel also performed yoga in icy heights on the northern frontier and in Eastern Ladakh on International Yoga Day. Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel performed yoga at Pangong Tso and Karzok in Leh. ITBP personnel deployed at Muguthang Sub Sector in Muguthang Sub Sector, Sikkim, at an altitude of more than 15,000 feet were also seen performing yoga. The ITBP personnel are deployed in far-flung areas, at heights above 18,000 feet, and the physical difficulties at such a high altitude can be overcome by practicing yoga every day. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed yoga at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar and urged people to make yoga a part of their daily lives. "As we mark the 10th International Day of Yoga, I urge everyone to make it a part of their daily lives. Yoga fosters strength, good health, and wellness. Wonderful to join this year's programme in Srinagar," the Prime Minister posted on social media platform X. This year's theme, "Yoga for Self and Society," emphasises yoga's vital role in fostering both individual well-being and societal harmony. (ANI)
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Vietnam and Russia signed multiple cooperation documents and agreed to further deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership on Thursday during Russian President Vladimir Putin's state visit to Vietnam, Vietnam News Agency reported.

During the visit, Putin talked with his Vietnamese counterpart To Lam and both witnessed the signing of the multiple bilateral cooperation documents in the fields including education and judiciary.

At a press briefing, Lam said both sides had agreed to further enhance high-level exchanges and promote bilateral trade and investment, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

On Thursday, Putin also met and talked with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Tran Thanh Man, respectively.

For his part, Putin said at the press briefing that the Russian side attaches great importance to further strengthening the Russia-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership, according to the Kremlin on Thursday.

Before his Vietnam visit, Putin also paid a state visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), during which the two countries signed the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

According to the official Korean Central News Agency, Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, hailed Putin's visit as a "significant strategic move."
"On 21st June 2024, based on information provided by local Police to the BSF intelligence wing regarding presence of a drone in border area of Tarn Taran district, a joint search operation by BSF troops in collaboration with Punjab Police was planned and conducted in the suspected area," Punjab Frontier Border Security Force said in a press release.

The drone was recovered from a farming field adjacent to the village Noorwala in Tarn Taran District.

"During the search, at about 02:30 pm, the troops successfully recovered one drone from a farming field adjacent to village Noorwala in Tarn Taran District," they said in the release.

The recovered drone has been identified as China-made DJI Mavic- 3 Classic, the force said in the release.

"This successful operation is a result of prompt sharing of information and well coordinated efforts of BSF troops and Punjab Police, thus underscoring their commitment to decimate the illicit drone menace," BSF said in the release.

Earlier on June 20, the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Punjab police in a joint operation recovered a China-made drone in the border area of Tarn Taran district, as per an official release.

According to the release, "BSF and Punjab police conducted a joint search operation based on intelligence information on June 20 in the border area of Tarn Taran at around 9 am."

The drone was recovered from a corn field in Mastgarh village in Tarn Taran, the release said.

The recovered drone has been identified as a China-made DJI Matrice 300 RTK, it added. (ANI)
The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) celebrated the 10th International Day of Yoga (IDY) today, with a series of events across multiple locations, including Kendriya Vidyalaya-NTPC campus, the Supreme Court of India, and AIIA's Goa campus. These events witnessed active participation from dignitaries, faculty members, students, and yoga enthusiasts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the national celebrations at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar, emphasising Yoga's significance in nurturing physical, mental, and spiritual growth. On the 10th International Yoga Day 2024, the Ayush Wellness Centre of AIIA at the Supreme Court conducted a Common Yoga Protocol session. The event was graced by the Chief Justice of India, senior judges, the Director of AIIA, senior faculty members and its scholars. The Chief Justice of India, Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud highlighted the importance of Yoga in promoting a healthy lifestyle and spiritual enlightenment. "We enthusiastically celebrate International Day of Yoga like any other Indian festival. Celebrating Yoga Day highlights our commitment towards our nation. It delivers a message of living an ideal life with a healthy lifestyle. Yoga is not only a part of exercise but also a journey towards spiritual enlightenment," he said.He also talked about the 4S of yoga which is 'Siddhanth' which means principles, 'Samanwaya' means coordination, 'Sadbhavana' means Goodwill and 'Sashaktikaran' which means empowerment." The scholars of AIIA successfully conducted Yoga Fusion along with the demonstration of healthy drinks and foods suggested by the Ritucharya Aahar. AIIA Director, Prof Tanuja Nesari, alongside senior judges, faculty members, and scholars, participated in the session. She highlighted the importance of incorporating yoga into daily life, describing it as a precious gift to humanity. She quoted Patanjali, stating, " Yoga is for the purification of the mind, and Ayurveda is for physical health. The combination of yoga and Ayurveda leads to physical, mental, and social prosperity." Earlier, AIIA organised a Yoga Session at Kendriya Vidyalaya, NTPC campus from 6 am onwards, graced by AIIA Director Prof Tanuja Nesari, Kendriya Vidyalaya Principal, Akhileshwar Jha; AIIA Dean Prof Mahesh Vyas; Dean PG Prof Anand More; Additional MS Professor Yogesh Badwe, Associate Professor of the Department of Swasthavritta and Yoga, Shiv Kumar Harti, other senior faculty members of AIIA, Kendriya Vidyalaya teachers, and around 350 students participated in a yoga session. The K V students performed various cultural activities including dance performances, speeches on the importance of Yoga in our day-to-day lives, etc. Simultaneously, AIIA Goa celebrated with a Yoga Fusion session and a Common Yoga Protocol for 200 participants at the Military camp in Bambolim. Special Yoga stamps were released for OPD patients, highlighting the values of harmony and inner peace. AIIA has been organising a series of yoga programs for the past month. The series began on May 21 with a motivational speaker session by BK Shivani at the institute, which saw a large turnout. Continuing this series various yoga asanas and quiz competitions have been organised for faculty members and scholars at the Delhi Institute, along with the Goa campus. Yoga practice (summer Yoga Camp) for children, SIP (Summer Internship Programme), promotion of Ayur Yoga at international borders, yoga sessions with army officers and their families in Nathula, Gangtok, and collaboration with AYUSH institutions, health camps, and distribution of health kits, as well as yoga awareness campaigns at old age homes and the hospital block of AIIA, have been conducted. AIIA, established in 2017, is a premier institute dedicated to Ayurveda, promoting holistic health and wellness through traditional Ayurveda integrated with modern scientific methods. Accredited by NAAC with an A++ grade, AIIA has treated over 26 lakh patients and continues to lead in Ayurvedic education and research globally. (ANI)
Amid the political tug-of-war on the water crisis, Delhi's Water Minister Atishi sat on an indefinite hunger strike on Friday, alleging that the Haryana government is not releasing Delhi's share of water. She was accompanied by Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh and other members of the party at Bhogal, near Jangpura where she sat on an indefinite hunger strike. She paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat before heading to Bhogal. In the meanwhile, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal read a message from the Chief Minister, who is under judicial custody and said Arvind Kejriwal is hurt to see Delhi's public suffering from water scarcity. Sunita Kejriwal stated, "Kejriwal says that when I see on TV, the way Delhi people are suffering due to water scarcity, it hurts me. I hope Atishi's 'tapasya' will succeed and residents of Delhi will get relief. I wish all the best to Atishi, may God protect her." Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has to remain in jail for another few days as the Delhi High Court on Friday stayed the trial court order granting bail to Kejriwal in the liquor policy case. The vacation bench of Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain said that the judgement will be delivered in two to three days. Earlier in the day, Delhi Water Minister Atishi said that she will step on the path of 'Satyagraha' and start an 'indefinite fast' from today. She said despite every possible effort, the Haryana government is not providing full water to Delhi, resulting in 28 lakh people not getting water. Taking to X, Atishi stated, "Water shortage continues in Delhi. Even today 28 lakh Delhiites are not getting water. Despite every possible effort, the Haryana government is not providing full water to Delhi. Mahatma Gandhi has taught that if one has to fight against injustice, one must adopt the path of Satyagraha." "I will start 'Water Satyagraha' from today. I will go to Raj Ghat at 11 am and pay tribute to Gandhiji. I will start an indefinite fast at Bhogal, Jangpura from 12 o'clock. I will remain on fast until the people of Delhi get their rightful share of water from Haryana," she added. The Bharatiya Janata Party has continued to attack the Delhi government over the water crisis. BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj alleged the crisis has been "orchestrated" by the AAP government to "encourage corruption." "It almost seems that this crisis, which is not a natural crisis, has been orchestrated by the Kejriwal government to encourage their own corruption as well as to encourage the illegal tanker mafia," Bansuri Swaraj told ANI. "Delhi is in a dire state. The entire city is parched and the Kejriwal government is indulging only in theatrics. Delhi minister Atishi instead of working on the ground and instead of taking any adequate steps is now indulging in mere theatrics and is now threatening Delhiites with anshan (fast)," she added. (ANI)
Union Minister of Coal and Mines, G Kishan Reddy on Friday launched the 10th tranche of commercial coal mine auctions at Hyderabad. "Ministry of Coal today launched the 10th tranche of commercial coal mine auctions and a total of 67 coal mines are offered. Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy launched the 10th tranche of commercial coal mine auctions at Hyderabad in the presence of Shri Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Deputy Chief Minister of Telangana and Shri Satish Chandra Dubey, Minister of State for Coal and Mines," as per a press release from the Ministry of Coal. These 67 coal mines are spread across the states of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal and Telangana and include both fully explored and partially explored and 3 coking coal mines. "The Ministry of Coal has taken a series of reforms to ensure that the coal sector grows at a rapid pace and is able to meet the country's energy needs. For 10th Tranche also, mines falling under protected areas, wildlife sanctuaries, critical habitats, having forest cover greater than 40%, heavily built-up area, etc. have been excluded," as per the release. The block boundaries of some of the coal mines where there was presence of dense habitation, high green cover or critical infrastructure, etc. have been revised to improve the attractiveness of the coal mines. "Addressing the gathering, Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, emphasized the critical role of coal as the lifeline for all industries and its pivotal contribution in achieving a 5 trillion-dollar economy," the release stated. He stressed that all coal entrepreneurs should collaborate towards nation's development and align with the vision of Prime Minister of making India Aatmanirbhar in coal by making collective efforts and reducing the dependency on coal imports. "He reiterated the importance of enhancing domestic coal production for India's economic growth. It is crucial to work towards advancing in coal sector and our efforts today will make the future brighter. It was also informed that the revenue generated from the auctioned coal blocks goes to the respective State Government," as per the release. Deputy Chief Minister of Telangana, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka appreciated the efforts of Ministry of coal which has been working diligently to make the country self-sufficient in coal sector by significantly reducing foreign imports and producing nearly 1 Billion Tonne (BT) of coal in last financial year meeting the nation's energy needs. "Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Shri Satish Chandra Dubey assured to provide all the necessary support to the coal block allocatees by improving ease of doing business. He informed that suggestions and feedback are being taken from the coal industry players for improving the attractiveness of coal sector. Further, he emphasized on the importance of coal mining sector in making India Aatmanirbhar in coal," the release stated. In his keynote address, Amrit Lal Meena, Secretary, Ministry of Coal placed significant emphasis on enhancing coal production to meet the rising energy demands and underscored that the increase in production must not compromise the safety of workers, stressing the adoption of global best practices to ensure secure working environment. Maintaining high standards of transparency was also a focal point, with an emphasis on adhering to stringent environment sustainability measures to mitigate the impact of coal mining on the ecosystem. He further called for robust state-level support to streamline the ease of doing business within the coal sector. He pointed out that such support is vital for fostering a conducive business environment that can attract investments and facilitate smoother operations. "The Additional Secretary and Nominated Authority, Ministry of Coal, M Nagaraju highlighted the need to explore more coal block as there is surging demand of coal. He stressed that leveraging private investment and expertise is crucial for meeting the growing energy needs and ensuring steady coal supply to various industries. By opening more coal blocks for exploration and encouraging private participation will contribute the coal sector in achieving higher production targets," as per the release/ The commencement of sale of tender document shall start from today i.e. June 21, 2024. Details of the mines, auction terms, timelines, etc. can be accessed on MSTC auction platform and website of Ministry of Coal. The auction shall be held online through a transparent two stage process, based on Percentage Revenue Share. (ANI)
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) staged a protest against the National Testing Agency (NTA) at Osmania University in Hyderabad on Friday over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG exam and the cancellation of the UGC-NET exam. During the protest, the students burnt an effigy of the NTA. The protest was sparked by a series of recent irregularities and paper leaks in exams conducted by the NTA. Ministry of Education on Wednesday cancelled the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) exam conducted by the NTA on June 18. The Education Ministry has said that the test was scrapped because its integrity may have been compromised. A fresh examination shall be conducted, for which information shall be shared separately, the Ministry of Education said. As per the Ministry of Education, "On June 19, 2024, the University Grants Commission (UGC) received certain inputs from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs on the Examination. These inputs prima-facie indicate that the integrity of the aforesaid examination may have been compromised." The NEET-UG 2024 exam was held on May 5, and the results were announced on June 4, which was earlier than the scheduled date of June 14. Following the release of the results, there were protests alleging irregularities and paper leaks. This was due to the revelation that 67 students had achieved a perfect score of 720. On June 13, the NTA informed the Supreme Court that the scorecards of 1563 candidates who were awarded "grace marks" in the NEET-UG 2024 exam would be cancelled and these candidates would have an option to reappear for the exam on June 23, the results of which will be declared before June 30, or forgo the compensatory marks given for the loss of time. 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)
Isha Foundation's Sadhguru Sannidhi, located near Nandi Hills in Chikkaballapura district, organised a mega programme on Friday on the occasion of World Yoga Day. Around 1,000 NCC cadets of the 5 Karnataka Battalion from 20 colleges in Chikkaballapura, 200 soldiers from the Madras Engineering Corps (MEG) of the Indian Army, 120 Jawans, and 2 officers from the Subsidiary Training Centre (STC) of the Border Security Force (BSF) participated in yoga sessions led by Isha Hatha Yoga teachers. Air Commodore SB Arunkumar VSM, Deputy Director General, Karnataka, Goa NCC Directorate, and popular Kannada actor and model Srinidhi Shetty participated as special guests at the yoga event. Taking to his social media handle on X, Sadhguru, Founder of the Isha Foundation, said, "Yoga is a science, and, if you wish, an art form with which you can unfold your nature to its ultimate possibility and also create a conscious planet." While speaking at the event at Sadhguru Sannidhi, Air Commodore SB Arunkumar urged all citizens, especially the future citizens of the country, to embrace yoga as a lifestyle choice. He said Yoga was not just a "physical exercise" but a "holistic practice" that rejuvenates the body and mind. "It's a reminder that we all are connected all over the world, and through Yoga, we can transcend barriers and come together as one global family as we all are here today," he said, adding that "Yoga instills discipline and focus" and urging the students and NCC cadets gathered at the venue to adopt the practice. Popular Kannada actor of KGF fame, Srinidhi Shetty, said, "We all know what is right, what is wrong, what we should do, and what we should not do. It is just a matter of (taking) action." She said that with excessive contamination of our environment, it is imperative that people turn inward to enhance their health and well-being. "The air we inhale, the soil we walk on, the water we drink--everything has been degraded," she said, and she urged the audience to take up regular practice of yoga "for you to be internally joyful." Air Commodore SB Arunkumar also virtually inaugurated the community Yoga hall at Sadhguru Sannidhi. As per the Isha Foundation, "30-minute sessions will be conducted by Isha-trained teachers from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day throughout the year. The sessions will be conducted in five languages: Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, and English." There are several proven benefits of yoga, including enhancing vitality, focus, memory, and productivity; stabilising the body, mind, and emotions; and relieving back pain, stress, anxiety, and tension. In celebration of the International Day of Yoga, Isha offered more than 1,400 free yoga sessions across India, according to a release. The events were conducted at prominent institutes, including ISRO, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, IIT Madras, and Foxconn, among others. The celebrations included hundreds of CRPF soldiers participating in a yoga session held in front of Adiyogi at Isha Yoga Centre, Coimbatore, on Friday. (ANI)
Members of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) on Friday protested in Jaipur over NEET and UGC-NET issues. While speaking to the media Rajasthan NSUI President Vinod Jakhar demanded strict action against those responsible for NEET, UGC-NET "irregularities". "Immediately cancel this paper (NEET-UG), re-take the exam, and take strict action against those responsible," Rajasthan NSUI President Vinod Jakhar said. The protest was sparked by a series of recent irregularities and paper leaks in exams conducted by the NTA. Ministry of Education on Wednesday cancelled the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) exam conducted by the NTA on June 18. The Education Ministry has said that the test was scrapped because its integrity may have been compromised. A fresh examination shall be conducted, for which information shall be shared separately, the Ministry of Education said. As per the Ministry of Education, "On June 19, 2024, the University Grants Commission (UGC) received certain inputs from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs on the Examination. These inputs prima-facie indicate that the integrity of the aforesaid examination may have been compromised." The NEET-UG 2024 exam was held on May 5, and the results were announced on June 4, which was earlier than the scheduled date of June 14. Following the release of the results, there were protests alleging irregularities and paper leaks. This was due to the revelation that 67 students had achieved a perfect score of 720. On June 13, the NTA informed the Supreme Court that the scorecards of 1563 candidates who were awarded "grace marks" in the NEET-UG 2024 exam would be cancelled and these candidates would have an option to reappear for the exam on June 23, the results of which will be declared before June 30, or forgo the compensatory marks given for the loss of time. 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)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday e-inaugurated 30 smart schools in Gujarat's Ahmedabad developed by the Ahmedabad Municipal School Board at a cost of Rs 36 crore under the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 brought by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In his address on the occasion, Shah said that out of these 30 smart schools, nine are in the Ghatlodiya assembly constituency, 10 in the Vejalpur assembly constituency, four in Naranpura and seven are in Sabarmati. With the inauguration of these 30 smart schools, the Home Minister added that more than 10 thousand children will directly benefit from NEP and the lamp of knowledge and education will spread in their lives. Shah said that out of a total of 69 schools in Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency, 59 have become smart schools and the remaining schools will soon be upgraded. He said that skill development, vocational training, and digital empowerment have been included in the curriculum of these smart schools. "Along with this, the practice of Mathematics, Science Laboratories, Future Classrooms, 3-D Educational Charts, 3-D Painting and many other aspects of Indian Culture have also been included," Shah mentioned. At the event, Shah also pointed out that it was his first visit to Gujarat after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as the Home Minister and the new Member of Parliament of Gandhinagar. He said that, during his visit here, his first program was organized for the welfare of children of the lower and poor strata of society. Shah said that he will always be indebted to the people of Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency for backing him as their MP. The Home Minister also said for the next five years, he will remain committed to making Gandhinagar the most developed parliamentary constituency ensuring progress and development in every field. Shah recalled that 10 years ago in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had proposed in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that 21st June be celebrated as International Yoga Day. He said that this proposal of PM Modi was supported by about 170 countries of the world and for the last 10 years, every year on 21st June, the whole world celebrates Yoga, which is the gift of our sages and saints. He said that millions of people around the world have made Yoga a part of their lifestyle. Many dignitaries including Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel were present on the occasion. (ANI)
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday said that the appointment of BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab as the pro-tem Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha, has been done as per the "rules", adding that Congress should not politicise the issue. Congress reacted sharply to the central government's decision to appoint seven-term BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab as Pro-tem Speaker of Lok Sabha over senior-most Dalit MP Kodikkunnil Suresh of Congress, saying that the appointment by the BJP deviates from the traditional practice of appointing the senior member. The pro-tem Speaker administers the oath to newly elected members and oversees the proceedings of the House until the permanent Speaker is elected. "We all want the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha to run peacefully. This is also the wish of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is a special session. There is no business transaction in this special session," Rijiju said. "But what I have been seeing since yesterday, especially the issue that the Congress party has created regarding the pro-tem Speaker and the Congress party is doing so many wrong things that it is trying to mislead people. First of all, the Congress party said that we have violated the rules while appointing the pro-tem Speaker. I want to tell you clearly that whatever steps have been taken to appoint the pro-tem Speaker have been done according to the rules...Congress should not do politics," the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said. Earlier on Thursday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced that President Droupadi Murmu appointed BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab as pro tem Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha. "President is pleased to appoint Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab, Member, Lok Sabha, as Speaker Protem under Article 95(1) of the Constitution to perform the duties of Speaker till election of the Speaker," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said in a post on X on Thursday. President Murmu also appointed Suresh Kodikunnil, Thalikkottai Rajuthevar Baalu, Radha Mohan Singh, Faggan Singh Kulaste and Sudip Bandyopadhyay to assist the Speaker Protem in oath taking of the newly-elected members. "President is also pleased to appoint Suresh Kodikunnil, Thalikkottai Rajuthevar Baalu, Radha Mohan Singh, Faggan Singh Kulaste and Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Members of Lok Sabha under Article 99 of the Constitution to assist Speaker Protem in Oath/Affirmation to newly elected Members of 18th Lok Sabha till election of the Speaker," he added. After the announcement, the Congress objected to the government's decision, saying that the longest-serving MP is made pro tem Speaker but as per convention party MP Kodikunnil Suresh should have been given the role as he is entering his eighth term as parliamentarian. "By convention, the MP who has served the maximum terms is appointed Speaker Protem for the first two days when oath is administered to all newly elected MPs. The seniormost MPs in the 18th Lok Sabha are Kodikunnil Suresh (INC) and Virendra Kumar (BJP), both of who are now serving their eighth term. The latter is now a Union Minister and hence it was expected that Kodikunnil Suresh would be the Speaker Protem. Instead, a seven-term MP, Bhartruhari Mahtab has been appointed Speaker Protem. He was a BJD MP for six terms and is now a BJP MP," Ramesh said in a post on X. Congress leader KC Venugopal said the government should explain why it overlooked K Suresh. "In yet another attempt at destroying parliamentary norms, Mr Bhartruhari Mahtab (a 7-term MP) has been appointed the Pro-Tem Speaker, superseding Sh. @kodikunnilMP, who will be entering his 8th term. It is an unquestioned norm that the senior most MP presides over the proceedings of the House before the Speaker is duly elected. It is a matter of immense pride for our party that K Suresh, a leader from the marginalised section of society, has achieved this feat of being 8-term MP," he said. Congress MP Manickam Tagore also reacted sharply to the central government's decision to appoint seven-term BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab as Protem Speaker of Lok Sabha over senior-most Dalit MP Kodikkunnil Suresh of Congress and said that the decision was a mistake on the part of the government. "First mistake as Parliamentary Affairs Minister: seven-term BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab chosen as Protem Speaker of Lok Sabha over senior-most Dalit MP Kodikkunnil Suresh of Congress. What are the minister's intentions?" he asked in a post on X. Congress MP Pramod Tiwari targeted the BJP, arguing that it amounts to insulting the entire House and democracy. Pointing to the fact that the appointment disregards the traditional practice of selecting the senior most for the position, he stated that disregarding K Suresh, an eight-time MP, in favour of a seven-term MP, Bhartruhari Mahtab, for the 18th Lok Sabha pro-tem Speaker post is an insult to the entire House and the democratic process. "What is the reason that a person who has been an MP for 8 times was not made the pro-tem Speaker and a person who has been an MP for 7 times was made the pro-tem Speaker? I believe that somewhere in this, an attempt has been made to bring dictatorship and in the name of democracy. This is an insult to the entire House, democracy," Tiwari told ANI. As per Article 94 of the Constitution, the office of the Speaker becomes vacant immediately before the first meeting of the new Lok Sabha. In that case, the duties of the Speaker are to be performed by a Member of the House appointed for this purpose by the President as Speaker pro tem. The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha will start on June 24. The Rajya Sabha session will begin on June 27. (ANI)
With Congress winning 99 seats in general elections, its leader in Lok Sabha will get the status of Leader of Opposition (LoP) for the first time in the past 10 years and the party is looking at nominating one of its senior members to post of chairman of Public Accounts Committee (PAC), a panel that is constituted for the purpose of auditing the revenue and the expenditure of the Government of India. The chairman of the PAC is usually a senior member of the largest opposition party. With the Congress winning 44 and 52 seats in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the party could not get its leader in the Lok Sabha the status of Leader of Opposition. Mallikarjun Kharge was the Congress leader in Lok Sabha after the 2014 elections and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in the previous Lok Sabha. Both Kharge and Chowdhury had been chairpersons of the Public Accounts Committee and had a room in Parliament with requisite staff. Now with the Leader of Opposition having a rank equal to a cabinet minister, the Congress leader taking the role will have a room and official staff. Congress sources said that names are being considered for the role and Manish Tewari, party MP from Chandigarh, is being considered a front-runner. Congress is keen that party leader Rahul Gandhi takes the role of the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha. The Congress Working Committee had passed a resolution urging Rahul Gandhi to accept the role as Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha. Rahul Gandhi has asked for time to convey his decision. (ANI)
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China is willing to work closely with Tajikistan to promote the comprehensive empowerment of women, Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin said in a video speech at the opening ceremony of the China-Tajikistan Women's Forum in Beijing.

Shen, also president of the All-China Women's Federation, said that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-Tajikistan relations have become increasingly close in recent years, and cooperation on the advancement of women and gender equality has produced positive results.

She said China is willing to work with Tajikistan to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, consolidate the long-standing friendship between women's organizations in the two countries, support each other, contribute to the construction of the Belt and Road, and promote people-to-people connectivity, making new and greater contributions to the construction of a community with a shared future for China and Tajikistan.

The forum was hosted by the Committee on Women and Family Affairs under the Government of Tajikistan. Representatives of women in both countries undertook discussions and exchanges on such topics as cooperation among women within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Friday clarified that minor cracks were found on the approach road connecting Atal Setu in Ulwe, which is not a part of the bridge but is a service road connecting the bridge. MMRDA stated that the cracks are not due to structural defects in the project and do not pose any threat to the structure of the bridge. MMRDA also labelled the news as 'rumours' and urged the citizens not to believe them. According to MMRDA, these minor cracks were already noticed at three places on Ramp No. 5, from Ulwe towards Mumbai, on Thursday during an inspection by the Operation and Maintenance Team of the Project and require immediate repair. Strabag, the contractor of Package 4 of the Atal Setu project, has started the repair work in the said area and the work will be completed within 24 hours without any disruption to the traffic on the bridge. The official statement reads, "It has been noticed that there is no crack in the main part of Atal Setu Bridge but rumours are being spread in various media about it. Please don't believe the rumours. Minor cracks have been found on the approach road connecting Atal Setu. The said footpath is not a part of the main bridge but is a service road connecting the bridge. It is also very important to note that the cracks are not due to structural defects in the project and do not pose any threat to the structure of the bridge." "During the inspection on 20th June 2024 by the Operation and Maintenance Team of the project, minor cracks were noticed at three places on Ramp No. 5 asphalt from Ulwe towards Mumbai which require immediate repair. M/s Strabag, the contractor of Package 4 of the Atal Setu project, has started the repair work in the said area and the work will be completed within 24 hours without any disruption to the traffic on the bridge." In a social media post to X, MMRDA wrote, "There have been rumours circulating about cracks on the MTHL bridge. We want to clarify that these cracks are not on the bridge itself but on the approach road connecting MTHL from Ulwe towards Mumbai." Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole on Friday inspected the cracks spotted on the Mumbai-Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) and alleged that these cracks are the result of corruption. After inspection, Nana Patole addressed the media persons and said, "This road was inaugurated by the PM Modi recently. Around half a kilometre of road has sustained one-foot-deep cracks in it, which indicates the level of corruption in this government. They are not even worried about the public." Nana Patole asserted, "The cracks in this bridge are a result of corruption by the Eknath Shinde government. We will take this matter to Vidhan Sabha strongly." Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewari-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu, India's longest bridge, in Maharashtra on January 12, 2024. Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis were also present on the occasion. Atal Setu is also the longest sea bridge in the country. Atal Setu provides faster connectivity to Mumbai International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport and reduces travel time from Mumbai to Pune, Goa and South India. The foundation stone of the bridge was also laid by the Prime Minister in December 2016. Atal Setu has been constructed at a total cost of more than Rs 17,840 crore. It is a 21.8-kilometer-long, 6-lane bridge with about 16.5 km of length over sea and about 5.5 km of length on land. (ANI)
"Indian Army marked 10th International Yoga Day with over 5,446 participants across the states of Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura and Manipur, emphasising the holistic benefits of yoga for physical, mental and spiritual well-being," as per a Ministry of Defence, Manipur, Nagaland and Southern Arunachal Pradesh press release.

The day was celebrated with synchronised sunrise yoga sessions and community engagements, highlighting the Army's commitment to wellness, unity and peace.

In Manipur, 3,454 personnel participated in events at Moreh, Gwaltabi, Senapati, Leimakhong, Bishnupur, Ningthiching, Phougakchao, Ikhai, Kumbi and Kangvai. At Leimakhong military station alone, 500 Officers, Junior Commissioned Officers and other ranks joined with their families, showcasing the inclusive nature of the event.

"Assam saw 1,601 participants in Laipuli, Rupai, Digboi, Charidwar Pengri, Margherita,

DK Gaon, Makum, Phillobari, Dirak, Daisajan and Kakopathar. Special sessions were organised at Kakopathar Junior College, Purbottar Vikas Parishad Orphanage and locations in the Tinsukia District, engaging over 450 teachers and students along with Army and Assam Rifles personnel," the release said.

In Tripura, 197 participants gathered at Elbert Ekka Park in Agartala, emphasising the importance of holistic health. Mizoram's Aizawl saw 71 participants, while Nagaland's Chakabama, Zakhama and Dimapur hosted 123 personnel.

"These widespread celebrations reflect the Indian Army's dedication to promoting yoga's benefits, fostering community ties, and honouring a 5,000-year-old tradition that contributes to global harmony in body, mind, and society. The Indian Army extends warm wishes to all, celebrating yoga as a symbol of unity, health and inner peace," as per the release. (ANI)
The Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport in Indore city of Madhya Pradesh on Friday received a hoax bomb threat after which the case has been registered against unidentified persons in this connection, officials said. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Alok Kumar Sharma said that an unidentified person sent an email that threatened a bomb blast on its premises. "Airport Authorities received an email that some people are going to plant a bomb at the airport. Airport authorities made all the security arrangements and a drill was also carried out. Local police and the CISF were also involved in the drill," ADCP Sharma said. He further said that following the investigation by the police and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the threat turned out to be a hoax. "A case under section 507 (criminal intimidation by anonymous communication) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered against the unidentified person over the threatening mail," he added. Earlier on June 19, Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar International Airport located in Madhya Pradesh's Indore received a bomb threat following which the police registered a case and initiated a probe into the matter. The airport authority received the bomb threat through email on Tuesday and later they reported the issue to the Aerodrum police station in the district. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP, Zone 1) Vinod Kumar Meena said, "On Tuesday, the airport authority received a bomb threat through an email to blast the Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar International Airport. The email contains the names of other cities in the country too." "After the incident, the airport authority lodged a complaint into the matter at Aerodrum police station in the district. Acting on it, a case has been registered and the police have sought the information from GMail authority about the issue," Meena said. He added that such threats were received in the past as well and further investigation into the matter was underway. (ANI)
Upon recieving the information, fire tenders were rushed to the spot and 28 fire tenders were present at the spot.

Meanwhile, efforts to douse the flames are underway.

The officials said that the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.

So far no injuries and causality are reported.

Further details are awaited. (ANI)
Many organisations and departments conducted early morning Yoga events beneath the cloudy skies.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal joined the Yoga Day celebrations in Tinsukia. He was accompanied by Rameswar Teli (former Union Minister), Sanjay Kishan (Assam Government Minister), Vijay Kumar (The Chairman of Inland Waterways Authority of India) and other dignitaries.

Meanwhile, the Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma along with his cabinet colleagues Ashok Singhal and Keshab Mahanta participated in the state celebrations of the 10th International Day of Yoga at Tezpur in the Sonitpur district.

In Guwahati, Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria along with Assam Finance Minister Ajanta Neog participated in the International Yoga Day celebration.

Assam Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass participated in the Yoga Day celebration in Bajali.

NTPC Bongaigaon marked International Yoga Day with a mass yoga session at its premises. The event saw enthusiastic participation from over 100 individuals, including officers, employees, representatives of the union and association, family members and members of Bardwi Shikla Ladies Club, and associates.

The session was conducted by Rubul Das, a certified yoga guru and jawan from the CISF, NTPC Bongaigaon unit.

Induri S Reddy, General Manager (O&M), NTPC Bongaigaon led the yoga session and addressed the gathering. He emphasized the importance of yoga in achieving holistic well-being and fostering a sense of global unity.

Similarly, Northern Frontier Railways celebrated International Yoga Day at the NFRSA Indoor stadium. Chetan Kumar Shrivastva, General Manager at NFR was joined by other senior railway officials and staff to perform Yoga at the venue.

India Tourism Guwahati, in association with Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, celebrated the International Day of Yoga in KASA Indoor Stadium Diphu. Around 500 people participated in the energizing yoga session. Tuliram Ronghang, Chief Executive Member, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council & Madhumita Bhagawati, Deputy Commissioner, Karbi Anglong, Assam were present on the occasion.

The Food Corporation of India, Zonal office also organized a yoga session for the employees on its premises. The Yoga session was held emphasising on the need for maintaining mental and spiritual well-being.

Similarly, Border Security Force, Guwahati Frontier and Central Armed Police Forces Composite Hospital Patgaon, NCC cadets participated in a collective yoga session. In the Yoga activities held in the office of Defence, Guwahati, doctors, nursing officers and paramedical staff of 151 Base Hospital participated.

All the events highlighted the collective commitment to promoting health and wellness through yoga.

This year's theme, "Yoga for Self and Society," highlights the importance of yoga in enhancing personal and communal well-being. (ANI)
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday asserted that there is "no danger" to Atal Setu and termed the allegations as part of Congress' "long-term plan to create a rift with the help of lies." This comes after Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole on Friday inspected the cracks spotted on the Mumbai-Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) and alleged that these cracks are the result of corruption. "There is no crack on Atal Setu. Nor is there any danger to Atal Setu. This picture is of the approach road. But one thing is clear the Congress party has made a long-term plan to create a rift with the help of lies. Talks of constitutional amendments during elections, unlocking of EVMs through phone after elections and now such lies. Only the people of the country will defeat this 'Darar' plan and the corrupt behaviour of Congress," Devendra Fadnavis posted on X. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) clarified that minor cracks were found on the approach road connecting Atal Setu in Ulwe, which is not a part of the bridge but is a service road connecting the bridge. MMRDA stated that the cracks are not due to structural defects in the project and do not pose any threat to the structure of the bridge. MMRDA also labelled the news as 'rumours' and urged the citizens not to believe them. According to MMRDA, these minor cracks were already noticed at three places on Ramp No 5, from Ulwe towards Mumbai, on Thursday during an inspection by the Operation and Maintenance Team of the Project and require immediate repair. Strabag, the contractor of Package 4 of the Atal Setu project, has started the repair work in the said area and the work will be completed within 24 hours without any disruption to the traffic on the bridge. The official statement reads, "It has been noticed that there is no crack in the main part of Atal Setu Bridge but rumours are being spread in various media about it. Please don't believe the rumours. Minor cracks have been found on the approach road connecting Atal Setu. The said footpath is not a part of the main bridge but is a service road connecting the bridge. It is also very important to note that the cracks are not due to structural defects in the project and do not pose any threat to the structure of the bridge." "During the inspection on 20th June 2024 by the Operation and Maintenance Team of the project, minor cracks were noticed at three places on Ramp No. 5 asphalt from Ulwe towards Mumbai which require immediate repair. M/s Strabag, the contractor of Package 4 of the Atal Setu project, has started the repair work in the said area and the work will be completed within 24 hours without any disruption to the traffic on the bridge." In a social media post to X, MMRDA wrote, "There have been rumours circulating about cracks on the MTHL bridge. We want to clarify that these cracks are not on the bridge itself but on the approach road connecting MTHL from Ulwe towards Mumbai." Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewari-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu, India's longest bridge, in Maharashtra on January 12, 2024. Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis were also present on the occasion. Atal Setu is also the longest sea bridge in the country. Atal Setu provides faster connectivity to Mumbai International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport and reduces travel time from Mumbai to Pune, Goa and South India. The foundation stone of the bridge was also laid by the Prime Minister in December 2016. Atal Setu has been constructed at a total cost of more than Rs 17,840 crore. It is a 21.8-kilometer-long, 6-lane bridge with about 16.5 km of length over sea and about 5.5 km of length on land. (ANI)
After the Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party core committee concluded, Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Friday said that in the meeting the party analysed the entire Lok Sabha elections and the mistakes that were being made by the party in the elections. "Maharashtra core committee meeting was held and in this meeting, we analysed the elections that were held recently in the state. Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray and the Congress leaders lied and asked for votes from the people, but now the people have understood...We analysed the entire Lok Sabha elections, and what were our mistakes. We will try to rectify them and our government will try to fulfil the demands of the people," Bawankule told reporters. The Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party core committee was held at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's residence on Friday. Earlier on June 18, Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) core group meeting at party headquarters in Delhi along with BJP national president JP Nadda. The meeting comes a day after Nadda appointed state election in-charges and co-in-charges for the upcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra, Haryana, Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir which are going to polls this year. Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Bhupender Yadav has been appointed as the incharge for Maharashtra while Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will be the co-incharge for the state, according to a statement issued by the party. The Maharashtra Assembly elections are scheduled to be held this year to elect 288 members of the state's legislative assembly. 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 Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackrey) got nine seats while the Nationalist Congress Party - Sharadchandra Pawar won eight seats. (ANI)
The US Chamber of Commerce's US-India Business Council (USIBC) hosted a closed-door member interaction with the US Congressional delegation led by Representative Michael McCaul in Delhi on Thursday. The discussion focused on enhancing industrial cooperation between India and the US in defence and strategic technologies. In addition to Chairman McCaul, the bipartisan delegation included former US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, US Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks. US Representative Gregory Meeks, US Representative Nicole Malliotakis, US Representative Jim McGovern, and US Representative Ami Bera, according to USIBC press release. In a press release, USIBC on Thursday stated, "The US Chamber of Commerce's US-India Business Council (USIBC) hosted a closed-door member interaction with a senior delegation from the U.S. House of Representatives led by Representative Michael McCaul (R-TX), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, in New Delhi today." "The interaction focused on enhancing industrial cooperation between India and the United States in defence and strategic technologies, reflecting the two countries' common interest in promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region based on democratic values," it added. USIBC's Delhi-based Managing Director Alexander Slater stated that companies in India and the US play a critical and growing role in strengthening efforts to build a "free, open, prosperous and peaceful Indo-Pacific." Slater said, "Today's meeting between senior US Congressional officials and members of the US-India Business Council shows that closer strategic cooperation between India and the United States enjoys broad-based political support in America." "Companies from both countries play a critical and growing role in strengthening official efforts to build a free, open, prosperous and peaceful Indo-Pacific, which is essential to India achieving its development aspirations. Industry drives the innovation, job creation and resilient supply chains needed to sustain these outcomes. USIBC is proud to support this work as an official partner of the two governments across multiple platforms, including the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies and the defense innovation bridge INDUS X," he added. On June 18, the US Congressional delegation arrived in India to meet Tibetan Spiritual leader Dalai Lama. The American delegation was received by officials of the Central Tibetan Administration at Kangra Airport. The US Congressional delegation's visit came the same week as meetings in New Delhi between US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval that focused on enhancing bilateral strategic cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, according to USIBC press release. On June 17, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and his US counterpart Jake Sullivan attended the annual meeting of the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) between the two countries. The delegation-level talks were held in the national capital. This is the second iCET meeting between the two countries and is being held over two days on June 17 and 18. The first meeting was held in the United States in January last year. During the meeting, India and the US agreed to closer engagement and cooperation on supply chain, semiconductors and critical minerals. The two nations have launched a new strategic semiconductors partnership to co-develop semiconductor design and manufacturing processes for precision-guided ammunition. "Launching a new strategic semiconductor partnership between General Atomics and 3rdiTech to co-develop semiconductor design and manufacturing for precision-guided ammunition and other national security-focused electronics platforms," read the fact sheet issued by the US and India. Semiconductors, essential for defence, automobiles and telecommunications sectors, have grown into a key geopolitical battleground, with the US, Japan and China investing heavily in developing domestic capabilities. "Celebrating the conclusion of a joint Semiconductor Readiness Assessment through a partnership between the US Semiconductor Industry Association and the India Electronics Semiconductor Association, which identifies near-term industry opportunities and facilitates longer-term strategic development of complementary semiconductor ecosystems," the factsheet added. This engagement with Indian and US investors in the semiconductor industry in India aims to continue building India's robust semiconductor and information communication technology ecosystem. Tata Electronics and Taiwan's Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. (PSMC) will establish India's first semiconductor fabrication plant (fab) in Dholera, Gujarat. Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test Pvt Ltd (TSAT) will set up a semiconductor unit in Morigaon, Assam. CG Power, in partnership with Renesas Electronics Corp, Japan, and Stars Microelectronics, Thailand, will establish a semiconductor unit in Sanand, Gujarat. US and India also aimed to work together to ensure a reliable supply of critical minerals, which are essential for clean energy technologies and other important industries. "Promoting India's vital role in the Mineral Security Partnership, including through co-investing in a lithium resource project in South America and a rare earths deposit in Africa, to responsibly and sustainably diversify critical mineral supply chains," read the fact sheet. (ANI)
Former Tibetan Prime Minister-in-Exile Lobsang Sangay called the US Congressional delegation's meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar "politically and symbolically very important." He expressed gratitude to the Indian government and leaders for standing with the US delegation that came to support Tibet. In an interview with ANI, Lobsang Sangay said that no country in the world has supported Tibetans more than India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met with a bipartisan United States Congressional delegation led by Congressman Michael McCaul, who is currently on a visit to India. Former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is part of the delegation that called on PM Modi. On June 19, the US delegation met Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama at his residence in Dharamshala. Asked about the US Congressional delegation's meeting with PM Modi and Jaishankar and Tibet's expectation from India, he said, "This politically and symbolically is very important. Not only honourable Prime Minister Modi ji to meet with US delegation who just met with His Holiness and visited Tibetan government-in-Exile, and to tweet about it, you know, after Nancy Pelosi and others made strong statements about Tibet, if not a direct endorsement, but an indication that I hear you, what you are saying, you know, so we are very grateful to the government of India and leaders of India for, you know, stating it very clearly and standing with the US delegation who came to support Tibet." Stressing that the world will listen if India speaks about Tibet, Lobsang Sangay said, "The largest number of Tibetans are in India. His Holiness Dalai Lama has always said, I am a son of India. You know, I am a guest here you know and then if India speaks, the world will listen and we hope and always pray that India will speak about Tibet and the world will listen and follow. Having said that, no country in the world has supported Tibetans more than India. There are no people in the world who love and treat us, and show their hospitality than the Indian people. So, we are forever grateful." He said that the US Congressional delegation's visit, led by Congressman Michael McCaul, to meet Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama demonstrates a strong message. He said that the US is united when it comes to Tibet and is sending a message to Asia and China. Speaking about the US Congressional delegation's visit to India, he said, "We welcome the us delegation led by leader Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Michael McCaul and some of my friends are also in the delegation. I've met all of them before because it's a very strong message to travel all the way solely to meet with His Holiness and visit the Tibetan government in exile. You know, it's, you know, everybody says America is divided, but on Tibet they are united. So sending a message to Asia, to China, America is with Tibetans and his Holiness is much respected, no matter how many times the Chinese government tried to, you know, spread misinformation about him." Calling Tibet an independent nation, he said that China has interfered unnecessarily and termed it an "uninvited guest." His remarks came after China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian reiterated Beijing's stance on Tibet. Asked about China's statement regarding interference in matters of Tibet, he said, "Actually, Tibet was an independent country. China interfered. Right now, America or India is not interfering. They're stating a fact, a truth, that China should not be here, to give autonomy to Tibetans. So, China was the first who interfere unnecessarily. We never invited them. They are uninvited guests. Now people are saying, you are uninvited guests. And they say, why are you interfering in our business? No, you are an uninvited guest. You interfered and people are calling you out." He said that former US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi is the best friend of Tibetans. Asked about Pelosi's statement that Dalai Lama's legacy will live on, he said, "She is on point. She has been the best friend Tibetans could have. And to say that Dalai Lama's legacy will live on, Xi will not, you know,.....All the dictators in all the autocratic systems, you know, major empires come and go. But, Dalai Lama is the living Buddha of this generation. His wisdom, his legacy has spread all over the world and his legacy will live forever." On the US Congress' passage of the Resolve Tibet Act, he said, "It's very important because in the Tibetan Policy and Support Act, 2020, we got so many things, but the historical issue was not addressed. So, this bill addresses that. In a way, it says, historically Tibet was an independent country and Tibetans based on international law deserve self-determination and Chinese government and envoys of the Dalai Lama should have negotiation and dialogue to solve the issue of Tibet." "This is a very clear stand of America because just three years ago, you know, American stand was Tibet, you know, was part of China. But we respect linguistic, religious, and cultural freedom. This is a complete, you know, turnaround, but also a fact, legally and factually fact," he added. Recently, 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. 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 the two sides have taken place since 2010. Asked whether he expects a meeting between US President Joe Biden and Dalai Lama during his visit to the US, Lobsang Sangay responded, "At the moment, he is simply going there for medical purposes, that's the only reason. But, once he gets to US, I feel and I wish and I appeal President Biden to meet with Dalai Lama because all the previous presidents have met with Dalai Lama because of COVID His Holiness could not meet President Trump." "But he had invited Dalai Lama to the White House. Now, as far as President Biden is concerned, before election, during campaign, he has clearly stated that I will meet with his Holiness Dalai Lama. If his Holiness Dalai Lama is in America, it just makes very good sense for them to meet and, you know, stand by what he said when he ran for election," he added. Asked if US President Biden signs the bill on Dalai Lama's birthday, he said, "Yes, this will be a very good gift, but his solace will be 90 years next year. But as for lunar calendar, he is 90 years this year. Right. So on his birthday, if President Biden signs, you know, the bill into a law, it will be a best gift for His Holiness Dalai Lama and Tibetan people." (ANI)
Al Ghaithi stated that Dubai Police is dedicated to enhancing road safety through intensified traffic control operations.

"These operations target traffic violations and reckless drivers, contributing to safer roads and fewer fatalities," he said.

Al Ghaithi highlighted the significant risk posed by e-scooters, bicycles, and electric bikes, primarily when used in unauthorised areas or on public roads. "Dubai Police prioritises the safety of riders and other road users through regular awareness campaigns," he reaffirmed.

In the first half of 2024, accidents involving e-scooters, bicycles, and electric bikes resulted in four fatalities, one severe injury, 19 moderate injuries, and five minor injuries. 7804 violations were recorded, and 4474 scooters and bicycles were confiscated.

Al Ghaithi outlined various fines for violations, such as riding on roads with a speed limit exceeding 60 km/h, riding dangerously, carrying passengers on e-scooters, and riding against traffic.

He emphasised the importance of adhering to safety measures, including using designated lanes, wearing appropriate clothing and helmets, and avoiding riding at night or in adverse weather conditions.

Al Ghaithi urged cyclists to adhere to traffic rules and regulations, use designated paths, and prioritise safety. He also encouraged the public to report any negative phenomena or dangerous behaviours through the "Police Eye" service or call the "We Are All Police" service at 901. (ANI/WAM)
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China strongly condemns and firmly opposes U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and urges the United States to revoke its wrong decision, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Thursday.

The U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale of drones and missiles to Taiwan for an estimated 360 million U.S. dollars, according to the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

In response to a related query, spokesperson Lin Jian told a press briefing that the United States, ignoring China's consistent opposition and solemn representations, has once again agreed to sell arms to China's Taiwan region. He said that this seriously violates the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques -- particularly the August 17 Communique -- as well as China's sovereignty and security interests, seriously undermines China-U.S. relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and sends a serious, erroneous signal to the separatist forces seeking "Taiwan independence."

"China strongly condemns and firmly opposes this," Lin stressed.

The United States has sold arms to Taiwan time after time, supporting and encouraging Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities to adhere stubbornly to the separatist position of "Taiwan independence" and disturb the one-China principle, Lin noted.

This once again proves that the separatist activities of the "Taiwan independence" forces and the conniving support of external forces led by the United States are the biggest threats to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and they bring the greatest damage to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, he said.

It should be noted that the DPP is attempting to seek "independence" by force, and the United States is determined to assist this "independence" by force. Any such actions will only backfire and lead to disastrous consequences, ultimately ending in failure, Lin said.

He stressed that the Taiwan question is at the heart of China's core interests, and it is the most important red line that cannot be crossed in China-U.S. relations. No one should underestimate China's firm will and strong ability to oppose "Taiwan independence" and defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

China urges the United States to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, revoke its erroneous decision to sell arms to Taiwan, stop following the dangerous trend of arming Taiwan, stop conniving and supporting the erroneous actions of "Taiwan independence" forces, and stop undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, Lin said.

China will take resolute and forceful measures to safeguard its national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, he said.
The World Uyghur Congress, along with several other human rights organizations, expressed concerns on Thursday regarding the human rights situation in Xinjiang, China. Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the International Service for Human Rights, and the World Uyghur Congress said that the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, should provide a public update of measures taken by the Chinese government and his office to address the human rights situation in Xinjiang. The human rights organizations also released a series of translations of the report by his office on Xinjiang published in 2022. It emphasised the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights' role and responsibilities in addressing these issues, particularly following the release of a landmark report in August 2022. The report concluded that the actions of the Chinese government in Xinjiang may constitute crimes against humanity. Despite international calls for action and ongoing advocacy efforts, including the publication of translations of the UN report into multiple languages to broaden awareness, there remains a critical lack of substantive follow-up and accountability from both the High Commissioner's office and UN member states. In the press release, the World Uyghur Congress has urged the UN High Commissioner to provide detailed updates on efforts to prevent atrocities and seek accountability, particularly as the second anniversary of the report approaches. It also underscored the continued human rights abuses in Xinjiang, including arbitrary detention and suppression of Uyghur identity, despite international recommendations and calls for independent investigations. The organizations involved stressed the need for concrete action, including robust international scrutiny and accountability mechanisms, to address the ongoing crisis effectively. Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch said, "The publication of the UN human rights office's report was a landmark moment for highlighting the gravity of human rights violations in Xinjiang." Pearson added, "Now it's up to the UN high commissioner to make full use of that report to improve the situation for Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang." China's actions in Xinjiang have sparked global condemnation for their treatment of Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic minorities. Organisations like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) have published extensive reports based on interviews with survivors, satellite imagery analysis, and other evidence documenting human rights abuses in Xinjiang. Key accusations include the widespread arbitrary detention of over a million individuals in "re-education camps" without due process, described as part of a coercive effort for ideological control. The reports of several organisations detail allegations of forced labour under exploitative conditions in industries such as cotton and textiles, drawing comparisons to historical forced labour practices and raising concerns about contemporary human rights abuses. Chinese authorities have been accused of actively suppressing cultural and religious practices among Uyghurs and other minorities, including restrictions on religious activities, destruction and modifications of mosques and cultural sites, and efforts to enforce assimilation by promoting Mandarin Chinese over native languages. Uyghurs and other minorities reportedly face significant obstacles to their freedom of movement, including arbitrary travel bans and strict residency controls, reinforcing an atmosphere of coercion aimed at maintaining political stability, according to Chinese authorities. (ANI)
Former US President Donald Trump, who is known for his strong anti-immigration stance, suggested on Thursday (local time) that foreign students who graduate from college in the United States should receive a green card automatically so they can stay in the country. He stressed the need to retain the brightest minds in the world, who want to stay in the US and have a plan which can benefit the country. "You graduate from a college, I think you should get automatically as part of your diploma a green card to be able to stay in this country, and that includes junior colleges too," Trump said in an episode on the All-In podcast, which is hosted by several venture capitalists. He floated the idea after being asked by the host if he would promise to "give us ability to import the best and brightest around the world to America." Notably, the former president has used harsh rhetoric about illegal immigration, throughout his campaign. Recently, he criticized President Joe Biden for not being able to decrease the number of migrants crossing the border illegally. Trump is known for his hardline stance on immigration. He has promised that if he's re-elected he'll carry out mass deportations, end birthright citizenship, and reinstitute his prohibition on people entering the US from certain Muslim-majority nations, according to Politico. During his tenure as President, Trump consistently promised to build a border wall along the US-Mexico border, although only 452 miles of the wall was built by the time he left office. However, it is unclear if Trump's suggestion also applies to those who came to the country illegally. "I know of stories where people graduated from a top college or from college, and they desperately wanted to stay here and had a plan for a company, a concept. And they can't," Politico quoted Trump as saying. "Somebody graduates at the top of the class, they can't even make a deal with a company because they don't think they're going to be able to stay in the country. That is going to end on day one," he added. (ANI)
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during his meeting with Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, assured the latter of resolving his concerns related to the federal budget, The News International reported. Bilawal expressed his party's reservations on several issues before PM Shehbaz Sharif. He complained despite being a major ally of the government, the PPP was being "ignored" and not being taken into confidence on matters related to the federal government, especially in the budget-making process, and also in Punjab province. Bilawal expressed his strong reservations and concern about ignoring the PPP in Punjab and the non-implementation of an agreement reached with his party during the government formation talks, The News International reported citing sources. Most of the demands and issues raised by PPP were related to development projects for Sindh and Public Sector Development Projects. PM Shehbaz Sharif assured the PPP chairman of addressing the reservations. The PPP chief assured the premier that his party would help the federal government pass the federal budget from parliament. The two sides also discussed the PPP's inclusion into the federal cabinet and power-sharing in Punjab during the meeting, which was also attended by senior leaders. Notably, the PPP is supporting the Shehbaz Sharif-led government from the outside and is not a part of the federal cabinet. Federal ministers Ishaq Dar, Rana Sanaullah, Attaullah Tarar, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Ali Pervaiz Malik, and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb were also present at the meeting From the PPP, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Khursheed Shah, and Sherry Rehman participated in the meeting. Commenting on the meeting, PPP leader Senator Saleem Mandviwalla said the Bilawal-led party agreed to support the PMLN-led federal government to the extent of Finance Bill 2024-25 for which it was in contact with the finance minister, The News International reported. However, both sides needed to sort out some political matters, he added. This development comes as the Pakistan economy is reeling under high prices and rising debt. The Pakistan government has less than two weeks to get parliamentary approval as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has told the Pakistani authorities to include its guidelines in the budget, as reported by Geo News. Pakistan has approached the US-based lender for a new bailout package while the taxation measures announced by Federal Minister Mohammad Aurangzeb in the budget have been rejected by the trade bodies. However, the government has clarified that it has to meet the revenue targets to get the loan from the IMF. (ANI)
In a shift in stance, the United States has told Ukraine that it can use American-supplied weapons to hit Russian forces "anywhere", its forces attack from across the border, and not just the region near Kharkiv, Politico reported, citing US officials. This subtle shift, which according to the officials is not a change in policy, comes weeks after the US quietly signaled the green light to Kyiv to strike inside Russia in retaliation to a cross-border assault on the city of Kharkiv. During that time, the US officials stressed that the policy was limited to the Kharkiv region, among other restrictions. Since then, the Ukrainian forces have used American weapons to strike into Russia at least once, destroying targets in the city of Belgorod, and managing to hold back the Russian assault. On the other hand, Ukraine and other European officials have asked the US to loosen its restrictions, allowing Ukraine to strike anywhere inside Russia. Earlier on Tuesday, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told PBS that the agreement with Ukraine about firing American weapons into Russia extends to "anywhere that Russian forces are coming across the border from the Russian side to the Ukrainian side to try to take additional Ukrainian territory," as reported by Politico. Recently, Russia has indicated that it might soon move to the northeastern city of Sumy, which is also near the Russian border. In that case, the policy would apply there as well, Sullivan added. The US NSA emphasized that this is not about geography. It's about 'common sense', adding that, "If Russia is attacking or about to attack from its territory into Ukraine, it only makes sense to allow Ukraine to hit back against the forces that are hitting it from across the border." Two American officials, who were granted anonymity to speak candidly about the discussions, said that allowing Ukraine to hit inside Russia in response to counterfire from anywhere across the border is not a shift in policy since the Kharkiv decision was made, Politico reported. Originally, the move was characterized only in the context of the ongoing Kharkiv assault, but that did not exclude the possibility of hitting back against other cross-border attacks, one of the officials said. However, Sullivan's language is quite different from what US officials said in May when the new policy was detailed. "The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use US weapons for counter-fire purposes in Kharkiv so Ukraine can hit back at Russian forces hitting them or preparing to hit them," Sullivan said. The policy of not allowing long-range strikes inside Russia "has not changed," the official stressed. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday expressed gratitude to Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Senator Penny Wong for coordinating with India in delivering Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) assistance to the landslide affected-Enga Province in Papua New Guinea. EAM Jaishankar said that the India-Australia Dosti is delivering the HADR assistance in the Indo-Pacific. "So glad we could coordinate FM @SenatorWong. #IndiaAustraliaDosti delivering HADR assistance in the Indo-Pacific," Jaishanakar shared on X. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1803987175094259982 Earlier today, Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Senator Penny Wong said that Australia is coordinating with partners to ensure the delivery of much-needed assistance to Papua New Guinea. Wong further said that they visited the disaster zone and transported a package of Indian supplies to the landslide affected-Enga Province. "Australia is coordinating with partners to ensure the delivery of much needed assistance to our Papua New Guinean family. We were pleased to transport a package of Indian supplies to the landslide affected-Enga Province as we visited the disaster zone," the Australian minister said on X. https://x.com/SenatorWong/status/1803902607389528209 Last week, The USD 1 million worth of humanitarian assistance sent by India for landslide victims in Papua New Guinea reached the disaster-hit country on Friday. The Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Assistance (HADR) was received by PNG Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko, PNG Defence Minister Billy Joseph, and several other officials, at the Port Moresby airport today. "US$ 1 million HADR relief assistance, for victims of landslides in Enga province, from India reached Port Moresby airport; received by H.E. Justin Tkatchenko, PNG Foreign Minister, Dr. Billy Joseph, Defence Minister, Secy, PNG Dept of Foreign Affairs Mr. Wohengu & Enga Provincial Admr Tsaka. High Commr Inbasekar S handed over material to @TkatchenkoMP who felicitated @DrSJaishankar India for timely help. Relief will be dispatched to Wabag shortly. Vishvabandhu in action!" the Indian Embassy in Papua New Guinea posted on X. Foreign Minister Tkatchenko thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and the people of India for the assistance. Earlier on May 28, India announced immediate relief assistance worth USD 1 million for Papua New Guinea. India expressed solidarity by announcing relief assistance to the island country which was hit by a massive landslide in Enga Province, burying hundreds of people and causing major destruction and loss of life. The landslide hit the Enga region in northern Papua New Guinea, claiming the lives of over 670 people, CNN reported citing estimates from the Chief of Mission for the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in the island nation. India has throughout stood by Papua New Guinea during times of difficulty and devastation caused by natural disasters, including in the wake of the earthquake in 2018 and volcanic eruptions in 2019 and 2023. (ANI)
Foreign diplomats in India celebrated the 10th International Yoga Day on Friday with External Minister S Jaishankar and other senior officials from the External Affairs Ministry. High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to India, Lindy Cameron emphasised that Yoga is India''s gift to the world. Expressing her joy at participating in the yoga session, Cameron said, "It was fantastic to be here in Delhi and able to practice yoga on International Yoga Day with EAM Jaishankar...So actually to be here with all the diplomatic corps was fantastic. I think it really is India''s gift." British Deputy High Commissioner Christina Scott emphasised that it was a privilege to join EAM Jaishankar and other officials of the MEA and to hear Prime Minister Narendra Modi''s speaking from Srinagar. "It was a really, really good session today, led by doctor Jaishankar and real privileged to join him and the senior team from the MEA and to hear Prime Minister Modi as well, giving his thoughts from Srinagar. We enjoy yoga a lot at the British High Commission. It''s India''s gift to the world and it was a real pleasure to be here today," Scott told ANI. Norway''s ambassador to India May-Elin Stener said that she witnessed the moment when the United Nations General Assembly in 2014 voted to create the International Yoga Day. Emphasising, "I love yoga", Stener said, "I think this practice was very, very good. I learned new things about breathing on Yoga Day. Happy International Yoga Day, everyone. This is the 10th International Yoga Day. I was in the United Nations General Assembly when it was voted over in December 2014. So I''m very happy to be here in India on the 10th International Day of Yoga." United Nations Resident Coordinator in India Shombi Sharp said that it has been a wonderful morning invigorating here celebrating the 10th anniversary of the International Day of Yoga launched by Prime Minister Modi in New York. "Really this is a wonderful way to celebrate harmony between the individual spirit and community. And we see this, the UN, we see this as a path towards health, a path towards peace," he said. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday, performed yoga with the diplomats in the national capital and said that yoga has been a great bonding point for different cultures when it comes to building international relations. Jaishankar said, "Today, I was so happy to see so many diplomats, ambassadors, and colleagues from the foreign ministry, join us at the Yoga session." Taking on X, EAM Jaishankar said that developing Yoga enthusiasm and awareness around the world has been an inspiration. "Participated this morning at the #IDY2024 event in New Delhi with members of the diplomatic community. Developing Yoga enthusiasm and awareness around the world has been an inspiration. Happy to see that #YogaforSelfAndSociety has become an essential way of life for so many," he posted on X. This year''s theme, "Yoga for Self and Society," emphasizes yoga''s vital role in fostering both individual well-being and societal harmony. People from across the world are celebrating the 10th International Day of Yoga by practising yoga, including Nepal, the US, and Japan. The diplomatic missions and the Indian embassies are organising Yoga sessions to create awareness about the importance and benefits of yoga in today''s life. (ANI)
On the occasion of the 10th International Day of Yoga, Australian High Commissioner to India, Philip Green said that over 10 lakh Australians across the world practice yoga. The Australian High Commissioner shared a post on X, showcasing videos of yoga enthusiasts from the Australian High Commission performing their favourite asanas in the national capital. "#DYK over 10 lakh Australians practice #yoga, including here in #NewDelhi? Meet yoga enthusiasts from our Australian High Commission performing their favourite asanas at iconic #Delhi locations to mark #InternationalYogaDay2024. #IYD2024 #YogaforSelfAndSociety @narendramodi," Philip Green stated on X. https://x.com/AusHCIndia/status/1804011621569958055 Tom, who works at the Australian High Commission said, "I am glad that I can practice yoga in India." Meanwhile, Australian diplomats Isabelle and Jess said, "Today marks the 10th anniversary of International Yoga Day. The theme this year is yoga for self and society. We love to practice yoga and our favourite pose is ustrasana. We practise this daily because it energises us." Kate from the Australian High Commission emphasised that Yoga doesn't only connect to the mind, body and soul but also to communities, creating happier and healthier societies. "My favourite asana is shirshasana which I've been practising for a year now. It's a great way for me to bring focus and balance into my week," she said. The Israeli embassy in India shared a post on social media X, showcasing the video of their diplomats saying why they love Yoga. "Namaste! SHlvm This #InternationalYogaDay, our diplomats share why they LOVE #yoga. They might not be yogis yet, but they sure have fun trying! Tell us in the comments why YOU love yoga," the embassy stated on X. https://x.com/IsraelinIndia/status/1804000779843571718 One of the diplomats, in a humorous way, said that he loves yoga because it is the only time he can lay down and say he's exercising. "I love doing yoga. It's the only time I can lay down and say I'm exercising," he said. Meanwhile, another diplomat said, "I do yoga because the social media team told me I get many followers and likes on X." Another diplomat said that she thought yoga is a piece of cake. In a quirky response, one of the diplomats said, "I love doing yoga. It's the only time I resemble a human jalebi." Moreover, the Ukrainian embassy in India also joined hands to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the International Day of Yoga. The embassy shared a post on X, stating, "Team members of the Embassy of Ukraine in India join celebrations of the 10th Anniversary of the International Day of Yoga & more than 5000 years of ancient Yoga tradition." It also shared a video showing different asanas and highlighted that the diplomats have been practising yoga regularly in the Embassy for 1.5 months now. "It has been 1.5 months as we are practicing yoga regularly in the Embassy with our Yoga Teacher Vineet Panday Jee of Yoganeedam," the embassy said. "We feel deeply grateful for the opportunity to practice the ancient tradition of yoga, which significantly enhances both our physical and mental health and helps us to go through difficulties we face," it added. https://x.com/UkrembInd/status/1804040161090785401 As people across the world continue to celebrate yoga on the 10th International Day of Yoga, the Indian embassy in Oman also shared a post stating that today, on this occasion, INS Tarkash visited Salalah port, hosting a vibrant yoga session, where the Indian community and the ship's crew practised yoga. "Yoga on Seas, Spreading Peace' On the occasion of #10thInternationalDayofYoga INS Tarkash visited Salalah port, hosting a vibrant yoga session, where the Indian community & ship's crew immersed themselves in a rejuvenating experience, embracing transformative benefits of yoga," they stated on X. https://x.com/Indemb_Muscat/status/1804036086349406507 This year's theme, "Yoga for Self and Society," emphasizes yoga's vital role in fostering both individual well-being and societal harmony. (ANI)
A mob brutally lynched a man in the Swat region of Pakistan accusing him of desecration of the Holy Book inside the Madyan police station, Dawn reported. The victim, a tourist from Sialkot, was burned alive by an enraged crowd on Thursday as per a purported video of the incident that has been circulated on social media. Some individuals in a local market announced that a man had committed blasphemy after which a crowd of people nabbed the man and handed him over to the police, reported Dawn. However, shortly after, announcements were made from mosques in Madyan, a well-known tourist destination in Swat, inciting further anger and mobilizing people towards the police station. Witnesses reported that the mob demanded the police hand over the suspect and when the police refused, the mob forced their way into the station. Police officers fled to save themselves, and reinforcements were called in to manage the escalating law and order situation, the Pakistan based newspaper said. The Swat District Police Officer (DPO) was cited as saying, "People set fire to the police station and a police vehicle. The man was burnt alive." Taha Siddiqui, a Pakistani journalist living in exile, shared the footage on X, commenting, "In this video now viral on social media, a Pakistani man can be seen burnt alive by a mob in #Swat Valley over #blasphemy allegations. The larger mob surrounding the body can be seen using cameras with flashlight to film the lynching. Welcome to #Pakistan - the Islamic republic." https://x.com/TahaSSiddiqui/status/1803948573161058377 Barrister Sidra Qayyum also posted on X, highlighting the severity of the situation, "In Swat Pakistan, the body of a tourist from Sialkot was killed and burnt later on the charge of blasphemy, and burning of the Holy Quran. The mob attacks police station and took over the accused. The situation is tense in the area and two people are reported injured in the market from police sources." The identity of the suspect has yet to be confirmed, but media reports suggest he was a tourist staying at a local hotel. This tragic event marks the second instance of lynching over blasphemy allegations in recent weeks. Last month, a man was killed in Sargodha under similar accusations. The incident underscores the volatile nature of blasphemy accusations in Pakistan, often leading to mob violence and tragic loss of life. The situation remains tense in Swat as authorities work to restore order and investigate the incident. (ANI)
The Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) vehemently condemned the mob lynching of a man in the Swat town of Pakistan and criticized the country's law enforcement agencies for their inaction. Muhammad Ismail was brutally lynched and burnt alive by a violent mob in Swat on Thursday evening. Ismail, who had been arrested earlier on accusations of blasphemy, had travelled from Sialkot to spend a few days in Swat during the Eid holidays. The rights group said the victim was lynched despite him being in police custody, further asserting that the law enforcement authorities failed to protect him from the mob's wrath. HRFP President Naveed Walter expressed grave concerns over the rising trend of violence on accusations of blasphemy, claiming that it has now reached an alarming level where no one is safe. Walter emphasized that this culture of accusations can target anyone, anywhere in Pakistan. "Accusing innocents of blasphemy has become so rampant that nobody is safe now. The tourism sector in Swat will suffer, and the pressure from radical elements will only increase," Walter said. Walter criticized the failure of the police and law enforcement agencies to protect Ismail during the attack. He condemned the "silence and inaction" surrounding such incidents, stating that it emboldened the accusers and attackers. Walter stressed that neither authorities nor the common person can feel secure when lynching and violence become so commonplace. He also highlighted the broader implications of this incident, pointing out the challenges of the rule of law, governance and the pervasive double standards in handling such sensitive cases. Walter called for urgent reforms and stronger protections to prevent such tragedies in the future. It underscores the urgent need to address the root causes of such violent acts and ensure the safety and security of all citizens in Pakistan. (ANI)
Hundreds of protestors gathered in front of the District Collector's office from Fida Chowk in Turbat, Balochistan, demanding the safe release of victims of enforced disappearances. The Baloch Yakjahti Committee (BYC) alleged that the Pakistani administration has not paid any attention to the matter. This protest entered its fifth consecutive day on Friday. "After four days of sit-in protest in the scorching heat, the families are now marching towards the D.C. office, where they will continue their protest until their loved ones are returned. In this difficult time, we urge our nation to participate in the sit-in in front of the D.C. office and encourage our elderly men, women, and children, for their sufferings and miseries are beyond words," the BYC posted on X. https://x.com/BYCKech/status/1803811876532330816 The BYC also reported that the health of the demonstrators is severely deteriorating as Pakistan currently witnesses a major heatwave. But, they affirmed that the determination of the protestors to recover the forcibly disappeared victims remains 'resilient'. "Sit-In Protest by Families for Safe Recovery of Their Beloved Ones Enters 4th Day. In this burning heat, they are fighting for their lives, while the district administration pretends to be on leave. They can't even attend the Sit-In protest and listen to these elderly women And man, which is extremely disappointing. We appeal to the people of Kech to participate in this Sit-In and support our elders, for we are their only hope," it said in a subsequent post. https://x.com/BYCKech/status/1803696455078588885 Previously, the BYC announced that the ongoing protest at Shaheed Fida Chowk in Turbat will persist until victims of enforced disappearances are safely released. The BYC further said that despite promises from the local administration regarding the safe return of the disappeared individuals, there has been no response from the current authorities. "Eid has come and gone, but Baloch families continue to protest at Shaheed Fida Chowk Turbat, demanding the safe return of their loved ones who have been missing since Eid. The District Administration had falsely assured them of their loved ones' release before. Now, no state authority has come forward to address their demands," the BYC stated. The Baloch Yakjahti Committee also called upon the international community to show solidarity on the issue and demanded the release of all Baloch individuals who have been forcibly disappeared. (ANI))
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A staff member transports a cargo containing Sinovac vaccines in Pasay City, the Philippines on Nov. 17, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

A recent Reuters investigation has found that the U.S. military launched a secret disinformation campaign to discredit Chinese vaccines in the Philippines, a nation severely impacted by COVID-19.

The disclosure has sparked widespread condemnation of the U.S. scheme from public health experts. Even former U.S. intelligence officials have decried the disinformation campaign.

Many experts have pointed out that America attempts to maintain its hegemony and hinder China's development with false narratives, manipulation of public opinion, and countless lies. Its campaign to discredit China's vaccines was not based on scientific evidence but rather on geopolitical motives and strategic gains.

Anna Malindog-Uy, vice president of the Manila-based think tank Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute, told Xinhua that "Washington's covert operation undermining Beijing's efforts to assist the Philippines and the Filipino people in combating the COVID-19 pandemic raises significant ethical and strategic concerns and questions."

"Discrediting vaccines based on geopolitical motives rather than scientific evidence undermines the collective effort needed to combat a pandemic," the expert said.

The clandestine anti-China propaganda reveals "a willingness and deliberate actions on the part of the United States to manipulate public opinion and international relations for strategic and geopolitical gains," Malindog-Uy said, adding that the United States has also spread disinformation to defame China in other fields like the South China Sea, to sow discord between China and other countries.

"This is indeed a manifestation of the U.S. fixation on global hegemony," she said.

In fact, the disinformation campaign is not the first time Uncle Sam has resorted to dirty tricks. Reuters reported in March that former U.S. President Donald Trump authorized the Central Intelligence Agency in 2019 to launch a clandestine campaign on Chinese social media aimed at turning public opinion in China against its government.

The U.S. government is the biggest propagator of disinformation, said U.S. Republican Senator Rand Paul.

America's dirty moves come at a cost for the Philippines. Vaccination is of great importance to the health of millions of Filipinos and Reuters reported that the difficulty in vaccinating the population contributed to the worst death rate in the region.

For the sake of its selfish gains, Washington never hesitates to sacrifice an ally. As British American historian Bernard Lewis pointed out in his book "Notes on a Century: Reflections of a Middle East Historian," the real problem with having the Americans as allies is you never know when they will turn around and stab you in the back.
At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina arrived in India on Friday to pay a State visit from June 21 to 22. Newly-appointed Minister of State (MoS) Kirtivardhan Singh welcomed the visiting Bangladesh PM at the airport. This visit will give a "major boost" to India-Bangladesh ties, Official Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Randhir Jaiswal said in a social media post. "PM Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh arrives in New Delhi on a State Visit to India. Warmly welcomed by MoS @KVSinghMPGonda at the airport. Bangladesh is a key partner and trusted neighbour of India. The visit will give a major boost to this celebrated bilateral partnership," read Jaiswal's post on X. This is the first incoming bilateral State Visit after the formation of the government in India following the 18th Lok Sabha elections, MEA said in a press release a day ago. "During the visit, apart from holding bilateral consultations with the Prime Minister, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to call on the President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar," the release added. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is scheduled to call on the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was among the international leaders who attended the swearing-in ceremony of the Prime Minister and the Union Council of Ministers on June 9. Over the years, India and Bangladesh have forged a multifaceted relationship, marked by a shared history, culture, and geographical proximity. The two neighbours enjoy warm ties, which have further expanded under the leadership of PM Modi and Sheikh Hasina. The year 2023 witnessed a spur of bilateral activities between both countries as an embodiment of the strength of the relationship. Both Prime Ministers jointly inaugurated the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline on 18 March in a virtual format. PM Sheikh Hasina also participated virtually in the Inaugural Session of the Voice of the Global South Summit on 11 January 2023 and the second Virtual Voice of the Global South Summit on 17 November 2023. As a Guest Country invited to India's G20 Presidency in 2023, Bangladesh participated under various tracks at the Ministerial level including the former Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, AK Abdul Momen in the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting and G-20 Development Ministers Meeting in March 2023 and June 2023 respectively. Both Prime Ministers jointly inaugurated three Indian-assisted development cooperation projects in Bangladesh on 1 November 2023 virtually. The projects are the Akhaura-Agartala cross border rail link, Khulna-Mongla Port rail line and Unit II of Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant, according to the MEA. (ANI)
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif lashed out at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, alleging that after the retirement of former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, the opposition party is begging "someone else" for relief, Geo News reported. Taking a jibe at Khan, the senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader said, "Hardly anyone has licked as many shoes as the PTI founder." Addressing the National Assembly, Khwaja Asif cited the remarks of Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) leader Aun Chaudhry. He alleged that Imran Khan was taken to General (retd) Amjad Awan's house by hiding him in a car trunk. Asif further claimed that the jailed PTI founder made every kind of desperate request to seek relief. "After Bajwa sahib, they [PTI] are now trying to hold the feet of someone else. Hardly anyone has 'licked' as many shoes as the PTI founder," Geo News quoted the federal minister as saying. These remarks come in response to PTI Secretary-General Omar Ayub Khan's address in the lower house of Parliament wherein he slammed the federal government for presenting a budget against the interests of the nation and the country. "This budget was made by an economic hitman," said Ayub, who is also the Opposition Leader in the National Assembly. Taking a jibe at Ayub, Asif said his speech reminded him of his 20-year-old statements wherein he would praise PML-N leaders Nawaz and Shehbaz Sharif in the same way he was hailing PTI founder Imran Khan. The Pakistan Defence minister said that the PML-N would welcome the PTI if it apologised for the May 9 riots that broke out after the arrest of former premier Imran Khan. The PML-N leader also slammed the opposition party for writing a letter to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), asking the global lender to link funding to the audit of alleged rigging in the elections, Geo News reported. "After being ousted from power, the PTI wanted the country to go default," he added. (ANI)
The East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE) expressed deep concern on Thursday over China's recent renaming of villages in East Turkistan, calling it a deliberate assault on the region's cultural and historical identity. The ETGE condemned these actions as part of China's broader strategy to erase the rich heritage of East Turkistan and emphasised the urgent need for global intervention to halt what it described as a genocidal campaign. According to the ETGE, East Turkistan, historically an independent nation, was annexed by the People's Republic of China in 1949. Since then, China has systematically renamed over 3600 villages in the region, replacing Uyghur and other Turkic names with Chinese terms. This move, as highlighted in a recent Human Rights Watch report, underscores China's attempt to suppress the cultural and religious heritage of East Turkistan's native peoples. "The Chinese invader's erasure of Uyghur village names is a calculated effort to obliterate our history and identity. These Uyghur names are not merely words; they embody our culture, our faith, and our connection to the land of East Turkistan," remarked Mamtimin Ala, President of the East Turkistan Government in Exile. The ETGE further detailed China's extensive campaign of repression in East Turkistan, including mass internment, torture, enforced disappearances, and forced sterilisation targeting Uyghur, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and other Turkic populations. It described these actions as genocidal and colonial, aimed at assimilating and dominating the region. "The systematic erasure of our villages, towns, cities, and even our country's name is not just an attack on our heritage, but a direct assault on our very existence. China's genocidal colonial acts aim to strip us of our identity, our history, and our future," Ala added. Calling for international action, the ETGE urged concerned governments and the United Nations to hold China accountable for its actions in East Turkistan. It emphasised the importance of preserving the cultural and religious heritage of the region, stressing that the loss of village names with deep historical and religious significance has profoundly affected the daily lives and identity of the East Turkistani people. "We urge the international community to leverage all available platforms, including the upcoming UN Human Rights Council sessions, to demand an end to Beijing's prolonged campaign of colonisation, genocide, and occupation in East Turkistan," the ETGE stated. The ETGE in the statement also urged the international community, concerned governments and the United Nations to take significant actions to hold the Chinese government accountable and question them for their heinous genocide and colonisation in East Turkistan. Furthermore, the ETGE also said, "We urge the international community to leverage all available platforms, including the upcoming UN Human Rights Council sessions, to demand an end to Beijing's prolonged campaign of colonisation, genocide, and occupation in East Turkistan". The ETGE statement also expressed that the only way to end this ongoing genocide and colonisation is through the restoration of East Turkistan's independence. (ANI)
Global spiritual master, humanitarian and founder of The Art of Living, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar led the Yoga Day Celebrations at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva spread over two days, June 20 and 21, according to a press release. The Art of Living also led the celebrations along with the Ministry of Ayush at many locations across India. From the Sino-Bhutan borders of India to airports in Gujarat; from Nehru Park, Delhi to beaches in Chennai- throughout the length and breadth of India, millions of yoga enthusiasts, led by seasoned Art of Living's Sri Sri Yoga teachers, welcomed the dawn of 10th International Day of Yoga celebrating this ancient gift of India to the world. On June 20, during the keynote address at the UN, Gurudev shared, "It's time for this ancient art of inner blossoming to be in the spotlight. Yoga has proved to be a boon for humankind. We have seen it helps heal illnesses, resolve problems, increase resilience, make the mind happy and sharpen the intellect. Yoga should be done along with pranayamas and meditation, without which yogasanas remain just physical exercises." Yoga lovers filled up not just public parks, corporate offices and stadia, but thousands of inmates across prisons in multiple locations as much as chief justices and members of High Courts got on the mat for deeply energizing and rejuvenating yoga sessions, the release added. Members of Government ministries and departments across India including the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the Indian Tax Department, Defence Forces (Army, Navy and Airforce), Paramilitary forces (CISF, BSF, SSB etc), Textiles, Police, Prisons, Judiciary, Home Guards, Indian Coast Guards, Economic and Statistics Department. Among the highlights of The Art of Living's International Day of Yoga celebrations across the country was hundreds meditating and performing asanas at Dolma Lakhang (Tara Devi) Buddhist Temple in Lumla, Arunachal Pradesh; Surat and Durgapur Airports Thousands poured in for a yoga session at Pataliputra Stadium and Chief Justice of Patna High Court, lawyers and officials of Patna High Court; and Hon. Vishwanath Arlekar, Governor of Bihar joined too. Yoga sessions were held at 12 Police Training Institutes; 18 RAC Battalions; Prison Headquarters and 103 jails in Rajasthan; 1200 police personnel performed yoga at Telangana Police Academy 3000 people gathered at CIDCO, Mumbai. Thousands of jail inmates in Haryana and Gujarat prisons celebrate this unique case. Thousands of participants in Malaysia, Taiwan, Australia, Sweden, Iceland and New Zealand joined The Art of Living in this global celebration of yoga. The Indian Embassy in Copahagen, Tallin and other European countries also joined the celebrations, the release added. (ANI)
Ninety-eight Indians, who were among 1.75 lakh pilgrims from the country to go for the Haj pilgrimage this year, died on account of causes such as natural illness, natural causes, chronic illness and also old age, Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday. Answering queries during the weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said about 1,75,000 Indian pilgrims went for Haj this year. He said the number of Indians who died in Haj last year was 187. "This year we have 175,000 Indians who have already visited Haj... So far we have lost 98 of our citizens. These deaths have happened on account of natural illness, natural causes, chronic illness, and also old age. On the day of Arafat, six Indians died and four Indians died on account of accidents. Last year the figure of Indians who died in Hajj was 187," Jaiswal said. He said India's Haj Mission in Jeddah renders all possible help to the pilgrims. "The core Haj period is from, I think, May 9 to July 22...Our Haj Mission in Jeddah works on a large scale. There are medical missions, hospitals, ambulances, and all the facilities to look after our people. And whatever such incidents happen there, we immediately meet their families and people and do whatever work can be done," Jaiswal said. Earlier in the day, Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra released a document which lays the roadmap of the health services and how those services can be availed of by the Haj pilgrims. The document is titled 'Medical Care Arrangements for Haj Pilgrimage'. It was released in collaboration with the Ministry of Minority Affairs. Consulate General of India in Jeddah Mohammed Shahid Alam joined the event virtually. A Health Ministry release said that Haj represents the largest and most enduring annual mass gathering event globally. The responsibility for medical care arrangements lies with the Emergency Medical Relief Division and the International Health Division of the Directorate General of Health Services under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Apurva Chandra noted that this is only the second year since the healthcare responsibilities have been assigned to the Union Health Ministry and stated that "the experience has provided significant learnings for improving the healthcare services". Of the nearly 1,75,000 pilgrims who undertook the Haj pilgrimage this year from India, about 40,000 are elderly people. He said in view of the harsh weather conditions this year, the health challenges have necessitated round-the-clock services for the pilgrims and oral health and dental care services were added last year learning from the past experience. The Union Health Secretary also added that nearly two lakh OPDs have been conducted this year, along with visits by the medical teams to the pilgrims. Apurva Chandra stated that with the help of NIC, a live portal has been developed that provides real time data and analysis on the pilgrims seeking medical care and the services being provided. "We are continuously monitoring and this will help us to improve our services significantly so that we become the beacon of excellence to be emulated by other countries," he said. "It is a matter of pride to be of assistance to our citizens wherever they might be. Be it for evacuating our students from Ukraine or assisting our people who got stuck in the fire incident in Kuwait, India has always been at the forefront in helping its citizens," he said, adding that India has helped other countries also who have sought help during crisis. (ANI)
South Korea's military fired warning shots after several North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the border on June 18, when 20 to 30 North Korean soldiers crossed the border early morning, the third such incident this month, Al Jazeera reported. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the incident occurred on Thursday when the North Korean soldiers crossed the Military Demarcation Line running through the middle of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) at about 11 am (02:00 GMT). JCS said on Friday, "After our military's warning broadcasts and warning shots, the North Korean soldiers retreated back northwards." According to Al Jazeera, similar incidents occurred on Tuesday and June 9, both times involving North Koreans who quickly retreated after South Korea fired warning shots. Seoul stated that these incursions seemed accidental. Nuclear-armed North Korea has deployed more soldiers and equipment to the border since abandoning a 2018 military agreement when South Korea suspended parts of the deal in response to Pyongyang's successful launch of its first military spy satellite. According to Seoul, they have been expanding tactical roads and laying more landmines, which have led to "casualties" as a result of accidental explosions. The incident took place as Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang for the first time in 24 years and the two countries signed a mutual defense pact that has raised alarm in Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington, as per Al Jazeera. On Friday, South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the treaty as a serious threat to the peace and stability of the region. South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Russian ambassador Georgy Zinoviev to lodge an official protest over the pact, which states that if either of the two is invaded or put in a state of war, the other side will provide military and other assistance "with all means" at its disposal and "without delay." Zinoviev said he told the ministry that threats and blackmail against Russia over its increasingly close ties to North Korea were unacceptable. (ANI)
"We have strongly protested at the Canadian High Commission here. Such courts or gatherings are not helpful at all. We have strongly taken it up with them and asked them to take appropriate action in the matter," said Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in response to ANI's question.

Jaiswal emphasised India's stance against providing political space to extremist anti-India elements and those advocating violence.

"We have been repeatedly calling upon the government of Canada to take action. Political space provided to extremist anti-India elements and those advocating violence must stop and they must take action," Jaiswal added.

India's protest also comes after the Canadian Parliament observed a two-minute silence on the death anniversary of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

"We naturally oppose any moves giving political space to extremism and those advocating violence," Jaiswal remarked on Canada's parliamentary observance.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, associated with Khalistani separatism, remains a contentious issue in India-Canada relations, with India urging Canada to refrain from actions perceived as supporting separatist agendas.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau briefly conversed on June 14 during the G7 Summit in Italy's Apulia region amid strained India-Canada relations.

The interaction occurred amidst heightened tension, exacerbated by Trudeau's accusations in September last year suggesting possible Indian involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which India dismissed as baseless.

India has consistently highlighted its primary concern with Canada as its tolerance of pro-Khalistan groups operating freely within its borders. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra recently reiterated India's position, emphasizing that Ottawa's provision of political space to these anti-India elements promoting extremism and violence remains a critical issue.

India has repeatedly expressed its "serious concerns" to Canada and expects Ottawa to take decisive measures against such elements, Kwatra emphasised. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's recent visit to Colombo underscores primacy that India accords to Sri Lanka in its 'Neighbourhood First' and SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision policies, the ministry's spokesperson said on Friday. Addressing a media briefing today, the Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that a new Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, a nerve centre for Search and Rescue operations at sea established with an Indian grant of USD 6 million from India, was was also jointly commissioned in the virtual ceremony. "This was his first bilateral visit to any country after being sworn in as External Affairs Minister... His visit underscores India's primacy that we accord to Sri Lanka in a neighbourhood-first policy as also a Sagar vision policy," Jaiswal said. In response to a question the MEA spokesperson said that Jaishankar called on the Sri Lankan President, Ranil Wickremesinghe, as well as the Prime Minister, Dinesh Gunawardena and they had delegation-level talks in the presence of several Sri Lankan ministers. "EAM called on the President of Sri Lanka. He also called on the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Dinesh Gunawardena. They had delegation-level talks in which several ministers from the Sri Lankan side were present. President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the EAM handed over 48 houses under the Model Village housing project in Colombo and Trincomalee districts..." said Randhir Jaiswal. The 106 houses under Phase III of the Indian Housing Project are in Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya Districts. "Apart from that, the external affairs minister called on the leader of opposition. He also had separate meetings with the former president of Sri Lanka, Mahindra Rajapaksha, and with a broad range of leaders from across the political spectrum and parties. It was a one day visit," said MEA spokesperson. Jaishankar has visited Sri Lanka five times recently and these visits highlight the importance India places on its relationship with Sri Lanka, the spokesperson said. "This is the external affairs minister's fifth visit, I would recall, in the recent past. Four times that he visited were in January of 2021, March 2022, January 2023 and October 2023. The series of these visits underscores the kind of importance that we attach to our neighbourly relations with Sri Lanka," said Jaiswal. Jaishankar official visit to Sri Lanka on June 20 marked the first bilateral visit undertaken by the EAM after his re-appointment. It follows immediately after the visit of President Ranil Wickremesinghe to India on June 9-10 to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new Prime Minister Narendra Modi- led government following the general elections. (ANI)
India and Qatar on Friday held discussions on the proposal to buy 12 second-hand Qatari Mirage-2000-5 fighter jets. The discussions between the Indian side and the Qatari team were held in the national capital. A presentation was made to Indian officials on the current state of the 12 Mirage-2000 aircraft with them, defence sources told ANI. The aircraft are in a very good condition and have a lot of life left in them, they also said. The Indian side is considering the proposal keeping in mind the compatibility of their aircraft with the Indian Mirage-2000 aircraft fleet which is more advanced than the aircraft on offer, the defence sources said. However, the engines of both Indian and Qatari aircraft are the same and it would be easier for the service to maintain them if India decides to go for them. The Qatari side is offering around Rs 5,000 crore for the 12 aircraft but the Indian side is keen to get the aircraft at a reasonable price. The Qatari aircraft are being offered to the Indian side along with missiles and additional engines for flying operations. The officials clarified that the aircraft are planned to be used for flying operations and not for being used for spare and maintenance requirements. Indian Air Force received a significant number of spares and equipment in a second-hand deal from a French vendor during the Covid period. The Qatari deal will help the Indian Air Force to take the number of Mirages in its fleet to 60. The Mirage fleet with Gwalior as its home base has been the mainstay of the Indian Air Force and has helped the force carry out major operations like the Kargil war, and Balakot air strikes and has been actively involved along the LAC with China on the northern frontier. (ANI)
In a firm response to recent developments in Canada, India has expressed strong disapproval of the Canadian Parliament's observing of a two-minute silence on the death anniversary of Sikh separatist and India-designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasised India's stance, stating, "We naturally oppose any moves giving political space to extremism and those advocating violence." This statement comes amidst growing concerns in India over what it perceives as Canada's tolerance of activities linked to Khalistani separatism." Addressing the issue of Khalistani terrorism, Jaiswal reiterated India's longstanding concerns, remarking, "Time and again, we have said that Khalistani activities are a matter of serious concern for us. We have been repeatedly calling upon the government of Canada to take action. Political space provided to extremist anti-India elements and those advocating violence must stop and they must take action." The MEA's stance was further solidified with regard to reports of Khalistani 'Citizen's Courts' operating in Canada. Jaiswal condemned such gatherings, stating, "Such courts or gatherings are not helpful at all. We have strongly taken it up with them and asked them to take appropriate action in the matter." India's diplomatic efforts have included lodging a protest at the Canadian High Commission in Delhi, underscoring its disapproval of any platform that promotes extremism or violence against India. The issue remains a focal point in India-Canada relations, with India urging Canada to address these concerns promptly and effectively. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, associated with Khalistani separatism, remains a contentious issue in India-Canada relations, with India urging Canada to refrain from actions perceived as supporting separatist agendas. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau briefly conversed on June 14 during the G7 Summit in Italy's Apulia region amid strained India-Canada relations. The interaction occurred amidst heightened tension, exacerbated by Trudeau's accusations in September last year suggesting possible Indian involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which India dismissed as baseless. India has consistently highlighted its primary concern with Canada as its tolerance of pro-Khalistan groups operating freely within its borders. Trudeau has recently said that he sees a new opening to engage with India on some "very serious" issues on national security after the return of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to office for a third consecutive term. In an interview to CBC News on June 19 on the eve of the anniversary of the killing of Khalistani terrorist Nijjar, Trudeau said, "Now that he's through his election, I think there is an opportunity for us to engage, including on some very serious issues around national security and keeping Canadians safe and the rule of law." Trudeau's remarks follow his meeting with PM Modi in Italy. PM Modi had tweeted a photograph of himself with the Canadian PM as they shook hands. After the meeting in Italy, Trudeau told the Canada-based media channel, Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC) there are some "important but sensitive" issues that the two countries need to work on together. He did not share much details of what the two leaders discussed. In his interview to CBC News, Trudeau said, "I think one of the really good things about summits is you get an opportunity to engage directly with a huge range of different leaders with whom there are various issues," Trudeau said, according to CBC News. "And certainly with India, there are massive people-to-people ties, there are really important economic ties, there's alignment on a number of big issues that we need to work on as democracies, as a global community," he said. Nijjar, who was designated a terrorist by India's National Investigation Agency in 2020, was shot and killed outside a Gurdwara in Surrey in June last year. Tuesday marks the first anniversary of Nijjar's death. The video of his killing that reportedly surfaced in March this year showed Nijjar being shot by armed men. Meanwhile, the last time Trudeau and PM Modi had met in person was at the G20 leaders' summit in New Delhi in September last year. (ANI)